Bill Belichick Scores First Collegiate Win of His Career Since Becoming UNC Football's Head CoachNew Foto - Bill Belichick Scores First Collegiate Win of His Career Since Becoming UNC Football's Head Coach

Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated via Getty; David Jensen/Getty Bill Belichick won his first game as head coach of UNC-Chapel Hill Football on Saturday, Sept. 6, defeating UNC-Charlotte The game marked Bill Belichick's first win at the collegiate level after joining the school as its head football coach in December 2024 The team's first game of the season, against TCU, ended in a blowout loss Bill Belichickhas led the Tar Heels to their first victory of the season. On Saturday, Sept. 6, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill took on the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in their first away game of the season at Jerry Richardson Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. The team defeated the 49ers, 20-3, in front of a record-setting crowd. This marks UNC's second win against the Charlotte-based school, after defeating the 49ers in 2024 with a score of 38-20. It also marks Belichick's first win at the collegiate level after joining the school as its head football coach in December 2024. The Tar Heels got off to a strong start, putting points on the board just 59 seconds into the first quarter, when wide receiver Chris Culliver scored a 51-yard touchdown on a three-play drive. The team later scored a field goal, giving them a 10-0 lead over the 49ers as the first quarter ended. David Jensen/Getty In the second quarter, the 49ers scored a field goal, and the Tar Heels scored a touchdown, plus an extra point kick, pushing the score to 17-3 as the game headed into halftime. Both teams failed to score in the third quarter. Having entered the final period maintaining the 17-3 lead, the game concluded with the Tar Heels securing a 20-3 victory. "It's always good to win. It's hard to win," Belichick said after the game, perChapelboro. "We saw that last week. You've gotta do a lot of things right, and you've gotta do them better than your opponent. Tonight, we were fortunate to do that." Belichick's girlfriend, 24-year-oldJordon Hudson, did not appear to be in attendance to cheer her boyfriend, 73, and the Tar Heels to victory on Saturday. This season got off to a rocky start on Monday, Sept. 1, as UNC took on TCU at Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C.Though the stadium was packed with star-studded attendees, includingMichael Jordan, Chase Rice, Roy Williams, Randy Moss and Hudson, the game ended in a blowout loss for Carolina as the TCU Horned Frogs won by 34 points. Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated via Getty "It was a great atmosphere here for the game tonight. The fans had tremendous energy, we played competitively, but then just couldn't sustain it," Belichick told reporters after the game. "So obviously, we have a lot of work to do. You know, need to do a better job all the way around — coaching, playing, all three phases of the game just wasn't up to what it needs to be. And I know we're a lot better than that, so we'll need to work on those things and show it on Saturday and turnaround. But give TCU credit, they came in, did a good job, and they were clearly the better team tonight. They deserved to win, and they did it decisively." Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Belichick came to UNC after leaving the New England Patriots and failing to find a new landing spot in the NFL. He has said that his father, formerly a coach for the U.S. Naval Academy's football team, was his inspiration for taking a collegiate coaching job. "I enjoy it. I've always wanted to be in college football," Belichicktold theBoston Globelast month. "I grew up in college football. This is a great university, it's a great opportunity here. The kids are great, they work hard, they want to be good, and they try. Working with a lot of people I like to work with, and I enjoy coming to work every day. That's an important quality of life." Andy Mead/ISI Photos/Getty He alsotook a thinly-veiled digat his former boss, Patriots owner Robert Kraft, as he talked about what he likes about college versus the NFL. "There's no owner, there's no owner's son, there's no cap, everything that goes with the marketing and everything else, which I'm all for that. But it's way less of what it was at that level," Belichick said. "Generic NFL teams, you have the owner, president, general manager, personnel director, college director, pro director, cap guy, some other consultant, then head coach. "I'd say when we had our best years in New England, we had fewer people and more of a direct vision. And as that expanded, it became harder to be successful," he added. Next up, UNC is set to take on the University of Richmond on Saturday, Sept. 13, at Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C. Read the original article onPeople

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September 07, 2025

Bill Belichick Scores First Collegiate Win of His Career Since Becoming UNC Football's Head Coach

Bill Belichick Scores First Collegiate Win of His Career Since Becoming UNC Football's Head Coach Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated via ...
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College football rankings prediction for top 10 after Week 2 resultsNew Foto - College football rankings prediction for top 10 after Week 2 results

One spot will open in the top 10 of this week'sUS LBM Coaches PollafterArizona State lost 24-20 at Mississippi State. Previously No. 10, the Sun Devils are going to slide way down the Top 25. The Bulldogs are almost universally seen as the worst team in the SEC; the result in Starkville is very bad news for the reputations of the Big 12 andArizona State. Bad news in Tempe is good news for South Carolina, which is one of a few teams in contention to join at No. 10 after remaining unbeaten against South Carolina State. One team that won't make the leap is Michigan,which lost 24-13 at Oklahoma. Otherwise, the top 10 should see some shuffling between Notre Dame andClemsonafter theTigers' second uninspiring performance in a row to open the season. Here's our projection for the top of this week's Coaches Poll: After beating Grambling 70-0, Ohio State takes on a fiesty Ohio team capable of hanging around for a few minutes longer than expected and frustrating theBuckeyes. The game in the near future that bears watching is the road trip to Washington to end September. Penn State 34, Florida International 0. That's a very Penn State score. It's going to take another two weeks until theNittany Lionsplay anyone of consequence: Villanova is next, but then comes Oregon in what's shaping up to be a hugely important Big Ten clash. LSU didn't dominate Louisiana Tech as expected, winning 23-7 thanks to a strong defense, and that win against Clemson to open the year isn't quite as shiny after Clemson struggled with Troy. That's not going to be enough for voters to move LSU off of No. 3, though, especially with no other team ready to move into the top three. Beating Austin Peay 28-6 with some noticeable issues on offense doesn't really inspire too much confidence going into Saturday's game against Tennessee. Two factors definitely played a role were the long weather delay that pushed kickoff back well over an hour and the sloppy and wet field that seemed to impact the Bulldogs' timing. We'll find out if they're for real in about a week, though. There was no post-Notre Dame hangover in Miami's 45-3 win against Bethune-Cookman. The Hurricanes led 28-3 at halftime behind another strong game from Carson Beck, who completed 22 of 24 throws for 267 yards and two touchdowns. Oregon's roster costs about $33 million more than Oklahoma State's, according to Mike Gundy's math, and you could see the difference every cent made inthe Ducks' 69-3 destruction of the Cowboys. Through two games, Oregon looks like one of the best teams in the country for the second year in a row. Arch Manning rebounded from the loss to Ohio State with five scores against San Jose State, four coming through the air in a five-minute span. That should be enough to keep him off the radar for a week. Right? Notre Dame didn't play on Saturday but could still climb one spot due to Clemson's continued early-season struggles. The Irish next host unbeaten Texas A&M in one of September's biggest non-conference matchups. Clemson's get-well game against Troy took a sharp turn early and seemed headed for disaster, with a pick-six in the second quarter putting the Trojans ahead 16-3 at the break before five scoring drives in the second half gave the Tigers the 27-16 win. Eyeball test: failed. There will be an incentive to move Clemson down from No. 8. The Gamecocks should get the one-spot boost and replace Arizona State. Michigan would've landed here or even higher had the Wolverines beaten Oklahoma. Ranked No. 24 a week ago, the Sooners will take a steep rise in the Top 25 but won't climb quite this far. Another option is Illinois, which was No. 11 last week and then beat Duke 45-19 with a plus-five edge in turnover margin. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:College football poll rankings prediction for top 10 after Week 2

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September 07, 2025

College football rankings prediction for top 10 after Week 2 results

College football rankings prediction for top 10 after Week 2 results One spot will open in the top 10 of this week'sUS LBM Coaches Polla...
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As Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen renew MVP rivalry, their real competition remains the ChiefsNew Foto - As Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen renew MVP rivalry, their real competition remains the Chiefs

One of the most anticipated head-to-head matchups of the 2024 NFL season played out in New Orleans this February. It wasn't the Super Bowl. This happened three days earlier inside a nearby theater. At the end of the NFL's annual awards show, Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen and his Baltimore Ravens counterpart, Lamar Jackson, waited for the announcement of the league's most valuable player. Jackson had won MVP honors in 2019 and 2023, and during the previous four months had recorded the best statistical season of his seven-year career. It earned him All-Pro honors at the position. Allen trailed in most statistical categories but ended the season on a tear. Yet that night in New Orleans, it was Allen, not Jackson, who was named the NFL's MVP — the first in 21 years to win the award despite not being a first-team All-Pro selection. "The voters chose who they wanted to pick," Jackson told journalists this week. "It is what it is." A case could be made that Buffalo's matchup against Baltimore on Sunday in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season was scheduled as far back as the date of that awards show, and the intrigue it sparked. This marks the first Week 1 meeting ever between quarterbacks who finished first and second in the MVP race the previous season, according to research by NBC Sports. But as the new season begins, the real question is not whether Jackson or Allen will hold an edge over the other, but whether either can at last lead their team past Kansas City. In the AFC, reaching the Super Bowl has meant encountering the Chiefs. They have made the conference's championship game for six consecutive seasons, a streak that includes denying Super Bowl appearances to the Bills twice (in the 2020 and 2024 seasons) and the Ravens once (in 2023). It's unusual for quarterbacks as accomplished as Jackson and Allen to have never played for a league title at this point in their career. Of the 28 quarterbacksin the Pro Football Hall of Fame, 22 played in either the Super Bowl or the NFL championship (in the pre-Super Bowl era) within their career's first seven seasons,according to Stathead. It speaks to the spell the Chiefs have held over the AFC under coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Since both Allen and Jackson entered the league together in 2018, Baltimore is 1-4 against Kansas City, including 0-1 in the playoffs, while allowing an average of 31.2 points. In the same span, the Ravens have held a .672 winning percentage against the rest of the NFL while allowing just 19.1 points. The Bills, meanwhile, are 4-1 against Kansas City in the regular season, but 0-4 in the playoffs, including 0-2 on Buffalo's home field. After the most recent loss in last season's AFC championship, a reporter referred to Buffalo as a "city of losers," a reference to the team's twisted big-game history that included four consecutive Super Bowl losses in the 1990s. Bills coach Sean McDermott said one of his top goals this season was "changing the narrative on Buffalo," hetold The Buffalo News. "It bothers me. It honestly pisses me off, because people don't know this town. They don't know how hard that is — to get to four straight Super Bowls. It'll never happen again." But will another Bills Super Bowl appearance happen again? Bettors believe so, establishing the Bills and Ravens as the top betting favorites to make it this season,according to DraftKings odds. Jackson's and Allen's credentials are like few others' in NFL history. Allen's 76 wins, 262 touchdowns and 30,595 yards are the most in history through the first seven seasons of a quarterback's career. He won MVP honors last season in part because he had just become the first at his position to finish a season with at least 25 touchdown passes, 10 rushing touchdowns and fewer than 10 interceptions. Jackson, meanwhile, was setting his own history last season, becoming the first quarterback with 40-plus touchdown passes and fewer than five interceptions — a stat line that reflected his development as a passer since entering the league as a devastating threat to take off and run. "He's as good as any passer that there's ever been," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. "And I think now the numbers are proving that." Allen and the Bills are 3-2 against Jackson and the Ravens. Last season, the teams traded victories, with the Ravens winning in a resounding rout early in the season only for the Bills to win a narrow divisional-round playoff victory. "You talk about Lamar, he's one of the best players to touch the grass, honestly," Allen said this week. "You can't give him more opportunities than he needs. You can't give him short fields." Tampa Bay at Atlanta:Only Kansas City and Buffalo have won more consecutive division titles than the Buccaneers' four straight. Michael Penix steps into his first full season as Atlanta's starting quarterback. Cincinnati at Cleveland:Edge rushers who ended trade requests with new contracts take the spotlight in the Browns' Myles Garrett and Bengals' Trey Hendrickson. Hendrickson led the NFL in sacks last season. Miami at Indianapolis:Dolphins wideout Tyreek Hill averages the most receiving yards in season-opening games in NFL history at 112 yards per game. He'll need a big game to keep coach Mike McDaniel off the hot seat. Las Vegas at New England:New coaches Pete Carroll and Mike Vrabel are pinning their hopes on young offensive playmakers. Can Patriots quarterback Drake Maye and Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty deliver from the very start? Arizona at New Orleans:Saints starting quarterback Spencer Rattler was 0-6 as a rookie, but his team has won six consecutive season openers. Arizona is trying to make the playoffs for just the second time in the last decade. Pittsburgh at New York Jets:Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, in possibly his final NFL season, faces his former team. In his last four season openers, Rodgers has combined for one touchdown pass and four interceptions. New York Giants at Washington:The Commanders, under breakout star quarterback Jayden Daniels, is trying to make the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1990-92. New York, which threw a league-low 15 touchdown passes last season, brings in new starter Russell Wilson. Carolina at Jacksonville:Watch how many snaps second overall draft pick Travis Hunter receives on both offense and defense, and whether Panthers quarterback and former No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young can begin this season like he finished the last — on a hot streak. Tennessee at Denver:Putting its faith in a first-year quarterback Bo Nix paid off for Denver last season. Will it be the same for the Titans and No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward? San Francisco at Seattle:Will 49ers back Christian McCaffrey be healthy enough to play? Against what is projected to be one of the league's best defenses, the 49ers' new $265 million man, Brock Purdy, will need help. Detroit at Green Bay:After losing both coordinators to new jobs last season, can the Lions maintain their bruising style? And how impactful will new Packers pass rusher Micah Parsons be in his debut since a trade from Dallas? Houston at Los Angeles Rams:If the Texans, who are breaking in four new starters on the offensive line, can protect quarterback C.J. Stroud, the Texans could be dangerous. Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is trying to stay untouched, too, after dealing with a back injury all summer. Minnesota at Chicago (Monday):Bears fans are on edge about how quarterback Caleb Williams will play in his second season, but his first under new coach Ben Johnson. The same could be said about how Vikings fans feel as J.J. McCarthy, their own quarterback from the 2024 draft class, takes over.

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September 07, 2025

As Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen renew MVP rivalry, their real competition remains the Chiefs

As Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen renew MVP rivalry, their real competition remains the Chiefs One of the most anticipated head-to-head matchu...
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Ohio survives sloppy game to knock off West VirginiaNew Foto - Ohio survives sloppy game to knock off West Virginia

After nearly pulling off a Power Four upset last week at Rutgers, Ohio pulled it off Saturday with a 17-10 win over West Virginia in Athens, Ohio. Ohio quarterback Parker Navarro threw for 247 yards and ran for 87 more to lead the Bobcats (1-1) to their first win against the Mountaineers (1-1) in the fifth all-time matchup. West Virginia struck first, scoring on a 32-yard rushing touchdown by Jahiem White at the 3:22 mark in the first quarter to take a 7-0 lead. Ohio responded on its next drive with a 37-yard field goal by kicker Brack Peacock with 1:07 left in the first to cut the lead to 7-3. Ohio running back Sieh Bangura scored the Bobcats' first touchdown of the game, capping off a 12-play, 71-yard, six-minute drive with a 1-yard rushing touchdown. Bangura finished the game with 20 rushing attempts for 66 yards and a touchdown. The Bobcats padded their lead with a 31-yard touchdown from Navarro to Chase Hendricks, who snagged eight catches for 121 yards, with 1:19 left on the clock in the second quarter. A relatively clean first half turned into a sloppier one after the break. After combining for 24 points in the first half, the two teams only combined for three points in the third and fourth quarters. After the Mountaineers ran for 393 yards last week, Ohio held West Virginia to just 72 yards on 28 carries. Coming off being named the MAC offensive player of the week, Navarro threw three interceptions in the second half. West Virginia was not able to capitalize with a score off any of the turnovers. West Virginia QB Nicco Marchiol was benched in the third quarter for former Texas A&M quarterback Jaylen Henderson. Henderson played two drives without completing a pass before Marchiol was brought back in the game. The larger concern for West Virginia is the injury to White. The standout running back finished with six carries for 40 yards and a touchdown before being carted off the field late in the second quarter. West Virginia wide receiver Jaden Bray also sustained an injury in the second half. He was the leading receiver for the Mountaineers, finishing with four catches for 69 yards. Ohio outgained West Virginia 429-250 and dominated the time of possession 40:15 to 19:45. --Field Level Media

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September 07, 2025

Ohio survives sloppy game to knock off West Virginia

Ohio survives sloppy game to knock off West Virginia After nearly pulling off a Power Four upset last week at Rutgers, Ohio pulled it off Sa...
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South Florida shocks No. 13 Florida for second straight win over ranked teamNew Foto - South Florida shocks No. 13 Florida for second straight win over ranked team

Nico Gramatica nailed a 20-yard field goal as time expired as South Florida rallied to stun No. 13 Florida 18-16 on Saturday in Gainesville, Fla. After beating then-No. 25 Boise State in Week 1, the Bulls (2-0) went 87 yards in eight plays in the final two minutes to set up Gramatica's third field goal. It was USF's second straight win over an AP ranked team and first on the road since beating Notre Dame in 2011. Gramatica missed a 58-yarder just short with 2:52 left that would have put the Bulls up. USF signal-caller Byrum Brown was 23 of 36 for 263 passing yards and a touchdown, while Florida's DJ Lagway was 23 of 33 for 222 yards with a TD and an interception. Florida kicker Trey Smack, who was 2 of 5 in last week's 55-0 win over Long Island, booted a 28-yarder for a 3-0 lead on the first drive. That score stood through the quarter, which ended with each team producing 86 total yards but with the Bulls in the red zone. Gramatica nailed a 38-yard kick on the second play of the second quarter to tie it. After having two touchdowns taken off the board by penalties, Florida sent Smack out again and he banged home a 36-yard field goal at 7:13 for a 6-3 lead. At 1:50, Smack made it 3-for-3 by connecting on a 41-yarder. However, the American Conference football team traveled 68 yards in eight plays, ending it with Gramatica's 25-yard kick on the half's final play for a 9-6 halftime deficit. The teams traded series in the second half with the early highlight being James Chenault's diving interception of Lagway over six minutes in. The visitors stunned the crowd at the Swamp when Brown lofted a pass that Keshaun Singleton caught between two Florida defenders and raced to paydirt for a 66-yard tally for their first lead at 13-9 with 2:03 left in the third. It got worse on the next Florida series when an errant punt snap sailed out of the end zone for a safety and a 15-9 advantage. Lagway responded with a four-yard quick slant to Eugene Wilson III for a 16-15 lead early in the fourth quarter. --Field Level Media

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September 07, 2025

South Florida shocks No. 13 Florida for second straight win over ranked team

South Florida shocks No. 13 Florida for second straight win over ranked team Nico Gramatica nailed a 20-yard field goal as time expired as S...
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Harper homers and NL East-leading Phillies beat Marlins 4-2New Foto - Harper homers and NL East-leading Phillies beat Marlins 4-2

MIAMI (AP) — Bryce Harper homered, Brandon Marsh doubled twice and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Miami Marlins 4-2 on Saturday. Jesús Luzardo struck out eight over six innings of two-run ball for the NL East-leading Phillies. Luzardo (13-6) allowed five hits and walked four. Phillies star slugger Kyle Schwarber went 0-for-3 and was hit twice. Schwarber remains at 49 homers since hewent deep four timesagainst Atlanta on Aug. 28. He hit a drive to the warning track in the ninth that was caught by centerfielder Jakob Marsee. After winning three of four at the New York Mets Aug. 28-31, the Marlins have lost five straight. Philadelphia catcher J.T. Realmuto threw out Agustín Ramírez and Maximo Acosta on unsuccessful stolen base attempts in the first and seventh. Harper gave the Phillies a quick lead with a two-run homer in the first. He drove a fastball from Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara over the wall in center for his 24th home run. Philadelphia padded the lead in the fourth on Harrison Bader's run-scoring single and Bryson Stott's sacrifice fly. Miami narrowed the deficit in the bottom half, when Eric Wagaman doubled and Javier Sanoja added an RBI infield single. David Robertson and Matt Strahm followed Luzardo with scoreless innings each before Jhoan Duran closed for his 27th save. Alcantara (8-12) gave up four runs and seven hits in six innings. The right-hander walked one and struck out four. Key moment After he issued walks to Wagaman and Sanoja, Luzardo ended his outing by retiring Troy Johnston on a flyout for the third out in the sixth. Key stat Harper has 33 RBIs over his last 50 games. Up next RHP Taijuan Walker (4-7, 3.92 ERA) will start the series finale for the Phillies on Sunday while the Marlins have not announced a starter. ___ AP MLB:https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

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September 07, 2025

Harper homers and NL East-leading Phillies beat Marlins 4-2

Harper homers and NL East-leading Phillies beat Marlins 4-2 MIAMI (AP) — Bryce Harper homered, Brandon Marsh doubled twice and the Philadelp...
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No. 8 Clemson rallies from 16 down to beat TroyNew Foto - No. 8 Clemson rallies from 16 down to beat Troy

Cade Klubnik threw two touchdown passes in the second half to rally No. 8 Clemson to a 27-16 victory over visiting Troy on Saturday in a game that was delayed for 90 minutes in the first half because of a lightning storm. Adam Randall carried 21 times for 112 yards and a touchdown as Clemson (1-1) overcame a 16-point deficit against the Sun Belt Conference squad, which was gunning for its first-ever upset of a top-10 team. Klubnik completed 18 of 24 passes for 196 yards and one interception. But after hearing boos in the first half, Klubnik fired both of his touchdown passes to Bryant Wesco Jr., who finished with seven receptions for 118 yards. Wesco's play was key as Clemson was without standout receiver Antonio Williams, who was sidelined by a hamstring injury. Ricardo Jones and Ronan Hanafin also keyed the rally, making interceptions in the third quarter that the Tigers turned into 10 points. Goose Crowder completed 19 of 31 passes for 223 yards and a touchdown for Troy (1-1), but his three interceptions were costly. Crowder got Troy off to a quick start on its opening possession, completing 4 of 4 passes, including a 44-yard touchdown strike to Tray Taylor to put the Trojans up 7-0. After Clemson went three-and-out on its ensuing possession, the game was called because of the approaching storm. When play resumed 90 minutes later, Troy continued to thrive. On the penultimate play of the first quarter, with Clemson threatening to score, Luke Hodge forced a Randall fumble and Justin Powe scooped the ball and ran 53 yards, setting up a 37-yard field goal by Scott Taylor Renfroe that put Troy up 10-0. Later in the quarter, Hodge made a big play again when he tipped a Klubnik pass and TJ Thompson caught the fluttering ball at the Clemson 4 and barreled into the end zone for a 16-0 lead. Clemson got a small measure of momentum late in the second quarter with a 27-yard field goal from Nolan Hauser. Then in the second half, the Tigers dominated, outgaining Troy in yardage 202-95. --Field Level Media

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September 06, 2025

No. 8 Clemson rallies from 16 down to beat Troy

No. 8 Clemson rallies from 16 down to beat Troy Cade Klubnik threw two touchdown passes in the second half to rally No. 8 Clemson to a 27-16...
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Reports: USTA asks U.S. Open broadcasters to censor crowd reactions to TrumpNew Foto - Reports: USTA asks U.S. Open broadcasters to censor crowd reactions to Trump

The United States Tennis Association asked U.S. Open broadcasters to censor any reaction or protest to President Donald Trump during his appearance at the men's singles final Sunday, according to reports. The USTA reportedly sent a memo to broadcasters, saying that Trump will be shown on tournament feeds during the opening anthem ceremony. Broadcasters were also asked in the memo to "refrain from showcasing any disruptions or reactions in response to the president's attendance in any capacity." The president planned to watch the match from a sponsor's suite, according to the memo. "We regularly ask our broadcasters to refrain from showcasing off-court disruptions," USTA spokesman Brendan McIntyre told The Athletic. ESPN, which declined official comment on Saturday, is reportedly planning to show and acknowledge Trump as it normally would during sporting events. Trump last appeared at the U.S. Open in 2015. The crowd booed the then-presidential candidate during a quarterfinal match between sisters Venus and Serena Williams. The men's singles final will feature Italy's Jannik Sinner taking on Spain's Carlos Alcaraz. The No. 1-ranked Sinner is looking to become the first men's player to defend the U.S. Open title since Roger Federer won five straight from 2004-08. Alcaraz, ranked No. 2, last won the tournament in 2022. --Field Level Media

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September 06, 2025

Reports: USTA asks U.S. Open broadcasters to censor crowd reactions to Trump

Reports: USTA asks U.S. Open broadcasters to censor crowd reactions to Trump The United States Tennis Association asked U.S. Open broadcaste...
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Hamlin captures second consecutive pole to open NASCAR playoffsNew Foto - Hamlin captures second consecutive pole to open NASCAR playoffs

MADISON, Ill. (AP) — Denny Hamlin remained perfect in qualifying during theNASCAR Cup Series playoffs, capturing the pole position Saturday at World Wide Technology Raceway. It's the 46th career pole and third this season for the Joe Gibbs Racing star, who also qualified first for last week'splayoff opener at Darlington Raceway. "We made some great adjustments from where we were in practice," said Hamlin, who turned a 139.190 mph lap in his No. 11 Toyota. "That's what they did so well last week for qualifying. Now we've got great track position and just got to maintain it, and we'll be in good shape." Kyle Larson will start second alongside Hamlin, earning his first top-10 qualifying effort on the 1.25-mile oval east of St. Louis. Chase Briscoe qualified third, followed by Ross Chastain, Ryan Blaney, William Byron, Tyler Reddick, Christopher Bell and Austin Cindric as playoff drivers took the top nine starting spots for Sunday's 300-mile race at the track known as Gateway. It was a notable departure from how the playoffs began at Darlington. Only four championship-eligible drivers finished in the top 10 of the Southern 500, a record low for a playoff opener. Among the disappointments was Larson, whose 19th at Darlington continued a five-race drought without a top-five finish. "I think our team needs it more than anything," the 2021 Cup champion said. "We haven't been able to celebrate a whole lot, so we will definitely celebrate a front row starting spot at Gateway. It's been a rough, inconsistent couple of months, so even just qualifying good feels really nice." Alex Bowman, who has finished no higher than 13th at Gateway, qualified 25th as the only playoff driver who will start outside the top 20. Bowman is tied with Josh Berry (who qualified 12th) for last in the points standings among the 16 playoff drivers. ___ AP auto racing:https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

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September 06, 2025

Hamlin captures second consecutive pole to open NASCAR playoffs

Hamlin captures second consecutive pole to open NASCAR playoffs MADISON, Ill. (AP) — Denny Hamlin remained perfect in qualifying during theN...
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2 members of Marquette men's lacrosse team killed in car crash in Milwaukee on FridayNew Foto - 2 members of Marquette men's lacrosse team killed in car crash in Milwaukee on Friday

Two members of the Marquette men's lacrosse team were killed in a car crash near campus on Friday, theschool announced Saturday. Other members of the team, who were in the car at the time of the incident, were hospitalized and treated for injuries. Though Marquette initially declined to identified the students, the school later confirmed that the two players who were killed are Noah Snyder and Scott Michaud, both sophomores. Snyder was an attacking player from Irving, New York, while Michaud was a goalie from Springboro, Ohio. "Please keep Noah and Scott's parents, siblings and families, and the Marquette Athletics and college communities in your prayers. Noah and Scott's lives were taken too soon and we share in the heartbreak of their teammates, coaches and those who knew them personally," university president Dr. Kimo Ah Yunwrote in a statement on social media. All athletic events were canceledout of respect for the two students, and a mass was held by the university on Saturday. Dear Marquette community,As we continue to mourn and grieve last night's loss of two Marquette University students, I am writing to share with you some additional information.The two students were Noah Snyder and Scott Michaud, both student-athletes on the Marquette men's…pic.twitter.com/iMHhldHizX — Marquette University (@MarquetteU)September 6, 2025 The crash took place in downtown Milwaukee, with police saying that a 41-year-old driver hit another vehicle with six occupants on Friday evening,via the Associated Press. Police confirmed that two of the passengers in the car, later identified as Michaud and Snyder, were pronounced dead at the scene. The other four occupants, three of whom were also on the lacrosse team, sustained injuries that weren't considered life-threatening. The 41-year-old driver has been taken into custody, with police saying that an investigation is ongoing. Per the university, Snyder and Michaud were both on the Big East All-Academic team during their first year at the school. Snyder was a student in the College of Business Administration, per the school, while Michaud was a biomedical sciences major. Snyder played in 13 games for Marquette last season, starting in the final three, and recorded nine goals and seven assists for the team.

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September 06, 2025

2 members of Marquette men's lacrosse team killed in car crash in Milwaukee on Friday

2 members of Marquette men's lacrosse team killed in car crash in Milwaukee on Friday Two members of the Marquette men's lacrosse te...
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Lile's tiebreaking homer, Lord's season-best 7 strikeouts lead Nationals past Cubs 2-1New Foto - Lile's tiebreaking homer, Lord's season-best 7 strikeouts lead Nationals past Cubs 2-1

CHICAGO (AP) — Daylen Lile hit a tiebreaking home run in the fourth inning and rookie Brad Lord struck out a season-best seven to help the Washington Nationals beat the Chicago Cubs 2-1 on Saturday. Lile's solo shot off Matthew Boyd (12-8) gave the Nationals the lead for good. Lord (5-8) struck out the side in the third and fourth and allowed two hits, an earned run and four walks in the first 5 2/3 innings as the Nationals won for the fourth time in five tries. Cole Henry, the fourth Washington reliever, worked the ninth and earned his second save. Chicago batters drew seven walks but weren't able to capitalize. The Cubs' lone run came in the second when Carson Kelly knocked in Pete Crow-Armstrong on a ground-out. Boyd worked the first seven innings and allowed seven hits and both runs while striking out three. The Nationals started the game with three straight hits, including Jorge Alfaro's RBI single. Crow-Armstrong needed help from the training staff after fouling a ball off his right leg during a sixth-inning at-bat, and did not return to the field due to what the club called a right knee contusion. Chicago manager Craig Counsell said before the game that All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker (calf) would not need a spell on the injured list. He missed a third straight game with the injury. Key moment Lile, who tripled twice a day earlier, barely cleared the right-field basket leading off the fourth. But that was all the offense Washington's pitchers would need in the game. Key stat Boyd had a pair of successful pickoffs, including getting Abrams in the fifth inning, for his 10th of the season, setting a club season record mark and moving past the record set in 1913 by Charlie Smith. The left-hander also caught Brady House in a second-inning rundown. Up next Washington sends LHP Andrew Alvarez (1-0. 0.00 ERA) to the mound for Sunday's series finale. The Cubs have not named a starter. ___ AP MLB:https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

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September 06, 2025

Lile's tiebreaking homer, Lord's season-best 7 strikeouts lead Nationals past Cubs 2-1

Lile's tiebreaking homer, Lord's season-best 7 strikeouts lead Nationals past Cubs 2-1 CHICAGO (AP) — Daylen Lile hit a tiebreaking ...
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No. 23 Indiana rushes for 313 yards in win over Kennesaw StateNew Foto - No. 23 Indiana rushes for 313 yards in win over Kennesaw State

Fernando Mendoza threw a career-high four touchdown passes, including three to Elijah Sarratt, as No. 23 Indiana dominated Kennesaw State 56-9, Saturday in Bloomington, Ind. Mendoza, a transfer from California, completed 18 of 25 passes for 245 yards without an interception for Indiana (2-0). With his performance, Mendoza cleared the way for his younger brother, Alberto Mendoza, to enter in the fourth quarter and throw his first collegiate touchdown pass. Lee Beebe Jr. carried 11 times for 90 yards and a touchdown, while Roman Hemby (nine carries, 64 yards) and Kaelon Black (10 carries, 57 yards) contributed to a balanced rushing attack for the Hoosiers. Indiana gained 313 yards on the ground, averaging 8.0 yards per attempt. It was the second straight week that Indiana rushed for at least 300 yards. Omar Cooper, Jr. made the most of his two touches, turning a short pass into a 40-yard reception which set up Indiana's first score of the game and ripping off a 75-yard touchdown run on an end-around in the second half. Sarratt finished with nine catches for 97 yards, while E.J. Williams Jr. and Charlie Becker made the other two scoring receptions for an efficient Indiana offense which cashed in with touchdowns on all seven of its trips to the red zone. Last week, in their 27-13 season opening win over Old Dominion, the Hoosiers scored just 20 points on seven red zone opportunities. Kennesaw State (0-2) was led by Amari Odom, who came off the bench to complete 10 of 16 passes for 176 yards and one interception. Odom replaced starter Dexter Williams II, a former Indiana quarterback, who played just two possessions, neither of which produced a first down. Daniel Kinney made all three of his field goal attempts, including one from 50 yards out, to account for all the scoring for the Conference USA team which is in its second year as an FBS program. Indiana's Louis Moore had an interception in the second half in what may be his final game this season because of an eligibility issue. Indiana's defense made 14 tackles for a loss, including 2.5 each for Kellan Wyatt and Aiden Fisher. --Field Level Media

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September 06, 2025

No. 23 Indiana rushes for 313 yards in win over Kennesaw State

No. 23 Indiana rushes for 313 yards in win over Kennesaw State Fernando Mendoza threw a career-high four touchdown passes, including three t...
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Bauers, Chourio hit 2-run HRs, Woodruff pitches 6 scoreless innings as Brewers beat Pirates 4-1New Foto - Bauers, Chourio hit 2-run HRs, Woodruff pitches 6 scoreless innings as Brewers beat Pirates 4-1

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Jake Bauers and Jackson Chourio hit two-run home runs, and Brandon Woodruff pitched six scoreless innings as the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-1 on Saturday night. Bauers connected with two outs in the fourth inning off Mitch Keller (6-14) to break a scoreless tie immediately after William Cotreras singled. It was the sixth home run of the season for Bauers, who had two hits. Chourio hit his 19th homer in the eighth off Evan Sisk to double the NL Central-leading Brewers' advantage. Woodruff (6-2) allowed just two hits while striking out eight and walking none. He had allowed five earned runs in each of his previous two starts. Aaron Ashby, the fourth Brewers' reliever, got the last four outs for his third save. The Brewers extended their lead in the division to 6 1/2 games over the Chicago Cubs with 19 games remaining. The Cubs lost to Washington 3-1 on Saturday. Keller gave up two runs and five hits in 6 1/3 innings, and lost for the fourth time in his last five starts. The Pirates avoided being shut out when Oneil Cruz hit an RBI groundout in the ninth inning. The Brewers' Sal Frelick went 2 for 4 to raise his batting average to .299. Jared Triolo and Bryan Reynolds each had two of the last-place Pirates' five hits as they lost consecutive games for the first time since Aug. 16-17. Key moment The Pirates put runners on first and second in the seventh inning while trailing 2-0 but Rob Zastryzny induced Nick Yorke to foul out to end the inning. Key stat Contreras is the fifth player in Brewers' history to catch 1,000 innings in back-to-back seasons. The others were Darrell Porter (1974-75), B.J. Surhoff (1990-91), Jason Kendall (2008-09), and Jonathan Lucroy (2013-14). Up next Rookie RHP Jacob Misiorowski (4-2, 4.50 ERA) will pitch for the Brewers on Sunday. The Pirates have not announced a starter. ___ AP MLB:https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

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September 06, 2025

Bauers, Chourio hit 2-run HRs, Woodruff pitches 6 scoreless innings as Brewers beat Pirates 4-1

Bauers, Chourio hit 2-run HRs, Woodruff pitches 6 scoreless innings as Brewers beat Pirates 4-1 PITTSBURGH (AP) — Jake Bauers and Jackson Ch...
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No. 11 Illinois takes over after halftime to beat mistake-prone Duke 45-19 for road winNew Foto - No. 11 Illinois takes over after halftime to beat mistake-prone Duke 45-19 for road win

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Luke Altmyer threw for 296 yards and three touchdowns and No. 11 Illinois capitalized on a series of mistakes by Duke to beat the Blue Devils 45-19 on Saturday for a road win against a power-conference opponent. Kaden Feagin, Hank Beatty and Ca'Lil Valentine ran for scores, while Beatty also had a huge receiving day with eight catches for 128 yards for the Fighting Illini (2-0). Illinois led by just one at halftime but asserted itself from there and outscored Duke 31-6 in what turned into a dominating finish. "It was really cool to kind of have some hurdles to climb over in the first half," Altmyer said, adding: "We know if we do the right things, we're a really good team." The key, though was Illinois' opportunism in pouncing on every Duke mistake when the game was close — and boy, there were plenty. Duke (1-1) committed five turnovers, notably a muffed punt deep in its own end to set up a short field on Illinois' first touchdown and Darian Mensah losing a red-zone fumble in the first half. The miscues also included a penalty for having two players in the game wearing a No. 8 jersey as Illinois punted on a three-and-out to open the second half. That led to a first down on a drive the Illini would ultimately take to the end zone, with Altmyer's 4-yard scoring throw to Justin Bowick for a 21-13 lead that ultimately proved to be merely the start of Illinois' surge. "Unfortunately in the second half, we were still the architects of our own demise," Duke coach Manny Diaz said, referring to the penalty as essentially a sixth turnover. Mensah threw for 334 yards and two touchdowns for Duke. Both went to Andrel Anthony, including a spectacular grab in the back of the end zone with Anthony getting his right toe down barely inbounds 8 seconds before halftime to make it 14-13. The takeaway Illinois: This is a quality win that could boost their AP Top 25 standing, coming against a nine-win team from last year. After being outgained 240-132 while allowing four sacks before halftime, Illinois rolled to 287 yards while allowing no sacks after the break. Duke: The Blue Devils officially have a problem through two games: a minus-6 turnover margin with no takeaways. Punch-out Illinois coach Bret Bielema said he showed his players a clip of roughly seven or eight plays from last year showing Blue Devils players having the ball punched out for turnovers, highlighting potential issues with ball security. Defensive back Matthew Bailey used that tip perfectly when the game was still in doubt. Trailing 21-13, Mensah found Sahmir Hagans for a short pass to the left, and Hagans cut inside a defender to get loose and cross midfield. But Bailey closed on Hagans and punched the ball loose as he made contact near the sideline, with teammate Kaleb Patterson making a scrambling crawl to pounce on the ball for the turnover. "It tells a lot being able to come out there and finish the job, especially away and how we did," Bailey said. Up next Illinois: The Illini host Western Michigan on Saturday. Duke: The Blue Devils visit Tulane on Saturday in a reunion for Mensah with his former program. ___ AP college football:https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-pollandhttps://apnews.com/hub/college-football

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September 06, 2025

No. 11 Illinois takes over after halftime to beat mistake-prone Duke 45-19 for road win

No. 11 Illinois takes over after halftime to beat mistake-prone Duke 45-19 for road win DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Luke Altmyer threw for 296 yards...
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Baylor storms back for 2OT win over No. 17 SMUNew Foto - Baylor storms back for 2OT win over No. 17 SMU

Baylor stormed back from 14 points down in the fourth quarter to defeat No. 17 SMU in Dallas, 48-45, in double overtime. After SMU (1-1) kicker Collin Rogers missed a 38-yard field goal in the second overtime, Baylor (1-1) extended its winning streak over the Mustangs to 13 games when Connor Hawkins hit a 27-yard field goal in the second overtime. Running back Bryson Washington scored a touchdown in the first overtime after Jaelyn Davis-Robinson put the Bears on the two-yard line after committing a pass interference penalty in the end zone. It was Washington's second touchdown of the day on 115 yards rushing. SMU responded with a 25-yard pass from Kevin Jennings to Romello Brinson on the first play of its first OT possession, but in the second overtime, the Mustangs failed to get onto the scoreboard. Sawyer Robertson had his second consecutive game with at least 400 passing yards. The former Mississippi State quarterback hit the 400-yard mark in regulation before ending the day with 440. Robertson had four touchdown passes in the victory, including two in the final 5:23 of the fourth quarter. The comeback began with a 48-yard pass to Josh Cameron who caught the ball and took a defender into the end zone with him for his second touchdown catch of the day, part of a 151-yard receiving day for Cameron. Kobe Prentice tied the game with a 21-yard touchdown reception with 34 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, his second of the day on 63 receiving yards. Rogers had a chance to win the game for SMU with two seconds remaining on what would have been a career long 57-yard field goal that went wide right. SMU's T.J. Harden gave the Mustangs a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter with two rushing touchdowns, including a 40-yard run on the second play of the fourth quarter when he reached the end zone untouched. He finished with 115 yards and three rushing touchdowns. Jennings had 296 passing yards, three touchdowns and one interception in the loss. The quarterback started the game going 10-of-10 on pass attempts and threw for 236 yards in the first half. --Field Level Media

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September 06, 2025

Baylor storms back for 2OT win over No. 17 SMU

Baylor storms back for 2OT win over No. 17 SMU Baylor stormed back from 14 points down in the fourth quarter to defeat No. 17 SMU in Dallas,...
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Althea Gibson's legacy visible at 2025 US Open, 75 years after breaking color barrierNew Foto - Althea Gibson's legacy visible at 2025 US Open, 75 years after breaking color barrier

Whentennis legend Venus Williamsstepped onto Arthur Ashe Stadium at the USTA Billie King Tennis Center for her first-round matchup at the2025 US Open, her white polo and matching pleated skirt was near identical to Althea Gibson's signature outfit throughout her career. It was intentional on Williams' part. "The most important part is that we are celebrating (Althea Gibson)," said Williams, who donned a custom ERL tennis set in honor of Gibson in a6-3, 2-6, 6-1 first-round loss to Karolína Muchováon Aug. 25. "Althea accomplished so much, and a lot of it has not been given the credit it deserves and the attention and the praise." Gibson became the first Black player to compete at the US Open (formerly known as the U.S. National Championships) in 1950. Seventy-five years later, the 2025 US Open is honoring Gibson breaking the color barrier in tennis by hosting "75 years of breaking barriers" this year. "It's amazing that she's been able to create this path for so many Black females,"saidHailey Baptiste, who dropped asecond-round matchup to Naomi Osaka, who advanced to the semifinals. "From Venus (Williams) and Serena (Williams), to me, Coco Gauff. "There's so many. Without that trailblazer, we wouldn't be here today." VENUS WILLIAMS:Barbie honors tennis legend's push for equal rights MORE:Billie Jean King looks for next generation of disruptors Gibson may have been the first Black woman to win a Grand Slam, with the first of her five singles titles coming at the 1956 French Open, but she's certainly not the last. Thirty-eight Black women have gone on to win a Grand Slam singles title since the Open Era began in 1968, including Serena Williams (23), Venus Williams (7), Naomi Osaka (4), Coco Gauff (2), Sloane Stephens (1) and Madison Keys (1). "I had an opportunity to feel proud of who I was and who I am because of people like Althea," Venus Williamssaid. "Of course, there's different kinds of ways you're perceived or sometimes treated because of the color your skin, but it never stopped me." The brown hue of Gibson's skin effectively barred her from entering prominent U.S. tournaments that not only favored pristine white tennis outfits, but white patrons as racial segregation and Jim Crow laws ran rampant. Inclusion had reached other sports, including boxing, football and baseball, whereJackie Robinson became the first Black player in MLBin 1947, but tennis was a step behind. "If tennis is a game for ladies and gentlemen, it's also time we acted a little more like gentle-people and less like sanctimonious hypocrites," five-time Grand Slam champion Alice Marblewrotein a scathing open letter to the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association (now the United States Tennis Association) in July 1950. "(Gibson) has a much better chance on the courts than in the inner-sanctum of the committee, where a different kind of game is played." Gibson was granted entry into the 1950 U.S. National Championships in Forest Hills, New York, becoming the first Black player to receive an invitation. She recalled the moment in her 1960 autobiography, "I Always Wanted To Be Somebody,"writing, "The president of the (USLTA) that year said that I was one of the fifty-two women whose entries had been accepted for the national championship tournament, and he added meaningfully, 'Miss Gibson has been accepted on her ability.' That was all I had ever asked." #OTDTennis player and professional golfer Althea Gibson was born. She was the first African American woman to compete at the highest levels of both sports. Her accomplishments broke race, gender, and class barriers.pic.twitter.com/wUvL3cUvPC — Smithsonian's NMAAHC (@NMAAHC)August 25, 2025 She defeated Great Britain's Barbara Knapp 6-2, 6-2 in the first round on Court 14, the court furthest from the clubhouse that was typically used for practice sessions. Gibson faced three-time reigning Wimbledon champion Louise Brough in the second round and built an impressive 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 lead, needing one more game for the massive upset, before "the worst thing that could have happened" did, Gibson wrote. A weather delay was called due to a thunderstorm, halting Gibson's momentum. A nervous Gibson went on to lose to the veteran, but the pivotal moment proved she belonged. Gibson went on to become the first Black player to win a Grand Slam at the 1956 French Open and the first Black player to be ranked No. 1 in the world after winning Wimbledon and the U.S. Nationals in 1957. She ended her career with 11 Grand Slams, including five singles, five doubles and one mixed doubles title. (In 1964, Gibson also became the first Black woman to join the LPGA Tour.) "She was 'the' trailblazer for African Americans in tennis," Ben Shelton said. "If it wasn't for her... who knows if my dad is ever playing tennis as a Black kid in Alabama in the '70s and '80s." Gibson andBillie Jean Kingare both tennis pioneers. Both used their talents to advocate for change and equality, but it was Gibson who inspired King's path toward social justice. "At 12, I was at the Los Angeles Tennis Club … and I noticed everyone who played our sport wore white clothes and everyone who played was white. I asked myself, 'Where is everyone else?'" King wrote in aforewordfor Gibson's biography in 2022. "From that moment on I committed my life to a life of equality for everyone." In an interview with USA TODAY Sports last month, King said she's "still thinking about how to change the sport" and is "looking for players that can take our sport to another level in the next generation." King said she sees these traits inGauff,21, andCanadian teen sensation Victoria Mboko, 19, who possess the capability to transcend tennis. It's a duty that Gauff does not take lightly. "Win or lose, knowing that there's, you know, at least one or two girls out there who look up to me,"saidGauff, who was knocked out by Osaka in the Round of 16 (6-3, 6-2). "It makes me want to keep waking up and doing this every day and being the best version of myself." Ahead of the women's singles semifinal matchup betweenOsaka and Amanda Anisimova, Venus Williams announced the launch of theWilliams Family Excellence Programwith the USTA Foundation. Williams said the achievement wouldn't be possible without Gibson forging a path for people of color, one of many tributes to Gibson during this year's tournament. Melissa Koby, the US Open's first Black theme artist in tournament history, created a striking logo out of Gibson's silhouette that has been prominently featured throughout the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. "When I was creating the piece, I thought of Althea as my ancestor, as a strong black female," Kobytoldthe US Open. "She's not my grandmother, but I thought of her as that, and I created it with the intention of making her proud to see that a little black girl created something to honor her." Introducing the 2025 US Open theme art celebrating 75 years of Althea Gibson breaking the color barrier.Check out the story here ➡️https://t.co/zi8fO9uDqTpic.twitter.com/Zgp7mL6bKJ — US Open Tennis (@usopen)May 29, 2025 The Florida A&M University Marching 100performedin Arthur Ashe Stadium on Aug. 27, just days after what would have been Gibson's 98th birthday on August. 25. Gibson, who died in 2003, attended FAMU on a tennis scholarship. Other tributes include a Marvel comic book that features Gibson and the Fantastic Four. The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast.Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:US Open honors 75th anniversary of Althea Gibson breaking color barrier

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September 06, 2025

Althea Gibson's legacy visible at 2025 US Open, 75 years after breaking color barrier

Althea Gibson's legacy visible at 2025 US Open, 75 years after breaking color barrier Whentennis legend Venus Williamsstepped onto Arthu...
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MLB may be out of 'saviors' 30 years after Cal Ripken's captivating streakNew Foto - MLB may be out of 'saviors' 30 years after Cal Ripken's captivating streak

BALTIMORE –Cal Ripken Jr.knows what it takes and how it feels to play in 2,632 consecutive baseball games – the aches and pains and close calls wrought by wrenched backs and bench-clearing brawls, and the daggers of outside observers who think an All-Star shortstop would actually be more of a team player if he simply sat down. Yet despite this singular experience, Ripken, now 65 years old, is humble enough to admit it's not the stuff of superhumans. "I still feel," he said Sept. 5, "somebody else will do it." Here we are, though, 30 years later, and only Miguel Tejada, the former Orioles and OaklandAthleticsinfielder, has cracked four figures, his streak ending in 2007 at 1,152 games.Matt Olson, the Atlanta Braves first baseman, has the longest current active streak at 760 games. MLB LOCKOUT IN 2026?MLB's next labor war is coming in hot And as the Orioles mark the 30thanniversary of Sept. 6, 1995, when Ripken played in his 2,131stconsecutive game, and hit a home run in front of the President, and the numerals on Camden Yards' warehouse flipped to the magic number and confirmed Ripken surpassed Lou Gehrig's unbreakable record, the streak's subtle greatness and its enormity stand untouched. It's the simplest act – showing up to work every day, to earn a multi-million dollar paycheck playing a game, no less – yet one that resonated for the masses. And we'd be remiss not to mention the conditions under which he broke the record: With baseball returning from a nasty work stoppage that canceled the 1994 World Series, truncated the '95 season and pushed fans toward alternate means of spending their time and money, some never to return. Three decades later, things are only so different: Major League Baseball owners, including Orioles steward David Rubenstein, are suggesting or agitating once again for a salary cap, a hard line that created baseball's nuclear winter of '94 and sent the industry into a tailspin. Cal Ripken shakes hands with fans after breaking Lou Gehrig's consecutive games record with 2,131. It was Ripken, pundits suggested, who first"saved baseball,"his streak leaping from the sports pages toGood Morning America-worthy chatter, signing autographs late into the night after he played nine innings, patiently answering media queries every day the O's blew into a new town. Three years later, the Mark McGwire-Sammy Sosa home run showdown was next to"save baseball,"the sluggers' multi-cultural race to 70 and 66 home runs creating so many warm memories that Big Mac's Mack Truck-sized build could be overlooked until many years later. Yet as we recount baseball's climb off the mat of its most egregious self-inflicted wound, one thing becomes apparent: The game is just about out of party tricks. With commissioner Rob Manfred locking the players out once before (December 2021 feels like yesterday) and claiming this time around that a lockout can be a good thing (??), the very worst can be expected come December 2026. Vegas, or the sports book inside your little phone, hasn't yet set odds on whether games will be missed in 2027, yet a betting person might opt for yes on that question. This time around, the buttons, it seems, have all been pushed. A clock to move the game along faster and make it friendlier for TV and the fan in the park? (Ah, well). A superstar player so unbelievably dynamic that he can throw 100 mph and hit 50 homers with regularity while appealing to fans in two hemispheres? (Been there). A decade-plus of unrepentant performance-enhancing drug use, to goose the home run numbers and torch the record book as we know it? (Yeah, let's not do that again). No, Ripken was truly 1 of 1. A day before he'd be honored at Camden Yards, he relaxed in the Orioles dugout under a plaque of his father, who managed him for two seasons and remained a fount of wisdom until his 1999 death. It was Ripken Sr. and wife Vi who were Junior's first call in 1993, after a bench-clearing incidenton June 6against theSeattle Marinersresulted in Ripken hearing a pop in his knee. A phalanx of Mariners collapsed him into a pile after Mike Mussina hit Bill Haselman with a pitch and the dugouts emptied Sore the next day, trainers determined him fit to play, doubt reigning until he'd use that leg to plant and throw. And of course the first ball was hit to Ripken in the hole at short. "I said 'Mom, I hurt myself in the brawl. I don't know what it's going to be like, but I might not play today,'" Ripken recalls. "The cool part about it was they lived 45 minutes away, and in 45 minutes exactly they were knocking on my door. "Baseball sometimes can test you. First play I got was a two-hopper in the hole. I wasn't sure it was going to hold. But I planted on it and it held." As did Ripken in 1997 when, record in hand, a herniated disc roiled his back. Doctors recommended he take the last six weeks off. Yet the Orioles, no longer a sad sack after years of futility since Ripken and Co. won the 1983 World Series, were in contention. "We were good. And when you endure a rebuilding process and the pain of getting to the point of being good, you don't want to miss out on good," says Ripken. "And I asked the doctor, if I can play, if I can endure the pain, will I do any permanent damage? And the doctor said no." The Orioles won the division and reached the ALCS. One year later, just as the Streak was a footnote and the McGwire-Sosa chemical romance neared its apex, Ripken stunned the baseball world by sitting down, on a Sunday Night Baseball tilt Sept. 19. Suddenly, the 2,131 obsession gave way to a number – 2,632 - so far away that it takes a minute to make sure you're reading it right. Ripken says his feat resonated with folks who'd tell him about their own streaks – perfect attendance through high school, or showing up to work, or far more trivial pursuits. He's right: We may see another player reach those heights. Perhaps it will be the Braves' Olson. Hey, he's an affable, low-key dude and a great enough player to earn three All-Star nods, two Gold Gloves and hit 54 home runs in a single season. All he needs to do is stay healthy for 11 years and play until he's 42. Yeah, not easy. And even if that was realistic, it wouldn't be the same. Every late-night signature scrawled beneath dying stadium lights, every assured glance at a lineup card knowing he'd be in there, every unbelievably timely home run he hit in consecutive games Nos. 2,129, 2,130 and 2,131 cannot be replicated. No, Ripken and his streak were a gift to the game. And as another gray winter lurks on the horizon for baseball, it'd be helpful if stakeholders realized that this time around, he won't be there to save them. The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast.Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:MLB may be out of saviors since Cal Ripken 2131 games played streak

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September 06, 2025

MLB may be out of 'saviors' 30 years after Cal Ripken's captivating streak

MLB may be out of 'saviors' 30 years after Cal Ripken's captivating streak BALTIMORE –Cal Ripken Jr.knows what it takes and how ...
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Chiefs WR Xavier Worthy collides with Travis Kelce, ruled out with shoulder injuryNew Foto - Chiefs WR Xavier Worthy collides with Travis Kelce, ruled out with shoulder injury

The Kansas City Chiefs were already shorthanded at receiver going into the season, with Rashee Rice serving a six-game suspension. They got even thinner on the first drive of the season. On a third down in theChiefs' season opening 27-21 loss in São Paulo against the Los Angeles Chargers, receiver Xavier Worthy and tight end Travis Kelce collided as each ran crossing routes over the middle. Kelce is much larger than Worthy, and Worthy caught the worst of it. Xavier Worthy appears to get injured on this playpic.twitter.com/HCWGRdT03T — BSGsports (@BSGsportsmedia)September 6, 2025 The Chiefs' athletic training staff worked on Worthy's right shoulder as he went to the sideline, then during the Chargers' first drive he walked back to the locker room for more evaluation. The Chiefs announced he was questionable to return with a shoulder injury. Early in the second quarter, the team announced he would not return. That left Marquise Brown as the Chiefs' No. 1 receiver for the rest of the game, with JuJu Smith-Schuster picking up extra snaps. Worthy, a second-year receiver who was Kansas City's first-round draft pick last year, was expected to play a huge role with Rice out. Three plays into the season, that became a big question.

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September 06, 2025

Chiefs WR Xavier Worthy collides with Travis Kelce, ruled out with shoulder injury

Chiefs WR Xavier Worthy collides with Travis Kelce, ruled out with shoulder injury The Kansas City Chiefs were already shorthanded at receiv...
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Carmelo Anthony, Maya Moore and others to be inducted into hoops HallNew Foto - Carmelo Anthony, Maya Moore and others to be inducted into hoops Hall

The class of 2025 will be enshrined at theNaismith Basketball Hall of Fameon Saturday, Sept. 6. FormerDenver NuggetsandNew York Knicksstar Carmelo Anthony highlights the class on the men's side, with Dwight Howard, coach Billy Donovan, official Danny Crawford and the 2008 USA Men's National Team also being enshrined. On the women's side, the names are far more notable, with legends Sue Bird, Sylvia Fowles and Maya Moore getting honored, and creating perhaps the greatest Hall of Fame class in the history of women's basketball. Anthony was a member of the storied NBA Draft class of 2003, when three Hall of Famers — Anthony, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh — were selected in the top 5 picks. The No. 1 overall selection that year, LeBron James, is certain to get inducted in his own right when he becomes eligible. Known for a silky jumper and smooth offensive scoring prowess from all over the floor, Anthony reflected on his path from Baltimore, all the way to the Hall. "Oh man, my legacy was done with such grace," Anthony told reporters Friday. "A lot of humbleness, a lot of competitiveness. And I did it my way. I did it a way that a lot of people didn't agree with. I did it a way that I went against the grain a lot of times, not disrespectfully, but just I have my own vision. I have my own way of doing things." Anthony, 41, played19 seasons in the NBAand was a 10-time All-Star, a six-time All-NBA selection, the 2012-13 scoring champion (28.7 points per game) and a member of the NBA's 75thAnniversary team. The No. 3 overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, Anthony ranks 10thon the NBA's all-time scoring list, with 28,289 points. He's also a four-time Olympic medalist, and three-time gold medalist. But one of the things that separated Anthony from his peers was that he opted to forge his own path on his teams against the backdrop of an era where superstars routinely joined forces to create super teams. "I have my own ways of approaching the game," Anthony continued. "I have my own ways of preparing for the game and dealing with the game, and my own ways of dealing with being a professional athlete. I keep going back to being 19, being thrown the keys (to the Nuggets). That's a lot of responsibility that you don't know until you start to reflect back on." In an episode of"Podcast P with Paul George"that premiered Tuesday, July 22, Anthony opened up about the 2010 offseason, when James and Bosh joined Wade on theMiami Heat. Anthony said the plan was for Bosh and Wade to team up and James and Anthony to team up elsewhere, but Anthony said those plans broke down when they couldn't find a destination. "Imagine me at 23 years old, 24 years old, being the fourth option on the team when I'm leading my team every single year, like, I'm finding my way in this league," Anthony said during the episode. "And you want me to leave that and go be a fourth option? I don't know, mentally, how, I was going to do that. … "So I was like, 'Hell, no. I can't be that fourth (option).' That was always a what-if." Switching to the trio of women's legends, Bird, Fowles and Moore have 10 combined WNBA championship titles and 11 Olympic gold medals, which is most for any class entering the Hall of Fame. "I think it would be fair to say that they have the title of best class ever," Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said,according to the Associated Press. "They are each Hall of Famers and are terrific in their own right to the extent they impacted their sport." The Hall of Fame Class enshrinement ceremony will take place Saturday, Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. ET at Symphony Hall in Springfield, Massachusetts. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Basketball Hall of Fame 2025 class: Carmelo Anthony among inductees

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September 06, 2025

Carmelo Anthony, Maya Moore and others to be inducted into hoops Hall

Carmelo Anthony, Maya Moore and others to be inducted into hoops Hall The class of 2025 will be enshrined at theNaismith Basketball Hall of ...
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Justin Herbert tosses 3 TDs as Chargers edge Chiefs in Sao PauloNew Foto - Justin Herbert tosses 3 TDs as Chargers edge Chiefs in Sao Paulo

Justin Herbert passed for 318 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Los Angeles Chargers to a 27-21 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in the season opener for the AFC West rivals on Friday night at Sao Paulo. "Justin was phenomenal today in every way," Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said. "Pinpoint accuracy. He did a great job with his legs. Just overall toughness. Just a complete stalwart. It was incredible quarterback play." Los Angeles' Quentin Johnston had five receptions for 79 yards and two touchdowns and Keenan Allen added seven catches for 68 yards and a score. Herbert was 25 of 34 passing and also rushed for 32 yards. Patrick Mahomes completed 24 of 39 passes for 258 yards and one touchdown for the defending AFC champion Chiefs. Mahomes also led Kansas City with 57 rushing yards, while Travis Kelce hauled in a touchdown pass. The Chiefs were hoping for one last chance but Herbert scrambled for 19 yards on third-and-14 just before the two-minute warning. That allowed the Chargers to run out the clock on kneeldowns. With the win, the Chargers snapped a seven-game slide against the Chiefs. "It was just another game for us," Herbert said afterward in a YouTube on-field interview. "We came out here and executed and did what we needed to do. ... We have a lot of respect for them. We knew it would be a dogfight." Los Angeles had a 394-347 edge in total offense over Kansas City, which lost receiver Xavier Worthy (right shoulder) on the third offensive play. The Chiefs finally scored a touchdown on Mahomes' 11-yard run with 8:05 left in the third quarter to pull within 13-12. But Harrison Butker was wide right on the extra point. "We can learn from this," Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. "Moving forward, I have to make sure I get my team in a better state coming out and playing with more emotion. ... There were some good things, but we have to make sure we take care of business, and that's my responsibility." The Chargers pushed their lead to eight when Herbert hit Allen on an 11-yard scoring pass with 32 seconds left in the third period. Kansas City answered early in the fourth quarter when Mahomes hit a wide-open Kelce at the 25-yard line and the latter completed the 37-yard scoring pass to bring the Chiefs within 20-18. The ensuing two-point conversion failed when Teair Tart swatted away Mahomes' throw with his left hand. The Chargers then moved 74 yards on 11 plays with Herbert tossing a 23-yard touchdown pass to Johnston to make it a 27-18 lead with 5:02 left. Butker's 27-yard field goal pulled the Chiefs within six with 2:34 to play. The Chargers scored the game's first 10 points. Herbert threw a 5-yard scoring pass to Johnston to cap the team's first drive and Cameron Dicker kicked a 39-yard field goal with 13:47 left in the first half. Kansas City got on the board on Butker's 35-yard field goal with 4:50 left. The 16-play drive included two fourth-down conversions. "I think in general they came out with more energy than we did," Mahomes said. "We didn't execute. I missed some throws down the field and obviously we didn't play good enough in the first half." Dicker booted a 36-yard field goal to give the Chargers a 13-3 lead with 45 seconds left in the half. However, rookie Omarion Hampton ran out of bounds on the previous play instead of sliding down inbounds, and that cost his team three points when the Chiefs took advantage of the remaining time. Kansas City was able to put together a five-play drive, and the field-goal unit scrambled on in the final seconds. Butker kicked a 59-yard field goal to end the half and cut Los Angeles' lead to 13-6. --Field Level Media

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September 06, 2025

Justin Herbert tosses 3 TDs as Chargers edge Chiefs in Sao Paulo

Justin Herbert tosses 3 TDs as Chargers edge Chiefs in Sao Paulo Justin Herbert passed for 318 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Los An...
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World Cup 2026 - Who has qualified for next summer's tournament? Full list of teamsNew Foto - World Cup 2026 - Who has qualified for next summer's tournament? Full list of teams

The qualifying process for the2026 World Cupinvolves nearly every sovereign nation on the planet, with every team pursuing one of the 48 berths at next summer's massive tournament. While the United States, Mexico, and Canada were all guaranteed places as host nations, the other 45 berths have to be earned the hard way. Qualifying kicked off all the way back on Sept. 7, 2023, with a game between Paraguay and Peru being the first to kick off. From there, each of the six continental confederations work through a sometimes byzantine process to sort out the nations that will take the field at the next men's World Cup. Over the last two days, four nations have sealed their places at next summer's tournament. On Thursday, Uruguay and Colombia both clinched their places with wins in South America, while Paraguay joined them after a scoreless draw against Ecuador (and thendeclared a national holidayto celebrate). Morocco became the first African nation to qualify, sealing their place with a 5-0 rout of Niger on Friday. Here's what to know about who has qualified for the 2026 World Cup, who might join them in the near future, and a breakdown of how many berths each of the world's regions gets: The 2026 World Cup will be the first ever to include 48 nations, a massive jump up from the 32 that competed in Qatar in 2022. The qualifying process varies from confederation to confederation, with 17 nations having clinched their places in next summer's massive tournament. Here is a complete list of every country to qualify for the 2026 World Cup as of Friday, Sept. 5: Host nations:Canada, Mexico, United States Asia:Australia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Uzbekistan Africa:Morocco Concacaf:None yet Europe:None yet Oceania:New Zealand South America:Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay World Cup qualifying is going on worldwide, with each confederation's schedule and process containing variations. However, in the next few days, three countries could claim their places at the 2026 tournament: Algeria:A win on Monday against Guinea (which will be played in Casablanca, Morocco, as Guinea doesn't have a stadium that meets CAF standards) combined with Uganda failing to beat Somalia in Kampala would send Algeria to their fifth men's World Cup. Egypt:With three games left to play, Egypt leads Group A by five points over Burkina Faso. Those two meet in Ouagadougou on Tuesday, and a win for the visitors would get "the Pharoahs" back into the World Cup after they missed out in 2022. Tunisia:Tunisia leads Group H by seven points with three games to play, leaving them with several paths to clinch qualifying. A win on Monday at Equatorial Guinea would do the job, as would Namibia failing to defeat São Tomé and Príncipe on Tuesday. Additionally, there are two high-pressure games in South America, where Venezuela and Bolivia are fighting for the region's only intercontinental playoff spot. Venezuela holds a one-point lead between the two (as well as a 12-goal edge in the first tiebreaker, goal difference), meaning that a win at home over Colombia will keep their hopes alive. Bolivia must beat Brazil — something they've only done once, back in 2009 — and hope for Venezuela to stumble at the finish line. Otherwise, the "Vinotinto" will begin looking forward to the intercontinental playoff. Here is a complete breakdown of how FIFA sorted out all 48 berths at the 2026 World Cup: Host nations (3):Canada, Mexico, and the United States all qualified as soon as they were picked to host the tournament. Asia (8):Six Asian countries have qualified. The Asian Football Confederation's fourth round (which will settle who claims the final two automatic bids) begins on Wednesday, Oct. 8. Africa (9):African qualifying sorted 54 countries into nine groups of six (though Eritrea withdrew from Group E before play began). Group winners all qualify, while the best four runners-up will have a pathway to the intercontinental playoff. Concacaf (3):The region's third round — featuring three groups of four — began on Thursday, Sept. 4. Group winners qualify directly, while the two best runners-up will enter the intercontinental playoff. Europe (16):UEFA qualifying features 54 teams broken up into 12 groups. Group winners qualify for the World Cup, while the second-place finishers (along with the top four teams from the UEFA Nations League who didn't win their qualifying groups) will enter a playoff for Europe's final four berths that is set for March 2026. Oceania (1):New Zealand has already claimed Oceania's only guaranteed berth at the 2026 World Cup. South America (6):CONMEBOL's marathon qualifying tournament is down to one final round of games, but all six direct spots have already been clinched. The region's seventh-place finisher (which will be either Venezuela or Bolivia) will go into the intercontinental playoff. Intercontinental playoff (2):New Caledonia is the only team locked into a spot in what will be a six-team tournament scheduled for March 2026. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Who has qualified for World Cup 2026? Full list of teams

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September 06, 2025

World Cup 2026 - Who has qualified for next summer's tournament? Full list of teams

World Cup 2026 - Who has qualified for next summer's tournament? Full list of teams The qualifying process for the2026 World Cupinvolves...
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'We're in witness protection': Tampa Bay Bucs being ignored as Super Bowl contenderNew Foto - 'We're in witness protection': Tampa Bay Bucs being ignored as Super Bowl contender

Quick. Raise your hand if you see theTampa Bay Buccaneersas a Super Bowl contender. I didn't think you'd go there. No,Tom Bradyisn't coming out of retirement again. If theBucsare going to make a legitimate run at another championship, it'll happen with Baker Mayfield having another career year. With Mike Evans and Lavonte David. With Vita Vea, Tristin Wirfs and Bucky Irving. With low-key coach Todd Bowles flanked by underrated GM Jason Licht. Not convinced? Understood. There's a healthy, worthy discussion going on about theEaglesmaybe repeating as Super Bowl champs. TheLionsgagged in their last two playoff exits, so perhaps it's Amon-Ra's time. If, with all due respect,Micah Parsonsdoesn't morph into the second coming of Reggie White and lead the Packers to the promised land. In the NFC field, there's noise about theCommandersand a 49ers revival, too. But the Bucs? They've got 30-to-1 odds to make it to Santa Clara for Super Bowl 60. Never mind that Tampa Bay has won four consecutive NFC South titles and with the best five-year stretch in franchise history, is the only team in the NFC to make the playoffs in each of the past five seasons. Usually, that's a track record that leaves a team poised to take the next step. Until it's not. "We're in witness protection," Licht told USA TODAY Sports before a training camp practice. "Nobody cares. We're down here in Tampa. Nobody realizes that we've quietly built – Todd, myself, our staffs – a really good team." In some ways, like when it's convenient, they can roll with a Rodney Dangerfield complex and grumble about a lack of respect. "It's the market," said Evans, the Hall of Fame-credentialed receiver who was Licht's first draft pick for the Bucs in 2014, standing in a hallway at One Buc Place. "But it don't matter." Until it can be used to make a point. Are they underdogs again? 2025 NFL season predictions: Experts pick who will win MVP, Super Bowl, more "I hope so," Licht replied. "Our quarterback likes a chip on his shoulder. Our GM likes a chip on his shoulder. We all like a chip on our shoulder. Seems like everybody wants the Falcons and the Panthers…" Licht stopped himself right there. But he knows. There's buzz about division-rival Carolina (5-12 in '24) progressing with young quarterback Bryce Young. Atlanta, meanwhile, is loaded with weapons around its young quarterback,Michael Penix Jr.,and used its two first-round picks in the NFL draft to address its weak pass rush. Then again, there was talk about the Falcons (8-9 in '24) overtaking the Bucs last year behind new quarterback Kirk Cousins. The Bucs won with division by two games with a 10-7 record but something was just a bit off as they were swept by Atlanta as Cousins passed for a combined 8 TDs in the two contests and threw for a career-high 509 yards in Week 5. That sets up an intriguing subplot for the regular-season opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Cousins was benched last season as the Falcons faded after a 6-2 start, but he sure lit up the Bucs. "If we played Tampa Bay every week last year, he'd be in the Hall of Fame now," Falcons owner Arthur Blank quipped during the NFL owners meetings in March. Ouch. As if the Bucs need any bulletin-board material. Typically, Bowles, prompted from defensive coordinator in succeeding the retired Bruce Arians in 2022, smiled and shrugged when presented with the chance to claim a headline with some bold statement about disrespect. Jimmy Johnson, he is not. Denny Green, hardly. And he won't be compared with the Tuna "We feel like we should win every ballgame and we don't really care who we play," Bowles told USA TODAY Sports after a camp practice. This optimism has substance. The Bucs had the only offense in the NFL last season to rank in the top five in rushing (fourth) and passing (third) and were the first team in NFL history (est. 1920) to complete 70% of its passes while averaging 5 yards per carry. All the key contributors return, including Evans (who shares an NFL record with Jerry Rice with 11 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons) and Mayfield, who in 2024 posted career highs for passing yards (4,500) and TDs (41) and set the franchise mark with a 106.8 passer rating. Bowles' defense, meanwhile, has impact players at every level, including Vea, the nose tackle, David, a 14th-year linebacker, and safety Antoine Winfield, Jr. And it will be interesting to see whether Haason Reddick regains the form that allowed him to post 50 ½ sacks over a four-year span beginning in 2020, when he compiled double-digit sacks for four consecutive seasons. After Brady retired in 2023, having led the Bucs to a Super Bowl 55 crown that capped the 2020 campaign, it seemed natural to expect a drop-off. After all, they won the division in Brady's final season in 2022 with a losing record (8-9), then was blown out at home – by the Cowboys, of all unlikely teams – in the NFC playoff opener was Brady's last game. There was no viable succession plan at quarterback. And after breaking the salary cap bank in chasing championships with TB12, they were cap-dry. Enter Mayfield, to go with shrewd cap management (take a bow, cap guru Jackie Davidson) and the typically deft draft stockpiles provided by Licht & Co. "I thought we would still be a team that competed," Evans told USA TODAY Sports, reflecting on Brady's departure. "Obviously, we needed to figure out the quarterback situation. Luckily, Baker was available. I knew that if I played with Baker, we would get the respect that he deserves. Because quarterbacks need good skilled players and a good offensive line." Evans points to another factor, too. Culture. Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott facing more pressure after Micah Parsons trade "I think it's everything," he said. "The front office. The coaching staff. The veteran leadership is really top tier. It's way better than it was earlier in my career. Not trying to knock my guys back then, but…we're all about playing for each other." Mayfield: "I think it starts with the two franchise guys, Mike Evans and Lavonte David, that have been criminally underrated for a long time. They just work their tails off and lead the way. I think everybody kind of follows that." Still, championship DNA or not, nobody's picking the Bucs to get to the Super Bowl. I mean, according to USA TODAY Sports soothsayer Nate Davis, the ceiling for Bowles' team is a 9-8 finish that's good enough to win the weak NFC South again and claim the No. 4 seed in the NFC playoffs. "We make our own projections and predictions," Bowles said, maybe tapping his inner Nate vibe. "And our projection is to try to win the division and try to win the Super Bowl. Whatever else everybody has to say, if we listen to that, we'd be in last (place) every year. So, we don't, and we've been in first every year. "That's how we treat it. At this point, it's kind of a running joke, so we don't care." Which leaves the Bucs flying under the radar as a team that just might emerge as a legit championship contender. In other words, Shh! Contact Jarrett Bell atjbell@usatoday.comor follow on social media: On X: @JarrettBell On Bluesky: jarrettbell.bsky.social This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Tampa Bay Bucs being ignored as Super Bowl contender. Big mistake

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September 06, 2025

'We're in witness protection': Tampa Bay Bucs being ignored as Super Bowl contender

'We're in witness protection': Tampa Bay Bucs being ignored as Super Bowl contender Quick. Raise your hand if you see theTampa B...
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These six NFL teams could be prone to very disappointing seasons in 2025New Foto - These six NFL teams could be prone to very disappointing seasons in 2025

ASHBURN, VA — The2025 NFL regular seasonis underway, two of its 272 games already in the books – both involving teams, thePhiladelphia EaglesandKansas City Chiefs,which met in Super Bowl 59. But while there's little doubt those outfits will again be bona fide contenders leading up to Super Bowl 60, other clubs presumed to be relevant might be displaying early cracks and perhaps be especially vulnerable to a wider variance of seasonal outcomes (aside from the unpredictable catastrophic injuries that can change any organization's trajectory). Some squads are already nicked up, while others are hoping that the business of football hasn't infringed too far into the field of play. One that needed most of the summer to resolve a pressing financial matter was theWashington Commanders,an NFC title game entry in Januarybut one that couldn't meet teamcaptain Terry McLaurin's contractual demandsuntil late August. Now, McLaurin and the team are hoping he won't become one of the holdouts – or holdins nowadays – who might be more prone to soft tissue injuries in September after missing the bulk of or all of training camp. "(T)here's a difference between being in shape, football shape, and then game shape, you know what I mean?" McLaurin asked rhetoricallyafter signing a three-year extension last week that could pay him up to $97 million. "(Y)ou go into game one, you're like, 'Whew, I'm winded,' you know what I mean? And so that's just the process of football. But I've done everything that the training staff and the coaching staff have asked me to do since I've been here. I'm going to continue to do that, and there's a great plan in place for me to continue to ramp up so  … there aren't any setbacks." The Commanders and other teams rolling the dice in some capacity can only hope the same. But with regular-season openers just days away for most franchises, these six seem to run a substantial risk of experiencing what could be surprisingly poor campaigns. While McLaurin awaited his deal, he was rehabbing a nagging ankle injury for most of the summer. Starting WR Noah Brown is on the way back from a lingering knee injury at a time when the offense is also adapting to a reimagined backfield that might wind up heavily relying on rookie Jacory Croskey-Merrittfollowing the trade of Brian Robinson Jr.to the San Francisco 49ers. And as good as second-year QB Jayden Daniels is and will be, a team with such heightened expectations could also be due for a natural regression given eight of its 12 wins in 2024 came by six or fewer points – one of those in overtime andanother on a Hail Mary. 2025 NFL RECORD PROJECTIONS:Who wins Super Bowl 60? (Hint: not the Eagles) Both have capable rosters loaded with veteran talent that would seemingly fuel hopes of playoff contention in the ATL and Twin Cities. But each team's hopes are also inextricably linked to a second-year quarterback taken in Round 1 of the 2024 draft who's nevertheless far less experienced than his peers. The Falcons' Michael Penix Jr. got three starts as a rookie, while the Vikings' J.J. McCarthy had none after suffering a season-ending knee injury a year ago. Interestingly, neither has extensive preseason reps under his belt, either. McCarthy, who will make his regular-season debut Monday night in Chicago, has the benefit of playing for abudding offensive mastermind in Kevin O'Connellbut must also navigate what might be the league's toughest division. Penix is surrounded by weaponry in what seems like a winnable division. Yet Atlanta has already lost RT Kaleb McGary, who protects the blind side of southpaw Penix, to a knee injury that will keep him out until 2026. Veteran QB2 Kirk Cousins is also lurking in the background. But at least one of those teams is virtually guaranteed a decent start … given they'll meet in Week 2. NFL POWER RANKINGS:Who's riding high heading into Week 1? Opening at Atlanta on Sunday, they'll also get an early look at the Falcons, who swept the Bucs in 2024 – albeit with Cousins in the saddle. But the perennial NFC South champions will have to navigate the early stages of the season without, arguably, their best player (LT Tristan Wirfs) and will also have to rely heavily on rookie WR Emeka Egbuka with injured Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan still several weeks away from suiting up on Sundays. After facing the Falcons, the Bucs will play four teams over a six-week stretch that won at least 10 games in 2024 – meaning they could be in serious jeopardy of falling into a deep hole by the time November arrives. Calendar year 2025 began with owner Stephen Ross saying he expected more from coach Mike McDaniel and GM Chris Grier coming off an 8-9 campaign. Since then, the team has lost LT Terron Armstead, S Jevon Holland, CB Jalen Ramsey and TE Jonnu Smith, among others. QB Tua Tagovailoa revealed this summer that there are still trust issues between volatile WR Tyreek Hill and the locker room. Then the team was embarrassed during joint practices at Chicago and Detroit. Finally, Jacksonville's reserves largely had their way with Miami's starters in the preseason finale. Woof. With six of their first eight opponents non-playoff qualifiers in 2024, maybe the Fins can work out (or mask) their issues. But a team trying to debunk a narrative that it's soft better not waste much time,especially if it wants to save McDaniel's job. The team that most recently won the NFC West and came closest to knocking the Eagles out of the 2024 postseason could easily go 12-5, as it did when it won Super Bowl 56 nearly four years ago. It could also go 5-12, as it did the season after the Super Bowl 56 triumph. As was true in 2022, everything seemingly hinges on the health of QB Matthew Stafford, now 37 and emerging from a training camp when he barely practiced due to a balky back. Since coming to LA in 2021, Stafford has a 34-23 regular-season record. The Rams are 3-8 without him. "I love the Rams' chances with a healthy Matthew Stafford. But," said former New York Giants vice president of player personnel Marc Ross, "this is scary. "Backs and necks (are) always super tricky and very difficult to deal with – even with younger players," added Ross, now an NFL Network analyst. "(O)lder players, they don't get healthier … Is it pain? Is it functionality? And that's probably something they don't even 100 percent know because of the difficulty in evaluating a back. … Even once he gets on the field, how much of (him) will be the Pro Bowl-level Matthew Stafford, Super Bowl champion Matthew Stafford that we'll see?" It could bethebiggest in the league question entering the 2025 season. All NFL news on and off the field.Sign upfor USA TODAY's 4th and Monday newsletter. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Overrated NFL teams? These six could quickly go off the rails in 2025

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September 06, 2025

These six NFL teams could be prone to very disappointing seasons in 2025

These six NFL teams could be prone to very disappointing seasons in 2025 ASHBURN, VA — The2025 NFL regular seasonis underway, two of its 272...
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Pierre Gasly signs contract extension with Alpine through 2028New Foto - Pierre Gasly signs contract extension with Alpine through 2028

MONZA, Italy (AP) —Formula 1driver Pierre Gasly has signed a contract extension with Alpine through the 2028 season. The deal was announced Saturday ahead of theItalian Grand PrixwhichGasly surprisingly won in 2020while racing for AlphaTauri. "I'm thrilled to commit my long-term future to Alpine," Gasly said. "As a Frenchman, especially, driving for a French car company, makes me feel very proud. Since I joined in 2023, I have always felt that this team is the right place to be for the future. "I want to be here in years to come and deliver on our joint objective: to win races and world championships. We're all in this together and I look forward to continuing this special story." Gasly signed a multiyear extensionlast year and Alpine said at the time it took him "into the 2025 season and beyond." The 29-year-old Gasly has five podium finishes, including two since joining Alpine. His best finish this season was sixth at Silverstone in July. "We're well prepared for the new era of Formula One, beginning in 2026, and now we have our lead driver confirmed to bring us well into the future," said Flavio Briatore, whorejoined the teamlast year as executive advisor. "Pierre has been an immense asset for the team during this challenging period," Briatore added. "I have been very impressed with his attitude, dedication and talent and we look forward to continuing this project together for a long time." Alpine's second seat remains up for grabs after Jack Doohan was dropped forFranco Colapintosix races into 2025. Neither Doohan nor Colapinto has scored a point for the team. ___ AP auto racing:https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

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September 06, 2025

Pierre Gasly signs contract extension with Alpine through 2028

Pierre Gasly signs contract extension with Alpine through 2028 MONZA, Italy (AP) —Formula 1driver Pierre Gasly has signed a contract extensi...
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PSG coach Luis Enrique breaks collarbone in cycling accidentNew Foto - PSG coach Luis Enrique breaks collarbone in cycling accident

PARIS (AP) — Paris Saint-Germain coachLuis Enriquebroke his collarbone in a cycling accident and was set to undergo surgery, the French champions said late Friday. The 55-year-old Spaniard, a cycling enthusiast, led PSG to its first Champions League title last season, and the team has won three straight games to open its Ligue 1 title defense. The club did not specify where the accident took place. "Following a cycling accident on Friday, Paris Saint-Germain head coach Luis Enrique was treated by the emergency services and will undergo surgery for a fractured collarbone," PSG said in a statement. "The club expresses its full support and wishes him a swift recovery. Further updates will be shared in due course." PSG's next game is Sept. 14 against Lens, and three days later it hosts Atalanta to open itsChampions League title defense. Also Friday,PSG star Ousmane Dembélé limped offthe field injured while playing for France in World Cup qualifying. He left with what seemed to be a right hamstring injury. ___ AP soccer:https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

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September 06, 2025

PSG coach Luis Enrique breaks collarbone in cycling accident

PSG coach Luis Enrique breaks collarbone in cycling accident PARIS (AP) — Paris Saint-Germain coachLuis Enriquebroke his collarbone in a cyc...
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What college football games are today? Previewing the biggest Week 2 matchupsNew Foto - What college football games are today? Previewing the biggest Week 2 matchups

College football's opening act, with a rare trio of top-10 clashes, was going to be hard to top. But as the saying goes, one should not let the perfect be the enemy of the good. The Week 2 slate is admittedly lighter on marquee matchups. There is still, however, a lot to like for your viewing entertainment on Saturday, Sept. 6. In addition to another showdown of big-name programs from the two premier conferences, there's a fierce in-state trophy game, a renewal of another heated rivalry, and a couple of other pairings that could provide more intrigue than one might surmise. GET IN THE GAME:Play our college football survivor pool PATH TO PLAYOFF:Sign up for our college football newsletter Here's a look at our picks for the best games to watch. Time/TV:Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC. Why watch:The day's lone ranked matchup features two proud programs looking to bounce back after disappointing seasons. The Wolverines did finish last year with wins against Ohio State and Alabama but had fallen well out of Big Ten contention by then. TheSoonersendured a rough first ride through the SEC but bigger things are expected in 2025. Much-ballyhooed Oklahoma transfer QB John Mateer got off to a quick start againstIllinoisState, with WR Keontez Lewis emerging as his primary target. The Michigan secondary, backed by hard-hitting DB Brandyn Hillman, will be tougher to solve. Freshman signal-caller Bryce Underwood passed a slightly tougher test for the Wolverines in his first start against New Mexico, with huge ground support from RB Justice Haynes. They'll be facing a tough Sooners' front seven, led by LBs Kip Lewis and Sammy Omosigho. Why it could disappoint:This might be another case of the defenses being ahead of the offenses, so if you were underwhelmed by the lack of scoring in Texas-Ohio State last week this might not be the game for you. But it should be worth the payoff if that results in more fourth-quarter drama, so don't give up too quickly. Time/TV:Saturday, noon ET, Fox. Why watch:The annual clash for the Cy-Hawk Trophy rarely lacks drama. It has added intrigue this year with both these heartland squads hoping to make noise in their respective conferences. The Cyclones,already with a Big 12 win in hand, want to make it back to the league title tilt. The Hawkeyes, long known for tough defense, look to play sleeper in the Big Ten with an upgraded passing game. Iowa State QB Rocco Becht has been efficient if not overly flashy with his aerial game, taking advantage of TEs Gabe Burkle and Benjamin Brahmer in the red zone. The Hawkeyes LB corps, with veterans Karson Sharar and Jaden Harrell now in starting roles, must be ready. New Iowa QB Mark Gronowski wasn't asked to do much in the Week 1 tune-up against Albany, and he'll likely try to stretch the field more this time to give promising freshman RB Xavier Williams room to operate. That won't be easy against the Cyclones' solid secondary, anchored by DB Jamison Patton. Why it could disappoint:Again, there aren't likely to be a lot of aerial fireworks in this one with the strong defensive units figuring to get the better of things. But that means a blowout either way is unlikely, so expect another down-to-the-wire finish. Time/TV:Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC. Why watch:Notable as the first official SEC game of the season, this contest ultimately might not figure in the league race. But the Wildcats are hopeful that it does after a down year in the conference.Ole Missarguably has tougher games ahead but must nevertheless take this one seriously, especially after its loss in this series last year like cost it a College Football Playoff berth. Kentucky prevailed 24-16 in its opener against Toledo, likely to be among the top teams in the Mid-American Conference. Well-traveled QB Zach Calzada had a subpar passing day but delivered a needed TD run to help the Wildcats escape. The Ole Miss attack is now in the hands of QB Austin Simmons, who was more productive but served up a couple of picks as well against overmatched Georgia State. Why it could disappoint:Kentucky's inconsistency in the passing game must be ironed out quickly, or any early deficit the Wildcats face might prove insurmountable. The Rebels for their part would like to quiet the Kentucky crowd early. Time/TV:Saturday, noon ET, ESPN. Why watch:Don't dismiss this matchup just because it's not taking place on hardwood. The Fighting Illini put their highest starting poll position since 1990 on the line in Durham, North Carolina, where the Blue Devils look to continue their quest for an increased gridiron presence in the ACC. QB Luke Altmyer and his Illinois offense were nearly flawless in a warm-up against Western Illinois. Duke DE Vincent Anthony Jr. will lead the effort to disrupt his rhythm. New Blue Devils QB Darian Mensah took a little longer to get rolling in his team's opener against Elon, but he finished well and threw for nearly 400 yards. Opposing him will be Illini LB Gabe Jacas. Why it could disappoint:We'll probably know fairly soon if it will. If the Blue Devils hold their own on both sides of the line of scrimmage, the game should be competitive for four quarters. If Illinois proves to have a significant edge in the trenches, there won't be much Duke can do about it. Time/TV:Saturday, 4:15 p.m. ET, SECN. Why watch:What was expected to be a tune-up for the Gators on the eve of entering SEC competition got a lot more interesting after South Florida's impressive takedown ofBoise State. Now the Bulls look to upend the balance of power in the Sunshine State with this opportunity and a date with Miami to follow. The best news for Florida from its opener against Long Island was that QB DJ Lagway got in some work and got out of the game quickly, and the same can be said for LB Myles Graham and his fellow first-teamers on the Gators defense. The Bulls counter with veteran QB Byrum Brown, who played a clean game and ran for two scores, and LB Jhalyn Shuler, who was all over the field in the Aug. 28 stunner against the Broncos. Why it could disappoint:With all due respect to the Mountain West and its defending champion Boise State, a road game in the SEC represents a major step up in weight class for the Bulls. That said, the Gators haven't needed to show much yet, so it will be worth a look to see how long USF can hang around. Time/TV:Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2. Why watch:The Border War returns after a 14-year hiatus, and the timing seems ideal with both programs on an upward trajectory. Neither the Tigers nor the Jayhawks have been challenged in their combined three victories to date, so this figures to be a huge measuring stick game for both. Mizzou QB Beau Pribula wasted little time establishing himself in Columbia after backing up Drew Allar at Penn State. Kansas regains the services of dual-threat QB Jalon Daniels, who is finally healthy and showing how dynamic he can be. Names to know on the defensive side include Jayhawks LB Trey Lathan and Mizzou LB Josiah Trotter, who were formerly teammates at West Virginia. Why it could disappoint:It shouldn't, but again it's hard to peg how these teams will stack up in the trenches given the lack of tangible results thus far. There was more than a little animosity between these programs when they were Big Eight rivals, but hopefully the renewal of acquaintances won't lead to fisticuffs. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:What college football games are today? MIchigan-Oklahoma leads Week 2

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September 06, 2025

What college football games are today? Previewing the biggest Week 2 matchups

What college football games are today? Previewing the biggest Week 2 matchups College football's opening act, with a rare trio of top-10...
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