Warren McVea, the speedy running back who was the first Black player to receive a football scholarship to a major Texas school and later helped Kansas City win its first Super Bowl title, died Saturday after a long illness. He was 79.
McVea’s daughter, Tracey Ellis said, said he died at home in Los Angeles surrounded by family members.
From San Antonio, McVea starred at the University of Houston before joining the Cincinnati Bengals in 1968 in the American Football League.
McVea moved to Kansas City the following season, with the Chiefs going on to beat Minnesota 23-7 in the Super Bowl. He had 12 carries for 26 yards against the Vikings. In five NFL seasons, he had 2,552 all-purpose yards and 13 touchdowns.
Under coach Bill Yeoman at Houston, McVea had a school-record 3,009 all-purpose yards in 1966. In the first football game played on artificial turf, he had a 99-yard scoring catch against Washington State.
In high school in San Antonio, McVea led Brackenridge to a state title as a junior in 1962. He also starred in track and field as a sprinter.
McVea served time in prison in the 1990s into 2000 on drug charges.
The Minnesota Vikings under coach Kevin O’Connell have focused — and prided themselves — on situational success from third downs to special teams to the red zone.
That winning in the margins, as they’ve labeled their philosophy, is occurring far too infrequently this season. They scored only one touchdown in six trips inside the 20-yard during Sunday’s 28-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
“We understand what’s going on. We have the players out there who can make the plays and do what we need to do to go down and score,” wide receiver Justin Jefferson said. “We just need to finish those drives, especially in games like this.”
For the third straight game, the Vikings had two giveaways without a takeaway. They won one of those games, in London on Oct. 5 with a late comeback to beat the Cleveland Browns.
“I told our team that is rare and not a formula to win games consistently,” O’Connell said Sunday, reflecting on his postgame speech in London. “That showed up again today and was very unfortunate.”
In a transitional season at quarterback, with J.J. McCarthy’s takeover soon to resume after his latest setback, the situational mastery was already going to be critical.
Throw in some bad luck on the injury front, and these struggles have been too much to overcome. The Vikings (3-3) will try to fix these issues quickly with a Thursday night road game looming against the Los Angeles Chargers.
“We put ourselves in some of the situations of the football game that, although they competed, we’ve got to clean up,” O’Connell said.
What’s working
After giving up far too much on the ground in four of their first five games, the Vikings defense held reigning AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year award winner Saquon Barkley to 44 yards on 18 rushes.
Defensive coordinator Brian Flores seized on the return of linebacker Blake Cashman and frequently put safety Josh Metellus and linebacker Eric Wilson next to him in the box, effectively benching Ivan Pace Jr.
While the focus on stopping the run might well have created vulnerabilities to the deep passes that crippled them against the Eagles, progress was vital with three of the next four opponents ranking in the top 10 in the NFL in rushing.
What needs help
The offense’s struggle inside the 20-yard line was the most concerning of the situational categories, regressing toward a three-year trend. The Vikings ranked 28th in the NFL (47%) in 2023 and 19th (58%) in 2024 in red-zone touchdown rate. They’re 22nd now (52%) after going 10 for 15 over the first five games to rank tied for eighth entering Week 7.
Wentz and center Blake Brandel were the two most obvious players who got in the way on Sunday, but Jefferson blamed himself for a drop in the end zone that Cooper DeJean knocked out. Plain old bad luck factored in, too, with the disputed overturn of T.J. Hockenson’s diving touchdown catch by the replay officials and a hard-to-figure holding call on Brandel that erased a touchdown pass to Jalen Nailor.
Stock up
Jordan Addison had a career-best nine catches for 128 yards on 12 targets, matching his career high. Addison, who served a three-game suspension from the NFL to start the season and a disciplinary first-quarter benching by the team in London in Week 5, passed 2,000 yards receiving in his 35th career game to tie for the fifth-fastest player in Vikings history to do so.
Brandel drew rave reviews after his first career start at center on Oct. 5 against a stout Browns defensive line, but his struggles against the Eagles were pronounced, in and out of the red zone.
Stock down
Brandel, the third option at the critical position after Ryan Kelly was sidelined by a concussion and Michael Jurgens struggled and then missed a game with a hamstring injury, was beaten badly with a swim move by Jalen Carter to allow the pressure that preceded the pick six thrown by Wentz in the second quarter.
Injury update
The health forecast looks a lot brighter than it did a few weeks ago, after three starters returned on Sunday: Cashman, left guard Donovan Jackson and right tackle Brian O’Neill. McCarthy is close, though in a truncated week without a full practice his status remains uncertain. O’Connell said after the game no decision had been made. Running back Aaron Jones (hamstring) is eligible to return this week from his four-game absence.
Three role players have minor injuries that could affect their availability in a short week: fullback C.J. Ham (hand), running back Zavier Scott (wrist) and defensive lineman Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins (hip). Ham and Scott were hurt during the game.
Key number
387 — The Vikings posted their season high in total yards on offense against the Eagles. They topped that six times last year.
Up next
While the short-week trip to the West Coast is always a tough draw, the Chargers have lost three of their last four games. The Vikings will then have the benefit of a mini-bye before playing at the Detroit Lions on Nov. 2.
Officials with the Oakland Police Department said a man who died while in police custody over the weekend has been identified as former NFL running back Doug Martin.
In a statement Monday, police confirmed Martin died following a reported break-in at a home on Ettrick Street shortly after 4 a.m. Saturday. Police said Martin was involved in the break-in and when officers attempted to detain him, a brief struggle occurred.
Martin became unresponsive after being taken into custody, police said. Paramedics responded to the scene and rendered aid.
Police said Martin was transported to a local hospital, where he later died.
“Since Saturday, OPD has been in contact with Martin’s family. The family has requested privacy as they grieve this tragic loss,” Oakland police said in a statement.
In a statement on behalf of the family, Athletes First and CEO Brian Murphy said Martin’s parents had called local authorities for medical assistance for Martin.
“Following recent media reports about Doug’s untimely passing, the family wishes to clarify the circumstances. Doug’s parents were actively seeking medical assistance for him and had contacted local authorities for support. Feeling overwhelmed and disoriented, Doug fled his home during the night and entered a neighbor’s residence two doors down, where he was taken into custody by police. An investigation into what transpired as he was detained is underway,” Murphy said.
Martin, 36, was born in Oakland and grew up in Stockton, where he attended Saint Mary’s High School. A standout at Boise State, Martin was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the 31st pick of the 2012 NFL Draft.
In the NFL, Martin played five seasons with Tampa Bay, being named to the Pro Bowl twice. Martin finished his professional career with the then-Oakland Raiders in 2018.
“From his record-setting rookie season in 2012 to his multiple Pro Bowl selections during his six seasons as a Buccaneer, Doug made a lasting impact on our franchise,” the team said in a statement, noting he was honored as one of the top 50 Buccaneers of all time.
“The condolences of the entire Raider Nation are with Doug’s family at this time,” the Raiders said in a statement.
Mayor Barbara Lee said in a statement Monday, “We mourn the loss of Doug Martin, an Oaklander who had a distinguished NFL career and tragically passed away Saturday morning. Our condolences are with his family and loved ones, and my office has reached out to Mr. Martin’s family. They have asked for privacy during this time.”
Police said the officers who were involved in the incident have been placed on paid administrative leave.
The incident is being investigated by the department’s homicide unit and internal affairs, along with the Oakland Police Commission, the Community Police Review Agency and the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office.
OAKLAND — Retired NFL star Doug Martin spent his final moments alive Saturday morning wandering in the dark through the backyards and banging on the front doors of his neighbors’ houses in the Oakland hills, sources told the Bay Area News Group.
Martin’s subsequent death — after what police described as a “brief struggle” with officers inside one of those homes — sent shockwaves through the city, stunning those who recalled the former All-Pro running back’s quick burst on the football turf and easygoing temperament off of it.
Two days later, questions mounted about the Oakland Police Department’s actions before dawn Saturday, along with the factors that appeared to lead Martin inside his neighbor’s home and the exact circumstances around his death in police custody.
“It’s tragic, it’s really tragic,” said his neighbor, Lynne Belmont, 74.
Multiple people called 911 around 4:15 a.m. Saturday, as Martin went door-to-door on the 11000 block of Ettrick Street, sources said. He had been staying in a longtime family home on that block, which sits atop an Oakland hills neighborhood near the Oakland Zoo.
Police initially received a call about a person breaking into a home on that street, which a source said had been occupied at the time. They “simultaneously” received notice that a person believed to be a burglar was having “a medical emergency,” according to a statement released Sunday by the Oakland Police Department.
A “brief struggle” ensued when officers contacted the suspected burglar inside a house and tried to detain him, police said. Martin then became unresponsive after being taken into custody, according to Oakland police.
Oakland police did not respond to multiple requests by this news organization for further details. City and police officials have yet to release police radio and dispatch recordings from the encounter, which were recently encrypted and shielded from the public’s ear.
The police department also has yet to announce how many officers have been placed on paid administrative leave, as is customary following an in-custody death.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin (22) runs during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, in Tampa, Fla. Two-time Pro Bowl running back Doug Martin has been released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018, who may look for a replacement in free agency.(AP Photo/Jason Behnken, File)
In a statement issued Monday evening, Martin’s family said his parents “were actively seeking medical assistance for him and had contacted local authorities for support” before his encounter with police. They added that Martin “battled mental health challenges that profoundly impacted his personal and professional life,” and that he fled his home that night after “feeling overwhelmed and disoriented.”
“Ultimately, mental illness proved to be the one opponent from which Doug could not run,” said the family’s statement, which was released by Athletes First. The firm represented Martin when he was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2012.”
On Monday, Mayor Barbara Lee issued a statement mourning Martin’s death and noting she had reached out to Martin’s family. Lee hailed him as “an Oaklander who had a distinguished NFL career,” adding that “our condolences are with his family and loved ones.” The family has requested privacy.
Martin did not seem much involved in Oakland’s professional sports community, a tight-knit social circle that includes former big-league athletes and coaches. Several long-timers contacted for this story had not been aware that Martin had even resided in Oakland.
On his journey from high school stardom in Stockton to NFL fame, however, Martin was as memorable a running back as the coaches who crossed paths with him could remember.
“He was the kind of guy who really just absorbed everything you tried to teach him,” said Earnest Byner, a former NFL all-pro who was Martin’s running back coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. “He could do anything you asked him to do.”
It was the kind of inner confidence that made the relatively undersized, 5-foot 9-inch tall player — nicknamed “Muscle Hamster” — eager to take on more physically taxing assignments, such as blocking heftier linebackers.
But Martin truly shone with the ball in his hand, coaches said, zipping downfield with a springy first step. A decorated college career at Boise State — where he logged 3,400 yards and 43 touchdowns — led him to be the Buccaneers’ first-round draft selection in 2012.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin (22) walks off the field after a staggeringly successful day against the Oakland Raiders in an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012 at O.co Coliseum in Oakland, Calif. Martin rushed for 251 yards and four touchdowns, as the Buccaneers won, 42-32. (D. Ross Cameron/Staff)
Martin had been known around the college campus for his bounding social energy. He rode a remote-controlled electric skateboard to classes, forged close locker-room friendships and even embraced the popularity of “Teach Me How to Dougie,” a hit song with a signature dance move that shared his name.
“He was just having fun playing ball,” said Keith Bhonapha, the college’s running-back coach at the time. “He really felt at home there.”
Martin’s NFL draft-day party at his relatives’ house in the Oakland hills was uniquely festive, recalled Tony Franks, his high school coach in Stockton. Television trucks lined the street and dozens of people cheered when the St. Mary’s High School star received a call from the Buccaneers at the end of the first round.
Martin’s running style was prototypical for the time — “powerful, compact, explosive,” he said, yet nimble enough to “change direction on a dime.”
“He had such natural strength, leg strength, body strength,” Franks said. “The force he could create by accelerating was just tremendous.”
In the NFL, though, Martin faced adversity. After a breakout rookie season, he suffered a torn labrum that sidelined him for much of his follow-up campaign. Still, he notched two All-Pro teams in a career that lasted seven seasons, rushing for over 5,300 yards and two touchdowns before retiring in 2018.
Martin was suspended four games in 2016 for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy after testing positive for a banned substance. In a statement at the time, Martin said he initially considered appealing the penalty but had decided instead to seek treatment.
“My shortcomings,” he said of his off-the-field life, “have taught me both that I cannot win these personal battles alone and that there is no shame in asking for help.”
Bhonapha, an Oakland native who played football at Skyline High School, visited Martin sometime during the Tampa Bay years. Over a steak dinner, the coach recalled, Martin spoke sentimentally about his Boise State years, reminiscing about the familiarity and friendships that came before the realities of adulthood.
“The amount of calls I’ve gotten from teammates since this weekend asking what happened … guys who were really close with him said they hadn’t talked to him in a couple years,” Bhonapha said.
But even amid the shock of Martin’s untimely passing, those who witnessed the Stockton kid’s rise to the sport’s top ranks recalled the determination that had brought him there.
“He had probably gone through being doubted because of his size at one point,” Byner said. “But he never doubted what he could do — and we didn’t, either.”
Jakob Rodgers is a senior breaking news reporter. Call, text or send him an encrypted message via Signal at 510-390-2351, or email him at jrodgers@bayareanewsgroup.com.
Shomik Mukherjee is a reporter covering Oakland. Call or text him at 510-905-5495 or email him at smukherjee@bayareanewsgroup.com.
Editor’s Note: UF athletic director, interim head football coach to hold news conference at noon on Monday. Watch live in the player above. Original story: Billy Napier preached patience when he was hired in Gainesville. Less than four full seasons later, with a record of 22-23, he’s out of a job. Napier managed just one winning season in four tries at Florida, an 8-5 campaign in 2024. After a 3-4 start to 2025, he has been shown the door.Napier’s tenure marks the worst stretch of football at Florida since the 1940s.Florida is off this week before the Gators head to Jacksonville to meet Georgia in a rivalry showdown on Nov. 1. It will be the fifth top-10 foe they’ve faced this season. UF said Billy Gonzalez, longtime Florida offensive coach, will serve as the interim head coach.UF Athletic Director Scott Stricklin said in a statement, “As Coach Napier has often said, this is a results-driven business, and while his influence was positive, it ultimately did not translate into the level of success we expect on the field.”Despite the team’s lack of success on the field, the players still have nothing but respect for their former head coach.”I’m extremely grateful for Coach Napier and everything he’s done for me and my family,” said sophomore quarterback D.J. Lagway. “I’m thankful, you know, to be able to play for him.”Since Steve Spurrier’s legendary run in the 1990s, only Urban Meyer has made it through four full seasons as Florida’s head football coach. Meyer retired after six seasons at Florida, citing health issues. UF will have to pay Napier roughly $21 million for his buyout agreement with half of the amount due in the next 30 days. “Never going to make everybody happy,” Napier said. “You get these leadership positions and you’re in charge, these are the things that come with it.”
GAINESVILLE, Fla. —
Editor’s Note: UF athletic director, interim head football coach to hold news conference at noon on Monday. Watch live in the player above.
Original story:
Billy Napier preached patience when he was hired in Gainesville. Less than four full seasons later, with a record of 22-23, he’s out of a job.
Napier managed just one winning season in four tries at Florida, an 8-5 campaign in 2024. After a 3-4 start to 2025, he has been shown the door.
Napier’s tenure marks the worst stretch of football at Florida since the 1940s.
Florida is off this week before the Gators head to Jacksonville to meet Georgia in a rivalry showdown on Nov. 1. It will be the fifth top-10 foe they’ve faced this season.
UF said Billy Gonzalez, longtime Florida offensive coach, will serve as the interim head coach.
UF Athletic Director Scott Stricklin said in a statement, “As Coach Napier has often said, this is a results-driven business, and while his influence was positive, it ultimately did not translate into the level of success we expect on the field.”
Despite the team’s lack of success on the field, the players still have nothing but respect for their former head coach.
“I’m extremely grateful for Coach Napier and everything he’s done for me and my family,” said sophomore quarterback D.J. Lagway. “I’m thankful, you know, to be able to play for him.”
Since Steve Spurrier’s legendary run in the 1990s, only Urban Meyer has made it through four full seasons as Florida’s head football coach. Meyer retired after six seasons at Florida, citing health issues.
UF will have to pay Napier roughly $21 million for his buyout agreement with half of the amount due in the next 30 days.
“Never going to make everybody happy,” Napier said. “You get these leadership positions and you’re in charge, these are the things that come with it.”
Warren McVea, the speedy running back who was the first Black player to receive a football scholarship to a major Texas school and later helped Kansas City win its first Super Bowl title, died Sunday after a long illness
LOS ANGELES — LOS ANGELES (AP) — Warren McVea, the speedy running back who was the first Black player to receive a football scholarship to a major Texas school and later helped Kansas City win its first Super Bowl title, died Sunday after a long illness. He was 79.
McVea’s daughter, Tracey Ellis, said he died at home in Los Angeles surrounded by family members.
From San Antonio, McVea starred at the University of Houston before joining the Cincinnati Bengals in 1968 in the American Football League.
McVea moved to Kansas City the following season, with the Chiefs going on to beat Minnesota 23-7 in the Super Bowl. He had 12 carries for 26 yards against the Vikings. In five NFL seasons, he had 2,552 all-purpose yards and 13 touchdowns.
Under coach Bill Yeoman at Houston, McVea — called “Wondrous Warren” — had a school-record 3,009 all-purpose yards in 1966. In the first football game played on artificial turf, he had a 99-yard scoring catch against Washington State.
In high school in San Antonio, McVea led Brackenridge to a state title as a junior in 1962. He also starred in track and field as a sprinter.
McVea served time in prison in the 1990s into 2000 on drug charges.
Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry speaks exclusively to Sky Sports to discuss 2027 free agency
Golden State Warriors superstar Steph Curry has opened up on his plans for free agency in 2027 after admitting situations change “really fast” in the NBA.
The prospect of Curry, a two-time league MVP and 11-time All-Star, playing for any franchise other than The Dubs is a strange one.
After being drafted with the seventh overall pick in 2009, Curry has gone on to revolutionise the game of basketball, helping himself to four championships, one finals MVP and the NBA record for most three-pointers made with 4,058 to add to his overall tally of 25,386 points.
All while wearing No 30 for the Warriors.
4 x NBA champion
2 x NBA MVP
2022 NBA Finals MVP
11 x NBA All-Star
2 x NBA All-Star MVP
11 x All-NBA Team selection
2024 NBA Clutch Player of the Year
2 x NBA Three-Point Content champion
Most three-pointers made in NBA history
Curry signed a one-year extension with the team in 2024, worth a reported £47.5m ($62.6m) and ending growing speculation around his future in the process, keeping him in San Francisco until 2027.
Two years from now, when that deal expires, the greatest shooter of all time will be 39.
After averaging just under 25 points, six assists, and over four rebounds in his 16th season, as well as longevity being more prominent than ever in the league, it is clear to see that his time in the NBA is far from over.
But could the next chapter in his illustrious career lie away from Chase Center? Do not rule it out.
“What I have learned about this league is that things change really fast,” Curry told Sky Sports while discussing Underrated Golf, a programme set up by the point guard to break down barriers to entry and increase diversity in the game of golf.
Underrated Golf is an initiative led by Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry to create a pathway into the sport for young athletes from underrepresented communities.
The programme aims to break down barriers in the game of golf to give prospects a level playing field, in a bid to create a more inclusive and accessible environment for young golfers.
“What you might feel like in two years from now could be totally different. I try to stay in the moment as much as possible; it’s not the glitziest answer but it allows me to enjoy what is happening now.
“I do want to play for only one team, let’s keep that pretty clear. Being at the Warriors has been unbelievable and I feel blessed to have only played for one franchise and to have accomplished what we have.
“So if I could have the best of both worlds and continue to be championship relevant over the next couple of years, that would be great but this league is wild. You kind of just stay in the moment.”
Despite a decision on his future looming as we approach 2027, Curry’s full focus remains on securing more success with the team he holds so dear to his heart in the upcoming 2025/26 season.
The arrival of six-time All-Star Jimmy Butler in February has shown early signs of promise after the Warriors reached the Western Conference semi-finals last time out, only to be denied the opportunity to show their title-winning credentials following a Grade 1 hamstring strain for Curry in game one against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
A 4-1 defeat in the series would follow but heading into 2025/26, the roster has been bolstered by a new two-year deal for Jonathan Kuminga, as well as the arrival of 2024 NBA champion Al Horford,to run alongside long-term teammate Draymond Green in the frontcourt.
Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler (left) Stephen Curry (centre) and forward Draymond Green (right)
With Curry now back to full fitness and fresh depth surrounding him, the intentions from the Warriors have been clear from pre-season.
The Dubs are 3-1 in games Curry has featured in, beating the Los Angeles Lakers and the Portland Trail Blazers twice, with attention now turning to the season opener against the Lakers on October 21, live on Sky Sports.
When asked what aspects of the game still motivate a player who has already achieved so much in the sport as we approach a new 82-game season, Curry added: “I talk about championships, and that drive – it allows every part of the journey to matter.
“Even in the off-season, how you prepare for the year, come in and try and build chemistry with your teammates and how you get through the emotional rollercoaster of an 82-game season.
“All of that is built into being at your peak come playoff time in April.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry during the pre-season game against the Los Angeles Clippers
“Individual accolades take care of themselves. When you win, everybody is rewarded. As long as I’m taking care of championship motivation, everything else takes care of itself. Whether you win or not, you just lay it all out there.
“We have a brand new team again. We’ll all try and stay healthy and try and get to the finish line. That’s our goal.”
The Warriors have won seven championships in total across their 78-year history, with Curry leading them to more than half of that total.
If the franchise is to add an eighth banner to the rafters in 2026, their point guard will be the man to lead them there.
His powers at the highest level are showing no signs are waning, with the 37-year-old looking to replicate the successes of the likes of LeBron James and Kevin Durant by “redefining” what it is to be playing at a high level towards the latter stages of their respective careers.
“I feel like I’ve got some good basketball ahead of me. I’m trying to redefine what it is to be playing at a high level at this age,” said Curry when the question of his timeline leading the roster was posed.
“I still love the work that goes into it and playing the game; hopefully, that will carry me. I don’t want to put any limits on it.”
Watch the Golden State Warriors against the Los Angeles Lakers live on Sky Sports + on October 21, tip-off 3am UK time.
The San Francisco 49ers Sunday night 20-10 win over the Atlanta Falcons delivered a much-needed morale boost.
While Christian McCaffrey supplied two rushing touchdowns and 201 yards from scrimmage, it was the 49ers’ defense that proved surprisingly stout, a week after losing Warner to a dislocated and fractured ankle.
McCaffrey ran for over 100 yards for the first time since 2023 (24 carries, 129 yards) and also delivered 72 receiving yards as quarterback Mac Jones made his third straight start and fifth this season in place of an injured Brock Purdy.
The 49ers (5-2) have yet to lose back-to-back games this season, keeping them tied atop the NFC West with the Los Angeles Rams (5-2).
Next up, the 49ers return to the road for a Sunday visit to the Houston Texans, who take a two-game win streak and a 2-3 record into Monday night’s game at Seattle (4-2).
San Francisco 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey (23) runs against the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback Mac Jones (10) throws against the Atlanta Falcons in the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) San Francisco 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey (23) is congratulated by teammates, including San Francisco 49ers’ Colton McKivitz (68), after scoring a touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons in the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) San Francisco 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey (23) is stopped short of the goal line by Atlanta Falcons’ Dee Alford (20) and Atlanta Falcons’ Xavier Watts (31) in the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) Atlanta Falcons starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (9) throws against the San Francisco 49ers in the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) San Francisco 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey (23) is congratulated on his touchdown by San Francisco 49ers’ George Kittle (85) against the Atlanta Falcons in the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) San Francisco 49ers’ Connor Colby (75) catches the ball on a fumble against the Atlanta Falcons in the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) San Francisco 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey (23) celebrates his touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons in the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) San Francisco 49ers’ Jordan Elliott (92) pressures Atlanta Falcons starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (9) in the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) San Francisco 49ers’ Renardo Green (0) tackles Atlanta Falcons’ Kyle Pitts Sr. (8) after a catch in the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) San Francisco 49ers’ Jauan Jennings (15) runs after a catch against Atlanta Falcons’ Dee Alford (20) in the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) San Francisco 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey (23) celebrates his touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons in the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback Mac Jones (10) dives for yards against Atlanta Falcons’ Jessie Bates III (3) in the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) The San Francisco 49ers defense celebrates a fourth down stop against the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback Mac Jones (10) scrambles against the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) San Francisco 49ers’ Tatum Bethune (48) tackles Atlanta Falcons’ Bijan Robinson (7) in the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News GroupSan Francisco 49ers fans celebrate a play against the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) San Francisco 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey (23) runs against the Atlanta Falcons defense in the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) San Francisco 49ers’ Demarcus Robinson (5) can’t make a catch against Atlanta Falcons’ Mike Hughes (21) in the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback Mac Jones (10) throws the ball against the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) San Francisco 49ers’ Brian Robinson Jr. (3) runs with the ball against the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) San Francisco 49ers’ Tatum Bethune (48) leaves the field after their 20-10 win over the Atlanta Falcons at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group.San Francisco 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey (23) walks on the field after their 20-10 win over the Atlanta Falcons at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Nebraska ranks 10th in defensive third down percentage, allowing opponents to convert 28.6% of the time. Northwestern ranks 31st on offense, converting on 46.4% of third downs.
Northwestern ranks 109th in the FBS with a -4 turnover margin, compared to Nebraska’s 40th-ranked +3 margin.
Northwestern is 3rd in the FBS averaging 28.4 penalty yards per game.
Nebraska is 122nd in FBS in red zone defense, allowing opponents to score on 92.9% of trips. Northwestern’s red zone offense ranks 53rd, scoring on 88.0% of red zone opportunities.
Northwestern ranks 5th in the FBS with an average time of possession of 33:54.
Rushing: Caleb Komolafe, 483 yards on 107 carries, 5 TDs
Receiving: Griffin Wilde, 516 yards on 36 catches, 4 TDs
Last game
Nebraska was defeated by Minnesota 24-6 on Friday, Oct. 17. Raiola led Nebraska with 177 yards on 17-of-25 passing (68.0%) for no touchdowns and no interceptions. Johnson carried the ball 14 times for 63 yards, adding five receptions for 37 yards. Luke Lindenmeyer recorded 52 yards on four catches.
Northwestern won 19-0 over Purdue on Saturday, Oct. 18. Stone threw for 132 yards on 11-of-26 attempts (42.3%) with two touchdowns and one interception. Joseph Himon II carried the ball 22 times for 87 yards, adding one reception for six yards. Wilde recorded 47 yards on four catches with one touchdown.
Next game
Nebraska hosts USC on Nov. 1. Northwestern plays at USC on Nov. 7.
MINNEAPOLIS — MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Jalen Hurts gave his lagging offense a jolt by throwing for 326 yards and three touchdowns, Jalyx Hunt returned an interception for a score, and the Philadelphia Eagles rebounded from back-to-back losses by hanging on to beat the Minnesota Vikings 28-22 on Sunday.
Hurts went 19 for 23 in the highlight-reel revival of the passing attack that helped the Eagles (5-2) win the Super Bowl last season, hitting A.J. Brown for two touchdowns and DeVonta Smith for a career-high 183 receiving yards that included a 79-yard score.
Facing third-and-9 from their 44 with 1:45 left and the Vikings (3-3) still holding two timeouts, Hurts dropped back and dropped a 45-yard rainbow into Brown’s arms to seal it after he beat former teammate Isaiah Rodgers with a slick double move up the sideline. Rodgers, in his first season with the Vikings, also got beat on Smith’s touchdown.
Carson Wentz went 26 for 42 for 313 yards on an erratic afternoon, getting picked off twice in his own territory and struggling on the other end while the Vikings had to settle for Will Reichard’s field goals on five of six possessions inside the 20.
Wentz said during the week he’s too far removed from his time with Philadelphia to carry a grudge into this game, having made Minnesota his sixth stop in six seasons, but he didn’t give his original team his best performance — particularly in the red zone.
Backup center Blake Brandel struggled badly there, too. He had an errant third-down shotgun snap that sailed over Wentz’s head and cost the Vikings 22 yards in the first quarter and was run over by Moro Ojomo for a third-down sack in the fourth quarter from the 10.
Eagles offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo, who has taken plenty of heat over his first two months on the job, masterfully called the opening drive with a heavy diet of Saquon Barkley against a Vikings defense that has been vulnerable on the ground this season.
The Eagles went 75 yards in 12 plays while draining 8:01 off the clock, and Hurts converted two fourth downs along the way — a predictable tush push from their 45, then later the 37-yard strike up the left sideline to Brown who beat safety Josh Metellus in single coverage for the score behind impeccable pass protection up front.
After that, the big throws by Hurts — not to mention the heads-up play by Hunt on third down with Jalen Carter pressuring Wentz — helped mask the bigger issues with balance and creativity and the growing list of injuries.
The Eagles lost starting center Cam Jurgens (knee) and two key backups on defense, LBs Azeez Ojulari (hamstring) and Jeremiah Trotter (ankle), to injuries in the first quarter. Starting CB Adoree’ Jackson (concussion) was sidelined in the third quarter.
The Vikings were without starting OLB Andrew Van Ginkel (neck) for the third straight game.
Philadelphia hosts the New York Giants next Sunday.
Minnesota plays at the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Jalen Hurts gave his lagging offense a jolt by throwing for 326 yards and three touchdowns, Jalyx Hunt returned an interception for a score, and the Philadelphia Eagles rebounded from back-to-back losses by hanging on to beat the Minnesota Vikings 28-22 on Sunday.
Hurts went 19 for 23 in the highlight-reel revival of the passing attack that helped the Eagles (5-2) win the Super Bowl last season, hitting A.J. Brown for two touchdowns and DeVonta Smith for a career-high 183 receiving yards that included a 79-yard score.
Facing third-and-9 from their 44 with 1:45 left and the Vikings (3-3) still holding two timeouts, Hurts dropped back and dropped a 45-yard rainbow into Brown’s arms to seal it after he beat former teammate Isaiah Rodgers with a slick double move up the sideline. Rodgers, in his first season with the Vikings, also got beat on Smith’s touchdown.
Carson Wentz went 26 for 42 for 313 yards on an erratic afternoon, getting picked off twice in his own territory and struggling on the other end while the Vikings had to settle for Will Reichard’s field goals on five of six possessions inside the 20.
Wentz said during the week he’s too far removed from his time with Philadelphia to carry a grudge into this game, having made Minnesota his sixth stop in six seasons, but he didn’t give his original team his best performance — particularly in the red zone.
Backup center Blake Brandel struggled badly there, too. He had an errant third-down shotgun snap that sailed over Wentz’s head and cost the Vikings 22 yards in the first quarter and was run over by Moro Ojomo for a third-down sack in the fourth quarter from the 10.
Eagles offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo, who has taken plenty of heat over his first two months on the job, masterfully called the opening drive with a heavy diet of Saquon Barkley against a Vikings defense that has been vulnerable on the ground this season.
The Eagles went 75 yards in 12 plays while draining 8:01 off the clock, and Hurts converted two fourth downs along the way — a predictable tush push from their 45, then later the 37-yard strike up the left sideline to Brown who beat safety Josh Metellus in single coverage for the score behind impeccable pass protection up front.
After that, the big throws by Hurts — not to mention the heads-up play by Hunt on third down with Jalen Carter pressuring Wentz — helped mask the bigger issues with balance and creativity and the growing list of injuries.
The Eagles lost starting center Cam Jurgens (knee) and two key backups on defense, LBs Azeez Ojulari (hamstring) and Jeremiah Trotter (ankle), to injuries in the first quarter. Starting CB Adoree’ Jackson (concussion) was sidelined in the third quarter.
The Vikings were without starting OLB Andrew Van Ginkel (neck) for the third straight game.
Philadelphia hosts the New York Giants next Sunday.
Minnesota plays at the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday.
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes threw for 286 yards and three touchdowns in less than three quarters of work, Rashee Rice caught two of the TD passes in his return from a six-game suspension, and the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Las Vegas Raiders 31-0 on Sunday.
Rice finished with seven catches for 42 yards in his first game since Week 4 last season, when he tore his ACL in a collision with Mahomes. He made it back from the injury in time to participate in the offseason and training camp, then was suspended before the start of the season for his role in a high-speed car crash on a Dallas highway in March 2024.
Rice’s return sparked an offense that scored on its first five possessions and finished with 434 yards in all.
The Chiefs (4-3) were nearly as good on defense, though, holding the Raiders to three first downs and 96 yards while beating them for the 10th time in the last 11 matchups. Geno Smith finished 10 of 16 for 67 yards, while Ashton Jeanty, one of the NFL’s top rookies, carried just six times for 21 yards.
It was the fourth and most lopsided shutout by Kansas City in its 133-game history against the Raiders.
The Chiefs offense had started to hum the past couple of weeks, including in a 30-17 rout of the Lions last week. And with Rice back, it looked like the high-flying attack that Mahomes made famous with Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill so many years ago.
Rice had a pair of catches on their opening drive, including a 2-yard touchdown reception to finish off the 92-yard march. He had two more on the next drive, an 84-yard trek that Marquise Brown finished with a TD catch. And Rice capped the Chiefs’ big first half with a 3-yard touchdown reception with 10 seconds left to make it 21-0 at the break.
The lopsided nature of the first half was staggering.
The Chiefs had a 21-2 advantage in first downs. They had a 275-51 edge in yards, and that includes six meaningless yards that Jeanty gained on the final run of the half. And the Chiefs became the first team since at least 2000 to start a game with three TD drives of at least 80 yards, allowing them to consume nearly 21 minutes of the first half.
Oh, and the Chiefs got to receive the second-half kickoff.
They proceeded to march 65 yards for another touchdown, this time with Isiah Pacheco doing the honors on the ground to finish it off. And after another three-and-out by the Raiders, a 66-yard march produced a field goal that made it 31-0.
Mahomes and several starters took a seat by the end of the third quarter, allowing Gardner Minshew to finish the rout.
The only question remaining was whether the Raiders would make it back across midfield again. They made it for two offensive plays on the first drive of the game, when a holding call on Jackson Powers-Johnson led to them eventually punting.
The answer: They did not come close.
Las Vegas: WR Jakobi Meyers (knee) and TE Brock Bowers (knee) were inactive. Crosby left in the first half with a knee injury and DT Adam Butler departed with a back injury.
Kansas City: LT Josh Simmons was inactive due to personal reasons. LG Trey Smith left with a back injury, DT Omar-Norman Lott hurt his knee and RT Jawaan Taylor banged up his shoulder.
The Raiders are off next week before facing Jacksonville on Nov. 2.
The Chiefs play Washington next Monday night.
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Since Canvas Stadium opened, the CSU Rams football program has tried the SEC route. It’s tried The Urban Meyer Family Tree. It’s tried a safe, steady hand with Mountain West bona fides. None of those paths have led to a consistent conference championship contender whose results have matched the ambitions of CSU’s $220 million football home.
So with Jay Norvell out, where does Rams AD John Weber turn now? Here are nine candidates CSU should have on his short list:
Tony Alford, Michigan running backs coach/run game coordinator: If it’s about family, nobody bleeds green the way Alford, who played running back at CSU from 1987-90, still does. At 56, he’s been looking for a chance to put a stamp on a program of his own.
Matt Lubick, Kansas co-offensive coordinator/tight ends coach: Speaking of keeping it in the family, the son of CSU icon Sonny Lubick remains a fan favorite at age 53. Time to come home?
Jay Hill, BYU defensive coordinator/associate head coach: Not young (50), but we already know what his Cougars can do (and have done) to CU. Bonus: Has head coaching experience, posting a 68-39 record as the top man at Weber State from 2014-22.
Jason Candle, Toledo: Matt Campbell’s successor was supposed to find his Iowa State a while ago, having produced four seasons of at least nine wins with the Rockets since 2017. He’s still there. Although, as he’s got a contract through 2028, so he probably won’t come super-cheap.
Collin Klein, Texas A&M offensive coordinator: At 36, the former Loveland High star and Heisman Trophy finalist is a rising star and a good guy, to boot. If Rams fans want to “lock the gates” for local recruits, this could be the guy.
Klint Kubiak, Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator: Proud CSU alum. Name recognition. Pedigree. Gravitas. Even better if dad, Gary, comes north to help out.
Brent Vigen, Montana State coach: Yes, there’s a lot of Wyoming Cowboys mileage on that resume. But there’s also a ton of winning
DeSean Jackson, Delaware State coach: Want NFL star power? Want ESPN to pay attention to the Rams? Want Deion Sanders to feel a little jealous? It’s a Hail Mary, sure. But ask Rick George how those can pay off.
Chuck Martin, Miami of Ohio coach: If you can’t beat ’em, right? Martin’s posted a 21-11 mark since the start of the ’23 season and as a former Brian Kelly assistant, he can call in some big names. Then again, as a former Kelly assistant, he might be looking for a bigger landing pad than FoCo.
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Jared Goff and Baker Mayfield were picked No. 1 overall in the NFL draft two years apart, had postseason success with their teams, got traded and revived their careers in new cities.
They’ve become the standard for castoff quarterbacks.
Goff and Mayfield go head-to-head Monday night when the Detroit Lions (4-2) host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-1) in a potential preview of the NFC championship game.
There’s a lot of mutual respect between the two quarterbacks.
“I love Jared, great guy,” Mayfield said. “From somebody that can relate to needing a fresh start somewhere else, it is good to see that story. Everybody loves a good underdog story or whatever it is, go through adversity, come out the other side stronger. That is life and that is what football can teach you.”
Said Goff: “I’m a big fan of his and he’s done a great job.”
Goff led the Los Angeles Rams to a Super Bowl in the 2018 season — they lost to Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. He made two Pro Bowls in his five seasons with the Rams but was traded to the Lions in a deal for Matthew Stafford in 2021. While Stafford led Los Angeles to a Super Bowl victory in his first season, Goff was supposed to be just a stopgap solution in Detroit.
Instead, he turned into the nucleus of a dynamic offense on a championship contender. Goff has made two Pro Bowls with the Lions and is off to another excellent start. He has completed 75.9% of his passes for 1,390 yards, 14 touchdowns and two interceptions.
“That guy’s operating at a high level, the highest in the league in my opinion,” Lions offensive coordinator John Morton said. “I’m very fortunate as a coordinator to have him on the other side of the ball as the quarterback.”
Mayfield led the Cleveland Browns to a playoff win at Pittsburgh in his third season in 2020 — the franchise’s only postseason victory this century. But he was traded to Carolina in 2022 after the Browns made a blockbuster deal to acquire Deshaun Watson that ended up disastrous for the organization.
Mayfield started just six games for the Panthers, was released, joined the Rams and led them to a victory in a Thursday night game only three days after his arrival. His brief tenure with Sean McVay in Los Angeles restarted his career.
After Brady retired, the Buccaneers signed Mayfield as a low-risk, high-reward option in 2023. He wasn’t even guaranteed a starting job and had to beat out Kyle Trask in training camp. Mayfield played so well that first-year offensive coordinator Dave Canales was hired to coach Carolina.
Mayfield was even better last year, making the Pro Bowl for the second straight year and helping lead the Buccaneers to their fourth straight NFC South title. He also helped first-year OC Liam Coen earn the head coaching job in Jacksonville.
This season, Mayfield is an early favorite for NFL MVP. He has completed 66.2% of his passes for 1,539 yards, 12 TDs and one interception while playing behind an injury-riddled offensive line and with a depleted wide receiver group. Mayfield has also run for 158 yards and 11 first downs, displaying some impressive scrambling ability along the way.
“To me, they’re both really tough, dependable, resilient guys,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said of Goff and Mayfield. “I think both of them have overcome a lot. I think when you watch those guys and just the nature of the way they play — like our quarterback will sit in there. … he’s getting crunched in the pocket and has to deliver the ball. He’s not afraid of that. They both deliver in critical moments, they don’t get frazzled. I just think there’s those elements to it.
“And of course, Baker has got the ability to run a little bit more. And that shows up because he’s hard to take down. He’ll slip under you, he can stay alive — you saw what he did the other day, he broke a bunch of tackles, found a way to get that first down, third-and-14. I mean that’s kind of his game too. So, just competitive, and that’s what they have in common. Guys are competitive.”
They’ll compete in the fourth matchup between these two teams in the past three seasons. The Lions won 20-6 in Tampa Bay in Oct. 2023 and beat the Buccaneers at home 31-23 in a divisional playoff that season. The Buccaneers defeated Detroit 20-16 last September in one of the Lions’ only two losses.
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
HOUSTON (AP) — When the two were teammates at Ohio State, it didn’t take long for Jaxon Smith-Njigba to make an impression on C.J. Stroud.
“The first day of practice, he one-handed a pass and I was like: ‘This dude’s for real,’” Stroud recalled this week. “Ever since then, he’s one of the best I’ve ever played with, if not the best.”
This week Stroud and Smith-Njigba will play against each other for the first time in the NFL when the Houston Texans visit the Seattle Seahawks on Monday night. Though they won’t be on the field at the same time, they’re looking forward to seeing who comes out of the game with bragging rights.
“I’m excited for him to be in Seattle and us to compete,” Smith-Njigba told The Associated Press. “That’s a lot of our relationship is competing against one another. So, it’s awesome that we get to do it on Monday night.”
Stroud and Smith-Njigba both joined the Buckeyes in 2020 and spent three seasons together at Ohio State. They produced many highlights in their time there, but none shined brighter than the show they put on in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day in 2022.
Stroud threw for a school-record 573 yards and a record-tying six touchdowns to lead the Buckeyes to a 48-45 win over Utah. Smith-Njigba set a record for any FBS bowl game with 347 yards receiving and had a school-record 15 receptions with three touchdowns in the thrilling victory.
“Honestly, for us, we didn’t even really know it was that crazy, it was like a day of practice for us,” Stroud said. “Me and him have a connection that I think is just natural. We just took off that day, but it was other days we did really good too.”
Smith-Njigba agreed with Stroud’s assessment of the record-setting day.
“It was just a great experience,” Smith-Njigba said. “I saw that interview that he did … and saying it was just like practice. It really was. It was just like practice, but on a grand stage at the Rose Bowl. So, just a special moment that we had that we’ll never forget. We’ll cherish forever.”
Smith-Njigba had touchdown receptions of 50 and 52 yards in the second quarter of that game before scoring Ohio State’s final touchdown on a 30-yard grab in the fourth quarter.
Stroud and Smith-Njigba remain close, with the quarterback saying that Smith-Njigba is one of his best friends. Another reason that Rose Bowl was memorable for Smith-Njigba was because it was his first visit to California and he loved being there with Stroud, who grew up about 30 minutes from the stadium.
“That day was special, playing back home and him having probably the most legendary receiver performance in college was pretty dope,” Stroud said.
Smith-Njigba thinks of that day and their time at Ohio State often.
“I look back a lot and just smile. Because I got to play with a lot of great guys, including C.J.,” he said. “You always want to be tight with your quarterback. But, it just happened naturally that we became … almost brothers. Just the special relationships that you’ll have forever.”
After leaving Ohio State, Stroud was selected with second overall pick in the 2023 draft and Smith-Njigba was taken later in the first round at No. 20. Stroud threw for 4,108 yards with 23 touchdowns to lead Houston back to the playoffs and earn AP Offensive Rookie of the Year in his first season while Smith-Njigba’s breakout campaign came last season when he had 1,130 yards receiving.
Along with the bond between Stroud and Smith-Njigba, the Texans and the Seahawks are also connected through first year offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, the son of former Texans coach Gary Kubiak. The elder Kubiak coached the Texans from 2006-13 and Klint Kubiak spent a lot of time around the team in that period, getting a front row seat to a large chunk of the career of receiver Andre Johnson, who is the first Texan to go into the Hall of Fame.
Some of the qualities that Johnson possessed as a player remind him of Smith-Njigba
“The kind of worker that (Smith-Njigba) is, that’s what Andre was when I was growing up,” Klint Kubiak said. “My dad said: ‘if you want to know what a pro looks like, look at No. 80.’ That’s what great players do, they’re very self-motivated and that’s what (Smith-Njigba) is.”
Smith-Njigba is off to a great start this season and his 696 yards receiving rank first in the NFL entering Week 7.
It’s an accomplishment that Stroud could envision that first day at practice in Columbus, Ohio, when the two were just teenagers.
“I’ve always known that this is going to happen,” Stroud said. “So, it’s no surprise to me, but I’m just very proud of him. I think he’s going to continue to do great things.”
AP Sports Writer Andrew Destin contributed to this report from Seattle.
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
The Minnesota Vikings (3-2) and Philadelphia Eagles (4-2) battle at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Sunday afternoon in Week 7 of the 2025 NFL season. There are a number of ways fans can watch and stream Sunday’s game.
The Vikings had a bye in Week 6, allowing players on the team’s extensive injury list time to recover. The Eagles fell to the New York Giants 34-17, allowing running back Cam Skattebo to rush for 98 yards and score three times.
Here’s how you can watch Sunday’s matchup between the Eagles and Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
How can you watch the Eagles vs. the Vikings on cable?
Fox will carry the game locally. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. CT on Sunday, Oct. 19.
Where can you stream the Eagles vs. the Vikings?
Fans can stream Sunday’s Eagles-Vikings game on NFL+.
Eagles vs. Vikings history
The Eagles are 16-15 all-time against the Vikings, according to Pro Football Reference.
The last time these two teams met was in 2023, when Philadelphia defeated Minnesota 34-17 at Lincoln Financial Field. The Eagles have won three of the last five matchups against the Vikings, Pro Football Reference said.
Rookie QB J.J. McCarthy has been out of action the past three games with a sprained ankle. The former Michigan Wolverine returned to practice in a limited capacity this week and there had been some discussion on whether he would be under center before Friday’s announcement.
“The ankle, it’s getting there,” McCarthy said in a news conference on Wednesday. “I wouldn’t say it’s 100% right now, but, you know, we’re striving every day to get there as fast as possible.”
Wentz, a former Eagle who is now in his 10th season, has won two games and lost one in his three starts with Minnesota. He is dealing with a non-throwing shoulder injury, according to the team, though he was a full participant in practice on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
The team’s defense will have its hands full against three-time Pro Bowl running back Saquon Barkley. While he isn’t close to the rushing production he had last year, when he ran for 2,005 yards in the regular season, Minnesota ranks 24th in rush yards allowed per game so far this season. The Vikings may get a boost at the linebacker position as the team announced Saturday that Blake Cashman had been activated from injured reserve. Cashman suffered a hamstring injury in Week 1 against the Chicago Bears.
Eagles
Philadelphia is looking to get back on track after losing consecutive games for the first time since dropping three straight from Dec. 31, 2023, to Jan. 15, 2024. Head coach Nick Sirianni is 8-0 against NFC North teams since he was hired by the Eagles in 2021.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts will hope to improve upon his Week 6 performance, passing for a season-high 283 yards, a touchdown and an interception against the Giants. Tight end Dallas Goedert accounted for 110 of those yards.
Starting left guard Landon Dickerson, who missed Week 6 with an ankle injury, was a full participant in practice on Friday after being limited on Wednesday and Thursday. Defensive tackle Jalen Carter was limited in practice on Thursday and Friday with a heel injury, and cornerback Quinyon Mitchell was a full participant after suffering a hamstring injury during the first half of the Eagles-Giants game.
What is the Vikings’ schedule for the rest of the 2025 NFL season?
Here is the rest of Minnesota’s 2025 schedule:
Week 8: at Los Angeles Chargers, Oct. 23 at 7:15 p.m. (Thursday Night Football) Week 9: at Detroit Lions, Nov. 2 at noon Week 10: vs. Baltimore Ravens, Nov. 9 at noon Week 11: vs. Chicago Bears, Nov. 16 at noon Week 12: at Green Bay Packers, Nov. 23 at noon Week 13: at Seattle Seahawks, Nov. 30 at 3:05 p.m. Week 14: vs. Washington Commanders, Dec. 7 at noon Week 15: at Dallas Cowboys, Dec. 14 at 7:20 p.m. (Sunday Night Football) Week 16: at New York Giants, Dec. 21 at noon Week 17: vs. Lions, Dec. 25 at 3:30 p.m. (Christmas Day) Week 18: vs. Packers, TBD
What is the Eagles’ schedule for the rest of the 2025 NFL season?
Here’s Philadelphia’s path the rest of the way through 2025:
Week 8: vs. Giants, Oct. 26 at noon Week 9: Bye week Week 10: at Packers, Nov. 10 at 7:15 p.m. (Monday Night Football) Week 11: vs. Lions, Nov. 16 at 7:20 p.m. (Sunday Night Football) Week 12: at Cowboys, Nov. 23 at 3:25 p.m. Week 13: vs. Bears, Nov. 28 at 2 p.m. (Black Friday) Week 14: at Chargers, Dec. 8 at 7:15 p.m. (Monday Night Football) Week 15: vs. Las Vegas Raiders, Dec. 14 at noon Week 16: at Commanders, Dec. 20 at 3:30 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. Week 17: at Buffalo Bills, Dec. 28 at 3:25 p.m. Week 18: vs. Commanders, TBD
Note: The above video first aired on Oct. 16, 2025.
“I mean, (I’m) yelling more than I was, talking more, just constantly talking,” the new Rams men’s basketball coach told me after his squad scrimmaged for the public Saturday, the warm-up act for a Homecoming football tussle against Hawaii.
“So I think that’s the biggest adjustment. That’s the biggest thing I had to figure out is how to get my voice to stay. Because the first event we did in downtown (Fort Collins), it was gone. I started like shaking up and down. I sounded like I was going through puberty again, like …”
“Pretty much,” he laughed. “If you can find something for my throat to fix that, let me know.
“I always joke with our guys, though, I’m saying our body language matters and how you respond to refs, how you talk to them. Well, then, I shouldn’t lose my voice because I shouldn’t be (yelling). We’ll see how it goes on November 3.”
As Peter Brady once sang, when it’s time to change, then it’s time to change. Farokhmanesh, 37, is re-arranging who he is and what he’s gonna be.
No Nique Clifford? No Niko Medved? No problemo. For now, anyway.
If CSU football feels a bit like a marriage that has lost its spark, Rams hoops is still ensconced in nuptial bliss. You’d be hard-pressed to find a heart in Fort Fun that doesn’t love Farokhmanesh. And Ali’s family.
Although a first-time head coach, Farokhmanesh is working overtime these days to stay out of his wife Mallory’s doghouse. The other night, she caught him falling asleep while watching practice film. All parties agreed he could pick it back up at 5:30 in the morning.
“I feel like I try to have a balance, right?” Farokhmanesh said. “Which you never really do, but you’re always fighting for. So, she does a good job of managing that with me, too. I think she helps me a lot with that.”
Colorado State’s Jevin Muniz drives to the basket during an intrasquad scrimmage Saturday at Moby Arena. (Nathan Wright/Loveland Reporter-Herald)
On the court, with a half-dozen new faces, the Rams’ lineup is a work in progress. Rotations are in flux. Medved’s fingerprints are still there, but with tweaks and tucks — some spread, some motion, constant movement.
Farokhmanesh was the boy genius with the whiteboard on the sidelines, feeding the Niko machine. On Saturday, that board was in the hands of assistant coach Cole Gentry. Besides work-life balance and trying to do too much all at once, the next biggest challenge for first-time coaches is delegating authority. Giving up the stuff they used to obsess over.
“I feel like I’ve done a pretty good job (with that),” Farokhmanesh said. “I’m not doing the subs right now. I’m not doing the baseline out of bounds (plays) now. Those are all things I did before. I’ve given up the board. But I’m still going to have a say in all of it. So, it’s giving it up, but it’s also like, you’re still involved. I don’t know. It’s just different.”
“And after what they did in Iowa State, I’m a little more nervous,” the Rams coach said. “If we want to be an NCAA Tournament team, you’ve got to play teams like that. Does that help us to just go scrimmage a D2 (school)? Does it? We’ll get something out of it. But I want to challenge our (guys), and I want to put them on a stage. Because if we want to play at the highest levels, we’re going to have to beat people on those stages and compete with them.”
“If you’ve got time, he’s in here working with you,” said CSU forward Rashaan Mbemba, who leads the Rams roster in returning minutes with 615 (19.2 per game) and returning points (7.0 per game). “And I think that’s something you’ve got to really appreciate. I mean, he has four kids, he has a wife. Being a head coach, a husband, a dad. Now he’s also like, kind of, for a lot of guys, he’s the first person to talk to. As a team and as a community, we really appreciate that.”
And they show it. Veteran Ram staffers noted a bigger crowd than usual for an open scrimmage, buoyed by Homecoming weekend and more than mild curiosity. CSU president Amy Parsons sat at midcourt with athletic director John Weber throughout the scrimmage as green-clad alumni came and went.
Afterward, while players sat at a long table under one of the baskets, providing autographs for fans, Farokhmanesh hung back. The new coach shook hands, smiled for cell phone pictures and signed posters for wave after wave of kids.
“Here you go, buddy,” Ali said to one.
“What’s up, dude?” he said to another.
A towheaded tyke in a green Rams getup approached nervously.
Farokhmanesh disarmed him with a grin and scribbled away on his poster.
“Can I get a ‘Go Rams?’” the coach asked.
“Go Rams,” he replied.
Hey, when fate hands you a honeymoon, best enjoy it while it lasts. That goes double for the voice.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Rodney Hammond Jr. and JaQuail Smith each ran for more than 100 yards, Grant Meadors kicked a pair of fourth-quarter field goals and Sacramento State beat Northern Colorado 40-35 on Saturday night.
Following Meadors’ fourth field goal, a 42-yarder with 2:01 to play, Eric Gibson Jr. drove Northern Colorado to the Sacramento State 3 with 30 seconds left but threw an incomplete pass on fourth-and-1.
Meadors’ 34-yard field goal gave Sacramento State (4-3, 2-1 Big Sky Conference) a 37-35 lead with 9:30 remaining. He also made field goals from 37 and 28 yards in the first half.
Ricky Lee III’s 34-yard pick-6 to start the fourth quarter gave Sacramento State a 34-28 lead. Northern Colorado answered with Gibson’s 62-yard touchdown pass to Carver Cheeks for a 35-34 advantage.
Hammond had 134 yards rushing on 21 carries that included a 46-yard touchdown. Smith carried 17 times for 103 yards. The Hornets ran for 323 of their 434 yards of offense.
Gibson was 21-of-33 passing for 321 yards and threw three touchdowns but four interceptions for Northern Colorado (3-4, 1-2). He also threw a 75-yard TD pass to Cheeks in the second quarter. Cheeks finished with nine catches for 223 yards and three touchdowns.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Zabien Brown returned an interception 99 yards for a touchdown as time expired in the first half and No. 6 Alabama rolled to a 37-20 victory over No. 11 Tennessee in the rivalry known as the “Third Saturday in October.”
Brown’s pick gave the Tide a 23-7 lead and was all Alabama’s defense needed while turning in its best performance of the season. The Tide (6-1, 4-0 Southeastern Conference) held the nation’s highest-scoring offense to just 410 yards, well below its 529-yard average.
Ty Simpson completed 19 of 29 passes for 253 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. He led two TD drives of 90-plus yards as the Crimson Tide won their sixth consecutive game, including four in a row against ranked opponents.
For Tennessee (5-2, 2-2), Joey Aguilar completed 28 of 44 passes for 268 yards, with a touchdown and an interception. DeSean Bishop ran for 123 yards and two touchdowns.
Alabama’s final touchdown, a 4-yard run by Daniel Hill with 5:49 remaining, ignited cigar smoke from every direction inside Byrant-Denny Stadium — a tradition for the victors in this rivalry.
Alabama prevented back Tennessee from winning consecutive games in the series for the first time since 2003-04. Alabama has won 17 of 19 in the rivalry.
Alabama’s win, coupled with losses by No. 5 Ole Miss to No. 9 Georgia, should propel the Tide into the top five in the next AP Poll. Tennessee will surely fall, along with No. 7 Texas Tech and No. 10 LSU.
Tennessee: The Volunteers’ loss featured a number of uncharacteristic statistics. They failed to score 30 points for the first time this season, and a defense that led the SEC in sacks didn’t record one.
Alabama: The Crimson Tide have arguably the best collection of wins in college football with four wins over ranked teams. Led by Simpson, Alabama has established itself as a legitimate championship contender midway through the season.
Tennessee: At Kentucky next Saturday.
Alabama: At South Carolina next Saturday.
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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Marcel Reed threw for 280 yards and three touchdowns, and ran for 55 yards and another score as No. 4 Texas A&M held on to beat Arkansas 45-42 on Saturday and keep its perfect season going.
The Aggies (7-0, 4-0 Southeastern Conference) have opened with seven wins for the first time since 1994, when they finished 10-0-1. With No. 9 Georgia’s 43-35 win over No. 5 Mississippi earlier Saturday, Texas A&M is the only remaining unbeaten team in the SEC.
The Aggies continued their dominance in the series with the Razorbacks (2-5, 0-3), winning for the 13th time in the last 14 meetings. Texas A&M scored on seven of nine completed rives and totaled 497 yards of offense.
Leading 38-35 with less than 10 minutes remaining and facing serious game pressure after Taylen Green’s four-yard touchdown pass to Jaden Platt, Texas A&M’s EJ Smith had a two-yard conversion on fourth-and-1 from the Aggies’ 34 to extend a critical drive.
Reed then found Ashton Bethel-Roman for 37 yards to the Arkansas 27, and Reuben Owens II scored on a 12-yard run four plays later to extend the lead to 10. With 10 seconds to play, Green hit CJ Brown for a four-yard score to pull the Razorbacks back within three.
Texas A&M recovered the ensuing onside kick to seal the win.
Owens, the Aggies’ primary ball carrier in place of the injured Le’Veon Moss, finished with 69 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Bethel-Roman had 83 yards receiving and a score, KC Concepcion added five catches for 53 yards and a touchdown, and Nate Boerkircher had a one-yard touchdown catch.
Green threw for 256 yards and three scores and ran for 89 yards and two more touchdowns, and Mike Washington rushed for a season-high 147 yards for Arkansas in its fifth straight loss.
With No. 2 Miami’s 24-21 home loss to Louisville on Friday, Texas A&M is likely to climb into the top three of the upcoming AP poll. It would be the program’s first in-season top-three ranking since 1995.
Texas A&M: The offense made up for a lackluster performance on the defensive side of the ball. Aggies coach Mike Elko will likely call on his defense to improve in the coming weeks after his team surrendered 527 total yards and 268 yards rushing to the Razorbacks.
Arkansas: The Razorbacks showed a great deal of fight in their first home game under interim head coach Bobby Petrino. They need to bottle that resolve for a morning kickoff next week.
Texas A&M travels to No. 10 LSU next Saturday.
Arkansas continues its homestand next week against Auburn.
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
