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๐ Five key storylines for Friday
- The opening week of college football has begun in spectacular fashion. If the main matchups over the weekend provide even half the excitement of Colorado’s dramatic, down-to-the-wire victory against Georgia Tech, fans are set for an incredible ride. Furthermore, if longshots play with the same fire that UMass showed during their shocking upset of Rutgers, top-tier programs need to remain on high alert. Although the schedule features few games between ranked opponents, several programs are already facing postseason implications for the College Football Playoff. Consider Boise State as an example. To protect their position as the leading Group of Six contender, the Broncos must deliver a strong performance against second-ranked Oregon (a matchup airing Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS). Our coverage includes predictions for Oregon vs. Boise State, the highly anticipated debut of Lane Kiffin, and plenty of other action. Be sure to read Tom Fornelli’s analysis for his Lock of the Week along with his full slate of forecasts.
- LSU gets the green light to sign ex-NFL athletes, but does the benefit outweigh the trouble? Despite not having kicked off their season opener, the Tigers have secured a significant off-field victory. A ruling by a Louisiana judge supported LSU in a dispute concerning the eligibility of former pros, granting Lane Kiffin the opportunity to bring tight end Dae’Quan Wright and defensive lineman Zxavian Harris onto the squad. However, the legal dispute is far from finished; the SEC has initiated its own federal lawsuit against LSU to protect its right to apply conference eligibility criteria. This conflict with the league office leaves many wondering if the ongoing struggle is truly worth the potential payoff for LSU.
- The Clippers need to find a way to recover from the errors of the Kawhi Leonard era. The league’s decision regarding the salary cap evasion tactics represents a devastating setback for the organization. With the punishments far exceeding any on-court benefits Leonard delivered to Los Angeles, an argument can be made that acquiring him in 2019 stands as the most disastrous transaction in NBA history (eclipsing even that infamous Luka deal). Nevertheless, the past cannot be changed, and the front office must focus on what lies ahead. On the bright side, the Clippers had accumulated numerous first-round selections prior to losing five of them to league sanctions.
- With four weeks gone since the Major League Baseball trade deadline, several transactions are looking better than others. Boston may be feeling a touch of regret. Curtis Mead suffered a fractured hand in his second appearance for the Red Sox, and Adley Rutschman’s offensive slump has proved highly frustratingโeven though he managed to smash two home runs during his trip back to Baltimore yesterday evening. Ultimately, mid-season trades are always a gamble. Nevertheless, a few acquisitions have turned out incredibly well, such as Jo Adell’s move to Cleveland, which brought much-needed power to an offense that ranked near the bottom in home runs, and Clay Holmes joining Chicago’s starting staff, where he has maintained an impressive 1.55 ERA through his first five outings.
- The Rams’ travel strategy for Australia could redefine how NFL franchises manage long-distance trips. Sean McVay’s offensive brilliance is well-known, but he also appears to excel at logistical planning. For their Week 1 trip to the Southern Hemisphere, the Rams intend to duplicate the unusual itinerary they employed last season, landing in London just a single day prior to their dominant 35-7 victory over the Jaguars. If they can replicate that success against San Francisco, they will do so having spent only 16 hours on Australian soil before kickoff. In contrast, the 49ers have already completed their journey across the Pacific.
๐ Essential Reading: Ryan Wilson’s early NFL Draft rankings and top quarterback evaluations
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As the college football calendar kicks off, the journey toward the NFL Draft officially begins a new chapter. Talent evaluators will shortly receive fresh game tape to analyze, and we will quickly discover which elite prospects warrant building a franchise around and which ones fail to live up to their billing.
Each elite draft candidate must begin their campaign from a baseline, and we look to Ryan Wilson for a comprehensive breakdown of the nation’s top 50 players. He notes that although a vast number of quarterbacks possess the capability to be chosen in the opening round, very few have demonstrated the consistent performance required to secure that status. Consequently, out of the eight passers featured on his early 2027 NFL Draft board, just three are ranked in his top 29:
1. Dante Moore, Oregon
4. Arch Manning, Texas
13. Julian Sayin, Ohio State
However, the battle at the peak remains incredibly close. While a clear frontrunner may emerge as the season unfolds, Moore and Manning currently share the spotlight as co-favorites rather than a clear leader and runner-up among draft-eligible passers. Analyst Mike Renner argued that the Texas standout deserves the crown in his evaluation of the position:
- Renner: “Regardless of his famous family name, Arch Manning’s actual performance on the field solidifies his spot as the top prospect in this draft class. People often overlook just how remarkable his athletic tools are. If you set aside the cerebral advantage he likely gains from his football lineage and look strictly at his athletic profile, he remains unmatched in this group. His mix of raw speed and arm strength is extraordinary.”
For the 2027 quarterback class to deliver on its promise and match the historic 2024 draftโwhich saw six quarterbacks selected in the top 12โseveral prospects must translate raw talent into actual results. Past drafts show that focusing solely on physical attributes can be misleading, even if exceptions like Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen tempt scouts to take those risks.
Our writer Josh Edwards identifies CJ Carr as the primary candidate to make a massive leap forward under center. The young signal-caller directing the Notre Dame offense is among several talents who could propel this class into the legendary category that analysts have anticipated.
โณ The season’s concluding Power 18 golf standings
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Unsurprisingly, Scottie Scheffler claims the peak spot in our final Power 18 of the PGA Tour year. The global frontrunner dominated our list from start to finish, leading the tour in total victories, scoring average, and strokes gained. The stats speak for themselves.
The real intrigue in this final edition lies slightly further down the leaderboard. Analyst Patrick McDonald is particularly optimistic about Wyndham Clark after his impressive triumph at the BMW Championship. Clark joins another competitor as the biggest risers, jumping seven places since the previous Power 18 rankings.
- McDonald: “Out of his six total victories on the PGA Tour, five have been achieved at prestigious major championship courses, with Bellerive Country Club being his most recent triumph. Clark secured three titles this year, highlighted by the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, displaying a remarkable transformation after adjusting his swing during the Masters. Despite criticisms regarding his consistency, he collected three trophies, three top-five performances, and a couple of top-15 results over his final 11 events of the campaign.”
Below are the most notable shifts in the standings, featuring Clark’s rise, along with their final positions:
3. Wyndham Clark (โ7)
7. Ludvig ร
berg (โ7)
8. Si Woo Kim (โ5)
10. Cameron Young (โ6)
18. Jon Rahm (โ6)
๐๐ The highs and lows from around the sports world
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๐บ This weekend’s broadcast schedule
Friday
๐ FIBA World Cup: USA vs. China, 8:15 a.m. on TNT
๐พ US Open: 3rd Round, 11:30 a.m. on ESPN / 6:00 p.m. on ESPN2
โพ Detroit Tigers at Cleveland Guardians, 2:10 p.m. on MLB Network
โฝ La Liga: Real Madrid vs. Real Betis, 3 p.m. on ESPN+
โพ Atlanta Braves at Philadelphia Phillies, 6:40 p.m. on ESPN Unlimited
โพ LA Angels at Pittsburgh Pirates, 6:40 p.m. on Apple TV
โพ Boston Red Sox at Baltimore Orioles, 7:05 p.m. on Peacock
โพ SF Giants at NY Mets or Chicago Cubs at Miami Marlins, 7:10 p.m. on MLB Network
โพ Detroit Tigers at Cleveland Guardians, 7:10 p.m. on Apple TV
โฝ MLS: NYCFC vs. Nashville, 7:30 p.m. on Apple TV
๐ College Football: UTEP vs. No. 10 Oklahoma, 8 p.m. on SEC Network+
๐ฅ Boxing: Ruiz vs. Knyba, 8 p.m. on TNT
๐คผ WWE SmackDown, 8 p.m. on USA Network
๐ College Football: Fresno State vs. No. 15 USC, 9 p.m. on Fox
๐ College Football: No. 7 Miami vs. Stanford, 9 p.m. on ESPN
โพ NY Yankees at SD Padres or Washington Nationals at LA Dodgers, 9:40 p.m. on MLB Network
โฝ NWSL: Current vs. Bay FC, 10 p.m. on Prime Video
Saturday
โฝ Premier League: Bournemouth vs. Newcastle, 7:30 a.m. on USA Network
โฝ FA Cup: Coventry City vs. Manchester City, 10 a.m. on USA Network
๐พ US Open: 3rd Round, 11 a.m. / 7 p.m. on ESPN2
โฝ Serie A: Napoli vs. Inter Milan, 12 p.m. on CBS and Paramount+
๐คผ MMA: UFC Fight Night (Hooker vs. Parnasse), 12 p.m. on Paramount+
๐ College Football: North Texas vs. No. 6 Indiana, 12 p.m. on Fox
๐ College Football: Ball State vs. No. 1 Ohio State, 12:30 p.m. on Big Ten Network
๐ฅ Boxing: Taylor vs. Pili (Jr. Welterweight Title), 2 p.m. on DAZN
โฝ Serie A: Atalanta vs. Roma, 2:45 p.m. on CBS Sports Golazo Network/Paramount+
๐ College Football: Tennessee State vs. No. 3 Georgia, 3 p.m. on SEC Network+
๐ College Football: Boise State vs. No. 2 Oregon, 3:30 p.m. on CBS / Paramount+
๐ College Football: Texas State vs. No. 5 Texas, 3:30 p.m. on ESPN
โพ Chicago Cubs at Miami Marlins, 4:10 p.m. on MLB Network
โพ SF Giants at NY Mets, 4:10 p.m. on ESPN Unlimited
โฝ NWSL: Angel City at Racing Louisville, 6:30 p.m. on Ion
๐ College Football: Missouri State vs. No. 8 Texas A&M, 7 p.m. on ESPN
โพ Arizona Diamondbacks at Houston Astros or Detroit Tigers at Cleveland Guardians or NY Yankees at SD Padres, 7:15 p.m. on Fox
๐ College Football: Clemson vs. No. 11 LSU, 7:30 p.m. on ABC
โฝ MLS: Dynamo vs. Charlotte, 7:30 p.m. on Apple TV
โฝ MLS: NY Red Bulls vs. Seattle Sounders, 8:30 p.m. on Apple TV
โฝ MLS: LAFC vs. Real Salt Lake, 9:30 p.m. on Apple TV
โพ Oakland Athletics at Seattle Mariners, 9:40 p.m. on Peacock
โฝ MLS: St. Louis City vs. Vancouver Whitecaps, 10:30 p.m. on Apple TV
Sunday
โฝ Premier League: Manchester United vs. Everton, 9 a.m. on USA Network
โฝ La Liga: Barcelona vs. Valencia, 10:15 a.m. on ESPN+
๐พ US Open: Round of 16, 11 a.m. on ESPN / 3 p.m. on ABC / 6 p.m. on ESPN
โฝ Women’s Super League: Chelsea vs. Arsenal, 11:30 a.m. on USA Network
โพ Atlanta Braves at Philadelphia Phillies, 1:10 p.m. on NBC
โฝ NWSL: Gotham FC vs. Summit, 2 p.m. on CBS and Paramount+
โฝ Serie A: AC Milan vs. Juventus, 2:45 p.m. on Paramount+
๐ FIBA World Cup: USA vs. Italy, 2:45 p.m. on TNT
โฝ NWSL: Washington Spirit vs. Portland Thorns, 4 p.m. on CBS and Paramount+
โฝ NWSL: NC Courage vs. Utah Stars, 4 p.m. on CBS Sports Network
๐ College Football: Washington State vs. No. 17 Washington, 4 p.m. on NBC
โพ Oakland Athletics at Seattle Mariners, 4:10 p.m. on ESPN Unlimited
โพ NY Yankees at SD Padres, 4:10 p.m. on Peacock
๐ Auto Racing: NASCAR at Darlington, 5 p.m. on USA Network
โพ Minnesota Twins at Chicago White Sox, 6:20 p.m. on Peacock
โฝ NWSL: Houston Dash vs. Orlando Pride, 7 p.m. on Roku
๐ College Football: No. 24 Louisville vs. No. 9 Ole Miss, 7:30 p.m. on ABC
๐ College Football: Wisconsin vs. No. 4 Notre Dame, 7:30 p.m. on NBC
๐คผ Sunday Night’s Main Event, 8 p.m. on Peacock
โฝ NWSL: SD Wave vs. Seattle Reign, 9 p.m. on ESPN2
โพ Washington Nationals at LA Dodgers, 10:10 p.m. on MLB Network
