Category: Sports

The New Orleans Saints traded for New England Patriots wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk on Saturday.

Polk, a 2024 second-round pick, is on injured reserve with a shoulder injury.

The Saints will receive Polk and a 2028 seventh-round pick, while the Patriots will receive a 2027 sixth-round pick, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Polk was selected 37th overall after the Patriots had traded down three spots, giving up the No. 34 pick to the Los Angeles Chargers, who selected receiver Ladd McConkey.

The deal came back to haunt New England as McConkey went on to have a stellar rookie season and Polk struggled to emerge, particularly after a Week 5 home loss to the Dolphins when what was initially ruled a touchdown to Polk late in the fourth quarter was instead overturned on replay to an incompletion when Polk didn’t get his right heel down. The Patriots lost the game, 15-10.

With a new coaching staff under Mike Vrabel taking over in 2025, Polk was in jeopardy of not making the initial 53-man roster before sustaining a shoulder injury that landed him on injured reserve.

This is the second wide receiver trade the Saints have made in the past month. They acquired Denver Broncos wideout Devaughn Vele in August. In return, Denver received a 2026 fourth-round pick and a 2027 seventh-round pick.

The Patriots also announced that defensive back Kobee Minor and linebacker Mark Robinson have been elevated from the practice squad.

ESPN’s Mike Reiss contributed to this report.

The Week 2 NFL schedule for the 2025 season brings some exciting matchups.

Sunday kicks off with two notable homecomings. The Lions will “welcome” former offensive coordinator turned NFC North foe Ben Johnson back to Ford Field, and quarterback Joe Flacco will return to Baltimore to face the Ravens. Later on Sunday, the Chiefs will host the Eagles in a Super Bowl LIX rematch. Elsewhere, there will be two College Football Playoff national championship rematches between quarterbacks, with 2020 winner Joe Burrow (LSU) facing runner-up Trevor Lawrence (Clemson) and 2024 winner J.J. McCarthy (Michigan) playing runner-up Michael Penix Jr. (Washington).

We have you covered with everything you need to know. Our NFL Nation reporters take you inside the locker room with the best thing they heard this week, and ESPN Research provides a key stat to know and a betting nugget for each contest. Plus, analytics writer Seth Walder makes a bold prediction for each matchup, and fantasy analyst Eric Moody shares fantasy football intel. We also have Football Power Index (FPI) matchup quality ratings (out of 100) and game projections, and three analysts — Pamela Maldonado, Moody and Walder — give us final score picks for every game.

Let’s get into the full Week 2 slate, which culminates with two “Monday Night Football” matchups — one between the Buccaneers and Texans, and one between the Chargers and Raiders on ESPN. (Games are Sunday unless otherwise noted.)

Jump to a matchup:
CHI-DET | BUF-NYJ | CLE-BAL
JAX-CIN | SEA-PIT | SF-NO
NYG-DAL | LAR-TEN | NE-MIA
DEN-IND | CAR-ARI | PHI-KC
ATL-MIN | TB-HOU | LAC-LV

Thursday: WSH-GB 27-18

1 p.m. ET | Fox | Matchup rating: 59.4/100
ESPN BET: DET -6.5 (40.5 O/U)

What we’re hearing on the Bears: The Bears want to establish consistency on offense for full game, which means better accuracy from QB Caleb Williams and fewer penalties. Given the noise level inside Ford Field (with a little extra juice expected from fans who aren’t thrilled with Detroit’s offense after Ben Johnson’s departure), Chicago will have to use a silent cadence to avoid racking up false-start penalties. Establishing a better rushing attack is also a priority, and Johnson wants to get rookie Kyle Monangai involved. “We probably were at — what — under 20 for called runs in the game? I need to call more so that we get [Monangai] in the game a little bit more,” Johnson said. — Courtney Cronin

What we’re hearing on the Lions: The return of Johnson to Detroit has been the topic of discussion all week. But Detroit is also looking to avoid going 0-2 for the first time since 2021 — Dan Campbell’s first season. In Johnson’s three years as Lions OC, he developed close ties to many of the current players, but those friendships will be put aside. “I think we’re on equal playing ground really. I think it’s the same thing,” Campbell said of Johnson. “He knows what we’re about, we know what he’s about and because of that you’re going to play that game a little bit.” — Eric Woodyard

Stat to know: Lions quarterback Jared Goff is seeking to become the first starting signal-caller to win 11 straight games when coming off a loss since Aaron Rodgers did it for the Packers (spanning the 2018-22 seasons). — ESPN Research

Bold prediction: The Bears will record at least three 30-plus-yard plays on offense. The Lions blitzed 57% of the time in Week 1, and while that can be effective, it also increases the chance of explosive plays from the opposing offense. — Walder

Injuries: Bears | Lions

Fantasy nugget: Williams scored 24.2 fantasy points against the Vikings in Week 1, but the box score doesn’t tell the full story. After starting 13-of-16 in the first half, he finished with an NFL-worst 29.4% off-target rate. Last season, he ranked 35th of 36 qualified QBs at 21.0%. Minnesota cranked up the blitz to 44% in the second half, something fantasy managers should watch closely. See Week 2 rankings. — Moody

Betting nugget: Campbell is 51-30 against the spread (ATS) as a coach, which is the best record since the AFL/NFL merger (1970). Read more. — ESPN Research

Maldonado’s pick: Lions 26, Bears 23
Moody’s pick: Lions 31, Bears 23
Walder’s pick: Bears 24, Lions 20
FPI prediction: DET, 61.4% (by an average of 4.6 points)

Matchup must-reads: 5 ways the Bears collapsed, and why it’s vital to rebound Sunday … ‘We all booing him’: Hungry Lions ready for Johnson’s return, Bears … Lions falter in opener; Campbell calls issues ‘correctable’

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1 p.m. ET | CBS | Matchup rating: 57.6/100
ESPN BET: BUF -6.5 (46.5 O/U)

What we’re hearing on the Bills: An issue for Buffalo in Week 1 was limiting the running game after giving up a league-high 238 rushing yards. The Jets put up the fourth-most rushing yards in Week 1 (182 yards), and slowing them down will be more difficult with DT Ed Oliver, who had a big game in Week 1, out with an ankle injury. “We need to get those things corrected, and we will,” defensive coordinator Bobby Babich said when asked about the run defense. “We’ll be very intentional this week about getting those things.” — Alaina Getzenberg

What we’re hearing on the Jets: The Jets always have scoring problems against the Bills — they’ve been held under 23 points in the past 12 meetings — but there’s a renewed confidence on offense after a 32-point showing in Week 1. The running game is a big part of “our DNA,” offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand said. Result: 11 explosive plays against the Steelers, three more than their weekly goal. — Rich Cimini

Stat to know: Josh Allen has 18 career turnovers against the Jets, the most by any quarterback against a single opponent since he entered the league in 2018. — ESPN Research

Bold prediction: Jets CB Brandon Stephens will be targeted at least nine times as the nearest defender, tying the high-water mark for any defender in Week 1. Stephens is coming off a rough first game as a Jet in which he gave up 75 yards on seven targets and is also coming off a shaky final season in Baltimore. With Sauce Gardner playing opposite him, expect Buffalo to target Stephens. — Walder

Injuries: Bills | Jets

Fantasy nugget: Breece Hall faces a Bills defense that gave up 29.2 fantasy points to Derrick Henry last week and has struggled against RBs dating to last season. Hall is coming off a performance in which he stockpiled 21 touches and 16.5 fantasy points. He has averaged 15.5 fantasy points per game against the Bills in his career. See Week 2 rankings. — Moody

Betting nugget: The Bills have covered three straight meetings against the Jets. Read more. — ESPN Research

Maldonado’s pick: Bills 22, Jets 21
Moody’s pick: Bills 36, Jets 27
Walder’s pick: Bills 27, Jets 16
FPI prediction: BUF, 65.5% (by an average of 6.3 points)

Matchup must-reads: Bills continue to adjust at specialist after game-winning kick … Jets’ Gardner ‘outstanding’ in shadowing Metcalf, Glenn says

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1 p.m. ET | CBS | Matchup rating: 57.4/100
ESPN BET: BAL -11.5 (44.5 O/U)

What we’re hearing on the Browns: The Browns’ defense did just about everything it could last week to stop the Bengals’ offense, but it will have a much different, tougher task with Ravens RB Derrick Henry. But Cleveland has had some success limiting Henry since Jim Schwartz became the coordinator in 2022. In two out of the three matchups, the Browns held Henry to under 75 yards. When asked how hard it is to tackle Henry, safety Grant Delpit tersely responded, “Not hard.” — Daniel Oyefusi

What we’re hearing on the Ravens: QB Lamar Jackson is looking to reverse his fortune against the Browns, who have defeated him twice in the past three meetings. In those games, Jackson has completed 55.9% of his passes for five touchdowns and two interceptions. Coach John Harbaugh said the Browns’ defense “uses a smothering type of mindset. You have to find a way to crack the smother open.” — Jamison Hensley

Stat to know: The Ravens are 12-2 (.857) following a loss since 2022, the second-best record in the league in that span behind the Chiefs (9-1, .900). They also have the largest PPG differential (plus-8.6) in such games over that time. — ESPN Research

Bold prediction: Ravens TE Mark Andrews bounces back with five receptions and a touchdown after a fallow Week 1 in which he managed only 5 yards. Cleveland gave up targets to tight ends 21% of the time last season (sixth most) and 32% of the time (second most) last week. — Walder

Injuries: Browns | Ravens

Fantasy nugget: RB Dylan Sampson had 20 touches against the Bengals, finishing with 17.3 fantasy points and leading the Browns’ backfield in both categories. Quinshon Judkins‘ expected debut could shift early-down work, but Sampson’s receiving role should remain secure. See Week 2 rankings. — Moody

Betting nugget: This is the first double-digit spread of the season, and the first time there has been a double-digit spread within the first two weeks of the season since 2022. Read more. — ESPN Research

Maldonado’s pick: Ravens 27, Browns 14
Moody’s pick: Ravens 38, Browns 17
Walder’s pick: Ravens 30, Browns 13
FPI prediction: BAL, 79.3% (by an average of 12.8 points)

Matchup must-reads: How Browns QB Flacco became Baltimore’s ‘Joe Cool’ … ‘It’s never over until it’s 0:00 on the clock’: Ravens’ historic meltdown goes beyond past fourth-quarter struggles … Why there’s still hope for Cleveland’s offense as it heads into Baltimore in Week 2

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1 p.m. ET | CBS | Matchup rating: 53.0/100
ESPN BET: CIN -3.5 (48.5 O/U)

What we’re hearing on the Jaguars: Travis Hunter‘s defensive snaps will increase this week, Jacksonville coach Liam Coen said. But he added that it was a part of their plan to ease him into the defensive side of the ball and not related to the fact that the Jaguars are facing arguably the NFL’s best receiver duo in Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Still, it can’t hurt that Hunter is on the field more, especially since he’s more of a natural cornerback than receiver. Hunter played 42 snaps on offense and only six on defense in the season opener. — Michael DiRocco

What we’re hearing on the Bengals: What does a perfect offensive day look like? For coordinator Dan Pitcher, there are a few items on the checklist: early-down efficiency, sustained drives and third-down conversions. Cincinnati had no first downs on 60% of its drives against the Browns, the worst rate in Week 1. The Bengals know they’re going up against a strong front seven led by edge rusher Josh Hines-Allen and LB Foyesade Oluokun, the AFC’s Defensive Player of the Week. — Ben Baby

Stat to know: The Bengals had 7 yards in the second half against the Browns, making them the first team to win a game with less than 10 yards in a second half since 1995 (Colts, 3 yards). — ESPN Research

Bold prediction: Hines-Allen will record at least 1.5 sacks. Though he didn’t record any sacks in Week 1, he got off to a fast start with a 29% pass rush win rate against the Panthers. In Week 2, he’ll get home a couple of times, as Burrow has been known to take a sack or two. — Walder

Injuries: Jaguars | Bengals

Fantasy nugget: Travis Etienne Jr. led the Jaguars’ backfield in snaps, touches, routes and fantasy points (18.6) in Week 1, running behind a Jacksonville offensive line ranked ninth in run block win rate. He tied his career high with four runs of 10-plus yards and averaged 8.9 yards per carry, his best mark since Week 17 of 2023. This week, he faces a Bengals defense that just gave up 25.1 fantasy points to the Browns’ backfield, including the third-most receptions and receiving yards to running backs. See Week 2 rankings. — Moody

Betting nugget: Unders are 16-7 in Bengals games in September under coach Zac Taylor. Read more. — ESPN Research

Maldonado’s pick: Bengals 20, Jaguars 17
Moody’s pick: Bengals 25, Jaguars 24
Walder’s pick: Bengals 21, Jaguars 17
FPI prediction: CIN, 59.4% (by an average of 3.7 points)

Matchup must-reads: Jaguars’ Hunter to get more defensive snaps vs. Bengals … Safety Battle leads improved Bengals secondary

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1 p.m. ET | Fox | Matchup rating: 46.5/100
ESPN BET: PIT -3.5 (39.5 O/U)

What we’re hearing on the Seahawks: Mike Macdonald’s two-word response cast even more uncertainty on CB Riq Woolen‘s short- and long-term future with the Seahawks. “We’ll see,” the coach answered when asked if Woolen would start Sunday against the Steelers. The former Pro Bowl player is fighting for his job after his latest costly miscues — a pair of throws he misplayed on the decisive drive of Seattle’s season-opening loss — coupled with the emergence of No. 3 corner Josh Jobe. Even if Jobe starts, Woolen figures to play. His combination of size (6-foot-4, 210 pounds) and speed might make him Seattle’s best option to match up with former Seahawk DK Metcalf. — Brady Henderson

What we’re hearing on the Steelers: Shoring up the run defense was an emphasis this offseason, yet the Steelers struggled against the Jets. But coordinator Teryl Austin said Thursday the issues that plagued them in the wild-card loss to the Ravens are different from the issues against the Jets. “I didn’t think we got knocked around,” Austin said. “I just thought we missed some opportunities. … I know how I felt coming off that field at Baltimore last year, and I didn’t feel the same way this year. I feel good with our group.” The defense will be tested in a different way against Seattle’s zone scheme without first-round rookie defensive tackle Derrick Harmon (knee). But Austin said to expect rookie Yahya Black to play more this week. — Brooke Pryor

Stat to know: The Steelers are looking to start 2-0 for the second straight season. In 2024, they started 3-0, finished 10-7 and made the playoffs. This would be Pittsburgh’s first time starting 2-0 in consecutive seasons since 2016-17. — ESPN Research

Bold prediction: These two teams will combine for double-digit screen passes. It’s a Steelers OC Arthur Smith staple, as we know. And we saw that in Week 1, with a league-leading 9% screen rate. But the Seahawks weren’t too far behind, with an 8% rate that ranked third in the league that first week. — Walder

Injuries: Seahawks | Steelers

Fantasy nugget: RB Kenneth Walker III finished with only 5.4 fantasy points on 13 touches, while Zach Charbonnet led the Seahawks with 12 attempts for 47 rushing yards, totaling 10.7 points. Walker didn’t look 100 percent on film, lacking the burst fantasy managers are used to, making Seattle’s backfield one to monitor moving forward. See Week 2 rankings. — Moody

Betting nugget: Seahawks QB Sam Darnold is 14-22 ATS in his career on the road and 8-17 ATS as a road underdog. Read more. — ESPN Research

Maldonado’s pick: Steelers 23, Seahawks 17
Moody’s pick: Steelers 27, Seahawks 24
Walder’s pick: Seahawks 20, Steelers 17
FPI prediction: PIT, 61.2% (by an average of 4.5 points)

Matchup must-reads: Why Seahawks’ new-look offense exhibited growing pains vs. 49ers … What’s it like to catch a TD from Rodgers and Favre? … Steelers sign S Peppers in wake of Elliott’s injury

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1 p.m. ET | Fox | Matchup rating: 43.0/100
ESPN BET: SF -3.5 (40.5 O/U)

What we’re hearing on the 49ers: The 49ers have become accustomed to playing without many of their big stars because of injury, and signs point to them having to beat the Saints without TE George Kittle (hamstring) and QB Brock Purdy (toe, shoulder), not to mention previously injured WR Brandon Aiyuk (knee). “You want your star players or anybody for that matter to be healthy and available, but this league has shown over and over again how physically taxing it is and it’s a 100% injury rate across the board,” LB Fred Warner said. “It is next-man-up mentality. I have full confidence in the guys who have to be in there regardless of who’s out.” — Nick Wagoner

What we’re hearing on the Saints: Safety Julian Blackmon will have surgery on his injured shoulder, paving the way for rookie Jonas Sanker to make his first start. Sanker impressed coaches and teammates with his play in the preseason, which included an interception against the Jaguars. Veteran Justin Reid said he and Blackmon will both act as mentors to Sanker, and Reid will relay advice he would’ve liked to hear when he was a rookie: “In the first play, try to hit somebody as hard as you can to try to settle yourself in, and after that, just go play ball.” — Katherine Terrell

Stat to know: The Saints have not started 0-2 since 2017, when they eventually finished the season 11-5 and lost in the divisional round to the Vikings. — ESPN Research

Bold prediction: Saints RB Alvin Kamara will rush for more than 5.5 yards per carry. Running the ball was one thing the Saints did right in Week 1, averaging 3.7 yards before contact, fourth best in the league. And, at least last week, the 49ers were more effective stopping the pass than the run, so the Saints might want to lean on Kamara. — Walder

Injuries: 49ers | Saints

Fantasy nugget: Ricky Pearsall is projected to be the 49ers’ No. 1 receiver again in this matchup. He turned seven targets into 14.8 fantasy points against the Seahawks. Even with QB Mac Jones starting instead of Purdy, Pearsall shouldn’t be overlooked. The Saints gave up the fifth-most passing yards in 2024 and 18.1 fantasy points to Marvin Harrison Jr. last week. See Week 2 rankings. — Moody

Betting nugget: Niners coach Kyle Shanahan is 16-25 ATS with quarterbacks other than Purdy and Jimmy Garoppolo. Read more. — ESPN Research

Maldonado’s pick: 49ers 18, Saints 13
Moody’s pick: 49ers 24, Saints 15
Walder’s pick: 49ers 19, Saints 16
FPI prediction: SF, 52.8% (by an average of 0.9 points)

Matchup must-reads: How will TE Kittle, QB Purdy injuries impact 49ers? … S Blackmon’s injury leaves Saints scrambling at safety again

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1 p.m. ET | CBS | Matchup rating: 37.6/100
ESPN BET: LAR -5.5 (41.5 O/U)

What we’re hearing on the Rams: WR Puka Nacua is a player who “checks every box you’re looking for,” coach Sean McVay said this week. Nacua, who had 10 catches for 130 yards in Los Angeles’ season opener, enters Week 2 with 194 receptions through 29 career NFL games. According to ESPN Research, Nacua needs 12 receptions to tie Odell Beckham Jr. for the most receptions for a player in his first 30 games (206). — Sarah Barshop

What we’re hearing on the Titans: “The penalties must stop,” defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson said about cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr.’s aggressive coverage. “At the beginning of the stage, yes, be violent with you hands, move your feet. … But as they go in the move area, we’ve got to drop our hands.” Brownlee is working to find the balance between being physical and getting penalized, but it’s not off to a good start after he was flagged three times for 57 yards last week. It doesn’t get any easier against the Rams’ duo of Nacua and Davante Adams, so watch for double moves as Los Angeles probably will try to take advantage of the second-year corner. — Turron Davenport

Stat to know: Rams QB Matthew Stafford is three touchdown passes shy of 381 in his career, which would tie Matt Ryan for ninth-most all time. — ESPN Research

Bold prediction: Titans rookie WR Elic Ayomanor will record at least 60 receiving yards and a touchdown. That Ayomanor received seven targets in his first pro game is a great sign, and he would have had more than 12 receiving yards had a 23-yard reception he made that was ruled out of bounds been challenged. — Walder

Injuries: Rams | Titans

Fantasy nugget: Titans running back Tony Pollard had 19 touches against the Broncos but scored only 8.0 fantasy points. With Tyjae Spears (ankle) on injured reserve, Pollard played 89% of snaps. Opportunities matter in fantasy, and he draws a more favorable matchup against a middling Rams run defense. See Week 2 rankings. — Moody

Betting nugget: The Rams have covered five straight road games. Read more. — ESPN Research

Maldonado’s pick: Rams 27, Titans 13
Moody’s pick: Rams 34, Titans 17
Walder’s pick: Rams 26, Titans 20
FPI prediction: LAR, 68.9% (by an average of 6.9 points)

Matchup must-reads: ‘Nacua must mix his oatmeal with cement’: Rams can’t overstate WR’s importance … ‘I felt alive again’: Taking a look at Titans’ No. 1 pick Ward’s NFL debut

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1 p.m. ET | Fox | Matchup rating: 37.5/100
ESPN BET: DAL -5.5 (44.5 O/U)

What we’re hearing on the Giants: “Not answering that one,” star WR Malik Nabers said with a chuckle when asked about what he thought of the Giants’ recent skid against the Cowboys. The Giants need a win and a positive performance against a team that has won eight straight in the series and 15 of their past 16 meetings. The Cowboys have dominated the matchup, especially with Dak Prescott in the lineup, which is why defensive coordinator Shane Bowen referred to him as an “elite” quarterback. — Jordan Raanan

What we’re hearing on the Cowboys: “We don’t look at [it as], ‘OK, this is a must-win. It’s got to be that,’” coach Brian Schottenheimer said. “We just go play the game. I really do believe if you start thinking the other way it kind of distracts you from the main thing. Where if you go and play well, you have the best chance of winning.” Maybe it’s too early for “must-win,” but the Cowboys haven’t started 0-2 since 2010, and Prescott has won 13 straight starts against the Giants, the second-longest winning streak against an opponent behind Miami’s Bob Griese beating Buffalo 17 straight from 1968 to 1979. — Todd Archer

Stat to know: Prescott is 33-9 (.786) in division games, which is the second-best mark by any starting QB since AFL-NFL merger (1970), trailing only Patrick Mahomes (35-6, .854) and just ahead of Tom Brady (98-27, .784) — minimum of 25 starts. — ESPN Research

Bold prediction: Giants RB Cam Skattebo will catch at least three passes. That’s a ton considering he played eight offensive snaps last week. But the Cowboys played zone coverage an almost preposterous 86% of the time against the Eagles, and running backs catch far more passes against zone than man. — Walder

Injuries: Giants | Cowboys

Fantasy nugget: Prescott had a rough Week 1 with only 7.8 fantasy points, but he’s well-positioned for a bounce-back. He has averaged 19.4 fantasy points against New York in his career. See Week 2 rankings. — Moody

Betting nugget: Giants QB Russell Wilson is 17-8 ATS in his career as at least a four-point underdog. Read more. — ESPN Research

Maldonado’s pick: Cowboys 34, Giants 17
Moody’s pick: Cowboys 28, Giants 13
Walder’s pick: Cowboys 27, Giants 20
FPI prediction: DAL, 65.7% (by an average of 6.2 points)

Matchup must-reads: Before going all-in on QB Dart, how can the Giants fix their offense — fast? … Why Cowboys see RB Williams as a difference maker … No ‘moral victories’ for Cowboys in Schottenheimer’s debut

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1 p.m. ET | CBS | Matchup rating: 26.9/100
ESPN BET: MIA -1.5 (42.5 O/U)

What we’re hearing on the Patriots: The Patriots’ RB snap distribution could be changing after a Week 1 loss in which Rhamondre Stevenson led the way with 46 snaps, followed by rookie TreVeyon Henderson (25) and Antonio Gibson (five). The Patriots rushed for only 60 yards, their fewest in an opener since 1996, and getting the ground game going is a point of emphasis. “Some of it is just based on the flow of the game and knowing they’re all going to have a role,” coach Mike Vrabel said of how the team decides which RB is on the field. “We have to evaluate everything to make sure we’re getting it right based on volume, who’s playing, who’s getting the ball, who’s trying to get the ball.” — Mike Reiss

What we’re hearing on the Dolphins: The constant message throughout the Dolphins’ locker room this week is to keep things in perspective — that means not getting too high or too low at any point. Watching film from Week 1 was tough, but WR Jaylen Waddle said the blowout loss taught them the importance of communicating and doing their individual jobs. Coach Mike McDaniel said too many players abandoned their assignment in pursuit of making a play, so on-field discipline was reinforced throughout the week. — Marcel Louis-Jacques

Stat to know: Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa is 7-0 in his career against the Patriots. — ESPN Research

Bold prediction: Patriots DT Milton Williams will record his first sack for his new team. Williams managed an impressive 26% pass rush win rate as an interior rusher in Week 1, second best among all defensive tackles. I had some questions in the offseason about whether Williams would be as efficient a rusher playing more snaps (which he did last week). But if he plays that way, the answer will be a resounding yes. — Walder

Injuries: Patriots | Dolphins

Fantasy nugget: Henderson didn’t deliver the performance fantasy managers hoped for against the Raiders, finishing with 11 touches for 11.1 fantasy points. But he was efficient, showcasing his ability as both a runner and a receiver out of the backfield. Now he faces a Dolphins defense that gave up 156 rushing yards and two touchdowns last week, putting him in position for a breakout game. See Week 2 rankings. — Moody

Betting nugget: The Dolphins have covered nine straight meetings against the Patriots. Read more. — ESPN Research

Maldonado’s pick: Dolphins 23, Patriots 17
Moody’s pick: Patriots 23, Dolphins 20
Walder’s pick: Patriots 26, Dolphins 13
FPI prediction: MIA, 52.3% (by an average of 1.1 points)

Matchup must-reads: Patriots DC Williams away from team for health reasons … NFL investigating allegations against Miami WR Hill … Dolphins’ defense, secondary faced nightmare scenario in loss to Colts

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4:05 p.m. ET | CBS | Matchup rating: 54.9/100
ESPN BET: DEN -1.5 (43.5 O/U)

What we’re hearing on the Broncos: A Colts offense that scored on all seven possessions in the team’s Week 1 win has the attention of the Broncos’ defense, with coach Sean Payton calling it “impressive.” Denver leads the league in several defensive categories after its win and will look to make QB Daniel Jones less comfortable than he was in his 22-of-29, 272-yard performance against Miami. Coordinator Vance Joseph likes to blitz early and often — typically with five-man pressures. But Jones repeatedly punished the Dolphins, who had the second-highest blitz rate (48.5%), so Denver will have to be judicious. — Jeff Legwold

What we’re hearing on the Colts: New defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo put Miami in the spin cycle with a masterful game plan and savvy blitz calls. But he acknowledges the challenge against Payton will be a difficult one. “He’s just always changing within the game, going to have things specific to your team that he’s playing against. [He] does just a great job calling the game and trying to keep you off balance.” The Colts held Miami to 211 total yards and produced three turnovers, but this will be one of the week’s more interesting game-within-the-game situations as these two playcallers match wits. — Stephen Holder

Stat to know: Broncos QB Bo Nix has had five games with multiple interceptions since the start of last season, tied with Baker Mayfield (Tampa Bay) for most in the NFL in that span. — ESPN Research

Bold prediction: Colts WR Josh Downs will bounce back after a quiet Week 1 and deliver a 70-plus-yard day. With CB Pat Surtain II presumably taking away an outside receiver, Downs should get more looks in the slot. — Walder

Injuries: Broncos | Colts

Fantasy nugget: TE Tyler Warren led the Colts in targets (nine) and receptions (seven), finishing with 14.9 fantasy points. He was Jones’ first read on many pass attempts and contributed beyond the passing game, recording a carry for a first down, lining up across the formation and blocking effectively in the run game. The Broncos’ defense will present a tough matchup for the Colts’ receivers in Week 2, which should lead to Jones leaning heavily on Warren. See Week 2 rankings. — Moody

Betting nugget: Payton is 40-29 ATS in his coaching career as a road favorite, including 3-0 ATS with the Broncos. Read more. — ESPN Research

Maldonado’s pick: Broncos 21, Colts 16
Moody’s pick: Broncos 26, Colts, 24
Walder’s pick: Broncos 23, Colts 17
FPI prediction: IND, 50.9% (by an average of 0.6 points)

Matchup must-reads: Broncos’ defense ready for Colts, difficult upcoming stretch … Colts’ QB Jones cautiously optimistic after Week 1 win … Broncos’ Payton takes blame for turnovers by QB Nix

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4:05 p.m. ET | CBS | Matchup rating: 29.2/100
ESPN BET: ARI -6.5 (43.5 O/U)

What we’re hearing on the Panthers: QB Bryce Young had another dreadful opener, but there’s optimism against an Arizona team that he had one of his best games against late last season. Young completed 65.4% of his passes for two touchdowns with no picks and rushed for 68 yards and a score in the 36-30 overtime victory. The focus has been on getting over in and out of the huddle with the plays faster after critical breakdowns in Jacksonville. “Urgency and brevity,” coordinator Brad Idzik said. — David Newton

What we’re hearing on the Cardinals: Arizona coach Jonathan Gannon was pleased that his team earned a win over the Saints, but he said there’s room for improvement in all three phases of the game. Gannon isn’t one to look back, but the Cardinals lost to the Panthers late last season. Though Carolina has a few new players, it’s still running the same scheme, so there are lessons Arizona can take. And, Gannon said, it’s Week 2, which means “the rust is kind of off now” and it’s time to “get going.” — Josh Weinfuss

Stat to know: The Cardinals are looking for their first 2-0 start since 2021, which was the team’s most recent playoff appearance. — ESPN Research

Bold prediction: Cardinals QB Kyler Murray will record a completion percentage over expectation of 4% or better, after recording a minus-4% last week. First, Murray’s career average is right at 0% and second, I’m guessing he’ll have some more success facing what appears to be a very lackluster Carolina pass rush. — Walder

Injuries: Panthers | Cardinals

Fantasy nugget: Tetairoa McMillan‘s fantasy debut (11.5 points) wasn’t as explosive as fellow rookie receiver Emeka Egbuka‘s (23.6), but managers should be optimistic. McMillan played significant snaps and led the Panthers in targets (nine), air yards (118) and receiving yards (68). McMillan should continue to be a target magnet and now faces a Cardinals defense that gave up 17 receptions for 126 yards to Saints wide receivers. See Week 2 rankings. — Moody

Betting nugget: Young is 4-10 ATS in his career on the road (1-13 outright). Read more. — ESPN Research

Maldonado’s pick: Cardinals 30, Panthers 12
Moody’s pick: Cardinals 27, Panthers 17
Walder’s pick: Cardinals 30, Panthers 20
FPI prediction: ARI, 65.8% (by an average of 6.1 points)

Matchup must-reads: Panthers see promise in rookie WR McMillan’s NFL debut … Cardinals’ Murray-Harrison connection shows promise early

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4:25 p.m. ET | Fox | Matchup rating: 82.9/100
ESPN BET: PHI -1.5 (46.5 O/U)

What we’re hearing on the Eagles: When asked if the plan was to have Adoree’ Jackson start at outside corner opposite Quinyon Mitchell, coordinator Vic Fangio responded, “Right now? Yes.” Not exactly a ringing endorsement for Jackson, who yielded over 100 receiving yards and missed two tackles in the opener, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. Look for Jakorian Bennett to get some snaps if Jackson falters. There is some volatility at safety as well, with rookie Andrew Mukuba and Sydney Brown splitting reps Week 1. Fangio said Mukuba played “OK” but had a couple of costly breakdowns. The secondary will need to be better this week, even if Kansas City is short-handed at receiver. — Tim McManus

What we’re hearing on the Chiefs: The Chiefs know what it’s like to be the reigning champion, the team that opponents love to hunt for an impressive victory. On Sunday, the Chiefs will be the hunters, hosting the Eagles for a game they hope will result in a revenge-inspired win. “It’s a very fortunate situation to make it to the Super Bowl, but unfortunately we didn’t win it,” DT Chris Jones said. “It gives us a little more of an edge that we didn’t win, that we get to have an opportunity to play these guys again, against a heck of a team. For us, it’s an awesome challenge to play them again and also to get some payback.” — Nate Taylor

Stat to know: This is the fourth Super Bowl rematch in Week 1 or 2 of a season. Only one team has ever won the Super Bowl and the rematch, which was the Broncos against the Panthers (2015 Super Bowl, 2016 Week 1). — ESPN Research

Bold prediction: Eagles backup edge Joshua Uche will deliver a critical pressure against his former team, forcing a Mahomes mistake. Uche flashed in Week 1 with a pass rush win on a play that nearly resulted in a Dak Prescott interception. He also mostly aligned opposite the left side of the offensive line, which bodes well for his chances Sunday: Chiefs LT Josh Simmons and LG Kingsley Suamataia both finished in the bottom 10 at their positions in pass block win rate in Week 1. — Walder

Injuries: Eagles | Chiefs

Fantasy nugget: Hollywood Brown led the league in Week 1 with 16 targets and finished the game with 19.9 fantasy points. He should get ample targets from Mahomes, since Rashee Rice is serving a suspension and Xavier Worthy (shoulder) is questionable. The Eagles’ secondary gave up 24 fantasy points on 17 targets to receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens in Week 1. See Week 2 rankings. — Moody

Betting nugget: The Chiefs have been favored in 22 straight home games, the longest active streak in the NFL. Read more. — ESPN Research

Maldonado’s pick: Chiefs 23, Eagles 20
Moody’s pick: Eagles 27, Chiefs 26
Walder’s pick: Eagles 28, Chiefs 20
FPI prediction: KC, 52.5% (by an average of 1.0 points)

Matchup must-reads: Sirianni recruited Auriemma, Saban, Staley and more to teach the Eagles how to win, again … Chiefs’ TE Kelce takes blame for WR Worthy injury: ‘No excuse’

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8:20 p.m. ET | NBC | Matchup rating: 45.8/100
ESPN BET: MIN -3.5 (44.5 O/U)

What we’re hearing on the Falcons: The Falcons were second in the league last season in rushing success rate (47.5%) behind Bijan Robinson and a stout offensive line. In Week 1, Atlanta was second to last in that category (28.6%) and 30th in the league in run block win rate (63%). Coach Raheem Morris said it wasn’t because of the loss of RT Kaleb McGary (knee) for the season — “We didn’t play well as a group” — and adjustments will be needed to unlock the bread and butter of the offense against a tricky Vikings defense. — Marc Raimondi

What we’re hearing on the Vikings: Coach Kevin O’Connell made his team aware that Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr. is a better runner than some gave him credit for entering the 2024 draft. It was a notable acknowledgement after Bears QB Caleb Williams rushed for 58 yards and a touchdown on six carries against Minnesota in Week 1. The Vikings will try to keep Penix in check at a time when multiple defensive starters and key players are nursing injuries. ILB Blake Cashman (hamstring) was put on injured reserve this week, and the availabilities of LB Andrew Van Ginkel (concussion) and CB Jeff Okudah (concussion) are also in question. — Kevin Seifert

Stat to know: Penix had 298 passing yards in the loss to the Buccaneers in Week 1. The last Falcons player to record at least 250 passing yards in each of the team’s first two games was Matt Ryan in 2020. — ESPN Research

Bold prediction: Minnesota’s Myles Price will return a kick or punt for a touchdown. Price had juice in his NFL debut Monday night, particularly as a punt returner, where he recorded 22 yards over expectation — second most in Week 1. — Walder

Injuries: Falcons | Vikings

Fantasy nugget: The Vikings used a near-even backfield split in Week 1, alternating Aaron Jones Sr. and Jordan Mason by series. Mason logged 16 touches (15 carries) for 8.5 fantasy points, while Jones had 11 touches and 15.7 points thanks to a 27-yard TD. Expect a true 50-50 split for now, with Mason now firmly on the flex radar for managers. See Week 2 rankings. — Moody

Betting nugget: The Falcons are 1-5 ATS as underdogs since hiring coach Raheem Morris last season. Read more. — ESPN Research

Maldonado’s pick: Vikings 24, Falcons 20
Moody’s pick: Vikings 23, Falcons 20
Walder’s pick: Vikings 24, Falcons 17
FPI prediction: MIN, 64.3% (by an average of 5.6 points)

Matchup must-reads: Falcons expect London (shoulder) to play vs. Vikings … Vikings not surprised by McCarthy’s eye-opening NFL debut … QB Penix a bright spot in Falcons loss … Vikings’ Smith confident of return in under 3 weeks

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7 p.m. ET | ABC/ESPN | Matchup rating: 57.0/100
ESPN BET: HOU -2.5 (42.5 O/U)

What we’re hearing on the Buccaneers: Texans QB C.J. Stroud shredded the Bucs’ defense in Houston during his rookie season in 2023, throwing for 470 yards and five touchdowns. Coach Todd Bowles most certainly hasn’t forgotten that, and if he wants to make a statement on the improvements his defense has made since, it can be on limiting explosive plays. The Texans had the eighth-highest explosive-play rate at 14.4% in 2024, and the Falcons hit the Bucs with a big play early last week. — Jenna Laine

What we’re hearing on the Texans: The message this week from Stroud and coach DeMeco Ryans is for the offense to have more “urgency.” Ryans said Tuesday that “the urgency piece from everybody has to pick up from the offensive side of the ball.” Expect Houston to do everything in its power to put the idea that it’s lacking initiative to bed. Will that result in a win? It could. But the Texans will need to plan to limit the Bucs’ defensive front after Stroud took three sacks Sunday. That will have a much bigger factor in whether they win. — DJ Bien-Aime

Stat to know: Bowles is one win shy of becoming the fifth coach in Bucs history with 30 wins, including the playoffs. — ESPN Research

Bold prediction: Tampa Bay will sack Stroud six or more times. The combination of Bowles’ blitz-heavy defense (though it wasn’t particularly blitz-heavy last week), the Texans’ weak offensive line and — this part’s a guess — a Bucs lead should put Stroud under plenty of pressure. — Walder

Injuries: Buccaneers | Texans

Fantasy nugget: The Texans’ offense faltered late last season, and the struggles have continued in 2025. Stroud managed just 8.7 fantasy points and WR Nico Collins only 5.5 in Week 1. Stroud has averaged only 13.4 points over his past 18 games. Unfortunately, Collins’ success or failure is tied to Stroud. Houston’s offensive line, one of the league’s worst in 2024 in both run and pass block win rate, hasn’t shown improvement. See Week 2 rankings. — Moody

Betting nugget: The Texans are 6-15 ATS as home favorites since 2019, and 10-22-1 ATS overall as favorites. Read more. — ESPN Research

Maldonado’s pick: Bucs 26, Texans 24
Moody’s pick: Bucs 25, Texans 22
Walder’s pick: Bucs 26, Texans 16
FPI prediction: TB, 50.3% (by an average of 0.1 points)

Matchup must-reads: Texans believe they’ll be all right after ‘wake-up call’

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10 p.m. ET | ESPN | Matchup rating: 56.8/100
ESPN BET: LAC -3.5 (45.5 O/U)

What we’re hearing on the Chargers: Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh and Raiders coach Pete Carroll have a rivalry stemming nearly two decades, beginning when they were college coaches in the Pac-10. But Harbaugh said Wednesday that if he had played or coached with Carroll, they would have been “really good friends.” “When I was coaching, [we were] trying to gouge each other’s eyes out,” Harbaugh said. — Kris Rhim

What we’re hearing on the Raiders: The status of Las Vegas’ best pass catcher remains unclear. TE Brock Bowers did not practice Thursday after sustaining a knee injury in Week 1. During the viewing period of practice with reporters, Bowers watched the team stretch from the sideline without a helmet and with a sleeve on his left leg. Bowers told reporters: “We’ll see how it’s feeling throughout the week, but I’m hoping to play [against the Chargers].” Carroll said Bowers and starting ILB Elandon Roberts (elbow), who also did not practice, were participants in the team’s walk-throughs earlier in the day. — Ryan McFadden

Stat to know: The Chargers are seeking their fourth straight win against an AFC West opponent after going 3-10 in their previous 13 games against division rivals. — ESPN Research

Bold prediction: The Raiders and Chargers will tie. It’s karma from the tie-that-almost-was-and-maybe-should-have-been at the end of the 2021 season. And it will be the first game with the new regular-season overtime rule and will result in no winner at all. — Walder

Injuries: Chargers | Raiders

Fantasy nugget: QB Justin Herbert looked superb against the Chiefs, racking up 28 fantasy points in an offense many expected to lean on the run. He was 9-of-11 for 169 yards on play-action passes, which is notable because he completed 76% of those throws last season, third best in the league. Now Herbert gets the Raiders, a team he has averaged nearly 23 fantasy points per game against in his career. See Week 2 rankings. — Moody

Betting nugget: Carroll is 67-43-5 ATS in his career as an underdog. Read more. — ESPN Research

Maldonado’s pick: Chargers 30, Raiders 24
Moody’s pick: Chargers 24, Raiders 21
Walder’s pick: Chargers 30, Raiders 30
FPI prediction: LAC, 60.4% (by an average of 3.8 points)

Matchup must-reads: Chargers’ Johnston looks to use past struggles as fuel in 2025 … Can Raiders keep up defensive dominance after win at Pats? … Chargers’ LB Perryman out indefinitely with ankle injury

It’s three weeks into the season and Notre Dame has dropped out of the playoff conversation with an 0-2 start following its home loss to Texas A&M on Saturday.

In what was a wild, entertaining evening of college football, Georgia’s overtime win at Tennessee was overshadowed by what unfolded later in South Bend because the Aggies’ win had the bigger, more immediate impact on the playoff race.

And it’s going to last all season for the Irish, who no longer have any margin for error and have lost all control of their path to the playoff.

“The future’s uncertain,” Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said. “I don’t know what’s the playoff number, and it doesn’t matter. We need to focus on getting better.”

So what does it mean for Texas A&M?

This list is fluid — and will continue to be early in the season. It is a ranking based on what each team has done to date — not last year or what it might do in the coming weeks. Here’s the latest prediction of what the selection committee’s top 12 would look like if it were released today.

Jump to:
Ranking | Bracket

Projecting the top 12

Why they could be here: The season-opening win against Texas remains one of the best nonconference wins in the country, but the Longhorns continue to have questions on offense against far less elite defenses. The Buckeyes entered this week No. 1 in ESPN’s strength of record metric and are ranked in the top 10 in both offensive and defensive efficiency — traits of past top-four playoff teams.

Why they could be lower: The committee does track when teams play FCS teams, and the 70-0 drubbing of Grambling doesn’t help Ohio State’s résumé. Saturday’s win against Ohio also doesn’t do much for the Buckeyes during a week in which Miami, Georgia and LSU all played tougher teams.

Need to know: Even if Texas doesn’t live up to the preseason hype and ranking, the selection committee will continue to respect Ohio State’s win against the Longhorns all season — as long as Texas doesn’t come unraveled. It will be a moot point if Ohio State locks up a CFP spot by winning the Big Ten, but it would enter the conversation and help the Buckeyes when it comes to how high they can be seeded for an at-large bid. The top four teams now get the top four seeds — regardless of whether they are a conference champion.

Toughest remaining game: Nov. 1 vs. Penn State. ESPN’s FPI gives the Buckeyes a 64.8% chance to win.

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Why they could be here: The Canes added to their résumé with a win against South Florida, which should still be the Group of 5’s top contender for a playoff spot. Coupled with the season-opening win against Notre Dame, Miami has one of the best combinations of eye test and résumé in the country.

Why they could be lower: The committee could be more impressed with the SEC wins, period. Georgia’s overtime road win against Tennessee could trump Miami’s home win against the Irish, and LSU’s two Power 4 wins against Clemson and now Florida could also usurp the Canes in a debate.

Need to know: Saturday’s win against the Bulls was a critical head-to-head tiebreaker that would be used in the committee meeting room if the teams finish with similar records. Even if they lock up spots as their respective conference champions, Miami would keep the edge — and the higher seed — on Selection Day, which could mean the difference in hosting a first-round home game.

Toughest remaining game: Oct. 4 at Florida State. ESPN’s FPI gives the Canes a 54.3% chance to beat their rival.

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Why they could be here: The win against Tennessee in the SEC opener was the Bulldogs’ first statement victory, and it now lifts them above other contenders that have played well but against weaker teams. Ohio State’s defense, though, continues to keep the Buckeyes at the top, and Miami’s two wins against ranked teams — Notre Dame and South Florida — give it an edge in ESPN’s strength of record metric, which is similar to what the committee uses.

Why they could be higher: The committee considers the difficulty of playing overtime games on the road, and the former coaches and players in the room would also recognize the growth of quarterback Gunner Stockton in that unforgiving environment. Stockton completed 23 of 31 attempts for 304 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. He also ran for a score.

Need to know: It’s possible this instant classic could get a replay in either the SEC championship game or the playoff — or both. The selection committee doesn’t try to avoid rematches when it’s ranking the teams, so it’s possible for Georgia and Tennessee to play as many as three times.

Toughest remaining game: Sept. 27 vs. Alabama. This game is at home, and the Bulldogs have an off week to prepare for it, but the Tide have shown continuous improvement since their season-opening loss to Florida State.

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Why they could be here: The Tigers’ season-opening win at Clemson took another hit after the Tigers lost to Georgia Tech on Saturday, and the true value of beating a beleaguered Florida team at home is yet to be determined. Still, those combined wins outweigh what most of the contenders below them have accomplished. LSU’s defense has been a highlight, as the Tigers were No. 11 in the country in defensive efficiency heading into Week 3. They shut out the Gators in the second half, and quarterback DJ Lagway threw five interceptions.

Why they could be lower: The Tigers still haven’t flashed that wow factor, continuing to do just enough to win while overcoming mistakes. LSU had only 10 first downs (compared with 22 by Florida), was held under 100 yards rushing, and was 4-of-14 on third downs. LSU ranks behind several other contenders listed below in ESPN’s game control metric.

Need to know: LSU should be undefeated heading into its Sept. 27 game at Ole Miss, which will be one of three critical road trips that will define the Tigers’ season. LSU also travels to Alabama and Oklahoma. The win against the Gators gives them a much-needed cushion, but they can’t go 0-3 on the road against those teams — and that doesn’t count the Oct. 18 trip to Vandy, which just beat South Carolina.

Toughest remaining game: Nov. 8 at Alabama. ESPN’s FPI gives the Tide a 77.6% chance to win.

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Why they could be here: The road win at Notre Dame was the first statement playoff victory under coach Mike Elko, and it gives the Aggies one of the best nonconference wins of the season. It’s arguably better than the Canes’ victory against the Irish because Texas A&M did it on the road. It wasn’t a flawless performance, but it was enough to boost the Aggies into the conversation.

Why they could be lower: It’s hard to tell how good a win is against Notre Dame this year, considering they’re 0-2. Texas A&M’s other two wins were against UTSA and Utah State, which won’t help their résumé.

Need to know: The selection committee compares results against common opponents. Though it’s not an overriding factor, the group would at least consider how Miami and Texas A&M looked in their wins against the Irish if the members were comparing the Aggies and Canes side-by-side during the ranking process.

Toughest remaining game: Oct. 25 at LSU. The Aggies also have a very difficult trip to rival Texas in the regular-season finale, but right now, the Tigers look like a tougher matchup on the road.

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Why they could be here: With wins against Montana State, Oklahoma State and Northwestern, the Ducks have yet to be tested against ranked competition, but they haven’t had any scares. They shut out Northwestern for the first three quarters of their Big Ten opener and continued to look dominant even when scoring fewer than 60 points. Most of the teams ranked above them, though, have a more impressive win.

Why they could be higher: The Ducks are passing the eye test, albeit against weaker competition. They didn’t have any penalties in the win against Northwestern, and quarterback Dante Moore has thrown only one interception this season.

Need to know: Oregon doesn’t play Ohio State or Michigan during the regular season, so Penn State and Indiana (maybe USC?) will be the Ducks’ biggest obstacles to returning to the Big Ten title game. Even if the Ducks lose at Penn State, though, they could face the Nittany Lions again in the Big Ten championship (if Penn State can knock Ohio State out of it).

Toughest remaining game: Sept. 27 at Penn State. ESPN’s FPI gives the Nittany Lions a 50.8% chance to win — and it’s the only game on the Ducks’ schedule they’re not favored to win.

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Why they could be here: The Noles had a bye, and the committee typically doesn’t shift teams that don’t play — unless it results from movement around them. The season-opening win against Alabama continues to shine, as the Tide has rebounded with back-to-back convincing wins. It also helps separate FSU from other contenders who didn’t earn a nonconference win against a top-25 opponent.

Why they could be lower: The win against Bama is all they’ve got now. The 77-3 blowout of FCS East Texas A&M won’t help them, and while the bye week isn’t a penalty, other teams had an opportunity to enhance their strength of record.

Need to know: Florida State doesn’t play Georgia Tech during the regular season, but it has a tricky trio against Miami, Clemson and at rival Florida. If the Noles can go 2-0 against the SEC, it would be a significant boost to their at-large hopes if they don’t win the ACC — assuming the Gators and Tide finish above .500 and have respectable seasons.

Toughest remaining game: Oct. 4 vs. Miami. The Nov. 8 trip to Clemson looks less daunting after the Tigers lost a second game.

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Why they could be here: The preseason rankings and hype are irrelevant in the committee meeting room but the weak nonconference schedule is not. Wins against Nevada, Florida International and Villanova are keeping the Nittany Lions behind teams that have played against better opponents. The offense found a groove during a dominant second half against the Wildcats, and the defense did not allow a touchdown until the final play of the game.

Why they could be lower: Penn State’s nonconference win doesn’t include a Power 4 opponent, and questions linger about whether the offense is productive enough to beat Oregon. Expectations for quarterback Drew Allar were high entering this season, but he has only four passing touchdowns in three games against weaker opponents. He has completed less than 60% of his passes in each of the past two games. The Nittany Lions rank No. 65 in offensive efficiency — and the selection committee will expect more.

Need to know: The Nittany Lions have a bye week before hosting Oregon on Sept. 27.

Toughest remaining game: Nov. 1 at Ohio State. It’s the only game on the schedule that ESPN’s FPI doesn’t favor the Nittany Lions, as Ohio State has a 64.8% chance to win.

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Why they could be here: There was no hint of a letdown at Temple a week after beating Michigan. The committee has always shown an appreciation for star power, and OU has it in quarterback John Mateer, who has resurrected the Sooners’ offense. Oklahoma’s lopsided win against an overmatched Temple team won’t do anything to boost the Sooners’ résumé, but it assured Oklahoma of a 3-0 start heading into Saturday’s SEC opener against Auburn.

Why they could be higher: Mateer has changed the outlook of this team, and the win against Michigan is one of the better nonconference victories in the country. The Wolverines rebounded and whalloped Central Michigan 63-3, reiterating the potential of freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood, who was smothered by OU’s defense.

Need to know: Oklahoma started 3-0 last year with a win against Temple, too, but then lost four of its next five games. The win against Michigan and play of Mateer indicate this season could be different, but the season-defining stretch begins against rival Texas on Oct. 11. The back half of the Sooners’ schedule is loaded with seven straight games against opponents that entered Week 3 ranked.

Toughest remaining game: Nov. 1 at Tennessee. Given how tough the Vols played in their overtime loss to Georgia, this should be another slugfest between two talented teams. ESPN’s FPI gives the Vols a 74.6% chance to win.

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Why they could be here: The Vols’ game was so close that Georgia coach Kirby Smart said afterward he almost felt like he should apologize: “I don’t think we should have won that game. I thought they outplayed us in a lot of ways.” The committee will not penalize the Vols for losing an overtime game at home to one of the SEC’s best teams, but it will wonder about allowing 44 points, 502 yards, and having 10 penalties and two turnovers. The committee will still respect the season-opening win against Syracuse, which has won each of its past two games against weaker opponents.

Why they could be lower: The lack of a true statement win, plus the loss, could drop them behind the Illini. Considering the offensive showing, though, it’s hard to make a case for Texas ahead of Tennessee. The committee would consider that the Vols lost at home, while Texas lost at Ohio State. Tennessee’s win against Syracuse, though, is better than anything on the Longhorns’ résumé so far.

Need to know: The Vols have a realistic path to the SEC championship, where they could meet Georgia again. Tennessee doesn’t play LSU or Texas. It can’t go 0-2 against Alabama and Oklahoma, but the Vols get the Sooners at home.

Toughest remaining game: Oct. 18 at Alabama. ESPN’s FPI gives the Tide a 63.6% chance to win, but it’s the only other game on the schedule that the Vols aren’t projected to win.

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Why they could be here: The Illini are 3-0 heading into their Big Ten opener at Indiana, including a road win at Duke. Illinois had no trouble against winless Western Michigan, but that won’t change its status in the committee meeting room this week. It didn’t help Illinois that Duke lost to Tulane, an outcome that somewhat devalues that win — at least for now.

Why they could be higher: Illinois is a legitimately talented, veteran team that continues to take care of business with veteran quarterback Luke Altmyer. The Illini entered the week ranked No. 12 in offensive efficiency, another stat that would jump out at the committee.

Need to know: Saturday’s game at Indiana will be an under-the-radar matchup that might impact the CFP because both teams could be competing with each other for an at-large bid. The winner could knock out the loser with the head-to-head tiebreaker. It’s possible for both to get in, but it’s hard to imagine the Big Ten getting five teams in the 12-team field (Ohio State, Penn State, Oregon, Indiana and Illinois).

Toughest remaining game: Oct. 11 vs. Ohio State. Illinois gets the Buckeyes at home, but ESPN’s FPI gives Ohio State a 74.5% chance to win.

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Why they could be here: The Longhorns have won back-to-back games since their season-opening loss at Ohio State, but questions about the offense remain. Running backs CJ Baxter and Quintrevion Wisner missed all or parts of the game because of injuries, and quarterback Arch Manning had another underwhelming passing performance with one touchdown and an interception. He accounted for two rushing touchdowns, but this was hardly a smooth performance. Texas was just 5-of-16 on third downs and 2-of-5 on fourth downs. Meanwhile, rival Oklahoma is soaring offensively with quarterback John Mateer, and the Sooners’ win against Michigan is better than anything Texas has earned.

Why they could be lower: It has been Arch Maddening for Texas fans, who booed their quarterback after an interception in the red zone. That throw was part of 10 straight incompletions at one point. Manning completed just 5 of 16 passes (31%) in the first half for 69 yards.

Need to know: The Longhorns have one more tuneup game, on Saturday against Sam Houston, before opening SEC play on Oct. 4 at Florida.

Toughest remaining game: Nov. 15 at Georgia.

Bracket

Based on the rankings above, the seeding would be:

First-round byes

No. 1 Ohio State (Big Ten champ)
No. 2 Miami (ACC champ)
No. 3 Georgia (SEC champ)
No. 4 LSU

First-round games

On campus, Dec. 19 and 20

No. 12 South Florida (American champ) at No. 5 Texas A&M
No. 11 Iowa State (Big 12 champ) at No. 6 Oregon
No. 10 Tennessee at No. 7 Florida State
No. 9 Oklahoma at No. 8 Penn State

Quarterfinal games

At the Goodyear Cotton Bowl, Capital One Orange Bowl, Rose Bowl Presented by Prudential and Allstate Sugar Bowl on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.

No. 12 South Florida/No. 5 Texas A&M winner vs. No. 4 LSU
No. 11 Iowa State/No. 6 Oregon winner vs. No. 3 Georgia
No. 10 Tennessee/No. 7 Florida State winner vs. No. 2 Miami
No. 9 Oklahoma/No. 8 Penn State winner vs. No. 1 Ohio State

The Miami Dolphins have no plans to trade Tyreek Hill and haven’t received any calls from teams interested in the star wide receiver, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Saturday.

Hill has been the subject of trade speculation since the end of last season, when he pulled himself from Miami’s regular-season finale and hinted at a trade request.

Dolphins general manager Chris Grier clarified earlier this year that Hill never formally requested a trade, and Hill ultimately apologized for his comments.

Hill’s future in Miami again drew leaguewide attention last Sunday, when the five-time All-Pro had just four catches in the Dolphins’ 33-8 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.

But as of Saturday, sources told Schefter, the Dolphins have not fielded any trade inquiries on Hill, who is in the second year of a restructured three-year, $90 million contract. The Dolphins already exercised Hill’s $15.85 million option bonus for this season, leaving a $10 million base salary and $1.8 million in per-game bonuses.

Hill said Friday that he is happy in Miami, although he admitted that “whatever happens, happens” in the NFL.

“I don’t really pay attention to any of that,” he said, when asked about potentially being traded. “I feel like to me, noise is good — adversity is opportunity. I look at it like that.”

Dolphins team captains called for a players-only meeting Tuesday to hold each other accountable and remain on the same page as they prepare to host the New England Patriots in Week 2. While he was not voted a captain this season, Hill said he fully supported the meeting and believes it will help the team in the long run.

Hill, 31, also is facing accusations of domestic abuse against his estranged wife, who alleged eight separate incidents of domestic violence in filings related to the couple’s divorce, according to documents obtained by TMZ.

Hill vehemently denied the accusations in a statement released Monday by his attorney, saying the allegations are part of a “shakedown” that are “an attempt to generate bad media coverage” for the eight-time Pro Bowler.

NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy and Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel both confirmed that the league is investigating the matter. Hill said he had not spoken to the league as of Friday afternoon.

ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques contributed to this report.

MILWAUKEE — The Brewers have become the first major league team to clinch a playoff spot this season.

According to MLB, the New York Mets’ 3-2 loss to the Texas Rangers on Saturday sealed at least a National League wild card for the Brewers as they got ready to play Saturday night against the St. Louis Cardinals.

The NL Central-leading Brewers own the best record in the majors.

This marks the seventh time in the past eight seasons that the Brewers have qualified for the playoffs, though they haven’t won a postseason series since reaching Game 7 of the National League Championship Series in 2018.

They had made a total of two postseason appearances from 1983 to 2017.

The Browns have activated rookie running back Quinshon Judkins prior to Sunday’s Week 2 road game against the Baltimore Ravens.

Judkins, the 36th overall pick in this year’s draft, practiced with the team Thursday and Friday for the first time since the end of mandatory minicamp in June. He was not with the team during training camp and was unsigned amid his arrest on a misdemeanor domestic violence and battery charge in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on July 12. On Aug. 14, prosecutors declined to formally pursue the charge.

The Browns on Friday listed Judkins as questionable to play. Coach Kevin Stefanski said the team would work through Judkins’ status over the next 24 hours but added that the running back had “done everything we’ve asked him to do up to this point.”

Last Saturday, the Browns signed Judkins to a fully guaranteed four-year, $11.4 million deal. He did not play in Cleveland’s season-opening 17-16 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals but rejoined the team this week.

While Judkins’ situation remains under league review — he met with the NFL in New York on Wednesday — he was not placed on the commissioner exempt list and is eligible to play Sunday.

Judkins’ return would be a boost to a running game that struggled to gain footing against the Bengals. The Browns totaled 49 rushing yards and averaged 2 yards per carry.

To make room for Judkins, receiver Gage Larvadain was waived.

UFC star Molly McCann won her professional boxing debut when she stopped Kate Radomska inside six rounds.

Boxing on the undercard of the Paddy Donovan vs Lewis Crocker IBF welterweight world title fight at Windsor Park in Belfast, McCann forced a finish in the last round of her bout against Ireland’s Radomska.

In a reminder of McCann’s MMA past, Radomska actually kicked out at the Liverpudlian when she was shipping punishment against the ropes.

Unfazed, McCann looked assured and dropped Radomska with a right hand lobbed over the top in their fifth round.

She landed further power punches in the last round, until Radomska’s corner threw in the towel with just over half a minute left in the bout.

In the main event Lewis Crocker beat Paddy Donovan to win the vacant IBF welterweight world championship.

In a rematch of a March bout that Crocker had won by contentious disqualification, the Belfast man put Donovan down twice.

The fight though was still close and Crocker edged Donovan out by split decision to become a world champion.

“I thought I picked my shots well, I was landing the more powerful shots. I had the knockdowns and I was catching him when I wanted to. I think I boxed a great fight,” he told DAZN afterwards.

“Everyone thought I was going to get stopped, but I wasn’t the one in trouble tonight.”

The Atlanta Falcons have benched their longtime kicker. The team announced Saturday that kicker Younghoe Koo has been downgraded to out for Sunday night’s game at the Minnesota Vikings.

In his place, Parker Romo has been elevated from the practice squad. The Falcons signed Romo, a Georgia native who kicked for the Minnesota Vikings last season, on Tuesday.

Koo missed a 44-yard field goal in the closing seconds last week that would have tied the Falcons’ game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 23. Koo made 2 of 3 field goals against the Bucs, but one caromed off the right upright. Koo being ruled out is not injury related.

Koo, who missed time last season because of a hip injury, is just 12-of-20 on field goals over his past nine games. Koo, 31, missed nine field goals last year, making just 73.5%, his worst percentage since becoming a full-time kicker with Atlanta in 2019.

Koo was once the most accurate kicker in the league, but now, among kickers with 20 or more field goal attempts since the start of 2024, Koo ranks No. 29 out of 31 in field goal percentage (73%). Romo, 28, was 11-of-12 on field goals last year in four games for Minnesota, his first opportunity to kick in the NFL.

Romo spent training camp with the New England Patriots, but was released on cut-down day. In 2023, he led the XFL in field goal percentage (17-of-19, 89.5%).

The benching

Brentford
vs Chelsea. Premier League.

8:00pm, Saturday 13th September 2025.

Gtech Community Stadium.

Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler suffered a torn right Achilles and will miss the remainder of the season, a source told ESPN on Saturday.

The news was anticipated after Ekeler exited Washington’s 27-18 loss to Green Bay in the fourth quarter Thursday night.

“Thank you all for the love and well wishes. I appreciate you all,” Ekeler wrote in an Instagram story Saturday.

Ekeler ran a route with 5:50 remaining in the game and fell to the ground without any contact. He needed to be helped off the field before being carted to the locker room. Ekeler exited the locker room with a walking boot and on crutches, and he was clearly dejected.

“That will be significant,” Washington coach Dan Quinn said after the game. “He provides a lot of unique things for us.”

It’s a crucial blow to Washington’s offense as Ekeler served as the primary back — though the Commanders don’t have one dominant rusher — and excelled on third downs and in the spread packages.

Last season, Ekeler rushed for 367 yards and gained another 366 receiving. Quinn also constantly pointed out his leadership in the running backs room as well as with the offense in general.

The Commanders have three other running backs on their roster in rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt, veteran Jeremy McNichols and third-year Chris Rodriguez, who was inactive the first two games but had a strong training camp and preseason.

Washington traded veteran Brian Robinson Jr. to the San Francisco 49ers for a sixth-round draft pick last month.

Ekeler spent his first seven seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers, making their roster as an undrafted free agent.

LOS ANGELES — Rob Ryan might be as relaxed as he has ever been.

The longtime defensive coach walks out on the balcony of USC‘s John McKay Center, his alabaster white hair flowing in the slight breeze that frames an idyllic summer afternoon in Los Angeles, and as always, he is not lacking for words.

“I’m totally different than most people,” he said with a chuckle. “And I don’t care.”

Even Ryan’s robust laugh — a kind of deep guffaw that fills any room inside or out — carries with it a tone that projects his breadth of experience: nine NFL teams, five power conference programs, two Super Bowl rings and hundreds of stories.

The son of legendary coach Buddy Ryan and brother of former NFL head coach Rex Ryan has held clipboards and drawn up defensive formations everywhere from the Arizona desert to the Atlantic coast, from Tennessee State to the New England Patriots, Hutchinson Community College to the Dallas Cowboys.

However, college football — USC, of all places — is different. This, the 62-year-old Ryan admits, is unexpected, even for him.

“I honestly never thought about it,” Ryan says. “I was happy in pro football.”

His eyes dart down for a second, and he remembers how he ended up here — wearing USC colors, living in a downtown L.A. apartment and coaching 18-year-old linebackers — more than 25 years after he last coached in college football, nearly 40 years from when he started in this profession.

“I can remember parking the car here [at USC] and walking up,” Ryan says. “I thought, ‘Man, there’s no way I’m ever going to take this job.’”

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THE LAST TIME Ryan patrolled the college football sidelines, Peyton Manning was coming off his rookie season in the NFL and Ricky Williams had just run all over the sport on his way to the 1998 Heisman Trophy.

Ryan, then the defensive coordinator at Oklahoma State, remembers Williams’ prowess, but more than that, he remembers how his defense countered it.

“You can ask Ricky,” he said. “He didn’t win the Heisman against us.”

A year before Ryan made his way to Stillwater in 1996, Oklahoma State’s defense was one of the worst in the country. Texas had walloped the Pokes 71-14, and Ryan remembers grabbing tapes of the defense and spending countless hours in a room with his dad, trying to remedy it.

“Me and my dad watch ’em every day after we work on the farm,” Ryan said. “And he’s drawing stuff up on napkins, ‘Well, maybe you can do this.’ I’m like, sure. But I see one of his napkins, he’s [telling me] how he could run the wide tackle six. I go ‘What the hell is that? That’s not the wide tackle of six.’ But I did use them. We beat ’em 55 to 10 the next year. There you go. That was a good napkin.”

Over the course of the 1997 and 1998 seasons, Williams had only four games where he didn’t rush for over 100 yards — two of them were against Ryan’s OSU defense.

“I remember that,” Ryan said.

To describe Ryan’s brain as a football encyclopedia would be an understatement. The wealth of knowledge is voluminous and vast. It spans decades, eras, coaching trees and schemes. His coaching career has included being up close with Bill Belichick, the NFL head coaching legend who hired Ryan in 2000 after his college stint as the New England Patriots‘ linebackers coach. to now witnessing Belichick as North Carolina‘s head coach.

“When I was a coordinator in college back 25 years ago, we just had to stop the run,” Ryan said. “Nobody could throw the ball. Well now everybody can throw it, and with all the space there, you have to have an unbelievable plan. Whatever it is, you got to be able to adapt.”

A lot has changed in the sport since, both in the pros and in the college ranks. Through it all, Ryan has remained unabashedly himself, bouncing with a contagious joy thanks to a job where, as Ryan says, “you don’t have to be anything different but yourself.”

“He’s the smartest guy in the room, but he doesn’t want you to know that,” Rex Ryan said. “He’ll work his ass off, outwork every single person in that school, any school. He’ll put every one of them motherf—ers to sleep.”

Perhaps no one hypes Rob up more than his twin brother, Rex, whose coaching history is just as broad while also featuring a stint as an NFL head coach. It’s a career apex that Rob never reached, but according to Rex, what makes Rob such an effective position coach or coordinator is the fact that he has never been interested in that top job.

“He’s not looking for somebody else’s job. This guy’s there to advance the head coach’s plan and to be right there, to be right hand man to D’anton [Lynn], and that’s exactly what he’s going to do,” Rex, now an analyst for ESPN, said. “And he’s just one hell of a f—ing guy. That’s the thing. And if you can’t get along with him, you’re a f—ing jerkoff. Simple as that. You’re a f—ing a–hole.”

As self-assured as Rob is now, even he can admit that this hasn’t always been the case.

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WHEN THE CALL came from a familiar voice, Ryan was facing a situation he knew all too well.

The Las Vegas Raiders, with whom he had been working as a senior defensive assistant since 2022, were undergoing a coaching change after the franchise fired Antonio Pierce. While other coaches might have fretted, Ryan — who took the USC job a week before Pete Carroll was hired with the Raiders — wasn’t too anxious.

“When I was young, man, I couldn’t handle it. That was super hard,” Ryan said of his early firings. “It was pressure. You just feel it, man. It’s a mountain. … It destroyed me. I couldn’t enjoy work. I couldn’t come to work and enjoy it. I couldn’t. It was hard. I was so worried. And it affected me off the field too.”

Ryan was not in a rush to find his next stop, but at USC, the program’s previous linebackers coach, Matt Entz, had left to take the head coaching job at Fresno State. Defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn — fresh off his first season in the position — went outside the box.

When Lynn was a defensive analyst on the Buffalo Bills in 2016, his father Anthony was the interim head coach and offensive coordinator, and Ryan was the assistant head coach for defense. Then, in 2021, when a 31-year-old Lynn was hired as the Baltimore Ravens safeties coach, the team’s inside linebackers coach invited Lynn to crash at his house for a few months. That coach was 57-year-old Ryan.

“We go way back,” Ryan said. “He’s an old roommate.”

Lynn and USC head coach Lincoln Riley wanted someone with experience who could also add a little extra juice to the staff, a certain kind of appeal that couldn’t be found in an up-and-coming college position coach. So Lynn rang Ryan and made his pitch.

“As we talk about building our scheme, just having someone with all that experience to bounce ideas off of has been huge,” Lynn said in a recent interview. “And for our guys, they get a chance to just get exposed to what it is to have an NFL position coach, and they’re getting coached as if they were in the NFL.”

Even though Ryan arrived on campus for his interviews with skepticism, he was quickly swayed by Riley and Lynn, whom Ryan has repeatedly referred to as a Mike Tomlin in the making.

“I’m like, ‘Man, this is awesome.’ I talked to D’Anton again and then talked to Lincoln. I’m like, ‘Man, I’m going to do this. I’m just going to take a chance,’” Ryan said. “And I have no regrets. I’ve absolutely loved it. It’s like a breath of fresh air. It’s getting started again. I mean, I’m new again.”

Ryan does not shy away from the fact that his own particular situation afforded him an invaluable opportunity growing up. As the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals in 1994, Buddy Ryan was the one who gave Rob and his brother Rex their first big breaks as NFL position coaches that season.

“We were young coaches, we thought we were good, but he had to take a chance, and he hired us,” Rob Ryan said. “People screamed nepotism, and it was nepotism! There was no question, but we were great, and we were ready. Once we got there, we were ready. But we had to have a chance. Somebody had to give us a chance.”

It’s not too shocking then that Ryan finds himself in his father’s role — in the latter stages of his career with a son who has a business degree from Clemson but can’t seem to shake the family bug. This time, it’s Rob who wants to give his son, Matthew, the chance to give coaching a real shot.

“It’s the family business. We probably can’t do anything else, but we damn sure can coach, and that’s our niche, that’s our life,” Rex said. “We never got in the business to make money, but now, f—, you make a ton of money. We certainly didn’t get in the business to do that.”

While talking to Riley and Lynn about the position, Rob Ryan said that the opportunity — not just for him, but for Matthew to become a defensive analyst on staff — was one he could not pass up.

“It’s not really for my growth, cause I’m not going anywhere,” Ryan said. “I want to be a part of something great, but it’s for Matthew to learn. … This is the perfect place for that. But I mean, it’s for me too. Look around, I’m having more fun than anybody else.”

---

RYAN REMEMBERS WALKING into a team meeting with the Cardinals back in 1994 and being appalled at just how his dad was running things. In short, Ryan explained, the way a former master sergeant in the Korean War would run a team meeting.

“It’s like the things he was saying was like, oh hell, HR would have him out of there in two seconds. He had no problem having a player do anything,” Ryan said. “I thought, ‘God Almighty, I’m not going to do that. I can’t do that.’ So I realized I needed to be genuine to myself.”

Over the past 30 years, Ryan’s personality has crystallized into a coaching style that runs on a type of magnetic zeal that isn’t affected by game-to-game results.

“He has the most energy every single day, and he is also the oldest on the staff,” Lynn said.

His effervescence, players say, is contagious. He doesn’t connect by trying to relate to players 40-plus years his junior as much as he tries to find common ground in the game they’re trying to excel at, the game that he’s still enamored with to this day.

“He’s got a million stories, lived every one of them,” Rex said. “There’s also a confidence and a thing where nothing’s going to intimidate him. He’s not afraid of the f—ing devil.”

Position meetings, though chock-full of traditional insight and strategy, often include an open session where Rob leans into what makes him, well, him.

“He’ll just have a story for us, just a random story, every day, he’ll have us dying laughing,” Madden said. “It may be something that happened a week ago or something 20 years ago”

USC’s linebackers are already privy to not just Ryan’s storytelling, but also the kind of confidence he has given them.

“He definitely wants us to just be who we are,” freshman linebacker Desman Stephens II said. “He talks about how we’ve been playing football our whole life and we have instincts that are helpful to our game. So he just allows us to go out there and play, not carefree but loose.”

“Even though he’s old-school, even though he’s accomplished a lot in this game, he still has an open ear,” redshirt junior linebacker Anthony Beavers Jr. said. “I think he’s forever learning and that’s unique.”

Ryan likes to say that he teaches football more than he coaches it, an approach bolstered by the many stops he has had throughout his career. But he is also supercharged by what he refers to as an affinity for the game that he wants to not just convey, but impress upon his players.

“I think I love what I’m doing. I think it shows,” Ryan said. “I want ’em to love football. I don’t want ’em to dread it. I don’t want ’em to come to work like it’s in a factory. I’ve worked in factories, but I want ’em to love the game. I think my style is: I’m going to have more fun than anybody on that field.”

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TO HEAR RYAN speak about football is to be met with someone who has known no other life. Anything prior to his time as a coach, even the years he spent as a defensive end at Southwestern Oklahoma State University alongside Rex, feel like an inconsequential fable at this point. All that matters is what has transpired inside locker rooms and in between the hash marks over the course of the past four decades — good or bad — and the way that he has held on.

“No one’s more used to being fired than me,” Rob Ryan said. “I get fired. At least I was myself. So I can live with that.”

It all raises the question: How long will Ryan keep doing this? And when will he know to pry himself away from the very thing that has defined him?

“He will probably be there 10 years, he loves to coach that much,” Rex said. “He’ll be a guy they’ll have to drag his ass off the football field.”

Rob could have stayed in the NFL if he wanted to, Rex said, but the fact that he didn’t makes Rex believe Rob’s committed to USC for the foreseeable future, or at the very least, “until they tell him to leave.”

“This is it for us,” Rob Ryan, whose wife is from California, said for the both of them. “This is our last move until we walk off in the sunset.”

In this very moment, as the sun fades away and washes every brick-laden building on the USC campus in an orange hue, Rob isn’t ready to go just yet.

“When I retire, cool, I’ll be retired. I’ll probably be the happiest guy in the world in retirement,” he said. “But right now, I’m the happiest guy in the world still doing this.”

Everton
vs Aston Villa. Premier League.

3:00pm, Saturday 13th September 2025.

Hill Dickinson Stadium.