A 48-year-old man in a pickup truck rammed a gate at the University of Colorado’s Folsom Field Thursday night and drove onto the football field before surrendering to police, according to the police department in Boulder, Colorado.

By doing so, he arguably was more successful at moving downfield at that stadium than the Colorado Buffaloes running game under football coach Deion Sanders. The Buffs (1-1) rank dead last nationally in rushing yards per game this year (37.5) after ranking last nationally last year, too.

Boulder Police said they are investigating multiple traffic crashes that culminated with the same man driving on the field.

“Witnesses reported that a man driving a blue pickup truck was involved in at least two hit-and-run crashes, as well as striking several trees and signs before driving away,” Boulder Police said. “During this incident, the witnesses tried to stop the driver from leaving and one person was almost struck by the pickup truck. The driver continued driving, struck another car and more trees.”

Boulder Police said they attempted to stop the driver, but he eluded officers. Then within minutes the man was spotted near Folsom Field.

Police identified the suspect as Karl E. Haglund, 48, of Massachusetts. Police said he will be booked on charges of criminal attempt vehicular assault, reckless endangerment, trespassing and vehicular eluding and leaving the scene of a crash after damage, among other charges.

The Colorado football team plays its home games at Folsom Field but is not playing there this week. The Buffaloes play instead at Colorado State at 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday on CBS.

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

Josh Allen’s domination against the Miami Dolphins continues.

The Buffalo Bills quarterback led the Bills to a 31-10 road win over the Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Thursday night, bringing Allen’s career record against the Bills’ AFC East rivals to 12-2.

Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was knocked out of the game in the third quarter with a concussion after he was legally hit by Bills safety Damar Hamlin while scrambling for a first down. Tagovailoa finished the night with 17 completions on 25 attempts for 145 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions.

Allen finished 13-for-19 for 139 yards with one touchdown. Running back James Cook scored three touchdowns — one receiving and two rushing — in the first half. — Cydney Henderson

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Bills vs. Dolphins final stats

Team stats:

Total yards: Dolphins 351, Bills 247
First downs: Dolphins 20, Bills 13
Third-down conversions: Dolphins 7-15, Bills 3-9
Red zone: Bills 2-2, Dolphins 1-4
Turnovers: Dolphins 3, Bills 0

Passing:

Josh Allen: 13-19, 139 yards 1 touchdown
Tua Tagovailoa: 17-25, 145 yards, 1 touchdown, 3 interceptions
Skylar Thompson: 8-14, 80 yards

Rushing:

De’Von Achane, 22 carries, 96 yards
James Cook: 11 carries, 78 yards, 2 touchdowns
Ray Davis: 9 carries, 29 yards
Tua Tagovailoa: 2 carries, 17 yards

Receiving:

De’Von Achane: 7 receptions, 69 yards, 1 touchdown
Khalil Shakir: 5 receptions, 54 yards
Jonnu Smith: 6 receptions, 53 yards
Jaylen Waddle: 4 receptions, 41 yards
Dalton Kindcaid: 4 receptions, 33 yards
Tyreek Hill: 3 receptions, 24 yards

Bills vs. Dolphins highlights

James Cook tallied three touchdowns, Ja’Marcus Ingram grabbed the first two interceptions of his career and Josh Allen improved to 12-2 against the Dolphins.

Bills vs. Dolphins score

Bills: 31
Dolphins: 10

First quarter

Bills touchdown (9:49) — James Cook, 17-yard pass from Josh Allen (Tyler Bass extra point)

Dolphins touchdown (3:21) — De’Von Achane, 5-yard pass from Tua Tagovailoa (Jason Sanders extra point)

Second quarter

Bills field goal (12:41) — Tyler Bass, 43 yards

Bills touchdown (6:25) — James Cook, 1-yard run (Tyler Bass extra point)

Bills touchdown (3:36) — James Cook, 49-yard run (Tyler Bass extra point)

Dolphins field goal (0:04) — Jason Sanders, 34 yards

Third quarter

Bills touchdown (9:27) — Ja’Marcus Ingram, 31-yard interception return (Tyler Bass extra point)

Tyler Bass misses field goal

Bills kicker Tyler Bass had an opportunity to extend Buffalo’s lead, but badly pulled a field goal attempt wide left.

It was about the only thing that has gone wrong for the Bills in their rout of the rival Dolphins.

With the competitive phase of the game basically over after Tua Tagovailoa’s concussion, we’ve reached run-out-the-clock time at Hard Rock Stadium. — Jim Reineking

Tua Tagovailoa out with concussion

Tua Tagovailoa went down in the third quarter of Thursday night’s game.

On fourth-and-4 from Buffalo’s 13-yard line, Tagovailoa scrambled up the middle as he attempted to get a first down. He dove headfirst ahead of the first down marker but was hit by Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin. It appeared Tagovailoa hit his head on Hamlin during the tackle.

Tagovailoa stayed on the grass for a few moments. He was eventually helped off the field and escorted to the locker room by the Dolphins’ medical staff. The Dolphins later ruled Tagovailoa out with a concussion. — Tyler Dragon

Tua Tagovailoa concussion timeline

Dolphins drive stalls after Tua Tagovailoa concussion

Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa extended the Dolphin’s drive, picking up a first down on a 6-yard scramble play. Tagovailoa took a big hit on the play from Bills safety Demar Hamlin and was ruled out with a concussion.

Dolphins backup quarterback Skylar Thompson entered for Tagovailoa with a fresh set of downs, but Miami wasn’t able to do anything with them. On fourth-and-goal, Thompson was sacked by Buffalo’s Von Miller for a 7-yard loss.

Bills 31, Dolphins 10: Tua Tagovailoa’s third INT is a pick-six

Tua Tagovailoa is having bad night in Miami.

The Dolphins quarterback threw his third interception of the game midway through the third quarter.

On third-and-7 from Miami’s own 30-yard line, Tagovailoa was under pressure, and he tried to throw the ball out of bounds. But his throw came up short of the sideline and was intercepted by Bills cornerback Ja’Marcus Ingram. Ingram caught the football and returned it 31 yards to the house to extend Buffalo’s lead to 31-10 with 9:27 left in the third quarter.

Bills LB Terrel Bernard out for rest of game

The Bills will be without LB Terrel Bernard for the remainder of the game. Bernard appeared to suffer a pectoral injury in the first quarter during a defensive stand at the goal line. Bernard was listed as questionable, before the Bills ruled him out after halftime. Bernard recorded 11 total tackles (10 solo) last week in the Bills’ season opening win over the Arizona Cardinals. 

James Cook, turnovers power Bills in first half vs. Dolphins

We hope you started Bills running back James Cook in fantasy football this weekend. 

Cook has accounted for all three of the Bills touchdowns as they head into the locker room with a 24-10 halftime lead over their AFC East rival, the Dolphins. Cook, who has 60 rushing yards and 17 receiving yards, picked up one touchdown by air and two on the ground. Cook’s three touchdowns tie the most ever by a Bills player in the first half. 

Turnovers were the story of the first half for the Dolphins. Tua Tagovailoa was picked off two times, yielding 10 points to the Bills. Tagovailoa has completed 13 of 18 passes for 97 yards and one touchdown, in addition to the two interceptions.

Bills 24, Dolphins 7: Fourth-down stop leads to long James Cook TD run

The Dolphins had a promising drive underway, but it ended in an Ed Oliver sack.

On fourth-and-1 from the Bills’ 45-yard line, Tua Tagovailoa was sacked by Oliver for a 6-yard loss. Oliver immediately created pressure up the middle and got to Tagovailoa.

The Bills took over possession of the football and went the distance in one play.

Josh Allen handed the football off to James Cook, the running back found a hole up the middle and raced down the field for a 49-yard touchdown. It’s the longest run of the season for Cook, who has three touchdowns in the game.

Bills 17, Dolphins 7: James Cook extends Buffalo’s lead

The Bills have opened up a double-digit lead over the Dolphins. Bills running back James Cook easily found the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown to cap their 85-yard drive.

The Bills’ drive was aided by an unnecessary roughness penalty called on Dolphins safety Jordan Poyer, who was on the Bills from 2017-2023. The penalty moved the Bills from their 35-yard line to the 50-yard line after Poyer led with his head on a tackle on Bills receiver Khalil Shakir.

A 33-yard pass play from Josh Allen to Ty Johnson set up Cook’s touchdown run. — Cydney Henderson

Bills 10, Dolphins 7: Tua Tagovailoa’s second interception leads to Buffalo field goal

The Bills have scored all 10 of their points off turnovers.

After Buffalo’s defense forced another takeaway with excellent field possession, the offense got one first down. But the possession ended on Miami’s 25-yard line, which led to a successful 43-yard field goal by kicker Tyler Bass.

Tua Tagovailoa picked off for a second time

Tua Tagovailoa has thrown an interception, again. 

Although the first interception wasn’t necessarily Tagovailoa’s fault after his pass was tipped by his receiver, the second interception of the game was entirely on Tagovailoa. On first-and-10 from the 29-yard line, Tagovailoa’s pass intended for WR Robbie Chosen was picked off by Bills cornerback Christian Benford and returned six yards to Miami’s 44-yard line.

Bills 7, Dolphins 7: Tua Tagovailoa bounces back after early interception

Tua Tagovailoa and De’Von Achane led the Dolphins on a 10-play, 70-yard touchdown drive to tie the game at 7-7.

Achane was key on the touchdown drive, rushing four times, including a 14-yard run. The drive was capped off when Achane caught a short pass from Tagovailoa and ran it in the end zone for a 5-yard touchdown.

Bills 7, Dolphins 0: Buffalo capitalizes on turnover

The Bills offense had excellent field possession after the turnover.

Buffalo got the football on the 37-yard line. The Bills initially earned one first down, but were forced into a fourth-and-3 from Miami’s 17-yard line.

The Bills decided to go for it instead of kicking a field goal. On fourth down, Josh Allen beat the blitz and found RB James Cook on a short pass. Cook retrieved the ball and raced down the field wide open for a 17-yard touchdown to give the Bills an early 7-0 lead with 9:49 on the clock in the first quarter. — Tyler Dragon

Bills intercept Tua Tagovailoa on Miami first possession

The first possession for the Dolphins resulted in a turnover.

On third-and-13 from the 39-yard line, Tua Tagovailoa’s pass intended for WR Grant DuBose was picked off by Bills CB Ja’Marcus Ingram and returned 23 yards to Miami’s 37-yard line.

Tyreek Hill says he ‘can’t watch’ footage of ‘traumatic’ detainment

Tyreek Hill is opening up about the ‘traumatic’ police stop that ended with him on the pavement in handcuffs.

Ahead of the Dolphins’ ‘Thursday Night Football’ matchup against the Buffalo Bills, Amazon Prime aired a sit-down interview between reporter Taylor Rooks and Hill, four days after he was forcibly removed from his vehicle and detained during a routine traffic stop in Miami. — Cydney Henderson

What time is Bills vs. Dolphins?

How can I watch Bills vs. Dolphins

Bills at Dolphins will be streaming exclusively on Amazon Prime Video and will be broadcast in local markets only.

Al Michaels (play-by-play) and Kirk Herbstreit (analyst) will be in the broadcast booth for Peacock, with Kaylee Hartung (sideline) and Terry McAulay (rules analyst) providing additional coverage.

The Prime Video pregame, halftime and postgame shows feature Charissa Thompson as host, as well as former NFL players Ryan Fitzpatrick, Tony Gonzalez, Richard Sherman and Andrew Whitworth as analysts. Taylor Rooks is the feature reporter for Prime Video’s ‘Thursday Night Football’ coverage.

Bills vs. Dolphins inactives: De’Von Achane active for TNF

Dolphins running back De’Von Achane had been listed as questionable for Thursday night’s matchup with an ankle injury. However, the game-breaking runner will be available for the Dolphins. Running back Raheem Mostert, however, will not play having already been ruled out with a chest injury.

For the Bills, starting defensive back Taron Johnson will not be available Thursday night.

Bills’ inactive players:

CB Taron Johnson
LB Joe Andreessen
LB Edefuan Ulofoshio
DE Javon Solomon
OT Ryan Van Demark
DE Dawuane Smoot

Dolphins’ inactive players:

CB Ethan Bonner
RB Raheem Mostert
LB Channing Tindall
LB Mohamed Kamara
OL Andrew Meyer
WR Malik Washington

Dolphins wearing throwback uniforms

The Dolphins are wearing throwback uniforms for their matchup against the Bills, with the look featuring the classic helmet logo, aqua jerseys and white pants. The look harkens back to the Dolphins’ 1970s heyday.

The Dolphins also will wear the throwback uniforms on Thanksgiving Day when they play the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. — Jim Reineking

NFL uniform power rankings

Tyreek Hill could surpass Hall of Famers

Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill had seven receptions for 130 yards and a touchdown in Week 1. It marked Hill’s 22nd career game with at least 125 receiving yards and a touchdown reception. With at least 125 receiving yards and a touchdown catch on Thursday, Hill will surpass Hall of Famers Calvin Johnson (22 games) and Randy Moss (22) for the third-most such games by a player in their first nine seasons in NFL history. — Tyler Dragon

Josh Allen has chance at history

Bills quarterback Josh Allen tallied four touchdowns (two passing and two rushing) in Week 1. It marked Allen’s 37th career game with both a touchdown pass and rushing touchdown. If Allen has a passing TD and a rushing TD against the Dolphins, he will surpass Cam Newton (37 games) for the most games with a passing and rushing TD by a player in his first seven seasons in NFL history. — Tyler Dragon

Josh Allen has enjoyed success against the Dolphins

Ever since quarterback Josh Allen joined the Bills in 2018, the team has enjoyed success against the rival Dolphins.

Allen has an 11-2 record in 13 career games against Miami, including playoffs. In those games, Allen also has enjoyed statistical success, throwing for two or more touchdowns and 300-plus yards in each of the past five matchups.

The Bills won both games against the Dolphins during the 2023 season, which included a Week 18 winner-gets-the-division showdown. During the 2022 season, the Bills eliminated the Dolphins during the wild-card playoffs with a 34-31 win in Orchard Park, N.Y. — Jim Reineking

Bills vs. Dolphins: Predictions, picks and odds

The Dolphins are favorites to defeat the Bills, according to the BetMGM NFL odds. Looking to wager? Check out the best mobile sports betting apps offering NFL betting promos in 2024.

Spread: Dolphins  (-2.5)
Moneyline: Dolphins  (-145); Bills  (+120)
Over/under: 48.5

Here are the USA TODAY Sports’ expert picks for the game:

Jarrett Bell: Dolphins
Chris Bumbaca: Dolphins
Nate Davis: Dolphins
Tyler Dragon: Dolphins
Mike Middlehurst-Schwartz: Bills
Lorenzo Reyes: Bills

Matchup vs. Bills could prove critical to shaping Dolphins’ playoff fortune

The process of ending the longest active stretch in the NFL without a postseason victory begins Thursday night for the Miami Dolphins.

The Bills have been a bugaboo for the Dolphins. This AFC East rivalry has been one-sided for the past five-plus years. A win on ‘Thursday Night Football’ will give the Dolphins an upper hand in the race for a division title. — Chris Bumbaca

Bills vs. Dolphins: A history lesson

The Bills and Dolphins have been regular combatants since the Dolphins entered the American Football League as an expansion team in 1966.

The Dolphins hold a slight advantage in the all-time series, 62-58-1, which includes the Bills’ 4-1 edge in postseason games.

During the 1970s, the series was decidedly one-sided, as the Dolphins won every game (20-0) during the decade. The two teams’ first playoff matchup happened during the 1990 NFL season as the Bills were marching toward their first Super Bowl appearance. Two seasons later, the Bills defeated the Dolphins in the 1992 AFC championship game, the most high-profile showdown between these two teams. — Jim Reineking

NFL Week 2 picks, predictions and odds

Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins
Las Vegas Raiders at Baltimore Ravens
Los Angeles Chargers at Carolina Panthers
New Orleans Saints at Dallas Cowboys
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Detroit Lions
Indianapolis Colts at Green Bay Packers
Cleveland Browns at Jacksonville Jaguars
San Francisco 49ers at Minnesota Vikings
Seattle Seahawks at New England Patriots
New York Jets at Tennessee Titans
New York Giants at Washington Commanders
Los Angeles Rams at Arizona Cardinals
Cincinnati Bengals at Kansas City Chiefs
Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos
Chicago Bears at Houston Texans
Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles

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They say all dogs go to heaven. Then, that’s where Milwaukee Brewers legend Hank has gone.

‘The beloved Hank, ‘The Ballpark Pup,’ passed away earlier today,’ the Brewers shared in a news release Thursday night.

The furry white dog was small, but made a major league impact on the ball club and its fanbase.

The tale goes, Hank was a scruffy stray — with a tire mark on his fur and an injured tail — who wandered up to the Brewers’ spring training facility in Arizona back in February 2014.

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‘Throughout that spring, Hank spent his days at the complex and his nights in the safety of Brewers homes,’ the news release said. ‘Every day, Hank participated in team activities, ranging from workouts on the field to doing meet and greets with fans attending games.’

The internet and social media just couldn’t seem to get enough of Hank, named after the great Hank Aaron, who began and ended his big-league career in Milwaukee. The Crew’s new mascot of sorts immediately captivated the hearts of fans in Milwaukee and beyond, popping up on national television shows and being featured by People.

Hank’s welcome party to Brew City included then-Mayor Tom Barrett, former Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele, Brewers executives, television crews, kiddos eager to meet the four-legged phenom, and hundreds hoping to catch a glimpse.

Marti Wronski, the Brewers chief operating officer, and her family adopted Hank at the conclusion of spring training that year and gave him a loving home for the past decade.

“Hank was truly loved by our family and we are so grateful for the ten years we had with him,’ Wronski said in the news release. ‘Hank seemed to know that he was rescued by the entire Brewers family and he never met a fan – or really any human – he didn’t love. We are heartbroken to be without him but are grateful for the joy he brought to so many and the spotlight he helped shine on animal rescue.”

When Hank made his Miller Park debut in March 2014, fans got up at 4:30 a.m. to get in line for a 7 a.m. meet-and-greet. As the sun came up, a few hundred people were there.

‘It was March madness as one grinning person after another knelt or leaned down next to Hank for a photo. They cooed at him, ‘Oh my God, he’s so cute!’ and ‘Good boy!’ and many variations of ‘Awwww,’ wrote former Journal Sentinel columnist Jim Stingl.

In Hank’s heyday, there were bobbleheads, T-shirts, plush toys, locker name plates, buttons, bumper stickers, pennants and other memorabilia, all sporting his likeness. Six-thousand plushies of him sold in a matter of weeks, according to The Arizona Republic.

Whether it was through donations via Hank-related merch sales or appearances, Hank helped the Brewers help others, including the Wisconsin Humane Society.

In January 2015, Hank was named “Dog of the Year” at the CW Network’s World Dog Awards in Los Angeles, MLB.com reported.

‘We thought it would be a 20-minute story on social media,’ Rick Schlesinger, Brewers president of business operations, said back in 2016. ‘The power of Hank is incredible.’

Hank faded out of the spotlight to live a dog’s life.

Though, in 2016, there was a social media debate over whether or not Hank was still the same dog. Schlesinger confirmed he ‘definitely’ was the original.

In 2018, Tyler Barnes, Brewers vice president of communications, said that while Hank had ‘not officially retired’ and still made ‘rare appearances,’ he ‘deserves to live the life of a loved pet.’

For those who wish to honor the life of Hank, the Brewers and Wronski family encourage donations to the Wisconsin Humane Society or MADACC (Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission), the release said.

Focus on football. 

Yeah, right. 

Deshaun Watson and the Cleveland Browns dusted off the same ole playbook on Wednesday, when the embattled quarterback, coming off a disastrous season opener (football), met the media for the first time since he was accused in a civil lawsuit (not football) of the most serious sexual misconduct allegation directed at him yet to spur a fresh NFL investigation. 

Watson, 28, denied any wrongdoing – or as his attorney, Rusty Hardin said in a statement, “strongly denies the allegations” – as was the case in 2022 when he reached out-of-court settlements with 23 of 26 accusers who alleged misconduct during massage therapy sessions. He also struck a deal with the NFL to serve an 11-game suspension, pay a $5 million fine and undergo treatment and counseling.  

In 2022, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell echoed arbitrator Susan L. Robinson in characterizing Watson’s behavior during a 15-month period from the fall of 2019 through winter of 2021 as “predatory” – even though the quarterback never, as in this case, too, faced any criminal charges. Now Goodell has some serious background material to weigh if the league’s investigation concludes the new allegations have merit. 

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Talk about a distraction. The Browns, led by team owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam, stuck with Watson during the previous drama and will again have that resolve tested with the bad optics attached to the face of their franchise this time around. Coach Kevin Stefanski maintained Wednesday that they didn’t see this new case coming, which could be a critical factor if the team tries to back out of the ‘fully guaranteed’ $230 million contract it gave Watson when he was obtained from the Houston Texans in 2022 in what now represents one of the most lopsided trades in NFL history. 

Watson also declared that it was new news to him when the lawsuit filed in Harris County, Texas, dropped on Monday. “I found out exactly whenever everyone else found out,” he said. It began with an alert on his smartphone. “Then,” Watson added, “I called my attorneys and asked them what it was.” 

What it is would be a plaintiff, identified as Jane Doe, alleging that Watson sexually assaulted her on Oct. 10, 2020, at her apartment in Houston, the alleged incident occurring during the same period as the alleged serial massage therapy encounters. While Watson insisted on Wednesday that he had no prior knowledge of the new allegation, which seeks at least $1 million in damages, attorney Tony Buzbee – who also represented the other accusers who reached settlements with Watson – issued a statement maintaining that attempts were made 10 months ago to strike an out-of-court settlement. 

And according to Pro Football Talk, Buzbee has indicated that his client will cooperate with the NFL’s investigation and be available in approximately two weeks to be interviewed by the league, which could threaten to take the quarterback off the field again for potentially violating the league’s personal conduct policy. 

There you go, NFL. Sort through this mess. As if the case of cops using excessive force in detaining Miami Dolphins star Tyreek Hill outside Hard Rock Stadium as he headed to work on Sunday didn’t do enough to steal the thunder from the grand opening of another season, suddenly the league is confronted with another high-profile matter that weighs heavily on its image and news cycles. 

Sure, there are key, delicate questions. Why wasn’t there a criminal complaint? Was the demand for a seven-figure settlement related to the other cases settled out of court? Why would Watson agree to a “dinner” date on the night before a game? 

Focus on football? If only. 

Admittedly or not, it’s a major distraction – again – that conceivably sucks energy from the quarterback and a team that aims to improve on its playoff berth from last season. 

“I focus on football,” insisted Watson, asked how it could not be a distraction. “I focus on keeping the main thing the main thing. And that’s when I walk into this building focusing on being the best quarterback I can be, on the game plan and trying to be better than we were last week so we can get a W.” 

As Stefanski put it, “We are 100% focused on Jacksonville, 100% focused on going on the road against a good football team, trying to find a way to get a W.” 

While it has been often maintained by athletes dealing with off-the-field crisis that they find refuge in engaging in competition as a familiar coping mechanism, it strikes me as so condescending for Watson and the Browns to suggest that his situation can be easily compartmentalized. This isn’t like the sudden loss of a loved one. It’s another allegation that questions the character of the face of the franchise. And certainly, it takes energy to deal with it. 

Sure, there is much to discuss and address behind closed doors that won’t be aired out in a public forum as the investigative process begins again. 

Asked if he expected another round of interviews with Lisa Friel, the NFL’s chief investigator, Watson said, “It hasn’t crossed my mind at the time being. I’m just focusing on Jacksonville. And if that happens…whatever I have to do with the Browns or my legal team, then that time will come.” 

You get what you pay for. 

That’s a takeaway for the Browns and most notably the Haslams, who took on the enormous risk of guaranteeing the contract of a quarterback who they knew came with the baggage of the previous sexual misconduct allegations that topped two dozen. After this season, the Browns will still be on the hook for $92 million through 2026, but apparently, as multiple outlets have reported, the contract language could allow the team to void the guarantees of the final two years (and presumably previous years) if Watson didn’t inform the Browns of potential allegations like the one that has now surfaced. 

How the NFL Players Association views the matter could also be essential, if the union fights any potential discipline on the grounds that the NFL already investigated and punished Watson – and that the new case is essentially taking another bite of the same apple, that the league should have uncovered the new bombshell during the previous investigation. We’ll see. 

Still, it’s worth noting that in determining an original six-game suspension after the last investigation (which was later adjusted after an NFL appeal), Robinson, a retired judge jointly appointed by the league and the players’ union, made a distinction in characterizing Watson’s apparent transgressions as “non-violent sexual conduct.” This time, if the allegations in the lawsuit are true, it surely crosses the line of definition as a “violent” act. And in striking the settlement with Watson through the NFLPA in 2022, the league maintained that while it wouldn’t pursue any more discipline in the future stemming from the types of incidents alleged by the massage therapists, it reserved the right to pursue cases that were materially different – as this new one apparently would be. 

With the civil case just filed and the NFL just beginning to investigate, Watson won’t be placed on the Commissioner’s Exempt List. Yet the fact that the league, in a statement, already addressed the possibility of that sends a clear message about how this is resonating at the Park Avenue headquarters. 

Then there’s the football. In the three-plus seasons since the end of the 2020 campaign, Watson has played just 13 games. He missed 11 games last season with a fractured shoulder that resulted in surgery. In 2022, he missed 11 games due to the suspension. In 2021, he missed the entire season in a contract dispute with the Texans, as the off-the-field issues were revealed, setting the stage for the trade to Cleveland. 

That’s a lot of rust. In Sunday’s thrashing from the Dallas Cowboys, Watson (playing behind an injury-depleted offensive line and without the presence of star running back Nick Chubb) was pummeled for six sacks and 17 quarterback hits. He passed for just 169 yards with a touchdown, two picks and a meager 51.1 passer rating. 

And now the less-than-ideal conditions include more legal drama. 

The Browns hoped that Watson would lead them to the elusive Super Bowl promised land as the franchise quarterback who once sparkled with the Texans as one of the NFL’s brightest stars. That’s why, off-the-field drama be damned, they took the risk. 

Turns out, the big bucks have only bought the reality – barring a major turnaround that I wouldn’t put money on – that Watson’s stardom peaked in Houston. 

Imagine the toll that the off-the-field drama has had on Watson, who has cast himself as a victim. In the past, he has alluded to strength developed as he endured challenges growing up in Gainesville, Georgia. Yet the more recent challenges are seemingly linked to his decision-making and perhaps other underlying factors. 

Bottom line, the issues that came with him from Houston would hardly constitute a recipe for success. 

Watson, of course, doesn’t see it as such. 

“I’m not going to sit up here and make any excuses for anything that’s off the field,” he said, referencing causes for the woes “on the field.”  

Yeah, right. In other words, that focus on football is being tested to the max. 

If we’ve learned anything from watching college football over the years, it’s that the sport’s capacity to produce crazy results is constant. So while the Week 3 schedule might at first glance appear to lack meaningful contests, the unexpected should always be – well, expected.

With that in mind, here are our picks for the best games of the weekend ranked by entertainment potential and national importance. As always, keep one eye on the scoreboard and one hand on the remote in case a game not listed here suddenly becomes interesting (Northern Illinois, anyone?).

No. 18 Arizona at No. 15 Kansas State

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

Why watch: The lone Top 25 matchup on the Week 3 slate kicks the weekend off early. In this realm of realignment, these two sets of Wildcats are now Big 12 conference mates. This game, however, was scheduled prior to Arizona entering the league, so it will not count in the conference standings. It should be an entertaining affair nonetheless, with both teams able to move the ball in different ways. The primary mode of transport for the visiting Wildcats from Tucson is by air from QB Noah Fifita to WR Tetairoa McMillan. The home Wildcats of the ‘Little Apple’ have been most effective on the ground, mainly via RB DJ Giddens though QB Avery Johnson also contributing.

Why it could disappoint: It shouldn’t. Neither defense is stingy enough to stop the opposing offense outright. About the only way this could become a rout is if one team starts committing a spate of turnovers.

WEEKEND FORECAST: Experts for every Top 25 game in Week 3

No. 4 Alabama at Wisconsin

Time/TV: Saturday, noon ET, Fox.

Why watch: The Crimson Tide take to the road for what figures to be their toughest non-conference challenge before embarking on their loaded SEC slate. The Badgers for their part face a huge step up in competition after a couple of nondescript outings. Wisconsin hasn’t been flashy in the passing game, but QB Tyler Van Dyke has kept the ball out of harm’s way. Alabama QB Jalen Milroe also struggled with his deep ball in his last outing, but the Badgers will also have to worry about his speed when he leaves the pocket.

Why it could disappoint: Quite simply, Wisconsin isn’t built for a comeback. If the Crimson Tide take a multi-score advantage, they could ice it away.

No. 6 Oregon at Oregon State

Time/TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, Fox.

Why watch: Think there might be some hard feelings in this one? The Beavers, among the programs left without a seat in the latest round of conference musical chairs, would like nothing more than to derail the highly ranked Ducks’ aspirations even before their first taste of Big Ten competition. Oregon faithful are undoubtedly glad the team is finished with the state of Idaho, but this visit to Corvallis will be anything but a mere tune-up. The Ducks’ offense has yet to take flight in 2024, needing a pair of special-teams scores to survive against Boise State. QB Dillon Gabriel has a terrific 84.3 completion percentage but has been sacked seven times with little ground support. Oregon State’s RB duo of Jam Griffin and Anthony Hankerson have combined for 475 rushing yards and six TDs through two games, potentially bad news for a Ducks’ defense that has shown vulnerability on the ground.

Why it could disappoint: The Ducks haven’t been able to put opponents away early thus far, so it seems unlikely they’ll be able to subdue the feisty Beavers. It’s possible Oregon finds its extra gear, but this has the makings of yet another four-quarter struggle.

Boston College at No. 8 Missouri

Time/TV: Saturday, 12:45 p.m. ET, SEC Network.

Why watch: Everyone had this one circled, right? The Tigers have thus far handled their lofty expectations with no drama, but this visit from the Eagles could become more of a challenge than anticipated. BC had an equally drama-free week with no hangover from its big win at Florida State and now has a chance to make an even bigger splash. The Mizzou offense has huge explosive potential due to the presence of WR Luther Burden III, but QB Brady Cook hasn’t needed to unleash many long balls yet. The Eagles have enjoyed a possession time advantage of over nine minutes on average, with agile QB Thomas Castellanos making extensive use of RBs Treshaun Ward and Kye Robichaux.

Why it could disappoint: The one thing we don’t know about the Eagles yet is whether they can handle comeback mode. The same can be said of the Tigers, of course, so the early ebbs and flows could be quite fascinating.

No. 22 Washington vs. Washington State

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

Why watch: Like the rivalry a state farther south, the Apple Cup’s usual place at the end of the season became another casualty of the Pac-12’s breakup. It’s technically a neutral-site contest in Seattle as it will be played at the Seahawks’ Lumen Field and not at Husky Stadium, but it should be a hometown crowd for Washington nonetheless. The Huskies were somewhat slow out of the gate last week against Eastern Michigan but have shown solid offensive balance between QB Will Rogers and RB Jonah Coleman. The Cougars own an impressive Power Four win against Texas Tech and would love to grab another along with the rivalry trophy. Their attack is usually in the hands of QB John Mateer, who has accounted for six TDs by air and two more by land with 719 yards of total offense.

Why it could disappoint: The Huskies’ defense is the one unit that could possess a decisive advantage. The first few drives will therefore be of utmost importance for the Cougars. If they are able to move the ball, the contest will likely remain competitive.

No. 19 Notre Dame at Purdue

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

Why watch: Life as an independent in the 12-team era gets no easier for the Fighting Irish, who are now faced with the prospect of needing to run the table just to earn playoff consideration. None of that matters to the Boilermakers, who will only view this as an opportunity to get the better of its sometimes Hoosier State rival with the national name brand. We don’t know a lot about Purdue yet as it rolled past Indiana State 49-0 in its only previous outing. But well-traveled QB Hudson Card was nearly flawless in that tune-up, and he and the rest of his arsenal, which includes TE Max Klare and RB Devin Mockobee, will be fresh following a week off. Notre Dame QB Riley Leonard is still looking for his first TD pass of the season. Having RB Jeremiyah Love in his backfield has helped, but expect Purdue to crowd the line of scrimmage until Leonard shows he can go over the top effectively.

Why it could disappoint: It’s hard to know how the Boilermakers will stack up at the line of scrimmage given the lack of data. The Fighting Irish have been uneven at best in the trenches, however, so a decisive barrage of points seems unlikely.

No. 17 LSU at South Carolina

Time/TV: Saturday, noon ET, ABC.

Why watch: The SEC continues to ease into league play. The Gamecocks in fact already have a conference win in the bank after throttling Kentucky last week. The Tigers got into the win column but had a harder than expected time putting away FCS visitor Nicholls State. As such, they head into SEC territory with some issues still unresolved. The connection between QB Garrett Nussmeier and WR Kyren Lacy has not been an issue for LSU, and they’ll provide an aerial threat to the Gamecocks’ defense that Kentucky could not a week ago. South Carolina’s passing attack has been stuck in neutral, but RB Raheim Sanders has found the end zone a couple of times.

Why it could disappoint: LSU fans are quite honestly hoping that it does. The Gamecocks probably need to make it a defensive slog to keep it close.

In the annals of absurdity, financial mismanagement and ego-driven decision making that have long been the hallmarks of conference realignment, Thursday’s announcement of a rebuilt Pac-12 sets a new standard for pointlessness in college sports.

Left for dead a year ago when the rest of their league scattered to the wind, Oregon State and Washington State have convinced Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State and San Diego State to leave the Mountain West and join them under the Pac-12 banner in 2026. There will be more additions for sure — you’d think UNLV, Air Force, and perhaps New Mexico would be a starting point depending on how big they want to go — but the bottom line is so inconsequential you have to ask whether it’s even worth the trouble.

In breaking away from the Mountain West, all the Disloyal Four have truly done is joined a new league with an old name that is going to … look almost exactly like the Mountain West. 

And the cost of making that move? 

In excess of $100 million in exit fees and penalties associated with the scheduling agreement Oregon State and Washington State signed with the Mountain West last year, written explicitly to discourage this exact scenario where the remaining Pac-12 schools would wreck the conference that gave them a temporary football home.

A significant chunk of that money will, almost certainly, come from the Pac-12 war chest assembled from a mass of conference revenue the other 10 schools had to forfeit when they left for the Big Ten, Big 12 and ACC. And in turn, the Mountain West will take that money to bolster its remaining members and adding members to ensure its own survival. Given how shallow the pool gets at that end of conference expansion, the Mountain West will probably have to elevate some Football Championship Subdivision schools or dip into Conference USA, which had to do the exact same thing last year. 

The cycle continues. 

And for what? How can you possibly convince any rational person that this level of conference realignment — again, with more than $100 million being exchanged from one batch of mid-major schools to another — is anything more than a low-level Ponzi scheme? 

If you squint really, really hard, you can kind of see how schools like Boise State, Colorado State and San Diego State that have a little bit of national juice could convince themselves that there’s a benefit to joining up with Oregon State and Washington State on a more formal basis while leaving behind what they consider to be the Mountain West’s dead weight.  

After all, the new Pac-12 will now be able to go out and get its own media rights deal, and the six schools will be able to choose how many other partners — and which partners — bring the most value. For a college president, filling a spreadsheet with those hypotheticals is like catnip. They can’t resist it.  

But in reality, all they’ve done is leave a conference that was competing with the American to be the fifth-best conference and … join a league that will be competing with the American to be the fifth-best conference.

Which means the difference is television money is likely going to be marginal. There will be no difference in College Football Playoff access because nobody with true power in this sport is going to consider the Pac-12 to be a major conference. When it’s all said and done, Boise State and the rest are going to end up largely playing the same opponents they’ve been playing for years just with a different conference logo on the field. 

And in the end, when you cut through all the baloney, that’s what this is really all about. 

Athletics administrators and college presidents are only fluent in one language when it comes to conference realignment: Whether they feel like they’re in the cool kids’ club or they’re out.

Look across the landscape over the last few years and there’s no real calculus driving these decisions other than ego — even more than money.  

Why did Texas start the process of ditching the Big 12 for the SEC? Because their football program had made a series of horrible coaching hires, and they blamed their subsequent recruiting failures on being in a mediocre conference. 

Why did Southern Cal engineer a jailbreak from the Pac-12 for the Big Ten? Because their program had been in stasis and there was a perception among USC administrators that the Pac-12 wasn’t doing enough to help them get back to national relevance. 

Why are Florida State and Clemson taking the ACC to court in an attempt to become free agents, even though it’s going to cost a ton and there’s no guarantee of a more lucrative landing spot? It’s because of the fear that they’re going to end up on the wrong side of a dividing line between the elites and the commoners that used to include six conferences at the top and now only includes four. 

This state of affairs has left college administrators feeling rather helpless. They are just passengers as the NCAA model gets reshaped through lawsuits and threats that schools in the Big Ten and SEC will break away and do their own thing if they don’t get the freedom they need to make rules and spend money that everyone else doesn’t have. 

So the sole focus for everyone else is getting as close to that dividing line as possible — regardless of the travel logistics, the exit fees and who gets screwed over.

A year ago, Washington State and Oregon State were sympathetic figures because nobody wanted them. Now, they’re predators, digging their fangs into the carcass-strewn Mountain West. 

And those joining them are getting what, exactly? Oh, they’ll throw a big party this week in Boise and San Diego and Fort Collins. They finally made it!

But they made it to an impostor Pac-12 whose resurrection is less compelling than a Journey reunion tour without Steve Perry as the lead singer. 

Sure, Oregon State and Washington State got to keep the name and the branding, but no one is fooled. What they’re putting together is more Parody Pac than Pac-12, but in college sports these days it’s sadly just business as usual.

Tua Tagovailoa’s bad night took a turn for the worse as the Miami Dolphins quarterback exited his team’s 31-10 loss against the Buffalo Bills on Thursday night in the third quarter with a concussion.

On a fourth-and-4 play from Buffalo’s 13-yard line, Tagovailoa scrambled up the middle as he attempted to get a first down. The Dolphins’ quarterback dove headfirst ahead of the first down marker but was hit by Bills safety Damar Hamlin. It appeared Tagovailoa hit his head on Hamlin’s body during the tackle.

Tagovailoa stayed on the grass for a few moments. He was eventually helped off the field and escorted to the locker room by the Dolphins’ medical staff. Backup quarterback Skylar Thompson replaced Tagovailoa with 4:24 left in the third quarter with Miami trailing 31-10.

“My thought was concern,’ Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel told reporters postgame when asked for his thoughts when he saw Tagovailoa on the ground. ‘I was just worried about my guy. It’s not something that you ever want to be a part of. You hope not to.’

The Dolphins ruled Tagovailoa out with a concussion shortly after he exited.

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“It makes me sick,’ Thompson said postgame. ‘It sucks. In my position you never want to have your opportunity come with something like that. Have a lot of love for Tua. Built a great relationship with him and you care about the person more than the player.’

The Dolphins quarterback, who had 145 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions when he exited Thursday, has battled injuries throughout his career. In 2022, Tagovailoa experienced two known concussions and was limited to 13 games. He sustained a hip injury at Alabama in 2019 and missed the remainder of the collegiate season. 

Hamlin, who went into cardiac arrest on the field during a ‘Monday Night Football’ game in January 2023, wished Tagovailoa a ‘speedy recovery’ on social media.

Questions about Tagovailoa’s future were asked postgame — questions that will persist given the quarterback’s injury history. But McDaniel said the Dolphins’ chief concern at the moment is Tagovailoa’s health.

“You know, right now it’s more about getting a proper procedural evaluation (Friday), and taking it one day at a time,’ McDaniel said. ‘The furthest thing from my mind is, you know, what is the timeline? We just need to evaluate and just worried about my teammate like the rest of the guys are. We’ll get more information (Friday), and then take it day by day from there.’

Miami signed Tagovailoa to a four-year, $212.4 million contract extension in July. The Dolphins originally drafted Tagovailoa with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft.