The No. 1 pick in the 2024 WNBA draft by the Indiana Fever started her professional career after a stunning four years at Iowa where she re-wrote the scoring record books. Her ability to launch shots from the logo and thread passes through the thinnest of openings drew gasps from viewers and praise from some of the best players in basketball history. 

Then, once she got settled in the WNBA, Clark continued her record-setting ways. 

On an even bigger stage and against considerably better — and more veteran — competition she shattered numerous league records, including ones that had stood for the better part of two decades. A direct line can be drawn from Clark to spikes in attendance, TV ratings and merchandise sales. Her play, and her moxie, drew thousands of new fans as she helped elevate the WNBA to a level of popularity the 28-year-old league had not previously experienced. 

Here’s a by-the-numbers breakdown of all Clark accomplished in the 2024 regular season.

Caitlin Clark rewrites assists records

Clark has broken three assists records this season. Most recently on Sept. 13, she set the single-season assists record — set last season by Connecticut’s Alyssa Thomas — in the Fever’s 78-74 loss to the Las Vegas Aces.

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Clark breaks scoring record set nearly two decades ago

No. 1 pick Seimone Augustus from LSU had owned the rookie scoring record for 18 years until Clark scored 35 points on Sept. 15 in the Fever’s 110-109 win over the Dallas Wings.

Clark completes first rookie triple-double

In addition to being the first rookie to complete a triple-double, Clark is one of just eight players in WNBA history with multiple triple-doubles in their careers, counting the regular season and playoffs. 

When do Caitlin Clark and Fever play in the WNBA playoffs?

The Fever are returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2016, lifted to the postseason by the play of Clark, who is practically a lock to win the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year award.

The Connecticut Sun, a preseason favorite to contend for the WNBA championship, locked up the third seed by blowing out the Chicago Sky, 85-54, in the regular-season finale Thursday.

In the WNBA’s playoff format, the sixth seed matches up with the third seed in the first round. All first-round matchups are best-of-three series. The Fever-Sun schedule:

➤ Game 1: Sunday, Sept. 22 at Connecticut, 3 p.m. ET on ABC

➤ Game 2: Wednesday, Sept. 25 at Connecticut, 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN

➤ Game 3 (if necessary): Friday, Sept. 27 at Indiana, tip time TBA, on ESPN2

This story was updated to add new information, video and statistics.

With his two-way greatness shelved for the 2024 season due to a second elbow reconstruction surgery, Ohtani was a bat-only option in his first season with the Los Angeles Dodgers. And with his right arm mending, he simply expanded the notion of what was possible with his legs.

Ohtani became the first player in baseball history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season, shattering the ceiling on what a 6-foot-4, 210-pound slugger who can also pitch at a Cy Young-caliber level might do.

Ohtani reached this illustrious peak Thursday with a monster game against the Miami Marlins, belting three homers and stealing two bases in a 6-for-6 performance that produced 10 RBI. He ended the day a 51-51 man.

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And with that, he leaves behind the five other members of the 40-40 club: Jose Canseco (1988), Barry Bonds (1996), Alex Rodriguez (1998), Alfonso Soriano (2006) and Ronald Acuña Jr. (2023).

And it couldn’t have arrived alongside a more momentous checkpoint in Ohtani’s career: The Dodgers’ 20-4 victory clinched a playoff berth, meaning Ohtani will play postseason baseball for the first time in his seven seasons.

But there’s still no lid on what he might do this season.

Certainly, the liberalized stolen base rules that limit the number of pickoff throws and provide larger bases from which to depart and arrive play no small part in this phenomenon. In the first season under these rules designed to artificially inject action into an increasingly stationary game, Acuña hit 41 home runs and stole 73 bases, becoming not just the first 40-70 guy, but also 40-50 and 40-60. Rodriguez held the previous record – 46 – for stolen bases in a 40-homer season.

Yet Ohtani, as is his wont, found a lane no one had ever traveled.

‘Happy, relieved, and very respectful to the peers and everybody who came before me to play this sport of baseball,’ Ohtani told reporters in Miami. ‘To be honest, it was something I wanted to get over as soon as possible.’

In his first year of a heavily deferred 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers, Ohtani, the 30-year-old two-time American League MVP, is having arguably the greatest offensive season of his career. He leads the NL in home runs, slugging (.629), OPS (1.005) and adjusted OPS (173), the latter mark just shy of his career-best 184 established in his final season with the down-freeway Angels.

Yet Ohtani has already eclipsed the career-high 46 home runs he belted in 2021. And to all that, he has added 51 stolen bases, more than doubling the 20 he swiped last year and nearly doubling his career-best 26 steals in 2021.

The final climb to 50-50 came in lightning-quick fashion – and ultimately produced just the sixth 10-RBI game in major league history.

Sitting on 48 homers and 49 stolen bases entering Thursday’s series finale at loanDepot Park, Ohtani took care of the latter in a hurry. He hit a leadoff double against Marlins right-hander Edward Cabrera and, with two outs, stole third before scoring the game’s first run. Ohtani victimized Cabrera and catcher Nick Fortes an inning later, swiping second for his 51st steal moments after hitting an RBI single.

Now, for the home runs.

No. 49 came in the sixth inning off Miami reliever George Soriano, Ohtani smashing an 0-1 slider 438 feet to the second deck in right field, the two-run homer giving the Dodgers a 9-3 lead. Simple math said Ohtani would get at least another shot.

And history need only wait one more inning.

Batting against Marlins reliever Michael Baumann, Ohtani slammed a pitch to the opposite field, turned to his dugout to share in the celebration before the ball even reached the left field seats, and took his historic turn around the bases.

Yet the sad-sack Marlins ensured Ohtani would not be finished. With the Dodgers leading 14-3 entering the ninth inning, Miami trotted out infielder Vidal Bruján to pitch the ninth inning. Ohtani was due up fifth, but Max Muncy and Chris Taylor reached base to give Ohtani another crack.

And perhaps the most predictable result in baseball history occurred: Bruján tossed a 68-mph ‘fastball’ to the plate and Ohtani delivered, crushing it 440 feet, once again into the second deck in right field. No. 51 was in the books, and few milestones were left on the table for Dodgers fans once the club returns to L.A.

His record-setting day was a startling turn in a season that has been a referendum on Ohtani’s athleticism. While comparisons to Babe Ruth were only natural given Ohtani’s ability to both slug and strike out batters, this historic campaign has further cemented his status as a one-of-a-kind athlete, one of the greatest on the globe.

As Ohtani puts this season together, he has quietly yet diligently continued rehabilitating his right elbow. He remains on track to pitch in 2025, the world awaiting whether he can match his startling 11.4 strikeout rate per nine innings, and his 3.01 career ERA after a second elbow surgery.

Will 50-50-200 (strikeouts) be in the cards? It seems almost physically impossible. Yet that’s a term we’ve learned not to associate with a player who continues to redefine what is possible.

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As the college football calendar turns to Week 4, we find more and more of the games on the weekend slate begin to count in conference standings. Indeed, there are numerous important early league contests across the country, as well as a few remaining non-conference tilts, that should keep viewers entertained from Friday night into the wee hours of Sunday morning. The headliners include major powers making debuts in their new conferences.

Our aim once again in this space is to preview the most compelling matchups. We can’t hit every game here, of course, so be prepared to find other channels as unexpected events warrant.

Here are our choices for the top seven games of the weekend

No. 7 Tennessee at No. 13 Oklahoma

Time/TV: Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC.

Why watch: We’ll start with this prime-time clash in the SEC. The Sooners get their official welcome to the conference as they host the Volunteers in a game that will also bring Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel back to his alma mater. Tennessee’s offensive operation has run much more smoothly to date with both QB Nico Iamaleava and RB Dylan Sampson putting up huge numbers. LB Danny Stutsman and the OU defense should offer more resistance, but some scoring help will be needed for the Sooners. QB Jackson Arnold made some of his best throws last week against Tulane, but he must beware of Tennessee DB Will Brooks, a former walk-on who recorded a huge pick-six in the Week 2 win against NC State.

Why it could disappoint: The evidence thus far suggests that Tennessee is the stronger candidate to make this a one-sided affair. Though the Oklahoma defense should offer more resistance than any the Vols have encountered to date, a couple of big plays could put it away quickly if the Sooners struggle on offense.

No. 12 Southern California at No. 17 Michigan

Time/TV: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS.

Why watch: The Trojans fittingly begin their inaugural journey through the Big Ten in the Big House, where they find a Wolverines’ squad still searching for an identity in the post-Harbaugh, post-championship era. After a bye week, USC will be rested for its first long flight of the season. Even so, QB Miller Moss and his protectors must be ready to deal with Michigan’s defensive line, arguably the team’s strongest unit featuring Josaiah Stewart and Rayshaun Benny. The other side of the ball has been far less consistent for the Wolverines, however, and now Alex Orji is set to take over at QB in place of opening-day starter Davis Warren. He’ll be up against a vastly improved Trojans’ defense anchored by LBs Eric Gentry and Easton Mascarenas-Arnold.

Why it could disappoint: Michigan’s offensive issues aren’t likely to be fixed in a week. If USC can jump on the Wolverines early, this could turn into a rerun of the Texas game.

WEEKEND FORECAST: Expert picks for every Top 25 game in Week 4

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No. 10 Utah at No. 15 Oklahoma State

Time/TV: Saturday, 4 p.m. ET, Fox.

Why watch: Elsewhere in the Sooner State will be the first Big 12 contest for these expected contenders. It is potentially a preview of the conference championship game, although plenty of other teams in the expanded ‘Oversized Dozen’ will have something to say about that (see below). The biggest game-week question centers on the availability of Utah QB Cam Rising, who sat out last week’s slog past Utah State with a hand injury. He is expected to be ready, but backup Isaac Wilson will be prepared just in case. Regardless of who takes snaps, Cowboys DE Obi Ezeigbo and LB Nick Martin must be kept out of the Utes’ backfield. Oklahoma State is capable of moving the ball by air via QB Alan Bowman or by land with RB Ollie Gordon II. Utah DE Van Fillinger, however, can be a disruptive force against any play call.

Why it could disappoint: Even if Rising is available, both these teams have well-schooled defenses that could make this game a bit of a slog. But that being the case, it’s unlikely to get away completely from either squad, so the tension level should be high throughout.

Illinois at No. 23 Nebraska

Time/TV: Friday, 8 p.m. ET, Fox.

Why watch: It’s a tad early to call any game a must-win. This is, after all, the first Big Ten conference contest for both teams. But it’s definitely one that both programs would like to have in the bank with plenty of tough games still to come as they continue their respective rebuilding efforts with an aim toward bowl eligibility. The Fighting Illini’s best win came against a Kansas squad that was ranked at the time but has since slipped to 1-2, while the ultimate value of the Cornhuskers’ dominant decision against Colorado remains in doubt. The Illinois attack is led by QB Luke Altmyer, a transfer from Ole Miss who has kept the ball out of harm’s way thus far. His primary target is WR Pat Bryant, who figures to draw attention from Nebraska CB Tommy Hill. Freshman sensation QB Dylan Raiola is the catalyst for the Cornhuskers. He has spread the ball around well through his first three starts, but he’ll need to avoid Illini LB Gabe Jacas.

Why it could disappoint: Illinois’s lofty plus-8 turnover margin looms as one possible scenario. Raiola and Co. have been quite sound with the ball thus far, however, and the Cornhuskers should be able to avoid such miscues in friendly environs.

North Carolina State at No. 19 Clemson

Time/TV: Saturday, noon ET, ABC.

Why watch: This game was circled as one of the key early matchups in the ACC race. It’s even bigger now with both programs that were ranked in the preseason already having a ‘1’ in the loss column. Those ‘L’s to top-10 SEC squads are quite forgivable, of course, but they left both these teams still in need of a positive result against top-tier competition. The Tigers for their part found an extra gear in an easier-than-expected romp past Appalachian State, as freshman WR Bryant Wesco emerged as the deep threat QB Cade Klubnik needed. That development will likely draw the attention of key NC State CB Aydan White, expected to be available after missing a game with an undisclosed injury. The Wolfpack offense has yet to find its groove, and must now head to Death Valley with starting QB Grayson McCall sidelined with another undisclosed injury. Freshman CJ Bailey did well in relief to rally NC State to a comeback win against Louisiana Tech. The going figures to be much tougher against the Clemson defense, although Tigers’ DT Peter Woods is day-to-day.

Why it could disappoint: There are a couple of possibilities. Clemson’s offense could revert to the stagnant predictability that kept it stuck in neutral in Week 1. But the Wolfpack might have the bigger issues with a first-time starter at QB. A significant comeback either way would be problematic.

No. 11 Miami (Fla.) at South Florida

Time/TV: Saturday, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN.

Why watch: The Hurricanes have emerged as the team to beat in the ACC. But before they embark on their conference campaign, they take on this potentially difficult road test against the Bulls, who gave Alabama a tussle a couple of weeks ago and will hope to make noise in the American Athletic Conference. LB Mac Harris and the USF defense was able to keep Alabama’s Jalen Milroe in check for three-plus quarters, a possible cause for optimism for the Bulls as they get set for a similar challenge against Miami QB Cam Ward. South Florida QB Byrum Brown is a talented dual threat in his own right, but he’ll be closely monitored by Miami LB Francisco Mauigoa.

Why it could disappoint: Miami might just be that good. The Bulls’ defense is solid but it can’t hold up for a full 60 minutes, even on its home field, if the offense can’t control the clock for stretches.

No. 14 Kansas State at Brigham Young

Time/TV: Saturday, 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN.

Why watch: This time slot is known for wild occurrences, so there’s a high probability of #Big12AfterDark vibes in this one. The Wildcats’ decisive home triumph over Arizona last week does not count in the league standings, so this trip west is their first official Big 12 clash. The Cougars, now in their second year as members of the Big 12, are hoping for better results in year two. Life with BYU QB Jake Retzlaff is an adventure, as he has seven scoring throws but can be turnover prone. He’ll need to minimize the miscues against LB Austin Romaine and the sound K-State defense. The Wildcats’ backfield duo of QB Avery Johnson and RB DJ Giddens lead a ground attack averaging 7 yards per attempt. BYU LBs Harrison Taggart and Jack Kelly will lead the mission to contain them.

Why it could disappoint: With all due respect to ACC newcomer SMU, this is the Cougars’ first brush with top-tier competition. The Wildcats’ last road trip, however, was a narrow escape at Tulane, so this one doesn’t feel like a rout.

When basketball fans see the photo of Wilt Chamberlain holding up a hand-written sign after his 100-point game or watch highlights of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar exerting his will beneath the basket, they probably have one thought: 

I wish I could have seen it live.

Well, A’ja Wilson is giving fans the next-best thing. She’s put together the most remarkable regular season in the WNBA’s nearly three-decade history. Wilson tallied league single-season records in points (1,021), rebounds (451) and blocks (98), marking the first time that one player has led in each of those categories.

Domination like that is so rare, it’s never happened in the NBA (Abdul-Jabbar and Chamberlain might have done it, but blocks did not become an official NBA stat until the 1973-74 season). 

And she did it in a year when she’s carried the burden of helping extend the U.S. women’s gold-medal streak to an eighth Olympics (check) and giving the Las Vegas Aces a chance to chase a three-peat (they open the postseason Sunday against the Seattle Storm).

It is easy, when any great athlete is in the twilight of their career, to look back wistfully on all their accomplishments and remember when. But in Wilson, who at 28 is just reaching her prime, fans have the opportunity to revel in her greatness now. 

Her teammates certainly do. 

“When you have players of this caliber that are playing now, appreciate that,” said Alysha Clark after the Aces’ 86-75 win at Indiana on Sept. 11. “Because one day she’s not going to be here. She’s going to retire and go on and live her life, and people are going to marvel at what she’s done. Marvel at it now.” 

Third-year coach Becky Hammon, who spent eight years as an NBA assistant, has spent weeks trying to think of a comparison — which NBA player’s skills and stats parallel Wilson’s, someone who could give casual fans and viewers context on just how good she is? But Hammon is at a loss. 

Asked if she’s able to truly appreciate Wilson’s play when it’s happening, or if she’s too caught up in coaching, Hammon laughed. 

“I mean, I have two eyes,” Hammon said, with a laugh. “But then it’s on to the next play. You can’t sit there and linger in the greatness. And I’ve gotta make sure her ass is doing it right the next time.” 

And yet, when Hammon is re-watching games, she becomes so beside herself at Wilson’s excellence, she’ll hit pause and implore anyone and everyone around her to look and see what she sees. Sometimes Wilson’s opponent will be in her shooting motion, the ball starting to leave her hand, and Wilson’s feet are still on the ground. But her reaction is so quick, her athleticism so rare, that she can leap in a split second and swat away the shot.

Wilson’s play this season has been somewhat overshadowed by the shortcomings of her team, which struggled early in the season without point guard Chelsea Gray (the Aces went 6-6 while Gray nursed a foot injury). Las Vegas finds itself in an unfamiliar position, starting the postseason with the fourth seed. 

Still, Wilson has been so dominant all season, she is nearly a lock to win MVP when league awards are announced next week. The only question is if she’ll be a unanimous pick. Only one MVP in league history has earned every top vote: In 1997, Cynthia Cooper was the No. 1 selection on 37 ballots. This year, there are 60 voters. 

But even if she adds that unanimous line to an already impressive résumé, Wilson, who likes to say she “feeds off greed.” isn’t satisfied. Or that impressed with herself. 

“I don’t even feel like I’ve tapped into that zone (yet) where I’m like, oh, this is some next level (stuff). I still feel like I have more,” she told USA TODAY Sports. 

When Wilson was playing at South Carolina, helping the Gamecocks build the foundation of what’s become the new women’s college hoops dynasty, coach Dawn Staley knew exactly what to say to make Wilson take it to another gear. 

“You’re blending!” Staley would holler from the sideline. 

Her point: Wilson should stand out on every play. It’s advice — or rather, a warning — that sticks in Wilson’s mind. 

So what will fuel Wilson if she is, in fact, the unanimous MVP choice? Wilson didn’t hesitate. 

“I wanna get back-to-back unanimous,” she said. 

Definitely not blending in. And definitely not to be missed. 

College football superstar Travis Hunter has a favorite subject to study at the University of Colorado.

It’s all about the science of human beings:

Anthropology.

After previously choosing psychology, he changed his major for a reason.

“I’m an anthropology major, and I really enjoy learning about different cultures and how they interact with one another,” Hunter said in an email interview with USA TODAY Sports. “Being able to learn about these cultures and skills is incredibly beneficial to me even when playing football. I have the opportunity to learn the importance of accepting and interacting with other people and playing with other people despite their cultural or ethnic makeup.”

This is part of what makes Hunter a human specimen worth studying in his own right – a stellar student and two-way sensation who has become quite unlike anybody else who’s ever played the game, and not just because of his freak athletic ability. He’s also a budding business juggernaut who has a particular way of recharging his energy at home, often wearing onesie pajamas and eating his fiancée’s home-cooked meals, especially her cheesy chicken and shrimp-stuffed potatoes.

This week as Colorado (2-1) prepares to play Baylor (2-1) in a sold-out game Saturday at Folsom Field, Hunter shared some insight with USA TODAY Sports about how he does it all, including managing his energy, his future plans, Heisman Trophy hopes and a growing financial portfolio of endorsement deals.

How does Travis Hunter do it all for Colorado?

To start with:

∎ He has fueled himself with gummy bears at times to help him play almost every play week after week. Last week, he played 123 of 138 snaps from scrimmage as a cornerback and receiver in a 28-9 win at Colorado State, according to Colorado.

∎ When not playing his first “first love” of football, he’s often glued to a screen. He said he takes all of his college classes online and sometimes has played football video games four hours a day. This helps him recharge and manage his time.

∎ His passion for fishing makes him happy. In Colorado, he often fishes on a friend’s private lake and sometimes goes fishing with his coach at Colorado, Deion Sanders.

∎ He gets big support behind the scenes from Leanna Lenee, his fiancée. They got engaged in February and celebrated with a weekend of paintballing, riding trails on ATVs and hosting a barbecue.

∎ He also is growing wealthy through his many deals for his name, image and likeness. He talks to his financial manager every week and recently announced a deal with NerdWallet, a personal finance company, in which he decided to put 20% of the money into a savings account.

Hunter, 21, said this partnership “gave me the tools to take charge of my long-term financial future by prioritizing my financial health now.”

If he had to choose, would Travis Hunter pick offense or defense?

Hunter discussed this and more in the email interview arranged through the NerdWallet partnership. But there was one question he wouldn’t really answer because of the way it limited his options:

If an NFL team makes you choose to focus mostly on offense or defense, which will you choose and why?

“My goal is to continue to be a 2-way player,” Hunter wrote in his response, refusing to pick a side. “I believe my versatility is one of my greatest strengths, and playing both offense and defense allows me to contribute to the team in various ways. I love the challenge of learning and excelling in both roles and pushing my limits. If given the opportunity, I’d strive to continue making an impact on both ends of the field, helping my team wherever they need me most.”

Hunter showed how last week when he produced a stat line that Colorado said is believed to be the first of its kind in modern college football history – 13 catches for 100 yards and two touchdowns, five tackles, an interception with a 38-yard return and a pass breakup while playing 123 of 138 snaps from scrimmage. He ranks second nationally in catches per game (10) and touchdown catches (five). Off the field, as of January, he also had a cumulative grade-point average of 3.6, according to Colorado.

“I don’t know how he do it,” Colorado running back Micah Welch said Tuesday. “But he’s the best player in college football.”

How is Travis Hunter ‘everywhere?’

After Colorado’s season-opening win against North Dakota State Aug. 29, United Airlines took advantage of Hunter’s three-touchdown game by pushing out a short commercial on social media. It shows Hunter in a Colorado uniform doing it all for United as an employee: He’s tagging luggage, marshalling planes, serving as a flight attendant and sitting in a window seat as a passenger.

Not only was Hunter “everywhere,” as the commercial says, but he also surprised teammates who wondered when Hunter had found the time to film a commercial, too.

“When did you do this,” teammate Shilo Sanders asked on Instagram.

The advertisement actually was shot on a camera phone in July at Denver International Airport. He showed up in his Buffaloes uniform and caused a stir at the airport among those who recognized him.

“We were naturally drawn to him,” United’s chief advertising officer, Maggie Schmerin, told USA TODAY Sports. “We see a lot of synergy between everything that he does in a single game and everything our employees do to get a single flight off the ground, let alone close to 5,000 flights that we have a day.”

Other brands have coveted a sponsorship deal with him for similar reasons. Asked about the source of his endurance during games, Hunter still cited some basic fundamentals.

“My fiancée is an incredible cook, so she usually makes me a well-balanced meal and reminds me to stay hydrated to help maintain my energy,” Hunter said in the email. “I sometimes have a hard time getting the number of carbs I need before games and have resorted to having a bag of gummy bears.’

Travis Hunter’s background before Colorado

Hunter’s rise as a player and commercial pitchman follows a familiar path, led by his coach and role model, Deion Sanders, a Pro Football Hall of Famer. Both grew up in tough environments. Both are from Florida. Hunter was born in West Palm Beach before moving to Collins Hill High School in Suwanee, Georgia, where his family of five was living back then in a converted motel room, said Drew Swick, the coach at Collins Hill.

Swick said Hunter’s grades started dropping at one point before another coach, Frontia Fountain, let him move in with him.

“From there on, Travis kind of flourished,” Swick told USA TODAY Sports.

Hunter recently bought his mom and stepfather a new house in the Savannah area, where his younger brother Trayvis is a sophomore receiver.

It runs in the family. Hunter’s father, Travis Hunter Sr., is a former high school football and track star in Florida.

Deion Sanders as Travis Hunter’s mentor

In college, Hunter now has another father figure in Sanders, who treats him like a son and shares his love of fishing.

“We talk about everything,” Deion Sanders said at a news conference Tuesday.

Hunter stunned the college football world in 2021 when he decided to play for Sanders at Jackson State in Mississippi instead of sticking with his commitment to Florida State. As the nation’s No. 1 recruit for 2022, he then transferred from Jackson State to Colorado after Sanders was hired there at the end of that year.

“I have the best coach (Coach Prime),” Hunter said in the email. “He is out on the field, teaching me new things every day, and I love having him as a mentor.”

Sanders’ oversight of Hunter includes another important factor to consider in the study of this unusual human – making sure he gets enough rest to recover from his nonstop action on the field.

How does Travis Hunter get his rest?

Sanders gives Hunter extra days off early in the week when his team is practicing. Hunter also has a routine after morning practices.

“Being a two-way player, I prioritize my recovery as much as possible and am grateful my coaches allow me to spend a few extra days recovering,” he said in the email. “I usually will nap after practice before my classes and meetings, and then try to go to bed as early as possible, but sometimes get locked in streaming the EA College Football 25 game!”

That game was made for him, so to speak. He happens to be on the cover of it, along with Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers and Michigan running back Donovan Edwards. He also is borderline obsessed with playing. On a recent edition of his podcast on YouTube, he said it helps as a football aid.

“You really pretty much study any play you want to study on the game,” he said on the podcast.

Travis Hunter on his Heisman Trophy hopes

The EA Sports cover had another effect on him, too. It increased his celebrity, which grows every week with his two-way highlights on national television. His team has played prime-time games this season on ESPN, NBC and CBS. On Saturday, he plays on Fox.

After the last game, the effect of his rising fame was on full display. He signed autographs for fans who tossed him a helmet and jerseys to sign from the stands at Colorado State. Each wanted a piece of him to save for themselves. Likewise, NerdWallet is promoting its partnership with him by offering a chance to win a “sports relic card” containing a piece of his contract with the company.

Many consider him to be the best player in college football. If he stays healthy, he could make that title official by winning the Heisman Trophy in December.

“I got no personal goals,” Hunter said after his first game this season on Aug. 29.

The Heisman is a little different, though. The anthropology major knows it takes a football village to make it happen.

“Earning the Heisman would mean so much,” he said in the email. “It’s more than an individual award — it’s a reflection of the hard work and dedication of my teammates, coaches, and supporters. It’s a collective achievement and a celebration for us all.”

Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com

The clearest evidence of Nebraska’s growth under second-year coach Matt Rhule can be found in the number next to its name.

The undefeated Cornhuskers popped into the US LBM Coaches Poll two weeks ago at No. 24, the program’s first national ranking since Sept. 1, 2019, and rose to No. 22 after last Saturday’s win against Northern Iowa. Remarkably, this marks Nebraska’s highest spot in the Top 25 since ranking No. 15 on Nov. 20, 2016.

“I always say that in college football, if you’ve had greatness in your past you can have it in your future,” said Big Ten Network analyst and former Indiana coach Gerry DiNardo. “Nebraska’s the one that’s been testing my theory.”

That 2016 season doubles as the Cornhuskers’ last bowl appearance, the longest active streak in the Power Four. After losing four in a row last November to end Rhule’s debut one win shy of bowl eligibility, the postseason drought appears guaranteed to end this year.

But there is the potential for more. Three games into this season and with Friday night’s Big Ten opener against Illinois to come, four factors combine to suggest Nebraska could continue to climb the national rankings and contend for an at-large bid to the College Football Playoff: the coach, the quarterback, the schedule and the quantifiable progress made since Rhule’s arrival almost two years ago.

‘The challenge I’ve had for the players all year is to go be one of the best teams in the country,’ Rhule told USA TODAY Sports. ‘Go be relevant nationally. Go play in big games. Go challenge to win the Big Ten. Go challenge to go to the College Football Playoff. I told them it’s going to be hard. That things have to go your way. But I’ve said that to them from day one.’

Matt Rhule’s predictable second-year bump

History is repeating itself, only at a faster pace than before.

For Rhule, previous stints at Temple and Baylor followed a similar script. The first season would be a foundation-building struggle for wins: Temple won twice and Baylor, wrecked by widespread roster attrition in the wake of the Art Briles era, would win just once.

But then came the turnarounds. Temple won six games in 2014 but was not selected for a bowl game, a fact that helped motivate the Owls to 20 wins and an American Athletic championship the next two seasons. Baylor jumped to seven wins in 2018 and then to 11-3 in 2019, finishing second in the Big 12 and reaching the Sugar Bowl. Rhule was then hired by the Carolina Panthers and lasted two-plus seasons in the NFL, going 11-27.

In comparison, Nebraska is ahead of schedule. Along with a solid talent base and enviable internal backing, the adversity the program faced during a difficult 2022 season — former coach Scott Frost was fired in September and the team limped to a four-win finish — convinced Rhule the Cornhuskers were ready to skip the first-year rebuild and go directly to bowl contention.

“When I got here, there were such good players and there was such energy from the older guys to try to win,” Rhule said. “I just said, ‘Hey, let’s not do year one. Let’s not go 2-10. Let’s do year two.’ Which has always been 6-6, 7-6, you know. Unfortunately, we finished 5-7. But it was that growth.”

One year later, the Cornhuskers have added key pieces at quarterback, running back and wide receiver to bring last year’s dilapidated offense more in line with one of the top defenses in the Big Ten. They’ve adopted a physical style of play that fits snugly into the historic ethos of a program that once defined consistent excellence on the Bowl Subdivision level. They’ve embraced the mindset of “chasing three,” meaning the three points that separated last season’s squad from getting to six or more wins.

After several failed hires and more than two decades since the program’s last serious gasp of national relevance, an experienced coach has started to reverse Nebraska’s steady decline.

“You always want to feel like they got it right. Every time you’re hoping it’s the right person,” DiNardo said. “The difference for Matt Rhule, to me, is the experience at Temple, the experience of Baylor.”

Dylan Raiola’s immediate impact

The son of an iconic former Nebraska offensive lineman and the nephew of the team’s current offensive line coach, Dylan Raiola was verbally committed to Ohio State and Georgia before flipping to the Cornhuskers in the weeks leading into national signing day.

His impact has been profound and immediate. The former five-star prospect is completing 73.8% of his throws for 670 yards and five touchdowns with just one interception. A year ago, three Nebraska quarterbacks combined for 1,631 yards and 10 touchdowns against 16 interceptions while hitting on 52.1% of attempts.

He’s been helped by an offensive line that looks dramatically improved. This group has allowed just one sack and paced a running game that has scored multiple touchdowns in all three games, the program’s longest such streak since the first three games of the 2022 season.

Raiola has influenced the offense through his “maniacal” work ethic, Rhule said: “He prepares higher than anyone I’ve had.”

The challenge moving forward will be adapting to the variety of defenses in the Big Ten, most rooted in a level of physicality that demands a balanced offensive response.

“He’s not some kid out here in some spread, tempo-style offense throwing RPOs,” said Rhule, meaning the run-pass option plays widely used across the FBS. “He’s throwing drop back. He’s throwing seven-step drops. He’s throwing play action. He’s making checks on the line of scrimmage. He’s playing like an NFL quarterback in terms of the style of play.”

And after failing to get the ground in 2023, the Raiola-led offense now has an identity.

“We take pride in being physical in the fourth quarter,” said offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield. “That’s where the game is won, that’s where you put people away.”

A friendlier Big Ten schedule

On paper, the schedule unfolds in a way that could leave the Cornhuskers unbeaten heading into a matchup at No. 2 Ohio State to end October.

Illinois is followed by a trip to Purdue, which lost 66-7 last Saturday to Notre Dame. Then Nebraska hosts Rutgers, has an off week and travels to Indiana on Oct. 19. The program hasn’t won six in a row to open a season since winning seven in a row to open 2016.

After facing the Buckeyes, the Cornhuskers take on UCLA at home, have another off week, travel to No. 12 Southern California and host Wisconsin before capping the regular season with the rivalry at Iowa.

‘Especially in today’s football, you never know how teams are going to be,” Rhule said. “Illinois now is ranked, right? I think in two weeks when we play Rutgers, they’re going to be ranked. I think when we play Indiana, they’re going to be ranked. It’s just the recognition that hey, everyone is a good team. We try to stay focused on our process.”

But they miss No. 6 Oregon, No. 9 Penn State and No. 17 Michigan, placing this among the program’s friendliest Big Ten schedules since joining the conference. Along with obvious on-field improvement, this schedule provides a one-two punch that suggests Nebraska will be a factor in the playoff deliberations set to begin in early November.

The avenue opened by the new 12-team playoff format also can’t be ignored. Under the previous model, no team reached the playoff with more than one loss. The larger format changes the math: Instead of needing to go 13-0 or 12-1 to make the field, the cutoff point for at-large bids from the Big Ten and SEC could be 10-2 or even 9-3, depending on the contender’s strength of schedule.

Is the best yet to come for Nebraska?

Even if this season ends at eight wins and in the second tier of the Big Ten, that measurable progress would lock Nebraska into a national ranking heading into the 2025 season and paint the program as one to closely monitor in the Power Four.

That level of hype is already beginning to percolate on the recruiting trail. After signing a top-20 class last winter, Nebraska hosted dozens of top recruits for the Week 2 win against Colorado, a 28-10 final that highlighted the widening chasm of space between the Cornhuskers and their longtime rival.

“If you’re a kid that wants to play in the NFL, you should probably consider playing for us,” said Rhule. “I think we can recruit at the highest level.”

But the deepest well of optimism springs from the concept that Rhule has built conference champions under some of most adverse circumstances in the sport — at a Temple program that historically ranks among the weakest in the country and in the wake of one of college football’s worst scandals at Baylor. In comparison, Nebraska has the tradition and a degree of institutional support matched by only a small sliver of the FBS.

That has left a feeling that a return to major-bowl contention is, at a minimum, lurking somewhere around the corner. It may be this season. Raiola has changed the complexion of the offense and will only get better with every week; transfers in the backfield and at receiver had made immediate impacts; the defense, buoyed by the return of multiple players who could’ve dipped into the NFL draft, should stay among the four or five best in the Big Ten.

Maybe this is the year the Cornhuskers pop. Maybe it’s next year. But the Nebraska renaissance feels closer than at any point during the program’s 21st century malaise.

“I’ve said all the time, it’s not a matter of if, it’s just a matter of when,” Rhule said. “I’m not sure if it’s this year — I hope it is. But I expect us to get better and better and better.

“Because I’m not here for a short fix. I’m here for the long haul. So it would be great if we could do it this year, but I’m trying to build something, along with (athletics director Troy Dannen) and our staff, we are trying to build something that will last.”

This story was updated to add new information.

Aaron Rodgers and Robert Saleh were both pumped up after the New York Jets opened up a 14-0 lead over the New England Patriots in the second quarter of their ‘Thursday Night Football’ matchup.

However, it appeared that Rodgers thought his head coach was a bit too amped following Breece Hall’s touchdown run.

Rodgers was happy to share a brief handshake with Saleh. But his head coach then went in for a hug, and Rodgers appeared to push his coach away (as seen in a video captured by the Amazon Prime broadcast).

Rodgers followed his arm-bar with an icy stare at Saleh. That was the cherry-on-top of the most cringeworthy moment of TNF’s first half.

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Saleh commented on the exchange when asked about it during his postgame news conference.

‘Part of the things we’ve been talking about is to just give the defense a two-score lead,’ Saleh said. ‘And it was a two-score lead.

‘I guess he just wanted to see something on defense,’ Saleh added, with a laugh. ‘He just reminded me that, you know, it was a two-score lead.’

Rodgers confirmed the two-score lead was the subject of the exchange. He also said that Saleh’s hug caught him off-guard.

‘He’s not a big hugger,’ Rodgers told reporters. ‘I didn’t know he was going for a hug.’

It seems like the interaction between Saleh and Rodgers may be much ado about nothing.

Saleh seemed entertained that the moment had drawn so much attention. Or, perhaps he was just happy that his quarterback completed 27 of 35 passes for 281 yards and two touchdowns in what was, by far, his best performance with the Jets.

New York is riding into a mini-bye with a 2-1 record after its 24-3 demolition of the Patriots. Saleh and Rodgers have to be happy with that after Rodgers’ first season in New York ended in disaster.

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