Another summer, another iteration of talking season in college football as conferences across the country hold their media day events this month in anticipation of the 2026 season. The Big 12, ACC and SEC have all enjoyed their turns in the spotlight in recent weeks, and now it’s time for the Big Ten — which has won three straight national titles — to do the same. 

Beginning on Tuesday at the Hilton Chicago, not far from the league office in Rosemont, Illinois, the Big Ten will kick off its annual three-day spectacle that serves as an unofficial start to football season. Once again, each day will feature representatives from six programs in the 18-team league: 

Day 1: Illinois, Iowa, Penn State, Rutgers, USC, Wisconsin

Day 2: Michigan State, Minnesota, Ohio State, Oregon, Purdue, UCLA 

Day 3: Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Nebraska, Northwestern, Washington 

To prepare for the event and look ahead to the upcoming season, I’ve explored a key storyline for each of the conference’s teams. Here are some of the biggest talking points to follow in Chicago.

* Recruiting and transfer portal rankings courtesy of 247Sports. 

Illinois

Bret Bielema has a 37-26 record in his six seasons as the head coach of Illinois (Photo by Jordan Bank/Getty Images). 

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Last year: 9-4 overall, 5-4 Big Ten

Postseason: 30-28 win over Tennessee in the Music City Bowl

Head coach: Bret Bielema, sixth season, 37-26 at Illinois

Coordinators: Barry Lunney Jr. (offense); Bobby Hauck (defense)

Recruiting: No. 24 nationally, No. 6 in the Big Ten 

Transfer portal: No. 43 nationally, No. 11 in the Big Ten 

Key storyline: New defensive scheme

Bielema opted to change the defensive system once coordinator Aaron Henry Jr. left to become the co-defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach at Notre Dame. He convinced Hauck, the former Montana head coach, to spurn a brief retirement and install the same 3-3-5 scheme that produced top-20 defenses three times in the last five years for the Grizzlies. How that system will fare against some of the run-heavy offenses in the Big Ten remains to be seen. The strength of Hauck’s unit in Year 1 is expected to be a secondary that returns three starters, including All-Big Ten performer Xavier Scott at nickel. He and safety Matthew Bailey bypassed the NFL Draft for another season with the Illini. 

Indiana

Curt Cignetti is 27-2 in two seasons as the head coach of Indiana (Photo by Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images).

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Last year: 16-0 overall, 9-0 Big Ten

Postseason: 27-21 win over Miami in the National Championship game

Head coach: Curt Cignetti, third season, 27-2 at Indiana

Coordinators: Mike Shanahan (offense); Bryant Haines (defense)

Recruiting: No. 29 nationally, No. 9 in the Big Ten 

Transfer portal: No. 8 nationally, No. 3 in the Big Ten 

Key storyline: Replacing QB Fernando Mendoza

When Mendoza joined the Hoosiers following two impressive seasons at Cal, where he blossomed from a low-level recruit into a transfer portal darling, there were already big shoes to be filled at the quarterback position. Kurtis Rourke, who served as Cignetti’s original signal-caller at Indiana, had guided the program to new heights by reaching the College Football Playoff in 2024. All Mendoza did was raise that bar to include a Big Ten championship, a national championship and the Heisman Trophy. Next in line for Cignetti is TCU transfer Josh Hoover, a three-year starter who enters the upcoming season having thrown for 9,629 career yards and 71 touchdowns. Will the magic continue?

Iowa

Kirk Ferentz is entering his 28th season as the head coach of Iowa (Photo by Ricky Bowden/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images).

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Last year: 9-4 overall, 6-3 Big Ten

Postseason: 34-27 win over Vanderbilt in the ReliaQuest Bowl

Head coach: Kirk Ferentz, 28th season, 209-128 at Iowa

Coordinators: Tim Lester (offense); Phil Parker (defense)

Recruiting: No. 26 nationally, No. 7 in the Big Ten 

Transfer portal: No. 77 nationally, No. 17 in the Big Ten 

Key storyline: An ongoing QB competition 

Ferentz’s search to replace dual-threat quarterback Mark Gronowski, who led the Hawkeyes with 16 rushing touchdowns last season, will continue into fall camp after an even battle between Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski — both of whom were with the program in 2025. Brown is a 6-foot-4, 215-pound junior who originally transferred from Auburn two years ago. He served as Gronowski’s primary backup and completed 11 of 21 passes for 107 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Hecklinski is a 5-foot-11, 188-pound sophomore who enters the 2026 campaign having only attempted two career passes. Whichever player wins the job will need to enliven a passing attack that ranked 129th nationally and 17th in the Big Ten last year. 

Maryland

Malik Washington threw for 2,963 yards while rushing for 303 more in his true freshman season at Maryland (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images).

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Last year: 4-8 overall, 1-8 Big Ten

Postseason: None

Head coach: Mike Locksley, ninth season, 37-49 at Maryland

Coordinators: Clint Trickett (offense); Ted Monachino (defense)

Recruiting: No. 42 nationally, No. 11 in the Big Ten 

Transfer portal: No. 62 nationally, No. 16 in the Big Ten 

Key storyline: The head coach’s job security 

Questions regarding how, when and if the Terrapins should move on from Locksley dominated the second half of Maryland’s season. After a 1-8 Big Ten record in 2025, Locksley has now finished below .500 in Big Ten play for seven consecutive years. What felt like a legitimate surge in momentum from 2021-23 — a promising stretch in which Locksley won 23 games and tallied three straight bowl victories — fizzled out rather swiftly amid back-to-back disastrous campaigns. Now, Locksley enters the 2026 season as one of the leading figures in any discussion about coaches with tenuous job security. He’ll need sophomore quarterback Malik Washington, who opened some eyes as a true freshman last fall, to take a noticeable step forward if the Terrapins want to sniff the postseason. 

Michigan

Bryce Underwood threw for 2,428 yards while rushing for 392 more in his true freshman season at Michigan (Photo by Dustin Markland/Getty Images).

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Last year: 9-4 overall, 7-2 Big Ten

Postseason: 41-27 loss to Texas in the Citrus Bowl

Head coach: Kyle Whittingham, first season, 177-88 overall

Coordinators: Jason Beck (offense); Jay Hill (defense)

Recruiting: No. 12 nationally, No. 4 in the Big Ten 

Transfer portal: No. 24 nationally, No. 5 in the Big Ten 

Key storyline: QB Bryce Underwood’s development 

Few quarterbacks in college football, if any, will face more scrutiny than Underwood this fall. The former No. 1 overall recruit in the 2025 cycle, Underwood navigated an uneven freshman season as the Wolverines’ starter — albeit for a program that would eventually fire head coach Sherrone Moore last December. He ranked ninth in the Big Ten in passing yards, 13th in passing touchdowns and 14th in completion percentage amid issues with his footwork and touch. An excellent rushing attack and retooled wide receiver room, which includes high-level transfer JJ Buchanan from Utah, should offer Underwood more ballast than he enjoyed last season. But more is expected from a player with such lofty expectations and significant compensation.   

Michigan State

Alessio Milivojevic completed 64.2% of his passes in 2025 (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images).

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Last year: 4-8 overall, 1-8 Big Ten

Postseason: None

Head coach: Pat Fitzgerald, first season, 110-101 overall

Coordinators: Nick Sheridan (offense); Joe Rossi (defense)

Recruiting: No. 45 nationally, No. 12 in the Big Ten 

Transfer portal: No. 55 nationally, No. 14 in the Big Ten 

Key storyline: How will Fitzgerald adapt?

Think about how different the sport looked when Fitzgerald last coached a game for Northwestern in 2022. The College Football Playoff was still a four-team affair, and the batch of conference realignment that sent Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC and added a West Coast contingent to the Big Ten was still more than a year away from going into effect. The one-time transfer rule that has revolutionized roster building was still in its infancy, and revenue sharing remained a far-flung concept reserved for news conference soapboxes. So, while there’s no question about the successful program Fitzgerald built from 2006-2022 — a run that included six eight-win seasons and two trips to the Big Ten title game — he still has plenty to prove in the modern era.  

Minnesota

P.J. Fleck has a 66-44 record in nine years as the head coach of Minnesota (Photo by Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images).

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Last year: 8-5 overall, 5-4 Big Ten

Postseason: 20-17 win over New Mexico in the Rate Bowl

Head coach: P.J. Fleck, 10th season, 66-44 at Minnesota

Coordinators: Greg Harbaugh Jr. (offense); Danny Collins (defense)

Recruiting: No. 28 nationally, No. 8 in the Big Ten 

Transfer portal: No. 51 nationally, No. 13 in the Big Ten 

Key storyline: Fixing the running game

When Fleck and the Gophers outperformed expectations by stringing together consecutive nine-win seasons in 2021 and 2022, they did so with one of the nation’s best rushing attacks that allowed Minnesota to control games. The Gophers ranked 27th nationally in rushing (198 yards per game) during the ’21 campaign and 16th nationally (207.5 yards per game) in ’22, firmly in keeping with the league’s rugged reputation. Since then, however, Minnesota’s potency on the ground has waned rather precipitously: a 66th-place finish in 2023, a 109th-place finish in 2024 and a 128th-place finish last season. Any uptick in balance the Gophers can find will benefit promising sophomore quarterback Drake Lindsey and the passing game. 

Nebraska

Matt Rhule has a 19-19 record with Nebraska in three seasons as the head coach (Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images).

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Last year: 7-6 overall, 4-5 Big Ten

Postseason: 44-22 loss to Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl

Head coach: Matt Rhule, fourth season, 19-19 at Nebraska

Coordinators: Dana Holgorsen (offense); Rob Aurich (defense)

Recruiting: No. 88 nationally, No. 18 in the Big Ten 

Transfer portal: No. 31 nationally, No. 8 in the Big Ten 

Key storyline: Rhule vs. ranked opponents

On one hand, Nebraska will enter the 2026 season having compiled back-to-back winning records for the first time since 2013-14 under former coach Bo Pelini. On the other hand, the Cornhuskers’ current leader — Rhule — remains winless against ranked opponents (0-9) since taking over the program four years ago and hasn’t notched eight victories in a single season, college or otherwise, since before the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s schedule could include as many as six games against ranked opponents, headlined by dates with arguably the conference’s three best teams: Indiana (home), Oregon (away) and Ohio State (home). It’s time for Rhule to prove he can elevate Nebraska beyond its current middling status.  

Northwestern

Chip Kelly is the new Northwestern offensive coordinator for the 2026 season (Eileen T. Meslar via Getty Images).

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Last year: 7-6 overall, 4-5 Big Ten

Postseason: 34-7 win over Central Michigan in the GameAbove Sports Bowl

Head coach: David Braun, fourth season, 19-19 at Northwestern

Coordinators: Chip Kelly (offense); Tim McGarigle (defense)

Recruiting: No. 52 nationally, No. 13 in the Big Ten 

Transfer portal: No. 42 nationally, No. 10 in the Big Ten 

Key storyline: A new offensive brain trust

There probably weren’t many offseason college football bingo cards that had Northwestern as the program most likely to make a splashy offensive coordinator hire. However, the Wildcats swung big and landed Kelly, the former head coach at Oregon and UCLA and a national championship-winning offensive coordinator for Ohio State in 2024. It now falls on Kelly and freshly hired quarterbacks coach Jerry Neuheisel, formerly of UCLA, to finally maximize the many talents of transfer Aidan Chiles, the No. 153 overall player in the 2023 recruiting class. Chiles comes to Northwestern following two up-and-down seasons at Michigan State and a promising freshman year at Oregon State. The program should receive a nice boost from the opening of its new stadium (Ryan Field) in October. 

Ohio State

Jeremiah Smith caught 87 passes for 1,243 yards and 12 touchdowns in his sophmore season at OSU (Photo by CFP/Getty Images).

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Last year: 12-2 overall, 9-0 Big Ten

Postseason: 24-14 loss to Miami in the CFP quarterfinals

Head coach: Ryan Day, eighth season, 82-12 at Ohio State

Coordinators: Arthur Smith (offense); Matt Patricia (defense)

Recruiting: No. 4 nationally, No. 3 in the Big Ten 

Transfer portal: No. 7 nationally, No. 2 in the Big Ten 

Key storyline: Another former NFL head coach 

There were plenty of questions surrounding Day’s decision to hire former Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia as his defensive coordinator ahead of the 2025 season. Patricia, a longtime disciple of former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, hadn’t worked in college football since 2003. His tenure with the Lions was rocky to say the least. But when push came to shove, Patricia established himself as one of the best coordinators in the country for a unit that finished first in scoring defense (9.3 points per game) and first in total defense (219.1 yards per game). Smith, meanwhile, hasn’t coached in college since he was a defensive intern at Ole Miss in 2010. He served most recently as offensive coordinator of the Pittsburgh Steelers (2024-25) and head coach of the Atlanta Falcons (2021-23). Can Day strike gold for the second straight year? 

Oregon

Dante Moore threw for 3,565 yards and 30 touchdowns, completing 71.8% of his passes with a 163.7 passer rating in 2025 (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images). 

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Last year: 13-2 overall, 8-1 Big Ten

Postseason: 56-22 loss to Indiana in the CFP semifinals

Head coach: Dan Lanning, fifth season, 48-8 at Oregon

Coordinators: Drew Mehringer (offense); Chris Hampton (defense)

Recruiting: No. 3 nationally, No. 2 in the Big Ten 

Transfer portal: No. 21 nationally, No. 4 in the Big Ten 

Key storyline: QB Dante Moore vs. elite defenses 

For as good as Moore was during his first season as the Ducks’ starter — he threw for 3,565 yards with 30 touchdowns and only 10 interceptions — it was difficult to shake the feeling that he underperformed against high-level opposition. He threw more interceptions (five) than touchdown passes (three) in games against Indiana (twice), Iowa and Texas Tech. His first pass in the national semifinals during a rematch with the Hoosiers, who had previously upended Oregon at Autzen Stadium earlier in the season, resulted in a pick-six for cornerback D’Angelo Ponds. Eleven of the 17 total sacks he absorbed last season came in the aforementioned four games. The arm talent that made Moore a five-star recruit is undeniable; the toughness and poise to become a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate are still developing.   

Penn State

Rocco Becht completed 205 of 339 passes for 2,584 yards and 16 touchdowns at Iowa State in 2025 (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images for ONIT). 

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Last year: 7-6 overall, 3-6 Big Ten

Postseason: 22-10 win over Clemson in the Pinstripe Bowl

Head coach: Matt Campbell, first season, 107-70 overall

Coordinators: Taylor Mouser (offense); D’Anton Lynn (defense)

Recruiting: No. 65 nationally, No. 16 in the Big Ten 

Transfer portal: No. 4 nationally, No. 1 in the Big Ten 

Key storyline: Life after James Franklin

A long and winding coaching search to replace Franklin, who won at least 10 games in six of his 12 seasons with the Nittany Lions, ended with a figure most analysts agreed was an excellent choice for Penn State. Campbell, 46, has long been regarded as a rising star in coaching thanks to his yeoman’s work at Iowa State, a school largely bereft of top-end resources. His name is linked with high-profile jobs on what feels like an annual basis, both at the collegiate and NFL levels alike. Now, after tallying five eight-win seasons with the Cyclones and two finishes among the top 15 in the AP Poll, he assumes control at a program that has never quite claimed its place in the upper echelon of the modern game. The ongoing national title drought for Penn State stretches to 1986.  

Purdue

Barry Odom finished with a 0-9 record in the Big Ten in his first season as the Purdue head coach (Photo by Raj Mehta/Getty Images). 

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Last year: 2-10 overall, 0-9 Big Ten

Postseason: None

Head coach: Barry Odom, second season, 2-10 at Purdue 

Coordinators: Josh Henson (offense); Kevin Kane (defense)

Recruiting: No. 55 nationally, No. 14 in the Big Ten 

Transfer portal: No. 48 nationally, No. 12 in the Big Ten 

Key storyline: Churn, baby, churn

When Odom took over the Boilermakers following a successful two-year run at UNLV, where he averaged 9.5 wins per season, one of his first orders of business was flipping the roster — a task made easier by the transfer portal. He added 86 new players, including 20 new starters, ahead of the 2025 campaign and promptly finished with an unsightly 0-9 record in conference play, the same as his predecessor Ryan Walters. So what did Odom do ahead of the 2026 season? He flipped his roster again. Fifty-four new Boilermakers joined the program since the end of last year, including 15 players who project as starters. There are also changes at defensive coordinator, running backs coach, offensive line coach and wide receivers coach. It’s anyone’s guess how well things mesh this fall.   

Rutgers

In 17 seasons as the head coach of Rutgers, Greg Schiano has a 99-108 record (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images).

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Last year: 5-7 overall, 2-7 Big Ten

Postseason: None

Head coach: Greg Schiano, 18th season (two stints), 99-108 at Rutgers 

Coordinators: Kirk Ciarrocca (offense); Travis Johansen (defense)

Recruiting: No. 36 nationally, No. 10 in the Big Ten 

Transfer portal: No. 81 nationally, No. 18 in the Big Ten 

Key storyline: Fixing the cratering defense

In 2022 and 2023, under the direction of defensive coordinator Joe Harasymiak, now the head coach at UMass, the Scarlet Knights ranked 38th nationally and 16th nationally, respectively, in total defense. And then Rutgers went off a cliff. Schiano’s team plummeted to No. 95 nationally in 2024, which proved to be Harasymiak’s final season, and No. 127 last fall — worst in the Big Ten. In an effort to stop the bleeding, Schiano plucked Johansen from a sitting head-coaching job at South Dakota, a team that reached the national quarterfinals at the FCS level. Johansen, who had been at South Dakota in various roles since 2019, is now working in the power conferences for the first time. His first real challenge will come against high-flying USC on Sept. 19. 

USC

Jayden Maiava threw for 3,711 passing yards (ranked 5th nationally) and 24 passing touchdowns in 2025 (Photo by Adam Davis via Getty Images).

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Last year: 9-4 overall, 7-2 Big Ten

Postseason: 30-27 loss to TCU in the Alamo Bowl

Head coach: Lincoln Riley, fifth season, 35-18 at USC 

Coordinators: Luke Huard (offense); Gary Patterson (defense)

Recruiting: No. 1 nationally, No. 1 in the Big Ten 

Transfer portal: No. 29 nationally, No. 7 in the Big Ten 

Key storyline: Welcome back, Coach Patterson

Beginning in 2000, when TCU elevated him from defensive coordinator to head coach, Patterson oversaw one of the most successful runs the sport had ever seen from a program outside the power conferences. He tallied an incredible seven 11-win seasons with the Horned Frogs while playing in either Conference USA or the Mountain West from 2003-11, including an undefeated campaign in 2010. His success largely continued after TCU joined the Big 12 as Patterson racked up three more 11-win seasons from 2014-17, though momentum eventually fizzled toward the latter stages of his Hall-of-Fame tenure. Now, the 66-year-old Patterson has come out of retirement in hopes of finally fixing a leaky Trojans’ defense that ranked 51st nationally in scoring last season. It might be playoff or bust for USC this fall. 

UCLA

Nico Iamaleava completed 208 of 323 passing attempts (64.4%) for 1,928 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2025 (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images). 

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Last year: 3-9 overall, 3-6 Big Ten

Postseason: None

Head coach: Bob Chesney, first season, 132-52 overall 

Coordinators: Dean Kennedy (offense); Colin Hitschler (defense)

Recruiting: No. 62 nationally, No. 15 in the Big Ten 

Transfer portal: No. 25 nationally, No. 6 in the Big Ten 

Key storyline: Can Chesney match the hype?

Regardless of what happens this fall and beyond, Chesney has earned this opportunity in the power conferences. As a small-school lifer, he’s worked his way from defensive coordinator roles at Delaware Valley and Johns Hopkins to head-coaching opportunities at Salve Regina, Assumption, Holy Cross, James Madison and, finally, UCLA. The through line across his various stops? Winning. Chesney has endured just one losing season in 16 years as a head coach and guided JMU to the College Football Playoff last fall. All of that made Chesney, 48, one of the most coveted names on the coaching carousel and an excellent hire — on paper, anyway — for a program in desperate need of stability.

Washington

Demond Williams threw for 3,065 yards and 25 touchdowns with an impressive 69.5% completion rate in 2025 (Photo by Kevin Terrell/Getty Images). 

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Last year: 9-4 overall, 5-4 Big Ten

Postseason: 38-10 win over Boise State in the LA Bowl

Head coach: Jedd Fisch, third season, 15-11 overall 

Coordinators: Jedd Fisch (offense); Ryan Walters (defense)

Recruiting: No. 13 nationally, No. 5 in the Big Ten 

Transfer portal: No. 59 nationally, No. 15 in the Big Ten 

Key storyline: Finding new skill players

Washington dodged a potentially Heisman Trophy-sized bullet when quarterback Demond Williams Jr., who announced his intention to transfer after signing a $4 million NIL deal this offseason, reversed course and vowed to return. For as great as that news was, it still only solved one of the Huskies’ problems on offense. Gone are top two running backs, Jonah Coleman and Adam Mohammed, a duo that combined for more than 1,300 yards and 21 touchdowns last season. Gone, too, are wide receivers Denzel Boston (62 catches, 881 yards, 11 touchdowns) and Raiden Vines-Bright (24 catches, 238 yards, 1 touchdown), the latter a very promising freshman. Finding the right players to replace those proven commodities is one of the biggest challenges facing Fisch and the coaching staff this fall, especially for a team that believes it should contend for a spot in the College Football Playoff. 

Wisconsin

Luke Fickell is 17-21 in three seasons as the head coach of Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)

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Last year: 4-8 overall, 2-7 Big Ten

Postseason: None

Head coach: Luke Fickell, fourth season, 17-21 at Wisconsin 

Coordinators: Jeff Grimes (offense); Mike Tressel (defense)

Recruiting: No. 78 nationally, No. 17 in the Big Ten 

Transfer portal: No. 38 nationally, No. 9 in the Big Ten 

Key storyline: Fickell’s last stand

This certainly feels like the last chance for Fickell, who once guided Cincinnati to the College Football Playoff, to right the ship at Wisconsin. Win totals have decreased in each of his three seasons with the Badgers — from seven in 2023, to five in 2024, to four in 2025 — and the athletic director who hired him, Chris McIntosh, recently left for a job in the Big Ten office. The lifelines are evaporating. But Fickell is hellbent on going down swinging, evidenced by a massive 33-player transfer haul that finished as the Big Ten’s largest class among programs without a new head coach. A difficult first half of the season should give way to a friendly November against Rutgers, Maryland, Purdue and Minnesota that might allow Fickell to build some momentum. 

Notre Dame & Oregon National Championship? Lock In These Bets Before It’s Too Late

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Yeeeeeehaw. Football is here.

The offseason didn’t feel quite as long as normal, with the 2026 FIFA World Cup filling my schedule with outstanding sporting experiences. But, man, I’m excited for the NFL season to get underway. And even if we’re still a long way away from the regular season, there might not be any better time of year than training camp. If you’ve never attended a practice, I’d strongly recommend dropping into your favorite team’s camp. It’s a whole different side to the sport.

Speaking of which — I want to dig into that a little bit, especially because every camp will be underway by the end of the week. 

But first, give me the chance to welcome you back. If you’re returning, I appreciate you for checking back in. If you’re new, thanks for coming to the party. This is my weekly column that runs every Monday. Yup, this is Sound Smart, where I try to spin forward, dive deeper, think outside the box and read between the lines.

1.

Training camp is the beginning. It’s the time of year when players begin to earn — or begin to lose — their jobs. It’s the time of year when coaches earn — or don’t earn — their salaries. It’s the time of year when champions decide that this is their year. 

This is really their year.

There are times when training camp is just another football practice, a distant relative of what you’d see at your local high school. But most practices are not like that, because no one has lost a game yet. Everyone’s job is on the line. And there’s a sense of optimism — both for the downtrodden franchises and the ones that will actually compete for a title.

Training camp is the beginning — a beginning full of hope for every team.

The season is about building game plans and devising specific paths to victory. But training camp is about building out the playbook, building out the fundamentals and developing identity.

And coincidentally, Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay took folks behind the scenes — albeit unintentionally — of what training camp will be like for the Super Bowl favorites. Ahead of camp, there were two examples of McVay’s coaching style that went viral on social media. 

Both informed what it will be like for Rams players when they begin training camp on Monday.

The first was an interview with the “Bussin’ With The Boys” podcast when McVay spoke about the type of players he wants on his 90-man camp roster. He said there are “non-negotiables” when he searches for players. Obviously, they have to have NFL-level talent. But beyond that, McVay looks for guys who have a history of overcoming adversity.

“If [adversity] shapes you and callouses you the right way, growth demands that discomfort,” McVay said.

He added: “I think that more than anything, especially because of some of the things I’ve gone through where I look back and say, ‘Man, I did not like the kind of leader or the caliber of person I was.’ I was fragile. I wasn’t resilient. … The game honors toughness, but I think life and the game honor toughness, both mentally and physically. How many different ways can we measure that mental resilience? What have they been through, and how did that shape who they’ve become in the midst of the journey?”

Sean McVay kids around with two-time All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie, one of the Rams’ key offseason acquisitions. (Photo by Kevin Terrell/Getty Images)

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So there’s a shared identity from one Rams player to the next. And that helps them bring that identity to the field and to the meeting room. 

You can see the work they put together on the field. That’s the beauty of training camp: It allows fans and media to watch the team practice openly. What we seldom see is what the teams look like in meetings — and certainly not when the coach is actively teaching his players about a play. 

So that brings us to the next piece of social media that circulated, which was a video of McVay running through a simple but impressive run play. He broke it down to the fine details to help people understand why the play succeeded.

The video appears to be a public event from the 2024 offseason, with McVay breaking down a 28-yard touchdown run by Kyren Williams in L.A.’s 26-25 win over the New York Giants in 2023. He called it “one of my favorite plays of the year.”

“When you see players do little stuff like this, man, it just makes you feel appreciated. It makes them feel appreciated, which they deserve. And I appreciate a lot of the little things right here,” he said. “[Receiver Cooper] Kupp usually comes back [to the left of the formation] on this play, but he’s going to check the slot pressure before he does that. … He’s able to recognize that they’re blitzing off the slot, so he’s able to secure this off the edge. Now, awesome job by a wideout to be able to do that.”

McVay then went on to break down the footwork of right tackle Rob Havenstein and then the downfield blocking by guard Kevin Dotson and center Coleman Shelton. “That gets the play started. But then what does it look like to see receivers compete without the football?” McVay asks. He went on to note receivers Tutu Atwell and Puka Nacua charging downfield into the second level to get their hands on defenders.

“That is a great run [by Williams], but that is some great s— by the players to understand the intent of the play,” McVay said.

So if you wonder what players mean when they talk about the “fine details,” well, that’s probably only just the beginning.

2.

Entering camp, there are a handful of starting NFL quarterbacks who, frankly, will not have their jobs in 2027. You probably know who I’m thinking of. Las Vegas Raiders import Kirk Cousins serves as a clear example, just filling the gap until No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza is ready to take the reins. 

That’s its own kind of pressure, but it’s not exactly a hot seat. Then there are guys who face pressure to perform, but it would be a long shot to think they’re going anywhere. Think: Lamar Jackson and Jayden Daniels.

Then there’s the group of starters whose status is yet to be determined for 2027. These seven QBs are effectively playing their way into a long-term job — or out of it.

The Panthers announced they were picking up Young’s fifth-year option, but that’s not exactly a commitment that he’ll be their QB next year. There has been an enormous amount of conversation about next year’s crop of QB draft prospects, and so it’s easy to imagine the Panthers looking to upgrade if Young can’t continue to ascend.

This isn’t to say he won’t ascend. Third-year coach Dave Canales has been patient and dedicated — two rare traits in the QB development process. Young has trended upward in a linear-enough fashion in his first three NFL seasons. But if his 2026 season doesn’t look better than last year, he might be searching for a new team next year.

I hesitate to put Stroud on this list, because it would be hard for the Texans to pass on him in many of the ways that it was hard for the Miami Dolphins to pass on Tua Tagovailoa in 2024, when the timing demanded that he get a huge deal. 

There’s a 90 percent chance that Stroud gets re-upped. But given what we saw in the postseason, particularly against the New England Patriots, Stroud is not a lock to stay in Houston. He has not built off his rookie season. There are ways, in fact, where he’s gotten worse. And there’s a non-zero chance that things fall apart for Stroud and the Texans.

It’s a contract year, and the Buccaneers are making Mayfield play for an extension. He’s a fierce competitor — one who probably takes it personally that the team hasn’t committed to him yet. As consistent and steady as he is, Mayfield still needs weapons to be a high-level operator from the pocket. And he just lost Mike Evans, the best wide receiver in franchise history, in free agency. 

It will be fascinating to see what the Bucs can do with their weapons, because I don’t know how much gas nine-year veteran Chris Godwin has left. Nor do I think Emeka Egbuka is the surefire WR1 that he looked to become at the beginning of his rookie season.

I highly doubt that either of these quarterbacks will be Cleveland’s QB1 in 2027. I honestly doubt that new head coach Todd Monken will have his job in 2027. But if the Browns do the unthinkable and make the playoffs, then maybe Cleveland’s QB — whoever it is — could make the case to stick around.

Shedeur Sanders (2) looks on as Deshaun Watson runs a drill during veteran minicamp in April. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)

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It’s a matter of when (not if) he wins the QB1 job in his supposed competition with J.J. McCarthy. But then the hard part begins. Coach Kevin O’Connell has earned the reputation as a QB whisperer. But now that comes with an asterisk, after a failed experiment developing McCarthy. 

O’Connell, however, retains his reputation for taking mid-tier veteran QBs and turning them into game-changers (Sam Darnold, Kirk Cousins). It could be magic if O’Connell can do it with Murray. But the McCarthy experiment proved that it’s not a foregone conclusion.

Let the record state that I’m one of Hurts’ biggest supporters. But even I can recognize his shortcomings as a quarterback, namely that he has been less willing recently to run the ball and throw over the middle. 

That’ll need to change in 2026. And while the departure of WR1 A.J. Brown hurts, the arrival of USC All-American Makai Lemon should help Hurts attack the middle of the field.

If Hurts gets back to efficient running, then the Eagles’ offense should hum. But it wasn’t exactly a success story last year. And with all that talent this year, we might see big changes if the offense flops for a second year in a row.

With wide receiver A.J. Brown traded to the Patriots, QB Jalen Hurts may have to carry more weight for the Eagles’ offense in 2026. (Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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3.

Let’s lump three teams into the same bucket as they prepare for the 2026 NFL season: the Chicago Bears, New England Patriots and Denver Broncos. 

Here’s why.

All three teams made the playoffs last year. All three had a knack for pulling out wins in close games. All three had second-year quarterbacks (and former first-round draft choices) who took enormous leaps forward. All three of those quarterbacks had unstable success — meaning that it remains to be seen whether they can sustain that success. And finally, all three teams benefited from a weak schedule. They won’t have that same luxury in 2026.

In the case of the Patriots, they’re hoping to fight off regression by improving their passing attack, bringing in receivers A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs and left guard Alijah Vera-Tucker.

The Broncos snagged receiver Jaylen Waddle in a trade, and I have no doubt they’ll plug and play the speedster to perfection into Sean Payton’s offense.

New Denver receiver Jaylen Waddle speaks to the media during Broncos OTAs in June. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)

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The Bears, meanwhile, seem to trust youngsters like tight end Colston Loveland and receiver Luther Burden III to take bigger roles — while investing in their defensive identity under DC Dennis Allen. That meant signing safety Coby Bryant and linebacker Devin Bush while drafting safety Dillon Thieneman and cornerback Malik Muhammad.

I think all three teams will make the playoffs again — despite history indicating that they’re due for some bad bounces (and some tough losses). In all three instances, I like the coach, I like the quarterback and I like the thought process that went into bolstering the roster.

4.   Lost My Trust, Earned My Trust

Lost It: Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort

The plan is murky in Arizona. 

The Cardinals don’t have a starting quarterback. The current QB1, veteran backup Jacoby Brissett, is still negotiating a deal for 2026, and it’s not like he’s a long-term solution. Nor, in my opinion, is Carson Beck, whom the team drafted in Round 3 this year. 

I don’t mind that the Cardinals threw a dart in this year’s QB class, but Beck was among my least favorite quarterbacks in this class. The QB Arizona is paying a boatload of money, Kyler Murray, was released and is likely to spend the 2026 season starting for the Vikings.

And then the Cardinals drafted Jeremiyah Love with the third-overall pick. I don’t fall in the camp of “running backs don’t matter.” But I do think that the Cardinals had way too many other problems for a running back to make the impact they hope he’ll make in the next four years. 

Running backs matter when you’re a playoff team. The Cardinals aren’t. And without a plan at QB, they won’t be for a few years.

Third-round QB Carson Beck hands off the ball to first-round RB Jeremiyah Love during Cardinals rookie mincamp in May. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

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I’m just not sure what the Cardinals are trying to be other than … really bad. That’s tolerable for one year. But that’s what they were last year. And this year, they only look worse.

Earned It: Eagles GM Howie Roseman

The Eagles watched receiver A.J. Brown become less effective every season, with his counting stats and averages largely trending downward since his first year with the team in 2022. And to make matters worse, Brown was outspoken about his dissatisfaction with “the passing game,” which felt like either a shot at Jalen Hurts or head coach Nick Sirianni or offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo — or all three. 

That’s why I think there was a collective sigh of relief in Philly when the Eagles traded Brown to New England. The return was fine, a 2028 first-round pick that is, admittedly, a long time away. But it’s a first-round pick nonetheless. That move was admirable by Roseman — cutting ties with a superstar when the cutting was good. 

But I also loved the way Roseman handled the draft, moving up to steal USC receiver Makai Lemon, a guy who should help Hurts attack the middle of the field, a place where the QB was hesitant last year. Lemon isn’t a one-for-one replacement for Brown, but the rookie should eventually fill a much-needed role — and one that should help the shifting offensive identity around Hurts and running back Saquon Barkley.

Makai Lemon is introduced at Game 3 of the Eastern Conference NBA playoff series between the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers in April. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

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Oh yeah, and remember when Roseman traded for Jaelen Phillips a few days before the trade deadline last year? Well, Phillips made the most among all edge rushers in free agency because of how well he played in Philly. And Roseman let the guy walk, in part because he traded for Vikings All-Pro edge Jonathan Greenard.

It’s fascinating how resourceful Roseman can be. He buys and sells on players at values that Wall Street traders would envy.

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The Basketball Tournament names its Las Vegas Bracket champion today, with Davis Steel taking on The Mecca on FS1 and FOX One. Here’s what’s on and when.

TBT Schedule for Thursday, July 30

• 7 p.m. ET: Davis Steel vs. The Mecca (FS1, FOX One)

How to Watch TBT

The game airs live on FS1, streaming on FOX One, FOXSports.com and the FOX Sports App.

The winner becomes the Las Vegas Bracket champion and advances to face La Familia (Kentucky Alumni), the Alumni Bracket champion, in the $2 million TBT Championship on Aug. 2 on FOX.

What’s on the Line: Las Vegas Bracket

Davis Steel finished atop Group A in round robin play, earning a bye into the semifinals, then routed Red Rose War Ready 83-67 on Tuesday to reach tonight’s final.

The Mecca finished third in Group B, opened the knockout stage with a 76-69 win over Knueppel Crew, then edged Heartfire Elite 84-80 on Tuesday to punch its ticket to tonight’s championship.

Tonight’s winner becomes Las Vegas Bracket champion and awaits La Familia (Kentucky Alumni), which clinched the Alumni Bracket title Wednesday with a 78-65 win over JHX Hoops (Kansas Alumni), for the $2 million winner-take-all title game on Aug. 2.

Where Things Stand: Alumni Bracket

The Alumni Bracket is settled. La Familia (Kentucky Alumni) beat JHX Hoops (Kansas Alumni) 78-65 on Wednesday to win the Alumni Bracket championship and now waits for tonight’s Las Vegas Bracket winner in the $2 million TBT Championship on Aug. 2 on FOX.

What Is The Basketball Tournament?

TBT is an annual tournament built around former college basketball stars, many of them playing for alumni teams tied to their old schools. For 2026, the field shrank to 14 teams: eight alumni squads opening with best-of-three series and six non-alumni squads playing in two groups followed by knockout rounds in Las Vegas. The winners of the Alumni Bracket and Vegas Bracket meet in the championship for the winner-take-all prize.

TBT still uses the Elam Ending, in which the game clock shuts off in the fourth quarter and a target score is set by adding eight points to the leading team’s score. Whichever team reaches that score first wins.

What Is the Purse?

TBT’s purse is a winner-take-all $2 million prize, the largest since 2019.

Who Won The Basketball Tournament Last Year?

AfterShocks (Wichita State Alumni) beat Eberlein Drive in the 2025 championship to win the title.

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There are several reasons why the Los Angeles Rams could be called a “Super Team” ahead of the 2026 NFL season. One way to prove that is by looking at the player ratings for “Madden NFL 27.”

The Rams had two players named to the 99 Club for “Madden NFL 27” on Monday. Quarterback Matthew Stafford and edge rusher Myles Garrett are two of the six members in the 99 Club in “Madden NFL 27” by EA Sports. 

Who else is joining Stafford and Garrett in the vaunted 99 Club? Here’s a full breakdown of the six players named to the 99 Club for “Madden NFL 27,” with odds from DraftKings Sportsbook.

Josh Allen is a member of the 99 Club for a second straight season. (Photo courtesy of EA Sports.) 

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MVP Odds: +550 (first)

For the second straight season, Josh Allen has been named a member of the 99 Club. Allen, who turned 30 in June, led the Buffalo Bills to another playoff appearance in 2025, as his 39 total touchdowns were tied for the second-most among quarterbacks. On top of that, Allen threw for 3,668 yards and rushed for 579 yards. Those stats helped Allen finish third in the MVP vote. 

As Allen has been named to the 99 Club in each of the last two years, he was also on the cover of “Madden NFL 24” in 2023. 

Ja’Marr Chase is a member of the 99 Club for a second straight season. (Photo courtesy of EA Sports.) 

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OPOY Odds: +850 (third)

Just like Allen, Ja’Marr Chase is also a member of the 99 Club for a second straight season. The Cincinnati Bengals’ star wide receiver had another stellar season in 2025, finishing third in receptions (125) and fourth in receiving yards (1,412) despite Joe Burrow missing a significant portion of the year. Chase also had eight receiving touchdowns. 

Chase earned 99 Club honors for “Madden NFL 26” after winning the receiving Triple Crown in 2024, leading the league in receptions (127), receiving yards (1,708) and receiving touchdowns (17) that year. 

Myles Garrett is a member of the 99 Club for the third time in his career. (Photo courtesy of EA Sports.) 

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DPOY Odds: +450 (first)

Myles Garrett is also among the star players who are a part of the 99 Club for a second-straight year. But unlike Allen and Chase, this is Garrett’s third appearance in the 99 Club, which is the most among the six players in this year’s 99 Club. 

Garrett had a season for the ages in 2025. He set the single-season sack record with 23. He also led the league in tackles for loss for a second straight season (33) and had 84 pressures (per Pro Football Focus), helping him win Defensive Player of the Year for the second time in his career. Garrett was traded from the Cleveland Browns to the Rams in June for young edge rusher Jared Verse and three draft picks. 

Trey McBride is a member of the 99 Club for the first time in his career. (Photo courtesy of EA Sports.) 

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Trey McBride is one of three players making their 99 Club debut in “Madden NFL 27.” The Arizona Cardinals’ star has arguably emerged as the best tight end in the NFL through his first four seasons in the league. He led all tight ends in receptions (126) and receiving yards (1,239) in 2025. McBride’s 11 receiving touchdowns were also tied for the most among tight ends. 

Jaxon Smith-Njigba is a member of the 99 Club for the first time in his career. (Photo courtesy of EA Sports.) 

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OPOY Odds: +1600 (seventh)

The reigning Offensive Player of the Year is also on the 99 Club for “Madden NFL 27.” Jaxon Smith-Njigba had a dominant third season as a pro, leading the league in receiving yards (1,793) in 2025. He was also fourth in the league in receptions (119) and was tied for sixth in receiving touchdowns (10). Smith-Njigba dominated the NFC Championship Game, logging 153 receiving yards to help the Seahawks beat the Rams en route to their Super Bowl title. 

Earlier this offseason, Smith-Njigba received a four-year, $168.6 million deal that made him the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history as he’s in the 99 Club for the first time in his career.

Matthew Stafford is a member of the 99 Club for the first time in his career. (Photo courtesy of EA Sports.) 

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MVP Odds: +1400 (ninth)

Finally, Stafford is in the 99 Club for the first time in his career after winning his first MVP in 2025. Stafford led the league in passing yards (4,707) and passing touchdowns (46), carving up opposing defenses throughout the year. Even in the Rams’ NFC title loss to the Seahawks, Stafford threw for 374 yards and three touchdowns. 

Now, Stafford is being tasked to lead a Rams “Super Team” that features Garrett, wide receiver Puka Nacua, cornerback Trent McDuffie and potentially defensive tackle Aaron Donald to a Super Bowl in 2026. 

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The Red Sox are streaking, the Marlins are fading, and for the plethora of teams on the bubble, we’re finally nearing decision time. 

Every win or loss coming out of the All-Star break provides a bit more clarity as teams decide whether they’re buyers, sellers or somewhere in between. 

With one week to go before the Aug. 3 trade deadline, this week’s Power Rankings features one second-half question for every team. 

The Rockies’ starters have an ERA over 6.00. They need more pitching in the system, and they have a couple outfield trade chips in Jake McCarthy and Mickey Moniak who could help them get that done. 

Will they also consider trading Hunter Goodman, who leads all catchers with 31 home runs and is under team control through 2029? 

At age 26, Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman is a two-time All-Star and won’t become a free agent until 2030. But he’s also one of Colorado’s best trade chips. (Photo by Kyle Cooper/Colorado Rockies/Getty Images)

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Under interim general manager John Mozeliak, the Angels sound more open-minded to making the kinds of changes that will be required to return the team to relevance. Will there finally be a fire-sale in Anaheim?

Just a few weeks ago, the A’s looked like buyers. Then they lost 23 of 29 games and now seem to be obvious sellers. But with many of their top young talents signed long-term, what are they willing to sell in order to add more pitching to the system? 

Among the top 20 or so potential MLB trade deadline candidates, Luis Arraez has to be the likeliest to go. Rental Robbie Ray is likely gone, too, but can the Giants use this lost season to also move one of their big contracts? 

It will be interesting to see if Jung Hoo Lee, Matt Chapman, Willy Adames and Rafael Devers are all still Giants after the deadline. 

Left-hander Robbie Ray has his best ERA since his 2021 Cy Young season with the Blue Jays. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

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With the size of their payroll, the Mets have to try to contend again next season. So, beyond their rentals such as starter Freddy Peralta, relievers Brooks Raley and A.J. Minter and outfielder Luis Robert Jr. (who has a team option next season), which of their controllable players will they feel comfortable trading? 

Same question as directly above. The Royals are similar to the Mets in that a season with playoff aspirations quickly spiraled, yet they can’t be thinking about a long-term rebuild. 

So, without many valuable rental arms on the roster, how many controllable pitchers will they be willing to deal? Michael Wacha will command the most attention. 

Michael Wacha, a 35-year-old right-hander, leads the American League in innings pitched and made his first All-Star team since 2015. (Photo by Michael Hirschuber/Getty Images)

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The reigning American League champs as sellers? That seems to be the likeliest course of action after the offense’s disappearing act and the struggles in the rotation behind Cy Young contender Dylan Cease. 

The biggest question: Where is Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s power? And can he find it in time to give Toronto some late-season hope?  

When healthy, the Reds can envision a rotation featuring Chase Burns, Hunter Greene and Andrew Abbott giving them a better chance in 2027. But that won’t matter much if they still have one of the least productive offenses in MLB. 

Can someone other than Elly De La Cruz and Sal Stewart establish himself as a reliable long-term mainstay in the lineup? 

Will Trevor Rogers, Taylor Ward and Andrew Kittredge help the Orioles return to the playoffs after last year’s disappointing fifth-place finish, or will they be wearing different uniforms after the deadline? How Baltimore decides to handle its impending free agents could determine its second-half fate. 

It’s the question of the deadline: What does Detroit do with Tarik Skubal? 

The Tigers are trending in the right direction, but when you’re trying to convince your front office to keep one of the game’s most talented pitchers, you can’t afford to split a late July four-game series at home against the Royals. 

It seems like every year we’re asking if Sandy Alcantara will remain a Marlin. Suddenly, here we are again. Will the Marlins try to catch fire again with the current group they have, or will a franchise-record 12-game losing streak cause them to sell some pieces? 

Had the Twins not sold off all of their top relief arms last deadline, they might be in first place right now. Instead, they’re one of the many teams on the bubble. 

Will the Twins use this deadline to fix the bullpen it just dismantled? Or will they look to the future and sell rental catcher Ryan Jeffers and listen to offers for All-Star right-hander Joe Ryan? As constructed, it’s hard to imagine there’s enough pitching here to seriously contend. 

As long as the Astros are still in the mix, I’d expect them to keep pushing in to build around MVP favorite Yordan Alvarez. They could use more outfield help, but the bigger question: Do they have enough pitching to get back to the playoffs and make some noise in the weak AL? 

Will the offense get right? I mean that in every possible sense. 

The Mariners need their best players to play better, and they also might need a right-handed hitter at the deadline to help an offense that currently has the lowest OPS against left-handed pitching in the sport. Another high-leverage reliever wouldn’t hurt, either. 

Can this rotation continue to hold up? The Cardinals are trending in the wrong direction, but Jordan Walker, JJ Wetherholt, Alec Burleson and Ivan Herrera should give them enough firepower to at least stay competitive. 

Will the rotation, which currently ranks 10th in MLB in ERA despite missing very few bats, do the same?  

What does AJ Preller have up his sleeve? The Padres’ president of baseball operations rarely sits still at the deadline, but this team has more flaws than in years past (particularly in the rotation) and now has less of a farm system to address the deficiencies at the deadline. 

Could he trade All-Star closer Mason Miller to address the team’s other weaknesses? It might take some creativity to make this group a contender.

All-Star Padres closer Mason Miller leads the National League in saves and has an ERA under 1.00, yet there’s a chance the Padres could trade him. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

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Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but the Guardians’ offense could use more thump. Will they add an impact bat to fix an offense with the lowest OPS in MLB? Or will having star third baseman José Ramírez back from a broken hand be enough for Cleveland to win its third straight division title? 

Will Paul Skenes look like a Cy Young contender again down the stretch? Skenes is still racking up strikeouts with strong underlying numbers, but he currently ranks 32nd among qualified MLB starters in ERA. 

If he pitches like one of the best pitchers on the planet in the second half and the bullpen adds some pieces at the deadline, you can envision this Pirates team and its vastly improved offense ending Pittsburgh’s 10-year playoff drought. 

Brandon Lowe (5), Bryan Reynolds and the Pirates’ potent offense have the team thinking about breaking its postseason drought. (Photo by George Gaza/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

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Can they keep their top offensive players on the field? Star shortstop Corey Seager hasn’t played all month due to a back injury. Wyatt Langford has mashed … when available. He has played in only 53 games this year due to forearm, hamstring and ankle injuries. Josh Jung, the team’s hit leader, is currently sidelined with a calf issue.

The Rangers need those guys on the field if they want to hold off the Mariners and Astros. 

Will this offense play to its potential? The D-backs are currently in wild-card position despite a depleted pitching staff and an offense that ranks 20th in MLB in OPS. 

They could use a first-base upgrade at the deadline (as well as pitching reinforcements), but they also need more of their top offensive players to perform. 

What lane do the Nationals pick at the deadline? They’re ahead of schedule in the rebuild under new leadership, now only one game out of a wild-card spot with the best offense in MLB. 

It’s one thing to trade slugging utility man Curtis Mead, but would they really trade All-Star Foster Griffin as well, given the way they’re playing? Or entertain offers for superstar CJ Abrams? Or will they run this surprise season out and see where it goes? 

Would the Nats consider dealing breakout starter Foster Griffin, who’s 12-2 with a 2.76 ERA with Washington after spending the past three seasons pitching in Japan? (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

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Do the White Sox have (or will they acquire) the pitching required to finish off this magical run? 

The young offense has slugged its way to the sixth-most home runs in MLB, but the South Siders might need to add more depth both in the rotation and the bullpen to complete the extraordinary turnaround and end the four-year playoff drought. 

Speaking of turnarounds … a lot can change in a matter of weeks. The Red Sox looked cooked, and now they’ve won 22 of 26 games and are already starting the process of adding offense at the deadline. 

The biggest question, though, is how quickly Roman Anthony (torn finger ligament) and Garrett Crochet (shoulder, lat) return to action. 

Having Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, Zack Wheeler, Cristopher Sánchez, Jesús Luzardo and Jhoan Duran is a heckuva starting point, but you can bank on the Phillies adding depth at the deadline for their second-half push.

The question: Does it come in the outfield, at the back end of the rotation, in high-leverage relief — or maybe all three? 

How quickly will Aaron Judge return? We can debate whether their bigger need is behind the plate or in relief at the deadline, but regardless of what they do a week from now, they need their captain back and looking like himself if they want to get back to the World Series. 

Aaron Judge has been sidelined since May 31 with a right rib stress fracture. His return is essential to the Yankees’ title hopes. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images)

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Here is a list of injured Cubs pitchers: Justin Steele, Edward Cabrera, Ben Brown, Cade Horton, Daniel Palencia, Hunter Harvey, Shelby Miller, Phil Maton, Hoby Milner, Porter Hodge, Riley Martin, Ethan Roberts. 

With several of them expected back at some point in the second half, how will the Cubs choose to patch up their beleaguered pitching staff at the deadline? 

Do they make a big splash at the deadline? They have the best record in a weak American League, they have needs up the middle offensively, and they could use a boost both in the rotation and the bullpen. President of baseball operations Erik Neander might see an opportunity ahead to push in. 

The Braves have gotten their NL East lead back to a more comfortable distance and look destined to prove that last year was a blip. Still, they can’t feel too comfortable about their starting options beyond Chris Sale once they get to October. 

Can they land a co-ace at the deadline? 

At age 37, Chris Sale is still pitching like an ace, but he could use help in the Atlanta rotation. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)

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How much will last year’s sweep in the NLCS motivate them at the deadline? The Brewers have proven their might as regular-season juggernauts, but the disparity in star talent was evident when they went to Los Angeles last October. 

They have the talent on the farm to take a big swing. Will they finally do it? 

How much will Shohei Ohtani’s balky left knee hold him back the rest of the way, and how will that issue impact the Dodgers’ deadline decision-making? Blake Snell is closing in on a return, but neither he nor Tyler Glasnow have pitched in nearly two months. 

If the Dodgers have any reservations at all about their pitching staff, they have the resources to make significant midseason moves — even if they’d prefer not to — in their quest to three-peat.

MLB Related Stories

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Trade season is heating up across Major League Baseball, and contenders and sellers alike are lining up moves before the deadline hits. Here’s everything to know: when it is, where to follow the news, who’s drawing interest and the storylines shaping the next few weeks.

When Is the MLB Trade Deadline?

The 2026 MLB trade deadline is Monday, Aug. 3, at 6 p.m. ET.

For years, the deadline fell on July 31 at 4 p.m. ET. The Commissioner’s Office can now set the date anywhere between July 28 and Aug. 3 to avoid conflicting with that day’s games.

What Is the MLB Trade Deadline?

The trade deadline is the last point in the season at which players on 40-man rosters can be dealt from one club to another. Players can still be placed and claimed on outright waivers after the deadline, but trades involving players on 40-man rosters are not permitted once it passes.

Minor leaguers who aren’t on a 40-man roster can still be traded after the deadline.

For automatic postseason eligibility, a player generally must be on a club’s 40-man roster, 60-day injured list or eligible restricted list as of noon ET on Sept. 1. Players on the restricted list are ineligible if they were suspended for performance-enhancing drugs during the season.

A player who was already in the organization by Aug. 31 but did not otherwise qualify may still be approved as an injury replacement through a petition to the Commissioner’s Office. Players acquired in September or later are ineligible for the postseason.

Where Can I Follow MLB Trade Deadline News?

FOX Sports is tracking every deal, rumor and report leading into Aug. 3 in its 2026 MLB Trade Deadline buzz tracker, updated as news breaks.

 

WHAT YOU SHOULD READ NEXT

The 2026 MLB trade deadline is Monday, Aug. 3, at 6 p.m. ET. Here are the rumors, news and trades leading up to that day.

 

Who Are the Top Trade Candidates?

Tarik Skubal, Tigers

Skubal remains the biggest name heading toward the deadline. The two-time reigning AL Cy Young Award winner can become a free agent after the season.

Detroit is reportedly considering a middle path in which it trades Skubal for a package containing both a controllable rotation replacement and prospects for the future, according to The Athletic. The Tigers could also retain their ace and continue pursuing a postseason spot.

Mason Miller, Padres

Miller enters July 27 with a 0.86 ERA and 78 strikeouts in 41 ⅔ innings this season. He’s under club control through 2029, so he wouldn’t be a rental.

The Mariners, Pirates and Yankees have been mentioned as the leading suitors if Miller becomes available. Recent reports, however, indicate that the Padres are more likely to keep him as they remain in postseason contention.

CJ Abrams, Nationals

Washington isn’t “shopping” its two-time All-Star shortstop, but the club will listen to offers, according to The Athletic. The Yankees, Brewers and Red Sox have been linked to Abrams.

The 25-year-old enters July 27 batting .297 with 27 home runs, 82 RBIs, 17 stolen bases and a .940 OPS. He hit two home runs Sunday, surpassing Ian Desmond for the most in a season by a Nationals shortstop. Abrams is under club control through 2028.

Reid Detmers, José Soriano and Zach Neto, Angels

The Angels own the worst record in the American League and are “very open” to trading controllable players if the right offers come in, according to ESPN.

Soriano and Detmers are both under club control through 2028, while shortstop Zach Neto is under club control through 2029.

Clay Holmes, Mets

Holmes hasn’t pitched in the majors since May 15 because of a fractured right fibula, but there’s a greater chance the Mets trade him than extend him, according to The Athletic.

The right-hander posted a 2.39 ERA across nine starts before the injury. He made his first rehab start Thursday for Triple-A Syracuse and is expected to make at least one more before returning.

Freddy Peralta, Mets

Peralta, who can become a free agent after the season, said he’s operating under the assumption that he’ll be traded.

New York acquired him from Milwaukee over the winter, but he’s 5-9 with a 4.99 ERA in 22 starts and has failed to complete five innings in four of his past five outings.

Foster Griffin, Nationals

Griffin has emerged as a prominent trade candidate because he can become a free agent after the season.

The left-hander made the NL All-Star team after signing a one-year deal with the Nationals. Before joining Washington, he had not pitched in MLB since 2022 and spent three seasons in Japan. Some rival executives reportedly expect Washington to trade him, although the Nationals’ position in the wild-card race complicates that decision.

Heliot Ramos and Casey Schmitt, Giants

Outfielder Heliot Ramos and utility infielder Casey Schmitt have drawn trade interest, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Scouts from the Mariners and Phillies attended a recent Giants game as teams evaluated San Francisco’s potential trade pieces.

Neither player would be a rental. Both remain under club control beyond this season, which would increase the Giants’ asking price.

Deal Already Done

Not every move is still a rumor. The Rockies sent right-hander Seth Halvorsen to the Dodgers for right-handed pitcher Nick Frasso and outfielder Landyn Vidourek.

What Are the Key Storylines to Follow?

Will the Tigers Trade Skubal?

Detroit enters July 27 with a 50-56 record. The Tigers are 3.5 games behind the final AL wild-card spot and six games back in the AL Central after going 6-4 since the All-Star break.

Manager A.J. Hinch says the team is blocking out the trade buzz around its ace and focusing on winning games. The front office must weigh the value of a potentially franchise-altering return against another postseason push with Skubal.

Are the Rays Buying Big?

Tampa Bay has the best record in the American League at 62-43 and, according to one rival executive who spoke to The Athletic, could be the deadline’s biggest surprise buyer.

The Rays haven’t made the playoffs since 2023 and enter July 27 with a three-game lead over the Yankees in the AL East.

Are the Angels Selling Everything?

Los Angeles enters July 27 with an AL-worst 42-64 record, and new general manager John Mozeliak says the front office is approaching the deadline with an open mind.

Soriano, Detmers and Neto are the most prominent names mentioned as potential trade chips. Their remaining years of club control mean the Angels would need significant returns to move them.

Are the Mets in Sell Mode?

New York enters July 27 at 44-62 and in last place in the NL East. The Mets have reportedly indicated to other teams that they are prepared to sell.

Holmes and Peralta appear to be trending toward the trade block, with Peralta himself acknowledging that he expects to be dealt.

Will the Nationals Move Abrams and Griffin?

Washington is 54-52 and only one game behind Arizona for the final NL wild-card spot, complicating its deadline direction.

The Nationals aren’t actively shopping Abrams, even as they listen to offers for their All-Star shortstop. Griffin’s expiring contract makes him a more conventional trade candidate, but Washington’s unexpected postseason contention could make it difficult to move one of its best starters.

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For the third time in his career, LeBron James will play for a different Eastern Conference team.

James announced this week that he will make his way to Philadelphia, in search of his fifth NBA championship. 

Let’s check out the odds for James’ individual performance next season, as of July 27 at DraftKings Sportsbook.

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.

LeBron James specials (2026-27 regular season)

ASSISTS

To record 15+ assists in any game: +105 (bet $10 to win $20.50 total)

What to know: LBJ led the league in assists once in his career, with the Lakers back in the 2019-20 season. He had 15 or more assists in a game once last season, once in 2024-25 and once in 2023-24. Prior to that, he hadn’t had 15+ since that 2019-20 season. 

TRIPLE-DOUBLES

To record 4+ triple-doubles: +125 (bet $10 to win $22.50 total)
To record 5+ triple-doubles: +280 (bet $10 to win $38 total)
To record 6+ triple-doubles: +400 (bet $10 to win $50 total)

What to know: James had three triple-doubles last season, but he did have 10 the year prior. He has had four or more triple-doubles in a season 11 times in his career, and has had at least five in the last three seasons. 

POINTS

To score 40+ points in any game: +180 (bet $10 to win $28 total)
To score 45+ points in any game: +1100 (bet $10 to win $120 total)
To score 50+ points in any game: +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total)

What to know: James’ regular-season high was 36 points last season, but the year prior, he scored 42 and 40. The last time he scored 45 or more was during the 2022-23 season, when he put up 48, 47 and 46. As for 50, he did that twice in 2021-22, putting up 56 and 50 in two games that season.

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There is always baseball happening — almost too much baseball for one person to follow themselves.

Don’t worry, we’re here to help you by figuring out what you missed but shouldn’t have. Here are all the best moments from last night in Major League Baseball:

Murakami Back

Munetaka Murakami helped propel the White Sox to relevancy in his first 57 games in the majors, by batting .240/.378/.560 with 20 homers through May 29. The rookie first baseman ended up on the IL with a hamstring strain, however, and only recently returned after missing 35 games. While he struggled a bit in his first week back, the second one has been much better: Murakami has a 1.126 OPS in his last six games, and on Sunday against the Astros went 3-for-5 with a career-high six RBIs in a 12-3 win.

Murakami responded to a first-inning solo homer by Astros’ shortstop Jeremy Peña by belting a two-run shot off Ronel Blanco in the bottom of the inning.

Peña tied things back up with his second dinger of the day, but Murakami gave the White Sox back the lead with an RBI ground out in the third. In the seventh, with Chicago already up 6-3, he hit a two-run single to make it five RBIs on the day.

He wasn’t done yet, however: his third and final hit against Houston was a second home run, No. 22 on the season, to give Chicago a 12-3 lead and Murakami his sixth ribbie of the game.

All of this on his bobblehead day, too! Murakami, despite missing dozens of games, is just one home run behind Blue Jays’ third baseman Kazuma Okamoto for the most-ever by a Japan-born rookie — Okamoto just passed the previous record held by Dodgers’ two-way star Shohei Ohtani. With Murakami feeling healthy and looking as much again, Okamoto might not hold onto that record for very long.

Phillies Snap Losing Streak

The Phillies have had it rough of late, going just 9-11 in July to this point after back-to-back 18-win months to reverse their early struggles. Philadelphia has dropped series to the Mets, Dodgers and now Yankees in a row, but on Sunday, at least Philly avoided a sweep with a convincing W over New York.

Second baseman Bryson Stott made it 2-0 Phillies in the second with his eighth homer of the year, a hard liner 110 mph off the bat against Will Warren — this one got out of the park in a hurry.

In the next inning, third baseman Alec Bohm hit a three-run double to make it 5-0, and then Stott added a single to put the Phillies up by half-a-dozen.

While New York would cut that lead in half with a three-run fifth, Philadelphia didn’t wait long to push it back to a six-run lead and then more. Shortstop Trea Turner singled in a run in the seventh, then Bohm was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, plating another. Stott then came up again, and hit his 20th double of the year to clear the bases and make it 11-3, as well as giving himself a five-RBI performance.

DH Ben Rice would hit a garbage time solo shot to make it 11-4, but that was all for scoring from both sides from there. Stott went 3-for-4 with a run, homer, double and five RBIs, which was more than enough to support a quality start from Cristopher Sánchez.

While the Phillies are 5.5 back of the Braves now thanks to recent struggles, they are still two ahead in the NL wild-card race, with seven teams within seven games of them in the standings. Things could be worse, and if this just ends up being a little midseason slump and not more of Philadelphia’s early season struggles, then that lead should be plenty. That’s why they play the games, though!

Marlins Do Not Snap Losing Streak

While the Phillies ended a four-game skid, the Marlins weren’t so lucky. Miami was swept by the Padres and have lost a franchise-worst 12 games in a row, and this coming off of a June in which the Marlins led the majors with 20 wins.

Just as bad is how Miami lost this one. It was leading 3-1 through seven innings, but in the eighth, everything unraveled fast. DH Manny Machado — who to that point was responsible for the lone Padres’ run, on an RBI double in the fifth — came up to the plate with second baseman Jake Cronenworth already on base. Cronenworth had hit a leadoff single against new pitcher Lake Bachar, and Machado would follow that with his 23rd homer of the season — tie game, 3-3.

Machado, by the way, is now up to a 102 OPS+ on the season after an abysmal May and most of June, as he’s hit .293/.390/.638 with seven doubles and 11 homers over his last 31 games and 136 plate appearances. Center fielder Jackson Merrill would hit the go-ahead dinger two batters later, then backstop Luis Campusano would drive in third baseman Luis Rengifo to make it 5-3.

The Padres’ bullpen would hold Miami down the rest of the way, and with the W move back to .500, at 53-53. The Marlins are now actually a game behind the Padres in the NL wild-card race: San Diego is two back, Miami three.

Birthday Grand Slam!

Ryan O’Hearn’s birthday is July 26 — hey, that was yesterday — and he celebrated the best way an MLB player can. Not just with a win, but with one he was largely responsible for: the Pirates defeated the Cubs, 8-7, in a game in which O’Hearn hit a grand slam. A birthday grand slam!

That was his 17th homer of the year, and it was huge for the Pirates: with the Diamondbacks losing, Pittsburgh picked up a game in the NL wild-card standings, and sits just one game behind Arizona for the third of three spots now, allowing them to keep pace with the Nationals.

Miz Is Ridiculous

The Brewers have wanted to try to give Jacob Misiorowski a bit of a break when possible, given he’s in his first full season in the majors and has already thrown nearly as many innings in 2026 as he did in all of 2025 across the minors and MLB. So, you knew he wasn’t going to actually have a shot at matching or setting any strikeout records on Sunday, but that didn’t make his performance any less exciting. Miz struck out the first seven Rockies he faced, and 11 of the first 12. Through the first four innings, he had allowed zero baserunners, to boot.

Misiorowski ended up getting “just” one strikeout in the fifth, and allowed his sole hit and run of the day on a solo homer by rookie center fielder Cole Carrigg. Milwaukee lifted their young ace at 83 pitches rather than push him, trusting that the pen and lineup could make this 3-1 lead last, and they sure did. Not only did the bullpen match Miz by giving up just one more run, but the Brewers scored another eight for an 11-2 final.

The 24-year-old Miz is leading the majors with 185 strikeouts in 120 innings: he’s struck out a league-best 13.9 batters per nine and 40.6% of the batters he has faced. His ERA is also leading the majors, at 1.58 — there is a whole lot of season left and little reason to push Miz now, not when what’s in front of both the Brewers and Misiorowski is bigger than a July matchup against the Rockies. No offense, Colorado, you get it.

Little League Dinger!

The Twins took down the Athletics, 11-8, and got there in part thanks to a Little League home run. In the bottom of the first, right fielder Kody Clemens came up with a runner on, and hit a triple to right field on a line drive. That should have just made it a 2-0 game, but shortstop Alika Williams made a bad throw.

The Twins’ social media accounts initially described it as an inside-the-park homer, but Williams was charged with an error, making this the Little League variant of a homer. The run counts the same, though, and that 3-0 lead Minnesota started with stands out in a game won by three runs.

The A’s continue to spiral and now have the second-worst record in the American League, but Minnesota finds itself one game back of a wild-card spot after taking this weekend series, behind the Guardians and ahead of the Mariners, Astros, Orioles and Tigers, all of which are within 3.5 games of Cleveland.

Arozarena and Canzone Down Rangers

The Mariners aren’t back over .500 yet despite sitting 1.5 back of a wild-card, but got a little closer on Sunday with a win over the Rangers — Seattle is also just 1.5 back of Texas in the AL West standings, so it isn’t stuck going for just one race here.

In a 6-4 victory, most of the damage was done by Randy Arozarena and Dominic Canzone. The latter was Seattle’s DH, while the former lined up in left, and the two hit third and fourth in the lineup, respectively. That ended up mattering, because in the seventh, Canzone hit his 16th homer of the year, a three-run shot to put the Mariners ahead, 4-3…

…and then Arozarena followed with a solo shot on the very next pitch, a middle-middle cutter.

Canzone would add another in the ninth with an RBI double, his third hit and fourth RBI of the day.

All told, the duo went 6-for-10 with two runs and five RBIs, and most of that coming against the Rangers’ bullpen: Jacob deGrom threw five innings and allowed just one run with four strikeouts and no walks, but the pen erased that work in short order.

A Blast From Adell

Would you like to see Angels’ right fielder Jo Adell hit a 446-foot home run?

That was actually his second blast of the day, as well as second and third RBIs — the Angels ended up defeating the Giants, 4-3, with that absolute shot being the difference.

Wood Reaches 30 Homers

There are now five MLB players with 30 home runs in 2026, thanks to Nationals’ right fielder James Wood making the Diamondbacks’ day a bad one. Wood went 2-for-4 with a pair of homers and three RBIs to go along with a walk and two runs, helping to power a 10-7 dub for the Nats.

His first one was a shot, too, at 430 feet and 108.3 mph off the bat, and it also tied the game up 4-4 in the fifth. Then, in the eighth, Wood hit one “just” 418 feet to left-center, with a 109.6 mph exit velocity.

Wood is now one homer shy of his 2025 total, a career-best 31, with 56 games to go in 2026. He’s hitting .271/.396/.557 while leading the NL in OPS and total bases and the majors in runs and walks. Oh, right, and he’s still just 23 years old.

Mets Avoid Dodgers’ Sweep

The Mets are reportedly preparing to trade… well. A lot of players. New York is just 44-62, in last place in the NL East and holding the second-worst record in the NL despite an estimated payroll of $366 million, so some changes have to be made. On Sunday, though, the Mets looked like they were supposed to, defeating the Dodgers 8-3.

Offseason trade acquisition — and likely future member of [contender] Freddy Peralta, in the midst of a disappointing campaign, went four innings but gave up three runs before handing things off to a bullpen that was up to the task. The offense did its job, too, with left fielder Tyrone Taylor hitting a three-run shot in the sixth to put New York up, 4-3.

The offense did not look back. A passed ball resulted in another run in the seventh, then second baseman Marcus Semien — who had come into the game as a defensive sub — launched a three-run homer to make it 8-3, the final score.

It’s not a loss that will harm the Dodgers overly much: Los Angeles still has the best record in the majors and is 12 games up on the next-closest NL West team even though Arizona is also in possession of a postseason spot right now. It’s a good reminder for the Mets, though, that they have pieces worth dealing and pieces worth keeping, all in the name of getting it right next time.

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DeVonta Smith is once again the big man on campus. 

Smith went from being a Heisman Trophy winner in 2020, to the Eagles’ No. 1 receiver as a rookie in 2021.

However, the very next season, A.J. Brown came to town. 

Since then, the two have shared the spotlight on the outside in Philly, but Brown was almost universally regarded as the No. 1 wide receiver. 

But now Brown is in New England, and Smith is back to where it all started — as the top wideout.

So, who will have a better 2026? Let’s see what the odds say about the former teammates, as of July 27 at DraftKings Sportsbook.

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.

Most regular-season receiving yards

A.J. Brown: -125 (bet $10 to win $18 total)
DeVonta Smith: -105 (bet $10 to win $19.52 total)

Most regular-season receiving TDs

A.J. Brown: -200 (bet $10 to win $15 total)
DeVonta Smith: +155 (bet $10 to win $25.50 total)

During that rookie season, when Smith was the Eagles’ top target on the outside, he caught 64 balls for 916 yards and five touchdowns in 16 starts. 

Those are big-time numbers for a first-year player. 

However, Philly landed Brown via trade prior to the 2022 season, giving the Eagles a two-headed monster. 

In their first year together, Smith registered 1,176 yards and seven scores in 17 starts, while Brown tallied 1,496 yards and 11 touchdowns (16 starts). 

Brown was subsequently named a Pro Bowler for the second time in his career. He was also named second-team All Pro.

In 2023, Brown received the same accolades after putting up 1,456 yards and seven TDs (16 starts), and then in 2024, he was named second-team All-Pro again, tallying 1,079 yards and seven touchdowns (13 starts).

As for Smith, in 2023, he put up 1,066 yards and seven TDs (16 starts), and in 2024, he went for 833 yards and eight scores (13 starts).

Last season, Smith had 1,008 yards and four TDs, and Brown had 1,003 yards and seven TDs.

In June, Brown was traded to New England.

Joining Smith in Philadelphia is rookie wideout Makai Lemon, the 20th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. He had 1,156 receiving yards and 11 TDs at USC last season. 

Brown will now serve as the top receiving option for Drake Maye in New England. He will lineup alongside former Packers wideout Romeo Doubs, who had 724 yards and six scores in Green Bay last season.

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Here’s what’s happening this week Inside The Garage:

• It’s Heim Time in the Cup Series
• A new home for the Clash?
• Jimmie Johnson to drive the No. 48 one last time

INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY (Indianapolis) — Corey Heim has driven eight races this year and has scored more points than the other heralded young NASCAR Cup Series prospect.

Heim has more points than full-time rookie Connor Zilisch has earned in 22 races, thanks to his two victories and Zilisch’s string of races where he hasn’t finished.

That’s right, two victories — at Naval Base Coronado last month and then Sunday at the Brickyard 400 — in eight starts. That’s eight starts with a part-time fourth car at 23XI Racing, so that’s part of the equation. He has some of the best equipment in the NASCAR Cup Series garage.

Corey Heim is making his case as the best young driver in NASCAR.

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“The competition in this series is kind of like no other, but the fact that we’ve had everything line up really well as far as the speed in these Toyotas this year with 23XI specifically, has been just surreal,” Heim said in his postrace news conference.

But it takes more than equipment to be the first driver since A.J. Foyt to win two Cup races in his first 15 overall series starts. And he’s the first part-time series driver to win two races in a season since both Davey Allison and Tim Richmond accomplished the feat in 1987.

The 24-year-old Heim has won 21 of the last 40 truck races he has entered and won the 2025 series title. He is set to be a full-time Cup driver in 2027 with 23XI.

“He’s really talented.” three-time Cup champion Joey Logano told me after the race where Logano finished third. “Turns out, I know his trucks are good, but I think the driver was spectacular. 

“He’s got it. We’re going to be battling him forever. He’ll be here longer than me. He’s a lot younger than me, but he’ll be here the whole time. Just a solid racecar driver. He does the right things. He doesn’t get risky. He doesn’t get nervous. Just executes really well.”

Logano gave Heim the push he needed on a late restart to win the Brickyard 400 and Heim took it from there.

Joey Logano commended Corey Heim for his skills behind the wheel.

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“He put together a magnificent last run,” Christopher Bell told me after finishing second to Heim. “He was loose. My guys were saying he was loose. I could kind of see him wiggling a little bit. He did a great job, and he didn’t make a mistake and won the race.”

Heim’s accomplishments are no surprise to those who worked with him. Because he is in a part-time car, Heim is also often the first to go out and qualify. That typically means, at best, a mediocre starting position.

“If we would have had a better [spot when going out] in qualifying, we would have won more already,” Heim crew chief Bootie Barker said in his postrace news conference.

Barker wasn’t trying to be boastful. He says it as fact, just like he did when he first explained how Heim has won two races as a part-time driver.

“Everybody thinks I’m always joking, but I mean what I say: He’s more talented than anybody else,” Barker said. 

Barker then couched that comment: “That’s almost being a disservice to some of the great drivers here. That’s not the case. Like all the people we were racing at the end are the best of the best, tremendous [and I] show much respect to them.

“But Corey is there in talent. Corey is also there in work ethic. He’s there as far as a mentality. He has all that.”

The contention between Carson Hocevar (pictured) and Corey Heim continued on Sunday at the Brickyard.

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But the bottom line is that the kid has enough talent that he already has a simmering rivalry with Carson Hocevar that has followed them from their time together competing in trucks. They don’t like each other and at one point, Hocevar flipped off Heim for the way he blocked Heim.

Heim didn’t care. He won. And Hocevar, who has one Cup victory in nearly three seasons at the Cup level, certainly recognizes Heim’s talent.

“He’s really good with air and manipulating air,” Hocevar told me after the race. “We have a lot of similarities from that standpoint, and I think that’s why you know in trucks and then here, we’re up front and … it’s almost like we know each move because that’s what I would be doing or that’s what he would be doing.

“Their stuff’s really fast. [I was the] top Chevy for us. That’s good.”

That could sound like a little bit of sour grapes. Probably is, but it’s also a little bit of fact.

“Toyota [is the reason for it],” 2012 Cup champion Brad Keselowski told me about Heim’s accomplishments after the race. “He’s doing a good job.

“You can’t take anything away from Corey. He’s executing these races well. He’s not beating himself. His pit crew is doing everything right. And he’s in the fastest cars. It’s really impressive.”

Heim can’t really describe how he has won two races with a part-time team other than to surmise that he can focus more on each individual race since he runs on a limited basis. He also drives for Toyota when the manufacturers have data-gathering tests, giving him plenty of track time when he isn’t in a Cup car or the occasional truck.

The two wins probably change what people would expect of him next year as a full-time driver. He is going to be a serious threat to make The Chase.

“I definitely felt like this year started off rockier than I would have liked,” Heim said. “I went to Daytona and crashed. At Kansas, we finished worse than we did the previous year. It’s been a steady incline up to this point. Winning San Diego, top-10 in Chicago, winning here [at the Brickyard], it’s been a heck of a last couple races.

“If you asked me four months ago what my expectations were for 2027, I would have answered differently than now for sure.”

So what’s next?

“Clearly, he’s with a great team,” Bell said. “And he’s a great driver. He’s a Cup guy. He’s going to do really well next year.”

In The News

— Jimmie Johnson will get to use the No. 48 for his final Cup race, the 2027 Daytona 500. Johnson worked a deal with Hendrick Motorsports for use of the number he had for his seven Cup titles. The number is currently used for the car of Alex Bowman, whose number for the Daytona 500 has not been announced.

— Dreyer & Reinbold Racing has purchased a charter from Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing in the INDYCAR Series. The team has not named a driver and noted that whether it is Chevy or Honda next year is still to be determined. The organization has run Chevys recently in its Indianapolis 500 attempts.

— St. Petersburg Grand Prix weekend will include both INDYCAR and the Craftsman Truck Series next season as this year’s doubleheader was deemed a success. It is expected to be the INDYCAR opener. The dates are set for March 5-7, 2027.

— NASCAR’s preseason Clash is expected to move from Bowman Gray Stadium to its original location, Daytona International Speedway, according to a report in The Athletic. The event is expected to be Saturday night before the Super Bowl and four days before Daytona 500 qualifying.

NASCAR’s Clash was held at Bowman Gray Stadium this year but is expected to return to Daytona in 2027. 

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— Brad Keselowski confirmed that RFK Racing picked up the option on Ryan Preece for 2027 a few months ago, and they are set to race the No. 60 car chartered or unchartered next season. The organization is leasing a charter this year that will go to Legacy Motor Club for 2027.

— NASCAR will increase the amount of practice for Cup cars from two groups for 25 minutes apiece to one group for 50 minutes starting with the race weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway next month.

— NASCAR Vice President for Vehicle Performance Eric Jacuzzi announced on LinkedIn his departure from NASCAR: “Bittersweet but after almost 13 years at NASCAR it’s time for something different.” Jacuzzi was NASCAR’s lead aerodynamicist & played pivotal role in aero package development. 

Chase Clinched 

These drivers have clinched spots in The Chase following Indianapolis:

Cup — Ty Gibbs clinched to join Denny Hamlin, Tyler Reddick and Ryan Blaney.

O’Reilly — Carson Kvapil, Sheldon Creed, Corey Day, Brandon Jones and Austin Hill clinched to join Justin Allgaier and Jesse Love.

Truck — Christian Eckes and Gio Ruggerio clinched to join Layne Riggs, Kaden Honeycutt and Chandler Smith.

Picture This

Social Spotlight

They Said It

“You love talking about a guy that finished ninth.” — Race winner Corey Heim following a couple of questions about Carson Hocevar.

WHAT YOU SHOULD READ NEXT

It’s Heim Time once again as Corey Heim earned his second victory of the season — this time winning the famed Brickyard 400.

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