Given the call by Sevilla in the wake of their sacking of Argentine Jorge Sampaoli, Mendilibar answered and then some.

Within days, the Spaniard’s side had knocked Manchester Utd out of the Europa League quarter-finals, scoring two dramatic late goals to salvage a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford before winning the return in Andalusia 3-0.

They then squeezed past Juventus in the semis after extra time before going the distance in the final, beating Roma on penalties. It was an outcome that the then Roma manager, Jose Mourinho, insisted he would not recognise such was his frustration that Mendilibar had got his hands on the trophy and his belief that the outcome was unjust.

The honeymoon did not last long, though, and he was relieved of his duties just four months later after a poor start to the season.

Incredibly, 12 months on, he received another call, this time from Greece. Olympiakos needed a manager and Mendilibar accepted the challenge.

Within days, he was back in continental competition and guiding the Greek giants to their first European final.

He had to outfox continental specialist and countryman Unai Emery en route, beating his Aston Villa side in the Conference League semi-finals before creating more history as they overcame Fiorentina in the final in Athens.

This meant that Mendilibar followed Rafa Benitez in winning back-to-back European trophies with two different clubs.

However, perhaps more importantly, it meant a Greek club had won a European honour for the first time and ended a 13-year stranglehold by the big four leagues in an era when those competitions and teams are getting more and more powerful.

Only clubs from Spain, England, Italy and Germany had got their hands on the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League since Porto’s victory over Braga in the secondary tournament in Dublin in 2011. Until Olympiakos of course.

That success tempered the club’s domestic disappointment as they finished third in the Greek Super League behind champions PAOK, who won the title for just a fourth time, and neighbours AEK Athens.

RJ Young

FOX Sports National College Football Analyst

The first College Football Playoff rankings for the 2024 season were released Tuesday, and it’s the Oregon Ducks who were named the No. 1 team in the initial set of rankings.

This is the first time in program history that Oregon has been ranked No. 1 in any edition of the CFP rankings since its conception back in 2014. The Ducks’ highest ranking in a CFP reveal was back in 2014 when they were ranked No. 2 for five consecutive weeks.

Ohio State is ranked No. 2 in the first set of CFP rankings. Ryan Day’s team is 7-1 on the season, with its lone loss coming against top-ranked Oregon back in Week 7. The Buckeyes are coming off an impressive top-five win over Penn State this past weekend on the road. Georgia, also sitting at 7-1 with wins over Clemson and Texas, is ranked No. 3 in the CFP rankings, while undefeated Miami and its Heisman Trophy hopeful QB Cam Ward sit at No. 4 in the rankings.

So, while it’s Oregon, Georgia, Miami and BYU that will receive first-round byes in the projected bracket, my top takeaways from the committee’s initial reveal center around the following programs: Colorado, Indiana and Ohio State.

With that, here are my top takeaways from the first set of CFP rankings:

1. Colorado’s path to the CFP has emerged after seeing its name among the selection committee’s top 25 for the first time since 2016

The Buffs were ranked No. 20 in Tuesday’s CFP reveal, one spot behind Kansas State (19) and three spots behind Iowa State (17).

With Iowa State and Kansas State taking losses to Texas Tech and Houston, respectively, Colorado (6-2) moved into a tie for second place in the Big 12 standings with the Cyclones. That means Deion Sanders’ Buffs are not just bowl-eligible with a Heisman candidate leading the offense and defense in Travis Hunter, but they also find themselves on a path to the 12-team CFP.

With just one game left against a team with a winning record in Texas Tech (6-3) — Utah (4-4), Kansas (2-6) and Oklahoma State (3-6) — a win over the Red Raiders would be massive for the Buffs, who need Iowa State to lose to Kansas State on Nov. 30 and to win out in order to earn entry into the Big 12 title game.

If Colorado wins out, that would mark the first 10-win season the Buffs have secured since 2016 when they finished No. 10 in the Selection Sunday rankings — high enough to earn selection into a 12-team CFP in the four-team era.

2. Indiana is the most (un)likely CFP team, and it’s not close

BYU has won a national title. BYU has enjoyed a Heisman Trophy winner. BYU won 11 games just four years ago.

Indiana has never won any of those things, and, in November, this program has a chance to win 10 games for the first time in school history and earn a chance to play for the national title for the first time in history.

The Hoosiers are 9-0 for the first time and have achieved their highest ranking in the CFP era at No. 8 after having previously peaked at No. 11 in the Selection Sunday 2020 rankings. 

This Indiana team has won every game by 14 or more. In Big Ten play, they’ve won games by 29, 37 and 49 points. Two of those three wins have come on the road.

While both the AP and the College Football Playoff committee ranked the Hoosiers No. 8, I ranked this team at No. 6 in my latest College Football Playoff predictions because they have demonstrated they can play at the level Oregon and Ohio State have. Just look at a common opponent: Ohio State beat Michigan State 38-7. Oregon beat Michigan State 31-10. Indiana stomped a mud hole in Michigan State and walked it dry, 47-10.

Barring a disastrous loss for Indiana or Ohio State, that Nov. 23 matchup will define which of those programs is guaranteed selection come Dec. 4 when the CFP bracket is set.

3. Ohio State has the best seat at the CFP table

This is an opinion I’ve consistently voiced since the 12-team format was finalized. Think of it as the pinned comment on a YouTube channel or X page: The No. 5 seed is the best position in the CFP, and it’s not close. And right now, that team sitting in the No. 5 spot in the bracket is the Buckeyes.

As the No. 5 seed, you’re likely a conference title win away from the No. 1 or No. 2 seed, as we believe that team is likely to come out of the Big Ten or SEC. But even the conference champion would like to have the fifth seed, because that team gets to host the first home game in postseason history against the weakest team in the CFP field. With a win, the No. 5 seed then gets to play the weakest of the four highest-ranked conference champions.

That means, in this scenario, Ohio State would host Boise State at the Shoe. Then, the Buckeyes would play BYU at a neutral site. While the Cougars would have a bye, most believe Ohio State is the better team as the runner-up in one of the two super conferences. With a win, the Buckeyes would finally fight in their weight class, potentially setting up a matchup against Big Ten foe and No. 1-ranked Oregon. That game would also be played at a neutral site, without the Ducks getting the benefit of a week’s rest.

Play for the No. 5 seed.

Here is a look at the first set of CFP rankings for the 2024 college football season:

1. Oregon
2. Ohio State
3. Georgia 
4. Miami (Fla.) 
5. Texas  
6. Penn State 
7. Tennessee 
8. Indiana 
9. BYU
10. Notre Dame 
11. Alabama
12. Boise State
13. SMU
14. Texas A&M 
15. LSU
16. Ole Miss 
17. Iowa State
18. Pitt
19. Kansas State
20. Colorado
21. Washington State
22. Louisville
23. Clemson 
24. Missouri
25. Army

Now that the first set of CFP rankings are live, here is a look at what the projected bracket would look like:

1. Oregon: Bye (would then play the winner of 8. Tennessee vs. 9. Indiana)

2. Georgia: Bye (would then play the winner of 7. Penn State vs. 10. Notre Dame)

3. Miami: Bye (would then play the winner of 6. Texas vs. 11. Alabama)

4. BYU: Bye (would then play the winner of 5. Ohio State vs. 12. Boise State) 

5. Ohio State (Big Ten championship runner-up) vs. 12. Boise State (highest-ranked Group of 5 champion)

6. Texas (SEC championship runner-up) vs. 11. Alabama (one of the top-12 teams)

7. Penn State (one of the top-12 teams) vs. 10. Notre Dame (one of the top-12 teams)

8. Tennessee (one of the top-12 teams) vs. 9. Indiana (one of the top-12 teams)

First two teams out: 
13. SMU
14. Texas A&M 

RJ Young is a national college football writer and analyst for FOX Sports and the host of the podcast “The Number One College Football Show.” Follow him at @RJ_Young.

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“It’s gonna be a blockbuster! I don’t think Roy’s gonna come out too well in this film to be honest.”

Jason McAteer is looking forward to seeing Saipan at the cinema. After all, the former Liverpool midfielder is set to be portrayed in it.

However, the tale of the infamous bust-up between Roy Keane and Mick McCarthy at the 2002 World Cup is not a great memory for him.

Steve Coogan has been cast as Republic of Ireland manager McCarthy, with Éanna Hardwicke taking on the Keane role as they depict the fallout, which took place on the small Japanese island of Saipan and resulted in the captain leaving the camp.

McAteer, 53, first got wind of the project via a text from an actor friend in Ireland.

“It was a picture of this kid and he asked ‘do you think this guy can play you in a movie?” he told the BBC podcast, Sacked in the Morning. “Obviously it was Brad Pitt – I’m joking.

“He said they’re making a film about Saipan and I was like ‘shut up’. I asked was it a documentary and he went ‘no, it’s a big movie’.”

Manchester United midfielder Keane had angered the FA of Ireland by giving a newspaper interview in which he criticised training facilities, including a “rock hard” pitch and missing equipment.

McCarthy’s decision to send Keane home triggered a media frenzy and divided supporters.

“There was always tension between Roy and Mick,” McAteer remembered. “It went back from when they played together.

“When Mick was (Republic of Ireland) captain and Roy was a young kid, they clashed a number of times.

“Then Mick got the manager’s job and Roy became one of the best midfielders in the world, so it was always a difficult relationship.”

Week 9 is in the books, which means that the halfway point of the 2024 NFL season has arrived. 

To mark the occasion, “The Facility” and the “NFL on FOX Podcast” each handed out awards and superlatives for the first nine weeks of the season. Let’s take a look at who they picked as the winners for each of the major awards!

MVP

LeSean McCoy: Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson
Chase Daniel: Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes
James Jones: Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson
Emmanuel Acho: Detroit Lions QB Jared Goff
NFL on FOX pod: Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson

McCoy: “This was a tough one because Pat is undefeated and Josh Allen’s playing elite. I’m going with Lamar Jackson. Winning those two MVPs was really hard to do, but [he’s] playing better than them MVP [seasons].”

Daniel: “This guy [Mahomes], he’s had his best two games the last two games. The Chiefs are heating up.”

Jones: “[Lamar] is the best player on the planet right now playing in the National Football League. The vote’s been in weeks ago.”

Acho: “This one, for me, was difficult. Jared Goff leads the league in completion percentage. Jared Goff has the best offense in football. Jared Goff has the best team in the NFC, one of the best teams in the NFL.”

David Helman: “Lamar Jackson, absolutely incredible start to this season. It’s easy for me to believe he repeats as MVP if he keeps this up.” 

Coach of the Year

LeSean McCoy: Kansas City Chiefs HC Andy Reid
Chase Daniel: Washington Commanders HC Dan Quinn
James Jones: Minnesota Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell
Emmanuel Acho: Washington Commanders HC Dan Quinn

McCoy: “Every year [Reid] wins over and over again, and we give him no acknowledgment because he’s a good coach? Well, that’s what the award’s for. He’s on pace for a three-peat.”

Daniel: “[Quinn] has given them hope. He’s the leader of that franchise. In just nine games, you have turned in the complete opposite direction of where your franchise was headed. It helps when you have Jayden Daniels.”

Jones: “Nobody in the world thought the Minnesota Vikings would look like the way the Minnesota Vikings look, especially with Sam Darnold. And kudos to Sam Darnold, because you are playing really good football. But that has a lot to do with the coach and the game he is calling for you.”

Acho: “For me, it’s simple. I trust this person to lead — not just a country, but an organization. I trust this person to galvanize troops. I trust this person, though they lagged as a head coach before … now they’re showing me they’re ready to take over: Dan Quinn.” 

Midseason surprise team

LeSean McCoy: Washington Commanders
Chase Daniel: Minnesota Vikings
James Jones: Arizona Cardinals
Emmanuel Acho: Washington Commanders

McCoy: “I didn’t expect a rookie quarterback to do all of this. You trade all these players last year and you still have a good season.”

Daniel: “I like the Vikings. Sam Darnold, Kevin O’Connell, the most important hire Kevin O’Connell made was Brian Flores. And that defense, that’s the reason why they only have two losses right now.”

Jones: “Where did we expect [the Cardinals] to be right now? Not first! They’re not really good on defense. Kyler Murray’s just making plays at the end of the games to win football games. They are 5-4 right now, No. 1 in the West. Put respect on the little man, Kyler Murray.”

Acho: “The Washington Commanders, they are the oldest team in football. How are they 7-2? Their division was supposed to be the toughest and they were supposed to be at the bottom of it.”

Patrick Mahomes, Jayden Daniels & Bears headline NFL midseason awards

Offensive Rookie of the Year

LeSean McCoy: Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels
Chase Daniel: Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels
James Jones: Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels
Emmanuel Acho: Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels
NFL on FOX Pod: Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels

Acho: “Jayden Daniels is the only thing that can bring us all four together.”

Helman: “It really feels like it’s what can Jayden do from here because it feels like Offensive Rookie of the Year is in the bag.” 

Biggest disappointment

LeSean McCoy: San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys
Chase Daniel: Chicago Bears
James Jones: New York Jets
Emmanuel Acho: Las Vegas Raiders HC Antonio Pierce

Daniel: “C’mon Bears, what are we doing? Even though they’re 4-4, the coaching has not been up to par. We need to get better. Everything they’ve done to build up this team and to surround Caleb Williams with stuff has been a disappointment.”

Acho: “Nobody has broken more hearts, nobody has made more incompetent decisions on a week-in and week-out basis: Antonio Pierce.”

Other awards

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Los Angeles Rams EDGE Jared Verse

Helman: “It feels like the obvious winner of this award so far is Jared Verse.”

Comeback Player of the Year: Atlanta Falcons QB Kirk Cousins

Helman: “If the Jets pull it together, not saying they will, but Aaron Rodgers is not playing poorly considering that he’s coming off the same injury.”

Defensive Player of the Year: New York Giants DL Dexter Lawrence

Helman: “If you’re asking me to predict the winner, that’s not the point of this. Lawrence is a deserving midseason Defensive Player of the Year. If he keeps this up, he is a deserving winner and I hope people can look past that Giants’ record to recognize that.”

Offensive Player of the Year: Baltimore Ravens RB Derrick Henry

Helman: “I think Derrick Henry is one of the defining stories in the NFL this year. I’d be really surprised if he tapers off. Passing game production can be finicky. Handing the ball off to Derrick Henry isn’t finicky.”

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A thrilling Week 9 of the NFL season is in the books, and several stars showed out! Now, it’s time for FOX Sports lead NFL analyst Tom Brady to name his latest 3 Stars of The Week. 

At the end of each week throughout the regular season, Brady will choose three players whose performances stood out to him the most. This week includes a familiar star running back still turning heads in new colors, and an under-the-radar AFC North pass-rusher. Brady also selects his power rankings of the Top 5 teams in the NFL every week and chooses one player from each game he broadcasts this season as his LFG Player of the Game. Here’s his latest 3 Stars of The Week:

Tom Brady’s 3 Stars of Week 9: Saquon Barkley, Trey Hendrickson, Lamar Jackson | DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE

Check out how Brady’s 3 Stars of Week 9 performed, with the GOAT’s full analysis below!

Week 9 stats: 159 yards on 27 attempts (5.9 yards per carry), one rushing touchdown, three catches, 40 receiving yards, one receiving touchdown — and one reverse hurdle(1!) — in 28-23 win over Jacksonville Jaguars

Brady’s thoughts: “Wow! He is having a career year in Philly right now. I’m sure everyone saw that ridiculous reverse hurdle. Are you kidding me!?!? Saquon went for 199 yards from scrimmage. He had another 100-yard rush game. I’m excited to see what moves he’s got going against the Cowboys [on] Sunday — I’ll be watching that one closely.”

[More from Tom Brady]

Week 9 stats: Four sacks, seven QB hits, one pass defensed, one forced fumble in 41-24 win over Las Vegas Raiders

Brady’s thoughts: “He had a career day going against the Raiders on Sunday. He had four sacks! He sacked me a few times and I didn’t like it at all. But he was pressuring the QB all day. Trey leads the league with 11 sacks in nine games. What a year he’s having.

“He’s got a huge game Thursday night against the Ravens. Lamar [Jackson], watch out, man. You better know where No. 91 is lined up on every snap.”

Week 9 stats: 84.2% completion rate, 280 pass yards, three touchdown passes, no interceptions, 158.3 (perfect) passer rating in 41-10 win over Denver Broncos

Brady’s thoughts: “Speaking of Lamar, he makes another appearance as one of my stars of the week. He had 280 yards passing, three tuddies, a perfect quarterback rating against a really good Broncos defense. 

“Lamar is making a case for that second straight MVP. That performance makes it 20 touchdowns and two picks on the year. Let’s see if he can keep it rolling against the Bengals on Thursday.”

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Saquon Barkley

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With the score 1-1 at half-time, Arsenal were heading out of the Champions League, and yet they produced an inspired second-half performance – one of the club’s best ever in Europe.

“I remember the first half was pretty even but in the second half, shooting down towards our corner, Henry, [Robert] Pires, Edu and co. ran riot, sending us ecstatic!” added Guy Wisemen, who was also at the game.

Arsenal retook the lead within five minutes of the restart when Henry cut inside and found Freddie Ljungberg, who fired into the bottom corner.

It was then a case of Gunners dominance as they looked for a third and a two-goal cushion, and it eventually came in the 85th minute through an Henry stunner.

The Frenchman collected the ball from inside his own half, charged into the box, beat Javier Zanetti with a trick, and then smashed one into the bottom corner.

In the Inter section Richard had already been kicked out for celebrating Ljungberg’s goal, while Kelvin “went bonkers” for Henry’s strike but managed to stick around by “speaking a little Italian”.

Three minutes later and Arsenal grabbed another as Henry’s cross missed Ljungberg in the middle but fell kindly for Edu, who passed into an open goal.

Chaos, confusion and delirium for Arsenal supporters.

One minute later and the thrashing was complete when Jeremie Aliadiere, on as a late substitute, slipped the ball to Robert Pires for number five.