Penn State coach James Franklin faces more criticism after his team was upset by previously winless UCLA.
UCLA’s interim play caller Jerry Neuheisel led his team to a surprising victory, making his father emotional on TV.
Purdue’s loss to Illinois continued a strange trend that involves Taylor Swift.

Just when you think you know James Franklin, he surprises you in the worst way.

A coach known for losing the big games but winning the insignificant ones fell right on his hand when his supposed national championship caliber team was completely outplayed by UCLA. The Bruins, who have been a mess in 2025, looked far superior than the Nittany Lions. You wouldn’t have guessed the winless team was a near 30-point underdog.

It’s easy to poke fun at Franklin every year − even though he does deserve some credit of success − but it’s effortless when you consider coming off a College Football Playoff semifinal appearance, he proclaimed at the beginning of the season this was his best team yet at Happy Valley.

Now after the most embarassing loss of his tenure and 0-2 in the Big Ten, he’s very much deflecting his bold statement after he was asked if he still believes it.

‘How am I supposed to answer that when we lose the last two games?’ Franklin said. ‘Then obviously, that’s all that matters, we didn’t win the last two games. Obviously, I felt that way or I wouldn’t have said that, but after two losses it’s hard for me to answer that question and say that that’s the case.”

Week 6 was a reminder that despite all of the talk, the games need to be played, and you better be ready to face the music when you fall flat. Franklin disappoints in the worst way, and he leads the best and worst things from Week 6 of college football.

Best: Proud father and son

While Franklin was drowning in misery in Pasadena, there was one coach basking in glory.

As the son of former UCLA quarterback and coach Rick Neuheisel, Jerry Neuheisel is a born Bruin. He was a backup quarterback during his college days and has spent most of his young coaching career at his alma mater. With things not working out, interim coach Tim Skipper opted to give Neuheisel the chance to call plays in the biggest game of the season.

Neuheisel said he only had two days to get a gameplan in, but it looked perfect against Penn State. UCLA scored 42 points, had 435 yards and never trailed against the Nittany Lions after it didn’t have a single lead in the first four games. It absolutely called for a celebration, and the team made sure to cheer on the lifelong Bruin by raising him up following the win.

Even better, dad was in the CBS studio to watch his son cook up a masterful gameplan. Normally you hate seeing analysts pick a side, but Rick couldn’t help but be a proud dad, and it’s a moment that will touch everyone’s hearts.

Worst: Snapping back to reality

Vanderbilt’s 2024 win over Alabama did wonders for the Diego Pavia bandwagon, as he certanily has ridden that into talking a big game and coming off as an SEC contender. He was finally presented a chance to back it up with an encore on the road against the Crimson Tide. Instead, Vanderbilt looked like the Vanderbilt of old.

Worse, Pavia really struggled to duplicate any sucesss that catapulted him to headlines. He threw for just 198 yards and turned it over twice as the Commodores were shut out in the second half. Pavia is certainly a good quarterback and Vanderbilt is a better team that it’s typically been, but the hype train and talk will have to stop after this one.

Even worse, Johnny Manziel was in attendance sporting a Pavia jersey.

Best: breaking NCAA records

An NCAA record was shattered with Western Carolina quarterback Taron Dickens getting the most consecutive passes completed in a single game with 46 in a row against Wofford. Even better, he threw for 325 yards and three touchdowns during that immaculate stretch.

Dickens finished the day 53-for-56 with 378 yards and three touchdowns, leading the Catamounts to a 23-21 win. An impressive mark that’s extremely hard to do, and taste even better with victory.

Worst: The Taylor Swift curse

Millions of Americans were thrilled to see Taylor Swift’s latest album ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ get release. But you know who wasn’t? Purdue.

In a stat you won’t believe, turns out Purdue has never won a game after a Swift album was released. That means 10 losses for the Boilermakers after Swifties got their hands on something new. With the odds severely against them, Purdue had to play Illinois in its first post-album game, and you guessed it, lost 43-27.

Make that 0-11 after a Swift album release, and Purdue Pete is probably praying Swift retires soon.

Best: A great one-eyed pup

Dog content always wins, especially when it’s a spectacular puppy. The college football world got blessed when one-eyed Reveille.

Back in July, Texas A&M said Reveille X had her right eye removed after veterinarians diagnosed her with glaucoma. She needed some time to recover, but she was at Kyle Field for the Aggies’ matchup against Mississippi State. She’s already a beauty, but she sported an eye patch that just really made her the star of the show.

16/10 would run out onto the field for her.

Worst: Getting rejected on live TV

Theo Von is quite the character, and during his appearance on ‘College GameDay,’ he tried to smooth talk his way with ESPN’s Jess Sims with a ‘will I see you again?’

Sims quickly responded ‘I hope not.’ Ouch.

Best: Snow games

Is it still the fall? Not in Laramie, Wyoming.

The Cowboys hosted UNLV and snow made its way to War Memorial Stadium for one of the best scenes in football: a snow covered field.

It made for a great scene as UNLV overcame the conditions for a 31-17 road victory. A great sign that cold weather is around the corner, even when it was in the 80s in most parts of the country.

Worst: Epic fail leads to loss

A great game transpired in Buffalo with the Bulls and Eastern Michigan playing into overtime. After Buffalo opened the extra period with a touchdown, Eastern Michigan responded with their own score in the end zone. However, the Eagles wanted to go for two and the win.

So, Eastern Michigan tried some trickery with a pitch play. Instead, it ended in complete disaster, and the Eagles now at 1-5 on the season.

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There were some shocking upsets in Week 6 of the college football season.

Top-10 teams Texas and Penn State went on the road and were taken out by unranked teams, with both programs suffering their second loss of the season, respectively. The preseason Nos. 1- and 3-ranked teams, respectively, both have their College Football Playoff hopes hanging in the balance heading into Week 7.

Elsewhere, No. 12 Iowa State also suffered a road loss to an unranked team. Cincinnati downed the favorite for the Big 12 title, giving the Cyclones their first loss of 2025. Texas Tech now looks like the clear-cut leader of the conference so far.

College football is always set for surprises, especially when fans are least expecting it. Here’s a recap of the most notable upsets of Week 6 in college football:

College football upsets yesterday

UCLA 42, No. 6 Penn State 37

Easily the most shocking upset of the season so far, UCLA hosted Penn State without its head coach and both coordinators after firing all three this season.

The Bruins entered the game winless, and looked like one of the worst teams in FBS so far. UCLA fell to New Mexico 35-10 at home earlier this season, which resulted in the firing of former head coach DeShaun Foster.

Quarterback Nico Iamaleava, a former five-star recruit who transferred from Tennessee in the offseason, had been a disappointment — until he torched Penn State. Iamaleava threw for 166 yards with two touchdowns while rushing for 128 yards and three scores.

UCLA interim coach Tim Skipper deserves a lot of credit, but it was interim offensive coordinator Jerry Neuheisel (yes, Ken Neuheisel’s son) who stole the show against the Nittany Lions after the Bruins’ offensive explosion. It was Neuheisel’s first-ever game calling an offense.

For Penn State, the loss marked its second consecutive dropped game after falling to Oregon at home in double overtime on Sept. 28. The Nittany Lions were viewed as one of the top national championship contenders in the preseason, but haven’t lived up to that hype yet.

But give credit to UCLA, whose makeshift coaching staff (and roster, for that matter) came together with an impressive game plan for its first win of 2025.

Florida 29, No. 7 Texas 21

Texas’ road game against Florida in Week 6 had been viewed as a potential trap game since the Gators’ skid that started in Week 2. It was also going to be a tough matchup for Texas, especially with the game being on the road in a hostile environment and the Longhorns looking ahead, potentially, to their Red River Rivalry game vs. Oklahoma.

Texas’ offense continued to struggle, as former five-star recruit Arch Manning completed 16 of 29 passes for 263 yards with two touchdowns to two interceptions, which both came in costly moments in the fourth quarter. He also rushed for 37 yards.

Florida was coming off consecutive losses to South Florida, LSU and Miami. Its offense had also struggled mightily this season. True freshman receiver Dallas Wilson had a magnificent debut, catching six passes for 111 yards with two touchdowns. Running back Jadan Baugh also rushed for 107 yards and a score against the Texas defense.

Florida coach Billy Napier might still be on the hot seat, but the Gators head coach continues to add impressive wins to his resume when college football least expects him to.

Cincinnati 38, No. 14 Iowa State 30

Cincinnati was actually favored in this game by 1.5 points, per BetMGM. However, the ranking disparity warrants an ‘upset.’

The Bearcats jumped out to a huge lead early, leaving the first quarter with a 17-0 lead. Iowa State fought back late, but it was too little too late, as Cincinnati held on for a 38-30 win to move to 4-1 this season.

Quarterback Brendan Sorsby has been one of the most underrated signal-callers in the country this season, and threw for 214 yards with two touchdowns while rushing for 64 yards and another score. The Bearcats had 264 yards on the ground on only 33 carries, good for 8 yards per carry.

Cincinnati might just be a sleeper contender in the Big 12, although the conference still has a lot to be figured out throughout conference play.

Fox NFL analyst Mark Sanchez, 38, was hospitalized in stable condition after being stabbed early on Saturday, Oct. 4 in Indianapolis, and police said he has been arrested and charged with three misdemeanors for his alleged role in the incident.

Sanchez, a former NFL quarterback, was in the city to cover the Raiders-Colts game on Fox this Sunday.

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said Sanchez was arrested at the hospital for ‘battery with injury, unlawful entry of a motor vehicle and public intoxication, all which are misdemeanors. All involved parties have been identified and no further individuals are being sought by detectives.’

The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office announced Sunday that Sanchez has been charged.

‘What began as a disagreement between a 38-year-old former professional athlete and a 69-year-old man should not have escalated into violence or left anyone seriously injured,’ prosecutor Ryan Mears said in a statement.

The Indianapolis Star, part of the USA TODAY Network, cited court documents and reported that the fight began over Sanchez being upset that the older man parked his work box truck at a loading dock to collect used cooking oil.

The 69-year-old told police that during the altercation, he reached into his pocket and pulled out pepper spray and sprayed Sanchez, who wiped it away.

The man thought, ‘This guy is trying to kill me,’ so he pulled out his knife, and when Sanchez came at him, the man struck him two or three times with the knife, he told police.

Sanchez was set to announce the game with play-by-play announcer Chris Myers and sideline reporter Kristina Pink. He joined Fox Sports in 2021 and previously worked for ESPN/ABC for two years.

Brady Quinn will now be the analyst for the Raiders-Colts game, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported.

‘Friday night in Indianapolis, one of our team members, Mark Sanchez, was involved in an incident that we’re still trying to wrap our heads around,’ Fox Sports’ Charissa Thompson said during pregame coverage. ‘At this time, our thoughts and prayers are with Mark, his family, and all of those involved.’

Sanchez was a quarterback in the NFL for 10 seasons after being drafted fifth overall by the New York Jets in 2009. He played with the Jets (2009-13), Philadelphia Eagles (2014-15), Dallas Cowboys (2016), Chicago Bears (2017) and Washington (2018) before retiring in 2019.

‘Sending our thoughts and love to Mark Sanchez and his family,’ the Jets posted on social media Saturday. ‘Hoping for a speedy recovery, 6.’

This story has been updated with new information and to add a video and a gallery.

The Minnesota Vikings are in dire straits at the quarterback position.

In the second quarter of the Week 5 matchup between the Vikings and the Cleveland Browns in London, stand-in starter Carson Wentz was injured after a scramble.

The passer attempted to pick up a first down with his legs when he was crunched by a pair of Browns defenders.

Wentz was seen stretching out his left arm, and the NFL Network broadcast noted that he entered the blue medical tent. He would later be seen making his way to the locker room with minutes left in the first half.

Carson Wentz injury update

Wentz returned in the second half vs. the Browns, with a little bit of protective gear on his left shoulder.

He was originally listed as questionable to return with a left shoulder injury. That is Wentz’s non-throwing shoulder.

The NFL Network broadcast reports that Wentz entered the X-ray room after exiting the locker room.

Vikings QB depth chart

With injuries to J.J. McCarthy and also Carson Wentz, the Vikings have one healthy QB dressed for Sunday:

J.J. McCarthy (injured)
Carson Wentz
Max Brosmer

Brosmer was signed as an undrafted free agent this offseason. He attempted four passes in Week 3 vs. the Bengals, completing two of them for 29 yards.

This story will be updated.

Alabama football and its fans got their long-awaited revenge over Diego Pavia and Vanderbilt on Saturday, Oct. 4, downing the Commodores 30-14 in Tuscaloosa.

Even in the loss, though, Pavia found ways to get under the skin of the Crimson Tide and their fans. That began before the game, with the Commodores signal-caller practicing a victory kneel — even a celebratory football toss.

That naturally bled into postgame, with video capturing Pavia getting into it with an irate Alabama fan as the former exited the field with his teammates. Video of the incident (warning: explicit language used) showed the fan shout at Pavia from behind the barrier, prompting the latter to say, ‘I do whatever the (expletive) I want. I do whatever the (expletive) I want.’

Several Vanderbilt support staff began chirping at the Alabama fan as well, with someone yelling, ‘You’re talking to a (expletive) kid!’

But Pavia, 24, wasn’t the only person to rile Alabama fans.

Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Johnny Manziel, who famously led Texas A&M to an upset of the Crimson Tide as a freshman in 2012, was also on the Vanderbilt sideline sporting a Pavia jersey in support of the Commodores quarterback.

In the final minutes of Alabama’s win over Vanderbilt, he could be seen giving the middle finger on both hands to Alabama fans in the crowd.

It’s clear Pavia’s trash-talking habits — ‘If we play our game, it won’t be close,’ he told On3 in the leadup to the game — made for a fraught situation with Alabama fans on Oct. 4. That’s especially true after what already stood to be elevated emotions from the last year’s 40-35 upset of the Crimson Tide in Nashville.

Pavia finished Saturday completing 21-of-35 passes for 198 yards and one touchdown to one interception. He also rushed 12 times for 58 yards, including a long of 36.

Riding the unexpected heroics of guard Dana Evans, the Las Vegas Aces take a 1-0 lead over the Phoenix Mercury into Game 2 of WNBA Finals on Sunday.

Coming off the bench, Evans scored 21 points in just 26 minutes, shooting 8-of-13 from the field including 5-of-6 from 3-point range in the Aces’ 89-86 home win on Friday night.

Phoenix had a chance to steal the opener in the first best-of-seven championship series in WNBA history, but Las Vegas rallied in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Mercury 22-15 over the final 10 minutes to earn the win.

Here’ are the details of Sunday’s Game 2:

What time is Mercury vs. Aces Game 2?

Game 2 of the WNBA Finals between the No. 2 seed Las Vegas Aces and No. 4 seed Phoenix Mercury is scheduled to tip off at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, Oct. 5 at Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas.

How to watch Mercury vs. Aces in WNBA Finals: TV, streaming for Game 2

Date: Sunday, Oct. 5
Time: 3 p.m. ET (12 p.m. PT)
Location: Michelob Ultra Arena (Las Vegas)
TV: ABC
Stream: Fubo, ESPN Unlimited

Stream Aces-Mercury series on Fubo (free trial)

The Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning don’t like each other after meeting in the playoffs in four of the last five seasons.

The 2025 playoffs, won by Florida, was particularly nasty with Brandon Hagel suspended one game for a hit on Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov and Aaron Ekblad suspended two games for injuring Hagel with an elbow.

The teams remembered that when they met Thursday, Oct. 2, and combined for 186 penalty minutes. A.J. Greer was fined for roughing and injuring Hagel.

Saturday’s preseason game blew past that with 65 penalties and 322 total penalty minutes. It has led to two fines and two players are facing disciplinary hearings.

The rough stuff started early when Tampa Bay’s Scott Sabourin took down Ekblad in the first period and then punched him when he got up. Ekblad wouldn’t return to the game and Sabourin received a match penalty for intent to injure. Coach Paul Maurice told reporters the defenseman would be evaluated on Sunday.

Before the end of the period, Tampa Bay’s J.J. Moser and Florida’s Carter Verhaeghe and Jonah Gadjovich received game misconducts.

The scrums and penalty minutes continued to pile up in the second period.

Early in the third period, a hit by Tampa Bay’s Oliver Bjorkstrand led to him and other players being ejected.

All told, the game featured five fights, 20 roughing minors, six misconduct penalties and 12 game misconducts.

At one point, the Lightning had three players on the bench.

‘That’s a first for me,’ Lightning coach Jon Cooper told reporters. ‘I think we had more coaches than players on the bench at one point.’

The Panthers won 7-0. The teams will next meet on Nov. 15 at the Panthers’ Amerant Bank Arena.

NHL Player Safety disciplinary action after Lightning-Panthers game

Sabourin will have a hearing for roughing Ekblad. Date and time to be determined.
Moser will have a hearing for boarding Florida’s Jesper Boqvist. Date and time TBD.
Tampa Bay’s Gage Goncalves was fined $3,125.00 for cross-checking Florida’s Evan Rodrigues.
Tampa Bay’s Roman Schmidt was fined $2,098.52 for cross-checking Verhaeghe.

This story has been updated with new information.

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.

Colorado football fell to 2-4 after a 35-21 loss to TCU, marking their third consecutive Big 12 defeat.
Quarterback Kaidon Salter’s performance, including three interceptions, has drawn criticism and raised questions about the position.
Sanders is also dealing with health concerns, citing significant leg pain and a doctor’s appointment to check for blood clots.

Colorado football coach Deion Sanders got frustrated Saturday night after his team suffered a 35-21 loss at TCU. His face was sweating. His leg was “hurting like crazy.” And flies were buzzing around him, bothering him. So he interrupted his postgame news conference to call them out.

“Where are flies coming from?” Sanders asked. “Are we that stinking that flies are flying around like buzzards with helmets on? Jesus.”

Sanders had to wonder after his team stunk it up again after taking a 14-0 lead for the second week in a row, only to lose again with substandard quarterback play down the stretch. The loss drops Colorado to 2-4 in Sanders’ third season as coach, including 0-3 in Big 12 Conference play.

Quarterback Kaidon Salter threw three interceptions on the night, reminding the Buffaloes just how much they miss Sanders’ quarterback son Shedeur, now a backup with the Cleveland Browns. Salter, a transfer from Liberty, threw for two touchdowns and ran for another but failed to convert after halftime, when the Buffs punted on four of their first five possessions.

“We seem like we faint instead of overcoming that adversity,” Sanders said.

What next for Deion Sanders and Colorado after this?

Sanders has a doctor’s appointment on Monday to find out if he has more blood clots in his leg. He admitted to being in pain Saturday night, raising questions about his health after recovering from bladder cancer in May. Then comes a home game against No. 12 Iowa State on Saturday, Oct. 11.

Unless something changes, this season could go south in a hurry. But Sanders didn’t use his pain as an excuse or absolve himself of blame.

“For some strange reasons, we’re not preparing these young men and equipping them enough to get over that hump, because we get to the same situational football every week,” Sanders said.

That situation is building a lead and then blowing it. It happened last week, when BYU freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier outplayed Salter by seizing the moment. It happened again Saturday, when TCU quarterback Josh Hoover threw four touchdown passes and ran for another.  

As a result, Salter’s critics grew louder on social media.

“We need!! a real power 4 QB man!” former Colorado running back Phillip Lindsay wrote on social media site X. “It’s ridiculous!!”

What will Deion Sanders do at quarterback now?

Colorado previously benched Salter for one game in favor of former third-string quarterback Ryan Staub. Celebrated freshman Julian Lewis is waiting for his chance, too, but has only appeared in one game and attempted four passes.

“We got to stay together,” Salter said afterward. “And that’s one big thing you have to do when you’re having a season like we’re having so far.”

It wasn’t all Salter’s fault. Among other things, a big miscue on a punt return in the fourth quarter put the Buffs on the losing track. The game was tied at 21-21 with about seven minutes left when TCU punted to Colorado freshman returner Quentin Gibson, who misplayed it instead of calling for a fair catch. TCU recovered the bouncing ball and took over at the Colorado 27-yard line. Three plays later, Hoover threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to help the Horned Frogs take a 28-21 lead with 5:44 left.

“It was just a freshman mistake, man,” Sanders said. “You gotta run up and fair-catch that.”

No ‘disrespect’ to TCU, but Sanders feels Colorado is better

Hoover added another touchdown pass of 21 yards to account for the final score with 19 seconds remaining. He completed 23 of 33 passes for 275 yards. Salter completed 18 of 29 for 217 yards while adding only 11 yards rushing on seven carries.

Sanders said he’s seeking a “killer” mentality that hasn’t been there much yet.

“I feel like we’re the better team,” Sanders said, adding that he meant no disrespect to TCU. “Felt like that last week, the week before. But yet it’s still we in this situation.”

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

Oklahoma football coach Brent Venables offered a positive update on Sooners receiver Keontez Lewis’ scary injury after a 44-0 win over Kent State on Oct. 4.

Lewis ran full speed into a brick wall in one of Oklahoma’s end zones on the Sooners’ first offensive possession of the game. He was down on the field being checked by trainers for several moments before being stretchered off.

‘He was alert,’ Venables said after the game. ‘He was in some pain in his back. And I won’t get into all the details, but yeah, he was going full speed, and ran into the wall. You’re dang right, I was very concerned.

‘I’m thankful once I got over there, realized based on the things and questions he was answering, was very coherent. (He said), ‘My head’s fine, my legs are fine.’ Again, just probably being like being in a car wreck, I would guess. I haven’t seen the video of it. I was thankful it seemed and appeared that all things considered he was OK.’

Lewis was attempting to haul in a touchdown pass from quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr., but the pass sailed and led Lewis into the wall.

The fifth-year senior receiver has 17 receptions for 210 yards with two touchdowns this season after transferring from Southern Illinois. He started his career at UCLA in 2021 before transferring to Wisconsin for two seasons.

Here’s what to know of Lewis’ injury:

Keontez Lewis injury update

Lewis suffered a scary injury against Kent State on Oct. 4, as he hit his head against a brick wall at full speed in the first quarter after trying to catch a touchdown pass.

‘The initial evaluation was good,’ Venables said after the game. ‘Promising. The latest scans were good as well. But man, what a scary thing for him. Hopefully he’ll be OK long term here.’

Shohei Ohtani earned the win in Game 1 with Tyler Glasnow getting a hold and Rōki Sasaki closed it out.
Teoscar Hernandez’s three-run homer in the seventh put the Dodgers ahead.
Ohtani went 0-for-4 at the plate but struck out nine in six innings on the mound.

PHILADELPHIA — It happens all the time in Hollywood.

Movie scripts are written and then stolen by producers.

Original ideas are created and then copied.

Well, here are the Los Angeles Dodgers are showing just how it’s done in the baseball business.

They not only are copying this postseason formula, but stealing it as their own, knowing that it may be their only path to get to their ultimate destination.

The Dodgers, whose bullpen has cratered in the last month, came up with a way this postseason to magically cure their blemishes, putting their blueprint on display Saturday in a 5-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies with an audience of 45,777 at Citizens Bank Park.

The Dodgers’ game plan is to have their starters go as long as they possibly can, with Shohei Ohtani doing the honors this night, but instead of using their traditional relievers to close out the game, are turning to the rest of their starting rotation to fulfill the duties.

It worked like an Oscar winner in Game 1 with the Dodgers coming back to take the lead on Teoscar Hernandez’s three-run homer in the seventh, and then holding it for the final three innings – thanks to the starters who suddenly are relievers.

It was Tyler Glasnow, who had not pitched in relief since 2018, coming in for 1 ⅔ innings. Reliever Alex Vesia came in to get one out and escape a jam. And then it was Rōki Sasaki, who had never pitched out of the bullpen in his life until September, closing it out.

The Dodgers may have a plan that puts them in the drivers’ seat on the road to their second consecutive World Series title.

It certainly worked like a charm for the Washington Nationals en route to winning the 2019 World Series championship, with their rotation covering 75% of the innings.

Giants ace Madison Bumgarner became a folk hero in San Francisco when he came out of the bullpen in Game 7 against the Kansas City Royals, pitching five shutout innings, and leading them to the 2014 World Series championship.

Starter Chris Sale was the one closed out the clinching game in the 2018 World Series for the Boston Red Sox while Craig Kimbrel watched.

And who can forget Cy Young winner Randy Johnson winning Game 6 for the Arizona Diamondbacks against the New York Yankees in 2001, and on no days’ rest, getting the final four outs and being the winning pitcher in Game 7?

Start one night, come out of the bullpen the next – and then enjoy the ride on the parade float.

Shohei Ohtani, the Dodgers’ two-way MVP making his first career postseason start as a pitcher, played his role by pitching six dominant innings. He gave up three hits and three runs, while retiring 15 of the last 17 batters he faced. His only blemish was a two-run triple by catcher J.T. Realmuto.

“I was a little nervous imagining myself out there on the mound,’ Ohtani said. “But once I was on the mound and on the field, that went away and it was really me focusing.’

He even hit like a pitcher striking out four consecutive times for only the second time in his career. He’ll be back doing his regular DH duties until Game 5, if the game is necessary.

“The reason why I’m a two-way player is because that’s who I am,’’ Ohtani said, “and it’s what I can do. And also at the same time it’s what the team wants.’’

Oh, yeah, do they ever.

“It’s certainly never been done, certainly at this level,’ Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I use the word compartmentalize a lot, but this epitomizes compartmentalizing. He’s essentially two people in one night, in one game. …

“To go out there and give us six innings, keep us in the ball game, I just don’t know any human that can manage that, those emotions and how do you not take that to the mound? We continue to just witness history.’

Who else can completely shut down the top of the Phillies’ vaunted lineup with Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, who combined to go 1-for-11 with five strikeouts?

Still, it looked like Ohtani would be the losing pitcher, trailing 3-0, until Enrique Hernandez hit a two-run double in the sixth inning, followed by the go-ahead shot by Teoscar Hernandez in the seventh.

Roberts, who knew before Hernandez’s homer that Ohtani had pitched his last inning, turned to Glasnow in the seventh inning. He promptly mowed down the Phillies in the seventh, and got two outs in the eighth before running into trouble.

“It was kind of nice, like an adrenaline boost,’’ Glasnow said. “It was just kind of different. I enjoyed it. ..

“It’s just cool that I haven’t thrown in the bullpen in a long time, and then just to trust me, go out there and throw some big innings, it was awesome.’

Besides, it was nice to see the game from a different vantage point, he says, watching it from the bullpen instead of the bench, soaking in the atmosphere.

“It’s really nice, everybody’s got their thing, there’s a lot of good banter,’ Glasnow said. “It’s a good view. There’s fans yelling at you. It’s fun. It’s easier to lock in.’

Glasnow departed with two outs and the bases loaded in the eighth, left-handed reliever Alex Vesia came in and retired Edmundo Sosa, and then it was Sasaki’s turn in the ninth. There was pressure. The fans were screaming. And Sasaki kept his cool.

He calmly struck out Realmuto, gave up a double to Max Kepler, and promptly induced a weak groundout by Nick Castellanos and a weak pop-up by Byson Stott.

The Dodgers, just like that, have found their postseason closer.

“What he’s been doing since he’s been back has been a godsend to us,’ Dodgers veteran reliever Blake Treinen said. “It’s been amazing somebody that is presumably that confident, and dominant, because we’re seeing what Rōki Sasaki really is as a pitcher.’

Pretty hard to believe considering Sasaki was in the minors and on the injured list for nearly four months until returning Sept. 24. The Dodgers, almost out of desperation decided to see if he could pitch out of the bullpen, and here he is after four appearances, yielding a .143 batting average (2-for-14) with eight strikeouts.

“It’s great seeing what these guys are doing for us,’ Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy said. “It’s not an easy transition being a starter, and having to change your entire routine to come out of the pen. For Glas to do that, and give us solid innings, it’s pretty incredible.

“You know, as an offense we got to do our job, but we’re going to rely on our pitching. We tell them every single day we believe in them, and they know that.’’

And in the Dodgers’ revamped bullpen, well, why not add a few more fellas to the party.

“They’ve been great, their personalities mesh well,’ Treinen said. “It’s been fun. I don’t think it’s weird at all. But at the end of the day, we’re still throwing the ball 60 feet, 6 inches, and our stuff still plays, whether it’s the first inning or the ninth.

“There’s no perfect blueprint in October. It’s stay healthy. Play clean baseball. And have a little bit of fortune on your side.

“That’s what we’re doing. We’re looking to push it, make it as awkward as we can, to end this thing as quick as possible.’

Yep, no matter how many starters it may take.

Follow Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale