In a matchup of two of the most storied and historically decorated programs in the history of college football — both with large, rabid fan bases and iconic helmets — Michigan came out on top.

Behind a relentless rushing attack and an aggressive pass rush, No. 20 Michigan defeated Nebraska 30-27 on Saturday, Sept. 20 at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska in the Big Ten opener for both teams.

Watch Michigan vs. Nebraska football live with Fubo (free trial)

Wolverines running back Justice Haynes had his way against the Cornhuskers, rumbling for 149 yards on 17 carries, an output highlighted by a 75-yard touchdown run. It was one of two long touchdown scampers for Michigan, with Jordan Marshall’s 54-yard touchdown in the third quarter pushing his team’s lead to 27-17.

The Wolverines’ defensive line feasted on Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola, sacking the sophomore standout seven times. When he had time in the pocket, Raiola performed well, completing 30 of 41 passes for 303 yards, three touchdowns and an interception.

Michigan freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood completed 12 of 22 passes for 105 yards while adding 61 rushing yards, many of which came on a 37-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.

It was the first loss of the season for Nebraska, which has lost its past five Big Ten openers. The game was the Wolverines’ final contest under interim head coach Biff Poggi, with head coach Sherrone Moore set to return from his two-game suspension after Saturday’s victory.

USA TODAY Sports brought you live updates, scores and highlights from the game. Follow along.

Michigan vs Nebraska live score

This section will be updated throughout the game

Michigan vs Nebraska updates

Michigan vs Nebraska highlights

Final: Michigan 30, Nebraska 27

Michigan recovers the onside kick after the Dylan Raiola touchdown pass and drains the remaining clock to defeat Nebraska 30-27.

Dylan Raiola TD pass gets Nebraska within one score of Michigan

Nebraska’s slim hopes of a win against Michigan remain alive. Dylan Raiola ends a 10-play, 75-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Heinrich Haarberg to cut the Wolverines’ lead to 30-27 with 1:34 remaining.

Brandyn Hillman targeting call overturned

As Nebraska drives up the field trying to cut into its deficit, Michigan defensive back Brandyn Hillman is whistled for targeting on a hit on Jacory Barney Jr. on a 21-yard catch that gets the Huskers to the Michigan 3-yard line. Upon video review, though, the penalty is overturned.

Dominic Zvada extends Michigan lead to two scores

It didn’t end with a touchdown, but Michigan plays its latest drive about as well as it could have. The Wolverines go 77 yards in 16 plays while draining 8:46 off the clock, a march that ends with a 21-yard Dominic Zvada field goal to give Michigan a 30-20 lead with 3:54 remaining. Biff Poggi’s team got some big plays along the way, including a 19-yard Justice Haynes run.

It’ll take an unusual series of events for Nebraska to pull off a win.

Dylan Raiola sacked again, leads to Nebraska punt

Dylan Raiola is sacked for the seventh time today by Michigan, this time on a third-and-12 from the Nebraska 27-yard line.

The Huskers punt with 12:53 remaining and the Wolverines will take over at their own 20.

Michigan punts

Nebraska will get the ball back with a chance to tie the game after forcing a Michigan punt. The Huskers’ drive will start at their own 29-yard line with 14:05 remaining.

Nebraska FG gets Huskers within one score of Michigan

A 12-play, 55-yard Nebraska drive ends with a 38-yard Kyle Cunanan field goal to get the Huskers within seven, 27-20, with 14:56 remaining.

Nebraska very nearly got closer, as it appeared Dylan Raiola found Nyziah Hunter for a 20-yard touchdown on a third-and-14, but officials rule that Hunter stepped out of the back of the end zone before coming back on the field to catch the pass.

End of third quarter: Michigan 27, Nebraska 17

Nebraska will open the fourth quarter with a 38-yard field goal attempt that could get it back within a single score of Michigan.

Jordan Marshall TD run extends Michigan’s lead vs Nebraska

For the second time today, a Wolverines running back takes a handoff to the house for a long touchdown. This time, the heroics come courtesy of Jordan Marshall, who blasts through a huge gap his offensive line created and outruns the Nebraska secondary for a 54-yard touchdown scamper.

Michigan now leads 27-17 with 5:40 remaining in the third quarter.

Nebraska punts again

Nebraska goes three-and-out, with an Archie Wilson punt giving Michigan the ball back at its 38-yard line with 6:21 left in the third quarter. The Huskers have negative-one yards across their two second-half possessions.

Dominic Zvada FG puts Michigan ahead of Nebraska

The Wolverines break their tie with Nebraska, going 22 yards in eight plays, setting up a Dominic Zvada 56-yard field goal that would have been good from 65 yards, if not 70. The kick ties a career long.

Since the start of the 2023 season, Zvada has made all nine of his field goal attempts from 50 yards or more.

Nebraska punts

Trapped inside their own 5-yard line, the Huskers aren’t able to do much of anything, going three-and-out and punting. Michigan will take over at its 40-yard line with 10:21 remaining in the third quarter after a 52-yard Archie Wilson punt.

Michigan punts on opening drive

The Wolverines get near midfield on their opening drive of the second half, but Justice Haynes is tackled two yard short of the sticks on a third-and-3, forcing a Michigan punt. Nebraska will take over at its own 3-yard line.

Michigan vs Nebraska halftime stats

Here are how the Wolverines and Huskers measure up in some of the major statistical categories at halftime:

Total yards: Nebraska 253, Michigan 195
Pass yards: Nebraska 210, Michigan 41
Rushing yards: Michigan 154, Nebraska 43
Plays: Nebraska 42, Michigan 21
Yards per play: Michigan 9.3, Nebraska 6
Third downs: Nebraska 2-7, Michigan 0-4
Time of possession: Nebraska 19:58, Michigan 10:02
Sacks: Michigan 4, Nebraska 1

Michigan vs Nebraska live stream

The game between the Wolverines and Huskers can be streamed on Paramount+, which requires a subscription, and Fubo, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.

Halftime: Michigan 17, Nebraska 17

After Dylan Raiola’s Hail Mary touchdown pass, Nebraska and Michigan are tied at 17 at halftime. The Wolverines will get the opening kickoff of the second half.

Dylan Raiola Hail Mary TD ties Nebraska vs Michigan at halftime

Nebraska looked destined to head into halftime with a 7-point deficit, with a fourth-and-11 at its own 48-yard line with one second left in the second quarter. Dylan Raiola, however, had other ideas.

The Huskers’ sophomore quarterback rolls to his right and heaves up a Hail Mary, which ended up in the hands of Jacory Barney Jr. for a 52-yard touchdown with no time left on the clock.

Justice Haynes long TD run puts Michigan back ahead of Nebraska

Immediately after giving up the lead, Michigan takes it back.

On the first play from scrimmage after the Dylan Raiola touchdown pass, Wolverines running back Justice Haynes bursts through the middle of the Nebraska defense for a 75-yard touchdown run to put his team back on top, 17-10.

It’s the fourth touchdown run of at least 50 yards this season for the Alabama transfer.

Dylan Raiola TD pass ties Nebraska vs Michigan

We’ve got a tie ballgame in Lincoln. Nebraska’s third-down struggles end in a big way on its latest drive, with Dylan Raiola connecting with Jacory Barney Jr. for a 26-yard touchdown up the middle.

With the extra point, it’s tied at 10 with 2:01 remaining in the first half.

Michigan punts

The Wolverines pick up a first down on a Justice Haynes 11-yard run, but they’re not able to get past their own 36-yard line. A 49-yard Hudson Hollenbeck punt is returned 20 yards by Nebraska’s Jacory Barney Jr. to the Huskers’ 37.

Nebraska gets on the board with FG

The Huskers are able to turn the Bryce Underwood fumble into points. A Dylan Raiola 21-yard completion to Dane Key gets Nebraska down to the Michigan 21-yard line. On a third-and-3 from the Wolverines’ 14, Raiola is sacked for a 7-yard loss. Michigan already has three sacks only 21 minutes into the game.

Nebraska’s able to salvage the drive with some points, though, getting a 39-yard field goal from Kyle Cunanan.

Bryce Underwood fumbles, Nebraska recovers

Bryce Underwood is able to scamper for a first down on an 8-yard run on third-and-3, but the Michigan quarterback is stripped of the ball by Elijah Jeudy just before going to the turf. Nebraska falls on it and will take over at its own 48-yard line.

Nebraska punts

After a false start turned a third-and-3 into a third-and-8, Dylan Raiola is sacked for an 11-yard loss back at the Nebraska 16-yard line, forcing the Huskers to punt. Michigan will take over at its own 37 after a 47-yard punt from Archie Wilson.

End of first quarter: Michigan 10, Nebraska 0

The first quarter ends with Nebraska facing a third-and-3 from its own 32-yard line.

Wolverines pick off Dylan Raiola, score touchdown off turnover

Two Wolverines defenders key in on a quick out by Raiola. Jyaire Hill misses a potential pick-6, but linebacker Cole Sullivan makes the diving interception.

One play later, Bryce Underwood takes it 37 yards, untouched, up the gut on the QB keeper to get the first touchdown of the game. Michigan leads 10-0.

Michigan misses two TD opportunities, settle for field goal

Michigan will be kicking itself after two straight missed opportunities at touchdowns in Nebraska territory. The first saw the Wolverines attempt a trick play, with wide receiver Semaj Morgan underthrowing a wide-open Donaven McCulley in the end zone.

Two plays later, Underwood’s deep pass to Channing Goodwin bounces off his hands. The Wolverines instead settle for a 46-yard field goal.

Nebraska misses FG

A short punt with a bad bounce for Michigan gives Nebraska the ball at the Wolverines’ 37-yard line.

The Huskers get down to the Michigan 21 before Dylan Raiola is sacked for a 5-yard loss on third-and-7. After that, a Kyle Cunanan 44-yard field goal misses wide right, marking the first time this season he hasn’t connected on an attempt.

Nebraska has twice gotten inside the Michigan 25, but hasn’t come away with any points.

Michigan stuffs Nebraska on fourth down

Nebraska comes up empty-handed on a promising opening drive, getting down to the Michigan 6-yard line. From there, coach Matt Rhule opts to go for it on fourth-and-2, but the Wolverines snuff out a shovel pass from Dylan Raiola to Luke Lindenmeyer, with Lindenmeyer stopped a yard short of the sticks.

Michigan will take over at its own 5.

Nebraska jerseys vs Michigan

The Huskers will be going with their traditional home look against Michigan — white pants, red jerseys and white helmets.

Michigan jerseys vs Nebraska

Michigan will be wearing navy blue pants, white jerseys and the Wolverines’ famed winged helmets Saturday against Nebraska.

Bryce Underwood warms up before Michigan vs Nebraska

The Wolverines’ freshman phenom quarterback gets ready on the field at Memorial Stadium before his team’s game against Nebraska. It’s Underwood’s Big Ten debut.

Dylan Raiola leads Nebraska on the field vs Michigan

Less than an hour before one of the biggest games of his college career, Nebraska sophomore quarterback Dylan Raiola leads his team out on to the field at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln.

Bryce Underwood stats

Three games into his college career, Underwood, the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2025 class, has completed 57.5% of his passes for 628 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Underwood has added 108 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries.

Michigan vs Nebraska injury updates

According to the latest Big Ten’s football availability report, here’s the injury outlook for Michigan and Nebraska:

Michigan

Out: WR I’Marion Stewart, DB Zeke Berry, DB Caleb Anderson, QB Davis Warren, DB Tevis Metcalf, RB Micah Ka’apana, RB Donovan Johnson, RB John Volker, LB Jaydon Hood, OL Giovanni El-Hadi, OL Andrew Babalola, DL Manuel Beigel, TE Hogan Hansen, DE Devon Baxter, WR C.J. Charleston, DL Ike Iwunnah
Questionable: DB Shamari Earls, QB Mikey Keene, DB Rod Moore, DB Mason Curtis, OL Brady Norton

Nebraska

Out: WR Janiran Bonner, WR Demitrius Bell, DB Blye Hill, RB Jamarion Parker, LB Trent Uhlir, LB Gage Stenger, DL Malcolm Simpson, OL Julian Marks, OL Nolan Fennessy, DL Tyson Terry, OL Gibson Pyle, TE Mac Markway, WR Jackson Carpenter, DL Conor Connealy
Questionable: DB Malcolm Hartzog Jr., RB Kenneth Williams, DB Caleb Benning, DB Tanner Terch, LB Derek Wacker, WR Jeremiah Jones

College GameDay Michigan vs Nebraska predictions

During the picks segment on ESPN’s ‘College GameDay,’ four of the show’s five panelists went with Michigan to top Nebraska. Here’s a look at how they voted:

Desmond Howard: Michigan
Nick Saban: Michigan
Pat McAfee: Nebraska
Matthew Tkachuk (celebrity guest-picker): Michigan
Kirk Herbstreit: Michigan

What time does Michigan vs Nebraska start?

Date: Saturday, September 20
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Where: Memorial Stadium (Lincoln, Nebraska)

What TV channel is Michigan vs Nebraska on today?  

TV: CBS
Streaming: Paramount+ ∣ Fubo (free trial)

Michigan vs Nebraska predictions

Matt Hayes, USA TODAY Network: Michigan
Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY: Nebraska
Erick Smith, USA TODAY: Nebraska
Paul Meyerberg, USA TODAY: Michigan
Eddie Timanus, USA TODAY: Michigan
Blake Toppmeyer, USA TODAY Network: Nebraska

Michigan schedule 2025

Here’s a look at Michigan football’s 2025 results and remaining schedule:

Saturday, August 30: Michigan 34, New Mexico 17
Saturday, September 6: No. 24 Oklahoma 24, Michigan 13
Saturday, September 13: Michigan 63, Central Michigan 3
Saturday, September 20: at Nebraska *
Saturday, September 27: BYE
Saturday, October 4: vs. Wisconsin *
Saturday, October 11: at USC *
Saturday, October 18: vs. Washington *
Saturday, October 25: at Michigan State *
Saturday, November 1: vs. Purdue *
Saturday, November 8: BYE
Saturday, November 15: at Northwestern *
Saturday, November 22: at Maryland *
Saturday, November 29: at No. 1 Ohio State *

* Denotes Big Ten game

Nebraska schedule 2025

Here’s a look at Nebraska football’s 2025 results and remaining schedule:

Thursday, Aug. 28: Nebraska 20, Cincinnati 17
Saturday, Sept. 6: Nebraska 68, Akron 0
Saturday, Sept. 13: Nebraska 59, Houston Christian 7
Saturday, Sept. 20: vs. No. 20 Michigan *
Saturday, Sept. 27: BYE
Saturday, Oct. 4: vs. Michigan State *
Saturday, Oct. 11: at Maryland *
Friday, Oct. 17: at Minnesota *
Saturday, Oct. 25: vs. Northwestern *
Saturday, Nov. 1: vs. USC *
Saturday, Nov. 8: at UCLA *
Saturday, Nov. 15: BYE
Saturday, Nov. 22: at No. 2 Penn State *
Friday, Nov. 28: vs. Iowa *

* Denotes Big Ten game

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh hit his 57th home run in the third inning against the Houston Astros on Saturday, Sept. 20, to pass Ken Griffey Jr.’s team record for most home runs in a season.

Griffey hit 56 homers for Seattle in 1997 and 1998.

With one out in the top of the third, Raleigh launched a solo home run to right-center field to give the Mariners a 3-0 lead and officially pass Griffey on the single-season home run list.

Earlier in the week, Raleigh had knocked in two home runs against the Royals in Kansas City, allowing him to surpass Mickey Mantle’s single-season record for long balls by a switch hitter (set in 1961) and equal the franchise record held by Griffey.

A first-time All-Star this year, Raleigh leads the major leagues in home runs and paces the American League with 118 RBIs. Earlier this year, he also set the single-season record for home runs by a full-time catcher, previously held by Salvador Perez of the Royals (48 in 2021).

The first-place Mariners (85-69) led the Houston Astros (84-70) by a game in the American League West entering Saturday’s game.

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

The Los Angeles Dodgers extended their winning streak to four games following a 7-5 victory over the San Francisco Giants.

Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow also had to overcome a slow start in the first inning after Bryce Eldridge hit a three-run double for the Giants.

The Giants built an early four-run lead in the first inning before the Dodgers managed to rally and even the score in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Glasnow allowed six hits, four earned runs, while striking out seven in five innings pitched. The Dodgers used five other pitchers from the bullpen to finish out the game.

Michael Conforto hit a solo home run in the inning to make it a one-run game. Freddie Freeman produced an RBI single to right field to bring Shohei Ohtani in to tie the game at 4.

Ohtani also hit his 53rd home run during the game. He is now tied with Kyle Schwarber of the Philadelphia Phillies for the National League lead.

The Dodgers improve to 88-67 on the season. The Giants fall to 76-78.

The Dodgers’ magic number is now 3. The Giants will return to Dodger Stadium for an afternoon start against the Dodgers.

Highlights: Dodgers beat Giants

Final: Dodgers 7, Giants 5

The Dodgers complete the rally to beat the Giants. Los Angeles used six different pitchers in the game.

Rafael Devers, Giants try to answer back

Rafael Devers hit a solo home run in the top of the seventh inning to cut into the Dodgers’ lead and make it a two-run game. It was Devers’ 32nd home run this season.

Mookie Betts secured the first out in the top of the seventh inning with an impressive catch at the net in foul territory.

Shohei Ohtani hits 53rd home run

Ohtani hits a solo home run to add to the Dodgers’ lead in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Ohtani has hit four home runs in the last five games. He is now just one home run shy of tying his career best of 54 from last year. The total from 2024 is also the most home runs hit by a Dodger in a single season.

Mookie Betts hit a double shortly after. Teoscar Hernández hit a single to bring in Betts.

The Dodgers lead the Giants 7-4 at the end of the sixth inning.

Dodgers take first lead

The Dodgers took the lead with Tommy Edman’s solo home run to left field in the bottom of the fifth inning. It was Edman’s 13th home run of the season and first since July 29.

The Dodgers lead the Giants 5-4.

Dodgers tie the game with Giants

Michael Conforto hit his 12th home run of the season with a solo shot to center field. The Dodgers trail the Giants 4-3 in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Freddie Freeman singled to right field, bringing in Shohei Ohtani. The game is tied at 4.

Dodgers unable to capitalize

The Dodgers were unable to take advantage of a bases-loaded situation in the bottom of the third inning. The Giants still lead the Dodgers 4-2.

Tyler Glasnow is back out on the mound for the Dodgers to start the fourth inning.

Max Muncy answers back for Dodgers

Muncy hit a two-run home run against pitcher Kai-Wei Teng in the bottom of the first inning.

The Giants lead the Dodgers 4-2.

Giants take early lead over Dodgers

The Giants built up a strong lead at the top of the first inning after Bryce Eldridge had a 3-run double against Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow.

It was Eldridge’s first major league career hit.

Glasnow threw 32 pitches with six Giants getting on base before the Dodgers recorded the second out.

He would walk Gilbert with the bases loaded, bringing in another run for the Dodgers.

Glasnow finally got out of the top of the inning after striking out Heliot Ramos. He faced 10 batters, throwing 43 pitches and 24 strikes.

The Giants lead the Dodgers 4-0.

How to watch San Francisco Giants at Los Angeles Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers will host the San Francisco Giants on Saturday, September 20, at 9:10 p.m. ET at Dodger Stadium.

Date: Saturday, Sept. 20
Time: 9:10 p.m. ET | 6:10 p.m. PT
TV: SportsNet LA and NBCS-BA
Stream:Fubo (free trial)
Location: Dodger Stadium

Dodgers lineup vs. Giants

Giants lineup vs. Dodgers

Clayton Kershaw celebrated with bobblehead

The Dodgers continued to celebrate veteran pitcher Clayton Kershaw this weekend with his own bobblehead.

Fans who were in attendance for Saturday’s game at Dodger Stadium received a bobblehead, celebrating Kershaw’s 3,000 strikeout milestone from earlier in the season.

Earlier this week, Kershaw announced that he was going to retire at the end of the Dodgers’ season. The 18-year veteran made his final regular-season home start on Friday.

Will Smith out for rest of regular season

Catcher Will Smith is likely to miss the rest of the regular season due to a hairline fracture in his right hand, according to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.

The hairline fracture was revealed after Smith had another scan of his hand.

Roberts said Smith’s status for the postseason is ‘up in the air.’

Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark’s recent remarks on social media have resulted in her receiving a fine from the WNBA.

Clark made a pair of comments on an Instagram post following the team’s 77-66 victory over the Atlanta Dream on Tuesday.

The comments read: ‘Elite bench mob’ and ‘Refs couldn’t stop us.’

Clark announced what her fine was in a Sept. 20 post on X.

Teammate Sophie Cunningham responded to Clark’s post: ‘that’s gonna really break the bank for her. starting a GoFundMe now!’

When is the Indiana Fever’s next game?

The Indiana Fever will travel to play the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday in Game 1 of the WNBA semifinals series. The game will start at 3 p.m. ET.

Readers debated the NFL’s decision to honor slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk with a moment of silence.
Columnist Jarrett Bell defended his opinion that the NFL’s tribute was insensitive to many players and staff.
A fan’s brief altercation with Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson sparked a discussion on fan conduct and security.

This isanotherinstallment of a series in which readers engage with USA TODAY Sports’ NFL Columnist Jarrett Bell. In some cases, the posted e-mailed letters have been edited for clarity, brevity and/or accuracy. Questions? Comments? E-mail: jbell@usatoday.com

This week, readers serve up feedback on the NFL’s decision to honor slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk with a moment of silence, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson’s brief tussle with a fan in Buffalo, and the classic comeback by the Bills in Week 1.

James Youngblood on Charlie Kirk: Regarding your comments that “Kirk’s platform routinely carried undertones of racism. Or homophobia. Or sexism.” Can you provide evidence of your accusations? Actual quotes. Not generalized interpretations. Unfortunately, you have allowed your biases to replace truth. Will you have the honesty and integrity to accept what Charlie Kirk actually said versus the twisted and hateful rhetoric you have unfairly accused him of? I hope you will be able to discern fact versus fiction. I pray you will be given wisdom and courage at this moment. May God’s love & mercy be with you.

JB: First, appreciate your prayers. And to that end, our entire nation is in need. I hope, regardless of where any of us spiritually or politically, we can agree in condemning Kirk’s death. The point of my column examined the NFL’s decision to incorporate a moment of silence for Kirk, and how I felt that it was insensitive to a significant number of players, coaches and staff. Did you see how he disparaged Black pilots, questioning their qualifications merely by sight? His comments were objectively verified. How he maintained that several prominent Black women didn’t have the brain processing power to be taken seriously? Also verified. His comments about Taylor Swift needing to “submit” to her future husband illuminated the message that he repeatedly delivered, that his best advice for women was to get married and have babies. In any event, it is not hard to find actual quotes attributed to Kirk by reputable sources. Yet it’s also apparent in this environment that misinformation and politically-charged narratives exist, including fuel from the White House. In writing my opinion about the NFL’s reaction, it was not prudent to whitewash Kirk’s complex legacy or ignore his offensive remarks.

Jim Stanton: I am a lifelong USA TODAY reader going back to my college days in the late 80’s. I appreciate how you cover the NFL. As for your article (about the messaging from the NFL associated with the moments of silence for Charlie Kirk), did the NFL do anything for the Minnesota lawmakers that were killed? I don’t recall seeing anything about that. I realize that it was not in-season. Just curious.

JB: The Minnesota Vikings indeed acknowledged the late Democratic Minnesota State Rep. Melissa Hortman, who was slain with her husband, Mark, releasing a statement immediately after the tragedy in June that authorities regarded as a “politically motivated” assassination. There was not a specific moment of silence before a game. However, before their game against the Falcons on Sept. 14, the Vikings dedicated a moment of silence to the two children who were killed and the nearly 20 who were injured in the mass shooting at Annunciation Church and School in South Minneapolis on Aug. 27. While the team did not specifically name Hortman, Kirk, school children in Colorado or other victims of shootings in recent months, it referenced a moment of silence for all victims of recent gun violence in our country. Your point about the timing of the tragedy with Kirk and the NFL’s decision to have a moment of silence for Kirk before a Thursday night game in Green Bay is relevant, as it came before the first NFL game staged following his murder the previous day.

Dr. Steven Smith: You are either an idiot or a stooge. Not sure what is worse. Charlie Kirk invited discussion. Encouraged those that disagreed to sit in front. I’ve heard him speak, at least a dozen times. NO HATE SPEECH. He had 85 million followers (on social media), 3,500 high school, college chapters (of Turning Point USA), channeling Socrates. “Let’s talk about it.” He scared the left to death. He’s partly responsible for the Democrats self-destructing. Their reaction, the only play in their playbook, is dogma, scripted untruths. So, Mr. Bell…stupid, or stooge?

JB: Just two choices? I don’t disagree that Kirk inspired debate. And even though I disagree with many of his views – including his condemnation of Martin Luther King’s legacy and his position that the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibited discrimination in public places, housing and employment, among other components, was “a huge mistake” — I never attended any of his events. Yes, I am aware that he appealed to many people and acknowledge that he had a right to free speech. All that said, my opinion was not based on carrying water for a political party and certainly wasn’t in the spirit of spreading “scripted untruths,” as you put it. Your message, though, also underscored how personal insults are so often used by people in attempts to discredit certain points of view amid the spirit of debate. I’m not an idiot or a stooge.

Allen Millstein: Thanks for having the (courage) to write an accurate, objective column about the death of Charlie Kirk. It seems that in our current environment free speech doesn’t pertain to everyone. Always enjoy your columns, this one especially. Continued success.

JB: Appreciate your perspective. In covering the NFL over the years, the topics have gone beyond the game in many ways. One thing that’s apparent: The NFL means so much to so many people, which also speaks to the league’s opportunity as a social beacon and potential as a unifying force in our culture. While I don’t think the NFL always gets it right with its messaging, I sense that more often than it makes earnest attempts to appeal to its broad audience against the backdrop of its business model. Of course, part of my point in writing the column was to underscore the great responsibility the NFL has in its response to social and cultural situations that go way beyond the games that fuel the NFL’s standing as the most popular sports league in America.  

Joseph Fish on Lamar Jackson’s celebratory shove: Clearly the Bills’ fans were wrong tocontact any of the Ravens, but somehow the NFL has to stop massive celebrations, especially those taunting opposing fans in their vicinity. Again, the fans were dead wrong, but hey, keep it in the end zone. I’m a Giants fan, so I’m not used to seeing mass celebrations.

JB: The reaction of the Ravens quarterback, shoving a fan in retaliation after he was slapped on the helmet while celebrating close to the stands — and after witnessing the fan similarly slap his teammate, DeAndre Hopkins – didn’t strike me as the impetus to ban mass celebrations. I certainly don’t think Jackson and his teammates were “taunting” the Bills fans. They were basking in their own moment, which happened to occur as they made their way back to the bench while playing a road game. That said, the fan, regardless of his state of mind and emotion attached to the team he rooted for, didn’t have the right to reach over the railing to strike the players. As Jackson concluded, it underscored a security issue – and what’s acceptable for fan conduct. Thankfully, the incident didn’t blow up and become a donnybrook. I’ve routinely seen security positioned on the field at many games, so maybe that’s where the emphasis should be focused in addressing the potential for incidents in the future. As for your Giants, maybe they’ll develop the proper etiquette for their celebrations as the “night-night” gesture from Malik Nabers surely proved to be premature optics during the latter stages of their loss at Dallas, leaving egg on his face after they snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes leads all NFL quarterbacks in rushing. This is not a good thing.

Melissa H. on Buffalo’s classic comeback: You totally captured the thrill and excitement of the Bills-Ravens game. I’m from Buffalo and went to watch the game at a local favorite bar/restaurant with my friends. After lots of wings and disappointment, we left after the third quarter thinking the Ravens had it in the bag. A girlfriend asked if I wanted to catch the fourth quarter at another place. Well, what a total nailbiter and complete thrill the last five minutes turned out to be! The place was packed and going nuts with lots of beer and chants of “Hey-ey-ey-ey!” It reminded me of the thrilling 1990’s era back at Rich Stadium. We have been through it! I wholeheartedly agree that the game was so classic. And I LOL’d at “The Big Guy is a member of Bills Mafia? Who Knew?” Anyway, I just wanted to give you a shout-out and some Buffalove for a fun and well written piece. Go Bills!

JB: What a way the Bills to kick off their farewell season at Highmark Stadium, which is kind of like “Heartbreak Hotel” for the Ravens. Josh Allen, the Bills quarterback, made a point to the fans who left the stadium in the second half – have a little faith, he said – but it looks like you had the proper level of faith while not at the stadium. I feel the passion of Bills fans during each visit to Buffalo and expect that such a vibe will automatically transfer across the street to the new Highmark next year. In the meantime, the Bills’ quest to win the franchise’s first Super Bowl is so legit and as much as any team in the NFL, is so connected to the fan base. There’s also something to be said for the confidence that a team builds by coming through in crunch time. Will that be the case in January? We’ll see. Stay tuned.

On Bluesky: jarrettbell.bsky.social

The bad guys won. Road into town and ran roughshod over the good guys, and danced and pranced all the way back to Lubbock, that black, double-T villain flag whipping wildly back home in the West Texas wind after Texas Tech’s impressive 34-10 win at Utah.

There, feel better now?

Because we can’t feel good about a college football program that spent tens of millions in NIL deals to secure the best team money could buy. Can’t embrace the mercenary philosophy of building a roster in the era of player empowerment.

I mean, who could stomach it?

Certainly not the hoity-toity Big Ten, whose last two national championships were built on the back of critical transfer portal additions at both Michigan and Ohio State. 

Not the arrogant and annoying SEC, whose king, Georgia, led the nation in dropped passes last season — then went out and completely revamped its wide receiving corps through the portal. Or LSU, the current best team in the conference, which rebuilt its defense with six new starters from the portal — and now has the best unit in college football.

Or maybe, the second-best.

Because the best defense might just be Texas Tech, the program Mike Leach made famous by throwing it all over the yard and not giving a flip about stopping anyone.

The program that — say it slowly with me, everyone — has seven new defensive starters from the portal. Or one more than LSU.

One program and coach is celebrated for the gutsy call to find answers, the other is the leper of the sport. 

It is here where I remind everyone that Georgia and LSU and Ohio State and Texas and every other heavy hitter in college football spends millions in private NIL deals. It’s just that Texas Tech, nothing more than a carnival sideshow for much of its existence, isn’t a blueblood of the sport.

And more than anything, the Red Raiders have a face to the rebuild. The same face trying to upend the elite power structure of the sport — one way or the other. 

Billionaire booster Cody Campbell, who played for Leach’s first team at Texas Tech, has invested hundreds of millions in the roster and facilities. He’s also — and here’s the key moving forward — the point man for President Donald Trump’s desire to prevent the insatiable growth of football potentially eliminating Olympic and women’s sports.

Campbell, also a member of the Texas Tech board of regents, told USA TODAY Sports earlier this summer that he and his small group of investors spent more than $25 million on this year’s roster. Because he can.

Because, as they say on the Hub of the Plains, them’s the rules. 

The same rules Ohio State used last year on its $20 million roster, a buildout that was heroically hailed as embattled Buckeyes coach Ryan Day going “all in” to save his job. Not trying to buy a championship.

So while Campbell is working to fix one end of the system and taking advantage of the other, Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire has figured out a way to marry those who have been part of his three-year rebuild — and those who just joined the ride this season.

The same Texas Tech team that was without starting quarterback Behren Morton for the entire second half, where it outscored Utah 24-7 in the fourth quarter behind backup Will Hammond.

“We should expect to play at a high level,” McGuire said this summer. “There are no excuses now.”

Texas Tech held Utah to 263 yards and forced four turnovers. The Red Raiders got their first win against a ranked team on the road since Leach’s near-perfect 2008 team beat Oklahoma State in Stillwater — and while their Heisman Trophy-candidate quarterback sat on the bench with an undisclosed injury.

They had eight — that’s not a misprint — false start penalties while dealing with the wild crowd at Rice-Eccles Stadium. They had 14 penalties for 122 yards, and Morton threw two first-half interceptions. 

And they didn’t flinch in a brutal environment when they easily could have, despite playing with a collection of mercenary players on one-year, prove-it deals — and facing adversity as a team for the first time.

Sounds more like the beginning of a storybook season than a bunch of villains overtaking the sport. 

Besides, that story played out last year at Ohio State. And it was celebrated.

There, feel better now?

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

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw completed the final regular-season home start of his 18-year career, but he may not be completely off the mound just yet.

The two-time World Series champion announced his decision to retire during a news conference on Thursday, Sept 18. Kershaw struck out six while allowing four hits and two earned runs as the Dodgers beat the arch-rival San Francisco Giants and clinched a postseason berth on Friday.

“We got the win,” Kershaw said after the game. “We clinched the playoff berth. I got to stand on that mound one last time, and I just can’t be more grateful.”

The three-time Cy Young award winner’s role for the post remains unclear. Manager Dave Roberts has spent the past 10 years with Kershaw and called him “the greatest pitcher in this generation.” Roberts and Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers’ president of baseball operations, will be tasked with deciding what’s next for the veteran pitcher.

“I still feel there is a role for him, a spot for him,” Roberts said Thursday.

The manager was asked again after Friday’s victory what’s next for Kershaw.

“We haven’t decided that yet,” Roberts said. “We’re not sure yet.”

Roberts could enlist the left-handed pitcher as a starter on the postseason roster or relegate him to a smaller role and come out of the bullpen.

The Dodgers’ starting rotation is expected to consist of Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow.

“Our team is honestly stacked with pitching right now,” Kershaw said. “I think our rotation is the best in the league right now. I can do the math. I know there are only so many spots.

“Andrew, Doc and all those guys are going to make the right decision to help us. I’m ready and willing to do whatever I can to help.”

Kershaw did not participate in the postseason in 2024 due to a toe injury on his left foot while the Dodgers went on their World Series run. He has struggled at times in the postseason, including a lackluster start in 2010 against the Milwaukee Brewers when he was pulled after just 1 1/3 innings.

The Dodgers lost five straight games in early September before turning their fortune around and winning nine of their last 12 games.

Kershaw’s retirement announcement may provide further motivation for the Dodgers ahead of another potential World Series run to send the pitcher off on a positive note and further cement his legacy.

Will Clayton Kershaw pitch again?

While it’s uncertain if Kershaw will ever pitch at Dodger Stadium or in the postseason, he is expected to return to the mound at least one more time.

Kershaw could start for the Dodgers’ series opener against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on Friday, Sept. 26.

“I’m just going to continue to try and pitch well in Seattle, and we’ll see what happens, but either way, we’re going to try and win the World Series,” Kershaw said about what comes next.

A father gave a home run ball he caught for his son to a woman who confronted him at a baseball game.
The father chose to de-escalate the situation as a teaching moment for his children who were watching.
The incident went viral, leading to online harassment and misidentification of the woman involved.
The event serves as a reminder for parents that their actions, especially at sporting events, are always being observed by their children.

Just over two weeks ago, Drew Feltwell took his family to a baseball game in Miami to see their beloved Phillies.

They sat in seats beyond the left field wall at Loan Depot Park, hoping to get a home run ball for 10-year-old Lincoln. It was his birthday week.

All of a sudden, a shot off the bat of Philadelphia’s Harrison Bader was coming for them. You might have experienced this anticipation and exhilaration yourself. Almost in a blur, Feltwell walked quickly down the row to his right. He saw the ball bobble between two armrests and grabbed it.

As he was pulling away, he says, he saw two hands come in, late to the party.

‘I didn’t really care at that point,’ he would tell NBC 10 Philadelphia. ‘I just walked away and held the ball up high.’

He put it in Lincoln’s glove. Father and son had a few seconds to share the moment before they were interrupted by a woman in a Phillies jersey who got in Drew’s face. He hadn’t seen her walk over to them.

‘That’s my ball!’ he recalled her yelling.

Startled, he says, ‘I jumped out of my skin.’ He leaned back from her.

‘I had a fork in the road,’ Feltwell told NBC 10 while looking at his son. ‘Either do something I was probably gonna regret or be dad and show him how to de-escalate a situation.’

He handed the woman the ball. She stalked away and into a social media cauldron from which she hasn’t escaped. To a much lesser degree, Feltwell was trolled for conceding to her.

It begs a question: What would you do if you were in either of their shoes?

Or more appropriately, if you are an aspiring young athlete or the parent of one: What wouldn’t you do?

Pondering those questions can be a teaching moment for all of us.

As parents, we are always on camera for our kids

It wasn’t just everyone in Feltwell’s ballpark section who saw the incident. People were making memes about it within 10 minutes, he says.

In the ensuing days, they demanded to know who this ‘Phillies Karen’ was. Some put her picture within the frame of a ‘wanted’ sign. At least one I saw called for her arrest.

Jabs and swipes at her continue. It’s a stark reminder of today’s social media landscape, where people who don’t even know you begin to make judgments and assumptions about you. They insult your looks. They trace you to a school district where you don’t work. They mistakenly circulate that you have been fired. They even misidentify you as someone else.

A Facebook account under the name Cheryl Richardson-Wagner had this statement: ‘Ok everyone…I’m NOT the crazy Philly Mom (but I sure would love to be as thin as she is and move as fast) … and I’m a Red Sox fan.’

Look at the video footage of Feltwell and the woman again. Notice how his son’s eyes are on him. While our actions often can be captured electronically, we are always on camera for our children.

‘Every moment around my kids is a potential teaching moment,’ he said to NBC 10, ‘so I try to keep that mentality.’

Through Feltwell’s actions to defuse the situation, psychotherapist Stephanie Sarkis told USA TODAY in the aftermath of the confrontation, he was ensuring there was no collateral damage.

‘When you have someone that’s so bold to do something like this, you don’t know how much further they’re going to escalate their behavior,’ Sarkis said.

Think of yourself sitting in the bleachers and watching your son or daughter play. That situation works the same way.

‘We’ve all been at games where we’ve seen parents that are going crazy on the sideline,’ says Jason Sacks, CEO of the Positive Coaching Alliance. ‘And if you watch that parent go crazy and then watch what their child is doing, the child is often putting their head down, looking at them, like raising their hand like, ‘Why are you doing this?’ And so it’s taking them out of the game.’

Instead, Feltwell’s son was rewarded for his dad’s restraint.

Take a pause before you act, at games and in life

We don’t always get credit for doing the right thing. But we can always be called out when we slip.

Things unravel in an instant. We tear off after an umpire or referee when we disagree with a call. We fire back an angry email to a co-worker when we’re upset with them.

Even if we know we are right, we might not think about how our knee-jerk reactions will be perceived. Or we forget anyone could be watching, or listening.

‘When you talk to the parents in the recruiting process, are they constantly complaining about the coaches after a bad game or are they sending you a text or are you having a conversation where their son has gotta do more, he’s gotta play harder, he’s gotta work on his skill,’ Connecticut men’s basketball coach Dan Hurley said during a 2024 interview with CBS. ‘They tell on themselves. They drop hints, and (if) you’ve got the wrong type of people in that inner circle around your players, they’ll sink your program.’

Before you make a spectacle of yourself at a high school or college game, or to a coach, take a pause.

‘Sports parenting is a lot like driving, at least in the emotion it gives rise to,’ author Michael Lewis writes in ‘Playing to Win,’ his 2020 audiobook that attempts to make sense of his daughters’ travel sports experience. ‘Your child boots a ground ball, for example, and instead of being given a second chance, she winds up on the bench. At that moment, you want to go over and scream at the coach who benched her for tearing your child down rather than building her up. And never mind that building your child up in a more robust way is exactly what the coach might be doing.

‘The next day you have trouble even remembering why you got so upset in the same way you can’t honestly recall the feeling yesterday that led you to holler and give the finger to the little old lady who cheated at the four-way stop sign.’

While you’re driving to the game, go over scenarios in your head that would upset you and how you could handle them. Talk about them with your kids, like you would before a school dance.

Reflect on how something might look. Even if your child isn’t drinking alcohol at the party, or at beach week, think about how it would appear in social media posts around others who are.

High school and college teams have their own reputations to protect. Assume their coaches are ‘checking up’ on their players and recruits.

Be remembered for interactions that tell people who you are.

If you slip, it’s never too late to redeem yourself

Put yourself in the shoes of the woman in the Phillies jersey. It can be hard to quell our anger while our kids are playing, or amid the pursuit of a foul ball at the major-league game.

If you are pointing fingers at her for how she acted the instant after Feltwell got the ball, hopefully you’re doing so because you’ve never gotten caught up in the heat of a moment.

She could have corrected herself, but instead slipped further into infamy. Video clips emerged showing her walking down the aisle to confront a man who had called her out, and to turn and give the middle finger to everyone behind her after they did the same. She held up the baseball for all to see.

Feltwell said in his interview with NBC 10 Philadelphia that after she retreated up the aisle, essentially booed out of the ballpark, he received a post of her continuing to clutch the baseball on the concourse.

We all know you’re not supposed to take a ball from a kid. But what if, a few minutes later, she had walked back over and given the ball back to Feltwell or his son? Would this all be forgotten? Would she be remembered without the bile?

Few feel sorry for her, I believe, because she had an opportunity to change the narrative after something unfortunate happened and she didn’t.

Sure, we can think of our lives in terms of what they would be like if one instant in time had or had not occurred: we caught ourselves before we stepped in front of car in traffic, or we mustered the courage to speak to our future spouse.

But life is full of moments that are correctable after they occur. The kid who talks back to the coach, or the parent who overreacts to his decision, can always apologize. It’s part of who we are, or at least strive to be, not defined by one moment in time, but by a full picture.

We don’t know the full picture of the woman in the Phillies jersey everyone has rushed to label. Her fear over the outcry of what she did has likely kept her out of the public eye since the encounter. But she has shown us only a view of herself as someone who unapologetically took a ball from a dad and his kid at a game.

If she comes out and expresses a sincere apology, maybe folks will giver her a break.

‘Please don’t do anything to that lady,’ Feltwell told USA TODAY Sports on Sept. 8. ‘Leave it alone. You know, somebody knows her and can talk to her, that’s different. But God, I don’t want people breaking in their house and stuff like that. The internet already messed her up pretty good.’

The best part about mistakes, in sports or otherwise, is we can learn from them and correct them. We can’t stop the trolls, but we can always make headway with the folks in our lives who really matter.

Steve Borelli, aka Coach Steve, has been an editor and writer with USA TODAY since 1999. He spent 10 years coaching his two sons’ baseball and basketball teams. He and his wife, Colleen, are now sports parents for two high schoolers. His column is posted weekly. For his past columns, click here.