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EPL Odds: How to Bet on the 2026-27 Premier League

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The defending English Premier League champions get the 2026–27 season tomorrow. DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM and other major sportsbooks offer futures and weekly EPL markets throughout the campaign.

Manchester City, Manchester United and other Premier League contenders are ready to take the title away from Arsenal. Manchester City begins a new era under manager Enzo Maresca following Pep Guardiola’s departure, creating an added layer of uncertainty around the title race.

With Erling Haaland leading the attack, Manchester United could be the team to dethrone the reigning champs. Haaland enters the season with significant momentum after an impressive 2026 World Cup run, and his finishing ability could give United a major boost in the title race. 

Beyond the title market, bettors can look at the race for Champions League places, with Manchester United and Aston Villa looking to build on their top-four finishes from last season. 

DraftKings, FanDuel and other sportsbooks offer preseason markets that can include player and team futures odds, moneyline, spread and more. 

FanDuel

Bet $5, Get $200 in Bet Reset Tokens for 5 Days

  1. Create a FanDuel Sportsbook account.
  2. Place one $5+ real-money wager each day for up to 5 days (must be between 3AM ET and 11:59PM ET).
  3. Earn a Bet Reset Token for each qualifying day—up to 5 total tokens.
  4. Apply your Bet Reset Token when placing a wager to activate protection.
  5. If your wager loses, you’ll receive a refund in Bonus Bets (up to $200 per token).
  6. Refunds are issued within 72 hours after bet settlement as Bonus Bets that expire in 7 days.
  7. Bet Reset Tokens expire 24 hours after being issued.

EPL Season Opener

*Odds may differ each site*

Arsenal vs. Coventry 

  • Arsenal −575
  • Draw +650
  • Coventry +1400

DraftKings

Claim the New User Offer No Promo Code Needed

  1. Sign up for a new DraftKings Sportsbook account.
  2. Deposit funds (minimum $5).
  3. Select the New Customer Token.
  4. Place a $5+ cash bet (-500 odds or longer).
  5. You will receive $150 in bonus bets instantly, regardless of the outcome of your qualifying wager.
  6. Works the same on desktop & mobile.

English Premier League Champions

*Odds may differ each site*

  • Arsenal: +115
  • Man City: +370
  • Liverpool: +550
  • Chelsea: +800
  • Man United: +900
  • Tottenham: +2200

Caesars Sportsbook

Sign Up and Claim the Caesars Sportsbook Promo Code

  1. Click here. This will take you directly to the Caesars Sportsbook betting app or website, where you can select your state. Make sure promo code FOXDYW is applied.
  2. Select Sign Up and create a new account by entering your personal details, including name, email, address, date of birth, and the last four digits of your SSN.
  3. If prompted, enter promo code FOXDYW to ensure the offer is applied.
  4. Place a $1+ cash wager on any eligible market.
  5. Receive 10 × 100% Profit Boost tokens in your account.
  6. Apply the boosts to wagers (up to $25 each) within 14 days to increase potential winnings.

Top Goalscorer in the EPL

*Odds may differ each site*

  • Erling Braut Haaland:  −135
  • Alexander Isak: +1100
  • Viktor Gyökeres: +1400
  • Thiago: +1400
  • Ollie Watkins: +1800
  • Joao Pedro: +1800

bet365

How to claim bet365 Promo with Bonus Code ‘FOX365’.

  1. Click this “Claim Bonus” button to go directly to bet365.
  2. Select Sign Up and create a new account by entering personal details (name, email, date of birth, address, last 4 digits of SSN).
  3. Enter the bonus code FOX365 when prompted to ensure the offer is locked in.
  4. Make a minimum first deposit of $10 using an accepted payment method (PayPal, debit card, online banking, etc.).
  5. Place your first wager. For the Bet $10, Get $150 offer, place a $10+ real-money bet on any market with odds of -500 or longer; win or lose, you’ll receive $150 in bonus bets once it settles. For the $1,000 First Bet Safety Net, place your first real-money bet; if it loses, bet365 refunds the stake (up to $1,000) in bonus bets.
  6. Bonus bets are credited within 24 hours of the qualifying wager settling.

PFA Player of the Year

*Odds may differ each site*

  • Erling Braut Haaland: +500
  • Bruno Fernandes: +600
  • Declan Rice: +800
  • Bukayo Saka: +900
  • Elliot Anderson: +1400
  • Cole Palmer: +1400

BetMGM

How to Sign Up and Claim the BetMGM Sportsbook Bonus Code

  1. Click here. This will take you directly to the BetMGM app or website and automatically apply the promo code.
  2. Select Sign Up and create a new account by entering personal details (name, email, date of birth, address, and last 4 digits of SSN).
  3. When prompted, enter the promo code FOXSPORTS to ensure the offer is applied.
  4. Make your first deposit of at least $10 using an accepted payment method (PayPal, Venmo, debit card, online banking, etc.).
  5. Place your first real-money wager on any eligible sport:
  6. If claiming the $1,500 First Bet Offer → refund is triggered only if the first bet loses.
  7. If claiming the $10/$150 Alt Offer → the bet must win to receive the $150 bonus bets.
  8. Bonus bets are credited to your account within 24 hours once the qualifying bet settles.



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Polymarket Promo Code FOX Unlocks $20 Bonus Ahead This Week’s

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

New users on Polymarket can enter promo code FOX to unlock a $20 bonus ahead of this week’s NFL preseason action. Thursday night’s matchup between the Las Vegas Raiders and Houston Texans kicks off the Week 2 action.

All eyes will be on Fernando Mendoza as he leads the Las Vegas Raiders in his second NFL start. The Raiders’s top pick threw for 97 yards and a touchdown in his first start last week in four drives.

Later tonight, the San Francisco 49ers will kick off against the Los Angeles Chargers. Brock Purdy and Trey Lance will lead the offenses for their teams, hoping to find a rhythm going early.

New users can enter Polymarket promo code FOX to unlock a $20 bonus and trade on Texans vs. Raiders and other NFL preseason games and outcomes.

For more information and full terms and conditions, visit our Polymarket promo code page.

How to Claim the Polymarket Promo with Code FOX

  1. Click here to download the Polymarket app on iOS or Android.
  2. Create a new Polymarket account using your email address.
  3. Enter promo code FOX in the promo code or invite code field during registration.
  4. Complete identity verification as prompted inside the app.
  5. Deposit a minimum of $10 to your Polymarket account.
  6. Your $20 trading bonus will be credited to your account automatically after the qualifying deposit.

Raiders vs. Texans

*Probability is subject to change*

Las Vegas Raiders 55% 55¢ 46¢
Houston Texans 46% 46¢ 55¢

Chargers vs. 49ers

*Probability is subject to change*

Los Angeles Chargers 52% 52¢ 49¢
San Francisco 49ers 49% 49¢ 52¢

More markets available on Polymarket.

Las Vegas Raiders vs. Houston Texans (8:00 PM ET, ESPN)

Houston Texans Starter Outlook

  • Who is playing: Quarterback C.J. Stroud will still see limited action—likely a series or two encompassing roughly 20 to 25 plays. He will be joined by the first-team offensive line and running back Woody Marks. 
  • Who is sitting: The rest of the core offensive weapons, including Nico Collins, David Montgomery, and Dalton Schultz, will rest. Defensively, all starters are expected to sit out entirely.

Las Vegas Raiders Starter Outlook:

  • Who is playing: The spotlight belongs to rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the Raiders’ No. 1 overall draft pick. Mendoza is slated to get “plenty of experience” and handle the starting reps under center to continue adjusting to an under-center offense.
  • Who is sitting: Veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins and select locked-in starters are highly unlikely to see extended field time as the team prioritizes rookie evaluation.

San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Chargers (10:00 PM ET, NFL Network)

San Francisco 49ers Starter Outlook:

  • Who is playing: Quarterback Brock Purdy is expected to start and play one or two opening drives. Deebo Samuel Sr. and the starting offensive line (Jake Brendel, Colton McKivitz) will join him. Defensively, All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner will lead the unit for an early series.
  • Who is sitting: Superstar running back Christian McCaffrey remains sidelined due to minor lower-body tightness.

Los Angeles Chargers Starter Outlook:

  • Who is playing: Head coach Jim Harbaugh declared this a “real dress rehearsal,” planning to play his first-string units for exactly one series so their first live snaps do not happen in Week 1. Second-year running back Omarion Hampton is expected to get the starting nod to showcase his growth in Mike McDaniel’s new rushing scheme.
  • Who is sitting: Star tackle Rashawn Slater will sit out tonight but is scheduled to return to practice over the weekend. Franchise quarterback Justin Herbert will also sit out the exhibition game



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Joe Burrow Is Trying To ‘Manifest’ Super Bowl Win For

It’s now or never for Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals; Burrow made that crystal clear on Thursday morning when speaking to reporters.

The Bengals’ star quarterback is done with the “next year” talk and patience. For him, the time to win is right now.

“I’m trying to put it out into the world,” Burrow said. “I’m trying to manifest it. I’m trying to show our guys the urgency that I have and that I want us to have as an organization to go and make it happen.”

The front office loaded up the roster, putting all the pressure squarely on Cincinnati to deliver before this championship window starts to officially close for good in a competitive AFC North.

After missing the postseason for three straight years following their 2021 Super Bowl run, the clock is ticking for this Bengals core. If Burrow has made anything clear, it’s that this season might be their final shot together.

“You can keep pushing it down the road, or you can talk about it now and say this is the year, and I’m tired of saying next year, next year, next year,” Burrow said. “This is it.”

(Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

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Ever since Burrow and the Bengals nearly beat the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LVI, expectations have remained high. However, Burrow has struggled with injuries, and the defense has arguably been one of the most inconsistent units in the league.

The offensive unit has been one of the most explosive in the league with Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and the emergence of running back Chase Brown. On paper, it has the potential to be the top overall offense in the league, but inconsistency has been its Achilles’ heel.

That urgency peaked during Thursday’s press conference, where Burrow made it clear he is tired of waiting for next year.

“Life is too short to keep pushing things down the road, and I’m trying to instill some urgency and some intensity in everybody to go and be great every day and try to make it happen,” Burrow said.

It remains unclear if Burrow was subtly hinting that this could be his final run in Cincinnati, framing it as his last real opportunity to push for a ring with the franchise. Trade speculation had already surfaced during the offseason, with rumors suggesting he might be looking for an exit.

Whether Burrow was hinting at an eventual departure remains to be seen, but he made his goals clear.



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NFL Fines Cowboys, Saints $500K Each Following Joint Practice Altercations

The National Football League confirmed on Thursday that it has fined the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints $500,000 each on Thursday following a series of fights during a joint practice in Oxnard, California.

“The Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints have each been fined $500,000 for the actions that took place at the joint practice between the teams earlier this week,” the league said in a statement.

“The Competition Committee has made sportsmanship — including in joint practices — a point of emphasis over the past several years. All clubs were reminded by memo prior to training camp of their responsibility in preventing unsportsmanlike behavior at joint practices that has the potential to result in injury.”

The altercations occurred throughout Tuesday’s session, which prompted Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer to address his team’s composure, or lack thereof.

“Not the way we like to do business,” Schottenheimer said. “Got to be better, but I’ve got to look at the film. We’re certainly not going to take s— from anybody.”

(Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images)

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Cowboys owner Jerry Jones spoke to reporters about the league’s decision.

“There’s certainly a very, very, let’s say, strong opinion in the league that when we have these joint practices, everybody’s aware of the competition, both individually as well as through the team,” Jones told reporters. “We understand that you don’t have the discipline of penalties that are real difference makers out here, and frankly, you probably don’t have the officiating consequences.”

“All of that makes it a real focal point of the league to stay within good sport, and the taking of helmets off, swinging and hitting, and that type of thing is not good for anybody, and it’s certainly not what we want to represent to our fans and as a league or as a team,” Jones said.

Jones added that the Cowboys plan to appeal the fine and the team will review the film and fine individual players involved in the scuffles.

The NFL circulated a memo instructing teams that all personnel are expected to prevent unsportsmanlike behavior at joint practices to reduce the potential for injury.

The Saints are preparing for a Saturday preseason matchup against the Los Angeles Rams in Inglewood.

The Cowboys will travel to face the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday for their second preseason game.

Dallas CowboysCowboys Related Stories



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Aaron Judge Swings Bat, Hits Off Tee For First Time

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge has taken another step in his recovery, resuming tee work at Yankee Stadium as he works back from a stress fracture in his right first rib.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone spoke to reporters Thursday, noting that Judge has also been cleared to run outdoors, play catch and perform upper-body resistance training.

“He’s hit off the tee now a couple of times, so he did that today,” Boone said on Thursday. “It seems to be going well.”

The team has not set a date for Judge’s next recovery milestone, but expects him to play again this season. 

Judge sustained the injury on April 26 in Houston before entering the injured list in late May. The three-time AL MVP posted a .248 average with 17 home runs and 38 RBIs in 59 games before his injury.

This week marked Judge’s first time swinging a bat since May 31, allowing him to recover from a stress fracture in his right first rib.

Limited to lower-body and light resistance training for weeks, Judge has since been cleared to resume playing catch, run outdoors and perform upper-body resistance training.

Meanwhile, Giancarlo Stanton remains without a clear timetable as he recovers from a right calf strain suffered April 24.

“He had been running, I think yesterday or the day before, did more bases,” Boone said. “But nothing new.”

New York YankeesYankees Related Stories



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Ronaldinho Returns: Third-Tier Italian Club Celebrates Signing Of 46-Year-Old Legend

Brazil great Ronaldinho has landed in Ravenna, a city more famous for its nearby beaches than its soccer team.

The lyrics “and the world’s going to know your name” seemed ironically superfluous as one of soccer’s most recognizable figures stepped on stage in front of thousands of fans on Thursday.

(Photo by Stefano RELLANDINI / AFP via Getty Images)

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That song, “Hall of Fame” by The Script, had been belted out throughout the presentation of third-tier Ravenna’s team for the upcoming season before the team’s new No. 10 walked out.

Thursday was dubbed “Ronaldinho day” as the soccer legend was presented first to the press before a glitzy beachside ceremony in front of around 6,000 fans, waving flags and holding flares aloft — despite the intermittent rain.

In a surprise announcement in June, the 46-year-old Ronaldinho signed with Italian third-division club Ravenna more than a decade after retiring.

“I’m very happy to be here with my friends, but let’s wait and see if things go well with the team,” Ronaldinho said Thursday when asked about how he was feeling, before later answering a question as to when Ravenna fans could expect to see him on the field.

“I feel fine,” he said with a laugh, before later adding: “I don’t know, it depends on the president and coach. I don’t know.”

Ronaldinho arrived by private jet at nearby Forlì Airport — about 30 kilometers (19 miles) from Ravenna — around midday local time. He signed a couple of soccer balls for airport staff before getting into a car on the runway, skipping the handful of fans that were waiting landside.

He was accompanied by Ravenna President Ignazio Cipriani of the Cipriani restaurant brand.

Ronaldinho will not feature in Ravenna’s first Serie C match of the season on Monday, at Reggio Emilia, and it is still unclear how much he hopes to play during the campaign. However, Cipriani has said it is his dream for the Brazilian to score his last career goal for the team.

“If that happens even better, no?” Ronaldinho said. “I’ve come here because of the friendship we have, and that’s it, let’s wait and see how the team does … I’m here to help.”

Ronaldinho last played professionally for Fluminense in 2015. It marks his second spell in Italy after featuring for AC Milan from 2008-11. He won the World Cup with Brazil in 2002 and the Ballon d’Or in 2005.

Reporting by The Associated Press.



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Mariners Promote Top Prospect LHP Kade Anderson From Double-A to

Seattle Mariners fans, the wait is finally over. 

On Thursday, the Mariners announced they plan to promote the organization’s top prospect and the 2025 No. 3 overall pick, Kade Anderson from Double-A to the majors. Anderson is set to make his debut on Saturday against the Chicago Cubs. 

Over 18 starts in Double-A this season, Anderson holds a 10-1 record and a 1.06 ERA. He’ll provide the Mariners (60-68) with a boost as they try to erase a three-game deficit in the AL Wild Card race. His promotion also comes in response to the Mariners losing an away series to the Milwaukee Brewers, in which they conceded 34 runs, and lost 22-0 on Tuesday. 

Anderson’s call-up could result in the Mariners returning to a six-man rotation with him slotting in between Emerson Hancock and Bryan Woo. The Mariners experimented with a six-man rotation before, and alternated starters as openers in a five-man rotation. Then, at the MLB trade deadline, they sent Luis Castillo to the Chicago White Sox, and returned to a true five-man rotation. 

Kade Anderson was selected third overall in the 2025 MLB Draft out of LSU. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

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What is known, however, is that Anderson won’t be going to the bullpen. Back in August, president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto said of Anderson that, “We’re not going to put Kade in the bullpen. He’s the best starting pitcher in the minor leagues.”

Anderson’s promotion will certainly coincide with a change in strategy. 

While it felt like an eternity for Mariners fans, Anderson’s time in the minor leagues lasted 14 months. Anderson joins other top prospects such as Detroit Tigers SS Kevin McGonigle and Pittsburgh Pirates RHP Paul Skenes, who skipped Triple-A in their development process. 

Anderson, like Skenes, won a Men’s College Baseball World Series with LSU before heading to the draft. Anderson’s pitching arsenal is predicated on precision, including a mid-90s fastball, a high-spin breaking pair, with his put-away pitch being a devastating changeup. 



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Tempers Flare In Joint Practice As Giants Pass Rush Overpowers

Tempers flared several times throughout the joint practice between the Miami Dolphins and New York Giants on Thursday.

It started during the one-on-one drills and went all the way through the final team period.

“It’s a violent game. In this sort of an environment, you have rules of engagement that aren’t really the rules of the game,” Giants coach John Harbaugh said. “If somebody perceives that another person goes over the line, somebody needs to protect them.”

It didn’t take long for those rules to be tested.

The first altercation that required players to be separated came during offensive line-defensive line one-on-ones, when Giants edge rusher Abdul Carter threw a punch at Dolphins offensive tackle Patrick Paul after the two became tangled following a rep.

The hostility followed into 11-on-11 work, when Dolphins right tackle Austin Jackson took a swipe at Kayvon Thibodeaux before the Giants pass rusher responded with a shove that promptly sent Jackson to the ground.

New York’s offense and Miami’s defense got into another scuffle that took nearly a minute to completely break apart. Giants backup quarterback Jameis Winston repeatedly inserted himself into the pile as players and coaches attempted to separate the two sides.

Giants Pass Rush Overwhelms Miami

Much of Thursday’s extracurricular activity occurred in the trenches, where New York can be dominant.

Brian Burns was at the forefront, helping a Giants defense that had at least six would-be sacks during team periods.

On one rep, he powered through Dolphins offensive lineman Caedan Wallace for a sack. On another, Burns attacked Jackson inside before spinning back around him and getting to running back De’von Achane, knocking the ball free.

“Dominant,” Burns said when describing the unit. “We don’t wait to get punched in the mouth. … I don’t know how many sacks we had, but it was definitely more than six.”

Chauncey Golston, who appeared in 10 games for the Giants last season, had perhaps the most productive individual day of the group with three would-be sacks.

Two came when Golston tracked down Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis after play-action fakes, while another came after beating Dolphins guard Jonah Savaiinaea.

Willis was swarmed almost immediately after carrying out several play actions, including one rep in which Thibodeaux was waiting for him in the backfield before the quarterback could even reset.

Rookie Update

Giants rookie receiver Malachi Fields continues to develop encouraging chemistry with quarterback Jaxson Dart.

Fields, a third-round pick out of Notre Dame, hauled in a deep ball from Dart down the left sideline during a team period before being stopped near the goal line.

The connection resurfaced in the final hurry-up period, when Fields made another catch to help move New York into field-goal range.

Miami second-round pick Jacob Rodriguez broke up an intermediate pass intended for Giants receiver Calvin Austin III and also had a would-be sack earlier in practice.

“We’re coming out here and working with serious competition, and getting full-speed reps with a different look,” Rodriguez said. “Some of the issues that our offense presents every day is different for what the Giants present.”

The Dolphins and Giants will get another look at each other Saturday, when they meet at Hard Rock Stadium for a preseason matchup.

Injury Report

Giants Pro Bowl receiver Malik Nabers did not participate in Thursday’s joint practice as he continues working his way back from the torn ACL he suffered last season.

Nabers had returned to full-speed team work while wearing a non-contact jersey, but New York kept him out against Miami.

Giants first-round pick Francis Mauigoa left practice after experiencing what Harbaugh described as a stinger.

Harbaugh said the issue was not believed to be serious.

Dolphins receiver A.J. Henning went down during special teams work while covering a punt. Henning attempted to split two blockers before being knocked to the ground and was attended to by members of Miami’s training staff.

Linebacker Tyrel Dodson also left practice and later returned to the field carrying his shoulder pads and without a helmet.



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4 Things You Need To Know About INDYCAR’s Freedom 250

INDYCAR is in Washington, D.C., this weekend for the Freedom 250, and the unique event is getting a unique trophy.

The Freedom 250 will be a street race to celebrate the United States’ 250th birthday. It was designed as a 250-mile race on a 1.7-mile layout across landmark locations in D.C. Winning team owners will receive hardware built specifically for the event. The trophy scales and blends two D.C. icons: the Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol dome.

The trophy is a representation of this one-of-a-kind venue framed by two historic landmarks on either end of the track. The look, according to designer Michael Montri, reflects the perspective from behind and through the Washington Monument while looking toward the Capitol Building across the National Mall and this incredible course.

Here are four things to know about the official INDYCAR Freedom 250 trophy.

1.

NTT INDYCAR SERIES

The upper shaft of the Freedom 250 trophy isn’t a random pyramid. Instead, it’s a proportionally scaled tribute to the Washington Monument. 

The upper section features a solid clear crystal pyramid modeled after the Washington Monument profile. The crystal pyramid features a 72.6-degree face angle and a 1,600 height-to-base ratio, matching the proportions of the physical monument. A hollow shaft continues down from the crystal at the same 72.6-degree angle in a straight line to the plinth.

The owner trophy is produced in three scaled sizes for the podium finishers. 

Specially crafted for the inaugural D.C. street race, the custom award combines two of the capital’s most iconic landmarks into a single crystal piece to mark America’s 250th anniversary. (Photo courtesy of INDYCAR.)

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Construction specs detail a black hollow base assembled with 45-degree miter joints and a mirror-finish polish where the plinth meets the base.

2.

NTT INDYCAR SERIES

Crowning each trophy is a detailed model of the U.S. Capitol dome, and the components are scaled down across all three podium spots:

  • 1st Place: 22.5 inches total height, 15.5-inch base diameter and a 10.0-inch Capitol dome
  • 2nd Place: 20.25 inches total height, 13.95-inch base diameter and a 9.0-inch Capitol dome
  • 3rd Place: 18.0 inches total height, 12.4-inch base diameter and an 8.0-inch Capitol dome

Crowning the award is a detailed, 3D-rendered crystal model of the U.S. Capitol dome that scales in size across all three podium finishers.(Photo courtesy of INDYCAR.)

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3.

NTT INDYCAR SERIES

Tucked right beneath the plinth is a clever optical detail. The underside of the hollow plinth features a mirror-finish polish where it meets the black base. 

This reflective deck directs light upward into the hollow shaft, illuminating the solid crystal pyramid and Capitol dome from within during victory lane celebrations.

The circular black base uses clever fabrication tricks to keep the design sleek. Assembled from a cylindrical wall ring and top deck disk, the base is brought together using 45-degree miter cuts along the slope. This hides the bond line seam completely inside the corner, giving the base a monolithic appearance.

The Freedom 250 owner trophy features a solid clear crystal pyramid mathematically proportioned to match the exact 72.6-degree slope of the Washington Monument. (Photo courtesy of INDYCAR.)

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4.

NTT INDYCAR SERIES

The Freedom 250 will be an exceptional race but also expected to be the only one of its kind. INDYCAR could return to D.C. or the general mid-Atlantic area in the future, but this race is a one-time deal. And that easily could be the case for the trophy as well. 

Only one driver in INDYCAR’s history will be able to say they conquered the U.S. Capitol course, and while there are three versions of the Freedom 250 trophy, there’s still only one first-place trophy.

Overall, as our Bob Pockrass pointed out, racing through the streets of the nation’s capital is a rare historic occasion.

“Racing on the streets of Washington, D.C., racing around some of the more iconic venues of the nation’s capital,” Pockrass said, “It’s going to test the drivers when it comes to heat. It’s going to test the drivers when it comes to strength, and it will be a test of the pit crews, since they’ll probably have at least four stops.”

Freedom 250 is slated to begin Sunday at 11:30 a.m. ET, and the green flag for the main race is expected to wave around 1:13 p.m. ET.



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Fernando Mendoza Learns From Struggles In Raiders’ Preseason Game Against

Fernando Mendoza displayed a few more rookie growing pains in his second preseason showing than his first. 

Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, started and played the entire first half of the Las Vegas Raiders’ second preseason game against the Houston Texans on Thursday. He completed 8-of-15 passes for 86 yards and an interception. 

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans has employed one of the stingiest defensive schemes in recent NFL history, as Houston ranked No. 1 in yards allowed per game in 2025. That unit certainly confused Mendoza early on in the first half.. 

After starting his first drive with a needle-threading throw to Jalen Nailor that converted a second-and-15, Mendoza threw a mindless interception, resulting in a pick-six. He seemingly didn’t spot Texans linebacker Wade Woodaz lurking in the middle of the field, threw it right to him, and gave him the momentum to run the other way for an 80-yard return. 

Mendoza’s pick-six put Las Vegas in a 14-0 hole. 

After receiving a pep talk from veteran defensive end Maxx Crosby, Mendoza bounced back to find running back Dylan Laube out of the backfield for a first down. 

Mendoza then took a hit as he delivered a completion to Connor Heyward. A completion to tight end Ian Thomas set up a 52-yard field goal from Matt Gay. 

Mendoza started the next drive on a bootleg that went to Thomas. He connected with Mike Washington Jr. on a screen pass. He nearly led Las Vegas to another score, but when he targeted Malik Benson on an out route, the pass hit the receiver’s hands and dropped to the ground.

Las Vegas trailed 20-3 at halftime when Mendoza’s day was done. 

After completing 10-of-16 passes for 97 yards and one touchdown in his preseason debut last Thursday against the Arizona Cardinals, Mendoza wasn’t nearly as efficient. Still, he showed the chops to read one of the NFL’s best defenses, and rebound from an early mistake. 

With quarterback Kirk Cousins sitting along with the majority of Las Vegas’ starters, and head coach Klint Kubiak’s declaration, it’s clear Mendoza will fulfill the backup role for the near future. He still has a ways to go to be ready to start in the NFL, but Thursday’s preseason game, full of learning moments, will help him on that journey.  



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