Michael Jordan knows a thing or two about winning championships after winning six NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls. Now, the 23XI-Racing co-owner has a shot to add a NASCAR Cup Series championship to his legacy.

On Sunday, at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Jordan watched as his 23XI Racing driver Tyler Reddick used a spectacular last-lap pass to win the playoff race and secure a berth in the Championship 4. Reddick beat reigning series champion Ryan Blaney and Denny Hamlin, who also co-owns the 23XI Racing team, but drives for Joe Gibbs Racing.

“Oh, man, he just let go. He just went for it and I’m glad,” Jordan said. “We needed it. We needed it.”

Reddick’s team had taken a different pit strategy approach in the final stage of Sunday’s race, believing it was their only chance to win. They kept Reddick’s Toyota on the race track long after every other car pitted under green for fuel and fresh tires only bringing him down pit road when his tank was nearly empty. That dropped Reddick well out of the Top 10 as the race wound down, but then the team caught a break.

Kyle Larson, running second to Blaney, spun on Lap 255 of 267 bringing out the final caution. With Reddick having just changed tires a few laps earlier, he was able to stay out on the racetrack while everyone else came back down pit road. And suddenly, Reddick and 23XI Racing were back in the game.

NASCAR AT HOMESTEAD: Full results from Sunday’s playoff race

Reddick lost the lead on the restart to Hamlin on the restart, and a few laps later Blaney took the lead from Hamlin, until Reddick chased both drivers down to pass first Hamlin and then Blaney to take the checkered flag.

“Little kid drove his ass off,” Jordan said of Reddick. “I’m proud of him.”

Reddick joins Team Penske driver Joey Logano in the NASCAR Championship Race in two weeks at Phoenix Raceway. The remaining two berths will be decided next Sunday at Martinsville Speedway.

The New England Patriots ended their six-game losing streak with a 25-22 win over the New York Jets on Sunday. After extending their AFC East rival’s skid to five games, one Patriots player had a pointed assessment of Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

In assessing the four-time NFL MVP’s current capabilities, Patriots defensive tackle Davon Godchaux said Rodgers is ‘struggling right now’ and doesn’t ‘look the same’ as he did in previous years.

‘You just don’t know if he could move back there,’ Godchaux told reporters, according to the Boston Herald. ‘(Expletive), I can run him down and catch him. He don’t look mobile at all.

‘So it was good for us. We know we can get after him and attack him in the passing game too. So, you know, glad to come out here with the win.”

Rodgers, who took one sack, finished the game with 233 yards and two touchdowns on 17-of-28 passing. He has not had a rushing attempt in his last four games.

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‘I’ve been in the darkness. You gotta go in there, make peace with it,’ Rodgers said in a postgame news conference when asked if dropping to 2-6 was a moment of darkness for the team. ‘Offensively, our goal has just gotta be score 30 (points). Doesn’t matter what the other two sides are doing, you know, we have trust in our defense and (special) teams. But if we’re not scoring 30, we’re underachieving. This offense can do that every single week.’

The Jets will face a quick turnaround with a home game against the AFC South-leading Houston Texans (6-2) on Halloween.

Each week after Saturday’s games, Matt Hayes predicts the College Football Playoff 12-team bracket. Here’s his list after Week 9:

College Football Playoff bracket projection

1. Georgia: Until someone not-named Alabama can figure out this beast, no one is beating the Bulldogs

2. Oregon: Ducks are beginning to flex on defense, giving up nine combined points in the last two weeks to Purdue and Illinois.

3. Miami: A comically easy schedule isn’t much better in November (Duke, at Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, at Syracuse).

4. Brigham Young: The Cougars keep knocking out wins, and the schedule looks more manageable by the week.

5. Ohio State: This spot, more than likely, will be the third-best team in college football at the end of the season. Translation: the best non-champion of the SEC and Big Ten.

6. Texas: A difficult natural letdown game, and a gutty fourth-quarter win. A bye week before Florida comes to Austin Nov. 9.

7. Penn State: There’s plenty to like about a stout defense, but can the Lions get enough offense to beat Ohio State — no matter who plays quarterback?

8. Tennessee: Once QB Nico Iamaleava starts connecting on deep throws in conference games, the Vols become a legit threat to reach the CFP semifinals.

9. Texas A&M: We’re now officially into the month of November games — and the Aggies are alone (by record) at the top of the SEC.

10. Notre Dame: The easiest month of November this side of Miami. If Irish don’t advance to the playoff, it will be a colossal failure.

11. Indiana: Time to start winning games of significance on the road. It begins this week at Michigan State, a team talented enough to end the Hoosiers’ unbeaten season.

12. Boise State: Tough win late Friday night at UNLV means Mountain West championship game will be played at Boise State — unless the Broncos are upset over the final month of the season.

CFP first-round games

(12) Boise State at (5) Ohio State

(11) Indiana at (6) Texas

(10) Notre Dame at (7) Penn State

(9) Texas A&M at (8) Tennessee

Quarterfinals

Sugar Bowl: (1) Georgia vs. Tennessee/Texas A&M winner

Rose Bowl: (2) Oregon vs. Notre Dame/Penn State winner

Peach Bowl: (3) Miami vs. Indiana/Texas winner

Fiesta Bowl: (4) BYU vs. Ohio State/Boise State winner

Matt Hayes is the senior national college football writer for USA TODAY Sports Network. Follow him on X at @MattHayesCFB.

The U.S. women’s national team once again defeated Iceland 3-1, but the path to that result on Sunday in Nashville was much different than Thursday’s victory.

While this match functioned as a celebration of captain-for-the-day Mallory Swanson’s 100th cap (a milestone she surpassed at the Olympic gold medal match), the star of the day may well have been someone collecting their first.

Emma Sears, the Racing Louisville rookie, marked her USWNT debut in style, setting up Lynn Williams for a 72nd-minute equalizer and powering home the game’s final goal in stoppage time. Williams joined Sears with a one goal/one assist line on the day after setting Lindsey Horan up for the eventual match-winner as the U.S. struck three times in the final 18 minutes.

A well-drilled Iceland side took the lead at Geodis Park — the first opposing team to do so since Emma Hayes took charge — and got to the hour mark having conceded relatively few good looks while offering more than simply a parked bus for the USWNT to solve. Unlike Thursday’s meeting, where the U.S. always seemed on course to claim a win and simply had to wait for some late goals, the chances weren’t necessarily there in Tennessee.

Hayes wanted a test, and the 13th-ranked team in the world certainly provided it. Here are the three main takeaways from this second victory over Iceland:

Growing pressure in goal?

The USWNT had more of the game’s early attacking moves, but an unusual moment would see the team trail under Hayes for the first time.

A 31st-minute Karólína Lea Vilhjálmsdóttir corner ended up going straight in at the back post, evading both goalkeeper Casey Murphy’s attempt to catch it and a last-second lunge from Emily Sams to save the ball on the line.

Take nothing from Vilhjálmsdóttir, who put the ball into a very dangerous place and reaped the rewards, but it’s not exactly the finest hour for Murphy. The early-evening sun in Nashville had set enough that this wasn’t a glare issue, nor did Iceland put a body on the North Carolina Courage No. 1 to distract her from the flight of the ball. Murphy misread the ball’s trajectory as a cross, overcommitting with a big step that left her unable to recover.

Generally speaking, Murphy has played her very best soccer as a pro with the USWNT, where she consistently exceeded some uneven performances in 2022 and 2023 with the Courage. This mistake, in her second appearance since Hayes’ arrival, is not the best way to ensure more of a place in the mix.

While Alyssa Naeher’s grasp on the starting job seems very strong, coaching changes generally come with an examination of the depth chart at all spots. Murphy’s competition may have been reduced in this camp after Jane Campbell was released due to a knock, with her replacement in camp Mandy Haught not in uniform. Haught is in camp for good reason, having gotten onto the radar with consistently good performances with NJ/NY Gotham FC in 2023, and this year in a tougher situation with the Utah Royals.

Haught currently leads all NWSL goalkeepers in American Soccer Analysis’ Goals Added metric (a measure of overall contributions to team success) and in post-shot expected goals minus goals allowed (PSxG+/-), which essentially measures a goalkeeper’s shot-stopping and/or luck. Both are not perfect measures, but being top of the table in both categories indicates a player who is in better NWSL form than Murphy (who is sixth in the league in both categories).

This may be the biggest error of Murphy’s USWNT career up to this point, and one she probably won’t repeat. However, with younger players providing compelling competition (not to mention Campbell, Aubrey Kingsbury, and other options in the USWNT pool), it’s a moment that may have invited more scrutiny from the coaching staff.

Plan A won’t be Hayes’ only plan

The USWNT had not trailed under Hayes until Sunday, which meant few looks at what this team would do when it’s time to really push for an equalizer.

While halftime’s triple sub didn’t come with a system change, Mallory Swanson took up a role as a No. 10, something she had begun doing in stretches of the first half (with Olivia Moultrie moving wide, particularly out of possession). The real shift came in the 66th minute, when Sophia Smith replaced Casey Krueger.

Out went a 4-3-3 that would shift into a 4-4-2 without the ball, and in came a hyper-aggressive 3-5-2. This is how the USWNT set up for the game’s final 24-plus minutes:

Are Sears and forward Alyssa Thompson going to spend a lot of time working as wingbacks going forward? No. But it did make for a steamroller of a lineup, with legit track-runner speed on both flanks pushing up high. Hayes took a big chance on an all-Emily back three, with Sams and Emily Fox having to spread wide and cover lots of ground while Emily Sonnett was left isolated against one of Europe’s best young strikers, Sveindís Jónsdóttir.

However, the gamble paid off, as Iceland’s relative comfort level disappeared in the face of a wave of white shirts. With the wingbacks really functioning as wingers — you could argue this set-up was 3-3-4 at times — and both Swanson and Lindsey Horan expertly upping the USWNT’s tempo in possession, Iceland struggled to disrupt the game. When the U.S. lost possession, Iceland was suddenly unable to find the exit, leaving the final 15 minutes of the match feeling like an offense vs. defense drill.

Once Lynn Williams bagged the equalizer, only one team was ever going to claim a win here.

Does the USWNT need to look at this formation as a full-time solution? Probably not. From the start of a match, less tired foes will find the exit in possession, and that means more potential one-on-ones on the counter than Iceland could provide. The U.S. doesn’t have to roll the dice to this extent to beat most opponents.

But games aren’t just won and lost by Plan A, and Hayes knows that as well as any coach on the planet. The language shift from ‘substitutes’ to ‘game-changers’ isn’t her original innovation, but it feels like it means more now than it has in the past. The USWNT isn’t just going to try Plan A with different players, or with more energy; Hayes will change the formation with purpose, particularly if it gets this many weapons on the field at once.

‘I’ve got to say for today, learning to come from behind, having the belief to do that, and having the depth to do that,’ were positives cited by Hayes in her post-match press conference. ‘When you play against top teams, you might have 60 minutes where it’s really, really cagey, but when you go to your bench, you bring players in, you want to be able to take that up a notch.’

One notch might not fully underline just how drastic the formation change and the performance level jump was in Nashville. It’s not going to happen every time, but it’s important to show that this team has solutions that opponents might not be able to predict.

Sears announces herself as USWNT option

If you could add one thing to the USWNT pool to address a team need, another wide forward might be low on your list of priorities. The logic is simple: the U.S. has so many excellent players in those positions that you can probably use this hypothetical gift on some other area.

However, this country keeps producing players who are ready to threaten goal from wide left or wide right at an elite level, and Louisville winger Sears is the latest player to show up as an option. The NWSL rookie got a clever assist on Williams’ equalizer, and then was clinical in making sure this match ended with an exclamation point in stoppage time.

‘I think it’s honestly hard to find the words right now,’ Sears told TNT after the match. ‘It’s super surreal, not only being surrounded by such amazing people, but also players I’ve looked up to for so many years.’

In her 35-minute debut, Sears put up one goal and one assist, misplaced just one pass attempt, got back to provide a clearance, and used the mere threat of her speed to force Iceland’s left-sided players to make purely defensive, reactive decisions. As surreal as she feels her debut was, there’s also something extremely unusual about how this team just keeps adding wide players capable of this kind of impact.

‘I think Emma Sears was direct in what she was doing,’ Hayes told reporters after the win. ‘What I liked about [Sears] was [her] intention. She’d turn, she’d face up, she’d go forward, play forward. Her first touch on the ball, she got us into the corner and got something out of it. I liked her intention, her positivity.’

No one’s about to break up the Triple Espresso front line, though it is notable that Hayes has shifted a longtime USWNT winger (Williams) into more or less a full-time No. 9 role. But the veteran starts wide with Gotham, and Jaedyn Shaw isn’t always going to end up as a center forward (as she did on Sunday) or as a No. 10. Thompson has shown in the back half of this season that she’s very much in the mix, Rose Lavelle could be moved up to play as a forward of sorts, and Ashley Sanchez could as well.

But amid all of that, Sears offers something that this group only gets from Trinity Rodman: a player most effective out on the touchline, running at defenders in isolation. Both can torch markers in space, both have moves to beat a defender on the dribble, and both are a physical mismatch if you try to body up.

On a team that will face deep-lying teams on a regular basis, there is often talk about players who can find pockets and use their close control to pick the lock, so to speak. For those players to thrive, you need to stretch teams elsewhere (vertically or across the width of the field), and that’s the kind of role Sears is built for. Don’t be surprised if she’s used this camp to earn herself more looks going forward.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa felt pressure in the pocket, galloped diagonally toward his left side, and likely felt the collective angst building in the stadium with every step he took.

Tagovailoa tucked the football into his right hand and got his rear on the ground to slide. He rose to his feet and pointed toward the end zone to celebrate the first down. The crowd inside Hard Rock Stadium, already on their feet as Tagovailoa hit his stride, serenaded him by chanting his name.

“Tua! Tua! Tua!”

There hasn’t been a lot to celebrate this Dolphins season – especially when something as simple as Tagovailoa sliding after a 13-yard run gets the loudest ovation of the day. His return from his Sept. 12 concussion was spoiled as Kyler Murray rallied the Arizona Cardinals to a 28-27 win over Miami on Sunday.

But his sliding run was a moment to reaffirm the young quarterback’s decision to continue his playing career despite being the NFL’s face for concussions.

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“I thought that was super cool,” Tagovailoa said with a smile.

Added left tackle Terron Armstead: “This team and this city, we’ve been through some adversity for sure. So, it was a good moment just for Tua to be fearless.”

The adversity has hit the Dolphins again, falling to 2-5 after falling at home to Arizona. Murray threw two touchdowns in the game, led two touchdown drives in the second half and set up kicker Chad Ryland’s 34-yard, game-winning field goal in the victory.

Tagovailoa was able to complete a touchdown pass to running back De’Von Achane two plays after his run. The Dolphins went ahead 27-18 after running back Raheem Mostert’s second touchdown run in the game with 12:22 left.

But the decisive moment of the game was a bad snap by center Aaron Brewer that was a fastball for Tagovailoa to catch in the third quarter. The ball drifted into the end zone where Tagovailoa dove to hit it out of bounds. The play resulted in a safety, and killed Miami’s momentum.

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel successfully challenged a first down catch by tight end Jonnu Smith with 6:51 left in the game, but Tagovailoa and the offense gained one yard on the next three plays and never saw the field again.

“It feels good, but [it’s] a tough loss against a really good team, so that diminishes not just what I’ve done, but a lot of what other guys have done individually as well,” Tagovailoa said after the game.

The Dolphins scored their season-high in points, thanks to three touchdown drives led by Tagovailoa in his return from a four-game absence after his latest concussion – the third documented concussion since 2022.

The Dolphins’ pre-snap motions led to creative plays instead of penalties by the offensive line and poor field position.

They were also proficient on third down, competing 11 of 15 opportunities on the day after entering with the sixth-worst conversion rate in the league.

It was the offense McDaniel envisioned Tagovailoa leading – outside of the miscues that plagued the day.

The Dolphins lost their second game in as many weeks where they led by at least 10 points. And the bad news is next week, they face the Buffalo Bills – who have won 12 of 14 games against Miami since Josh Allen entered the league.

“It’s the same thing over and over,” Tagovailoa said of Buffalo. “You’ve got to beat them.”

Tagovailoa was 28 of 38 for 234 yards on the day. His connection with Tyreek Hill was back, although Hill finished with just six catches for 72 yards. Jaylen Waddle finished with four catches for 45 yards. Achane led Miami with 147 yards total on the day.

More important, Tagovailoa was virtually unscathed. He was “sacked” just once, on his second play, but it was a tipped ball recovered by his offense. He was officially hit three times by the Cardinals in the game.

Tagovailoa’s long run was the only moment where all parties involved held their breath to see the outcome.

And it was a moment where Tagovailoa showed he willingly altered his game so he could keep himself healthy, effective, and out of harm’s way.

“It’s a big moment. The crowd definitely reacted to it, and he showed the growth in his game,” Waddle told USA TODAY Sports.

“I think it’s just continuing to practice that in practice,” Tagovailoa said, “kind of having a different mindset when running the ball or when I’m trying to escape the pocket and there’s nothing there, not trying to be a hero.”

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Week 9 in college football featured plenty of intrigue but few actual upsets. As a result, there aren’t many changes near the upper echelon of the US LBM Coaches Poll, with the top six teams remaining the same.

Oregon continues to hold the No. 1 ranking. The Ducks claimed all but one of 54 first-place votes cast this week after a convincing win against Illinois. Georgia, which had the week off, stays at No. 2 receiving the remaining first-place nod. Penn State and Ohio State, set to square off next week, hold down the next two spots. No. 5 Miami (Fla.) and No. 6 Texas also maintain their positions after victories.

The changes begin at No. 7, where LSU was the highest-ranked team to take a defeat. The Tigers tumble to No. 16 after their loss to Texas A&M, which is up to No. 11 this week. Tennessee and Clemson each improve on spot to No. 7 and 8, respectively. Notre Dame, thanks to a convincing triumph against then-No. 24 Navy, vaults to No. 9 ahead of No. 10 Iowa State.

TOP 25: Complete US LBM Coaches Poll after Week 9

HIGHS AND LOWS: Winners and losers from Week 9 in college football

Illinois stays in the poll at No. 24 despite the loss at Oregon. Navy wasn’t as fortunate, falling from the rankings along with Vanderbilt.

Washington State moves in for the first time this season at No. 22, and Memphis rejoins the poll, edging Colorado for the No. 25 spot by a single poll point.

Week 8 of the 2024 NFL season is nearly complete, and it’s time to start looking ahead to Week 9 and evaluating what you need to win your fantasy football matchup next week.

Whether your team is still undefeated or you’re floating around the second half of the standings, there’s plenty of depth available to help you make a strong push toward the finish line. Your next quarterback, running back and pass catcher can be found on the waiver wire to fill the gaps needed on your roster this week.

Here are eight players that might be available on the waiver wire this week.

Waiver Wire Targets Week 9:

*All roster numbers are via Yahoo Sports

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RB Dalvin Cook, Dallas Cowboys

(Rostered in 20% of leagues)

Dalvin Cook was elevated from the Cowboys’ practice squad following a bye week for the game against the San Franciso 49ers in Week 8. He was signed in late August and may still be available in your league. Cook could make an impact in a backfield that’s seen running backs Rico Dowdle and Ezekiel Elliott combine for 97 carries for 361 yards and just one touchdown in six games.

During his six-year tenure with the Minnesota Vikings, Cook was a primary workhorse running back. He’s been eager to get back on the field following a disappointing 2023 season that saw him go without a touchdown for the first time in his career.

Elliott was also available in 75% of leagues in Week 8.

WR Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks

(Rostered in 68% of leagues)

Lockett hasn’t set the world on fire this season but could see more opportunities going forward depending on the status of wide receiver DK Metcalf, who was inactive for the Seahawks’ Week 8 game due to a knee injury. Lockett had primarily been featured in three-receiver sets in Seattle’s pass-heavy offense.

Oddly enough, some of Lockett’s most productive games this season have come against defenses that have given up the fewest points to receivers. That logic will be put to the test in Week 8 against the Los Angeles Rams, who have given up the 15th fewest fantasy points to the position.

WR Cedric Tillman, Cleveland Browns

(Rostered in 19% of leagues)

Tillman continues to improve his stock this week following the Cleveland Browns’ 29-24 victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.

He finished the game with seven receptions for 99 yards and caught two of quarterback Jameis Winston’s three touchdown passes. Tillman has been targeted 21 times through the last two games since the Browns traded Amari Cooper. Tillman was second on the team, behind Elijah Moore, with nine targets on Sunday.

Tillman’s latest performance followed up his Week 7 effort against the Cincinnati Bengals, where he had eight receptions for 81 yards. He also caught the 2-point conversion attempt.

WR Jalen McMillan, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

(Rostered in 50% of leagues)

If you need depth at receiver and Tillman and Lockett aren’t available in your league, Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Jalen McMillan might be an option to consider.

McMillan had to take on a bigger role in Sunday’s loss to the Atlanta Falcons with both Mike Evans and Chris Godwin out of action. Quarterback Baker Mayfield told reporters that offensive coordinator Liam Coen did a good job getting the offense ready to play without the pair of receivers.

McMillan caught just four of his seven targets for 35 yards in the loss. Sure, it wasn’t impressive, but maybe another week of preparation could get Mayfield and McMillan on the same page.

TE Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

(Rostered in 62% of leagues)

Otton should be strongly considered if you aren’t sold on McMillan or have a need at tight end. While McMillan struggled with a larger role, Otton took on some of the Buccaneers’ offensive production against the Falcons. He caught nine of his 10 targets for 81 yards and two touchdowns to celebrate National Tight Ends Day on Sunday.

Otton has not put together two strong weeks after producing what was then a season-high 14 points and recording eight receptions for 100 yards.

Otton could have another big week ahead against the Kansas City Chiefs, who have given up the most fantasy points to tight ends through the first seven weeks of the season.

QB Bo Nix, Denver Broncos

(Rostered in 62% of leagues)

The rookie quarterback followed his most productive fantasy week with another in Week 8. Nix produced 29.76 fantasy points against the Carolina Panthers, who have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks through the first seven weeks. Nix completed 28 of 37 passes for 284 yards and three touchdowns. He also contributed as a runner with four yards and a touchdown on five carries.

Nix is scheduled to play the Baltimore Ravens this week, who allow the third most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season. When you consider he’s finished with at least 21 points in three of his last four games, Nix could be in line for another big game in Week 9.

WR Ricky Pearsall, San Francisco 49ers

(Rostered in 36% of leagues)

The 2024 first-round pick made his NFL debut for the San Francisco 49ers last week against the Kansas City Chiefs after missing the first six games of the season following a gunshot wound he suffered during the offseason.

He had three receptions on five targets for 21 yards but could be in line for more production as he continues to get acclaimed. While there’s only a small sample size from Pearsall to evaluate, there’s an opportunity for Pearsall to take on a larger workload with receiver Brandon Aiyuk suffering a torn ACL last week.

QB Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins

(Rostered in 64% of leagues)

Tagovailoa missed previous five weeks after suffering a concussion in Week 2 of the season but did well in his return on Sunday. He completed 28 of his 38 pass attempts for 234 passing yards and a touchdown in the Dolphins’ 28-27 loss to the Arizona Cardinals in Week 8. He also rushed for 13 yards on three carries, showing that he isn’t afraid to still use his legs to move the offense forward.

He finished with 14 points in what was considered a favorable matchup against the Cardinals, who allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks.

His Week 9 matchup isn’t considered as favorable when the Dolphins travel to play the Buffalo Bills – the same team he played when he suffered his latest concussion – but he’s projected to produce 16 fantasy points.