Johnny was 31 and Matthew was 29, and authorities say the driver who struck the men is being charged with two counts of death by auto. Both were in town to attend their sister’s wedding, which was scheduled for Friday in Philadelphia.

Johnny Gaudreau played in 763 regular-season games in the NHL for 11 seasons. He scored 243 goals and had 500 assists for the Calgary Flames and Blue Jackets. Gaudreau made the All-Star team in 2023, scoring 12 goals with 48 assists in 81 games last season.

He is survived by his wife, Meredith; their children, Noa and Johnny; his parents, Guy and Jane; and sisters, Kristen and Katie.

Here is more on the life and career of Johnny Gaudreau.

All things Blue Jackets: Latest Columbus Blue Jackets news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

Johnny Gaudreau college career

Gaudreau was born on Aug. 13, 1993, in Salem, New Jersey, and he played his high school hockey at Gloucester Catholic High School before joining the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the United States Hockey League in 2010.

He went on to attend Boston College and immediately made an impact, helping the Eagles win the national championship in 2012 during his freshman season.

In his junior season, Gaudreau, nicknamed ‘Johnny Hockey,’ scored an NCAA-best 36 goals and added 44 assists, winning the Hobey Baker Award, given to the nation’s best hockey player and winning the Hockey East Player of the Year award twice.

While in college, he also scored seven goals to help the United States win a gold medal at the U20 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.

Johnny Gaudreau NHL career

The Calgary Flames drafted Gaudreau in the fourth round of the 2011 NHL draft, but he didn’t join the team until the 2013-14 season after his collegiate career ended. He was a finalist for the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s Rookie of the Year in 2014-15 and was named to the All-Rookie Team.

Gaudreau spent nine seasons with the Flames, earning six all-star nods. His best season was in 2021-22 when he scored 40 goals and racked up a career-high 115 points.

Hitting the free agent market after that season, Gaudreau signed a seven-year, $68.25 million deal with the Blue Jackets. He had 21 goals and 53 assists in his first season with Columbus.

Johnny Gaudreau off the ice

In 2017, Gaudreau won the Lady Byng Trophy, which is given to the NHL’s most ‘gentlemanly’ player.

Gaudreau helped orchestrate in February a team-wide initiative to bring awareness to men’s mental health. The Blue Jackets donated $1,000 a point through the ‘Laine Gives Back’ program in Columbus after former Blue Jackets players Patrik Laine was the subject of social media attacks for personal mental health struggles.

The Columbus Dispatch, part of the USA TODAY Network, contributed to this report.

Lionel Messi could travel with Inter Miami for a road match Saturday against the Chicago Fire, coach Tata Martino said before Friday’s practice.

Messi has yet to be medically cleared to return from his right ankle ligament injury he suffered during the Copa America final July 14, but he did return to practice with teammates this week.

Inter Miami will face Chicago Fire on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET at Solider Field in Chicago. Messi’s status for the match will likely be determined around 5 p.m. Friday when MLS announces injury updates for Saturday’s games.

“Well, [Messi is] getting better and still hasn’t been medically cleared. But we’ll determine today if he can travel to Chicago or not,” Martino said Friday.

How to watch Inter Miami vs. Chicago Fire match?

The Inter Miami match against Chicago Fire on Saturday begins at 8:30 p.m. ET, and will be broadcast on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.

Will Messi play vs. Chicago Fire?

It’s unclear, but Messi could travel for the match in Chicago. How much he plays – if he does play – will be determined by Inter Miami’s coaching and training staffs.

How has Messi recovered from his ankle injury?

Martino said Messi has continued to improve from his ankle injury in the last 6-7 weeks.

“For several weeks now, he’s been training with the ball, starting first with the medical team and physical trainers, and then gradually integrating some parts of training with the group. We’re in that situation right now,” Martino said Friday.

Is Messi coming back too fast from injury?

Messi did appear to favor his ankle during Friday’s practice, a sign he may not yet be ready to return to action just yet. But his practice participation continues to signal his return is imminent.

Inter Miami’s next match is Sept. 14 against the Philadelphia Union, which could be a more likely possibility for Messi’s return from injury.

“There are matters that are discussed a lot with him, and it depends on how he’s feeling. It’s an injury that’s lasted over six weeks, so we need to stay calm and be absolutely sure,” Martino said of Messi’s injury.

Technically the college football season is already underway, with a spattering of teams getting an early start last Saturday during the somewhat awkwardly titled Week 0. Week 1 gets an early start with a fair number of Thursday and Friday contests in the books.

But this is the first full weekend of the campaign, with multiple games available throughout the day. Once again, we’re here to help you prioritize your viewing options.

Standard disclaimer: this is simply a ranking of what we think will be the best contests, based on national interest, championship impact and entertainment potential. As always, there are sure to be surprising developments in games not listed here, so keep one eye on the scoreboard and one hand on the remote to keep up with all the exciting plays and fantastic finishes.

With all that out of the way, here are the five must-see games for Week 1:

No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 14 Clemson in Atlanta

Time/TV: Saturday, noon ET, ABC.

Why watch: The first of three Top 25 matchups on opening weekend is the clear headliner of the bunch. The preseason No. 1 team hasn’t dropped its season opener since Miami (Fla.) lost a road date at Brigham Young in its 1990 debut, a streak the Bulldogs hope will continue and Clemson looks to snap. The game features a pair of playoff regulars from the four-team era, although both were absent from the quartet last season. Georgia came a lot closer, coming up short in the SEC title game, while the Tigers were eliminated from the picture early and hope to avoid that same fate in 2024. Points could be at a premium in this one despite both teams having incumbent quarterbacks in place. Georgia’s Carson Beck must get on the same page with a number of new pass catchers, while the Clemson’s Cade Klubnik and his group need to improve in their explosive plays. The defense figures to be the stronger side of the ball for both teams, with linebacker Smael Mondon in the middle of what should again be a stout unit for the Bulldogs and defensive lineman TJ Parker set to pick up where he left off leading the Tigers’ pass rush.

Why it could disappoint: It might be a punting contest early on if the offenses are indeed slow out of the gate, which would make for an intense football game if not an aesthetically pleasing one. Georgia is the more likely candidate to build a multi-score advantage, so the Tigers must turn any red-zone chances they get into points.

No. 7 Notre Dame at No. 20 Texas A&M

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

Why watch: The Fighting Irish jump right into the fray against a power conference opponent, hoping to notch a key road win that will carry some weight in December. The Aggies will have plenty of opportunities ahead for quality victories in the SEC but would nonetheless like to start the Mike Elko era on a high note. Notre Dame again opens the season with an incoming transfer from the ACC at quarterback, this time with Riley Leonard from Duke. Keeping him healthy will be the top priority in 2024, and his first assignment matches him against a staff well acquainted with his skillset. Texas A&M quarterback Conner Weigman was with the program last year but missed significant time with injury. He’ll be working in a new system with a lot of replacement parts.

Why it could disappoint: The intensity will be there, but the execution might not be given all the unknowns for both teams. There are more such mysteries on the Aggies’ side with the new staff in place, but there were offseason changes at Notre Dame as well with Mike Denbrock back in town to coordinate the offense. A rout in either direction seems unlikely, but in this sport the possibility always exists.

No. 12 LSU vs. No. 23 Southern California in Las Vegas

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

Why watch: The third major intersectional clash of the weekend gets the Sunday prime-time slot. Coincidentally, it also happens to feature the alma maters of the two most recent Heisman winners who were just drafted first and second overall in April. As such, fans of both are accustomed to seeing high-octane offenses, and that seems likely to continue with new quarterbacks running the offenses. Succeeding Caleb Williams for the USC will be Miller Moss, who staved off a challenge from UNLV transfer Jayden Mayava to earn the gig. He’ll have plenty of playmakers with him, but the flashiest might be WR Zachariah Branch. Taking the helm from Daniels is Garrett Nussmeier, the rare veteran backup who waited his turn in the age of the portal. Working behind one of the best offensive lines in the nation, anchored by tackles Will Campbell and Emery Jones, should ease his transition to the starting role.

Why it could disappoint: It shouldn’t. It might in fact turn out to be the most entertaining game of the weekend. It’s possible the offenses will struggle to establish a rhythm right away, but neither squad has been exactly lights out on the other side of the ball. In short, this feels like a potential track meet. Enjoy.

No. 19 Miami (Fla.) at Florida

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

Why watch: This is an important non-conference showdown for both these Sunshine State rivals for somewhat different reasons. The Hurricanes, always facing outsized expectations, can’t afford an early slip, even against an SEC opponent on the road. Florida, with a coach on the hot seat and facing a nasty league slate in the coming weeks, needs every win it can get to avoid a second consecutive losing campaign. The Miami offense, productive if not elite last season, could be even better with quarterback Cam Ward and running back Damien Martinez arriving via the transfer portal. The Gators are going to need more from quarterback Graham Mertz, especially once conference competition rolls around, but his protection should be better with a more experienced line in front of him.

Why it could disappoint: The Gators ranked 59th nationally in scoring and 47th in total offense in 2023, not exactly bad but hardly explosive. If Miami is indeed quicker out of the chute, a Florida comeback could be difficult.

No. 9 Penn State at West Virginia

Time/TV: Saturday, noon ET, Fox.

Why watch: Theoretically, Penn State is among the programs best positioned to take advantage of both Big Ten and playoff expansion. First, however, the Nittany Lions must take care of their non-conference business. WVU, pegged by some as a potential dark horse in the Big 12, would like to reinforce that perception with a positive performance in this high-profile home opener. QB Drew Allar is back for the Nittany Lions after throwing for 25 scores with just two picks in 2023, and he’ll likely look to stretch the field a bit more this year. The Mountaineers also return their quarterback Garrett Greene, a two-way threat who should again get plenty of ground help from working behind an experienced line.

Why it could disappoint: In truth, you probably hope it does if you’re a Penn State fan. If the Mountaineers are within shouting distance at all after halftime, the revved up home crowd will become even more of a factor. It will be incumbent upon the visiting Nittany Lions to remove said crowd from the equation as soon as possible.

NFL owners really don’t want Tom Brady to be part of their club.

That’s the only way to read the restrictions the league is imposing on Brady the broadcaster related to his attempts to become Brady the part-owner of the Las Vegas Raiders. Which is still several months away from getting approval, mind you, if it happens at all. But the league is effectively boxing Brady in, forcing him to make a choice between his massive current paycheck or the potential “cachet” of being a minority owner of an NFL team — and leaving no doubt which one they prefer.

ESPN was the first to report that Brady won’t be allowed to watch another team’s practices or sit in on production meetings with the coaching staff, in person or virtually. That seems to be pretty standard stuff. NFL executives and coaches are some of the most paranoid people on the planet when it comes to competitive advantages — a lost playbook can cost a player up to $14,650 — and the idea of someone with a vested interest in another team having access to even the most mundane details would trigger a DEFCON 1 alert.

To not even be allowed to enter another team’s facility, though? That seems personal. Which, given who’s involved, isn’t a surprise.

Brady might be the greatest quarterback in NFL history, winner of seven Super Bowl titles and three regular-season MVP awards. He’s also a potential PR dream for both the league and its broadcast partner Fox, a future first-ballot Hall of Famer who is good-looking, funny and as adept at social media as he was throwing TDs.

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But the NFL has had two massive cheating scandals in the last 20 years and Brady’s been involved in both.

He served a four-game suspension as part of “Deflategate,” though he’s always denied complicity in any actual wrongdoing. As New England’s quarterback, he stood to benefit the most from “Spygate,” in which the Patriots and coach Bill Belichick were both handed six-figure fines for stealing opponents’ signals.

That team owners don’t trust Brady, even after all these years, might seem petty. But there’s more than a few owners who are still salty about the scandals, and the league’s perceived favoritism of the Patriots during Brady’s tenure, and they’re not ready to let bygones be bygones.  

The truest sign that Brady isn’t welcome as an owner, though, is the decree that he can’t criticize game officials and other clubs.

In other words, he can’t do his job. One Fox is paying him a whopping $375 million over 10 years to do.

It wouldn’t be appropriate for Brady to take unwarranted potshots at the owner of, say, the Kansas City Chiefs. Or at the crew chief in a particular game. It wouldn’t be appropriate for Troy Aikman, Tony Romo or any other big-name analyst, either.

But the job of an analyst — the good ones, at least — is to offer unvarnished assessments of what’s happening on and off the field. Fox and the other networks don’t pay guys like Brady, Romo and Aikman the big bucks just for their names. They pay them for their ability to take viewers behind the scenes, to peel the curtain back on why things on the field are happening, and to do it straightforwardly.

If an officiating crew botches a call that leads to a game-winning touchdown, is Brady supposed to ignore that? One of the biggest debates in recent seasons is how far the league has gone to protect the quarterback. Will Brady be able to weigh in on those types of calls and provide his very worthy insight?

If Russell Wilson is not a good fit in Pittsburgh, as he wasn’t in Denver, can Brady address that? If No. 1 pick Caleb Williams has growing pains with the Chicago Bears, does Brady have to dance around it? If the Dallas Cowboys skid into December at 5-7, is Brady supposed to pretend that Mike McCarthy isn’t on the hot seat?

Viewers want someone who is informative, not a glorified cheerleader. It’s why Aikman has lasted as long as he has and Drew Brees was out after a year. And there’s no way Brady can be an effective analyst, or give Fox its money’s worth, while also adhering to the NFL’s restrictions.

Which is the point.

Brady can be an analyst or he can be a part-owner of the Raiders, but he can’t be both. The NFL has already made that call.

Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.

It’s all surface nonsense, a constant drone of nattering noise that means next to nothing. Unless you’re hanging around Boulder and drafting with the rest of the B-list in tow.

Or you’re ESPN cashing the advertising check.

This is what we’ve been sold: Deion Sanders is a change agent redefining college football as coach at Colorado.

This is reality: there’s nothing tangible or foundational, just a mishmash program with more than 120 different scholarship players since the beginning of the 2023 season. A team that hasn’t beaten an FBS opponent since the first week of last October ― yet somehow sucks the oxygen from nearly every prime time television window.

If we learned anything from Colorado’s too close (and too ugly) 31-26 defeat of FCS North Dakota State Thursday night ― an ugly loss of a win in a sport fueled by rankings and perception ― it’s that slow and steady wins the race. And flash and dash only shines so long.

The figment of hope, this discombobulated team thrown together in a matter of months and sold ― by who else, ‘Coach Prime’ ― as a legitimate threat to win (take your pick) the Pac-12 and Big 12, is nothing more than Exhibit A of how not to build a college football team.

It’s not transformational or inspirational. Not a blueprint of future success in the new era of the transfer portal, or a roadmap to navigating the great unknown of name, image and likeness.

It’s just bad football.

A team full of players who weren’t recruited by FBS schools, who grew up in the North Dakota State program for the last three, four and five years, rolled into town and bullied the Buffs for nearly three quarters. Meanwhile, the team that began last season with 82 of 85 different scholarship players and then followed that with another offseason roster purge that added 42 new scholarship players, struggled to find answers.

But for star quarterback Shedeur Sanders and wideout/cornerback Travis Hunter ― far and away the two best players on the field ― the Prime Experiment would’ve lost for the ninth time in 10 games. Sanders, a projected top 10 pick in the 2025 NFL draft, is so talented and so unflappable, he alone is worth at least three or four wins.

The same four wins Colorado managed in 2023, and the same four wins the Buffs will more than likely find in 2024. It’s not hard to see where this ride ends.

Shedeur Sanders leaves for the NFL, and Deion rides off into the shadow of the Flatirons, a cratered program in his wake.

But it shouldn’t be like this. Deion Sanders has the dynamic personality and charisma to recruit at a high level, and build a roster for the long haul. He’s a rare unicorn, a former player who knows the game and how to coach it, and a man with the ability to align an entire university behind him and the product.

He’s the type of undeniable force that could build a program and change a sport, using his platform and persona to convince college presidents in the Big 12 and other Power Four leagues to guarantee annual non-conference games against HBCUs, saving (and strengthening) the 21 schools that desperately need funding from million dollar payday games.

Instead, we’re served a steady diet of insurance and fast food commercials, and boring bravado about NIL money and branding yourself. And very little about winning and transformational change.

Look, teams are a reflection of their coach, and since the day Sanders strutted on campus and told the roster to hit the road (see: transfer portal) because he was bringing Gucci with him, this devolving experiment has been eroding from the top down. The last sign of a program in free fall is a coach who blames the media.

The mean media is the reason Colorado’s two wins in the last 10 games are against arguably the worst Power Four team (Arizona State), and an FCS school (NDSU). The mean media is the reason Colorado gave up 56 sacks in 2023, and still couldn’t protect Shedeur Sanders against an undersized FCS defensive line.

The mean media is the reason Colorado, without Shedeur Sanders and Hunter, wouldn’t win another game this season.

And there’s Deion, the man who has done just about everything right in his football career before this side road to Boulder. He was an All-American at Florida State, a Hall of Fame cornerback in the NFL, and a program builder ― yes, a program builder ― and championship coach at HBCU Jackson State.

This is the same man who convinced heavyweight sponsors Wal-Mart, Proctor and Gamble and American Airlines to contribute monetarily to the turnaround at Jackson State, including a high-end locker room and football facility. He’s a sponsor’s dream: doesn’t drink, doesn’t smoke, doesn’t curse.

He’s everything you could want in a college football coach, yet can’t get out of his own way. He’s too concerned about the ancillary instead of zeroing on the primary.

In Parlance of Prime himself, he’s Gucci when he should be Samsonite.

Instead, it’s just bad football.

Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever are pushing to get to .500.

The Fever (15-16) have are 7-3 in their last 10 games, and have a big game coming up against fellow rookie Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky. Clark is coming off of a record-setting performance Wednesday, when she became the WNBA rookie with the most 3s in league history. In the race for WNBA Rookie of the Year, Clark and Reese are the overwhelming presumptive favorites.

The Fever are currently sitting in the No. 7 seed in the WNBA, which would clinch their first postseason berth in eight seasons; the Sky (11-19) are currently the eighth seed.

Here’s everything you need to know about Caitlin Clark and the Fever playing the Sky, Friday night in Chicago:

When is Indiana Fever vs. Chicago Sky?

Date: Friday, Aug. 30
Start time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Wintrust Arena in Chicago

How to watch Caitlin Clark and Fever vs. Sky

Television: ION Television
Live stream: ION Television, WNBA League Pass

The Fever at Sky game will be televised nationally on ION Television. The game is also available to live stream on WNBA League Pass. Fans can get League Pass by downloading the WNBA app.

Caitlin Clark stats last game

Clark played 38 minutes in a four-point victory Wednesday against the Connecticut Sun. She scored 19 points on 7-of-17 shooting (41.2%), including 3-of-12 from beyond the arc. She added five assists and five rebounds, but committed seven turnovers.

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Go ahead, people. Place your bets.

Mike McCarthy is in the fifth and final year of his contract – the lame-duck year – as Dallas Cowboys coach, and for a few days in January, it seemed real iffy that he’d make it this far.

McCarthy survived with his job after arguably the worst playoff loss in the storied franchise’s history – blasted, mind you, by his former team, the Green Bay Packers – with seemingly one last shot to win big.

Now, as the Cowboys’ season opener at the Cleveland Browns looms on Sept. 8, comes the drama of McCarthy being on the hot seat beneath the NFL’s most intense spotlight.

At least he has some prominent company. Dak Prescott is in the final year of his contract, too, although the difference is that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has repeatedly declared that he intends to keep his franchise quarterback in the fold – even more likely, given the fresh investment of a four-year, $136 million extension for star receiver CeeDee Lamb.

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For McCarthy, there is no such vote of confidence from Jerry.

It’s all-in…with no guarantees.

Here’s to thick skin, tunnel vision and blocking out the noise.

“It’s crazy, but the Cowboys coach and the Cowboys quarterback are going to be under more scrutiny than anybody in the NFL,” Tony Dungy, the Hall of Fame coach and analyst for NBC’s “Football Night in America,” told USA TODAY Sports. “That’s just the way it goes. But as far as the people in those positions, I don’t think they worry about it.”

Dungy, fired as Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach following the 2001 season, can relate to McCarthy’s situation. Although Dungy turned the Bucs from a laughingstock into a contender, his teams fizzled in the playoffs, which led to the speculation about Dungy’s job status dominating coverage as his final season progressed. The Bucs ultimately landed Jon Gruden as the successor who capped the 2002 season by winning a Super Bowl.

“I was going through that,” Dungy reflected of the 2001 campaign. “You’re hearing all the rumors. My agent’s saying, ‘They’re talking to this person and here’s what’s happening.’ Newspaper articles. It doesn’t even register. You know you’ve got a good team. It’s week to week, are we going to play our best? The pressure is trying to win. And that’s no different if all that’s there or not.”

Still, Dungy acknowledges that whatever the buzz was in Tampa more than two decades ago pales in some regards to McCarthy’s case. The Cowboys haven’t won a Super Bowl for their rabid fan base since the 1995 season – or even advanced to the NFC title game during that span – yet have remained as arguably the NFL’s biggest draw while continuing to escalate as the league’s most valuable franchise.

All of that adds to the scrutiny, with the Cowboys once again pegged for the maximum of six prime-time games this season.

“It’s more on a national level with them,” Dungy compared. “I don’t think anybody in Los Angeles cared about what Tony Dungy’s situation was in Tampa. The Cowboys are on the map. Every place you go, you’re going to hear it. It is a national story. But from Mike’s standpoint, you don’t even think about that.”

McCarthy, 60, led the Cowboys to 12-5 finishes in each of the past three regular seasons, with two NFC East titles. Clearly, there’s a stockpile of talent, which underscores the expectation for the coach to bring out the best of the talent. The 36 regular-season victories since 2021 are second only to the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs (37), which is why Jones has used a basketball metaphor in maintaining that the Cowboys have been “hanging around the rim.”

But they’ve shot airballs in the playoffs, going 1-3 in the postseason under McCarthy, including two home losses in playoff openers.

Now what? It’s been a good week, highlighted by the return of Lamb, who led the NFL with 135 receptions in 2023 and brings the elite versatility that brings McCarthy’s X’s and O’s to life. The Cowboys also signed two veterans who can potentially have impact if they are close to previous versions of themselves. Dalvin Cook joins the running back committee, while defensive tackle Linval Joseph, listed at 323 pounds, could help fortify the front line of coordinator Mike Zimmer’s run defense.

Remember, they’re all in…to presumably win big again.

Yet the lame-duck storyline begs to hover as a constant. While McCarthy has hired a high-powered agent in Don Yee (who represents Sean Payton and Jim Harbaugh, and negotiated several hefty contracts over the years for Tom Brady), the coach’s leverage with the Cowboys is TBD.

Jones maintained in March that it wasn’t “fait accompli” that he wouldn’t extend McCarthy’s contract before the season, yet that now seems to a longshot. Yee recently had a brief meeting with Stephen Jones, the Cowboys’ No. 2 football executive, but hasn’t met with Jerry Jones.

Having hired eight coaches since Tom Landry’s reign ended with the “Saturday Night Massacre” that christened the sale of the franchise in 1989, Jones is quite comfortable having a coach in the final year of his contract. He’s done it before. Maybe he sees it as motivational fuel.

During an interview with USA TODAY Sports in March, Jones bemoaned the “dead money” to pay off the contracts of fired coaches as a growing league issue.

Of McCarthy’s case, Jones said in March: “Most of America gets up and they don’t have it guaranteed in front of them. You’re going to write what you’re going to write, but when you ask me about not extending him, my answer is that most of America doesn’t have anything guaranteed down the road. Most folks don’t have guarantees.”

In any event, Prescott’s next contract – which could wind up in the $60 million per year range – is likely a bigger priority. Jones recently told Clarence Hill of ALLDLLS.com that he didn’t think a new contract for Prescott (playing out a four-year, $160 million pact) needed to come before the start of the regular season. He also spoke of the possibility of continuing negotiations with Prescott during the season.

Prescott, of course, is a valuable ally for McCarthy. Their bond was strengthened after McCarthy took over the play-calling last season, with Prescott responding to produce the most prolific season of his eight-year career, which included leading the NFL with 36 touchdown passes and finishing second in balloting for the MVP honors that were awarded to Lamar Jackson.

And boy can they share in the heat that comes with playoff failures, given Prescott’s 2-5 career postseason mark and accompanying narrative.

Dungy, who led the Indianapolis Colts to a Super Bowl crown during the 2006 season – after multiple playoff setbacks – can imagine McCarthy’s mindset as another season approaches.

“You don’t worry about what the media thinks, what fans think,” Dungy said. “None of that matters. People don’t believe that, because they hear so much about it. ‘McCarthy’s under fire. What did Jerry say today?’ And you think he’s got to respond to all of that. You really don’t. You’re in this bubble of, ‘Hey, how are we going to get better? How are we going to win this next game?’ And you don’t worry about that. I was the most shocked person in the world when it happened, even though everybody in the world was telling me it was going to happen.”

Beyond McCarthy, Dungy feels empathy for the staff of assistant coaches also working on the final year of their contracts. In Tampa in the early 2000s, Dungy negotiated an extra year for the bulk of his assistant coaches, which made it quite the challenge to assemble a staff after he was quickly hired by the Colts.

McCarthy has insisted that he feels no extra pressure, that job insecurity is a reality of life for an NFL coach. He’s also urged his younger assistants to embrace a certain theme.

As he put it, “You have to bet on yourself.”

BOULDER, Colo. – The Colorado Buffaloes showed something Thursday that had gone completely missing during the final half of Deion Sanders’ first year as head coach – the killer instinct to finish a game and win it.

Barely.

This time they survived, beating North Dakota State in their season opener, 31-26.

Otherwise the Buffs showed many of the same problems as last year, at least in the first half – a porous defense, sometimes poor blocking up front and almost no running game. But they prevailed after losing five games last year by seven points or fewer.

Credit quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who completed 26 of 34 passes for 445 yards and four touchdowns.

Also credit two-way star Travis Hunter, who caught three of those touchdowns.

North Dakota State led 20-17 at halftime after scoring on each of its first four possessions. But the Colorado defense mostly held after halftime in front an announced crowd of 49,438 at Folsom Field, the first time under Sanders that Colorado did not sell out a home game.

The Buffs next play at Nebraska on Sept. 7.

Colorado vs. North Dakota State highlights

Travis Hunter stats

Travis Hunter, playing both sides of the ball, shined on offense, with seven catches for 132 yards and three touchdowns. Incredibly he was not actually Colorado’s leading receiver — Jimmy Horn Jr. also caught seven passes for 198 yards, with one touchdown.

Shedeur Sanders stats

Shedeur Sanders completed 26 of 34 passes for 445 yards and four touchdowns. He had one interception (on a bizarre play). He had 17 rushing yards on six carries.

Colorado vs. North Dakota State final score

Colorado holds on to win 31-26.

Shedeur Sanders’ ability to extend the play was on display on third-and-8 with 1:52 to go. Sanders scrambled away from pressure and fired downfield toward LaJohntay Wester. North Dakota State’s Sam Jung was flagged for pass interference – it was well deserved – and Colorado got a fresh set of downs. Despite some questionable clock management on Colorado’s part (the Buffs threw incomplete on first down) by the time NDSU got the ball back just 31 seconds remained. The Bison’s last-gasp heave was not enough.

North Dakota State cuts into lead

The Bison went 75 yards in 11 plays, QB Cam Miller scoring a 20-yard rushing touchdown, to cut their deficit against the Buffaloes to 31-26. But NDSU was unable to get the two-point conversion so it’s a five-point game with 2:19 to go.

Can Colorado hold on?

Travis Hunter’s incredible touchdown catch gives Colorado some breathing room

BOULDER, Colo. – Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter did it again. He caught his third touchdown pass of the game – a 3-yarder this time that helped put the Buffs up 31-20 with 7:57 remaining in the fourth quarter.

The catch came in the front right corner of the end zone with a defender right on top of him, capping a 17-play, 80-yard drive led by quarterback Shedeur Sanders.

Hunter has played offense and defense in this game against North Dakota State but has made a particular difference on offense, where he has seven catches for 132 yards and three touchdowns. If the Buffs’ defense can hold, this game might soon be over. 

Colorado vs. North Dakota State score: End of third quarter

BOULDER, Colo. – Colorado entered the fourth quarter with a 24-20 lead and possession of the ball against North Dakota State. If the Buffs can score on this drive, their defense finally might be up to the task to hold the lead. Colorado has forced the Bison to punt on their last three possessions, including two in the second half. 

Colorado back in front

BOULDER, Colo. – Colorado marched right back downfield after the interception in the end zone on a freak play on its previous possession. This time, Shedeur Sanders drove the Buffs 72 yards in five plays, including a 41-yard pass to Jimmy Horn Jr. on first down. Travis Hunter capped the drive with a 13-yard touchdown catch in the back of the end zone to help the Buffs retake the lead 24-20 in the third quarter.

Hunter has five catches for 116 yards and two touchdowns. 

North Dakota State gets interception in end zone on wild play

Colorado was marching down the field after halftime and looked to be on the verge of tying the game at minimum … until North Dakota State came away with one of the wildest interceptions you’ll ever see.

Colorado still rallied in response after the freak play, forcing NDSU to go three-and-out after a sack on third down from defensive lineman Chidozie Nwankwo, a transfer from Houston. The Bison then punted, with Colorado set to try again from its own 28-yard line.

Colorado vs. North Dakota State score: Halftime

BOULDER, Colo. – Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders led the Buffaloes on an 89-yard scoring drive to end the first half, the team forced to settle for a 27-yard field goal as time expired. Colorado trails North Dakota State 20-17 at the break.

Sanders completed 12 of his 15 passes in the first half for 254 yards and two touchdowns. Yet it still wasn’t enough against the Bison, who scored on their first four possessions with two field goals and two touchdowns. The Bison also ran 40 plays — compared to 23 for Colorado —  and used its power running attack to possess the ball for 21:48 of the game’s first 30 minutes.

“We’ve just got to score each and every drive,” Sanders told ESPN at halftime. 

North Dakota State takes lead again, then finally gets stop

BOULDER, Colo. – The North Dakota State Bison did something wholly unique in this game so far against Colorado: They made a stop on defense.

It happened for the first time in the second quarter when Colorado tried to convert a fourth down at its own 34-yard line. Colorado running back Dallan Hayden, a transfer from Ohio State, rushed up the middle for no gain, stuffed by Bison defensive lineman Eli Mostaert.

Before the stop, each team had scored on every possession to open the game.

The turnover on downs gave the Bison — up 17-14 after they answered the Buffs’ quick score with a 10-play, 77-yard TD drive — the ball on Colorado’s 34. The Bison took advantage of the field position by kicking a 31-yard field goal for a 20-14 lead with 4:33 left in the first half.

Colorado vs. North Dakota State score: End of first quarter

BOULDER, Colo. – The first quarter has ended with Colorado on top 14-10 and there’s no defense in sight after both teams combined for 308 yards of offense — 158 for North Dakota State and 150 for Colorado. The Buffs only have run eight plays, compared to 20 for the Bison, who still had the ball when time expired in the opening quarter.

The team that wins might be the one that can get at least one stop.

Shedeur Sanders, Jimmy Horn Jr. connect on long TD to give Colorado lead

BOULDER, Colo. – And here we go with another Colorado touchdown to put the Buffs up 14-10 with 3:15 left in the first quarter. This time Shedeur Sanders launched a pass amid crumbling protection to find wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr., who raced in for a 69-yard touchdown.

That makes two possessions and two touchdowns for Colorado, along with two scores in two possessions for NDSU.

Sanders is 5-for-5 passing for 134 yards and two touchdowns.

North Dakota State scores to take lead

BOULDER, Colo. – Colorado’s defense has allowed North Dakota State to score on its first two drives, this time with a 7-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Cam Miller to tight end Joe Stoffel in the right corner of the end zone.

The Bison went 75 yards in 10 plays this time, retaking the lead at 10-7 with 3:59 left in the first quarter. All three possessions in this game so far have ended in scores.

Miller has completed six of his seven passes for 117 yards and a touchdown.

Travis Hunter TD catches LeBron James’ attention

King James is tuned in to the Colorado-North Dakota State game and was impressed by the Buffaloes’ opening score.

‘Shedeur to Hunter for 6! Going to be seeing and hearing that a lot this season I bet!’ James wrote on X.

Travis Hunter scores for Colorado

BOULDER, Colo. – Colorado answered North Dakota State’s opening field goal with a big splash of Travis Hunter, the Buffaloes’ two-way star at receiver and cornerback. He helped give the Buffs a 7-3 lead with a 41-yard touchdown reception after lining up wide on the ride side of the field and catching a pass from quarterback Shedeur Sanders in a one-on-one situation with his defender. Hunter then raced into the end zone for the score.

Colorado’s opening drive went 75 yards in six plays. 

North Dakota State strikes first

BOULDER, Colo. – North Dakota State scored on the opening possession, taking a 3-0 lead on a 36-yard field goal with 12:12 left in the first quarter. The Bison marched into Colorado territory on their second play from scrimmage, gaining 48 yards on a wide-open pass play from quarterback Cam Miller to running back TK Marshall. Colorado then stopped the Bison on third down before the field goal.

When is Colorado-North Dakota State game? 

Kickoff is Thursday, Aug. 29 at 8 p.m. ET.

How to watch Colorado-North Dakota State game 

The game will be on ESPN and can be steamed on ESPN+ and Fubo.

Colorado Buffaloes unveil new uniforms

Long known for his keen sense of fashion, Deion Sanders once again has overseen a reimagination of the Colorado uniforms, much like he did last year in his first season as coach. This time the Buffs are wearing all-black uniforms at home for the season-opener, with a few new touches – gold numbers, with trim on the shoulders and pants that portray Boulder’s iconic flatirons.

Colorado’s traditional home uniforms before Sanders featured black jerseys with white numbers, gold pants and gold helmets.

Goldberg makes first game as a Colorado dad

BOULDER, Colo. — Famed wrestler Goldberg roamed the sidelines before the game Thursday wearing a black Colorado football hat as fans in the stands started chanting his name. The WWE Hall of Famer is not new to the celebrity scene here because he’s known coach Deion Sanders for decades as a friend. But he is new to the scene as the father of a son on the Colorado team. Gage Goldberg is listed as a non-scholarship freshman linebacker out of Boerne, Texas.

The Buffaloes run in the family. Although Gage’s father played at Georgia, Gage’s cousin David Goldberg lettered at Colorado from 2009-11.

Colorado’s opener not quite sold out

BOULDER, Colo. — Thursday’s season opener for coach Deion Sanders and Colorado wasn’t sold out, as of Thursday afternoon, even though the Buffs sold out every home game in Sanders’ first season last year, when the Buffs finished 4-8. But Folsom Field still is expected to be nearly full after classes started this week on campus.

As of Thursday afternoon, Colorado said it still had about 2,300 tickets available for the game against North Dakota State. The capacity at Folsom Field is listed at 50,183.

Colorado announced in May that it had sold out of season tickets for the second straight year, but single-game tickets still were available for some games. 

Will Deion Sanders’ second roster flip at Colorado work this time?

BOULDER, Colo. — Deion Sanders has doubled down on his big bet with the Buffaloes.

Last year in his first season as Colorado’s football coach, he cleaned house to shake up the program, overhauling the roster by bringing in 68 new scholarship players, including 47 who transferred in from other four-year colleges. This year, he flipped the roster again – with 50 new scholarship players, including 39 new transfers.

But will his second team overhaul strategy work better this time after finishing with a 4-8 record last season?  

Deion Sanders reacts to Paul Finebaum remarks

As the Colorado Buffaloes gear up for their season opener, coach Deion Sanders once again finds himself at the center of a media storm. 

This time, Sanders clashed with ESPN pundit Paul Finebaum when he was asked by Grete Griffin, Robert Griffin III’s wife and co-host of their podcast ‘Outta Pocket with RGIII,’ to respond to Finebaum’s previous comments that Colorado football ‘is nothing’ and ‘irrelevant in the big picture of college football.’ — Carrie McDonald

What are Thursday night’s college football games?

(All times Eastern)

Howard at Rutgers, 6 p.m. (Big Ten Network)
Western Carolina at NC State, 7 p.m. (ACC Network)
North Carolina A&T at Wake Forest, 7 p.m. (ESPN+)
New Hampshire at UCF, 7 p.m. (ESPN+)
Jackson State at UL Monroe, 7 p.m. (ESPN+)
Lafayette at Buffalo, 7 p.m. (ESPN+)
Fordham at Bowling Green, 7 p.m. (ESPN+)
Central Connecticut at Central Michigan, 7 p.m. (ESPN+)
Arkansas Pine Bluff at Arkansas, 7:30 p.m. (ESPNU)
Duquesne at Toledo, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
Murray State at Missouri, 8 p.m. (SEC Network)
Lindenwood at Kansas, 8 p.m. (ESPN+)
North Carolina at Minnesota, 8 p.m. (FOX)
North Dakota State at Colorado, 8 p.m. (ESPN)
Coastal Carolina at Jacksonville State, 8 p.m. (CBS Sports Network)
Alcorn State at UAB, 8 p.m. (ESPN+)
SE Louisiana at Tulane, 8 p.m. (ESPN+)
Northwestern State at Tulsa, 8 p.m. (ESPN+)
Southern Utah at Utah, 9 p.m. (ESPN+)
Eastern Illinois at Illinois, 9 p.m. (Big Ten Network)
Sacramento State at San Jose State, 10 p.m. (truTV/Max)

Which teams win Week 1’s biggest showdowns?

Week 1 in college football is at hand, and that means your humble correspondents here at USA TODAY Sports will once again attempt to pick the weekly winners among the teams in the US LBM Coaches Poll. And what could be better than starting Week 1 of the college football season with games with early playoff implications?

Here’s how our staffers see the games involving Top 25 teams unfolding.

College football season predictions

As we enter an era of change with an expanded College Football Playoff and conference realignment, there’s a palpable feeling of uncertainty as nobody can be sure about how it all will play out.

So how does it all shake out? That’s where the experts at USA TODAY Sports come in. We’re here to offer our predictions for the season ahead, including which 12 teams will make the College Football Playoff. Who wins the national championship? 

Scooby Axson: Ohio State 
Jordan Mendoza: Oregon 
Paul Myerberg: Georgia 
Erick Smith: Georgia 
Eddie Timanus: Ohio State 
Dan Wolken: Ohio State 

15 games that will decide the College Football Playoff field

This year’s journey to reaching the College Football Playoff will have many ups and downs. Given the expanded postseason field, there are going to be several opportunities for teams to win their way into — or potentially fall out of — the field.

So which games are going to be the ones that matter the most when all is said and done? — Paul Myerberg

Podcast: College football picks for Week 1 and what to make of Florida State

The official start of the college football season is here with Week 1 kicking off on Thursday and running through Labor Day weekend.

But before we talk about those games, we have to talk about Florida State’s disastrous trip to Ireland that saw the 10th-ranked Seminoles falls to ACC rival Georgia Tech. What does that loss mean for the Seminoles as they try to reach the College Football Playoff after missing out last season?

Dan Wolken and Paul Myerberg of USA TODAY Sports make their picks for these games and discuss other issues in college football entering the season in this week’s version of the College Football Fix.

Complete college football television schedule for 2024 season

The times are changing in college football with expansion of the playoff system allowing 12 teams to play for a national title and conference realignment seeing the loss of Pac-12 football as the ACC, Big 12 and Big Ten all absorbed teams and holdovers Oregon State and Washington State playing mostly a schedule against the Mountain West.

The regular season kicks off with Week 0 games on Aug. 24 and will run through the conference championship weekend on Dec. 7. The College Football Playoff starts in mid-December with games on campus and running through the national championship game on Jan. 20, 2025, in Atlanta.

Most Saturday games on ABC, CBS, FOX, FS1, NBC and ESPN’s networks post-Week 3 are announced between two weeks and six days in advance, so game times and TV information will be added throughout the season.

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