Author: Eternity Lab

Well, that was a shocker. 

The much-hyped Rams were taken to the woodshed in Week 1, falling to the 49ers 27-7 in Australia.

Seattle and San Francisco are 1-0, while L.A. is 0-1 in the treacherous NFC West.

Oddsmakers and sharp bettors serve up their insights on a few other intriguing games, as we dive into NFL Week 1 betting nuggets.

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.

   NFL Rocks on Fox

In America’s Game of the Week, FOX kicks it off with a big NFC East rivalry: Commanders vs. Eagles at 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday.

At DraftKings Sports, the Eagles opened as 5.5-point favorites and made a couple trips down to -4.5. But on Wednesday, the Eagles were back at -5.5.

Washington hopes a healthy Jayden Daniels can help keep up with Jalen Hurts and the Eagles. Last season, Daniels missed 10 games due to various injuries.

But bettors are leaning into the home favorite at DraftKings, with 64% of spread tickets and 76% of spread money backing the Eagles. And no question, Philadelphia will be a hugely popular play in moneyline parlays.

Another notable FOX matchup: Buccaneers vs. Bengals at 1 p.m. ET Sunday.

A severe turf toe injury kept Bengals QB Joe Burrow out of the lineup much of last year, from Weeks 3 to 12. But Burrow is healthy for a showdown against Baker Mayfield & Co.

Caesars has Cincinnati as a 3.5-point home favorite, which is where this number stuck pretty much all summer. While the public hasn’t weighed in much yet for this 1 p.m. ET kickoff on FOX, Feazel is pretty certain of where things are heading.

“There’s a lot of hype around Joe Burrow. I anticipate seeing more Bengals action,” he said.

   Sunday Night Fight

It’s another NFC East showdown on the NFL Week 1 oddsboard: Cowboys vs. Giants at 8:20 p.m. ET Sunday.

Back in mid-May, the Cowboys opened as 1.5-point favorites, but quickly advanced to -2.5. Over the past week at Caesars, Dallas advanced to -3 a couple times, and that’s where the Cowboys sat on Wednesday afternoon.

With a popular Dallas squad in the Sunday night spotlight, this game could be a huge decision for Caesars and every other book. Especially if other popular favorites have a good Sunday, leading to moneyline parlay liability crashing into the Cowboys by Sunday night.

“The public action is gonna be one-sided,” Feazel said. “The Giants brought in John Harbaugh as coach, which will bring in some bettors. But it’s gonna be lopsided action on the Cowboys, one-way traffic.”

Mahomes on Monday

Patrick Mahomes tore up his knee in Week 15 last season, but he’s set to start for the Chiefs vs. the Broncos at 8:15 p.m. ET Monday. Likewise, Denver QB Bo Nix is back and healthy, after suffering a broken ankle in an AFC divisional-round win over Buffalo.

The Broncos — minus Nix — then lost to the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game.

Caesars opened the Chiefs as 2.5-point home favorites, and K.C. advanced to -3 a couple times. But midweek, it’s Chiefs -2.5 (-117), and early action is perhaps a bit surprising.

“We’re actually seeing more Broncos money come in. A couple of years ago, that would’ve been unheard of,” Feazel said. “But the Chiefs’ defense has arguably gotten worse, and there are questions on offense, as well.

“So far, the public is not buying this Chiefs team.”

But a lot could change between now and Monday night. Keep in mind that on all these NFL games, the overwhelming majority of action comes in on game day, and even more so in the last hour or two.

And if favorites have a big Sunday, there’ll be no shortage of moneyline parlays live to the Chiefs on Monday night.

Source

Kansas will host No. 23 Missouri on Friday in a Week 2 college football matchup on FOX.

Missouri got off to a strong start in 2026, beating Arkansas-Pine Bluff 54-14 in Week 1. Former Ole Miss transfer quarterback Austin Simmons completed 17 of 19 passes for 252 yards and four touchdowns, as the Tigers piled up 562 yards of total offense.

Running back Jamal Roberts had 13 carries for 46 yards and a touchdown, and will continue to handle the lead-back role, with Missouri star Ahmad Hardy still considered week-to-week as he rehabs from a gunshot wound.

Meanwhile, Kansas opened its 2026 campaign with a dominant 51-6 win over Long Island in Week 1.

Sophomore quarterback Isaiah Marshall threw for 246 yards and two touchdowns while adding 49 yards on the ground in his first career collegiate start. Marshall has big shoes to fill after Jalon Daniels threw for 4,985 yards and 36 touchdowns over the past two seasons, and he’ll now face his first Power 4 opponent as a starter.

These two schools met last season, with Missouri earning a 42-31 win at home. The Tigers have now won four straight meetings in this rivalry.

Can the Jayhawks flip the script in 2026?

Let’s take a look at the odds for Missouri vs. Kansas at FanDuel Sportsbook as of Sept. 11.

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.

   No. 23 Missouri @ Kansas Odds

Moneyline 

[–>
• Missouri: -210 (bet $10 to win $10.25 total)
• Kansas: +172 (bet $10 to win $27.20 total)

Spread 

• Missouri -4.5: -110 (bet $10 to win $19.09 total)
• Kansas +4.5: -110 (bet $10 to win $19.09 total)

Over/Under

• Over 50.5: -110 (bet $10 to win $19.09 total)
• Under 50.5: -110 (bet $10 to win $19.09 total)

   No. 23 Missouri @ Kansas Prediction, Pick

From FOX Sports Research: 

Eli Drinkwitz has been reliable during his six seasons at Missouri, posting a 46-29 record. That success has carried over to spots like this one. As a ranked team facing an unranked opponent on the road, Missouri is 5-0 under Drinkwitz and has covered the spread in all five games.

Even without star running back Ahmad Hardy, the Tigers have an experienced and reliable option in Roberts, who can handle a bigger workload on the road. Austin Simmons also looked impressive in his Missouri debut and his experience in a few big games at Ole Miss could prove invaluable. 

Missouri simply has more talent from top to bottom, and with Daniels no longer leading the Jayhawks’ offense, the Tigers have the edge. Take Missouri to cover the spread.

   The Pick: Missouri -4.5

How to Watch Missouri vs. Kansas

• Date: Friday, Sept. 11. 2026
• Time: 8 p.m. ET
• TV: FOX
• Stream: Watch 3 days free on FOX One, FOXSports.com, FOX Sports App
• Location: David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, Lawrence, KS

Source

NFL head coaches know the deal, and if they didn’t, then last season was a brutal reminder. There were a record-tying 10 coaching changes during or after the season. It was a tidal wave that covered 31% of the league.

It almost certainly won’t be that bad in 2026. Then again, the last time there were 10 coaching changes, following the 2022 season, there were another eight the year after.

So, yes, the temperature is already rising even before most teams have taken the field in Week 1. Here’s a look at whose seats are currently the hottest.

7. Nick Sirianni, Philadelphia Eagles

It is unfair that Nick Sirianni is on this list, just like it was every time he appeared on it last season. But Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie is a stealthy reactionary as an owner. He’s never been averse to getting involved and forcing surprise changes, even when things look relatively good. And things are still relatively good in Philly, where Sirianni’s Eagles should be a Super Bowl contender. 

The Eagles moved on from Doug Pederson just a few years removed from a Super Bowl win. Would they do the same with Nick Sirianni this winter if his team falls short of expectations again? (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images)

–>

But if they’re not, the focus will surely be on Sirianni’s recent choices at offensive coordinator — the latest being 34-year-old rookie coordinator Sean Mannion — and his ability to maximize a loaded roster. The Eagles’ sights are set on a Super Bowl. If they land anywhere short of that, all bets on Sirianni sticking around are off.

6. Dave Canales, Carolina Panthers

Two years ago, Dave Canales was hired primarily for his offensive acumen and to ensure QB Bryce Young reached his promise as a former No. 1 overall pick. There have been steps in the right direction, but only small ones. Young is entering Year 4, and it’s long past time for him to prove he belongs. Canales needs to make sure he does. 

Colin’s 2026 NFL Predictions: Chiefs miss, Giants make it, Who will win their divisions? | The Herd

–>

It certainly helps that Carolina is in the NFL’s worst division, so there is plenty of room for success. But that division also adds to the pressure in its own way. The Panthers went 8-9 last season, which was good enough to finish at the top of the trash heap thanks to a tie-breaker. If they don’t get over .500 this season, it might be time for owner David Tepper to move on from both Canales and Young.

5. Shane Steichen, Indianapolis Colts

The Colts were 8-2 at the bye last season, but they were already beginning to tumble when QB Daniel Jones tore his Achilles in Week 14. That probably bought Shane Steichen some time, because otherwise he wouldn’t have survived a season-ending seven-game losing streak. 

With a presumably healthy Jones, owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon surely expects the Colts to pick up where they left off when they were one of the best stories in the NFL. Steichen will likely get the entire season to make his long-term case. But if Indy doesn’t snap its five-year playoff drought, his time will probably be up.

4. Todd Bowles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Former Jets coach Todd Bowles has been a remarkable study in mediocrity in his four seasons in Tampa, waffling between 8 and 10 wins every year. Last year was particularly disappointing, when his battered team finished 8-9 in a division where anyone over .500 would have won it outright. Injuries were only part of the excuse for that. It hasn’t helped Bowles’ case that his defense, his area of expertise, has been average at best the past two seasons. 

Baker Mayfield optimistic on Bucs’, who will win a ring first: Allen, Lamar, or Burrow? 🤔 | FTF

–>

Now that QB Baker Mayfield’s contract situation is resolved, the Bucs are committed to him — at least in the short term. But another mediocre season (or worse) in Tampa Bay would put pressure on the front office to pair Mayfield with a different head coach.

3. Aaron Glenn, New York Jets

Aaron Glenn might be the most endangered coach on this list, since some around the NFL were surprised he survived his first season. He responded by overhauling his coaching staff, assuming defensive playcalling and turning over most of his roster. That’s all well and good, but New York remains one of the worst teams in the league, and I’m not sure if reuniting with a 35-year-old Geno Smith ultimately helps or hurts the cause. 

Perhaps Glenn won’t look as overmatched in Year 2 and coaches the entire season. That seems about as long as he can retain this job. The Jets are prime candidates to select a QB early in the 2027 draft and reboot their continuously looping rebuild with a new coach as well.

2. Zac Taylor, Cincinnati Bengals

Zac Taylor owns a permanent spot on this list. It’s just usually a little lower. But the closer he gets to the end of his contract (which runs through 2027), the more likely it is that the Bengals’ frugal ownership will consider a move. And this would be the season to consider it, because as long as QB Joe Burrow stays healthy, the expectations are high. 

Bengals’ Energy is DIFFERENT This Year, Lamar Jackson Bounce-Back Season Incoming? | FTF

–>

The Bengals haven’t been to the playoffs since 2022, and they have a top-five quarterback who is still only 29. He’s got time left, but the team brass surely must feel like they’re wasting a championship window. If Cincinnati stumbles out of the gate (again), the drumbeat to end Taylor’s eight-season tenure will grow really loud.

1. Dan Quinn, Washington Commanders

It’s too early in their tenures to know just how much patience owner Josh Harris or GM Adam Peters have, but there are some troubling signs heading into Dan Quinn’s third season. For one, the expectations are back up after a disastrous 5-12 season, thanks to the return of electric QB Jayden Daniels — and that might be a problem because the Commanders have a startling lack of weapons and an iffy offensive line and were awful on defense last year. 

Dan Quinn was run out of Atlanta just five games into the 2020 season. Is he in danger of another early exit if the Commanders get off to a slow start? (Photo by Amy Lemus/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

–>

All that is partly why Quinn changed both his coordinators in the offseason, which is usually what coaches do when they’re making their last stand. He’s got everything riding on Daniels and 31-year-old rookie OC David Blough’s ability to help the young QB rediscover his rookie magic. Quinn might need a strong start just to avoid getting swept out of D.C. before the midterm elections.

Source

The Missouri Tigers visit the Kansas Jayhawks on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026 at 8 p.m. ET from David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, Kansas. Missouri opened its season with a 54-14 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff to move to 1-0, and Kansas is also 1-0 by way of a 51-6 win over Long Island.

Missouri’s offense carried the opener. Quarterback Austin Simmons threw for 252 yards and four touchdowns without an interception, and the Tigers scored 54 points while allowing 14.

Kansas leaned on both sides of the ball. Quarterback Isaiah Marshall passed for 246 yards and two touchdowns without an interception, running back Yasin Willis added 72 rushing yards and two touchdowns, and the Jayhawks’ defense allowed just 6 points in the win.

The Tigers are 5.5-point favorites over the Jayhawks at DraftKings, with a total of 50.5 and a moneyline of -221 for the Tigers and +178 for the Jayhawks.

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

How to Watch Missouri vs. Kansas

• When: Friday, September 11, 2026 at 8:00 p.m. ET
• Where: David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, Lawrence, KS
• TV: FOX
• Stream: Watch 3 days free on FOX One

Players to Watch

Missouri needed a jolt at quarterback, and the Ole Miss transfer delivered one immediately, completing 17 of 19 passes for 252 yards and four touchdowns before halftime of a 54-14 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The left-hander beat out returning options Matt Zollers and Nick Evers for the job this spring, and he now gets his first true road test against a Kansas defense that just gave up 613 total yards in its own opener. Simmons will lean on a Missouri receiving corps built around Donovan Olugbode in a game the Big 12 moved to a Friday night, prime-time window. Another efficient outing keeps the No. 25 Tigers unbeaten and validates the offseason quarterback overhaul in Columbia.

Kansas is playing its first game at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium against Missouri since 2005, and it’s Marshall’s job to make sure the revived Border Showdown feels like a coronation. The redshirt sophomore won the starting job out of fall camp and answered with 246 yards and two touchdowns through the air plus 49 rushing yards on just seven carries in a 51-6 rout of LIU. That dual-threat element gives offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki another wrinkle against a Missouri front that will be seeing Marshall as a starter for the first time. A repeat performance would give Kansas a signature statement in a game the Big 12 shifted to national primetime.

Fresh off a season-opening connection with Austin Simmons that produced 107 receiving yards and two touchdowns, Olugbode enters as Missouri’s most established target after leading all Tigers freshmen in snaps a year ago with 30 catches for 401 yards. He and new quarterback Simmons have already shown chemistry, and that rapport matters against a Kansas secondary that will be facing a Big 12 opponent’s top receiver for the first time this season. With Cincinnati transfer Caleb Goodie and Ole Miss transfer Cayden Lee also in the mix, Olugbode figures to see plenty of coverage attention. Sustained production from him would keep Missouri’s passing game ahead of the sticks all night.

McMillan barely needed a transition period after arriving from Buffalo, catching six passes for 130 yards and a touchdown in his Jayhawks debut against LIU. The First Team All-MAC selection topped 100 yards receiving in six straight games last season for the Bulls, and he immediately looks like Kansas’s new No. 1 option opposite a Missouri secondary adjusting to a new-look Big 12 slate. His size at 6-foot-1 gives Isaiah Marshall a reliable outlet on early downs and in contested situations. If McMillan keeps producing like he did in week one, Kansas has the vertical threat it needs to make good on its home-field return against the Tigers.

Missouri vs. Kansas Odds

Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.

FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience ]–>

Source

The 2026 INDYCAR season has ended and Alex Palou has captured his fifth series championship. 

That fifth title — which is also his fourth consecutive — keeps the debate alive about where Alex Palou sits among the sport’s greats.

If you’ve been keeping up, then you already know that he’s not on my Mount Rushmore. But he is moving on up.

Here are the 10 best INDYCAR drivers of all time.

10 Best INDYCAR Drivers Of All Time

10. Dario Franchitti

Dario Franchitti after winning the Indy 500 in 2007.

–>

One of the more recognizable names on the list, Franchitti made 265 INDYCAR starts and collected four championships in the process. He earned 31 wins, claimed 92 podiums and 33 poles over that span. Moreover, he had 119 top-five finishes and currently sits tied for third for most championships of all time.

9. Will Power

Will Power is a household name in INDYCAR.

–>

With 337 starts under his belt, Power is a household name among INDYCAR followers. In that time, Powers has earned two championships with 45 race wins overall. He has also earned an impressive 71 poles. Those 71 poles are the most in INDYCAR history, making him one of the top drivers in the sport’s history. 

8. Al Unser Jr.

Al Unser Jr is one of the sport’s most well-known drivers.

–>

One of the most famous drivers ever, he’s the winningest driver in Long Beach history with six victories over eight years. Unser also claimed two Indy 500 wins in his decorated career.

7. Michael Andretti

Michael Andretti is accomplished as a driver and as an owner.

–>

Andretti is one of the most accomplished drivers, continuing with the ownership of Andretti Autosport to this day. During his racing career, he claimed 42 INDYCAR wins and dominated with 32 poles. His most successful year came in 1991, when he earned the championship, had eight race wins and eight poles in just 17 total races.

6. Alex Palou

Alex Palou won his first Indy 500 in 2025.

–>

Alex Palou knocked Johnny Rutherford off this list after last year as I put him 10th. Now that he has five INDYCAR titles (third on the all-time list), he is up to sixth. Palou has “just” 25 career victories, which — according to some people — should keep him lower. However, the five titles (including four consecutive ones) and the 2025 Indianapolis 500 victory have solidified his legacy in the sport. At the beginning of this season, I ranked him 10th. 

5. Rick Mears

The legend of Rick Mears includes four wins at the Indy 500.

–>

Perhaps the most impressive thing over the course of Mears’ career was the fact he was victorious at the Indy 500 four separate times, becoming one of just four racers to accomplish such a feat. He was also able to grab six poles and was a front-row starter in 11 of his 15 races there from 1978 to 1992. Mears was also able to cash in when, in 1991, he became the first driver to earn $10 million in career earnings from INDYCAR races. He won three INDYCAR titles.

4. Al Unser Sr.

Al Unser Sr. also has four Indy 500 wins under his hood.

–>

Similar to Mears, Unser also won the Indy 500 four different times. When he reached the milestone, it had only been done one other time. His triumph there, though, wasn’t just from wins. He finished in the top three of the Indy 500 in 11 different races over his career. When his career was over, Unser had earned $6.7 million, with more than half of that money coming from Indy 500 races.

3. Scott Dixon

Scott Dixon has won six INDYCAR championships over the course of his successful career.

–>

Dixon has been wildly successful in every race. Overall, he is a six-time INDYCAR champion and has collected 59 career wins, which is the most of any active driver and the second-most of all time. Last season was his 25th and last driving for Chip Ganassi Racing. He has been the longest-tenured driver in team history but he will move to Arrow McLaren next season. He leads all current drivers with 437 starts and has the all-time podium record with 146.

2. AJ Foyt

AJ Foyt is praised for his ability to adapt to different cars.

–>

Now a team owner for AJ Foyt Racing, Foyt built a highly productive career. He won seven INDYCAR championships during his time behind the wheel, which remains the all-time record. Additionally, he had a great run during his Indy 500 starts, becoming the first to ever win “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” four times. Even more notable was his ability to adapt. Foyt is still the only driver who has won the Indy 500 in both front- and rear-engined cars, a testament to his immense talent.

1. Mario Andretti

Mario Andretti’s legacy as a racer transcends INDYCAR.

–>

It’s safe to say Andretti is the most well-known driver in the sport’s history. His success was a huge reason why, with the longtime driver winning four championships, 52 races, earning 67 pole positions and 141 podiums over the course of his INDYCAR run. His longevity was also something special, winning Driver of the Year three different times, each in a different decade (1967, 1978, 1984). To this day, he’s the only driver to win a Daytona 500, Indy 500 and Formula One world title.

Source

The Los Angeles Rams went down under, and the San Francisco 49ers kept them there.

In what was the first-ever NFL game in Australia, the 49ers defeated the Rams 27-7, and Sean McVay was curt about what transpired in the season opener.

“They outplayed us in every facet. I didn’t do nearly a good enough job. This is a humbling day for us,” McVay said in his postgame press conference. “This will define us only if we allow it to. Today was one of those days. I always look inside out. I didn’t do a good enough job getting us ready to go. There were some opportunities where maybe the game could’ve flipped, but they deserved the win. They were ready to go.

“We’ll look at it. We’ll see where we can improve and be better moving forward.”

As FOX Sports’ Eric Williams covered heading into the matchup, the two teams had strikingly different approaches in the lead-up to the Australia showdown, as the 49ers showed up in Melbourne — the site of the game — roughly one week before kickoff, whereas the Rams arrived roughly 28 hours beforehand.

Los Angeles got out to a 7-3 lead, with safety Quentin Lake intercepting San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy with 12:04 remaining in the second quarter. But it was all downhill for the Rams, thereafter.

Six plays after the aforementioned 49ers turnover, Rams quarterback and 2025 NFL MVP Matthew Stafford — who finished with a mere 61.2 passer rating — was intercepted by cornerback Renardo Green with 8:52 remaining in the first half. Nine plays later, the 49ers reached the end zone and would go on to finish the game on a 24-0 run.

San Francisco outgained Los Angeles in total yards, 379-290, and pulled off a pivotal, goal-line stand from the 1-yard line with 3:41 remaining in the third quarter. The 49ers then put together a 99-yard touchdown drive. Purdy threw for three touchdowns, finished with a 105.6 passer rating and completed 73.5% of his passes (25 of 34), while San Francisco rushed for 174 yards on 5.8 yards per carry.

The seven points are the fewest the Rams have scored since losing on the road to the Green Bay Packers 20-3 on Nov. 5, 2023.

NFL Related Stories

As for the Rams’ shiny new additions, cornerback and 2023 All-Pro Trent McDuffie recorded four combined tackles, one for a loss, and two passes defended, but superstar defensive end Myles Garrett didn’t record a tackle; star defensive lineman and eight-time All-Pro Aaron Donald, who recently came out of retirement after two years away from the sport, is expected to make his season debut in Week 2.

Next up for the Rams is a home game against the New York Giants on Sept. 21, while the 49ers host the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 20.

Source

Myles Garrett’s debut game with the Los Angeles Rams — and the team’s play, in general — left much to be desired, and the superstar defensive end didn’t hold back on his performance in their loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

“This was the worst version of myself that I’ve put out there,” Garrett said in his postgame press conference after the Rams’ 27-7 defeat. “And I’ve got to be better. I got to find a way to recover and get back to the player I know I can be and I’ve shown that I’ve been before.”

Garrett finished the NFC West matchup without a tackle.

Garrett, whom the Rams acquired from the Cleveland Browns in a blockbuster trade in June, also admitted he wasn’t at “100%” health wise, as the defensive end has been dealing with a knee issue over the last month.

“I wasn’t the player that I wanted to be,” Garrett expressed. “I didn’t feel like I was the player I’ve been before when I stepped onto that field. I got to do what I can to get back to that.”

Garrett and the Rams took part in what was the first-ever NFL game in Australia. A topic of conversation regarding the historic game in Melbourne was the 49ers showing up roughly one week before kickoff, while the Rams arrived roughly 28 hours before kickoff, which was at 10:35 a.m. local time.

As for other team debuts, cornerback and 2023 All-Pro Trent McDuffie — whom Los Angeles acquired from the Kansas City Chiefs for a package highlighted by the No. 29 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and a 2027 third-round pick, among other selections, in March — totaled four combined tackles, including one for a loss, and two passes defended.

Meanwhile, star defensive lineman and eight-time All-Pro Aaron Donald, who recently returned after two years away from the game, is likely to make his season debut in the Rams’ Week 2 home game against the New York Giants on Sept. 21.

As a whole, the 49ers rushed for 174 yards on 5.8 yards per carry against the Rams, who were collectively outgained 379-290 in total yards and gave up three passing touchdowns to quarterback Brock Purdy. In his postgame press conference, Rams head coach Sean McVay called the loss “a humbling day.”

Los Angeles traded now-third-year defensive end and two-time Pro Bowler Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-rounder and a 2029 third-rounder to Cleveland to acquire Garrett, a five-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowler.

Last season (2025), the now-30-year-old Garrett set the NFL single-season record with 23.0 sacks and has two NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors on his résumé, in 2023 and 2025. He’s tied with Dwight Freeney for 28th in all-time registered sacks (125.5). Prior to Garrett’s 23-sack campaign, he averaged 13.6 sacks per season from 2018-24. Should Garrett rack up 14 sacks this season, he would move into a tie for 11th all-time in the category.

Source

LATROBE, Pa. — Everyone who knows Mike McCarthy understood where his heart always belonged, even if his eyes and feet were firmly wherever else he was. Nothing against Green Bay or Dallas, two places with rich and storied football histories and traditions.

Pittsburgh is just different, especially for a Pittsburgh kid.

“This is where I’m from. This is the cloth that I was cut from,” the new Steelers coach told me during a recent visit to camp at Saint Vincent College. “When you grow up in Western Pa., we’re all sick in the head because we’re all brainwashed as kids. It’s the greatest place on Earth.”

So, yes, it sure is surreal for a kid born in the Greenfield section of Pittsburgh, right across the Monongahela River from Steelers headquarters, to be coming home to that place after all these years, to run the team he bled for as a kid. It’s a bucket list item the 62-year-old never imagined could happen. He spent 23 years in Green Bay and thought he’d be there forever. He spent five years in Dallas and figured that might be his last stop too.

And for almost that entire time, the Steelers had just one head coach. Heck, they had only changed coaches five times since McCarthy was born.

Then, last January, the news came that Mike Tomlin was stepping down after 19 years running the Steelers — a year to the day after McCarthy was let go in Dallas. 

“I didn’t expect it,” McCarthy told me. “I don’t think anybody did.”

Mike McCarthy is tasked with continuing the Steelers’ streak of not having a losing season since 2003. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

–>

But it was real. And it all started to feel even more real when the Steelers called and invited him in for an interview on Jan. 21 — the 11th anniversary of the day his younger brother Joe died of a heart attack while playing racquetball at a local gym. McCarthy spent most of that day meeting with Steelers owner Art Rooney II, general manager Omar Khan and others in the organization. But then he got to go home to have pizza dinner with his parents, Joe Sr. and Ellen, his three sisters, and everyone else he could gather from the extended McCarthy clan.

“It was heavy, because it was my brother’s anniversary of his passing,” McCarthy told me. “Just to have the opportunity to spend a couple extra hours at home with my family, on that day, it almost … the reality gave me the feeling that ‘Hey, there’s a chance this might happen.’”

Mike McCarthy replaces Mike Tomlin, who he beat in Super Bowl XLV during his time as Packers head coach. (David Eulitt/Kansas City Star/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

–>

McCarthy has always been a “Yinzer” at heart. He was born and raised in what he called “inner city Pittsburgh,” just five miles to the West of where the Monongahela, Allegheny and Ohio Rivers meet, maybe a 15-minute ride to the site of old Three Rivers Stadium, where his beloved Steelers played for most of his life. He played three sports at the now-closed Bishop Boyle High School. He spent some time when he was home from college working at his father’s local bar.

Baseball and basketball were more his thing when he was growing up. He didn’t start playing football until high school. But he knew what football meant to his city. There’s nothing bigger than the Steelers to anyone from there.

“I think that’s part of the beauty of the fabric of our great city,” McCarthy told me. “It’s totally intertwined with the Pittsburgh Steelers organization. No disrespect to the 31 other teams, but I don’t think there’s a professional franchise in sports that’s more intertwined than we are with the city of Pittsburgh, the steel industry, the blue-collar background and how the city adjusted and grew.

“Just the whole history of our surroundings is such a parallel to how we want to play the game, that we’re willing to do whatever it takes to be successful. That’s something that’s been in place for over 50 years — the black helmets and the black shirts and the way this team plays.”

Mike McCarthy went 49-35 over five seasons as the Cowboys’ head coach. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

–>

That part is heavy, too, especially for someone who grew up seeing how the city lives and dies with how the Steelers do every Sunday in the fall. He’s taking over for a coach who wore out his welcome despite not having a losing record in any one of his 19 seasons, and who reached the playoffs five times in the last six years.

The last time the Steelers had a losing season was 23 years ago. The last Steelers coach who didn’t win a Super Bowl for the franchise was Chuck Noll’s predecessor, Bill Austin, who was fired a year before the AFL and NFL were fully and officially merged.

It’s a place where nothing short of a championship will ever be enough.

“I’m from the old school neighborhood, so trust me, I know how this thing goes,” McCarthy told me. “And I welcome that. We have an obligation to the generations before us to uphold the play style and the success that’s gone on before us. And that’s something I embrace.”

Mike McCarthy isn’t only having a reunion with Pittsburgh this season, but he’ll also coach quarterback Aaron Rodgers again. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

–>

All the other McCarthys embraced it too. When he was introduced as the new Steelers coach, just 11 days after Tomlin’s exit, it was like a big family reunion at Acrisure Stadium, with relatives filling up the first couple of rows. There were more tears and more emotions than McCarthy thought he could ever have at once.

But it just felt right, like it was always meant to happen. He met his wife and they had four of their five children during his years in Green Bay. He loved most of his time in Dallas working for the Jones family, too. But he could feel there’s just something different about finally coming home.

“As you go away to college around the country — and I’ve been fortunate to be in the NFL for over 30 years — everybody knows,” McCarthy told me. “We all know who we are in the NFL. If you’re from Western Pa., it’s a bond. It’s a pride component that you all root for each other, in a sense. I think that’s unique. And I think anybody that knows me from my time in other parts of the country, they know where I’m from and the pride that I have being from here.”

Now it’s part pride, but a lot more responsibility. Being the hometown hero will only go so far. His homecoming may be a great story, but for most of his fellow Yinzers, only bringing home the Steelers’ seventh Super Bowl trophy will do.

“Well, I wouldn’t say I imagined it yet, but I’m working toward that,” McCarthy told me. “That’s why I do this. And now, to be able to do this back home, trust me, it’s not lost on me how special this opportunity is. That’s what gets me up in the morning. I wouldn’t do this if I didn’t think I could win the Super Bowl here.”

He already won one, back in 2010 in Green Bay. But he knows doing it here would just be different.

Because there really is no place like home.

NFL Related Stories

Source

The defending national champion Indiana Hoosiers expect running back Khobie Martin to be out until about midseason with an arm injury he sustained during the first quarter of Saturday’s 52-16 victory over North Texas.

Injured starting cornerbacks A.J. Harris and Jamari Sharpe are listed day to day, coach Curt Cignetti said during his weekly news conference Monday. They have undisclosed injuries, and Cignetti had said Saturday that Martin would “miss a little bit of time” and that the cornerbacks’ injuries were “not long-term deals.”

“I talked to our trainer yesterday, but have not spoken with him yet today,” the two-time Associated Press Coach of the Year said. “Khobie Martin will be out for a little bit, and we expect him back sometime around midseason.”

The timeline means Martin could return in time for the Oct. 17 matchup against No. 1 Ohio State.

Khobie Martin played in 14 games for the 2025 champions, totaling 519 yards from scrimmage with six touchdowns. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

–>

Cignetti did not talk about the cut across quarterback Josh Hoover’s nose. The bloodied Hoover did not miss a play on the series and wound up going 13 of 16 for 231 yards with four touchdowns and no turnovers in his Hoosiers debut. The transfer from TCU is replacing 2025 Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza.

Overall, Cignetti was pleased with Hoover’s debut.

“Obviously, it was a good start,” he said. “Four touchdown passes, great catch by (Nick) Marsh on the first one and he made some nice throws, some good decisions. He got away with one that he’s not going to get away with in Big Ten play, and the one long touchdown to Charlie (Becker), he’s got to step into that throw better and get it out there and get it up and down. And the one he got his helmet ripped off, he flipped the protection and really shouldn’t have, so he became unprotected to the side of the blitz. But then he responded and threw a touchdown shortly thereafter.”

Martin was supposed to play a key role in a three-man rotation featuring Turbo Richard, the transfer from Boston College, and Lee Beebe Jr., who played in three games for last season’s national champions.

College Football Related Stories

Richard had 15 carries for 58 yards and two touchdowns in his Indiana debut Saturday. Beebe had 14 carries for 33 yards and returned the opening kickoff 67 yards to set up Indiana’s first score.

Martin, Harris and Sharpe all left in the first quarter and did not return. Harris is a transfer from Penn State. Share’s late interception in Miami sealed the national championship game victory over the Hurricanes.

Ryland Gandy and Jaylen Bell played most of the rest of the game in place of Harris and Sharpe, and Cignetti said he thought both played well.

Indiana faces Howard on Saturday. The Hoosiers have won 17 straight games, the longest active winning streak in the Football Bowl Subdivision and are a perfect 16-0 at home under Cignetti. The 16-game home winning streak is also the FBS’ longest active streak.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

Source

It turns out even a game-saving Hail Mary won’t etch your name on the depth chart in permanent marker.

Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham said that Bryce Underwood remains the team’s starting quarterback, for now, following the team’s narrow 13-12 victory over Western Michigan in their season opener.

Speaking to reporters ahead of No. 16 Michigan’s Week 2 matchup against No. 10 Oklahoma, Whittingham backed Underwood, but noted there’s room for improvement across the board.

“He’s our QB right now, and it’s not something that’s infinite,” Whittingham said. “At some point, we’ve got to turn a corner and we’ve got to see improvement as we do with a bunch of stuff. We got to see improvement out of the coaches, and so it’s not just on Bryce.”

Whittingham’s comments come just days after Michigan needed a 47-yard Hail Mary touchdown pass from Underwood to wide receiver JJ Buchanan on the final play to avoid what would’ve been the biggest upset of Week 1. 

The play occurred after replay officials reviewed the previous sequence and added one second back to the game clock. Underwood finished the night completing 12 of 22 passes for 170 yards with one touchdown, one interception, and a lost fumble in the fourth quarter.

Following the win against Western Michigan, Underwood encouraged his team to not get complacent.

“I feel like we just got to come out and dominate and be aggressive like we were in the first drive on every single play,” Underwood said. “We can’t come down, energy can’t come down, can’t get comfortable.”

College Football Related Stories

Whittingham noted that the entire team, not just the quarterback position, could see movement within the depth chart.

“It’s not just Bryce’s job that is not absolutely set in concrete,” Whittingham said. “Nobody’s is. You got to perform week in and week out and become somebody that we feel like is playing at a level that we can win with, and that goes far beyond Bryce. It goes throughout the whole team, and what you’ve done lately is very important in football.”

With a home game against Oklahoma looming, Whittingham knows the offense must resolve its issues quickly.

“We have a ton of work to do,” Whittingham said. “The degree of difficulty next week goes way up. And if we don’t play a lot better, it’s not going to be pretty.”

]–>

Source