Davante Adams has worked easily into the Los Angeles Rams’ offense.

A hamstring injury has complicated matters ahead of Week 4 for the All-Pro receiver, however, who finds himself listed as questionable heading into Sunday’s contest against the Indianapolis Colts. The 32-year-old has seen no shortage of opportunity in the early going this season.

Adams is already up to 29 targets through three games, but has just 13 receptions to show for it.

Sitting out Sunday’s game would present plenty of issues as the Rams work to get their newest star on the same page with everyone else.

Here’s the latest on Adams and whether you can expect him to play in Week 4.

Is Davante Adams playing today?

Adams is expected to play today, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The receiver has been battling a hamstring injury this week and missed two practices ahead of Week 4. Adams returned to practice on Friday, logging a limited session.

That was enough to earn him a ‘questionable’ designation for the Rams’ home matchup against the Colts.

The missed practice time shouldn’t be too much of a concern for a veteran like Adams, especially since he’s been on the injury report for rest-related reasons each of the last two weeks.

Rams WR depth chart

Puka Nacua
Davante Adams
Jordan Whittington
Tutu Atwell
Konata Mumpfield
Xavier Smith

The Rams’ receiver depth would take a big hit if Adams couldn’t play. Nacua remains the unquestioned WR1 in this offense, but there isn’t a lot of experience behind him and Adams. The second-year pro Whittington would have to pick up the slack alongside Atwell.

Week 5 of the 2025 college football season was defined by major upsets, with six top-25 teams losing.
Oregon defeated Penn State in double overtime, while Alabama held off Georgia in a key rivalry matchup.
Florida State was upset Friday by Virginia, continuing a trend of losses for teams ranked No. 8 this season.

Through five weeks of the 2025 college football season, one theme is becoming apparent: survival.

The first several weeks of the season have featured major upsets, as the field for the 12-team College Football Playoff seems wide open. Action on Saturday, Sept. 27, was no different. Six of the top-25 US LBM Coaches Poll teams were upset. A handful also had troubles, but escaped with wins.

No. 9 Texas A&M escaped with a 16-10 win over Auburn, while No. 15 Tennessee needed overtime to beat Mississippi State 41-34 in Starkville, Mississippi. No. 17 Georgia Tech executed the fire drill field goal to beat Wake Forest 30-29 and No. 24 BYU escaped an upset from Deion Sanders and Colorado.

The wildness of Week 5 will ensure another shake-up in both polls and have major ramifications on the College Football Playoff. Here’s a recap of the major college football upsets in Week 5:

Oregon upends Penn State in Happy Valley

At one point, it looked like Oregon was going to earn a dominating win over Penn State when the Ducks took a two-touchdown lead early in the fourth quarter. However, Drew Allar and the Nittany Lions made a furious comeback to force overtime.

In the second overtime, Dante Moore connected with Gary Bryant Jr. for a 25-yard touchdown and then Dillon Thieneman picked off an Allar pass in the the session for Oregon to outlast Penn State 30-24 to pick up the major win.

Alabama upsets Georgia

Kalen DeBoer may be on the hot seat for some Alabama fans, but the second-year coach has left off where Nick Saban did in dominating the series with rival Georgia. DeBoer and Alabama held off the Bulldogs’ comeback with a 24-21 victory in Athens, Georgia.

Alabama jumped out to 14-0 and 24-14 leads over the Bulldogs, but did not score in the second half. However, Kirby Smart is 1-7 vs. Alabama now as Georiga could not muster more than seven points in the second half. Smart and the Bulldogs even decided to forgo the game-tying field goal early in the fourth quarter.

Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss knock off LSU

Trinidad Chambliss continues to be the feel-good story of 2025 following a third straight 300-yard passing performance in a 24-19 Ole Miss upset win over Brian Kelly and LSU. On the other side, the Tigers’ offensive struggles continue, particularly in the run game.

LSU was outgained 484-256 by Ole Miss in total yardage, and finished with just 59 rushing yards on 21 attempts. The Tigers are averaging just 104.8 rushing yards per game.

Despite the offensive woes, LSU had a chance to win the game following a Harlem Berry touchdown run with 5:04 left in the game, but Ole Miss never allowed the Tigers another possession to close out the upset win.

Florida State upset by Virginia and curse of No. 8 ranking

Being ranked No. 8 in the US LBM Coaches Poll during the 2025 college football season appears to be a curse.

Teams ranked No. 8 are 1-4 this season. The season opened with the No. 8 Crimson Tide losing 31-17 to Florida State in Tallahassee, Florida, on Aug. 31. The trend has continued with Notre Dame, Illinois and the Seminoles all losing as the No. 8 team.

Coming off a bye week, Florida State fell into an early 14-0 hole against Virginia due to turnovers on Friday, Sept. 26. The Seminoles, however, scored 21 straight points and looked to have righted the ship. But the Cavaliers battled and eventually won the game in overtime on a Tommy Castellanos interception. Virginia fans rushed the field.

Clemson is the only No. 8 team to win, but it narrowly escaped an upset bid from Troy. Here’s a look at how the No. 8 team in the US LBM Coaches Poll has fared this season:

Week 1: Florida State 31, No. 8 Alabama 17
Week 2: No. 8 Clemson 27, Troy 16
Week 3: No. 16 Texas A&M 41, No. 8 Notre Dame 40
Week 4: No. 17 Indiana 63, No. 8 Illinois 10
Week 5: Virginia 46, No. 8 Florida State 38

Illinois outlasts USC in top 25 battle

Coming off an ugly 63-10 loss to Indiana in Week 4, Lincoln Riley and USC entered the Big Ten road matchup in Champaign, Illinois, as a near-touchdown favorite. However, the Fighting Illini battled and despite giving up a late lead, David Olano hit a game-winning 41-yard field goal to give Illinois the win.

Arizona State upsets TCU

No. 25 TCU joined Florida State as upset victims on Friday, Sept. 26. Arizona State overcame 17-0 and 24-17 deficits to upend the Horned Frogs 27-24 in Tempe, Arizona. Arizona State compiled 500 yards of offense in the win. The Sun Devils outscored TCU 10-0 in the fourth quarter to pull off the win.

College football Week 5 scores

Here’s the full scoreboard for each ranked team in Week 5:

No. 1 Ohio State 24, Washington 6
No. 5 Oregon 30, No. 2 Penn State 24, 2OT
No. 16 Alabama 24, No. 3 Georgia 21
No. 11 Ole Miss 24, No. 4 LSU 19
Virginia 46, No. 8 Florida State 38, 2 OT
No. 9 Texas A&M 16, Auburn 10
No. 12 Indiana 20, Iowa 15
No. 13 Iowa State 39, Arizona 14
No. 15 Tennessee 41, Mississippi State 34, OT
No. 17 Georgia Tech 30, Wake Forest 29
No. 19 Missouri 42, UMass 6
No. 21 Notre Dame 56, Arkansas 13
No. 23 Illinois 34, No. 22 USC 32
No. 24 BYU 24, Colorado 21
Arizona State 27, No. 25 TCU 24

No. 1 Ohio State defeated Washington 24-6, snapping the Huskies’ 22-game home winning streak.
No. 11 Mississippi upset No. 4 LSU, positioning the Rebels as a potential College Football Playoff contender.
LSU, Auburn, and Arkansas were among the week’s biggest losers after suffering significant conference defeats.

Facing a borderline Top 25 opponent in one of the unfriendliest environments in the Bowl Subdivision, No. 1 Ohio State combined superb red-zone defense and a solid, error-free game from quarterback Julian Sayin to beat Washington 24-6.

The Huskies scored just a pair of field goals on three trips inside the Buckeyes’ 20-yard line, including a crucial turnover on downs late in the first half.

That was the turning point: Leading 3-0, Washingto had advanced to the Ohio State 18-yard line before a sack on second down crippled the drive. A failed fake field goal gave things back to Buckeyes, which went 73 yards in 10 plays to take a 7-3 lead into halftime.

The loss snapped the Huskies’ 22-game home winning streak dating to former coach Kalen DeBoer’s debut in 2022.

Sayin completed 22 of 28 attempts for 208 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. The redshirt freshman is now hitting on an FBS-best 78.8% of his throws.

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Amid legitimate questions about the health of the defensive line following a rash of offseason departures, the Buckeyes’ defense aced this first road trip of the regular season by holding the Huskies to 61 yards on 30 carries with nine tackles for loss. Ohio State also had six sacks.

The defending national champions are building a blueprint that has successfully papered over some apparent flaws, including the rebuilt defensive front and a receiver corps that lacks reliability beyond superstar sophomore Jeremiah Smith.

In fact, the most positive development from the first month of the regular season is the play of the defense under new coordinator Matt Patricia. The Buckeyes have allowed just two touchdowns through four games, one with under four minutes to go in the opener against No. 7 Texas and the second on a defensive breakdown last Saturday against Ohio.

The offense might have some work to do. OSU averaged 9.5 yards per play against Grambling and Ohio but just 4.7 yards per snap against Texas and Washington. But there are elite building blocks in Smith, Sayin and true freshman running back Bo Jackson, who ran for 80 yards on 17 carries on Saturday.

Ohio State, Mississippi and LSU lead college football’s biggest winners and losers:

Winners

Oregon

The No. 5 Ducks seemed on the verge of pulling away from No. 2 Penn State with the score 17-3 with 12:25 remaining in regulation. The Nittany Lions responded, though, scoring 14 unanswered points behind quarterback Drew Allar to force overtime. In the second extra frame, the Ducks picked off Allar to seal a 30-24 win that should vault them to No. 2 in the Coaches Poll. While PSU can point to the comeback as something to build on, Oregon can tout the maybe the best win by any team in the country in the year’s opening month. Even more than that, the way the Ducks handled the environment in Beaver Stadium suggests they’re built to manage the pressures of making another run at the Big Ten crown. The game’s biggest star was sophomore quarterback Dante Moore, who hit on 29 of 39 attempts with three touchdowns and no turnovers.

Kalen DeBoer

An ugly 2024 season by Alabama’s recent standards and a loss to No. 8 Florida State in the season opener had DeBoer in some pretty dire straits quickly into his second year as Nick Saban’s successor. The 24-21 win against No. 3 Georgia puts his tenure back on track and reestablishes the No. 16 Crimson Tide as a team to watch in the SEC. Clearly a different quarterback since Week 1, Simpson carved up the Bulldogs in the first half and finished 24 of 38 for 276 yards and a pair of scores. The trick for Alabama will be avoiding the post-Georgia meltdown of last season, which saw the Tide go 5-4 after beating the Bulldogs to end September.

Mississippi

No. 11 Mississippi is set to rocket up the US LBM Coaches Poll after beating No. 4 LSU 24-19 behind 385 yards of total offense from backup quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, one of the breakout stars from the regular season’s first month. After the Tigers scored with 5:04 left to make it a single-possession game, Chambliss keyed an 11-play drive that included a game-sealing fourth-down conversion on a 20-yard completion. The Rebels still have road trips against No. 3 Georgia and No. 10 Oklahoma on the docket but are in terrific position to make the College Football Playoff.

Indiana

No. 12 Indiana broke a late tie against Iowa with a 49-yard touchdown pass by quarterback Fernando Mendoza and won 20-15 to take another step toward a return trip to the playoff. After blitzing No. 23 Illinois in last weekend’s 63-10 win, the Hoosiers had to grind out 337 yards on 5.4 yards per play against the upset-minded Hawkeyes, who have dropped two games against ranked competition by a combined eight points.

Diego Pavia

No. 20 Vanderbilt has never had a player win the Heisman Trophy or even come particularly close, unless you count center Carl Hinkle’s seventh-place finish in 1937. But after leading the Commodores to a 5-0 start for the second time in 80 years, senior quarterback Diego Pavia has to be counted among the award’s top contenders. Pavia ran for 79 yards and a score, threw for 321 yards through the air and tied a program record with five touchdown passes in the Commodores’ 55-35 win against Utah State.

Cincinnati

The Bearcats seem to have gotten on track in a must-win season for coach Scott Satterfield. After losing 20-17 to Nebraska in the opener, Cincinnati captured a third win in a row by beating Kansas 37-34 on the road. This was a quarterback battle: Jalon Daniels had 445 passing yards and four touchdowns for the Jayhawks and Brendan Sorsby threw for 388 yards and two scores for the Bearcats, highlighted by three huge completions to set up the game-winning touchdown run with 29 seconds left.

Losers

James Franklin

Another loss to a top-five opponent won’t help Franklin’s status with a frustrated fan base, which routinely booed the Nittany Lions’ sputtering offense and even unleased a smattering of “Fire Franklin” chants in the second half. A key season already has its early drama: Penn State has not looked good through four games, period, and does not resemble a team capable of winning the Big Ten, let alone the national championship. No coach in the country has as much job security but will face as much pressure the rest of the regular season.

LSU

Give credit to the Rebels’ defense and the Tigers’ miserable offense, which finished with a season-low 254 yards and has yet to gain more than 365 yards in four games against FBS competition. Brian Kelly asked after some grumbling over a 20-10 win against Florida earlier this month: What do you want? Well, a real offense that takes advantage of quarterback Garrett Nussmeier would be a start. LSU built its reputation on a 17-10 win against Clemson that has since become meaningless, so it’s beyond time to reexamine the Tigers’ place in the Top 25 and the SEC power rankings.

Auburn

Auburn’s offense was swallowed up by No. 9 Texas A&M in a 16-10 loss that dropped the Tigers to 0-2 in the SEC and reignites the pressure on embattled coach Hugh Freeze. While Auburn had multiple shots at taking the lead in the fourth quarter, the final score is a little misleading: A&M outgained the Tigers by 259 yards and didn’t allow a third-down conversion on 12 attempts just two weeks after giving up 40 points in a narrow win against No. 21 Notre Dame. Transfer quarterback Jackson Arnold threw for 124 yards on 3.9 yards per pass to continue his hit-or-miss start to the regular season.

Sam Pittman

Pittman is inching ahead of Florida’s Billy Napier as the Power Four coach next on the chopping block after Arkansas fell behind 42-13 at halftime and suffered a humiliating 56-13 loss in Fayetteville to Notre Dame. One of the largest crowds in Razorback Stadium witnessed the program’s eighth-largest margin of defeat at home and largest since losing 52-3 to Alabama in 2020. This is the team’s third setback in a row, following more competitive losses to Memphis and Mississippi, and things don’t get any easier with No. 15 Tennessee and Texas A&M up next.

Southern California

No. 22 Southern California’s 34-32 loss to No. 23 Illinois was a pure, Lincoln Riley-era loss featuring a dynamic offense and continued failures on defense, including a late breakdown that set up the game-winning field goal as time expired. The Trojans gained 490 yards on 6.3 yards per play and converted 12 of 19 chances on third and fourth down but gave 502 yards and had zero answers for quarterback Luke Altmyer, who averaged 12.6 yards per attempt with two passing touchdowns, one score on the ground and a fourth as a receiver.

Rutgers

Rutgers’ bowl hopes took a substantial hit after losing 31-28 to Minnesota to open 0-2 in Big Ten play. The Scarlet Knights led 14-0 early in the second quarter and 28-24 more than midway through the fourth but gave up a short Drake Lindsey touchdown pass with 3:24 to play, one of three on the day for the redshirt freshman. This was a must-have win given what’s ahead: Rutgers still takes on Ohio State, No. 2 Penn State and No. 4 Oregon, along with Washington and Illinois on the road.

Week 5 of the college football season showed us the moment was too big for James Franklin — again, Brian Kelly will keep being asked about LSU’s offense and a game without a touchdown.

Here’s some of the lowlights from Week 5 in our Flop 10:

James Franklin

Harsh? Definitely. But how many big games can one coach lose? Despite having won 71.2% of his games at Penn State since 2014, Franklin was just 1-13 in games against AP top-5 opponents heading into Saturday. Oregon was ranked No. 5 in this week’s coaches poll, and it’s the same old, same old: James can’t win the big games. Hell, even students began chanting ‘Fire Franklin’ when Penn State trailed 17-3 early in the fourth quarter. For a team ranked No. 2!?! This one was close — a double OT loss — but Franklin seems to have a ceiling and just can’t break through it.

Sam Pittman

The Arkansas fans were chanting ‘Fire Pittman’ during what turned out to be a third straight Razorbacks loss Saturday. Few expected Arkansas to pull off the upset over No. 21 Notre Dame, but this game was never competitive and finished 56-13. Pittman admitted he understood why Arkansas fans are calling for his dismissal: ‘I get it. If I was a fan, I’d be mad at me too,’ Pittman said. ‘I’d be frustrated as hell with me.’ We’ve already seen a few coaches get pink slips this season, Pittman seems poised to join that list.

Kirby Smart’s decision not to kick

Hindsight being what it is, the Georgia coach’s decision to pass up a potential tying field goal on 4th-and-1 from the 8-yard line with 13:25 left in the fourth quarter backfired. Cash Jones was tackled for a 3-yard loss and the Bulldogs only got one more possession in their 24-21 loss as the Crimson Tide salted away the game expertly.

Auburn’s offensive line

Hugh Freeze bragged about having six guys who will get drafted on the OL. Well, the Tigers have given up 15 sacks the past two weeks, including five in Saturday’s 16-10 loss at Texas A&M, and couldn’t open up any lanes in the running game (2.2 yards per carry). And no, losing a one-possession game to a top-10 Aggies team at Kyle Field is not a fireable offense, but Freeze’s seat is warming. Producing 177 yards of total offense is certainly a flashing red light. Even worse? The Tigers were 0-for-13 on third down. ZERO for 13 on third down.

LSU’s offense

Brian Kelly snapped at a reporter a few weeks ago after the reporter had the audacity to ask about the Tigers’ middling offense. Saturday’s 24-19 loss to Ole Miss will only increase the inquest. LSU’s $18 million roster had its yardage output nearly doubled by the Rebels (480 to 254) and the Tigers managed just 57 rushing yards. ‘Everybody on offense has to play better,’ Kelly said postgame. Huh, if only someone had asked that a few weeks ago…

ACC officials in Wake Forest-Georgia Tech game

With the Demon Deacons sniffing an upset and looking to put the game away, the refs missed a pretty obvious offsides call on the undefeated Yellow Jackets late in the fourth quarter on a 3rd-and-5. The penalty would have given Wake Forest a first down. Instead, an incomplete pass stopped the clock and Georgia Tech went on to put together a nine-play, 54-yard drive to set up a game-tying field goal. Tech won in overtime after intercepting a 2-point attempt and head into its bye week 5-0 — with a little help from their friends.

Syracuse

Earlier this week, our Matt Hayes was touting Orange coach Fran Brown as a perfect fit for the SEC and a popular candidate for the growing list of vacancies. That was after Syracuse went to Clemson and beat the Tigers. So what happened Saturday!?! Duke absolutely diced up Syracuse in a 38-3 win… in the Carrier Dome. The Blue Devils racked up 503 yards of offense. It’s never a good sign when you open your postgame news conference with an apology: ‘I want to apologize to Syracuse, the fan base, just everyone who follows this football program,’ Brown said. ‘The performance that you’ve see out there today was not good. I have to make sure that I coach our players a lot better. We have to prepare them better and have them be ready to come out and compete.’

UCLA

It kind of feels like piling on at this point, but Saturday was probably UCLA’s best chance at getting a win this year. And hey, the Bruins (0-4) actually covered, so if you want to take solace in that, go for it. The Bruins spotted Northwestern a 17-0 lead, but managed to chip away, got within 17-14 and had two chances with the ball to take the lead. But Nico Iamaleava and Co. managed just three yards on their last two drives, resigning the Bruins to defeat in interim coach Tim Skipper’s debut. Up next? An angry Penn State.

Virginia on-field security

Did they have any? As soon as Tommy Castellanos’ final pass was intercepted in FSU’s double OT loss Friday night, a swarm of Cavaliers students flooded the field before players had a chance to brace themselves for the stampede. At Scott Stadium, there was no rope or barrier to slow the fans running down The Hill onto the field. It was pure bedlam. FSU WR Squirrel White and Virginia DB Ja’Son Prevard were swallowed up by the crowd that was lined up already at the edge of the end zone before the final play. FSU coach Mike Norvell said postgame he wasn’t aware of any issues involving his players after the field-storm: ‘I mean we’ve got everybody in the locker room and so not sure of any issues.’ Thankfully, it appears everyone emerged unscathed, but there was certainly heart-in-throat moments there. Virginia will likely be fined $50,000 for the field-storming, per the ACC’s updated event security policy.

Touchdowns in Northern Illinois vs. San Diego State

There weren’t any. This one finished SDSU 6, NIU 3. Woof. It wasn’t as bad as Wake Forest’s 3-0 win over Boston College in 2015, but only 13 times has a game featured nine points or less. That’s 0.09% of FBS games over the past 20 years, per Cleanup Hitter.

The Las Vegas Aces are one win away from heading back to the WNBA Finals and can finish off their semifinals series by beating the Indiana Fever in Game 4 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Sunday, Sept. 28.

The Aces, who have been to the Finals three times since 2020, won back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023. They had four of five starters in double-figures led by Jackie Young’s 25 points. NaLyssa Smith added 16, Chelsea Gray 15 and A’ja Wilson 13. Dana Evans had 10 points off the bench.

‘We had to do it collectively,’ Aces coach Becky Hammon said. ‘We know we are better as a group.’

The Fever, who have lost five players including Caitlin Clark to season-ending injuries, will try to stay alive.

‘We are literally the Cinderella team right now,’ Fever guard Sophie Cunningham said on her podcast ‘Show Me Something.’

‘If you are thinking about with all of our adversity and everything we’ve been through, like we’ve seen it all. And now we just have to go perform because like we deserve to be here and like if everyone’s healthy, we 100 percent deserve to be here.”

What time is Aces vs. Fever Game 4?

Game 4 of the WNBA semifinals series between the No. 2 seed Las Vegas Aces and No. 6 seed Indiana Fever is scheduled to tip off at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, Sept. 28 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

How to watch Aces vs. Fever WNBA playoffs: TV, stream for Game 4

Date: Sunday, Sept. 28
Time: 3 p.m. ET
Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse (Indianapolis)
TV: ABC
Stream: Fubo, ESPN Unlimited

Stream Fever-Aces series on Fubo (free trial)

The Minnesota Lynx, the No. 1 seed in the WNBA playoff bracket, are on the brink of elimination and will be without their head coach and best player.

MVP runner-up Napheesa Collier went down in the waning seconds of the Lynx’s 84-76 Game 3 loss to the Phoenix Mercury and ‘probably has a fracture,’ Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said. The Lynx announced Saturday she is out with a left ankle injury.

Reeve’s comments postgame, a rant against officiating in Game 3, earned her a one-game suspension from the WNBA. She will sit out for Game 4 on Sunday.

The Lynx, who lost in the WNBA Finals to New York Liberty last season, will have to regroup if they want to stave off elimination in their best-of-five semifinal series in Phoenix.

“Stay locked. We not out of it. We’re still here. We’re still a great team,’ Lynx guard Courtney Williams said. ‘When it comes to the playoffs or any game, you can’t get too high or get too low.’

For their part, the remade Mercury look to advance to the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2021. They won their last title in 2014 with Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner. After Taurasi retired in the offseason and Griner left for the Atlanta Dream, the Mercury retooled. They are led by triple-double machine Alyssa Thomas.

“This is a team that believes in each other — been overlooked a little all year,” Mercury coach Nate Tibbets said. “But one thing we are is tough and we fight, we compete and we did that in the fourth. We made it hard on every possession and that’s what good defensive teams do.”

What time is Mercury vs. Lynx Game 4?

Game 4 of the WNBA semifinal series between the No. 1 seed Minnesota Lynx and No. 4 seed Phoenix Mercury is scheduled to tip off at 8 p.m. ET Sunday at PHX Arena in Phoenix .

How to watch Mercury vs. Lynx WNBA playoffs: TV, stream for Game 3

Time: 8 p.m. ET (6 p.m. PT)
Location: PHX Arena (Phoenix)
TV: ESPN
Stream: Fubo, ESPN Unlimited

Stream Lynx-Mercury series on Fubo (free trial)

Aaron Judge and Cal Raleigh are having two of the greatest seasons in baseball history.
Both sluggers helped their teams reach the postseason, with Judge going for his third MVP award.
Shohei Ohtani should repeat as the NL MVP for the Dodgers.

It has been a regular season where down is up, up is down, improbability becomes inevitability. We’ve had epic collapses, historic comebacks, teams who gave up at the trade deadline only to start winning, and teams who were all-in fall apart.

That little Midwest team that could wound up with the best record in baseball.

The juggernaut in Hollywood that was supposed to ruin baseball scrambled simply to win their division.

We barely had a .300 hitter in the National League. There will be no 20-game winner, and a 10-game winner will win the NL Cy Young

There were a record-tying four 50-home run hitters, a record six 30-30 players, and not a single no-hitter.

And while the postseason begins Tuesday, debates will be raging all October on who deserves to walk away with the individual hardware.

American League MVP

While the entire baseball world is arguing who deserves the MVP between New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge and Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, let us provide a friendly reminder.

It is called the Most Valuable Player Award. It is not the Best Player award.

There’s a difference.

If we voted solely on who was the league’s best player, determining who had the superior stats, we should have given the MVP award to Barry Bonds every year of his career.

He did wind up winning seven.

In 1991, Bonds was easily the game’s best player, producing a league-leading 8.0 WAR along with 25 homers, 116 RBI and a .924 OPS. Atlanta third baseman Terry Pendleton had a fine year, but his numbers paled in comparison with his 6.1 WAR, 22 homers, 86 RBIs and a .880 OPS.

So, guess who won the MVP?

Yep, the guy who helped lead Atlanta’s rise from last to first and reach the World Series.

In 1988, Darryl Strawberry had one of his finest seasons ever for the powerful New York Mets, hitting a league-leading 39 homers with 101 RBIs, a .545 slugging percentage and .911 OPS. Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Kirk Gibson hit 25 homers with 76 RBIs to go along with a .473 slugging percentage and .860 OPS.

The MVP? The clubhouse leader who told his new Dodger teammates that he wasn’t about to put up with their losing mentality, and led them to the World Series championship.

If you want to go by sheer statistics, no one has been better than Judge. He leads the league in virtually every statistical category but home runs and RBI. He leads the league with a .331 batting average, .458 on-base percentage, .691 slugging percentage, 1.149 OPS and 136 runs.

Judge, who has 53 home runs, is already guaranteed to become only the third player in baseball history to hit at least 50 home runs and win a batting title, joining Jimmie Foxx and Mickey Mantle. He is undoubtedly is one of the greatest Yankees in history and may also be the finest role model in the entire sport. One day, he’ll be enshrined in Cooperstown.

But he shouldn’t be the 2025 MVP.

This award belongs to Raleigh, who has defied the imagination with his historical season, going where no catcher has ever gone before.

When you’re putting your name alongside Babe Ruth with 60 home runs, eclipsing Mickey Mantle for the most home runs as a switch-hitter and shattering the record for most homers by a catcher, you deserve the ultimate recognition as the Sultan of Squat. Only Judge and Roger Maris have hit more homers in American League history, and they played their home games at Yankee Stadium with a short right-field porch, not a T-Mobile Park in Seattle, where home runs go to die.

“As a catcher, you come off the field at the end of the day, you’re mentally and physically exhausted,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson, a former catcher, said after Raleigh’s 60th homer. “For him to do what he’s done offensively and to do what he does behind the plate, I honestly don’t think we’ve seen this before.’’

You’re talking about a guy who plays the most demanding position in baseball, who must spend valuable time each day in pitchers’ meetings, and who still became only the fourth player in AL history to hit 60 homers to go along with his 125 RBIs.

But it’s not just the statistics that define Raleigh’s MVP candidacy. It’s his clubhouse leadership. His Gold Glove defense. His ability to bring out the best from his pitching staff. And, oh yeah, he also led the Mariners to their first AL West division title in 24 years.

Simply, the Mariners are sitting home in October once again without Raleigh.

If the Mariners had indeed missed the playoffs again, Judge would be the overwhelming favorite. But Raleigh has personally turned the Mariners into a legitimate World Series championship threat. His impact is similar to what Christian Yelich means to Milwaukee Brewers. They don’t have the best record in baseball without him. The Phillies aren’t the same without Kyle Schwarber in that clubhouse.

The Yankees, of course, are likely on the outside looking in without Judge, too. He’s their captain. He’s their inspiration. They go only as far as Judge will take them.

Yet, in this year, no one has been more valuable than Raleigh, he just happens to be performing when most of the country is already asleep playing in the Pacific Northwest.

Let’s put it this way, if Raleigh was a catcher for the Yankees and Judge was playing right field for the Mariners, you think we’d even be having this discussion?

The actual MVP vote by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, which will be announced Nov. 13, will be close, with Judge a slight favorite because of his superior offensive stats. Yet, considering there are only two voters from the 15 American League cities, with Judge and Raleigh surely capturing every first- and second-place vote, and opinion so divided, don’t be surprised if the outcome is historic.

For only the second time in history, accomplished in 1979 when Keith Hernandez and Willie Stargell tied for first in the 1979 NL MVP race, we could realistically have co-MVPs.

Now, wouldn’t that send everyone home happy?

First: Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners
Second: Aaron Judge, New York Yankees
Third: Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Guardians

National League MVP

As long as he stays healthy and doesn’t go into the first funk of his life, we might as well name the MVP award after Los Angeles Dodgers DH/starter Shohei Ohtani. The dude is going to win it every single year, and should be a unanimous choice once again leading the league in OPS, slugging, runs scored, total bases and extra-base hits to go with 56 home run

And, oh yeah, he also pitches, with a 2.87 ERA and 11.9 strikeout rate per nine innings.

Really, the only drama every year in the MVP race is who gets to be the runner-up.

This year, it’s easily Schwarber. If it wasn’t for Ohtani’s heroics, Schwarber would fit the true definition of an MVP.

First: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers
Second: Kyle Schwarber, Philadelphia Phillies
Third: Juan Soto, New York Mets

AL Cy Young

Just a friendly reminder when you’re driving to Las Vegas and stopping for gas in Kingman, Ariz., this is the home of Tarik Skubal.

He is about to become only the fourth left-handed pitcher in baseball history to win back-to-back Cy Young awards, joining Sandy Koufax, Randy Johnson and Clayton Kershaw.

The man was do dominant that he went 13-2 with a 1.86 ERA with 212 strikeouts and 24 walks during a 26-game stretch, the best in baseball history.

First: Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers
Second: Garrett Crochet, Boston Red Sox
Third: Max Fried, New York Yankees

NL Cy Young

It’s unfathomable that Paul Skenes was at the Air Force Academy training to be a pilot in 2022 as a catcher and pitcher on Air Force’s baseball team.

Here he is today, the most dominant pitcher on the planet.

You know you’re doing something great when you can be the first unanimous Cy Young winner in baseball history without a winning record, as Jayson Stark of The Athletic points out.

Skenes finished the season with a 10-10 record and 1.97 ERA.

Skenes, who still wants to serve in the military in some capacity when his playing career is over, has made 55 starts in his two-year career, and has given up just 70 runs, for a 1.96 ERA.

Unreal.

First: Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh Pirates
Second: Cristopher Sanchez, Philadelphia Phillies
Third: Freddy Peralta, Milwaukee Brewers

AL Rookie of the Year

Well, we’re going to have a unanimous winner for this award, too, this time with Nick Kurtz of the Athletics, who is a few years away from having his face splashed across billboards across the Las Vegas strip.

Kurtz is having a rookie season for the ages, hitting .291 with 35 home runs and a 1.001 OPS, accomplished only by Aaron Judge in 2017, Albert Pujols in 2001 and Rudy York in 1937, according to Jayson Stark. Kurtz has a .617 slugging percentage, and is only the seventh rookie in history to have a .600 slugging percentage or higher while having at least 450 plate appearances.

First: Nick Kurtz, Athletics
Second: Jacob Wilson, Athletics
Third: Roman Anthony, Boston Red Sox

NL Rookie of the Year

This one is a close call, but Atlanta’s Drake Baldwin gets the slight nod over Chicago Cubs starter Clade Horton.

Baldwin, the first African-American catcher to have at least 300 plate appearances in a season since four-time Gold Glove winner Charles Johnson since 2004, is hitting .274 with 19 homers, 80 RBIs and an .808 OPS. Baldwin would also become only the third catcher since Hall of Famer Mike Piazza in 1993 to win the award.

Baldwin’s stiffest competition is Horton, 11-4, 2.67 ERA, who was sensational for the Cubs in the second half, going 8-1 with a 1.03 ERA, 0.78 WHIP), before his fractured rib this past week.

The biggest difference separating the two?

Baldwin has been with Atlanta since opening day and has played in 122 games entering Saturday. Horton made his debut May 10, and has pitched just 118 innings in 23 games.

First: Drake Baldwin, Atlanta
Second: Cade Horton, Chicago Cubs
Third: Isaac Collins, Milwaukee Brewers

AL Manager of the Year

Just like his team, Steven Vogt comes out of nowhere to win this award for the second year in a row, with one of the finest managerial performances in recent history.

They were 15 ½ games out of first place in July. They were still 12 ½ games out a month ago.

They lost all-world closer Emmanuel Clase and starter Luis Ortiz to gambling investigations that ended their seasons. They traded their ace and former Cy Young award winner Shane Bieber at the deadline just when he was ready to return from Tommy John surgery.

And here they are, going 32-20 since the trade deadline, and on the threshold of winning the AL Central title in the greatest comeback in baseball history.

First: Stephen Vogt, Cleveland Guardians
Second: John Schneider, Toronto Blue Jays
Third: Dan Wilson, Seattle Mariners

NL Manager of the Year

Come on, did anyone in the world predict the Brewers would have the best record in baseball? Did anyone even pick them to win the NL Central? Will anyone underestimate Brewer manager Pat Murphy and the entire organization ever again?

Murphy will make history, joining Hall of Famer Bobby Cox as the only NL managers to win consecutive awards,

And it won’t even be close.

First: Pat Murphy, Milwaukee Brewers
Second: Clayton McCullough, Miami Marlins
Third: Oli Marmol, St. Louis Cardinals

Around the basepaths

– There should be a handful of managerial openings in the days to come, with the expected retirement of Brian Snitker in Atlanta and the interim tags coming to an end for Miguel Cairo of the Washington Nationals and Tony Mansalino of the Baltimore Orioles.

Yet, the most intriguing scenario is in San Francisco.

The Giants, one of baseball’s most underachieving teams – particularly after acquiring Rafael Devers from the Boston Red Sox – could part ways with manager Bob Melvin, who just had his 2026 option exercised in July.

And if Melvin is fired, guess who could wind up to be Buster Posey’s top choice to replace Melvin?

Yep, Bruce Bochy, the man who led the Giants to three World Series championships, with Posey as his catcher, whose contract expires after the season with the Texas Rangers.

It would be the most dramatic managerial change since Tony La Russa came out of retirement to manage the Chicago White Sox.

“If there’s one thing about Buster Posey it’s that I don’t think he’s OK with losing, I don’t think he’s okay with even being .500,’ Giants ace Logan Webb told reporters after his final start. “I’m not going to play his job because that’s not my job, but I don’t think he’s OK with this. I don’t think there’s a lot of people OK with this in this clubhouse.’

– Could Astros manager Joe Espada and GM Dana Brown pay the price after Houston missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016?

One Astros executive, when asked by USA TODAY Sports whether they could be dismissed – with Brown having a club option that has yet to be picked up – simply said that all departments, on the baseball and business side, are currently being evaluated.

Espada’s job security would seem more tenuous than Brown’s.

– The Tigers plan to give manager A.J. Hinch a contract extension. The deal was close to being finalized a few weeks ago, but with the Tigers’ collapse, the timing simply wasn’t right.

The deal should be consummated after the postseason, but in the meantime, if the Astros indeed are looking for a manager, they could touch base for a possible reunion.

– The Cincinnati Reds were close to acquiring Diamondbacks first baseman Josh Naylor at the trade deadline before he went to the Seattle Mariners and became instrumental in their resurgence. Naylor is hitting .299 with nine homers, 33 RBIs and a .831 OPS for the Mariners, and believe it or not, has stolen 19 bases without being caught.

The Mariners will make every attempt to sign Naylor as a free agent this winter.

– Agents and rival executives believe that the Baltimore Orioles will be the most aggressive team looking for pitching this winter, with the Mets, Cubs, Alanta, Red Sox, Tigers and Giants also in the mix.

– Whose reputation took a bigger hit this year, Tigers manager A.J. Hinch for their collapse or Mets GM David Stearns for their ugly swoon?

– My boldest prediction before opening day? That Mets, despite their $340 million payroll, would miss the postseason. It may happen. The Mets’ pitching staff has been horrendous, using a major-league record 46 pitchers, with only 13 quality starts in the second half.

– My worst prediction? The Texas Rangers would return and win the World Series. They have been riddled with injuries, but their offense was a complete mess, leading to the most frustrating season of manager Bruce Bochy’s Hall of Fame career.

– Pretty cool scene in Anaheim when every player in the Angels dugout was on the top step to give veteran starter Kyle Hendricks a standing ovation when he walked off the mound Friday night after 108 pitches – the most since 2022– knowing it likely could be the final pitch of his fabulous career.

“He’s the teammate that everybody will remember for years and years and years,’ Angels interim manager Ray Montgomery told reporters, “and not because of what he did on the field. I don’t think any of that will matter. Just who he is as a person and who he is as a professional. He’s made a lasting impact on everybody in that room, including me.”

– Kudos to Atlanta for the classy move signing pitcher Charlie Morton so that he could finish his career in Atlanta on Sunday – after being drafted in 2002 – when he’ll start for the final time in his career.

“We were trying to think of the best possible way to make it a special day since we did bring Charlie back and he’s meant so much to the organization,” Atlanta manager Brian Snitker told reporters. “It’s something you can control if he’s an opener, and do a nice thing by honoring him and his career and what he’s meant to, not only us, but to baseball.”

– Cardinals ace Sonny Gray, who exercised his full no-trade rights this season, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch he’s now open to being traded with the Cardinals expected to further tear down their roster in a rebuild.

“I came here to win,” said Gray, who is owed $35 million in 2026. “I signed here two years ago with the expectation of winning and trying to win, and that hasn’t played out that way. I want to win. And I expect to win.”

Prediction: Gray winds up with Atlanta.

– The Washington Nationals, who hired Boston Red Sox assistant GM Paul Toboni to be their new head of baseball operations, have told their scouts they would know by Oct. 1 if their contracts will be renewed.

– The Colorado Rockies not only are finishing with the second-worst record in the modern era, but are on the verge of having the worst starting rotation in baseball history with a 6.67 ERA entering Saturday, eclipsing the 1996 Detroit Tigers’ 6.64 ERA. It is two full runs higher than any other team in baseball.

– Cal Raleigh joined a host of catchers who wish MLB was not implementing the ABS challenge system next year, with a chorus of players convinced it’s designed to increase the offense, as well as being a tool for professional gamblers.

“I’m not a fan of it,’ Raleigh, who was one of four players on the competition committee, told reporters. “I’ve said it before, just some parts of the game I think you don’t mess with, but it is what it is,” Raleigh said. “I get it from the fans’ sake and bringing that excitement to it. I understand it from the fan perspective them wanting to implement that.”

But as a catcher?

“It’s just diminishing the position a little bit, a position that’s already diminished as it is.’ Raleigh told reporters. “You just take another thing away from catchers. And you just hate to see that part of the game go away a little bit.

– Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado, who rejected trade overtures from the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Angels, now says he’ll be much more amenable to a trade this winter and has no real interest in staying in St. Louis.

“They’ve got to let some of these young guys grow and become players and see what they have,’’ Arenado told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, ‘and there’s no doubt that I’m in the way of that. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but obviously I do believe change is coming as it should.’’

– Diamondbacks right fielder Corbin Carroll finished his season as one of only three players in history to hit 30 homers, steal 30 bases and hit 15 triples in the same season. He joins Willie Mays and Jimmy Rollins.

– Mariners first baseman Josh Naylor became only the fourth first baseman to hit at least 30 homers and steal 30 bases in one season, joining Joe Carter, Jeff Bagwell and Paul Goldschmidt.

– While Ha-Seong Kim had a fabulous stint after being claimed by Atlanta on Sept. 1, with speculation that he’s leaning on declining his $16 million player option in 2026 to become a free agent, it’s still highly likely he leaves. Atlanta wouldn’t have picked up the $2 million in his contract for only a few weeks of work if they didn’t have assurances he’d be staying.

– The woeful Colorado Rockies drew 2.4 million fans this year despite finishing with the second-worst record in modern-day history, but it’s still their lowest season attendance since 2007.

– The Cardinals’ average attendance this year was just 27,778 a game, their lowest in a non-COVID year since 1995. They sold nearly a million fewer tickets than just two years ago.

– The Arizona Diamondbacks used a stunning 42 pitchers this season, the most in franchise history, with nine starters, 33 relievers, and 17 recording saves, the most in MLB history.

– Congratulations to Boston Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman, who kept his fabulous streak alive.

He has been in the big leagues 10 years. This will be his 10th postseason.

Follow Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale

The NFL crosses borders once again when the Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings meet in Ireland.

It will be the first time that an NFL game is being played in Ireland, and fans in attendance will have the opportunity to catch one of the greatest passers in league history when Aaron Rodgers takes the field.

The legendary Rodgers opted to pair with an iconic franchise in the Steelers this offseason, putting behind his disastrous New York Jets tenure in hopes of capturing his second Super Bowl ring in Pittsburgh. Rodgers finally had the opportunity to play for Mike Tomlin, a coach whom he’s had respect for dating back to his Green Bay years.

While this matchup may have been booked as a matchup of past vs. future of NFL quarterbacking, that billing has gone by the wayside after the injury to Vikings passer J.J. McCarthy. Backup Carson Wentz is getting another shot at starting this weekend after a presentable first go of it in Kevin O’Connell’s offense.

Top ‘o the morning to ya, and the NFL, in Week 4. USA TODAY Sports will provide live updates and more from the NFL’s international matchup below.

Watch 2025 NFL action with Fubo (free trial)

What channel is Steelers vs. Vikings on today?

TV channel: NFL Network
Local (Minnesota market): Fox 9
Local (Pittsburgh market): ABC 4

NFL Network will broadcast the Dublin game. Joe Davis will be on the call alongside Greg Olsen.

For viewers in the Vikings’ TV market, the game will be broadcast on Fox 9. In Pittsburgh, the game will be broadcast on ABC 4.

Where to stream Steelers vs. Vikings

Live stream:Fubo

Cord-cutters looking to live stream the Steelers-Vikings matchup can sign up for Fubo. The streaming service carries NFL Network, as well as CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox and the ESPN family of networks, meaning you’ll be able to catch NFL games all season long.

Watch 2025 NFL action with Fubo (free trial)

Steelers backup RB

With Warren out vs. the Vikings, the team may turn to Kenneth Gainwell out of the backfield. Rookie Kaleb Johnson and fifth-year back Trey Sermon are behind him.

Steelers inactives today vs. Vikings

Jaylen Warren will not play today after previously labeled as expected to play. Instead, the running back will be inactive.

Here’s the Steelers active list for their matchup vs. the Vikings:

No. 24 CB Joey Porter Jr.
No. 30 RB Jaylen Warren
No. 56 LB Alex Highsmith
No. 71 G Andrus Peat
No. 93 DE Esezi Otomewo

Jaylen Warren injury update: Steelers RB will not play vs. Vikings

Warren popped up on the injury report this week with a knee injury, and the running back will not play vs. the Vikings.

Warren tried to give it a go in pregame warmups, but ultimately is inactive today.

Pittsburgh Steelers RB depth chart

With Warren out, Kenneth Gainwell may be in line to get the next most snaps. Here’s how the Steelers running backs line up:

Kenneth Gainwell
Kaleb Johnson
Trey Sermon

When do the Vikings, Steelers play today?

Start time: 8:30 a.m. CT | 9:30 a.m. ET | 2:30 p.m. IST

Vikings inactives vs. Steelers

No surprises on the inactives list for the Vikings. J.J. McCarthy headlines as the passer continues to nurse an ankle injury.

What time is the Steelers game in Ireland?

Start time: 9:30 a.m. ET | 8:30 a.m. CT | 2:30 p.m. IST

The Steelers and Vikings are set to kick of at 9:30 a.m. ET. Locally, the game is set to kick off at 2:30 p.m. Irish Standard Time.

Is Jordan Addison playing today?

The Vikings receiver is set to play after serving a three-game suspension to start the season. Addison returned to practice this week and will add another weapon for Carson Wentz to utilize.

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Minnesota Vikings injury report

Vikings schedule 2025

Below is a complete look at Minnesota’s 2025 slate of games:

Steelers vs Vikings history

The Steelers have an 8-10 overall record vs. the Vikings in their history. The odds may tip in their favor, however: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has a 17-12-1 record in his career vs. the Vikings.

Vikings defense rank

Minnesota’s defensive unit is one of the better ones in the NFL. Entering Week 4’s Sunday games, they rank ninth in points allowed and sixth in yards allowed. Their passing defense is among the best in the NFL, ranking first in touchdowns allowed and third in yards allowed.

NFL games today: Week 4 Sunday schedule

Fans tuning in for the international tilt between the Steelers and Vikings can prep themselves for a full day of football. Here’s the complete schedule for Week 4 (all times are Eastern):

Minnesota Vikings at Pittsburgh Steelers, 9:30 a.m.
Washington Commanders at Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m.
New Orleans Saints at Buffalo Bills, 1 p.m.
Cleveland Browns at Detroit Lions, 1 p.m.
Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans, 1 p.m.
Carolina Panthers at New England Patriots, 1 p.m.
Los Angeles Chargers at New York Giants, 1 p.m.
Philadelphia Eagles at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1 p.m.
Indianapolis Colts at Los Angeles Rams, 4:05 p.m.
Jacksonville Jaguars at San Francisco 49ers, 4:05 p.m.
Baltimore Ravens at Kansas City Chiefs, 4:25 p.m.
Chicago Bears at Las Vegas Raiders, 4:25 p.m.
Green Bay Packers at Dallas Cowboys, 8:20 p.m.

Steelers record in 2025

The Steelers enter their Dublin matchup at 2-1 on the season. They hold wins over the Jets and Patriots, with their sole loss coming to the Seahawks in Week 2.

Jaylen Warren stats

Through three games, Warren has 43 carries for 132 yards and no touchdowns.

Is JJ McCarthy playing today?

No, the Vikings quarterback will not suit up against the Steelers as he recovers from an ankle injury. McCarthy may play in Week 5, but an update will provide clarity on his status later this week.

Kenneth Gainwell stats

Through three games, Steelers running back Kenneth Gainwell has 55 yards on 16 rushing attempts and one touchdown. He’s also caught seven passes for 30 yards.

Where is Steelers-Vikings being played?

Venue: Croke Park
Location: Dublin, Ireland

The Steelers-Vikings matchup is the first NFL game to be played in Ireland.

Has the NFL ever had a game in Ireland?

Sunday’s game between the Steelers and Vikings in Week 4 will be the first time an NFL game takes place in Ireland.

Vikings 2025 record

The Vikings enter their Week 4 international matchup vs. the Steelers with a 2-1 record. They dispatched the Bears in Week 1 and the Bengals in Week 3. They were handed a 22-6 loss to the Falcons in Week 2.

Steelers vs. Vikings prediction

Despite the addition of Aaron Rodgers, the Steelers offense hasn’t exactly played up to snuff through three weeks. While a Week 1 explosion seemed to portend things to come, the results have been the opposite: Pittsburgh notched just 203 yards of total offense in Week 3, a step down from the 267 yards of total offense they had in Week 2. Expect the Vikings’ defense – which is among the best in the NFL through the first three weeks – to stifle the Steelers offense once again.

Prediction: Vikings 21, Steelers 17

Pittsburgh Steelers defense ranking

Overall, the Steelers are firmly middle of the pack in the NFL, according to PFF, with a 66.2 overall defensive grade. good for 15th in the league entering Sunday’s games.

They rank 22nd in points allowed and 28th in yards allowed this season, overall.

Highest-paid NFL defenders: T.J. Watt ranks high

Packers pass rusher Micah Parsons is the highest-paid NFL defender in both AAV and total contract value. Watt ranks second in AAV, but fifth in total value. Here’s a look at the top 10 defenders in each category:

AAV

Micah Parsons, edge, Packers: $46.5million
T.J. Watt, edge, Steelers: $41 million
Myles Garrett, edge, Browns: $40 million
Danielle Hunter, edge, Texans: $35.6 million
Maxx Crosby, edge, Raiders: $35.5 million
Nick Bosa, edge, 49ers: $34 million
Chris Jones, DL, Chiefs: $31.75 million
Sauce Gardner, CB, Jets: $30.1 million
Derek Stingley Jr., CB, Texans: $30 million
Nik Bonitto, edge, Broncos: $26.5 million

Total contract value

Micah Parsons, edge, Packers: $186 million
Nick Bosa, edge, 49ers: $170 million
Myles Garrett, edge, Browns: $160 million
Chris Jones, DL, Chiefs: $158.75 million
T.J. Watt, edge, Steelers: $123 million
Sauce Gardner, CB, Jets: $120.4 million
Maxx Crosby, edge, Raiders: $106.5 million
Nik Bonitto, edge, Broncos: $106 million
Milton Williams, DL, Patriots: $104 million
Zach Allen, DL, Broncos: $102 million

While Parsons tops defensive players in AAV and total contract value, he ranks just 12th and 15th across the two categories league-wide, behind a plethora of

Steelers vs. Vikings live betting odds

Tommy Fleetwood has played a significant role in Europe’s success, nearly outscoring the USA with his four points.

USA TODAY Sports will have complete coverage of the 2025 Ryder Cup, so make sure to check back for live updates.

Ryder Cup 2025 standings, points

This section will be updated as action begins. Click here for the latest leaderboard updates and tee times.

Europe enters Sunday with a commanding 11.5-4.5 lead over the United States.

Team Europe is within three points of securing the 2025 Ryder Cup crown.

How to watch Ryder Cup 2025: TV channel, streaming Sunday

All times Eastern

Sunday, Sept. 28

Noon-6 p.m.: Ryder Cup, Day 3 singles (NBC/Peacock/NBC Sports app)
6-9 p.m.: Live From the Ryder Cup (Golf Channel/NBC Sports app)

Watch the 2025 Ryder Cup with Fubo

2025 Ryder Cup matchups, tee times

All times Eastern, Team USA on left side

Sunday Singles:

12:02 p.m.: Cameron Young vs. Justin Rose
12:13 p.m.: Justin Thomas vs. Tommy Fleetwood
12:24 p.m.: Bryson DeChambeau vs. Matt Fitzpatrick
12:35 p.m.: Scottie Scheffler vs. Rory McIlroy
12:46 p.m.: Patrick Cantlay vs. Ludvig Aberg
12:57 p.m.: Xander Schauffele vs. Jon Rahm
1:08 p.m.: J.J. Spaun vs. Sepp Straka
1:19 p.m.: Russell Henley vs. Shane Lowry
1:30 p.m.: Ben Griffin vs. Rasmus Hojgaard
1:41 p.m.: Collin Morikawa vs. Tyrrell Hatton
1:52 p.m.: Sam Burns vs. Robert MacIntyre
2:03 p.m.: Harris English vs. Viktor Hovland

2025 Ryder Cup odds

Ryder Cup odds according to BetMGM, entering play Sunday

Moneyline: USA (+4000); Europe (-10000); Tie (+3300)

Ryder Cup weather forecast: Latest updates for Sunday

Weather forecasts are according to the Weather Channel:

Sunday, Sept. 28: Partly cloudy. Low: 63F; High: 81F

Ryder Cup MC steps down after leading chants against McIlroy

In a surprising turn of events, the PGA of America reported that a Ryder Cup champion stepped down after leading an inappropriate chant toward Rory McIlroy on Saturday.

On Sunday, the PGA released a statement announcing that comedian and actress Heather McMahan will not return to emcee the first tee on the final day at Bethpage Black. This decision follows her involvement in directing the crowd to participate in an expletive chant directed at McIlroy.

The atmosphere at the Ryder Cup has been rowdy, with the crowd doing everything they can to distract the European team, which is heading into the final day of competition with a significant lead. Team Europe is leading 11.5 to Team USA’s 4.5 as the singles matches are set to tee off in a few hours.