By Nick Bartlett, SuperWest Sports
Sports
Previewing the Top 2026 Week 3 Pac-12 Football Games
The Pac-12 is off to a pretty rough start this year.
It may take longer than anticipated to reach a true power conference status, but there are some cool opportunities this week.
If Fresno State and San Diego State can park James Madison and San Jose State, it would help keep the league get on the right trajectory.
The opening three weeks happened, but it’s time to keep going. If the Pac wants to eat all the lentils and lamb, a Colorado State upset of BYU would feel good for the ego.
Utah State is also looking for an upset in the Beehive over rival Utah. It feels unlikely, but the Aggies played well against Washington.
The season started differently than we expected, but it is what it is.
Time to make things happen.
Utah State at No. 17 Utah
Saturday, September 19
12:30 PM PT, FOX
This matchup could be pretty tough for Utah State, but the defense held serve against Washington last week, and the Huskies were looking to score.
The key for the Aggies is to find offensive cohesion early in the game. USU’s defense is better than people realize, but they’ll need to score at least 24 points to keep things interesting.
Utah State is still looking to find their way without Bryson Barnes, but Grady Brosterhous adds an intriguing element to the offense.
Brosterhous carried the ball 21 times against the Dawgs for 81 yards. He’s not a great quarterback yet; he threw three interceptions against UW, but the combination of Javen Jacobs and him gives defenses something to think about.
And if Morgan Scalley knows what you’re doing, you’re borked.
Javon Robinson also has two 100-yard receiving games in his last four dating back to 2025. Utah is more than a defense, however; Devon Dampier is a veteran at this point. And Wayshawn Parker’s showing improvement each year in Salt Lake City.
Noah Bennee is also proving to be a revelation for the Utes. Utah State will probably get run through, but Bronco Mendenhall is more experienced than Scalley.
No. 11 BYU at Colorado State
Saturday, September 19
4:30 PM PT, CBS
Look at the top of the Pac-12 standings; it feels like Boise State should be there, but it’s Colorado State.
The Rams’ 2-0 start is a bit unexpected, but if they beat BYU, they’re the bee’s knees.
The CBS game will also give them a chance to shine on the national stage.
The key for CSU in this matchup is finding ways to counter the physicality of the Cougars. The Cougs hold the edge on defense, pretty much everywhere.
But the line has to give Hauss Hejny a chance at the minimum. If Hejny has enough time to make some plays, they could capitalize against BYU’s hurt defense.
The Cougars are without Siale Esera, Sione Moa, and Raider Damuni for this contest.
Crossing the border, if Colorado State can hold their milk against BYU’s wideouts, they could hang around in this contest. Legend Glasker’s off to a quick start for the Cougars, but he’s unproven in big moments as him.
Bear Bachmeier also needs to be careful over the middle. Oumar Diomande is ballin’ in the early season; Diomande has 16 tackles, two interceptions, and one fumble recovery in their opening two matchups.
The Cougs are the better team here, but the holes on their roster could be exposed given the state of affairs.
James Madison at San Diego State
Saturday, September 19
7:00 PM PT, The CW
This is a game the Pac-12 must win. The conference pretty much lost all of its non-conference matchups against Power Four opponents. If the perceived second-best team in the Pac loses to James Madison, it’s a troubling look.
Especially considering the Dukes are traveling across the country, and their body clock will be at 10 pm.
This game should also prove a good indicator of where the Aztecs really stand. If they blow out the Dukes, they could at least be considered the second-best team in the Pac-12.
The key to this matchup and SDSU’s season going forward is the play of Jayden Denegal.
Denegal came in with a lot of hype, but hasn’t yet proven himself at the position. He benefited from an elite defense last year, but SDSU lost 12 out of their top 14 tacklers, including their two best players.
That’s a nice way of saying that going 6-for-17 with 45 yards, a touchdown, and one interception won’t get it done.
Lucky Sutton played well against UCLA, but that’s about it. SDSU’s top receiver only finished with 19 yards.
JMU is still in a transitional state since Bob Chesney left. The Aztecs found out about Chesney last week.
But if San Diego can’t win this, the Sean Lewis rebuild is still just that.
Fresno State at San Jose State
Saturday, September 19
8:00 PM PT, FS1
The Bulldogs are where they’re supposed to be. Even though the loss to USC was repulsive, one loss is still one loss.
This matchup is when we find out what level they’re really on.
If the Pac-12 wants to be considered the top Group of Six conference, these are the matchups the Bulldogs gotta start winning. Fresno rolled against Sacramento State, and they’ll need to continue their offensive productivity in this rivalry matchup.
Jayden Mandal played well against the Hornets, and he must do the same against a San Jose State team that lacks playmakers on defense.
Mandal threw for 316 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions against Sac State. He also completed 88 percent of his passes.
With Bryson Donelson and Rayshon Luke proving the focal point of most defensive game plans, Mandal could capitalize using play action. Ezekiel Avit and Josiah Freeman each had over 100 receiving yards last week.
Flipping the valley, the defense should hold the advantage over a Spartans offense that’s getting better quickly. Luke Weaver is ripping defenses, and Jabari Bates, Cooper Hoch, and Carson Clark form a nice cavalry around him.
This contest has a lot of idiosyncrasies, but only one result is acceptable.
Writes about football and basketball as a Senior Writer and hosts “The Nick Bartlett Show” for SuperWest Sports.
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Is Blake Brandel going to be good enough as the Vikings’ starting center? He was in Week 1.
The effectiveness of Brandel has been a longstanding Vikings concern. On Sunday, Brandel played at a level that made people forget that there was reason for pause. Seeing that continue would mean the Vikings proved wise to shift the snapping responsibility to the veteran.
Blake Brandel Not a Vikings Concern in Week 1
At no point did the mental and verbal component of the job appear to be an issue.
Blake Brandel precedes Kevin O’Connell in Minnesota, meaning he’s a well-respected leader who understands the scheme as well as anyone. Being able diagnose the defense before the snap before then adjusting the blocking based on the threat that’s being presented isn’t too much to demand of the 29-year-old blocker who got drafted in the 2020 NFL Draft.
The college offensive tackle began as an NFL offensive tackle, albeit as a depth option. He then kicked inside to guard before then sliding further inward, adding snapping to his list of responsibilities. Brandel’s journey has mostly involved being an injury fill-in but he did function as the starter at left guard for all of 2024.
The snaps were gloriously boring on Sunday. Like the hold on a field goal — a different concern but one that Brett Thorson quietly overcame in Week 1 — Brandel did things at such a level that people got lulled into watching the play rather than wondering if the play could begin with a clean snap.
Now, Mr. Brandel wasn’t perfect. He committed a false start at one point, an obvious blemish where he appeared to get tangled up mentally. The end result was being caught leaning prior to the ball getting sent back to the quarterback. Some yellow laundry hit the field shortly thereafter.
More promising is that he allowed just a single pressure in Week 1 (PFF). No sacks or QB hits appear on his report card.
Added together, Brandel’s positive and negative pass blocking snaps led to a 78.4 grade. Minnesota’s coaching staff (and fans) will be doing cartwheels if that sort of effort can get repeated throughout the season.
On Sunday, the Vikings will be taking on the Bears at Soldier Field. That’s an environment that’s going to be a lot more difficult.
Look for the Chicago fans to be loud. As a result, the communication is going to be tougher to sort through. Guys such as Dayo Odeyingbo, Montez Sweat, Devin Bush, and various others are going to be tough to corral. Is Brandel up to the challenge?
The Week 2 game sees kickoff scheduled for 12:00 p.m. CT.
The Florida Panthers are set to begin the 2026-27 season without Brad Marchand in their lineup, but it’s not something that’s keeping general manager Bill Zito awake at night.
While meeting with reporters ahead of training camp on Wednesday, Zito said that he expects Marchand to return from off-season surgery “early in the season,” but added that the team will be conservative in getting the veteran winger back on the ice.
Regardless of the timing of Marchand’s return, though, Zito said, it’s “not a worry or concern for (him).”
Marchand confirmed in early August through a social media post that he underwent an undisclosed procedure to get back to full health as the Panthers look to bounce back from their injury-riddled 2025-26.
“Unfortunately, I had to have a surgery,” Marchand said in the post on Aug. 15. “I was trying to fix (the injury) without surgery, but unfortunately that wasn’t able to happen and had to kind of do it last minute.”
Marchand dealt with a lower-body injury for most of the 2025-26 season, and with the Panthers out of the playoff picture, he was shut down for the final 19 games of the regular season.
Even while being limited by the injury, the 38-year-old forward still put up 27 goals and 27 assists in 52 games. Marchand joined the Panthers ahead of the 2024-25 trade deadline and helped the team win a second straight Stanley Cup title.
Manchester United were left stunned by 15-year-old JJ Gabriel’s decision to inform the club of his desire to leave
JJ Gabriel’s Manchester United departure could cost the club millions after news emerged that the 15-year-old wanted his contract ripped up. The teenager refused to train this week ahead of a potential first-team debut and reports suggest that losing the talented forward could see the club pick up a mere six figures.
According to the Daily Mail, Gabriel and his family have dreamt of a move to Spain with Real Madrid and Barcelona among the clubs but a switch outside of England could cost United dearly. It has been said that the club would be due around £300,000 from a move abroad while a move within the country would be worth significantly more.
Gabriel owns an Irish passport, which means he is eligible to join a team in Europe at 16, an age he will turn in a matter of weeks.
English players are only allowed to leave the club to go abroad at the age of 18 under current rules, but moves within professional clubs can be lucrative, with Liverpool paying at least £2.8million to Chelsea for a then 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha two years ago.
United were left stunned by the talent’s expression to terminate his current deal in the North West.
Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich, as well as the Spanish giants are said to be interested in Gabriel’s services but United face a difficult task of fending off suitors when he turns 16 on October 9.
Gabriel had been in line to be included in the squad for the visit of Brighton & Hove Albion in the Carabao Cup, fresh off the back of his hat-trick in the UEFA Youth League win over Sabah, however that now looks unlikely to happen.
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Old Trafford figures are unsure of what caused the 15-year-old to want to leave the club, but his recent activity initially sparked concern when he deleted all trace of United on his social media profile last week.
Gabriel has become a first-team regular in preparations under Michael Carrick and was handed his debut in pre-season against Atletico Madrid in Sweden.
The 15-year-old would have become the fourth youngest Premier League appearance maker had he come on against Hull City on the opening day of the season.
But their defeat and the manner of the game, restricted that opportunity, while the 5-2 win over Ipswich also posed ample opportunity.
MEN understands that United feel like they have done all they can to prove to the teenager that he is the clubs future but he will not be afforded the chance to become the youngest ever player in Wednesday’s League Cup third-round tie.
Real Madrid have supported their squad’s right to express differing views after forwards Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr covered up a display of solidarity with the people of Ceuta prior to Tuesday’s La Liga game against Elche.
Both teams entered the pitch wearing t-shirts bearing the words “Todos somos caballas” (“We are all mackerels”), referencing a nickname for inhabitants of the Spanish territory of Ceuta, which shares a border with Morocco in North Africa.
However, Mbappe and Vinicius hitched their shirts up to chest level, rendering the slogan unreadable, before removing them completely as they left the tunnel. Teammate Ibrahima Konate chose simply to carry his shirt in his hands.
This act of support follows more than 70,000 irregular crossings into Ceuta from Morocco recorded during July, which triggered solidarity movements across Spain.
A Real Madrid official said the club accepted Elche’s request to display solidarity by wearing the shirts, while also underlining their desire to accept differing opinions, with players afforded the chance to wear the t-shirt or not.
Real previously staged a tifo display in their singing section during last Tuesday’s Champions League match against Inter Milan, where supporters held up placards depicting the Ceuta flag.
The garment initiative was backed by the Valencian Business Association, though Barcelona opted against wearing the shirts during Sunday’s fixture against Levante.
On Monday, Moroccan international Ez Abde was targeted with abusive social media posts after wearing the top ahead of Real Betis’ game against Villarreal.
Abde issued a statement asserting he would not apologise, explaining the message supported a community and social cause rather than carrying political intent.
“At no point was the shirt referring to the people of Ceuta used with a political purpose or as a sign of disrespect toward my people, the Moroccan people,” Abde said on Instagram.
“It was a shirt with a social purpose, intended to support a community. That said, this is not an apology to anyone, and anyone who wishes to use this to question my love for my country is free to do so. I will continue to live each day with my head held high.”
Real Madrid went on to win Tuesday’s match as they edged a five-goal thriller thanks to a stoppage-time winner.
Jose Mourinho’s men had been appeared on course for a comfortable victory after moving into a two-goal lead following a Matias Dituro own goal and an Mbappe strike.
However, Elche got back on level terms with seven minutes remaining thanks to goals from Abiel Osorio and Fer Nino.
It was left to Carlos Espi to rescue a hard-earned win for Real Madrid, as he tapped home into an empty net after an unselfish pass from Mbappe.
By Stephen Vilardo, SuperWest Sports
For the first time since the season opening Week 0, the Mountain West does not see a conference matchup.
Seven teams in the league step out of conference play in Week 3.
I highlight six of those contests here, with the NIU vs. Arizona game being the seventh. For that matchup, you can read Dane Miller’s Big 12 column on Thursday.
I am expecting a mixed bag for the conference this week.
I think New Mexico will prove themselves worthy on a national stage, and Nevada and North Dakota State will get wins.
Meanwhile, look for Wyoming, UTEP, and San Jose State to continue their struggles.
Here are my previews of key Mountain West games this week.
Wyoming at Central Michigan 
Saturday, September 19
10:00 AM PT, ESPN+
Line: CMU –1.5
Over/Under: 39.5
A showdown awaits in Mount Pleasant on Saturday.
Central Michigan has played twice, getting blown out by New Mexico before evening their record by squeaking out a win over FCS Colgate 13-10.
The narrow win over a lower division side is never ideal, but it is a lot better than losing one of those games. And that is exactly what the Cowboys are coming off of.
At 0-2, UW followed up their opening loss to rival Colorado State with an eight-point defeat at the hands of Northern Colorado.
So, yeah, this one will be something.
Through the first two weeks of the season, the Cowboys have been one of the worst teams offensively, ranking 126th nationally with 2,885 yards of offense per outing.
One of the 12 teams that have been worse offensively this season? The Chippewas!
CMU is 137th with only 212.5 yards of production per game. So, the under 39.5 looks pretty darn good this week.
While the offenses have been problematic for both teams, the Chips have been decent on defense, holding opponents below 300 total yards on the season. The Cowboys have not been as good on that side of things, either.
Against Northern Colorado, Wyoming only managed 304 yards of offense and only ran for 155 yards in the game. That is a game in which UW should have been able to churn out yardage.
One bright spot was the production of Markell Holman and his 80 yards on 11 carries. On the season, the back is averaging 7.83 yards per carry. Getting him hot along with Tote Harris could turn this attack around.
New Mexico pounded the Chips on the ground in their season-opening win. If Wyoming can have similar success, they can pull the upset.
I think the home team holds serve in a contest that will be lacking points.
Winner: CMU
ATS: CMU
O/U: Under
UTEP at No. 19 Michigan
Saturday, September 19
12:30 PM PT, Big Ten Network
Line: Michigan –35
Over/Under: 48.5
The round-robin play in the Okla-TEP-igan cup concludes this week with the Miners traveling to the Big House as Michigan looks to conclude the non-conference slate 3-0 (ish).
Of course, UTEP played Oklahoma to open the season, hence the round-robin slate. UTEP is hoping the trip to Ann Arbor is a bit better than that trip to Norman was, with the Miners falling 51-0 and not even topping 200 yards of offense.
The go-go attack of UTEP rebounded in week two with a convincing win over Texas Southern. The Miners put up 51 points and were balanced on offense with 252 on the ground and 239 through the air.
It was a big improvement over the shutout loss to Oklahoma. Obviously, the competition was a bit different as well.
Kyle Whittingham admitted that he and the staff did not have a good game plan in the opener for Bryce Underwood. They rectified that in game two against Oklahoma as Young was electric with the ball in his hands.
Underwood still has not been able to throw with any real effectiveness, but he was a problem for the Sooners on the ground. The QB accounted for 87 of the Wolverines 152 yards on the ground.
So which Michigan team shows up—the one that struggled with Western Michigan or the one that rebounded against the Sooners?
I think we will see more of the latter this season and definitely that version this week. Underwood will need to get better throwing the football, but he won’t need to make a jump this week.
Michigan should be able to run all over the Miners, and the defense of the Wolverines will stymie UTEP throughout.
Winner: Michigan
ATS: Michigan
O/U: Under
Nevada at Middle Tennessee
Saturday, September 19
4:00 PM PT, ESPN+
Line: Nevada –4
Over/Under: 51.5
Last season, the Blue Raiders stormed back for the win over Nevada in Reno. This season sees the Pack make the return trip to Murfreesboro with hopes of paying their hosts back.
If they are to pull off the feat, they will need to be better this week than they were last time out.
Carter Jones missed the loss to Montana State with a shoulder injury, and Jeff Choate expects to have his QB back for this one.
The Wolf Pack did not miss much with AJ Blanco throwing the ball, but Jones ability to make more plays with his legs was missed against MSU.
The Blue Raiders defense did a good job of bottling up Marshal in their loss last week but allowed FCS Murray State to run for over 5.3 yards per carry in the opener.
Nevada will need a strong performance on the ground, and I look for Dominic Kelley to produce. The back has run for 236 yards in the first two weeks of the season and ran all over Western Kentucky in the opener.
I think Nevada grinds it out on the ground and is able to head back west with a win. This one stays close in the 20s but the Pack get the win.
Winner: Nevada
ATS: MTSU
O/U: Under
New Mexico at No. 24 Oklahoma
Saturday, September 19
4:30 PM PT, ESPN+
Line: Oklahoma –22.5
Over/Under: 46.5
The Lobos are going to get an angry Sooners squad smarting from their loss to Michigan.
The 24th-ranked team in the nation will have plenty of things to fix following their loss last week, particularly on offense.
If the Lobos were hoping to catch Oklahoma overconfident, think again. The offense had a difficult time getting things going against Michigan, but will the Lobo defense have the same effect? If they can, then it will be a good day for New Mexico.
But if ever there was a week to catch the Sooners, it might be this week. Following the visit from UNM, they get No. 2 Georgia and No. 1 Texas in consecutive weeks.
New Mexico is well coached; they have looked dominant in their opening two games and look to vie for the title of the best Group of Six in the nation. This week they have the opportunity to cement that.
Now, let’s look at how the Lobos can pull this upset.
Last week saw John Mateer turning the football over. A late interception by the OU QB set up the game-winning score for a Michigan team that still had plenty of offensive deficiencies.
Well, who leads the nation in interceptions this season? The New Mexico Lobos, with five on the season. If the Lobos can force errors this week, they will be in good shape.
The Lobos have also been able to run the ball well this season. Scottre Humphrey has churned out yards at a ridiculous rate.
While the Lobos have used both Luke Moga and Toa Fa’avae this season, Fa’avae could be effective with his legs.
Last week the Sooners had a hard time containing Bryce Underwood when plays broke down. This week Fa’avae could have a similar impact.
Alas, I don’t think things line up for the Lobos this week, but they don’t have to win this one to prove they belong. This is the Lobos’ chance to make a statement as a playoff hopeful, and a strong performance will do just that even if it results in a loss.
I think the Sooners win the game, but the Lobos prove something themselves.
Winner: Oklahoma
ATS: New Mexico
O/U: Over
North Dakota State at Sacramento State
Saturday, September 19
7:30 PM PT, ESPN
Line: NDSU –27.5
Over/Under: 51.5
The former FCS programs are facing drastically different expectations in their first seasons at the FBS level.
The Hornets are looking to stay afloat in the MAC while the Bison are suddenly looking like one of the powers of the Mountain West.
The Bison are 3-0 and have a conference win over Air Force in the bag already. Sacramento State is 1-2 with the lone win over an FCS opponent, a lopsided loss to Fresno State, and falling in their conference opener to Eastern Michigan.
The Hornets are set to take some lumps this season, and this game will be another one of those bumps in the road.
The Bison defense shut down their first two opponents, then allowed 207 on the ground to Air Force, but that is to be expected. The Hornets will not run the ball at the same level as the Falcons did.
NDSU will win this one going away.
Winner: NDSU
ATS: NDSU
O/U: Over
Fresno State at San Jose State
Saturday, September 19
8:00 PM PT, FS1
Line: Fresno State –6.5
Over/Under: 50.5
The rivalry game takes on a new look this season as the programs will meet as non-conference foes.
The line at only six and a half made me do a double take at first, but this is a rivalry game, and anything can happen.
The Spartans have an explosive offense behind Luke Weaver, and the rushing attack was also effective, led by Jabari Bates, who finished with 163 rushing yards.
To succeed this season and in this game, SJSU will need to keep things balanced on the offensive side of the ball.
Fresno State shook off their shutout loss to USC with a beatdown of Sacramento State last week.
In the win, Jayden Mandal was nearly perfect and had a clean pocket to work with. With time to operate, the Fresno State signal-caller will be able to pick apart defenses this season.
The Bulldogs will need to get pressure on Weaver, especially in third-down situations. If they can make things uncomfortable for the Spartans, they should be able to feast on defense.
I think this one stays tight for a bit before Fresno State pulls away late. The Bulldogs get the cover in the end, and the score goes over the 50-point offering.
Winner: Fresno State
ATS: Fresno State
Over/Under: Over
writes about various topics for SuperWest sports, including stats and records, college sports, and motorsports. He also founded and runs the Sports and Entertainment Research Center (SERC).
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The final number of runners for Chris Waller in the Underwood Stakes at Caulfield will hinge on barrier draws and the predicted race shape.
Six horses are entered by Waller for the Group 1 weight-for-age contest over 1800 metres on Saturday: Aeliana, Buckaroo, Lindermann, Birdman, Asterix, and Soulcombe.
Aeliana and Lindermann also have entries for the Group 2 7 Stakes (1600m) at Randwick, while Asterix and Soulcombe are nominated for the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield.
Waller is leaning towards sending Aeliana and Lindermann to Melbourne but will wait until acceptances and the barrier draw are known before making a final decision.
“Blake Shinn is booked to ride in the Underwood if he comes down, so we’re well prepared,” Waller stated. “He deserves his chance in a Group 1 race. The whole of last year was built around getting his confidence up and running against the best horses. He did run second in the Queen Elizabeth, so it was good to see him bounce back to form last start.”
Lindermann returned to winning form in the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on September 5, after finishing ninth behind Autumn Glow in the Winx Stakes (1400m) last month.
Aeliana, who finished behind Lindermann in the Winx Stakes, remained in Sydney following her scratching from the Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington last Saturday.
Aeliana’s only start since her spell resulted in a last-place finish behind Autumn Glow.
“Her first-up run was disappointing,” Waller conceded. “We thought she was out of her comfort zone, and we saw Lindermann bounce back off a flat run in the Winx Stakes, so there is no reason why she can’t. I would like to see her draw well and when you want to get a horses confidence levels up, and you draw wide in an Underwood Stakes and well in a 7 Stakes, I’d rather keep her in Sydney, but if she draws well in the Underwood, I would say she will come down.”
Birdman and Buckaroo are confirmed to participate in the race.
Both were withdrawn from the Makybe Diva Stakes last weekend and completed a 1000m jump-out at Flemington last Friday.
Waller felt that bypassing the Makybe Diva Stakes was the correct choice for the pair.
“It would have been hard to win last week, and Autumn Boy was good running second behind Sheza Alibi which was great for their team, and it franked the form behind Autumn Glow,” Waller noted. “I think we made the right decision and Birdman and Buckaroo will be here on Saturday. They had a trial on Friday and will have a maintenance gallop. Birdman was terrific first-up, so was Buckaroo and they’re ready to peak over 1800 metres.”
Soulcombe completed a gallop at Caulfield on Tuesday with Blake Shinn in the saddle, and the jockey reported no issues with the stayer.
The 2023 Melbourne Cup runner-up has had just one run since, finishing near the back in the Heatherlie Handicap (1700m) on August 29, following an injury-forced absence.
“I think we might have had him a bit overdone in terms of his weight first-up,” Waller said. “We worked really hard during his prep work to get weight off him to help his legs, and we might have left him with no energy. We’ve upped his energy levels, and I think he looks better in his coat. He was disappointing last start, so there is no reason why he could not bounce back. It’s a big step to win second-up, but I would like to see him be competitive.”
Considering the Underwood Stakes? Explore the latest racing odds at these popular betting sites.
Jul 11, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; UFC president Dana White in attendance during UFC 329 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Week 6 of Dana White’s Contender Series arrives Tuesday, September 15, live from Meta APEX in Las Vegas on Paramount+ at 7 p.m. ET.
This card leans heavily on unbeaten prospects trying to survive their first real step up in competition, with three separate fights pairing a spotless record against a battle-tested veteran.
Here’s a full breakdown of every matchup and my picks.
Welterweight: Zevan Hunt (7-0) vs. Mayton Perea (8-3)
This main event is the classic “prospect versus gatekeeper” script. Hunt is unbeaten and physically gifted, but he hasn’t faced anyone with Perea’s fight IQ or experience absorbing adversity across three professional losses. Perea’s resume shows he knows how to weather adversity mid-fight and adjust, which matters against a younger opponent who has never had to problem-solve from behind. If Hunt’s power doesn’t connect early, Perea’s craft and durability should let him find openings as the fight extends into the second and third rounds, where his experience should start to outweigh Hunt’s rawer physical tools.
Pick: Mayton Perea by decision
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Cavalcanti is a genuine finishing machine, all 13 of his professional wins have come by stoppage, split between 10 knockouts and three submissions, and his adaptable, opportunistic style makes him difficult to game-plan against because he refuses to be pigeonholed into one approach. Ravello, by his own admission, transforms into a far more aggressive fighter once the cage door closes, but that aggression can also be a vulnerability against someone as versatile and finish-hungry as Cavalcanti. Given Cavalcanti’s perfect finishing rate and stylistic unpredictability, Ravello’s aggression is more likely to walk him into a finish than to create one of his own. Pick: Igor Cavalcanti by KO/TKO, Round 2
Abdullaev enters as one of the most disproportionately favored fighters of the season, and the gap in output speaks for itself, a spotless 13-0 record against a veteran who has already absorbed seven professional losses. Santos brings championship-rounds experience that Abdullaev hasn’t needed yet, but volume of experience alone doesn’t offset the technical and physical gap this matchup appears to present. Santos’ durability could keep him in the fight into the later rounds, but expect Abdullaev’s superior technical tools to control the pace and separate himself clearly on the feet or on the mat.
Pick: Akbar Abdullaev by KO/TKO, Round 1
Middleweight: Igor Cavalcanti (13-2) vs. Oscar Ravello (13-3-1)
Lightweight: Akbar Abdullaev (13-0) vs. Ednilson Santos (14-7-1)
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Williams brings a wrestling foundation dating back to age five, refined through a collegiate career and international training stints in Liverpool before he settled in Las Vegas, giving him a technical base that should translate well against a striking-oriented opponent. Monteiro is the far more experienced fighter by fight count, with 24 professional bouts to his name, but that experience has also produced five losses, suggesting a fighter who can be beaten by opponents with a clear game plan. Williams’ wrestling should give him a direct route to neutralize Monteiro’s experience advantage by controlling where this fight takes place.
Pick: Tyshawn Williams by decision
This is the most evenly matched fight on the card, pitting two fighters with nearly identical experience levels and unbeaten-or-close-to-it records against each other. Hernandez’s unblemished mark suggests a fighter who has consistently solved whatever puzzle has been placed in front of him, while Guillon’s lone loss shows he has already been tested and adjusted since. Without a clear physical or technical mismatch, this profiles as a competitive three-round affair where whoever imposes their pace first, Hernandez’s undefeated confidence or Guillon’s battle-tested composure, should edge the scorecards. Pick: Luis Hernandez by decision
Featherweight: Tyshawn Williams (8-0) vs. Antonio Monteiro (18-5-1)
Middleweight: Luis Hernandez (7-0) vs. Hugo Guillon (7-1)
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Here’s what the ODI and T20I series schedule looks like:
ODI Series:
1st ODI: Sunday, 27 September 2026 – Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram (2:00 PM IST)
2nd ODI: Wednesday, 30 September 2026 – Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Cricket Stadium, Guwahati (2:00 PM IST)
3rd ODI: Saturday, 3 October 2026 – Maharaja Yadvindra Singh PCA Stadium, New Chandigarh (2:00 PM IST)
T20I Series:
1st T20I: Tuesday, 6 October 2026 – Atal Bihari Vajpayee Cricket Stadium, Lucknow (7:00 PM IST)
2nd T20I: Friday, 9 October 2026 – JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi (7:00 PM IST)
3rd T20I: Sunday, 11 October 2026 – Holkar Stadium, Indore (7:00 PM IST)
4th T20I: Wednesday, 14 October 2026 – Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad (7:00 PM IST)
5th T20I: Friday, 16 October 2026 – M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru (7:00 PM IST)
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Week 1 is in the books, but the injury report is just getting started as several teams spent Monday sorting through the fallout from their openers.
The Philadelphia Eagles lost starting left guard Landon Dickerson to injured reserve after he admitted to playing through pain in Sunday’s win over the Washington Commanders. In Minnesota, Kyler Murray’s concussion from Sunday’s win over the Green Bay Packers has left his Week 2 status very much in doubt.
There was better news elsewhere, though, as running back TreVeyon Henderson looks set to return to practice for the New England Patriots, and Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey appears to have avoided a long-term injury.
Here’s the latest from around the NFL on Monday.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray left Sunday’s season opener against the Green Bay Packers after taking a violent hit to the head while sliding. Murray was placed in concussion protocol, leaving his status for Week 2 in serious doubt.
Speaking to reporters Monday afternoon, head coach Kevin O’Connell said Murray remains in concussion protocol. He had no update on his availability against the Chicago Bears, but said the team will monitor his progress throughout the week.
Murray struggled in his first start in purple and gold, throwing an interception on his opening drive. He then exited on the third drive after suffering a concussion, and his timeline for a return remains unclear.
If Murray is unable to clear protocol in time, Carson Wentz would seemingly start, with J.J. McCarthy serving as the backup. Wentz is coming off a strong performance against the Packers, throwing three touchdowns after stepping in for the injured Murray.
The Eagles are going to be without one of their starting offensive linemen for at least a month. Philadelphia is placing left guard Landon Dickerson on injured reserve with a knee injury, a move that will sideline the three-time Pro Bowler for a minimum of four games.
Dickerson struggled in Sunday’s 24-22 win over the Commanders, later admitting on 94 WIP in Philadelphia that he’d been playing injured, which affected his level of play.
“I played like s— yesterday,” Dickerson said. “I was a complete liability yesterday and again, that was my fault. I know I said I shouldn’t be out there until I feel healthy. A few weeks ago I got rolled up on in practice; I thought as the week went by it would get better and it didn’t.”
Dickerson said he underwent imaging on the knee Monday before the team settled on injured reserve as the path forward, as he later described the injury as a bone bruise.
“Bone bruising doesn’t really heal if you keep banging it and doing stuff. It’s one of those things where you have to shut it down and not do anything,” Dickerson said, remaining optimistic that the injury won’t linger once he’s off IR.
The move continues a rough stretch of lower-body injuries for the 27-year-old, who had meniscus surgery last August that he admitted he probably returned from too soon.
With Dickerson out, second-year lineman Drew Kendall is the favorite to step into the starting lineup at left guard, though rookie Willie Lampkin could also factor in.
The New England Patriots are coming off a brutal Week 1 loss against the Seattle Seahawks, but reinforcements could be on the way for the offense. Even with injury setbacks in the receiving room, running back TreVeyon Henderson could return on Sunday.
When speaking to reporters on Monday, head coach Mike Vrabel said that Henderson will be returning to practice this week. This is a positive sign, as he hasn’t practiced since August 24 during training camp.
With star wide receiver A.J. Brown on injured reserve, bringing an explosive playmaker like Henderson back into the mix is pivotal for the offense.
The Patriots offense was limited to just 10 points in the loss to the Seahawks. If Henderson isn’t cleared for Sunday, expect Rhamondre Stevenson to handle a heavy bell-cow workload once again.
After taking a hit in the middle of the field, Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey left with a chest injury and didn’t return. Head coach Jim Harbaugh updated reporters on Monday afternoon, describing it as a rib injury and that he’s day-to-day.
McConkey’s availability against the Las Vegas Raiders is up in the air, but he appears to have avoided a stint on injured reserve.
While the exact nature of McConkey’s rib injury remains unclear, he put together a strong performance before exiting against the Arizona Cardinals.
McConkey was able to haul in five receptions for 82 yards and a touchdown.
Should McConkey miss time, expect Quentin Johnston, Tre Harris, and rookie Brenen Thompson to step into larger roles this weekend.
ARLINGTON, Texas — Jacob deGrom struck out eight in five innings, Corey Seager had a two-run single and the Texas Rangers beat the Boston Red Sox 4-2 on Tuesday night in a series opener between playoff contenders.
All-Star closer Jacob Latz, the fourth Texas reliever, got the five outs for his 30th save in 33 chances after deGrom (11-9) needed 92 pitches while giving up two runs. Latz struck out pinch-hitter Andruw Monasterio with the bases loaded to end the eighth.
Texas (75-76) stayed within one game of AL West-leading Houston (76-75) after the Astros also won Tuesday. The Rangers moved ahead of Toronto (75-77), which lost to Detroit, to stay within 1 1/2 games of Cleveland (77-75) for the third and final wild card.
Boston (82-69) is second in the wild-card race, 5 1/2 games ahead of the Guardians.
Red Sox starter Patrick Sandoval (1-6) struck out his first four batters but was done after allowing four runs in 2 2/3 innings. The left-hander struck out five and walked two.
Elias Díaz hit a two-run double into the left-field corner with two outs in the second to put Texas ahead. Sandoval walked the next two batters and Seager’s high popup tipped off the extended glove of shortstop Trevor Story in short left as the Rangers extended the lead to 4-0.
Seager, who had another single in the fifth, had multiple hits for the 12th time in 27 games since Aug. 15.
Boston No. 9 batter Nick Sogard hit a two-run homer in the third.
The Red Sox failed to score after loading the bases without a hit in the fifth. They had a batter hit by a pitch, another that reached on a catcher’s interference call and a two-out walk before Adley Rutschman’s inning-ending groundout.
Rangers LHP MacKenzie Gore (8-11, 4.62) is set to match the MLB lead with his 32nd start in the middle game Wednesday night. Rookie LHP Jake Bennett (9-7, 3.69) pitches for the Red Sox.
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