Bristol Motor Speedway (Bristol, Tenn.) — Ty Gibbs doesn’t just return to Bristol Motor Speedway with the memories of winning his first career Cup race back in April.

He arrives with a car carrying the memory of Kyle Busch, the two-time NASCAR Cup champion who died suddenly in May. A long-time driver for M&Ms at Joe Gibbs Racing, Ty Gibbs will carry an M&Ms tribute scheme to Busch for the race Saturday night.

“[The team] came to me wanting to run it and the family wanted to run it, too, and [M&Ms parent company] Mars did, too. There were a lot of people wanting to do it, and I was the one chosen to do it,” Gibbs told me a couple of weeks ago.

So no added pressure?

“No,” Gibbs told me, then paused, and said, “Maybe a little bit. … What is pressure? I never heard of it before.”

That sounded like something Busch might say. 

Bristol was one of the places where Busch had some of his greatest accomplishments, including two triple-header weekend sweeps. Busch won nine Cup races at the track (including one of the dirt races), nine O’Reilly races (former Xfinity) and five truck races.

“Bristol was always such a special place for Kyle, and M&Ms was such a huge part of his life and career, so seeing everyone come together again to honor him means more to our family than I can put into words,” Busch’s widow, Samantha Busch, said in a news release.

“Kyle loved the energy of the fans at Bristol, especially under the lights.”

Ty Gibbs knows it will be a cool moment to carry the scheme.

Ty Gibbs (R) will honor the late Kyle Busch (L) this weekend at Bristol.

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“Going back with the M&Ms tribute is really cool for Kyle Busch,” Gibbs told me. “Obviously, I think we’ll have a great shot to win it. … But also have a great shot to win the rest of them, too.”

Gibbs sits sixth in the standings, 51 points behind leader Denny Hamlin. He has won since that victory as he took the checkered flag at Iowa.

“One win doesn’t change me at all as a human or as a race car driver, either,” Gibbs said. 

The 23-year-old Gibbs said he doesn’t watch highlights of that first win.

“I probably watched some things on that we looked at that the team thinks that I can do better,” Gibber said. “But not much. I don’t sit there and fantasize over myself winning. 

“On to the next one. I want to win the next weekend.” 

WHAT YOU SHOULD READ NEXT

Denny Hamlin is favored to win The Chase, but one driver is closing in on the NASCAR Cup Series title oddsboard. Here’s the latest.

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College football Week 3 brings a loaded slate of ranked matchups, conference battles and intriguing games across the country, with No. 7 LSU vs. No. 8 Ole Miss headlining the weekend. Lane Kiffin returns to Oxford as the Tigers travel to face his former team. Check out DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, bet365 and more for odds and new user promos.

After taking over the top spot, Arch Manning leads No. 1 Texas to face UTSA before starting SEC play. Keep your eye on these matchups, including No. 22 Houston at No. 13 Texas Tech, No. 16 SMU at No. 23 Louisville, Florida State at No. 10 Alabama and No. 2 Georgia at Arkansas. No. 12 USC travels to Rutgers and No. 19 Michigan hosts UTEP.

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Carson Wentz will pick up where he left off.

Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell announced on Friday afternoon that Wentz will start at quarterback for the team’s Week 2 road matchup against the Chicago Bears (Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on FOX), as Kyler Murray continues to recover from a concussion. J.J. McCarthy will be the backup quarterback.

Wentz stepped in for Murray in the first quarter of Minnesota’s Week 1 victory over the Green Bay Packers after Murray took a pair of hits to the head area.

After trailing 22-10 with 5:09 remaining in the third quarter, the Vikings went on a 29-0 run to win the game, 39-22. Wentz threw for 133 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions, while posting a 123.5 passer rating and completing 63.2% of his passes (12 of 19).

Wentz is in his second season with the Vikings. He started five games for the team last season in place of McCarthy, who opened the season as the starting quarterback but then missed time due to an ankle injury, before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. Wentz posted an 85.8 passer rating and completed 65.1% of his passes across those five games.

The Vikings are the sixth team the 33-year-old Wentz, the No. 2 pick in the 2016 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, has played for. Following five seasons with the Eagles (2016-20), Wentz had one-year stints with the Indianapolis Colts (2021), Washington Commanders (2022), Los Angeles Rams (2023) and Kansas City Chiefs (2024) before joining the Vikings in 2025.

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Zinedine Zidane started building the France team of the future by picking several new faces on Friday when naming his first squad since taking charge.

Rennes striker Esteban Lepaul, Liverpool center back Jeremy Jacquet, Como midfielder Lucas Da Cunha, Inter Milan’s Andy Diouf and Toulouse goalkeeper Guillaume Restes are set for their debuts in upcoming Nations League games.

“They are players who deserve to be here, players I want to see,” coach Zidane said Friday at the French soccer federation’s headquarters. “Everyone will be involved.”

France plays in Turkey on Sept. 25 and Belgium three days later, then hosts Italy on Oct. 2 and Belgium on Oct. 5.

“What inspires me is the game,” Zidane said. “I want to see these players and this team playing.”

The 21-year-old Jacquet has made a solid start since joining Liverpool from Rennes in the offseason in a deal worth a reported 70 million euros ($80 million).

“I like his profile a lot,” Zidane said. “I’ve followed him for a long time because he played alongside my son in the youth teams.”

(Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)

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Diouf plays in midfield for his club but Zidane is adamant he won’t for France.

“He plays in a different way for Inter Milan,” Zidane said. “I want to see him playing left back.”

Lepaul scored 20 league goals for Rennes last season and has netted three in four games in this campaign, including one against defending champion Paris Saint-Germain in the opening game, when he stood out.

“He has a different profile from what we’re used to seeing,” Zidane said. “I like this kind of player who can play in tight spaces, he scores goals. I want to see him up close.”

After being rejected by Lyon’s prestigious academy, Lepaul played in the lower leagues with Épinal and Orléans before making his Ligue 1 breakthrough three years ago after Angers snapped him up for just 150,000 euros ($173,000).

Zidane also recalled Adrien Truffert, whose only cap came four years ago. Fullback was one of France’s weaker positions at this year’s World Cup.

“Choosing Andy (Diouf) and Truffert is a strong choice,” Zidane said. “They are capable of playing in this position.”

No Benzema Comeback, Au Revoir Kante

(Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)

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Zidane ruled out a return for 38-year-old forward Karim Benzema and turned the page on 35-year-old midfielder N’Golo Kante’s international career.

“To help this team evolve. It’s nothing to do with his quality, he’s an extraordinary player, magnificent,” Zidane said of Kante, who won the World Cup in 2018. “But these are choices. N’Golo is 35 and I have made choices, which are different.”

Zidane was close to Benzema when he coached him at Real Madrid. But he decided against a recall for the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner, who has not played for Les Bleus since leaving the World Cup four years ago because of injury.

“I adore Karim. But he’s a certain age, a bit like N’Golo,” Zidane said. “I need to see younger players and what we will do together.”

Unlike other nations who picked larger squads, like Germany’s whopping 44 players, Zidane stayed with a 23-player format.

“I didn’t want to see players sitting in the stands,” Zidane said, explaining why he chose not to select more outfield players.

Zidane led Les Bleus to glory at the 1998 World Cup and the European Championship two years later.

“I have a great bond with this team,” he said.

His last game for France was in the 2006 World Cup final, when he scored a Panenka-style penalty early on but was sent off in extra time for headbutting Italy defender Marco Materazzi in the chest.

Zidane replaced Didier Deschamps after the World Cup.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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In Driver’s Eye with James Hinchcliffe, the six-time INDYCAR winner will bring you inside the mind of a racer while breaking down the nuts and bolts of the sport for fans.

And just like that, another INDYCAR season is in the books. It seems like we were just unloading in St. Petersburg with the whole season ahead of us to look forward to. 

Now, looking back, it was an unforgettable and historic season for so many reasons, paving the way for a bright INDYCAR future. From new tracks and returning to old ones to making history across the country to five-time INDYCAR champ Alex Palou’s unparalleled dominance, let’s look back at the sport’s amazing 2026.

INDYCAR-NASCAR DOUBLEHEADER DELIVERED

One of the big stories coming into the season was the number — and scale — of new events that the 2026 season had in store for us.

Rinus VeeKay leads INDYCAR during the 2026 Good Ranchers 250 at Phoenix. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)

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First up was a familiar concept at a new venue: the INDYCAR/NASCAR doubleheader. We had done this at the Brickyard a few times, to varying degrees of success. Adding Phoenix Raceway back onto the INDYCAR schedule was cause for celebration in and of itself, but finding out that is where we would join forces with the stars of the stock car world was something the whole paddock was buzzing about.

And the weekend didn’t disappoint.

It was INDYCAR’s first time back to the venue since its face lift. It took some drivers — and, admittedly, two of the three boys in the booth — a little time to remember that old Turns 1 and 2 were new Turns 3 and 4. 

But while corner numbers changed, the thrill of racing open-wheel cars at 200 miles an hour around the mile-long track was just as fun as it had always been.

Joey Logano leads NASCAR Cup Series drivers at Phoenix during the 2026 Straight Talk Wireless 500. (Photo by Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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The thing I always loved most about doubling up with NASCAR is the shared admiration each series has for the other. Whether it’s Cup drivers peering into the tight confines of an Indy car cockpit, or INDYCAR drivers comparing lines and stock car driving styles, there is a great appreciation for what each series is and how it challenges the men and women behind the wheel.

TAKING ON JERRY WORLD AND AN NFL STADIUM

Arlington bounced onto the scene in a fittingly Texas way: big, bold and beautiful. The build of the track around the home of the Dallas Cowboys was truly outstanding, and Townsend Bell and I both were so envious that the 25 drivers got to wheel around that unique layout.

The quality and caliber of the event was impressive in every measurable way, and people were quickly talking about how this event, in only its first year, had become the new benchmark against which all INDYCAR races will be measured.

Rumor has it: It was such a success that other NFL team owners took notice and have started thinking, “Well, if Jerry has one….” So here is hoping this isn’t the last NFL stadium we get to whip around!

Alex Palou, Kyle Kirkwood and Will Power celebrate on the podium after the first Java House Grand Prix of Arlington around AT&T Stadium. (Photo by Michael L. Levitt/Lumen via Getty Images)

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And let’s not forget the fans! For a brand-new venue to pull in the kind of crowd we saw at Arlington on race day was so impressive. Hats off to everyone that helped pull off the first of what we hope is many events on those streets.

HISTORY AT THE FREEDOM 250 IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

You can’t talk about new events without recognizing the Freedom 250. 

It was the first — and likely to be the only — race held around the U.S. Capitol. In what was an incredible celebration of the country’s 250th birthday, the whole team at INDYCAR, Penske Entertainment and FOX Sports put together a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience for all who were able to attend.

INDYCAR drivers on the Washington, D.C. track for what will likely be the only Freedom 250. (Photo by Brett Farmer/Lumen via Getty Images)

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Simply pulling off the track build in maybe the most complicated city on Earth to host an event of this magnitude was something to be proud of. But then you saw how good the on-track action was and how amazing the 100,000-fan turnout was, and it elevates this race to a whole new level.

The Indianapolis 500-esque pre-race ceremonies were unlike anything anyone had ever seen, and, again, unlikely to ever see again.

As much as I’d love another opportunity to spend time in D.C. and see cars hit that circuit again, there is something magical about the thought that we will only ever have one memory of an INDYCAR race at the Capitol.

A RECORD-BREAKING INDY 500

No, it’s not a new event, but it’s still INDYCAR’s biggest. And this year’s Indy 500 deserves a shoutout. 

In breaking the record for the closest finish in history, Felix Rosenqvist set himself up to be part of Indy 500 lore for a long time. I wrote plenty about that magical last lap after it happened. I still get goosebumps every time I watch the replay. And I have to admit, that’s concerningly often!

THE DOMINANCE OF A FIVE-TIME INDYCAR CHAMP

After all these incredible events and the many phenomenal venues that hosted us and sent us on our way, the dust settled to reveal our 2026 champion, Alex Palou.

Four titles in a row. Five championships in the last six years. 

He has only NOT won the title twice in his years on the INDYCAR scene. Those numbers are truly staggering. And the most impressive thing is… he’s not done. Not even close.

Alex Palou celebrates on the Championship Podium at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca at the end of the 2026 season. (Photo by Michael L. Levitt/Lumen via Getty Images)

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There is nothing that points to anyone other than Palou being the favorite going into 2027. 

Yes, the competition in the form of Kyle Kirkwood, Christian Lundgaard and Pato O’Ward stepped up in a big way to challenge the 29-year-old Spaniard. But wrapping up the title with one race remaining on the season shows drivers and teams still have a bit of work to do to catch the driver who is as painfully consistent as he is devastatingly quick. 

The competition can hope that 2028 — with the arrival of the much anticipated new car — could reset the field and disrupt the flow of the Chip Ganassi Racing team and its No. 10 car. 

But let’s not forget: CGR is one of the strongest teams in INDYCAR history. There’s just as good a chance that the No. 10 team figures out the new car quicker than the rest of the field, and their advantage only grows!

Through it all, Palou has emerged not just as a generational talent, but a historical one. 

This isn’t a once-in-a-lifetime level of performance. This could very well be the middle of the greatest INDYCAR, motorsport, or, dare I say, sporting performance of all time.

Even the greats, the Mario Andrettis and AJ Foyts of the world, acknowledge that this level of domination in modern INDYCAR — comparable with what we have seen out of Scott Dixon over his 20 plus years on the grid with CGR — is almost more impressive than what they did. 

Of course, they raced in an era where a different level of bravery was required due to the inherent danger, but there was also a much bigger disparity between the front and back of the field. If you were a little off back in those days, maybe it meant third place. Today, two tenths off can leave you fighting just to stay in the top 20.

WHAT YOU SHOULD READ NEXT

Who are the sport’s best drivers and where does Alex Palou rank?

Sure, Palou isn’t yet quite spoken about the same way Mario or AJ are, but just give him time. He is far from finished writing the Alex Palou legacy. 

And while some people tire of the same driver winning as much as Palou has, I say: Embrace it. Lean into it. Enjoy the fact that you are witnessing greatness. Appreciate the fact that you’ll be able to say “I was watching when….”

After all, records are meant to be broken. And despite Palou’s pleasant demeanor and cheerful personality, this guy is looking to break some stuff.

MORE DRIVER’S EYE:

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Cowboys. Commanders.

For the better part of NFL history, they’ve been fierce rivals, no matter where they play or what they’re called.

From the Cowboys’ induction into the sport in 1960 to the heyday of both franchises in the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s to the present day, these two teams have clashed on and off the field, generating hate between each other and their fan bases. The latest episode of this rivalry comes on Sunday afternoon, as the Cowboys host the Commanders at 4:25 p.m. ET on FOX.

Here are five things to know about the historic NFC East rivalry:

Dallas Outwits Washington

Tom Landry was the Cowboys’ inaugural head coach, a position he’d hold for 29 years. (Photo by Marvin E. Newman/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

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This rivalry didn’t begin on grass or turf. It began in a courtroom.

In 1958, every franchise in the then-12-team NFL voted in favor of expansion except for one: Washington. Then-owner George Preston Marshall vehemently argued against expansion. At the time, Washington was the southernmost team in the sport and viewed the southeastern portion of the country as a greater target audience.

What could pose a threat to this? An NFL team in Texas.

After a potential sale of the Washington franchise to Clint Murchison Jr. fell through, the Texas oilman continued to try and buy an NFL team, and he chose subterfuge. With Marshall being his biggest obstacle to getting a franchise in Texas (NFL owners had to unanimously approve expansion), Murchison bought the rights to Washington’s rallying cry song from band director Barnee Breeskin, who had a rocky relationship with Marshall at the time. After getting the rights, Murchison pledged to give them to Marshall only if he voted for expansion and therefore, a team in Dallas.

Marshall obliged, and the Cowboys were born in 1960. Fascinating, isn’t it?

Washington’s Anger Builds Over Dallas Titles

The Cowboys won the Super Bowl in the 1971 and 1977 seasons. (Photo by Nate Fine/Getty Images)

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Curious why somebody may hate the Cowboys? George Allen, Washington’s head coach from 1971-77, had many reasons.

It took a minute, but once Dallas head coach Tom Landry got his then-transcendent 4-3 defense — which ended up producing Hall of Famers like Bob Lilly, Randy White and Chuck Howley — and a dazzling offensive core in place, the Cowboys were a force to be reckoned with. And they hammered Washington in the process.

After a relatively even start to the all-time series in the early-to-mid-1960s, Dallas swept the season series with Washington from 1968-70 and won eight of 10 games against its rival going through the 1972 regular season.

To make matters worse for Washington, Dallas defeated the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl VI, winning a title in the Super Bowl era before the team whose owner tried to deny the Cowboys entry into the league.

Now, there was a blip on the radar for Dallas, which was a precious moment for Washington. In the season following the Cowboys’ Super Bowl VI triumph (1972), Washington blasted Dallas in the NFC Championship Game 26-3 to advance to Super Bowl VII. Granted, Miami went on to beat Washington to complete the only perfect season in NFL history (17-0).

As for the NFC Championship Game, Washington out-gained Dallas in total yards 316-169, with Cowboys Hall of Fame quarterback Roger Staubach completing just nine passes. Meanwhile, Washington quarterback Billy Kilmer and Hall of Famer Charley Taylor hooked up for two touchdown passes, with the former completing 14 of 18 passes and posting a 148.6 passer rating. The two teams split the season series against each other from 1973-76.

Billy Kilmer & Co. lost Super Bowl VII to the Dolphins, but they beat the Cowboys in the NFC Championship Game to get there. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)

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During Allen’s tenure from 1971-77, Washington went 7-8 against Dallas. And the head coach seethed. Time and time again, Allen was seen pushing his players to be the aggressor against the Cowboys, as evidenced by the brutal hits they’d lay on each other.

Moreover, another reason this game was a “blip on the radar” is that the Cowboys won the Super Bowl again in the 1977 season, with Staubach and star playmakers Tony Dorsett and Drew Pearson, among others, etching their names in NFL history. Washington didn’t make the postseason that year.

Joe Gibbs Pushes Aside Tom Landry

Washington has won each of its two playoff games against Dallas (1972 and 1982 postseasons). (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)

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In 1981, Washington hired San Diego Chargers offensive coordinator Joe Gibbs as its new head coach, and the franchise commenced its golden era — and ended its bitter rival’s in the process.

After an 8-8 debut year with Gibbs, Washington won its first Super Bowl in 1982, going 8-1 in a season that was truncated due to an NFL lockout. While beating the Dolphins in the Super Bowl — exacting revenge for their 1973 season defeat — and John Riggins’ MVP performance are surely on the shortlist of treasured moments in franchise history, Washington handling Dallas in the NFC Championship Game may have been just as sweet for the fan base.

After losing six consecutive games to Dallas, Washington beat the Cowboys at RFK Stadium to advance to the Super Bowl, intercepting quarterback Gary Hogeboom twice with Riggins rushing for 140 yards and two touchdowns. The following year, Washington won an NFL-best 14 regular-season games but was blown out by the Los Angeles Raiders in the Super Bowl 38-9.

Four years later (1987), though, in another strike-impacted season, Washington won the Super Bowl. And in a Monday Night Football game that year on the road, Washington beat the Cowboys with the majority of its roster being replacement players. Dallas, meanwhile, had roughly half of its regulars on the roster. And in 1991, Washington was on top of the football world again, with its third Super Bowl title, marking the most for a team in the NFC East at the time.

Washington won its three Super Bowls with as many quarterbacks (Joe Theismann in 1982, Doug Williams in 1987 and Mark Rypien in 1991) and had a balanced defense featuring star cornerback Darrell Green, who played for Washington from 1983-2002 and is the franchise leader with 54 interceptions.

Meanwhile, in Dallas, Landry was fired after the 1988 season by new team owner Jerry Jones in the wake of missing the playoffs in four of the previous five seasons. The Cowboys hired Miami Hurricanes head coach and national champion Jimmy Johnson as their new coach and went 1-15 in their first season under him (1989).

After the 1988 season, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones (right) brought in Jimmy Johnson to coach the team and their partnership proved historic. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)

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Still, the two teams went 12-12 against each other with Gibbs in his initial stint as Washington’s head coach from 1981-92 (he returned for a second stint from 2004-07). But, more often than not, it was Washington playing deep into January and Dallas watching.

And Dallas Pushes Washington Right Back

Led by NFL all-time rushing leader Emmitt Smith, Dallas ripped off Super Bowl triumphs in the 1992, 1993 and 1995 seasons. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)

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Being a Cowboys fan in the 1980s and the opening seconds of the 1990s was rough. Why’s that? Well, arguably the Cowboys’ two biggest rivals, Washington (1982, 1987 and 1991) and the New York Giants (1986 and 1990), won half of the Super Bowls in the sport from 1982-91.

But then the Cowboys came of age.

In Johnson’s fourth season as head coach (1992), the likes of NFL all-time rushing leader Emmitt Smith, star wide receiver Michael Irvin, tight end Jay Novacek and quarterback Troy Aikman sparked one of the NFL’s preeminent offenses, leading Dallas to its first Super Bowl win in 15 years with a 52-17 shellacking of the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXVII. And the Cowboys ran it back by beating the Bills in the Super Bowl again the following year, 30-13.

Then, Dallas had to weather the storm of Johnson and the Cowboys parting ways after the 1993 season, with former Oklahoma Sooners head coach and national champion Barry Switzer taking the reins. After losing to the San Francisco 49ers in the 1994 NFC Championship Game, Dallas got back on the pedestal in 1995, winning its third Super Bowl in four years and tying San Francisco for the most Super Bowls in league history at the time with five.

Throughout the Cowboys’ run, Washington always met the moment, as the two teams were .500 against each other from 1992-97. At the same time, Washington failed to make the playoffs from 1993-98. The team actually hired former Dallas offensive coordinator Norv Turner as its head coach for the 1994 season, but the Turner era only produced one playoff appearance and just two winnings seasons from 1994 to 2000.

  Washington Has Playoff Edge; Dallas Has The Rest?

The Cowboys swept the 2025 season series with the Commanders. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)

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The history of the NFL can’t be told without this rivalry. The way the Cowboys finessed their way to get Washington to let them into the league, the furious matchups, the two teams ending a golden run for the other and the animosity through it all. This rivalry has it all.

Would you rather dominate the all-time series in the win column against a team you despise or struggle in the regular season against a team you despise but beat them in the postseason? That’s the dichotomy regarding the question of who has been the “winner” of this rivalry.

As alluded to earlier, Washington has gotten the best of Dallas in January, winning the two times the teams have squared off in the playoffs, with both years resulting in an appearance in the Super Bowl for Washington. Plus, Washington beat Dallas in a win-or-go-home Week 17 game in 2012 that decided who won the NFC East and whose season was over, with Alfred Morris rushing for 200 yards and three touchdowns and Washington intercepting Cowboys QB Tony Romo three times.

At the same time, the Cowboys are 81-49-2 in the all-time series. Dallas won 10 consecutive games against Washington from 1997-2002 and 14 of 15 stretching to 2005, while also winning 11 of 14 games against Washington from 2013-19 and having won eight of the past 10 matchups. And just for good measure, Dallas is 8-2 against Washington in Thanksgiving Day games.

That’s damning!

Dallas vs. Washington

All-Time Series

Dallas

 

81 Wins

Washington

 

49 Wins

Ties

 

2 Ties

These teams are each in their own respective title droughts. In 2024, Washington won a playoff game for the first time in 19 years and reached the NFC Championship Game for the first time in 33 years, but it has been 25 years since the Lombardi Trophy was hoisted in Washington, D.C. Meanwhile, Dallas hasn’t reached the NFC Championship Game since winning its last championship (1995).

The Commanders and Cowboys are more alike than different — but they couldn’t hate each other more.

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Kylian Mbappé is trading the Swoosh for the On after two decades with Nike.

The Real Madrid and France star announced Friday that he has joined Swiss sportswear company On, ending a relationship with Nike that began in 2006, when Mbappé was just nine years old.

Mbappé revealed the move in a social media statement titled “Dream On, Football,” reflecting on playing with friends until sunset before football became his career. 

“I have followed this dream for as long as I can remember,” Mbappé wrote.

The move gives On one of sport’s most recognizable stars as it attempts to expand beyond the running and tennis markets that built the Swiss brand. 

The agreement includes both cash and equity, according to Reuters, giving Mbappé a financial stake in On as the company makes its first major push into soccer. The total value of the deal has not been disclosed, and On has not announced its length.

Mbappé will serve as a global ambassador and work directly with On’s product teams to develop and test future football footwear and apparel. The company plans to launch its first soccer cleats in 2027 and has named former France and Arsenal star Thierry Henry its director of soccer.

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Not 300 days ago, Lane Kiffin left Ole Miss for LSU right before the Rebels began their College Football Playoff run. Since then, the entire sport has waited for his return to Oxford, and it has arrived.

Kiffin will face his former team under the bright lights of Vaught Hemingway Stadium in what could be one of the most hostile environments in college football this season.

But Week 3’s loaded slate extends far beyond LSU-Ole Miss.

Houston and Texas Tech meet as ranked opponents for the first time since 1989, while Dabo Swinney and Bill Belichick face mounting pressure before Clemson-North Carolina. Alabama looks to carry its second-half momentum against Florida State, and Auburn meets Florida in a battle of first-year SEC coaches.

Here are our expert picks for the biggest games of the Week 3 college football season.

2026 College Football Expert Picks Week 3

College football in Week 3 kicks off with No. 5 Miami at Wake Forest (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN), followed by No. 22 Houston at No. 13 Texas Tech (8 p.m. ET, FOX) and No. 21 Oregon hosting Portland State (10:30 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network). 

Joel Klatt reveals his first top 10 of the 2026 season Joel Klatt Show

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Aaron Judge could be finishing the regular season on the injured list. 

The Yankees superstar slugger is headed to the 10-day injury list due to a right calf strain. He appeared to injure his leg on Wednesday against the Twins, grimacing while at the plate. 

Judge has been sidelined for most of the season with a broken rib. His 66 games this season is his lowest since the COVID-impacted campaign in 2020. After back-to-back seasons with at least 50 home runs, the 34-year-old slugger only has 18 this season.

It’s unclear how this new injury would impact Judge’s availability for the playoffs. The Yankees have locked up a postseason spot already but are 4.5 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East standings. 

After a three-game series at Arizona, the Yankees take on the Rays next week in a four-game set in the Bronx before wrapping up the regular season against Baltimore.

As things stand, the Yankees will take on the Boston Red Sox in the AL wild-card series for the chance to go against the Rays in the ALDS. 

The three-time American League MVP had one home run and one extra-base hit in the seven games he played before his latest setback. 

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After the Bears and Panthers combined to score 96 points last Sunday, you can imagine how popular these Bears “Overs” will be. 

Go figure — I saw a Friday morning post from BetMGM’s John Ewing saying 87% of bettors have “Over” in Bears-Vikings.

Eight-y-seven-per-cent.

With that, naturally, every bone in my body wants to go “Under.”  

We know you’re here for informed wagers and I assure you I vet everything through multiple handicappers, oddsmakers and betting buddies who know what they’re doing. Those that do well in this racket know the how, what and why, and that’s always my goal.

Also, this will never be the place for a million picks or five-team parlays. These will always be the wagers I love the most and ones that I’m betting with my own money.  

Let’s go to work.

(2026 Record: 3-5-1, -2.5 units)

We talked about the Ohio situation earlier this week. I’m being told QB1 Nick Poulos, currently listed as questionable, is not going to play. There’s also the matter of QB Matt Vezza being banged up, too. This line got smashed from South Alabama -4.5 to -7 on Tuesday and, naturally, some of the +7 was knocked back. I envision Poulos being ruled out tomorrow and that line getting back to -7 or higher. Find a 6.5 and hit it.

Sammy P’s Pick: South Alabama (-6.5)

This Red Raiders team feels panicky. It obviously isn’t as strong on defense as it was last season, and now, head coach Joey McGuire is tinkering with more and more Thomas Castellanos at quarterback. That doesn’t exactly give me a ton of confidence in starter Will Hammond. Former bookmaker Ed Salmons told me he bet Houston +8.5 on the open and there’s plenty of sharp support throughout the week on the Cougars.

Sammy P’s Pick: Houston (+7.5)

I liked Ole Miss as a home dog before the whole charade with LSU’s injury report. In case you missed it, the Tigers surprisingly listed starting quarterback Sam Leavitt as “doubtful” on Wednesday night. Ole Miss was instantly bet from +3 to as low as +1, then it got shoved right back to 3. Now Leavitt is “questionable,” yet most people expect him to play. I still love this Ole Miss offense catching points and think the Rebels defense is good enough to slow LSU down. I also wouldn’t rule out Lane Kiffin going for two to win the game late.

Sammy P’s Pick: Ole Miss (+3)

I know, I know — the Titans stink. But the Philadelphia offense left a lot to be desired last Sunday afternoon. The Eagles only had 10 first downs against Washington. Ten. This game has all the ingredients to make an absolute rock fight and I think Robert Salah can scheme up a solid plan to negate what Jalen Hurts does well. You’ll hate my guts if Philly goes up 14-0 in the first quarter, but I’m plugging my nose and taking the seven here.

Sammy P’s Pick: Titans (+7)

If I heard the conversation at the water cooler correctly this past week, the Chiefs are good enough to make a playoff run and the Colts are missing the playoffs. Overreact much? Sure, Patrick Mahomes looked solid in his first game back from his torn ACL and LCL, but 168 of his 184 passing yards came after the catch. That’s an absurd stat. The Colts got blasted by Baltimore, but if they can get Jonathan Taylor going early, they should hang around on Sunday night.

Sammy P’s Pick: Colts (+6.5)

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