Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes will not play in Kansas City’s preseason finale against the Seattle Seahawks on Friday night, the first time that the two-time MVP has gone through a full scheduled preseason without appearing in a game.

Mahomes is making his comeback after tearing ligaments in his knee in December. But while he’s been on or ahead of schedule since the ensuing surgery, and taken part in the entire offseason program and training camp, it was always expected that Mahomes would not appear in any of the three tuneups ahead of the regular season.

The Chiefs play Denver in a marquee Monday night showdown Sept. 14. And Mahomes plans to be on the field then.

“It’s the amount of time they’ve said from the beginning, that if I did everything the right way, I would be ready to play Week 1,” he said. “I’m someone, if you put (a target) in front of me, I want to go out and get it and maximize every single opportunity, every rep in the weight room, every hour that I can spend in the building to get my body right.”

Mahomes has missed a preseason before, when the NFL canceled it entirely in 2020 amid the pandemic. He went on to have one of the best seasons of his career, throwing for 4,740 yards with 38 touchdowns and only six interceptions as Kansas City went 14-2 and beat Buffalo for the AFC championship, before losing to Tampa Bay in the Super Bowl.

“You know, this week we’ve kind of treated it more like a game week, being able to go in that same process — have Wednesday practice and then a Thursday practice, take my notes the same and watch same film that I’ll usually watch. I think that’s kind of how I prepare,” Mahomes said. “Get out there on the practice field and treat every rep like it’s the most important rep.

“I think if you can do that,” Mahomes said, “you’ll be ready to go whenever you get that opportunity to go out there in the game.”

Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Wednesday that backup quarterback Justin Fields also is unlikely to play against the Seahawks, though many offensive starters will get at least a few reps. Fourth-string quarterback Chris Oladokun remains in the concussion protocol, so it is possible that seventh-round pick Garrett Nussmeier will play al l of the Chiefs’ preseason finale.

Nussmeier has been impressive in extended reps in their first two preseason games.

“He’s done a nice job, thrown right in the fire with the first group. I thought he handled it well,” Reid said. “He looked like he stepped in, took it on, good leadership, tempo in and out of the huddle. It was all positive. It’ll pay off down the road.

“I’m sure they would all love to play a game,” Reid added, “and now he has a chance, potentially.”

Reid did not say whether wide receivers Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy, who have been held out of the first two preseason games while coming back from injuries, would play against the Seahawks. Rice had surgery to clean up some debris in his knee earlier in the offseason, and Worthy has been dealing with a shoulder injury that he sustained earlier in training camp.

Running back Kenneth Walker III also is unlikely to play after missing practice time this week with a swollen ankle.

“He’s OK. He’s going to be fine,” Reid said. “We’re just trying to get that swelling out of there.”

Notes: The Chiefs traded a 2028 seventh-round pick to the New York Giants late Tuesday for offensive lineman Joshua Ezeudu. He is expected to provide experienced depth for an offensive line that has dealt with injuries throughout camp. … The Chiefs head into their game against the Seahawks having lost their past eight preseason games.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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Week 0 is upon us in college football, and the wait for pigskin games that count in the standings is nearly over. 

The headlines these days are often regarding legal battles over who is or isn’t eligible and players trying to return to campus from NFL training camps. 

But once the games start, all will be right in the world.

Let’s take a look at three games I have my eye on this week from a betting perspective.

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North Carolina vs. TCU

The season kicks off Saturday afternoon in Dublin, Ireland, as Bill Belichick and North Carolina try to avenge an embarrassing 48-14 loss in a rematch of last year’s season opener. 

I like the Under 47.5 here, as some rain and wind are expected for this one and both teams’ starting quarterbacks have some question marks. 

TCU is going with Jaden Craig, a Harvard transfer who is facing a big step-up in competition coming over from the Ivy League. UNC is starting journeyman Billy Edwards Jr., who won the quarterback competition largely due to his ability to protect the ball and avoid turnovers. But he is far from a gunslinger that racks up explosive plays. 

Sloppy weather and new QBs point to a lower scoring game.

  UNC vs. TCU

Under 47.5 Points Scored by Both Teams Combined

San Jose State @ No. 14 USC

Lincoln Riley and the Trojans start their quest to get to the CFP this weekend (Getty Images).

–>

The USC Trojans have their sights set on breaking through and finally earning a trip to the College Football Playoff in 2026, and their season starts with a game they should win comfortably. 

In recent years, when USC has a chance to name its score, it usually does so in emphatic fashion. 

In 2023, the Trojans scored 56 against San Jose State and 66 against Nevada. Last year, they hung 73 on Missouri State and 59 on Georgia Southern. 

I like USC to go Over its team total (48.5 -130 is available on DraftKings) and score seven touchdowns or more to kick things off on Saturday.

  SJSU vs. No. 14 USC

USC Team Total Over 48.5 (-130)

NC State @ Virginia

NC State does something that is rare these days in college football and that is return its quarterback.

Junior CJ Bailey has a combined 53 career touchdowns passing and rushing in his first two years, and I think he provides enough offense to keep this game close. 

Virginia loses a lot of production from a year ago, including quarterback Chandler Morris, who was prolific in 2025. NC State won this meeting last September, 35-31. 

I think we get a similarly close game in this one, and I’ll take the points. 

  NC State vs. Virginia

NC State +5.5 (to Lose by Fewer Than 5.5 Points or Win Outright)

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The Pro Bowl is no more. 

After decades of format tweaks and noncompetitive play, the NFL is officially ending the Pro Bowl as a standalone event, according to The Athletic. On Wednesday, league executives presented a new vision to team owners that folds the festivities directly into Super Bowl week.

Under the new format, 88 players will receive Pro Bowl honors without any replacement alternates. All physical competitions, which included tackle football, flag football and skills challenges, will be completely eliminated, leaving only the official honor itself.

Instead of the traditional game, Pro Bowl selections will be invited to Los Angeles for an in-person celebration in February. The selection process remains unchanged as fans, players and coaches’ votes are weighted equally to determine the 88-player roster across both conferences.

The NFL’s first All-Star Game was played at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles in 1939. Decades later, the Pro Bowl ended its long-standing tradition of being held in Hawaii, moving to mainland venues across the country.

Over time, the event shifted from a physical contest into a friendly, non-competitive flag football game. Following years of skepticism from fans and players around the league, the tradition has officially come to an end.

The game will always be remembered as one of the sport’s premier annual events. However, the Pro Bowl game’s cancellation felt almost inevitable and that long-feared possibility has finally become a reality on Wednesday afternoon.

Source

Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber hit his MLB-leading 40th home run Wednesday.

Schwarber drove a 98-mph fastball off Seattle starter Bryan Woo approximately 425 feet into right-center field, a three-run shot that gave the Phillies a 6-0 lead over the Mariners in the second inning.

Schwarber’s homer tied a Phillies record for the most 40-plus homer seasons, matching former first baseman Ryan Howard. The 33-year-old Schwarber, who hit 56 homers last season, is also tied for the most 40-plus homer seasons among active players with Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees.

Schwarber’s 227 homers with Philadelphia are the second-most in a player’s first five seasons with a club. He trails only Babe Ruth, who had 235 homers with the New York Yankees. Schwarber, who spent six years with the Chicago Cubs, has 380 career homers.

Matt Olson (Braves) and Yordan Alvarez (Astros) trail Schwarber in homers with 36 each.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

Source

The Los Angeles Lakers and San Diego Padres have each been in the news after being sold to new owners, and the Padres new ownership group just grew.

Joey and Jesse Buss have officially joined the Padres ownership group, which is led by Jose E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones.

The new Padres ownership group led by private equity investors FJose E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones is finalizing the purchase at an MLB-record valuation of $3.9 billion. (Photo by K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)

–>

The brothers confirmed their involvement in a statement provided to ESPN, following earlier reporting from multiple outlets. 

“We are honored to join Kwanza and José and have the opportunity to contribute to the future of a team that Jesse and I have loved since we were kids growing up in San Diego,” Joey Buss said in a statement. 

“The Padres are on the cusp of something special, and through Buss Sports Capital, we look forward to bringing our experience and perspective to the ownership group and doing our part to build on the strong foundation already in place.”

“Joey and I had the privilege of learning from our father and then spending nearly two decades building our own careers in professional basketball operations,” Jesse Buss said in a statement. “We saw firsthand what it takes to build a championship organization, and throughout our careers have applied those lessons across talent evaluation, roster construction, player development and long-term organizational planning. While every sport is different, we believe the principles behind building sustained success are universal.”

The Buss brothers grew up in San Diego County and were formerly executives with the Los Angeles Lakers. The family sold its majority stake in the Lakers last year to Mark Walter, who also owns the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

The new Padres ownership group led by private equity investors Feliciano and Jones is finalizing the purchase at an MLB-record valuation of $3.9 billion.

Using capital from the sale of the Lakers, the Buss brothers established Buss Sports Capital last year to direct their investments. Walter subsequently sold the Lakers to an investment group led by Josh Kushner and Bob Iger.

The Buss brothers confirmed their new venture with the Padres one week after five of the six Buss heirs voted to sell their 17.8% minority ownership stake in the Lakers to Kushner and Iger.

Jeanie Buss, the Lakers’ governor since the death of their father in 2013, is contesting her five siblings’ desire to sell its remaining interest in the NBA franchise purchased by Jerry Buss in 1979.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

MLB Related Stories

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Kylian Mbappé’s first goals of the season came via a hat-trick in Real Madrid’s 4-1 victory over Real Sociedad in the Spanish league on Wednesday.

Mbappé scored once in the first half and twice in the second to lead Madrid to its win over Sociedad in Mourinho’s return to the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

Jude Bellingham had two assists, including on Vinícius’ first goal of the season in the second half.

Madrid had opened its Spanish league campaign with a win at Espanyol.

Sociedad had lost its league opener at Real Betis.

]–>

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College football is finally back, and new Kalshi users can use promo code FOXSPORTS to unlock a $25 bonus while trading on the sports they follow.

Before the college football action begins, the MLB features some of the top teams battling on the diamond. The Braves and Dodgers get ready for the second game of the series after Atlanta took the opener 4-3. 

The Mets also stunned the Brewers with a 10-inning walk-off, while Houston scored nine runs to beat the Yankees in New York. Kansas City enters Wednesday chasing its 10th straight win against Toronto after extending its streak to nine.

Week 0 kicks off Saturday with North Carolina vs. TCU in Dublin, marking the first FBS game of the season. Later, No. 14 USC hosts San Jose State, while Memphis visits UNLV in a matchup airing on FOX.

With MLB playoff races heating up and Week 0 bringing college football back, Kalshi gives new users another way to trade on the outcomes they care about. Use promo code FOXSPORTS to claim the $25 bonus.

For more information and full terms and conditions, visit our Kalshi promo code page.

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MLB: Braves vs. Dodgers

*Probability is subject to change*

Atlanta Braves	47%	47¢	54¢
Los Angeles Dodgers	53%	54¢	47¢

Week 0 CFB: UNC vs. TCU

*Probability is subject to change*

TCU Horned Frogs	74%	75¢	26¢
North Carolina Tar Heels	26%	26¢	75¢

Week 0 CFB: Memphis vs. UNLV

*Probability is subject to change*

UNLV Rebels	63%	64¢	37¢
Memphis Tigers	37%	37¢	64¢

More markets available on Kalshi.

Contenders Clash in the NL

• Matchup: Los Angeles Dodgers at Atlanta Braves (7:15 PM ET, FS1)
• Last Night’s Impact: Atlanta managed a tight 4-3 victory over the Dodgers last night, even after Shohei Ohtani hit a leadoff triple in the ninth.
• The Pitching Matchups vs. Lineups:Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki (5-5) will use his high-velocity fastball and split-finger fastball to attack an aggressive Braves lineup that relies heavily on fly-ball power but can struggle with swing-and-miss tendencies up in the zone.Atlanta’s young righty A.J. Smith-Shawver (0-0) faces a monumental challenge against a star-studded Dodgers lineup that excels at hunting fastballs and punishing mistakes.
• Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki (5-5) will use his high-velocity fastball and split-finger fastball to attack an aggressive Braves lineup that relies heavily on fly-ball power but can struggle with swing-and-miss tendencies up in the zone.
• Atlanta’s young righty A.J. Smith-Shawver (0-0) faces a monumental challenge against a star-studded Dodgers lineup that excels at hunting fastballs and punishing mistakes.

College Football Week 0 Top Games Schedule

Memphis at UNLV

• Date: Saturday, Aug. 29
• Time: 10 p.m. ET
• TV: FOX
• Stream: Watch 3 days free on FOX One
• Location: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas

College football’s first FOX game of 2026 gets the late window in Las Vegas. Memphis and UNLV have never met, giving Week 0 a fresh matchup between programs with new-era expectations.

Charles Huff makes his Memphis debut opposite Dan Mullen, who begins his second season at UNLV. Rebels running back Jai’Den “Jet” Thomas enters the year as the Mountain West’s preseason all-conference selection at his position. The game also marks UNLV’s first regular-season appearance on FOX.

North Carolina vs. TCU

• Date: Saturday, Aug. 29
• Time: Noon ET
• TV: ESPN
• Stream: ESPN Unlimited – Get the FOX One / ESPN Bundle
• Location: Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Week 0 opens overseas with the Aer Lingus College Football Classic. It is the first international game in North Carolina history and TCU’s first game outside the United States. The matchup also gives the teams a second consecutive season-opening meeting.

North Carolina running back Demon June arrives on the Doak Walker Award preseason watch list. TCU counters with safety Jamel Johnson, a Bednarik Award watch-list selection who gives the Horned Frogs a proven playmaker on the back end.

San Jose State at No. 14 USC

• Date: Saturday, Aug. 29
• Time: 3 p.m. ET
• TV: NBC
• Stream: Peacock
• Location: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles

USC is the only AP-ranked team in this four-game guide, opening at No. 14 in the preseason poll. The Trojans begin at home against a San Jose State team led by Ken Niumatalolo.

Quarterback Jayden Maiava enters the season with Big Ten preseason honors and control of the USC offense. San Jose State gets an immediate national-stage test before moving into the rest of its September schedule.

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It’s a new season, but bettors are expecting similar results from North Carolina, at least in college football Week 0 odds.

In the kickoff to coach Bill Belichick’s second season at UNC, the Tar Heels opened as 6.5-point underdogs vs. TCU. Now, Carolina is an unpopular 8.5-point ‘dog for Saturday’s neutral-site clash in Dublin, Ireland.

“It’s more an anti-Bill Belichick move, or maybe an anti-team move in general,” Caesars Sports head of football trading Joey Feazel said. “There are not great expectations for North Carolina.”

Feazel dishes his insights on a trio of this weekend’s most notable games in the college football odds Week 0 market.

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.

Cold On Carolina

Belichick’s first year at North Carolina was bumpy, to say the least. The Tar Heels opened at home as a 3.5-point underdog to TCU and got waxed 48-14. Carolina ultimately went 4-8 straight up (SU) and 5-7 against the spread (ATS).

North Carolina vs. TCU odds for Saturday’s contest have been on the board since late May at Caesars, but all the number movement has come since July 31.

At that point, the Horned Frogs went from -6.5 to -7, and the line advanced to -7.5 on Aug. 6. Then Wednesday afternoon, Caesars made the jump to TCU -8.5.

“We’re seeing a bigger flood of TCU money on the spread. And then TCU moneyline on the parlays,” Feazel said, noting the Horned Frogs are -335 to just win the game, by any margin. “It’s one-way traffic on TCU, and I don’t anticipate that changing.”

While the spread is rising for Saturday’s noon ET contest, the total is falling. Caesars opened at 50.5 and on Wednesday afternoon it was down to 46.5 (Over -118). Feazel said there was sharp play on Under 48.5.

Viva Las Vegas

FOX gets in the game on Saturday, as well, with Memphis vs. UNLV in the shadow of the Las Vegas Strip, at 10 p.m. ET. Last season, both teams were at least somewhat in the discussion to represent the Group of 6 in the College Football Playoff, but late losses silenced that talk.

In mid-May, Caesars opened UNLV at -3 (-115) in college football Week 0 odds. The Rebels spent half the summer at -3.5, but from July 17 to 31, they stretched out to -4/-5/-5.5, then got to -6 a couple times.

However, over the past week, that number has moved toward Memphis, with UNLV down to -4.5.

“A little bit of resistance came in at 6,” Feazel said, noting action showing up for the visiting Tigers. “It’s still mostly UNLV, but I expect two-way action on this game.

“There’s also been early sharp action on the Under, at 58.5 and 57.5. These first games of the year will lean toward the defense.”

As of Wednesday afternoon, the total is at 56.5.

Resumption Of Hostilities

In two of the past three seasons, Stanford and Hawaii squared off early on. The Cardinal notched a 37-24 win as 2.5-point favorites in 2023-24, and the Rainbow Warriors won 23-20 as 1.5-point favorites last year, with both games in Hawaii.

This time around, Stanford is favored on home turf. But action on Hawaii has the number moving toward the Rainbow Warriors for Saturday’s 7 p.m. ET kickoff.

The Cardinal opened -4.5 and got as high as -6 at Caesars, then over the past couple days plunged as low as -3.5. As of Wednesday afternoon, Stanford was a 4-point favorite.

It seems like an innocuous game, but Feazel said Hawaii-Stanford is always a popular matchup with bettors.

“It doesn’t seem like it would draw a lot of action. But every year, it drives more and more,” he said. “There’s a lot of Hawaii money coming in on this one. That seems to be the case every year.”

If that persists the rest of the week, Caesars could be in the unusual spot of rooting for a home favorite.

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Will the Seattle Seahawks be able to fend off the Los Angeles Rams and win the NFC West again? Who will win the tight battle for the NFC North? 

With the regular season quickly approaching, Colin Cowherd provided his division predictions and projected playoff field for the NFC on Wednesday’s edition of The Herd. 

Highlighting a mix of returning contenders and rising rosters, Cowherd forecasted three new playoff teams across the conference while breaking down all four divisions.

“I’ve got three new playoff teams in the NFC: the Lions, the Saints, and the Giants,” Cowherd said.

Here’s how Cowherd predicts the placement of all four divisions in the NFC.

NFC East

1.

Starting with the NFC East, Cowherd picked the Philadelphia Eagles to retain the division crown, pointing to roster continuity along the offensive line and past success under Jalen Hurts. 

“Jalen Hurts, since he became a full-time starter, has the winningest record in the NFL. I’m just going with this very, very well-run organization,” Cowherd said.

Despite losing A.J. Brown, Philadelphia added Dontayvion Wicks and drafted USC receiver Makai Lemon, returning all five offensive line starters with the seventh-easiest schedule in the league.

2.

Behind Philadelphia, Cowherd projected the New York Giants to finish ahead of the Dallas Cowboys for second place, should Jaxson Dart stay healthy.

“They were one and seven last year in those one-score games, worst in the league,” Cowherd said about the Giants. “And in fact, they blew five games in which they had a fourth-quarter lead. That is going to, even if it evens out, even if it doesn’t totally flip, it will even out. If Jackson Dart can stay out of the blue tent, I think it’s a playoff team.”

Following a tough year in close games in 2025, Cowherd thinks the scales will balance out for the Giants in 2026.

3.

Cowherd pointed to a trend from last season as the reason why he thinks the Cowboys could hold themselves back.

“Here’s the other thing, which has become a disturbing trend for the Cowboys. They were the most penalized team in the NFL last year. They did some big things well, like scoring. They did a lot of little things poorly. I have the Cowboys better, but not a playoff team.”

4.

Washington was placed fourth in the division, pointing to roster turnover at key positions like left tackle and overall roster age as major obstacles for their prospects.

“Washington just doesn’t have enough talent. They lost Laremy Tunsil, their left tackle, who’s a beast. Second-oldest roster in the NFL. I just don’t like Washington right now going forward,” Cowherd said.

NFC North

1.

Moving to the NFC North, Cowherd went with the Detroit Lions to win the division, citing offensive firepower and draft adjustments.

“I think the Lions have a combination of the best roster in the division and the easiest schedule in the entire league this year,” Cowherd said. “I would argue quarterback, running back, tight end, wide receivers, they have the best group in the NFL.”

Cowherd added last year was considered a down year for Detroit and the offense still wound up amongst the league’s best.

“They were the only team to have a top-five scoring offense in the last four years. Even last year, when they struggled, it was top five.”

2.

Last year’s NFC North champions, the Chicago Bears, were picked to finish second in 2026 by Cowherd.

“They were a great fourth quarter team last year. They probably can’t quite equal that magic, but when they won the turnover battle, and nobody talks about this one, Chicago, they were 10-1 when they won the turnover battle,” Cowherd said. 

Cowherd also pointed to Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, who does not have a history of turning the ball over.

“Caleb Williams doesn’t turn the ball over. He didn’t in high school. He didn’t in college. Even in the Eberflus year, 20 touchdowns, six picks. He is not a turnover quarterback. I have them for second.”

3.

The Green Bay Packers were picked by Cowherd to finish third in the division, despite the number of key pieces they have slated to return, ahead of the Minnesota Vikings.

“Not only do they get Michael Parsons back in October, but they also get Tucker Kraft back, who looks to be a star young tight end in the NFL for years to come. Christian Watson got hurt. Jaden Reed got hurt,” Cowherd said.

Cowherd also suggested the Packers may have reached their ceiling.

“They’ve not been a great September team, but they’ve been a wild card team in the last three seasons,” Cowherd said.

4.

Minnesota landed in fourth place in Cowherd’s prediction, but he said this shouldn’t discredit what the Vikings are capable of.

“Minnesota is going to be the best fourth-place team in the NFL,” Cowherd said. “Christian Darrisaw is back at left tackle. I love the coach and the defensive coordinator. There’s not a lot here I don’t like, but Kyler Murray’s backup is either J.J. McCarthy or Carson Wentz. I don’t trust either.”

Despite an established coaching staff and offensive line talent, backup quarterback depth creates vulnerability behind starter Kyler Murray. Cowherd also pointed out how prone to turnovers and the injury history of all three quarterbacks on the roster. 

NFC South

1.

The NFC South featured a surprise pick from Cowherd, with the New Orleans Saints taking first place behind quarterback Tyler Shough, thanks in part to a favorable schedule.

“Second easiest schedule in football is the Saints,” Cowherd said. “I thought they played very well at the end of last year. Tyler Shough, nobody paid attention, but they won four of their last five games.”

Cowherd added that the NFC South is usually unpredictable most seasons.

“This is a division where you see teams go from last to first on a regular basis.”

2.

The Carolina Panthers were picked for second place, highlighting leadership under Dave Canales and general manager Dan Morgan alongside offensive line stability for Bryce Young.

“I think Carolina has the coach and the general manager for the future. Dave Canales and Dan Morgan are excellent. I think they’ve given Bryce Young a lot to work with.”

Cowherd also pointed out the inconsistencies on the offensive line last year.

“They had 11 different starting O-line combinations last year, so it was a bit of a mess in front of Bryce Young. I think they’ll get that corrected,” Cowherd said.

3.

Tampa Bay was picked to finish third by Cowherd, who pointed to recent offensive slumps, defensive regressions, and coaching pressure following late-season struggles.

“You got a coach on the hot seat. You got a new offensive coordinator, 20th-ranked defense last year. No Mike Evans. Lost seven of the nine games down the stretch,” Cowherd said. “So they were a bit of a mess offensively, and they weren’t great defensively.”

4.

Atlanta rounded out the division in fourth place, with Cowherd citing early road schedule challenges and unanswered questions at quarterback.

“I like the coach, like the owner. I think the GM is pretty sharp. There’s a couple of players like Drake London, a Bijan Robinson I love, but who’s the quarterback? We don’t know,” Cowherd said. “Cross my fingers with Michael Penix, but they start with three of their first four games on the road.”

NFC West

1.

In the NFC West, Cowherd selected the Seattle Seahawks to claim the division title over the Los Angeles Rams, praising Seattle’s performance in road games and young core talent.

“Here’s what I love about Seattle: the last two years best road team in the league, and I mean a fantastic road team, 15 and two,” Cowherd said. “They’re returning all their best players. All of them are in their prime.”

Cowherd went on to highlight the Seahawks’ ability to win away from home and performance against other playoff teams as key factors.

2.

Cowherd placed the Rams second as Super Bowl contenders, acknowledging both Seattle and Los Angeles rank among the top teams in the league.

“They return all 11 offensive starters. There’s no reason to debate this. They could win the Super Bowl. I think these two teams, in my opinion, are the best two teams in the NFL: Seahawks, Rams, one and two in my book,” Cowherd said.

However, the hype surrounding the Rams is not enough to convince Cowherd.

“I’ll take Seattle to win over the Rams. Everybody in the world’s telling me the Rams are going to win the Super Bowl. The team is hearing that. You know what?” Cowherd said. “They’re going to be a really really good team and win 11 games. I think Seattle could win 12.”

3.

San Francisco was picked to finish third by Cowherd, pointing to an aging roster coming off major surgical recoveries and defensive pass rush struggles.

“They were 20th ranked in defense. They struggled to get to the quarterback. They have the oldest roster,” Cowherd said. “They are highly reliant at left tackle, running back, edge rusher, linebacker on veteran players who are coming off injuries.”

4.

Arizona was projected to finish fourth in the division as the team undergoes a rebuild while playing in arguably the toughest division in football.

“Arizona, bit of a mess. 0-6 against the division last year,” Cowherd said. “They’re playing like the Jets for next year’s draft. Arizona at fourth place.”

NFL Related Stories

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College football is back this week, and new Polymarket users can trade $10 to get a $20 bonus while following the biggest Week 0 matchups.

The season opens Saturday with North Carolina vs. TCU in Dublin before No. 14 USC hosts San Jose State. USC is another team to watch, with quarterback Jayden Maiava leading the Trojans into the new season. After showing flashes last year, Maiava could be the key to determining whether USC can make a push for the College Football Playoff this season.

Memphis and UNLV then close out Week 0 action in Las Vegas. The game will air on FOX.

Tune into the game between Jacksonville State and North Dakota State. It’s the start of North Dakota State’s era at the FBS level as a Mountain West member after dominating the FCS for years.

With eight FBS games on the Week 0 schedule, there are plenty of outcomes to trade on as the 2026 college football season gets underway.

Enter Polymarket promo code FOX to get a $20 bonus and trade on all the action unfolding in Week 0, the unofficial start of the college football season.

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Week 0 CFB: No. 14 USC vs. San José State

*Probability is subject to change*

USC Trojans	99%	99¢	1¢
San José State Spartans	1%	1.8¢	99¢

Week 0 CFB: UNC vs. TCU

*Probability is subject to change*

TCU Horned Frogs	77%	77¢	25¢
North Carolina Tar Heels	25%	25¢	77¢

Week 0 CFB: Memphis vs. UNLV

*Probability is subject to change*

UNLV Rebels	65%	65¢	37¢
Memphis Tigers	37%	37¢	65¢

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College Football Week 0 Top Games Schedule

Memphis at UNLV

• Date: Saturday, Aug. 29
• Time: 10 p.m. ET
• TV: FOX
• Stream: Watch 3 days free on FOX One
• Location: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas

College football’s first FOX game of 2026 gets the late window in Las Vegas. Memphis and UNLV have never met, giving Week 0 a fresh matchup between programs with new-era expectations.

Charles Huff makes his Memphis debut opposite Dan Mullen, who begins his second season at UNLV. Rebels running back Jai’Den “Jet” Thomas enters the year as the Mountain West’s preseason all-conference selection at his position. The game also marks UNLV’s first regular-season appearance on FOX.

North Carolina vs. TCU

• Date: Saturday, Aug. 29
• Time: Noon ET
• TV: ESPN
• Stream: ESPN Unlimited – Get the FOX One / ESPN Bundle
• Location: Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Week 0 opens overseas with the Aer Lingus College Football Classic. It is the first international game in North Carolina history and TCU’s first game outside the United States. The matchup also gives the teams a second consecutive season-opening meeting.

North Carolina running back Demon June arrives on the Doak Walker Award preseason watch list. TCU counters with safety Jamel Johnson, a Bednarik Award watch-list selection who gives the Horned Frogs a proven playmaker on the back end.

San Jose State at No. 14 USC

• Date: Saturday, Aug. 29
• Time: 3 p.m. ET
• TV: NBC
• Stream: Peacock
• Location: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles

USC is the only AP-ranked team in this four-game guide, opening at No. 14 in the preseason poll. The Trojans begin at home against a San Jose State team led by Ken Niumatalolo.

Quarterback Jayden Maiava enters the season with Big Ten preseason honors and control of the USC offense. San Jose State gets an immediate national-stage test before moving into the rest of its September schedule.

NC State at Virginia

• Date: Saturday, Aug. 29
• Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPN, with an alternate presentation on ACC Network
• Stream: ESPN Unlimited – Get the FOX One / ESPN Bundle
• Location: Scott Stadium, Charlottesville, Virginia

The first ACC game of the season stayed in Week 0 after receiving an NCAA waiver, even after the matchup moved from Rio de Janeiro to Charlottesville. It will be the 1,400th game in Virginia football history.

NC State quarterback CJ Bailey enters the year as a team captain and a Walter Camp and Maxwell Award watch-list selection. Virginia linebacker Kam Robinson is the only returning semifinalist from the 2025 Butkus Award field.

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