UCLA has been on a heater, but the Bruins could face a bump in the road when they play Wisconsin in Week 7.

In the NFL, the Seahawks are traveling to face the Broncos after a tough, short week.

I believe there’s value in betting the underdog in both these games and here’s why.

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The letdown spot is something handicappers have looked at for years when trying to pick winners in sports betting. 

A team gets a big, emotional win, and bettors often look to bet against that team the following week, figuring they might come out flat after celebrating from the previous week. 

That logic has worked this year in certain situations already. Ole Miss got revenge against its old coach Lane Kiffin back in September but got blown out the following week by Florida. 

The Gators, who were then being praised as national title contenders and a Playoff team, followed up their breakout win by getting blown out by Missouri. 

Can the Badgers ruin the Bruins’ weekend with an upset? (Getty Images)

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We have a similar situation this weekend, as UCLA just got a huge, program-defining type of win with a road upset against Oregon. 

The Bruins have a clear path to the College Football Playoff. Now, they host a Wisconsin team that is flying under the radar at 4-1, and the Badgers’ only loss was to Notre Dame — a game that was close in yardage and was tight in the second half before some turnovers blew it open. 

Oh, and UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava is out indefinitely with a knee injury. 

Don’t be surprised if the high of beating Oregon doesn’t last long.

Hill’s Pick: Wisconsin Moneyline (+120)

If Broncos quarterback Bo Nix didn’t get hurt last January, then this would quite possibly be a Super Bowl rematcn. 

But it’s not, and the defending champion Seahawks come into this road tilt off of a short week and a physical game with the 49ers. 

In that loss, the Seahawks showed some cracks. 

Sam Darnold has shown glimpses of his younger self, and it’s not for the better (Getty Images).

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Quarterback Sam Darnold showed flashes of his younger days when he was prone to turnovers, throwing two interceptions in defeat. The team also clearly has a hole that hasn’t been filled at running back since the departure of SB MVP Kenneth Walker, highlighted by George Holani’s game-altering fumble. 

Meanwhile, the Broncos never seem to have leads but have somehow come out with wins more times than not. They are now 17-5 since the start of the 2025 season. 

Denver is a tough place to play, especially on a short week after a physical game. I like getting the gritty Broncos as home ‘dogs.

Hill’s Pick: Broncos Moneyline (+135)

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By the looks of it, Bob Chesney is well on his way to fixing the fixer-upper he acquired when UCLA hired him.

The No. 12 Bruins have their highest ranking in four years, reached midseason as one of nine unbeaten Football Bowl Subdivision teams and are tied with No. 4 Ohio State and No. 5 Indiana at 3-0 in Big Ten play.

Not bad for a team that was picked to finish 13th in the 18-team Big Ten and was 8-16 overall and 6-12 in conference games the previous two years under Deshaun Foster and Tim Skipper.

For their accomplishments so far, Chesney was named the Big Ten’s top coach and UCLA the most surprising team at the midway point of the season by a vote of Associated Press writers who cover the conference.

Chesney, who led James Madison to a 21-6 record over two years and a spot in last season’s College Football Playoff, inherited a mess when he was hired last December.

Bob Chesney secured a perfect 5-0 start to the season after upsetting No. 12 Oregon on the road in Week 6. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)

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There was the predictable roster churn that comes with a new coaching hire, but Chesney got a big win when starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava, now injured, decided to stay. A Big Ten-high 46 transfers, including 11 from James Madison, and 17 freshmen joined the Bruins.

A major infusion of donor cash for name, image and likeness spending has helped, but the athletic department as a whole was a financial wreck. Five days before the Bruins’ opener, chancellor Julio Frenk fired athletic director Martin Jarmond, the man who hired Chesney.

Chesney is the first football coach in UCLA history to start his debut season 5-0. The Bruins lead the Big Ten with 253 yards rushing per game and Wayne Knight, one of the James Madison transfers, is first in the conference with 109.6 yards per game.

Their 54-3 win at Maryland two weeks ago was the program’s most lopsided in a Big Ten game and in a conference road game since 1955, and their 17-15 win at Oregon last week was their first road win against the Ducks since 2004.

Most Surprising Player: Aidan Chiles, QB

Northwestern quarterback Aidan Chiles. He has excelled for the Wildcats after playing one year at Oregon State and two at Michigan State, where he got benched after eight games last season. Chiles has led Northwestern to a 4-1 start, completing 71.4% of his passes for 234.4 yards per game with nine touchdowns and no interceptions.

Top Offensive Player: Jeremiah Smith, WR

Jeremiah Smith currently leads Ohio State in receiving yards, receptions and touchdowns. (Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images)

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Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. He was the unanimous choice for this award as he puts together what looks destined to be one of the best individual seasons in program history. Smith’s 48 catches, 916 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns are second-most in the country. He has gone over 150 yards in four of six games, including two over 200 yards.

Top First-Year Transfer: Josh Hoover, QB

Indiana’s Josh Hoover is third in a line of one-year quarterback transfers signed by Curt Cignetti. Hoover has 17 touchdown passes and no interceptions for the defending national champion Hoosiers. He threw 33 interceptions in 35 games his previous three seasons at TCU. 

Top Defensive Player: Tobi Osunsanmi, Edge

Indiana edge Tobi Osunanmi, who transferred from Kansas State after missing the second half of last season because of injury. He leads the Big Ten with 9.5 tackles for loss and is tied for first with teammate Stephen Daley and Oregon’s Matyo Uiagalelei with five sacks.

Top First-Year Freshman: Luke Wafle, Edge

Luke Wafle was a five-start recruit in the Trojans 2026 recruiting class. (Photo by Ben Liebenberg/Getty Images)

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Southern California defensive end Luke Wafle. He has lived up to his billing as a five-star recruit and No. 1 prospect in the nation by On3/Rivals. Wafle has 27 tackles, six for loss and two sacks, and is among the Trojans’ highest-graded defenders by Pro Football Focus. He’s missed just two tackles on 264 snaps.

Most Disappointing Team: Oregon

Oregon edged Michigan for this dubious distinction. The Ducks brought in a highly regarded class of transfers to go with 14 returning starters, including a quarterback projected to be one of the first players taken in the 2027 NFL draft. Their No. 2 preseason ranking was highest in program history. A loss at Oklahoma State in the second game was a red flag. They beat Southern California on the road with backup Dylan Raiola at quarterback for most of the game, but last week’s 17-15 home loss to UCLA dropped the Ducks to 3-2 and out of the Top 25.

Hottest Seat: Mike Locksley

Mike Locksley has compiled a 2-4 record on the season at Maryland. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)

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Maryland’s Mike Locksley has managed to survive seven mostly underwhelming seasons, but this year’s could be the worst. The Terrapins have two wins, and one was against a second-tier Championship Subdivision opponent. If they don’t beat Rutgers at home as a 6.5-point favorite this week, they might not win another game.

Biggest Injury: Dante Moore, QB

Oregon’s Dante Moore was on the receiving end of linebacker Desman Stephens II’s illegal hit to the head and chest, knocking him out in the second quarter against USC on Sept. 26. Moore threw for 30 touchdowns while leading the Ducks to the College Football Playoff semifinals last year, and they had pinned their hopes on him as they chased the program’s first national championship. Moore missed the UCLA game, and his status hadn’t been determined for this week’s game against Nebraska.

Reporting by the Associated Press.

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SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California) — Los Angeles Rams long snapper Joe Cardona silently looked on from near his locker while teammate Harrison Mevis stood in front of a throng of reporters and publicly accepted blame for their team’s latest shortcoming, a 37-34 overtime loss to the Buffalo Bills, in which edge rusher Greg Rousseau blocked what would have been a game-winning kick for “The Thiccer Kicker.”

Instead, the Rams, anointed a “Super Team” this offseason nationally after making blockbuster trades for Myles Garrett and Trent McDuffie, along with the return from retirement of Aaron Donald, must dig themselves out of a 2-3 hole to start the year.

“First and foremost, my job is to be a good teammate,” Cardona told me as Mevis spoke. “We’re going to find a way to get better and move on from this performance and find a way to improve it moving forward.” 

Like Cardona, running back Kyren Williams, another one of the 11 (!) team captains, told me he still backs Mevis, even though he’s a league-worst 5-of-9 on field goals through five games.

“We don’t change up on nobody because of a bad game bro,” Williams told me. “I’ve had plenty of bad games, and I still feel the same love from everybody else in this building, bro. So, we don’t change up on nobody because of a bad play. We don’t do that.” 

Rams head coach Sean McVay had seen enough, though. The Rams released Mevis and signed Blake Grupe from the New York Jets practice squad Tuesday morning, making the change despite the support Mevis had in the locker room. It’s L.A.’s ninth kicker during McVay’s 10 seasons with the team. 

McVay walked around the locker room after Monday’s loss, offering words of encouragement to let players know he still appreciates them after another faceplant loss this season.

“It hurts so much because of the expectations we have for ourselves and the things we know we can do as a team,” offensive lineman Steven Avila said in a locker room scrum. “Sean does well with things like this. We use it as fuel, so I’m excited to get out there.” 

Heavy favorites to win the Super Bowl at the start of the year, the Rams have lost to three playoff teams from last season: the San Francisco 49ers, the Denver Broncos and now the Bills. The only wins have come against the New York Giants (playing with a backup quarterback) and a Philadelphia Eagles team on the brink of imploding.

The Rams were expected to waltz to the Super Bowl, but they haven’t made the main thing the main thing. That starts with their head coach, who somehow thought it would be good to show up a day before the game on a 17-hour flight for the team’s season opener in Australia. 

The team’s kicker was hawking T-shirts printed with his nickname. Garrett is doing national commercial spots, but has only played in one game this season due to a knee injury sustained during training camp, and we still don’t know when he’ll return.

Puka Nacua recently returned from a hip injury and has struggled to stay on the field, but he was targeted 24 times in Monday’s loss, finishing with 17 receptions for 138 yards and a score. That type of workload doesn’t seem like a recipe for the BYU product playing his best in January. 

The margin of error between winning and losing has always been smaller than perceived nationally because the Rams have the fourth-oldest roster in the league, led by 38-year-old quarterback Matthew Stafford. Yes, the Rams have four players with Hall of Fame-worthy résumés on the team (Davante Adams, Donald, Stafford and Garrett), but they’re all 30 years or older.

Myles Garrett has been in street clothes for the Rams since Week 1. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)

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The addition of new special teams coach Bubba Ventrone has not improved L.A.’s execution on special teams, as it gave up a 70-yard kick return by Ray Davis to start the game and allowed Rousseau to step through a gaping hole between guard Greg Dotson and tackle Coleman Shelton to block Mevis’ 48-yard field goal attempt in overtime.

After his best season statistically as a pro last season netted him his first league MVP award, Stafford has followed it up with a start in which he leads the league in passing yards (1,572) but is also third in interceptions (6) and 19th in passer rating (88.9).

The addition of Trent McDuffie via trade and Jaylen Watson in free agency was supposed to improve defensively. However, the Rams, led by future head coaching candidate defensive coordinator Chris Shula, have given up 24 points per game in the NFL (20th in the league). And they have allowed 128.4 rushing yards per contest (26th in the league).

And the Rams aren’t making big plays enough defensively to offset that. Los Angeles has just five takeaways in five games and seven sacks (No. 28 in the NFL).

Basically, this year’s “Super Team” has not played “Super” through the first part of the season. McVay understands that. It’s his job to make things better.

“This stings,” McVay said about the loss. “And it’s gonna hurt, but we can’t let this team beat us twice. We’re going to have to regroup and reset ourselves. It’s been a while since I’ve been this pissed after a game.” 

It’s still early enough in the season for the Rams to get their swagger back. Under .500 at this point of the season for the fourth time under McVay, the Rams remain co-favorites with the 49ers to win the Super Bowl. Over the next five games, they face the Arizona Cardinals, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers, Washington Commanders and Arizona again before their Week 11 bye. Those teams have a combined record of 5-14-1. 

But at some point, the Rams must meet the lofty expectations they established this offseason.

“It’s going to be an opportunity for us to respond,” Nacua said. “Really look at ourselves in the mirror and say what our identity is going to be.” 

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Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique came to Manchester City’s defense on Tuesday, saying he hopes the club won’t be stripped of titles after being found guilty of breaching Premier League financial rules.

Back-to-back Champions League winner PSG plays City at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.

City could face sanctions including a huge fine, points deductions or even expulsion from England’s top flight. There have also been calls for it to be stripped of trophies it won during a nine-year period in which it was found to have artificially inflated its revenue by more than $1 billion.

“I hope everything works out well for Man City because I think what they have done on the pitch has been incredible over the last few years and they certainly deserved to win all the trophies they have won,” Luis Enrique said ahead of the Champions League game. “The trophies you win on the pitch remain on the pitch. They deserved to win that and I hope they can avoid the sanction.

“But now we have to wait to see what the authorities decide or the judge is going to say.”

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 11: Liverpool fans display a banner that reads “& after all, you really robbed us all” before the Premier League 2026/27 match between Liverpool FC and Manchester City at Anfield on October 11, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

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City is under Abu Dhabi ownership and PSG is Qatari-backed. Both clubs have been sanctioned by European governing body UEFA for breaching Financial Fair Play regulations in the past.

City is accused of providing misleading information about its finances from 2009-18. During that time, it won three titles. It has appealed the verdict.

City defender Ruben Dias said the players were focusing on the pitch, like they did Sunday in a 3-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield.

“I feel like when you build yourself as a player, you build yourself against any kind of noise,” he said. “Personally, and I really feel like I speak for the whole group, we’re very calm. We trust the club, we’re very calm and we’re very focused on enjoying football.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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On Sunday, the Chicago Bears lost to their bitter rival, the Green Bay Packers, 31-7. And on Tuesday, they lost one of their best defenders to a suspension.

The Bears announced on Tuesday afternoon that the NFL has suspended Chicago defensive lineman Montez Sweat, who will miss two games without pay due to a violation of the league’s Performance-Enhancing Substances Policy, per NFL Media.

Through five games, Sweat has totaled two sacks and seven combined tackles. Chicago’s defense is tied for fifth in the NFL in opponent points (19.2 per game), is ninth outright in both opponent total yards (311.4 per game) and opponent rushing yards (96.0 per game), 12th in opponent passing yards (215.4 per game) and tied for 13th in sacks (11.0).

Sweat will now miss Chicago’s Week 6 road matchup against the Atlanta Falcons (Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on FOX) and its Week 7 Thursday night home bout against the defending AFC-champion New England Patriots (Oct. 22).

Last season (2025), Sweat racked up 10.0 sacks, three forced fumbles, five passes defended and 53 combined tackles.

Sweat, who’s in the third season of a four-year, $98 million deal, is in his third complete season with the Bears and fourth season altogether with the franchise; Chicago acquired Sweat, a 2019 first-round pick, from the Washington Commanders during the 2023 season for its 2024 second-round pick.

Elsewhere, the 3-2 Bears have been without starting quarterback Caleb Williams since Week 2 due to a Grade 2 hamstring strain. Tyson Bagent and Case Keenum have each started in place of Williams, who’s expected to return to action in the near future.

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What do a five-star quarterback from California who once committed to play for Nick Saban and a three-star prospect from Texas who nearly started his career at Indiana have in common?

More than you might think.

Ohio State’s Julian Sayin and Indiana’s Josh Hoover took different paths to get where they are today, but like the quarterbacks who came before them, I believe both have the talent to lead a team to a national championship.

Two Paths To Stardom: Sayin vs. Hoover

Julian Sayin was supposed to be the next big thing at Alabama. A five-star recruit, he committed to the Crimson Tide with plans to play for Saban. Then Saban retired, and Sayin’s plans changed. He pivoted to Ohio State — a decision that has worked out pretty well for both sides.

Sayin spent the 2024 season learning from the sideline, serving as the backup to Kansas State transfer Will Howard. While Sayin waited, Howard led the Buckeyes on a College Football Playoff run that ended with a national championship. 

Then it was Sayin’s turn.

Taking over the Ohio State offense came with a bonus that any quarterback would dream about: Jeremiah Smith. I had the luxury of throwing to Jeff Samardzija. Anthony Fasano and Maurice Stovall during my time at Notre Dame. I quickly learned that an elite pass-catcher can be a quarterback’s best friend, and Sayin and Smith have developed a strong connection. Sayin is finding his star receiver again and again as Smith continues to rewrite the Buckeyes’ record book. 

Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith have connected 48 times for 916 yards and 11 touchdowns through six games. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images)

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Sayin is best described as a point guard within Ohio State’s offense. He distributes the ball, gets it to his playmakers and rarely gives it away. Through his career, he has thrown 50 touchdowns to just 10 interceptions while completing passes at an elite rate. Last season, his 77% completion rate ranked third in FBS history.

When I spoke with Sayin earlier this week, he pointed out one area he wanted to improve this season: using his legs to put more stress on opposing defenses. So far, that work has paid off, as he has already rushed for two touchdowns after failing to score on the ground last season. He has become more willing to scramble for a first down or extend a play when the pocket breaks down. Just look at what he did against Illinois.

There’s still one big question Sayin must answer in Saturday’s game against Indiana: Can he handle the Hoosiers’ pressure?

If Sayin wants to follow in Howard’s footsteps and lead Ohio State to another national championship, he’ll need to show he can stay composed when defenses turn up the heat. In the Buckeyes’ biggest games, pressure has been his biggest vulnerability. Sayin is an incredibly accurate passer, but his completion percentage drops by nearly 20 percentage points when he’s under pressure.

You better believe Indiana defensive coordinator Bryant Haines will test Sayin to see if he can beat the blitz. 

Indiana QB Josh Hoover has thrown for 1,364 yards and 17 TDs through six games this season. (Photo by Mark Smith/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)

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Hoover took a very different path from Sayin to get to where he is today. A three-star recruit out of the Dallas metroplex, Hoover was originally committed to Indiana before flipping to TCU to stay closer to home. After redshirting and spending a year backing up quarterback Chandler Morris, he took over as the Horned Frogs’ full-time starter in 2024. By the time he left Fort Worth, Hoover had nearly three years of starting experience, close to 10,000 passing yards and more than 70 touchdowns.

This production and experience made Hoover a prime target for Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti and his staff, who have gone to the transfer portal for a QB in five straight years dating back to their time at James Madison. Once again, they’ve found a veteran who fits their system — and Hoover looks right at home in offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan’s offense.

Indiana’s attack gives Hoover plenty of opportunities to play to his strengths, from quick passes in the RPO game to back-shoulder throws when the Hoosiers push the ball downfield. He’s stepped in and made it look seamless. In fact, Hoover has the highest completion percentage among Big Ten quarterbacks on throws released in under 2.5 seconds.

If there was one criticism during Hoover’s time at TCU, it would be turnovers, and they became a topic of conversation in the offseason. So far, he’s answered emphatically, throwing 17 touchdowns without an interception, putting those concerns firmly in the rearview mirror.

Now comes the chance for both quarterbacks to make a statement.

For Hoover, it’s about justifying his decision to come to Indiana. A win over the Buckeyes would prove that this program isn’t just some flash in the pan. Big players deliver in big moments. This is Hoover’s chance to do just that.

Sayin, meanwhile, has a chance to deliver the kind of signature performance that can put Ohio State back on top of the Big Ten. The Buckeyes haven’t won a Big Ten title since 2020, and beating Indiana would be a major step toward changing that. There may not be a better time for Sayin to make his mark.

One Name To Know …

Drew Mestemaker, Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker has led the Cowboys to a 4-1 record and the No. 18 ranking in the AP Poll. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

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With the first pick of the 2027 NFL Draft …

Yes, that’s right, Oklahoma State QB Drew Mestemaker is giving off those sorts of vibes. The Cowboys’ gun-slinger is turning heads and has the No. 18 team in the country dreaming of a Big 12 title and a spot in the CFP. NFL scouts are jumping to take a trip to Stillwater to munch on some Eskimo Joes and watch the prodigy sling it. 

To appreciate the story of Mestemaker, one has to understand his journey.

Mestemaker never started a game at quarterback in high school. In fact, he attempted just 30 passes in his entire prep career — as a backup. Labeled a zero-star recruit, he was offered a walk-on spot at North Texas under head coach Eric Morris.

Even then, a path to playing time was far from guaranteed. Mestemaker arrived at fall camp fifth on the depth chart before working his way into the backup role. His first chance to start finally came at the end of the season, when starting quarterback Chandler Morris entered the transfer portal ahead of the First Responder Bowl against Texas State.

Mestemaker made the most of the opportunity, throwing for nearly 400 yards and two touchdowns while adding another 70 yards and a score on the ground, and giving Morris a glimpse of what he could become. Two interceptions and a North Texas loss put a damper on the performance, but there was enough there to suggest the Mean Green might have found something special in the inexperienced quarterback.

Heading into the 2025 season, Mestemaker won the starting job over Miami transfer Ross Poffenbarger. He rewrote the North Texas record books in his first season as a starter and earned American Conference Offensive Player of the Year honors.

Fast-forward to 2026, and Mestemaker followed Morris to Stillwater, Oklahoma, with a mission to bring Oklahoma State’s offense back to life. So far, he’s delivering. The junior leads the Big 12 in passing touchdowns with 13 while guiding the Cowboys to a 4-1 start.

Mestemaker’s unlikely path has drawn comparisons to Ryan Tannehill, who initially committed to Texas A&M as a quarterback before spending his first few seasons with the Aggies at wide receiver. Tannehill eventually returned to quarterback for the final season and a half of his college career, setting the stage for his eventual NFL success.

What stands out most about Mestemaker is his feel for finding windows in coverage. Despite his limited experience, he plays like a seasoned veteran. He’ll occasionally take unnecessary risks and put the ball in harm’s way, but that generally comes as a result of the sheer volume of passes he’s throwing. Mestemaker averages 34 pass attempts per game, the most in the Big 12, and the game situation sometimes calls for him to take chances. He’s also a threat with his legs, showing the toughness to fight his way into the end zone.

This week, the Pokes hit the road to take on Houston in what could be their toughest Big 12 test yet. For Mestemaker, it’s a chance to make a statement against a quality opponent and take another step up the NFL Draft boards.

What I’m Watching …

Since this is my column, I might as well be honest about what I’ll actually be watching Saturday night: my Fighting Irish taking on a top-10 opponent on the road in their toughest test of the season to date.

This matchup has no shortage of storylines, and it’s been months in the making. Remember when Notre Dame opted out of the Pop-Tarts Bowl after getting snubbed by the College Football Playoff? Well, that game would have been against BYU, which went on to win and bask in the glory of a giant Pop-Tart. Personally, I’m more of a brown sugar cinnamon guy.

This game came together after the Notre Dame-USC rivalry fell through. BYU agreed to host the Irish during the open date typically occupied by USC in even-numbered years, setting up a trip to Provo as the leaves change across the heartland. Rather than heading west to Southern California, Notre Dame will make the trek into the mountains of Utah for what should be a picturesque setting and a terrific atmosphere.

I remember opening our season at BYU in 2004. We had no idea what we were walking into. LaVell Edwards Stadium was rocking, and Cougar fans were hopped up on sugar and altitude. It was a nasty environment.

We had beaten BYU rather handily the previous season in South Bend, 33-14. But this time, the Cougars threw a pressure package at us that took until the second half to figure out. By then, it was too late.

There won’t be many surprises this time around. Both teams have enough film on each other to understand what the other wants to do, and both have experienced quarterbacks who have command of their respective offenses: Bear Bachmeier for BYU and CJ Carr for Notre Dame.

Notre Dame QB CJ Carr has the third-best odds to win the Heisman Trophy. (Photo by James Black/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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Their styles, however, couldn’t be much different.

Carr operates from the pocket like a prototypical NFL quarterback. He diagnoses defenses before the snap, identifies potential weaknesses and looks to exploit them through the air. Bachmeier can hurt defenses on designed quarterback runs, but he’s also a very alert runner on passing downs. Give him an opening, and he’ll tuck the ball and take off.

For Notre Dame, a win would validate the dominance it has shown so far this season. For BYU, it’s a chance to prove the Cougars belong among the nation’s elite. 

The experts in the desert have the Cougars as a double-digit home underdog.

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Los Angeles Rams left tackle Alaric Jackson is expected to be suspended two games for punching Buffalo Bills outside linebacker Bradley Chubb after Monday night’s game, according to ESPN.

The NFL has reportedly not yet notified the Rams or the NFL Players Association of the discipline.

The skirmish took place on the field at SoFi Stadium following Buffalo’s 37-34 overtime win on Monday night. 

Broadcast cameras showed Jackson exchanging jerseys with Bills defensive lineman Deone Walker near midfield when Chubb appeared to say something to him. Jackson, who had already taken off his shoulder pads and jersey, then walked over to Chubb and punched him in the face with his right hand before Rams tight end Colby Parkinson pulled him away.

Chubb, still in full uniform at the time, told reporters after the game that he chose not to retaliate.

“Emotional game. It was a close game, and they always catch the second guy,” Chubb said. “So I let him swing, and my teammates held me back.”

When asked about the punch, Chubb didn’t name Jackson as the culprit.

“Yeah, somebody swung. But hey, that’s not on me to tell who. There’s cameras out there,” he said. “I’m just ready for next week.”

Unless he appeals the decision and wins, Jackson would miss the Rams’ home game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday as well as their following game. 

Jackson has started all five games for Los Angeles this season and was a key piece of an offensive line protecting Matthew Stafford. Puka Nacua set a career high with 17 catches for 138 yards and a touchdown in Monday’s loss.

The Rams fell to 2-3 with the defeat, while the Bills improved to 4-1. Buffalo visits the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday.

Jackson, who signed a three-year, $57 million extension with the Rams in February 2025, is in his fourth season as the team’s starting left tackle. 

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We’re starting to get some clarity in the Marvin Harrison Jr. trade saga. 

Harrison’s time with the Arizona Cardinals is over, and the team is seeking a second-round pick for the wide receiver, FOX Sports NFL insider Jay Glazer reported. But while many speculated that the Houston Texans would be Harrison’s landing spot, Glazer didn’t seem sure he’d wind up reuniting with his former Ohio State teammate and quarterback, C.J. Stroud.

“Everybody thought it was Houston, but they kind of pulled back,” Glazer said on “FOX NFL Sunday.” “Here’s what Arizona’s looking for: They put the word out yesterday, they’re hoping that some other team — maybe someone goes down or someone gets really desperate for a wide receiver — and they come up to their asking price of a second-round pick. But [Harrison] wasn’t even at the team meeting last night. His time in Arizona is over.”

Glazer’s report comes a day after ESPN reported that the Cardinals had agreed to terms on a trade involving Harrison, but it wasn’t reported which team would acquire him. However, Harrison won’t play in the Cardinals’ Week 5 matchup against the Detroit Lions.

Harrison has failed to live up to the high expectations that followed him from Ohio State when he was taken with the fourth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. He put up respectable numbers as a rookie, logging 62 receptions for 885 yards and eight touchdowns. His numbers have only fallen from there, though. He had 41 receptions for 608 yards and four scores in 2025.

This season has been even worse for Harrison. He only has five receptions on 12 targets for 85 yards and a touchdown through the first four games of the season. He’s recorded one or zero receptions in three of the Cardinals’ first four contests, with tight end Trey McBride, wide receiver Michael Wilson and wide receiver Kendrick Bourne all becoming more trustworthy targets for quarterback Jacoby Brissett. 

Last week, former NFL star wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh told our Eric D. Williams that he thinks Harrison should request a trade from the Cardinals in order to restart his career. 

“I believe that’s the best thing for him, is just getting a fresh start somewhere else,” Houshmandzadeh told Williams. “I don’t believe the Cardinals look at him as that generational player that he was when they drafted him. If they did, he would be involved in the offense.

“When the coach wants to get you involved in the offense, it’s very obvious. You get your targets, you get your opportunity. And with him not getting that, they don’t value him. So, for me, you’ve just got to move on.” 

But as the Cardinals seek a second-round pick, a league source seemingly implied to Williams that Harrison isn’t worth that. 

“He is just an average or a little above-average WR,” a league source told Williams. “If he was drafted 104 instead of No. 4, he would be OK. You have to look at it that way.”

The league source added to Williams that they don’t expect Harrison’s production to get much better with a new team. 

“He had a ton of chances with everyone wanting him to be the man,” the league source told Williams. “So, unless it’s an issue of maturity, motivation or coaching, why would it work better somewhere else? It will be similar.”

Harrison has another year remaining on his rookie contract, but the team that acquires him can pick up his fifth-year option this offseason. 

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Their last name is the same, as is their first initial.

Without intending to be vague, the opposing press-box announcer says “Robinson with the carry,” which is usually a safe bet.

Whether it’s Bijan Robinson — perhaps the best running back in the NFL today — or new backup Brian Robinson, the Atlanta Falcons have the league’s No. 2 rushing attack entering Week 5, switching out in the middle of drives but often finding the same outcome in the end zone.

“I don’t know who’s back there, but I know one Robinson’s going to make us right,” guard Matthew Bergeron told me. “At least one of them. It’s good to have those two backs. They complete each other, and people don’t realize how good leaders they are.”

Bijan wears 7, Brian wears 15, so that should make it easy to tell them apart. But on a ticker at the bottom of your TV, in fine print on your phone, it’s easy to confuse “Bi. Robinson” and “Br. Robinson.” In the locker room, everyone calls Brian “B-Rob,” whereas Bijan is pretty much always Bijan. One fan went viral this summer for accidentally walking up to the board at his fantasy draft and proudly affixing the wrong “B. Robinson” sticker for the No. 1 overall pick.

It wasn’t as bad a mistake Monday night, as Brian ran for three touchdowns and Bijan two in the Falcons’ rout of the Saints. The idea of a 1-2 punch in the run game is not new. Brian rushed for 400 yards last year without a single start as Christian McCaffrey’s backup with the San Francisco 49ers, and Bijan had a similar shared role with Tyler Allgeier his first three years in Atlanta.

“It’s understanding we’re in this together,” Brian said after Monday’s win, wearing a silver “BR” chain around his neck and standing at the locker next to Bijan’s. “It’s everything combined, from the energy we generate, from the connection, from the bond we both have. We know we’re complementing each other when we’re playing. There shouldn’t be [any] falloff.”

In their two games since Michael Penix Jr.’s at quarterback, the Falcons have dominated, first in a 35-14 win at the Packers and then a 45-21 rout at the Saints on Monday night. The common thread is dominance in the red zone, going 4-for-5 in both games while relying heavily on their running backs. Against New Orleans, they had 15 red-zone plays, and 12 went to the Robinsons, and the three that didn’t were all incomplete passes.

“When everybody does their job and then you have talented runners like Bijan and Brian, they don’t need a big hole,” Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski said. “You can give these guys creases and they can run through arm tackles.”

Bijan is unique among the league’s elite running backs. He’s talented enough to rank among the best but unselfish enough to share the workload as few do. Of the top six backs in rushing yards after four weeks, the other five all have at least 84% of the running back carries for their team.

Robinson, by comparison, has 66%, which is to say his backups have more than twice the role of those behind other top backs. This was the case last year as well, as Robinson had a 65% share last year, leading the NFL with 2,298 yards from scrimmage despite watching from the sidelines on 236 offensive plays.

In fantasy football parlance, Brian is a “vulture,” someone picking off touchdowns that might otherwise go to a team’s primary back. There’s no such talk in the Falcons’ locker room, where the two working together has been what the offense does best. They’ve rushed for more than 200 yards in back-to-back games, and that threat opens up the downfield passing game as well.

“It pushes them into a different coverage, and that allows us to eat,” receiver Drake London said. “If Bijan’s eating and B-Rob’s eating, then we’re all going to.”

Running by committee has been part of Brian’s role since college, where he came up behind Josh Jacobs and Najee Harris at Alabama. As a result, Brian never had even 100 carries in a season until his fifth and final season. He led the Commanders in rushing in each of his first two seasons, but he’s playing well enough as a backup this year that he’s on pace for a career-best with 824 rushing yards.

“Me and Beej have been doing a great job of keeping the run game very efficient, and that obviously helps everything else around it,” Brian said Monday night. “They’ve got to respect our run game, respect our pass game. Just leave them guessing. They don’t really know what to expect, so we’ve got to keep playing our style of football and making it hard on them, every chance we get.”

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