Travis Kelce likes to call training camp with the Kansas City Chiefs his “sanctuary,” whether that be the quiet, hour-long drive north to Missouri Western State University or the solitude that he finds while living in college dorms for a month.

Such refuge was probably never more welcome than on the heels of this past summer.

It was just over a month ago that Kelce exchanged vows with Taylor Swift in a star-studded wedding that tied together one of the best tight ends in NFL history with the biggest pop star on the planet. At the intimate gathering in cavernous Madison Square Garden, Adam Sandler served as the surprise officiant, Stevie Nicks performed to a crowd of sports and entertainment icons, and fans lined the New York City sidewalks outside the historic venue hoping to catch a glimpse of it all.

“The wedding was the best night of my life,” Kelce said Wednesday, speaking for the first time at camp. “I appreciate everybody who came out and celebrated and had fun with us. That’s about all I got for that night. It was a crazy night.”

The guest list included actors Bradley Cooper, Zoë Kravitz, Hugh Grant and Ethan Hawke; models Gigi Hadid and Karlie Kloss; comic Chris Rock; film director Steven Spielberg; and plenty of NFL players, including retired quarterback Tom Brady and several of Kelce’s teammates with the Chiefs, like his best friend and quarterback, Patrick Mahomes.

The Swift-Kelce relationship began with his failed attempt at giving her a friendship ring at a concert. Kelce invited Swift to watch him play at Arrowhead Stadium, she took him up on the offer, and the rest of their courtship has been a celebrity fairytale.

Right down to the nuptials at Madison Square Garden, which has always captured Kelce’s imagination, and where Swift has played to plenty of sold-out shows; she also turned up there to watch the New York Knicks play the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals in June.

“I always told myself I’d go for a playoff game when the Knicks were rocking, and my wife went when I was stuck in minicamp,” Kelce said with a wry smile. “It was kind of cool to live out my childhood dream to be in that venue. I can’t thank the owners of MSG enough for allowing us the opportunity to do that, knowing we wanted a private event.”

Besides the wedding, Kelce has been busy pursuing several business opportunities since the end of last season, including his decision to buy a small share of David Blitzer’s stake in his hometown Cleveland Guardians.

That puts him into rivalry territory with Mahomes, who owns his own small stake in the Kansas City Royals.

Yet on the field, the quarterback and tight end continue in lockstep, and never has it been more important for them to lift each other up. Mahomes is coming off a season-ending knee injury that required surgery in December, and Kelce is trying to prove that at age 36 — he turns 37 in October — he can still get it done in a young man’s game.

“I still got a lot of love for this game. I still think I can go out and play at a high level,” Kelce said. “I want to go out there and prove to myself that I can play at a better level than last year. I think that’s the biggest thing for me.”

There are few things that Kelce has not accomplished over 13 seasons on an NFL field. He’s won three Super Bowl rings, was voted first-team All-Pro four times, and he has been invited to the Pro Bowl each of the last 11 seasons.

Nick ‘ABSOLUTELY GUARANTEES’ Chiefs bounce back; how big could Aaron Donald’s impact be?

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He contemplated retirement prior to last year, but the fact that Kansas City had just been blown out by the Philadelphia Eagles did not sit well with him. So, Kelce came back for another go-around, catching 76 passes for 851 yards and five touchdowns while playing in every game — numbers that would represent a career year for most tight ends.

The Chiefs scuffled to a 6-11 finish, though. And if Kelce wasn’t going out on a Super Bowl loss, he certainly wasn’t quitting after a season like that.

“The fact that we didn’t make the playoffs,” he said, “I moved on pretty quick.”

He moved onto wedding planning, to be sure. But also into preparing for the upcoming season, which most believe will be his last, one way or another. Kelce was ever-present throughout the offseason, whether it was voluntary workouts or mandatory minicamp, and he has been a constant source of energy during the hot, humid practices that are the hallmark of training camp.

“This is always going to be my sanctuary. I think St. Joe has a special place in my heart,” Kelce said. “You need to have these days. You need to have this time of grinding with the guys, being around them all day, starting to create that chemistry and standard for how we are going to do things. This year it’s ramped up even more.

“I think that’s a big thing,” Kelce added, “just enjoy these moments with these guys I’ve built this culture with.”

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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The Atlanta Falcons have their QB1, for now.  

Tua Tagovailoa will start at quarterback Friday for the Falcons in their preseason opener against the Denver Broncos on Friday, head coach Kevin Stefanski announced Wednesday. However, Stefanski made clear that the decision applies strictly to the preseason opener and does not establish Tagovailoa as the starter for Week 1. 

“We’re just now entering Week 1 of the preseason with this game on Friday night. Obviously, Tua is going to play in that game, and I think that’s great to get game action with our guys,” Stefanski told NFL Network.

The rest of the Falcons’ starters will play on Friday, but will only play a series or about 10 plays, Stefanski added in comments to reporters. Tagovailoa will start, then Cooper Rush will rotate in afterwards and then allow Jack Strand to finish the game. 

As for Michael Penix Jr., he’s not yet cleared for full 11-on-11 work as he continues to rehab from an ACL tear. But he’s expected to play a role in the Falcons’ quarterback competition once he’s healthy. 

Michael Penix is still rehabbing from an ACL tear and won’t be available to play for the Falcons in their preseason opener. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)

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“Specifically to the quarterback position for Penix and Tua, this was learning a new system for our guys,” Stefanski said. “So laying the foundation of the new system, understanding that when you get to training camp, now it’s about really building through your installs, finding out what your players do best.”

Stefanski emphasized that naming a regular season starter will require more live game reps and pointed to upcoming joint practices with the Indianapolis Colts as another opportunity for both quarterbacks to separate themselves.

“From a preparation standpoint, these guys are on top of it, learning the new system, understanding what’s important on each given play,” Stefanski said. “So I’m very pleased with where we are. I just know in the calendar where we are. We’re not there yet in terms of naming somebody a starter.”

The Falcons open their regular season schedule Sept. 13 on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

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As the Big Ten enters the season with another national champion – this time, the Indiana Hoosiers – the Big Ten vs. SEC debate has only heightened.

Since the Big Ten has won three-straight national titles, the continuous debates over which conference is superior continues, especially with FOX Sports’ Joel Klatt’s preseason Top 25. Klatt placed three teams in the top 5 – No. 1 Oregon, No. 2 Ohio State and No. 5 Indiana – with his first SEC team coming in at No. 6 with the Georgia Bulldogs. But what has made a conference like the Big Ten more dominant than the SEC? The offensive talent. 

For Cowherd, the four former Pac-12 teams benefited the Big Ten, emphasizing that the competition levels have soared with the quarterback play and coaching. 

“The quality of offensive coaching and quarterback play out West has always been great. You’ve now added that to the Big Ten. And so, yes, the Big Ten was better than the Pac-12,” Cowherd said on Tuesday’s edition of The Herd. “Jayden Maiava, Lincoln Riley, Jedd Fisch, [Demond] Williams Jr., Oregon, Dante Moore, Nico Iamaleava, super talented kid. Basically, the Pac-12 gave the Big Ten a little flair and creativity.”

Three of the four former Pac-12 teams found their way into Klatt’s preseason top 15: Oregon at No. 1, USC at No. 12 and Washington at No. 20. However, UCLA’s new head coach in Bob Chesney and another year of quarterback Nico Iamaleava could make the Bruins a strong competitor. 

Joel Klatt on Big Ten vs. SEC, Arch Manning’s Heisman hopes | FULL INTERVIEW | The Herd

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Signal-callers like USC’s Jayden Maiava, Oregon’s Dante Moore and Washington’s Demond Williams Jr. have already laid the foundation of last season’s performance. Moore led the Ducks to a CFP semifinal appearance, and Maiava led the Big Ten in passing yards with 3,711. Going up against true Big Ten teams like Ohio State and Indiana, the conference is filled with elite quarterback talent.

For Klatt, the coaching talent deserves just as much credit as the quarterback himself.

“I think that it’s transforming the league. It’s not just Dante Moore in Oregon. It’s not just Maiava at USC. You mentioned Iamaleava at UCLA. It’s also Demond Williams at Washington with Jedd Fisch, an offensive-oriented guy,” Klatt said on The Herd. “So all of these teams come in, and they can play offense, and it makes it difficult to go out west and play these teams, in particular on the long road trip. It’s a very deep league. There’s no doubt.”

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Former Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez was officially announced as the new head coach of the Netherlands national team on Wednesday. 

Xavi replaces Ronald Koeman, who departed following the team’s elimination in the round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup. He becomes the first non-Dutch manager to lead the men’s Oranje team since 1978. 

The 46-year-old Spaniard has been out of management since leaving Barcelona in May 2024. He recently interviewed with KNVB officials as the federation searches for a successor to Ronald Koeman.

“My next step could be a national team. It would suit me, and I want that. I have family. A club wouldn’t allow me as much time with my family, I’ve got young children,” Xavi said in July when discussing his career ambitions. 

The Dutch managerial opening follows a disappointing campaign at the 2026 World Cup. The Netherlands were eliminated in the round of 32 by Morocco, drawing 1-1 before losing 3-2 in a penalty shootout.

Xavi brings significant experience to the candidacy. He began his coaching career with Qatari club Al Sadd in 2019 before taking over at Barcelona in November 2021, where he won a La Liga title and a Spanish Super Cup during his three-season tenure. 

As a player, he earned 133 caps for Spain, winning the 2010 World Cup alongside European Championship titles in 2008 and 2012.

The Netherlands will face Germany in UEFA Nations League play on Sept. 24.

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The Oregon Ducks could be without an integral part of their offense to open the 2026 college football season.

Running back Jordon Davison suffered a collarbone injury at fall camp and could miss six-to-eight weeks, 247Sports reported on Wednesday afternoon, basing that on the injury being a potential re-break of a previous injury — Davison missed the Ducks’ College Football Playoff semifinal round loss to the Indiana Hoosiers last season due to a broken collarbone. There’s initial hope among the Ducks that Davison could return sooner than the aforementioned timeline, though.

Davison, a then-true freshman, rushed for 667 yards and 15 touchdowns — which led the Ducks and was tied for second in the Big Ten — on 5.9 yards per carry in 2025. He rushed for a score in 10 of the 14 games he played.

With 2025 lead back Noah Whittington off to the NFL, Davison projects to be part of a lethal one-two running-back punch for Oregon with fellow sophomore Dierre Hill Jr., who rushed for 656 yards and five touchdowns on 8.7 yards per carry last year.

B1G Related Stories

The Ducks were second in the Big Ten in total yards (452.2 per game) and points (36.9 per game), third in rushing yards (198.6 per game) and fifth in passing yards (253.6 per game) in 2025. Their offense returns junior quarterback Dante Moore, who would’ve potentially been a top-10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft had he declared. 

Oregon opens the 2026 season at home against the Boise State Broncos on Sept. 5 with its Big Ten season opener coming on the road against the USC Trojans on Sept. 26.

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LOS ANGELES – The optimism leading into Blake Snell’s first start back in nearly three months went beyond the usual confidence one might expect when a two-time Cy Young Award winner returns to action. 

It was as if both Snell and his manager knew he’d come out looking like a completely different version of the pitcher who allowed five runs in three innings in his only previous start of the season. 

“It’s the best I’ve felt in three years, by far,” Snell claimed 12 days before his return. 

“He’s on a mission,” Dave Roberts added assuredly. 

It certainly looked that way Tuesday night in front of a crowd of 49,958 fans at Dodger Stadium, where Snell exhibited no signs of rust in his return from elbow surgery as he lifted a scuffling Dodgers club in need of a pick-me-up. 

Even after two comeback victories on Monday and Tuesday, the Dodgers have won just 13 of their last 30 games. Their bullpen has been unreliable. Their bats have been inconsistent. Earlier this week, Roberts lamented the way his star-studded offense had gotten “bullied” by fastballs far too often over this stretch of substandard play. 

And yet, Snell’s 10-strikeout return provided a reminder of why any potential concerns about the Dodgers’ aging roster might not matter if this rotation is upright and whole by October. 

They have Yoshinobu Yamamoto, last year’s World Series MVP. They have depth arms in Roki Sasaki, Justin Wrobleski and Eric Lauer, who could shift to bullpen roles in October. Shohei Ohtani continues to play catch with the hopes of returning to the mound before season’s end. Tyler Glasnow has started his rehab assignment and could return by month’s end. 

And, of course, they now have two two-time Cy Young Award winners after their deal for Tarik Skubal at the deadline. Skubal labored through five innings in his home debut Monday but kept the Dodgers close enough to storm back for the win. 

Snell, meanwhile, overpowered Kansas City’s lineup one day later.  

“We needed to win tonight, and we needed to win a series, and it started with him,” Roberts said. “So I thought from pitch one, you know, he exuded that, and we fed off of that.”

Blake Snell’s outing on Tuesday showed why he’ll still be a key piece for the Dodgers rotation in October. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) –>

Roberts’ goal was to get Snell through five innings, but Snell was thinking bigger. While texting back and forth with Roberts before the start, he assuredly told his manager he could go six. 

And then he did. The optimism before Snell’s outing was justified. He struck out the side in the first inning, maintained velocity throughout the night, walked just one and surrendered soft contact when the Royals did manage to put the bat on the ball. 

With the game still tied after five innings, no one was getting warm. 

Amid the team’s slump, Roberts demanded more urgency, both from his club and himself. Tuesday night provided the latest example of it. 

Roberts knew Snell was his best option to return for the sixth, even if pushing him beyond 80 pitches wasn’t part of the plan. The left-hander made quick work of his final frame, needing just 13 pitches that inning and 84 pitches in total to navigate through six. The Dodgers’ offense then responded in the late innings again, making up for more shaky bullpen play. 

It was another instance of the urgency that had been lacking. 

“The last two nights,” Roberts said, “is what we’re looking for.” 

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Snell was calmer than he thought he would be in his first start back at Dodger Stadium since May 9, when he labored through three innings on 77 pitches against the Braves. Soon after that start, he underwent surgery to remove loose bodies from his sore elbow. 

The procedure seemed to do more than simply address that compromised body part. 

Snell believes the bone chips in his elbow were also contributing to pain in his shoulder, which had caused him problems most of last year, and pressing on a nerve. For the last couple of years, the ring finger and pinky finger on his throwing hand had felt numb. 

“They took [the loose bodies] out, and I could feel my hand completely,” Snell told me. “My shoulder pain went completely away.” 

Shortly after the procedure, he started to regain his range of motion and the extension in his arm that had been lacking. That led to more swing and miss at the top of the zone with his fastball and the ability to consistently finish his curveball and tunnel it in a way he couldn’t before the surgery. 

On Tuesday, after laughing off a poor rehab appearance in Salt Lake City — during which the elevation wreaked havoc on his secondary offerings — Snell bounced back by getting 15 swings and misses from Kansas City hitters. The Royals swung eight times at his curveball and whiffed on five of them while watching another five breaking balls go by for strikes. 

“That’s me having the range to move the ball how I want,” Snell told me. “I just haven’t had it in a couple years. Everyone’s like, ‘Oh the changeup.’ I’m like, ‘If the curveball’s on….”

Blake Snell in a rehab assignment earlier in the summer. (Photo by Scott Marshall/Getty Images)

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Snell believes that pitch in particular could be much more of a difference-maker this season. 

“The curveball’s finally coming back to how I remember it being,” he said. “It was always a pitch that was a wipeout. I could throw it, but now I’m finally releasing it where I need to release it, and I’m kind of releasing everything in the same slot out in front.”

The performance served as a reminder of his dominance when he’s right. 

“I think the biggest thing was just being aggressive,” Snell said. “Be in the zone, attack. I know how good my stuff is, so I don’t want to just be nibbling and then complaining like, ‘Oh, that’s a strike.’ I didn’t want to do any of that again like I did versus Atlanta.” 

“That’s the Snell that we’re used to seeing,” added Max Muncy, who walked the Dodgers off with a win Tuesday night, “and hopefully we have him for the next two, three months, for the long run.”

It’s the version Snell is expecting to see from himself, as well, no longer concerned about his health or pitching through pain, the way he did through much of last season while still displaying flashes of brilliance. 

“I can just pitch and focus on pitching,” Snell said. “That’s pretty cool.” 

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The 2026 NFL Thanksgiving Week schedule features five games across three days, including the traditional Thanksgiving Day tripleheader. The holiday slate begins Wednesday night and continues through the Black Friday game. Here is the complete schedule and how to watch each matchup.

2026 NFL Thanksgiving Week Schedule

Wednesday, Nov. 25 — Thanksgiving Eve

• Green Bay Packers at Los Angeles Rams, 8 p.m. ET (Netflix)

Thursday, Nov. 26 — Thanksgiving Day

Friday, Nov. 27 — Black Friday

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• Denver Broncos at Pittsburgh Steelers, 3 p.m. ET (Prime Video)

How to Watch the 2026 NFL Thanksgiving Games

Thanksgiving Eve begins with Packers at Rams streaming on Netflix. On Thanksgiving Day, Bears at Lions airs on CBS and streams on Paramount+, Eagles at Cowboys airs on FOX and streams on FOX One, and Chiefs at Bills airs on NBC and streams on Peacock. The Black Friday game between the Broncos and Steelers streams on Prime Video.

Fans can watch the FOX Thanksgiving matchup and more NFL on FOX coverage with FOX One. FOX coverage is also available on FOXSports.com and the FOX Sports App with an eligible TV provider login.

Which NFL Teams Play on Thanksgiving Day in 2026?

Six teams will play during the Thanksgiving Day tripleheader: the Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills.

New team claims top spot on Nick’s NFL Tiers | FTF

Nick Wright lists his NFL tiers entering Week 1 of the preseason, including the Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, and Buffalo Bills. Chris Broussard, Kevin Wildes, and Coach Mangini also add their input on this week’s tiers.

2026 NFL Thanksgiving Games FAQs

How Many NFL Games Are on Thanksgiving Day in 2026?

There are three NFL games on Thanksgiving Day. The full Thanksgiving Week showcase includes five games from Wednesday through Friday.

What Time Do the 2026 NFL Thanksgiving Games Start?

The Thanksgiving Day tripleheader begins at 1 p.m. ET, followed by games at 4:30 p.m. ET and 8:20 p.m. ET.

What Channel Is Eagles at Cowboys On?

Eagles at Cowboys airs on FOX at 4:30 p.m. ET on Thanksgiving Day and streams with FOX One.

Is There an NFL Game on Black Friday in 2026?

Yes. The Denver Broncos visit the Pittsburgh Steelers at 3 p.m. ET on Friday, Nov. 27, with the game streaming on Prime Video.

The schedule is subject to change. Check back for the latest kickoff times, broadcast information and streaming availability.

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ASHBURN, Va. — The Washington Commanders didn’t spend a lot of money on big stars during the offseason, choosing to strengthen their team with quantity and depth. But maybe that’s all they need to turn their team back into the Super Bowl contender that they were two years ago, because their most important offseason addition was a healthy Jayden Daniels. 

And so far this summer, it sure does look like Daniels is back.

The 25-year-old showed that on Wednesday with a spectacular performance in a joint practice against the Miami Dolphins. Granted, the Dolphins are likely going to be terrible this season, but Daniels still looked a lot like his old self. Almost every pass he threw was on target and perfectly timed, especially when he was looking 20 to 30 yards downfield. And he showed off his mobility too, escaping for a few runs and even turning one broken play into a successful shovel pass.

It’s too soon to say if he can recapture the magic of 2024, when Daniels had one of the most remarkable rookie seasons for a quarterback ever and took the Commanders all the way to the NFC Championship Game. But if he’s even close to that player after injuries held him to just seven games last season, it would be foolish to count the Commanders out.

“It’s huge,” said linebacker Leo Chenal, who left Kansas City to sign with the Commanders in March. “He’s one of the greatest playmakers in the league. We’ve all seen what he’s capable of. When I wasn’t here, I was like, ‘Dang, this dude’s a playmaker.’ You can just see it. You’ve got to respect that and what he’s able to do with the ball in his hands.”

The Commanders need Daniels to be that playmaker too, because they didn’t exactly overload their offense with others who can make plays. They did just sign receiver Stefon Diggs, but he’s 32, and their only other reliable receiver is 31-year-old Terry McLaurin, who’s coming off his own injury-filled season. Gone from last season are tight end Zach Ertz and receiver Deebo Samuel, who were the Commanders’ top two pass catchers.

Daniels, though, is the type of quarterback who can elevate those around him when he’s healthy and playing at his best — something he rarely did last season thanks to a sprained knee in Week 2 and a dislocated elbow in Week 9, before his season ended prematurely. He sure looked like the best version of himself against the Dolphins. And those who have seen him at camp insist he’s looked that good all summer long.

“I felt like this last year, too,” Daniels said at the podium on Wednesday. “I wasn’t hurt at this time last year. But it’s a new year. I don’t want to compare what I did my first two years.”

It’ll be hard for Daniels to do anything that compares to what he did as a rookie when he threw for 3,568 yards, 25 touchdowns and just nine interceptions, while running for 891 yards and six touchdowns. He also provided Washington with more magic moments than they had had in the previous decade, not to mention their first trip to the NFC Championship Game in 33 years.

But the Commanders are still counting on at least some of that magic resuming, to make their team better than the sum of its otherwise underwhelming parts — even if Daniels won’t publicly count on that yet.

“We’re just putting in the work to get there,” Daniels said. “I wouldn’t say we’re in midseason form. We’re just going day by day.”

Stefon Diggs joined the Commander after the start of training camp, but he ha quickly proven to be a standout target for Jayden Daniels. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

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  Other Observations

• Diggs may be 32, but he is going to be a huge addition to the Commanders. He looked like he and Daniels were old friends in practice. They were perfectly in sync, and Daniels knew just how to hit him in stride. Diggs showed off his hands, making several catches in traffic. He also showed he has the ability to still get open. And he showed his athleticism and awareness on one leaping touchdown catch where he barely got his toes down in the end zone. “This is his field,” Daniels said. “He’s a dog. He goes out and makes plays. He brings energy.” Diggs and a healthy McLaurin could still be a formidable 1-2 punch, and give the younger receivers — Luke McCaffrey, Treylon Burks, Antonio Williams — room to grow into a larger role.
• It’s a good thing Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis can run, because he’s going to need to do it a lot this season. His offensive line was dominated by the Commanders’ defensive front in practice, forcing Willis outside the pocket on what felt like nearly every throw. Willis is certainly capable of throwing on the run, but he wasn’t terribly accurate doing that in this practice. He’s going to have to be better for their passing game to work at all.
• Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley went on “The Rich Eisen Show” this week and mused about the possibility of running back De’Von Achane touching the ball more than 40 times a game, at times. That sounds ridiculous … until you see the rest of the Dolphins’ offense in action. Achane might have to touch the ball that much! Willis was not given a lot of weapons to work with in the passing game. None of his receivers — Jalen Tolbert, Tutu Atwell, Malik Washington, or even third-round pick Caleb Douglas — would make the top two on almost any other NFL team. And they really struggled to get open against the Commanders’ defense. Tight end Greg Dulcich wasn’t much of a better option. This offense might really be Achane or bust.
• The loss of left tackle Laremy Tunsil (torn triceps) is going to be an issue for the Commanders. Their line was very up and down in this practice against an underwhelming Miami front. Brandon Coleman struggled at times as Tunsil’s replacement. The line may not be bad, but the loss of Tunsil won’t be easy to overcome. “You can’t replace LT,” Daniels said of Tunsil. “LT is one of one.”

  Players To Watch

Diggs showed last season in New England that he could still be a No. 1 receiver in this league, though he’s getting to an age where he needs to prove it every year. He sure looked the part on Wednesday, when he dominated the Dolphins’ defensive backs in one-on-one drills. He beat them with speed, with moves, and caught plenty of balls in traffic, too. 

Diggs is going to have to prove his durability at age 32, but his skills and reliability seem as good as ever. It also looks like he could be a high-volume receiver for the Commanders. Yes, they still have Terry McLaurin, too. But Diggs could be a Daniels favorite, running a lot of underneath routes that he could potentially turn into big plays.

Robinson was probably the best player on the field for the Dolphins on Wednesday. Granted, the bar for that was low, but he was still pretty good. He gave Commanders right tackle Josh Conerly fits and was regularly breaking through to the Commanders’ backfield in team drills.

The Dolphins lost their best pass rusher (Bradley Chubb) in free agency, so they really need someone to be a difference-maker on defense. Robinson, their first-round pick in 2024, took a step back last year after a somewhat promising rookie season. He should be a lock for more than the four sacks he had in 2025. For the Dolphins’ sake, there’ll hopefully be a lot more.

  Quote Of The Day

“It’s awesome. You finally get to hit someone who is not your own team. You bring them in from the South, show them how it’s done a little bit.”

— Commanders linebacker Leo Chenal on the joint practice with the Dolphins.

  Long-Term View

Commanders: All Hopes Rest On Jayden Daniels

Last season was so bad for Washington that it’s almost easy to forget that the Commanders went to the NFC Championship Game the year before. That’s when Jayden Daniels was an all-time great rookie QB before his injury-riddled second year. 

On paper, the Commanders look more like last year’s version than the juggernaut from 2024. They have big defensive issues and didn’t do a great job of surrounding Daniels with weapons. But if Daniels is the player he was as a rookie, and he can stay healthy, he can elevate this team like he did then. At least that’s the hope in Washington. If Daniels is as good as everyone thought he was two years ago, the Commanders could make some noise in the NFC. But he really needs to be that good. Otherwise, they’re looking at a disappointing year.

Jayden Daniels missed 10 games in 2025 due to knee, hamstring and elbow injuries. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)

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Dolphins: No Hope At All

Meanwhile, as for the Dolphins, the Jeff Hafley era is not likely to get off to a rousing start. The new coach refuses to admit the Dolphins are rebuilding, even though all the evidence points that way. They have some hope that they catch lightning in a bottle with new quarterback Malik Willis after he impressed in very limited duty last year in Green Bay. But other than running back De’Von Achane, the Dolphins really don’t have any weapons around him at all. And a defense that ranked 22nd last season lost its best pass rusher when Bradley Chubb left. 

Hafley could be a very good coach, and maybe he’ll squeeze something out of his young defense. But unless Willis, in his fifth NFL season, suddenly blossoms into a star, the Dolphins will almost certainly end up as one of the worst teams in the entire league.

Next Stop: Owings Mills, Maryland

The drive south to this area from Jersey is a great way to see the East Coast, one redundant rest stop at a time. But the roughly 90-minute drive from the Commanders’ practice facility in Ashburn, Virginia, to their neighbors, the Baltimore Ravens, can be a slow procession through farm country. Seriously, the drive to my hotel in Frederick, Maryland, looked like I was driving through Iowa. I’m pretty sure I saw every corn stand in the Northeast.

My reward for that — other than a night in this Civil War town and a possible secret excursion to nearby Camp David — will be a visit with the new-look Ravens, who are adjusting to life without John Harbaugh for the first time in 18 years. I hear the practices run by Harbaugh’s 42-year-old replacement, Jesse Minter, are about half as long as they used to be. If that’s true, then his players already love him.

Minter inherited a loaded team which I think could be a Super Bowl contender. If they end up winning, I can only assume the parade will be in Baltimore and not down Maryland Route 15, unless they want their floats peppered with corn instead of confetti.

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Don’t hate, but it’s likely that everyone except Chip Ganassi Racing is in the running for second in the final 2026 INDYCAR standings.

Considering the mastery of Alex Palou, second isn’t a bad accomplishment at all. 

Sure, it stinks to know that in some seasons, that second-place point total might win a title, but that’s just the way it goes.

So how should INDYCAR organizations evaluate their seasons? 

Here are some thoughts with five races remaining. We’ll go in order of owner points.

Chip Ganassi Racing

Scott Dixon is trying to extend his streak of winning at least one race a year for the past 22 seasons.

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Beyond Palou, the main goal for this organization should be to get Scott Dixon (12th in the standings) a win to extend his streak to 22 years with at least one win each year. For Kyffin Simpson (14th), he’s just 33 points out of the top 10. That’s doable.

Andretti Global

Kyle Kirkwood has proven he can challenge Palou for the title but it will have to wait until next year.

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Kyle Kirkwood, as he holds serve in second, shows he’s poised to challenge Palou again next season. Marcus Ericsson (ninth) and Will Power (11th), much like Dixon, would probably feel OK finishing in the top 10 in points, but a win would probably mean more.

Team Penske

Finishing the year with a win would wrap up a solid season for Malukas.

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David Malukas (third) is just eight points behind Kirkwood for second and has a legitimate shot to finish as the series runner-up. For him, while he seeks his first career victory, running up front consistently remains pivotal in his young career. Josef Newgarden (seventh) is just 20 points outside the top five and Scott McLaughlin (eighth) is 34 points outside of fifth. So being top five in points and getting a win along the way would be a solid way to end the season.

Arrow McLaren

Christian Lundgaard should feel generally good about his 2026.

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Christian Lundgaard (fourth) is 25 points behind Kirkwood for second and Pato O’Ward (fifth) is 45 points out of second. They have both won this year, so second in the standings with a win (Lundgaard has two) for the season would probably be satisfactory. Nolan Siegel (19th) probably can’t get to 15th in points (he’s 54 points out of 15th) so his goal should be to run well enough that he can land a ride for 2027.

Meyer Shank Racing

Can Indy 500 winner Felix Rosenqvist finish the year in the top five?

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This organization won the Indianapolis 500 so its season has been made. But if Indy 500 winner Felix Rosenqvist (sixth) can finish in the top five (he’s 17 points out), that would be cool. Marcus Armstrong has fallen to 15th, thanks to recent engine issues, so to get back into the top 10 in points (he’s 39 points out) would be nice. A win would be even sweeter.

Juncos Hollinger Racing

Rinus VeeKay finishing in the top 10 would be a big deal for his team.

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Rinus VeeKay (10th) has five drivers within 39 points of him for that distinctive top-10 spot. To finish in the top 10 would be a big deal for this organization, so just staying there would be a major accomplishment. Sting Ray Robb (25th) is 26 points out of the top 22 (in driver and entrant points), which is where the Leaders Circle bonus money cut happens and is worth more than $1 million to the team. That’s the obvious goal.

RLL Racing

Graham Rahal would probably take a win if he had to choose between that and finishing in the top 10.

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At 13th in the standings, Graham Rahal has a shot at the top 10 as he’s currently just 33 points out. But something tells me he’d take a win over a top-10 finish in the standings. Louis Foster (18th) is 32 points out of the top 15 and Mick Schumacher (24th) is 11 points out of the top 22. Those would be good goals, but just overall improvement is key for both those drivers.

ECR

Alexander Rossi is looking to build more in 2027.

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Alexander Rossi (16th) is 22 points out of 15th but at this stage in his career, he would just like to see the team improve and land on more things to build on for 2027. Christian Rasmussen (22nd) needs to stay in the top 22, keeping Caio Collet (10 points out) and Schumacher at bay.

A.J. Foyt Racing

A win could be around the corner for Santino Ferrucci.

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Santino Ferrucci (17th) and Caio Collet (23rd) would both want more consistency. For Ferrucci, with a doubleheader at The Milwaukee Mile, a win isn’t totally out of the question.

Dale Coyne Racing

Running well the rest of 2026 would go a long way in helping secure Dennis Hauger’s future.

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Dennis Hauger (20th) and Romain Grosjean (21st) need to stay in the top 22 in the standings. Hauger isn’t signed yet for 2027 and needs every good run he can get. Grosjean, the former Formula 1 driver, isn’t signed but seems to have a little more job security that it isn’t as dependent on his results over the final five races. 

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It wasn’t long ago that the Georgia Bulldogs ruled the college football world. 

Back-to-back national titles in 2021 and 2022 and an undefeated regular season in 2023 made head coach Kirby Smart’s squad seem invincible. 

However, after getting upset by Alabama in the 2023 SEC Championship Game, Georgia was left out of the College Football Playoff that season and got bounced in the CFP quarterfinals in both 2024 and 2025. 

Is 2026 the year Georgia climbs back to the top of the mountain? 

Let’s leave the national title discussion to the side for now, and focus instead on the Dawgs’ odds to win the SEC.

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Even in down seasons in 2024 and 2025, Georgia won the SEC title game in both years. The Bulldogs have been a fixture in this game, playing in it in eight of the last nine seasons, only missing out during the 2020 shortened season. 

This year’s squad returns quarterback Gunner Stockton, as well as 16 defenders that played 150 or more snaps in 2025. With a ton of returning talent, the Bulldogs also face a favorable schedule, avoiding what are expected to be strong teams like Texas, Texas A&M, LSU and Tennessee. 

Georgia also gets to host Oklahoma. 

Kirby Smart & Co. have made a habit out of playing the SEC title game. (Getty Images)

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There are two tough road games against Alabama and Ole Miss, but Georgia is projected to be the favorite in those matchups, as well as a significant favorite in every other game it plays this fall. 

If the Dawgs can manage to split the games against Alabama and Ole Miss, a one-loss regular season is very much on the table, and they will likely be back where they usually are in early December, which is playing in the conference title game.

At +260 odds, Georgia is a good bet to once again win the SEC behind a loaded roster and a schedule that makes doing so very possible. 

Hill’s Pick: Georgia to Win SEC Championship (+260)

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