FIFA has sought to draw a line under the controversy surrounding Gianni Infantino’s abandoned World Cup sell-off plan, saying senior officials have reaffirmed their full support for the president after the governing body admitted mistakes and issued an apology over the handling of the proposal.The governing body made the announcement following a crisis meeting in Rabat, Morocco, where FIFA’s leadership attempted to present a united front amid mounting calls for governance reform and even demands for Infantino to step down.The controversy stemmed from Infantino’s proposal to sell stakes in future FIFA World Cup profits through a commercial subsidiary known as FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE). The plan was withdrawn after facing fierce opposition from stakeholders across world football.
FIFA apologises, backs Infantino
In an official statement, FIFA acknowledged that errors had been made in the way the proposal was handled.Referring to the FFE project, the organisation said “mistakes made were acknowledged” and admitted that the “process should have been handled differently.”FIFA also revealed that a letter had been sent to its Council members and national associations apologising for the handling of the matter and committing to “ensure they do not happen again.”Despite the controversy, FIFA insisted that Infantino continues to enjoy the backing of the organisation’s leadership.According to the statement, Secretary General Mattias Grafström and members of FIFA’s management board who attended the Rabat meeting “reaffirmed their full support” for Infantino’s presidency.The governing body also confirmed that the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal is “now off the table.”“There are always lessons to be learned, and FIFA will continue to improve its processes in light of this experience,” FIFA added.The show of support is particularly significant because Grafström had earlier distanced himself from the proposal in an email to FIFA staff, describing the past week as a “sad and reproachable series of events.” FIFA also said Infantino had reiterated his support for the secretary general.
Pressure refuses to ease
While FIFA has attempted to close ranks, criticism of Infantino continues to grow.The association of European Leagues, representing competitions including the Premier League, La Liga and Serie A, called the FFE proposal “dangerous” and said it raised “serious questions about FIFA’s governance, internal culture and decision-making.”The organisation demanded sweeping governance reforms and warned that FIFA “must not be allowed to continue taking unilaterally disruptive decisions,” while also opposing any further expansion of the men’s World Cup to 64 teams.Former Portugal captain Luis Figo also urged Infantino to resign, accusing him of having “debased the office.”Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney added to the pressure, saying he no longer had confidence in the FIFA president and describing the failure to consult senior advisers as a “fatal” governance failure.FIFA also dismissed reports that Infantino had promised Morocco the right to host the 2030 World Cup final in exchange for political support, calling the claims “false and misleading.”Infantino is expected to seek a fourth and final term as FIFA president at elections scheduled for March, but the fallout from the failed World Cup commercialisation plan has left his leadership facing its biggest challenge in years.
MANILA, Philippines —EJ Obiena continues to make up for lost time, winning his seventh gold medal of the season at the International Stabhochsprung Meeting in Jockgrim, Germany.
Obiena cleared 5.83 meters to capture his second straight title, just days removed from his triumph at the Halberstadter Hohenflug.
The Olympic pole vaulter edged Qatar’s Siefeldin Abdelsalam, who also cleared 5.83 meters, on countback. Ersu Sasma of Turkey settled for bronze after clearing 5.77 meters in the 12-man field.
Obiena then attempted a season-best 5.93 meters but fell short.
“[It] was far from smooth competition and some struggles during warm up and earlier bars but happy to scrape an 80 bar,” Obiena said. “We continue to work and now a few trainings in before we go again.”
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The fit-again Obiena, who battled injuries last year, set his season best of 5.85 meters at the Meeting Madrid in Spain, where he settled for silver.
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In Pokemon TCG Pocket, Typhlosion ex is a Stage 2 Fire-type card from the Ruler of the Skies expansion. It is a powerful Pokemon ex thanks to its move Destructive Inferno, which deals 110. However, the move’s secondary effect is very useful as well. It requires you to flip a coin multiple times until you get a tails. For each head, you get to remove an energy from the opponent’s Active Pokemon.
So let us take a look at how to play Typhlosion ex, which cards work well alongside it, and the main strategy involved.
Best Pokemon TCG Pocket Typhlosion ex deck guide: Cards you need
Best Pokemon TCG Pocket Typhlosion ex deck guide: Strategy breakdown
All Typhlosion ex variants in TCG Pocket (Image via The Pokemon Company)
1) Typhlosion ex
HP: 180
Move:Destructive Inferno
Move Damage: 110
Move Description:Flip a coin until you get tails. For each heads, discard a random Energy from your opponent’s Active Pokemon
Move Energy Cost: 2 Fire and 1 Colorless Energy
Retreat Cost: 2 Energy
Destructive Inferno is a powerful move, dealing 110 damage for two Fire and one Colorless Energy. While setting it up can be difficult, Typhlosion ex is worth it. Especially thanks to its secondary effect, which allows players to remove energy from the opponent’s Active Pokemon as long as the coin flips land in your favor.
Victini in TCG Pocket (Image via The Pokemon Company)
HP: 70
Ability: Victory Star:Once during your turn, after you flip any coins for an attack of 1 of your Fire Pokemon, you may ignore all results of those coin flips and begin flipping those coins again. You can’t use more than 1 Victory Star Ability each turn.
Move:V-Flame
Move Damage: 40
Move Energy Cost: 1 Fire and 1 Colorless Energy
Retreat Cost: 1 Energy
The Victini card from Pulsing Aura is useful because of its Ability Victory Star. This Ability will allow you to ignore a coin flip that does not go in your favor. As a result, if you get a tails from using Destructive Inferno, this Ability will allow you to ignore the first one.
3) Entei ex (Secluded Springs)
Entei ex in TCG Pocket (Image via The Pokemon Company)
HP: 140
Ability: Legendary Pulse:At the end of your turn, if this Pokemon is in the Active Spot, draw a card.
Move:Blazing Beatdown
Move Damage: 60+
Move Description:If this Pokemon has at least 2 extra Fire Energy attached, this attack does 60 more damage
Move Energy Cost: 2 Fire Energy
Retreat Cost: 2 Energy
Finally, we come to Entei ex. While it is a decent attacker, the main draw of this card is its Ability Legendary Pulse. By playing Entei ex in the Active Spot you will be able to draw another extra card at the end of your turn.
Best Pokemon TCG Pocket Typhlosion ex deck guide: Support cards
Flame Patch, Rare Candy, and Juliana in TCG Pocket (Image via The Pokemon Company)
Flame Patch can take any discarded Fire Energy and attach it to your Pokemon as needed.
Rare Candy is extremely important since this deck does not run Quilava. As such Rare candy will allow you to directly evolve Cyndaquil into Typhlosion ex.
Juliana is a Supporter that will directly help you find a Typhlosion ex.
Hiking Trail is a Stadium card that lets you draw a few extra cards.
Copycat can help you get a better hand if you aren’t happy with your current one.
Professor’s Research lets you draw two cards.
Poke Ball lets you get a random Basic Pokemon.
Wally is a new Supporter that allows players to attach an extra Colorless Enegy, accelerating the turn by which Typhlosion can deal damage by one.
Finally, Cyrus will help you KO a weakened Pokemon on the opponent’s Bench by switching it into a powerful attack.
BEDMINSTER, N.J. — Will LIV Golf really live to see another season?
An answer to that question came into focus — well, sort of — Wednesday morning when the league’s CEO, Scott O’Neil, made a hastily scheduled appearance in the media center here at Trump Bedminster and announced to a room full of reporters, LIV staffers and other interested observers that the league has an agreement in place with a “lead” investor to fund the operation beyond the 2026 season.
O’Neil’s presser was light on detail in terms of the particulars of the deal, but between his remarks and additional information GOLF.com has learned, here’s what we know (and don’t know):
Who’s the investor?
O’Neil declined to say. Ditto the funder’s financial commitment. The league reportedly has been seeking capital in the $300 million range, which is a long way from the billions, by way of the Saudi Public Investment Fund, that fueled the league for its first five seasons, and means LIV’s so-called 2.0 edition would or will look markedly different from what it was conceived to be.
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How would the league operate on millions instead of billions?
Part of the answer seems to lie in how players would be paid out: via ownership in the league instead of lucrative annual salaries. (“This second bite at the apple is equity instead of cash,” O’Neil said.) For LIV’s biggest stars, some of whom have been enjoying the windfall of nine-figure contracts, it’s hard to figure how an equity arrangement for a diminished league would equate to anywhere close to the kind of money they’ve been making. But O’Neil said some players “love that responsibility” of having more control over their own financial destiny. “The way they engage the media, the way they work with our partners,” he said.
Players would also stand to make less on the course, with only 10 events on the new proposed schedule (five in the U.S., in the weeks before the majors, and five overseas), down from 14 in 2026. Or what was supposed to be 14; LIV cancelled its New Orleans event this season and the status of its season-ending team event in Michigan next month remains very much in doubt. A league source says projected 2027 average player event earnings would be “greater than or equal to the PGA Tour’s dual-track system and far exceeding the DP World Tour.” But the league has offered no detail about actual purse amounts.
The source added that players also would be free to play in any and all non-LIV events for which they are eligible or invited.
What did O’Neil say about the team event?
Not much!
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“We have not made any final formal decisions and hope to in the coming weeks,” he said. “We are all working tirelessly to do everything we can to deliver the events of this season. Some of the stuff is completely in our control. Some of the stuff is not. We are working to deliver the best we can.”
Back to the deal. What would prevent it from being finalized?
O’Neil said the deal had been approved by LIV’s board, and that the league and its investor have a “certain time frame” by which they are aiming to make the agreement official. With both sides on board in principle, what could prevent a deal from happening? O’Neil was coy when asked this question, saying only that LIV’s interested funder is “an investor of weight, and we’re all locked in on making it happen. So I haven’t spent a lot of time on thinking about what might not make it happen.” When I asked O’Neil whether a finalized deal would guarantee a 2027 season, he said, “And ’28 and ’29 and ’30.”
Have any other investors showed interest?
O’Neil said in a statement issued Wednesday morning that the league has seen “strong interest from more than a dozen additional parties to potentially serve as minority investors, creating a multi-partner model built for long-term stability and growth.” But he was less expansive and effusive on this subject in his presser, saying, “We have that opportunity. We don’t need them, but we have the opportunity to do it.”
Any other carrots on the table for the players?
There is at least one: O’Neil said the league plans to return “some” NIL rights back to its players. “There’s a whole formula there we’re walking players through,” he said. The details of that formula are unknown but presumably critical to players like Bryson DeChambeau who have amassed huge followings (and revenue streams) on their personal social channels.
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Will Bryson stick around?
That remains the [insert your favorite dollar figure] question. At a players-only meeting here at Trump Bedminster, DeChambeau, who has been active in the league’s investor-courting process, took the reins and shared what he knew about the state of LIV, which would suggest that he’s still committed to whatever the league could or might become. Asked about the importance of DeChambeau and LIV’s other blue-chipper, Jon Rahm, to LIV’s viability, O’Neil acknowledged their marketing muscle but also was quick to shine a light on LIV’s other players.
“Would certainly love them to come along for the ride and journey, because they carry maybe more weight than anybody in the game and I have a lot of time for that,” O’Neil said. “I think we have enough support from enough players, and we have such an interesting format and global format, I think we’ll do quite well in getting the right stars for this game.”
How will LIV pay out its existing contracts?
For players who are owed tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars, that question is surely top of mind. Same goes for any vendors that might be owed payment. LIV’s debt is significant. O’Neil wasn’t asked directly about any outstanding payouts but he was asked whether there would be need for bankruptcy restructuring “to deal with the legacy liabilities.”
“We want to make sure that we are giving ourselves the best opportunity to do what’s best for this organization to carry forward,” he said. “We’ll consider the best options at that time. That’s not a decision we have to make, and we’ll continue to do what’s best.”
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What’s the takeaway here?
Tough one to read. Word on the ground at Bedminster is that the players have been getting antsy and are understandably hungry for information so they can make decisions about their next steps, be those with LIV or another tour. Wednesday’s news might help put some players at ease but it’s also so light on specifics that it might also make players feel even more uneasy.
Lucas Herbert, who has won two LIV events this season and tied for 6th at the Open Championship last month, said Tuesday that his management team has had discussions with the PGA Tour about what a path back might look like — and PGA Tour CEO Brain Rolapp will tell you that Herbert’s team has not been alone on that front.
“If LIV were to go away and you’ve got nowhere to play, I think ultimately you need somewhere to play as a professional golfer,” Herbert said. “So we’re just doing due diligence, having that conversation. As I said, I haven’t had it personally, and my preference would be to still be playing out here if that was still an option.”
Tsarukyan had been expected to face “Baddest Motherf*****” champion Charles Oliveira in a rematch of their 2024 bout, which Tsarukyan narrowly won on points. But instead, he will face a different Brazilian on 19 September: fellow contender Ruffy.
Fans have theorised that Tsarukyan has not been in the UFC’s good books since he withdrew from a title shot against then-champion Islam Makhachev, with the Armenian pulling out injured on one day’s notice in January 2025.
And earlier this year, UFC president Dana White admitted at a press conference: “I’m not thrilled with Arman right now, and there’s a lot of different reasons. It’s not just the stuff that you see publicly.”
Some fans will feel this explains the No 2 lightweight’s pairing with 10th-ranked Ruffy, 30, although others speculated that Tsarukyan vs Oliveira 2 was in the works, only for Oliveira to withdraw after the death of his teammate Allan Nascimento.
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Nascimento, who fought in the UFC’s flyweight division, died suddenly from an apparent heart attack this week. He was 34 years old.
“Man I can’t believe it, it seems like a f***ing lie brother, it’s crazy,” Oliveira wrote on Instagram. “I don’t even know how I’m going to get onto the mat and go to a fight knowing you’re not going to be there.
“It hurts a f***ing lot brother […] Rest in peace and watch everything. Until after the end.”
Alexandre Pantoja (right) suffered an early injury in December as he lost his belt to Joshua Van (Getty)
In the main event of UFC 331, which will take place at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Joshua Van defends his flyweight title in a rematch with Alexandre Pantoja.
Nigeria booked their place in the quarter-finals of the 2026 TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations with a convincing 6-2 win over Egypt at the Rabat Olympic Stadium on Wednesday night.
The Super Falcons went into the final Group C game under pressure after losing 3-2 to Malawi in their opening match and narrowly beating Zambia 1-0.
But they produced their best attacking display of the tournament when it mattered most, scoring three goals in each half to secure qualification.
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Asisat Oshoala opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 21st minute before Gift Monday doubled Nigeria’s lead in first-half stoppage time, finishing from Rinsola Babajide’s assist.
Egypt reduced the deficit when Nadine Ghazi converted a penalty deep into added time, sending Nigeria into the break with a 2-1 lead.
Nigeria came out strongly after the restart and restored their two-goal advantage in the 57th minute when Uchenna Kanu finished from another Babajide assist.
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The Super Falcons continued to dominate and were awarded another penalty in the 81st minute, with Christy Ucheibe converting to make it 4-1.
Ghazi scored her second goal of the night three minutes later, but Egypt could not mount a comeback.
Rasheedat Ajibade then converted Nigeria’s third penalty in the first minute of stoppage time before setting up Joy Omewa for the sixth goal eight minutes later.
The emphatic victory completed a strong response from Nigeria after their disappointing opening-day defeat to Malawi.
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Malawi Finish Top, Zambia Eliminated
Despite Nigeria’s big win, Malawi finished top of Group C after beating Zambia 2-1 in the other match played at the same time.
Malawi, Nigeria and Zambia all finished with six points, but Malawi topped the group based on the tournament’s tiebreaking criteria.
Nigeria finished second and advanced to the quarter-finals, while Zambia were eliminated despite also collecting six points from their three matches.
Egypt finished bottom of the group without a point after suffering three defeats and conceding 15 goals.
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The Super Falcons have now recovered from their difficult start with two consecutive victories and remain in the hunt for another WAFCON title.
The knockout stage will now provide a much tougher test for Justine Madugu’s side.
Memphis has hosted PGA Tour tournaments since 1958 and a Tour playoff event since 2022, but the city will not be part of the Tour’s top-level circuit slated to start in 2028.
The schedule shakeup, first reported by the Memphis Commercial Appeal, was confirmed in statements given to GOLF.com by the Tour and FedEx, a longtime Tour sponsor and whose name is attached to the current Memphis event, the FedEx St. Jude Championship. That tournament will be played next week at TPC Southwind and next year as well, but then no more in its current role.
The news comes two months after the Tour announced it would be creating a Championship Series, featuring 23 to 24 events and its highest-rated players, and a lower-tier Challenger Series starting in 2028. The Tour’s sponsorship deal with FedEx — which includes the backing of the Memphis event and the Tour’s seasonlong points race and postseason — is set to end at the end of next year.
FedEx’s statement said the organization was “disappointed” at the news that the FedEx St. Jude Championship would not be part of the top-tier circuit. Both statements suggested that Memphis could host some sort of Tour-level event in the future.
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“As the PGA Tour continues to evolve its competition structure and schedule, we understand their vision for the future and appreciate the longstanding partnership over the last 40 years,” the FedEx statement read. “While we are disappointed the FedEx St. Jude Championship will not be part of the new Championship Series, we are encouraged by their plans to find other opportunities to bring professional golf to Memphis. Regardless of the tournament’s next chapter, our commitment to Memphis is unwavering. We will find new ways to partner with St. Jude to advance their mission, and we will continue making new investments in this great city we call home.”
The Tour added: “FedEx has been a wonderful partner since 1986, with our relationship evolving and innovating over the years. As we prepare for the FedEx St. Jude Championship next week and again in 2027, we remain in close conversation about the future of our partnership. We are grateful to FedEx for all it contributes to the sport, and the positive impact they make in the community, including in Memphis with St. Jude. As we implement a new competitive model and map out our schedule for 2028 and beyond, we believe Memphis is well-positioned to remain part of the PGA Tour. TPC Southwind is a premier venue in our TPC Network and remains an important asset to the Tour. We look forward to sharing more as plans take shape.”
What happens to sponsorship of the Tour’s points race and postseason remains unclear. A Tour spokesperson said the Tour was in “close conversation with FedEx and other sponsors about future opportunities.”
At the announcement of the Tour’s new format in June, the Tour said its Championship Series would feature 15 regular-season events, the four majors, the Players Championship, an annual team event (Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup), a once-every-four-years Olympic tournament and the Tour Championship as part of a “reimagined postseason.” Tour CEO Brian Rolapp said that 10 of the 15 regular-season events had already been lined up.
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Over the past few days, five of them have been named — the Travelers Championship; the Arnold Palmer Invitational; the Sentry, to be played at Torrey Pines; the Cadillac Championship, which was played for the first time this year; and the Sompo Championship, which will take over the Napa, Calif., event in 2027 before it becomes a Championship Series event in 2028 at a to-be-announced venue and location. The Challenger Series, meanwhile, will feature at least 20 tournaments, and Memphis could be in line to host one of those.
“I think the reason for change has been pretty clear,” Rolapp said in June. “I think if you talk to our fans, if you talk to our partners, they are all looking for improvement, and there’s one thing I learned in my old job: Innovation is extremely important if you want to move a sport forward. I think the PGA Tour is different.
“We also exist in a really competitive sports world. Whether you’re competing for fans’ attention, if you’re competing for media dollars, which is the economic lifeblood of every sport in this country, you need to be constantly improving the product. I think we looked around and we saw what we need to do to increase fans’ attention and create more value for our partners and felt this was necessary.”
Rolapp is expected to hold another press conference at the end of the month at the Tour Championship.
Caty McNally and Linda Noskova during their match in the 2026 Canadian Open in Toronto. –WTA SCREENGRAB
Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova crashed out of the Canadian Open on Wednesday after blowing a 5-1 first-set lead in a 7-6 (5), 6-1 loss to American Caty McNally in the Round of 64 in Toronto.
McNally saved two set points before reeling off 12 of the final 14 games to complete the comeback and advance to the third round, where she will face Filipino Alex Eala.
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“She was playing really well in the beginning, and I was a little bit uncomfortable trying to get used to playing out here and playing against such a great player. I just tried to embrace it,” the McNally, the world No. 38, said.
The victory marked McNally’s second career win over a Top 10 opponent and her 22nd WTA-level victory of the season, already a career high.
“For sure it’s really special to play against these great players. You get through the first round of these Masters, you’re bound to play a seed. It’s never easy playing anyone, but especially a Wimbledon champion,” McNally said.
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McNally will also play in the doubles tournament with fellow American Coco Gauff.
Noskova, meanwhile, remains without a main-draw win at the National Bank Open in two appearances, making it the only WTA 1000 tournament where she has yet to record a victory.
The Czech world No. 7 won her first Grand Slam title last month.
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With Boise State off to the Pac-12, this should be UNLV’s year to step up and take the conference crown.
The Rebels are the team set to carry the Mountain West banner, but the conference title won’t be handed to them, as many challengers are stepping up.
In fact, in the spirit of crazy preseason speculation, I’m picking another team to finish above them. The new-look Mountain West should be competitive, especially at the top.
Here is a look at the newly added and returning teams in our Mountain West preview.
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1. New Mexico Lobos
The Lobos are in the midst of a major turnaround. Last season UNM had its third coach in three years, and Jason Eck produced in year one; year two offers some more stability, and they return 12 starters from last season’s 9-3 squad.
Most notable among those returnees are QB Jack Layne and LB Jaxton Eck.
Layne has some tools to work with on the offensive side of the ball, with WR Troy Omeire and TE Cade Kaith poised for potential All-Conference campaigns.
Jaxton Eck | New Mexico Athletics
Jason Eck was a lineman on the power-rushing Wisconsin teams of Barry Alvarez in the 90s, and the ground game will be key. They have a good back running the ball in Scottre Humphrey, and he’ll be running behind a line anchored by All-MW caliber G Malik Aliane.
The biggest key for the Lobos this season might be the schedule as they have UNLV, Air Force, and North Dakota State all coming to Albuquerque.
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The Lobos could be set to claim their first conference crown since 1964.
2. UNLV Rebels
While the Rebels might have the most talent-laden team in the league, I see them falling to New Mexico in the standings due to a less favorable schedule.
UNLV will need to replace Anthony Colandrea at the QB spot, but Jackson Arnold should step in and perform as well if not better.
Dan Mullen has been successful at bringing P4 transfers to Vegas, and Arnold is another in that line coming from Auburn via Oklahoma.
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He started a combined 17 games for the Tigers and Sooners over the last two seasons, completing 63% of his passes and throwing 18 TDs with just five interceptions. He should command this Rebel attack with efficiency.
Jai’Den Thomas returns and will offer a stable ground game.
Last season, the defense let the Rebels down in their losses, and they need to improve. A year ago, they allowed 28 points per game and 419.1 yards per outing. The offense will be potent, but those numbers need to improve.
The Rebels want to step up and be a P4 program, and perhaps the Big 12 is a future destination; if that is to be the case, they will need to step up and hold off the other up-and-comers in the Mountain West to prove they are worthy of making the jump.
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Once again, the Rebels will need to get it done with a nearly complete overhaul of the roster.
3. Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors
Timmy Chang has done a remarkable job of turning around a dire situation at his Alma Mater. Now, in his fifth season at the helm, he appears to have the Warriors rolling.
Following a 9-4 season last year, Hawaii is ready to take the next step. With QB Micah Alejado back to lead a potent offense, the sky is the limit.
Alejado is the best QB in the conference and has a slew of weapons to work with in the passing game, notably Pofele Ashlock and Nick Cenacle. Both are athletic WRs who can stretch the field and pose a matchup nightmare for opponents.
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Micah Alejado | Brian Bautista/Hawaii Sports Radio
On defense, UH needed to fill in some holes lost from a season ago. They loaded up with linemen and should be a much deeper group up front than they were a season ago.
The secondary was rebuilt through the portal. Look for Wynden Ho’ohuli to be a force at LB. The transfer from Nebraska could be a tackling machine while also creating havoc off the edge.
4. North Dakota State Bison
The Bison have been dominant at the FCS level over the last decade and a half with 10 FCS National Championships in the last 15 seasons.
They make the jump to the FBS and the Mountain West and are certainly capable of competing for a conference crown in year one, but they certainly do not have an easy path.
NDSU not only plays each of the other teams listed in my top five, but it also plays all four of them on the road.
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This will be a veteran team, but they are replacing most of their skill players from a season ago.
NDSU always runs the ball well, but last season they also opened it up, leading the nation in downfield passing with 16.6 yards per completion. That would have been second best in the FBS in 2025.
Nathan Hayes | PFF.com
Nathan Hayes will guide the offense this season; he is a fifth-year senior but has only attempted 37 passes in his collegiate career. DJ Scott should get the bulk of the carries and is a powerful back who was listed on the All-MVC team last season.
The Bison pride themselves on running the ball, and that is their identity on offense.
The other key for NDSU is playing good defense, and they have always been among the best in FCS on that side of the ball.
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Their 4-3 look has limited opponents in the past, and this season the unit should be led by DT Keenan Wilson, who could be an all-conference performer in his debut season in the Mountain West.
5. Air Force Falcons
It has been over a decade since the Falcons played for a conference title, back in 2015. That is a long drought and hard to believe.
Over the last two seasons, Air Force has gone just 9-16 and collected just six conference wins during that time
This season should see a much-improved team, and a big reason is the return of Liam Szarka at QB. There is no secret about what the Falcons will want to do on offense. They will run the ball very well and be among the best in the nation moving the ball on the ground.
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Liam Szarka | Laura Domingue/Special to the Gazette
Last season, the defense was what let Air Force down, as it was virtually non-existent; the Falcons struggled to come up with stops on third down, ranking second-to-last in that category nationally.
The secondary and LBs should have plenty of talent and depth. Blake Fletcher figures to be among the best LBs in the MW. If the defensive front can stop the run and control the line, the Falcons will make some noise.
The last time the Falcons came off consecutive losing seasons was 2019; that year, they bounced back with an 11-2 season. Can Troy Calhoun and his squad see a similar improvement this season?
6. Wyoming Cowboys
This is a big season for Jay Sawvel and the coaching staff. If the results are not better than last year, there could be a coaching change ahead of next season.
Under Craig Bohl, the Cowboys were a consistent bowl team. They have not sniffed a bowl game in the last two seasons.
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Last season, the offense was abysmal. The Cowboys did not score much and struggled to move the ball, especially over the last four games, averaging 6.0 points per contest, and failing to score more than seven in any of those matchups.
Tyler Hughes | Casper Star-Tribune
Tylet Hughes will offer a lot of athleticism at the quarter spot; he should be a playmaker. Tote Harris should be an effective runner for UW.
The defense was solid last season, and while there will be new faces this season, it should be a case of next man up. Jay Sawvel’s coaching background is on the defensive side of the ball, and that unit has been solid during his first two campaigns.
Look for the defense to keep the Cowboys in games. If the offense can find a way to put the ball in the end zone more often this season, Wyoming should end its bowl drought.
7. Nevada Wolfpack
This is Year Three for Jeff Choate, and for the first time in his tenure in Reno, the Wolf Pack look like they could have a real chance at winning.
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The key to potential success would be a more explosive offense.
Last season, the offense struggled, and slow starts were a major problem as Nevada was outscored 72-29 in the first quarter of games.
Carter Jones took his lumps at QB last as a freshman but should be more productive this season, provided he holds off UCLA transfer Luke Duncan for the job.
Whoever ends up under center will need to be more productive in the passing game than the Pack was in 2025, and he will have more options to throw the ball to.
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Dylan LaBarbera | Nevada Athletics
In addition to Marshaun Brown returning on the outside, the Pack have added a lot of talent through the portal. Gary Givens has the potential to be an all-conference performer at receiver.
Dylan LaBarbera might be the most dangerous pass rusher in the Mountain West this season, creating issues off the edge, after recording 17 TFLS and 6.5 sacks last season..
The defense was good enough to keep Nevada competitive at times in 2025. That unit should once again be the team’s strength.
Should the Pack get some production from the offense, they should be in the mix for a bowl.
8. San Jose State Spartans
Two years ago, expectations were low, and the Spartans overachieved. Last season, San Jose State was poised for a big jump with sky-high expectations, and they fell flat on their face.
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This season, expectations are certainly tempered again, so will they overachieve again in Year Three under Ken Niumatololo?
The Spartans’ passing attack has been as good as any in the nation the last two seasons, and once again they should put up huge numbers through the air.
Luke Weaver will steer the passing game. Look for Jordan Anderson to be this year’s version of Nick Nash/Danny Scudero.
Jordan Anderson | Sacramento State Athletics
For the offense to be effective enough to return to a bowl game, the turnovers and interceptions will need to decrease.
The defense struggled to mount any semblance of a pass rush last year. And while there wasn’t much production in that department, the production that was there has moved on.
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So, once again, the defense looks like it could be a problem for the Spartans. The majority of the stops for SJSU last season came from their trio of linebackers, now gone.
I am not optimistic about the Spartans overachieving this time around.
9. UTEP Miners
Scotty Walden has had a tough time of it in his first two seasons in El Paso, going just 5-19. The Miners struggled to a 2-10 record in 2025, and things don’t look that much better for this fall.
The offense had a ton of issues last season, and this is supposed to be a strength of a Walden-coached team. This season they should at least have some excitement at the QB position with EJ Colson entering the fold from Incarnate Word.
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Colson is a burner and should produce some highlight reel plays. But behind the Miners line, he might have to use those wheels more often than he’d like.
EJ Colson | UTEP Athletics
UTEP was good at getting teams off the field on third down in 2025 and this season that should again be a bright spot. The secondary looks to have some playmakers the passing defense might keep UTEP in some games.
Even with an improved product on the field, the Miners record might not be much better in a more difficult Mountain West than in prior seasons. UTEP could be looking at a fourth straight season with four wins or less.
10. Northern Illinois Huskies
NIU has had some very good teams over the years and a lot of recent success in the MAC. The Huskies are coming off a tough 3-9 season, though, and an offseason that saw major transitions.
The team is making a jump in competition to the MW. The roster is starting over in several spots, the travel will be a bear, and they must navigate it all with an interim head coach.
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Rob Harley takes over a tough turnaround, leading the program into a new conference. But hey, at least he has a chance to make a big splash and do something amazing in his on-the-job trial run.
DaAree Rogers | NIU Athletics
DaAree Rogers is a talented wideout, but will NIU have anyone to get the ball to him? If they do, he can be electric in the open field. But what the Huskies will look to do is pound it out on the ground, with Telly Johnson leading a decent stable of backs.
The issue on defense will be stopping the run. Against the pass, the Huskies should be solid. But again, if NIU can’t keep opponents from running all over them, the pass defense won’t mean a thing.
Especially against some of the ground attacks they will face in the Mountain West.
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).
Oct 24, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Minnesota Vikings safety Josh Metellus (44), cornerback Shaquill Griffin (1), linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. (0), safety Camryn Bynum (24) and cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. (7) celebrate against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The Minnesota Vikings are in the midst of training camp and players are battling it out for a place on the roster. For five Vikings who are trying to keep their place on the roster time could be running out.
5 Vikings Whose Time Is Running Out
I am looking at players who were on the roster last season (or longer) and are in danger of losing their place. Whether that be to a new signing, a rookie, or a player who has been around a while and developed to surpass them. I believe five candidates are in real danger.
Ivan Pace
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. (0) celebrates after returning a fumble for a touchdown against the Detroit Lions during the fourth quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Oct 20, 2024. Pace raises his arms in celebration following the defensive score during the NFC North matchup late in the game. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.
It was three years ago that Ivan Pace somewhat surprisingly fell out of the draft and was ultimately picked up by Minnesota as an undrafted free agent. Pace not only earned a place on the roster as a rookie but also became a starter on Brian Flores’ defense.
However, poor positioning, failing to finish tackles, and a lack of reliability in coverage have seen him fall out of favor as his defensive snaps have reduced each year. He played 706 defensive snaps in 2023 and 323 in 2025 (it would have been lower than that if Blake Cashman didn’t miss four games through injury).
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Jamal Adams has been signed to provide direct competition to Pace for one of the team’s final roster spots. Adams has the edge on experience and versatility.
Dwight McGlothern
Aug 24, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Minnesota Vikings cornerback Dwight McGlothern (47) tackles Philadelphia Eagles running back Kendall Milton (36) during the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Caean Couto-USA TODAY Sports.
Dwight McGlothern has been a star of the last two training camps since being picked up as an undrafted free agent in 2024. He found his way onto the roster for the last two seasons but it only translated to a combined 50 defensive snaps. You have to wonder if the breakthrough for McGlothern is ever coming.
Senior cornerbacks Byron Murphy, James Pierre, and Isaiah Rodgers will take up three roster spots. Plus, fifth-round rookie Charles Demmings has been turning heads and looks locked in for the fourth spot. It leaves McGlothern battling with the likes of Zemaiah Vaughn and Kahlef Hailassie for the fifth and probably final CB place. Early signs point towards Vaughn as the favorite.
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Zavier Scott
Aug 16, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Zavier Scott (36) runs with the ball against the New England Patriots in the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images
The Vikings carried just three running backs plus fullback CJ Ham last season. Zavier Scott did well to come from nowhere to claim a roster place last year.
He was an undrafted rookie in 2023 who was picked by the Indianapolis Colts. Scott found a new home in Minnesota in 2024 and largely due to his pass-catching ability, impressed enough during the 2025 preseason to secure a roster spot.
Ham has retired and been replaced by Max Bredeson as the fullback. Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason remain the top two backs in Minnesota. If the Vikings plan to just have a three backs again this season then Scott will have to battle it out with the speedy sixth-round rookie Demond Claiborne for the RB3 role
Max Brosmer
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Max Brosmer drops back to pass during the second half against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. The rookie signal-caller continued gaining valuable game experience while Minnesota evaluated its quarterback depth late in the 2025 season. Nov. 30, 2025. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Ng-Imagn Images.
Max Brosmer completed the dream of being a Minnesota Golden Gophers QB to starting an NFL game for the Vikings. In fact, he started two games and even led the team to a win over the Lions in Week 17. Truthfully, the undrafted rookie QB didn’t do much to contribute to the win, only attempting 16 passes with a 56.3% completion percentage.
Brosmer made history for how bad his stat line was for a winning QB. The best praise you can give him is that he managed not to lose the game, but he was clearly not good enough. Assuming Kyler Murray and JJ McCarthy are both sticking around and with Carson Wentz also in the mix. It is the practice squad at best for Brosmer.
Michael Jurgens
Aug 9, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings guard Michael Jurgens (65) holds the ball at the line of scrimmage during the fourth quarter against the Houston Texans at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
Drafted in the seventh round of the 2024 draft, Michael Jurgens got the opportunity to play in his second season thanks to the Vikings’ offensive line being obliterated by injuries. Jurgens got to start in three games at center and did okay apart from committing five penalties. A more penalties-than-games ratio is not good. The fact that Minnesota has opted to go with a guy who had never snapped a ball before last season in Blake Brandel as the new center tells me that there wasn’t a belief in Jurgens being ready.
Add in the fact that another rookie – Gavin Gerhardt – was drafted in the seventh round this year it should leave Jurgens looking over his shoulder. Usually, the younger new draft pick would seem the obvious choice but the Vikings are in the strange situation where one player was picked by the former general manager while the other was selected before the current GM arrived. The preseason likely determines the backup center.
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Proud UK Viking. Family Man. Enjoy writing about my team. Away from football an advocate for autism acceptance.
Manchester City moved onto Korea this week for the second part of their summer tour to Asia. Having spent a week in Hong Kong, the Blues play two matches in Seoul and were 3-1 winners over a K-League XI on Wednesday and face Atletico Madrid on Sunday.
Away from the pitch, transfers continue to dominate the conversation. Both incomings and outgoings remain a possibility as we creep towards deadline day at the beginning of September.
There are plenty of questions to be answered on the transfer window and so much more, so we’ll be hosting a weekly Q&A session with our chief City writer Simon Bajkowski. This is your chance to get an answer on anything you want – simply pop your question here and Simon will pick them all up and wrap everything up in one place.
Take a look at the latest batch of answers, below.
Do you think this is Hugo Viana’s most important summer? He needs to get new midfield construction spot on. We have seen him operate for more than 1 window, while his talent spotting for Khusa, Vitor Reis has been spot on, he has missed mark on Nico G, Marmoush, Tijjani, (these all were heavy commitments as well). All I have read online (& heard on podcasts) is that he is more proactive than Txiki and might be less conservative in terms of deals signing but nothing beyond that. Ashu
We will start with transfers, and I think this is a very good question so thanks Ashu. Someone in football once said that you can only judge a manager after three transfer windows and I think the same applies to a sporting director. We are effectively approaching the end of Hugo Viana’s third transfer window so I think it will be fair to judge him at the end of it – even if the jury will remain out on players signed.
It’s also arguably the most important summer for him because Pep Guardiola has left. The Catalan loomed large over everybody and everything – one of Begiristain’s motifs used to be that as long as targets could play Guardiola could teach them the rest – but now that he has gone Viana’s role becomes more important. He has to get the recruitment right to give Maresca the best possible chance.
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There is still plenty of time left over the next four weeks, but it is also fair to say that City haven’t made the progress that people at the club thought they would since the World Cup ended and that a lot still needs to be done.
It’s ******* hot. Are the players alright? Kim
Never mind the players, what about the journalists?! I did feel slightly happier to see the locals moaning about the heat and bringing fans to the game as they sweated profusely, but that was cancelled out by the amount of sweat coming out of me and the fact that I didn’t have a fan.
But enough about that, it’s going to be very difficult for them. Phil Foden said that they would likely have to play a slower tempo because of the heat and instead we saw them start quickly and then do nothing after getting knackered after 20 minutes. There is an open training session on Saturday that is supposed to last an hour on top of the match and Maresca seems firm on wanting to get proper sessions done but you just can’t in this heat.
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Does Haaland have a chance to be the first captain? Kay
He does. Erling Haaland was one of the leaders last season and with Bernardo Silva having left and Rodri potentially following him out the door, that doesn’t leave many leaders left. Haaland could get the captaincy but I think it will still be too early – when he was first given it 18 months ago it was more a reflection of the long contract that he had signed rather than he was ready to step up.
Haaland did become more of a leader last season but the expectation is still that Ruben Dias will get it. Dias thought he might be the next captain after Kyle Walker left but Guardiola chose Bernardo Silva. With Silva now moved on, it would be a real surprise if Dias wasn’t given the nod this time.
If Rodri leaves and we replace him with Bouaddi, I think our squad will massively lack experience in the midfield. Why didn’t City go after Bruno G when we have been linked to him in other transfer windows? He would have been good because of his experience and quality. Chima
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Bruno Guimaraes is certainly an interesting one. City have liked him for ages, but as far ago as two years ago he was seen as too old to be spending the kind of money that would be needed to sign him from Newcastle – you were not going to get much resale value, and that is even more true now.
The case could be made that the Premier League has changed in two years and that City are more in need of leaders and midfielders now than they were, and I think both points are valid – but it is still very understandable to see why they haven’t moved for him. Our colleagues in the north-east described the Guimaraes transfer as a world record fee for a midfielder in his age bracket, and City have always preferred to spend those sums on much younger players such as Elliot Anderson and Ayyoub Bouaddi.
Can we expect major playtime from all academy players brought to Asia during friendlies? Will any World Cup players come join the crew during rest of the Asian Tour？Nick
First things first, there won’t be any more players joining up with the City squad. Anybody who reached the quarter-finals or later of the World Cup is only returning to Manchester next week when the touring party gets back, so there will be no Haaland or anyone else in Korea.
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On to young players and while Maresca did include a lot of youngsters in the squad it was noticeable in the first friendly that he didn’t really use many of them – in the starting XI, there was only Stephen Mfuni in defence and Divin Mubama in attack. The lineup for the second friendly was even stronger, with only Mubama starting.
It feels like given Maresca really doesn’t have long to sort his plans for the new season he is trying to get together a team that can face Arsenal in the Community Shield and Bournemouth in the Premier League as quickly as possible. The backline is fairly sorted and several attacking spots as well, with others having the chance to play their way in; that doesn’t mean that youngsters can’t impress on tour but they’re not the immediate priority.
Will Vitor Reis be part of the first team this season or will he be loaned out again? Abdalla Elsir
I don’t want to cop out on this one but I think the jury is still out. He has been given pre-season to be assessed and Maresca has liked what he has seen, but at the same time he hasn’t started either of the first two friendlies and that would have been a real show of faith.
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City are incredibly strong at centre-back with Abdukodir Khusanov, Marc Guehi, Dias and Josko Gvardiol all ahead of Reis and arguably capable of starting for any team in the Premier League, so Reis is going to have to be patient and wait for his chances if he is to stay. He has the ambition to want to stay and take on that challenge, but at the end of the tour a decision will be made on whether that is best for him or if a loan to a club where he can play every week at a high level is in fact the best option
The Rebels are the team set to carry the Mountain West banner, but the conference title won’t be handed to them, as many challengers are stepping up.
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