FLOWERY BRANCH, GA – Of all people, Michael Penix Jr. found himself at the bottom of the pile during one of the featured scuffles that broke out on Wednesday when the Atlanta Falcons and Tennessee Titans hooked up for a second consecutive day of joint practices.

Whoa. The starting quarterback?

We knew Penix isn’t going to get any live action during the entire preseason, as Falcons coach Raheem Morris has pledged that he doesn’t want to subject the second-year pro to any unnecessary hits that could be inflicted in an exhibition. But Penix wound up getting blasted before Week 1, anyway, with no bubble wrap for the quarterback when he was put on the ground by at least one Titans defender who apparently took offense to a touchdown celebration and perhaps the trash talk that came with it.

“I was down there, somewhere,” Penix said of the moment.

Teammates rushed to Penix’s defense. Nobody seemed to pay attention to the whistles blown frantically. An intense kerfuffle ensued, with so much pushing and shoving, cursing and yelling. Somebody lost a helmet in the melee. And a Falcons player wrapped his arms around Penix and escorted him from the scene.

A heated Penix, though, circled back and attempted to charge back for extra action – or at least more choice words – but was stopped by a teammate.

“That was somebody else out there,” he explained, as if he possesses an alter-ego.

No doubt, Penix was out of character with a different side on full display for a few minutes. When someone described his typical demeanor as cool, calm and collected, he smiled, nodded and replied, “That’s me. I don’t know what that was.”

He knows the Titans defense – sliced up by Penix’s sizzling darts on both days of the practices – was not prone to roll over as he celebrated a deep touchdown pass to Ray-Ray McCloud III. Penix’s celebration, he insists, was fueled by trash talk from the Titans.

Regardless, it was a toxic situation.

“Football is a competition,” Penix said. “I like to compete at a high level. I don’t really do too much talking until somebody says something to me.

“I threw a touchdown, and (remarked), ‘What y’all talking about now?’ I guess not everybody takes that the right way. I think that’s all it was. They probably looked at me as just a quarterback; I wasn’t that type of person. But … I’m from Tampa.”

Where he grew up, Penix explained, getting disrespected by an opponent crosses the line. Yet Penix needs to let his rocket arm handle his business, while steering clear of circumstances that can blow up and become bigger problems.

“He’s competitive,” Falcons quarterbacks coach D.J. Williams told reporters. “He’s a football player first, but he also has to understand that he’s the CEO.”

Yeah, but didn’t the Titans get the memo? Don’t hit, shove, touch or even breathe hard on the quarterback, i.e. the guy in the red jersey.

Uh, maybe not.

It’s ironic that Penix found himself in the middle of a scrap not long after Morris explained why – a year after the then-rookie played just two series in the preseason opener, then was iced for the rest of the exhibition slate – he has no stomach for playing his quarterback during the preseason.

Never mind that Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow and Kyler Murray were among the starting quarterbacks to get limited snaps during their preseason openers last weekend, undoubtedly to aid in timing and rhythm.

“My philosophy with the quarterbacks is definitely to mitigate the amount of hits they may take that are unnecessary,” Morris said during a pre-practice media session. “I just think preseason hits on a quarterback are unnecessary.

“Mike knows how to take a tackle. Mike knows how to get hit. I don’t need to see it until it’s absolutely money on the line.”

Penix, who replaced Kirk Cousins and became the starter in late December, maintains that having zero preseason snaps won’t detract from his preparation for the regular season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 7.

Last year, Morris didn’t play Cousins during the preseason – despite the lobbying from the veteran quarterback who found value in the live game reps. When Atlanta opened the 2024 season with a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, there was significant rust – and not only with Cousins as the Falcons hurt themselves with pre-snap penalties and timing issues.

“I’m always going to be ready,” promised Penix, who was chosen eighth overall from the University of Washington in 2024 in a stunning draft-day move. “That’s my job.

“In college, you don’t have a preseason. You’ve got your spring game, and then you go into Week 1. Same thing. I’m going to be ready for Week 1. When it counts, I’m going to be there. I’m going to show up.”

As it turns out, Penix will show up having already taken a hit – courtesy of the Titans.

Morris can breathe a sigh of relief that the scuffling didn’t leave Penix heading to the medical tent. And Penix, who certainly calmed down after the skirmish, was relieved that despite the extracurricular activity, they had a full day’s work.

“I’m glad we didn’t cancel practice,” Penix said. “We could finish that work. I know stuff was happening out on the field after that, but for everything to still continue … that was good to get the reps in.”

Including reps from the scuffles that they could have done without.

Contact Jarrett Bell at jbell@usatoday.com or follow on social media:

On X: @JarrettBell; On Bluesky: jarrettbell.bsky.social

The Milwaukee Brewers can’t stop winning at the moment, and the hottest team in Major League Baseball is on the cusp of setting a team record.

The Brewers brushed the Pittsburgh Pirates aside on Wednesday, Aug. 13, claiming their 12th consecutive win with a 12-5 victory at American Family Field. The streak began back on Aug. 1 with a 16-9 win over the Washington Nationals, and since then the Brewers have claimed four straight series sweeps to get within touching distance of a team record.

This streak is Milwaukee’s second such run to extend into double digits this season, something the Brewers had only previously done eight times in their existence. Last month, Milwaukee won 11 straight, a run spanning either side of the All-Star break.

For the right kind of fan, getting to 12 straight didn’t just improve what was already the best record in baseball. Wisconsin-based restaurant chain George Webb is offering free burgers to celebrate the fact that Milwaukee has won a dozen games without slipping up. The restaurant confirmed as much on social media following Wednesday’s win, adding that the free burgers will be available on a yet-to-be-announced date:

Here’s what to know about the Milwaukee Brewers’ winning streak, including where it stands in team and MLB history:

Longest winning streaks in MLB, Brewers history

The Milwaukee Brewers on fire, having won 12 straight games. However, they’ll have to keep rolling to get anywhere near the longest winning streaks in MLB history. Here are the 10 longest runs without a loss:

26 games: 1916 New York Giants*
22 games: 2017 Cleveland Indians
21 games: 1880 Chicago White Stockings*
21 games: 1935 Chicago Cubs
20 games: 1884 St. Louis Maroons
20 games: 1884 Providence Grays
20 games: 2002 Oakland Athletics
19 games: 1906 Chicago White Sox*
19 games: 1947 New York Yankees
18 games: Five teams tied

*Note: This streak includes a tie. Per MLB, games ending in a tie do not end a team’s winning streak for historical purposes.

The Brewers’ 12-game winning streak is just one off the team’s all-time best run. Here is a list of every time Milwaukee has reeled off at least 10 straight victories:

1987: 13 games (April 6-20)
2018: 12 games (Sept. 23 to Oct. 12)*
2025: 12 games (Aug. 1-13, ongoing)
2025: 11 games (July 6-21)
2021: 11 games (June 22 to July 3)
2003: 10 games (Aug. 19-28)
1988: 10 games (April 30 to May 9)
1979: 10 games (July 11-22)
1978: 10 games (June 9-17)
1973: 10 games (June 8-18)

*Note: Streak includes National League Central tiebreaker, NLDS, and Game 1 of the NLCS.

Brewers vs. Reds: How to watch potential team record-tying MLB game

The Brewers will try to tie the franchise record for the longest winning streak on Friday, Aug. 15, when they travel to face the Cincinnati Reds.

Date: Friday, Aug. 15
Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
Location: Great American Ball Park (Cincinnati, Ohio)
TV: FanDuel Sports Network (Wisconsin only)
Streaming: Apple TV+, FanDuel Sports Network via Prime Video

Watch Brewers at Reds on Apple TV+

Miguel Amaya’s first game since May 24 ended in heartbreak, with the Chicago Cubs catcher getting carted off the field after suffering an apparent leg injury while beating a throw to first base.

The incident occurred Wednesday night, Aug. 13, in the top of the eighth inning of the Cubs’ 4-1 win against the Toronto Blue Jays. Amaya hustled down the line after hitting a slow grounder to short, but his leg bent back awkwardly when he planted on first base and he went sprawling. His distress was immediate and Amaya was taken from the field in a cart, holding a hand over his face.

Amaya had been on the 60-day injured list due to an oblique injury.

While the Cubs ended a two-game losing streak, Amaya’s injury cast a pall over the proceedings. He entered Wednesday batting .280 with four home runs.

Miguel Amaya injury update

After the game, Cubs manager Craig Counsell told reporters that Amaya has a left ankle sprain and that X-rays were negative. Amaya will be heading back to the IL.

‘We’re going to miss him,’ Counsell said.

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Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau died on Aug. 29, 2024, when hit by a suspected drunk driver while they were bicycling in New Jersey.
Meredith and Madeline Gaudreau went on ABC to discuss their grief and a foundation to honor their late husbands.
The John and Matthew Gaudreau Foundation will help youth hockey initiatives and support hockey families that have faced tragedy.

The widows of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau used the occasion of what would have been Johnny’s 32nd birthday to formally launch a foundation to honor the late hockey players.

But most of the interview with Meredith, Johnny’s wife, and Madeline on ABC’s ‘Good Morning America’ dealt with the grief they have experienced in the nearly one year since their husbands died on Aug. 29, 2024. The brothers were hit by a suspected drunk driver while they were bicycling in New Jersey. Sean Higgins has pleaded not guilty to charges in the case.

‘Half of me, the best part of me, died that day, too,’ Meredith said. ‘I’m trying to be double now for my kids, even though I’m half of who I was.’

Both women were expecting at the time of their husbands’ deaths. Madeline gave birth to her first child, Tripp, and Meredith her third, Carter.

‘Tripp’s now hitting milestones, so that’s heartbreaking because Matt was super excited to be a dad,’ Madeline said.

The John and Matthew Gaudreau Foundation, first announced in March, will help youth hockey initiatives, support hockey families that have faced tragedy and help other families that have been affected by drunk driving.

‘It was never lost on John and Matty about how expensive it is to maintain hockey as a hobby,’ Meredith said.

The brothers played at Boston College. Older brother Johnny became a seven-time All-Star with the Calgary Flames and Columbus Blue Jackets. Matthew played in the American Hockey League and ECHL and retired to coach youth hockey.

The hockey community has kept the players’ names in the forefront. USA Hockey had Johnny Gaudreau’s jersey in the locker rooms at the 4 Nations Face-Off. Columbus fans sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to Johnny Gaudreau Jr. at a game in February. The Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings honored the brothers with their outfits as they walked into their Stadium Series game. Meredith announced Blue Jackets first-round selections at the 2025 NHL Draft.

‘My daughter (Noa) is catching on,’ Meredith told ABC. ‘She’s 2 and she asks for him a lot. She says, ‘Daddy’s in heaven’ and I’m starting to explain to her what heaven is really because she wants to go to heaven and she says, ‘I want him to come back’ or ‘let’s call him.”

Madeline said she has been writing notes to Matthew since a couple days after the accident.

‘Lately it’s been like, oh, you know, ‘Tripp has two teeth now, but I know you know this.’ Because it’s hard for me to write and think that Matt isn’t seeing this,’ she said.

Cracking down on fake injuries and penalizing any imitation of brandishing weapons are among rule changes coming to the 2025 college football season. 

The tweaks were announced by the National Football Foundation on Wednesday, August 13 as part of its annual update of rules.

A hot topic among rule implementation, preventing teams from faking injuries was a top priority for the rules committee. It was typically done by defenses to stop high-tempo offenses or teams with momentum, while it was also done on offense to stop the game clock and get a pseudo extra timeout.

Now in place for the 2025 season, if a player presents themselves as injured after officials have spotted the ball, that player’s team will be charged a timeout or a delay of game penalty if it has no timeouts left. The player must also sit out at least one play, regardless of whether a timeout has been assessed or not, and cannot return unless they receive approval from the team’s medical personnel.

Another notable rule change is extending penalties to any celebration that mimics a weapon. Before, only an act that simulated the firing of a weapon resulted in an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. 

Now in 2025, an unsportsmanlike conduct flag will be called on a player who brandishes a simulated weapon, like raising the jersey to mimic a gun being held at the waist or pretending to carry a gun. 

Other rule changes for 2025 college football season

Several other rules were added, including:

Teams will continue to get one timeout in each of the first two overtime periods. Now, teams will only get one timeout starting at the third overtime and for the remainder of the game. 
Instead of saying “confirmed” or “stands,” officials will use “upheld” when announcing reviews that will not be overturned.
Any player on the receiving team that makes the “T” symbol on kickoff returns forfeits their right to return the ball and the play will be considered dead.
Any defensive team player within one yard of the line of scrimmage cannot make any quick, abrupt or exaggerated actions that simulate action at the snap and are not part of normal defensive player movement to try and draw an offensive foul.
Defensive players also cannot use disconcerting words or signals, like sounds or cadences to interfere with the offense while it is preparing a play. 
If the defense has more than 11 players on the field after the two-minute timeout, it will be penalized and the offense will be given the option to reset the game clock, which won’t start until the next snap.
Coach-to-player helmet communication is allowed in FCS.
Use of tablets extended to project large images only in the locker room at halftime or during a suspension of play.
A player attempting to recover a loose ball is considered defenseless. 

Shemar Stewart is still finding his way with the Cincinnati Bengals after a prolonged holdout that wasn’t resolved until late July. On Wednesday, teammates delivered a pointed message to the first-round rookie defensive end on the need to properly harness his intensity in a practice setting.

Stewart ignited a scuffle during practice when he bumped into quarterback Joe Burrow during a play. Right guard Lucas Patrick confronted the defender, with teammates quickly arriving to separate the two.

Center Ted Karras, a 10th-year who has been a captain for all three of his previous seasons with the Bengals, said the offensive line was ultimately responsible for Burrow’s well-being, noting, ‘We gotta be better up front.’ But he also called for better judgment from the No. 17 overall pick out of Texas A&M.

Asked if he appreciated the edge Stewart brought to the defensive line, Karras said Wednesday, ‘Hell yeah. Just be smarter. … Come on, man. That’s all our hopes and dreams right there.’

Safeguarding Burrow has been a lofty challenge for the Bengals’ maligned offensive line throughout the quarterback’s five-year career. Cincinnati’s offensive front ranked last in ESPN’s pass-block win rate metric in 2024, and the two-time Pro Bowl signal-caller tied for fourth with 48 sacks taken. Burrow missed the final seven games of the 2023 season after suffering a torn ligament in his right wrist.

With receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins re-signed to massive extensions this offseason, the Bengals are once again counting on Burrow to shoulder a heavy load and lead the team back to the playoffs for the first time since 2022.

Stewart, meanwhile, is expected to help revitalize the defensive front and made a strong early impression on teammates.

‘He’s been making some plays out there for us,’ defensive tackle B.J. Hill said earlier in August. ‘He’s a strong, physical, big-time athlete who can do a lot of things for us. Inside or outside. Glad to have him on our side. When he learns this defense, things are going to very explosive for our defense.’

Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau died on Aug. 29, 2024, when hit by a suspected drunk driver while they were bicycling in New Jersey.
Meredith and Madeline Gaudreau went on ABC to discuss their grief and a foundation to honor their late husbands.
The John and Matthew Gaudreau Foundation will help youth hockey initiatives and support hockey families that have faced tragedy.

The widows of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau used the occasion of what would have been Johnny’s 32nd birthday to formally launch a foundation to honor the late hockey players.

But most of the interview with Meredith, Johnny’s wife, and Madeline on ABC’s ‘Good Morning America’ dealt with the grief they have experienced in the nearly one year since their husbands died on Aug. 29, 2024. The brothers were hit by a suspected drunk driver while they were bicycling in New Jersey. Sean Higgins has pleaded not guilty to charges in the case.

‘Half of me, the best part of me, died that day, too,’ Meredith said. ‘I’m trying to be double now for my kids, even though I’m half of who I was.’

Both women were expecting at the time of their husbands’ deaths. Madeline gave birth to her first child, Tripp, and Meredith her third, Carter.

‘Tripp’s now hitting milestones, so that’s heartbreaking because Matt was super excited to be a dad,’ Madeline said.

The John and Matthew Gaudreau Foundation, first announced in March, will help youth hockey initiatives, support hockey families that have faced tragedy and help other families that have been affected by drunk driving.

‘It was never lost on John and Matty about how expensive it is to maintain hockey as a hobby,’ Meredith said.

The brothers played at Boston College. Older brother Johnny became a seven-time All-Star with the Calgary Flames and Columbus Blue Jackets. Matthew played in the American Hockey League and ECHL and retired to coach youth hockey.

The hockey community has kept the players’ names in the forefront. USA Hockey had Johnny Gaudreau’s jersey in the locker rooms at the 4 Nations Face-Off. Columbus fans sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to Johnny Gaudreau Jr. at a game in February. The Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings honored the brothers with their outfits as they walked into their Stadium Series game. Meredith announced Blue Jackets first-round selections at the 2025 NHL Draft.

‘My daughter (Noa) is catching on,’ Meredith told ABC. ‘She’s 2 and she asks for him a lot. She says, ‘Daddy’s in heaven’ and I’m starting to explain to her what heaven is really because she wants to go to heaven and she says, ‘I want him to come back’ or ‘let’s call him.”

Madeline said she has been writing notes to Matthew since a couple days after the accident.

‘Lately it’s been like, oh, you know, ‘Tripp has two teeth now, but I know you know this.’ Because it’s hard for me to write and think that Matt isn’t seeing this,’ she said.

The Cleveland Browns have another quarterback injury to deal with.

As Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel are on the mend from hamstring injuries, rookie Shedeur Sanders left practice today with an oblique injury.

He was throwing during the early portion of today’s joint practice with the Philadelphia Eagles and was held out for the rest of the session.

Sanders was expected to get work vs. the Eagles in the Browns’ second preseason game on Saturday, Aug. 16. He started the opening preseason game against the Carolina Panthers in the Browns’ 30-10 victory.

Shedeur Sanders injury update

The Browns listed Sanders as day-to-day. He will not practice on Thursday, Aug. 14 and he is unlikely to play on Saturday vs. the Eagles.

Sanders suffered an oblique injury during the early stages of the Wednesday, Aug. 12 practice and was held out. He did remain on the sidelines for the remainder of the day.

Browns QB depth chart

The Browns are a little bit snakebitten when it comes to the quarterback position at the moment. While there’s nothing serious affecting the room (outside of Deshaun Watson), Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel are nursing soft-tissue injuries and are making their way back.

Here’s how the room stacks up:

Joe Flacco
Kenny Pickett
Shedeur Sanders/Dillon Gabriel
Deshaun Watson (IR)

This story will be updated with more information when available.

The 2025 Little League World Series kicked off on Wednesday, Aug. 13 with four games across the U.S. and international brackets.

In total, 20 teams will take part in this summer tradition that concludes on Aug. 24, with the final two squads left standing competing for the championship.

Pitcher Luca Pellegrini and Connecticut got the best of Shane Grawe and Texas in the final game of the day. Pellegrini pitched all six innings in the game, allowing just one hit while striking out 11. Grawe held his own against Connecticut, allowing just two hits and an earned run while striking out 11 in five innings pitched.

LLWS 2025 scores, schedule today

United States bracket

Wednesday, Aug. 13

Game 2: Nevada 16, Illinois 1
Game 4: Connecticut 1, Texas 0

International Bracket

Wednesday, Aug. 13

Game 1: Venezuela 5, Puerto Rico 0
Game 3: Panama 7, Australia 2

Final: Connecticut 1, Texas 0

Luca Pellegrini and Connecticut earned a shutout victory over Texas. Pellegrini threw a strike to record the final out of the game and complete his six-inning, one-hitter.

Connecticut will play Hawai’i on Friday.

Texas’ no-hitter through, Connecticut scores

It may have taken five innings, but we finally saw our first hit of the game. Texas pitcher Shane Grawe allowed his first hit off the bat of Connecticut’s Jimmy Taxiltaridis. Unfortunately, Taxiltaridis would get thrown out at third attempting to advance on a dropped third strike. All hope for a run looked lost for Connecticut, but just one batter later, a single would drive in Dante Madera for the first run of the game. It was a very close play at the plate, but replay showed that Madera was in fact safe, giving Connecticut the all important first run of the contest.

Two no-hitters going on in Williamsport

After three games where the victor put up at least five runs, we’ve got ourselves a good ol’ fashioned pitcher’s duel in the final game of Day 1. Both Connecticut and Texas’ pitchers are both dominating their opponents. Infact, through three-and-a-half innings, neither pitcher has even allowed a hit. There has also only been one error on both sides, making it even more difficult to get on base.

This game may very well come down to which team can break through first. This has the making of a 1-0 if anyone has ever seen one.

FINAL: Panama 7, Australia 2

Panama won this game on the strength of a monster fourth inning, tallying five runs in that frame alone. Australia’s defense certainly played a role in this outcome as well. The Aussies totaled six errors on the day, granting Panama several more opportunities to score than they would have had.

Outside of their defense, Australia had several bright spots. This could be a team to look out for as the tournament progresses. If they can improve their defense, Australia could be one of the most dangerous teams in the loser’s bracket moving forward.

Australia notches second run

Trailing by six in the fifth inning, Australia needed to put together something for any hope at a comeback. Well, they got something. It may just be one run, but come the sixth inning, perhaps that one run could make the difference.

Australia still trails 7-2, but they’ve proven capable of getting to the Panama pitching. We head to the sixth.

Panama puts together massive fourth inning

What was a close game became much more difficult for the Australians. Panama tallied four runs before recording their second out. Panama would add a fifth run on an error from the Australia second baseman.

Despite the crooked number, it actually could have been much worse for Australia, as Panama left two runners on base to end the inning. It took a great play at short and an even better pick at first in order to secure the final out. Australia fans breathed a major sigh of relief after the play.

We head to the bottom of the fourth. Panama leads 7-1.

Panama hits first home run of LLWS

A long finish to the first United States game delayed a lot of fans from watching Panama vs. Australia. In fact, viewers missed the entirety of the first inning, where Panama made a statement, hitting a two-run home run to kick the game off, the first home run of the tournament.

Australia would retaliate, picking up a run of their own in the bottom of the first, but they still trail 2-1, heading into the second inning.

FINAL: Nevada 16, Illinois 1

This was a statement win from Nevada, announcing to every other team that they are here and here to stay. Eighteen hits, sixteen runs. It just wasn’t fair in the sixth inning. Even though Illinois put up a run in the sixth, it was far too little too late.

Nevada advances to face the Northwest region in the second round on Aug. 15.

Nevada explodes before bottom of the sixth

After scoring five runs in the first two innings, Nevada’s offense went silent for the next three. However, needing just three outs left to put away Illinois, the Nevada offense decided to give their pitchers a little more run support. And by a little, we mean eleven runs. If it wasn’t the sixth inning, this inning alone would have triggered the ten-run mercy rule.

The hits just kept on coming. Nevada was not just walking, they were smoking the baseball, putting up extra base hit after extra base hit, constantly driving in runs. At one point, twelve hitters were able to reach base consecutively. Nevada tallied five doubles in the inning.

Nevada pitcher Gallegos didn’t need much help. After all, he was throwing a shutout before getting pulled in the sixth due to the pitch count. However, you can never have too much run support. Nevada heads into the bottom of the sixth up 16-0.

Nevada two-out rally plants four runs

With two outs in the bottom of the second, Nevada put together an outstanding rally, tallying two singles and two walks to bring home their second run in as many innings.

The second run prompted an Illinois pitching change with shortstop Brody Herold heading to the mound. The change didn’t help though. Nevada’s Dustin Gruesel drilled a single to left center field, driving in two more runs and leaving runners on the corner for the top of the order.

Nevada would score one more run to put themselves up by five. Finally, the inning would end on a fly ball to center field, but the massive damage had been done. It’s Illinois’ turn to put up a crooked number. They trail 5-0.

Illinois leaves them loaded

Looking to get that run right back, Illinois was doing well, loading the bases in the bottom of the first with only one out. However, Nevada pitcher Garrett Gallegos came up clutch, racking up two strikeouts to strand the runners on the bases. Nevada maintains their 1-0 lead.

Nevada off to hot start

It didn’t take long for the offense to get going on the American side. A leadoff walk and a single put two runners on with no one out in the top of the first inning.

Illinois had an opportunity to limit the threat. A taylor-made double play ball ended up with an errant throw, putting runners on the corners. Two pitches later, a wild pitch would allow Brooks Fescher to score, and moving Cache Malan to second.

Nevada would not be able to bring Malan home, but the run is already giving them some momentum. As we’ve already seen, one run can be more than enough to win in Williamsport.

FINAL: Venezuela 5, Puerto Rico 0

A dominant pitching performance from Venezuela was the story for this game. The team’s strong pitching was coupled with immaculate defense and timely hitting, granting Venezuela a strong win to start tournament play.

Puerto Rico had several good moments, but could not find a way to cross the plate. Don’t let the final score fool you though. Puerto Rico had nearly as many hits as Venezuela (four to Venezuela’s five). However, their inability to drive in runners when they reached base was the difference in this game.

Venezuela will play next on August 15 against Canada. Puerto Rico, meanwhile, moves to the loser’s bracket. They’ll play on August 16 against the loser between Mexico and Taipei.

Samuel Castillo pulls off immaculate double play

After a leadoff single from Puerto Rico, Venezuela was looking to halt any hope of a comeback. Samuel Castillo did it on his own. With a ball hit sharply down the left field line, Castillo snagged it out of the air diving to his right, then firing across the diamond to double up the runner at first.

Castillo’s leather work was a massive momentum swing, and the momentum was already in Venezuela’s favor. It remains 3-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth.

Puerto Rico keeps runs off the board

The bottom of the fourth inning started off as well as it could for a trailing Puerto Rico team. However, with two outs, a walk and an error put a runner in scoring position, giving Venezuela a chance to extend their 3-0 lead.

It appeared to be an infield hit at first glance, with Puerto Rico curious how they didn’t get an out. However, after some collaboration from the umpires, they decided that the inning was over. Puerto Rico fans breathed a big sigh of relief. They’ll head to the top of the fifth, down 3-0, looking to mount a comeback.

What time is the Little League World Series today?

The first game Wednesday is at 1 p.m. ET with the final game starting at 7 p.m. ET, with Fairfield, Connecticut, taking on Richmond, Texas, to conclude the day.

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

The Little League World Series begins Wednesday with four games across the U.S. and international brackets. Games will be presented across ESPN, 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 with the final game starting at 7 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Streaming: ESPN+ (international games), Fubo

Watch the Little League World Series with Fubo

Previous LLWS champions

Here are the last 20 LLWS champions by year:

2024: Lake Mary, Florida
2023: El Segundo, California
2022: Honolulu, Hawaii
2021: Taylor, Michigan
2019: River Ridge, Louisiana
2018: Honolulu, Hawaii
2017: Tokyo-Kitasuna, Japan
2016: Maine-Endwell, New York
2015: Tokyo-Kitasuna, Japan
2014: Seoul, South Korea
2013: Musashi-Fuchu, Japan
2012: Tokyo-Kitasuna, Japan
2011: Huntington Beach, California
2010: Edogawa Minami, Japan
2009: Chula Vista, California
2008: Waipahu, Hawaii
2007: Warner Robins, Georgia
2006: Columbus, Georgia
2005: ‘Ewa Beach, Hawaii
2004: Willemstad, Curacao

How does the LLWS work?

The Little League World Series is an annual summer tournament hosted in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, home of the first ever LLWS champions in 1947. The tournament is a double-elimination tournament, meaning each team can lose one game before being eliminated from contention following their second loss.

The tournament is also broken up between United States and international brackets, with the championship always being between the U.S. champs and an international opponent.

Which teams are in the tournament this year?

United States teams:

Great Lakes Region: Clarendon Hills, Illinois
Metro Region: Fairfield, Connecticut
Mid-Atlantic Region: Upper Uwchlan Township, Pennsylvania
Midwest Region: Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Mountain Region: Las Vegas, Nevada
New England Region: Braintree, Massachusetts
Northwest Region: Bonney Lake, Washington
Southeast Region: Irmo, South Carolina
Southwest Region: Richmond, Texas
West Region: Honolulu, Hawaii

International Teams:

Asia-Pacific Region: Chinese Taipei
Australia Region: Brisbane, Queensland
Canada Region: Vancouver, British Columbia
Caribbean Region: Santa Cruz, Aruba
Europe-Africa Region: Brno, Czechia
Japan Region: Tokyo, Japan
Latin America Region: Barquisimeto, Venezuela
Mexico Region: Chihuahua, Mexico
Panama Region: Arraijan, Panama
Puerto Rico Region: Yubucoa, Puerto Rico

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Coaches underrated Clemson, Oklahoma.
AP overrated Florida, Tennessee.
Both polls snubbed Baylor.

Media members voting in college football’s AP Top 25 followed the lead of the US LBM Coaches Poll by anointing Texas as the preseason No. 1. You’ll get no objection from me.

The Longhorns possess the coach, the roster and the quarterback to pursue a national championship.

After the No. 1 spot, though, the two polls featured several discrepancies. Oklahoma became subject to the biggest disagreement. The Sooners went unranked by the coaches, but landed No. 18 in the AP poll.

Here’s a look at the eight biggest discrepancies between the polls, with my ruling on which poll got it right:

Clemson

Coaches: No. 6

AP: No. 4

Who got it right?: AP

Clemson finished with four losses last season, but never mind that fading object in the rearview mirror, because Dabo Swinney retained a talented roster that’s now more experienced. He even added some polish with a few transfers. Clemson touts the nation’s best defensive line, along with arguably the nation’s top quarterback, Cade Klubnik. The Tigers aren’t just contenders inside the ACC. They’re national championship contenders.

Florida

Coaches: No. 17

AP: No. 15

Who got it right?: Coaches

Both poll services overrated the Gators, but the coaches came closer to the mark. Florida ended last season playing well. DJ Lagway is one of the nation’s most promising quarterbacks, but he rehabbed injuries throughout the offseason, and after an underwhelming transfer haul, I question whether Lagway enjoys enough support on either side of the ball to justify these rankings in the face of a daunting schedule.

Texas A&M

Coaches: No. 21

AP: No. 19

Who got it right?: Coaches

Texas A&M being overrated is an August tradition. The Aggies were ranked in the preseason polls in each of the past six years. They finished the season ranked only twice during that span, and only once did they finish higher than their preseason ranking. That doesn’t mean these Aggies will stink. They’re equipped with a solid offensive line and a strong backfield. But, combine how they buckled at the end of last season with their history of failing to meet projections, and the AP awarded too much respect.

Kansas State

Coaches: No. 20

AP: No. 17

Who got it right?: AP

Kansas State unraveled last November but still finished 9-4, and the Wildcats returned a bulk of their production, including quarterback Avery Johnson. That helps explain why the Wildcats are an oddsmaker front-runner to win the Big 12. Kansas State’s run game and rushing defense each should rank near the top of its conference. The coaches underrated the Wildcats, and the media corrected that.

Brigham Young

Coaches: No. 23

AP: Unranked

Who got it right?: AP

The coaches’ ranking is out of touch with the reality that the Cougars’ planned starting quarterback, Jake Retzlaff, transferred to Tulane this summer, rather than face an honor code suspension at BYU. Given that late roster twist, a different Big 12 team, Baylor, would be a better choice in the rankings than BYU. The Bears went unranked in both polls. BYU’s coaches poll ranking honors its 2024 performance rather than its 2025 reality.

Mississippi

Coaches: No. 15

AP: No. 21

Who got it right?: Coaches

Tennessee

Coaches: No. 18

AP: No. 24

Who got it right?: AP

Ideally, split the difference between these two rankings, but, forced to choose one, I’d say the AP rankings are closer to the mark after Tennessee endured significant losses from its playoff team, including the April departure of quarterback Nico Iamaleava. Coach Josh Heupel’s track record indicates a high floor, but combine the Vols’ meek transfer haul with the quarterback uncertainty, and the coaches’ ranking seems too bullish. At least the schedule is accommodating, by SEC standards.

Oklahoma

Coaches: Unranked

AP: No. 18

Who got it right?: AP

Embattled coach Brent Venables used the offseason to seed a revival, after the 2024 season went bust. Sweeping roster changes include the additions of star quarterback John Mateer, a transfer from Washington State, and Jadyn Ott, a former All-America running back for California. The AP ranking might be a smidge lofty for a team facing Oklahoma’s brutal schedule, but it’s closer to the mark than the Sooners being omitted from the coaches poll, where they received the most points among unranked teams.

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