The third day of the BMW Championship ended as the first two days did, with Robert MacIntyre in the lead.

The Scottish golfer bogeyed the first hole but was solid afterward to finish with a 68 and 16 under for the tournament. He has a four-stroke lead on Scottie Scheffler after leading by five shots heading into Saturday, Aug. 16, at Caves Valley Golf Club in Owings Mills, Maryland.

Ludvig Aberg is two shots behind Scheffler.

Akshay Bhatia helped his cause by picking up his first career hole-in-one on Saturday and tying for the second-best round at 4 under. He’s projected to finish 28th in the FedEx Cup standings. The top 30 advance to the Tour Championship next week at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta.

Here are the leaderboard and updates from the third round of the PGA Tour’s second FedEx Cup Playoffs event:

BMW Championship leaderboard

1. Robert MacIntyre: -16
2. Scottie Scheffler: -12
3. Ludvig Åberg: -10
T4. Sam Burns -8
T4. Harry Hall: -8
T6. Maverick McNealy -7
T6. Tommy Fleetwood: -7
T8. Rickie Fowler -6
T8. Viktor Hovland -6
T8. Michael Kim -6

BMW CHAMPIONSHIP: Updated tee times, full leaderboard

Sunday tee times

All time Eastern

9:05 a.m.: Andrew Novak
9:12 a.m.: Sungjae Im, Jhonattan Vegas
9:23 a.m.: Brian Campbell, Ryan Fox
9:34 a.m.: Thomas Detry, Ryan Gerard
9:45 a.m.: Chris Gotterup, Sam Stevens
9:56 a.m.: Xander Schauffele, Bud Cauley
10:07 a.m.: Denny McCarthy, Lucas Glover
10:23 a.m.: Shane Lowry, Tom Hoge
10:34 a.m.: Si Woo Kim, J.T. Poston
10:45 a.m.: Justin Rose, Daniel Berger
10:56 a.m.: Justin Thomas, Keegan Bradley
11:07 a.m.: Patrick Cantlay, J.J. Spaun
11:18 a.m.: Nick Taylor, Matt Fitzpatrick
11:34 a.m.: Brian Harman, Collin Morikawa
11:45 a.m.: Hideki Matsuyama, Akshay Bhatia
11:56 a.m.: Kurt Kitayama, Taylor Pendrith
12:07 p.m.: Ben Griffin, Jason Day
12:18 p.m.: Rory McIlroy, Jacob Bridgeman
12:29 p.m.: Russell Henley, Corey Conners
12:45 p.m.: Cameron Young, Harris English
12:56 p.m.: Viktor Hovland, Michael Kim
1:07 p.m.: Tommy Fleetwood, Rickie Fowler
1:18 p.m.: Harry Hall, Maverick McNealy
1:29 p.m.: Ludvig Åberg, Sam Burns
1:40 p.m.: Robert MacIntyre, Scottie Scheffler

Robert MacIntyre finishes day ahead by 4

MacIntyre birdied on the final hole to take a four-shot lead on Scottie Scheffler heading into the final day of the BMW Championship. He finished the day with three birdies after bogeying the first hole of the third round.

Scheffler had four birdies and a bogey to gain one stroke during the third round.

Scottie Scheffler trails by 3

He has four birdies and one bogey and is three shots behind Robert MacIntyre.

Rickie Fowler done for the day

He bogeys the 18th hole to finish with a 67 for the day. He’s projected to finish the tournament 32nd.

Robert MacIntyre increases lead

He birdies on the ninth hole to improve to -15 for the tournament. He has a four-shot lead on Scottie Scheffler.

Robert MacIntyre continues to lead

MacIntyre bogeyed on the first hole on Saturday but birdied on No. 4. Scottie Scheffler has pulled to within three with two birdies, including on the seventh.

The top 10 gets going

The leaders are starting to make their way to the course, starting with golfers at the bottom or near the top 10. Rickie Fowler (3-under) and Rory McIlroy (4-under) have begun, with the group tied for 8th (Viktor Hovland, Sam Burns, Harry Hall) right behind them, starting their third round.

Akshay Bhatia gets first career ace

FedEx Cup bubble watch

Akshay Bhatia is 3-under for the round and is inching closer to the top 30 threshold to compete next week. Lucas Glover also has a low score of 3-under and is 5-over the tournament.

As the clock strikes noon, a couple of golfers, including Nick Taylor and Cameron Young, have a chance to get under par. Both are comfortably in the Tour Championship field for now.

Moving day struggles

About 15 golfers have teed off in the 3rd round, and most are struggling in the beginning stages of moving day. Lucas Glover is off to a good start at 2-under through his first six holes. He sits at 30th in the FedEx Standings, but is projected to finish outside of the top 30.

Ryder Cup placement for the United States is also on the line, with Patrick Cantlay, Collin Morikawa, Justin Thomas, and others yet to secure their spots on the team and needing big weekends to do so.

2025 BMW Championship purse, prize money

Total purse: $20 million

1st: $3,600,000
2nd: $2,160,000 
3rd: $1,360,000
4th: $990,000
5th: $830,000
6th: $750,000
7th: $695,000
8th: $640,000
9th: $600,000
10th: $560,000
11th: $520,000
12th: $480,000
13th: $441,000
14th: $402,000
15th: $382,000
16th: $362,000
17th: $342,000
18th: $322,000
19th: $302,000
20th: $282,000
21st: $262,000
22nd: $245,000
23rd: $229,000
24th: $213,000
25th: $197,000
26th: $181,000
27th: $174,000
28th: $167,000
29th: $160,000
30th: $153,000
31st: $146,000
32nd: $139,000
33rd: $132,000
34th: $127,000
35th: $122,000
36th: $117,000
37th: $112,000
38th: $108,000
39th: $104,000
40th: $100,000
41st: $96,000
42nd: $92,000
43rd: $88,000
44th: $84,000
45th: $80,000
46th: $76,000
47th: $72,000
48th: $70,000
49th: $68,000
50th: $66,000

Round 3 underway

The third round of the BMW Championship is underway, with Ryan Gerard being the first golfer to tee off. Gerard has some ground to make up to make the Tour Championship as he sits 32nd in the FedEx Standings and begins the round at 11-over. The top 30 golfers advance to the next round.

What time is BMW Championship Round 3?

The third round of the 2025 BMW Championship starts at 9 a.m. ET on Saturday, Aug. 16, with the first player scheduled to tee off at 9:10 a.m. ET.

How to watch BMW Championship: TV channels, streaming

The 2025 BMW Championship, the second event of the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup Playoffs, will be televised nationally on the Golf Channel and NBC. It can be live streamed via ESPN+, Peacock and Fubo depending on the time. Here’s the broadcast schedule for the final two rounds:

All times Eastern

Saturday, Aug. 16

9 a.m.-6 p.m. on ESPN+
1-3 p.m. on Golf Channel, Fubo
3-6 p.m. on NBC, Peacock and Fubo

Sunday, Aug. 17

9 a.m.-6 p.m. on ESPN+
Noon-2 p.m. on Golf Channel, Fubo
2-6 p.m. on NBC, Peacock and Fubo

Watch the leaders at the BMW Championship on Fubo

BMW Championship tee times, pairings

Third Round – Saturday

All times Eastern

9:10 a.m. — Ryan Gerard
9:17 a.m. — Sam Stevens, Andrew Novak
9:28 a.m. — Brian Campbell, Lucas Glover
9:39 a.m. — Thomas Detry, Ryan Fox
9:50 a.m. — Sungjae Im, Jhonattan Vegas
10:01 a.m. — Xander Schauffele, Akshay Bhatia
10:12 a.m. — Collin Morikawa, Justin Thomas
10:28 a.m. — Tom Hoge, J.T. Poston
10:39 a.m. — Keegan Bradley, Chris Gotterup
10:50 a.m. — Brian Harman, Bud Cauley
11:01 a.m. — Corey Conners, Justin Rose
11:12 a.m. — Nick Taylor, Matt Fitzpatrick
11:23 a.m. — Cameron Young, Kurt Kitayama
11:39 a.m. — Daniel Berger, Jacob Bridgeman
11:50 a.m. — Ben Griffin, Si Woo Kim
12:01 p.m. — Shane Lowry, Patrick Cantlay
12:12 p.m. — Denny McCarthy, J.J. Spaun
12:23 p.m. — Harris English, Jason Day
12:34 p.m. — Rickie Fowler, Taylor Pendrith
12:50 p.m. — Rory McIlroy, Russell Henley
1:01 p.m. — Sam Burns, Viktor Hovland
1:12 p.m. — Maverick McNealy, Harry Hall
1:23 p.m. — Tommy Fleetwood, Michael Kim
1:34 p.m. — Ludvig Åberg, Hideki Matsuyama
1:45 p.m. — Robert MacIntyre, Scottie Scheffler

FedEx Cup playoff standings

Here are the top 10 golfers in the FedEx Cup playoff standings entering the BMW Championship. Only the top 30 in the FedEx Cup standings after Sunday’s final round qualify for The Tour Championship. For a full list of standings, click here.

Scottie Scheffler: 5,456 points
Rory McIlroy: 3,444 points
J.J. Spaun: 3,344 points
Justin Rose: 3,220 points
Sepp Straka: 2,783 points
Russell Henley: 2,579 points
Ben Griffin: 2,555 points
Tommy Fleetwood: 2,433 points
Justin Thomas: 2,395 points
Harris English: 2,269 points

The 2025 Little League Baseball World Series rolls into the weekend as the pressure begins to mount in the double-elimination tournament in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

With three days in the books, all 20 teams – 10 from the U.S. bracket and 10 from the International bracket – have played at least once. Day 4 of the LLWS brings the first set of elimination games as the losers of the games on Aug. 16 will see their tournament come to an end. All eight teams that take the field on Saturday have already suffered one loss.

The day begins with an International bracket game between Australia and Czechia, representing the Europe-Africa region, before Texas (Southwest region) faces Massachusetts (New England region) in the U.S. bracket. The second International game features Mexico vs. Puerto Rico, and the night ends with a showdown between Pennsylvania (Mid-Atlantic region) and Illinois (Great Lakes region).

Little League World Series Day 4 schedule and results

Saturday, Aug. 16

All times Eastern

Game 13 (International): Australia 5, Czechia (Europe-Africa region) 3
Game 14 (U.S.): Texas (Southwest) 3, Massachusetts 7
Game 15 (International): Mexico vs. Puerto Rico, 5 p.m. | ESPN
Game 16 (U.S.): Pennsylvania (Mid-Atlantic) vs. Illinois (Great Lakes), 7 p.m. | ESPN2

Final: Mexico 11, Puerto Rico 5

Mexico is moving in the international bracket.

Illinois takes early lead

Illinois took a 3-0 lead over Pennsylvania in the bottom of the second inning.

Mexico, Puerto Rico tied

Gregorio Madrid hit a grand slam for Mexico in the top of the fifth inning to tie the game with Puerto Rico at 4.

Iker Castaneda adds to the lead with a two-run home run in the inning. Mexico has rallied back to take a 6-4 lead.

Pennsylvania and Illinois set to begin

The United States bracket elimination game is set to begin shortly.

Puerto Rico jumps ahead of Mexico

Puerto Rico scores a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning to take the lead. Elias Martinez had a chance to make a catch in left field to end the inning, but dropped the ball.

Azariel Alvarado Medina hits a two-run home run during the next at-bat. It’s the first home run for Puerto Rico in the Little League World Series since 2018, according to ESPN’s Eduardo Perez.

Puerto Rico leads Mexico 4-0 in the top of the fourth inning.

Alvarado Medina doesn’t spend much time celebrating after going back onto the mound as the starting pitcher. He’s allowed three hits and a strikeout in three innings as a pitcher. He has walked four batters in the game.

Mexico loads the bases

Mexico appeared to have scored the first run of the game to take a 1-0 lead in the top of the third, but a challenge reversed the call after showing that Puerto Rico’s catcher had tagged the runner before reaching home plate.

Puerto Rico produced two more quick outs to get out of the inning while leaving three of Mexico’s runners stranded on base.

The game remains scoreless.

Mexico vs. Puerto Rico is underway

The third game of the day, the Mexico vs. Puerto Rico elimination game, has begun.

Massachusetts explodes on offense

Massachusetts doesn’t let off the gas in the bottom of the third inning, adding an additional two runs. Massachusetts leads 7-2 against Texas.

Massachusetts piles on the runs

Massachusetts increased their lead to 5-2 against Texas after a strong second inning in the second elimination game on Day 4.

Australia defeats Czechia

Australia secured a 5-3 victory over Czechia in the elimination game, ending Czechia’s hopes of advancing in the Little League World Series.

Massachuetts battle back

Massachusetts quickly responded to errors made by Texas, as well as a hit by Sam Trotta that reached the back of the wall. Texas managed to secure an out at home plate to prevent another run. Massachusetts currently leads 3-2 in the elimination game.

Texas claims the early lead

Texas jumps ahead early, scoring two runs in the first inning. Texas leads 2-0 against Massachusetts in the elimination game.

Texas vs. Massachusetts is underway

The second game of the day, Texas vs. Massachusetts, is underway on ESPN, while Czechia vs. Australia has been moved to ESPN2.

Czechia vs. Australia expected to begin at 4:29 p.m. ET

Czechia and Australia will resume their match at 4:29 p.m. ET following a weather delay that interrupted Day 4 action.

Czechia vs. Australia in a weather delay

Despite a sunny Saturday, a lightning strike has forced the game to go into a weather delay.

Australia’s big second inning

Australia loaded the bases with Monica Arcuri at bat. She was then walked, adding another run to the scoreboard for her team. Czechia made a pitching change, bringing in Mikulas Binek, who took some time to warm up and allowed an additional run due to another walk. As a result, Australia leads 5-1 heading into the third inning.

Czechia quickly responds

Czechia capitalized on an error to score a run in the second inning. Australia leads 3-1 as the elimination game enters the bottom of the second inning.

Australia gets on the board

Australia takes an early lead in the bottom of the first inning, scoring three runs in the day’s opening game. Australia leads 3-0 heading into the top of the second inning.

Czechia vs. Australia is underway

The first game of Day 4 is underway as Czechia is looking for their second win ever at the Little League World Series while taking on Australia at Volunteer Stadium.

What time is the Little League World Series today?

The first game on Saturday, Aug. 16 starts at 1 p.m. ET with the final game starting at 7 p.m. ET. All games take place in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, in either Howard J. Lamade Stadium or Little League Volunteer Stadium.

Little League World Series 2025: TV, time and how to watch

The Little League World Series began Wednesday, Aug. 13 and concludes on Sunday, Aug. 24. Games will be presented across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+. Viewers can also watch with Fubo, which offers a free trial for new users.

Times: Coverage begins at 1 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Streaming: ESPN+ (international games), Fubo

Watch 2025 Little League World Series on Fubo

Little League World Series Day 3 results

Friday, Aug. 15

Game 9 (International): Venezuela 4, Canada 0
Game 10 (U.S.): Nevada (Mountain) 5, Washington (Northwest) 3
Game 11 (International): Aruba (Caribbean) 8, Panama 2
Game 12 (U.S.): Connecticut (Metro) 5, Hawaii (West) 1

Little League World Series Day 2 results

Thursday, Aug. 14

Game 5 (International): Japan 12, Czechia (Europe-Africa) 0
Game 6 (U.S.): South Carolina (Southeast) 13, Massachusetts (New England) 0
Game 7 (International): Chinese Taipei (Asia-Pacific) 3, Mexico 0
Game 8: (U.S.): South Dakota (Midwest) 2, Pennsylvania (Mid-Atlantic) 0

Little League World Series Day 1 results

Wednesday, Aug. 13

Game 1 (International): Venezuela 5 (Latin America), Puerto Rico 0
Game 2 (U.S.): Nevada (Mountain) 16, Illinois 1 (Great Lakes)
Game 3 (International): Panama 7, Australia 2
Game 4 (U.S.): Connecticut (Metro), Texas (Southwest) 0

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – Lionel Messi has returned from injury as a second-half substitute for Inter Miami against the defending MLS Cup champion L.A. Galaxy at Chase Stadium on Saturday, August 16.

When the second half began, Messi walked immediately onto the pitch with the captain’s armband around his left bicep. He was immediately substituted into the match after halftime.

Messi, who suffered a right hamstring injury during a Leagues Cup tournament match on Aug. 2, returned to full participation in practice sessions this week.

“Leo is OK. In fact, he has already trained with the team since Wednesday (Aug. 13),” Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano told reporters on Aug. 15.

Messi’s return ends a two-game absence for the Argentine World Cup champion. Inter Miami advanced to the Leagues Cup knockout stage with a 3-1 win against Pumas on Aug. 6, then lost 4-1 to Orlando City in a regular-season match on Aug. 10. It will also serve as a tune-up before Inter Miami plays its LeaguesCup quarterfinal match against Tigres UANL on Aug. 20 at 8 p.m.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Inter Miami-L.A. Galaxy match, and stay tuned here for live updates from USA TODAY Sports:

Watch MLS games all season long on Apple TV

Inter Miami 1, LA Galaxy 0: Messi enters match in second half

When the second half began, Messi walked immediately onto the pitch with the captain’s armband around his left bicep. He was immediately substituted into the match after halftime. It didn’t take him long to fire his first shot, soaring a left boot over the net in the 46th minute.

Inter Miami 1, LA Galaxy 0: Messi begins warming up before halftime

The crowd inside Chase Stadium erupted when Messi and Rodrigo De Paul, the Argentine World Cup champions, came off the bench to begin stretching just before halftime. Expect to see them both in the second half, with Messi making his return from injury.

Inter Miami 1, LA Galaxy 0: Jordi Alba scores goal

As Lionel Messi came off the bench to begin warming up, two of his former FC Barcelona running mates secured a lead right before halftime. Sergio Busquets found Jordi Alba in space, and Alba provided the finish in the 43rd minute.

Inter Miami starting lineup vs. LA Galaxy

LA Galaxy lineup vs. Inter Miami

Is Messi playing tonight?

Yes, Messi is expected to play. He is a substitute for Inter Miami against the Galaxy.

What time is Inter Miami vs. LA Galaxy match?

The match begins at 7:30 p.m. ET (8:30 p.m. in Argentina)

How to watch Inter Miami vs. LA Galaxy match?

The match is available to live stream on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV and on Apple TV+.

Inter Miami vs. LA Galaxy betting odds

Here are the betting odds, according to BETMGM.

Inter Miami: -220
Tie: +380
Away: +475
Over/under: 3.5 goals

Messi, Inter Miami upcoming schedule

Aug. 20: Inter Miami vs. Tigres UANL (Leagues Cup quarterfinals) 
Aug. 23: D.C. United vs. Inter Miami, 7:30 p.m. ET (MLS regular season)
Aug. 26 or 27: Leagues Cup semifinals (if applicable)
Aug. 30: Inter Miami vs. Chicago Fire, 7:30 p.m. ET (MLS regular season)
Aug. 31: Leagues Cup final and third-place match (if applicable)

The Miami Dolphins will be without a key member of their team for the foreseeable future.

Head coach Mike McDaniel revealed on Saturday that De’Von Achane will be sidelined with a soft tissue lower-body injury. The news was shared after the Dolphins’ victory over the Detroit Lions in Week 2 of the NFL preseason.

More importantly, Achane faces an undefined timeline for his return. While the coach isn’t concerned about his running back’s Week 1 availability, the nature of soft tissue injuries can certainly complicate things.

Here’s the latest on Achane.

De’Von Achane injury update

Achane has a soft tissue lower-body injury, according to McDaniel.

Achane, who didn’t play on Saturday, doesn’t have a clear timeline for his return to action. McDaniel said the running back is going to be out between ‘days and weeks,’ but he isn’t concerned about Achane’s availability for the regular season opener on Sept. 7.

McDaniel said the injury isn’t severe and Achane shouldn’t be out too long, but the timeline is tricky because of the nature of soft tissue injuries. He later added that the situation would be different if this was the regular season.

The Dolphins will evaluate the running back when they return to Miami. In the meantime, the team has no shortage of running backs that will pick up the slack during Achane’s absence.

Jaylen Wright and Ollie Gordon II figure to be the primary candidates to step in for now.

Baltimore Orioles rookie Brandon Young was closing in on a perfect game, a feat that had the entire stadium on the edge of their seats. However, it was not to be as he lost it in a cruel fashion on Friday, Aug. 15, resulting in the Houston Astros’ only hit in Baltimore’s 7-0 victory at Daikin Park.

In what was nearly eight flawless innings during his 11th career start, Young retired 23 Houston batters before allowing a two-out infield single in the eighth inning to Ramón Urías, a former Oriole who had been traded to the Astros. Urías hit a ground ball in Young’s vicinity, and although Young quickly fielded the ball, he threw wide of first base.

The error allowed Urías to advance to second base, ending what could have been a perfect game. The play was ruled a hit, ending Young’s no-hitter.

“I thought I could make the play,” Young said, according to MLB.com. “I got there in time. I think I had a little more time to maybe take a step and make a better throw. I obviously rushed it, yanked it. It sucks. Definitely want it back.”

Young got the final out of the inning and Baltimore’s Yaramil Hiraldo pitched the ninth as Young picked up the first victory of his career in a familiar spot. Young grew up in Texas and had gone to the Houston stadium as a child.

LIVERPOOL, England – Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo thanked his teammates, Liverpool, matchofficials and the ‘entire football family’ for their support after the Ghana international reported racist abuse duringthe Friday, Aug. 15, Premier League season opener at Anfield.

Semenyo was targeted by a man in the crowd during the first half, with referee Anthony Taylor stopping play to address the incident. Taylor spoke to both managers and captains before play resumed.

Merseyside Police said a 47-year-old man had been ejected from Anfield. On Saturday, they confirmed the man from Liverpool had been arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offense and taken into custody to be interviewed.

‘Last night at Anfield will stay with me forever – not because of one person’s words, but because of how the entirefootball family stood together,’ Semenyo wrote on Instagram.

‘To my Bournemouth teammates who supported me in that moment, to the Liverpool players and fans who showed their true character, to the Premier League officials who handled it professionally – thank you. Football showed its best side when it mattered most.’

With Liverpool leading 2-0, Semenyo then netted twice in the second half to level the score before the home side struck two late goals to win 4-2.

‘Scoring those two goals felt like speaking the only language that truly matters on the pitch,’ Semenyo added. ‘Thisis why I play – for moments like these, for my teammates, for everyone who believes in what this beautiful game can be.

‘The overwhelming messages of support from across the football world remind me why I love this sport. We keep moving forward, together.’

Bournemouth coach Andoni Iraola said it was a ‘big shame that these things keep happening’, while captain Adam Smith was shocked by the abuse.

‘Totally unacceptable, kind of in shock it happened in this day and age. I don’t know how Ant has carried on playing and come up with these goals’ Smith told Sky Sports.

‘He’s a little bit down – something needs to be done. Taking a knee has taken no effect. We’ve supported him and hopefully he’ll be OK.

‘I wanted him to react (after scoring), that’s what I’d have done. I’d have gone straight over there. It shows what kind ofman he is to report it to the ref and carry on. Fair play to Ant.’

Semenyo also revealed that he had been racially abused online after the game.

‘When will it stop,’ he said, sharing a screenshot of a comment in which someone posted monkey emojis on his profile.

Well, well, well. Look who joined the money grab.

The long-awaited penalties for Michigan’s illegal advanced scouting scheme were announced Friday, Aug. 15, and the NCAA made clear what’s important. 

Get yours. 

Everyone else is cashing in on college football’s new world, why shouldn’t the NCAA?

Look at the bright side: the NCAA can use Michigan’s unprecedented fine for cheating – it could reach upwards of $35 million – to help pay the $2.8 billion in House case back pay owed to athletes for, you know, cheating them.

PATH TO PLAYOFF: Sign up for our college football newsletter

Hey, 1.25 percent of $2.8 billion is a start.  

If this is all confusing, it shouldn’t be. There was zero chance the NCAA – which once famously sanctioned Boise State for allowing a recruit to sleep on a couch in the dorms – was laying down the law on one of its prized television properties.

Even one that just last year was sanctioned for an entirely separate case of infractions within the football program, thus making Michigan a repeat offender. The worst kind of offender. 

A you’ve got to be kidding me, you can’t be that stupid to try and break rules again offender. 

But instead of a postseason ban and/or scholarship/roster spot losses (see: real meat on the enforcement bone), the NCAA chose to reach into Michigan’s deep and expansive cash war chest and grab a handful. And why not?

If players are making billions from revenue sharing and private NIL deals, if coaches are making the same with fat, guaranteed contracts (some fired and paid to not coach), why can’t the NCAA get in on the action? It’s all fungible, anyway. 

Billions in money is changing hands at an alarming rate, and the four principle actors involved barely see it long enough to care. Universities, television partners, coaches, players, and now all the way back to universities with the NCAA’s latest capitulation. 

What’s worse, the sport’s governing body just threw open the barn doors to (more) rampant cheating. The cost of a national title is now upwards of $35 million. 

Who wants some?

It doesn’t matter if you cheat, because the NCAA has no idea how to manage enforcement. It says so right there in the release from the committee on infractions:

The NCAA is blaming the ‘new world of college athletics” for not taking the more significant road of scholarship reductions and postseason bans. The same “world” the NCAA created in 2021 by approving NIL deals and free player movement nearly simultaneously — without any guardrails in place. 

By blaming the current “world,” the NCAA conveniently allows itself a pass from making the difficult yet prudent decision of significant, meaningful penalties to one of its prized pupils. Or as the great Jerry Tarkanian once said, ‘The NCAA was so mad at Kentucky, they gave Cleveland State two more years probation.’

The NCAA says players were not part of the advanced scouting scheme concocted by Michigan’s former low level staffer Connor Stalions, and shouldn’t be retroactively punished for it with scholarship reductions and postseason bans. Stalions isn’t the villain here, everyone. 

Jim Harbaugh is. 

The same Harbaugh who allowed Stalions to infiltrate his program, and approved his illegal scheme. I’m going to say this one more time: there’s no chance in hell Harbaugh – the most meticulously organized megalomaniac of a coach this side of Nick Saban – allows anything to happen within his program without full knowledge and approval.

He’s not allowing some flunky hanging around the program to stand right next to his coordinators on game day, and yell out play calls – so his coordinators could then switch play calls to the corresponding play against Ohio flipping State – without knowing everything about the scheme. 

Harbaugh is the Michigan football team, and Michigan gaining a competitive advantage because of the scheme is exactly why the Wolverines should’ve been fined and had scholarships/roster spots eliminated and been given a postseason ban. 

To say nothing of vacating wins — including those in the 2023 national championship season. 

But the committee on infractions pointed to Harbaugh’s three-game suspension in 2023, stating it was penalty enough for his part in the scheme. There’s not a person on that committee who believes that, but it’s good cover. 

Instead, Michigan will pay a $35 million bounty while nearly everyone in power either lied, obfuscated, or destroyed evidence about an illegal scheme that most certainly played a role in Michigan winning the 2023 national title.

Money talks, everyone. It’s the new world of NCAA enforcement.

Who wants some?

Matt Hayes is the senior national college football writer for USA TODAY Sports Network. Follow him on X at @MattHayesCFB.

WASHINGTON – It’s not like the Philadelphia Phillies have a Zack Wheeler problem, per se.

He’s still giving them a chance to win every time out, still handcuffs batters with a crackling fastball and beguiling sweeper and remains the only guy they’d want to take the ball in Game 1 of a playoff situation.

Yet the Wheeler that Philly has come to know and love is the Cy Young Award-worthy, metronomic supplier of lengthy outings and general dominance.

For the past half-a-dozen starts, Wheeler hasn’t quite been that guy – but the Phillies are determined to build him back up again.

His pattern of ordinary, rather than otherworldly performance continued in his Aug. 15 start against the Washington Nationals, when he needed 97 pitches to complete five innings and pitch MacKenzie Gore to a draw when he left the game.

The Phillies managed to punish the Nationals bullpen, getting back-to-back home runs from Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper to claim a 6-2 victory at Nationals Park. And in snapping a three-game losing streak, the Phillies improved to 70-52 and now have a six-game advantage over the New York Mets in the NL East.

“I thought it was better,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said of Wheeler’s outing. “Gaining some ground.”

It’s an odd perspective for a guy who’s been dominant in an almost linear fashion since joining the Phillies in 2020. The vibes remain good, but for now, it’s hard to ignore a line of demarcation in their ace’s season.

After striking out 12 and pitching a one-hitter July 6 at Cincinnati, Wheeler had a 2.17 ERA in 18 starts, pitching into the seventh inning in eight of them.

Yet in his six starts since, Wheeler has failed to complete six innings in three of them, with a 4.55 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP, compared to his season-long 0.94 mark.

Sandwiched in the middle of that sequence: Shoulder soreness compelled the Phillies to push Wheeler’s Aug. 8 start at Texas back two days.

Add it all up, and it’s not exactly red flags. Just a few yellow cautions for a 35-year-old fiercely proud of his ability to get deep into games.

Yet Friday, Wheeler’s velocity ticked up: His four-seam fastball averaged 97.4 mph, 1.2 mph harder than his season average and a significant tick up from his 94.2 mph average heater in his Texas start.

And Thomson took it as a good sign that Wheeler was salty about getting yanked at 97 pitches and five innings. For now, Wheeler can live with less than perfect if it means his command is improving.

“It’s been iffy. Today was a little bit better,” Wheeler said. “I was able to throw high without trying to throw it high. Once I get the full feel for that back, I think everything will fall into place.

“All around, good day for the most part.”

Wheeler struck out six Nationals in his five innings and elicited nine whiffs or called strikes on his sweeper. He just lacked a finishing coat at times.

The Nationals’ first batter of the game, James Wood, worked Wheeler for an eight-pitch walk – and then scored on a CJ Abrams double. In the third, first baseman Josh Bell worked Wheeler for 12 pitches, fouling off eight two-strike offerings before grounding to first.

And an inning later, Luis Garcia put up a nine-pitch fight against Wheeler before grounding out – followed by a game-tying home run from rookie Daylen Lile.

Add it up, and Wheeler needed 97 throws to complete five innings. His recent bouts of shortness – many pitchers should be so fortunate – is in contrast to his 2024 season, when he probably should’ve won the Cy Young Award while completing at least seven innings in 13 of 32 starts, and at least six in 26.

Still, there’s 40 games and eight or so starts to get back to the guy they know and love. And then, most likely, another postseason run.

For now, the goals are modest – at least on Wheeler’s scale.

“Everything felt normal,” he said, and that’s a good place to start.

The Philadelphia Eagles enter the 2025 NFL season as the favorites to take home another championship after winning Super Bowl 59 in dominant fashion last season.

Philadelphia fielded one of the best offenses in the NFL last season thanks to stars like running back Saquon Barkley, offensive tackles Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson, quarterback Jalen Hurts and wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.

Only two of those players were not drafted by the Eagles: Barkley, a free agent acquisition last offseason, and Brown, who Philadelphia acquired via trade during the 2022 NFL Draft.

Turns out, Philadelphia’s trade for Brown was minutes away from falling through on draft night.

Eagles general manager Howie Roseman revealed on an episode of the ‘Bussin’ With The Boys’ podcast that he was down to the wire on getting a deal done for the wide receiver during the draft.

Roseman and Jon Robinson, the Tennessee Titans’ general manager at the time, had a deal in place the morning of the draft for the Eagles to acquire Brown. The only issue was finalizing a new contract for the wide receiver.

‘We had to get a contract done with him,’ Roseman explained. ‘I said, ‘Jon, if we can’t get a contract done, we can’t do this trade. We can’t trade you a [first-round pick] and a [third-round pick] for one year of a player. We got to get a contract done first.”

Philadelphia held the No. 12 and No. 18 overall picks in the first round of that draft and were planning to send No. 18 to Tennessee for Brown. At No. 12, they picked Jordan Davis but still didn’t have a contract in place for the wide receiver, causing Robinson to pressure Roseman about what was happening.

‘Jon’s like, ‘what are we doing? What’s going on here?” Roseman said. ‘Between [picks] 12 and 18, I’m trying to finish the contract.’

This deal was kept secret from many Eagles’ front office members even as the first round of the draft went on.

‘Nobody knew except a couple of people that we were even doing it because I said, ‘imagine if this falls apart,” Roseman said. ‘Like, I’m going to be the GM who can’t get a deal done with AJ. … When we finished it, it was about pick 14.’

Roseman decided to break the news to the rest of the draft war room.

‘I’m just going to say, ‘hey guys, we’re picking AJ Brown,’ he said. ‘And they’re all going to look at me like, ‘what the (expletive) is going on?’ But they’re going to be excited as (expletive). And so it was really fun, it was really great energy.’

Brown was a second-team All-Pro in his first year with Philadelphia as the Eagles made a run to Super Bowl 57. He was a second-team All-Pro in 2023 and 2024 as well and had five catches for 43 yards and a touchdown in Super Bowl 59.

AJ Brown trade details

Philadelphia ended up trading the No. 18 and No. 101 overall picks to Tennessee for Brown. The Eagles immediately signed him to a four-year, $100 million contract.

Tennessee selected wide receiver Treylon Burks at No. 18 overall and packaged the No. 101 pick in a deal to send the New York Jets the No. 26 overall pick. Here’s who they selected with the picks they received from New York:

Round 2, No. 35 overall: CB Roger McCreary
Round 3, No. 69: OT Nicholas Petit-Frere
Round 5, No. 163: WR Kyle Philips

McCreary and Burks are the only players still on the Titans’ roster ahead of the 2025 season.

Robinson was fired during the 2022 NFL season. Then-Titans coach Mike Vrabel disagreed on this trade as well as a later trade for wide receiver Julio Jones, leading to his firing.

WASHINGTON — Jhoan Durán, one of the prized acquisitions at Major League Baseball’s trade deadline and the much-needed closer for the Philadelphia Phillies, was struck by a batted ball on his right ankle and taken off the field on a bullpen cart in the ninth inning of their Aug. 15 game.

Yet X-rays on Durán’s ankle were negative and he’ll be evaluated further this weekend.

Durán, entering with a 6-2 lead against the Washington Nationals, took a one-hopper off the bat of the Nationals’ Paul DeJong – exit velocity, 94.1 mph – and tried to retrieve the ball as it bounced toward the first base line.

But he pulled up before the basepath and began hobbling, hopping into foul play and standing still. Members of the Phillies’ and Nationals’ training staff and manager Rob Thomson attended to him.

He simply stood there, arm around a trainer, flexing and trying to put weight on his leg. The delay stretched to more than 10 minutes as a crowd of 35,143 anticipating a postgame Sam Hunt concert whistled in mild impatience.

But Thomson said Durán felt better as the delay wore on. Ultimately, the Nationals’ bullpen cart vroomed from beyond the center field wall and took Durán off the field. He was replaced by 40-year-old David Robertson, who recorded all three outs to finish the 6-2 victory.

Thomson said the cart was called upon due to the significant number of steps exiting the Nationals Park field, and they wanted to keep the pressure off the 240-pound Durán’s ankle.

‘He ran like a shot over to retrieve the ball and then once he got there I think the adrenaline wore off and the pain set in,’ Thomson said. ‘Before the cart came out, it took a long time and he said, ‘I feel better, I think I can walk over to the dugout.’ But there’s all these steps here and we wanted to use the cart.’

Durán, 27, has a fastball clocked at 102 mph that he pairs with a 97 mph cutter, making him one of the most dominant closers in the game. He was acquired July 30 from the Minnesota Twins for top prospects Mick Abel and Eduardo Tait to reinforce a Phillies bullpen that has struggled to fill in for projected closer Jordan Romano, who has a 7.24 ERA.

Durán has been perfect in four save situations for the Phillies, pitching four scoreless innings, giving up just one hit, striking out three and walking none before his outing Friday.

This story was updated with new information.

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