“THE SCOREBOARD”
***********INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCHEDULE WEEK 6***********
ANDERSON (1-4) AT INDIANAPOLIS TECH (0-5)
ANDREAN (2-3) AT HIGHLAND (2-3)
ANGOLA (0-5) AT FAIRFIELD (3-2)
AVON (0-5) AT FISHERS (3-2)
BATESVILLE (4-1) AT LAWRENCEBURG (4-1)
BEECH GROVE (2-3) AT MONROVIA (4-1)
BELLMONT (0-5) AT LEO (3-2)
BEN DAVIS (4-1) AT LAWRENCE NORTH (4-1)
BLOOMINGTON NORTH (5-0) AT NEW ALBANY (1-4)
BREBEUF JESUIT (2-2) AT INDIANAPOLIS RONCALLI (3-2)
BROWNSBURG (5-0) AT WESTFIELD (5-0)
BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL (5-0) AT SEYMOUR (2-3)
CASCADE (3-2) AT NORTH PUTNAM (1-4)
CASTON (0-5) AT NORTH WHITE (5-0)
CENTER GROVE (4-1) AT LAWRENCE CENTRAL (2-3)
CENTRAL NOBLE (2-3) AT LAKELAND (4-1)
CHESTERTON (1-4) AT PORTAGE (0-5)
CHRISTEL HOUSE MANUAL (2-3) AT INDIANAPOLIS SHORTRIDGE (2-3)
CHULA VISTA EASTLAKE (CALIF.) AT HAMMOND CENTRAL (4-1)
CLARKSVILLE (0-5) AT PERRY CENTRAL (2-3)
CLOVERDALE (2-3) AT SOUTH DECATUR (4-1)
COLUMBIA CITY (5-0) AT NEW HAVEN (5-0)
COLUMBUS NORTH (2-3) AT TERRE HAUTE NORTH (0-5)
CONCORD (3-2) AT GOSHEN (0-5)
CORYDON CENTRAL (0-5) AT SALEM (0-5)
CRAWFORD COUNTY (0-5) AT SPRINGS VALLEY (4-1)
CULVER (0-5) AT WINAMAC (0-5)
CULVER ACADEMY (2-3) AT KANKAKEE VALLEY (1-4)
DEKALB (2-3) AT HUNTINGTON NORTH (1-4)
DELPHI (1-4) AT CLINTON PRAIRIE (4-1)
EAST CHICAGO CENTRAL (1-4) AT GRIFFITH (2-3)
EAST NOBLE (3-2) AT NORWELL (1-4)
EASTBROOK (3-2) AT BLACKFORD (0-5)
EASTERN (GREENTOWN) (3-2) AT CLINTON CENTRAL (1-3)
EASTERN GREENE (3-2) AT PAOLI (4-1)
EASTERN HANCOCK (3-2) AT MILAN (3-2)
EASTSIDE (3-2) AT PRAIRIE HEIGHTS (0-5)
EDGEWOOD (1-4) AT INDIAN CREEK (2-3)
ELWOOD (1-4) AT MADISON-GRANT (4-1)
EVANSVILLE CENTRAL (0-5) AT JASPER (3-2)
EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL (5-0) AT EVANSVILLE BOSSE (1-4)
EVANSVILLE NORTH (3-2) AT EVANSVILLE MATER DEI (1-4)
EVANSVILLE REITZ (5-0) AT CASTLE (3-2)
FLOYD CENTRAL (4-1) AT COLUMBUS EAST (2-3)
FORT WAYNE DWENGER (2-3) AT FORT WAYNE NORTHROP (0-5)
FORT WAYNE LUERS (3-2) AT FORT WAYNE NORTH (2-3)
FORT WAYNE SNIDER (5-0) AT HOMESTEAD (2-3)
FORT WAYNE SOUTH (0-5) AT FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA (0-5)
FORT WAYNE WAYNE (3-2) AT CARROLL (FORT WAYNE) (3-2)
FRANKFORT (1-4) AT WESTERN BOONE (3-2)
FREMONT (1-4) AT CHURUBUSCO (1-4)
GREENCASTLE (3-2) AT BROWN COUNTY (1-4)
GREENSBURG (0-5) AT FRANKLIN COUNTY (2-3)
HAGERSTOWN (4-1) AT SHENANDOAH (1-4)
HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN (4-1) AT ZIONSVILLE (3-2)
HAMMOND NOLL (1-4) AT LAKE STATION (2-3)
HANOVER CENTRAL (5-0) AT MUNSTER (2-3)
HERITAGE CHRISTIAN (4-1) AT COVENANT CHRISTIAN (3-2)
HERITAGE HILLS (5-0) AT GIBSON SOUTHERN (3-2)
INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL (3-2) AT FREDERICK DOUGLASS (KY.)
INDIANAPOLIS CHATARD (5-0) AT GUERIN CATHOLIC (4-1)
INDIANAPOLIS RITTER (3-2) AT TRITON CENTRAL (4-1)
INDIANAPOLIS SCECINA (4-1) AT INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN (5-0)
INDIANAPOLIS TINDLEY (2-3) AT PURDUE POLYTECHNIC (2-3)
JAY COUNTY (3-2) AT WOODLAN (2-3)
JEFFERSONVILLE (0-5) AT SILVER CREEK (3-2)
JENNINGS COUNTY (3-2) AT BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE (3-2)
JIMTOWN (2-3) AT TIPPECANOE VALLEY (5-0)
JOHN GLENN (3-2) AT BREMEN (3-2)
KNIGHTSTOWN (2-3) AT CAMBRIDGE CITY LINCOLN (1-3)
KNOX (5-0) AT LAVILLE (5-0)
KOKOMO (5-0) AT MCCUTCHEON (2-3)
LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC (2-3) AT RENSSELAER CENTRAL (2-3)
LAFAYETTE JEFF (3-2) AT HARRISON (WEST LAFAYETTE) (4-1)
LAPEL (2-3) AT HERITAGE (4-1)
LAPORTE (1-4) AT MERRILLVILLE (4-1)
LEBANON (2-3) AT TRI-WEST (4-1)
LOWELL (2-3) AT HOBART (4-1)
MACONAQUAH (3-2) AT NORTH MIAMI (1-4)
MADISON (1-4) AT MITCHELL (1-4)
MANCHESTER (2-3) AT SOUTHWOOD (3-2)
MARION (2-3) AT LOGANSPORT (1-4)
MARTINSVILLE (3-2) AT WHITELAND (2-3)
MICHIGAN CITY (2-3) AT LAKE CENTRAL (3-2)
MISSISSINEWA (5-0) AT ALEXANDRIA (5-0)
MOORESVILLE (2-3) AT FRANKLIN (3-2)
MOUNT VERNON (POSEY) (4-1) AT BOONVILLE (2-3)
NEW CASTLE (1-4) AT DELTA (4-1)
NEW PALESTINE (3-2) AT GREENFIELD-CENTRAL (5-0)
NEW PRAIRIE (4-1) AT SOUTH BEND ADAMS (1-4)
NOBLESVILLE (3-2) AT FRANKLIN CENTRAL (3-2)
NORTH CENTRAL (FARMERSBURG) (1-4) AT GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN (2-3)
NORTH CENTRAL (INDIANAPOLIS) (0-5) AT CARMEL (3-2)
NORTH DAVIESS (4-1) AT WEST WASHINGTON (3-2)
NORTH DECATUR (3-2) AT RUSHVILLE (1-4)
NORTH HARRISON (4-1) AT EASTERN (PEKIN) (2-3)
NORTH MONTGOMERY (3-2) AT CRAWFORDSVILLE (0-5)
NORTH NEWTON (0-5) AT FRONTIER (3-2)
NORTH POSEY (4-1) AT TECUMSEH (0-5)
NORTH VERMILLION (3-2) AT ATTICA (0-5)
NORTHEASTERN (5-0) AT CENTERVILLE (5-0)
NORTHRIDGE (4-1) AT WAWASEE (1-4)
NORTHWESTERN (2-3) AT TIPTON (1-4)
OAK HILL (3-2) AT FRANKTON (2-3)
PARK TUDOR (5-0) AT FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK (0-5)
PARKE HERITAGE (2-3) AT COVINGTON (2-3)
PENDLETON HEIGHTS (3-2) AT MOUNT VERNON (FORTVILLE) (2-3)
PENN (4-1) AT MISHAWAKA MARIAN (2-3)
PERRY MERIDIAN (2-3) AT GREENWOOD (3-2)
PHALEN ACADEMY (1-3) AT INDIANAPOLIS ATTUCKS (4-1)
PIKE (1-4) AT WARREN CENTRAL (2-3)
PIKE CENTRAL (1-4) AT WASHINGTON (1-4)
PLAINFIELD (5-0) AT DECATUR CENTRAL (3-2)
PLYMOUTH (2-3) AT NORTHWOOD (3-2)
PRINCETON (1-4) AT NORTH KNOX (3-2)
PROVIDENCE (5-0) AT IRVINGTON PREP ACADEMY (0-5)
RICHMOND (1-4) AT MUNCIE CENTRAL (0-5)
RIVER FOREST (3-2) AT BOONE GROVE (3-2)
ROCHESTER (4-1) AT PERU (5-0)
SCOTTSBURG (3-2) AT CHARLESTOWN (2-3)
SEEGER (4-1) AT FOUNTAIN CENTRAL (4-1)
SHERIDAN (4-1) AT TAYLOR (1-4)
SOUTH ADAMS (3-2) AT ADAMS CENTRAL (5-0)
SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH (3-2) AT ELKHART (1-4)
SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON (2-3) AT SOUTH BEND RILEY (5-0)
SOUTH CENTRAL (UNION MILLS) (2-3) AT NORTH JUDSON (3-2)
SOUTH DEARBORN (3-2) AT EAST CENTRAL (5-0)
SOUTH NEWTON (3-2) AT WEST CENTRAL (5-0)
SOUTH SPENCER (2-3) AT FOREST PARK (3-2)
SOUTH VERMILLION (4-1) AT RIVERTON PARKE (1-4)
SOUTHERN WELLS (1-4) AT BLUFFTON (5-0)
SOUTHMONT (4-1) AT DANVILLE (3-2)
SOUTHPORT (0-5) AT BLOOMINGTON SOUTH (4-1)
SOUTHSIDE HOME SCHOOL AT INDIANAPOLIS WASHINGTON (2-3)
SPEEDWAY (1-4) AT CONNERSVILLE (2-3)
SULLIVAN (2-3) AT OWEN VALLEY (2-3)
SWITZERLAND COUNTY (3-2) AT EDINBURGH (0-5)
TELL CITY (3-2) AT SOUTHRIDGE (3-2)
TRI-CENTRAL (1-4) AT CARROLL (FLORA) (5-0)
TRITON (3-2) AT PIONEER (4-1)
TWIN LAKES (4-1) AT HAMILTON HEIGHTS (5-0)
UNION COUNTY (0-5) AT UNION CITY (0-5)
VALPARAISO (4-1) AT CROWN POINT (5-0)
VINCENNES LINCOLN (4-1) AT EVANSVILLE HARRISON (0-5)
WABASH (0-5) AT NORTHFIELD (1-4)
WARSAW (5-0) AT MISHAWAKA (4-1)
WES-DEL (1-4) AT MONROE CENTRAL (1-4)
WEST NOBLE (5-0) AT GARRETT (2-3)
WEST VIGO (1-4) AT SOUTH PUTNAM (4-1)
WESTERN (2-3) AT LINTON-STOCKTON (4-1)
WHEELER (2-3) AT GARY WEST (3-2)
WHITING (2-3) AT CALUMET (1-4)
WHITKO (1-4) AT LEWIS CASS (2-3)
WINCHESTER (3-2) AT TRI (3-2)
YORKTOWN (3-2) AT SHELBYVILLE (3-2)
******************INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL REPORTED VOLLEYBALL SCORES*************
GREENSBURG 3 SOUTH DECATUR 0
SOUTH KNOX 3 N. KNOX 0
NEW PRAIRIE 3 JIMTOWN 0
MUNSTER 3 LOWELL 1
NORTH JUDSON 3 N. NEWTON 0
NORTHVIEW 3 S. PUTNAM 0
SOUTH RIPLEY 3 JAC CEN DEL 1
CULVER ACADEMIES 3 TWIN LAKES 0
FORT WAYNE DWENGER 3 FORT WAYNE SNIDER 0
LAWRENCEBURG 3 RUSHVILLE 0
OLDENBURG ACADEMY 3 MILAN 1
WOOD MEMORIAL 3 PRINCETON 1
EDINBURG 3 CROTHERSVILLE 0
PIONEER 3 WINAMAC 0
SOUTH BEND ADAMS 3 SOUTH BEND CLAY 0
SEYMOUR 3 NEW ALBANY 2
LAKE CENTRAL 3 PENDLETON HEIGHTS 0
LAKE CENTRAL 3 CROWN POINT 0
SCOTTSBURG 3 CHARLESTOWN 0
FAITH CHRISTIAN 3 ATTICA 0
BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL 3 JENNINGS COUNTY 1
WEST LAFAYETTE 3 N. MONTGOMERY 0
LINTON STOCKTON 3 N. DAVIESS 0
EASTERN HANCOCK 3 MONROE CENTRAL 0
FOUNTAIN CENTRAL 3 CRAWFORDSVILLE 2
PURDUE BROAD RIPPLE 3 GEO NEXT GENERATION 0
CENTER GROVE 3 BLOOMINGTON SOUTH 0
TRINITY LUTHERAN 3 HAUSER 1
NORTHFIELD 3 LEWIS CASS 0
ROSSVILLE 3 SEEGER 0
LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC 3 WESTERN BOONE 1
EASTERN 3 TAYLOR 0
MANCHESTER 3 MACONAQUAH 2
LAPEL 3 SHERIDAN 0
SOUTHWOOD 3 WABASH 0
WINCHESTER 3 UNION CITY 0
GREENCASTLE 3 MONROVIA 2
SOUTH-CENTRAL 3 ILLIANA CHRISTIAN 1
TECUMSEH 3 N. POSEY 2
MADISON 3 JEFFERSONVILLE 0
KOUTS 3 DEMOTTE CHRISTIAN 1
HARRISON 3 LAFAYETTE JEFF 0
ANDREAN 3 HOBART 0
HEARTLAND CHRISTIAN 3 INDIANA CHRISTIAN 0
NOBLESVILLE 3 FRANKLIN CENTRAL 0
FRANKLIN 3 SHELBYVILLE 0
FISHERS 3 AVON 2
HAGERSTOWN 3 SHENANDOAH 0
RIVERTON PARKE 3 N. VERMILLION 0
MISHAWAKA 3 ELKHART CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 0
KANKAKEE VALLEY 3 HIGHLAND 0
ANGOLA 3 GARRETT 0
BLACKFORD 3 ELWOOD 0
HUNTINGTON NORTH 3 E. NOBLE 0
BEN DAVIS 3 WARREN CENTRAL 2
LAWRENCE NORTH 3 MOUNT VERNON 1
PENN 3 BREMEN 0
ELKHART 3 MISHAWAKA MARIAN 1
FRONTIER 3 CARROLL 0
NORTHWOOD 3 NORTHRIDGE 0
CASTLE 3 BOONVILLE 0
CATHEDRAL 3 YORKTOWN 0
FLOYD CENTRAL 3 COLUMBUS EAST 0
EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL 3 EVANSVILLE BOSSE 0
CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 3 W. WASHINGTON 0
CRISPUS ATTUCKS 3 SHORTRIDGE 2
FORT WAYNE SOUTH 3 FORT WAYNE WAYNE 1
WARSAW 3 WAWASEE 0
TRI-WEST 3 BREBEUF 1
SOUTH NEWTON 3 N. WHITE 0
NORWELL 3 DEKALB 1
LINCOLN 3 KNIGHTSTOWN 0
BELLMONT 3 LEO 0
MUNCIE BURRIS 3 FRANKTON 0
SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH 3 SOUTH BEND RILEY 0
SOUTH BEND CAREER ACADEMY 3 CLINTON CHRISTIAN 2
*************INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS SOCCER REPORTED SCORES**********
MICHIGAN CITY 5 MARQUETTE CATHOLIC 1
BOONE GROVE 5 DEMOTTE CHRISTIAN 2
LAKEWOOD PARK CHRISTIAN 2 FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK 2
WASHINGTON 2 PRINCETON 1
VICTORY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 4 ELKHART CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 3
DELTA 5 WAPAHANI 2
YORKTOWN 3 JAY COUNTY 1
TRINITY 3 GLENN 0
WHITE RIVER VALLEY 5 BLOOMFIELD 0
SPEEDWAY 5 GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 0
HERITAGE HILLS 1 N. POSEY 0
EVANSVILLE CENTRAL 4 EVANSVILLE HARRISON 0
OLDENBURG ACADEMY 3 S. DEARBORN 0
SCECINA 3 CRISPUS ATTUCKS 2
GREENCASTLE 6 EDGEWOOD 1
ARGOS 6 OREGON DAVIS 0
BATESVILLE 6 MILAN 0
FRANKLIN COUNTY 2 GREENSBURG 0
SOUTH ADAMS 4 WAYNE WAY 2
WHEELER 0 LOWELL 0
RITTER 4 CRISTEL HOUSE 1
UNIVERSITY 3 WESTERN BOONE 0
BETHESDA CHRISTIAN 9 SHORTRIDGE 0
EASTBROOK 10 ELWOOD 0
FORT WAYNE SOUTH 9 NEW HAVEN 1
ILLIANA CHRISTIAN 9 GRIFFITH 2
FOREST PARK 1 WASHINGTON CATHOLIC 0
NORTHWOOD 2 LAKELAND 0
MISSISSINEWA 5 MARION 0
CROWN POINT 8 KANKAKEE VALLEY 0
LAKE CENTRAL 4 ANDREAN 1
HOMESTEAD 9 HUNTINGTON NORTH 0
EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL 2 JASPER 0
GIBSON SOUTHERN 2 PIKE CENTRAL 0
MUNCIE BURRIS 6 NEW CASTLE 0
LAFAYETTE JEFF 5 FAITH CHRISTIAN 4
BELLMONT 2 COLUMBIA CITY 1
EVANSVILLE NORTH 2 HENDERSON COUNTY 1
NEW ALBANY 2 JEFFERSONVILLE 1
SHELBYVILLE 1 GREENFIELD CENTRAL 0
PORTAGE 2 HIGHLAND 1
DECATUR CENTRAL 2 BEN DAVIS 2
FORT WAYNE DWENGER 0 LEO 0
LAWRENCEBURG 7 CONNERSVILLE 0
FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA 4 FORT WAYNE LUERS 1
EVANSVILLE CHRISTIAN 3 S. SPENCER 0
PLYMOUTH 0 WAWASEE 0
NORTHRIDGE 6 MISHAWAKA 0
CHARLESTOWN 1 N. HARRISON 0
WEST LAFAYETTE 4 TIPTON 0
NORTHWESTERN 4 HAMILTON HEIGHTS 1
CONCORD 1 NEW PRAIRIE 0
PROVIDENCE 1 CHRISTIAN ACADEMY – LOUISVILLE 0
**************INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL BOYS SOCCER REPORTED SCORES**********
BAR REEVE 2 BLOOMFIELD 1
TIPPECANOE VALLEY 1 LAKELAND CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 0
NEW PRAIRIE 9 CULVER COMMUNITY 0
MUNCIE BURRIS 2 ANDERSON 1
EVANSVILLE NORTH 4 FOREST PARK 1
OLDENBURG ACADEMY 2 CONNERSVILLE 1
HEBRON 4 RENSSELAER CENTRAL 2
EVANSVILLE CHRISTIAN 6 S. SPENCER 2
TRINITY 3 ANDREWS ACADEMY 1
BISHOP CHATARD 3 PROVIDENCE CRISTO REY 1
HAMMOND CENTRAL 5 MICHIGAN CITY 1
GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 3 INDIANAPOLIS TECH 1
TWIN LAKES 4 LAFAYETTE JEFF 1
NEW CASTLE 5 RUSHVILLE 2
MOUNT VERNON 3 BOONVILLE 1
WEST NOBLE 2 GARRETT 1
SOUTHWESTERN 1 SCOTTSBURG 1
SEYMOUR 3 JENNINGS COUNTY 0
EAST NOBLE 6 WOODLAN 1
COVENANT CHRISTIAN 9 INDIANAPOLIS WASHINGTON 0
IMSAN 3 N. MONTGOMERY 2
BETHANY CHRISTIAN 6 PRAIRIE HEIGHTS 0
KNIGHTSTOWN 1 HAUSER 0
TRINITY LUTHERAN 4 BROWN COUNTY 1
FORT WAYNE NORTH 4 DEKALB 4
NEW HAVEN 4 LAKEWOOD PARK CHRISTIAN 0
FORT WAYNE SOUTH 4 MANCHESTER 0
EAST CENTRAL 8 GREENSBURG 0
MADISON 5 LAWRENCEBURG 2
ARGOS 3 M TWP. 2
OWEN VALLEY 3 EASTERN GREENE 2
MACONAQUAH 9 TIPTON 0
DANVILLE 2 FRANKFORT 1
ILLIANA CHRISTIAN 9 GRIFFITH 0
BREMEN 2 WESTVIEW 2
GREENWOOD 7 INDIAN CREEK 0
CARMEL 7 PALESTINE 0
CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 3 HENRYVILLE 3
INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN 6 MONROVIA 0
WABASH 1 TRI-CENTRAL 0
SOUTH SIDE THUNDER 5 TERRE HAUTE SOUTH 1
CARROLL 3 KOKOMO 2
FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK 5 FORT WAYNE SNIDER 0
DEMOTTE CHRISTIAN 3 WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP 0
GIBSON SOUTHERN 2 PIKE CENTRAL 2
SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH 7 GLENN 1
PENN 4 NORTHWOOD 0
HERITAGE HILLS 6 N. POSEY 0
FISHERS 7 GUERIN CATHOLIC 2
MOUNT VERNON 1 PENDLETON HEIGHTS 1
BROWNSBURG 3 PLAINFIELD 0
CONCORD 3 WAWASEE 0
HAMILTON HEIGHTS 10 WESTERN 1
FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA 3 FORT WAYNE LUERS 2
WEST LAFAYETTE 2 LEBANON 0
WESTFIELD 5 HARRISON 2
EAST CHICAGO CENTRAL 5 LOWELL 2
GREENFIELD CENTRAL 2 SHELBYVILLE 1
SOUTHRIDGE 1 NORTHEAST DUBOIS 0
HERITAGE 1 NORWELL 0
MARTINSVILLE 2 WHITELAND 0
INDIANAPOLIS TECH 3 SCECINA 2
HERRON 16 TINDLEY 0
GOSHEN 2 WARSAW 0
NORTHWESTERN 6 MARION 2
GREENCASTLE 5 EDGEWOOD 0
COLUMBUS NORTH 1 FLOYD CENTRAL 1
BLOOMINGTON NORTH 1 COLUMBUS EAST 1
ELKHART 9 PLYMOUTH 0
AVON 2 MCCUTCHEON 1
RITTER 2 CRISPUS ATTUCKS 0
NORTH HARRISON 1 CHARLESTOWN 0
NOBLESVILLE 5 CENTER GROVE 2
DUPONT MANUAL 8 JEFFERSONVILLE 2
WASHINGTON 2 PRINCETON 0
*****************INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS GOLF REGIONALS**************
1. LAKE CENTRAL | SANDY PINES GC | SAT, 8 AM CT
FEEDER SECTIONALS: VALPARAISO, LAKE CENTRAL, LAPORTE, PENN, TWIN LAKES
2. EAST NOBLE | NOBLE HAWK GC | FRI, 8:30 AM ET
FEEDER SECTIONALS: NORTHRIDGE, ANGOLA, WARSAW COMMUNITY, HOMESTEAD, EASTBROOK
3. LAFAYETTE JEFFERSON | BATTLEGROUND GC | SAT, 9 AM ET
FEEDER SECTIONALS: HARRISON (WEST LAFAYETTE), WESTERN, GUERIN CATHOLIC, ATTICA, BROWNSBURG
4. LAPEL | EDGEWOOD GC | SAT, 9 AM ET
FEEDER SECTIONALS: NOBLESVILLE, MUNCIE CENTRAL, INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL, NEW PALESTINE, RICHMOND
5. WASHINGTON | COUNTRY OAKS GOLF CLUB | SAT, 8:30 AM ET
FEEDER SECTIONALS: NORTHVIEW, JASPER, EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL, NORTH KNOX, BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE
6. FRANKLIN COMMUNITY | THE LEGENDS GC | SAT, 8:30 AM ET
FEEDER SECTIONALS: BLOOMINGTON NORTH, GREENSBURG, CENTER GROVE, CORYDON CENTRAL, MADISON CONSOLIDATED
***************INDIANA CROSS COUNTRY**********************
MILESPLIT WEB SITE: HTTPS://IN.MILESPLIT.COM/
*******************COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 4 SCHEDULE******************
WEEK 4
FRIDAY, SEPT. 22
WISCONSIN AT PURDUE | 7 P.M. | FS1
BROWN AT HARVARD | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
NC STATE AT VIRGINIA | 7:30 P.M. | ESPN
BOISE STATE AT SAN DIEGO STATE | 10:30 P.M. | CBSSN
AIR FORCE AT SAN JOSE STATE | 10:30 P.M. | FS1
SATURDAY, SEPT. 23
RUTGERS AT MICHIGAN | 12 P.M.
FLORIDA STATE AT CLEMSON | 12 P.M. | ABC
ARMY AT SYRACUSE | 12 P.M. | ACC NETWORK
AUBURN AT TEXAS A&M | 12 P.M. | ESPN
WESTERN KENTUCKY AT TROY | 12 P.M. | ESPNU
KENTUCKY AT VANDERBILT | 12 P.M. | SEC NETWORK
VIRGINIA TECH AT MARSHALL | 12 P.M. | ESPN2
SMU AT TCU | 12 P.M. | FS1
CORNELL AT YALE | 12 P.M. | ESPN+
BUTLER AT STETSON | 12 P.M. | ESPN+
STONEHILL AT FORDHAM | 1 P.M. | ESPN+
LINDENWOOD AT ILLINOIS STATE | 1 P.M. | ESPN+
MARIST AT VALPARAISO | 1 P.M. | ESPN+
MERCER AT FURMAN | 1 P.M. | ESPN+
WESTERN MICHIGAN AT TOLEDO | 1:30 P.M. | ESPN+
LEHIGH AT DARTMOUTH | 1:30 P.M. | ESPN+
WOFFORD AT VMI | 1:30 P.M. | ESPN+
GEORGIA SOUTHERN AT BALL STATE | 2 P.M. | ESPN+
COLGATE AT HOLY CROSS | 2 P.M. | ESPN+
CHARLESTON SOUTHERN AT WESTERN CAROLINA | 2:30 P.M. | ESPN+
BETHUNE-COOKMAN AT JACKSON STATE | 3 P.M. | ESPN+
UTAH TECH AT MISSOURI STATE | 3 P.M. | ESPN+
MCNEESE AT EASTERN ILLINOIS | 3 P.M. | ESPN+
BRYANT AT PRINCETON | 3 P.M. | ESPN+
VIRGINIA LYNCHBURG AT ROBERT MORRIS | 3 P.M. | ESPN+
CHATTANOOGA AT SAMFORD | 3 P.M. | ESPN+
OLE MISS AT ALABAMA | 3:30 P.M. | CBS
COLORADO AT OREGON | 3:30 P.M. | ABC
DUKE AT UCONN | 3:30 P.M. | CBSSN
MIAMI (FLA.) AT TEMPLE | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN2
MARYLAND AT MICHIGAN STATE | 3:30 P.M. | NBC
BOSTON COLLEGE AT LOUISVILLE | 3:30 P.M. | ACC NETWORK
BYU AT KANSAS | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN
TEXAS TECH AT WEST VIRGINIA | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN+
NEW MEXICO AT UMASS | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN+
TEXAS A&M-COMMERCE AT OLD DOMINION | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN+
OHIO AT BOWLING GREEN | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN+
DELAWARE STATE AT MIAMI (OHIO) | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN+
PENN AT BUCKNELL | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN+
MONMOUTH AT LAFAYETTE | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN+
UTSA AT TENNESSEE | 4 P.M. | SEC NETWORK
RICE AT SOUTH FLORIDA | 4 P.M. | ESPNU
CAL POLY AT PORTLAND STATE | 4 P.M. | ESPN+
SACRAMENTO STATE AT IDAHO | 4 P.M. | ESPN+
MONTANA AT NORTHERN ARIZONA | 4 P.M. | ESPN+
EASTERN MICHIGAN AT JACKSONVILLE STATE | 5 P.M. | ESPN+
CENTRAL MICHIGAN AT SOUTH ALABAMA | 5 P.M. | ESPN+
DAYTON AT SAN DIEGO | 5 P.M. | ESPN+
GARDNER-WEBB AT EAST CAROLINA | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
ALBANY AT MORGAN STATE | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
THE CITADEL AT SOUTH CAROLINA STATE | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
ALABAMA STATE AT FLORIDA A&M | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
SE MISSOURI STATE AT EASTERN KENTUCKY | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
NORTHERN COLORADO AT IDAHO STATE | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
LIBERTY AT FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL | 6:30 P.M. | ESPN+
ARKANSAS AT LSU | 7 P.M. | ESPN
CHARLOTTE AT FLORIDA | 7 P.M. | ESPN+/SECN+
SAM HOUSTON AT HOUSTON | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
COLORADO STATE AT MIDDLE TENNESSEE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
NICHOLLS AT TULANE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
APPALACHIAN STATE AT WYOMING | 7 P.M. | CBSSN
SOUTHERN MISS AT ARKANSAS STATE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
NEVADA AT TEXAS STATE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
NICHOLLS AT TULANE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
AUSTIN PEAY AT STEPHEN F. AUSTIN | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
ABILENE CHRISTIAN AT CENTRAL ARKANSAS | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
UT MARTIN AT NORTH ALABAMA | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
SOUTHWEST BAPTIST AT TARLETON STATE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
LINCOLN (CA) AT LAMAR | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
KENNESAW STATE AT TENNESSEE TECH | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
NORTH AMERICAN UNIVERSITY AT UIW | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
UAB AT GEORGIA | 7:30 P.M. | ESPN2
TEXAS AT BAYLOR | 7:30 P.M. | ABC
OHIO STATE AT NOTRE DAME | 7:30 P.M. | NBC
IOWA AT PENN STATE | 7:30 P.M. | CBS
MEMPHIS VS. MISSOURI (IN ST. LOUIS) | 7:30 P.M. | ESPNU
MISSISSIPPI STATE AT SOUTH CAROLINA | 7:30 P.M. | SEC NETWORK
BUFFALO AT LOUISIANA | 7:30 P.M. | ESPN+
UCF AT KANSAS STATE | 8 P.M. | FS1
NORTH CAROLINA AT PITT | 8 P.M. | ACC NETWORK
WESTERN ILLINOIS AT SOUTHERN UTAH | 8 P.M. | ESPN+
MONTANA STATE AT WEBER STATE | 8 P.M. | ESPN+
UNLV AT UTEP | 9 P.M. | ESPN+
EASTERN WASHINGTON AT UC DAVIS | 10 P.M. | ESPN+
CAL AT WASHINGTON STATE | 10:30 P.M. | ESPN
KENT STATE AT FRESNO STATE | 10:30 P.M. | CBSSN
NEW MEXICO STATE AT HAWAI’I | 12 A.M. | SPECTRUM SPORTS PPV
USC AT ARIZONA STATE
UCLA AT UTAH
OREGON STATE AT WASHINGTON STATE
OKLAHOMA AT CINCINNATI
FLORIDA ATLANTIC AT ILLINOIS
AKRON AT INDIANA
LOUISIANA TECH AT NEBRASKA
MINNESOTA AT NORTHWESTERN
ARIZONA AT STANFORD
GEORGIA TECH AT WAKE FOREST
OKLAHOMA STATE AT IOWA STATE
TULSA AT NORTHERN ILLINOIS
*************NFL SCHEDULE**************
WEEK 3 SCHEDULE
THURSDAY NIGHT
SAN FRANCISCO 30 NY GIANTS 12
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS AT BALTIMORE RAVENS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P CBS
TENNESSEE TITANS AT CLEVELAND BROWNS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P CBS
ATLANTA FALCONS AT DETROIT LIONS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P FOX
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS AT GREEN BAY PACKERS 12:00P (CT) 1:00P FOX
HOUSTON TEXANS AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P FOX
DENVER BRONCOS AT MIAMI DOLPHINS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P CBS
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS 12:00P (CT) 1:00P FOX
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS AT NEW YORK JETS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P CBS
BUFFALO BILLS AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P CBS
CAROLINA PANTHERS AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 1:05P (PT) 4:05P CBS
DALLAS COWBOYS AT ARIZONA CARDINALS 1:25P (MST) 4:25P FOX
CHICAGO BEARS AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 3:25P (CT) 4:25P FOX
PITTSBURGH STEELERS AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS 5:20P (PT) 8:20P NBC
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (MON) 7:15P (ET) 7:15P ABC
LOS ANGELES RAMS AT CINCINNATI BENGALS (MON) 8:15P (ET) 8:15P ESPN
****************MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL****************
TAMPA BAY 5 LA ANGELS 4
NY YANKEES 5 TORONTO 3
CLEVELAND 5 BALTIMORE 2
DETROIT 7 OAKLAND 3
MILWAUKEE 6 ST. LOUIS 0
ATLANTA 10 WASHINGTON 3
PHILADELPHIA 5 NY METS 4
PITTSBURGH 8 CHICAGO CUBS 6
LA DODGERS 7 SAN FRANCISCO 2
******************MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL****************
ROCHESTER 3 INDIANAPOLIS 1
********************WNBA SCORES*********************
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
******************MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER****************
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
***************THURSDAY’S TRANSACTIONS******************
BASEBALL
Major League Baseball
American League
DETROIT TIGERS — Named Jeff Greenberg general manager.
KANSAS CITY ROYALS — Promoted Danny Ontiveros to vice president of scouting. Named Brian Bridges director of amateur scouting. Jim Cuthbert director of pro personnel & strategy and Daniel Guerrero director of international scouting. Sent LHP Daniel Lynch IV to Omaha (IL) on a rehab assignment.
TAMPA BAY RAYS — Reinstated RHP Jason Adam from the 15-day IL. Optioned LHP Jalen Beeks to Durham (IL).
National League
CINCINNATI REDS — Released RF Hunter Renfroe.
MIAMI MARLINS — Sent RHPs Huascar Brazoban and Sandy Alcantara to Jacksonville (IL) on rehab assignments.
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS — Recalled RHP Tristan Beck and INF Marco Luciano from Sacramento (PCL). Selected the contract of INF/OF Tyler Fitzgerald from Sacramento. Optioned RHP Sean Hjelle to Sacramento. Placed INF Brandon Crawford on the 10-day IL. Released INF Paul DeJong.
FOOTBALL
National Football League
BUFFALO BILLS — Signed LB A.J. Klein to the practice squad. Announced the retirement of LB Christian Kirksley.
CHICAGO BEARS — Re-signed QB Nathan Peterman to the practice squad.
HOUSTON TEXANS — Promoted DE Derek Rivers from the practice squad to the active roster. Signed CB D’Angelo Ross to the practice squad.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS — Signed CBs Azizi Hearn and Breon Border to the practice squad.
NEW YORK JETS — Signed OL Cedric Ogbuehi to the practice squad. Released OL Ryan Swoboda from the practice squad.
TENNESSEE TITANS — Signed DL Jayden Peevy to the practice squad.
HOCKEY
Minor League Hockey
ECHL
READING ROYALS —
READING ROYALS — Signed F Kyle Olson.
SOCCER
Major League Soccer
LA GALAXY — Loaned F Aaron Bibout to Detroit City FC (USL Championship) for the remainder of the season.
*************TOP NATIONAL HEADLINES***********
******************NFL NEWS******************
CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY AND THE 49ERS WIN 13TH STRAIGHT IN THE REGULAR SEASON, BEAT THE GIANTS 30-12
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) The New York Giants kept dialing up blitzes and the San Francisco 49ers just got the ball into their playmakers’ hands.
Christian McCaffrey scored a touchdown in his 12th straight game, Deebo Samuel caught one of Brock Purdy’s two TD passes and the San Francisco 49ers won their 13th straight regular season game, 30-12 over the New York Giants on Thursday night.
“They got a good bit of pressure on Brock and caused a couple of three-and-outs but it’s about how long you can sustain doing that,” Samuel said. “So in the second half we came out executing.”
The Niners weren’t particularly sharp on offense early in their home opener but got enough from McCaffrey and on big runs after the catch by Samuel and George Kittle to earn their second 3-0 start in 25 seasons.
The Giants blitzed Purdy on 33 of his 39 dropbacks, according to NFL NextGen stats, and he capitalized with 247 of his 310 yards passing on those plays, including the touchdowns to rookie Ronnie Bell and Samuel.
“I thought it was just a huge challenge, one of the bigger ones Brock has been in with a short week to prepare for a scheme like that,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “There’s not a comfortable play throughout the game. … I thought he settled down as the game went on.”
McCaffrey ran for 85 yards, added 34 more receiving and scored on a 4-yard run that made it 17-3 late in the second quarter. That matched Jerry Rice’s franchise record with 12 straight games in the regular season or playoffs with a TD and is three shy of the NFL mark.
The defense did the rest against the short-handed Giants (1-2), who fell behind by double digits at the half for the third time in three games this season.
With the running game hampered by the absence of injured star Saquon Barkley and the offensive line overmatched without left tackle Andrew Thomas and left guard Ben Bredeson, the Giants struggled to move the ball and finished with 150 yards of offense.
“No excuses with anybody who missed the game or who played,” coach Brian Daboll said.
They managed two field goals in the first half and scored on Matt Breida’s 8-yard run on a third-quarter drive that needed just 15 yards thanks to two penalties on the Niners.
Daniel Jones was often on the run and couldn’t get anything going downfield. He went 22 for 32 for 137 yards and an interception.
“We didn’t create a rhythm,” Jones said. “We didn’t execute, didn’t take advantage of our opportunities, That’s a good defense, a good team and when you are playing good teams you can’t afford to do that. We didn’t play well enough.”
GOOD FORTUNE
Purdy was off target in the first half but his numbers were pretty good thanks to some fortunate bounces and help from his teammates. Kittle broke up a potential interception on the opening drive and Purdy had another pass to Samuel that got deflected and bounced high in the air before Bell caught it for a 15-yard gain.
Purdy also converted a third-and-15 and third-and-13 on the same drive by throwing quick passes behind the line of scrimmage that Samuel and McCaffrey turned into first downs.
SLOW STARTS
The Giants once again found themselves in a big hole at halftime, trailing 17-6. It was an improvement from the first two weeks when they trailed Dallas 26-0 in the opener and Arizona 20-0 in Week 2. They rallied to beat the Cardinals with a strong second half.
New York also got down 28-0 in a playoff loss last season to the Eagles, marking the first time since 2003-04 that they trailed by double digits at the half in four straight games.
SCUFFLE
There was a small scuffle late in the first half when the Niners were trying to take a knee to run out the clock. San Francisco left tackle Trent Williams took offense when New York’s A’Shawn Robinson shoved Aaron Banks and Williams shoved him with two hands. Robinson appeared to throw a jab toward Williams, who then responded with a punch to the facemask.
Offsetting penalties were called but Williams was not ejected.
“We ended up looking at the video we had available to us, and we just didn’t see anything that rose to the level of flagrant, which is the standard that we have to apply to disqualify the player,” NFL Senior Vice President of Officiating Walt Anderson told a pool reporter.
INJURIES/INACTIVES
Giants: Rookie CB Deonte Banks (arm) and DL D.J. Davidson (elbow) left in the second half.
49ers: WR Brandon Aiyuk (shoulder) missed his first game since his rookie season. … CB Ambry Thomas (knee) also was inactive.
UP NEXT
Giants: Host Seattle on Monday, Oct. 2.
49ers: Host Arizona on Oct. 1.
NFL GAME NOTES
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (1-1) AT BALTIMORE RAVENS (2-0)
DATE: Sunday, September 24, 2023
GAME TIME: 1:00 PM ET
CBS: Beth Mowins, James Lofton, Jay Feely, Amanda Renner
SiriusXM (also available on the SXM App) IND: 133 or 383 BAL: 85 or 225
ALL-TIME SERIES HISTORY
REG. SEASON: IND leads series, 8-6 (BAL won 4 of past 5)
POSTSEASON: IND leads series, 1-2
THE LAST TIME …
REG. SEASON: 10/11/21: IND 25 at BAL 31
POSTSEASON: 1/6/13 AFC-WC: IND 9 at BAL 24
COLTS NOTES: QB ANTHONY RICHARDSON (rookie) had 2 rush TDs last week & became youngest QB in SB era (21 years, 118 days) with 2 rush TDs in a game. Tied for NFL lead with 3 rush TDs this season & is 3rd QB ever with 3 rush TDs in 1st 2 career games, joining Daunte Culpepper & Jack Thompson. • QB GARDNER MINSHEW completed 19 of 23 atts. (82.6 pct.) for 171 yards & TD vs. 0 INTs with 112.1 rating last week. Passed for 226 yards & 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs with 120.8 rating in only career start vs. Bal. (12/20/20 w/ Jax.). • RB ZACK MOSS led team with 107 scrimmage yards (88 rush, 19 rec.) & had rush TD in season debut last week, 2nd-career 100-yard game. Aims for his 3rd in row with 100+ scrimmage yards & rush TD. • WR MICHAEL PITTMAN led team with 8 catches for 56 yards last week. Is 1 of 3 in NFL (Justin Jefferson & Puka Nacua) with 8+ catches in each of 1st 2 weeks. Has rec. TD in 3 of his past 4. Had 6 catches for 89 yards & TD in last meeting & aims for his 3rd in row vs. Bal. with 55+ rec. yards. • WR ISAIAH MCKENZIE had TD catch in his last game vs. Bal. (10/2/22 w/ Buf.). • TE KYLEN GRANSON had 1st-career TD catch in Week 2. • DT DEFOREST BUCKNER had 2 TFL & sack last week & aims for 3rd in row with sack. Has sack in 2 of his past 3 on road. • DE KWITY PAYE had sack & FR in Week 2 & aims for 3rd in row with sack. Has sack in 3 of his past 4 on road. Buckner & Paye 1 of 3 pair of teammates each with sack in each of 1st 2 weeks. • LB ZAIRE FRANKLIN led team with 13 tackles & had TFL last week. Leads NFL with 30 tackles this season. • LB SHAQUILLE LEONARD has FR in each of 2 career games vs. Bal. • LB E.J. SPEED had 5 tackles, 2 TFL & sack in Week 2.
RAVENS NOTES: RAVENS are 2-0 for 1st time since 2020 & can begin season 3-0 for 1st time since 2016. • QB LAMAR JACKSON completed 24 of 33 atts. (72.7 pct.) for 237 yards & 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs with 112.8 rating & had 54 rush yards last week, his 48th-career game with 50+ rush yards, surpassing Cam Newton (47 games) for 2nd-most ever by QB (Michael Vick – 54). Had 504 total yards (career-high 442 pass, 62 rush) & 4 TD passes vs. 0 INTs with 140.5 rating in last meeting. Has 95+ rating, 0 INTs & 55+ rush yards in each of 2 career games vs. Ind. • RB GUS EDWARDS led team with 62 rush yards & had 1st rush TD of season in Week 2. Had rush TD in only career game vs. Ind. (11/8/20). • TE MARK ANDREWS had 5 catches for 45 yards & TD in season debut last week. Aims for his 4th in row with 5+ catches, incl. playoffs. Had 11 catches for career-high 147 yards & 2 TDs in last meeting. • WR ZAY FLOWERS (rookie) had 62 rec. yards last week. Ranks 2nd among rookies with 13 catches & 140 rec. yards this season. • WR NELSON AGHOLOR had 5 catches for 63 yards & 1st TD of season in Week 2. • WR ODELL BECKHAM JR. has 13 catches & 214 rec. yards (107 per game) in 2 career games vs. Ind. • LB ROQUAN SMITH has 5+ tackles in 25 straight games, 3rdlongest active streak in NFL. Had 13 tackles & 3 TFL in only career game vs. Ind. (10/4/20 w/ Chi.). • LB PATRICK QUEEN aims for 12th in row with 5+ tackles. • LB JADEVEON CLOWNEY had sack & PD last week. Has 0.5+ sacks in 4 of his past 6 games vs. Ind. • S GENO STONE led team with career-best 9 tackles & had 2ndcareer INT in Week 2.
TENNESSEE TITANS (1-1) AT CLEVELAND BROWNS (1-1)
DATE: Sunday, September 24, 2023
GAME TIME: 1:00 PM ET
CBS: Spero Dedes, Adam Archuleta, Aditi Kinkhabwala
SiriusXM (also available on the SXM App) TEN: 134 or 384 CLE: 81 or 226
ALL-TIME SERIES HISTORY
REG. SEASON: CLE leads series, 36-31 (TEN won 3 of past 4)
POSTSEASON: TEN leads series, 1-0
THE LAST TIME …
REG. SEASON: 12/6/20: CLE 41 at TEN 35
POSTSEASON: 12/24/88 AFC-WC: HOU 24 at CLE 23
TITANS NOTES: QB RYAN TANNEHILL completed 20 of 24 atts. (83.3 pct.) for 246 yards with 2 TDs (1 pass, 1 rush) vs. 0 INTs & 123.3 rating last week, 2nd-highest comp. pct. of career. Aims for his 3rd start in row vs. Cle. with 315+ pass yards, 3+ TD passes & 90+ rating. • RB DERRICK HENRY had 95 scrimmage yards (80 rush, 15 rec.) & rush TD last week, his 6th-straight game with 95+ scrimmage yards, longest active streak in NFL. Aims for his 4th in row on road with 115+ scrimmage yards. Had 159 scrimmage yards (84 rush, 75 rec.) & 2 TDs (1 rush, 1 rec.) in last road meeting. • RB TYJAE SPEARS (rookie) had 49 rush yards last week. • WR DEANDRE HOPKINS aims for 3rd in row with 4+ catches & 40+ rec. yards. Had 55 rec. yards & 2 TD catches in his last game vs. Cle. (10/17/21 w/ Az.). Has rec. TD in 2 of his past 3 vs. Cle. • WR TREYLON BURKS led team with 76 rec. yards in Week 2, his 2nd-career game with 75+ rec. yards. • WR NICK WESTBROOK-IKHINE had 1st TD catch of season last week. • S KEVIN BYARD tied career high with team-best 12 tackles last week. Aims for 3rd in row with 8+ tackles. Has 5+ tackles in 5 of his past 6 on road. Has 4 INTs in his past 3 vs. Cle. Has 27 career INTs, tied 4th-most among active safeties. • CB SEAN MURPHY-BUNTING had 5 tackles & career-high 3 PD last week. Aims for 3rd in row with 5+ tackles. • CB TRE AVERY had 8 tackles, TFL & PD in season debut last week. • LB HAROLD LANDRY had 1st sack of season in Week 2. • DE DENICO AUTRY has sack in each of 1st 2 weeks of season. Has sack in 3 of his past 4. Aims for his 3rd in a row vs. Cle. with TFL. • DT JEFFERY SIMMONS has 5 tackles & sack in each of 1st 2 weeks of season. Had 7 tackles in last meeting.
BROWNS NOTES: QB DESHAUN WATSON passed for 235 yards & TD vs. INT last week. Has 19 TDs (17 pass, 2 rush) vs. 5 INTs with 119.2 rating in 6 career games vs. Ten., most TD passes vs. any opponent in career. Has 2+ TD passes in each game vs. Ten. & aims for his 3rd in row with 325+ pass yards, 3+ TD passes & 115+ rating. • RB JEROME FORD led team with career-high 131 scrimmage yards (106 rush, 25 rec.) with TD catch last week. • RB PIERRE STRONG rushed for 2nd-career TD in Week 2. • WR AMARI COOPER had team-high 7 catches for 90 yards last week. Has 50+ rec. yards in 5 of his past 6. Has 55+ rec. yards in each of 4 career games vs. Ten., with rec. TD in each of past 2. • WR DONOVAN PEOPLES-JONES had 92 rec. yards & TD catch in last meeting. • TE DAVID NJOKU had 4 catches for 48 yards last week. Had TD catch in last home meeting. • DE MYLES GARRETT has 4 sacks in 3 career games vs. Ten., with sack in each game. Has TFL in 6 of his past 7 vs. AFC South. Has 7.5 sacks over his past 6 home games. • DE ZA’DARIUS SMITH had TFL in Week 2. Has 4 sacks & 2 FFs in his past 2 vs. Ten. • DE OGBO OKORONKWO aims for 3rd in row with TFL. Had career-high 2 sacks in his last game vs. Ten. (12/24/22 w/ Hou.). • LB SIONE TAKITAKI had 1st sack of season last week. • LB JEREMIAH OWUSU-KORAMOAH tied career-best with 2 TFL in Week 2. Has 6+ tackles in 3 of his past 4 at home. • CB DENZEL WARD had 5 tackles, 2 PD & 1st FF of season last week, his 8th-straight game with PD, longest active streak in NFL. • S GRANT DELPIT had 6 tackles, INT & FR last week, 1st-career game with both INT & FR. Aims for 3rd in row with 6+ tackles & PD.
ATLANTA FALCONS (2-0) AT DETROIT LIONS (1-1)
DATE: Sunday, September 24, 2023
GAME TIME: 1:00 PM ET
FOX: Adam Amin, Mark Schlereth, Kristina Pink
SiriusXM (also available on the SXM App) ATL: 132 or 391 DET: 104 or 228
ALL-TIME SERIES HISTORY
REG. SEASON: DET leads series, 25-14 (ATL won 2 of past 3)
THE LAST TIME …
REG. SEASON: 12/26/21: DET 16 at ATL 20
FALCONS NOTES: ATLANTA advanced to 2-0 for 1st time since 2017. • QB DESMOND RIDDER had career highs in pass yards (237) & rush yards (39) & had 2 TDs (1 pass, 1st-career rush TD) in Week 2. • RB BIJAN ROBINSON (rookie) recorded 172 scrimmage yards (124 rush, 48 rec.) in Week 1, his 1st-career game with 100+ rush yards. Ranks 2nd among rookies & 2nd among RBs in scrimmage yards (255) this season & leads all RBs with 10 receptions. • RB TYLER ALLGEIER rushed for 48 yards last week. Has 50+ scrimmage yards in 4 of his past 5 on road & aims for his 3rd in row on road with 115+ scrimmage yards. • WR DRAKE LONDON led team with 6 catches for 67 yards & had 1st rec. TD of season in Week 2, his 5th-career TD catch. Has 5+ catches in 3 of his past 4 on road. Aims for his 3rd in row on road with 7+ catches & 70+ rec. yards. • WR MACK HOLLINS had 60 rec. yards in Week 2. • TE KYLE PITTS had 6 catches for 102 yards in last meeting. • DL GRADY JARRETT had 2 TFL in his only career game at Det. (9/24/17). • DL DAVID ONYEMATA had career-high 2 PD in Week 2 & aims for his 3rd in row with PD. Had sack in his only career game at Det. (10/4/20 w/ NO) & aims for his 3rd in row vs. Det. with TFL. • LB KADEN ELLISS led team with 6 tackles & had 1st sack of season last week, his 9th-career sack. • CB A.J. TERRELL had 2 PD in Week 2, his 7th-career game with 2+ PD. • CB TRE FLOWERS had 1st PD of season last week. • S RICHIE GRANT had 6+ tackles in 7 of his 8 road games last season.
LIONS NOTES: QB JARED GOFF completed 28 of 35 atts. (80 percent) for 323 yards & 3 TDs vs. INT for 121.8 rating in Week 2, his 14th-career game with 300+ pass yards & 3+ TD passes. Had 383 consec. pass atts. between INTs, 3rd-longest streak in NFL history. Has 36 TDs vs. 5 INTs for 112.5 rating in his past 14 home games. Aims for his 5th in row at home with 115+ rating & 7th in row at home with 2+ TD passes. • RB DAVID MONTGOMERY had 74 scrimmage yards (67 rush, 7 rec.) & rush TD in Week 1. Aims for his 3rd in row with rush TD. Had 121 scrimmage yards (67 rush, 54 rec.) & rush TD in his last game vs. Atl. (11/20/22 w/ Chi.). • RB JAHMYR GIBBS (rookie) had team-high 7 receptions & 56 scrimmage yards (39 rec., 17 rush) in Week 2. Aims for his 3rd in row with 50+ scrimmage yards. • WR AMON-RA ST. BROWN had 6 receptions for 102 yards in Week 2, his 7th-career game with 100+ rec. yards. Aims for his 4th in row with 6+ catches. Had 9 catches for 91 yards & rec. TD in last meeting. • WR JOSH REYNOLDS had 5 catches for 66 yards & 2 rec. TDs last week, his 3rd-career game with 2 rec. TDs. • TE SAM LAPORTA had 5 receptions for 63 yards in Week 2, 1st rookie TE ever with 5+ catches in each of his 1st 2 games. • DL AIDAN HUTCHINSON has 0.5+ sacks in 3 of his past 4 at home. Aims for his 3rd in row at home wth PD. • LB ALEX ANZALONE had 1st sack of season in Week 2. Has 5+ tackles in 19 straight games tied for 4th-longest active streak in NFL. • LB JACK CAMPBELL (rookie) had 5 tackles last week. • S KERBY JOSEPH aims for his 3rd in row at home with PD. • CB JERRY JACOBS had career-high 8 tackles in Week 2.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (2-0) AT GREEN BAY PACKERS (1-1)
DATE: Sunday, September 24, 2023
GAME TIME: 1:00 PM ET
FOX: Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma, Shannon Spake
SiriusXM (also available on the SXM App) NO: 121 or 386 GB: 109 or 229
ALL-TIME SERIES HISTORY
REG. SEASON: GB leads series, 17-10 (NO won 3 of past 4)
THE LAST TIME … REG. SEASON: 9/12/21: GB 3 at NO 38
SAINTS NOTES: QB DEREK CARR passed for 228 yards last week. Has 569 pass yards (284.5 per game) & 4 pass TDs in 2 career games vs. GB. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. GB with 275+ pass yards & 2+ TD passes. • QB TAYSOM HILL rushed for 75 yards in Week 2. • RB JAMAAL WILLIAMS had 2 rush TDs in his last game vs. GB (1/8/23 w/ Det.). Had 2,946 scrimmage yards & 18 scrimmage TDs (10 rush, 8 rec.) in 4 seasons (2017-20) with GB. • RB TONY JONES had 1st 2 career rush TDs last week. • WR MICHAEL THOMAS had team-high 7 catches for 55 yards last week. Aims for his 8th in row with 5+ receptions. Had 7 catches for 82 yards in his only career game vs. GB (10/22/17). Has 538 career receptions, most-ever by player in 1st 75 games. • WR CHRIS OLAVE had 6 catches for team-high 86 rec. yards in Week 2. Is 1 of 3 (Justin Jefferson & Puka Nacua) with 85+ rec. yards in each of 1st 2 weeks. Aims for his 4th in row with 5+ catches. • DE CAMERON JORDAN has TFL in 2 of his past 3 on road. Has 3 TFL in his past 4 vs. GB. • DE CARL GRANDERSON had sack & 3rd-career FF in Week 2. Has sack in 4 of his past 5. Aims for his 3rd in row in 2023 & 4th in row on road with sack. • LB DEMARIO DAVIS had 37th-career sack in Week 2. Aims for his 4th in row with TFL & 12th in row with 5+ tackles. Has 3 sacks in 3 career games vs. GB. • CB MARSHON LATTIMORE aims for his 3rd in row with PD. Has PD in 2 of his 3 career games vs. GB. • CB PAULSON ADEBO had 1st-career FR in Week 2. • S MARCUS MAYE had 1st sack of season in Week 2. Aims for his 6th in row with 5+ tackles.
PACKERS NOTES: QB JORDAN LOVE had 3 TD passes vs. 0 INTs for 113.5 rating in Week 2 & became 4th QB ever (Case Keenum, Patrick Mahomes & HOFer Kurt Warner) with 3+ TD passes & 0 INTs in 2 of his 1st 3 career starts. Can make 1st-career home start in Week 3. • RB AARON JONES had 932 scrimmage yards (103.6 per game) & 4 TDs (2 rush, 2 rec.) in 9 home games last season. Rushed for 131 yards & TD in his only career home game vs. NO (10/22/17). Has rush TD in 2 of his 3 career games vs. NO. • RB A.J. DILLON rushed for 55 yards in Week 2. Had 3 rush TDs in his final 3 home games last season. • WR CHRISTIAN WATSON had 6 TDs (5 rec., 1 rush) in his final 7 home games last season. • WR JAYDEN REED (rookie) had 1st 2 career rec. TDs last week. • WR DONTAYVION WICKS (rookie) had 1st-career TD catch in Week 2. • LB QUAY WALKER had career-high 17 tackles & PD in Week 2, his 4th-career game with 10+ tackles & most tackles by any player last week. Has 6 PD in his past 6 & aims for his 3rd in row with PD. Has 5+ tackles in each of his 9 career home games. • LB DE’VONDRE CAMPBELL had 14 tackles last week. Has 5+ tackles in 5 of his past 6 at home. Has 6+ tackles in 4 of his past 5 vs. NO. • LB RASHAN GARY had 1st half sack of season last week. Since Week 4 of 2021, has 12 sacks, 11 TFL, 3 FF & 2 FR in his past 11 home games. • LB PRESTON SMITH aims for his 3rd in row with 5+ tackles. • CB JAIRE ALEXANDER aims for his 3rd in row with PD. • CB RASUL DOUGLAS had 2 PD & 1st INT of season last week, his 15th-career INT. Aims for his 3rd in row with PD.
HOUSTON TEXANS (0-2) AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (1-1)
DATE: Sunday, September 24, 2023
GAME TIME: 1:00 PM ET
FOX: Chris Myers, Robert Smith, Jen Hale
SiriusXM (also available on the SXM App) HOU: 108 or 387 JAX: 83 or 230
ALL-TIME SERIES HISTORY REG. SEASON: HOU leads series, 28-14 (won 9 of past 10)
THE LAST TIME … REG. SEASON: 1/1/23: JAX 31 at HOU 3
TEXANS NOTES: • QB C.J. STROUD (rookie) completed 30 of 47 atts. (63.8 pct.) for 384 yards & 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs with 103.5 rating last week, 2nd-most pass yards in any NFL game this season. Has 58 completions, 2nd-most ever by player in 1st 2 career games, & 626 pass yards, 5th-most ever by player in 1st 2 games. • RB DAMEON PIERCE had 113 scrimmage yards (99 rush, 14 rec.) & rush TD in last road meeting. Has TD in 2 of his past 3 vs. division. Has 75+ scrimmage yards in 6 of 8 career road games. • RB DEVIN SINGLETARY had 7 catches for 43 yards in only career game vs. Jax. (11/7/21 vs. Buf.). • WR NICO COLLINS set career highs in catches (7) & rec. yards (146) & had 4th-career TD catch last week. Is 1 of 4 in NFL with 80+ rec. yards in each of 1st 2 weeks. Has rec. TD in 2 of past 3. Had 65 rec. yards in last road meeting. • WR ROBERT WOODS had 6 catches & 50+ rec. yards in each of 1st 2 weeks, incl. 74 rec. yards last week. Has 5+ catches in 4 of 5 career games vs. Jax. • WR TANK DELL (rookie) had 7 catches for 72 yards & 1st-career TD in Week 2. • DE JERRY HUGHES had sack in last meeting. • LB DENZEL PERRYMAN has 8+ tackles in each of 1st 2 games of season. Has TFL in 3 of his past 4. Has 10 tackles in 2 of his past 3 vs. Jax. • LB HENRY TO’OTO’O (rookie) had 7 tackles in Week 2. • S M.J. STEWART had 10 tackles & 1st FF of season last week. Aims for 3rd in row with 5+ tackles & 3rd in row on road with FR. • CB DEREK STINGLEY had 6 tackles in Week 2. Had 7 tackles. 2 PD & only career INT in last road meeting. • CB STEVEN NELSON aims for 3rd in row with PD.
JAGS NOTES: • QB TREVOR LAWRENCE totaled 242 yards (216 pass, 26 rush) with 0 INTs last week. Completed 17 of 21 atts. (81 pct.) for 152 yards in last meeting. Has 10 TDs (7 pass, 3 rush) vs. 2 INTs with 106.1 rating in his past 5 starts vs. division. • RB TRAVIS ETIENNE had 100+ scrimmage yards in both games vs. Hou. last season, incl. 140 scrimmage yards (108 rush, 32 rec.) & rush TD in last meeting. Has rush TD in 2 of his past 3 vs. division. • WR CHRISTIAN KIRK led team with career-high 11 catches for 110 yards last week. Aims for his 4th in row at home with 6+ catches & 90+ rec. yards. • WR CALVIN RIDLEY had 5 catches for 88 yards & TD in only career game vs. Hou. (10/6/19 w/ Atl.). • TE EVAN ENGRAM had 6 catches for 57 yards last week. Is 1 of 2 AFC TEs (Hunter Henry) with 5+ catches in each of 1st 2 weeks. Had 6 catches for 69 yards in last home meeting. • LB JOSH ALLEN had 6 tackles, sack & FF in last meeting. Has 6 sacks in his past 4 vs. divison, with sack in each game. • LB FOYESADE OLUOKUN had 10 tackles & 4th-career FR last week. Aims for his 4th in row with 10+ tackles. Has PD in 4 of past 5. Had 8 tackles, 2 TFL & sack in last home meeting. • LB DEVIN LLOYD led team with 11 tackles & had 2 PD in Week 2. Had 6+ tackles in both games vs. Hou. last season. • LB K’LAVON CHAISSON had 4th-career sack last week. Had sack in last meeting. • S ANDRE CISCO had 2 PD & 4th-career INT last week. Aims for 3rd in row at home with PD. Cisco & CB TYSON CAMPBELL are 2 of 3 in AFC (Amani Hooker) with INT & FF this season. • S RAYSHAWN JENKINS had 8 tackles & 2 PD in Week 2. Aims for his 9th in row at home with 5+ tackles & 4th in row with PD.
DENVER BRONCOS (0-2) AT MIAMI DOLPHINS (2-0)
DATE: Sunday, September 24, 2023
GAME TIME: 1:00 PM ET
CBS: Kevin Harlan, Trent Green, Melanie Collins
SiriusXM (also available on the SXM App) DEN: 98 or 388 MIA: 158 or 231
ALL-TIME SERIES HISTORY
REG. SEASON: MIA lead series, 12-6-1 (DEN won 3 of past 4)
POSTSEASON: DEN leads series, 1-0
THE LAST TIME …
REG. SEASON: 11/22/20: MIA 13 at DEN 20
POSTSEASON: 1/9/99 AFC-DIV: MIA 3 at DEN 38
BRONCOS NOTES: QB RUSSELL WILSON totaled 364 yards (308 pass, 56 rush) with 3 TD passes vs. INT for 107.3 rating last week, his 5th-career game with 300+ pass yards & 50+ rush yards, 3rd-most in NFL history. Is 1 of 3 QBs (Kirk Cousins & Jordan Love) with 2+ TD passes & 100+ rating in each of 1st 2 weeks. Has 5 TD passes with 101.5 rating in 3 career starts vs. Mia. Has 5,023 career rush yards & became 3rd QB ever (Cam Newton & Michael Vick) with 5,000+ career rush yards. • RB JAVONTE WILLIAMS had 58 scrimmage yards (44 rush, 14 rec.) last week & aims for 3rd in row with 55+ scrimmage yards. • RB JALEEL MCLAUGHLIN (rookie) had 1st-career rush TD last week. • WR COURTLAND SUTTON had team-high 5 catches for 66 yards in Week 2. Has rec. TD in 2 of past 3. • WR JERRY JEUDY has 5+ catches in 5 of his past 6. • WR BRANDON JOHNSON had career-high 66 rec. yards & 2 rec. TDs in Week 2. • WR MARVIN MIMS had 113 rec. yards, incl. 60-yard TD catch last week, becoming 1st Den. rookie with 100+ rec. yards in a game since 2020 (Jerry Jeudy). • S JUSTIN SIMMONS led team with 10 tackles last week. Has 5+ tackles & INT in each of 2 career games vs. Mia, incl. INT-TD in last road meeting. Has 27 career INTs, tied-4th most among active safeties. • CB PAT SURTAIN III is 1 of 6 in AFC with 3+ PD (3) this season. • LB JOSEY JEWELL had 9 tackles & PD in Week 2, his 15thstraight game with 5+ tackles. • LB RANDY GREGORY had 2 TFL, sack & PD last week. • LB JONATHON COOPER had career-best 8 tackles, team-high 2 sacks & 1st-career FF in Week 2. • LB NIK BONITTO had 2 TFL & 1st sack of season last week
DOLPHINS NOTES: DOLPHINS can begin season 3-0 in consecutive years for 1st time since 1994-96. • QB TUA TAGOVAILOA completed 21 of 30 atts. (70 pct.) for 249 yards & TD vs. INT with 92.2 rating last week. Had 8 TDs vs. 3 INTs & 103.4 rating in 6 home starts last season, with 0 INTs in 5 of 6 starts. Leads NFL with 715 pass yards this season. • RB RAHEEM MOSTERT led team with 121 rush yards & 2 rush TDs in Week 2, his 3rd-career game with 115+ rush yards & 2ndcareer game with 2 rush TDs. Aims for his 5th in row with 50+ scrimmage yards. Ties for NFL lead with 3 rush TDs this season & is only AFC RB with rush TD in each of 1st 2 weeks. • WR TYREEK HILL had 5 catches for 40 yards & TD last week, his 3rd-straight game with 5+ catches, incl. playoffs. Leads NFL with 3 rec. TDs this season & ranks 3rd with 255 rec. yards. • WR JAYLEN WADDLE led team with 86 rec. yards last week & is 1 of 3 in AFC (Keenan Allen & Nico Collins) with 75+ rec. yards in each of 1st 2 weeks. Aims for his 4th in row at home with 5+ catches. • CB XAVIEN HOWARD had 6 tackles & 1st INT of season last week. Aims for his 5th in row with PD. Has 7 PD & 3 INTs in 2 career games vs. Den. Has 29 career INTs & can become 6th active player with 30. • S JEVON HOLLAND led team with 11 tackles & had PD last week. Is 1 of 2 DBs (Camryn Bynum) with 10+ tackles in each of 1st 2 weeks. Aims for 6th in row with 5+ tackles. • LB BRADLEY CHUBB had 7 tackles, 2 TFL, sack & FF in Week 2. Aims for 3rd in row with TFL. Was selected No. 5 overall by Den. in 2018 & had 33 TFL & 26 sacks in 49 career games (2018-22). • LB DAVID LONG had 7 tackles & 1st-career sack last week. • LB ANDREW VAN GINKEL had sack last week. Had FF in last meeting. • DT CHRISTIAN WILKINS had 1st sack of season in Week 2.
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (0-2) AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS (0-2)
DATE: Sunday, September 24, 2023
GAME TIME: 1:00 PM ET
FOX: Kevin Kugler, Mark Sanchez, Laura Okmin
SiriusXM (also available on the SXM App) LAC: 99 or 389 MIN: 113 or 232
ALL-TIME SERIES HISTORY
REG. SEASON: MIN leads series, 8-6 (won past 3)
THE LAST TIME …
REG. SEASON: 11/14/21: MIN 27 at LAC 20
CHARGERS NOTES: QB JUSTIN HERBERT passed for 305 yards & 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs with 104.2 rating last week, his 23rd-career game with 300+ pass yards, surpassing HOFer Dan Marino for 3rd-most such games ever by QB in 1st 4 seasons. Has 8 TDs (7 pass, 1 rush) vs. 0 INTs with 107 rating over his past 4 in reg. season. • RB AUSTIN EKELER had TD catch in last meeting. Has 4 rush TDs in his past 3 on road, incl. playoffs. Has 393 catches in 90 career games & can become 4th-fastest RB ever to reach 400 catches. • WR KEENAN ALLEN had 8 catches for team-high 111 yards & 2 TDs last week, his 9th-career game with 2+ rec. TDs. Has 5+ catches in 10 straight games, tied 2nd-longest active streak in NFL. Aims for his 4th in row on road with 100+ rec. yards. Has 29 catches & 330 rec. yards (110 per game) in 3 career games vs. Min., with 8+ catches & 95+ rec. yards in each game. • WR MIKE WILLIAMS had 8 catches for 83 yards in Week 2. Has 75+ rec. yards in 7 of his past 8 on road. • TE GERALD EVERETT had 47 rec. yards last week. Had 5 catches for 54 yards in his last game vs. Min. (9/26/21 w/ Sea.). • LB JOEY BOSA led team with 2 sacks in Week 2, his 11th-career game with 2+ sacks. Had sack & FF in last meeting. Aims for his 4th in row on road with TFL. • LB KHALIL MACK had 5 tackles & PD last week. • LB KENNETH MURRAY had 10 tackles, 2 TFL & 1st sack of season last week. Had TFL in last meeting. • LB TULI TUIPULOTU (rookie) had 1st-career sack in Week 2. Aims for 3rd in row with TFL. • S DERWIN JAMES led team with 11 tackles last week, his 3rd-straight game with 6+ tackles. Has PD in 3 of his past 4. Had 8+ tackles in both career games vs. Min. incl. 12 tackles & PD in last meeting.
VIKINGS NOTES: QB KIRK COUSINS completed 31 of 44 atts. (70.5 pct.) for 364 yards & 4 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 125.6 rating, his 48th-career 300- yard game & 8th-career game with 4+ TD passes. Can become 5th QB ever with 325+ pass yards & 2+ TD passes in each of his team’s 1st 3 games of season. Is 9-2 with 25 TDs (23 pass, 2 rush) vs. 5 INTs for 102.5 rating in his past 11 home starts. Passed for 294 yards & 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 109.5 rating in last meeting. • WR JUSTIN JEFFERSON had 11 catches for 159 yards in Week 2. Has 10 career games with 150+ rec. yards, tied with HOFer Lance Alworth (10) for most by player in his 1st 4 seasons in NFL history. Has 5,134 rec. yards in 52 career games, tied with Alworth (52) for fewest games to reach 5,000 rec. yards in NFL history. Is 5th player since 1970 with 150+ rec. yards in each of his team’s 1st 2 games of season & 1st since 2011 (Steve Smith). Can become 1st player since 2013 (Josh Gordon) with 150+ rec. yards in 3 straight games. Has 100+ rec. yards in 3 straight games twice in his career (Weeks 4-6 & Weeks 14-16 in 2022). Had 9 catches for 143 yards in last meeting. • WR JORDAN ADDISON can become 5th rookie ever with 50+ rec. yards & rec. TD in each of his 1st 3 career games. • TE T.J. HOCKENSON had 7 catches for 66 yards & 2 rec. TDs in Week 2, his 3rd-career game with 2 rec. TDs. Has 7+ catches in 4 of his past 5. Can become 3rd TE ever with 7+ receptions in each of his team’s 1st 3 games of a season. • LB DANIELLE HUNTER had 3 sacks in Week 2, his 4th-career game with 3+ sacks. Aims for his 3rd in row with sack & 2+ TFL. Had sack, 2 FF & FR in his only career game vs. LAC (12/15/19). • DL HARRISON PHILLIPS had career-high 13 tackles last week. • S CAMRYN BYNUM career-high 15 tackles last week.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (0-2) AT NEW YORK JETS (1-1)
DATE: Sunday, September 24, 2023
GAME TIME: 1:00 PM ET
CBS: Jim Nantz, Tony Romo, Tracy Wolfson
SiriusXM (also available on the SXM App) NE: 135 or 385 NYJ: 82 or 227
ALL-TIME SERIES HISTORY
REG. SEASON: NE leads series, 71-53-1 (won past 14)
POSTSEASON: NE leads series, 2-1
THE LAST TIME …
REG. SEASON: 11/20/22: NYJ 3 at NE 10
POSTSEASON: 1/16/11 AFC-DIV: NYJ 28 at NE 21
PATS NOTES: • QB MAC JONES completed 31 of 42 atts. (73.8 pct.) for 231 yards & TD vs. INT last week. Aims for 4th in row with 225+ pass yards. Has 2+ TD passes in 4 of past 5. Completed 23 of 27 atts. (career-high 85.2 pct.) for 246 yards with 104.6 rating in last meeting. Has 0 INTs in 3 of 4 career starts vs. NYJ. • RB RHAMONDRE STEVENSON rushed for 50 yards & 1st TD of season last week. Aims for 5th in row with 50+ scrimmage yards. Has 80+ scrimmage yards in 6 of his past 7 on road. Had 225 scrimmage yards (112.5 per game) in 2 games vs. NYJ last season. • RB EZEKIEL ELLIOTT had 153 scrimmage yards (105 rush, 48 rec.) in only career game vs. NYJ (10/13/19 w/ Dal.). • WR DEVANTE PARKER had 6 catches for team-high 57 rec. yards in season debut last week. Aims for his 3rd in row with 6+ catches & 50+ rec. yards. Has 75+ rec. yards in 2 of his past 3 on road. • WR JUJU SMITH-SCHUSTER had 5 catches in Week 2. • TE HUNTER HENRY is 1 of 2 in NFL (Mike Evans) with 5+ catches, 50+ rec. yards & rec. TD in each of 1st 2 weeks. Has 5+ catches in 4 straight games, longest active streak among TEs. • TE MIKE GESICKI had 5 catches in Week 2.Has 40+ rec. yards in 3 of his past 4 vs. NYJ. • LB MATTHEW JUDON has sack in each of 1st 2 weeks of season. Had 1.5 sacks in last meeting. • LB JOSH UCHE had sack in last road meeting. Had 0.5+ sacks in 4 of his final 5 road games last season. • S KYLE DUGGER had TFL & PD last week. Had sack in last meeting. • CB CHRISTIAN GONZALEZ (rookie) had 1st-career INT last week. Aims for 3rd in row with 6+ tackles & PD. • CB MYLES BRYANT had 6 tackles, career-high 2 TFL & PD in Week 2. Aims for his 6th in row with 5+ tackles.
JETS NOTES: QB ZACH WILSON totaled 206 yards (170 pass, 36 rush) last week. Had career-high 355 pass yards with 2 TD passes in last home meeting. Has 0 INTs in 2 of his past 3 starts vs. NE. • RB BREECE HALL has 70+ scrimmage yards in 6 of his past 7. Has 344 scrimmage yards (172 per game) in 2 career games vs. division. Has 497 scrimmage yards (124.3 per game) in 4 career home games. • RB DALVIN COOK has 162 scrimmage yards (81 per game) in 2 career games vs. NE. • WR GARRETT WILSON had 83 rec. yards last week, incl. 68-yard TD catch, longest reception of career. Is 1 of 2 AFC WRs (Tyreek Hill) with rec. TD in each of 1st 2 weeks. Has 80+ rec. yards in 2 of past 3. Had 6 catches for 115 yards in last home meeting. • WR ALLEN LAZARD had 6 catches for 116 yards in only career game vs. NE (10/2/22 w/ GB). • WR MECOLE HARDMAN has rec. TD in each of 2 career games vs. NE. • TE TYLER CONKLIN had team-high 5 catches for 50 yards in Week 2. Had 6 catches for 79 yards in last home meeting. • DL QUINNEN WILLIAMS had 6 tackles & 2 TFL last week. Aims for 3rd in row with TFL. Had sack in both games vs. NE last season & has TFL in each of 5 career games vs. NE. • DL SOLOMON THOMAS had 1st sack of season in Week 2. • LB C.J. MOSLEY had 9 tackles, TFL & PD last week. Aims for his 6th in row with 7+ tackles. Aims for his 4th in row vs. NE with 9+ tackles. • CB SAUCE GARDNER had 6 tackles, PD & 1st-career FF last week. Had 2 TFL in last home meeting. • S JORDAN WHITEHEAD had 9 tackles & TFL in Week 2. Had 6 tackles & 2 TFL in last meeting. Leads NFL with 3 INTs this season.
BUFFALO BILLS (1-1) AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (2-0)
DATE: Sunday, September 24, 2023
GAME TIME:1:00 PM ET
CBS: Andrew Catalon, Tiki Barber, Matt Ryan, AJ Ross
SiriusXM (also available on the SXM App) BUF: 146 or 390 WAS: 111 or 233
ALL-TIME SERIES HISTORY
REG. SEASON: BUF leads series, 10-5 (won 8 of past 9)
POSTSEASON: WAS leads series, 1-0
THE LAST TIME …
REG. SEASON: 9/26/21: WAS 21 at BUF 43
POSTSEASON: 1/26/92 SB XXVI: WAS 37 at BUF 24
BILLS NOTES: QB JOSH ALLEN completed 31 of 37 atts. (83.8 pct.) for 274 yards & 3 TDs vs. 0 INTs with 124.5 rating last week. Has 180 career combined pass & rush TDs, surpassing Russell Wilson (177) for 4th-most ever by QB in 1st 6 seasons. Passed for 358 yards with 5 TDs (4 pass, 1 rush) vs. 0 INTs & 129.8 rating in last meeting. Has 7 TDs (5 pass, 2 rush) with 123.6 rating in 2 career starts vs. Was. Has 2+ TD passes in 4 of his past 5 vs. NFC. • RB JAMES COOK rushed for career-high 123 yards in Week 2. Aims for his 5th in row with 50+ scrimmage yards. • RB LATAVIUS MURRAY had 1st rush TD of season last week. Had 68 rush yards & rush TD in only career game vs. Was. (11/12/17 w/ Min.). • RB DAMIEN HARRIS had 1st rush TD of season in Week 2. • WR STEFON DIGGS had 7 catches for 66 yards in last week & is 1 of 5 in NFL with 7+ catches in each of 1st 2 weeks. Has 447 rec. yards (111.8 per game) in 4 career games vs. Was. Has 75+ rec. yards in 4 of his past 5 vs. NFC. • WR GABE DAVIS had 6 catches for team-high 92 yards & TD in Week 2. Has rec. TD in 2 of his past 3 on road. • TE DAWSON KNOX had 1st TD catch of season last week. Has rec. TD in 5 of his past 6. Had TD catch in last meeting. • TE DALTON KINCAID (rookie) had 5 catches for 43 yards last week. • DE GREG ROUSSEAU had TFL & PD in Week 2. Has sack in 3 of his past 4 vs. NFC. • DT ED OLIVER aims for 3rd in row with TFL. Has 0.5+ sacks in 3 of his past 4 on road. • LB MATT MILANO is 1st LB since 2013 (DeAndre Levy) with INT in each of team’s 1st 2 games of season. Aims for his 5th in row with PD. Had 7 tackles, 2 TFL & FR in last meeting. • LB TERREL BERNARD had 1st-career INT last week.
COMMANDERS NOTES: COMMANDERS overcame 18-point deficit to win in Week 2, largest road comeback win since 11/4/90 (21-point deficit at Det.). • QB SAM HOWELL had career highs in completions (27), pass yards (299), pass TDs (2) & rating (108.8) in Week 2, his 1stcareer game with 100+ rating. Has pass TD & rush TD in each of his 1st 2 home starts. • RB BRIAN ROBINSON had career-high 129 scrimmage yards (87 rush, career-high 42 rec.) & 1st-career game with 2 rush TDs last week. Aims for his 3rd in row with TD & 10th in row with 50+ scrimmage yards. • RB ANTONIO GIBSON had 53 scrimmage yards (44 rec., 9 rush) last week. Had 104 scrimmage yards (73 rec., 31 rush) & TD catch in last meeting. • WR TERRY MCCLAURIN led team with 5 receptions for 54 yards & rec. TD last week, his 22nd-career TD catch. Had 62 rec. yards in last meeting. Has 50+ scrimmage yards in 9 of his past 11 at home. • TE LOGAN THOMAS had 1st TD catch of season last week, his 13th-career rec. TD. Had rec. TD in last meeting. • DE CHASE YOUNG tied his career high with 1.5 sacks in Week 2. • DE MONTEZ SWEAT had 1.5 sacks last week & aims for his 3rd in row with 1.5+ sacks. • DT DARON PAYNE had sack & 2 TFL in Week 2. Has 2+ TFL in 3 of his past 4. • LB CODY BARTON led team with 10 tackles & had FR last week, his 10th-career game with 10+ tackles. • CB EMMANUEL FORBES (rookie) had 1st-career INT in Week 2. Aims for his 3rd in row with PD. • S KAMREN CURL aims for his 3rd in row with 9+ tackles.
CAROLINA PANTHERS (0-2) AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (1-1)
DATE: Sunday, September 24, 2023
GAME TIME: 4:05 PM ET
CBS: Ian Eagle, Charles Davis, Evan Washburn
SiriusXM (also available on the SXM App) CAR: 133 or 383 SEA: 85 or 225
ALL-TIME SERIES HISTORY
REG. SEASON: SEA leads series, 8-4 (won 3 of past 4)
POSTSEASON: SEA leads series, 2-1
THE LAST TIME …
REG. SEASON: 12/11/22: CAR 30 at SEA 24
POSTSEASON: 1/17/16 NFC-DIV: SEA 24 at CAR 31
PANTHERS NOTES: QB BRYCE YOUNG (rookie) aims for his 3rd in row with 20+ completions & TD pass. • RB MILES SANDERS had 43 rush yards last week. Has 70+ scrimmage yards in 3 of his past 4 road games. • RB CHUBA HUBBARD tied his career high with 5 receptions & had 50 scrimmage yards (34 rec., 16 rush) in Week 2. Aims for his 5th in row on road & 9th in row overall with 50+ scrimmage yards. Had 99 scrimmage yards (74 rush, 25 rec.) & rush TD in last meeting. • WR ADAM THIELEN led team with 7 receptions & 54 rec. yards & had 1st rec. TD of season in Week 2. Has 20 receptions for 200 yards & 3 rec. TDs in his past 3 vs. Sea. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. Sea. with TD catch & 4th in row vs. Sea. with 5+ catches & 50+ rec. yards. • LB BRIAN BURNS has TFL in 4 of his past 5 overall & 4 of his past 5 on road. Had half sack in last meeting. • LB FRANKIE LUVU had 9 tackles, 3 TFL & 2 sacks in Week 2, his 2nd-career 2-sack game. Aims for his 3rd in row with sack. Has 12 TFL in his past 7. Had 2 TFL, sack & PD in last meeting. • LB JUSTIN HOUSTON had 1st half sack of season in Week 2 & has 112 career sacks, tied 3rd-most among active players. Aims for his 3rd in row with TFL. Had 2 TFL & sack in his only career game at Sea. (12/23/18 w/ KC). • DT DERRICK BROWN aims for his 4th in row with 7+ tackles. • S VONN BELL had 7th-career INT last week. Had 9 tackles & FR-TD in his only career game at Sea. (9/22/19 w/ NO). • S XAVIER WOODS had 8 tackles & 2 PD in Week 2. • CB C.J. HENDERSON had 7 tackles last week. Had INT in last meeting.
SEAHAWKS NOTES: • QB GENO SMITH completed 32 of 41 atts. (78 percent) for 328 yards & 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 116.3 rating in Week 2, his 8thcareer game with 300+ pass yards. Has TD pass in 11 of his past 12 home starts. Had 3 TDs vs. 2 INTs in last meeting. • RB KENNETH WALKER had 1st 2 rush TDs of season last week. Has 4 games with 2 rush TDs since 2022, 2nd-most among RBs. Has 50+ scrimmage yards 6 of his past 7 home games & aims for his 5th in row at home with 65+ scrimmage yards. • WR TYLER LOCKETT led team with 8 receptions for 59 yards & 2 rec. TDs last week, his 10th-career game with 2+ rec. TDs, 6th-most among active WRs. Has 423 scrimmage yards (105.8 per game) & 4 TDs (3 rec., 1 rush) in his past 4 vs. Car. Aims for his 5th in row vs. Car. with TD. • WR DK METCALF had 6 catches for team-high 75 yards in Week 2. Had 5 catches for 71 yards & TD in last meeting & aims for his 3rd in row vs. Car. with TD catch. • WR JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA (rookie) had 5 receptions in Week 2. • TE NOAH FANT had 56 rec. yards last week, his 18th-career game with 50+ rec. yards. • LB BOBBY WAGNER had 10 tackles last week & aims for his 3rd in row with 10+ tackles. Has 5+ tackles in each of his 6 career games vs. Car. • LB JORDYN BROOKS had 11 tackles in Week 2 & aims for his 3rd in row with 11+ tackles. Had 10 tackles in last meeting. Has 21 games with 10+ tackles since 2021, 2nd-most in NFL. • CB TRE BROWN had 1st-career sack, 1st-career FF & 40-yard INT-TD in Week 2, his 1st-career INT & 1st-career TD. • S JULIAN LOVE led team with 13 tackles & had 3rd-career FR in Week 2. Had sack in his last game vs. Car. (9/18/22 w/ NYG).
DALLAS COWBOYS (2-0) AT ARIZONA CARDINALS (0-2)
DATE: Sunday, September 24, 2023
GAME TIME: 4:25 PM EST
FOX: Joe Davis, Daryl Johnston, Pam Oliver
SiriusXM (also available on the SXM App) DAL: 134 or 384 AZ: 81 or 226
ALL-TIME SERIES HISTORY
REG. SEASON: DAL leads series, 56-33-1 (ARI won 6 of past 7)
POSTSEASON: ARI leads series, 1-0
THE LAST TIME …
REG. SEASON: 1/2/22: ARI 25 at DAL 22
POSTSEASON: 1/2/99 NFC-WC: ARI 20 at DAL 7
COWBOYS NOTES: DALLAS became 5th team in SB era to score 70+ points & allow 10-or-fewer points in 1st 2 weeks of season. • QB DAK PRESCOTT completed 31 of 38 atts. (81.6 pct.) for 255 yards & 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 112.2 rating in Week 2, his 8th-career start with 80+ comp. pct., 3rd-most among QBs since 2016. Has 6 TDs (5 pass, 1 rush) vs. 0 INTs for 117.3 rating in 2 career starts vs. Ari. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. Ari. with 2+ TD passes & 100+ rating. • RB TONY POLLARD had career-high 7 receptions & 109 scrimmage yards (72 rush, 37 rec.) last week, his 13th-career game with 100+ scrimmage yards. Has 5 TDs (3 rush, 2 rec.) in his past 5 on road. • WR CEEDEE LAMB led team & tied his career high with 11 receptions & had 143 rec. yards in Week 2, his 11th-career game with 100+ rec. yards. Has 5+ catches in 8 of his past 9 on road & in 11 of his past 12 overall. • TE JAKE FERGUSON had 1st rec. TD of season in Week 2. • TE LUKE SCHOONMAKER (rookie) had 1st career rec. TD last week. • LB MICAH PARSONS had 2 sacks, 3 TFL, his 7th-career FF & 4th-career FR in Week 2. Is 6th player since 1982 with 10+ games (10) of 2+ sacks in 1st 3 seasons. Aims for his 3rd in row overall with sack. Had 2 TFL in last meeting. • DT OSA ODIGHIZUWA had sack in Week 2. Aims for his 3rd in row on road & 4th in row overall with sack. • CB TREVON DIGGS had 2 PD & 1st INT of season last week. Has 18 career INTs, tied-most in NFL since 2020. • S JAYRON KEARSE & S MALIK HOOKER each had 1st INTs of season in Week 2.
CARDS NOTES: QB JOSH DOBBS completed 21 of 31 atts. (67.7 pct.) for 228 yards & 2 TDs (1 pass, 1 rush) vs. 0 INTs for career-high 99.9 rating last week, his 1st-career game with 2+ TDs & his 1stcareer rush TD. Aims for his 5th start in row with 20+ completions. • RB JAMES CONNER rushed for 106 yards & had 1st rush TD of season in Week 2, his 11th-career game with 100+ rush yards. Has 50+ scrimmage yards in 22 consec. games, 3rd-longest active streak in NFL. Aims for his 5th in row at home with 100+ scrimmage yards & 6th in row at home with TD. • TE ZACH ERTZ had 6 catches for 56 yards in Week 2. Is 1 of 2 TEs (T.J. Hockenson) with 6+ catches in each of 1st 2 weeks. Has 68 career games with 5+ catches, 3rd-most among active TEs. Had 7 receptions in last meeting. • WR MARQUISE BROWN had 6 catches for 54 yards & 1st rec. TD of season last week, his 25th-career TD catch. Has 50+ scrimmage yards in 4 of his past 5 & aims for his 3rd in row with 50+ scrimmage yards. Had rec. TD in his only career game vs. Dal. (12/8/20 w/ Bal.). • WR MICHAEL WILSON (rookie) had 56 rec. yards in Week 2. • S JALEN THOMPSON had 7 tackles, TFL & 6th-career INT last week. Aims for his 8th in row with 5+ tackles. • S K’VON WALLACE led team & tied his career high with 8 tackles in Week 2. • S ANDRE CHACHERE had 1st 2 career PD last week. • LB ZAVEN COLLINS had 1st half sack of season in Week 2. Has PD in 3 of his past 4. Has TFL in 3 of his past 4 at home. • LB KYZIR WHITE had 1st sack of season last week. • LB DENNIS GARDECK had sack & 2 TFL in Week 2. Aims for his 3rd in row with sack & TFL. Had FR in last meeting.
CHICAGO BEARS (0-2) AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (1-1)
DATE: Sunday, September 24, 2023
GAME TIME: 4:25 PM ET
FOX: Kevin Burkhardt, Greg Olsen, Erin Andrews, Tom Rinaldi
SiriusXM (also available on the SXM App) CHI: 135 or 385 KC: 82 or 227
ALL-TIME SERIES HISTORY
REG. SEASON: CHI leads series, 7-6 (Away team won past 3)
THE LAST TIME …
REG. SEASON: 12/22/19: KC 26 at CHI 3
BEARS NOTES: QB JUSTIN FIELDS passed for 211 yards & had 2 TDs (1 pass, 1 rush) in Week 2, his 11th-career rush TD. Has rush TD in 4 of his past 5 on road. Aims for his 7th in row on road with TD pass. • RB KHALIL HERBERT had 58 scrimmage yards (35 rush, 23 rec.) in Week 2. Aims for his 3rd in row with 50+ scrimmage yards. • WR DJ MOORE led team with 6 receptions for 104 yards in Week 2, his 1st 100-yard game with Chi. & 16th of his career. Has 100+ rec. yards in 2 of his past 3 on road. • WR CHASE CLAYPOOL had his 13th career rec. TD last week, his 1st TD catch with Chi. • TE COLE KMET had 4 catches for 38 yards last week. Has 4+ receptions in 6 of his past 7. • LB TREMAINE EDMUNDS led team & tied his career high with 16 tackles in Week 2, his 17th-career game with 10+ tackles. Has 47 tackles (9.4 per game) in 5 career games vs. KC, incl. playoffs. Had 10 tackles in his last game at KC (10/16/22 w/ Buf.). • LB T.J. EDWARDS had 12 tackles in Week 2 & is 1 of 7 with 10+ tackles in each of 1st 2 weeks. Aims for his 6th in row in reg. season with 10+ tackles. Had 6 tackles & PD vs. KC in SB LVII (w/ Phi.). • DL YANNICK NGAKOUE had sack in his last game vs. KC (9/25/22 w/ Ind.). Aims for his 3rd in row overall vs. KC & 3rd in row at KC with sack. Has TFL in 4 of his past 5 vs. KC. • DL RASHEEM GREEN had blocked FG last week, 1st Chi. blocked field goal since 10/9/22. • DB JAQUAN BRISKER had 5 tackles & PD in Week 2. Aims for his 4th in row with PD & 9th in row with 5+ tackles. • DB JAYLON JOHNSON had 3rd-career FF in Week 2. • DB TYRIQUE STEVENSON (rookie) aims for his 3rd in row with 5+ tackles.
CHIEFS NOTES: QB PATRICK MAHOMES completed 29 of 41 atts. (70.7 pct.) for 305 yards & 2 TDs vs. INT with 98.1 rating last week, his 42ndcareer game with 300+ pass yards, surpassing HOFer Dan Marino (41 games) & Matt Ryan (41) for most ever by QB in 1st 9 seasons (Mahomes currently in 7th season). Passed for 251 yards with 3 TDs (2 pass, 1 rush) vs. 0 INTs for 112.1 rating in last meeting. Aims for his 6th in row at home with 2+ TD passes, incl. playoffs. • RB ISIAH PACHECO led team with 70 rush yards in Week 2. Aims for his 7th in row with 50+ scrimmage yards, incl. playoffs. • RB JERICK MCKINNON has 386 scrimmage yards (96.5 per game) & 4 TDs (2 rush, 2 rec.) in his past 4 vs. Chi. • TE TRAVIS KELCE had 70th-career TD catch in season debut last week, his 4th-straight game with rec. TD, incl. playoffs. Had 8 catches for 74 yards & TD in last meeting. Has 818 career receptions & surpassed HOFer Shannon Sharpe (815) for 4th-most ever by TE. • WR SKYY MOORE led team with career-high 70 rec. yards & had 1st-career reg. season TD catch in Week 2. • WR KADARIUS TONEY had team-high 5 catches last week. • WR JUSTIN WATSON aims for his 4th in row with 45+ rec. yards. • DT CHRIS JONES had 1.5 sacks & PD in season debut last week. Has 6 sacks in his past 4 in reg. season, with sack in each game. Had sack in last meeting. Had 8 sacks in 8 home games last season. • DE GEORGE KARLAFTIS had career-best 1.5 sacks last week. Has 0.5+ sacks in 4 of his past 5. • LB NICK BOLTON led team with 8 tackles in Week 2 & aims for his 12th in row with 7+ tackles. Has 10+ tackles in 3 of his past 4 vs. NFC. • CB L’JARIUS SNEED had 7 tackles, 2 PD, TFL & FR last week. Aims for 3rd in row with 6+ tackles & TFL. • S JUSTIN REID aims for 4th in row with 6+ tackles.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS (1-1) AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (1-1)
DATE: Sunday, September 24, 2023 GAME TIME: 8:20 PM ET
NBC: Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth, Melissa Stark
Westwood One: Ryan Radtke, Mike Golic
SiriusXM (also available on the SXM App) PIT: 81 or 226 LV: 85 or 225 National: 88
ALL-TIME SERIES HISTORY
REG. SEASON: LV leads series, 14-11 (won 2 of past 3)
POSTSEASON: Series tied, 3-3
THE LAST TIME …
REG. SEASON: 12/24/22: LV 10 at PIT 13
POSTSEASON: 1/1/84 AFC-DIV: PIT 10 at LAA 38
STEELERS NOTES: QB KENNY PICKETT passed for 222 yards with TD vs. INT last week. Completed 26 of 39 atts. (66.7 pct.) for 244 yards with TD vs. INT in last meeting. Aims for his 4th in row on road with 0 INTs. Is 4-0 in his past 4 starts in primetime. • RB NAJEE HARRIS rushed for 43 yards last week. Had 95 scrimmage yards (53 rush, 42 rec.) in last meeting. Aims for 3rd in row vs. LV with 80+ scrimmage yards & 5+ catches. Aims for his 3rd in row on road with TD. Has 389 scrimmage yards (97.3 per game) with 3 TDs (2 rec., 1 rush) in 4 career games on SNF. • RB JAYLEN WARREN had 86 scrimmage yards (career-high 66 rec., 20 rush) in Week 2. Aims for 3rd in row with 4+ catches. • WR GEORGE PICKENS had 4 catches for career-high 127 yards & 1st TD of season. Has 70+ rec. yards & TD catch in 2 of his past 3. Had 5 catches for 57 yards & TD in last meeting. Has 55+ rec. yards in 4 of his past 5 in primetime. • WR ALLEN ROBINSON has 6+ catches in 3 of his past 4 on SNF. • TE PAT FREIERMUTH had 7 catches for 66 yards in last meeting. • LB T.J. WATT had 2 TFL, sack, PD & go-ahead 16-yard FRTD in 4th qtr. last week, 1st-career TD. Is 2nd player since 2000 (Bertrand Berry in 2009) with sack & FR in each of team’s 1st 2 games of season. Tied for NFL lead with 4 sacks in 2023. Aims for his 5th in row with 0.5+ sacks. Had TFL & PD in last meeting. • LB ALEX HIGHSMITH had 7 tackles, sack, FF & 1st-career INTTD last week. Aims for 4th in row with 7+ tackles & TFL. Had sack in last meeting. Has sack in 3 of his past 4 in primetime. • LB COLE HOLCOMB had 8 tackles, TFL & FF last week. Is only player in NFL with FF in each of 1st 2 weeks of season. • DT LARRY OGUNJOBI had sack & FR in Week 2. Had TFL in last meeting. Aims for his 5th in row vs. AFC West with TFL.
RAIDERS NOTES: QB JIMMY GAROPPOLO completed 16 of 24 atts. (66.7 pct.) for 185 yards last week. Had 277 pass yards in only career start vs. Pit. (9/22/19 w/ SF). Has 11 TDs (10 pass, 1 rush) vs. 4 INTs with 100.8 rating in 8 career starts on SNF. Is 3-0 with 6 TDs (5 pass, 1 rush) vs. 0 INTs & 111.6 rating in his past 3 starts in primetime. • RB JOSH JACOBS had 5 catches for 51 yards in Week 2. Had 50 scrimmage yards (44 rush, 6 rec.) in last meeting. Has 95+ scrimmage yards in 6 of his past 7 at home. Has 1,200 scrimmage yards (92.3 per game) & 10 rush TDs in 13 career games in primetime, with 100+ scrimmage yards & rush TD in 3 of his past 4. • WR DAVANTE ADAMS had 6 catches for 84 yards & TD last week, his 88th-career rec. TD, surpassing Larry Fitzgerald (87) for 5th-most ever by player in 1st 10 seasons. Aims for his 5th in row with 5+ catches & 65+ rec. yards. Has rec. TD in each of his past 12 games on SNF, with 115+ rec. yards in each of his past 4. Has 29 rec. TDs in 41 career primetime games & can become 7th player ever with 30 career primetime rec. TDs. • WR JAKOBI MEYERS had 9 catches for 95 yards in his last game vs. Pit. (9/18/22 w/ NE). • WR HUNTER RENFROW had TD catch in last meeting. Has rec. TD in 4 of his past 5 in primetime. • DE MAXX CROSBY had 7 tackles last week & aims for his 4th in row with 5+ tackles. Has sack in 2 of past 3. Has 5 sacks in his past 4 in primetime. • LB DIVINE DEABLO had 10 tackles & 1st-career sack last week. Aims for 3rd in row with 9+ tackles & TFL. • LB ROBERT SPILLANE led team with career-high 14 tackles & had sack in Week 2. Aims for 3rd in row with TFL. • CB MARCUS PETERS aims for his 4th in row vs. Pit. with PD.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (2-0) AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (2-0)
DATE: Monday, September 25, 2023 GAME TIME: 7:15 PM ET
ABC: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters
Westwood One: Mike Mayock
SiriusXM (also available on the SXM App) PHI: 81 or 226 TB: 83 or 225 National: 104 or 227
ALL-TIME SERIES HISTORY
REG. SEASON: Series tied, 8-8 (TB has won past 3)
POSTSEASON: TB leads series, 3-2
THE LAST TIME …
REG. SEASON: 10/14/21: TB 28 at PHI 22
POSTSEASON: 1/16/22 NFC-WC: PHI 15 at TB 31
EAGLES NOTES: • PHILADELPHIA is 2-0 for 2nd-consecutive season. • QB JALEN HURTS had 3 TDs (2 rush, 1 pass) in Week 2. Has 9 games with 2+ rush TDs, trailing only Cam Newton (10) for most such games by QB all-time. Has 28 rush TDs in 47 games, tied with Newton (28) for most rush TDs by QB in 1st 50 career games. Had 3 TDs (2 rush, 1 pass) in last reg. season meeting. Has 325+ pass yards in 2 of his past 3 Monday games. Aims for his 3rd in row on MNF with both pass & rush TD. • RB D’ANDRE SWIFT rushed for career-high 175 yards & had 19th-career rush TD in Week 2, most rush yards by PHI RB since LeSean McCoy (217 rush yards on 12/8/13). • WR DEVONTA SMITH had 4 catches for 131 yards & rec. TD in Week 2, his 8th-career game with 100+ rec. yards. Aims for his 3rd in row with TD catch. • WR A.J. BROWN had TD catch in his only career game vs. TB (10/27/19 w/ Ten.). Has 5+ catches in 3 of his 4 career MNF games. Has 50+ rec. yards in 8 of his 9 road games with Phi. • TE DALLAS GOEDERT led team with 6 catches last week. Had 6 catches for 92 yards in 2021 NFC-WC at TB (1/16/22). • DE JOSH SWEAT had 30th-career sack & 6th-career FF last week. Has 9 sacks in his past 8 games. Aims for his 4th in row in primetime with sack. • DT FLETCHER COX had 14th-career FR last week. • DT JORDAN DAVIS had 1st-career full sack in Week 2 & aims for his 3rd in row with 0.5+ sacks & TFL. • DT JALEN CARTER (rookie) aims for his 3rd in row with TFL. • LB HAASON REDDICK has TFL in 6 of his past 7 road games. • CB DARIUS SLAY aims for his 4th in row with PD. Has 12 PD & 3 INTs in his past 7 primetime games.
BUCS NOTES: QB BAKER MAYFIELD completed 26 of 34 atts. (76.5 pct.) for 317 yards & TD pass vs. 0 INTs for 114.5 rating in Week 2, his 11th-career game with 300+ pass yards. Passed for 204 yards with 86.2 rating in his only career start vs. Phi. (11/22/20 w/ Cle.). • RB RACHAAD WHITE had 5 catches with 103 scrimmage yards (73 rush, 30 rec.) & 2nd-career rush TD in Week 2, his 3rd-career game with 100+ scrimmage yards. Had 6 catches, 69 scrimmage yards (41 rec., 28 rush) & TD catch in his only career Monday game (12/5/22 vs. NO). • WR MIKE EVANS had 6 catches for 171 yards & rec. TD in Week 2, his 8th-career game with 170+ rec. yards, 2nd-most among active players. Is only player with 6+ catches & TD catch in each of 1st 2 weeks. Had 10 catches for 83 yards & rec. TD in last home meeting. Has 5 catches & rec. TD in 6 of his 7 career Monday games. • WR CHRIS GODWIN had 5 catches for 58 yards last week, his 16th-straight game with 5+ receptions, longest active streak in NFL. Has rec. TD in 3 of his past 4 on Monday. Aims for his 5th in row on Monday with 5+ catches & 50+ rec. yards. Had 5 catches for 56 yards & rec. TD in last home meeting. • TE CADE OTTON tied his career high with 6 catches last week. • LB LAVONTE DAVID has 55 tackles (7.9 per game) & 10 TFL in 7 career Monday games. Had FR in last home meeting. • LB DEVIN WHITE aims for his 5th in row on MNF with 5+ tackles. • LB SHAQUIL BARRETT had 1st sack of season & 1st-career INT-TD in Week 2. Had sack & 2 TFL in last meeting. • LB JOE TRYON-SHOYINKA had 2nd-career 2-sack game last week. • DL VITA VEA had 1.5 sacks in Week 2. Aims for his 3rd in row with TFL. Had half sack in last meeting.
LOS ANGELES RAMS (1-1) AT CINCINNATI BENGALS (0-2)
DATE: Monday, September 25, 2023 GAME TIME: 8:15 PM ET
ESPN: Chris Fowler, Louis Riddick, Dan Orlovsky, Laura Rutledge
Westwood One: Kevin Harlan, Kurt Warner
SiriusXM (also available on the SXM App) LAR: 85 or 229 CIN: 158 or 228 National: 88
ALL-TIME SERIES HISTORY
REG. SEASON: CIN leads series, 8-6 (won 3 of past 4)
POSTSEASON: LAR leads series, 1-0
THE LAST TIME …
REG. SEASON: 10/27/19: CIN 10 at LAR 24
POSTSEASON: 2/13/22 SB LVI: LAR 23 at CIN 20
RAMS NOTES: QB MATTHEW STAFFORD passed for 307 yards in Week 2 & is 1 of 2 (Kirk Cousins) with 300+ pass yards in each of 1st 2 weeks. Has 59 career 300-yard games, 2nd-most among active QBs. Has 52,723 career pass yards in 193 games & surpassed HOFer Peyton Manning (52,606) for 3rd-most pass yards by QB in 1st 200 career games in NFL history. Passed for 283 yards & 3 TDs in SB LVI vs. Cin. • RB KYREN WILLIAMS set career highs in catches (6) & scrimmage yards (100) & had 1st-career game with rush TD & rec. TD last week. Is only player with 2 TDs in each of 1st 2 weeks & can become 5th player since 2000 with 2+ TDs in each of his team’s 1st 3 games of season. • WR PUKA NACUA (rookie) had15 receptions for 147 yards in Week 2, most receptions by rookie in single game in NFL history. Is 1st player all-time with 10+ catches & 100+ rec. yards in each of his 1st 2 games. Leads NFL with 25 catches, most catches by player in 1st 2 career games. Is 3rd player ever (Michael Thomas & Andre Rison) with 25+ catches in his team’s 1st 2 games of season. • WR TUTU ATWELL had career-high 7 receptions for 77 yards last week. Aims for his 3rd in row with 6+ catches & 75+ rec. yards. • DT AARON DONALD had 2 sacks in SB LVI vs. Cin. Had sack & 3 TFL in last reg. season meeting. Has 14 TFL in his past 9 on road. • LB ERNEST JONES led team with 10 tackles in Week 2, his 5thcareer game with 10+ tackles. Had 7 tackles, 2 TFL, sack & PD in SB LVI vs. Cin. Aims for his 3rd in row on road with TFL & 3rd in row overall with 9+ tackles. • LB BYRON YOUNG (rookie) aims for his 3rd in row with 0.5+ sacks. • LB MICHAEL HOECHT aims for his 3rd in row on road with 0.5+ sacks. • DB JORDAN FULLER had 1st-career FF last week.
BENGALS NOTES: QB JOE BURROW passed for 222 yards & 2 TDs last week. Had 263 pass yards & TD pass vs. 0 INTs with 100.9 rating in SB LVI vs. LAR, only career start vs. Rams. Has 1,400 pass yards (280 per game) with 11 TDs (10 pass, 1 rush) vs. 2 INTs for 101.3 rating in 5 career starts in primetime. • RB JOE MIXON led team with 95 scrimmage yards (59 rush, 36 rec.) last week. Aims for 3rd in row with 70+ scrimmage yards. Has 150 scrimmage yards (75 per game) & rec. TD in 2 career games vs. LAR (incl. SB LVI). • WR JA’MARR CHASE has 5+ catches in 10 straight games, tied 2nd-longest active streak in NFL. Had 5 catches for 89 yards in SB LVI vs. LAR. Has 80+ rec. yards in 8 of his past 9 at home. Has 50+ rec. yards in each of 3 career games in primetime. • WR TEE HIGGINS led team with 8 catches for 89 yards & 2 TDs last week, 3rd-career game with 2 rec. TDs. Had 4 catches for 100 yards & 2 TDs in SB LVI vs. LAR. Has TD catch in 2 of his past 3 in primetime, incl. in his last game on MNF (10/31/22 at Cle.). • WR TYLER BOYD had 6 catches for 52 yards in Week 2. Has 5+ catches in each of 2 career games vs. LAR, incl. SB LVI. • DE TREY HENDRICKSON aims for his 3rd in row vs. LAR with sack, incl. postseason. Has 5.5 sacks in 5 career games on MNF, with 0.5+ sacks in each game. • LB LOGAN WILSON aims for his 7th in row with 8+ tackles & 3rd in row with TFL. Had 9 tackles, 3 TFL & PD in SB LVI vs. LAR. • LB GERMAINE PRATT aims for 3rd in row with 9+ tackles. • CB CHIBODE AWUZIE had PD in Week 2. Has PD in each of 4 career games vs. LAR, incl. INT in SB LVI. • S DAX HILL led team with career-high 11 tackles & had PD last week. Aims for 3rd in row with 6+ tackles & PD.
NICK CHUBB’S INJURY UNDERSCORES RUNNING BACKS’ PLEAS FOR BIGGER CONTRACTS AND TEAMS’ FEARS
Nick Chubb’s injury underscores why running backs want better contracts and why NFL teams are reluctant to pay them.
Chubb’s season ended abruptly when he suffered the devastating knee injury that was too gruesome for replay in Cleveland’s loss to Pittsburgh on Monday night. The four-time Pro Bowl pick faces a long, arduous road to recovery with no guaranteed money coming his way beyond the $10.85 million he’s making this season.
Chubb will be attempting his second comeback from a significant injury to the same knee at age 28 with a non-guaranteed salary of $12.2 million due in 2024. The Browns would assume a $4 million dead cap hit if they release him next year, according to Spotrac.com.
Running backs have been arguing for bigger contracts and more guaranteed money in recent years because they’re underpaid in comparison to their peers. Only kickers and punters had a lower franchise tag than running backs ($10.1 million) in 2023. The franchise tag represents the average of the top five salaries at the player’s position for the current year. It was $32.4 million for quarterbacks, $19.7 million for wide receivers and $18.2 million for offensive linemen.
Five years ago, the franchise tag for running backs was significantly higher at $14.5 million. The devaluing of the position became a contentious issue for top running backs over the past offseason. Giants star Saquon Barkley and Raiders All-Pro Josh Jacobs refused to sign their franchise tags and were unhappy about not getting long-term contracts. Pro Bowl running back Tony Pollard signed his franchise tag with Dallas.
“Every player wants to have that longevity, that contract to ensure you’re safe longevity-wise,” Pollard said on the AP Pro Football Podcast. “But, it is what it is. We couldn’t get a deal done within the deadline. So at this point, I’m just playing ball, going out there trying to win games.”
Jonathan Taylor, a 2021 All-Pro, has been locked in a contract dispute with the Colts and was placed on the physically unable to perform list to start the season because he’s recovering from offseason ankle surgery.
Many backs, including, Chubb voiced their concerns about the disparity in pay throughout the summer. The NFL Players Association agreed to the franchise tags in the collective bargaining agreement.
“Right now, there’s really nothing we can do,” Chubb said in July. “We’re kind of handcuffed with the situation. We’re the only position that our production hurts us the most. If we go out there and run 2,000 yards with so many carries, the next year they’re going to say, you’re probably worn down. It’s tough.”
Last Monday, the NFL filed a grievance against the NFLPA, alleging that union leaders, including President JC Tretter, have advised running backs to “consider feigning or exaggerating injuries” to help increase their leverage in contract negotiations.
The grievance will be reviewed by an arbitrator.
Meanwhile, legitimate injuries are piling up for running backs.
JK Dobbins suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon injury in Week 1. Barkley was ruled out for New York’s game against San Francisco on Thursday because of an ankle injury. Austin Ekeler and Aaron Jones missed games last week. David Montgomery and Jamaal Williams left their last game with injuries.
Injuries are part of the sport. They’re common regardless of position. But running backs absorb more hits than anyone else on the field. They’re tackled when they carry the ball or when they catch it. They have to block when they don’t get the ball. The average career length for an NFL player is 3.3 years, per Statista. It’s 2.7 years for running backs.
Teams view running backs as interchangeable. Many clubs aren’t willing to invest big money on running backs because late-round picks and undrafted free agents have had plenty of success. Only three Super Bowl champions in the past 15 years had a 1,000-yard rusher in the regular season compared with 11 in the 15 seasons before that.
When Chubb went down, Jerome Ford stepped in and ran for 106 yards on 16 carries. Ford, a fifth-round pick in 2022, got 69 of those yards on one run. The Browns also brought back Kareem Hunt to take Chubb’s roster spot.
Filling Chubb’s shoes won’t be easy, however. Chubb, a second-team All-Pro last season, has averaged 5.3 yards per carry over his six-year career. That’s the second-highest in NFL history among running backs with at least 1,000 carries.
“You don’t replace Nick Chubb. You just don’t do that,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said. “Great players in the league, you look around, they go out. It’s always not one person that replaces a player of his caliber. So everybody’s got to do a little bit more, a little bit more everywhere.”
Do more for less. That’s been life for running backs in the NFL.
COWBOYS STAR CB TREVON DIGGS TEARS ACL IN PRACTICE. IT’S A BLOW FOR A DEFENSE OFF TO A GREAT START
FRISCO, Texas (AP) Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs tore the ACL in his left knee in practice Thursday, a major setback for a defense off to a great start in 2023.
The team said an MRI confirmed the ACL tear and that while there was no timetable for a return, the 2021 All-Pro was expected to miss the rest of the season.
Diggs was seen leaving the team’s headquarters on crutches. He had his first interception of the season in last week’s 30-10 victory over the New York Jets.
Diggs is tied for the NFL lead with 18 interceptions since entering the league in 2020.
It’s quite a blow for a defense that has had 10 sacks and seven takeaways without a turnover by the Dallas offense. The plus-seven turnover margin led the NFL through two games.
Dallas (2-0), which visits Arizona (0-2) on Sunday, is just the fifth team in the Super Bowl era to score at least 70 points and allow 10 or fewer in the first two games. The Cowboys beat both New York teams by a combined 70-10.
“Saw that I guess a couple of you saw out there on the field,” quarterback Dak Prescott said after practice, not wanting to speculate on the severity of the injury. “Prayers, hoping for the best, simple as that.”
Diggs signed a $97 million, five-year contract extension at the start of training camp. The Cowboys drafted the former Alabama player in the second round in 2020.
Diggs, who tied a franchise record with 11 interceptions in 2021, was off to a strong start in his first season with 2019 AP Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore starting on the opposite side.
Through two games, Diggs had an NFL-best 1.0 passer rating against when targeted.
Diggs is the second starter to get injured in practice since the regular season started. Left guard Tyler Smith injured a hamstring before the opener and is expected to make his season debut Sunday at Arizona.
Without Diggs, second-year player DaRon Bland is the likely starter opposite Gilmore with Jourdan Lewis playing in the slot. Lewis made his 2023 debut last week after missing most of last season with a broken foot.
Noah Igbinoghene, a 2020 first-round pick by Miami, is another option after joining the Cowboys in a preseason trade.
PANTHERS ROOKIE QB YOUNG HELD OUT OF PRACTICE WITH ANKLE INJURY; ANDY DALTON GETS STARTERS REPS
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Carolina Panthers veteran quarterback Andy Dalton admits he’s having a little more fun this week knowing there’s a chance he may start Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks.
Rookie QB Bryce Young missed his second straight day of practice on Thursday because of an ankle injury, further increasing the likelihood the 13-year pro will make his first start in a Panthers uniform.
“For me, obviously — absolutely,” Dalton said with a smile. “It’s always nice because I have had a certain way of operating in my career, and when you go from starting to being the backup that is one of the things that you miss. … When you get a chance to take ownership of what you’re doing, and to know how you want it to look and how you want it to feel and see it executed, that is what makes football fun.”
Dalton made it clear his goal is not to steal Young’s starting job, but instead to help the Panthers win.
Young, the No. 1 pick in the draft, injured his ankle at some point during Carolina’s 20-17 loss to the New Orleans Saints on Monday night.
Panthers offensive coordinator
Panthers offensive coordinator Thomas Brown said the rookie got hurt sometime in the first half, but didn’t tell anyone until after the game. Young finished the game, throwing a touchdown pass and a 2-point conversion to Adam Thielen on his final drive.
Thursday’s practice was the most important of the week for the Panthers (0-2) given they’re working on a short week and it was the primary day for game plan installation.
While it is trending toward Dalton starting, Brown wouldn’t declare him the starter.
When asked if he would feel comfortable starting a rookie such as Young if he sat out practice all week, Brown replied “I would, no question — that rookie. I wouldn’t make a general statement when it comes to all rookies, but that rookie I would.”
Young was seen walking out to practice without a boot on his ankle, but he did not have his practice gear.
He was not available during the team’s open locker room session.
Carolina’s offense has struggled in the first two weeks with the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner at quarterback.
Young ranks 31st in the NFL in passer rating, having completed 59.2% of his passes for 299 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in his first two games. He’s also fumbled once.
The Panthers rank last in the league in passing and tied for 30th in points scored.
“I don’t feel like it has been one thing that has caused it,” Dalton said of the team’s lack of production. “I feel like it has been different things every single time. Different guys taking turns on missed assignments or the execution just hasn’t been there. That is the thing with offensive football, everybody has to be on the same page for it to work.”
This might be the week for the Panthers to get rolling on offense.
Seattle’s defense has been anything but dominant the first two games and ranks 31st in the league in yards allowed and 29th in points allowed. They are last in the NFL in third down defense.
Dalton’s veteran presence on Sunday might play to Carolina’s advantage, particularly given he’s played in loud stadiums before.
Dalton is 83-77-2 as a starter during his previous 12 NFL seasons, while throwing for 244 touchdowns and 144 interceptions. He spent nine seasons in Cincinnati before one-year stops in Dallas, Chicago and New Orleans.
“When you talk about the environments and crowd noise, (Seattle) is one of those places that first hits your brain,” Dalton said. “It can become a factor in the game if you let it. But that is where you have to make sure you are communicating well.”
Center Bradley Bozeman said the Panthers will be in good shape if Dalton starts.
“When I was in Baltimore, he lit us up a couple of times for sure,” Bozeman said. “He’s still got it. He has been rocking and rolling the whole time he’s been here and that is why he is here. He’s a great leader.”
JOE BURROW SAYS IT’S TOO EARLY TO TELL IF A CALF INJURY WILL KEEP HIM OUT OF MONDAY NIGHT’S GAME
CINCINNATI (AP) Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow said he’s day to day and doesn’t know yet if a lingering calf injury will keep him out of Monday’s night’s game against the Los Angeles Rams.
Burrow said he “tweaked” the calf injury late in Sunday’s loss to the Ravens. He wore a compression sleeve on his entire right leg Thursday but said the calf “is not as sore.” He did not participate in practice.
“I’m preparing like I’m going to go out and play a Monday night football game,” he said. “Whether that happens, I don’t know.
“Time heals,” he said, “so we’ll see.”
Burrow strained his right calf muscle on the second day of on-field workouts in training camp on July 27. That sidelined him for more than a month, depriving him of valuable preseason reps with his offense.
Burrow said he aggravated the injury on the Bengals’ final drive of Sunday’s 27-24 loss to the Ravens. He found Tee Higgins in the end zone for a 4-yard touchdown, then limped to the sideline favoring his right leg.
Asked if the Bengals’ 0-2 start creates more urgency for him to get back on the field, he said: “It’s in my head, for sure. I’m thinking about it.”
But he said he’s not panicking and nobody else is, either.
“That’s the ups and downs of the year,” Burrow said. “The teams that come out on top at the end of it are going to be the teams that handle that adversity the best. You can’t let it snowball on you. That’s what we’ve done in the past. And if you go back and look year to year, the teams that are still in at the end, everybody has adversity at some point in the year.”
If Burrow can’t go Monday, backup Jake Browning, who was on the practice squad last season, would get the nod.
“When you don’t have your starting quarterback, that’s a challenge,” coach Zac Taylor said. “But again, you’ve invested time and effort into Jake, and Jake’s matched that. The guys on our 53-man roster are here for a reason. We believe in them. We know we’re going to call upon everybody at some point, and the quarterback position is no different.”
Browning is not used to the media attention he received in the locker room Thursday.
“It’s my job to be prepared if Joe goes down, and so really for me, the week is no different,” he said. “Even when I was on the (practice) squad, I knew there was zero chance of me playing, but I was fully prepared and I would go through the whole game plan like I was going to be the backup, like I had a chance of playing. It’s my job to be ready if Joe goes down, and I’m in my third week of doing that.”
If Burrow’s teammates are worried, they’re not showing it.
“Coach is going to put us in the best position to win, and it’s our job to go out and execute,” Higgins said. “If Joe doesn’t play, at the end of the day, we still have to go do what we do.”
Thanks in large part to rain in Cleveland during the opener, Burrow never could find a rhythm and passed for just 82 yards, the lowest total in his pro career. The Browns thumped the Bengals 24-3.
He came out flat again last Sunday against the Ravens, passing for 35 yards in the first half. He began to look like his old self in the second half, moving the ball and throwing a pair of short touchdown passes to Higgins – but also throwing an interception in the red zone when a score would have given the Bengals the lead.
The highest-paid player in the NFL has some experience with health issues. During the 2021 season, he was still rehabbing from major knee surgery late in the previous season but ended up leading Cincinnati to the Super Bowl and was honored as the AP Comeback Player of the Year.
Just before the start of training camp in 2022, Burrow had an emergency appendectomy. He has acknowledged he wasn’t back to full strength for the first part of the season.
The Bengals started 0-2 in 2022, and a loss in Cleveland on Halloween evened their record at 4-4. They won the next eight games to finish the regular season and capture the AFC North title for the second straight season. They beat Baltimore and Buffalo in the playoffs before falling to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game.
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CINCINNATI TO OPEN INAUGURAL BIG 12 SLATE AGAINST NO. 16 OKLAHOMA
No. 16 Oklahoma (3-0, 0-0 Big 12) at Cincinnati (2-1, 0-0), Saturday, 12 p.m. ET (FOX)
Line: Oklahoma favored by 14 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Series record: Oklahoma leads 2-0
Both Oklahoma and Cincinnati have been among the winningest programs in college football since 2018. The Sooners and Bearcats entered the season as two of only seven teams who have won at least 50 games over that span. While Cincinnati looks to bounce back from its first loss in 17 years to in-state rival Miami (Ohio) and show it belongs among the Power Five, Oklahoma looks to focus on finishing its stint in the Big 12 on a high note. Oklahoma and Cincinnati last faced off in 2010. The Sooners edged the Bearcats 31-29 at Paul Brown Stadium (now called Paycor Stadium), the home of the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals.
KEY MATCHUP
Cincinnati will face a familiar foe in Oklahoma QB Dillon Gabriel. The UCF transfer threw for 540 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions in two games (0-2) against the Bearcats in 2019 and 2020. Gabriel threw three interceptions in his last visit to Cincinnati’s Nippert Stadium in 2019, including a pick 6 to then-Cincinnati freshman CB Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner. Scott Satterfield’s Louisville squad also faced Gabriel and UCF in 2021. Gabriel completed 22-of-29 passes for 184 yards and scored four total touchdowns (three passing and one rushing) in a 42-35 loss at Louisville. Gabriel suffered a broken left clavicle on the final play of the game.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Oklahoma: Gabriel leads the FBS in completion percentage (.825) and ranks second in passing efficiency (220.4) and points responsible for per game (24). He set a single-game school record for completion percentage (.903) by going 28 of 31 for 421 yards and five TDs last week at Tulsa. Gabriel was named the Big 12 offensive player of the week.
Cincinnati: WR Xzavier Henderson is tied for the Big 12 lead in catches with 20. The Florida transfer has 299 yards this season, including 149 in the season opener against Eastern Kentucky.
FACTS & FIGURES
Oklahoma is a league-best 169-58 (.744) in regular-season Big 12 play since the conference began in 1996. … Cincinnati is 5-4 against ranked opponents since the start of the 2020 season. … Oklahoma’s plus-46.3 average scoring margin leads the FBS. … Cincinnati’s 239.3 rushing yards per game lead the Big 12 and rank eighth in the FBS. … Oklahoma ranks third in the FBS in scoring offense (55.7 points per game) and fifth in the FBS in scoring defense (9.3 points per game). … Cincinnati ranks second in the Big 12 with 21 scrimmage plays of 20 yards or more. … Cincinnati QB Emory Jones ranks second in the Big 12 in passing efficiency (161.25).
NO. 11 UTAH AND NO. 22 UCLA FACE STIFF TEST IN TOP 25 PAC-12 SHOWDOWN
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Three games match two ranked Pac-12 teams on Saturday, with one taking a noticeable backseat to the others.
No. 11 Utah and No. 22 UCLA have largely stayed out of the spotlight compared to other Top 25 showdowns between No. 19 Colorado and No. 10 Oregon and between No. 14 Oregon State and No. 21 Washington State.
Lurking in the shadows hasn’t lessened the stakes ahead for either the Utes or the Bruins.
Utah (3-0) sits on the cusp of a top 10 ranking after earning victories over No. 25 Florida and Baylor. The Utes have stayed unbeaten while battling a slew of injuries at virtually every position. They have relied on a smothering defense to produce wins even while missing key offensive playmakers like Cameron Rising and Brant Kuithe.
Utah has allowed three total touchdowns in three games. The Utes rank second among Pac-12 teams in total defense (270.7 ypg) and scoring defense (10.3 ppg).
“We got a lot of confidence in the defense, and that does play into how we’re approaching offense,” Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said.
Injury-related attrition has not diminished what a win over Utah would mean for opponents looking to knock the Utes from their perch atop the Pac-12.
“It’s easy to get to the top. It’s hard to stay there,” running back Ja’Quinden Jackson said. “I definitely feel like we’ve got a target on our backs because we’re the two-time defending champions.”
UCLA (3-0) nearly prevented the Utes from a title repeat last season after claiming a 42-32 victory to snap a five-game losing streak in the series. The Bruins churned out 203 rushing yards and averaged 8.2 yards per play while forcing two turnovers.
UCLA could give Utah plenty of problems again. The Bruins top the Pac-12 in rushing offense (270.3 ypg), scoring defense (10.0 ppg) and passes intercepted (six). Still, they haven’t won in Salt Lake City since 2015 and aren’t taking anything for granted.
“I don’t think overconfident comes into any conversation when you’re playing Utah,” UCLA coach Chip Kelly said. “I don’t think that word exists when you’re playing this team.”
STIFLING THE RUN
Stopping teams from moving the chains on running plays is an area of strength for both Utah and UCLA. The Utes lead the Pac-12 in rushing defense, allowing 65.0 yards per game. The Bruins rank second in that category, yielding 69.67 yards per contest.
Utah’s success in stopping the run has translated to also leading Pac-12 teams in first downs defense (36) and third down conversion defense (20.00%).
“We’re not going to have to score 40 points most weeks to win,” Whittingham said. “The defense has done a nice job of keeping teams out of the end zone and points off the board.”
FRESHMAN QB BATTLE
With Rising still a game-time decision for Utah, a pair of freshman quarterbacks could potentially take center stage Saturday.
Nate Johnson earned his first career start in Utah’s 31-7 win over Weber State. Johnson threw for a career-high 193 yards and a touchdown while completing 62% of his passes. He added 71 yards and a touchdown on the ground against the Wildcats.
“The coaches trusted me with the offense, and they gave me a chance to show what I can do,” Johnson said.
Dante Moore hasn’t missed a beat in two starts for UCLA. Moore has racked up 472 yards and five touchdowns through the air in those games, while completing 64% of his passes. He leads the nation with 19.22 yards per completion.
Moore is trying to become the first freshman quarterback to beat Utah at Rice-Eccles Stadium since former Oregon QB Justin Herbert in 2016.
“Being able to go to Utah, I’m excited to see what Dante can do,” Bruins receiver Logan Loya said. “I have full faith in him. I believe he is ready for anything we throw at him.”
PUNTER U
Special teams are living up to their name at Utah again when it comes to punting. The Utes lead the Pac-12 in net punting (44.54). Jack Bouwmeester has punted 13 times over Utah’s first three games. Six of Bouwmeester’s punts traveled 50 yards or farther. Seven punts landed inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.
TAKEAWAY SPECIALISTS
UCLA has made a habit of repeatedly forcing turnovers early in the season. The Bruins have accumulated eight takeaways in three games — six interceptions and two fumbles. They rank in the top 10 among Football Bowl Subdivision teams in turnovers gained.
Success in forcing turnovers has helped UCLA keep opponents out of the end zone for long stretches. North Carolina Central went scoreless over its first 11 possessions against the Bruins. Coastal Carolina did not score over its final six drives, and San Diego State went scoreless on its final eight possessions.
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MLB roundup: Dodgers drop Giants, close in on NLDS
Rookie right-hander Emmet Sheehan struck out nine over 4 2/3 no-hit innings, J.D. Martinez drove in three runs and the host Los Angeles Dodgers opened a four-game series against the rival San Francisco Giants with a 7-2 victory on Thursday.
Martinez hit his 30th home run as the Dodgers won for the sixth time in their last seven games. They have a magic number of two for clinching a bye into the National League Division Series. Shelby Miller (2-0) pitched a scoreless inning to earn the win.
Joc Pederson hit a home run against his former team for the Giants, whose playoff chances took a major blow with a sixth loss in seven games. San Francisco is three games out of the final NL wild-card spot.
Giants rookie left-hander Kyle Harrison gave up two runs on three hits over 5 1/3 innings. John Brebbia (3-1) gave up a run in two-thirds of an inning.
Yankees 5, Blue Jays 3
Gerrit Cole retired the first 16 hitters he faced and pitched eight dominant innings as host New York beat Toronto.
Cole (14-4) yielded a run and two hits in his longest outing since pitching a two-hitter in a 2-0 win against the Minnesota Twins on April 16. He struck out nine, walked none and permitted two baserunners while lowering his AL-best ERA to 2.75. Jake Bauers hit a three-run homer four batters in against Toronto’s Jose Berrios (11-11). Aaron Judge and Estevan Florial contributed RBI doubles and the Yankees avoided a three-game sweep.
Toronto (85-68) had its five-game winning streak stopped and is a half-game ahead of Texas and Seattle for the second of the American League’s three wild-card spots.
Tigers 7, Athletics 3
Tarik Skubal continued his brilliant month of September with seven shutout innings, Andy Ibanez drove in two runs with a triple and a single and visiting Detroit rolled past Oakland in the opener of a four-game series.
Skubal (7-3) ran his record to 4-0 in September and lowered his ERA to 1.04 in those games with the second scoreless outing in his last three starts. He limited the A’s to a pair of singles while striking out 10 and walking one. Matt Vierling and Spencer Torkelson each scored twice for the Tigers.
Making his major league debut, Brenan Hanifee allowed Oakland’s three runs in the ninth, the last two coming on Brent Rooker’s 28th homer of the season with two outs.
Rays 5, Angels 4
Manuel Margot delivered a game-ending two-out RBI single to right field in the ninth inning as Tampa Bay rallied to defeat Los Angeles at St. Petersburg, Fla.
Trailing 4-3 in the ninth, Tampa Bay tied the score off Los Angeles closer Carlos Estevez (5-5) when Isaac Paredes hit an RBI single with one out.
The Angels’ Jo Adell went 2-for-3 with a homer. Jared Walsh had a single, reached on a hit by pitch and scored twice. Randal Grichuk (double) and Michael Stefanic each had two hits.
Brewers 6, Cardinals 0
Wade Miley, J.B. Bukauskas and Julio Teheran combined on a six-hitter as visiting Milwaukee blanked St. Louis to inch closer to the National League Central title.
Miley (9-4) allowed three hits and two walks with seven strikeouts in six innings. Victor Caratini hit a three-run homer and Blake Perkins hit a solo shot for the Brewers, who reduced their magic number to win the division to three games.
Cardinals starting pitcher Miles Mikolas (7-13) allowed six runs (five earned) on nine hits in five innings. He struck out four and walked one.
Phillies 5, Mets 4
Nick Castellanos hit a home run, single, sacrifice fly and drove in four runs to lift host Philadelphia past New York.
Alec Bohm also homered and Bryce Harper added two hits for the Phillies.
Mark Vientos hit a home run while Jeff McNeil singled, doubled, tripled and knocked in one run for the Mets.
Guardians 5, Orioles 2
Ramon Laureano scored the go-ahead run by drawing a walk with the bases loaded in the eighth inning to fuel host Cleveland to a victory over Baltimore.
Jose Ramirez and Bo Naylor each had an RBI single and Josh Naylor and Gabriel Arias also drove in a run for the Guardians, who snapped a three-game skid.
Baltimore’s Adley Rutschman collected a pair of doubles among his three hits and scored on an RBI double by Ryan O’Hearn. Anthony Santander had an RBI groundout for the Orioles, who have dropped two in a row following a four-game winning streak.
Braves 10, Nationals 3
Major league home run leader Matt Olson and Ozzie Albies homered as part of Atlanta’s 18-hit attack and Braves starter Max Fried was splendid for six innings in a victory against host Washington.
Albies, who drove in four runs to eclipse the 100-RBI mark this season, went 4-for-6, and Orlando Arcia, Austin Riley and Michael Harris II each had three hits as the NL East champion Braves won for just the second time in their last seven games. Fried (8-1), who hadn’t pitched since Sept. 12, limited the Nationals to one run on three hits and one walk. He struck out seven.
Alex Call’s one-out home run in the third inning accounted for Washington’s first run. It was his eighth homer of the season, but Washington didn’t score again until the ninth inning.
Pirates 8, Cubs 6
Joshua Palacios clubbed a pinch-hit, three-run homer in the ninth after Johan Oviedo grinded through six scoreless innings as visiting Pittsburgh beat reeling Chicago.
Oviedo (9-14) allowed five walks and four hits but evaded danger as Chicago stranded 10 runners with him on the mound. Oviedo loaded the bases in the third but struck out Dansby Swanson to end the inning.
The Cubs suffered their 10th loss in 13 games. Chicago’s Kyle Hendricks (6-8) allowed three runs (one earned) and seven hits in six innings.
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Duke adds its second 5-star for 2024
Kon Knueppel has developed a reputation for being one of the best true shooters in the 2024 recruiting class. The 6-5 small forward not only averaged over 22 ppg in the Nike EYBL circuit, he also shot over 45% from 3-point range.
The consensus 5-star prospect has had a quiet recruitment; no lists, no crystal balls. Yet recent visits to Duke and Virginia provided hints.
Another sign? The Duke X/Twitter account took exception to the Blue Devils not being at the top of the class of 2024 team rankings. It might be time to rethink that order.
Knueppel’s the third 2024 Duke commitment, joining top-50 wing Darren Harris and 5-star guard/wing Isaiah Evans. The Devils also are viewed as the favorite for No. 1 overall recruit Cooper Flagg, though he’ll visit UConn this weekend.
There might be some concern that all three prospects play the same position. But given the lack of wings on the 2023-24 roster — Mark Mitchell will likely see a ton of time at the 3 — this won’t be an unfamiliar problem for coach Jon Scheyer to solve.
Regardless, the Blue Devils are loaded this year, next year, and the year after.
Blue Jays add a familiar name
Knueppel wasn’t the only 2024 recruit who decided to wear blue next season.
Larry Johnson (no, not that Larry) is a 6-4 shooting guard from California with great two-way potential. He’s a solid shooter, but thrives taking the ball to the basket and is an elite athlete. With star guard Trey Alexander likely leaving after the 2023-24 season, there’s a chance the 4-star prospect could play an immediate role.
“With all the space and shooters, with one of the key parts of my game being [going] downhill, I would be able to do it at a high rate because a lot of teams can’t help with all those shooters,” he told ESPN.
Johnson joins two other 4-star commits in the Bluejays’ class in point guard Ty Davis and wing Jackson McAndrew. Counting the five freshmen on the current roster, they’re set up to be a lot younger for the 2024-25 campaign.
3. Mountain West relegation plan
The saga with the two remaining Pac-12 programs, Oregon State and Washington State, continued Thursday. Both school presidents held a media call detailing their financial situation, how they’ll assess the future, and more.
Whether that future involves a merger of sorts with the Mountain West is TBD. Far more interesting with the two conferences is the idea that’s being floated around: A version of promotion and relegation.
From Yahoo Sports:
“We have to think differently,” said one Mountain West athletic director who wished to remain anonymous. “We’re always trying to fit things in a box and we are always late to the party. How do we get in front of this?”
The Pac-2’s answer, some believe, should be to create a two-conference partnership with the Mountain West around a model similar to European soccer leagues, using a relegation and promotion system for football (and potentially other sports).
The goal is to create high-stakes matchups, scheduling alliances and a points system to fuel interest and excitement in college football’s lower tier. In theory, such a system would make these lower-resourced football programs more appealing to linear and streaming partners in a world where the industry is leaning on such income to survive.
“It’s time we admit what college football is: an entertainment product,” said one Mountain West administrator.
Relegation is a concept familiar to anyone who watches the Premier League or other non-MLS soccer. It’s a fun idea — especially when it doesn’t involve your team.
The top eight football teams would be in the “best” league, which means the Pac-2/12/MWC would retain the automatic berth to the College Football Playoff. They also would retain automatic qualifying spots in other NCAA Championship tournaments. The teams who finish at the bottom would move down to the lower tier (Mountain West).
Assuming college presidents don’t immediately bristle at the idea of their school being relegated, here’s how it might look for basketball:
New Pac-12 Conference
Washington State
Oregon State (would assume they get grandfathered in as original member to start out)
San Diego State
New Mexico
Nevada
UNLV
Utah State
Boise State
New Mountain West Conference
Air Force
Fresno State
San Jose State
Wyoming
Colorado State
South Dakota State
North Dakota State
Hawaii (would have to leave Big West for other sports)
It does have some appeal.
From a scheduling standpoint, teams at the top can play each other twice (14 games total), and then have one game against the others. The goal is to have every Pac-12 school be an NCAA Tournament team. The more Quad 1 and Quad 2 games they have, the more likely that becomes.
A conference tournament could still include all 16 teams, but the format would give the top tier an advantage. Like how the WCC’s tournament protects Gonzaga/Saint Mary’s by giving them byes to the semifinals, you can give the top 8 teams a bye and the top 4 a double-bye from the Pac-12 side.
On the other hand, you’re inviting star players to not want to play in the Mountain West. Would Isaiah Stevens be willing to play in the lower division when he can transfer and play just about anywhere in the country? (Some would say that’s already happening for the mid-major programs.) Plus, the added pressure on players to not get relegated when they’re not even professional athletes might not sit well with some.
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RYDER CUP ’23: USA LOOKS TO END 30 YEARS OF LOSING ON EUROPEAN SOIL
The Americans never felt more confident. The Europeans rarely felt so annoyed.
A two-year wait can feel even longer when it comes to the pride and passion only the Ryder Cup can deliver in golf. Both sides were eager for the next Ryder Cup outside Rome, for different reasons.
Team USA was fresh off its most lopsided victory over Europe at Whistling Straits and had reason to believe they would turn the series back in their favor with such a young, powerful squad. Jordan Spieth already was looking ahead as he celebrated that autumn evening in Wisconsin.
“If we play like we did this week, the score will look the same over there,” he said.
Tommy Fleetwood of England recalled how much it burned to see the Americans celebrate, speaking as if he could still smell the smoke from Xander Schauffele’s victory cigar mixed with the spray of champagne.
“All of us stood there and thought, ‘We want to get our chance back,’” Fleetwood said. “The flight on the way home, we were all a little tender and hungover, but we were already planning what we can do better at the next Ryder Cup to bring it back.”
The 45th Ryder Cup starts Sept. 29 at Marco Simone between two teams that don’t look the same from two years ago.
Some of that is a product of age – Europe had four players in their 40s. A lot of it is a product of eight players from the last Ryder Cup who defected to Saudi-funded LIV Golf, which kept Europeans off their team and set the bar extremely high for any Americans to return.
Brooks Koepka is the only LIV Golf player to make it back, and it took a PGA Championship title and a runner-up in the Masters for that to happen.
What hasn’t changed is the history against the Americans.
Five players on the U.S. team, including world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, were not even born the last time the Americans won a Ryder Cup on European soil. That was in 1993 at The Belfry, when Ryder Cup rookie Davis Love III made the cup-clinching putt. Love is now a 59-year-old assistant captain.
“It’s really wild,” Scheffler said of the six straight road losses with teams that were stacked with Hall of Fame players like Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, major champions like Love, Spieth and Dustin Johnson. “Such great players. Just proves how difficult it is. But we’ve got a lot of fresh blood on the team this year. Only a handful of guys have played over there. I like our chances. Ignorance is bliss.”
Even so, it’s tough to ignore 30 years of history, which suggests this is more than a coincidence or one team making a few more putts.
Europe prefers to set up the golf course to their strengths — thick rough to put a premium on accuracy, slightly slower greens to allow for more aggressive putts.
And then there’s the small matter of fans. The gallery was one-sided at Whistling Straits because of travel restrictions still in place from the COVID-19 pandemic. The volume at the Ryder Cup is unlike anything in golf, from the first tee to the 18th green, from the opening match on Friday morning to the final singles match on Sunday afternoon. It never ends.
“Just the mere fact that when you come to a hostile, foreign environment, it’s hard,” U.S. captain Zach Johnson said. “I don’t know why we haven’t (won). What I do know is that 2023 will be an opportunity of a lifetime, and that will be my message.”
FanDuel lists the Americans as slight favorites, which is nothing new. The U.S. team typically looks great on paper, suspect on European grass. All 12 of the Americans are among the top 25 in the world ranking. Three of them won majors this year.
That’s nothing new, of course. They had all 12 in the top 25 and three major champions in 2018 in France and lost. They had 10 players in the top 25 and three major champions in 1997 in Spain and lost.
“I think one of the great accomplishments in our game now is to win an away Ryder Cup,” Rory McIlroy said. “I think with just how partisan it’s become in terms of having a home field advantage, being able to set the golf course up in a way that benefits your team, I think the next team that wins a Ryder Cup on foreign soil, I think it’s a huge accomplishment.”
McIlroy was still a teenager in Northern Ireland the last time Europe truly owned the Ryder Cup in the mid-2000s. Starting with 2008, the home team has won every Ryder Cup except for the “Miracle at Medinah” in 2012, when Europe staged an improbable comeback.
“We weren’t supposed to win in ’12,” McIlroy said. “Since then, the home team has won, each time pretty convincingly.”
The Americans return seven players from that record 19-9 win over Europe two years ago, which includes Koepka.
The PGA Tour has suspended players who joined the rival LIV circuit. The PGA of America runs the Ryder Cup – not the tour – though the only access to Ryder Cup points for Americans was the majors. That’s where Koepka thrives. He finished just outside the top six automatic qualifiers, and no one was surprised when Johnson used one of his six captain’s picks on him.
“He’s built for the biggest of stages,” Johnson said of Koepka, a five-time major champion. “And there’s no bigger stage than the Ryder Cup.”
For Europe, the effect was stronger. Henrik Stenson was stripped of his captaincy when he joined LIV, and Luke Donald took over only last August. Key players who joined LIV were in their 40s, including Ian Poulter. Missing from the European team for the first time since 1997 is Sergio Garcia, the leading scorer in Ryder Cup history.
Masters champion Jon Rahm wanted his fellow Spaniard on the team. Garcia made a last-minute effort, telling the European tour he would pay all his sanctions for joining LIV and play as many tournaments as needed. The tour told him he could not be reinstated until next year.
It was always going to be a transition year for Europe, and Donald used two of his picks on the future. One was 22-year-old Nicolai Hojgaard of Denmark. The other was Ludvig Aberg, the top college player this year. In four months as a pro, he already has a European tour win and a footnote in history: The only player to appear in a Ryder Cup before he plays in a major.
McIlroy played a practice round with Aberg at Marco Simone and was impressed.
“I was on the bandwagon before,” he said. “Certainly at the front row of it now.”
Marco Simone is the fourth course in continental Europe to host the Ryder Cup. The others were at Valderrama in Spain (1997), The K Club in Ireland (2006) and Le Golf National in France (2018). All of them produced European victories, a streak Europe would love to continue.
The Americans are desperate to end it, hopeful they can carry some momentum from a Ryder Cup in Wisconsin that now seems longer ago than two years.
TOP INDIANA RELEASES/NEWS
****************COLTS FOOTBALL*********************
NFL PREVIEW: INDIANAPOLIS AT BALTIMORE
DATE: Sunday, September 24, 2023
GAME TIME: 1:00 PM ET
CBS: Beth Mowins, James Lofton, Jay Feely, Amanda Renner
SiriusXM (also available on the SXM App) IND: 133 or 383 BAL: 85 or 225
ALL-TIME SERIES HISTORY
REG. SEASON: IND leads series, 8-6 (BAL won 4 of past 5)
POSTSEASON: IND leads series, 1-2
THE LAST TIME …
REG. SEASON: 10/11/21: IND 25 at BAL 31
POSTSEASON: 1/6/13 AFC-WC: IND 9 at BAL 24
COLTS NOTES: QB ANTHONY RICHARDSON (rookie) had 2 rush TDs last week & became youngest QB in SB era (21 years, 118 days) with 2 rush TDs in a game. Tied for NFL lead with 3 rush TDs this season & is 3rd QB ever with 3 rush TDs in 1st 2 career games, joining Daunte Culpepper & Jack Thompson. • QB GARDNER MINSHEW completed 19 of 23 atts. (82.6 pct.) for 171 yards & TD vs. 0 INTs with 112.1 rating last week. Passed for 226 yards & 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs with 120.8 rating in only career start vs. Bal. (12/20/20 w/ Jax.). • RB ZACK MOSS led team with 107 scrimmage yards (88 rush, 19 rec.) & had rush TD in season debut last week, 2nd-career 100-yard game. Aims for his 3rd in row with 100+ scrimmage yards & rush TD. • WR MICHAEL PITTMAN led team with 8 catches for 56 yards last week. Is 1 of 3 in NFL (Justin Jefferson & Puka Nacua) with 8+ catches in each of 1st 2 weeks. Has rec. TD in 3 of his past 4. Had 6 catches for 89 yards & TD in last meeting & aims for his 3rd in row vs. Bal. with 55+ rec. yards. • WR ISAIAH MCKENZIE had TD catch in his last game vs. Bal. (10/2/22 w/ Buf.). • TE KYLEN GRANSON had 1st-career TD catch in Week 2. • DT DEFOREST BUCKNER had 2 TFL & sack last week & aims for 3rd in row with sack. Has sack in 2 of his past 3 on road. • DE KWITY PAYE had sack & FR in Week 2 & aims for 3rd in row with sack. Has sack in 3 of his past 4 on road. Buckner & Paye 1 of 3 pair of teammates each with sack in each of 1st 2 weeks. • LB ZAIRE FRANKLIN led team with 13 tackles & had TFL last week. Leads NFL with 30 tackles this season. • LB SHAQUILLE LEONARD has FR in each of 2 career games vs. Bal. • LB E.J. SPEED had 5 tackles, 2 TFL & sack in Week 2.
RAVENS NOTES: RAVENS are 2-0 for 1st time since 2020 & can begin season 3-0 for 1st time since 2016. • QB LAMAR JACKSON completed 24 of 33 atts. (72.7 pct.) for 237 yards & 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs with 112.8 rating & had 54 rush yards last week, his 48th-career game with 50+ rush yards, surpassing Cam Newton (47 games) for 2nd-most ever by QB (Michael Vick – 54). Had 504 total yards (career-high 442 pass, 62 rush) & 4 TD passes vs. 0 INTs with 140.5 rating in last meeting. Has 95+ rating, 0 INTs & 55+ rush yards in each of 2 career games vs. Ind. • RB GUS EDWARDS led team with 62 rush yards & had 1st rush TD of season in Week 2. Had rush TD in only career game vs. Ind. (11/8/20). • TE MARK ANDREWS had 5 catches for 45 yards & TD in season debut last week. Aims for his 4th in row with 5+ catches, incl. playoffs. Had 11 catches for career-high 147 yards & 2 TDs in last meeting. • WR ZAY FLOWERS (rookie) had 62 rec. yards last week. Ranks 2nd among rookies with 13 catches & 140 rec. yards this season. • WR NELSON AGHOLOR had 5 catches for 63 yards & 1st TD of season in Week 2. • WR ODELL BECKHAM JR. has 13 catches & 214 rec. yards (107 per game) in 2 career games vs. Ind. • LB ROQUAN SMITH has 5+ tackles in 25 straight games, 3rdlongest active streak in NFL. Had 13 tackles & 3 TFL in only career game vs. Ind. (10/4/20 w/ Chi.). • LB PATRICK QUEEN aims for 12th in row with 5+ tackles. • LB JADEVEON CLOWNEY had sack & PD last week. Has 0.5+ sacks in 4 of his past 6 games vs. Ind. • S GENO STONE led team with career-best 9 tackles & had 2ndcareer INT in Week 2.
COLTS ROOKIE QB ANTHONY RICHARDSON A SPECTATOR AT PRACTICE
Indianapolis Colts rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson did not participate in practice on Thursday, per multiple media outlets.
Richardson, the fourth overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, assumed the role of a spectator for the session while he remains in concussion protocol.
Richardson exited the Colts’ 31-20 victory over the Houston Texans last Sunday in the first half. Backup Gardner Minshew relieved Richardson and completed 19 of 23 passes for 171 yards with a touchdown toss to tight end Kylen Granson.
Minshew is in line to start if Richardson isn’t available this Sunday against the host Baltimore Ravens (2-0).
Richardson was forced out of last Sunday’s contest for the second time in two career games when he absorbed a hard hit.
The Colts led the Texans 14-0 behind two Richardson TD runs when he left to be evaluated for a concussion. In Week 1, he was assisted to the sideline in the final minute of the game after trying to run the ball in for a score against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Richardson, 21, is 30-of-47 passing for 279 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He also has 13 carries for 75 yards and three touchdowns.
LINE OF SCRIMMAGE COULD BE CRUCIAL WHEN THE UNBEATEN BALTIMORE RAVENS HOST THE INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
INDIANAPOLIS (1-1) at BALTIMORE (2-0)
Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT, CBS
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NFL LINE: Ravens by 8 1/2.
SERIES RECORD: Colts lead 10-7.
AGAINST THE SPREAD: Indianapolis 1-1; Baltimore 2-0.
LAST MEETING: Ravens beat Colts 31-25 in OT on Oct. 11, 2021, at Baltimore.
LAST WEEK: Colts beat Texans 31-20; Ravens beat Bengals 27-24.
COLTS OFFENSE: OVERALL (20), RUSH (20T), PASS (13), SCORING (10T).
COLTS DEFENSE: OVERALL (25), RUSH (7), PASS (29), SCORING (22T).
RAVENS OFFENSE: OVERALL (12), RUSH (6), PASS (19), SCORING (10T).
RAVENS DEFENSE: OVERALL (7), RUSH (6), PASS (15), SCORING (7).
TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Colts even; Ravens even.
COLTS PLAYER TO WATCH: RB Zack Moss. Indy’s RBs had 16 carries for 25 yards in Week 1 so when Moss returned from a broken right forearm in Week 2, the Colts put him on the field — for nearly every offensive play. He added balance to the offense, carrying 18 times for 88 yards and one TD. Indy is eager to see an encore performance from Moss — regardless of who starts at quarterback.
RAVENS PLAYER TO WATCH: LB Jadeveon Clowney. The 2014 No. 1 overall draft pick signed with Baltimore last month and already has a sack and three quarterback hits through two games. He had two sacks and four QB hits all of last season with Cleveland.
KEY MATCHUP: Baltimore’s banged-up offensive line against the Indianapolis pass rush. The Ravens had a hard time protecting Lamar Jackson as he struggled in Week 1, but after losing T Ronnie Stanley and C Tyler Linderbaum for last weekend’s game, protection was surprisingly fine and the star QB excelled. It’s hard to tell what to expect this week against an Indianapolis team that already has eight sacks.
KEY INJURIES: Indy could be without three key offensive players. Disgruntled RB Jonathan Taylor will miss at least two more games on the physically unable to perform list following offseason ankle surgery. Rookie QB Anthony Richardson and Pro Bowl C Ryan Kelly both entered the concussion protocol in Week 2. … Ravens CB Marlon Humphrey (foot) missed the first two games and S Marcus Williams (pectoral) was hurt in Week 1. Stanley (knee) and Linderbaum (ankle) were also out last weekend. Now WR Odell Beckham Jr. (ankle) and RB Justice Hill (foot) have missed practice time, and so did LB Odafe Oweh (ankle).
SERIES NOTES: The Colts called Baltimore home from the franchise’s founding in 1953 until moving to Indianapolis in 1984. This season marks the Colts’ 40th in Indy. … In the series, the Ravens have won four straight home games, three straight overall. and five of the past six. … The Colts have won two of the three playoff matchups including a 15-6 victory in January 2007 that featured all field goals en route to Indy’s Super Bowl title. … Baltimore rallied from a 19-point deficit to beat the Colts in OT in the teams’ most recent meeting. Jackson threw for 442 yards and four TDs in that game. … The late Ted Marchibroda had strong ties to both cities. He coached the Baltimore Colts from 1975-79, the Indianapolis Colts from 1992-95 and the Ravens from 1996-98. From 2000-06, he served as a radio analyst for Colts games.
STATS AND STUFF: Richardson and first-time head coach Shane Steichen both got their first career wins last week for the Colts. … If Richardson does not play, backup QB Gardner Minshew will get the starting nod. He was 19 of 23 with 171 yards and one TD and no interceptions in relief of Richardson last week. … Richardson needs one TD run to become the first QB in Colts history with a rushing score in three consecutive games. … WR Michael Pittman Jr. has eight receptions in each of Indy’s first two games. … After getting 18 and 12 tackles the first two weeks, LB Zaire Franklin leads the NFL … Indy has 75 interceptions since 2018, the league’s sixth-highest total. … The Colts have a league-high 17 tackles for loss and are tied for fifth in sacks. … Indy allowed no sacks in Week 2. … This will be Baltimore’s last home game for a while. After hosting the Colts, the Ravens play two road games followed by a trip to London. … Baltimore has six sacks by six different players. … The Ravens are 20-5 at home in September under coach John Harbaugh. Only Green Bay (21-4-1) is better in that span. … Baltimore’s defense has allowed 23 total yards and no first downs in the first quarter so far. … The Ravens have rushed for at least 100 yards in 18 consecutive games.
FANTASY TIP: Baltimore’s backfield has been hit hard by injuries to J.K. Dobbins (torn Achilles tendon) and now Hill, but RB Gus Edwards showed last week he can still be effective in short-yardage situations.
**************INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL’S BIG GAMES WEEK 6***********
BATESVILLE (4-1) AT LAWRENCEBURG (4-1)
BEN DAVIS (4-1) AT LAWRENCE NORTH (4-1)……LAWRENCE NORTH WAS 3 POINTS AWAY FROM BEING UNDEFEATED AFTER LOSING TO CARMEL 17-14. THE WILDCATS MUST RUN THE FOOTBALL AGAINST BEN DAVIS WHO BEAT WARREN CENTRAL 31-28. THE LAST THREE MEETINGS HAVE BEEN CLOSE…ALL THREE BY A COMBINED 11 POINTS.
BROWNSBURG (5-0) AT WESTFIELD (5-0)……CAN WESTFIELD’S DEFENSE (29.6PPG) STOP BROWNSBURG’S OFFENSE?
CENTER GROVE (4-1) AT LAWRENCE CENTRAL (2-3)
COLUMBIA CITY (5-0) AT NEW HAVEN (5-0)
HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN (4-1) AT ZIONSVILLE (3-2)….THE ROYALS LOST LAST WEEK TO WESTFIELD ON THE FINAL PLAY OF THE GAME. HSE OWNS THIS SERIES WINNING 17 OF THE LAST 18 MEETINGS.
HERITAGE CHRISTIAN (4-1) AT COVENANT CHRISTIAN (3-2)…..HERITAGE CHRISTIAN OPENED SOME EYES LAST WEEK WITH A WIN OVER SCECINA.
INDIANAPOLIS CHATARD (5-0) AT GUERIN CATHOLIC (4-1)….GUERIN HAD ISSUES STOPPING THE RUNS LAST WEEK AGAINST RONCALLI GIVING UP 365 YARDS. GUERIN HAS LOST EIGHT STRAIGHT IN THIS SERIES.
INDIANAPOLIS SCECINA (4-1) AT INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN (5-0)…..THIS MATCH-UP WAS ONE WEEK AWAY FROM A POTENTIAL BATTLE OF #1 TEAMS. SCECINA SPOILED THAT POSSIBILITY BY LOSING LAST WEEK TO HERITAGE CHRISTIAN. SCECINA IS AVERGING 473 YARDS OF TOTAL OFFENSE AND SCORING 37.2
INDIANAPOLIS BREBEUF (2-2) AT RONCALLI (3-2)
LAFAYETTE JEFF (3-2) AT HARRISON (WEST LAFAYETTE) (4-1)
MISSISSINEWA (5-0) AT ALEXANDRIA (5-0)
NEW PALESTINE (3-2) AT GREENFIELD-CENTRAL (5-0)……CAN THE COUGARS SNAP A 13 GAME LOSING STREAK TO NEW PAL? GREENFIELD CENTRAL IS 5-0 FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1973 (STATE CHAMPIONSHIP). NEW PAL RB GRAYSON THOMAS IS JUST 29 YARDS AWAY FROM BECOMING THE FIRST RB IN TEAM HISTORY TO RUSH FOR 1,000 IN ALL FOUR SEASONS.
NOBLESVILLE (3-2) AT FRANKLIN CENTRAL (3-2)
NORTHEASTERN (5-0) AT CENTERVILLE (5-0)……THE WINNER IS THE KING OF WAYNE COUNTY. THE BULLDOGS HAVE WON 25 OF THE LAST 35 MEETINGS. CENTERVILLE CAN RUN AND THROW THE FOOTBALL (174 PASS-147.8 RUSH)…NORTHEASTERN IS AVERAGING 417.2 YARDS OF TOTAL OFFENSE (183.4 PASS-233.8 RUN).
PENDLETON HEIGHTS (3-2) AT MOUNT VERNON (FORTVILLE) (2-3)
PLAINFIELD (5-0) AT DECATUR CENTRAL (3-2)…..PLAINFIELD BEAT DECATUR CENTRAL TWICE LAST SEASON. DC RAN FOR 331 YARDS LAST WEEK AGAINST MOORESVILLE.
ROCHESTER (4-1) AT PERU (5-0)
RITTER (3-2) AT TRITON CENTRAL (4-1)
SEEGER (4-1) AT FOUNTAIN CENTRAL (4-1)
SOUTH DEARBORN (3-2) AT EAST CENTRAL (5-0)
SOUTH NEWTON (3-2) AT WEST CENTRAL (5-0)
SOUTHMONT (4-1) AT DANVILLE (3-2)
TRITON (3-2) AT PIONEER (4-1)
TWIN LAKES (4-1) AT HAMILTON HEIGHTS (5-0)
VALPARAISO (4-1) AT CROWN POINT (5-0)
WARSAW (5-0) AT MISHAWAKA (4-1)
YORKTOWN (3-2) AT SHELBYVILLE (3-2)
*******************INDIANA FOOTBALL******************
INDIANA VS. AKRON GAME NOTES
(INDIANA)
SETTING THE SCENE
• Indiana hosts Akron for the fourth meeting all-time between the two programs and third in Bloomington. The Hoosiers and Zips
will kick things off at 7:30 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network from Memorial Stadium.
• The Hoosiers are 3-0 all-time against the Zips, with the last meeting coming in 2010, a 35-20 victory for Indiana. All four
meetings between the two programs have come since the 2007 season and have been decided by double-digit point totals.
• In the last meeting, the Hoosiers led 35-13 after the third quarter before the Zips tallied a fourth quarter score to account for the
final margin. Ted Bolser grabbed a pair of touchdowns from Ben Chappell, who threw three total scoring strikes in the game.
• Against the Mid-American Conference, Indiana owns a 39-9-1 overall record versus the conference and has played 11 of the 12
members of the current alignment (Buffalo). The first meeting with a MAC program came against Miami (Ohio) in 1897, though the
conference didn’t form until 1946.
NEWS & NOTES
• Indiana’s defense has been up to task through three weeks in 2023, as the unit ranks among the top-50 nationally in four of the
five major statistical categories: passing yards allowed (19th; 165.3), red zone defense (27th; .714), total defense (38th; 298.3) and
scoring defense (39th; 17.0).
• With 2.0 tackles for loss in each of the first two games of the season, redshirt senior Andre Carter’s 4.0 TFLs are the most by a
Hoosier in the first two games of a season since 2004 when Kyle Killion posted 5.5 tackles for loss.
• Sophomore Jaylin Lucas produced the first multi-touchdown game of his career in Week 2 versus Indiana State with a pair of
rushing scores. He now has six career touchdowns with 4 rushing and two kickoff return scores.
• Lucas’ two career kickoff returns sit No. 2 on the career kickoff return touchdowns charts at Indiana. The only true freshman in
the FBS with multiple kickoff return touchdowns in 2022, Lucas needs 122 kickoff return yards to enter the top-15 all-time at IU.
• With 28 tackles, redshirt senior Aaron Casey ranks No. 6 in the Big Ten and No. 13 nationally in total tackles entering Week 4. His
2.0 sacks rank tied for No. 5 in the Big Ten and his 4.0 tackles for loss are tied for No. 2 in the conference.
• Redshirt freshman Tayven Jackson made his first career start versus Indiana State and accounted for 245 yards of total offense
and led five of Indiana’s seven scoring drives. In Week 3 against Louisville, Jackson posted 310 yards of total offense and threw his
first career touchdown pass.
• With its successful onside kick to start the second half versus Louisville at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indiana snapped a streak of eight
straight unsuccessful onside kick attempts and recovered its first onside kick since the 2017 game at Purdue.
• Head coach Tom Allen won his 31st career game over Indiana State in Week 2 and is just two wins shy of joining the top five
winningest coaches in program history. Of the 31 wins, 12 have come in one possession games, including a 4-1 mark in overtime.
(AKRON)
HEAD COACHES Tom Allen (Iowa, 1989) Joe Moorhead (Fordham, 1996) Overall Record: 31-42 (7th Season) Overall Record: 55-37 (8th Season) Record at Indiana: 31-42 (7th Season) Record at Akron: 3-12 (2nd Season) SERIES HISTORY Series: Indiana Leads 3-0 | Home: 2-0 | Away: 1-0 Last Meeting: Indiana def. Akron, 35-20 (Bloomington, Ind. – Sept. 25, 2010) Second Meeting: Indiana def. Akron, 38-21 (Akron, Ohio – Sept. 19, 2009) First Meeting: Indiana def. Akron, 41-24 (Bloomington, Ind. – Sept. 15, 2007) Today’s game marks the fourth time in series history the Zips and the Hoosiers have met on the gridiron. Indiana holds a 3-0 all-time record, winning a pair of games in Bloomington and one game in Akron. Indiana has scored 35 or more points in all three contests for 114 total points compared the Zips 22 points per a game average and 65 total points scored. SCOUTING INDIANA The Indiana Hoosiers enter the game with a 1-2 overall record and 0-1 in B1G play. The Hoosiers opened the 2023 slate against Ohio State, falling 23-3 before defeating Indiana State 41-7. In week three, Louisville posted a seven-point win over Indiana 21-14. The Hoosiers have used two QBs this season in Tayven Jackson who is 43-of-60 for 559 yards and a touchdown, while Brenden Sorsby has thrown 32 passes, completing 17 for 166 yards. The Hoosiers have a pair of RB with two touchdowns each. Layling Lucas leads the ground attack with 29 carries for 141 yards, while Josh Henderson has 22 rushes for 91 yards. The Indiana receiving corps is paced by Cam Cooper with nine catches for 146 yards, while Jaylin Lucas and Omar Cooper, Jr. with 138 yards on 15 targets and 109 yards on eight targets. Lucas has one TD reception. Defensively, LB Aaron Casey leads the squad in tackles with 28, including 4 TFL and two sacks. Phillip Dunnam follows with a pair of sacks and adds 16 tackles and two interceptions.
ZIP TIDBITS • Akron won the turnover battle 3-1 after intercepting one pass and recovering two fumbles.• • Akron tallied 3 points in the third quarter, accounting for 100% of their total score. • Akron converted 6 of 15 third downs while Kentucky was successful on 5 of 8. • Akron won the time of possession battle 34:47 to 25:13. • Irons completed 67.6% of his passes on the day, going 23-for-34 • CJ Nunnally opened the game with back-to-back sacks for the Zips. •Noel Roach blocked punt to setup Akron field goal, made by Noah Perez 22 yards •Alex Adams caught his first TD pass of the season 29 yards from Jeff Undercuffler 5-5 on the 67-yard drive. •Devonte Golden-Nelson recorded the Zips first interception of the season and first Pick-6, taking the 50 yards for his first-career touchdown. • Akron outgained Morgan State 262-231, including a 254-152 advantage through the air. • Akron converted 4 of 11 third downs while Morgan State was successful on 2 of 16. • The Zips had three players with more than eight tackles in the ballgame led by Bryan McCoy, who had 14. • The Zips racked up nine tackles for loss and added four sacks. • Akron posted 279 yards of total offense in the season opener vs Temple • DJ Irons accounted for 205 yards of offense with two TDs on 17-of-29 throwing. • Lorenzo Lingard caught a career-high 77 yard TD reception from Irons on the second play of the game to give Akron a 7-0 lead. • Daniel George caught a 50-yard long pass from Irons to setup the Zips second TD • Myles Walker hauled in the second TD pass from Irons, a 14 yard reception and his first career touchdown • Drake Anderson led the ground attack with 40 of the Zips 74 yards. • Akron’s defense registered three tackles for loss with eight total yards. Bryan McCoy (1), Shammond Cooper (0.5), Terray Jones (1) and CJ Nunnally (0.5) recorded the takedowns. • Darrian Lewis, Antavious Fish and McCoy recorded seven tackles each to lead the Zips. Judson Tallendier, Cooper and KJ Martin followed with five each. • Akron returns eight offensive starters and seven defensive starters • Akron returns its top-three tacklers in; Nate Thompson (73 tackles, 38 solo, 35 assists, 2 TFL), Darrian Lewis (56 tackles, 30 solo, 26 assists, 3/5 TFL) and KJ Martin (53 tackles, 30 solo, 23 assists, 3 TFL) • Akron returns its top-two quarterbacks in; DJ Irons (253-379-7, 2,606, 10 TD) and Jeff Undercuffler (70-120-5, 791 yards, 5 TD) • Akron returns its top leading rusher in DJ Irons (133 carries, 314 yards, 4 TD) • Akron Returns four of top-five leading receivers in; Alex Adams (63 catches, 856 yards, 9 TD), Daniel George (67 catches, 793 yards, 2 TD), TJ Banks (21 catches, 175 yards, 0 TD).
HOOSIERS TRYING TO EVEN RECORD AGAINST AKRON IN FINAL NON-CONFERENCE GAME
Akron (1-2) at Indiana (1-2), Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET (BTN)
Line: Indiana by 17, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Series record: Indiana leads 3-0.
Both teams are trying to even their records though Indiana’s mission seems more imperative — if it hopes to make its first bowl game since 2020. Sweeping the non-conference schedule could have put them in position, but Saturday’s loss made ended those hopes. New Hoosiers QB Tayven Jackson will try to build on last week’s strong second-half performance. The Zips are seeking a program-changing win. Akron has 10 wins victories since 2018 with its last over a Power Five foe in 2015.
KEY MATCHUP
Akron’s offensive line vs. Indiana pass rushers Andre Carter and Aaron Casey. Carter, a transfer from Western Michigan, and Casey, in his fifth season, have transformed the Hoosiers defensive front. They’ve slowed down two high-scoring offenses, No. 6 Ohio State and Louisville, and have combined for three sacks and eight tackles for loss. The Zips already have allowed 13 sacks and if that continues Saturday, this game could turn ugly early.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Akron: LB C.J. Nunnally. It hasn’t taken the junior long to find a fit with the Zips. At 6-foot-3, 230 pounds, Nunnally posted back-to-back sacks on the first two plays of his second game with Akron before forcing a fumble that led to the game-winning touchdown score agaisnt Morgan State. He added another sack last week against Kentucky.
Indiana: WR Cam Camper. The former junior college star was off to a fast start last year, his first in the program, before a torn ACL ended his season in mid-October. While he’s still working his way back, he showed last week that he and Jackson have a connection. Could it be a precursor to a big game this week?
FACTS & FIGURES
Indiana has won each of the previous three meetings against Akron by double digits. … The Zips have lost 12 of their last 14…. The Hoosiers are 39-8-1 all-time against Mid-American Conference programs. … Akron has lost eight straight games against Power Five programs since a 39-34 victory at Northwestern on Sept. 15, 2018. … Indiana’s defense is ranked among the FBS’ top 40 in four different categories including total defense (298.3 yards, 38th) and scoring defense (17.0 points, 39th). … For the second straight week, Hoosiers coach Tom Allen will try to break a tie for sixth all-time on the school’s career victory list. He’s tied with the late John Pont at 31. Pont led the Hoosiers to the 1968 Rose Bowl, Indiana’s first and only appearance.
*****************INDIANA WOMEN’S SOCCER********************
BLACK SCORES GAME WINNER; HOOSIERS WIN FIFTH STRAIGHT MATCH OVER ILLINOIS, 2-1
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Indiana women’s soccer (8-0-2, 2-0 B1G) defeated Illinois (4-3-2, 0-0-2 B1G), 2-1, for their fifth straight win after senior midfielder Sofia Black scored the game winner in the 39th minute at Demirjian Park on Thursday evening.
KEY MOMENTS
• Indiana took the lead in the 19th minute after sophomore midfielder Natasha Kim steals possession with a solid tackle in the midfield as she dribbles down the field to find graduate forward Paige Webber inside the box. Webber found Bennett at the top left of the goalie box where she buried it into the back of the net.
• Illinois found the equalizer in the 34th minute after what looked to be a cross but found its way in the far-left corner of the net.
• Black put the Hoosiers back in the lead right before the half as she intercepted a pass from sophomore forward Marisa Grzesiak. Black fired one right outside the six-yard box as the Illinois Keeper attempted the diving save, but the ball was still loose as Black dribbled the ball around the fallen goalie. before angling her strike
• The remaining 45 minutes was a defensive battle as the Illini looked for the equalizer, but the Hoosiers backline would hold strong.
HOOSIER POINTS
GOALS: Anna Bennett (19′), Sofia Black (39′)
ASSISTS: Paige Webber, Natasha Kim, Marisa Grzesiak
NOTABLES
• IU is now 9-13-4 all-time against Illinois.
• The Hoosiers outshot the Fighting Illini 15-12 and led 8-4 in corners.
• Through the first 10 matches, Indiana’s 8-0-2 record is the best start in head coach Erwin van Bennekom’s tenure.
• The current five game win streak is the longest under van Bennekom and the longest since 2013.
• Black nets her second goal of the season, the fourth of her career.
• Bennett scores her 10th career goal for her third on the season.
• Webber earns her third assist this season for her 25th point.
• Kim earns her first point on the year assisting on the first goal against the Illini.
• Gerstenberg recorded her eighth victory on the season and the 18th of her career. She currently ranks seventh all-time in career wins.
Additionally, Gerstenberg is one win away from tying her record for most wins in a single-season with nine.
• The Birkenwerder, Germany, native grabbed six saves totaling 24 on the season.
UP NEXT
Indiana will host the No. 18 ranked Northwestern Wildcats at Bill Armstrong Stadium on Sunday. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET on B1G+.
***************INDIANA MEN’S SOCCER******************
HOOSIERS READY FOR BIG TEN ROAD TRIP
EAST LANSING, Mich. — Indiana men’s soccer returns to Big Ten Conference play on Friday (Sept. 22), its first league road match, taking on undefeated and No. 18-ranked Michigan State in East Lansing.
Fans can stream the match on the Big Ten Plus digital platform, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
SETTING THE SCENE
• Both Indiana and Michigan State tied their conference openers and will be eager to capture three points.
• IU is coming off a win over Butler in which it scored early and threatened often. Samuel Sarver’s 10th-minute score was the difference in the 1-0 derby dub as the Hoosiers matched their season shots average of 16, which ranks No. 15 nationally and No. 2 in the Big Ten.
• The win was IU’s second straight shutout and fourth clean sheet in seven matches this season. Indiana has conceded three goals to register a 0.429 goals against average which ranks No. 5 nationally. The Hoosiers have not allowed multiple goals in any match.
ABOUT THE SPARTANS
• Michigan State is 4-2-0 and coming off a 1-1 draw at Rutgers on Sunday.
• The Spartans are led by 15th-year head coach Damon Rensing, who has compiled a 140-103-39 record at MSU.
• Michigan State has scored eight goals from seven different players. Sophomore defender Jeremy Sharp leads the Spartans with three assists.
SERIES HISTORY
• Indiana has dominated the all-time series with Michigan State, owning a 44-8-5 record against the Spartans. The Hoosiers won the first 30 matchups and, recently, have not lost to MSU since 2015. In that span, IU is 6-0-3.
• In last year’s matchup, Brett Bebej’s first-half goal was canceled out by MSU’s Grayson Mercer in the 72nd minute, and the teams settled for a draw. Bebej has the goal and one assist in his career against the Spartans.
• The last time the Hoosiers went to East Lansing, Indiana rode Patrick McDonald’s first-career goal in the 48th minute to a 1-0 win. Seven of IU’s last eight wins over MSU have been decided by one goal.
• IU owns a 5-3 record against Michigan State in the Big Ten Tournament. In 1996, 2001 and 2013, the Hoosiers defeated the Spartans in tournament finals.
****************INDIANA SOFTBALL*****************
INDIANA SOFTBALL TO OPEN SEASON IN THE 2024 NFCA LEADOFF CLASSIC
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. –––– The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) announced the field for the 2024 NFCA Leadoff Classic, the annual season-opening tournament on Thursday afternoon.
For the second year in a row, Indiana will be part of the prestigious event to begin its season.
Seventeen teams will compete from Feb. 8-11 at the Eddie C. Moore Complex in Clearwater, Fla.
Indiana will be tested right out of the gate with five games against strong teams over the course of the weekend.
Indiana will face off against Oregon, Clemson, Army, Kansas and North Carolina Central in Clearwater.
Indiana’s weekend schedule is as follows:
Thursday, Feb. 8: Indiana vs. Oregon – 7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 9: Indiana vs. Clemson – 7 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 10: Indiana vs. Army – 1 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 10: Indiana vs. Kansas – 4 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 11: Indiana vs. North Carolina Central – 10 a.m.
Of the five teams, three of them were 2023 NCAA Tournament participants. Clemson and Oregon both reached the Super Regional round while North Carolina Central won the MEAC before falling in the Athens Regional in the NCAA Tournament.
Tickets for the entire tournament will be available tomorrow starting at 10 a.m. and can be purchased on the here.
For full details on the tournament, the event portal can be found here.
****************INDIANA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL************
INDIANA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ANNOUNCES 2023-24 REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana women’s basketball has announced the 2023-24 regular season schedule, including Big Ten matchups, on Thursday afternoon.
The season begins on Nov. 9 against Eastern Illinois at home inside Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. IU’s non-conference schedule features a pair of potential Top 25 matchups when it faces Stanford in Palo Alto (Nov. 12) and against Tennessee in the Fort Myers tipoff on Thanksgiving night in a nationally televised game on FOX at 6 p.m. ET.
Murray State (Nov. 17) and Lipscomb (Nov. 19) also visit the Hall in non-conference action as the Hoosiers will also travel to a neutral site game in Portland, Maine against Maine (Nov. 30) at Cross Insurance Arena.
IU will kick off Big Ten play on Dec. 9th when it travels to Rutgers. It will wrap up non-conference play against Evansville and Bowling Green State University before jumping back into league play on New Year’s Eve at home against Illinois. They wrap up a four-game homestand on January 4th by hosting Michigan.
The next six matchups alternate between home and away as it visits Nebraska (Jan. 7), returns home for Penn State (Jan. 10) and heads to Iowa (Jan. 13). Minnesota comes to Bloomington (Jan. 17) while the Barn Burner Trophy is up for grabs at Purdue (Jan. 21) in the first of two meetings between in-state rivals.
They then play their first of two meetings against Northwestern (Jan. 28) and at Maryland (Jan. 31). February begins at Ohio State (Feb. 4) before a two-game homestand against Michigan State (Feb. 8) and Purdue (Feb. 11) are on the slate. The Hoosiers are back on the road for Valentine’s Day at Wisconsin and at Illinois (Feb. 19).
Wrapping up the regular season, Iowa and Indiana meet for the second time on Feb. 22 in Bloomington before a final regular season road game at Northwestern (Feb. 27). The regular season finale will be at home for Senior Day when the program hosts Maryland (Mar. 3).
The Big Ten Tournament will be held March 6-10, 2024 at Target Center in Minneapolis. Game times and TV designations will be determined later.
The 2023-24 Hoosier roster will feature four returners from a team that finished 28-4 overall and 16-2 in Big Ten play. The program won the Big Ten regular season championship outright for the first time in 40 years. First team All-American Mackenzie Holmes highlights Indiana’s roster for the upcoming season along with five other All-Big Ten selections from last season in rising seniors Chloe Moore-McNeil and Sydney Parrish, graduate student Sara Scalia, and rising sophomore Yarden Garzon.
2023-24 Indiana Women’s Basketball Schedule
Date Opponent Location
Nov. 1 Northwood (exh.) Bloomington, Ind.
Nov. 9 EIU Bloomington, Ind.
Nov. 12 at Stanford Palo Alto, Calif.
Nov. 17 Murray State Bloomington, Ind.
Nov. 19 Lipscomb Bloomington, Ind.
Nov. 23 Tennessee^ Fort Myers, Fla.
Nov. 25 Princeton^ Fort Myers, Fla.
Nov. 30 Maine# Portland, Me.
Dec. 9 at Rutgers* Piscataway, N.J.
Dec. 18 Evansville Bloomington, Ind.
Dec. 22 BGSU Bloomington, Ind.
Dec. 31 Illinois* Bloomington, Ind.
Jan. 4 Michigan* Bloomington, Ind.
Jan. 7 at Nebraska* Lincoln, Neb.
Jan. 10 Penn State* Bloomington, Ind.
Jan. 13 at Iowa* Iowa City, Iowa
Jan. 17 Minnesota* Bloomington, Ind.
Jan. 21 at Purdue* West Lafayette, Ind.
Jan. 28 Northwestern* Bloomington, Ind.
Jan. 31 at Maryland* College Park, Md.
Feb. 4 at Ohio State* Columbus, Ohio
Feb. 8 Michigan State* Bloomington, Ind.
Feb. 11 Purdue* Bloomington, Ind.
Feb. 14 at Wisconsin* Madison, Wis.
Feb. 19 at Illinois* Champaign, Ill.
Feb. 22 Iowa* Bloomington, Ind.
Feb. 27 at Northwestern* Evanston, Ill.
Mar. 3 Maryland* Bloomington, Ind.
*^ – Fort Myers Tipoff
# – neutral site game at Cross Insurance Arena
* – Big Ten matchup
******************PURDUE FOOTBALL*********************
GAME NOTES VS. WISCONSIN
(PURDUE)
STORY LINES • With non-conference games in the books, Purdue Football begins Big Ten play with a Friday night matchup under the lights of Ross-Ade Stadium. The Boilermakers host Wisconsin in the first conference game under head coach Ryan Walters. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET on FS1. • In 135 seasons of Purdue Football, the Boilermakers have never hosted a Big Ten opponent on a Friday. This week’s contest will be the 13th Friday game in school history. • Purdue and Wisconsin have split the all-time matchups in September, winning three times apiece. • The Boilermakers enter conference play as the reigning Big Ten West champions after going 6-3 a season ago. • Purdue is in the middle of a three-game homestand, as four of the Boilermakers’ five September games are at home. • The Boilermakers began the 2022 campaign 1-2 before winning seven of their next nine games and claiming the Big Ten West outright. • The Purdue defense has forced an interception in seven straight games, dating back to last season’s win over Illinois (Nov. 12, 2022). • Purdue’s Air Raid offense makes a Big Ten-best 24 completions per game and ranks second in passing offense with 275.0 yards per game. • Mel Gray will be Purdue’s honorary captain for Friday night’s matchup. The former Boilermaker tailback rushed for 1,765 yards over two seasons (1982-83) before becoming a three-time First Team All-Pro return specialist for the Detroit Lions. • Purdue has had a different leading receiver in all three games this season: Deion Burks vs. Fresno State (152 yards), Max Klare at Virginia Tech (64 yards), AbdurRahmaan Yaseen vs. Syracuse (114 yards). • With 127 total receiving yards in this first three years as a Boilermaker, Abdur-Rahmaan Yaseen nearly equaled that total with career highs in catches (10) and yards (114) against Syracuse. He holds the team lead in receptions with 18 this season, and his 6.0 receptions per game lead the Big Ten. • Ranking 14th nationally with 10.3 tackles per game, including a nation’s best 8.7 tackles per game, freshman Dillon Thieneman has paced Purdue in tackling in all three games. He recorded a career-high 14 tackles last week versus Syracuse. • Cam Allen and Dillon Thienemen lead the team with two INTs apiece to top the Big Ten and rank ninth nationally. • Redshirt-freshman tight end Max Klare is the nation’s leading freshman tight end in receptions (15), receptions per game (5.0) and receiving yards (151).
(WISCONSIN NOTES)
BADGERS OPEN BIG TEN PLAY: The Wisconsin Badgers open their 128th season of Big Ten play on Friday night when they travel to West Lafayette, Ind., to take on Purdue. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. CT and will be televised live by FS1. Wisconsin has won 16 consecutive meetings with Purdue and has claimed the last 9 games in West Lafayette. The Badgers have not lost at Purdue since 1997. With Big Ten play beginning, UW owns a 54-22 (.711) record in regular season conference play since the Big Ten went to its current format in 2014. Only Ohio State owns a higher winning percentage in the Big Ten and just five Power 5 schools have posted a better regular season conference clip than the Badgers over that span. The Badgers own a 40-12 (.769) record vs. the Big Ten West since the league moved to its current divisions in 2014.
KEY NOTES TO CONSIDER: Phil Longo directs Wisconsin’s offense for his first season on Fickell’s staff. With the Air Raid touching down in Madison, the Badgers have still found success on the ground. RBs Braelon Allen and Chez Mellusi have helped UW to 5.71 yards per carry clip, the highest in the Big Ten. No Big Ten team has more rushing TDs than the Badgers’ 10 this season. Wisconsin’s 35 points in its win over Georgia Southern were its most when not throwing for a touchdown since a 35-14 win over Michigan on Sept. 21, 2019 Last season, Allen ran for 1,242 yards and 11 touchdowns as the Badgers’ lead back during his sophomore campaign, becoming the 5th Badger in program history to run for 1,000 yards as both a freshman and a sophomore. Wisconsin’s pair of leading tacklers from 2022, LB Maema Njongmeta and LB Jordan Turner, return to bolster the center of the Badger defense. Njongmeta, a third-team All-Big Ten selection, logged 95 tackles, 12.5 TFLs, 3.5 sacks and an INT in 2022. His 89.9 PFF grade last season was the highest among active P5 LBs. S Hunter Wohler has been a playmaker all over the field in DC Mike Tressel’s system. Wohler earned Big Ten defensive player of the week honors after picking off two passes and making 10 tackles, including a sack, in Wisconsin’s win over Georgia Southern. Wohler has now collected 10+ tackles in three straight games, becoming the first Badger to do so since Leo Chenal in 2021. Wohler leads the Badgers and ranks 2nd in the Big Ten with 34 tackles this season. No Power 5 player has more solo tackles than his 26. Wohler’s two INTs contributed to UW’s 5 in the win, the most in a single game for the Badgers since at least 1988. QB Tanner Mordecai, who joined the Badgers after two record-setting seasons at SMU, has weapons at his disposal in the new-look offense. New wideouts Bryson Green (Oklahoma State), Will Pauling (Cincinnati) and C.J. Williams (USC) have already made an impact in the passing game and Chimere Dike returns after leading the Badgers with 47 catches for 689 yards and 6 TDs in 2022.
**************PURDUE WOMEN’S SOCCER****************
BOILERMAKERS PLAY TO GOALLESS DRAW AT MARYLAND
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The Purdue soccer team played to a 0-0 draw at Maryland on Thursday night at Ludwig Field in College Park, Maryland.
In both teams’ second Big Ten game of the season, the Boilermakers (3-6-1, 0-1-1 Big Ten) had a strong second half, but could not find a goal on the Terrapins’ (3-2-5, 0-1-1 Big Ten) home pitch. In its first Big Ten road game, Purdue earned its second shutout of the season while UMD held an opponent goalless for the sixth time in 2023.
The Boilermakers had eight shots, one on goal, and the Terrapins had 17 shots, six on target. The Old Gold and Black out-shot the home side 8-7 in the second half. Purdue owned a 5-4 edge in corner kicks, with all five coming in the final 45 minutes. UMD had 12 fouls to the Boilermakers’ 10, and both squads were shown one yellow card.
Sophomore goalkeeper Kailey Kimball stopped all six shots she faced to earn her first career shutout. Senior midfielder Emily Mathews led the team with three shots, one on target. Five Boilermakers notched one shot in the contest.
Kimball’s first save came in the third minute, as she tipped the ball out to set up a corner kick. Maryland’s next shot didn’t come until the 15th minute, and the Boilermaker defense forced the next three chances off target.
A blocked shot in the 31st minute preceded Kimball’s second save in the 37th. That leaping save again set up a corner, and the Purdue back line blocked a pair of shots and UMD had another go off the post before the ball was cleared away.
The final save of the half for Kimball was in the 41st minute to preserve a goalless first half.
A Maryland shot wide began the second half before Mathews registered her first chance that was high in the 48th minute. Another good save by Kimball came four minutes later.
Purdue earned its first corner kick in the 57th minute, which set up a great chance for sophomore defender Sabrina Blount. However, her chance from the edge of the six was blocked and the visitors could not get another great look as the ball bounced around the box before it was cleared away.
Kimball stopped another shot in the 68th minute, and the Boilermakers quickly answered with a chance of their own, though freshman forward Lauren Omholt saw her shot go wide.
Freshman defender Zoe Cuneio had the first of four consecutive Purdue chances in the 75th minute, and Mathews’ opportunity in the 80th minute followed. From the right side, Mathews had a shot on goal that was saved three minutes later. The second of two corner kicks in two minutes came before junior forward Megan Hutchinson had a shot that hit the post.
The final stop of Kimball’s night was in the 85th minute. That was the sophomore’s 50th save of her career in 13 career appearances and 10 starts.
The Boilermakers continued to fight for the game’s first goal in the final minutes, though a shot by junior forward Gracie Dunaway that was wide ended up being the last chance of the game for either team.
Purdue’s weekend on the east coast wraps up at Rutgers on September 24. Kickoff in Piscataway, New Jersey, is at 1 p.m. ET.
*****************PURDUE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL**************
BIG TEN ANNOUNCES PURDUE’S 2023-24 CONFERENCE SLATE
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The 2023-24 schedule for the Purdue women’s basketball team is finally set. The Big Ten Conference unveiled its 18-game league slate for the upcoming campaign, its final as a 14-team conference.
The league returns to the 18-game format for the fifth time in the last six seasons. Game times and broadcast assignments will be announced later.
For the fourth consecutive campaign, Purdue will open league play ahead of the holiday break. The Boilermakers will head to Minnesota for a Dec. 10 contest to start Big Ten action. Purdue is 1-1 in conference openers under head coach Katie Gearlds
Big Ten play picks up after the holiday break with back-to-back games at Mackey Arena on either side of New Year’s Day against Wisconsin (Dec. 30) and Rutgers (Jan. 2). Purdue will hit the road for the first time in 2024 on Jan. 6 with a trip to Maryland.
The Boilermakers will host Iowa and reigning national player of the year Caitlin Clark in the lone matchup between the two clubs on Jan. 10.
Following a game at Penn State on Jan. 18, Purdue will return to Mackey Arena Jan. 21 for a showdown with Indiana and the 2023 Barn Burner Trophy Game.
Two of Purdue’s next three outings will be on the road at Michigan State (Jan. 24) and Nebraska (Jan. 31), with a home tilt Jan. 28 against Ohio State splitting the two.
After squaring off with Illinois at home on Feb. 5, the Boilermakers will play their only two-game road swing of league action with visits to Indiana (Feb. 11) and Northwestern (Feb. 14). Purdue will then return home for a pair of contests against Nebraska (Feb. 17) and Michigan State (Feb. 21).
The Boilermakers close out the regular season with two of three on the road at Wisconsin (Feb. 25) and the season finale (March 3). Purdue’s home finale will be Feb. 28 against Penn State.
For the second consecutive year, the Big Ten Tournament will be played at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minn., March 6-10.
The announcement of the full schedule brings Purdue’s home slate to 15 games during the regular season, plus the Oct. 29 exhibition against Quincy.
Head coach Katie Gearlds returns for her third campaign at the helm of her alma mater. Her 13-player roster includes five returners, two sophomore transfers and six freshmen. The Boilermakers will open the 2023-24 season on the road at UCLA on Nov. 6, before their first game at Mackey Arena on Nov. 12 against Southern.
Purdue will face a Power 5 opponent in four of its first five games of the season.
*****************PURDUE VOLLEYBALL*********************
BIG TEN SEASON OPENER SET FOR FRIDAY
Friday, September 22
#19 Purdue at Maryland
7 p.m. ET | B1G+
Sunday, September 24
#19 Purdue at Rutgers
1 p.m. ET | B1G+
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The No. 19 Purdue volleyball team is set for the opening weekend of Big Ten action, set to begin on the east coast on Friday.
Purdue (6-3) will take on Maryland (10-2) Friday at 7 p.m. ET before heading to New Jersey for a 1 p.m. ET match at Rutgers (8-2) on Sunday. Both matches will be available on B1G+ to watch.
THE NON-CON WRAP-UP
After starting the season with a 1-2 record, Purdue went on a five-match winning streak and ended non-conference play 6-3.
The future bodes well for the Boilermakers, as 83% of the offense, specifically kills per set, came at the hands of underclassmen.
Chloe Chicoine and Eva Hudson accounted for 54% of all Purdue points.
The Boilermakers received Freshman of the Week (twice: Chloe Chicoine), Setter of the Week (once: Taylor Anderson) and Player of the Week (once: Chloe Chicoine) during non-con action.
LOURDES MYERS: HEATING UP
Over the last two weeks of play, Lourdes Myers is averaging a .439 attack % while tallying 19 total blocks.
Week after week Myers is besting her career-highs, most recently posting a career-high seven total blocks vs. UCF.
The redshirt junior registered a career-high seven block assists vs. UCF (9/14), including having a hand in four of the team’s five blocks in Set 1 alone.
The Boilermaker has played in every match this season, and started eight of the team’s nine matches, including her first collegiate start.
THE PLAYMAKER: SETTER TAYLOR ANDERSON
Since Taylor Anderson made her first career start two weeks ago, she has led all Big Ten setters week over week.
After averaging a Big Ten-leading 11.33 assists per set last week, she upped her game, averaging 12.14 in Week 4 to lead the way, despite her freshman status.
THE DYNAMIC DUO: EVA HUDSON & CHLOE CHICOINE
Purdue is the only Big Ten team to have two players rank in the top-10 in kills per set and is joined this week by Nebraska for the first time in points per set.
Kills/Set: Chloe Chicoine (4th with 4.24) Eva Hudson (6th with 3.63).
Points/Set: Chicoine (4th with 4.71) and Hudson (10th with 4.04).
SCOUTING THE MARYLAND TERRAPINS
Maryland went 10-2 in non-conference play, the second most non-conference wins during head coach Adam Hughes’ tenure. This includes going undefeated at home and on a neutral court.
In the Terps’ most recent match against Florida Gulf Coast, outside hitter Sam Csire became the 15th player to reach 1000 career kills in Maryland volleyball history. This season, she leads the team with 110 total kills and averages 2.89 per set.
Maryland averages the third most blocks in the Big Ten with 2.88 per set. They are led by Eva Rohrbach, 1.31 blocks per set, Anastasia Russ, 1.13 blocks per set, and Sydney Dowler, 0.95 blocks per set.
The engine of the Terrapins’ attack is their setter, Sydney Dowler, who leads the team and Big Ten in assists per set with 10.05. On the other side of the net, she ranks third on the team with 65 total digs.
SCOUTING THE RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS
This match marks the first time Purdue will play Rutgers in Jersey Mike’s Arena. Meanwhile, it will be the first time this season that Rutgers has played in the facility.
The Scarlet Knights enter Big Ten play with a record of 8-2, which marks their best non-conference start while in the Big Ten and their best start since 2012 when they began the season at 14-1 before Big East play.
In Rutgers’ last non-conference match against Princeton, senior libero Madyson Chitty became the 10th Scarlet Knight to reach 1000 career digs. She also leads the team with 129 total digs and averages 3.39 per set, which ranks 10th in the Big Ten.
Alissa Kinkela leads the Scarlet Knights’ attack with 3.11 kills per set while hitting .368 percent. She also leads the team with 118 total kills on 266 attacks.
****************BUTLER WOMEN’S SOCCER********************
BIG EAST OPENER ENDS IN DRAW FOR BUTLER AND (RV) XAVIER
CINCINNATI, Ohio – The Butler women’s soccer team fell behind early but came back to earn a 1-1 draw with (rv) Xavier in the BIG EAST opener for both teams. The Musketeers (7-2-1, 0-0-1 BIG EAST) had an 11-2 advantage in shots in the first half and scored in the 17th minute. The Bulldogs (4-4-2, 0-0-1 BIG EAST) found their rhythm after the break, outshooting Xavier, 7-3, in the second half and leveling the score in the 52nd minute. The physical match featured 36 fouls and four yellow cards.
Key Moments
8′ | Abigail Isger, from just outside the 18, makes a strike that skims off the crossbar.
17′ | Xavier earns a corner kick, and the service comes to the near post. Anna Pierce reaches high to get a hand on the ball, but it deflects down in front of the goal. Emma Flick is able to tap it in and put Xavier up, 1-0.
**HALFTIME**
52′ | Anna Schroeder saves a ball from going out in the right corner. She sends it in front of the goal and Alexei Whittaker directs it into the left side of the net. We are level at one.
82′ | Talia Sommer collects a ball at the right corner of the area. Her long shot to the far post hits the crossbar and rebounds back into play. Xavier clears the threat.
Butler Points Summary
GOALS: Alexei Whittaker
ASSISTS: Anna Schroeder
Bulldog Bits
Alexei Whittaker’s goal was her fourth of the season and of her career.
Anna Schroeder’s assist was her second of the season and of her career.
Anna Pierce (3-2-2) made one save to preserve the draw.
Seven Bulldogs produced
Seven Bulldogs produced at least one shot in the match, with Whittaker, Becky Dean, and Leila Lister each credited with one on goal.
****************BUTLER VOLLEYBALL**********************
BUTLERVB FALLS IN BIG EAST OPENER AGAINST XAVIER 3-0
INDIANAPOLIS — The Butler volleyball team lost in a three-set battle against Xavier (25-23, 25-22, 25-21) during the BIG EAST Opener. The Bulldogs were neck-in-neck with the Musketeers throughout all three sets, but ultimately dropped to 6-6 on the season and 0-1 in conference play.
Set 1: Xavier 25-23
The Musketeers began the first set on top gaining an early 7-4 lead. Butler responded with two 3-0 spurts to take a 12-11 lead using kills from Mariah Grunze and Destiny Cherry. Xavier then fought back with four straight points to regain the lead at 17-14. A serving ace from Jaymeson Kinley helped the Bulldogs rally back to tie the score at 18-18. A kill from Cherry helped keep Butler alive at 23-23, but the Musketeers would ultimately score on the last two points to win the set. Cora Taylor led the set with 10 assists and five digs.
Set 2: Xavier 25-22
The momentum in the second set started in the Bulldogs’ favor after they took a 5-3 lead using another kill from Cherry. A 5-0 run by Xavier helped flip the score to give them an 8-5 lead and the Musketeers would then slowly extend their lead to 17-11. Butler wasn’t ready to give up that easily, using a 5-0 spurt with kills from Grunze and Cherry to crawl back to within one point at 22-21. Xavier then woke up eventually closing out the set 25-22.
Set 3: Xavier 25-21
The Bulldogs fell behind early in the third frame after Xavier took a 4-1 lead. Butler then charged back to take a 10-7 lead using kills from Sawyer Jones and Grace Boggess. The Musketeers hung around and soon took back the lead at 16-15. Consecutive kills from Abby Maesch helped Butler recapture the lead at 17-16. Xavier followed that up by taking an insurmountable lead at 18-17 eventually closing out the third set on a 3-0 run to clinch the match.
Stat of the Match
Jaymeson Kinley jumped to fourth on the Butler all-time career digs list after her career total reached 1,688 digs. Kinley totaled a match-high 17 digs (5.67 digs per set).
Inside the Box Score
Taylor earned her fourth double-double of the season totaling 30 assists and 12 digs.
Kinley finished with 17 digs and a serving ace.
Grunze led the match with 12 kills and six digs.
Cherry hit for a match-high .667 average with six kills and no errors.
Boggess tallied seven kills and a solo block.
Up Next
The Bulldogs will return to Hinkle Fieldhouse on Friday, Sept. 22 at 6 p.m. against nationally ranked Creighton to conclude the first week of the BIG EAST competition inside.
***************IUPUI VOLLEYBALL******************
WOMEN’S SOCCER DEFEATS DETROIT MERCY; EXTENDS UNBEATEN STREAK TO 6
INDIANAPOLIS – The Jaguars held on to an early 2-0 lead, and later a 3-1 lead, to earn a win over Detroit Mercy’s Titans on Thursday evening at Carroll Stadium. IUPUI moved to 1-0-2 in conference play, and 7-2-2 overall on the season.
IUPUI’s 21-year tenured coach Chris Johnson criticized his squad’s effort after in the first two conference games, and the offense responded with blistering pace out-the-gate, scoring the first goal at the five-minute mark, and the second at the seven-minute mark. Senior forward Sam Slimak was quoted after the game, saying, “the NKU game and the [Cleveland State] game just were not the games we wanted,” and stated how important it was to get those first two goals in this match.
For the first goal,
Caroline Kelley
Caroline Kelley, IUPUI’s now definitive goals-scored leader for the season so far with five, went down after a hit from Detroit Mercy’s normally savvy veteran Paige Myers, allowing Slimak to smack a penalty shot into the top left corner from point blank range, 1-0, Jags.
Only about thirty seconds went by when Emma “Bean” Antoine, points leader for the Horizon League and offensive hub for the Jaguars, who was quoted after the Jags’ tie against Cleveland State saying that the team hasn’t quite played up to their potential yet, rolled one by Detroit Mercy’s goalkeeper after an accurate through-ball assist from Emily Tobin, 2-0, Jags.
IUPUI women’s soccer assistant coach Rachel Lantz stated after the game that “that’s what we talk about, is setting our own tone and not playing to their level…”
The Jaguars are currently in second place for the assist-per-game column in the Horizon League, and with two more Thursday, shouldn’t have a problem holding on to that spot behind Robert Morris. Antoine and Kelley have the second most points between two players in the Horizon League with 25.
IUPUI learned from the tie against Cleveland State not to assume the opposing squad will lay down facing an early deficit, and did everything necessary to thwart the comeback. Detroit Mercy’s defense had a tough time even getting the ball out of their backfield, with constant challenges from the Jags’ frontline.
Detroit Mercy’s offense picked up mightily towards the end of the first half with a dual-attack from Abbey Lodato and Soraya Puerto-Khalil, and stayed fiery in the second half, especially after a demoralizing goal by Detroit Mercy junior Adriana Mroz, but most of the attacks were kept at bay by sophomore Cailynn Junk.
Junk, a secondary goalkeeper whose minutes started to swell towards the end of non-conference play, started for the Jags in replacement of a sick Ashton Kudlo. Junk had an exceedingly solid game, blocking eight shots-on-target, and showcasing both quick reflexes and great hands in some threatening attacks from the Titans, including two diving blocks after solid shots from Titans midfielder Megan Malek and forwards Sophia Blankenship and Hailey Matthews. Most of the other targets from the Titans were less threatening, outside-of-the-box shots, which Junk easily collected.
Luntz, when asked about Junk, stated, “[Junk] provided some different things with playing with her feet, playing out short, providing guidance on where to go and what to do and setting people up…we rely on all three keepers equally and they’re all strong.”
The Jags snuffed out the Titans’ comeback hopes, namely Kelley, who careened a shot into the top-left of the goal post after an assist from Slimak.
Antoine, Junk, Slimak, and Kelley weren’t the only Jags who had a hand in the win according to Lantz, who stated, “I think everybody contributed, which was nice to get everybody off the bench, giving solid minutes…” Lantz continued, “It was a different energy that we brought out today than we had this past weekend.”
The Jags entered the game in seventh place in the Horizon League standings, one spot above Oakland and one spot below Detroit Mercy. With the win, worth three points in league standings, the Jaguars climbed to fourth-place in a volatile early conference-play environment.
The Jags will head to Eastern Ohio to play Youngstown State at 1pm on Sunday, September 24th on ESPN+.
*****************NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL*********************
GAME NOTES VS. OHIO STATE
IRISH NOTES
IRISH ITEMS – BY THE NUMBERS 4 In Marcus Freeman’s debut season in 2022, Notre Dame defeated four Associated Press ranked teams: No. 5 Clemson, No. 16 BYU, No. 16 Syracuse and No. 20 South Carolina, which matched Terry Brennan (1954) for the most ranked wins in a coaching debut season at Notre Dame and was most in one single season for the program since 2018. 11 ESPN’s College Game Day will pay a visit to Notre Dame’s campus for the 11th time this weekend, returning to the site where the program first appeared ‘on the road’ 30 years ago for the Notre Dame – Florida State game in November of 1993. This weekend will mark the 35th time Game Day will appear at the site of an Irish football game. 13 Sam Hartman has thrown a program-best 13 touchdown passes through the first four games this season. See page 6 for more details. 37 Saturday will mark the 37th time Notre Dame Stadium will host an contest with both teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 10. The Irish are 23-12-1 in those contests and 11-9 as the lower-ranked team. 40 Dating back to the Gator Bowl victory over South Carolina to end the 2022 season, Notre Dame has scored at least 40 points in a program-best five consecutive games. 90 Irish quarterback Sam Hartman has thrown 90 touchdown passes since 2021 – the most of any Power 5 quarterback. 130 Audric Estimé has increased his rushing yard total each game this season – from 95 vs. Navy to 116 vs. TSU, 134 at NC State and a career-best 176 last weekend vs. Central Michigan. He is second in the country averaging 130.2 rushing yards per game. 184 Notre Dame has scored 184 points in the first four games of the season, which is the most for the program since 1914 and the fourth-most in program history. 455 Notre Dame is 10-1 in its last 11 games played and has scored 455 points in those contests. Only Southern Cal (474) has scored more points since that 11-game run began on October 22, 2022. In addition only Southern Cal (47.4), Oregon (42.6), Notre Dame (41.4) and Georgia (40.1) are averaging over 40 ppg during that time frame. 77,622 Every person at this weekend’s sold out game will find an LED bracelet at their seats which will help Notre Dame Stadium ‘light up the night’ as part of the program’s Irish Wear Green game.
TWO-DEEP TIDBITS – OFFENSE Jayden Thomas is the leading returning receiver for the Irish in 2023. He also is the leading receiver so far this season with 12 catches for 188 yards. He caught a careerlong 39-yard pass against Central Michigan last weekend. Chris Tyree has shifted to wide receiver after three years as a running back with the Irish. He has made a big play in each of Notre Dame’s four victories this season. Tyree caught a 20-yard pass versus Navy, nabbed a 24-yard touchdown against TSU and keyed Notre Dame’s two-minute drill at NC State with a 65-yard reception, which led to a ND score on the next play. Last weekend, he caught a career-best 76-yard touchdown pass. Tyree’s 27.0 yards-per-reception ranks fifth in the FBS so far this season. True freshman Jaden Greathouse nabbed a 35-yard touchdown pass on his first career touch against Navy. He followed up with a 20-yard scoring catch later in the game. He is second on the team in touchdown receptions after a 13-yard scoring grab against NC State. Joe Alt, the son of former NFL All-Pro John Alt, is one of four team captains for the Irish this season, has been selected as a consensus preseason All-American and is on the Outland, Lombardi and Walter Camp Award watch lists. Pat Coogan made his first career start in just his second game played against Navy. He has helped the Irish average 204.5 rushing yards per game. Zeke Correll has played guard and center during his career and now enters the season as one of the top snappers in the nation. He will make his 27th-career start on the Irish offensive line at NC State and is on the Rimington Award watch list. Rocco Spindler joined Coogan to make his first career start at guard for the Irish against Navy and helped pave the way for 236 rushing yards against Central Michigan. Blake Fisher combines with Joe Alt to give the Irish offensive line two of the top tackles in the nation. See page 7 for more on Alt and Fisher. Mitchell Evans caught a career-high four passes for 61 yards against TSU. Evans also plays a key role in some of Notre Dame’s short yardage packages by taking direct snaps. He rushed for five first downs and a touchdown from under center last season. Holden Staes has three touchdown receptions over Notre Dame’s last two games. He capped the scoring against Central Michigan with a four-yard catch which followed up his career-best game at NC State which included four catches for 115 yards and two touchdowns. Both of those touchdowns came from more than 30 yards (30, 45). Rico Flores Jr. earned his first career start against Central Michigan and responded with early career-highs of three catches and 60 receiving yards. Sam Hartman is the first Irish quarterback with 13 touchdown passes in the first four games of the season. See page 6 for much more on Hartman. Audric Estimé has increased his rushing performance in each game this season, posting 95 against Navy, 116 versus Tennessee State, 134 yards at NC State then a career-high 176 yards versus Central Michigan. Jadarian Price’s first career carry against Navy was a 19-yard touchdown. His second career catch was a 40-yard touchdown reception vs. Tennessee State. Spencer Shrader showed off his incredibly strong leg at NC State, connecting on a Notre Dame record 54-yard field goal in the first quarter, then just missing a 56-yard attempt later the in the game. The 56-yard effort had plenty of distance and hit the left upright. Shrader followed up with a 50-yard field goal against Central Michigan. Shrader is already tied for fifth on the Notre Dame career charts for 50-yard field goals with two. The school record is four held by Jonathan Doerer (2017-21) and Kyle Brindza (2011-14). Bryce McFerson has a booming leg showed that off against NC State. He punted six times in the game, averaging 50.7 yards per attempt. He also posted a career-best 59- yard punt against the Wolfpack. Michael Vinson is in his sixth year at Notre Dame and is one of the top long snappers in the nation. He has developed into a clear leader not only for the Irish special teams, but the entire roster.
TWO-DEEP TIDBITS – DEFENSE Jordan Botelho has been active through three games from his defensive end position with seven tackles, one sack and a quarterback hurry. Joshua Burnham is tied for the team lead in tackles-for-loss with two, while also posting a sack and two quarterback hurries. Rylie Mills is No. 10 on The Athletic’s Freak List for his work in the weight room and has been disruptive on the defensive line so far in 2023. Mills’ timely sack against Navy in the fourth quarter pushed the Midshipmen back from the four-yard line that eventually led to a field goal. Jason Onye posted an early-career-best game with five tackles against Tennessee State. He also blocked his first career field goal, preventing TSU points after the Irish fumbled a kick return and gifted the Tigers the ball at the ND 12-yard line. Howard Cross III is third on the team with 16 tackles coming from the middle of the Irish defensive line. Javontae Jean-Baptiste has consistently been a playmaker for the Irish defensive line this season. He is fourth on the team with 15 tackles, has two TFLs and leads the Irish with four quarterback hurries. Nana Osafo-Mensah is a leader in the defensive line group and a steady force against the run. Marist Liufau enters his second full season as a starter in 2023 and has been all over the field through the first three games of the year. He is second on the team with 17 tackles and owns two quarterback hurries and a forced fumble. JD Bertrand is the defacto leader of the Irish defense. He missed the game with Central Michigan while in recovery from a concussion. Jack Kiser does a little bit of everything for the Irish defense, and can appear on the line or even as a spot safety if necessary. He leads the team with 26 tackles after piling up a career-best 10 while starting at Mike linebacker for JD Bertrand against Central Michigan. Cam Hart was voted a captain by his teammates this season, and looks poised for a highly productive final season with the Irish. Among the most veteran defenders on the team (39 games played) Hart has 75 career tackles, 16 PBUs and two interceptions. DJ Brown returned for a fifth year and is the ‘quarterback’ of the back seven for Notre Dame’s defense. Brown picked off his fourth career pass against NC State, but missed the Central Michigan game with a leg injury. Xavier Watts has grown from a rookie wide receiver into one of Notre Dame’s starting safeties. He nabbed his first career interception against NC State, setting the Irish up in the redzone. Benjamin Morrison was a Freshman All-American last season, and is focused on taking his game to an even higher level in 2023. He intercepted his first pass of the season at NC State. See page 7 for more on Morrison. The Irish defense is filled with talented younger players eager to make their mark with increased playing time in 2023. Jaylen Sneed loves to pressure the quarterback and get downhill on running situations. Christian Gray, a true freshman, has earned the trust of position coach Mike Mickens to be listed as a back up to Benjamin Morrison. While those talented younger players are ready for their moment, there are three key veterans in the back seven of the defense who will play key roles. Clarence Lewis has played in 41 games at Notre Dame and scored his first career touchdown on a 33-yard interception return against Tennessee State. Thomas Harper, a transfer from Oklahoma State, made his first start in an Irish uniform against TSU and followed up with a team-high seven tackles at NC State. He continued his playmaking moments with his first career sack against Central Michigan. Antonio Carter II jumps up a level from Rhode Island and will provide the Irish safeties depth and contribute across the Irish special teams. Dylan Devezin, a sophomore walk-on quarterback, has seized the team’s holder role and has earned Spencer Shrader’s – and special teams coordinator Marty Biagi’s –trust.
OHIO STATE NOTES
No. 6 Ohio State and No. 9 Notre Dame, two of college football’s great programs and both saturated in nostalgia and tradition, meet Saturday in primetime at Notre Dame Stadium. This is the eighth meeting between the programs and the fifth consecutive – since 1996 – where both are in the Top 10 of the Associated Press poll. The other Top 10 matchups aside from 2023: 2022 (Ohio State 3; ND 5), 2016 (Ohio State 7; ND 8), 2006 (Ohio State 4; ND 5) and 1996 (Ohio State 4; ND 5). f Notre Dame won the first two games of the series, in 1935 and 1936, and Ohio State has won the last five games, played in 1995, 1996, 2006, 2016 and 2022. The 1936 and 1996 games were played at Notre Dame Stadium. f The game will complete a two-game series between the two powers that was scheduled in 2014 and included the 2022 season opener at Ohio Stadium, won by the Buckeyes, 21-10. f Ohio State (956 wins) and Notre Dame (942) rank second and fourth, respectively, in all-time college football wins. Respective win pcts. of .733 and .730 are No. 1 and No. 4 all-time.
BY THE NUMBERS 21-4 Ryan Day is in his fifth year as Ohio State head coach. His teams are 48-6 overall and 16-1 in true road games (3-1 vs. Top 25 teams). His Buckeyes are 21-4 in all “away” games and 16-4 vs. Top 25 teams. 9 Marvin Harrison Jr. has tied the great Cris Carter (1984-86) for fifth-place in school history with nine 100-yard receiving games. 1 Harrison has 14 receptions for 304 yards and three TDs so far this year. Defense! Two Top 5, nationally ranked defenses will be showcased Saturday with Ohio State No. 3 nationally allowing 223.7 yards per game and Notre Dame at No. 4 allowing 234.2 yards per game. 48 Ohio State’s defense has allowed just 20 points through the first three games. This is the fewest points allowed at this point in 48 years, or since the 1975 team allowed just 16 points in Games 1-3.
By any measure, Ohio State and Notre Dame have been two of the elite – and winningest – programs of all-time and specifically over the last 11-plus seasons. In that span, Ohio State is third with 117 wins; Notre Dame is sixth with 97. The Buckeyes are second nationally with a .900 winning percentage while Notre Dame is sixth (.757) They represent two of the seven schools to make multiple appearances in the College Football Playoff.
While Ohio State and Notre Dame have been among the best programs over the last 11 years, they stack up against anyone in any decade … ever. Consider: Ohio State ranks second in all-time wins (956); Notre Dame is fourth (942) f Ohio State is first in all-time winning percentage (.733); Notre Dame is fourth (.730) f The Buckeyes and Fighting Irish are tied for first all-time (along with Oklahoma) with seven Heisman Trophy winners apiece. Notre Dame’s 107 all-time consensus All-Americans ranks first; Ohio State’s 92 is second. Notre Dame’s 525 NFL Draft picks ranks No. 1; Ohio State has 485, which is third. Ohio State has spent 970 weeks ranked in the Associated Press poll, which is No. 1 all-time; Notre Dame is fourth at 861 weeks.
21-10 WIN OVER NOTRE DAME IN 2022: No. 2 Ohio State pulled out a double-digit win over No. 5 Notre Dame to open the 2022 season last year at Ohio Stadium. The Buckeyes prevailed in the second half after trailing, 10-7 at halftime. Ohio State totaled 246 yards and 15 first downs in the second half and had two long, decisive scoring drives to regain the lead and then extend the lead. The Ohio State defense was outstanding, limiting the Irish top just 72 second half yards, five first downs and zero touchdowns. Ohio State had 395 offensive yards and 22 first downs.
NO. 6 OHIO STATE GETS A CHANCE FOR A BIG STATEMENT IN SATURDAY NIGHT SHOWDOWN AT NO. 9 NOTRE DAME
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — No. 6 Ohio State has been dogged at times this season by doubts about its firepower. Two lackluster wins to open the season didn’t help even though the Buckeyes have beaten all three of their opponents by at least 20 points and never given up more than 10.
They have a
They have a chance to silence some of the doubters Saturday night at No. 9 Notre Dame (4-0), a showcase game with potential implications for the College Football Playoff.
“You build up in these first few games to figure out where you are going into this game and you go from there,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. “I think we got some confidence going into this game. We’ve got a rhythm.”
The Buckeyes rank third in total defense, giving up 223.7 yards per game. After struggling early, the offense found its footing last weekend in a 63-10 rout of Western Kentucky.
The Fighting Irish also own one of the nation’s top defenses, limiting opponents to 234.3 yards per game, right behind Ohio State. With Wake Forest transfer Sam Hartman at quarterback, the offense has undergone a seismic transformation.
Notre Dame averaged 25 points (94th) and 5.4 yards per play (96th) through its first four games last season. In 2023, the Irish have scored 46 points per game (ninth) and gained 8.3 yards per play (5th).
The Buckeyes (3-0) are a slight favorite, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Coach Marcus Freeman doesn’t want a repeat of last year’s matchup at Ohio Stadium, where the Irish hoped to control the clock on offense and keep the ball away from the explosive Buckeyes. Ohio State scored 14 unanswered points in the game’s final 16 minutes, defeating Notre Dame 21-10.
“I don’t want to play not to lose,” Freeman said. “I don’t want to play that way. I want our guys to be aggressive and our guys to be attacking. We will play complementary football, but our objective isn’t just to hold the ball and huddle every single play. (That’s) what my mindset probably was last year.”
HARTMAN vs. MCCORD
Hartman is on a roll, completing 71.1% of his passes for 1,061 yards and totaling 15 touchdowns. He is in his sixth college football season, he’s played in an ACC Championship game and he’s led late drives with the game on the line.
“I have a lot of confidence that he’ll be well-prepared,” Freeman said, “and the moment won’t be too big for him at all.”
Ohio State’s Kyle McCord will make his fifth start on Saturday. The junior struggled in the opener against Indiana, going 20-33 for 239 yards and an interception in the 23-3 victory. The last two games, however, he has completed 76.7% of passes for 576 yards and six TDs.
“He hasn’t played a whole bunch of football, but he’s been around,” Day said. “He’s seen it. He’s older and more mature than a freshman who is coming into the same situation, but I think experience does play a part of it.”
MARVELOUS MARV
Like McCord, star receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. got off to a slow start. After just two catches for 18 yards in Week 1, Harrison had seven grabs for 160 yards and two touchdowns against Youngtown State, then caught five for 126 yards and a TD last week.
Notre Dame’s top-rated pass efficiency defense will try to slow things down, but Harrison is confident he’ll make plays in single coverage, even against preseason second-team All-American corner Ben Morrison.
“What you realize is it’s a team game,” Harrison said. “Rarely is it the whole game going to be a one-on-one matchup. I have to do my part and win my one-on-ones when I get the opportunity.”
ON THE GROUND
Irish running back Audric Estimé leads the nation with 521 rushing yards and his fourth with five TDs. He’ll run into one of the top nation’s rush defenses. The Buckeyes give up 83.3 rush yards per game (20th) and have allowed only one ground score.
Still, it’ll require a group effort to tackle a 230-pound back with nimble feet and breakaway speed.
“We like to say ‘smart swarm,’” safety Sonny Styles said. “Everyone has to come in, and you have to be physical with him. He’s a really good running back.”
With three new starters on the offensive line, the Buckeyes average just 156.7 rushing yards per game with a running back-by-committee approach.
TreVeyon Henderson had a season-high 88 rushing yards and two touchdowns last week, pushing his three-game total to 191 yards and four scores. Chip Trayanum and Miyan Williams have a combined 37 carries for 206 yards and three TDs.
“It all starts with the run game,” Freeman said. “They want to run the ball. (It’s) a very similar mindset that I have. It’s the ability to run the ball that will create openings in the pass game, and that’s what I’ve seen on the field.”
HOMEFIELD ADVANTAGE?
In ranked contests vs. Nebraska (2000), Georgia (2017) and Cincinnati (2021) large pockets of red-clad visiting fans were plain to see at Notre Dame Stadium. Buckeyes fans in scarlet and gray will be present Saturday, but stadium personnel will provide fans with light-up green wristbands and encourage Irish supporters to match the football team’s attire.
“We’ve got green jerseys,” Freeman said. “I don’t know if they’re calling it a green out, but we want to see a lot of green.”
*****************NOTRE DAME WOMEN’S SOCCER*****************
#10 IRISH ALL FIGHT IN 2-1 LATE THRILLER OVER #16 DUKE
Durham, N.C. – All Fight has been the athletic department’s slogan for the 2023-24 campaign, and that’s exactly what it took for the No. 10 Notre Dame women’s soccer team on Thursday night against No. 16 Duke. The Fighting Irish (6-1-2, 2-0-0) trailed 1-0 after 85 minutes but found a way late to earn a tough 2-1 road-ranked victory in the house of the Blue Devils (5-3-0, 1-1-0).
Graduate student Kiki Van Zanten scored the first Irish goal at 85:07. At 86:40 – the game-winner from sophomore standout Leah Klenke. This marked Notre Dame’s first win against Duke since October of the 2015 season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
It was a weird first half or as the phrase goes, a series of unfortunate events. The Irish were all over the Blue Devils early. For the first 10 minutes, the ball lived in Duke’s defensive third.
Then a momentum shift occurred in the 14th minute. A give-and-go via a through ball behind the Irish defense, and it was a simple tuck-away for the score.
Duke put a lot of pressure on the Irish defense until the final 20 minutes of the half. When Ellie Ospeck subbed in, she gave the offense a spark and chances developed.
Case in point, in the 27th minute, Ospeck played in a great cross from the left side and Charlie Codd’s one-time shot just went a few inches wide of the near post.
All-in-all, both sides finished with five shots for the half and two on goal.
The second half was all Irish. In fact, Duke only tallied one shot on goal in the second half.
Maddie Mercado had several chances in the early going. She was on the receiving end of a through ball deep in the left side of the box, but her through ball to an open Irish forward was blocked at the last second. Mercado later had a blocked shot that was almost deflected in. In the 71st minute, Mercado let a free kick rip from just outside the box and it was undoubtedly going in, yet Duke’s keeper made the leaping save.
A few minutes later, Morgan Roy let one rip inside the box. Her shot soared through three Duke defenders but right at the Blue Devil keeper. Notre Dame continued to let shots rip from outside the box but to no avail.
Yet, the constant pressure in the offensive third paid off. Ospeck, who was a problem for Duke the whole game, tore through several defenders in the 86th minute and hit a shot that deflected off the near post, ricocheted, and found Van Zanten on the far post who tapped it in.
A minute later, Roy got the ball off of a throw-in, deep in the right corner. She crossed it into the box and a Duke defender went to one-time the ball to clear. Klenke stepped in at the right time and got a foot on it and soared it into the back of the net. It was her first career game-winner.
UP NEXT
The road swing continues for the Irish as they look to continue their hot start to ACC play. They’ll stay on the road and fly to Pittsburgh, where they’ll battle the Panthers on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on ACCNX.
***************NOTRE DAME VOLLEYBALL******************
PREVIEW: IRISH OPEN UP ACC PLAY WITH BOSTON COLLEGE AND SYRACUSE
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Notre Dame Fighting Irish (6-2) open up conference play this weekend as they take on Boston College (11-3) on Friday, September 22 and Syracuse (2-8) on Sunday, September 24 in Purcell Pavilion.
NOTRE DAME vs. BOSTON COLLEGE
Location: South Bend, Ind. | Purcell Pavilion
Time: 6:30 PM
TV: ACCNX
Live Stats: Click here
Twitter Updates: @NDvolleyball
Promotion: Tailgate Night – first 500 fans will receive Notre Dame Volleyball koozies
NOTRE DAME vs. SYRACUSE
Location: South Bend, Ind. | Purcell Pavilion
Time: 12 PM
TV: ACCNX
Live Stats: Click here
Twitter Updates: @NDvolleyball
Promotion: Poster giveaway and postgame autograph session
Due to multiple events occurring on campus Friday night, available parking immediately adjacent to Purcell Pavilion, Alumni Stadium, and Notre Dame Stadium will be limited. Should those lots be full, please continue to the Bulla lot or Innovation Park lots. Parking in all of these lots is free.
A WEEK IN REVIEW
- Notre Dame defeated Toledo in a home-and-home as they advanced to 6-2 on the year. The Irish defeated Toledo at home 3-1 on Friday, Sept. 15 and won 3-0 on the road on Sunday, Sept. 17.
- Charity McDowell helped guide the Irish to another undefeated weekend as she finished with 17 kills, an impressive .739 attack percentage, and six blocks. She also finished with zero errors across both matches
- In Friday’s win, McDowell tallied 10 kills and a .667 hitting percentage. In Sunday’s win, McDowell recorded seven kills with an .875 attack percentage and five blocks for the Irish
- Nicole Drewnick recorded 86 assists on the weekend, tallying 50 assists against Toledo at home on Friday.
- Ava Lange also recorded a career-high 16 kills in Friday’s win.
HISTORY VS. BOSTON COLLEGE
- The Fighting Irish are undefeated at home as they enter conference play in Purcell Pavilion this Friday, September 22 to take on Boston College.
- This will be the 28th meeting between the Irish and the Eagles with Notre Dame leading the overall series 23-4.
- Notre Dame has won the last nine matchups against Boston College, but had their longest winning streak against the Eagles from 1991-2003 where the Irish won 10 straight.
- The last Irish and Eagle matchup was on Oct. 9, 2022 where Notre Dame defeated Boston College in four on the road (29-27, 25-21, 13-25, 25-23).
HISTORY VS. SYRACUSE
- This will be the 39th meeting between the Irish and the Orange with Notre Dame leading the overall series 29-9.
- The Irish have won the last five matchups against Syracuse, with their longest winning streak being from 1990-2010 where the Irish won 18 straight against the Orange.
- The last matchup was on Oct. 7, 2022 where the Irish defeated Syracuse in three sets on the road (25-21, 25, 23, 25-20).
- The Irish were led by Paris Thompson who finished with a career-high 20 kills and a .310 hitting percentage.
MEET THE TRANSFERS
- Two transfers join the Irish for the 2023 season. Sydney Palazzolo enters into her junior season after spending freshman and sophomore year at High Point. Nicole Drewnick is a graduate transfer hailing from Georgia Tech.
- Palazzolo had a decorated two seasons in North Carolina, earning a plethora of awards at High Point.
- Last season, Palazzolo earned Big South Player of the Year and Big South First Team All-Conference honors and was named the Big South All-Tournament MVP. She was recognized as an AVCA Honorable Mention All-Region player and an AVCA Honorable Mention All-American. She was also tabbed as the Big South Player of the Week three times.
- Palazzolo finished her sophomore season with a team-best 443 kills, 321 digs, 27 blocks, and led the conference with 42 service aces.
- Not only was she recognized as the Big South Freshman of the Year in 2021, but she was also named to the Big South All-Conference Second Team and All-Freshman Team.
- While Drewnick spent her freshman season at Nebraska, she most recently has spent the last two seasons with Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
- Drewnick appeared in 20 matches and 43 sets last season with the Yellow Jackets and finished the season with 99 assists and 16 digs.
MEET THE FRESHMEN
- Five freshmen join the Irish for the 2023 season. Freshmen additions include Alyssa Manitzas, Lily Fenton, Logan Brannan, Olivia Maulding, and Ava Lange.
- Manitzas was a part of the Under Armour All-American game and was also named the 2021 Prep Dig Top Libero in Texas. The San Antonio, TX native is the all-time dig leader at Cornerstone Christian High School.
- Fenton was a First Team All-Conference and All-District player out of Latrobe, PA. Fenton was a three-year captain and was the Greater Latrobe High School program all-time assist leader.
- Brannan hails from Lake Travis High School in Austin, TX and was a First Team All-District and TGCA All-State honoree.
- A gradute of La Salle Prep, Maulding was named the 2022 Northwest Oregon Co-player of the Year, while also being named to the 2022 Oregon State Championship All-Tournament Team. Maulding was recognized as the 2022 Volleyball Magazine Top Performer in Oregon.
- Lange was a nationally recognized four star player out of Playa Del Rey, CA, who was named to the AVCA All-America Watch List and played in the 2022 USAV Girls 17’s Junior National Championship.
RETURNERS
- The Irish return six rising sophomore, a pair of rising juniors, and a trio of rising seniors.
- Sophomores Lucy Trump and Avery Ross were offensive power houses for the Irish last season as both outside hitters led Notre Dame in their first years in an Irish uniform. Trump led the way with 252 kills, followed by Ross with 227 kills.
- Juniors Phyona Schrader and Paris Thompson return for their third seasons at Notre Dame. Thompson returns after tallying 148 kills and 71 digs across 63 sets last season.
- Schrader led the Irish last season with 877 assists and was second on the team with 333 digs. The setter also led the ACC with two triple-doubles and finished second in the conference with 17 double-doubles.
- Hattie Monson, Lauren Tarnoff, and Charity McDowell are rising seniors for the Irish after playing in a combined 259 sets as a class last season.
- Monson played in all 108 sets for the Irish as the libero recorded 453 digs in her junior campaign, while also surpassing the 1,000 career digs mark. She heads into her senior season with 1,163 career digs.
- Both Tarnoff and McDowell return as middle blockers for the Irish as the duo finished with 141 combined blocks; Tarnoff was second on the team with 80 blocks and McDowell was third with 61. Tarnoff also led the Irish with a team-best 15 solo blocks.
*****************NOTRE DAME MEN’S SOCCER***************
MATCH 9 PREVIEW: VIRGINIA
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The No. 15 Irish return home for an ACC clash with Virginia at 8 p.m. ET on Friday, Sept. 22 at Alumni Stadium. The match will air on ACCN.
No. 15 NOTRE DAME vs. VIRGINIA
Location: South Bend, Indiana | Alumni Stadium
TV: ACCN
Live Stats: Click Here
Twitter Updates: @NDMenSoccer
Game Notes: vs. Virginia
THE VIRGINIA SERIES
• The Irish and Cavaliers will meet on the pitch for the 21st time on Friday.
• Notre Dame trails the Cavaliers in the series with a mark of 7-9-4.
• The Irish have won three of the last four matchups, splitting the series in 2020-21 and winning both the 2021 and 2022 meetings.
• Each of the last 11 matches between the two sides have either been decided by one goal or a draw.
• The Irish have a record of 6-3-1 against Virginia when playing in South Bend.
• Notre Dame won last years match in Charlottesville in thrilling fashion, as KK Baffour scored on a breakaway right before time expired to give the Irish a 2-1 victory. Daniel Russo also scored in the win.
LAST TIME OUT
• Notre Dame battled No. 4 Akron to a scoreless standstill in a road midweek matchup.
• Senior goalie Bryan Dowd was remarkable, making 12 saves to preserve the clean sheet.
STRONG STARTS
• Notre Dame has made it a habit of jumping out to an early lead this season, as the Irish have scored the opening goal in five of eight matches in 2023.
•All five opening goals have come in the first 25 minutes of play.
•The quickest goal to start a match came from Eno Nto in the 8th minute in the win over IUPUI.
• The Fighting Irish are unbeaten when scoring the opening goal over the last 25 occurrences, posting a record of 24-0-1 spanning back to the early stages of the 2021 season.
SET-PIECE SUCCESS
• ND has excelled on both ends of the field on set pieces during the 2023 season.
•The Irish defense hasn’t allowed a goal off a set piece all season while in attack four of the team’s 12 goals have come via a set piece.
• Notre Dame has scored off two free kicks, a corner and a penalty kick.
DOWD DELIVERS
• Bryan Dowd is back for his senior season after being the team’s primary goalie for each of the last two seasons.
• The shot stopper has 49 career starts while appearing in 50 matches over his previous three seasons in South Bend.
• Dowd has amassed 129 career saves and has recorded 17 clean sheets over his time in South Bend, including four through eight matches of the 2023 campaign.
•The senior produced his best performance of his career in the 0-0 draw at Akron, making a career-high 12 saves to keep the clean sheet intact.
• The 12 saves are the most by an ACC goalkeeper this season and the third most of any goalie at the DI level.
DOMINATING DEFENSE
• The Fighting Irish have allowed just five goals through eight matches during the 2023 campaign.
• The 0.625 goals against average ranks first in the ACC and 16th in the country.
• Notre Dame has given up just one or no goals in seven of eight matches this season.
• Since allowing a goal to No. 2 Indiana in the 28th minute in the season opener, the Irish went 376 minutes without allowing a score before giving up a score to Clemson in the 44th minute.
BALANCED ATTACK
• Six different players have scored in Notre Dame’s six matches to open the 2023 season.
• Matthew Roou paces the Irish with five goals.
• Eno Nto and Daniel Russo have each added two goals while KK Baffour, Paddy Burns and Bryce Boneau have each recorded one.
ROOU’S RUN OF FORM
• Junior Matthew Roou leads the Irish attack through this season, producing 11 points off five goals and an assist in seven appearances.
• Roou’s hat trick in the win over IUPUI was the first of his career and the first of the season for the Irish.
• The junior forward finished with seven points off three goals and an assist, becoming the first Notre Dame player to record seven or more points in a match since Dave Donohue also had seven points against Marquette on Sept. 11, 2008.
• Roou currently has 16 career goals to go along with eight career assists, totaling 40 career points for the forward.
*****************BALL STATE VOLLEYBALL******************
VOLLEYBALL SWEEPS CMU TO OPEN MAC PLAY
MUNCIE, Ind. – – After nearly a month on the road, the Ball State women’s volleyball team rallied behind an energetic and vocal Worthen Arena crowd to sweep Central Michigan 3-0 (25-15, 25-21, 27-25) Thursday night in its 2023 Mid-American Conference opener.
“I thought our group did a nice job resetting for the MAC season,” head coach Kelli Miller Phillips said. “We made sure we came out focused and with an intent to set the tone on our home floor tonight. I thought from the very get-go we did a great job with that.”
The Cardinals (4-8; 1-0 MAC) took full advantage of the red out conditions inside Worthen to hit a blistering .327 (47-13-104), while tallying 8.0 total blocks to limit the Chippewas (6-7; 0-1 MAC) to a .212 (38-14-113) rate of success. It was Ball State’s 19th consecutive regular season MAC win at home dating back to its 2021 league home opener versus Ohio.
Helping set the tone early was the play of freshman middle Camyrn Wise and sophomore opposite Madison Buckley who combined for blocks on two of the match’s first six points. Overall, Wise had a hand in six of the team’s eight blocks while making her first career home start. Buckley finished right behind with five blocks, while blasting 11 kills.
“Camryn has done a great job of playing to the best of her ability all the time,” Phillips said. “She came in not really expecting this to be her role this soon and she continues to attack every day to be ready for this position. I think that’s the best thing she’s done, and she hasn’t skipped a beat. She’s mentally prepared herself to be ready to go.”
From the attack line, redshirt freshman outside Aniya Kennedy led the charge with a match-high 13 kills. Meanwhile, fifth-year middle Marie Plitt added 11 markers, to go along with a match-best .625 (11-1-16) rate of success. Senior outside Cait Snyder also turned in one of her best performances of the year with eight kills and a .400 (8-0-20) hitting mark.
Ball State also won the battle from the service line, connecting for a season-high eight aces. CMU, which entered the match ranked 12th nationally with 98 aces on the year, served up just six. Five different Cardinals collected aces, with two apiece from sophomore defensive specialists Paige Busick and Josie Bloom, along with junior setter Megan Wielonski.
Wielonski also dished out 41 assists to help the Ball State women’s volleyball tally the 999th win in program history. In the backcourt, fifth-year libero Havyn Gates collected a match-high 17 digs, while Bloom added 10.
Elly Medendrop led the Chippewas attack with 10 kills, while Aly Gurtiza collected a team-high 14 digs.
“The biggest thing we’ve been working on is our attention to detail,” Phillips added. “There are little things that add up into making points, but don’t always show up on a stat line, that make a huge difference in the match. I was proud of how locked in we were, and the good communication we had right out the gate. I felt like that set the tone the rest of the match.”
The Ball State women’s volleyball team will look to turn a few more of those details into a big performance tomorrow when it goes for program win 1,000 with another 6 p.m. first serve versus Central Michigan.
*****************BALL STATE WOMEN’S SOCCER****************
CARDINALS DOWN MIAMI 3-1 IN MAC SOCCER OPENER
MUNCIE, Ind. – A rocket off the foot of Kaitlyn Fraser staked Ball State to a 2-0 lead just past halftime, and Annika Klaus’ steal-and-score goal in the 73rd minute sealed the Cardinals’ 3-1 victory to open Mid-American Conference play on Thursday over Miami.
It was the first goal in the careers of both Fraser, a junior from Canada, and Klaus, a freshman from nearby Bloomington.
The Cardinals (3-5, 1-0) opened the scoring early in the contest on a driving score by Avery Fenchel that was assisted by
Delaney Caldwell
Delaney Caldwell. Ball State controlled the action in the first half while outshooting the Redhawks 10-4 and posting four corner kicks, to none for the visitors.
After taking the 1-0 lead into halftime and striking again on Fraser’s goal driven past the Miami keeper into the top left corner of the net, the Redhawks (3-5-1, 0-1) struck for a goal of their own at the 55-minute mark, by Taylor Hamlett. Trailing 2-1, Miami stayed aggressive and outshot Ball State in the second half – threatening to tie until Klaus’ goal halted thoughts of a comeback.
Klaus, sporting a splint on her left wrist, turned defense to offense during her late highlight to put the Cardinals in command. She outworked a Miami defender for a loose ball as the Redhawks tried to turn play upfield, and her physical steal was rewarded with an open look at the goal.
Ball State has won seven of the past eight meetings against Miami, and continues MAC play on Sunday at Eastern Michigan.
***************INDIANA STATE WOMEN’S GOLF************
SYCAMORES BACK ON THE LINKS FOR THE ROSEANN SCHWARTZ INVITATIONAL
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State women’s golf is back on the links this weekend as the Sycamores compete at the ninth annual Roseann Schwartz Invitational hosted by Youngstown State on September 23-24.
The two-day, two-round event will be held at the Mill Creek Golf Course (North) in Boardman, Ohio. Tee times on the 6,088-yard, par-72 course will begin at 9:30 a.m. The course, a Donald Ross design, is expected to be a good challenge for the players over the two days. Live stats will be available for the tournament courtesy of GolfStat.
Head Coach Greg Towne runs out a new lineup this weekend as freshmen Sophia Florek and Rosalie DiNunzio make their ISU debut on the course.
Florek was a four-time IHSA 2A State and Sectional qualifier and a three-time Mississippi Valley Conference individual champion while attending Mascoutah High School in Belleville, Ill. DiNunzio led Clarence High School in Clarence City, N.Y. to five consecutive sectional titles and undefeated seasons and was the 2022 New York State High School Section VI Champion.
Joining the pair of freshmen in the lineup include sophomore Briana LeMaire and seniors Kristen Hobbs and Chelsea Morrow.
LeMaire posted five birdies over her first three rounds of the 2023 fall slate at the Illinois State Redbird Invitational. The Cedar Park, Texas native finished 79th overall in the field following a three-round 240 (+24) to highlight her weekend.
Hobbs was the Sycamores’ leader in the field over the first weekend of the season. The Anderson, Ind. native posted a trio of birdies and her first eagle of the season over the first 36 holes on her way to finishing 40th overall in the field following her three-round 227 (+11).
Morrow had a team-high four birdies over the first two rounds at the Redbird Invitational. The Fishers, Ind. native added her fifth in the final round to finish 69th overall in the field following her three-round 236 (+20).
The Sycamores also place two individuals in the tournament field as seniors Molly Lee and Iyoun Chew take on the competition. Chew competed at the Redbird Invitational finishing 62nd overall in the field with a 234 (+18) in her first action of the season. Lee makes her 2023 fall debut on the course as an individual this weekend.
Indiana State is one of nine teams in the field this weekend joining host Youngstown State, Bucknell, Cleveland State, Detroit Mercy, Niagara, Northern Kentucky, Saint Francis, and Southern Indiana.
The Roseann Schwartz Invitational is named in honor of Roseann Schwartz, who was YSU’s women’s golf coach from 1996 until 2013. Schwartz led the Penguins to 33 tournament victories and two Horizon League titles during her tenure. She was inducted into the YSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2021.
****************INDIANA STATE VOLLEYBALL****************
SYCAMORES OPEN MVC PLAY AT BELMONT, MURRAY STATE
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State begins Missouri Valley Conference play with a four-match road trip, starting with matches on Friday at Belmont and Saturday at Murray State.
Friday’s match starts at 7 p.m., with first serve in Saturday’s match set for 6 p.m. Both matches will be streamed on ESPN+.
Last Time Out
Kira Holland led Indiana State with 11 kills and 15 digs, but the host Sycamores were defeated by IUPUI in four sets (25-17, 23-25, 25-18, 26-24) in front of an overflow crowd at ISU Arena.
Ella Scott and Kaitlyn Hamilton added nine kills each for the Sycamores, while Hannah Baudin notched a double-double with 34 assists and 11 digs. Macy Lengacher also had double-digit digs in the match, finishing with 14.
The announced crowd of 651 was the largest to attend a match at ISU Arena in its current configuration.
Meeting In The Middle
Indiana State freshman middle blocker Ella Scott continues to post efficient stat lines for the Sycamores from an attacking standpoint, notching a hitting percentage of .500 or above in three matches this season.
Scott had an error-free performance in last week’s match against IUPUI, finishing with nine kills on 18 attempts to go along with three service aces. She leads the team in blocks (23) and aces (13) this season while currently ranking second on the team in kills (79).
Growing The Game
Indiana State’s home opener against IUPUI drew a standing room only crowd at ISU Arena, with attendance going over the listed capacity of the venue.
The announced attendance of 651 in the 500-seat venue was the largest crowd to witness an Indiana State volleyball match in the facility it its current configuration.
On The Road Again
Indiana State is opening conference play on the road for the first time since the 2019 season, while the Sycamores’ four-match road trip to open conference play is the longest conference-opening road trip in program history.
Prior to this season, the Sycamores have never opened MVC play with more than three consecutive road matches. In addition, the four matches during the road trip will be played in four different states (Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri).
Marked Improvement
Despite Indiana State’s record being 2-8, the Sycamores’ numbers during non-conference play are a significant improvement over their 2022 non-conference statistics.
Indiana State’s kills per set (11.7), assists per set (11.0), hitting percentage (.184) and aces per set (1.6) are all above the 2022 team’s non-conference numbers (10.0 kills per set, 9.2 assists per set, .130 hitting percentage, 0.7 aces per set), while the Sycamores’ digs per set (14.8) and blocks per set (1.4), ISU’s best stats from last year, are not far off the team’s 2022 pace (15.3 digs per set, 1.9 blocks per set in non-conference play).
The Kids Are Alright
Freshmen Kira Holland and Ella Scott led the way for Indiana State in the Sycamores’ home-opening match against IUPUI. Holland registered her first career double-double with 11 kills and 15 digs, while Scott had nine kills and three aces while hitting .500 for the match.
Holland leads all MVC freshmen with 2.92 kills per set this season, while Scott adds 2.08 kills per set this season as part of the Sycamores’ middle blocker rotation. They are the only freshman duo in the conference that combine to average five kills per set.
Opponents At A Glance
Belmont opens the weekend at 6-8 overall following a three-set loss on the road to crosstown foe Lipscomb. The Bruins are 1-1 at home this season with a win over Tennessee State and a loss to UC San Diego. Ally Peterson and Kristen Clemons lead the Bruins with 103 kills each, while Kamryn Olson has 492 assists. Rachel McBride has a team-high 202 digs, while Clemons leads Belmont with 37 blocks.
Murray State enters the weekend at 6-3 overall. This weekend marks the first matches at home for the Racers this season. Darci Metzger leads the Racers with 154 kills, while Bailey DeMier has dished out 391 assists. Dahlia Miller has a team-high 203 digs, including 50 in a match against Chattanooga, while Elisa Dozio and Haidi Miliou have 14 blocks each.
Series History
Belmont has a 2-1 lead in the all-time series with Indiana State after winning both matches between the teams last year. The teams have split the two previous meetings in Nashville, with Belmont winning in three sets last season and Indiana State winning in four sets in 2021.
Murray State has won all four previous meetings in the all-time series. Saturday’s match will be just the second all-time meeting in Murray between the Sycamores and Racers, with Murray State winning the previous meeting on its home court in four sets.
Up Next
Indiana State’s four-match conference-opening road trip concludes with matches at Missouri State (Sept. 29) and Southern Illinois (Sept. 30).
*****************PURDUE FT. WAYNE WOMEN’S SOCCER************
MASTODONS SHUT OUT CLEVELAND STATE, STAY UNBEATEN AT HOME
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Purdue Fort Wayne women’s soccer team shut out Cleveland State 1-0 on Thursday night (Sept. 21) at the Hefner Soccer Complex to stay unbeaten at home.
The Mastodons are undefeated at the Hefner Soccer Complex over the last 15 games, which dates back to October 27, 2021. This is the eighth-longest active home unbeaten streak in the nation.
With the win, Purdue Fort Wayne improves to 5-3-3, 2-0-1 in the Horizon League. The Mastodons are in sole possession of second place in the table for the moment.
Thursday’s win was Purdue Fort Wayne’s sixth shutout of the season, chasing the program record of eight set last season with seven regular season games to play. Samantha Castaneda now owns 16 career shutouts, extending her program-leading record. She is one of two keepers in the league to allow just one goal in Horizon League action.
Morgan Reitano scored the game-winning goal for the Mastodons, knocking in a corner kick sent in from Morgan Gallagher in the 70th minute. Reitano moved into sixth place in the all-time scoring list for the Mastodon women’s soccer program, recording the 13th goal of her career.
The Mastodons had several dangerous chances, registering 12 shots and five on-goal. The Vikings was pesky offensively as well, particularly in the second half. They had seven of their 11 shots in the second half. CSU had six shots on-frame, but Castaneda came up with saves on all six. This included one diving to the top left corner to swat away a hard-struck chance.
After Reitano’s goal in minute 70, the Mastodon defense did not allow a shot on goal. Of the defensive quartet, Lizzie Haub played 83 minutes, Karley O’Leary played 81, Allison Adams played 73 and Isabelle Wissel played 64. Castaneda played all 90 between the sticks.
Cleveland State falls to 3-6-1, 0-2-1, while the ‘Dons stay unbeaten in Horizon League play.
The Mastodons are back in action on Sunday (Sept. 24) when they visit Northern Kentucky for a 1 p.m. first kick.
**************PURDUE FT. WAYNE MEN’S SOCCER***************
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Mastodon men’s soccer team (3-2-1, 2-0-0) will host a Horizon League match for the first time this season as they welcome Wright State (2-2-3, 1-1-0) to Hefner Soccer Complex on Saturday (Sept. 23).
Game Day Information
Who: Wright State Raiders
When: Saturday, September 23 | 7 PM ET
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Hefner Soccer Complex
Live Stats:Link
Watch:ESPN+
Tickets: Free
Know Your Foe
Wright State is 2-2-3 this season but are 1-1 in Horizon League play. The Raiders are currently on a two-match winning streak while outscoring their opponents 4-0 in their last two matches. Last Saturday, Wright State took down Milwaukee 1-0 before beating Bowling Green 3-0 on Tuesday.
Series History
Purdue Fort Wayne and Wright State have met 17 times on the pitch. The ‘Dons hold a 1-15-1 record against the Raiders in the series after Wright State won last season’s match 2-1. The Mastodons defeated Wright State 5-1 on Oct. 14, 2005 and tied the Raiders 0-0 on Aug. 25, 2017.
Smart Shooting
Purdue Fort Wayne ranks fourth in Division I in shot accuracy with 55.7 percent of their shots being on goal. Seth Mahlmeister leads the Horizon League with 61.1 percent of his shots being on goal. Mahlmeister averages 1.83 shots on goal per game, also a conference-best and is top 20 nationally as well.
Three’s A Streak
The ‘Dons have won three straight matches with recent wins over Milwaukee, Chicago State and Green Bay. It’s the first time the Mastodons have won three straight since 2018 when they had a three-match winning streak and a four-match winning streak.
Balanced Attack
The Mastodons have seen six different players score a goal this season. Luke Morrell, Marco Valencia and Soshi Fujioka each have one goal while Seth Mahlmeister and Abe Arellano have two each. Both of Arellano’s goals were game-winning goals, one against Milwaukee and one against Green Bay. Two game-winning goals is tied for the Horizon League lead in that category.
A Helping Hand
Soshi Fujioka assisted on one of Purdue Fort Wayne’s two goals in the most recent win over Green Bay. It was Fujioka’s third assist of the season which is the second-most in the Horizon League.
Iron Morrell
Luke Morrell remains the only Mastodon to play all 540 minutes of action this season. In that time, he’s scored one goal and 80 percent of his shots have been on goal.
Up Next
The ‘Dons continue their homestand on Wednesday when they host Adrian at 5 PM on September 27.
***************PURDUE FT. WAYNE VOLLEYBALL***************
‘DONS VOLLEYBALL TRAVELS TO WISCONSIN FOR #HLVB MATCHES
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Purdue Fort Wayne women’s volleyball team hits the road for the first time in Horizon League play this weekend. The ‘Dons will face Green Bay on Friday (Sept. 22) before squaring off with Milwaukee on Saturday (Sept. 23).
Game Day Information (Friday)
Who: Green Bay Phoenix
When: Friday, September 22 | 7 PM
Where: Green Bay, Wis. | Kress Center
Live Stats:Link
Watch:ESPN+
Match Notes:Purdue Fort Wayne
Game Day Information (Saturday)
Who: Milwaukee Panthers
When: Saturday, September 23 | 5 PM
Where: Milwaukee, Wis. | Klotsche Center
Live Stats:Link
Watch:ESPN+
Match Notes:Purdue Fort Wayne
Know Your Foes
Green Bay has started the year 2-10. Since winning two of their first three matches, they’ve lost their last nine matches in a row. They dropped matches to South Dakota, Central Michigan, and Illinois State last weekend as they hosted the Capital Credit Union Classic. Milwaukee is 8-6 this season and have won two matches in a row headed into their matches against IUPUI and Purdue Fort Wayne this weekend. The Panthers topped Air Force and Chicago State in five sets in their last two matches.
Series Histories
Purdue Fort Wayne is 6-8 against Green Bay in the program’s history. The Phoenix won both matchups last season against the Mastodons. The ‘Dons are 2-8 against Milwaukee all-time and the Panthers won both meetings in the 2022 season
30 Digs
LonDynn Betts set a career-high of 31 digs on Tuesday night (Sept. 19) as Purdue Fort Wayne fell to Oakland 3-0. She became the first Mastodon since Rachael Crucis on October 19, 2019 to cross the 30-dig threshold. She had 15 of her digs in the final frame.
Double Double
Panna Ratkai turned in a double-double performance in the ‘Dons’ loss to Oakland earlier this week. Ratkai finished the match with 11 kills and 16 digs, totaling the most kills and the second-most digs on the team in that match.
Playing the Hits
The Mastodons own the Horizon League’s second-best hitting percentage of .204 through the early part of the season. They trail only Milwaukee who is hitting .238. With that percentage, the ‘Dons have hit 644 kills which ranks 22nd in the country
A Lot of Assists
Purdue Fort Wayne ranks inside the national top 15 in assists this season with a total of 609. That’s an average of nearly 12 assists per set. Taya Haffner leads the team with 374, which is the third-most in the Horizon League.
Preseason Polls
Green Bay and Milwaukee were ranked right next to each other in the Under Armour #HLVB Preseason Poll. Green Bay was ranked third while Milwaukee took fourth.
Digging It
Sophomore Libero LonDynn Betts has reached double-digit digs in every match so far this season. Last weekend, Betts turned in performances of 14, 18, and 12 digs. She ranks second in the Horizon League and 17th nationally with 229 total digs this season.
Horizon Leader
Panna Ratkai currently leads the conference in points and kills. Ratkai has 228.5 points this season, the fifth best total in the country. She’s also totaled 202 kills, also the 5th-highest total in the country
Balanced Attack
Four Mastodons enter the weekend in the Horizon League’s top 40 for kills per set. Panna Ratkai is second in the league with 4.04 kills per set, Ashby Willis ranks 19th at 2.50 kills per set, and Iris Riegel is the third ‘Don averaging over two kills per set at 2.15. Jena Medearis ranks 39th in the conference with her average of 1.61.
Last Time Out
LonDynn Betts set a career-high of 31 digs on Tuesday as the ‘Dons fell to Oakland 3-0. She became the first Mastodon since 2019 to cross the 30-dig threshold. She had 15 of her digs in the final frame.
Coming Up
Purdue Fort Wayne travels to Cleveland State on Tuesday (Sept. 26) for a 6 p.m. match.
****************EVANSVILLE WOMEN’S SOCCER*************
VASQUEZ’S GOAL HELPS UE TIE VALPO, 1-1
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Evansville sophomore forward Chrysta Vasquez’s fifth-minute goal helped the homestanding Purple Aces to a 1-1 draw against defending Missouri Valley Conference regular-season champion Valparaiso on Thursday night at UE’s Arad McCutchan Stadium.
Off a corner kick, Vasquez (Las Vegas, Nev./Coronado) gathered in a loose ball on top of the six-yard box and buried it into the back of the net for her first collegiate goal to give UE a 1-0 lead in the fifth minute. UE would maintain the lead for the next 30-plus minutes, until Valparaiso was able to equalize on a corner kick of its own on a header by Chase Ray in the 37th minute.
In the second half, both offenses opened up, but both goalkeepers were up to the task to keep the scoreline tied 1-1. In the 69th minute, it was Valpo’s Nikki Coryell coming up with the big save, as she stopped UE freshman forward Taylor Johnson’s (Evansville, Ind./Reitz) shot attempt on a breakaway to keep the match tied at one. Then, in the 83rd minute, it was UE senior goalkeeper Myia Danek (Laingsburg, Mich./Laingsburg) playing the hero, as she stopped Valpo’s Aubrey Ramey on a breakaway attempt to keep the match level.
Johnson led UE’s offensive attack with a pair of shots on the night, while three different Valparaiso players fired two shots each.
With the draw, Evansville sees its record go to 0-3-5 overall and 0-0-2 in the MVC. Valparaiso, meanwhile, moves to 4-2-3 overall and 0-0-1 in the Valley. Evansville will now hit the road for a pair of MVC matches, beginning on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. when UE travels to Murray, Kentucky to take on the Murray State Racers. Sunday’s match can be seen live on ESPN+.
***********EVANSVILLE VOLLEYBALL****************
MVC SLATE OPENS ON FRIDAY FOR UE VOLLEYBALL
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Missouri Valley Conference play opens this weekend with the University of Evansville volleyball team traveling to Murray State and Belmont. Friday’s match against the Racers is set for a 6 p.m. start while the Purple Aces’ contest in Nashville versus the Bruins is set for 5 p.m. on Saturday; ESPN+ will carry both contests.
Top 5 in the NCAA
– Giulia Cardona continues to rank in the top five nationally in multiple offensive categories
– With 6.14 points per set, Cardona is best in the nation while her 13.75 attacks/set is second and her average of 5.25 kills/game ranks third in the NCAA
– In the final two matches of the DePaul Invitational, Cardona averaged 6.7 kills per frame as she recorded 24 against Northern Illinois and 23 versus DePaul
– One of the top servers in the nation, Cardona paces the MVC and is 13th in the NCAA with 0.61 aces per frame
Last Time Out
– Facing nationally ranked Tennessee last Friday, the Aces put forth a strong effort before dropping the match by a 3-0 final
– Evansville held a late 22-18 lead in the third set before a huge run by the Volunteers helped them clinch the match
– Melanie Feliciano had 10 kills in the contest while Giulia Cardona picked up 8 kills and 8 digs; Kora Ruff finished with 27 assists
Back to Form
– Melanie Feliciano put together her best weekend of the season at the DePaul Invitational
– Against DePaul, Feliciano set her season high with 22 kills and has at least 9 kills in 9 of Evansville’s 10 matches while ranking 7th in the MVC with 3.56 kills per set
– Defensively, Feliciano has chipped in 11 digs in four of the last six matches; her average of 2.69 per set is second on the team
Still Going Strong
– Kora Ruff briefly held the conference assist lead and enters the league slate ranked third with 10.77 helpers per game
– That average puts her 17th nationally
– Her serving has also been an asset to the Aces – with 0.40 aces per set, she is 5th in the Valley
– In the final two contests of the DePaul Invitational, Ruff averaged an unreal 14.57 assists including a season-high of 54 against Northern Illinois
– On the defensive side, Ruff set a new career mark with 18 digs against North Alabama and is 19th in the league with 2.63 per set
Scouting the Opposition
– Murray State enters Friday’s league opener with a 6-3 record
– They wrapped up last weekend with a 3-0 sweep over Georgia State after falling to Eastern Kentucky and Chattanooga in the first two matches of the weekend
– Dahlia Miller is one of the top defensive players in the MVC, pacing the league with 5.80 digs per set
– Standing at 6-8, Belmont dropped a 3-0 match to Lipscomb on Tuesday, ending a 2-match win streak
– Ally Peterson leads the way with 2.51 kills per set
****************SOUTHERN INDIANA WOMEN’S SOCCER***********
USI GRABS A POINT WITH SCORELESS DRAW IN OVC OPENER
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Soccer went on the road and grabbed a point in a scoreless draw against the University of Arkansas at Little Rock to begin the Ohio Valley Conference season on Thursday night.
With the 0-0 tie, Southern Indiana extended its unbeaten streak to four games after the third straight tie for the Screaming Eagles. USI moved its overall record to 1-5-4 while starting 0-0-1 in OVC play. Little Rock moved to 3-2-5 on the season and 0-1-1 in conference action.
In Thursday’s match, shots on goal were at a premium, as both defenses played well. The possession battle went back-and-forth with neither side able to gain consistent control. Early in the first half, Little Rock pushed forward into the attacking third, but Southern Indiana’s defense halted any advancement. Little Rock had a shot on goal in the 25th minute, but the attempt was an easy save for USI’s redshirt freshman goalkeeper Anna Markland (Hoover, Alabama). The battle for possession in the midfield led to a scoreless first half.
The flow of the match did not swing too much after the intermission, but the Screaming Eagles recorded their first shot of the contest in the 52nd minute from senior midfielder Avery Schone (Galena, Ohio). Markland gloved her second save of the game on a high-centered shot in the 62nd minute. Midway into the second half, sophomore midfielder Peyton Murphy (Bargersville, Indiana) fired away a pair of shots, but both were blocked by the Trojans. In the final three minutes, the Eagles had a pair of chances that threatened the goal. Following a long throw-in, senior midfielder Paige Vanek (St. Charles, Missouri) headed the ball on the backend, but Little Rock’s keeper saved it. With less than 30 seconds remaining, sophomore midfielder Emma Thurston (Leawood, Kansas) whipped a shot toward goal that was also saved, keeping the match scoreless.
Both teams tallied five shots and two on goal apiece. Markland made two saves for USI, while Little Rock split halves in goal between graduate Marie Cimatti and sophomore Peyton Urban. Urban made both saves for Little Rock. For USI, Vanek and Thurston registered the shots on goal for the Eagles. Murphy led Southern Indiana with her two shot attempts. USI’s defensive unit was solid once again, as Markland, sophomore Charli Grafton (Sunriver, Oregon), sophomore Abby Rhoutsong (Newburgh, Indiana), and senior Alexis Schone (Galena, Ohio) played all 90 minutes. Freshman Kamryn Bea (O’Fallon, Missouri) played 83 minutes in a strong start along USI’s backline.
USI continues the OVC road swing at Tennessee Tech University on Sunday at 1 p.m. Sunday’s contest can be seen with a subscription to ESPN+. Additional coverage links are on the USI Women’s Soccer schedule page on usiscreamingeagles.com.
*************VALPO WOMEN’S SOCCER***************
SOCCER EARNS ROAD DRAW AT EVANSVILLE TO OPEN MVC PLAY
Coming off an 11-day layoff from competition and facing an early deficit, the Valpo soccer team battled back through a set-piece goal from senior Chase Ray (Bellevue, Ohio/Bellevue) to level the match at Evansville, but despite enjoying the better of the second half, the Beacons were unable to pull ahead as Thursday night’s fixture ended in a 1-1 draw.
How It Happened
The Purple Aces took advantage of a corner kick in the fifth minute, as the ball bounced around in the box before finding the foot of Chrysta Vasquez, who put it in the back of the net from eight yards out to give Evansville the early edge.
Valpo grew into the game throughout the first half and started to assert itself in the final half of the opening period, resulting in a number of dangerous attacks and finally the equalizer. A corner kick in the 37th minute was taken by junior Abby White (Commerce Township, Mich./Walled Lake Central), sent towards the far post where Ray got her head on it, nodding it back across goal and home to tie the match at 1-1 — which remained the halftime scoreline.
The second half was all Beacons, as Valpo dominated the possession and the opportunities as it searched for the go-ahead goal. The Beacons looked destined to have a tap-in goal in the 66th minute as junior Dana Fish (Sheboygan, Wis./Sheboygan North) cut a ball back across goal with the Evansville keeper out of position, but a Purple Aces defender was able to clear it away.
Meanwhile, Valpo limited the Evansville attack to very few chances in the second half, but one of them forced senior goalkeeper Nikki Coryell (Aurora, Ill./Metea Valley) to step up with a big stop. Evansville’s Taylor Johnson got in behind the back line in the 69th minute for a 1-v-1 chance, but Coryell came off her line to parry Johnson’s effort from 12 yards out to the right to keep it a 1-1 match.
Valpo kept the pressure on late in search for the winning goal, with its best chance coming in the 83rd minute when senior Lindsey DuSatko (Plainfield, Ill./North) got position running down the right wing and cutting in toward goal, but her effort from inside the box was turned away by Myia Danek.
Inside the Match
Thursday’s draw marked the fourth straight season Valpo has started the conference campaign with at least a point.
Valpo has surrendered one goal or fewer in 26 of 27 MVC regular season matches since the start of the spring 2021 season.
Playing in her 57th career match in the Brown and Gold, Ray tallied her first collegiate goal on Thursday. She is the seventh different goal scorer for the Beacons this year.
Through 42 collegiate matches, White had not picked up an assist, but the junior has now registered helpers in consecutive fixtures as she earned the assist on Ray’s goal Thursday.
Coryell’s impressive save in the second half proved to be her lone save on the night. The senior and the Valpo defense have given up more than one goal just once in nine matches this season.
Valpo finished the evening with a 10-5 advantage in shots and attempted six of the match’s eight corner kicks.
Next Up
Valpo (4-2-3, 0-0-1 MVC) concludes a stretch of five consecutive road matches on Sunday afternoon at noon CT with a visit to Indiana State. The match can be seen live on ESPN+.
**************U OF INDY FOOTBALL****************
HOUNDS FACE FIRST ROAD TEST AT SAGINAW SATURDAY
GAME 3
at Saginaw Valley Cardinals (2-1, 0-0 GLIAC)
Saturday | September 23 | 2 p.m. ET
With one final non-conference game on the schedule, the No. 16 UIndy football team will battle a former GLIAC rival for the second week. After besting Wayne State at home last Saturday, 28-7, the Greyhounds will face off against Saginaw Valley in their road opener this Saturday afternoon. The Cardinals and Hounds have hooked up three times since the latter moved to the GLVC in 2012. UIndy swept the home-and-home arrangement in 2014 and ’15, before the Cardinals bested UIndy, 38-14, in Saginaw last October.
DID YOU KNOW
UIndy is one of only three Division II teams without an offensive turnover this season. That continues a trend for the Greyhounds, who have ranked in the top 10 in the nation in fewest turnovers in seven of the last 12 seasons. In fact, the Hounds led all Division II squads in the metric twice in that span, including tying the DII record with only six giveaways in the entire 2011 campaign.
**************MARIAN MEN’S TENNIS**************
KNIGHTS TAKE DOWN MAPLE LEAFS 5-2 IN PENULTIMATE CROSSROADS MATCH
Goshen, Ind. – The Marian men’s tennis team scored a road victory on Thursday evening, as the Knights took down Goshen College 5-2 in Northern Indiana. The win for Marian guarantees the Knights a third place finish in the Crossroads League, as they improve to 5-2 overall on the season.
The Knights started the first of their two road matches on the week by taking the doubles point, opening the contest with a 1-0 lead. Shadi Al Tori and Ashwin Bhat scored the first victory in doubles with their 6-0 win on the No. 3 court by taking down Mario Gomez and Brandon Lomas. Goshen would respond moments later as Matija Margetic and Pedro Scattolon defeated James Ashworth and Jones McNamar 6-4. With the point falling on the No. 1 court, Andrew Ilett and Marc Soriano grinded out a 7-6 win over Fllippo Gallo and Insee Akarapan, needing a tiebreaker to decide the point, which the Marian duo won 7-3.
With a 1-0 lead in their pocket, Marian rolled into singles with a quick win at No. 4 singles, with Ilett taking down Gomez 6-0, 6-2. Goshen would score their first point of the contest on the No. 1 singles court moments later, as Gallo defeated Ashworth with similar 6-2 scores. Soriano answered minutes later with a win at No. 6 singles, as he picked up a 6-2, 6-0 win against Lomas, pushing Marian’s match lead to 3-1.
The final three singles matches either had a long set tiebreaker or a third set. At No. 2 singles, Luis Sobanski picked up the clinching win with a long second set tiebreaker, defeating Margetic 6-3, 7-6 (10-8), sealing Marian’s win. Jona Henze added to the victory with his win at No. 5 signles over Akarapan, winning 7-6 (7-3), 6-4. Goshen would take the final point of the contest, as Jan Bartolome was defeated in three sets by Scattolon 6-2, 2-6, 7-5, concluding the match’s final score of 5-2.
Marian will aim to finish the Crossroads League slate on a high note on Sunday afternoon following Thursday’s win, as the Knights travel to St. Francis for a 1 p.m. match.
***********MARIAN WOMEN’S TENNIS*************
MARIAN NOTCHES SWEEP AT GOSHEN
GOSHEN, Ind. – The Marian women’s tennis team continued their success on Thursday afternoon, as they notched their fifth consecutive win with the 7-0 sweep over Goshen.
Marian worked quick in the doubles action, with Isadora Muller and Paloma Caceres Villalba taking down Meagan Godzisz and Morgan Priebe in easy 6-1 fashion at the No. 3 spot. At No. 2 doubles, Ana Barbosa Fernandez and Michelle Irigoyen won 6-2 over Sude Aytekin and Carmen Aliaga, while Yasmin Imamniyazova and Katharina Bopst were leading 5-3 over Szofia Kallai and Blanka Bodo at No. 1 doubles.
The Knights continued to dominate the courts in singles action, as they picked up all six wins. Bopst was the first to finish for Marian with her 6-1, 6-1 win against Godzisz at No. 4 singles. Caceres Villalba took down Priebe 6-2, 6-0 to win at the No. 5 spot while Joelle Leihbacher defeated Naomi Lapp Klassen at No. 6 singles with a 6-0, 6-1 victory. At No. 3 singles, Emma Chrome kept the winning coming for the Knights, as she grabbed the 6-2, 6-1 victory over Bodo, and Imamniyazova finished off Aytekin 6-2, 6-4 at the No. 1 spot. Irigoyen’s match was the only to go to three sets, as she picked up the 6-4, 3-6, 1-0 (10-6) win over Kallai to help the Knights clinch the 7-0 victory.
Marian will return to the courts on September 24, as they travel to Saint Francis (Ind.) in their final Crossroads League match.
****************SMALL COLLEGE ATHLETICS***************
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 |
| Y-Baltimore | 95 | 58 | .621 | – | 45 – 30 | 50 – 28 | 30 – 18 | 20 – 9 | 21 – 11 | 4 – 6 | L 2 |
| Y-Tampa Bay | 94 | 60 | .610 | 1.5 | 52 – 26 | 42 – 34 | 26 – 18 | 23 – 9 | 18 – 14 | 6 – 4 | W 1 |
| Toronto | 85 | 68 | .556 | 10 | 41 – 34 | 44 – 34 | 17 – 26 | 22 – 10 | 16 – 16 | 5 – 5 | L 1 |
| NY Yankees | 77 | 76 | .503 | 18 | 40 – 38 | 37 – 38 | 20 – 29 | 17 – 12 | 19 – 13 | 6 – 4 | W 1 |
| Boston | 75 | 78 | .490 | 20 | 38 – 38 | 37 – 40 | 22 – 24 | 18 – 11 | 15 – 17 | 2 – 8 | L 2 |
| Central | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Minnesota | 81 | 72 | .529 | – | 43 – 32 | 38 – 40 | 13 – 19 | 29 – 23 | 16 – 10 | 6 – 4 | W 2 |
| Cleveland | 73 | 81 | .474 | 8.5 | 40 – 36 | 33 – 45 | 15 – 14 | 22 – 27 | 17 – 15 | 5 – 5 | W 1 |
| Detroit | 72 | 81 | .471 | 9 | 32 – 43 | 40 – 38 | 7 – 25 | 30 – 16 | 14 – 15 | 6 – 4 | W 2 |
| Chi White Sox | 58 | 95 | .379 | 23 | 30 – 45 | 28 – 50 | 9 – 19 | 23 – 29 | 12 – 21 | 3 – 7 | L 2 |
| Kansas City | 51 | 102 | .333 | 30 | 31 – 47 | 20 – 55 | 7 – 23 | 20 – 29 | 8 – 20 | 7 – 3 | W 3 |
| West | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Houston | 85 | 68 | .556 | – | 39 – 39 | 46 – 29 | 16 – 17 | 14 – 14 | 30 – 19 | 4 – 6 | W 1 |
| Seattle | 84 | 68 | .553 | 0.5 | 41 – 33 | 43 – 35 | 13 – 18 | 20 – 13 | 29 – 13 | 5 – 5 | W 3 |
| Texas | 84 | 68 | .553 | 0.5 | 47 – 31 | 37 – 37 | 20 – 12 | 19 – 13 | 23 – 19 | 6 – 4 | W 2 |
| LA Angels | 69 | 84 | .451 | 16 | 35 – 40 | 34 – 44 | 14 – 18 | 17 – 12 | 19 – 27 | 3 – 7 | L 1 |
| Oakland | 46 | 107 | .301 | 39 | 24 – 54 | 22 – 53 | 8 – 24 | 11 – 15 | 13 – 36 | 2 – 8 | L 8 |
| National League | |||||||||||
| East | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| X-Atlanta | 98 | 55 | .641 | – | 48 – 27 | 50 – 28 | 32 – 14 | 19 – 9 | 21 – 12 | 4 – 6 | W 1 |
| Philadelphia | 84 | 69 | .549 | 14 | 44 – 31 | 40 – 38 | 21 – 25 | 17 – 11 | 18 – 15 | 6 – 4 | W 2 |
| Miami | 79 | 74 | .516 | 19 | 44 – 34 | 35 – 40 | 25 – 24 | 14 – 13 | 14 – 17 | 5 – 5 | L 1 |
| NY Mets | 71 | 82 | .464 | 27 | 39 – 36 | 32 – 46 | 21 – 22 | 13 – 19 | 18 – 14 | 6 – 4 | L 1 |
| Washington | 68 | 86 | .442 | 30.5 | 33 – 45 | 35 – 41 | 16 – 30 | 14 – 19 | 15 – 16 | 3 – 7 | L 1 |
| Central | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Milwaukee | 87 | 66 | .569 | – | 45 – 30 | 42 – 36 | 17 – 12 | 29 – 17 | 13 – 19 | 7 – 3 | W 3 |
| Chi Cubs | 79 | 74 | .516 | 8 | 42 – 36 | 37 – 38 | 11 – 17 | 29 – 20 | 14 – 16 | 3 – 7 | L 2 |
| Cincinnati | 79 | 75 | .513 | 8.5 | 37 – 41 | 42 – 34 | 15 – 17 | 19 – 27 | 18 – 14 | 6 – 4 | L 2 |
| Pittsburgh | 72 | 81 | .471 | 15 | 38 – 40 | 34 – 41 | 14 – 13 | 23 – 26 | 16 – 15 | 6 – 4 | W 2 |
| St. Louis | 67 | 86 | .438 | 20 | 33 – 45 | 34 – 41 | 14 – 18 | 18 – 28 | 12 – 17 | 4 – 6 | L 3 |
| West | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| X-LA Dodgers | 94 | 58 | .618 | – | 51 – 27 | 43 – 31 | 17 – 14 | 19 – 14 | 28 – 14 | 7 – 3 | W 1 |
| Arizona | 81 | 72 | .529 | 13.5 | 43 – 35 | 38 – 37 | 14 – 18 | 20 – 12 | 29 – 23 | 6 – 4 | W 5 |
| San Francisco | 76 | 77 | .497 | 18.5 | 43 – 32 | 33 – 45 | 13 – 18 | 20 – 13 | 23 – 20 | 3 – 7 | L 3 |
| San Diego | 75 | 78 | .490 | 19.5 | 42 – 36 | 33 – 42 | 16 – 16 | 9 – 20 | 25 – 24 | 8 – 2 | W 7 |
| Colorado | 56 | 96 | .368 | 38 | 34 – 40 | 22 – 56 | 14 – 20 | 13 – 14 | 12 – 36 | 5 – 5 | L 4 |
X – Clinched Division, Y – Clinched Playoff Spot
***********WILD CARD STANDINGS***************
| AL Wild Card Standings | |||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | Last 10 | Streak | |
| Y-Tampa Bay | 94 | 60 | .610 | +9.0 | 52-26 | 42-34 | 6-4 | W 1 | |
| Toronto | 85 | 68 | .556 | +0.5 | 41-34 | 44-34 | 5-5 | L 1 | |
| Seattle | 84 | 68 | .553 | – | 41-33 | 43-35 | 5-5 | W 3 | |
| Texas | 84 | 68 | .553 | – | 47-31 | 37-37 | 6-4 | W 2 | |
| NY Yankees | 77 | 76 | .503 | 7.5 | 40-38 | 37-38 | 6-4 | W 1 | |
| Boston | 75 | 78 | .490 | 9.5 | 38-38 | 37-40 | 2-8 | L 2 | |
| Cleveland | 73 | 81 | .474 | 12.0 | 40-36 | 33-45 | 5-5 | W 1 | |
| Detroit | 72 | 81 | .471 | 12.5 | 32-43 | 40-38 | 6-4 | W 2 | |
| LA Angels | 69 | 84 | .451 | 15.5 | 35-40 | 34-44 | 3-7 | L 1 | |
| Chi White Sox | 58 | 95 | .379 | 26.5 | 30-45 | 28-50 | 3-7 | L 2 | |
| Kansas City | 51 | 102 | .333 | 33.5 | 31-47 | 20-55 | 7-3 | W 3 | |
| Oakland | 46 | 107 | .301 | 38.5 | 24-54 | 22-53 | 2-8 | L 8 |
| NL Wild Card Standings | |||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | Last 10 | Streak | |
| Philadelphia | 84 | 69 | .549 | +5.0 | 44-31 | 40-38 | 6-4 | W 2 | |
| Arizona | 81 | 72 | .529 | +2.0 | 43-35 | 38-37 | 6-4 | W 5 | |
| Miami | 79 | 74 | .516 | – | 44-34 | 35-40 | 5-5 | L 1 | |
| Chi Cubs | 79 | 74 | .516 | – | 42-36 | 37-38 | 3-7 | L 2 | |
| Cincinnati | 79 | 75 | .513 | 0.5 | 37-41 | 42-34 | 6-4 | L 2 | |
| San Francisco | 76 | 77 | .497 | 3.0 | 43-32 | 33-45 | 3-7 | L 3 | |
| San Diego | 75 | 78 | .490 | 4.0 | 42-36 | 33-42 | 8-2 | W 7 | |
| Pittsburgh | 72 | 81 | .471 | 7.0 | 38-40 | 34-41 | 6-4 | W 2 | |
| NY Mets | 71 | 82 | .464 | 8.0 | 39-36 | 32-46 | 6-4 | L 1 | |
| Washington | 68 | 86 | .442 | 11.5 | 33-45 | 35-41 | 3-7 | L 1 | |
| St. Louis | 67 | 86 | .438 | 12.0 | 33-45 | 34-41 | 4-6 | L 3 | |
| Colorado | 56 | 96 | .368 | 22.5 | 34-40 | 22-56 | 5-5 | L 4 |
Y – Clinched Playoff Spot
*************NFL STANDINGS************
| American Football Conference | |||||||||||||
| East Division | |||||||||||||
| W | L | T | Pct | GB | PF | PA | Home | Road | vs. Conf | vs. Div | Streak | ||
| Miami Dolphins | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 0.0 | 60 | 51 | 0-0-0 | 2-0-0 | 2-0-0 | 1-0-0 | 2 W | |
| New York Jets | 1 | 1 | 0 | .500 | 1.0 | 32 | 46 | 1-0-0 | 0-1-0 | 1-0-0 | 1-0-0 | 1 L | |
| Buffalo Bills | 1 | 1 | 0 | .500 | 1.0 | 54 | 32 | 1-0-0 | 0-1-0 | 1-1-0 | 0-1-0 | 1 W | |
| New England Patriots | 0 | 2 | 0 | .000 | 2.0 | 37 | 49 | 0-2-0 | 0-0-0 | 0-1-0 | 0-1-0 | 2 L | |
| West Division | |||||||||||||
| W | L | T | Pct | GB | PF | PA | Home | Road | vs. Conf | vs. Div | Streak | ||
| Las Vegas Raiders | 1 | 1 | 0 | .500 | 0.0 | 27 | 54 | 0-0-0 | 1-1-0 | 1-1-0 | 1-0-0 | 1 L | |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 1 | 1 | 0 | .500 | 0.0 | 37 | 30 | 0-1-0 | 1-0-0 | 1-0-0 | 0-0-0 | 1 W | |
| Los Angeles Chargers | 0 | 2 | 0 | .000 | 1.0 | 58 | 63 | 0-1-0 | 0-1-0 | 0-2-0 | 0-0-0 | 2 L | |
| Denver Broncos | 0 | 2 | 0 | .000 | 1.0 | 49 | 52 | 0-2-0 | 0-0-0 | 0-1-0 | 0-1-0 | 2 L | |
| North Division | |||||||||||||
| W | L | T | Pct | GB | PF | PA | Home | Road | vs. Conf | vs. Div | Streak | ||
| Baltimore Ravens | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 0.0 | 52 | 33 | 1-0-0 | 1-0-0 | 2-0-0 | 1-0-0 | 2 W | |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 1 | 1 | 0 | .500 | 1.0 | 33 | 52 | 1-1-0 | 0-0-0 | 1-0-0 | 1-0-0 | 1 W | |
| Cleveland Browns | 1 | 1 | 0 | .500 | 1.0 | 46 | 29 | 1-0-0 | 0-1-0 | 1-1-0 | 1-1-0 | 1 L | |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 0 | 2 | 0 | .000 | 2.0 | 27 | 51 | 0-1-0 | 0-1-0 | 0-2-0 | 0-2-0 | 2 L | |
| South Division | |||||||||||||
| W | L | T | Pct | GB | PF | PA | Home | Road | vs. Conf | vs. Div | Streak | ||
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 1 | 1 | 0 | .500 | 0.0 | 40 | 38 | 0-1-0 | 1-0-0 | 1-1-0 | 1-0-0 | 1 L | |
| Indianapolis Colts | 1 | 1 | 0 | .500 | 0.0 | 52 | 51 | 0-1-0 | 1-0-0 | 1-1-0 | 1-1-0 | 1 W | |
| Tennessee Titans | 1 | 1 | 0 | .500 | 0.0 | 42 | 40 | 1-0-0 | 0-1-0 | 1-0-0 | 0-0-0 | 1 W | |
| Houston Texans | 0 | 2 | 0 | .000 | 1.0 | 29 | 56 | 0-1-0 | 0-1-0 | 0-2-0 | 0-1-0 | 2 L | |
| National Football Conference | |||||||||||||
| East Division | |||||||||||||
| W | L | T | Pct | GB | PF | PA | Home | Road | vs. Conf | vs. Div | Streak | ||
| Dallas Cowboys | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 0.0 | 70 | 10 | 1-0-0 | 1-0-0 | 1-0-0 | 1-0-0 | 2 W | |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 0.0 | 59 | 48 | 1-0-0 | 1-0-0 | 1-0-0 | 0-0-0 | 2 W | |
| Washington Commanders | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 0.0 | 55 | 49 | 1-0-0 | 1-0-0 | 1-0-0 | 0-0-0 | 2 W | |
| New York Giants | 1 | 2 | 0 | .333 | 1.5 | 43 | 98 | 0-1-0 | 1-1-0 | 1-2-0 | 0-1-0 | 1 L | |
| West Division | |||||||||||||
| W | L | T | Pct | GB | PF | PA | Home | Road | vs. Conf | vs. Div | Streak | ||
| San Francisco 49ers | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 0.0 | 90 | 42 | 1-0-0 | 2-0-0 | 2-0-0 | 1-0-0 | 3 W | |
| Los Angeles Rams | 1 | 1 | 0 | .500 | 1.5 | 53 | 43 | 0-1-0 | 1-0-0 | 1-1-0 | 1-1-0 | 1 L | |
| Seattle Seahawks | 1 | 1 | 0 | .500 | 1.5 | 50 | 61 | 0-1-0 | 1-0-0 | 1-1-0 | 0-1-0 | 1 W | |
| Arizona Cardinals | 0 | 2 | 0 | .000 | 2.5 | 44 | 51 | 0-1-0 | 0-1-0 | 0-2-0 | 0-0-0 | 2 L | |
| North Division | |||||||||||||
| W | L | T | Pct | GB | PF | PA | Home | Road | vs. Conf | vs. Div | Streak | ||
| Green Bay Packers | 1 | 1 | 0 | .500 | 0.0 | 62 | 45 | 0-0-0 | 1-1-0 | 1-1-0 | 1-0-0 | 1 L | |
| Detroit Lions | 1 | 1 | 0 | .500 | 0.0 | 52 | 57 | 0-1-0 | 1-0-0 | 0-1-0 | 0-0-0 | 1 L | |
| Minnesota Vikings | 0 | 2 | 0 | .000 | 1.0 | 45 | 54 | 0-1-0 | 0-1-0 | 0-2-0 | 0-0-0 | 2 L | |
| Chicago Bears | 0 | 2 | 0 | .000 | 1.0 | 37 | 65 | 0-1-0 | 0-1-0 | 0-2-0 | 0-1-0 | 2 L | |
| South Division | |||||||||||||
| W | L | T | Pct | GB | PF | PA | Home | Road | vs. Conf | vs. Div | Streak | ||
| Atlanta Falcons | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 0.0 | 49 | 34 | 2-0-0 | 0-0-0 | 2-0-0 | 1-0-0 | 2 W | |
| New Orleans Saints | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 0.0 | 36 | 32 | 1-0-0 | 1-0-0 | 1-0-0 | 1-0-0 | 2 W | |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 0.0 | 47 | 34 | 1-0-0 | 1-0-0 | 2-0-0 | 0-0-0 | 2 W | |
| Carolina Panthers | 0 | 2 | 0 | .000 | 2.0 | 27 | 44 | 0-1-0 | 0-1-0 | 0-2-0 | 0-2-0 | 2 L | |
X – Clinched Playoff Spot, Y – Clinched Division, Z – Clinched Home Field Advantage
Last updated Sep. 22, 1:19 A.M. ET
***********TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY************
1911 Cy Young wins his 511th and final career game when he blanks the Pirates at Forbes Field, 1-0. The 35-101 Rustlers have won only three contests in 22 attempts against Pittsburgh this season, with two of the victories coming on shutouts thrown by the 44-year-old veteran right-hander, who was obtained by Boston on waivers from Cleveland in late July.
1912 At Sportsman’s Park against the Browns, Eddie Collins becomes the first player to steal six bases in one game for the second time. The Philadelphia A’s second baseman’s feat of thievery continues to be the major league mark.
1925 Robins starter Burleigh Grimes accounts for seven outs in just three plate appearances in the team’s 3-2 loss to Chicago, a 12-inning game played at Cubs Park. The Brooklyn right-hander follows grounding into two double plays by hitting into a 6-4-3-2 triple play.
1926 At Ebbets Field, the aging 18-year veteran outfielder Zack Wheat hits his last homer as a Dodger but severely pulls a muscle nearing second. The future Hall of Famer needs to rest nearly five minutes before reaching home plate, making his trip around the bases the most extended home run trot in major league history.
1936 The Tigers record the most one-sided pair of shutouts in a doubleheader, sweeping St. Louis at Navin Field, 12-0 and 14-0. Both Detroit starters go the distance, with Elden Auker throwing a five-hitter in the opener and Tommy Bridges limiting the Browns to three hits in the nightcap.
1947 On an off day, the Dodgers clinch the National League pennant when the Cubs beat the Cardinals in the nightcap of twin bill’s nightcap. Although it is past midnight when the good news about their beloved team reaches the borough, Brooklynites begin to gather on Flatbush for an impromptu celebration.
1948 Stan Musial, for the fourth time this season, has five hits in five at-bats to set a National League record and ties the major league mark established by Ty Cobb. Stan the Man’s hits, including a double and home run, come off five different pitchers on five consecutive pitches in the Cardinals’ 8-2 victory at Braves Field in Boston.
1954 Karl Spooner, in his major league debut, blanks the Giants at Ebbets Field, 3-0. The 23-year-old Dodger southpaw fans 15 batters, including six straight, recording the most strikeouts in a rookie’s first appearance.
1957 Over a span of four games, Ted Williams hits a home run in his fourth consecutive at-bat. In his other plate appearances during those contests, the opposing pitchers issue six bases on balls to the Splendid Splinter until he follows today’s fourth-inning round-tripper with a single in the sixth.
1957 Duke Snider, with his second round-tripper in the Dodgers’ 7-3 victory over Philadelphia, hits his 40th home run, tying Ralph Kiner’s National League record of five consecutive seasons with forty or more homers. The Duke of Flatbush’s seventh-inning homer off future Hall of Famer Robin Roberts will prove to be the last one ever hit at Ebbets Field.
1959 After the White Sox clinch the pennant by beating the second-place Indians at Cleveland Stadium, 4-2, Chicago’s Mayor Richard Daley orders the city air raid sirens to blast. The flag marks the South-siders’ first American League championship since the notorious Black Sox’s title 40 years ago.
1961 In the Orioles’ 8-5 victory over the White Sox at Comiskey Park, Jim Gentile hits his fifth grand slam of the year to tie the major league record established in 1955 by Cubs shortstop Ernie Banks. Each of the first baseman’s four-run homers has come with Chuck Estrada pitching for Baltimore.
1962 Al Jackson suffers his 20th loss when Chicago beats the Mets at the Polo Grounds, 8-2. The New York southpaw joins Roger Craig in reaching the dubious number of defeats, making the pair the first teammates since Bucky Walters and Joe Bowman of the 1936 Phillies to become 20-game losers on the same National League team.
1964 Larry Dierker, who will have a long relationship with the franchise, including stints as a broadcaster and manager, becomes the last rookie to make his major league debut as a Colt .45. On his 18th birthday, the right-hander starts, taking the loss when San Francisco defeats Houston, 7-3.
1966 With only 413 patrons attending New York’s 4-1 loss to the White Sox, the team’s head of media relations denies veteran broadcaster Red Barber’s request for a camera to scan the empty stands. The Ol’ Redhead reportedly loses his job when he tells his audience, “I don’t know what the paid attendance is today, but whatever it is, it is the smallest crowd in the history of Yankee Stadium, and this crowd is the story, not the game.”
1966 The Orioles clinch their first pennant representing Baltimore when Jim Palmer goes the distance, beating Lew Krausse and the A’s at Municipal Stadium, 6-1. The franchise’s last flag was raised in St. Louis in 1944 when the team was known as the Browns.
1968 Utility player Cesar Tovar becomes the second major leaguer to play one inning at each position when he plays right field in the ninth in the Twins’ 3-2 victory over Oakland at Metropolitan Stadium. A’s shortstop Bert Campaneris was the first to field all nine positions in a 1965 contest against California.
1969 Willie Mays, joining Yankee legend Babe Ruth, becomes the second major leaguer to hit 600 career home runs. The historic two-run homer is delivered as a pinch-hitter in the top of the seventh inning off Padres hurler Mike Corkins and proves to be the difference in the Giants’ 4-2 victory at San Diego Stadium.
1969 During the team’s 4-2 victory over the Padres, Giant outfielder Bobby Bonds establishes a big-league record when he strikes out for the 176th time this season. The California native will finish the year with 187, extending the dubious mark next season with two additional strikeouts.
1971 The Pirates clinch their second consecutive National League Eastern Divisional flag when they defeat the second-place Cardinals at Busch Stadium, 5-1. Luke Walker and Dave Giusti combine to toss a six-hitter to beat the future Hall of Fame right-hander Bob Gibson, who no-hit the Bucs last month in his only other start against the team.
1976 Right-hander Don Sutton goes the distance to become a twenty-game winner for the first and only time when Los Angeles beat the Giants at Candlestick Park, 3-1. The future Hall of Famer will compile a 324-256 (.559) record during his 23-year big-league tenure, playing for the Dodgers, Astros, Brewers, Angels, and the A’s.
1977 Bert Blyleven no-hits the Angels, 6-0. A batter reaching on a third-inning error, erased on a double play, and a walk, issued with two outs in the ninth, account for the only two baserunners in the game for Anaheim.
1986 🇲🇽 Dodger hurler Fernando Valenzuela (20-10) two-hits Houston en route to a 9-2 victory at the Astrodome. The 25-year-old southpaw becomes the first Mexican to win 20 games in the major leagues.
1987 Future Hall of Famer Wade Boggs collects his 200th hit for the fifth straight season. The Red Sox third baseman will reach the 200-hit mark for the next two years before the streak ends in 1990.
1987 Chicago sends Dickie Noles to the Tigers for a player to be named later. Next month, the right-handed pitcher is returned to the Cubs as that player to be named later.
1988 The Mets clinch their fourth NL East title when Ron Darling goes the distance, defeating Philadelphia at Shea Stadium, 3-1. The Amazins also copped the division flag in 1969, 1973, and 1986.
1990 Andre Dawson becomes the second player to hit 300 home runs, steal 300 bases, and collect 2,000 hits. The Cubs’ outfielder joins Willie Mays in accomplishing the feat when he swipes his 300th career bag in an 11-5 loss to the Mets at Wrigley Field.
1993 The long career of Ranger right-hander Nolan Ryan, who had announced his plans to retire at the end of the season, comes to an abrupt end when the Texas starter leaves the game in the first inning after injuring his right elbow. The future Hall of Famer, who gives up five runs without retiring a batter, will throw just one more pitch after giving up a grand slam to Dann Howitt in the 7-4 loss to Seattle at the Kingdome.
1993 The Rockies establish the major league home attendance record with 4,483,350 patrons attending games at Denver’s Mile High Stadium. The expansion team will average 55,350 fans per game during their inaugural season.
1996 Barry Larkin becomes the first shortstop to become a member of the 30-30 club when he goes deep off Donovan Osborne in the fifth inning in the Reds’ 6-3 victory over St. Louis. The future Hall of Fame infielder joins teammate Eric Davis as only the second Cincinnati player to accomplish the feat.
1997 Thanks to the Mets beating the Marlins, the Braves capture the National League East title before their 3-2 win over the Expos. The title is Atlanta’s sixth straight division flag, breaking the major league record.
1998 Jose Canseco, in the Blue Jays’ 7-3 victory over Baltimore at the SkyDome, hits his 45th and 46th home runs, setting a new career-high. The Toronto DH will finish his 17-year major league career with 462 round-trippers, but his admitted use of steroids will taint his accomplishment.
1998 Mariner Ken Griffey Jr., with his American League-leading 54th and 55th home runs of the season, joins Babe Ruth (Yankees, 1930-32) and Lou Gehrig (Yankees, 1926-34) as the only players to drive in 140 or more runs in at least three consecutive seasons. During his 22-year tenure in the major leagues, Junior will average 111 runs batted in per season.
1998 Braves backup backstop Eddie Perez’s solo home run in Atlanta’s 4-1 win over Florida is the team’s 208th round-tripper this season, breaking a 32-year-old franchise record. Atlanta will finish the season with 215 homers, with Andres Galarraga being the club leader with 44.
1998 John Olerud ties Barry Bonds’ National League record of reaching base 15 consecutive times when he walks in the first inning. The Mets’ first baseman will ground out in the third, falling one short of the 1957 major league mark set by Ted Williams.
1998 Tony Clark becomes the first Detroit player since Rudy York (1940-41) to collect 100 RBIs in his first two full seasons in the Motor City. The Tigers’ first baseman finishes the season with 103 runs batted in after driving in 117 last season.
2000 The Astros, surpassing the 1997 Rockies, establish a new National League team single-season home run mark, hitting their 240th in a 12-5 loss to Cincinnati at Cinergy Field. The slugfest features nine home runs, with the home team hitting six and Houston going deep three times.
2000 At Cinergy Field, Astros’ Jose Lima gives up his 47th home run of the season, passing the National League record established in 1956 by Robin Roberts. Bert Blyleven holds the distinction of serving up 50 gopher balls as a Twin in 1986 to set the major league mark.
2000 Mets’ closer Armando Benitez blanks the Phillies in the ninth for his 39th save, breaking southpaw John Franco’s club record. The left-handed bullpen veteran also appeared in the Mets’ 9-6 win.
2002 Chicago’s first baseman Fred McGriff becomes the first player to hit 30 home runs in a season for five teams (Blue Jays, Padres, Braves, Devil Rays, and Cubs). The Crime Dog’s first-inning PNC poke also sets a record for being the 42nd major league park in which he’s gone yard, one more than Ellis Burks of the Indians.
2002 In the last game ever played at Cinergy Field, the Phillies complete a three-game sweep, defeating the Reds, 4-3, in front of many of the team’s former superstars except for the banished Pete Rose. The popularity of the all-time hit leader becomes obvious when Tom Browning paints Rose’s uniform number 14 on the mound after the game, along with the crowd chanting, “Pete, Pete” as home plate gets ready for delivery next door to Great American Ball Park.
2002 Greg Maddux pitches seven innings of four-hit ball as the Braves beat the Marlins, 4-1. ‘Mad Dog’ joins Cy Young as one of only two pitchers in baseball history to win at least 15 games in 15 consecutive seasons.
2003 The Tigers established a new mark for futility in the American League, recording their 118th loss of the season. The 1916 A’s (36-117) had held the record before Detroit’s 12-6 defeat to the Royals.
2003 Alfonso Soriano hits his 13th leadoff home run of the season to establish a new major league mark. The Yankee second baseman shared the record with Brady Anderson, who led off with 12 round-trippers for the 1996 Orioles.
2003 For only the third time in major league history, a Korean pitcher and a Japanese pitcher oppose one another as Expos’ hurler Tomo Ohka faces Jae Weong Seo as starters at Shea Stadium. Both Pacific Rim right-handers throw well, but neither gets the decision as Montreal beats the Mets on misplayed fly balls in the ninth, 4-2.
2004 Ben Sheets breaks the Brewers’ single-season strikeout record when he whiffs Albert Pujols in the 3-2 loss to the Cardinals. The 26-year-old Louisiana native surpasses Teddy Higuera’s mark of 240, established in 1987.
2005 On the day he is scheduled to return to the team after rehabilitating his right knee and left ankle at home, the Orioles inform Rafael Palmeiro not to report to the team. The first baseman/DH, who tested positive for steroids earlier in the season, continues to stir up controversy as the 40-year-old veteran states the reason for failing the drug test is due to a vitamin B-12 shot given by his teammate, Miguel Tejada.
2005 An American Society of Microbiology’s study of the number of people washing their hands after using a public restroom report that 83 percent of patrons take advantage of the available soap and water. Of the 6,300 bathroom users monitored, the data reveals Turner Field to have the worst hygiene showing nearly a quarter of the patrons (37% male and 16% female) did not wash their hands after using the facilities during a Braves game.
2006 In the Nationals’ 3-2 victory over the Mets, Alfonso Soriano hits his 40th double and steals his 41st base of the season. The Washington outfielder, with 45 homers, becomes baseball’s first 40-40-40 player with his offensive performance at Shea Stadium.
2009 Diamondback slugger Mark Reynolds establishes a new single-season strikeout mark for the second year in a row when he misses a 1-2 breaking ball from Madison Bumgarner, his 205th K of the campaign. Before breaking his own dubious mark and extending it with another whiff in the sixth inning, the 26-year-old third baseman collected his 100th RBI of the season in Arizona’s 10-8 Chase Field victory over San Francisco.
2010 Jose Lopez hits three home runs in the Mariners’ 6-3 victory over the Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre. The third baseman’s trio of round-trippers, collected off three different pitchers, accounts for nearly a third of his ten homers this season.
2010 The Diamondbacks hire Kevin Towers as the team’s general manager, bypassing the interim GM Jerry Dipoto, a highly-regarded administrator within the organization and throughout baseball, for the job he did when replacing Josh Byrnes. During Towers’ 14-year tenure in the same position with the Padres, San Diego won four division titles and played in the 1998 World Series against New York.
2011 Thanks to Shane Victorino’s million-dollar pledge, the renovated 105-year-old Nicetown Boys & Girls Club celebrates its grand opening. The inner-city facility, now named after the Phillies’ All-Star center fielder, is only the second club in the country to bear the name of a major leaguer, with the ‘Flying Hawaiian’ sharing the distinction with Willie Mays.
2011 According to the Associated Press, Leo Nunez, placed on the Marlins’ restricted list without the club listing a reason, must return to the Dominican Republic to deal with legal issues concerning fake identification documents. The 29-year-old right-handed closer, whose real name is Juan Oviedo, used his childhood friend’s ID to receive a more lucrative deal being 16 years of age instead of 17 when signing his first major league contract.
2012 Gio Gonzalez becomes the second pitcher in franchise history to win 20 games when Washington beats Milwaukee at Nationals Park, 10-4. The 27-year-old southpaw joins Ross Grimsley, who accomplished the feat in 1978 when the club played in Montreal as the Expos.
2013 Felix Hernandez, making his first appearance since suffering a strained oblique, sets a record for strikeouts in a start lasting four or fewer innings when he whiffs ten batters before the fifth frame in the Mariners’ 3-2 victory at Angel Stadium. The fans aren’t the only ones buzzing during King Felix’s performance, as a swarm of bees in the outfield delays the contest for 23 minutes during the third inning.
2018 The Dodgers establish a franchise record for team home runs hit in one season for the second consecutive year when Yasmani Grandal goes deep in the bottom of the sixth inning in the team’s 7-2 victory over the Padres. The catcher’s round-tripper was the club’s 222nd of the campaign, surpassing last year’s total with seven games left on the schedule.
2019 En route to clinching a playoff spot, the Cardinals beat the Cubs 3-2, completing the team’s first four-game sweep at Wrigley Field in 98 seasons. The series marks the first time in a century a home team drops four consecutive contests by a run against the same opponent, with Chicago losing five straight decisions by the slimmest margin for the first time since 1915.
2019 After dropping a 12-8 decision to the Twins, the Royals (100) join the Tigers (109), Marlins (101), and Orioles (105) in breaking the 2002 mark for the number of 100-loss teams playing in the major leagues in the same season. Conversely, the Dodgers (100), Yankees (102), and Astros (102) have won a hundred or more games, marking three straight years three teams have posted triple-digit victories.
*****************FOOTBALL HISTORY******************
September 22, 1987 – The NFL Players strike started and lasted for 24 days. The players wanted Free Agency to be a part of the agreement that the NFLPA had with the NFL owners. They had technically had free agency for almost a decade at that point but a clause in the contract known as the “Rozelle Rule” stated that if a player as signed from a team that the Commissioner could review it and compensate the team losing that player with draft picks or players from his new team. As the 1987 season started things were not going the way the players liked with the negotiations so in week four of the season they walked out and went on strike. The NFL owners retaliated with bringing replacement players and it turned out to be a disastrous experiment for ownership. The quality of play had dropped considerably and the fans demanded the quality that the League started the season with. But star players such as Joe Montana, Mark Gastineau and Steve Largent started breaking ranks and crossed the picket line. This eventually led to all of the players returning back to work in week 7. Interestingly enough the games played by the replacement players counted in the teams overall record.
September 22, 1991 – Miami Dolphins Head Coach Don Shula won his 300th NFL game! Shula started his head coaching career in the NFL in 1963 with the Baltimore Colts at the age of 33. He spent 7 seasons and tallied 71 wins in that position before leaving for warmer weather in Miami and staying at that post for 26 seasons. Don Shula won 1 NFL Championship in 1968 with the Colts and then won two Super Bowls at the helm of the Dolphins including the NFL’s only undefeated Super Bowl team in 1972!
HALL OF FAME BIRTHDAYS FOR SEPTEMBER 22
September 22, 1862 – Alex Moffat was a former halfback from Princeton University. The website footballfoundation.org refers to Alex as “collegiate football’s first great kicker.” Legendary coach Amos Alonzo Stagg said; “ Moffat invented the spiral punt in 1881 and changed thereby the whole science of punting.” Moffat was the captain of his 1883 Princeton Tigers team, and that season he proved worthy of the position. In the game against Harvard that season, Alex kicked 5 field goals including two drop kicks with his right foot and two others with his left! The final goal was booted from a place kick. The Tigers won 7 games out of 8 that fine season as only the Yale Bulldogs defeated them in a 6-0 skirmish. The Princeton captain was a solid tackler on defense for the Tigers, making few errors. Alex was a stellar runner as well as a kicker. Moffat’s great 1883 season ended with him totaling 7 touchdowns, 16 field goals and seven point after kicks. The National Football Foundation enshrined Alex Moffat posthumously into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1971.
September 22, 1898 – Heartley Hunk Anderson was a guard from the University of Notre Dame that played in the seasons of 1918 through 1921. His freshman season in 1918 is significant to Notre Dame football history as it was the very first one that a man by the name of Knute Rockne was the team’s head coach! Hunk Anderson blocked for George Gipp that season and Rockne was heard to say later that Anderson was, “the greatest lineman he ever coached.” After a single loss in his freshman season Hunk and the Irish did not experience another loss in a football game until his senior season when the Iowa Hawkeyes knocked them off in an upset. Against Purdue Hunk blocked not one but two punts and then recovered them both in the endzone! With performances like those Anderson played well enough that season to earn First-Team All-American honors. The great collegiate lineman after college turned pro and played with the Chicago Bears for four seasons. He later returned to his Alma mater and became the head coach after Rockne’s untimely death in 1931. Hunk Anderson was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1974.
September 22, 1905 – Larry Bettencourt was a center from St. Mary’s College of California. Bettencourt and his head coach Ed Madigan were instrumental in taking the tiny school in Moraga, California into the national college spotlight in the mid 1920’s. During Bettencourt’s four seasons as a Galloping Gael of St. Mary’s team registered 19 shutouts. Larry himself scored 12 touchdowns mostly by blocking kicks and possessing them in the endzone! In 1927 he registered a blocked kick in six straight games! His blocking was equally up to the challenge as he created large gaps for his runners by his aggressive blocking. He was picked as an All-American after the 1927 season. In 1973 he received the honor of being selected into the College Football Hall of Fame.
September 22, 1922 – Ray Evans was a University of Kansas halfback that played for the Jayhawks the 1940’s. Ray was a phenomenal two way player, in 1942 he led the nation in passing and also in interceptions! That season he became only the second player in college history to complete more than 100 passes (101) and his 10 interceptions on defense were the envy of all of the defensive backs in the country. Evans played for the Jayhawks in 1941 and 1942 and then left the team to serve in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II for 3 years. He returned to the Kansas team in 1946 to pick up where he left off before the war, leading Kansas in rushing, passing and total offense. His final season with the team in 1947 was special for Kansas as the team went 8-0-2 and earned the right to play Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl. Unfortunately for the Jayhawks the Yellow Jackets narrowly defeated them 20-14. A super athlete, Ray was a great basketball star for the Jayhawks as well. The University of Kansas retired Evan’s number 42 jersey as well as his basketball number 15. After college Evans played in the NFL for the 1948 Pittsburgh Steelers. The National Football Foundation awarded the great player in 1964 with entry into their College Football Hall of Fame.
September 22, 1959 – Bob Crable was a former University of Notre Dame linebacker from 1978 through the 1981 season. Crable may be the greatest tackler in Notre Dame’s long history of great players. The linebacker after all still holds most of the Irish records in tackling including a career high 521 tackles, 187 in a single season and 26 in a single game! In 2006 he received the Butkus Silver Anniversary Award. Crable played seven seasons for the New York Jets as they picked him 23rd in the 1982 NFL Draft. Bob was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2017.
*************NUMBERS IN SPORTS*************
48 – 4 – 12 – 25 – 1 – 28 – 8 – 34
September 22, 1911 – Boston Rustlers’ future Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young beats Pittsburgh Pirates, 1-0 at Forbes Field for his final career victory, number 511
September 22, 1912 – Philadelphia second baseman Eddie Collins becomes only player in MLB history to steal 6 bases in one game for a second time as A’s beat St. Louis Browns, 8-2
September 22, 1925 – New York left fielder Ben Paschal hits 2 inside-the-park-home runs as the Yankees score an 11-6 home victory over Chicago White Sox
September 22, 1927 – New York Yankee Earle Combs hits 3 triples
September 22, 1954 – Brooklyn Dodger pitcher Karl Spooner, Number 48 struck out 15 New York Giants in his first MLB game
September 22, 1957 – Number 4, Duke Snider‘s 39th and 40th home runs of the season were last hit out of the legendary Ebbets Field. The longtime home of the Brooklyn Dodgers became irrelevant when the Dodgers moved at the end of the season to Los Angeles. In a post script, Ebbets Field was demolished in 1960 and replaced by the Ebbets Field Apartments, later renamed the Jackie Robinson Apartments.
September 22, 1961 – Baltimore Orioles Jim Gentile, Number 4 tied a record of 5 grand slams in a single season
September 22, 1968 – Minnesota Twins utility César Tovar, Number 12 pitched a hitless inning and played all 9 positions in a 2-1 win over Oakland A’s at Metropolitan Stadium
September 22, 1969 – San Francisco Giant, Number 25 Willie Mays, became just the second player in MLB history to hit 600 home runs
September 22, 1973 – Baltimore Oriole Al Bumbry, Number 1 hits 3 triples vs Milwaukee Brewers
September 22, 1977 – Minnesota Twin Bert Blyleven, Number 28 no-hits California Angels, 9-0
September 22, 1990 – Andre Dawson, Number 8 stole his 300th base and became the only player other than Willie Mays to have 300 HRs, 300 steals and 2,000 hits in his career.
September 22, 1993 – Number 34, Nolan Ryan, at age 46, pitched his final MLB game
*****************TV FRIDAY****************
AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALL (MEN’S)
5:30 a.m.
FS2 — AFL Playoffs: Greater Western Sydney at Collingwood, Preliminary Final
2:55 a.m. (Saturday)
FS1 — AFL Playoffs: Carlton at Brisbane, Preliminary Final
AUTO RACING
10:25 p.m.
ESPN2 — Formula 1: Practice, Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka, Japan
1:55 a.m. (Saturday)
ESPN2 — Formula 1: Qualifying, Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka, Japan
CFL FOOTBALL
7 p.m.
CBSSN — Saskatchewan at Ottawa
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
7 p.m.
FS1 — Wisconsin at Purdue
7:30 p.m.
ESPN — NC State at Virginia
10:30 p.m.
CBSSN — Boise St. at San Diego St.
FS1 — Air Force at San Jose St.
COLLEGE SOCCER (MEN’S)
5 p.m.
ESPNU — SMU at South Florida
6 p.m.
ACCN — Clemson at Wake Forest
8 p.m.
ACCN — Virginia at Notre Dame
COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL (WOMEN’S)
7 p.m.
BTN — Michigan St. at Michigan
SECN — South Carolina at Arkansas
9 p.m.
BTN — Ohio St. at Nebraska
10 p.m.
PAC-12N — Oregon St. at Oregon
FIBA BASKETBALL MEN’S)
3 a.m.
NBATV — FIBA Intercontinental Cup Group Stage: Franca vs. Ah Ahly, Group A, Kallang, Singapore
7 a.m.
NBATV — FIBA Intercontinental Cup Group Stage: Zhejiang Golden Bulls vs. Al Manama, Group B, Kallang, Singapore
3 a.m. (Saturday)
NBATV — FIBA Intercontinental Cup Group Stage: G League Ignite vs. Franca, Group A, Kallang, Singapore
GOLF
6 a.m.
GOLF — The Solheim Cup: Day 1, Club De Golf Finca, Andalusia, Spain
3 p.m. GOLF — Korn Ferry Tour: The Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship, Second Round, Ohio State University Scarlet Course, Columbus, Ohio