The Dallas Cowboys’ loss to the Carolina Panthers drops them to 2-3-1 six weeks into the 2025 NFL season. They’re in danger of falling to last in the NFC East in Week 7 with a game against divisional foe Washington.

But Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones still thinks his team is in the hunt for the division and a playoff spot. Washington’s loss to the Chicago Bears in the final game of Week 6 gave him some hope.

‘It just reminded me that we are still in it,’ Jones said today during an announcement that the 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl will be played at the team’s practice facility – The Star – in Frisco, Texas. ‘I see so much parity, then you factor in that these teams get compromised with injury. We can have and may [have it too] but if we should have some good go of it here over the next weeks ahead with our injury situation and return of injury and we can get some wins.’

The Cowboys may be expecting two players back on what’s been a struggling defense so far in 2025. Linebacker DeMarvion Overshown could be back after the team’s bye Nov. 9 after a serious knee injury last year. Rookie cornerback Shavon Revel Jr. may make his debut in the next month or so as he finishes rehabilitation on a torn ACL suffered in college.

But what if Jones and company don’t wait for those two players to make their debut? Dallas is armed with extra draft picks thanks to the Micah Parsons trade – an extra first-round pick in the 2026 and 2027 NFL Drafts – and more cap space.

Jones revealed the team is weighing their options ahead of the Nov. 4 deadline.

‘We will weigh what are the likelihood of the players we’ve got coming back, how will they impact where that will put this team as opposed to should we add a player in a trade?’ Jones said. ‘And I don’t have a trade in mind at all. And that comes about right now if someone is on the phone calling.’

Dallas could be active at the trade deadline. Here are six targets they should consider:

Dallas Cowboys trade targets

Edge Danielle Hunter, Houston Texans

Hunter’s been one of the best and most productive pass rushers in the league for a decade. He’ll turn 31 years old later this month but he’s shown no signs of slowing down with age. The Texas native has four sacks through five games this year and ranks eighth league-wide in sack percentage, per NFL Next Gen Stats. His pass-rush get-off time is 0.84 seconds which is also top-10 league-wide.

Dallas’ defense needs help against both the run and pass. Hunter’s the type of edge rusher who can assist in both areas. He’s on pace for career-highs in tackles for loss as well as sacks this season.

What may make this worth it for Houston is the long-term outlook for the franchise. They have contract extensions looming for franchise cornerstones Will Anderson Jr. and C.J. Stroud amid a 2-3 start to the 2025 season. Their playoff chances aren’t looking good and it’d be worth getting value for Hunter, who is only on the books through next season (with three void years tacked on to his contract).

CB Trent McDuffie, Kansas City Chiefs

This one will definitely require one of those extra first-rounders. McDuffie’s been a top-10 cornerback in the NFL since 2023 and is arguably the best slot cornerback in the league. He’s spent more time outside for the Chiefs in 2024 and 2025 and is certainly usable in that alignment.

McDuffie is playing on the fourth year of his five-year rookie contract. Dallas already has two high-priced cornerbacks on the roster in DaRon Bland and Trevon Diggs and adding McDuffie would make this the most expensive cornerback room in the league once he’s on his fifth-year option. But he’d also give the team a huge boost in coverage which it needs; Dallas ranks last in the NFL in expected points added (EPA) per pass allowed, per SumerSports.

Kansas City’s developed plenty of great cornerbacks over the years. They could bet on their infrastructure to develop another corner and/or use a first-rounder on a player at the position.

S Jessie Bates III, Atlanta Falcons

Atlanta’s defense has turned things around in 2025 and it’s allowing more fans to understand just how good Bates is in the secondary. The 2023 second-team All-Pro is having a slightly down year by his high standards but is still one of the better safeties in the league.

That’d come in handy for Dallas. Their starting safeties, Juanyeh Thomas and Donovan Wilson, rank 58th and 70th league-wide among 83 qualifying players at their position, per Pro Football Focus (PFF) grading. It’d likely be less expensive than trading for a younger cornerback like McDuffie. And Bates, who is in his age-28 season, still has a couple more years left in his prime.

Bates is a standout run defender who is more than capable in coverage. He’s spent nearly equal amounts of time at the box and free safety positions in 2025, per PFF data, and would be a versatile piece to help in both phases. Plus, Atlanta could recoup a first-round pick after sending theirs in 2026 to the Los Angeles Rams.

DB Jalen Pitre, Houston Texans

Pitre offers youth like McDuffie and versatility like Bates. Though he’s listed as a safety, Pitre’s lined up in the slot for 172 snaps in 2025 compared to 71 everywhere else (defensive line, box safety, free safety, outside corner) combined, per PFF. He’s an absolute menace when he gets a head of steam in run defense and has grown into one of many hard-charging defenders for the Texans.

Like Hunter, Houston could look over the roster given how their season’s gone so far and look to find value if the right call came in. Pitre would likely stay in the slot primarily with Bland and Diggs on the outside much like he does with the Texans. He’s already on a relatively team-friendly deal through 2028 that sees his cap number stay at $13 million at most, per OverTheCap.

There is a question of availability, though. Pitre missed two games in 2023 and five in 2024. But when he’s on the field, he’s a force in the secondary.

WR Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins

If the Cowboys would rather invest even more in the offense rather than help the defense, Waddle could make sense at wide receiver. George Pickens is absolutely balling out for the Cowboys’ offense this season as CeeDee Lamb sits with an injury, but is on the last year of his contract. He’ll likely command a lot of money in free agency next offseason and Dallas may not want to pay up.

Waddle is older than Pickens but currently on a deal that keeps him signed through 2028. Those later years do involve a higher cap hit: $33.83 million in 2027 and $37.21 million in 2028. But with how extensions league-wide are going in recent years, signing players sooner than later is a good call and Waddle’s deal could age well.

Tyreek Hill is out for the season and Waddle’s stepping into a bigger role. He’s a deep threat the Cowboys could use knowing they have him longer-term than Pickens. Miami may be facing a full rebuild this offseason and an extra first-round pick would certainly help that outlook.

Edge Montez Sweat, Chicago Bears

This would be a familiar face for Cowboys defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, who was the head coach in Chicago when the Bears traded for Sweat in 2023.

Sweat is performing well in 2025 as one of the better starters on defense for the Bears. He’s been a key contributor in both pass rush (13 pressures, per NFL Next Gen Stats) and run defense (seven ‘defensive stops’ per PFF). That’d be a welcome sight for the Cowboys up front and would ease pressure on the team’s younger talents at the edge to perform.

Sweat has a higher cap hit than others on this list at $25.09 million every year from 2025 to 2027. But that’s only going to look better in comparison to others at the position as the years go on.

On one of the Chicago Bears’ final plays in their Week 6 win over the Washington Commanders, wide receiver D.J. Moore was a crucial part of his team’s downfield blocking on a 15-yard run by D’Andre Swift.

After the game, Moore was still on the field, celebrating the win with his teammates.

So when the Bears announced after the game that Moore was staying behind in a Washington, D.C.-area hospital, it was a big surprise.

Moore initially appeared to get banged up in the first quarter of Monday night’s game. After making a 17-yard reception, the wideout took a hit from Commanders cornerback Trey Amos and landed hard on his side.

Moore made a short trip to the Bears’ sideline medical tent but returned to the game on the same drive. Given his impact on one of the final plays of the game, it’s also clear that he finished out the Week 6 clash.

Here’s what we know so far about the Bears’ No. 2 receiver:

DJ Moore injury update

Larry Mayer, a senior writer for ChicagoBears.com, reported that Moore would stay in a D.C.-area hospital Monday night for ‘precautionary medical attention.’ The rest of the team would fly home while Moore remained in the nation’s capital.

The nature of Moore’s injury or other medical issue is unclear as of Tuesday afternoon, and the Bears have yet to provide an update.

Moore, who is in his eighth season and third with the Bears, caught three passes for 42 yards on Monday. He also rushed twice for 10 yards.

DJ Moore stats

Targets: 26
Receptions: 19
Receiving yards: 215
Touchdowns: 1
Rushing: 8 attempts for 25 yards

Moore is second on the team in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns through six weeks of action, trailing only second-year Rome Odunze in those categories.

This story will be updated.

In Buffalo, no plate of wings can be complete without a side of bleu cheese.

The wings are the star of the show, but it’s hard to argue that the main event isn’t elevated by the presence of the popular dipping sauce. And in the hearts of Buffalo residents, that dipping sauce is the clear No. 1.

After dropping two straight, it has become obvious that the Buffalo Bills need some bleu cheese because ranch isn’t getting it done.

Quarterback Josh Allen might be the reigning league MVP and a superstar, but his lack of a WR1 was, once again, on full display in prime time. The Atlanta Falcons defense dominated on ‘Monday Night Football’ in Week 6, delivering a 24-14 win over Buffalo in a game that wasn’t as close as the score indicates.

As Allen & Co. attempted to stage a comeback, they were doing so with the likes of Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, Elijah Moore and Tyrell Shavers. The need for a top receiver was clear before, but it has become even more glaring as injuries mount.

While fixing that issue might not be possible at the trade deadline, the team can certainly try. Here are some trade targets for the Bills at the receiver spot heading into trade season.

Bills WR trade targets

A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles

It’s hard to imagine Brown being on the move and it’s even harder to imagine the Eagles dealing him. The star receiver just inked a three-year contract extension with Philadelphia, meaning the salary cap reality is a major factor. However, disgruntled players have a way of making things happen and Brown certainly fits that mold.

Jakobi Meyers, Las Vegas Raiders

As for the more realistic targets, Meyers headlines the bunch. The Raiders’ receiver requested a trade during the offseason after contract extension talks failed to progress and plays for a team that appears primed to miss the playoffs.

Meyers is set to hit free agency, meaning he is a pure rental from the trade market perspective. He has become somewhat of a forgotten man after posting his first 1,000-yard receiving season in 2024, further opening the door for a deal. The seventh-year pro is a good candidate to be on the move as Vegas shifts their focus to the youth in their receiver room.

Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints

New Orleans has been committed to rebuilding on the fly in recent years, making it unclear which direction they’ll opt for this offseason. However, the bill is coming due for Olave and Rashid Shaheed – who are both on contract extension watch at season’s end. Quarterback Spencer Rattler has been better than expected in his first full season as a starter, but is it enough to convince coach Kellen Moore to stay the course?

The Saints could instead opt to dive into the trade market and recoup some draft capital for Olave, who had a pair of concussions that limited him to eight games in 2024. With 1,000-yard seasons in two of his first three years, this is the type of receiver the Bills could use. Olave may not be the big body target, but he is certainly consistent and knows how to get open.

Rashid Shaheed, New Orleans Saints

Unlike Olave, Shaheed is heading for free agency after the season. That reality could spell the end of his time in the Big Easy as the speedster could command a hefty payday in free agency. His presence could stretch the field in ways that the current group of Buffalo receivers can’t, making him an intriguing target ahead of the deadline.

Calvin Ridley, Tennessee Titans

Ridley’s contract situation could complicate matters, but the Titans waived the white flag on the season after firing Brian Callahan. The front office did not sign Ridley in free agency, meaning they have no connection to the receiver and could move on.

Tennessee would likely have to eat some money to facilitate a deal, however, both sides could benefit from this potential transaction. However, it’ll be important to see what becomes of the hamstring injury that forced Ridley out of action in Week 6.

James Franklin’s midseason dismissal from Penn State has created one of eight current head coaching vacancies in FBS college football.
The coaching changes could set off a domino effect of moves across the Power Four conferences.
Openings at Virginia Tech, Oklahoma State, Stanford, Oregon State, and Alabama-Birmingham are also ranked based on their appeal.

James Franklin’s surprising midseason dismissal at Penn State leaves eight college football openings in the Bowl Subdivision, with many more set to open in what is shaping up to be one of the wildest coaching carousels in recent history.

Depending on where the Nittany Lions go in their search, Franklin’s replacement could trigger a domino effect that results in corresponding moves across the Power Four. Likewise with the opening at Arkansas, currently the only unfilled position in the SEC.

There is currently at least one opening in each of the Power Four leagues. For now, Penn State easily represents the most appealing open destination in the FBS and will draw the most impressive pool of candidates.

USA TODAY Sports ranks the current FBS openings based on appeal and the chance for immediate and sustained success:

1. Penn State

Excepting the COVID-19 season, Penn State hasn’t posted a losing finish since 2004. While his tenure imploded in the past three weeks, Franklin built a program capable of competing for national championships and will leave a foundation for immediate success. The Nittany Lions have an enviable recruiting base, nearly unmatched support and the resources to stand atop the FBS.

2. Arkansas

Arkansas will fall down the list of SEC openings once Florida becomes available, for one, and there’s always the chance that Auburn follows suit. This is not an easy place to win by any means — the Razorbacks have totaled more than eight victories just once since 2011 — but the draw of the SEC will entice a strong list of candidates looking for an entry point into college football’s best conference.

3. UCLA

UCLA has financial constraints that will essentially exclude established and successful Power Four head coaches from anything more than casual consideration. In the best-case scenario, the Bruins land a proven head coach with questionable job security who is looking for a soft landing spot in the Big Ten. One coach who might fit the bill is Franklin, who would come at a relative discount because of the exorbitant buyout due to him from Penn State.

4. Virginia Tech

After swinging and missing on a first-time head coach in Brent Pry, the Hokies’ search for a program-wide reboot should lead to a focus on more experienced candidates. While landing Shane Beamer is unrealistic barring a second-half collapse at South Carolina, the program can tout the athletics department’s renewed financial commitment and an easier pathway to the College Football Playoff coming out of the ACC.

5. Oklahoma State

This is maybe the most unique opening in the Power Four given how Mike Gundy stood as the face of Oklahoma State football for well over two decades. The school could opt to go in an entirely new direction and lean toward a defense-oriented coach such as Penn State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, who was an assistant at the school, or maintain an offense-driven path with a candidate such as North Texas coach Eric Morris.

6. Stanford

A recent $50 million donation earmarked for the football program does make Stanford at least somewhat more appealing to candidates who might otherwise be intimidated by four factors: the long travel as members of the ACC, hurdles in recruiting and talent retention, difficulties in managing the portal and the hard work needed to build an unimpressive roster. Working with general manager Andrew Luck is a draw, though, and David Shaw proved not too long ago that you can win and win consistently with the Cardinal.

7. Oregon State

Oregon State will be part of the new-look Pac-12 next season, bringing some stability to one of the most unstable situations in the FBS. This is clearly an opening destined to be filled by either a sitting Group of Five coach or one of the top Power Four assistants working in the Beavers’ general footprint. The school could also evaluate recently fired coaches looking to get back on the sideline in the same way UNLV pounced on Dan Mullen this past hiring cycle.

8. Alabama-Birmingham

UAB finally jettisoned Trent Dilfer, but the damage is already done. The Blazers’ decline over the past three seasons after the departure of Bill Clark makes this a much less appealing position overall, though the opening will be slightly more tempting given the program’s move to the American in 2023.

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

Oklahoma football coach Brent Venables compared the SEC schedule to its old Big 12 schedule at his weekly press conference on Oct. 14, saying the Sooners can’t dominant like they used to given the tougher schedule.

“This isn’t the old Big 12 days where Oklahoma destroys everybody every single week except one game of the year,’ Venables.’

The Big 12 brought up receipts.

‘Coach Venables lost eight conference games in his two seasons in the Big 12,’ the account wrote on X.

In Venables’ defense, he won seven Big 12 conference titles as the defensive coordinator at Oklahoma from 1999-2011 and went 10-2 in the regular season in his second season with the Sooners. He did, however, finish with a 3-6 conference record in 2022.

But college football doesn’t care about the past, just look at Penn State firing coach James Franklin on Oct. 12. That sentiment is especially true when the chance to troll comes up.

‘The Big12 found a kid on the street abandoned since age 12 with major scores to settle and said “run our social media…you will answer to nobody,’ college football personality Josh Pate wrote in response to the post.

Oklahoma is still looking to get back on track under Venables, as the former Clemson defensive coordinator has a 27-18 record in his fourth season as the Sooners’ head coach. Oklahoma is coming off a 6-7 finish in 2024 in its first season in the SEC, and fell to Texas 23-6 on Oct. 11 despite starting the season 5-0.

The Sooners are looking to get back in the win column on Oct. 18 when they travel to South Carolina in their third conference game of the season.

It appears the Big 12 might be closely watching for any future social media content.

The two-year qualifying process for the 2026 World Cup is nearly done, with multiple nations booking their spots in next summer’s tournament in recent days.

The most recent qualifiers have mostly come from Africa, which concluded the main phase of the region’s qualifying process on Tuesday. There are some familiar powers among the teams to qualify from the continent thus far in October, including Egypt, Ghana, and South Africa. However, tiny Cape Verde — with a population under 600,000 — is also on the list, having stunned Cameroon to claim the top spot in Group D in the Confederation of African Football’s qualifying process.

Tuesday saw Qatar become the 24th country to claim one of the 48 available World Cup berths, with Canada, Mexico, and the United States set to host a newly-expanded format next year. England, Ivory Coast, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, and South Africa followed shortly thereafter, taking the total number of claimed spots up to 28. Portugal could have made it 29, but conceded a stoppage-time equalizer against Hungary in a UEFA qualifier on Tuesday, leaving them stuck on the brink.

There are also pivotal matches in Concacaf (the region comprising North and Central America, along with the Caribbean) and elsewhere in Europe, with some teams having to endure a tense wait for the next round of qualifying in November to discover their fate.

Here’s what to know about where qualifying stands for the 2026 World Cup, including who could secure their berth next:

Who has qualified for World Cup 2026?

The 2026 World Cup will include 48 teams, a huge jump up from the 32 that participated in Qatar 2022. As October’s qualifiers play out, 28 nations have qualified.

Here is a complete list of every country to qualify for the 2026 World Cup as of the afternoon of Tuesday, Oct. 14:

Host nations: Canada, Mexico, United States
Asia: Australia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Uzbekistan
Africa: Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia
Concacaf: None yet
Europe: England
Oceania: New Zealand
South America: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay

World Cup qualifying: Who could clinch a 2026 spot next?

There aren’t that many rounds of World Cup qualifying left to get through, though each confederation’s schedule and process mean each continent will wrap up at different points.

At the moment, there are eight teams (mostly hailing from Europe) that could claim a place at the 2026 World Cup with the right results in the coming days:

Austria: After missing out on six straight men’s World Cups, Austria could clinch a berth next month. A win on Nov. 15 at Cyprus combined with Bosnia and Herzegovina failing to defeat Romania would mean party time in Vienna.
Croatia: The Faroe Islands’ shock win over the Czech Republic on Sunday means that Croatia needs just one more point to win Group L and qualify for an eighth straight World Cup. The Croats host the Faroese on Nov. 14 in Rijeka.
France: ‘Les Bleus’ nearly won UEFA’s Group D after just four rounds of games, but will have to wait until November for a shot at finishing the job. France hosts second-place Ukraine in Paris on Nov. 13, and a win would guarantee the hosts a spot at the World Cup.
Honduras: ‘Los Catrachos’ have a path to clinch in the next round of play in Concacaf’s Group C. A win at Nicaragua on Nov. 13 combined with a draw between Haiti and Costa Rica in a game played earlier that same day would give Honduras entry into their fourth World Cup ever.
Netherlands: The Dutch control their own destiny in UEFA’s Group G. A win on Nov. 14 at Poland would clinch a place at next summer’s tournament for the ‘Oranje.’
Norway: The Norwegians have been a surprise in Group I, with Erling Haaland and Co. close to mathematical certainty of a World Cup spot. If Norway’s result against Estonia on Nov. 13 is superior to what Italy can do against Moldova, the job will be done.
Portugal: Dominik Szoboszlai’s stoppage-time equalizer for Hungary left Portugal frustrated, but they’re still highly likely to qualify. A road win on Nov. 13 over the Republic of Ireland would clinch their berth, as would Hungary failing to defeat Armenia earlier that same day.
Switzerland: The Swiss will head into the November window with a chance at clinching in UEFA’s Group B. All they need to do is pick up a better result than Kosovo on Nov. 15. A Swiss win plus Kosovo draw, or Swiss draw and Kosovo loss, will settle the issue.

World Cup qualifiers: How many spots for each region?

Here is a complete breakdown of how FIFA divided all 48 berths at the 2026 World Cup:

Host nations (3): Canada, Mexico and the United States all qualified as soon as they were picked to host the tournament.
Asia (8): Six Asian countries have qualified. The Asian Football Confederation’s fourth round (which will settle who claims the final two automatic bids) will conclude on Tuesday.
Africa (9): African qualifying sorted 54 countries into nine groups of six (though Eritrea withdrew from Group E before play began). The nine group winners have qualified, while the four best runners-up — Cameroon, DR Congo, Gabon, and Nigeria — will convene for a dramatic playoff in Morocco in November. The winner of that event will enter the intercontinental playoff.
Concacaf (3): The region’s third round — featuring three groups of four — began on Thursday, Sept. 4. Group winners qualify directly, while the two best runners-up will enter the intercontinental playoff.
Europe (16): UEFA qualifying features 54 teams broken up into 12 groups. Group winners qualify for the World Cup, while the second-place finishers (along with the top four teams from the UEFA Nations League who didn’t win their qualifying groups) will enter a playoff for Europe’s final four berths that is set for March 2026.
Oceania (1): New Zealand has already claimed Oceania’s only guaranteed berth at the 2026 World Cup, while New Caledonia is headed to the intercontinental playoff.
South America (6): CONMEBOL’s marathon qualifying tournament has concluded, with six teams getting places at the World Cup. A seventh (Bolivia) claimed the region’s spot in the intercontinental playoff.
Intercontinental playoff (2): New Caledonia and Bolivia have locked in spots in what will be a six-team tournament scheduled for March 2026.

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Georgia coach Kirby Smart appeared to call a timeout but then convinced officials he did not, resulting in a ‘do-over.’
The incident highlights recent questionable officiating calls within the SEC.
Officials gave Georgia back its timeout and reset the play clock, a decision the article calls a ‘charade.’

There’s something going on with this Kirby Kerfuffle, and we should be annoyed as all get out. 

The only person talking is Georgia coach Kirby Smart, who just happens to be the center of the controversy. Or charade.

A sleight of hand in Georgia’s 20-10 victory over Auburn last weekend has underscored a rash of questionable officiating in the SEC, while at the same time revealing an unspoken power structure within college football’s biggest, baddest conference.

True or not, believe it or not, it sure looks like the best coach in college football has his own set of rules. 

“I talked to no one, SEC office-wise,” Smart said Monday, two days after the scene of the crime, uh, kerfuffle. “I stand by what I talked about after the game.”

Yeah, well, we all have eyes, Kirby. You can’t tell us what we saw.

The kerfuffle, I mean charade, recap: Georgia leads Auburn 13-10 early in the fourth quarter when facing a 3rd-and-9 from the Auburn 28. The play clock is winding down, and Smart sprints to the side judge — clearly calling timeout by using one pointed hand pushed into the other open hand, and saying what looks like, “stop!”

The SEC official then gives Smart a timeout, and all hell breaks loose.

Smart starts screaming at the official, declaring he didn’t call timeout — but that he was clapping his hands in response to what he believed was an Auburn defender clapping his hands in an effort to use disconcerting signals to get Georgia to false start in one of the loudest stadiums in college football.

Got all that? Wait, it gets better. 

So after video evidence clearly shows Smart calling timeout, he convinces the SEC officiating crew he wasn’t calling timeout, and that he reminded those same officials before the game Auburn players have used disconcerting signals before. So, you know, get your stuff together. 

What do the officials do, you ask? Capitulate to the greatest coach in college football, of course.

And call a do-over.

A flipping do-over at the highest level of college football, where every play may as well be life and death. Officials then not only agree with Smart, they retroactively give him back the precious timeout, and — are you ready for this? — start the play clock over at 25 seconds.

This isn’t rocket science, everyone. It’s either a timeout, or a penalty on Georgia for delay of game.

There’s no gray area like the other questionable call in the game, where what looked like an Auburn touchdown at the goal line was ruled a fumble. That kerfuffle can be easily eliminated by saying there’s not enough evidence to change the call on the field.

But a do-over is a completely different animal.

The coach who should’ve been screaming during the charade is Auburn’s Hugh Freeze. But instead of Coach Eeyore demanding an explanation from the referee — or demanding collaborative replay look at actual video evidence of Smart calling timeout — Freeze stands on the other sideline and takes it. 

“We find ways to not win football games,” Freeze would later say. 

A quick aside: Auburn isn’t paying Freeze $6.7 million annually to just take it. (Dear, Aubie: just pay the $15,437,500 walkaway money and be done with this nonsense). 

But here’s the best part: it looks like everybody just took it — despite the obvious video evidence. Smart tantrums, and an important game that could eventually be the difference between who plays in the SEC championship game and who doesn’t, reverts to a do-over. 

A do-over. From the conference that runs college football.

There’s no way to explain it. Either Smart called a timeout — like the official clearly saw and called — or he didn’t. There’s no damn do-over.

There was, however, the classic makeup call ON THE VERY NEXT PLAY.

Officials flagged Georgia running back Cash Jones with a personal foul for an illegal block on Auburn linebacker Bryce Deas. And if you think that block was illegal, I’ve got some pristine beachfront property for you in Lee County, Alabama.

Georgia eventually missed a field goal on the drive, but that doesn’t eliminate what we all saw. Despite what Smart said immediately after the game, while trying to explain why he called timeout. I mean, didn’t call timeout.

“Go lip read, because I’m screaming, ‘They’re clapping!’” Smart said. “I didn’t need a timeout because we were going to get it off before the shot clock. It was two, one. It was the fact that they were clapping. I wanted him to call it because it’s a penalty.”

I don’t even know what to say here, ladies and gentlemen. This is the point where you’re so good at what you do, when you’ve reached the top of your profession, and you can pretty much say and do whatever you want on a football field during 60 highly-competitive and massively intense minutes.

And get away with it.

What’s the SEC going to do, admit their officials were wrong again? They already had to publicly apologize to — wait for it — Auburn when Oklahoma used a sleight of hand to keep wide receiver Isaiah Sategna III on the field while standing at the sideline, looking like he wasn’t part of the play. A disconcerting formation, no less.

Seconds later, Sategna was uncovered and scored on a 24-yard touchdown pass from John Mateer in a game OU won by seven points. So the SEC suspended the crew for a game, and delivered the apology. 

But this kerfuffle is different. Georgia won by 10, so let’s just make like it never really happened. Sort of like what Smart did. 

It is here where I give you the kicker to this masterpiece of a controversy. I mean, charade. 

Georgia informed the SEC office Sunday that Auburn had someone in the front row of the stands blowing a whistle during the first drive of the game. A disconcerting whistle, no less.   

Because, you know, these games need to be fair.

No matter what your eyes see.

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