Category: Sports

So you think the 3-0 Raiders are capable of doing more than just reaching the playoffs. That the “Trio in Rio” game shows that Lamar Jackson and the Ravens are coming for the Lombardi Trophy. And that there are better days ahead in Green Bay for the reeling Packers. I hear ya, but that doesn’t mean I agree. Coming out of Week 3, NFL fans shared their passionate perspectives on our @NFLonFOX Instagram. I’m here to break down your top takes, provide analysis and, in the end, render a verdict on whether what you’re saying is fact or fiction. Let’s get into it: Fact or Fiction: Fiction Look, the Raiders’ rebuild is off to an exciting start. New head coach Klint Kubiak looks like a slam dunk hire. Veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins has been red-hot to start the season (nine touchdown passes through three games), allowing Las Vegas to stick to its plan of letting No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza sit and learn. The offensive line play has been competent. The team is strong at tight end (star Brock Bowers, Michael Mayer) and running back (rookie Mike Washington Jr.). Tre Tucker is emerging at wide receiver. On the other side of the ball, the revamped defense has been promising, led by new additions like free-agent linebacker Nakobe Dean and rookies Treydan Stukes (second round) and Hezekiah Masses (fifth round), the latter of whom was the AFC Defensive Player of the Week in Week 2. But this particular take is not just saying the Raiders will make the playoffs, but that they’ll go on a deep postseason run. And that’s going too far right now. Let’s remember that Las Vegas has had a soft schedule to this point. Its 3-0 start came against the Dolphins, Chargers and the Saints. We’ll get a much better feel for exactly how good the Raiders are in the coming weeks, when they face the Chiefs (Week 4), Bills (Week 6) and Rams (Week 7). Also, what happens when opposing defenses key in on two-time Pro Bowler Bowers? Yes, the Raiders went 2-0 before he made his season debut last week, but that’s a small sample size against teams that are a combined 0-6 right now (Dolphins, Chargers). Bowers is Vegas’ only true receiving threat at tight end. And Las Vegas is still unproven at wide receiver outside of Tucker, who is averaging a career-high 63.0 receiving yards per game. No other wideout on the roster is averaging more than 17.3 yards. Even more concerning, Ashton Jeanty, the No. 6 overall pick of the 2025 draft, hasn’t been running the ball efficiently, averaging only 3.3 rushing yards per carry. Again, I love what Kubiak has done in Vegas so far, and the Raiders are far exceeding expectations to this point. They’ve given themselves a nice cushion to start the season. But it’s too early to say they’re an AFC contender. Fact or Fiction: Fact I’m on board with this! Purdy has been the NFL’s best quarterback through three weeks, playing ridiculously efficient football. He leads the league in passer rating (133.1) and expected points added per dropback (+0.63), and is tied for first with nine touchdown passes. He’s second in yards per attempt (9.5), third in completion rate (72.2%) and eighth in passing yards (789). The 2023 Pro Bowler has been picked off only once so far and has yet to be sacked. He’s carrying a 49ers team that has already been ravaged by injuries. And that’s actually what could threaten Purdy’s MVP bid. MVPs are historically high-level quarterbacks on the league’s best teams record-wise, and injuries have a chance of derailing San Francisco’s season. Wide receiver Mike Evans (ribs), left tackle Trent Williams (shoulder stinger) and linebacker Dre Greenlaw (quad) all didn’t finish Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals. The Niners also have multiple defensive linemen dealing with multi-week injuries on their active roster, including Pro Bowl defensive end Nick Bosa (calf), plus six other D-linemen on injured reserve or the physically unable to perform list. The good news, though, is that the injuries to Evans, Williams and Greenlaw aren’t long term, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan. And if anything has come out of the Niners’ injury hell over the past several years, it’s that they’re now very experienced at dealing with them. Under Shanahan, San Francisco has always found a way to stay relevant in the NFC contention conversation despite who may or may not be available, which is great news for Purdy’s MVP candidacy. Fact or Fiction: Fiction Star quarterback Lamar Jackson is off to a great start in new OC Declan Doyle’s offense, and we know that the Ravens are always in the mix as long as the two-time MVP is healthy. But I’m already getting concerned about their long-term prospects. We don’t know if it’s anything serious, but Jackson wasn’t seen during the portion of Wednesday’s practice open to the media. Baltimore’s engine is the run game, and injuries upfront are already piling up. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley (toe) didn’t play in Brazil, and his status for this week is uncertain. Starting center Jovaughn Gwyn is expected to miss a few months with a fractured fibula. It’s looking like backup Ethan Pocic (knee) will be out at least a week as well. Rookie guard Olaivavega Ioane is trending toward making his first career start at center, a position he didn’t register a start at in college. That’s a good amount of uncertainty early in the year for the offensive line, which is a bummer. The ageless Derrick Henry has been eating to this point — and 55.9% of his yards have come before contact, the highest rate among 36 running backs with at least 25 carries, per NGS. Giving up 31 points to the Cowboys last week wasn’t great, but Baltimore’s defense overall has shown promise under first-year head coach Jesse Minter, a defensive guru. The walk-off, game-winning field goal in Brazil — the so-called “Trio in Rio” — was potentially a sign that the 2026 Ravens will be better in high-pressure situations. But the injury outlook offensively gives me pause about the Ravens’ title chances. Fact or Fiction: Fiction I’m sorry, I’m not buying it right now. The Packers have been that bad — they’ve lost two of their first three games by three scores, the first time they’ve lost multiple games by 17-plus points since 2017, according to Next Gen Stats. No offensive line in the NFL has been worse, and Green Bay lost its best O-lineman — right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele — for the rest of the year with a knee injury. The Packers are averaging an atrocious 48.7 rushing yards per game, by far the league worst (second-lowest is 81.0, by the Broncos). Quarterback Jordan Love has already been pressured 56 times, second-most in the league. The Packers in recent days have signed a trio of former first-round guards to stabilize the interior offensive line — Kevin Zeitler, Laken Tomlinson and Mekhi Becton — but O-line chemistry isn’t created in a microwave. Continuity is built over months, even for the most talented of offensive lines. And we don’t even know what kind of individual production to expect from Zeitler, Tomlinson or Becton, none of whom has played in a regular-season game this year. Elsewhere on the offense, I actually really like what the Packers have going on at wide receiver. Losing Jayden Reed to season-ending neck surgery is a big loss, but Christian Watson and Matthew Golden are both in the top eight in receiving yards entering Week 4. Tight end Tucker Kraft, who’s coming off a torn ACL last season, should get his feet back under him as the season wears on. On the other side of the ball, superstar edge rusher Micah Parsons can be activated off the physically unable to perform list after this week, so the defense could get substantially better. But I don’t see it being so much better than it makes up for a largely ineffective offense. Coach Matt LaFleur himself said, “I don’t know what we’re doing well offensively.” Unless the O-line additions turn out to be a magical solution, I’m not buying a rosy outlook for this team over the next few months.

In Year 7 under manager Torey Lovullo, the Arizona Diamondbacks won the National League pennant. In a 7-11 charm, will they also win the NL pennant in his 11th year at the helm? Arizona has retained its skipper on a two-year deal, multiple outlets reported on Thursday afternoon, including FOX Sports MLB Insider Ken Rosenthal. Lovullo just concluded his 10th season as the D-backs’ manager (2017-26), that being an 86-76 campaign that saw them miss the playoffs for a third consecutive season. Arizona has made the playoffs just twice over that span. Lovullo’s stint is, of course, highlighted by the D-backs winning the 2023 NL pennant. The other playoff appearance came in 2017, with the team’s 93 regular-season wins in that year standing as their most under Lovullo. Moreover, Lovullo is far and away first in Diamondbacks’ history with 750 managerial wins. Kirk Gibson’s 353 managerial wins are second. Prior to becoming Arizona’s manager for the 2017 MLB season, Lovullo was the bench coach for the Boston Red Sox from 2013-16 and the first-base coach for the Toronto Blue Jays from 2011-12; both coaching positions were under manager John Farrell. Lovullo and general manager Mike Hazen have each been in their respective positions since the 2017 season. As for this coming offseason, Arizona starting pitchers Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly and Mike Soroka, reliever Taylor Clarke and catcher James McCann, among others, are set to hit the free-agent market.

The team with the best record in baseball faces the hottest team in baseball in a huge NLDS showdown on FOX and FS1. Let’s check out the Brewers-Padres divisional series odds at DraftKings Sportsbook as of Oct. 1, along with what to know about the matchup. Brewers: -180 (bet $10 to win $15.56 total)Padres: +150 (bet $10 to win $25 total) Brewers win 3-2: +275 (bet $10 to win $37.50 total)Brewers win 3-1: +330 (bet $10 to win $43 total)Brewers win 3-0: +425 (bet $10 to win $52.50 total)Padres win 3-1: +425 (bet $10 to win $52.50 total)Padres win 3-2: +550 (bet $10 to win $65 total)Padres win 3-0: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total) Spread: Brewers -1.5Moneyline: Brewers -233, Padres +189O/U: 7 Here’s what to know about the Brewers-Padres odds: Season Series: The Padres won the 2026 season series against the Brewers 4-2 across six games. Milwaukee took two of three at American Family Field in May, but San Diego answered with a three-game sweep at Petco Park in August. Since the All-Star break, these two teams have the best records in baseball, with the Brewers going 44-22 in that span and the Padres 43-23. San Diego has now won 10 of their last 12 games heading into this series but will have to travel to Milwaukee, where the Brewers have the best home record in baseball. Playoff History: Since 2018, the Brewers have made the playoffs in seven of the last eight seasons with the only exception being in 2022. In that span, they have gone 11-20 and only reached the NLCS two times (2018 and 2025). The last time Milwaukee made the World Series was in 1982 when they lost in seven games to the Cardinals. They have never won the World Series. Last season, the Brewers beat the Cubs in the NLDS before getting swept by the Dodgers in the NLCS. Meanwhile, since 2020, the Padres have now made the playoffs five times. But like Milwaukee, San Diego has continued to fall short as it has only made the ‘CS just once in 2022. The Padres are coming off a dominating sweep of the Cubs in the Wild Card round and will look to avoid a third straight playoff exit before the championship series.

Week 4 is here, and it kicks off with a Thursday tilt between the Steelers and Browns. Here are the lines for every Week 4 matchup at bet365 Sportsbook as of Oct. 1. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Spread: Steelers -2.5Moneyline: Steelers -150, Browns +125O/U: 37.5 Spread: Colts -3.5Moneyline: Colts -200, Commanders +165O/U: 47.5 Spread: Cardinals -2.5Moneyline: Cardinals -140, Giants +120O/U: 44.5 Spread: Texans -3Moneyline: Texans -160, Cowboys +135O/U: 48.5 Spread: Packers -3.5Moneyline: Packers -180, Buccaneers +150O/U: 38.5 Spread: Bengals -2.5Moneyline: Bengals -140, Jaguars +120O/U: 51.5 Spread: Rams -3Moneyline: Rams -165, Eagles +140O/U: 43.5 Spread: Bills -6.5Moneyline: Bills -300, Patriots +240O/U: 48.5 Spread: Bears -3.5Moneyline: Bears -170, Jets +145O/U: 42.5 Spread: Ravens -11.5Moneyline: Ravens -700, Titans +500O/U: 42.5 Spread: Vikings -10.5Moneyline: Vikings -650, Dolphins +475O/U: 38.5 Spread: 49ers -2.5Moneyline: 49ers -150, Broncos +125O/U: 47.5 Spread: Chiefs -4.5Moneyline: Chiefs -220, Raiders +180O/U: 47.5 Spread: Seahakws -7Moneyline: Seahawks -340, Chargers +270O/U: 42.5 Spread: Lions -3.5Moneyline: Lions -200, Panthers +165O/U: 50.5 Spread: Saints -2.5Moneyline: Saints -150, Falcons +125O/U: 47.5

You gotta win the pennant before you win the World Series. Here are the odds for which teams will win their respective leagues DraftKings Sportsbook as of Oct. 1, as well as what to know about each race. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Yankees: +180 (bet $10 to win $28 total)Rays: +265 (bet $10 to win $36.50 total)Guardians: +290 (bet $10 to win $39 total)White Sox: +500 (bet $10 to win $60 total) What To Know: The Rays outlasted the Yankees in the AL East, but just two games into the postseason, the Yankees have already taken over as the favorites to win the American League. How? Well, New York put a hurting on Boston in the wild-card round, winning 9-0 in Game 1 and 9-2 in Game 2. Could the Yankees be getting hot at the right time? Dodgers: +115 (bet $10 to win $21.50 total)Brewers: +300 (bet $10 to win $40 total)Padres: +500 (bet $10 to win $60 total)Braves: +850 (bet $10 to win $95 total)Phillies: +900 (bet $10 to win $100 total) What To Know: Of course, the Dodgers are favored here, but the Brewers aren’t far behind — which should be the case. Milwaukee finished the regular season with the best record in baseball for a while now, and captured its first 100-win regular-season in franchise history. L.A. has won five of the last nine NL pennants, and three of the last six World Series. The Brewers are the only current NL team that has never won an NL pennant.

There are several barnburners on tap for NFL Week 4. Here’s where I’m putting my money. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Pittsburgh coach Mike McCarthy said he wanted to push the ball down the field more this year than the team did last year with Aaron Rodgers, and he has been true to his word so far. Rodgers’ average depth of target has been over 10 yards in two of the three games so far, including in a 30-27 win last week. I’ll go over the 38.5, as the Steelers take on a Browns team with some interesting young weapons and an underrated offense. Don’t forget to set your alarms for this one, as we get our first 9:30 am ET kickoff of the season in London come Sunday. Both teams started 0-2 before winning in Week 3. With the winner getting to .500, I’ll take the 3.5 with the Commanders in what should be a close game. It has not been pretty for the defending AFC champions, but it’s often a good idea to ignore the last thing you saw in the NFL to avoid overreacting. The Patriots will already be 3.5 games out of first place in the AFC East with a loss. They are desperate and getting 6.5 points. I’l bet on them to bounce back. If the Titans aren’t the worst team in the NFL, they’re pretty close to it. At 0-3, their offense has been anemic, and I don’t expect it to improve this week in Baltimore. The quarterbacks for this game are familiar with each other. Trevor Lawrence and Joe Burrow were picked first overall, respectively, in back-to-back years (2020 and 2021), and also played against each other in the 2019 college football national title game. The Jaguars look like a contender and could easily be 3-0. In a toss-up game, I’ll take the points. Panic time could officially hit the Rams if they lose again this week and fall to 1-3. The Eagles have had their number recently, winning all four meetings since the start of the 2023 season, and winning in Philadelphia isn’t easy, especially considering the onerous travel the Rams have endured already this season. The Giants are 2-1, but their offense has looked suspect since quarterback Jaxson Dart went down with a season-ending knee injury. With the total set at 44.5, I think we get a 23-20 type of game. I will go Under here considering the Giants’ lackluster offense. The Cowboys’ defense was expected to be improved in 2026 after being dreadful in 2025, but we have yet to see that play out. The Cowboys’ elite offense and shaky defense make them a good Over team until proven otherwise. The Jets lost and failed to cover last week vs. the Lions, but were tied with just a few minutes to go. Quarterback Geno Smith has played very well for the Jets, and I think they will keep it close this week against the Bears. Two desperate teams facing off here with each in dire need of a win. Undrafted rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels will make his first career start for the Buccaneers, and I expect points to be hard to come by. The Vikings look to improve to 4-0 and are heavy favorites to do so against the hapless Dolphins. While it’s been an impressive start for the Vikings, they have struggled mightily on offense, and aren’t well-equipped to exploit the Dolphins’ weak secondary. Star wide receiver Justin Jefferson might be sidelined for this one, and 10.5 points is a lot to lay for a struggling Vikings offense. Raiders’ tight end Brock Bowers is one of the best, and perhaps, still one of the most underrated players in the league. Coming off of 13 targets, 10 catches and 116 yards in his season debut, expect another big game from Bowers. The Chargers look broken offensively and could not defeat the Bills last week despite their defense forcing five turnovers. I don’t look for them to do much offensively on the road, in a hostile environment against an angry Seahawks defense coming off an upset loss to the Commanders. The 49ers are undefeated and have been ultra impressive so far, but as usual, the injuries are starting to pile up. In what should be a close game, I’ll take the Broncos to keep it close. The Lions have played three games and they’ve all gone Over. With an elite offense and very suspect defense, I like another Lions Over. The Saints gave up over 100 yards rushing last week and now face perhaps the most dynamic running back in the NFL. Look for Bijan Robinson to have another big game on the ground.

The UCLA Bruins and UConn Huskies, who won the past two national championships, will both play in the third annual Coretta Scott King Classic this year. The Bruins, who won the NCAA title last season, will face the Oklahoma Sooners in the opener on Jan. 18. The 2025 champion Huskies will face the Seton Hall Pirates in a Big East matchup in the second game. “The Coretta Scott King Classic continues to bring my family’s enduring legacy into spaces where young people can see, experience, and embody the values my mother held so deeply,” said Dr. Bernice A. King, daughter of Coretta Scott King and CEO of The King Center. “Through the power of women’s basketball, this event creates an opportunity to celebrate excellence while encouraging the next generation to lead with courage, purpose, and a commitment to community.” The games, to be played in Newark, New Jersey, will be nationally televised on FOX. It’s the second time in three seasons that the Bruins are playing in the doubleheader. Cori Close’s team played in the inaugural one against the Baylor Bears two years ago. The timing works out well for UCLA, which will play Big Ten opponents Rutgers and Maryland later that week on the road. “We are proud to return to the Coretta Scott King Classic this season. It is such a blessing to be part of an amazing event that honors the legacy of the King family and brings us together through sport,” Close said. “We always look to compete against excellent competition, and we know Oklahoma will bring out the best in us.” It’s not the first time that UConn and Seton Hall have faced each other in Newark. The two teams last played each other there in 2010. Reporting by The Associated Press.

Can Kamario Taylor keep it rolling against No. 7 Alabama, or will Kalen DeBoer’s history of defeating ranked teams continue? Will Jon Sumrall and No. 8 Florida continue to climb the rankings? In the Big Ten, No. 14 Iowa’s stingy defense will try to finally stop Ohio State superstar Jeremiah Smith, while No. 18 USC looks to bounce back against Washington. Elsewhere, Minnesota hosts Michigan on “Big Noon Kickoff,” and Darian Mensah aims to continue building his Heisman Trophy case against Clemson. Week 5 brings another exciting slate of college football games, and we’re breaking down our straight-up picks and the matchups to watch closely throughout the weekend. When: Saturday, noon ET (ABC)Where: Davis Wade Stadium, Starkville, MississippiLine: Alabama -6 RJ Young: AlabamaKalen DeBoer has been spectacular on the road against Associated Press Top 25 teams with a 9-2 record, including 4-0 on the road during his Alabama tenure. Laken Litman: Mississippi StateThis game isn’t at night, but you know Starkville will be electric and rocking with those cowbells. Quarterback Kamario Taylor puts on a show at home, and the Bulldogs beat the Tide for the first time since 2007. Michael Cohen: AlabamaThere are plenty of bones worth picking with Kalen DeBoer, but his record against AP Top 25 teams on the road isn’t one of them. The Crimson Tide get it done amid the Cowbells. Ben Portnoy: Mississippi StateMississippi State fans have been waiting a decade for another moment like this. Kamario Taylor is the best player this program has seen this side of Dak Prescott, and the cowbells will be out in full force on Saturday. As good as quarterback Keelon Russell has been, Alabama’s defense continues to give me pause. Also, my Mississippi State grad wife will give me hell if I don’t pick the Bulldogs. When: Saturday, noon ET (FOX)Where: Huntington Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MinnesotaLine: Michigan -5.5 Young: MinnesotaP.J. Fleck’s Golden Gophers look like they’re rounding into a Big Ten title contender after a win against Washington last weekend. Litman: MinnesotaP.J. Fleck literally wiped the blood off linebacker Maverick Baranowski’s mouth and smeared it on his face after beating Washington last week. The Golden Gophers’ only loss so far is to a hot Mississippi State team, and they can catch Michigan while they’re down at home. Cohen: MinnesotaEven though Michigan has a 3-1 overall record, it feels like there is an undercurrent of dysfunction for the Wolverines. Expect the Gophers to score a second consecutive upset. Portnoy: MichiganI’m about as down on Michigan as can be, but quarterback Bryce Underwood showed something passing the ball last week against Iowa. The Wolverines didn’t score the points to show for it, but I think the offense is getting more comfortable. I’ll take Kyle Wittingham’s bunch to win the Little Brown Jug. When: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (CBS)Where: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IowaLine: Ohio State -14 Young: Ohio StateThe Buckeyes’ offense will prove too much for Iowa’s otherwise stifling defense. Litman: Ohio StateIowa leads the country in scoring defense — giving up just eight points per game, but it’s not smart to pick against Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith at this point. Cohen: Ohio StateWe’ve seen this game before: A highly ranked Ohio State team against a surging Iowa squad. And the result is almost always a blowout in favor of the Buckeyes. Portnoy: Ohio StateWeird things happen at Kinnick Stadium, but I think the Buckeyes’ offense is too much to overcome here. I’ve liked what I’ve seen from the Hawkeyes and quarterback Hank Brown. I just don’t think Iowa has the firepower to keep up in this one. When: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC)Where: Memorial Stadium, Columbia, MissouriLine: Florida -5.5 Young: FloridaFlorida has scored at least 40 points in every game it’s played this season, and Buster Faulkner looks like the best offensive coordinator in the country. Litman: FloridaGoing with the Gators, who are a hot, unbeaten, top-10 team under coach Jon Sumrall. Not to mention, they have a scary backfield tandem of Jadan Baugh and Duke Clark, who combined to rush for 268 yards and four touchdowns in last week’s emphatic win over Ole Miss. Cohen: FloridaJon Sumrall is an early contender for Coach of the Year given what he’s done with the Gators thus far. They’re a high-scoring machine right now, and that’s enough to stave off Mizzou. Portnoy: FloridaJon Sumrall is absolutely steamrolling his way through SEC play so far this year. The Gators are about as fun to watch offensively as any, and I don’t think Missouri’s defense has the tools to slow down one of the nation’s best rushing attacks. When: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC)Where: Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TennesseeLine: Tennessee -7 Young: TennesseeI think the Vols bounce back from being bloodied by Texas at Neyland Stadium. Litman: AuburnThe Tigers take advantage of a hobbled Tennessee team and get the program’s first win at Neyland Stadium since 2013. Cohen: Tennessee It wouldn’t be a shock if the difficult loss to Texas compounded into another defeat for the Volunteers. But at the end of the day, Tennessee has too much talent for a rebuilding Auburn. Portnoy: TennesseeVols quarterback Faizon Brandon looked the part of a freshman signal-caller against Texas, but his upside is still there. I’m skeptical of what I’ve seen from Auburn so far, and I think they’re more Paper Tiger (sorry for the pun) than an actual SEC contender. When: Saturday, 4:15 p.m. ET (SEC Network)Where: Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, South CarolinaLine: South Carolina -2.5 Young: KentuckyLike Mississippi State, Kentucky is edging toward one of the best seasons it’s ever had after a brilliant start. Litman: KentuckyThe Wildcats keep riding this momentum they’ve built under first-year head coach Will Stein and break a four-game losing streak vs. the Gamecocks, who are struggling right now. Cohen: KentuckyWill Shane Beamer be the first Power Four coach to get fired this season? With that question hanging over the Gamecocks, this one is ripe for Kentucky to take. Portnoy: South CarolinaThe Gamecocks have been a mess this year and Shane Beamer is squarely on the hot seat. So what better time than now for an upset? Say what you will about Beamer, but his squads have been known to pull off a win or two you didn’t expect. This feels like the time for it. When: Saturday, 7:00 p.m. ET (ESPN)Where: Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, TexasLine: BYU -6.5 Young: BYUThe Horned Frogs will have a tough time stopping the Cougars and their vaunted rushing attack. Litman: BYULed by standout quarterback Bear Bachmeier, the Cougars move to 4-0 and continue to show why they are one of the best teams in the Big 12. Cohen: BYUThe Cougars have the ninth-best rushing attack in the country at nearly 263 yards per game. Good luck to the Horned Frogs in trying to stop it. Portnoy: BYUSpeaking of hot seats, Sonny Dykes would do himself wonders to win a game like this one. Problem is, I don’t think it’s going to happen. BYU looks like the class of the Big 12 early this year, and they should roll in this one. When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET (ABC)Where: Memorial Stadium, Clemson, South CarolinaLine: Miami -16.5 Young: The Hurricanes look like the program Clemson used to be in the 2010s and Clemson looks unrecognizable next to those teams. Litman: Clemson may be Miami’s first Power Four opponent of the season, but the Hurricanes shouldn’t have any problems — they look like one of the most complete teams in the country right now. Cohen: Far too much talent on a Miami team that has embraced modern roster building in ways Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney couldn’t even imagine. Portnoy: I’ll be in Clemson for this one, but I’m heading to the Upstate more for Darian Mensah than anything the Tigers are putting on the field right now. The Hurricanes look unstoppable offensively and Mensah should be atop just about every Heisman straw poll after this one. When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET (NBC)Where: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CaliforniaLine: USC -9.5 Young: USCNo one needs a resounding victory more than Lincoln Riley right now. Litman: USCAfter an emotionally charged loss to Oregon last week, all the headlines surrounding the Trojans are about how coach Lincoln Riley still can’t get it right. Riley’s team will come through for him against Washington, but the defensive performance will still look shaky against Huskies’ quarterback Demond Williams Jr. Cohen: USCMan, this one is tough. Two teams that were dealt crushing defeats last week. Two defiant head coaches. But the Trojans are in a better position to salvage their season — for now. Portnoy: USCThe noise is growing louder around Lincoln Riley, but I do think USC is just a flat out more talented team than Washington right now. Nothing is coming easily to the Huskies offensively at the moment. This feels like a bit of a get-right game for the Trojans after last week’s prime-time loss. When: 10:30 p.m. ETWhere: Mountain America Stadium, Tempe, ArizonaLine: Arizona State -4.5 Young: Arizona StateThe Sun Devils are settled at quarterback while the Bears continue to wait for DJ Lagway to settle in. Litman: BaylorBears’ quarterback DJ Lagway improves off last week’s uneven outing and leads Baylor to a big road win for Dave Aranda’s program. Cohen: Arizona StateKenny Dillingham seems to be working his quarterback magic again with Cutter Boley, the Kentucky transfer. Portnoy: BaylorThe Bears are basically an inch away from being undefeated right now. DJ Lagway has been up and down, but I like what he brings to the Baylor offense. Give me Dave Aranda as he continues to cool his scorching seat.

UConn was in its familiar place — atop the preseason poll in the Big East. The Huskies have won the regular-season conference title 25 times and the Big East Tournament 24, including both each year since UConn returned in 2021. Geno Auriemma’s team, which was a unanimous choice, is led by preseason Big East Player of the Year Sarah Strong. The junior won the conference’s Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year last season. She was the AP Player of the Year last season. UConn went 38-1, including a perfect 20-0 mark in conference play last season. Villanova was picked second as the Wildcats are coming off their fifth consecutive 20-win season in which they reached the Big East Tournament title game. They are led by Jasmine Bascoe, who averaged 18.9 points and 4.0 rebounds last season. The Wildcats open their season against Notre Dame in Rome as part of the Eternal City Tip-Off. Creighton, St. John’s and Seton Hall rounded out the top five. Marquette was sixth with Providence, Georgetown and Xavier next. Butler, led by new head coach Maria Marchesano, and DePaul rounded out the poll. Here are the full Big East rankings: The Big East held its annual media day at a local New York hotel instead of Madison Square Garden, which has hosted the event every year since 2014. The event was presided over by new conference commissioner Tim Brosnan, who took over for Val Ackerman. Ackerman, who was the head of the conference from 2013-26, retired at the end of August. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

UConn was picked to win the Big East by the league’s coaches on Thursday with defending champion St. John’s the second choice. The Huskies, who made their third national championship game appearance in the last four seasons, are led by preseason Big East Player of the Year selection Silas Demary Jr.  As a junior in the 2025-2026 season, Demary averaged 10.1 points, 5.9 assists and 4.5 rebounds for the Huskies last season following a transfer from Georgia and the SEC. The Red Storm received two first-place votes. St. John’s is coming off two consecutive Big East regular-season and tournament titles — the first team ever to do that. Rick Pitino’s squad made the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1999. They are led by preseason first-team conference selections Tounde Yessoufou and Ian Jackson. Villanova, Marquette and Providence were the next three in the preseason poll. Xavier was picked sixth. Creighton, led by new head coach Alan Huss, was seventh. DePaul, which had its best finish in the Big East a season ago, was chosen eighth with Seton Hall and Georgetown behind them. Butler, under first-year coach Ronald Nored, was the 11th choice. Here are the full Big East rankings: The Big East held its annual media day at a local New York hotel instead of Madison Square Garden, which has hosted the event every year since 2014. The event was presided over by new conference commissioner Tim Brosnan, who took over for Val Ackerman. Ackerman, who was the head of the conference from 2013-26, retired at the end of August. The Associated Press contributed to this report.