Not only was Saturday’s road victory over Southern California a big boost for Washington in the race to the College Football Playoff, but it was an emotional one for Huskies senior edge rusher Zion Tupuola-Fetui.

A week ago, after Washington defeated Stanford on the road, Tupuola-Fetui learned his father died in his home state of Hawaii.

Playing with a heavy heart, Tupuola-Fetui had a major impact against the Trojans. With the game tied at 28 late in the second quarter and USC with the ball, Tupuola-Fetui was able to get to QB Caleb Williams and force a strip sack, with the Huskies recovering it deep inside Trojans territory. Washington ended up adding a touchdown before the half to give it a seven-point lead, and it proved to be a major score in the 52-42 victory. Tupuola-Fetui finished the game with four tackles and 1.5 sacks.

‘My dad would want me to play’

After the win, Tupuola-Fetui was asked by Dave Mahler of KJR Seattle what it meant to have a big impact on the game one week after he lost his father. The senior then got emotional talking about his father.

‘This week was really hard, but I knew my dad would want me to play,’ he said. ‘He loves this game, he loves UW and I knew I’d just be doing him wrong if I didn’t play.

‘I’m thankful that I was able to play good in his memory, that was him playing through me. At the beginning of the game, I didn’t even know if I wanted to play to be honest. I’m here for my brothers but I’m glad I was able to play a good game.’

Tupuola-Fetui also had a heartwarming moment with head coach Kalen DeBoer, as the two embraced each other.

A ‘sack fumble’ for dad

As if the game couldn’t get any more poetic for Tupuola-Fetui, he said on social media after the win that what he accomplished in the game was something his dad had wanted.

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin is honoring the Cincinnati medical team that helped save his life by establishing a scholarship for Cincinnati youth.

“Last night I had dinner with my heroes. 10 of the UC Medical Staff that helped save my life,” Hamlin wrote on social media. “I surprised them with a scholarship named after each of them that will support youth in Cincy to chase their dreams. Wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them!”

Hamlin’s Chasing M’s Foundation will award $1,000 scholarships to 10 individuals from Cincinnati’s underserved communities for the next three years. According to a news release, each of the individual scholarships will be named after the 10 first-responders, nurses and doctors who tended to Hamlin after he went into cardiac arrest on the field and was resuscitated during the Bills’ game at the Cincinnati Bengals on Jan. 2.

The announcement of the scholarships comes on the same weekend that the Bills meet the Bengals at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati in what will be an emotional return for Hamlin and the Bills.  

“I’m humbled by the opportunity to set up a scholarship program to honor this team of professionals – my Cincinnati heroes – who helped save my life on January 2,” Hamlin said in a news release. “I created this scholarship program to recognize each of them for what they have done for me, while also lifting up kids in underserved communities who are in need of some support as they look to go to a private high school, trade school or on to college.”

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

Hamlin, who is in his third year in Buffalo, is a healthy scratch for Sunday night’s game. The reserve safety has played in one game this season.

Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.

Kevin Harvick thought the emotion of his final NASCAR Cup Series weekend as a driver was over by the time the race was run until there came a question about his children.

On the pace laps before the start of Sunday’s race at Phoenix Raceway, son Keelan and daughter Piper came over Harvick’s team radio. The two were given the headsets to wish their dad well and congratulate him on what was a Hall of Fame career.

“Well that’s not normal,” Harvick said. “I know that they probably loved that, so…”

At that point, Harvick began to get choked up. He gave a thumbs-up and then turned to be with his family, team, and others who had gathered at his car.

“Just kind of a relief, to be honest with you, there with just so much going on before the race and this week,” Harvick said. “It was pretty cool to lead some laps there in the last race, though. I’m just proud of everybody at Stewart-Haas Racing, everybody that works on this car and has worked on this car for a long time.

“I’ve just got to thank all the fans and NASCAR, my family and everybody for all the support. It’s been a great ride, and I can’t complain.”

Harvick could only laugh and say he “figured” the crowd on hand Sunday reacted well when he took the lead. The car got too tight as the sun went down, and he didn’t challenge for the victory in the final stage. It was a winless season for Harvick, just the fifth tie that’s happened in his career.

“The fans have been great, just wishing us well [and] to do the best we can on the racetrack,” he said. “It’s been an up-and-down year, but we’ve had some good runs, and we were at least competitive. We didn’t ride around in the back. That’s the main thing, just doing all we can do.”

A 23-year career ends with 60 victories, including in all four crown jewel events. Harvick won at Indianapolis in 2003, 2019 and 2020, the Daytona 500 in 2007, the Coca-Cola 600 in 2011, and the Southern 500 in 2014 and 2020.

He won the Cup Series championship in 2014.

“This whole year has been incredible with the fans and the garage and everybody [with] all the support,” Harvick said. “We wanted to tell a story of 30 years, and I think we did a pretty good job at that.”

It took more than an hour for Harvick to leave pit road after the race. Tyler Reddick, teammates Ryan Preece and Chase Briscoe were among those who came to spend time with him. Stewart-Haas Racing co-owner Tony Stewart also made his way into what could be described as a mosh pit of people around the No. 4 car.

In the pre-race driver’s meeting, Harvick was given a standing ovation. There was also a group photo taken before everyone dispersed for the final time ahead this season.

“It really hasn’t been about wins or losses, but you never want to flop around,” Harvick said of his season. “To be able to lead laps in the last race kind of tells you how competitive we still are and I think with some tweaks and adjustments to some of the things at Stewart-Haas, you could go right back out there and be where you need to be with everything that we have going on. Josh [Berry] is going to do a great job. I can’t wait to see Josh drive this car around.

“Busch (Beer) is still in this sport. Mobil is still in this sport. It gave everybody time to do and evaluate what they wanted to do, and that’s really what I wanted. I wanted to leave here and be able to look at all of you guys, look at the fans, walk in the TV booth, and walk into any trailer in that garage, whether it’s a driver, a crew chief, NASCAR, whoever it is, and be able to end on good terms and I think we did that.”

Harvick will be in the Fox Sports booth beginning in 2024, and that chapter of his life begins this week.

“I do already have calls next week with the folks from Fox and starting to work on end of the year things for what we want to do there,” Harvick said. “But I still think the responsibility is just as big to go up there and try to give the fans as much information as possible and do a good job for Fox and everybody with this sport to tell the best story that we can. We have a lot of great drivers, a lot of great personalities, and I hope everybody gets to see that.”

Southern California has fired defensive coordinator Alex Grinch, less than 24 hours after another disastrous performance in a loss to Washington.

USC announced defensive line coach Shaun Nua and associate head coach/inside linebackers coach Brian Odom take over the defensive unit for the rest of the season.

‘USC Head Football Coach Lincoln Riley announced today that Defensive Coordinator Alex Grinch has been relieved of his duties,’ the athletic department said in a statement. ‘Defensive Line Coach Shaun Nua and Inside Linebackers Coach/Associate Head Coach for Defense Brian Odom will serve as interim co-defensive coordinators for the remainder of the season. Additionally, Defensive Analyst Taylor Mays has been elevated to an on-field assistant coach and will work with the safeties.’

USC’s defensive woes

Grinch came to USC when Riley was hired after the 2021 season, but the defensive coordinator’s firing has long been desired by the Trojans fan base, and even former USC players.

On Saturday, USC gave up 52 points in a loss to the Huskies, including giving up 313 rushing yards to a team that ranked in the bottom half of FBS in running the ball. The 572 yards given up was the most allowed since Riley became coach.

Despite the Trojans having a premier offense and reigning Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams, the defense has been blamed for a majority of the teams shortcomings in the two seasons under Lincoln Riley. The Trojans went 11-1 in the regular season in 2022, needing a win in the Pac-12 championship game to reach the College Football Playoff. Instead, USC gave up 47 points in a loss to Utah, and followed it up with a stunning loss in the Cotton Bowl against Tulane in a 46-45 defeat.

Things haven’t improved this season. Despite having the second-best scoring offense in FBS at 45.5 points per game, USC ranks 119th in total defense by allowing 436 yards a game, and the 34.5 points allowed per game ranks 121st out of 130 teams.

The Trojans entered the season with national championship aspirations, and after a 6-0 start to the season that saw the Trojans rise as high as fifth in the US LBM Coaches Poll, USC has lost three of its last four games and is now unranked. The one win coming in a nail-biting 50-49 against Cal that came after the Golden Bears failed on a two-point conversion in the final minute of the game.

In the three losses this season, USC has given up 44.6 points per game, and has given up at least 40 points in five of its last six games. At 7-3 with a 5-2 conference record, the Trojans are virtually out of the conference title race and a New Year’s Six bowl appearance. The three regular season losses is also the most in Riley’s seven-year head coaching career.

The Trojans have two games left on the regular season: on the road against Oregon, who have the top scoring offense in FBS, and the crosstown rivalry game at home against UCLA.

Week 10 in college football featured brief periods of drama across the country. When the dust settled, however, there was very little chaos, producing few substantive changes in the US LBM Coaches Poll with the top 10 teams all victorious.

Georgia retains the No. 1 spot, with the next four teams all staying put as well. The Bulldogs, who survived a strong challenge from Missouri, received 55 of 64 first-place votes. The panel was kind to Missouri though, as the Tigers fall just one place to No. 15. No. 2 Michigan picked up four firsts, one fewer than Ohio State, but the Wolverines remain ahead of the Buckeyes by 11 poll points. Florida State and Washington continue to round out the top five.

In the only change in the top 10, Oregon edges ahead of Texas for the No. 6 position. The Longhorns do remain ahead of No. 8 Alabama, followed again by Penn State and Mississippi.

TOP 25: Complete US LBM Coaches Poll after Week 10

HIGHS AND LOWS: Week 10 college football winners and losers

The big moves begin at the next tier, as eight ranked teams in all from last week including everyone 11th through 14th lost. Louisville moves up those four positions to No. 11 to reach its highest ranking since Nov. 20, 2016, followed by No. 12 Tennessee. Oregon State makes the largest jump within the poll, climbing six places to No. 13.

Oklahoma State makes its season debut after taking down Bedlam rival Oklahoma. The Cowboys enter at No. 17, still a spot behind the Sooners. No. 24 Arizona also joins the poll for the first time this season after its third win in a row against ranked teams. Fresno State returns to the rankings at No. 25.

It was a bad week for Los Angeles schools as UCLA and Southern California fall from the top 25. The week’s other dropout is Air Force, which was stunned by academy rival Army for its first loss of the campaign.

Ryan Blaney comes from a racing dynasty, with his father, Dave Blaney, grandfather, Lou Blaney, and uncle, Dale Blaney, all with long and distinguished careers in motorsports.

Dave Blaney made 473 Cup starts over 17 seasons and was a World of Outlaws champion, his brother, Dale, was a sprint car champion, and their father, Lou, was credited with multiple Midwest titles.

But Ryan Blaney has now accomplished something is racing relatives never have: winning a NASCAR Cup Series championship.

Blaney may have finished runner-up to Ross Chastain in Sunday’s season finale at Phoenix Raceway, but he captured the biggest prize, claiming his first Cup title at age 29 by beating the other three championship contenders in a 312-lap shootout at Phoenix.

Blaney outdueled a pair of Hendrick Motorsports drivers in Kyle Larson, who finished third, and William Byron, who finished fourth, to claim the crown and hand team owner Roger Penske his second consecutive Cup title, following Joey Logano’s win in 2022.

‘Just so proud of this team. What an unbelievable year, what an ubelievable playoffs for us,’ Blaney said. ‘To win back-to-back Cup titles for Mr. Penske, that’s so special.

‘And to have my family here for my first Cup title, I got emotional in the car. I’m not a very emotional guy, but this was so cool. I can’t wait to celebrate with my guys.’

Larson battled Blaney during the latter half of the final stage, but admitted his Cheverolet didn’t have the speed of Blaney’s Ford.

“(Ryan Blaney’s) car was really fast, really for the last few months, especially here today,’ Larson said. ‘Our pit crew and pit road just really kept us in the game. We weren’t really the greatest on the track but I was hoping for pit stops because I knew the way our team executed our lights, and the way our pit crew can execute a fast pit stop, I knew that that was our only shot really to win.’

Byron dominated early in the race, leading every lap of the 60-lap opening stage, but he acknowledged that his Chevrolet got tight as the race wore on.

‘I feel like we all raced really hard,’ Byron said. ‘I felt like in Stage One and Two, I could kind of take Ryan’s (Blaney) lane away a little bit and get him tight. And then once he got in front of us, it was really hard to chase him back down.’

The final championship competitor was out of the race before the halfway mark. Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell suffered brake issues during stage 2 of Sunday’s race and slammed into the wall, knocking him out of the race.

‘That was my first time I’ve ever exploded a rotor in my career. So, yeah, I was surprised but early on in the race I had a little bit of brake fade and the second run it just kept getting worse and worse,’ Bell said. ‘Just obviously a disappointing way to end. I’m super, super proud of this 20 team and all of our partners. To be in the Final 4 is something we’re really proud of.”

Sunday marked the first time since NASCAR initiated this playoff format in 2014 that the race winner was not one of the Championship 4 contenders, with Ross Chastain having been knocked out of the 2023 playoffs before the Round of 8.

‘There were some questionable times this year, and as we went, we continued to fight and prepare the same,’ Chastain said. ‘There were some tough days and nights, and sleepless nights, but it made us even hungrier and we brought the thunder this weekend.”

“It’s been an emotional roller coaster for sure,’ Harvick told NBC. ‘This means a lot to me, just because I love driving the car, I love being around the people more. I love our sport. It’s given our family so much throughout the years…I opened this chapter unexpectedly in 2001 and closed it in 2023 how we wanted to, and that was being competitive.”

You can view a recap of all the action from Sunday’s final race below the gallery:

Ryan Blaney salutes team owner Roger Penske after winning 2023 NASCAR Cup Series championship

Ryan Blaney thanked his team owner, Roger Penske, for ‘giving me a shot’ after he captured his first NASCAR Cup Series championship and the fourth overall for Penske.

Blaney noted how important it was to win for Penske; the 86-year-old was recently hospitalized with shingles and missed Blaney’s win at Martinsville Speedway last Sunday. Penske was in Phoenix and calmly watched the race from a suite, but made his way to the frontstretch to congratulate his driver.

“It was definitely on my mind to give him consecutive titles, I mean, because he’s done everything in motorsports and we had a chance to go back-to-back on the Cup side with him,” Blaney said. “I mean, we couldn’t pass up that opportunity. So everyone worked really hard to make it happen and I’m so proud of the effort.” — The Associated Press

Ryan Blaney wins 2023 NASCAR Cup Series championship

Ryan Blaney has won his first NASCAR Cup Series championship following a thrilling race Sunday at Phoenix Raceway.

While Ross Chastain won the season finale, Blaney outdueled fellow championship competitors Kyle Larson and William Byron to give Team Penske a title for the second consecutive season, following Joey Logano’s championship in 2022.

Blaney finished second to Chastain in the race, but that was more than enough to capture the championship as the task was just to beat the other title contenders.

Larson finished third in the season finale and Byron fourth for Hendrick Motorsports. The final championship contender, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell, was knocked out of the race on Lap 109.

Kyle Larson, William Bryon, Ryan Blaney battle for NASCAR championship with just 25 laps remaining

A caution flag has shaken up the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race as all the cars came down pit road, with some teams taking two tires and some taking four.

Denny Hamlin and Erick Jones, on two-tire stops, emerged with the lead, but the championship competitors were not far behind with Kyle Larson in third, Wiliam Byron in fifth and Ryan Blaney in sixth. Ross Chastain was fourth after the pit stops.

Kyle Busch spins to bring out caution as laps wind down in NASCAR Championship Race

Kyle Busch spins out with 37 laps remaining, bringing out the caution flag in the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race

The championship competitors were all racing in the top five when the yello flag flew.

Ryan Blaney, who has battled Ross Chastain and Martin Truex Jr. for the race lead in the final stage, was second behind Chastain with Truex in third. The remaining two title contenders were not far behind with Kyle Larson in fourth and William Bryon in fifth.

Ryan Blaney fighting Ross Chastain for race win, leads Kyle Larson and William Byron in title fight

William Byron and Kyle Lason were the first two championship contenders to pit under green, getting fuel and ties on lap 241 of 312. Byron led Larson as they came down pit road, but Larson jumped his teammate with faster service.

The final championship competitor, Ryan Blaney came down pit road with race leader Ross Chastain one lap later and both maintained their positions.

With nearly all of the lead lap cars now having gotten service, Chastain leads Blaney, Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Larson and William Byron. As the top Championship 4 driver, Blaney is in position to win his first NASCAR Cup Series title.

Ryan Blaney surges into second, tops among NASCAR Championship contenders

With less than 100 laps remaining in the NASCAR Championshp Race, all three remaining title contenders are in the top five. While non-championship participant Ross Chastain continues to lead the race, Ryan Blaney has surged into second as he chases first title. William Bryon, also seeking his first championship, is running fourth, while Kyle Larson, who won the 2021 title, is in fifth. Martin Truex Jr. also races in the top five in third.

Chris Buescher wins Stage 2 of NASCAR Championship Race, Bryon tops among title contenders

Chris Buescher passed Ross Chastain on lap 171 and held the lead as Stage 2 of the NASCAR Championshp Race ends. Chastain finished second and Kevin Harvick third.

Pole sitter William Byron has been the top Championship 4 driver most of the race. Byron finished the stage in fourth, Ryan Blaney sixth and Kyle Larson seventh. Martin Truex Jr., who is not racing for the title, finished in fifth between Byron and Blaney.

The other championship contender, Christopher Bell, was knocked out the race on Lap 109 after slamming into the wall with brake rotor issues.

One more stage, of 127 laps, remains before the 2023 Cup Series champion is crowned.

Ross Chastain leads NASCAR Championship Race as William Bryon, Ryan Blaney and Kyle Larson battle for title

Ross Chastain has led the second half of Stage 2 of the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race after passing Kevin Harvick on Lap 117. Chris Buescher has moved up to second with Harvick dropping to third and Martin Truex Jr. in fourth.

Among the three remaining championship contenders, William Byron remains the top driver. The Hendrick Motorsports driver has settled into fifth, with Team Penske driver Ryan Blaney in sixth and Hendrick’s Kyle Larson settling into seventh.

The second stage is 125 total laps.

First NASCAR Championship 4 contender, Christopher Bell, knocked out of race

After complaining about his brakes, Christopher Bell slammed into the outside wall on Lap 109 of 312 when his brake rotor explodes and his right front tire goes down, sending the No. 20 Toyota hard into the outside wall.

The Joe Gibbs Racing driver had been racing in the sixth position behind fellow championship contenders Ryan Blaney and William Byron and just ahead of Kyle Larson. Bell, who was racing for his first Cup Series championship, will not be able to finish the race.

Following Bell’s accident, all the cars came down pit road for tires.

Ryan Blaney surges in NASCAR Championship Race

Ryan Blaney is now the best of the championship contenders after passing William Byron for third during the middle of Stage 2. Byron had led every lap until Kevin Harvick passed the pole winner on Lap 93.

Kevin Harvick takes lead from William Byron in NASCAR Championship Race

Kevin Harvick passed pole winner and Championship 4 driver William Byron on Lap 93 after Byron had led every lap since the green flag dropped at Phoenix Raceway. Harvick, who won the first NASCAR Cup Series championship under this current playoff format in 2014, is racing his final event before he retires from full-time racing.

Ross Chastain also passed Byron, who dropped back to third. Ryan Blaney has surged to fourth, Christopher Bell is sixth and Kyle Larson is seventh, with Chris Buescher in fifth.

Championship 4 driver Byron maintains lead as Stage 2 of NASCAR Championship Race begins

William Byron kept the No. 1 spot following the first round of pits stops for tires and fuel in the NASCAR Championship Race. By virtue of winning the pole, Byron was able to select the best pit stall and that helped him keep his edge on Kevin Harvick on the race off pit road. Among the other three championship contenders, Kyle Larson gained one spot from fifth to fourth, Ryan Blaney gained two from 10th to eighth, and Blaney was also able to leapfrog fellow contender Christopher Bell, who held steady in ninth.

Championshp 4 driver William Byron dominates Stage 1 of NASCAR Championshp Race

William Byron, who is chasing his first title, led every lap of the opening stage of the NASCAR Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway. Byron ran up front for all 60 laps, edging Kevin Harvick as the yellow flag dropped for the stage break. Byron’s teammate Kyle Larson dropped back to fifth after starting fourth, but Christopher Bell surged up to ninth after starting 13th, while Ryan Blaney also advanced to 10th after starting 15th.

Ross Chastain and Bubba Wallace rounded out the Top 5, Chris Buescher finished sixth, Martin Truex Jr. seventh and Erik Jones eighth.

William Byron controls first half of Stage 1 of NASCAR Championship Race

Championship 4 driver William Byron has led the first 30 laps after starting on the pole. Kyle Larson, who started fourth, moved up one spot from fourth to third, Christopher Bell gained two spots from his starting position of 13th to 11th, and Ryan Blaney moved up one position to 14th. The first stage is 60 laps.

NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race goes green at Phoenix Raceway

The green flag has dropped for the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race. Championship 4 driver and pole sitter William Byron leads the field as the final race of the season gets underway at Phoenix. Among the other title contenders, Kyle Larson started fourth, Christopher Bell 13th and Ryan Blaney 15th.

How does the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race work? 

Any one of the 36 drivers entered in Sunday’s race at Phoenix Raceway can win the race, but only four – Christopher Bell, Ryan Blaney, William Byron and Kyle Larson – can with the 2023 Cup Series championship. Simply put, whichever of those four drivers has the best finish in the championship race will win the title. 

Since NASCAR adopted this playoff format in 2014, however, the winner of the final race of the season has always been one of the Championship 4 drivers.

What time does the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race start?

Sunday’s race at Phoenix Raceway starts at 3 p.m. ET (1 p.m. local) in Avondale, Arizona.

What TV channel is the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race on?

NBC is broadcasting the race and has a pre-race show beginning at 2 p.m. ET (Noon local). Peacock will have a post-race show beginning at 7 p.m. ET (5 p.m. local).

Will there be live stream of the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race?

Sunday’s race at Phoenix Raceway can be live streamed on Peacock, the NBC Sports website and the NBC Sports app.

What is the weather forecast for the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race? 

It’s a hot one in Avondale, Arizona. Temperatures are in the 90s with plenty of sunshine and no signs of clouds raining on NASCAR’s parade.

Who won the NASCAR Cup Series championship in 2022, and who are the past champions under this playoff format? 

Kevin Harvick won the first championship under this current format, which was put in place in 2014. Kyle Busch and Joey Logano, who won last year’s championship, are the only drivers to win more than one title in this format.  

Here are the past nine champions: Kevin Harvick (2014), Kyle Busch (2015), Jimmie Johnson (2016), Martin Truex Jr. (2017), Joey Logano (2018), Kyle Busch (2019), Chase Elliott (2020), Kyle Larson (2021), Joey Logano (2022).

What to know about the NASCAR Cup Series Championship 4 drivers 

CHRISTOPHER BELL 

Car No.: 20 Team: Joe Gibbs Racing Age: 28 (29 on Dec. 16) Full-time Cup seasons: 4 2023 wins: 2; Top 5s: 10; Top 10s: 18 Career wins: 6; Top 5s: 31; Top 10s: 61 

KYLE LARSON 

Car No.: 5 Team: Hendrick Motorsports Age: 31 Full-time Cup seasons: 9 2023 wins: 4; Top 5s: 14; Top 10s: 16 Career wins: 23; Top 5s: 103; Top 10s: 162 

RYAN BLANEY 

Car No.: 12 Team: Team Penske Age: 29 (30 on Dec. 31) Full-time Cup seasons: 8 2023 wins: 3; Top 5s: 7; Top 10s: 17 Career wins: 10; Top 5s: 68; Top 10s: 130 

WILLIAM BYRON 

Car No.: 24 Team: Hendrick Motorsports Age: 25 (26 on Nov. 29) Full-time Cup seasons: 6 2023 wins: 6; Top 5s: 14; Top 10s: 20 Career wins: 10; Top 5s: 40; Top 10s: 82 

Who is on the pole for the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race? 

Championship contender William Byron won the pole position in Saturday’s qualifying and will start on the front row alongside Martin Truex Jr., who qualified second. Among the other Championship 4 drivers, Kyle Larson will start fourth, Christopher Bell will start 13th, and Ryan Blaney will start 15th.

NASCAR on NBC analysts predict the Cup Series champion

NBC’s NASCAR analysts have made their picks for the 2023 champion as the Cup Series final race inches closer to going green. Three picked Hendrick Motorsports driver William Byron, two picked Team Penske driver Ryan Blaney and one picked Hendrick Motorsprts’ Kyle Kyle Larson. Christopher Bell of Joe Gibbs Racing, sadly, go no love. Their picks:

Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Ryan BlaneyJeff Burton: William ByronSteve Letarte: William ByronDale Jarrett: Ryan BlaneyKyle Petty: William ByronBrad Daugherty: Kyle Larson

Who perfomed the national anthem at the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race? 

The United States Air Force Band Singing Sergeants performed the National Anthem ahead of the Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway. Stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C., The Singing Sergeants is one of six musical ensembles from The United States Air Force Band and is the official chorus of the United States Air Force. Their performance was accompanied by a flyover by four F-35s from the 310th Fighter Squadron (“Top Hats”) from Luke Air Force Base in Maricopa County, Arizona.

After a World Cup debacle revealed fault lines throughout a program accustomed to setting the standard for the rest of the game, the USWNT doesn’t just need the best coach for right now, or even for the next major international tournament. It needs a coach who can rid the senior team of its on-field malaise, integrate the next generation of players and work with U.S. Soccer to address a development ecosystem that now lags behind the top European teams.

Hayes is that person. And if that means the USWNT won’t have her full time until late May or even early June, so be it.

Chelsea announced Saturday that Hayes will leave the team “at the end of the season to pursue a new opportunity outside of the WSL and club football.” Backheeled and The Equalizer quickly reported Hayes and U.S. Soccer were finalizing details of her contract, and The Washington Post reported that USWNT players had received an email announcing her arrival.

U.S. Soccer’s board still has to approve Hayes’ hiring, but that’s not likely to be an issue.

Hayes is, without question, one of the top women’s coaches in the world, club or country. She’s led Chelsea to six English Super League titles, including the last four, and five FA Cups. She took Chelsea to the Champions League final in 2021, and the semifinals last season.

She’s a six-time WSL manager of the year and was FIFA’s coach of the year in 2021.

Her teams are both exciting and tactically sound. While she has not managed at the international level, she has managed some of the top international players, including Sam Kerr, Millie Bright, Lauren James, Fran Kirby, Kadeisha Buchanan and Zećira Mušović on Chelsea’s current squad.  

Hayes is familiar with the European development system, in which clubs identify young talent and train them at their own academies until they’re ready for the national team and/or a professional career. But she’s also familiar with the pay-to-play system that is dominant in the United States, having gotten her coaching start here, first with the Long Island Lady Riders and then Iona College.

Hayes also worked in the Women’s Professional Soccer league, the precursor to the NWSL, and has contact with the current USWNT staff because up-and-comers Catarina Macario and Mia Fishel are at Chelsea.

Short of poaching England’s Sarina Wiegman, Hayes was the best coach out there for the USWNT.

“Emma has been one of the biggest drivers of change in women’s football,” Chelsea’s co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley said in the statement announcing Hayes’ departure.

Chelsea later posted a photo of the “In Emma We Trust” banner at its grounds with the word, “Always.”

Though Hayes expressed interest in the USWNT job, getting her seemed like a long shot simply because of the calendar. Chelsea’s last league game is May 18 and the Champions League final is a week later, while the Olympic tournament begins July 25.

Before that, there are international windows in December, April and May, along with the Concacaf championship that runs Feb. 20 to March 10.

But U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker was smart enough to realize getting Hayes for the long run is worth sacrificing the next few months. Yes, even if that means a sub-par showing for a third major international tournament.

The U.S. women are four-time World Cup champions and have spent most of the last decade as the No. 1 team in the world. But the team needs some institutional, or at least generational, changes, and Hayes is the right person to make them. Hiring someone else for the sake of expedience, just to get the Americans through the Olympics, would have been kicking the can down the road, and the USWNT deserves more than that.

They deserve a coach like Hayes. She’ll be worth the wait.

Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.

What a game in Houston and what a day for C.J. Stroud.

The second overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft broke an NFL rookie record by throwing for 470 yards in Houston’s 39-37 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a thriller that saw two touchdowns scored in the final minute of the game.

With the Texans leading 33-30 in the final minutes of the game, Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield led a 10-play, 61-yard drive that ended with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Cade Otton with 46 seconds left. The touchdown gave Tampa Bay a 37-33 lead as they tried to snap a three-game losing skid.

But Stroud and the Texans didn’t quit. After calling their final timeout of the game with 31 seconds left, Stroud found Noah Brown to get the Texans to the Tampa Bay 41-yard line. After a spike with 16 seconds left, Stroud found Tank Dell for 26 yards along the sideline to get Houston down to the Tampa Bay 15. On the next play, Stroud delivered a strike to Dell again for his fifth touchdown pass of the day, and give Houston the 39-37 lead with 6 seconds left in an incredible final drive.

Houston took a knee on the two-point conversion attempt, and Tampa Bay was unsuccessful in the lateral play to end the game. The win moved the Texans to 4-4 while the Buccaneers fall to 3-5.

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CJ Stroud’s big day

Stroud finished 30 for 42 with 470 passing yards, the most passing yards ever thrown by a rookie in an NFL game. The previous record was held by Andrew Luck, who threw for 433 yards for the Indianapolis Colts in 2012 against the Miami Dolphins.

Here’s the most passing yards thrown by a rookie in NFL history:

C.J. Stroud — Houston Texans: 470 yards, 2023Andrew Luck — Indianapolis Colts: 433 yards, 2012Cam Newton — Carolina Panthers: 432 yards, 2011Ryan Tannehill — Miami Dolphins: 431 yards, 2012

The quarterback out of Ohio State has been the most impressive rookie QB this season, as he has thrown for 2,270 yards with 14 touchdowns and one interception. At the halfway point of the regular season, Stroud is also on pace to break the rookie single-season passing record, which is held by Andrew Luck. The former Colts quarterback threw for 4,374 yards in 2012.

Emergency kicker kicks go ahead field goal

Stroud’s big day wasn’t the only crazy thing to happen at NRG Stadium on Sunday.

Texans kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn was injured in the first half of the game with a quadriceps injury, which forced running back Dare Ogunbowale to step in as the team’s emergency kicker. He not only handled the kickoffs for the team, but he nailed a 29-yard field goal to give Houston a 33-30 lead in the fourth quarter.

Texans-Buccaneers ends in a scorigami

As if the day couldn’t get anymore insane, the 39-37 final score was a scorigami, meaning it was the first time in NFL history the score was achieved. It was the 1,080th unique final score in league history.

The Miami Dolphins had a chance, with a minute left and the game on the line, to tie the defending Super Bowl champions on an international stage, and prove they are worthy of the high expectations that have come with their high-powered offense.

But Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa could not manage an errant snap from center Connor Williams, and the football sailed behind Tagovailoa during the biggest moment of Miami’s season.

Another big game, and another major let down: The Dolphins fell 21-14 to the Kansas City Chiefs in Frankfurt, Germany on Sunday. And the narrative remains.  

The Dolphins aren’t a contender. They’re a pretender. The Dolphins have lost to the Buffalo Bills, the Philadelphia Eagles and the Chiefs, and failed to show they’re more than just a pretty offense that can beat up on subpar teams.

‘We knew going into the game if we lose what the narrative will be, and that’s fair,’ McDaniel said following the loss. ‘We shouldn’t feel entitled to high opinions from the masses. We have to earn that.’

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The Dolphins responded from their lowest moment in the game – Tyreek Hill’s fumble leading to a 59-yard Chiefs touchdown and 21-0 deficit just before halftime – with two scores of their own in the third quarter.

More important, the Dolphins defense – which saw star cornerbacks Jalen Ramsey and Xavien Howard play for the first time together this season – held Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense scoreless in the second half.

The Dolphins coach and players were proud of their resolve. But McDaniel, Tagovailoa and the Dolphins offense faltered down the stretch, souring a standout performance by their defense.

Before the botched snap, Tagovailoa’s pass was short to receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr., who ran the wrong option route on a third-and-10 play. On the previous drive, Tagovailoa was sacked for a loss of 11 yards on the previous drive.

Those plays just killed all the Dolphins’ momentum in the fourth quarter in the biggest game of their season, and any chance to steal the No. 1 overall seed in the AFC from Mahomes and the Chiefs.

‘I’m always going to blame myself. I got to catch the ball,’ Tagovailoa said of the botched snap. ‘Can’t end the game like that when we have an opportunity like that against a great team.’

 ‘That’s just how football goes sometimes,’ Dolphins defensive tackle Christian Wilkins added. ‘It’s a humbling game.’

The Dolphins, like many other NFL teams, aspire to win it all. They can be the greatest show on turf when they light up teams worse than them. But when the lights are the brightest, they fail to show up offensively.

The Dolphins are 6-0 and score about 39 points per game against teams with a .500 record or worst this season. But they are 0-3 and average 17 points per game against teams with a winning record. This game was another reminder – harsher than their losses to the Bills and Eagles – how far the Dolphins are from being a legitimate contender.

Sure, the Bills and Eagles are contenders and have played deep into the playoffs like the Dolphins hope to. But the Chiefs have actually won the Super Bowl.

Twice.

This was the real litmus test for Miami. And they failed.

That’s enough frustration to keep McDaniel awake on the flight home from Germany and during the Dolphins’ bye in Week 10. Miami returns to action against the Las Vegas Raiders on Nov. 19.

‘It’s painful,’ McDaniel said after the loss. ‘It’s going to be a hard one to digest.’