Back in July, I walked up closely to the table where UCLA coach Bob Chesney sat. The occasion was Big Ten media days, and we were still all weeks away from the start of this now-memorable 2026 season when I told Chesney my most closely held belief about the modern game: You’re about to watch the most competitive season of college football ever. It has never been harder to win than it is in 2026.

“I agree with you,” he said.

“Ultimately,” he said, “the margins are thin, and that’s what you’re pointing toward. It’s not easy to be in a position where you just walk out and expect to win a football game. Doesn’t really happen anymore in my mind.”

Fittingly, UCLA is one of just three undefeated programs left. Fittingly, Chesney’s team has proven best prepared to weather the avalanche of losses teams have endured at a rate we hadn’t seen since Earl Campbell won the Heisman Trophy at Texas. In fact, for the first time since 2007, AP top-2 teams lost to unranked opponents in three consecutive weeks.

Miami is undefeated. Utah is defeated. The Bruins are undefeated. And that’s the list of unbeatens among the 138 that play FBS football. That’s it.

FOX Sports college football researcher extraordinaire Dylan Tracy-Lindenbaum dug deep to help put into context just how funky this fortnight of football has been in our beloved sport.

• There are three undefeated teams left in college football. The last time three or fewer college football teams were undefeated through Oct. 24 was back in 1977: Texas, Louisiana Tech and Colgate were the last ones standing that season.
• Just making sure you read that. 1977.

What this means for me is twofold: Making this top 25 each and every week has never been more difficult, and I am so terribly grateful that we will get to see 12 teams enter into the College Football Playoff to compete for the national title.

Record: 5-2

Previous ranking: NR

Defensive backs John Nestor and Zack Harden celebrate after a play against Iowa in Week 8. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

Week 8 game: 13-10 win vs. Iowa
Week 9 game: At Indiana

The Golden Gophers’ walk-off field goal to beat Iowa in a rock fight means they’ve got the Little Brown Jug (Minnesota-Michigan rivalry trophy) and now Floyd of Rosedale back in their trophy cabinet. Minnesota’s performance gave the Gophers their first win against a ranked opponent this season, but they’ll need wins against Indiana, UCLA and, later, Northwestern to ensure their participation in the CFP for the first time ever.

Stat to know: Defensive back Zack Harden led Minnesota with 12 total tackles (six solo) and a sack against Iowa quarterback Hank Brown.

Odds to make CFP: +5500 (tied for 28th)
Odds to win national title: +125000 (25th)

Record: 6-1

Previous ranking: NR

Wide receiver Rasean Jones runs against Washington State in Boise State’s Week 8 win. (Photo by Oliver McKenna/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Week 8 game: 31-10 win vs. Washington State
Week 9 game: vs. Texas State

They were late pulling away, but the Broncos did ultimately pull away, and that is what I expected from a team that has put itself into a great position to represent the Group of Six in the CFP for the second time in three years.

Stat to know: Running back Dylan Riley had 128 rushing yards and two touchdowns on just 13 carries (9.85 yards per carry).

Odds to make CFP: +115 (12th)
Odds to win national title: +25000 (23rd)

Record: 6-1

Previous ranking: NR

Quarterback Noah Fifita looks downfield against Iowa State in Arizona’s Week 8 win. (Photo by Patrick Mulligan/Getty Images)

Week 8 game: 39-3 win vs. Iowa State
Week 9 game: At Texas Tech

I can’t really say Iowa State was ever in this game, and I can’t say that Arizona isn’t an actual threat to win the Big 12 championship. But I’m certain that the Cyclones have played better football this season, and Arizona looked as fierce as Iowa State looked bad.

What’s clear is that when quarterback Noah Fifita is playing great football, Arizona is a Big 12 title challenger. However, next week, it gets to prove it with what feels like a CFP play-out game against Texas Tech.

Stat to know: Noah Fifita completed 27 of 34 passes (79.4%) for 308 yards and two touchdowns in the blowout win against Iowa State.

Odds to make CFP: +500 (20th)
Odds to win national title: +17500 (tied for 20th)

Record: 6-1

Previous ranking: NR

Wake Forest wide receiver Deuce Lawrence celebrates with teammates after a touchdown against NC State in Week 6. (Photo by Katherine Gawlik/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Week 8 game: Bye
Week 9 game: vs. Virginia

Stat to know: Quarterback Gio Lopez is one of just two FBS quarterbacks with at least 23 total touchdowns and only one interception this season, joining Darian Mensah.

Odds to make CFP: +180 (14th)
Odds to win national title: +8000 (tied for 15th)

Record: 6-1

Previous ranking: 22

Quarterback Ty Hawkins carries the ball against Cal in SMU’s lopsided Week 8 win. (Photo by George Walker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Week 8 game: 59-20 win vs. Cal
Week 9 game: At Syracuse

The Mustangs put together their most convincing win over a Power Four team all season. The problem is that it was against Cal, which isn’t very good. Still, SMU has a chance to finish the regular season with two ranked wins against Wake Forest and Notre Dame. A 10-win season against that schedule might be enough to earn the Mustangs a CFP bid, even without a spot in what could be the ACC’s final championship game for the foreseeable future.

Stat to know: Quarterback Kevin Jennings went 16 of 23 for 223 passing yards and three passing scores in SMU’s win over Cal. He is now SMU’s all-time leader in passing touchdowns, with 74 in his career. 

Odds to make CFP: +450 (19th)
Odds to win national title: +12500 (19th)

Record: 6-1

Previous ranking: 23

Quarterback Aidan Chiles hands the ball off to running back Caleb Komolafe in Northwestern’s Week 8 win over Rutgers. (Photo by Jayden Mack/Getty Images)

Week 8 game: 42-14 win vs. Rutgers
Week 9 game: At Oregon

Northwestern has to be considered a College Football Playoff contender, with its only loss coming by a single score on the road against Indiana. Outside that defeat, the Wildcats have beaten every opponent by double digits behind a stout rushing attack and a mistake-averse passing game led by quarterback Aidan Chiles. Northwestern rushed for 283 yards against Rutgers, while Chiles threw his first interception of the season.

Stat to know: Aidan Chiles accounted for five touchdowns — three passing and two rushing — in the win over Rutgers. He became just the third Northwestern player to record multiple games with at least five touchdowns in a single season, joining C.J. Bacher (2007) and Zak Kustok (2001).

Odds to make CFP: +650 (tied for 22nd)
Odds to win national title: +20000 (22nd)

Record: 6-2

Previous ranking: 21

Wide receiver Jackson Harris scores a touchdown against Auburn in LSU’s Week 8 road win. (Photo by John Korduner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Week 8 game: 38-17 win vs. Auburn
Week 9 game: Bye

This was the LSU team I expected to see all season. Quarterback Sam Leavitt completed 71.1% of his passes for 387 yards and three touchdowns, while defensive coordinator Blake Baker’s unit held Auburn to just 67 rushing yards against a team that needs to run the ball to be successful.

The LSU team I watched Saturday showed the talent and execution needed to win a championship.

Stat to know: Quarterback Sam Leavitt threw three touchdown passes and added a rushing score against Auburn, tying his career high for total touchdowns in a game.

Odds to make CFP: -160 (seventh)
Odds to win national title: +1000 (sixth)

Record: 5-2

Previous ranking: 18

Running back Tre Page III scores an 18-yard touchdown against Colorado in Oklahoma State’s Week 8 win.  (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

Week 8 game: 57-24 win vs. Colorado
Week 9 game: At Iowa State

That makes five games of Oklahoma State scoring 39 points or more and six-straight games of quarterback Drew Mestemaker throwing for 300 yards or more. With BYU and Texas Tech each taking losses for the first time on Saturday — and in Big 12 play — the Cowboys moved into a five-way tie for second place in the league. And that looks like their only way through to the CFP, as a win against Oregon earlier this season means less and less with each passing week.

Stat to know: Quarterback Drew Mestemaker threw for 386 yards and four touchdowns, while Caleb Hawkins contributed 192 scrimmage yards in the Cowboys’ win.

Odds to make CFP: +600 (21st)
Odds to win national title: +17500 (tied for 20th)

Record: 5-2

Previous ranking: 17

Quarterback Austin Simmons looks on during Missouri’s lopsided Week 7 loss to Ole Miss. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)

Week 8 game: Bye
Week 9 game: At Arkansas

Stat to know: Since 2000, Austin Simmons is the only Missouri quarterback to throw at least 14 touchdowns with two or fewer interceptions. He’s averaging 253.3 passing yards per game while completing 63% of his passes this season.

Odds to make CFP: +700 (24th)
Odds to win national title: +10000 (18th)

Record: 6-2

Previous ranking: 15

Defensive back Kentrell Webb celebrates after intercepting a pass against Utah. (Photo by Boyd Ivey/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Week 8 game: 21-13 loss vs. Utah
Week 9 game: Bye

The Cougars dropped their second game of the season, their second to a conference foe and their second to a top-15 team on the road. Houston has a great argument for being one of the best two-loss teams in the country, given those variables. However, the Cougars will have a tremendously tough time earning an invitation to the CFP as the third-best team in the Big 12.

Stat to know: Quarterback Conner Weigman has 26 touchdowns responsible, the third-most of any player in FBS. Only Michael Hawkins Jr. (West Virginia) and Braden Atkinson (Oregon State) have more, with 27 each.

Odds to make CFP: +650 (tied for 22nd)
Odds to win national title: +30000 (24th)

Record: 5-2

Previous ranking: 9

Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss looks to pass under pressure by Texas in Ole Miss’ failed comeback attempt in Week 8. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)

Week 8 game: 34-27 loss vs. Texas
Week 9 game: vs. Auburn

The Rebels fought back from a 21-point deficit but ran out of time on the road against the Longhorns. Their losses are to Florida and Texas — two top-15 teams here — and they still have one of the best quarterbacks in the sport with under two minutes to play in the game in Trinidad Chambliss.

Stat to know: Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss recorded a season-low 89.6 passer rating against Texas. He completed 25 of 52 passes for 250 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions — the first time he’s been picked off more than once in a single game this season.

Odds to make CFP: +100 (11th)
Odds to win national title: +2000 (ninth)

Record: 6-1

Previous ranking: 4

Quarterback Bear Bachmeier runs the ball against UCF in Week 8. (Photo by Dustin Markland/Getty Images)

Week 8 game: 39-31 2OT loss vs. UCF
Week 9 game: vs. Arizona State

The end of this game needs its own documentary. I’m not kidding. Put the coaches and players in the chair, mount the boom mic and play the Netflix theme music because the end of BYU-UCF is stranger than fiction.

BYU lost, sure. But that loss makes it all but impossible for the Cougars to qualify for the CFP without a Big 12 championship to point to on their resume. That loss also doesn’t do anything to help Notre Dame’s cause.

Stat to know: Bear Bachmeier rushed and threw for a touchdown against UCF, the 11th time he’s done that over the past two seasons. No Big 12 quarterback has done so more times than him in that span, and only Auburn’s Byrum Brown has more (12). 

Odds to make CFP: +170 (13th)
Odds to win national title: +7000 (tied for 13th)

Record: 6-1

Previous ranking: 10

Quarterback Will Hammond throws to running back J’Koby Williams in Texas Tech’s first loss of the season, at Cincinnati in Week 8.  (Photo by Tanner Pearson/Getty Images)

Week 8 game: 37-24 loss vs. Cincinnati 
Week 9 game: vs. Arizona

Texas Tech’s expensive defense couldn’t stop Cincinnati’s blue-collar rushing attack. The Red Raiders surrendered 255 rushing yards, including 173 to running back Cole Tabb, in their first loss of the season. You’re not going to win many games allowing 6.4 yards per carry — especially when your offense converts just three of 15 third-down attempts, as Texas Tech did Saturday.

Nothing about this team screams Big 12 champion except its record. And right now, that record has the Red Raiders tied for second in the conference standings if the season ended today.

Stat to know: Quarterback Will Hammond failed to throw a touchdown pass for the first time this season and for the first time since Oct. 11, 2025, against Kansas. The loss to Cincinnati snapped the Red Raiders’ nine-game winning streak against unranked opponents.

Odds to make CFP: +300 (17th)
Odds to win national title: +8000 (tied for 15th)

Record: 6-2

Previous ranking: 7

Quarterback George MacIntyre looks to pass against South Carolina in Week 8.(Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)

Week 8 game: 27-24 loss vs. South Carolina
Week 9 game: Bye

The Vols blew a double-digit lead to South Carolina late, in large part because the offense stalled on five out of six drives. In fact, in those six drives, Josh Heupel’s team managed to score just three points and turned the ball over on downs twice. 

Tennessee’s losses have come against teams who presented outstanding front sevens capable of getting stops against the Vol rushing attack on third-and-short. This does not look like a CFP team without that ability to run on downs when everyone in the stadium knows you’re gonna.

Stat to know: DeSean Bishop has 637 rushing yards since Week 5, the most of any FBS player in that span. Over the last four games for the Vols, he’s averaging 159.3 rushing yards per game with seven rushing scores.

Odds to make CFP: +320 (18th)
Odds to win national title: +6500 (12th)

Record: 5-2

Previous ranking: 25

Quarterback Arch Manning runs against Ole Miss in Texas’ thrilling Week 8 win. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)

Week 8 game: 34-27 win vs. Ole Miss
Week 9 game: vs. Mississippi State

The Jekyll and Hyde routine on the Forty Acres continues with the Longhorns showing an ability to take a three-score lead against a quality opponent. First Ohio State, now Ole Miss. And while quarterback Arch Manning looked like he got his mojo back, the erratic behavior of the offense is decidedly manic, unpredictable and occasionally breathtaking. Texas might make the CFP — unless this offense fails to settle and center.

Stat to know: Despite the win, quarterback Arch Manning threw two interceptions for the second time in the last three games, raising his season total to seven picks. He went 18-for-30 for 212 yards and one passing touchdown, along with two rushing scores.

Odds to make CFP: -135 (ninth)
Odds to win national title: +1400 (eighth)

Record: 5-2

Previous ranking: 14

Quarterback Tramell Jones Jr. hands the ball off to running back Jadan Baugh in Florida’s Week 7 road win over Texas. (Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Week 8 game: Bye
Week 9 game: vs. Georgia

Stat to know: Running back Jadan Baugh has 763 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns through Florida’s first seven games. Since 2000, no Gator has recorded more rushing yards or rushing touchdowns through the team’s first seven games of a season.

Odds to make CFP: +220 (16th)
Odds to win national title: +4500 (11th)

Record: 6-2

Previous ranking: 12

Quarterback Keelon Russell is forced out of the pocket against Texas A&M in Week 8. (Photo by Jason Clark/Getty Images)

Week 8 game: 31-20 win vs. Texas A&M
Week 9 game: Bye

The Crimson Tide managed this win without star tailback EJ Crowell or wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams. In their absence, quarterback Keelon Russell still threw for more than 300 yards. Wide receiver Rico Scott became the big play player the Tide needed with six catches for 156 yards. The Tide might be one of the 12 best teams in the sport, but that’s all, and at Alabama, that’s not enough.

Stat to know: After throwing for three touchdowns against Texas A&M, Keelon Russell has been responsible for 18 touchdowns since Week 3, tied with LSU’s Sam Leavitt for the most of any SEC player in that span.

Odds to make CFP: -280 (sixth)
Odds to win national title: +1100 (seventh)

Record: 7-0

Previous ranking: 13

Quarterback Devon Dampier throws against Houston during Utah’s win against in Week 8. (Photo by Chris Gardner/ Getty Images)

Week 8 game: 21-13 win vs. Houston
Week 9 game: At Cincinnati

In its first opportunity to play against a top-25 team, Utah proved itself to be the Big 12 team with staying power. It is one of just three remaining undefeated teams left in the sport and looks more like making the CFP in a season where rival BYU once ranked in the top 5, and Texas Tech had spent most of the season ranked near the top 10.

Stat to know: Quarterback Devon Dampier accounted for 354 total yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in Utah’s win over Houston.

Odds to make CFP: -150 (eighth)
Odds to win national title: +3500 (tenth)

Record: 7-1

Previous ranking: 8

Quarterback Kenny Minchey looks to pass against Vanderbilt in Kentucky’s Week 8 win. (Photo by Jeff Moreland/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Week 8 game: 34-17 win vs. Vanderbilt
Week 9 game: Bye

Will Stein’s Wildcats handily beat Vanderbilt in a changing of the new-old money guard without the help of their best running back, CJ Baxter, and one of their best wide receivers, Nic Anderson. That was expected. In much the same way that Vanderbilt elevated itself fast with a change in head coach and flip of the entire roster in 2024 and 2025, Kentucky is doing the same thing in the SEC before our eyes. 

Whether they can hold their one-loss record for the next five weeks is outstanding. However, the truth is, Kentucky is closer to making the CFP for the first time than USC is, and yes, I’m absolutely pointing that out to emphasize just how fast flips in fortunes can happen and just how patient some programs choose to be. 

Stat to know: Quarterback Kenny Minchey posted a 151.4 passer rating, completing 73.1% of his passes (19 for 26) for 7.81 yards per attempt and no interceptions, lifting his season mark to a 151.6 passer rating with a 14-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio.

Odds to make CFP: +190 (15th)
Odds to win national title: +7000 (tied for 13th)

Record: 7-0

Previous ranking: 11

Head coach Bob Chesney smiles after a touchdown in UCLA’s Week 8 win over Michigan State. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)

Week 8 game: 28-10 win vs. Michigan State
Week 9 game: vs. Nevada

Coach Bob Chesney’s Bruins have gone from a feel-good story, to a ranked team, to a College Football Playoff contender, to one of the three best teams in the Big Ten and half a game ahead of Ohio State and Indiana for a spot in what is likely to be the last Big Ten championship game.

And they’ve done it by holding Big Ten teams in check. Only Purdue — yes, that Purdue — has scored more than 15 points on UCLA all year. A look at their schedule shows zero ranked teams left to play, which means the Bruins have a genuine shot at running the table. They’re stout enough to make a deep run into the CFP, too.

Stat to know: Running back Wayne Knight finished with 15 carries for 56 rushing yards one rushing score. With that performance, he joins Florida’s Jadan Baugh and Duke’s Nate Sheppard as the only FBS running backs with 13 or more scrimmage touchdowns on the year.

Odds to make CFP: -115 (10th)
Odds to win national title: +8000 (tied for 15th)

Record: 7-1

Previous ranking: 6

Quarterback Josh Hoover throws a pass against Michigan in Indiana’s Week 8 overtime win in Ann Arbor. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Week 8 game: 13-6 OT win vs. Michigan
Week 9 game: vs. Minnesota

The Hoosiers’ offense looked incredibly inept against Michigan’s defense. Indiana converted just four of 14 third downs, and quarterback Josh Hoover threw his first interception of the season. More concerning for Indiana fans is that these close games are becoming a trend. Indiana has played three straight games decided on the final possession, two of them against unranked opponents.

Look, this team can — and probably will — make the CFP. But it hasn’t looked like a team capable of winning back-to-back national championships.

Stat to know: Despite not completing a pass in the second half, Josh Hoover led Indiana to its first win in Ann Arbor since 1967.

Odds to make CFP: -1250 (tied for second)
Odds to win national title: +850 (fifth)

Record: 6-1

Previous ranking: 5

Quarterback CJ Carr rolls out of the pocket against BYU in Notre Dame’s first loss of the season in Week 7. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)

Week 8 game: Bye
Week 9 game: vs. Navy

Stat to know: Quarterback CJ Carr has 31 completions of 20-plus yards, which is the most of any Notre Dame signal-caller through the team’s first seven games since 2000.

Odds to make CFP: -800 (fourth)
Odds to win national title: +470 (second)

Record: 6-1

Previous ranking: 3

Quarterback Gunner Stockton rolls out to pass against Auburn in Georgia’s Week 7 loss. (Photo by Perry McIntyre/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)

Week 8 game: Bye
Week 9 game: vs. Florida

Stat to know: Quarterback Gunner Stockton had an 11-0 touchdown-to-interception ratio in Georgia’s first five games of the season, but has a 3-3 ratio in the Bulldogs’ last two games against Alabama and Auburn.

Odds to make CFP: -1250 (tied for second)
Odds to win national title: +420 (first)

Record: 6-1

Previous ranking: 2

Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith warms up before Ohio State’s win over Indiana in Week 7. (Photo by James Black/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Week 8 game: Bye
Week 9 game: At USC

Stat to know: Receiver Jeremiah Smith recorded his 39th career receiving touchdown in the Buckeyes’ Week 7 win over Indiana, tying Braylon Edwards for the most in Big Ten history.

Odds to make CFP: -750 (fifth)
Odds to win national title: +500 (third)

Record: 7-0

Previous ranking: 1

Darian Mensah threw four touchdown passes, three of them to Malachi Toney (left) in the Miami Hurricanes win over Pittsburgh. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

Week 8 game: 52-23 win vs. Pitt
Week 9 game: At North Carolina

Miami took over the No. 1 spot in these rankings in large part because Georgia insisted on losing it last week. Against Pittsburgh, the Hurricanes made the most of their first opportunity as the sport’s top-ranked team, showing they’re more than capable of holding onto it. 

Quarterback Darian Mensah looked like a Heisman candidate, throwing for 387 yards and four touchdowns, while receiver Malachi Toney hauled in 16 passes for 194 yards and three scores.

Miami looked flawed last week. This week, the Hurricanes looked every bit like a national championship contender.

Stat to know: Malachi Toney joined Calvin Johnson Jr. (Georgia Tech, 2006) and Torry Holt (NC State, 1998) as the only ACC players in the last 30 years to have three games of 150-plus receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns in the same season.

Odds to make CFP: -5000 (first)
Odds to win national title: +700 (fourth)

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American Family Field (MILWAUKEE) – There are times, Brewers standout reliever Aaron Ashby claims, when he loses his cool. On the golf course. Maybe if the traffic is bad enough. 

What about with the tying run 90 feet away in the World Series, though? 

Zen.

Nursing a one-run lead in the ninth inning Saturday night with a runner on third base and facing Yandy Diaz, the hitter with the highest batting average with runners in scoring position in the sport this season, Ashby got down 3-1 in the count. Then he dropped a curveball in for a strike to even the count. 

Yellow towels waved as the tension rose. The Brewers’ Game 2 fate rested on Ashby’s shoulders while their typical closer, Trevor Megill, watched from the bullpen. He had been warming up, but manager Pat Murphy decided to stick with Ashby, who has thrown more innings than any reliever this postseason and has not surrendered a run in any of them. 

Ashby didn’t break a sweat.

Brewers catcher William Contreras goes to celebrate with pitcher Aaron Ashby after the game-ending strikeout of Rays DH Yandy Diaz. (Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

He snapped off another curveball, this time well below the zone. Díaz thought he checked his swing. Catcher William Contreras asked for help. First-base umpire James Hoye ruled that Díaz went around. 

Inside American Family Field, pandemonium ensued. Diaz threw his arms in the air in disgust while 43,245 fans roared euphorically, their team now two wins away from their first-ever World Series championship. Contreras pumped his fist emphatically and slammed his mitt in glee.

Ashby, meanwhile, calmly walked over to his catcher as if he had just wrapped up a spring training game.

Zen. 

“I don’t think there’s words for it,” Brewers first baseman Jake Bauers told me. “He’s on another planet. He’s so calm out there. There’s such a confidence right now. It’s contagious.”

Ashby has now thrown 15 2/3 scoreless innings with three saves this October, the last of which concluded yet another four-run comeback by these unrelenting Brewers. 

He is the star of October’s best bullpen and pitching like the best arm left in these playoffs.

Yet he didn’t even crack a full smile Saturday night until minutes after he wrapped up his latest pristine performance, when fellow reliever Abner Uribe started shaking him as he neared the first-base line before retreating to the dugout. 

“It’s been incredible,” Murphy said. “He does what it takes. It’s unconventional. Multiple innings in relief. It’s Goose Gossage-like.”

(Photo by Geoff Stellfox/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Only what Ashby has done has now surpassed that level. 

Gossage is the only reliever to finish a postseason with no runs allowed in at least 14 innings of work. He threw 14 1/3 scoreless innings of relief in the 1981 postseason. If the playoffs ended today, Ashby would have a new record. His 15 2/3 scoreless innings are the second-most ever by a reliever to begin a postseason, only behind Andrew Miller’s 16 in 2016 for Cleveland. Miller’s streak eventually broke when he allowed runs in each of his final two appearances in the World Series. 

Ashby’s streak continues on. 

“He’s my lockermate, good buddy,” Brandon Woodruff, the longest-tenured Brewers pitcher, told me. “He’s worked a lot on his mental game. It’s been huge for him. 

“In those moments, I think he excels.”

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American Family Field (MILWAUKEE) – The plastic sheets are already in the visitors’ clubhouse at American Family Field. The setup is a clear sign that preparations are underway for postgame celebrations, often associated with playoff clinches or milestone wins. The protective coverings help shield lockers and equipment from champagne showers and other celebratory messes, suggesting that the visiting team is on the verge of a significant achievement.

They’re hanging from the ceiling, rolled up and waiting to be released for a champagne celebration that, for now, belongs to no one.

For the Rays to be the ones to use them, they would have to win four of their next five games and drag this World Series back to Milwaukee. On Saturday night, the rest of their clubhouse sat in total silence, the plastic sheets a distant afterthought, staring down a 2-0 series deficit against the relentless Brewers.

(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

“I guarantee you, nobody in this clubhouse wants to play the baseball that we’ve played the last couple of days,” Rays third baseman Junior Caminero said. “That’s not who we are.”

In the first inning of Tampa Bay’s 5-4 loss to Milwaukee, the Rays jumped out to an early 4-0 lead against right-hander Logan Henderson. Left fielder Chandler Simpson and Caminero laced a pair of RBI singles before catcher Liam Hicks crushed a two-run home run to right field — all before Henderson had recorded the second out of the first inning. The Rays had stolen the momentum and silenced the sold-out crowd of 43,245 before the Brewers even stepped up to the plate.

The Rays felt comfortable putting up a four-spot to support their ace. Perhaps against any other opponent, Drew Rasmussen would’ve carried the Rays’ early run support to a World Series win. But these were the feisty, never-say-die Brewers, the team with the best record in the majors this year. They were never going down without a fight. Four early runs were not enough.

Rasmussen struggled immediately out of the gate. His command wasn’t as sharp as it had been throughout this postseason. But other than that, he thought he threw plenty of quality pitches. The only problem was Milwaukee’s elite approach at the plate. They fought to get into hitters’ counts, found holes, and got right back into the game, scoring two runs off Rasmussen in the bottom of the first inning to slash their deficit in half.

Rasmussen’s outing was over after just 3 2/3 innings. He gave up three earned runs on six hits, allowed two walks and struck out four batters across 89 pitches.

“We’re going to have to dig deep, and we’re going to have to compete from here on out,” Rasmussen said. “I think we understand what’s in front of us and what it’s going to take. But obviously we’d like to be in a better situation.”

(Photo by Aaron Gash/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Rasmussen was supposed to be Tampa Bay’s stopper. The Rays bucked tradition, which typically features the team’s top starter toeing the rubber for World Series Game 1, and pushed Rasmussen’s start day back by one day to give him an extra day of rest ahead of his Game 2 start. The right-hander entered Saturday having thrown the most innings (21) among all pitchers this postseason. The way the Rays saw it, with Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski starting Game 1, they might as well push Rasmussen to Game 2 in hopes of evening up the series that way.

Plus, pushing Rasmussen back allowed them to avoid Freddy Peralta pitching at American Family Field, the place the right-hander had called home for eight years. After getting traded from the Brewers to the Mets before the 2026 season, and getting traded again in the middle of the summer at the deadline, Peralta’s new home is Tropicana Field. Throughout his career, he owns a 3.53 ERA when he’s pitching at home, compared to a 4.25 ERA when he’s pitching on the road.

No matter how much the Rays strategized these first two games of the World Series, the Brewers have found ways to erase any advantage Tampa Bay may believe it has.

“It is frustrating,” Rays designated hitter Yandy Diaz said. “We had to do our job and score more runs to help out the pitchers. We weren’t able to do that. It is what it is.”

(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

We have yet to see the Rays play their brand of baseball in this World Series. After playing clean all year and committing zero errors in the ALCS against the Guardians, we expected more sharp defense and elite fundamental baseball in the Fall Classic. But after uncharacteristically poor decision-making on the basepaths in Game 1, we saw more sloppiness in Game 2.

First baseman Jonathan Aranda committed a fielding error that allowed the Brewers to score their third run of Game 2. Simpson dropped a call after initially catching it in left field. Right fielder Victor Mesa Jr., typically sure-handed, fumbled a ball a few times before throwing it into the infield in Game 1. All of this might seem like nitpicking, but that’s the standard Tampa Bay has created. High expectations demand high results.

After Saturday’s loss, Rays outfielder Cedric Mullins went around the clubhouse and sat down with some of his teammates at their lockers to talk about it. He wanted to let Simpson and Mesa know, in particular, that there was no isolated incident on their part that led to the loss.

“The energy and the intensity needs to be consistent from start to finish,” Mullins told me. “I feel like we were possibly a little in and out today. It’s going to be important to just keep that same vibe moving forward. The main thing I want to make sure is that their thoughts and attitudes towards what’s going on are positive moving forward.

“These are tough games where we’ve had opportunities to seal the game for us and we just did not take the full advantage. So I’m just letting guys know, this being the world stage, we gotta continue to find a way to keep chipping away. We didn’t find a way to scratch any more runs on the board. Those are the things that we just witnessed today that are going to be important moving forward.”

Caminero, for his part, tried to pump up his teammates in the dugout during the game. The third baseman also noticed that the team’s energy was low, so he tried to stay positive and help get their heads back up. He told his teammates that the only thing they need to focus on is getting outs. Against a team like Milwaukee, if they give them outs, the Brewers will make them pay, Caminero said.

“Some players haven’t played at this stage, so I understand the pressure they might feel,” Caminero said of his pep talk. “Me, personally, I’ve played at similar stages at this point in my career, so I feel comfortable in certain ways. But at this point, we just gotta win. Flip the page.

“For me, I already forgot about these last two days. The series for me now starts on Monday.”

This is the Rays’ first time being backed into a corner this postseason. They swept the Yankees in the ALDS and pulled away from the Guardians in the ALCS to win the series, 4-2. Now they’ll have to overcome their first real test of adversity to save their season from ending in heartbreak.

“We’re down 2-0, but we haven’t lost the World Series,” Diaz said. “There’s still work to do.”

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The Denver Broncos travel to Glendale to face the Arizona Cardinals in an NFL Week 7 regular-season matchup at State Farm Stadium on Sunday, October 25, 2026, with kickoff set for 4:05 p.m. ET.

The Cardinals enter Week 7 at 2-4, sitting third in their division and holding the 13th seed in the conference. Arizona has dropped six of its first six games with just two wins to show, though the team arrives having snapped a skid with a win last week to carry a one-game winning streak into this contest. The Cardinals are averaging 21.0 points per game while allowing 29.7 per game, a gap that reflects the uphill battle they have faced through the early part of the season. One mitigating factor is a turnover margin of plus-2, meaning the offense has protected the ball reasonably well even as the defense has been tested.

Denver brings a 4-2 record and a two-game winning streak into this road trip, sitting second in its division and holding the sixth seed in the AFC. The Broncos have been defined this season by their defense, allowing just 20.8 points per game, and their turnover margin of plus-4 is among the better figures in the league through six weeks. Denver has been dominant at home with a 3-0 record inside their own stadium, though this game tests a road unit that stands 1-2 away from home. The Broncos average 19.0 points per game on offense, a modest output that their defense has made sufficient in a 4-2 start.

Below are the details on how to watch.

How to Watch Broncos vs. Cardinals

• When: Sunday, October 25, 2026, 4:05 p.m. ET
• Where: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ
• TV: CBS

Players To Watch

Denver enters this matchup trying to extend its winning streak, and Nix sits at the center of whether the Broncos can turn a modest offense into enough production on the road. Through six games, he leads Denver with 1049 passing yards and 6 passing touchdowns, and the Broncos have protected the ball well enough overall to post a plus-4 turnover margin.

This is a favorable spot because Arizona has allowed 29.6 points per game through six games, which ranks 31st in the league. Denver has only averaged 19 points per game and ranks 28th in passing yards per game at 168, so Nix does not need a huge volume day as much as he needs an efficient one. IF he keeps Denver on schedule and avoids the mistakes that feed Arizona’s takeaway total, the Broncos can control the shape of the game.

For Arizona, this game runs through Brissett’s ability to answer a defense that has created pressure and takeaways all season. He leads the Cardinals with 1328 passing yards and 9 passing touchdowns, and Arizona’s offense has been more productive than Denver’s overall at 307.3 yards per game and 21 points per game.

The challenge is clear. Denver’s defense has 18 sacks, 7 interceptions, and a 20.8 points-allowed average through six games, all signs of a unit that can change possessions quickly. Brissett has helped Arizona stay functional on third down with the Cardinals ranking 14th in third-down percentage at 39.3, and that part of his game matters here because Denver’s offense has not been explosive. IF Brissett sustains drives and limits giveaways, Arizona gives itself a real chance to flip the pressure onto the Broncos at home.

Arizona has thrown for 9 touchdowns and averages 222.5 receiving yards per game, so the passing game remains the cleanest path to stressing Denver’s defense.

What makes Wilson worth tracking in this matchup is the kind of coverage he is likely to see. Denver ranks second in defensive interceptions and has defended 34 passes through six games, so every target into tight windows carries extra weight. Arizona has still completed 66.8 percent of its passes as a team, which suggests there are chances to move the ball IF the timing is sharp. A productive afternoon from Wilson would give Brissett a needed outlet against one of the more disruptive secondaries on the schedule.

Denver Broncos defense

This game could swing on whether Denver’s defense keeps dictating terms the way it has through the first six weeks. The Broncos rank third in sacks with 18, second in interceptions with 7, and fifth in turnover margin at plus-4, which is a strong profile for a road team facing an offense that throws often.

Arizona has attempted 235 passes in six games, an average of 39.1 per game, and has also taken 12 sacks while throwing 6 interceptions. That volume creates opportunity for Denver’s rush and coverage to affect the game snap after snap. The Cardinals are coming off a win, so this is not a spot for passive football. IF Denver’s front and secondary keep forcing long-yardage situations, the Broncos can make Arizona’s offense feel crowded from the opening quarter.

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The Indianapolis Colts visit the Minnesota Vikings for an NFL Week 7 regular-season game on Sunday, October 25, 2026, with kickoff scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

The Minnesota Vikings enter Week 7 as one of the NFL’s last remaining unbeaten teams, carrying a five-game winning streak into this home matchup. Minnesota’s defense has been the driving force behind the run, allowing just 12.8 points per game and only 64 total points through five contests. The Vikings also own a plus-6 turnover margin, which ranks among the league’s best, and they have gone 2-0 at home and 3-0 on the road, underscoring how consistently they have performed regardless of setting.

The Indianapolis Colts arrive at a very different point in their 2026 campaign, sitting at 2-4 with losses in each of their past two games. Indianapolis has struggled to stop opposing offenses, giving up 27.3 points per game against just 24.0 scored, and a turnover margin of minus-8 has compounded those defensive issues throughout the first half of the season. The Colts hold the 12th seed in the AFC and trail the division leader by two games, making continued losses increasingly costly to any postseason ambitions.

Below are the details on how to watch.

How to Watch Colts vs. Vikings

• When: Sunday, October 25, 2026, 1:00 p.m. ET
• Where: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN
• TV: CBS

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The AFC North matchup comes into focus this week as the Baltimore Ravens host the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2026 NFL regular season on Sunday, October 25 at 1:00 PM EDT at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland.

Baltimore enters at 4-2, with 156 points scored and 132 allowed through six games, and this game gives the Ravens a chance to improve on their 0-1 division mark. Their profile has been built around a strong ground game that ranks third in the league at 151.5 rushing yards per game, along with an offense that ranks seventh in scoring at 26 points per game. The Ravens have also generated 15 sacks and a plus-2 turnover margin, which helps explain why they remain in the middle of the AFC North race despite coming in on a one-game losing streak.

Cincinnati arrives at 3-2 after five games and has been efficient through the air, with Joe Burrow leading the Bengals to 260 passing yards per game and 11 passing touchdowns. The Bengals rank second in the league on third down at 50 percent, and their defense has added pressure with 17 sacks, tied for fifth in the NFL. With a one-game winning streak, a 2-1 road record, and a 0-1 division mark of their own, Cincinnati heads to Baltimore with a chance to gain ground in a crowded division picture.

Below are the details on how to watch.

How to Watch Cincinnati Bengals vs. Baltimore Ravens

• When: Sunday, October 25, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. ET
• Where: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MD
• TV: CBS

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The Philadelphia Eagles host the Dallas Cowboys in the 2026 NFL regular season on Monday, October 26, 2026 at 8:15 PM EDT at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA.

Philadelphia enters at 2-4 and on a four-game losing streak, which makes this divisional game a chance to steady its season. Through six games, the Eagles sit second in the NFC East and have scored 106 points while allowing 137. Their offense has struggled to find consistency, ranking 29th in points per game at 17.7, while Jalen Hurts, who is out for the rest of the season, leads the team with 933 passing yards and 8 touchdown passes.

Dallas also comes in at 2-4, but its path has looked different, with an offense that has produced more consistently even during a two-game skid. The Cowboys are third in the NFC East, have scored 151 points through six games, and rank 9th in points per game at 25.2. Dak Prescott has driven that production with 1,639 passing yards and 10 touchdown passes, giving Dallas a clear edge in the passing game entering this meeting.

Below are the details on how to watch.

How to Watch Cowboys vs. Eagles

• When: Monday, October 26, 2026 at 8:15 p.m. ET
• Where: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA
• TV: ABC, ESPN
• Stream: ESPN Unlimited – Get the FOX One / ESPN Bundle

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The Los Angeles Rams visit the Las Vegas Raiders in an NFL Week 7 regular-season matchup scheduled for Sunday, October 25, 2026, at 4:25 p.m. ET at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

Las Vegas enters this game at 3-3, sitting third in its division and holding the 10th seed in the AFC, but the Raiders have dropped three straight and find themselves 2.5 games back in the standings. Through six weeks, Las Vegas is averaging 26.4 points per game while allowing 25.8, and the offense has produced 335.6 yards per game on the strength of 253.6 passing yards and 82.0 rushing yards per contest. One encouraging sign has been a turnover margin of plus-3 on the season, though that edge has not translated into wins lately. The Raiders are 2-1 away from home this year, which makes their 1-2 mark at Allegiant Stadium a notable concern heading into this home game.

Los Angeles arrives at 2-4, sitting fourth in its division and seeded 14th in the NFC, and the Rams have lost two consecutive games to fall 3.5 games out of a playoff spot. Despite the losing streak, the offense has shown some signs of life, generating 401.3 yards per game, including 288.7 through the air and 112.7 on the ground, and converting third downs at a 44.0 percent clip. The bigger concern has been ball security: the Rams carry a turnover margin of minus-3, which stands in direct contrast to Las Vegas’s plus-3 mark and could be a decisive factor Sunday. Los Angeles is averaging 22.5 points per game while giving up 23.0, leaving very little margin for error in a game the Rams essentially need to win to stay within reach of the NFC playoff picture.

Below are the details on how to watch.

How to Watch Rams vs. Raiders

• When: Sunday, October 25, 2026, at 4:25 p.m. ET
• Where: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, NV
• TV: FOX
• Stream: Watch 3 days free on FOX One

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The Miami Dolphins visit the New York Jets in an NFL Week 7 regular-season matchup at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ, on Sunday, October 25, 2026, with kickoff set for 1:00 p.m. ET.

New York enters this divisional contest at 2-4 on the season, sitting third in the AFC East and seeded 11th in the AFC. The Jets have averaged 18.7 points per game while allowing 20.3, and they carry a positive turnover margin of plus-4 through six weeks. They are coming off a loss but have managed a 1-1 mark at home, and their 290.7 yards per game on offense reflects a unit that has shown some balance, averaging 196.2 passing yards and 94.5 rushing yards per outing.

Miami arrives in an urgent situation, carrying a five-game losing streak into Week 7. The Dolphins are last in the AFC East, seeded 15th in the conference, and have been outscored 132 to 70 on the season, allowing 26.4 points per game while averaging just 14.0 offensively. Their passing attack has been particularly challenged, generating only 153.6 passing yards per game, though the ground game has provided some traction at 126.6 rushing yards per game. Miami’s third-down conversion rate of 41.3% is a relative bright spot, but a turnover margin of minus-4 has compounded the team’s struggles.

Below are the details on how to watch.

How to Watch Dolphins vs. Jets

• When: Sunday, October 25, 2026, 1:00 p.m. ET
• Where: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
• TV: CBS

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The Detroit Lions host the Green Bay Packers in an NFC North divisional matchup during NFL Week 7, kicking off Sunday, October 25, 2026, at 4:25 p.m. ET from Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan, airing live on FOX.

Detroit enters this game at 3-2, sitting fourth in the NFC North but holding a positive turnover margin of plus-4 on the season. The Lions have been one of the league’s more productive offenses, averaging 32.8 points and 393.8 yards per game, with a ground game generating 114.2 rushing yards per contest. Detroit is unbeaten at home this season at 2-0, and the Lions arrive on a one-game winning streak looking to build toward the top half of the conference standings after opening the year with two road losses.

Green Bay comes in matching Detroit’s 3-2 record but occupies the NFC’s sixth seed, two games back in the division. The Packers have won two straight and are 2-1 on the road this season, making Ford Field a venue where they have found recent success away from Lambeau Field. Green Bay’s offense has been more conservative, averaging 20.8 points and 331.4 yards per game, with the passing game accounting for most of that production at 271.0 yards per game. The Packers carry a turnover margin of plus-3, so both teams have been careful with the ball, setting up a matchup where field position and ball security could be decisive.

Below are the details on how to watch.

How to Watch Packers vs. Lions

• When: Sunday, October 25, 2026, at 4:25 p.m. ET
• Where: Ford Field, Detroit, MI
• TV: FOX
• Stream: Watch 3 days free on FOX One

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