(This story has been updated with new information.)

With Henry and quarterback Lamar Jackson – equally effective with his legs and his right arm – the Ravens have the ability to run all over teams. Beginning last week with a victory over the Dallas Cowboys that ended up being closer than necessary, they have been doing just that. 

Henry finished with 199 rushing yards on 24 attempts and Jackson averaged nine yards per carry (six for 54 yards total). Both had a rushing touchdown, and they connected for a five-yard touchdown on the first play of the second quarter.  

At one point later that quarter, the Ravens and Bills had each run 23 offensive plays. Baltimore had 249 yards (1.08 per play) – compared to Buffalo’s 82 (3.6 per play) – and 13 first downs. The 271 total rushing yards rushing allowed by Bills are the most they allowed since the 2017 season, the first year of head coach Sean McDermott’s tenure.

All things Ravens: Latest Baltimore Ravens news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

Offensive coordinator Todd Monken would prefer to run the ball more than pass. The Ravens’ success in running the ball allowed him to call a game that favored that philosophy, as Baltimore finished with 34 runs and 19 passes. Head coach John Harbaugh credited the offensive coaching staff for actualizing the idea of adding Henry to the offense.

“It could be this, it could be that,” Harbaugh said, “but you gotta put it together. It’s starting to (come together).” 

Henry isn’t afraid to call or text running backs coach Willie Taggart if he has a question about Monken’s offense.

“It matters so much to him,” said Harbaugh, who thought the variety of runs and creativity helped keep the Bills off balance even though they knew a rush was coming.

Buffalo’s ailing defense finally showed cracks after allowing 16 points per game over the first three contests. Injuries to the linebacker corps were apparent as Baltimore’s blockers pounced into the second level and Jackson found positive yardage opportunities in the intermediate passing game. 

But it was Henry who set the tone immediately. The Bills received the opening kickoff and the Ravens forced a three-and-out. Monken dialed up a “trap” run play, and fullback Patrick Ricard had an essential crack block that sprung Henry through a wide-open hole. 

Based on the film and reading the front, Jackson said he knew the play call could lead to a home run-type play – the longest run in Ravens history and longest in the NFL this season. 

“If he gets to the secondary, he’s pretty much gone,’ Jackson said. ‘It’s hard to catch him. Because he’s not just a powerful back. He’s also fast.”

At 30 years old, Henry – who is listed at 6-foot-2 and 247 pounds – has dealt with the assumption he has lost a step. No Bills defender could catch him in the open field. He reached 21.9 mph, according to Next Gen Stats, which is tied for the fourth-fastest speed this season. 

Rookie right tackle Roger Rosengarten, making his first career start, blocked his assignment and heard the crowd cheering. He looked up and saw Henry streaking 15 yards ahead of him.

“I knew that play either had a chance for a really big gain or (tackle for loss),” said Rosengarten, adding that he “couldn’t ask for a better first play in my first start.”

Ricard had the task of motioning across the formation and kicking out the ‘three-technique’ defensive lineman. His goal was to stay low and catch the defender by surprise.

“Because if I miss on that,’ he said, ‘there’s not going to be really a lane.

“What a great way to start the game like that, for everybody, our offensive line and backs and everybody.”

With Andrew Vorhees inactive, Patrick Mekari slid from right tackle to left guard and has now started at every position on the offensive line during his career. The unit replaced three starters from last season and was also affected by the sudden death of offensive line coach Joe D’Alessandris late in training camp.

Henry signed a two-year, $16 million deal with the Ravens this offseason (with $9 million guaranteed) following eight seasons with the Tennessee Titans. He leads the NFL in rushing through four games (480 yards) and is averaging a career-best 6.0 yards per carry. His 24 rushes for a first down ranks second in the league.

“If you look at the guy, he’s all legs,” Ricard said. “So, it’s impressive. He’s one of one. It’s why he’s been one of the best backs in this league. I’m just so happy to have him here and block for him.” 

The Ravens are a team whose quarterback won his second MVP award primarily because of his feats in the passing attack last season. Yet, the Ravens prioritized the ground game in free agency by adding Henry. Harbaugh referenced the history of the organization being about running the ball and playing “great” defense. 

‘That’s kind of what we’ve always been about,’ Harbaugh said.

With Henry – and Jackson – as the focal points, the Ravens are remaining true to that identity.

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Since the 2021 NFL season, ESPN has held an alternate broadcast during ‘Monday Night Football’ called ‘Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli,’ more commonly referred to as the ‘ManningCast. Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning and his Super Bowl-winning brother Eli commentate on games while hosting guests.

In 2024, the ManningCast welcomed longtime NFL coach Bill Belichick, actors Adam Sandler and Miles Teller, former NFL quarterback Matt Ryan, and Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman Chris Jones.

Here’s what to know about the ManningCast for Week 4.

Is there a ManningCast tonight?

No. For the second week in a row, the ManningCast is off for both ‘Monday Night Football’ games in Week 4.

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

The ManningCast will return in Week 5 for the ‘Monday Night Football’ game between the New Orleans Saints and the Kansas City Chiefs on ESPN2.

2024 ManningCast remaining schedule

Week 5: New Orleans Saints at Kansas City Chiefs
Week 6: Buffalo Bills at New York Jets
Week 7: Baltimore Ravens at Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Los Angeles Chargers at Arizona Cardinals
Week 8: New York Giants at Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 9: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Kansas City Chiefs
Week 11: Houston Texans at Dallas Cowboys
Week 12: Ravens at Chargers
Week 14: Cincinnati Bengals at Cowboys
Wild Card Weekend: Game TBD

Guests for each show are announced the Monday before the show airs.

How to watch the ManningCast

The ManningCast will be broadcast on ESPN for Week 6 and ESPN2 for Weeks 7-14, as well as Wild Card Weekend. It will also be streaming on ESPN+.

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

PHOENIX — We were entertained all season by one of the greatest shows on Earth with Shohei Ohtani hitting homers and stealing bases nearly every day – yet wondering whether Aaron Judge’s season was even better.

We were mesmerized by rookie Paul Skenes’ coming out party in Pittsburgh, and fascinated by the pitcher with the unusual name (Tarik Skubal) who dominated in Detroit.

We witnessed the Detroit Tigers’ stunning comeback from the dead, while wondering whether they should send flowers to the Minnesota Twins for their epic choke job at the end.

We watched a team slash its payroll by $100 million, dumping several of the game’s biggest stars, only for the San Diego Padres to morph into a team that just may win its first World Series.

We didn’t have a 100-game winner, but for the first time saw a 121-game loser.

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

We saw a baseball stadium close its doors in Oakland, while wondering if we’ll really see 160-degree temperatures on that artificial turf in Sacramento.

It has been 186 days since opening day, but just when you thought it was last call Sunday, the lights are staying on for another day, extending the National League wild-card drama until Monday.

While we wait to see who emerges from the scrum to fill out the postseason, and fascinated to see how Ohtani performs in his first postseason, here are our 2024 award winners, leaving you readily agreeing or screaming into the night.

NL MVP: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers

Remember the silly debate that surfaced a few weeks ago whether New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor should be the MVP because he also plays defense while Shohei Ohtani only hits homers and steals bases.

Anyone still trying to make the argument?

Ohtani, with the greatest season by a DH in history, has turned this year into his own personal PlayStation. He not only makes history by becoming the first to hit 50 home runs with 50 stolen bases, but is getting even better as the year goes on, hitting a major league-leading 25 homers and major league-leading 35 stolen bases since the All-Star break.

The only other player in history to lead MLB in homers and stolen bases after the All-Star break is the late, great Willie Mays in 1955.

The remaining question now is whether Shohei Ohtani will go where no NL player has gone since 1937, and become the first player in the National League since Joe “Ducky’ Medwick to win the Triple Crown.

He already has the home run title with 54 homers, to go along with his 58 stolen bases.

He already has won the RBI title with 130 RBI.

He enters Sunday hitting .310, with Luis Arraez of the Padres the only one with a higher batting average at .314.

It’s safe to say we’ll never see a pitcher recovering from Tommy John surgery put up these kind of numbers ever again.

AL MVP: Aaron Judge, New York Yankees

Bobby Witt Jr. had one of the greatest seasons by a shortstop in MLB history, leading the Kansas City Royals to the playoffs after losing 106 games last season.

If you’re going to start a franchise, he would be every GM’s unanimous pick.

Unfortunately, he’s going to have the best season by an MVP runner-up since Barry Bonds finished second to San Francisco Giants teammate Jeff Kent in 2000.

Simply, no one in baseball had a better regular season than Aaron Judge, who not only shifted to center field, but hit 58 homers with 144 RBI and a .458 on-base percentage. He joins Babe Ruth, Hack Wilson, Jimmie Fox, Mickey Mantle, Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire as the only players to hit 50 or more homers with an on-base percentage above .450.

Case closed.

NL Cy Young: Chris Sale, Atlanta

The most surprising aspect of Chris Sale’s career is that he has never won a Cy Young award.

Seven times he finished in the top 6 in Cy Young voting, and received MVP votes in four seasons.

That will change in November.

Sale, at the age of 35, completely dominated the NL, winning the pitching triple crown, leading the league with 18 victories, a 2.38 ERA and 225 strikeouts. The only other pitchers that age to accomplish that feat are Walter Johnson (1924), Roger Clemens (1998) and Randy Johnson (2002), according to STATS Perform.

Remarkably, Sale won more games (18) in one year than he did in the previous five seasons in Boston, and pitched more innings (177⅔) than the previous four years.

Apologies to Zack Wheeler of the Phillies, but Sale’s dominance brings him his first Cy Young award.

AL Cy Young: Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers

The town of Kingman, Arizona, used to be known as the spot on the map where you stop and get gas on your drive to Las Vegas.

These days? It’s the home of Tarik Skubal, the likely unanimous AL Cy Young winner.

He led the league in victories (18), ERA (2.39) and strikeouts (228), while yielding a slash line of .159/.214/.220 with only three extra-base hits.

And when the Tigers needed him the most down the stretch, he was at his finest, going 6-0 with a 1.94 ERA in his final nine starts.

NL Rookie of the Year: Jackson Merrill, San Diego Padres

This may be the most intriguing award race of them all, with so many sensational rookies this year, particularly with Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes already becoming one of the faces of baseball.

Skenes was nothing short of sensational (11-3, 1.96 ERA, 133 innings, 170 strikeouts), becoming the first rookie to have a sub-2.00 ERA with more than 20 starts in a season since Reb Russell (1.90 ERA) in 1913.

Yet, while Skenes put up the glossy numbers in 23 starts, no rookie in baseball was more valuable to his team than Padres center fielder Jackson Merrill, producing the greatest rookie season in Padres history.

This is a guy who was a 21-year-old shortstop who had played in only 46 games above Class A, never having played the outfield in his life.

And he was the Padres’ most valuable player this season. He hit .292 with a .824 OPS, including four game-tying or go-ahead homers in the eighth or ninth inning in a 10-game span, and played sensational defense.

Skenes was dazzling, and must-watch TV, but he played in 23 games, and the Pirates are tied for last place in the NL Central.

Merrill played 155 games, was instrumental in the Padres’ top spot in the wild-card race. If not for Merrill, the Padres would be sitting home in October, just like the Pirates.

AL Rookie of the Year: Colton Cowser, Baltimore Orioles

Wait, wasn’t Jackson Holliday supposed to win this award?

No matter, the award still will go to an Oriole, with Cowser leading AL rookies in virtually every offensive category. And, oh yeah, he’s an exceptional defensive outfielder, recording more outs above average than the rest of the Orioles combined.

It was a close call, but we’ll go with the everyday player over Yankees starter Luis Gil, despite having 17 starts in which he permitted no more than one run, the most by a rookie starter since George McQuillan in 1908.

NL Manager of the Year: Pat Murphy, Milwaukee Brewers

Sure, there’s a strong case to be made for Mike Shildt of the San Diego Padres. Atlanta’s Brian Snitker has somehow kept his team alive with more injuries to stars than any team in baseball.

Yet, when you trade your Cy Young award winner at the start of spring training, lose four-fifths of your starting rotation, play the entire first half without All-Star closer Devin Williams, lose your best player, Christian Yelich for the season in August, and still run away with the NL Central with the second-smallest payroll in the division, you’re a miracle worker.

Pat Murphy, in his first full season as manager at the age of 65, sure made folks in Wisconsin forget all about ol’ what’s-his-name in Chicago.

Murphy will be the first Brewers manager to win the illustrious award.

AL Manager of the Year: Matt Quatraro, Kansas City Royals

Sure, rookie manager Stephen Vogt did a masterful job stepping into future Hall of Famer Terry Francona’s shoes and leading the Cleveland Guardians back to the playoffs.

While the Detroit Tigers front office punted on the season, and traded away Jack Flaherty and three other veterans at the deadline, manager A.J. Hinch circled the wagons and got his kiddie corps to believe what their front office didn’t. It was one of the most stunning performances by any manager over a two-month stretch, going 31-11 down the stretch.

But when you take a small-market team that lost 106 games last year, and turn them into a playoff team in one of the most dramatic turnarounds in baseball history, Quatraro deserves all of the glory.

NL Executive of the Year: A.J. Preller, San Diego Padres

You’re instructed to slash $100 million from your payroll. You’re forced to trade Juan Soto, let Cy Young winner Blake Snell walk and can’t stop All-Star closer Josh Hader or veteran starters Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha from walking out the door.

But instead of wallowing, Preller shopped at a flea market while his competitors were shopping on Rodeo Drive. He dipped into his farm system with trades for Dylan Cease and Luis Arraez and made a slew of shrewd moves that have the Padres back in the playoffs in America’s finest city.

AL Executive of the Year: J.J. Picollo, Kansas City Royals

When Picollo took over the Royals two years ago, he didn’t talk about needing a five-year plan.

He didn’t moan about being in a small market with no chance to win. He wasn’t fazed by losing 106 games last year.

He hired 30 new people in the baseball operations department, went out, scoured the free agent market for starting pitching, and grabbed Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha. He picked up veteran players Hunter Renfroe, Adam Frazier and Garrett Hampson. And when they needed help over the summer, snagged Lucas Erceg, Tommy Pham, Paul DeJong, Yuli Gurriel and Robbie Grossman.

They have 19 players on their roster who weren’t around on opening day in 2022, and for the first time since 2015 will be playing in October.

Best free agent signing: Shota Imanaga, Chicago Cubs

There were plenty of teams that went to Japan to scout him, but not a single one believed he was more than an aging No. 4 or No. 5 starter.

He was too old. His command wasn’t great. And his fastball was considered only average.

The Cubs signed Imanaga to a four-year, $53 million contract.

It may have been the franchise’s best investment since signing Andre Dawson to that $500,000 contract in 1987.

Imanaga went 15-3 with a 2.91 ERA, with the fourth-lowest walk percentage in baseball, striking out 174 batters in 173.1 innings.

Oh, and that other Japanese pitcher who had every MLB executive salivating over him, signing a 12-year, $325 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers?

Yoshinobu Yamamoto, 25, went 7-2 with a 3.00 ERA, pitching only 90 innings after missing nearly three months with a strained rotator cuff.

Best trade: Chris Sale, Atlanta

The franchise that sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees, gave away Mookie Betts to the Dodgers, struck again when the Boston Red Sox traded Chris Sale to Atlanta.

It was the fleece of the year with Atlanta not only getting Sale for struggling infielder Vaughn Grissom, but the Red Sox also sent $17 million to Atlanta, covering Sale’s entire salary.

Atlanta would have been dead and buried by July without Sale.

The Red Sox might have made the playoffs if they hung onto him.

Around the basepaths

– The St. Louis Cardinals, who will announce a series of personnel moves on Monday with Chaim Bloom taking on a greater role, plan to shop veteran starter Sonny Gray while reducing payroll.

Gray, who signed a three-year, $75 million contract last winter, has a full no-trade clause, with the Cincinnati Reds expected to be among the teams aggressively pursuing him.

– Skip Schumaker, who officially informed the Marlins and his players that he had no interest in returning before departing Friday for a family emergency, is the No. 1 target of the Cincinnati Reds. Former Cubs manager David Ross also is expected to be interviewed.

– It’s time that Carlos Beltran, a special assistant with the New York Mets, receives interviews from teams seeking a manager. He’d be a good fit with the White Sox if they don’t retain Grady Sizemore.

– While the Pittsburgh Pirates released Rowdy Tellez last week just four plate appearances short of reaching a $200,000 bonus, another team shelled out $250,000 at a time they’re looking to cut costs.

The Chicago White Sox, who set the all-time record with 121 losses, permitted veteran Chris Flexen (3-15, 4.95 ERA) to make a final start this past week. He pitched 6⅓ shutout innings, giving him exactly 160 innings for the season, triggering a $250,000 incentive.

In what has been a living nightmare for the White Sox, kudos to GM Chris Getz and interim manager Grady Sizemore for doing the right thing.

– There are plenty of rumors circulating about Twins manager Rocco Baldelli’s future after the team’s collapse – losing 26 of their last 38 games – but the Twins plan to bring him back, although several coaching changes will be made.

“I hadn’t experienced anything like that in my baseball years,’ Baldelli said after being eliminated from playoff contention, “and I don’t intend to experience it again … This will bother me forever.’

– The Detroit Tigers are the only postseason team that hasn’t sent a single pro scout on the road to prepare reports for their upcoming opponents.

– The Milwaukee Brewers are keeping a close eye on St. Louis Cardinals veteran first baseman Paul Goldschmidt if the Cardinals opt not to bring him back. They still believe there’s plenty left in the tank.

– White Sox starter Garrett Crochet says he’s interested in signing a long-term contract extension, but the White Sox still fully intend to trade him this winter, with the Philadelphia Phillies among the teams expressing interest.

– How fortunate are the Royals to be in the same division as the White Sox this season?

They went 12-1 against the White Sox and had a losing record (73-75) against everyone else entering Sunday.

– While pitchers and some of the leading orthopedic surgeons have wondered whether the pitch clock and the ban on using foreign substances have led to more injuries.

The truth, according to MLB studies, is that this season has the lowest injury rate among pitchers since 2018.

– Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy, despite rumors that he could step down, is definitely coming back in 2025 for the final season of his contract.

– Gabe Kapler, who managed the Philadelphia Phillies and San Francisco Giants, is expected to remain in the Marlins’ front office as an assistant GM and won’t return to the field for his third managing gig.

– If All-Star first baseman Pete Alonso doesn’t return to the Mets, rival executives believe he will wind up in Seattle or with the Cubs.

– Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Willy Adames’ price tag continues to go up when he hits free agency in November. He has 32 homers with 111 RBI and 21 stolen bases, becoming one of only four shortstops in MLB history to hit 30 homers, drive in 100 runs and steal 20 bases.

– The Tigers traded starter Jack Flaherty and reliever Andrew Chafin at the July 30 deadline, and after they played Aug. 10, were eight games under .500 and 10 games back in the wild-card race.

Their playoff chances sat at 0.2%, according to Fangraphs.

Today, after going 31-11, they are headed to the postseason for the first time in 10 years.

– Only two managers who led their teams to this year’s postseason have previously been a full-time manager in another organization:

Tigers’ A.J. Hinch (Arizona and Houston)
Padres’ Mike Shildt (St. Louis).

Meanwhile, there are three rookie managers who will be in the postseason, with the possibility of a fourth:

Pat Murphy, Milwaukee Brewers
Joe Espada, Houston Astros
Stephen Vogt, Cleveland Guardians
Carlos Mendoza, New York Mets*

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(This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.)

Alyssa Thomas scored 17 points and flirted with a triple-double as the Connecticut Sun won Game 1 of a WNBA semifinal series, beating the Minnesota Lynx, 73-70, in Minneapolis on Sunday night.

Thomas made the Sun’s final two shots with under a minute to play and went 8-for-12 from the floor in addition to piling up 10 rebounds and nine assists. Connecticut also got 20 points from Marina Mabrey and 10 points and 11 boards from DeWanna Bonner.

The Sun held the Lynx to just eight points in the fourth quarter.

‘For us, it really came down to getting stops,’ Thomas said. ‘I’m one of the leaders of this team. I’ve been here my whole career. Nothing changes. We’re in the pursuit of a championship.’

Napheesa Collier had 19 points, nine rebounds and four assists for Minnesota, while Bridget Carleton added 17 points.

The Sun took a three-point lead, 71-68, with 53.8 seconds remaining when Thomas hit Alanna Smith with a crossover and drove to the basket from the left wing to connect on a layup. Smith had five blocks on the night but couldn’t catch up with Thomas as she sank a crucial bucket.

Collier responded on the Lynx’s next possession, slipping a screen, catching a pass from Smith and connecting on a wide-open finger roll. But again, Thomas had an answer, sinking a 15-foot jumper to push the lead back to three points with 12.3 seconds left.

‘We really didn’t have a play. I liked the matchup I had on me. When I saw the opening, I took the shot,’ Thomas said.

Out of a timeout, Minnesota was forced to settle for a long-range 3-point attempt from Collier on the left wing with Bonner draped over her. The shot clanked off the back iron and the buzzer sounded.

‘We respect the hell out of her. We had to scheme for her,’ Mabrey said of Collier.

Minnesota actually led by five points at the end of the third quarter after ending the frame on an 11-3 run that was capped off by a 3-pointer from Courtney Williams.

Both teams had 13 turnovers, but the Sun scored 16 points off the Lynx’s mistakes while Minnesota only mustered eight points off Connecticut’s miscues.

Before the game, Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve was presented with the WNBA Coach of the Year award, her fourth, and Collier was awarded the Defensive Player of the Year trophy.

Bonner appeared in her 83rd playoff game, making her the WNBA’s all-time leader in postseason games played.

Game 2 is set for Tuesday in Minneapolis.

The Atlanta Falcons were hopeful that transition to new coaching leadership would spark tight end Kyle Pitts and allow him to enjoy a career-best season.

Through four weeks of the 2024 NFL season, that hasn’t come to fruition.

Pitts had the least productive game of his career in the Falcons’ 26-24 Week 4 win over the New Orleans Saints. It marked the first time that the 23-year-old was held without a catch, even despite Kirk Cousins throwing 35 passes.

What’s more concerning for Pitts’ long-term outlook in Atlanta? His new head coach didn’t seem too concerned about his lack of production when asked whether he wanted to get Pitts more involved in the offense.

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

‘He had a couple of targets today. He had a couple of things going out that way,’ Morris told reporters during a postgame news conference. ‘Really for me, stats are for losers, man. I don’t get involved in that stuff.’

What does matter to Morris? For him, it was all about coming away with a victory in a key, divisional rivalry.

‘You go out there, you try to win each game,’ Morris said. ‘And we were able to win it today.’

Atlanta’s win moves them into second place in the NFC South, as they own the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Saints.

Whether the Falcons can continue to win without involving Pitts in their game plan is a question that’s still being answered. Cousins seems to have strong chemistry with wide receivers Drake London and Darnell Mooney in the early goings of the season. Pitts has the size and athleticism needed to be a matchup nightmare in the middle of the field. His 1,026-yard rookie season in 2020 showed he is capable of being a high-volume weapon.

Pitts did not comment on his usage after the game, though it is hard to imagine he’s pleased with his output. He has just eight catches for 105 yards and a touchdown across four games this season on just 15 targets from Cousins.

An exciting weekend of action in college football sent shockwaves through the US LBM Coaches Poll.

Texas replaces Georgia at No. 1, narrowly holding off Alabama. The Longhorns received 29 of 55 first-place votes and finish just nine poll points ahead of the Crimson Tide. It is the first No. 1 appearance for Texas in the coaches poll since Oct. 26, 2008.

Alabama was voted first on 19 ballots after its thrilling win against Georgia. The remaining seven top votes went to Ohio State, which holds at No. 3 overall after winning its Big Ten opener at Michigan State. Tennessee moves up to No. 4 after having the week off as Georgia slips to fifth.

Two other top-10 teams went down to defeat over the weekend, both at home. Mississippi slides six places to No. 11 after a home loss to Kentucky, and Utah tumbles eight spots to No. 18 following its defeat to Arizona.

TOP 25: Complete US LBM Coaches Poll rankings after Week 5

HIGHS AND LOWS: Alabama-Georgia classic leads Week 5 winners and losers

Those results left room for advancement in the lower half of the top 10. No. 6 Oregon, No. 7 Penn State and No 8 Miami (Fla.) each move up a notch. Missouri jumps to No. 9, and Michigan returns to the top 10.

The lone newcomer to the Top 25 this week is Indiana, off to an impressive 5-0 start. It is the first poll appearance for the Hoosiers since the preseason rankings in 2021. Illinois hangs on at No. 25 after its loss at Penn State, finishing 19 points ahead of Boise State.

Oklahoma State is the week’s only dropout.

This story has been edited from its original publishing to showcase updates in the 2024 Presidents Cup

After a very entertaining weekend, the United States has secured its 10th-straight Presidents Cup victory.

The 2024 Presidents Cup was quite the wild ride, as the Americans and International squads each swept the first two days before the United States pulled ahead prior to Sunday’s play. Sunday was particularly special though, as every golfer on both teams was active for the final day of competition.

Sunday didn’t disappoint either. Despite world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler failing to defeate world No. 7 Hideki Matsuyama for the United States, the Americans were able to secure their 10th-straight Presidents Cup victory thanks to fantastic performances from golfers like Xander Schauffele and Russell Henley.

Here is everything that happened during the 2024 Presidents Cup, including results and highlights.

Presidents Cup score: US defeats International 17-10

Sunday singles results:

*a positive score indicates the U.S. golfer is leading; a negative score indicates an international golfer lead

US opens with 11-7 lead

The first three rounds of the 2024 Presidents Cup have been insane. The United States opened up on play on Thursday by sweeping the four-ball matches. They got out to a 5-0 lead heading into Friday’s foursomes. However, the international team would answer back with a sweep of their own, tying things up heading into Saturday.

On Saturday, the United States regained their lead, earning three wins in four four-ball matchups. They also won three of four foursomes, with their only loss coming when Taylor Pendrith and Adam Scott finished two holes up on Brian Harman and Max Homa. When all was said and done, the United States led 11-7 heading into Sunday’s play.

Presidents Cup highlights

While the Hollywood Casino 400 provided many tense moments for a number of NASCAR Cup Series playoff drivers, Ross Chastain could race free and easy Sunday Kansas Speedway.

Chastain, who narrowly missed making the 2024 playoffs, was determined to get back to victory lane after winning twice in each of the past two seasons, even if a season championship was not in play.

Chastain scored his first win of the season and the fifth of his Cup career, holding off playoff driver William Bryon in the final laps by 0.388 seconds to take the checkered flag.

Chastain took the lead on a restart on Lap 248 of 267, passing Martin Truex Jr. on the inside with Byron following closely behind. Chastain’s No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet had just enough speed to keep Byron behind him, despite the Hendrick Motorsports driver’s numerous attempts to get to his back bumper.

“This is incredible! To drive into victory lane in the Cup Series, it’s just so challenging. It’s so tough,’ an excited Chastain said during an NBC Sports interview after the race. ‘It’s not easy when you’re failing or struggling at something, and you just can’t get to where you want to get to.

‘We haven’t left, we haven’t went away, nobody’s slowed us down other than ourselves. And today we were the fastest car.’

Truex finished third, followed by playoff driver Ryan Blaney and Ty Gibbs. Byron’s Hendrick teammate and Alex Bowman came home sixth, with Joe Gibbs Racing drivers Christopher Bell in seventh and Denny Hamlin in seventh and eighth, respectively. Chase Elliott rebounded from a last-place start after an engine change Saturday to come home ninth and Zane Smith 10th.

Bowman, Bell, Hamlin and Elliott are all still in the playoffs. Among other championship contenders, Chastain’s teammate Daniel Suarez finished 13th, Joey Logano 14th, Chase Briscoe 24th, Tyler Reddick 25th, Kyle Larson 26th and Austin Cindric 34th.

While Byron leaves Kansas as the runner-up, he posted a huge points day to vault him to the top of the playoff standings.

Two races remain in the second round with a trip to the calamitous Talladega Superspeedway next weekend followed by an elimination race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on the roval – the part road course, part oval circuit – in two weeks. The top eight drivers in the playoff standings following the race at Charlotte will advance to the third round.

Click here for full results from Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 and read a recap of all the highlights from Kansas Speedway below.

Ross Chastain wins NASCAR playoff race at Kansas

Ross Chastain held off a hard-charging William Byron to win the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway for his first victory of the season and the fifth of his career. While Chastain did not make the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs this season, Byron did and had the best showing among the 12 drivers in the playoff field. Ryan Blaney, in fourth, was the only other playoff driver to finish in the top five.

Kyle Busch spins while leading Stage 3 in NASCAR playoff race at Kansas

Kyle Busch, who was seeking his first victory of the season, was squeezed by playoff driver Chase Briscoe into the wall on Lap 237, causing Busch’s No. 8 Chevrolet to spin across the track. Briscoe was seeking to stay on the lead lap, while Busch who was leading the race and battling second place driver Ross Chastain, tried to put Briscoe a lap down. But Briscoe moved up the track, forcing Busch into the wall and bringing out the caution.

Most of the lead-lap cars came down pit road on the ensuing caution, with Martin Truex Jr. winning the race off pit road. But Brad Keselowski stayed on the track and will share the front road with Truex on the restart with 26 laps to go.

Alex Bowman wins Stage 2 of NASCAR playoff race at Kansas

Alex Bowman surged into the lead following a late restart to win Stage 2 of the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway. Bowman earned 10 stage points for taking the checkered flag.

Ty Gibbs finished second, Ryan Blaney third, Stage 1 winner William Bryon fourth and Brad Keselowski fifth. Carson Hocevar, Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr., Chase Elliott and Chase Briscoe rounded out the Top 10.

Five of the top 10 at the end of Stage 2 were playoff drivers.

Following the end of stage, most of the field came down pit road for fuel and tires. Ty Gibbs and Carson Hocevar led the field to restart Stage 2, with Hocevar taking the lead.

Austin Cindric spins to bring out caution in closing laps of Stage 2 at Kansas

Playoff driver Austin Cindric spun with seven laps to go in Stage 2 to bring out a caution flag. Cindric made contact with Kyle Busch before hitting the outside wall and spinning across the track. Cindric was able to drive his No. 2 Team Penske Ford to pit road for repairs.

During the caution flag, some drivers elected to come down pit road before the end of the stage, including Penske teammate Joey Logano, who had been running in the Top 5 earlier in the race.

Erik Jones spins, brings out caution flag in NASCAR playoff race at Kansas

Erik Jones brought out a caution flag on Lap 99 after spinning into the grass. The yellow flag allowed all the cars to come down pit road to top off fuel and put on new tires to contest the remainder of Stage 2.

William Byron, who won the opening stage, had led every lap of Stage 2 before the caution flag waved. But Kyle Busch jumped to the top position after taking just two tires during the stop. Christopher Bell also took just two tires and will restart alongside Busch. Joey Logano and Byron, who took four new tires, will restart on the second row with 60 laps remaining in the stage.

William Byron wins Stage 1 of NASCAR playoff race at Kansas

William Byron took the lead on Lap 72 and held on over the final eight laps to win the opening stage of the Hollywood Casino 400. Pole sitter Christopher Bell had led 71 of the 80-lap stage before getting loose and sliding into the outside wall, allowing Byron to make the pass in his No. 24 Chevrolet. Bell was able to right his No. 20 Toyota but not before losing a handful positions as Stage 1 came to a close.

Team Penske drivers Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney finished second and third, respectively, with Joe Gibbs Racing drivers Denny Hamlin, Bell and Ty Gibbs finishing fourth, fifth and sixth. Team Penske’s Austin Cindric finished seventh, followed by Martin Truex Jr., Alex Bowman and Carson Hocevar. Every driver in the top 10 received stage points, with Byron collecting a maximum of 10 and Hocevar one.

Following the end of the stage, all drivers came down pit road for fuel and tires, with Logano winning the race off pit road ahead of Byron.

Playoff driver Daniel Suarez had gone a lap down in the closing laps of Stage 1 but received the free pass and will be able to restart on the lead lap for the 85-lap second stage. Kyle Larson, who suffered an incident early in Stage 1 remains one lap down.

Points leader Kyle Larson hits the wall in Stage 1 in NASCAR race at Kansas

Kyle Larson, who the NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway in May, suffered an early problem in the Hollywood Casino 400. Larson, who entered the second round of the playoffs as the No. 1 seed, hit the outside wall in Turn 1 on Lap 20 after his right rear tire went flat. He was able to drive his No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet down pit road for his team to access the damage as the caution flag waved.

During the yellow flag, the field came down pit road to refuel and change tires. Christopher Bell, who started on the pole, retained the lead on the restart. Larson was able to remain on the lead lap, but restarted last among lead lap cars.

Crash breaks out on opening lap of NASCAR playoff race at Kansas

Mere seconds after the green flag waved for the Hollywood Casino 400, a multi-car crash occurred in the back of the pack at Kanas Speedway. Harrison Burton, who started 28th, and Ty Dillon, who started 32nd, made contact, causing both cars to spin. The accident also collected Jimmy Johnson and Josh Berry. During the incident, Chase Elliott was forced to ride right up along the outside wall, but Elliott’s No. 9 Chevrlet was able to avoid damage.

NASCAR playoff race at Kansas begins with green flag

The green flag has waved in the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway. This is the fourth of 10 playoff races and the first of the second round. Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Christopher Bell and Ty Gibbs lead the field in the opening stage, which is 80 laps.

Chase Elliott will start last in NASCAR playoff race at Kansas

Chase Elliott, who enters the second round of the playoffs ranked seventh, will start at the rear of the field in Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway. Hendrick Motorsports changed the engine of his No. 9 Chevrolet following Saturday’s qualifying.

Who is starting on the pole in the NASCAR playoff race at Kansas? 

Joe Gibbs Racing drier Christopher Bell posted the fastest time in Saturday’s qualifying and will start on the pole in Sunday’s race. Teammate Ty Gibbs qualified second and will also start on the front row. 

What is the lineup for NASCAR’s Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas?

Car number in parentheses; (P)=playoff driver

(20) Christopher Bell (P), Toyota
(54) Ty Gibbs, Toyota
(8) Kyle Busch, Chevrolet
(45) Tyler Reddick (P), Toyota
(22) Joey Logano (P), Ford
(24) William Byron (P), Chevrolet
(12) Ryan Blaney (P), Ford
(11) Denny Hamlin (P), Toyota
(14) Chase Briscoe (P), Ford
(99) Daniel Suarez (P), Chevrolet
(5) Kyle Larson (P), Chevrolet
(48) Alex Bowman (P), Chevrolet
(23) Bubba Wallace, Toyota
(77) Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet
(71) Zane Smith, Chevrolet
(43) Erik Jones, Toyota
(2) Austin Cindric (P), Ford
(47) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet
(19) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota
(1) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet
(34) Michael McDowell, Ford
(3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet
(7) Justin Haley, Chevrolet
(10) Noah Gragson, Ford
(17) Chris Buescher, Ford
(6) Brad Keselowski, Ford
(51) Corey LaJoie, Ford
(21) Harrison Burton, Ford
(4) Josh Berry, Ford
(31) Daniel Hemric, Chevrolet
(42) John Hunter Nemechek, Toyota
(16) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet
(38) Todd Gilliland, Ford
(15) Kaz Grala, Ford
(84) Jimmie Johnson, Toyota
(44) JJ Yeley, Chevrolet
(41) Ryan Preece, Ford
(9) Chase Elliott (P), Chevrolet

What time does the NASCAR playoff race at Kansas start?

The Hollywood Casino 400 starts at 3 p.m. ET (2 p.m. local) on Sunday at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas.

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

USA Network is broadcasting the Hollywood Casino 400 and has a pre-race show beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET (1:30 p.m. local).

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

The Hollywood Casino 400 can be live streamed on the NBC Sports website and the NBC Sports app. The race is also available to stream on Fubo.

How many laps is the NASCAR playoff race at Kansas? 

The Hollywood Casino 400 is 267 laps around the 1.5-mile oval for a total of 400.5 miles. The race will feature three segments (laps per stage) — Stage 1: 80 laps; Stage 2: 85 laps; Stage 3: 102 laps. 

What is the weather forecast for the NASCAR race at Kansas? 

Weather should not be a factor today at Kansas Speedway. The AccuWeather forecast calls for sunny skies and warm temperatures in Kansas City, Kansas, with winds of 7 mph out of the northeast.

Temperatures should peak in the mid-80s with a 0% chance of precipitation.

Who won the most recent NASCAR Cup races at Kansas? 

Kyle Larson led 63 laps on May 5, 2024 before beating Chris Buescher in a photo finish by 0.001 seconds in the closest finish in NASCAR history. 

And one year ago, Tyler Reddick led just two laps, taking the lead on an overtime restart before edging Denny Hamlin by 0.327 seconds on Sept. 10, 2023.  

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

Rank, driver, team, points, deficit to leader. Through three races; points reset after first round. 

Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports … 3,047
Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing … 3,032 (-15 points)
Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing … 3,028 (-19)
William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports … 3,022 (-25)
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske … 3,019 (-28)
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing … 3,015 (-32)
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports … 3,014 (-33)
Joey Logano, Team Penske … 3,012 (-35)
Austin Cindric, Team Penske … 3,008 (-39)
Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Racing … 3,006 (-41)
Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports … 3,005 (-42)
Chase Briscoe, Stewart-Haas Racing … 3,005 (-42)

How do the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs work? 

Sixteen drivers earned berths in the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs – 14 by virtue of a regular season victory and two winless drivers who made the playoffs on points. 

There are 10 total races in the playoffs, including the championship race at Phoenix Raceway on Nov. 10. The playoffs feature three rounds with three races per round before the final race. The four drivers with the fewest points were eliminated after the first round, leaving 12 to advance to the second round. Four drivers will be eliminated after the sixth race, and four more after the ninth race, leaving a final four to race for the title. 

If a playoff driver wins a race in one of the three rounds, he will automatically advance to the next round. If non-playoff drivers win those races, however, playoff drivers will advance based on points accumulated during each of the three rounds. 

What is the full schedule for the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs? 

Here is the schedule with dates, tracks, times and TV for each of the 10 races of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs (All times Eastern) 

Sunday, Sept. 8: Atlanta Motor Speedway. Winner: Joey Logano  

Sunday, Sept. 15: Watkins Glen International. Winner: Chris Buescher  

Saturday, Sept. 21: Bristol Motor Speedway. Winner: Kyle Larson  

Sunday, Sept. 29: Kansas Speedway, USA, 3 p.m. 

Sunday, Oct. 6: Talladega Superspeedway, NBC, 2 p.m. 

Sunday, Oct. 13: Charlotte Roval, NBC, 2 p.m. 

Sunday, Oct. 20: Las Vegas Motor Speedway, NBC, 2:30 p.m. 

Sunday, Oct. 27: Homestead-Miami Speedway, NBC, 2:30 p.m. 

Sunday, Nov. 3: Martinsville Speedway, NBC, 2 p.m. 

Sunday, Nov. 10: Phoenix Raceway, NBC, 3 p.m. 

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NEW YORK – The New York Liberty have had a year to think about what could have been. The super team of Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, Jonquel Jones and Courtney Vandersloot were brought together in 2023 for one reason: to bring home the first title in this basketball championship-starved city since the Knicks in 1973.

Before their semifinal playoff game Sunday against the Las Vegas Aces, the very team that dispatched the Liberty in four games in the Finals to win their second consecutive championship, the mood was serious. There were no pregame autographs with fans, no usual joking during the shootaround.

Ionescu declared the playoffs as ‘unfinished business.’

Stewart went on to score 20 of her 34 points in the first half, Ionescu hit two clutch 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to finish with 21, and Jones added 13 points and 12 rebounds as the Liberty took a near wire-to-wire victory in Game 1 87-77.

Game 2 in the best-of-five series is Tuesday night in New York.

When asked, some Liberty players still felt the sting from missed opportunities, especially in the 70-69 Game 4 loss last October, after watching their opponent celebrate the ultimate goal on their home court.

‘Unfortunately, had a lot of time to reflect on last year’s postseason…how can I handle things collectively better?’ Stewart said. “Last time wasn’t my most proudest, but I’m gonna continue to be better now.”

Regular-season success aside (the Liberty beat Las Vegas in all three meetings this season), the raucous sellout crowd at the Barclays Center, especially filmmaker Spike Lee, ensured that the Aces reverted to their earlier-season struggles of poor shooting, sloppy play and consistent foul trouble.

It was Stewart’s 35th straight playoff game scoring at least 10 or more points, passing Hall of Famer Lisa Leslie for the longest double-digit scoring streak in league postseason history.

‘I just want to come out and set the tone, be aggressive, take what the defense is giving me,’ said Stewart, who hit 12 of 19 from the field. ‘I was able to get downhill, get in the post, and be confident shooting the three.’

New York built a 12-point lead in the first half thanks to terrific passing and outside shooting.

Vandersloot hit a three for her first field goal of the game to open the second half, and Stewart’s deep three capped off a 10-point run and gave New York its biggest lead at 66-44, leading to frustrated Aces coach Becky Hammon to call timeout.

Las Vegas then showed championship mettle, cutting the lead to six and doing so on four different occasions, but the Aces could get no closer as Ionescu again sent the crowd into a frenzy when her 3-pointer with six minutes left gave New York an 81-68 cushion.

The Liberty also took advantage of uncharacteristic defensive lapses by the Aces, leading to wide-open lanes and more open 3-point shots, things the Aces will need to clean up in Game 2 if they are going to become the first sports team in 22 years to win three straight championships.

A’ja Wilson, the league’s Most Valuable Player, had 21 points, six rebounds and five assists. Kelsey Plum scored 24 points, and Jackie Young added 17 for the Aces, who shot 43 percent.

Hammon said the Liberty’s defensive length bothered her team, and they had to fight for every basket.

“At the end of the day, we lost a lot of hustle points. They just kicked our ass in every area of the game I thought. They came out and punched us in the nose, there’s no doubt about it,’ Hammon said. “You’re trying to dig out of a hole the whole time, that’s not the way you want to start, especially on the road.”

Hammon also stressed her team’s mentality going into Tuesday night’s game.

“To me, it’s do-or-die. You have to win Game 2. I don’t think there’s any way around it,’ she said.

This story was updated to add new information.