Week 9 results could influence whether teams become buyers or sellers ahead of the Nov. 4 NFL trade deadline.
The 7-1 Indianapolis Colts, led by Jonathan Taylor, boast the league’s top offense and will face the struggling Steelers defense.
Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs will face Josh Allen and the Bills, with Mahomes holding a 1-4 regular-season record against Buffalo.
Quarterbacks J.J. McCarthy of the Vikings and Jayden Daniels of the Commanders are expected to return from injuries this week.

Week 9 is upon us, and the NFL’s Nov. 4 trade deadline is just days away.

This week’s slate of games could determine which teams are buyers and sellers with Tuesday’s trade deadline on the horizon.

Thirteen teams have earned at least five wins this season, the third-most through Week 8 since 1970, according to NFL Research. And there are no more winless clubs in the NFL after the New York Jets overcame a 15-point deficit in the fourth quarter to notch their first victory of the season.

With the trade deadline around the corner, USA TODAY Sports examines things to watch in Week 9:

Cowboys among teams to watch ahead of NFL trade deadline

It’s going to be interesting to see how teams and players navigate the NFL’s looming trade deadline.

There have already been multiple trades this week alone, and more are expected to come. Will results from Week 9 persuade teams to be buyers or sellers before Tuesday’s deadline?

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones claimed last week’s loss won’t impact his team’s decision-making process, but he went on 105.3 The Fan on Tuesday and described the type of player the Cowboys would go after if a trade were to happen.

‘One that loves football. Loves football. That seems trite. Why wouldn’t they be out there playing? Some do more than others,’ Jones said, per the Cowboys official website. ‘And so you’re looking for guys that just are from within, self-motivators, miserable when they don’t play well and they exude that around their teammates. That’s just a little thing called makeup right there. Now obviously you want to get a player that is in the top percentile of the kind of players that you’d like to go forward with. That has a price tag.’

Colts’ red-hot offense faces reeling Steelers defense

The 7-1 Colts are off to their best record since 2009. The Colts rank first in the NFL in total offense (385.3 yards per game), touchdowns (32) and points per game (33.8).

Daniel Jones is having a career renaissance in his first year in Indy. He ranks top five in the league in passing yards, but Jonathan Taylor is the engine to the Colts offense. He’s on pace for the running back triple crown. Taylor leads the NFL in scrimmage yards (1,056), rushing yards (850), scrimmage touchdowns (14) and rushing touchdowns (12).

T.J. Watt and the Steelers defense have underperformed this season. Pittsburgh ranks 30th in total defense, has the NFL’s worst pass defense and ranks 18th against the run.

If the Steelers don’t shore up their defense in a hurry, it’s going to be a long game for Mike Tomlin’s team at Acrisure Stadium.

“We make no excuses about how or why we fall short. Our job is to perform and perform at a high level and we haven’t done that. I’m excited about getting back to it,” Tomlin said this week. “Seven games or whatever doesn’t make a season. We certainly got more in front of us and more opportunities to write our story, whether it’s individuals, a component of our team, whether it’s our team in general. I think that’s our general mindset.”

Patrick Mahomes 1-4 against Bills in regular season

The regular season hasn’t been kind to Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs against the Bills. Buffalo has won the past four regular-season meetings against Kansas City. Mahomes has a 1-4 regular season record against Josh Allen and company.

However, Mahomes is 4-0 against Buffalo in the postseason.

“Every single game comes down to like one play here or there that someone has to make, if that’s offense, defense (or) whatever it is,” Mahomes said of previous matchups against the Bills. “I think it comes down to players making plays in big moments and that’s worked out for us in the playoffs and worked out for them in other times.”

Mahomes enters Week 9 as a midseason MVP candidate. Mahomes’ 17 touchdown passes are tied for first in the league and his 2,099 passing yards rank second.

The Bills and Chiefs both enter Sunday’s marquee matchup with top-five offenses. Defensively, Buffalo and Kansas City rank second and third in pass defense, respectively.

The Chiefs have the NFL’s No. 2 scoring defense. Buffalo ranks second in the NFL in both pass block and run block win rate, per ESPN.

While Mahomes and Allen will garner most of the headlines, whichever defense has the better performance could be the deciding factor.

J.J. McCarthy returns for Minnesota

Is McCarthy the answer in Minnesota? The sample size isn’t large enough to accurately answer the question.

McCarthy has only played in two games since the Vikings drafted him in 2024 due to injuries. The second-year quarterback is expected to return this week from high right ankle sprain.

‘I’m ready to go,’ McCarthy told reporters this week. ‘I feel like myself again. I feel like I have those mobility things that I was concerned about going into last week and the prior weeks. So yeah, ready to go.’

The Vikings need McCarthy to stay healthy the remainder of the season to get a thorough evaluation of the QB, and because veteran Carson Wentz is out for the remainder of the year with a shoulder injury.

McCarthy has just a 58.5% completion percentage and averaged 150.5 passing yards per game, statistics well below the league average.

The Lions have won five consecutive games against their NFC North rival. Minnesota hasn’t defeated Detroit since Sept. 25, 2022.

Jayden Daniels slated to be back under center

The Washington Commanders have lost three straight games and desperately need Daniels to return from a hamstring injury. Daniels has missed three starts this year due to knee and hamstring injuries. Washington is 1-2 without its star quarterback.

“I’m good. If I’m out there I’m not even thinking about it,” Daniels said of his injuries this season. “If I was worried about something I wouldn’t even be playing. If I’m out there on the field, I’m gonna be confident in myself and my abilities to go out there and execute and play football.”

The Commanders won’t have Terry McLaurin (quad) on Sunday.

Washington has struggled to defend the pass this year and ranks 26th in the league in pass defense. That doesn’t bode well as the Commanders face a Seahawks team featuring wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba who tops the NFL with 819 receiving yards. Smith-Njigba tallied at least eight receptions, 100 receiving yards and a touchdown catch in each of his past three contests.  

Since 2024, the Seahawks are 10-1 (.909 winning percentage) on the road under coach Mike Macdonald, the highest road winning percentage in the league, per NFL Research.

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

Before we embark on our Week 10 college football viewers’ guide, we must start with a public service announcement. No. 1 Ohio State is hosting Penn State (noon ET, Fox). This is also the week of the world’s largest outdoor cocktail party in Jacksonville, Fla., which is likewise accompanied by a football game between No. 5 Georgia and Florida (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC).

We provide that information on the off chance either of those contests produces unexpected happenings as rivalry games can. But is our mission in this space to identify what we think will be the best games to watch. We therefore cannot in good conscience recommend those contests unless you have a rooting interest. We’ll look instead in further detail at these seven games somewhat farther down the rankings but should feature more evenly matched opponents.

No. 11 Vanderbilt at No. 19 Texas

Time/TV: noon ET, ABC.

Why watch: The headliner in the early window is this SEC showdown that is a major role reversal for the programs involved. The Longhorns’ improbable escape at Mississippi State last week kept their slim playoff aspirations alive. Vandy, SEC doormat no more, has a couple of quality results in the bank but could use a road victory to solidify its playoff position. Commodores QB Diego Pavia continues to generate Heisman buzz, with 20 total TDs to his credit on the season thus far. He’s sure to receive added attention from Longhorns LB Anthony Hill Jr.. Texas QB Arch Manning’s frequent adventures outside the pocket have taken their toll as he is in concussion protocol and officially listed as questionable. If he’s not available, at least backup Matthew Caldwell has had some success in his limited snaps. The Vanderbilt defense, coming off a strong outing against Missouri, is led by DB C.J. Heard and LB Bryan Longwell.

Why it could disappoint: We suspect this might look a lot like Vanderbilt’s most recent outing, a tough slog against Missouri that was challenging to behold through most of it. But the dramatic finish was the payoff, and there will likely be more fourth-quarter intrigue here.

No. 16 Cincinnati at No. 24 Utah

Time/TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, ESPN.

Why watch: Nearly forgotten after an opening loss to Nebraska, Cincinnati has rattled off seven wins in a row and played itself into the thick of the Big 12 title picture. After this week the Bearcats will only have to leave home one more time, so a victory here in SLC would be huge. The Utes would need a lot of help to win the league but hope to at least stay within shouting distance. Cincinnati QB Brendan Sorsby has tossed 20 TDs with just one pick, spreading the wealth among WRs Cyrus Allen and Caleb Goodie and TE Joe Royer. They’ll give Utes LB Johnathan Hall and DB Jackson Bennee a lot of responsibilities. Utah QB Devon Dampier was fortunately not needed as he sat out last week’s victory against Colorado with an ankle injury. IF he is not ready to return, the team will have confidence in backup Byrd Ficklin after his solid outing. Either signal caller must steer clear of Bearcats’ LB Jake Golday.

Why it could disappoint: A couple scenarios come to mind. The Bearcats could struggle with the lengthy travel and unaccustomed altitude, or the Utes’ offense could bog down as it did in their blowout loss to Texas Tech. But hopefully a #Big12AfterDark shootout will unfold, and viewers will have a reason to take advantage of the extra hour on ‘fall back’ night.

No. 18 Oklahoma at No. 14 Tennessee

Time/TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC.

Why watch: The SEC nightcap is in effect a playoff eliminator. A three-loss team wouldn’t be automatically disqualified from at-large consideration, but the loser here would face an uphill climb to get back to the top 12. Sooners QB John Mateer is still trying to regain his passing touch since returning from a hand injury, but the Vols’ secondary hasn’t exactly been airtight. A good push up front from DTs Joshua Josephs and Donovan Bailey would help them out. Tennessee QB Joey Aguilar, with help from RBs DeSean Bishop and Star Thomas, haven’t been easy to stop either. But the OU defense, featuring LB Kip Lewis and DE R Mason Thomas, surrenders just 12.5 points a game.

Why it could disappoint: It probably won’t – Tennessee’s games have tended to be close. But it’s possible that either the strength-against-strength confrontation when the Vols have the ball or the less accomplished pairing when the Sooners have possession will prove to be a mismatch. But a mismatch which way? That is hard to predict.

No. 23 Navy at North Texas

Time/TV: noon ET, ESPN2.

Why watch: The Midshipmen are riding a 10-game winning streak dating back to last season, but they embark on a treacherous November slate against the upper echelons of the American, with the annual Notre Dame showdown thrown in there as well. Up first are the Mean Green, who bounced back nicely from their lone loss against South Florida with a couple of 50+-point outings to stay in the championship hunt. This game features two of the nation’s most explosive offenses, both averaging in the neighborhood of seven yards per snap. Driving the ship for Navy is QB Blake Horvath, who has 12 TDs by land and another seven by air. When he doesn’t take it himself, the ball usually wins up with RB Alex Tecza or SB Eli Heidenreich. North Texas will counter with QB Drew Mestemaker, who has 21 scoring throws and just four picks. His top weapons are WR Wyatt Young and RB Caleb Hawkins. The defenses will have their hands full, but names you’ll likely hear a lot include Navy LB MarcAnthony Parker and Mean Green LB Shane Whitter.

Why it could disappoint: Hopefully it won’t and we’ll get the entertaining track meet these potent offenses promise. But neither team can afford turnovers, as getting stops to assist a multi-score comeback will be difficult.

No. 15 Virginia at California

Time/TV: 3:45 p.m. ET, ESPN2.

Why watch: The Cavaliers found overtime magic for the third time this season to maintain, barely, their place in the ACC driver’s seat. They now take their turn to visit the league’s new Bay Area outpost, where the Golden Bears have already shown they’re more than capable of causing chaos. Cal QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele isn’t afraid to sling it around, though protecting him has been a problem. That could mean a big day for UVa DE Daniel Rickert. Cavs QB Chandler Morris and RB J’Mari Taylor lead a balanced attack, but Morris would do well not to challenge Bears CB Hezekiah Masses, who has swiped a league-high four passes.

Why it could disappoint: How could it? Virginia games have been wild rides all season. The Golden Bears have been involved in some lopsided affairs, but most of their ACC contests have been within a score. Buckle up and enjoy.

No. 13 Texas Tech at Kansas State

Time/TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, Fox.

Why watch: The Red Raiders took a hit a couple weeks ago at Arizona State. They’re now more than a little banged up as they head to the Little Apple, where the Wildcats still have hope of salvaging their season after a disappointing start. Texas Tech QB Will Hammond sustained a season-ending knee injury in last week’s Oklahoma State win, but the good news for the Red Raiders is regular starter Behren Morton is ready to return. RB Cameron Dickey will also get opportunities to exploit K-State’s leaky ground defense. Wildcats QB Avery Johnson’s play has likewise been uneven this fall, though he has only been intercepted twice. RB Dylan Edwards remains sidelined with a foot issue, so Joe Jackson must lend as many tough ground yards as he can.

Why it could disappoint: We’ll likely know early on if it will. If the Red Raiders can take the home crowd out of it with a couple quick scores, it will probably be safe to look in on other viewing options in this window. But if the Wildcats are also able to move the ball, you’ll want to stick around.

Southern California at Nebraska

Time/TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBC.

Why watch: We’re stepping outside the Top 25 for this one, but it might turn out to be the most consequential matchup of the day in the Big Ten. The participants themselves are clinging to long-shot playoff hopes, but past and future opponents of both squads will also have interest in the outcome. After a rough outing at Minnesota, Cornhuskers QB Dylan Raiola and RB Emmett Johnson delivered a clutch drive to get by Northwestern. The Trojans haven’t lacked scoring punch even in their losses with QB Jayden Maiava and WR Makai Lemon able to strike at any time, but getting needed defensive stops on the road remains an issue for the program.

Why it could disappoint: Nebraska’s offensive inconsistencies could show up again, but given USC’s defensive shortcomings this is more likely to be a back-and-forth affair. Dare we say the sneaky-good game of the night? It’s possible.

This might be the end of the line for Auburn coach Hugh Freeze.

With Sam Pittman out at Arkansas, Billy Napier finally ejected from Florida and Brian Kelly dismissed at LSU, Freeze becomes the next SEC coach facing an in-season dismissal as he winds toward the end of his third year with the Tigers.

This year has been a disaster defined by inept roster management and a punchless offense that has averaged just 4.4 yards per play in the SEC, leaving no arguments for giving Freeze a fourth season beyond his $15.4 million buyout as of Dec. 1 — and that’s chump change compared to what LSU, Penn State and others are shelling out in their coaching moves.

The only way Freeze buys more time is by taking at least three of four in November to secure the program’s first winning season since 2020. Given his flimsy job security, in fact, you can make the argument that one of those wins has to come against No. 4 Alabama in the Iron Bowl.

But this theory becomes moot if Auburn loses Saturday to Kentucky, which is unbeaten in two games against the MAC but winless in five SEC games, with three decided by 21 or more points. The Wildcats are in the conversation for the worst team in the Power Four.

With No. 11 Vanderbilt and the Crimson Tide still to come, a loss on Saturday would basically ensure that Freeze becomes the first Auburn coach since 1948-50 to oversee three losing seasons in a row. Not that he’d be around to see the year through to the finish — Auburn would likely pull the plug at some point on Sunday.

Freeze, Texas and Dabo Swinney lead the USA TODAY Sports preview of the team, game, coach and quarterback facing the most pressure in Week 10 of the regular season:

Team: No. 19 Texas

Arch Manning’s availability against Vanderbilt is in doubt after he suffered a concussion late in last week’s come-from-behind win against Mississippi State. Should he be unavailable, Texas will turn to backup Matthew Caldwell, a former Troy transfer who threw a touchdown in overtime to keep the Longhorns’ SEC and playoff hopes alive.

One-loss Vanderbilt has some wiggle room. After posting wins against LSU and Missouri, the Commodores could lose on Saturday and still earn an at-large bid by beating Auburn, Kentucky and No. 14 Tennessee.

But Texas doesn’t have that luxury. Texas will face three ranked teams this month with no room for error, needing a perfect finish to deliver on the expectations birthed from Manning’s ascension to the starting role and the first preseason No. 1 ranking in program history.

The Longhorns have not resembled that team at any point this season, starting with a 14-7 loss at No. 1 Ohio State in the opener. In the SEC, Texas lost to Florida, beat No. 18 Oklahoma and then narrowly escaped in overtime at Kentucky and Mississippi State.

There are no on-field results to suggest Texas can pull off a clean sweep against the Commodores, No. 6 Georgia, Arkansas and No. 3 Texas A&M. But there should be no questions about the team’s talent level; maybe this November gauntlet brings out the best in the Longhorns and draws a return trip to the playoff.

Game: No. 16 Cincinnati at No. 24 Utah

This is the first of several matchups that will determine the makeup of the Big 12 championship game and influence which team — or how many teams — represents the conference in the playoff.

While losses to No. 13 Texas Tech and No. 10 Brigham Young should end up blocking Utah’s path to AT&T Stadium, the Utes could upend the conference race by handing the Bearcats their first conference loss and first defeat overall since dropping the opener to Nebraska.

Cincinnati is fresh off wins against Oklahoma State and Baylor by a combined 63 points but will play on Saturday without running back Evan Pryor, a former Ohio State transfer who leads the team with 478 rushing yards on 7.2 yards per carry.

That will mean more work for quarterback Brendan Sorsby, who has thrown 20 touchdowns without an interception since the Nebraska game and joins Arkansas’ Taylen Green as the only Power Four quarterbacks with at least 1,700 passing yards and 425 rushing yards.

A loss would end Utah’s shot at the Big 12 crown but wouldn’t be fatal for the Bearcats, who could still reach the championship game with a clean finish and a Texas Tech win next weekend against BYU.

Coach: Dabo Swinney, Clemson

Clemson’s priorities shifted in the wake of September losses to LSU, Syracuse and Georgia Tech. No longer an at-large contender for the playoff, Swinney and the Tigers refocused on capturing the ACC and earning an automatic bid for the second year in a row.

But a loss to SMU has moved the goalposts once again. Now, four-loss Clemson’s goal should be to simply reach the postseason, period, against a November slate that could leave the Tigers short of at least six wins for the first time since 1998.

You can pencil in a win against Furman. Clemson should beat Florida State, which has yet to win a game in the ACC. The Tigers also play No. 17 Louisville and South Carolina on the road.

This weekend’s matchup in Death Valley against Duke feels like a make-or-break moment for a directionless program. A win would pave the way for bowl eligibility and could provide a spark that rockets Clemson through the finish line of the regular season.

But a loss would raise the odds of a losing record, which would be a shocking turn for a preseason national championship favorite while forcing Swinney to make massive changes to get the program back on track — up to and including a reshuffling of his staff and a commitment to using the transfer portal to rebuild a shaky roster.

Quarterback: Jayden Maiava, Southern California

To say that Maiava has a shot at the Heisman Trophy might sound ridiculous — he’s barely made a blip on the national radar despite some crooked numbers — but it’s not that outlandish given the opportunities that await the Trojans in November.

The numbers are worthy of Heisman consideration. Maiava leads the FBS with 10.2 yards per pass attempt, ranks third with 311.4 yards per game and ranks fifth with a 173.5 efficiency rating. He has multiple touchdowns in six of seven games and has played well in four games against Power Four teams, completing 71.3% of his throws with seven touchdowns and just two interceptions.

Another factor in Maiava’s favor is a race that hasn’t had a clear leader at any point this season. While Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza holds a slight edge over Alabama’s Ty Simpson, Ohio State’s Julian Sayin and Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia, this is as uncertain a Heisman picture heading into November as at any point in recent history.

Five conference games this month, starting Saturday night at Nebraska, will give Maiava a puncher’s chance at leapfrogging to the front of the line. USC then hosts Northwestern and Iowa, heads to No. 6 Oregon and comes back home for UCLA. A clean sweep could land the Trojans in the playoff and earn Maiava a trip to Manhattan as a Heisman finalist.

The 54th edition of the world’s biggest marathon returns to New York City, ready to test professional runners and novices alike for a 26.2-mile trek through the five boroughs of the Big Apple.

Last year, a record 55,642 runners from 137 countries participated in the TCS New York City marathon, finishing in an average time of 4:31:31.

Like last year’s race, three of the four professional winners from last year’s NYC marathon, Abdi Nageeye of the Netherlands, Kenya’s Sheila Chepkirui, and the women’s wheelchair winner Susannah Scaroni, return to defend their crown. Daniel Romanchuk, the winner of the men’s wheelchair race, has a shoulder injury suffered at the Sydney Marathon after an on-course collision with a spectator and will not compete.

Those winners will face fierce competition in what officials are calling the fastest race ever. The men’s field features Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya, a gold medalist in the marathon at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro and 2020 Tokyo Olympics, making his NYC Marathon debut. Also in the field are Evans Chebet, the 2022 champion, and Albert Korir, the winner in 2021.

The female field is also strong, with 2023 champ Hellen Obiri and Sharon Lokedi, who came in first in 2022, expected to challenge Chepkirui, in what could be a podium sweep by the trio from Kenya. But look out for Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands, making her NYC debut. Hassan won the gold medal at the Paris Olympics, beating Obiri, who took home the bronze, and Lokedi, who came in fourth.

The American losing streak is now up 16 years on the men’s professional side, and 2017 was the last time an American woman crossed the finish line first. first.

CC Sabathia, the ex-New York Yankees pitcher who was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2025, will serve as this year’s TCS New York City Marathon Grand Marshal.

When is New York City Marathon?

The 2025 TCS New York City Marathon starts at 8 a.m. ET on Sunday, Nov. 2.

Start times for New York City Marathon

8 a.m. – Professional Men’s Wheelchair Division
8:02 a.m. – Professional Women’s Wheelchair Division
8:22 a.m. – Handcycle Category and Select Ambulatory Athletes with Disabilities
8:35 a.m. – Professional Women’s Open Division
9:05 a.m. – Professional Men’s Open Division
9:10 a.m. – Wave 1
9:45 a.m. – Wave 2
10:20 a.m. – Wave 3
10:55 a.m. – Wave 4
11:30 a.m. – Wave 5 

How to watch New York City Marathon

The national broadcast of the NYC Marathon airs on ESPN2 from 8 to 11:30 a.m. ET.

The broadcast will also be available live in Spanish on ESPN3. In the New York tri-state area, WABC-TV, Channel 7, will broadcast the race from 8 to 11:30 a.m. ET (also available on the ABC 7 New York App and ESPN App) with pre-race coverage starting at 7 a.m. ET. ABC will air a live two-hour show from the finish line from 3-5 p.m. ET.

Patrons can cheer on their favorite competitors, friends, and family in person from the grandstands located at West 62nd Street and Broadway. Tickets are available for the Grandstand Seating. Most of the course from mile 3 to mile 26 is open to spectators, who can find sidewalk space and watch for free.

Fans can also follow a runner’s progress via the TCS New York City Marathon App.

Watch the 2025 NYC Marathon with Fubo (free trial for new users)

New York City Marathon route

The race starts at the Verrazzano–Narrows Bridge on Staten Island before runners work their way through Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, and the Bronx, with the finish line at Central Park, at 67th Street on West Drive.

The official closure time of the marathon is 10 p.m. ET. Runners finishing after that time will not be recorded as official finishers but will receive finisher medals.

For those who drop out during the race, officials warn you not to go through the finish line, or you will be disqualified and barred from participating in future New York City Marathons. (In other words, don’t even try it.)

New York City Marathon prize money

Prize money is equal for men and women, and the top American finishers in the men’s and women’s races will receive $25,000. The men’s and women’s wheelchair division champions will each receive $50,000. A $50,000 bonus will be paid to the Open Division and/or Wheelchair Division race winners who break the current event record.

1st – $100,000
2nd – $60,000
3rd – $40,000
4th – $25,000
5th – $15,000
6th -$10,000
7th – $7,500
8th – $5,000
9th – $2,500
10th – $2,000

New York City Marathon course records

Open Division Men: 2:04:58, Tamirat Tola, 2023
Open Division Women: 2:22:31, Margaret Okayo, 2003
Wheelchair Division Men: 1:25:26, Marcel Hug, 2022
Wheelchair Division Women: 1:39:32, Catherine Debrunner, 2023

New York City Marathon weather

Temperatures are expected to be in the high 40s at the beginning of the race, with a high expected of 55 by mid-afternoon. There is no rain in the forecast, but winds are expected to gust up to 15 mph.

The San Francisco Giants hired former Tennessee baseball coach Tony Vitello as their new manager.
Vitello is the first sitting college baseball coach with no professional experience to be hired to manage an MLB team.
Giants’ president of baseball operations Buster Posey chose Vitello for his culture-building and leadership skills.
The Giants are betting that Vitello’s success in rebuilding Tennessee’s program will translate to the major leagues.

SAN FRANCISCO − Buster Posey’s big move started with small moments.

An amateur scout praising Tony Vitello and the Tennessee baseball program. Chatter in the San Francisco Giants’ draft room about the talent stockpile in Knoxville. A chance encounter in a side stairwell at Denver’s Coors Field in September.

Those little benchmarks were enough for the Giants’ president of baseball operations to text Vitello asking to set up a visit in the earliest days of his hunt for a new manager. 

“I kind of said, ‘Oh hell here we go, this could be something,’ ” Vitello said on Thursday, Oct. 30.

That is precisely what Posey is betting on.

Giants take a chance, move past normal with new manager

Posey slipped a cream Giants jersey over Vitello’s shoulders at Oracle Park, the pair as linked as the intertwined S and F on the black hat Vitello donned at the cost of his hair. Posey is the first man to choose a sitting college baseball coach with zero professional experience to lead an MLB franchise. Vitello is the coach who proved himself worthy of the opportunity.

“It goes back to Buster being pretty fearless and someone who is willing to take chances,” Giants general manager Zack Minasian said. 

It’s a chance, but only inasmuch as Posey is hiring Vitello to fit into the traditional box that an MLB manager has long been held by. Nothing about Vitello suggests he is content to hand in a lineup card, make a handful of pitching decisions per game and maintain order. He’s more likely to dive into McCovey Cove than be contained by conventional expectations. 

The normal is not why the Giants chose him. 

They’re banking on him being successful as an MLB manager for the attributes that led him to rebuild a decrepit Tennessee program into a powerhouse and national champion. He’s a culture-builder, a leader, a teacher, a vision-holder, a fiery competitor and — perhaps most importantly — a winner who thrives at creating trust-centered relationships.

Those traits put him on the MLB radar two years ago when a team explored hiring him, which is when Vitello embraced the dream of leading a pro franchise. It was different this time.

Vitello was firmly on the Giants’ list at the start of their search to replace Bob Melvin, who was fired on Sept. 29 after going 161-163 in two seasons. His name kept standing out. 

“As we started to go through it, I felt like we kept coming back to, ‘This one would be really interesting’ and it just got even more and more interesting as we continued to speak,” Minasian said. 

Posey was affirmed at every turn in his pursuit of Vitello. 

Giants see the right traits in Vitello

The former Vols coach was annoyingly hard to get in touch with because he was working so hard at Tennessee. He made enough phone calls to get glimpses of Vitello. He had Vitello call former Giants managers Dusty Baker and Bruce Bochy — the latter of whom won a World Series title with the Giants. Both were impressed. 

Posey sees Vitello as someone who can change a clubhouse in time. There’s hope his dedication to teaching the game will infiltrate the organization. 

‘When you start lining them up, there are some (traits) that draw strong comparisons to people who have been really successful in the role right out here,” said Minasian as he pointed to the dugout. 

Vitello answered a long list of expected questions in his introduction, ranging from how he will handle the length of an MLB season compared to a college season to how MLB players will respond to a feather-ruffling college coach who hasn’t paid the typical dues to earn such a role.

He’s not worried about whether he fits into the picture of an MLB manager. He does wonder how it will feel. He did so at the two World Series games he attended since accepting the job.

He’ll find out soon enough.

“We are in this together, whether you like me or not,” Vitello said.

Vitello was speaking to fans when he said that. He might as well have turned to his right and uttered it to Posey, who didn’t go into a search looking to make history. He did it anyway — and if Vitello succeeds, the Giants might have blown up the MLB manager role as it has been for decades with Buster’s big move.

Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on X @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.

This story has been updated to reflect Bruce Bochy and not Dusty Baker won a World Series with the Giants.

As boxer Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis prepares for his exhibition fight against Jake Paul Nov. 14 in Miami, he faces accusations of attacking a woman in a strip club this week, according to a civil lawsuit.

The woman filed a civil lawsuit against Davis in Miami-Dade County on Thursday, Oct. 30, accusing the boxer of battery, aggravated battery, false imprisonment, kidnapping, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

The woman said the attack took place Monday, Oct. 27 at Tootsie’s Cabaret, a strip club in Miami Gardens where she is a VIP cocktail waitress, according to the complaint filed with the 11th Judicial Circuit Court in Miami-Dade County. According to the complaint, Davis choked, grabbed, pulled, pushed and hit her in the back of the head.

The incident began at approximately 4:15 a.m., when Davis located the woman inside Tootsie’s in an upstairs VIP lounge, where Davis forcibly grabbed and dragged her through a stairway, through the kitchen, and through the back entrance all the way into the parking garage, according to the complaint. At that point, according to the complaint, Davis continuously grabbed, choked, pushed, pulled, and struck her in the back of the head, leaving her terrified and alone and embarrassed for her co-workers and employer, according to the complaint.

The woman and Davis met in 2022 and had been intimately involved for five months before she said she was attacked in the club, according to the complaint.

During those five months, Davis physically assaulted and choked her four times before the latest incident and on two occasions threatened in writing to kill her, according to the complaint.

Calvin Ford, Davis’ trainer, on Thursday evening told USA TODAY Sports he had learned of the lawsuit about 10 minutes earlier. He called the lawsuit ‘nonsense” and said they were ‘trying to see where it’s coming from.”

Of Davis, Ford said, ‘He’s doing great. Everything’s good. That’s why we’re trying to find out what’s going on.”

Davis has a home in Southwest Ranches, Florida, where he has been training for his upcoming fight.

As noted in the woman’s lawsuit, Davis has been arrested multiple times for allegations of violence committed against women.

On July 11, Davis was arrested on a battery charge after an incident involving a woman who is the mother of his two children. But the charges were dropped when the woman and another witness refused to cooperate, according to the State Attorney’s office in Miami.

The woman who filed the lawsuit Oct. 30 is represented by attorneys Richard C. Wolfe and Jeff Chukwuma.

Has the tush been pushed too far?

The controversial play mastered and made famous by the Philadelphia Eagles continues to come under attack from all sides. Now they might’ve lost one of their own in the heated debate.

Jason Kelce spoke with USA TODAY Sports and noted that plenty of people are upset with the ‘tush push,’ while also giving a reason for its potential ban.

‘If they can’t officiate it properly, that would certainly be a reason to ban it,’ Kelce told USA TODAY Sports. ‘That’s the reality of it.’

While he didn’t specifically say what the league’s ruling should be on the play, Kelce did express concern about whether a ban fixes anything.

‘Does removing the push affect the issues that people are having officiating it?’ Kelce questioned. ‘I don’t know that removes … everybody has an issue with the false starts.

‘The offensive line is still gonna operate the same way whether it’s tush push or a quarterback sneak,’ Kelce added. ‘The play in the Giants game – they ruled the forward progress stopped. I think it was a bad call. Like it looks like a fumble to me, probably should’ve been a fumble.’

Kelce pointed out that he isn’t certain the play would’ve been called differently if it was a traditional quarterback sneak.

‘Now if people just want to punish the Eagles because they’re getting away with a lot of bad calls, I certainly understand that,’ Kelce said. ‘But I also haven’t seen the struggling to officiate it with other teams running it. The Eagles aren’t the only team that run it, but very coincidentally I often see only the Eagles being brought up online. I think that probably has more to do with the Eagles being better at it than anyone else.’

The former Eagles center also reiterated the reasons for his visit to the league meetings in May, saying he just wanted to dispel rumors around player safety and the idea that he retired due to the play. It’s unclear what impact Kelce might’ve had on the final vote, but the ban was two teams short of being passed.

Unsurprisingly, the discussion has only intensified during the season. The league acknowledged that it is difficult to officiate the play, but there has been an emphasis on trying to spot false starts and more.

As for the fate of the play, Kelce didn’t take a side, but did provide an off-ramp for those who want to pass a ban.

‘If the NFL thinks it’s unfair or they can’t officiate it, those would obviously be good reasons to ban the play,’ Kelce said. ‘I don’t think banning it because it’s ugly is a good reason – that seems pretty subjective.’

Any vote involving the ‘tush push’ will have to wait until the offseason. Whether a ban is passed or not, it appears this issue isn’t going away anytime soon.

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Colorado coach Deion Sanders questioned the honesty of Big 12 pregame injury reporting.
The Big 12 implemented injury reports this season to increase transparency and deter insider gambling.
Sanders stated he provides a full, truthful injury list to avoid having his name slandered for lying.

Colorado football coach Deion Sanders questioned whether other Big 12 Conference teams are accurately reporting pregame injuries after a new injury report this week showed Colorado with 20 players on the list compared to only one for Arizona.

Colorado hosts Arizona in a homecoming game Saturday at Folsom Field. Big 12 teams are required by the league to report “any uncertainties” regarding a player’s participation in a coming game.

“Let’s tell the truth, and we do,” Sanders said on the Colorado Football Coaches Show Thursday, Oct. 30. “I guess everybody else is lying because there’s no way nobody’s that healthy.”

The Big 12 discloses injury reports before each game this season in the interest of transparency, hoping it prevents injury information from being traded in the shadows with gamblers. In Colorado’s case, Sanders’ pregame injury list sometimes has been quite long compared to opponents. It includes backup players or players who haven’t played much this season, if at all.

Deion Sanders notes the disparity in Big 12 injury reports

Last week, before the Buffaloes suffered a 53-7 loss at Utah, Colorado listed more than 25 players on its initial injury report compared to only three for Utah.  One of those Utah players was starting quarterback Devon Dampier, who was initially listed as questionable to play against Colorado. Dampier then was upgraded to “probable” to play in a subsequent injury report before the game. On game day, he wasn’t listed on the injury report at all, meaning he apparently was available to play against Colorado. But he didn’t play against Colorado, raising questions about transparency and gamesmanship with the injury report.

Utah coach Kyle Whittingham later said Dampier “wasn’t feeling it” before the game and was available as an emergency backup.

Sanders didn’t accuse any coach in particular of being dishonest.

“Why do we always like, we always have 100 guys (on the injury report) and the other team, I look over and they have two guys?” Sanders asked. “Are we the only ones being honest?”

Sanders said he promotes publishing a full injury report because “the last thing I want is my name slandered for lying,’

“I don’t lie,” Sanders told the show’s host, Mark Johnson. “I don’t. I’m not gonna placate nothing. Let’s tell the truth. And we do.”

Sanders said that “we’re tripling our opponents” in number of injured players reported before games. That is not always the case. The initial injury report for the week before Colorado beat Iowa State on Oct. 11 showed 21 players on the list for Colorado and 17 for Iowa State. Sanders said his team goes over the list every day with his training staff to issue a comprehensive report.

Deion Sanders said he finally went home this week

On Tuesday, Sanders said he hadn’t returned to his home in Colorado after suffering the worst loss of his college coaching career at Utah on Saturday. He stayed at the Colorado team facilities instead hoping to get his team back on track. He said Thursday he finally went home Wednesday.

“I’m a perfectionist,” he said. “I want to win. And then, if you don’t, I want to figure out why.”

World Series could affect Colorado’s television channel

Colorado’s game against Arizona on Saturday is set for 7 p.m. ET on FS1. But if the Toronto Blue Jays win the World Series Friday against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Arizona-Colorado game will be moved to Fox, the network confirmed to USA TODAY Sports. If the Dodgers force a Game 7, that decisive game will be on Fox and Colorado will play Arizona on FS1.

Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com