We went 3-2 in Week 8, as we continue to piece together a winning season. 

And with how crazy this college football season has been, we’ll take it. 

Let’s keep it rolling.

Here’s how I’m wagering on Week 9, along with my Bear Bytes.

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Last Week: 3-2
Season: 21-17

Notre Dame has pounded the service academies the last few years, with no game closer than 35 points. Some might call this a look-ahead spot. I call it a chance to get the mojo back after an idle week following the loss at BYU. This one shouldn’t be close.

Fallica’s Pick: Notre Dame -30.5

BYU has run the gamut of emotions the last two weeks — from the high of one of the biggest wins in school history to an overtime loss at UCF last week. Next week is the Holy War at Rice-Eccles against Utah, in a game the Cougars have to have. BYU will win this week, but this feels like a go-through-the-motions type of game in a weird spot. 

Fallica’s Pick: BYU -16.5

Barring a bunch of IU turnovers, I just don’t know how the Gophers score in this one. The Indiana defense is still very good and should make life miserable for a pretty vanilla Minnesota offense.

Fallica’s Pick: Minnesota Under 10.5 (-150)

The last time Missouri took the field, it got blasted by Ole Miss and looked awful offensively. Yes, the next three games are looming: Texas, at Georgia and Kentucky. But to make those games matter and potentially get to 9-3 and into the CFP discussion, the Tigers can’t slip up here. Arkansas snapped its SEC losing streak last time out, but asking for two wins in a row is a lot.

Fallica’s Pick: Missouri -9.5

Underdogs To Play On ML

Last Week: 2-0, +3.15
Season: 10-13, +2.21

Boston College +210
Cincinnati +245
Auburn +400
FIU +440

Bear Bytes

Last week, five of the eight ranked teams on the road against unranked opponents went down. And if Michigan had a competent offense, it likely would have been six of eight. This week, seven ranked teams are on the road against unranked opponents.

There have been five ranked underdogs against unranked teams this season. Those ranked teams are 4-1 outright, with Tennessee’s loss at South Carolina last week the lone defeat. We have two more this week: Wisconsin at Iowa and Northwestern at Oregon.

Over the last three weeks, the AP’s top two teams are a combined 2-4, with three losses to unranked teams. Both No. 1 Miami and No. 2 Ohio State are on the road against unranked opponents this week.

Five Power 4 teams remain winless in conference play: Colorado (0-4), Penn State (0-4), Maryland (0-4), Michigan State (0-5) and Vanderbilt (0-5).

Just four Power 4 teams remain undefeated in conference play: Miami (5-0), Utah (4-0), UCLA (5-0) and Ohio State (4-0).

There have been four games this season in which a top-seven team was a single-digit favorite away from home against an unranked opponent. Those favorites went 0-4 ATS and lost twice outright:

• BYU (-7.5) lost 39-31 at UCF
• Indiana (-7.5) won 13-6 in overtime at Michigan
• Texas (-7.5) lost 27-24 in overtime against Oklahoma
• Indiana (-9.5) won 20-17 at Nebraska

Really close to losing all four outright. 

This week, No. 2 Ohio State is a 6.5-point favorite at USC, and No. 6 Utah is a 6.5-point favorite at Cincinnati.

No. 25 WISCONSIN @ IOWA

Dating back to 2020, Iowa is 24-6 in regular-season games with a spread between -4 and +4. Wisconsin has lost its last four meetings with Iowa, scoring 10, 6, 10 and 0 points. Iowa hasn’t lost to both Minnesota and Wisconsin in the same season since 2014.

AUBURN @ No. 12 OLE MISS

If Auburn pulls the upset, Alex Golesh will become just the second head coach to win two road games against top-12 teams as a double-digit underdog in his first year at a school. The first? Warren Powers at Missouri in 1978. His Tigers upset No. 5 Notre Dame and No. 2 Nebraska as double-digit dogs that year.

No. 17 FLORIDA vs. No. 3 GEORGIA

Since 1978, Florida and Georgia have met 18 times with a double-digit spread. There have been just two upsets: Florida won 38-20 as an 11.5-point underdog in 2014, and Georgia won 37-17 as a 20.5-point underdog in 1997.

No. 5 NOTRE DAME vs. NAVY

Over the last three seasons, Notre Dame has won all four games against service academies by at least 35 points, outscoring them 191-41.

CLEMSON @ FLORIDA STATE

Something’s gotta give. Clemson is 7-10 against Power 4 teams since the end of the 2024 season, while Florida State is 5-21 against Power 4 teams since the end of the 2023 season.

No. 1 MIAMI @ UNC

North Carolina is 3-6 at home under Bill Belichick. The Tar Heels’ three wins came against FCS schools East Tennessee State and Richmond, and a Stanford team that went 4-8 last year.

No. @ OHIO STATE @ USC

Ryan Day is 30-2 on the road against teams not named Michigan. Both losses, at No. 4 Texas and No. 3 Oregon, came by one point on essentially the final play of the game. Lincoln Riley is 5-16 in his last 21 games against ranked opponents and 4-13 as an underdog against ranked teams. Against top-10 opponents as an underdog, he’s 1-9, including 0-5 at USC. The lone win? At No. 2 Ohio State in 2017.

KANSAS STATE @ COLORADO

Colorado is 2-15 in its last 17 games against Power 4 teams.

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As Villanova and Notre Dame prepare to meet in the Eternal City Tip-Off Nov. 1 in Rome, Italy, both men’s basketball programs are in peculiar spots.

The Wildcats haven’t won an NCAA Tournament game since their 2022 Final Four run. For the Irish, it’s been almost 10 years, as their last deep March Madness run was a 2016 Sweet 16 appearance.  

The days of legendary head coaches Jay Wright and Mike Brey are gone. Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart are now NBA veterans who just added an NBA championship ring to their decorated résumés. It’s been almost 50 years since Bill Laimbeer led the Fighting Irish to a Final Four. 

Villanova and Notre Dame men’s basketball look different in 2026-27, but the illustrious history remains. 

Here’s a look at the all-time starting five between the two programs, decided upon based on NCAA and NBA achievements, regardless of position. 

Villanova Wildcats: 

Jalen Brunson, Guard

Jalen Brunson won two championships across a four-year career at Villanova. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

Brunson became the 14th player to win two college basketball national championships and an NBA title when he led the New York Knicks over the San Antonio Spurs this past June, ending the franchise’s 53-year title drought. Brunson averaged 32.6 points per contest over the five-game series to win Finals MVP. He provided the same steadiness he did as the Wildcats’ point guard in 2016 and 2018. Despite that success in college, Brunson was a second-round selection in the 2018 NBA Draft. He quickly proved doubters wrong, ultimately earning a long-term deal in free agency with the Knicks in 2022. In New York, he turned into a superstar, with an underdog story the city rallied behind. 

Paul Arizin, Guard

Paul Arizin was a 10-time NBA All-Star. (Photo by Charles T. Higgins/NBAE via Getty Images)

Arizin starred for Villanova in the late 1940s. He made his mark in the NBA as Arizin won a title with the Philadelphia Warriors in 1956. He was officially selected as one of the players on the NBA 75th Anniversary Team, coming in at No. 66 in the exclusive honor. Arizin was a 10-time All-Star, who led the NBA in scoring in 1952 and 1957. 

Mikal Bridges, Forward

Mikal Bridges won two national championships across a three-year career at Villanova. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) 

Bridges was a freshman on the 2016 national title team and left for the NBA after winning his second NCAA championship as a junior. He joined forces with former Villanova teammates Brunson and Hart to win an NBA title in 2026 after a blockbuster trade sent him to the Knicks in the summer of 2024. Bridges holds the legendary stat of never missing a game in college or the NBA. 

Josh Hart, Forward

Josh Hart was a junior when he won the 2016 national title with Villanova. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

Hart won one national title with Villanova as a junior in 2016. He went on to win the NBA Finals with former Wildcats teammates Brunson and Bridges 10 years later. His role in that series, and for the Knicks in general, is as a hustle-player and culture-setter. At Villanova, though, he was the leading scorer, averaging 18.7 points per game as a senior. Hart was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers with the final pick in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft. He was later sent to the New Orleans Pelicans as part of a 2019 blockbuster trade for superstar Anthony Davis and then traded to the Portland Trail Blazers for CJ McCollum in 2022 before ultimately landing with the Knicks in 2023 via trade. 

Ed Pinckney, Forward

Ed Pinckney led Villanova to its first national title in 1985. (Photo by Carl Skalak /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X31324 TK3 R23 F24 )

Pinckney led the Wildcats to their first-ever NCAA championship in 1985, as the 8th-seeded Wildcats upset Patrick Ewing and vaunted Georgetown. Pinckney scored 16 points in the title game and led Villanova with 15.6 points per game that season. The Phoenix Suns selected Pinckney with the No. 10 pick in the 1985 NBA Draft. His best NBA season came in 1989-90, when Pinckney averaged 12.3 points per game after a midseason trade to the Sacramento Kings.

Notre Dame: 

Austin Carr, Guard

(Photo by Heinz Kluetmeier/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (SetNumber: X14778 TK1)

Carr was the type of college legend that fans pass lore about from generation to generation. The dynamo scorer still holds the record for the most points in an NCAA Tournament game when he dropped 61 against the Ohio Bobcats in the 1970 NCAA Tournament. The Fighting Irish made it to the Sweet 16 that year. After averaging 34.6 points per contest across his collegiate career, the Cleveland Cavaliers selected Carr with the No. 1 pick in the 1971 NBA Draft. Carr’s NBA career didn’t live up to expectations, but he played nine seasons in Cleveland and averaged 16.2 points per game. 

John Paxson, Guard

John Paxson spent four years at Notre Dame, before an NBA career with the San Antonio Spurs and Chicago Bulls. (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

Paxson was the definition of “steady.” A solid point guard, who played all four years at Notre Dame, turned into the engine for offense with Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls’ first three-peat. The Fighting Irish made the Sweet 16 in Paxson’s sophomore season. After two years with the San Antonio Spurs, who selected him in the first round of the 1983 NBA Draft, he landed with the Bulls and fit right into their championship culture. 

Adrian Dantley, Guard

Adrian Dantley was a two-time All-America selection over three years at Notre Dame. (Photo by Rich Clarkson/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

Dantley averaged 30.4 points per game as a sophomore at Notre Dame in a season where the Fighting Irish fell to the Maryland Terrapins in the Round of 32. Dantley was selected by the Buffalo Braves with the No. 6 pick of the 1976 NBA Draft and won Rookie of the Year honors. But he was traded to the Indiana Pacers the next season. Dantley then had a two-year stint with the Los Angeles Lakers before landing with the Utah Jazz, where he led the NBA in scoring in 1981 and 1984. Dantley finished as a six-time All-Star. 

LaPhonso Ellis, Forward

LaPhonso Ellis was an elite rim protector over a four-year career at Notre Dame. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images)

Ellis spent four seasons at Notre Dame from 1988-92 and is the only player in Fighting Irish history to lead the team in blocks for all four years. He finished his time in South Bend with 200 blocked shots and ultimately had his jersey retired. The Denver Nuggets selected Ellis with the fifth pick in the 1992 NBA Draft. 

Bill Laimbeer, Center

Bill Laimbeer played three seasons at Notre Dame before a 14-year NBA career. (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

Laimbeer spent three years in South Bend, helping the Fighting Irish reach the Final Four in 1978. Notre Dame was defeated by the Duke Blue Devils, who lost to the Kentucky Wildcats in the national championship. Laimbeer spent one season in Italy before going to the NBA, where he became a legend. His tough-nosed style was a fixture for the “Detroit Basketball” “Bad Boys.” Laimbeer averaged a double-double in the Detroit Pistons’ first NBA championship run in 1988 and helped them go back-to-back the next season. 

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College athletes are compensated, local judges are determining eligibility, the NCAA Tournament doors are widening. 

If we’ve learned anything about college sports in the last few years, nothing is sacred. 

Name, image and likeness went into effect in the early 2020s, allowing athletes to sign endorsement deals and use their platform to get paid or partner with third-party NIL collectives. Then, in June 2025, the House vs. NCAA settlementallowed schools to hand a portion (up to 22%) of its revenue to athletes. Additional changes have included the transfer portal opening after the NCAA championship, for a 15-day window. 

Now, ahead of the 2026-27 season, as college basketball continues to evolve, there are a slew of new alterations to keep track of which will certainly impact outcomes across the sport. 

Here are the most significant rule changes. 

NCAA Tournament Expansion

Steven Pearl and Auburn were one of the First Four Out teams in the 2026 NCAA Tournament. (Photo by Brandon Sumrall/Getty Images)

College basketball decided to follow college football and expand its postseason. The last time the NCAA expanded its college basketball tournament was in 2011, when it went from 64 teams to 68, introducing the First Four play-in games in Dayton, Ohio. Now the NCAA is adding eight at-large bids, expanding to a 76-team field with a similar method to that change 15 years ago. The NCAA is adding a 12-game Opening Round featuring 24 teams in place of the First Four. 

From there, the format will remain the same: Round of 64, Round of 32, Sweet 16, Elite Eight, Final Four, and national championship game.

Looking at KenPom’s net ratings, these 2025-2026 teams likely would have qualified for a 76-team field on the men’s side:

• Auburn Tigers (22-16)
• Oklahoma Sooners (21-16)
• Cincinnati Bearcats (18-15)
• Indiana Hoosiers (18-14)
• New Mexico Lobos (26-11)
• San Diego State Aztecs (22-11)
• Baylor Bears (17-17)
• Seton Hall Pirates (21-12)

With the new 76-team field, high-major teams with near .500 records will sneak their way into the NCAA Tournament. A small handful of mid-major teams that didn’t win their conference could also be rewarded. Remember, this doesn’t simply reward more mediocre teams, as these programs will still have to face off against one another for the right to play higher seeds and have the chance at March Madness-style upsets, but it is weird to see teams with middling records have a chance to extend their seasons. 

Additionally, the NCAA will be able to televise more games. This could also result in more premier early-season nonconference matchups, as these programs could feel more comfortable, and have more leeway, to stumble against a quality opponent. 

Transfer Portal Amendments

Dusty May was hired as the Dallas Mavericks head coach after leading the Michigan Wolverines to the 2026 NCAA title. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

Last January, the NCAA moved the transfer portal to open after the NCAA Tournament concluded, hoping to prevent Final Four teams from losing players while competing for a championship. That will remain the same in 2026-27. Another alteration to the transfer portal — that we’ve already seen come into play this offseason — is the impact on players after a coaching change. When a coaching change occurs, regardless of the timing, the NCAA will open a 15-day window for the players on the team losing its coach. That 15-day window, however, will only open five days after the new head coach, interim or official, is announced. If no official coach is announced within 30 days of the prior one departing, the 15-day portal window will open on that 31st day. This allows a grace period for the new coach to retain current players.

Here are some recent examples, and how programs were affected:

• Dusty May leaves Michigan: On June 22, the Dallas Mavericks hired former Dusty May. Michigan then promoted assistant Mike Boynton to interim head coach, and then promoted him to official head coach, agreeing to a two-year deal on July 10. A 15-day portal window on July 15th, five days after Boynton’s post became official. Michigan lost one player to that portal — L.J. Cason, who transferred to Miami.
• Dana Altman retired from Oregon: On Oct. 7, 2026, Dana Altman retired from his post as Oregon head coach. The Ducks promoted assistant Tony Stubblefield to interim head coach. A 15-day transfer portal is open, but no Oregon players have entered. With the season starting Monday, Nov. 1, most rosters are set, giving them few options if they wanted to leave.

Age-Based Eligibility Model

Roddy Gayle Jr. was granted a TRO and returned to Michigan for a fifth year. (Photo by Jaime Crawford/Getty Images)

The NCAA instituted the “age-based eligibility model” in June 2026. The rule allows all college athletes five years of eligibility from when they enroll in school, or the age of 19. It eliminates the use of redshirts.

Importantly, the NCAA did not grandfather-in players whose eligibility clock expired after the 2025-26 season. The “age-based eligibility model” does not apply to them. 

Many of those players took issue with that. They partnered with lawyers and law firms, becoming plaintiffs in state-court lawsuits across the country to fight the NCAA for another year of eligibility. Local judges heard arguments from both sides, and granted most players a temporary injunction, rewarding them with another year of eligibility. Appeals from the NCAA followed. Some local judges obliged, staying the cases, while others allowed the initial decision to pass. Some players who were granted eligibility transferred to new schools, others returned to their previous ones. 

The NCAA, however, showed — and continues to show — no sign of implementing a new hard-fast rule applying to 2026 graduates. Some conferences stepped in, created their own boundaries. 

But with the start of the season looming, appeals from both sides continue to flood in. Therefore, players who are eligible could lose eligibility, and players who aren’t could gain eligibility.

Here’s a look at some examples:

• Roddy Gayle Jr. (eligible, returned to Michigan)
• Darrion Williams (eligible, transferred from NC State to Texas Tech)
• RJ Godfrey (ineligible, transferred Clemson to Arizona)

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The college football season keeps delivering, and Week 9 brings another slate, with massive conference and College Football Playoff implications. 

We start with a pivotal “Big Noon Kickoff” showdown between No. 25 Wisconsin and Iowa in Iowa City. The Badgers are coming off their biggest win of the Luke Fickell era after taking down USC in Week 8. Can Wisconsin keep that momentum going, or will the Hawkeyes bounce back from a disappointing loss to Minnesota?

In the Big 12, No. 22 Arizona heads to Lubbock to face No. 13 Texas Tech in a matchup with massive Big 12 and playoff implications. Can the Wildcats pull off a huge road win, or will the Red Raiders avoid two straight losses?

Meanwhile, Florida and Georgia square off in a top-25 showdown in Atlanta as the Dawgs look to move past their stunning loss to Auburn. Can Jon Sumrall and the Gators pull off another huge upset?

Then, under the bright Halloween lights, can Lincoln Riley save his job by leading USC to an upset of No. 2 Ohio State? And can Bill Belichick and North Carolina shock the world against No. 1 Miami, or will the Hurricanes avoid getting caught looking ahead to next week’s potential top-five showdown with Notre Dame?

Here are our expert picks for another loaded Week 9 college football slate.

2026 College Football Expert Picks Week 9

College football Saturday in Week 9 kicks off with some notable big games, including No. 25 Wisconsin at Iowa (noon ET, FOX), No. 22 Arizona at No. 13 Texas Tech (noon ET, ESPN) and No. 2 Ohio State vs. USC (7:30 p.m. ET).

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The Carolina Panthers fired defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero and defensive passing game coordinator Jonathan Cooley on Friday following the team’s 27-19 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night.

Evero is the first NFL coordinator to be fired this season.

Carolina (3-4) entered the week ranked 22nd in overall defense and last in the league against the run.

Green Bay’s Jordan Love was 30 of 41 passing for 288 yards with three touchdowns and one interception in the win over Carolina. It hasn’t helped that the Panthers have played the last few games without starting cornerbacks Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson. Backup cornerback Akayleb Evans joined them on injured reserve earlier this week.

Defensive line coach Todd Wash has been named interim defensive coordinator and will call the defensive plays, according to the Panthers.

Wash joined Carolina’s staff in 2023 and has 31 years of coaching experience, including 20 in the NFL. He spent five seasons serving as the defensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars, who had the second-ranked defense in the league in 2017 under Wash and advanced to the AFC Championship game.

Outside linebackers coach/run game specialist AC Carter’s responsibilities will expand to include coaching the defensive line, the Panthers announced. Also, secondary coach Renaldo Hill will continue to oversee the defensive backs.

Coach Dave Canales is expected to address the moves later Friday.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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Have $400 million hanging around? A defending, back-to-back Cy Young Award winner at the top of his game is available.

Los Angeles Dodgers ace and former Detroit Tigers superstar Tarik Skubal is the top player on the MLB free agent market, and figures to become the highest-paid pitcher in the sport. Any team that seeks to sign Skubal, though, realistically has to be able to afford to give out a historic contract and has a clear need for a pitcher of his ilk.

With that, here are the three best MLB free agent fits for Skubal should he depart Los Angeles:

New York Mets

The top payroll in Major League Baseball earned a last-place finish in its division. In summation: The New York Mets need a major boost, pronto, and Skubal would emphatically fill a years-long void.

Last season, the Mets’ starting rotation was 23rd in MLB in ERA (4.47), tied for 21st in WHIP (1.33) and tied for 14th in opponent batting average (.245). Nolan McLean (3.16 ERA and 194 strikeouts in 31 starts last season) looks like a budding star, while Christian Scott and Zac Thornton have shown promise, but the Mets don’t have a veteran and dominant rotation backbone.

The Mets thought they had that exact pitcher when they acquired Freddy Peralta from the Milwaukee Brewers last offseason, but he struggled mightily (4.99 ERA in 22 starts) and was ultimately sent to the Tampa Bay Rays, with whom he got back on track (3.25 ERA in 10 regular-season starts). Moreover, Clay Holmes fractured his fibula in May and was later traded to the Chicago Cubs, as the Mets were out of playoff contention.

Skubal would become New York’s undisputed ace. He offers a potent left-hander who posts strikeouts at a high rate, can pitch deep into games and does so while consistently throwing four pitches (four-seamer, changeup, sinker and slider), with a curveball mixed in every here and there.

What stops the Mets from being the best fit for Skubal, though, is that his arrival would likely make New York a playoff contender, rather than a threat to winning the NL pennant. 

Toronto Blue Jays

The Toronto Blue Jays went from being one win away from a World Series triumph to last place in the American League East. Also, their offense went from fourth to last in runs.

What happened here?

Nevertheless, this is still a talented team that should be operating as if it’s going to get back into the playoff mix. On that note, the Skubal dude, right?

Toronto moved veteran right-hander Kevin Gausman at the trade deadline, while Shane Bieber, Max Scherzer, Patrick Corbin and Jameson Taillon are free agents. Either way, another arm is needed. Skubal just so happens to be able to change the Blue Jays’ 2027 prospects.

Skubal would become the leader of a starting rotation that was 15th in ERA (4.22) and WHIP (1.29) last season. Ironically, those figures were mostly better than when the Blue Jays reached the 2025 World Series (4.34 ERA and a .251 opponent batting average in the regular season).

Skubal would join forces with Dylan Cease, who had arguably the best year of his MLB career in his first season with the Blue Jays (2.40 ERA, 239 strikeouts and 5.5 wins above replacement), midseason pickup José Soriano and emerging right-hander Trey Yesavage. Working under the expectation that a Blue Jays offense which features Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Kazuma Okamoto and Ernie Clement will bounce back, an enhanced rotation that features Skubal should get the Blue Jays off the mat.

All that said, while Skubal would get Toronto back in the AL East mix, if not the AL pennant mix, there’s a team that the southpaw would put over the top.

Chicago Cubs

Fix a problem with an axe, and it becomes part of your past. Fix a problem with a Band-Aid, and it becomes part of your future. The Cubs need to stop doing the latter (e.g., acquiring Mike Soroka at the 2025 MLB trade deadline and the combination of Holmes, Gausman, David Peterson, Edward Cabrera and Braxton Garrett this year) and do the former.

Sure, Skubal could be what any team needs to make a jump, but he’s exactly what the Cubs have needed, perhaps more than any consistent playoff team of late.

Chicago’s starting rotation surrendered the third-most home runs in MLB last season (142), while being 18th in ERA (4.27) and tied for 12th in opponent batting average (.244). Furthermore, their pitching staff as a whole had the third-highest opponent barrel percentage (8.7%), sixth-highest opponent hard-hit percentage (39.8%) and seventh-highest opponent average exit velocity (89.1 mph), per Statcast.

Shota Imanaga and Gausman are each free agents, while both Holmes and Gausman underwhelmed after coming over in trade deadline deals. The Cubs, who have made the playoffs in each of the last two years but haven’t reached the NL Championship Series since 2017, need an ace.

Skubal, who led the AL in ERA and wins above replacement in 2024 and 2025, would give the Cubs a definitive Game 1 postseason starter. Across 50 ⅔ career innings pitched in the postseason, the left-hander owns a 2.13 ERA, an 0.79 WHIP and has logged 70 strikeouts. In his 10 regular-season starts with the Dodgers this year, Skubal posted a 2.61 ERA, a 1.05 WHIP and 70 strikeouts over 62.0 innings (10 starts).

A rotation that includes Skubal, Matthew Boyd, one of the earlier-mentioned acquisitions, and maybe Imanaga on a short-term deal makes a respectable Chicago rotation a should-be formidable one. Plus, maybe Justin Steele, a 2023 All-Star who hasn’t pitched for the Cubs since April 2025 due to elbow discomfort, can return to action, and Chicago can use its surplus of pitchers to acquire an outfielder to potentially replace one of Seiya Suzuki, Ian Happ or Michael Conforto, who are each set to be free agents? 

Skubal’s arrival would help the Cubs challenge the World Series-champion Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central and make them a championship contender.

That sounds worth the price of admission.

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Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark is leaving the conference after four years that included transformational change in the league and college sports.

The decision announced Friday comes about a year and a half after Yormark signed a three-year contract extension that was to run through 2030. Yormark will stay in the job until Jan. 31.

“When I accepted this job, my goal was to put this conference on an upward trajectory and truly believe that the future of the conference could not be in better shape,” said Yormark, the fifth commissioner in the league’s 32-year history. “The next commissioner of this league will inherit a conference that is ‘16 Strong.’ There has never been a better time to be a member of the Big 12 than right now.”

Yormark was CEO of Jay-Z’s Roc National entertainment company when he was hired to take over for Bob Bowlsby in 2022. He had previously served as CEO of the Brooklyn Nets.

During a time that included massive changes in the landscape of college sports around name, image and likeness deals for players, Yormark landed a six-year television contract extension with ESPN and FOX valued at $2.28 billion.

He also shepherded the move of Colorado, Arizona, Arizona State and Utah to the Big 12 following the disintegration of the Pac-12, famously saying the league was “open for business” during the conference’s first football media days after he was hired.

Yormark also oversaw the Bowlsby-negotiated move of BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF into the Big 12.

Yormark’s background in business helped lead to several innovative moves involving sponsorships and other marketing initiatives.

“Speaking on behalf of all of the Big 12 presidents, we thank Brett for shepherding this great conference through an extraordinary period in college athletics,” University of Kansas Chancellor and Big 12 board chairman Douglas A. Girod said. “When Brett arrived, we were at a crossroads in the Big 12 and as a college sports enterprise. Brett’s vision, business acumen, and confidence put us on the path we find ourselves on today.”

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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We’re in NFL Week 8, and this week, I’m paying attention to a few squads that I’m still undecided about. 

Here’s how I’m wagering the weekend.

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The Cowboys still leave a lot to be desired, and they shouldn’t be a favorite over anyone in the NFL by seven points. 

Dallas just beat up on the Eagles, but that game was far closer than the final score. The Eagles were leading 21-20 in the third quarter before they just fell flat. Philly is missing all sorts of starters on both sides of the ball, and it took the Cowboys deep into the game to get a comfortable win. 

The Dallas defense is still one of the worst in the NFL and the Arizona offense is good enough to exploit that. The Cardinals have also shown the ability to make late comebacks and score to keep themselves within striking distance.

Schwartz’s Pick: Cardinals +7

I wrote last week that I expected the Kansas City offense to sputter a bit against the Seahawks and things played out as expected — clunky. 

The Chiefs couldn’t block. They didn’t run it well. No one was open, and Patrick Mahomes played sped up. All of that equaled three total points for K.C. on the night. 

While the Chiefs’ offensive line should have a tackle back, I still don’t like the matchup against the Denver defense. The Chiefs can’t stretch vertically at all, so better defenses are able to play tight coverage on receivers who can’t beat man coverage. 

The Broncos will look to stop running back Kenneth Walker, which they were unable to do in the first matchup between these two teams. The Denver pass rush has improved with the return of Jonathan Cooper back into the lineup, and I don’t believe the Chiefs are going to score on a consistent basis.

Now, on the other hand, the Denver offense is one-dimensional, going up against a good K.C. defense. It doesn’t run the ball that well unless it is Bo Nix scrambling. Denver doesn’t push the ball down the field with any regularity, and that’s why it struggles to score. The Broncos put up 17 against the Chargers in a win that featured lots of short fields later in the game due to Chargers turnovers. They also scored just 17 against Seattle two weeks ago. 

The Broncos did break loose against the Cardinals last week, but that final score number feels a bit inflated. Denver scored on a long Nix scramble and a screen that went for 50+ yards.

I like the Under in this game.

Schwartz’s Pick: Under 40.5

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The bun is back. Along with the smile and that silky jump shot. JuJu Watkins is returning to college basketball after missing last season while rehabbing an ACL tear.

The star guard who averaged 25.6 points in her first two seasons for Southern California is surrounded by a talent-laden supporting cast as the third-ranked Trojans bid for their first national championship since 1984.

“It’s on my mind every day,” Watkins said. “So much anticipation has gone into this year. I want it really badly, but also in a healthy way. I just want to have fun and really enjoy this year.”

Watkins has already envisioned seeing her first basket go in.

“I’ve had dreams about that every night. I might shed a tear, honestly, I can’t lie,” she said. “That’ll be a really amazing feeling for me.”

Watkins scored 18 points while playing 22 minutes in USC’s exhibition win over California recently.

JuJu Watkins and Jazzy Davidson (right) didn’t get a chance to play together last season, but this year will be different. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

She joins Big Ten Freshman of the Year Jazzy Davidson, who averaged 17.9 points last season, in the backcourt for the first time. The duo began developing their chemistry while Watkins was sidelined from the injury she sustained in the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. She could be spotted encouraging Davidson on the sideline during games.

“She saw me being hard on myself and I think she saw a little bit of her in me,” Davidson said, “and so she kind of knew what it was like going through that. Being able to build the friendship that we were able to build, it’s a huge blessing.”

Davidson led the Trojans in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks per game last season, when they finished 18-14 overall, 9-9 in the Big Ten and lost in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

USC’s stockpile of talent includes guard Saniyah Hall, who had 23 points, six rebounds and five steals in the Trojans’ exhibition, as well as forward Sara Okeke, one of three five-star recruits to join the roster.

“They have proven that they’re going to be really impactful players at a high level,” coach Lindsay Gottlieb said.

The expectations on Watson are huge, as always. She was named the Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year.

“I’m just trying to be myself and peak at the right time,” she said. “I’m definitely a smarter player coming back. I know more about the different reads and was able to study a lot and assert myself in different situations when I wasn’t playing.”

Last season, Watkins would set up chairs in the locker room for the team talk on the road. It was one of the small ways she found to be useful without being on the court.

“I was able to take on a leadership role for sure and I can’t say I really owned that role prior to that,” she said. “Being able to do that and also see the game from a different perspective and seeing how can I help my team really helped grow my IQ and leadership skills.”

The Trojans open the season on Monday in Las Vegas against UNLV in the Hall of Fame Series. Their early games include a visit to top-ranked South Carolina on Nov. 15, and facing No. 13 Notre Dame and No. 4 Duke in the Players Era Showcase in Las Vegas in mid-December.

“We’re going to get hit in the mouth,” associate head coach Beth Burns said. “The good thing is when you get hit in the mouth you either cower or you bite back, and we got a lot of people who want to bite.”

That includes Watkins.

“Everybody wants to know the secret, why is JuJu JuJu? The secret is there ain’t no secret, it’s work and focus,” Burns said. “Her choice is to be elite in every facet in her life.”

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Last year, Watkins’ favorite class was Pete Carroll’s “The Game is Life” offered through USC’s Marshall School of Business. The former Trojans football coach emphasized his mindset of always competing and it made an impression on her.

“Coming back, I haven’t lost my confidence, I haven’t lost my attention to detail,” Watkins said. “Everything is the same. It’s just I’ve been out for a minute.”

And now she’s back, with a will to win that’s as strong as ever.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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In the span of two hours, Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson caught passes from Jordan Love, was examined in the hospital and then returned to play at Lambeau Field.

Excuse me?

Yes, that was the order of events for Watson, who suffered a chest injury with 9:11 remaining in the second quarter of the Packers’ Thursday night win over the Carolina Panthers and returned to the sideline following a hospital visit with 7:06 remaining in the third quarter.

Watson’s return to the sideline was met with thunderous applause from the Packer faithful.

“It was super dramatic. I felt like I was watching a WWE SmackDown vs. RAW event or something out there,” Watson said in his postgame press conference about coming out of the ambulance in the tunnel.

“Seeing the cameras on me when I was coming out of the ambulance, that was a little crazy. It was a surreal experience, no doubt, just to go through that and have the fans cheering for me. Being back out there was definitely exciting.”

Amazingly, Watson finished the 27-19 victory with a career-high eight receptions for 113 yards, which were both game highs.

The 113-yard outing was Watson’s fourth 100-plus-yard game of the season. Meanwhile, Love threw for 288 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, while posting a 106.6 passer rating and completing 73.2% of his passes (30 of 41). 

Watson, who signed a four-year, $110.5 million extension with the Packers in June, has traditionally been held back by a combination of hamstring, ankle and knee injuries, among other issues. He missed three games in 2022, eight games in 2023, three games in 2024 and seven games in 2025.

That said, the 6-foot-4 Watson has appeared in each of Green Bay’s eight games this season and is tearing it up; the fifth-year receiver has logged 42 receptions for 708 yards (16.9 yards per reception) and six touchdowns. Watson’s receiving yards and receiving touchdown totals each lead the Packers.

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