“THE SCOREBOARD”
****INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL WEEK 4 SCORES****
FRIDAY NIGHT
SATURDAY
COVINGTON (2-0) AT NORTH VERMILLION (1-1)
PARKE HERITAGE (1-1) AT SOUTH VERMILLION (1-1)
PHALEN ACADEMY (1-1) AT BOWMAN ACADEMY (0-1)
*******INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL REPORTED SCORES******
COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHRISTIAN 3 INDIANA CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 0
KOUTS 3 M TWP. 1
ELKHART CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 3 CLINTON CHRISTIAN 0
ANDERSON HOMESCHOOL 3 HERITAGE HALL CHRISTIAN 0
HAUSER 3 WALDRON 0
AUSTIN 3 CROTHERSVILLE 0
ILLIANA CHRISTIAN 3 VICTORY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 0
WESTVILLE 3 TRI-TOWNSHIP 0
BETHESDA CHRISTIAN 3 INDIANA DEAF 0
CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 3 WASHINGTON 0
BETHANY CHRISTIAN 3 LAKELAND CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 2
CASTLE 2 PLAINFIELD NORTH 0
CASTLE 2 CENTENNIAL 0
******INDIANA GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER REPORTED SCORES******
HERITAGE HILLS 10 SOUTHRIDGE 0
NORTHEAST DUBOIS 9 BLOOMFIELD 0
KOUTS 3 HEBRON 0
MORGAN TWP. 3 DEMOTTE CHRISTIAN 0
*******INDIANA BOYS HIGH SCHOOL REPORTED SOCCER SCORES*******
MATTHEWS CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 8 INDIANA CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 1
INDIANA CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 28 BAPTIST 0
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP 2 MICHIGAN CITY 1
JAC CEN DEL 3 RISING SUN 1
FAITH CHRISTIAN 7 N. WHITE 0
WAPAHANI 1 LIBERTY CHRISTIAN 1
IMSAN 4 RIVERSIDE 1
KENOSHA CHRISTIAN LIFE 3 SWCHA SAINTS 2
SUBURBAN CHRISTIAN 5 INDIANAPOLIS WIRES HOMESCHOOL 0
TABERNACLE CHRISTIAN 5 SEVEN OAKS CLASSICAL 0
CARMEL 3 COLUMBUS NORTH 1
*******INDIANA BOYS TENNIS REPORTED SCORES*******
*******INDIANA GIRLS GOLF REPORTED SCORES*******
*******INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY NEWS*******
READ MORE: https://in.milesplit.com/
*****WEEK 1 REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE*****
CAROLINA PANTHERS AT ATLANTA FALCONS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P FOX
HOUSTON TEXANS AT BALTIMORE RAVENS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P CBS
CINCINNATI BENGALS AT CLEVELAND BROWNS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P CBS
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P FOX
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS 12:00P (CT) 1:00P CBS
TENNESSEE TITANS AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 12:00P (CT) 1:00P CBS
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P FOX
ARIZONA CARDINALS AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P FOX
GREEN BAY PACKERS AT CHICAGO BEARS 3:25P (CT) 4:25P FOX
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS AT DENVER BRONCOS 2:25P (MT) 4:25P CBS
MIAMI DOLPHINS AT LOS ANGELES CHARGERS 1:25P (PT) 4:25P CBS
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 4:25P (ET) 4:25P CBS
LOS ANGELES RAMS AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 1:25P (PT) 4:25P FOX
DALLAS COWBOYS AT NEW YORK GIANTS 8:20P (ET) 8:20P NBC
BUFFALO BILLS AT NEW YORK JETS (MON) 8:15P (ET) 8:15P ESPN/ABC
****MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL****
MILWAUKEE 8 NY YANKEES 2
MINNESOTA 5 NY METS 2
SAN DIEGO 11 HOUSTON 2
CHICAGO WHITE SOX 6 DETROIT 0
TAMPA BAY 7 SEATTLE 4
TORONTO 5 KANSAS CITY 4
BALTIMORE 11 BOSTON 2
OAKLAND 6 TEXAS 3
CLEVELAND 6 LA ANGELS 3
ARIZONA 1 CHICAGO CUBS 0
ST. LOUIS 9 CINCINNATI 4
LA DODGERS 8 WASHINGTON 5
MIAMI 3 PHILADELPHIA 2
ATLANTA 8 PITTSBURGH 2
SAN FRANCISCO 9 COLORADO 8
****MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL****
INDIANAPOLIS 2 TOLEDO
SOUTH BEND 3 QUAD CITIES 1
FT. WAYNE 7 DAYTON 1
****WNBA SCOREBOARD****
CONNECTICUT 76 INDIANA 59
ATLANTA 80 WASHINGTON 75
CHICAGO 92 MINNESOTA 87
DALLAS 106 SEATTLE 91
LAS VEGAS 94 PHOENIX 73
****MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER****
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
*****COLLEGE FOOTBALL SCORES*****
WEEK 2 SCHEDULE
INDIANA 41 INDIANA STATE 7
KANSAS 34 ILLINOIS 23
SATURDAY, SEPT. 9
WAKE FOREST VS. VANDERBILT | 11 A.M. | ACC NETWORK
ARMY VS. DELAWARE STATE | 12 P.M. | CBSSN
COLORADO VS. NEBRASKA | 12 P.M. | FOX
GEORGIA VS. BALL STATE | 12 P.M. | SEC NETWORK
OHIO STATE VS. YOUNGSTOWN STATE | 12 P.M. | BIG TEN NETWORK
PENN STATE VS. DELAWARE | 12 P.M. | PEACOCK
VIRGINIA TECH VS. PURDUE | 12 P.M. | ESPN2
PURDUE COACH RYAN WALTERS MONDAY PRESSER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2hxUlzHUAQ
BAYLOR VS. UTAH | 12 P.M. | ESPN
NC STATE VS. NOTRE DAME | 12 P.M. | ABC
NOTRE DAME COACH MARCUS FREEMAN MONDAY PRESSER: https://fightingirish.com/nc-state-marcus-freeman-weekly-press-conference-9-4-23/
BOSTON COLLEGE VS. HOLY CROSS | 12 P.M. | ESPN+/ACCN+
VIRGINIA VS. JAMES MADISON | 12 P.M. | ESPNU
KANSAS STATE VS. TROY | 12 P.M. | FS1
GEORGETOWN VS. SACRED HEART | 12:30 P.M. | ESPN+
GEORGIA TECH VS. SOUTH CAROLINA STATE | 1 P.M. | ESPN+/ACCNX
PRESBYTERIAN VS. VIRGINIA LYNCHBURG | 1 P.M. | ESPN+
CENTRAL MICHIGAN VS. NEW HAMPSHIRE | 1:30 P.M. | ESPN+
BOWLING GREEN VS. EASTERN ILLINOIS | 2 P.M. | ESPN+
SOUTH DAKOTA VS. ST. THOMAS (MINN.) | 2 P.M. | ESPN+
CLEMSON VS. CHARLESTON SOUTHERN | 2:15 P.M. | ACC NETWORK
WESTERN CAROLINA VS. SAMFORD | 2:30 P.M. | ESPN+
KENTUCKY VS. EASTERN KENTUCKY | 3 P.M. | ESPN+/SECN+
BYU VS. SOUTHERN UTAH | 3 P.M. | ESPN+
THE CITADEL VS. CAMPBELL | 3 P.M. | ESPN+
IOWA STATE VS. IOWA | 3:30 P.M. | FOX
MIAMI (FLA.) VS. TEXAS A&M | 3:30 P.M. | ABC
MICHIGAN VS. UNLV | 3:30 P.M. | CBS
MICHIGAN STATE VS. RICHMOND | 3:30 P.M. | BIG TEN NETWORK
NORTHWESTERN VS. UTEP | 3:30 P.M. | BIG TEN NETWORK
TULANE VS. OLE MISS | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN2
UMASS VS. MIAMI (OHIO) | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN+
UTSA VS. TEXAS STATE | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN+
NAVY VS. WAGNER | 3:30 P.M. | CBSSN
NORTHERN ILLINOIS VS. SOUTHERN ILLINOIS | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN+
TOLEDO VS. TEXAS SOUTHERN | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN+
SYRACUSE VS. WESTERN MICHIGAN | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN+/ACCNX
NORTH DAKOTA STATE VS. MAINE | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN+
ARKANSAS VS. KENT STATE | 4 P.M. | SEC NETWORK
EAST CAROLINA VS. MARSHALL | 4 P.M. | ESPNU
WYOMING VS. PORTLAND STATE | 4 P.M. | MOUNTAIN WEST NETWORK
SAN JOSE STATE VS. CAL POLY | 4 P.M. | NBC SPORTS BAY AREA
WESTERN ILLINOIS VS. ILLINOIS STATE | 4 P.M. | ESPN+
NORTH DAKOTA VS. NORTHERN ARIZONA | 4 P.M. | ESPN+
NORTHERN COLORADO VS. UIW | 4 P.M. | ESPN+
WASHINGTON VS. TULSA | 5 P.M. | PAC-12 NETWORK
SOUTH ALABAMA VS. SE LOUISIANA | 5 P.M. | ESPN+
TENNESSEE VS. AUSTIN PEAY | 5 P.M. | ESPN+/SECN+
UNI VS. WEBER STATE | 5 P.M. | ESPN+
NORTH CAROLINA VS. APPALACHIAN STATE | 5:15 P.M. | ACC NETWORK
EAST TENNESSEE STATE VS. CARSON-NEWMAN | 5:30 P.M. | ESPN+
LIBERTY VS. NEW MEXICO STATE | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
OLD DOMINION VS. LOUISIANA | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
DUKE VS. LAFAYETTE | 6 P.M. | ESPN+/ACCNX
OKLAHOMA VS. SMU | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
WEST VIRGINIA VS. DUQUESNE | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
GEORGIA SOUTHERN VS. UAB | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
FLORIDA ATLANTIC VS. OHIO | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
AKRON VS. MORGAN STATE | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
BUFFALO VS. FORDHAM | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
BRYANT VS. LONG ISLAND | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
ROBERT MORRIS VS. ST. FRANCIS (PA) | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
BUCKNELL VS. VMI | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
GARDNER-WEBB VS. ELON | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
CHATTANOOGA VS. KENNESAW STATE | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL VS. NORTH TEXAS | 6:30 P.M. | ESPN+
PITT VS. CINCINNATI | 6:30 P.M. | CW NETWORK
ALABAMA VS. TEXAS | 7 P.M. | ESPN
COASTAL CAROLINA VS. JACKSONVILLE STATE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
GEORGIA STATE VS. UCONN | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
LOUISIANA TECH VS. NORTHWESTERN STATE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
MISSOURI VS. MIDDLE TENNESSEE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+/SECN+
WESTERN KENTUCKY VS. HOUSTON CHRISTIAN | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
TEXAS TECH VS. OREGON | 7 P.M. | FOX
BOISE STATE VS. UCF | 7 P.M. | FS1
RICE VS. HOUSTON | 7 P.M. | NFL NETWORK
SOUTH FLORIDA VS. FLORIDA A&M | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
ARKANSAS STATE VS. MEMPHIS | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
NEVADA VS. IDAHO | 7 P.M. | NSN/MOUNTAIN WEST NETWORK
STEPHEN F. AUSTIN VS. ALCORN STATE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
SOUTHERN VS. JACKSON STATE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
CENTRAL ARKANSAS VS. TEXAS COLLEGE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
TARLETON STATE VS. NORTH ALABAMA | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE VS. MONTANA STATE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
UT MARTIN VS. MISSOURI STATE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE VS. LINDENWOOD | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
DRAKE VS. NORTHWESTERN (IOWA) | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
MERCER VS. MOREHEAD STATE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
STETSON VS. WEBBER INTERNATIONAL | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
FLORIDA VS. MCNEESE | 7:30 P.M. | ESPNU
LSU VS. GRAMBLING | 7:30 P.M. | ESPN+/SECN+
MARYLAND VS. CHARLOTTE | 7:30 P.M. | NBC
MINNESOTA VS. EASTERN MICHIGAN | 7:30 P.M. | BIG TEN NETWORK
MISSISSIPPI STATE VS. ARIZONA | 7:30 P.M. | SEC NETWORK
RUTGERS VS. TEMPLE | 7:30 P.M. | BIG TEN NETWORK
SOUTH CAROLINA VS. FURMAN | 7:30 P.M. | ESPN+/SECN+
WASHINGTON STATE VS. WISCONSIN | 7:30 P.M. | ABC
SAN DIEGO STATE VS. UCLA | 7:30 P.M. | CBS
SAM HOUSTON VS. AIR FORCE (NRG STADIUM IN HOUSTON, TEXAS) | 8 P.M. | CBSSN
TCU VS. NICHOLLS | 8 P.M. | ESPN+
UL MONROE VS. LAMAR | 8 P.M. | ESPN+
NEW MEXICO VS. TENNESSEE TECH | 8 P.M. | MOUNTAIN WEST NETWORK
FLORIDA STATE VS. SOUTHERN MISS | 8:30 P.M. | ACC NETWORK
OREGON STATE VS. UC DAVIS | 9 P.M. | PAC-12 NETWORK
UTAH TECH VS. MONTANA | 9 P.M. | ESPN+
FRESNO STATE VS. EASTERN WASHINGTON | 9 P.M. | UNIMÁS/MOUNTAIN WEST NETWORK
SACRAMENTO STATE VS. TEXAS A&M-COMMERCE | 10 P.M. | ESPN+
USC VS. STANFORD | 10:30 P.M. | FOX
CAL VS. AUBURN | 10:30 P.M. | ESPN
ARIZONA STATE VS. OKLAHOMA STATE | 10:30 P.M. | FS1
HAWAI’I VS. ALBANY | 12 A.M. | SPECTRUM SPORTS PPV
TOP NATIONAL NEWS HEADLINES/PRESS RELEASES
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
MLB ROUNDUP: ORIOLES ROUT RED SOX FOR 6TH STRAIGHT WIN
Ryan O’Hearn and Adley Rutschman homered to help the visiting Baltimore Orioles extend their winning streak to six games with an 11-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Friday night.
Baltimore improved to 6-1 on its nine-game road trip. The Orioles (89-51) are 47-25 on the road this season, the best mark in the American League.
Gunnar Henderson had three hits for Baltimore, and Aaron Hicks had two hits and two RBIs. O’Hearn and Rutschman each contributed two hits and two runs, and Rutschman knocked in three.
Baltimore starter Kyle Bradish (11-6) struck out nine in six innings. He gave up two runs on four hits and didn’t walk a batter.
Connor Wong hit a solo home run for the Red Sox, who have lost three in a row. Boston (72-69) has lost its past five home games. Tanner Houck (4-9) allowed five runs on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings.
Diamondbacks 1, Cubs 0
Corbin Carroll hit a go-ahead RBI single in the eighth inning to back a complete-game shutout from Zac Gallen as the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the host Chicago Cubs.
Gallen (15-7) allowed just three hits while striking out nine. He walked one while pitching his second career shutout.
Carroll went 2-for-3 with a walk and three stolen bases for Arizona, which has taken the first two games of the four-game series.
Marlins 3, Phillies 2
Jesus Sanchez got a pinch-hit two-run homer, Jacob Stallings hit a solo homer and Miami rallied past host Philadelphia.
Bryan De La Cruz added two hits for the Marlins. Starter Eury Perez gave up four hits and two runs with four strikeouts and three walks in five innings. David Robertson (5-6) earned the win in relief, with Tanner Scott throwing a scoreless ninth inning for his sixth save in nine chances.
Trea Turner homered, singled, stole a base and scored two runs for the Phillies. Bryce Harper contributed an RBI single and two walks and Phillies starter Cristopher Sanchez tossed five shutout innings and allowed four hits with four strikeouts and one walk in a no-decision.
Rays 7, Mariners 4
Rene Pinto and Harold Ramirez each hit two-run home runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, and Tampa Bay rallied for a win over visiting Seattle in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Isaac Paredes homered and notched a pair of RBIs for Tampa Bay, which evened the four-game series at one win apiece.
Eugenio Suarez, Julio Rodriguez and Cal Raleigh each homered for Seattle. Rodriguez matched his career high with his 28th homer of the season, with Raleigh doing the same on his 27th of the year.
Dodgers 8, Nationals 5
Chris Taylor hit a two-run double to spark Los Angeles’ four-run sixth inning and the Dodgers went on to win at Washington. The game featured a 94-minute rain delay in the seventh inning.
J.D. Martinez, Max Muncy and Enrique Hernandez homered for the Dodgers. Freddie Freeman went 3-for-4 for Los Angeles, with his 53rd double setting a single-season franchise record. Reliever Alex Vesia (1-5) got the win after throwing 1 2/3 scoreless innings.
Keibert Ruiz and CJ Abrams hit home runs for the Nationals, who have lost seven of their past eight. Reliever Robert Garcia (0-2) surrendered two runs in two-thirds of an inning.
Brewers 8, Yankees 2
William Contreras hit a tiebreaking single in the seventh inning as Milwaukee put up six late runs to defeat host New York.
The NL Central-leading Brewers moved three games in front of the Chicago Cubs, who lost to the Arizona Diamondbacks 1-0 earlier Friday.
Two days after striking out looking for the game’s final out against Pittsburgh Pirates closer David Bednar to end a 5-4 loss, Contreras lined a base hit over New York’s drawn-in infield against Jonathan Loaisiga for a 3-2 lead. After stealing his fourth base this year, Contreras slid home headfirst on a base hit by Carlos Santana to make it 4-2.
Padres 11, Astros 2
Blake Snell extended his run of quality starts amid his Cy Young Award pursuit and visiting San Diego parlayed aggressive baserunning into an interleague victory over Houston.
Snell (13-9) allowed two runs on five hits and three walks with eight strikeouts over six innings while posting his sixth consecutive quality start. The 2018 American League Cy Young Award winner while with the Tampa Bay Rays, Snell has surrendered three earned runs or fewer in 20 consecutive starts, going 12-3 with a 1.40 ERA during that span.
Astros right-hander Hunter Brown (10-11) allowed six runs on six hits and two walks with five strikeouts over 4 1/3 innings. The Astros fell to 35-35 at Minute Maid Park with their 10th loss in their last 12 games there.
Cardinals 9, Reds 4
Willson Contreras belted a tape-measure, three-run homer and six relievers combined for 5 1/3 scoreless innings to lead visiting St. Louis past Cincinnati.
Matthew Liberatore (3-5) struck out three over 1 1/3 innings to earn the win. Nolan Arenado had three hits and scored twice for the Cardinals, who won for the fourth time in five games. The Cardinals scored three runs in the first and three more in the third off Cincinnati starter Andrew Abbott (8-5). All six runs came home thanks to rallies that started with two outs and no runners on base.
Hunter Renfroe hit his 20th homer, his first with the Reds, who finished 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position and stranded 12 runners. Cincinnati took its second consecutive defeat and lost ground in the race for the third and final National League wild card.
Braves 8, Pirates 2
Eddie Rosario homered and drove in three runs Friday to help Atlanta wallop visiting Pittsburgh.
Ronald Acuna Jr. also homered, his 35th, and added an RBI single, going 3-for-4. Travis d’Arnaud hit a two-run single and Orlando Arcia added an RBI single for the Braves. Atlanta starter Bryce Elder (12-4) allowed two runs and four hits in seven innings, with nine strikeouts and one walk. He is 4-0 over his past five starts.
Jack Suwinski hit his 24th homer for the Pirates, who have lost three of five. Pittsburgh starter Mitch Keller (11-9), who had made four quality starts in a row, allowed eight runs and a career-high 12 hits in five innings, with four strikeouts and no walks. He has never beaten the Braves, going 0-3 in five career starts with a 9.97 ERA.
Twins 5, Mets 2
Carlos Correa homered and doubled to lead Minnesota to victory over New York in the opening game of a three-game series in Minneapolis.
Royce Lewis went 2-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs and a run for Minnesota, which extended its American League Central lead to seven games over the Cleveland Guardians. Caleb Thielbar (3-1) pitched a scoreless inning of relief with two strikeouts to pick up the win. Jhoan Duran pitched the ninth to garner his 25th save.
Francisco Lindor’s ground-rule double drove in two runs and Pete Alonso also doubled and walked for New York. Sean Reid-Foley (0-1) took the loss after allowing three runs on two hits and a walk in two-thirds of an inning.
Blue Jays 5, Royals 4
Bo Bichette returned from the injured list and had two RBIs as Toronto defeated visiting Kansas City.
Bichette, who had been out with a right quad injury, had an RBI double to tie the game at 1-1 in the sixth and a game-tying RBI single in the Jays’ four-run seventh. Left-hander Yusei Kikuchi allowed one run, three hits and one walk while striking out eight in five innings for Toronto. Davis Schneider added two doubles for the Blue Jays.
Dairon Blanco hit a solo home run for the Royals as the teams opened a three-game series. Salvador Perez went 3-for-5 with an RBI for Kansas City.
A’s 6, Rangers 3
Shea Langeliers belted a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the sixth inning to lift Oakland over reeling Texas in Arlington, Texas.
Oakland’s Esteury Ruiz had a solo homer and an RBI single and Ryan Noda also drove in two runs. Zack Gelof, Aledmys Diaz and Ruiz each had two hits to send the Athletics to their fifth win in seven games.
Texas’ Corey Seager clubbed a two-run homer and Nathaniel Lowe added an RBI single for the Rangers, who have lost four in a row and 16 of their last 20 games. Rangers right fielder Evan Carter went 1-for-3 with a walk in his major league debut in replacing Adolis Garcia, who sustained a patellar tendon strain two days earlier.
White Sox 6, Tigers 0
Mike Clevinger bounced back from his worst outing of the season to throw seven shutout innings, Yoan Moncada homered for the third consecutive game and visiting Chicago blanked Detroit.
Clevinger (7-7) limited the Tigers to three hits, no walks and a hit batter while striking out seven. He surrendered eight runs and 12 hits in four innings against the Tigers in Chicago last Saturday. Moncada drove in three runs and Andrew Benintendi knocked in a pair for the White Sox, who have won two in a row after a five-game skid.
Detroit rookie starter Reese Olson (3-7) carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning before allowing Luis Robert Jr.’s one-out double. Two batters later, Olson gave up Moncada’s homer before he was removed after 6 2/3 innings and 104 pitches. He walked one and struck out five.
DODGERS PITCHER WALKER BUEHLER WON’T RETURN FROM TOMMY JOHN SURGERY IN 2023
WASHINGTON (AP) Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler will not return to the majors this season as he continues his recovery from Tommy John surgery.
Buehler, who had previously undergone elbow ligament replacement surgery in 2015, had aimed to return to the NL West-leading Dodgers this month.
“My goal since last year has been to return to a major league mound this season,” Buehler said Friday in a statement released by the team. “After many conversations with my doctor, the Dodgers’ front office, training staff and my family, we concluded that waiting until next season is the right course of action.”
The 29-year-old Buehler, a two-time All-Star who is 46-16 with 3.02 ERA in 115 career appearances, has not pitched in the majors since June 10, 2022.
The right-hander tossed two scoreless innings in a rehabilitation appearance Sunday for Triple-A Oklahoma City. It was his first outing since his Aug. 23, 2022, surgery.
“I am disappointed that I will not be able to help this team go after a title in the 2023 postseason, but I look forward to returning fully healthy in 2024 and bringing another World Series to LA,” Buehler said.
WORLD BASKETBALL NEWS
THERE WILL BE NO GOLD FOR THE USA AT THE BASKETBALL WORLD CUP, AFTER 113-111 LOSS TO GERMANY
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — There will be no gold medal for the U.S. at this World Cup. And for the second consecutive time in FIBA’s biggest tournament, there might not be any medal at all for the Americans.
Instead, it’s Germany on the cusp of a world title.
Andreas Obst scored 24 points, Franz Wagner added 22 and Germany scored more points than any team ever has against a USA Basketball team featuring NBA players — earning a 113-111 win in the World Cup semifinals on Friday night.
“This team is very worthy of winning a championship,” U.S. coach Steve Kerr said. “And we just didn’t get it done.”
No, it didn’t, and now questions will fly once again. USA Basketball has been talking for years about how the continuity of top international teams has closed what was once a sizable gap between the Americans and the rest of the world. The U.S. has won the last four Olympic titles, but now it’s two straight World Cups with no gold for the winningest program on the planet.
“Terrible,” U.S. guard and captain Jalen Brunson said. “Plain and simple.”
Germany — the last unbeaten team left in the tournament at 7-0 — will play Serbia on Sunday (8:40 a.m. EDT) for the World Cup title. Serbia beat Canada in the first semifinal, getting to its second World Cup final in the last three tournaments; it lost 129-92 to the U.S. in the 2014 championship game.
Canada will play the U.S. for bronze Sunday (4:40 a.m. EDT).
Obst hit the shot of the night, a 3-pointer with 1:15 left to put Germany up by four and just about snuff out a last-ditch U.S. rally. Germany led for 30 of the game’s 40 minutes, the U.S. led for about 4 1/2, and there was little question who was controlling play much of the way.
“It’s a special group,” Germany coach Gordie Herbert said after his team made the World Cup final for the first time. “The way we played, the way we played together, we stuck together when things got tough and we had players who made some huge plays. One more to go.”
The U.S., down by 10 midway through the fourth, nearly pulled off a comeback, getting within one point on two separate occasions in the final minutes. But the Americans never got the lead, and it was the Germans jumping and hugging as time expired.
“We knew the task at hand, and that was to go win,” U.S. guard Austin Reaves said. “And we didn’t do that.”
Anthony Edwards scored 23 points for the U.S. (5-2), which got 21 from Reaves, 17 from Mikal Bridges and 15 from Brunson. The Americans shot 58% — but let Germany shoot 58% as well, and that was the ultimate undoing.
“If you give up 113 points in a 40-minute game, you’re not going to win many of those,” Reaves said.
The previous high for points allowed by a U.S. men’s team in the Olympics or World Cup in the era when NBA players could be used — going back to 1992 — was 110. And that was earlier in this tournament, against Lithuania, which also was a U.S. loss. That loss didn’t doom the Americans’ gold-medal hopes. This one did.
“We weren’t ever able to make them feel us defensively,” Kerr said.
Germany had been 0-6 entering Friday against the Americans in World Cup or Olympic competition, usually getting blown out in those games.
Not this time. Once again, even bringing the only roster filled with all NBA players wasn’t enough for the U.S. at the World Cup. The Americans finished seventh at the 2019 World Cup in China; this finish — third or fourth — will technically be better, but nothing other than gold was going to be satisfactory for USA Basketball.
Daniel Theis had 21 points for Germany. Theis has scored 21 or more points six times in his NBA career — and picked Friday for one of the games of his life.
“Obviously, a historic win for Germany,” Franz Wagner said. “We’ve got one more to go.”
A 35-24 third quarter was basically the difference for Germany, which this time finished the job that it couldn’t pull off when meeting the Americans in Abu Dhabi for an exhibition earlier this summer. Germany led that game by 16 in the second half, then an 18-0 run by the Americans down the stretch led to a 99-91 U.S. win.
It needed similar heroics this time. They almost got there. Key word: almost. This time, Germany finished it off. And when it was over, Reaves couldn’t help but see Schroder — his former teammate with the Los Angeles Lakers — revel in a huge moment for German basketball.
“Tip your hat to him,” Reaves said. “I know how special this moment is for him.”
BIG 10 FOOTBALL WEEK 2
• All 14 Big Ten schools will be in action this weekend, highlighted by a pair of teams hosting non-conference opponents in their home openers: Northwestern and Ohio State.
• Four Big Ten teams appear in the AP Poll this week. Michigan leads the conference at No. 2, followed by No. 5 Ohio State, No. 7 Penn State and No. 19 Wisconsin. Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota are all receiving votes.
• Iowa travels to Ames to take on in-state rival Iowa State this Saturday for the 70th meeting of the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series. The Hawkeyes have won six of the last seven Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series matchups over Iowa State. Iowa has won the last five games in Ames dating back to 2013, including a 27-17 victory over the ninth-ranked Cyclones in 2021. The five wins have come by an average of 6.8 points and two of the victories have been by three points or less. A win would give head coach Kirk Ferentz his 200th career victory, becoming just the 24 Division I coach to reach the 200-win mark.
• Michigan scored on five straight drives against East Carolina, with four of them being touchdowns, as J.J. McCarthy had his best performance in the Big House, throwing for 280 yards and three touchdowns. He completed 86.7% of his throws, which was the second highest in a single game in Michigan history, trailing only Elvis Grbac’s 20-for-22 performance against Notre Dame in 1991. The Wolverines are building on a 16-game home winning streak dating back to 2021. It is the longest home winning streak under head coach Jim Harbaugh and the program’s best since a 16-game streak from 2002-05 under coach Lloyd Carr.
• Ohio State defeated Indiana 23-3 on Saturday, marking the Buckeyes’ 28th consecutive victory over Indiana in the series, the longest winning streak in a series in the nation. The win was also the 16th consecutive for Ohio State in a season-opening game against a Big Ten Conference opponent, improving to 16-0 in such games.
• Minnesota’s Dragan Kesich kicked the game-winning 47-yard field goal with zero time remaining on the clock to break a 10-10 tie and lift the Gophers to a three-point victory against Nebraska. It was his second field goal of the game, as he opened the scoring for Minnesota with a 34-yard field goal in the second quarter. Kesich’s game-winner was Minnesota’s first walk-off field goal in regulation since 2003 when Rhys Lloyd kicked a last-second field goal to beat Wisconsin.
• Wisconsin’s Chez Mellusi ran for 157 yards and two touchdowns, Braelon Allen added 141 yards and two more scores and the Badgers started the first season of Luke Fickell’s coaching tenure with a 38-17 victory over Buffalo on Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium. The Badgers have won 27 of their last 28 home openers and 48 of their last 50 non-conference home games overall, with their only losses coming in 2018 against BYU and last year against Washington State. It was the first sellout for a season opener at Camp Randall Stadium since 2009.
• Michigan and Purdue will look to repeat as division champions this season, as the Wolverines finished 9-0 to win the East Division and the Boilermakers finished atop the West Division standings at 6-3 in conference play.
• The 2023 campaign will feature 99 All-Big Ten honorees (first-, second-, third-team or honorable mention) selected by either the coaches or the media last season, with Ohio State leading the way with 16 all-conference returnees. The East Division welcomes back 56 all-conference players, while the West returns 43. Illinois is the only West team with double-digit all-conference returnees with 10, while each team has at least one All-Big Ten performer returning.
• The Big Ten finished last season with three teams ranked in the AP Top 25, tying for the third-most of any conference. All three teams finished in the Top 10, marking the second straight year that the conference had three top 10 teams at the end of the season. The 2023 AP Preseason Poll also featured five Big Ten teams in No. 2 Michigan, No. 3 Ohio State, No. 7 Penn State, No. 19 Wisconsin, and No. 25 Iowa, while Illinois and Minnesota are both receiving votes.
• Last season, the Big Ten posted the fifth-highest single-season attendance total in conference history with 6,333,196 fans attending home games. Excluding 2020, this marked the ninth consecutive season and 10th time in 11 seasons that more than six million fans have attended Big Ten home football games.
• This season’s Playoff Semifinals will take place Monday, January 1, 2024, at the Allstate Sugar Bowl and the Rose Bowl. Houston will host the College Football Playoff National Championship on Monday, January 8, 2024, at NRG Stadium. The College Football Playoff matches the No. 1 ranked team vs. No. 4, and No. 2 vs. No. 3 in semifinal games that rotate annually among six bowl games – the Goodyear Cotton Bowl, Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Capital One Orange Bowl, Allstate Sugar Bowl and Rose Bowl Game.
GAME OF THE WEEK: TEXAS AT ALABAMA
TEXAS NOTES
THE OPENING KICKOFF • The University of Texas continues its 131st season of football on Saturday when the Longhorns face No. 4/3 Alabama for the 11th all-time meeting. • Texas will travel to Tuscaloosa, Ala. for the second time in series history and first time since the first-ever game between the programs in 1902. • Last week, Texas (1-0) topped Rice at home, 37-10, in the 97th meeting between the two programs. • Alabama (1-0) heads into Saturday’s game after defeating Middle Tennessee State at home, 56-7. • Texas will play on the road at an AP Top-5 opponent for the first time since 2017 (USC). • The Longhorns are 9-12 all-time in true road games versus AP Top-5 opponents. • UT is 96-83-4 all-time in AP Top-25 matchups. • Texas currently boasts 937 all-time wins, the fifth-most in college football history. UT holds an all-time record of 937-390-33 (.701). SERIES HISTORY VS. ALABAMA • Texas holds a 7-2-1 advantage over Alabama in the all-time series and will face the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa for the first time since 1902. • Texas and Alabama will play just the fifth regular-season game in series history. The last three games took place in Austin (1915, 1922, 2022), with the first-ever meeting taking place in Alabama in 1902. • Texas (No. 11) and Alabama (No. 4) will meet as AP ranked opponents for the first time since the 2010 BCS Championship game and the seventh time overall. UT holds a 4-1-1 mark in the previous six games. • The Longhorns and Crimson Tide will meet in consecutive years for the first time in series history. • Of the 10 previous games between the Horns and Tide, six were held in the Lone Star State with Texas holding a 4-1-1 advantage.
ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE SCOUTING REPORT • Nick Saban is in his 17th season as head coach of the Crimson Tide, having won six national championships and eight Southeast Conference titles. • The Crimson Tide returned 11 starters and 48 letterwinners from the 2022 team that went 11-2 (6-2 SEC) and defeated Kansas State in the All State Sugar Bowl, 45-20. • Alabama’s offense returns five starters, including three offensive linemen and two wide receivers: center Seth McLaughlin, guard Darrian Dalcourt and right tackle JC Latham and wide receivers Jermaine Burton (40 catches, 677 yards) and Ja’Corey Books (39 catches, 674 yards). • On defense, six starters return in a group that includes linebacker Dallas Turner, defensive backs Kool-Aid McKinstry and Terrion Arnold, defensive linemen Jaheim Oatis and Tim Smith and defensive end Justin Eboigbe, who missed the 2022 season due to injury. • The special teams is led by fifth-year kicker Will Reichard, while punter James Burnip and long snapper Kneeland Hibbett return for their third seasons. • Four Alabama players earned first team Preseason All-SEC honors from the conference’s media members: OL JC Latham, LB Dallas Turner, DB Kool-Aid McKinstry and PK Will Reichard. A TEXAS WIN WOULD … • Be Texas’ 938th victory all-time, the fifth winningest program in college football history. • Give Steve Sarkisian his 61st victory as a head coach and 15th at Texas in his 108th career game as a head coach. • Improve Texas’ record against Alabama to 8-2-1 all-time. • Improve the Longhorns’ recorded against current SEC programs to 192-94-9.
ALABAMA NOTES
INSIDE THE SERIES Overall: 11th meeting (Alabama trails, 2-7-1) In Tuscaloosa: Alabama trails, 0-1 Current Streak: Alabama, Won 2 Last Meeting: Sept. 10, 2022 – Austin (W, 20-19) Series Notes: Alabama and Texas will meet for the 11th time in series history and just the second time ever in Tuscaloosa when the two teams square off on Saturday evening at Bryant Denny Stadium. The Longhorns hold a 7-2-1 advantage in the series with both losses coming in the previous two meetings between the storied programs. This Saturday’s contest will be Texas’ fi rst trip to Tuscaloosa since 1902. Alabama head coach Nick Saban is 2-1 for his career against Texas, including a 2-0 mark while with the Crimson Tide. Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian is 0-1 against UA with the lone matchup coming last year in Austin, a 20-19 loss for UT.
ESPN COLLEGE GAMEDAY: Alabama will be making its 55th appearance overall (35-19, .648) on ESPN’s College GameDay when the popular pregame show airs from The Quad in Tuscaloosa this Saturday. The University will be hosting GameDay for the 17th time in the show’s history. Saturday also marks Alabama’s 46th appearance under head coach Nick Saban (32-13, .711). The 46 appearances in the Saban era are eight better than Ohio State (38) for the most GameDay appearances since the 2007 season.
SABAN vs. FORMER ASSISTANTS: Alabama head coach Nick Saban is 28-2 all-time against his former staffers during his tenure at the Capstone. The Crimson Tide head coach’s most wins against a former assistant is fi ve, which have come against Jimbo Fisher (5-1). Saban will meet for Steve Sarkisian for the second time since the former Tide offensive coordinator left Tuscaloosa for Austin. Alabama and Saban are also scheduled to meet with Lane Kiffi n (Ole Miss) and Jimbo Fisher (Texas A&M) later this season. THE FRIENDLY CONFINES OF BRYANT-DENNY STADIUM: Alabama boasts the best all-time home winning percentage in the FBS with an .841 (292-54-3) mark at Bryant-Denny Stadium since its opening in 1929. Boise State’s Albertsons Stadium (282-62), which opened in 1970, is second at .820, while Oklahoma’s Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (419-89-15), which debuted in 1923, ranks third at .816. The Crimson Tide is 104-8 (.929) at Bryant-Denny Stadium during Nick Saban’s tenure, including a 100-5 (.952) record since the 2008 season.
SABAN vs. NON-CONFERENCE FOES: Alabama head coach Nick Saban owns a 104-20 (.839) career record against non-conference opponents in the regular season and postseason across his four stops as a collegiate head coach. His record against non-conference opponents in both the regular season and postseason at the Capstone is 73-7 (.913). Saban has only two losses to non-conference opponents during the regular season, both of which came in 2007 (21-14 vs. Florida State [in Jacksonville] and 21-14 vs. ULM). Under his direction, the Crimson Tide currently holds a 57-game winning streak against non-conference foes in the regular season, including a 43-game winning streak at Bryant-Denny Stadium as part of a 45-1 mark at home. ALABAMA IN THE AP POLL: Alabama’s No. 4 ranking in the preseason release of the Associated Press Poll marked the 246th consecutive week that the Crimson Tide has appeared in the poll. That streak is the longest active streak in college football. The 246 weeks more than doubles second-place Georgia with the Bulldogs appearing in the poll for 99 consecutive weeks. Alabama’s 246 straight weeks tops the Crimson Tide’s previous program-long streak of 71 consecutive weeks under head coach Gene Stallings in the mid-1990s. SABAN vs. AP TOP 25 OPPOSITION: The Crimson Tide’s 45-20 win over then-No. 11 Kansas State in the Allstate Sugar Bowl on Dec. 31 was Nick Saban’s 100th career win, and 78th at Alabama, against the Associated Press Top 25. Saban moved past Joe Paterno (86) for the most career wins against the AP Top 25 when he defeated then-No. 22 Auburn on Nov. 28, 2020. The late Florida State legend Bobby Bowden ranks third all-time (82), while Alabama’s Paul “Bear” Bryant is fourth (66). Former Duke, Florida and South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier is fifth (64). Saban’s winning percentage against AP ranked teams (100-46, .685) tops Bryant (.592), Bowden (.557), Spurrier (.529) and Paterno (.512).
NFL NEWS
NFL KICKOFF WEEKEND FEATURES 3 STARTING ROOKIE QBS. ONLY ONCE HAS THERE BEEN MORE TO OPEN A SEASON
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Bryce Young is ready to roll in Carolina.
C.J. Stroud is set to let it fly with Houston, while Anthony Richardson will get his shot right away in Indianapolis.
The 2023 NFL season begins with three rookie quarterbacks — all taken among the first four picks in the draft — starting the season opener. That’s tied for second most since the merger in 1970, and was bettered only in 2012 when five rookie QBs got the starting nod in Week 1.
Young, Stroud and Richardson are part of a growing NFL trend of rookie QBs being thrown into the fire right away.
In the 1980s, only five rookies throughout the decade got the start in Week 1. Same for the 1990s. That number nearly doubled to nine for the whole of the 2000s, then jumped to 18 rookie QB starters opening a season over the previous decade.
Already this decade, seven rookie QBs will have been pressed into starting duty from the beginning.
“When you draft these kids, you want to get them out there,” Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer said.
Fitterer said today’s “year-round” quarterbacks are better prepared coming into the NFL because they’ve had extensive offseason work and quality coaching at the college level. He also said many NFL teams are no longer in a position where they can afford to wait to see a return on their financial investment.
The Panthers, for instance, gave up four draft picks to move up eight spots to get Young at No. 1 and then handed the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner a four-year, fully guaranteed contract worth nearly $38 million. “Fully guaranteed” are the key words.
Panthers coach Frank Reich said it was an easy decision to start Young right away.
“In this salary cap era we’re in, you want to get that quarterback going and you want to make some progress while he is on his first contract,” Reich said. “There is nothing like experience.”
It hasn’t always been that way for NFL teams.
When Reich first came to Carolina as a quarterback in 1995 at the tail end of his playing career, he started the first four games for the expansion Panthers ahead of Kerry Collins, the No. 5 overall pick that year.
Eli Manning was the No. 1 overall pick in 2004, yet he didn’t break into the starting lineup for the New York Giants until the 10th game of his rookie season. He spent the better part of that year holding the clipboard for veteran Kurt Warner before eventually going on to win two Super Bowls as the starter.
“The NFL game and the offenses and the schemes are pretty similar to what guys are running in college,” Manning said of the reason more rookies QBs are starting right away. “Twenty years ago, the NFL and college were two different ball games. The defenses with the schemes, the offense with the play calls you had to make, there was just a little bit more of a learning curve.”
Manning said the high school and college games have matured to the point where quarterbacks are more prepared to play when they turn pro.
Starting right away doesn’t necessarily translate into immediate success for rookie QBs — either in Week 1 or their first season.
Rookie QBs are a combined 17-32-1 in Week 1 games since 1970, and only 13 of them have gone on to reach the playoffs in their first season. None have won a Super Bowl.
In 2012, Indianapolis’ Andrew Luck, Washington’s Robert Griffin III and Seattle’s Russell Wilson all reached the postseason, but in the past 10 seasons seasons only the Dallas Cowboys with Dak Prescott in 2016 and New England Patriots with Mac Jones in 2021 have made the playoffs.
Colts first-year head coach Shane Steichen said the hardest part about starting a rookie like Richardson is not knowing what to expect when they step on the field.
“You’re going to get some looks that you probably haven’t seen on tape,” Steichen said. “You’re going against new bodies, new personnel. I think a lot of those guys that have played in the league for a long time, they’ve went against a lot of these guys and seen a lot of different looks. I think that’s the biggest thing – just understanding what you’re going up against and being ready for the unknown.”
Young and Stroud will open the season on the road as the Panthers travel to Atlanta and the Texans visit Baltimore on Sunday. Richardson and the Colts are home against Jacksonville.
Stroud acknowledged that being the Week 1 starter “isn’t the easiest thing to do,” but said said he’s confident knowing his coaching staff has faith in him.
Patience will be key for all the coaches.
Reich, for one, knows that heading into the season, Young will become only the 12th No. 1 overall pick at QB to start in Week 1. Of the previous 11, only David Carr came away victorious, leading the then-expansion Texans over the Cowboys in 2002.
The previous 11 combined to throw 16 TDs and 22 interceptions in Week 1 games.
But the Panthers, like the Texans and Colts, have their eye on the long-term future.
“Obviously, we think very highly of him, but this isn’t going to be a cake walk,” Reich said of Young. “This is going to be fight and scratch every step of the way.”
Said Young: “ I’m super excited and it’s definitely a blessing, but it’s a results-based business.”
The Panthers could easily have begun the season with Andy Dalton at quarterback and brought Young along slowly, similar to what the Green Bay Packers have done with Jordan Love.
But Reich said Young “gives us the best chance to win.”
“There’s nothing like jumping right into the fire,” Fitterer said with a smile.
EAGLES STAR EDGE RUSHER HAASON REDDICK SET TO GO AFTER THUMB SURGERY LAST MONTH
Haason Reddick hasn’t missed a game in his first six seasons, so the Pro Bowl edge rusher won’t let thumb surgery keep him off the field.
Reddick will line up Sunday and go after Mac Jones when the Philadelphia Eagles visit the New England Patriots. The second-team All-Pro is aiming to build off a season in which he had a career-high 16 sacks plus 3 1/2 more in the playoffs.
“I remember when I first came into the league listening to some of the older guys saying that availability is a skill,” Reddick said on the AP Pro Football Podcast. “The ability to be able to be on a football field because of what kind of sport it is, how many people get injured, the ability to be on the field is a skill. So that’s something that I take pride in.”
Reddick specializes in making life miserable for opposing quarterbacks. He’s had at least 11 sacks in each of the last three seasons after totaling just 8 1/2 in his first three in Arizona, which selected him in the first round of the 2017 draft.
Reddick, who played at Temple and grew up in southern New Jersey just outside Philadelphia, flourished in his first season with his hometown team. Reddick was part of a defense that had 70 sacks, including four players in double digits.
That stingy defense plus an explosive offense led by Jalen Hurts helped the Eagles reach the Super Bowl.
“To have the type of year that we had my first year back home, the energy, the love, the excitement, the whole atmosphere of the city, it was beyond whatever I could imagine,” Reddick said. “It’s going to be hard (to follow it up) but I’m someone who takes pride in continuing progress where I continue to raise the bar and raise the ladder.”
Despite losing defensive tackle Javon Hargrave in free agency, the Eagles still have a star-studded defensive line. Ends Brandon Graham and Josh Sweat each had 11 sacks last year. Tackle Fletcher Cox is a six-time Pro Bowl pick. Jordan Davis and rookie Jalen Carter — back-to-back first-round picks from Georgia — are being counted on to help fill Hargrave’s void. Georgia first-round pick rookie Nolan Smith and Derek Barnett make it a deep unit.
They all get to sharpen their skills going against Philadelphia’s offensive line that features All-Pros Jason Kelce and Lane Johnson plus Pro Bowler Landon Dickerson and Jordan Mailata.
“We’re seeing the best offensive line,” Reddick said. “It might sound like a cliche to say iron sharpens iron, but we’re going out there, we’re pushing each other.”
Reddick has lofty goals for himself and the team. From coach Nick Sirianni, Hurts on down the roster, players are focused on getting back to the Super Bowl and winning it. From a personal perspective, Reddick isn’t shy about stating his intentions.
“My father, he always told me, ‘If you want to do anything in life, try to be the best at it,’” Reddick said. “I play football. I want to be one of the best in my position, one of the most decorated players. I’m here to set a legacy.”
Part of building that legacy includes community service. Reddick is passionate about giving back. He’s among the defensive players who have partnered with Campbell’s on their “Chunky Sacks Hunger” program. Reddick’s mom worked at the Campbell’s headquarters in Camden, New Jersey, and was quite familiar with the soup commercials former Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb and his mom starred in during the 2000s.
“Just to have a connection to their brand, understand what the brand is and the things that they’re trying to do, it was very important,” Reddick said.
DAMAR HAMLIN IS READY TO COMPLETE HIS COMEBACK AS HE PREPARES FOR BILLS OPENER ON MONDAY NIGHT
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Where Damar Hamlin once wondered if life would ever be the same again during his quest to resume his football career following a near-death experience, the Buffalo Bills safety caught a glimpse of what his new normal might be this week.
On Labor Day, Hamlin visited a riverside park in Buffalo to hold a camp for children, where he joined them in playing football, bought them lunch and haircuts, handed out backpacks and promoted CPR training.
And coming up on Monday night, he’ll be at a much larger venue in the Meadowlands, where Hamlin will have the opportunity to make his comeback complete when the Bills open their season facing the New York Jets.
“Yes sir. This is the entirety of it. This is a big, big, big big piece of the new normal,” Hamlin said Monday in his first public appearance since making the Bills’ 53-player roster.
“You can never take it for granted because, you know, the NFL, they say it stands for Not For Long,” he added. “So to be able to go through my situation and then be able to come back and still show that I can still do it is super big.”
As for what it will feel like to be on the field on Monday night, Hamlin kept his feelings to himself as he declined interview requests later in the week.
There is a degree of symmetry to Hamlin’s return.
The story started with the unsettling sight of the 25-year-old going into cardiac arrest and requiring resuscitation on the field during a game in Cincinnati in front of a “Monday Night Football” audience on Jan. 2. And his celebrated return to play — however many snaps he’ll get, if any, in a backup role — will occur before yet another prime-time national audience.
“Just incredible, amazing, all the words, adjectives you’d use to describe something as unique as what he’s been through,” coach Sean McDermott said. “I’m extremely proud of Damar and the work he’s put in. Incredible journey to get back to where he is.”
It’s a journey that’s taken Hamlin from waking up from a medically induced coma in a Cincinnati hospital two days after he collapsed following what appeared to be a routine tackle, to swallowing any feelings of trepidation by putting on his pads and making one tackle after another — nine in total — during three preseason games.
Listed as the fourth safety on Buffalo’s depth chart, Hamlin’s playing time is expected to be limited to mostly special teams roles barring injuries to starters Jordan Poyer or Micah Hyde.
Against Cincinnati, Hamlin was starting in place of an injured Hyde when his heart stopped as a result of commotio cordis, which is when a direct blow at a specific point in a heartbeat causes cardiac arrest. Doctors have assured Hamlin he can resume playing without any fear of setbacks or complications.
Hamlin’s life is forever changed. His mission to play football will now be shared with a desire to make a positive change in children’s lives thanks to the raised platform he’s gained and some $10 million in donations made to his charitable foundation, Chasing M’s.
“Every time he steps out on the field, I think he gives you a little bit of motivation,” Poyer said. “I know it gives me a little juice.”
Hamlin’s been an inspiration for American Heart Association account director Jennifer Pratt as well. She referred to “The Hamlin Affect” that the player has had in raising awareness for CPR training and donating automated external defibrillators to school and community athletic programs around the country.
“Devastatingly, of the 350,000 people who have a cardiac arrest outside of the hospital each year, only one in 10 survive,” Pratt said. “Together, with Damar as our national ambassador, we truly are building a nation of life-savers.”
Hamlin knows he’s among the fortunate few by having collapsed during an NFL game and received treatment almost immediately from a team of doctors, trainers and first responders.
“As my story shows, we all know that CPR saves lives, and it comes down to somewhere, some day, somebody is going to need help,” Hamlin told the crowd attending his charitable event. “To the people that came out to learn CPR today, you could be that person. You could be that person that has me here today standing in front of you once again.”
BROCK PURDY’S WILD NFL RIDE LEADS TO A WEEK 1 START AT QB FOR 49ERS
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Brock Purdy has been on quite a ride since entering the NFL as the final pick of the 2022 draft.
Purdy worked his way onto the San Francisco 49ers’ roster as a rookie, then went on a storybook late-season run when forced into action by injuries only to sustain a serious injury to his throwing elbow in the NFC championship game.
Now after a grueling offseason of rehabilitation and building back his arm strength, Purdy is set to start his second season in the NFL as the starting quarterback for one of the Super Bowl favorites.
“Honestly, there’s some moments where I’m able to sort of step back and be thankful for everything and whatnot, but at the same time it’s like, man, there’s a lot in front of me that I’m trying to handle and prepare for,” Purdy said Thursday. “Obviously with this game coming up and then really this whole offseason it’s been about my arm, getting it right, getting healthy, so I’m … not trying to get caught up in too much other stuff. But for me I want to win, I want to play football, and I love the game and that’s where I’m at with my life.”
Purdy did a good job of winning after stepping into the starting quarterback role for San Francisco after Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo both went down with season-ending injuries.
Purdy led the Niners to a win in relief of Garoppolo in Week 13 against Miami and then five more to end the regular season and two in the playoffs.
Purdy threw for 1,374 yards with 13 touchdowns and only four interceptions in the regular season and his 108 passer rating in the regular season and playoffs was the highest ever for a rookie with at least 200 passes.
But the magical ride came to a crushing end on San Francisco’s first drive of the NFC championship game against Philadelphia when Purdy was hit hard on his right elbow, leading to a torn ligament.
Purdy came back into that game in the second but couldn’t throw the ball past the line of scrimmage and then underwent surgery in March.
He began throwing in late May and was cleared to practice at the start of training camp in late July. The Niners eased his load a bit during training camp but he is back to full health to start the season.
“It wasn’t just me. I had a lot of help and I’m very thankful for everyone that played a part in that,” he said. “It was somewhat of a long six months, but at the same time, it’s like, man, it felt like that Eagles game was just yesterday. So here we are getting ready for game one and I’m really excited about it.”
When Purdy was forced into the starting role last December, his veteran teammates expressed supreme confidence in him based on his play at practice and the way he carried himself.
Purdy has shown strong leadership qualities even on a team with so many accomplished veterans and was rewarded this week when he was voted as one of the team’s six captains.
“It just shows you how guys respect him and how he is a natural-born leader. Guys noticed that,” All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams said. “To me, that’s a huge notch on his belt to have the respect of your teammates. It’s not like he’s been the day one starter. It’s not like they handed him the keys to the car last year. For him to be able to start where he did last year around this time and to be 12 months later to be a captain of the team and starting quarterback, I think it just says multitudes about him and his love for the game and his ability to lead guys.”
BENGALS QB JOE BURROW WILL START AGAINST BROWNS
Cincinnati Bengals star Joe Burrow’s big week will continue Sunday when he starts against the Cleveland Browns.
Head coach Zac Taylor confirmed Friday that the recently crowned highest-paid player in NFL history will be under center after recovering from a calf injury.
Burrow, 26, was a full participant in practices on Wednesday and Thursday after missing the entire preseason.
On Thursday, the fourth-year quarterback reportedly agreed to a five-year, $275 million contract extension that includes $219 million in guarantees. The average annual value of $55 million eclipses the league’s previous high-water mark established by Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert at $52.5 million.
Since being drafted No. 1 overall in 2020, Burrow has guided the Bengals to two AFC Championship games and an appearance in Super Bowl LVI.
The 2022 Pro Bowl selection has thrown for 11,774 yards, 82 touchdowns and 31 interceptions in 42 career starts (24-17-1 record).
Burrow is just 1-4 against Cleveland, Sunday’s season-opening opponent.
WEEK ONE NFL GAME NOTES
CAROLINA AT ATLANTA
DATE: Sunday, September 10, 2023 GAME TIME: 1:00 PM ET FOX: Chris Myers, Robert Smith, Jen Hale SiriusXM (also available on the SXM App) CAR: 133 or 383 ATL: 111 or 225
PANTHERS NOTES: QB BRYCE YOUNG was selected No. 1 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. Can become 3rd Car. rookie QB to start in Week 1 (Cam Newton – 2011; Chris Weinke – 2001). Can become 5th rookie QB selected No. 1 overall since 1967 to win 1st-career start. • RB MILES SANDERS had career highs in rush yards (1,269) & rush TDs (11) with Phi. in 2022. Had 113 scrimmage yards (74 rush, 39 rec.) in his last game vs. Atl. (9/12/21 w/ Phi.). • WR ADAM THIELEN had 534 receptions for 6,682 yards & 55 rec. TDs in 9 seasons with Min., 4th-most rec. TDs by undrafted player since 1967. Had 70 catches for 716 yards & 6 rec. TDs in 2022 & became 3rd undrafted player since 1967 (Antonio Gates & Rod Smith) with 5+ rec. TDs in 6 different seasons. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. Atl. with rec. TD. • TE HAYDEN HURST had 52 catches for 414 yards & 2 rec. TDs in 2022 with Cin. Had 82 catches for 792 yards & 9 rec. TDs in 29 games with Atl. (2020-21). • LB BRIAN BURNS led team & set career highs with 12.5 sacks & 17 TFL in 2022. Is 1 of 5 with 7.5 sacks in each of past 4 seasons. • LB FRANKIE LUVU had career highs in tackles (111), TFL (19), sacks (7) & PD (4) in 2022, tied-2nd most TFL in NFL last season. Has 3.5 sacks & 5 TFL in 3 career games vs. Atl. • LB JUSTIN HOUSTON ranks 4th among active players with 111.5 sacks. Had 9.5 sacks with Bal. in 2022. • LB SHAQ THOMPSON led team with career-high 135 tackles in 2022, his 4th-straight 100+ tackle season. • DT DERRICK BROWN ranked 2nd among NFC DL with careerhigh 67 tackles in 2022. Aims for his 4th in row vs. Atl. with TFL. • S VONN BELL had career-high 4 INTs with Cin. in 2022. Is 1 of 2 DBs (Harrison Smith) with 75+ tackles in each of past 7 seasons.
ATLANTA NOTES: ATLANTA ranked 3rd with 2,718 rush yards in 2022, 2nd-most rush yards in single season in team history (2,939 in 2006). • QB DESMOND RIDDER passed for 708 yards & 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 86.4 rating in 4 starts in 2022 & became 4th rookie QB ever with 0 INTs in each of his 1st 4 career starts. Has 90+ rating in each of 1st 2 career home starts. • RB BIJAN ROBINSON was selected No. 8 overall in 2023 NFL Draft, 2nd-highest drafted RB in team history. • RB TYLER ALLGEIER had franchise rookie record 1,035 rush yards in 2022. Had 50+ scrimmage yards in all home games last season. Had only career TD catch in last home meeting. • RB CORDARRELLE PATTERSON had career highs in rush yards (695) & rush TDs (8) in 2022. Has NFL-record 9 KR-TDs. • WR DRAKE LONDON had franchise rookie record 72 receptions for 866 yards & 4 rec. TDs in 2022. Had TD catch in last meeting (11/10/22). • TE KYLE PITTS had 28 catches for 356 yards & 2 rec. TDs last season. Had 5 receptions for 80 yards & TD in last home meeting. • DL CALAIS CAMPBELL makes Atl. debut. Leads active players with 165 career TFL & ranks 6th with 99 career sacks. • DL GRADY JARRETT led team with 6 sacks & 12 TFL in 2022, his 3rd-career season with 10+ TFL. Has 4 TFL in his past 4 at home vs. Car. • CB A.J. TERRELL led team with 9 PD last season. • S JESSIE BATES makes Atl. debut. Had career high 4 INTs with Cin. in 2022 & has 3+ INTs in 4 of his 5 career seasons. Ranks 2nd among DBs with 477 tackles since 2018. • S RICHIE GRANT led NFC & ranked 3rd among DBs with career high 122 tackles in 2022.
HOUSTON AT BALTIMORE
DATE: Sunday, September 10, 2023
GAME TIME: 1:00 PM ET
CBS: Spero Dedes, Adam Archuleta, Aditi Kinkhabwala
SiriusXM (also available on the SXM App) HOU: 109 or 387 BAL: 104 or 227
HOUSTON NOTES: QB C.J. STROUD was selected No. 2 overall in 2023 NFL Draft. Can become 2nd rookie QB in franchise history to start Week 1 game, joining David Carr (2002). • RB DAMEON PIERCE ranked 4th among rookies last seaon with 1,104 scrimmage yards (939 rush, 165 rec.), becoming 3rd rookie in franchise history with 1,000+ scrimmage yards. • RB DEVIN SINGLETARY makes Hou. debut. Had career-high 1,099 scrimmage yards (819 rush, 280 rec.) with Buf. in 2022 & is 1 of 9 RBs with 950+ scrimmage yards in each of past 4 seasons. • WR ROBERT WOODS makes Hou. debut. Had 527 rec. yards with Ten. in 2022 & is 1 of 2 players (DeAndre Hopkins) with 500+ rec. yards in each of past 10 seasons. Has 80+ rec. yards in 2 of 3 career games vs. Bal. • WR JOHN METCHIE makes NFL debut after being selected in 2nd round (No. 44 overall) of 2022 NFL Draft. • WR NICO COLLINS set career highs in catches (37) & rec. yards (481) last season. • TE DALTON SCHULTZ makes Hou. debut. Has recorded 55+ catches & 550+ rec. yards in each of past 3 seasons with Dal. • DE JERRY HUGHES led team with 9 sacks & tied for team lead with 10 TFL in 2022. Has 3 sacks in his past 3 vs. Bal. • DE WILL ANDERSON selected No. 3 overall in 2023 NFL Draft. • LB DENZEL PERRYMAN makes Hou. debut after recording career-best 14 TFL last season with LV. • LB CHRISTIAN HARRIS had 74 tackles & 6 TFL as rookie in 2022. • S JALEN PITRE led all rookies & all DBs last season with 147 tackles, tied-most tackles by DB in a season since 2000. Became 4th DB since 2000 with 125+ tackles & 5+ INTs (5) in a season. • S JIMMIE WARD makes Hou. debut after 9-year career with SF.
BALTIMORE NOTES: RAVENS have won 6 of past 7 Kickoff Weekend games, outscoring opponents 228-68. • QB LAMAR JACKSON enters 2023 with 4,437 rush yards, 5thmost by QB in NFL history. Has 5 pass TDs vs. 0 INTs with 134.5 rating in 2 career starts vs. Hou. Has 16 TDs (14 pass, 2 rush) vs. 2 INTs with 117.6 rating in 7 career starts vs. AFC South. Has 12 TD passes (3 per game) in 4 career Week 1 starts. • RB J.K. DOBBINS finished 2022 season with 505 scrimmage yards (101 per game) in final 5 games, incl. playoffs. • TE MARK ANDREWS ranked 3rd among TEs with 847 rec. yards last season & tied-3rd with 73 catches. Had TD catch in last home meeting. Has 4 rec. TDs in his past 4 vs. AFC South. • WR ODELL BECKHAM JR. makes Bal. debut, playing in 1st game since SB LVI w/ LAR. Had 9 catches for 109 yards in only career game vs. Hou. (9/23/18 w/ NYG). • WR ZAY FLOWERS was selected No. 22 overall in 2023 NFL Draft. • LB ROQUAN SMITH ranked 3rd in NFL with career-high 169 tackles in 2022, becoming 1st LB since 2009 with 150+ tackles, 4+ sacks (4.5) & 3+ INTs (3) in single season. Had 16 tackles & INT in his last game vs. Hou. (9/25/22 w/ Chi.). • LB PATRICK QUEEN had 117 tackles last season & was 1 of 4 in NFL with 100+ tackles, 5+ sacks (5) & 5+ PD (6). • LB ODAFE OWEH had career-best 7 TFL with 3 sacks in 2022. • S MARCUS WILLIAMS led team with 8 PD & 4 INTs in 10 games last season. Had INT in only career game vs. Hou. (9/9/19 w/ NO). • CB MARLON HUMPHREY had 3 INTs & career-best 3 sacks last season. Had 7 tackles, 0.5 sacks & FF in last meeting. • K JUSTIN TUCKER has 57 career made FGs of 50+ yards & can tie Sebastian Janikowski (58) for 2nd-most all-time.
CINCINNATI AT CLEVELAND
DATE: Sunday, September 10, 2023
GAME TIME: 1:00 PM ET
CBS: Ian Eagle, Charles Davis, Evan Washburn
SiriusXM (also available on the SXM App) CIN: 113 or 386 CLE: 158 or 228
CINCINNATI NOTES: QB JOE BURROW ranked tied-2nd in TD passes (35), 5th in pass yards (4,475) & 6th in passer rating (100.8) last season & had career-high 5 rush TDs. Became 3rd player ever with 4,000+ pass yards, 35+ TD passes & 5+ rush TDs in single season. Has 2+ TD passes in 4 of 5 career starts vs. Cle. Had 3+ TD passes in 3 of final 4 road games last season. • RB JOE MIXON had 1,255 scrimmage yards (814 rush, 441 rec.) with 9 TDs (7 rush, 2 rec.) & career-best 60 catches in 2022. Is 1 of 3 RBs (Nick Chubb & Ezekiel Elliott) with 1,200+ scrimmage yards & 8 TDs in 4 of past 5 seasons. Had 96 rush yards in last meeting. • WR JA’MARR CHASE had career-high 87 catches with 1,046 rec. yards & 9 rec. TDs last season, becoming 4th player ever with 80+ catches & 1,000+ rec. yards in each of 1st 2 seasons. Finished season with 5+ catches & 50+ rec. yards in 11 straight games, incl. playoffs. Had 10 catches for 119 yards & TD in last meeting. • WR TEE HIGGINS recorded 2nd-straight season with 1,000+ rec. yards (1,029) & had career-high 7 rec. TDs last season. Is 1 of 7 players all-time with 65+ catches, 900+ rec. yards & 5+ rec. TDs in each of 1st 3 seasons. Had rec. TD in last road meeting. • WR TYLER BOYD had 5th-straight season with 55+ catches (58), 750+ rec. yards (762) & 4+ rec. TDs (5) in 2022. • DE TREY HENDRICKSON led team with 8 sacks & 3 FFs last season & has 4th-most sacks (35.5) in NFL since 2020. • DE SAM HUBBARD had 6+ sacks (6.5) for 4th time in 5-year career last season. Had FR in 2 of 3 2022 playoff games, incl. 98-yard TD in AFC-WC. Aims for his 4th in row vs. Cle. with sack. • LB LOGAN WILSON led team with career-high 123 tackles in 2022. Finished season with 6+ tackles in 10 straight games, incl. playoffs. Had career-best 17 tackles in last meeting.
CLEVELAND NOTES: BROWNS look to win consecutive Week 1 games for 1st time since 1993-94 seasons. • QB DESHAUN WATSON had 1,102 pass yards & 8 TDs (7 pass, 1 rush) in 6 starts last season, with 5 TD passes over final 2 games. Has 5 TDs (4 pass, 1 rush) vs. INT in 3 career starts vs. Cin. • RB NICK CHUBB ranked 3rd in NFL with career-high 1,525 rush yards last season & ranked tied-4th with career-best 13 TDs (12 rush, 1 rec.). Is 5th player ever with 8+ rush TDs in each of 1st 5 seasons. Finished last season with 100+ scrimmage yards in each of final 3 games. Rushed for 101 yards & 2 TDs in last home meeting. Had 798 rush yards (99.8 per game) in 8 2022 home games. • WR AMARI COOPER led team with 78 catches, 1,160 rec. yards & career-high 9 rec. TDs in 2022. Finished last season with 50+ rec. yards in each of final 4 games & had 50+ rec. yards in 7 of 8 home games. Had 131 rec. yards & TD catch in last home meeting. • WR DONOVAN PEOPLES-JONES set career highs in catches (61) & rec. yards (839) last season. Had 8 catches for 114 yards in last meeting & has 50+ rec. yards in 4 of 5 career games vs. Cin. • TE DAVID NJOKU had career-best 58 catches in 2022. Had rec. TD in last meeting & has rec. TD in 3 of his past 4 vs. Cin. • DE MYLES GARRETT tied-2nd in NFL with 16 sacks last season & ranked tied-4th with career-best 18 TFL. Is 7th player since 1982 with 10+ sacks in 5 of 1st 6 seasons. Aims for his 7th in row vs. Cin. with sack. Has 11 career sacks vs. Cin., most vs. any opponent. • DE ZA’DARIUS SMITH makes Cle. debut after totaling 10 sacks & 15 TFL in 2022 with Min., his 3rd-career season with 10+ sacks. • CB DENZEL WARD had 15 PD & 3 INTs in 2022 & is only player in NFL with 10+ PD & 2+ INTs in each of past 5 seasons. Has 15 PD in his past 6 games vs. Cin., with 2+ PD in each game.
TAMPA BAY AT MINNESOTA
DATE: Sunday, September 10, 2023
GAME TIME: 1:00 PM ET
CBS: Andrew Catalon, Tiki Barber, Matt Ryan, AJ Ross
SiriusXM (also available on the SXM App) TB: 121 or 388 MIN: 108 or 230
TAMPA BAY NOTES: QB BAKER MAYFIELD makes TB debut. Has 16,288 pass yards & 108 TDs (102 pass, 6 rush) for 86.5 rating in 72 career games (69 starts) since entering NFL in 2018. • RB RACHAAD WHITE had 771 scrimmage yards (481 rush, 290 rec.) & 3 scrimmage TDs (2 rec., 1 rush) as rookie in 2022. Led all rookie RBs & ranked 5th among rookies with 50 catches. • WR MIKE EVANS had 77 catches for 1,124 yards & 6 TDs in 2022 & became 1st player in NFL history with 1,000+ rec. yards in each of his 1st 9 seasons. Can join HOFer Jerry Rice (11 consec. seasons from 1986-96) as only players ever with 1,000+ rec. yards in 10 straight seasons. • WR CHRIS GODWIN had career-high 104 receptions for 1,023 yards & 3 rec. TDs in 2022, incl. 14 games with 5+ catches, 2ndmost in NFL last season. • LB LAVONTE DAVID had 9th-career 100+ tackle season (124) & 9th-career 10+ TFL season (10) in 2022. Is only active player with 25+ sacks (29), 25+ FFs (27) & 10+ INTs (12). Ranks 2nd among active players with 1,344 tackles & 5th with 143 TFL. • LB DEVIN WHITE had 124 tackles, 8 TFL, 5.5 sacks & 5 PD in 2022, his 3rd-straight 100+ tackle season. Had FR in each of his final 3 games last season. • LB SHAQUIL BARRETT had 3 sacks & 6 TFL in 8 games last season. Had 2 sacks in last meeting. • DL VITA VEA had career highs in sacks (6.5) & TFL (7) in 2022. • CB CARLTON DAVIS had 63 tackles & 12 PD in 2022 & ranks 2nd in NFL with 60 PD since 2019. • S ANTOINE WINFIELD had career highs in sacks (4) & TFL (7) in 2022 & is only DB with 2+ sacks in each of past 3 seasons. • S RYAN NEAL had 66 tackles & 8 PD in 2022 with Sea.
MINNESOTA NOTES: QB KIRK COUSINS ranked 4th in NFL with 4,547 pass yards & tied-5th with 29 TD passes in 2022 & became 5th player ever with 25+ TD passes in 8+ consecutive seasons. Has 83 TDs (79 pass, 4 rush) vs. 24 INTs for 103.8 rating in 40 career home starts with Min. Has 5 TDs (4 pass, 1 rush) vs. 0 INTs for 110.4 rating in 2 career starts vs. TB. • RB ALEXANDER MATTISON had career-best 6 TDs (career high 5 rush, 1 rec.) in 2022. Has 2,196 scrimmage yards & 14 scrimmage TDs (11 rush, 3 rec.) in 59 career games. • WR JUSTIN JEFFERSON led NFL with 128 receptions in 2022, 7th-most catches in single season all-time & became 6th player ever with 1,800+ rec. yards (1,809) in single season. Has 4,825 rec. yards, most-ever by player in 1st 3 seasons & became 1st player in NFL history with 1,400+ rec. yards in each of 1st 3 seasons. Is 1 of 3 players in NFL history with 300+ receptions (324) in 1st 3 career seasons. Aims for his 5th in row at home with rec. TD. • WR JORDAN ADDISON was selected in 1st round (No. 23 overall) in 2023 NFL Draft. • TE T.J. HOCKENSON ranked 2nd among TEs with career highs in catches (86) & rec. yards (914) & tied his career high with 6 rec. TDs in 2022. Is 1 of 2 TEs with 60+ catches in each of past 3 seasons. • LB DANIELLE HUNTER had 4th-career season with 10+ sacks (team-high 10.5) & 5th-career season with 10+ TFL (12) in 2022. • LB JORDAN HICKS was 1 of 2 (Fred Warner) with 125+ tackles (129) & 10+ PD (10) in 2022. Is 1 of 3 with 115+ tackles in each of past 4 seasons. • S HARRISON SMITH was 1 of 2 (Minkah Fitzpatrick) with 85+ tackles (85), 10+ PD (10) & 5+ INTs (5) in 2022. Ranks tied-1st among active players with 34 career INTs.
TENNESSEE AT NEW ORLEANS
DATE: Sunday, September 10, 2023
GAME TIME: 1:00 PM ET
CBS: Chris Lewis, Jason McCourty, Ross Tucker, Amanda Guerra
SiriusXM (also available on the SXM App) TEN: 98 or 389 NO: 99 or 231
TENNESSEE NOTES: QB RYAN TANNEHILL had 2,536 pass yards & 15 TDs (13 pass, 2 rush) vs. 6 INTs with 94.6 rating in 12 starts last season. Has 5 TDs (4 pass, 1 rush) vs. 0 INTs with 119.8 rating in his past 2 starts vs. NO. Aims for his 7th in row vs. NFC with 95+ rating. • RB DERRICK HENRY ranked 2nd in NFL with 1,936 scrimmage yards & 1,538 rush yards in 2022 & ranked tied-2nd with 13 rush TDs, becoming 5th player all-time with 10+ rush TDs in 5 straight seasons. Had 125+ scrimmage yards in each of final 4 games of season. Leads active players with 8,335 rush yards & 78 rush TDs. • WR DEANDRE HOPKINS makes Ten. debut after spending past 3 seasons (2020-22) with Az. Had 64 catches for 717 yards in 9 games in 2022. Has 853 career catches, 4th-most ever by player in 1st 10 career seasons. Leads active players in catches & rec. yards (11,298). Has 100+ rec. yards in each of his last 2 games vs. NO. • WR TREYLON BURKS ranked 4th among AFC rookie WRs with 444 rec. yards last season. • TE CHIG OKONKWO led all rookies TEs with 450 rec. yards in 2022 & ranked tied-1st with 3 rec. TDs. • S KEVIN BYARD was 1 of 3 in NFL with 100+ tackles (106) & 4+ INTs (4) last season. Is only player with 4+ INTs in 5 of past 6 seasons. Had 5 tackles & PD in last meeting. • CB SEAN MURPHY-BUNTING makes Ten. debut after 4-year career (2019-22) with TB. Has 2 career INTs vs. NO, incl. postseason. • LB HAROLD LANDRY had career-high 12 sacks in 2021 prior to missing 2022 season due to injury. Had sack in last meeting. • DE DENICO AUTRY led team with 8 sacks in 2022, 3rd-straight season with 7+ sacks. • DT JEFFERY SIMMONS had 2nd-straight seaosn with 7+ sacks (7.5) in 2022.Had 2 sacks & PD in last meeting.
NEW ORLEANS NOTES: QB DEREK CARR makes NO debut. Has 35,222 pass yards & 217 TD passes in 142 career starts. Is 1 of 3 in NFL history with 3,000+ pass yards in each of 1st 9 career seasons. Has 10 TDs vs. 2 INTs for 102 rating in 5 career starts vs. Ten. • TE TAYSOM HILL had career-high 575 rush yards, career-high tying 9 scrimmage TDs (7 rush, 2 rec.) & 2 TD passes in 2022. • RB JAMAAL WILLIAMS led NFL with career-high 17 rush TDs & had career-high 1,066 rush yards in 2022 with Det. • WR CHRIS OLAVE ranked 2nd among rookies in rec. yards (1,042) & tied-2nd in receptions (72) last season. Had 50+ rec. yards in each of his 8 home games last season & led rookies with 12 games of 50+ rec. yards, tied-3rd most such games by rookie ever. • WR MICHAEL THOMAS has 526 receptions for 6,121 yards & 35 TDs in 73 career games. Is 1 of 3 active WRs (Ja’Marr Chase & Justin Jefferson) with career average of 80+ rec. yards per game (83.8, min. 25 games). • TE JUWAN JOHNSON had career-high 7 rec. TDs last season. • DE CAMERON JORDAN had 8.5 sacks in 2022 & became 6th player since 1982 with 7+ sacks in 11 consec. seasons. Ranks 2nd among active players in sacks (115.5) & 4th in TFL (150). • DT BRYAN BRESEE was selected in 1st round (No. 29 overall) in 2023 NFL Draft. • LB DEMARIO DAVIS is only player with 100+ tackles & 10+ TFL in each of past 6 seasons & 1 of 3 LBs with 5+ PD in each of past 4 seasons. Had career-high 6.5 sacks in 2022. • CB MARSHON LATTIMORE has 78 PD & 14 INTs in 80 career games, tied 3rd-most PD in NFL since 2017. • S TYRANN MATHIEU had career-high 91 tackles, 8 PD & 3 INTs in 2022 & is 1 of 4 with 3+ INTs in each of past 4 seasons.
SAN FRANCISCO AT PITTSBURGH
DATE: Sunday, September 10, 2023
GAME TIME: 1:00 PM ET
FOX: Joe Davis, Daryl Johnston, Pam Oliver
SiriusXM (also available on the SXM App) SF: 135 or 385 PIT: 82 or 229
SAN FRANCISCO NOTES: QB BROCK PURDY led NFL in rating (112) & tied-1st in TD passes (13) over final 6 weeks of 2022 season & became 3rd rookie ever to win each of his 1st 5 career starts. Aims for his 7th in row with 2+ TD passes. • RB CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY ranked 3rd in NFL with 1,880 scrimmage yards (1,139 rush, 741 rec.) & had 14 total TDs (8 rush, 5 rec., 1 pass) in 2022. Led all RBs in rec. yards (741) & ranked 2nd in catches (85) last season & is 1 of 4 RBs all-time with 4 seasons of 80+ receptions. Has 442 career catches, most by RB in 1st 6 seasons ever. Aims for his 7th in row with scrimmage TD. • TE GEORGE KITTLE had 765 rec. yards in 2022 & became 5th TE ever with 500+ rec. yards in each of 1st 6 seasons. Ranked 2nd among TEs with career-high 11 rec. TDs last year, incl. 7 rec. TDs in final 4 games of season. • WR DEEBO SAMUEL had 864 scrimmage yards (632 rec., 232 rush) & 5 scrimmage TDs (3 rush, 2 rec.) in 2022. Is only player with 3,000+ rec. yards (3,230) & 750+ rush yards (782) since 2019. • WR BRANDON AIYUK set career highs with 78 receptions for 1,015 yards & 8 TDs in 2022. Has 6 rec. TDs in his past 5 on road. • DL NICK BOSA led NFL with career-high 18.5 sacks in 2022 & became 5th player since 1982 with 15+ sacks in 2 of his 1st 4 career seasons. Ranked tied-2nd with 19 TFL last season. • DL JAVON HARGRAVE makes SF debut. Had career highs in sacks (11) & TFL (10) with Phi. in 2022. Had 14.5 sacks & 22 TFL in 4 seasons (2016-19) with Pit. • LB FRED WARNER had 130 tackles & career-high 10 PD in 2022 & is 1 of 2 (Bobby Wagner) with 115+ tackles in each of past 5 seasons. • LB DRE GREENLAW had career-high 127 tackles in 2022. • S TALANOA HUFANGA had 95 tackles, 9 PD & 4 INTs in 2022.
PITTSBURGH NOTES: QB KENNY PICKETT led all rookies with 2,404 pass yards & had 10 TDs (7 pass, 3 rush) last season. Had 0 INTs in 7 of final 8 starts. • RB NAJEE HARRIS had 1,263 scrimmage yards (1,034 rush, 229 rec.) & 10 TDs (7 rush, 3 rec.) in 2022, with TD in 4 of final 5 games. Is 1 of 2 RBs (Austin Ekeler) with 1,200+ scrimmage yards & 10+ TDs in each of past 2 seasons. • WR DIONTAE JOHNSON led team with 86 catches & 882 rec. yards in 2022. Is 1 of 5 WRs with 85+ catches in each of past 3 seasons. Has 37 games with 5+ catches since 2020, tied-3rd most in NFL. • WR GEORGE PICKENS ranked 4th among rookies in 2022 with 52 catches & 801 rec. yards. Had 50+ rec. yards in 4 of final 5 games of season & rec. TD in 3 of final 4 home games. • WR ALLEN ROBINSON makes Pit. debut after 9-year career with LAR (2022), Chi. (2018-21) & Jax. (2014-17). • TE PAT FREIERMUTH ranked 4th among AFC TEs last season with career-high 63 catches & 732 rec. yards. Is 1 of 2 TEs all-time (Keith Jackson) with 60+ catches in each of 1st 2 career seasons. • LB T.J. WATT had 8 TFL, 5.5 sacks, 5 PD & 2 INTs in 10 games last season. Is only player since 1982 with 70+ sacks (77.5) & 5+ INTs (6) in 1st 6 seasons. Had INT & FR in last meeting. Has 6 PD, 5 sacks & 3 FFs in 5 career games vs. NFC West. • LB ALEX HIGHSMITH ranked 4th in AFC with career-high 14.5 sacks last season, with sack in 3 of final 4 games. • DT CAMERON HEYWARD was 1 of 2 DL (Maxx Crosby) in 2022 with 70+ tackles (74) & 10+ sacks (10.5). Had 5.5 sacks over final 4 games of season. Had sack in last home meeting. • S MINKAH FITZPATRICK ranked tied-1st in NFL with career best 6 INTs last season. Had INT in last meeting. • CB LEVI WALLACE had career-high 4 INTs & 13 PD in 2022.
ARIZONA AT WASHINGTON
DATE: Sunday, September 10, 2023
GAME TIME: 1:00 PM ET
FOX: Adam Amin, Mark Schlereth, Kristina Pink
SiriusXM (also available on the SXM App) AZ: 134 or 384 WAS: 83 or 226
ARIZONA NOTES: QB JOSHUA DOBBS makes team debut. Completed 40 of 68 atts. (58.8 pct.) for 411 yards & 2 TDs vs. 2 INTs in 2 starts with Ten. in 2022, his 1st 2 career starts. • QB CLAYTON TUNE can make NFL debut. Was selected in 5th round (No. 139 overall) of 2023 NFL Draft. • RB JAMES CONNER had 1,082 scrimmage yards (782 rush, 300 rec.) & 8 TDs (7 rush, 1 rec.) in 2022, his 3rd-career 1,000- yard season. Is 1 of 5 RBs with 6+ scrimmage TDs in each of past 5 seasons. Has 50+ scrimmage yards in each of his 13 career road games with Az. • WR MARQUISE BROWN had 67 catches for 709 yards & 3 rec. TDs in 2022. Had 86 rec. yards in his only career game vs. Was. (10/4/20 w/ Bal.). • WR GREG DORTCH set career highs with 52 receptions for 467 yards & 2 rec. TDs last season. • TE ZACH ERTZ had 47 catches for 406 yards & 4 TDs in 10 games in 2022. Aims for his 3rd in row at Was. with rec. TD. Ranks 3rd among active TEs in catches (682), rec. yards (7,247) & rec. TDs (45). • S BUDDA BAKER had 4th-career season with 100+ tackles (111) in 2022 & is only DB with 95+ tackles in each of past 5 seasons. Had 5+ tackles in 5 of his 6 road games last season. • S JALEN THOMPSON is 1 of 2 DBs (Derwin James) with 100+ tackles in each of past 2 seasons. Has 7 games with 10+ tackles since 2021, tied-most among DBs. • CB MARCO WILSON led team with 10 PD & 3 INTs in 2022. • LB ZAVEN COLLINS was 1 of 8 LBs in 2022 with 100+ tackles (100), 10+ TFL (11) & 5+ PD (6). Had TFL in 7 of his final 8 games last season & aims for his 6th in row with TFL.
WASHINGTON NOTES: QB SAM HOWELL had 204 yards (169 pass, 35 rush) & 2 TDs (1 pass, 1 rush) vs. INT for 83 rating in Week 18 last season, his 1st-career start. • RB BRIAN ROBINSON ranked 5th among rookies with 797 rush yards in 2022. Has 85+ scrimmage yards in 4 of his past 5 at home. • RB ANTONIO GIBSON is 1 of 3 players (Justin Jefferson & Jonathan Taylor) who entered NFL in 2020 with 3,000+ scrimmage yards (3,272) & 25+ scrimmage TDs (26). • WR TERRY MCLAURIN had 77 catches for career-high 1,191 yards & 5 rec. TDs & is 1 of 5 WRs with 75+ receptions & 1,000+ rec. yards in each of past 3 seasons. Had 7 catches for 125 yards & rec. TD in last meeting. Had 50+ scrimmage yards in 7 of his last 8 home games in 2022. • WR JAHAN DOTSON ranked tied-1st among rookies in 2022 with 7 rec. TDs. • DT JONATHAN ALLEN had 65 tackles, career-high 16 TFL & 7.5 sacks in 2022 & is only DL with 60+ tackles in each of past 5 seasons. • DT DARON PAYNE had career highs in tackles (64), TFL (18) & sacks (11.5) last season. • DE MONTEZ SWEAT had 14 TFL & 8 sacks in 2022. • LB CODY BARTON makes Was. debut. Had career-high 133 tackles in 2022 with Sea., incl. 6 games with 10+ tackles. • CB KENDALL FULLER led team with 13 PD in 2022 & has 10+ PD in 5 of his past 6 seasons. Was 1 of 2 players (Kyle Dugger) last season with 2 INT-TDs. • S DARRICK FORREST had 84 tackles, 9 PD & led team with career-high 4 INTs in 2022.
GREEN BAY AT CHICAGO
DATE: Sunday, September 10, 2023
GAME TIME: 4:25 PM ET
FOX: Kevin Burkhardt, Greg Olsen, Erin Andrews, Tom Rinaldi
SiriusXM (also available on the SXM App) GB: 133 or 383 CHI: 111 or 225
GREEN BAY NOTES: QB JORDAN LOVE has completed 50 of 83 atts. (60.2 pct.) for 606 yards & 3 TDs vs. 3 INTs in 10 career games (1 start). • RB AARON JONES had 1,516 scrimmage yards (career-high 1,121 rushing, 395 rec.) & 7 scrimmage TDs (5 rec., 2 rush) last season & ranked 6th among RBs with career-high 59 receptions in 2022. Is only player with 30+ rush TDs (31) & 15+ rec. TDs (16) since 2019. Has 6 TDs (3 rush, 3 rec.) in his past 5 vs. Chi. & aims for his 8th in row vs. Chi. with 50+ scrimmage yards. • RB AJ DILLON had 976 scrimmage yards (770 rush, 206 rec.) & career-high 7 rush TDs in 2022. Had 119 scrimmage yards (93 rush, 26 rec.) & rush TD in last meeting. • WR CHRISTIAN WATSON tied-1st among rookies in scrimmage TDs (9) & rec. TDs (7) & became 2nd rookie since 1967 with 7 rec. TDs & 2 rush TDs. Had 2 TDs (1 rec., 1 rush) in last meeting. • WR JAYDEN REED (No. 50 overall) & TE LUKE MUSGRAVE (No. 42) were selected in 2nd round of 2023 NFL Draft. • LB DE’VONDRE CAMPBELL had 96 tackles in 2022 & has 90+ tackles in each of past 6 seasons. • LB PRESTON SMITH led team with 8.5 sacks in 2022. Has 2 sacks in 2 of his past 3 vs. Chi. • LB RASHAN GARY had 6 sacks & 7 TFL in 9 games in 2022. • LB QUAY WALKER ranked 2nd among rookies with 119 tackles. • CB JAIRE ALEXANDER led team with career-high 5 INTs in 2022, tied-5th most in NFL. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. Chi. with INT & 4th in row vs. Chi. with PD. • CB RASUL DOUGLAS had career-high 76 tackles & had 4 INTs in 2022, 1 of 6 DBs with 4+ INTs in each of past 2 seasons. • S JONATHAN OWENS ranked 2nd among DBs with career-high 125 tackles with Hou. in 2022.
CHICAGO NOTES: CHICAGO led NFL in 2022 with 3,014 rush yards & became 5th team ever with 3,000+ rush yards in single season. • QB JUSTIN FIELDS passed for 2,242 yards & 17 TDs & had 1,143 rush yards & 8 rush TDs last season, 2nd-most rush yards in single season by QB in NFL history. Had 90+ rating in 4 of his final 5 home starts of 2022. Has 4 career games with 100+ rush yards, tied-3rd most by QB all-time. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. GB with rush TD. • RB D’ONTA FOREMAN had career highs in rush yards (914) & rush TDs (5) in 2022 with Car. & had 5 games with 100+ rush yards, tied-most among NFC RBs last season. • RB KHALIL HERBERT had 112 scrimmage yards (97 rush, 15 rec.) & rush TD in only career home game vs. GB (10/17/21). • WR DJ MOORE makes Chi. debut. Had 364 catches for 5,201 yards & 21 rec. TDs in 5 seasons (2018-22) with Car. Has 15 catches for 251 yards (125.5 per game) in 2 career games vs. GB & aims for his 3rd in row vs. GB with 120+ rec. yards. • TE COLE KMET tied-3rd among TEs with career-high 7 rec. TDs last season. Had 6 catches for 72 yards in last meeting. • DL YANNICK NGAKOUE has 65 career sacks & is 1 of 5 players since 1982 with 8+ sacks in each of his 1st 7 career seasons. Had 9.5 sacks with Ind. in 2022. • LB TREMAINE EDMUNDS had 565 tackles, 35 PD & 32 TFL in 5 seasons (2018-22) with Buf. & is 1 of 6 with 100+ tackles in each of past 5 seasons. • LB T.J. EDWARDS had career highs in tackles (159), TFL (10) & PD (7) with Phi. in 2022. • DB JAQUAN BRISKER had 104 tackles in 2022 & led rookie DBs with 4 sacks, tied-most by rookie DB since 1982.
LAS VEGAS AT DENVER
DATE: Sunday, September 10, 2023
GAME TIME: 4:25 PM ET
CBS: Tom McCarthy, James Lofton, Jay Feely, Tiffany Blackmon
SiriusXM (also available on the SXM App) LV: 113 or 386 DEN: 158 or 228
LAS VEGAS NOTES: QB JIMMY GAROPPOLO makes LV debut after compiling 38- 17 record as starter over past 6 seasons (2017-22) with SF. Appeared in 11 games last season with 103.0 rating, third-highest rating among qualified passers. • RB JOSH JACOBS led NFL with 2,053 scrimmage yards & 1,653 rush yards in 2022, joining HOFer Marcus Allen (2,314 in 1985) as only Raiders ever with 2,000+ scrimmage yards in a season. Ranked tied-5th in NFL with 12 rush TDs & is 1 of 2 (Derrick Henry) with 9+ rush TDs in each of past 3 seasons. Had 335 scrimmage yards (167.5 per game) in 2 games vs. Den. last season & aims for his 4th in row vs. Den. with 100+ rush yards. Had 801 scrimmage yards (133.5 per game) in 6 games vs. division last season. • WR DAVANTE ADAMS led NFL with 14 rec. TDs in 2022 & ranked 3rd with 1,516 rec. yards. Has 87 career rec. TDs, 5thmost ever by player in 1st 9 seasons. Had 100+ rec. yards in both games vs. Den. last season, incl. 141 rec. yards & 2 rec. TDs in last meeting. Had 757 rec. yards (126.2 per game) in 6 games vs. division in 2022, with 100+ rec. yards in 5 of 6 games. • WR JAKOBI MEYERS makes LV debut after 4-year career (2019-22) with NE. Had career-high 6 rec. TDs in 2022. • TE AUSTIN HOOPER makes LV debut. Ranks 6th among active TEs with 339 career catches. • DE MAXX CROSBY led NFL with career-high 22 TFL last season & had career-best 12.5 sacks. Has 11.5 sacks in 8 career games vs. Den., with sack in each of his past 7 & 2+ sacks in 3 of his past 4. • DE CHANDLER JONES had 4.5 sacks last season & ranks 3rd among active players with 112 career sacks. • CB MARCUS PETERS makes LV debut. Ranks tied-3rd among active players with 32 career INTs. Has 8 PD in 7 games vs. Den.
DENVER NOTES: QB RUSSELL WILSON had 3,524 pass yards in 2022 & joined HOFer Peyton Manning as only QBs ever with 3,000+ pass yards in each of 1st 11 seasons. Has 308 career TD passes, 2nd-most ever by player in 1st 11 seasons. Has 6 TDs (5 pass, 1 rush) vs. INT with 100.2 rating in 4 career starts vs. Raiders. Had 3 TD passes in each of final 2 home games last season. • RB JAVONTE WILLIAMS had 280 scrimmage yards (70 per game) in 4 games last season. Totaled 1,219 scrimmage yards & 7 TDs (4 rush, 3 rec.) as rookie in 2021. • WR JERRY JEUDY led team with career highs in catches (67), rec. yards (972) & rec. TDs (6) last season. Finished season with 5+ catches in each of final 5 games, with career-high 154 rec. yards in Week 18. Has TD catch in 2 of his past 3 vs. LV. • WR COURTLAND SUTTON totaled 829 rec. yards in 2022, his 4th-career season with 700+ rec. yards. Had 5 catches & 50+ rec. yards in both games vs. LV last season. • DE FRANK CLARK makes Den. debut after 8-year career with KC (2019-22) & Sea. (2015-18), totaling 58.5 sacks. Had 2.5 sacks in 2022 postseason with KC & has 13.5 career postseason sacks, 3rd-most since 1982. • LB ALEX SINGLETON led team with career-high 152 tackles last season. Had 11 tackles & TFL in last meeting. • LB JOSEY JEWELL set career highs in tackles (128), sacks (2.5), INTs (2), TFL (7) & FFs (2) in 2022. Singleton & Jewell were only pair of teammates each to average 9.5 tackles per game in 2022. • S JUSTIN SIMMONS ranked tied-1st in NFL with career-high 6 INTs last season & is only player with 5+ INTs in each of past 3 seasons. Has 27 career INTs, tied-4th most among active safeties. • CB PAT SURTAIN had 10 PD & 2 INTs in 2022.
MIAMI AT LA CHARGERS
DATE: Sunday, September 10, 2023
GAME TIME: 4:25 PM ET
CBS: Kevin Harlan, Trent Green, Melanie Collins
SiriusXM (also available on the SXM App) MIA: 109 or 387 LAC: 104 or 227
MIAMI NOTES: • QB TUA TAGOVAILOA led NFL with 105.5 passer rating in 2022 & set career highs in pass yards (3,548) & TD passes (25) in 13 games. Had 0 INTs in 4 of final 5 road games last season. Has 3 TDs vs. 0 INTs in 2 career starts vs. LAC. • RB RAHEEM MOSTERT had career-high 1,093 scrimmage yards & 891 rush yards last season with 5 TDs (3 rush, 2 rec.). • WR TYREEK HILL ranked 2nd in NFL with 119 catches & 1,710 rec. yards in 2022, both single-season franchise records, with 8 TDs (7 rec., 1 rush). Joined HOFer Randy Moss as only WRs ever with 7+ TDs in each of 1st 7 seasons. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. LAC with 80+ rec. yards & TD catch. • WR JAYLEN WADDLE had 75 catches last season for career-high 1,356 rec. yards & 8 TDs. Hill & Waddle combined for 3,066 rec. yards in 2022, third-most ever by a pair of teammates in a season. • CB XAVIEN HOWARD led team with 12 PD in 2022 & is 1 of 4 players with 12+ PD in each of past 3 seasons. Leads NFL with 28 INTs since 2017. • S JEVON HOLLAND had career-high 93 tackles last season & led team with 2 INTs. Had 5 tackles in last meeting. • LB BRADLEY CHUBB had 8 sacks last season with career-high 3 FFs. Has 2 career sacks vs. LAC. • LB JEROME BAKER had 3rd-career season with 100+ tackles (100) in 2022 & had 4 sacks. Had sack & 2 TFL in last meeting. • LB JAELAN PHILLIPS had 7 sacks in 2022. Had sack in last meeting. • DT CHRISTIAN WILKINS led all DL with 98 tackles in 2022, most tackles by any DL in a season since 2000. Is only DL since 2000 with 85+ tackles in multiple seasons. Had sack & 2 TFL in last meeting. • DT ZACH SIELER had career-best 70 tackles & tied career high with 3.5 sacks last season
LOS ANGELES NOTES: QB JUSTIN HERBERT ranked 2nd in NFL with 4,739 pass yards last season & became 1st player ever with 4,000+ pass yards in each of 1st 3 career seasons. Has 14,089 career pass yards, most-ever by QB in 1st 3 seasons, & 94 TD passes, 2nd-most by QB in 1st 3 seasons. Had career-high 39 completions with 367 pass yards & TD pass in last meeting. • RB AUSTIN EKELER led NFL with 18 TDs (13 rush, 5 rec.) in 2022, becoming 2nd player since 2010 (Todd Gurley) with 18+ TDs in consecutive seasons, & led all RBs with 107 catches, tied 2nd-most ever by RB in a season. Had 2 rush TDs in 3 of final 4 games of season, incl. playoffs. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. Mia. with 100+ scrimmage yards & TD. • WR KEENAN ALLEN had 66 catches & 752 rec. yards in 10 games last season & is 1 of 5 WRs with 750+ rec. yards in each of past 6 seasons. Had 12 catches for 92 yards in last meeting. • WR MIKE WILLIAMS led team with 895 rec. yards in 2022. Had 6 catches for 116 yards & TD in last meeting. • WR JOSHUA PALMER set career highs in catches (72) & rec. yards (769) last season. Had 53 rec. yards in last meeting. • WR QUENTIN JOHNSTON was picked No. 21 overall in 2023 NFL Draft. • LB JOEY BOSA had 2.5 sacks in 5 games last season. Has 60.5 sacks in 84 career games. • LB KHALIL MACK led team with 8 sacks in 2022 & is 1 of 2 (Cameron Jordan) in NFL with 6+ sacks in each of past 8 seasons. • S DERWIN JAMES was 1 of 2 DBs (L’Jarius Sneed) last season with 100+ tackles (115), 3+ sacks (4) & 2+ INTs (2). • CB ASANTE SAMUEL JR. had 6 PD & 3 INTs in 2022-WC vs. Jax., becoming 1st player with 3 INTs in playoff game since 2003 season. • CB J.C. JACKSON has 7 PD & 3 INTs in 8 career games vs. Mia.
PHILADELPHIA AT NEW ENGLAND
DATE: Sunday, September 10, 2023
GAME TIME: 4:25 PM ET
CBS: Jim Nantz, Tony Romo, Tracy Wolfson
SiriusXM (also available on the SXM App) PHI: 135 or 385 NE: 82 or 229
PHILADELPHIA NOTES: QB JALEN HURTS had career-high 3,701 pass yards & 22 TD passes with 760 rush yards & 13 rush TDs, 2nd-most rush TDs by QB in single season ever. Became 1st QB ever with 10+ rush TDs in consec. seasons. Has 8 career games with 2+ rush TDs, 2nd-most by QB all-time. Had 16 TDs (8 pass, 8 rush) vs 2 INTs & 99 rating in 7 road starts in 2022. • RB D’ANDRE SWIFT makes Phi. debut. Had 2,878 scrimmage yards & 25 TDs (18 rush, 7 rec.) in 40 games (2020-22) with Det. • RB RASHAAD PENNY makes Phi. debut. Has 5.7 career rushing average, highest among active RBs (min. 300 atts.). • WR A.J. BROWN ranked 4th in NFL with career-high & Phi. franchise record 1,496 rec. yards, had career-high 88 catches & tied his career high with 11 rec. TDs last season. • WR DEVONTA SMITH had 95 catches for 1,196 rec. yards & 7 rec. TDs in 2022. Brown & Smith were only pair of teammates each with 85+ catches & 1,100+ rec. yards last season. • TE DALLAS GOEDERT had 55 catches for 702 yards & 3 rec. TDs in 12 games last season. • LB HAASON REDDICK tied-2nd in NFL with career-high 16 sacks in 2022. Has sack in 6 of his past 7 on road. • DE BRANDON GRAHAM (70) & DT FLETCHER COX (65) are 1 of 2 sets of active teammates each with 65+ career sacks. • DT JALEN CARTER (No. 9 overall) & LB NOLAN SMITH (No. 30) were selected in 1st round of 2023 NFL Draft. • CB DARIUS SLAY had 14 PD in 2022 & is 1 of 4 active players with 2+ FR TDs (2) & 2+ INT TDs (2). • CB JAMES BRADBERRY ranked 3rd in NFL with 17 PD in 2022 & is only player with 10+ PD in each of past 7 seasons. Bradberry (99) & Slay (98) rank 1st & 2nd in PD since 2016.
NEW ENGLAND NOTES: • QB MAC JONES totaled 2,997 pass yards & 15 TDs (14 pass, 1 rush) in 2022. Had 2+ TD passes in each of final 3 games of season. Had 6 TDs vs. 0 INTs in final 5 2022 home games. • RB RHAMONDRE STEVENSON had career-high 1,461 scrimmage yards (1,040 rush, 421 rec.) last season with 6 TDs (5 rush, 1 rec.). Ranked 4th among RBs with career-high 69 catches in 2022. • RB EZEKIEL ELLIOTT makes NE debut after 7-year career with Dal. (2016-22). Had 968 scrimmage yards (876 rush, 92 rec.) & 12 rush TDs in 2022, his 4th-career season with 10+ rush TDs. Is 1 of 5 all-time with 8+ TDs in each of 1st 7 seasons. Has 1,464 scrimmage yards (122 per game) & 7 TDs (6 rush, 1 rec.) in 12 career games vs. Phi., with rush TD in each of past 2. Ranks 2nd among active players in scrimmage yards (10,598), rush yards (8,262) & rush TDs (68). • WR JUJU SMITH-SCHUSTER makes NE debut after totaling 78 catches for 933 yards & 3 TDs last season with KC. • WR DAVANTE PARKER ranked 2nd on team with 539 rec. yards in 2022, 4th-straight season with 500+ rec. yards. Had career-high 159 rec. yards with 2 TDs in only career game vs. Phi. (12/1/19 w/ Mia.). • TE MIKE GESICKI makes NE debut after ranking tied-3rd among AFC TEs with 5 rec. TDs last season with Mia. • LB MATTHEW JUDON ranked tied-4th in NFL with career-high 15.5 sacks in 2022 & is 1 of 4 with 12+ sacks in each of past 2 seasons. • LB JOSH UCHE had career-best 11.5 sacks last season. Judon & Uche were 1 of 2 LB duos each with 10+ sacks in 2022. • LB JA’WHAUN BENTLEY led team with career-best 122 tackles last season & had career-high 3 sacks. • DB KYLE DUGGER had career-high 8 PD & led NFL with 3 defensive TDs last season. • CB CHRISTIAN GONZALEZ was picked No. 17 overall in 2023 NFL Draft.
LOS ANGELES RAMS AT SEATTLE
DATE: Sunday, September 10, 2023
GAME TIME: 4:25 PM ET
FOX: Kevin Kugler, Mark Sanchez, Laura Okmin
SiriusXM (also available on the SXM App) LAR: 134 or 384 SEA: 83 or 226
LOS ANGELES NOTES: QB MATTHEW STAFFORD had 2,087 pass yards & 11 TDs (10 pass, 1 rush) in 9 starts in 2022. Has 52,082 pass yards & 333 TD passes in 191 career starts. Needs 525 pass yards to surpass HOFer Peyton Manning (52,606) for 3rd-most pass yards by player in 1st 200 career games. Needs 10 TD passes to surpass HOFer Fran Tarkenton (342) for 11th-most TD passes all-time. Had 2 TDs vs. INT for 106.1 rating in his last start vs. Sea. (12/21/21). Passed for 365 yards in his last start at Sea. (10/7/21). • RB CAM AKERS had career-high 903 scrimmage yards (career high 786 rush, 117 rec.) & career-best 7 rush TDs in 2022. Had 100+ scrimmage yards in each of his final 4 games last season, incl. 128 scrimmage yards at Sea. in Week 18. • WR COOPER KUPP had 75 receptions for 812 yards & 7 TDs (6 rec., 1 rush) in 9 games in 2022 & is 1 of 3 with 75+ catches in each of past 4 seasons. Since 2019, ranks 2nd in receptions (406) & 5th in rec. yards (4,894). Had 9 catches for 136 yards & 2 rec. TDs in his last game vs. Sea. (12/21/21). Has 5+ catches & 50+ rec. yards in 5 of his past 6 vs. Sea. • TE TYLER HIGBEE ranked 2nd among NFC TEs with career high 72 receptions & 4th with 620 rec. yards in 2022. Is 1 of 6 TEs with 500+ rec. yards in each of past 4 seasons. • DT AARON DONALD had 5 sacks & 10 TFL in 2022 & is only player with 10+ TFL in each of past 9 seasons. Has 15 sacks & 24 TFL in 16 career games vs. Sea. & aims for his 4th in row vs. Sea. with sack. • LB ERNEST JONES had 1st-career 100+ tackle season (113) & career-high 4 TFL in 2022. • DB COBIE DURANT had 3 INTs, incl. INT-TD as rookie in 2022. • DB JOHN JOHNSON had 96 tackles with Cle. last season.
SEATTLE NOTES: QB GENO SMITH had career highs in completions (franchise record 399), pass yards (franchise-record 4,282), TD passes (30 – most among NFC QBs), comp. pct. (franchise-record 69.8) & rating (100.9 – 5th in NFL) last season. Led NFL with 10 games of 2+ TD passes & 100+ rating in 2022. • RB KENNETH WALKER led rookies with 1,215 scrimmage yards, 1,050 rush yards & 9 rush TDs last season. Rushed for 114 yards in Week 18 meeting in 2022. • WR TYLER LOCKETT had 84 catches for 1,033 yards & 9 rec. TDs & is only player with 8+ TD catches in each of past 5 seasons. Had TD catch in both games vs. LAR in 2022. • WR DK METCALF had career-high 90 catches for 1,048 yards & 6 TDs & became 5th player since 1970 with 900+ rec. yards & 5+ rec. TDs in each of his 1st 4 seasons. • CB DEVON WITHERSPOON (No. 5 overall) & WR JAXON SMITHNJIGBA (No. 20) were selected in 1st round of 2023 NFL Draft. • LB BOBBY WAGNER had 140 tackles, 10 TFL, career-high 6 sacks & 5 PD in 2022 with LAR. Has 11-straight 100+ tackle seasons & leads all players with 1,517 tackles since 2012. • LB UCHENNA NWOSU set career highs in tackles (66), TFL (12), sacks (9.5), FFs (3) & FRs (2) last season. Had 2.5 sacks, 3 TFL & FF in 2 games vs. LAR in 2022. • LB JORDYN BROOKS led NFC & ranked 5th in NFL with 161 tackles last season. Aims for his 5th in row vs. LAR with TFL. • S QUANDRE DIGGS is only player with 3+ INTs in each of past 6 seasons. Has 7 INTs in his past 8 vs. LAR & aims for his 5th in row at home vs. LAR with INT. • CB TARIQ WOOLEN became 1st rookie since 2016 with 6 INTs (tied-most in NFL) & 3 FRs last season.
DALLAS AT NY GIANTS
DATE: Sunday, September 10, 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) DAL: 83 or 226 NYG: 85 or 225 National: 88
DALLAS NOTES: DALLAS led NFL with 33 takeaways in 2022 & became 2nd team ever to lead league in takeaways in consecutive seasons. • QB DAK PRESCOTT passed for 2,860 yards & 23 TDs for 91.1 rating in 12 starts in 2022. Is 10-0 with 2,755 pass yards (275.5 per game) & 22 TDs vs. 5 INTs for 109.7 rating in his past 10 starts vs. NYG. Has 3+ TD passes & 100+ rating in 3 of his past 4 starts at NYG. • RB TONY POLLARD set career highs with 1,378 scrimmage yards (1,007 rush, 371 rec.) & 12 scrimmage TDs (9 rush, 3 rec.) in 2022. Had 4 games with 2+ scrimmage TDs last season, 3rdmost among RBs. • WR CEEDEE LAMB ranked 5th in receptions (career-high 107) & 6th in rec. yards (career-high 1,359) in 2022 & had career-high 9 rec. TDs. Had 106 rec. yards in last meeting. Aims for his 4th in row vs. NYG with 6+ catches. • WR BRANDIN COOKS had 57 catches for 699 yards & 3 rec. TDs with Hou. in 2022 & is 1 of 5 with 500+ rec. yards in each of past 9 seasons. • LB MICAH PARSONS had career-high 13.5 sacks & 14 TFL in 2022 & became 3rd player since 1982 with 13+ sacks in each of 1st 2 seasons. Had 2 sacks in last meeting. • DE DORANCE ARMSTRONG had career highs with 8.5 sacks & 9 TFL in 2022. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. NYG with sack. • CB TREVON DIGGS led team with 14 PD in 2022. Since 2020, ranks tied-1st among DBs in INTs (17). Has INT in 3 of his past 4 vs. NYG & aims for his 3rd in row at NYG with INT. • CB STEPHON GILMORE had 11 PD with Ind. in 2022 & ranks 2nd among active DBs with 127 PD. • CB DARON BLAND tied-2nd among rookies with 5 INTs in 2022.
NEW YORK NOTES: QB DANIEL JONES had career-high 3,205 pass yards & 15 TD passes for career-high 92.5 rating & had career highs in rush yards (708) & rush TDs (7) in 2022. Had 16 TDs (10 pass, 6 rush) vs. 3 INTs in 9 home starts last season. • RB SAQUON BARKLEY ranked 4th in rush yards (career-high 1,312) & 5th among RBs in scrimmage yards (1,650) last season & had 10 rush TDs. Aims for his 3rd in row on SNF with 100+ scrimmage yards & 3rd in row vs. Dal. with rush TD. • WR DARIUS SLAYTON led team with 724 rec. yards in 2022. • WR STERLING SHEPARD has 362 receptions for 4,038 yards & 22 TDs in 75 career games. • WR ISAIAH HODGINS had rec. TD in 4 of his last 5 games in 2022. • TE DARREN WALLER makes NYG debut. Has 298 receptions for 3,572 yards & 19 rec. TDs in 74 career games. • DL DEXTER LAWRENCE set career highs in tackles (68) & sacks (7.5) last season. Aims for his 3rd in row on SNF with 0.5+ sacks. • DL LEONARD WILLIAMS is 1 of 3 DL (Aaron Donald & Cam Jordan) with 40+ tackles in each of past 8 seasons. Had 2 TFL in last meeting. • LB BOBBY OKEREKE makes NYG debut. Had career highs in tackles (149) & TFL (6) with Ind. in 2022. • LB KAYVON THIBODEAUX had 6 TFL & 4 sacks last season & was only rookie with 2 FFs & 2 FRs in 2022. • LB MICAH MCFADDEN had 5+ tackles in 5 of his last 6 home games in 2022. Had 2 TFL in last meeting. • LB AZEEZ OJULARI had 5.5 sacks & 3 FFs in 7 games in 2022. • CB DEONTE BANKS was selected in 1st round (No. 24 overall) in 2023 NFL Draft.
BUFFALO AT NY JETS
DATE: Monday, September 11, 2023 GAME TIME: 8:15 PM ET
ESPN/ABC: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters
Westwood One: Kevin Harlan, Kurt Warner
SiriusXM (also available on the SXM App) BUF: 81 or 226 NYJ: 83 or 225 National: 88
BUFFALO NOTES: QB JOSH ALLEN is 1 of 2 QBs (Patrick Mahomes) with 4,000+ pass yards & 35+ TD passes in each of past 3 seasons. Has 176 combined career pass & rush TDs, most-ever by player in 1st 5 seasons. Has 38 career rush TDs & can tie Jack Kemp (40) for 3rd-most ever by QB. Had 3 rush TDs in 2 games vs. NYJ last season. Has 1,510 pass yards (302 per game) with 16 TDs vs. INT & 119.7 rating in his past 5 starts on MNF. • RB JAMES COOK ranked 6th among rookies with 507 rush yards last season & had 3 TDs (2 rush, 1 rec.). • RB DAMIEN HARRIS makes Buf. debut after totaling 20 rush TDs over past 3 seasons with NE. Has 90+ scrimmage yards in 2 of his past 3 vs. NYJ. • WR STEFON DIGGS had 108 catches for 1,429 yards & career high 11 TDs in 2022, becoming 1st player in NFL history with 100+ catches & 1,200+ rec. yards in each of 1st 3 seasons with a team. Has 5+ catches in 6 of 7 career games vs. NYJ. Has 7 rec. TDs in his past 4 on MNF. • WR GABE DAVIS set career highs in catches (48) & rec. yards (836) last season. Has 6+ rec. TDs in each of 1st 3 seasons. • TE DAWSON KNOX is 1 of 3 TEs (Travis Kelce & George Kittle) with 6+ rec. TDs in each of past 2 seasons. Had TD catch in last meeting. Aims for his 4th in row vs. division with rec. TD. • DE GREG ROUSSEAU tied for team lead with career-high 8 sacks in 13 games in 2022. Had 2 sacks & FF in last meeting. • LB MATT MILANO was only player in NFL with 10+ TFL (12) & 10+ PD (11) last season. Aims for his 4th in row vs. NYJ with TFL. • S JORDAN POYER led team with 4 INTs in 2022. Has INT in 2 of his past 3 on MNF. • CB TRE’DAVIOUS WHITE had 6 PD in 6 games last season.
NEW YORK NOTES: QB AARON RODGERS makes NYJ debut after 18-year career with GB, totaling 59,055 pass yards (9th all-time) & 475 TD passes (5th all-time) & winning 4 NFL MVPs (2011, 2014, 2020-21). Had 3,695 pass yards & 26 TD passes in 2022, 13th-career season with 25+ TD passes, 4th-most all-time. Has 41 TDs (38 pass, 3 rush) vs. 11 INTs with 104.9 rating in 18 career starts on MNF. • RB DALVIN COOK makes NYJ debut after rushing for 1,100+ yards in each of past 4 seasons with Min. Had 146 scrimmage yards (119 rush, 27 rec.) in only career game vs. Buf. (11/13/22 w/ Min.). • RB BREECE HALL had 681 scrimmage yards (97.3 per game) in 7 games as rookie last season, with rush TD in each of his final 4. • WR GARRETT WILSON named AP Offensive ROY in 2022 after leading all rookies with 83 catches & 1,103 rec. yards, both rookie franchise records. Had 75+ rec. yards in both games vs. Buf. last season. Had 90+ rec. yards in 4 of final 5 2022 home games. • WR ALLEN LAZARD makes NYJ debut after setting career highs in catches (60) & rec. yards (788) with 6 rec. TDs last season with GB. • WR MECOLE HARDMAN makes NYJ debut after 4 years (2019-22) w/ KC. Had 4 rec. TDs in 8 games in 2022, incl. each of his last 3 games. • DL QUINNEN WILLIAMS had career-high 12 sacks & 12 TFL last season, becoming 1st NYJ with 10+ sacks in a season since 2015. Had 3 sacks in 2 games vs. Buf. in 2022. • DL CARL LAWSON ranked 2nd on team with 7 sacks last season & had career-high 9 TFL. • LB C.J. MOSLEY led team with 158 tackles in 2022 & is 1 of 4 in NFL with 150+ tackles in each of past 2 seasons. • CB SAUCE GARDNER named AP Defensive ROY last season after leading NFL with 20 PD, most by rookie since 2015. Had 2 PD & INT in 2 games vs. Buf. in 2022.
TENNIS NEWS
NOVAK DJOKOVIC WILL FACE DANIIL MEDVEDEV IN THE US OPEN FINAL. IT’S A REMATCH FROM 2021
NEW YORK (AP) Novak Djokovic limited big-serving Ben Shelton to five aces and broke him five times in their U.S. Open semifinal Friday. Djokovic pushed back when the 20-year-old unseeded American produced a late stand that got the home crowd into the match.
And after overcoming what he called “a little black hole” caused by tension to right himself, finish off a 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (4) victory and reach his record-tying 10th final at Flushing Meadows and 36th at all major tournaments, Djokovic added a touch of insult to injury by mimicking the kid’s “Hang up the phone!” celebration gesture.
Djokovic then pointed to his temple and pounded his fist on his chest, before a stone-faced Shelton met him at the net for the most perfunctory of handshakes. A year after Djokovic could not travel to the United States for the Open because he is not vaccinated against COVID-19, the 36-year-old from Serbia is one victory away from a fourth title in New York and 24th Grand Slam championship overall.
“Well, fact is that, at 36, every Grand Slam final … could be the last one. So I think that I probably value these occasions and opportunities to win another Slam more than I have maybe 10 years ago,” said Djokovic, who would be the oldest man to win the U.S. Open in the professional era, which began in 1968. “I don’t know how many I have ahead of me now.”
He has made it to the finals of all four majors this season, with victories at the Australian Open in January and French Open in June.
On Sunday, Djokovic will face 2021 U.S. Open champion Daniil Medvedev, who advanced by eliminating defending champ Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3), 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 in the second semifinal Friday night.
Alcaraz was asked how long this loss might bother him.
“Days? Weeks? I don’t know. I don’t think I’m going to think about this loss for a long time,” he said. “Of course, I have to learn (from) it. I want to be better. These kind of matches help you a lot to be better and grow up.”
The No. 3-seeded Medvedev, a 27-year-old from Russia, denied Djokovic a calendar-year Grand Slam by beating him in the final at Flushing Meadows two years ago.
“The challenge is that you play a guy that won 23 Grand Slams, and I have only one,” Medvedev said, looking ahead to taking on Djokovic. “When I beat him here, I managed to play better than myself, so I need to do it again. There is no other way.”
Both Medvedev and Alcaraz played brilliantly in parts, so-so in others. Both interacted with the spectators, pointing to an ear to ask for more noise. In the final game, fans called out as Medvedev double-faulted twice while trying to seal the win against a guy who beat him in the Wimbledon semifinals en route to the title there in July.
But Medvedev managed to hold on.
“Really happy,” he said, “but the tournament is not over.”
If Djokovic does end up leaving with the hardware this time, he would break a tie with Serena Williams for the most major singles championships in the Open era.
“It’s another shot for history,” said Djokovic, who was seeded No. 2 at the U.S. Open but will replace Alcaraz at No. 1 next week no matter what happens Sunday.
Djokovic vs. Shelton certainly seemed like a mismatch beforehand: Djokovic was participating in his record 47th Slam semifinal and his 100th U.S. Open match; the 47th-ranked Shelton was in his first major semi and only his seventh career match at the Open.
Shelton won an NCAA singles title for the University of Florida last year and captured attention over the past two weeks with the powerful swings of his racket that generated a tournament-high 76 aces entering Friday, his shouts of “Yeah!” or biceps flexes after winning points and a victory-capping pantomime pretending his hand is an old-style telephone handset that he slams down.
“I thought it was very original, and I copied him,” Djokovic said with a smile. “I stole his celebration.”
Shelton actually borrowed it from former Florida track and field athlete Grant Holloway, a world champion hurdler.
Shelton insisted Djokovic’s end-of-match gesture didn’t bother him.
“I don’t like when I’m on social media and I see people telling me how I can celebrate or can’t celebrate. I think if you win the match, you deserve to do whatever you want,” Shelton said. “As a kid growing up, I always learned that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so that’s all I have to say about that.”
He made things interesting in the third set, lifting his level of play as Djokovic got tight when the finish line neared. Shelton broke for the only two times in the match, even held a set point at 5-4 and later erased a match point on the way to forcing the concluding tiebreaker.
The fans loved it.
“It was loud,” Shelton said. “I mean, really loud.”
But Djokovic, always so tough when the going gets tough, pulled out the win.
The retractable roof was closed because of rain in the forecast, creating echoes for the soundtrack of yells and applause in Arthur Ashe Stadium, where there were additional police officers and security guards a day after four climate protesters – including one man who glued his bare feet to the concrete in the stands – caused a 50-minute delay during Coco Gauff’s semifinal victory.
The ultimate outcome never truly appeared in doubt. Well, OK, there was that little surge by Shelton after he trailed 4-2 in the last set.
In the end, though, all of Djokovic’s experience prevailed, along with that ability to return serves, to grind away, point after point, with his sneaker-squeaking, body-bending defense and more.
“He’s a guy who can compete at the highest level, has a similar mentality to me on the court, with how he wants to come after you and be aggressive and show his emotion,” Shelton said. “It was really cool to see that matchup for the first time. Looking forward to hopefully getting it again.”
MEN’S GOLF NEWS
CJ CUP GOES TO A 5TH COURSE IN 5 YEARS. THIS TIME IT STAYS IN DALLAS AS BYRON NELSON SPONSOR
South Korea-based CJ Group will have its fifth straight PGA Tour event in a different city, only this time it’s staying put as the title sponsor of the Byron Nelson in the Dallas area.
The PGA Tour on Tuesday announced a long-term agreement for what now will be called The CJ Cup Byron Nelson. The South Korean global lifestyle company is taking over as title sponsor for AT&T, which had been the sponsor since 2015.
The CJ Cup Byron Nelson will be May 2-5 at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas. It will be the third “swing” event that will provide five spots into a $20 million signature event the following week at Quail Hollow.
That leaves Japan and the Zozo Championship in October as the only tournament remaining from the fall Asia swing. It previously included the CJ Cup of South Korea, the Zozo Championship and the HSBC Champions in Shanghai.
That changed in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The CJ Cup moved to Shadow Creek in Las Vegas in 2020 and the following year was held at The Summit in Las Vegas. And then in 2022, the CJ Cup moved to Congaree in South Carolina. Rory McIlroy is the two-time defending champion.
The defending champion of the Byron Nelson is Jason Day.
The Salesmanship Club of Dallas has run the Byron Nelson since 1968 and generated more than $185 million for charity. All proceeds benefit the Momentous Institute, which the Salesmanship Club has operated since 1920. It provides mental health services, education and professional training to children and families.
The Irish Open has moved from early July a year ago to early September, which ultimately has deprived the PGA Tour Champions event in St. Louis of its defending champion. Padraig Harrington wasn’t about to miss his national open.
But it’s not just the Irish Open that appeals to Harrington. This will be his seventh European tour event this year, and the Irishman is trying to find a comfort level that will lead to victory.
That’s a goal for the 52-year-old Harrington. He wants to be the oldest winner.
“There’s not a lot I could do in golf that would change my ceiling,” he said Tuesday from The K Club. “Like if I turned up in a major and finished fifth, wouldn’t even register. It’s great, but in the scheme of what I’ve done, it’s irrelevant. So what can I do that’s a little bit different, that can motivate me?
“Obviously if I can win a regular tour event, a European Tour event and become the oldest … it would be something different,” he said. “You’re always trying to find a goal.”
Harrington, a three-time major champion and former Ryder Cup captain, has missed only one cut this year on the PGA Tour, the European tour and the majors. That was in Dubai, his first tournament of 2023. He has two top-10 finishes, in Abu Dhabi and the Texas Open.
Attention seems to follow whoever makes a Ryder Cup team as a captain’s pick, good and bad. Darren Clarke was a pick in 2006, shortly after his wife died, and he delivered a 3-0 record for the week.
Then there was France, where three of the captain’s picks for the Americans – Tiger Woods, Bryson DeChambeau and Phil Mickelson – combined to go 0-9.
But now that each side has six picks, Justin Rose is among those who believe no one will stand out as much.
He was asked if being a pick brought additional pressure.
“Historically, yes. I think in this team scenario, no,” Rose said. “Because it’s half and half. Half the team are picks. I truly believe that there’s less pressure this time around on guys who have been picked.”
Maybe so.
But there have been plenty of questions raised for Europe about leaving off Adrian Meronk in favor of Shane Lowry, who hasn’t had a top 10 since the end of February at the Honda Classic.
And there has been plenty of conversation about Justin Thomas, who didn’t reach the PGA Tour postseason for the first time, and Rickie Fowler, who has a 1-6-5 record in his three Ryder Cups away from home and was 13th in the U.S. standings.
Rory McIlroy ended the PGA Tour season with 10 consecutive finishes in the top 10, a streak that began with a tie for seventh in the PGA Championship.
That’s according to official PGA Tour statistics.
It includes the Tour Championship, where McIlroy finished fourth. McIlroy began as the No. 3 seed at East Lake, meaning he started the tournament at 7-under par, three shots behind. McIlroy’s actual score was 7-under 273, which put him in a tie for 11th.
The longest streak of top 10s on the PGA Tour dating to 1983 is 12 in a row by Vijay Singh (2003 NEC Invitational through 2004 Pebble Beach Pro-Am). Right behind was Tiger Woods with 11 in a row (2007 U.S. Open through 2008 U.S. Open).
The weeks go by and the players from LIV Golf keep plunging in the world ranking without access to any points.
The latest example is Dustin Johnson, who held the No. 1 ranking longer than any other since Tiger Woods. He was No. 13 in the world when he signed with Saudi-backed LIV Golf in June 2022. He fell out of the top 100 two weeks ago and now is at No. 110.
Johnson last was outside the top 100 in February 2009, right before he won at Pebble Beach.
The only access to the majors, except for past major champions, is through the world ranking. LIV has only two players in the top 50 this week – Cameron Smith at No. 11 and Brooks Koepka at No. 15 – and four others who are assured of playing multiple majors next year (Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau and Martin Kaymer).
If the Official World Golf Ranking finds a way to grant LIV ranking points, the field strength will be so low it will be hard to make up any ground.
LIV now has only seven players in the top 100. When the year began, LIV had 11 players in the top 50 and 22 players among the top 100.
And it’s still only September.
John Gough and Mark Power, part of the GB&I team at the Walker Cup, are playing in the Irish Open this week. … Canadian duo Corey Conners and Brooke Henderson will compete in the mixed-team Grant Thornton Invitational in December. The event takes over for the old Shark Shootout and features 16 teams made up of a PGA Tour and LPGA player. Tony Finau and Nelly Korda have committed to play, along with Rickie Fowler and Jessica Korda. … The PGA Tour Champions will have a new postseason event next year. The Simmons Bank Championship at Pleasant Valley in Little Rock, Arkansas, will start in October 2024 as the second of three Charles Schwab Cup playoffs tournaments. … Billy Horschel is adding to his fall schedule by signing up to play the French Open. Tom Kim also is playing at Le Golf National the week before the Ryder Cup.
Scottie Scheffler had an adjusted scoring average of 68.629, the eighth-best for a PGA Tour season dating to 1980. The seven averages ranked ahead of him all belonged to Tiger Woods.
“We certainly don’t underestimate them. They are going to be extremely tough opponents, but we’ll be ready. We’ll be ready for them.” – European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald.
SHARMA AND SMITH SHARE LEAD AT IRISH OPEN AS MCILROY STRUGGLES TO MOUNT TITLE BID
STRAFFAN, Ireland (AP) Shubhankar Sharma and Jordan Smith shared the halfway lead at the Irish Open on Friday as Rory McIlroy struggled to mount a bid to win his home event for the second time.
Sharma shot 6-under 66 and Smith followed with a 65 as they finished the second round at The K Club on 13 under for the tournament, one shot ahead of Ross Fisher (66).
Smith, the world No. 85, was the only player in the top eight ranked inside the top 100, with the leading names in the field needing a big weekend to get into contention.
Shane Lowry, who was born about 45 minutes away in Clara, was alone in ninth place after a second straight 68 while McIlroy shot 70 – to lie eight off the lead on 5-under par – after a mixed end to his round.
The 2016 champion and No. 2-ranked player holed out for eagle from 116 yards at No. 16, only to follow that up with a double-bogey at the 17th after finding the rough off the tee and his second shot and missing a bogey putt from 4 feet. He then got up-and-down from a greenside bunker for a birdie at the last.
McIlroy was tied for 26th place and in a group including Adrian Meronk, the defending champion from Poland who also shot 70.
Sharma, who tied for eighth at the British Open at Hoylake either side of four straight missed cuts on regular European tour events, briefly had a six-shot lead on 14 under after racing to the turn in just 28 shots with seven birdies and two pars.
The Indian player could only cover the last seven holes in 1 over, then saw Smith – an afternoon starter – reel him in.
The second of Sharma’s two European tour wins came in February 2018.
“I took a four-week break after the Open and was sick last week so spent most of the weekend sleeping on my couch, but I still have good memories from the Open so I am just trying to continue that form,” Sharma said.
WOMEN’S GOLF NEWS
PEIYUN CHIEN POSTS 64 AND BUILDS 4-SHOT LEAD ON LPGA IN CINCINNATI
CINCINNATI (AP) Peiyun Chien of Taiwan holed out for eagle on the sixth hole and played bogey-free on Friday for an 8-under 64 to build a four-shot lead in the Kroger Queen City Championship as she tries for her first LPGA Tour victory.
Chien has won three times on what is now the Epson Tour and twice on the Taiwan LPGA.
“I really want to play well in America and go back to Asia, play Asian Games for my country” said Chien, who reached the halfway mark at 14-under 130 at Kenwood Country Club.
Ruoning Yin of China, who captured her first major this summer at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, also played bogey-free for a 66 that left her four shots behind with Morgane Metraux of Switzerland (66) and 18-hole leader Ruixin Liu of China (69).
Yin has a mathematical chance of reaching No. 1 in the women’s world ranking, which would allow her to join Shanshan Feng as the only players from China to be atop the ranking.
Chien attributed her great round to her putting. She said she prefers to swap out putters every week and is proud that she has kept this one in play for at least a month. It’s a good weapon to have on the Kendale course, which has firm and fast greens from dry weather.
Liu also was superb with the putter, and she needed to be. She didn’t hit the ball as well as she did Thursday when she shot a 65, but she holed plenty of putts for par to stay close, and then finished her round with a shot out of the fairway bunker to 12 feet for birdie.
Former U.S. Women’s Open champion Yuka Saso (66) and Charley Hull of England (68) were five shots behind.
Rose Zhang had a 68 and was eight shots behind.
Lexi Thompson had reason to celebrate – she gets to play golf for two more days. Thompson made eight birdies to offset some mistakes in her round of 68. That allowed her to make the cut for the first time since the Women’s PGA Championship, and it was her lowest score of the year in individual stroke play.
This is Thompson’s final event before the Solheim Cup in Spain on Sept. 22-24. U.S. Women’s Open champion Allisen Corpuz had another 72 and missed the cut, along with fellow U.S. Solheim Cup player Cheyenne Knight, who had a 73.
Linn Grant of Sweden shot 71 and missed the cut ahead of her Solheim Cup debut.
Perrine Delacour had a chance to be closer with her eight birdies. What held her back was opening with a double bogey, and then hitting into the hazard and making a double bogey on the 18th hole. Everything else in the middle was sharp.
“It’s definitely crazy,” Delacour said. “I don’t even know how many birdies I made all day. As a golfer you don’t want to start with a double and finish with a double. That’s why I’m kind of little upset of my round. But at the end of the day it’s still under par. I’m still near the top of the leaderboard, so I still got a chance for the weekend.”
TOP INDIANA PRESS RELEASES
COLTS FOOTBALL
WEEK 1: WHAT TO LOOK FOR
(COLTS RELEASE)
The vibe inside the Colts’ locker room this week was centered around confidence, but also a let’s-get-this-thing-going sort of anticipation.
It’s been seven months since Shane Steichen walked through the doors of the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center. It’s been four and a half months since Anthony Richardson flew from Kansas City to Indianapolis as the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. And that means: It’s been a long, long time of wondering what this all might look like.
On Sunday, when the Colts kick off against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lucas Oil Stadium, we – the public – will finally see it.
“We’re at that point of the year now where it’s enough about talking,” linebacker Zaire Franklin said. “It’s enough about projecting and assuming. You are who you put on tape.”
But players like Franklin, the four-time team captain and starting linebacker, have already seen it.
The Colts’ defense has practiced against Richardson and the offense for weeks. They’re among the select few who actually have an idea of what Steichen has dialed up for the offense in 2023. What it won’t be: The offense the Colts ran during the preseason, which was intentionally bland. Why would Steichen give away answers to the test before it starts?
“There’s not a lot of scheme that goes into preseason,” defensive tackle DeForest Buckner said. “They’re running their basic, vanilla offense. But it’s gonna be pretty cool to see coach Steichen and the coaching staff, their first game plan going into Week 1.”
Trevor Lawrence possesses a certain trait the Colts believe Richardson does – or, at worst, ultimately will – possess.
He doesn’t get sacked much.
Lawrence was sacked 27 times in 2022, 18th-most among regular starting quarterbacks, but that doesn’t tell the full story. More telling is this: Lawrence sacked 14.5 percent of the time he was pressured (27 sacks in 196 dropbacks, per Pro Football Focus), good for the fourth-lowest rate in the NFL behind Patrick Mahomes, Jared Goff and Justin Herbert.
“He’s really good with his feet,” Buckner said. “He’s really elusive, can dodge the rush, and he’s always looking downfield to make a play.”
The Colts sacked Lawrence four times in their Week 6 win over the Jaguars last season, a game which was more of an anomaly for the 2021 No. 1 overall pick. The Jaguars went 1-3 in games in which Lawrence was sacked four or more times; they were 8-5 otherwise.
And Lawrence’s ability to avoid sacks paid off for the Jaguars last season in a big way – Jacksonville scored on 17 percent of their drives on which Lawrence was pressured but not sacked, the sixth-highest rate in the NFL.
“You got him dead to rights and make you miss, little things like that,” Buckner said, “definitely it’s a little defeating for a pass rush.”
Here’s the thing with that quote: It wasn’t about Lawrence.
It was about Richardson.
“That was one of the big things I noticed with him when he came in is his pocket presence,” Buckner said.
Richardson was not sacked on any of the eight preseason dropbacks on which he was pressured, and on those plays showed a good feel for side-stepping the pass rush while keeping his eyes downfield. His first instinct is not to run, but to try to get the ball to one his teammates. Richardson, of course, can run – it’s just not a crutch for him when he feels pressure.
“I always try to keep my eyes downfield unless I see a wide-open lane,” Richardson said. “If there’s an opportunity to give somebody the ball — it’s their job to get the ball, I just gotta deliver it. If I have the opportunity to give them the ball, I’m going to take that over running it myself. But if I see a lane, I’m going to try to take it and get yards for my team.”
GAME NOTES
DATE: Sunday, September 10, 2023
GAME TIME: 1:00 PM ET
FOX: Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma, Shannon Spake
SiriusXM (also available on the SXM App) JAX: 94 or 390 IND: 132 or 229
ALL-TIME SERIES HISTORY REG. SEASON: IND leads series, 27-17 (JAX won 2 of past 3) THE LAST TIME … REG. SEASON: 10/16/22: JAX 27 at IND 34
(JAGS NOTES)
QB TREVOR LAWRENCE set career highs in pass yards (4,113) TD passes (25), rating (95.2) & rush TDs (5) in 2022, becoming 4th player ever under the age of 24 with 4,000+ pass yards, 25+ TD passes & 5+ rush TDs in a season. Has 746 career completions, 2nd-most ever by player in 1st 2 seasons. Has 7 TDs (5 pass, 2 rush) vs. 0 INTs with 102.4 rating in 4 career starts vs. Ind. • RB TRAVIS ETIENNE had 1,441 scrimmage yards (1,125 rush, 316 rec.) & 5 rush TDs in 2022 & became 4th Jax. RB ever with 1,100+ rush yards in a season. Had 108 scrimmage yards (86 rush, 22 rec.) in last meeting. • WR CHRISTIAN KIRK led team & set career highs in catches (84), rec. yards (1,108) & rec. TDs (8) last season. Had TD catch in final 3 games of 2022, incl. playoffs. Had 3 rec. TDs in 2 games vs. Ind. last season. • WR ZAY JONES set career highs in catches (82) & rec. yards (823) last season. • WR CALVIN RIDLEY makes Jax. debut after 4-year career (2018-21) with Atl., totaling 28 rec. TDs. • TE EVAN ENGRAM ranked tied-3rd among TEs in catches (career-high 73) & 4th in rec. yards (career-high 766) last season. Has 5+ catches in each of 3 career games vs. Ind. • LB FOYESADE OLUOKUN led NFL with 184 tackles in 2022, becoming 1st player since 2000 to lead league in tackles in consecutive seasons. Had 12 tackles in last meeting. • LB JOSH ALLEN led team with 7 sacks last season & ranked tied-3rd in NFL with 4 FFs. Has 4 sacks in his past 3 vs. Ind. • LB DEVIN LLOYD ranked 3rd among rookies with 115 tackles. • S RAYSHAWN JENKINS was 1 of 3 DBs with 100+ tackles (116) & 10+ PD (12) last season. Had 5 PD in 2 games vs. Ind. in 2022.
(COLTS NOTES)
QB ANTHONY RICHARDSON was selected No. 4 overall in 2023 NFL Draft. Can become 4th Ind. rookie QB to start Week 1 since 1990, joining Andrew Luck (2012), HOFer Peyton Manning (1998) & Jeff George (1990). Luck (309) & Manning (302) are 2 of 6 rookie QBs all-time with 300+ pass yards in Week 1. • RB ZACK MOSS had 70+ scrimmage yards in each of final 4 games of 2022 season with Buf., incl. career-high 121 yards in Week 18. • RB DEON JACKSON totaled career-best 445 scrimmage yards (236 rush, 209 rec.) last season. Had career-high 121 scrimmage yards (49 rec., 42 rush), 10 catches & rush TD in last meeting. • WR MICHAEL PITTMAN led team with career-high 99 catches last season & had 925 rec. yards & 4 rec. TDs. Set career highs in catches (13) & rec. yards (134) in last meeting. • WR ALEC PIERCE ranked 6th among rookies with 593 rec. yards last season. Had TD catch in last meeting. • WR ISAIAH MCKENZIE makes Ind. debut after setting career highs in catches (42) & rec. yards (423) last season with Buf. • DT DEFOREST BUCKNER had 8 sacks in 2022 & is 1 of 5 in NFL with 7+ sacks in each of past 5 seasons. Had sack in last meeting & aims for his 4th in row vs. Jax. with TFL. • DE KWITY PAYE had career-high 6 sacks & 10 TFL last season. • LB ZAIRE FRANKLIN ranked 4th in NFL with career-high 166 tackles in 2022 & was 1 of 8 with 5+ tackles in all 17 games. Had 10+ tackles & TFL in both games vs. Jax. last season. • LB SHAQUILLE LEONARD totaled 100+ tackles in each of 1st 4 seasons (2018-21) prior to only appearing in 3 games last season due to injury. Has 5+ tackles in each of 8 career games vs. Jax. • S RODNEY THOMAS ranked tied-4th among rookies in 2022 with team-best 4 INTs. Had INT in 3 of final 4 games of season.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — New Indianapolis Colts coach Shane Steichen was willing to be patient with Anthony Richardson before naming the rookie quarterback his starter.
The wait is almost over.
On Sunday, a little more than four months after Indy selected the former Florida prep star with the draft’s fourth overall pick, Richardson will trot onto the field Sunday against Jacksonville as the face of the Colts’ future — and present.
“I’m just trying to prepare for the game and make sure I’m on point,” he said Wednesday after spending eight hours on an off day preparing. “Running out of the tunnel and all that, that’s going to come, but me being on point and being ready — that’s all I’m focused on right now.”
It’s been a crash course for the 21-year-old rookie who will become the youngest opening day starting quarterback in franchise history and the third-youngest in NFL history.
For the Colts, this is more than just a new season. It’s a new era.
This marks the seventh straight season Indy will use a new starting quarterback in Week 1, a streak they’re hoping Richardson breaks next September. Steichen will be making key decisions for the first time as a head coach. The Colts even added a new, high-priced kicker in Matt Gay.
And it all starts with a home opener against the defending AFC South champion Jaguars, an old nemesis that eliminated Indy from playoff contention in a shocking 2021 season finale.
Even Jags coach Doug Pederson isn’t sure what to expect:
“It’s interesting, because we know (Colts defensive coordinator) Gus Bradley on defense. Second year in that system with those guys and all of that. The offensive side might be a little different or look a little different. Obviously, a young ascending quarterback, that can look a little different. I think you can prepare just by going back and understanding the history of their coaches and where they’ve been and who they’ve coached.”
The Jags are a known quantity, though.
Trevor Lawrence, the top overall pick in the 2021 draft, improved dramatically over the second half of last season and may now be the division’s top quarterback. His budding supporting cast includes veteran receivers Christian Kirk and Zay Jones, 1,000-yard rusher Travis Etienne Jr. and new addition Calvin Ridley, who is expected to appear in his first game since Oct. 24, 2021.
The bigger unknown, however, is the 6-foot-4, 244-pound Richardson, who went 6-7 as a college starter.
“When push comes to shove and somebody has the ball in their hands, you just try to get them down,” Jags linebacker Foye Oluokun said. “I know he’s big, I know he’s fast and explosive, it’s just the mentality. As soon as somebody gets the ball in their hands, you’ve just got to attack them.”
ROOKIE WAVE
This game marks the first of five the Jags are scheduled to play against rookie quarterbacks in 2023 — two against Richardson, two against Houston’s C.J. Stroud and one vs. Carolina’s Bryce Young in December.
“A lot of times you get a rookie guy, he’s (confused by) looks, maybe bringing some pressure from where it looks like it’s coming (elsewhere),” said Oluokun, one of 11 returning defensive starters.
Jacksonville also plays three games against second-year QBs — Desmond Ridder of Atlanta, Kenny Pickett of Pittsburgh and Brock Purdy of San Francisco.
THE OTHER STREAK
Indy also enters this weekend with a nine-game winless streak on opening day. They snapped the eight-game losing streak with last year’s tie at Houston, but the Colts still haven’t won in Week 1 since beating the Oakland Raiders 21-17 in September 2013.
“I think when you win your first home opener or on the road, I think it gives your team confidence,” Steichen said. “Even if you lose the game, it doesn’t mean you lose confidence. But yeah, obviously you want to win every game and obviously, the first one is a big one.”
ROAD WOES
Pederson has made Jacksonville’s struggles in Indy one of his weekly talking points. The Jaguars have lost five straight at Lucas Oil Stadium since 2017.
“We didn’t handle the road great last year and we didn’t handle this opponent great on the road last year,” he said. “Quite frankly, they’ve beaten us nine out of the last 10 (in Indy). We’ve got our work cut out for us. The unknown is just, ‘Hey, how are we going to respond to that?’”
COMMITTEE PLAN
With 2021 NFL rushing champion Jonathan Taylor mired in a contract dispute, still on the physically unable to perform list following offseason ankle surgery, and Taylor’s backup, Zack Moss (broken right arm), returning to practice Wednesday, Steichen plans to take a committee approach.
Veteran Deon Jackson and rookie Evan Hull would be the featured running backs if Moss doesn’t play. Jake Funk and Jason Huntley are the only other backs on the roster. They’re on the practice squad.
“Whoever’s got the hot hand — let them ride a little bit and go with that,” Steichen said. “We’ll rotate those guys in, see where everyone is at and like I said, we’ll ride with the hot hand.”
INDIANS BASEBALL
JONES SHUTOUT, GORSKI WEB GEMS AND GONZALES HOMER LIFT YOUNG BUCS IN VICTORY
INDIANAPOLIS – Jared Jones silenced the Mud Hens offense with a career-high tying 7.0 shutout innings and Osvaldo Bido earned his first career save to lead the Indianapolis Indians to their fourth shutout of Toledo this season on Friday night at Victory Field, 2-0.
Jones (W, 4-4) eclipsed 7.0 frames for the first time since June 26, 2022, with High-A Greensboro vs. Asheville to mark his first scoreless outing of at least 5.0 innings this season and his best Triple-A start with Indianapolis (62-72, 29-31) to date. After surrendering a leadoff double to Ryan Kriedler in the second inning, Jones sat down 11 of his next 12 batters faced without allowing a hit. Chase De Jong and Bido (S, 1) entered in relief for the eighth and ninth innings, respectively, to complete Indianapolis’ seventh shutout of the season.
While Jones was settling in, Nick Gonzales continued a torrid stretch against the Mud Hens (64-71, 31-30) this week with his third home run in his past five games. Since Sunday’s series finale at Buffalo, he is hitting .444 (8-for-18) with eight runs, four extra-base hits, a .545 on-base percentage and 1.601 OPS.
The defense also backed Jones, with center fielder Matt Gorski making a diving catch on a sharp line drive in the fourth inning and a one-handed snag with his arm outstretched on the warning track in the fifth to take away a pair of extra-base hits.
Toledo’s defense didn’t have the same luck, with a high fly ball off the bat of Ryan Vilade narrowly missing the outstretched glove of center fielder Eddys Leonard in the sixth inning, falling in for a triple to score Cal Mitchell. It was the second run scored against starter Keider Montero (L, 3-2), who struck out eight over 6.0 innings of work.
The two teams tied with five hits – two for extra-bases – and seven runners left on base in the contest. After a leadoff double to begin the top of the ninth inning, Bido stranded the game-tying run at home plate with a pair of strikeouts and pop up in foul territory. It was the right-hander’s first career save opportunity.
The Indians now lead the season set against Toledo, 12-3, with seven wins at home and will look to clinch a series victory tomorrow night at 6:35 PM ET. Taking the mound for Indianapolis will be RHP Max Kranick (0-1, 5.79) – who threw 20 pitches to open Tuesday’s series lid lifter – against RHP Spencer Turnbull (0-1, 7.71).
FEVER BASKETBALL
GAME RECAP: FEVER SLOWED DOWN BY SUN IN LAST ROAD GAME OF 2023
UNCASVILLE, CONN. – The Indiana Fever (12-27) fell to the Connecticut Sun, 76-59, on Friday night at Mohegan Sun Arena after recording its season-low offensive output.
Indiana was led by Kelsey Mitchell’s 15 points on 5-of-12 shooting from the floor. Mitchell dished out two assists, recorded two steals and netted her 500th career made free throw. NaLyssa Smith and Erica Wheeler followed behind with 14 points each. Smith pulled down six rebounds and recorded two blocks, while Wheeler added five rebounds, three assists and three steals. Aliyah Boston contributed seven points and seven rebounds.
In addition, the Fever tied a season-high 10 steals on the night.
The Fever were held to 28.6 percent (4-of-14) shooting in the first quarter. Sun forward Rebecca Allen and guard Natisha Hiedeman combined to shoot 5-of-6 from beyond the arc in the first frame, allowing Connecticut to take a 26-10 lead at the conclusion of the quarter.
After the Sun took a 21-point lead roughly two minutes into the second quarter, Indiana began an eventual 21-6 scoring run that cut the deficit to four points on one occasion. Indiana was able to outscore the Sun, 21-11, in the frame by holding Connecticut to just 4-of-16 shooting from the floor and 1-of-6 (16.7 percent) shooting from beyond the arc. Led by Wheeler’s seven points on 3-of-5 shooting and Mitchell’s six points on a perfect 2-of-2 shooting clip, the Fever trailed by only six points at halftime, 37-31.
Indiana shot a combined 9-of-30 (30 percent) from the floor in the second half while Connecticut went 16-of-27 (59.3 percent) from the court to take as much as a 17-point lead on one occasion in the fourth quarter. Mitchell added eight points in the second half, while Smith contributed seven points in the half. The Sun ended the game on a 24-9 scoring run to solidify the win.
For the Sun, Connecticut’s five players who added double-figure scoring in the wire-to-wire win were led by Tiffany Hayes’ 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the floor. DeWanna Bonner, Hiedeman, and Alyssa Thomas added 10 points each. Thomas neared another triple-double as she also recorded 14 rebounds and eight assists, while Bonner pulled down eight rebounds and dished out five assists. The Connecticut reserves outscored the Indiana reserves, 24-9, highlighted by DiJonai Carrington’s 10 points and six rebounds.
UP NEXT
The Fever conclude the regular season on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET against the Minnesota Lynx at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Sunday’s game will be broadcast on Bally Sports Indiana.
INDIANA FOOTBALL
INDIANA RUNS PAST SYCAMORES, 41-7
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Blowout victory found Josh Henderson deep in perspective mode. Indiana’s veteran running back had rocked Indiana State with his running and receiving, mirroring what the Hoosiers did as a team, and it was good, but not complete.
“It goes back to playing to our standard,” Henderson said about Friday night’s 41-7 victory over Indiana State at Memorial Stadium. “We know what we can be. We want to be as consistent as possible.”
Consistency came a week after the season-opening Ohio State disappointment.
“Last week was a struggle,” Henderson said. “Coming back and being able to dominate with the pass and run is a good thing.
“When we play the way we’re capable, that’s how it’s supposed to be. We want to be as consistent as possible.”
Victory brought dominance (559 total yards after producing just three points and 160 yards against Ohio State in the season opener), an imminent starting quarterback decision (hold that thought), and coaching points (seven penalties, six on special teams).
As Henderson put it, “We made mistakes. We’ll attack those mistakes in practice and be better the next week.”
Still, the Hoosiers (1-1) had made progress.
“We have the potential to be whatever we want to be,” defensive end Andre Carter said. “We have to keep working hard. Continue to keep growing and keep getting better.”
Defensively, the Hoosiers held Indiana State to 93 total yards. The Sycamores’ only points came by returning a fumble 75 yards for a touchdown.
“They didn’t have 100 yards of offense,” head coach Tom Allen said. “That’s hard to do.”
Still …
“I’m ticked we didn’t get the shutout.”
In the second quarter, Indiana State had a 12-play, 67-yard drive that frustrated Allen.
“We got ahead and let up. I want to see guys battle and compete. I challenged our leaders. We had to bow up and get the stop.”
IU did on cornerback Nic Toomer’s end zone interception, then held the Sycamores to just nine yards on their final five drives of the game.
“Our second-half response was excellent,” Allen said. “I wanted us to finish strong. It wasn’t perfect, but it was pretty darn good.”
Henderson ran for 60 yards and a touchdown, and caught three passes for 55 yards. It would have been more, but he dropped a pass that might have produced a touchdown.
That run-and-catch threat out of the backfield, he said, “Adds another element to our offense.
“I hold myself to a high standard when it comes to catching the ball. I still have things to work on, obviously.
As for the quarterback battle between Tayven Jackson and Brendan Sorsby …
Jackson started and went 18-for-21 for 236 yards. He also rushed for nine yards and a touchdown.
Sorsby was 9-for-16 for 108 yards. He rushed for 28 yards.
In two games, Sorsby was 17-for-32 for 166 yards. Jackson was 19-for-25 for 260 yards.
“They both played well,” Allen said. “We’ll evaluate both games and make a decision. We’ll have a starter for Week 3.”
Allen said he, offensive coordinator Walt Bell, and the coaching staff would make the decision.
“You watch their decision making,” he said. “They both commanded the offense. They both threw and ran well. They got the ball spread around. They both proved they can play. They’re young and talented. Our guys believe in both of them.”
Allen made it clear there would not be a quarterback rotation.
“You’ve got to have a guy,” he said. “That’s important. But you’ve got to have more than one who can play. We have that.”
That includes Dexter Williams II, still recovering from last year’s knee injury, although he’s expected back soon.
“We’ll eventually have three quarterbacks,” Allen said. “That’s a big deal.”
IU showed impressive offensive balance, rushing for 215 yards on 41 carries, and throwing for 344 yards.
“Our offense has explosive, talented players,” Allen said. “We had to get the timing down. We made positive strides.”
That it came against an Indiana State team lacking Ohio State’s talent didn’t diminish the progress.
“I understand we played a team not at the same level of talent,” Allen said, “but I was encouraged by the execution and the amount of guys involved. We have a deep team.
“We did what we needed to do. It was crisp, clean, and sharp.”
Jaylin Lucas ran 10 times for 88 yards and a pair of 25-yard touchdown runs. He also caught four passes for 39 yards.
“That’s what you want from him,” Allen said. “We want to get him the ball in space. He was very dynamic. He’s another guy in our arsenal.”
Redshirt freshman receiver Omar Cooper Jr. had a breakthrough game with seven catches for 101 yards. Not bad for guy who entered the game with zero career catches.
“I’m really pleased with him,” Allen said. “I’m not surprised. He has strong hands. He runs strong. He’s tough. He can block and make contested catches.”
Added Cooper: “I want to be the best receiver I can be. There isn’t a standard. Keep performing at a good level every game.”
IU needed just 80 seconds of offense to score its first touchdown of the season. Jackson was 3-for-3 for 33 yards on that first drive. Lucas bolted 25 yards for the TD and a 7-0 lead.
On the next Hoosier possession, Jackson and Sorsby directed an 81-yard scoring drive. Jackson was shaken up after a hit and came out for one play. Sorsby replaced him with a 31-yard completion to Cooper Jr. Lucas ended the drive with another 25-yard TD run and a 14-0 lead.
Jackson capped IU’s third touchdown drive of the first quarter with a 10-yard run for a 21-0 lead.
By the end of the first quarter, the Hoosiers had 234 yards to Indiana State’s 22.
The Sycamores scored their first points of the season late in the second quarter with that fumble return for a touchdown.
Sorsby led an IU drive that ended with a 28-yard Chris Freeman field goal as the Hoosiers reached halftime leading 24-7.
Jackson played the entire third quarter and directed a 93-yard scoring drive capped by Christian Turner’s 1-yard touchdown run. That made it 31-7.
Henderson added a 3-yard touchdown run for a 38-7 lead early in the fourth quarter.
Sorsby took over the IU offense with just under 10 minutes left. He led the Hoosiers to their final score, a 21-yard Nicolas Radicic field goal.
Victory came with this final thought — work remains with a trip to Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium and a matchup with Louisville next Saturday.
“We have a huge test next weekend,” Allen said. “It’s important to keep growing.”
INDIANA MEN’S SOCCER
INDIANA FALLS AT SOUTH FLORIDA
TAMPA, Fla. — No. 7-ranked Indiana men’s soccer (2-2-1) fell at South Florida on Friday (Sept. 8), a 1-0 road result.
Despite 10 shots, Indiana just couldn’t find the back of the net. The Hoosiers held firm defensively after USF’s 27th-minute score with the help of a career-high seven-save effort from JT Harms, as IU has yet to allow multiple goals in any of its five matches this season.
KEY MOMENTS
• 27′ – Senior midfielder Ajmeer Spengler played graduate student strike Jalen Anderson through, and the fifth-year player finished around Harms. Indiana appealed for offside, but the flag stayed down.
• 48′ – Junior forward Tommy Mihalic had IU’s first great chances moments out of the break after a great bit of play on the left wing. Mihalic’s right-footed shot from 19 yards out teased but trickled just outside of the near post.
• 78′ – Indiana’s best chance came in the 78th minute as sophomore forward Luka Bezerra used his skill to twist in on goal, but he couldn’t curl his shot past the keeper.
NOTABLES
• Indiana fell to 4-2-1 against USF all-time.
• Freshman Joel Demian made his Indiana debut, playing 50 minutes after coming on late in the first half.
• Senior goalkeeper JT Harms made a career-high seven saves.
UP NEXT
Indiana has a week to prepare for the start of Big Ten play as it welcomes Wisconsin to Jerry Yeagley Field at Bill Armstrong Stadium next Friday (Sept. 15). Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
INDIANA VOLLEYBALL
RAMMELSBERG LEADS HOOSIER BLOCK IN SWEEP OF LINDENWOOD
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Graduate student middle blocker Kaley Rammelsberg had a hand in all nine team blocks for the Indiana Volleyball team (5-3, 0-0) on Friday evening in a straight-sets sweep of Lindenwood (25-21, 25-17, 25-11).
The Westerville, Ohio native produced two solo blocks and seven block assists, setting an IU career best with nine rejections against Lindenwood. She previously had matches with nine and 11 blocks while at High Point.
Her nine stuffs in three sets are tied for the second most in the rally era at IU, a mark that has been met on six previous occasions. Ashley Benson (2010) has the three-set rally era record for blocks in a single match with 10.
Junior outside hitter Mady Saris produced a team-high 12 kills, giving her 25 on the day while junior setter Camryn Haworth recorded 28 assists and nine digs in the victory.
IU goes for the weekend sweep tomorrow afternoon at the Stachevile Challenge against the hosts Austin Peay at 3:30 PM ET.
Stats and Notes
Team
• The Hoosiers hit .290 as a team and held Lindenwood to just .096 offensively, the fifth time an IU opponent has hit under .100 as a team this season.
• For the fifth-straight match, IU recorded five kills. The team tally through eight matches sits at 51 aces overall which equates to 1.96 per set.
• IU outplayed Lindenwood in every major statistical category including hitting percentage (.290-.096), kills (42-24), digs (38-31) and blocks (9.0-3.0).
#4 Saris, Mady
• IU’s top offensive option went for 25 kills on the day including 12 in the match against Lindenwood. She hit .407 (13-2-27) against Valpo and .360 (12-3-25) against Lindenwood.
• Saris now has recorded 10+ kills in six of eight matches this season and has 83 kills overall through the first three weeks of the season.
#10 Haworth, Camryn
• IU’s junior setter came one dig shy of a double-double in both matches today with a 28-assist, nine-dig performance against Lindenwood.
• With her ace against Lindenwood, she now has recorded an ace in 11-straight matches dating back to the 2022 season.
#18 Rammelsberg, Kaley
• IU’s most veteran player was a force at the net, playing a role in all nine team blocks against Lindenwood.
• She combined for 15 blocks and 15 kills in both matches on Friday.
#32 Gary, Ramsey
• Gary recorded 25 digs combined in both matches against Valparaiso and Lindenwood and now has 10+ digs in seven of eight matches this year.
Scoring Recap
Set 1: Indiana 25, Lindenwood 21
• Sophomore outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles slammed home five kills while Rammelsberg rejected four shots in a close set-one win.
• IU took a 14-9 lead before Lindenwood scored four-straight points to force an IU timeout and bring the score within one. Saris closed out the first frame with a kill to win 25-21.
Set 2: Indiana 25, Lindenwood 17
• IU held Lindenwood to just .036 hitting (7-6-28) in the second set while digging 13 balls and recording four blocks.
• The Hoosiers jumped out to an 11-2 lead in the set with Rammelsberg blowing the frame open with an emphatic kill.
• Redshirt freshman setter Natalia Hagopian recorded her first career ace to hand IU a first set point before a Lindenwood service error closed out the frame.
Set 3: Indiana 25, Lindenwood 11
• Saris had seven kills in the final set including a number of overpass kills on tough serves from Haworth. The Hoosiers hit .455 (19-4-33) as a team in the final game.
• IU opened the frame on an 11-3 run with freshman middle blocker Ava Vickers getting in on the action with a kill.
• Haworth served the final six points of the match as IU closed the game on a 7-0 run to see out Lindenwood in straight sets.
PURDUE FOOTBALL
PURDUE VISITS VIRGINIA TECH SEEKING BOUNCE-BACK WIN AGAINST A HOKIES TEAM TRYING TO GO 2-0
Purdue (0-1) at Virginia Tech (1-0), Saturday, noon ET (ESPN2)
Line: Virginia Tech by 3, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Series record: Virginia Tech leads 1-0.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
Purdue is trying to give new coach Ryan Walters his first win, but also looking to avoid the program’s first 0-2 start since 2018. With another Power Five matchup next week against Syracuse, the Boilermakers can’t afford to be staring at a possible 0-3 mark. Brent Pry is trying to get the Hokies off to a 2-0 start in his second season after they went 3-8 last year.
KEY MATCHUP
Virginia Tech’s passing game against the Boilermakers’ defense. Hokies quarterback Grant Wells has a big arm and threw for three TDs in the opening win against Old Dominion, all to wide receivers from the transfer portal. Transfer Ali Jennings caught two and has the ability to turn short passes into big gains, potentially turning a questionable first-down catch into a back-breaker.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Purdue: WR Deion Brooks. The team’s fastest player had a breakout peformance in Week 1 in the loss to Fresno State, catching four passes for 152 yards and the first two TDs of his career. His previous two-year totals: 16 catches, 175 yards. Could the Big Ten’s early leader in yards receiving emerge as the next in Purdue’s line of NFL receivers following Rondale Moore, David Bell and Charlie Jones?
Virginia Tech: Wells. He threw bad interceptions at times last season when he didn’t have a receiving corps that was equal to his arm strength. Jennings is the most accomplished of the three newbies, but Middle Tennesse State transfer Jaylin Lane also caught a 20-yard TD.
FACTS & FIGURES
Purdue QB Hudson Card was 17 of 30 with 254 yards, two TDs and no interceptions in his first start at Purdue. … Tyrone Tracy Jr returned a kickoff 98 yards for a TD. … Purdue is 15-16-2 all-time against ACC foes and has won four of its last six road openers. … Virginia Tech won the lone previous matchup, 51-24, in West Lafayette, Indiana, in 2015. … Pry faced Purdue twice during his time as defensive coordinator at Penn State, with the Nittany Lions winning both matchups, 62-24 in 2016 and 35-7 in 2019.
PURDUE VOLLEYBALL
BOILERMAKERS SHINE IN 3-1 VICTORY VS. SMU
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The No. 20 Purdue volleyball team took down SMU, 3-1 (21-25, 25-14, 25-17, 25-23) in the first day of the Stacey Clark Classic.
The Boilermakers improve to a three-match win streak and a 4-2 record, while the Mustangs, who were coming off a victory vs. No. 14 Baylor, fall to 3-4 on the year. With the result, Purdue will play No. 19 Kentucky in the Stacey Clark Classic championship match at 7 p.m. ET, while SMU will play No. 21 Houston at 4 p.m. ET. All matches will be streamed on B1G+
Quick Hits
Purdue played one of its best overall matches of the season, recording a.346 attack % and 12 total blocks. The team’s hitting % was the most efficient performance in 16 matches (last: .347 vs. Indiana, 10/30/22).
Eva Hudson recorded her fourth straight double-double behind a season-high-tying 21 kills and 10 digs. Meanwhile, she produced a season-high .378 attack % and season-high three service aces
In her first career start, Taylor Anderson registered 56 assists, the most by a Boilermaker since 2019 (Hayley Bush in 5 sets vs. Indiana, 10/9/19), coupled with a career-high six total blocks (1-5) and an errorless 3 kills (.600%).
Graduate student Maddie Schermerhorn became the 21st Boilermaker in program history to reach 1,000 digs. The 2022 Second Team All-Big Ten honoree is one of the best defensive specialists to wear the Old Gold and Black, having averaged 4.62 digs per set last season, third in program history.
Lourdes Myers had the best night of her collegiate career, setting bests in kills (9) and blocks (5).
A balanced Purdue offense saw six Boilermakers on the attack, with every outside hitter or middle blocker recording seven or more kills.
Freshman Chloe Chicoine recorded her third straight double-double with 17 kills and 10 digs. Moreover, her .361 hitting % was a career-high.
Set 1: (21-25)
Chloe Chicoine led with 6 kills and a .333 hitting %
Maddie Schermerhorn produced 6 digs.
Set 2: (25-14)
Purdue out-hit SMU .400 vs. .000 in the set.
Purdue’s sideout: 80%.
Through two sets, Lourdes Myers remained errorless with four kills on five swings (.800) alongside two block assists.
Maddie Schermerhorn tallied seven digs.
Set 3: (25-17)
The Boilermakers led the entirety of the set.
No Boilermaker had more than one attack error.
Raven Colvin went a perfect 3-for-3 on the attack.
Chloe Chicoine registered a team-leading six digs.
Set 4: (25-23)
SMU had the 20-21 advantage late in the fourth set, but the Boilermakers tied it up at 21-21, 22-22, 23-23 before taking the final two points.
Lourdes Myers and Chloe Chicoine gave Purdue the go-ahead on a block assist for the 24-23 advantage.
Maddie Schermerhorn recorded her 1,000th dig in the set.
Taylor Anderson totaled 17 assists.
Eva Hudson led the team with seven kills on 11 sings with one error (.545%).
BUTLER VOLLEYBALL
BUTLERVB SWEEP INDIANA STATE AT THE MSU COMFORT INN-VITATIONAL
MOREHEAD, KY. — The Butler volleyball team completed the sweep 3-0 against Indiana State (25-23, 25-22, 25-17) at the MSU Comfort Inn-Vitational. The Bulldogs ended their four-game losing streak to move to 4-4 on the season.
Set 1: Butler 25-23
Indiana State jumped out to an early 6-4 lead but kills by Grace Boggess and Cora Taylor helped the Bulldogs come back to tie the score at 8-8. The Sycamores followed up with an 11-4 run where they had four serving aces and lengthened the lead to 19-12. The momentum then shifted in favor of Butler after a 5-0 run on the back of Elise Ward helped cut the lead to 19-16. The Bulldogs continued the success going on another 5-0 spurt to take the lead 23-22 for the first time in the set. Mariah Grunze then helped cap off the Butler comeback earning a kill on set point to win 25-23. Boggess led the team with 4 kills while Taylor added 12 assists.
Set 2: Butler 25-22
Kills by Boggess and Reese Bates helped the Bulldogs dash out to a 4-2 lead. The Sycamores would crawl back to tie it at 7-7 and then extend their lead to 14-10. A 4-0 run with kills from Grunze and Boggess helped the Bulldogs flip the score giving them a 21-19 lead. The Sycamores would soon fight back once again to take a 21-22 lead. Butler responded by closing out the set on a 4-0 spurt using a serving ace by Abby Maesch and another match-point kill by Grunze. Taylor finished with a set-high 13 assists.
Set 3: Butler 25-17
Butler was dominant in the third frame as they would hold onto the lead for the entire set. Two kills and a serving ace by Ward helped Butler storm out to a 4-1. The Bulldogs would continue to pile it on the Sycamores as Jaymeson Kinley had two serving aces during a 6-0 run that extended the lead to 10-2. Indiana State cut the lead back to within four points at 14-10, but they would fall farther behind again after a 4-0 lead put Butler in front 22-13. Kills from Grunze and Ward helped put the Sycamores to bed to win the match.
Stat of the Match
Three Bulldogs reached double figures in kills including Elise Ward (12 kills) Mariah Grunze (12 kills) and Grace Boggess (10 kills). Butler’s defense also stood tall as they limited the Indiana State players to less than nine kills individually in the match.
Inside the Box Score
Taylor padded the stat sheet earning her second consecutive double-double with 33 assists and 10 digs.
Ward tied for a game-high 12 kills and seven digs.
Grunze also had 12 kills to go with five digs and a serving ace.
Kinley accumulated 17 digs and two serving aces.
Boggess finished with 10 kills and a team-high two blocks.
Up Next
The Bulldogs will return to action tomorrow for the final match of the MSU Comfort Inn-Vitational against the hosts Morehead State at 2 p.m.
IUPUI VOLLEYBALL
VOLLEYBALL CLOSES OUT SOUTH DAKOTA CLASSIC
VERMILLION, S.D. – The IUPUI volleyball team closed out the South Dakota Classic on Friday afternoon when they fell to South Dakota, 3-0 and Drake, 3-0. The Jags leave South Dakota 0-3 on the weekend.
In the first match of the day, the Jags lost to host South Dakota in three sets. South Dakota took set one, 25-12, won the second set, 25-17 and sealed the win with a third set victory, 25-18.
Although IUPUI collected more kills with 31 compared to the Coyotes 29, South Dakota’s front wall was too solid for the Jags as the Coyotes earned 11 blocks. Attack errors hurt as IUPUI committed 21 errors compared to South Dakota’s nine.
Freshman Ava Harris and Maia Long led the Jaguar attack in match one with seven kills each while Grace Purichia and Kate White each added five kills. Purichia also led the team in assists with 23 and digs with seven.
The Jags then faced Drake, falling in three sets to the Bulldogs. IUPUI struggled in the first set, falling 25-12, but came out strong in the second set. Although the Jags fought to keep tying the second set, the Bulldogs took set two, 26-24. Drake closed out the match with a 25-19 third set win.
IUPUI’s attack errors proved costly again as the Jags hit just .165 percent compared to Drake’s .380 percent. Harris once again led the attack with 13 kills while Morgan Ostrowski added seven kills. Purichia led in assists with 32 while Brooke Phillips totaled 13 digs and Briana Brown collected 12 digs.
The Jags are now 4-5 on the season and return home when they host Southern Indiana in the Jungle on September 13 with first serve set for 6:00 PM.
IUPUI MEN’S SOCCER
MEN’S SOCCER TO OPEN HORIZON LEAGUE PLAY AGAINST WRIGHT STATE
INDIANAPOLIS – The IUPUI men’s soccer team will open Horizon League play on Saturday (Sept. 9) when the Jaguars host Wright State (0-1-2) at the on-campus Michael A. Carroll Stadium at 3:00 p.m. Saturday’s game will be broadcast on ESPN+ as Kurt Darling (pxp) is on the call.
IUPUI (1-2-1) is coming off a 1-1 draw at Eastern Illinois earlier this week as graduate transfer Kyle Healy netted an equalizer in the 85th minute to secure a result. For the year, the IUPUI has been outscored by an 11-4 margin in four games, but won its lone home contest with a 3-1 victory over Southern Indiana. Senior Lukas Hackaa leads the team with two goals while Josemir Gomez and Healy each have a tally. Four different Jaguars each have an assist as well.
Sophomore defender Brady Horn has played a team-high 347 minutes while Hackaa has played 335 in the center of the park. Senior Logan Finnegan has attempted a team-high 13 shots and is third on the team in minutes played, but is still seeking his first point of the campaign. In goal, Lucas Morefield has started three of the four games with a 3.33 goals against average and 10 saves to his credit.
ON THE POSTER: Finnegan will be featured on Saturday’s gameday poster at Carroll Stadium.
SCOUTING WRIGHT STATE: WSU is 0-1-2 on the year and 0-1-1 on the road with a draw at Xavier and a loss at No. 11 Marshall. Most recently the Raiders played St. Francis (Pa.) to a 3-3 draw at home on Sept. 2. Reece Allbaugh has a team-high three points and six shot attempts through three games. In goal, Natan Admassu has a 3.20 goals against average with a .556 save percentage.
VERSUS THE RAIDERS: IUPUI is just 5-18-1 all-time against the Raiders, but is unbeaten in the past three meetings, going 2-0-1 in that stretch. Last season, the two teams played to a 2-2 draw in the regular season before the Jaguars won in the Horizon League Tournament semifinals by a 3-0 score.
UP NEXT: IUPUI will host Loyola on Tuesday, Sept. 12 at 6:00 p.m. at Carroll Stadium.
NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL
NO. 10 NOTRE DAME AIMS TO EXTEND ITS WIN STREAK AGAINST ACC TEAMS WHEN IT VISITS N.C. STATE
No. 10 Notre Dame (2-0) at North Carolina State (1-0), Saturday, 12 p.m. ET (ABC)
Line: Notre Dame by 7 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Series record: N.C. State leads 2-1.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
The Fighting Irish have started fast with a new quarterback pushing the offense and have the goal of reaching the College Football Playoff. They’ll visit the Wolfpack, who installed a new offense in the offseason for a program with a steady run of success under 11th-year coach Dave Doeren.
KEY MATCHUP
N.C. State QB Brennan Armstrong vs. the Irish’s defense. Armstrong was one of the nation’s top passers in 2021 at Virginia under coordinator Robert Anae. They’re together now at N.C. State, where Armstrong’s ability to move the chains with his legs is vital for a team still trying to develop a go-to receiver. But Notre Dame’s defense has yet to allow an opponent to reach the end zone this season, allowing only a field goal in each of the Navy and Tennessee State wins.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Notre Dame: QB Sam Hartman. The former Wake Forest passer is familiar with the Wolfpack as an every-year opponent in the ACC. Hartman lost in Raleigh with the Demon Deacons last year, taking four sacks in the 30-21 loss.
N.C. State: WR Keyon Lesane. N.C. State needs someone to step up in its receiving corps, and Lesane was the most-possibility to do so during the offseason. He had just two catches for 22 yards in the opener against Connecticut.
FACTS & FIGURES
Notre Dame has won 28 straight regular-season games against Atlantic Coast Conference opponents. … The Fighting Irish moved up three spots in the AP Top 25 poll. … N.C. State has won 16 of 17 home games dating to 2020 and hasn’t lost a home game in the month of September since 2014. … The Wolfpack took the first two meetings in the series, first with Philip Rivers leading a Gator Bowl win to end the 2002 season. N.C. State also beat the Fighting Irish in Raleigh in 2016 in a game played during monsoon-like conditions due to Hurricane Matthew. … The Fighting Irish have given up 110 yards passing through two games. This also marks the first time since 1975 that the Fighting Irish haven’t surrendered a touchdown through two games.
NOTRE DAME NOTES:
NOTRE DAME – NC STATE SERIES HISTORY • Notre Dame and NC State will be meeting for just the fourth time on Saturday afternoon. The Wolfpack lead the all-time series 2-1. • The Irish will be making their second trip to Raleigh this weekend. In 2016, Notre Dame and NC State played a water-logged game as Hurricane Matthew worked its way through North Carolina. The Wolfpack earned a 10-3 victory in a game that included a 30-minute weather delay at the start of the second half. • Sullivan Absher (Belmont), Sam Hartman (Charlotte), Bryce McFerson (Indian Trail), Sam Pendleton (Lawsonville) and Davis Sherwood (Greensboro) will all be returning to their home state of North Carolina for this weekend’s game. • See page 9 for a look at Notre Dame’s last meeting against NC State and a full series breakdown.
IRISH ITEMS – BY THE NUMBERS
0
Notre Dame has started the season 2-0 without allowing a touchdown
to Navy or Tennessee State. It marks the first time the program has
not given up a touchdown in the season’s first two games since 1975
(Boston College 17-3, Purdue 17-0).
2
Notre Dame and UCLA are the only two teams in the country with two
different running backs notching touchdown receptions. The Irish
are the only team in the country with two different running backs
with touchdown receptions over 40 yards (Jadarian Price 40 yards,
Gi’Bran Payne 41 yards both vs. Tennessee State).
3rd
Is Gi’Bran Payne turning into a third-down specialist? After two
games, the sophomore running back leads the team with four third
down conversions. See page 16 for a full break down of Irish performances on 3rd and 4th down.
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.
7
Sam Hartman has thrown just seven incomplete passes over two
games (33-40) and is responsible for seven touchdowns (6 passing,
1 rushing).
10 Howard Cross III joins Jack Kiser and Marist Liufau as Notre Dame’s
leading tacklers with 10 each through two games.
28
Notre Dame hopes to extend its regular-season winning streak
against Atlantic Coast Conference teams to 29 this weekend. The Irish
have not lost a regular-season game to an ACC school since a 41-8
loss at Miami in 2017. See page 10 for more.
31
Notre Dame has seen 31 different student-athletes make their college
football debuts through two games this season – that group includes
13 true freshman that have seen their first action.
36
With two passing touchdowns and his first rushing score in an Irish
uniform, Sam Hartman extended his FBS-leading streak of games
being responsible for at least one touchdown to 36 contests.
83 Irish quarterback Sam Hartman has thrown 83 touchdown passes
since 2021 – the most of any Power 5 quarterback.
92
Notre Dame has outscored its first two opponents in 2023 by 92
points. That is the biggest point differential in the first two games of
the season since 1932 when Notre Dame defeated Haskell 73-0 and
Drake 62-0 (135 points).
100
When an Irish running back reaches the 100-yard plateau, that typically coincides with a Notre Dame victory. Since 2021, the Irish are
17-2 (.895) when at least one ND player reaches 100 rushing yards.
110
The Irish defense has held its first two opponents to just 110 passing
yards (43 vs. Navy, 67 vs. Tennessse State) which is the first time
since 2016 the Irish have back-to-back games giving up less than 70
yards passing.
TWO-DEEP TIDBITS – OFFENSE Jayden Thomas, the leading returning receiver from 2022, has proved that role accurate in ‘23. Thomas leads the team with 8 catches for 125 yards, which includes three third-down catches. Deion Colzie continued his penchant for key third down conversions against Navy and also turned a short pass to the outside into a 25-yard touchdown reception. Chris Tyree has shifted to wide receiver after three years as a running back with the Irish. He caught three passes for 36 yards against Navy and a 24-yard touchdown vs. TSU. 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. 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. See page 7 for more on Alt. Pat Coogan made his first career start in just his second game played against Navy. He has helped the Irish average 206.0 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 24th-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 221 rushing yards against Tennesee State. 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 capped Notre Dame’s scoring drive before halftime against TSU with a leaping four-yard touchdown catch for his first career scoring reception. Rico Flores Jr. has shown a penchant for getting open in the preseason and posted the first reception of the game against Tennessee State, finishing the game with two catches for 31 yards. Sam Hartman is 1-2 against NC State in his career and 0-2 in Carter-Finley Stadium. Against the Wolfpack Hartman is 72-131 passing for 923 yards (308/game) with six touchdowns and six interceptions. Audric Estimé rushed for 95 yards in the opener against Navy, then followed up with his fourth career 100-yard rushing performance against TSU with 13 carries for 116 yards and one touchdown. Gi’Bran Payne has converted four third-down attempts in 16 touches. Jadarian Price has scored two touchdowns this season on eight touches (six carries, two receptions). His first career carry against Navy was a 19-yard touchdown. His second career catch was a 40-yard touchdown reception. Jeremiyah Love is averaging 9.6 yards per rush and owns a 36-yard rushing touchdown (vs. TSU). Spencer Shrader decided to play his final year at Notre Dame, claimed the starting kicker duties and has not looked back. A former professional soccer player, Shrader has rushed twice in his career (once for a 22-yard touchdown), caught a pass for seven yards, made two tackles on kick offs, punted once for 36 yards and has converted 28 career field goals. Bryce McFerson has a booming leg and was slated to be the Irish kickoff specialist last season as a true freshman, before an injury kept him off the field. His first career punt for Notre Dame against Tennessee State ended up as a 54-yard boot. 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 two games from his defensive end position with five tackles, one sack and a quarterback hurry. Joshua Burnham leads the team 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 distruptive 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 is coming off an early-career-best game with five tackles against Tennesee 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 joins Jack Kiser and Marist Liufau as the team leaders with 10 tackles each, with Cross III playing on the interior of Notre Dame’s defensive line. Javontae Jean-Baptiste single handedly ended a Navy drive with back-to-back tackles at the line in the second quarter. He followed up his ND debut against the Midshipmen with three tackles and a quarterback hurry against TSU. 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 two games of the year. He is tied for the team lead with 10 tackles. JD Bertrand is the defacto leader of the Irish defense, and is one of the most prolific tackling linebackers of the last 20 years. See page 7 for more on Bertrand. 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 led the team with eight tackles against Navy. 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 (37 games played) Hart has 73 career tackles, 14 PBUs and two interceptions. DJ Brown returned for a fifth year and is the ‘quarterback’ of the back seven for Notre Dame’s defense. A solid and sure tackler, Brown has 109 career stops and three interceptions in his career. Xavier Watts has grown from a rookie wide receiver into one of Notre Dame’s starting safeties. He has appeared in 28 games and has 60 career tackles to his credit. Benjamin Morrison was a Freshman All-American last season, and is focused on taking his game to an even higher level in 2023. 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 39 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. 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.
NC STATE NOTES:
THE GAME • Saturday’s game will mark the fourth time that NC State and Notre Dame have met on the gridiron and the third regular season meeting between the two teams. • The teams faced off following the 2002 campaign in the Toyota Gator Bowl, when the Wolfpack capped off the winningest season in school history (11-3) with a 28-6 victory over the 11th-ranked Irish. That was the only time NC State has won a game involving two teams that had 10 wins entering the game. • On the day that NC State celebrated the 50th anniversary of the first game in Carter-Finley Stadium, the two teams slugged it out in the torrential rain caused by the outer bands of Hurricane Matthew. A blocked punt return by FS Dexter Wright early in the fourth quarter was the game’s lone touchdown and gave the Pack a 10-3 victory. • The No. 14 Pack traveled to South Bend to take on the ninth ranked Irish on Oct. 28, 2017. Notre Dame won that contest handily: 35-14. • Wolfpack quarterback Brennan Armstrong has never faced Notre Dame. When his former team, Virginia, played the Irish in 2021, he was sitting out with broken ribs. • NC State has faced Notre Dame quarterback Sam Hartman three times at his previous school: Wake Forest. Hartman was 1-2 vs. the Pack, losing both games in Carter-Finley. He put up big numbers, though – throwing for 823 yards on 72-131 passing. Although he threw six touchdowns in those three games, he also threw six interceptions and was sacked 13 times. • This will mark the first time since 2005 that the Wolfpack faces a ranked opponent in its home opener. NC State dropped that contest, 16-20, to No. 8 Virginia Tech. • The Wolfpack has blocked a punt that for a touchdown in each of the past two games against the Fighting Irish. In 2016, Pharoah McKever blocked a punt that was returned by Dexter Wright for the game’s only TD by either team, while in 2017, James Smith-Williams (Washington Commanders) blocked a punt that was recovered by Germaine Pratt (Cincinnati Bengals) in the endzone.
HOME vs. NON-CON NC State has won its last 24 home games against non-conference opponents, dating back to a 2013 loss to East Carolina. In other words, Dave Doeren (now in his 11th year as head coach of the Wolfpack), has not lost a home game to a non-con opponent since year 1. The Wolfpack has won 23 straight home games vs. non-ACC teams, with the last loss coming on Nov. 23, 2013 to ECU (28-42). SEPTEMBER SUCCESS The Wolfpack hasn’t lost a home game in the month of September since 2014. Since that 41-56 loss to No. 1 Florida State on 9/27/14 has won 19 straight home games in the month of September plus one late August win. PACK-ED HOUSE Before the Wolfpack even kicked off in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl on Dec. 30, 2022, NC State had sold more than 31,000 season tickets for 2023. Wolfpack Nation has continued to show its anticipation with 35,000 season tickets sold (and that number doesn’t include the sold out suites and club level in Towne Bank Center). It marks just the fourth time in school history the Pack has surpassed the 35k mark and marks the most season ticket revenue in program history. Last season, the Wolfpack sold out six of its seven home games. That was the highest number of sold out games for NC State Football since 2003, when then-QB Philip Rivers had just one kid (his 10th is on the way!). As of Aug. 15, 2023, the Pack has already repeated the feat for 2023 with six games completely sold out and as of Sept. 4 had just 350 tickets remaining to the VMI game. SIZE MATTERS NC State’s home field advantage will get even more advantageous in 2023 with the addition of the new videoboard on the north end of Carter-Finley Stadium. The 7,121 square foot board, which is the 11th largest single-display board in college football, boasts 6.6+ million pixels. The concert-grade sound system will be one of the loudest and clearest in the country, with 75 Audio Speakers covering the entire stadium. For perspective, the board is 50’ wider than the height of the Memorial Belltower.
NOTRE DAME VOLLEYBALL
IRISH SWEEP ILLINOIS IN HOME OPENER
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Notre Dame Fighting Irish took down the Illinois Fighting Illini in an impressive three set victory in the home opener at Purcell Pavilion on Thursday, September 7. After starting the Irish Invitational 1-0, Notre Dame is now 3-2 on the season.
It was a great team win for the Irish as Sydney Palazzolo and Ava Lange led the way offensively with 15 kills and 12 kills, respectively. Phyona Schrader played a well rounded match as she recorded seven kills, five digs, and five blocks for the Irish. Finishing with three kills, a .429 hitting percentage and a team-best six blocks, Lauren Tarnoff was a big factor in tonight’s victory as well. Nicole Drewnick dished out 36 assists, averaging 12 per set, and Hattie Monson recorded a team-high 17 digs for the Irish.
While the Irish started off slow in set one, it didn’t take long for the team to get going. Despite Illinois claiming the 5-1 advantage to start, the Notre Dame offense came alive and took the lead 14-9 after a kill from Charity McDowell. The Illini made it an even set at 17-17, 18-19, and 19-19. The Irish looked to terminate as they outscored Illinois 6-2 to close the set with kills from Palazzolo, Lange, Drewnick, and Schrader to take home set one 25-21.
Notre Dame’s momentum carried into set two as they posted an early 13-6 lead over the Illini. A late run from Illinois closed that gap as they were able to get within two at 17-15, but Notre Dame pulled away yet again. The Irish closed out the set 25-19, with five of the Irish’s final 10 points coming off of Palazzolo kills.
Set three was a close one through the entirety of the set. With 17 ties over the course of set three, neither squad could pull away from the other. After continuously swapping points, it was an even set at 21-21. After an attacking error followed by a block from Tarnoff and Drewnick, the Irish took the advantage 23-21. The Illini brought it within one again at 23-22, but another block from Lange and Tarnoff coupled with a Lange kill completed the sweep for the Irish as they won set three 25-22.
The Irish will take on Oklahoma on Saturday, September 9 at 2 p.m. at Purcell Pavilion in their final match of the Irish Invitational.
NOTRE DAME MEN’S SOCCER
MATCH 5 PREVIEW: CLEMSON
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The No. 20 Irish men’s soccer team opens ACC play with a weekend showdown against Clemson at Alumni Stadium at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, Sept. 9. The match will air on ACCNX.
No. 20 NOTRE DAME vs. CLEMSON
Location: South Bend, Indiana | Alumni Stadium
TV: ACCNX
Live Stats: Click Here
Twitter Updates: @NDMenSoccer
Game Notes: vs. Clemson
THE CLEMSON SERIES
• The Irish and Tigers will meet on the pitch for the 14th time on Saturday.
• Notre Dame holds a lead in the all-time series with a record of 6-5-2.
• The Irish and Tigers met in the ACC Tournament last season with Clemson winning by a score of 3-1 at Clemson.
• Saturday’s matchup will be just the fourth in South Bend between the two sides with the Irish holding a 2-1-0 advantage when playing at Alumni.
LAST TIME OUT
• Notre Dame remained unbeaten after defeating Detroit Mercy by a score of 1-0 on Tuesday evening.
• Matthew Roou scored in his third straight game off an assist from Bryce Boneau in the 18th minute, which proved to be the winner.
• The Irish were on the front foot for the majority of play, recording more shots (15-8), corners (10-1) and shots on target (6-1).
• The Notre Dame defense secured its third straight clean sheet in the victory.
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 all four matches in 2023.
•All four 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 Irish have not trailed at any point through four matches this season.
DOMINATING DEFENSE
• The Fighting Irish have allowed just one goal through four matches during the 2023 campaign.
• The 0.25 goals against average ranks tied for first in the ACC and tied for third in the country.
• Since allowing a goal to No. 2 Indiana in the 28th minute in the season opener, the Irish have gone 332 minutes without allowing a score.
• Opponents have registered a combined nine shots on target in 2023, with just four coming over the last three matches.
ROOU’S RUN OF FORM
• Junior Matthew Roou leads the Irish attack through four matches this season, producing 11 points off five goals and an assist.
• All 11 points have come over the last three matches, all victories for the Fighting Irish.
• 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.
EXPERIENCE IN GOAL
• 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 45 career starts while appearing in 46 matches over his previous three seasons in South Bend.
• Dowd has amassed 108 career saves and has recorded 16 clean sheets over his time in South Bend, including three in the first four matches of the 2023 campaign.
BALL STATE VOLLEYBALL
VOLLEYBALL DROPS DAYTON INVITE OPENER TO WRIGHT STATE
DAYTON, Ohio – – In a battle of NCAA Milwaukee Regional programs from a year ago, the Ball State women’s volleyball team fought to win the third set before ultimately suffering a 3-1 (26-24, 25-14, 29-31, 25-18) setback to Wright State Friday night in its opening match of the Dayton Invitational.
Trailing 0-2 and 21-23 in the third frame, the Cardinals (2-5) used back-to-back kills from redshirt freshman outside Aniya Kennedy to even the score. The Raiders (3-5) had three chances to win it, but two kills and a block from sophomore opposite Madison Buckley kept BSU alive.
Sophomore defensive specialist Paige Busick followed the block with a clutch service ace, switching the momentum to the Cardinals side at 27-26. The teams traded points to the 30-29 mark before a monster block from Kennedy gave Ball State the set.
Unfortunately, BSU could not hold onto the momentum, as Wright State jumped out to an 8-3 edge in the fourth. The Cardinals would get as close as one, at 11-10, but could not overcome the early WSU lead.
Kennedy would finish the match with a team-best 14 kills, while Buckley added eight to go along with six total blocks. Senior middle Lauren Gilliland also blasted eight kills, while fifth-year middle Marie Plitt added seven.
Junior setter Megan Wielonski dished out 33 more assists on the night, raising her career total to 2,999. She also led the Ball State backcourt with 20 digs for her fourth double-double of the season. Also collecting double-digit digs for the Cardinals were fifth-year libero Havyn Gates and Busick with 15 and 10, respectively.
Overall, the Ball State defense limited Wright State to a .168 hitting percentage and held a 12.0 to 9.0 advantage in total blocks.
On the opposite side of the court, Callie Martin led a quartet of Raiders in double figures with 16 kills, while Jenny Wessling secured a match-best 28 digs.
The Ball State women’s volleyball team concludes play in the Dayton Invitational Saturday with matches versus UIC (11 a.m.) and the host Flyers (7 p.m.).
INDIANA STATE FOOTBALL
HOOSIERS JUMP OUT EARLY TO DOWN SYCAMORES ON FRIDAY NIGHT
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana scored touchdowns on its first three offensive possessions to take control of the game early on Friday night as Indiana State fell to the host Hoosiers in Memorial Stadium, 41-7.
Maddix Blackwell scored his first collegiate touchdown with a 75-yard scoop-and-score on an IU (1-1) fumble late in the first half to cap another solid effort from the ISU (0-2) safety. The Bloomington native led all players on the field with nine tackles, including six solo stops to pace the Sycamore defense.
ISU struggled to move the ball offensively in the game, but the Sycamores showed flashes of life throughout the contest with big plays coming from Harry Van Dyne and Korbin Allen. Van Dyne finished the contest with a team-high 15 receiving yards, while Allen picked up three carries for 21 yards, most of those coming on a Sycamore 12-play, 67-yard drive in the second quarter that stalled in the IU red zone.
Jaylin Lucas carried the ball 10 times for 88 yards and a pair of touchdowns for the Indiana offense as the Hoosiers utilized 41 carries for 215 yards in the game. Overall, IU held the 36:49-23:11 edge in time of possession and picked up 33 first downs on their way to posting 559 total offensive yards in the game.
IU quarterbacks Tayven Jackson (18-of-21, 236 yards) and Brendan Sorsby (9-of-16, 108 yards) guided the Hoosiers through the air with Omar Cooper Jr. the primary target hauling in seven catches for 101 yards.
Blackwell led ISU’s defense in the game with a team-high nine tackles, while Geoffrey Brown finished one back with eight in the game. Blake Surface forced a fumble and Jarin Johnson picked up his first sack of the season to highlight the defensive efforts.
Phillip Dunham was IU’s leading tackler in the game with eight stops. Andre Carter had two tackles for loss and a sack, while Nicolas Toomer added an interception that ended an ISU drive in the red zone in the second quarter.
How They Scored
Jaylin Lucas put the first points on the board on Indiana’s opening possession as the Hoosier tailback went over the right side for a 25-yard touchdown run to give IU the 7-0 lead with 12:04 left in the first quarter.
Lucas went back to the right side to give Indiana the 14-0 lead with a 25-yard touchdown carry capping a six-play, 81-yard drive with 8:52 remaining in the opening quarter.
The Hoosier lead hit 21-0 with 2:04 left in the first quarter on Tayven Jackson’s 10-yard touchdown carry.
Indiana State put their first points on the board with 2:00 left in the first half as Maddix Blackwell scooped up the IU fumble and took it back 75 yards for the touchdown to narrow the gap down to 21-7.
IU scored a late field goal in the first half as Chris Freeman converted from 28 yards out to make it a 24-7 game heading into the break.
Christian Turner added to the Indiana lead with a one-yard touchdown carry with 1:39 left in the third quarter to make it a 31-7 game.
Josh Henderson’s three-run touchdown run capped a seven-play, 45-yard drive to give IU the 38-7 lead with 10:50 to play in the contest.
Nicolas Radicic converted a 21-yard field goal with 2:43 left in the contest to cap the scoring at 41-7.
INDIANA STATE VOLLEYBALL
SYCAMORES FALL TO BUTLER TO CLOSE OPENING DAY OF COMFORT INN-VITATIONAL
MOREHEAD, Ky. – Indiana State closed the first day of play at the Comfort Inn-Vitational Friday afternoon, falling in three sets to Butler (25-23, 25-22, 25-17) inside Johnson Arena.
Kira Holland led the Sycamores in kills for the second straight match with nine and also added a team-high 11 digs. Ella Scott tallied six kills for the Trees, while Hannah Baudin dished out 21 assists. Macy Lengacher had eight digs, while Asia Povlin added seven digs for the Sycamores.
Indiana State used a four-point run on Macy Lengacher’s serve to take an 11-8 lead midway through the opening set. Storm Suhre had a kill during the run, while Lengacher added a service ace. The Sycamores pushed their lead to 19-12 following a service ace by Baudin and a block assist by Holland and Suhre, but Butler stormed back. The Bulldogs took 13 of the last 17 points in the set to claim the opener 25-23.
The Sycamores got off to another good start in the second set, with kills by Scott and Holland, coupled with a block solo by Suhre, putting Indiana State ahead 9-7. ISU extended that lead up to 14-10 following a service ace from Lengacher, but Butler responded by taking the next three points. Indiana State extended its lead back up to three points following a pair of Bulldog attack errors, and two more kills from Holland kept the Trees in front late. Similar to the first set, though, Butler had an answer in the late stages. The Bulldogs won the last four points to take the set 25-22.
The Sycamores carried their momentum into the early stages of the third set, going up 7-2 following kills by Holland and Gall. Morehead State rallied back to tie the set, but an ace and a kill by Scott put the Trees back in front 14-12. The Eagles responded, though, going on a six-point run to take an 18-14 lead. Despite a pair of late kills by Gall, Morehead State held on to take the third set 25-23.
Butler opened the third set by taking 10 of the first 12 points and never trailed after that. Indiana State clawed its way back into the set following back-to-back kills by Holland, along with a pair of kills by Baudin, but Butler pushed its lead up to 22-13 following another lengthy scoring run. Kills by Scott and Avery Hales late in the set kept the Sycamores alive, but the Bulldogs went on to win the third set 25-17, clinching the match.
Inside the Numbers
Indiana State finished the match with seven blocks, marking the third consecutive match the Sycamores averaged at least two blocks per set.
Despite the loss, Indiana State finished with more aces (7-5) and blocks (7-3) than Butler.
Asia Povlin recorded a career-high seven digs for the Sycamores.
News and Notes
Kira Holland led Indiana State in kills in both of the Sycamores’ matches Friday, finishing one kill shy of a double-double in both matches.
Emma Kaelin started her first match of the season Friday.
All five freshmen who were active for the Sycamores played in Friday’s match.
Up Next
Indiana State closes play at the Comfort Inn-Vitational Saturday morning at 11 a.m. against Northern Kentucky.
PURDUE FT. WAYNE VOLLEYBALL
MASTODONS TOP PURPLE EAGLES IN FIVE
NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – Purdue Fort Wayne women’s volleyball rallied from a one-set deficit to defeat Niagara 3-2 (25-13, 20-25, 19-25, 25-22, 15-11) on Friday (Sept. 8).
Multiple Mastodons filled up the box score.
Taya Haffner had 50 assists, 12 digs, 3 aces and 2 kills. Panna Ratkai hit .386 with a match-high 22 kills, 3 aces and 13 digs. Ashby Willis added 19 kills and 5 digs. Ratkai was one of three Mastodons with double-digit digs. LonDynn Betts and Becky Barrett each added 15 digs.
The ‘Dons won the opening set by 12 points with Ratkai recording five kills in the frame. As a team, the ‘Dons hit .478 in the set.
Niagara was quick to tie the match up by taking the second set. Purdue Fort Wayne was the first to 15 in the third set, grabbing a 15-14 lead on a Betts ace. Niagara responded with six straight points and nine of the next 10 points to take control of the frame.
Purdue Fort Wayne used a 7-1 run in the fourth set to take a 23-16 lead. The first three points of set five went to Purdue Fort Wayne and the ‘Dons never let the Purple Eagles back in the match.
Jena Medearis won for the ‘Dons with a kill for point 15. She finished one kill shy of 10 for the match.
Kinga Wronska had 13 kills for Niagara.
The ‘Dons improve to 4-4. Niagara falls to 0-7. Purdue Fort Wayne plays Canisius on Saturday to close out their trip to Western New York.
EVANSVILLE VOLLEYBALL
VOLLEYBALL SPLITS FIRST DAY IN CHICAGO
CHICAGO – Giulia Cardona recorded a match-high 24 kills while Madisyn Steele added a season-high of 10 kills as the University of Evansville volleyball team defeated Northern Illinois to split the opening day of the DePaul Invitational.
Match One Box Score – Match Two Box Score
Along with the duo of Cardona and Steele, Melanie Feliciano completed the 3-1 win over NIU with 16 kills. In Friday’s opener, St. Thomas won by a final of 3-0. On Saturday, the Aces completed the weekend with a 5 p.m. game versus DePaul.
MATCH #1 – St. Thomas 3, UE 0
Melanie Feliciano and Giulia Cardona recorded 11 kills apiece in a 3-0 loss to St. Thomas on Friday morning. Ainoah Cruz picked up 20 digs while Brooke Springer had 40 blocks. Kora Ruff totaled 28 assists and three aces. Megan Wetter finished with a match-high 12 kills.
Game 1 – St. Thomas 25, UE 22
St. Thomas set the early tone, going on a 5-2 run. Cardona brought the Aces back into it with two of her four service aces in the match to knot the score at 6-6. After UST took an 8-6 lead, Evansville countered with five in a row. Blakeley Freeman opened a 5-0 stretch with a kill as the Aces jumped in front by an 11-8 margin.
After the Tommies forced multiple ties, including a 16-16 score, another ace and kill from Cardona along with two Emilee Scheumann kills comprised a 4-0 run as the Aces looked to be in control. Unfortunately, St. Thomas had other ideas, scoring the next seven points on their way to a 25-22 victory.
Game 2 – St. Thomas 25, UE 18
Kora Ruff opened the second set with consecutive service aces to give her squad the early lead. After St. Thomas tied the score, Madisyn Steele and Luana Gazda Kuhn picked up kills to give Evansville its largest lead at 10-7.
Just as they did in the first set, the Tommies stormed back as they reeled off five in a row to jump back in front – 12-10. Evansville cut the deficit to one point (14-13) before St. Thomas put forth another big run to finish off the set. Outscoring the Aces by an 11-5 margin, UST took the second set, 25-18.
Game 3 – St. Thomas 27, UE 25
Looking to extend the match, the Aces kept the pressure on for the duration of the third set. St. Thomas went up by a 9-7 score at the start before UE fought back, scoring four of the next five points to take an 11-10 edge.
After the Tommies matched their largest lead of three points (15-12), Evansville responded to tie the score at 17-17 before retaking the lead at 24-23. The Aces had another chance to win the set, holding a 25-24 lead, but St. Thomas scored the final three points to clinch the match.
MATCH #2 – UE 3, NIU 1
Performances up and down the roster helped the Purple Aces defeat Northern Illinois by a 3-1 final in Friday’s finale. Led by Cardona’s 24 kills, the Aces rebounded following a morning defeat to St. Thomas. Feliciano and Steele tallied 16 and 10 kills, respectively. Kora Ruff wrapped up the contest with 54 assists while Feliciano paced the defense with 16 digs.
Brooke Springer put forth another strong performance with five block assists. Leading the Huskies was Emily Dykes who had 14 kills.
Game 1 – UE 25, NIU 22
Six kills from Melanie Feliciano saw the Purple Aces fend off the Huskies for a 25-22 win. Northern Illinois turned a 4-4 tie into a 15-11 lead as they looked to open with a win. Giulia Cardona had other ideas, notching two kills and an ace to tie the game at 15-15.
With the score still tied up at 22-22, Madisyn Steele came through with a pair of clutch kills in the final three points to give UE the win.
Game 2 – UE 25, NIU 20
Service aces from Feliciano and Ainoah Cruz put UE in front by a 5-2 score to open the second set. Northern Illinois made their way back, eventually taking a 14-13 edge. At that point, Steele came through once again with three kills in the next four points as UE went on an 8-1 run to take their largest lead at 22-15.
After NIU cut the gap to three points, Evansville got back on track as two late kills from Cardona sealed the 25-20 decision.
Game 3 – NIU 25, UE 22
Early in the set, things remained close as the score was tied up at 10-10. That is when the Huskies made their run, scoring five in a row. Their lead would reach as many as six tallies before the Aces attempted a comeback.
Feliciano compiled two more kills as UE cut the deficit to a single point at 23-22. NIU was able to halt Evansville’s momentum, scoring the final two points to take the 25-22 decision and force a fourth set.
Game 4 – UE 25, NIU 22
For the second time in as many matches on Friday, Kora Ruff opened a set with consecutive aces as UE jumped out of the gate to take a 6-2 advantage. The Aces pushed the lead to five points when a Steele kill extended the lead to 11-6. Northern Illinois rallied back with a 9-2 run to take their first lead of the set at 15-13.
The teams battled it out over the next sequence before Evansville scored two in a row to break a 19-19 tie before Cardona had the match-winner. Her 24th kill of the evening solidified a 25-22 win in the set and a 3-1 triumph in the match.
SOUTHERN INDIANA VOLLEYBALL
EAGLES ROLL PAST LIONS, GAMECOCKS IN SWEEPING FASHION
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Volleyball (4-5) put on a show at Screaming Eagles Arena Friday as the Screaming Eagles took down the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff (1-7), 3-0 (25-18, 25-8, 25-11), before taking care of Jacksonville State University (1-7), 3-0 (27-25, 25-20, 25-22), to open the USI Invitational. USI is on a three-game winning streak and is 2-0 at home. All four tournament matches went 3-0.
USI vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff
An evenly-matched contest goes in favor of the Eagles to win the opening set, 25-18. USI kicked off the frame with three straight points with the help of a kill from senior outside/right side hitter Abby Bednar (Chagrin Falls, Ohio) and a service ace from senior outside hitter Leah Anderson (Bloomington, Illinois). The Golden Lions pushed back and took a 6-5 lead before the Eagles returned with a 5-1 stint to take a three-point advantage. Leah Anderson threw down a pair of kills while sophomore middle hitter Bianca Anderson (Chicago Heights, Illinois) knocked down a kill of her own. Sophomore libero/defensive specialist Keira Moore (Newburgh, Indiana) earned her first of four aces to cap off the Eagles’ run. With UAPB making a strong effort and cutting the deficit to just one, USI would score seven of the next nine points to take a 22-16 lead. The Eagles earned three aces during the surge with two coming from junior outside hitter Abby Weber (Fishers, Indiana). USI took advantage of three attacking errors from the Lions to seal the victory. Both squads knocked down 11 kills and 6 errors apiece.
USI used a strong offensive attack to roll past UAPB in the second game, 25-8. The Lions put up a fight early before a 4-0 run from the Eagles made it a 10-4 game. Bednar nabbed a kill, ace, and assist during the stint. Up 11-7, USI went on an immaculate 9-0 run to nearly triple-up UAPB, 20-7. The Eagles had seven kills during the stint with five different players earning a kill. USI capped off the frame with a strong 5-0 finish off back-to-back kills from Bednar and junior middle hitter Paris Downing (Avon, Indiana). It was a lopsided affair in the kills column with USI earning a match-high 16 kills in comparison to UAPB’s two kills. The Eagles minimized their errors, totaling just three, and had a staggering attacking percentage of 0.433. USI’s defense forced more Lions’ errors than kills, leading to a negative 0.074 attacking percentage.
Big runs from the Eagles seal the Lions’ fate and secure the 3-0 match sweep in a 25-11 final-set victory. UAPB kept it close to start until a 5-0 surge from USI pushed the Eagles past the Lions, 10-4. Leah Anderson nabbed two kills while Moore served up a pair of aces. Despite stopping that run, UAPB witnessed USI score three more to make it 13-5. After holding a 15-8 advantage, the Eagles went on another big run, this time 8-0. It started with repeating kills from Bianca Anderson and Bednar before Bednar tacked on two aces. The impressive USI stint was too much to come back from as UAPB dropped its seventh match of the season. The Eagles threw down 13 kills compared to the Lions’ eight kills. USI had their best attacking percentage of the match, posting a 0.458.
Both Bednar and Moore secured career-highs in aces with four apiece. Moore also had a match-high 12 digs in the win. Leah Anderson posted 11 kills with Bednar and Downing securing nine each. Downing also had a team-leading three blocks while junior setter Carly Sobieralski (Indianapolis, Indiana) recorded a match-high 34 assists. Weber also recorded double-digit digs, earning 10.
The Eagles outperformed the Lions in all categories, especially in aces as USI had 13 aces while UAPB had zero. The Eagles had 40 kills and 38 assists with four blocks and 39 digs. The Lions totaled 21 kills and 20 assists with 28 digs and four blocks. USI posted a season-high 0.326 attacking percentage and a season-low 11 errors off a season-low 89 total attacks. This was the Eagles’ second straight match of 40 or more kills and the fourth 40+ kill match of the season.
USI vs. Jacksonville State
Despite a late rally from the Gamecocks, the Eagles came up with a 27-25 win in the opening frame. USI came out of the gates on fire after a 7-3 start thanks to six offensive miscues by Jax State. The Gamecocks returned fire with a 6-2 stint which led to back-and-forth play and ending up with a 15-14 advantage for Jax State. USI bounced back with a 3-0 run off three errors from the Gamecocks. Both sides swapped points until a 5-0 surge from Jax State put them up, 22-19 late in the game. The Eagles were able to retaliate and tie the set at 22 apiece off three kills, two from senior outside/right side hitter Abby Bednar (Chagrin Falls, Ohio) and a single kill from sophomore middle hitter Bianca Anderson (Chicago Heights, Illinois). USI was able to close it out by scoring four of the final five points off a pair of kills from Bednar and junior setter Carly Sobieralski (Indianapolis, Indiana). Despite getting outhit in the set, the Eagles posted fewer errors and a higher attacking percentage.
USI cruised to a 25-20 second-set victory against Jax State to take a 2-0 match lead. The frame started off with two kills from Bednar and an ace from senior outside hitter Leah Anderson (Bloomington, Illinois). The Eagles continued to build their lead and reached a 12-7 advantage until a quick 3-0 stint from the Gamecocks forced their hand. However, USI recovered and scored five of the next six points to take a 17-11 lead. Both sides posted 3-0 runs until Jax State scored four of the final six points to cut the USI lead to just four. Bednar nabbed her fifth kill of the set to seal the victory. It was an even attacking game from both teams as USI finished the frame with 12 kills in comparison to Jax State’s 10 kills.
A couple of big runs from the Eagles sent the Gamecocks packing, 25-22. Tied at 11, USI stormed out and put up five straight points. Leah Anderson put up an ace while Bednar and junior outside hitter Abby Weber (Fishers, Indiana) contributed with three combined kills. USI was able to put up another run, this one a 3-0 surge off a pair of aces from sophomore libero/defensive specialist Keira Moore (Newburgh, Indiana) to take a 19-12 lead. Jax State put USI on their heels after posting seven of the next 10 points to cut the deficit to three. The Eagles went unphased and took care of the Gamecocks with the help of a kill from Sobieralski and Leah Anderson.
Bednar was electric for USI, contributing 13 kills and three blocks. Moore nabbed a team-high three aces with 10 digs while junior middle hitter Paris Downing (Avon, Indiana) totaled five blocks. Sobieralski took control of the passing game, earning 22 assists and making it nine straight matches of 20 or more kills this season. Weber was the lead defender off the attack and serve, securing 13 digs.
As a team, the Eagles had 36 kills, 31 assists, and six aces along with 46 digs and nine blocks. The Gamecocks totaled 36 kills, 33 assists, and six aces to pair with 43 digs and six blocks. Jax State finished the opening day of the tournament 0-2 after falling to Bradley University earlier in the day.
NEXT UP FOR THE EAGLES:
The Eagles close out the USI Invitational tomorrow afternoon when USI hosts Bradley at 3 p.m. The Braves also went 2-0 on Friday after defeating Jax State and UAPB, 3-0. This will be the first meeting between the two programs.
VALPO WOMEN’S SOCCER
SECOND-HALF GOALS LIFT VALPO SOCCER OVER YOUNGSTOWN STATE
On the front foot most of the match with a strong overall team performance, the Valpo soccer team found a big breakthrough midway through the second half Friday evening at Youngstown State, scoring twice within a 76-second stretch for a 2-0 victory over the Penguins in the Beacons’ penultimate nonconference match of the season.
How It Happened
The first half was nearly all Valpo pressuring the YSU defense, as the Beacons outshot the Penguins 9-3 and had 66% of their possession in the attacking half.
Among those nine shots were a pair of close calls that threatened to give Valpo the lead off the foot of fifth-year midfielder Allie Anderson (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton Warrenville South [Xavier]). The first came in the 20th minute, as the Beacon press forced a YSU turnover to Anderson in the box, but her effort hit the crossbar and the follow-up shot from junior Addy Joiner (Chesterton, Ind./Chesterton) was turned over the end line.
With the match approaching halftime in the 41st minute, Anderson decided to try her luck from deep and again narrowly missed putting Valpo in front, as her 30-yard strike again found the top woodwork and bounced back into the field of play.
The Beacons maintained their pressure on the Penguins as the match entered the second half, and were finally rewarded in the 65th minute. Fifth-year defender Nicole Norfolk (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Divine Savior Holy Angels) had room to run into the attacking third in the middle of the field and sent a ball out right to senior Lindsey DuSatko (Plainfield, Ill./North). DuSatko got past her defender to the end line and sent a ball along the ground into the six-yard box. Joiner was on the other end, and after one unsuccessful stab at it around a defender, the junior’s second stab found its mark, beating YSU goalkeeper Brooklyn Kirkpatrick to give Valpo the lead.
There was barely time to catch a breath before the Beacons doubled their lead. On the defensive side of the halfway stripe, freshman Anna Cup (Bartlett, Ill./South Elgin) sent a long free kick into the attacking third. DuSatko got away from her defender on the right and let the free kick bounce twice on the turf before hitting a volley from 15 yards out with her right foot, eluding the lunging effort from Kirkpatrick and finding its way inside the far post to double the lead.
YSU racked up a number of shots in the final 20 minutes as they pressed for a goal, many of them low-probability efforts from distance. The Penguins did have one strong chance to cut the lead in half in the 88th minute when the Beacons were called for a foul in the box, but senior goalkeeper Nikki Coryell (Aurora, Ill./Metea Valley) was up to the task on the ensuing penalty kick, diving to her left to deny Abriana Rondin.
Inside the Match
Valpo improved to 4-2-1 on the season with Friday’s win, securing the program’s first nonconference record above .500 since the 2017 campaign.
With a win on Sunday, Valpo would finish with its best nonconference record since 2008.
The Beacons are the first time this season to put multiple goals past the Youngstown State defense, as the Penguins side came into the match with a 4-1-1 record and only four goals surrendered.
Joiner’s goal was her fifth of the season, all of which have come in Valpo’s last four matches.
The goal was Joiner’s 15th career tally, moving her into a tie for eighth in program history. It was also the fifth match-winner of the junior’s career.
After going three-plus seasons without having been involved in multiple goals in the same match, DuSatko has been involved in multiple goals twice in the last eight days. Her assist on Joiner’s match-winner was her second of this season and the eighth of her career.
DuSatko’s insurance tally was her second goal this year and her ninth career goal.
Norfolk earned the secondary assist on the eventual match-winner, giving her the second assist of the season and fourth of her career. She has six points on the season, doubling her point total from the first four years of her career.
Cup tallied her first career assist with the long-distance free kick on DuSatko’s goal.
Coryell’s penalty save was her fifth save of the evening and preserved the 21st clean sheet of her Valpo career, moving her into solo second position in program history in career shutouts. She also owns 233 career saves, tied for fifth-most in program history.
Coryell has faced 10 penalty kicks (excluding shootouts) in her collegiate career and has saved four of them.
Making her return from injury, senior forward Kelsie James (Carmel, Ind./Carmel) made her season debut Friday evening, playing the final eight minutes of the match.
Valpo out-shot YSU for the night, 16-11, and put six shots on goal to the Penguins’ five. The Beacons also registered seven of the match’s 10 corner kicks.
Thoughts From Head Coach John Marovich
“Going into tonight, against a team in Youngstown which has started the year great and we’re playing on the road, we looked at where we needed to challenge ourselves and expand on. So I was impressed with the way our team was able to take adjustments in how we wanted to press in a different fashion, proud of how we adapted to that and posed a question to Youngstown.”
“I felt we had the right attitude tonight — we really tried to find spaces in possession and not be too quick to just play forward. We showed patience and found good pockets to play forward in. We were a bit unlucky to hit two crossbars in the first half, could be frustrating, but we talked at halftime about the lesson being to be a little bit cleaner. Our first goal, we got a nice cross from Lindsey and Addy was there to put her foot through it. Then the second goal, just a class finish from Lindsey on the volley.”
“Staying true to who we are and doing the little things really well got us the result tonight against a really solid team. The defense tonight had a very good performance, not just in terms of defending, but also in building the attack and dealing with a lot of aerial service, going up and winning headballs. The midfield did a good job getting on the ball, trying to create that next line. All areas of the field tonight went in with the proper attitude and were able to go in, figure out what the game was going to be and impact the game.”
“It was just a joy to be around this team all day today. From breakfast, to pregame meal, to the game, to the bus ride back, the environment was awesome. That led to a great performance and tells a lot about this year’s team.”
Next Up
Valpo (4-2-1) goes for a winning end to nonconference play on Sunday afternoon at Eastern Michigan. Kickoff is slated for noon CT — no video stream is available, but live stats will be available via ValpoAthletics.com.
VALPO VOLLEYBALL
VOLLEYBALL DROPS PAIR OF MATCHES FRIDAY
The Valpo volleyball team fell twice on Friday at the Stacheville Challenge in Clarksville, Tenn., dropping a 3-0 (25-16, 25-15, 25-15) decision to Big Ten foe Indiana to start the day before succumbing 3-1 (25-20, 15-25, 25-18, 25-20) to host Austin Peary Friday night.
How It Happened – Indiana
Valpo was within 15-12 in the opening set against IU before a 6-1 run gave the Hoosiers separation on their way to claiming the opener.
Indiana scored seven of the first nine points of the second set, and the Beacons were unable to get any closer than three points the rest of the way.
Valpo rallied from a 10-5 deficit in set three to close to within 12-10, but IU came back with seven points in a row on its way to closing out the sweep.
How It Happened – Austin Peay
APSU scored the match’s first six points and led by as many as eight points in the opening frame. Valpo was able to close the deficit to four points multiple times late in the set, but got no closer as the Governors took the opener.
The second set was a complete 180 from the first, as Valpo jumped out to a 14-4 lead and cruised to the frame win to even the match, limiting APSU to .030 hitting for the set.
Valpo led 7-4 early in set three before a 7-1 run by Austin Peay put the Governors in front. The Beacons posted back-to-back points to close to within 11-10, but APSU reeled off five points in a row to take control and go up 2-1 in the match.
Austin Peay held a 7-3 edge in set four, but Valpo rallied to take the lead at 10-9. The Beacons extended their advantage to three points past the midway point of the frame and led 15-12. APSU turned the tables there, however, scoring 13 of the final 18 points of the match to close out its win.
Inside the Matches
Valpo was limited to .000 hitting against IU, posting just 22 kills against 22 attack errors, as no Beacon had more than five kills.
Fifth-year outside Bella Ravotto (Mishawaka, Ind./Marian) tied for match-high honors against the Hoosiers with 12 digs and narrowly missed a double-double in the nightcap, registering nine kills and nine digs versus APSU.
Senior middle Mallory Januski (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) recorded a team-best 10 kills on .350 hitting against the hosts Friday night and also paced the Beacons with four blocks.
Fifth-year middle Miranda Strongman (Wolverine Lake, Mich./Walled Lake Central [LIU]) hit .636 with seven kills against APSU, while sophomore Emma Hickey (Granger, Ind./Penn) led the back row with 14 digs.
Next Up
Valpo (5-4) looks to close the weekend on a winning note Saturday afternoon as it takes on Lindenwood at noon. No video stream is available, but live stats will be active via ValpoAthletics.com.
U OF INDY VOLLEYBALL
HOUNDS SWEEP FALCONS AT UINDY INVITATIONAL
INDIANAPOLIS – The UIndy volleyball team (4-2) split its first day at its annual invitational on Friday, sweeping in-region Notre Dame College (1-1) before dropping a four-set decision to Florida Southern College.
Grace Hegwood led the charge against the Falcons in the opener, finishing with her third double-double of the fall.
UIndy 3, Notre Dame 0
The Hounds handled the visiting Falcons in the teams’ tournament opener, hitting .261 as a unit to complete the sweep. Hegwood led UIndy with 12 kills, including five in the second set to help build the commanding 2-0 advantage.
Six players recorded at least one kill in the first and third frames, with newcomers Elana Brueggemann and Marin Dixon adding one apiece during the finale. Hannah Sabotin did not record an attacking error for the third consecutive contest, finishing with seven kills on 13 attempts. Following the performance, the fourth-year player was hitting a commanding .439 from the middle on the young campaign.
Freshman libero Ellie Spang joined Hegwood with double-digit digs, the latter of whom tallied her third double-double of the fall. Spang accounted for two of the team’s six service aces, all of which came in the first two sets.
Florida Southern 3, UIndy 1
After a tough first match of the day for Sophia Parlanti, the junior came to play in the night cap with a 20-kill-13-dig performance against the Mocs. The Las Vegas native produced six kills, as well as four scoops, in each of the middle frames.
The third set was the highlight of the evening for the Greyhounds, who limited the visiting Mocs to .098 hitting in the game. UIndy, which was only credited with four blocks on the evening, stopped two Florida Southern attack, including a solo effort from Claire Morris. The junior setter dished out 43 assists in the loss.
Hegwood added 13 kills against Florida Southern and raises her team-best total to 75 through the first six matches.
MORE NOTES
Former UIndy assistant Ashlee Crowder is in her first season as the head coach at Florida Southern … the Mocs now lead the all-time series against the Hounds, 2-0 … junior Lauren Peal recorded 19 digs on Friday.
HOUND BYTES
Morris on the team’s win over Notre Dame College…
“Overall we felt pretty good. We did sweep them, but we still feel we didn’t play UIndy Volleyball, but we have more chances to get better.”
Spang on being named libero as a true freshman…
“Coming in I knew that I wanted to make any impact on the team that I could. I wanted to do what I always do: come in to practice and earn my spot and that’s what I did.”
Head coach Jason Reed on the fight against Florida Southern…
“We got tentative at times. In our sport, you can’t take your foot off the gas against a team as talented as Florida Southern is. We tip our cap to those guys, but we felt like we had them in good situations; we were getting them out of system, lots of good ball touches, and we couldn’t execute until that third set.”
UP NEXT
The Greyhounds close the weekend on Saturday with a pair of in-region matchups, first with Ashland at 12 p.m. in Ruth Lilly Fitness Center.
U OF INDY MEN’S SOCCER
TSELIOS’ GOAL CEMENTS HOUNDS SHUTOUT OF RIVERHAWKS
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Indianapolis men’s soccer team (2-0-0) etched their second straight victory in a 1-0 affair against Northeastern State (1-1-1) on Friday, on the campus of Christian Brothers.
Michael Tselios scored the game-winning goal 15-yards out with the assist coming from Kabelo Ngatane.
The Hounds saw plenty of offensive opportunities, taking nine shots in the contest, with six sailing towards the RiverHawks net. Three different players had two shots for the day, coming from Tselios, Owen Atkison, and August Abrahamsen.
The Greyhounds defense saw quality contributions from Niklas Thanhofer, Bobby Turner and Pierre Lurot, with the trio working to hold the RiverHawks to only seven shots in the contest, two on goal.
Kieran Brown protected the goal for all 90-minutes, completing two saves on the day.
UP NEXT
The Hounds will play the host school, Christian Brothers, on Sunday to complete their weekend in Memphis, Tenn. First kick is set for 4 p.m. ET at Signage Field.
SMALL COLLEGE ATHLETIC SITES:
INDIANA WESLEYAN ATHLETICS: https://iwuwildcats.com/
EARLHAM ATHLETICS: https://goearlham.com/
WABASH ATHLETICS: https://sports.wabash.edu/
FRANKLIN ATHLETICS: https://franklingrizzlies.com/
ROSE-HULMAN ATHLETICS: https://athletics.rose-hulman.edu/
ANDERSON ATHLETICS: https://athletics.anderson.edu/landing/index
TRINE ATHLETICS: https://trinethunder.com/landing/index
BETHEL ATHLETICS: https://bupilots.com/
DEPAUW ATHLETICS: https://depauwtigers.com/
HANOVER ATHLETICS: https://athletics.hanover.edu/
MANCHESTER ATHLETICS: https://muspartans.com/
HUNTINGTON ATHLETICS: https://www.huathletics.com/
OAKLAND CITY ATHLETICS: https://gomightyoaks.com/index.aspx
ST. FRANCIS ATHLETICS: https://www.saintfranciscougars.com/landing/index
IU KOKOMO ATHLETICS: https://iukcougars.com/
IU EAST ATHLETICS: https://www.iueredwolves.com/
IU SOUTH BEND ATHLETICS: https://iusbtitans.com/
PURDUE NORTHWEST ATHLETICS: https://pnwathletics.com/
INDIANA TECH ATHLETICS: https://indianatechwarriors.com/index.aspx
GRACE COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://gclancers.com/
ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ATHLETICS: https://smwcathletics.com/
GOSHEN COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://goleafs.net/
HOLY CROSS ATHLETICS: https://www.hcsaints.com/index.php
TAYLOR ATHLETICS: https://www.taylortrojans.com/
VINCENNES ATHLETICS: https://govutrailblazers.com/landing/index
*****MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL STANDINGS*****
| American League | |||||||||||
| East | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Baltimore | 89 | 51 | .636 | – | 42 – 26 | 47 – 25 | 27 – 15 | 20 – 8 | 19 – 10 | 8 – 2 | W 6 |
| Tampa Bay | 86 | 56 | .606 | 4 | 48 – 25 | 38 – 31 | 24 – 16 | 21 – 8 | 14 – 13 | 6 – 4 | W 1 |
| Toronto | 78 | 63 | .553 | 11.5 | 36 – 30 | 42 – 33 | 12 – 25 | 20 – 10 | 16 – 12 | 7 – 3 | W 1 |
| Boston | 72 | 69 | .511 | 17.5 | 36 – 34 | 36 – 35 | 20 – 17 | 18 – 11 | 14 – 15 | 3 – 7 | L 3 |
| NY Yankees | 70 | 71 | .496 | 19.5 | 38 – 35 | 32 – 36 | 16 – 26 | 17 – 12 | 19 – 13 | 7 – 3 | L 2 |
| Central | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Minnesota | 74 | 67 | .525 | – | 41 – 29 | 33 – 38 | 12 – 17 | 26 – 22 | 16 – 10 | 6 – 4 | W 1 |
| Cleveland | 68 | 74 | .479 | 6.5 | 36 – 36 | 32 – 38 | 14 – 14 | 22 – 24 | 14 – 13 | 6 – 4 | W 1 |
| Detroit | 64 | 77 | .454 | 10 | 29 – 41 | 35 – 36 | 7 – 25 | 28 – 16 | 10 – 15 | 5 – 5 | L 1 |
| Chi White Sox | 55 | 86 | .390 | 19 | 28 – 40 | 27 – 46 | 9 – 19 | 21 – 22 | 12 – 21 | 3 – 7 | W 2 |
| Kansas City | 44 | 98 | .310 | 30.5 | 26 – 46 | 18 – 52 | 7 – 21 | 15 – 28 | 6 – 19 | 3 – 7 | L 2 |
| West | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Houston | 80 | 62 | .563 | – | 35 – 35 | 45 – 27 | 15 – 15 | 13 – 12 | 29 – 17 | 6 – 4 | L 1 |
| Seattle | 79 | 62 | .560 | 0.5 | 39 – 29 | 40 – 33 | 13 – 16 | 20 – 13 | 24 – 12 | 4 – 6 | L 1 |
| Texas | 76 | 64 | .543 | 3 | 43 – 30 | 33 – 34 | 14 – 11 | 19 – 10 | 21 – 19 | 3 – 7 | L 4 |
| LA Angels | 65 | 77 | .458 | 15 | 33 – 37 | 32 – 40 | 13 – 16 | 15 – 9 | 18 – 25 | 2 – 8 | L 1 |
| Oakland | 44 | 97 | .312 | 35.5 | 24 – 47 | 20 – 50 | 8 – 24 | 11 – 14 | 11 – 30 | 6 – 4 | W 2 |
| National League | |||||||||||
| East | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Atlanta | 92 | 48 | .657 | – | 46 – 24 | 46 – 24 | 27 – 8 | 18 – 8 | 21 – 12 | 7 – 3 | W 2 |
| Philadelphia | 77 | 63 | .550 | 15 | 41 – 27 | 36 – 36 | 16 – 20 | 15 – 10 | 18 – 15 | 5 – 5 | L 1 |
| Miami | 73 | 68 | .518 | 19.5 | 40 – 32 | 33 – 36 | 20 – 21 | 13 – 10 | 14 – 17 | 7 – 3 | W 1 |
| NY Mets | 64 | 76 | .457 | 28 | 35 – 33 | 29 – 43 | 19 – 20 | 12 – 17 | 15 – 13 | 5 – 5 | L 2 |
| Washington | 63 | 78 | .447 | 29.5 | 30 – 42 | 33 – 36 | 16 – 29 | 12 – 14 | 14 – 15 | 2 – 8 | L 1 |
| Central | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Milwaukee | 78 | 62 | .557 | – | 40 – 28 | 38 – 34 | 12 – 10 | 26 – 16 | 13 – 19 | 5 – 5 | W 1 |
| Chi Cubs | 76 | 66 | .535 | 3 | 40 – 33 | 36 – 33 | 11 – 17 | 28 – 18 | 12 – 10 | 6 – 4 | L 2 |
| Cincinnati | 73 | 70 | .510 | 6.5 | 35 – 38 | 38 – 32 | 13 – 16 | 18 – 26 | 18 – 14 | 5 – 5 | L 2 |
| Pittsburgh | 65 | 76 | .461 | 13.5 | 34 – 37 | 31 – 39 | 10 – 11 | 21 – 25 | 16 – 15 | 7 – 3 | L 1 |
| St. Louis | 62 | 79 | .440 | 16.5 | 31 – 40 | 31 – 39 | 13 – 16 | 16 – 24 | 12 – 17 | 6 – 4 | W 1 |
| West | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| LA Dodgers | 86 | 54 | .614 | – | 47 – 24 | 39 – 30 | 16 – 13 | 19 – 14 | 26 – 12 | 5 – 5 | W 2 |
| Arizona | 74 | 68 | .521 | 13 | 38 – 35 | 36 – 33 | 13 – 15 | 16 – 11 | 27 – 23 | 5 – 5 | W 3 |
| San Francisco | 71 | 70 | .504 | 15.5 | 39 – 31 | 32 – 39 | 13 – 18 | 20 – 13 | 20 – 14 | 3 – 7 | W 1 |
| San Diego | 67 | 75 | .472 | 20 | 39 – 36 | 28 – 39 | 16 – 16 | 9 – 20 | 20 – 23 | 5 – 5 | W 1 |
| Colorado | 51 | 89 | .364 | 35 | 29 – 38 | 22 – 51 | 14 – 20 | 11 – 13 | 9 – 30 | 2 – 8 | L 2 |
WILD CARD STANDINGS
| AL Wild Card Standings | |||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | Last 10 | Streak | |
| Tampa Bay | 86 | 56 | .606 | +7.5 | 48-25 | 38-31 | 6-4 | W 1 | |
| Seattle | 79 | 62 | .560 | +1.0 | 39-29 | 40-33 | 4-6 | L 1 | |
| Toronto | 78 | 63 | .553 | – | 36-30 | 42-33 | 7-3 | W 1 | |
| Texas | 76 | 64 | .543 | 1.5 | 43-30 | 33-34 | 3-7 | L 4 | |
| Boston | 72 | 69 | .511 | 6.0 | 36-34 | 36-35 | 3-7 | L 3 | |
| NY Yankees | 70 | 71 | .496 | 8.0 | 38-35 | 32-36 | 7-3 | L 2 | |
| Cleveland | 68 | 74 | .479 | 10.5 | 36-36 | 32-38 | 6-4 | W 1 | |
| LA Angels | 65 | 77 | .458 | 13.5 | 33-37 | 32-40 | 2-8 | L 1 | |
| Detroit | 64 | 77 | .454 | 14.0 | 29-41 | 35-36 | 5-5 | L 1 | |
| Chi White Sox | 55 | 86 | .390 | 23.0 | 28-40 | 27-46 | 3-7 | W 2 | |
| Oakland | 44 | 97 | .312 | 34.0 | 24-47 | 20-50 | 6-4 | W 2 | |
| Kansas City | 44 | 98 | .310 | 34.5 | 26-46 | 18-52 | 3-7 | L 2 |
| NL Wild Card Standings | |||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | Last 10 | Streak | |
| Philadelphia | 77 | 63 | .550 | +4.0 | 41-27 | 36-36 | 5-5 | L 1 | |
| Chi Cubs | 76 | 66 | .535 | +2.0 | 40-33 | 36-33 | 6-4 | L 2 | |
| Arizona | 74 | 68 | .521 | – | 38-35 | 36-33 | 5-5 | W 3 | |
| Miami | 73 | 68 | .518 | 0.5 | 40-32 | 33-36 | 7-3 | W 1 | |
| Cincinnati | 73 | 70 | .510 | 1.5 | 35-38 | 38-32 | 5-5 | L 2 | |
| San Francisco | 71 | 70 | .504 | 2.5 | 39-31 | 32-39 | 3-7 | W 1 | |
| San Diego | 67 | 75 | .472 | 7.0 | 39-36 | 28-39 | 5-5 | W 1 | |
| Pittsburgh | 65 | 76 | .461 | 8.5 | 34-37 | 31-39 | 7-3 | L 1 | |
| NY Mets | 64 | 76 | .457 | 9.0 | 35-33 | 29-43 | 5-5 | L 2 | |
| Washington | 63 | 78 | .447 | 10.5 | 30-42 | 33-36 | 2-8 | L 1 | |
| St. Louis | 62 | 79 | .440 | 11.5 | 31-40 | 31-39 | 6-4 | W 1 | |
| Colorado | 51 | 89 | .364 | 22.0 | 29-38 | 22-51 | 2-8 | L 2 |
Y – Clinched Playoff Spot
*****TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY*****
1914 Braves hurler George Davis, a Harvard Law School student who will retire after four seasons in the major leagues with a 7-10 record, no-hits the Phillies, 7-0, giving him the distinction of being the first pitcher to throw a no-hitter at Fenway Park, the home of the American League Red Sox. Only Bumpus Jones (2) and Bobo Holloman (3) have fewer career victories for pitchers who have thrown no-hitters than the 24-year-old right-hander teammates call Iron.
1922 The Browns’ 16-0 rout of the Tigers at Sportsman’s Park marks the most lopsided victory in franchise history. The St. Louis outfielder Baby Doll Jacobson contributes to the romp, tripling three times en route to collecting 94 three-baggers during his 11-year career.
1936 The Yankees clinch their eighth pennant with a doubleheader sweep of the Tribe at Cleveland’s League Park. The Bronx Bombers finish 19.5 games ahead of Detroit, marking the team’s largest lead at the end of a season in franchise history.
1945 🇨🇦 In the nightcap of a twin bill at Shibe Park, Dick Fowler gets his only victory of the season when he no-hits the Browns, 1-0, becoming the first Canadian to throw a major league no-hitter. The A’s 24-year-old right-hander from Toronto will compile a 66-79 record during his ten-year tenure with the A’s.
1948 At the Polo Grounds, 23-year-old right-hander Dodger Rex Barney no-hits the Giants, 2-0. Before completing the gem, the Brooklyn starter endures a one-hour rain delay and showers in the 7th, 8th, and 9th innings.
1950 After leading off the first with a single, Dom DiMaggio swipes second base, advances to third on an error, and then scores the first run of the game on a groundout in the Red Sox’ 11-3 rout of Philadelphia at Fenway Park. The stolen base is the final one the ‘Little Perfesser’ will get this season, but he will finish leading the American League with 15, the lowest total that has ever led either league.
1950 With the Phillies in the thick of a pennant race, their southpaw starter Curt Simmons will miss the rest of the season and the 1951 campaign because of his National Guard unit’s activation due to the Korean conflict. The left-hander, granted leave from Indiana’s Camp Atterbury, watches his team in the World Series, but Philadelphia decides not to request he be made eligible to participate.
1960 Red Sox outfielder Ted Williams hits career homer 511, tying him with Mel Ott for third on the all-time home run list behind Babe Ruth (714) and Jimmie Foxx (534). The historic homer, a two-out game-tying solo shot to deep right field, comes off Jim Perry in the fifth inning of a 6-3 loss to the Tribe at Cleveland Stadium.
1961 At the Stadium, Roger Maris hits his 56th home run of the season off Mudcat Grant in an 8-7 comeback Yankee victory over the Indians. The Fargo native and his roommate Mickey Mantle (52) now hold the record for most single-season home runs by two teammates (108), previously set in 1927 by another pair of Bronx Bombers, Babe Ruth (60) and Lou Gehrig (47).
1965 “And there’s 29,000 people in the ballpark and a million butterflies.” – VIN SCULLY, setting the stage in the ninth inning of Sandy Koufax’s gem. At Dodger Stadium, Sandy Koufax throws a perfect game against the Cubs, the southpaw’s record fourth no-hitter, beating Bob Hendley’s one-hit effort, 1-0. In the fifth inning, the Chicago left-hander gives up an unearned run and yields the game’s only hit in the seventh-inning double to Lou Johnson on a ball that barely rolls to outfield grass.
1968 The new American League expansion team hires Joe Gordon, giving the future Hall of Fame second baseman the distinction of managing his second major league team in Kansas City. In his only year with the club, the former A’s manager leads the Royals to a fourth-place finish in the six-team AL West Division, finishing the team’s inaugural season with a 69-93 record.
1977 At Fenway Park, shortstop Alan Trammel and second baseman Lou Whitaker make their major league debut for Detroit. The Tigers’ new double-play combination will be teammates for 19 seasons, setting a major league record.
1979 When Red Sox backup catcher Bob Montgomery takes his final at-bat, he becomes the last player to step into the batter’s box without wearing a helmet. The Boston backstop, required to wear a protective plastic liner within his cap, is allowed to be helmetless due to a grandfather clause in Major League Baseball’s edict enacted eight years ago, making the use of helmets mandatory for all batters.
1987 Astros right-hander Nolan Ryan, beating the Giants, 4-2, strikes out 12 of the final 13 hitters he faces en route to a 16-K performance. The ‘Ryan Express’ notches his 4,500th career strikeout, whiffing Mike Aldrete to end the seventh inning.
1988 In his final major league game, Bruce Sutter, who missed last season due to shoulder problems, notches his 300th career save. The 35-year-old future Hall of Fame closer becomes the third reliever to reach the milestone when he retires the Padres in order in the 11th inning of the Braves’ 5-4 win at Jack Murphy Stadium.
1989 Devon White steals second, third, and home in the sixth inning of the Angels’ 8-5 victory over the Red Sox at Anaheim Stadium. The fleet outfielder also pilfers second base in the eighth frame, swiping his 43rd sack of the season.
1992 In front of a sellout crowd at County Stadium, Robin Yount becomes the 17th and third-youngest player to reach 3000 hits when he singles off Indian reliever Jose Mesa in a 5-4 Brewers loss to Cleveland. The 36-year-old Milwaukee center fielder also reached 1,000 and 2,000 hit plateaus against the Indians.
1992 The owners select Bud Selig to serve as the Major League Executive Council’s chairman, otherwise known as interim commissioner. Baseball will take nearly six years to name a permanent person for the post, and it will select Selig, the former owner of the Brewers, as the game’s ninth chief executive.
1997 After broadcasting a Mets-Phillies game last night, Hall of Famer and beloved Phillies announcer Richie Ashburn, an excellent contact hitter who once fouled off 14 pitches in one at-bat, passes away from an apparent heart attack in his New York hotel room. ‘Whitey’ collected the most hits by any major leaguer during the decade of the 1950s.
1997 Red Sox rookie shortstop Nomar Garciaparra breaks the major league record for RBIs by a leadoff batter with his two ribbies in an 8-6 loss to the Yankees. Tiger Harvey Kuenn established the mark in 1956 with 85.
1998 The Yankees (102-41) move 20.5 games ahead of the second-place Red Sox, clinching a flag with their 7-5 win over Boston at Fenway Park. The Bronx Bombers will set an American League record with their 112 victories this season.
1998 Thanks to Damion Easley’s tenth-inning two-run walk-off homer, the Tigers beat Rick Aguilera and the Twins, 8-7. The game marks the third consecutive contest Detroit trailed going into the final inning but dramatically won in their last at-bat.
2001 For the second time in the season, Barry Bonds hits three home runs in a game. The Giants left fielder, whose offensive output gives him 63 homers, passes the major league season mark of 61 for homers hit left-handed, set by Roger Maris in 1961.
2002 On the third-earliest date since divisional play began in 1969, the Braves clinch the National League East for the eighth consecutive season. Atlanta will finish the season 19 games ahead of the second-place Expos.
2002 For the fifth straight season, Diamondback southpaw Randy Johnson records 300 strikeouts, breaking his own record of four consecutive years. The feat also ties the ‘Big Unit’ with Nolan Ryan, having six 300 strikeout seasons.
2002 Barry Bonds’ 610th career home run is the longest dinger ever hit in the three-year history of Pac Bell Park. The 491-foot homer sails over the fans’ heads, waiting in line at a concession stand in the center field bleachers.
2002 Alex Rodriguez extends the home run record for shortstops after surpassing Ernie Banks’ 1958 mark of 47 last season. The Ranger infielder slugs his major league-leading 52nd and 53rd home runs of the season, helping Texas defeat the Mariners, 12-7, at The Ballpark in Arlington.
2003 At Turner Field, Tomas Perez and Jason Michaels hit grand slams in the Phillies’ 18-5 rout of the hometown Braves. The bases-full blasts come in the second and sixth inning, respectively.
2004 Joe Randa becomes the first player in American League history to collect six hits and score six runs in a nine-inning game. The Kansas City third baseman’s offensive output contributes to the Royals’ 26-5 rout over the Tigers.
2004 Lino Urdaneta’s first major league appearance results in an earned run average of infinity when the Tigers rookie does not retire a batter, giving up five hits, one walk, and six earned runs. Fortunately for the right-hander, the Mets allow him to appear in two games in 2007, giving up one run in one inning of work to bring down his ERA to a much more respectable 63.00.
2006 In the shortest game ever recorded at Chase Field, Brandon Webb one-hits the visiting Cardinals, 3-0. The only hit the Diamondbacks right-hander gives up in the 1 hour and 54-minute game in the desert is Scott Rolen’s two-out double in the fourth inning
2006 At Coors Field in Denver, Alfonso Soriano hit his 45th home run to set the Nationals’ single-season franchise record. The previous club record was established in 2000 by Vladimir Guerrero, playing for the Montreal Expos.
2007 The Brewers become the third team in big league history to begin a game with three consecutive homers. In the Brew Crew’s 10-5 victory over the Reds, Rickie Weeks, J.J. Hardy, and Ryan Braun start the Great American Ball Park contest with a bang.
2007 In the first inning at Detroit’s Comerica Park, Curtis Granderson steals his 20th base of the season to become only the third major leaguer to belong to the 20-20-20-20 club. The Tigers center fielder joins Frank Schulte (1911 – Cubs) and Willie Mays (1957 – Giants) as the only players to record 20 home runs, 20 triples, and 20 doubles, as well as swiping 20 bases in a season.
2008 Derek Jeter passes the legendary Babe Ruth on the Yankees’ all-time hits list, adding a first-inning single during the 7-1 victory over the Angels in Anaheim to run his career total to 2,519 hits. Lou Gehrig (2,721) is now the only Bronx Bomber with more hits than the club’s current shortstop.
2008 Removed from the starting lineup when his cab became stuck in traffic, Dan Johnson, called up today from the Durham Bulls, pinch hits in the ninth inning with the Rays trailing 4-3 and belts a game-tying home run off closer Jonathan Papelbon in the Fenway Park contest. The homer, which comes in his first at-bat with the team and is his first pinch-hit in 16 major league attempts, is believed to be the turning point of Tampa Bay’s season, as the timely round-tripper helps to snap a four-game losing streak and prevents the Red Sox from taking over first place.
2010 Ichiro Suzuki becomes the first major leaguer with ten consecutive seasons with 200 hits. The Mariner right-fielder extends his own record with a fifth-inning single to center in the Mariners’ 1-0 loss to Toronto at the Rogers Centre.
2012 Rays right-hander James Shields tosses a complete-game two-hitter, beating the first-place Rangers, 6-0. B.J. Upton knocks in half of Tampa Bay’s runs when he hits three solo homers in the first, fourth, and sixth innings of the Tropicana Field contest.
2013 Juan Uribe homers in his first three trips to the plate in the Dodgers’ 8-1 victory over Arizona. Los Angeles goes yard six times in the Chavez Ravine contest, falling two shy of the franchise record established in 2002.
2020 The Braves, shut out in yesterday’s contest, set the modern (post-1900) National League record for runs scored in a game when the team beats the Marlins at Truist Park, 29-9. Atlanta, fueled by 23 hits, including seven homers, falls one run short of tying the major league mark established by the Rangers in a 2007 contest when they tallied thirty times against the Orioles but surpasses the franchise mark set in 1957 when the team beat the Cubs at Wrigley Field, 23-10.
*****BASEBALL HALL OF FAME******
JIM RICE
When Jim Rice took over as Boston’s everyday left fielder in 1975, the Red Sox already had a proud tradition of outfielders patrolling the Green Monster in Fenway Park. Ted Williams spent two decades establishing himself as one of the greatest hitters of all-time before giving way to Carl Yastrzemski, who had a Hall of Fame career himself over 23 seasons with the Red Sox.
When Jim Rice retired following the 1989 season, the Red Sox had played more than half a century with a future Hall of Famer in left field.
With Yastrzemski at first base and designated hitter in 1975, Rice took over in left field at age 22 and led the Red Sox in home runs with 22, finishing third in the American League MVP voting and second in Rookie of the Year voting to teammate Fred Lynn, who also took home the MVP award.
Like Yastrzemski, Rice spent his entire career in Boston, where he proved himself to be one of the most dangerous power hitters of his generation. Over a 12-year period from 1975-86, Rice hit 350 home runs. During that period, only Mike Schmidt and Dave Kingman hit more homers. No one during that stretch had more RBI than Rice’s 1,276.
Rice led the American League in home runs three times, total bases four times and slugging percentage and RBI twice during that span.
Rice helped lead Boston to two World Series appearances – and although he didn’t play in the ’75 World Series due to injury, he hit .333 in seven games against the Mets in 1986.
Rice’s best season came in 1978 when he was named the AL’s Most Valuable Player. Rice led the major leagues with 46 home runs, becoming the first Red Sox to hit that many home runs in a single season since Jimmie Foxx hit 50 in 1938. Rice also led the AL that year in hits (213), triples (15), RBI (139), slugging percentage (.600) and OPS (.970). His 406 total bases not only topped the majors but made him the first AL player to reach the 400 total bases mark since Joe DiMaggio in 1937.
“He had tremendous power, but yet he was an excellent hitter who could hit to the opposite field or go up the middle,” Hall of Fame reliever Goose Gossage said. “Most power hitters have holes (in their swing). Jim Rice had no big holes.”
Rice hit over .300 seven times and ranked among the Top 10 in the AL in average six times. An eight-time all-star, Rice finished among the Top 5 in AL MVP voting in six seasons and won two AL Silver Slugger Awards. Defensively, Rice ranked in the Top 5 among AL left fielders in assists 11 times and putouts seven times.
Rice was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2009.
*******FOOTBALL HISTORY********
September 9, 1960 – Boston University’s Nickerson Field hosts the AFL’s very first regular season game as the visiting Denver Broncos defeated the Boston Patriots 13-10. Boston’s kicker Gino Cappalletti scored the very first points for the new league with his boot from 35 yards.
September 9, 2018 – The Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears met to open the season in a thriller. The Packers overcame a 17 point defecit late in the game to come back and win 24-23.
HALL OF FAME BIRTHDAYS FOR SEPTEMBER 9
September 9, 1878 – Willie Heston was a halfback from San Jose State who later also played for the University of Michigan. Willie had never played football before when he enrolled into the San Jose State Normal School in 1898. His objective was to get a degree and become a teacher for his vocation. It was discovered though that Willie Heston was a very fast man as he ran the 100 yard dash in 10 seconds flat with good size for the era at 5′-8″ tall and weighing in at 190 pounds. The school’s football coach at the time was Jesse Woods who introduced the young man to the gridiron and promptly played him at halfback after seeing his natural talent on display. Woods was right on the money as Heston was a great runner that scored more touchdowns than his other players on the team. The next season in 1899, Willie Heston became the captain of the team which went undefeated and earned the right to play Chico State Normal School in a league championship game. The game ended in a 6-6 draw and people from both teams agreed to settle the game with a rematch three weeks from the time when the first matchup took place. For some unknown reason Woods did not coach the San Jose squad for this second championship game and Stanford’s Coach Field H. Yost stepped in to lead Heston and his teammates as he was released by Stanford because the Pacific League barred him from being their coach since he did not graduate from the school as was the rule for the league in that day. With just a few weeks of practice Yost guided the San Jose State team to 46 -0 blow out of Chico State in the rematch to capture the title. In 1901 Heston graduated and received his teaching degree and accepted a job at a school in Oregon. Coach Yost sent Willie a letter about that same time stating that he had accepted the head coaching job at Michigan and invited his former player of just one game to join him at Michigan. At first Willie declined the invitation, and it is unknown what caused the change of heart but he soon thereafter accepted Fielding Yost’s invitation. Willie Heston then set out to study law at Michigan while playing for the Wolverine’s football team. Heston and Yost made Michigan one of the greatest teams in college history. The Wolverine squads from 1901 through 1904 became known as “the point-a-minute” teams because their average point totals were very close to a point being scored every minute they played! Remember, the forward pass was not legal in football until 1906 and Willie was the work horse of the team, as evident in a 1903 game against the University of Chicago Maroons where the Wolverines had a total of 267 yards rushing and Heston was responsible for 237 of them. Heston’s four years at Michigan had a record of 43-0-1 and they outscored their opponents in an extremely one sided way 2326 points to 40! They won the National Championship in 1901 and again in 1902 as Michigan won the very first Rose Bowl for the crown. Coach Yost called Willie Heston the best player he has ever seen and WIllie was voted as the halfback by the Football Writers of America as the All-TIme team of the first 50 years of football. The National Football Foundation and the College Football Hall of Fame selected Willie Heston to enter the Hall in 1954’s induction ceremony. Professional football was in its infancy but multiple teams wanted Willie Heston to play for them. As the story goes Willie was approached by two teams in particular who wanted to pay him to play for their respective teams, the Akron East Ends and the Massillon Tigers. The shrewd Heston created a bidding war by the two teams for his services and even had sent a telegram to each stating that the other had offered him $500 to play one game on Thanksgiving Day 1904. The two club figured out what he was doing and each refused to do further business with him. Heston became what was described by one writer as being “professional football’s first hold out.” Willie then went into coaching at Drake University for the 1905 season. And was coerced to play again in 1906 as he signed a contract to play for the Canton Bulldogs reportedly for $600 per game plus expenses. As fate would have in his first pro game as a player, he broke his leg against those same Massillon Tigers that he had sent the telegram to, and the leg was bad enough that it ended his playing career.
September 9, 1879 – Gordon Brown played for Yale University as a guard from 1897 through the 1900 season. Brown ended up being the captain of the 1900 Yale team which was dubbed as the “Team of the Century.” The College Football Hall of Fame placed this special player in their exclusive club in 1954.
September 9, 1937 – Dick LeBeau was a defensive back from Ohio State University that became a 1959 NFL Draft 5th round pick by the Cleveland Browns. The Browns ended up cutting LeBeau and the Detroit Lions quickly picked up the 6′ 1″ 185 pound cornerback. What a pick-up of the waiver wires he was, as DIck played for 14 seasons and made the Pro Bowl 3 times. LeBeau had a streak of 12 consecutive seasons of picking off at least interceptions. Dick LeBeau had 62 career picks for 762 return yards and 3 touchdowns. Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined him in their class of 2010. Dick went in to coaching and spent well over 40 years in the NFL coaching ranks. He was the head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals and was famously the Defensive Coordinator of the Pittsburgh Steelers where he helped author the Zone Blitz scheme.
September 9, 1938 – Johnny Robinson was an All- Conference running back from LSU who was drafted in 1960 by the NFL’s Detroit Lions and the AFL’s Dallas Texans. Johnny ended up signing with the Texans, who later became the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL. He had an interesting career as he played halfback his first two seasons in the AFL and then in 1963 switched to play safety for the remainder of his career. Coach Hank Stram felt that Robinson’s size and speed made him more suitable as a safety and it paid off big. In just his second game at the new position, Johnny picked off the Oakland Raiders quarterback twice. Again in the 1962 AFL Championship game he had two more interceptions as the Texans knocked off their cross state rivals the Houston Oilers 20-7. The Pro Football Hall of Fame selected him to be a part of the 2019 enshrinement class.
September 9, 1941 – Pat Richter was an end from the University of Wisconsin. Richter was a nine time letterman at Wisconsin as he lettered three times each in football, basketball and baseball for the Badgers. He was invited to enter the confines of the College Football Hall of Fame in 1996. In 1989 after 17 years in the business world, Richter returned to the University of Wisconsin to become the school’s Athletic Director.
September 9, 1944 – James “Wolf” Grabowski was a former fullback from the University of Illinois. As a sophomore in 1963, Grabowski was named the MVP of the Rose Bowl Game after he helped lead the Illini to a 17-7 comeback victory over the Washington Huskies. He finished his college career as the Big Ten’s all-time career rushing leader. Jim made it to the NFL with his football talents playing for the Green Bay Packers and then later for the Chicago Bears. The College Football Hall of Fame selected him to enter the Hall in 1995’s induction ceremony.
September 9, 1949 – Joe Theismann was a quarterback that played collegiately for the University of Notre Dame. Theismann was selected to the College Football Hall of Fame as part of the selection class of 2003. He played in both the CFL and the NFL. His NFL career was with the Washington Redskins for 12 seasons as he guided them to consecutive Super Bowl appearances and was the winning quarterback in one of them, Super Bowl XVII as Washington defeated the Miami Dolphins. Theismann’s NFL career ended with what may have been one of the most vivid injuries witnessed in a nationally televised game, as you could see the bone in his leg break during a sack by legendary NY Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor on November 18, 1985
September 9, 1960 – Youngstown, Ohio – The legendary Head Coach of the Oklahoma Sooners Bob Stoops was born. The National Football Foundation voters selected to induct bob Stoops into their College Football Hall of Fame in 2021.
******FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME******
JEFF BENTRIM
Position: Quarterback
Years: 1983-1986
Place of Birth: St. Paul, MN
Date of Birth: Jun 21, 1965
Jersey Number: 1
Height: 6-0
Weight: 195
High School: Andover, MN (Blaine HS)
Jeff Bentrim, playing for North Dakota State 1983-86, set records that no other quarterback has touched. He was the starting quarterback in four championship games in NCAA Division II. He was the national scoring champ in Division II in 1984, 1985, and 1986. He scored 386 points in his career. Bentrim stood 6 feet tall, weighed 195, and could run or pass expertly. His team played the veer offense. He was the triggerman on the option. He could (1) fake or hand off to the dive back, (2) pitch to the trailing back, or (3) keep the ball. Bentrim in his career rushed for 64 touchdowns, a record. He broke the record of 63 held by Walter Payton of Jackson State. Such figures kept by the NCAA are for regular season games. In 1983, Bentrim, a freshman, quarterbacked North Dakota State to a 41-23 victory over Central State in the NCAA Division II title game. In 1984, North Dakota State lost the title to Troy State 18-17. Championships were won in 1985 over North Alabama 38-7 and 1986 over South Dakota 27-7. North Dakota State was 47-5-1 in Bentrim’s four years and was 11-1 in playoff games, all of which he started. In the regular season Bentrim rushed for 64 touchdowns and passed for 24. In playoffs he rushed for 17 touchdowns and passed for five. In 1986 he was named All-America, won the Harlon Hill Trophy as the best player in Division II, was named Most Valuable Player in the North Central Conference. He was named quarterback on the Division II Quarter-Century Team, covering years 1973-97. In regular season games of his career he rushed for 2,948 yards and completed passes for 3,400.
*****INDIANA FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME*****
ETTORE ANTONINI
Player
Clinton
1932
All-Wabash Valley 2 years; All-State 2 years.
Indiana University
1936
3-year letterman playing end; All-State; All-Big Ten Conference; Merit All-American; played in East-West Shrine Game in California 1935; selected to play in All-Star Game in Chicago against Detroit Lions 1936; played in Cotton Bowl against the Chicago Bears 1936.
After 38 years teaching, retired in 1975.
Wife, Garrie (deceased)
Professional Athletic Background: Drafted in the first ever National Football League draft held in Philadephia on February 8, 1936, by Chicago Bears; played with the first franchise of Cincinnati Bengals 1937.
Coaching Experience: Assistant Coach at Indiana University 1936-1937; assistant football coach at Muncie Central HS 1937-1944; head coach at Central 1945-1961 with record of 82-46-6; also, served as head wrestling and track coach at Central; retired from coaching in 1966.
Coaching Honors: Mythical State Championship 1945; Coach of the Year for North Central Conference 1945; won five North Central championships; NCC Coach of the Year 1953.Outstanding Players Coached: Jim Nettles, All-State Back at Washington University and played in Rose Bowl; Dick Stillwagon, Glen Flowers, and Joe Dooley who played pro football with Philadelphia Eagles or LA Rams; all received state awards and were outstanding college players.
******NUMBERS IN SPORTS******
4 – 26 – 23 – 32 – 9 – 34 – 54 – 19 – 51 – 12
September 9, 1914 – Boston Brave George Davis no-hits Philadelphia Phillies, 7-0
September 9, 1945 – Jimmie Foxx, Number 4 hit his 534th & final home run
September 9, 1948 – Brooklyn Dodger Rex Barney, Number 26 no-hit the New York Giants, 2-0
September 9, 1955 – Don Zimmer, Number 23 hit the 4,000th Dodger organization home run
September 9, 1965 – LA Dodgers future Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax, Number 32 threw his 4th career no-hitter and first perfect game in a 1-0 win over the Chicago Cubs at Dodger Stadium
September 9, 1971 – NHL great Gordie Howe, Number 9 retired for the first time in his career (more to follow), after 25 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings
September 9, 1987 – MLB pitcher Nolan Ryan ( Number 34) strikes out his 4,500th batter
September 9, 1988 – Braves Bruce Sutter, wearing Number 42 joined Rollie Fingers (Number 34 mostly) and Goose Gossage (Number 54) on the list of pitchers who saved 300 MLB games or more
September 9, 1992 – MLB player Robin Yount, Number 19 is 17th to reach 3,000 hits
September 9, 2002 – Pitcher Randy Johnson, Number 51 reaches 300 strikeouts for the fifth consecutive season, extending his major league record
September 9, 2021 – Tom Brady, Number 12 becomes first player in NFL history to start 300 regular season games as he guides Tampa Bay Buccaneers to an opening day 31-29 win at home to Dallas Cowboys
******TV SATURDAY******
| COLLEGE FOOTBALL | TIME ET | TV |
| Vanderbilt at Wake Forest | 11:00am | ACCN |
| Troy at Kansas State | 12:00pm | FS1 |
| Notre Dame at NC State | 12:00pm | ABC |
| Youngstown State at Ohio State | 12:00pm | BTN |
| Utah at Baylor | 12:00pm | ESPN |
| Ball State at Georgia | 12:00pm | SECN |
| Delaware at Penn State | 12:00pm | Peacock |
| Delaware State at Army | 12:00pm | CBSSN |
| Holy Cross at Boston College | 12:00pm | ESPN+ |
| James Madison at Virginia | 12:00pm | ESPNU |
| Nebraska at Colorado | 12:00pm | FOX |
| Purdue at Virginia Tech | 12:00pm | ESPN2 |
| SC State at Georgia Tech | 1:00pm | ESPN+ |
| New Hampshire at Central Michigan | 1:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Eastern Illinois at Bowling Green | 2:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Charleston Sou. at Clemson | 2:15pm | ACCN |
| Eastern Kentucky at Kentucky | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Southern Utah at BYU | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Southern Illinois at NIU | 3:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Western Michigan at Syracuse | 3:30pm | ESPN+ |
| UNLV at Michigan | 3:30pm | CBS |
| Texas State at UTSA | 3:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Texas Southern at Toledo | 3:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Texas A&M at Miami (FL) | 3:30pm | ABC |
| Miami (Ohio) at UMass | 3:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Richmond at Michigan State | 3:30pm | BTN |
| Ole Miss at Tulane | 3:30pm | ESPN2 |
| Wagner at Navy | 3:30pm | CBSSN |
| Iowa at Iowa State | 3:30pm | FOX |
| UTEP at Northwestern | 3:30pm | BTN |
| Cal Poly at San Jose State | 4:00pm | NBCS-BAY |
| Kent State at Arkansas | 4:00pm | SECN |
| Marshall at East Carolina | 4:00pm | ESPNU |
| Portland State at Wyoming | 4:00pm | MWN |
| Southeastern La. at South Alabama | 5:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Tulsa at Washington | 5:00pm | PAC12N |
| Austin Peay at Tennessee | 5:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Appalachian State at North Carolina | 5:15pm | ACCN |
| Ohio at Florida Atlantic | 6:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Duquesne at West Virginia | 6:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Fordham at Buffalo | 6:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Lafayette at Duke | 6:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Morgan State at Akron | 6:00pm | ESPN+ |
| New Mexico State at Liberty | 6:00pm | ESPN+ |
| SMU at Oklahoma | 6:00pm | ESPN+ |
| UAB at Georgia Southern | 6:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Louisiana at Old Dominion | 6:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Cincinnati at Pitt | 6:30pm | CW |
| North Texas at FIU | 6:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Oregon at Texas Tech | 7:00pm | FOX |
| Texas at Alabama | 7:00pm | ESPN |
| Northwestern State at Louisiana Tech | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Memphis at Arkansas State | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| UCF at Boise State | 7:00pm | FS1 |
| UConn at Georgia State | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Middle Tennessee at Missouri | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Jacksonville State at Coastal Carolina | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Houston at Rice | 7:00pm | NFLN |
| HCU at WKU | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Florida A&M at USF | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Idaho at Nevada | 7:00pm | MWN |
| Eastern Michigan at Minnesota | 7:30pm | BTN |
| UCLA at San Diego State | 7:30pm | CBS |
| Wisconsin at Washington State | 7:30pm | ABC |
| Arizona at Mississippi State | 7:30pm | SECN |
| Charlotte at Maryland | 7:30pm | NBC |
| Furman at South Carolina | 7:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Grambling State at LSU | 7:30pm | ESPN+ |
| McNeese at Florida | 7:30pm | ESPNU |
| Temple at Rutgers | 7:30pm | BTN |
| Idaho State at Utah State | 8:00pm | MWN |
| Air Force vs Sam Houston | 8:00pm | CBSSN |
| Nicholls at TCU | 8:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Tennessee Tech at New Mexico | 8:00pm | MWN |
| Lamar at ULM | 8:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Southern Miss at Florida State | 8:30pm | ACCN |
| Eastern Washington at Fresno State | 9:00pm | MWN |
| UC Davis at Oregon State | 9:00pm | PAC12N |
| Stanford at USC | 10:30pm | FOX |
| Auburn at California | 10:30pm | ESPN |
| Oklahoma State at Arizona State | 10:30pm | FS1 |
| UAlbany at Hawaii | 11:59pm | Spectrum |
| GOLF | TIME ET | TV |
| DP World: Irish Open | 7:30am | GOLF |
| LPGA: Queen City Championship | 2:00pm | GOLF |
| MLB REGULAR SEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| Milwaukee at NY Yankees | 2:05pm | Bally Sports YES |
| NY Mets at Minnesota | 2:10pm | SNY Bally Sports |
| Arizona at Chi. Cubs | 2:20pm | Bally Sports MARQ |
| Kansas City at Toronto | 3:07pm | Bally Sports Sportsnet |
| Seattle at Tampa Bay | 4:05pm | FS1 Bally Sports Root Sports |
| LA Dodgers at Washington | 4:05pm | Spectrum MASN/2 |
| Baltimore at Boston | 4:10pm | MASN/2 NESN |
| Miami at Philadelphia | 6:05pm | Bally Sports NBCS-PHI |
| Chi. White Sox at Detroit | 6:10pm | Bally Sports NBCS-CHI |
| St. Louis at Cincinnati | 6:40pm | Bally Sports |
| Oakland at Texas | 7:05pm | NBCS-CA Bally Sports |
| San Diego at Houston | 7:10pm | Bally Sports ATTSN-SW |
| Pittsburgh at Atlanta | 7:20pm | ATTSN-PIT Bally Sports |
| Colorado at San Francisco | 9:05pm | ATTSN-RM NBCS-BAY |
| Cleveland at LA Angels | 9:07pm | Bally Sports |
| MOTORSPORTS | TIME ET | TV |
| Pro Motocross Championship | 3:00pm | USA |
| Xfinity: Kansas Lottery 300 | 3:00pm | NBC |
| SOCCER | TIME ET | TV |
| UEFA Euro Qualifying: Azerbaijan vs Belgium | 9:00am | FS1 |
| UEFA Euro Qualifying: Ukraine vs England | 12:00pm | FS2 |
| UEFA Euro Qualifying: Andorra vs Belarus | 12:00pm | FOX Soccer Plus |
| UEFA Euro Qualifying: Estonia vs Sweden | 12:00pm | fuboTV |
| UEFA Euro Qualifying: North Macedonia vs Italy | 2:45pm | fuboTV |
| UEFA Euro Qualifying: Kosovo vs Switzerland | 2:45pm | fuboTV |
| UEFA Euro Qualifying: Romania vs Israel | 2:45pm | FOX Soccer Plus |
| Friendly: Germany vs Japan | 2:45pm | FS2 |
| CONCACAF Nations League: Antigua and Barbuda vs Guyana | 3:30pm | Paramount+ |
| CONCACAF Nations League: British Virgin Islands vs Turks and Caicos Islands | 3:30pm | Paramount+ |
| Friendly: USA vs Uzbekistan | 5:30pm | FS2 |
| CONCACAF Nations League: Bahamas vs Puerto Rico | 6:00pm | Paramount+ |
| MLS: DC United vs SJ Earthquakes | 7:30pm | MLS Pass |
| MLS: Inter Miami vs Sporting KC | 7:30pm | MLS Pass |
| MLS: Minnesota United vs New England | 8:30pm | MLS Pass |
| Friendly: Mexico vs Australia | 10:00pm | TUDN |
| MLS: Portland Timbers vs Los Angeles FC | 10:30pm | MLS Pass |
| TENNIS | TIME ET | TV |
| US Open Women’s Final | 4:00pm | ESPN |