ORLANDO, Fla. – Deion Sanders came home and conquered.

So did Travis Hunter and the other so-called “Florida boys” on the Colorado football team.

They returned to their native state this week, dodged Hurricane Helene and then pulled off a 48-21 win Saturday at Central Florida.

The win gives the Buffaloes (4-1) a three-game winning streak heading into a bye weekend next Saturday. It also matches the win total they had last year in the first season under Sanders, the Colorado coach from Fort Myers, Florida.

Hunter, the two-way star from West Palm Beach, caught nine passes for 89 yards with a touchdown. He added an interception on defense.

Running back Isaiah Augustave, from Naples, Florida, added 39 yards on just four carries, helping revive the Colorado running game, which barely existed before Saturday’s sold-out game at FBC Mortgage Stadium (45,702).

Another Florida native, receiver LaJohntay Wester, scored on a 10-yard touchdown catch to help extend the Buffaloes’ lead to 41-21 late in the third quarter.

The Buffs led 27-14 at halftime after the game was delayed about 50 minutes because of lightning in the area.

Quarterback Shedeur Sanders finished with 290 yards and three touchdowns on 28-for-35 passing.

He led the Buffs on scoring drives on six of seven possessions after throwing an interception on his first possession.

Colorado vs. UCF highlights

Colorado puts game away with scoop-and-score TD

That will do it. Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig’s 95-yard fumble return touchdown gives Colorado a 48-21 lead with just over 5 minutes to go.

Travis Hunter did appear to get injured on the play, bodies rolling up on his leg awkwardly, but he was back walking around on the sideline after a brief stop in the medical tent.

Colorado offense keeps rolling, extends lead back to 20 points

ORLANDO, Fla. –  Colorado continues to click on offense and has extended its lead to 41-21 after a 10-yard touchdown pass from Shedeur Sanders to receiver LaJohntay Wester.

The Buffs have now scored on seven of their past nine possessions with their running game helping take the pressure off of Sanders, the quarterback. The last drive went 65 yards in six plays, including runs of 21 and 19 yards by Isaiah Augustave, a transfer from Arkansas.

UCF got the ball back after that but fumbled the ball away to end the third quarter. Colorado now has the ball and a 41-21 lead with 15 minutes left to play.

UCF gets back in the game

ORLANDO, Fla. –  Colorado just let Central Florida back into the game with 3:58 left in the third quarter. The Buffs seemed to sleep on their 20-point lead and allowed three big pass plays of 54, 23 and 15 yards from UCF quarterback KJ Jefferson. The last one was a play-fake for a 15-yard touchdown up the middle to receiver Xavier Townsend, helping cut CU’s lead to 34-21.

The drive went 92 yards in three plays.

Travis Hunter strikes Heisman pose after incredible interception

ORLANDO, Fla. –  Travis Hunter just did what?

We shouldn’t be surprised anymore by what he does, but the Colorado two-way star still inspires awe by coming up with the ball at just the right time. This time he even struck the Heisman Trophy pose after making an interception against Central Florida with about eight minutes left in the third quarter.

He stepped in front of the UCF pass on the left sideline, taking the ball away from intended receiver Evan Morris, the UCF tight end.

Unfortunately for Colorado, the Buffs couldn’t capitalize on it despite gaining possession at the UCF 38-yard line. They ended up punting it back to UCF with a 34-14 lead with 5:18 left in the third quarter.

Hunter also has nine catches for 79 yards and a touchdown on offense.

Colorado extends lead

ORLANDO, Fla. –  Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders just led the Buffaloes on their sixth scoring drive in their past seven possessions, helping them take a 34-14 lead against Central Florida with 9:11 left in the third quarter.

The Buffs marched 63 yards on four plays to score this time, highlighted by a 32-yard pass to receiver Will Sheppard that brought the ball to the UCF 1-yard line. Freshman running back Micah Welch then scored on a 1-yard run up the middle.

Welch has 33 yards on four carries to help revive the Colorado running game.

Colorado leads UCF at halftime 27-14

ORLANDO, Fla. –  Colorado leads Central Florida at halftime 27-14 after scoring two field goals in the final 42 seconds of the second quarter.

The first came after another clutch play by two-way starter Travis Hunter, who grabbed a pass from Shedeur Sanders on third down and six for a 29-yard gain, keeping the Buffaloes’ drive alive before they went up 24-14.

Sanders had rolled left to escape pressure and threw it into coverage, where Hunter plucked it away near the UCF 40-yard line.  The Buffs’ drive then sputtered with three plays after that, forcing them to settle for a 36-yard field goal with 37 seconds before halftime.

The kick from Alejandro Mata put the Buffs up 24-14.

After a punt from Central Florida, Colorado got the ball back with a few seconds left and used it to get in position for a 46-yard field goal from Mata as time expired.

Hunter has seven catches for 81 yards and one touchdown at the half. Shedeur Sanders has completed 22 of 27 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. 

UCF keeps pace with Jefferson touchdown

ORLANDO, Fla. –  Central Florida has struck back as it tries to keep up with Colorado. Quarterback KJ Jefferson bowled into the right corner of the end zone for a 7-yard touchdown run with 8:41 left before halftime, helping cut Colorado’s lead to 21-14.

The play ended an eight-play 68-yard drive. Jefferson is 4-for-7 passing for 122 yards and one touchdown with one interception.

Colorado laying it on thanks to run game

ORLANDO, Fla. –  Colorado now has scored touchdowns on three straight possessions to take a 21-7 lead with 12:21 left before halftime. This time running back Dallan Hayden, a transfer from Ohio State, burst up the middle for a 14-yard touchdown.

The Buffaloes have surged since opening the game with an interception from quarterback Shedeur Sanders. And they’ve been buoyed by a part of their offense that barely existed before Saturday – the running game.

The Buffs have 59 yards rushing on 10 carries from three different ball carriers.

Colorado take the lead behind Sanders’ play

ORLANDO, Fla. – Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders appears to be heating up after leading the Buffaloes to a 14-7 at the end of the first quarter. He has led the Buffaloes on back-to-back touchdown drives capped by two big touchdown passes – one for 23 yards to Travis Hunter and one for 47 yards to Will Sheppard.

Sanders finished the first quarter with 12-for-15 passing for 115 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. The CU offense has been boosted by a running game that has 36 yards on seven carries.

UCF scores: RJ Harvey answers back with touchdown

ORLANDO, Fla. – The UCF Knights answered Colorado’s touchdown drive with a touchdown of their own on the very next play. Quarterback KJ Jefferson lofted a first-down pass to the left side of the field, where running back RJ Harvey caught it and outraced Travis Hunter down the left sideline to score on a 75-yard touchdown catch with 3:38 left in the first quarter. The score is tied at 7-7.

Colorado Scores: Shedeur Sanders finds Travis Hunter for touchdown

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Shedeur Sanders-Travis Hunter show just got started. And now the Buffaloes are up 7-0 against Central Florida with 3:49 left in the first quarter.

Sanders, Colorado’s quarterback, found Hunter near the goal line for a 23-yard touchdown pass, finishing an 80-yard, 11-play scoring drive for the Buffaloes. Freshman running back Micah Welch had two runs on the drive for 27 yards.

Hunter now has four catches for 36 yards after two possessions. Sanders is 8-for-9 passing for 35 yards and a touchdown with one interception.

Score: Colorado 7, UCF 0 with 3:49 in the first quarter

Colorado, UCF swap interceptions to start game

ORLANDO, Fla. – Two possessions, two interceptions. After the delayed kickoff, Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders threw an interception on his first possession of the game, setting up a short field for Central Florida at the Colorado 29-yard line.

But the Buffaloes got the ball back with an interception of their own when UCF quarterback KJ Jefferson lofted a pass into the end zone that was picked off by Colorado defensive back Preston Hodge. UCF ran 10 plays before the turnover and has 24 yards of offense.

The score is still 0-0 with 4:17 left in the first quarter.

When is Colorado-UCF game?

Kickoff is Saturday, Sept. 28 at 3:30 p.m. ET from FBC Mortgage Stadium in Orlando, Florida.

How to watch Colorado vs. UCF game

The game will be broadcast on FOX and also is available on Fubo.

Catch College Football action this season with a Fubo subscription

Colorado-UCF kickoff delayed

ORLANDO, Fla. –  Kickoff for the Colorado-Central Florida game has been delayed until at least 4:20 p.m. ET because of inclement weather and lightning in the area.

The game had been set to start at about 3:30 p.m. on Fox, then was delayed until 4:05 and then 4:20. The new kickoff time is “pending no lightning strikes within 8 miles,” according to the stadium video board. 

College Football Week 5 schedule, Top 25

Virginia Tech at Miami, ESPN, 7:30 p.m. (Friday, Sept. 27)
Kentucky at No. 5 Ole Miss, ABC, Noon
No. 22 BYU at Baylor, FS1, Noon
No. 20 Oklahoma State at No. 25 Kansas State, ESPN, Noon
Minnesota at No. 12 Michigan, FOX, Noon
Fresno State at No. 23 UNLV, FS1, 3:30 p.m.
Arkansas at No. 24 Texas A&M, ESPN, 3:30 p.m.
No. 18 Oklahoma at Auburn, ABC, 3:30 p.m.
No. 17 Louisville at No. 14 Notre Dame, Peacock, 3:30 p.m.
Wisconsin at No. 18 USC, CBS, 3:30 p.m.
Mississippi State at No. 2 Texas, SEC Network, 4:15 p.m.
No. 19 Iowa State at Houston, FS1, 7:00 p.m.
Stanford at No. 15 Clemson, ESPN, 7:00 p.m.
No. 1 Georgia at No. 4 Alabama, ABC, 7:30 p.m.
No. 21 Illinois at No. 8 Penn State, NBC, 7:30 p.m.
No. 3 Ohio State at Michigan State, Peacock, 7:30 p.m.
South Alabama at No. 13 LSU, SEC Network, 7:45 p.m.
No. 7 Oregon at UCLA, FOX, 11:00 p.m.

Colorado vs. UCF odds, line

The Central Florida Knights are favorites to defeat the Colorado Buffaloes in Saturday’s college football matchup, according to the BetMGM college football odds. Looking to wager? Check out the top college football betting apps in 2024, offering the top NCAA football betting promos and bonuses in 2024. 

Odds as of Saturday.

Spread: UCF (-14)
Moneyline: UCF (-550)
Over/Under: 61.5

College football picks Week 5

USA TODAY experts have you covered on how things will go down in Week 5.

Rain, rocket fill skies near UCF stadium

ORLANDO, Fla. –  A rain cloud burst above the field at FBC Mortgage Stadium about 100 minutes before kickoff, chasing players off the field and under the cover of the stadium. The downpour also chased away Cam Newton, the 2010 Heisman Trophy winner who was strolling on the field before the game as a guest.

It’s not clear how long the rain will last, but the skies have been something to watch here lately. At 1:17 p.m. ET, NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission lifted off about 35 miles east of the stadium at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The launch wasn’t visible from the stadium because of cloudy weather.

About an hour before game time, the stadium video board was still imploring fans to leave the seating bowl.

‘Inclement weather in the area!’ the video board said. ‘Please exit the seating bowl at this time.’

Many students still stayed seated behind the end zones.

Deion Sanders, Colorado players return home to Florida for UCF game

Coach Deion Sanders calls them his “Florida boys” – players on his Colorado football team who are Florida natives just like him.

This week many of them came home when the Buffaloes arrived in Orlando Wednesday for Saturday’s game at Central Florida.

The Colorado roster officially lists 18 players on the roster from Florida, second only to players from Texas (21) and more than even players from Colorado itself (14).

But there are more than that with connections to the state. The list doesn’t even include two-way star Travis Hunter, who is from West Palm Beach but moved to Georgia for high school. It also doesn’t include freshman starting offensive tackle Jordan Seaton, who played the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, but is from Washington, D.C.

The list does include wide receiver LaJohntay Wester, who returns home a hero after catching a Hail Mary touchdown pass last week as time expired in the fourth quarter of a 38-31 overtime win against Baylor. He is from Palmetto, Florida, and transferred to Colorado from Florida Atlantic, along with his brother Jaylen, a linebacker for Colorado.

Sanders is from Fort Myers, Florida, and played at Florida State. He has made it a point to recruit players from Florida and cited the state’s high number of players in the NFL. Earlier this year, he also hired Orlando native Warren Sapp to join his coaching staff as a graduate assistant. Sapp starred at the University of Miami.

This is a big recruiting weekend for Deion Sanders

UCF is expected to host dozens of recruits Saturday. But Deion Sanders suggested that many will be there to check out the Buffaloes.

“I shouldn’t say this,” Sanders said on his weekly show on CBS Colorado. “But this is the way we do it… A lot of recruits that really want to see us, they will sign up to go to the game on the behalf of an opposing team.”

Sanders said he guaranteed the Knights will “have their biggest recruiting weekend this weekend.”

“Every recruit in Florida is gonna be on that sideline,” he said.

Colorado vs. UCF predictions

ESPN: UCF has an 82% chance to win

According to ESPN’s Matchup Predictor, the UCF Knights have an 82% chance to beat the Colorado Buffaloes in Week 5.

The Oklahoman: UCF 34, Colorado 31

Justin Martinez writes, ‘Colorado beat the odds in its overtime win over Baylor last week, getting a Hail Mary touchdown from Shedeur Sanders to LaJohntay Wester at the end of regulation. I don’t think the Buffaloes will be able to repeat that magic against the Knights, though. UCF ranks first in the nation in rushing yards per game this season (375.7), and it’ll use that strength to control the time of possession and take the ball out of Sanders’ hands. This one will be closer than the odds suggest, but UCF will still get the win.’

Buffaloes Wire: UCF 34, Colorado 28

Jack Carlough writes, ‘The Knights are currently favored by about two touchdowns, which is far too generous toward UCF. However, Colorado’s special teams woes and continued offensive line problems still have me leaning toward those Knights.’

Colorado vs. UCF all-time record

Saturday will mark the first time the two programs have met and will see UCF (3-0) take on Colorado (3-1), led by its second-year coach, Deion Sanders.

Colorado depth chart

Offense 

QB: Shedeur Sanders
RB: Isaiah Augustave
WR: Will Sheppard
WR: Travis Hunter
WR: Jimmy Horn Jr.
TE: Sav’ell Smalls
LT: Jordan Seaton
LG: Tyler Brown
C: Hank Zilinskas
RG: Kahlil Benson
RT: Phillip Houston

Defense 

DE: BJ Green
DT: Chidozie Nwankwo
DT: Shane Cokes
DE: Samuel Okunlola
LB: Lavonta Bentley
LB: Nakhai Hill-Green
NB: Preston Hodge
CB: Travis Hunter
S: Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig
S: Carter Stoutmire
CB: DJ McKinney

Specialists 

Punter: Mark Vassett
Placekicker: Alejando Mata 

UCF depth chart 

Offense 

QB: KJ Jefferson
RB: RJ Harvey
WR Xavier Townsend
WR: Kobe Hudson
WR: Trent Whittemore
TE: Randy Pittman Jr.
LT: Amari Kight
LG: Adrian Medley
C: Caden Kitler
RG: Marcellus Marshall
RT: Paul Rubelt

Defense 

LDE: Malachi Lawrence
NT: Lee Hunter
DT: Ricky Barber
RDE: Nyjalik Kelly
WLB: Deshawn Pace
MLB: Ethan Barr
CB: Brandon Adams
S: Sheldon Arnold
S: Quadric Bullard
CB: Mac McWilliams
NB: Braeden Marshall

Specialists 

Punter: Mitch McCarthy
Placekicker: Colton Boomer

College Football Fix podcast 

Dan Wolken and Paul Myerberg of USA TODAY Sports discuss these topics and more in this week’s version of the College Football Fix.

US LBM Coaches Poll 

Nebraska and Memphis both dropped out of this week’s US LBM Coaches Poll. The Georgia Bulldogs pulled ahead to take the top spot with the Texas Longhorns in a close second.

College football bowl projections 

There is still plenty of time left in the season for teams to continue vying for position, with the hope of securing a spot in the College Football Playoff or at the very least a bowl game. Here are Erick Smith’s USA TODAY Sports bowl projections following the results of Week 4 games.

College football Re-Rank 1-134 

Paul Myerberg provides this week’s USA TODAY Sports NCAA Re-Rank 1-134, where he ranks every team in college football, including Colorado and UCF before they meet this afternoon.

College football overreactions from Week 4

Reporter Eddie Timanus is back to offer some big-picture perspective in response to a bit of the buzz from Week 4, much of which was generated by members of one conference in particular.

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.

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup will be held in 12 stadiums across the United States, with the July 13 final set for MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, the soccer governing body announced in New York on Saturday.

The country will see 32 of the best club soccer teams in the world — like Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan and Al Hilal — play in a tournament to be crowned the best.

Consider it a precursor to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Along with the site locations, 30 of 32 teams have already earned spots in the Club World Cup. The United States will produce a host club; the remaining club will hail from South America.

Here’s everything you need to know about next year’s FIFA Club World Cup:

When is the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup?

The tournament begins on June 15 with the final set for July 13. The Club World Cup final will be played at the same site as the 2026 World Cup final.

Where will 2025 FIFA Club World Cup games be played?

Here’s the stadium sites announced Saturday:

Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
TQL Stadium (Cincinnati)
Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, N.C.)
MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, N.J.)
Hard Rock Stadium (Miami)
Geodis Park (Nashville, Tenn.)
Inter&Co Stadium (Orlando, Fla.)
Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Fla.)
Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia)
Rose Bowl (Pasadena, Calif.)
Lumen Field (Seattle)
Audi Field (Washington, D.C.)

Who will be the United States’ team in 2025 FIFA Club World Cup?

One of the two undecided teams will be a team that represents the United States, the host country. This seems like a two-team race.

Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami is an obvious choice. Messi, considered the world’s best player, is in the twilight of his career playing for an American team. He’ll be playing in the final year of his current contract. And he would undoubtedly be the tournament’s biggest attraction outside of Real Madrid stars Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham. Although Inter Miami won the 2023 Leagues Cup, the club might have to win either the MLS Supporters’ Shield and/or the 2024 MLS Cup to qualify for the Club Word Cup.

Another leading choice is the Columbus Crew, the reigning MLS Cup champions and 2024 Leagues Cup winners. The Crew has been the best MLS team over the last year, but fell to Pachuca in the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup final, a match that would have qualified them for the Club World Cup.

Which clubs are participating in 2025 FIFA Club World Cup?

Here are the 30 teams that have already qualified for the tournament, and how they qualified:

UEFA: Union of European Football Associations

Chelsea (ENG) – 2020/21 UEFA Champions League
Real Madrid (ESP) – 2021/22 and 2023/24 UEFA Champions League
Manchester City (ENG) – 2022/23 UEFA Champions League
Bayern Munich (GER) – UEFA ranking pathway
Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) – UEFA ranking pathway
Inter Milan (ITA) – UEFA ranking pathway
Porto (POR) – UEFA ranking pathway
Benfica (POR) – UEFA ranking pathway
Borussia Dortmund (GER) – UEFA ranking pathway
Juventus (ITA) – UEFA ranking pathway
Atletico Madrid (ESP) – UEFA ranking pathway
FC Salzburg (AUT) – UEFA ranking pathway

AFC: Asian Football Confederation

Al Hilal (KSA) – 2021 AFC Champions League
Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) – 2022 AFC Champions League
Al Ain (UAE) – 2023/24 AFC Champions League
Ulsan HD FC (KOR) – AFC ranking pathway

CAF: Confederation of African Football

Al Ahly (EGY) – 2020/21, 2022/23 and 2023/24 CAF Champions League
Wydad (MAR) – 2021/22 CAF Champions League
ES Tunis (TUN) – CAF ranking pathway
Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA) – CAF ranking pathway

CONCACAF: North America, Central America and the Caribbean

Monterrey (MEX) – 2021 Concacaf Champions Cup
Seattle Sounders (USA) – 2022 Concacaf Champions Cup
Club Leon (MEX) – 2023 Concacaf Champions Cup
Pachuca (MEX) – 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup
TBD – 2025 Club World Cup host slot

CONMEBOL: South America

Palmeiras (BRA) – 2021 CONMEBOL Libertadores
Flamengo (BRA) – 2022 CONMEBOL Libertadores
Fluminense (BRA) – 2023 CONMEBOL Libertadores
River Plate (ARG) – CONMEBOL ranking pathway
Boca Juniors (ARG) – CONMEBOL ranking pathway
TBD – 2024 CONMEBOL Libertadores

OFC: Oceania Football Confederation

Auckland City (NZL) – OFC ranking pathway

PHOENIX − It’s fun, chaotic and nerve-racking but a complete nightmare for three traveling secretaries.

While the six division races are all decided along with the American League wild-card field, the National League wild-card race is still jumbled.

The San Diego Padres clinched the top wild-card berth and home-field advantage in the wild-card round with their 5-3 victory Friday night over the Arizona Diamondbacks, it leaves three teams vying for the final two spots.

And no one has the slightest idea who’s going to keep playing in October and who’s staying home.

The New York Mets (87-71), Atlanta (87-71) and the Arizona Diamondbacks (88-72), after 184 days of the regular season, are tied up with two days left.

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

Check that.

There are three days left.

Well, maybe.

It is so confusing that these teams don’t know how many games they have left to play, let alone have any idea where to tell their pilot to fly Monday.

The three teams have complete control of their destiny without needing to rely on anyone losing, well, with the exception of Arizona, the team with the most victories among the trio.

If either Atlanta or the Mets win their remaining four games, they’re in.

If Arizona wins their remaining two games against San Diego, they’re all but certain to be in, but it’s not fully guaranteed.

Let’s say the Mets win their next two games in Milwaukee, Atlanta wins their next two against Kansas City and Arizona wins their next two against the Padres, it guarantees only that Monday’s bizarre day will have a significant impact.

The Mets and Atlanta are scheduled to play a doubleheader at Truist Park in Atlanta, making up the postponed games this week because of Hurricane Helene, providing the games have playoff implications.

The only way the games wouldn’t be necessary is if the Diamondbacks lose their last two games and the Mets and Atlanta win their next two games. That would leave the D-backs on the outside looking in, two games back from both teams with New York and Atlanta each having the tiebreaker advantage over Arizona.

Now, if the D-backs win both games, they’ll be sitting pretty, but could be stopped outside the postseason pearly gates if Atlanta and the Mets split their doubleheader, giving all three teams a 90-72 record, with the D-backs losing the tiebreaker in a three-way tie.

Got all of that?

“I think it’s an opportunity to be involved in something weirder, goofier, unprecedented,” Atlanta catcher Sean Murphy told reporters Friday. “You know, I think a potential doubleheader before the playoffs is kind of fun. And, yeah, I think embracing it is the one thing you can do.”

The scenarios are so chaotic that even if the Diamondbacks have a postseason berth clinched Sunday, they’ve got to sit around Monday waiting to see the outcome of the New York-Atlanta games to know where they’re headed. If they win the second wild-card berth, they are headed to San Diego for a best-of-three series at Petco Park. If they win the third wild-card berth, they are headed to Milwaukee, playing a team they’ve just faced seven times in the last week.

The plan, the D-backs say, is to work out at Chase Field on Monday, watch the Mets-Atlanta games in the background, and hope to learn their destination sometime in the late afternoon with the playoffs starting Tuesday.

For Atlanta and New York, they’re just hoping they don’t have to play both games of the doubleheader Monday. If you win, you actually lose, with the surviving team left with a battered pitching staff before the wild-card series.

That is, unless you’re Atlanta, which hasn’t pitched Cy Young favorite Chris Sale in nine days. They claim they’re going to save him for an elimination game, with hopes he may be not have to pitch until Game 1 of the wild-card series. Either that, or they believe he’s fatigued, with his velocity down 4-mph in his last start.

Hey, why not have a little espionage to go with the drama, while wondering just how much effort the Padres will give to beat the Diamondbacks, and the same with the Brewers to beat the Mets and the Royals to beat Atlanta.

The Padres already have the top wild-card seed and have nothing to gain beating Arizona. The Royals clinched a playoff berth Friday, knowing they’ll open up against either Baltimore or Houston. And the Brewers are locked in as the third division winner, and can’t change their outcome.

“We’ll still get after it these next two days,’’ Padres manager Mike Shildt said in his office Friday night. “These games matter, so we want to be reflective of the integrity of the whole race.

“But we also want to make sure we’re taken care of, and we’ll set up our pitching for Tuesday.

This means the Padres will skip Michael King for Sunday’s game, making him a potential option to start in the wild-card series.

They could also rest Luis Arraez, who has been dealing with knee and thumb injuries, but since he’s vying for his third consecutive batting title, with Shohei Ohtani creeping up on him, he insists he’ll play.

The Diamondbacks, who have lost four of their last five games, don’t have that luxury. Manager Torey Lovullo says he doesn’t plan to use ace Zac Gallen on Sunday, but if the situation is dire, all hands are on deck.

“We’re going to be ready to go,’’ Lovullo said. “We know what we’re fighting for. A lot of people are asking me certain questions about the stability of our team. ‘Are we OK?’ We’re great. …

“I can’t explain it. Sometimes, baseball’s a crazy game. We didn’t get the victory, but we sure as hell are going to do all we can to get one [Saturday].’’

If the Diamondbacks fare well, the Mets could wind up being the ones on the outside looking in. They lost to Milwaukee, 8-4, with their ace Sean Manaea on the mound, giving up a grand slam in the first inning.

“We’ve been through a lot this year,’’ Mets manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters, “and this is nothing different.’’

The hottest team among the trio is Atlanta, which has won six of its last seven games, including a 3-0 victory over Kansas City with Max Fried pitching 8 ⅔ dominant innings, yielding just three hits while striking out nine.

“We had to win this game and I just wanted to make sure I left everything out there,” Fried told reporters. “This was a big game. We needed to win and we need to win every single game the rest of the year. This is what we play for, meaningful baseball in September.’’

While the wild-card picture looks awfully murky, Fried remains convinced they’ll be back playing in October, just like ol’ times.

“We’ve got a really great group in there that believes and is extremely talented,’’ he said. “I’m confident we’re going to be winning a lot of games and getting to the playoffs.”

It leaves one question.

Just who in the world will be that other wild-card team?

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There’s ‘Swifties for Harris’ and ‘Cat Ladies for Kamala’ and ‘White Dudes for Harris.’ You can add one more to the list: ‘Athletes for Harris.’

The Harris campaign says it’s launching ‘Athletes for Harris’ and the effort is designed to mobilize athletes and coaches in the final weeks of the campaign, according to a statement obtained by USA TODAY Sports.

‘Athletes are among the most trusted voices for key voting blocs, especially young men, making them uniquely qualified campaigners for Vice President Harris and Governor (Tim) Walz’s campaign,’ read the statement. ‘Sporting events and games are also key moments that draw in large and politically diverse audiences, audiences that are increasing their reach with Gen Z and younger men.’

The campaign said it will leverage the events and athletes to ‘organize, reach, and make its case to voters’ using various strategies, including having big-name athletes as co-chairs to help campaign.

The 10 co-chairs leading the effort are: Hall of Famer Magic Johnson; tennis great Billie Jean King; Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr; two-time World Cup champion Ali Krieger; WNBA champion and Olympic gold medalist Candace Parker; Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers; South Carolina coach Dawn Staley; Paralympic swimmer Ali Truwit; NBA all-star Chris Paul; and Philadelphia Eagles defensive lineman Thomas Booker.

‘I just got back from the Paralympics a few weeks ago and now more than ever feel the importance of unity and unifying voices,’ Truwit said in a statement. ‘And Vice President Harris is a vote for kindness and inclusivity and unity.’

The campaign also said it will use a paid media blitz that targets sports fans at key upcoming games. ‘Athletes for Harris’ will also attempt to recruit other athletes to campaign on behalf of Harris.

Over the past several months different groups have popped up backing Harris. They’re composed of different demographics. Many credit the ‘Win With Black Women Call’ as the leading edge of this movement. The call reportedly drew over 40,000 participants.

Bringing athletes into this mix and political environment is yet another way for Harris to raise money and get attention.

Harris also recently got the backing of 15 Pro Football Hall of Famers: Mel Blount, Emmitt Smith, Kellen Winslow, Andre Tippett, Marv Levy, Alan Page, Drew Pearson, Kenny Houston, Jan Stenerud, Calvin Johnson, Robert Brazile, Willie Roaf, Mike Haynes, Elvin Bethea, and Ron Mix.

‘I have known Vice President Harris for over 25 years, and you can count on her to deliver on what she says she is going to do,’ Johnson said in a statement. ‘She’ll be a President for all people, no matter the race, language, sexual orientation, or party line.

‘She showed all of us — and showed the world — that she was ready to be President, how smart she is, and her plan for the country in that debate. We are not going backwards; we are moving forward. For all of the athletes out there, don’t be afraid to use your platforms — we need all of you to get involved. Share this with your friends that Vice President Harris has an agenda that will move the country forward. The Magic Man is on board.”

Minnesota football came up just short of erasing a 21-point deficit Saturday at The Big House against No. 12 Michigan, as the Golden Gophers fell 27-24 in the 2024 edition of the Little Brown Jug rivalry game.

But in the midst of all that, the Gophers’ wide receiver Daniel Jackson entered himself into discussion for ‘Catch of the Year’ come the end of the college football season.

Driving in the red zone on a first-and-10 at the Michigan 12-yard line, Jackson looked to have caught the deflection of quarterback Max Brosmer’s pass off Wolverine defensive back Zeke Berry for a touchdown to bring the game within three at 27-24. To make it even more impressive from Jackson, he caught it with his back against Berry and spun.

Here’s another look at Jackson’s touchdown grab from the field:

Jackson finished second among all wide receivers in Saturday’s game with seven receptions for 58 yards and a touchdown. Through Minnesota’s first five games of the season, Jackson has 21 receptions for 268 yards and a score.

Despite the loss, the Gophers finished atop the Wolverines virtually in every statistical category, including total offense yards (296 to 241), first downs (20 to 15) and total tackles (62-57). Brosmer finished 27-of-40 passing for 258 yards with a touchdown but was sacked five times and threw an interception on the afternoon.

With the loss Saturday, one at which Minnesota Governor and Democratic Vice Presidential candidate Tim Walz was present, Minnesota dropped to 2-3 overall and 0-2 in Big Ten play. The Gophers have now lost each of their last six Big Ten games dating back to last season.

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Quarterback Jordan Love will start Sunday for the Green Bay Packers when they host the Minnesota Vikings, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.

Love said during the week that he was ‘close’ and apparently he wasn’t exaggerating.

The Packers did not elevate practice squad quarterback Sean Clifford to the gameday roster.

Clifford had been elevated each of the past two weeks because Love was out with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee. The Packers needed someone to back up Malik Willis and Clifford is allowed to be elevated three times during the season.

The Packers did elevate two cornerbacks, Robert Rochell and Kamal Hadden, possibly signaling that cornerback Jaire Alexander won’t be available.

All things Packers: Latest Green Bay Packers news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

The New York Knicks continue to build a roster that can contend for an NBA championship in ways the franchise hasn’t seen in at least two decades.

The Knicks have reached a deal to acquire center-forward Karl-Anthony Towns from the Minnesota Timberwolves, a person with knowledge of the trade told USA TODAY Sports. The person requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly until the trade is official.

The Knicks plan to send Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and a first-round pick to the Timberwolves as part of the blockbuster trade just as training camps are getting ready to open for most teams.

The Knicks will also trade DaQuan Jeffries to Charlotte.

New York is intent on competing with the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics for the Eastern Conference title. The Knicks have not been to the Finals since 2000 and have not won a title since 1973.

Last season, they were 50-32, led by All-Star Jalen Brunson. But injuries derailed their playoffs, and they lost to Indiana in the conference semifinals.

Grading the trade for the Knicks

The Knicks get a formidable big man in Towns, who is a four-time All-Star, including last season, and averaged 21.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists and shot 50.4% from the field, a career-high 41.6% on 3-pointers and 87.3% on free throws.

For Towns, this is a return home. He was born in Edison, New Jersey, and played high school basketball at St. Joseph in nearby Metuchen, New Jersey. Towns, 28, was the No. 1 pick out of Kentucky in the 2015 draft.

He will give the Knicks a versatile inside-outside offensive game to go along with Brunson, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges, who the Knicks acquired from Brooklyn in the offseason.

Grade: B+

Grading the trade for the Timberwolves

The Timberwolves give up a valuable player who embraced the city, community and franchise. The Timberwolves won 56 games last season, second most in franchise history, and lost to Dallas in the Western Conference finals.

In the big picture, the Timberwolves move off of Towns’ contract, which has four years and $220.4 million remaining on it, and get Randle, who can become a free agent after next season or pick up his player option at $30.9 million for 2025-26. Either way, it’s financial relief for the Timberwolves, who plan to lower their luxury tax bill.

Randle averaged 24.0 points, 9.2 rebounds and 5.0 assists last season but played in just 46 regular-season games and missed the playoffs with a dislocated right shoulder.

DiVincenzo has developed into a solid contributor and 3-point shooter, averaging 15.5 points and shooting 40.1% on 3s in 2023-24.

Grade: C

Follow NBA reporter Jeff Zillgitt on social media @JeffZillgitt

The Miami Dolphins will start Tyler Huntley at quarterback for their Monday night game against the Tennessee Titans, the team announced Saturday.

Backup Skylar Thompson started in last week’s 24-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks but left the game with a rib injury. Tim Boyle will be the backup for Monday’s contest for Miami, which has lost two consecutive games.

‘I think one thing that was supremely obvious to the team since he got here, and even more so this practice week, is Snoop has started multiple big games,’ Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said. ‘Just understanding as a quarterback, what is required to win over teammates and take the place of somebody else and assert their own personality, their own skill set, their own traits within the offense and lead people.

The 26-year-old Huntley was signed by Miami off theBaltimore Ravens practice squad after starter Tua Tagovailoa was placed on injured reserve with a concussion.

Huntley played four seasons with the Ravens and has a 3-6 record as a starting quarterback. For his career, Huntley has thrown 1,957 yards and eight touchdowns with seven interceptions, plus 509 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

All things Dolphins: Latest Miami Dolphins news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

We’ve been trained to expect unpredictable results every Saturday in college football. What we still can’t make sense out of is when those upsets and surprises are going to happen.

Last week, there were shocking results that knocked off unbeaten teams and several games with amazing finishes. This week, the schedule should allow for more of the same. Could one occur when No. 1 Georgia visits No. 4 Alabama? What about the three other ranked games matching Top 25 teams or when teams continue their early forays in conference play?

That’s why the USA TODAY Sports college football staff is here. Scooby Axson, Jordan Mendoza, Paul Myerberg, Erick Smith, Eddie Timanus and Dan Wolken weigh in with their bold predictions for Week 5 of the college football season:

USC gets defensive again

The Trojans really had no business losing to Michigan, considering the Wolverines didn’t even try to develop a passing game and used big runs to grind their way to victory. But USC’s next opponent, Wisconsin, isn’t the old-school power running football of the past, only averaging a shade over four yards a carry this season. The Badgers passing game is even worse, and to pull off the upset, they must play a complete game and hope for some sloppy play from their opponents. However, USC will use its superior offensive skill and should have no trouble notching their first-ever Big Ten victory. — Scooby Axson

EXPERT PICKS: Week 5 staff predictions for every Top 25 matchup

Duke and Indiana … unbeaten in football?

It’s been decades since Duke and Indiana started a football season 5-0. Duke last did it in 1994. Indiana’s previous best beginning goes all the way back to 1967. Granted the schedule hasn’t been tough, but the Blue Devils and the Hoosiers are legit. Curt Cignetti has the offense rolling in Indiana while the Duke defense is tough. They’ll get their first tests this weekend with Duke playing rival North Carolina and Indiana hosting Maryland. Both known basketball schools get it done on the gridiron this week to maintain their perfect record. They aren’t College Football Playoff contenders (yet), but something special is building in Durham and Bloomington. — Jordan Mendoza

Kansas State bounces back against Oklahoma State

After a shocking 38-9 loss last weekend at Brigham Young, Kansas State gets back on track with a win at home against Oklahoma State. One week after the Cowboys were hammered by Utah’s running game, the Wildcats lean on a similar game plan behind quarterback Avery Johnson and reassert themselves as one of the best teams in the Big 12 and a playoff contender. Two losses in a row would essentially ruin Oklahoma State’s chances of reaching the conference title game and playing for a playoff berth. — Paul Myerberg

Arkansas beats Texas A&M to finally get over the hump

It’s been tough in close games for the Razorbacks. Arkansas is 3-10 in one-score contests during the past three seasons with the most-recent demise coming in overtime at Oklahoma State in Week 2. Expect another tight matchup for Sam Pittman’s team in its annual trip to Arlington, Texas, to face the Aggies. This time the outcome will be different with Razorbacks quarterback Taylen Green getting the best of whichever counterpart Texas A&M starts – either Connor Weigman coming back from injury or Marcel Reed, who led the team to victories in the past two games. The win for Arkansas will make Pittman’s hot seat much colder and move Arkansas closer to a bowl game. — Erick Smith

RJ Harvey breaks out as Central Florida tops Colorado

There will be plenty of star power on the field when Colorado visits Central Florida. The Buffaloes, of course, will have two-way standout Travis Hunter as well as quarterback Shedeur Sanders. But the player of the game will come from the other side.

UCF fans already know about running back RJ Harvey, and the rest of the Big 12 is beginning to learn. TCU found out about him the hard way a couple of weeks ago when he scored three touchdowns and added a two-point reception as the Knights rallied from a 28-7 deficit to win 35-34 in Fort Worth. For the season, Harvey is averaging 7.6 yards per rushing attempt, while the Colorado ground defense is getting gashed for a shade over four yards a pop. Look for Harvey to crack the century mark once again as UCF moves to 4-0. — Eddie Timanus

Jeff Brohm leads Louisville past Notre Dame

It feels like we talked about Jeff Brohm going to Louisville for years before it happened. And then it happened, and Brohm is doing exactly what everyone thought he would do: Winning at an extremely high rate.

Oddly, though, Louisville seems to fly under the radar now more than ever and it’s hard to figure out why. Since arriving at Louisville, Brohm is 13-4 and has done extremely well against ACC competition, losing only at Pittsburgh last year and to Florida State in the conference title game.

Despite being a touchdown underdog in South Bend, Louisville finds a way to beat Notre Dame just like it did last year. And the reason is because Brohm is just a vastly better coach than what we have seen from Marcus Freeman and the Fighting Irish. The Cardinals are severely underrated and will show it this weekend with quarterback Tyler Shough (8 TDs, 0 INTs) vaulting them close to the top 10. — Dan Wolken

ORLANDO, Fla. – Coach Deion Sanders and the Colorado football team traveled by plane to Florida on Wednesday, one day earlier than they had planned, all to avoid the hurricane that made landfall in the state on Thursday.

Then they tried to get ready for all of this – a warm, wet and humid game Saturday against Central Florida and the No. 1 rushing offense in the nation (375.7 yards per game).

Last week, the Buffaloes (3-1) needed a miracle to survive a wet homecoming game in Boulder against Baylor. On Saturday, they might need another one at sold-out FBC Mortgage Stadium, at least according to oddsmakers who favor the Knights (3-0) by 14 points.

The game kicks off at 3:30 p.m. ET on Fox and will mark a different kind of homecoming for Sanders and many of his players from the Sunshine State, including two-way star Travis Hunter, who is from West Palm Beach.

A big question is whether Hunter will be enough against the Knights. He’s lifted the Buffs to victory at times this year, along with quarterback Shedeur Sanders. But this might be a taller task. UCF hasn’t scored fewer than 35 points this season under coach Guz Malzahn.

Follow along here for the latest updates, news and highlights.

UCF gets back in the game

ORLANDO, Fla. –  Colorado just let Central Florida back into the game with 3:58 left in the third quarter. The Buffs seemed to sleep on their 20-point lead and allowed three big pass plays of 54, 23 and 15 yards from UCF quarterback KJ Jefferson. The last one was a play-fake for a 15-yard touchdown up the middle to receiver Xavier Townsend, helping cut CU’s lead to 34-21.

The drive went 92 yards in three plays.

Travis Hunter strikes Heisman pose after incredible interception

ORLANDO, Fla. –  Travis Hunter just did what?

We shouldn’t be surprised anymore by what he does, but the Colorado two-way star still inspires awe by coming up with the ball at just the right time. This time he even struck the Heisman Trophy pose after making an interception against Central Florida with about eight minutes left in the third quarter.

He stepped in front of the UCF pass on the left sideline, taking the ball away from intended receiver Evan Morris, the UCF tight end.

Unfortunately for Colorado, the Buffs couldn’t capitalize on it despite gaining possession at the UCF 38-yard line. They ended up punting it back to UCF with a 34-14 lead with 5:18 left in the third quarter.

Hunter also has nine catches for 79 yards and a touchdown on offense.

Colorado extends lead

ORLANDO, Fla. –  Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders just led the Buffaloes on their sixth scoring drive in their past seven possessions, helping them take a 34-14 lead against Central Florida with 9:11 left in the third quarter.

The Buffs marched 63 yards on four plays to score this time, highlighted by a 32-yard pass to receiver Will Sheppard that brought the ball to the UCF 1-yard line. Freshman running back Micah Welch then scored on a 1-yard run up the middle.

Welch has 33 yards on four carries to help revive the Colorado running game.

Colorado leads UCF at halftime 27-14

ORLANDO, Fla. –  Colorado leads Central Florida at halftime 27-14 after scoring two field goals in the final 42 seconds of the second quarter.

The first came after another clutch play by two-way starter Travis Hunter, who grabbed a pass from Shedeur Sanders on third down and six for a 29-yard gain, keeping the Buffaloes’ drive alive before they went up 24-14.

Sanders had rolled left to escape pressure and threw it into coverage, where Hunter plucked it away near the UCF 40-yard line.  The Buffs’ drive then sputtered with three plays after that, forcing them to settle for a 36-yard field goal with 37 seconds before halftime.

The kick from Alejandro Mata put the Buffs up 24-14.

After a punt from Central Florida, Colorado got the ball back with a few seconds left and used it to get in position for a 46-yard field goal from Mata as time expired.

Hunter has seven catches for 81 yards and one touchdown at the half. Shedeur Sanders has completed 22 of 27 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. 

UCF keeps pace with Jefferson touchdown

ORLANDO, Fla. –  Central Florida has struck back as it tries to keep up with Colorado. Quarterback KJ Jefferson bowled into the right corner of the end zone for a 7-yard touchdown run with 8:41 left before halftime, helping cut Colorado’s lead to 21-14.

The play ended an eight-play 68-yard drive. Jefferson is 4-for-7 passing for 122 yards and one touchdown with one interception.

Colorado laying it on thanks to run game

ORLANDO, Fla. –  Colorado now has scored touchdowns on three straight possessions to take a 21-7 lead with 12:21 left before halftime. This time running back Dallan Hayden, a transfer from Ohio State, burst up the middle for a 14-yard touchdown.

The Buffaloes have surged since opening the game with an interception from quarterback Shedeur Sanders. And they’ve been buoyed by a part of their offense that barely existed before Saturday – the running game.

The Buffs have 59 yards rushing on 10 carries from three different ball carriers.

Colorado take the lead behind Sanders’ play

ORLANDO, Fla. – Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders appears to be heating up after leading the Buffaloes to a 14-7 at the end of the first quarter. He has led the Buffaloes on back-to-back touchdown drives capped by two big touchdown passes – one for 23 yards to Travis Hunter and one for 47 yards to Will Sheppard.

Sanders finished the first quarter with 12-for-15 passing for 115 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. The CU offense has been boosted by a running game that has 36 yards on seven carries.

UCF scores: RJ Harvey answers back with touchdown

ORLANDO, Fla. – The UCF Knights answered Colorado’s touchdown drive with a touchdown of their own on the very next play. Quarterback KJ Jefferson lofted a first-down pass to the left side of the field, where running back RJ Harvey caught it and outraced Travis Hunter down the left sideline to score on a 75-yard touchdown catch with 3:38 left in the first quarter. The score is tied at 7-7.

Colorado Scores: Shedeur Sanders finds Travis Hunter for touchdown

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Shedeur Sanders-Travis Hunter show just got started. And now the Buffaloes are up 7-0 against Central Florida with 3:49 left in the first quarter.

Sanders, Colorado’s quarterback, found Hunter near the goal line for a 23-yard touchdown pass, finishing an 80-yard, 11-play scoring drive for the Buffaloes. Freshman running back Micah Welch had two runs on the drive for 27 yards.

Hunter now has four catches for 36 yards after two possessions. Sanders is 8-for-9 passing for 35 yards and a touchdown with one interception.

Score: Colorado 7, UCF 0 with 3:49 in the first quarter

Colorado, UCF swap interceptions to start game

ORLANDO, Fla. – Two possessions, two interceptions. After the delayed kickoff, Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders threw an interception on his first possession of the game, setting up a short field for Central Florida at the Colorado 29-yard line.

But the Buffaloes got the ball back with an interception of their own when UCF quarterback KJ Jefferson lofted a pass into the end zone that was picked off by Colorado defensive back Preston Hodge. UCF ran 10 plays before the turnover and has 24 yards of offense.

The score is still 0-0 with 4:17 left in the first quarter.

When is Colorado-UCF game?

Kickoff is Saturday, Sept. 28 at 3:30 p.m. ET from FBC Mortgage Stadium in Orlando, Florida.

How to watch Colorado vs. UCF game

The game will be broadcast on FOX and also is available on Fubo.

Catch College Football action this season with a Fubo subscription

Colorado-UCF kickoff delayed

ORLANDO, Fla. –  Kickoff for the Colorado-Central Florida game has been delayed until at least 4:20 p.m. ET because of inclement weather and lightning in the area.

The game had been set to start at about 3:30 p.m. on Fox, then was delayed until 4:05 and then 4:20. The new kickoff time is “pending no lightning strikes within 8 miles,” according to the stadium video board. 

College Football Week 5 schedule, Top 25

Virginia Tech at Miami, ESPN, 7:30 p.m. (Friday, Sept. 27)
Kentucky at No. 5 Ole Miss, ABC, Noon
No. 22 BYU at Baylor, FS1, Noon
No. 20 Oklahoma State at No. 25 Kansas State, ESPN, Noon
Minnesota at No. 12 Michigan, FOX, Noon
Fresno State at No. 23 UNLV, FS1, 3:30 p.m.
Arkansas at No. 24 Texas A&M, ESPN, 3:30 p.m.
No. 18 Oklahoma at Auburn, ABC, 3:30 p.m.
No. 17 Louisville at No. 14 Notre Dame, Peacock, 3:30 p.m.
Wisconsin at No. 18 USC, CBS, 3:30 p.m.
Mississippi State at No. 2 Texas, SEC Network, 4:15 p.m.
No. 19 Iowa State at Houston, FS1, 7:00 p.m.
Stanford at No. 15 Clemson, ESPN, 7:00 p.m.
No. 1 Georgia at No. 4 Alabama, ABC, 7:30 p.m.
No. 21 Illinois at No. 8 Penn State, NBC, 7:30 p.m.
No. 3 Ohio State at Michigan State, Peacock, 7:30 p.m.
South Alabama at No. 13 LSU, SEC Network, 7:45 p.m.
No. 7 Oregon at UCLA, FOX, 11:00 p.m.

Colorado vs. UCF odds, line

The Central Florida Knights are favorites to defeat the Colorado Buffaloes in Saturday’s college football matchup, according to the BetMGM college football odds. Looking to wager? Check out the top college football betting apps in 2024, offering the top NCAA football betting promos and bonuses in 2024. 

Odds as of Saturday.

Spread: UCF (-14)
Moneyline: UCF (-550)
Over/Under: 61.5

College football picks Week 5

USA TODAY experts have you covered on how things will go down in Week 5.

Rain, rocket fill skies near UCF stadium

ORLANDO, Fla. –  A rain cloud burst above the field at FBC Mortgage Stadium about 100 minutes before kickoff, chasing players off the field and under the cover of the stadium. The downpour also chased away Cam Newton, the 2010 Heisman Trophy winner who was strolling on the field before the game as a guest.

It’s not clear how long the rain will last, but the skies have been something to watch here lately. At 1:17 p.m. ET, NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission lifted off about 35 miles east of the stadium at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The launch wasn’t visible from the stadium because of cloudy weather.

About an hour before game time, the stadium video board was still imploring fans to leave the seating bowl.

‘Inclement weather in the area!’ the video board said. ‘Please exit the seating bowl at this time.’

Many students still stayed seated behind the end zones.

Deion Sanders, Colorado players return home to Florida for UCF game

Coach Deion Sanders calls them his “Florida boys” – players on his Colorado football team who are Florida natives just like him.

This week many of them came home when the Buffaloes arrived in Orlando Wednesday for Saturday’s game at Central Florida.

The Colorado roster officially lists 18 players on the roster from Florida, second only to players from Texas (21) and more than even players from Colorado itself (14).

But there are more than that with connections to the state. The list doesn’t even include two-way star Travis Hunter, who is from West Palm Beach but moved to Georgia for high school. It also doesn’t include freshman starting offensive tackle Jordan Seaton, who played the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, but is from Washington, D.C.

The list does include wide receiver LaJohntay Wester, who returns home a hero after catching a Hail Mary touchdown pass last week as time expired in the fourth quarter of a 38-31 overtime win against Baylor. He is from Palmetto, Florida, and transferred to Colorado from Florida Atlantic, along with his brother Jaylen, a linebacker for Colorado.

Sanders is from Fort Myers, Florida, and played at Florida State. He has made it a point to recruit players from Florida and cited the state’s high number of players in the NFL. Earlier this year, he also hired Orlando native Warren Sapp to join his coaching staff as a graduate assistant. Sapp starred at the University of Miami.

This is a big recruiting weekend for Deion Sanders

UCF is expected to host dozens of recruits Saturday. But Deion Sanders suggested that many will be there to check out the Buffaloes.

“I shouldn’t say this,” Sanders said on his weekly show on CBS Colorado. “But this is the way we do it… A lot of recruits that really want to see us, they will sign up to go to the game on the behalf of an opposing team.”

Sanders said he guaranteed the Knights will “have their biggest recruiting weekend this weekend.”

“Every recruit in Florida is gonna be on that sideline,” he said.

Colorado vs. UCF predictions

ESPN: UCF has an 82% chance to win

According to ESPN’s Matchup Predictor, the UCF Knights have an 82% chance to beat the Colorado Buffaloes in Week 5.

The Oklahoman: UCF 34, Colorado 31

Justin Martinez writes, ‘Colorado beat the odds in its overtime win over Baylor last week, getting a Hail Mary touchdown from Shedeur Sanders to LaJohntay Wester at the end of regulation. I don’t think the Buffaloes will be able to repeat that magic against the Knights, though. UCF ranks first in the nation in rushing yards per game this season (375.7), and it’ll use that strength to control the time of possession and take the ball out of Sanders’ hands. This one will be closer than the odds suggest, but UCF will still get the win.’

Buffaloes Wire: UCF 34, Colorado 28

Jack Carlough writes, ‘The Knights are currently favored by about two touchdowns, which is far too generous toward UCF. However, Colorado’s special teams woes and continued offensive line problems still have me leaning toward those Knights.’

Colorado vs. UCF all-time record

Saturday will mark the first time the two programs have met and will see UCF (3-0) take on Colorado (3-1), led by its second-year coach, Deion Sanders.

Colorado depth chart

Offense 

QB: Shedeur Sanders
RB: Isaiah Augustave
WR: Will Sheppard
WR: Travis Hunter
WR: Jimmy Horn Jr.
TE: Sav’ell Smalls
LT: Jordan Seaton
LG: Tyler Brown
C: Hank Zilinskas
RG: Kahlil Benson
RT: Phillip Houston

Defense 

DE: BJ Green
DT: Chidozie Nwankwo
DT: Shane Cokes
DE: Samuel Okunlola
LB: Lavonta Bentley
LB: Nakhai Hill-Green
NB: Preston Hodge
CB: Travis Hunter
S: Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig
S: Carter Stoutmire
CB: DJ McKinney

Specialists 

Punter: Mark Vassett
Placekicker: Alejando Mata 

UCF depth chart 

Offense 

QB: KJ Jefferson
RB: RJ Harvey
WR Xavier Townsend
WR: Kobe Hudson
WR: Trent Whittemore
TE: Randy Pittman Jr.
LT: Amari Kight
LG: Adrian Medley
C: Caden Kitler
RG: Marcellus Marshall
RT: Paul Rubelt

Defense 

LDE: Malachi Lawrence
NT: Lee Hunter
DT: Ricky Barber
RDE: Nyjalik Kelly
WLB: Deshawn Pace
MLB: Ethan Barr
CB: Brandon Adams
S: Sheldon Arnold
S: Quadric Bullard
CB: Mac McWilliams
NB: Braeden Marshall

Specialists 

Punter: Mitch McCarthy
Placekicker: Colton Boomer

College Football Fix podcast 

Dan Wolken and Paul Myerberg of USA TODAY Sports discuss these topics and more in this week’s version of the College Football Fix.

US LBM Coaches Poll 

Nebraska and Memphis both dropped out of this week’s US LBM Coaches Poll. The Georgia Bulldogs pulled ahead to take the top spot with the Texas Longhorns in a close second.

College football bowl projections 

There is still plenty of time left in the season for teams to continue vying for position, with the hope of securing a spot in the College Football Playoff or at the very least a bowl game. Here are Erick Smith’s USA TODAY Sports bowl projections following the results of Week 4 games.

College football Re-Rank 1-134 

Paul Myerberg provides this week’s USA TODAY Sports NCAA Re-Rank 1-134, where he ranks every team in college football, including Colorado and UCF before they meet this afternoon.

College football overreactions from Week 4

Reporter Eddie Timanus is back to offer some big-picture perspective in response to a bit of the buzz from Week 4, much of which was generated by members of one conference in particular.

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