Nobody, it seems, has grown more tired of Andy Roddick’s name coming up this time of year than Andy Roddick. 

The former tennis player turned podcaster is the last American man to win a Grand Slam singles title. Since his retirement a dozen years ago, nobody else has even come close enough to play the last match of the tournament with the trophy in sight. And at the U.S. Open especially, Roddick’s 2003 triumph is not usually invoked as a great memory for American men’s tennis but an annual reminder of how dry the well has been since he left the game. 

And he’s had enough. 

“I want it all to end,” Roddick said on his latest episode of “Served with Andy Roddick“.

“I’ve gotten more juice out of the squeeze than any human has gotten out of anything ever. I’d love nothing more than for an American to win on Sunday. I hate it, I get this anxious feeling every time they have to answer for it. I (expletive) hate it for them. I want them to have it.”

For the first time in 15 years, there’s at least a chance Roddick will no longer have to bear that burden. 

Friday’s U.S. Open semifinal between No. 12 seed Taylor Fritz and No. 20 seed Frances Tiafoe will be a historic moment in this era of men’s tennis. Regardless of who wins, there will be an American flag on the scoreboard at a Grand Slam final. 

It’s about dang time. 

No disrespect to Roddick, whose remarkable career included 32 ATP titles, a No. 1 ranking, five Grand Slam finals and would have been a whole lot better if not for a personal tormentor named Roger Federer. But 21 years is long past the expiration date for a one-time Slam champion to occupy this much space in the tennis discourse. 

In a country of 333 million people that has found a way to produce elite champions in nearly every other major sport — including women’s tennis, by the way — it’s both remarkable and unacceptable that this Slam-less streak is now old enough to drink a beer. 

For everyone’s sake, can we just finally do this thing and move on? Doesn’t even matter who. Taylor? Frances? Fight it out between yourselves Friday and then go get ‘em Sunday. 

At this point, it’s not just a matter of American pride. It’s so that literally none of you — including Ben Shelton, Sebastian Korda, Tommy Paul and whoever comes after them — ever have to answer the question again. 

“We openly speak about it,” Tiafoe said after beating Grigor Dimitrov in the quarterfinals. ‘We’ve all been knocking on the door. Taylor has been in and out of the top 10, I was top 10 this time last year. Ben is so dang good. It’s only a matter of time.

“… And the game is open. It’s not like it once was where you make a quarterfinal and you play Rafa (Nadal) and you’re looking at flights. That’s just the reality. Now it’s totally different, and no one is unbeatable especially later in the season where maybe guys are a little bit cooked, not as fresh, and they’re vulnerable. It’s pretty exciting.”

I’ll be completely honest here: Even though it’s true that the entire dynamic of men’s tennis has changed now that Nadal and Federer have aged out of the sport and Novak Djokovic isn’t far behind them, I did not think any of the Americans from the Tiafoe/Fritz generation would be the ones to end the streak. The gap between their level of success and the top echelon now occupied by younger stars like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner just seemed a little bit too big. 

And maybe it is. Though Alcaraz went out of the U.S. Open early, Sinner is still around and hunting his second Slam of the year. Make no mistake, he’s a significant favorite to win the title. 

But at this point, it’s not inconceivable for either Fritz or Tiafoe to win this thing. They’re both playing great tennis. They both own a previous win over Sinner. And Sunday, whoever emerges from their semifinal will have a whole stadium — a whole country, really — behind them. 

“That would be awesome for the fans to be guaranteed that one of us would be going to the finals,” Fritz said after he won his quarterfinal. 

American fans deserve it. After American men made so much history from Arthur Ashe to Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe to the Andre Agassi-Pete Sampras rivalry, it’s been a long wait for something like this. Way too long. 

The reasons for this 20-year downturn have been analyzed as intensely as the Zapruder film, and there’s no shortage of theories and excuses. When the sport became more international, Americans (and Australians, by the way) had less of an advantage. Europeans grow up playing on clay, so they learn how to construct points better than the serve-and-forehand style that dominates American tennis. The USTA development system wasn’t doing enough, or maybe was doing too much. Tennis costs too much, so the best young athletes go to other sports. 

Or maybe it’s just that there wasn’t much space for American talent when three of the greatest players ever were around at the same time and winning almost everything.  

But eventually, the worm will turn. Maybe, hopefully, this weekend. And if so, it’ll be a story that highlights why American tennis still has the potential to be relevant. 

Fritz was born to do this. He is the son of two former professional tennis players, groomed from Day 1 to win big titles. 

Tiafoe is the son of immigrants from Sierra Leone and started playing the sport because his father was the maintenance man at a tennis facility in College Park, Maryland.

In this country, both paths to athletic success are possible. And during the final Sunday, one of them will get closer to the sport’s ultimate glory than any American man since Roddick lost a gut-wrenching five-set final to Federer at Wimbledon in 2009. 

It’s time for some new milestones in American tennis rather than clinging to trophies won more than two decades ago. Even Roddick agrees with that. 

Follow Dan Wolken on social media @DanWolken

Saturday’s game between Colorado and Nebraska poses a fundamental question about the rapidly changing modern era of college football:

Which is the right way to build a team these days?

The head coaches of both programs started at the same time, in late 2022. But since then, Colorado’s Deion Sanders and Nebraska’s Matt Rhule have taken wildly divergent paths in their quest to rebuild two rival rosters.

For example:

∎ Rhule has made 486 off-campus contacts with potential recruits for Nebraska, according to records obtained by USA TODAY Sports. By contrast, Sanders didn’t visit any recruits away from Boulder during the same period.

∎ Rhule brought in 48 freshmen out of 60 newcomers this year, including non-scholarship players. Sanders did almost the exact opposite – bringing in 44 transfer players out of 65 newcomers.

∎ Rhule recruits heavily within his state and has 53 players on his roster from Nebraska. On the other hand, Sanders recruits heavily from out of state and has more players from Texas (21) and Florida (18) than Colorado (14).

“I would say it’s a clash of styles,” former Colorado and Northwestern head coach Gary Barnett told USA TODAY Sports. “It’s a new way of doing it, and it’s an older way of doing it.”

Both could be on the right paths for the different jobs they were hired to do. Both also could be wrong about going too far in one direction when players now can change teams without penalty in pursuit of more money or playing time.

Last year, Colorado beat Nebraska, 36-14. This year, both are 1-0 heading into Saturday’s game at sold-out Memorial Stadium in Lincoln.

May the best belief system win?

Why it’s not that simple

Fox Sports college football analyst Joel Klatt sees it like this:

“There are always multiple ways to build a great roster,” the former Colorado quarterback said in an email to USA TODAY Sports. “The key is what you do with them once they are in your program…Also, the great equalizer is that regardless where you find him you have to find a quality QB…If you don’t have one, then it doesn’t matter how you build everywhere else!”

Even that position presents a symbolic contrast between the two longtime rivals: Colorado senior transfer quarterback Shedeur Sanders, Deion’s son, will face off against Nebraska freshman Dylan Raiola.

Just don’t call it a “culture clash” to Rhule.

“Not at all,” Rhule said Monday, disagreeing with the notion.

‘I just don’t want to touch that’

In an interview with USA TODAY Sports in April, Rhule likewise wanted to avoid commenting on how Sanders builds his program compared to his.

“I really don’t have much to say about it,” he said then. “I just don’t want to touch that.”

Rhule, 49, has reason to downplay the contrast between them. That’s because Colorado took issue with certain comments Rhule had made last year about how he builds his program. The Buffaloes then used those comments for motivation in that win against the Cornhuskers last Sept. 9.

Rhule never mentioned Sanders by name but compared general styles of building teams ― coaching players who “buy in” to his coaching, as opposed to frequently shopping for new players in the transfer portal. On the day the transfer portal opened in April 2023, Rhule said, “I hear other schools, they can’t wait for today, the transfer portal.”

By contrast, Rhule said then, “I can’t wait to coach my guys.”

The implication was Rhule believed his model was superior. But each coach has reason to believe he’s doing it right.

Recruiting on the road

Here’s another big contrast between the two:

Since his hiring, Rhule had visited 108 high schools for recruiting purposes before this season, according to the university. Sanders hadn’t visited any recruits at high schools or their homes during that same period, as reported by USA TODAY Sports in March. The latter approach is virtually unheard of in major college football. But Sanders has his reasons.

“We target mostly guys that’s in the (transfer) portal,” Sanders said in response to the article about it. “When do you make visits to portal guys’ homes? Anybody do that? Do they do that? Anybody? Have you guys heard of that?”

It does happen, though not nearly as often as with high school recruits. Sanders also arguably started in a much bigger hole than Rhule did at Nebraska in late 2022. Nebraska then was coming off a 4-8 season while Colorado might have been the worst team in major college football at 1-11.

Going for the quick fix at Colorado

To turn the program around, Sanders, 57, quickly decided he needed to overhaul the roster with new talent from the transfer market, where an abundance of seasoned players had migrated after the NCAA loosened transfer rules in 2021. He ended up bringing in 57 newcomer transfers to start the season in 2023 out of a roster of 113, including non-scholarship players, according to the university. The way he saw it, building with freshmen was going to take too long.

“When you inherited a roster like we inherited a roster, you can’t deal with high school kids that much, because it takes them probably a couple of years to develop (and) you’ll be fired in a couple years,” Sanders told the students at Colorado earlier this year.

His team started 3-0 last year before finishing 4-8.

Recruiting in-state

Colorado has a much bigger population than Nebraska – 5.8 million compared to nearly 2 million in 2020, according to U.S. Census data. So then why does Colorado have such a smaller number of in-state players?

It’s a cultural thing. And it’s not unique to Sanders’ tenure at Colorado.

“That has been a mixed bag for Colorado for 60 years,” said Barnett, who also coached high school football in the state and now does color commentary for the Colorado football radio network. “You’re sort of digging up an old wound.”

Among the possible reasons for it is that the more rural state (Nebraska) is perceived to be more football-crazy than the more urban state (Colorado). Coaches who got hired at Colorado also wanted to recruit areas they knew. In this case, Sanders and his assistant coaches knew Texas and Florida.

It’s worked for the Buffaloes before. Some of their best teams in history have featured players from Texas and California, while Nebraska often has stocked up on locals.

“I grew up in that era, as a young coach, watching (coach) Urban Meyer and those guys just absolutely kill it on the road,” Rhule told USA TODAY Sports in April. “That’s what I learned how to do, so when we came here, it was, ‘Hey, we need to re-establish ourselves in Nebraska.’ So (it was about) getting to as many Nebraska schools as possible and showing my face there so that people know that recruiting is important to me.”

Each approach still comes with risk

Rhule described his approach like this in the April interview.

“We do use the portal, but we’re a little more a high school developmental old-school type program,” he said.

Last year, Nebraska finished 5-7 in his first season. But how many more seasons like that will Rhule get to develop those high school recruits?

Likewise, how many times will Sanders be allowed to flip his roster with transfer players if they don’t learn to come together as a team and win big games down the stretch? Colorado lost eight of its last nine games in 2023.

Both ultimately could move toward more balance. Nebraska has several transfers in its rotation this year, including receivers Isaiah Neyor (Texas) and Jahmal Banks (Wake Forest). Conversely, Sanders recently pointed out that his team last week started two true freshmen in a season opener for the first time in school history: offensive tackle Jordan Seaton and receiver Drelon Miller.

“For me, it’s a little too early to say one way is better than the other,” Barnett said.

Saturday’s game still might show who’s ahead. NBC will televise the game at 7:30 p.m. ET.

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

The 2024 NFL season kicked off Thursday with the Kansas City Chiefs staving off the Baltimore Ravens, but the early story of the game was the illegal formation penalties.

On the Ravens’ first drive of the game, the offense was flagged three times for illegal formation, twice on left tackle Ronnie Stanley and once on right tackle Patrick Mekari. One of the illegal formation calls negated a defensive pass interference on Kansas City, canceling what could’ve been a big gain of yardage for Baltimore. The Ravens were able to score thanks to a rushing touchdown from Derrick Henry, but it came with several struggles.

Stanley would get called for another illegal formation penalty in the second quarter, drawing the ire of head coach John Harbaugh.

Stanley said after the Ravens’ 27-20 loss that he felt the calls were being applied unevenly and that he was being targeted.

‘The way it was going through the game, you know, I really feel like they were trying to make an example and chose me to be the one to do that,’ Stanley told reporters. ‘As far as I saw, they weren’t doing it on both sides of the ball. And I know that I was lined up in a good position in a majority of those calls they made.’   

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Why is illegal formation being called so often?

Typically, the tackles have been given leeway to line up just a few feet behind the line of scrimmage, but the NBC broadcast mentioned looking for offensive linemen behind the line of scrimmage was a point of emphasis the league wanted referees to pay attention to coming into this season. That means offensive linemen throughout the league will be watched more carefully this season.

Last season, Kansas City tackle Jawaan Taylor was heavily criticized for how far off he appeared to be lining up behind the line of scrimmage, and he was flagged a few times for it.

Stanley said the Ravens understood that refs would be closely watching for potential infractions, but he maintained he did not believe he deserved to be flagged.

‘We knew that they were going to make a new emphasis on the illegal formations,’ Stanley said. ‘We were talking to refs in OTAs, actually, and got pretty good clarification. We were doing a good job in OTAs, and then all of a sudden today – whatever calls they made (are) their decision, but it didn’t feel consistent with what we were told from the other refs earlier on.’

Former NFL stars chime in on illegal formation penalties

Regardless of whether people agreed the calls were correct or not, viewers were unhappy with the amount of penalties were called for it. Some notable former football players chiming in on the flags included J.J. Watt and Jason Kelce.

‘Offensive linemen are going to hate that they are finally calling that penalty,’ Watt, the former defensive star, said.

‘Man they are not messing around with these tackles alignments. And to be fair, Stanley is still to far back!’ Kelce said.

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The young season’s first top-10 showdown highlights the Week 2 slate in college football, with plenty of other tempting matchups on the menu as well. OK, there are also quite a few potential laughers like there were in Week 1, but hey, that’s why we’re here to help you pick the games to watch.

In addition to the headliner with Michigan hosting Texas in Ann Arbor, the Saturday schedule offers another Top 25 clash on a neutral field along with a few current and former rivals squaring off. As always, be on the lookout for surprising developments around the country, but with that in mind, here’s the rundown of what we think will be the best choices for your viewing enjoyment.

No. 3 Texas at No. 9 Michigan

Time/TV: noon ET, Fox.

Why watch: It’s the first major test for these playoff participants from last season as the Longhorns pay a visit to the defending champion Wolverines. Michigan, however, looks a lot different than the squad that lifted the trophy eight months ago, both on the field and on the sidelines. Both teams warmed up against Mountain West Conference competition last week with somewhat different results. The Wolverines struggled to put away Fresno State, while Texas had no such trouble dispatching Colorado State in a whitewash. Michigan clearly faced the tougher opponent, but the pedestrian 269 total yards generated by the offense is nevertheless a concern. QB Davis Warren will need to be sharper against LB Anthony Hill Jr. and the Texas defense. Longhorns QB Quinn Ewers should also face more resistance from DE Josaiah Stewart and the Michigan pass rush, but a talented group of pass catchers like WR Isaiah Bond should help him escape pressure.

Why it could disappoint: Single results can be deceiving, and as we said Michigan was facing a tougher opponent. But the ease with which Texas rolled would suggest that if there’s a lopsided outcome, it will go the ‘Horns’ way. The Wolverines will probably need to make this a grinder, which might not make for the most compelling product.

No. 12 Tennessee vs. No. 23 North Carolina State

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

Why watch: A second ACC-vs.-SEC neutral site contest – this one in Charlotte, North Carolina, in as many weeks gets a prime-time slot. This time it is the Wolfpack from the ACC playing in its home state, and they hope for a much better showing than Clemson managed against Georgia in Atlanta. But the Volunteers will undoubtedly have a sizable fan contingent make its way to the Queen City from Knoxville, and they’ll be hoping to see a strong performance that matches those already turned in by other SEC contenders. Tennessee and QB Nico Iamaleava had a much easier time in their opening tune-up against an in-state FCS challenger, handling Chattanooga with little drama. If Iamaleava gets loose too often, he’ll make life even more difficult for DB Aydan White and the Wolfpack’s active secondary. N.C. State took well over three quarters to pull clear of Western Carolina, and touted transfer QB Grayson McCall had to shake off an early interception before finding his rhythm. His main concern this time will be Vols DE James Pearce Jr

Why it could disappoint: Again, one probably shouldn’t read much from a single datapoint. But another slow start from the Wolfpack would not be advisable. We still need to see what Tennessee can do when met with actual resistance, but the Volunteers would seem to be the likelier candidate to make this a rout.

Boise State at No. 6 Oregon

Time/TV: 10 p.m. ET, Peacock.

Why watch: One of Week 1’s breakout stars looks to impress once again on an even bigger stage in this potential #BigTenAfterDark special. In a curious twist, Boise actually owns a 3-0 record all-time against Oregon, though they haven’t met since the 2017 Las Vegas Bowl. The Broncos and standout RB Ashton Jeanty, who ran for 267 yards and six TDs at Georgia Southern, might find the going a bit tougher against the Ducks. Oregon was somewhat slow out of the gate last week against Idaho and will be eager to turn in a performance worthy of a playoff contender. QB Dillon Gabriel put up a more than respectable 380 yards against the Vandals, but the fact that he needed to attempt 49 passes might be an indictment of his O-line’s inability to create holes in the ground game. That wasn’t an issue for Boise State, but Jeanty will likely need some semblance of air cover from QB Maddux Madsen to keep Ducks LB Bryce Boettcher and Co. at bay.

Why it could disappoint: Taking a hit in the polls is rather inconsequential in the grand scheme of the season, but the Ducks figure to be a bit more focused this week. Though the Broncos would go on to win the Mountain West last season, their early trip to Washington did not go well. They must avoid digging an early hole to stave off a similar fate in Eugene.

Arkansas at No. 17 Oklahoma State

Time/TV: noon ET, ABC.

Why watch: We come now to the more speculative portion of the preview, in which we stipulate that both teams’ membership in power conferences does not always guarantee entertaining football but we can hope. The Cowboys are among the Big 12 holdovers theoretically in the best position to challenge for the league title. They can reinforce that perception if they handle their business against a visitor from the SEC. The Razorbacks for their part are projected to finish somewhere in the middle of the pack at best in their conference but have a chance to make a more positive statement. We didn’t learn much about Arkansas in its romp past Arkansas-Pine Bluff, but QB Taylen Green and RB Ja’Quinden Jackson got in some useful reps. They shouldn’t have nearly as much room to operate against LB Nick Martin and the Cowboys’ experienced back seven. Oklahoma State had a tougher time with perennial FCS power South Dakota State, but veteran QB Alan Bowman and RB Ollie Gordon II also put up good numbers. The effort to keep them contained will be led by Razorbacks LB Brad Spence.

Why it could disappoint: The myth of SEC superiority in all things football has already taken a hit with the league suffering three losses in Week 1. Should this one go off the rails, it would seem more plausible that it will be the Cowboys, ranked and playing at home, putting up the high score.

Iowa State at No. 21 Iowa

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

Why watch: The annual showdown for the Cy-Hawk Trophy finds these in-state rivals coming off impressive outings in their respective tune-up games. Curiously, the visiting team has gone home with the hardware in each of the last four series meetings, with the Cyclones prevailing the last time they ventured to Iowa City in 2022. As with just about any game involving the Hawkeyes, points will be hard to come by, although the Iowa offense has more potential with QB Cade McNamara back at the controls after missing most of last season due to injury. Cyclones QB Rocco Becht is also back, and he must continue to play error-free football to avoid giving the Hawkeyes any opportunities with a short field. The stars of the game figure to be on the defensive side, where names to know include Iowa LB Jay Higgins and Iowa State DB Jeremiah Cooper.

Why it could disappoint: Did we mention this will probably be a low-scoring affair? The last time either team exceeded 27 points in this series was the atypical 44-41 Iowa overtime victory in 2017. On the other hand, it’s rarely a blowout regardless of how the respective teams fare later, and the decisive play can happen at any time.

Colorado at Nebraska

Time/TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBC.

Why watch: We don’t often feature a pair of unranked squads in this space, but this one will get a lot of attention. The atmosphere in Lincoln should be electric as these former Big Eight rivals renew acquaintances. Add in a little bad blood from last year’s encounter, a coach who is arguably the sport’s most polarizing figure and a young quarterback hoping to restore a once proud program to respectability, and you have a perfect recipe for appointment TV. The Buffaloes got all they wanted from annual FCS contender North Dakota State, but QB Shedeur Sanders and WR/DB Travis Hunter flashed their potential to create highlights at any time. Cornhuskers’ followers were equally excited about the debut of freshman sensation QB Dylan Raiola, who threw for a pair of TDs with no picks last week against Texas-El Paso.

Why it could disappoint: The Buffs still have issues at the line of scrimmage on both sides. We should find out fairly soon if the ‘Huskers are equipped to take advantage.

Michigan and Texas have met only once before, but it was a doozy.

The 2005 Rose Bowl ranks comfortably among the greatest bowl games in modern history. Led by quarterback Vince Young, the Longhorns scored 17 points in the fourth quarter to win 38-37, with the winning points coming on a 37-yard field goal in the final seconds.

Twenty seasons later, these two powerhouse programs will face off in a high-profile non-conference matchup pitting two of the strongest teams from the two strongest leagues in the Bowl Subdivision.

Defending national champion Michigan has a new head coach, a new quarterback and new contributors on both sides of the ball. The No. 9 Wolverines started the year with an uneven win against Fresno State, leading to a one-spot drop in this week’s USA TODAY Sports US LBM Coaches Poll.

No. 3 Texas blanked Colorado State 52-0 in Week 1, getting off on the right foot after last year’s breakthrough under coach Steve Sarkisian. While also dealing with offseason attrition, the Longhorns’ roster looks like the strongest and deepest of the Sarkisian era — a very good thing given this season’s shift to the SEC.

These are the questions that will determine the final score and the bigger themes underscoring a matchup that will help define the course of the 2024 season:

What do we know about Michigan?

Not too much, except for this key fact: Michigan has won 16 games in a row, including 23 in a row at home.

All but one of those wins came under Jim Harbaugh, now the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers. His replacement, former offensive line coach and offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore, is still working in Harbaugh’s shadow as he looks to place his fingerprints on the program.

Despite the massive changes since the win against Washington in January, the Wolverines are still constructed to be one of the best teams in the Big Ten and a strong candidate for the playoff. Defensively, Michigan are strong up the middle with interior lineman Mason Graham and sharp on the outside with cornerback Will Johnson, who iced the win against Fresno State with a pick-six.

But there are major question marks on offense. New quarterback Davis Warren, a former walk-on, went 15 of 25 for 118 yards with a touchdown and an interception against the Bulldogs. The Wolverines had just one drive traveling more than 47 yards, a 75-yard march in the fourth quarter to give them a 23-10 lead after Fresno State had pulled within a possession.

Overall, the 269 yards of offense were Michigan’s fewest in a regular-season non-conference game since notching 269 yards in a 41-14 loss to Alabama to open the 2012 season. While Fresno State might end up being one of the best teams in the Mountain West, the lack of punch on offense makes that side of the ball an unknown commodity heading into Saturday.

How good is Texas, really?

Probably one of the best teams in the country. There’s a good question asking whether Texas is deserving of being counted among the top three or four teams in the country or if the Longhorns should be grouped among the second tier of playoff contenders — a group that currently includes the Wolverines.

We’ll know the answer after Saturday. If they are one of the top teams in the FBS, Texas should go into Ann Arbor and hand the Wolverines a 10- or 14-point loss; that would be a reflection of the Longhorns’ talent level and Michigan’s ongoing quest for an identity.

Texas has the talent to do just that and validate the offseason hype. Quinn Ewers completed 20 of 27 passes for 260 yards and three scores against Colorado State; backup Arch Manning threw his first career touchdown in relief. Alabama transfer Isaiah Bond had 61 receiving yards, another 25 yards as a runner and a touchdown. Going up against the Rams, the the Longhorns forced two turnovers, allowed 3.1 yards per pass attempt and pitched the program’s second shutout in non-conference action since 2013.

BOWL PROJECTIONS: Big changes to College Football Playoff after Week 1

How does Michigan beat Texas?

By making Texas play at its pace. At a minimum, getting into a shootout would be uncomfortable territory for Michigan, which is 1-10 since the start of the 2018 season when giving up 30 or more points.

Allowing the Longhorns to set the tempo would represent a worst-case scenario for the Wolverines. Based off one week, they simply don’t have the punch to go blow for blow with Ewers and the Texas offense; even if able to keep pace for a quarter or even a half, Michigan would eventually get buried under a barrage.

But with a run-driven game plan, the Wolverines can keep the Texas offense on the sideline and rely on the two factors that could drive an upset: time of possession and a stingy defense. Since Sarkisian took over in 2021, the Longhorns are 19-7 when running 65 or more plays and 7-7 when not.

How does Texas beat Michigan?

By avoiding turnovers and winning on third down. Michigan hasn’t lost the turnover battle since a win against Rutgers last September, a 13-game stretch. From the Wolverines’ perspective, losing the turnover margin would ratchet up the degree of difficulty in beating Texas.

For the Longhorns, the easiest way to negate any talent or schematic advantage is to give Michigan extra possessions. That was an issue for Fresno State, which was intercepted in its own territory on the game’s opening possession to help spot the Wolverines a 7-0 lead.

The biggest factor is whether Texas can get off the field on third down. Last year’s team was outstanding in short-yardage situations, allowing 1.4 yards per carry on third down and three or fewer yards and allowing no yards and just five first downs on 11 fourth-down carries. Is this this year’s defense as good in similar situations? That’s not yet certain given what the Longhorns have lost since last season.

What will this game mean in the long run?

In nearly every other year in modern college football history, Saturday’s game would’ve been seen for what it was: a marquee non-conference matchup with the potential to dramatically impact the chase for the national championship.

Just last season, for example, a September victory at Alabama was enough to ensure the Longhorns would reach the playoff for the first time in program history by winning the Big 12. But that was under the four-team postseason model.

The 12-team format debuting this season could diminish the meaning of the regular season by emphasizing conference championships and minimizing the impact of a single loss. Against this backdrop, what does Saturday’s matchup in Ann Arbor really mean?

This will not be the elimination game similar non-conference pairings have been in the past; the loser will drop in the US LBM Coaches Poll but will not fall off of the postseason landscape. The winner will get an immediate boost in the polls but will still have to navigate conference play to ensure a playoff berth.

The longer-term impact may be on how the playoff selection committee compares the two power leagues atop the FBS, the Big Ten and the SEC. It’s guaranteed that both leagues will have at least two teams in the final top 12, and likely three or more. When comparing second-, third- or fourth-place teams from the two conferences for at-large bids, the committee could use Saturday’s result to split hairs between contenders with similar resumés.

The first ‘Sunday Night Football’ game of the 2024 NFL season is nearly here.

And the matchup features an interesting pair of familiar foes. On one side, you have the defending NFC North champions, the Detroit Lions, who are led by quarterback Jared Goff. On the other, you have the Los Angeles Rams, led by Matthew Stafford. It was just a few years ago that these two passers were swapped for each other in a trade that has proven to be successful for both sides.

As the focus turns to the 2024 season, the Lions aren’t shying away from higher expectations, one year after they made an appearance in the NFC championship game. While Detroit eventually lost to the 49ers, the Lions have their sights set on a Super Bowl.

Here’s everything you need to know about the first ‘Sunday Night Football’ game of the 2024 NFL season:

How to watch Rams vs. Lions game on Sunday night?

The Rams-Lions game begins Sunday, September 8 at 8:20 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on NBC. It will also be available to live stream on Peacock.

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Rams vs. Lions betting odds

The Lions (-225) are the moneyline favorite, while the Rams (+185) are the underdog. The over/under is set at 52.5 points, with the Lions favored by 4.5 points, according to BETMGM.

Spotlight on the quarterbacks: Matthew Stafford vs. Jared Goff

This is the latest iteration of an interesting storyline to watch. Jared Goff, now with the Lions, was drafted No. 1 overall in 2016 by the Rams. Matthew Stafford, now with the Rams, was drafted No. 1 overall in 2009 by the Lions. In a January 2021 trade, the Rams traded Goff and a package of draft picks to the Lions for Stafford.

Therefore, these passers are intimately familiar with their opponents and former cities. Since the trade, each quarterback has won one game against the other, though Goff may have a bit of an edge; Detroit topped the Rams last season in a wild card round playoff game that sprung the Lions onto a path to a NFC championship game appearance.

Player to watch: Rams WR Puka Nacua

Nacua burst onto the scene his rookie season, mirroring the success Los Angeles had with another shifty, possession-oriented slot receiver in Cooper Kupp. Nacua hauled in 105 passes off of 160 targets for 1,486 yards and six touchdowns. The performance earned him a second-team All-Pro nomination and a Pro Bowl appearance. It will be interesting to see how teams defend Nacua, 23, in his sophomore campaign — especially if he becomes the focus of the passing offense over Kupp.

Predictions for Sunday’s Rams-Lions game

Here are the USA TODAY Sports experts’ predictions for Sunday night’s game:

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

The NFL’s first game in Brazil features two NFC teams on the rise on Friday night.

Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles will face Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers at Corinthians Arena in San Paulo.

Hurts and the Eagles begin the season after an early exit in the postseason last season, after reaching the Super Bowl in 2022-23.

Love and the Packers put the world on notice in the playoffs last year, upending the Dallas Cowboys before falling to the NFC champion San Francisco 49ers.

The Packers and Eagles will likely be playoff contenders this season, offering an exciting Friday night matchup in South America to begin the 2024 NFL season.

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How to watch Packers vs. Eagles game on Friday night?

The Packers-Eagles game begins at 8:15 p.m. ET and will be available to live stream on Peacock.

Packers vs. Eagles betting odds

The Eagles (-150) are the moneyline favorite, while the Packers (+125) are a slight underdog. The over/under is set at 48.5 points, with the Eagles favored by 3 points, according to BETMGM.

The NFL plays its first game in Brazil

The NFL will play its first game in Brazil on Friday, as the league continues to expand its footprint internationally with an entrance in South America. Brazil is a key market for the NFL, which has played games in England, Germany and Mexico in recent years. The league will play a game in Madrid in 2025.

‘Bringing the NFL to new continents, countries and cities around the world is a critical element of our plan to continue to grow the game globally,’ NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement when the game was first announced last December.

‘Brazil has established itself as a key market for the NFL, and we are excited to be playing in Brazil and São Paulo for the first time in 2024. We look forward to working with the city of São Paulo, SP Turis and Corinthians Arena to deliver a world-class game day experience for this passionate and growing fan base.’

Spotlight on the quarterbacks: Jordan Love vs. Jalen Hurts

Hurts enters his fifth NFL season as the Eagles’ $51 million starter. Only Patrick Mahomes (36) and Josh Allen (35) have more wins than Hurts (33) since the start of the 2021 season. Look for Hurts to expand his leadership role this season after longtime center Jason Kelce retired. But a return to the playoffs is imperative for Philadelphia.

Love enters his second season as Packers starter (fifth overall) after signing the richest contract for a quarterback in NFL history (four years, $220 million) this offseason. Love will make a league-high $55 million this season, with high expectations after a torrid playoff run last season. The Packers beat the Cowboys 48-32, but lost to the 49ers 24-21 before the NFL title game.

Player to watch: Eagles RB Saquon Barkley

Running back Saquon Barkley was the face of the New York Giants. Now, he’s playing for the Eagles after signing a three-year, $37.75 million deal this offseason. He’ll bolster an offense behind Hurts with dynamic receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. The Eagles could lean on their run game behind Hurts and Barkley to keep the Packers’ offense off the field during their opener.

Predictions for Friday’s Eagles-Packers game

Here are the USA TODAY Sports staff’s predictions for Friday’s Brazil game:

Jarrett Bell: Packers 27-24
Chris Bumbaca: Packers 30-27
Nate Davis: Packers 27-23
Safid Deen: Eagles 27-23
Tyler Dragon: Eagles 26-21
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz: Packers
Lorenzo Reyes: Packers 24-20

NFL Week 1 picks

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World Surf League finals title.

A chance to defend that title Friday.

When surfer Caroline Marks reflects on her success, part of the conversation includes the low point of her career.

At 19, Marks abruptly left the WSL Tour early in the 2022 season. She cited mental health and physical problems as the reason for her departure.

“Surfing is all I’ve ever known,’’ said Marks, now 22. “And then all of a sudden it was taken away for a second and that was obviously really scary.’’

Her absence lasted about sixth months. And as she heads into the WSL finals in San Clemente, California, as the No. 2 seed, Marks said, “Obviously that time in my life is always going to be a part of me, and I’m not ashamed of that. And I know everyone goes through things and some of my favorite athletes in the world have gone through similar things and feelings, and I don’t feel ashamed of it.

“I think it was meant to happen, and in a way I’m grateful it happened because it’s really shaped me and to be the person I am today and the athlete and I feel like it’s made me a lot stronger.’’

Caroline Marks’ return to competition

During her absence from the tour, Marks recalled, she was not alone.

“There were some athletes that came to me that I’ve looked up to that really were supportive and just checking in on me,’’ she said. “And that was really, really nice of them.’’

The athlete Marks said she aspired to be like was Simone Biles – and not just because of the gymnast’s astounding success.

Biles withdrew from several events at the Tokyo Games in 2021 to prioritize her mental and physical health. Three years later, she won three golds and a silver at the Paris Olympics.

Luke Egan, Marks’ coach, said he had more modest expectations when Marks called him toward the end of the 2022 season and asked for his help during her return to the tour.

During Marks’ first event back, she finished third. Then she posted three consecutive fifth-place finishes, setting her up for a banner season in 2023.

“I couldn’t believe it,’’ Egan told USA TODAY Sports. ”I thought we’re going to be a year behind where we are.’’

Said Marks, “To kind of go from the lowest point of my life to be at the highest point in my life, is definitely was a pretty crazy feeling. But I didn’t try to put too much expectation on myself. I just really wanted to get really focused on my craft and really improve in areas I needed to improve on and make sure my mind was healthy and my body was healthy. And things happened really fast.’’

At the WSL finals, ‘the final five” also includes No. 1 seed Caitlin Simmers, an 18-year-old American phenom; No. 3 seed Brisa Hennessy of Costa Rica; No. 4 seed Molly Picklum of Australia; and No. 5 seed Tatiana Weston-Webb of Brazil, who won a silver medal at the Paris Olympics.

The winner will receive $200,000, while $100,000 will be awarded for second place, $75,000 for third, $60,000 for fourth and $40,000 for fifth.

The WSL finals is a single-elimination format of head-to-head heats. The No. 4 seed surfs against the No. 5 seed. The winner advances and surfs against the No. 3 seed. The winner advances and surfs against the No. 2 seed. And that winner advances and surfs against the No. 1 seed. The winner will be determined in the final round by the best-of-three heats.

Last year Marks was the No. 3 seed when she won. She said she feels good this year with the No. 2 seed.

‘Number one is obvious a great position,” she said. ‘You come in really fresh, but it also can be really nerve-racking if you’re just sitting there watching someone build momentum all day. … We’ll see what happens.’

Follow Josh Peter on social media @joshlpeter11