By Stephen Vilardo, SuperWest Sports
Sports
2026 Week 1 Mountain West College Football Previews
We had a heavy dose of West Coast college football in Week Zero and just enough to whet our appetite.
Now in Week 1, everyone gets in on the action.
We even have a conference matchup among potential Mountain West title contenders in Honolulu.
Here are my previews for this weekend’s games.
San Jose State at Eastern Michigan
Friday, September 4
3:30 PM PT, ESPN+
Line: Eastern Michigan –3.5
Over/Under: 56.5
Both teams kicked things off last week with different results.
The Spartans gave up the most points of any team nationally in their Week 0 loss to USC, losing to the Trojans 42-26 in the opener. The 23 fourth-quarter points made it look more respectable on the scoreboard.
The Eagles opened the season with a conference win over new MAC foe Sacramento State 28-17.
Obviously, we cannot glean too much from those results as the opposition was vastly different.
The issue for the Spartans in the opener was the Trojans’ ability to move the ball at will through the air, and with a lot of first-year players on the receiving end of the majority of the passing yards.
While SJSU does not have to face Jayden Maiava again, EMU has an experienced QB of their own.
Noah Kim has played plenty of high-level college football. The grad student began at Michigan State, starting half a season for the Spartans before splitting time at Coastal Carolina.
Kim threw for 279 yards in the opener, connecting on 71.1% of his passes.
The Spartans only saw the ball hit the ground six times as USC torched them through the air. The passing defense will need to be a lot better in Ypsilanti this week.
The EMU ground game was non-existent last week, so if San Jose State can make the Eagles one-dimensional and concentrate on slowing the air attack, they could even their record.
On defense, the Eagles’ weak spot is against the run, and SJSU does not normally commit too much to the ground game. That could play into the home team’s hand in this one.
EMU has not opened a season 2-0 since 2018. For the third time in four seasons, the Spartans will open the season with consecutive losses.
Winner: Eastern Michigan
ATS: San Jose State
O/U: Under
UTEP at No. 10 Oklahoma
Friday, September 4
5:00 PM PT, SEC Network
Line: Oklahoma –42
Over/Under: 50.5
The Miners’ first game as a Mountain West program will be a challenge as Scotty Walden takes his squad north to meet SEC opponent Oklahoma.
The last time we saw the Sooners, they were falling apart in a painful meltdown against Alabama on their home field in a Playoff loss.
This season, the Sooners figure to be much better.
UTEP will look to fine-tune their go-go offense ahead of their new conference challenges.
These teams have met five times prior, with the Sooners winning each meeting by a combined 248-41 score.
This one probably won’t be as close. If UTEP’s high-octane offense is producing, it could slow down the Sooner pass rush and keep the defense gassed.
That is a big ask, however, and should the offense get hampered with three-and-outs, the UTEP defense will be getting worked.
The more likely outcome is that the Oklahoma front four spends a ton of time in the UTEP backfield, and the Miners struggle to gain 50 yards rushing.
On the other side of the ball, John Mateer will put up big numbers and get into a good rhythm before facing Michigan in Week 2.
Winner: Oklahoma
ATS: Oklahoma
O/U: Over
Wyoming at Colorado State
Saturday, September 5
3:00 PM PT, USA Network
Line: Colorado State –3.5
Over/Under: 46.5
For just the second time ever, a Colorado State head coach will open his tenure in Fort Collins against the Wyoming Cowboys.
Jim Mora Jr will join Julius “Hans” Wagner as the only CSU coaches to start their tenure with the Border War. Back in 1942 it was Wagner and the Rams opening 1-0. Will we see history repeat itself this weekend?
The two former conference foes will approach the season-opening rivalry slightly differently, at least, in announcing a starting QB.
Jay Sawvel has decided on Tyler Hughes under center. At William & Mary, Hughes became the first QB in program history with at least 2,000 passing yards and 600 rushing yards in the same season.
The Cowboys hope he finds that same dual-threat magic this season.
Jim Mora Jr has made it clear that he has no intention of announcing the winner of the battle between UConn transfer K’saan Farrar and Oklahoma State transfer Hauss Hejny before kickoff.
Both are raw, without much experience at their prior schools, but whoever starts will have the benefit of Juice Vereen at TE. The transfer from UConn is a talented playmaker who should be a big weapon in the Rams’ offense.
The Cowboys will look to run the ball and play solid defense. The Rams were 127th against the run in 2025 and will need to improve. This will be a good test to see where they stand.
Mora’s UConn squad was not much better against the run in 2025, ranking 124th.
Both programs struggled last season, and this is probably a make-or-break year for the Cowboys. I think UW is much improved, and this one will be an indicator of the progress being made.
Winner: Wyoming
ATS: Wyoming
O/U: Under
UNLV at Hawai’i
Saturday, September 5
7:00 PM PT, The CW
Line: UNLV –3
Over/Under: 58.5
Our lone league game of the week features a pair of teams I feel could be battling for the conference crown.
It also features a pair of teams that had disappointing losses to open the season last weekend, despite my predictions to the contrary.
Last week I said the Warriors would need to shut down Micah Ford and the Stanford ground attack, and they certainly did not do either. Despite a furious comeback, Hawaii came up short.
In Las Vegas, the Rebels struggled to stop the Memphis ground attack in a 27-21 loss.
So, how do they rectify the opening week woes? Well, simply put, both teams need to limit their opponents’ rushing game.
UNLV looks to have the edge there as the Warriors would not be able to muster much on the ground at all against Stanford. UNLV produced much more rushing, but did not seem fluid.
Jackson Arnold excelled through the air and on the ground in his debut, but the Rebels need to do a better job of protecting him. The six sacks allowed last week were the high for the week.
UNLV also had too many empty trips in the Red Zone in Game One. Hawaii could have the edge in that area, but will need to be tougher up front at the line.
I was leaning toward the Rainbow Warriors, but the more I break it down, I think this one goes the way of UNLV. The Rebels get the early leg up in the MW race.
Winner: UNLV
ATS: Hawai’i
O/U: Under
Central Michigan at New Mexico
Saturday, September 5
7:00 PM PT, FS1
Lines: New Mexico –10.5
Over/Under: 46.5
As the conference race gets underway on the Islands, the other key player in the conference race gets its season going against Central Michigan.
New Mexico will open with uncertainty at QB, a spot that seemed like a strength just days ago. Jack Layne will miss the season with an injury, which opens the door for one of the trio of senior James Laubstein, junior Luke Moga, and sophomore Toa Fa’avae.
Expect all three to see action against the Chips as the battle for the starting spot will likely continue throughout the game.
The loss of Layne is certainly big, but the Lobos still have a lot of talent on the roster and the best defender in the Mountain West. Jaxton Eck will anchor a defense looking to limit a CMU squad with a bruising offensive line.
Couple a good veteran offensive line with a suddenly injury-riddled Lobos outfit, and this contest offers some intrigue—and puts UNM on upset alert.
This could be a good test for New Mexico. It will be interesting to see who emerges from the QB battle, and how long it takes to decide the clear winner.
CMU was way too inconsistent last season, and they still have a number of the same issues this season. I think the Lobos should pull away late as the offense will be able to produce.
Winner: New Mexico
ATS: New Mexico
O/U: Under
Western Kentucky at Nevada
Saturday, September 5
7:30 PM PT, CBS Sports Network
Lines: Western Kentucky –2.5
Over/Under: 52.5
Western Kentucky seems like a team poised to take C-USA by storm, and Tyson Helton has them coming off a 9-4 season and New Orleans Bowl win.
But the 2026 version of the Hilltoppers has several holes to fill from the 2025 version. And starting things off with a long road trip is never an easy task for a team looking to gel.
That could be a good sign for Nevada. The Wolf Pack looks to make a big jump in Year Three of the Jeff Choate era. Last season, the Pack traveled to WKU and fell 31-16. They hope to flip the script to open 2026.
If Nevada is, in fact, to make a big jump this season, they will have to get it done on the defensive side of things, and will be tested early by the Tops. WKU averaged 400+ yards per game in 2025 with a balanced attack.
And while they have some holes to fill, Rodney Tisdale has a year under his belt running the offense and will be a dual-threat playmaker under center.
If Nevada is to open with a win, they will have to force mistakes from the QB and create turnovers, which was an issue in 2025. Last season, Nevada was among the worst in the nation in turnover margin and takeaways.
Western Kentucky will spoil the season opener in Reno.
Winner: WKU
ATS: WKU
O/U: Under
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).
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Thailand’s women’s national volleyball books a ticket to the LA 2028 Olympics. –THAILAND VOLLEYBALL ASSOCIATION
BANGKOK– Thailand’s women’s national volleyball team made history after defeating hosts China 3-2 in the final of the 2026 AVC Women’s Volleyball Asian Championship, successfully defending their continental title and securing their first-ever place at the Olympic Games.
The five-set victory earned Thailand direct qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, marking the first time the women’s national volleyball team will compete on the Olympic stage.
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Thailand made an impressive start to the final, carrying their confidence from the previous round into a strong opening set. Solid defence combined with an effective attack allowed them to control the contest and take the first set 25-20.
China responded emphatically in the second. Thailand began to struggle with their serve reception, while the hosts found greater consistency in both attack and defence. China dominated the set 25-11 to level the match at 1-1.
Thailand regrouped in the third and produced a much tighter contest, taking the lead at stages during the middle and latter part of the set. China, however, raised their level at the decisive moments and overturned the deficit to win 25-23, moving 2-1 ahead.
Needing the fourth set to keep the match alive, Thailand responded strongly. Their attacking rhythm returned, while improved defence created opportunities to dictate play. A 25-18 victory levelled the match at 2-2 and forced a deciding fifth set.
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The two teams remained locked in a tense battle in the decider amid strong support for the hosts. Thailand maintained their composure under pressure and won the decisive points to close out the set 15-10, completing a 3-2 victory.
The result secured another Asian championship for Thailand and, more significantly, delivered direct qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
After generations of Thai players pursued the Olympic dream, Thailand’s women’s national volleyball team will now compete at the Games for the first time in its history.
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NEW YORK — Naomi Osaka channelled Allen Iverson as part of her US Open debut, and the former NBA superstar liked the look.
Osaka made her usual fashionable entrance for her match against Anastasia Zakharova on Monday night in the first round. The two-time US Open champion emerged from the tunnel onto the court in Arthur Ashe Stadium wearing a long, white skirt and a gray, hooded robe featuring newspaper clippings about her.
She had the hood on when she entered. When she removed that to reveal her black outfit, Osaka had her hair done in cornrows under a headband, just as Iverson did when he was the NBA MVP while playing for the Philadelphia 76ers.
It fit with her apparel company’s theme for the US Open after the New York Knicks won the NBA championship in June. Aryna Sabalenka is wearing an orange dress, one of the Knicks’ colours.
“It’s my, I guess, my tribute to Iverson. I really like him a lot,” Osaka said following her 7-6 (6), 7-6 (3) victory. “I mean, Nike said basketball, so I said, ‘OK, you want basketball, I’ll give you basketball.’”
Osaka wore a shirt with Iverson’s picture when she met with the media on the eve of the tournament and called him a trailblazer.
“I think he’s also someone that I look up to a lot, because he’s kind done a lot in fashion, whether it’s on purpose or not, but he’s shifted the way that NBA players dress,” Osaka said Saturday. “I also think the whole conversation around clothes in sports and also just expressing yourself through style, I feel like he’s someone that I look up to in that regard.”
She added that they’d never communicated, but Iverson posted a message to Osaka on his Instagram page Monday, writing: “Wow, what a honour!! BIG FAN can’t wait to meet you.”
United States striker Folarin Balogun is set to head to Premier League team Everton on a transfer from Monaco, British media reported on Monday.
The transfer fee offered by Everton is reported to be in the range of 40 million pounds ($54 million) on a four-year deal, the British Press Association said. It said personal terms had yet to be worked out before the deal could be completed prior to Tuesday’s transfer deadline.
The 25-year-old Balogun, who had two years remaining on a contract at Monaco, gained attention this summer scoring three goals for the United States as it reached the knockout stage of the World Cup. He was the top scorer for the U.S. team.
He also made headlines after drawing a red card and a one-game suspension in a 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in a round-of-32 match.
The one-game suspension was deferred by FIFA after U.S. President Donald Trump intervened, allowing Balogun to play in the round of 16. Balogun eventually played in the 4-1 loss to Belgium that ended the U.S. team’s home World Cup run.
The intervention prompted a formal complaint to FIFA ethics investigators.
Balogun was born in New York but grew up in Britain. He came up through Arsenal’s academy before moving to Middlesbrough, then to the French league with Reims and eventually to Monaco.
He scored 13 goals last season in 30 Ligue 1 matches.
(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
First Published: Sep 01 2026 | 1:42 PM IST
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Mahela Jayawardene likely to continue as Mumbai Indians coach; status quo on trade chatter | Cricket News
Mahela Jayawardene (left) and Hardik Pandya
NEW DELHI: Former Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene is likely to continue as Mumbai Indians (MI) head coach for the 2027 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), with the franchise reluctant to make sweeping changes. It is learnt that Jayawardene joined the five-time champions on a “two + one” contract in 2024 and could well be given another year, considering it will be the last year of the ongoing cycle. A formal announcement is expected next month, provided there is no late change of heart.Under Jayawardene, Mumbai Indians reached the playoffs in 2025 but finished ninth the following year. 2026 was a disappointing season for the IPL giants, as they won only four games in a campaign marred by injuries, availability concerns and unrest in the dressing room.Since the disappointing last season, there has been a lot of chatter around their captain Hardik Pandya’s potential trade. While multiple franchises have expressed interest, there has yet to be any substantial movement on that front.TimesofIndia.com has also learnt that some dialogue has taken place with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), but the lack of a tradeable asset has not excited MI at the moment. Cameron Green’s name was on the table, but the MI think tank is wary of the Australian’s workload next year, which includes Australia’s packed Test calendar. As far as the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are concerned, some action is expected once they finalise their new head coach.
Don’t be surprised if he [Hardik Pandya] is not traded at all. Discussions have also happened with the player along these lines. For a trade to happen, multiple things need to fall into place. So it’s not that straightforward.
Sources
How will MI tackle the Pandya situation? They are keen on retaining him as a player for the upcoming season as they plan to head in a new direction under a new captain. The management has already explored this idea, and it is learnt that former India and MI captain Rohit Sharma is actively involved in discussions about the captaincy and the team’s direction. Returning Rohit to the captaincy was also an option, but a new face is likely as the 39-year-old is not keen to wear the armband again. Tilak Varma and Jasprit Bumrah are two potential options, with the scales tilting in the former’s favour.“Don’t be surprised if he is not traded at all. Discussions have also happened with the player along these lines. For a trade to happen, multiple things need to fall into place. So it’s not that straightforward,” says a source tracking developments.
Hardik Pandya
It will be interesting to see how the dynamics unfold if Pandya is not traded at all and how the franchise addresses the dressing room unrest. A change in captaincy is something they expect will restore normalcy, but navigating the turbulence will require significant effort. Another matter that will need attention is that of recently sacked India T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav. Apart from Pandya, there was chatter around the T20 specialist, but the franchise seems in no mood to let go of their experienced campaigner.“Yes, he didn’t have a good season last year, but what about the ones before that? MI will not discard a player based on one season, and that’s not how they operate. They take pride in the ‘One Family’ tag and swear by it,” adds the source.As things stand, continuity has been the bottom line. While a reset cannot be ruled out from the next cycle, there is no desperation for the 2027 edition. A captaincy change is inevitable, but it may not be a surprise if the status quo continues on other matters.
Aug 31, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper tosses his bat after flying out to end the fifth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Bryson Stott hit a 464-foot homer, Aaron Nola won for the third time in four starts, and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 2-1 in Phoenix on Monday to remain tied for the top National League wild-card spot.
Bryce Harper had two hits and extended his career-high on-base streak to 33 games with an RBI double as the Phillies wrapped up August at 21-7, the best record in the majors.
The Phillies have won 14 of 16.
Gabriel Moreno had two hits and an RBI double and Ryan Waldschmidt had two hits for the D-backs, who had won two of three.
D-backs DH Ketel Marte was 1 of 3 with a walk in his return after missing 13 games, three while on the restricted list after failing to show up for an Aug. 17 game in Boston and 10 on the injured list with left knee inflammation.
Marte was booed in his first at-bat, a groundout to first in the second, but cheered after an eighth-inning single. He spoke to his teammates and addressed the media before the game.
The Phillies (78-60) remained in a tie with the Chicago Cubs (78-60) for the top National League wild-card spot. The D-backs (73-66) fell one-half game behind San Diego (73-65) for the final wild card.
Jhoan Duran pitched around two infield singles and a wild pitch in the ninth for his 29th save. Waldschmidt singled into the hole at short with one out and Corbin Carroll beat out a chopper over the mound with two outs. Waldschmidt took third on a wild pitch before Duran got Moreno to ground out.
The D-backs left 11 on base and were 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position.
Nola (6-10) gave up one run and five hits in five-plus innings, with four strikeouts and two walks. Moreno singled and Marte walked to open the sixth, but Alex McFarlane entered and retired the side. Nola is 3-1 with a 2.65 ERA in six August starts.
Arizona right-hander Brandon Pfaadt (7-2) gave up five hits and two runs in six innings, with one walk and one strikeout. Stott homered with one out in the second to give the Phillies a 1-0 lead, and Harper’s one-out double off the center field fence brought in Garrett Stubbs to make it 2-0.
Perdomo singled with one out in the third and scored on Moreno’s two-out double down the left field line to close it to 2-1.
–Field Level Media
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Former heavyweight champion who fought Anthony Joshua vows to ‘make history’ ahead of comeback
Former unified world champion Andy Ruiz Jr has expressed his desire to make history after completing his comeback fight this weekend.
The Mexican-American is perhaps best known for causing a major upset in 2019, dethroning Anthony Joshua with a stunning seventh-round finish in New York.
In doing so, he became the first heavyweight champion of Mexican heritage and seriously hit the jackpot, earning life-changing sums of money in a relatively small timeframe.
Ruiz has admitted that this only had a negative impact on his training, though, and ultimately led to him losing a wide unanimous decision in the Joshua rematch.
After that, ‘The Destroyer’ claimed two points victories – against Chris Arreola and Luis Ortiz – before boxing to a controversial draw with Jarrell ‘Big Baby’ Miller in August 2024.
Since then, Ruiz has remained out the ring but is back training with head coach Manny Robles ahead of his eagerly-awaited comeback and promotional debut with Matchroom.
This will take place in New Jersey, Newark, on September 4, with Damian Knyba occupying the opposite corner after suffering a third-round stoppage defeat to Agit Kabayel – who is now the WBC champion – in January.
Speaking with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom, Ruiz insisted that he fully expects to defeat Knyba and then achieve another slice of history.
“It feels good – all the hard work and dedication. Before, I would be doing my own thing – my own understanding – but now, I’ve got the team back together.
“We made history once; we’re going to do it again, baby. Just watch.”
In terms of history-making feats, Ruiz could become the first-ever two-time heavyweight champion of Mexican heritage, but only if he secures another world title shot before retiring.
The Minnesota Vikings have finalized their 53-man roster for the 2026 season, and it includes five Vikings rookies who could shake things up.
5 Vikings Rookies Who Could Shake Up 2026
I’m not looking at any of the guys drafted on the opening two days of this year’s draft. Players with that draft standing should be having some impact early in their careers. That rules out Caleb Banks, Jake Golday, Jakobe Thomas, Caleb Tiernan, and Domonique Orange, who should all have a role to play this season.
I’m looking at Day 3 draft picks or undrafted rookies who have made enough noise during the preseason to not only make the roster but also see some playing time.
Max Bredeson – Fullback
Max Bredeson was drafted in the fifth round with a specific role in mind. He’s the new fullback in order to take over from the recently retired CJ Ham. Minnesota needs to get more out of their running game, and Bredeson should be crucial to that. He can also be effective as a pass-catcher, given his experience as a tight end in college.
I don’t know how much Kevin O’Connell will use a fullback, but Bredeson has a defined role with no competition. He should see the field fairly consistently.
Jacob Thomas – Safety
Undrafted rookie safety Jacob Thomas has been one of the big stories of the Vikings’ preseason.
Safety is one of the positions on the Vikings team where more playing time could be up for grabs, and Thomas has been making his case throughout training camp and showing up in the preseason games. An ankle sprain in the final preseason game was ill-timed, but it wasn’t serious enough to keep him off the Vikings’ final roster. Hopefully he is quickly back to full health and ready to make an impact.
Chuck Demmings – Cornerback
Another of the Vikings rookies that made waves throughout the preseason is cornerback Chuck Demmings. His confident demeanor and sticky coverage raised eyebrows early in training camp, and he’s continued to impress.
He could push Byron Murphy, Isaiah Rodgers, and James Pierre for playing time; he should at least get chances in the rotation and when the Vikings have extra defensive backs on the field.
Sometimes you see an athlete with the “it factor.” To me, Demmings has it.
Dillon Bell – Wide Receiver
The biggest surprise to make the final roster was Dillon Bell as the Vikings opted for a sixth wide receiver on the depth chart for the first time in years. Bell impressed with his athleticism and explosiveness during the preseason games, but it still seemed like an outside chance he’d make the roster, with the Vikings’ top five receivers seemingly set.
Unless there are injury problems, Bell isn’t likely to be called upon often, but he’s shown the potential to be an effective weapon if he is. From undrafted to the final roster in a position where Minnesota is strong, Bell has been one of the exciting stories among this year’s Vikings rookies. At the very least, look for him on special teams due to his size/speed combo.
Demond Claiborne – Running Back
The Vikings have released Zavier Scott, clearing the path for Demond Claiborne to be the team’s RB3. Aaron Jones missed five games last season, which led to Scott getting 32 rushing attempts. The now-former Viking didn’t make much of that opportunity with just 3.6 yards per carry, while also catching 14 of 16 targets for 98 yards and a touchdown.
Claiborne’s explosive nature can be utilized on the ground and through the air, as well as potentially being used as a punt/kick returner. He should get chances across a 17-game season, and he can make something exciting happen.
Proud UK Viking. Family Man. Enjoy writing about my team. Away from football an advocate for autism acceptance.
Part of what made the Vikings’ 53-man roster so striking was the absence of offensive line depth. Already, that issue is being addressed as the Vikings build up the trenches.
Consider the update that arrives courtesy of The Athletic’s Alec Lewis: “The Vikings have claimed two OL off waivers: — G Trevor Keegan (Cowboys) — C Nick Samac (Panthers).”
Vikings Build Up Trenches with Two Waiver Claims
The official word from the team was that only eight offensive linemen got onto the team. Consider the lay of the land:
| Christian Darrisaw | Donovan Jackson | Blake Brandel | Will Fries | Brian O’Neill |
| Ryan Van Demark | Joe Huber | Caleb Tiernan |
Going into the season with just those large lads would have been a foolish thing to do for the Minnesota Vikings. Playing in the trenches in the NFL isn’t for the faint of heart; injuries are commonplace (go back to the 2025 season for an example of how things can get wonky). Worse yet, one of those names above — Tiernan — is in the process of getting back to full health.
So, the additions are warranted.
Nick Samac is a 25-year-old center who stands at 6’4″ and 314 pounds. In college, Samac played for the Michigan State Spartans. Originally, he got into the NFL as a 7th-Round selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, chosen by the Baltimore Ravens at No. 228 overall.
He has since played for the Ravens and Carolina Panthers. Overall, he has played in eleven games, earning 46 snaps on special teams but a goose egg on offense.
Trevor Keegan is a 26-year-old guard who has been in the NFL since 2024. He’s listed as being 6’6″ and 320 pounds. The Philadelphia Eagles, generally a hotbed for competent offensive linemen, snagged him in the 5th Round (No. 172 overall) after his collegiate career at Michigan.
After failing to stick around with the Eagles, Keegan went to the Dallas Cowboys (a team with a similarly phenomenal reputation for developing OL talent). His career has so far involved a trio of football games, leading to 41 snaps on offense alongside 17 snaps on specials.
Understood in the simplest terms, the Vikings have brought a pair of still-young depth linemen to the Twin Cities to work as depth at guard and/or center.
Part of the process of adding these guys has involved moving on from Dillon Bell. Lewis with the word: “Now the Vikings are waiving WR Dillon Bell, per a source, to make room for claiming G Trevor Keegan and C Nick Samac. Lots of internal back-and-forth over the last 24 hours.”
Look for Nolan Teasley to continue tinkering with the Vikings’ roster in the coming days and weeks.
Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.
Match Details
Fixture: (30) Jelena Ostapenko vs Tatjana Maria
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Date: September 1, 2026
Tournament: US Open Tennis Championships
Round: First Round (Round of 128)
Category: Grand Slam
Surface: Outdoor hard
Venue: USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Queens, New York City
Prize Money: $108,000,000
Live Telecast: USA – Tennis Channel | UK – Sky Sports | Canada – TSN
Jelena Ostapenko vs Tatjana Maria preview
Ostapenko enters off a straight-sets loss to Magdalena Frech in the second round of the Cincinnati Open, a result that exposed some inconsistency against ranked opposition in just 81 minutes. She’s had an up-and-down season overall, highlighted by a semifinal run at the Qatar Open in February, but she’s continued to struggle for consistency on hard courts since.
Maria also comes on the back of a straight-sets loss to Diana Shnaider in Cincinnati, following a solid earlier win over Dayana Yastremska in her opener. At 39, she remains one of the more unconventional threats on tour with her slice-heavy, one-handed game, and she had a runner-up finish at the Eastbourne Open this summer, even after a Round of 16 exit as the defending champion at Queen’s Club back in June.
Jelena Ostapenko vs Tatjana Maria head-to-head
Maria won their first meeting at Wimbledon 2022, then won again at this year’s Eastbourne semifinal when Ostapenko retired due to illness while trailing. Neither match has been on hard courts.
Jelena Ostapenko vs Tatjana Maria odds
(Odds via BetMGM)
Jelena Ostapenko vs Tatjana Maria prediction
Maria’s 2-0 head-to-head edge is notable, but it comes with real caveats: both wins were on grass, a surface that flatters her slice-heavy, disruptive game far more than hard courts do. Her career hard-court record, a losing 255-248 mark, reflects exactly that gap, and this season she’s just 5-12 specifically on the surface.
Ostapenko, by contrast, has a winning hard-court record this year at 9-10, and her flat, powerful ball-striking is generally built to punish exactly the kind of slower, spin-heavy shots Maria relies on, once the surface removes some of the low, skidding bounce grass provides. Her Cincinnati loss showed her form is still shaky, but the surface change here works in her favor regardless of recent results.
Given how much the head-to-head history is tied to grass specifically, and the surface shift now favoring Ostapenko’s game far more than Maria’s, this looks like a spot where current conditions should outweigh recent history.
Pick: Ostapenko to win in straight sets.
Jelena Ostapenko vs Tatjana Maria betting tips
Tip 1: The match will have at least 20 games.
Tip 2: Ostapenko to win a set via tiebreak.
Edited by Pritha Ghosh
Top trainer Brian ‘BoMac’ McIntyre believes one man at 147lbs, who is yet to even secure a world title shot, has the beating of WBO champion Devin Haney.
‘The Dream’ claimed his welterweight strap last November, becoming a three-division world champion by dethroning Brian Norman Jr with a wide points victory after flooring his man in round two.
After that, he was linked to a unification match with then-WBA champion Rolando Romero, only for talks to suddenly collapse at the negotiating table.
Haney was then ordered to defend his belt against mandatory challenger Keyshawn Davis, who initially rejected a $3m offer and withdrew from their contest following an unfavourable purse bid hearing.
Having been left without an obvious opponent, Haney is also yet to announce a date or location for his next outing, despite having expressed varying degrees of interest in fights with IBF champion Liam Paro and Jack Catterall.
Someone who has been persistently calling the 27-year-old out, meanwhile, is unbeaten contender Delante ‘Tiger’ Johnson, who looks a talented operator but is yet to compete at the top level.
As the 28-year-old’s head coach, though, BoMac has told Fight Hub TV that Tiger is capable of dethroning his fellow unbeaten American.
“He’s not the biggest [test for anyone] at 147[lbs]. I can’t say he is. Right now, my guy – when he gets his chance – I’m gonna make sure he’s ready.
“We tried to get the fight [with Haney] – [Johnson] called him out. It didn’t materialise. I just told [Johnson], ‘Hey, wait [for] your chance. Your time will come’.
“When his time comes – trust me, he will be ready.”
Tiger notoriously engaged in a physical altercation with Team Haney in January, with the incident unfolding during the weigh-in for Teofimo Lopez vs Shakur Stevenson.
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