The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is waiting for the findings of a National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) probe before deciding whether to take disciplinary action against senior players Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq.The development comes after the Lahore High Court dismissed Rizwan’s petition challenging the notices issued to him by the NCCIA. Chief Justice Aalia Neelum rejected the petition during Thursday’s hearing after hearing arguments from both sides.Rizwan’s lawyer, Qazi Umair Ali, told the court that his client had been issued notices. The chief justice advised the player to respond to them.“You should go and respond to the notice. On which date was the notice issued to you?” Chief Justice Neelum remarked, as quoted by news agency PTI.The lawyer claimed that Rizwan was questioned at a hotel after the Lord’s Test without being given a notice and that his mobile phone was taken.He said Rizwan had handed over the phone after being told it would be returned within three hours, but it had still not been returned.
NCCIA examining players’ phones
Rizwan’s lawyer also questioned the NCCIA’s authority to investigate the matter. He argued that the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit was the appropriate body to deal with corruption-related concerns involving cricketers and said the case had not been referred to the ICC unit.Rizwan had challenged the NCCIA summons in court, questioning both the agency’s jurisdiction and the nature of the investigation.Meanwhile, the NCCIA is conducting a forensic examination of mobile phones taken from Rizwan and Imam, according to PTI source familiar with the developments. The agency is expected to submit its findings to the PCB next week.“How the PCB decides to move against the two players will now depend on what findings the NCCIA submits to the PCB. If nothing out of the ordinary is found in the forensics examination they will probably get reprieves,” the source said.
PCB to decide next step
The PCB’s decision on possible disciplinary action will depend on the NCCIA report. The board is expected to assess the findings before deciding whether any action is required against the two players.For now, the focus remains on the forensic examination of the phones and the report that the NCCIA is expected to submit to the PCB.
A staple of college football could be on its last leg.
December and January always include bowl games, matchups with teams that typically would not play each other during the season, often with unique trophies or postgame celebrations based on the bowl game sponsor. The Duke’s Mayo bath, The Potato Bowl trophy, the Pop-Tart mascot, and all these fun and unique moments could soon become a thing of the past.
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Brett McMurphy of On3 wrote yesterday that the 24-team College Football Playoff, which is all but certain to come to fruition, will likely spell the end of the traditional bowl system.
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McMurphy notes the change to 24 teams could come as early as 2028, but could be 2030. And what will that mean for traditional bowl games? There could be stand-alone bowl games before the season instead, according to some bowl executive directors.
However, the logistics of that could be tricky when it comes to television contracts, as well as starting fall camp earlier.
We’ve seen a recent decline of bowl games with the expansion of the playoff, as teams that narrowly missed the playoffs opted not to play in them. However, it seems like the 24-team expansion could be what ultimately ends the bowl system.
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McMurphy’s piece on the state of the bowl system is well worth the read. You can read it in full here.
CHICAGO — As Pete Crow-Armstrong came up with the bases loaded in the eighth inning, the Wrigley Field crowd chanted “M-V-Pete! M-V-Pete!” — and not for the first time Wednesday night.
The fans serenaded the Chicago star after his first home run, his 43rd to break Billy Williams’ Cubs record for left-handed hitters. They made their feelings known after his RBI triple and after his 44th home run.
Even when Crow-Armstrong struck out on five pitches in the eighth, he still received a standing ovation on his way back to the dugout at the end of a 3 for 4 night with three RBIs and three runs in an 8-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves, his seventh multi-home-run game of the season.
With Shohei Ohtani still on the injured list with right biceps inflammation, Crow-Armstrong keeps hitting home runs, closing in on the first 40-40 season in Cubs history, putting the finishing touches on his MVP case, at least as far as Cubs fans are concerned.
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“You’re shaking your head in amazement, sometimes,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “In amazement. You know, you don’t get to see this. That’s what I told Alex (Bregman): ‘We don’t get to see things like this.’ You spend your whole life in baseball and you just don’t see this happen on a baseball field.
“You’re grateful to be a part of it. You’re grateful to see things like this. And then you’re grateful the fans get to see a season like this. They’re going to talk about it. They’re going to tell their kids about it. They’re going to tell their grandkids about a season like this.”
Yet as he’s gone from breakthrough player to MVP candidate to MVP favorite, Crow-Armstrong has been unfazed by the pressure, his performance unwavering as the Cubs chase a wild-card spot.
“I keep it pretty simple,” Crow-Armstrong said. “I enjoy just kind of laying low, as I always do and always will. I’ve got a really nice support system.”
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Only one home run behind Philadelphia’s Kyle Schwarber for the major league lead, Crow-Armstrong is hitting. 283 with 105 RBIs, 29 doubles and 37 stolen bases to go with Gold Glove-caliber defense in center field.
Crow-Armstrong’s breakthrough season at age 24 has him at or near the top of every offensive metric in the NL while also tapping out the vocabulary of Wednesday’s winning starter, Shota Imanaga.
“We can always say he’s great, or he’s excellent, but really there’s no words to describe him,” Imanaga said through an interpreter. “So I’ll think of a new word in English for that.”
A fresh scheme launched by the Saudi Pro League will give stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo the opportunity to turn their social media popularity into revenue.
Under the initiative, players and content creators will be able to share links to individual Pro League matches or game bundles on their channels and claim a share of the income generated.
That could prove highly lucrative for Ronaldo should he opt to participate, given his audience of over one billion followers across social platforms. The Portuguese forward joined Al Nassr in 2022, but has hinted the current season may be his last before retirement.
Anyone clicking a link shared by Ronaldo or any other partner in the ‘Share and Earn’ initiative will be taken to a league-owned streaming service.
Selected publishers will also be allowed to host official Pro League live and on-demand broadcasts directly on their own platforms, subject to league authorisation. This works in a similar way to the Bundesliga’s UK partnerships involving YouTuber Mark Goldbridge and Burnley striker Jamie Vardy.
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Jamie Vardy is now streaming Bundesliga games on his YouTube channel (PA)
In that scenario, the stream for the fixture or fixtures would be embedded directly within an approved partner’s platform.
The United Kingdom and Ireland are among 16 territories where shared content can be viewed, alongside Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Canada, New Zealand, Serbia, South Korea, Malta, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Cyprus and Greece.
“The way people discover, consume and engage with sport is changing rapidly,” Omar Mugharbel, the league’s chief executive, said.
“Fans are increasingly connected to competitions, clubs and players through digital platforms and the creators and communities they trust.
“For generations, sports distribution has largely been a relationship between rights holders and broadcasters. Developments in technology and the growth of the creator economy give us an opportunity to add another dimension to that relationship – one in which a broader network of partners can help connect our football with fans and participate in that growth.
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“By democratising both access and distribution, we can bring live RSL football closer to international fans while giving approved content creators, our clubs and players, and other distribution partners a genuine stake in helping us reach new audiences.
“For the SPL, this is an opportunity to innovate, learn and build new relationships with the people and platforms shaping how sport is discovered and consumed around the world.
“As we continue to grow internationally, we want to explore new models that bring fans and the league closer together while creating shared value as our international audience expands.”
Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly and director Mark Walter have sold their stakes in the club to majority owner Clearlake Capital, giving the investment firm full control of the Premier League club.
Clearlake, led by co-founders Behdad Eghbali and Jose E. Feliciano, previously owned 61.5% of Chelsea. Boehly, Walter and Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss each held 12.8%.
Chelsea said Wyss will remain an “important stakeholder and partner” in the ownership group.
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Boehly, who became chairman in 2022 after the consortium completed its £2.3 billion takeover of Chelsea from Roman Abramovich, will now leave the position.
It is understood that Clearlake has paid close to £1 billion for the stakes held by Boehly and Walter, although people close to the deal put Chelsea’s overall value at around £5 billion.
The change follows reports of a rift within the ownership group, with both sides having explored the possibility of buying each other out.
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In his farewell message, Boehly thanked those who helped the club during his time as chairman.
“It has been an honour to serve as Chairman of Chelsea Football Club,” Boehly said.
“I would like to thank the many who helped secure a bright future for the Club, including the English Premier League, the coaches and players, the talented leadership and staff at Chelsea, and the legions of dedicated fans.
“I have valued my partnership with Clearlake and the wider ownership group, and the collective decisions and investment we have made to support the immediate and long-term success of the Club.
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“I am confident that Chelsea is well positioned for continued success under Clearlake’s leadership.”
Boehly and Walter have also sold their stakes in Chelsea’s partner club, French Ligue 1 side Strasbourg.
Since the 2022 takeover, Chelsea’s highest Premier League finish has been fourth, achieved in the 2024-25 season. The club also won the UEFA Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup during that campaign.
Chelsea finished 10th in the Premier League last season and appointed Xabi Alonso as their manager in the summer.
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The club has also gone through major changes to its squad since the takeover, with the ownership initially focusing on signing younger players on long-term contracts.
Eghbali and Feliciano thanked Boehly for his “time and contribution” as chairman, saying he will “always be a part of the Chelsea story and family”.
They said their focus would remain on investing in Chelsea’s infrastructure, sporting performance and player development while working towards long-term success.
Chelsea also has plans to either redevelop Stamford Bridge or move to a new stadium, an issue that has reportedly caused tension within the ownership group.
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Despite Clearlake taking full control, the club said there would be “no changes to the day-to-day operations, leadership or strategy at the club”.
Boehly, who is also a co-owner of baseball franchise the Los Angeles Dodgers, had been chairman since the 2022 takeover.
Jürgen Klopp’s Germany era has begun as the new head coach announced his first squad on Thursday.
To manage the newly organized international break that sees the September and October pauses merged into one, Klopp selected 44 players splitting them into two squads across the four games. Klopp did add though, that Nico Schlotterbeck, Jamal Musiala and Serge Gnabry might stay for the whole two weeks. Goalkeeper Finn Dahmen is also in both squads as Klopp wants to take a closer look at him.
“I want to get to know as many players as possible,” said Klopp at the press conference. There is no A or B team. The squads are put together in a way that makes sense on the pitch and in terms of character and experience.
“There are few names here that will surprise, but we wanted it to be a part of their development,” he added.
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“We didn’t look at what we were missing but rather what we have and realized how much football talent we have.”
There were a total of 11 new players included, with the biggest surprise being Hoffenheim’s Bambase Conte, Stuttgart defender Finn Jeltsch, Celtic’s Mika Baur, and Freiburg’s Derry Scherhant. Younes Ebnoutalib, Frankfurt‘s breakout forward, was included, with Klopp saying he was a “huge talent” who was “hugely delighted” to be included.
Felix Keidel, the 23-year-old midfielder from Elversberg who has played just three Bundesliga games was another big surprise. Keidel can also play at right back, but has been predominately used as a holding midfielder since the small-town team won promotion to the top flight.
Younes Ebnoutalib scored a hat trick for Frankfurt in Berlin and was a member of Elversberg during their promotion pushImage: O. Behrendt/Contrast/IMAGO
Politically, Klopp wants to win back the flag
Klopp spoke at length on many subjects, saying he wanted more from his players, that how the team played was more important than who played, and that his whole career had prepared him for this job. He also spoke on what it means to be German in the modern political and social climate.
“I hope that I don’t have to talk about politics in future press conferences but from my sporting perspective, I would like to win back the flag,” said Klopp. “I want us to always wave it in a way that makes no one think: ‘What’s wrong with you?’ But rather, that people simply get the feeling that you’re happy and understand how lucky you are to have been born, raised, or moved to this wonderful country.”
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“It’s more important that we have doctors. It’s more important that we have nurses. It’s more important that we have a great, great many people in a wide variety of professions,” said Klopp, before adding that football can “foster a sense of community that lets us truly feel the power of sports,” he said, citing Zverev’s recent success in tennis and the basketball World Cup.
ter Stegen one of many old faces who return to Germany squad
Marc-Andre ter Stegen returns to the Germany squad after a lengthy injury layoff, and Klopp called him the number one at the moment. The 33-year-old goalkeeper, who is now playing his club football at Ajax, last appeared for Germany in the Nations League Finals last summer.
“I’ve known Marc-Andre for a long time,” Klopp said.
“He has the right amount of experience. He is a keeper that can play with the ball and he is also an excellent shot-stopper. Everything depends on performance.”
Notable absences in this first Germany squad under the new boss were Deniz Undav, Leroy Sane and Oliver Baumann.
Germany’s international break starts in Amsterdam against the Netherlands on September 24, before a home game in Augsburg against Greece three days later. On October 1, Germany are to play Serbia in Munich before traveling to Thessaloniki to play Greece in the final game of the international break on October 4.
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Germany’s squad for Netherlands (a) and Greece (h)
JJ Gabriel has shocked Manchester United by asking to leave the club
09:07, 17 Sep 2026Updated 09:22, 17 Sep 2026
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JJ Gabriel has been told he’s ‘spitting his dummy out’ after Roy Keane delivered a blunt message to Manchester United, insisting the club cannot afford to indulge a frustrated 15‑year‑old at a time when Michael Carrick is under pressure and desperate for wins. United were caught by surprise when Gabriel requested to leave the club this week.
United chiefs were left stunned by the revelation, particularly as the plan had been to include Gabriel in the squad to face Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday night ahead of a possible debut. Had he featured in the 3-2 defeat at Old Trafford, a game United led 2-0, he would have become the youngest player in the club’s history.
Even so, United believe the situation can still be resolved, with time left on his contract. Gabriel cannot be de‑registered, but he will be able to negotiate a move abroad once he turns 16 next month, helped by the fact he holds an Irish passport.
Speaking on The Overlap, Keane addressed the situation but stressed above all that United need wins, having lost their last two matches. “Carrick’s under pressure. Obviously, [Sir Alex] Ferguson, we go back and sometimes you’d throw lads into the first team, but United they need wins,” he said.
“I don’t think United are in the position to go ‘We can write off a cup game tonight and play a couple of young lads’. No, we need to get some wins, we need to get some momentum into the season and if some 15-year-old is spitting his dummy out, we’ll deal with that.”
“He’s a young boy, he’s 15, and for me, definitely, and from a club point of view, is looking after our younger players, their welfare, their well-being, their exposure, and I think we’ve got to be really, all of us, I think we’ve got to be really conscious of that, really, in this situation.”
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Carrick reiterated that the situation surrounding Gabriel was a sensitive one when speaking to Sky Sports. “It’s more about the welfare, the care and the attention of JJ as a child, really,” he said.
“He’s certainly a young man. The situation is what it is, but we have to be careful about the exposure on that one.”
The 15‑year‑old prodigy is yet to make an official first‑team appearance, though he did feature for Carrick’s side during pre‑season. Gabriel has been a regular in senior training sessions after his outstanding campaign for United’s U18s last season, scoring 26 goals in 29 matches.
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However, Gabriel’s future is now in doubt after he submitted a request to have his registration cancelled, though United have yet to accept it. The club still believe the situation can be resolved, but their chances of keeping hold of their academy gem could be complicated as the forward approaches his 16th birthday next month.
He is not short of admirers, with Real Madrid, Barcelona, Paris Saint‑Germain and Bayern Munich among the clubs targeting the youngster. Madrid are understood to have scouted Gabriel and were impressed by his recent performance against Sabah, where he bagged a hat-trick in the UEFA Youth League.
As he is eligible for a European passport, Gabriel could potentially move to clubs on the continent.
Jürgen Klopp selected 44 players across two separate Germany squads on Thursday ahead of four Nations League fixtures, while opting to drop the nation’s top scorer from the World Cup.
Klopp’s double squad selection turns upcoming matches against the Netherlands, Greece and Serbia into an extended audition for positions prior to the next major tournament, the 2028 European Championship in the UK and Ireland.
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Established stars such as Florian Wirtz and Kai Havertz are likely to be restricted to a maximum of two matches, as Klopp seeks to introduce fresh faces and manage physical demands on players.
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The decision continues an unconventional start to his career in international football, having previously threatened to resign should he feel media scrutiny proved too intrusive or criticism became excessively overwhelming.
Deniz Undav was Germany’s top scorer at the World Cup but has not made the cut (Getty)
A significant portion of those called up on Thursday have never represented Germany at senior level, with candidates like Elversberg midfielder Felix Keidel and Eintracht Frankfurt forward Younes Ebnoutalib having played only a few top-flight club games.
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The sole squad constraint during the league phase requires teams to submit a 23-man matchday roster before midnight ahead of each fixture, though players can be swapped between matches.
There was no place for Deniz Undav, who topped Germany’s scoring charts with three goals and two assists at the World Cup before a round-of-32 penalty shootout loss against Paraguay ended coach Julian Nagelsmann’s reign. Galatasaray winger Leroy Sané was also omitted, leaving him unable to add to his 80 international caps.
Leroy Sane has also been snubbed by Klopp (PA)
Germany stumbled through their group at this summer’s tournament, beating Curacao and Ivory Coast before losing to Ecuador.
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They then suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Paraguay on penalties following a 1-1 draw. Germany have failed to win a major tournament since the 2014 World Cup, and have regularly underperformed over the past decade.
Klopp has brought in to try and turn their fortunes around, and his assignment will begin later this month.
Germany will face the Netherlands on 24 September, before taking on Greece three days later, Serbia on 1 October and Greece again on 4 October, and Klopp is set to use two squads to handle the congested schedule.
Indian athletes arriving in Nagoya for the 2026 Asian Games faced a series of accommodation and logistical problems on Wednesday, with several contingents waiting for hours before getting rooms.
The rowing team was among the worst affected, with many athletes left without accommodation on the cruise ship designated to house them. Some athletes who received rooms were asked to share them with others.
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Shooters also faced delays, while accreditation issues affected India’s pistol shooting head coach, Samaresh Jung. The wushu and table tennis contingents reported lengthy registration procedures as they checked in.
The problems came as India’s athletes and officials were being spread across a cruise ship, container-style accommodation and hotels, instead of staying in a traditional Games Village.
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Rowers wait for hours for accommodation
The Indian rowing contingent reached the cruise ship at around 9 am Japan Standard Time, but several members were still waiting for rooms more than 11 hours later. A rower said only a few members had received accommodation by 8:30 pm, while some of those given rooms had been asked to accommodate additional athletes.
The contingent includes 22 men and five women athletes. An official from the Rowing Federation of India said only three of the 22 male rowers had accommodation listed against their names. The official also said the names of three women rowers — Poonam, Aleena Anto and Anshika Bharati — were missing from the hosts’ registration system despite the athletes having valid accreditation.
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The rowers had also faced an equipment-related issue before leaving India. One group travelling from Mumbai was initially told by Cathay Pacific that its oars could not be checked in. The equipment was subsequently sent to Delhi and was expected to reach Nagoya on Thursday morning, ahead of the team’s first official practice session.
Food and rest become concerns
The long wait came after a demanding journey for the rowing contingent. One rower said the team had left the Army Rowing Node in Pune on Monday evening, travelled to Delhi and then flew to Japan the following morning after a stopover in Bangkok.
According to the rower, the organising committee provided water during the wait but no proper food. Some athletes relied on food they had carried from India.
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The rower also said the team had not been able to get adequate sleep and needed rest, with their competition scheduled to begin on September 19.
Shooters face transport and accommodation delays
The Indian shooting contingent also encountered difficulties after arriving in Nagoya. The shooters reached the airport around 9 pm on Tuesday but reportedly waited nearly three hours for transport. A team member said there was no food available at the airport and that the welcome centre could not provide information on their onward arrangements.
The team eventually reached its hotel around 4 am. Shooters were also moved to a different hotel after the accommodation originally allocated to them was reportedly occupied by other participants.
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India’s pistol shooting head coach, Samaresh Jung, faced a separate accreditation problem. His accreditation did not permit him to enter the players’ arena and field of play during competitions. The issue was taken up with the National Rifle Association of India, and a new accreditation was expected to be issued.
Wushu, table tennis face lengthy check-in
The wushu contingent also encountered problems during registration. Six of the seven players were initially able to get rooms on the cruise ship, while one player and two coaches reportedly could not find their names in the accommodation system.
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An Indian Olympic Association official later said all the players had received rooms.
The table tennis contingent also described the check-in process as lengthy after reaching the cruise ship, although a team member said the situation had eventually settled.
Equestrians seek funds for horse feed
Indian equestrian riders preparing for the Games have faced a different logistical challenge, with the sport’s IOA-appointed ad hoc committee informing riders that government funds had not yet been released for horse feed and related maintenance expenses in Japan.
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An email signed by Lt Col Sandeep Dewan, member (administration) of the ad hoc panel and team leader of the equestrian contingent, said the funds released to the national federation were insufficient to clear some existing expenses. The federation had reportedly used its own funds to cover the shortfall in one case.
The communication also said no government funds had been released for feed and other expenses related to maintaining the horses in Japan.
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Athletes spread across ship, hotels and container rooms
The accommodation difficulties stem from the Games’ unusual housing arrangement. Aichi-Nagoya 2026 has not created a conventional centralised Athletes’ Village. Instead, participants are being housed on the Costa Serena cruise ship docked at Nagoya Port, in container-style rooms at Garden Pier and in commercial hotels across Aichi Prefecture.
Around 4,000 to 5,000 athletes are expected to stay on the cruise ship, while about 2,000 are to be housed in the container units. The remaining athletes and officials are being accommodated in hotels, including at locations away from Nagoya for some events.
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The South Korean contingent has also raised concerns about the size of the container rooms, while athletes from other countries, including Vietnam, China, Korea and Thailand, have reportedly faced accommodation-related difficulties.
We have a full slate in the Big Ten this week with all 18 teams in action across 16 games.
Conference play gets underway as well, with USC and UCLA kicking things off. The Trojans cross the country to Rutgers while the Bruins host Purdue.
Oregon and Washington both face in-state FCS foes to close out the non-conference portion of their season.
Here are my previews for the four teams from the West, plus UTEP at Michigan and Virginia Tech at Maryland.
Portland State at No. 21 Oregon
Friday, September 18 7:30 PM PT, BTN (Mark Followil, Rhett Lewis and Kenjon Barner)
Line:Oregon –58.5 Over/Under:65.5
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Oregon’s season did not get off to a good start with the lackluster showing in knocking off Boise State in the opener.
Things got far worse in Week 2 as the Ducks fell to Oklahoma State, and the Cowboys snapped their 12-game losing skid.
It was the first time in history a team broke a losing streak of 10+ games with a win over a Top 10 opponent. This is not the way 2026 was supposed to start for Oregon.
Now, the Ducks must start over, and the new season begins this week.
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The Vikings should pose little threat to Oregon in this one; PSU is an FCS squad that has struggled to an 0-3 start this season.
So, a get-right week for sure, but what exactly do the Ducks need to get right?
Dante Moore & Dierre Hill Jr. | Mitch Alcala/AP
Well, in the first two games, Oregon certainly has had a multitude of problems. The loss of both coordinators seems to have had a bigger effect than was expected. The defense was supposed to be a strength of the team, and it currently is a disaster.
Against OSU, the Ducks failed to record a sack and were torched for 554 yards. The unit has been marred by missed tackles and blown coverage assignments. This is where the Ducks can use the week to shore those things up.
On offense, the line has not been able to establish a push in the run game, and there have been plenty of issues with pass protection.
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Oregon should dominate all facets against the Vikings, and they should be much better up front. If they are not, then it is going to be a very long season.
Give me the Ducks by 60 in this one, only because they need to improve on those aspects and the starters could see more run than they normally might in a game like this.
Winner:Oregon ATS:Oregon O/U:Over
No. 12 USC at Rutgers
Saturday, September 19 12:30 PM PT, CBS (Brad Nessler, Charles Davis and Jenny Dell)
Line:USC –24 Over/Under:59.5
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While some teams have struggled to start the season, others have rolled. One of those teams rolling through the opening weeks is USC.
Jayden Maiava looks to be in complete control of the offense and has developed a connection with Trent Mosley, though the freshman receiver is injured and is not expected to play this week.
In the first three games, Maiava has completed 80.7% of his passes and thrown 10 touchdowns, becoming just the sixth QB nationally since at least 2000 to throw at least 10 TD passes with a 80%+ completion percentage in the first three games of a season.
Simply put, the Trojans offense is firing on all cylinders and is looking unstoppable.
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If there is a cause for concern, it has come on the defensive side of the ball, where the Trojans have allowed some late scores to make things tighter than they should have been.
Trojan WR Kayden Dixon-Wyatt | Mark J. Terrill/AP
But the starters have looked good, and they shut out Fresno State, seemingly their best opponent thus far.
The opposition has been soft ahead of a challenging Big Ten slate, but the challenges will not start this week.
Rutgers has played some of the worst football in America this season and certainly among Power Four teams. The Knights are among the worst in the nation in both total offense and defense through their first two games.
Rutgers is 0-43 in their last 43 games against ranked opponents, with 39 of those 43 losses by 10+ points and the average defeat by 29.8.
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That trend continues: SC wins big, as they remain unbeaten while the Knights start 0-3 for the first time since 2008—and Greg Schiano’s seat gets scorching hot.
Winner:USC ATS: USC O/U:Under
UTEP at No. 19 Michigan
Saturday, September 19 12:30 PM PT, Big Ten Network (Jeff Levering, Jake Butt and Brooke Fletcher)
Line:Michigan –35 Over/Under:48.5
The round-robin play in the Okla-TEP-igan cup concludes this week with the Miners traveling to the Big House as Michigan looks to conclude the non-conference slate 3-0 (ish).
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Of course, UTEP played Oklahoma to open the season, hence the round-robin slate. UTEP is hoping the trip to Ann Arbor is a bit better than that trip to Norman was, with the Miners falling 51-0 and not even topping 200 yards of offense.
The go-go attack of UTEP rebounded in week two with a convincing win over Texas Southern. The Miners put up 51 points and were balanced on offense with 252 on the ground and 239 through the air.
It was a big improvement over the shutout loss to Oklahoma. Obviously, the competition was a bit different as well.
Kyle Whittingham admitted that he and the staff did not have a good game plan in the opener for Bryce Underwood. They rectified that in game two against Oklahoma as Young was electric with the ball in his hands.
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Kam Thomas | UTEP Athletics
Underwood still has not been able to throw with any real effectiveness, but he was a problem for the Sooners on the ground. The QB accounted for 87 of the Wolverines 152 yards on the ground.
So which Michigan team shows up—the one that struggled with Western Michigan or the one that rebounded against the Sooners?
I think we will see more of the latter this season and definitely that version this week. Underwood will need to get better throwing the football, but he won’t need to make a jump this week.
Michigan should be able to run all over the Miners, and the defense of the Wolverines will stymie UTEP throughout.
Winner: Michigan ATS:Michigan O/U:Under
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Eastern Washington at Washington
Saturday, September 19 4:15 PM PT, BTN (AJ Kanell, Marcel Reece and Alyssa Charlston-Smith)
Line:Washington –42.5 Over/Under:56.5
The Huskies are looking to find some rhythm, especially on the offensive side of the ball, in a week when they could also be shorthanded with several players out with injuries.
This is a game to work out the kinks and get healthy.
Washington’s win over Utah State last week was far closer than expected. Similar to their PNW conference rival Oregon, UW has been inconsistent in its offensive line play.
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Against the Aggies, the Huskies only managed 2.67 yards per rush. Against the Eagles, Demond Williams should be able to make all kinds of plays all over the field. The line should also be able to create the physical push that has been lacking.
Husky WR Dezmen Roebuck | Joe Nicholson/Imagn Images
The UW offense has found the end zone only four times this season in the two wins over Washington State and USU. I’d expect that output to more than double in this game.
The win over the USU last week may have been alarming in just how tight it was, but it is better to get a win out of it than a loss. Hopefully, for UW fans, the alarm will signal improvement.
This week is a chance for Washington to get things right and hopefully get and stay healthy before conference play opens.
Winner: Washington ATS: Washington O/U:Under
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Virginia Tech Hokies at Maryland Terrapins
Saturday, September 19 4:30 PM PT, FS1 (Eric Collins and Spencer Tillman)
Line:Virginia Tech –3 Over/Under:53.5
There was a time, 2009 in fact, when James Franklin was named the coach in waiting to replace Ralph Friedgen at Maryland. Things went sideways, and Franklin ended up at Vandy, then Penn State, and now Virginia Tech.
Maryland might be in a better spot over the last 15 years than they could have been. I guess that part is debatable, but I lean towards UM on this one. Either way, any time Franklin faces off with the Terps, I like to keep my eyes open.
The Terps will welcome the Hokies to College Park this weekend in an intriguing battle. Both teams are unbeaten, albeit against opponents they both should have handled and did.
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But three weeks ago I would have said Tech wins this one easily. Now, I am not so sure. Maryland has played much better in the opening two weeks than I had expected.
Malik Washington is a talented playmaker and put up big numbers as a freshman, but through the first two games this season has looked like a far better passer. He is completing 73.6% of his passes this season and has yet to throw an interception.
This week will be a challenge. Va Tech leads the nation in sacks this season, getting to the QB 12 times in their two games. Last week they recorded seven sacks against ODU. The Terps have only allowed one sack this season.
Offensively, the Hokies did not get the push at the line they needed against the Monarchs, averaging just 2.1 yards per rush as they totaled just 89 yards against the Sun Belt squad.
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The team that controls the trenches is going to win this game. And I like the Terps to be stingy against the run. Washington’s ability to make plays outside of the pocket will create the upset.
Winner:Maryland ATS:Maryland O/U:Under
Purdue Boilermakers at UCLA Bruins
Saturday, September 19 8:00 PM PT, BTN (Jason Horowitz, Brock Vereen and Kelsie Kasper)
Line:UCLA –14 Over/Under:53.5
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UCLA has looked good in the opening of the Bob Chesney era. The Bruins have embraced a run-first approach, running on almost 63% of their offensive snaps.
Purdue allowed Wake Forrest to run for 186 yards on 41 carries in their loss last week. The Bruins ground game could be in for a big day.
Wayne Knight, Anthony Woods, and Jaivian Thomas have all been effective on the ground and the rotation will continue to work. Nico Iamaleava looks like a natural fit in this offense.
The Bruins have already run for 10 touchdowns this season, two more than they had all of 2025.
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Nico Iamaleava | Ross Turteltaub/UCLA Athletics
Purdue will look to throw the football; Ryan Browne leads the Big Ten in pass completions this season with 27.5 per game.
UCLA completely took the passing game away from San Diego State and while Cal racked up a ton of yardage through the air, it was a bend but don’t break. Cal threw the ball a bunch and UCLA weathered it.
Simply put, UCLA is the far better team in this. Purdue is traveling across the country. The Bruins will run the ball at will and win this one going away.
Winner:UCLA ATS: UCLA O/U:Over
Straight-Up Staff Picks for Selected Games
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writes about various topics for SuperWest sports, including stats and records, college sports, and motorsports. He also founded and runs the Sports and Entertainment Research Center (SERC).
Ricky Saints admitted that he isn’t good at jumping off the top rope. The WWE SmackDown star is usually quite smooth in the ring while he’s competing or on the microphone.
Saints moved up to the main roster and signed with SmackDown after a dominant run on NXT, where he became the NXT Champion. He unsuccessfully challenged Rey Fenix for the AAA World Cruiserweight Championship on the September 11, 2026 edition of SmackDown.
Thanks for the submission!
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Speaking on Huge Pop with Donnie DaSilva and Jimmy Korderas, Saints admitted that he is quite unathletic in his head and explained why jumping off the top rope and the reality of it are two different things.
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“If you asked the internet, I’m not good at playing guitar [laughs]. I don’t know, politicking? I don’t know what I’m not good at….you know what, actually, I’m not that good at a lot of jumping off the top rope. I get up there and I’m very unathletic in my head. The way that I think I’m jumping and the reality of it are two different things,” said Ricky Saints. [H/T: Fightful]
Saints added that he never looked at himself as a high-flyer. He would rather be a blend of everything.
“Sometimes it feels like an obstacle, but I never really thought of myself as that,” Saints said, speaking on being looked at as a high-flyer because of his size. “There was a time I was trying to figure out what style I am, and I just came to the point where I don’t really have a specific style that I do. These guys that I was coming up with were like, ‘I’m a technical wrestler.’ I can do kind of all of it, but I’m more of a pastiche type guy. Everything is a blend of a blend of a blend. That does sometimes bite you in the butt, but I don’t really let it bother me. I don’t like those type of restraints,” added Ricky Saints.
When Did Ricky Saints Debut On The Main Roster?
Ricky Saints debuted on the main roster on the April 24, 2026 episode of SmackDown. He confronted then-Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes on his debut and lost to The American Nightmare in his first match on the main roster.
He was briefly involved in the United States Championship picture, unsuccessfully challenging Trick Williams at Night of Champions.
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Conference play gets underway as well, with USC and UCLA kicking things off. The Trojans cross the country to Rutgers while the Bruins host Purdue.
Portland State at No. 21 Oregon
No. 12 USC at Rutgers
UTEP at No. 19 Michigan
Eastern Washington at Washington
Virginia Tech Hokies at Maryland Terrapins
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