The Spartans, who began this season with nine-straight wins, have had four of their matches canceled recently, including three Mountain West Conference matchups that were called over the past week because Boise State, Wyoming and Utah State have each elected to take forfeits in league play rather than compete against San Jose State.

None of the schools have indicated why the matches were forfeited. But the presence of a reported transgender athlete on the team is believed to be behind the decisions, with her status generating an increasing amount of national media coverage from those invested in an issue that could soon spark more input from the Supreme Court.

A San Jose State women’s volleyball co-captain this season also joined a federal lawsuit last week challenging NCAA Title IX protections regarding transgender athletes in women’s sports and claimed in her filing that one of her teammates is transgender. USA TODAY is not naming the San Jose State volleyball player because neither she nor San Jose State have publicly commented on her gender identity. The person has played two previous seasons for San Jose State.

Here’s what else you should know about the forfeits and the San Jose State women’s volleyball team:  

San Jose State volleyball controversy, explained

The reported gender identity of the San Jose State women’s volleyball player appears to have been initially reported on in April by the website, Reduxx. The report was subsequently cited by national media outlets like Outkick.

The issue resurfaced last month after San Jose State’s fast start to the season. The Spartans were initially scheduled to face Southern Utah as part of the Santa Clara Tournament on Sept. 14, but the match was abruptly canceled. 

‘The Southern Utah University volleyball team has opted to compete in just two non-conference games at the Santa Clara Tournament this weekend,’ the school said in a statement to OutKick. “The Thunderbirds are eager to make the most of these matches and continue building momentum for a successful season. Southern Utah has informed the tournament directors and opposing teams of this decision, and we wish them well with the remainder of their respective seasons.” 

Why are MWC teams taking forfeits vs. San Jose State volleyball?

Boise State elected not to play its scheduled Mountain West Conference match against San Jose State on Sept. 28. According to league policy, any team refusing to play shall be deemed to have forfeited the contest. The forfeiting team will be credited with a loss and the opposing team credited with a win.

The Mountain West policy also states that due to privacy considerations, a school is not obligated to proactively notify the conference nor other institutions (conference or non-conference) regarding the status of a transgender student-athlete.

Wyoming announced it would not host its MWC match against San Jose State on Saturday, Oct. 5 and took the forfeit. San Jose State’s women’s volleyball website now lists the games on its schedule as “no contest, W in MW play.” 

Though neither of the opposing schools indicated why they decided not to play San Jose State, the governors of Idaho and Wyoming both conveyed approval of the moves made by their respective state university on social media by citing ‘fairness’ in women’s sports.

“I applaud @BoiseState for working within the spirit of my Executive Order, the Defending Women’s Sports Act,” Idaho Gov. Brad Little wrote on his X account. “We need to ensure player safety for all of our female athletes and continue the fight for fairness in women’s sports.”

“I am in full support of the decision by @wyoathletics to forego playing its volleyball match against San Jose State,” Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon tweeted. “It is important we stand for integrity and fairness in female athletics.”

San Jose State subsequently issued a statement lamenting the situation because its women’s volleyball roster did not violate NCAA or Mountain West Conference rules.

‘It is disappointing that our SJSU student athletes, who are in full compliance with NCAA and Mountain West rules and regulations, are being denied opportunities to compete,” San Jose State officials told Outkick in a statement following Wyoming’s decision to forfeit. “We are committed to supporting our student-athletes through these challenges and in their ability to compete in an inclusive, fair, safe and respectful environment.’ 

Utah State then became the fourth Mountain West Conference school to announce it would not play its match against San Jose State scheduled for Oct. 23.

‘The University will abide by Mountain West Conference policy regarding how this match is recorded,’ Utah State said in a statement.

‘I stand with the students, coaches and leadership at (Southern Utah and Utah State) in their decision to forgo their women’s volleyball matches against San Jose State,’ Utah Gov. Spencer Cox wrote on social media. ‘It is essential that we preserve a space for women to compete fairly and safely.’

‘It’s devastating for trans athletes’

Colorado State played its scheduled match against San Jose State on Thursday night in Fort Collins, Colorado, with the Rams handing San Jose State its first loss of the season. San Jose State coach Todd Kress told reporters afterwards that he walked up to Colorado State coach Emily Kagan and asked post-match, ‘Should I say thank you for playing us?’

‘I seriously meant that because, of course, we’re disappointed that we’re losing opportunities to play,’ Kress said, ‘but it’s not just us that are losing opportunities to play. It’s the people choosing not to play us, and that’s very unfortunate when it comes to these young women that have earned the right to step on the court and play.’

Schuyler Bailar, who in 2015 while swimming for Harvard became the first transgender athlete to compete on an NCAA Division I men’s team, and is now one of the most vocal and powerful athletes advocating for the trans community, called the treatment of the San Jose State athlete ‘devastating.’

‘The first thing I’ll say is this is devastating,’ said Bailar. ‘Not only for (the athlete) herself, but also for her teammates who don’t get to play in those forfeited games. It’s devastating for trans athletes in general. It’s infuriating, angering. This is not supposed to happen.’

How San Jose State volleyball fits into NCAA transgender lawsuit, Supreme Court case

What’s happening to San Jose State women’s volleyball could factor into the future of transgender athletes in college sports. 

San Jose State volleyball co-captain Erica Slusser on Sept. 23 joined more than a dozen female athletes in a class-action lawsuit originally filed in March in U.S. District Court in Atlanta challenging the NCAA’s Title IX protections regarding transgender athletes in women’s sports. The effort is being led by the Independent Council on Women’s Sports and former University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines, an outspoken critic of transgender athletes being allowed to participate in women’s sports.

In her lawsuit, Slusser claims San Jose State did not immediately tell her that she had a transgender teammate and the two lived in a residence with three other teammates together in 2023.

Slusser went on to allege that San Jose State players were told by the school to not speak about their teammate’s gender with people outside the team, and referenced potential safety concerns among teammates and opponents about sharing the court with a transgender athlete.

The Supreme Court has not yet weighed in definitively on transgender athletes in women’s sports, but experts believe this case could eventually prompt the court to offer an opinion given the differing state legislation related to transgender athletes.

In 2023, the Supreme Court permitted a 12-year-old transgender girl to participate on middle-school girls’ cross-country and track teams in West Virginia, denying the state’s request to enforce a law that bars transgender girls from playing on girls’ sports teams in public secondary schools and colleges while a challenge to the law continued in lower courts. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ruled last April that Title IX empowered the transgender girl to be allowed to participate.

When is the next game for San Jose State women’s volleyball?

San Jose State is scheduled to play next on Oct. 10 against San Diego State in Mountain West Conference play, with the match scheduled to begin at 10 p.m. ET. As of Friday, the match was still slated to be held.

This story has been updated with new information.

It’s Week 5 of the 2024 NFL season, which means the start of bye weeks. Four teams will not be suiting up this week: the Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Chargers, and Tennessee Titans.

NFC South foes Atlanta and Tampa Bay kicked off the week with an exciting overtime finish on ‘Thursday Night Football.’ There’s another five divisional matchups on deck for Sunday but some teams will be missing top players against their rivals as injuries continue to pile up league-wide.

USA TODAY Sports will provide live updates are the latest actives and inactive players heading into NFL’s Week 5 1 p.m. ET slate of games on Sunday:

NFL Week 5 inactives

Arizona Cardinals

G Isaiah Adams (thumb)
CB Garrett Williams (groin)
LB Victor Dimukeje
LB Xavier Thomas
K Matt Prater (left knee)
TE Travis Vokolek
WR Xavier Weaver

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

Baltimore Ravens

FS Beau Brade
WR Deonte Harty (kee)
G Andrew Vorhees (ankle)
OLB Adisa Isaac
WR Devontez Walker
C Nick Samac

Buffalo Bills

DT Austin Johnson (oblique)
DT Ed Oliver (hamstring)
S Taylor Rapp (concussion)
WR Khalil Shakir (ankle)
LB Edefuan Ulofoshio
CB Taron Johnson (forearm)
G/C Will Clapp

Carolina Panthers

LB Josey Jewell (hamstring, groin)
RB Mike Boone
C Andrew Raym (concussion)
G Jarrett Kingston
DE Jayden Peevy
S Russ Yeast

Chicago Bears

DT Zacch Pickens (groin)
CB Terell Smith (hip)
DL Dominique Robinson
FB Khari Blasingame
WR Velus Jones Jr.

Cincinnati Bengals

CB Mike Hilton (knee)
DE Cedric Johnson
WR Trenton Irwin
DT Sheldon Rankins (hamstring)
TE Tanner McLachlan
TE Tanner Hudson

Cleveland Browns

RB Nick Chubb (knee)
G Javion Cohen
RB Nyheim Hines (knee)
T James Hudson II (shoulder)
G Michael Dunn
T Jack Conklin
LB Jordan Hicks
CB Khalef Hailassie

Dallas Cowboys

WR Brandin Cooks (knee)
DE Micah Parsons (ankle)
CB Caelan Carson (shoulder)
CB Trevon Diggs (ankle)
S Malik Hooker
LB Eric Kendricks
CB Jourdan Lewis
LB Marist Liufau (quadricep)
G Zack Martin

Denver Broncos

RB Tyler Badie (back)

Green Bay Packers

DT Devonte Wyatt (ankle)
WR Romeo Doubs (suspended)
CB Jaire Alexander (groin)
DT Kenny Clark
LB Edgerrin Cooper (hip)
DT Jonathan Ford (calf)
G Elgton Jenkins (knee)
T Jordan Morgan (shoulder)
TE Luke Musgrave (ankle)
CB Carrington Valentine (ankle)
WR Christian Watson (ankle)

Houston Texans

DE Derek Barnett (shoulder)
RB Joe Mixon (ankle)
LB Jake Hansen (back)
WR Steven Sims
T Tytus Howard (hamstring)
RB Dameon Pierce (hamstring)

Indianapolis Colts

CB Kenny Moore II (hip)
DE Kwity Paye (quadricep)
RB Jonathan Taylor (ankle)
C Ryan Kelly (neck)
QB Anthony Richardson (oblique)
WR Anthony Gould
T Blake Freeland

Joe Flacco is expected to start at quarterback.

Jacksonville Jaguars

LB Yasir Abdullah (neck)
TE Evan Engram (hamstring)
DE Myles Coles
OL Javon Foster
OL Cole Van Lanen
S Daniel Thomas (hamstring)
DT Jordan Jefferson

Las Vegas Raiders

WR Davante Adams (hamstring)
LB Luke Masterson (knee)
TE Michael Mayer (personal)
T Thayer Munford Jr. (knee, ankle)
CB Decamerion Richardson (hamstring)
S Trey Taylor (knee)
RB Zamir White (groin)
DE Maxx Crosby (ankle)
LB Divine Deablo (oblique)
LB Kana’i Mauga (calf)
RB Tyreik McAllister (shoulder)
QB Aidan O’Connell
G Dylan Parham (achilles)

Los Angeles Rams

WR Cooper Kupp (ankle)
DT Larrell Murchison (forearm, foot)
T Rob Havenstein
T Alaric Jackson
CB Tre’Davious White

Miami Dolphins

S Jordan Poyer (shin)
RB Jeff Wilson Jr.
LB Mohamed Kamara
LB Channing Tindall
CB Ethan Bonner
QB Skylar Thompson (ribs)
OL Andrew Meyer

Minnesota Vikings

TE T.J. Hockenson (knee)

New England Patriots

TE Jaheim Bell
S Kyle Dugger (ankle)
WR Javon Baker
QB Joe Milton III
DE Kromah Jamree
WR K.J. Osborn (shoulder)
S Jabrill Peppers (shoulder)

New York Giants

WR Malik Nabers (concussion)
LB Matthew Adams (quadricep)
LB Brian Burns
CB Adoree’ Jackson (calf)
CB Andru Phillips (calf)
WR Wan’Dale Robinson
RB Devin Singletary (groin)

New York Jets

T Morgan Moses (knee)
DT Leki Fotu (hamstring)
LB C.J. Mosley (toe)

Pittsburgh Steelers

LB Alex Highsmith (groin)
RB Cordarrelle Patterson (ankle)
TE MyCole Pruitt (knee)
RB Jaylen Warren (knee)
LB Jeremiah Moon (ankle)
DT Larry Ogunjobi (groin)
G Isaac Seumalo
QB Russell Wilson (calf)

San Francisco 49ers

LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (calf)
WR Chris Conley (oblique)
WR Jacob Cowing (shoulder)
OL Ben Bartch
QB Joshua Dobbs
CB Darrell Luter Jr.

Seattle Seahawks

DT Byron Murphy II (hamstring)
DT Cameron Young (knee)
TE Pharoah Brown
TE Noah Fant
LB Tyrice Knight
S Julian Love (thigh)
LB Boye Mafe (knee)
LB Uchenna Nwosu
DT Leonard Williams

Washington Commanders

WR Noah Brown (groin)
DT Clelin Ferrell (knee)
G Chris Paul
LB Dominique Hampton
QB Sam Hartman
S Tyler Owens (shin)

Coco Gauff captured her second title this season and eighth of her career with a convincing 6-1, 6-3 victory over Karolina Muchova in the final of the China Open on Sunday in Beijing.

The fourth-seeded Gauff recorded six aces and won 28 of 33 of her first-serve points en route to breezing to the win in 76 minutes.

Gauff, 20, became the first player to win each of her first seven WTA hardcourt finals in the Open Era. She also became the second American to win this championship, following Serena Williams’ title runs in 2004 and 2013.

Gauff, who began the season with a successful title defense at the ASB Classic in Auckland, wasted little time improving to 3-0 in her career against Muchova. She also defeated the Czech in Cincinnati last year and in the semifinals of the 2023 U.S. Open. Muchova sustained a wrist injury in that match in New York, leading to a pronounced absence.

‘I want to say congratulations to you, Karolina, it’s great to see you back on tour,’ Gauff said. ‘I think you’re such an amazing player, and you deserve everything, and hopefully you play many more finals.’

Muchova had a different take of the match.

‘You kicked my butt today, literally, again,’ said Muchova, who made 24 unforced errors and had just 14 winners across the two sets.

Gauff likely appreciated the quick contest after having to rebound from first-set stumbles in each of her past two matches. She rallied to a 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 win over Yuliia Starodubtseva of Ukraine in the quarterfinals and a 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Paula Badosa of Spain in the semis.

Gauff also was quick to credit her new-look team that includes Matt Daly, who was added following her split with coach Brad Gilbert.

‘I would like to thank my team. It’s our first tournament together as a full, complete team,’ Gauff said. ‘Thank you, Matt, this is our first tournament together, and obviously, it’s going well, so thank you for helping me throughout this week.’

Considered one of the sport’s top coaches and analysts, Gilbert joined Gauff’s team in July 2023 and soon after became her head coach. Gauff reached a career-high world ranking of No. 2 in June under Gilbert’s coaching.

However, the relationship had seen some public strain in recent months, with Gauff calling out her coaching team after a tough loss to No. 19 seed Emma Navarro at Wimbledon.

Kalen DeBoer won’t live this down. He lost to Vanderbilt. Let that sink in. Vanderbilt.
Vanderbilt hero Diego Pavia rules the state of Alabama.
Nick Saban gives Vanderbilt bulletin-board material, while Alabama feasts on rat poison.

He lost to Vanderbilt.

Let that sink in.

Vanderbilt.

The school the SEC lets hang around to prop up its academic and women’s bowling bona fides just beat Alabama 40-35 at home.

Alabama lost to Vanderbilt for the first time in 40 years. DeBoer earns a résumé line that Nick Saban, Mike Shula, Dennis Franchione, Mike DuBose, Gene Stallings and Bill Curry avoided: He lost to the SEC’s brainiacs.

Saban managed to navigate past a comparable humiliation. He lost to Louisiana-Monroe in his first Alabama season. Saban went on to win six national championships at Alabama, but even so, any college football fan can recite that the GOAT lost to ULM in his first season in Tuscaloosa.

Those were different circumstances, though. Saban didn’t inherit a roster fresh off a Rose Bowl appearance. His Crimson Tide team was not ranked, when it fell to Louisiana-Monroe.

DeBoer’s squad had national championship aspirations. Those goals remain plausible, but they’re diminished after this performance.

HIGHS AND LOWS: Alabama’s upset leads Week 6 winners and loss

A loss to Vanderbilt anchors down Kalen DeBoer

Losses like this this cling to a coach like an anchor.

Saban rebounded, but many never recover from such a humiliation.

And, make no mistake, this result should humiliate DeBoer.

Yes, Vanderbilt is substantially improved in Clark Lea’s fourth season. And, yes, Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia rules the Yellowhammer State.

While quarterbacking New Mexico State last season, Pavia toppled Auburn. Now, he’s smashed Alabama’s crown.

Forget Jalen Milroe for Heisman Trophy, and reset the odds on Pavia.

While awash with euphoria, Pavia was asked to explain the upset. He referenced God, then dropped an F-bomb during a postgame interview on the SEC Network.

That pretty much sums this up.

Lordy, how the (redacted) does this happen?

Georgia shoved Alabama’s defense into a black hole in the fourth quarter last week, and schloooop, that unit is gone. Vanderbilt possessed the ball for more than 70% of this game.

I could say Pavia did whatever he wanted to the Tide, but that would give Alabama’s defense credit for being present. The defense never deigned to show its face in Nashville.

Nick Saban gives Vanderbilt bulletin-board material before Alabama game

That rat poison Saban warned about for years? No sooner had Saban joined the “College GameDay” set, than Alabama considered rodenticide to be fine dining. Alabama nibbled on the rat bait during a Week 2 play-date with fire against South Florida. It gobbled up all five courses Saturday.

Saban, for his part, said recently in his talking-head role that Vanderbilt is the SEC’s only home venue that’s not difficult on road teams.

“You have more fans there than they have,” Saban said, while on the clock for ESPN.

Consider it bulletin-board material for Vanderbilt.

Saban told no lies about FirstBank Stadium, but the crimson-clad fans in Nashville became props in college football history, while a fog-horn blared as the final seconds ticked away, and those who showed up in black and gold tried to figure out what you do when you beat the nation’s bluest of blue bloods.

You storm the field and accept the fine.

The entire SEC (sans Vanderbilt) ought to suffer penalty for this result.

Just three weeks ago, Georgia State beat Vanderbilt. In 2019, Georgia State wrecked Tennessee.

Mercy, if the SEC expands again and admits the Panthers, they’d lay waste to this conference. Just kidding, I think.

Truth is, the gap between the college football’s elite and its lower rung is narrower than it used to be. The transfer era and deep-pocketed donors wheeling and dealing NIL deals stripped away Alabama’s ability to stockpile a three-deep of all-stars.

And still, how did this happen?

How did an Alabama team that halted Georgia’s 42-game regular-season win streak a week ago lose to a team that had not won an SEC game since November 2022?

Pavia, for one. Sixteen of his 20 passes reached their intended destination. He ran it plenty, too, and he instills in Vanderbilt a fierce spirit and a belief that no opponent is too mighty.

Alabama’s minus-two turnover ratio proved costly, too.

The scoreline went from curious amusement to five-alarm fire when Vanderbilt’s Miles Capers strip-sacked Milroe midway through the fourth quarter. The Commodores turned the takeaway into a touchdown and a two-score lead.

By then, it had started to crystalize. This would be no sleepwalk victory for Alabama. Instead, it became a disturbing loss for DeBoer that no one will soon forget.

Pavia always will be the quarterback who beat Alabama. And DeBoer forever will be the guy who lost to Vanderbilt.

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.

PHILADELPHIA — There was no loud laughter inside the New York Mets clubhouse.

No screams or shouts of euphoria.

Really, precious little emotion.

The Mets, pulling off yet another stunning late-inning victory Saturday, this time 6-2 over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 1 of the National League Division Series, and they were acting as if they just played a spring-training game in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

While they may be surprising the entire baseball world, the Mets are acting as if it’s just another day at the office.

Follow every MLB game: Latest MLB scores, stats, schedules and standings.

This is now what they’ve come to expect.

Fly to Atlanta, needing to win a game the day after the regular season was supposed to end, and they win the first game of a doubleheader with an eighth-inning comeback and a ninth-inning comeback.

Travel to Milwaukee, get down to their final two outs before their season is over in the NL wild-card series, and there’s first baseman Pete Alonso hitting a game-winning, three-run homer.

Fly to Philadelphia, with 45,751 raucous fans taunting them, produce one mere hit in seven innings against ace Zack Wheeler, and then destroy the Phillies’ bullpen in one quick eighth-inning flurry.

Just like that, the Mets find themselves in the driver’s seat on the road to their first National League Championship Series since 2015.

Yet despite the victory, there was not a soul in the Mets’ clubhouse taunting the Phillies or showing the least bit of bravado, refusing to buy into the notion that by beating the Phillies and Wheeler, they now are the favorites to win the best-of-five NLDS.

“We know we’re good,’ Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said, “and we’ve got good players.’

But, Mendoza urged caution.

“It’s one game,’ Mendoza said. “We’ve got to come back [Sunday], and we’ve got to do it again, but it’s a good start. …

“You can’t take anything for granted,’ Mendoza said. “That’s a really good team. They did it throughout the whole year. They won the division by a lot. we’ve got to continue to play well against them.’

Still, this was a game that could torment the Phillies all winter, just like a year ago when they came back to Philadelphia with a 3-2 lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NLCS, and lost both games to miss out on the World Series.

This night, they were in full command once again. Wheeler, who lowered his postseason career ERA to 2.18, gave up just one hit in seven innings, striking out nine. The Mets had no clue. Wheeler generated 30 swings and misses with his fastball and off-speed pitches, the most in a postseason game by any pitcher since 2019.

“I kept saying, we’ve got to get this guy out of the game,’ Mets DH J.D. Martinez said.

Said Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor: “He was unhittable.’

Mets infielder Jose Iglesias: “I have nothing but respect for him. We had to get into their bullpen.’

When Wheeler left the game after seven innings, the Mets acted as if a substitute teacher just took over their classroom and went wild. They scored five runs in the eighth off three different Phillies’ relievers, including All-Stars Jeff Hoffman and Matt Strahm, with not a single extra-base hit.

“When you’re only down one run, you’re able to think small and try to push that one run across,’ Mets left fielder Brandon Nimmo said, “and then just keep doing it. I thought what we did, you could put on a highlight reel, this is just good baseball without hitting a home run. Very, very proud of the guys for that.’

And, yeah, maybe they didn’t visibly celebrate Wheeler’s departure after seven innings, but it sure was a beautiful sight seeing someone else on the mound.

“He’s an unbelievable pitcher, we all know that… ‘ Nimmo said. “For us to be able to get to him, at least not let him throw a complete game, that’s kind of a win in that situation. And to be able to get to the bullpen, and see what happens, These guys did an amazing job of that.’

The Mets produced five singles in the eighth inning, a walk, two sacrifice flies, and just like that, the game was over. The sellout crowd at Citizens Bank Park didn’t know whether to boo, scream or cry as they headed to the exits.

The ‘OMG,’ pumpkin-loving, Grimace-embracing Mets have seized momentum and aren’t about to let it go.

“Momentum is a real thing,’ Lindor said, “but I also believe you have to play the game the right way if you have momentum or not. We don’t have the team to go out there and roll through people. We have to go out there and do the little things right for us to win.’

This is a team that was 24-35 on June 2 then went 65-38 the rest of the regular season – winning 20 of their last 29 games – and now are rolling in October.

“I do believe in momentum,’ Nimmo said. “And I believe that we have confidence right now…. I believe in the hard work that we’ve done, and I believe in the preparation that these guys do each and every day.

“But momentum is a big thing. And having confidence is a big thing.

“And the guys are showing a lot of that right now.’

The Mets have believed all summer they were capable of doing this, but never let themselves get cocky.

It was the same after the game, telling reporters that they simply are playing the game the right way, and when you play hard, clean baseball, good things are going to happen.

Meanwhile, there could be a sense of panic in the other dugout, with the Phillies well-aware they can’t afford to go down 2-0 with Games 3 and 4 in New York.

“Philadelphia is an unbelievable team,’ Nimmo said. “We played very, very tough games throughout the regular season, dogfight games. So being able to get the first one is really important, you know, especially for us heading back home with those two.

“It puts pressure on the other side right away.’

We’re about to find out the Phillies respond, but Wheeler can’t pitch again until Game 5. They’re opting to go with young starter Cristopher Sanchez Sunday instead of veteran Aaron Nola. And they are about to be faced with their first must-win game of the season.

“This was a tough loss,’ Wheeler said. “It’s not where we want to be. It’s important to get out of here with a split.

“We’ve got to win one while we’re home.’

Or else, they’ll be home all winter, marveling at the Mets’ magic carpet ride.

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Welcome to crazy, everyone. Unthinkable, unimaginable and about as unreal as it gets, crazy.

Bigger than Buster Douglas and Broadway Joe and the Miracle on Ice. Bigger than North Carolina State over Phi Slamma Jamma and Villanova Has Done It — and any upset in the history of any sport.

How else do you explain the SEC’s annual tomato can, arguably the worst FBS/Division I team in the modern era of college football, beating — and not just beating, but physically beating down — the greatest team of the modern era?

An Alabama team that seven days ago beat heavyweight rival Georgia, and was immediately elevated to its comfortable spot atop the college football world under new coach Kalen DeBoer.

And then got knocked out – not knocked off, knocked out – by Vanderbilt. For the love of all things Saban, Vanderbilt!

‘God gave me a vision when I was a little kid,’ Vanderbilt mighty mouse quarterback Diego Pavia told the SEC Network moments after the most shocking upset since Lazarus. ‘Games like these are life changing.’

How else do you explain it?

How else do you explain Vanderbilt – which had lost all 60 games in program history against Top five opponents – scoring the first 13 points, leading by as many as 16 and never trailing?

Never trailing.

How else do you explain a team that last month lost to Georgia State, taking the ball with nearly three minutes remaining and protecting a precarious one score lead against big, bad Alabama by taking hefty swings to run out the clock?

When the final drive arrived, when Vanderbilt stared in the face of history, the decision wasn’t three running plays and punt. It was grab the game by the guts and squeeze the life out of it.

HIGHS AND LOWS: Alabama’s upset leads Week 6 winners and loss

ANCHOR DOWN: Kalen DeBoer won’t live down loss to Vanderbilt

Four first downs later, the Commodores soaked up a field of humanity in Nashville after beating Alabama for the first time since 1984, their pint-sized quarterback running all over the field like Jim Valvano searching for someone, anyone, to hug.

We’re five games into the Vandy season, and Pavia still hasn’t committed a turnover.

‘In so many ways, he embodies the program we’re building,’ Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea said.

The same program that was teetering at the end of last season, finishing 2-10 and losers of its last nine SEC games. In other words, same ol’ Vandy.

So Lea decided to shake up the framework of his rebuild, hiring former New Mexico State coach Jerry Kill as assistant head coach/fixer. Kill brought offensive coordinator Tim Beck with him, and together they convinced Pavia – who led NMSU to 10 wins in 2023, including a rout of Auburn, to come play where no one succeeds.

And there they were, in a stadium full of Alabama fans who bought Vanderbilt season tickets to get a seat for the game, dropped into this once in a lifetime moment. They never blinked in this game of firsts.

They won for the first time against a No.1 team, and scored 40 points for the first time against a top five team. In four games against former Alabama coach Nick Saban, Vanderbilt scored a combined 13 points.

The Commodores had 13 in the first quarter Saturday afternoon.

By the time Vanderbilt fans rushed the field, Pavia had thrown for 252 yards and two touchdowns, and ran for 56 yards on 20 hard, punishing carries.

By the time he preached divine intervention on it all, Pavia had outplayed Alabama star quarterback Jalen Milroe ― who a week ago seized control of the Heisman Trophy race.

But it wasn’t just Pavia. This was a true, blue team win in an era of me-first NIL nonsense.

Eli Stowers, the former backup quarterback at Texas A&M turned tight end at Vanderbilt, played like an All-American with six catches for 113 yards.

The Vanderbilt offensive line, a weakness for decades in the conference that revolves around line of scrimmage success, didn’t give up a sack.

‘It took everything we had,’ Lea said.

Lea arrived as coach at his alma mater in December of 2020, the world in turmoil while navigating a global pandemic. He declared then, in a time of uncertainty on and off the field, that the goal at Vanderbilt was to win the national title.

The national flipping title. At Vanderbilt.

It was an utterly absurd comment for a program that not only was one of the worst in the sport, but one that hadn’t even committed to spending the money it takes to keep pace in its own conference.

But a football facility got built, and the stadium renovation began, and the next think you know, Vanderbilt had lost its last nine league games and Lea could’ve easily been fired at the end of last season.

Then Kill and Beck and Pavia arrived, and everything changed.

The unthinkable, unbelievable and unreal happened.

‘There’s more for us than this,’ Lea said. ‘This isn’t a finish point. Let’s go get some more.’

Welcome to crazy, everyone. It’s as unreal as it gets.

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

It’s Week 5 of the 2024 NFL season which means the start of bye weeks. Four teams will not be suiting up this week: the Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Chargers, and Tennessee Titans.

NFC South foes Atlanta and Tampa Bay kicked off the week with an exciting overtime finish on ‘Thursday Night Football.’ There’s another five divisional matchups on deck for Sunday but some teams will be missing top players against their rivals as injuries continue to pile up league-wide.

USA TODAY Sports will provide live updates are the latest actives and inactive players heading into NFL’s Week 5 1 p.m. ET slate of games on Sunday:

NFL Week 5 inactives

Arizona Cardinals

G Isaiah Adams (thumb)
CB Garrett Williams (groin)
T Kelvin Beachum (hamstring)
T Christian Jones (ankle)
TE Trey McBride (ribs)
K Matt Prater (left knee)
DT Khyiris Tonga (knee)

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Baltimore Ravens

CB Arthur Maulet (knee, hamstring)
RB Rasheen Ali (neck)
WR Deonte Harty (kee)
G Andrew Vorhees (ankle)

Buffalo Bills

DT Austin Johnson (oblique)
DT Ed Oliver (hamstring)
S Taylor Rapp (concussion)
WR Khalil Shakir (ankle)
LB Terrel Bernard (pectoral)
CB Taron Johnson (forearm)
DT DaQuan Jones

Carolina Panthers

LB Josey Jewell (hamstring, groin)
LB Shaq Thompson (Achilles)
C Andrew Raym (concussion)
DE Charles Harris (shoulder)
G Robert Hunt (hip)
CB Dane Jackson (hamstring)
WR Diontae Johnson (ankle)
S Lonnie Johnson (hip)
S Nick Scott (shoulder)
TE Ian Thomas (calf)
TE Tommy Tremble (knee)
DT Shy Tuttle (foot)

Chicago Bears

DT Zacch Pickens (groin)
CB Terell Smith (hip)
WR DeAndre Carter (ribs)
T Teven Jenkins (ribs)

Cincinnati Bengals

CB Mike Hilton (knee)
DT McKinnley Jackson (knee)
DE Myles Murphy (knee)
DT Sheldon Rankins (hamstring)

Cleveland Browns

RB Nick Chubb (knee)
G Michael Dunn (ribs, elbow, triceps)
RB Nyheim Hines (knee)
T James Hudson (shoulder)
DE Alex Wright (triceps)
T Jack Conklin
TE David Njoku
LB Jordan Hicks
C Ethan Pocic
DE Za’Darius SMith
RB Pierre Strong
T Jedrick Wills

Dallas Cowboys

WR Brandin Cooks (knee)
DE Micah Parsons (ankle)
CB Caelan Carson (shoulder)
CB Trevon Diggs (ankle)
S Malik Hooker
LB Eric Kendricks
CB Jourdan Lewis
LB Marist Liufau (quadricep)
G Zack Martin

Denver Broncos

RB Tyler Badie (back)

Green Bay Packers

DT Devonte Wyatt (ankle)
CB Jaire Alexander (groin)
DT Kenny Clark
LB Edgerrin Cooper (hip)
WR Romeo Doubs (personal)
DT Jonathan Ford (calf)
G Elgton Jenkins (knee)
T Jordan Morgan (shoulder)
TE Luke Musgrave (ankle)
CB Carrington Valentine (ankle)
WR Christian Watson (ankle)

Houston Texans

DE Derek Barnett (shoulder)
DE Jerry Hughes (hip)
RB Joe Mixon (ankle)
LB Jake Hansen (back)
DT Kurt Hinish (calf)
DE Dylan Horton (illness)
T Tytus Howard (hamstring)
RB Dameon Pierce (hamstring)
WR Robert Woods (foot)

Indianapolis Colts

CB Kenny Moore II (hip)
DE Kwity Paye (quadricep)
RB Jonathan Taylor (ankle)
C Ryan Kelly (neck)
QB Anthony Richardson (oblique)
T Braden Smith (knee)
DT Grover Stewart

Jacksonville Jaguars

LB Yasir Abdullah (neck)
DE Josh Hines-Allen (concussion)
DE Arik Armstead
RB Tank Bigsby
WR Gabe Davis
TE Evan Engram (hamstring)
RB Travis Etienne
CB Jarrian Jones
LB Devin Lloyd (knee)
S Darnell Savage (quadricep)
S Daniel Thomas (hamstring)

Las Vegas Raiders

WR Davante Adams (hamstring)
LB Luke Masterson (knee)
TE Michael Mayer (personal)
T Thayer Munford Jr. (knee, ankle)
CB Decamerion Richardson (hamstring)
S Trey Taylor (knee)
RB Zamir White (groin)
DE Maxx Crosby (ankle)
LB Divine Deablo (oblique)
LB Kana’i Mauga (calf)
RB Tyreik McAllister (shoulder)
QB Aidan O’Connell
G Dylan Parham (achilles)

Los Angeles Rams

WR Cooper Kupp (ankle)
DT Larrell Murchison (forearm, foot)
T Rob Havenstein
T Alaric Jackson
CB Tre’Davious White

Miami Dolphins

S Jordan Poyer (shin)
WR Odell Beckham Jr. (knee)
WR Tyreek Hill
DE Emmanuel Ogbah
CB Jalen Ramsey
CB Cam Smith (hamstring)
QB Skylar Thompson (ribs)
WR Malik Washington

Minnesota Vikings

TE T.J. Hockenson (knee)

New England Patriots

TE Jaheim Bell
WR Kendrick Bourne (knee)
S Kyle Dugger (ankle)
LB Anfernee Jennings (shoulder)
CB Jonathan Jones (shoulder)
CB Marcus Jones (groin)
G Mike Jordan (ankle)
C Nick Leverett (ankle)
T Vederian Lowe (knee)
S Marte Mapu (calf)
WR K.J. Osborn (shoulder)
S Jabrill Peppers (shoulder)
G Layden Robinson (ankle, wrist)
LB Sione Takitaki (knee)
T Caedan Wallace

New York Giants

WR Malik Nabers (concussion)
LB Matthew Adams (quadricep)
LB Brian Burns
CB Adoree’ Jackson (calf)
CB Andru Phillips (calf)
WR Wan’Dale Robinson
RB Devin Singletary (groin)

New York Jets

T Morgan Moses (knee)
DT Leki Fotu (hamstring)
LB C.J. Mosley (toe)

Pittsburgh Steelers

LB Alex Highsmith (groin)
RB Cordarrelle Patterson (ankle)
TE MyCole Pruitt (knee)
RB Jaylen Warren (knee)
LB Jeremiah Moon (ankle)
DT Larry Ogunjobi (groin)
G Isaac Seumalo
QB Russell Wilson (calf)

San Francisco 49ers

LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (calf)
DE Yetur Gross-Matos (knee)
WR Chris Conley (oblique)
WR Jacob Cowing (shoulder)
TE George Kittle (ribs)
LB Fred Warner (ankle)
CB Isaac Yiadom (thigh)

Seattle Seahawks

DT Byron Murphy II (hamstring)
DT Cameron Young (knee)
TE Pharoah Brown
TE Noah Fant
LB Tyrice Knight
S Julian Love (thigh)
LB Boye Mafe (knee)
LB Uchenna Nwosu
DT Leonard Williams

Washington Commanders

WR Noah Brown (groin)
DT Clelin Ferrell (knee)
G Nick Allegretti
S Percy Butler
TE Zach Ertz
LB Jordan Magee (knee)
QB Marcus Mariota (pectoral)
DE Efe Obada (tibia, fibula)
S Tyler Owens (shin)
RB Brian Robinson Jr. (knee)

NEW YORK – Before diving into the Yankees’ fortunate, 6-5 playoff opening win against the Kansas City Royals, who made the costlier missteps, let us re-introduce Luke Weaver, the pinstriped October surprise you didn’t know you needed.

A year ago, Weaver posted a 6.87 ERA as a Cincinnati Reds starter.

A month ago, having graduated into a valuable setup man, Weaver was on the brink of stepping into the closer’s void – not ideal timing for a win-now club trying to clinch the AL East.

Any ideas about a bullpen by committee were shelved by Weaver, who became a committee of one down the stretch and closed out Game 1 of the best-of-five AL Division Series.

After 10 years of knocking around the big leagues, Weaver was asked if he was built for this role.

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“Well, it’s sure not my size,’’ said Weaver, a right-hander with the wry take of an oft-centered lefty. “Even though I feel like being wiry is a very internally strong foundational attribute.’’

Yankees stumble, but survive due to Royal mistakes

Weaver’s neat, four-out save came with three strikeouts – including the Bobby Witt Jr., who somehow went 0-for-5 at Yankee Stadium, where 48,790 fans should’ve been offered free Dramamine tablets.

Yankees ace Gerrit Cole didn’t have it, Aaron Judge (0-for-4, 3 Ks) went missing at the plate, but Royals manager Matt Quatraro was left to regret his decision to lift Michael Wacha in the fifth.

On the Yankees’ side, Aaron Boone made the right calls by starting Oswaldo Cabrera at first base and Alex Verdugo in left, with Verdugo delivering the final, go-ahead RBI single in the seventh.

‘I understand it. I was booing myself, too,” said Verdugo (2-for-3, walk), whose offensive numbers were under water all summer, inviting rookie Jasson Dominguez into the left field conversation.

Luke Weaver channels his inner Mariano Rivera

Jazz Chisholm Jr., a frequent flyer next to Weaver on team charters, had mentioned Weaver was “built for that moment,’’ entering Saturday with a runner at first base in the eighth.

Less than a month removed from his first big-league save – a moment in which he said he blacked out – Weaver, 31, retired the top of KC’s order in the ninth.

Weaver got Michael Massey swinging at a changeup, caught Witt Jr. looking at a close, full-count, 96-mph fastball, and got Vinnie Pasquantino to ground out on a changeup.

“This is his time, this is what he’s made for,’’ said Chisholm Jr., who has seen that Weaver demeanor on the diamond, and when he’s holding diamonds.

Those in-flight card games can get ultra-competitive too, and “I’m a bad, visible shower of my losing,’’ said Weaver, though he was appreciative of Chisholm Jr.’s comments.

“Jazz had a lot of really nice things to say,’ said Weaver. “I wish he would say that to my face, our friendship would really take a leap.’’

A narrow Yankees’ victory

Cole felt the Royals were ‘on top of their game against him,” and that ‘I made my fair share of mistakes, that’s for sure. Need to be sharper.

‘But they put a couple really good pitches in play, too,” including MJ Melendez’s two-run homer in the fourth.

Kansas City can still get out of the Bronx with a split, with Cole Ragans opposing Carlos Rodon on Monday night – following a head-shaking off-day built into the AL playoff schedule.

But they might lament not stealing one against a not-at-his-best Cole, and that more-than-questionable send by third base coach Vance Wilson, getting Salvador Perez thrown out at the plate – the first out in the second inning.

Gleyber Torres (two-run homer, two walks) and Juan Soto (3-for-5, threw out Perez from right field) performed, Austin Wells – a .111 hitter in September – picked up Judge with a two-out, game-tying RBI single in the sixth.

And maybe Chisholm Jr. was out trying to steal second in the seventh, but the Yanks survived that replay challenge and Verdugo came through with the winning hit.

And the baseball for Weaver’s first career save is already in a box, with the date and score.

“It means a lot to me,’ Weaver said. “It’s everything you dream of, it’s definitely all the cliches rolled into one.’

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