AUSTIN – While I got ya, here are nine things and one crazy prediction:
1. Uncommon denominator
If you’re looking for a common denominator in Texas’ twin losses to Ohio State the past two years, there’s plenty of culprits. After all, the Buckeyes are loaded. Try 25 Buckeyes players who were drafted by NFL teams off Ryan Day’s last two squads. But Texas has talent galore as well and had 18 drafted. … I’d put the biggest blame on the notion that Ohio State has been the more physical and tougher team each meeting. The Buckeyes defense stuffed Arch Manning and C.J. Baxter on three runs inside the 5-yard line to hold the Longhorns out of the end zone. The season before, who can forget the toss sweep from the 1-yard line that lost seven yards. The next play Jack Sawyer etched his name into Buckeyes lore by his strip of Quinn Ewers and scoop and score as Texas was trying to go in to tie the game at 21-21. Instead, that reversal made it 28-14. Ballgame. You can’t score from the 1, you can’t win. … Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said that after reviewing last year’s game, he believes the Longhorns were physical and prepared. He recited their running game, with 37 carries for 166 yards and a 4.5 yard per carry average. He’s right. “People think we just went out there and laid an egg and had minus-10 yards rushing or something,” he said. “We ran the ball pretty well. I felt like the passing game was not where it needed to be the first 2 ½, three quarters or so in that game. Then when you get behind, you’ve got to start throwing the ball.” He’s right. But Texas must run better Saturday than against Texas State when 12 of its 36 rushes went for 1, 0 or negative yards. … Sarkisian blames the poor passing game in Columbus and having to play from behind that game. And who can forget the 75-yard screen pass to TreVeyon Henderson for a pivotal touchdown in the Cotton Bowl just before the half when Texas inexplicably blitzed?
Lane Kiffin and LSU have run afoul of the SEC to the point where the league is seeking the authority to expel the Tigers. (Gerald Herbert/AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
2. So, maybe the SEC is serious after all
The league fired yet another shot across the bow of one Lane Kiffin and his rebellious LSU Tigers when it filed an amendment to its federal lawsuit against LSU, Kiffin and school officials Tuesday, which seeks the authority for the SEC to kick LSU out of the league. The school presidents and chancellors will vote Thursday. You don’t ruffle the feathers of the best conference in all the land (all sports taken together) and expect the SEC to go gently into the night. Good on the SEC. Give ’em hell. Yes, it’s probably saber-rattling, but can you blame the SEC? A phone call to Texas president Jim Davis was not returned Tuesday. … I wrote somewhat facetiously last week that the SEC should consider replacements like Houston, Michigan (not after the clock malfunction), Boise State and even North Dakota State. I’m all for it. You either obey the rules the other 15 schools agree to or you go play in someone else’s sandbox. Maybe the SEC could swap Miami for LSU and add yet another powerhouse. … Again, Texas Tech, in my opinion, cost itself dearly this summer by trying to subordinate NCAA and Big 12 rules by fighting for known gambler Brendan Sorsby in violation of one of the NCAA’s simplest rules. I’ve been a big fan of Texas Tech because I have two sons who went there and I love Red Raiders like Kent Hance, Mike Leach, Gerald Myers and too many staffers to name. But Tech went rogue, so why would the SEC want to trade LSU for Villain behind Door No. 2 Texas Tech? … Maybe SMU makes more sense as a program on the rise with a big war chest. Or UTEP. After going to a nine-game schedule, every SEC head coach would vote to invite somebody he could beat. I wouldn’t mind the SEC approaching Indiana as a member. Florida State isn’t as attractive any more since the Seminoles are playing more like a second-tier Group of 6 team. Would love having Curt Cignetti in the league. Here’s betting LSU kowtows and never adds any of these former pros to its roster and agrees to play nice from now on. LSU needs the SEC much more than vice versa.
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Julian Sayin led Ohio State to the College Football Playoff quarterfinals in his first season as a starter. (Jay LaPrete/Associated Press)
3. Who’s better. Arch Manning or Julian Sayin?
Here’s a real chance for The Golden One to make a statement that he is an elite quarterback on the same level of the Sayins, Dante Moores, Darian Mensahs and Trinidad Chamblisses. … This represents a huge opportunity for Arch Manning in his maturation as a quarterback. He struggled mightily last year in his first game as the full-time starter from the opening pass. When I asked him his recollections from that game, he said, “It’s a rough film to watch. I don’t like watching it that much.” The moment was too big for him in Columbus, but he rectified that with spectacular play after Halloween. Manning has 13-3 record as a starter. … Manning is regarded as one of the most boring interviews on the team despite having a wicked deadpan wit if only because he’s so guarded per instructions from his famous grandfather and uncles. He joked Monday that his dad, Cooper, had always told him to enjoy the entire college experience from practices to the locker-room camaraderie to the games. “So I’m going to enjoy Monday before a big game,” Manning said. “I’m going to enjoy this press conference.” That wisecrack broke up the entire room. I then asked Arch if his dad also told him not to lie. … The best interview is always with the eminently likable Hero Kanu.
The Hail Mary caught by Michigan’s JJ Buchanan after a second was added to the clock was the talk of college football over the weekend – and not for the right reasons. (Jacob Hamilton/Jacob Hamilton/Ann Arbor News vi)
4. What are we doing here?
So much for integrity and transparency. Neither was present at the end of the Michigan fiasco. This first real week of college football was a conspiracist’s dream, especially now that the Mid-American Conference has officially filed an appeal over the ending, claiming “replay protocol was not properly followed.” No kidding. … Michigan got one of the most favorable officiating calls in history when an extra second was added to the clock even though the entire world couldn’t believe their eyes and thought Western Michigan had pulled off the first big upset of the year and knocked off the Wolverines. As NBC rules analyst Terry McAulay said, the Broncos player who was out of bounds and then touched the ball didn’t touch it until after the clock ran out. The ball clearly looked as if it was still in the air when the clock showed 0:00. … The fact that the clock on television and the actual clock weren’t in sync is an appalling breach of football etiquette. Why have a clock if it’s not accurate? I assume Connor Stalions was the clock operator at the Big House. There was zero transparency and the Big Ten didn’t add any clarification until two hours later. … I really wish Michigan would forfeit the game. How classy would that be? We’d all be fans of the Wolverines for doing the right thing. OK, that team down south wouldn’t be fans, but some of the rest of us would. … The controversial ending obscures an even deeper problem. Michigan looked downright awful. What’s happened to Michigan? Oh, and the fans storm the field. Pleeeze. … And Western Michigan coach Lance Taylor will have a Power 4 head coaching job next season. Talk about a classy response. … Hated Notre Dame’s blue uniforms. When Sarkisian was asked about them, he said, “Well, they’re blue.” Enough said.
As much as I dislike LSU’s bold move to add NFL castoffs, I try to always remain objective. The Tigers were the best team I’ve seen so far. So I filed my Associated Press Top 25 ballot Tuesday and I reshuffled my teams and have a new No. 1 with my vote. I put LSU on the top rung because the Tigers were the most impressive team I saw all weekend. I moved Miami up to No. 2 because the Hurricanes looked awesome and even better than last season, when they lost to Indiana in the championship game. I bumped Oregon down several spots after struggling with a strong Boise State team. … Not every AP voter uses the same approach to filling out his or her Top 25. I have always been very flexible and been willing to make drastic adjustments, especially in September when we’re figuring out which are the best teams. I never have bought in to the philosophy that you can only move a team up or down a spot or two. … I also left my preseason No. 20 Michigan team off my ballot entirely, but not to punish it for the tainted victory. The Wolverines just didn’t look anything like a Top 25 team. … Clearly neither did Clemson. Heck, the Tigers didn’t look like a top 50 team. Could this be the beginning of the end for Dabo Swinney? He then inexcusably went after beat writer Chapel Fowler of The State, who asked Swinney if he had any regrets about roster construction in the offseason. “No, I don’t, man. I regret being 0-1 right now. I regret that,” Swinney said. “Can you ask me at the end of the season? The season ain’t over. We’ve got one game. We’ve got 11 more. What if we go 11-1? Promise me you’ll ask me that. I’m not answering questions like that, Chapel. I know that’s your role in this environment, to be the guy who wants to create all the controversy and ask the controversial questions. That’s who you are. It’s fine. I get it.” … And I have the Buckeyes at No. 6 because they didn’t play anybody good. Don’t fret, i-dotters, if they win over Texas big or small, I will definitely bump them up on my ballot.
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6. Things I think I know
I think Bryce Underwood is done. … I think the biggest thing I learned from the first full weekend of college football is that Malachi Toney just won the Heisman. I loved the Miami receiver as a freshman last year, and he wowed again. … I think if he’s not the clear Heisman frontrunner, it’s his teammate, quarterback Darian Mensah, who looked phenomenal. … That said I think Stanford, the team the Hurricanes punked, is not very good. Besides Miami, the rest of the ACC went 1-5 against Power 4 teams although I do like Louisville a lot. … Wasn’t wild when Toney and Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith did the Heisman pose. It’s one game in September, guys. Have some humility. … I think I loved Baylor coach Dave Aranda’s decision to go for two in the final 10 seconds of his one-point loss to Auburn after a late touchdown. I’m a big proponent of going for two rather than settling for overtime because you can win the game outright and the other team has no chance to answer. … I think my Sitting Ducks fantasy team is doomed because I have little firepower beyond Jahmyr Gibbs. A.J. Brown, Justin Jefferson and Dak Prescott. … I think Jerritt Elliott’s Texas volleyball team is scuffling after his club lost its third match of the year and got swept for a second time by Louisville after losing in straight sets to Nebraska. … I applaud the attempt to play a volleyball doubleheader at Wrigley Field until the Chicago humidity and accompanying moisture became too dangerous and forced the second match between Nebraska and Missouri to be canceled. It does tell you how much interest in the sport is soaring, however. I’d be real curious to see how many Texas could draw to a volleyball match at DKR.
7. A visit with David Pollack
My Austin Ridge Bible Church invited former three-time All-America defensive end David Pollack to address more than 1,000 men for Warrior Night. He shared his Christian walk and his intense passion for family. He has gone through more than his share of adversity with a broken neck on the second play of his first game of his second season with the Cincinnati Bengals, a firing by ESPN three years ago and his wife’s brain cancer. He never spent a day in church during his childhood, but once he did, he was hooked. “The Bible is the most studied, the most transcribed, the most hated on, the most scrutinized book in the history of mankind. This is a history book. The Bible is real. It is historic. And historically correct. God gave us a playbook for every single situation in life.” … He also talked football and said the best team in Texas “will be Texas Tech. They had so many guys that got drafted on defense, and everybody says they can’t replace that. Oh they will. They’ll be dominant.” … On the transfer portal and NIL, he said, “The problem is they happened together. It was like putting lighter fluid on a fire.” … The best trash talker he’s ever been around? “I ain’t never seen anything like Chad Ochocinco. I went to his house and played Madden. He had a $1 bill on the mantle with his face on it.” … David’s son, Nicholas, is a quarterback who has committed to Clemson. The Tigers do need help. … Pollack said the biggest priorities in life are his wife and his kids, teaching his kids to respect his wife, being more concerned with his children’s lives and not their 40 times or their stats. “Let your kids fail,” he also advised. It used to be helicopter parents. Now it’s lawn mower parents. Failure is a part of that. You won’t be at college to help them make those tough decisions.”
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8. Scattershooting
While wondering whatever happened to former Buckeye Heisman winner Troy Smith, who AI says is a charity advocate and event host.
9. On the couch
Really enjoyed but also cringed as I watched “Audacity” on AMC. Billy Magnussen killed it as Duncan Park, the CEO and creator of Hypergnosis, a company that, uh, shares the personal data of millions. So does Zach Galifianakis as the moody, eccentric Carl Bardolph, who makes silverware a lethal weapon. Great storyline, super dialogue. Gave it 8 ducks.
The Dallas Cowboys’ high-powered offense took a bit of a blow less than a week before their season-opening matchup against the New York Giants.
All-Pro left guard Tyler Smith will undergo thumb surgery and is expected to be placed on injured reserve, Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer told reporters Monday.
The surgery will force Smith to miss at least the first four games of the regular season while opening up a spot on the 53-man active roster.
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“Tyler Smith is going to have surgery on his thumb tomorrow morning,” Schottenheimer said during his press conference. “It’s something that he’s just been dealing with.”
With Smith sidelined, offensive lineman T.J. Bass is slated to take over as the starting left guard. Bass joined the organization as an undrafted free agent and has made 10 career starts for Dallas, including five last year. The Cowboys retained Bass this offseason after placing a second-round restricted free agent tender on him.
Smith’s absence leaves a noticeable void in Dallas’ offensive line.
According to Pro Football Focus, Smith allowed just three sacks and 26 pressures last season. Since being selected in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, the three-time Pro Bowler has allowed only 12 sacks across four seasons and 63 career starts, per PFF.
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Dallas opens the regular season on Sunday night against the Giants before rolling through an opening six-game stretch that includes matchups against the Washington Commanders, Baltimore Ravens, Houston Texans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Green Bay Packers.
Lennox Lewis is viewed as one of the greatest heavyweights of all time, while Oleskandr Usyk has established himself as the best of this generation, and four-division world champion Roy Jones Jr has predicted who would come out on top if the pair were to meet in their primes.
Usyk joined Evander Holyfield as the second fighter in boxing history to have claimed the undisputed title at both cruiserweight and heavyweight when he handed Tyson Fury a first career defeat in a legendary win back in 2024 – which was then repeated seven months later.
In an interview with Daily Mail Boxing, Jones was quizzed on whether Usyk could have fared better than his fellow cruiserweight and heavyweight conqueror against the undisputed heavyweight champion that preceded him, but after pausing and deliberating, Jones ultimately decided that Lewis would have had too much for the Ukrainian.
Whilst Jones also picked Lewis to overcome Mike Tyson, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Wladimir Klitschko and Tyson Fury in a game of ‘Winner Stays On’,Jones believed that Muhammad Ali would have been a step too far for ‘The Lion’.
Man Utd have been training at Carrington ahead of their return to the Champions League on Thursday night.
11:23, 09 Sep 2026Updated 11:26, 09 Sep 2026
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Luke Shaw was absent from Manchester United’s final training session before their return to the Champions League on Thursday night.
The 31-year-old is the only natural senior left-back in Michael Carrick’s squad after the failure to reinforce in the transfer window. It is understood Shaw is on a recovery day hence why the defender missed the session.
Shaw started every Premier League game last season but has a long record of fitness issues during his Old Trafford career. In his absence Harry Amass trained with the first team, as did teenage midfielder Jim Thwaites and young goalkeeper Solomon Honor.
Matthijs de Ligt, Carlos Baleba and Amad also missed out with the trio currently sidelined through injury.
United face Sabah FK on Thursday night in what is their first Champions League fixture since December 2023, when they beaten by Bayern Munich at Old Trafford and crashed out of the group stage.
This is the first time they have competed in the new league phase format, which offers them eight games before the end of January. They will be desperate to get off to a good start in what is the most winnable game on their schedule.
It is also a different dynamic for Michael Carrick, who is taking charge of his 21st game as United head coach but his first in a competition other than the Premier League.
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How the more demanding schedule and the lack of training time impact Carrick and his coaching staff will be one of the fascinating subplots to this season. The United boss has previously overseen a Champions League game, taking charge of a 2-0 win at Villarreal in November 2021 during his time as caretaker boss.
The countdown to the Asian Games 2026 is now in its final stretch, with the tournament set to officially begin on Saturday, September 19.
The 16-day sporting extravaganza will be held across Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya in Japan and will mark the 20th edition of the Asian Games since the competition was first held in 1951.
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More than 15,000 athletes from across Asia and beyond will compete for the coveted medals, with gold, silver and bronze awarded to the top three athletes or teams in each event.
For the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, however, the medals will carry a significance that goes beyond their value as sporting prizes. Their design was selected through an open competition that invited design students and professionals to submit their ideas.
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The winning concept was built around the Games’ slogan, “Imagine One Asia,” and seeks to capture the diversity of the continent while highlighting the unifying power of sport.
That idea is reflected not only in the medal’s appearance but also in the unusual process through which its distinctive shape was developed.
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What is the concept behind the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 medals?
The central idea behind the medal design is that of coming together through sport. Designer Daisuke Shiba drew inspiration from the theme of unity in diversity. The medal represents the many different forms that emerged as Asia developed its distinct cultures and identities, before those individual elements come together again through the shared experience of sport.
The design process itself was built around the idea of fragments becoming something complete. Ceramic discs were repeatedly broken and examined during development, with the process continuing until a naturally appealing form emerged.
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That approach was also intended to mirror the journey of athletes. Their road to the Asian Games is marked by setbacks, difficult training sessions and countless challenges. The fragments of those experiences eventually come together in one moment of achievement — the medal.
The idea behind the design
Shiba described the selection of his design for the 20th Asian Games as a deeply meaningful honour.
He said he hoped the medals would serve as symbols of the dedication and perseverance athletes have accumulated over years of preparation. He also expressed the hope that receiving the medals would strengthen athletes’ feelings of joy and pride and contribute to the excitement surrounding the Games.
What are the dimensions and weight of the medals?
The Aichi-Nagoya 2026 medals have a diameter of 80 mm and a thickness of 5 mm.
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Their weight and composition differ according to the medal:
Gold medal: Approximately 265 g; pure silver plated with at least 1 g of gold
Silver medal: Approximately 264 g; pure silver
Bronze medal: Approximately 222 g; red brass made from 95 per cent copper and 5 per cent zinc
The substantial size and weight give the medals a physical presence befitting the significance of an Asian Games podium finish.
Asian Games 2026 Gold medal
How are the medals linked to sustainability?
The medals are also part of the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Recycled Medal Project, which aims to promote awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals and encourage a circular economy.
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As part of the initiative, a portion of the metals used in the medals has been recovered from small electronic devices donated by participating municipalities.
This means the medals carry another layer of significance beyond sporting achievement, connecting the Games with efforts to reuse valuable materials and reduce waste.
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What is special about the medal ribbon?
The medal’s design extends beyond the disc itself. The ribbon incorporates the silhouette of the kakitsubata, or Japanese iris, which is the official flower of Aichi Prefecture.
The sweeping arcs incorporated into the ribbon are inspired by the leaves of the flower. Together, the elements are intended to convey the graceful strength of athletes.
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The ribbon also reflects the organisers’ desire to connect Aichi’s local culture with the wider world and ensure that elements of the region’s identity are carried forward to future generations.
What is the Asian Games 2026 medal case made of?
The medal case has its own cultural symbolism. The case features an octagonal shape on both its inner and outer sections, with the design drawing inspiration from the character for “eight”. The character has historical significance in the region, having been used in the emblem of the Owari Tokugawa family, which ruled the area that is now Aichi Prefecture. It is also part of the current emblem of Nagoya City.
The shape of the character, which gradually widens outward, represents the journey from the present towards the future. It reflects the hope that the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games will mark the beginning of continued growth, development and prosperity for the region and the wider Asian community.
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Asian Games 2026 medal case
Why is Japanese cypress used for the medal case?
The case is made from Aichi-grown Japanese cypress, or hinoki, giving it another direct connection to the host region.
The choice also reflects Aichi’s long-standing tea ceremony culture, in which valuable tea utensils and treasured objects have traditionally been stored in wooden boxes.
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The medal case therefore serves not simply as packaging but as a specially designed container through which athletes can preserve an object representing one of the biggest achievements of their sporting careers.
What do the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 medals represent?
Taken together, the medal, ribbon and case tell a story that goes beyond the podium.
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The medal’s fragmented design reflects the challenges and hardships athletes must overcome on their journey to the Asian Games. At the same time, the overall concept celebrates the diversity of Asia while highlighting sport as a force that can bring people together.
The use of recycled materials adds a strong sustainability element to the design, while the inclusion of the kakitsubata flower, the eight motif and Aichi-grown hinoki connects the medal to the history, culture and natural heritage of the host region.
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For the athletes standing on the podium, however, the medal will carry an even deeper meaning. It will represent years of hard work, sacrifice and perseverance, brought together in one defining moment of achievement.
Hardik Pandya included in India A squad (Image: AP)
The Men’s Selection Committee has announced the India A squads for the upcoming home series against Australia A in Puducherry. The series will feature two multi-day matches followed by three one-day games, with the first multi-day match scheduled from September 22 to 25.
Padikkal to lead multi-day side
Devdutt Padikkal has been named captain of the multi-day side, with Sai Sudharsan as his deputy. The squad also includes promising batters Aman Mokhade, Ayush Pandey, Yash Rathod and Shaik Rasheed, while Kumar Kushagra and N Jagadeesan are the two wicketkeeping options.Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian, Tushar Deshpande and Anshul Kamboj are among the other notable names in the multi-day squad.
Gaikwad to captain one-day team
For the one-day series, Ruturaj Gaikwad will captain the side, with Padikkal serving as vice-captain. Sai Sudharsan, Rajat Patidar, Priyansh Arya, Nishant Sindhu, Arshin Kulkarni and Naman Dhir are also part of the squad.India all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been included in the one-day squad, subject to fitness clearance. V Vyshak, also named in the multi-day squad, is subject to fitness clearance.The two multi-day matches will be played from September 22-25 and September 29-October 2, while the three one-day games are scheduled for October 6, 9 and 11, all in Puducherry.
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No.
Day
Date
Day (to)
Date (to)
Match
Venue
1
Tue
22-Sep-26
Fri
25-Sep-26
1st Multi-Day
Puducherry
2
Tue
29-Sep-26
Fri
02-Oct-26
2nd Multi-Day
Puducherry
3
Tue
06-Oct-26
—
—
1st One Day
Puducherry
4
Fri
09-Oct-26
—
—
2nd One Day
Puducherry
5
Sun
11-Oct-26
—
—
3rd One Day
Puducherry
India A Multi-day squad: Aman Mokhade, Ayush Pandey, Devdutt Padikkal (C), Sai Sudharsan (VC), Yash Rathod, Shaik Rasheed, Kumar Kushagra (WK), Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian, Tushar Deshpande, Anshul Kamboj, Praful Hinge, N Jagadeesan (WK), Nachiket Bhute, V Vyshak*India A One-Day squad: Ruturaj Gaikwad (C), Devdutt Padikkal (VC), Sai Sudharsan, Priyansh Arya, Rajat Patidar, Kumar Kushagra (WK), Nishant Sindhu, Vipraj Nigam, Arshin Kulkarni, Arshad Khan, Naman Dhir, Hardik Pandya*, Prabhsimran Singh (WK), Gurjapneet Singh, Yash Thakur*Subject to fitness clearance.
Family is a core mechanic in Idle Mafia Game that allows players to create their own factions. Upon creating or joining a Family, players can donate money and Gold Bars to the Family Funds to unlock Perks. Working with other players is essential for a Family to claim a territory in the city and increase its notoriety. In exchange for their contributions, each Family member receives a variety of bonuses that help them increase their money gain and stats.
Let’s go over how the Family system works in Idle Mafia Game.
An overview of Families in Idle Mafia Game
The Perks tab of the Family screen (Image via Roblox)
The Family system works akin to the Guild system seen in most RPGs. It allows players to create or join a Family, after which they may start adding funds to the Family’s vault to unlock perks and bonuses.
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To create a Family, you must not be a part of an existing Family. If you are a member in another Family, you can use the “Leave Family” option in the Family Overview screen to exit the faction. Then, you can use 10,000 Cash to create a faction. You can customize the name, description, and icon of the Family, which will be displayed to players searching for a faction to join.
If you wish to join a Family, you can view a list of available options and either send a join request or receive one from the leader of a Family. Upon joining a Family, you will gain access to its Overview, Members, Perks, Shop, War, and Audit Log menus.
Below, you can find everything these menus do.
Overview
Overview provides you with a quick look at the current status of the Family. You can check the following information on this screen:
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Name
Creation date
Level
Number of members
Number of unlocked Perks
Family notice
Family Vault
Active Perks
Occupied Territories
This is where you can make donations to the Family using Cash or Gold Bars. Cash is passively earned through Properties, while Gold Bars require you to perform a successful Heist.
The Members screen is where you can view the various members of the Family. This screen showcases each member’s money, Gold Bars, and Stamina donations, along with their respective ranks. There are a total of six different ranks: Boss, Underboss, Advisor, Associate, Capo, and Soldier.
The Boss, Underbosses, and Advisors have special privileges, such as being able to write the Family notice, spend the faction resources, give war orders, etc. Among these roles, only the Boss can alter some of the most fundamental aspects of the faction, such as the Family name, icon, and description.
Below, you can find the number of seats reserved for each role in a Family:
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Associate: No limit
Soldier: No limit
Capo: 15 seats
Advisor: 5 seats
Underboss: 3 seats
Boss: 1 seat
Perks
There are two types of Perks for Advisors, Underbosses, and the Boss to unlock: Cash Perks and Gold Perks. Cash Perks can be unlocked using Cash, and they affect each member’s job cash, property income, and operation payout. Gold Perks are unlocked with Gold Bars, and they affect each member’s attack power, defense power, and job item drops with each level.
There is a third type of Perk that can be unlocked by all members through Stamina contribution: Stamina Perks. Stamina Perks affect the following stats for all members:
Attack power
Defense power
Job experience
Health regeneration rate
Stamina regeneration rate
Amount of Cash earned upon winning fights
Amount of Cash lost upon losing fights
Fight, siege, and boss experience
Siege damage to districts
Damage to bosses.
Shop
The Shop allows players to reserve the Spotlight spot on the Family screen for new players to discover. This involves donating either 10 Gold Bars to reserve the spot for 8 hours or 25 Gold Bars to do so for 24 hours.
Additionally, the Boss, the Underbosses, and the Advisors can buy additional member slots for 250 Gold Bars each. Up to 10 slots can be unlocked through this screen.
War
The War system allows the Family Boss and Underbosses to declare war upon another Family. This instigates a conflict with another clan, where the winner is decided based on the number of Points scored. Points are scored by Family members winning fights against the rival faction members.
Declaring war takes a fixed percentage of the net Cash in the Family vault. If the Family that declares war wins, the deposited money is returned, and the same amount is stolen from the losing clan’s vault. If a war is inconclusive, the two participating factions can sign a truce to mark an end to the conflict.
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Audit Log
The Audit Log screen allows every member to view the contributions and performances of all members in a chronological order. This includes Perk upgrades, Family notices, donations, war declarations, and more. The purpose of this screen is for the faction leaders to view how well the group is doing in terms of daily activity.
Carolina’s Jonathon Brooks missed his third straight practice with “general soreness,” but Panthers coach Dave Canales remains hopeful the team’s young running back will be ready for Sunday’s season opener against the Chicago Bears.
Brooks spent time working on the side with trainers Monday while his teammates went through a short, non-padded practice.
“We have to just keep taking it one day at a time,” Canales said. “He ran out there today. We’ll see (where he is) and compare it to what he looked like before and we’ll go from there.”
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Canales said last week he was “very optimistic” that Brooks would be able to play in Week 1.
Brooks has missed 31 of 34 regular-season games since joining the Panthers, but the team remains high on his potential and believes he will be the perfect complement to starter Chuba Hubbard if he can stay healthy.
The Panthers finished 19th in the league in rushing last season, averaging 116.3 points per game. They’ll face a Bears defense that allowed 134.5 yards per game last season, which ranked 22nd in the league.
“He’s a guy who just makes plays in space down the field in the pass game, the screen game, and he has that the home run speed,” Canales said.
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Canales said Brooks’ speed can be deceiving.
“Once he sets an angle, all of a sudden you see people start turning and realize he’s moving a lot faster than you think he is because he’s such a smooth, long strider,” Canales said. “You don’t realize that. So, it’s a factor. It’s a pretty special dynamic in that regard.”
Brooks was not made available to reporters on Monday during the team’s open locker room session.
Panthers guard Damien Lewis said he likes Brooks’ ability to hit the hole fast, saying he makes things easy on the team’s offensive linemen since they don’t have to hold their blocks as long.
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“He’s really explosive,” Lewis said. “When he gets that ball, he sees the space, he gone. So, you know, I call him one play action.”
The imported galloper Nearco Frod is aiming for his fifth successive win and a potential start in the Melbourne Cup when he lines up at Flemington.
The Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained stayer will compete in the Group 3 Archer Stakes (2500m) this Saturday, a race that carries a ballot exemption for the Melbourne Cup (3200m) to be held at Flemington on November 3.
Nearco Frod began his career in France, securing two wins from his initial three starts before transferring to the McEvoys in Australia.
While his Australian debut was gradual, the gelding is now fully acclimatised and has strung together four consecutive victories from 13 career starts.
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His winning streak commenced with a victory at Sandown on July 1, followed by another win at the same track two weeks later.
Nearco Frod then made his way to Flemington, providing Blake Shinn with a winner on his first ride back from injury on August 1, before again proving successful at Sandown on August 22.
Calvin McEvoy admitted that Nearco Frod had been a ‘real suprise’ to the stable.
“It just shows that you need to have some patience with these imports and to win five in a row is very difficult for any horse,” McEvoy said.
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“He’s very fit and we keep him happy at home.
“He’s bouncing around and I can’t see any reason why he can’t put up another good performance and it would be very exciting for connections to win that Golden Ticket.”
There will inevitably be comparisons made to stablemate Half Yours, who last year progressed through the grades to win both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.
McEvoy indicated that keeping European stayers in regular work is essential.
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“You have to keep these horses up,” McEvoy commented.
“I wouldn’t have thought he would get four in a row to be honest.
“He’s not an overly big horse, but he’s very fit, great lungs, which allows us to not overtax him in training.
“That is an asset in a stayer that will get them a long way and it prolong preparations, and if he happened to get a Golden Ticket, of course we would give him the opportunity.”
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For those interested in the Melbourne Cup path, examining the online bookmakers might offer early betting opportunities on Nearco Frod.
The Norwegian already has 322 goals in 407 club appearances at senior level, as well as 62 in 55 games for his country, with many years left at the top level.
And Carragher believes that a significant landmark is well within reach – particularly as he thinks that Haaland could still get better.
“I just can’t see Haaland not scoring 1000 goals or being the best goalscorer of all time,” the former Liverpool defender said on CBS Sports. “I have never seen anything like it in terms of goals and numbers and it is every game.
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“But because he does it so often, it does not feel that big. He has just scored two goals away from home in the Champions League and any other striker does that it is an amazing night. It just feels like a normal night.
“I just can’t see how he does not end up being the greatest goalscorer or getting the most goals we have ever seen anybody get.”
The record for most goals by a male footballer is somewhat unclear, with Pele’s claim to have scored more than 1000 during his playing career heavily disputed given the inclusion of a number of friendlies and unofficial fixtures. The Brazilian’s career came at at time, though, where such games were of greater importance and competitiveness than now.
The Baltimore Ravens enter a new era of leadership with Jesse Minter leading a loaded roster built to return to the postseason immediately.
Baltimore strengthened its pass rush, retained several defensive cornerstones, and surrounded Lamar Jackson with an offense capable of controlling games in multiple ways. The roster carries legitimate championship potential, but a playoff return will depend on how quickly the new coaching staff establishes its identity and whether the Ravens‘ most influential players remain healthy.
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With Week 1 approaching, here are the 10 Ravens most important to Baltimore returning to the postseason.
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1. Lamar Jackson
Jackson remains the foundation of everything Baltimore is attempting to build. His passing ability, mobility, and command of defensive attention make life easier for every player around him. Declan Doyle must preserve the elements that make Jackson unique while developing an offense that remains efficient when opponents limit explosive plays. If Jackson plays at an MVP level, Baltimore will remain difficult to keep out of the postseason.
2. Derrick Henry
Henry provides Baltimore with an identity and gives Jackson a backfield partner defenses must respect on every snap. Even as he advances further in his career, Henry’s power, vision, and ability to turn small openings into explosive gains remain essential. The Ravens must manage his workload without removing the physical element that separates their offense.
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3. Kyle Hamilton
Hamilton is Baltimore’s most versatile defensive player and one of the league’s most difficult matchups. Anthony Weaver can deploy him as a deep safety, slot defender, linebacker, or pressure player. That flexibility will be especially valuable as Baltimore adjusts its weekly game plan around different quarterbacks and offensive personnel groups.
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4. Trey Hendrickson
The Ravens acquired Hendrickson to solve one of their most persistent problems. Baltimore needs a pass rusher capable of winning individual matchups and finishing plays when quarterbacks are forced to hold the football. Hendrickson’s presence should create opportunities for Mike Green, Nnamdi Madubuike, and the rest of the front.
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5. Ronnie Stanley
Stanley’s importance goes beyond protecting Jackson’s blind side. His availability stabilizes an offensive line featuring multiple moving parts and allows the Ravens to avoid reshuffling the entire unit. Baltimore needs Stanley to remain healthy while continuing to perform as one of the league’s most dependable pass protectors.
6. Roquan Smith
Smith remains the voice and emotional center of Baltimore’s defense. He is responsible for communicating calls, correcting alignments, and setting the physical tone against the run. The Ravens will rely on several young linebackers alongside him, making Smith’s leadership and diagnostic ability even more valuable.
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7. Zay Flowers
Flowers gives Baltimore the separation, quickness, and yards-after-the-catch ability needed to punish aggressive defenses. Doyle must find ways to manufacture touches for him without making the offense predictable. A significant step forward from Flowers would help Jackson attack every area of the field and prevent opponents from crowding the line of scrimmage.
8. Nnamdi Madubuike
Madubuike remains Baltimore’s most proven interior pass-rushing threat. Hendrickson should command considerable attention off the edge, creating favorable situations for Madubuike inside. If he consistently collapses the pocket, opposing quarterbacks will have fewer places to escape Baltimore’s rebuilt pass rush.
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9. Nate Wiggins
Wiggins possesses the speed and coverage ability to develop into Baltimore’s top cornerback. The Ravens will ask him to handle difficult assignments against a schedule filled with accomplished receivers. His development would allow Weaver to be more aggressive with Hamilton, Marlon Humphrey, and the defensive front.
10. Mark Andrews
Andrews remains one of Jackson’s most trusted targets and a critical presence on third down and in the red zone. Baltimore has younger pass catchers deserving opportunities, but Andrews’ understanding of leverage and coverage remains difficult to replace. A productive season from the veteran tight end would provide stability while Doyle installs his offense.
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Final analysis
The Ravens also need meaningful contributions from Malaki Starks, Mike Green, Teddye Buchanan, and their reworked offensive line. Baltimore’s roster is deep enough to withstand ordinary adversity, but its playoff ceiling will ultimately be shaped by Jackson and the established veterans surrounding him.
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