NFL fans won’t be lucky enough to experience another bye week hiatus in Week 9, but the league’s Sunday slate is still looking loaded.

There will be 13 games played on the first Sunday of November, meaning 26 of the NFL’s 32 teams will play that day. The schedule includes an anticipated divisional matchup between the Lions and Packers, a great offense vs. defense matchup in the Ravens-Broncos game and a nightcap between two wild-card contenders, the Vikings and Colts.

These matchups will surely excite NFL fans, but we’re also at the point in the season where injuries are becoming extremely important for each opponent. Notably, Jordan Love is questionable to play against the Lions while several other stars have landed on the injury report for Week 9.

USA TODAY Sports will provide live updates on the latest actives and inactive players heading into NFL’s Week 9, 1 p.m. ET slate of games on Sunday:

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

NFL Week 9 injury report

Players’ names which are italicized indicate they are listed as questionable entering today’s games or did not practice on Friday.

Arizona Cardinals

DL Darius Robinson (calf)
DL Naquan Jones (thigh)
DL Roy Lopez (ankle)
OT Jonah Williams (knee)

Atlanta Falcons

ILB Troy Andersen (knee)
ILB JD Bertrand (concussion)
G Chris Lindstrom (knee)
DL Ruke Orhorhoro (ankle)

Baltimore Ravens

RB Rasheen Ali (ankle)
CB Jalyn Armour-Davis (knee)
CB Marlon Humphrey (knee)
DT Travis Jones (ankle)
RB Keaton Mitchell (knee)
DE Brent Urban (concussion)

Buffalo Bills

CB Christian Benford (wrist)
WR Amari Cooper (wrist)
FB Reggie Gilliam (hip)
WR Curtis Samuel (pectoral)

Carolina Panthers

RB Jonathan Brooks (knee)
DT Jaden Crumedy (ankle)
OT Ikem Ekwonu (ankle)
TE Feleipe Franks (concussion)
S Jordan Fuller (hamstring)
OLB DJ Johnson (ankle)
WR Xavier Legette (toe)
S Jammie Robinson (knee)
TE Tommy Tremble (back)
WR Adam Thielen (hamstring)
OLB D.J. Wonnum (quadriceps)

Chicago Bears

OT Kiran Amegadjie (calf)
OL Ryan Bates (shoulder)
DB Jaquan Brisker (concussion)
OL Larry Borom (ankle)
DB Kyler Gordon (hamstring)
OL Teven Jenkins (knee)
OT Braxton Jones (knee)
DE Montez Sweat (shin)
DL Dominique Robinson
DL Zacch Pickens

Cincinnati Bengals

OT Orlando Brown Jr. (knee)
WR Tee Higgins (quadricep)
WR Charlie Jones (groin)
RB Zack Moss (neck)
S Geno Stone (shin)

Cleveland Browns

LB Jordan Hicks (elbow, triceps)
OLB Khaleke Hudson (ankle)
LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (neck)
CB Denzel Ward (concussion)

Dallas Cowboys

CB DaRon Bland (foot)
CB Trevon Diggs (calf)
DT Linval Joseph (back)
LB Eric Kendricks (shoulder)
G Zack Martin (shoulder)
LB Micah Parsons (ankle)
DT Jordan Phillips (wrist)
LB Nick Vigil (foot)

Denver Broncos

DB P.J. Locke (thumb)
S Delarrin Turner-Yell (knee)

Detroit Lions

DL Brodric Martin (knee)
DL Joshua Paschal (illness)
LB Malcolm Rodriguez (ankle)
RB Sione Vaki (knee)
DT Mekhi Wingo (ankle)

Green Bay Packers

CB Jaire Alexander (knee)
CB Corey Ballentine (ankle)
RB Josh Jacobs (ankle)
QB Jordan Love (groin)
C Josh Myers (wrist)
S Evan Williams (hamstring)

Indianapolis Colts

DE Kwity Paye (hamstring)
OT Bernhard Raimann (concussion)

Jacksonville Jaguars

RB Tank Bigsby (ankle)
OL Ezra Cleveland (ankle)
WR Gabe Davis (shoulder)
RB Travis Etienne Jr. (hamstring)
OL Brandon Scherff (knee)
DT Maason Smith (ankle)
WR Brian Thomas Jr. (chest)
RB Keilan Robinson (toe)
S Andrew Wingard (knee)
WR Christian Kirk (collarbone)

Las Vegas Raiders

C Andre James (ankle)
G Dylan Parham (foot)
LB Robert Spillane (knee)
RB Zamir White (quadricep)

Los Angeles Chargers

LB Joey Bosa (hip)
WR DJ Chark (groin)
CB Kristian Fulton (hamstring)
MLB Denzel Perryman (toe)
WR Brendan Rice (shoulder)
TE Stone Smartt (ankle)

Los Angeles Rams

S Kam Curl (knee)
P Ethan Evans (illness)
DT Neville Gallimore (shoulder)
WR Puka Nacua (knee)
G Joe Noteboom (ankle)
WR Jordan Whittington (shoulder)
DB Charles Woods (toe)

Miami Dolphins

WR River Cracraft (shoulder)
DB Storm Duck (ankle)
TE Julian Hill (shoulder)
S Jevon Holland (knee)
FB Alec Ingold (calf)
CB Kader Kohou (neck)
DE Zach Sieler (eye)
OL Andrew Meyer
TE Tanner Conner

Minnesota Vikings

LB Blake Cashman (toe)
CB Akayleb Evans (hip)
OL Dalton Risner (back)
DT Taki Taimani (ankle)

New England Patriots

CB Alex Austin (ankle)
S Kyle Dugger (ankle)
LB Christian Elliss (abdomen)
OL Mike Jordan (ankle)
T Vederian Lowe (ankle/shoulder)
QB Drake Maye (concussion)
DT Jaquelin Roy (neck)
LB Sione Takitaki (knee)

New Orleans Saints

CB Marshon Lattimore (hamstring)
G Shane Lemieux (knee)
CB Kool-Aid McKinstry (hamstring)
WR Bub Means (ankle)
RB Kendre Miller (hamstring)
CB Rico Payton (back)
DT John Ridgeway (oblique)
G Nick Saldiveri (shoulder)
LB Nephi Sewell (knee)
RB Jamaal Williams (groin)
WR Cedrick Wilson Jr. (hip)

New York Giants

WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton (Achilles)
P Jamie Gillan (left hamstring)
K Greg Joseph (abdomen)
LB Ty Summers (ankle)

Philadelphia Eagles

TE Dallas Goedert (hamstring)
CB Darius Slay (groin)

Seattle Seahawks

TE Noah Fant (groin)
LB Ernest Jones (neck)
OT Abraham Lucas (knee)
WR DK Metcalf (knee)
NT Cameron Young (knee)

Tennessee Titans

CB Tre Avery (hamstring)
WR Tyler Boyd (shoulder)
S Amani Hooker (groin)
QB Will Levis (right shoulder)
RB Tony Pollard (foot)
OT Dillon Radunz (foot)
OT Andrew Rupcich (triceps)
CB L’Jarius Sneed (quad)
RB Tyjae Spears (hamstring)
DT T’Vondre Sweat (hip)

Washington Commanders

OT Cornelius Lucas (ankle)
RB Brian Robinson Jr. (hamstring)

Of 16 games in Week 8, 10 were decided by eight points or less. Memorable finishes for Washington, Arizona, and New England made the Sunday slate more exciting than anticipated. Now, the ninth Sunday of the 2024 NFL season is here and just two teams have the week off: the Pittsburgh Steelers and San Francisco 49ers.

Sunday’s games are loaded with division and conference matchups: 12 of 13 games are of that nature, meaning this is a consequential week for playoff scenarios. Division foes Miami and Buffalo face off to highlight the early slate while NFC North contenders Green Bay and Detroit are one of the top matchups of the afternoon games.

NFL schedule today: Week 9

Dallas Cowboys (3-4) at Atlanta Falcons (5-3)
Denver Broncos (5-3) at Baltimore Ravens (5-3)
Miami Dolphins (2-5) at Buffalo Bills (6-2)
New Orleans Saints (2-6) at Carolina Panthers (1-7)
Las Vegas Raiders (2-6) at Cincinnati Bengals (3-5)
Los Angeles Chargers (4-3) at Cleveland Browns (2-6)
Washington Commanders (6-2) at New York Giants (2-6)
New England Patriots (2-6) at Tennessee Titans (1-6)
Chicago Bears (4-3) at Arizona Cardinals (4-4)
Jacksonville Jaguars (2-6) at Philadelphia Eagles (5-2)
Detroit Lions (6-1) at Green Bay Packers (6-2)
Los Angeles Rams (3-4) at Seattle Seahawks (4-4)
Indianapolis Colts (4-4) at Minnesota Vikings (5-2)

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

NFL Week 9: TV channels for every game

Dallas at Atlanta: FOX
Denver at Baltimore: CBS
Miami at Buffalo: CBS
New Orleans at Carolina: CBS
Las Vegas at Cincinnati: FOX
Los Angeles at Cleveland: CBS
Washington at New York: FOX
New England at Tennessee: FOX
Chicago at Arizona: CBS
Jacksonville at Philadelphia: CBS
Detroit at Green Bay: FOX
Los Angeles at Seattle: FOX
Indianapolis at Minnesota: NBC

Odds for every NFL game today

Odds from BetMGM NFL odds as of Saturday evening.

Looking to wager? Check out the best mobile sports betting apps offering NFL betting promos in 2024 including the ESPN BET app and Fanatics Sportsbook promo code.

Washington (-190) at New York (+155)

WAS (-3.5), O/U: 43.5

Dallas (+120) at Atlanta (-145)

ATL (-2.5), O/U: 52

Las Vegas (+310) at Cincinnati (-400)

CIN (-7.5), O/U: 46.5

Los Angeles (-130) at Cleveland (+110)

LAC (-2), O/U: 42.5

New England (+145) at Tennessee (-175)

TEN (-3.5), O/U: 38

New Orleans (-350) at Carolina (+260)

NOR (-7), O/U: 43.5

Denver (+375) at Baltimore (-500)

BAL (-9.5), O/U: 45.5

Miami (+225) at Buffalo (-275)

BUF (-6), O/U: 50

Jacksonville (+280) at Philadelphia (-350)

PHI (-7.5), O/U: 45.5

Chicago (-110) at Arizona (-110)

ARI (-1), O/U: 44.5

Detroit (-185) at Green Bay (+150)

DET (-3.5), O/U: 48.5

Los Angeles (-125) at Seattle (+105)

LAR (-1.5), O/U: 48.5

Indianaplis (+195) at Minnesota (-250)

MIN (-5.5), O/U: 46

NFL Week 9 game picks

Falcons vs. Cowboys 
Ravens vs. Broncos 
Bills vs. Dolphins 
Panthers vs. Saints 
Bengals vs. Raiders 
Browns vs. Chargers 
Giants vs. Commanders 
Titans vs. Patriots 
Cardinals vs. Bears 
Eagles vs. Jaguars 
Packers vs. Lions 
Seahawks vs. Rams
Vikings vs. Colts

How to stream NFL games today

FuboTV (all games)
Paramount+ (for all CBS games)
Peacock (for Sunday Night Football)

Top storylines for NFL Week 9 games

Detroit is 6-1 to start a season for the first time since 1956 in an NFC North that’s looking weaker than it did three weeks ago. If Packers quarterback Jordan Love is healthy, can Green Bay outplay the Lions? Coach Dan Campbell is 4-2 against Green Bay in his time in Detroit but lost the latest matchup last Thanksgiving.
Few would’ve expected Denver and Baltimore to meet in a game with AFC wild card implications six weeks ago. Baltimore needs to get back on track after a disappointing loss to Cleveland to keep up with Pittsburgh while Denver could build a one-game lead as the No. 5 seed in the AFC playoff picture.
Speaking of the AFC playoff picture, the Chargers face a Browns team fresh off its best win of the season. Los Angeles could overtake Denver with a win but will be put to the test against the healthiest Browns team we’ve seen all year.
The NFC West is the only division in the NFL without a team above 0.500. After an impressive showing on offense on ‘Thursday Night Football,’ the Los Angeles Rams could make it four teams at four wins with a win over Seattle. Or Arizona could spoil the party and stay in the lead with a win at home over Chicago.
Minnesota went from the top of the NFC to third in its own division following back-to-back losses. They could get reinforcements this week against Indianapolis with the T.J. Hockenson potentially back and new offensive tackle Cam Robinson. A win over Indianapolis to stop the slide is crucial.

What is the Sunday Night Football game?

‘Sunday Night Football’ in Week 9 features the Indianapolis Colts on the road against the Minnesota Vikings.

Sunday’s race at Martinsville Speedway will determine the last two drivers in the final four, setting the stage for the NASCAR Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway.

Two drivers have already locked up spots in the Championship 4. Joey Logano, a two-time Cup Series champion, won the opening race of the third round at Las Vegas Motor Speedway two weeks ago. Tyler Reddick, seeking his first Cup title, punched his ticket last weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

So, now it’s down to six drivers competing for two berths. If one of those six wins at Martinsville, he will lock up the third berth and the final spot will be decided by points. If none of the six are victorious on Sunday, both berths will be determined by points.

All six remaining contenders have tasted success at Martinsville. Denny Hamlin leads all active drivers with five wins at NASCAR’s smallest track. William Byron has won twice, while Christopher Bell, Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson have each taken the checkered flag once.

Who will celebrate on Sunday? Here’s all the information you need to get ready for the Xfinity 500:

What time does the NASCAR playoff race at Martinsville start?

The Xfinity 500 starts at 2 p.m. ET on Sunday at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Virginia.

What TV channel is the NASCAR playoff race at Martinsville on?

NBC is broadcasting the Xfinity 500 and has a pre-race show beginning at 1:30 p.m. ET.

Will there be a live stream of the NASCAR playoff race at Martinsville?

The Xfinity 500 can be live streamed on the NBC Sports website and the NBC Sports app. The race is also available to stream on Fubo, which is offering a free trial.

Watch NASCAR Cup Series races on Fubo

How many laps is the NASCAR playoff race at Martinsville?

The Xfinity 500 is 500 laps around the 0.526-mile oval for a total of 263 miles. The race will feature three segments (laps per stage) — Stage 1: 130 laps; Stage 2: 130 laps; Stage 3: 240 laps.

Who won the most recent NASCAR Cup races at Martinsville?

William Byron led 88 laps, including the final two in an overtime shootout, to lead a top-three sweep by Hendrick Motorsports on April 7, 2024. Kyle Larson came in second and Chase Elliott third.

And one year ago in the playoff race, Ryan Blaney led 145 laps, including the final 23, before holding off Aric Almirola by 0.899 seconds on Oct. 29, 2023 to clinch a berth in the Championship Race. He would win his first Cup Series title one week later.

What are the playoff standings heading into the NASCAR race at Martinsville?

Rank, driver, team, points, deficit to leader. Through eight races; x-clinched berth in championship race. Final two Championship 4 drivers will be determined at conclusion of Martinsville race.

Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing … 4,132
William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports … 4,110 (-22 points)
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports … 4,103 (-29)
x-Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing … 4,098 (-34)
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing … 4,092 (-40)
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske … 4,072 (-60)
x-Joey Logano, Team Penske … 4,070 (-62)
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports … 4,067 (-65)

What is the lineup for the Xfinity 500 NASCAR playoff race at Martinsville?

Car number in parentheses; (P)=playoff driver

1. (19) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota

2. (9) Chase Elliott (P), Chevrolet

3. (24) William Byron (P), Chevrolet

4. (14) Chase Briscoe, Ford

5. (54) Ty Gibbs, Toyota

6. (21) Harrison Burton, Ford

7. (48) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet

8. (41) Ryan Preece, Ford

9. (5) Kyle Larson (P), Chevrolet

10. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet

11. (4) Josh Berry, Ford

12. (22) Joey Logano (P), Ford

13. (38) Todd Gilliland, Ford

14. (12) Ryan Blaney (P), Ford

15. (31) Daniel Hemric, Chevrolet

16. (20) Christopher Bell (P), Toyota

17. (34) Michael McDowell, Ford

18. (6) Brad Keselowski, Ford

19. (23) Bubba Wallace, Toyota

20. (99) Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet

21. (43) Erik Jones, Toyota

22. (1) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet

23. (8) Kyle Busch, Chevrolet

24. (2) Austin Cindric, Ford

25. (10) Noah Gragson, Ford

26. (17) Chris Buescher, Ford

27. (77) Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet

28. (47) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet

29. (16) Shane Van Gisbergen, Chevrolet

30. (7) Justin Haley, Chevrolet

31. (45) Tyler Reddick (P), Toyota

32. (42) John Hunter Nemechek, Toyota

33. (15) Kaz Grala, Ford

34. (51) Corey LaJoie, Ford

35. (66) Josh Bilicki, Ford

36. (71) Zane Smith, Chevrolet

37. (11) Denny Hamlin (P), Toyota

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College Football Playoff season is nearly upon us, with the first round of rankings coming out Tuesday after this weekend’s games.

The CFP rankings lay the foundation for the season-ending tournament that crowns the best team in college football. And this season sees a new format, with the playoff bracket expanding from four to 12 teams. The final rankings and 12 playoff teams will be revealed on Dec. 8.

Highly-ranked unbeaten teams like Oregon and Miami will be somewhere in the CFP’s top 12, as will perennial powerhouses like Georgia, Ohio State, and Texas.

But who is favored to actually win the title? Here’s the latest championship odds for the 2024 College Football Playoff:

College Football Playoff championship odds

As of 12:30 a.m. ET Sunday, Nov. 3, here are the latest College Football Playoff title odds from BetMGM:

Ohio State +350
Georgia +400
Oregon +450
Texas +550
Miami +1100
Alabama +1800
Tennessee +1800
Penn State +2200
Notre Dame +3000
Ole Miss +3500
Indiana +3500
LSU +4000
Clemson +5000
Texas A&M +6600
SMU +6600

When are the College Football Playoff rankings released?

The first round of CFP rankings will be announced Tuesday at roughly 7 p.m. ET.

The College Football Playoff rankings will then be announced on each successive Tuesday through Dec. 3, followed by Selection Sunday on Dec. 8.

At least twice, Jake Paul has looked into a video camera and said 90,000 will be at AT&T Stadium to watch his fight with Mike Tyson on Nov. 15.

There appears to be no guarantee he’s right less than two weeks before the event.

With prices for the cheapest seats dropping to $30 this week, it’s unclear how many people will attend a heavyweight boxing match advertised as a mega event.

Tyson vs. Paul: Highest-grossing gate in Texas history

‘At this moment, the attendance would fill Dodger Stadium and would be the largest crowd ever to witness a Tyson fight,” Joann Mignano, the boxer’s publicist, told USA TODAY Sports by text Saturday.

The seating capacity for Dodger Stadium is 56,000.

The seating capacity of AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, is 80,000, said Tad Carper. He also said the capacity could increase to 90,000 with the sale of standing-room-only seats, said the senior Vice President for communications with the Cowboys.

Mignano said the Tyson-Paul fight already is the highest-grossing gate in the history of Texas combat sports, including UFC. She did not provide a figure, but the ‘live gate” for the fight between Alvarez and Saunders generated $9 million, according to Boxing Scene.

Tyson vs. Paul: Hundreds of tickets remain

Hundreds of tickets were listed on Seat Geek for $50 or less at the time this story was written.

Seat Geek, the official ticketer for the fight between Tyson and Paul, has declined to provide information about tickets sold. MVP did not respond to questions about ticket sales.

But Cameron Papp, who works in communications for Seat Geek, on Friday said the company isn’t sure if standing-room-only tickets will be released.

“Our partner (Cowboys/AT&T Stadium) will decide,’’ Papp said by email.

The Cowboys have referred questions regarding ticket sales to Most Valuable Promotions, co-founded by Paul.

Paul made the claims in videos taped Sept. 15 while he and Tyson made an appearance at AT&T Stadium before the Cowboys home opener against the New Orleans Saints. One of the videos specifically addressed ticket sales through Seat Geek.

Two ringside seats on Seat Geek are listed for $25,000, but it appears the most expensive tickets remain unsold. This week Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), co-founded by Paul, announced it had partnered with a company to sell a VIP package for $2 million.

MVP announced the VIP package’s availability in May and on Friday Darrell Rovell posted renderings on his verified X account.

On May 8, 2021, when boxing star Canelo Alvarez beat Billy Joe Saunders at AT&T Stadium, fight organizers reported an official attendance of 73,126 – an all-time record for an indoor U.S. boxing event.

According to the Guinness World Book of Records, 108,713 spectators attended the 2010 NBA All-Star Game at AT&T Stadium.

The New York Yankees have a $180 million decision on their hands after ace Gerrit Cole exercised his opt-out clause Saturday morning – and they have precious little time to make it.

The Yankees must inform Cole and agent Scott Boras by Sunday night, two persons with the direct knowledge of the contract told USA TODAY Sports, on whether they will give him a one-year extension to void the opt-out or allow him to immediately become an unrestricted free agent.

The persons on the condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly.

Cole has four years and $144 remaining on his original nine-year, $324 million contract, but he’s willing to walk away believing he would get more in the free-agent market.

If the Yankees give him the extra year, his contract turns into a 10-year, $360 million deal, the richest for a pitcher in baseball history.

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Cole, 34, certainly has been one of the best pitchers in baseball in his first five years of his contract, winning the Cy Young award in 2023, but he didn’t make his season debut this year until June 19 because of nerve inflammation in his elbow. He wound up making 17 starts in 2024, going 8-5 with a 3.41 ERA, striking out 99 batters in 95 innings.

He was exceptional in the postseason, yielding a 2.17 ERA in 29 innings with 22 strikeouts, and gave up just one earned run in 12 ⅓ innings in the World Series. He had a no-hitter until the fifth inning of Game 5 when the Yankees made two errors – as well as a mental error by Cole failing to cover first base on a ground ball – leading to five unearned runs and a New York loss.

The Yankees could save the money owed Cole and instead choose younger starters on the free-agent market, but Corbin Burnes and Blake Snell also are represented by Boras, which makes it difficult to pass on Cole. Other starters on the market include Max Fried, Yusei Kikuchi, Jack Flaherty, Sean Manaea, Luis Severino and Nick Pivetta.

The Yankees, who must still decide on how much they’re willing to pay in their pursuit of free agent outfielder Juan Soto, are expected to provide the extra year to Cole, taking him through the 2029 season when he will turn 40 years old. Yet, a Yankee official cautioned that no decision has been made.

Elsewhere on Saturday, the Yankees officially declined first baseman Anthony Rizzo’s $17 million option for 2025, activating a $6 million buyout and picked up the 2025 option on reliever Luke Weaver, an easy decision after the right-hander’s stellar postseason.

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Penn State ran into an Ohio State wall. The Buckeyes weren’t flawless, but their defense delivered, while Ryan Day continued to own James Franklin.
Two Penn State trips inside 5-yard line produce no points.
Ryan Day now 6-0 against James Franklin.

Three yards that would begin to turn James Franklin’s history of failures against Ohio State on its head.

It gained two yards, in one of the more uninspiring sequences of offense you’ll ever see.

Penn State ran into a wall three times before Drew Allar fired a fourth-down incompletion, as a critical fourth-quarter red zone trip produced no points.

Franklin and his Nittany Lions continue to live under Ohio State’s fist, while OSU’s defense refused to let the Buckeyes slip to the wrong side of the College Football Playoff bubble.

The 12-team playof does not demand flawlessness, and how fortunate for Ohio State, because this performance fell short of perfection.

Instead, this postseason format will reward teams that endure often enough.

No. 4 Ohio State did exactly that Saturday at No. 3 Penn State.

The Buckeyes survived, playoff credentials bolstered, after a 20-13 victory.

Ohio State survived, courtesy of the Big Ten’s best defense that stopped Penn State from scoring an offensive touchdown despite two trips that penetrated the 5-yard line.

“To stand in there and get that stand like that, it shows the grit and toughness of this team,’ Buckeyes coach Ryan Day told FOX after the game.

The Buckeyes survived an early 10-point deficit, and they survived two turnovers, and they persisted in front of a crowd of 111,030 that had hoped against history that Franklin would finally solve his Ohio State problem.

Nope. More of the same from Franklin and Penn State.

A smile painted Day’s face after time expired, a happy guy in a mostly downturn Happy Valley, after the Buckeyes (7-1) soured another big moment for Penn State.

Now, the Nittany Lions (7-1) are left trying to protect a playoff bubble that’s closer to popping than Ohio State’s.

Ryan Day continues Ohio State’s mastery of James Franklin

Hold off on those Day hot takes, because the Buckeyes coach just won a big one, while Franklin wilted, as he always does, upon sight of those silver helmets covered in buckeye stickers.

You’ve heard the ceaseless refrain that Day struggles in big games, but that chorus ignores that Day owns Franklin. Day improved to 6-0 against the Nittany Lions. He’s so consistently mastered Franklin that we mostly forget to count Penn State as a big game for OSU.

For all the buzz about first-year Penn State offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki and Allar, meager production derailed the Nittany Lions in yet another loss to OSU. Franklin now has won just once in 11 matchups in the series.

Penn State’s offensive success stemmed from check-down passes, Allar scrambles or tight-end runs. That’s no recipe for points, especially considering Penn State ignored its best player, tight end Tyler Warren, in the red zone.

Ohio State’s Davison Igbinosun robbed Penn State of one opportunity for an offensive touchdown with one of the most remarkable interceptions you’ll ever see. Penn State’s Harrison Wallace III shoved a hand into Igbinosun’s face mask while gaining a smidge of separation in the end zone. But, Allar’s pass ricocheted off Wallace’s fingers and caromed into Igbinosun’s chest. He secured possession with a foot in bounds for an incredible takeaway that left Penn State fans shaking their heads in disbelief.

You better believe OSU’s defense doesn’t break easily. On this day, it never broke, period.

Also credit the Buckeyes’ patchwork offensive line, remade and reconfigured after multiple injuries, for allowing OSU to generate just enough of a punch.

Ohio State musters just enough offense, survives Will Howard’s turnovers

Chip Kelly does his best work when wearing an ‘O’ on his ball cap. Once a revolutionary mind as Oregon’s coach, Ohio State’s offensive coordinator schemed up some handsome crossing routes, wheel routes and swing routes that put playmakers in space.

And Will Howard did a nice enough job finding them and moving the chains – when he wasn’t handing away points.

The Buckeyes quarterback gave away 14 points. His pick-six on OSU’s first possession spotted Penn State its only touchdown. Later, Penn State’s Zakee Wheatley stripped the ball from Howard’s grip as he raced toward the goal line, turning a would-be touchdown into a turnover.

The Buckeyes didn’t make this easy on themselves, but their defense proved it’s built for tense moments – and for the playoff.

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @btoppmeyer. Subscribe to read all of his columns.

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami may be the favorites to win MLS Cup this season. But they now find themselves on the brink of elimination from the postseason.

Xande Silva scored the game-winning goal in extra time (90’+4’), and Atlanta United beat Inter Miami 2-1 on Saturday night to force a winner-take-all Game 3 in their best-of-three, first-round series in the MLS Cup Playoffs.

Game 3 will be played at Inter Miami’s Chase Stadium on Nov. 9 (8 p.m. ET).

Messi, the Argentine World Cup champion and eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, remains scoreless through the first two MLS postseason matches of his career.

‘We have the advantage that there is a lot of hierarchy in the team with players who have been through much more difficult situations than this one,” Inter Miami coach Tata Martino said.

Inter Miami was less than two minutes away from a penalty shootout, where their stars like Messi, Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba would have had a chance to put the series away and advance to the second round of the playoffs.

Silva entered the match as a substitute in the 89th minute, and his goal ended a mostly deadlocked second half after Derrick Williams scored the equalizer with a header in the 58th minute.

“The way it goes down is just wild. I guess that’s our story this year. We make things interesting, don’t we?” interim Atlanta United coach Rob Valentino said of Silva’s score, which extended their season.

Before Game 1 of the series, Atlanta played three matches in a span of six days – beating Orlando on the road in the season finale to reach the postseason, then playing at Montreal in the Eastern Conference wild-card match.

Now, Atlanta United has a chance as the No. 9 seed to upset No. 1 Inter Miami and spoil a historic season.

“Words can’t describe it. … They’re so resilient. They just don’t go away,” Valentino said in a postgame interview on Apple TV.

Defender David Martinez scored for Inter Miami in the 40th minute during a quirky sequence, where Atlanta goalie Brad Guzan turned the ball over in an attempt to make a clearance.

Guzan’s left leg appeared to hit the turf as he winded up for a kick to clear a possession while next to Inter Miami midfielder Federico Redondo.

It did not appear Redondo contacted Guzan during the sequence. But he gained possession and found Martinez, who floated his first career goal above a defender into an empty net.

Messi picked and chose his spots in the match, sending passes into the penalty area from near midfield, finding teammates like Alba and Diego Gomez for possessions near the net — but to no avail.

Messi missed all four of his shots during the match, including one outside the left post in the first half, and outside the right post in the second half. He found the back of the net with a header, but was offsides just a minute before Silva’s game-winner.

Inter Miami chose to insert goal scorers Leo Campana and Matias Rojas in the 84th minute, favoring offense over defense. Midfielder Gomez and defender Noah Allen were the players subbed out for the pair.

Inter Miami was already without legendary midfielder Sergio Busquets, who suffered an injury in Game 1 and was sick with pneumonia this week, Martino said. Midfielder Yannick Bright also left the game with a hamstring injury, being replaced at halftime by Benjamin Cremaschi.

“We did a lot to deserve to win the match, but in the last few minutes we decided to go for it with four attackers,” Martino said of his substitutions.

Atlanta United’s leading scorer, Saba Lobjanidze, had a prime opportunity to break the tie, but his shot was tipped by Inter Miami goalie Drake Callender and hit the cross bar in the 90th minute.

While Inter Miami won Game 1 of the series, Atlanta United has a draw and two victories against the MLS Supporters’ Shield champions and owners of the MLS record for points in a season (74).

The winner of the first-round series between No. 1-seed Inter Miami and No. 9-seed Atlanta will face the winner between No. 4 Orlando City and No. 5 Charlotte. Orlando City will host Game 3 on Nov. 9, after Charlotte rebounded from a Game 1 loss to win a penalty shootout on Friday night.

Inter Miami vs. Atlanta United highlights

Xande Silva goal: Atlanta United 2, Inter Miami 1

This series is seconds away from a Game 3, thanks to an extra time goal by Xande Silva to help Atlanta United take a 2-1 lead in the final minutes.

Drake Callender save in the 90th minute: Inter Miami 1, Atlanta United 1

Atlanta United’s leading scorer Saba Lobjanidze had a prime opportunity, but his shot was tipped by Inter Miami goalie Drake Callender and hit the post

Messi misses chance to score goal: Inter Miami 1, Atlanta United 1

Messi is left wondering about this missed opportunity, soaring a left boot into the stands in the 83rd minute. Inter Miami has dominated possession, with Messi orchestrating the offense. But the club has been unable to find a soft spot in Atlanta’s defense.

Messi, Suarez miss shots in 70th minute: Inter Miami 1, Atlanta United 1

Messi missed a shot just outside of the right post off a corner kick by Luis Suarez, following a busy sequence.

Before the shot, Messi sent a pass into the box and Diego Gomez passed it to Luis Suarez, but his shot was blocked by Atlanta goalie Brad Guzan in the 69th minute.

Atlanta’s Ajani Fortune misses putback: Inter Miami 1, Atlanta United 1

Atlanta’s Ajani Fortune missed a golden opportunity to help his side take a 2-1 lead, missing a putback shot with Inter Miami goalie Drake Callender unable to regain his footing following a contest in the 62nd minute.

Derrick Williams scores goal: Inter Miami 1, Atlanta United 1

Atlanta United is on the board thanks to a header by defender Derrick Williams in the 58th minute. Williams may have missed a header earlier in the match, but he didn’t miss this one. He scored past Inter Miami goalie Drake Callender, and this match is tied at 1.

David Martinez goal: Inter Miami 1, Atlanta United 0

A chaotic sequence leads to a 1-0 lead for Inter Miami. Atlanta United goalie Brad Guzan tried to clear the ball, but was tripped up and lost possession. The ball was stolen by Inter Miami’s Federico Redondo, and defender David Martinez scored a floater into an empty net in the 40th minute.

Aleksei Miranchuk misses shot in 28′: Inter Miami 0, Atlanta United 0

Atlanta’s Aleksei Miranchuk fired off a left boot, which was saved by Inter Miami goalie Drake Callender in the 28th minute.

Derrick Williams misses header in 25′: Inter Miami 0, Atlanta United 0

Atlanta’s Derrick Williams nearly put his side on the board, but was unable to find the back of the net with his header.

Lionel Messi misses shot near net: Inter Miami 0, Atlanta United 0

Messi charges forward, passes to his left to Diego Gomez, and got the ball back. But Messi’s shot was just outside the left side of the net in the 22nd minute.

Messi and Atlanta goalie Brad Guzan, who kept him scoreless in Game 1, shared a lighthearted embrace following the sequence.

Luis Suarez misses shot in third minute: Inter Miami 0, Atlanta United 0

Luis Suarez, who scored two minutes into Game 1, missed an early shot in the third minute of the match. Suarez’s shot soared over Atlanta goalie Brad Guzan and the net, but worth noting the early opportunity.

Inter Miami also had an opportunity with Jordi Alba unable to receive a pass from Chelo Weigandt a minute earlier.

How to watch Atlanta vs. Inter Miami free live stream

The match is available on Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass.

Is Messi playing tonight?

Yes, Messi is in the starting lineup for Inter Miami’s game in Atlanta.

Inter Miami and Atlanta United starting lineups

Messi is in the starting lineup, while midfielder/center back Sergio Busquets (illness) is not on the gameday roster for Inter Miami. Here are the starting lineups for both clubs:

Atlanta vs. Inter Miami betting odds

Moneyline: Inter Miami (-110); Atlanta (+230); Tie after regulation (+300)
Over/under: 3.5 goals
Betting odds provided by BETMGM.

Inter Miami players to watch

Messi and Luis Suarez led Inter Miami with 20 goals each during the 2024 MLS season, becoming the first pair of teammates to accomplish the feat. Suarez scored in the second minute against Atlanta in Game 1, while Messi is still looking for his first goal in the MLS playoffs.

Atlanta United players to watch

Top goal scorer Saba Lobjanidze has scored four goals in three matches against Inter Miami this season, including the equalizer in Game 1. Also, keep an eye on goalie Brad Guzan, who had eight saves and kept Messi at bay in Game 1.

If Atlanta United wins tonight

Atlanta would force Game 3 in the first-round series to be played at Inter Miami’s Chase Stadium on Nov. 9.

If Inter Miami wins tonight

Inter Miami would advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals, awaiting the winner between No. 4 Orlando City and No. 5 Charlotte.

MLS Cup Playoff Picture

The second leg of the first round continues with three matches on Saturday, and another tripleheader Sunday.

L.A. Galaxy, the No. 2 seed in the West, became the first team to advance to the semifinals Friday night, beating No. 7 seed Colorado 4-1 to win their first-round series. Meanwhile, Charlotte forced Game 3 with a penalty shootout victory at home against No. 4 Orlando City.

The third game for each first-round series, if necessary, will be played Nov. 8-10.

MLS Cup Playoff games on Saturday

New York City vs. FC Cincinnati, 5 p.m. ET (Cincinnati leads 1-0)
Atlanta United vs. Inter Miami, 7 p.m. ET (Inter Miami leads 1-0)
Minnesota vs. Real Salt Lake, 9 p.m. ET (Minnesota leads 1-0)

MLS Cup Playoff games on Sunday

New York Red Bulls vs. Columbus Crew, 4:30 p.m. ET (New York leads 1-0)
Houston Dynamo vs. Seattle Sounders, 6:30 p.m. ET (Seattle leads 1-0)
Vancouver vs. LAFC, 8:45 p.m. ET (LAFC leads 1-0)

When is the MLS Cup Playoff Semifinals?

The conference semifinals will be Nov. 23-24 after a FIFA international window.

When is the MLS Cup Playoff Conference Finals?

The Eastern and Western Conference Finals will be played Nov. 30-Dec. 1.

When is the MLS Cup final?

The MLS Cup final will be played on Dec. 7.