Carolina Panthers safety Tre’von Moehrig has been suspended one game for punching San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings in the groin toward the end of Monday night’s game, the NFL announced on Tuesday.

Jennings retaliated at the conclusion of the 49ers’ 20-9 win over the Panthers by striking Moehrig, with the two sides separated before the incident could escalate.

Moehrig is appealing his ban, according to multiple reports. If his suspension stands, he will miss the Panthers’ game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.

Moehrig said after the game that Jennings had been ‘doing some extra stuff after the play and talking crazy.’

“It ain’t really nothing much to it – it’s just that,’ Moehrig told reporters after the game. ‘Like I said, I’ll take that one. He wanted to do his little dirty stuff, so it is what it is.”

Jennings said he was responding to ‘childish behavior’ which he believed was a response to his physical play.

‘That was just out of nowhere,’ Jennings said. ‘I think it’s probably just like I was saying, just the history of me playing ball. I play hard. I’m physically stronger than a lot of DBs out there and a lot of things happen in between the whistles, with me at least.’

49ers coach Kyle Shanahan lauded Jennings for how the receiver handled what he called a ‘cheap shot.’

‘I was real proud of Jauan for not losing his mind out there,’ Shanahan said.

Moehrig joined the Panthers this offseason on a three-year, $51 million contract. The fifth-year safety ranks second on the team with 81 tackles.

The top College Football Playoff rankings are expected to remain largely unchanged after a quiet weekend.
A potential debate exists for the No. 6 spot between Mississippi and Oregon following the Ducks’ win over USC.
Thanksgiving weekend features several high-stakes rivalry games that will finalize conference championship matchups.

After a quiet and drama-free weekend involving the biggest players in the College Football Playoff mix, the only real debate in the fourth playoff rankings comes between Mississippi and Oregon.

Despite dealing with injuries, Oregon looked the part of a championship contender in beating Southern California. That win might be enough to lift the Ducks one spot to No. 6 in Tuesday night’s rankings.

While the status quo is more likely, swapping spots with the Rebels would provide a glimpse into where the selection committee will land in the discussions over whether the Big Ten or SEC champion deserves to be the bracket’s top seed.

Otherwise, an uneventful Saturday sets the stage for a winner-take-all Thanksgiving weekend that will determine conference championship game matchups.

Here’s how the top 12 of this week’s playoff rankings will look:

1. Ohio State (11-0)

Best win: vs. Texas (14-7), Aug. 30.

Up next: at No. 15 Michigan, Saturday.

The Buckeyes are built on both sides of the ball to snap a four-game losing streak in the rivalry to Michigan. Another loss would be terrible but also not the worst thing: Ohio State would get an extra week off and would very likely still finish in the top four to earn a bye through the opening round.

2. Indiana (11-0)

Best win: at Oregon (30-20), Oct. 11.

Up next: at Purdue, Friday.

Indiana is about a four-touchdown favorite against overmatched Purdue. A win would set a program record for victories in a season.

3. Texas A&M (11-0)

Best win: at Notre Dame (41-40), Sept. 13.

Up next: at No. 16 Texas, Friday.

The Aggies would miss the SEC championship game with a loss at Texas should Alabama beat Auburn in the Iron Bowl, setting up a rematch between the Tide and Georgia.

4. Georgia (10-1)

Best win: vs. Mississippi (43-35), Oct. 18.

Up next: vs. No. 19 Georgia Tech, Saturday.

While the Yellow Jackets are reeling from two bad losses that will likely keep them out of the ACC title game, a rivalry win could give Georgia the résumé to finish in the top four even without reaching the SEC championship game.

5. Texas Tech (10-1)

Best win: vs. Brigham Young (29-7), Nov. 8.

Up next: at West Virginia, Saturday.

Don’t look for Tech to get tripped up in Morgantown. In the case of a massive upset, the Red Raiders will transition into must-win mode in the Big 12 championship game, which looks like a rematch against BYU.

6. Mississippi (10-1)

Best win: at Oklahoma (34-26), Oct. 25.

Up next: at Mississippi State, Friday.

The Egg Bowl doubles as the season finale and possibly the final game for Lane Kiffin, who is expected to announce this weekend whether he plans to stay in Oxford or head off to another SEC locale. Unfortunately, the drama over his decision continues to overshadow the program’s best season in about 60 years.

7. Oregon (10-1)

Best win: vs. Southern California (42-27), Nov. 22.

Up next: at Washington, Saturday.

Look for the Ducks to potentially gain ground in the penultimate rankings. In addition to Oregon adding a solid road win against Washington, the committee might be inclined to drop the Rebels in the rankings should Kiffin leave for another job shortly after the Egg Bowl.

8. Oklahoma (9-2)

Best win: at Alabama (23-21), Nov. 15.

Up next: vs. LSU, Saturday.

One more win will lock Oklahoma into an at-large berth. The Sooners should be able to handle an LSU offense that has scored just 52 points since the start of the second half against A&M on Oct. 25.

9. Notre Dame (9-2)

Best win: vs. Southern California (34-24), Oct. 18.

Up next: at Stanford, Saturday.

Notre Dame demolished Syracuse and should do the same against Stanford to reach the playoff for a second year in a row. It will be interesting to see how much the Irish lean on running back Jeremiyah Love given the need to balance his workload with the chance at being a Heisman Trophy finalist.

10. Alabama (9-2)

Best win: at Georgia (24-21), Sept. 27.

Up next: at Auburn, Saturday.

Georgia will be rooting for Auburn. A&M might be, too. BYU, Miami, Vanderbilt and Utah will definitely be rooting against the Crimson Tide. An Alabama loss is the one result that could bring chaos and controversy to the final rankings.

11. Brigham Young

Best win: vs. Utah (24-21), Oct. 18.

Up next: vs. Central Florida.

Look for the Cougars to roll over UCF and bring just one loss into the rematch with Texas Tech. BYU would have an at-large case with a second loss but would need to play close and hope for an upset or two in the rest of the Power Four.

12. Miami

Best win: vs. Notre Dame (27-24), Aug. 31.

Up next: at No. 24 Pittsburgh.

Miami will have a case for moving up one spot and replacing Utah after the Utes gave up a quarter mile of rushing yards in a dramatic win against Kansas State. The Hurricanes have regained their composure after a wobbly midseason lull and are inching closer to Notre Dame.

Chelsea and Barcelona both seek a crucial win in the UEFA Champions League as they face off at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, Nov. 25.

Chelsea is coming off a surprising 2-2 draw against Qarabag in the league phase. The match started positively for Chelsea, with Estêvão scoring the opening goal. However, Qarabag quickly turned the tide, with Leandro Andrade scoring in the 29th minute and Marko Jankovic converting a penalty to take the lead by halftime. Early in the second half, Alejandro Garnacho equalized for Chelsea, resulting in the draw and setting up a must-win game against Barcelona.

Barcelona also settled for a 3-3 draw in its previous match against Club Brugge in the Champions League. Brugge’s Nicola Tresoldi opened the scoring just six minutes into the match. Barcelona’s Ferran Torres quickly equalized. However, Brugge regained the lead before halftime with another early goal, this time from Carlos Forbs. The second half featured three more goals: Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal scored first, followed by an own goal from Christos Tzolis. Finally, Forbs netted his second goal for Brugge in the 63rd minute to seal the draw.

Here is how to watch Chelsea take on Barcelona in the Champions League league phase game on Tuesday.

How to watch Chelsea vs Barcelona

Date: Tuesday, Nov. 25
Time: 3 p.m. ET
Stream: Paramount+
Location: Stamford Bridge (London)

Aaron Rodgers missed the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 31-28 Week 12 loss to the Chicago Bears while dealing with a small fracture in his non-throwing left wrist.

It doesn’t sound like the ailment will keep the 41-year-old quarterback sidelined long-term.

Will Rodgers be able to play in Week 13 as the Steelers face a critical battle with the Buffalo Bills? Here are the latest updates on the veteran quarterback’s status.

Is Aaron Rodgers playing Week 13?

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin provided a positive outlook when discussing Rodgers’ potential availability for Week 13 at a Tuesday news conference.

‘We’ll start this week with great optimism, although we’ll certainly limit him in the early portions of the week,’ Tomlin told reporters of Rodgers. ‘Provide opportunities for the other quarterbacks while preserving him. But again, we’re comfortable with the general trajectory.’

Tomlin also added Rodgers ‘worked his tail off’ in an effort to get ready for the Week 12 game against Chicago. He reiterated that the Steelers simply kept him on the bench because it was the ‘prudent’ move.

However, despite his optimism, the 53-year-old coach did not guarantee Rodgers would start in Week 13.

‘His level of his participation, and the quality of his participation over the course of the week, will be the greatest indicator,’ Tomlin said when discussing the possibility of Rodgers playing.

Steelers QB depth chart

The Steelers have three quarterbacks on their 53-man roster, including Rodgers. Below is a look at the pecking order within the group.

Aaron Rodgers
Mason Rudolph
Will Howard

Rudolph started Sunday’s game with Rodgers out of action. The seven-year veteran completed 24 of 31 passes (77.4%) for 171 yards, one touchdown and one interception in the 31-28 loss while posting an 86.9 passer rating.

Howard, a sixth-round rookie from Ohio State, dressed as Rudolph’s backup. It marked his first time being on an active, gameday roster, as he spent the first 10 weeks of the season on IR before serving as the emergency third quarterback in Week 11.

The Steelers also have veteran Skylar Thompson in their organization. He is currently on IR because of a hamstring injury.

The Los Angeles Rams remain the top-ranked team for the fourth consecutive week.
The Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs both moved up two spots in the rankings.
The Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills are headed in the wrong direction.

NFL power rankings entering Week 13 of the 2025 season (previous rank in parentheses):

1. Los Angeles Rams (1): Hate to say we told y’all − except we love to tell you we told y’all. (We also anointed QB Matthew Stafford as the league MVP in Week 7, but who’s counting … besides us?) This will be the Rams’ fourth straight week in this top spot − largely because there are no weaknesses here … unless Stafford’s back tightens up. Heck, these guys haven’t trailed since Week 6. A stretch run with four of their final six regular-season games on the road could make things more interesting, though.

6. Philadelphia Eagles (5): Much as it feels like this team suffers from self-inflicted wounds, Philly’s six turnovers are the league’s fewest.

7. Kansas City Chiefs (9): Must be horrible being related to a K.C. player. The team is playing on Thanksgiving and Christmas this year … though it might be on vacation by MLK Day in 2026 given how things have been going in 2025, Sunday’s defeat of Indy notwithstanding.

10. Baltimore Ravens (11): The AFC North’s best team? Technically. Apparently. Yet the Ravens have struggled to put away last-place opponents for three weeks running. They’ll face another one, Cincinnati, on Thanksgiving night.

11. Houston Texans (13): Yet another impressive component of this top-ranked defense? It has 17 takeaways over the past eight games, a stretch when the resurgent Texans have gone 6-2.

13. Jacksonville Jaguars (14): Just a game out of first place in the AFC South, the Jags have four of their final six games against the Colts and Titans.

14. San Francisco 49ers (15): RB Christian McCaffrey is on track for his third season with 2,000 yards from scrimmage and second with both 1,000 yards rushing and receiving − a feat no player in NFL history has managed on multiple occasions.

16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (12): This should make ailing QB Baker Mayfield feel better − the Bucs’ upcoming three-game homestand will be against opponents with a collective record of 9-24.

20. Carolina Panthers (19): Rather than capitalize on a prime-time chance to assume first place in the NFC South, they retreated to .500 − and a continued NFC West nightmare with the Rams soon headed to Charlotte.

23. Cincinnati Bengals (23): QB Joe Burrow will apparently make his first start since Week 2 on Thanksgiving night in Baltimore. Whether that’s a good idea, especially as it pertains to Burrow’s health, remains very much unclear.

24. Cleveland Browns (24): If DE Myles Garrett merely averages one sack per game the rest of the way, he’ll finish with 24. Give him some more leads to play with, Shedeur.

27. Washington Commanders (27): Maybe this offense will look a lot better in 2026 when WR Brandon Aiyuk, a former Sun Devil like QB Jayden Daniels, gets plugged into it?

29. New Orleans Saints (28): They looked good Sunday … meaning their first-ever game while dressed in black head to toe. Might have had to stick with that look had they opted to sign K Justin Tucker.

30. New York Jets (29): QB Tyrod Taylor’s promotion coincided with the NYJ’s worst rushing output of the season while clinching the franchise’s 10th consecutive losing campaign. That’ll show ’em. Trust the process.

31. Las Vegas Raiders (31): Just coach ’em all by yourself, Pete − it’s basically a Pop Warner squad anyway.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup final draw, which determines the groupings and matchups, is just a little more than a week away and will take place at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., on December 5.

42 of the 48 teams participating in the largest FIFA World Cup to date will be divided into groups during the final draw, with the final six berths to be determined via play-off matches in March 2026. The draw will also finalize the matchups and schedule for the 16 host cities across North America, with the tournament set to run from June to July 2026. The host cities have already been assigned positions, with Mexico in Group A1, Canada in Group B1, and the United States in Group D1. The groups and matchups will be finalized on the day of the draw.

In the group stage, 48 teams will compete in 12 groups, labeled A through L. The top two teams from each group, along with the eight third-best teams, will advance to the round of 32. The remaining teams will progress through five knockout stages. Each team will play a total of eight matches, with three days of rest between each match if they continue to advance throughout the tournament. In total, there will be 104 official matches played during the tournament.

Here is everything to know ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup final draw.

When is the 2026 FIFA World Cup

The final draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. on Friday, December 5.

How to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup final draw

Fox Sports will air the draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, featuring three-and-a-half hours of live coverage. This event will be broadcast on television in the United States for the first time ever. Coverage will begin at 11:30 a.m. ET. The official draw is expected to take place anytime between 12 p.m. ET through 2 p.m. ET. and expected to be around 45 minutes.

Teams involved in the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Here are the following nations that will be represented in the final draw, according to FIFA:

Co-hosts: Canada, Mexico, USA
AFC: Australia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Korea Republic, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan
CAF: Algeria, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia
Concacaf: Curaçao, Haiti, Panama
CONMEBOL: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay
OFC: New Zealand
UEFA: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, England, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland

2026 FIFA World Cup drawing pots

The 2026 FIFA World Cup tournament will be organized into four groups, known as pots, based on team rankings. Pot 1 will include the three host nations—Canada, Mexico, and the United States—along with the nine highest-ranked teams. The remaining 36 teams will be allocated to Pots 2, 3, and 4 based on their FIFA rankings. Additionally, the draw will set aside six spots for teams that advance from the playoff matches.

The first month of the 2025-26 NBA season is in the books and teams are starting to figure out what’s real and what’s not on their rosters.

The top of the Western Conference is going according to script, as the Oklahoma City Thunder back up their first NBA championship with another dominating start to the regular season as the Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers lurk as intriguing contenders. But other potential challengers like the Los Angeles Clippers and Dallas Mavericks are struggling and the Eastern Conference is full of surprises so far, with the Detroit Pistons climbing to the top of the standings and better-than-anticipated starts for the Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat.

Here are grades for all 30 NBA teams through results on Sunday, Nov. 23, based on record, expectations and roster development:

NBA team grades for 2025-26 season

Records through games played on Sunday, Nov. 23

Oklahoma City Thunder: A+

Record: 17-1, 1st in the West

The defending NBA champions are rolling again despite the absence of injured star Jalen Williams thanks to a defense that’s more than seven points better per 100 possessions than the No. 2-rated defense in the league. Guard Ajay Mitchell has also emerged as yet another offensive weapon for the Thunder in Williams’ place.

Detroit Pistons: A

Record: 14-2, 1st in the East

The Pistons are proving to be no fluke in the midst of a 12-game winning streak. They have a legitimate MVP candidate in Cade Cunningham, an early leader for Most Improved Player with Jalen Duren and the best defense in a weakened Eastern Conference with Boston and Indiana ailing. 

Denver Nuggets: A-

Record: 12-4, 3rd in the West

Nikola Jokic is playing more efficiently than ever, notorious slow starter Jamal Murray is averaging a career-best 22.8 points per game and Aaron Gordon was on pace to hit more 3-pointers than he ever has before suffering an injury last Friday. The additions of Tim Hardaway Jr., Bruce Brown and Jonas Valanciunas off the bench have Denver positioned as perhaps OKC’s biggest threat in the west. 

Miami Heat: A-

Record: 11-6, 4th in the East

The Heat have gone through a complete transformation from year-to-year, morphing from one of the NBA’s four slowest teams in terms of pace last season to its fastest team through the first month of the 2025-26 season. Norman Powell might be the best free agent acquisition of the offseason, Andrew Wiggins and Jaime Jacquez look revitalized, Bam Adebayo and Kel’el Ware form a fearsome combination inside and Tyler Herro is about to make his season debut after being injured to start.

Toronto Raptors: A-

Record: 12-5, 2nd in the East

The biggest surprise in the East through the first month might be happening north of the border, where Toronto’s trade for Brandon Ingram last year is starting to pay off. He has provided a needed boost for one of the league’s most improved offenses.

Cleveland Cavaliers: B+

Record: 12-6, 3rd in the East

The Cavaliers haven’t been quite as good as a year ago to start the season, with injuries to Darius Garland, Max Strus and Sam Merrill slowing them down. But Donovan Mitchell continues to be among the league’s top scorers and Cleveland remains in good position in the wide-open East. 

Houston Rockets: B+

Record: 10-4, 4th in the West

Reed Shepherd is finding his footing as Fred Van Vleet’s replacement at point guard and Kevin Durant is fitting in well with the Rockets, who have a historic offensive rebounding rate through the season’s first month thanks to big men Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams. 

Los Angeles Lakers: B+

Record: 12-4, 2nd in the West

The Lakers successfully managed an early-season back injury to LeBron James because Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are each scoring at career high rates. With James back, their top three is as good as any in the league. Depth and defense at the rim remain long-term concerns.

Phoenix Suns: B+

Record: 11-6, 6th in the West

After being one of the NBA’s most disappointing teams last season, Phoenix has been a pleasant surprise during the first month of the 2025-26 campaign. The team’s defense is markedly better with the addition of coach Jordan Ott and offseason acquisitions like Dillon Brooks and Mark Williams.

San Antonio Spurs: B+

Record: 11-5, 5th in the West

The Spurs were off to their best start in a decade and Victor Wembanyama had entered the MVP conversation with his early-season performances. But Wembanyama, 2024 NBA Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle and 2025 No. 2 overall pick Dylan Harper are all now sidelined by injuries ‒ just as San Antonio got De’Aaron Fox back from injury ‒ to temper the team’s short-term outlook. 

Atlanta Hawks: B

Record: 11-7, 5th in the East

The Trae Young situation could get a little awkward in Atlanta. The Hawks are playing well with Young injured as Jalen Johnson, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Onyeka Ongonkwu fill bigger roles. If Young can meld with the group upon returning, Atlanta will be a dangerous playoff team in the Eastern Conference. 

Chicago Bulls: B

Record: 9-7, 7th in the East

The Bulls winning their first five games this season feels more like fool’s gold as the season wears on, but it was indicative that the group picked up where last season’s team left off after a stronger-than-expected finish. Coach Billy Donovan has Chicago’s nucleus led by Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis playing hard, even if their ceiling is still limited and center Nikola Vucevic remains a trade target.

Minnesota Timberwolves: B

Record: 10-6, 7th in the West

Minnesota remains in the mix beneath Oklahoma City, Denver and Houston in the Western Conference with Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle one of only two tandems in the league in which both players average more than 25 points per game. But point guard issues, with 2024 first-round pick Rob Dillingham seemingly not ready to take over for veteran Mike Conley, might need to be addressed.  

New York Knicks: B

Record: 9-6, 6th in the East

The Knicks are playing faster and more efficiently on offense under new coach Mike Brown and effectively weathered an early injury to Jalen Brunson. New York has eight players averaging at least nine points per game thus far after having just five players reach that mark last season.

Philadelphia 76ers: B

Record: 9-7, 8th in the East

After last year’s debacle, Philadelphia should savor the first month of this season. Tyrese Maxey is emerging as the face of the franchise in the wake of Joel Embiid’s ongoing injury concerns and ranks second in the NBA in scoring. Rookie VJ Edgecombe got off to a fast start alongside him. Paul George and Jared McCain also recently returned from injury. Embiid’s availability remains in doubt moving forward.

Boston Celtics: B-

Record: 9-8, 10th in the East

The Celtics continue to hover around .500 without Jayson Tatum and have launched even more 3-pointers than before under coach Joe Mazzulla this year. But the team is currently in no man’s land, neither bad enough to finish at the bottom of the standings nor good enough to be a serious threat.  

Golden State Warriors: B-

Record: 9-9, 8th in the West

The Warriors are enduring some early season headwinds with a road-heavy schedule, the league’s worst turnover rate and the lingering uncertainty surrounding Jonathan Kuminga’s role with the franchise. But the trio of Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler, along with a top-notch defense, has ensured they’re still competitive with the other West contenders chasing the OKC Thunder.

Milwaukee Bucks: C+

Record: 8-9, 11th in the East

The Bucks were off to an intriguing start with some new faces surrounding Giannis Antetokounmpo and Antetokounmpo was playing at an MVP level. But he’s now out with a groin injury and the team is sliding with losses in five of its past six games before Monday’s schedule.

Orlando Magic: C+

Record: 10-8, 9th in the East

It hasn’t been smooth sailing for this team with elevated expectations as offseason trade acquisition Desmond Bane finds his way with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. The Magic still have one of the league’s best defenses and they had won six of their past seven games before Sunday’s loss to Boston on the second night of a back-to-back. 

Utah Jazz: C

Record: 5-11, 11th in the West

Lauri Markannen is one of six players in the NBA averaging more than 30 points per game and a huge reason the Jazz are on pace to beat their projected preseason win total after the opening month of games.

Portland Trail Blazers: C

Record: 7-10, 9th in the West

The Trail Blazers got wins over the Thunder, Nuggets and Lakers after losing coach Chauncey Billups in the NBA’s gambling scandal to start this season but are just 3-8 in the month of November.  

Charlotte Hornets: D

Record: 4-13, 12th in the East

Indiana Pacers: D

Record: 2-14, 14th in the East

Nobody expected the Pacers to be contenders with Tyrese Haliburton sidelined and Myles Turner now with the Bucks, but the drop-off has been more dramatic than anticipated so far. Indiana has the second-worst NET rating in the league after additional injuries to Benedict Mathurin, Andrew Nembhard and Obi Toppin. It could be a long year before the defending Eastern Conference champions benefit with strong NBA draft lottery odds.

Memphis Grizzlies: D

Record: 6-11, 10th in the West

The Grizzlies have gone from an emerging Western Conference contender a few years ago to a team discussed mainly within the context of potential trade rumors involving Ja Morant. The Memphis star is hurt again and reportedly clashed with new Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo before the injury occurred. Rookie Cedric Coward has been a bright spot and the return of Zach Edey has helped in recent games.

New Orleans Pelicans: D-

Record: 2-15, 15th in the West

The Pelicans were bad enough to start this season that the team already had to fire coach Willie Green. Zion Williamson is already missing games due to injury, but rookies Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears have been a breath of fresh air. Still, the team appears lottery-bound again after trading away this year’s first-round draft pick to take Queen. 

Washington Wizards: D-

Record: 1-15, 15th in the East

The Wizards have the worst NET rating in the league so far, and it’s not close. But seeing as next year’s lottery odds seem to carry more weight for the organization than wins, everything is going according to plan. Alex Sarr’s improvement early this season is a development to watch.

Brooklyn Nets: F

Record: 3-13, 13th in the East

The Nets have the NBA’s worst defense and none of their record-setting five first-round draft picks have popped yet in a meaningful way. The objective this season was to again be in position to select a top draft pick, but the lack of foundational pieces makes this situation seem more rudderless than other rebuilding franchises. 

Dallas Mavericks: F

Record: 5-13, 13th in the West

The disastrous Luka Doncic trade has come home to roost quickly with Anthony Davis sidelined again by injury and general manager Nico Harrison fired less than 10 months after pulling off the stunning move. Cooper Flagg is starting to round into form, but the Mavericks could be in rebuilding mode because of how poorly the start to this season has gone. 

Los Angeles Clippers: F

Record: 5-12, 12th in the West

There is perhaps no team underperforming relative to preseason expectations more than the Clippers through the opening month of the NBA season, even as James Harden continues to play at a high level. Kawhi Leonard’s availability is as unreliable as ever, the Clippers lost Bradley Beal to a season-ending injury and offseason acquisitions Chris Paul and Brook Lopez haven’t made a big impact yet.  

Sacramento Kings: F

Record: 4-13, 14th in the West

The Kings have one of the NBA’s five worst offenses and defenses this season with two players making more than $40 million (Zack LaVine and Domantas Sabonis) and another earning $24.5 million (DeMar DeRozan). Unlike many of the teams trending as poorly as Sacramento, the Kings are attempting to be competitive this season. They just haven’t been very often so far. 

Ohio State coach Ryan Day is facing pressure from the fan base over his losing record against rival Michigan.
Despite losing to Michigan last season, Ohio State went on to win the national championship.
While the rivalry game is important, the ultimate goal for top programs like Ohio State and Michigan is winning the national title.

You’re going to hear about pressure this week. About a coach and a rivalry, and fan base that won’t put up with losing much longer. 

To this I say, what are you going to do, Ohio State, fire Ryan Day?

Imagine how miserable and delusional you have to be as a collective fan base to begin Rivalry Week — the most sacred and glorious week in all of college football and the moment when The Game vs. Michigan takes center stage —  with the now all too familiar refrain of ‘he can’t afford to lose this game.’

Well, lunatic fringe, he can and did. And now Ryan Day is bulletproof. 

Free from the mental anguish of one game, and four straight years of losing to You Know Who. From years of whining and complaining from Joe Sixpack, who just can’t take it anymore while bellied up to the bar on High Street and complaining about Day’s 1-4 record against Michigan.

Yeah, well, boo-freaking-hoo. So Ohio State lost again to Michigan last season, so what? 

The Buckeyes also won the whole damn thing, thank you.

Maybe that’s why Day seemed so comfortable during his postgame news conference last weekend, after another laugher of a win in the Big Ten for the top-ranked Buckeyes — and just seven days away from the annual heart attack against Michigan.   

“We want to keep it as routine as possible,” Day said confidently. 

And everywhere in and around Columbus, Ohio State fans puked. There’s nothing routine about this game, bub. 

Nothing routine about That School Up North, or about your very existence as a program. 

Or maybe there is. Maybe — hear me out, wing nut Bucknuts — The Game is what you make of it. 

If you call it “war” like Day did last season, there’s an obvious be-all, end-all connotation to your players. One slip on one flank by one player, and the most dangerous run game in college football has all of 77 yards on 26 carries.

If you say there are “consequences and casualties to war” like Day did before last year’s game, players are too tight, don’t play free and confident, and a fifth-year senior quarterback throws a red zone interception, and another interception inside his own-5.

If you say there’s plunder and reward like Day did last season, the best run defense in college football gets gashed for 172 yards on 42 carries — by a one-dimensional offense that can’t functionally throw the ball.

Years ago, when Florida was in the middle of owning the Tennessee rivalry — which had grown to become the most important game in every college football season — Gators coach Steve Spurrier took advantage of the bye week before the game and spent the weekend at Crescent Beach, Fla.

“He believed more than anything that players are a reflection of their coaches,” longtime Oklahoma coach and former Florida assistant Bob Stoops said. “He looked at me and said, ‘Bobby, you think those Tennessee coaches are at the beach this weekend?’ He had the ultimate confidence in our players and our preparation.”

Instead of whistling through the graveyard with thoughts of what could be, or previous losses to Michigan. 

Instead of talking about war and consequences and the plunder and rewards that come with it. Instead of having a team so obsessed by winning a game, it becomes their sole focus. Where every play, every mistake, is magnified until the collective team is frozen in fear.

“We know what’s at stake,” Day said. “We know we’re playing for hardware now.” 

Look, it’s a big game. An important game. Hell, I’m OK if it’s The Game. 

But it’s not The Prize. 

It’s a moment every season where two passionate fan bases get together, and the thought of losing makes you want curl up in the corner in the fetal position. It’s a rivalry — it’s the rivalry — in a sport whose very soul is fueled by the game you just can’t lose. 

Unless you’re one of the top five programs in college football. Unless your season is defined by winning the national championship, which Ohio State and Michigan’s seasons most certainly are.

You know why The Game is important to Michigan? Because it can reach the Big Ten championship game and the College Football Playoff. Or the exact same reason for Ohio State.

It’s not the Ten Year War or Bo and Woody of years past. It’s not even Michigan’s sell your soul season of 2023.

It’s just the game on the road to what’s next. Until you win it. 

Then there’s nothing routine about it.