Author: Eternity Lab

Can AJ Brown return to being one of the best receivers in the NFL?

Brown enters the 2026 season looking refreshed after being traded to the New England Patriots from the Philadelphia Eagles this offseason, but the move has reignited questions about where he stands among the NFL’s elite wide receivers. 

During Thursday’s edition of First Things First, Nick Wright, Kevin Wildes and Chris Broussard debated whether Brown can climb back into the top five at his position.

Wright wasn’t ready to buy in, pointing to Brown’s age as a factor working against him. He noted that only two receivers 29 or older posted 1,000 receiving yards last season, Stefon Diggs and Courtland Sutton, calling it a fun fact worth remembering before anointing Brown a top-5 receiver again.

Wright also pointed to a statistical trend from Brown’s final three seasons in Philadelphia that concerns him. “When you show his numbers on his Eagles career, what you see is a pretty consistent downward trend,” Wright said. “Now the catches went up last year, but the yards went down, so the yards per catch plummeted. That, to me, is at least it’s at least on the board that A.J. Brown peaked three years ago, and is now closer to the player he’s been the last two years.”

Last season with the Eagles, Brown’s total catches climbed to 78, but his yardage dropped to 1,003 on seven touchdowns, and his yards per catch fell to a career-low 12.9.

This is a contrast from the previous two seasons. In 2023, Brown caught 106 passes for 1,456 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 13.7 yards per catch across 17 games. In 2024, missing four games to injury, he caught 67 passes for 1,079 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 16.1 yards per catch.

Last season with the Eagles, AJ Brown’s total catches climbed to 78, but his yardage dropped to 1,003 on seven touchdowns, and his yards per catch fell to a career-low 12.9. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

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Wright added that Brown hauling in around 1,000 yards this season, is just as likely as a return to the top five — estimating his probable finish will be closer to the top 10 among receivers.

Broussard was the most skeptical of the group, ruling out any chance of Brown reaching the top five. “I don’t think he can be top five,” Broussard said. “I think he can be very good, but he’s not the same.”

Broussard pointed to Brown’s ability to separate, or lack thereof compared to earlier in his career, to back up his stance. 

“His separation isn’t what it used to be,” Broussard said. “That’s why I think those numbers did go down. He doesn’t get the separation, so most of his catches are really contested.”

Despite the criticism, Broussard left room for a strong season in New England. “I still think he can be good,” Broussard said. “I think he can be like a top 10 receiver and have a great year for them.” He stopped short of putting Brown in the same class as Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson.

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Brown is looking forward to a new start in New England after he repeatedly voiced frustration over his role in the offense and his belief that he wasn’t getting enough targets, with Jalen Hurts even acknowledging afterward that the two had grown apart.

The debate leaves an open question as Brown begins his first season with the Patriots: was last year’s decline due to his quarrels with Hurts, or a sign that his peak has already passed?

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After four years of dominance by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Carolina Panthers surprisingly took the division crown in 2025. Will the Bucs regain it, or will we see another shock in 2026? 

With Week 1 approaching, the “First Things First” crew of Nick Wright, Chris Broussard and Danny Parkins predicted how the NFC South standings would shake out. And in a division that seems unpredictable entering the year, all three reached a consensus on who they think will finish in first place.

Here’s how all three see the NFC South unfolding in 2026. 

Nick Wright’s NFC South Prediction

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Wright wasn’t convinced he would see a leap forward from the Panthers, pointing to quarterback Bryce Young as the reason. 

“I don’t think there’s a lot of evidence that Bryce turned a corner,” Wright said. “He had a nice stretch, but overall, the course of the season, it was a hell of a lot like Year 2.” 

Wright added he expects Carolina to finish at or around six wins.

Wright was more bullish on the Falcons, landing on them as his deep sleeper to sneak into the playoffs at nine wins. He pointed to running back Bijan Robinson and a potential step forward from quarterback Michael Penix Jr. as reasons for optimism. 

“I think Bijan might be number one on the NFL 100 next year,” Wright said. He also credited new head coach Kevin Stefanski, pointing to Stefanski’s track record of getting the most out of his quarterbacks in Cleveland.

Wright surprised many and had two teams in the South making the playoffs as he picked the Buccaneers to finish 11-6 atop the division. Wright said the additions of rookie pass rusher Rueben Bain Jr. and the return of Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey up front. He was skeptical Tampa Bay would miss Mike Evans as much as some expect after his departure in free agency.

Chris Broussard’s NFC South Prediction

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Broussard agreed with Wright on the Panthers finishing last, questioning whether Bryce Young has taken the step many expect. 

“I thought Bryce was better last year, but he still wasn’t good,” Broussard said. He was more optimistic about Carolina’s defense with the addition of edge rusher Jaelan Phillips, but placed the Panthers behind both the Saints and Falcons in his prediction.

On the Falcons, Broussard credited the talented players at other positions on the roster while raising concerns about durability at quarterback. “They have no idea who’s getting away with it,” Broussard said of Atlanta’s quarterback competition, adding that both options have been particularly injury-prone. 

Broussard had the Buccaneers on top, pointing to quarterback Baker Mayfield’s contract situation as extra motivation heading into the year. “Baker’s got a chip on his shoulder, lots approved, money on the line,” Broussard said

Danny Parkins’ NFC South Prediction

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All three hosts agreed the Buccaneers are the team to beat, pointing to the return of quarterback Baker Mayfield, an improved offensive line and a retooled defensive front as reasons for confidence heading into the season.

“The Bucs, to me, are the clear-cut team,” Parkins said.

Parkins broke from his co-hosts by ranking the Panthers second, pointing to rookie receiver Tetairoa McMillan and the Jaelan Phillips signing as reasons for belief in a jump. 

“I think Tetairoa McMillan could be a top 10 receiver by the end of the year,” Parkins said. He also said the Phillips addition should provide a boost for a Carolina pass rush that struggled a season ago.

Parkins ranked the Falcons last in the division, citing concern about the quarterback situation undercutting a talented supporting cast. 

“It’s a team with great skill position players and not much else,” Parkins said, adding that Atlanta invested heavily in its pass rush this offseason only to be hit by off-field issues affecting that group.

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LSU coach Lane Kiffin’s chances of fielding former NFL players improved Thursday night when a Louisiana judge issued a preliminary injunction against the NCAA in a high-profile eligibility case.

East Baton Rouge Parish Judge William Jorden issued his ruling the night before LSU was due to submit its 105-man roster to the Southeastern Conference, which last week announced heavy potential punishment for football and basketball teams that bring in ex-pros.

The ruling clears the way for LSU to list some former NFL players on its roster. How many games they might be eligible to play remains to be seen as the matter continues working its way through the courts.

Lane Kiffin and LSU fought the SEC in court, leading to a TRO that granted former NFL players a fifth-year of eligibility

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Jorden said he considered sanctions against the SEC and the NCAA but ruled he was not ready to issue any at this time.

Jorden’s decision followed a nearly nine-hour hearing in a courtroom near the LSU campus in which athlete after athlete took the stand to explain why they should be allowed to return to play college sports after turning pro. The commissioner of the powerful SEC argued against them, and the league doubled down by filing a lawsuit against the school in federal court. That lawsuit could now become the SEC’s best chance at preventing former pros from playing this season.

The courtroom confrontation came just two days before 11th-ranked LSU opens the season at home against Clemson. Jorden scheduled the hearing over his temporary injunction preventing the NCAA from barring former pros or fifth-year college athletes, a stance reiterated by the SEC and other Power Four conferences in potential punishments adopted last week.

Former New Orleans Saints defensive lineman Zxavian Harris and former Cleveland Browns tight end Dae’Quan Wright, two players who hope to suit up for LSU, sat next to each other in the gallery as the hearing began and both took the stand to say they would have not tried to turn pro had they known they might get another year in college.

Dae’Quan Wright spent time with the Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns after playing his fourth season of eligibility with the Ole Miss. (Photo by Terence Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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Harris and Wright said they each earned about $1 million in college. Harris said he was paid just $190 in travel expenses by the Saints and spent all of his time with the club rehabbing a foot injury. Wright said he was paid a $25,000 signing bonus by Philadelphia before his brief time with the Browns and would gladly pay that back for the chance to play for LSU.

Two LSU soccer players, Jazmin Ferguson and Jocelyn Ollivierre, won earlier court orders and have already played this season. Ferguson testified that she was paid $4,500 by a USL team, but ended her contract and paid the money back in hopes of clearing the way to play for the Tigers again. Two LSU softball players also testified.

The athletes testified after SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey was on the stand for more than two hours, defending the league’s authority to enforce its week-old rules barring former pros from returning to play at its 16 member schools. He said school presidents and chancellors felt that they needed to establish a line between professional and college sports and that there needed to be ways to hold schools accountable.

“The line between professional sports and college sports needs to be maintained,” Sankey testified, adding that the league was concerned about incoming athletes being displaced from limited roster spots.

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey (right) testified against LSU in court on Thursday. (Photo by Gus Stark/LSU/University Images via Getty Images)

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As he spoke, the SEC filed the federal lawsuit in Alabama against LSU and its leadership, alleging the school had “waged a deliberate and coordinated campaign to recruit professional athletes” in defiance of league rules. The court filing against one of the league’s founding members in 1933 seeks an injunction barring LSU from violating the SEC’s First Amendment rights by forcing it to “associate with conduct that is contrary to the conference’s purpose and mission.”

Legal experts said the filing was a backup in case the SEC lost in state court. Outside the courthouse in Baton Rouge, plaintiffs’ attorney Tony Clayton said: “I got a problem with that. I mean, you go around, you can file this suit in any state. You’re suing LSU. Sue them in Louisiana. You go to our nemesis: Alabama. Really? So, so that lets you know what the commissioner is all about.”

In questioning Sankey, attorneys for the athletes cited numerous examples of when SEC eligibility rules align with NCAA rules, suggesting the potential of collusion. They questioned why league members met last week to adopt stiff penalties for the very actions addressed in the Louisiana state court’s temporary injunction against the NCAA.

The attorneys also asked why the SEC singled out players who signed contracts with specific U.S.-based leagues — the NFL, NBA and WNBA — but not overseas pro leagues or women’s pro soccer leagues. When Sankey tried to qualify an answer about whether the SEC had previously punished a school for adding a player with previous pro experience, Clayton said, “I didn’t ask how to build a clock. I’m just asking what time it is.”

Sankey acknowledged that there had previously been no such punishment, but that it had been considered against Alabama last basketball season when the Crimson Tide briefly added a former G League player.

Blake Cotton joined Zxavian Harris and Dae’Quan Wright in Louisiana court on Thursday. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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The players in question also include former Denver Broncos defensive back Blake Cotton, who like Harris and Wright is hoping to join LSU and Kiffin.

Wright, who played for Kiffin last season at Mississippi, started practicing at LSU this week, too late to be eligible for Saturday’s home opener against Clemson under the NCAA’s required seven days of practice. Harris, who also played at Ole Miss last season, has committed to LSU, while Cotton, who played at Utah last fall, has been recruited by Kiffin.

All three are among a host of athletes who’ve argued in lawsuits around the country that they are unfairly being denied an opportunity to spend a fifth year in college under newly adopted NCAA rules allowing for five full years of competition. In all, the NCAA says there are approximately 450 athlete plaintiffs seeking additional eligibility through litigation, with some 300 of them winning the ability to play at least for now.

The athletes in the case who signed pro contracts have argued they did so only because current rules that would have allowed them another college season weren’t adopted until after their decisions to leave for the chance to make an NFL roster.

The SEC contends the question before the judge should be a narrow one regarding whether the conference “can enforce and require its member institutions to comply with SEC rules.” The SEC’s proposed punishments include significant fines, up to half-season suspensions for coaches and member universities’ loss of voting privileges on league business matters.

Sankey provided an affidavit stating that SEC university presidents had voted 15-0 in favor of the new rules, with LSU’s Wade Rousse abstaining.

The fight over eligibility between schools and their own conferences and the NCAA has simmered for months and spilled into politics.

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill chatted with plaintiffs’ attorneys before the hearing and filed a brief on their behalf. Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry posted on X to attorneys general in Georgia and South Carolina that “calling them ‘NFL players’ is at best disingenuous, and at worst intentionally deceptive … They are not professional football players circling back after years in the NFL. They are college players who were told, by the NCAA, that they were done. So they took the only door that was open — only to watch the NCAA change the lock behind them.”

Reported by the Associated Press.

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I was pretty proud of my 42-30-2 record from last season, but I’m still eager to improve on that this season.

Here are my best bets for Week 1 of the college football season, along with my weekly Bear Bytes.

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Last season’s game featured a 35-0 second half after a slow start and I don’t expect a slow start here. This Miami squad has the potential to be more talented than the one which played for the national title last year and I think the depth and the number of players completing for playing time will result in not taking the foot off the gas. Stanford has some offensive line issues as well and that probably isn’t good against this Miami defense. Something like 42-10 feels right.

Fallica’s Picks: Miami -24.5, Stanford Team Total Under 10.5

Old school Pac-12 after dark in Berkeley, where we could have two pretty good offenses — certainly QBs — on display. This number has flipped from Cal being favored, so I will grab the Golden Bears as a ‘dog here. I think the Bob Chesney narrative is driving that flip, which is fine. I think he’s going to do well at UCLA. But I think we’re overlooking that Cal might have the better roster right now, as Tosh Lupoi is coaching in his first game.

Fallica’s Pick: Cal +2

The Texans gave up 30 to Prairie View in their opener, but Kaden Anderson and Dylan Hines did what they wanted on offense. Tarleton is one of the best FCS teams out there and after last season’s collapse — especially on the offensive side of the ball — I’m not sure BG is better than it. And it’s not like there’s a big home field edge at all.

Fallica’s Pick: Tarleton St. +2.5

A couple of years back, the Boise squad which made the CFP hung around with the Ducks, but this is a better Oregon team and a worse Boise squad. After the way 2025 ended for the Ducks, and with so many of the key players returning for a title run, I expect Oregon to come out with some urgency. The Ducks’ defensive line should eat against an offensive line over which it has a huge edge.

Fallica’s Pick: Oregon -24.5

I can get behind a first-half play on the Longhorns, too. It’s almost too logical/easy to expect Texas will pull guys and ease up in the second half, but its roster is so deep and talented that I’m not sure it will matter.

Fallica’s Pick: Texas -29.5

The Brian Hartline era gets underway at USF, and it might be a tricky opener with a new-look squad against an FIU team that got better and built some culture under Willie Simmons last year. The Panthers have a couple of good backs, including Georgia Tech transfer Anthony Carrier, as well as a pretty experienced defense. FIU might not be good enough to get the outright win, but I’ll take north of two touchdowns.

Fallica’s Pick: FIU +14.5

UNDERDOGS TO PLAY ON ML

Cal +104
Tarleton State +114
Florida State +136

BEAR BYTES

No. 24 Louisville vs. No. 9 Ole Miss

In his last 11 games as an underdog of six points or more, Jeff Brohm’s team has won eight of them outright.

Ball State @ No. 1 Ohio State

The last 50-point favorite in an FBS vs. FBS game was Michigan -53 vs. Hawaii in 2022.

No. 7 Miami @ Stanford

In the last three years, when favored by at least 20 points over another FBS team, Miami allowed 10, 7, 14, 14, 0 and 7 in those six games.

Northern Illinois @ No. 22 Iowa

This is the 11th game in which Kirk Ferentz has been favored by at least 28 points. Iowa allowed 7, 7, 10, 7, 0, 7, 0, 7, 7 and 10 points in the previous 10 games (6.2 PPG).

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At long last, the NFL season is right around the corner. We are less than a week away from kickoff, and as initial 53-man depth charts take shape, final roster moves and tactical shifts are making noise across the league.

The Los Angeles Rams officially revealed their Week 1 depth chart, listing rookie Ty Simpson as the third-string quarterback. Meanwhile, the NFC West news gets even more intriguing with the Arizona Cardinals agreeing to a massive multi-year extension with wide receiver Michael Wilson.

Staying in the NFC, the Chicago Bears are managing practice injuries with wide receiver Rome Odunze and running back D’Andre Swift. Following that, it turns out New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo briefly considered retirement while recovering from last year’s season-ending ankle injury.

Here’s the latest NFL news around the league on Thursday. 

After a strong preseason showing, the Los Angeles Rams have released their depth chart for the start of the 2026 season. With Week 1 on the way, head coach Sean McVay has opted for Stetson Bennett as Matthew Stafford’s backup quarterback. That means Ty Simpson, who the team took with the 13th overall pick in April’s draft, will be the third-string quarterback. 

The Rams had been adamant about Simpson sitting and learning this season, especially as Stafford nears the end of his career. Stafford’s timeline remains uncertain, but he has been at the center of retirement rumors over the last couple of years. 

Simpson and Bennett were in lockstep all camp, but Bennett ultimately took the edge. After watching both get extensive preseason reps, McVay appears to agree, favoring Bennett for the backup job.

“Stetson Bennett being named the No. 2 QB by the Rams over Ty Simpson should not be surprising,” our Eric D. Williams noted. “He was clearly the better player during training camp. But Simpson showed steady improvement.”

The Rams are set to head to Australia to face off against the NFC West division rival San Francisco 49ers for Week 1.

The Arizona Cardinals reached an agreement Thursday on a three-year contract extension with wide receiver Michael Wilson, according to reports from ESPN and NFL Network. The deal keeps the 26-year-old receiver under contract with the franchise through the 2029 season.

Originally selected by Arizona in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft out of Stanford, Wilson has established himself as a primary target in the Cardinals’ offense alongside Trey McBride.

Wilson is expected to officially sign the contract on Thursday ahead of Arizona’s regular-season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sept. 13.

New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo shared that he briefly considered retiring from the NFL after suffering a severe ankle injury last year. 

Skattebo, who suffered a dislocated ankle, open tibia fracture, and ruptured deltoid ligament in Week 8, shared during an appearance on “Up & Adams” that he contemplated stepping away about a month into his rehabilitation.

“The first month was kind of like, ‘Damn, do I really want to do this?’” Skattebo said. “I think [the injury] gave me an extra step of finding that deep place and coming out of a hole that I didn’t know I could come out of. I’m appreciative of it, and I’m excited to see what I can build on it.”

Skattebo noted he had a personal rule in college to retire if he suffered a major injury, but ultimately decided to return after showing promise over seven full games as a rookie. 

Before the injury, he compiled 410 rushing yards, 207 receiving yards, and seven total touchdowns. The second-year back returned to the field during the preseason on Aug. 15 and is projected to lead a Giants backfield rotation that features Najee Harris, Tyrone Tracy Jr., and Devin Singletary.

Odunze, Swift Sidelined At Bears Practice

The Chicago Bears had a pair of injury scares right before Week 1. Wide receiver Rome Odunze and running back D’Andre Swift were both reportedly sidelined during practice Thursday. According to reports, Odunze exited with a member of the training staff near the beginning of practice and appeared to be dealing with a right leg or foot injury.

Odunze, who missed five games last season with a foot fracture, enters the 2026 campaign expected to serve as Chicago’s top receiver alongside Luther Burden III following the offseason trade of DJ Moore.

Swift’s injury reportedly occurred near the end of practice during a full-team drill.

With backup Kyle Monangai currently sidelined with a hyperextended knee, Swift’s exit leaves Chicago’s running back room rather thin heading into the holiday weekend. 

Injury News & Notes

• The Las Vegas Raiders are signing former New York Giants first-round pick in guard Evan Neal, per ESPN.
• The Indianapolis Colts officially announced that Anthony Richardson will be the backup quarterback to Daniel Jones this season.
• The Dallas Cowboys restructured the contracts of defensive tackle Kenny Clark, cornerback DaRon Bland and tight end Jake Ferguson, first reported by ESPN. The team has cleared up close to $19 million in cap space.

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Week 1 of college football has already delivered its first major upset, with UMass stunning Rutgers on the road 37-21 on Thursday night.

The win marked UMass’s first victory since October 2024 and their first over an FBS opponent since 1978, when they beat Boston College. Now, the Minutemen — who finished last year 0-12 — have secured their first season-opening win since 2023.

The Scarlet Knights opened up as 29.5 point favorites entering the matchup, but the Minutemen did not hold back.

After a 7-7 tie entering the second quarter, the Minutemen found their footing quickly. UMass held Rutgers to a scoreless second quarter and put up 17 to enter halftime with a 24-7 lead. 

Entering the third quarter, UMass added another score while Rutgers struggled. While the Scarlet Knights had a late fourth quarter push with two touchdowns, it was not enough to top the Minutemen. Notably, UMass did not score more than 21 points against a single FBS opponent last year. Against Rutgers, they scored 37.

Quarterback William “Pop” Watson IIIended the night going 19-for-22 passing with 197 yards and three touchdowns. 

Running back Curtis Kimmons IV rushed for 78 yards and one touchdown, while wide receiver Elijah Faulkner added two scores and Joseph Griffin Jr. added one. 

After Rutgers’ first touchdown in the first quarter, the offense struggled to put points on the board. Quarterback Dylan Longeran ended with 16-for-40 passing, 240 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions. Additionally, KJ Duff finished with three touchdowns and 196 receiving yards. 

UMass paid Rutgers $1.55 million to play on their home turf. Now, the Scarlet Knights open the season 0-1 for the first time since 2016, when Rutgers fell to Washington in Week 1. 

While Rutgers finished 5-7 overall last season, its season-opening loss is a poor start just two weeks away from Big Ten competition.

The Scarlet Knights now turn to Boston College on the road for Week 2, before opening up Big Ten play with a home match against No. 14 USC. 

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The AFC South is shaping up to be one of the NFL’s most unpredictable divisions this season. The Houston Texans have held the crown for years, but can they reclaim the division with the Jacksonville Jaguars’ young core not going away any time soon?

With a healthy Daniel Jones back for the Indianapolis Colts and veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen now in the fold, the Colts could make some real noise. Over in Tennessee, the arrival of Robert Saleh puts a rebuilding Titans team in a prime position to play spoiler down the stretch.

If you want to know how the AFC South will unfold, the “First Things First” group of co-hosts were all over it. On Thursday’s show, Nick Wright, Danny Parkins, and Chris Broussard broke down the AFC South. They didn’t stop at general commentary, either. The trio made their definitive predictions for how the division will shake out.

Nick Wright’s AFC South Prediction

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The Titans are entering a full rebuild under head coach Robert Saleh, but Nick Wright still sees potential for growth. With offensive additions like Carnell Tate and Wan’Dale Robinson, Wright believes a six-win season is well within reach.

“I do have them getting six wins … here’s the case for them,” Wright said. “Carnell Tate, Cam Ward take a year or two jump, and maybe Robert Saleh is actually a good head coach.”

When it comes to the expectations for the Colts, all eyes shift towards Jones and his recovery from the season-ending Achilles injury. Wright’s concerns aren’t about Jones specifically, but they’re focused squarely on head coach Shane Steichen. 

After failing to meet expectations, Wright believes Steichen should be firmly on the hot seat.

“Daniel Jones [is] quickly coming back from the Achilles injury, but how mobile is he actually going to be,” Wright said. Also, I worry about Shane Steichen, and I worry about the instant hot seat.”

When it comes to the Jaguars, they’re not so easy to predict. After winning 13 games last season and winning the division, they could be a team that’s not just on the rise, but could be competitive for years to come.

Wright made sure to highlight the Jaguars’ young core in quarterback Trevor Lawrence and two-way standout Travis Hunter.

“13 wins like last year,” Wright said. “There’s no way they don’t get at least a little more out of Travis Hunter this year. They’re not going to get less. Year two of Trevor Lawrence and [Liam] Coen…I like that. They have, far away, the best quarterback in that division.”

The Houston Texans topped Wright’s predictions. He highlighted that the performance of quarterback C.J. Stroud will be a large factor in Houston’s success this season.

“I think they will be fighting for the No. 1 seed all year,” Wright said. “I think they go 12-5. If CJ Stroud is average, they can win 11 games. If he’s above average, they can win 12 games. If he’s good, you can argue they’re the best team in the league.”

Chris Broussard’s AFC South Prediction

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Broussard followed Wright’s lead in his AFC South predictions, with the Texans standing at No. 1 and the Titans at the bottom. With new head coach Robert Saleh, Broussard is hoping for good things to come out of Saleh’s first year and Ward’s second starting season.

“I hope I’m wrong. I like Cam Ward. I would really like to see him do something this year,” Broussard said. “I’d like to see Saleh get a real chance … We’ll see, I’m pulling for him.”

For the Colts’ third-place prediction, Broussard has a hard time believing that Indianapolis won’t follow the same pattern this season as it did last season. 

“We all remember the 8-2 start, and then one of the worst collapses in NFL history. They lost their last seven. They lost their last three when Jones was healthy. Why? Because they started playing good teams,” Broussard said.

For the Jaguars at second, their run to the playoffs was impressive, but Broussard does not see back-to-back appearances. 

“At No. 2, the Jags, but missing the playoffs,” Broussard said. “He was very good last year. Is that who he finally is? Or is he going to go back down the roller coaster? I’m not betting on a bad year, but I’m not expecting a good year.”

As the Texans top Broussard’s list, the talented defense is a large factor in its success. However, the talent that Stroud brings to the offense will be another point of focus for Broussard. 

“The Houston Texans [are] winning this division. Contrary to popular opinion, C.J. was average last year … obviously he was banged up for a few games. I expect a bounce back,” Broussard said. “I don’t know if I’m ever expecting him to be that great top-five quarterback that we thought he was going to be.”

Danny Parkins’ AFC South Prediction

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Like Wright and Broussard, Danny Parkins placed the Titans in last. Parkins did not hold back when it came to what the Titans season could look like under quarterback Cam Ward.

“I’d be really worried if I was a Titans fan. I love Carnell Tate, I loved it leading up to the NFL Draft,” Parkins said. “I didn’t see much of anything to believe in Cam Ward. I think they are in contention, with the Dolphins, for the worst team in the NFL.”

Parkins switched things up and placed the Jaguars third. While Lawrence has been through ups and downs in his NFL career, Parkins is not expecting Lawrence to hold the same standard he did in last year’s 13-4 season. 

“A huge regression for the Jacksonville Jaguars,” Parkins said. “I think Trevor Lawrence cannot be trusted. Is it possible that Liam Coen unlocked it? Absolutely. … He did it with Baker, he did it with Trevor. But his whole career has been a roller-coaster. Seems like we might be ready for a big dip.”

As for Parkins’ second-place team, the Texans, the defense should not be an issue for Houston. However, the concern lies within Stroud at the helm of the offense.

“You have the best defense in the NFL, but defensive production year over year does fluctuate,” Parkins said. They had remarkable defensive health last year … I don’t have evidence that C.J. Stroud is good.”

And sitting atop his AFC South predictions, Parkins believes the Colts will take home the AFC South title. Parkins emphasized the Colts could be a dangerous team in the division if Jones is back in full force.

“They return four of five starters on their offensive line. … I really like their offense this year … they need to win by scoring,” Parkins said. “So if you see the best version of Daniel Jones for a full year, I think the Colts can win the AFC South.”

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The Fresno State Bulldogs visit the USC Trojans on Friday, September 4, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. PT from Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA.

USC enters Friday off a 42-26 win over San Jose State to open the 2026 season, improving to 1-0 as the No. 14 team in the country. Fresno State is still 0-0 on the year, and its last trip to face USC ended in a 45-17 loss back in 2022. USC is a 21.5-point favorite at DraftKings, with the total set at 51.5.

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

How to Watch Fresno State vs. USC

• When: Friday, September 4, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. PT
• Where: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA
• TV: FOX
• Stream: Watch 3 days free on FOX One

Players to Watch

USC needed one week to answer questions about its passing game, and Maiava provided it. He threw for 286 yards and two touchdowns in the opener, added a rushing score, and finished with 18 points as the Trojans built the nation’s top third down offense right out of the gate. Lincoln Riley’s attack already ranks first in the country in third down conversion rate and total yards per game, and Maiava is the one steering it. Fresno State’s defense carried that program through a nine win season a year ago, but it has not faced a quarterback playing at this pace yet. If Maiava is as efficient in Week 2 as he was in Week 1, USC’s offense could turn this into a rout early.

Mosley did more than catch passes in USC’s opener. He led the Trojans with 118 receiving yards and a touchdown, then added 56 punt return yards to finish with a team high 174 all purpose yards. That versatility matters against a Fresno State team built around defense, since Mosley does not need a shootout to be effective. He can change field position on special teams even on a night when the passing game stalls. With Maiava spreading throws around a deep receiver room, Mosley’s ability to win after the catch gives USC a release valve, whether the Trojans are grinding through Fresno State’s toughest defensive series or trying to put the game away early.

Fresno State opens the season still sorting out its quarterback room, and Martin is one of two candidates coach Matt Entz has trusted with the job, along with Jayden Mandal. Whichever one starts against USC will lean on a defense that carried the Bulldogs to nine wins a year ago, since Fresno State’s only Power Four loss in 2025 came by 24 points to Kansas. Martin does not have to be spectacular for Fresno State to hang in this game. He needs to protect the ball, extend drives and let a defense that already outplays its own offense control the tempo. Against a USC team that scored at will in Week 1, that margin for error will be thin.

Fresno State vs. USC Odds

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The Toledo Rockets visit the Michigan State Spartans on Friday, September 4, 2026 at 8:00 p.m. ET from Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, MI.

Michigan State and Toledo both enter Friday night’s opener at 0-0. Toledo averaged 30.8 points per game in 2025, well ahead of Michigan State’s 24.6, a track record the Rockets bring into Spartan Stadium. Michigan State is a 9.5-point favorite at DraftKings, with the total set at 47.5.

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

How to Watch Toledo vs. Michigan State

• When: Friday, September 4, 2026 at 8:00 p.m. ET
• Where: Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, MI
• TV: FS1
• Stream: Watch 3 days free on FOX One

Players to Watch

Zock is the marquee addition in new coach Mike Jacobs’ haul of 21 small-school transfers, and he arrives with a real track record. He picked up 20 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks last season as the Southern Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year, numbers that would have led most Group of Five defenses outright. Toledo is chasing its third Mid-American Conference title game in five years, and Jacobs is 33-8 combining his last three seasons at Mercer and Lenoir-Rhyne. None of that translates automatically to the MAC, but a pass rusher who racked up that kind of production against lesser competition gives Toledo’s front seven a proven disruptor from the jump. Michigan State’s rebuilt offensive line will be the first real measuring stick.

Michigan State overhauled its roster hoping transfers could speed up a rebuild, and Edwards gives the offense a proven workhorse. He rushed for 1,240 yards at UConn last year and enters this season as the fourth-leading returning rusher in the nation with 2,690 career rushing yards over 36 games. New coach Pat Fitzgerald inherited a senior class heavy with new names, and Edwards is the one piece opposing defenses already have to prepare for. Toledo enters with a defense built around transfer additions of its own, led by edge rusher Andrew Zock, so neither team is hiding from how much roster turnover shaped this opener. If Edwards can run against a defense that new, Michigan State’s offense has a real foundation to build on.

Every new face at Michigan State arrived through the transfer portal this off-season, except Milivojevic, who remains the same quarterback who threw 10 touchdowns against just three interceptions a season ago. That continuity matters against a Toledo defense that will lean on newcomers of its own to slow down the Spartans. Fitzgerald’s rebuild depends on Milivojevic protecting the ball while Edwards and a retooled defense find their footing, and his low interception rate a year ago suggests he can do exactly that. Toledo’s own quarterback situation is far less settled, which puts extra pressure on Milivojevic to be the steady half of this matchup rather than the swing factor.

Toledo vs. Michigan State Odds

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The Indiana State Sycamores visit the Purdue Boilermakers on Friday, September 4, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. ET from Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, IN.

Purdue opens its season at home against Indiana State, an FCS opponent already 0-1 after a 21-23 loss to Southeast Missouri State in Week 0. The Boilermakers have won their last two meetings with the Sycamores by a combined 105-0, including a 49-0 result in 2024. Purdue is a 36.5-point favorite at DraftKings, with the total set at 56.5.

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

How to Watch Indiana State vs. Purdue

• When: Friday, September 4, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. ET
• Where: Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, IN
• TV: BTN
• Stream: Watch 3 days free on FOX One

Players to Watch

Owens already has a real body of work to point to, even after just one game. He threw for 288 yards and two touchdowns in Indiana State’s season opener, numbers that immediately made him the most productive quarterback the Sycamores have had in some time. Purdue enters off a 2-10 season of its own, and coach Barry Odom’s group has not beaten a Big Ten opponent since November 2023. That does not make Indiana State a threat to pull the upset, but Owens playing a clean, mistake-free game against an FBS defense would be a real building block for a program looking to prove last week’s opener was not a fluke.

Indiana State’s offense found more than one weapon in its opener, and Wuest was part of that. He caught passes for 67 yards, added 36 yards on kick returns and finished with 103 all-purpose yards, giving the Sycamores a legitimate playmaker on both sides of the ball through one week. Purdue’s defense gave up plenty a year ago during a 2-10 season, and while a Missouri Valley Conference team walking into Ross-Ade Stadium is still a significant step up in competition, Wuest’s early versatility at least gives Indiana State a specific answer for how it plans to move the ball.

Purdue is trying to climb out of the Big Ten cellar, and Browne is the returning piece the program is building around. He threw for 300 yards or more twice a year ago, including a 30 of 50, 302 yard effort against a top 25 ranked Illinois team, proof that his arm can handle high volume against real competition. Coach Barry Odom’s Boilermakers have not beaten a Big Ten opponent since a November 2023 win over Indiana, of all teams, which will feel especially strange now that the Hoosiers are the reigning national champions. An opener against an FCS opponent in Indiana State is exactly the kind of low-risk environment where Browne needs to look sharp before Purdue’s Big Ten grind begins.

Indiana State vs. Purdue Odds

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