The Week 1 NFL schedule begins with a star-studded showdown on Wednesday, as the New England Patriots travel cross-country to take on the Seattle Seahawks in the 2026 NFL Kickoff Game. Wednesday’s matchup is a rematch of Super Bowl LX, a game which Seattle won 29-13. According to the latest NFL betting odds, Seattle is favored by 3.5 points in the season opener, while the over/under is 44.5 points. You can bet on the NFL Kickoff Game using the latest DraftKings promo code, where new users get $200 in bonus bets after your first $5 wager: 

Kickoff for Seahawks vs. Patriots is set for 8:20 p.m. ET at Lumen Field. SportsLine’s team of NFL experts have analyzed Patriots vs. Seahawks and revealed their three best bets, and you can also read our NFL betting preview for the NFL Kickoff Game. Bet on Seahawks vs. Patriots at FanDuel and get $350 in bonus bets:

Seahawks vs. Patriots betting preview

The Seahawks and Patriots are meeting in a rematch of last season’s Super Bowl, marking just the third such rematch in Week 1 of the following season. This is also just the fifth NFL game on a Wednesday since 1950, and the first since there were a pair of games on Christmas in 2024. Defending Super Bowl champions are 16-5 in NFL Kickoff games since they were introduced in 2004. 

Seattle returns quarterback Sam Darnold and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, while Mike Macdonald is eyeing another strong campaign after becoming the third-youngest head coach to win the Super Bowl. New England is led by MVP runner-up Drake Maye, who became the second-youngest quarterback to start the Super Bowl. The Seahawks are 3.5-point home favorites in the Seahawks vs. Patriots odds, with the over/under at 44.5. Claim $200 in bonus bets after your first $5 wager at DraftKings here:

Seahawks vs. Patriots best bets 

• AJ Barner Over 24.5 receiving yards (-114)
• Under 44.5 points (-110)
• Seahawks -3 (-118)

AJ Barner Over 24.5 receiving yards (-114)

“I like this spot for AJ Barner who looks like an ascending player for the defending champion Seattle Seahawks,” SportsLine expert Alex Selesnick said. “Barner had a strong rookie season and was a reliable target for Sam Darnold. He dealt with numerous injuries which were addressed in the offseason. New Seahawks OC Brian Fleury, who served as the TE coach in San Francisco for the last four seasons, figures to feature the position more. There is minimal target competition after JSN. The Patriots did give up above average production to opposing Tight Ends last season.” Bet on Seahawks vs. Patriots at bet365 and get $365 in bonus bets after betting $10:

Under 44.5 points (-110)

“A Super Bowl rematch kicks off the season, and I see the Under as the best angle in the game,” SportsLine expert R.J. White said. “The Pats offense had no answer for Seattle’s defense in February, punting on eight straight drives to open the game and turning the ball over on three of their next four drives. Will the O-line be that much better? The Seahawks lost talented OC Klint Kubiak and have questions about the rushing attack, so they might not be able to run up the score in the same way this time around. This one might struggle to get to 40 points.” Use the BetMGM bonus code CBSSPORTS to get bonus bets when wagering on Seahawks vs. Patriots:

Seahawks -3 (-118)

“Defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks still looks like a juggernaut in the NFL this season,” SportsLine expert Emory Hunt said. “Rarely do you see a team that won the Super Bowl retain a good amount of their key contributors from that team. While the Patriots have vastly upgraded at WR and have strengthened the offensive line, I still believe the Seahawks still own a slight edge in this game.” Bet on Seahawks vs. Patriots at FanDuel and get $350 in bonus bets:

The men’s professional golf league, i.e., LIV Golf, has found itself in a pickle after its principal sponsor, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), opted to end its financial backing of the league after the 2026 season.

The league, in response, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in New Jersey, beginning a court-supervised restructuring aimed at keeping the Saudi-backed league alive while preparing for a new version in 2027.

LIV has reported assets of between $100 million and $500 million and liabilities of between $500 million and $1 billion as a result of its rapid push to make the tour as big as possible, as soon as possible. The league now plans to restructure with BC Partners and move towards a player-first ownership model.

What is LIV Golf?

LIV Golf is a professional men’s golf league that was launched in 2022 with financial backing from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. It was established as a rival to the existing professional golf structure led by the PGA Tour and DP World Tour.

The league attracted several of the sport’s biggest names, including Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, Cameron Smith, Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson, with lucrative contracts and signing bonuses.

LIV initially built its identity around 54-hole tournaments, team-based competition and large financial purses. Its emergence created a major split in professional golf, with players joining LIV facing restrictions and suspensions from the PGA Tour.

Why has LIV Golf filed for bankruptcy?

LIV’s Chapter 11 filing follows the decision by the Saudi Public Investment Fund to end its financial support for the league after the 2026 season.

PIF had been the financial foundation of LIV since its launch and had invested more than $5 billion in the circuit. According to the bankruptcy filing, PIF owns 100 per cent of LIV Golf’s equity.

The withdrawal of that backing left LIV looking for a new financial structure and investors. The league had already begun reducing its operations, including staff cuts, while seeking fresh capital. Rather than shutting down, LIV is using Chapter 11 to reorganise its finances and seek new investment.

How much does LIV Golf owe?

LIV’s bankruptcy petition estimates its assets at between $100 million and $500 million, while its liabilities are listed at between $500 million and $1 billion.

Several of the league’s leading players appear among its largest unsecured creditors. Jon Rahm is listed as being owed nearly $7.5 million, while Bryson DeChambeau and Dustin Johnson are also owed more than $5 million each.

Fourteen players are among LIV’s top 30 creditors. The amounts listed in the filing represent unsecured claims and do not necessarily reflect the full value of the players’ remaining contracts.

The state of Louisiana is also listed among the major creditors, with a claim of $1.22 million.

What happens to LIV Golf during bankruptcy?

LIV has entered into a restructuring support agreement with BC Partners Advisors, the credit business of BC Partners. The proposed transaction is designed to recapitalise the league and move it towards a player-first ownership structure.

The Saudi PIF has also agreed to provide $49.6 million in debtor-in-possession financing, subject to approval by the bankruptcy court.

BC Partners and potential minority investors are expected to provide exit financing once LIV emerges from Chapter 11. LIV is also seeking recognition of its US bankruptcy proceedings in England and Wales to protect the value of its international assets and operations.

What is LIV Golf 2.0?

LIV CEO Scott O’Neil has outlined plans for a new version of the league, often referred to as “LIV Golf 2.0”, which would be smaller and structured differently from the original Saudi-funded model.

One of the major proposed changes is an expansion of the field from 57 to 75 players. The new format would also introduce a 54-hole cut, meaning players would have to survive the cut to continue competing. Monday qualifying events are also planned, creating another route for golfers to enter the league.

The team concept is expected to remain central, but teams could increasingly be organised around nationalities.

O’Neil has also said LIV intends to continue operating in some of its more successful international markets, including Australia, South Africa and Asia.

When could LIV Golf return?

LIV intends to complete its restructuring and emerge from Chapter 11 in early 2027. Its proposed restructuring remains subject to approval by the bankruptcy court and other relevant stakeholders.

The exact 2027 schedule, tournament structure and final ownership arrangements have yet to be fully determined. The future of LIV’s current roster is also a major question. The proposed player-first model depends in part on which golfers remain with the league and participate in the new ownership structure.

What happens to LIV’s biggest stars?

The bankruptcy creates uncertainty around some of the biggest names who joined LIV after leaving the PGA Tour.

Rahm, DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson and Cameron Smith are among the leading creditors named in the bankruptcy filing. Their future with the reorganised league remains unclear.

Rahm has said he remains willing to fulfil his existing LIV contract, although the restructuring could affect the terms and future structure of those agreements.

The status of the players is particularly significant because LIV’s proposed new model is expected to give players a majority ownership stake.

Can LIV players return to the PGA Tour?

The future of LIV’s players is also linked to their relationship with the PGA Tour.

Players who left the PGA Tour for LIV have faced sanctions and restrictions when attempting to return. Brooks Koepka became the first LIV player to return under a penalty arrangement that included a $5 million charitable payment, restrictions on equity grants and the loss of certain bonus opportunities for the year of his return.

PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp subsequently offered similar terms to Rahm, DeChambeau and Smith, but none accepted them.

With LIV now restructuring, the possibility of players returning to established tours remains an important issue. However, the terms of any future return will depend on individual contracts, PGA Tour rules and developments during the bankruptcy process.

Why did LIV become financially unsustainable?

LIV’s original model required significant spending to establish the league and attract established players from the PGA Tour.

The circuit used major signing bonuses and contracts to bring in some of the biggest names in golf, while also funding substantial individual and team prize purses.

PIF’s investment in LIV exceeded $5 billion after the league’s 2022 launch.

That financial backing allowed LIV to build a global schedule and compete directly with the PGA Tour. But once PIF decided to stop funding the league beyond 2026, LIV needed to find a different financial model.

The restructuring is intended to address those legacy financial obligations and create a structure that can operate with new investors and greater player involvement.

What happened to LIV’s 2026 schedule?

LIV’s financial problems had already affected its 2026 calendar. The league postponed its event in Louisiana after PIF announced its decision to end financial support. An event in Michigan was also cancelled, while the team championship was merged into the final event in Indiana.

Those changes came as LIV reduced its operations and sought new funding ahead of the bankruptcy filing.

The final event of the existing LIV format was held in Indiana last month, bringing the current version of the league to a close as it prepares for the restructuring process.

What is the future of LIV Golf?

LIV’s stated objective is to emerge from bankruptcy as a more sustainable league with a new ownership and operating structure.

BC Partners is expected to play a central role in providing capital, while players could become majority owners of the reorganised business. PIF will provide temporary financing during the Chapter 11 process but is no longer expected to serve as LIV’s long-term financial backer.

The proposed 2027 version would have a larger 75-player field, a 54-hole cut, Monday qualifiers and nationality-based teams, while retaining selected international markets.

Whether LIV can retain its leading players, complete the proposed financing and secure approval for its restructuring will determine what the league ultimately looks like when it attempts to return in 2027.

It’s the news that flipped the script on UFC 332 and left the MMA world scratching its collective head: Valentina Shevchenko is no longer the UFC women’s flyweight champion.

Following an untimely shoulder and back ligament injury that will sideline her for nearly a year, the “Bullet” has relinquished her undisputed championship. In her place, Natalia Silva, who was originally slated to challenge Shevchenko on October 3 in Salt Lake City, will now fight rising Chinese contender Wang Cong for the vacant 125-pound throne.

On the surface, moving the division forward sounds like a noble pursuit. Shevchenko’s long-time coach, Pavel Fedotov, recently stated that the decision to “temporarily vacate” the belt was made so they wouldn’t stall the flyweight division during her lengthy rehabilitation. But let’s cut through the PR speak and address the glaring double standard at play here. Since when does the UFC actually care about holding up a division when it involves one of its most established stars?

If we look at the promotion’s recent history, their leniency toward inactive champions is wildly inconsistent. We all remember the heavyweight saga, where Jon Jones was allowed to sit on the undisputed throne for well over a year due to injury, forcing Tom Aspinall to parade around with an interim belt while defending it against top contenders. We’ve seen the promotion bend over backwards and show similar patience for other stars, like Kayla Harrison and Ilia Topuria, during their own long periods of inactivity. The UFC brass has practically made a tradition out of minting interim titles just to keep a favored champion’s undisputed status intact while they recover on their own timeline.

So why is Shevchenko, a pioneer of the sport with nine title defenses across two reigns, suddenly rushed out the door? Why wasn’t an interim title created for Silva and Cong to fight over, allowing Shevchenko the respect of unifying the belts upon her return?

Whether she chose to vacate willingly or felt the invisible, heavy hand of the UFC executives pushing her toward the exit, the optics are terrible. You don’t ask a legendary champion who just defeated Zhang Weili at Madison Square Garden to hand over her hardware over a one-year layoff. You create an interim title. That’s exactly what the system was designed for.

Instead, whoever gets their hand raised at UFC 332 will have a massive asterisk hovering over their championship reign. Don’t get me wrong, the new main event is a phenomenal stylistic matchup. Silva has been tearing through the division with an unstoppable 14-fight win streak, taking out former champions like Rose Namajunas and Jessica Andrade. Meanwhile, Wang Cong has been a revelation, running through the competition in the promotion and quickly establishing herself as a legitimate threat. But let’s be honest: Silva was preparing for the ultimate test against the flyweight queen. Now, they are fighting for a belt that was surrendered in a boardroom, not lost in the Octagon.

Shevchenko has been promised an immediate title shot when she returns, but MMA is a fickle sport where promises are often forgotten by the time the ink dries. By forcing a legend to vacate rather than utilizing the interim title mechanism they use so freely for others, the UFC has once again proven that their rulebook changes depending on whose name is on the contract.

At 50, Mairaj Ahmad Khan has already lived through several generations of Indian shooting. He has seen the sport change, competed at two Olympics, become the first Indian skeet shooter to qualify for the Games and eventually win the country’s first individual ISSF World Cup gold in the event. Yet, for all the milestones behind him, his ambition remains firmly pointed ahead.

The target now is another Asian Games, and beyond that, Los Angeles 2028. Mairaj missed out on Paris 2024, but retirement has never been part of his thinking. His philosophy remains as simple as the sport itself: Do not look too far ahead, stay in the present and deal with the target in front of you.

“I never go in the future. I always stay in the present. I take one day at a time. I take one target at a time. This is my longevity secret,” Mairaj says.

For a shooter who first picked up a rifle as a child, went on to pursue cricket before returning to shooting, and later became an Olympic trailblazer in skeet, the journey has been anything but linear. What has remained constant, however, is the competitive instinct that has kept him at the range for more than three decades.

Who is Mairaj Ahmad Khan?

Born on November 2, 1975, in Khurja, Uttar Pradesh, Mairaj Ahmad Khan is an Indian skeet shooter and two-time Olympian.

Shooting was part of his surroundings from an early age. His father, brother and uncles were state-level trap shooters, giving Mairaj an early connection with the sport. He initially competed in three-position rifle shooting and even finished third in an under-12 50m rifle competition.

His sporting interests, however, were not limited to shooting. Cricket became a major part of his childhood and teenage years, with Mairaj eventually playing at the collegiate level and representing Uttar Pradesh’s junior side. He also played alongside former India batter Virender Sehwag for Jamia Millia Islamia and featured in competitions such as the Vizzy Trophy and C K Nayudu Trophy.

His first international World Cup appearance came at Lonato, Italy, in 2003. From there, Mairaj built a long career across the World Cup circuit, Asian Championships, Asian Games, Commonwealth competitions and, eventually, the Olympics.

His record includes three ISSF World Cup gold medals, including an individual title in Changwon in 2022, along with a team gold in New Delhi in 2021 and a mixed-team gold in Cairo in 2023.

Full list of major medals won by Mairaj Ahmad Khan

One target at a time

For someone who has spent more than three decades around competitive shooting, Mairaj’s approach is strikingly simple.

He does not want to predict medals or spend time thinking about results before he competes. Instead, his focus remains on the immediate task in front of him.

“My goal is always one target at a time. I can’t tell you that I will shoot a gold medal or I will shoot a silver medal. Whatever comes, you have to accept and move on. I will give my best. That’s my ability. That’s my hard work.”

That philosophy has allowed Mairaj to remain competitive across different generations of shooters.

Skeet demands concentration, speed and consistency, with competitors required to react to targets travelling at high speed from different directions. For Mairaj, however, the technical demands of the event are only one part of remaining at the top for so long.The ability to stay mentally present has become equally important.

From rifle shooting to skeet

Mairaj’s shooting journey began with a rifle rather than the shotgun discipline that would eventually make him an Indian pioneer.

His early exposure to shooting came through his family, but cricket temporarily took centre stage. He developed into a talented batsman and represented Uttar Pradesh at the junior level before continuing to play competitively in college.

His return to shooting in 1994 eventually led him towards shotgun events. By 2000, he had settled on skeet, a decision that would shape the rest of his sporting career.

The move did not produce immediate international success. Mairaj spent years competing and developing on the international circuit before breaking through at the highest level.

His first World Cup appearance came in 2003, and over the following years, he became a regular presence at major international competitions.

Becoming India’s Olympic skeet pioneer

Mairaj’s biggest breakthrough came in 2016, when he became the first Indian skeet shooter to qualify for the Olympic Games.

He competed at the Rio 2016 Olympics, finishing ninth in qualification with a score of 121 and narrowly missing out on a place in the final.

His Olympic journey continued at the Tokyo 2020 Games, held in 2021, where he finished 25th with a score of 117.

Although he did not win an Olympic medal, his qualification itself represented an important milestone for Indian skeet.

He also produced one of the best results of his career in 2016, winning silver in the individual skeet event at the ISSF World Cup in Rio and finishing fourth at the World Cup Final in Rome.

The comeback that produced history

Perhaps the most significant chapter of Mairaj’s career came after he had already established himself as an Olympic shooter.

Following the death of his father in 2021, the disruption caused by the pandemic and the loss of sponsorship support, he seriously considered walking away from shooting.

“I realised that maybe this is the time to say thank you to the sport,” he recalls. But the thought of retirement did not last. Mairaj decided to continue and invested his own money in his training and competition. The decision soon produced the defining achievement of his career.

At the 2022 ISSF World Cup in Changwon, South Korea, he won the men’s skeet gold medal, becoming the first Indian skeet shooter to win an individual ISSF World Cup gold.

He qualified with a score of 119, then produced 27 in the semifinal and 37 in the medal match to take the title.

The victory was significant not only because of the medal but also because of the circumstances surrounding it. Mairaj had come close to stepping away from the sport, only to return and achieve something no Indian skeet shooter had done before.

From missing Paris to chasing Los Angeles

Mairaj’s career has also included disappointments. He missed qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympics, but the setback did not change his long-term ambition.

Instead, he shifted his attention towards Los Angeles 2028. “I didn’t qualify for Paris, but I never give up and I’m focussing more towards LA. Maybe the ultimate dream comes true in LA only, you never know.”

That pursuit explains why Mairaj continues to compete despite being one of the most experienced shooters in the Indian system.

His World Cup record also shows that he has remained capable of producing strong performances against younger competitors. He reached the World Cup Final in Rome in 2016 and finished sixth at the New Delhi World Cup Final in 2024.

The coaches behind the journey

Mairaj’s career has also been shaped by several prominent coaches. His coaching journey has included Andrea Benelli, Sunny Thomas, Ennio Falco and Riccardo Filippelli, while his current profile lists Benelli as his personal coach and Sunny Thomas as the national coach.

Away from his own competitive career, Mairaj has also contributed to the development of Indian shooting through the MAK Shooting Foundation, which works with emerging shooting talent.

He has also coached shooters, including Angad Vir Singh Bajwa, extending his influence beyond his own performances.

Gia Duddy gave fans a quick look at Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Andrei Iosivas in her latest Instagram Reel before the video took a fun turn.

Duddy shared the Reel on Sept. 6. It briefly showed Iosivas before Duddy and her friends were seen dancing to the popular song “Cotton Eye Joe” by Rednex.

The video also joked about how a night that was supposed to include “just one drink” ended much later.

Duddy added to the joke in her caption, writing, “The Cotton Eye Joe got the best of us.”

Iosivas appeared to enjoy the post as he liked the Reel.

The Reel also teased a photo of Duddy and Iosivas posing for a mirror selfie outdoors at night in front of a store window.

Duddy had her curly blonde hair down and took the photo with her phone. She wore a white one-shoulder minidress with a zebra-print pattern across the skirt. She completed the look with white open-toe heels and carried a dark handbag.

Iosivas stood close behind her in a beige button-up jacket and matching pants. He leaned toward Duddy’s head and appeared to kiss or nestle against her while wrapping one hand around her waist.

The post comes after Duddy appeared to confirm her relationship with Iosivas in recent weeks.

In early August, Duddy posted content that suggested a relationship.

She filmed an Instagram vlog going to “our boyfriends’ practice,” while the video briefly showed Iosivas, wearing No. 80, catching a pass from Joe Burrow.

Then, on Sept. 5, Gia Duddy shared photo booth strips on her Instagram Stories showing her and Iosivas posing closely together at The Fox Bar & Cocktail Club.

Gia Duddy shows off Cincinnati Bengals apparel ahead of 2026 NFL Season opener vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Gia Duddy leaned into her support for the Cincinnati Bengals and showed off her game-day style on her Instagram Stories

Duddy modeled an oversized black and orange Bengals quarter-zip jacket, complete with team branding across the front and back.

Overlaying the mirror selfie, she wrote, “Found the cutest quarter zip for football season.”

In a follow-up story, Gia Duddy shared a screenshot of the jacket, i.e., the Aéropostale Cincinnati Bengals Quarter-Zip Track Jacket and joked about missing out on a major deal.

Showing the item discounted by 50% from its original $89.95 price down to $44.98, she added, “Mad I bought it full price because IT’S 50% OFF RN LOL,” while noting she opted for a size large for an oversized fit.

In 2026, Andrei Iosivas is playing in his fourth NFL season.