
By Nick Bartlett, SuperWest Sports
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Sanju Samson-Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to open? Ex-India cricketer suggests new opening combination | Cricket News
Sanju Samson is back in India’s T20I squad for the upcoming series against Afghanistan, giving the wicketkeeper-batter another chance to reclaim his place at the top of the order.Samson was left out of the squad for the Zimbabwe tour after being dropped from the playing XI following three failures. His omission came despite being named Player of the Tournament during India’s T20 World Cup campaign earlier this year.Since India’s World Cup triumph, the team management has continued to experiment with its batting combinations, particularly in the opening slot. Teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was fast-tracked into the senior side after a remarkable IPL season and has already been given opportunities to open alongside Abhishek Sharma.With Samson now returning, former India wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta believes the Afghanistan series could be an opportunity to test another combination, with Samson and Sooryavanshi yet to open together for India.
‘We haven’t seen the Sanju-Vaibhav combination yet’
Dasgupta pointed out that India have already tried Samson alongside Abhishek Sharma and Sooryavanshi alongside Abhishek, but have not yet seen what Samson and the teenage batter can produce together at the top.“Straight away, if you think about the last match (England T20Is), it was Sanju and Abhishek. Leave Zimbabwe aside. When all three were available, Sanju and Abhishek were there. I think we haven’t seen the Sanju-Vaibhav combination yet. So far, we’ve seen Abhishek-Vaibhav and Abhishek-Sanju, right? It’s not a bad idea to even try and see what kind of combination Sanju and Vaibhav can make,” Dasgupta said on his YouTube channel.
Sooryavanshi strengthens case for opening spot
Sooryavanshi has given the selectors another reason to consider him as a regular option at the top after an impressive series against Zimbabwe.The 15-year-old finished as the leading run-scorer with 151 runs in three innings, averaging 50.33 and striking at 196.10. His performances included a match-winning 81 and two half-centuries, earning him the Player of the Series award.His contribution also played a role in India securing their first series victory under newly appointed T20I captain Shreyas Iyer. India had previously suffered series defeats against Ireland and England.
Dasgupta doesn’t want Abhishek to be dropped
While advocating for a possible Samson-Sooryavanshi combination, Dasgupta stressed that he was not calling for any of the three players to be left out.Instead, he wants India to use the matches leading into the T20 World Cup to assess different combinations and ensure players get sufficient opportunities before the final decision is made.“Again, I’m not saying, please don’t get me wrong, I’m not talking about dropping anyone here. I’m just saying, reiterating again, that the idea is that before the World Cup, you want to give every combination and every individual a proper chance and proper game time to understand what works,” he added.With Samson back and Sooryavanshi making a strong case for himself, India’s opening combination is likely to remain one of the key talking points during the Afghanistan series.
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UMass shocks Rutgers: By the numbers as Minutemen snap nation’s longest losing streak to FBS opponents
Just three hours into Week 1, college football provided one of the most shocking results of the weekend — and maybe the entire season. After going 0-12 last season, UMass went on the road and hammered Rutgers in a 37-21 win on Thursday.
With that victory, the Minutemen snapped a 16-game losing streak against FBS teams, which was the longest in the country. The last time UMass defeated an FBS program was Oct. 28, 2023, when it beat Army 21-14.
The most satisfying part of this win for UMass was that it certainly wasn’t a fluke. The Minutemen were just as good as the scoreboard indicated and dominated the Scarlet Knights right from the opening kickoff. UMass scored on each of its first four drives, and it didn’t punt until there were 100 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
Even though Rutgers isn’t a top 25 powerhouse, this was still a highly improbable outcome. The Scarlet Knights entered the game as 29.5-point favorites, and history suggested that they should have been a lock to win this game. Here are some of the most mind-blowing stats from this miraculous Minutemen win.
- Entering the game, FBS teams favored by 29-plus points were 213-0 since 2024.
- Rutgers’ 16-point loss was the fifth-largest by a favorite of 25-plus points since 2000.
- This was UMass’ first win over a Power Four team since moving to the FBS in 2012.
- This was the first time UMass defeated a power conference opponent since 1978.
- The Minutemen came into the game 0-9 all-time against Big Ten opponents.
- UMass failed to score more than 26 points last season and averaged 11.1 points per game.
UMass earned this victory with a strong effort in every phase of the game, and there are plenty of reasons to believe that the Minutemen will be able to pile up even more wins as the season progresses.
Watson shreds the Scarlet Knights
UMass quarterback Pop Watson spent the last three seasons at Virginia Tech, but he was never able to break through as the starter. That prompted his transfer to UMass in the offseason, and he’s already making the most of his opportunity with the Minutemen.
A three-star recruit and the No. 44 quarterback in the 2023 signing class, Watson showed exactly why a number of Power Four programs offered him coming out of Springfield Central High School (Mass.). Watson made plays with his arm and legs as Rutgers struggled to contain him, particularly in the first half.
Watson began the game on fire, and he was a major reason why UMass found the end zone on each of its first three drives. Watson’s elusiveness gave the Scarlet Knights fits, but he also threw a couple of perfectly placed balls, and the best of which might have been this touchdown strike to Joseph Griffin Jr.
With UMass up multiple scores throughout the second half, Watson didn’t need to do much, but his final numbers were still exceptional. He connected on 18 of his 21 pass attempts for 189 yards and three touchdowns while adding 40 yards on the ground.
If this is the type of performance UMass gets from Watson every week in MAC play, they are going to be a tough out, and a number of Power Four schools might regret not pursuing him in the transfer portal.
Major defensive improvement
Last year, UMass allowed 38.6 points per game, which ranked 136th in the country. For those curious, there were only 136 FBS teams in 2025. In total yards allowed, the Minutemen were notably better — all the way up at 129th nationally (433.8).
In Thursday night’s season-opener against Rutgers, the defense showed a lot more backbone that it did at any point last year. The Minutemen actually created a fair bit of chaos on defense, generating seven tackles for loss and five sacks against a Big Ten offensive line.
UMass also won the turnover battle 4-0 with three of those being interceptions of Scarlet Knights quarterback Dylan Lonergan.
Perhaps the biggest play the UMass defense made all night came with just under four minutes left in the third quarter. Rutgers chose to go for a 4th-and-1 from the UMass 11-yard line, and the Minutemen didn’t give an inch. They forced a turnover on downs, and in that moment, they effectively buried the Scarlet Knights.
The UMass secondary was victimized by KJ Duff on numerous occasions, but there’s no shame in that, and there aren’t many receivers like him in the MAC. The rush defense, on the other hand, was extremely effective. Rutgers got zero push up front and averaged just 1.2 yards per attempt.
It’s only one game, but this is a very encouraging sign for the Minutemen. This defense certainly didn’t look like the worst unit in the country against Rutgers.
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Seven wickets in 21 balls: Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththu scripts history with record-breaking spell
Defending champions Sri Lanka moved to the top of Group B in the Women’s Asia Cup after beating Indonesia by 75 runs in Dubai on Thursday, thanks to captain Chamari Athapaththu’s record seven-wicket haul and Nilakshika Silva’s half-century.
Sri Lanka were defending a modest target of 125 on a slow-paced pitch, but Athapaththu turned the match around with one of the best bowling performances in women’s T20 internationals.
She came on to bowl in the fourth over and struck with her fourth, seventh and eighth deliveries. Although she missed out on a hat-trick in that over, she completed it later by taking three wickets in three balls across two overs.
Athapaththu finished with 7/5 in 21 balls, becoming the first bowler from a Full Member nation to take seven wickets in a women’s T20I. The previous best figures in women’s T20Is belonged to Zimbabwe’s Esther Mbofana, who took 6/11 against Eswatini in 2021.
Indonesia were bowled out for 49. Rahmawati Pangestuti scored 10, while Ni Made Putri Suwandewi remained unbeaten on 12. No other Indonesian batter reached double figures.
Earlier, Sri Lanka were in trouble at 62/6 before Nilakshika Silva scored 50 off 35 balls to lift them to 124/7.
For Indonesia, Ni Luh Dewi was the pick of the bowlers with 3/32.
The win took Sri Lanka to the top of Group B in the Women’s Asia Cup.
In Group A, India remain on top of the standings, with Pakistan in second place.
Meanwhile, India’s vice-captain Smriti Mandhana also made history during India’s Group A match against Hong Kong in Dubai. The 30-year-old went past Mithali Raj to become the highest run-scorer in women’s international cricket across all formats.
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Andoni Iraola reveals transfer talks with Bradley Barcola – “I liked it”
Andoni Iraola Explains Bradley Barcola Talks as Liverpool Close £123m Deal
Liverpool have spent big, gone early and, by the sound of it, got the player they wanted without needing the usual sales pitch. Bradley Barcola has arrived from Paris Saint-Germain in a deal worth a guaranteed £106m, with a further £17m in add-ons, and Andoni Iraola has made one thing clear, this was not a transfer that required persuading.
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The Liverpool head coach has been direct about the first conversations he had with the France international. “I always had the feeling with Bradley that I didn’t need to convince him to come,” said Iraola. “I didn’t ever think I would need to convince him but sometimes when you talk to players, you feel that you have to sell your idea and sell the club.
“I think because he has had the experience of facing Liverpool in the last two seasons, he felt the stadium, he felt the club and he was really convinced.
“All the questions he was asking were about football, tactics. The position he was going to play.
“He was very open, also, about playing on the right, of playing up front, of giving us chances so we can work better as a team. It wasn’t just about the individual or Bradley saying ‘how am I going to shine?’. It was about the collective. I liked it.”
Image: @LFC
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Bradley Barcola arrival fits Liverpool plan
That matters. A lot. Liverpool are bringing in a player with elite-level experience, two Champions League titles and a fee that puts him in the premium bracket. When you pay that kind of money, you want certainty about character as much as talent. Iraola clearly believes he has both.
He even admitted Barcola’s approach caught him slightly off guard. “Yes, a little bit. He is someone who has won the Champions League the last two seasons and been very important (for PSG).
“But he was thinking collectively, not just about his position. It’s nice to hear those things. It’s true that he doesn’t speak perfect English and things were being translated. Sometimes we survived in English! But from the beginning, I had a good feeling. It was nice.”
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That is the key point. Liverpool have signed a wide player with pedigree, but the attraction for Iraola seems to be flexibility and buy-in. Barcola can operate off either flank or through the middle, and for a coach who wants movement, pressing and tactical discipline, that is worth plenty before a ball has even been kicked.
There is also no issue with fitness. Barcola has not featured since scoring for France in the 6-4 World Cup bronze medal defeat to England on July 18, but he completed pre-season work as normal and has already trained with his new team-mates this week. That leaves him in the frame for a full debut against Ipswich Town on Friday night.
Liverpool transfer strategy shaped by long-term thinking
Barcola was Liverpool’s fourth and final addition of the summer, following Jeremy Jacquet, Victor Munoz and Ronald Araujo, who joined on loan. It has still been a market of major churn. Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson, Ibrahima Konate and Curtis Jones have all moved on, and Liverpool have ended the window with the biggest net spend around.
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Even so, Iraola has backed the club’s restraint in the final days of the market. There were more deals available. Liverpool chose not to force them.
“As a manager you need the players for today but if they (the club) explain to you the vision and the long-term project, you also have to understand the club,” said the Basque.
“I think sometimes it doesn’t make sense to pay crazy money, the market was the market, for players who maybe in the long-term you don’t need. Then you will need this money to solve other problems in that position.
“Sometimes it’s better to look a little bit further than the next game and the next month. I think that’s what has happened in some position in this market.”
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There is no mystery here. Liverpool looked at the numbers, looked at the prices, and decided panic buys were bad business. That is usually the correct call, even if it leaves short-term gaps.
Injuries leave Andoni Iraola short in key areas
The obvious issue is availability. Iraola has three long-term absentees he referenced directly, and that has affected the squad build from the start of pre-season.
“The issue we have is that we have three players with long-term injuries since I’ve been here at the start of pre-season. Giovanni Leoni is already going to be out for a year and Conor (Bradley) and Hugo (Ekitike) are both long-term as well. They are players that we trust in the long-term and want them to be our players.
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“Sometimes we decide not to think more in the mid or long-term and just a solution for these three months. But at the end, we want them to be players for Liverpool in their positions.
“The club has decided not to sign someone because we need them for these two or three months and instead trust the players we have, us working with the players we have and thinking of the long-term.”
Add Joe Gomez and Federico Chiesa to the unavailable list and the challenge becomes clearer. Liverpool are not overloaded, particularly in the wider and defensive areas. They are gambling, if you want to call it that, on coaching and patience over another quick fix.
Ipswich test could offer immediate Bradley Barcola debut
That brings the focus straight back to Barcola. He arrives with expectation, cost and a tactical brief that appears broader than simply hugging the touchline. Victor Munoz and Cody Gakpo impressed in the 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest last weekend, while Ryan Gravenberch is pushing for a recall in midfield, so Iraola has options. Barcola gives him another one, and probably the most dangerous of the lot.
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What matters now is translation from theory to output. Good conversations are useful. So is enthusiasm for the collective. At Liverpool, the judgement comes quickly. Ipswich may be the first real look at whether Barcola can turn all of that promise into something concrete.
For more Liverpool updates and team news, see the latest coverage here.
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LSU wins court ruling in eligibility fight with SEC, clearing path for ex-NFL players’ return
A Louisiana judge has ruled in favor of LSU in a Thursday hearing on the eligibility of former professional athletes.
With its preliminary injunction against the conference, LSU can continue the process of bringing two ex-NFL players — tight end Dae’Quan Wright and defensive lineman Zxavian Harris — back to the college ranks without the SEC enforcing its ban on former professional athletes.
The SEC issued a statement and isn’t giving up.
In courts around the country, including Louisiana, athletes from the Class of 2022 won temporary restraining orders against the NCAA to gain an extra year of eligibility. When the SEC voted unanimously to approve its own ban on former professional athletes, the lawyers for the affected athletes added the SEC and Greg Sankey to those lawsuits, leading to Thursday’s hearing.
Just because LSU won this latest battle, it does not mean the fight is over. On Wednesday, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr called on the SEC member institutions to take matters into their own hands if the Tigers allow former professional athletes to play. Carr said the conference should use “all measures available,” including suspension or expulsion.
Sources told CBS Sports’ John Talty that other SEC schools have pondered a legal challenge in federal court and possible forfeiture of games. In a statement to CBS Sports, the conference said it will comply with the order while continuing to fight to enforce its rules.
“The order entered against the SEC and Commissioner Sankey is a temporary restraining order, not a final ruling on the merits,” the SEC said. “The SEC and Commissioner Sankey are prepared to contest the allegations in the plaintiffs’ petition at Thursday morning’s hearing and defend the SEC’s rights as a voluntary association to fulfill its mission to its member institutions.”
With the path cleared for eligibility, at least for the moment, Wright and Harris can be added to the LSU roster just over 48 hours before Saturday’s showdown against Clemson in Baton Rouge.
What will Wright, Harris bring to LSU?
Regardless of how you feel about letting former NFL players return to college, the reality is that it’s about to happen. So, we may as well analyze what Wright and Harris can offer the Tigers this fall.
In the case of Wright, he joins a tight end room already occupied by athletic freak Trey’Dez Green, but that doesn’t mean the former Ole Miss standout will have to play second fiddle. According to 247Sports, Wright posted a 74 percent route-run percentage while averaging 9.9 yards per route, which is three yards more than the SEC average.
That means Wright will be yet another weapon for Sam Leavitt in the LSU passing game, and it will free up Kiffin to get more creative on offense. More two tight end sets are now a very real possibility for the Tigers.
Throughout much of the offseason, the interior defensive line was a big question for the Tigers. They are poised to feature a couple of true freshmen, Deuce Geralds and Richard Anderson, at that position.
Geralds and Anderson are tremendous talents, but they lack college experience, and Harris fixes that problem. With his 6-foot-8 and 330-pound frame, Harris can serve as a cement pillar in the middle of the line, and he played 66% of the defensive snaps while totaling nine tackles for loss and three sacks for the Rebels last year.
Will Kiffin continue to add players?
Will this ruling open the gate for more last-minute additions for LSU? Kiffin may as well make hay while the sun shines.
Former Utah cornerback Blake Cotton recently got a temporary restraining order, and “intends to seek a roster spot at a D-I University in Louisiana,” per The Advocate. It doesn’t take a private investigator to determine which university that might be.
Prior to the 2025 season, Cotton transferred from UC Davis to Utah, and he started eight games for the Utes. He started in eight games and tallied 30 tackles, two tackles for loss and seven passes defended.
Cotton signed an NFL contract with the Denver Broncos in the offseason, which meant he would have been ineligible under the SEC’s ban on former professional athletes. Now, Cotton is free to join an SEC squad, and he should provide reliable depth in the secondary.
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Alex Eala battles Iva Jovic in US Open third-round clash
Alexandra Eala, of the Philippines, competes against Oleksandra Oliynykova, of Ukraine, during the second round of the U.S. Open tennis championships Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
MANILA, Philippines — They’ve had their fun on the court in New York to kick off the US Open, and now it’s time for the real battle.
Alex Eala and Iva Jovic hurdled separate opponents in straight sets Friday and set up a clash in the third round of the US Open.
The two rising tennis stars shared the court with their fathers days before the main draw in the “Stars of the Open” exhibition at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Since then, Eala has had a dominant run in her second US Open main draw, beating Mary Stoiana, 6-1, 6-2, in the opening round before following it up with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Oleksandra Oliynykova.
The 18-year-old Jovic, meanwhile, labored against Magdalena Fręch, 7-5, 6-3, in the first round before dispatching Francesca Jones, 6-4, 6-4.
Head-to-head

Alex Eala vs Iva Jovic: Head-to-head information.
Eala, the No. 17 seed, expects a grind-out showdown against the higher-ranked Jovic, seeded 14th in the tournament. After all, she has yet to win a set against the American in their two meetings.
“She [Iva Jovic] is an amazing player, young, very talented and very intelligent. Of course, she’s a high-ranking player and very accomplished. And I’ve encountered my fair share of challenges against her this year,” Eala said.
Eala fell to Jovic in the first round of the French Open in late May, 6-4, 6-2, then again at the HSBC Championships in London just 15 days later, 6-2, 6-2.
But they have not battled on hard courts, where Eala has been thriving, bolstered by her first WTA title at the Mubadala DC Open.
Eala and Jovic have also paired up in a couple of doubles runs, reaching the semifinal of the ASB Classic in January but bowing out in the first round at Indian Wells.
Jovic said she is looking forward to facing Eala much deeper in a Grand Slam tournament than in their first meeting.
“I’m super excited. The atmosphere is going to be amazing. She’s been playing some great tennis. It’s nice to be playing each other third round, deeper into the Slam. Hopefully we can all keep going on runs like this,” Jovic said.
No information on the scheduled time or venue has been released yet for their match.
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Nick Bartlett’s 2026 Week One Fearless Predictions
Throughout the 2026 college football season, I’ll be giving you my just-for-fun picks for contests involving the best teams in the West across five conferences.
I started the season 2-1, correctly picking USC to defeat San Jose State and Stanford to beat Hawai’i, but missed on UNLV, which fell to Memphis.
This week, I am making picks for the following 10 games:
- San Jose State at Eastern Michigan
- Fresno State at No. 14 USC
- No. 7 Miami at Stanford
- Oregon State at No. 23 Houston
- Boise State at No. 2 Oregon
- Wyoming at Colorado State
- UNLV at Hawai’i
- Central Michigan at New Mexico
- UCLA at California
- Washington State at No. 17 Washington
You will also want to read Stephen Vilardo’s Big Ten Previews, Dane Miller’s Big 12 column, and my Pac-12 Previews.
Let’s get on to my picks!
San Jose State at Eastern Michigan
Friday, September 4
3:30 PM PT, ESPN+
San Jose State’s first three quarters against USC is how their season felt a year ago. It was nice to see them show fight in the fourth quarter, but the Trojans were playing their backups.
In this contest, Luke Weaver needs to get his receivers easy touches. Guys like Carson Clark and Jerry McClure could prove the difference. The Spartans struggled to rush the ball in the opener, with Weaver leading the team with just 42 yards.
There’s only one way to say this: Someone needs to boss up and change the culture of this team. They underwhelmed massively in 2025, and a loss to Eastern Michigan would be unacceptable.
SJSU only returns two offensive linemen. They also lack proven playmakers on defense. Everyone has a chance to write their story.
Eastern Michigan will rely heavily on Noah Kim’s arm. Kim threw for 279 yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions in the opener. Benson Prosper and Nick Devereaux are his favorite targets. As with San Jose State, the Eagles struggled to run in week one.
Not a lot of people are likely to tune in to this matchup, but there should be a lot of offense in Ypsilanti.
SJSU survives.
San Jose State 38, Eastern Michigan 35
Fresno State at No. 14 USC
Friday, September 4
6:00 PM PT, FOX
Whenever Fresno State and USC play, Reggie Bush comes to mind.
But this is a fun matchup because of the schools’ different cultures. The glitz and glam of L.A. and hard-working valley life aren’t friends.
But both are winners in their own right.
The trending story in Fresno right now is Jayden Mandal getting the starting nod.
Mandal has been with the program forever and beat out Maryland transfer Khristian Martin for the position. He’s the first quarterback in nearly a decade to be recruited by the Bulldogs in high school and start the opener.
Even though he’s the flashy story, the offensive line will determine this matchup. Matt Entz’s run-heavy style needs to be effective to keep SC off the field.
USC’s offense is explosive per usual, and Fresno State would get mallywhopped in a shootout. But if the line holds up, they feature arguably the best halfback duo in the Pac-12.
Rayshon Luke and Bryson Donelson can hurt Power Four defenses.
The Trojans just need Jayden Maiava to play decently. Trent Mosley also shined in the opener with seven catches, 118 yards, and one touchdown. If SC’s defense can stop Luke and Donelson they should win comfortably.
They’ll have something to prove after their fourth-quarter collapse against San Jose State.
Traveler kicks Victor.
USC 42, Fresno State 17
No. 7 Miami at Stanford
Friday, September 4
6:00 PM PT, ESPN
Stanford performed well in the opener. Many analysts thought Hawaii had an outside shot to make the College Football Playoff. And both sides of the ball stepped up when the game was on the line.
The Cardinal could be better than expected, but they take a massive leap in competition this week. The key for The Tree is stopping Darian Mensah before he gets going. Mensah could be a Heisman candidate, but he still lacks game experience with his new squad.
Stanford should consider blitzing Matt Rose frequently at the start of the contest. Getting Rose in the face of Mensah could prove troublesome for the Hurricanes. Offensively, the Cardinal have to replicate the balance they showed in week one.
The U holds the talent advantage, but Davis Warren and Micah Ford are already battle-tested. Blowing a 16-point lead in the fourth quarter would’ve been a death sentence, but they got through it.
If Stanford is going to pull off this upset, they need to find an explosive wideout. JonAnthony Hall looked the part in the opener with two receptions for 81 yards. Hall’s consistency is needed going forward.
Warren’s also been a part of big time when he was the starter at Michigan. The Cardinal have improved considerably, but the Rainbow Warriors scored 27 on them.
Miami might double that.
Miami 45, Stanford 28
Oregon State at No. 23 Houston
Saturday, September 5
9:00 AM PT, ESPN/Disney+
It feels like this game’s going to dictate Oregon State’s season. If the Beavers can win this contest, they should be able to make a bowl game.
The Beavs almost beat the Cougars a season ago; their record was not indicative of how good they really were. This is a common cliché, but OSU did all the things to lose last year—all the things.
The other notable story in Corvallis is Braden Atkinson winning the starting job over Maalik Murphy. It’s a courageous decision by new head coach JaMarcus Shephard, but Murphy fell off last year.
And with Trent Walker, Darrius Clemons, and Taz Reddicks gone, he might as well do it now. With Shephard’s lineage as a college wideout, he knows who he would want throwing the ball to him.
But the decision was still unexpected from the outside.
This matchup is also vital because OSU will likely lose to Texas Tech the following week.
Houston will be ready, though; they were losing by 14 points in the fourth quarter to Oregon State in 2025 before all the things.
The Beavers may be the most overlooked team in the country this year. They have the talent to beat the Cougs.
Cougars claw the dam.
Houston 31, Oregon State 17
Boise State at No. 2 Oregon
Saturday, September 5
12:30 PM PT, CBS
For two teams that don’t play each other often, it feels like the Broncos and Ducks play all the time.
But this is a really tough spot for Boise State. Oregon is a national brand now, and they’re stacked. The Broncos are probably still the best G6 squad, but the Ducks might be the best team in the country.
BSU rarely gets 24.5 points, but maybe this alleviates some of the pressure. In a week full of marquee Pac-12 games, this one’s the biggest.
If the Broncos play well, it could help them solidify a playoff spot later in the year. And while UO is a national title contender, Boise State was the last non-conference team to win in Eugene, back in 2008.
The Broncos are 3-1 all-time against the Ducks, and they nearly beat Oregon in Autzen two years ago, with Maddux Madsen at signal-caller.
But Madsen and Boise State had a superstar difference-maker that year in Ashton Jeanty, and he’s gone to the NFL.
The key for BSU is to limit big plays and protect the ball.
They should try to shorten the game, grind it out, and steal it at the end because they’ll lose a 100-meter sprint in TrackTown USA.
Spencer Danielson is a three-time conference champion, and the Broncos will throw some punches—but they can’t afford to get hit like Jake Paul.
The Ducks fanbase will be shouting.
Oregon 49, Boise State 21
Wyoming at Colorado State
Saturday, September 5
3:00 PM PT, USA Network
This feels like a do-or-die game for Jay Sawvel, who has underwhelmed in Laramie, and a loss in the Border War will exponentially heat up his seat. To avoid this reality, they must improve on offense after only scoring 24 combined points in the final four games of 2025.
They have a talented running back group and Diore Hubbard should be a nice addition, but they have to be able to throw the ball.
The line returns four guys with experience, which should give Tyler Hughes some time. Hughes is a transfer quarterback from William & Mary, who threw for 2,330 yards, 20 touchdowns, and three interceptions. He also added 670 yards on the ground and 11 touchdowns.
Colorado State is either going to fall flat or shock some people this year. No in-between. Jim Mora hasn’t revealed his starting signal-caller yet, which leaves uncertainty offensively.
A few players who should impact the game on offense are halfback Mel Brown, wideout Tommy Maher, and tight end Juice Vereen.
Flipping the bigs, if CSU can get a consistent pass rush, they should have enough pieces in the back seven to prove troublesome. Oumar Diomande is a solid transfer linebacker, and the secondary did a good job of retooling in the portal. But Wyoming must win.
The Cowboys protect the border.
Wyoming 28, CSU 20
UNLV at Hawai’i
Saturday, September 5
7:00 PM PT, The CW
The atmosphere of this game shifted quickly after Week One. What potential G6 College Football playoff play-in game turned into two programs fighting for their season.
The biggest key will be the pocket presence of Jackson Arnold, whose offensive line failed him a bit last week. He also needs to get the ball out quicker. If he doesn’t, Sackson Arnold’s his name.
Jai’Den Thomas could also use some support; it felt like the entire Memphis defense was guarding him. If they don’t find a wideout who can win one-on-one battles, they might struggle to score this year. And that’s problematic against Hawaii.
The Rainbow Warriors started slow, but exploded for 20 points in the fourth quarter in Week One. And their best receiver, Pofele Ashlock, missed the opener. This feels like the type of game that Micah Alejado has to win himself.
The Bows struggled to run the ball in the opener, and UNLV’s defense is going to be locked in after allowing seven yards per play against the Tigers. UH features three seniors on the offensive line, which might prove the difference in this contest.
The Rebels have a solid back seven, but lack proven production on their line. They recorded only one sack in the opener. It feels like Hawaii should win this matchup but probably won’t.
The Rebels enjoy their stay on the Big Island.
UNLV 27, Hawai’i 21
Central Michigan at New Mexico
Saturday, September 5
7:00 PM PT, FS1
New Mexico needs to win this game; the Mountain West could use one. But they have to figure out who their quarterback is first. With Jack Layne out for the season, they must find an immediate fix.
Jason Eck’s using his pandante face, though; he hasn’t disclosed much information about the decision. In 2014, he found success using a dual quarterback system as a Division II coach. Minnesota State-Mankato finished 14-1 that year.
Whoever gets the majority of reps will need to find new playmakers also.
UNM lost their top five skill guys and will lean heavily on their offense to dictate tempo. New Mexico returns four on that, including Kaden Robnett, a Second Team All-Mountain West center.
Flipping time zones, Central Michigan relies on their rushing attack and ranked top-25 in rushing attempts a year ago. The Chippewas also utilize a dual quarterback system led by signal caller Angel Flores. They’ll probably keep most of their passes short and try to protect the ball.
CMU was eighth nationally in completion percentage in 2025. The loss of Layne hurts, and it’ll probably cost them a few wins this season. But Central Michigan’s defense is basically new, and Jaxton Eck is the biggest baller on the field.
The Land of Enchantment traps the Chippewas.
New Mexico 24, Central Michigan 13
UCLA at Cal
Saturday, September 5
7:30 PM PT, ESPN
Weirdly, everything’s different at Cal, but still pretty much the same. The Golden Bears parted ways with Justin Wilcox and brought in former Cal defensive line coach and UCB defensive lineman Tosh Lupoi to lead the squad.
The Bears are one of the more intriguing teams nationally this year. The jump that Cal takes this year will likely be predicated on the flow of their offense.
Everyone is excited about the return of quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, but they added pieces around him. Running back Adam Mohammed was a huge find in the transfer portal, and Ian Strong is a nice addition at wideout.
Other key playmakers include Dorian Thomas and wideout Chase Hendricks.
However, the Bears will have to replace their top six tacklers on defense.
For UCLA, it’s the Nico Iamaleava show. Iamaleava got humbled last year, and it should prove interesting to see how he responds. New Head Coach Bob Chesney brought in a bunch of transfers from James Madison to help him out.
Some of the more notable names are halfback Wayne Knight and wideout Landon Ellis. They also added Leland Smith, a transfer wideout from San Jose State.
This contest is about two different signal callers looking to garner a big opportunity.
Iamaleava stayed at UCLA to win, and he’ll do so this week.
UCLA 38, Cal 27
Washington State at No. 17 Washington
Sunday, September 6
1:00 PM PT, NBC
This game means a lot for Washington State. With the uncertainty of the Apple Cup after the current contract, a Cougars victory could change the tone of conversations going forward.
WSU is a huge underdog in this contest. Washington is favored by 23.5 points.
But with the game on NBC on a Sunday, the Cougs need to take advantage of the exposure.
Head Coach Kirby Moore knows how important this matchup is because he’s a Washingtonian. He grew up in a town located right in between the campuses, but his hometown of Prosser is Cougar country.
Even though WSU has every motivation to beat the Huskies, UW returns four starters on the offensive line, which hurts stylistically.
Washington lost Jonah Coleman and Denzel Boston, however, which could give Ol’ Crimson hope.
Washington State’s main goal should be to keep it close.
The Cougars face three Power Four opponents in their non-conference slate, and a blowout could send them on a downward trajectory.
This is a big opportunity for Washington State, the Pac-12, and downtrodden people who have been left behind everywhere.
But Washington’s bark is fearsome.
Washington 31, WSU 24
Sports
Eddie Hearn backs his heavyweight to beat all of the current world champions
With Oleksandr Usyk’s time in the sport coming to an end, the heavyweight division is seeking a new fighter to take over and establish themselves as the man to beat, and Matchroom Promoter Eddie Hearn believes one of his contenders is capable of taking over.
This time last week, the general consensus was that the Moses Itauma era was upon us and that the Brit would defeat Filip Hrgovic to become boxing’s second-youngest heavyweight world champion, before unifying against his fellow titleholders.
As is so often the case in boxing, those plans were derailed as Hrgovic pulled off a mammoth upset and handed the 21-year-old a first career defeat; capturing the IBF title and becoming Croatia’s first ever heavyweight world champion.
During his post-fight interview, Hrgovic laid out his own desires for unifications, either in a rematch with Daniel Dubois (WBO champion) or against Agit Kabayel (WBC champion), despite being mandated to next defend his belt against Cuba’s Frank Sanchez.
With the landscape wide open, contenders and past champions are expected to manoeuvre themselves into contention.
Speaking to Pro Boxing Fans, Hearn said that former unified heavyweight world champion Andy Ruiz Jr could be the fighter to take control of the division.
“Andy Ruiz is a massive problem, if he is on it this Friday. If he looks great this Friday, give me Hrgovic, give me Itauma, give me Dubois, Kabayel – he can beat all of those guys.”
Ruiz recently joined forces with Hearn, as he looks to return to the form that saw him stop Anthony Joshua in 2019 to become world champion.
He returns to action against Poland’s Damian Knyba on Friday in at the Prudential Center in Newark, in search of a first win in exactly four years.
The former unified world champion has fought on just four occasions since beating ‘AJ’.
He lost the immediate rematch, by his own admission overweight and under prepared, before being sidelined for 18 months.
Wins over Chris Arreola and Luis Ortiz followed, but a high-profile 2023 clash with Jarrell Miller ended in a controversial draw after Ruiz broke his hand during the fight.
Now back with trainer Manny Robles, who masterminded the Joshua win, Ruiz has weighed in his lightest since 2018 and promised fans he taking this comeback seriously.
With the belts perhaps more accessible than ever, and without the pound-for-pound threat of Usyk, Ruiz could well find himself challenging for a title soon.
Sports
Night-owl Zverev goes distance to advance as upsets rock US Open
Top-seeded Alexander Zverev kept his bid for a first US Open title on track with a gritty five-set victory over Quentin Halys, staying the course as a spate of upsets rocked the men’s draw on Thursday.
A trio of former women’s champions — Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek and Naomi Osaka — booked third-round berths, along with reigning Grand Slam champions Elena Rybakina and Mirra Andreeva.
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But men’s third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime tumbled out, along with sixth-seeded Alex de Minaur and 13th-seeded Lorenzo Musetti.
Zverev labored util 2:15 am Friday on Arthur Ashe Stadium to shake off 52nd-ranked Frenchman Halys 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-7 (3/7), 6-3.
The four-hour 33-minute marathon followed his wild first-round five-setter against 89th-ranked Lorenzo Sonego that kept Zverev at it until shortly before 2 am on Wednesday.
“The performance was quite shit to be honest, but I won, that’s the most important thing,” Zverev said afterwards.
“Physically, I feel fine. I am proud, I think, to be physically quite strong. I just hope at some point I’ll start playing better tennis.
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“I’m winning ugly right now. It’s also a skill to win ugly and when you’re not playing great tennis. I think I’ve mastered that right now.”
While Zverev survived, Auger-Aliassime fell 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 6-2, 6-2, to 50th-ranked Russian Karen Khachanov, pulled away relentlessly from the physically ailing Canadian, who said he was “dizzy and seeing spots.
“I thought maybe it would pass, but it didn’t,” a dejected Auger-Aliassime said.
Khachanov took full advantage of 47 unforced errors, with eight double faults, from Auger-Aliassime, who struggled particularly on serve.
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“I thought maybe he had some physical issues, it’s part of our sport,” Khachanov said. “From my side I tried to give my best performance, fighting, fighting.”
De Minaur fell to Botic van de Zandschulp 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 while 123rd-ranked Australian Dane Sweeny shocked 13th seed Musetti 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 to reach the third round of a major for the first time.
It’s not the first time Van de Zandschulp has sprung an upset at Flushing Meadows, where he shocked Carlos Alcaraz in the second round in 2024.
Meanwhile top women contenders marched on.
Fourth-seeded Gauff, the 2023 champion, thrilled the Ashe night crowd with a 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) victory over former world number two Paula Badosa of Spain.
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Swiatek sailed through with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Nadia Podoroska while Osaka survived a second-set swoon to beat Katerina Siniakova 6-2, 5-7, 6-1.
Australian Open winner Rybakina, the world number two who is closing in on Aryna Sabalenka’s number one ranking, saw off Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-2, 6-4, and Andreeva rolled over Germany’s Eva Lys 6-0, 6-2.
Gauff, 22, had lost five of her eight prior meetings with Badosa, so she was ready when the Spaniard piled on the pressure in the second set, regaining a break to force the tiebreaker.
“I knew she would raise her level. She’s capable of blasting winners and blasting return winners,” said Gauff, who was pleased she kept her composure.
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“I think I need matches like this to build my confidence,” the 2023 US Open winner said.
Swiatek, whose six Grand Slam titles include the 2022 US Open, had things mostly her own way against Podroska, a former top-40 player now 449th in the world.
She fought off four break points at 5-3 in the first set then pulled away to polish off the win in little more than an hour.
Japan’s Osaka, who counts two US Open titles among her four majors, looked in total control against Siniakova as she raced through the first set and to a 4-2 lead in the second without facing a break point.
But the Japanese star’s unforced errors began to pile up and doubles world number one Siniakova pounced to climb from 5-3 down and take the set.
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Osaka regrouped in the decider, riding a quick break to a 3-0 lead and fending off a pair of break points on the way to victory.
“I just felt like I had to fight,” she said.
So did former Australian Open champion Madison Keys, who saved five match points to beat Anna Bondar 4-7, 6-4, 7-6 (10/5).
There was a bittersweet goodbye on Louis Armstrong Stadium, where 20-year-old American Learner Tien ended 40-year-old Gael Monfils’s Grand Slam career with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 victory.
“It’s been a long ride,” Monfils told an adoring New York crowd. “You are my second best crowd. Of course, it can’t top Paris, but you are up there!”
bb/rcw
Sports
Smriti Mandhana scripts history, surpasses Mithali Raj to become highest run-scorer in women’s cricket
NEW DELHI: Smriti Mandhana has already established herself among the finest batters in women’s cricket, but on Thursday she reached a new pinnacle — becoming the most prolific run-scorer in the history of the women’s game.
During India’s Women’s Asia Cup 2026 clash against Hong Kong China in Dubai, the Indian vice-captain surpassed legendary former captain Mithali Raj’s tally of 10,868 international runs to become the highest run-scorer in women’s international cricket across all formats.
And she did it in spectacular fashion.
Mandhana produced a breathtaking 124 off 64 balls, smashing 14 fours and seven sixes at a strike rate of 193.75 as India posted 193/5 after being asked to bat first. Her record-breaking innings not only took her past Mithali but also established a series of new milestones.
Mandhana goes past Mithali in style
Mandhana entered the match knowing she was closing in on Mithali’s long-standing record. Having already overtaken New Zealand great Suzie Bates to move into second place during the Asia Cup opener against Thailand, the 30-year-old needed one more major push to rewrite the all-time record.
She delivered far more than that.
Mandhana initially had to negotiate a slow Dubai surface and disciplined Hong Kong bowling. Shafali Verma provided the early acceleration, with the opening pair putting on 50 before Verma departed for 28 off 17 balls.
Once Mandhana settled in, however, the innings changed gears.
She reached her half-century and then launched an extraordinary assault, moving from 50 to 100 in just 17 deliveries. Her century came off 57 balls before she eventually finished with 124 from 64, her second T20I hundred.
Her dismissal came on the final over of the innings following a mix-up with Bharti Fulmali, but by then Mandhana had already rewritten the record books.
The 124 also became the highest individual score in Women’s T20 Asia Cup history, surpassing Chamari Athapaththu’s unbeaten 119 against Malaysia in 2024.
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Most runs in Women’s international cricket
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10273 – Charlotte Edwards
From Mithali’s record to a pile of milestones
Mandhana’s landmark innings did not stop with the all-time runs record.
Her century took her international hundred tally to 18, making her the leading century-maker in women’s international cricket, ahead of Australia’s Meg Lanning and South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt, who had 17 each.
She also became the first Indian woman to score two T20I centuries. Her previous hundred had come against England in 2025, when she made 112.
The latest innings also extended Mandhana and Shafali’s remarkable partnership record. Their 50-plus stand against Hong Kong was their 29th in T20Is, the most by any pair in the format.
ALSO READ: Smriti Mandhana equals Mithali Raj’s big record, then creates more history
For Mandhana, though, the most significant achievement was undoubtedly moving past Mithali.
Mithali’s 10,868 runs had stood as the benchmark of women’s international batting excellence since her retirement in 2022. Mandhana’s explosive rise has now taken her beyond that mark, with New Zealand’s Suzie Bates, England’s Charlotte Edwards and West Indies great Stafanie Taylor completing the top five on the all-time list.
What made Thursday’s achievement even more remarkable was the manner in which Mandhana reached it. On a surface that offered little pace, she adapted her game, used the back foot effectively and found ways to manufacture boundaries.
“Having said that, I just love batting, and I’m happy that I could contribute,” Mandhana said during the mid-innings break.
Sports
PSG look for their first Ligue 1 win against Monaco – Sports
PSG have still not won a Ligue 1 match this season. After two games, the European champions have recorded two draws. The exact opposite is true of Monaco, who, with two wins from two games, are one of the teams in form at the start of the season. The two Ligue 1 heavyweights will meet on Friday in Paris.
Ahead of the clash between PSG and Monaco, Ligue 1 has a new leader. After beating Toulouse 1-0, Lille have provisionally moved into first place, ahead of Monaco.
In New York, Gaël Monfils played in his final Grand Slam match, while Félix Auger-Aliassime was stunned in the second round of the US Open. The world number 4 lost to Russia’s Karen Khachanov. In the women’s draw, Iga Swiatek and Naomi Osaka have reached the third round. The same cannot be said of the French women, all of whom have already been eliminated after two rounds.
In Spain, at the Vuelta, Enric Mas has extended his lead in the general classification. The red jersey gained 27 seconds on Primoz Roglic and Felix Gall.
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