Playing in perhaps baseball’s toughest division, the Tampa Bay Rays were the class of the field this season.

The thrifty Rays clinched their fifth AL East title with a 6-1 victory over the New York Yankees in the second game of a day-night doubleheader Tuesday as Drew Rasmussen allowed one hit in 6 2/3 innings and Yandy Diaz hit a pair of two-run singles.

Tampa Bay took the AL East for the first time since 2021 and surpassed that team by three days with the earliest division clincher in team history. The club also won division crowns in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season along with 2010 and 2008, when it reached the World Series and had the franchise’s first winning season.

“It means a lot,” Díaz said through a translator. “It’s a tough division. It’s a competitive division almost every single year. With this group we knew that from the beginning, but we still believed in ourselves every single way. So here we are in Yankee Stadium celebrating and we feel really happy that we got the job done.”

Tampa Bay (96-61) opened a six-game lead over the second-place Yankees (90-67) with five to play and will be the No. 1 seed with home-field advantage in the American League playoffs. The Rays are two games behind the Milwaukee Brewers for the best record in the majors and home-field advantage throughout the postseason.

The Rays have led the division since June 27 and spent 128 days in first place ahead of the Yankees, who only had Aaron Judge for 66 games due to a fractured right rib and a sore right calf that likely will keep the slugger out of next week’s best-of-three Wild Card Series at home.

Tampa Bay initially moved into first place following an 8-5 win over the Chicago White Sox on April 14 but lost the lead despite winning 13 of 18. The Rays regained the lead following a 4-1 win at Boston on May 10 and stayed there until June 13 when they lost seven of 13.

“We played really good baseball up to this point,” said Rasmussen, who underwent elbow surgery in 2023. “We got off to a little bit of a slow start in April but to play as we have since the beginning of May, this group’s different. We have a lot of fun together. We love being together and we’re trying to spend as much time as we can possibly together.”

The Rays won their latest division crown after returning to Tropicana Field and going 55-26 at home this season. Last year, Tampa Bay finished 77-85 overall and played home games at Steinbrenner Field, the spring training home of the Yankees, because the domed roof at the Trop was ripped off during Hurricane Milton in October 2024.

The Rays secured this AL East title after getting approval on a financing plan that will allow them to build a new stadium in Tampa, Florida, that is expected to open in 2029.

“Everything the franchise has been through, to have the Tampa Bay on the chest tonight, the staff, the players for Tampa Bay, all of it, just, it’s really special,” president of baseball operations Erik Neander said.

After closer Bryan Baker retired Yankees rookie George Lombard Jr. for the final out, the Rays shook hands on the field and exchanged hugs near the dugout to start their celebration.

As many Yankees fans left the stadium, Rays fans moved closer to the visitors’ dugout and began cheering for the newly minted division champs. Once the party moved inside, the Rays sprayed bubbly and beer on each other while jumping up and down and dancing to loud music in their clubhouse.

“I’m very happy because this is a special group,” third baseman and AL MVP candidate Junior Caminero said. “When I (went) to spring training (the) first day, I saw this group and (thought), we’ve got a playoff team this year, and we did it.”

Rasmussen held the Yankees hitless until Heliot Ramos started the seventh inning with a double to left field. The right-hander exited after walking Jazz Chisholm Jr., but Kevin Kelly retired Austin Wells after allowing Lombard’s run-scoring single.

After finishing with three hits during a 2-0 loss in the opener, the Rays all but locked up the division title with a three-run seventh in the nightcap. Taylor Walls had a bunt single and Díaz lined a single to center field for a 4-0 lead. Díaz added another two-run single in the ninth for his AL-leading 175th hit.

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Mississippi moved into the top five with its win over LSU, the Tigers stayed in the top 10, and Florida and Mississippi State cracked the rankings to give the Southeastern Conference 10 teams in The Associated Press Top 25 college football poll released Sunday.

The Rebels, who held off Lane Kiffin and LSU 32-24 on Saturday night, jumped over the Tigers and three other teams to land at No. 4 for their first top-five ranking since they were No. 3 in the final poll last season. LSU slipped three spots to No. 10.

Texas was No. 1 for the second straight week and followed by Georgia, Notre Dame, Ole Miss and Indiana. Miami, Ohio State, Alabama, BYU and LSU completed the top 10.

The Longhorns followed up their win over Ohio State with a solid 30-6 victory over UTSA and topped the ballots of 58 of the 69 media members on the Top 25 voting panel. Indiana got four first-place votes, Georgia and Ole Miss three apiece and Miami one.

Louisville was the biggest gainer, rising seven spots to No. 16 after its 41-31 victory over SMU, which dropped six rungs to No. 22. Texas A&M took the biggest fall, going from No. 9 to No. 23 after its 31-21 home loss to unranked Kentucky.

This week’s Top 25 marked the seventh time in the poll’s history the SEC has had at least 10 teams ranked in a regular-season poll. The SEC had a record 11 ranked teams in back-to-back polls last September.

In And Out

No. 21 Florida made its season debut in the AP top 25 after a 44-39 win over Auburn. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)

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No. 21 Florida made its season debut in the rankings following a 44-39 road win over Auburn. The Gators are 3-0 for the first time since 2019 under first-year coach Jon Sumrall and in the Top 25 for the first time since Sept. 2, 2025.

No. 24 Mississippi State is in the Top 25 for the first time since 2022, when its coach was Mike Leach. That team was No. 20 in the final poll. Jeff Lebby’s Bulldogs, led by rising star quarterback Kamario Taylor, has won back-to-back road games for the first time since 2014, erasing a 16-point deficit to beat South Carolina 41-34.

Oklahoma struggled offensively for a second straight game in its 14-6 win over New Mexico and went from No. 24 to out of the Top 25. Virginia, which had been No. 25 two straight weeks, was knocked out after losing 38-27 to West Virginia.

Poll Points

— No. 7 Ohio State has been ranked in 100 straight Top 25s, third among active streaks behind Alabama’s 299 and Georgia’s 152. The Buckeyes have their lowest ranking since Dec. 1, 2024.

— No. 9 BYU hadn’t been ranked in the top 10 so early in a season since 2009.

— No. 24 Mississippi State has its highest September ranking since it was No. 23 on Sept. 23, 2018. That doesn’t include a No. 16 ranking on Sept. 27, 2020, when the Big Ten was not yet playing because of the pandemic.

Conference Call

The Bulldogs handled Arkansas 45-17 in its SEC opener. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

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SEC (10 ranked teams): No. 1 Texas, No. 2 Georgia, No. 4 Mississippi, No. 8 Alabama, No. 10 LSU, No. 14 Tennessee, No. 19 Missouri, No. 21 Florida, No. 23 Texas A&M, No. 24 Mississippi State.

Big Ten (7): No. 5 Indiana, No. 7 Ohio State, No. 12 USC, No. 13 Penn State, No. 17 Iowa, No. 18 Michigan, No. 20 Oregon.

Big 12 (4): No. 9 BYU, No. 11 Texas Tech, No. 15 Utah, No. 25 Houston.

ACC (3): No. 6 Miami, No. 16 Louisville, No. 22 SMU.

Independent (1): No. 3 Notre Dame.

Ranked vs. Ranked

No. 1 Texas at No. 14 Tennessee: First meeting since the 1969 Cotton Bowl.

No. 4 Mississippi at No. 21 Florida: Kewan Lacy ran for 224 yards and three touchdowns in Rebels’ come-from-behind win last year. Will Lacy be health for this one?

No. 17 Iowa at No. 18 Michigan: Iowa’s 111 points through three games are its most since 2003.

No. 19 Missouri at No. 24 Mississippi State: Bulldogs go for their first 2-0 SEC start since 2014.

No. 20 Oregon at No. 12 Southern California: Ducks playing for a fifth straight win in the series.

No. 23 Texas A&M at No. 10 LSU: Aggies look to win two straight years at Death Valley.

Full AP Top 25: 

25. Houston
24. Mississippi State
23. Texas A&M
22. SMU
21. Florida
20. Oregon
19. Missouri
18. Michigan
17. Iowa
16. Louisville
15. Utah
14. Tennessee
13. Penn State
12. USC
11. Texas Tech
10. LSU
9. BYU
8. Alabama
7. Ohio State
6. Miami (Fla.)
5. Indiana
4. Ole Miss
3. Notre Dame
2. Georgia
1. Texas

Also receiving votes: Washington 107, Kentucky 98, West Virginia 93, Oklahoma 91, Oklahoma State 50, Boise State 48, Virginia Tech 46, Western Michigan 27, Duke 20, Tulsa 18, Arizona 12, Pittsburgh 10, UCLA 10, James Madison 7, North Dakota State 6, Kansas State 3, Nebraska 2

Reporting by the Associated Press.

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NFL Week 2 Schedule

• Panthers vs. Falcons, 1 p.m. ET on FOX
• Vikings vs. Bears, 1 p.m. ET on FOX
• Bengals vs. Texans, 1 p.m. ET on CBS
• Steelers vs. Patriots, 1 p.m. ET on CBS
• Packers vs. Jets, 1 p.m. ET on FOX
• Eagles vs. Titans, 1 p.m. ET on FOX
• Saints vs. Ravens, 1 p.m. ET on CBS
• Browns vs. Buccaneers, 1 p.m. ET on CBS
• Jaguars vs. Broncos, 4:05 p.m. ET on CBS
• Raiders vs. Chargers, 4:05 p.m. ET on CBS
• Seahawks vs. Cardinals, 4:25 p.m. ET on FOX
• Commanders vs. Cowboys, 4:25 p.m. ET on FOX
• Dolphins vs. 49ers, 4:25 p.m. ET on FOX

How to Watch Commanders vs. Cowboys

• Date: Sunday, September 20, 2026 at 4:25 p.m. ET
• Where: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
• TV: FOX
• Stream: Watch 3 days free on FOX One

How to Watch Seahawks vs. Cardinals

• When: Sunday, September 20, 2026 at 4:25 p.m. ET
• Where: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ
• TV: FOX
• Stream: Watch 3 days free on FOX One

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Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams exited Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings in the middle of the fourth quarter after suffering a hamstring injury. He was ruled out very late in the Bears’ loss with just 6 seconds left in the game. 

Unable to put pressure on his leg, Williams had to be helped off the field by the team’s medical staff. He was then carted to the Bears locker room with a towel over his head.

FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer reported that Williams was seen walking around in the locker room, under his own power, after the Bears’ loss to the Vikings.

Glazer added that Williams is scheduled to get an MRI Monday to determine the severity of the injury.

On first and goal at the Vikings’ 6-yard line, Williams scrambled to his left on a play-action pass play. He was tripped up by Vikings linebacker Blake Cashman before rolling on the ground in clear pain.

After the game, Bears head coach Ben Johnson told reporters that Williams is “in good spirits.” He also said they won’t know how serious the injury is until Monday.

Backup quarterback Tyson Bagent took over for Williams and couldn’t lead Chicago into the end zone. The Vikings then blocked kicker Cairo Santos’ 23-yard field goal attempt.

Williams left the game with the Vikings leading 6-3 in what was a defensive battle in the NFC North.

Williams and the Bears offense were the main story from Week 1 in the NFL, scoring 59 points in a win over the Carolina Panthers. Williams was 21-of-29 passing with 269 yards and two touchdowns against Carolina, adding 10 carries for 65 yards and two more touchdowns.

He did not replicate that success against the Vikings at a rainy Soldier Field on Sunday. Williams left the game 15-of-26 for 138 yards and an interception, although he did have five carries for 42 yards.

This story is developing and will be updated.

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The Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings combined to score 98 points in Week 1. However, when the two got together for a rain-soaked game at Soldier Field, they could only manage a combined 12 points.

Defense ruled the day in this NFC North division tilt, with the Minnesota Vikings earning a 9-3 victory to improve to 2-0. The Bears dropped to 1-1 but will have bigger worries in the form of their starting quarterback’s hamstring.

Here are my takeaways:

1.

After putting himself in the MVP conversation with an impressive performance against the Carolina Panthers, Williams struggled mightily against the Vikings, ending the game on the sideline with a right hamstring injury suffered while trying to scramble for a touchdown. Williams, who was taken to the locker room on a cart, was replaced by Tyson Bagent.

The USC product failed to consistently handle Minnesota’s pressure, finishing 15-of-26 (57.7%) for 138 yards, with no touchdowns and an interception. Williams was sacked three and finished with 42 rushing yards, posting a 56.2 passer rating.

Specifically, Williams struggled against Minnesota’s pressure. Per Next Gen Stats, the Vikings blitzed 81.8% of the time, and Williams finished 12-of-21 for 124 yards, with no touchdowns and an interception, posting a 54.5 passer rating when blitzed.

Penalties were also an issue for Williams and the Bears. A week after leading the NFL with 12 penalties, the Bears finished with eight accepted penalties for 58 yards, including four on just one offensive drive for the Bears.

The Vikings forced four Chicago punts, holding the Bears to 5-of-14 on third down.

While Williams is more than capable of making the “wow” plays, he still has room to grow in consistently leading the offense and playing a clean game. And with the injury, Chicago will have to wait and see how long the team’s superstar quarterback will be out.

2.

A lot had been made throughout the league of Chicago’s innovative head coach chasing the league’s scoring title, held by the 2013 Denver Broncos. But on this day, the Bears couldn’t muster a touchdown against Minnesota’s blitz-heavy defense.

Specifically, the Vikings did a nice job of slowing down Chicago’s potent running game, holding D’Andre Swift to just 38 rushing yards on 12 carries for a 3.2 per-carry average. Swift totaled 124 yards and three touchdowns in Week 1, earning the NFC Offensive Player of the Week award.

How bad was it for Swift? The Bears had first-and-goal from the 1-yard line on the opening drive of the second half with a chance to take the lead, but defensive tackle Jalen Redmonnd forced Swift to fumble at the goal line and Minnesota cornerback Isaiah Rodgers recovered to save the touchdown.

Rodgers also blocked a 23-yard Cairo Santos field goal in the fourth quarter that would have tied the game.
The Bears had four rushes of at least 25 yards in Week 1. The rest of the league combined for five. Chicago’s longest run against Minnesota was 17 yards.

Johnson’s quest for the scoring title is admirable, but Chicago’s focus should be on winning football games, no matter what the score.

3.

Chicago’s defense played much better against Minnesota backup quarterback Carson Wentz, who did a nice job of managing the game for the Vikings. Wentz understood the assignment, leaning into a dominant defense by the Vikings in inclement weather.

Carson Wentz did everything he needed to as the Vikings improved to 2-0. (Getty Images) –>

Wentz finished with 140 passing yards, but more importantly, he didn’t turn the ball over. The Vikings leaned on running back Aaron Jones, who finished with 105 rushing yards.

Wentz did a nice job of managing the offense, but a healthy Murray offers more explosive playmaking ability and should return to the starting role when healthy.

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After two years away from the game, Los Angeles Rams All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald will make his return on Monday night.

During “FOX NFL Sunday,” insider Jay Glazer revealed the Rams’ game plan for Aaron Donald against the New York Giants. Donald is not only expected to play, but he will get the start and operate on a rotation.

“I was texting with him last night, and he’s going to start in this game tomorrow night,” Glazer said. “He’s going to play in a rotation. The last phase of him officially being back is just getting that first game under his belt.”

Glazer also said that Donald told him that he’s planning to go out on the field, dominate and have fun.

More eyes will be on Donald than previously expected. Reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett was placed on the injured reserve after Los Angeles’ season-opening defeat to the 49ers. Garrett’s knee did not respond well to his first game action of the season.

It doesn’t sound like that injury will increase Donald’s workload, though. The Rams still want to ease him back after two years off.

Los Angeles will need him on defense, though. The 49ers dominated the Rams in the season opener en route to a 27-7 victory in Melbourne, Australia. 

Myles Garrett (center) is going to miss at least the Rams’ next four games. (Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images/Getty Images) (Set Number: X164949)

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The next test for the Rams is a home matchup against the Giants, who looked extremely impressive in Week 1 by beating the Cowboys. Quarterback Jaxson Dart looked great, while running back Cam Skattebo powered an impressive Giants ground game.

Donald hasn’t played a snap since the 2024 NFC Wild Card loss to the Detroit Lions. Now returning to action, the 10-time Pro Bowler and 8-time First-Team All-Pro still remains one of the most decorated and dominant defensive linemen in NFL history.

Throughout his 10-year career, Donald did nothing short of dominate. He was able to record 542 tackles, 111 sacks and 24 forced fumbles along with capping off a legendary run by helping the Rams win Super Bowl LVI.

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Shohei Ohtani could make his return for the Los Angeles Dodgers sooner rather than later.

Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts provided an encouraging update on Ohtani, revealing that he could return as early as Wednesday and is expected to play every game down the stretch once activated.

Roberts also believes it’s important for Ohtani to get as many at-bats as possible once he returns to the field.

Through 130 games, Ohtani is batting .277 with 30 home runs, 80 RBIs, and a .902 OPS. While his offensive numbers rank among the league’s elite, Ohtani won’t return to the mound this season or during the playoffs as he focuses exclusively on hitting.

Regardless of his status on the mound, the plan remains to maximize Ohtani’s impact at the plate as much as possible. The Dodgers continue to hold firm control of the National League West with a 95-60 record and a nine-game lead in first place. 

If Ohtani can return on Wednesday against the San Diego Padres, it will mark his first game back since Sept. 7. For a Dodgers team eyeing a historic three-peat, inserting Ohtani’s bat back into the lineup provides a massive boost heading into the postseason.

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Early in the first quarter of the Packers’ overtime win over the Jets, Green Bay wide receiver Jayden Reed suffered a head injury following a helmet-to-helmet hit while attempting to catch a swing pass from quarterback Jordan Love.

Reed logged a four-yard rush on the first play of the game. On the following pass attempt, he suffered a heavy hit and remained down. The medical personnel on the field placed Reed on a backboard and carted him off the field on a stretcher while teammates surrounded him.

Reed was ruled out for the rest of the game.

After the game, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur told reporters that Reed has feeling in all of his extremities, but he was also going to stay overnight in a nearby hospital for observation.

Reed posted on X after the game with a positive message.

Reed was selected in the second round of the 2023 draft out of Michigan State and has put together a strong first three seasons in the league. He signed a three-year, $50.25 million extension earlier this offseason and remains a major piece of the Packers offense.

Reed had three catches on seven targets for just 20 yards last week against the Vikings. He only played seven games last season due to injuries, collecting just 19 catches for 207 yards and one touchdown.

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As the offense stalled with quarterback Cooper Rush under center against the Carolina Panthers, the Atlanta Falcons finally gave fans what they wanted. 

Late in the third quarter, Atlanta brought in undrafted Minnesota State Moorhead rookie quarterback Jack Strand for his first taste of NFL regular-season action. It didn’t start well.

Strand’s debut couldn’t have started any worse, but it was certainly unforgettable. On his first pass attempt, he was picked off by Panthers linebacker Devin Lloyd for a quick pick-six.

With a pick-six on his first pass attempt, Strand joins elite company by becoming just the fourth quarterback since at least 1991 to throw an interception returned for a touchdown on his first professional pass.

The other three quarterbacks? Jameis Winston (2015), Sam Darnold (2018) and Brett Favre (1991). 

The silver lining? Both Favre and Darnold went on to win Super Bowls, while Winston has enjoyed a solid NFL career. So, the good news for Strand is that his career is not necessarily doomed.

Strand came in late in the second half after Rush failed to get the offense moving against the Panthers defense. He completed 8-of-15 passes for 59 yards and averaged just 3.9 yards per attempt, while throwing a historic pick-six.

Strand’s stint under center will likely be short-lived. While Tua Tagovailoa is sidelined by an oblique injury, 2024 No. 9 overall pick Michael Penix Jr. should be ready to go for Thursday night’s matchup against Green Bay.

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The Chicago Bears started Week 1 hot, scoring 59 points in their win over the Carolina Panthers. But what went wrong in their 9-3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday?

Chicago fell to NFC North foe Minnesota in a defensive standoff, struggling to score through the rainy conditions as quarterback Caleb Williams also went down with a hamstring injury. The Bears went scoreless over the final three quarters, putting up just 297 yards of total offense. 

In a battle of respective masterminds, Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores got the best of Bears head coach Ben Johnson. As a result, Johnson couldn’t do anything but tip his cap to Flores following Sunday’s game. 

“Early on, you could feel what he wanted to do. That’s what makes going against him so challenging,” Johnson said of Flores after the loss. “We gained momentum out of halftime and drove all the way down, but then gave it up with points in the bag. Facing a good defense like that, we have to capitalize on every single opportunity.”

So, just how drastically bad was the Bears’ offensive showing on Sunday? Well, compared to Week 1, it was one of the largest offensive scoring outputs for a team in back-to-back games in NFL history. 

Chicago’s 56-point difference is the third-largest difference in points scored in a team’s first two games of a season in NFL History, per FOX Sports Research. The largest difference in points in a team’s first two games of a season (in either direction) was 62 points by the 1973 Falcons (62-7 win then 31-0 loss).

Before today, the largest difference in points for the Bears in their first two games of a season (in either direction) was 34 points in 1940 (41-10 win then 21-7 loss).

Sunday also marked the second-fewest points scored by a team with Johnson as offensive coordinator or head coach. The Detroit Lions were shutout by the New England Patriots when Johnson was their offensive coordinator in 2022.

There were some other notable tidbits to emerge from the Bears’ loss. Sunday was the Vikings’ seventh straight road win at Soldier Field, tied for the second-longest road win streak at Soldier Field in NFL history. The Vikings are also the first team in NFL history to win four straight games (regular season and playoffs) with four different starting quarterbacks (Max Brosmer, J.J. McCarthy, Kyler Murray, Carson Wentz).

The Bears now turn to another home game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 3. 

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