“THE SCOREBOARD”
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL WEEK 4 SCHEDULE
ANDERSON (0-3) AT KOKOMO (0-2)
AVON (1-2) AT BROWNSBURG (3-0)
BATESVILLE (3-0) AT RUSHVILLE (2-1)
BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE (0-3) AT NEW ALBANY (2-1)
BLOOMINGTON SOUTH (2-1) AT BLOOMINGTON NORTH (2-1)
BOONVILLE (0-3) AT NORTH KNOX (1-2)
BREBEUF JESUIT (2-1) AT GUERIN CATHOLIC (3-0)
BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL (3-0) AT SALEM (1-2)
BYRON CENTRAL (MICH.) AT HAMMOND MORTON (0-3)
CALUMET CHRISTIAN AT BOONE GROVE (1-2)
CAMBRIDGE CITY LINCOLN (1-2) AT NORTHEASTERN (3-0)
CARROLL (FLORA) (3-0) AT DELPHI (2-1)
CARROLL (FORT WAYNE) (1-2) AT FORT WAYNE DWENGER (1-2)
CASTLE (2-1) AT EVANSVILLE HARRISON (0-3)
CENTER GROVE (2-1) AT BEN DAVIS (1-2)
CENTRAL NOBLE (0-3) AT PRAIRIE HEIGHTS (2-1)
CHESTERTON (2-1) AT LAPORTE (0-3)
CHRISTEL HOUSE (0-3) AT INDIANAPOLIS ATTUCKS (1-1)
CHURUBUSCO (0-3) AT EASTSIDE (1-2)
CLARKSVILLE (0-3) AT PROVIDENCE (3-0)
CLINTON PRAIRIE (2-1) AT TRI-CENTRAL (1-2)
CONCORD (3-0) AT NORTHRIDGE (1-2)
CORYDON CENTRAL (0-3) AT SCOTTSBURG (1-2)
COVENANT CHRISTIAN (0-3) AT INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN (2-1) (INDIANASRN.ORG BROADCAST)
COVINGTON (2-1) AT FOUNTAIN CENTRAL (0-3)
CRAWFORD COUNTY (0-3) AT SOUTH DECATUR (1-2)
CRAWFORDSVILLE (2-1) AT NORTH PUTNAM (3-0)
CULVER (1-2) AT WINAMAC (1-1)
CULVER ACADEMY (3-0) AT FAIRFIELD (1-2)
DECATUR CENTRAL (1-1) AT MARTINSVILLE (3-0)
DEKALB (2-1) AT EAST NOBLE (2-1)
DELTA (3-0) AT YORKTOWN (2-1)
EAST CHICAGO CENTRAL (0-3) AT BOWMAN ACADEMY (0-2)
EASTBROOK (1-2) AT ALEXANDRIA (3-0)
EASTERN (GREENTOWN) (0-3) AT TAYLOR (2-1)
EASTERN HANCOCK (2-1) AT HERITAGE CHRISTIAN (2-1) (INDIANASRN.ORG BROADCAST)
EDINBURGH (0-3) AT GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN (2-1)
ELKHART (2-1) AT SOUTH BEND RILEY (1-1)
ELWOOD (1-2) AT BLACKFORD (1-2)
EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL (3-0) AT EVANSVILLE MATER DEI (3-0) (INDIANASRN.ORG BROADCAST)
EVANSVILLE REITZ (3-0) AT EVANSVILLE NORTH (1-2)
FISHERS (2-1) AT HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN (3-0)
FLOYD CENTRAL (1-1) AT SEYMOUR (1-2)
FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA (2-1) AT FORT WAYNE NORTH (1-2)
FORT WAYNE SNIDER (2-1) AT FORT WAYNE SOUTH (0-3)
FORT WAYNE WAYNE (1-1) AT FORT WAYNE LUERS (2-1)
FRANKLIN (2-1) AT WHITELAND (1-1)
FRANKLIN CENTRAL (1-1) AT ZIONSVILLE (1-2)
FRANKLIN COUNTY (2-1) AT EAST CENTRAL (1-2)
FREMONT (0-3) AT PARK TUDOR (3-0)
FRONTIER (2-0) AT FAITH CHRISTIAN (1-1)
GREENSBURG (0-3) AT LAWRENCEBURG (2-1)
GREENWOOD (1-2) AT MOORESVILLE (1-2)
HAMILTON HEIGHTS (0-3) AT DANVILLE (2-1)
HAMMOND CENTRAL (1-2) AT INDIANAPOLIS SHORTRIDGE (1-1)
HAMMOND NOLL (1-2) AT WHEELER (1-2)
HANOVER CENTRAL (2-1) AT LOWELL (1-2)
HARRISON (WEST LAFAYETTE) (1-2) AT RICHMOND (0-3)
HIGHLAND (1-2) AT CALUMET (2-1)
HOMESTEAD (1-2) AT FORT WAYNE NORTHROP (1-2)
HUNTINGTON NORTH (2-1) AT COLUMBIA CITY (3-0)
INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL (1-2) AT INDIANAPOLIS CHATARD (3-0) (INDIANASRN.ORG BROADCAST)
INDIANAPOLIS RITTER (1-1) AT SPEEDWAY (2-1)
INDIANAPOLIS RONCALLI (1-1) AT COLUMBUS NORTH (3-0)
INDIANAPOLIS SCECINA (1-2) AT BEECH GROVE (1-2)
INDIANAPOLIS TINDLEY (1-2) AT INDIANAPOLIS TECH (1-1)
IRVINGTON PREP (0-2) AT BROWN COUNTY (2-1)
JASPER (1-2) AT EVANSVILLE BOSSE (0-3)
JAY COUNTY (2-1) AT ADAMS CENTRAL (2-1)
JENNINGS COUNTY (0-3) AT COLUMBUS EAST (1-2)
JIMTOWN (1-2) AT JOHN GLENN (1-1)
KANKAKEE VALLEY (2-1) AT HOBART (1-2)
KNIGHTSTOWN (3-0) AT UNION CITY (0-3)
LAFAYETTE JEFF (3-0) AT MUNCIE CENTRAL (0-3)
LAKE CENTRAL (2-1) AT CROWN POINT (3-0)
LAKE STATION (0-3) AT INDIANAPOLIS WASHINGTON (1-1)
LAKELAND (3-0) AT GARRETT (3-0)
LAPEL (3-0) AT INDIAN CREEK (1-2)
LAVILLE (1-2) AT BREMEN (2-1)
LAWRENCE CENTRAL (1-2) AT WARREN CENTRAL (3-0)
LEBANON (1-2) AT NORTH MONTGOMERY (1-2)
LEO (3-0) AT NEW HAVEN (0-3)
LEWIS CASS (2-1) AT NORTHWESTERN (3-0)
LOGANSPORT (2-1) AT BENTON CENTRAL (0-3)
LOUISVILLE FERN CREEK (KY.) AT JEFFERSONVILLE (2-1)
LOUISVILLE TRINITY (KY.) AT CARMEL (2-1)
MACONAQUAH (2-0) AT WHITKO (0-3)
MADISON (1-2) AT CARROLL COUNTY (KY.)
MARION (2-1) AT MCCUTCHEON (1-2)
MERRILLVILLE (2-1) AT PORTAGE (2-1)
MILAN (1-2) AT SWITZERLAND COUNTY (3-0)
MISSISSINEWA (3-0) AT FRANKTON (0-3)
MITCHELL (0-3) AT EASTERN GREENE (0-3)
MUNSTER (0-3) AT ANDREAN (1-2)
NEW CASTLE (1-2) AT SHELBYVILLE (1-2)
NEW PALESTINE (2-0) AT MOUNT VERNON (FORTVILLE) (0-3) (INDIANASRN.ORG BROADCAST)
NEW PRAIRIE (2-1) AT SOUTH BEND ADAMS (0-3)
NOBLESVILLE HOMESCHOOL AT PURDUE POLY ENGLEWOOD (0-3)
NORTH CENTRAL (INDIANAPOLIS) (0-3) AT LAWRENCE NORTH (3-0)
NORTH DAVIESS (2-1) AT PRINCETON (0-3)
NORTH HARRISON (2-1) AT CHARLESTOWN (1-2)
NORTH MIAMI (3-0) AT NORTH JUDSON (3-0)
NORTH POSEY (3-0) AT TELL CITY (3-0)
NORTH WHITE (1-2) AT TRI-COUNTY (1-2)
NORTHVIEW (3-0) AT WEST VIGO (1-2)
NORTHWOOD (2-1) AT MISHAWAKA (2-1)
NORWELL (0-3) AT BELLMONT (0-3)
OAK HILL (2-1) AT MADISON-GRANT (3-0)
OWEN VALLEY (0-3) AT EDGEWOOD (1-2)
PARKE HERITAGE (0-3) AT ATTICA (0-3)
PENDLETON HEIGHTS (2-1) AT GREENFIELD-CENTRAL (3-0)
PERRY CENTRAL (1-2) AT PAOLI (3-0)
PERU (1-2) AT WABASH (0-3)
PIONEER (2-1) AT CASTON (0-3)
PLAINFIELD (3-0) AT PERRY MERIDIAN (2-1)
PLYMOUTH (1-2) AT GOSHEN (0-3)
RIVER FOREST (2-1) AT GARY WEST (3-0)
RIVERTON PARKE (2-1) AT SEEGER (2-1)
ROCHESTER (2-1) AT MANCHESTER (1-2)
SHENANDOAH (2-1) AT NORTH DECATUR (2-1)
SHERIDAN (1-2) AT CLINTON CENTRAL (2-1)
SILVER CREEK (2-1) AT EASTERN (PEKIN) (1-2)
SOUTH ADAMS (1-2) AT HERITAGE (3-0)
SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH (2-1) AT MISHAWAKA MARIAN (1-2)
SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON (0-3) AT PENN (2-1)
SOUTH DEARBORN (2-1) AT CONNERSVILLE (2-1)
SOUTH NEWTON (2-1) AT NORTH NEWTON (1-2)
SOUTH PUTNAM (1-2) AT GREENCASTLE (1-2)
SOUTH SPENCER (1-2) AT HERITAGE HILLS (2-1)
SOUTH VERMILLION (3-0) AT NORTH VERMILLION (3-0)
SOUTH WARREN (KY.) AT GIBSON SOUTHERN (3-0)
SOUTHERN WELLS (0-3) AT WES-DEL (0-3)
SOUTHMONT (1-2) AT FRANKFORT (0-3)
SOUTHPORT (0-3) AT PIKE (2-1)
SOUTHRIDGE (2-1) AT PIKE CENTRAL (2-1)
SOUTHSIDE HOMESCHOOL AT CLOVERDALE (2-1)
SOUTHWOOD (0-3) AT NORTHFIELD (0-3)
SULLIVAN (1-2) AT LINTON (2-1)
TECUMSEH (0-3) AT FOREST PARK (2-1)
TERRE HAUTE NORTH (1-2) AT TERRE HAUTE SOUTH (0-2)
TIPPECANOE VALLEY (3-0) AT KNOX (1-2)
TRI (2-1) AT MONROE CENTRAL (2-1)
TRITON (2-1) AT SOUTH CENTRAL (UNION MILLS) (1-2)
TRITON CENTRAL (2-1) AT MONROVIA (2-1)
TWIN LAKES (2-1) AT LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC (2-0)
UNION COUNTY (0-3) AT HAGERSTOWN (1-2)
VALPARAISO (2-1) AT MICHIGAN CITY (1-2)
VINCENNES LINCOLN (1-2) AT EVANSVILLE CENTRAL (1-2)
WARSAW (2-1) AT WAWASEE (0-3)
WASHINGTON (3-0) AT MOUNT VERNON (POSEY) (2-1)
WEST CENTRAL (2-1) AT CASCADE (3-0)
WEST LAFAYETTE (2-1) AT RENSSELAER CENTRAL (1-2)
WEST NOBLE (3-0) AT ANGOLA (1-2)
WEST WASHINGTON (2-1) AT SPRINGS VALLEY (2-1)
WESTERN (0-3) AT TIPTON (2-1)
WESTERN BOONE (3-0) AT TRI-WEST (2-1)
WESTFIELD (3-0) AT NOBLESVILLE (2-1)
WHITING (2-1) AT GRIFFITH (3-0)
WINCHESTER (0-3) AT CENTERVILLE (3-0)
WOODLAN (1-2) AT BLUFFTON (3-0)
INDIANA VOLLEYBALL REPORTED SCORES
CRISPUS ATTUCKS 2 PROVIDENCE CRISTO REY 0
ROSSVILLE 3 CLINTON CENTRAL 0
SOUTH BEND ADAMS 3 NEW PRAIRIE 0
LAKE CENTRAL 3 MERRILLVILLE 0
LAPORTE 3 VALPARAISO 0
CROWN POINT 3 PORTAGE 0
LAWRENCEBURG 3 S. RIPLEY 0
SEYMOUR 3 SCOTTSBURG 0
FREMONT 3 CHRUBUSCO 0
MANCHESTER 3 WHITKO 0
WEST LAFAYETTE 3 CRAWFORDSVILLE 0
DALEVILLE 3 UNION 0
SOUTH-CENTRAL 3 W. CENTRAL 0
CLINTON PRAIRIE 3 FRONTIER 0
COVINGTON 3 S. VERMILLION 0
SHERIDAN 3 CARROLL 0
SHAKAMAK 3 NORTH KNOX 1
INDIANA DEAF 3 MTI 0
HAGERSTOWN 3 WINCHESTER 2
SEEGER 3 N. VERMILLION 1
BENTON CENTRAL 3 RENSSELAER CENTRAL 0
HAMILTON HEIGHTS 3 WESTERN 0
WEST WASHINGTON 3 SHOALS 0
EASTERN 3 TRI-CENTRAL 0
HANOVER CENTRAL 3 LOWELL 0
WESTFIELD 3 NOBLESVILLE 2
WESTERN BOONE 3 GUERIN CATHOLIC 0
CATHEDRAL 3 LAWRENCE NORTH 0
EAST CENTRAL 3 OLDENBURG ACADEMY 1
FORT WAYNE SNIDER 3 FORT WAYNE NORTHRUP 1
WHITING 3 GARY WEST 0
BREMEN 3 LAVILLE 1
YORKTOWN 3 MOUNT VERNON 1
NORTHRIDGE 3 WESTVIEW 0
LOGANSPORT 3 N. WHITE 1
NORWELL 3 BLACKFORD 0
FORT WAYNE CARROLL 3 FORT WAYNE DWENGER 0
CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 3 JEFFERSONVILLE 0
NORTHWOOD 3 PLYMOUTH 0
NEW PALESTINE 3 TRITON CENTRAL 0
FLOYD CENTRAL 3 NEW ALBANY 0
LAKEWOOD PARK CHRISTIAN 3 BETHANY CHRISTIAN 0
TRI-WEST 3 CARMEL 0
CASTLE 3 EVANSVILLE BOSSE 0
PROVIDENCE 3 COLUMBUS EAST 0
FRANKLIN 3 BLOOMINGTON SOUTH 0
MACONAQUAH 3 NORTHWESTERN 0
MISHAWAKA MARIAN 3 SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH 2
LAKELAND 3 E. NOBLE 1
DELTA 3 MONROE CENTRAL 0
WABASH 3 NORTHFIELD 1
PENN 3 SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON 0
NORTHVIEW 3 SULLIVAN 0
BORDEN 3 AUSTIN 0
FRANKFORT 3 LEBANON 1
SETON CATHOLIC 3 NORTHEASTERN 1
FORT WAYNE LUERS 3 FORT WAYNE WAYNE 1
SOUTHWOOD 3 ROCHESTER 0
WEST NOBLE 3 GARRETT 0
ANGOLA 3 CENTRAL NOBLE 0
LINTON STOCKTON 3 S. KNOX 0
ZIONSVILLE 3 FRANKLIN CENTRAL 0
MOORESVILLE 3 TERRE HAUTE NORTH 2
CENTER GROVE 3 PERRY MERIDIAN 1
BROWNSBURG 3 AVON 0
HAMILTON SE 3 FISHERS 0
INDIANA BOYS SOCCER REPORTED SCORES
BETHANY CHRISTIAN 1 W. NOBLE 0
LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN 2 SEVEN OAKS CLASSICAL 1
NEW PRAIRIE 2 M TWP. 1
SOUTH KNOX 4 SHOALS 0
SULLIVAN 2 WASHINGTON CATHOLIC 2
KOUTS 10 WINAMAC 0
CARROLL 5 TAYLOR 0
NORTHWESTERN 5 ROCHESTER 0
BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE 2 JENNINGS COUNTY 0
WESTVIEW 5 PRAIRIE HEIGHTS 0
TWIN LAKES 3 BENTON CENTRAL 2
MARTINSVILLE 2 DECATUR CENTRAL 1
BREMEN 4 TRINITY 1
CRAWFORDSVILLE 2 FRANKFORT 0
GIBSON SOUTHERN 1 MOUNT VERNON 0
TIPTON 3 LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC 1
EVANSVILLE CENTRAL 2 EVANSVILLE REITZ 1
DELTA 6 NEW CASTLE 2
SHORTRIDGE 4 INTERNATIONAL 1
LAKEWOOD PARK CHRISTIAN 3 CENTRAL NOBLE 0
MILAN 1 RISING SUN 1
ANDERSON 2 RICHMOND 1
IMSAN 5 RIVERSIDE 2
HERITAGE HILLS 2 JASPER 1
INDIANA CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 1 E. CENTRAL STRIKERS 0
EASTBROOK 4 MANCHESTER 0
WOODLAN 4 LAKELAND CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 0
GLENN 7 LAVILLE 0
NORTHRIDGE 10 MISHAWAKA 0
COVENANT CHRISTIAN 13 BEECH GROVE 1
NORTH POSEY 4 PIKE CENTRAL 1
EASTERN GREENE 4 N. KNOX 0
JAY COUNTY 3 YORKTOWN 2
COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHRISTIAN 2 OUR LADY OF THE LAKES 1
ROCK CREEK ACADEMY 2 HENRYVILLE 2
ARGOS 4 TIPPECANOE VALLEY 0
SOUTHRIDGE 2 EVANSVILLE CHRISTIAN 0
LEBANON 6 WESTERN BOONE 0
WHITE RIVER VALLEY 3 OWEN VALLEY 1
ILLIANA CHRISTIAN 2 LOWELL 0
ANDREWS ACADEMY 3 GRANGER CHRISTIAN 0
SOUTH BEND ADAMS 3 CONCORDE 1
NEW PALESTINE 5 SHELBYVILLE 1
MOUNT VERNON 3 GREENFIELD CENTRAL 1
HARRISON 3 GUERIN CATHOLIC 0
FISHERS 4 PENDLETON HEIGHTS 0
NORTHWOOD 5 ELKHART CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 0
SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH 2 CULVER ACADEMIES 1
PARK TUDOR 4 GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 1
BREBEUF 5 HERRON 1
DAYTON CHRISTIAN 4 MIDDLETOWN CHRISTIAN 1
PERRY MERIDIAN 2 PLAINFIELD 1
WHEELER 1 GRIFFITH 1
WHITELAND 3 FRANKLIN 1
LAWRENCE NORTH 2 PIKE 1
FORT WAYNE LUERS 9 NORWELL 0
CONNERSVILLE 4 CENTERVILLE 0
ANGOLA 3 HUNTINGTON NORTH 1
DEKALB 7 FORT WAYNE SNIDER 1
BEN DAVIS 1 SPEEDWAY 1
FORT WAYNE NORTH 1 HERITAGE 1
CENTER GROVE 3 CATHEDRAL 1
HOMESTEAD 2 FORT WAYNE DWENGER 1
NORTH PUTNAM 9 N. MONTGOMERY 2
SEYMOUR 2 NEW ALBANY 1
KOKOMO 3 LAFAYETTE JEFF 2
NOBLESVILLE 1 SOUTHPORT 0
FLOYD CENTRAL 2 JEFFERSONVILLE 1
BISHOP CHATARD 4 WARREN CENTRAL 0
MOORESVILLE 3 GREENWOOD 2
BLOOMINGTON NORTH 3 TERRE HAUTE NORTH 0
LOGANSPORT 3 WESTERN 1
HORIZON CHRISTIAN 2 COLONIAL CHRISTIAN 2
INDIANA GIRLS SOCCER REPORTED SCORES
ANDREAN 7 MERRILLVILLE 0
SHORTRIDGE 5 CRISPUS ATTUCKS 0
HERITAGE HILLS 2 WASHINGTON 0
JENNINGS COUNTY 2 BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE 1
PERU 5 TIPPECANOE VALLEY 0
JIMTOWN 4 BREMEN 0
VINCENNES LINCOLN 4 VINCENNES RIVET 3
LAVILLE 7 GLENN 5
BETHESDA CHRISTIAN 7 CRAWFORDSVILLE 1
GREENCASTLE 3 SOUTHMONT 1
HERITAGE 3 FORT WAYNE NORTH 0
PORTAGE 1 LOWELL 1
TRITON CENTRAL 3 SHELBYVILLE 1
FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK 6 NEW HAVEN 1
EAST NOBLE 13 WAWASEE 0
PARK TUDOR 9 GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 0
LAKEWOOD PARK CHRISTIAN 5 WOODLAN 0
HARRISON 2 LAFAYETTE JEFF 1
EVANSVILLE MATER DEI 9 EVANSVILLE HARRISON 0
OLDENBURG ACADEMY 9 RICHMOND 2
MONROVIA 8 INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN 0
LAPEL 5 WABASH 0
HERRON 2 BEECH GROVE 1
FOREST PARK 11 BOONVILLE 0
FLOYD CENTRAL 1 SILVER CREEK 0
BATESVILLE 5 COLUMBUS EAST 0
DELTA 3 MUNCIE BURRIS 0
NEW ALBANY 3 SEYMOUR 1
HERITAGE CHRISTIAN 6 SHERIDAN 1
CASCADE 3 W. VIGO 2
PROVIDENCE 6 MADISON 3
TRI-CENTRAL 2 TAYLOR 0
TRINITY 4 MISHAWAKA 1
CROWN POINT 3 MCCUTCHEON 0
EVANSVILLE NORTH 3 JASPER 2
KANKAKEE VALLEY 3 BOONE GROVE 2
NORTHRIDGE 1 WESTVIEW 0
ELKHART CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 7 W. NOBLE 1
NEW CASTLE 3 CENTERVILLE 0
HANOVER CENTRAL 2 LAKE CENTRAL 1
HOBART 7 HAMMOND NOLL 1
SOUTH KNOX 9 SHOALS 0
BREBEUF 8 LAWRENCE CENTRAL 2
HIGHLAND 5 MICHIGAN CITY 0
VALPARAISO 1 MUNSTER 0
HAMILTON HEIGHTS 7 KOKOMO 1
GUERIN CATHOLIC 4 RONCALLI 1
FORT WAYNE CARROLL 4 DEKALB 1
FORT WAYNE NORTHRUP 7 FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA 1
LEO 4 FORT WAYNE SNIDER 0
LAWRENCE NORTH 7 PIKE 1
GOSHEN 6 PLYMOUTH 0
EVANSVILLE REITZ 5 EVANSVILLE CENTRAL 1
NORTHWESTERN 5 TIPTON 0
INDIANA GIRLS GOLF
NOBLESVILLE 151 ZIONSVILLE 162
COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 3
THURSDAY, SEPT. 12
ARIZONA STATE 31 TEXAS STATE 28
SOUTH ALABAMA 87 NORTHWESTERN STATE 10
FRIDAY, SEPT. 13
7 P.M. | UNLV AT KANSAS | ESPN
8 P.M. | NO. 20 ARIZONA AT NO. 14 KANSAS STATE | FOX
SATURDAY, SEPT. 14
12 P.M. | NO. 4 ALABAMA AT WISCONSIN | FOX
12 P.M. | ARKANSAS STATE AT NO. 17 MICHIGAN | BIG TEN NETWORK
12 P.M. | NO. 13 OKLAHOMA STATE AT TULSA | ESPN2
12 P.M. | NO. 16 LSU AT SOUTH CAROLINA | ABC
12 P.M. | LOUISIANA TECH AT NC STATE | ACC NETWORK
12 P.M. | CENTRAL MICHIGAN AT ILLINOIS | PEACOCK
12 P.M. | MEMPHIS AT FLORIDA STATE | ESPN
12 P.M. | CINCINNATI AT MIAMI (OH) | ESPNU
12 P.M. | NORTH TEXAS AT TEXAS TECH | FS1
12 P.M. | CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE AT SAINT FRANCIS (PA) | NEC FRONT ROW
12 P.M. | LEHIGH AT LIU | NEC FRONT ROW
12 P.M. | NORTH GREENVILLE AT THE CITADEL | ESPN+
12 P.M. | MERCYHURST AT ROBERT MORRIS | ESPN+
12:30 P.M. | MARIST AT LAFAYETTE | ESPN+
12:45 P.M. | NO. 24 BOSTON COLLEGE AT NO. 6 MISSOURI | SEC NETWORK
1 P.M. | MASSACHUSETTS AT BUFFALO | CBS SPORTS NETWORK
1 P.M. | DELAWARE AT NORTH CAROLINA A&T | FLOSPORTS
1 P.M. | STONY BROOK AT FORDHAM | ESPN+
1 P.M. | WESTERN ILLINOIS AT ILLINOIS STATE | ESPN+
1 P.M. | GEORGETOWN AT SACRED HEART | ESPN+
1 P.M. | VIRGINIA-LYNCHBURG AT PRESBYTERIAN | ESPN+
2 P.M. | COASTAL CAROLINA AT TEMPLE | ESPN+
2 P.M. | CHARLESTON SOUTHERN AT RICHMOND | FLOSPORTS
2 P.M. | HOLY CROSS AT BRYANT | FLOSPORTS
2 P.M. | IDAHO STATE AT NORTH DAKOTA | ESPN+
2 P.M. | DUQUESNE AT YOUNGSTOWN STATE | ESPN+
2 P.M. | STETSON AT FURMAN | ESPN+
3 P.M. | WAGNER AT DELAWARE STATE | ESPN+
3 P.M. | MOREHEAD STATE AT MONTANA | ESPN+
3 P.M. | MOREHOUSE AT HOWARD | CNBC
3:30 P.M. | NO. 18 NOTRE DAME AT PURDUE | CBS
3:30 P.M. | NO. 9 OREGON AT OREGON STATE | FOX
3:30 P.M. | BALL STATE AT NO. 10 MIAMI | ACC NETWORK
3:30 P.M. | TULANE AT NO. 15 OKLAHOMA | ESPN
3:30 P.M. | VMI AT GEORGIA TECH | ESPN+
3:30 P.M. | TEXAS A&M AT FLORIDA | ABC
3:30 P.M. | PRAIRIE VIEW A&M AT MICHIGAN STATE | BIG TEN NETWORK
3:30 P.M. | NEVADA AT MINNESOTA | BIG TEN NETWORK
3:30 P.M. | WASHINGTON STATE AT WASHINGTON | PEACOCK
3:30 P.M. | WEST VIRGINIA AT PITTSBURGH | ESPN2
3:30 P.M. | MORGAN STATE AT OHIO | ESPN+
3:30 P.M. | MONMOUTH AT MAINE | FLOSPORTS
3:30 P.M. | TOWSON AT VILLANOVA | FLOSPORTS
4 P.M. | TROY AT IOWA | FS1
4 P.M. | APP STATE AT EAST CAROLINA | ESPNU
4 P.M. | HAMPTON AT NORFOLK STATE | ESPN+
4 P.M. | UALBANY AT IDAHO | ESPN+
4 P.M. | SOUTH DAKOTA AT PORTLAND STATE | ESPN+
4 P.M. | ABILENE CHRISTIAN AT NORTHERN COLORADO | ESPN+
4:15 P.M. | UAB AT ARKANSAS | SEC NETWORK
4:30 P.M. | NO. 12 UTAH AT UTAH STATE | CBS SPORTS NETWORK
5:30 P.M. | NORTH DAKOTA STATE AT ETSU | ESPN+
6 P.M. | UCONN AT DUKE | ESPN+
6 P.M. | VIRGINIA TECH AT OLD DOMINION | ESPN+
6 P.M. | FIU AT FAU | ESPN+
6 P.M. | UTEP AT LIBERTY | ESPN+
6 P.M. | SOUTH CAROLINA STATE AT GEORGIA SOUTHERN | ESPN+
6 P.M. | NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL AT NORTH CAROLINA | ESPN+
6 P.M. | COLGATE AT AKRON | ESPN+
6 P.M. | GARDNER-WEBB AT CHARLOTTE | ESPN+
6 P.M. | CAMPBELL AT RHODE ISLAND | FLOSPORTS
6 P.M. | WILLIAM & MARY AT WOFFORD | ESPN+
6 P.M. | WESTERN CAROLINA AT ELON | FLOSPORTS
6 P.M. | STONEHILL AT NEW HAMPSHIRE | FLOSPORTS
6 P.M. | WEST GEORGIA AT EASTERN KENTUCKY | ESPN+
6 P.M. | MERCER AT CHATTANOOGA | ESPN+
6 P.M. | DAYTON AT INDIANA STATE | ESPN+
6 P.M. | MERRIMACK AT BUCKNELL | ESPN+
6:30 P.M. | NO. 5 OLE MISS AT WAKE FOREST | THE CW NETWORK
6:30 P.M. | BETHUNE-COOKMAN AT WESTERN MICHIGAN | ESPN+
7 P.M. | UTSA AT NO. 2 TEXAS | ESPN
7 P.M. | VANDERBILT AT GEORGIA STATE | ESPN+
7 P.M. | JACKSONVILLE STATE AT EASTERN MICHIGAN | ESPN+
7 P.M. | KENNESAW STATE AT SAN JOSÉ STATE | TRUTV/MAX
7 P.M. | WESTERN KENTUCKY AT MIDDLE TENNESSEE | ESPN+
7 P.M. | HAWAI’I AT SAM HOUSTON | ESPN+
7 P.M. | SOUTH FLORIDA AT SOUTHERN MISS | ESPN+
7 P.M. | AUSTIN PEAY AT CENTRAL ARKANSAS | ESPN+
7 P.M. | LINDENWOOD AT MISSOURI STATE | ESPN+
7 P.M. | MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE AT MURRAY STATE | ESPN+
7 P.M. | AUGUSTANA (SD) AT SOUTH DAKOTA STATE | ESPN+
7 P.M. | INCARNATE WORD AT SOUTHERN ILLINOIS | ESPN+
7 P.M. | ALABAMA STATE AT SAMFORD | ESPN+
7 P.M. | ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF AT TENNESSEE STATE | HBCUGO
7 P.M. | SOUTHERN AT JACKSON STATE | ESPN+
7 P.M. | EDWARD WATERS AT ALCORN STATE | SWAC DIGITAL NETWORK
7 P.M. | NORTH ALABAMA AT UT MARTIN | ESPN+
7 P.M. | GRAMBLING STATE AT TEXAS A&M-COMMERCE | ESPN+
7 P.M. | LOUISIANA CHRISTIAN AT HOUSTON CHRISTIAN | ESPN+
7 P.M. | WEBER STATE AT LAMAR | ESPN+
7 P.M. | EASTERN WASHINGTON AT SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA | ESPN+
7 P.M. | GEORGETOWN (KY) AT ALABAMA A&M | SWAC DIGITAL NETWORK
7:30 P.M. | NO. 1 GEORGIA AT KENTUCKY | ABC
7:30 P.M. | NEW MEXICO AT AUBURN | ESPN2
7:30 P.M. | TOLEDO AT MISSISSIPPI STATE | ESPNU
7:30 P.M. | INDIANA AT UCLA | NBC/PEACOCK
7:30 P.M. | NORTHERN IOWA AT NO. 23 NEBRASKA | BIG TEN NETWORK
7:30 P.M. | AIR FORCE AT BAYLOR | FS1
7:30 P.M. | COLORADO AT COLORADO STATE | CBS
7:30 P.M. | UCF AT TCU | FOX
7:30 P.M. | EASTERN ILLINOIS AT NORTHWESTERN | BIG TEN NETWORK
7:30 P.M. | INDIANA WESLEYAN AT VALPARAISO | ESPN+
7:45 P.M. | KENT STATE AT NO. 7 TENNESSEE | SEC NETWORK
8 P.M. | MARYLAND AT VIRGINIA | ACC NETWORK
8 P.M. | RICE AT HOUSTON | ESPN+
8 P.M. | UC DAVIS AT SOUTHERN UTAH | ESPN+
8 P.M. | WESTERN OREGON AT CAL POLY | ESPN+
8 P.M. | STEPHEN F. AUSTIN AT MCNEESE | ESPN+
9 P.M. | BYU AT WYOMING | CBS SPORTS NETWORK
9 P.M. | NORTHERN ARIZONA AT UTAH TECH | ESPN+
9 P.M. | NICHOLLS AT SACRAMENTO STATE | ESPN+
10:30 P.M. | SAN DIEGO STATE AT CALIFORNIA | ESPN
10:30 P.M. | NEW MEXICO STATE AT FRESNO STATE | TRUTV/MAX
INDIANA HOOSIERS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
INDIANA 31 FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL 7
INDIANA 77 WESTERN ILLINOIS 3
SEPTEMBER 14 AT UCLA 7:30
SEPTEMBER 21 VS. CHARLOTTE TBA
SEPTEMBER 28 VS. MARYLAND TBA
OCTOBER 5 AT NORTHWESTERN TBA
OCTOBER 19 VS. NEBRASKA TBA
OCTOBER 26 VS. WASHINGTON TBA
NOVEMBER 2 AT MICHIGAN STATE TBA
NOVEMBER 9 VS. MICHIGAN TBA
NOVEMBER 23 AT OHIO STATE TBA
NOVEMBER 30 VS. PURDUE TBA
PURDUE BOILERMAKERS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
PURDUE 49 INDIANA STATE 0
SEPTEMBER 14 VS. NOTRE DAME 3:30
SEPTEMBER 21 AT OREGON STATE 8:30
SEPTEMBER 28 VS. NEBRASKA 12:00
OCTOBER 5 AT WISCONSIN TBA
OCTOBER 12 AT ILLINOIS TBA
OCTOBER 18 VS. OREGON 8:00
NOVEMBER 2 VS. NORTHWESTERN TBA
NOVEMBER 9 AT OHIO STATE TBA
NOVEMBER 16 VS. PENN STATE TBA
NOVEMBER 22 AT MICHIGAN STATE 8:00
NOVEMBER 30 AT INDIANA TBA
NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
NOTRE DAME 23 TEXAS A&M 13
NORTHERN ILLINOIS 16 NOTRE DAME 14
SEPTEMBER 14 AT PURDUE 3:30
SEPTEMBER 21 VS. MIAMI (OH) 3:30
SEPTEMBER 28 VS. LOUISVILLE 3:30
OCTOBER 12 VS. STANFORD 3:30
OCTOBER 19 AT GEORGIA TECH TBA
OCTOBER 26 AT NAVY 12:00
NOVEMBER 9 VS. FLORIDA STATE 7:30
NOVEMBER 16 VS. VIRGINIA 3:30
NOVEMBER 23 AT ARMY 7:00 (YANKEE STADIUM)
NOVEMBER 30 AT USC TBA
BUTLER BULLDOGS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
BUTLER 40 UPPER IOWA 7
BUTLER 19 MURRAY STATE 17
SEPTEMBER 14 VS. HANOVER 6:00
SEPTEMBER 28 VS. VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY-LYNCHBURG 1:00
OCTOBER 5 VS. MOREHEAD STATE 1:00
OCTOBER 12 AT DRAKE 1:00 CT
OCTOBER 19 VS. DAYTON 1:00
OCTOBER 26 AT DAVIDSON 1:00
NOVEMBER 2 VS. STETSON 1:00
NOVEMBER 9 AT VALPO 1:00 CT
NOVEMBER 16 VS. ST. THOMAS 1:00
NOVEMBER 23 AT PRESBYTERIAN 1:00
BALL STATE CARDINALS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
BALL STATE 42 MISSOURI STATE 34
SEPTEMBER 14 AT MIAMI FL 3:30
SEPTEMBER 21 AT CENTRAL MICHIGAN TBA
SEPTEMBER 28 AT JAMES MADISON TBA
OCTOBER 5 VS. WESTERN MICHIGAN TBA
OCTOBER 12 AT KENT STATE TBA
OCTOBER 19 AT VANDERBILT TBA
OCTOBER 26 VS. NORTHERN ILLINOIS TBA
NOVEMBER 5 VS. MIAMI OH TBA
NOVEMBER 12 AT BUFFALO 7:00
NOVEMBER 23 VS. BOWLING GREEN TBA
NOVEMBER 29 AT OHIO TBA
INDIANA STATE SYCAMORES FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
PURDUE 49 INDIANA STATE 0
EASTERN ILLINOIS 27 INDIANA STATE 20
SEPTEMBER 14 VS. DAYTON 6:00
SEPTEMBER 28 VS. HOUSTON CHRISTIAN 1:00
OCTOBER 5 AT YOUNGSTOWN STATE 2:00
OCTOBER 12 VS. MURRAY STATE 1:00
OCTOBER 19 AT MISSOURI STATE 3:00
OCTOBER 26 VS. SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 1:00
NOVEMBER 2 VS. NORTH DAKOTA 1:00
NOVEMBER 9 AT SOUTH DAKOTA 2:00
COLTS SCHEDULE
HOUSTON 29 INDIANAPOLIS 27
SEPT. 15: AT GREEN BAY, 1 P.M., FOX
SEPT. 22: VS. CHICAGO, 1 P.M., CBS
SEPT. 29: VS. PITTSBURGH, 1 P.M., CBS
OCT. 6: AT JACKSONVILLE, 1 P.M., CBS
OCT. 13: AT TENNESSEE, 1 P.M., CBS
OCT. 20: VS. MIAMI, 1 P.M., FOX
OCT. 27: AT HOUSTON, 1 P.M., CBS
NOV. 3: AT MINNESOTA, 1 P.M., CBS
NOV. 10: VS. BUFFALO, 1 P.M., CBS
NOV. 17: AT N.Y. JETS, 8:20 P.M., NBC PEACOCK
NOV. 24: VS. DETROIT, 1 P.M., FOX
DEC. 1: AT NEW ENGLAND, 1 P.M., CBS
DEC. 15: AT DENVER, 4:25 P.M., CBS
DEC. 22: VS. TENNESSEE, 1 P.M., CBS
DEC. 29: AT N.Y. GIANTS, TBD
JAN. 5: VS. JACKSONVILLE, TBD
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SCORES
COLORADO 4 DETROIT 2
ST. LOUIS 6 CINCINNATI 1
HOUSTON 6 OAKLAND 3
MIAMI 6 WASHINGTON 3
NY YANKEES 2 BOSTON 1
TAMPA BAY 5 CLEVELAND 2
TEXAS 5 SEATTLE 4
MILWAUKEE 3 SAN FRANCISCO 0
MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SCORES
INDIANAPOLIS 6 ROCHESTER 2
WNBA SCORES
NEW YORK 99 DALLAS 67
MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER SCORES
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
WEEK 2 SCHEDULE
THURSDAY
BUFFALO 31 MIAMI 10
SUNDAY, SEPT. 15
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS AT BALTIMORE RAVENS (1:00P CBS)
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS AT CAROLINA PANTHERS (1:00P CBS)
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS AT DALLAS COWBOYS (1:00P FOX)
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS AT DETROIT LIONS (1:00P FOX)
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS AT GREEN BAY PACKERS (1:00P FOX)
CLEVELAND BROWNS AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (1:00P CBS)
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS (1:00P CBS)
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (1:00P FOX)
NEW YORK JETS AT TENNESSEE TITANS (1:00P CBS)
NEW YORK GIANTS AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (1:00P FOX)
LOS ANGELES RAMS AT ARIZONA CARDINALS (4:05P FOX)
PITTSBURGH STEELERS AT DENVER BRONCOS (4:25P CBS)
CINCINNATI BENGALS AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (4:25P CBS)
CHICAGO BEARS AT HOUSTON TEXANS 7:20P (8:20P NBC)
MONDAY, SEPT. 16
ATLANTA FALCONS AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (8:15P ESPN)
WEEK 3 SCHEDULE
THURSDAY, SEPT. 19
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS AT NEW YORK JETS (8:15P PRIME VIDEO)
SUNDAY, SEPT. 23
NEW YORK GIANTS AT CLEVELAND BROWNS (1:00P FOX)
CHICAGO BEARS AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (1:00P CBS)
HOUSTON TEXANS AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS (1:00P CBS)
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (1:00P FOX)
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (1:00P CBS)
DENVER BRONCOS AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (1:00P FOX)
GREEN BAY PACKERS AT TENNESSEE TITANS (1:00P FOX)
CAROLINA PANTHERS AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (4:05P CBS)
MIAMI DOLPHINS AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (4:05P CBS)
DETROIT LIONS AT ARIZONA CARDINALS (4:25P FOX)
BALTIMORE RAVENS AT DALLAS COWBOYS (4:25P FOX)
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS AT LOS ANGELES RAMS (4:25P FOX
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS AT ATLANTA FALCONS (8:20P NBC)
MONDAY, SEPT. 24
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS AT BUFFALO BILLS (7:30P ESPN)
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS AT CINCINNATI BENGALS (8:15P ABC)
WEEK 4 SCHEDULE
THURSDAY, SEPT. 26
DALLAS COWBOYS AT NEW YORK GIANTS (8:15P PRIME VIDEO)
SUNDAY, SEPT. 29
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS AT ATLANTA FALCONS (1:00P FOX)
CINCINNATI BENGALS AT CAROLINA PANTHERS (1:00P FOX)
LOS ANGELES RAMS AT CHICAGO BEARS (1:00P FOX)
MINNESOTA VIKINGS AT GREEN BAY PACKERS (1:00P CBS)
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS AT HOUSTON TEXANS (1:00P CBS)
PITTSBURGH STEELERS AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (1:00P CBS)
DENVER BRONCOS AT NEW YORK JETS (1:00P CBS)
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (1:00P FOX)
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS AT ARIZONA CARDINALS (4:05P FOX)
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (4:05P FOX)
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS AT LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (4:25P CBS)
CLEVELAND BROWNS AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (4:25P CBS)
BUFFALO BILLS AT BALTIMORE RAVENS (8:20P NBC)
MONDAY, SEPT. 30
TENNESSEE TITANS AT MIAMI DOLPHINS (7:30P ESPN)
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS AT DETROIT LIONS (8:15P ABC)
WEEK 5 SCHEDULE
THURSDAY, OCT. 3
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS AT ATLANTA FALCONS (8:15P PRIME VIDEO)
SUNDAY, OCT. 6
NEW YORK JETS VS MINNESOTA VIKINGS (9:30A NFL NETWORK, TOTTENHAM)
CAROLINA PANTHERS AT CHICAGO BEARS (1:00P FOX)
BALTIMORE RAVENS AT CINCINNATI BENGALS (1:00P CBS)
BUFFALO BILLS AT HOUSTON TEXANS (1:00P CBS)
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (1:00P CBS)
MIAMI DOLPHINS AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (1:00P FOX)
CLEVELAND BROWNS AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (1:00P FOX)
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS AT DENVER BRONCOS (4:05P FOX)
ARIZONA CARDINALS AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (4:05P FOX)
GREEN BAY PACKERS AT LOS ANGELES RAMS (4:25P CBS)
NEW YORK GIANTS AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (4:25P CBS)
DALLAS COWBOYS AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (8:20P NBC)
MONDAY, OCT. 7
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (8:15P ESPN)
TOP NATIONAL SPORTS HEADLINES/NEWS RELEASES
COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS
PAC-12 TO ADD BOISE ST., FRESNO ST., SAN DIEGO ST., COLORADO ST. IN 2026, POACHING MOUNTAIN WEST
The Pac-12 is adding Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State and San Diego State, starting in 2026, to join Oregon State and Washington State in a rebuilt Conference of Champions, the league announced Thursday.
The additions rob the Mountain West of four of its more prominent schools and successful football programs, most notably Boise State, and still leave the Pac-12 two schools short of the eight it needs to have in place in two years to be recognized as a conference by NCAA rule.
The Pac-12 and the departing schools will likely be on the hook for about $110 million in exit fees and penalties to the Mountain West.
Still, it is a remarkable comeback for a conference left for dead a year ago when 10 members scattered to competitors across the country after it was unable to secure a media rights deal that schools believed would not keep them competitive with other leagues.
“For over a century, the Pac-12 Conference has been recognized as a leading brand in intercollegiate athletics,” Commissioner Teresa Gould stated. “We will continue to pursue bold cutting-edge opportunities for growth and progress, to best serve our member institutions and student-athletes.
“An exciting new era for the Pac-12 Conference begins today.”
The Pac-12 said it evaluated potential new members using five criteria: academics and athletics performance; media and brand evaluation; commitment to athletics success; geography and logistics; culture and student-athlete welfare.
Pac-2
Oregon State President Jayathi Murthy and Washington State President Kirk Schulz welcomed their new conference mates in a joint statement.
“We eagerly anticipate their uniquely insightful contributions during this transformative era for the conference and collegiate athletics,” they said.
The Pac-12 is currently operating as a two-school conference, with Oregon State and Washington State the only remaining members, taking advantage of NCAA rules that allow for a two-year grace period.
Oregon State and Washington State have a football scheduling agreement in place this season with the Mountain West, giving them six opponents from the league. The Sept. 1 first deadline for renewal of the agreement passed without a deal getting done.
Part of that deal included millions of dollars in additional fees for the Pac-12 if it poached Mountain West schools.
Oregon State and Washington State should be able to afford it. While the schools have publicly donwplayed having a warchest of funds, they do have tens of millions of dollars at their disposal to work with from the two remaining years of the current College Football Playoff agreement and a contract with the Rose Bowl that will expire after the 2025 football season. Plus, they have revenue accrued by Pac-12 teams in recent years from NCAA men’s basketball tournament units and Pac-12 Network assets.
Oregon State and Washington State also have an affiliate membership in place for this school year and next with the West Coast Conference for men’s and women’s basketball and other Olympic sports.
Best of the rest
Leaders at Oregon State and Washington State have insisted since the Pac-12 collapsed that unless an invitation came from a power conference their priority was to rebuild and now that has begun.
Whether the Pac-12 will be considered a power conference again, on par with the Big Ten, Southeastern Conference, Atlantic Coast Conference and Big 12, seems unlikely, but the league is trying to position itself as the best of the rest — especially in football.
Boise State is the most notable addition as the strongest and most consistent football program outside of the power conferences for more than two decades. The Broncos have 16 double-digit victory seasons since 2002, when they were members of the Western Athletic Conference.
“What a great day to be a Bronco!” Boise State athletic director Jeramiah Dickey said.
Boise State is finally moving up, but the Pac-12 it enters hardly resembles the Conference of Champions it was for more than 100 years following the departures of 10 members last year — including Southern California, UCLA, Oregon and Washington to the Big Ten.
The collapse of the Pac-12 was the culmination of three tumultuous years of conference realignment in college sports, all of which went into affect this year and ushered in the superconference era.
The Big Ten now has 18 schools, spanning from coast-to-coast. The ACC has 17 football-playing members, including former Pac-12 schools Stanford and California. The SEC and Big 12 each have 16 schools.
The Pac-12 appears to be taking a different approach, trying to build a slimmed-down conference instead of just merging with the full, 12-member Mountain West.
Left behind
The Mountain West will be left with Air Force, UNLV, Nevada, Utah State, New Mexico, Wyoming, San Jose State and Hawaii and an uncertain future.
Commissioner Gloria Nevarez said in a statement late Wednesday night after the news of the Pac-12’s move leaked that the MW’s board of directors was meeting to discuss the next steps.
“All members will be held to conference bylaws and policies should they elect to depart,” she said. ”The requirements of the scheduling agreement will apply to the Pac-12 should they admit Mountain West members.”
BIG TEN KICKS OFF NATIONWIDE ERA WHEN UCLA HOSTS INDIANA AT THE ROSE BOWL
Indiana (2-0) at UCLA (1-0), Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET (NBC)
BetMGM College Football Odds: Indiana by 3.
Series record: First meeting.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
The Big Ten kicks off a new era as a nationwide 18-team conference when the Bruins welcome the Hoosiers. UCLA had a week off after a 16-13 escape at Hawaii on Aug. 31 and will be looking to show significant improvement from coach DeShaun Foster’s debut. Indiana hits the road for the first time after taking care of business through two games under new coach Curt Cignetti, pummeling Western Illinois 77-3 on Friday. The Hoosiers have only produced eight 3-0 starts over the last 30 seasons and only won their Big Ten opener five times since 1994.
KEY MATCHUP
UCLA QB Ethan Garbers vs. Indiana’s secondary. Garbers, a fifth-year senior, was flat out bad in the first half in Honolulu and improved just enough for the Bruins to eke out the win. He was 19-of-38 passing for 272 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. The Hoosiers haven’t been tested by anything resembling a quality passing game yet, so how they handle the step up in difficulty is a big unknown. Safety DJ Warnell Jr., who started his college career at UCLA before going to Arizona, has one of Indiana’s three interceptions this season.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Indiana: DE Mikail Kamara has three sacks in two games. The fifth-year junior, one of 13 transfers who followed Cignetti from James Madison to Indiana, has a tackle for loss in 23 of 25 career games and will try to add to his total against a Bruins offensive line that gave up six negative plays to Hawaii.
UCLA: S Ramon Henderson did it all in his Bruins debut, making three tackles, one sack and one interception against the Rainbow Warriors. The fifth-year senior made five starts at Notre Dame before transferring in search of more playing time.
FACTS & FIGURES
Indiana is making its first visit to the Rose Bowl since Jan. 1, 1968, when the Hoosiers lost to national champions Southern California. … The Hoosiers scored a team-record 77 points against Western Illinois. The previous mark came in a 76-0 win over Franklin College in 1901. They also topped 700 total yards for the first time in school history … The Bruins gave up 1.8 yards per carry to Hawaii, including yardage lost on the five sacks the defense came up with. It was the seventh time in their last 14 games allowing under 2 yards per attempt.
SEC THIS WEEK: FIRST-PLACE SOUTH CAROLINA LOOKS TO VALIDATE START AGAINST NO. 16 LSU
Things to watch this week in the Southeastern Conference:
Game of the week
No. 16 LSU (1-1) at South Carolina (2-0, 1-0), noon, Saturday, (ABC). The Gamecocks pulled away in the second half to win at Kentucky in the only league game played this past week. There are only three SEC league games this week so South Carolina has a chance to maintain its hold on first place. It won’t be easy against LSU and quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, who beat Nicholls State, 44-21, last week. The Gamecocks hope to continue the strong play of two first-time starters in quarterback LaNorris Sellers and defensive end Dylan Stewart. Sellers threw two TDs in the 31-6 win over the Wildcats. LSU has won the past seven meetings, but are just 7-point favorites, according to BetMGM.
Power 4 showdowns
It is another light SEC schedule with only two other league games: Texas A&M at Florida and No. 1 Georgia at Kentucky.
No. 24 Boston College (2-0) plays at No. 6 Missouri (2-0). The Eagles opened with two wins under first-year coach Bill O’Brien and made the AP Top 25 for the first time since 2018. Boston College should have one of its biggest challenges of the year against Mizzou, which has not given up a point in shutout victories over Murray State (51-0) and Buffalo (38-0). It is the first time since 1935 the Tigers held consecutive opponents to zero points.
No. 4 Alabama (2-0) goes to Wisconsin (2-0) for the first time since 1928. Quarterback Jalen Milroe has led the Crimson Tide with 394 yards passing and five touchdowns in wins over Western Kentucky and USF. Wisconsin allowed both Western Michigan and South Dakota to stay within two touchdowns in two home wins.
Impact player
Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart set an SEC record by completing his first 24 passes in a wipeout of Middle Tennessee last week. Dart surpassed the league mark of 23 in a row set by Tennessee’s Tee Martin at South Carolina in 1998. The Rebels’ previous best was 19 in a row by Matt Corral against Vanderbilt in 2020. Dart and the Rebels play at Wake Forest this week.
Inside the numbers
There are three SEC teams among the top five in FBS total offense through two weeks. Ole Miss leads with way with 713 yards a game. Arkansas is No. 2 nationally at 667 yards per game. Tennessee ranks fifth with 589 yards. … South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori had seven tackles and a game-breaking pick six as the Gamecocks opened SEC play with a road win for first time since 2017. … Oklahoma defensive lineman Gracen Halton had a sack and a five-yard stop for safety as the Sooners held on to best Houston 16-12. The safety was Oklahoma’s only scoring play of the second half. … Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers threw for 246 yards and three TDs in a 31-12 win at defending champion Michigan.
Surprise starts
Nine of the 16 SEC teams opened 2-0 this season and most of them are the highly ranked teams like Georgia, Alabama and Texas. But the group also includes South Carolina and Vanderbilt, who were expected to finish 13th and 16th, respectively, in preseason predictions. The Gamecocks started with two wins for the first time since 2021 and only the third time in the past 11 seasons. It’s the third straight season the Commodores have started with two victories. However, the team finished 5-7 in 2022 and 2-10 a year ago.
LONGTIME RIVALS OREGON STATE AND NO. 9 OREGON MEET AS NONCONFERENCE FOES
No. 9 Oregon (2-0) at Oregon State (2-0), Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (FOX)
BetMGM College Football Odds: Oregon by 13 1/2.
Series record: Oregon leads 68-49-10.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
Coming off two underwhelming wins to start the season, Oregon looks to address some shortcomings against their in-state rivals. Oregon State is also 2-0 as it embarks on an unusual season following the disintegration of the Pac-12. It is the 128th meeting of the two teams, the seventh most-played rivalry nationally. Formerly known as the Civil War, the game has never before been played in September. The Beavers have won the last two meetings in Corvallis. Oregon won last year’s game 31-7 in Eugene.
KEY MATCHUP
Oregon’s offensive line has struggled and the Ducks rotated players several times last week in a 37-34 victory over Boise State. Quarterback Dillon Gabriel was sacked four times. The Beavers’ defense shut out San Diego State last weekend. Oregon State is allowing opponents an average of 77 yards on the ground. Oregon had just 109 yards rushing against the Broncos.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel continues to put up big numbers. The heralded transfer from Oklahoma has thrown for 623 yards with four touchdowns. He ranks third nationally for completion percentage, making 59 of 70 passes so far.
Oregon State running backs Jam Griffin and Anthony Hankerson lead the Beavers’ ground attack, which is averaging nearly 300 yards each game. Griffin is averaging 124.5 yards a game with three touchdowns, while Hankerson averages 113 yards and also has three scores.
FACTS & FIGURES
It is the first time that the two teams have met as nonconference opponents since 1963. The Ducks joined the Big Ten this year and the Beavers remained in what was left of the Pac-12, along with Washington States, after realignment last summer. … The Pac-12 announced on Thursday that four Mountain West teams would join the conference next season. … Tez Johnson had an 85-yard punt return for a touchdown against Boise State, earning him Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week honors. It was Oregon’s first punt return for a score since 2018.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAME OF THE WEEK: ARIZONA AT KANSAS STATE
ARIZONA NOTES
The No. 20 Arizona Wildcats travel to No. 14 Kansas State for their first road game of the 2024 season at Bill Snyer Family Stadium in Manhattan, Kansas. FOX will have the broadcast with Tim Brando (Play-by-play), Devin Gardner (Analyst), and Josh Sims (Sideline) on the call. » Arizona owns a 5-1-1 record all-time against Kansas State with the most recent matchup taking place on Sept. 9, 1978, a 31-0 win for Arizona in Tucson. Arizona has scored an average of 27.0 points per game against Kansas State. The largest margin of victory for Arizona in the series history was the most recent victory in 1978 (31-0). » These two teams have split the last two matchups with Kansas State taking the 1969 meeting 42-27 and Arizona earning a 31-0 shutout win in 1978. The longest winning streak in the series goes to Arizona, a two-game streak from 1960 to 1962. » This is the first trip to Manhattan in Arizona football program history. Friday’s matchup is a nonconference game and will not count against Big 12 standings as Top-20 opponent’s clash. » Arizona has won nine straight games dating back to October of 2023, the longest active win streak in the FBS following Michigan’s loss last Saturday. The streak matches Arizona’s record last set from 1997-98. Arizona is averaging 39.3 points per game over this win streak (fifth most in the FBS over this span). » In the season-opening win over New Mexico (8/31), wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan became the first player in FBS history to have a game with 10-plus receptions, 300-plus receiving yards, 30.0- plus yards per reception, and 4-plus receiving TD (per OptaSTATS). » The Big 12 Conference posted a record of 9-5 against other conferences in week two to give the league a combined non-conference record of 25-7 through the first two weeks of the season.
CATS VS. CATS: The No. 20 Arizona Wildcats travel to No. 14 Kansas State Wildcats for their first road game of the 2024 season at Bill Snyer Family Stadium in Manhattan, KS. FOX will have the broadcast with Tim Brando (Play-by-play), Devin Gardner (Analyst), and Josh Sims (Sideline) providing the commentary. It is the first trip to Manhattan in program history. This game is a nonconference game and will not count against Big 12 standings. Arizona owns a 5-1-1 record all-time against Kansas State with the most recent matchup taking place on Sept. 9, 1978, a 31-0 win for Arizona in Tucson. Arizona has scored an average of 27.0 points per game against Kansas State. The largest margin of victory for Arizona in the series history was the most recent victory in 1978 (31-0). These two teams have split the last two matchups with Kansas State taking the 1969 meeting 42-27 and the Big 12 foes renew their series history that hasn’t been played in 46 years. The longest winning streak in the series goes to Arizona, a two-game streak from 1960 to 1962. The Cats tied 26-26 in 1953, marking the only tie in series history. ABOUT LAST WEEK: Arizona improved to 2-0 on the season with a 22-10 comeback win over Northern Arizona. Quali Conley ran for 112 yards, Noah Fifita threw for 173 yards and a touchdown and No. 20 Arizona overcame a four-point halftime deficit to beat Northern Arizona 22-10 on Saturday night for its ninth consecutive win, tying the school record for consecutive victories. The Wildcats (2-0) extended the longest active win streak in FBS by outscoring the Lumberjacks 16-0 in the second half after trailing 10-6 at the break. The nine straight wins matches the school record set in 1974-75 and matched in 1997-98. Conley, a transfer from San Jose State, led the way as Arizona gained 188 yards on the ground. Receiver Tetairoa McMillan, who had a school-record 304 yards and four TDs in the 61-39 season-opening win over New Mexico, was limited to two catches for 11 yards. Northern Arizona (1-1) finished with only 198 yards of total offense, 91 after halftime. Quarterback Ty Pennington threw for 84 yards on 14 of 24 passing and added 39 on the ground. Arizona forced a turnover on downs in Northern Arizona territory to open the second half and converted that into points as Jeremiah Patterson scored on a 17-yard touchdown pass from Fifita for a 13-10 lead with 12:06 left in the third. The Wildcats’ Chubba Ma’ae tackled running back Darvon Hubbard in the end zone for a safety with 11:33 left in the fourth, upping the lead to 15-10. And after getting the ball back, Arizona made it 22-10 on a 56-yard scoring run by Kedrick Reescano with 9:32 remaining. Arizona only led 3-0 after the first quarter after settling for a red zone field goal on its first drive and punting the next two. Northern Arizona took a 7-3 lead with 10:24 left in the half on a trick play, with receiver Isaiah Eastman throwing a 25-yard TD pass to tight end Xander Werner. A Fifita interception led to more points for the Lumberjacks, with Marcus Lye converting on a 38-yard field goal to make it 10-3 with 6:20 left in the first half. The Wildcats cut Northern Arizona’s lead to 10-6 with 32 seconds left in the first half on a 48-yard field goal from Tyler Loop. Arizona has won 12 of their last 13 games against Northern Arizona since 2000 – with the Lumberjacks’ one win coming in 2021 (21-19 win). Arizona is averaging 41.2 points per game against Northern Arizona over their last five matchups. GOING STREAKING: Arizona has won nine straight games dating back to October of 2023, the longest active win streak in the FBS following Michigan’s loss this morning. The streak matches Arizona’s program record, achieved twice and last set across the 1997 and 1998 seasons.
MATCHUP HISTORY: Arizona owns a 5-1-1 record all-time against Kansas State with the most recent matchup taking place on Sept. 9, 1978, a 31-0 win for Arizona in Tucson. Arizona has scored an average of 27.0 points per game against Kansas State. The largest margin of victory for Arizona in the series history was the most recent victory in 1978 (31-0). These two teams have split the last two matchups with Kansas State taking the 1969 meeting 42-27 and the Big 12 foes renew their series history that hasn’t been played in 46 years. The longest winning streak in the series goes to Arizona, a two-game streak from 1960 to 1962. The Cats tied 26-26 in 1953, marking the only tie in series history. QUALI TAKES FLIGHT: RB Quali Conley recorded his first 100-plus yard rushing game with Arizona against New Mexico. It was his first since he rushed for 155 yards against San Diego State on Nov. 18, 2023. Conley broke off a 58-yard rush on Arizona’s first drive of the game, marking his longest rush with the Wildcats and the second-longest of his career (Longest: 68 yards vs. New Mexico, 10/14/23). Conley matched his career-high in receptions with five (2x; last: vs. Air Force, 9/22/23).
KANSAS STATE NOTES
Following a 34-27 comeback win at Tulane, No. 14 K-State returns home on a short week as it hosts No. 20 Arizona on the new FOX College Football Friday broadcast with Tim Brando (play-by-play), Devin Gardner (analyst) and Josh Sims (sideline) on the call. The matchup between two nationally-ranked Wildcat teams will be a non-conference game as part of a series that was announced in 2016. 1 Quarterback Avery Johnson became the fifth sophomore signal caller – and just the second true sophomore – to start a season opener since 1990 when he did so against UT Martin. In two games this season, Johnson has completed 66 percent of his passes on 29-of-44 aim, totaling 334 yards and four touchdowns. He also has rushed for 77 yards on 11 carries. 2 Alongside Johnson in the backfield is running back DJ Giddens, who has rushed for 238 yards on 32 carries to go along with a team-leading seven receptions for 69 yards and a touchdown. Giddens enters the Arizona contest with a six-game streak of at least 100 rushing yards, which is tied for the third-longest streak in school history. He is one of just three Big 12 backs with two 100-yard games this year. 3 The experience of the Wildcats resides on defense as the unit brings back eight starters, including five of its top six tacklers from a year ago. Leading the charge last year and back in 2024 are linebacker Austin Moore and safety Marques Sigle with 63 tackles apiece. Both players, along with defensive ends Brendan Mott and Cody Stufflebean were voted as team captains for the 2024 season. 4 Kicker Chris Tennant is back for his senior campaign and enters this week’s contest in the top 10 in school history in five career categories. The Wildcats’ new punter, Simon McClannan, was impressive in week one by averaging 41.0 yards on three punts with two landing inside the UTM 10-yard line. Additionally, a plethora of options are available at both kickoff and punt return.
NON-CONFERENCE NOTABLES • Since 1990, K-State holds a 99-20 (83.2%) record in regular-season non-conference games. • That stretch includes an 83-9 (90.2%) mark at home. Over that period, the Wildcats have had perfect regular season non-conference ledgers 17 times and unblemished marks at home on 25 occasions. P-4 NON-CONFERENCE • K-State is 3-1 in the regular season against non-conference Power 4 opponents under Chris Klieman. The Wildcats won at Mississippi State in 2019 before defeating Stanford in the 2021 season opener and Missouri at home in 2022. The lone loss was a last-second field goal by Missouri in Columbia last season. • Dating back to his days at North Dakota State, Klieman is 6-1 in the regular season against non-conference Power 5 opponents, as his Bison defeated Iowa State in 2014 and Iowa in 2016. A WINNING TRADITION • Kansas State has totaled 139 Big 12 victories since the conference’s formation in 1996, which stands as the most among active Big 12 programs. • The Wildcats are also second among active Big 12 members in winning percentage since non-divisional play began in 2011. They sit at 59.8% (70-47), trailing only Oklahoma State (65.8%; 77-40). • During that stretch, the Wildcats are 39-20 (66.1%) at home in Big 12 play and 31-27 (53.4%) on the road.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAME OF THE WEEK: BOSTON COLLEGE AT MISSOURI
BOSTON COLLEGE NOTES
FIRST-AND-10 » No. 24 Boston College football visits No. 6 Missouri for the only top-25 Saturday match-up on the college football slate with a 12:45 p.m. ET kickoff on September 14 from Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. » The game will be broadcast on SEC Network. Taylor Zarzour (play-by-play) and Matt Stinchcomb (analyst) are on the call with sideline reporter Alyssa Lang. » Coverage on the Boston College Sports Network begins 30 minutes before kickoff on WEEI 850 AM. Jon Meterparel (play-byplay) is joined on the call by former BC linebacker Pete Cronan in the booth and quarterback Scott Mutryn on the sideline. » The Eagles returned to the AP Top 25 at No. 24 for the first time since Nov. 12, 2018. The week-three ranking also marks the earliest BC has been ranked since the 2005 AP Preseason Poll. » Boston College and Missouri meet for just the second time. The Eagles won the first contest between the two programs, a 41-34 overtime win at home in 2021. » The Eagles are 17-24-1 all-time against the current 16 members of the SEC. The 2021 Missouri game was BC’s most recent against an SEC opponent. » BC is 70-39-3 all-time as a ranked team, 34-123-1 against ranked opponents and 11-17 in top-25 match-ups. » Boston College last visited a SEC opponent for a regular season contest in 1988; a 10-7 loss at Tennessee. » Thomas Castellanos was the second highest graded QB by PFF in week two with a 95.3 rating. » Four rushers have totaled 80-plus yards with Treshaun Ward leading the way at 132. He is also second in receiving yards at 91.
WEEK TWO RECAP Saturday, Sept. 7: Boston College 56, Duquesne 0 Alumni Stadium (Chestnut Hill, Mass.) » The Eagles shut out Duquesne, 56-0, in Bill O’Brien’s home debut at Alumni Stadium. » It marked BC’s first 50-point performance and first shutout since the 2021 season opener against Colgate; a 51-0 win. » Thomas Castellanos threw four touchdown passes for the first time in his career; totaling 234 yards on 9-for-10 passing. He completed a career-long pass to Reed Harris; a 72-yard touchdown. » Lewis Bond caught five passes on five targets for 98 yards, including a career-long reception of 49 yards on a touchdown. » BC totaled 563 yards of offense, going over 500 for the first time since a 563-yard game at Georgia Tech (10/21/2023). » The Eagles rushed for 309 yards on the ground with four players going over 50 yards on the day. THE O’BRIEN ERA » Head coach Bill O’Brien was hired on Feb. 9 and introduced as the Eagles’ 37th head coach on Feb. 15. » O’Brien arrives at BC with head coaching stops at Penn State (2012-13) and in the NFL with the Houston Texans (2014-20). He is 67-57 overall as a head coach and 15-9 in college football. » O’Brien has coached under six-time Super Bowl Champion Bill Belichick (2007-11 and 2023) as well as seven-time National Champion Nick Saban (2021-22). » On the field, O’Brien has mentored NFL quarterbacks Tom Brady (2009-11), DeShaun Watson (2017-20) and Heisman Trophy Winner Bryce Young (2021-22).
Last Top-25 Game: No. 2 Clemson 27, No. 17 Boston College 7 (Nov. 10, 2018) » Boston College hosted ESPN’s College Gameday for the third time and welcomes the No. 2 Tigers for the Saturday primetime game on ABC. » Michael Walker’s 74-yard punt return to the house gave BC a first-quarter lead, but the Clemson defense put the clamps on the Eagles after starting QB Anthony Brown went out with an injury. Last Top-25 Win: No. 18 Boston College 20, No. 15 Clemson 17 (Nov. 17, 2007) » Following a program-best No. 2 ranking earlier in the month and back-to-back losses, the Eagles held on to their top-25 spot with a win at No. 15 Clemson. » Matt Ryan led BC on another fourth-quarter comeback with a touchdown pass to Rich Gunnell with 1:46 left to play and the Eagles remained ranked the rest of the season.
AGAINST THE RANKED » Boston College is 34-123-1 all-time against opponents ranked in the top-25. The Eagles snapped a streak of 15 straight losses to ranked opponents and 25 straight to AP-ranked opponents with a 21-20 win at No. 16 NC State (11/12/22). » The Eagles’ capped the 2023 season with a 23-14 win over No. 17/24 SMU in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl (12/28/23). » This season’s 28-13, season-opening victory at FSU (9/2) marked BC’s first top-10 win since No. 9 USC (2014), first season-opening top-25 win since No. 7 Texas (1976) and largest road win against a ranked opponent in program history. TOP-25 MATCH-UPS » Boston College is 11-17 all-time against in top-25 match-ups. » The Eagles’ last top-25 match-up was against No. 2 Clemson when No. 17 BC hosted the Tigers and College Gameday. » Boston College has lost its last two top-25 match-ups with the last win coming for the No. 18 Eagles at No. 15 Clemson in 2007 with a Matt Ryan fourth-quarter comeback securing the road win. » BC’s last non-conference win in a ranked match-up came when No. 17 Boston College upset No. 1 Notre Dame on a last-second David Gordon field goal in 1993. BC VS. THE SEC » With the 2024 additions of Oklahoma and Texas, Boston College is 17-24-1 all-time against the current members of the SEC. » The Eagles’ 2021 home win over Missouri was the most recent match-up against the SEC. It was also BC’s first regular season game against a SEC foe since 1988 at Tennessee. » Boston College is 3-3 against SEC teams in bowl games with wins over Tennessee (1941 Sugar Bowl) and Georgia (1986 Hall of Fame Bowl and 2001 Music City Bowl). » BC’s last road win over the SEC was a Doug Flutie-led, 38-31 victory over No. 9 Alabama in 1984 at Birmingham’s Legion Field. » The Eagles last on-campus win against a team in the SEC was 1982 at Texas A&M, but the Aggies competed in the old Southwest Conference until 1995. In 1962, BC picked up its only on-campus win over a team actively representing the SEC when it defeated Vanderbilt, 27-22, in Nashville. » Boston College claimed a share of the 1940 National Championship when the No. 5 Eagles bested No. 4 Tennessee, 19-13, in the 1941 Sugar Bowl.
MISSOURI NOTES
MARQUEE MATCHUP AT MEMORIAL STADIUM University of Missouri football looks to build on its strong start to the 2024 season Saturday when the Tigers host the nation’s only top 25 showdown of the weekend against the 24th-ranked Boston College Eagles on Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Winners of 18 consecutive home non-conference contests, the Tigers (2-0) moved up to No. 6 in this week’s Associated Press Top 25 Poll, marking their highest ranking since 2013. Saturday’s game kicks off at 11:45 a.m. CT and airs on SEC Network and the Tiger Radio Network. THE SERIES The Tigers and Eagles will meet for just the second time Saturday, with Boston College claiming a 41-34 overtime victory in the two programs’ previous contest in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, on Sept. 25, 2021. After the Tigers rallied to force overtime on a 56-yard Harrison Mevis field goal, the Eagles clinched the win by cashing in on a 10-yard scoring strike before picking off Mizzou’s first pass attempt of the extra stanza. THE COACHES ELIAH DRINKWITZ is in his fifth season as Mizzou’s head coach and enters Saturday’s game with a 30-21 mark (42- 22 overall). The Alma, Arkansas, native has led the Tigers to bowl bids in each of his first four seasons, joining the late Warren Powers as the only two MU head coaches to achieve that feat. Only Powers (31) and Dan Devine (29) totaled more victories than Drinkwitz in their first four seasons at MU. Before taking the Mizzou job, Drinkwitz was 12-1 as the head coach at Appalachian State in 2019. BILL O’BRIEN brings a 17-9 overall record as a collegiate head coach into Saturday’s game after leading the Eagles to victory in each of his first two games at the helm for BC. O’Brien brought three decades of coaching experience to the Eagles, including a two-year stay as head coach at Penn State (2012-13), earning Paul “Bear” Bryant National Coach of the Year honors in 2012. He followed that with a seven-year stint as head coach of the NFL’s Houston Texans, where he led his squad to five winning seasons.
FIRST AND TEN – STORYLINES • Mizzou has won 18 straight non-SEC games at Memorial Stadium (dating to Oct. 21, 2017), which matches the program’s all-time record for consecutive non-conference home wins (Sept. 17, 2005 to Nov. 17, 2012). • Saturday’s matchup will be Mizzou’s first non-conference regular season game against a nationally ranked team since facing No. 20 Illinois to begin the 2008 season. The then No. 6 ranked Tigers won that outing, 52-42. • The Tigers stayed perfect on the season with their 38-0 victory over Buffalo, giving MU’s ‘Death Row Defense’ its second-straight shutout to open the new campaign — and the first back-to-back shutouts for the Tigers since 1966. Additionally, Missouri is the first FBS team since 2019 (Wisconsin) to begin its year with two shutouts. • Mizzou’s defense leads the nation in total defense (127.0 ypg), scoring defense (0.0 ppg), passing yards allowed (41.0 ypg), and red zone defense (.000) after logging the first back-to-back shutouts to start a season since 1935. • The Tigers’ defense enters Saturday’s contest riding a scoreless streak of 11 consecutive quarters dating back to the second period of the 2023 Cotton Bowl vs. Ohio State, a span of over 168 minutes; that streak represents Mizzou’s longest since a program-record 18-quarter scoreless stretch in 1941. • QB Brady Cook (6,934) moved past Blaine Gabbert (6,822) into sixth place on Mizzou’s career passing yardage list with his 228-yard night against Buffalo and needs just 25 additional yards to catch Jeff Handy (6,959) and break into the top five on the Tigers’ all-time passing chart. • With his 22-7 record on Faurot Field, Eliah Drinkwitz has compiled the best home-winning percentage (.759) among all Mizzou football coaches with at least four years at the helm. • With a career-best 13 catches vs. Buffalo, WR Theo Wease Jr. turned in the top single-game performance by a Tiger since T.J. Moe’s 15 receptions in the 2010 Insight Bowl vs. Iowa (Dec. 28). • MU enters Saturday’s game 72-25 at home when ranked in the Associated Press poll (138-76-1 overall).
LAST TIME OUT – BUFFALO • QB Brady Cook rolled up 290 yards of total offense and scored two touchdowns and WR Theo Wease Jr. turned in a career game to lead the Tigers to a 38-0 victory over Buffalo on Saturday, Sept. 7 in Columbia. • The Missouri defense pitched its second-consecutive shutout as the Tigers downed the Bulls before MU’s seventh-straight sellout crowd at Memorial Stadium. • Mizzou forced Buffalo into four three-and-outs, stopped the Bulls twice on fourth downs and limited the visitors to 169 total yards — just 55 of which came through the air. • LB Corey Flagg Jr. was the Tigers’ leading tackler with six. MU sacked Buffalo quarterback C.J. Ogbonna three times and had five tackles for loss, including two by DE Johnny Walker Jr. • Cook completed 28 of 36 passes for 228 yards and rushed five times for 62 yards and two TDs. • Wease Jr. established career highs for catches and receiving yardage with 13 receptions – including nine in the first half – for 149 yards.
COOKIN’ UP A WINNER • QB Brady Cook opened the 2024 season with back-to-back 228-yard passing performances, marking the 20th and 21st 200-yard games of his career. • He enters Saturday’s game with eight-straight 200-yard passing efforts on Faurot Field (dating back to Sept. 16, 2023 vs. Kansas State). • Cook (8,004) became just the fifth Mizzou QB to top the 8,000-yard mark for total offense Saturday, logging 290 combined yards vs. Buffalo. • Cook also rushed for 22 yards and a score in the season opener vs. Murray State, marking the 12th time in his career he recorded at least one rushing and one passing touchdown in a game. • The St. Louis native topped the 1,000-yard rushing milestone, becoming just the sixth MU quarterback to do so; additionally, he became just the third QB in program history to pass for 6,000 yards and rush for 1,000. • Cook moved into a tie with James Franklin on MU’s all-time list, trailing just Corby Jones and Brad Smith, who each tallied 14 games with at least one passing and one rushing TD as Mizzou’s signal-caller. • He enters Saturday’s game sixth on MU’s all-time passing yardage (6,934) and seventh on the Tigers’ TD passes (39) lists. • He trails only Chase Daniel (38) and Drew Lock (34) on the Tigers’ career leaderboard for 200-yard games. • Cook’s 2023 passing efficiency rating (157.2) ranked as the third-best season mark in program history, while his career rating (144.2) is second on the Tigers’ all-time chart.
NFL NEWS
COOK SCORES 3 TDS TO HELP BILLS ROUT DOLPHINS
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Buffalo fans cheered so loudly in Hard Rock Stadium that Bills coach Sean McDermott was asked if it was a home game.
It wasn’t. But Buffalo certainly gave fans who made the trip to South Florida plenty to celebrate Thursday night.
James Cook caught a touchdown pass and ran for two scores and the Bills routed Miami 31-10, with Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa leaving early because of a concussion.
Tagovailoa left in the third quarter after colliding with defensive back Damar Hamlin and hitting the back of his head against the turf. Tagovailoa was quickly ruled out with the concussion, casting doubt on his season after a history of dealing with head injuries.
“Very sad. It’s the worst part of the game,” Bills quarterback Josh Allen said. “Nothing but love and prayers to him and his family, and hopefully everyone is sending those because he’s going to need them.”
Coach Mike McDaniel did not specify if the Dolphins will place Tagovailoa on injured reserve, saying the team would evaluate him more Friday.
“I’m just worried about my teammate like the rest of the guys are,” McDaniel said. “We’ll get more information tomorrow and then take it day by day from there.”
Allen, playing with a glove on his left non-throwing hand after hurting it in Buffalo’s opener, completed 13 of 19 passes for 139 yards. He’s 12-2 against the Dolphins, and the Bills are 14-2 against Miami since McDermott’s first year as head coach in 2017.
McDermott praised the outing from his defense, which had three turnovers and held Miami’s high-flying offense to a touchdown and field goal despite missing several starters.
“Next man up. The guys did a great job,” McDermott said. “These guys work hard. Good things happen when you work hard, and sometimes the ball finds you like that.”
Cook caught a 17-yard touchdown pass from Allen and scored on runs of 1 and 49 yards in the first half, flipping into the end zone when he gave the Bills a 24-7 lead. The three first-half touchdowns tied a team record.
“As long as they trust me, I’m going to get in the end zone,” Cook said.
Allen didn’t appear limited by the left hand that he hurt after hurdling safety Budda Baker in Buffalo’s opener against the Cardinals. He had his hand heavily wrapped before returning to finish that game and practiced all week with a glove to protect it.
After the game and before leaving the field, Allen held up his hand and flexed it in front of fans as if to display that it’s not broken.
“Feels great,” Allen said later.
Backup Mitchell Trubisky replaced Allen late in the fourth Thursday with Buffalo up by 21.
Miami’s star receiver Tyreek Hill was held to three catches for 24 yards during a week in which he dominated national headlines. Hill was pulled from his sports car by Miami-Dade County police officers, pushed face-first onto a street and handcuffed during a traffic stop outside the Dolphins’ home stadium hours before their season opener.
Officer Danny Torres was placed on administrative duty as the department’s director launched an internal affairs investigation. Hill said he wants the officer fired, but the 30-year-old also acknowledged he could have handled the interaction better in the moment.
Buffalo scored 10 points off two first-half turnovers by Tagovailoa. Ja’Marcus Ingram intercepted Tagovailoa’s pass on a tipped ball intended for receiver Grant DuBose on Miami’s opening drive. Then Christian Benford picked off a pass on what appeared to be miscommunication between the quarterback and receiver Robbie Chosen. Both DuBose and Chosen arrived to the team after the preseason.
Tagovailoa thew another interception to Ingram trying to toss the ball out of bounds on Miami’s opening drive of the third. Ingram returned the ball 31 yards for a score that put Buffalo up 31-10. It was Tagovailoa’s third career game with three interceptions.
Tagovailoa ran for a first down with 4:36 in the third and collided head-first into Hamlin and hit his head on the ground.
Bills players, as well as Tagovailoa’s teammates, immediately waved for trainers to come to the field. The fifth-year quarterback was helped to his feet after a few minutes and walked under his own power to the locker room with trainers after throwing for 145 yards and a 5-yard touchdown to De’Von Achane.
Tagovailoa was diagnosed with two concussions in 2022. Skylar Thompson replaced him Thursday.
“I’m not worried about anything that’s out of my hands,” McDaniel said. “I’m just worried about the human being. He’ll drive the ship when we get the appropriate information.”
Injuries
Bills: Middle linebacker and captain Terrel Bernard left with a pectoral injury in the first quarter and did not return.
Dolphins: Starting offensive linemen Terron Armstead and Rob Jones both left with shoulder injuries. … Jeff Wilson Jr. left with an oblique injury and did not return.
Up next
Bills: Host Jacksonville on Monday, Sept. 23.
Dolphins: At Seattle on Sunday, Sept. 22.
VIKINGS HOST 49ERS AFTER DECISIVE OPENING WINS FOR EACH TEAM, CARRYING 7-GAME HOME WIN STREAK VS. SF
San Francisco (1-0) at Minnesota (1-0)
Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT, CBS
BetMGM NFL odds: 49ers by 5½.
Series record: 49ers lead 25-24-1.
Against the spread: 49ers 1-0, Vikings 1-0.
Last meeting: Vikings beat the 49ers 22-17 in Minnesota on Oct. 23, 2023.
Last week: 49ers beat the Jets 32-19; Vikings beat the Giants 28-6.
49ers offense: overall (5), rush (3t), pass (10), scoring (6).
49ers defense: overall (10), rush (2), pass (17), scoring (11).
Vikings offense: overall (14), rush (18), pass (12), scoring (9).
Vikings defense: overall (7), rush (6), pass (16), scoring (1).
Turnover differential: 49ers plus-2; Vikings even.
Vikings player to watch
WR Jalen Nailor. The third-year player, who played in only six games last season because of injuries and depth chart factors, had a 21-yard TD reception against the Giants after consistently showing promise as a red zone threat and more throughout training camp. With WR Jordan Addison iffy this week with an injury, Nailor could find himself in a more prominent role in the passing game in complement to Justin Jefferson.
49ers player to watch
RB Jordan Mason. The third-year player, who went undrafted out of Georgia Tech, had 28 carries for 147 yards and one TD in his first career start in place of the injured Christian McCaffrey. With McCaffrey’s status in doubt again this week, Mason might well get another chance as the featured runner. His 28 carries were the most for a 49ers player in a regular-season game since Frank Gore had 31 on Oct. 30, 2011. Mason’s average of 5.5 yards per rush in his career is the sixth best of any running back in the Super Bowl era with at least 100 carries.
Key matchup
Vikings RT Brian O’Neill vs. 49ers DE Nick Bosa. The four-time Pro Bowl pick Bosa, who has three sacks in three career games against the Vikings, presents a problem for any opponent with a proven pass rusher in newcomer Leonard Floyd lined up on the opposite end. O’Neill and LT Christian Darrisaw give the Vikings one of the best tandems in the league. Bosa played primarily on the left side last week, but he will switch from time to time. The Vikings protected QB Sam Darnold relatively well against the Giants in their opener, allowing only one sack.
Key injuries
McCaffrey will likely be a game-time decision after missing the season opener with an injured calf muscle and Achilles tendon. … 49ers S Talanoa Hufanga has a chance to return this week for the first time since tearing his ACL last November. … 49ers backup DE Yetur Gross-Matos (knee) didn’t practice on Wednesday. … Addison did not practice on Wednesday becaus of an ankle injury that forced him out of the opener. … Vikings OLB Andrew Van Ginkel was also held out of practice on Wednesday with a foot injury the team is trying to manage after it limited him throughout the offseason program. … Vikings C Garrett Bradbury (knee) was limited in practice on Wednesday.
Series notes
This is the first time San Francisco has visited Minnesota in consecutive seasons since the 49ers played the Vikings on the road three straight times from 1990-92. The previous time San Francisco won in Minnesota was Dec. 13, 1992. The Vikings have won seven straight at home against the 49ers since then. … The 49ers are 5-1 all time in the playoffs against the Vikings, all in the divisional round. The last five of those postseason meetings have all been at San Francisco.
Stats and stuff
The 49ers seek their fifth 2-0 start since 2010. They went to the Super Bowl following three of the previous four 2-0 starts in 2023, 2019 and 2012. … San Francisco had eight straight scoring drives in Week 1 for the first time since at least 1978, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. … 49ers WR Deebo Samuel had his 20th career TD run in Week 1, the most for any player since 1960 who is primarily a WR. … San Francisco QB Brock Purdy failed to throw a TD pass against the Jets, for just the third time in 22 career regular-season starts. … Jake Moody tied a 49ers franchise record with six made FGs last week, including two from at least 50 yards. … San Francisco LT Trent Williams allowed no pressures on 33 pass blocking snaps, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. … 49ers LB Fred Warner had his 12th career forced fumble last week, the second most in franchise history behind Patrick Willis (16). … The 49ers controlled the ball for 38:40 in the opener, second best in the NFL in Week 1. … San Francisco is 34-3 since the start of the 2019 season when winning the turnover margin. … Darnold, who was the backup to Purdy with the 49ers last season, had a 113.2 passer rating in the opener for his second-best mark in five years. The only one better (121.4) came in Week 15 in 2022 with Carolina against Detroit. … Jefferson needs four receptions to pass Julio Jones (64 games) and Jarvis Landry (64) as the third-fastest player to reach 400 catches. Michael Thomas (56) and Odell Beckham Jr. (61) were the fastest. Jefferson has played in 61 regular-season games. … With 42 receiving yards, Jefferson will tie Lance Alworth (62 games) as the fastest player to reach 6,000 receiving yards. The next-closest player was Julio Jones (64). … The Vikings averaged 78 yards per scoring drive in Week 1, the best in the NFL. … Vikings RB Aaron Jones had 94 yards on 14 rushes in his debut, ending his streak of five straight games with 100-plus rushing yards that finished his 2023 season with the Packers. … Jones had two catches for 15 yards in the opener and has topped 100-plus yards from scrimmage in six straight games, the longest active streak in the league. … The Vikings had five sacks in Week 1, including two by backup OLB Patrick Jones II. … Vikings S Harrison Smith had his 35th career interception in the opener, the most among active players. … Van Ginkel had a sack and an interception return for a TD in his debut for the Vikings.
Fantasy tip
49ers WR Jauan Jennings caught all five of his targets last week for a team-leading 64 yards. He was targeted nine times for five receptions and 54 yards against the Vikings last year.
PANTHERS LOOK TO SLOW DOWN CHARGERS RB J.K. DOBBINS, AVOID THIRD STRAIGHT 0-2 START TO SEASON
Los Angeles Chargers (1-0) at Carolina Panthers (0-1)
Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT, CBS
BetMGM NFL odds: Chargers by 6 1/2
Series record: Panthers lead Chargers 6-1.
Against the spread: Chargers 1-0, Panthers 0-1.
Last meeting: Panthers beat Chargers 21-16 in Los Angeles on Sept. 27, 2020.
Last week: Chargers beat the Raiders 22-10; Panthers lost to the Saints 47-10.
Chargers offense: overall (13), rush (5), pass (23), scoring (19).
Chargers defense: overall (15), rush (4), pass (25), scoring (10).
Panthers offense: overall (31), rush (32), pass (27), scoring (32).
Panthers defense: overall (24), rush (t-29), pass (t-18), scoring (32).
Turnover differential: Chargers plus-3; Panthers minus-2.
Chargers player to watch
J.K. Dobbins had 135 yards and a touchdown in his Los Angeles debut last week, including a pair of carries of at least 36 yards. The 13.5-yard per carry average is the most by a running back in NFL history in Week 1 with at least 10 carries. This will be the first time the fifth-year running back has faced the Panthers.
Panthers player to watch
Bryce Young is coming off a horrendous outing in the season opener, throwing an interception on his first pass from scrimmage and finishing 13 of 30 for 161 yards with two interceptions and no touchdown passes for a career-low QB rating of 32.8. Young struggled to find open receivers and also overthrew several open options. Young now has thrown more picks (12) than touchdowns (11) in his NFL career.
Key matchup
QB Justin Herbert vs. Panthers pass rush: Carolina had just one sack against the Saints and Derek Carr, who threw for three TDs and was rarely pressured. The Panthers traded away their top edge rusher in Brian Burns in the offseason and now will be without Pro Bowl defensive end Derrick Brown for the remainder of the season after he tore the meniscus in his knee. Unless Jadeveon Clowney can manufacture a pass rush, Herbert could have all day to sit in the pocket and pick apart the Panthers defense.
Key injuries
The Chargers could be short-handed in the secondary. CB Ja’Sir Taylor (fibula) and S Alohi Gilman (knee) did not practice on Wednesday. Cornerbacks Tarheeb Still (hip) and Asante Samuel Jr. (shoulder) are also listed on the practice report with injuries, but were full participation. Linebacker Joey Bosa (back) is also limited. Outside of the huge loss of Brown on the defensive line, the Panthers enter the game fairly healthy and are expected to get TE Tommy Tremble back this week after he missed the season opener with back and hamstring issues.
Series notes
The Panthers have dominated the series against the Chargers, winning the past four matchups. The Chargers haven’t beat the Panthers since 2004 when they won 17-6 in Charlotte. Herbert has never faced the Panthers at Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium.
Stats and stuff
The Chargers are looking to go 2-0 for the first time since 2012. … Los Angeles LB Khalil Mack had 1 1/2 sacks last week, giving him 103 for his career which is fourth among active players. … The Chargers are averaging an AFC-best 6.5 rushing yards per carry. … With the running game on track last week, QB Justin Herbert didn’t have to do all that much. He was a rather pedestrian 17 of 26 for 144 yards with one touchdown pass. … K Cameron Dicker has not missed a field goal inside 50 yards in his NFL career (47 of 47). … Chargers defense allowed Raiders to convert only 2 of 6 opportunities on third-and-short (4 or fewer yards). … The Panthers are looking to avoid starting 0-2 for the third straight season. … The 47 points allowed by the Panthers were the most in franchise history in a season opener. … Carolina trailed the Saints 30-0 last week in the second quarter before finally scoring a field goal at the end of the first half. … The Panthers were held to 2.9 yards per carry in Week 1 with backup RB Miles Sanders the leading rusher with 22 yards. … Rookie WR Xavier Legette led the Panthers with four receptions against the Saints as Diontae Johnson was held to two catches for 19 yards. … Panthers WR Jonathan Mingo turned the ball over on a fumble last week. … Carolina’s defense allowed the Saints to score on their first nine possessions. … Dave Canales is the seventh Panthers head coach since 2018, including interims. … Carolina is tied with the New York Jets for the worst record in the league since 2018 at 31-69.
Fantasy tip
Chargers WR Ladd McConkey had a team-best five receptions for 39 yards in his NFL debut last week. The second-round pick also had an 11-yard touchdown, one of four rookies in the league with a receiving score in Week 1. The Panthers allowed eight completions of 11 yards or more last week.
GIANTS VISIT COMMANDERS FOR A MATCHUP OF 0-1 NFC EAST RIVALS
N.Y. Giants (0-1) at Washington (0-1)
Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT, Fox
BetMGM NFL Odds: Commanders by 1 1/2
Against the spread: New York 0-1; Washington 0-1
Series record: Giants lead 108-71-5.
Last meeting: Giants beat Commanders 31-19 on Nov. 19, 2023, at Washington.
Last week: Giants lost to Vikings 28-6; Commanders lost to Buccaneers 37-20.
Giants offense: overall (26), rush (27), pass (17), scoring (32)
Giants defense: overall (19), rush (15), pass (21), scoring (t-9)
Commanders offense: overall (17), rush (19), pass (19), scoring (t-21)
Commanders defense: overall (26), rush (16), pass (29), scoring (31)
Turnover differential: Giants even; Commanders even
Giants player to watch
LB Kayvon Thibodeaux has 5 1/2 sacks, seven tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery for a touchdown in four games against Washington. He aims for his fifth consecutive game against Washington with a sack. He also should be motivated after getting one quarterback hurry and making no tackles in the opener.
Commanders player to watch
CB Benjamin St-Juste got lit up by Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans last week. Although St-Juste was not solely to blame — a lack of a pass rush did not help — he could be tested again by Daniel Jones throwing over and over to first-round pick Malik Nabers.
Key matchup
Giants defense vs. the Commanders offensive line. Brian Burns and Thibodeaux were hardly difference-makers against Minnesota, and Washington is motivated to keep rookie QB Jayden Daniels upright and healthy. Daniels is expected to run less and stay in the pocket more, so there will be extra opportunities for New York to force the issue and more time for the offensive line to block.
Key injuries
Giants returner Gunner Olszewski is dealing with a groin injury. … WR Darius Slayton is in concussion protocol. … CB Nick McCloud and Rookie LB Darius Muasau are day to day with knee injuries. … Commanders CB Emmanuel Forbes has a right thumb injury but expects to play. … Rookie DT Johnny Newton could make his NFL debut after missing Week 1 following offseason foot surgery.
Series notes
The Giants have won the past three and are unbeaten in four, including a 20-20 tie on Dec. 4, 2022. The last Washington win was 22-7 on Jan. 9, 2021, the final game for then-New York GM Dave Gettleman and coach Joe Judge. The Giants had so little offense, Judge elected to have quarterback Jake Fromm run sneaks on second and third down inside his 5 in the second quarter. … This is Dan Quinn’s first game against the Giants as a head coach since Oct. 22, 2018, with Atlanta. He coached against them six times over the previous three seasons as Dallas’ defensive coordinator.
Stats and stuff
Giants QB Daniel Jones is 5-1-1 in seven starts against Washington. He has thrown 10 TDs and run for one with three interceptions. Coming off ACL surgery, he struggled in the opener, completing 22 of 42 passes for 186 yards and two interceptions, including a pick-6. … RB Devin Singletary was limited to 37 yards rushing against Minnesota as the Giants fell behind and threw more. … Nabers had five catches for 66 yards in NFL debut, including two 25-yard receptions. … WR Wan’Dale Robinson had team-high six catches for 44 yards. … DT Dexter Lawrence had New York’s only sack last week, the 22nd of his career. … LB Bobby Okereke had a fumble recovery last week. He had 14 tackles and two forced fumbles in these teams’ last meeting. … Muasau had six tackles and his first interception against Minnesota. … Daniels was 17 of 24 for 184 yards and ran 16 times for 88 yards and two TDs in his NFL debut. … RBs Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler combined to catch seven passes for 101 yards against the Buccaneers. … WR Terry McLaurin was targeted just four times and made two catches for 17 yards in the season opener. … Zach Ertz is 38 yards away from becoming the 12th tight end in league history to reach 7,500 yards receiving. … DT Jonathan Allen is one sack from tying Brian Orakpo for sixth in Washington’s franchise history, since sacks became an official stat in 1982. … LB Bobby Wagner led the team with 10 tackles, including three for loss, in the opener. … Washington has a new kicker in Austin Seibert after cutting Cade York earlier in the week. York missed his two field goal attempts wide right last week.
Fantasy tip
Nabers could be Jones’ primary target, and the Commanders’ secondary is at best a work in progress and at worst has no answers in the passing game. Jones’ success against Washington in his career also should give pause to anyone thinking about picking up the Commanders defense.
AARON RODGERS AND THE JETS LOOK FOR THEIR 1ST WIN TOGETHER ON ROAD IN TENNESSEE
New York Jets (0-1) at Tennessee (0-1)
Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT, CBS
BetMGM NFL Odds: Jets by 3 1/2.
Against the spread: Jets 0-1, Titans 0-1.
Series record: Titans lead 25-20-1.
Last meeting: Jets 27-24 OT on Oct, 3, 2021, in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Last week: Jets lost 32-19 at 49ers on Monday night; Titans lost 24-17 at Bears.
Jets offense: Overall (23), rush (31), pass (16), scoring (22)
Jets defense: Overall (28), rush (t29), pass (23), scoring (27)
Titans offense: Overall (25), rush (11), pass (24), scoring (T26)
Titans defense: Overall (1), rush (9), pass (1), scoring (18)
Turnover differential: Jets minus-2; Titans minus-2.
Jets player to watch
QB Aaron Rodgers. Yes, the four-time NFL MVP is back and looked mostly solid — albeit with a little rust — in his first game for New York after his debut season was ended by a torn Achilles tendon on his fourth snap.
Titans player to watch
QB Will Levis. Needing only to be a game manager with how well Tennessee’s defense was playing, Levis turned the ball over three times in the fourth quarter as the Titans blew a 17-point lead to lose a chance at a big road win to open coach Brian Callahan’s debut as head coach.
Key matchup
Tennessee’s defense had little problem dominating a rookie quarterback in smothering No. 1 overall draft pick Caleb Williams in his debut and held Chicago to 148 total yards. Rodgers is a much different challenge, showing his ability to get twitchy defenders to jump and give him a free shot at the end zone in the Jets’ opener.
Key injuries
Jets cornerbacks D.J. Reed (knee) and Michael Carter II (ankle) were limited early in the week, but both were expected to play. … The Titans expect S Jamal Adams, drafted by the Jets sixth overall in 2017, to make his debut after being sidelined by an injured hip for the opener. Starting right guard Dillon Radunz (rib) is expected back after missing 15 snaps and having to go to the locker room last week. Five-time Pro Bowl WR DeAndre Hopkins is no longer on the injury report after being limited to 17 snaps in his return from a left knee hurt July 31 that kept him out of the preseason.
Series notes
The Titans are 4-3 against the Jets when playing at Nissan Stadium, including a 26-22 win in New York’s last visit Dec. 2, 2018. The Titans are 19-7 all-time in this series when playing at home, including a streak of six straight overall between 1991 and 1996. But the Jets have won three of the past four overall.
Stats and stuff
Rodgers was 13 of 21 for 167 yards with a touchdown and one interception off a deflected pass in the opener before sitting out the last drive as Tyrod Taylor finished up. Rodgers threw for fewer yards only 13 times in his 218 previous starts when he played at least 35 snaps. … RB Breece Hall struggled against the 49ers, rushing for 54 yards on 16 carries, but had a touchdown in his fourth straight game. He lost a fumble on the Jets’ second possession. Hall has four career fumbles, with one in each of his three season-opening games. … WR Allen Lazard, Rodgers’ longtime teammate in Green Bay, had a rough first season in New York last year but got off to a good start this year with two TD receptions — one each from Rodgers and Taylor. … At 20 years and 233 days old, rookie RB Braelon Allen, a fourth-round pick out of Wisconsin, became the youngest player in the league to catch a pass since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970. Allen had a 9-yard reception and an 8-yard run in his pro debut. … New York went 6 for 10 in third-down situations, an area in which it was near the bottom of the league last season. … The Jets had an NFL-leading three touchdowns in the red zone last week. … The run defense had an uncharacteristically poor showing against San Francisco, giving up 180 yards rushing — including a career-high 147 by Jordan Mason, who started in place of the injured Christian McCaffrey. … Two-time All-Pro CB Sauce Gardner didn’t allow a reception during his 22 coverage snaps against the 49ers. He has six such games with at least 20 coverage snaps, most in the NFL since his rookie season in 2022. … This marks the 26th season at Nissan Stadium for the Titans who are building a new enclosed stadium in the parking lot next door set to open in 2027. … Levis did not respond well under pressure last week. He was 5 of 13 for 61 yards with two interceptions when pressured in the opener according to Next Gen Stats. Levis has thrown five TD passes and ran for a score with only one interception in four starts at home last season. … RB Tony Pollard ran for 82 yards rushing and a TD in his Titans’ debut. … RB Tyjae Spears had a team-high four catches for the Titans last week. … WR Calvin Ridley led the Titans with 50 yards receiving in his debut and has had at least 50 yards receiving in three of his past four games. … Hopkins had five TD catches in nine home games last season. He leads all active NFL players with 929 catches and 12,363 yards receiving. … Titans OLB Harold Landry had six tackles and a sack in the opener. … Jamal Adams was a two-time Pro Bowl safety for the Jets for Dennard Wilson who is now the Titans’ defensive coordinator. He had five tackles and a sack in his only other game against the Jets while with Seattle.
Fantasy tip
Levis. There’s something about being at home where he is 2-2 as a starter. He has a 93.5 passer rating throwing five TD passes and running for a score. He had only one interception in Nashville in four games.
BROWNS AND JAGUARS TRYING TO AVOID STARTING THE SEASON IN AN 0-2 HOLE
Cleveland (0-1) at Jacksonville (0-1)
Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT, CBS
BetMGM NFL Odds: Jaguars by 3.
Against the spread: Cleveland 0-1; Jacksonville 1-0.
Series record: Jaguars lead 12-7.
Last meeting: Browns beat Jaguars 31-27 on Dec. 10, 2023, in Jacksonville.
Last week: Browns lost 33-17 to Dallas; Jaguars lost 20-17 at Miami.
Browns offense: overall (28), rush (22), pass (25T), scoring (T24).
Browns defense: overall (9), rush (13), pass (15), scoring (28).
Jaguars offense: overall (22), rush (15), pass (24), scoring (T24).
Jaguars defense: overall (27), rush (7), pass (32), scoring (T12).
Turnover differential: Browns minus-2; Jaguars minus-1.
Browns player to watch
QB Deshaun Watson struggled mightily last week in his first game since breaking a bone in his right shoulder and having surgery in November. Watson never got into a rhythm, and his indecisiveness and inaccuracy only raised concerns about his health and whether he’ll ever become the franchise changer the Browns thought they signed in 2022. On top of his physical issues, Watson, who has only made 13 starts in four years, is under NFL investigation after a woman accused him of sexual assault while he played for Houston.
Jaguars player to watch
Rookie Brian Thomas Jr. caught four passes for 47 yards, three first downs and a touchdown in his professional debut and stunned teammates when he started talking trash to All-Pro CB Jalen Ramsey. Thomas had been relatively quiet since Jacksonville drafted him 23rd overall in April. But he was far from reserved against Miami.
Key matchup
Browns All-Pro pass rusher Myles Garrett versus Jacksonville’s offensive tackles. Garrett has 89 1/2 sacks over eight seasons, including one last week. Jaguars RT Anton Harrison is coming off one of his worst games as a pro, and LT Cam Robinson is dealing with a knee injury.
Key injuries
Browns Pro Bowl TE David Njoku could miss several weeks with an ankle sprain sustained in the opener. Njoku led the team in catches and receiving touchdowns in 2023. He scored twice in Cleveland’s win over Jacksonville last year. … The Browns placed four rotational defensive players on injured reserve. Starting S Juan Thornhill is the most significant and coming off one of his best games with nine tackles. … Browns starting LT Jedrick Wills Jr. still may not be ready after having knee surgery in December. … RT Jack Conklin was inactive last week but is close after undergoing reconstructive knee surgery and playing in only the opener last season. … The Jaguars will be without starting CB Tyson Campbell, who injured his left hamstring in the opener and is expected to land on IR and miss four games.
Series notes
Cleveland has won the past two meetings by a combined five points. Last year’s game was wild, with the teams combining to score 23 points in the fourth quarter. Browns backup Joe Flacco threw for 311 yards and three TDs in his second start. … The Jaguars won the first six meetings against the Browns from 1995-2000.
Stats and stuff
Watson is 8-5 in his 13 starts since the Browns traded three first-round draft picks and invested $230 million into him. … Watson is unbeaten in six career starts against the Jaguars, throwing nine TD passes and three interceptions. … Cleveland’s new-look offense looked awful for much of the opener. The Browns got just one first down in the first half and never found a rhythm. … Watson targeted WR Amari Cooper nine times last week, but missed on some easy connections. Amari had just two catches for 16 yards. … While the offense sputtered, Cleveland’s highly touted defense (ranked No. 1 in several categories in ‘23) has now given up 78 points in the past two games after getting blown out by Houston in the wild-card game. … Jacksonville’s .632 winning percentage against the Browns is the franchise’s best against any team. … The Browns will play four of their next five games on the road. … Jaguars coach Doug Pederson is 5-2 in home openers. … Jaguars DE Travon Walker has at least one sack in five consecutive games. It’s the NFL’s second-longest active sack streak. … RB Travis Etienne needs 43 yards rushing to pass QB Mark Brunell (2,219) for fifth place on the franchise’s all-time rushing list. … The Jaguars are trying to bounce back from a gut-wrenching loss to Miami. They led 17-7 late in the third quarter when Etienne fumbled near the goal line. The Dolphins went 80 yards on the next play to spark a comeback.
Fantasy tip
Jaguars teammates and coaches are buying into rookie WR Brian Thomas Jr. He stood out during training camp and took his game to another level in the opener. “He’s as advertised,” tight end Evan Engram said. “He’s going to be awesome.”
COWBOYS PUT 16-GAME HOME WINNING STREAK IN REGULAR SEASON ON LINE AGAINST SAINTS
New Orleans (1-0) at Dallas (1-0)
Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT, Fox.
BetMGM NFL Odds: Cowboys by 6 1/2.
Against the spread: Saints 1-0, Cowboys 1-0.
Series record: Cowboys lead 18-13.
Last meeting: Cowboys beat Saints 27-17 on Dec. 2, 2021, in New Orleans.
Last week: Saints beat Panthers 47-10; Cowboys beat Browns 33-17.
Saints offense: overall (9), rush (T3), pass (T14), scoring (1)
Saints defense: overall (2), rush (1), pass (6), scoring (T2)
Cowboys offense: overall (24), rush (20), pass (18), scoring (5)
Cowboys defense: overall (5), rush (11), pass (T7), scoring (T7)
Turnover differential: Saints plus-2; Cowboys plus-2.
Saints player to watch
Running back Alvin Kamara is coming off his 50th game with more than 100 yards from scrimmage in Week 1 (83 rushing, 27 receiving). He also scored his first touchdown of the season on a running play. Afterward, Kamara praised the system of new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, and also complimented Kubiak on his receptiveness to listening to offensive players on the sideline about what they thought worked well and would like to see him call. It was an ideal start for an eighth-year pro who’s never had fewer than 1,000 yards from scrimmage in a season, but who has expressed dissatisfaction with his contract situation.
Cowboys player to watch
QB Dak Prescott plays for the first time since signing the richest guaranteed contract in NFL history, a $240 million, four-year deal that will pay at least $231 million. Prescott, the first to average $60 million per year, agreed to the deal hours before going 19 of 32 for 179 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions against Cleveland. The Cowboys just needed the efficient version of Prescott with the defense manhandling Deshaun Watson and the Browns. They might need the more prolific Prescott after the Saints opened with an NFL-best 47 points.
Key matchup
Kamara vs. Cowboys defense. Kamara’s 83 yards rushing against Carolina were his most since the end of the 2022 season. He also had five catches, so his 20 touches were by far the most for either team in the openers. Dallas has put plenty of focus on stopping the run, and held Cleveland’s primary back, Jerome Ford, to 3.7 yards per carry while the Browns finished with 93 yards. But the Cowboys didn’t have to face Nick Chubb, who is recovering from knee surgery. Now Dallas sees a team’s top back.
Key injuries
The Saints had two starters who left last Sunday’s game and were unable to rejoin practice by midweek: CB Marshon Lattimore (hip/hamstring) and LG Lucas Patrick (toe). TE Foster Moreau, who was taken out of New Orleans’ victory over Carolina with concussion symptoms, returned to practice Wednesday on a limited basis. LT Taleise Fuaga (back) and LB Jaylan Ford (hamstring) also have been limited. … Dallas tight end Jake Ferguson likely will be a game-time decision after spraining a knee in the opener. Initial fears of a torn ACL proved premature, so Ferguson will wait to see how his left knee feels as game day approaches. … Rookie DE Marshawn Kneeland missed the first practice of the week with a calf injury.
Series notes
The Cowboys are 11-4 at home against the Saints, tied with Detroit for the most victories for Dallas against a non-NFC East opponent. While the Cowboys have won the past two at AT&T Stadium, New Orleans beat Dallas 24-17 in 2009, the year the retractable roof venue opened. … The teams have split the past six meetings. Before that, the Saints won seven of eight.
Stats and stuff
The Cowboys have a 16-game home winning streak in the regular season, two shy of the franchise record. That run comes with an asterisk these days because of the 48-32 home wild-card loss to Green Bay in January. … The Saints enter their road opener, having gone 4-5 outside the Superdome last season. … Saints QB Derek Carr completed 19 of 23 passes (82.6%) for 200 yards and 3 TDs without an interception for 142.5 rating in Week 1, his ninth-career game with 80% or better completion rate. … Carr can become the first player since Aaron Rodgers in 2011 with 140-plus rating in three straight games. … Carr has 17 TDs vs. two INTs in his past six starts. … RB Jamaal Williams had a TD rushing last week, matching his 2023 season total. … WR Rashid Shaheed had 73 yards receiving on three catches last week, including a 59-yard TD catch. … WR Chris Olave, the Saints’ receiving leader the past two seasons, had two catches for 11 yards in Week 1. … Moreau had his 14th TD catch in Week 1. … CB Alontae Taylor had career-high three sacks last week, the second DB since 1982 with three sacks in a Week 1 game (Rodney Harrison was the other in 1998). Taylor had only one sack in his first two NFL seasons. … S Tyrann Mathieu had a forced fumble in Week 1, which he also recovered. … Prescott needs 342 yards to join Tony Romo and Troy Aikman as the club’s 30,000-yard passers. He would be the sixth to reach that mark in 115 games, joining Matthew Stafford, Dan Marino, Kurt Warner, Kirk Cousins and Peyton Manning. … Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott needs 56 yards for 9,000 in his career, including his lone season with New England in 2023. He was a two-time rushing champ with the Cowboys and scored 12 rushing touchdowns in 2022 before Dallas released him in a cost-cutting move. Elliott scored again in his return to the Cowboys against the Browns. … WR Brandin Cooks had a touchdown catch in four consecutive games going back to last season. The Saints drafted him 20th overall in 2014. Cooks is on his fifth team, and had at least one 1,000-yard season with each of the previous four, including two in New Orleans. … LB Eric Kendricks had two sacks and an interception against Cleveland. He is the third player in the past 30 years to have multiple sacks and an interception in his debut with a team. The others were T.J. Watt with Pittsburgh in 2017 and Jerry Hughes for Houston in 2022. … CB Trevon Diggs had an interception against Cleveland in his return after missing all but two games last season with a torn knee ligament. Diggs has 19 picks in 48 games. He has a chance to be the fourth player since 1990 with at least 20 interceptions in his first 50 games. The others are Pro Football Hall of Famer Ed Reed (21 interceptions), Marcus Peters (20) and Richard Sherman (20).
Fantasy tip
Prescott averaged 309 yards and almost three touchdowns passing per game while going 8-0 at home last season. He had just three interceptions at home all season, and tacked on a rushing TD as well.
CHARGERS LOOK TO CARRY OVER MOMENTUM FROM WEEK 1 VS. PANTHERS, WHO ARE REELING FROM 37-POINT DEFEAT
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers are looking to build on the momentum of a solid Week 1 win, while embattled second-year quarterback Bryce Young and the Carolina Panthers will try to pick themselves off the mat following a history-making defeat.
The Chargers beat the Las Vegas Raiders 22-10 behind a strong performance from new running back J.K. Dobbins, who ran for 135 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.
But coach Jim Harbaugh said he believes this will be a telling week for his team as it heads East for a 1 p.m. EDT game.
“I’ve always thought that over the course of the season, this is the one week where you have a chance to make the most amount of progress because you’ve already done it,” Harbaugh said. “You know what you did good and things you can improve on. You go in and attack those and see how it works. And you know ‘hey, I like this, not this’ and do it again.”
Harbaugh is 14-6 (13-3 college, 1-3 NFL) in second games of his coaching career. He was 2-0 only once at San Francisco.
“To win and still have stuff to work on, that’s encouraging for everyone,” Harbaugh said. “There’s more meat on the bone.”
The Panthers have a monumental bone to chew on.
Carolina’s 37-point loss to the New Orleans Saints was its worst season-opening defeat in the franchise’s 30-year history.
Young struggled with his accuracy, completing 13 of 30 passes with two interceptions. The No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL draft is now 2-15 as a starter with more career interceptions (12) than touchdown passes (11).
Carolina’s defense didn’t do anything to help, allowing the Saints to score on their first nine possessions.
“My responsibility as the head coach is to say, OK, let’s look at all the processes,” said Panthers rookie head coach Dave Canales. “It starts with me, it starts with the process and it starts with us combing through all of it to see.”
Growing pains
Herbert and the Chargers’ passing game are looking to make noticeable strides after struggling to find any consistency last week. Herbert was 2 of 6 for 38 yards on passes of 10 yards or more in the air.
Besides not taking any snaps in a preseason game and missing two weeks of training camp with a foot injury, Herbert has a young and unproven receiving unit. Rookie Ladd McConkey led the way with five catches for 39 yards and a touchdown.
“There’s a lot of room for improvement. That’s stuff that we’re addressing and we’re definitely going to be better. As an offense, we need to move the ball better in all phases,” said Herbert, who has thrown at least two touchdown passes in seven straight games against an NFC opponent.
Mack’s momentum
After having 1 1/2 sacks and a pass deflection to set up a game-clinching interception last week, Khalil Mack could be in line for another big game.
Mack will be lined up mostly against Carolina left tackle Ickey Ekwonu, who struggled last week against New Orleans’ Chase Young. According to the NFL’s Next Gen Stats, Ekwonu gave up six pass pressures in the 20 snaps where he was lined up against Young. Meanwhile, Mack had four pressures last week against the Raiders.
Going back to last season, Mack has a sack in three straight games.
The Panthers have allowed 69 sacks over their past 18 games, including four against the Saints.
Replacing Brown
The Panthers have a gigantic task ahead in figuring out how to replace Pro Bowl defensive end Derrick Brown, who set an NFL single-season record last year for tackles by a lineman with 103.
Brown tore the meniscus in his knee in Week 1 and will miss the remainder of the season.
The Panthers are expected to fill Brown’s role on a by-committee basis. DeShawn Williams, who started 10 games last season for Carolina and was recently cut by the Buffalo Bills, was signed earlier this week to the practice squad and could be active on Sunday.
Canales didn’t downplay Brown’s loss, saying. “He’s one of our best players. That’s big shoes to fill.”
Getting Diontae Johnson involved
Young said he will be doing everything he can to get wide receiver Diontae Johnson more involved in the passing game this week. Johnson, who is viewed as Carolina’s primary receiver, was targeted six times and had only two receptions for 19 yards in Week 1.
Johnson was the target on Young’s first throw of the game against the Saints that was intercepted.
Turning it over
Canales harped all offseason about the defense needing to force turnovers, but the Panthers were a minus-2 in the takeaway-giveaway battle.
“Let’s hone in on these focuses,” Canales said. “We’ve been crazy about the ball. We’re going to take it up another notch. We’re going to make sure that we emphasize it more in our meetings.”
DANIEL JONES AND THE GIANTS VISIT WASHINGTON LOOKING TO BOUNCE BACK FROM THEIR ROUGH SEASON OPENER
Daniel Jones looked out of sorts in the New York Giants’ season opener, his first game back from ACL surgery. One of his two interceptions was a pick-6, and home fans showered him with boos.
It could not have gone much worse. He also could not have picked a better opponent to bounce back against.
Jones and the Giants visit the Commanders, also 0-1 with major questions on defense and a history of struggling against New York’s much-maligned quarterback. Jones has dominated Washington his entire NFL career, and Sunday is the next chance for “Danny Dimes” to get his mojo back.
“Everybody here is rallying around Daniel,” left guard Jon Runyan said. “He’s in there, he’s grinding. He’s in the weight room, and he’s going get this thing right. I know it, and I think we all trust and believe that he will.”
Jones has beaten Washington, with three different team names, since getting drafted sixth in 2019. He’s 5-1-1 with 11 touchdowns (10 passing), three interceptions, 1,510 yards in the air and 324 more on the ground.
Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner brushed that off because he was not around for any of those games, and he is one of six new starters on defense. But that doesn’t mean he and his teammates are underestimating Jones after a brutal Week 1 performance.
“He does a really good job using his feet, creating plays,” Wagner said. “That’s what makes it hard. I think when he has time, he makes really good throws, and so our job is to not give him time. When you let him get some time and use his legs, he can be dangerous.”
Dan Quinn, who coached against Jones plenty as the Dallas Cowboys’ defensive coordinator the past three years, said the 27-year-old’s ability to extend plays beyond the normal 2.3-second throwing window is also a factor.
“He’s got speed and athleticism,” Quinn said. “He remains a runner, where some QBs would go and get down or get out bounds. So, he remains in that space and really has confidence in his running ability, which he should.”
Confidence, eh? Retired QB Ryan Fitzpatrick said he thinks Jones’ confidence is “at an all-time low,” which is especially difficult in the New York market, where he played for the Jets in two of his 15 pro seasons.
“Your confidence is shaken, and you don’t play well,” said Fitzpatrick, who’s now an analyst for Amazon’s “Thursday Night Football” broadcasts. “He’s not playing well. He knows he’s not playing well.”
Jones, for his part, said his “mental toughness is in a good spot.”
“I’m not concerned about that,” he said. “I feel like I’ve been doubted plenty for a long time and dealt with that time and time again and done a good job with it.”
The doubting continues. Fitzpatrick’s Amazon teammate and three-time All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman said he tries not to be overly critical of players in this role.
“You know how tough it is to be criticized when you’re in a slump,” Sherman said. “Except Daniel Jones. It’s tough not to criticize Daniel Jones.”
The other QB
Washington rookie Jayden Daniels had a respectable NFL debut, completing 17 of 24 passes for 184 yards and rushing for 88 yards. Quinn would like to see Daniels cut down on the runs from 16 at Tampa Bay, but that — like a lot of things — will come with experience, and the No. 2 pick out of LSU has bought into his first few games being a learning experience.
“I could grow in every aspect of my game,” Daniels said. “You watch the tape (and realize) it’s never as good as you thought it was, it’s never as bad as you thought it was, so you just move on.”
Manageable situations
There was a reason the Giants scored a league-low six points in the season opener. They didn’t play well on first down and hurt their chances of maintaining drives by losing 39 yards because of penalties.
Three of their five first-half drives featured second- and third-down plays of more than 13 yards. The longest of their 11 first-down plays in the first half was 7 yards. Most were 4 or less.
There was some improvement in the second half, but by that time the Vikings led 28-6.
“There’s really no offense that’s going to work if you can’t get any yards on first down and you’re sitting in second and long,” Giants guard Jon Runyan Jr. said. “The playbook shrinks to really, really small and you don’t have many options.”
Washington’s defensive problem
The Commanders got carved up by Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers in Week 1, allowing 392 yards and 37 points. That is not sustainable, and they know it.
“A lot of guys are feeling like we didn’t perform the way we wanted to perform,” Wagner said. “Just want to communicate better, want to be flying around, make more plays and just get off the field.”
Giants pressure
The question mark for the Giants’ defense has been its young secondary. New York lost safety Xavier McKinney to Green Bay in free agency and didn’t re-sign cornerback Adoree’ Jackson until just before the season opener. It left Jason Pinnock, Dane Belton and rookie Tyler Nubin at safety and Cor’Dale Flott, Deonte Banks and rookie Dru Phillips at cornerback.
The hope was the combination of defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence and edge rushers Kayvon Thibodeaux and Brian Burns would pressure opposing quarterbacks and help the secondary. It didn’t happen against Minnesota, as Lawrence had the team’s only sack, Thibodeaux had a pressure and no tackles and Burns had four tackles and nothing else. They need to be better.
SAQUON BARKLEY TRIES FOR ANOTHER DOMINANT EFFORT IN EAGLES’ HOME OPENER AGAINST ATLANTA
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Saquon Barkley stole the show in his Philadelphia Eagles debut.
He gave the offense the credible, every-down back the franchise craved. He may have given his old team, the Giants, a few sleepless nights. Barkley’s three-touchdown effort sealed a few fantasy football victories, too.
So will Barkley repeat the feat Monday night against Atlanta?
If the total offensive numbers come again — 109 yards rushing, and he scored on an 18-yard catch and on runs of 11 and 2 yards — Barkley might have to rack them up on fewer plays.
The $26 million running back shouldn’t necessarily expect 26 total touches (24 carries, two receptions) like he had in his stellar opener in the Eagles’ win over the Green Bay Packers in Brazil.
Coach Nick Sirianni wants to keep Barkley fresh for the stretch run, which could mean less impact now in exchange for a heavier load in December and beyond.
Unless, of course, the Eagles really need him to pull out a win.
“You do everything you can do to win each football game, and so once the game is in the flow, you think about how you’re going to win that game,” Sirianni said.
Philly sports fans surely remember the dreaded “load management” phrase popularized by the 76ers’ attempt at cushioning oft-injured center Joel Embiid’s workload. The Eagles might not necessarily go that far — their backup options are Kenneth Gainwell and Will Shipley — during a game, but Sirianni said there are ways during the week the Eagles can limit how they use Barkley.
“With Saquon having that many touches, we’ll have a plan for that this week in practice where we can take some of the load off him there,” Sirianni said.
After six straight losing seasons, the Falcons were beaten 18-10 by the Pittsburgh Steelers in their opener. One small bright spot, the defense kept the Steelers out of the end zone, usually a formula for victory.
Trying to do it again against Jalen Hurts and his group of elite receivers is tough enough. Trying to keep Hurts and Barkley out of the end zone just might be an impossible task.
The Eagles are eager to see what Barkley does in the second game.
“He’s done an excellent job, and we’ll be able to diversify it as we go,” Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore said. “Week in and week out, we can adjust the game plans and we’ll play different styles depending on how the opponent wants to play us. He’ll provide us with that opportunity.”
Cousins, take two
Playing in a game for the first time in more than 10 months, Kirk Cousins struggled mightily in his Atlanta debut.
Hardly what the Falcons expected from a quarterback who received a four-year, $180-million contract in free agency that includes $100 million in guaranteed money.
Coach Raheem Morris made it clear that the offense was the biggest problem against the Steelers. Cousins looked shaky in the pocket, threw two interceptions and finished with just 155 yards passing on 16 of 26 completions.
Most notably, he failed to take advantage of two of his biggest playmakers. Tight end Kyle Pitts did catch a 12-yard touchdown pass but finished with just three receptions for 26 yards. Even worse, top outside threat Drake London was targeted only three times, making two catches for 15 yards.
“We played what I thought was winning football in two phases of the game, and we didn’t play winning football in our offensive phase of the game. That’s just the truth of the matter,” Morris said. “It wasn’t good enough. We threw two interceptions. We’ve got to make better decisions in the passing game all around.”
Not done yet
Brandon Graham still has a lot left in the tank.
Graham’s first snap in the opener made him the first Eagle to ever start a 15th season. He was tied with Pro Football Hall of Famer Chuck Bednarik (14, 1949-62). Graham also has the record for the most regular-season games played (196) in franchise history.
The 36-year-old defensive end played 32 snaps against the Packers — one more than second-year edge rusher Nolan Smith and two more than defensive end Bryce Huff. Huff signed a three-year, $51 million free-agent deal in the offseason.
Graham could expect a similar workload against the Falcons.
“Brandon is still a good player, and I’ve told him several times, he’s not on any ceremonial last-year retirement parade,” defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said. “He’s going to play. He’s still playing good.”
Jarrett returns
One Atlanta player who didn’t look rusty at all in Week 1 was Grady Jarrett.
Coming back from a season-ending knee injury, the longtime stalwart of Atlanta’s defensive front picked right up where he left off.
Jarrett had 1 1/2 sacks and three quarterback hits, becoming the franchise leader in the latter category with 117 for his career to surpass John Abraham’s 115.
“I know I’m back,” Jarrett said. “I put a lot of work in, zero doubt in my mind. I’m ready to go. I’m just excited to have a great year and contribute to this team the best I can.”
Tush push woes
The tush push is still alive in Philly.
Alive and well? Not so much, at least not after an opening victory where the tush push was unsuccessful on at least two attempts and there was some miscommunication between Hurts and center Cam Jurgens on other plays.
The play goes like this: Hurts lines up under center with two or three players behind him. He takes the snap, the offensive line surges forward and Hurts gets a big push from behind.
The Eagles converted the play about 93% of the time each of the past two seasons. Jason Kelce, the burly center who anchored the play, retired. Jurgens took over at center and the play — the offensive line as a whole — underwent early growing pains.
“I was pleased with the way we were getting some push on some of them,” Sirianni said. “We have some things to clean up.”
Atlanta (0-1) at Philadelphia (1-0)
Monday, 8:15 p.m., ESPN
BetMGM NFL Odds: Eagles by 6 1/2.
Against the spread: Atlanta 0-1; Philadelphia 1-0
Series record: Eagles lead 18-14-1
Last meeting: On Sept. 12, 2021, Jalen Hurts threw for 264 yards and 3 TDs and ran for 62 yards in Philadelphia’s 32-6 win at Atlanta.
Last week: Falcons lost 18-10 at home to the Steelers; Eagles beat the Packers 34-29 in Brazil.
Eagles offense: overall (4), rush (9), pass (6), scoring (T-3).
Eagles defense: overall (30), rush (T-25), pass (26), scoring (T-25).
Falcons offense: overall (29), rush (23), pass (T-25), scoring (T-28).
Falcons defense: overall (T-12), rush (20), pass (5), scoring (10).
Turnover differential: Falcons minus-3; Eagles minus-2.
Eagles player to watch
RB Saquon Barkley had a scintillating debut for Philadelphia after signing for $26 million guaranteed with the Eagles in the offseason. The No. 2 overall pick in 2018, who played the past six seasons with the Giants, rushed for 109 yards and 2 TDs on 24 carries and caught a pair of passes for 23 yards and a TD in the Week 1 win over Green Bay. Barkley had 5,211 rushing yards and 2,100 receiving yards with the Giants, including some big games against Philadelphia. Eagles fans surely will welcome Barkley with open arms in his first home game for the team.
Key matchup
Cousins vs. Eagles’ defensive front. Philadelphia’s defense allowed 414 yards against the Packers, including 251 through the air. The defensive front got very little push against Packers QB Jordan Love. They will hope to do better against the 36-year-old Cousins, who will be looking to bounce back from his Week 1 performance in which he passed for just 155 yards while throwing two interceptions and being sacked twice.
Key injuries
Falcons guard Chris Lindstrom returned against the Steelers after being evaluated for a possible head injury in the first half. … Eagles cornerback Isaiah Rodgers (hand) and linebacker Devin White (ankle) were out for the season opener in Brazil.
Series notes
Philadelphia has won four of these teams’ past five meetings, including a playoff game in the 2015 season. … This is the second of five prime-time games for the Eagles this season.
Stats and stuff
Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million deal, with $100 million guaranteed, in the offseason. … Raheem Morris coached his first game with the Falcons in Week 1. … Atlanta’s defense didn’t allow a TD against the Steelers, giving up six field goals, including three of more than 50 yards, in the 18-10 loss to Pittsburgh. … RB Bijan Robinson (No. 8, 2023), WR Drake London (No. 8, 2022) and TE Kyle Pitts (No. 4, 2021) give Atlanta three offensive skill players who were drafted in the top 10. … DL Grady Jarrett had 1½ sacks and three QB hits against Pittsburgh. … Atlanta has had six straight losing seasons. … The Eagles improved to 4-0 in openers under coach Nick Sirianni. … The Eagles are 14-4 on their home field since 2022. … New coordinators Kellen Moore (offense) and Vic Fangio (defense) will be coaching for the first time in the regular season in Philadelphia for the Eagles. … LB Zack Baun had a career-high 15 tackles, along with two sacks, against the Packers. … Barkley was selected as the NFC Offensive Player of the Week.
Fantasy tip
WR DeVonta Smith caught seven passes for 84 yards in Week 1 without reaching the end zone. Smith has Philadelphia’s franchise record for catches and receiving yards in the first three seasons as an Eagles player with 240 and 3,178, respectively.
BRONCOS ROOKIE RUNNING BACK AUDRIC ESTIME GOES ON IR, WILL MISS AT LEAST A MONTH WITH ANKLE INJURY
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Audric Estime will miss at least a month after the Denver Broncos placed their rookie running back on injured reserve Wednesday night with an ankle injury.
The fifth-round draft pick out of Notre Dame carried twice for 14 yards in the Broncos’ 26-20 loss at Seattle on Sunday, fumbling on his first carry after leaping over a defender.
He’s eligible to return to the active roster for the Broncos’ game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 6.
Estime required minor arthroscopic knee surgery last summer and missed OTAs and the team’s mandatory minicamp in June. He had a good training camp and helped make the Broncos’ running backs room, which includes Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin, a strength on a rather thin roster.
The Broncos promoted fullback Michael Burton from their practice squad and signed receiver Kaden Davis to the practice squad Wednesday.
Estime was on a side field along with four other injured offensive players during the portion of practice open to the media at the start of the workout, a stark contrast to last week when zero players were listed on Denver’s injury report leading up to their opener.
Left tackle Garett Bolles (calf), center Luke Wattenberg (ankle) also missed practice, as did wide receivers Josh Reynolds (Achilles) and Devaughn Vele (ribs).
BENGALS VISIT CHIEFS IN MATCHUP OF PERENNIAL PLAYOFF CONTENDERS MEETING IN RARE WEEK 2 SHOWDOWN
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Cincinnati Bengals and Kansas City Chiefs are accustomed to playing each other late in the season, when the stakes are at their highest — like an AFC championship, for instance, and along with it a spot in the Super Bowl.
The rivals have met five times since 2022 and all in December or January, including those two playoff games.
That makes their Week 2 matchup Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium a bit out of the ordinary, though no less important for two teams with postseason expectations every year.
The Bengals need to bounce back from a humbling loss to the Patriots last week while the Chiefs are coming off an opening-night win over Baltimore that took them to their limit.
“For us, it’s just Week 2. It’s the next opponent, and we’re excited to turn the page and move forward,” Cincinnati coach Zac Taylor said. “We got the taste out of our mouth, we’re done with that and now we get a chance to move forward.”
The prep shouldn’t be too difficult, given how often the Bengals and Chiefs have played each other. Their most recent matchup was last New Year’s Eve, when Kansas City clinched another AFC West title with a 25-17 victory at Arrowhead Stadium.
“There’s a lot of knowledge on both sides of it for us and them, just because we feel like we played them as much as we played a divisional opponent,” Taylor said. “We played them as much as we played any team in the league outside the division.”
That familiarity has led to some close games.
In January 2022, the Bengals clinched the AFC North when Evan McPherson kicked a 20-yard field goal as time expired. When they met again later that month in Kansas City, in the AFC title game, McPherson drilled a field goal in overtime to send the Bengals to the Super Bowl. And the following season, in December, Joe Burrow rallied Cincinnati from a fourth-quarter deficit for another 27-24 win — its third over the juggernaut Chiefs in a single calendar year.
Kansas City exacted a modicum of revenge in January 2023, though, when the teams met again for the AFC championship, and Harrison Butker hit a 45-yard field goal with 3 seconds remaining to send the Chiefs back to the Super Bowl.
“These games are going to matter at the end of the year,” Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said. “Obviously it’s early in the season. Everybody’s working through stuff. Everybody’s trying to get better and better. But you know that this could be a tiebreaker, whatever you want to call it, at the end of the year, that determines seeding for the playoffs. So there’s definitely a rise in intensity, especially in these games against other contenders.”
Turnover troubles
The Bengals can largely trace their clunky Week 1 performance to turnovers. In the first half against New England, tight end Tanner Hudson fumbled away the ball at the goal line after catching what appeared to be a certain touchdown pass. Later, Charlie Jones fumbled away a punt, leading to a Patriots field goal. Then, the Bengals came up a yard short on a fourth down pass, turning the ball over.
Chase’s contract
Nothing has been resolved when it comes to Ja’Marr Chase and his contract status. He has two years left on his rookie deal but expects an extension that will make the Bengals wide receiver among the highest-paid in the league. Chase didn’t participate in training camp, then practiced two days last week, before catching six passes for 62 yards against New England.
“We’ve had the discussions I feel like were needed,” Burrow said. “He’s ready to go out and perform.”
Catching Kelce
Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was outperformed by his understudy, Noah Gray, against the Ravens, catching three passes for 34 yards with a drop. But Kelce attracted so much attention that he helped to open up the field for Xavier Worthy and fellow wide receiver Rashee Rice, who hauled in seven passes for 103 yards in the 27-20 victory.
Run to daylight
The Bengals and Chiefs will both be looking to get more out of their ground game Sunday. Bengals running back Zack Moss averaged nearly 5 yards per carry but only had nine chances, gaining 44 yards with a touchdown. Chiefs counterpart Isiah Pacheco had more opportunities, carrying the ball 15 times, but less success, finishing with just 45 yards and a score.
‘X’ marks the spot
The Chiefs got more than they expected last week out of Worthy, their first-round pick. He ran for a touchdown the first time he touched the ball, then hauled in a TD pass later in the game. And with Marquise Brown expected to miss another game while he recovers from a shoulder injury, Worthy could remain a big part of the offense against Cincinnati.
“It’s been cool just to have that — do what I did (last) Thursday,” Worthy said. “But I have, like, a 24-hour rule. You do it, you live it out, then you forget about it and it’s on to the next. So it’s on to the next.”
LIONS HOST BUCS IN ANOTHER PLAYOFF REMATCH FROM LAST POSTSEASON
DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Lions are the fourth team in NFL history to open a year with two straight playoff rematches.
And they’ll be hoping to end the season just as the other three teams did — by winning a league championship.
The Lions (1-0) will play Tampa Bay (1-0) on Sunday at home, a week after hosting the Los Angeles Rams.
Detroit coach Dan Campbell expects the Buccaneers and Rams to contend for division championships, potentially setting up tiebreaker scenarios for playoff positioning in four months.
“You get an early one and you just don’t know what this is going to mean down the road,” Campbell said. “If you can put some money in the bank early in the season, it will pay big dividends.”
The 2007 New England Patriots, 1984 San Francisco 49ers and 1966 Green Bay Packers won NFL titles after starting seasons with two consecutive games against postseason opponents from the previous year.
Detroit beat the Bucs 31-23 in the divisional round in January at home after a 20-6 win last October on the road.
“Looking back and seeing the shots that we missed, it’s frustrating to see,” Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield said. “But I’m excited about the group that we have and going in to see how we handle this adversity, the environment and all that.”
Staying power
The Bucs, who routed Washington 37-20 in Week 1, are the only NFC team that made the playoffs in each of the past four seasons.
After losing to the Lions, their focus shifted to keeping the core of a roster that has won three straight NFC South titles.
Tampa Bay re-signed Mayfield to a $100 million, three-year contract and kept the franchise’s receiving leader Mike Evans off the market with a $41 million, two-year deal. All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. signed a four-year, $84 million contract and Pro Bowl left tackle Tristan Wirfs was retained with a $140.63 million, five-year deal, earning record-breaking deals for their positions.
“This is going to be a good test for us,” Campbell said.
Switching sides
Detroit was determined to improve at cornerback in the offseason and the makeover began by acquiring veteran Carlton Davis from Tampa Bay for a third-round draft pick.
While the 27-year-old Davis did not expect to get traded, he’s not bitter.
“It’s a business,” he said. “I do have a lot of love for those guys over there, but on Sunday it’s football. There’s no friends on the field and there won’t be on Sunday.”
The Lions, whose pass defense was a weakness last season, went on to sign veteran Amik Robertson in March. In the NFL draft, they selected Terrion Arnold in the first round and Ennis Rakestraw in the second round.
Fresh start
Liam Coen had quite a debut as Tampa Bay’s offensive coordinator. Mayfield threw for 289 yards and four touchdowns against the Commanders, producing points on seven of eight drives he played. Coen, a former Rams assistant, was brought in from the University of Kentucky after former offensive coordinator Dave Canales was hired to lead the Carolina Panthers.
The offense is designed to get the ball out of Mayfield’s hand quickly on passes.
“It’s a great job of him processing and throwing to the right guys and getting rid of the ball and those guys getting open and the O-line blocking for him,” Bucs coach Todd Bowles said.
Detroit debut
Lions defensive tackle DJ Reader, a key offseason acquisition, is expected to play after missing Week 1 with a leg injury.
“When you add DJ, the neighborhood gets a little tougher,” Detroit defensive line coach Terrell Williams said.
The 30-year-old Reader has 96 career starts as a run-stopping force for Cincinnati and Houston. He will play next to an emerging standout, defensive tackle Alim McNeill, and defensive end Aidan Hutchinson.
“We want to be feared,” McNeill said. “We want to be violent.”
Pivotal plays
Tampa Bay had an NFL-high 69.2% conversion rate on third down last week. Detroit, meanwhile, was 6 of 13 on third down in Week 1.
WEEK 2 NFL CAPSULES
Buccaneers at Lions, 1 p.m. ET
Another playoff rematch awaits the Lions, who went to overtime to knock off the Rams at home in the regular season opener (26-20). QB Jared Goff isn’t fretting the matchup, especially if safety Antoine Winfield Jr. is out. Goff has at least 350 passing yards and multiple TD passes in his last two games against the Buccaneers. Baker Mayfield started out strong in Week 1 and has multiple TD passes in five of the last six games. Neither passer is lacking for a supporting cast. Lions RBs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery both scored in the opener and WR Jameson Williams busted out with a career-high 121 receiving yards in Week 1. Mayfield went to trusted WR Mike Evans, who caught two TD passes for the 21st time in his career last week.
Colts at Packers, 1 p.m. ET
All indications out of Green Bay are QB Jordan Love (knee) is out for at least a week, which thrusts Malik Willis into the crosshairs of the Colts. Indianapolis has won three games in a row in this series, but the cast of characters has changed dramatically since the last meeting in 2020. To say the Packers will be run-heavy with Willis at the helm is an understatement. He had 234 passing yards in three career starts with the Titans, who traded the 2022 third-rounder to the Packers before the start of the regular season. Willis has wheels, but the Colts are going to load up to stop the ground game that now features former Raiders RB Josh Jacobs. The Colts dropped the Week 1 game against the Houston Texans. QB Anthony Richardson and RB Jonathan Taylor drive a strong running game that sets up WR Michael Pittman Jr. for one-on-one matchups outside. He had at least seven catches in all seven road games in which he played last season.
Seahawks at Patriots, 1 p.m. ET
The NFL’s youngest head coaches scored victories in their debuts last week. The Patriots stunned the Cincinnati Bengals last Sunday, holding them to 13 first downs and 224 yards of total offense in a 16-10 win. Rhamondre Stevenson shined for New England, rushing for 120 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries. Mike Macdonald coached the Seahawks to a 26-20 victory over the Denver Broncos. Like New England, Seattle leaned on its rushing attack, getting 103 yards and a TD on 20 carries from Kenneth Walker III. Quarterback Geno Smith also ran for a score. Walker might struggle to get going against the Patriots, though, as New England allowed the third-fewest rushing yards in the league last week (70). That is if Walker plays, as the 23-year-old is dealing with an oblique injury. The Patriots’ offense is being steered by Jacoby Brissett, who makes his second career start against Seattle — the last was in 2017. Brissett has few established weapons on the outside.
49ers at Vikings, 1 p.m. ET
QB Sam Darnold’s third start in the calendar year comes against his good friend Brock Purdy and former teammates with the 49ers. Darnold threw two TD passes in his debut as the QB1 for the Vikings last week in his first start since Jan. 7, 2024, in the regular-season finale with the 49ers. Christian McCaffrey is optimistic that he will make his season debut Sunday in Minneapolis. But McCaffrey suggested the same things a week ago before he sat out the opener because of a calf injury and Achilles tendinitis. Second-string running back Jordan Mason appears ready to stand in. He had 28 carries for 147 yards and a touchdown in a 32-19 win over the visiting New York Jets. Vikings RB Aaron Jones had a team-high 109 scrimmage yards (94 rush, 15 receiving and a rush TD) in his first game with Minnesota. Vikings WR Justin Jefferson is chasing a landmark Sunday. He has 396 career receptions and at 25 years, 91 days old on Sunday, could become the youngest player in NFL history with 6,000 career receiving yards with 42 against the 49ers. He could also become the third-youngest to reach 400 catches.
Jets at Titans, 1 p.m. ET
Week 1 was the one that got away for QB Will Levis and the Titans, who dropped a 24-17 decision at Chicago. Tennessee allowed scores on a pick-six and blocked punt while holding the Bears’ ballyhooed offense to 148 total yards. The Titans blew a 17-0 lead and a chance to get a leg up on AFC South division foes who lost Week 1 (Colts, Jaguars). The Jets came up short at San Francisco on Monday night. Aaron Rodgers completed 13 of 21 passes for 167 yards with a touchdown and a deflected interception but showed some rust, missing throws he made over and over during his 18 years with the Packers. A bigger concern for Jets fans might be a defense that was shredded by the 49ers for 401 total yards and 24 first downs. San Francisco possessed the ball for more than 38 minutes. Titans WR DeAndre Hopkins is back to full strength and has a strong history in this matchup with 21 career catches and five TDs in three games vs. the Jets.
Saints at Cowboys, 1 p.m. ET
Derek Carr and the Saints smacked the Panthers 47-10 in Week 1. Carr tossed three TD passes against Carolina and leads New Orleans into Dallas in the midst of a dynamite six-game run: 17 touchdowns, two interceptions, and a 123.0 passer rating in his past six starts. But the Cowboys roughed up the Browns thanks in large part to an NFL-best 24 pressures on QB Deshaun Watson, including six sacks. Dallas has won 16 in a row at home in the regular season, the longest active streak in the NFL. Missing training camp didn’t impact the chemistry between WR CeeDee Lamb (five catches, 61 yards) and QB Dak Prescott. Lamb could get more work in Week 2 with Pro Bowl TE Jake Ferugson (knee) hobbled last week.
Browns at Jaguars, 1 p.m. ET
A rematch of a back-and-forth game last December won by the Browns, 31-27, pits teams attempting to avoid an early 0-2 start in competitive divisions. The Jaguars dropped a 20-17 decision to the host Miami Dolphins for their sixth setback in the past seven regular-season games. The Browns were beaten 33-17 by the visiting Dallas Cowboys as Deshaun Watson was intercepted twice and sacked six times while passing for 169 yards and one TD. The big challenge for the Jaguars is rebounding quickly. They open the season by playing four consecutive 2023 playoff teams. The following two games are both on the road, against the Buffalo Bills on a Monday night and the Houston Texans. The Browns will be without tight end David Njoku, who injured an ankle in a loss to the Cowboys. Head coach Kevin Stefanski said the Browns are hopeful Njoku can avoid being placed on injured reserve.
Bengals at Chiefs, 4:25 p.m. ET
Here they go again. Joe Burrow and the Bengals limped out of the gate with a Week 1 loss, setting up an important rebound opportunity. While Burrow is 2-0 in the regular season against the Chiefs, this isn’t what Cincinnati had in mind when coach Zac Taylor said he emphasized a fast start. The Bengals saw their offense sputter in a stunning 16-10 home loss to the rebuilding New England Patriots, with Burrow completing 21 of 29 passes but only for 164 yards and no touchdowns. The Chiefs and Bengals are meeting for the sixth time in the last four seasons, with the Bengals winning three times, including the AFC Championship Game after the 2021 season in Kansas City. The Chiefs returned the favor in the AFC title game the following year, quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ first win over Burrow in four meetings. K.C. survived a scare from the Baltimore Ravens in a 27-20 win in the Thursday night NFL Kickoff game last week. Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely landed fractions of an inch out of bounds on what would’ve been a TD catch to make it a 27-26 game. There are some new names with big games behind Mahomes. Veteran receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown could be back for Kansas City to join Rashee Rice, rookie first-round pick Xavier Worthy — who had two TDs in Week 1 — and Travis Kelce in the passing attack. Brown missed the opener due to a shoulder dislocation sustained in the preseason.
Steelers at Broncos, 4:25 p.m. ET
Pittsburgh has an NFL-high 49 wins against rookie quarterbacks since 1970 and as fortune would have it, the Steelers take a swing at No. 50 on Sunday at Denver. First-round pick Bo Nix led the Broncos in rushing last week in Seattle, when he was intercepted twice and took a handful of other chances that could’ve ended in the same result. In a home environment, the Broncos are counting on better execution and pass protection, which coach Sean Payton described as “average at best.” But Payton might find out his playmaker options are no match for a Steelers pass rush that kept Kirk Cousins on the run in Week 1. In what was originally viewed as a possible Russell Wilson revenge game, the Broncos’ former quarterback was relegated to reserve duty in Week 1 and appears headed the same direction Sunday afternoon due to a calf injury. Justin Fields thrived on play-action with nine completions in 13 attempts at Atlanta and ran 14 times for 57 yards.
Bears at Texans, 8:20 p.m. ET
The Bears rallied from a 17-point deficit to beat Houston’s AFC South rival, Tennessee, 24-17 in Week 1. Now No. 1 pick Caleb Williams makes his first road start in the NFL in a hostile and noisy atmosphere. The Texans will host the Bears in a showdown on Sunday highlighting the standard Williams is charged with meeting. That’s reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud, who thrived in a 29-27 road victory over the Indianapolis Colts last Sunday, passing for 234 yards and two touchdowns with a 115.9 rating. Williams conversely, averaged 3.2 yards per attempt, threw for only 93 yards, posted a 55.7 rating and helmed an offense that didn’t score a touchdown. Chicago’s defense has ranked as one of the NFL’s best in takeaways since the middle of last season and scored on a punt block and pick-six last week. Houston’s upgraded roster was on full display last week. RB Joe Mixon had 178 yards from scrimmage and WR Stefon Diggs caught two TD passes.
–Field Level Media
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
MLB ROUNDUP: JUAN SOTO LIFTS YANKEES OVER RED SOX IN 10TH
Juan Soto hit a game-ending single to open the 10th inning and the New York Yankees outlasted the visiting Boston Red Sox for a 2-1 victory Thursday night in the opener of a four-game series.
Soto gave the Yankees their fourth walk-off win this season when he hit a 2-2 sinker from Josh Winckowski (4-2) under shortstop Trevor Story’s glove into left field to score pinch runner Jon Berti, who replaced automatic runner Gleyber Torres.
Soto’s game-winner lifted the Yankees to their fifth win in seven games and moved them two games ahead of the idle Baltimore Orioles atop the American League East. New York matched its largest lead in the division since regaining first place on Aug. 21.
Danny Jensen hit a solo homer for the Red Sox, who are 4 1/2 games behind the Minnesota Twins for the final wild card in the American League.
Rockies 4, Tigers 2
Jacob Stallings doubled twice and drove in the go-ahead run in the ninth as Colorado snapped host Detroit’s four-game winning streak.
Jordan Beck supplied a solo homer for the Rockies. Seth Halvorsen (1-0) notched his first career win with an inning of scoreless relief and Tyler Kinley pitched a scoreless ninth inning to earn his 12th save.
Detroit starter Tarik Skubal allowed one run and four hits with six strikeouts in six innings. Spencer Torkelson drove in both runs for the Tigers with a fourth-inning double.
Cardinals 6, Reds 1
Brendan Donovan hit a two-run home run and Masyn Winn homered and scored twice to help host St. Louis beat Cincinnati.
Cardinals starter Sonny Gray (13-9) allowed one run on two hits and two walks in six innings. He struck out nine. This was quite a reversal for Gray, who lost his two previous starts against the Reds this season while allowing 12 runs (nine earned) on 12 hits in 9 1/3 innings. JoJo Romero got the final four outs to earn his first save.
Reds starter Jakob Junis allowed one run on three hits in five innings. He struck out three and walked none. Reliever Carson Spiers (5-6) took the loss.
Astros 6, Athletics 3
Jon Singleton ripped a go-ahead RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift host Houston past Oakland to avoid a three-game sweep.
After Singleton came through in the clutch, Jake Meyers helped Houston salvage the finale of a three-game series with an RBI double. Jason Heyward was then intentionally walked before Mauricio Dubon brought home two more runs with a single to put away Oakland.
The Astros’ eighth-inning rally came against T.J. McFarland (2-3) and Grant Holman. McFarland got just one out and Holman recorded two, and each reliever was charged with two runs. Houston starter Framber Valdez was in line for his seventh win in nine starts until Brent Rooker tied the score at 2-all with a one-out solo shot in the eighth off reliever Ryan Pressly (2-3).
Marlins 6, Nationals 3
Jonah Bride and Connor Norby each drove in two runs as Miami overcame an early three-run deficit to defeat host Washington.
Jake Burger collected three hits and Xavier Edwards had two after entering the game in the eighth. Three relievers did not allow a hit and struck out six over four scoreless innings for the Marlins, who benefited from three errors by the Nationals to snap a three-game skid.
Washington’s Jose Tena had a two-run double and Dylan Crews added a run-scoring single during a three-run first to highlight his two-hit performance. Crews added a nifty sliding catch in the gap in right-center field to end the sixth for the Nationals, who have lost three of their last four games.
Rays 5, Guardians 2
Cole Sulser and four other relievers combined to allow one hit over seven scoreless innings, and Jose Caballero had two hits with an RBI, as visiting Tampa Bay beat Cleveland.
Brandon Lowe homered in the first and Jonny DeLuca delivered a tiebreaking single in the fourth for the Rays, who bounced back after being swept in a three-game set at Philadelphia this week. Right-hander Ryan Pepiot started for the Rays, but was pulled after just two innings, allowing two runs, two walks and four hits.
Gavin Williams (3-9) allowed three runs and seven hits, while walking two and striking out five, in 5 1/3 innings for the Guardians, who had just swept a three-game road set from the lowly Chicago White Sox.
-Field Level Media
GOLF NEWS
DAVID LIPSKY SHOOTS 65, TAKES EARLY LEAD IN NAPA
David Lipsky set the first-round lead at the Procore Championship by shooting a 7-under-par 65 Thursday in Napa, Calif.
Lipsky birdied four of his final six holes at the Silverado Resort’s North Course, en route to a 5-under 32 on his back nine. That score held up throughout the day, and he led Scotland’s Martin Laird by one shot as the round wrapped up in California.
Tied for third at 5-under 67 were Mark Hubbard, Kevin Dougherty, Wilson Furr, Kevin Streelman and Joel Dahmen.
The Procore Championship is the first of eight events on the PGA Tour’s “FedEx Cup Fall” schedule, which will help determine players’ eligibility for the 2025 season. Players need to finish the fall in the top 125 in the standings in order to keep their tour card. Finishing between Nos. 126-150 gives players conditional status next year.
Lipsky needs all the help he can get, as he started the week No. 163 on the list.
After most of his birdie putts came from inside 10 feet Thursday, Lipsky drained a 12-footer at the par-5 18th to move to 7 under.
Hubbard has had a memorable week so far, not necessarily for the right reasons. He was fully qualified for the Procore Championship but forgot to register in time, then decided to attempt to play his way into the field via Monday qualifying.
He posted the best round of the day Monday to push his way into the field. Come Thursday, he racked up nine birdies with one bogey — and a triple bogey at the par-3 17th hole, where his tee shot found the water and he used five strokes just to get on the green.
Among notable names, Sahith Theegala and Tom Hoge opened with rounds of 3-under 69, Wyndham Clark posted a 2-under 70 and Max Homa shot a 1-under 71. Those four players are already secure for next season after finishing in the FedEx Cup top 50; Theegala and Homa are California natives who have combined to win the past three tournaments in Napa.
–Field Level Media
TOP INDIANA SPORTS HEADLINES/NEWS RELEASES
INDIANA VS. UCLA GAME NOTES
INDIANA NOTES
SETTING THE SCENE
• Indiana is set to face UCLA in the first meeting in program history on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. (ET) inside Rose Bowl Stadium (89,702) on NBC
& Peacock.
• While this will be Indiana’s first time playing against UCLA, it will be their second-ever appearance playing in the Rose Bowl, dating back to the
team’s 1968 appearance in the Granddaddy of them All against USC.
• The game will mark Indiana’s initial matchup with one of the four new Big Ten schools (Oregon, UCLA, USC, Washington) as conference opponents
and Curt Cignetti’s first Big Ten game as head coach.
NEWS & NOTES
• Indiana enters the game with a 2-0 record after defeating Western Illinois, 77-3, in Week 2. Indiana is 2-0 for the 43rd time in program history.
• The 77 points are the most scored in a single game in program history. The previous high was 76 against Franklin in 1901.
• Indiana rushed for 335 yards and passed for 378 yards to mark the first time since 2015 against Purdue (11/28) the team topped 300 yards rushing and
passing in the same game.
• All 27 active transfer student-athletes have made their Indiana debut in 2024 with DJ Warnell Jr. appearing against Western Illinois. Andrew
Depaepe and Nick Kidwell are each out for the season with injury.
• Of Indiana’s 29 transfers, the list includes 12 defensive players, 15 offensive players and two specialists. There are 29 players from Division I,
including 28 from the FBS and one from the FCS.
• Six true freshmen made their collegiate debut against Western Illinois to make the season total 10 true freshmen to debut in 2024. The true freshmen
to debut against WIU included: WR Charlie Becker, QB Tyler Cherry, DB Dontrae Henderson, RB Khobie Martin, QB Alberto Mendoza and DL
Daniel Ndukwe.
• Junior Elijah Sarratt moved his consecutive games with a catch streak to 27 straight games with his 23-yard reception in the first quarter
against Western Illinois. Sarratt (137) and redshirt sophomore Omar Cooper Jr. (131) became the first set of teammates since 2022 with 100 yards
receiving in the same game. The last duo to accomplish the feat was Cam Camper and D.J. Matthews Jr. in the season opener against Illinois (9/2)
at Memorial Stadium.
• Freshman Rolijah Hardy became the first Indiana defender with two turnovers forced in a game since 2022 against Western Kentucky (9/17).
Hardy had his first career interception and forced fumble against Western Illinois. He was the first Indiana true freshman to return an interception
for a touchdown since Jameel Cook Jr. took an interception back 96 yards against FIU in 2015.
• Senior Justice Ellison charted his third career game with 100-plus rushing yards (117) against Western Illinois. He also had his second career
multi-touchdown game, as he contributed two rushing scores.
• The 10 on-field assistants for the Hoosiers rank No. 4 in the FBS and No. 2 in the Power 4 in average age at 38.2 years old. Only Georgia Tech (33.2)
has a younger group of assistant coaches.
• Indiana is tied for the ninth-fewest returning players in the FBS and tied for third-fewest returning scholarship players.
ONE FOR THE RECORD BOOKS Indiana’s 77-3 win over Western Illinois (9/6) was truly historic for the Hoosier Football program as multiple records were broken in the dominant victory. The 77 points scored are a program record and just the fifth time IU has scored 70 points in a game in program history. The previous mark was 76 points versus Franklin College in 1901. Since the touchdown became a six-point score in 1912, a program-record 10 different players scored touchdowns in the game. The previous record came in 1944 against Fort Knox. The touchdown became a six-point score in 1912. Indiana’s 42 first-half points are the most in a half since a 45-point half in 2013 against Indiana State (8/29). The Hoosiers rushed for 335 yards and passed for 378 yards to mark the first time since 2015 against Purdue (11/28) the team topped 300 yards rushing and passing in the same game. Indiana had seven rushing touchdowns which tied for the most in program history (since legal forward pass in 1906). Indiana has achieved this feat three other times (Wisconsin, 2001; Kentucky, 1994; Nebraska, 1944).
UCLA NOTES
THE MATCHUP The UCLA football program enters league play for the first time as a member of the Big Ten Conference Saturday, when it welcomes Indiana to the Rose Bowl Stadium. The programs’ first-ever gridiron showdown will be televised by NBC and streamed on Peacock beginning at 4:30 p.m. PT, The UCLA Sports Network will broadcast the contest, which will also be aired over SiriusXM. The Bruins made their 2024 debut Aug. 31 on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, using a second-half comeback to defeat Hawai’i 16-13 at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex. Quarterback Ethan Garbers recorded 203 of his career-high 272 passing yards in the final 30 minutes, during which his team overcame a 10-0 halftime deficit. Wide receiver Rico Flores Jr. caught three passes for 102 yards, scoring on a 39-yard strike in the third quarter. Kicker Mateen Bhaghani was responsible for the game’s final nine points, drilling three field goals without a miss. The eventual game winner came from 32 yards out with 56 seconds remaining. The UCLA defense registered five sacks, 11 tackles for loss and two interceptions. UCLA officially joined the Big Ten, along with former Pac-12 Conference mates Oregon, USC and Washington, on Aug. 2, 2024. In 1928, UCLA became part of the Pacific Coast Conference (PCC). When the PCC disbanded in 1959, the Bruins moved to the Athletic Association of Western Universities (AAWU). The AAWU member schools formed the Pacific-8 Conference in 1968 before expanding to the Pacific-10 Conference in 1978 and the Pac-12 in 2011. It is a year of change for UCLA football, as head coach DeShaun Foster took the reins at his alma mater Feb. 12, 2024. A member of the UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame for his prowess in the Bruin offensive backfield from 1998-2001, Foster spent seven seasons in the National Football League. He piled up more that 4,500 total yards and 16 touchdowns, including a 33-yard scoring dash in Super Bowl XXXVIII as a member of the Carolina Panthers. Foster spent the previous 11 seasons — including 10 at UCLA — in the collegiate coaching ranks before being promoted from associate head coach and running backs coach. UCLA OFFICIALLY JOINS BIG TEN CONFERENCE UCLA officially joined the Big Ten Conference Aug. 2, ushering in a new era in the Bruins’ storied and illustrious athletic tradition. UCLA, along with previous conference foes Oregon, USC and Washington, have moved to an 18-team Big Ten Conference with a footprint spanning from the Pacific to the Atlantic. UCLA’s approaching membership in the Big Ten Conference was initially announced more than two years ago, on June 30, 2022. “The day has finally come,” said Martin Jarmond, The Alice and Nahum Lainer Family Director of Athletics. “After two years of planning and preparation, UCLA is proud and excited to join the Big Ten Conference. I am grateful for the energy and effort that has been put into shaping this pivotal move by our hard-working staff members, as well as our coaches and student-athletes. The investments we have made into our programs and student-athletes over the past 24 months have set us up to continue to compete at the elite level that defines UCLA Athletics.”
BRUINS BY THE NUMBERS • K Mateen Bhaghani made all 3 of his field goals at Hawai’i (Aug. 31), accounting for the final nine points of UCLA’s comeback win. • The Bruins have outscored opponents by a 44-9 margin in their past two second halves dating back to the 2023 Starco Brands LA Bowl Hosted By Gronk. • 7 former UCLA standouts will officially join the UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame Friday and be recognized at halftime of Saturday’s game. • LB Kain Medrano registered a Pro Football Focus grade of 88.4 in the opener to rank fourth among all linebackers and tops in the Big Ten Conference. • The Bruins piled up 11 tackles for loss at Hawai’i to match the 2023 team’s season high. • Head coach DeShaun Foster’s staff has 47 seasons of NFL coaching experience. • DB Joshua Swift was chosen to wear No. 36 in memory of Nick Pasquale, whose life was tragically cut short while a member of the UCLA football team in 2013. • 17 Bruins made their first appearances in blue and gold at Hawai’i. • 34 Bruins have already earned undergraduate degrees. • 4 UCLA running backs have been drafted since 2020, while undrafted rookie Carson Steele was recently named to the Kansas City Chiefs’ 53-man roster. • UCLA football will be making its 1st-ever appearances against Indiana and Rutgers in 2024. • The UCLA defense has allowed fewer than 100 rushing yards 9 times since the start of the 2023 season. • 25 Bruins were on active rosters as the 2024 NFL season kicked off Sept. 5. QUICK HITS • The UCLA defense surrendered just three second-half points, a feat it accomplished twice in 2023, at Hawai’i (Aug. 31). The Bruins shut out Utah (Sept. 23, 2023) and San Diego State (Sept. 9, 2023) in the final 30 minutes of those road contests. • The Bruins piled up five sacks, 11 tackles for loss and two interceptions at Hawai’i. The UCLA defense in 2023 never reached all three totals in a single game. The TFL total matched the 2023 group’s season high, which it accomplished in road games against Stanford (Oct. 21) and Utah (Sept. 23). The 2023 Bruins finished with 105 TFL, a program high since 2009. • The Bruin defense surrendered just 51 yards on the ground at Hawai’i. The 2023 group allowed fewer four times. UCLA has now given up 56 rushing yards or fewer in four consecutive season openers. • DL Devin Aupiu and OL Niki Prongos made their first career starts at Hawai’i. Joining Aupiu and Prongos in making their initial starts as Bruins were DB Bryan Addison, DL Jacob Busic, WR Rico Flores Jr., DB Ramon Henderson, OL Alani Makihele, DB Kaylin Moore, OL Reuben Unije, DB K.J. Wallace. LS Salem Abdul-Wahab and P Chase Barry also took first snaps as Bruins at their positions. • Seventeen players made their debuts as Bruins at Hawai’i: LS Salem Abdul-Wahab, DB Bryan Addison, K Mateen Bhaghani, DL Jacob Busic, LS Travis Drosos, WR Rico Flores Jr., RB Anthony Frias II, WR Kwazi Gilmer, DB Ramon Henderson, OL Alani Makihele, DB Kaylin Moore, TE Bryce Pierre, P Brody Richter, DL Luke Schuermann, OL Reuben Unije, LB Joseph Vaughn and DB K.J. Wallace. Gilmer is the lone true freshman on the list. • The Bruins outscored Hawai’i 16-3 in the second half of its 16-13 season-opening road win. That marked the first time a UCLA team won a game after being held scoreless in the first half since Oct. 1, 2005, when it took down Washington 21-17 after trailing 10-0 at halftime. • Over its past two second halves, dating back to the 2023 Starco Brands LA Bowl Hosted By Gronk (Dec. 16), UCLA has outscored opponents by a 44-9 margin. QB Ethan Garbers has completed 22 of 31 passes for 355 yards and three touchdowns across those 60 minutes. UNDER CENTER • Redshirt senior QB Ethan Garbers registered career highs of 272 passing yards and 319 yards of total offense in UCLA’s season-opening 16-13 win at Hawai’i (Aug. 31). He completed 13 of 19 passes for 203 yards and one touchdown in the second half alone. • Garbers was named offensive MVP of UCLA’s 2023 finale at the Starco Brands LA Bowl Hosted By Gronk (9-12, 152 yards, and two touchdowns through the air in a 35-22 win against Boise State). • Garbers was named to the watch list for the 2024 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, handed out annually to the nation’s top graduating quarterback. • Garbers is coming off a junior season in which he recorded 1,136 yards and 11 touchdowns on 98-of-146 passing over 11 games (six starts). • Besides his offensive MVP outing at the LA Bowl, other standout efforts from Garbers in 2023 included a 155-yard, three-touchdown performance to help the Bruins defeat crosstown rival USC on the road, and a season-high 269 yards with two scoring passes against Colorado. • The Bruins were 4-0 in 2023 when Garbers threw for multiple touchdowns. • Had he appeared in enough games last year to qualify, Garbers’ .671 completion percentage would have ranked 17th nationally, fifth in the Pac-12 Conference, and third among quarterbacks in the 2024 configuration of the Big Ten Conference. • Last year, UCLA ranked fourth in the Pac-12 and 41st nationally with a 12.52 yards-per-completion average. • UCLA has eight quarterbacks on its roster for the 2024 season, including a trio of freshmen. • Justyn Martin and Chase Griffin are the other Bruin quarterbacks on the roster who have seen game action at the Division I level. • Griffin was tabbed recently to the watch list for the Wuerffel Trophy, college football’s premier award for community service. Earlier this year, Griffin was named the 2024 UCLA Young Alumnus of the Year for his leadership and philanthropic commitment. BRUIN BALL CARRIERS • UCLA led the Pac-12 Conference and finished 16th nationally with a rushing-yards-per-game average of 197.9 in 2023. • The Bruins eclipsed the 200-yard rushing mark six times in 2023, going 5-1 in those games. Their 404 ground yards against North Carolina Central (Sept. 16) were the most by a UCLA team since 2010. • RB T.J. Harden, who was named a preseason candidate for the Doak Walker Award in August, rushed for more than 100 yards in two of the Bruins’ final three 2023 contests. • Harden had a career game last season at USC (Nov. 18, 2023), rushing for a personal-best 142 yards and tacking on his first receiving touchdown. He also scored on the ground. • Harden’s 5.3 rushing yards per carry (fifth), eight touchdown runs (ninth), and 63.6 ground yards per game (10th) were good for top-10 finishes among Pac-12 performers in 2023. • RB Keegan Jones, who was put on the Paul Hornung Award preseason watch list in August, rushed 14 times for 152 yards and two touchdowns while catching eight balls for 77 yards and returning four kicks for 78 yards in 2023. • Newcomer RB Jalen Berger broke the 100-yard rushing mark three times, including a season-opening 16-carry, 120-yard performance against Western Michigan (Sept. 2) for Michigan State in 2022. He started 11 games for the Spartans that year. • UCLA had six rushers – including returners Harden (5.3), Jones (10.9), and RB Anthony Adkins (5.9) – log 10 or more carries while averaging 5.1 yards or better per carry in 2023.
INDIANA WOMEN’S TENNIS
IUWT OPENS FALL SEASON WITH COLUMBIA INVITATIONAL
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana women’s tennis heads to New York City for the Columbia Invitational from Sept. 13-15th.
The tournament hosted by Columbia will include the Hoosiers, Cornell, Stony Brook, Wagner and Hofstra.
The matches can be followed via the livestats link HERE. There will be no livestream available.
All nine Hoosiers will be competing in the tournament including returners Lara Schneider, Nicole Teodosescu, Elisabeth Dunac, Li-Hsin Lin, Sarah L’Allier, Chase Boyer and Magdalena Swierczynska. Freshmen duo Nicole Sifuentes and Marina Fuduric will also make their collegiate debuts.
TOURNAMENT INFO:
This will be a hidden dual format with doubles one, no ad while singles is two sets with a 10-point tie break in lieu of a third set.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Friday 9/13:
11:00am Columbia vs Stony Brook indoors/outdoors
3:00pm Cornell vs Indiana indoors
3:00pm Wagner vs Hofstra outdoors
Saturday 9/14:
10:00am Indiana vs Hofstra Indoors
10:00am Wagner vs Stony Brook outdoors
2:00pm Columbia vs Cornell outdoors
Sunday 9/15
10:00am Cornell vs Wagner indoors
10:00am Columbia vs Indiana outdoors
2:00pm Hofstra vs Stony Brook
INDIANA MEN’S TENNIS
INDIANA MEN’S TENNIS TO BEGIN FALL SEASON AT MTSU FALL INVITE
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. ––––– The Indiana Men’s Tennis program is set to begin their fall 2024 campaign this weekend in the MTSU Fall Invite at the MTSU Outdoor Tennis Center.
The invitational will feature the following Hoosiers; Matteo Antonescu, Luc Boulier, Braeden Gelletich, Nikola Kolyachev, Ben Pomeranets, Karan Raghavendra, Deacon Thomas, Jip van Assendelft, and Facundo Yunis
Indiana will be participating in the invitational alongside Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Lipscomb, Tennessee Tech, and Middle Tennessee.
The event will take place from Sep. 13-15 and will feature both singles and doubles competition.
Live stats for the tournament can be found here.
INDIANA WOMEN’S SOCCER
INDIANA DROPS CONFERENCE OPENER AGAINST NO. 20 OHIO STATE
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana women’s soccer fell, 3-0, to No. 20 Ohio State (5-1-1, 1-0 B1G) in the league opener at Bill Armstrong Stadium on Thursday evening.
KEY MOMENTS
• Indiana (5-1-1, 0-1 B1G) saw their first shot on target from freshman forward Layla Sirdah in the 12th minute. She saw an open look in the box before striking it straight at the keeper, forcing her to make a diving save to the bottom right of the net.
• Senior goalkeeper Jamie Gerstenberg picked up her first couple of saves after a pair of shots in the first half.
• Ohio State went up 1-0 in the 28th minute off a cross inside the goalie box before taking a 2-0 lead heading to the locker room with another goal in the 37th minute.
• OSU took the first two shots on goal in the second half, but Gerstenberg made a couple of diving saves to keep them at bay.
• Indiana’s senior midfielder Hope Paredes gave the Hoosiers two solid chances in the second half. Her first came in the 74th minute after a cross from the inside. She was able to get the shot off with her left foot but a diving save from the Buckeyes veteran keeper Molly Pritchard made the diving save.
• The save led to an IU corner kick. Ohio State was able to get a head on it, but dropped and found the right foot of Paredes just outside the 18-yard box as she put one up high to the top right of the net making Pritchard jump for the save.
• Gerstenberg tallied three more saves on the night bringing her total to nine, before an Indiana yellow card in the box led to a penalty goal for the Buckeyes in the 87th minute to extend their lead 3-0.
NOTABLES
• Senior goalkeeper Jamie Gerstenberg grabbed nine saves for a single-game record.
• The teams tied 6-6 in corners and totaled seven shots. Paredes led the Hoosiers with four shots.
UP NEXT
IUWS will return back to action next week with UCLA on Thursday (Sept. 19th) and USC on Sunday (Sept. 22nd) at Bill Armstrong Stadium.
PURDUE VS. NOTRE DAME GAME NOTES
PURDUE NOTES
After beginning the season with a 49-0 victory followed by the first bye week of the year, Purdue Football returns to the gridiron by hosting No. 18 Notre Dame at a sold-out Ross-Ade Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS. • The Shillelagh Trophy is up for grabs, one of three trophy games for Purdue this season (Cannon Trophy – Illinois, Old Oaken Bucket – Indiana). • Legendary Purdue quarterback Gary Danielson will be on the call Saturday as an analyst for CBS. Danielson is a member of the Cradle of Quarterbacks, featuring 12 of the best quarterbacks in program history. • The matchup with the Fighting Irish is a sellout, as all tickets sold out one day after going on sale to the public. • The Boilermakers have seven victories over top 25 teams since 2018 (six seasons), including three wins over Top 5 teams (No. 2 Ohio State in 2018, No. 2 Iowa in 2021, No. 3 Michigan State in 2021). • Purdue has defeated a ranked Notre Dame 16 times throughout history, including eight times as an unranked team and four times when the Fighting Irish were ranked No. 1 in the country (1950, 1954, 1965, 1967). • Ryan Walters is looking to become the first Purdue head coach to beat Notre Dame in his first try since Joe Tiller (1997). Tiller’s unranked Purdue defeated No. 12 Notre Dame 28-17 at home (Sept. 13, 1997). • Purdue quarterback Hudson Card leads the nation in completion percentage (96%) after tying a FBS record against Indiana State, completing 24-of-25 passes for 273 yards and a career-high four touchdowns. • Walters’ defense leads the Big Ten in scoring defense (0.0 ppg), opponent 3rd down percentage (8.3%), passing yards allowed (50.0 per game), and TFLs (11.0 per game). • Purdue tops the Big Ten in total offense (583.0 ypg), while ranking sixth nationally. • Devin Mockobee is 132 yards away from becoming the 14th Boilermaker in history to rush for 2,000 career yards. • Dillon Thieneman, 50th All-American in program history, is a consensus Preseason All-American; setting program freshman records for interceptions (6) and solo tackles (74), Thieneman was tabbed the FWAA Freshman Defensive Player of the Year and the Big Ten Freshman of the Year last season. • Purdue has produced four All-Americans over the past three seasons (Dillon Thieneman – 2023, Charlie Jones – 2022, David Bell – 2021, George Karlaftis – 2021), the most in a three-year stretch since 1967-69. • Sophomore rush end Will Heldt leads the nation in tackles-for-loss (3.0 per game), while ranking second nationally and leading the Big Ten in sacks (2.0 per game). • Senior linebacker Kydran Jenkins ranks 10th in Purdue history with 17.5 sacks, only 0.5 sack away from passing Jim Schwantz (1988-91) for ninth on the program’s all-time list. • Tarrion Grant and Shamar Rigby started against the Sycamores, joining Ja’Whaun Bentley (New England Patriots), Jalen Graham (Washington Commanders), George Karlaftis (Kansas City Chiefs) and Dillon Thieneman as the only Purdue true freshmen to start a season opener since 2011.
WELCOME HOME, GARY • A familiar face returns to West Lafayette this weekend in legendary quarterback Gary Danielson ’73. • A longtime college football analyst for CBS, Danielson will call the game this weekend. • Danielson (1970-72) is one of 12 QBs that make up Purdue’s Cradle of Quarterbacks. • In 1971, Danielson led the Big Ten in passing offense with 1,467 yards and was the architect of six of the conference’s 11 longest plays of the season. He set the Big Ten record for passing accuracy that year at 61.7 percent in conference games. • In the early 1970s, Purdue Athletics commissioned a university artist named Keith Butz to create a poster featuring outstanding Boilermaker quarterbacks of the previous 30 years. That poster featured Bob DeMoss, Dale Samuels, Len Dawson, Bernie Allen, Bob Griese, Mike Phipps and Gary Danielson. BATTLE FOR THE SHILLELAGH TROPHY • One of the most played matchups in Purdue Football history, Saturday’s Shillelagh Trophy Game will be the 88th all-time meeting between the Boilermakers and Notre Dame. • Purdue has only played four opponents more times than the Fighting Irish: Indiana (125), Illinois (99), Iowa (94) and Wisconsin (90). • Purdue and Notre Dame have played for the Shillelagh since 1957. It was donated by Joe McLaughlin, a merchant seaman and a Fighting Irish fan who brought the club from Ireland. The Shillelagh Trophy game returns to Ross-Ade Stadium for the first time since 2013. • Purdue claimed three out of five games from Notre Dame from 2003-07, taking ownership of the Shillelagh Trophy in 2003, 2004 and 2007.
RECENT SUCCESS VS. RANKED OPPONENTS • Purdue has beaten seven ranked teams over the past six seasons, going 7-9 against Top 25 opponents despite being the underdog in each one of those games. • Three of those wins were against Top 3 teams, while Purdue handed five of those ranked teams their first loss of the season. • The victories during the 2021 campaign (No. 2 Iowa, No. 3 Michigan State) gave Purdue multiple wins over Top 5 teams in one season for the first time since 1960 (No. 3 Ohio State, No. 1 Minnesota). • Five of the seven wins have been by double digits, the biggest being a 29-point victory over No. 2 Ohio State in 2018. • Purdue has defeated a ranked Notre Dame team 16 times throughout history, including seven wins when the Fighting Irish cracked the Top 5 and four victories when Notre Dame was the No. 1 team in the country (1950, 1954, 1965, 1967).
JACKPOT 7-7-7 • In the 49-0 victory over Indiana State, all seven of Purdue’s touchdowns were scored by different Boilermakers. • The seven Boilermakers that scored (Elijah Jackson, Max Klare, Reggie Love III, Jaheim Merriweather, De’Nylon Morrissette, Leland Smith, Jaron Tibbs) all found the end zone for the first time in a Purdue uniform. • Before the 2024 season opener, the last time seven different Boilermakers scored a TD in a game: vs. Eastern Michigan, Sept. 15, 2012. • Will Heldt and Antonio Stevens led Purdue with seven tackles apiece, both career highs. • Making his collegiate debut, freshman kicker Spencer Porath was a perfect 7-for-7 on PATs.
ABOUT THE MATCH-UP
Purdue and the Fighting Irish will meet in a football game for just the second time since 2014 after facing off every year from 1946-2014 (68 consecutive seasons). • The Boilermakers will look to end an eight-game losing streak to Notre Dame, last defeating the Fighting Irish in 2007 by a score of 33-19. Curtis Painter passed for 252 yards and two touchdowns, while Kory Sheets rushed for 141 yards and one score in the win (Sept. 29, 2007).
THE LAST MATCH-UP
• Playing in South Bend for the first time since 2012, Purdue fell to No. 12 Notre Dame 27-13. • The Boilermakers pulled within four points midway through the third quarter, only for the Fighting Irish to score 10 unanswered in the fourth to pull away. • Purdue’s defense held firm against the Fighting Irish offense, recording a season-high seven tackles-for-loss and four sacks. • Seven different Boilermakers recorded a tackle-for-loss, led by George Karlaftis’ 1.5, including a half-sack. • Notre Dame finished with 343 yards of total offense with 243 coming off eight plays. Remove those eight key plays, the Boilermakers limited the hosts to 100 yards on 58 plays. • Purdue quarterback Jack Plummer threw for 187 yards on 25-of-36 passing and one touchdown. Aidan O’Connell came on in the fourth quarter to go 11-of-18 for 104 yards.
NOTRE DAME NOTES
Saturday will mark the 88th meeting between Notre Dame and Purdue. The series stands with a 59-26-2 Notre Dame record. • Notre Dame is 28-14-2 when playing at Purdue. • The Irish have won the last eight matchups with Purdue dating back to 2008. Purdue’s last win in the series was 2007 (19-33 at Purdue). • Notre Dame and Purdue played each season from 1946-2014. • The last meeting between the Irish and Boilermakers came in 2021. No. 12 Notre Dame bested Purdue 27-13 at Notre Dame Stadium. • Notre Dame is 313-169-22 against B1G 10 Teams, going 132-97-14 in away games. • The teams play for the Shillelagh Trophy, a tradition that began in 1957. During the Trophy series with Purdue, Notre Dame leads 40-19. The Irish have also played for two other Shillelagh trophies in their history, one with Northwestern and one with Southern Cal, the latter of which is still in use today.
IRISH ITEMS – BY THE NUMBERS 2nd Leading the nation in interceptions with seven in 2023 and earning national defensive player of the week honors twice, Xavier Watts became the second Notre Dame player to win the Bronko Nagurski Trophy as the nation’s best defensive player (Manti Te’o won the award in 2012). 2 Notre Dame is one of just two FBS programs (Auburn) that have three or more receivers who were the leading receiver (either in yards or receptions) on an FBS roster in 2023: Tight end Mitchell Evans (led Notre Dame with 29 receptions); wide receiver Jayden Harrison (led Marshall with 410 receiving yards); and wide receiver Kris Mitchell (led FIU in both receptions and yards – 64 receptions for 1,118 yards). 3rd Xavier Watts became just the third Notre Dame player to lead the nation in interceptions in 2023, picking off seven passes. He is the first Irish player to pace the country since Mike Townsend intercepted 10 passes in 1972. Tony Carey (eight) also led the country in interceptions in 1964. Watts added another interception in the win over No. 20 Texas A&M to make eight on his career. 5 Notre Dame is one of just five programs in the Power 4 with eight or more wins over each of the last four seasons, joined by Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, and NC State. 5th Notre Dame finished the 2023 season ranked fifth in FBS for total defense (276.3), the program’s best effort since 1980 (4th). The Irish also led the nation in pass-efficiency defense (97.09). 8 The 23-13 win at No. 20 Texas A&M was Dick Corbett Head Football Coach Marcus Freeman’s eighth victory over a ranked opponent. In 2023, the 40-8 Sun Bowl victory over No. 21 Oregon State not only earned Freeman his first campaign with 10 victories, it also was his team’s seventh victory over an Associated Press-ranked team in his first two years leading the program – breaking Terry Brennan’s previous program record of six in 1954 and 55. 8.2 The 23-13 win at No. 20 Texas A&M was the most-watched Saturday night football game in two years with 8.2 million viewers (the most since Notre Dame vs. Ohio State in 2022 with 10.5 million), and ABC’s most-streamed regular season college football game ever. 10 Notre Dame finished the 2023 season ranked seventh in both scoring defense (15.9 ppg) and offense (39.2) – joining Georgia (5th, 5th) and Oregon (9th, 2nd) as the only FBS programs to rank among the top 10 in both statistical categories. The joint top-10 finishes in both statistics mark the first time Notre Dame has achieved that feat since 1973 when the Irish were eighth in scoring offense (35.8) and third in scoring defense (6.6). 14th The Irish finished the 2023 season ranked 14th in the Associated Press poll, marking the seventh-straight campaign, and 10 of the last 12 Notre Dame has appeared in the final AP ranking. That seven-season final AP ranking streak is the best run for the Notre Dame program since the Irish finished in the AP Top 25 11 consecutive seasons from 1964-74.
TWO-DEEP TIDBITS – OFFENSE • Jayden Thomas entered 2023 season as Notre Dame’s leading returning receiver and served in that role in the first four games of the year, catching 12 passes for over 180 yards and a touchdown. • Beaux Collins led the Irish receivers at Texas A&M and snagged a pivotal 20- yard contested catch to keep the game-winning drive alive. He also led Irish receivers vs. Northern Illinois. He recorded 91 receptions for 1,290 yards and 11 touchdowns in 1,578 offensive snaps over 32 games (27 starts) at Clemson from 2021-23. He broke out late in his true freshman season with 31 catches for 407 yards and three touchdowns • Jaden Greathouse was the first Irish true freshman wideout to catch two touchdown passes in his first-career game (against Navy in 2023). His five touchdown catches during a rookie campaign are the most for a Notre Dame true freshman since 2016. • Jayden Harrison was a first-team All-American as a kick returner at Marshall last season, tying for the FBS lead with two kick return touchdowns in 2023. In 2023, Harrison played in all 13 games for Marshall (started four), totaling 28 receptions for 410 yards (14.6 yards per reception) and a touchdown. • Kris Mitchell, a transfer from FIU, led CUSA and ranked in the Top 20 nationally in receiving yards in 2023 (1,118 – 18th nationally) and receiving yads per game (93.2 – 13th nationally). Mitchell owns 100 career receptions for 1,663 yards and 11 touchdowns. • KK Smith – Smith began his time at Notre Dame recovering from an injury. His hard work over 2023 Fall allowed Smith to return to practice during bowl prep and make his Notre Dame debut in the Sun Bowl victory over Oregon State. • Jordan Faison joined the Notre Dame football team as a walk on and made his collegiate athletics debut at No. 25 Louisville in 2023, and was put on football scholarship. He would end the season with 19 catches for 322 yards and four touchdowns, capping the year by earning Sun Bowl MVP honors with five catches for 115 yards and a touchdown. • Notre Dame’s offensive line presents some new faces in 2024 with the departures of NFL Draftees Joe Alt and Blake Fisher. Pat Coogan, Ashton Craig, Billy Schrauth, Tosh Baker, Rocco Spindler and Charles Jagusah own starting experience. Jagusah will miss 2024 with a torn right pectoralis muscle. Irish linemen Aamil Wagner, Sam Pendleton and Anthonie Knapp all made their first-career starts at No. 20 Texas A&M. • Mitchell Evans had a breakout season in 2023 before being sidelined with an injury. He played in eight games as a junior, starting seven, and ended the season as the team’s top receiving target, averaging 52.8 yards per game. Through those eight games, Evans totaled 29 receptions for 422 yards and a touchdown, averaging 14.6 yards per catch. With Evans’ injury, Cooper Flanagan and Eli Raridon saw action in 2023, each scoring a touchdown, and will look to have an increased role in 2024. • Riley Leonard won his first game in an Irish uniform at No. 20 Texas A&M, leading a game-winning fourth-quarter drive. He enters his senior season and first with Notre Dame coming off a Duke career as one of the ACC’s premier quarterbacks. In 2023, Leonard started all seven games in which he played for Duke, going 95-for-165 and 1,102 yards (57.5 percent completion rate) and three touchdowns. He rushed 58 times for 352 yards (44-yard long) and four touchdowns on the season. See page 15 for more on Leonard • Steve Angeli made the most of his first-career start in the 2023 Sun Bowl completing 15 of 19 passes for 232 yards and three touchdowns. Prior to that game, he went 19-for-25 passing with four touchdowns in seven relief appearances. • With the departure of NFL Draft pick Audric Estimé, Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price are poised to lead the Irish running backs in 2024. See page 17 for more on the Irish running backs.
TWO-DEEP TIDBITS – DEFENSE • Jordan Botelho recorded 32 tackles and four sacks in his first full season as Notre Dame’s starting Vyper defensive end, He was named the Sun Bowl Lineman of the Game. Boubacar Traore posted his first career sack in the victory over No. 10 Southern Cal in 2023. Junior Tuihalamaka appeared in all 13 games in 2023 while posting 10 tackles. • Rylie Mills was named a 2024 team captain and was a disruptive force on the Irish defensive line in 2023. See page 15 for more information on Mills. Jason Onye emerged as a dependable reserve defensive lineman for the Irish in 2023. He also blocked two field goal attempts during the season, one of which came during his five-tackle performance against Tennessee State. • Howard Cross III established himself as one of the top playmaking interior defensive lineman in the country during the 2023 season. See page 14 for more information on Cross. Donovan Hinish appeared in nine games in 2023 and posted a career-best four stops in the win over Central Michigan. • RJ Oben transferred from Duke in the offseason with 34 career starts and 50 games played. He has posted 67 tackles on his career, with 14.5 sacks (loss of 91 yards), five forced fumbles, two passes defended and an interception. Joshua Burnham finished the 2023 season with 18 tackles, four tackles-for-loss, and a sack. Bryce Young is a four-star true freshman and was an Adidas All-American as a high school senior. • Jack Kiser leads a linebacker room with young talent. A team captain, Kiser will make a run for the Notre Dame career games played record. See page 15 for more information on Kiser. Jaiden Ausberry appeared in four regular-season games in 2023, preserving his eligibility. Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa is a highly touted five-star linebacker who was a finalist for the high school Butkus Award in 2023. He posted a career-high seven tackles vs. Northern Illinois. Drayk Bowen appeared in 12 games in 2023 (missing one contest with an injury) and recorded 14 stops and a forced fumble. Jaylen Sneed appeared in all 13 games in 2023, totaling 14 tackles, five QB hurries and two PBU • Jordan Clark joins the Irish from Arizona State with 22 career starts and 39 games played. Throughout his college career, he has snagged three interceptions (one for a touchdown) and 139 tackles (101 solo) with 6.5 TFL and 20 passes defended. • Benjamin Morrison followed up his freshman All-America campaign in 2022 with an impressive 2023, intercepting three passes while making 31 tackles and breaking up 10 passes. See page 14 for more on Morrison. • Adon Shuler notched his first-career interception in the 23-13 victory at No. 20 Texas A&M. He showed his playmaking ability late in the 2023 season, posting all six career tackles in the final three games of the year. A preferred walk-on, Luke Talich quickly established himself as a special teams mainstay during his freshman season in 2023. • True freshmen Karson Hobbs, Leonard Moore, and Kennedy Urlacher have impressed in preseason camp. Moore and Urlacher both garnered one four-star ranking through recruitment. Moore made his college football debut at No. 20 Texas A&M. • Christian Gray started his first career game in the 23-13 win at No. 20 Texas A&M. He saw action in 12 games and made 11 tackles in 2023. He intercepted his first career pass against Pittsburgh and finished the year with a career-best three tackles in the Sun Bowl victory over Oregon State. Jaden Mickey saw action in all 13 games in 2023 and started in the Sun Bowl. His season highlight was a 43-yard interception return for a touchdown against Pittsburgh. • Xavier Watts started off the year strong with an interception in the 23-13 victory at No. 20 Texas A&M. He was the first Notre Dame player to intercept multiple passes in back-to-back games in 2023. Watts won the Bednarik Award and was a unanimous All-American. See page 13 for more on Watts. Rod Heard II spent his prior career at Northwestern, where he amassed 31 starts and 46 games played with 182 tackles, 11 for loss, two sacks and two interceptions, as well as 10 passes defended, five forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
PURDUE WOMEN’S SOCCER
BOILERS DOWN WILDCATS TO OPEN BIG TEN SEASON
EVANSTON, Ill. – The Purdue soccer team began Big Ten Conference play with a 2-0 victory at Northwestern on Thursday night in Evanston, Illinois.
On a mostly cloudy and pleasant evening at Martin Stadium, sophomore forward Lauren Omholt gave the visitors a 1-0 lead just seven minutes into the game. Junior Kayla Budish added an insurance goal with less than five minutes to play to secure the win.
The Boilermakers (5-2-1, 1-0-0 Big Ten) were out-shot 20-7, and the Wildcats (5-3-0, 0-1-0 Big Ten) had a 6-5 advantage in shots on goal, but Purdue took advantage of its chances. NU earned 12 corner kicks and Purdue had two.
As the Old Gold and Black improve on their best start to the season since 2021, they open the Big Ten season with a victory for the first time since 2021, also on the road. The Boilermakers have won four of their last five games and outscored their opponents 13-2 in that stretch.
Meanwhile, Purdue handed NU its first home defeat since October 1, 2023, while the Wildcats allowed a goal at Martin Stadium for the first time since October 15, 2023.
The Boilermakers improved to 18-9-1 all-time against Northwestern and 7-5-2 in Evanston. It’s the 12th consecutive game between the two sides were at least one team was held without a goal.
Both Omholt and Budish scored their second goals of the season. Omholt’s score is the fourth of her career and her first game-winning goal. Budish netted her ninth career goal. It was assisted by fifth-year Mackenzie Jones, her first as a Boilermaker, 11th of her career and first since 2022.
Sophomore Emily Edwards made five saves for the second consecutive game and picked up her fourth shutout of the campaign. The defense also cleared a ball off the line. Northwestern’s goalkeeper made three saves. Senior forward Lexi Fraley led Purdue with two shots and was one of five Boilermakers with a shot on target.
Edwards’ first save came at 3:52, and the Boilermakers cleared a ball off the line just 13 seconds later. Not long afterwards, Purdue had its first shot of the game, which found the back of the net off of Omholt’s right foot at 6:09.
Omholt took advantage of a backwards pass that NU’s goalkeeper couldn’t handle. Near the edge of the penalty area, the long pass back bounced off the keeper right towards a charging Omholt, who quickly sent a shot from just outside of the 18-yard box around the goalkeeper. It bounced once and into the wide open goal for the 1-0 lead.
Watch Omholt’s Goal
Fifth-year midfielder Zoie Allen had a chance go wide several minutes later, and Edwards had two more nice saves in the 16th and 21st minutes.
Senior forward Gracie Dunaway almost made it 2-0 in the 28th minute, but her shot was saved to set up a corner kick.
The Boilermaker defense then forced two shots wide and blocked another to close out the first half.
Northwestern had a 9-3 advantage in shots, and a 4-2 edge in shots on goal in the opening 45 minutes. NU had five corner kicks and Purdue earned one.
The second half began with two shots wide by the Wildcats before the Boilermakers earned several strong opportunities.
Fraley and senior midfielder Lauren Meeks both nearly added to the advantage in the 63rd minute. Fraley’s first shot was saved, and Meeks was there for an attempt on the rebound, but that also was stopped by the NU keeper. Seven minutes later, Fraley had a chance blocked.
Two off-target shots for Northwestern preceded Budish’s goal at 85:30. Directly off a Wildcat corner kick that was bouncing towards the far sideline, Jones reached the ball first and poked it ahead past midfield. In a race to the ball, Budish beat an NU defender just past the halfway line and had a clear path towards the penalty area and a one-on-one opportunity just to the left of the penalty arc. With the keeper approximately 12 yards off her line, Budish dribbled around her, to the left, and sent a left-footed shot into the far side of the goal from the corner of the goal box.
Watch Budish’s Goal
That made it 2-0 with 4:30 left to play. Northwestern tried to get a goal back, but a pair of saves by Edwards, another shot blocked and one forced wide preserved the win and clean sheet.
Purdue had four shots, three on goal in the second half, and Northwestern had 11 shots, two on frame. The visitors had one corner kick and the home side had seven.
The Boilermakers are back at Folk Field on Thursday, September 19, for a nationally-televised matchup against USC. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET on the Big Ten Network. Admission is free for all fans, and it also is $2 beer night. The weekend will conclude against No. 22 UCLA on Sunday, September 22, at 1 p.m., in West Lafayette.
PURDUE VOLLEYBALL
VOLLEYBALL PREPARES FOR DALLAS
SMU DOUBLETREE INVITATIONAL
Friday, September 13
5 p.m. ET | #7 Purdue vs, Houston
Saturday, September 14
3 p.m. or 5 p.m. ET | at SMU or vs. #10 Kentucky
West Lafayette, Ind. – The No. 7 Purdue Boilermakers will be tested this weekend with a pair of tough matchups vs. Houston and either host SMU or #10 Kentucky in Dallas, Texas.
Purdue’s opponent Saturday will be determined by the winner and losers of Friday’s matches. Matches against SMU in the tournament will be streamed on ACCNX, accessible through espn+. Fans can also follow along via live stats HERE or listen to the radio broadcast on WSHY 104.3 FM or online HERE.
PURDUE: THE NEED TO KNOW
Purdue has dropped just two of the last 23 sets.
The Boilermakers adjustments during a match has led to improved play, seen in increased hitting % from first to second sets, blocks and more.
Compared to last season, Purdue has a more balanced offense, seen in part by right side hitter Kenna Wollard’s .360 hitting %. The sophomore has hit .300 or above in every match.
Raven Colvin’s racked up 44 blocks in just six matches while also averaging a .417 attack %. The senior has hit .700 twice already and recorded 16 kills vs. Cal (9/5).
Freshman DS Ryan McAleer is a regular in the back row and has recorded four perfect matches in reception %.
Eva Hudson is averaging 4.40 kills per set and 5.05 points per set this season.
Chloe Chicoine owns two double-doubles and led the team
SCOUTING HOUSTON
The Cougars have a stacked week of opponents, first taking on #6 Texas Wednesday night before traveling to Dallas.
Graduate Libero Kate Georgiades was awarded Big 12 Conference Defensive Player of the Week after recording 47 digs in the opening-weekend matches.
Georgiades also spent her summer playing with the 2024 U.S. Women’s Collegiate National Team for the third consecutive year. She was one of three liberos on the roster.
The Cougars’ new additions include three freshmen as well as six transfers.
SCOUTING #RV SMU
After a week of play, the Mustangs are 5-2 with notable sweeps against #2 Nebraska and #18 Baylor earlier this week.
The victory over Nebraska was also the first time an un-ranked team has swept the Cornhuskers in a decade.
Middle blocker Nnedi Okammar was named ACC Defensive Player of the Week after averaging 1.43 blocks per set during Week One.
SMU is coached by Sam Erger, who was recognized as the 2023 ACC Coach of the Year in her second season leading the program.
SCOUTING #10 KENTUCKY
The Wildcats started the season ranked #9 in the country but have since moved to #10 after starting the season 5-2, including tough losses to #2 Nebraska and #7 Penn State.
Kentucky’s offense is led by Sophomore outside hitter Brooklyn DeLeye who is averaging over four kills per set.
Last season, DeLeye was honored as the SEC Freshman of the Year and was an AVCA All-American Honorable Mention.
Senior setter Emma Grome is the one dishing the ball to DeLaye, and is averaging over 10 assists per set.
Grome led the NCAA with 12.10 assists per set last season and has been awarded AVCA Second Team All-American for three consecutive years.
Head Coach Craig Skinner is in his 20th season with the Wildcats and was the 2020-21 AVCA National Coach of the Year after leading his team to a National Championship victory over Texas.
THE 2024 TEAM AT A GLANCE
Purdue returns nearly its entire 2023 starting lineup with the exception of libero Maddie Schermerhorn, who led the Big Ten last season in digs per set.
Three freshmen (DS Ryen McAlear, S Allie Shondell and DS Sienna Foster) and one senior transfer (OH/RS Raven Gray) join the team.
The roster is one of the most talented and decorated in program history: returning all three 2023 All-America recognized players: Hudson, Chicoine, Colvin.
Of Purdue’s record-tying six Big Ten postseason honors, five are returning for the coming season.
Hudson and Chicoine enter 2024 as the top-rated offensive duo in the nation, leading all of Division I (kills and points).
For the last two consecutive seasons, All-America Honorable Mention and First Team All-Big Ten middle Raven Colvin has posted some of the most blocks in program history, ranking #2 for her 2022 season (151) and T-#3 in 2023 (148 blocks).
One of the best freshman setters in Purdue history, Taylor Anderson led the entire Big Ten in five separate weeks and was the most productive blocker among all Big Ten setters (.89 blocks per set). Additionally, she guided Purdue to a pair of its best offensive productions in the last five years.
TOP OFFENSIVE DUO IN THE NATION: HUDSON & CHICOINE
The Boilermakers’ offensive arsenal includes the top-ranked offensive duo in the nation: Eva Hudson and Chloe Chicoine.
No other program in the country has two players ranked as high in both kills and points last year.
SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN
Five of Purdue’s next seven matches will be against teams ranked or receiving votes in the latest AVCA poll. Of those five, three or four (depending if Purdue plays #10 Kentucky) will be against top-11 programs.
The schedule features six non-conference matchups vs. 2023 NCAA Tournament teams.
A total of 12 matches this fall will come against teams ranked or receiving votes in the 2023 AVCA final poll.
For five consecutive matches in non-con play, Purdue will face teams ranked in the top-28 of last year’s RPI: at No. 17 Utah State (9/7), vs. No. 28 Houston (9/13), at No. 24 SMU or vs. No. 7 Kentucky (9/14), at No. 14 Kansas (9/19) and vs. No. 9 Creighton (9/20).
PURDUE XC
BOILERS SET FOR BIG TEN PREVIEW
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue cross country team will travel to Savoy, Illinois, for the Fighting Illini Big Ten Preview on Friday, September 13.
The women’s 6k will begin the meet at 6 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. CT, and the men’s 8k is at 6:45 p.m. ET / 5:45 p.m. CT.
Held at Illinois’ Orange and Blue Golf Course, Friday evening’s race will be a preview of the Big Ten Championships, hosted by U of I on November 1.
Live results from Illinois will be available here. Updates also can be found by following and connecting with the Boilermakers on Twitter/X, Instagram and Facebook.
Along with Purdue and host-Illinois, the field features Butler, Cincinnati, Indiana, Iowa, Northwestern, Rutgers and Wisconsin. Thirty-two Boilermakers will race at Illinois, 18 women and 14 men.
Friday’s race will be the only competition in the month of September for the Old Gold and Black, with two October meets on the schedule before the postseason commences in November.
LAST TIME OUT: OPENING AT VALPO
The men were victorious and the women were second as Purdue began the 2024 season at the Winrow Valparaiso Open in Valparaiso, Indiana, on August 30.
Both the Boilermaker men’s and women’s teams placed seven individuals in the top 20. The men won the team event for the second consecutive year and the women were runners-up for the second year in a row.
Senior Nathan Walker led the men’s team with a runner-up finish on the 6k course, while graduate student Payne Turney was third to pace the women’s team in the 5k competition. As the men’s and women’s teams each had seven top-20 finishers, the men placed five in the top 11, and two in the top five, and the women recorded three top-10 finishers.
A complete recap can be found at PurdueSports.com/CrossCountry.
NEXT UP: OCTOBER BEGINS AT NOTRE DAME
The Boilermakers are back in action on October 4 when they travel north to Notre Dame, Indiana, for the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational.
PURDUE WOMEN’S TENNIS
BOILERMAKERS OPEN FALL CAMPAIGN AT KITTY HARRISON INVIATIONAL
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue women’s tennis team is set to open its 2024-25 campaign with the Kitty Harrison Invitational at North Carolina this weekend.
The Boilermakers head to Chapel Hill, N.C., for a hidden dual event featuring North Carolina, Duke. Virginia, Old Dominion, Florida, Charlotte and Penn State.
Matches are planned to be live streamed with live stats.
Live Video | Live Stats
Purdue is slated to open with a 1:30 p.m. set of matches against Virginia on Friday. The Boilermakers will face North Carolina at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, before closing the weekend against Penn State on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. Additional matches will be added throughout the weekend.
Head coach Laura Glitz enters her 18th campaign at the helm of the Boilermakers, amassing 199 victories at Purdue during that time. Alongside assistant coach and one of the best players in program history Daniela Vidal, Glitz put together a roster of experienced veterans, including All-Big Ten selection Carmen Gallardo Guevara, and energetic newcomers. Purdue finished last season ranked in the final ITA poll for the ninth time and second consecutive year in Glitz’s tenure.
The tournament is held in honor of Kitty Harrison, the longtime head coach of the Carolina women’s tennis team from 1976 to 1998. Eight of Harrison’s 22 teams were ranked among the top 25 nationally and, under her direction, Carolina won four ACC championships in a row from 1977 to 1980 and finished as the league runner-up four other times.
NOTRE DAME VOLLEYBALL
SCHRADER LEADS IRISH TO WIN OVER NORTHWESTERN
EVANSTON, Ill. – The Notre Dame Fighting Irish advanced to 4-1 on the season after defeating Northwestern in four sets (25-22, 14-25, 25-17, 25-18) on the road on Thursday night.
Phyona Schrader has been nothing shy of impressive this season. She’s been the only player in the ACC to record a triple-double and after recording one last Sunday in the win over Mississippi State, she’s done it again now in back-to-back matches. Tonight the senior setter finished with an impressive stat line of a career-high 21 kills, 19 assists, 13 digs, a .529 hitting percentage, and 3 blocks.
Sydney Palazzolo finished with a double-double of 14 kills and 10 digs. She was followed by Mia Radeff, who recorded a career-high 10 kills, .348 hitting percentage, and 2 blocks. Anna Bjork also chipped in 9 kills, 3 blocks, and a .467 hitting percentage.
Notre Dame was off to a 6-2 start in set one, which would tie the largest lead of the set from either side. It was a close set through the rest of its entirety with 10 ties. With the Irish leading 22-18, Northwestern closed the gap to 22-21 and forced the Notre Dame timeout. The Wildcats tied it up at 22-22, but two kills from Schrader and a big-time block from Mia Radeff and Grace Langer would secure the set one win for the Irish.
It was close to start the second set with the Irish up one at 7-6, but an 8-1 run from the Wildcats made it 14-8 to force a Notre Dame timeout. The Irish brought it within six at 18-12, but Northwestern would take the second 25-14.
Hungry for another set win, Notre Dame came out strong in the third. While the Wildcats had it within two at 8-6, the Irish offense was building momentum and started to get on a roll. An ace from Hattie Monson made it an 18-9 ballgame and forced a Northwestern timeout. The closest the Wildcats could cut it to was six at 19-13, but Notre Dame would take the 2-1 advantage after winning 25-17.
Tied at 6-6 to start set four, the Irish looked to pull ahead with the lead as a 6-1 run put them out in front 12-7. With the Irish leading 15-9, a 4-0 Wildcat run closed the gap to two and forced a Notre Dame timeout. The Irish scored five straight out of the timeout to make it 20-13 and would go on to take the final set 25-18.
The Irish are set to host Colorado State and Northwestern tomorrow and Saturday in the Volleyball On Ice event at Compton Family Ice Arena.
NOTRE DAME WOMEN’S SOCCER
#13 IRISH RALLY DOWN TWO GOALS TO EARN 2-2 TIE AT BOSTON COLLEGE
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – One can never predict the script when it comes to soccer in the ACC. For the No. 13 Notre Dame women’s soccer team on Thursday night, it was a nail-biter, frustration, jubilation and a learning moment all wrapped up into a 2-2 tie at Boston College.
It was a match that was mostly dictated by the Fighting Irish (6-1-1, 0-0-1), yet found themselves in a 2-0 hole 35 minutes into the match. In fact, both of Boston College’s (7-1-1, 0-0-1) goals were scored 61-seconds apart.
The Irish hero of the night was none other than freshman Ellie Hodsden. The same Hodsden who just returned from injury and scored in her first collegiate debut match versus Marquette.
Hodsden did exactly what she did against Marquette, which was sub into the first half with less than 12 minutes left and made an impact, scoring in the 37th minute.
The Irish had their chances in the second half, outshooting the Eagles 27-8 overall. They even had a late penalty kick decision reversed.
Just when things were looking bleak, Reagan Pauwels fired in a cross and found the head of Hodsden who emphatically put it away for the brace in the 88th minute.
HOW IT HAPPENED
It was a back-and-forth first half with a slight edge to the Irish, owning a 7-3 shots on goal advantage at the midway point. Yet, the scoreboard showed a different story at halftime with Notre Dame down 2-1.
The Fighting Irish were pushing and counter attacking and yet in a blink of an eye, 61 seconds to be exact, they were down 2-0.
In the 34th minute, Boston College’s Ava Lung ripped a shot from distance. The ball hit off the crossbar, went straight down, hit off the back of Sonoma Kasica who dove earlier and then richoceted in.
A minute later, Lung recorded a first half brace and stunned a Irish squad who hadn’t given a goal in six straight matches.
What was great to see was though was the Notre Dame response. Just 2.5 minutes later, Ellie Hodsden got one back. The freshman took advantage of a defensive turnover, beat the keeper on the right hand side, then hit a tough angle shot which found the back of the net.
It marked the second straight game in which Hodsden subbed into the final 12 minutes of the first half and made an impact by scoring.
Then with 4.5 minutes left until half, Notre Dame sent a free kick deep into BC’s box and almost made it a 2-2 game. Fisher headed it back to the middle where it landed at the feet of Abby Mills at the six-yard box. Mills took a shot, but it was right down the middle where the keeper was standing for the save.
The second half was predominantly Irish, but the equalizer alluded them. Morgan Roy, Lily Joseph and Ellie Hodsden all had great looks in the half and missed by the most narrow of margins.
Fast forward to the 86th minute and Grace Restovich was shoved from behind in the box and the referee called for the penalty kick. Upon review, the call was changed to a hand ball on Restovich.
Despite all the adversity in the second half, the Irish kept pushing. Then the magic happened courtesy of Hodsden yet again. Reagan Pauwels crossed it from the left side and a perfect ball was sent right to Hodsden’s head. The ball found the back corner of the net and the game was tied with two minutes left.
UP NEXT
The Irish don’t compete again for nine days, but it’ll be a major road test with No. 2 Virginia. That match will kick off on Saturday, Sept. 21, at 7 p.m. ET on ACCNX.
BUTLER MEN’S BASKETBALL
BUTLER MEN’S BASKETBALL ANNOUNCES BIG EAST CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
The BIG EAST portion of Butler’s men’s basketball schedule features five weekend home contests in addition to a New Year’s Day tip against Villanova.
The entire 2024-25 BIG EAST Conference men’s basketball schedule was announced Thursday, a 110-game double round-robin slate for a fifth straight year. Game times, arena designations, and television information will be announced at a later date.
Butler opens BIG EAST play Wednesday, Dec. 18, traveling to Milwaukee to face Marquette. The Bulldogs open the home portion of the BIG EAST schedule Saturday, Dec. 21 when defending national champion UConn visits Hinkle Fieldhouse.
Additional notes on Butler’s 2024-25 BIG EAST schedule:
Butler’s home BIG EAST schedule includes five Saturday tips, four on Wednesdays and one on Tuesday.
Starting the BIG EAST slate with Marquette and UConn, the Bulldogs will also complete the home-and-home series with both opponents by the end of January.
Butler and Xavier don’t meet until Feb. 18 in Cincinnati. For the second consecutive season, the Musketeers will be the opponent for Butler’s Senior Night as the last home game of the season is scheduled for Wednesday, March 5 at Hinkle.
Butler and Georgetown play twice within a four-game stretch for the Bulldogs, with the first meeting in the nation’s capital Jan. 31 followed by a Hinkle match-up Feb. 15.
Ticket Information:
The Bulldogs will have 18 games on the Hinkle portion of the 2024-25 schedule. Season tickets are currently on sale and orders can be done online, in person at the Hinkle Fieldhouse ticket office, or over the phone. Our ticket staff is happy to work with you directly. Please contact tickets@butler.edu! Mini-packs and single-game tickets will become available in the coming weeks.
The Bulldogs are the only BIG EAST team to return its top two scorers from a season ago (Pierre Brooks II and Jahmyl Telfort). In his third season since returning to his alma mater, Thad Matta has added transfers Patrick McCaffery, Jamie Kaiser Jr., and Kolby King to a strong returning nucleus.
Additional BIG EAST Information:
BIG EAST games will continue to be televised by FOX Sports, the conference’s television partner for the past 11 years. CBS Sports will present a select number of games on CBS and Paramount+ as well as on CBS Sports Network. This season, the BIG EAST begins a new relationship with Peacock, which will carry some regular season games, the BIG EAST Tournament First Round tripleheader and two games in the quarterfinal round.
The BIG EAST Tournament at Madison Square Garden will be played March 12-15. It is college basketball’s longest running conference postseason tournament played at the same venue. FOX and FS1 will televise the BIG EAST Tournament beginning with Thursday’s evening quarterfinals through the championship game on Saturday.
The BIG EAST is coming off another stellar postseason. UConn won its NCAA Tournament crown by defeating all six opponents by double digits. The Huskies were the No. 1 overall seed in the tourney. Marquette and Creighton also were in the NCAA Tournament field.
The BIG EAST had five NIT teams, led by Seton Hall, which won the NIT championship. The other NIT teams were Butler, Providence, Villanova and Xavier.
The BIG EAST has averaged 5.2 NCAA bids over the past 11 seasons. The league has compiled a 22-6 (.786) NCAA record over the last two years, the best mark among all D-I conferences.
BIG EAST basketball in 2024-25 will also be covered on the BIG EAST Digital Network Presented by Invesco QQQ. Shootaround, the BIG EAST’s live online show that captures interviews and highlights of league action, is in its eighth year. The award-winning program will air on the league’s social media platforms prior to some of the top games. Fans can follow @BIGEASTMBB on Twitter/X, @BIGEAST on Instagram, and BIG EAST Conference on Facebook and YouTube.
ALSO: Assistant Coach Greg Oden has announced he is leaving the Butler program. There is no work on what his future plans are.
BUTLER XC
BUTLER MEN BEGIN 2024 SEASON FRIDAY AT ILLINOIS
The Butler men will make their 2024 season debut Friday at the Fighting Illini Big Ten Preview. For the Butler women, it will mark their second competition of the fall.
Butler will be joined by host Illinois, as well as Cincinnati, Indiana, Iowa, Northwestern, Purdue, Rutgers, and Wisconsin. The Big Ten teams are utilizing the meet as a preview for the 2024 Big Ten Championships, which will take place on the Orange and Blue Golf Course in Savoy, Ill., later this season.
On Friday, the women’s 6k will begin at 5 p.m. (Central), followed by the men’s 8k.
The Butler men are ranked 12th in the preseason USTFCCCA NCAA Division I Men’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll. Coach Matt Roe will hold out a portion of the roster as they continue to focus on events later in the fall, but the group heading to Illinois is talented.
Martin Kovacech was part of the Butler contingent that ran to the 2023 BIG EAST team title. Transfers Austin Gabay (Duke) and Luke Henseler (Pittsburgh) will make their respective Butler debuts following stellar undergraduate careers at their first stops.
Joe Barrett, Sean Byrnes, Bennett Dubois, Asher Propst, Aeden Rendek, Matteo Rosio, and Charlie Schuman round out the group. Brynes, Propst and Rosio will make their respective Butler cross country debuts.
The women’s line-up will include Wiktoria Klebowska, Hannah Moore, Lexi Affolter, Kylie Cline, Camille El Baghouli, Ashley Learn, Mckenna Mazeski, Ashlyn Minton, Caitlin Rose, Alejandra Sierazy, and Renate Toldo.
Friday marks the season debut for Klebowska, who qualified for the NCAA East First Round during the outdoor track and field season in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Moore ran to a fifth-place finish in her Butler debut, leading the Bulldog charge at the season-opening Winrow Valparaiso Open Aug. 30.
Live results will be available with a link available on the schedule page of ButlerSports.com.
BUTLER FOOTBALL
BULLDOGS BACK AT HOME TO HOST HANOVER ON SATURDAY NIGHT
Saturday night’s 6 p.m. kick-off vs. Hanover will be a “White Out” for Bulldog fans in attendance. Butler is 2-0 in night games under the leadership of Head Coach Mike Uremovich. They beat Wabash 47-21 in 2023 and topped Taylor 45-10 in 2022.
Game Day
Date: Saturday, September 14
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Indianapolis, Ind. / Sellick Bowl
Live Stats: ButlerSports.com (Statbroadcast)
Watch: FloSports.com
Bulldog Bits
– Ryan Short earned PFL Special Teams Player of the Week honors for the first time in his career on Sunday.
– Reagan Andrew completed 18 of his 25 passes vs. the Racers to end the game with 193 yards.
– Luke Wooten is one reception shy of 100 in his BU career (24 games).
– Joey Suchy is 107 rushing yards away from 1,000.
– Billy Dozier set career-high totals at Murray State with 10 rushing attempts and three receptions.
– Drew Cassens came up with a career-high 32 receiving yards at Murray State.
– Butler dominated time of possession at Murray State holding onto the ball for over 41 minutes.
– The Bulldogs ran 44 more plays than the Racers last weekend (85-41).
– BU posted 436 yards of total offense last Saturday.
– The Bulldogs are 7-for-7 on red zone scoring chances this season.
– Butler scored points on each fourth quarter drive at Murray State to win the fourth quarter battle 9-3.
– BU went 10-for-18 on third down last week while Murray State went 2-for-9.
– Butler ranks ninth in the FCS in third down conversion percentage.
– The Bulldogs only allowed 41 passing yards in the win at Roy Stewart Stadium.
– Butler ranks second among all FCS programs in passing yards allowed.
– Adam Sturtz had a sack and a tackle for loss at Murray State to go along with six tackles.
– Nick Bafia had a team-high eight tackles at Murray State. He needs three solo tackles on Saturday to reach 100 in his career.
– Will Mason matched his career-high with eight tackles against the Racers.
– Butler has started the season 2-0 three times over the last decade (2022, 2018).
– The Bulldogs have not allowed any points in the first quarter this season.
– 13 different Bulldogs have hauled in at least one reception over the team’s first two games.
PFL Schedule – Week 3
Marist at Lafayette 12:30 P.M.
Virginia-Lynchburg at Presbyterian 1:00 P.M.
Black Hills State at St. Thomas 2:00 P.M.
Stetson at Furman 2:00 P.M.
Morehead State at Montana 3:00 P.M.
Hanover at Butler 6:00 P.M.
Dayton at Indiana State 6:00 P.M.
Point University at Davidson 7:00 P.M.
Indiana Wesleyan at Valparaiso 7:30 P.M.
PFL Standings
Butler 2-0
Morehead State 2-0
San Diego 2-0
Stetson 2-0
Dayton 1-0
Drake 1-0
Davidson 1-1
Presbyterian 1-1
Marist 0-1
St. Thomas 0-2
Valparaiso 0-2
SCOUTING HANOVER: The Panthers took a 27-12 home loss to Centre in their season opener last week. QB Eian Roudebush passed for 270 yards, but had three interceptions in the setback. His top targets were seniors Jalen Peck and Austin Oppel. Peck was the team leader with 78 receiving yards while Oppel was in the box score with 72 yards and a touchdown. Hanover only had one rushing first down and ended the game with negative rushing yards.
Ben Massey led the Hanover defense with eight tackles. Jamey Deckard had an interception and Aidan Jochem had a sack.
ALL-TIME SERIES: Butler leads the all-time series against Hanover 21-1-1.
The first-ever meeting between Butler and Hanover was played in 1887! The Bulldogs capped off their inaugural season with a 24-10 victory over the Panthers to complete their 3-0 season.
HISTORY VS. HANOVER: Butler handed Hanover a 122-0 loss in 1921. The game nicknamed “The Track Meet” featured BU scoring 17 touchdowns and adding a field goal.
Team captain Bill Kiser played fullback for head coach Pat Page that season. The 122 point performance still stands as the school record for most points scored in a single-game in BU football history.
SHORT NAMED SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Short’s 22-yard field goal with nine seconds left lifted Butler to a 19-17 victory at Murray State. It was one of two 22-yard field goals he hit in the win, and he also had a PAT to account for seven of Butler’s 19 points.
Short’s two punts averaged 38.5 yards and were both downed inside the 20-yard line. He also had four kickoffs with one touchback.
HAVE A DAY HOWARD: Nick Howard amassed 175 yards of total offense (85 rushing and 90 passing) and ran for two touchdowns on Saturday to help Butler earn a 19-17 road victory at Missouri Valley Conference foe Murray State.
The Bulldog victory gave the PFL their first win against the MVFC since 2019 (Dayton at Indiana State). Butler’s last win over a Missouri Valley Football Conference opponent came the year prior in 2018. The Bulldogs upset #24 Youngstown State 23-21 in the season opener.
2,000 RUSHING YARDS: Nick Howard topped 2,000 career rushing yards on Saturday with his performance against Murray State.
Howard has three rushing touchdowns for the Bulldogs in 2024 to push his career total to 37.
CAREER DAY FOR ENNEKING: William Enneking set new career-high marks at Murray State by making four receptions to gain 74 yards.
Enneking’s 34-yard reception from Nick Howard in the fourth quarter of the Murray State game was the longest gain of his career and helped BU set up the game-winning field goal.
REAGAN IS ROLLING: Reagan Andrew earned PFL Offensive Player of the Week honors after the season opener then completed more passes in Week 2 (18) than he attempted in Week 1.
Andrew leads the PFL in passing efficiency.
MASON MADE A PLAY: Will Mason had eight tackles, including one for loss, and an interception in the Bulldogs’ 19-17 victory at Murray State.
Mason leads the Butler defense with 15 total tackles this year.
DAWGS PLAYING D: Butler’s defense limited Murray State to just 239 yards of total offense. The Racers only completed 10 passes in the game and had one passing first down.
Murray State went 3-and-out three times on Saturday against the Butler defense.
LEAGUE LEADERS: After Week 2, Butler leads the PFL fewest penalty yards per game, passing yards allowed, and red zone offense.
Reagan Andrew leads the PFL in yards per pass attempt and Luke Wooten is the league leader in yards per reception.
MOVE THE CHAINS: Butler’s offense went 6-for-9 on third down in the second half of the Murray State game.
Butler did not punt the football in the second half last Saturday.
UP NEXT: Butler’s bye week lands on Sept. 21 this year giving the Bulldogs two weeks to prepare for the Virginia-Lynchburg game. VUL will visit the Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl on Sept. 28. Kick-off is set for 1 PM.
September 28 is Family Weekend at Butler University. Fans can come out to see the first-ever meeting between Butler and Virginia-Lynchburg or stream the action live on FloSports.com.
IU-INDY WOMEN’S SOCCER
OTT, RODRIGUEZ SCORE IN ROAD LOSS AT BALL STATE
MUNCIE, Ind. – The IU Indianapolis women’s soccer team closed out the non-conference slate on the road on Thursday (Sept. 12), falling to host Ball State, 6-2. Sophomore Shannon Ott and senior Cassie Rodriguez scored goals in the loss.
Ball State (5-2) got goals from five different players and a pair of scores from Emily Roper. Both Delaney Caldwell and Addie Chester had a goal and two assists each as the Cardinals outshot the Jaguars 18-8 and had a 9-1 advantage on corner kicks.
Roper scored the game’s first goal in the 19th minute before Ott knotted the score in the 23rd minute. The Jaguars capitalized on a corner kick opportunity as Ott one-timed a pass from Caroline Kelley past BSU keeper Grace Konopatzki. The match stayed even for exactly 20 seconds as Chester scored going the other way.
After leading 2-1 at the break, Ball State scored three times in the first five minutes of the second half to erupt to a 5-1 lead. Rodriguez netted her second tally of the season in the 60th minute off an assist from Ransom before Roper added a late insurance score.
Rodriguez just missed putting a goal away in the game’s fifth minute, pushing a shot just wide of frame on a counter attack. From there, possession stayed largely in BSU’s end until Roper netted the game’s first score.
The Jaguars answered after Ransom put a tester on frame in the 23rd minute, leading to the corner kick and Ott score.
Kudlo registered four stops in the loss.
The undermanned Jaguars get some much needed time off before the start of Horizon League play as IU Indy will host Cleveland State on Sunday, Sept. 22 at Carroll Stadium at 1:00 p.m.
BALL STATE WOMEN’S SOCCER
ANOTHER EARLY SECOND HALF OFFENSIVE OUTBURST LEADS CARDS TO 4TH STRAIGHT WIN
MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State soccer team scored a trio of goals in the first five minutes of the second half on its way to a 6-2 trouncing of IU Indy on Thursday afternoon at the Briner Sports Complex.
Ball State (5-2) claimed its fourth straight decision on the back of a brace from Emily Roper and goals from four more Cardinals.
Roper scored her first at the 19-minute mark off an assist from Delaney Caldwell before IU Indy (1-6-1) got an equalizer from Shannon Ott soon after. Addie Chester responded (24′) less than a minute later with a goal assisted by Avery Fenchel to propel the hosts to a 2-1 edge which ended up being the halftime tally.
Caldwell, Kaitlyn Fraser and Fenchel put shots in the back of the net in the opening five minutes of the second period to give Ball State a 5-1 advantage, and the Cardinals would cruise to a multi-goal triumph for the second match in a row. Roper scored on a header in the 87th minute for the day’s final offense.
Caldwell and Chester each had a goal and pair of assists while Alex McPhee and Kylie Archer added second-half helpers to produce at least a half-dozen goals for the second game in a row for the Cardinals, who wrapped up nonconference play with the win.
Grace Konopatzki and Kate Pallante got the first and second half in goal, respectively, and each made a save as Konopatzki earned her third straight winning decision.
Ball State gets the weekend off before hosting Bowling Green at 4 p.m. on Thursday to begin Mid-American play.
BALL STATE FIELD HOCKEY
FIELD HOCKEY REMAINS ON THE ROAD FRIDAY AT BIG TEN FOE INDIANA
MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State field hockey team (1-2) looks to extend its win streak to two this week when it plays at Big Ten foe Indiana (1-3) Friday at 3 pm ET on the Big Ten Plus network.
This will mark the 28th meeting all-time between the Cardinals and Hoosiers. IU leads the all-time series record 20-6-1 with all Ball State winning the first matchup 8-0 on Oct. 25, 2000.
Last season the Cardinals defeated the Hoosiers 3-2 on Oct. 15 in Muncie after a game-winning score in sudden death from graduate senior Emma Hilton. Goalkeeper Hannah Johnston, who will join Hilton again on the field tomorrow, registered 13 saves against the Hoosiers. The last time Ball State won in Bloomington was win Sept. 6, 2002, by a score of 3-0.
Recently, Ball State defeated Saint Louis 3-2 in overtime on Wednesday after Emma van Hal scored the game-winner. Also on Wednesday, Indiana suffered a 1-0 loss to fellow Mid-American Conference member Miami.
After this weekend, the Ball State field hockey team will open MAC action when it travels to Kent State on Sept. 20 for a 2 pm ET start in Dix Stadium.
BALL STATE VOLLEYBALL
WVB RETURNS TO THE ROAD FOR INDIANA INVITATIONAL
THE WEEK AHEAD: The Ball State women’s volleyball program returns to the road for the third straight weekend for the Indiana Invitational … The Cardinals open the two-day event Friday with a 3 p.m. match versus Chicago State … Ball State battle Southern Indiana (11 a.m.) and host Indiana (4 p.m.) Saturday.
FOLLOW THE ACTION: Fans unable to make their way to Wilkinson Hall this weekend will have several ways to follow the action from home … All three matches are slated to be streamed on B1G+ ($12.99 for a monthly pass) … In addition, live stats will be available for the entire tournament courtesy of host Indiana … Live updates from the matches will also be provided on the team’s X feed and Instagram story: @BallStateWVB.
MAC PRESEASON PROGNOSTICATION: With no divisions for the first time since the 1996 season, the Ball State women’s volleyball team received 98 points in the league’s annual coaches poll, trailing only Western Michigan (121) and Bowling Green (102) … With coaches unable to vote for their own teams, WMU earned 11 of the 12 votes to win the MAC regular season title, with BGSU claiming the other … The Broncos, who also received votes in the 2024 AVCA Preseason Coaches Poll, was also selected as the favorite to win the MAC Volleyball Championship with nine votes, followed by the Falcons (2) and the Cardinals (1).
PRESEASON HONORS: In addition to the team rankings, the MAC announced its annual Preseason All-MAC Team … Representing Ball State are senior setter Megan Wielonski and redshirt sophomore outside Aniya Kennedy … Wielonski earns Preseason All-MAC honors for the third consecutive season after claiming All-MAC First Team accolades for the third straight year … Kennedy earns a nod on the Preseason All-MAC team for the first time in her career after a stellar 2023 campaign which saw her claim both First Team All-MAC and MAC Freshman of the Year honors.
THE ALL-TIME SERIES: Ball State is 22-26 all-time versus teams in the Indiana Invitational field … The Cardinals are 2-0 all-time versus Chicago State, including a 3-0 (25-8, 25-10, 25-12) win in the latest meeting Sept. 11, 2009 … Indiana holds a 26-22 lead in the all-time series versus Ball State, including a 3-2 (25-16, 23-25, 24-26, 25-21, 15-13) win in the last meeting Sept. 8, 2018 … The Cardinals will be facing Southern Indiana for the first time in women’s volleyball.
SCOUTING BALL STATE:
• Ball State enters the Indiana Invitational with a 3-3 overall record after going 1-2 last weekend at the Kentucky Invitational … After earning a 3-1 win over James Madison, which finished ranked 25th in the RPI last season, the Cardinals were swept by both then-No. 7 Penn State and then-No. 9 Kentucky.
• The Cardinals continue to be one of the nation’s most dangerous offenses, ranking first in the Mid-American Conference and 49th nationally with a .257 attack percentage … The mark includes a .271 rate of success against then-No. 7 Penn State, which is the best hitting mark against the Nittany Lions so far this season.
• Ball State has also made some major strides at the net this season, ranking third in the league and 68th nationally with a 2.42 team blocks-per-set average … Sophomore middle Gwen Crull is currently third in the MAC with a 1.40 blocks-per-set average, while graduate middle Aayinde Smith is 10th at 1.00.
SCOUTING CHICAGO STATE:
• The Cougars enter the Indiana Invitational with a 2-3 record and will battle the host Hoosiers before taking on the Cardinals Friday … Last weekend, Chicago State went 2-1 at the Dunn Hospitality Tournament hosted by Evansville, starting with a 3-1 win over the Aces … CSU also topped MAC member Miami by a 3-2 margin, before suffering a 3-2 setback to Samford.
• An NIVC participant a season ago, the Cougars enter the week hitting just .138 as a team … Patrycja Lagida leads the squad with a 3.75 kill-per-set average, while connecting for a .164 hitting mark.
SCOUTING SOUTHERN INDIANA:
• In its third year of transition to NCAA Division I, the Screaming Eagles own a 2-4 overall record … Last weekend, USI went 0-3 at the Florida Invitational, starting with a 3-1 setback to Ohio State … The 25-23 second-set victory over the Buckeyes marked the first set victory over a Power Four school in program history … Southern Indiana also suffered 3-0 setbacks to No. 10 Florida and South Florida in the event.
• USI is led by former Ball State men’s volleyball letterwinner Jeffrey Aucoin who played for the Cardinals during the 2012 seasons … Prior to attending Ball State, Aucoin helped guide the University of New Hampshire men’s volleyball club team to a NCVF Division 1AA National Championships.
• Another familiar face on the Southern Indiana staff is assistant coach Julianna Cramer who played her final season of collegiate volleyball at Ball State in 2022 and was the program’s Director of Operations last season.
SCOUTING INDIANA:
• The Hoosiers enter the week with a 3-2 overall record after a tough week of their own last week … After earning a 3-1 win over UC Davis, IU suffered a 3-0 setback at then-No. 1 Texas and fell to a receiving votes Miami (Fla.) squad by a score of 3-1.
• Indiana enters the weekend as one of the nation’s top serving teams, ranking 24th nationally at 2.16 aces per set … Candela Alonso-Corcelles, Camryn Haworth and Avry Tatum lead the squad with nine aces apiece.
• Offensively, Tatum and Alonso-Corcelles lead the squad at 3.32 and 3.16 kills per set, respectively … Mady Saris is right behind at 2.63.
BALL STATE QUICK HITS:
• With her 50th of 57 assists in last Friday’s win over James Madison, Megan Wielonski climbed to fifth on Ball State’s career assists list … She enters the Indiana Invitational with 4,227 career assists which is currently third among active NCAA Division I players … Western Michigan’s Logan Case is first at 5,313 (with the benefit of an extra COVID season), while Colorado State’s Emery Herman is second at 4,406 … Wielonski has ranked in the top 15 nationally in assists in each of her first three seasons: second (1,394) in 2021, fourth (1,359) in 2022 and 13th (1,269) in 2023.
• In addition to being one of the nation’s top setters, Megan Wielonski is one of the country’s top servers with 152 career aces … The total, which includes eight aces so far this season, currently ranks 10th among active NCAA Division I players and is the most for any active student-athlete from the Mid-American Conference … As a freshman, she ranked eighth among all NCAA Division I players with 58 aces, including a career-high seven vs. Ohio (Sept. 30, 2021) … Her 58 aces in 2021 also tied as the sixth most in a single season in Ball State history and were a single season record for a BSU setter, topping Amber Seaman’s total of 51 in 2018 … In 2022, she ranked 55th nationally with 46 service aces, while she had a team-leading 40 aces last season.
• Megan Wielonski has also shined in the backcourt over her Ball State career, becoming just the 21st player in program history to register over 1,000 career digs in BSU’s NIVC victory at Middle Tennessee (Nov. 30, 2023) … She has 42 total digs so far this season, raising her career total to 1,063 which is 20th in program history … Overall, she has accumulated double-digit digs in 55 career matches which is tied for 12th in program history and gives her 55 career assist/dig double-doubles.
• Aniya Kennedy has picked up right where she left off last season, leading the Ball State offense with 70 kills and a 3.68 kills-per-set average … Last season, she finished the year ranked 32nd nationally with a 4.12 kills-per-set average … Over her career, including three times so far this season, Kennedy has smashed double-digit kills in 29 matches and led the team in kills in 26 outings.
• Including her season-high 20 kills at Florida Atlantic (Aug. 31), Aniya Kennedy has smashed 20-or-more kills in nine career matches … The total ranks eighth in program history … Last season, she registered a career-high 25 kills in two matches – versus Akron (Oct. 13, 2023) and at WMU (Nov. 3, 2023) – which were the most kills for a BSU player in a match since Kia Holder (2017-20) logged 27 at Eastern Michigan on March 27, 2021 … In addition, Kennedy was the first Cardinal to register multiple 20+ kill matches in the same season since Natalie Risi (2019-22) had two as a freshman in 2019.
• Freshman outside Carson Tyler added her name to the 20+ kill list last Friday, smashing a career-high 21 kills in the four-set win over James Madison … It was her first of back-to-back matches in double figures, as she added 12 more versus then-No. 7 Penn State … Tyler currently ranks second on the squad with 47 kills and a 2.47 kills-per-set average.
• Freshman libero Sophie Ledbetter has shined in her first two weeks of collegiate action, leading the squad and ranking fourth in the MAC with a with a 4.67 digs-per-set average … The effort includes a career-high 27 digs in the win over James Madison (Sept. 6) and 20 in the sweep of Bryant (Aug. 30) … Ledbetter also boasts a .913 reception percentage, including perfect marks in four of BSU’s six matches.
• Freshman defensive specialist Elizabeth Tabeling has also made a big impact in the back row for the Cardinals, ranking third on the squad with 37 digs for a 2.47 digs-per-set average … The effort included a career-high 11 digs in the win over James Madison (Sept. 6).
• Graduate middle Aayinde Smith has been a big addition for the Ball State front line, ranking third on the squad with 2.05 kills per set, while ranking second on the team with 1.00 blocks per set … A two-time All-CAA Second Team selection in her four years at Towson, Smith also owns a .368 attack percentage which ranks fourth among MAC players.
• Another big addition in the middle is sophomore Gwen Crull who leads the team and ranks third in the MAC with a 1.40 blocks-per-set average … Crull has recorded at least two blocks in five of the six matches she has played, including season-highs of 4.0 versus both James Madison (Sept. 6) and then-No. 7 Penn State (Sept. 7) … In fact, she led the Ball State defense with 10 total blocks at the Kentucky Invitational.
• Looking at Ball State’s defense, the Cardinals limited Bryant (Aug. 30) to a -.020 (24-26-99) attack percentage … It was the lowest attacking mark for a Ball State opponent since the 2018 campaign, when the Cardinals held Grambling to a -.061 (18-23-82) rate of success on Aug. 31 … That same season, the Ball State defense limited North Dakota State to a -.018 (23-25-114) hitting mark on Sept. 7.
• For the team’s solid work in the classroom, Ball State was one of a record number of more than 1,400 collegiate and high school volleyball teams to earn the 2023-24 AVCA Team Academic Award sponsored by INTENT … The Cardinals, who claimed the honor for the eighth straight season and the 14th time overall, finished the 2023-24 academic year with a 3.63 team GPA … Of Ball State’s 18 countable student-athletes, 17 maintained at least a 3.07 GPA during the academic year.
INDIANA STATE WOMEN’S SOCCER
SYCAMORES BATTLE PANTHERS TO SCORELESS DRAW ON THURSDAY NIGHT
TERRE HAUTE, Ind.- Indiana State battled Eastern Illinois to a scoreless draw on Thursday night as the Sycamores continued non conference play against the Panthers at Memorial Stadium.
How it happened:
The Sycamores (4-2-2) outshot Eastern Illinois (2-4-3) 18-7 throughout the contest, where ISU held the 8-1 edge on corner kicks.
Both teams posted shots early in the match with EIU’s Rinker putting the first one on target in the 16th minute that was saved by Alexander, while Kent launched one toward the net in the 18th minute for ISU. Brooklyn Woods searched for the go-ahead-goal before the half when she put one on target for the Sycamores in the 42nd minute, which was picked up by Hoover. The Sycamores outshot the Panthers 7-3 over the opening 45 minutes.
The second half featured ISU continuing to pressure the Eastern Illinois defense with 11 shots, including four on goal. Indiana State continued to take chances in the second half until the last minute when Audrey Stephens posted the final shot on target for the Sycamores in the 89th minute, but her shot was saved by Hoover as both teams settled for the draw.
Mackenzie Kent led the Sycamores posting four shots, two on goal to pace the ISU offense. Wright added three shots as Stehpens, Woods, Lehnert, and Fairfax each collected a shot on goal in the scoreless draw.
The Sycamore defense posted its fourth clean sheet at Memorial Stadium, fifth overall in the 2024 season as Indiana State’s defense stood strong against EIU offense.
Maddie Alexander picked up a pair of saves in the contest against the Panthers. Alexander has recorded 38 saves this season, allowing only four goals scored.
The Panthers were paced by Abby Reinl and Morgan Rinker who each had a shot on goal in the contest as EIU was limited to seven shots in the contest on Thursday night. Goalkeeper Ashlyn Hoover collected six saves in the shutout.
Up Next:
The Sycamores are back on the road this weekend with a contest against SIUE, on Sunday, September 15 at 3 p.m ET.
INDIANA STATE VOLLEYBALL
SYCAMORES HEAD SOUTH FOR BLUFF CITY SHOWDOWN
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State heads to the Mid-South for a trio of matches in a 24-hour span Friday and Saturday, as the Sycamores take part in the Bluff City Showdown in Memphis, Tennessee. The Trees will face Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Lamar and Memphis while in the Volunteer State.
Saturday’s match against Memphis will be carried on ESPN+.
Last Time Out
Indiana State and Butler squared off in a home-and-home series, with the Bulldogs winning both matches. Butler won in three sets Friday at Hinkle Fieldhouse and defeated the Sycamores in four sets Saturday at ISU Arena.
Emma Kaelin had double-digit kills in both matches, while Jadyn Smith had a career-high 17 kills in Saturday’s home opener. Chloe Gilley’s 4.67 digs per set in Friday’s match was the best per-set average by a Sycamore this season.
Aced It
Indiana State has been lethal from the service line to start the 2024 season, as the Sycamores rank in the top 30 nationally with 2.11 aces per set. The Trees have 40 aces through their first five matches and are the only school in the Missouri Valley Conference averaging more than two aces per set.
Indiana State’s success from the service line has been a balanced effort, as five different Sycamores have recorded five or more aces this season. Ella Scott leads the way with 10 aces, while her 0.53 aces per set rank second in the MVC and inside the top 100 nationally.
As a team, Indiana State already has a pair of matches with double-digit aces this season after having just four such matches in all of 2023. The Sycamores had 12 aces against Georgia State and 10 against South Dakota State.
Seeing Double
Indiana State utilized the new double-libero rule in its home opener against Butler, with sisters Cadence and Chloe Gilley splitting the libero duties against the Bulldogs. The duo combined for 15 digs in the Trees’ four-set match, an average of 3.75 per set.
The Sycamores were the first MVC school to use the double-libero rule, which was introduced this season, while the Gilleys were the first set of sisters in the NCAA to split the double-libero duties in the same match.
Off And Running
Indiana State’s home opener didn’t go in the Sycamores’ favor, but that didn’t stop a pair of Trees from putting together career-best efforts against Butler.
Sophomore outside hitter Jadyn Smith notched a career-high 17 kills on a .361 hitting percentage, and also added five digs against the Bulldogs. Smith tallied double-digit kills for the second time this season and has already matched her 2023 kills total with 40 through the first two weekends of play.
Emma Kaelin registered her second double-double of the season with 14 kills and 11 digs against Butler, tying her career high in kills in the process. Kaelin has four matches with double-digit kills through the first two weekends and leads Indiana State in kills, despite this being her first season on the outside.
Growing The Game
As the sport of volleyball continues to grow in poplularity, so do the crowds who come to witness the sport. Indiana State is no different in that matter, having had one of its best-attended seasons of all time in 2023.
Indiana State’s crowds in 2023 were among the best in program history, with the Sycamores filling ISU Arena to 93 percent capacity during the season. Indiana State played in front of over-capacity crowds for four of its nine home matches in 2023.
The announced attendance of 651 in Indiana State’s 2023 home opener against IUPUI was the largest crowd to witness an Indiana State volleyball match in the facility it its current configuration.
Indiana State’s 2024 attendance numbers are already off to a strong start, as the Sycamores drew an over-capacity crowd in their home opener against Butler.
Welcome Home
Indiana State’s attacking numbers took a positive turn in the Sycamores’ home opener against Butler. The Trees hit a season-best .220 against the Bulldogs with 51 kills in their four-set match. Indiana State’s 20 attack errors also represented the Trees’ best per-set average this season (5.00 per set).
In addition to the career-best totals from Jadyn Smith (17 kills) and Emma Kaelin (14 kills), Ella Scott and Emily Weber both averaged more than one kill per set. Nine different Sycamores had at least one kill in the home opener.
Opponents At A Glance
Arkansas-Pine Bluff enters the weekend at 0-7 and is coming off a three-set midweek loss to Oral Roberts. UAPB was 0-3 at the Skyhawk Classic last week. Zykia Jones leads the Golden Lions with 55 kills, while MacKenzie McDowell and Jones both have more than 60 digs.
Lamar enters at 3-3 and is coming off a 2-0 weekend at the Colonel Classic. Lyric Jordan leads the team with 93 kills, while Maja Malinowski also averages more than three kills per set. Alexa Gonzalez already has 212 assists, while Keely Nellis has 94 digs.
Memphis comes into the week at 3-3 and went 1-2 at the Saluki Bash. Hannah Jones leads a balanced attack with 56 kills, with eight different Tigers recording 20-plus kills this season. Jordan Heatherly has 180 assists, while Abigail Schlueter has a team-high 75 digs.
Series History vs. This Weekend’s Opponents
Indiana State has played against Arkansas-Pine Bluff just once, defeating the Golden Lions in three sets in Edwardsville, Illinois during the 2014 season. The Sycamores are 0-3 all-time against Memphis and have not faced the Tigers since the 2008 season.
Indiana State has never faced Lamar prior to Saturday’s match against the Cardinals.
Up Next
Indiana State plays a midweek match Wednesday night at 7 p.m. at IU-Indianapolis before taking part in the Purdue Fort Wayne Invitational September 20-21 in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
EVANSVILLE WOMEN’S SOCCER
ACES WOMEN’S SOCCER DRAWS WITH UT MARTIN ON SENIOR NIGHT
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville women’s soccer team picked up a point in its non-conference finale against the UT Martin Skyhawks.
The Purple Aces offense came alive Thursday night with a season-high 15 shots in a 1-1 draw against UT Martin. Freshman defender Emmy Brenner (Arlington, Tenn. / St. Benedict at Auburndale HS) scored the first goal of her collegiate career in the 64th minute to give UE a 1-0 lead midway through the second half. But the Skyhawks found the equalizer in the 81st minute for Evansville to only come away with a point in the final game of the non-conference portion of the season.
The Aces began the game hot on offense with four shots and three corner kicks in the first 10 minutes of the match. UE’s best chance to start the game came from freshman forward Taylor Johnson (Evansville, Ind. / Reitz HS) less than two minutes into the match. Johnson separated from her defender to challenge UT Martin goalkeeper Mac Titus on the right side.
The Skyhawks were able to counter on offense briefly, but Evansville took over momentum midway through the first half. The two teams spent the final 10 minutes of the half deadlocked, each getting two shots. The Aces headed into halftime with the statistical advantage, taking eight shots and five corner kicks in the first 45.
It was a slower start to the second half of the match as neither team found much momentum on offense. But after 15 minutes UE found its way back into the attacking third with three shots in three minutes. Evansville’s offensive attack led to Brenner’s first goal in the 64th minute. She headed the ball in off a cross from senior forward Hailey Autenrieb (Cincinnati / Seton HS) for Autenrieb’s second assist of the season.
The Aces held on to the lead for the next 16 minutes as the two teams battled end to end. But in the 81st minute, UT Martin found a brief opening from the middle of the penalty box tying the game up with a shot to the left side of the net. UE’s offense was able to get another close chance off in the 87th minute from sophomore midfielder Ella Hamner (Evansville, Ind. / Memorial HS). But the shot went just wide of the net and out of play for a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes of action.
Evansville will begin Missouri Valley Conference action next week. The Aces will travel down south to Belmont to start MVC play on Thursday, September 19th. Kick-off from Nashville next week is set for 6:30 p.m.
EVANSVILLE WOMEN’S GOLF
WOMEN’S GOLF SET FOR CARDINAL CUP
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – A busy opening week continues for the University of Evansville women’s golf team who will be taking part in the Cardinal Cup this weekend.
Hosted by the University of Louisville, the tournament runs Friday through Sunday at the UofL Golf Course. Par is 72 and the yardage is 6,374. The 54-hole event will feature 18 holes all three days. Evansville is one of 15 teams slated to participate.
Kate Petrova led the Purple Aces in the season-opening Redbird Invitational. A 3-over 75 in Monday’s final round saw her go 7-over for the weekend on her way to a tie for 14th place. Behind her was freshman Louise Standtke. Making her collegiate debut, Standtke registered a 227 while tying for 25th.
Finishing third for UE and tying for 49th in the final standings was Elizabeth Mercer. Her 6-over 78 gave her a final tally of 235. Fourth on the team was Mallory Russell. Her Monday round of 78 gave her a 3-round score of 237, putting her in a tie for 60th place. Jane Grankina and Trinity Dubbs had totals of 238 and 239, respectively.
As a team, the Aces came home in 10th place.
SOUTHERN INDIANA WOMEN’S SOCCER
USI RECORDS FIRST SHUTOUT OF SEASON IN 0-0 DRAW AT AUSTIN PEAY
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Soccer picked up a gritty 0-0 draw on the road Thursday night against Austin Peay State University, posting the Screaming Eagles’ first shutout of the season.
Southern Indiana’s (0-6-2) second result of the season did not come easy, as the Eagles battled not only the Governors (2-3-2) on the field but also the elements with heavy downpours at times.
USI’s first opportunity came early at the 1:31 mark when sophomore midfielder Kerigan Kivisto fired a shot on goal but was saved by Austin Peay’s goalkeeper.
On the attacking end, USI had a couple of shots blocked and another shot on goal saved by Austin Peay during the first half of play.
Defensively, Southern Indiana’s backline unit was stellar, holding Austin Peay without a shot attempt in the first 45 minutes for the second consecutive meeting. USI also held the Govs without a shot in the first half in last year’s 2-0 home win.
The 0-0 deadlock in the rain continued into the start of the second half. Senior goalkeeper Zoe Lintner subbed in for redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Anna Markland at halftime. Lintner was quickly tested with a save in the first five minutes of the second half. USI’s defense continued to hold strong with multiple blocks.
As the aggression from both sides ramped up, the search for a goal also intensified. Southern Indiana’s attacking front quickly transitioned from the defensive half of the field to the offensive half.
The Screaming Eagles launched six shots in the last 12 minutes. Junior midfielder Emerson Grafton had three shots during that stretch including one off the crossbar at the under the eight-minute mark. Junior defender Brynn Quick also had a pair of attempts during the home stretch of the match.
Despite the stellar effort on both ends of the field and a strong defensive performance, the game ended the way it started, 0-0.
In goal, Lintner gloved four key saves in the second half, picking up where Markland left off to post a combined clean sheet.
Southern Indiana tallied 13 shots with five on goal. Quick had a team-high four shots, and Grafton had a team-best two shots on goal. Grafton and Kivisto each had three shot attempts.
Austin Peay finished with 11 shots and five on target.
Southern Indiana will look to build off the momentum from a solid performance on Thursday in its non-conference finale Sunday afternoon against Bellarmine University. Kickoff from Strassweg Field is at 1 p.m. Sunday.
The matchup against its former Great Lakes Valley Conference foe will be a redout. Fans are encouraged to wear red for Riley Hospital.
Links for match coverage can be found at usiscreamingeagles.com.
VALPO WOMEN’S SOCCER
SOCCER EDGES EASTERN MICHIGAN, 1-0
A busy weekend of home athletic events on the Valparaiso University campus opened on a winning note Thursday evening, as the Valpo soccer team earned a 1-0 win on Brown Field over Eastern Michigan thanks to a first-half penalty kick from senior Addy Joiner (Chesterton, Ind./Chesterton).
How It Happened
Both sides had spells of pressure in the first half, but little of it resulted in shot attempts either way.
The breakthrough moment came in the 33rd minute, courtesy of Joiner. The senior applied pressure on the EMU center backs on a ball over the top, forcing an underhit header which she was able to gain possession of just outside the top of the box. Two touches later, Joiner was clattered into from behind and went down, earning the penalty kick.
Joiner took the ball to the spot herself, stepped up and calmly drilled a right-footed strike down the center to give the Beacons the 1-0 edge.
There was little in the rest of the half, with just one combined shot as Valpo took the 1-0 lead into halftime.
The Beacons were able to see out the match in the second half, handling a ramped-up EMU attack which attempted eight shots and took four corner kicks over the final 45 minutes.
Inside the Match
After last year’s MVC Tournament run which featured four 1-0 results, this was the first 1-0 final in the Beacons’ favor this season.
Fresh off being named MVC Goalkeeper of the Week two days ago, freshman Hailey Wade (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) made her second career start in goal and earned her first collegiate clean sheet, making three saves to keep EMU off the board.
Meanwhile, Joiner did what she’s done throughout her four-year career — simply finding the back of the net. The penalty goal was Joiner’s team-high third goal this season and the 21st of her career, moving her into a tie with Emily King for fourth-most in program history.
It also was the senior’s eighth career match-winning goal, putting her alone in fifth place in program history.
EMU, which entered the match sitting at 4-1-0 on the season, held an 11-8 edge in shots and put three on goal to Valpo’s two. The Eagles also attempted six of the match’s seven corner kicks.
Thoughts From Coach Marovich
“I’m really proud of our group tonight — it was a great growth night. A lot of things and details we had talked about focusing on happened tonight. It was a really solid performance, one with a lot of takeaways that we can build off of, and shows when we focus on our process, good things are going to happen.”
“We were a bit scattered in the first 10-15 minutes or so of the match, but really grew into the match after that point. We were really engaged in not letting players turn and challenging for 50/50 balls, and it led to us being able to pick passes, play into open space and get the ball out into the wide channels. What I really liked in the second half was it started similarly in terms of being scattered, but it didn’t last nearly as long — credit to our back line for quickly cleaning things up and playing smart.”
“On set pieces and goal kicks tonight, we were much better in handling head balls — going in with challenges, winning them, being able to kill off set pieces. It had been a focus of ours after hurting us the last few matches, and the way we handled them tonight is another positive we can take away.”
“I thought Ashlyn did a fantastic job putting in a shift as the 9 tonight — she was able to put Eastern Michigan under pressure, hold the ball and use her pace to create chances.”
Next Up
Valpo (4-3-0) goes for a strong conclusion to the nonconference schedule on Sunday afternoon when it plays at Northern Illinois at 1 p.m. NIU will have a free live video stream of the fixture.
UINDY FOOTBALL
HOME OPENER ON DECK FOR UINDY FOOTBALL
WEEK 2
vs. Truman Bulldogs (0-1, 0-0 GLVC)
Saturday // September 14
6 p.m. ET // Key Stadium
The No. 16-ranked UIndy football team hosts GLVC-rival Truman State University this Saturday night in an early-season conference showdown. UIndy’s seven-game win streak in the series will be on the line under the lights at Key Stadium. The teams were picked one and two, respectively, in the GLVC Preason Coaches Poll. Check out the links above for all the ways to follow the Greyhounds.
The Hounds are coming off an impressive season-opening road win at Hillsdale College last weekend, pulling away for a 42-16 victory. In a meeting of two former GLIAC rivals, Hillsdale surged with a safety followed by a touchdown to pull within 12 early in the fourth. But UIndy snatched the momentum with a 48-yard bomb to Cobi Lewis on the very next play from scrimmage. TDs runs from Garrett Sherrell (16 yds) and later Jon Lewis (69 yds) followed, clinching the win.
UINDY MEN’S SOCCER
UINDY LOSES HARD-FOUGHT 1-0 BATTLE TO LAKE ERIE
INDIANAPOLIS – The Hounds fell to 0-2-0 on the year after dropping their final non-conference game of the season to Lake Erie, 1-0.
UIndy took the slight edge in possession for the match over Lake Erie, with 51 percent. The total shots, however, were favored in the direction of Lake Erie with 12 shots—including four on goal—to UIndy’s six total shots and only one on goal. This is the second consecutive time against Lake Erie in which the Greyhounds were held to just one shot on goal the entire match. It was also the first time since Sept. 11, 2022 against Maryville where the Hounds were shutout at home in a loss.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The match started as a back-and-forth affair as both teams buckled down defensively to keep the score 0-0 for much of the first half. There were chances at both ends, including a shot off of a corner kick from the Storm which forced a big save by Joey Schrand. The Storm finally broke the deadlock just before the half on a right-footed shot by Linus Oestlund that beat the outstretched hand of Schrand.
The Hounds responded with a flurry of chances to begin the second half. The Hounds’ two best efforts came from Vincent Montoya in the 54th minute, forcing a save out of the Storm’s Jasper Rump. Also a bicycle kick attempt by Medard Mikobi from inside the six-yard box flew just over the bar. Even with the Hounds’ constant pressure in the second half they were unable to find the back of the net.
INSIDE THE BOX
– Vincent Montoya was the only player for UIndy with a shot on goal.
– The Hounds received three yellow cards on four fouls in comparison to the Storm’s three yellow cards on nine total fouls.
– UIndy led the match in total corners with a 7-4 advantage.
– Joey Longo made his first start of the season for the Hounds.
UP NEXT
The Hounds will open GLVC play this Sunday, Sept. 15, as they travel to Kirksville, Mo., for a match against Truman State University.
UINDY WOMEN’S SOCCER
GREYHOUNDS DROP FINAL NON-CONFERENCE MATCH
INDIANAPOLIS – In the last non-conference game of the season, the UIndy women’s soccer team fell to the Thomas More University Saints, 1-0, at Key Stadium.
UIndy held the edge in possession percentage, as they held 61 percent of possession for the match. Shots and shots on goal were also sloped in favor of the Greyhounds, where six of their 19 total shots made it on target. Thomas More only had three total shots, with their one shot on goal finding the back of the net in the seventh minute.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Saints came out of the gate strong, scoring within the first seven minutes of the match when Lily Martin snuck one past keeper Jenna Taghikhani off the left post. The goal came from a set piece out of the corner, where the ball skipped around multiple players before landing on Martin’s foot.
The Hounds’ effort to equalize the score in the first half was met with ill fate, as two Greyhound shots rattled out off the crossbar. In the second half, the Hounds put four chances on target, but could not beat Lauren Welsh between the pipes. Welsh earned her first shutout of the young season, making six saves.
INSIDE THE BOX
-UIndy’s +16 shot advantage was its highest since outshooting Southwest Baptist, 25-6, back in October of 2022.
-The Hounds also owned a big advantage in corner kick chances, including a 9-0 edge in the second half.
-Sophomore Mia Winters paced the Hounds in both shots (6) and shots on goal (3).
-Junior midfiedler Faith Dean made her first of the year.
UP NEXT
The Hounds will open GLVC play this Sunday, Sept. 15, as they travel to Kirksville, Mo., for a match against Truman State University.
MARIAN FOOTBALL
GAMEDAY GUIDE: NO. 6 MARIAN PLAYS HOME OPENER AGAINST CONCORDIA ON FAMILY WEEKEND
INDIANAPOLIS – Following their season opening victory at Siena Heights, the Marian University football team is ready to return home and play their first home game at Ascension St. Vincent Field on Saturday against Concordia University. Kickoff for Saturday night’s home opener is set for 6:05 p.m.
THE GAME
The series between Marian and Concordia has been tightly contested, despite Marian’s commanding 11-2 series lead over the Cardinals. Marian has gone on the road each of the last two seasons to play Concordia, with the Cardinals making their first trip to Indianapolis since 2021. This weekend’s matchup will also be the final game in the series, as the Cardinals athletics program will come to a close at the end of the 2024-25 school year.
Marian is 3-0 all-time under head coach Ted Karras Jr., earning their third win of the series under Coach K. by a 14-7 score last year. Keagan La Belle scored what would eventually be the game-winning touchdown in the second quarter, while Jake Reichard was the team’s leading receiver in last year’s rain-soaked contest. Of the returning players on Marian’s roster in 2024 from the defensive side of the ball, Deon Pettiford was the team’s leader in tackles with six, while Jayshawn Underwood had five, including an interception. 2023 alumni Nate Frey earned MSFA Defensive Player of the Week after his 13-tackle game a season ago.
WATCH AND FOLLOW ALONG
Those fans unable to attend Saturday night’s game can watch live on the ISC Sports Network. All home games are televised with five camera angles, and single game live stream passes charge $9.99. Fans can also purchase a season pass of Marian football at a discounted price on a per-game basis, running at $24.99. Passes for this weekend can be purchased now. Live statistics will be available at marianstats.com, and updates of the game will be posted on the Marian Knights and Marian Football Instagram and X pages. Fans can follow at @MUKnights and @MarianUFootball.
TICKETS
Tickets for Saturday’s home-opening game are on sale now, with general admission ticket pricing starting at $10.
TAILGATING
Tailgate spots are filling fast for this weekend. For more information on tailgating, rules, and policies, click here. Tailgate lots will open at 2:00 p.m.
BLUE OUT
This weekend’s theme is a blue out! Fans are encouraged to wear their Marian blue and support the Knights. The Marian Maniacs will be giving out T-shirts during the third quarter of Saturday’s game.
NEW FEATURES AT ASCENSION ST. VINCENT FIELD
Marian football games will hold a pair of new features this season, with the Merchants Bank video board highlighting the south end zone. Live replays and video will echo on the field throughout the game, Also new at Marian football games are beer sales, with Beir Brewing selling their products at Marian games. There is a limit of three beers per person. More information on alcohol sales can be found here.
PREGAME ATHLETIC EVENTS ON-CAMPUS
The Marian women’s soccer team plays a matinee contest at Ascension St. Vincent Field to warm up the crowd, as the Knights take on Cumberland at 12:00 p.m. The match will be aired on the ISC Sports Network, with Greg Rakestraw leading the call. Marian’s tennis teams also takes on Goshen on Saturday, with the match starting at 1:00 p.m.
FAMILY WEEKEND
It is also Family Weekend at Marian University, and a full list of events are taking place throughout the weekend on campus, particularly on gameday. To see the full gameday schedule, see the above link.
POSTGAME FIREWORKS
Following the game, Marian will host the city’s best fireworks display. Stick around after the game to enjoy an annual fireworks display, while fireworks will go off throughout the game following Marian scores.
Kickoff between Marian and Concordia is set for 6:05 p.m. on Saturday night.
INDIANA SMALL COLLEGE WEBSITES
INDIANA WESLEYAN ATHLETICS: https://iwuwildcats.com/
EARLHAM ATHLETICS: https://goearlham.com/
WABASH ATHLETICS: https://sports.wabash.edu/
FRANKLIN ATHLETICS: https://franklingrizzlies.com/
ROSE-HULMAN ATHLETICS: https://athletics.rose-hulman.edu/
ANDERSON ATHLETICS: https://athletics.anderson.edu/landing/index
TRINE ATHLETICS: https://trinethunder.com/landing/index
BETHEL ATHLETICS: https://bupilots.com/
DEPAUW ATHLETICS: https://depauwtigers.com/
HANOVER ATHLETICS: https://athletics.hanover.edu/
MANCHESTER ATHLETICS: https://muspartans.com/
HUNTINGTON ATHLETICS: https://www.huathletics.com/
OAKLAND CITY ATHLETICS: https://gomightyoaks.com/index.aspx
ST. FRANCIS ATHLETICS: https://www.saintfranciscougars.com/landing/index
IU KOKOMO ATHLETICS: https://iukcougars.com/
IU EAST ATHLETICS: https://www.iueredwolves.com/
IU SOUTH BEND ATHLETICS: https://iusbtitans.com/
PURDUE NORTHWEST ATHLETICS: https://pnwathletics.com/
INDIANA TECH ATHLETICS: https://indianatechwarriors.com/index.aspx
GRACE COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://gclancers.com/
ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ATHLETICS: https://smwcathletics.com/
GOSHEN COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://goleafs.net/
HOY CROSS ATHLETICS: https://www.hcsaints.com/index.php
TAYLOR ATHLETICS: https://www.taylortrojans.com/
VINCENNES ATHLETICS: https://govutrailblazers.com/landing/index
NUMBERS IN SPORTS
9 – 23 – 18 – 21 – 56 – 24 – 25 – 29 – 32 – 35 – 28 – 17 – 7 – 30
September 13, 1883 – Hugh Daily, a one-armed pitcher for Cleveland (Forest City), tosses 1-0 no-hitter against Philadelphia
September 13, 1902 – Chicago Cubs infielders Joe Tinker, Johnny Evers, and Frank Chance appear together as teammates for 1st time, creating the famed double-play combination of “Tinker to Evers to Chance”
September 13, 1907 – Canadian Interprovincial Rugby Football Union (IRFU) forms with merge of Hamilton Tigers, Toronto Argonauts (ORFU) and Ottawa Rough Riders, Montreal FC (QRFU)
September 13, 1909 – Ty Cobb clinched the AL HR title with his 9th HR (all inside-the-park)
September 13, 1925 – Brooklyn Dodger Dazzy Vance no-hit the Philadelphi Phillies line-up, in 10-1 Dodgers win
September 13, 1927 – The New York Yankees clinched the AL pennant after 5-3 win over Cleveland Indians at Yankee Stadium; Babe Ruth hits HR #52 en route to MLB record 60
September 13, 1936 – 17 year old Cleveland Indians future Baseball HOF pitcher Number 9, Bob Feller strikes out then record 17 Philadelphia A’s in 5-2 win at League Park, Cleveland
September 13, 1938 – Alexander Cartwright is inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Cartwright is one of the men credited as the inventor of modern baseball
September 13, 1953 – Pitcher Bob Trice, Number 23 became the first black player for Philadelphia Athletics
September 13, 1954 – Cincinnati Redlegs first baseman Ted Kluszewski, Number 18 scored a run in his record 17th consecutive game as the Reds lose 5-4 to Pittsburgh Pirates at Forbes Field
September 13, 1958 – Milwaukee Braves Warren Spahn (Number 21) was the first left-handed pitcher to win 20 or more games in nine different seasons
September 13, 1963 – Number 56, Jim Bouton’s 20th win clinched the Yankees 28th pennant
September 13, 1965 – Willie Mays, Number 24 smacked his 500th career home run off of Don Nottebart, to aid the San Francisco Giants to an 11th straight win
September 13, 1969 – San Francisco Giant Bobby Bonds, Number 25 is baseball’s 4th 30-HR, 30-steal player
September 13, 1982 – Joe Lefebvre, Number 18 earned 6 hits in one baseball game
September 13, 1982 – MLB Phillies Steve Carlton (Number 32) tossed a beautiful complete-game shutout and hit a home run for the 4th time in his career, in 2-0 win over St. Louis, at Veteran’s Stadium, Philadelphia; he became the only pitcher to do so in three different decades
September 13, 1983 – Dan Quisenberry, Number 29 records 39th season save
September 13, 1983 – Oakland’s Rickey Henderson (Number 35) had a 3rd straight season where he stole at least 100 bases.
September 13, 1986 – Bert Blyleven, Number 28 gave up a record 44 HRs in a season
September 13, 1987 – Tampa Bay quarterback Steve DeBerg, Number 17 establishes a franchise record with 5 touchdown passes in the Buccaneers 48-10 win over the Atlanta Falcons
September 13, 1991 – Joe Carter, Number 29 1st baseball player with 3 consecutive 100 RBI seasons with 3 different teams (Indians, Padres, Blue Jays)
September 13, 1999 – John Elway’s Number 7 jersey is retired by the Denver Broncos
September 13, 2020 – Chicago Cubs pitcher Alec Mills, Number 30 threw a no-hit performance against the Milwaukee Brewers, 12-0 at Miller Park, Milwaukee
FOOTBALL HISTORY
September 13, 1981 – The Atlanta Falcons tied a record when they scored 31 points in the fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers. At the start of the final stanza, the Pack had a 17-point lead at home in the confines of Lambeau Field but the Falcon’s quarterback Steve Bartowski, and company had not given up even though they had not scored a point all day due in part to a stifling Packer’s defense. The Falcon’s defense became increasingly aggressive with blitz packages that stalled the Green Bay offense and Bartowski found his top wideout Alfred Jenkins with some key strikes to move the Atlanta “O” down the field to paydirt. It looked like Green Bay at one point had found its offense again as they moved the ball with passes from Lynne Dickey to wide-out James Lofton, but a back-breaking fumble by running back Terdell Middleton and subsequent 57-yard scoop and score by Falcon’s defender LB Joel Williams kept the game’s momentum with Atlanta. Final score 31-17.
September 13, 1987 – Quarterback Steve DeBerg set a Tampa Bay Buccaneer record as he connects on 5 touchdown passes during a game against the Atlanta Falcons in a 48-10 romp by the Bucs. over their divisional rivals.
September 13, 1992 – The New York Giants come close to a late comeback win against their divisional rival the Dallas Cowboys. Down 34-0 in the third quarter, the G-Men put up 28 unanswered points but fell short as the “Boys step up late to hold onto a 34-28 “W.”
September 13, 1999 – The Denver Broncos officially retired quarterback John Elway’s number 7 jersey.
September 13, 2018 – Internet Giant, Amazon live streams an NFL game with an all-female broadcast team. During the Cincinnati Bengals versus Baltimore Ravens contest the voices of Andrea Kremer and Hannah Storm graced the soundwaves to entertain the web-viewing audience. The Bengals ended up on top 34-23.
September 13, 2020 – A full slate of Sunday games kicked off the NFL regular season during the COVID-19 pandemic. In most states these games did not allow fans into the stadiums to watch the games live, but television coverage brought the action into the safety of most American homes. Big news items of this day were how players would respond to recent social events at the National Anthem, which television would not air. An NFL record for the age of starting quarterbacks was reached as the Tom Brady led Tampa Bay Buccaneers traveled to face Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints. The Saints triumphed 34-23 after Brady threw 2 interceptions, including a pick six. The Washington Football Team played their first game after dropping the controversial Redskins nickname, as they defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 27-17. The Los Angeles Rams opened up their new home field that they share with the LA Chargers, SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA as they knocked off the Dallas Cowboys 20-17.
Hall of Fame Birthdays for September 13
September 13, 1898 – Glenn Killinger was a former Penn State University quarterback. As World War I broke out Killinger was informed that at 17 year of age he was too young to enlist in the U.S. Army so instead he enrolled at Penn State in Metallurgical Engineering. While at the school he met a very influential person in his life, Coach Hugo Bezdek. Bezdek was quite an accomplished athlete in his own right (we will get into him in much more detail on his birthday April 1). The player and coach clicked, and Bezdek molded the young Glenn Killinger into a fine QB and a great baseball player too! Killinger earned 9 letters in athletics at PSU for football, baseball and basketball. During the 1921 gridiron season, Walter Camp selected the great broken-field runner as the quarterback of the first-team All-American Football Players. The highly regarded sports writer, Grantland Rice described Killinger as “one of the best running quarterbacks.” Legendary coaches Pop Warner and John Heisman compared him to Jim Thorpe for being one of the greatest multisport athletes in America. After graduation Killinger played professional football for the NFL’s Canton Bulldogs and New York Giants as well as for the 1st AFL’s Philadelphia Quakers. The athletic Killinger also played minor league baseball for 10 years and had a stint in the Big Leagues with the New York Yankees. Somehow he also fit in being the Head Football Coach at Dickinson College (1922), Rennsellaer Polytechnical Institute (1927-1931), Moravian College (1933), West Chester University (1934-1959 except 1944) and the North Carolina Flight School (1944). His career college coaching record was 176-72-16. Glenn found the time to coach some college baseball and basketball too as well as being a minor league baseball manager to boot! The College Football of Fame chose him to enter their hallowed halls in 1971.
September 13, 1915 – Clint Frank was a former Yale University halfback. At Yale he was a two year captain of the team and earned the selection as an All-American player. In 1937 he won both the Maxwell Award and the Heisman Ward, beating out the legendary Byron “Whizzer” White, for his great play on the field. Though he was chosen by the Detroit Lions in the 12th round of the 1938 NFL Draft he never signed on and thus did not play football at the professional level. He eventually served his country in the Army Air Corp as a Lieutenant Colonel during World War II. The College Football of Fame selected Frank to enter the Hall in 1955’s entry class per the National Football Foundation.
September 13, 1922 – Zygmont Czarobski was a former tackle from the University of Notre Dame that played during the mid-1940’s. Czarobski’s FIghting Irish play was interrupted for a couple seasons as he served in the military during World War II but he went right back after the war to finish his studies and his playing eligibility. Zygmont played pro football in the All-American Football Conference for the Chicago Hornets and Chicago Rockets. He was selected to enter the College Football of Fame in 1977.
TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY
1883 Cleveland’s one-arm pitcher Hugh Daily no-hits Philadelphia, 1-0. The fireballing Irish right-hander lost his left hand to a gun accident earlier in his life.
1902 Johnny Evers, acquired to replace second baseman Bobby Lowe, who broke his ankle, joins shortstop Joe Tinker and first baseman Frank Chance on the Chicago infield, marking the first time the three Cubs’ infielders have played together. Franklin Pierce Adams’ poem, “Baseball’s Sad Lexicon,” better known as “Tinker to Evers to Chance,” immortalizes the legendary double-play trio.
1909 Tigers’ outfielder Ty Cobb hits his ninth round-tripper, all of the inside-the-park variety, to win the home run crown. The Georgia Peach will hit 117 round-trippers during his 24-year career but leads the league only this season.
1925 In the first game of a twin bill, Robins’ starter Dazzy Vance no-hits the Phillies at Ebbets Field, 10-1. The Brooklyn hurler had one-hit the team from the City of Brotherly Love five days earlier.
1932 With their 100th victory, the Yankees clinch the AL pennant when George Pipqras beats the Tribe at Cleveland Stadium, 9-3. Yankee skipper Joe McCarthy, who captured a flag with the 1929 Cubs, becomes the first to win pennants in the American and National League.
1933 White Sox veteran hurlers Sad Sam Jones (41) and Red Faber (44) are the starting pitchers in a doubleheader split with the A’s at Philadelphia’s Shibe Park. It will be another 53 seasons before another pair of 40+-year-old teammates (Yankees Tommy John and Joe Niekro) start both ends of a twin bill.
1936 Indians’ teenage pitching phenom Bob Feller sets a new American League record by striking out 17 batters when he two-hits the A’s at Shibe Park, 5-2. After the season, the 17-year-old will return to his Van Meter, Iowa home to graduate from high school.
1945 Only 281 patrons attend the Crosley Field contest to watch the hometown Reds beat New York, 3-2. The Thursday crowd will be the smallest gathering of fans during the 58-year history of the Cincinnati ballpark.
1946 Taking advantage of the left fielder’s shallow positioning due to the Boudreau shift, Ted Williams hits his lone career inside-the-park home run, which proves to be the difference in the Red Sox’ 1-0 victory over the Indians. The win clinches Boston’s first American League pennant since 1918.
1948 Indian right-hander Don Black, while batting in the second inning of the Cleveland Stadium contest against St. Louis, suffers a cerebral hemorrhage and is rushed to the hospital in critical condition. The 32-year-old hurler will survive, but his major league career is over.
1949 Ralph Kiner hits four consecutive homers for the second time in his career. After homering in his last two at-bats in the previous game played two days ago, the 26-year-old Pirates slugger goes deep in his first two plate appearances in today’s 11-6 victory over Philadelphia at Forbes Field.
1950 Giants’ right-hander Sal Maglie’s consecutive scoreless inning streak ends at 45 when Pirates’ outfielder Gus Bell hits a 257-foot pop fly that barely clears the Polo Grounds wall for a home run. The Barber’s accomplishment falls four outs shy of the National League record established in 1933 by Carl Hubbell.
1951 At Sportsman’s Park, the Cardinals split a three-team twin bill, beating the Giants 6-4 in a re-scheduled afternoon game due to rain the day before, and then the Redbirds are blanked by the Braves in the regularly scheduled night game, 2-0. The games mark the first time since 1883 that a three-team twin bill takes place.
1953 Bob Trice becomes the first black player to appear for the A’s. The former Homestead Grays hurler will pitch in only three games for Philadelphia this season, compiling a 2-1 record, finishing his brief three-year stint in the major leagues with a 9-9 mark.
1954 Ted Kluszewski sets a National League record by scoring at least one run in seventeen consecutive games when he crosses the plate in the fourth frame of the Reds’ 6-5 loss to the Pirates at Forbes Field. In 1939, Yankees’ third baseman Red Rolfe established the major league mark with 18, later equaled in 2000 by Indians’ outfielder Kenny Lofton.
1956 Pirates’ reliever Elroy Face appears in his ninth consecutive game, setting a major league record surpassed by Mike Marshall (1974) and Dale Mohoric (1986), who both had 13. The record-setting outing will prove less than memorable when the 28-year-old right-hander blows the save and the loss after giving up three ninth-inning hits to the only three batters he faces in the team’s 5-4 defeat to the Reds at Forbes Field.
1960 The Dodgers end their historic affiliation with the Montreal Royals, citing low attendance as a factor for leaving the city where Jackie Robinson famously broke the color barrier in 1946. Next season, after an effort to keep the team in the City of a Hundred Steeples, the Canadian franchise relocates to New York, playing as the Syracuse Chiefs, a farm team for the Minnesota Twins.
1960 In the top of the fifth inning at Crosley Field, Danny Murphy hits a two-out, three-run home run in an 8-6 loss to the Reds. The 18-year-old right-fielder becomes the youngest Cubs player ever to homer.
1963 On Friday the 13th, hard-luck hurler Roger Craig, en route to his 21st loss of the season, allows the game’s lone run to score after getting the first two outs in the ninth inning of the Mets’ 1-0 loss to Houston at the Polo Grounds. The defeat marks the fifth time the New York right-hander has dropped a 1-0 decision this season.
1964 The Cardinals become only the second team in major league history this century to score at least one run in every inning as they rout Chicago, 15-2. A dropped pop-up in the top of the ninth secures St. Louis’ place in history.
1965 Facing right-hander Don Nottebart, 34-year-old Giant outfielder Willie Mays becomes the fifth player in major league history to collect 500 career home runs, blasting a 440-foot shot over the Astrodome’s centerfield wall. The ‘Say Hey Kid’ will hit a league-leading and career-high 52 home runs en route to his second MVP season.
1968 Jerry Koosman ties the National League rookie record when he hurls his seventh shutout, blanking Pittsburgh on three singles. The left-hander’s 2-0 victory, the Mets’ 67th win of the season – a franchise high, equals the mark shared by Irving Young (Braves, 1905) and Grover Cleveland Alexander (Phillies, 1911).
1969 Bobby Bonds, with his first-inning two-run homer in the Giants’ 6-4 defeat to the Reds at Candlestick Park, becomes the fourth player in major league history to steal at least 30 bases and hit at least thirty home runs in the same season. The other members of the 30/30 club are Ken Williams (1922-Browns), Willie Mays (1956 & 1957-Giants), and Hank Aaron (1963-Braves).
1971 In the nightcap of a twin bill, Frank Robinson joins the 500 home run club with a ninth-inning three-run homer off Fred Scherman in the Orioles’ 10-5 loss to the Tigers at Memorial Stadium. The Baltimore right fielder connected off Mike Kilkenny for #499 in Game 1 of the doubleheader, a 9-1 Birds’ victory.
1978 At Tiger Stadium, the visiting Yankees defeat Detroit, 7-3, to take sole possession of first place for the first time this season. On July 19, the Bronx Bombers trailed the Red Sox by 14 games in the American East Division.
1982 In addition to throwing a complete-game shutout to beat St. Louis, 2-0, for his 20th victory of the season, Phillies’ southpaw Steve Carlton also goes deep in the fifth inning of the Veterans Stadium contest. The contest marks the fourth time ‘Lefty’ has blanked his opponents and homered in the same game, becoming the first pitcher to have accomplished the feat in three different decades.
1983 Mike Fitzgerald becomes the 48th major leaguer to hit a home run in his first big-league at-bat. The Mets rookie backstop’s second-inning homer of Tony Ghelfi contributes to a 5-1 victory over Philadelphia at Veterans Stadium.
1983 Recording his 39th save, Royals’ closer Dan Quisenberry breaks John Hiller’s single-season record. The submariner gets the last two outs in a 4-3 victory over the Angels.
1986 In a 14-1 rout of Minnesota at the Metrodome, the Rangers set a team record with seven home runs, including blasts from Darrell Porter (2), Ruben Sierra (2), Steve Buechele, Pete O’Brien, and Pete Incaviglia. Minnesota’s starter Bert Blyleven, a future Hall of Famer, is tagged for five of the round-trippers, which raises his gopher ball total to 44 this season, establishing a new American League record.
1986 Ruben Sierra becomes the first Ranger player to hit a home run from both sides of the plate in the same game when he goes deep off Bill Latham as a right-handed batter in the team’s 14-1 rout of the Twins. In the Metrodome contest, featuring a club-record seven home runs, the 20-year-old rookie switch-hitter also hit a round-tripper, facing future Hall of Fame right-hander Bert Blyleven in the third inning.
1989 Jack Morris, earning his 162nd win since the beginning of the 1980 season, beats the Tribe at Cleveland Stadium, 3-1. During the eighties, the Tiger right-hander compiles the most victories (162-119) but never finishes higher than third place in the Cy Young Award balloting during the ten years.
1989 Fay Vincent becomes baseball’s eighth commissioner, succeeding the late Bart Giamatti, who died of a heart attack 12 days ago. During the first year of his brief three-year tenure in office, the Waterbury, Connecticut native will oversee the postponement of this season’s World Series due to the Loma Prieta earthquake, the expulsion of Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, and the owners’ lockout during spring training in 1990.
1991 Blue Jay right-fielder Joe Carter becomes the first player with three consecutive 100 RBI seasons with three different clubs when his fifth-inning infield hit plates Roberto Alomar in the team’s 7-6 victory over the A’s at the SkyDome. The 31-year-old Oklahoman accomplished the feat last season with the Padres and the Indians in 1989.
1995 Tiger second baseman Lou Whitaker and shortstop Alan Trammell, appearing in the same game for the 1,915th time, set an American League record for joint appearances. The Detroit middle infielders surpass the mark established in 1990 by Royals’ teammates George Brett and Frank White.
1996 Alex Rodriguez became the first player in Mariners history to collect 200 hits in a season. The 20-year-old Seattle shortstop, who gets an RBI single off Minnesota’s Travis Miller in the first inning to reach the milestone, will finish the season with 215 hits and a Major League-leading .358 batting average.
1996 Dante Bichette joins his teammate Ellis Burks as a member of the 30/30 club when he homers in the sixth inning of Colorado’s 6-3 victory over Houston at Coors Field. The Rockies join the 1987 New York Mets as the only teams to have two 30-30 players (Howard Johnson and Darryl Strawberry) during the same season.
1997 Trailing 6-0 and down to their last strike, the Mets rally to tie the Expos, sending the game into extra innings when Carl Everett knots the score with a grand slam. In the 11th frame, Bernard Gilkey ends the contest with a three-run home run, wasting Montreal starter Dustin Hermanson’s one-hit, eight-inning performance at Shea Stadium.
1998 Sammy Sosa eclipses a National League record for the most home runs hit at one park by one player set by Ted Kluszewski when he hits his 35th at Wrigley Field, surpassing the former Reds first baseman’s 1954 total at Crosley Field. The Cubs’ right fielder’s 62nd ties Mark McGwire for the league’s lead in their historic home run race.
1998 Sammy Sosa’s ninth-inning homer in the bottom of the ninth off Eric Plunk helps to tie the game at ten runs apiece in the Cubs’ eventual 11-10 extra-inning victory over Milwaukee at Wrigley Field. The round-tripper, his second of the contest, surpasses Roger Maris’s single-season mark of 61, tying him with Mark McGwire for the league’s lead.
2001 Due to the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, Major League Baseball postpones all games through September 17. The ninety-one games are re-scheduled for the week after the regular season ends, meaning the World Series will likely extend into November for the first time in history.
2002 Oriole infielder Mike Bordick establishes a new American League record, playing his 96th consecutive errorless game at shortstop. Former teammate Cal Ripken previously held the mark.
2002 The U.S. Senate passes S. Res. 327, a resolution honoring Tiger broadcaster Ernie Harwell, planning to retire at the end of the season. The 84-year-old has been a major league baseball announcer for 55 years.
2003 After signing a one-day contract, Ken Daneyko grounds out to short in his professional baseball debut with the Newark Bears. The former New Jersey Devils defenseman, honored by the team before the game, plays DH against the Pennsylvania Road Warriors in a game that started in a driving rainstorm and called immediately after his at-bat.
2004 At Oakland’s Network Associates Coliseum, a female fan suffers a broken nose, facial lacerations, and a possible concussion from being struck by a plastic chair thrown by Ranger reliever Frank Francisco. The altercation between fans and several Rangers players, which occurs in the field box seats between the Texas dugout and bullpen, occurs with two outs in the ninth inning after Texas’ Alfonso Soriano’s second homer of the game ties the game 5-5.
2005 During the six-run second-inning uprising by San Diego, each Dodger outfielder commits an error. The fielding of Ricky Ledee (lf), Jose Cruz Jr. (rf), and Jayson Werth (cf) contribute to the 6-4 loss to the first-place Padres.
2006 In the Padres’ 10-0 rout of Cincinnati at Great American Ball Park, Mike Piazza hits his last home run as a catcher to extend his record to 396, the most ever hit by a major league backstop. The 37-year-old receiver surpassed Carlton Fisk in 2004 to establish the big-league mark with his 352nd round-tripper while playing behind the plate for the Mets.
2006 With a single in the first inning, a double in the second, and a triple in the fourth, Gary Matthews blasts a homer in the sixth to complete a natural cycle in his first four at-bats. The Texas center fielder, son of a former major leaguer, is only the third Ranger player to accomplish the feat, with Oddibe McDowell (1985) and Mark Teixeira (2004) being the others.
2007 After 13 years on the job, Terry Ryan announces his resignation as Twins’ general manager, effective at the end of the month. The 53-year-old, who will serve as the team’s senior advisor to the GM, saw his team win the AL Central last season for the fourth time since 2001.
2008 The Marlins become only the second major league team to have three infielders hit 30 home runs in the same season when Hanley Ramirez goes deep in Florida’s 4-2 victory over the Nationals at Dolphin Stadium. The Florida shortstop joins teammates first baseman Mike Jacobs and second baseman Dan Uggla to match the feat accomplished in 2001 by A’s infielders Jason Giambi, Eric Chavez, and Miguel Tejada.
2008 Francisco Rodriguez, striking out Raul Ibanez on a 3-2 changeup in the Angels’ 5-2 victory over the Mariners, earns his 58th save to break the single-season record. K-Rod surpasses the mark established in 1990 by White Sox closer Bobby Thigpen.
2009 At the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Ichiro Suzuki becomes the first player in major league history to collect 200 hits in nine consecutive seasons when he beats out an infield single in the Mariners’ 5-0 nightcap victory over Texas. The right-fielder shared the mark with Wee Willie Keeler, who had eight straight years with 200 or more hits for the National League franchises in Baltimore and Brooklyn from 1894-1901.
2011 After getting the first two outs on strikeouts, Mariano Rivera records his 600th career save when catcher Russell Martin throws out Ichiro Suzuki, trying to steal second base for the final out of the game. The 41-year-old Yankee closer is one save shy of tying Trevor Hoffman’s major league career record.
2013 In a much-anticipated start, David Hale sets a franchise record with nine strikeouts in his major league debut, not collecting the victory when San Diego stages a late rally to overcome a three-run deficit to beat the Braves at Turner Field, 4-3. The 25-year-old right-hander from Marietta (GA) surpasses the previous mark of eight shared by Bob Dresser (1902) and Kenshin Kawakami (2009).
2014 On the AT&T Park’s pitching mound, Giants skipper Bruce Bochy hands the ball to his son, Brett, marking the first time an offspring has hurled for a major league team his father managed. The 27-year-old right-hander enters the game with the bases loaded and two out, walking in a run before recording the final out in the sixth inning.
2015 The Braves extend their franchise-record home-game losing streak, dropping a heartbreaking 10-7 decision to the Mets in ten innings for their 12th consecutive loss at Turner Field. Atlanta was leading 7-4 before Daniel Murphy’s three-run tied the game after the first two batters were retired in the top of the ninth.
2020 In only his 15th career start, Cubs’ right-hander Alec Mills, facing 29 batters, throws the franchise’s 16th no-hitter, beating the Brewers at Miller Park, 12-0. The no-no marks the first time both Chicago teams have tossed a hitless game in the same season, with White Sox hurler Lucas Giolito accomplishing the feat against the Pirates on August 25.
(Ed. Note: The game marks the second no-no thrown at the venue but the first with the Brewers on the field. In 2008, the Cubs Carlos Zambrano no-hit the Astros with the ballpark serving as a neutral site after the contest moved from Houston to Milwaukee because of Hurricane Ike.- LP)
2021 In a 15-1 rout of the Rangers at Globe Life Field, Astros outfielder Jose Siri enjoys a 4-for-5 night in his first major league start. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the 26-year-old rookie becomes the first major leaguer to collect at least five RBIs, an official stat beginning in 1920, and hit two homers in his first appearance in the starting lineup.
TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY
Sept. 13
1930 — Tommy Armour beats Gene Sarazen 1 up to win the PGA Championship.
1964 — Roy Emerson beats fellow Australian Fred Stolle to win the men’s title in the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association championships. Brazil’s Maria Bueno wins the women’s title. Emerson wins in straight sets 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 and Bueno easily wins 6-1, 6-0.
1970 — Only 55 of 126 finish the first New York City Marathon, with Gary Muhrcke winning in 2 hours, 31 minutes, 38.2 seconds. The race is run counterclockwise on a 26.22-mile course in Central Park.
1981 — The Atlanta Falcons, trailing 17-0 with 13 minutes remaining in the game, score 31 points to beat the Green Bay Packers 31-17. The Falcons score touchdowns on a punt return, two by passes, an interception return and a fumble return.
1981 — John McEnroe defeats Bjorn Borg to win his third straight men’s singles title in the U.S. Open.
1989 — Pat Day breaks the record for most winners in one day when he scored with eight of his nine mounts at Arlington Racecourse in Illinois. It was the best day for one program in North American thoroughbred racing history. In his only loss, Day finishes second.
1991 — Joe Carter 1st baseball player with 3 consecutive 100 RBI seasons with 3 different teams (Indians, Padres, Blue Jays).
1992 — Buffalo’s Jim Kelly and San Francisco’s Steve Young throw for more than 400 yards and neither team punts, the first time in NFL history, as the Bills beat the 49ers 34-31.
1997 — Cade McNown throws a school-record five touchdown passes as UCLA routs No. 11 Texas 66-3. It’s the second-worst loss for Texas, which lost 68-0 to Chicago in 1904, and the biggest defeat of a ranked team in The Associated Press college football poll.
1999 — John Elway’s #7 jersey is retired by the Denver Broncos.
2003 — Tonya Butler makes a field goal and three extra points for Division II West Alabama. Butler, a 5-foot-5, 140-pound senior, kicks a 27-yarder in the first quarter to help the Tigers beat Stillman College 24-17. It could not be confirmed whether Butler was the first woman to kick a field goal because NCAA statistics do not differentiate between sexes.
2008 — Brigham Young quarterback Max Hall ties a school record with seven touchdown passes as the 18th-ranked Cougars hands UCLA its worst loss in nearly 80 years, 59-0.
2009 — Brandon Stokley only catches one pass — but it is a big one. He grabs a deflection and runs 87 yards with 11 seconds left to give Denver a 12-7 win over Cincinnati. Stokley even burns a few extra seconds by taking his time going into the end zone.
2010 — Rafael Nadal wins his first U.S. Open title to complete a career Grand Slam, beating Novak Djokovic 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2.
2013 — Jim Furyk becomes the sixth player in PGA Tour history to shoot a 59 to give him a share of the lead at the BMW Championship.
2015 — Lydia Ko becomes the youngest major champion in LPGA Tour history winning the Evian Championship. The South Korean-born New Zealander closes with an 8-under 63 for a six-stroke victory over Lexi Thompson. Ko, at 18 years, 4 months and 20 days old, eclipses the previous record of American Morgan Pressel, who was 18 years, 10 months and nine days old when she won the 2007 Kraft Nabisco Championship.
2020 — Alec Mills of the Chicago Cubs no-hit the Milwaukee Brewers 12-0 at Miller Park, Milwaukee.
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Sept. 14
1923 — Jack Dempsey knocks out Luis Firpo in the second round for his last successful defense of his world heavyweight title, at Madison Square Garden in New York.
1947 — Jack Kramer beats Frank Parket to win the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association championship. Kramer wins 4-6, 2-6, 6-1, 6-0, 6-3.
1959 — The new $32 million Aqueduct, operated by the New York Racing Association, opens.
1968 — Jimmy Ellis wins the WBA heavyweight title by beating Floyd Patterson in the 15th round in Stockholm, Sweden.
1986 — Chicago’s Walter Payton rushes for 177 yards, to reach the 15,000-yard plateau and scores his 100th career rushing touchdown as the Bears beat the Philadelphia Eagles 13-10.
1987 — Cal Ripken Jr.’s record streak of 8,243 consecutive innings (908 games) is finally broken.
1991 — Freshman Marshall Faulk of San Diego State rushes for an NCAA record 386 yards and scores seven touchdowns in his second collegiate game. Faulk sets an NCAA record for most rushing touchdowns in a game by a freshman as the Aztecs beat Pacific 55-34.
1991 — Texas A&M freshman Greg Hill has the greatest debut by a freshman running back in college football history as the Aggies rout LSU 45-7. Hill sets a major college record with 212 yards rushing in his first game and scores twice on 30 carries.
1994 — The baseball season, already shut down by a monthlong strike, is canceled along with the World Series in a vote by 26 of the 28 teams.
2002 — Tim Montgomery of the United States sets a world record in the 100 meters, clocking 9.78 seconds at the IAAF Grand Prix Final in Paris. The previous world record of 9.79 was set by fellow American Maurice Greene in 1999.
2003 — Jamal Lewis rushes for an NFL-record 295 yards on 30 carries in Baltimore’s 33-13 victory over Cleveland.
2006 — Tiger Woods’ five-tournament winning streak finally ends when Shaun Micheel knocks him out in the first round of the World Match Play Championship. The score was 4 and 3, matching Woods’ worst loss in match play.
2010 — Reggie Bush announces he is forfeiting his Heisman Trophy. The running back releases a statement saying he would give back the award that he won in 2005 while he was at Southern California. It’s the first time college football’s top award is returned by a recipient.
2011 — The Pittsburgh pirates clinches its 19th consecutive losing season, a record for a major league franchise in North America, losing to the St. Louis Cardinals 3-2.
2014 — Mirjana Lucic-Baroni beats Venus Williams 6-4, 6-3 to win the Coupe Banque Nationale and set the record for the biggest gap between WTA titles. Lucic-Baroni wins her third WTA title and first in 16 years and four months.
2014 — New England’s Bill Belichick becomes the sixth head coach in NFL history to reach 200 regular-season wins with a 30-7 victory over the Minnesota Vikings. Belichick has a 200-106 (.654) record in the regular season.
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Sept. 15
1899 — Willie Smith wins the U.S. Open golf title, beating George low, Val Fitzjohn and W.H. Way.
1923 — Bill Tilden wins the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association championship, beating William Johnston in straight sets, 6-4, 6-1, 6-4.
1962 — Frank Tripucka of the Denver Broncos passes for 447 yards and two touchdowns in a 23-20 win over the Buffalo Bills.
1971 — Stan Smith wins the U.S. Open title over Jan Khodes and Billie Jean King beats Rosemary Casals for the women’s title. It’s the first time in 16 years both titles were won by U.S. players.
1973 — Three-year-old Secretariat wins the Marlboro Cup Invitational Handicap in the then-world record time of 1:45 2-5 for 11/8 miles.
1973 — Archie Griffin of Ohio State starts his NCAA record string of 31 games of rushing for at least 100 yards, leading the Buckeyes to a 56-7 rout of Minnesota in Columbus.
1978 — Muhammad Ali becomes the first three-time heavyweight champion with a unanimous 15-round decision over Leon Spinks at the Superdome in New Orleans.
1991 — The United States women’s gymnastics team makes history with its first team medal — a silver — at the World Championships in Indianapolis.
1995 — Cards shortstop Ozzie Smith sets record of 1,554 double plays.
2002 — Sam Hornish Jr. wins another incredible race at Texas Motor Speedway, and his second straight IRL title. Hornish side-by-side with Helio Castroneves for many of the last 25 laps in the season-ending Chevy 500, crosses the finish line 0.0096 seconds — only a few inches — ahead of the other driver in contention for the season championship. Hornish wins his IRL-record fifth race of the season and becomes the first driver to win two IRL championships.
2002 — Oakland quarterback Rich Gannon begins NFL record-tying (Kurt Warner, Steve Young) streak of 6 consecutive 300-yard passing games, throwing for 403 yards in Raiders’ 30-17 victory at Pittsburgh.
2004 — NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announces a lockout of the players union and cessation of operations by the NHL head office.
2012 — LSU beats Idaho 63-14 to give the Tigers an NCAA FBS record 40th-straight non-conference regular season victory. LSU also set a Tiger Stadium mark with 20 straight home wins. Kansas State had 39 straight non-conference regular-season wins from 1993-2003.
2013 — Philip Rivers is 36 of 47 for 419 yards and three touchdown passes to Eddie Royal to lead San Diego to a 33-30 victory at Philadelphia. Michael Vick of the Eagles passes for a career-best 428 yards and two touchdowns and runs for a score.
2017 — The Cleveland has its AL record run stopped at 22 straight games as the Indians are beaten 4-3 by the Kansas City Royals.
2018 — Zlatan Ibrahimovic scores his 500th worldwide goal in the Los Angeles Galaxy’s 5-3 loss to Toronto FC. The 36-year-old Swede joins Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the only active players with 500 goals for in club and international play.
2021 — US gymnasts, including Simone Biles, testify against former team doctor Larry Nassar at a Senate Committee hearing, criticizing a system that allowed it to happen.
2022 — Tennis great Roger Federer announces his retirement from professional tennis at 41 with 20 grand slam wins and 103 ATP titles.
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Sept. 16
1885 — The America’s Cup is successfully defended by U.S. yacht Puritan as it beats Britain’s Genesta in two heats.
1926 — Henri Cochet ends Bill Tilden’s six-year reign as the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association champion as he beats Tilden in the quarterfinals.
1927 — Rene Lacoste wins the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association championship, beating Bill Tilden in three sets.
1951 — Betsy Rawls wins the U.S. Women’s Open golf title by edging Louise Suggs.
1955 — The formation of the United States Auto Club is completed and will oversee four major categories of auto races.
1973 — O.J. Simpson rushes for 250 yards to lead the Buffalo Bills to a 31-13 victory over the New England Patriots.
1989 — No. 1 Notre Dame beats No. 2 Michigan 24-19 in Ann Arbor, Mich. Fighting Irish wide receiver Raghib Ismail steals the show by returning kickoffs 88 and 92 yards for touchdowns. It’s the second time Ismail has two kickoff returns for touchdowns in the same game, accomplishing the feat against Rice in 1988.
1993 — Dave Winfield of the Minnesota Twins becomes the 19th player in major league history to get 3,000 hits, with a single off Oakland’s Dennis Eckersley.
1996 — Paul Molitor gets his 3,000th career hit, becoming the 21st major leaguer to reach the mark and the first to do it with a triple.
2000 — Zippy Chippy, a 9-year-old gelding, finishes third in the eighth race at the Three-County Fair in Northampton, Mass., extending his record as the losingest horse in American thoroughbred history to 88 races.
2000 — Sammy Sosa becomes the second player to hit 50 or more home runs in three consecutive years, joining Mark McGwire.
2001 — Jason Bohn shoots a 13-under 58 at Huron Oaks Country Club to win the Canadian Tour’s Bayer Championship by two strokes and go one below the best round ever shot in PGA Tour-sanctioned competition.
2007 — Jim Thome is the 23rd player — and third this season — to reach 500 home runs. The slugger hits a two-run shot in the bottom of the ninth inning off reliever Dustin Moseley to give the Chicago White Sox a 9-7 victory over the Los Angeles Angels.
2007 — Bengals QB Carson Palmer passes for six TDs and the Browns’ Derek Anderson has five in Cleveland’s 51-45 win over Cincinnati, making it just the third time in NFL history that two QBs threw five TD passes apiece in the same game.
2010 — The Seattle Storm complete their undefeated march through the postseason, beating the Atlanta Dream 87-84 for a three-game sweep in the WNBA finals.
2012 — Eli Manning hits 31 of 51 passes for 510 yards — the second-best passing day in team history — with three touchdown passes and three interceptions as the New York Giants rally for a 41-34 win over Tampa Bay.
2012 — NHL locks out its players after the expiry of the collective bargaining agreement.
2017 — In front of the largest crowd to attend a stand-alone MLS match, Josef Martinez gets his second hat trick in a row and his third of the season to help Atlanta United hold on for a 3-3 draw against Orlando City. Atlanta United sets the record with 70,425 on hand at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
2018 — Scott Dixon has a steady drive to win his fifth IndyCar championship with ease. Dixon, needing an uneventful finale at Sonoma Raceway, finishes second behind winner Ryan Hunter-Reay. His fifth title moves him into second in IndyCar history, two behind A.J. Foyt.
2018 — Patrick Mahomes is 23 for 28 for 326 yards and six touchdown passes in Kansas City’s 42-37 win over Pittsburgh. His 10 touchdown passes through two weeks are the most by a quarterback through two games in NFL history.
Sept. 17
1897 — England’s Joe Lloyd beats Scotland’s Willie Anderson by one stroke to win the U.S. Open in Wheaton, Ill.
1917 — Honus Wagner, retires at 43, Pirates retire his #33.
1920 — The forerunner of the NFL, the American Professional Football Association, is founded in an automobile showroom in Canton, Ohio. Twelve teams pay a $100 fee to obtain a franchise.
1938 — Don Budge completes the Grand Slam with a four-set victory over Gene Mako in the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association championships.
1947 — Jackie Robinson named Rookie of the Year by The Sporting News.
1953 — Ernie Banks becomes Chicago Cubs 1st black player.
1954 — Rocky Marciano knocks out Ezzard Charles in the eighth round at Yankee Stadium in New York to retain his world heavyweight title.
1955 — In the first color telecast of a football game by NBC, No. 10 Georgia Tech defeats No. 9 Miami 14-6 in Atlanta. The winning score comes in the final minute when linebacker Jimmy Morris returns an interception 25 yards for a touchdown.
1961 — The Minnesota Vikings, the newest NFL franchise, beats the league’s oldest franchise, the Chicago Bears, 37-13 win in the season opener. Minnesota’s Fran Tarkenton, playing his first NFL game, comes off the bench to become the only quarterback to throw four touchdown passes in his first game.
1964 — Mickey Mantle gets career hits #1,999, #2,000, and #2,001 and his 450th home run in a 6-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels.
1966 — In his head coaching debut, coach Joe Paterno leads Penn State past Maryland 15-7.
1967 — Johnny Unitas of the Baltimore Colts passes for 401 yards and two touchdowns in a 38-31 victory over the Atlanta Falcons.
1977 — The U.S. wins the Ryder Cup 12½-7½ at Royal Lytham & St Annes England. It’s the last time that a Britain and Ireland team competes for the Ryder Cup. The Ryder Cup expands the GB&I to include golfers from all of continental Europe in 1979.
1984 — Reggie Jackson is the 13th player to hit 500 home runs.
1994 — UNLV receiver Randy Gatewood catches 23 passes for 363 yards and a touchdown in a 48-38 loss to Idaho.
2000 — Dan Marino’s #13 jersey is retired by the Miami Dolphins.
2002 — Suzy Whaley becomes the first woman to qualify for a PGA Tour event, earning an exemption to the 2003 Greater Hartford Open by winning a PGA Section Championship. Whaley is also is the first woman to win a Section Championship.
2004 — San Francisco’s Barry Bonds hits his 700th home run, joining Babe Ruth (714) and Hank Aaron (755) as the only players to reach the milestone.
2016 — Cam Pedersen kicks a 37-yard field as time expired and North Dakota State of the FC, rallies to beat No. 13 Iowa 23-21 for its sixth straight win over an FBS opponent.
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Sept. 18
1899 — The Cincinnati Open begins. It is the oldest tennis tournament in the United States still played in its original city and is now known as the Cincinnati Masters & Women’s Open.
1938 — The Chicago Bears beat the Green Bay Packers 2-0. Left end Dick Plasman tackles Arnie Herber in the end zone in the fourth quarter for the win.
1946 — Joe Louis knocks out Tami Mauriello in the first round at Yankee Stadium in New York to retain the world heavyweight title.
1960 — Goose Gonsoulin intercepts four passes to lead the Denver Broncos to a 27-21 win over the Buffalo Bills.
1965 — In his first collegiate game, quarterback Billy Stevens of Texas-El Paso gains 483 total yards in a 61-15 rout of North Texas State. Receiver Chuck Hughes has 349 of those yards.
1966 — Baltimore quarterback Johnny Unitas throws 4 touchdown passes in 38-23 win at Minnesota to surpass Y.A. Tittle as NFL’s career leader with 212; finishes career with 290 TD passes.
1967 — U.S. yacht Intrepid beats the Australian yacht Dame Pattie in four straight races to defend the America’s Cup.
1977 — U.S. yacht Courageous beats the challenger Australia in four straight races to defend the America’s Cup.
1982 — In a rare father-son matchup, coach Jack Elway leads San Jose State to its second consecutive upset of quarterback John Elway and Stanford 35-31 in Palo Alto, Calif. John Elway completes 24-of-36 passes for 382 yards and three touchdowns. Spartans quarterback Steve Clarkson, throws for 285 yards, three touchdowns and scores on a three-yard keeper for the win after a Cardinal fumble. Stanford reaches the Spartans’ 26-yard line, but Elway gets sacked on four consecutive plays to end the game.
1996 — Roger Clemens equals his own major league record, fanning 20 batters and pitching a four-hitter to lead Boston over the Detroit Tigers 4-0.
2003 — Atlanta clinches its 12th straight division title when second-place Florida is mathematically eliminated from the NL East race. The record title streak started in 1991, when the Braves won the NL West. They moved to the East Division in 1994 and trailed Montreal by six games when the strike stopped the season in August.
2005 — Green Bay’s Brett Favre joins Dan Marino and John Elway with 50,000 yards passing and also breaks Elway’s single-stadium NFL touchdown record of 180 with a 4-yard toss to Tony Fisher with 4 seconds left of a 26-24 loss to Cleveland at Lambeau Field.
2011 — At 16, Lexi Thompson becomes the youngest player to win an LPGA Tour event. The 16-year-old Floridian closes with a 2-under 70 to win by five strokes over Tiffany Joh at the Navistar LPGA Classic in Prattville, Ala. Thompson shatters the age record for winning a multiple-round tournament held by Paula Creamer, who won in 2005 at 18.
2011 — Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton sets an NFL rookie record by throwing for 432 yards against the Green Bay Packers. Newton, who tied the record by throwing for 422 yards in last week’s loss at Arizona, completes 28 of 46 passes with one touchdown in the 30-23 loss to the Packers. Newton’s 854 yards passing is also the most yards for a player in his first two games.
2013 — American Jordan Burroughs earns another wrestling world title. Burroughs, a gold medalist at the 2012 Olympics, extends his undefeated streak to 65 matches with a 4-0 victory over Iran’s Ezzatollah Akbarizarinkolaei in the 163-pound category at the Laszlo Papp Sports Arena in Budapest, Hungary.
2016 — Detroit’s Anquan Boldin has a touchdown catch in the Lions’ 16-15 loss to Tennessee, to join Terrell Owens as the only players in NFL history to have at least 1,000 career receptions and a touchdown catch with four teams.
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Sept. 19
1925 — Bill Tilden wins his sixth straight U.S. Open tennis championship with a five-set victory over Bill Johnston. Tilden wins 4-6, 11-9, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. It’s the fourth consecutive year that Tilden beats Johnston in the final.
1942 — Alsab, runner-up in the 1942 Kentucky Derby, beats 3-10 favorite Whirlaway, the 1941 Triple Crown champion, by a nose in a $25,000 match race at Narragansett Park. Alsab and Whirlaway meet twice more in 1942, with Whirlaway winning the Jockey Club Gold Cup on Oct.3, and Alsab taking the New York Handicap on Oct. 10.
1948 — Pancho Gonzales, 20, wins the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association title with a 6-2, 6-3, 14-12 victory over Eric Sturgess.
1951 — Ford C. Frick, president of the National League, is elected baseball commissioner by the team owners.
1985 — Minnesota’s Tommy Kramer passes for 436 yards and three touchdowns in the Vikings’ 33-24 loss to the Chicago Bears.
1988 — U.S. Olympic diver Greg Louganis hits his head on diving board at the Seoul Olympics. Louganis hits the board on his ninth dive. He has four temporary stitches put in the top of his head so that he could come back and perform his last two dives. Less than 30 minutes later, he completes a reverse 1 1/2 somersault with 3 1/2 twists and, in the final round, a reverse 3 1/2 somersault in tuck position to secure his place in the medal round.
1992 — Sergei Bubka raises the world record in the pole vault, his 32nd world record, clearing 20 feet, 1½ inches in the Toto International at Tokyo.
1992 — Barry Bonds joins Willie Mays, Howard Johnson & Ron Gant as having (2) 30-HR/30-steal MLB seasons.
1993 — Nigel Mansell overpowers the field in the Bosch Spark Plug Grand Prix to become the first rookie to win the Indy car PPG Cup championship.
2000 — In the Sydney Olympics, the U.S. softball team strands a staggering 20 baserunners in an 11-inning, 2-1 loss to Japan, which ends a 112-game winning streak. It’s the first loss for the Americans since the 1998 world championships.
2000 — Ken Griffey Jr. pinch-hits his 400th home run becoming the first major league player to reach the mark as a pinch-hitter.
2001 — Roger Clemens becomes the first pitcher in major league history to go 20-1, pitching the New York Yankees to a 6-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox.
2004 — Jerry Rice’s run of 274 straight games with a catch is ended in the Oakland Raiders’ 13-10 victory over the Buffalo Bills. The last time Rice didn’t catch a pass was Dec. 1, 1985, at Washington.
2008 — Greg Maddox pitches his 5,000th career inning against the San Francisco Giants.
2009 — Texas College of the NAIA is trounced 75-6 by Texas Southern, a week after losing 92-0 to Stephen F. Austin. The Steers fall to 0-4 and have been outscored 300-12.
2010 — Matt Schaub is 38 of 52 for a franchise-record 497 yards with three touchdowns in Houston’s 30-27 overtime win over Washington. Donovan McNabb of the Redskins is 28 of 38 for 426 yards. It’s the first time two quarterbacks throw for 400 yards in an NFL game since 1994.
2015 — Greyson Lambert of Georgia throws for 330 yards, three touchdowns and sets an NCAA record by completing all but one of his 25 passes to lead the to a 52-20 victory over South Carolina. Lambert posts the highest percentage (96.0) in FBS history for a minimum of 20 completions, breaking the mark of 95.8 (23 of 24) shared by Tennessee’s Tee Martin and West Virginia’s Geno Smith.
2015 — Baker Mayfield of Oklahoma, sets a school record with 572 total yards, throws four TD passes and runs for two more scores in the Sooners’ 52-38 victory over Tulsa.
2017 — A new MLB record for the most home runs in a season as number 5,694 is hit by Alex Gordon of the Kansas City Royals.
TV SPORTS FRIDAY
| MLB REGULAR SEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| Baltimore at Detroit | 6:40pm | Bally Sports Detroit MASN2 |
| Kansas City at Pittsburgh | 6:40pm | MLBN Bally Sports Kansas City ATTSN-PIT |
| NY Mets at Philadelphia | 6:40pm | MLBN NBCS-PHI SNY |
| Miami at Washington | 6:45pm | Bally Sports Florida MASN |
| Boston at NY Yankees | 7:05pm | Apple TV+ YES NESN |
| St. Louis at Toronto | 7:07pm | Bally Sports Midwest Sportsnet |
| Tampa Bay at Cleveland | 7:10pm | Bally Sports Sun Bally Sports Great Lakes |
| LA Dodgers at Atlanta | 7:20pm | Apple TV+ Bally Sports South SNLA |
| Oakland at Chi. White Sox | 7:40pm | NBCS-CA NBCS-CHI |
| Cincinnati at Minnesota | 8:10pm | Bally Sports North Bally Sports Ohio |
| Chi. Cubs at Colorado | 8:40pm | MARQ Rockies.TV |
| Houston at LA Angels | 9:38pm | Bally Sports West SCHN |
| Milwaukee at Arizona | 9:40pm | Bally Sports Wisconsin YurView |
| Texas at Seattle | 10:10pm | MLBN Bally Sports Southwest ROOT |
| San Diego at San Francisco | 10:15pm | MLBN Padres.TV NBCS-BAY |
| COLLEGE FOOTBALL | TIME ET | TV |
| UNLV at Kansas | 7:00pm | ESPN |
| Arizona at Kansas State | 8:00pm | FOX |
| GOLF | TIME ET | TV |
| DP World: Amgen Irish Open | 6:00am | GOLF |
| Solheim Cup | 7:00am | GOLF |
| PGA: Procore Championship | 6:00pm | GOLF |
| WNBA | TIME ET | TV |
| Washington vs Atlanta | 7:30pm | ION |
| Las Vegas vs Indiana | 7:30pm | ION |
| Chicago vs Minnesota | 7:30pm | ION |
| Connecticut vs Phoenix | 10:00pm | ION |
| SOCCER | TIME ET | TV |
| Bundesliga: Borussia Dortmund vs Heidenheim | 2:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Ligue 1: Saint-Étienne vs Lille | 2:45pm | beIN Sports |
| La Liga: Real Betis vs Leganés | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| NWSL: North Carolina Courage vs Bay FC | 7:00pm | Prime |
| Canadian Premier League: York United vs Valour | 8:00pm | FS2 Fubo |
| NWSL: Portland Thorns vs Chicago Red Stars | 10:00pm | Prime |
| Liga MX: Juárez vs Mazatlán | 10:00pm | FOX Soccer Plus Fubo |
| Liga MX: Tigres UANL vs Atlético San Luis | 10:05pm | Fubo |
| Liga MX: Necaxa vs Pumas UNAM | 11:00pm | VIX |
| TENNIS | TIME ET | TV |
| Guadalajara: WTA Early Quarterfinals; Davis Cup Finals Group Stage | 10:00am | TENNIS |