You knew change would be coming to Joel Klatt’s rankings after a wild Saturday; the question was just how much change we would see.

Georgia holds at No. 1 after its first win in Tuscaloosa since 2007, beating Alabama 20-17 and bullying the Crimson Tide around for most of the night. Ohio State and Miami both climbed up behind the Bulldogs. 

But Texas, the former AP No. 1 and last week’s No. 2 in Klatt’s ranking, craters all the way to No. 7 after a stunning 27-24 loss to unranked Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry. UCLA, fresh off upsetting Oregon in Eugene, cracks the top 10 for the first time, replacing the Ducks.

With six weeks of college football in the books, here are Klatt’s 10 best teams in the country.

Record: 5-0

Previous ranking: Unranked ↑

Klatt’s thoughts: “So UCLA is real. Where are they at in my top 10? They’ve cracked it, man. I’ve got to put them in there. Part of this is their upcoming schedule, yes, but UCLA is going to be No. 10 for me. So kudos to Bob Chesney. 

“This UCLA team — there’s some juice there. I can’t wait to see. Is it always going to be full in the Rose Bowl? No, that homefield environment isn’t the greatest. But if it’s good, it’s good.”

Odds to make CFP: +105 (eighth-best)
Odds to win national title: +7000 (14th best)

Record: 5-0

Previous ranking: 10 ↑

Klatt’s thoughts: “At nine, I’ve got BYU. BYU is still in there. 

“They beat Iowa State 24-10, but they’ve got some injuries. I don’t love the next couple of weeks for BYU, I certainly don’t love their matchup against Notre Dame without LJ Martin, their running back, and without Isaiah Glasker, their linebacker. 

“Both of those guys look to be out moving forward here for the next couple of weeks, so facing Notre Dame might be quite a tall task. And then they’ve got a huge game in conference on the road, just up the road, against Utah.”

Odds to make CFP: +200 (14th-best)
Odds to win national title: +7800 (16th-best)

Record: 5-0

Previous ranking: 9 ↑

Klatt’s thoughts: “Another week, another comfortable win for the Utes. Although they were messing around a little bit with Kansas.  

“Kansas had a fourth down inside the five to make it basically a three-point game at one point in the fourth quarter, and then all of a sudden they stop them, get a big run going the other direction and end up beating Kansas 41-24. 

“Every win this year has been by at least two touchdowns, so they’re dominating some folks. They had over 500 yards of offense, nearly 300 on the ground against Kansas.”

Odds to make CFP: +105 (eighth-best) 
Odds to win national title: +6600 (11th-best)

Record: 4-1

Previous ranking: 2 ↓

Klatt’s thoughts: “You can’t make those mistakes. The sloppiness has got to be maddening from the Texas perspective. I don’t want to harp on this, but this is one of the more talented offenses, just late, inconsistent, slower in processing, slower feet, slower release. The variance is killing them. 

“Sarkisian, sloppy for the second straight week, they’ve got to fix some things. 

“So where does Texas go in the top 10? Because they still have such a high ceiling, they’re still a top-10 team. Have they played like that for even a full half? I don’t think they have. But I can’t put them lower than seven. So Texas is going to be seventh right now.”

Odds to make CFP: -450 (seventh-best)
Odds to win national title: +900 (sixth-best)

Record: 6-0

Previous ranking: 6

Klatt’s thoughts: “Indiana is going to be at No. 6. I think there are some things there that they need to work on, their secondary still needs some help, they’re trying to figure out where they need to be from a secondary standpoint. But Indiana’s going to be my sixth-ranked team in the country.”

Odds to make CFP: -800 (fourth-best)
Odds to win national title: +1100 (seventh-best)

Record: 6-0

Previous ranking: 7 ↑

Klatt’s thoughts: “Notre Dame is going to be five. They beat Stanford 58-7, handled them, got the ground game going, by the way, 361 on the ground. 

“We’re finally going to see what Notre Dame is all about when they face BYU, and maybe we’re going to learn that BYU isn’t very good, or maybe we’re going to learn that Notre Dame isn’t very good. Maybe we’re going to learn that both of them are very good. I’m not sure, because Notre Dame’s level of competition just hasn’t been great. 

“Again, Stanford isn’t going to give you any sort of barometer about what your team is.”

Odds to make CFP: -3000 (first)
Odds to win national title: +500 (tied second-best)

Record: 5-1

Previous ranking: 5 ↑

Klatt’s thoughts: “Everyone says it’s your first game to your second game — no, it’s your first real game to your second. That’s when the growth shows up, and QB Keelon Russell is going to grow from this. 

“So Bama is going to go to four. They were at five last week. Texas dropped out, so obviously they can move up again. Bama can absolutely win the national championship, that team could win a national championship, I firmly believe that.”

Odds to make CFP: -700 (sixth-best)
Odds to win national title: +900 (fifth-best)

“In particular, if Russell continues to improve and gets more efficient, and if the offensive line continues to develop under Adrian Klemm, their offensive line coach, then they’ve got something. They totally rebuilt their offensive line, and it shows in a positive way.”

Record: 5-0

Previous ranking: 4 ↑

Klatt’s thoughts: “Miami was off this week. They’re the No. 1 scoring team in the country. They’re the No. 1 point-differential team in the country. They’ve got Florida State at home this week — I think they should beat Florida State, although Florida State is improving a little bit. But all eyes are pointing toward that Notre Dame game in November.”

Odds to make CFP: -1500 (third-best)
Odds to win national title: +700 (fourth-best)

Record: 5-1

Previous ranking: 3 ↑

Klatt’s thoughts: “They took care of Maryland, 45-16. They’ve basically been one of the most dominant and best teams in college football outside of three possessions. 

“Those three possessions are keeping them out of that No. 1 spot. If they would’ve beaten Texas that night, obviously they’d be No. 1 right there with Georgia. 

“But Georgia’s one, Ohio State’s two. They’ve been very consistent after that game against Texas.”

Odds to make CFP: -750 (fifth-best)
Odds to win national title: +400 (first)

Record: 6-0

Previous ranking: 1

Klatt’s thoughts: “Georgia is still the team that can bully Alabama around a little bit. Now, was it to the extent we saw in the last six quarters of their two meetings a year ago? No, it wasn’t … All of a sudden there’s a fumble, and they take a huge review. Where does it go? It goes Georgia’s way.

“They come back and win that game. Georgia gets a good whistle. They do. They just do … I’ve told you for a couple of weeks now, three weeks ago I said I have a sneaky suspicion that Georgia is actually the best team in the country.

Odds to make CFP: -2500 (second-best)
Odds to win national title: +500 (tied second-best)

“Why do I feel that way? Because of everything we saw on Saturday night. When they need a play, Gunner Stockton makes it. When they have to gain some yards, they do it. They just don’t beat themselves, and for that, they’re the No. 1 team in the country, and we all know it. They’ve proven that.”

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One sure thing about NFL betting is that there are no sure things. 

That played out in NFL Week 5 odds right out of the gate on Thursday night, with the public betting masses on the wrong side.

The Cowboys were the biggest favorite on the board. Dallas faced a Buccaneers side that hadn’t covered in its last 13 games and was starting an undrafted rookie QB in Jalon Daniels.

So of course: Bucs 24, Cowboys 16.

“The Cowboys spent the week as the safest leg on the NFL card. But Thursday night served as a reminder that there are no free squares in the NFL,” Caesars Sports head of football trading Joey Feazel said.

The upset kicked off four days of back-and-forth between sportsbooks and bettors. Oddsmakers from Las Vegas and across the country chimed in to recap the weekend that was in NFL and college football betting.

This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.

Bookmaker Boosters

Nothing starts off an NFL week better for sportsbooks — or worse for the masses — than a popular favorite going up in flames. The Cowboys were surely the lead-off hitter on countless moneyline parlays running to Sunday’s NFL games, and perhaps to some Saturday college football, too.

All those parlays went poof before Friday even arrived.

“Undrafted Kansas product Jalon Daniels stunned bettors by leading the winless Buccaneers to the season’s biggest upset,” Feazel said.

Indeed, the Cowboys were 9.5-point favorites, matching the Chargers’ line vs. the Cardinals in Week 1, when L.A. tumbled 26-14. But Dallas’ loss certainly felt like a bigger upset due to the surrounding circumstances.

The Bucs were on an 0-13 slide against the spread (ATS), having not covered since Week 8 of last season. And Tampa was just 2-11 straight up (SU) in that stretch, including 0-4 SU and ATS this season.

Jalon Daniels helped doom bettors win his performance against the Cowboys (Getty Images).

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In Sunday’s first game, Eagles vs. Jaguars in London, Jacksonville won in crazy fashion, but didn’t cover the number. More on that in a moment.

Both BetMGM and Caesars Sports said the 1 p.m. ET games — eight in all — generally fell in their favor, even with a lot of favorites winning and covering.

“We got off to a reasonably good start,” BetMGM trading manager Tristan Davis said.

The Raiders and Browns were trendy underdogs on the spread and moneyline, and both failed to deliver. Las Vegas (+3.5) got blown out by the host Patriots 45-17. Cleveland (+2.5), on a three-game SU and ATS win streak, lost to the Jets 17-12 on the road.

“It was a solid early slate for the book,” Feazel said. “Even with the Eagles unable to hold on for the upset in the final seconds of the game, there was healthy Jacksonville action on the spread throughout the week.”

The Jags closed as 7.5-point favorites and were never covering the number. In fact, Jacksonville trailed most of the game, including 17-16 with eight seconds remaining, after Jake Elliott’s 48-yard field goal for Philly.

But Ameer Abdullah returned the ensuing kick 53 yards to the Eagles’ 39-yard line, getting tackled with one second left. Cam Little then booted a 57-yarder to give the Jags an improbable 19-17 win, albeit well short of covering.

Las Vegas entered Week 5 at 3-1 SU/4-0 ATS, the only team with a perfect spread-covering mark. That’s no longer the case.

“The love for the Raiders in Vegas continued into this week, [so] the Patriots’ blowout was another key decision,” Feazel said.

Public Performers

There were only three games in the 4:05 p.m./4:25 p.m. ET window. The Broncos and Lions were popular road favorites, vs. the Chargers and Cardinals, respectively. 

Denver (-3.5) once again had to rally, but won and covered 23-17. Detroit (-5.5) ran away from Arizona 45-21.

And the 49ers were another trendy underdog vs. the 3-point home favorite Seahawks. In a back-and-forth battle, San Francisco won outright 32-29.

“Bettors expected fireworks in the 49ers-Seahawks matchup and were not shy about backing San Francisco as the live ‘dog. Points and the 49ers proved to be a popular marriage for the public,” Feazel said.

Added Davis: “The afternoon slate reared its ugly head, which gave the bettors the edge.”

Also helping the masses were the favorites going 9-3 SU and ATS across the early and late windows, and two of those three underdogs being popular with the public: Green Bay and San Fran. The Packers were 1.5-point home ‘dogs and smoked the Bears 45-17.

“Way too many favorites won, way too many favorites covered. And all the money was on the Packers,” South Point sportsbook director Chris Andrews said.

The Packers were one of many favorites that won and covered in NFL Week 5 (Getty Images).

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Feazel noted that the Texans (1-4 SU and ATS) finally cracking the win column also boosted bettors. Houston was a 6.5-point favorite at Tennessee and rolled 26-3.

“Bettors have been taking the Texans and fading the Titans since Week 1, and that was finally the perfect combination for them to capitalize on,” Feazel said.

Sunday night’s Ravens-Falcons tilt was a big winner for DraftKings customers. Pregame, DraftKings noted that its worst outcome was Baltimore moneyline — a Ravens outright win — and Over 43.5 points scored.

So a 30-23 Ravens overtime victory padded the bettors’ pockets.

However, BetMGM’s Davis and South Point’s Andrews both said they needed a Baltimore outright win. So, as is the case sometimes, different sportsbooks can have different needs.

On Campus

Three outright underdog winners and one key favorite across Saturday’s slate proved too much for the public betting masses to overcome.

Leading the way: Unranked Oklahoma, a 7.5-point neutral-site ‘dog, knocking off No. 1 Texas 27-24 on a Tate Sandel 47-yard field goal as time expired at the Cotton Bowl.

UCLA was a 10-point road underdog to Oregon and shut down the Ducks in a 17-15 upset. USC was a 1.5-point road favorite, but Penn State was a trendy underdog with the public and lost 31-23.

And in the game of the day, 2.5-point road ‘dog Georgia held off Alabama 20-17.

“It was day for the ages for BetMGM. Oklahoma, UCLA, Georgia and USC all winning outright were massive results for the book,” BetMGM trading manager Seamus Magee said. “Oklahoma alone took out a heap of moneyline parlays, which really set the table for the rest of Saturday night.

“It felt like Notre Dame covering was just about the only result that didn’t go our way.”

The Fighting Irish had no trouble with Stanford, winning 58-7 as massive 40.5-point home favorites.

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Three top-10 teams — Texas, Alabama and LSU — suffered losses this weekend, as did Oregon, creating more questions about who can make a legitimate run at a national championship this year.

Meanwhile, UCLA remains undefeated under new coach Bob Chesney, and Kentucky is becoming an increasingly intriguing team under first-year coach Will Stein. Georgia is the new No. 1 team in the country and doesn’t look like it will give up that spot easily.

The SEC will continue to dominate the headlines, but the Big 12 is demanding attention of its own. BYU, Utah, Texas Tech, Houston and Oklahoma State are all positioning themselves for a shot at the College Football Playoff, making the conference one to watch as this race heats up.

With that, here are our superlatives from another fun weekend of college football.

   Game Of The Week: Indiana Tops Nebraska

(Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)

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No. 5 Indiana scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to rally past previously undefeated Nebraska, 20-17, on the road. Hoosiers quarterback Josh Hoover connected with receiver Nick Marsh for a 75-yard score with about 12 minutes remaining, and on the next possession, found Marsh again for a 44-yard touchdown on fourth-and-one to complete the comeback. 

“I’m not sure it’s completely sunk in — it’s starting to — that we won, because it took everything the players and coaches had in that one to find a way to overcome,” Indiana coach Curt Cignetti said after the game.

The defending national champions have now won 22 consecutive games. Just in time to host No. 4 Ohio State next week in an anticipated rematch of last year’s Big Ten title game.

   Moment Of The Week: Kentucky’s OT Win vs. LSU

(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

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Kentucky quarterback Kenny Minchey ran for a two-point conversion in overtime to lift the Wildcats to a 35-34 win over then-No. 10 LSU on Saturday night.

An unranked Kentucky team forced overtime when Adam Zouagui made a 33-yard field goal with 12 seconds remaining in regulation – a huge confidence boost after missing his previous two attempts in the final five minutes. Before the game-tying kick, Stein gave Zouagui a hug.

“I’m in shock,” Stein said after the game. “We’ve got a really good football team. People count us out. It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t perfect. We just kept chopping. We kept fighting.”

In his first season in Lexington, Stein has led Kentucky, now ranked No. 15, to a 5-1 start, putting the Wildcats in position to make a run. Kentucky’s remaining schedule looks winnable with games against only two ranked opponents — Tennessee and Missouri — remaining.

   Coaching Win Of The Week: Kirby Smart And Georgia

(Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images)

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This one goes to Kirby Smart after then-No. 2 Georgia beat sixth-ranked Alabama, 20-17, on Saturday night. It was the Bulldogs’ first win in Tuscaloosa since 2007, when Smart was on the opposite sideline as Nick Saban’s defensive coordinator. 

The Crimson Tide had won their previous five regular-season meetings against the Bulldogs entering Saturday, but Georgia has now beaten Alabama twice in nine months, dating back to a 28-7 victory in last December’s SEC championship game.

Alabama had a chance to tie or take the lead late, but a controversial no-call in the fourth quarter was costly. Trailing 20-17, Tide quarterback Keelon Russell looked for receiver Rico Scott, who was sprinting toward the end zone, but Georgia defensive back KJ Bolden broke up the pass. Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer pleaded for pass interference, but to no avail. Russell was sacked on the next play, forcing Alabama to punt.

There were still three minutes left, but Georgia maintained possession with help from a late personal foul on Alabama defensive back Dijon Lee Jr.

Player Of The Week: Northern Arizona QB Ty Pennington

Meet quarterback Ty Pennington, who accounted for six touchdowns in Northern Arizona’s 49-44 upset win over Montana in the FCS this weekend. 

Pennington went 26 of 38 for 322 yards with one passing touchdown, a 28-yarder to receiver Jeter Purdy, in the first quarter. He added four rushing scores and caught a seven-yard touchdown from receiver Joey Stout, which gave the Lumberjacks the lead for good in the third quarter.

Head coach Brian Wright was full of praise after the game.

“Ty is not only the toughest player in America; he is the best player in America,” Wright told reporters. “What that guy did today was amazing. That guy put us on our shoulders like I’ve never seen a football player do. He threw touchdowns, he ran for touchdowns, he caught a touchdown. I would hope after today, he gets the recognition he deserves around the country.”

CFP Impact Game Of The Week: Oklahoma Upsets Texas

(Photo by Gunnar Word/Getty Images)

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In the 121 meetings between Texas and Oklahoma leading up to Saturday, the Longhorns had never lost to the Sooners when ranked No. 1 in the nation. That changed this year, as an unranked Oklahoma team pulled off a 27-24 upset on a walk-off 47-yard field goal.

Texas largely beat itself. The Longhorns gave up a blocked punt in the end zone that resulted in a touchdown, while quarterback Arch Manning threw two interceptions, one of which was returned 42 yards for a touchdown. Texas also committed eight penalties and missed a 53-yard field goal with 1:55 remaining that would have given it the lead.

Oklahoma’s numbers weren’t much better, but the Sooners didn’t turn the ball over, which was a pivotal difference in the game. After Texas missed a potential go-ahead field goal late and Manning threw his second interception, Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer delivered with a couple of big throws in the waning moments to set up the winning kick.

“I thought about this game for 365 days,” said Mateer, who had three interceptions against Texas last year. “I think that was the longest fourth quarter I’ve ever been a part of. It was awesome and I’ll never forget it. But I knew [with] 19 seconds left that this was the time.”

What Saturday’s loss means for the Longhorns moving forward remains to be seen. Their schedule is tough, with games against Florida, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Missouri, LSU, Arkansas and Texas A&M still ahead. Coach Steve Sarkisian acknowledged a “level of anger and frustration” after this one, but it’s unclear if he can address the team’s issues and keep the season from spiraling. Texas’ defense has championship-caliber potential, but the offense lacks an identity under Manning, and there are questions about if this group can get it together.

   Biggest Storyline Into Week 7: Notre Dame At BYU

(Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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There’s no question that No. 2 Notre Dame looks like a complete team and could legitimately contend for a championship. The hang-up, though, is the Fighting Irish have yet to face a true test, blowing out nearly every opponent on their schedule so far.

That will change this week with a trip to Provo for a prime-time matchup against No. 8 BYU. Fighting Irish quarterback CJ Carr has been efficient, completing more than 70% of his passes, while Notre Dame’s defense ranks No. 1 in the country. 

But BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier is a playmaker in his own right. Over the weekend, he threw for 329 yards and two touchdowns while adding another 109 yards on the ground. 

This showdown will be an important measuring stick to see just how serious we should be taking them in the CFP and national title conversation.

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Game officials made an error in spotting the ball on Oregon’s 2-point conversion attempt late in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s loss to UCLA, the Big Ten announced on Sunday.

After Evan Stewart’s 44-yard scoring catch from Brock Thomas pulled the Ducks within 17-15 with 2:16 left, UCLA was flagged for a facemask penalty on Oregon’s 2-point conversion try.

Officials spotted the ball one-and-a-half yards from the goal line and UCLA’s defense smothered rusher Jordon Davison to thwart the Ducks’ second chance.

The Big Ten said that officials erred in spotting the ball half the distance from the line of scrimmage. Instead, the ball should have been a half-yard from the goal line.

“Per rule, the ball should have been spotted half-the-distance to the goal from the end of the run of the first attempt,” the Big Ten’s statement said. 

The Ducks had one final drive with less than a minute left but a lost fumble — one of seven Oregon turnovers in the game. With the 17-15 loss, the Ducks (3-2, 1-1 Big Ten) dropped out of the AP Top 25.

WHAT YOU SHOULD READ NEXT

FOX Sports’ RJ Young shares his latest college football rankings after a heated Week 6 slate.

“The Big Ten has been in contact with its officiating team from Saturday’s game regarding the error and will continue to emphasize consistent application of the playing rules,” the conference statement said.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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U.S. NATIONAL TEAM TRAINING CENTER (Fayetteville, Ga.) – The epiphany came to Emma Hayes about a decade ago.

She was well into her coaching tenure at Chelsea and her team had just lost to rivals Arsenal, 1-0, in the 2016 FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium.

When Hayes talks about this moment, she explains the Gunners deserved to win that game. What she couldn’t see at the time – but very clearly understands now – is why her players were so off that day. Their reaction times were slower than normal and their coordination was like “watching a group of people that looked separated from their bodies,” Hayes recently told a small group of reporters at the U.S. Soccer National Training Center near Atlanta.

“I remember in the middle of the game thinking, ‘What’s wrong with them?’” Hayes continued. “‘Is it their nerves?’”

Emma Hayes and the U.S. women’s national team. (Photo by Georgia Soares/USSF/Getty Images)

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Hayes later learned her players were at different points in their menstrual cycles and that, in some cases, those hormonal fluctuations were affecting their performance. She was at a loss. “Why don’t I know these things?” she asked herself. 

Brain fog, fluid retention, inflammation, cramping, pelvic floor issues – these are things women know all too well. This caused Hayes to think about her own body – she’s been open about her endometriosis diagnosis – and how little she really knew. In her players’ case, they were navigating this while trying to compete at the highest level.

“We’re asking players to perform in a culture that says, ‘Oh, you’ve got a period? Sit out,’” Hayes said. “I was like, ‘It’s not good enough. We don’t want to sit out.”

Since then, Hayes has made it her life’s work to normalize conversations around women’s health and transform what was once treated as a taboo topic into a superpower. 

Through her own research, she discovered there is no degree devoted solely on female physiology. If she wanted to truly understand women’s bodies, she would have to build that education herself – seeking out scientists, former players, coaches and other like-minded people who were asking the same questions.

So she did. 

The result is an entire ecosystem – first at Chelsea and now as the U.S. women’s national team manager – created around putting the female lens “at the heart of everything we do.” 

Part of the end goal is that this contributes to developing a team to win. The Americans are preparing for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil and then the Olympics on home soil in 2028. The squad is currently in the middle of an international window – they fell to Spain 2-0 in a friendly on Saturday and will face the defending World Cup champions again on Tuesday – before turning focus to qualifying for next summer’s tournament in November.

Emma Hayes led the USA to Olympic gold in 2024. (Photo by Brad Smith/ISI/Getty Images).

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The other part, though, is larger than that. 

Hayes and her passionate staff want to share their findings with women and girls at every level of the sport. Which is why Hayes and U.S. Soccer opened the second annual HerLens Conference – which was held internally last year – to 300 people, ranging from NWSL general managers to youth soccer coaches at the National Training Center earlier this month. 

The two-day event included interactive sessions about bias and inclusivity, why girls stay or leave the game, building women- and girls-centric team culture, and more. And she introduced attendees to the term “Female 360,” a holistic approach that considers every aspect of the female player’s experience on and off the field.

“For me, this is more than winning on the pitch,” Hayes said. “This is transformational. I think my purpose, my mission, came from a losing situation and I felt robbed. I felt denied. I felt like, how have I, at this stage of my life, [not known] these things about myself?”

HAYES TOOK OVER as the U.S. national team head coach a few weeks before the 2024 Paris Olympics. It was a whirlwind way to begin a new job, and she led a group of players she’d only just met to a gold medal.

Afterward, she surveyed every player and staff member: “OK, where do we go from here?”

A couple of months later, Hayes introduced her approach for reframing women’s soccer through a female lens in an effort to not just copy and paste a game inherited from men. She’s been instilling her vision ever since. 

“It was like a light bulb went off in my brain, like, ‘Yeah, duh!’” U.S. and Manchester City midfielder Sam Coffey told me. “It was like, ‘Wow, this makes so much sense. How am I just recognizing this?’ It was almost like catching my own bias and my own acceptance for how things had been up until that point.”

Sam Coffey is one of the USWNT stars benefiting from the new approach. (Photo by Brad Smith/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)

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A fundamental part of Hayes’ methodology is the recognition that women and men have distinct needs, from nutrition, sleep and recovery to uniforms and even the placement of scales outside the locker room. Her staff has examined data revealing differences in how male and female players cross the ball into the box and how much space goalkeepers take up within it. What works for men doesn’t necessarily work for women, and building a better blueprint starts with understanding those differences.

“I think so much of the women’s game has just been dominated by what we know to be true of male players instead of, hang on a second, these are completely different athletes,” said Coffey, who was part of the squad that won Olympic gold two years ago. 

“And that’s not a weakness or a disadvantage. It’s just, how do we best serve us instead of how do you get the best out of men. Because we’re not men.”

The U.S. women’s national team ahead of a match against Spain. (Photo by Georgia Soares/USSF/Getty Images)

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Hayes calls the senior team her “proving lab” and the National Training Center serves as an incubator for new ideas – a space to think critically, connect and reimagine what’s possible. The goal is for those principles to extend beyond the national team, reaching youth clubs and soccer communities across the country.

With support from the federation and its CEO and secretary general JT Batson, Hayes hopes to transform the future of the game for women and girls. The 2031 World Cup, which the U.S. plans to co-host, offers a chance to see how much progress can be made when the needs of female athletes are at the center of the conversation.

“Emma wants us to be trendsetters,” Tash Patel, director of sporting analytics for the women’s national team, said during her classroom session about coaching the women’s game.

That’s what this program has always been known for. From winning World Cups to finding ways to start families while continuing to play to fighting for equal pay, the national team has consistently pushed the game forward, striving to leave it better than they found it and serve as role models around the world.

This is simply the next iteration of that legacy.

THE IMPACT THIS has had on the players has been transformative. Hayes has seen their confidence grow as they’ve gained more knowledge, and Coffey can attest to this. She’s more comfortable speaking openly about where she is in her cycle and how her body feels, whether she’s competing for club or country.

Georgie Bruinvels, the female health and research innovation lead for the team, has played an integral role in spearheading much of this. She tracks the players’ cycles and Oura Ring stats – only if they are willing as this is not mandatory – to better understand each player’s individual needs and how to best support them.

The USA will challenge Spain as one of the top teams at the 2027 Women’s World Cup. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/USSF/Getty Images)

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“She’s always looking for little 1% ways to approach things from a female point of view, down to the temperature of our meeting room,” Coffey said, noting that it should be 68 degrees because that’s the temperature that women process information most efficiently. 

“I’ll be filling my plate for dinner and she’s like, ‘I would get extra anti-inflammatory foods if I were you!’ And I’m like, ‘All I want is chocolate, but OK!’” Coffey said, laughing. “All these little things add up over time and cumulatively make such an impact on how we feel and how we perform.

“They’re detailed down to the T. It’s not just taking an ibuprofen and calling it a day. And I’ve noticed a difference.”

As for how this entire mindset is spreading across the sport, Coffey said she brings back habits from national team camp to Man City – like the “yogurt pot” parfait recipe that Bruinvels has introduced her to.

“In my club and country environments, I do 100% feel like nothing is a hand-me-down,” Coffey said. “It feels tailored to being a female and we’re only going deeper in our understanding of that, which is super cool.”

While Hayes’ strategy may end up giving the Americans a competitive edge – because not every team or federation will have these same resources – all of this information is not something they plan to gatekeep.

“I want every little girl and woman, no matter what your practice is in our sport, to feel like this is more than just playing the game,” Hayes said. 

“I think we can impact society in a profound way.”

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The Tampa Bay Rays added rookie right-hander Brody Hopkins to their AL Championship Series roster and dropped lefty Garrett Cleavinger while the Cleveland Guardians added right-hander Slade Cecconi.

Shane McClanahan will not pitch for the Rays in the postseason. Rays manager Kevin Cash said Sunday the left-hander will not be added to the ALCS roster after pitching 118 innings this year in his return following a two-year absence.

McClanahan had Tommy John surgery and then a nerve issue that forced him to miss 2024 and 2025. He was 10-7 with a 3.36 ERA in 24 starts this season before being placed on the injured list with left forearm tightness in early September.

“He’s a healthy pitcher. We are incredibly appreciative and grateful for the contributions that he gave us to get us to this point,” Cash said. “I don’t think any of us could have envisioned that he was going to get to that 120-inning mark and do it in a pretty dominant fashion. I mean, I think he’s got to be up there for Comeback Player of the Year with the time that he missed.

“But felt it made the most sense that his season is over. He’s going to go into the season as a healthy pitcher. Right now, he’s really focused on being the best teammate, which he does that pretty seamlessly and cheering his buddies on.”

The Rays made no other changes to their 26-man roster ahead of Game 1 Monday night against the Guardians. The AL East champions are carrying 14 hitters and 12 pitchers again in this round after sweeping the New York Yankees in the best-of-five Division Series.

The Guardians are carrying 13 pitchers after going to five games against the Chicago White Sox before advancing on Saturday night. Cecconi replaces utilityman Daniel Schneemann.

Cecconi was 5-7 with a 4.91 ERA in 28 games, including 21 starts. He moved to the bullpen in August and posted a 5.93 ERA in 13 2/3 innings.

Hopkins had seven strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings in six appearances this season but also walked six and posted a 5.06 ERA. He made his major league debut on Sept. 13. Cleavinger had a 4.79 ERA in 41 1/3 innings over 51 appearances. He didn’t pitch in the ALDS vs. the Yankees.

The Rays host the Guardians in Game 1 of the ALCS on Monday night.

Here are the full ALCS rosters for both teams (L = left-handed pitcher):

Tampa Bay Rays ALCS Roster

Pitchers (12): Bryan Baker, Cam Booser (L), Brody Hopkins, Griffin Jax, Kevin Kelly, Nick Martinez, Steven Matz (L), Freddy Peralta, Drew Rasmussen, Ian Seymour (L), Cole Sulser, Tyler Wells

Catchers (2): Nick Fortes, Liam Hicks

Infielders (7): Jonathan Aranda, Junior Caminero, Yandy Díaz, Jorge Mateo, Richie Palacios, Taylor Walls, Ben Williamson

Outfielders (5): Jonny DeLuca, Víctor Mesa Jr., Cedric Mullins, Chandler Simpson, Ryan Vilade

Cleveland Guardians ALCS Roster

Pitchers (13): Shawn Armstrong, Tanner Bibee, Joey Cantillo (L), Slade Cecconi, Daniel Espino, Matt Festa, Hunter Gaddis, Foster Griffin (L), Tim Herrin (L), Parker Messick (L), Erik Sabrowski (L), Cade Smith, Gavin Williams

Catchers (2): Patrick Bailey, Austin Hedges

Infielders (6): Travis Bazzana, David Fry, Ángel Genao, Nathaniel Lowe, José Ramírez, Brayan Rocchio

Outfielders (5): Jo Adell, Chase DeLauter, Petey Halpin, Steven Kwan, Angel Martínez

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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Lumen Field (Seattle) — We’ve seen this movie before. 

Sam Darnold threw the ball to the other team again and again on Sunday. The Seattle Seahawks’ quarterback had a two-interception showing in their home loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, falling 32-29. 

After another multi-interception game, Darnold was quick to point the finger at himself, as he should. 

“I’ve just got to continue to trust myself, trust my feet and trust what I’m doing,” Darnold said at the podium. “I’ve just got to be better taking care of the football.”

Only three quarterbacks have more interceptions than Darnold’s five this season, and he’s played in essentially two fewer games. Remember, Darnold missed practically the entire first two games of the season due to a glute injury. He’s now thrown an interception in all three games he’s started and finished, with Sunday being his second multi-interception game of the year after leading the league in turnovers last season with 20. 

Still, Seattle Seahawks left guard Grey Zabel told me it’s up to the rest of Seattle’s teammates to pick up their quarterback when he’s struggling.

“It starts up front, being better,” Zabel told me. “Me, in particular, giving the quarterback time and making him feel comfortable up there. Allowing him to make throws. … I don’t think Sam’s the problem. The problem was the left guard not being good enough, and that’s on me.” 

While it’s admirable that Zabel took accountability for Darnold and his offense’s poor performance, Seattle’s issues go deeper than an occasional missed block by the second-year offensive lineman. 

Since moving on from Kenneth Walker III in free agency, the Seahawks haven’t effectively run the football. They entered Sunday 14th in the league in rushing, with first-round pick Jadarian Price dealing with fumble issues before getting placed on injured reserve recently. They rushed for 89 yards on 3.4 yards per carry on Sunday, continuing their struggles.

And Seattle’s inability to run the ball came against a San Francisco front that hasn’t played all too well this season. The 49ers’ pass rush is considered among the league’s least dangerous, and they were missing Pro Bowl edge rusher Nick Bosa. Yet, Seattle allowed five sacks and a 45.7% pressure rate, per Next Gen Stats.

That led to Darnold’s pedestrian final stat line. He completed 18 of 29 passes for 195 yards and a touchdown with a 64.6 passer rating. Of course, there were also the two interceptions, which were both made by 49ers cornerback Renardo Green.

Darnold wasn’t the only one who played sloppy on Sunday, though. In what could be characterized as the game of the season so far, neither team played clean football. The seven combined turnovers by both teams are the most in a game this season, according to FOX Sports Research. The 38 combined points off turnovers were the most in a game this season and most in a game since 2017.

The heavyweight, see-saw battle saw four lead changes. One player was ejected: San Francisco linebacker Dre Greenlaw, when he headbutted Seattle’s green-dot play caller, fellow linebacker Ernest Jones, who did not have his helmet on. 

Greenlaw found himself surrounded by Seahawks after hitting Darnold along Seattle’s sideline while he was out of bounds. But the 49ers figured out a way to tame Seattle’s offense without the tone-setter in the middle of their defense.  

The game included a rare drop on the potential game-winning drive by Jaxon Smith-Njigba that would have put Seattle into field goal position with 54 seconds left. 

A play later, the game ended with (no surprise) a controversial call when Cooper Kupp was called short of a first down by a yard while diving for the line to gain.

Defensively, the Seahawks pressured Brock Purdy in his worst game this season. Purdy finished 19 of 29 for 189 yards, with two touchdown passes. He was sacked for the first time this year and also threw an interception corralled by Seattle defensive back Nehemiah Prichett.

However, Seattle struggled to slow down perennial Pro Bowler Mike Evans, who finished with game highs in catches (7) and receiving yards (113), along with executing a viral moment where he named-checked Seattle veteran cornerback Trevon Diggs. Evans’ teammate Fred Warner described the veteran receiver as “walking aura,” which felt very appropriate considering how he played against the Seahawks on Sunday.

But even with the struggles around Darnold, the quarterback’s play will ultimately determine whether Seattle repeats as champions in 2026. And the Seahawks have proof that Darnold playing clean football leads to winning games. The USC product did not turn the ball over in the postseason, leading his team to a Super Bowl title.

So why does Darnold have five interceptions in just three games and a handful of plays in the season opener? Head coach Mike Macdonald said his team must get back to playing effective and efficient football.

“It’s everybody,” Macdonald said, when asked about Darnold’s struggles. “It’s not just Sam. And Sam knows it. It’s not like he wants to turn it over. We need to play collectively more efficiently, and I think when that happens, the ball doesn’t come into jeopardy as much.” 

Again, this isn’t unfamiliar territory for Darnold and the Seahawks. They engineered the same things last year, starting 3-2 before winning 11 of the last 12 games to close out the year. In fact, Darnold also had an early-season performance to forget in a loss to the 49ers last year as well, throwing for just 150 yards in a 17-13 loss. 

But every year is different. This year, Darnold will have to mitigate his mistakes to help Seattle overcome its shortcomings in the running game. 

Can Darnold do that? Kupp certainly believes so. 

“The energy, the belief and the trust in Sam is unwavering,” Kupp said. “There’s just an expectation the next time to try and find a way to meet the moment.” 

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Michigan coach Kyle Whittingham is sticking with quarterback Bryce Underwood and offensive coordinator Jason Beck.

“Jason is calling plays and Bryce is our guy,” Whittingham said Monday.

The Wolverines (3-2, 0-2 Big) host Penn State (3-3, 0-3) on Saturday in a matchup of disappointing teams led by coaches in their first year with two of the winningest programs in college football.

Michigan was No. 16 in the AP Top 25 preseason poll, fell out after a controversial win over Western Michigan, earned a ranking again after beating then-No. 11 Oklahoma, only to go back to being unranked with losses to then-No. 17 Iowa and Minnesota.

The Wolverines are 0-2 in conference play for the first time since 2014.

The Nittany Lions started the season No. 18. After three wins against Marshall, Temple and Buffalo, they dropped out of the poll with a loss to Wisconsin and stayed unranked with setbacks to Northwestern and then-No. 19 USC.

Since the first snap this season in Ann Arbor, all eyes have been on Underwood.

Coming off a shaky freshman season as the nation’s No. 1 recruit, he has struggled to sustain success in large part because of turnovers.

Underwood, who mishandled the second snap of the season, has lost three fumbles this season and thrown four interceptions with just five passing touchdowns.

He threw interceptions on two straight snaps against the Golden Gophers. He was picked off on an ill-advised pass against the Hawkeyes at their 2, taking away a chance to go ahead by two scores in a game Michigan lost by one point after giving up a game-ending touchdown pass.

While Whittingham reiterated that Underwood would continue to start, he did leave an out for an eventual potential change. Michigan’s backup quarterback, Tommy Carr, took some snaps with the first-string offense during the team’s bye week.

“If we don’t get this turnover thing fixed rapidly, then something’s got to give,” Whittingham said.

The Wolverines’ minus-4 turnover margin ranks No. 122 out of 138 teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

“That’s pretty bad,” Whittingham said.

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Michigan isn’t much better on offense, scoring just 23 points a game to rank No. 101 in the nation and ranking 98th with 135 yards rushing per game.

Last year at Utah under Whittingham in his 21st season with the program and with Beck calling plays, Utah was fifth in scoring at 41.2 points a game and second in rushing with 266.3 yards rushing on average.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers visit the Milwaukee Brewers for Game 2 of the NLCS on Monday, October 12, 2026 at 9:00 p.m. ET from American Family Field in Milwaukee, WI. The Brewers won Game 1 by a 2-1 score and lead the series 1-0.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto is the probable starter for Los Angeles. He is 1-0 this postseason with 10 strikeouts. Logan Henderson is the probable starter for Milwaukee. He has a 1.80 ERA this postseason, with one earned run allowed over five innings in NLDS Game 2.

Below, we’ll give you all the details you need to know about how to watch this game.

How to Watch Dodgers vs. Brewers NLCS Game 2

• When: Monday, October 12, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. ET
• Where: American Family Field, Milwaukee, WI
• TV: FOX
• Stream: Watch 3 days free on FOX One

Players To Watch

Game 2 belongs to Yamamoto, who threw 7.0 innings on 98 pitches in the Division Series at Atlanta on Oct. 6, allowing 4 hits and 1 earned run with 10 strikeouts and 1 walk. Opponents hit .160 against him in that start, and his postseason ERA stands at 1.29.

He went 14-9 with a 2.53 ERA and 182 strikeouts in 185.0 innings over 28 regular-season starts, with a 0.87 WHIP. Milwaukee beat Los Angeles 2-1 in Game 1.

Contreras went 3 for 4 with a home run at San Diego on Oct. 6 and has reached base in four of five postseason games. He is hitting .316 with a .409 on-base percentage and a .632 slugging percentage over that stretch, with 6 hits, 2 home runs and 3 walks in 22 plate appearances.

The catcher went 0 for 3 with a walk in Game 1 of the NLCS. During the regular season he hit .270 with 18 home runs and 94 RBI in 147 games.

Milwaukee hands the ball to Henderson after his Division Series start against San Diego on Oct. 4, when he went 5.0 innings and allowed 2 hits and 3 walks with 4 strikeouts. One of the two runs he gave up was earned, which put his postseason ERA at 1.80.

The right-hander went 11-3 with a 2.47 ERA and 110 strikeouts in 98.1 innings over 18 regular-season starts. He has not allowed a postseason home run.

Muncy hit home runs in three of the Dodgers’ four Division Series games against Atlanta, on Oct. 3, Oct. 4 and Oct. 7, and has driven in 3 runs with a .813 slugging percentage in the postseason. He has also struck out 4 times in 16 at-bats and has no walks.

He hit 29 home runs with a .838 OPS and 76 RBI in 149 regular-season games. Muncy went 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts in Game 1 against the Brewers.

Dodgers vs. Brewers Game 2 Odds

Learn more about the Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Milwaukee Brewers NLCS Game 2 and check the full schedule on FOX Sports!

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Shohei Ohtani continues to struggle at the plate for the Los Angeles Dodgers, leaving the ballclub playing catch-up early after dropping Game 1 of the NLCS to the Milwaukee Brewers.

Ohtani is a four-time MVP — winning two in each league — but right when the Dodgers need him most his bat has gone cold. With Los Angeles already trailing by a game heading on the road for Game 2, he remains the make-or-break factor they need to overcome the Brewers.

On the “MLB on FOX” post-game show, Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez weighed in on Ohtani’s quiet postseason. Still, both analysts agreed that with or without his bat heating up, the Dodgers should be unfazed and fully capable of taking control in Game 2.

“They need Shohei Ohtani if we’re going to see the Dodgers at full strength,” Jeter said. “I don’t think it’s easy to flip a switch, but they don’t have to flip a switch mentally because mentally you walk into that clubhouse, I bet they have the same demeanor as if they won Game 1 because they’ve been here before.”

Rodriguez highlighted just how valuable Ohtani is to the Dodgers’ lineup. It’s not just that his offense is struggling, but you miss his complete presence on the field, whether it’s his raw power, high batting average or ability to create scoring opportunities on the basepaths.

The numbers tell the story. Ohtani is hitting just .188 with three hits across 16 postseason at-bats, leaving a massive void at the top of the Dodgers’ lineup.

“As far as Ohtani goes, the thing why he’s so valuable is you’re not just missing power or batting average or running the bases or stealing bases,” Rodriguez said. “You’re missing all of it. Plus his presence in the lineup.”

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Even with Ohtani’s struggles, Rodriguez believes the Dodgers can still win the series if they drop him lower in the batting order to take off the pressure. But if he can’t turn things around and regain his usual form, it only increases the urgency for the rest of the lineup to step up.

“So can they win? Maybe you can kind of hide him in the fourth and fifth slot,” Rodriguez continued. “He did go first to third today, but that’s one very hard person to replace. You’re gonna have the other guys to step up and make up for it.”

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