The No. 23 BYU Cougars improved to 5-0 to start the season after beating the West Virginia Mountaineers 38-24 at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah, on Friday night.

It’s the ninth 5-0 start in BYU’s history and the fourth with coach Kalani Sitake at the helm.

Quarterback Bear Bachmeier completed 18 of 25 passes for a career-high 351 yards in the Cougars’ win. He threw for a touchdown and had an interception. Bachmeier also rushed for 43 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries.

Running back LJ Martin finished with 90 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries. Receiver Parker Kingston added to the offense with 112 all-purpose yards and two total touchdowns.

It was BYU’s first victory over West Virginia, which won the first two games in the all-time series back in 2016 and 2023.

USA TODAY Sports provided updates, scores and highlights from the game. Check it out:

BYU vs West Virginia: Score, schedule and result

BYU vs. West Virginia highlights

Final: BYU 38, West Virginia 24

West Virginia quarterback Scotty Fox Jr. completed a pass to Cam Vaughn for a 29-yard touchdown with 1:14 left in the fourth quarter. Kade Hensley made the PAT. The touchdown was not enough as BYU improved to 5-0 on the season.

BYU defense stops West Virginia

The BYU defense came up big with a stop on fourth-and-goal for West Virginia. Diore Hubbard was handed the ball out of the backfield but was unable to gain the one yard needed to score. The Mountaineers have nothing to show for a 12-play, 74-yard drive.

LJ Martin scores again

Running back LJ Martin scores his second touchdown of the night with a 1-yard score with 8:50 left in the fourth quarter.

3Q: BYU 31, West Virginia 17

Following a fumble recovery by the West Virginia defense, quarterback Khalil Wilkins ran for 6 yards to score with 37 seconds left in the third quarter. The run capped off a five-play, 22-yard drive.

BYU, West Virginia exchange turnovers

BYU safety Tanner Wall caught an interception off a pass thrown by quarterback Khalil Wilkins, after the ball bounced out of the hands of a West Virginia receiver.

Khalil Wilkins helps West Virginia close the gap

West Virginia quarterback Khalil Wilkins had a 6-yard run for a touchdown with 37 seconds left in the third quarter. Kicker Kade Hensley made the PAT. It was a five-play, 22-yard drive.

BYU adds to its lead

BYU kicker Will Ferrin made a 37-yard field goal to increase the lead to 31-10 with 6:53 left in the third quarter. Ferrin missed his first field goal attempt in the first half.

Halftime: BYU 28, West Virginia 10

Quarterback Bear Bachmeier scored on a 2-yard touchdown run in the final moments before halftime. The touchdown capped off a nine-play, 73-yard drive.

Bachmeier completed 10 of 14 passes for 249 yards with a touchdown and an interception in the first half. He also rushed for 17 yards and a touchdown on eight carries.

Receiver Chase Roberts had 140 yards on three catches for the Cougars. Receiver Parker Kingston scored a rushing and receiving touchdown in the first half.

West Virginia quarterback Khalil Wilkins completed just four of 10 passes for 20 yards and had an interception. He has 60 rushing yards on 13 carries in the first half. Running back Diore Hubbard had 20 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.

West Virginia answers back

The Mountaineers continue to show some fight, converting a turnover into some late points in the first half. Fred Perry swatted BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier’s shovel pass attempt, resulting in a 12-yard loss and a fumble. Perry did manage to recover the ball and provided the West Virginia offense with good field position.

Diore Hubbard scored on a 3-yard run on the very next play for West Virginia with 1:58 left in the second half. It’s 21-10.

BYU is pulling away in first half

LJ Martin capped off a two-play, 89-yard drive for the Cougars. Martin scored a 4-yard touchdown to increase BYU’s lead to 21-3 with 5:17 left in the second quarter. Kicker Will Ferrin made the PAT.

Quarterback Bear Bachmeier started the drive, connecting with Chase Roberts for an 85-yard gain.

Kade Hensley scores for West Virginia

Kade Hensley put the Mountaineers on the scoreboard with a 45-yard field goal with 14:15 left in the second quarter.

1Q: BYU 14, West Virginia 0

Parker Kingston scored his second touchdown of the first quarter after being on the receiving end of a short pass by quarterback Bear Bachmeier with 3:41 left in the opening period. The short pass resulted in a 54-yard gain and the touchdown. Kicker Will Ferrin made the PAT.

BYU takes advantage of mistakes, scores first

BYU wide receiver Parker Kingston scored on a 1-yard touchdown run to give BYU the early lead over West Virginia with 9:09 left in the first quarter. Kicker Will Ferrin made the PAT.

West Virginia quarterback Khalil Wilkins threw an interception to defensive back Therrian Alexander III. Alexander returned the ball 47 yards to put his team in good field position. He nearly scored a touchdown before he was tackled by Wilkins, who was called for a penalty because of a horse collar tackle in the process.

BYU misses chance at early lead

BYU kicker Will Ferrin missed a 48-yard field goal attempt. Quarterback Bear Bachmeier helped lead the Cougars within field goal range on a seven-play, 57-yard drive.

What time does BYU vs. West Virginia start?  

Date: Friday, Oct. 3
Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
Where: LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo, Utah

What TV channel is BYU vs. West Virginia on today?  

TV: ESPN
Streaming: FUBO (offers free trial)
How to watch online: Watch ESPN (here’s how to stream it live)

BYU vs. West Virginia game odds

All college football odds via BetMGM

Spread: BYU -18.5 (-115), West Virginia +18.5 (-105)
Money Line: BYU -1200, West Virginia +725
Over-Under: Over 47.5 (-110), Under 47.5 (-110)

BYU vs. West Virginia predictions

Riley Donald,College Sports Wire: BYU is a focused team taking on a West Virginia team traveling across multiple time zones without an answer on offense. Cougars, big.
Jeremy Cluff, Arizona Republic: The Cougars won their first close game of the season in Week 5 against Colorado. Can they move to 2-0 in the conference? We think so. Freshman QB Bear Bachmeier has moxie.

West Virginia schedule 2025

Here is West Virginia’s schedule and results.

Game 1: Win vs. Robert Morris Colonials, 45-3
Game 2: Loss vs. Ohio, 17-10
Game 3: Win vs. Pittsburgh, 31-24
Game 4: Loss to Kansas, 41-10
Game 5: Loss to Utah, 48-14
Game 6: at BYU (tonight)
Game 7: at UCF (Oct. 18)
Game 8:  vs. TCU (Oct. 25)
Game 9: at Houston (Nov. 1)
Game 10: vs. Colorado (Nov. 8)
Game 11: at Arizona State (Nov. 15)
Game 12: vs. Texas Tech (Nov. 29)

BYU schedule 2025

Here is BYU’s schedule and results.

Game 1: Win vs. Portland State, 69-0
Game 2: Win vs. Stanford, 27-3
Game 3: Win at East Carolina, 34-13
Game 4: Win at Colorado, 24-21
Game 5: vs. West Virginia (tonight)
Game 6: at Arizona (Oct. 11)
Game 7: vs. Utah (Oct. 18)
Game 8: at Iowa State (Oct. 25)
Game 9: at Texas Tech (Nov. 8)
Game 10: vs. TCU (Nov. 15)
Game 11: at Cincinnati (Nov. 22)
Game 12: vs. UCF (Nov. 29)

An embarrassing controversy involving the WNBA and its biggest names exploded into public view just this week, but its roots go back almost a year and a half, to April 15, 2024, the day Caitlin Clark was drafted. 

From that moment, the WNBA has found itself curiously out of step with the nation’s fondness for Clark. She’s theirs, but sometimes you wonder if they really want her. The league and the women’s basketball ecosystem that surrounds it has twisted itself into knots trying to minimize Clark’s immense and historic impact rather than embrace it. Both the WNBA and the NBA, its big brother and longtime business partner, appeared to be stunningly unprepared for the arrival of the most significant female team sport athlete, and the most popular women’s basketball player, of all time.

When Clark arrived from Iowa and the Big Ten, she brought a following of millions to a league desperately seeking attention after being virtually ignored for decades by the male-dominated mainstream sports media. Instead of welcoming this development, the league — players, coaches, owners, commissioner — at times seemed to recoil from her, sometimes even making snide remarks. 

Washington Mystics owner Sheila Johnson spoke on CNN about players’ “hard feelings” when Time magazine was “singling out” Clark for its Athlete of the Year award last December, going so far as to say she wanted “the whole WNBA on that cover” — even as Johnson made hundreds of thousands of dollars off Clark by moving two 2024 Mystics home games with Indiana to the 20,000-seat Capital One Arena that was filled to capacity to see Clark.

Commissioner Cathy Engelbert couldn’t manage to say Clark’s name in a 27-minute season-ending 2024 press conference in which she trumpeted records and milestones that occurred only because of Clark.

Even ESPN was acting strangely. The WNBA’s media business partner sent out a post on X in July proclaiming “historic viewership’ for the ’25 #WNBAAllStarWeekend.” Only problem was it wasn’t historic. It was a massive decline. ESPN left out 2024, Clark’s rookie year, referring to it only in the fine print. In 2025, with Clark injured, 2.2 million watched the All-Star Game. In 2024, with Clark starting, 3.44 million watched. 

As Clark packed Big Ten arenas while barnstorming the country her senior year, then drew four million more viewers for the women’s NCAA championship game than the men’s final the following night, one might have thought the WNBA and NBA would have been preparing security and travel plans for this immensely popular player. She had become not only one of the most famous athletes in the country, she was one of the most famous people in the country. 

Instead, the WNBA demanded she fly commercial, something that would have been unthinkable for a male athlete of her caliber until a journalist (me) called and asked about it. Four days later, Clark and the WNBA had charter flights. What kind of leadership was that? 

Race, of course, plays a massive role in the league’s acceptance of Clark, with 74% of WNBA players identifying as Black or mixed race. Many of us who have covered the women’s game for decades would have loved Black women like Lisa Leslie or Maya Moore to have had the fan support and national television impact of Clark, who is white, but that unfortunately did not happen. 

Yet now, the spotlight shining on Clark also shines on Black players who deserved attention for years but never received it — until now. Clark’s teammate Kelsey Mitchell, who is Black, has spoken about the opportunities she is receiving because she is a teammate of Clark’s. And four-time league MVP A’ja Wilson’s fame has skyrocketed since Clark arrived. Wilson received 95,860 votes for the All-Star Game in 2023, when Clark was still in college. But with Clark’s name on the ballot, she jumped to 607,300 in 2024 and 986,662 in 2025.

If race is the reason some want to minimize Clark, that’s terribly unfortunate, Briana Scurry, the first Black superstar on the U.S. women’s soccer team, said in my book On Her Game: Caitlin Clark and the Revolution in Women’s Sports.

“Caitlin Clark’s presence, while polarizing for some people, is really a watershed moment for the league, and I just hope that all these amazing Black players are taking full advantage of the fact that the spotlight is on what they’re doing now,’ Scurry said. ‘I understand there’s a lot of frustration and there’s some anger because the league has been around for 27 years before she came. But my goodness, it’s having this moment right now. And please, please, please, as players in the league, do not let this opportunity pass you by to get yours.”

So here we are: chaos out in the open, two seasons in the making. Watching the powers that be in women’s basketball have such trouble adjusting to Clark’s star power, it isn’t surprising that Engelbert uttered the now well-known comment that Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier said she said this week:

“Caitlin should be grateful she makes $16 million off the court because without the platform that the WNBA gives her, she wouldn’t make anything.”

Clark came into the WNBA having made more than $3 million in college NIL deals and having signed an eight-year, $28 million deal with Nike, so even before playing her first game as a pro, she was making almost double what Engelbert said she was making. 

If the women’s pro basketball ecosystem doesn’t love Clark, the U.S. marketplace certainly does. And that makes things very interesting as the players’ union and the league try to negotiate a new CBA with a looming Oct. 31 deadline.

“This is straight up the most important moment in this league’s history,” Clark said Thursday. “This league’s been around for 25-plus years and this is a moment we have to capitalize on.”

To fight for more money, the players undoubtedly will bolster their case by relying on recent historic TV viewership and attendance in the league. Caitlin Clark is the reason those ground-breaking statistics exist. Perhaps they will even say her name. 

The No. 23 BYU Cougars will look to continue their winning ways after a 4-0 start to the season on Friday against the visiting West Virginia Mountaineers.

Quarterback Bear Bachmeier leads the Cougars with 697 passing yards and six touchdowns this season. Running back LJ Martin leads the Cougars’ rushing attack with 400 yards and a touchdown on 55 carries.

West Virginia enters the game with a 2-3 record. Quarterback Nicco Marchiol leads the offense with 720 yards and two touchdowns this season. Receiver Cam Vaughn is the leading receiver with 277 yards and two touchdowns on 17 receptions.

The two teams have only played each other two other times, with West Virginia getting the best of BYU in 2016 and 2023.

USA TODAY will bring you live updates, scores and highlights from the game. Check it out.

Watch BYU vs. West Virginia with Fubo (free trial)

BYU vs West Virginia: Score, schedule and result

BYU misses chance at early lead

BYU kicker Will Ferrin missed a 48-yard field goal attempt. Quarterback Bear Bachmeier helped lead the Cougars within field goal range on a 7-play, 57-yard drive.

What time does BYU vs. West Virginia start?  

Date: Friday, Oct. 3
Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
Where: LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo, Utah

What TV channel is BYU vs. West Virginia on today?  

TV: ESPN
Streaming: FUBO (offers free trial)
How to watch online: Watch ESPN (here’s how to stream it live)

BYU vs. West Virginia game odds

All college football odds via BetMGM

Spread: BYU -18.5 (-115), West Virginia +18.5 (-105)
Money Line: BYU -1200, West Virginia +725
Over-Under: Over 47.5 (-110), Under 47.5 (-110)

BYU vs. West Virginia predictions

Riley Donald,College Sports Wire: BYU is a focused team taking on a West Virginia team traveling across multiple time zones without an answer on offense. Cougars, big.
Jeremy Cluff, Arizona Republic: The Cougars won their first close game of the season in Week 5 against Colorado. Can they move to 2-0 in the conference? We think so. Freshman QB Bear Bachmeier has moxie.

West Virginia schedule 2025

Here is West Virginia’s schedule and results.

Game 1: Win vs. Robert Morris Colonials, 45-3
Game 2: Loss vs. Ohio, 17-10
Game 3: Win vs. Pittsburgh, 31-24
Game 4: Loss to Kansas, 41-10
Game 5: Loss to Utah, 48-14
Game 6: at BYU (tonight)
Game 7: at UCF (Oct. 18)
Game 8:  vs. TCU (Oct. 25)
Game 9: at Houston (Nov. 1)
Game 10: vs. Colorado (Nov. 8)
Game 11: at Arizona State (Nov. 15)
Game 12: vs. Texas Tech (Nov. 29)

BYU schedule 2025

Here is BYU’s schedule and results.

Game 1: Win vs. Portland State, 69-0
Game 2: Win vs. Stanford, 27-3
Game 3: Win at East Carolina, 34-13
Game 4: Win at Colorado, 24-21
Game 5: vs. West Virginia (tonight)
Game 6: at Arizona (Oct. 11)
Game 7: vs. Utah (Oct. 18)
Game 8: at Iowa State (Oct. 25)
Game 9: at Texas Tech (Nov. 8)
Game 10: vs. TCU (Nov. 15)
Game 11: at Cincinnati (Nov. 22)
Game 12: vs. UCF (Nov. 29)

Ravens QB Lamar Jackson is out this week.
Jackson suffered a hamstring injury in Week 4 against the Chiefs.
Cooper Rush will get the start against the Texans.

The Baltimore Ravens are hoping to snap their two-game losing streak at home in Week 5 against the Houston Texans.

They’ll have to do so without their two-time MVP quarterback.

The Ravens confirmed Lamar Jackson will not play in Week 5 against Houston due to a hamstring injury suffered against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 4. Jackson did not practice at all this week and is one of multiple starters who will be out of action on Sunday.

Jackson exited Week 4 against the Chiefs at the 8:10 mark of the third quarter. Veteran backup Cooper Rush entered the game for him and finished the final 23 minutes of game time out under center for Baltimore. He completed 9 of 13 passes for 52 yards against Kansas City.

Thanks to its dominant performance in Week 4, Houston ranks No. 1 in the NFL in fewest points allowed and sixth in passing defense. Rush and the Ravens passing game could have a tough task ahead of them with Jackson out.

Ravens QB depth chart

Lamar Jackson (injured)
Cooper Rush
Tyler Huntley (practice squad)

Huntley came from the Browns’ practice squad after the preseason in Cleveland. He originally signed with Baltimore in 2020 as an undrafted free agent.

In the 32-year existence of the UFC, dozens of records have been set, smashed and set again. Then there are thresholds, one of which is ready to be broken at UFC 320 Saturday, Oct. 4 in Las Vegas.

Merab Dvalishvili can become the first fighter to score 100 takedowns. He needs only three more to reach the century mark heading into his bantamweight title defense fight against Cory Sandhagen in the co-main event.

Dvalishvili, the 34-year-old Georgian, already has the career takedown record with 97. The previous record holder was Georges St-Pierre, who had 90 during his Hall-of-Fame career. And now the 100 mark awaits.

“Will be nice numbers,’’ Dvalishvili said at the final press conference before UFC 320.

Those numbers reflect not only Dvalishvili’s exceptional wrestling skills, but also his dominance in the bantamweight division.

Dvalishvili (20-4, 3 KOs) has won 13 fights in a row, including victories over four former UFC champions: Jose Aldo, Petr Yan, Henry Cejudo and Sean O’Malley. Dvalishvili beat O’Malley twice – in 2024 to win the bantamweight title and in June to defend a second time.

“Like I said, it’s just beginning for me,’’ Dvalishvili said.

But Sandhagen (18-5, 8 KOs) suggests it’s the end of Dvalishvili’s dominant run, including three matches as the bantamweight champion.

Dvalishvili has vowed to engage in striking rather than focus on wrestling during the fight. Sandhagen called him a liar but also said takedowns will not save Dvalishvili.

“Whether he likes it or not, we’re striking because he’s not going to be able to take me down,’’ Sandhagen said. “And if he does, I’ll get right back up.’’

Fired back Dvaslishvili, “I’ll show you everything. We fighting mixed martial arts. Of course I’m ready (to) knock you out…’’

He’s also ready to do more than reach the 100-mark for takedowns when he gets into the octagon with Sandhagen.

“Maybe 110,’’ Dvaslishvili said. “We’ll see.’’

October has arrived, which means conference play is now in full swing in college football. The Week 6 slate isn’t quite as jam-packed with marquee contests as the most recent menu was, but there are still plenty of juicy tidbits to keep us entertained on Saturday.

Our weekly viewers’ guide to the most important and potentially compelling matchups will begin, as it often does, in SEC country. The lineup also features a prime-time rivalry showdown, a clash of unbeatens in the Lone Star State, and a meeting of 2024 playoff participants trying to work their way back. Let’s dive in, shall we?

No. 17 Vanderbilt at No. 11 Alabama

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

Why watch: The words ‘Vanderbilt’ and ‘playoffs’ don’t usually appear in the same sentence, which is why Commodores QB Diego Pavia’s bold pronouncement heading into the season caused such a stir. He and his Vandy teammates now have the chance to back up the notion that they are indeed contenders to make the field of 12. They did, after all, take down the Crimson Tide a year ago, but of course Alabama is well aware of that. Alabama for its part is very much back in the picture after last week’s win at Georgia, though again, the Tide did that last year as well then had a rough second half of the season. Pavia has certainly done his part for Vandy, accounting for 15 total TDs while making excellent use of TE Eli Stowers and RB Sedrick Alexander. His mobility could be an issue for the Tide defensive front, which will likely need backing from DB Bray Hubbard. Alabama QB Ty Simpson has also been hot since the opening loss to Florida State. WR Ryan Williams is a constant big-play threat, though his hands have let him down at times. Expect to see Commodores DB C.J. Heard in the vicinity of the ball often.

Why it could disappoint: This year’s Alabama squad isn’t built to simply show up and coast to victory. The Tide might still do so, but the Commodores would have to help them by giving the ball away. This feels more like it’s going to be another wild ride – possibly not to the tune of 40-35 like last season’s encounter in Nashville but points should again be plentiful.

No. 3 Miami (Fla.) at No. 19 Florida State

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

Why watch: The anticipated top-10 matchup didn’t materialize, but that hardly reduces the hype level as the ACC’s Sunshine State showdown gets the prime-time treatment. The urgency might be dialed up higher for the Seminoles, who must avoid a second conference loss in succession, but the Hurricanes won’t be feeling charitable toward their archrivals. Seminoles QB Thomas Castellanos isn’t shy about taking off, but he’s been receiving considerable punishment of late as a result. With Miami DE Rueben Bain eager to mete out more of it, he might want to let RB Gavin Sawchuk do the heavy lifting in the ground game. Hurricanes QB Carson Beck and his long-ball threats were largely held in check in their last outing against Florida, but RB Mark Fletcher helped with some tough yards. He’ll likely be needed again, as DBs Ja’Bril Rawls and Jerry Wilson will be actively patrolling the Florida State secondary.

Why it could disappoint: Neither team has been immune to the turnover bug, so it’s conceivable that one could find itself digging out of an early hole. Both offenses are equipped to stage a comeback should that occur, but a close contest throughout is more probable.

No. 14 Texas Tech atHouston

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

Why watch: The Cougars, perhaps the quietest unbeaten squad in the power conferences, will be quiet no more if they can topple the Red Raiders, who are among the early favorites in the wide-open Big 12. Houston had to work harder than it wanted to get out with a victory at winless Oregon State last week, but QB Conner Weigman made the plays when needed late. He’ll want to get the offense moving a bit quicker this time, but Texas Tech LB Jacob Rodriguez might have something to say about that. The Red Raiders should be rested after their impressive victory at Utah two weeks ago. QB Behren Morton is expected to start after leaving that game early with a neck injury, but the strong performance of freshman backup Will Hammond should give the team confidence should Morton experience complications. WR Coy Eakin and TE Terrance Carter Jr. lead a deep group of pass catchers, but the Cougars have snared five interceptions.

Why it could disappoint: In theory, Texas Tech is more battle-tested and could hand the Cougars their first taste of adversity. But if Houston has successful drive outcomes early, it should be game on for 60 minutes.

Minnesota at No. 1 Ohio State

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

Why watch: The Golden Gophers were able to defend their home turf and outlast Rutgers to start Big Ten play on the right foot. The challenge ramps up by an order of magnitude as they head into the Horseshoe to face the top-ranked Buckeyes. Minnesota QB Drake Lindsey will be the next signal caller to try and solve the Buckeyes’ championship caliber defense, which starts up front with DE Caden Curry sealing the edge with LBs Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles often there to clean up. The Ohio State offense might still have untapped potential, a scary thought as QB Julian Sayin is already completing passes at a 78% clip. Freshman RB Bo Jackson has emerged as another weapon, giving Gophers LBs Devon Williams and Maverick Baranowski more to think about.

Why it could disappoint: If this is the week the Buckeyes’ offense breaks out of its first-quarter funk, things could be decided in short order. Minnesota will have to be nearly perfect, which it has not always been when playing away from home.

Mississippi State at No. 5 Texas A&M

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

Why watch: While the Bulldogs will almost certainly exceed their projected last-place finish in the SEC, last week’s near upset of Tennessee was still a major missed opportunity. They can’t dwell on it, however, as they must regroup quickly to take on the Aggies, who stifled Auburn in their league opener but are hoping to show more pop from the offense. A&M QB Marcel Reed will look to get big-play WRs Mario Craver and K.C. Concepcion involved quickly. The Miss State defense relies on safety help from Isaac Smith and Jahron Manning limiting such explosive plays. Bulldogs QB Blake Shapen has weapons of his own in WRs Brenen Thompson and Anthony Evans, but Aggies DE Cashius Howell could keep him from finding them.

Why it could disappoint: Mississippi State has made huge strides on the offensive side of the ball this season, but the Aggies’ defense might prove harder to solve. It would take only moderate improvement on a surprisingly low 30.61% third-down conversion rate for A&M to establish game control.

Boise State at No. 21 Notre Dame

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

Why watch: This pairing of playoff teams from a season ago lost a bit of its luster with both squads off to subpar starts in 2025. Both now enter on winning streaks, though none of their combined five victories can be considered needle movers. The Boise offense has been more reliant this year on QB Maddux Madsen, whose passing can be streaky. When he’s on target, WRs Latrell Caples and Chris Marshall are valuable downfield weapons, so Notre Dame DBs Jalen Stroman and Adon Shuler must minimize the big plays. Fighting Irish QB C.J. Carr is completing 68.3% of his passes, though the offense works best when RBs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price are involved. They’ll become well acquainted with Broncos DB Ty Benefield and LB Marco Notarainni.

Why it could disappoint: The Broncos have undoubtedly worked out a few issues since getting blown out at South Florida, but this is a major step up in competition. The Fighting Irish have also found their identity and could take immediate charge here.

Good news on the injury front for the Washington Commanders.

Quarterback Jayden Daniels will start the Commanders’ Week 5 game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Daniels missed the previous two games while recovering from a knee injury suffered during Washington’s loss to the Green Bay Packers on ‘Thursday Night Football’ in Week 2.

He practiced fully earlier this week and looks to have progressed enough to be healthy for Sunday’s game.

Daniels missed the Commanders’ 41-24 win over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 3 and their 34-27 loss ot the Atlanta Falcons in Week 4.

Even with Daniels’ absence, Washington hasn’t fallen back from second in the NFC East. The undefeated Philadelphia Eagles still lead the way, but the Commanders are just behind them and a game ahead of both the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants in the win column.

Daniels’ return comes ahead of a key stretch of Washington’s season. The Commanders are in primetime twice in the next month with an appearance on ‘Monday Night Football’ in Week 6 against the Chicago Bears at home and Week 8 on the road versus the Kansas City Chiefs.

Commanders QB depth chart

Jayden Daniels
Marcus Mariota
Josh Johnson
Sam Hartman (practice squad)

The Commanders carry three quarterbacks on their active roster in Daniels, Mariota and Johnson. That was the case even before Daniels’ injury.

LAS VEGAS — After the Las Vegas Aces punched their ticket to the WNBA Finals for the fourth time in six years on Tuesday, head coach Becky Hammon said ‘there’s little time to celebrate.’

‘We play again in two days,’ Hammon said. ‘That’s a really quick turnaround.’

The postseason is moving at a blistering pace, with the best-of-three first-round series (1-1-1) and best-of-five semifinals (2-2-1) already in the books in a little more than two weeks. Next up is the 2025 WNBA Finals between the Aces and Phoenix Mercury, which expands to a best-of-seven game series for the first time in league history. It tips off at Michelob Ultra Arena Friday (8 p.m. ET, ESPN).

The new playoff structure has drawn mixed reactions from players and coaches in its first season, as concerns of travel, rest and player safety have emerged as the playoffs have worn on.

‘It’s tough. It’s not ideal, but it is the playoffs,’ Phoenix Mercury guard Sami Whitcomb said after the Mercury played four games in seven days on Sept. 23. ‘It’s something that should be looked at moving forward. Absolutely. We’re not here to make excuses. We’re here to win.’

RANKING WNBA FINALS ROSTERS: Who’s at the top of the list?

PREDICTIONS: Who will win the WNBA Finals? Experts make their picks

The league expanded the WNBA Finals from a best-of-five series to best-of-seven as the popularity and appetite for women’s basketball continues to skyrocket. ‘The incredible demand for WNBA basketball makes this the ideal time,’ WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said at the announcement in 2024.

‘It’s exciting to be part of the first one,’ Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas said on Thursday. ‘We talk about how a best-of-five is a tough series. … We don’t know what a best-of-seven brings, but nothing changes. We still approach it the same way.’

Becky Hammon disliked first-round format

Neither Phoenix nor Las Vegas’ path to the WNBA Finals has been easy. Both teams were pushed to the brink of elimination and faced a decisive Game 3 in the first round of the playoffs. The Mercury went on to defeat the defending champion New York Liberty, while the Aces outlasted the Seattle Storm to keep their season alive.

Aces head coach Becky Hammon told USA TODAY Sports on Thursday she’s ‘not a fan of the 1-1-1’ structure in the first round, which gives every playoff team a home game this season, instead of the previous 2-1 format that only rewarded the lower seed a home game if they were able to steal one game on the road.

‘This conversation came up last year when the Indiana (Fever) didn’t get a (home) game and they were upset,’ Hammon said, referring to Caitlin Clark and the Fever being swept by the Connecticut Sun in the first round in 2024. ‘But for me, you got to finish better. … Either move it to five (games) or move it to a 2-1 format. It puts the higher seed at a huge disadvantage.’

Hammon pointed to the ‘brutal’ first-round series between the Mercury and Liberty as an example, where both teams traveled cross-country, adding an additional strain on top of an already extended regular season and expanded WNBA Finals series. ‘I mean that’s tough on both squads,’ Hammon added.

Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts, however, said he ‘loved’ the new format despite his team dropping Game 1 to the Liberty at home, setting up an elimination game on the road in New York. The Mercury went on to rout the Liberty 86-60 at Barclays Center in Game 2 to secure home court advantage again.

‘We were the higher seed and should’ve protected home. We didn’t, so we’ve got to come here and earn it, right?’ Tibbetts said. ‘Everything that we have to go through, New York’s got to do the same, so I don’t think a team has an advantage. Both teams have one on the other team’s floor.’

He added: ‘I think everybody should get a chance to get a home game. Last year was my first year in this league and for us not to get a home game in the playoffs I think is wrong. I think the league did the right thing… So I’ll give the league credit on that.’

Is fatigue a factor in the WNBA playoffs?

The Mercury ousted the Liberty in Game 3 at home on Friday Sept. 19 at 11 p.m. ET. Phoenix flew to Minnesota the next day at 2 p.m. ET ahead of their semifinal series against the Lynx and touched down at 5 p.m. ET that Saturday, followed by a quick film session at 6 p.m. ET. The Mercury had a team breakfast and a walkthrough on Sunday before Game 1 of the semifinals tipped off at 5 p.m. Talk about a whirlwind.

After losing Game 1 to the Lynx, which Tibbetts attributed to ‘physical fatigue and mental fatigue,’ Phoenix stormed back to take Games 2 and 3, and made it a priority to close out the series at home in Game 4.

‘We wanted it so bad today. We need some days off,’ Tibbetts said after clinching a Finals bid following a 14-point comeback win over the Lynx in Game 4. ‘We wanted days off and we’ve just been going. It’s the W schedule. This is what it is. Obviously if you lose today, you go to Minnesota and you figure it out, but the carrot was to win today to get some rest, and we all need it. We all need it physically, mentally. So I’m really happy for the group that we’re going to get some time off.’

Phoenix Mercury guard Kahleah Copper said their day off ‘was much needed’ and pointed to the importance of recovery throughout the postseason to remain in optimal shape, despite the demanding schedule. ‘This was much needed just seeing how every series went, dealing with the physicality and just the pace,’ Copper told USA TODAY Sports. 

‘Keep the main thing the main thing’

Travel won’t be a concern for the 2025 WNBA Finals, which features a battle of the desert on the West Coast. And although the championship is expanding to best-of-seven games for the first time, Hammon said the preparation won’t change much at all, calling it ‘an evolving game plan.’

‘You cannot get too far ahead of yourself and be like, ‘Oh, there’s seven games now,” Hammon told USA TODAY Sports. ‘Whatever game you’re playing, you want to make the next adjustments for the next game. … So you just stay open-minded and just putting in the work just to win the next game. All that matters is Game 1.’

The Aces are going into the WNBA Finals on two days rest after winning a decisive Game 5 against the Indiana Fever in the semifinals on Tuesday. The Mercury last played on Sunday. Sure, rest is incentive enough to close out any series early, but it remains to be seen if the playoff format can be improved to allow for more recovery time.

‘It’s the first time being done,’ Hammon said. ‘I think you have to take a serious look at how (the format) plays out this year and then go back and revamp and say, ‘Hey, we could do this better, this better, this, that.”

Others are withholding judgement until the season is over.

‘I’ll let you know after the championship round,’ Aces guard Chelsea Gray told USA TODAY Sports. ‘The turnaround is quick. You have to get your mind right, you have to get your body right. There’s not time to take a day off of not recovering. The games are coming quick, especially those afternoon games, but you got to be ready and alert right away. So I’ll let you know how I feel about the format afterwards.’

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

Don Rae Jr., the president of the PGA of America, officially apologized via email to 30,000 golf professionals on Thursday regarding comments about the chants directed at Team Europe during the Ryder Cup.

Rae initially compared the vulgar remarks to those typically heard at a youth soccer game, but he has since retracted those statements in his apology.

‘Let me begin with what we must own. While the competition was spirited – especially with the U.S. team’s rally on Sunday afternoon – some fan behavior clearly crossed the line,’ Rea wrote in his letter, which was obtained by The Associated Press, to PGA of America members. ‘It was disrespectful, inappropriate, and not representative of who we are as the PGA of America or as PGA of America golf professionals. We condemn that behavior unequivocally.’

European players, including Rory McIlroy, faced a significant amount of vulgar language from the crowd, with remarks aimed at their personal lives. During the Ryder Cup competition on Friday, Sept. 26, fans chanted ‘F— you, Rory’ when he appeared on the large screens around the course. McIlroy responded to the spectators, and his fellow European golfers rallied together in a show of unity to support him.

Despite the distractions from the rowdy crowd, Team Europe remained focused and ultimately claimed the trophy to become the first team to win the tournament on foreign soil since the Europeans did so in 2012.