“THE SCOREBOARD”
****INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL WEEK 4 SCHEDULE****
FRIDAY NIGHT
ADAMS CENTRAL (3-0) AT JAY COUNTY (3-0)
ANDERSON (1-2) AT MARION (1-2)
ANDREAN (1-2) AT MUNSTER (1-2)
ANGOLA (0-3) AT WEST NOBLE (3-0)
ATTICA (0-3) AT PARKE HERITAGE (1-1)
BEECH GROVE (1-2) AT INDIANAPOLIS SCECINA (3-0)
BELLMONT (0-3) AT NORWELL (0-3)
BLACKFORD (0-3) AT MADISON-GRANT (2-1)
BLOOMINGTON NORTH (3-0) AT BLOOMINGTON SOUTH (3-0)
BLUFFTON (3-0) AT WOODLAN (1-2)
BOONE GROVE (2-1) AT SOUTH CENTRAL (UNION MILLS) (1-2)
BOWMAN ACADEMY (0-1) AT EAST CHICAGO CENTRAL (0-3)
BREMEN (2-1) AT TRITON (2-1)
BROWNSBURG (3-0) AT AVON (0-3)
CALUMET CHRISTIAN AT FRONTIER (1-2)
CARMEL (2-1) AT LOUISVILLE TRINITY (KY.)
CARROLL COUNTY (KY.) AT MADISON (0-3)
CENTERVILLE (3-0) AT WINCHESTER (2-1)
CHARLESTOWN (2-1) AT NORTH HARRISON (3-0)
CINCINNATI MOELLER (OHIO) AT CENTER GROVE (2-1)
CLINTON CENTRAL (0-2) AT SHERIDAN (2-1)
CLOVERDALE (2-1) AT CASCADE (2-1)
COLUMBIA CITY (3-0) AT HUNTINGTON NORTH (0-3)
COLUMBUS EAST (0-3) AT JENNINGS COUNTY (2-1)
COLUMBUS NORTH (2-1) AT INDIANAPOLIS RONCALLI (1-2)
CONCORD (2-1) AT WARSAW (3-0)
CONNERSVILLE (2-1) AT SOUTH DEARBORN (1-2)
CROWN POINT (3-0) AT LAKE CENTRAL (2-1)
CULVER (0-3) AT WEST CENTRAL (3-0)
DANVILLE (2-1) AT CRAWFORDSVILLE (0-3)
DELPHI (0-3) AT CARROLL (FLORA) (3-0)
EAST CENTRAL (3-0) AT FRANKLIN COUNTY (2-1)
EAST NOBLE (2-1) AT DEKALB (2-1)
EASTBROOK (2-1) AT FRANKTON (2-1)
EASTERN (PEKIN) (1-2) AT SILVER CREEK (1-2)
EASTERN GREENE (1-2) AT MITCHELL (0-3)
EASTSIDE (1-2) AT CHURUBUSCO (0-3)
EDGEWOOD (1-2) AT OWEN VALLEY (1-2)
ELKHART (1-2) AT MASSILLON WASHINGTON (OHIO)
ELWOOD (0-3) AT ALEXANDRIA (3-0)
EVANSVILLE BOSSE (1-2) AT JASPER (1-2)
EVANSVILLE CENTRAL (0-3) AT VINCENNES LINCOLN (2-1)
EVANSVILLE HARRISON (0-3) AT CASTLE (2-1)
EVANSVILLE MATER DEI (1-2) AT EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL (3-0)
EVANSVILLE NORTH (2-1) AT EVANSVILLE REITZ (3-0)
FAIRFIELD (2-1) AT CULVER ACADEMY (2-1)
FOREST PARK (2-1) AT TECUMSEH (0-3)
FORT WAYNE DWENGER (1-2) AT CARROLL (FORT WAYNE) (2-1)
FORT WAYNE LUERS (1-2) AT FORT WAYNE WAYNE (2-1)
FORT WAYNE NORTH (0-3) AT FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA (0-3)
FORT WAYNE NORTHROP (0-3) AT HOMESTEAD (1-2)
FORT WAYNE SOUTH (0-3) AT FORT WAYNE SNIDER (3-0)
FOUNTAIN CENTRAL (2-1) AT COVINGTON (2-0)
FRANKFORT (1-2) AT SOUTHMONT (2-1)
GARRETT (1-2) AT LAKELAND (3-0)
GARY WEST (1-2) AT RIVER FOREST (3-0)
GIBSON SOUTHERN (2-1) AT SOUTH WARREN (KY.)
GOSHEN (0-3) AT MISHAWAKA (2-1)
GREENCASTLE (1-2) AT SOUTH PUTNAM (3-0)
GREENFIELD-CENTRAL (3-0) AT PENDLETON HEIGHTS (3-0)
GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN (1-2) AT EDINBURGH (0-3)
GRIFFITH (0-3) AT WHITING (2-1)
GUERIN CATHOLIC (3-0) AT BREBEUF JESUIT (2-1)
HAGERSTOWN (2-1) AT UNION COUNTY (0-3)
HAMILTON HEIGHTS (3-0) AT NORTHWESTERN (1-2)
HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN (3-0) AT FISHERS (3-0)
HAMMOND CENTRAL (3-0) AT HIGHLAND (2-1)
HAMMOND MORTON (1-2) AT PENN (2-1)
HARRISON (WEST LAFAYETTE) (2-1) AT MCCUTCHEON (1-2)
HERITAGE (3-0) AT SOUTH ADAMS (2-1)
HERITAGE CHRISTIAN (2-1) AT EASTERN HANCOCK (2-1)
HERITAGE HILLS (3-0) AT SOUTH SPENCER (1-2)
HOBART (2-1) AT KANKAKEE VALLEY (1-2)
IMG ACADEMY (FLA.) AT BEN DAVIS (3-0)
INDIANAPOLIS ATTUCKS (2-1) AT CHRISTEL HOUSE MANUAL (1-2)
INDIANAPOLIS CHATARD (3-0) AT INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL (2-1)
INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN (3-0) AT LAPEL (1-2)
INDIANAPOLIS TINDLEY (1-2) AT INDIANAPOLIS SHORTRIDGE (2-1)
INDIANAPOLIS WASHINGTON (1-2) AT LAKE STATION (1-2)
IRVINGTON PREP ACADEMY (0-3) AT BROWN COUNTY (0-3)
JEFFERSONVILLE (0-3) AT LOUISVILLE FERN CREEK (KY.)
JOHN GLENN (2-1) AT JIMTOWN (1-2)
LAFAYETTE JEFF (1-2) AT RICHMOND (0-3)
LAPORTE (1-2) AT CHESTERTON (0-3)
LAWRENCE NORTH (3-0) AT NORTH CENTRAL (INDIANAPOLIS) (0-3)
LAWRENCEBURG (2-1) AT GREENSBURG (0-3)
LINTON-STOCKTON (2-1) AT SULLIVAN (2-1)
LOGANSPORT (0-3) AT INDIANAPOLIS TECH (0-3)
LOWELL (1-2) AT HANOVER CENTRAL (3-0)
MANCHESTER (2-1) AT ROCHESTER (2-1)
MARTINSVILLE (1-2) AT DECATUR CENTRAL (2-1)
MICHIGAN CITY (2-1) AT VALPARAISO (2-1)
MISHAWAKA MARIAN (1-2) AT NEW PRAIRIE (2-1)
MISSISSINEWA (3-0) AT OAK HILL (3-0)
MONROE CENTRAL (1-2) AT TRI (2-1)
MONROVIA (3-0) AT TRITON CENTRAL (2-1)
MOORESVILLE (1-2) AT GREENWOOD (3-0)
MOUNT VERNON (FORTVILLE) (1-2) AT NEW PALESTINE (1-2)
MOUNT VERNON (POSEY) (2-1) AT WASHINGTON (1-2)
MUNCIE CENTRAL (0-3) AT KOKOMO (3-0)
NEW ALBANY (1-2) AT BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE (1-2)
NEW HAVEN (3-0) AT LEO (2-1)
NOBLESVILLE (2-1) AT WESTFIELD (3-0)
NORTH DECATUR (2-1) AT SHENANDOAH (1-2)
NORTH JUDSON (2-1) AT KNOX (3-0)
NORTH KNOX (2-1) AT BOONVILLE (1-2)
NORTH MIAMI (0-3) AT LEWIS CASS (1-2)
NORTH MONTGOMERY (2-1) AT LEBANON (0-3)
NORTH NEWTON (0-3) AT SOUTH NEWTON (2-1)
NORTH PUTNAM (0-3) AT COVENANT CHRISTIAN (1-2)
NORTHEASTERN (3-0) AT CAMBRIDGE CITY LINCOLN (1-2)
NORTHFIELD (0-3) AT SOUTHWOOD (1-2)
NORTHRIDGE (2-1) AT NORTHWOOD (3-0)
PAOLI (2-1) AT PERRY CENTRAL (1-2)
PARK TUDOR (3-0) AT FREMONT (1-2)
PERRY MERIDIAN (1-2) AT PLAINFIELD (3-0)
PIKE (0-3) AT SOUTHPORT (0-3)
PIKE CENTRAL (1-2) AT SOUTHRIDGE (2-1)
PIONEER (2-1) AT CASTON (0-3)
PLYMOUTH (1-2) AT WAWASEE (1-2)
PORTAGE (0-3) AT MERRILLVILLE (2-1)
PRAIRIE HEIGHTS (0-3) AT CENTRAL NOBLE (0-3)
PRINCETON (0-3) AT NORTH DAVIESS (2-1)
PROVIDENCE (3-0) AT CLARKSVILLE (0-3)
PURDUE POLYTECHNIC (1-2) AT NOBLESVILLE HOMESCHOOL
RUSHVILLE (0-3) AT BATESVILLE (3-0)
SALEM (0-3) AT BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL (3-0)
SCOTTSBURG (2-1) AT CORYDON CENTRAL (0-3)
SEEGER (2-1) AT RIVERTON PARKE (1-2)
SEYMOUR (2-1) AT FLOYD CENTRAL (2-1)
SHELBYVILLE (2-1) AT NEW CASTLE (1-2)
SOUTH BEND RILEY (3-0) AT SOUTH BEND CLAY (0-3)
SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH (2-1) AT SOUTH BEND ADAMS (1-2)
SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON (0-3) AT CALUMET (1-2)
SOUTH DECATUR (2-1) AT CRAWFORD COUNTY (0-3)
SPEEDWAY (1-2) AT INDIANAPOLIS RITTER (1-2)
SPRINGS VALLEY (2-1) AT WEST WASHINGTON (3-0)
SWITZERLAND COUNTY (3-0) AT MILAN (1-2)
TAYLOR (1-2) AT EASTERN (GREENTOWN) (2-1)
TELL CITY (2-1) AT NORTH POSEY (3-0)
TERRE HAUTE SOUTH (0-3) AT TERRE HAUTE NORTH (0-3)
TIPTON (1-2) AT TIPPECANOE VALLEY (3-0)
TRI-CENTRAL (1-2) AT CLINTON PRAIRIE (3-0)
TRI-COUNTY (1-2) AT NORTH WHITE (3-0)
TRI-WEST (2-1) AT WESTERN BOONE (3-0)
TWIN LAKES (2-1) AT RENSSELAER CENTRAL (2-1)
UNION CITY (0-3) AT KNIGHTSTOWN (1-2)
WABASH (0-3) AT PERU (3-0)
WARREN CENTRAL (1-2) AT LAWRENCE CENTRAL (1-2)
WES-DEL (0-3) AT SOUTHERN WELLS (1-2)
WEST LAFAYETTE (2-1) AT LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC (1-2)
WEST VIGO (0-3) AT NORTHVIEW (3-0)
WESTERN (1-2) AT BENTON CENTRAL (1-2)
WHEELER (0-3) AT HAMMOND NOLL (1-2)
WHITELAND (2-1) AT FRANKLIN (2-1)
WHITKO (1-2) AT MACONAQUAH (2-1)
WINAMAC (0-3) AT LAVILLE (3-0)
YORKTOWN (2-1) AT DELTA (3-0)
ZIONSVILLE (2-1) AT FRANKLIN CENTRAL (2-1)
SATURDAY
COVINGTON (2-0) AT NORTH VERMILLION (1-1)
PARKE HERITAGE (1-1) AT SOUTH VERMILLION (1-1)
PHALEN ACADEMY (1-1) AT BOWMAN ACADEMY (0-1)
******ASSOCIATED PRESS INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL POLLS******
| 6A | ||||
| Rank-School | FPV | Rcd | TP | Pvs |
| 1. Indpls Ben Davis | (10) | 3-0 | 288 | 1 |
| 2. Brownsburg | (2) | 3-0 | 260 | 2 |
| 3. Center Grove | (3) | 2-1 | 232 | 3 |
| 4. Hamilton Southeastern | – | 3-0 | 212 | 4 |
| 5. Indpls Cathedral | – | 2-1 | 158 | 6 |
| 6. Fishers | – | 3-0 | 150 | 7 |
| 7. Westfield | – | 3-0 | 148 | 5 |
| 8. Crown Point | – | 3-0 | 90 | 9 |
| 9. Lawrence North | – | 3-0 | 38 | NR |
| 10. Carmel | – | 2-1 | 30 | NR |
Others receiving votes: Carroll (Fort Wayne) 20. Penn 16. Warsaw 4. Franklin Central 2. Noblesville 2.
| 5A | ||||
| Rank-School | FPV | Rcd | TP | Pvs |
| 1. Ft. Wayne Snider | (15) | 3-0 | 300 | 1 |
| 2. Bloomington South | – | 3-0 | 264 | 3 |
| 3. Valparaiso | – | 2-1 | 202 | 5 |
| 4. Whiteland | – | 2-1 | 184 | 6 |
| 5. Bloomington North | – | 3-0 | 162 | 7 |
| 6. Plainfield | – | 3-0 | 150 | 8 |
| 7. Merrillville | – | 2-1 | 138 | 2 |
| 8. Mishawaka | – | 2-1 | 90 | 10 |
| 9. Decatur Central | – | 2-1 | 66 | 4 |
| 10. Lafayette Harrison | – | 2-1 | 62 | NR |
Others receiving votes: Castle 14. Michigan City 10. Franklin 6. Concord 2.
Others receiving votes: New Prairie 20. New Haven 18. Northridge 10. Leo 10. Mississinewa 10. E. Noble 8. Hobart 6. Pendleton Hts. 6. Northview 4. Mt. Vernon (Hancock) 2.
| 3A | ||||
| Rank-School | FPV | Rcd | TP | Pvs |
| 1. Indpls Chatard | (15) | 3-0 | 300 | 1 |
| 2. Guerin Catholic | – | 3-0 | 252 | 2 |
| 3. Heritage Hills | – | 3-0 | 182 | 6 |
| 4. Western Boone | – | 3-0 | 180 | 3 |
| 5. Lawrenceburg | – | 2-1 | 156 | 4 |
| 6. W. Lafayette | – | 2-1 | 152 | 5 |
| 7. Hanover Central | – | 3-0 | 124 | 7 |
| 8. Gibson Southern | – | 2-1 | 94 | 8 |
| 9. Oak Hill | – | 3-0 | 66 | NR |
| 10. Tri-West | – | 2-1 | 50 | 9 |
Others receiving votes: Peru 22. Hamilton Hts. 20. Yorktown 18. Monrovia 16. Knox 8. Lakeland 4. Delta 4. Danville 2.
| 2A | ||||
| Rank-School | FPV | Rcd | TP | Pvs |
| 1. Indpls Scecina | (13) | 3-0 | 288 | 3 |
| 2. Brownstown | (2) | 3-0 | 242 | 5 |
| 3. LaVille | – | 3-0 | 192 | 8 |
| 4. Triton Central | – | 2-1 | 190 | 1 |
| 5. Bluffton | – | 3-0 | 178 | 10 |
| 6. Linton | – | 2-1 | 152 | 2 |
| 7. N. Posey | – | 3-0 | 136 | NR |
| 8. Eastbrook | – | 2-1 | 82 | 4 |
| 9. Ev. Mater Dei | – | 1-2 | 54 | 6 |
| 10. Andrean | – | 1-2 | 46 | NR |
Others receiving votes: Northeastern 28. Heritage Christian 24. Lafayette Catholic 24. Sullivan 8. S. Vermillion 4. Ft. Wayne Luers 2.
| 1A | ||||
| Rank-School | FPV | Rcd | TP | Pvs |
| 1. Indpls Lutheran | (15) | 3-0 | 300 | 1 |
| 2. Adams Central | – | 3-0 | 270 | 2 |
| 3. Carroll (Flora) | – | 3-0 | 230 | 4 |
| 4. S. Putnam | – | 3-0 | 204 | 5 |
| 5. Providence | – | 3-0 | 156 | 7 |
| 6. Indpls Park Tudor | – | 3-0 | 120 | 8 |
| 7. N. Judson | – | 2-1 | 104 | 3 |
| 8. Sheridan | – | 2-1 | 90 | 9 |
| 9. N. Decatur | – | 2-1 | 48 | 10 |
| 10. W. Washington | – | 3-0 | 34 | NR |
Others receiving votes: S. Adams 24. Madison-Grant 22. Clinton Prairie 16. Pioneer 14. Triton 14. Tri 4.
*******INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL REPORTED SCORES******
https://www.maxpreps.com/in/volleyball/scores/?date=9/6/2023
******INDIANA GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER REPORTED SCORES******
https://www.maxpreps.com/in/soccer/girls/scores/?date=9/6/2023
*******INDIANA BOYS HIGH SCHOOL REPORTED SOCCER SCORES*******
https://www.maxpreps.com/in/soccer/scores/?date=9/6/2023
*******INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY NEWS*******
READ MORE: https://in.milesplit.com/
******WEDNESDAY’S TRANSACTIONS*******
BASEBALL
Major League Baseball
American League
NEW YORK YANKEES — Recalled LHP Matt Krook from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (IL). Placed RHP Keynan Middleton on the 15-day IL, retroactive to September 3.
OAKLAND ATHLETICS — Reinstated RHP Mason Miller from the 15-day IL. Selected the contract of LHP Easton Lucas from Las Vegas (PCL). Recalled RHP Devin Sweet from Las Vegas. Optioned LHP Sam Long and RHP Zach Neal to Las Vegas. Designated RHP Spencer Patton for assignment.
National League
ATLANTA BRAVES — Placed RHPs Collin McHugh and Michael Soroka on the 15-day IL. Recalled RHPs Ben Heller and Darius Vines from Gwinnett (IL).
CHICAGO CUBS — Selected the contract of LHP Luke Little from Iowa (IL). Designated RHP Shane Green for assignment.
MILWAUKEE BREWERS — Selected the contract of RHP Thyago Vieira from Nashville (IL). Optioned LHP Clayton Andrews to Nashville.
PITTSBUGH PIRATES — Recalled INF Jared Triolo from Indianapolis (IL). Placed DH/OF Andrew McCutchen on the 10-day IL, retroactive to September 5.
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS — Optioned OF Wade Meckler to Sacramento (PCL). Placed C Patrick Bailey on the 7-deay IL. Recalled C Joey Bart and OF Luis Matos from Sacramento.
FOOTBALL
National Football League
HOUSTON TEXANS — Signed RB Larry Roundtree and S Scott Nelson to the practice squad. Placed S Brandon Hill on the practice squad injured reserve.
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS — Signed WR Jamison Crowder and CB Keidron Smith to the practice squad. Released DE William Bradley-King and C Nolan Laufenberg from the practice squad.
Canadian Football League
WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS — Signed DB Tyrique McGhee, WR Ravi Alston, WR/KR Ronnie Blackmon and DE Nate Givhan to the practice squad.
HOCKEY
National Hockey League
ARIZONA COYOTES — Signed general manager Bill Armstrong to a multi-year contract extension.
Minor League Hockey
ECHL
WORCESTER RAILERS — Signed D Connor Welsh.
SOCCER
National Women’s Soccer League
HOUSTON DASH — Announced head coach Sam Laity have parted ways.
*****WEEK 1 REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE*****
DETROIT LIONS AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (THU) 7:20P (CT) 8:20P NBC
CAROLINA PANTHERS AT ATLANTA FALCONS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P FOX
HOUSTON TEXANS AT BALTIMORE RAVENS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P CBS
CINCINNATI BENGALS AT CLEVELAND BROWNS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P CBS
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P FOX
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS 12:00P (CT) 1:00P CBS
TENNESSEE TITANS AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 12:00P (CT) 1:00P CBS
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P FOX
ARIZONA CARDINALS AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P FOX
GREEN BAY PACKERS AT CHICAGO BEARS 3:25P (CT) 4:25P FOX
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS AT DENVER BRONCOS 2:25P (MT) 4:25P CBS
MIAMI DOLPHINS AT LOS ANGELES CHARGERS 1:25P (PT) 4:25P CBS
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 4:25P (ET) 4:25P CBS
LOS ANGELES RAMS AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 1:25P (PT) 4:25P FOX
DALLAS COWBOYS AT NEW YORK GIANTS 8:20P (ET) 8:20P NBC
BUFFALO BILLS AT NEW YORK JETS (MON) 8:15P (ET) 8:15P ESPN/ABC
****MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL****
| Interleague | ||
| Seattle | 8 | Final |
| Cincinnati | 4 | |
| American League | ||
| Minnesota | 1 | Final |
| Cleveland | 2 | |
| Toronto | 2 | Final |
| Oakland | 5 | |
| Boston | 1 | Final |
| Tampa Bay | 3 | |
| Detroit | 3 | Final |
| NY Yankees | 4 | |
| Chi White Sox | 6 | Final |
| Kansas City | 4 | |
| Houston | 12 | Final |
| Texas | 3 | |
| Baltimore | 10 | Final |
| LA Angels | 3 | |
| National League | ||
| Milwaukee | 4 | Final |
| Pittsburgh | 5 | |
| San Francisco | 2 | Final |
| Chi Cubs | 8 | |
| Colorado | 5 | Final |
| Arizona | 12 | |
| Philadelphia | 5 | Final |
| San Diego | 1 | |
| LA Dodgers | 4 | Final |
| Miami | 11 | |
| NY Mets | 2 | Final |
| Washington | 3 | |
| St. Louis | 11 | Final |
| Atlanta | 6 | |
****MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL****
TOLEDO 7 INDIANS 2
****WNBA SCOREBOARD****
ATLANTA 79 SEATTLE 68
****MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER****
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
*****COLLEGE FOOTBALL SCORES*****
WEEK 2 SCHEDULE
THURSDAY, SEPT. 7
LOUISVILLE VS. MURRAY STATE | 7:30 P.M. | ACC NETWORK
FRIDAY, SEPT. 8
INDIANA VS. INDIANA STATE | 7 P.M. | BIG TEN NETWORK
INDIANA COACH TOM ALLEN MONDAY PRESSER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_SyZL3icPM
RHODE ISLAND VS. STONY BROOK | 7 P.M. | FLOSPORTS
KANSAS VS. ILLINOIS | 7:30 P.M. | ESPN2
SATURDAY, SEPT. 9
WAKE FOREST VS. VANDERBILT | 11 A.M. | ACC NETWORK
ARMY VS. DELAWARE STATE | 12 P.M. | CBSSN
COLORADO VS. NEBRASKA | 12 P.M. | FOX
GEORGIA VS. BALL STATE | 12 P.M. | SEC NETWORK
OHIO STATE VS. YOUNGSTOWN STATE | 12 P.M. | BIG TEN NETWORK
PENN STATE VS. DELAWARE | 12 P.M. | PEACOCK
VIRGINIA TECH VS. PURDUE | 12 P.M. | ESPN2
PURDUE COACH RYAN WALTERS MONDAY PRESSER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2hxUlzHUAQ
BAYLOR VS. UTAH | 12 P.M. | ESPN
NC STATE VS. NOTRE DAME | 12 P.M. | ABC
NOTRE DAME COACH MARCUS FREEMAN MONDAY PRESSER: https://fightingirish.com/nc-state-marcus-freeman-weekly-press-conference-9-4-23/
BOSTON COLLEGE VS. HOLY CROSS | 12 P.M. | ESPN+/ACCN+
VIRGINIA VS. JAMES MADISON | 12 P.M. | ESPNU
KANSAS STATE VS. TROY | 12 P.M. | FS1
GEORGETOWN VS. SACRED HEART | 12:30 P.M. | ESPN+
GEORGIA TECH VS. SOUTH CAROLINA STATE | 1 P.M. | ESPN+/ACCNX
PRESBYTERIAN VS. VIRGINIA LYNCHBURG | 1 P.M. | ESPN+
CENTRAL MICHIGAN VS. NEW HAMPSHIRE | 1:30 P.M. | ESPN+
BOWLING GREEN VS. EASTERN ILLINOIS | 2 P.M. | ESPN+
SOUTH DAKOTA VS. ST. THOMAS (MINN.) | 2 P.M. | ESPN+
CLEMSON VS. CHARLESTON SOUTHERN | 2:15 P.M. | ACC NETWORK
WESTERN CAROLINA VS. SAMFORD | 2:30 P.M. | ESPN+
KENTUCKY VS. EASTERN KENTUCKY | 3 P.M. | ESPN+/SECN+
BYU VS. SOUTHERN UTAH | 3 P.M. | ESPN+
THE CITADEL VS. CAMPBELL | 3 P.M. | ESPN+
IOWA STATE VS. IOWA | 3:30 P.M. | FOX
MIAMI (FLA.) VS. TEXAS A&M | 3:30 P.M. | ABC
MICHIGAN VS. UNLV | 3:30 P.M. | CBS
MICHIGAN STATE VS. RICHMOND | 3:30 P.M. | BIG TEN NETWORK
NORTHWESTERN VS. UTEP | 3:30 P.M. | BIG TEN NETWORK
TULANE VS. OLE MISS | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN2
UMASS VS. MIAMI (OHIO) | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN+
UTSA VS. TEXAS STATE | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN+
NAVY VS. WAGNER | 3:30 P.M. | CBSSN
NORTHERN ILLINOIS VS. SOUTHERN ILLINOIS | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN+
TOLEDO VS. TEXAS SOUTHERN | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN+
SYRACUSE VS. WESTERN MICHIGAN | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN+/ACCNX
NORTH DAKOTA STATE VS. MAINE | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN+
ARKANSAS VS. KENT STATE | 4 P.M. | SEC NETWORK
EAST CAROLINA VS. MARSHALL | 4 P.M. | ESPNU
WYOMING VS. PORTLAND STATE | 4 P.M. | MOUNTAIN WEST NETWORK
SAN JOSE STATE VS. CAL POLY | 4 P.M. | NBC SPORTS BAY AREA
WESTERN ILLINOIS VS. ILLINOIS STATE | 4 P.M. | ESPN+
NORTH DAKOTA VS. NORTHERN ARIZONA | 4 P.M. | ESPN+
NORTHERN COLORADO VS. UIW | 4 P.M. | ESPN+
WASHINGTON VS. TULSA | 5 P.M. | PAC-12 NETWORK
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TENNESSEE VS. AUSTIN PEAY | 5 P.M. | ESPN+/SECN+
UNI VS. WEBER STATE | 5 P.M. | ESPN+
NORTH CAROLINA VS. APPALACHIAN STATE | 5:15 P.M. | ACC NETWORK
EAST TENNESSEE STATE VS. CARSON-NEWMAN | 5:30 P.M. | ESPN+
LIBERTY VS. NEW MEXICO STATE | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
OLD DOMINION VS. LOUISIANA | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
DUKE VS. LAFAYETTE | 6 P.M. | ESPN+/ACCNX
OKLAHOMA VS. SMU | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
WEST VIRGINIA VS. DUQUESNE | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
GEORGIA SOUTHERN VS. UAB | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
FLORIDA ATLANTIC VS. OHIO | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
AKRON VS. MORGAN STATE | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
BUFFALO VS. FORDHAM | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
BRYANT VS. LONG ISLAND | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
ROBERT MORRIS VS. ST. FRANCIS (PA) | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
BUCKNELL VS. VMI | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
GARDNER-WEBB VS. ELON | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
CHATTANOOGA VS. KENNESAW STATE | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL VS. NORTH TEXAS | 6:30 P.M. | ESPN+
PITT VS. CINCINNATI | 6:30 P.M. | CW NETWORK
ALABAMA VS. TEXAS | 7 P.M. | ESPN
COASTAL CAROLINA VS. JACKSONVILLE STATE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
GEORGIA STATE VS. UCONN | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
LOUISIANA TECH VS. NORTHWESTERN STATE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
MISSOURI VS. MIDDLE TENNESSEE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+/SECN+
WESTERN KENTUCKY VS. HOUSTON CHRISTIAN | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
TEXAS TECH VS. OREGON | 7 P.M. | FOX
BOISE STATE VS. UCF | 7 P.M. | FS1
RICE VS. HOUSTON | 7 P.M. | NFL NETWORK
SOUTH FLORIDA VS. FLORIDA A&M | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
ARKANSAS STATE VS. MEMPHIS | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
NEVADA VS. IDAHO | 7 P.M. | NSN/MOUNTAIN WEST NETWORK
STEPHEN F. AUSTIN VS. ALCORN STATE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
SOUTHERN VS. JACKSON STATE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
CENTRAL ARKANSAS VS. TEXAS COLLEGE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
TARLETON STATE VS. NORTH ALABAMA | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE VS. MONTANA STATE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
UT MARTIN VS. MISSOURI STATE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE VS. LINDENWOOD | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
DRAKE VS. NORTHWESTERN (IOWA) | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
MERCER VS. MOREHEAD STATE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
STETSON VS. WEBBER INTERNATIONAL | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
FLORIDA VS. MCNEESE | 7:30 P.M. | ESPNU
LSU VS. GRAMBLING | 7:30 P.M. | ESPN+/SECN+
MARYLAND VS. CHARLOTTE | 7:30 P.M. | NBC
MINNESOTA VS. EASTERN MICHIGAN | 7:30 P.M. | BIG TEN NETWORK
MISSISSIPPI STATE VS. ARIZONA | 7:30 P.M. | SEC NETWORK
RUTGERS VS. TEMPLE | 7:30 P.M. | BIG TEN NETWORK
SOUTH CAROLINA VS. FURMAN | 7:30 P.M. | ESPN+/SECN+
WASHINGTON STATE VS. WISCONSIN | 7:30 P.M. | ABC
SAN DIEGO STATE VS. UCLA | 7:30 P.M. | CBS
SAM HOUSTON VS. AIR FORCE (NRG STADIUM IN HOUSTON, TEXAS) | 8 P.M. | CBSSN
TCU VS. NICHOLLS | 8 P.M. | ESPN+
UL MONROE VS. LAMAR | 8 P.M. | ESPN+
NEW MEXICO VS. TENNESSEE TECH | 8 P.M. | MOUNTAIN WEST NETWORK
FLORIDA STATE VS. SOUTHERN MISS | 8:30 P.M. | ACC NETWORK
OREGON STATE VS. UC DAVIS | 9 P.M. | PAC-12 NETWORK
UTAH TECH VS. MONTANA | 9 P.M. | ESPN+
FRESNO STATE VS. EASTERN WASHINGTON | 9 P.M. | UNIMÁS/MOUNTAIN WEST NETWORK
SACRAMENTO STATE VS. TEXAS A&M-COMMERCE | 10 P.M. | ESPN+
USC VS. STANFORD | 10:30 P.M. | FOX
CAL VS. AUBURN | 10:30 P.M. | ESPN
ARIZONA STATE VS. OKLAHOMA STATE | 10:30 P.M. | FS1
HAWAI’I VS. ALBANY | 12 A.M. | SPECTRUM SPORTS PPV
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MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
PIRATES OF ANDREW MCCUTCHEN (ACHILLES) OUT FOR SEASON
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen is done for the season with an Achilles injury.
The 36-year-old veteran, who has 299 career home runs, will be placed on the injured list Wednesday.
McCutchen will be in a walking boot for six weeks with a partial tear in his left Achilles tendon. He is not expected to require surgery.
He was injured while legging out a double during Monday’s 4-2 win against the Milwaukee Brewers.
The five-time All-Star and 2013 National League MVP tallied 12 homers and 43 RBIs in 112 games this season.
McCutchen is a career .276 hitter with 2,048 hits, 1,045 RBIs and 216 stolen bases in 2,007 games over 15 seasons with the Pirates (2009-17, 2023), San Francisco Giants (2018), New York Yankees (2018), Philadelphia Phillies (2019-21) and Brewers (2022).
He returned to Pittsburgh this season on a one-year, $5 million deal and will be a free agent after the season. He has said he hopes to return for another season with the Pirates.
MLB ROUNDUP: ASTROS SLUG 5 HOMERS, SWEEP RANGERS
Jose Abreu matched his career high of seven RBIs with a grand slam and a three-run homer and the Houston Astros slugged five homers while completing a three-game sweep of the Texas Rangers with a 12-3 victory on Wednesday night at Arlington, Texas.
Yordan Alvarez, Michael Brantley and Chas McCormick also slammed homers as Houston again assaulted Texas pitching. The Astros slugged 16 homers and collected 50 hits in the series while outscoring Texas 39-10 and moving to three games up on the Rangers in the American League West. The division-leading Astros lead Seattle by one game.
Justin Verlander (11-7) gave up two runs (one earned) and four hits over seven innings while improving to 5-2 in seven starts since the Astros reacquired him from the New York Mets. He also outdueled his former Detroit Tigers and Mets teammate Max Scherzer.
Scherzer (12-6) was rocked for seven runs and six hits in three innings while falling to 3-2 since the Rangers acquired him from the Mets. He struck out four and walked two.
Yankees 4, Tigers 3
Jasson Dominguez opened the third inning with a tiebreaking homer and produced his first career three-hit game as host New York moved back over the .500 mark for the first time in more than three weeks by beating Detroit.
The Yankees tied a season high with their fifth straight win. New York moved over the .500 mark for the first time since it was 60-59 following an 11-3 loss at Atlanta in the third game of a nine-game skid that pushed them out of contention.
Dominguez snapped a 1-1 tie by lining a 2-1 fastball from Beau Brieske (1-3) into the first row of the right-center field seats. Dominguez joined current Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre manager Shelley Duncan (2007) as the second Yankee to hit three homers in their first five career games. New York’s Clarke Schmidt (9-8) allowed three runs on five hits in 6 1/3 innings for the win.
Phillies 5, Padres 1
Zack Wheeler gave up one bloop single in six scoreless innings and Kyle Schwarber opened the game with a homer as Philadelphia beat host San Diego in the rubber match of a three-game series.
Wheeler didn’t allow a baserunner until Juan Soto drew a two-out walk in the fourth. Manny Machado then hit a broken-bat fly ball to shallow center that landed just beyond the dive of second baseman Bryson Stott. But Wheeler got Xander Bogaerts to ground out to the inning en route to improving to 11-6.
Padres starter Michael Wacha fell to 11-3, giving up three runs on seven hits and three walks with six strikeouts in four innings. He did, however, work his way out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam after giving up Schwarber’s homer in the first.
Orioles 10, Angels 3
Austin Hays went 4-for-4 with a homer and four RBIs and Anthony Santander added three hits with a home run as red-hot Baltimore routed Los Angeles in Anaheim, Calif., to complete a three-game sweep.
The Orioles won their fifth straight game, all on the road, and picked up their ninth sweep of the season. They kept their lead in the American League East at 3 1/2 games over the Tampa Bay Rays, who beat the Boston Red Sox 3-1 earlier on Wednesday.
Orioles starter Kyle Gibson (14-8) went six innings and allowed three runs on six hits. The right-hander walked two, struck out three and tied the Toronto Blue Jays’ Chris Bassitt for the most wins in the AL. Angels left-hander Patrick Sandoval (7-12) worked five-plus innings, and all four batters he walked came around to score. He yielded seven runs (four earned) on seven hits with three strikeouts.
Marlins 11, Dodgers 4
Miami hit three home runs in a nine-run fifth inning to rally past visiting Los Angeles and maintain the Marlins’ half-game lead for the final National League wild-card spot.
Joey Wendle, Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Jesus Sanchez all hit home runs in the fifth inning to account for six of the Marlins’ nine runs in the inning. Miami had seven hits in the decisive frame after just one hit, on a bunt single, in the first four innings.
Five Miami pitchers held down the Dodgers’ offense, with right-hander Edward Cabrera (6-6) throwing four of those innings without allowing a run. Dodgers right-hander Lance Lynn (10-11) was roughed up for eight runs on seven hits and three walks in 4 2/3 innings. His three home runs allowed boosted his major league-leading total to 40.
Pirates 5, Brewers 4
Ke’Bryan Hayes homered and Ji Hwan Bae hit a go-ahead RBI triple as Pittsburgh erased an early three-run deficit to down visiting Milwaukee in the rubber match of a three-game series.
Jack Suwinski, Joshua Palacios and Miguel Andujar each added an RBI single for the Pirates. Carmen Mlodzinski (3-3) pitched a scoreless seventh. David Bednar pitched the ninth for his 33rd save.
Willy Adames homered and Mark Canha added an RBI single for the Brewers. Elvis Peguero (4-5) gave up two runs in two-thirds of an inning to take the loss.
Guardians 2, Twins 1
Will Brennan had a double with two RBIs, five pitchers combined for a two-hitter and Cleveland edged visiting Minnesota to salvage the finale of a three-game series.
Andres Gimenez had a double and scored twice for Cleveland, which snapped a three-game losing streak. Rookie right-hander Gavin Williams (2-5) picked up his first win since July 8 against the Kansas City Royals, snapping a nine-start winless streak.
Minnesota’s Joe Ryan (10-9) gave up two runs on four hits over four innings with one walk and three strikeouts.
Diamondbacks 12, Rockies 5
Alek Thomas hit a three-run homer to help host Arizona overcome an early four-run deficit and beat Colorado in the rubber match of a three-game series in Phoenix.
After Colorado took a 4-0 lead in the first, the Diamondbacks stormed back, with Thomas’ blast capping a five-run rally in the third that put Arizona ahead 6-5. Thomas added a two-run single an inning later to put the game out of reach. His five RBIs were a career high. Tommy Pham went 3-for-4 with two doubles, three RBIs and three runs for the Diamondbacks, who pulled within a half-game of the third and final National League wild-card spot.
Rockies starter Chris Flexen (1-7) took the loss. Nolan Jones had a two-run triple for Colorado, which has lost 13 of its last 16 games.
Cubs 8, Giants 2
Seiya Suzuki delivered a three-run double in the first inning and Chicago went on to a victory against visiting San Francisco to complete a three-game series sweep.
Miguel Amaya and Cody Bellinger homered as the Cubs won their fourth consecutive game. Chicago left-hander Jordan Wicks (3-0) went 6 2/3 innings in his third major league start. He scattered nine hits, struck out one and did not walk a batter.
Giants starter Alex Wood (5-5) lasted just 2 1/3 innings in his first start since July 21 after nine appearances as a long reliever. He was tagged for five runs and five hits. San Francisco was shut out until the seventh.
Athletics 5, Blue Jays 2
Kevin Smith bombed a three-run home run, Carlos Perez added a two-run shot and Oakland topped visiting Toronto to avoid a sweep and clinch a winning homestand for only the second time this season.
JP Sears (4-11) and three relievers combined on a six-hitter as the A’s won for the fourth time in six games. Despite completing a third consecutive 2-1 series win, the Blue Jays lost ground to victorious Seattle in the wild-card chase. Toronto sits half a game ahead of Texas in the third and final wild-card slot.
Blue Jays starter Hyun Jin Ryu (3-2) worked the first five innings and allowed two runs and five hits. He walked one and struck out five. He surrendered Perez’s home run in the fourth and the A’s never trailed from there.
White Sox 6, Royals 4
Andrew Vaughn homered among his three hits for the second day in a row as Chicago defeated host Kansas City to snap a five-game losing streak.
Vaughn’s two-run homer, his 19th, erased a 2-1 deficit in the sixth. The next batter, Yoan Moncada, homered on the first pitch from reliever Tucker Davidson. Chicago’s Oscar Colas led off the seventh with a first-pitch homer to right for a 5-2 lead. White Sox starter Touki Toussaint (3-7) matched a season high by lasting six innings, allowing two runs on two hits and three walks with six strikeouts.
Pinch hitter Edward Olivares belted a two-run homer in the eighth, cutting the Royals’ deficit to 5-4. It was Olivares’ third of the series and ninth of the year, and it was the Royals’ first pinch-hit home run of the season. Royals starter Jordan Lyles (4-16) allowed three runs on seven hits and a walk in 5 1/3 innings. He didn’t strike out a batter.
Rays 3, Red Sox 1
Tyler Glasnow matched his career high with 14 strikeouts as Tampa Bay topped Boston in the rubber game of a three-game series in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Across six innings in a 103-pitch outing, Glasnow (8-5) yielded one run on three hits and one walk. The 6-foot-8 right-hander rounded out his start by fanning six consecutive batters in the fifth and sixth innings. Glasnow’s only previous 14-K game came against the Texas Rangers on April 12, 2021.
Brandon Lowe and Isaac Paredes both homered and Harold Ramirez doubled home a run as Tampa Bay improved to 9-2 this season against the Red Sox.
Mariners 8, Reds 4
Logan Gilbert allowed three runs over 5 1/3 innings for his eighth straight winning decision as visiting Seattle beat Cincinnati to salvage the finale of a three-game series.
Cal Raleigh belted his 26th homer of the season and finished 3-for-4 while J.P. Crawford highlighted a five-run fourth with a three-run homer for the Mariners, who won for just the second time in six games on their 10-game road trip. Gilbert (13-5) struck out nine and walked two while allowing seven hits to help the Mariners snap a three-game skid and improve to 40-19 since July 1.
Will Benson homered and doubled twice for the Reds, who fell to 4-3 on their 10-game homestand. The Mariners roughed up Cincinnati rookie right-hander Lyon Richardson (0-2) for seven runs on seven hits, including three homers. Richardson lasted 4 2/3 innings, striking out three but walking four to remain winless in his first four major league starts.
Nationals 3, Mets 2
Rookie Jacob Young’s one-out single in the bottom of the ninth inning drove in the winning run as Washington beat visiting New York to end a six-game losing streak.
Mets reliever Phil Bickford (4-5) walked Carter Kieboom to open the ninth and hit Jake Alu with a pitch before Ildemaro Vargas delivered a sacrifice bunt. Young then came through with his single to center field. He was playing in his 11th major league game and ended up with multiple hits for the second time, going 2-for-4 for the second night in a row.
Kyle Finnegan (7-4) earned the win after working one shutout inning. He was aided by a double-play grounder in the top of the ninth.
Cardinals 11, Braves 6
Willson Contreras drove in three runs and hit one of four St. Louis home runs to help the visiting Cardinals beat Atlanta for the second straight game.
Contreras went 2-for-4 with a walk and a solo home run, his 17th. Paul Goldschmidt hit his 23rd homer, Masyn Winn hit his first major league blast and Nolan Gorman added a three-run shot, his 27th, that put the game away in the eighth inning. Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado and Alec Burleson also had multi-hit games for the Cardinals, who had 14 hits and scored double-digit runs for the second consecutive game.
Atlanta ace Spencer Strider (16-5) worked only 2 2/3 innings, matching his shortest start of the season, and allowed six runs on six hits, three walks and five strikeouts, ending his four-game winning streak.
NFL NEWS
JOE BURROW A FULL PARTICIPANT, ON TRACK TO START WEEK 1
The Joe Burrow saga appears to be over in Cincinnati and the news is all good — he’s fully practicing and on track to start the regular-season opener Sunday at the Cleveland Browns.
That outlook is according to Bengals head coach Zac Taylor, who said he expects Burrow to be a full participant in Wednesday’s practice.
The first injury report for Week 1 will be released later Wednesday.
The Bengals have been cagey with Burrow’s status since he sustained a strained calf during practice in late July. Taylor just Monday said Burrow was “day to day.”
Burrow, who guided the Bengals to the Super Bowl during his second NFL season in 2021-22, is the next quarterback in line for a massive payday.
The Los Angeles Chargers recently made Justin Herbert the new highest-paid player in the NFL at $52.5 million per year (five-year extension worth $262.5 million), following extensions earlier this offseason for the Baltimore Ravens’ Lamar Jackson ($260 million) and the Philadelphia Eagles’ Jalen Hurts ($255 million).
49ERS SIGN NICK BOSA TO A RECORD-SETTING CONTRACT EXTENSION TO END HIS LENGTHY HOLDOUT
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) Nick Bosa’s lengthy contract holdout ended four days before the start of the season for the San Francisco 49ers when he agreed to a contract extension that will make him the NFL’s richest defensive player ever.
Coach Kyle Shanahan said Wednesday that the two sides agreed to the contract and that Bosa is on his way to the team facility. Now Shanahan is glad he can stop thinking about what it would be like for the Niners to open their season without their best defensive player.
“You try not to think about it much because it’s not really in my control and let the process play itself out,” Shanahan said. “As it went through the weekend, I just kind of got it in my mind that we weren’t playing with him. If I had gone back and forth, I would have been miserable. I just decided we weren’t. … It’s a hell of a bonus to get him here. We’re obviously really excited about it.”
Shanahan said Bosa would have to show up with a “beer belly” and “be out of shape” not to play the season opener at Pittsburgh on Sunday but added that’s “not in Bosa’s DNA.”
How much he is able to play after spending all of training camp working out on his own remains to be seen.
“We’ll see when he gets here,” Shanahan said. “I know Nick will come in shape. I know he’ll be good. … We’ll be smart with it and that will be based on these next two practices.”
But getting the deal done in time for Bosa to play this week provides a big boost for a team that comes into the season with championship aspirations and doesn’t need to contemplate the worst-case scenario with Bosa.
The news came shortly before the Niners took the field for practice Wednesday, with many of his teammates finding out when linebacker Fred Warner ran through the locker room screaming about the news as the cloud of the holdout had been lifted.
“I’d be lying to say it wasn’t (a cloud) because he’s such a huge contributor to what we do as a defense and how we play,” All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams said. “It’s not like anybody else is going down. The Defensive Player of the Year. You miss players like that. I know it’s a ”next man up league” but a lot of that goes out the window when you’re talking about a player like Nick.”
The 49ers have had a strong history of rewarding their own stars, giving big extensions the past three summers to tight end George Kittle, Warner and receiver Deebo Samuel. But getting a deal done with Bosa proved to be more complicated.
ESPN first reported the extension and said it was worth $170 million over five seasons with $122.5 million guaranteed. The average annual payout of $34 million tops the previous mark of $31.7 million for Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald and the guarantees top the $102 million Bosa’s older brother, Joey, got from the Chargers in 2020.
“I thought it would come to fruition sometime last week, and it didn’t,” Shanahan said. “It made me nervous, made me kind of move on with it. But we all knew Nick would get rewarded like he did.”
Bosa earned the lucrative new deal with stellar play since being drafted second overall in 2019. He was the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year and was voted the top defensive player in the NFL last season when he led the league with 18 1/2 sacks.
Bosa has 34 sacks the past two seasons after having nine as a rookie in 2019. He had no sacks in two games in 2020 when he went down with a season-ending knee injury.
In Bosa’s three healthy seasons, San Francisco ranks third in points allowed, second in yards per play allowed, fourth in sacks and tied for sixth in takeaways.
“I’m sure everybody knows how he makes everybody’s life easier, not just me, being one of the most dominant defensive players in the league, in the run and pass game,” Warner said. “He’s the most complete player on the edge. That clears a lot of things up for me.”
NOTES: The Niners selected six captains for the season: Williams, Warner, QB Brock Purdy, WR Deebo Samuel, TE George Kittle and DL Arik Armstead. … Returner/WR Ray-Ray McCloud (wrist) and K Jake Moody (quadriceps) returned to practice and were limited. … LB Oren Burks (knee), S Tashaun Gipson (back), S Talanoa Hufanga (knee), Kittle (groin) and RB Jordan Mason (foot) were also limited. … Backup OL Jon Feliciano (illness) missed practice.
BRIAN BURNS RETURNS TO PANTHERS PRACTICE IN PADS; STATUS FOR SUNDAY’S GAME REMAINS UNCERTAIN
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Carolina Panthers two-time Pro Bowl outside linebacker Brian Burns returned to practice on Wednesday amid stalled talks on a contract extension, although his status for Sunday’s Week 1 game at Atlanta remains uncertain.
Burns, who had skipped the team’s past two practices, showed up in full pads.
After skipping most of the stretching period and getting re-taped by trainers under a tent, the four-year NFL veteran participated in individual drills at full speed during the 20 minutes of practice that were open to reporters.
It’s unclear if Burns planned to participate in team drills, which will dictate how he’s listed on the team’s injury report later Wednesday.
It’s also uncertain if Burns will play Sunday without first signing a contract extension. He and his agent Todd France have refused to discuss his contract situation or his plans on whether or not to play moving forward.
The 25-year-old Burns is set to make slightly more than $16 million this season in the final year of his rookie contract, but is seeking a long-term extension. He would miss out on close to $900,000 for every game he misses.
That Burns was dressed for practice is at least some promising news for the Panthers.
Burns is a vital part of the team’s defense, which is moving to a 3-4 scheme this season under new coordinator Ejiro Evero. Burns had a career-high 12 1/2 sacks last season. He has set a goal of 10 sacks in the first 10 games of this season.
Burns has been an extremely productive player for the Panthers over the past four seasons with 38 sacks. Only Julius Peppers had more sacks for the Panthers in his first four seasons.
THE BILLS BELIEVE THEY ARE STRONGER AFTER GOING THROUGH AN EMOTIONALLY DRAINING SEASON LAST YEAR
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Mitch Morse was coming off the field after what he would later acknowledge as being a bad day in practice. And the last thing the Buffalo Bills center wanted to deal with were questions about how emotionally draining last season was for him and his teammates.
“I don’t really feel like talking about last season, if that’s OK,” Morse politely said, but not before offering his insight on the mental strain players deal with every year.
“I’m not going to say last season, this season, next season. This sport takes a toll on its players a lot more than people know, not only physically, but mentally,” he said. “Even though the money is tremendous, the stakes are at their highest and can really take a toll on anybody. And everyone gets touched. No one’s safe.”
Morse apologized a few days later for being what he considered gruff, even though he wasn’t.
What his perspective and response reflected was how delicate the topic of last year might still be on a team preparing to open its season at the New York Jets on Monday night — and how much more difficult it would’ve been to endure if not for the emphasis coach Sean McDermott placed on mental health.
It was, after all, Morse who spoke for the team in crediting McDermott for putting football aside and bringing in an array of specialists in the days following safety Damar Hamlin’s near-death experience during a game at Cincinnati on Jan. 2. Morse said he was grateful for the coach’s sensitivity in allowing players to take a pause and be vulnerable and express their feelings.
It was a season like no other in Buffalo, where the Bills held together amid one emotional blow after another — from Hamlin needing to be resuscitated on the field, to the sudden death of tight end Dawson Knox’s younger brother Luke in August, and the team rallying to the community’s aid in the aftermath of a racially motivated supermarket shooting that left 10 Black people dead in May 2022.
And that doesn’t include two major snowstorms — one in which some 50 people died — that disrupted the team’s schedule, and what was initially feared to be a career-ending neck injury to safety Micah Hyde.
What stood out was how McDermott’s approach allowed the Bills to persevere in a season they finished 13-3 to win their third straight AFC East title before running out of gas in a playoff loss to Cincinnati.
“Last year might have been tough, but I still think in the grand scheme of it, we’ll look back and be proud of how we handled it,” safety Jordan Poyer said. “We came up short. But at the end of the day, that doesn’t really necessarily define each individual person.”
And perhaps, he said, a team that returns a majority of players from last year can grow from the emotional bonds players built collectively through the experiences.
“It’s OK to feel sad. It’s OK to feel angry. It’s OK to feel upset, vulnerable. A lot of times us as humans, we hold that in,” said Poyer, whose own dealings with mental health issues have allowed him to openly discuss his struggles with alcoholism to help others. “Yeah, that was tough, but look, we’re still here. It made us better.”
McDermott grew to appreciate the importance of the psychological aspect in sports long before he got into coaching. He drew on his high school wrestling career, and the individual discipline it required of him to balance physical and mental strength in becoming a two-time time All-Catholic and national prep champion with a 61-0 record, while giving up just one takedown.
“It led to an awareness of how important it is to equip people, in this case players, with the right tools for them to perform at their best,” said McDermott, who was rewarded for his leadership with a two-year contract extension that locks him up through 2027.
It wasn’t until he landed the Bills job in 2017 that McDermott was able to apply his mental health philosophy by adding a psychologist to his staff, which the team initially shared with the NHL’s Sabres, who are also owned by Terry Pegula. The Bills have since hired Desaree Festa to their performance science staff and are one of just six NFL teams to employ a full-time psychologist.
Little could McDermott have envisioned how important a role Festa and her staff would play last year, while also believing the effects have the potential of carrying over to this season.
“Every team’s a new team, but that being said, you grow through life’s experiences,” McDermott said. “And it makes you stronger moving forward.”
It’s difficult for the Bills to sweep aside last year when the reminders remain, some in a more uplifting way.
Hamlin has made such a remarkable recovery he showed no signs of hesitancy while making the 53-player roster last week. Hyde is fully recovered, too, and reclaimed his starting job.
“I think how coach handled it was the right way, bringing in specialists to talk to guys, allowing us to be vulnerable and giving us time and space,” quarterback Josh Allen said.
“I think there’s a deeper bond between players because of the situations that we went through last year and bonds that will last a lifetime,” Allen added. “I see that in our locker room. It’s such a positive thing to me to see guys being open with each other. And I think that makes for a closer team.”
CHIEFS ALL-PRO CHRIS JONES AMID HOLDOUT AS SEASON APPROACHES: ‘I JUST WANT A RAISE’
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones, who has been in the midst of a contract dispute, left open the possibility that he could be on the field for the Kansas City Chiefs when they open the season on Thursday night against the Detroit Lions.
Jones has been working out in Miami throughout the offseason and training camp while his agents, Jason and Michael Katz, negotiate with the Chiefs on a potential extension. Jones is entering the final year of a four-year, $80 million deal, and said in his first public comments Wednesday that he “just wants a raise” like any other employee in any line of work.
“Hopefully it gets worked out,” said Jones, who was accompanied by the Katz brothers on a trip to visit with kids at Ronald McDonald House Charities. “It’s always been my goal to be a Kansas City Chief for life. I’ve said that multiple time on social media platforms, from interviews, and they know where my position is at.”
More than 40 local families at the Ronald McDonald House, which is dedicated to supporting families with sick children in their time of need, were able to meet with Jones during his appearance in Kansas City.
The 29-year-old pass rusher already has accrued millions in fines for missing mandatory workouts, training camp and preseason games. If Jones does not report before Thursday, he will begin losing about $1.1 million in weekly game checks.
Asked whether he felt he had let anybody down by not reporting, Jones replied: “How?”
“That’s what I have to ask,” Jones continued. “How have I let them down? It’s just like when you’re at a job, you’re asking for a raise, who are you letting down? When you take the personal feelings out of it, you can kind of get it.”
Jones is coming off perhaps his best season, matching a career high with 15 1/2 sacks on the way to a Super Bowl title.
His absence from the Kansas City defense could be particularly damaging given the loss of defensive end Charles Omenihu, who is suspended for six games for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. That has left youngsters George Karlaftis, entering his second year, and first-round draft pick Felix Anudike-Uzomah as the Chiefs’ main pass rushers.
The market for defensive tackles, set by Aaron Donald with a three-year, $95 million deal, skyrocketed this past offseason. The Giants’ Dexter Lawrence and the Commanders’ Daron Payne each signed four-year, $90 million pacts, the Titans’ Jeffrey Simmons signed for four years and $95 million, and the Jets’ Quinnen Williams agreed to a four-year, $96 million deal.
The Chiefs and Jones’ representatives were at an impasse until about a week ago, when general manager Brett Veach said their communication had increased in recent days. Veach was even optimistic that Jones would be available against Detroit.
“We’re going to continue to press on and work hard,” he said. “A lot of respect on both sides of this thing. It’s been well-stated how we feel about Chris and he feels the same thing. We’re just going to keep working on this thing.”
Chiefs coach Andy Reid was blunt when asked about Jones after their final practice Tuesday. Reid declined to say whether he has been involved in negotiations and has continually said that his focus is solely on the players that are available.
“That’s where I’m at,” Reid said. “If you’re not there, you’re not there. Unfortunately, that’s the name of the game, so you can’t spend time — you have got to exhaust your time on the team you’re playing. So that’s where we’re at.”
Turns out there’s a chance, however slight it may be, that Jones could be there against the Lions on Thursday night.
“I’ve been keeping in contact with my teammates. I’ve been working out every day, doing similar things to what they’re doing in training camp,” he said. “I’ll be ready when the time comes.”
THE CHIEFS HAVE WON 8 STRAIGHT SEASON OPENERS. THEY HAVE A WAYS TO GO TO CATCH THE LONGEST STREAK
Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs have been fast starters to the NFL season.
The defending-champion Chiefs head into their opener Thursday night at home against Detroit having won eight straight regular-season openers, which is tied for the fifth longest streak of the Super Bowl era.
Kansas City last lost in Week 1 back in 2014 with Alex Smith at quarterback when they fell 26-10 to Tennessee in a game played before Mahomes had even made his college debut at Texas Tech.
They won the next three openers with Smith at QB and then all five since Mahomes became the starter, scoring at least 33 points in the last seven Week 1 games.
They have a long way to go to catch the longest streak ever as the Cowboys won 17 straight openers between 1965-81. The last team to win more than eight straight was the New England Patriots, who won 10 in a row from 2004-13.
Mahomes has been particularly sharp to start the season, throwing at least three TD passes in all five season-opening starts in his career for the longest streak ever. The only QBs to have more than five career Week 1 games with at least three TD passes are Tom Brady (nine), Dan Marino (seven) and Drew Brees (six).
In fact, only nine teams other than the Chiefs have had five Week 1 games with at least three TD passes in the last 20 seasons. The Bengals have the longest drought of that kind with none since Boomer Esiason did it in 1988.
On the other end of the Week 1 dominance is the Indianapolis Colts, who ended a eight-game losing streak in season openers with a 20-20 tie vs Houston last year. The only team that has a longer streak without winning a season opener in NFL history is the Browns, who went 0-16-1 from 2005-21 before beating Carolina 26-24 last year.
The Colts open the season at home against Jacksonville on Sunday.
QB SHUFFLE
Another season, another Week 1 starting QB in Washington and Indianapolis.
The Commanders and Colts are set to become the fourth and fifth teams in the Super Bowl era to have a different starting QB in seven straight season openers.
Sam Howell will join Kirk Cousins, Alex Smith, Case Keenum, Dwayne Haskins, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Carson Wentz to start in Week 1 for Washington since 2017.
Rookie Anthony Richardson follows Matt Ryan, Wentz, Philip Rivers, Jacoby Brissett, Andrew Luck and Scott Tolzien to do it in Indianapolis.
The only other teams with seven Week 1 starting QBs in seven seasons are Cleveland (2013-19), Baltimore (1997-2003) and Chargers (1987-93).
With Derek Carr having left Las Vegas for New Orleans and Aaron Rodgers with the Jets after starting 15 straight openers in Green Bay, Dak Prescott will have the longest after streak of Week 1 starts at QB with the same team when he makes his eighth straight start in the season opener.
MOVING TIME
Baker Mayfield has been a well-traveled quarterback during his short time in the NFL.
Mayfield is set to start for his fourth team since being picked first overall by Cleveland in 2018. He also spent time in Carolina and with the Los Angeles Rams last season.
Mayfield is set to start the opener for his fourth team of his career, Tampa Bay on Sunday against Minnesota. No other top pick QB in the common draft era since 1967 started for more than two teams in his first six seasons.
Mayfield will be the sixth quarterback in the Super Bowl era to start the season opener for three franchises in three seasons after doing it in Cleveland in 2021 and Carolina in 2022. He will join Carson Wentz (2020-22), Donovan McNabb (2009-11), Brett Favre (2007-09), Kurt Warner (2003-05) and Jim Harbaugh (1997-99).
DO IT AGAIN
The Philadelphia Eagles are trying to pull off the rare NFC East repeat.
Philadelphia is trying to become the first repeat division winner in the NFC East since the Eagles won it from 2002-04 in the first years of the current division format.
The Eagles are also looking to become the fourth team to win the Super Bowl the year after losing the title game, joining the 1971 Dallas Cowboys, the 1972 Miami Dolphins and 2018 New England Patriots.
The only other Super Bowl losers even to make it back to the big game are the 1974 Minnesota Vikings, 1987 Denver Broncos, 1991-93 Buffalo Bills.
FALLING OUT
Seven teams made the playoffs last season after missing the postseason in 2021, marking the 33rd straight season when at least four teams pulled off the trick.
Four teams that are prime candidates to fall out of playoff position are the teams that made it last season despite getting outscored: Minnesota, the Giants, Tampa Bay and Miami.
The last nine teams to make the playoffs despite being outscored missed the postseason the following year with the 2015 Carolina Panthers the last to make it.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WEEK 1
Below are teams and players that can set historic marks or reach career milestones in Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season, including:
- Kansas City (Patrick Mahomes & Travis Kelce)
- Detroit (Jared Goff)
- Cincinnati (Joe Burrow & Ja’Marr Chase)
- Buffalo (Josh Allen)
- L.A. Chargers (Justin Herbert & Austin Ekeler)
- Dallas (Dak Prescott & Micah Parsons)
- San Francisco (Brock Purdy)
- Las Vegas (Davante Adams)
- Baltimore (Justin Tucker)
For a look at upcoming season-long records and milestones, click here.
CHIEFS AIM TO CONTINUE WEEK 1 DOMINANCE, KELCE CAN SURPASS SHARPE
The KANSAS CITY CHIEFS begin their quest to repeat as Super Bowl champions by hosting the DETROIT LIONS in the league’s annual primetime Kickoff Game on Thursday (8:20 PM ET, NBC). Kansas City has won its past eight Kickoff Weekend games, the longest active streak in the NFL. With a win on Thursday, the Chiefs can become the fifth team in the Super Bowl era to win nine consecutive season-opening games.
The teams with the most consecutive season-opening wins in the Super Bowl era:
| TEAM | SEASONS | CONSECUTIVE WINS | |
| Dallas | 1966-81 | 16 | |
| Miami | 1992-2002 | 11 | |
| New England | 2004-13 | 10 | |
| Chicago | 1984-92 | 9 | |
| Kansas City | 2015-22 | 8* | |
| Pittsburgh | 2003-10 | 8 | |
| *Active streak | |||
Quarterback PATRICK MAHOMES, who in 2022 became the seventh player ever to win both NFL MVP and Super Bowl MVP in the same season, has started each of the past five Kickoff Weekend games for Kansas City. In those five starts, Mahomes has totaled 1,542 passing yards (308.4 per game) with 18 touchdown passes and no interceptions for a 136.9 passer rating. He also has thrown at least three touchdown passes in each game, including a five-touchdown performance last season.
Patrick Mahomes’ five career starts in Week 1:
| SEASON | OPPONENT | RESULT | PASS YARDS | TD PASSES | INTs | PASSER RATING |
| 2022 | at Arizona | W 44-21 | 360 | 5 | 0 | 144.2 |
| 2021 | vs. Cleveland | W 33-29 | 337 | 3 | 0 | 131.4 |
| 2020 | vs. Houston | W 34-20 | 211 | 3 | 0 | 123.3 |
| 2019 | at Jacksonville | W 40-26 | 378 | 3 | 0 | 143.2 |
| 2018 | at L.A. Chargers | W 38-28 | 256 | 4 | 0 | 127.5 |
Overall, Mahomes has 16 career games with at least four touchdown passes, tied for the most-ever by a player in his first six seasons. With another four-touchdown performance on Kickoff Weekend, Mahomes will surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN MARINO (16 games) for the most such games by a player in his first seven seasons in NFL history.
The players with the most games with at least four touchdown passes in their first seven seasons in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAM | GAMES WITH 4+ TD PASSES | |
| Patrick Mahomes | Kansas City | 16* | |
| Dan MarinoHOF | Miami | 16 | |
| Brett FavreHOF | Green Bay | 12 | |
| Peyton ManningHOF | Indianapolis | 12 | |
| *Entering seventh season | |||
Last season, tight end TRAVIS KELCE set a career high with 110 receptions, tied for the second-most in a season by a tight end in NFL history. He enters the 2023 season with 814 career receptions, the fifth-most by a tight end all-time.
With two catches on Thursday night, Kelce will surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer SHANNON SHARPE (815 receptions) for the fourth-most receptions ever by a tight end.
The tight ends with the most receptions in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAM(S) | RECEPTIONS |
| Tony GonzalezHOF | Kansas City, Atlanta | 1,325 |
| Jason Witten | Dallas, Las Vegas | 1,228 |
| Antonio Gates | San Diego/L.A. Chargers | 955 |
| Shannon SharpeHOF | Denver, Baltimore Ravens | 815 |
| Travis Kelce | Kansas City | 814 |
GOFF BRINGS NO-INTERCEPTION STREAK INTO SEASON
The DETROIT LIONS won eight of their final 10 games in 2022 and finished with a .500-or-better record (9-8) for the first time since 2017.
Quarterback JARED GOFF ended the season without an interception over his final 324 pass attempts, the fifth-longest streak of consecutive pass attempts without an interception in NFL history. He can extend the streak on Thursday night and surpass DEREK CARR (332 consecutive attempts in 2018) and TOM BRADY (358 attempts in 2010-11) on the all-time list.
The players with the most consecutive pass attempts without an interception in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAM | SEASON(S) | CONSECUTIVE ATTEMPTS | |
| Aaron Rodgers | Green Bay | 2018 | 402 | |
| Tom Brady | Tampa Bay | 2022 | 399 | |
| Tom Brady | New England | 2010-11 | 358 | |
| Derek Carr | Oakland Raiders | 2018 | 332 | |
| Jared Goff | Detroit | 2022 | 324* | |
| *Active streak | ||||
BURROW, CHASE CONTINUE HISTORIC PACE
Cincinnati quarterback JOE BURROW tied for second in the NFL with 35 touchdown passes last season and ranked fifth with 4,475 passing yards. He has 11,774 passing yards since entering the league in 2020 and became the first player ever to record at least 400 passing yards in five games within his first three seasons.
With 400 passing yards at Cleveland on Kickoff Weekend (1:00 PM ET, CBS), Burrow can surpass PATRICK MAHOMES (five games) and MATTHEW STAFFORD (five) for the second-most such games by a player in his first four seasons in NFL history. Only Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN MARINO (seven) has more.
The players with the most games with at least 400 passing yards in their first four seasons in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAM | GAMES WITH 400+ PASSING YARDS | |
| Dan MarinoHOF | Miami | 7 | |
| Joe Burrow | Cincinnati | 5* | |
| Patrick Mahomes | Kansas City | 5 | |
| Matthew Stafford | Detroit | 5 | |
| *Entering fourth season | |||
Wide receiver JA’MARR CHASE enters the 2023 season with 2,501 receiving yards in 29 career games and became the fifth player ever to total at least 2,500 receiving yards through his first two seasons.
With 27 receiving yards on Sunday, Chase will surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer RANDY MOSS (2,527 receiving yards) for the third-most receiving yards ever by a player in his first 30 career games, trailing only ODELL BECKHAM JR. (3,035) and JUSTIN JEFFERSON (2,735).
The players with the most receiving yards in their first 30 career games in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAM | RECEIVING YARDS | |
| Odell Beckham Jr. | N.Y. Giants | 3,035 | |
| Justin Jefferson | Minnesota | 2,735 | |
| Randy MossHOF | Minnesota | 2,527 | |
| Ja’Marr Chase | Cincinnati | 2,501* | |
| *In 29 career games | |||
ALLEN MOVING UP TOUCHDOWN LIST
Last season, Buffalo quarterback JOSH ALLEN ranked second among quarterbacks with 42 combined passing and rushing touchdowns (35 passing, seven rushing). Since entering the league in 2018, Allen has 176 combined passing and rushing touchdowns, the second-most in the NFL.
With two touchdowns at the New York Jets on Monday Night Football (8:15 PM ET, ESPN/ABC), Allen will surpass RUSSELL WILSON (177 touchdowns) for the fourth-most combined passing and rushing touchdowns by a player in his first six seasons in NFL history.
The players with the most combined passing and rushing touchdowns in their first six seasons in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAM | COMBINED PASS + RUSH TOUCHDOWNS | |
| Patrick Mahomes | Kansas City | 204 | |
| Dan MarinoHOF | Miami | 199 | |
| Cam Newton | Carolina | 184 | |
| Russell Wilson | Seattle | 177 | |
| Josh Allen | Buffalo | 176* | |
| *Entering sixth season | |||
HERBERT’S HISTORIC FIRST 50, EKELER CAN JOIN ELITE RB COMPANY
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback JUSTIN HERBERT ranked second in the league with 4,739 passing yards in 2022 and became the first player ever with at least 4,000 passing yards in each of his first three career seasons. He also recorded 25 touchdown passes and joined Pro Football Hall of Famer PEYTON MANNING as the only players ever with at least 25 touchdown passes in each of their first three seasons.
In 49 career games, Herbert has totaled 14,089 passing yards and 94 touchdown passes. With 243 passing yards against Miami on Sunday (4:25 PM ET, CBS), Herbert will surpass MATTHEW STAFFORD (14,331 passing yards) for the second-most passing yards ever by a player in his first 50 career games.
The players with the most passing yards in their first 50 career games in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAM | PASSING YARDS | |
| Patrick Mahomes | Kansas City | 15,370 | |
| Matthew Stafford | Detroit | 14,331 | |
| Justin Herbert | L.A. Chargers | 14,089* | |
| *In 49 career games | |||
With two touchdown passes, Herbert will surpass DESHAUN WATSON (95 touchdown passes) for the fourth-most touchdown passes ever by a player in his first 50 career games.
The players with the most touchdown passes in their first 50 career games in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAM | TOUCHDOWN PASSES | |
| Patrick Mahomes | Kansas City | 128 | |
| Dan MarinoHOF | Miami | 114 | |
| Kurt WarnerHOF | St. Louis Rams | 101 | |
| Deshaun Watson | Houston Texans | 95 | |
| Justin Herbert | L.A. Chargers | 94* | |
| *In 49 career games | |||
Running back AUSTIN EKELER led the NFL with 18 touchdowns (13 rushing, five receiving) in 2022 and led all running backs with 107 receptions, tied for the second-most receptions ever by a running back in a season. It marked his third-career season with at least five touchdown receptions and Ekeler enters the 2023 season with 29 career touchdown receptions.
With a touchdown reception on Kickoff Weekend, Ekeler will become the sixth running back in the Super Bowl era with at least 30 career touchdown receptions, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer MARSHALL FAULK (36 touchdown receptions), DARREN SPROLES (32), KEITH BYARS (31), JAMES BROOKS (30) and BRIAN WESTBROOK (30).
The running backs with the most touchdown receptions in the Super Bowl era:
| PLAYER | TEAM(S) | TOUCHDOWN RECEPTIONS |
| Marshall FaulkHOF | Indianapolis, St. Louis Rams | 36 |
| Darren Sproles | San Diego Chargers, New Orleans, Philadelphia | 32 |
| Keith Byars | Philadelphia, Miami, New England, N.Y. Jets | 31 |
| James Brooks | San Diego Chargers, Cincinnati | 30 |
| Brian Westbrook | Philadelphia, San Francisco | 30 |
| Austin Ekeler | L.A. Chargers | 29 |
PRESCOTT & PARSONS EACH EYEING MILESTONES ON SNF
Since entering the NFL in 2016, Dallas quarterback DAK PRESCOTT has totaled 24,943 passing yards and 1,642 rushing yards in 97 games.
With 57 passing yards at the New York Giants on Sunday Night Football (8:20 PM ET, NBC), Prescott will join AARON RODGERS as the only players in NFL history with at least 25,000 passing yards and 1,500 rushing yards in their first 100 career games.
Linebacker MICAH PARSONS totaled 13.5 sacks in 2022 and became the third player since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic, to record at least 13 sacks in each of his first two seasons. He also led all players last season with six games of two-or-more sacks. Parsons enters 2023 with nine career games of at least two sacks.
With his next game of at least two sacks, Parsons would become the sixth player since 1982 to record 10-or-more games with at least two sacks in his first three NFL seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers REGGIE WHITE (16 games) and RICHARD DENT (12), as well as SHAWNE MERRIMAN (12), ALDON SMITH (12) and DWIGHT FREENEY (10).
The players with the most games with at least two sacks in their first three seasons since 1982:
| PLAYER | TEAM | GAMES WITH 2+ SACKS | |
| Reggie WhiteHOF | Philadelphia | 16 | |
| Richard DentHOF | Chicago | 12 | |
| Shawne Merriman | San Diego Chargers | 12 | |
| Aldon Smith | San Francisco | 12 | |
| Dwight Freeney | Indianapolis | 10 | |
| J.J. Watt | Houston Texans | 9 | |
| Micah Parsons | Dallas | 9* | |
| *Entering third season | |||
PURDY LOOKS TO CONTINUE HISTORIC START TO CAREER
San Francisco 49ers quarterback BROCK PURDY became the team’s starter in Week 14 of last season and has not looked back since. He led the 49ers to victory in each of their final five regular-season games, recording at least two touchdown passes and a passer rating of 95-or-higher in each contest. Purdy became the third rookie quarterback ever to win each of his first five career starts.
With at least two touchdown passes and a victory at Pittsburgh on Kickoff Weekend (1:00 PM ET, FOX), Purdy will become the first quarterback in NFL history to win each of his first six career regular-season starts and throw at least two touchdown passes in each start. He can also become the first quarterback in NFL history with a passer rating of 95-or-higher in each of his first six career regular-season starts.
Brock Purdy’s 2022 regular-season starts:
| WEEK | OPPONENT | RESULT | PASS YARDS | TD PASSES | PASSER RATING |
| Week 14 | vs. Tampa Bay | W 35-7 | 185 | 2 | 134.0 |
| Week 15 | at Seattle | W 21-13 | 217 | 2 | 117.0 |
| Week 16 | vs. Washington | W 37-20 | 234 | 2 | 114.6 |
| Week 17 | at Las Vegas | W 37-34 (OT) | 284 | 2 | 95.4 |
| Week 18 | vs. Arizona | W 38-13 | 178 | 3 | 141.3 |
ADAMS CAN SURPASS FITZGERALD
Las Vegas wide receiver DAVANTE ADAMS led the NFL with 14 touchdown receptions in 2022, his first season as a Raider. He became the fourth player ever with 10 touchdown receptions in at least six of his first nine career seasons. Adams enters the 2023 season with 87 career touchdown receptions.
With a touchdown reception at Denver on Sunday (4:25 PM ET, CBS), Adams will surpass LARRY FITZGERALD (87 touchdown receptions) for the fifth-most touchdown receptions by a player in his first 10 seasons in NFL history. Only Pro Football Hall of Famers JERRY RICE (131), RANDY MOSS (124), MARVIN HARRISON (110) and TERRELL OWENS (101) have more.
The players with the most touchdown receptions in their first 10 seasons in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAM(S) | TOUCHDOWN RECEPTIONS | |
| Jerry RiceHOF | San Francisco | 131 | |
| Randy MossHOF | Minnesota, Oakland Raiders, New England | 124 | |
| Marvin HarrisonHOF | Indianapolis | 110 | |
| Terrell OwensHOF | San Francisco, Philadelphia | 101 | |
| Davante Adams | Green Bay, Las Vegas | 87* | |
| Larry Fitzgerald | Arizona | 87 | |
| *Entering 10th season | |||
TUCKER CAN MATCH JANIKOWSKI IN 50-YARD FIELD GOALS
Since entering the league in 2012, Baltimore’s JUSTIN TUCKER has established himself as one of the NFL’s most reliable kickers. Last season, he led all players with 37 made fields, including nine from at least 50 yards. In his career, Tucker has 57 career made field goals of at least 50 yards.
With a made field goal of a least 50 yards against Houston on Kickoff Weekend (1:00 PM ET, CBS), Tucker will tie SEBASTIAN JANIKOWSKI (58 made 50-yard field goals) for the second-most made field goals of at least 50 yards in NFL history. Only Arizona’s MATT PRATER (71) has more.
The players with the most career made field goals of at least 50 yards in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAM(S) | 50+ YARD FIELD GOALS |
| Matt Prater* | Denver, Detroit, Arizona | 71 |
| Sebastian Janikowski | Oakland Raiders, Seattle | 58 |
| Justin Tucker* | Baltimore Ravens | 57 |
| *Active |
MAGIC JOHNSON MEETS WITH WASHINGTON COMMANDERS PLAYERS FOR THE FIRST TIME
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — Magic Johnson made a surprise appearance at Washington Commanders practice Wednesday, talking to players and coaches for the first time since becoming a part-owner of the NFL franchise.
Johnson stopped by the practice facility to address the team at a pre-practice meeting. Starting quarterback Sam Howell said Johnson told the team about what it takes to win in professional sports.
“It was awesome, man, just to be able to hear what he had to say and be able to ask him questions at the end and pick his brain,” Howell said. “He’s been through so many different teams and not only as a player but as an owner and won so many championships on both sides of it.”
Johnson also talked business and other topics as part of a meeting that unexpectedly ran long because of his appearance.
The Hall of Famer is expected to be at the sold out season opener Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals. He is one of more than a dozen owners who are part of the group controlled by Josh Harris, which bought the team for $6.05 billion from Dan Snyder.
REPORT: CARDINALS EXPECTED TO START DOBBS IN WEEK 1
The Arizona Cardinals are expected to start Josh Dobbs at quarterback in Sunday’s opener against the Washington Commanders, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Rookie fifth-rounder Clayton Tune will act as the backup. Arizona will continue to evaluate the position each week, Rapoport adds.
The Cardinals acquired Dobbs from the Cleveland Browns on Aug. 24. Although Dobbs only has a few weeks of experience in the club’s system, Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing worked with him in Cleveland as the quarterbacks coach.
Dobbs has experience being thrown into the lineup on short notice. He made his first career start for the Tennessee Titans last season eight days after being signed following an injury to Ryan Tannehill.
In two starts for the Titans, the 28-year-old finished with 411 yards and two touchdowns against two interceptions while completing 58.8% of his passes.
Kyler Murray will miss at least the first four games of the season after being kept on the physically unable to perform list to start the campaign due to an ACL injury he suffered in Week 14 last year.
Colt McCoy was regarded as the favorite to take over for Arizona after starting six games and appearing in six more for the NFC West club over the last two seasons. However, he was a surprise inclusion in the team’s cuts down to 53 players.
Prior to Rapoport’s report, Gannon said earlier Wednesday that he was going to keep his quarterback decision a secret.
“I ain’t telling you anything,” he said, according to NFL.com’s Nick Shook.
“I trust our guys,” Gannon added. “Media’s the media. That’s your guys’ job, I understand that, but we’re gonna do what’s best for our football team as we see fit and try to execute that.”
COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS
GAME OF THE WEEK: TEXAS AT ALABAMA
TEXAS NOTES
THE OPENING KICKOFF • The University of Texas continues its 131st season of football on Saturday when the Longhorns face No. 4/3 Alabama for the 11th all-time meeting. • Texas will travel to Tuscaloosa, Ala. for the second time in series history and first time since the first-ever game between the programs in 1902. • Last week, Texas (1-0) topped Rice at home, 37-10, in the 97th meeting between the two programs. • Alabama (1-0) heads into Saturday’s game after defeating Middle Tennessee State at home, 56-7. • Texas will play on the road at an AP Top-5 opponent for the first time since 2017 (USC). • The Longhorns are 9-12 all-time in true road games versus AP Top-5 opponents. • UT is 96-83-4 all-time in AP Top-25 matchups. • Texas currently boasts 937 all-time wins, the fifth-most in college football history. UT holds an all-time record of 937-390-33 (.701). SERIES HISTORY VS. ALABAMA • Texas holds a 7-2-1 advantage over Alabama in the all-time series and will face the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa for the first time since 1902. • Texas and Alabama will play just the fifth regular-season game in series history. The last three games took place in Austin (1915, 1922, 2022), with the first-ever meeting taking place in Alabama in 1902. • Texas (No. 11) and Alabama (No. 4) will meet as AP ranked opponents for the first time since the 2010 BCS Championship game and the seventh time overall. UT holds a 4-1-1 mark in the previous six games. • The Longhorns and Crimson Tide will meet in consecutive years for the first time in series history. • Of the 10 previous games between the Horns and Tide, six were held in the Lone Star State with Texas holding a 4-1-1 advantage.
ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE SCOUTING REPORT • Nick Saban is in his 17th season as head coach of the Crimson Tide, having won six national championships and eight Southeast Conference titles. • The Crimson Tide returned 11 starters and 48 letterwinners from the 2022 team that went 11-2 (6-2 SEC) and defeated Kansas State in the All State Sugar Bowl, 45-20. • Alabama’s offense returns five starters, including three offensive linemen and two wide receivers: center Seth McLaughlin, guard Darrian Dalcourt and right tackle JC Latham and wide receivers Jermaine Burton (40 catches, 677 yards) and Ja’Corey Books (39 catches, 674 yards). • On defense, six starters return in a group that includes linebacker Dallas Turner, defensive backs Kool-Aid McKinstry and Terrion Arnold, defensive linemen Jaheim Oatis and Tim Smith and defensive end Justin Eboigbe, who missed the 2022 season due to injury. • The special teams is led by fifth-year kicker Will Reichard, while punter James Burnip and long snapper Kneeland Hibbett return for their third seasons. • Four Alabama players earned first team Preseason All-SEC honors from the conference’s media members: OL JC Latham, LB Dallas Turner, DB Kool-Aid McKinstry and PK Will Reichard. A TEXAS WIN WOULD … • Be Texas’ 938th victory all-time, the fifth winningest program in college football history. • Give Steve Sarkisian his 61st victory as a head coach and 15th at Texas in his 108th career game as a head coach. • Improve Texas’ record against Alabama to 8-2-1 all-time. • Improve the Longhorns’ recorded against current SEC programs to 192-94-9.
ALABAMA NOTES
INSIDE THE SERIES Overall: 11th meeting (Alabama trails, 2-7-1) In Tuscaloosa: Alabama trails, 0-1 Current Streak: Alabama, Won 2 Last Meeting: Sept. 10, 2022 – Austin (W, 20-19) Series Notes: Alabama and Texas will meet for the 11th time in series history and just the second time ever in Tuscaloosa when the two teams square off on Saturday evening at Bryant Denny Stadium. The Longhorns hold a 7-2-1 advantage in the series with both losses coming in the previous two meetings between the storied programs. This Saturday’s contest will be Texas’ fi rst trip to Tuscaloosa since 1902. Alabama head coach Nick Saban is 2-1 for his career against Texas, including a 2-0 mark while with the Crimson Tide. Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian is 0-1 against UA with the lone matchup coming last year in Austin, a 20-19 loss for UT.
ESPN COLLEGE GAMEDAY: Alabama will be making its 55th appearance overall (35-19, .648) on ESPN’s College GameDay when the popular pregame show airs from The Quad in Tuscaloosa this Saturday. The University will be hosting GameDay for the 17th time in the show’s history. Saturday also marks Alabama’s 46th appearance under head coach Nick Saban (32-13, .711). The 46 appearances in the Saban era are eight better than Ohio State (38) for the most GameDay appearances since the 2007 season.
SABAN vs. FORMER ASSISTANTS: Alabama head coach Nick Saban is 28-2 all-time against his former staffers during his tenure at the Capstone. The Crimson Tide head coach’s most wins against a former assistant is fi ve, which have come against Jimbo Fisher (5-1). Saban will meet for Steve Sarkisian for the second time since the former Tide offensive coordinator left Tuscaloosa for Austin. Alabama and Saban are also scheduled to meet with Lane Kiffi n (Ole Miss) and Jimbo Fisher (Texas A&M) later this season. THE FRIENDLY CONFINES OF BRYANT-DENNY STADIUM: Alabama boasts the best all-time home winning percentage in the FBS with an .841 (292-54-3) mark at Bryant-Denny Stadium since its opening in 1929. Boise State’s Albertsons Stadium (282-62), which opened in 1970, is second at .820, while Oklahoma’s Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (419-89-15), which debuted in 1923, ranks third at .816. The Crimson Tide is 104-8 (.929) at Bryant-Denny Stadium during Nick Saban’s tenure, including a 100-5 (.952) record since the 2008 season.
SABAN vs. NON-CONFERENCE FOES: Alabama head coach Nick Saban owns a 104-20 (.839) career record against non-conference opponents in the regular season and postseason across his four stops as a collegiate head coach. His record against non-conference opponents in both the regular season and postseason at the Capstone is 73-7 (.913). Saban has only two losses to non-conference opponents during the regular season, both of which came in 2007 (21-14 vs. Florida State [in Jacksonville] and 21-14 vs. ULM). Under his direction, the Crimson Tide currently holds a 57-game winning streak against non-conference foes in the regular season, including a 43-game winning streak at Bryant-Denny Stadium as part of a 45-1 mark at home. ALABAMA IN THE AP POLL: Alabama’s No. 4 ranking in the preseason release of the Associated Press Poll marked the 246th consecutive week that the Crimson Tide has appeared in the poll. That streak is the longest active streak in college football. The 246 weeks more than doubles second-place Georgia with the Bulldogs appearing in the poll for 99 consecutive weeks. Alabama’s 246 straight weeks tops the Crimson Tide’s previous program-long streak of 71 consecutive weeks under head coach Gene Stallings in the mid-1990s. SABAN vs. AP TOP 25 OPPOSITION: The Crimson Tide’s 45-20 win over then-No. 11 Kansas State in the Allstate Sugar Bowl on Dec. 31 was Nick Saban’s 100th career win, and 78th at Alabama, against the Associated Press Top 25. Saban moved past Joe Paterno (86) for the most career wins against the AP Top 25 when he defeated then-No. 22 Auburn on Nov. 28, 2020. The late Florida State legend Bobby Bowden ranks third all-time (82), while Alabama’s Paul “Bear” Bryant is fourth (66). Former Duke, Florida and South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier is fifth (64). Saban’s winning percentage against AP ranked teams (100-46, .685) tops Bryant (.592), Bowden (.557), Spurrier (.529) and Paterno (.512).
WILLIAMS COULD RETURN TO USC IN 2024 IF NFL LANDING SPOT ‘NOT A GOOD SITUATION’
USC star quarterback Caleb Williams could remain in college instead of declaring to go pro if he doesn’t like the situation of his NFL home next year.
The reigning Heisman Trophy winner is considered the consensus choice to be the top overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. Caleb’s father, Carl Williams, said his son could play another year for the Trojans if they feel uncomfortable with the team that could select him in the draft.
“The funky thing about the NFL draft process is, he’d almost be better off not being drafted than being drafted first,” Carl Williams told GQ’s Sam Schube. “The system is completely backwards. The way the system is constructed, you go to the worst possible situation. The worst possible team, the worst organization in the league—because of their desire for parity—gets the first pick. So it’s the gift and the curse.
“He’s got two shots at the apple. So if there’s not a good situation, the truth is, he can come back to school,” he added.
The elder Williams says he spoke with USC head coach Lincoln Riley about other examples, such as his former pupils Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray. He believes that both former No. 1 picks struggled significantly based on where they were drafted.
“The organization matters,” Carl Williams said.
The Trojans star admitted that not be able to chose his destination in the NFL that the weirdest part of the the situation is “uncertainty.”
“I’ve always been able to choose the team that I’ve played on,” he said.
Williams previously said that he’ll choose whether to enter the draft at the conclusion of the 2023 season, describing the moment as an in-the-moment decision.
The superstar passer has picked up where he left off in 2022, throwing for 597 yards, nine touchdowns and zero interceptions while completing 73.5% of his pass attempts through two games this season.
RENEWAL OF THE NEBRASKA-COLORADO RIVALRY BECOMES ONE OF NATION’S MUST-SEE GAMES IN WEEK 2
Deion Sanders and his Colorado Buffaloes stampeded to the forefront of college football with their dizzying opening performance, and now fans and non-fans alike want to see what they do next.
It will be a grand stage for Saturday’s home opener in Boulder. The Buffs (1-0) are featured for the second straight week on Fox’s Big Noon game, they are in the AP Top 25 this week at No. 22 and the opponent is former longtime Big Eight and Big 12 rival Nebraska (0-1).
All eyes will be on Deion’s son, Shedeur Sanders, to see what he does for an encore after throwing for 510 yards and four touchdowns against TCU. Will two-way phenom Travis Hunter be able to be on the field for over 120 plays again? And will freshman sensation running back Dylan Edwards be able to get the ground game going after he starred as a pass-catcher last week?
Nebraska fans would love nothing more than seeing the Cornhuskers spoil the party at Folsom Field. The teams are in the middle of a four-game nonconference series that started in 2018, and the Huskers have lost the first two meetings. A win here would give an early boost to first-year coach Matt Rhule’s effort to bring back the program.
BEST GAME
No. 11 Texas (1-0) at No. 3 Alabama (1-0), 7 p.m. ET (ESPN)
It’s a rematch of last year’s thriller in Austin, which Alabama won 20-19 on a late field goal.
The “Texas is back” trope started well before the season among the Bevo crowd, but anxiety was running high of the opener before the Longhorns pulled away to beat Rice, 37-10.
Alabama lost two regular-season games last year for only the second time since 2011, and there was a wait-and-see vibe heading into the season with the Crimson Tide having to replace Bryce Young and nine other NFL draft picks.
New starting QB Jalen Milroe accounted for five touchdowns last week, but that was against Middle Tennessee State.
HEISMAN WATCH
Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. is poised to put up more big numbers when Tulsa visits. The sixth-year quarterback is in his second season with the Huskies and has recorded three of the top four passing performances in program history. He threw for 450 yards and five touchdowns last week against Boise State, with 11 of his passes going for at least 20 yards.
NUMBERS TO KNOW
3-145 — Louisville’s record when trailing by 15 points or more in the second half before it erased a 28-13 halftime deficit to beat Georgia Tech 39-34.
16 — Michigan’s home winning streak entering its game against UNLV, third-longest behind Alabama (21) and Georgia (19).
18 — Years since Oregon, which visits Texas Tech, played a true road game in the Lone Star State.
111 — Arkansas’ point total over its last two games, a 56-13 win over Western Carolina last week and 55-53 over Kansas in the Liberty Bowl.
72 — Michael Pratt’s school record-tying number of career touchdown passes for Tulane after he threw four against South Alabama.
UNDER THE RADAR
Texas A&M at Miami, Saturday, 3:30 p.m. Eastern.
Texas A&M’s Jimbo Fisher and Miami’s Mario Cristobal wanted mulligans after each went 5-7 last season. Both are coming off easy wins in their openers and can use this game as an early progress report.
The Aggies beat Miami 17-9 in College Station last year, shortly before a six-game losing streak began. Two straight disappointing seasons have made A&M’s 12th Man antsy.
HOT SEAT
New Mexico’s Danny Gonzales opened his fourth season with a 52-10 loss at Texas A&M and now faces a must-win home game against FCS team Tennessee Tech.
The Albuquerque native and ex-Lobo player has lost 25 of his 32 games and has three Mountain West wins. He’s in the fourth year of a five-year, $3.5 million contract, and his buyout of $400,000 won’t stop UNM from making a change if things don’t get better.
Gonzales is selling hope after bringing in more than 40 newcomers. Among them is UAB transfer Dylan Hopkins, who leads what has been the nation’s worst offense for two straight years.
RECEIVER KEON COLEMAN IS NO. 4 FLORIDA STATE’S LATEST AND MAYBE GREATEST TRANSFER PORTAL FIND
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — It’s impossible to question Keon Coleman’s decision to leave Michigan State now.
The standout receiver, who landed at Florida State in May because he considered coach Mike Norvell’s team “one piece away,” provided an immediate impact in his Seminoles debut. The junior caught nine passes for 122 yards and a career-high three touchdowns in FSU’s 45-24 drubbing of then-No. 5 LSU on Sunday night.
He dazzled dozens of NFL scouts and thousands of FSU fans who made the trip to Camping World Stadium in Orlando. He also boosted the Seminoles’ chances of winning the Atlantic Coast Conference and making the College Football Playoff.
Florida State is a 10-1 favorite in the ACC and a 12-1 shot to win the national title, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Given Coleman’s start, he might be one and done in Tallahassee and a first-round draft pick next April. In the meantime, the now-fourth-ranked Seminoles just hope he keeps doing what he did against the Tigers. They host Southern Miss (1-0) on Saturday.
“Really just being thankful for the opportunity,” Coleman said. “Coach saying yes to me, coming to a new school after the transfer portal and believing in me.”
Norvell immediately chimed in, adding “I’m grateful for you saying yes, too.”
Coleman became the first Florida State player with three TD receptions in a game since Auden Tate accomplished the feat against Southern Miss in 2017. The latest scoring trio perfectly showcased Coleman’s versatility.
He slipped two tackles on a 40-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter. He won a jump ball for a 21-yard score in the second. And he used his body to gain leverage before hauling in a 7-yard fade pass early in the fourth.
And if the primetime stage and top-10 matchup weren’t enough motivation, the opponent surely helped. Coleman, who grew up in Opelousas, Louisiana, wasn’t recruited by LSU coming out of high school or while he was in the transfer portal.
“I took it as (another) game,” Coleman said. “But it added a little salt to the wound. That’s my home state. A lot of my family are fans of them, but I ain’t so much of a fan of them. I’m a Seminole now.”
Norvell has rebuilt Florida State’s once-proud program, which last won the 2013 national title, with plenty of portal help. Quarterback Jordan Travis (Louisville), running back Trey Benson (Oregon), receiver Johnny Wilson (Arizona State), tight end Jaheim Bell (South Carolina), defensive end Jared Verse (Albany), defensive tackle Braden Fiske (Western Michigan) and cornerback Fentrell Cypress (Virginia) are among a slew of transfers now starting — and starring — in Tallahassee.
None of them enjoyed a debut like the 6-foot-4 Coleman, a three-sport high school star who was deep on basketball coach Tom Izzo’s bench at Michigan State during the 2021-22 season. He finally settled on football in 2022 and finished with 58 catches for 798 yards and seven touchdowns. He entered the portal following spring practice in April.
“We knew who he was, and we knew he was a very difficult matchup for us,” LSU coach Brian Kelly said. “Excellent ball skills. A matchup problem for us and he presented that kind of problem.”
Coleman dominated actually and proved how big a loss he was for Michigan State, how special a find he was for the Seminoles and what kind of headache he can be for defenses this season.
“I’m always pulling for him,” Michigan State coach Mel Tucker said Monday. “I’m very close with him, I recruited him myself. I’m close with he and his family so I was really, really excited for him. I was really happy for him.”
WORLD BASKETBALL NEWS
DONCIC EJECTED AND CANADA TOPS SLOVENIA IN WORLD CUP. GERMANY AND SERBIA MAKE THE OLYMPICS
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Luka Doncic argued with the referees all night. And that’s why he wasn’t around in the final minutes, as Canada clinched a trip to the Basketball World Cup semifinals.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points, RJ Barrett added 24 and Canada topped Slovenia 100-89 on Wednesday night. The win sends Canada into a semifinal matchup with Serbia on Friday.
“It’s an honor,” Gilgeous-Alexander said after Canada’s first World Cup semifinal berth was clinched. “It’s an honor in itself. But we’re not satisfied.”
Doncic had 26 points for Slovenia, but was ejected with 6:37 left after picking up his second technical of the game — both of them coming after he argued with referees over calls or non-calls. Slovenia was down by 15 at the time and wound up getting within nine shortly after Doncic departed, but it wasn’t enough.
Doncic returned to the court, in flip-flops instead of sneakers, as time expired to congratulate Canadian players.
“Playing for the national team, it’s a lot of emotions. A lot of times I don’t control myself, which I’ve been having problems with,” Doncic said. “But you know, the referees told one of the guys they’re not going to call a foul on him because he’s coming at us. I think this is not fair. I know I complained a lot, but I don’t think it’s fair. They’ve been playing very physical with me, but if you say that, it’s not fair.”
Canada — which saw Dillon Brooks ejected shortly before Doncic departed, also after a technical — will play Serbia in Friday’s semifinals, with the U.S. and Germany set to meet in the other semifinal. The winners of those games will play for the World Cup on Sunday night.
Brooks met his teammates in the hallway by the locker room after the game, wearing boxing gloves and punching the air. Indeed, Canada has been a fighter so far at this World Cup. And Doncic — who lauded the way Brooks played — didn’t have a chance to land a knockout blow.
“Guys like him, they can get hot. … But we wore him down,” Gilgeous-Alexander said.
Slovenia was bidding to make the World Cup semifinals for the first time since gaining its independence in 1991. Slovenia will play Lithuania on Thursday in the start of the consolation playoffs that will be used to determine fifth through eighth place.
The win was big for Canada, and big for Germany and Serbia. The top two finishers from Europe are guaranteed automatic berths into the Paris Olympics — and with Slovenia now assured of finishing no better than fifth, while Germany and Serbia cannot finish lower than fourth, it’s those two nations who’ll be heading to France next summer.
Slovenia still has a chance at the Olympics, but will have to win a qualifying tournament next July.
Canada won the silver medal at the 1936 Olympics — and in 22 trips to the Olympics or what’s now called the World Cup since, it has not added to that medal collection. And no matter what happens the rest of the way in Manila, this will be Canada’s best World Cup finish; it was sixth at the tournaments in 1978 and 1982.
The first half couldn’t have been more even. It was 50-50 after 20 minutes — Canada won the first quarter 26-24, Slovenia won the second quarter 26-24, the biggest lead for each team in the half was exactly four points, and even the rebound total was tied 14-14 at the break. Back and forth they went, with 18 lead changes and six ties in those opening two quarters.
Canada changed everything with a 19-5 run to start the third quarter and kept the lead the rest of the way. It wound up shooting 33 free throws to Slovenia’s 19.
“Congratulations to Canada,” Doncic said. “They played great.”
GOLF NEWS
RORY MCILROY (BACK) WILL BE ‘TOTALLY FINE’ FOR RYDER CUP
Rory McIlroy is still recovering from a back injury but said he will be “totally fine” in time for the Ryder Cup.
The 34-year-old Northern Irishman hurt his lower back ahead of last month’s PGA Tour Championship.
McIlroy, the world’s No. 2-ranked player, is competing in the Irish Open this week on the DP World Tour.
“I would say it’s at 90 percent, 95 percent,” McIlroy said Wednesday, per Sky Sports. “It’s not 100 percent better. I just happened to take care of it a little bit but it’s not preventing me from doing anything I want to do. Just being a little mindful, I guess.”
He said he isn’t concerned about his fitness level.
“No, not at all,” McIlroy said. “I’ve had much worse (injuries). I had much worse back issues when I was 21, so this is fine. This is a bit of tightness, a bit of a muscle spasm.
“This is nothing compared to some I’ve had. I’ve had a herniated disc and I’ve had stuff that would be a lot more worrying than this is, and I’ve got really good people around me that know what to do. It’s fine. It’s totally fine. I maybe don’t heal quite as fast as I used to but it’s all good.”
McIlroy will also compete at next week’s BMW PGA Championship in Surrey, England, before taking time off to prepare for his seventh consecutive Ryder Cup appearance for Team Europe from Sept. 29-Oct. 1 in Rome.
“It will be nice over these next couple of weeks and obviously the week leading into Rome to sort of feel like I’ve spent some time refining a few things in my game and working on some stuff,” McIlroy added. “I’m excited to spend the next few weeks over here and do that.”
AUTO RACING NEWS
LARSON SECURES PLAYOFF ADVANCEMENT, PALOU CLINCHES INDYCAR TITLE AND VERSTAPPEN OWNS F1
NASCAR CUP SERIES
Hollywood Casino 400
Site: Kansas City, Kansas.
Schedule: Saturday, practice, noon, and qualifying, 12:45 p.m.; Sunday, race, 3 p.m. (USA).
Track: Kansas Speedway.
Race distance: 267 laps, 400 miles.
Last year: Bubba Wallace won after starting sixth.
Last race: 2021 series champion Kyle Larson passed Tyler Reddick coming off pit road and led the final 55 laps at Darlington to win the opening race of the playoffs.
Fast facts: It was Larson’s third victory this season, but first on the track where he had three seconds and two thirds in 11 previous Cup Series races. … Reddick led 90 laps. … Denny Hamlin won the first two stages and led 177 of the 367 laps, but had to pit twice for vibrations and wound up 25th. … Playoff drivers took the first seven spots. Reddick was second, followed by Chris Buescher, William Byron, Ross Chastain, Brad Keselowski and Wallace. The rest of the playoff field had Kyle Busch 11th, Joey Logano 12th, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 16th, Martin Truex Jr. 18th, Kevin Harvick 19th, pole-sitter Christopher Bell 23rd and Michael McDowell 32nd.
Next race: Sept. 16, Bristol, Tennessee.
Online: http://www.nascar.com
NASCAR XFINITY SERIES
Kansas Lottery 300
Site: Kansas City, Kansas.
Schedule: Saturday, practice, 10:05 a.m., qualifying, 10:35 a.m., and race, 3 p.m. (NBC).
Track: Kansas Speedway.
Race distance: 200 laps, 300 miles.
Last year: Noah Gragson won after starting fifth.
Last race: Denny Hamlin, one of several Cup Series regulars in the field, passed Austin Hill on the final restart to win in overtime for his sixth Xfinity Series victory at Darlington.
Fast facts: One-third of Hamlin’s career Xfinity Series victories have come on the track “Too Tough to Tame.” … Hill was second, followed by John Hunter Nemechek, Cole Custer and Josh Berry. … Hill leads Nemechek by 23 points in the standings, with Justin Allgaier another 10 points back. They are the only three with a chance to claim the regular-season title. … Riley Herbst finished sixth and passed Parker Kligerman by one point for the final spot in the 12-driver playoff with one race left to decide the postseason field.
Next race: Sept. 15, Bristol, Tennessee.
Online: http://www.nascar.com
NASCAR TRUCK SERIES
Kansas Lottery 200
Site: Kansas City, Kansas.
Schedule: Friday, practice, 3:35 p.m., qualifying, 4:05 p.m., and race, 9 p.m. (FS1).
Track: Kansas Speedway.
Race distance: 200 laps, 300 miles.
Last year: John Hunter Nemechek won from the pole position.
Last race: Grant Enfinger led 95 of 175 laps and passed Carson Hocevar on the 159th lap to win in Milwaukee. His third victory of the season advanced him into the next round of the playoffs.
Fast facts: Race runner-up Hocevar, Christian Eckes and Cory Heim all clinched berths in the next playoff round on points, along with Ty Majeski, the winner of the first playoff race. … Heim leads all drivers with 15 top-10 finishes despite have run just 17 races while the rest of the title contenders have raced 18 times.
Next race: Sept. 14, Bristol, Tennessee.
Online: http://www.nascar.com
FORMULA ONE
Last race: Two-time defending series champion Max Verstappen won his record-breaking 10th consecutive Formula One race, leading a 1-2 finish for Red Bull at Monza. Verstappen (12) and teammate Sergio Perez have won all 14 races this season and 24 of the last 25.
Next race: Sept. 17, Marina Bay, Singapore.
Online: http://www.formula1.com
INDYCAR
Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey
Site: Monterey, California.
Schedule: Friday, practice, 5:30 p.m.; Saturday, practice, 1 p.m., qualifying, round 1, 5 p.m., qualifying, round 2, 5:50 p.m.; Sunday, race, 2:30 p.m. (NBC).
Track: WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca .
Race distance: 95 laps, 212.61 miles.
Last year: Alex Palou won after starting 11th.
Last race: Palou won for the fifth time this season, this time in Portland, and clinched his second series championship in three years.
Fast facts: Palou’s title-clinching victory marked the first time the championship has been decided before the final race since Dan Wheldon did it in 2005. … Palou’s first four victories came in a span of five races. … Palou joins Scott Dixon (six), Will Power (two) and Josef Newgarden (two) as active drivers in the series with more than one season championship.
Next race: Next season.
Online: http://www.indycar.com
NHRA DRAG RACING
Last event: Antron Brown won in Top Fuel and Ron Capps won in Funny car in Indianapolis.
Next event: Sept. 14-17, Mohnton, Pennsylvania.
Online: http://www.nhra.com
WORLD OF OUTLAWS
Next events: Sept. 7, 8 and 9, Chico, California.
Online: http://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars
TENNIS NEWS
ARYNA SABALENKA, SOON TO BE NEW NO. 1, CRUISES INTO U.S. OPEN SEMIFINALS
NEW YORK (AP) Aryna Sabalenka moved into the U.S. Open semifinals on Wednesday, looking every bit the top player in the world while rolling to a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Zheng Qinwen in just over an hour.
Sabalenka, who is going to be the No. 1 player in the WTA rankings next week because of the fourth-round loss of Iga Swiatek, still has not dropped a set at Flushing Meadows. She cruised through her quarterfinal in 92-degree heat that prompted a partial closing of the Arthur Ashe Stadium roof to provide more shade.
The No. 2-seeded Belarusian has made the last five Grand Slam semifinals, winning her lone major at the Australian Open in January.
“I just gave myself another opportunity to do better in the semis,” Sabalenka said in her post-match interview. “I still have things to do in New York. … I’ll think about being the world No. 1 after the U.S. Open.”
Zheng, a 20-year-old from China who reached her first Grand Slam quarterfinals by taking out No. 5 seed Ons Jabeur, fought off a match point with an ace. But she got just 41% of her first serves in play and won just three points against Sabalenka’s first serves.
Next up for Sabalenka is the winner of the night match on Ashe between ninth-seeded Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova and No. 17 American Madison Keys, the 2017 U.S. Open runner-up.
Also scheduled for the day session, fellow Russians Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev meet for a spot in the semifinals. The third-seeded Medvedev won the title at Flushing Meadows in 2021.
Medvedev or Rublev will meet the winner of the nightcap between defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and No. 12 Alexander Zverev, who won a fourth-round matchup Monday against Jannik Sinner that lasted 4 hours, 41 minutes.
The other men’s semifinals matchup Friday is already set, with No. 2-seeded Novak Djokovic taking on hard-hitting American Ben Shelton.
TOP INDIANA PRESS RELEASES
COLTS FOOTBALL
GAME NOTES VS. JACKSONVILLE
DATE: Sunday, September 10, 2023
GAME TIME: 1:00 PM ET
FOX: Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma, Shannon Spake
SiriusXM (also available on the SXM App) JAX: 94 or 390 IND: 132 or 229
ALL-TIME SERIES HISTORY REG. SEASON: IND leads series, 27-17 (JAX won 2 of past 3) THE LAST TIME … REG. SEASON: 10/16/22: JAX 27 at IND 34
(JAGS NOTES)
QB TREVOR LAWRENCE set career highs in pass yards (4,113) TD passes (25), rating (95.2) & rush TDs (5) in 2022, becoming 4th player ever under the age of 24 with 4,000+ pass yards, 25+ TD passes & 5+ rush TDs in a season. Has 746 career completions, 2nd-most ever by player in 1st 2 seasons. Has 7 TDs (5 pass, 2 rush) vs. 0 INTs with 102.4 rating in 4 career starts vs. Ind. • RB TRAVIS ETIENNE had 1,441 scrimmage yards (1,125 rush, 316 rec.) & 5 rush TDs in 2022 & became 4th Jax. RB ever with 1,100+ rush yards in a season. Had 108 scrimmage yards (86 rush, 22 rec.) in last meeting. • WR CHRISTIAN KIRK led team & set career highs in catches (84), rec. yards (1,108) & rec. TDs (8) last season. Had TD catch in final 3 games of 2022, incl. playoffs. Had 3 rec. TDs in 2 games vs. Ind. last season. • WR ZAY JONES set career highs in catches (82) & rec. yards (823) last season. • WR CALVIN RIDLEY makes Jax. debut after 4-year career (2018-21) with Atl., totaling 28 rec. TDs. • TE EVAN ENGRAM ranked tied-3rd among TEs in catches (career-high 73) & 4th in rec. yards (career-high 766) last season. Has 5+ catches in each of 3 career games vs. Ind. • LB FOYESADE OLUOKUN led NFL with 184 tackles in 2022, becoming 1st player since 2000 to lead league in tackles in consecutive seasons. Had 12 tackles in last meeting. • LB JOSH ALLEN led team with 7 sacks last season & ranked tied-3rd in NFL with 4 FFs. Has 4 sacks in his past 3 vs. Ind. • LB DEVIN LLOYD ranked 3rd among rookies with 115 tackles. • S RAYSHAWN JENKINS was 1 of 3 DBs with 100+ tackles (116) & 10+ PD (12) last season. Had 5 PD in 2 games vs. Ind. in 2022.
(COLTS NOTES)
QB ANTHONY RICHARDSON was selected No. 4 overall in 2023 NFL Draft. Can become 4th Ind. rookie QB to start Week 1 since 1990, joining Andrew Luck (2012), HOFer Peyton Manning (1998) & Jeff George (1990). Luck (309) & Manning (302) are 2 of 6 rookie QBs all-time with 300+ pass yards in Week 1. • RB ZACK MOSS had 70+ scrimmage yards in each of final 4 games of 2022 season with Buf., incl. career-high 121 yards in Week 18. • RB DEON JACKSON totaled career-best 445 scrimmage yards (236 rush, 209 rec.) last season. Had career-high 121 scrimmage yards (49 rec., 42 rush), 10 catches & rush TD in last meeting. • WR MICHAEL PITTMAN led team with career-high 99 catches last season & had 925 rec. yards & 4 rec. TDs. Set career highs in catches (13) & rec. yards (134) in last meeting. • WR ALEC PIERCE ranked 6th among rookies with 593 rec. yards last season. Had TD catch in last meeting. • WR ISAIAH MCKENZIE makes Ind. debut after setting career highs in catches (42) & rec. yards (423) last season with Buf. • DT DEFOREST BUCKNER had 8 sacks in 2022 & is 1 of 5 in NFL with 7+ sacks in each of past 5 seasons. Had sack in last meeting & aims for his 4th in row vs. Jax. with TFL. • DE KWITY PAYE had career-high 6 sacks & 10 TFL last season. • LB ZAIRE FRANKLIN ranked 4th in NFL with career-high 166 tackles in 2022 & was 1 of 8 with 5+ tackles in all 17 games. Had 10+ tackles & TFL in both games vs. Jax. last season. • LB SHAQUILLE LEONARD totaled 100+ tackles in each of 1st 4 seasons (2018-21) prior to only appearing in 3 games last season due to injury. Has 5+ tackles in each of 8 career games vs. Jax. • S RODNEY THOMAS ranked tied-4th among rookies in 2022 with team-best 4 INTs. Had INT in 3 of final 4 games of season.
INDIANS BASEBALL
BACK-TO-BACK JACKS NOT ENOUGH AS INDIANS FALL SHORT
INDIANAPOLIS – Chris Owings and Nick Gonzales went back-to-back for the Indianapolis Indians’ second set of consecutive homers in as many nights, but Nick Maton countered with a cycle-clinching two-run homer to lead the Toledo Mud Hens to a series-knotting victory on Wednesday night at Victory Field, 7-2.
Owings and Gonzales erased an early 2-0 deficit in the third inning with the Indians’ (60-72, 27-31) eighth pair of back-to-back homers this season and second of the series after Mason Martin and Grant Koch went yard consecutively on Tuesday night.
The Maton-led Mud Hens (64-69, 31-28) then took the lead in the top of the fifth on an RBI triple off John O’Reilly (L, 3-7) for the third baseman, putting him a home run shy of the cycle. Two innings later he completed the feat, driving in his second and third runs with a long home run into the right-field corner. Toledo then tacked on two additional insurance runs in the eighth and ninth.
Seven of the nine batters in Indy’s lineup recorded a hit, with Owings’ two-hit performance leading the pack.
The Indians also struck out a season-high tying 17 times for the first time since May 7 at Toledo. Mud Hens starter Zach Logue fanned 10 through 4.2 frames to jumpstart the pitching staff’s dominance. Blair Calvo (W, 3-3) struck out a pair in relief to earn the win.
The Indians look to retake the series lead tomorrow at 6:35 PM ET at Victory Field. RHP Quinn Priester (8-4, 4.13) will take the mound in the team’s Circle City threads against LHP Jack O’Loughlin (3-5, 4.64).
PURDUE FOOTBALL GAME NOTES VS. VIRGINIA TECH
PURDUE
Following a narrow loss to defending Mountain West champion Fresno State, Purdue Football hits the road for the first time under head coach Ryan Walters. The Boilermakers travel to Blacksburg, Virginia to face the Hokies of Virginia Tech. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. ET on ESPN2. • The Boilermakers and Hokies are meeting for just the second time in history; Virginia Tech won the first matchup 51-24 at Ross-Ade Stadium (Sept. 19, 2015). • Purdue has won four of its past six road openers. • Four of the Boilermakers’ first five games are at home; Saturday’s contest is Purdue’s only road game in September. • Fifth-year senior Cam Allen returns to his home state. The Purdue defensive back is a native of Bluefield, Virginia and attended Graham High School, just 65 miles west of Blacksburg. • The Boilermakers scored 35 points against the Bulldogs, their most in a season opener since 2016 (45 vs. Eastern Kentucky). • Purdue started eight newcomers in the season opener, four on each side of the ball. • The Boilermakers protected the ball and the quarterback in the season opener, recording zero turnovers and not allowing a sack. • Deion Burks caught four passes for 152 yards and two TDs against Fresno State, the most receiving yards by a Big Ten player during the first week of the season. • Against Fresno State, Tyrone Tracy Jr. rushed for a touchdown in the first half before taking the opening second half kickoff to the house; the 98-yard kickoff return was Purdue’s first kickoff return for a touchdown since Raheem Mostert (current running back for the Miami Dolphins) took a 100-yard return to pay dirt at Penn State in 2013. • Freshman defensive back Dillon Thieneman led Purdue with 10 tackles, all solo, in the season opener. He added an interception, becoming just the third true freshman Boilermaker to make an INT in their debut since 1996. He was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week. • Making his Boilermaker debut, quarterback Hudson Card threw for 254 yards and two touchdowns. • Card’s 84-yard TD pass to Burks was Purdue’s longest passing score since David Bell took a Jack Plummer toss 89-yards to the end zone against Nebraska (Dec. 5, 2020). • The ACC is the only conference out of the current Power 5 that Ryan Walters has not coached in; the Purdue head coach had stops in the Big Ten (Illinois), Big 12 (Oklahoma), Pac-12 (Arizona, Colorado) and SEC (Missouri).
VIRGINIA TECH
PRY OPENS SECOND SEASON WITH A WIN • Brent Pry began his second season in Blacksburg with a 36-17 win over Old Dominion last Saturday. • Pry improved his record to 1-1 against the Monarchs and is now 2-0 in home openers. TECH, PURDUE MEET FOR SECOND TIME • The Hokies and Boilermakers will meet for just the second time on the gridiron Saturday. • The lone contest between the two took place during the 2015 season, when the Hokies posted a 51-24 victory in West Lafayette, Indiana. QB Brenden Motley threw for two scores and ran for another in the win. • WR Isaiah Ford recorded six receptions for 128 yards. HOKIE, BOILERMAKER CONNECTIONS • Virginia Tech and Purdue are among the top-30 engineering schools in the country. • Virginia Tech President, Tim Sands previously served as the acting president and as the provost of Purdue University from 2010 to 2014. • Tech Head Coach Brent Pry faced Purdue twice during his time as defensive coordinator at Penn State, with the Nittany Lions winning both matchups, 62-24 in 2016 and 35-7 in 2019. • Virginia Tech cornerbacks coach Derek Jones served on the Duke coaching staff alongside Purdue offensive line coach Marcus Johnson for two seasons in 2016 and 2017. • Tech WR Xayvion Turner-Bradshaw and Purdue S Cam Allen teamed up to win the 2018 VHSL state championship as teammates at Graham High School in Bluefield, Virginia.
TRANSFERS MAKE AN IMPACT • The transfer portal is proving itself so far this season with four new faces on the team having big impacts for the Hokies. • Bhayshul Tuten (NC A&T) led all rushers with 55 yards and had a 21-yard kick return against Old Dominion. • Ali Jennings (Old Dominion) led all receivers with 72 yards and two touchdowns. • Jaylin Lane (Middle Tennessee) topped the all-purpose yards list with 107 including 20 punt return yards. Lane scored his first touchdown as a Hokie with a 20-yard reception in the second quarter. • Da’Quan Felton (Norfolk State) hauled in a 34-yard reception in the third quarter. Felton’s lone reception of the night helped set up the second TD pass from Grant Wells to Ali Jennings. • Defensively, Antwaun Powell-Ryland (Florida) picked up 6 tackles (4 solo, 2 assists), 2.0 sacks for 9 yards and forced a fumble. • Derrick Canteen (Georgia Southern) forced a third quarter fumble, the Hokies converted into a touchdown. TDs IN DEBUT • Saturday night Ali Jennings became the first wide receiver to score a touchdown in their first game in maroon and orange since Tayvion Robinson scored on a 20-yard pass from Ryan Willis at Boston College to open the 2019 season. • It was just the third time since 1987 that it has happened.
BALL STATE FOOTBALL NOTES VS. GEORGIA
CARDINALS NOTES
Ball State continues its two-week grind against Southeastern Conference foes – battling two-time defending national champion Georgia this week after falling to Kentucky in last Saturday’s opener. Ball State faces SEC opponents in consecutive weeks for just the second time in its history. The Cardinals opened the 2001 season on Sept. 1 at Auburn, then Sept. at Kentucky. Saturday’s game is the Cardinals’ first football matchup with the Bulldogs. The Cardinals fared well in Lexington, but for a pair of turnovers before halftime that saw a 10-7 deficit bulge to 20-7, and eventually 23-7 before intermission when the Wildcats tacked on another late field goal. But for those miscues, Ball State outgained Kentucky in first downs, 18-17, and consumed 38:02 elapsed time compared to 21:58 for the Wildcats. The Cardinals led in time of possession in all four quarters and ran 20 more plays than UK (71-51). Kentucky outgained Ball State 357 yards to 295. Offensive performances were highlighted Saturday by a cast of newcomers – QBs Layne Hatcher and Kadin Semonza, transfer receiver Ty Robinson and transfer running back Marquez Cooper. Hatcher drew the start — starting for his third school in his fifth college season — and scored the season’s first touchdown on a 2-yard QB sneak, while true freshman Semonza opened the second half and led the Cardinals with 165 yards and a touchdown on 15-of-21 passing. Robinson, from Colorado, had career highs of five catches and 90 yards while snaring his first touchdown catch since 2021 at Oregon. Cooper, from MAC-rival Kent State, carried 15 times for 33 yards. The defense, meanwhile, was led by its solid cast of returners – Jack Sape, Sidney Houston Jr., and Kyron Mims up front, Cole Pearce in the middle and Jordan Riley and Red Potts in the secondary. Riley paced the Cards with five tackles, followed by Sape and Pearce, each with four. Sape recorded a sack, Potts had the game’s only interception and Mims batted down a pass. Potts and Mims were each credited with three tackles. The Cardinals limited the Kentucky offense to just three touchdowns and forced three field goals. Other Kentucky scoring came on a 69-yard fumble return and a 99-yard kickoff return. The Wildcats offense reached the red zone just twice.
GEORGIA NOTES
Bulldogs Prepare For The Cardinals Of Ball State For the second straight week, Georgia will face a new foe as Ball State battles Georgia for the first time Between The Hedges Saturday at noon (SEC Network). The 2023 Bulldogs return nine players with starting experience on offense, including junior C Sedrick Van Pran and All-American and John Mackey Award winner junior TE Brock Bowers, who was the 2021 and 2022 leader in catches, receiving yards and touchdowns. Georgia ranked fifth nationally averaging 41.1 points per game last season and opened 2023 with a 48-7 win over UT Martin. A few offensive veterans did not suit up in the season opener and should bolster the unit when they return. These Bulldogs were starting wideouts junior Ladd McConkey and senior Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint along with senior running back Daijun Edwards. Also of note, senior Kendall Milton was not 100 percent but that wasn’t going to stop him from playing in the opener. He finished with a team-high 53 yards on nine carries including a 37-yarder. Junior QB Carson Beck made his first career start and led the Bulldogs to a win over the Skyhawks. Georgia tallied 559 yards of total offense (149 rushing, 400 passing). Quarterbacks Brock Vandagriff and Gunner Stockton garnered some playing time too after the Bulldogs built a 31-0 advantage. About Ball State The Cardinals, who are based in Muncie, Ind., are members of the Mid-Atlantic Conference (MAC). Ball State went 5-7 last season, including 3-5 in the MAC. They are coached by Mike Neu who is in his eighth season at the helm with a record of 33-49 (.673). The Cardinals started this season against Kentucky in Lexington. The Wildcats topped Ball State 44-14 after trailing 7-3 at the end of the first quarter. Kentucky reeled off 27 straight points to take control of the game. Ball State gave up both a 69-yard fumble recovery for a score as well as a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the closing minute of the third quarter. The Cardinals started graduate transfer quarterback Layne Hatcher and then turned to true freshman Kadin Semonza in the second half. Semonza directed a 10-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to make it 30-14 with 42 seconds in the third quarter. He finished 15-for-21 for 165 yards and one TD. BSU finished with 295 yards of total offense (72 rushing, 223 passing). Ball State Football SID: Kevin Messenger (765) 285-8242; kmessenger@bsu.edu Bulldogs Among The Leaders In Scoring Defense Since the arrival of Kirby Smart in 2016, the Bulldogs have featured talented defenses. From 2016-2018, Mel Tucker served as the DC before leaving to take the head coaching job at Colorado (now at Michigan St.). Dan Lanning assumed the DC role from 2019-2021 until being hired as the head coach at Oregon in 2021. Now Glenn Schumann is in his second season as the Fain & Billy Slaughter Defensive Coordinator. Also, the 2023 defensive staff features Will Muschamp (co-Defensive Coord.), Fran Brown (DB), Tray Scott (DL) and Chidera Uzo-Diribe (OLB). The Bulldogs return 12 players who have starting experience from a corps that ranked fifth nationally in 2022 allowing opponents only 14.3 points per contest. In the season-opening win over UT Martin, Georgia carried a shutout to the fourth quarter. However, UT Martin scored with 6:39 left in the contest. In the first half, the Skyhawks were limited to 89 yards on 24 plays as the Bulldogs enjoyed a 17-0 lead. The Skyhawks finished with 260 yards of offense on 63 plays. Georgia’s leading tacklers were sophomore safety Malaki Starks with eight and senior star Tykee Smith with six including a TFL. Sophomore DE Mykel Williams had a sack as he led the team last year with 4.5 sacks. Freshman DB Kyron Jones registered a pick-six after collecting a tipped pass, racing 26 yards for the final score.
SMALL COLLEGE ATHLETIC SITES:
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/
HOLY CROSS ATHLETICS: https://www.hcsaints.com/index.php
TAYLOR ATHLETICS: https://www.taylortrojans.com/
VINCENNES ATHLETICS: https://govutrailblazers.com/landing/index
*****MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL STANDINGS*****
| American League | |||||||||||
| East | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Baltimore | 88 | 51 | .633 | – | 42 – 26 | 46 – 25 | 26 – 15 | 20 – 8 | 19 – 10 | 7 – 3 | W 5 |
| Tampa Bay | 85 | 55 | .607 | 3.5 | 47 – 24 | 38 – 31 | 24 – 16 | 21 – 8 | 13 – 12 | 7 – 3 | W 2 |
| Toronto | 77 | 63 | .550 | 11.5 | 35 – 30 | 42 – 33 | 12 – 25 | 19 – 10 | 16 – 12 | 6 – 4 | L 1 |
| Boston | 72 | 68 | .514 | 16.5 | 36 – 33 | 36 – 35 | 20 – 16 | 18 – 11 | 14 – 15 | 3 – 7 | L 2 |
| NY Yankees | 70 | 69 | .504 | 18 | 38 – 33 | 32 – 36 | 16 – 26 | 17 – 11 | 19 – 13 | 8 – 2 | W 5 |
| Central | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Minnesota | 73 | 67 | .521 | – | 40 – 29 | 33 – 38 | 12 – 17 | 26 – 22 | 16 – 10 | 6 – 4 | L 1 |
| Cleveland | 67 | 73 | .479 | 6 | 36 – 36 | 31 – 37 | 14 – 14 | 22 – 24 | 13 – 12 | 6 – 4 | W 1 |
| Detroit | 63 | 76 | .453 | 9.5 | 29 – 40 | 34 – 36 | 6 – 25 | 28 – 15 | 10 – 15 | 4 – 6 | L 2 |
| Chi White Sox | 54 | 86 | .386 | 19 | 28 – 40 | 26 – 46 | 9 – 19 | 20 – 22 | 12 – 21 | 3 – 7 | W 1 |
| Kansas City | 44 | 97 | .312 | 29.5 | 26 – 46 | 18 – 51 | 7 – 20 | 15 – 28 | 6 – 19 | 3 – 7 | L 1 |
| West | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Houston | 80 | 61 | .567 | – | 35 – 34 | 45 – 27 | 15 – 15 | 13 – 12 | 29 – 17 | 7 – 3 | W 3 |
| Seattle | 78 | 61 | .561 | 1 | 39 – 29 | 39 – 32 | 12 – 15 | 20 – 13 | 24 – 12 | 5 – 5 | W 1 |
| Texas | 76 | 63 | .547 | 3 | 43 – 29 | 33 – 34 | 14 – 11 | 19 – 10 | 21 – 18 | 3 – 7 | L 3 |
| LA Angels | 64 | 76 | .457 | 15.5 | 32 – 36 | 32 – 40 | 13 – 16 | 14 – 8 | 18 – 25 | 1 – 9 | L 6 |
| Oakland | 43 | 97 | .307 | 36.5 | 24 – 47 | 19 – 50 | 8 – 24 | 11 – 14 | 10 – 30 | 5 – 5 | W 1 |
| National League | |||||||||||
| East | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Atlanta | 90 | 48 | .652 | – | 44 – 24 | 46 – 24 | 27 – 8 | 16 – 8 | 21 – 12 | 6 – 4 | L 3 |
| Philadelphia | 77 | 62 | .554 | 13.5 | 41 – 26 | 36 – 36 | 16 – 19 | 15 – 10 | 18 – 15 | 6 – 4 | W 1 |
| Miami | 72 | 67 | .518 | 18.5 | 40 – 31 | 32 – 36 | 19 – 21 | 13 – 10 | 14 – 16 | 7 – 3 | W 6 |
| NY Mets | 64 | 75 | .460 | 26.5 | 35 – 33 | 29 – 42 | 19 – 20 | 12 – 17 | 15 – 13 | 5 – 5 | L 1 |
| Washington | 63 | 77 | .450 | 28 | 30 – 41 | 33 – 36 | 16 – 29 | 12 – 14 | 14 – 14 | 2 – 8 | W 1 |
| Central | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Milwaukee | 77 | 62 | .554 | – | 40 – 28 | 37 – 34 | 12 – 10 | 26 – 16 | 13 – 19 | 5 – 5 | L 1 |
| Chi Cubs | 76 | 64 | .543 | 1.5 | 40 – 31 | 36 – 33 | 11 – 17 | 28 – 18 | 12 – 8 | 7 – 3 | W 4 |
| Cincinnati | 73 | 69 | .514 | 5.5 | 35 – 37 | 38 – 32 | 13 – 16 | 18 – 25 | 18 – 14 | 5 – 5 | L 1 |
| Pittsburgh | 65 | 75 | .464 | 12.5 | 34 – 37 | 31 – 38 | 10 – 10 | 21 – 25 | 16 – 15 | 7 – 3 | W 1 |
| St. Louis | 61 | 78 | .439 | 16 | 31 – 40 | 30 – 38 | 13 – 15 | 15 – 24 | 12 – 17 | 5 – 5 | W 3 |
| West | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| LA Dodgers | 84 | 54 | .609 | – | 47 – 24 | 37 – 30 | 14 – 13 | 19 – 14 | 26 – 12 | 5 – 5 | L 2 |
| Arizona | 72 | 68 | .514 | 13 | 38 – 35 | 34 – 33 | 13 – 15 | 14 – 11 | 27 – 23 | 4 – 6 | W 1 |
| San Francisco | 70 | 70 | .500 | 15 | 38 – 31 | 32 – 39 | 13 – 18 | 20 – 13 | 19 – 14 | 3 – 7 | L 6 |
| San Diego | 66 | 75 | .468 | 19.5 | 39 – 36 | 27 – 39 | 16 – 16 | 9 – 20 | 20 – 23 | 5 – 5 | L 1 |
| Colorado | 51 | 88 | .367 | 33.5 | 29 – 38 | 22 – 50 | 14 – 20 | 11 – 13 | 9 – 29 | 3 – 7 | L 1 |
*****TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY*****
1896 The first-place Orioles (NL) sweep a tripleheader against the cellar-dwelling Colonels, 4-3, 9-8, and 12-1. Baltimore will establish the record for most games won in two consecutive days with five when they take both ends of tomorrow’s twin bill with Louisville.
1896 New Britain (CT) native Tom Lynch becomes the first major league umpire to work in over 1,000 games. The National League arbitrator, who becomes the circuit’s president in 1910, will be behind home plate in 1309 of 1325 games he will work.
1903 A year before the completion of the first NYC subway line, the Brooklyn Superbas play their crosstown rivals in a two-stadium, same-day doubleheader. The first game played in Washington Park begins at 10:30 a.m. with 9,300 fans watching the visiting Giants win the opener, 6-4, and later that afternoon, in front of 23,623 patrons at the Polo Grounds in Manhattan, Brooklyn wins the second game, 3-0.
1908 In a span of four days, Senators’ sensation Walter Johnson throws his third consecutive shutout against the Highlanders at Hilltop Park. The Big Train’s two-hit performance in the first game of the Monday Labor Day doubleheader follows a six-hit blanking on Friday and a four-hitter with no runs on Saturday.
1911 Cy Young loses a pitching duel to Phillies’ rookie right-hander Grover Cleveland Alexander at Boston’s South End Grounds, 1-0. Next month, the 44-year-old veteran Braves hurler will end his career after 22 seasons with an astonishing 511 victories, a major league record unlikely to be broken.
1913 To beat the impending inclement weather, Galveston, playing host to San Antonio, finishes the regular season with a 49-minute game, a 4-0 victory by the hometown Pirates, who compiled 13 hits during the brief Texas League contest. The team’s owners encourage the players to play rapidly to avoid giving the fans rain checks for next year.
1914 The Braves play their first ‘home’ games at Fenway Park, splitting a doubleheader with the Giants at the Red Sox’s ballpark. The change in venues, which will include all the remaining games in the regular season and World Series contests, is necessitated when Boston’s South End Grounds proves too small to accommodate the growing crowds following the Miracle Braves.
1916 The Giants defeat the Dodgers 4-1 to start their major league record 26-game winning streak. The ‘Jints’ start the span two games under .500, making up nine in the standings but remain in fourth place during the entire run of victories.
1923 Red Sox starter Howard Ehmke no-hits the A’s at Shibe Park, 4-0. In the seventh inning, the 29-year-old right-hander appears to lose his bid for a no-hitter, but Philadelphia hurler Slim Harriss’ would-be double becomes the third out when he fails to touch first base.
1935 Red Sox infielder Joe Cronin hits into a 5-6-4-3 game-ending triple play when his line drive caroms off Indian third baseman Odell Hale’s head to Bill Knickerbocker. The Tribe’s shortstop starts the triple killing by throwing the rebound to Roy Hughes, covering second, who relays the ball to first baseman Hal Trosky, giving Cleveland a 5-3 victory in the first game of a twin bill at Fenway Park.
1942 When a truck slams into the rear of their car, Cleveland Buckeye backstop Buster Brown and pitcher Smoky Owens die almost immediately, with three of their teammates and the team’s general manager seriously injured. The fatal accident occurred at 3 a.m. in Geneva, Ohio, when the Negro American League team traveled to Akron after playing a twin bill against the Black Yankees in Buffalo.
1950 At Detroit’s Briggs Stadium, Tiger outfielder Hoot Evers hits for the cycle, collecting five hits, 13 total bases, and six RBIs. The left fielder’s tenth-inning single completes the accomplishment and is part of a two-run rally that ties the game at 13-13 before darkness halts the game.
1952 At Washington’s Griffith Stadium, Johnny Mize pinch-hits a grand slam, giving the Yankees a 5-1 victory over the Senators. The ‘Big Cat’ has now homered in all fifteen major league ballparks currently in use, with Sportsman’s Park serving as the home for the Cardinals and Browns.
1955 In the Yankees’ 2-1 win over the A’s, Whitey Ford becomes the fifth big league pitcher to throw consecutive one-hitters. In his last start, ‘Slick’ held the Senators hitless, except for a seventh-inning bloop by Carlos Paula.
1962 With four steals in a 10-1 loss to the Pirates, Dodger Maury Wills breaks the modern National League record for stolen bases in a season with his 82nd swipe. Cincinnati’s Bob Bescher established the mark in 1911, playing left field with Cincinnati.
1964 At Connie Mack Stadium, a Labor Day crowd of 26,390 fans watches the first-place Phillies split a doubleheader with the Dodgers. The attendance for the twin bill brings the season’s total to 1,224,172 patrons, breaking the all-time franchise home attendance record established by the Whiz Kids in 1950.
1967 With just three weeks left in the season, the standings at the end of the day will reveal a four-way tie for first place in the American League. The Red Sox (79-62), the eventual AL champs, are battling the White Sox (78-61), Tigers (79-62), and the Twins (78-61) to capture the flag in the historic pennant race.
1967 At Candlestick Park, the Giants tie a National League mark, using a record 25 players to beat the Astros in 15 innings, 3-2. Manager Herman Franks uses all his starters and five relief pitchers, sends six pinch-hitters to the plate, and three players enter the contest as pinch-runners, along with two defensive substitutions.
1968 In the bottom of the ninth, Houston’s third baseman Doug Rader tags out Hank Aaron, who falls running to home plate with the winning run. The last-place Astros come back for an improbable 6-3 victory over the Braves when they score three runs in the top of the tenth frame.
1969 Donald Dubois wins $27,000 when Fred Talbot, the Pilots’ starting pitcher who throws a three-hit shutout, hits a grand slam in the sixth inning of the team’s 8-0 victory over California at Sick’s Stadium. The Gladstone, Oregon native’s good fortune results from participating in the expansion team’s “Home Run for the Money” promotion.
1973 The umpires delay the second game of the Mets-Expos doubleheader at the Montreal ballpark for 11 minutes to prevent an injury. The setting sun over the rim of Jarry Park makes it impossible for the first baseman to see a ball thrown from certain positions on the field.
1973 Mets’ southpaw Jerry Koosman’s franchise record of 31.2 consecutive scoreless innings ends when a runner crosses the plate in the bottom of the third inning in the team’s 4-2 victory in Montreal. Although Dwight Gooden will pass the left-hander’s effort with 36.2 consecutive innings without giving up an earned run, Koosman’s record without allowing any runs will last for 39 years before knuckleballer R. A. Dickey surpasses the mark in 2012.
1973 “I want to cast my own vote in favor of returning major league baseball back to the nation’s capital. You can be sure all of us in the Washington metropolitan area would enthusiastically welcome a National League team.” – PRESIDENT RICHARD NIXON, the text of a letter sent to NL president Chub Feeney supporting the return of major league baseball to the District of Columbia. Joseph Danzansky urges President Nixon to write a letter to National League president Chub Feeney supporting the return of major league baseball to the District of Columbia. The Washington, D.C. grocery-chain magnate, who has conditionally bought the Padres, sees his efforts to move the team to the nation’s capital thwarted by legal actions, allowing Ray Kroc to buy the Friars and keep the club in San Diego.
1973 The Rangers fire future Hall of Fame manager Whitey Herzog. The White Rat, who compiled a 47-91 record during his six-month tenure in the Texas dugout, will be replaced by Billy Martin.
1974 The American League suspends Graig Nettles for ten days when his bat shatters on a disallowed infield hit, releasing six super balls collected by catcher Bill Freehan. The Yankee third baseman, who said the piece of lumber was given to him by a fan in Chicago, hit a home run in his first at-bat for the game’s only run in the Yankees’ 1-0 victory over Detroit at Shea Stadium.
1975 With an 8-4 victory over the Giants at Riverfront Stadium, the Reds clinch the National League West in their 142nd game of the season. The ‘Big Red Machine’ captures a title earlier than any other club since the inception of divisional play in 1969.
1978 In a 9-4 victory over the Expos, Mets backstop John Stearns establishes a new mark for National League catchers with his 25th stolen base. Johnny Kling swiped 24 bases catching for the Cubs in 1902.
1979 Carl Yastrzemski of the Red Sox gets three hits to pass Ted Williams on the all-time total base list. ‘Teddy Ballgame’ collected 2,654 hits during his 19 seasons with Boston.
1984 On his way to hurling a one-hitter, Dwight ‘Doc’ Gooden fans Cub Ron Cey for his 228th strikeout, setting a National League rookie record. The Mets phenom passes Grover Cleveland Alexander, who established the mark in 1911 with 227.
1993 In the nightcap of a doubleheader at Cincinnati, Cardinal outfielder Mark Whiten becomes the 12th player to hit four home runs in one game, helping to tie two established RBI records. With 12 RBIs in the second game, he equals the single-game mark set by Jim Bottomley in 1924, and with his ribbie in the opener, he ties a 21-year-old record established by Nate Colbert for the most RBIs (13) in a twin bill.
1996 In a pregame ceremony in front of a sellout crowd at the Metrodome, the Twins bid farewell to Kirby Puckett, one of the team’s most popular players in recent years. After a remarkable 12-year Hall of Fame career, blindness in his right eye caused by glaucoma forced the talented and personable outfielder to retire in July.
1996 With 129 at-bats and a mediocre .254 batting average at the start of his major league career, Scott Rolen suffers a broken arm when hit by a pitch thrown by Cubs’ right-hander Steve Trachsel, causing him to miss the remainder of the season. The hit-by-pitch will be a lucky break (pun intended) when the Phillies’ third baseman, technically still a freshman due to having one less at-bat last season, wins the National League Rookie of the Year award.
1997 Expo infielder Mark Grudzielanek breaks the National League mark for doubles for a shortstop, hitting his 49th in a 2-1 loss to Philadelphia. Dick Bartell of the 1932 Phillies set the previous record.
1997 For only the twenty-second time in major league history, a player reaches the 50 home run plateau when Mariner outfielder Ken Griffey, Jr. goes deep off Bob Tewksbury in a 9-6 loss to Minnesota at the Metrodome. Junior will finish the season with a league-leading 56 round-trippers.
1997 In a 15-inning contest, 33 players whiff during the Angels’ 5-4 victory at Tiger Stadium. Players from both teams become visibly upset with home plate umpire Mike Everitt when 21 of the 30 extra-inning outs are strikeouts, with 13 resulting from a called third strike.
1998 In the first inning at Busch Stadium, Cardinal first baseman Mark McGwire ties Yankee outfielder Roger Maris’ single-season home run mark established in 1961, hitting his 61st in a nationally televised Labor Day game against the Cubs. Big Mac hits his historic homer on his dad’s 61st birthday.
2001 At Busch Stadium, right-fielder Shawn Green breaks the Dodgers’ record for homers in a season with his 44th home run, the first of his two dingers he hits off Dustin Hermanson in the team’s 7-1 victory over the Cardinals. Duke Snider (1956) and Gary Sheffield (2000) shared the previous mark.
2001 Ranger infielder Alex Rodriguez breaks his American League record (42 in 1998 and 1999 for the Mariners) for home runs by a shortstop with his 43rd long ball of the season. In 1958, Cub Hall of Famer Ernie Banks established the major league record for homers for that position with 47.
2005 Dontrelle Willis becomes the first pitcher in the thirteen-year history of the Marlins to win 20 games in a season when the team routs Washington at RFK Stadium, 12-1. The high-kicking southpaw had established a franchise record for victories in his last start with his 19th win.
2006 The Cubs are honored by the Commission on Chicago Landmarks for their preservation efforts at Wrigley Field. The venerable old ballpark received Chicago Landmark Awards for Excellence for the bleacher expansion project, which improved circulation in the seating section, increased the number of bathrooms, and dramatically improved access for fans with disabilities.
2007 At Coors Field, nine relievers follow Rockies’ starter Elmer Dessens after he leaves the game with a strained left hamstring in the third inning of the team’s 10-4 win over the Padres. The ten Colorado pitchers, including eight hurlers who toss a frame or less, establish a National League record for a nine-inning game.
2008 The Pirates lose their 82nd game, an 11-6 defeat to the Giants at AT&T Park, ensuring the club will endure their 16th consecutive losing season. The streak equals the mark established by the 1933-1948 Philadelphia Phillies for the longest skid in the history of professional sports.
2009 The Pirates become the first baseball franchise in history to post a losing record for 17 consecutive seasons when the team drops a 4-2 decision to the Cubs at PNC Park. The dubious streak, which dates back to 1993, surpasses the Phillies’ skid from 1933 to 1948.
2010 At Petco Park, Padres’ starter Mat Latos establishes a major league record when he limits L.A. to one run over seven innings, extending his streak to 15 straight starts of five or more innings, allowing two or fewer runs. The 22-year-old right-hander breaks the mark previously shared by Greg Maddux (1993-94) and Mike Scott (1986).
2010 A statue of Billy Williams, who played 16 seasons with the club from 1959-74, is dedicated by the Cubs on the corner of Sheffield Avenue and Addison Street outside Wrigley Field. Attending the unveiling of the sculpture that portrays the Hall of Famer outfielder finishing his sweet left-handed swing is his wife, Shirley, former teammates Ernie Banks, Ferguson Jenkins, Ron Santo, and Glenn Beckert, along with the Reverend Jesse Jackson.
2010 Trevor Hoffman earns his 600th save when he induces pinch-hitter Aaron Miles to hit a grounder for the final out in the Brewers’ 4-2 victory over St. Louis at Miller Park. The 42-year-old reliever, baseball’s career saves leader, has converted 600 of his 676 opportunities (89%) during his 18-year career with Florida, San Diego, and Milwaukee.
2011 🇮🇹 Alex Liddi becomes the first player born and raised in Italy to play in the major leagues. The Mariners’ third baseman, who goes 0-for-2 in the loss to L.A., is the first MLB European Academy alumnus to make the show.
2015 In the last game of the season, Pensacola Blue Wahoos shortstop Ray Chang plays all nine positions, fielding a different one in each of the first nine innings, including tossing a clean ninth frame. The 32-year-old popular infielder also enjoys a 3-for-4 day at the plate, scoring a run and stealing a base in the Reds Double-A affiliate’s 4-2 loss against the Mobile BayBears.
2017 The Indians break a franchise record, set last season, with their 15th consecutive win, beating the White Sox at Chicago’s Guaranteed Rate Field, 11-2. The victory costs Universal Windows Direct $1.7 million when the local business honors a promotion that promised customers full rebates for any purchase made in July if the Tribe won 15 straight games after August 1.
2020 After not allowing more than three earned runs through his first 23 big league starts, Diamondback right-hander Zac Gallen gives up four runs in five innings of work, taking the loss in the team’s 4-2 to the Giants at Oracle Park. The 25-year-old former Tar Heel hurler’s accomplishment establishes the longest streak ever for a pitcher at the start of their career.
2021 At Fenway Park, Nelson Cruz becomes the oldest player in major league history to hit 30 home runs in a season when he homers twice in the Rays’ 12-7 victory over the Red Sox. The 41 -year-old designated hitter blasts a two-run round-tripper in the third inning and a solo shot in the fifth, joining David Ortiz (38, Red Sox – 2016) and Darrell Evans (34, Tigers – 1987), who both reached the milestone at 40 years of age.
*****BASEBALL HALL OF FAME******
PEE WEE REESE
Shortstop
Pee Wee Reese was the heart and soul of the Dodgers, playing shortstop from 1940-57 (he served in the Navy from 1943-45) in Brooklyn, and for one season in Los Angeles.
With Reese, numbers don’t tell the whole story. The Dodgers captain was the leader of a dynasty that produced seven National League pennants and one World Series win.
Reese was a 10 time All-Star who finished in the Top 10 of the NL Most Valuable Player Award voting eight times. His nickname came not from stature (he stood 5-foot-10), but from his childhood days as a marbles champion in Louisville. He broke in with the Dodgers in 1940 and became a regular the following year. In 1942, Reese led all NL shortstops in putouts, assists and double plays.
He was a versatile ballplayer, and his contributions to the team were varied: He led the NL in walks (104) in 1947, runs (132) in 1949 and stolen bases (30) in 1952. Defensively, he led the league four times in putouts, twice in double plays and once each in fielding percentage and assists.
But his most important action on a baseball field may have been prior to a game. In 1947, the Dodgers were visiting Cincinnati, and fans and opposing players were jeering rookie Jackie Robinson. Reports of the game state that Reese calmly walked over to Robinson, put his arm around his teammate’s shoulder, and chatted. The gesture is remembered as an important moment in both Robinson’s career and the acceptance of African Americans in baseball – and American society.
Earlier, Reese had refused to sign a petition circulating among Dodger teammates concerning Robinson’s participation on the team. Jackie’s widow, Rachel Robinson, said: “I thought it was a very supportive gesture, and very instinctive on Pee Wee’s part. You shouldn’t forget that Pee Wee was the captain, and he led the way. Pee Wee was more than a friend. Pee Wee was a good man.”
Reese was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1984. He passed away on Aug. 14, 1999.
*******FOOTBALL HISTORY********
- September 7, 1979 – ESPN has its very first day broadcasting. The Entertainment and Sports Programming Network started in rented office space in Plainville, Connecticut according to the ESPN website. The company is now owned by the American Broadcasting Company, a subsidiary of Walt Disney with a 80% share and the other 20% is owned by Hearst. The ESPN complex is now located in Bristol, Ct on a sprawling 1.2 million square foot campus encompassing 18 different buildings. ESPN Inc. now owns the rights to over 50 different business entities. Its connection to football is very deep as it is the home of the NFL’s Monday Night Football, Numerous college games Thursday through Saturday during the season and many talk shown centered on the sport of football.
- September 7, 1981 – Cleveland Brown’s quarterback, Brian Sipe sets a team record with 57 passing attempts in one game as the Browns fall at home to the San Diego Chargers,44-14.
- September 7, 1986 – Again the Cleveland Browns make history as on this day they are the first team in NFL history to formally have a play reviewed by officials with video instant replay as they played at the Soldier Field against the Chicago Bears. On the 3rd play of the game the defending Super Bowl Champion Bears had an errant snap into their own end zone that Cleveland safety Al Gross jumped on. There was indecision from the on field officiating crew, but after review the Browns were awarded the score. The Bears came back and won the week 1 game though, 41-31.
- September 7, 1986 – Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino becomes the fastest person to throw 100 touchdowns in the NFL. Marino tossed three scores on the day, two of them to Mark Clayton. Unfortunately for Miami that was not enough, as the home team San Diego Chargers had some scores of their own in the 50 -28 drubbing of the Dolphins.
- September 7, 1991 – BYU quarterback Ty Detmer, goes past the NCAA career record 11,606 yards on this day according to the National Football Foundation. Detmer won the Heisman Trophy after the 1990 season and showed the UCLA Bruins that his game was still sharp a year later in this exciting early season match up. The Bruins held on to win at home 27-23 but not before Ty Detmer surpasses the throwing milestone.
Special thanks to the Pro Football Reference website.
Hall of Fame Birthdays for September 7
- September 7, 1884 – Robert “Bob” “Tiny” Maxwell was a former guard that played for the University of Chicago and also Swarthmore College, a private liberal arts school in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. Legendary University of Chicago Coach Alonzo Stagg recruited Bob Maxwell, because of his size and he was not tiny as the nickname he would receive later in life indicates. Bob Mawell was 240 lbs in 1902 and in that era the average lineman weighed less than 200 pounds! Maxwell played for Stagg and the Maroons for the 1902 and the 1903 seasons and also set records at the college in track and field’s hammer throw. Bob was accepted into Swarthmore College in 1904, and that is when it is believed the monicker “Tiny” was adopted by his teammates as a nickname for him. The 1905 game against Penn brought Maxwell to the forefront as the face of football per an article on the National Football Foundation. During the contest Penn had put three blockers on Maxwell to nullify his influence in the game. This triple team line play was slugfest from start to finish, and Tiny Maxwell took the brunt of it. President Theodore Roosevelt was presented a photo of Bob’s bruised, bloodied and swollen face after the game was over as a representation of how brutal the game had become. Roosevelt became so enraged about the appearance of Tiny’s photo and the fact that 18 young men had died that season from football injuries, that he threatened to abolish the game if the powers in college football did not set out to meet with him to improve safety of players. Those changes did come in 1906 and changed football forever! The rule revisions were many but the big hitters were adoption of a legal forward pass, but with severe penalty for incompletions and the line to gain being moved from 5 to ten yards as it is today.
- September 7, 1902 – Matt Kaer was a Southern California halfback that became enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame in 1972’s ceremonies. Kaer was also a U.S. Olympian and he took fifth place in the 1924 Olympic Pentathalon Competition in Paris. After returning home he played for USC for 3 seasons and had set a school record with 19 touchdowns in the 1925 season. The Trojan record lasted for 43 seasons before O.J. Simpson eclipsed the TD mark in 1968. Matt became an All-American for his fine play in the 1926 season according to the National Football Foundation. After school his football career went to the professional ranks with a one year stint with the NFL’s Frankford Yellow Jackets. He may have stopped playing after that one NFL season but he stuck with the game he loved only in the coaching ranks as he became the head coach of Weed High School, in Weed California and stayed there for 28 years winning 17 conference championships.
- September 7, 1908 – Paul Brown was the legendary 1st head coach of the Cleveland Browns way back in 1946 when they had their first season in the All-America Football Conference. That was Brown’s first professional coaching job as his prior experience in coaching came at the high school level and also with some military teams. Paul Brown was an innovator and made coaching what it is today. The concepts of hiring a full time, around the year coaching staff as well as hiring scouts to go over college talent a couple of items Brown came up with. He also started the idea of film study of his players, and had his players study in class room settings as well as study game film themselves. He sent plays into the huddle by shuttling guards in and out and also was the first to try a radio transmitter in a quarterback’s helmet. His career coaching record in the AAFC and NFL was a whopping 167-53-8 and he had but one losing season in 17 years at the helm of the Browns. Paul Brown’s teams won four AAFC titles and 3 NFL championships. The Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined this great class of 1967. Right after he was accepted into the Hall, the AFL authorized Brown to start a team in Cincinnati and he called them the Bengals in homage to other teams that played in the city previously. Brown was not only the Bengal’s owner and GM but he was also their head coach. The Brown family still owns the Bengals to this day.
- September 7, 1923 – Emil “Red” Sitko was a part halfback, part fullback type that played for the University of Notre Dame. He didn’t go to the Fighting Irish tout of high school though as he served his country during World War II playing for the Great Lakes Navy football team, where in a game against his future team Notre Dame he scored a TD and had an interception against a previously undefeated Irish squad. After his service, he then attended the famous school in South Bend and in his four years at ND the teams record was 36 -0-2! Red led the team in rushing yards all four years he played at Notre Dame. To this day the rushing specialist is seventh on the Notre Dame All-time rushing yardage list. The College Football Hall of Fame invited Red Sitko into their place of honor in 1984. Red went on to play pro ball in the NFL for the San Francisco 49ers and the Chicago Cardinals.
- September 7, 1951 – Bert Jones was a quarterback from LSU that played professionally for the Baltimore Colts in the NFL. Jones became a legend at LSU when in 1972 against Ole Miss he led the Tigers for a thrilling one point victory in the final seconds. The play is still filled with controversy to this day as many, mainly on the Ole Miss side beleve that Jones and the Tigers were given an extra 4 seconds due to an alleged clock malfunction on the previous play. With four seconds on the field’s time piece Jones hit a streaking Brad Davis in the end zone for an LSU touchdown that put them over the Ole Mis Rebels 17-16. In the 17 games that Bert Jones started in college he passed for 3225 yards and 28 TDs which was a career record at the time for LSU. The College Football Hall of Fame enshrined Jones in 2016. As a Colt Jones succeeded Johnny Unitas as the Baltimore starter and led the Colts to three consecutive AFC East titles.
******FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME******
MARTY BELOW
Position: Tackle
Years: 1918-1920, 1922-1923
Place of Birth: Oshkosh, WI
Date of Birth: Jan 26, 1899
Place of Death: Evanston, IL
Date of Death: Jun 30, 1984
Height: 6-2
Weight: 190
Other College: Wisconsin-Oshkosh
High School: Oshkosh, WI (Oshkosh HS)
Martin Below’s career in sports, business and community work stands out. He was born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, in 1899. Marty matriculated at the University of Wisconsin campus in Madison, then transferred to the Oshkosh campus. At Oshkosh, he was on the basketball, baseball and track teams. He returned to the Madison campus in 1922 and played right tackle on the football team. He was named a third team Walter Camp All America selection in 1922. His best year was 1923 when he was captain of the team and was named All America by INS (International News Service) and Football World. Following graduation with a degree in business, he joined Commonwealth Edison in Chicago and served as assistant vice president until 1948. For the next 25 years he was with Kieffer-Nolde Engraving Company in Chicago and retired as senior vice president. He served as a director of the Chicago Executives Club, was a board member of the YMCA, president of the Wisconsin Alumni Association and chairman of the Glencoe, Illinois, Crusade for Mercy. This great college football player sang in his church choir for 55 years. Marty Below died in June, 1984.
*****INDIANA FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME*****
MAX ANDRESS
Columbus North
Coach
Elkhart
1939
Honorable Mention All-State Quarterback 1939.
Michigan State University 1940-1941; Ball State University 1942; Indiana State University 1949
1950
Served in US Army as a 1st Lieutenant in the Philippines and Japan during WW II.
First Chairman of Football Coaches Association; Commissioner for State Play-offs in football; October, 2004, Columbus North High School football field named “Max Andress Field;” received Distinguished American Award from National Football Foundation in 1996 and Hub Etchison Award from Indiana Football Coaches Association in 1998; mayor of Columbus 1971-1979; served as community director at Cummins Engine; had the privilege of coaching three of his sons and seeing each receive All-State recognition: Dave, All-State Quarterback 1969; Tom, All-State Defensive Back 1971; and, Mike, All-State Running Back 1973.
Wife, Delores; children, Dave (Holly), Tom (Elena), Mike (Daryl), Steve (Joy), and Nancy (Shane); 21 grandchildren; 1 great-grandchild.
Served in US Army as a 1st Lieutenant in the Philippines and Japan during WW II.
Coaching Experience: Graduate assistant Indiana State University 1949-1950; head coach at Columbus HS 1951-1971, with a record of 118-79-10; also served as assistant basketball and track coach at Columbus.
Coaching Honors: South Central Conference Coach of the Year 5 times; undefeated season 1959; conference champions 6 times.
******NUMBERS IN SPORTS******
36 – 39 – 16 – 3 – 17 – 13 – 10 – 35 – 22 – 14
September 7, 1897 – George Davis of the New York Giants crushed a home run off of Sport McAllister who played on the Cleveland Spiders in a double header
September 7, 1923 – Boston Red Sox Howard Ehmke no-hits Philadelphia A’s, 4-0
September 7, 1952 – New York Yankees Number 36, Johnny Mize’s pinch-hit grand slam gives Yanks a 5-1 win at Washington, giving him a home run in all 15 major league parks
September 7, 1953 – Roy Campanella, wearing Number 39 set a record for catchers with 125 runs batted in en route to a total of142 RBIs on the season
September 7, 1955 – New York Yankee Whitey Ford (Number 16) became just the fifth MLB pitcher to toss consecutive 1 hitters
September 7, 1969 – Scottish Matra-Ford Number 3 driver Jackie Stewart won the Italian Grand Prix at Monza to clinch his first Formula 1 World Drivers Championship; his 6th F1 win of the season
September 7, 1981 – Cleveland Browns’ Brian Sipe, Number 17 sets club record with 57 pass attempts
September 7, 1984 – New York Met Number 16 Dwight Gooden’s 11 strikeouts gives him NL rookie record 236
September 7, 1986 – Dan Marino, Number 13 throws his 100th career touchdown pass, the fastest quarterback in NFL history to do so
September 7, 1988 – Skating legends Guy Lafleur (Number 10), Tony Esposito (Number 35) and Brad Park (Number 22) were inducted in NHL Hall of Fame
September 7, 1991 – Brigham Young University quarterback Number 14, Ty Detmer passes NCAA record 11,606 yards
September 7, 1993 – St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Mark Whiten, Number 22 hit four home runs and 12 RBIs in 15-2 win at Cincinnati Reds
******TV THURSDAY******
NFL FOOTBALL
8:15 p.m.
ABC — Buffalo at NY Jets
ESPN — Buffalo at NY Jets
ESPN2 — Buffalo at NY Jets (Manning-Cast)
_____
Tuesday, September 12
COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL (WOMEN’S)
9 p.m.
ESPN — Nebraska at Stanford
MLB BASEBALL
7 p.m.
TBS — NY Yankees at Boston
SOCCER (MEN’S)
8:30 p.m.
TNT — International Friendly: U.S. vs. Oman, St. Paul, Minn.
_____
Wednesday, September 13
COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL (WOMEN’S)
8 p.m.
ESPN2 — Kentucky at Louisville
FS1 — Wisconsin at Marquette
WNBA BASKETBALL
8 p.m.
ESPN2 — Playoffs: TBD
10 p.m.
ESPN2 — Playoffs: TBD
_____
Thursday, September 14
AUTO RACING
6 p.m.
FS1 — NASCAR ARCA Menards Series: The Bush’s Beans 200, Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, Tenn.
9 p.m.
FS1 — NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series: The UNOH 200 presented by Ohio Logistics, Playoffs – Round of 8, Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, Tenn.
5:25 a.m. (Friday)
ESPN2 — Formula 1: Practice, Marina Bay Street Circuit, Marina Bay, Singapore
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
7:30 p.m.
ESPN — Navy at Memphis
COLLEGE SOCCER (WOMEN’S)
9 p.m.
ESPNU — TCU at BYU
GOLF
7 a.m.
GOLF — DP World Tour: The BMW PGA Championship, First Round, Wentworth Club – West Course, Surrey, England
1:30 p.m.
GOLF — Korn Ferry Tour: The Simmons Bank Open For The Snedeker Foundation, First Round, The Grove, College Grove, Tenn.
6 p.m.
GOLF — PGA Tour: The Fortinet Championship, First Round, Silverado Resort and Spa – North Course, Napa, Calif.
MLB BASEBALL
7 p.m.
FOX — Regional Coverage: NY Yankees at Boston OR Tampa Bay at Baltimore
NFL FOOTBALL
8:15 p.m. PRIME VIDEO — Minnesota at Philadelphia