Doug Martin died while in police custody, the Oakland Police Department (OPD) confirmed after multiple outlets first reported the news.

The former NFL running back and Boise State standout was 36. His passing was confirmed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, Oct. 19.

OPD identified Martin as ‘Douglas Martin of Stockton.’

‘Prior to his death, Martin was involved in a break-in at a residence in Oakland,’ the authorities said in their Monday, Oct. 20 afternoon update. ‘While responding officers were attempting to detain him, a brief struggle occurred. After being taken into custody, Martin became unresponsive.’

According to a prior social media post by the Oakland (California) Police Department, the incident associated with Martin’s death occurred just after 4:15 a.m. local time on Saturday, Oct. 18 on a street near the Oakland Zoo.

‘Officers responded to the area for an individual who had broken into a nearby residence,’ the advisory said. ‘Simultaneously, officers were notified of an individual who was experiencing a medical emergency and was believed to be the same individual related to the break-in.’

Officers located the individual inside the residence and ‘a brief struggle ensued.’ The person became unresponsive after being taken into custody and, despite aid from paramedics and being transported to a local hospital, died. The officers involved in the incident have been placed on paid administrative leave, as is customary.

The Oakland Police Department’s homicide section and internal affairs unit are investigating the incident, as are the Oakland City Police Commission, the Community Police Review Agency and the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office.

No additional details will be provided until the investigation concludes, the Oakland Police Department said.

Martin’s family released a statement saying a cause of death was unconfirmed and the Bucs called Martin’s passing ‘sudden.’ The family referred back to the statement when contacted by news outlets.

Martin played in the NFL from 2012-18 and was a northern California native.

The College Football Playoff can wait, because firings and the hot seat rules the zeitgeist. Luke Fickell and Hugh Freeze are up next.
Florida State kicks the can on a decision on Mike Norvell.
CFP bracket selection chaos would involve multiple bids for Big 12 and ACC.

The College Football Playoff can wait, because firings and the hot seat rules the zeitgeist.

Billy Napier became the latest coach to unlock the magic of buyout bliss, with Florida finally firing its long-embattled coach. In a twist of dark comedy, the Gators fired their sub-.500 coach after a victory.

So, who’s next?

That’s where my mind is after Week 8:

Will ‘frustration’ at Wisconsin result in James Franklin?

In a letter obtained by Madison’s 96.7-FM, Wisconsin athletic director Chris McIntosh wrote he and underwater coach Luke Fickell share “disappointment and frustration” about the team’s 0-4 start to Big Ten play that’s produced a mere 20 points.

Well, I should hope so, but what does McIntosh plan to do about it? He suggested throwing more money at the problems. In the meantime, a 2-10 record remains on the table for Wisconsin.

‘We must provide our coaches the tools necessary to succeed,’ McIntosh wrote.

If McIntosh hasn’t done that already, then he needs to go, too, because providing coaches with the necessary tools to succeed is literally his job.

As the losses mount, one question lingers: Is Wisconsin prepared to fork over $27-plus million in failure money to fire Fickell?

Here’s an idea: James Franklin wants a job, badly enough he went on “College GameDay” and darn-near begged someone to hire him.

“I’ve been doing this for 30 years. I don’t have hobbies. I don’t golf. I don’t fish,” the former Penn State coach said on ESPN. “This has been such a big part of my identity.”

You’d think Franklin could afford a nice set of clubs and a golf instructor with the $49-plus million buyout coming his way, but, hey, if he wants to coach, he’d be an upgrade at Wisconsin.

Not hip on Franklin? That’s fair. Hiring from the scrap heap isn’t an ideal model for success.

Well, Iowa State’s Matt Campbell would be worth a call if Wisconsin fired Fickell. A career winner, he’d suit Wisconsin’s needs, but it seems like it would take a SWAT team to get Campbell out of Ames.

Campbell’s former understudy, Alex Golesh, is lighting up the scoreboard as South Florida’s coach. Golesh previously worked as Tennessee’s offensive coordinator when the Vols led the nation in scoring in 2022.

Golesh’s up-tempo spread system would be the ultimate zig to Wisconsin’s usual zag.

Or, ride it out another season with a sunken coach who’s proven he’s not the answer. Remind me, how’d that work for Florida?

Will Hugh Freeze join Billy Napier among fired coaches?

Name one way in which Freeze has elevated Auburn since it hired him to replace Bryan Harsin. That’s an impossible task, because Freeze hasn’t elevated Auburn in any discernible way. Even recruiting has stalled. With Napier fired, Freeze inherits the SEC’s hottest seat.

“I certainly know we fit what Auburn is all about,’ Freeze said after his team’s fourth straight SEC loss by 10 points or fewer, the latest to Missouri in overtime. ‘But Auburn is also about winning football.”

Not anymore. That’s the problem. Under Freeze, Auburn has taken on a culture of losing.

Freeze’s quote sums up why he’s lasted this long and also why he’ll be fired if he doesn’t start winning at warp speed. He fit Auburn’s culture better than Harsin. That helped him outlast Harsin, whom Auburn officially fired in Year 2 after becoming a fired-coach-in-waiting on Day 1.

Being a good fit, though, only takes a coach so far.

Freeze failed to produce a competent quarterback in three seasons as Auburn’s coach. His offensive guru status got revoked years ago. He’s now a coaching liability.

Freeze’s 14-18 record and his inability to do what he once did so well at Mississippi — generate scoring — will be his downfall. By Year 3, winning matters more than fit. 

Five years ago, Auburn fired a coach who’d never produced a losing season. Now, the standings say Auburn is one of the SEC’s four worst teams. That’s a recipe for a buyout check.

What is Florida State doing?

You’ve heard of a vote of confidence, but Florida State tried a different strategy with its own embattled coach, Mike Norvell.

It offered a vote of vapidness.

Florida State, in the midst of a four-game losing streak, put out a statement that said it plans to kick the can down the road for a month and re-evaluate Norvell at the end of the season.

“Our comprehensive assessment of the football program will be completed at season’s end,” FSU athletic director Mike Alford said in the statement. “Meanwhile, we are fully committed to helping Coach Norvell and the 2025 Seminoles strongly rebound in the coming weeks.”

That loosely translates to: We acknowledge we stink, but we’ll spend the next month deciding whether the coach stinks badly enough to eat a buyout that tops $58 million.

I guess you can’t put that in an official statement. Maybe, just say nothing.

College Football Playoff musings

Ready for playoff selection chaos scenarios? Here’s one:

Brigham Young goes 12-0 before losing to one-loss Texas Tech in the Big 12 championship. Plus, Georgia Tech goes 12-0 before losing to one-loss Miami in the ACC championship. BYU and Georgia Tech would still merit playoff qualification at 12-1, right?

Toss in 10-2 Notre Dame and Group of Five qualifier, and there’s half of the 12-team field.

That’s a doomsday scenario for the SEC and Big Ten bubble.

Keep up with the latest news and analysis from college football’s top two conferences: Check out our Big Ten Hub and our SEC Hub to get school-by-school coverage from across the USA TODAY Network.

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s senior national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.

Despite nine-and-a-half years of service, 222 home runs, and an All-Star nod with the Los Angeles Angels during his career, Albert Pujols will not be the team’s next manager.

According to ESPN, talks between the Los Angeles Angels and Albert Pujols regarding the managerial opening have fallen through. That doesn’t mean Pujols’ return to the dugout has passed him by, though. Per reports, Pujols already has an interview with the San Diego Padres regarding their open managerial position. Furthermore, the Baltimore Orioles have expressed interest in Pujols as well.

MLB manager openings: Which MLB teams have vacancies?

San Diego Padres
Los Angeles Angels
Baltimore Orioles
San Francisco Giants
Washington Nationals
Atlanta Braves
Minnesota Twins
Colorado Rockies

Pujols’ managerial experience

Since retiring from MLB, Pujols has worked as a special assistant for the Angels, as part of a 10-year, $10 million contract that started after Pujols retired.

That said, he has expressed interest in managing a big league club for many years now, even finding success managing other professional teams. He led a Dominican winter ball team, Leones del Escogido, to a championship in January this year. He was also named manager for the Dominican Republic team in next year’s World Baseball Classic.

The task of facing the Buffalo Bills in Week 8 just got even more imposing for the Carolina Panthers.

Quarterback Bryce Young is expected to miss the home tilt with a high ankle sprain suffered in Sunday’s 13-6 win over the New York Jets, NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero reported.

Young injured his ankle in the third quarter on a sack and did not return to the game. Andy Dalton took over for the remainder of the contest, throwing for 60 yards on 4-of-7 passing. The 15-year veteran, who last season stepped into the starting role when Young was benched after Week 2, is set to once again lead the offense against Buffalo.

Young could miss time beyond Sunday’s matchup, Pelissero reported, with a precise timetable for a return yet to be set.

‘We’re taking all the information in,’ Panthers coach Dave Canales said after Sunday’s win. ‘We’re going to look at him when we get home some more and see where we are.’

Carolina won its third consecutive game to boost its record to 4-3, marking the first time since 2019 that the franchise has been above .500 this late in a season.

Panthers QB depth chart

Bryce Young
Andy Dalton

Carolina does not have another quarterback on the active roster beyond Young and Dalton, though former Detroit Lions third-round pick Hendon Hooker is on the practice squad.

The family of deceased Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs is suing the team for wrongful death.
Skaggs died in 2019 from an overdose of fentanyl, oxycodone, and alcohol provided by a team employee.
The family alleges the Angels knew or should have known that former communications director Eric Kay was providing drugs to players.

Testimony continues this week in the wrongful death lawsuit brought against the Los Angeles Angels by the family of former pitcher Tyler Skaggs, and one of Major League Baseball’s biggest stars could soon take the witness stand inside an Orange County, California courtroom as part of the proceedings.

Kay is serving a 22-year prison sentence for his role in Skaggs’ death. The Skaggs family is seeking $210 million in damages, according to The Athletic

Depositions filed earlier this month, as well as opening statements and initial testimony during the first week of the civil trial, have already produced compelling new details related to the case. Moreover, Angels star Mike Trout is one of several current or former MLB players expected to either give live testimony in court or have their testimony read in court as soon as this week.

Here’s a breakdown of what happened during the first days of this civil trial and what else to know about the wrongful death lawsuit between the family of Tyler Skaggs and the Los Angeles Angels:

Tyler Skaggs death: How did Angels pitcher die?

Tyler Skaggs was found dead in a Texas hotel room just hours before the Angels were scheduled to begin a series against the Texas Rangers. He was 27 years old and in the midst of his seventh MLB season. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s office later determined Skaggs had a mixture of ethanol, fentanyl and oxycodone in his system at the time of his death.

Investigators found a number of pills inside Skaggs’ hotel room, including a single blue pill that closely resembled a 30-milligram oxycodone tablet. Lab analysis revealed it had been laced with fentanyl and a federal jury eventually found Eric Kay guilty of distribution of a controlled substance resulting in death.

Kay initially denied knowing Skaggs was a drug user or being in his hotel room the night before his death in an interview with law enforcement, according to the Justice Department in 2022. However, text messages revealed Skaggs had asked Kay to stop by his hotel room with pills late on the evening of June 30 and Kay admitted to an Angels colleague he had visited Skaggs’ room the night before Skaggs was found dead.

Tyler Skaggs lawsuit: Key witness closes first week in court

The first week of the civil trial inside Orange County Superior Court in Santa Ana, California ended with former Angels vice president of communications Tim Mead facing questions related to what extent he knew Kay, the Angels’ communications director, was abusing drugs and providing them to Skaggs and other Angels players. The Skaggs family, in their lawsuit, allege in 2017 that Mead saw 60 pills in packages of 10 pills each within baggies hidden in socks and shoes at Kay’s home.

But Mead said he ‘did not recall’ seeing the drugs at Kay’s house and repeatedly denied in court that he knew Mead was dealing drugs to players in the organization. Mead testified he thought Kay was struggling with pills that had been prescribed by a doctor.

‘I looked at him as a father to three kids who was battling demons,’ Mead said, according to the Orange County Register.

How much the Angels knew about Kay’s drug abuse and his drug dealing to players is at the heart of the lawsuit brought by the Skaggs family against the organization. An attorney for the Skaggs family argued last week that the Angels ignored the team’s drug and alcohol abuse policies and put Skaggs ‘directly in harm’s way’ by allowing Kay on the road trip, according to reports. Kay had only recently returned to work in April 2019 after a stint at an outpatient rehab clinic following an incident in the office involving erratic behavior.

The Angels countered that they were never made aware of Skaggs’ drug abuse problems and instead placed the blame on Skaggs for using ‘a reckless combination’ of alcohol and drugs. Angels owner Arte Moreno and team president John Carpino were both in attendance in the court room on the first day of the trial last week, according to multiple reports.

Current Angels traveling secretary Tom Taylor was set to testify on Monday, Oct. 20. Taylor has also been accused by the Skaggs family of knowing about Kay’s drug abuse and drug dealing within the organization. Taylor has previously denied those allegations.

Why Angels star Mike Trout could testify

Angels star Mike Trout and Skaggs were teammates for five seasons and Trout recently became a compelling figure in the case. A filing by Skaggs’ family attorneys in Orange County Superior Court earlier this month included deposition testimony from an Angels clubhouse attendant stating that he witnessed Trout offer to pay for Kay’s rehab in 2018.

The filing also mentioned four other Angels employees and executives discussing clubhouse behavior that had occurred involving Kay, most notably an alleged dare in which Kay ate a pimple off Trout’s back in exchange for money.

Trout is among the current and former MLB players who might be called to testify in this civil trial against the Angels. The Athletic reported Trout could take the stand as soon as Tuesday, Oct. 21.

Tyler Skaggs case: Were more MLB players involved?

Yes.

The Angels have argued Skaggs knowingly used illegal pills and had numerous drug sources in addition to Kay, including former MLB pitcher Matt Harvey. Skaggs is also alleged to have introduced opioids to five other Angels players by telling them Kay could help procure the pills, according to team attorneys.

Harvey and former Angels players C.J. Cron, Cam Bedrosian and Mike Morin each testified at Kay’s criminal trial that he provided them with illegal pills and could appear again in the civil case. Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Andrew Heaney, a close friend of Skaggs, is considered a potential witness for the civil trial as well, according to The Athletic.

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Wade Miley was also accused of providing Skaggs with illegal drugs in a court filing. He addressed the allegation with reporters in June.

‘I hate what happened to Tyler. It sucks. My thoughts are with his family and friends,’ Miley said. ‘But I’m not going to sit here and talk about things that somebody might have said about me or whatnot. I was never a witness for any of this. I’ve never been accused of any wrongdoing.’

Linebacker Tatum Bethune stepped in for the injured Fred Warner in the 49ers’ win over the Falcons.
Bethune matched his career-high with 10 tackles while filling in for the All-Pro linebacker.
The San Francisco 49ers are leading the NFC West despite numerous significant player injuries.

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Tatum Bethune rocked Fred Warner’s throwback rookie jersey when he arrived at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 19. Then Bethune proceeded to play like the four-time first-team All-Pro linebacker.

Playing in place of the injured Warner, Bethune matched a career-high with 10 tackles in the 49ers’ 20-10 win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday night. He played a career-most 56 snaps on defense.

“I feel like Tay did a great job stepping up for LB Fred (Warner) with him going down. That’s a big role to fill and big shoes to fill,” 49ers defensive lineman Bryce Huff said. “He definitely got it done.”

Warner is one of the many 49ers who’ve suffered major injuries this season. San Francisco has 10 players on injured reserve, quarterback Brock Purdy has only appeared in two games due to a toe injury, and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who has yet to play this year, is on the PUP-list.

Despite being ravaged by injuries, the 49ers are 5-2 and on top of the NFC West.

Warner, who suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 6, took part in team meetings ahead of Sunday night’s game, according to Bethune. The injured linebacker was also seen by NBC cameras congratulating teammates after the 49ers’ big win.

Bethune said he’s inspired by Warner.

“I feel like the rest of this season, man, I’m just thinking about Fred. Everything we do is for him. He’s done a lot for us. He put his body on the line for us,” Bethune told reporters. “We just want to show him that it ain’t go unnoticed and we learned from it and we’re gonna feed off it.’

Bethune compiled 20 tackles the past two games after having just 11 tackles in his first 16 career games.

The 49ers appear to have the upmost confidence in the second-year linebacker. San Francisco will need Bethune to continue to perform at a high level as he fills Warner’s void.

“Tatum’s a real good linebacker,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said. “You never know when your op’s going to come, and unfortunately his came with a bad injury to Fred, but he’s been ready for this moment for a while. I mean, no one doubted Tatum at all.”

Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.

The Seattle Mariners have never been to the World Series in their 49 years of existence. The Toronto Blue Jays haven’t been to the World Series since winning back-to-back titles in 1992 and 1993.

One of those droughts will end tonight as the two teams play Game 7 of the American League Championship Series in Toronto for the right to face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2025 Fall Classic.

The Jays pulled even on Sunday night with a rousing 6-2 victory punctuated by home runs from Addison Barger and Vladimir Guerrero. They’ll have former Cy Young winner Shane Bieber on the mound as they go for the clincher.

Meanwhile, the Mariners will look to clean up their sloppy play in the field in Game 6, and George Kirby will look to bounce back from his disastrous start in Game 3, when he allowed eight runs in four innings.

What time is Mariners vs Blue Jays game today?

First pitch for Game 7 of the ALCS is set for 8:10 p.m. ET at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Monday, Oct. 20.

Where to watch Mariners vs Blue Jays: TV channel, stream ALCS Game 7

TV: Fox Sports
Live stream: Fubo

Watch ALCS Game 7 live on Fubo

Mariners vs Blue Jays Game 7 predictions

USA TODAY’s baseball staff is unanimous in forecasting a win tonight for the homestanding Toronto Blue Jays.

Bob Nightengale: Blue Jays 4, Mariners 3
Gabe Lacques: Blue Jays 6, Mariners 4
Jesse Yomtov: Blue Jays 5, Mariners 1

When does the World Series start?

Game 1: Friday, Oct. 24
Game 2: Saturday, Oct. 25
Game 3: Monday, Oct. 27
Game 4: Tuesday, Oct. 28
*Game 5: Wednesday, Oct. 29
*Game 6: Friday, Oct. 31
*Game 7: Saturday, Nov. 1

* — if necessary

Mike Norvell will remain Florida State football coach for the foreseeable future despite the program’s spiraling struggles the past two seasons that have led fans to lose confidence in the sixth-year coach.

Michael Alford, FSU’s vice president and athletics director, told the Tallahassee Democrat ‘nobody is happy’ with the football program’s current plight.

He said he continues to evaluate Norvell and Seminoles’ coaches across all sports daily but is sticking with the process of making personnel decisions at the conclusion of seasons.

‘We rightfully have high expectations in everything we do to represent Florida State in the manner that built our reputation as one of college football’s best programs, cultivating an extraordinary group of supporters nationally and globally,’ Alford said in a statement released Monday morning. ‘We embrace those expectations while also sharing the deep disappointment when results on the field are short of that standard.

‘As we continue to move forward this season, our comprehensive assessment of the football program will be completed at season’s end. Meanwhile, we are fully committed to helping Coach Norvell and the 2025 Seminoles strongly rebound in the coming weeks.’

However, plans remain fluid as the situation evolves. With mounting calls from fans for him to be fired, Norvell could still be let go before December depending how his team performs during its final five regular-season games.

The Seminoles face a contract buyout of around $59.2 million if they decided to make an immediate change.

Mike Norvell’s future under scrutiny while Florida fires Billy Napier

Even with one of college football’s largest contract buyouts, many fans want Norvell gone.

Questions are also swirling among FSU administrators and Seminole Boosters about Norvell’s tenure at the school.

Alford, however, wants to be deliberate with his decision-making.

Multiple schools nationally are looking for new coaches, including Florida, which fired Billy Napier on Sunday, Oct. 19, during his fourth season and after a 3-4 start in 2025.

In the ACC, Virginia Tech fired Brent Pry on Sept. 14. after starting the season 0-3.

Norvell entered the season on the hot seat after going 2-10 in 2024. FSU has not won a game since it thumped Kent State 66-10 on Sept. 20.

The Tallahassee Democrat, part of the USA TODAY Network, will have more coverage.

Jim Henry is Tallahassee Democrat sports editor. Email him at jjhenry@tallahassee.com