Timmy Chang, Hawai’i’s current head coach, became the NCAA’s all-time passing yards leader under the tutelage of Jones. He said "words can’t express the sorrow" he feels learning of his old coach’s passing.
"Coach Jones was a father figure, a mentor, and a visionary who revolutionized the game," Chang said in a statement, per ESPN. "He believed in a young kid from Hawai’i and gave me the opportunity of a lifetime to run his offense. And his impact didn’t stop when my playing days ended. He guided me every step of the way as I transitioned into coaching, always making time to share his wisdom and support me when I took over this program.
"He put Hawai'i football on the map and showed us all what was possible. We lost a true legend today, but I will spend the rest of my career trying to honor his legacy, his passion for this university and the Aloha he shared with everyone he touched. My deepest condolences go out to his 'ohana and all those who he impacted."
After playing college ball at Hawai’i, Portland State and Oregon, Jones signed as an undrafted free agent with the Atlanta Falcons, whom he spent four seasons with, backing up quarterback Steve Bartkowski. He started five games in his NFL career, winning just one.
Jones’ coaching career began right after his playing days were over. He eventually worked his way to become the Falcons’ head coach from 1994-96, and he would be named the interim head coach of the San Diego Chargers in 1998.
He had an opportunity to remain in place, but he decided to head back to Hawai’i to become its head coach. Jones led the Rainbow Warriors to conference titles in 1999 and 2007, the latter season being a historic one.
Hawai’i began the season 12-0 and made the school’s first-ever BCS bowl game (Sugar Bowl).
"The 2007 season and making the Sugar Bowl, that went over what anybody ever thought was possible," Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi, a former Rainbow Warriors player and assistant coach, said in a statement. "I was on the field for the game [against] the University of Washington. We were down 21 points, not once but twice, and still came back to win against a very formidable opponent. That kind of coaching and who he was was very, very special. He leaves an incredible legacy here. June was very special, we will miss him, but his legacy will live on."
Victor Wembanyama is unquestionably one of basketball's brightest young stars. In his third NBA season, he led the San Antonio Spurs to the Finals.
San Antonio ultimately lost the series to the New York Knicks in five games. Wembanyama earned several individual honors, including his first Defensive Player of the Year award and All-NBA selection.
The French-born Spurs forward opened the 2026-27 season under enormous expectations. The 7-foot-4 star was a preseason favorite to win the NBA MVP award, while San Antonio entered the season as an odds-on favorite to win the championship.
The postseason also marked a notable shift in how the public viewed Wembanyama. Once a widely beloved sports figure, he was increasingly cast by some as a villain.
A series of on-court incidents fueled claims that Wembanyama had become a "dirty" player. One of those situations surfaced in the Western Conference semifinals, when his elbow made contact with then-Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid.
During the Finals, many Knicks fans grew furious at times over Wembanyama’s defense against Jalen Brunson.
Once viewed as a conquering hero, Wembanyama was quickly cast as a New York sports villain. But he insisted the criticism does not faze him.
"No, it didn't because I'm not paying attention to this ... during the Finals. I don't think any player on either team really is," Wembanyama told "60 Minutes" when asked about his portrayal as a villain in a clip released Thursday ahead of Sunday’s full sit-down interview.
Although Wembanyama said he tunes out much of the noise, he does not appear eager to let the villain label stick. He added that last season’s playoff run taught him where to draw the line between playing with a competitive edge and going a step farther than he should, acknowledging that he crossed it at times.
"It showed my limits more than anything else. Going out there, you need to play basketball. You don't need to beat the s--- out of people. [laughs] If you wanna win, at least," Wembanyama said while reflecting on the lessons he learned from last season’s playoff run.
Wembanyama also drew public attention before some Finals games began. He was seen standing with his arms crossed during the U.S. national anthem before Game 1, but reportedly was not on the court for the anthems before Games 3 and 4.
He has not publicly explained why he stood with his arms crossed before Game 1 on June 3. Wembanyama has played in all five of San Antonio’s regular-season games this season, averaging 25 points per game.
Imagine a place where people are twice as likely to say something negative about you as something positive. A place where they feel free to insult you in ways they would never attempt in person. A place where they are incentivized, sometimes financially, for saying things about you that are untrue.
Social media is that place.
Online hate has received renewed attention in recent weeks. Most notably, ESPN commentator Pat McAfee cited online remarks, lies, and death threats when explaining why he felt unsafe at a Utah college campus last week. He said people frequently tell him they want to "Kirk" him, a reference to the assassination of political activist Charlie Kirk.
OutKick founder Clay Travis has described receiving similar messages almost every day. McAfee and Travis are not alone. Anyone with a public platform or a controversial opinion has likely faced an online barrage of abuse, often more than once.
In my experience, negative comments outnumber positive ones by an even wider margin than the nearly two-to-one ratio University of Minnesota researchers found.
The mental health consequences are not only measurable but notable.
In a 2025 experiment involving 128 adults, participants exposed to negative social media comments recorded anxiety scores of 2.42, compared with 1.77 among those who saw neutral comments and 1.55 among those who saw positive comments. Their pleasant mood scores also fell to 2.37, compared with 3.05 after neutral comments and 3.25 after positive comments.
Translation: their moods were tied to what people say to them and about them online.
A separate meta-analysis found that adolescents who experienced cyberbullying had 2.73 times the odds of developing depression as those who had not.
The numbers are concerning. Social media hostility can cause serious distress, from children and teenagers to professional athletes and public figures.
Jesse Morse, M.D., built an X following of more than 200,000 people by providing injury analysis on NFL players. His account generated enough engagement to qualify for monetization. Last week, he said he had "retired" from the role because of the relentless negativity.
"My reputation is not worth it. I get so much hate. It’s just not worth it anymore," Morse wrote.
Maybe it is not worth it. That is for you to decide.
But the people spreading the hate are not worth it. They are not worth acknowledging. They are mere strangers to you.
Think about the logic of allowing someone who does not know you to determine your mood. If someone criticized a movie but admitted they had watched only a few seconds, you would dismiss the review immediately. You wouldn't give credibility to someone judging an entire film from an incomplete sample.
Social media criticism is often no different. People are far more complex than films. And yet, most users who insult you are responding to a single post, comment or moment. They are judging your character based on one short scene.
Their opinion is not credible. It only becomes so if you decide to make it credible.
Social media also distorts public opinion. Studies show that negative content is overrepresented because it attracts more engagement and spreads more widely. In return, positive reactions are quieter and less visible. The online response is not a representative sample of the real world.
In previous generations, most people had no idea what strangers thought of them. Strangers had no way to announce their opinions directly.
Now they do.
That is the only thing that has changed.
Their opinions have not become more informed, accurate or important simply because technology can deliver them to your phone.
So stop treating them as if they have.
Do not let people who do not know you define you. Do not let the most unreasonable and uninformed people defeat you.
Ignore them. Turn off your mentions. Restrict replies. Disable public comments. Delete social media, if you wish. The moment you stop giving strangers access to your attention, you render them powerless.
Unless a troll is a direct threat to what matters most in your life — friends, family, career, health, safety — they should have no place in your mind.
The Kansas City Chiefs brought in Justin Tucker amid Harrison Butker’s struggles, but special teams coordinator Dave Toub made it clear who the starting kicker is.
Butker has struggled this season, making just 11 of 16 field-goal attempts, with four of his misses coming over his last four games. Amid those woes, the team brought in Tucker to provide competition, but Toub remained steadfast in his support of Butker.
"Butker is our kicker," Toub told reporters on Thursday. "We’re trying to improve, we’re trying to get Butker right. That’s what this whole thing is about."
Toub said Butker has performed well in practice this week despite windy conditions and Tucker’s presence.
"He went 10-for-10 yesterday with Tucker standing right there," Toub said. "And he went 10-for-10. On a windy day, it was 28-mile-an-hour gusts yesterday, and he went 10-for-10. And I thought right before out to practice, I was going, ‘This poor bastard,’ I mean, it’s 28-mile-an-hour gusts and he’s got to go out there and try to — and he did it. He went 10-for-10, so that’s a good thing. So we’re going to keep working it."
The Chiefs worked out Ben Sauls, Harrison Mevis and Tucker, and Toub was asked why the team chose the former Baltimore Ravens kicker.
"Because (Justin Tucker) he is a good kicker. And I've heard he's been out making the rounds, and we talk. All the special teams coaches talk. He had four workouts before we brought—we were his fifth workout, tryout. And the word was that he was hitting the ball great, and I wanted to see it. I always thought he was a great kicker, and those two guys right now, Harrison and him, they idolized each other in the league when they were kicking together. He was out there, he did his 10-game suspension, so he was available, we brought him in," Toub said.
Toub said he put the kickers through a "grueling workout" that included a "30 kick," extra points, seven attempts from beyond 50 yards and one from 60 yards. Tucker made every kick with exceptional accuracy.
"Not only did he make them, he was accurate. 60 percent of his kicks were inside of a six-foot cylinder in the middle of the uprights. Somebody that's struggling as a kicker is not able to put the ball with that kind of accuracy," Toub said. "So, he was off the charts good. That's the reason why we signed him to the practice squad."
Tucker served a 10-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy after 16 female massage therapists accused him of sexual misconduct and inappropriate behavior during sessions between 2012 and 2016, according to reporting by The Baltimore Banner in January 2025.
On Feb. 16 of last year, the same outlet reported that seven more women had come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct against Tucker. The longtime Ravens kicker denied the allegations in a statement to OutKick.
"I maintain I did not act inappropriately at any point before, during, or after a professional bodywork treatment session, nor have I ever been told I am unwelcome at any massage therapy provider," he said. "These claims are simply not true."
"I can assure whoever is reading this that I have never intended to disrespect anyone, cross any boundary, or make anyone feel uncomfortable in any way whatsoever."
While Toub said Butker is still the team’s kicker, that could change if his struggles continue. Toub described Butker’s missed 45-yard field goal in the team’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks as a "bad miss."
"You’ve got to make the kicks," Toub said. "The short kicks — that’s considered a short kick — you’ve got to make those in situations where it’s a tight game like that. It was an issue in that game, for sure."
The Chiefs next game is against the Denver Broncos at 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday.
With the Indianapolis Colts already beginning their fire sale, NFL trade deadline speculation swirls around running back Jonathan Taylor.
Will the Colts let their biggest offensive weapon go to accumulate my draft stock?
Taylor was asked about the rumors, and for one, he has not requested a trade. He has reaffirmed his desire to stay, but also understands that’s not his call at the end of the day.
Business is business in the NFL, and he understands that.
"I haven’t heard anything," he said on Thursday, per FOX59’s Mike Chappell. "I can’t control that, obviously. Like you guys know, I’m proud to wear the horseshoe, proud to be here. Similar to Quenton [Nelson] and [DeForest Buckner], they were proud to wear the horseshoe, they were proud to be here. But obviously, circumstances may cause otherwise. Hopefully that day may not come, but I can’t control that."
The Colts initiated a blockbuster to kick off the trade deadline period, sending Nelson, an All-Pro guard, to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for a 2027 third-round pick and 2028 fifth-round pick on Tuesday.
Then, fellow All-Pro DeForest Buckner, who is also a three-time Pro Bowler, reunited with the San Francisco 49ers, the team that took him seventh overall in the 2016 NFL Draft, after the Colts traded him for a 2027 fourth-round pick later on Tuesday.
Since then, wide receiver Josh Downs has reportedly requested a trade from Indianapolis. And this all comes after owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon fired GM Chris Ballard on Oct. 19 following a 10-year stint with the team that went 72-82-1 under his roster construction.
So, it’s hard to focus on the weekly grind when those trade rumors are flying around with other players, but Taylor, despite him being atop team’s list if available, is trying his best to block it out.
"The only thing that I can control is rallying these guys in the locker room, helping us put together a great plan and executing a great plan for Jacksonville because it's a division game and they're licking their chops right now. They think they're going to kick us while we're down and that has to be the point of emphasis," he added.
Irsay-Gordon reportedly does not want to move Taylor, who signed a two-year, $44 million contract extension in August. But we’ve already seen players, who signed extensions get dealt, with the Tennessee Titans reaching a blockbuster deal with the Chicago Bears on Thursday despite inking a three-year, $105.8 million deal that made him the highest-paid defensive tackle in the league back in June.
The Colts also landed New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner this time last year after he signed an extension. So, anything is in the cards, especially when there’s a lot of time left for teams to consider trades before the deadline on Nov. 10.
Meanwhile, head coach Shane Steichen will continue to prepare his club. He was asked if Taylor had asked for a trade.
"Those are hypothetical things right now," he responded. "I know there’s stuff floating around there, but JT’s on our football team."
If the Colts are indeed willing to trade Taylor for the right package, a team would be getting one of the best at his position in the NFL. The 27-year-old has rushed for at least 1,100 yards in four of his six NFL campaigns, and he’s on pace for another after rushing for 587 yards with eight touchdowns through seven games.
"He is recovering and thankful to his medical team, teammates, and Colorado fans for their prayers and support," T. Carlton Lewis wrote. "Please respect Julian and the Lewis family’s privacy. We will have no further comment at this time."
The Buffaloes responded to OutKick’s request for comment.
"Colorado Athletics extends our full support to JuJu and his family through this medical emergency. He remains in the thoughts of every CU player, coach, and staff member and we will continue to assist in any way we can in his full recovery. His health and well-being remain our top priority during this time," the statement said.
Lewis, a 19-year-old sophomore with the Buffaloes, began the season as the team’s starting quarterback. However, head coach Deion Sanders made the decision to bench him after four games.
His last appearance came on Sept. 26, a loss to the Baylor Bears, before the ball was turned over to junior Isaac Wilson.
It hasn’t been much better for Wilson, though, as the Buffaloes are 0-3 since he took over on offense. The Buffaloes are now 2-5 on the year and dead last in the Big 12 with an 0-4 conference record.
The day before Lewis suffered his medical emergency, Sanders was asked by the media if he’d turn back to his sophomore signal caller because of the skid for his team.
"That’s on him," Sanders responded, via BuffsTV. "I don’t think you could find a player in this program — or you may could find some bitter players that have left and didn’t want to leave, but life is what it is — but I don’t treat people unfairly. I don’t play games with young men and their careers and hate on folks.
"If I’m anything, I’m too forgiving and very, very kind. …You’ve got to always understand that we may know a little more than you do, because we’re inside the locker room. We’re there. We understand what happens."
If you're a fan of a team that's struggling, it's easy to feel like your home stadium or arena is haunted, and a new survey just crowned the most haunted sports venue in North America.
Arlington, Texas' AT&T Stadium takes the top spot, which makes sense because on more than one occasion we've seen expressions on the faces of Dallas Cowboys players as if they had just seen a ghost.
This info comes to us from The Sports Geek, which employed a more scientific approach to this than I've ever seen in an episode of "Ghost Hunters."
They scored 47 venues across the US and Canada based on their haunted lore, age, proximity to burial sites, and, finally, an "other" category for the rest of each one's ghoulish attributes.
In a shocker, Jerry's World — which opened in only 2009 — out-ghosted Dodger Stadium and 112-year-old Wrigley Field for the top spot.
Man, this really puts my long-running argument of there being no new ghosts to shame...
Former stadium employee Selena Sixtos wrote an article in 2018 for Dallas Sports Fanatics in which she cites several odd occurrences. These included some poltergeist-like activity in a kitchen, a chill around a room named after legendary coach Tom Landry, and an incident in which she heard someone in a bathroom stall, only for it to be unoccupied.
Which, in fairness, is actually way down the list of scary things to find in a stadium restroom, but creepy nonetheless.
The stadium is also built next to a graveyard, per The Dallas Observer, and a worker was killed in an accident during its construction. That helps account for why it was able to overcome its comparatively young age.
The most shocking thing of all is that the stadium might be the first to top a "most haunted" list with no sightings of Civil War soldiers or early or 20th-century widows.
Charles Barkley did not appreciate seeing LeBron James practicing his golf swing on the court during the middle of the national anthem ahead of his Philadelphia 76ers debut earlier this month.
President Donald Trump blasted James after the incident, calling him a "total disgrace," and while Barkley made it a point to say he doesn't care what the President has to say about anything, the two see eye to eye when it comes to James disrespecting the anthem.
"I don’t pay what President Trump says any attention, first and foremost, at all," Barkley began when asked about the moment on SiriusXM NBA Radio. "But I thought that was very disrespectful, practicing your golf swing in the middle of the anthem. I always stand for the anthem. I just think it’s important. We live in the greatest country ever where you can always protest, but I think you have to be very careful with the anthem."
While Barkley mentioned always being allowed to protest, it doesn't appear that James was protesting anything in this instance, but instead simply not being able to stand still and disrespecting the anthem in the process.
"I look at it, I'm supporting the troops when I stand for the national anthem," Barkley continued. "I'm standing there for free speech, so even though I believe in free speech, I think you have to be very careful with the anthem. I always stand for the anthem. I think it's important, and I think it's significant."
James' faux golf swings in the middle of the anthem have understandably drawn attention and criticism, but perhaps the most disrespectful stunt he's pulled during 'The Star-Spangled Banner' came back in 2023.
As a late arrival to his courtside seats at USC to watch his son, Bronny James, play for the Trojans, LeBron made his entrance during the middle of the anthem, with a hat on, and sat in his seat while the rest of the arena was standing and showing respect to the United States.
The Bronx Bombers were obliterated in the postseason, getting swept in the American League Division Series and tying their longest World Series drought since winning their first in 1923.
When the Milwaukee Brewers won their first-ever Fall Classic, the Yankees continued to be a topic of conversation.
National League Championship Series MVP Jake Bauers handed manager Pat Murphy the ball from the final out, and the two shared a hug. Murphy then shared some words with Bauers.
"You're going to be a rich f---er. Just remember when you were on that horses--- Yankees team and you guys were all playing for yourself? Just remember, say, 'This is the way we used to do it,'" Murphy appeared to tell his first baseman.
Bauers spent one season with the Yankees, and it was the only time since 2016 they missed the postseason after going 82-80 in 2023. Bauers hit .202 with New York and was traded in the ensuing offseason.
In any case, the Yankees have been criticized a decent amount since their elimination by executives, media, and even their own legends.
Alex Rodriguez said the team's "philosophy" has to change, and Derek Jeter hinted that the Yankees don't do the "little things."
CC Sabathia, Anthony Rizzo and Jorge Posada, two of whom have their numbers retired in Monument Park, have also lambasted the organization for their postseason failures since 2010.
Bauers had the best season of his career this year, as his .266/.389/.484 slash line represented all the best marks of his career. He also hit 26 homers and drove in 86 runs, both career highs.
Ernie Johnson will retire as host of "Inside the NBA" after the season, the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Famer announced in a social media video on Wednesday.
Johnson, 70, will continue covering the NCAA men’s basketball tournament for CBS and Turner Sports.
The announcement generated two separate discussions across the industry. One about Johnson’s legacy. The other concerns the obvious. His departure creates an opening on one of the most prestigious and popular shows in sports media.
Speaking to sources Wednesday, no one was confident in who would succeed Johnson just yet. For one, "Inside the NBA" remains a TNT production, despite moving to ESPN airwaves last season. Skydance Corporation, which owns TNT and CBS, controls the show. ESPN does not.
That said, ESPN will likely influence the decision. Malika Andrews, ESPN’s current NBA host, is a plausible candidate.
Andrews hosted the network’s NBA Finals coverage before the deal with "Inside the NBA." She currently hosts ESPN’s daily basketball show, "NBA Today," and its pregame show, "NBA Countdown."
The question is whether Andrews can preserve the show’s signature off-the-cuff identity. She has struggled in the past when covering topics involving serious issues.
She previously teared up on set while discussing the Supreme Court’s decision to return abortion laws to the states and falsely claimed that the Constitution prohibits doing so. It does not. Andrews also made false claims about Kyle Rittenhouse carrying weapons across state lines. Not ideal.
Adam Lefkoe is the other candidate frequently mentioned by sources. Lefkoe is a TNT employee who previously hosted a Tuesday edition of "Inside the NBA" and has filled in for Johnson in recent years. He also has a rapport with Shaquille O’Neal, who will remain an analyst on the show. Lefkoe and O’Neal co-host "The Big Podcast."
After Lefkoe and Andrews, opinions were mixed regarding other candidates. Qualified NBA hosts are not simply waiting for an opportunity.
Most of ESPN’s top hosts are occupied elsewhere. Mike Greenberg and Scott Van Pelt host NFL pregame shows. Rece Davis hosts both the football and basketball editions of "GameDay."
Laura Rutledge works across the NFL and college football and should be in line to succeed Van Pelt in the coming years. Each would be a quality replacement for Johnson, but for one reason or another, they may not want the job.
Another potential factor is Charles Barkley.
Barkley has said this will also be his final season on the show. However, he has made that claim many times before, only to return the following year. Barkley’s departure could dramatically change the show’s style.
Former ESPN commentator Jalen Rose is reportedly his likely replacement, as disappointing as that may be.
LIV Golf is in shambles, and another one has bitten the dust.
Sergio Garcia said on social media that he will be playing in the DP World Tour, formerly the European Tour, and is "keeping my options open for a return to the PGA Tour."
The DP World Tour announced earlier this month that it was no longer allowing LIV players to participate in its tournaments.
"This tour has been a huge part of my career from the very beginning, and I’m proud to call it home again," Garcia said in his statement.
The 2017 Masters winner also said it is a "goal" to play for Team Europe in the Ryder Cup in Ireland — European golfers must be a member of the DP World Tour in order to be eligible. Thus, with the DP World Tour's new stipulations, Garcia's already-slim chances were essentially put to zero.
Garcia last played in the Ryder Cup in 2021, several months before jumping to LIV. He has won six times in his 10 appearances.
Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton, both Team Europe staples, have already said they are leaving LIV Golf. Louis Oosthuizen is also leaving, and Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed departed months ago.
The PIF halted funding in April to redirect money toward domestic projects and manage financial pressures from the regional war with Iran. Following the decision, PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan resigned from LIV’s board.
LIV filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in New Jersey last month. Between 2021 and 2026, LIV spent an estimated $5 billion to $8 billion. Bankruptcy filings show the league owes millions of dollars in unpaid compensation to top players, including Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson and Cam Smith.
The league’s future depends on a proposed restructuring plan called "LIV 2.0," but Rahm said the terms of "2.0" are "unacceptable" and he won't be participating in it. Rahm and Hatton were perhaps the two biggest LIV names to play in DP World Tour events.
Under the proposal, London-based private equity firm BC Partners, which has financial ties to player agency GSE Worldwide, would fund a 2027 relaunch. The plan would also give the players majority ownership of the league.
LIV has laid off most of its operational staff, left event contractors waiting for payment and faces a lawsuit from the Premier Golf League alleging breach of confidence and conspiracy.
Shortly after the PIF pulled its funding, LIV CEO Scott O'Neil said the LIV calendar would not be altered, but that did not occur. The league's originally-scheduled championship weekend was cancelled, forcing it to be played a week earlier.
The Week 10 SEC football schedule will feature a mid-afternoon kickoff when Alabama visits LSU. Both conference rivals are on a bye this week, having entered the break ranked in the top 25.
The 3:30 p.m. kickoff was apparently less than ideal for LSU head coach Lane Kiffin. "I never even considered that it wouldn't be at night," Kiffin said when asked Wednesday about next week's game.
Alabama-LSU has become a nighttime staple in recent years. The rivalry game has been played at night in each of the past six seasons, while the last non-night meeting in Baton Rouge came in 2010.
"I didn't even think to think about the time," Kiffin said. "I just assumed, especially since the last 16 years, this game has been at night here all the time. I guess that's probably naive of me."
Ole Miss, where Kiffin coached for six seasons, is scheduled to play Georgia in a Primetime game on November 7. Against the backdrop of legal disputes involving Kiffin, LSU and the SEC, the LSU coach suggested the league office may have viewed the scheduling decision as an opportunity to punish him.
"I was joking to [LSU SID Michael Bonnette] earlier, saying obviously the SEC wanted to change it from how it's been to give LSU less of an advantage because of how well LSU plays at night and how intimidating it is to play here," Kiffin said. "I was like, 'If someone thinks the SEC wants us to win this year after what's been going on, they must've just been on Mars the last four months.'"
LSU is 1-6 in its last seven home games against Alabama under the lights at Tiger Stadium, also known as Death Valley. Many of those losses have come by wide margins.
Since narrowly losing to Kentucky on Oct. 10, Kiffin has guided LSU to consecutive victories over SEC opponents. LSU and Alabama will enter next week’s game with identical 6-2 records.
For the first time in franchise history, the Milwaukee Brewers can call themselves World Series champions.
The Brewers couldn’t get the job done in seven games against the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1982 World Series, and it took them 44 years to get back to the Fall Classic this season.
In Game 5 against the Tampa Bay Bays, one night after getting walked off in the bottom of the 13th inning, the Brewers defeated their AL opponent, 4-1, to claim their title.
Game 4 was a suspenseful thriller, where it seemed like 22-year-old rookie Cooper Pratt would go down in World Series history after belting a top of the 13th solo homer to finally break a 2-2 tie.
But, facing a potential sweep at the hands of the Brewers, who did the same to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS, the Rays strung together four straight singles in the bottom of the frame to walk off Game 4 and keep their season alive.
In Game 5, the Brewers didn’t blink despite momentum swinging in the Rays’ favor ever so slightly.
Once again, it was Pratt, three years removed from playing high school baseball in Mississippi, coming through in the clutch with an RBI single in the top of the second inning off Drew Rasmussen, who made a start on short rest given the circumstances, to take a 1-0 lead.
Meanwhile, Jacob Misiorowski, the likely NL Cy Young winner, was dealing triple-digit fastballs the Rays couldn’t handle in the bottom frames. He went 5.2 innings before cramping in the bottom of the sixth inning forced manager Pat Murphy to finally go into his bullpen, which was exhausted in Game 4 due to extra innings. Misiorowski gave up just two hits and one walk, while striking out two.
The Milwaukee bullpen took over with run support, though, as David Hamilton shot an RBI single past a diving Rays defender in the top of the fifth, and two more runs would come across one inning later thanks to another RBI from Pratt on a sac fly and Williams Contreras roping a double to score Christian Yelich.
A 4-0 lead was just what the Brewers needed, as the bullpen continued to get its outs and the suspense this time was felt from Tampa Bay all the way to Wisconsin, where fans were inching closer toward a history-defining victory.
This was a team that had the best record in MLB this regular season at 103-59 despite having a payroll in the middle of the pack (19th overall at $146 million). The Rays' payroll was even lower at $95.6 million, which ranked 28th among the 30 teams, making this a World Series matchup of two teams that operated in another spectrum compared to those at the top of the list filled with All-Stars in every facet.
"Brewer Ball," however, became a fascinating watch for both baseball traditionalists and modern-day fans. New York Yankees great Derek Jeter said, "Quite frankly, that's how baseball's supposed to be played."
The Brewers do everything needed to win games, especially those close ones. They did it during the regular season, and they did so in the postseason, including Games 1 and 2 against the Rays before blowing them out in Game 3, 10-1, at Tropicana Field.
The Indianapolis Colts already declared themselves sellers before the Nov. 10 NFL trade deadline, and now football fans are wondering which struggling team might be next.
The New York Jets, who share the Colts' 2-5 record, are among the teams with intriguing veterans they could trade.
Among them, star receiver Garrett Wilson, who has long been a bright light on what seems to be a constant overcast for the franchise that owns the longest active playoff drought in professional sports — 15 seasons.
During a media gathering ahead of the Jets’ Week 8 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders, Wilson was asked once again about trade rumors involving himself before the deadline.
He made it clear he has no desire to be traded, but he’s also not happy with the losing culture that he hasn’t been able to escape since the Jets took him 10th overall in the 2022 NFL Draft.
"Yeah, I want to be here, man," he told reporters, via ESPN. "I want to win games and that’s the one thing we’ve been missing on here. I love it here. Do I love it more than I love winning? Nah, to be completely honest, but I’m hopeful.
"I’ve never been the best optimistic guy, but I’ve found a way and dug deep, and I’ve been optimistic for three, four, five years now. And that’s why these [losses] each weekend hurt a little more."
The questions to Wilson came after he was noticeably frustrated on the Jets’ sideline during their 28-25 loss to the Miami Dolphins, who picked up their first win of the season. Wilson had only seen three targets from quarterback Geno Smith, hauling in two for 26 yards. The week prior, Wilson had four catches for 44 yards against the New England Patriots.
But just over a year ago, Wilson cashed in on a four-year, $130 million contract that keeps him locked in with the Jets through 2030. As such, his price tag for a potential trade would be quite high.
Then again, the Jets have proven to deal first-round talent after doing so last season amid a fire sale of their own. Defensive tackle Quinnen Williams landed with the Dallas Cowboys, while cornerback Sauce Gardner was dealt to the Colts, which came right after he signed his four-year, $120 million extension.
Simply put, nobody’s safe on a struggling roster. And Wilson may want to stay put, but his frustration is building as the Jets continue to lose.
Since he joined the Jets, Wilson has seen his team go 24-51, going no better than 7-10 in a single season.
"I’d be lying if I said it's not," Wilson said about the compounding losses and lack of getting targets in some games leading to frustration, "but at the end of the day it comes down to ... winning and losing. Throughout my experience, when things go right, I tend to have a part in that. And when it doesn't, it seems avoidable.
"That's my main frustration that may show on the TV or something like that. But I don't want it to ever be misconstrued. This all comes from a place in my heart of wanting to win. I'm biased, but it also comes from experience where I played my part in that."
On the field, the UCF Knights had one of the biggest and most surprising wins of the season this past weekend in Orlando. A series of absurd, classic college football plays in the fourth quarter led to overtime, and the eventual program-changing win for UCF.
It was shocking, both for how the game played out, and the ultimate result. There was a blocked field goal, a goalline stop, an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty all in the lead up to overtime. Then we had two overtimes filled with more drama. And the obligatory field storming. Then there's BYU, coming off a massive win over Notre Dame in Provo that rearranged the College Football Playoff picture and put the Cougars in the top 2, losing as a clear favorite.
But the other shocking part of the game came before it started.
Video from inside Acrisure Bounce House showed a number of UCF fans chanting "f--- the Mormons," a reference to BYU's religious background. There's always room for good-natured college football fan ribbing, chanting, rivalries, and even some good old-fashioned hate. But insulting the other school's religion is, well, a bit too far.
"While the Conference recognizes the pregame protocols followed by UCF and immediate actions taken during the game, including removal of some individuals responsible for the conduct, discriminatory behavior has no place in the Big 12," it reads.
"The Conference has issued UCF a $100,000 fine, which will be directed toward student education initiatives. In conjunction with this action, the Big 12 is implementing an updated Conference-wide policy establishing escalating consequences for discriminatory conduct at athletic events effective immediately."
The new punishments include an "automatic minimum $100,000 fine" for the first incident such as this, along with a "formal warning" to the institution while allowing them to "immediately address the behavior and prevent further incidents."
Money is bad enough, but more misbehavior in the same game will now result in a penalty. A second "confirmed incident" will now be a "competitive penalty, e.g., a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty in football or an unsportsmanlike two-shot technical foul in basketball."
Anyone ejected for similar conduct will be "prohibited from attending all athletic events for the remainder of the academic year and are subject to applicable University fan/student conduct policies."
That's the right way to handle this particular situation, though, of course, it's possible this gets overused if the conference starts cracking down on typical college student behavior and chanting. Not just when it goes too far, like it did during UCF-BYU.
The Knights' home crowd will have an opportunity to redeem themselves on Friday night when they host Baylor, while BYU hosts Arizona State on Halloween in Provo. They likely won't need to worry about too much misbehavior there.
Saquon Barkley’s name has been linked to speculation that the Philadelphia Eagles could trade the star running back before next month’s deadline.
The three-time Pro Bowler has missed two games this season due to injury, and the Eagles have lost quarterback Jalen Hurts for the remainder of the year, fueling speculation that Barkley could land with a new NFL team at some point this season.
While Barkley is still carrying the ball for the Eagles, he’s apparently dropping one of his business ventures.
Barkley said he was forced to divest his equity stake in Polymarket because of league rules that ban NFL players from investing in or endorsing gambling or prediction-market companies.
He told Front Office Sports that any involvement with prediction markets is no longer allowed by the NFL.
"I was in it before, but no bueno," the Super Bowl champion said.
The NBA, Major League Baseball, NHL and MLS all have deals with either Kalshi or Polymarket or both.
Philadelphia 76ers star LeBron James has a reported $15 million per year salary as a paid endorser for Polymarket. He recently appeared in a star-studded commercial that included cameos by Derek Jeter, Eli Manning, Sue Bird and others.
Prediction markets provide an opportunity to trade on the result of future events. Sports account for a major portion of the volume generated by the array of typically yes-or-no questions, depending on the platform.
Barkley has not practiced this week and remains listed as questionable for Sunday night’s game against Washington. He scored his first rushing touchdown of the season in a Week 7 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Barkley has rushed for 244 yards this season.
Mark Walter, amid a federal investigation into his businesses, shockingly sold his stakes in the Los Angeles Lakers and Chelsea Football Club, which begged the question: what about the Los Angeles Dodgers?
The billionaire purchased the franchise in 2012 under his Guggenheim Baseball Management business, and if he continued a fire sale of sports ownership, that would be the next target.
But Walter stood firm when asked by the California Post if he planned on doing so.
"We’re going to keep the team no matter what," Walter replied to the outlet. "We’re going to be winning for 10 years or more. I think our commitment to do so will be just like it has been in the past, And, you know, we don’t win every year, but we’re going to try to."
Walter’s team running the show — president Stan Kasten and president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman — have been saying their majority owner plans to run his team like they usually do.
"I certainly hope we can look forward to winning another World Series next year under my ownership," he added. "And I think we’re just trying to win consistently, and do so for not just next season, but for the next decade and decades beyond that."
Under his ownership, the Dodgers have become a villain of sorts with their ability to land superstar talent over the years, while paying record-breaking contracts. But with the federal government’s investigation into the alleged use of investment funds to make loans directly to other businesses, some of which within Walter’s business, speculation that there was fraud within the Dodgers started trickling out on social media.
Walter’s company, TWG Global, addressed those comments earlier this year, denying the conspiracy theories that the Dodgers’ payroll, the second-highest in MLB at $322.39 million, was supported by loan fraud.
"Over the past several weeks, multipronged attacks against TWG have been advanced by unnamed sources with self-serving interests that have been reported in the media. It is important to set the record straight," it said. "TWG stands firmly behind the integrity of its business and remains focused on continuing to deliver value to its stakeholders."
But with the Justice Department and Securities and Exchange Commission looking into these allegations, Walter’s move to sell his controlling stake in the Lakers, another iconic American sports franchise like the Dodgers, sounded alarms, especially considering he had bought the majority stake with a $10 billion valuation from the Buss family just one year ago.
The Lakers were sold to Josh Kushner and former Disney CEO Bob Iger at a $12.5 billion valuation.
Walter then began the process of selling his stake in Chelsea, the English Premier League club, which he held alongside business partner Todd Boehly, who is also a member of Guggenheim Baseball Management. Reports also emerged that investment firm Guggenheim Partners was trying to raise funds for its insurance operations amid the federal investigation.
TWG Global denied any wrongdoing.
"There is no victim here. No one has been harmed, and no one has claimed they were harmed," the statement said in August. "TWG is committed to working with the U.S. Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission to resolve their inquiries.
The logistics surrounding the WNBA Finals have drawn almost as much attention as the compelling, hard-fought action on the court.
After negotiations reportedly described as "tense," the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries learned they would play Game 6 at State Farm Arena in downtown Atlanta on Thursday. The game will tip off at 12:30 p.m. ET, making it a matinee on the East Coast and a breakfast-time start on the West Coast.
Several Atlanta players downplayed the early start time, instead focusing on the task ahead. The Dream will look to keep their championship hopes alive and a find a way to force a decisive Game 7. Golden State took a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series Monday. The 12:30 p.m. ET tipoff drew mixed reactions, including from the Dream organization, which viewed the compromise as less than ideal.
In an open letter released Wednesday, the Dream suggested their concerns about finding a venue with enough capacity to host WNBA Finals games "did not receive the attention they deserved." The team also said that moving Game 6 to the early afternoon was "not what we fought for."
Dream owners Larry and Robyn Gottesdiener, Suzanne Abair and Renee Montgomery said the team brought up concerns about potential scheduling conflicts months before the Finals started.
"Two months ago, when the WNBA finalized playoff dates and times, we raised concerns that the W Finals schedule conflicted with NBA games at State Farm Arena," the letter stated. "As we moved through the playoffs, we reiterated those concerns. Our concerns did not receive the attention, nor the urgency that they deserved."
All of Atlanta’s home playoff games this postseason have been played at State Farm Arena, the longtime home of the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks. The venue can accommodate roughly 17,000 fans. For the past several seasons, the Dream’s primary home court has been Gateway Center Arena, which holds a WNBA-low 3,500 spectators. The Dream recently announced plans to return to State Farm Arena for all home games beginning in 2027.
The schedule changes have also affected the Hawks. Game 4 pushed Atlanta’s home game last Saturday against the Houston Rockets to 8:30 p.m., while Thursday’s Hawks-Cavaliers matchup will move to 8 p.m. to give arena crews time to prepare the building after the Dream-Valkyries game.
Game 3 was moved up one day, meaning all three WNBA Finals games played in Atlanta have needed some level of schedule adjustments.
The ownership group also suggested the scheduling issues may have stemmed from an assumption Atlanta would not reach the Finals.
"Perhaps it was assumed that the Dream would not make it this far. Perhaps, our place in the Finals was not accounted for. Whatever the reason, the reality is that we are here. We earned our place in the Finals, and our city deserves the opportunity to show up for its team."
The Hawks also host the Miami Heat on Wednesday night, effectively ruling out an afternoon home game Thursday.
"As much as we have great affection and nostalgia for Gateway Center Arena, we believed that our fans and the city wanted the opportunity to be a part of this historic series, and to see it played on a world-class stage," the letter continued. "That meant State Farm Arena."
Shelburne reported that moving Game 6 to Friday and Game 7 to Tuesday was among the options discussed. Tuesday, Nov. 3, is also Election Day for the midterm elections. The Golden State Warriors, who share Chase Center with the Valkyries, have home games scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 1, and Monday, Nov. 2.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert praised the sellout crowds for Games 3 and 4 and welcomed more fans for Game 6.
"The sellout crowds and extraordinary atmosphere at State Farm Arena for Games 3 and 4 were a tremendous success, and we’re excited to give thousands more fans the opportunity to experience Game 6 with a championship on the line," Engelbert said in a statement on Monday. "We thank the NBA, Dream, Valkyries, Hawks, State Farm Arena and USA Network for the collaboration and flexibility that made this move possible. We look forward to delivering another unforgettable Finals experience in Atlanta."
This year's playoff dates were distributed internally to teams on Dec. 4, 2025, ESPN reported, citing sources. The WNBA, Dream, Valkyries, Hawks, NBA and broadcast partners held discussions over the weekend as they worked to find a solution, according to ESPN.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens urged employers and educators to "extend a little grace" to Dream fans on Thursday afternoon.
"Whether they’re at the game or catching a few moments on their devices, please allow them to be excited for our home team," he wrote in a social media flyer.
Despite the logistical challenges, the Dream confirmed Wednesday that tickets for Game 6 had sold out.
The Kansas City Chiefs signing embattled kicker Justin Tucker to their practice squad has ruffled many football feathers on social media.
Tucker, who served a 10-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy after 24 total women accused him of sexual misconduct and inappropriate behavior during massage sessions, signed on the Chiefs’ practice squad amid kicking woes with another field goal specialist, Harrison Butker.
Considering the Chiefs’ history with controversial players in recent seasons, OutKick’s Craig Carton believes the Tucker signing has to beg the question: Is it really win at all costs?
"Remember what Kansas City is," Carton said. "A guy like Justin Tucker — 24 different women accused him of inappropriate sexual misconduct. 24 of them. The NFL doesn’t even like suspending its players, no matter what the crime is. And they suspended him for 10 full games. Like, at some point, let that sink in and then ask yourself the question: Is it really win at all costs? Is that really what Kansas City and the Hunt family should stand for? Is it? Apparently, it is."
Carton continued by saying the Chiefs and their owners, the Hunt family, "don’t care about their community" when they sign someone like Tucker to compete for a job.
"They don’t care about the type of person that wears the Kansas City colors. They just care about it doesn’t matter how bad a guy that guy might be," he added. "Can he help me win a football game? I know it’s naïve of me to think otherwise that any other team doesn’t do it, but Kansas City is the worst at it.
"So, yeah, celebrate Patrick Mahomes — one of the greatest players we’ve ever seen, who also appears to be a really good guy and does everything right despite knuckleheads around him like his father, like his brother. We should celebrate the Patrick Mahomes out there, and I think we do. But we shouldn’t do it without also paying attention to the bad guys in football, and ask the Kansas City Chiefs, and specifically Andy Reid, the question of: At what cost? At what cost is that Lombardi Trophy worth?"
In January 2025, The Baltimore Banner reported 16 female massage therapists had accused Tucker of sexual misconduct and inappropriate behavior during sessions between 2012 and 2016 at eight different spas in the Baltimore area. Tucker was playing for the Ravens, the franchise he thrived with on the field as one of the greatest kickers of all time in the NFL.
According to the report, the accusers said they ended sessions early or refused to work with Tucker again because of the allegations. The report also stated that Tucker was banned from returning to two of those spas, a claim Tucker’s legal team denied.
The report also mentioned that five of the women accusing Tucker claimed he was erect during sessions with him and that he fully or partially exposed himself, while others made other accusations of egregious acts.
Then, on Feb. 16, 2025, the same outlet reported seven more women came forward with allegations similar to the previous about the NFL player. The second wave of allegations accused Tucker of "acting inappropriately" at some of the best luxury spas in Baltimore, including the spas at the Four Seasons and Ritz-Carlton Residences in the city.
"I maintain I did not act inappropriately at any point before, during, or after a professional bodywork treatment session, nor have I ever been told I am unwelcome at any massage therapy provider," he said. "These claims are simply not true."
He added at the time that he was recounting 13 years of experiences with bodywork professionals.
"I can assure whoever is reading this that I have never intended to disrespect anyone, cross any boundary, or make anyone feel uncomfortable in any way whatsoever.
"It devastates me to know that anyone I have worked with would not have felt respected and valued as a professional, but more importantly as a person, and to anyone who has felt otherwise, I am sorry," Tucker said in his statement, the full text of which can be found below. "I want you to know I am committed to ensuring that everyone I interact with continues to feel that I respect them and care about them as a human being."
The Ravens cut ties with Tucker after 13 seasons in May 2025, saying it was a "football decision." Tucker was never criminally charged or sued civilly over the allegations, but the allegations, and subsequent NFL suspension, led some to compare him to Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson. Both of their cases involved allegations from multiple female massage therapists, with Watson facing an 11-game suspension in 2022.
The Chiefs’ history with controversial players includes wide receiver Rashee Rice, who was involved in a multi-vehicle crash in Dallas in March 2024, leading to felony charges. He served jail time this offseason after violating his probation.
In the past, running back Kareem Hunt was cut by the Chiefs after surveillance video surfaced of a domestic dispute with a woman in a hotel hallway. He served an eight-game suspension in March 2019, though the Chiefs re-signed him in 2024. He spent the last two seasons with Kansas City, playing 30 games. At the time of his re-signing, head coach Andy Reid said that the running back matured, took accountability and deserved a second chance with the club.
Tyreek Hill was also a polarizing receiver who faced a 2014 domestic assault case that was dismissed and a 2019 child abuse probe, though no charges were filed.
And while it isn’t a legal situation, Butker fell into controversial waters after delivering his commencement speech at Benedictine College, where he criticized Pride Month, abortion policies and traditional career roles for women, which drew widespread media reaction and caused Reid and others to field questions about his cultural stances.
On the field, the Chiefs suffered their first loss at the hands of the Seattle Seahawks on "Sunday Night Football" in Week 7. They still lead the AFC West with a 5-1 record, and look like a team ready to compete for the Lombardi Trophy once more.
It’s unknown how much of a leash Reid and the Chiefs have on Butker’s starting kicker status. He is tied for the most missed field goals in the NFL this season with five.
Tucker, who turns 37 next month, had his worst statistical season of his career in 2024, making only 73.3% of his field goal attempts, which is a career-low. However, he is one of the most decorated at his position to ever play the sport, tallying five first-team nods and seven Pro Bowls. His 89.1% field goal percentage is the second-best mark of all time.
Game 5 of the World Series could very well be the last baseball game for the foreseeable future.
The league's current collective bargaining agreement with the players expires on Dec. 1, and the players and owners appear as far apart as they ever have been.
Assuming there is no deal, the owners are expected to lock out the players, as was the case five years ago which led to the season being delayed by one week.
Despite the apparently harsh circumstances at the moment, New York Yankees president Randy Levine is actually "confident" things will all work out.
"It's very, very early... They want to reach an agreement. It's always this way in every labor negotiation I've done. It's always posturing at this point in time, getting your position out," Levine said on "The Craig Carton Show."
"We have until December. I think they're really going to work hard, and I'm very hopeful they'll reach an agreement. I've seen circumstances where it looked harder than even this, and this one looks hard, but at the end of the day, I'm confident everyone wants to get a deal."
"The whole playoffs have been great, the whole season has been great. Baseball is regaining popularity, it's the national pastime, so we gotta work hard to just preserve it," Levine added.
Levine's boss, Hal Steinbrenner, said last week he "support[s]" the owners' proposals — all of which include a cap.
"I've said before — let me put it this way, as a member of the labor policy committee — I helped craft, one of many, the proposals that we have given at the bargaining table. And I support those proposals in their entirety. That's absolutely the case, so that should answer your question," Steinbrenner told reporters.
The Yankees' $336 million payroll was the third-largest in baseball during the 2026 season, behind the Los Angeles Dodgers ($422 million) and New York Mets ($338 million).
Arguments skew both ways, but a constant has remained in that the highest payrolls continue to go up, while the lowest payrolls remain at a stall. The Marlins' payroll is actually roughly half of what it used to be in 2017, despite a sale of the team and everyone in the league making more money than ever. Meanwhile, the Dodgers have already committed more money in 2030 than 12 teams have this season.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has said that owners are simply "listening to our fans" regarding a salary cap and said it "defies human experience... to think that the bottom end of that [payroll] gap has the same opportunity to win the top end." It should be noted, though, that the National League-winning Milwaukee Brewers swept the Dodgers with the 11th-smallest payroll, and they are facing the Tampa Bay Rays, who have the league's third-smallest payroll. They defeated the Cleveland Guardians, who rank 29th in payroll, in the American League Division Series.
Major League Baseball has never had a salary cap.
"Salary cap is the ultimate excuse not to compete. It's the ultimate excuse for an owner to say, 'Gee, I would like to make the team better, but you know I can’t,'" interim MLBPA executive director Bruce Meyer said during the All-Star break. "Salary caps are bad for fans. Salary caps prevent teams from doing the things that they believe are in their interest to make the team better."
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