College football’s opening act, with a rare trio of top-10 clashes, was going to be hard to top. But as the saying goes, one should not let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

The Week 2 slate is admittedly lighter on marquee matchups. There is still, however, a lot to like for your viewing entertainment on Saturday, Sept. 6. In addition to another showdown of big-name programs from the two premier conferences, there’s a fierce in-state trophy game, a renewal of another heated rivalry, and a couple of other pairings that could provide more intrigue than one might surmise.

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Here’s a look at our picks for the best games to watch.

No. 13 Michigan at No. 24 Oklahoma

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

Why watch: The day’s lone ranked matchup features two proud programs looking to bounce back after disappointing seasons. The Wolverines did finish last year with wins against Ohio State and Alabama but had fallen well out of Big Ten contention by then. The Sooners endured a rough first ride through the SEC but bigger things are expected in 2025. Much-ballyhooed Oklahoma transfer QB John Mateer got off to a quick start against Illinois State, with WR Keontez Lewis emerging as his primary target. The Michigan secondary, backed by hard-hitting DB Brandyn Hillman, will be tougher to solve. Freshman signal-caller Bryce Underwood passed a slightly tougher test for the Wolverines in his first start against New Mexico, with huge ground support from RB Justice Haynes. They’ll be facing a tough Sooners’ front seven, led by LBs Kip Lewis and Sammy Omosigho.

Why it could disappoint: This might be another case of the defenses being ahead of the offenses, so if you were underwhelmed by the lack of scoring in Texas-Ohio State last week this might not be the game for you. But it should be worth the payoff if that results in more fourth-quarter drama, so don’t give up too quickly.

Iowa at No. 18 Iowa State

Time/TV: Saturday, noon ET, Fox.

Why watch: The annual clash for the Cy-Hawk Trophy rarely lacks drama. It has added intrigue this year with both these heartland squads hoping to make noise in their respective conferences. The Cyclones, already with a Big 12 win in hand, want to make it back to the league title tilt. The Hawkeyes, long known for tough defense, look to play sleeper in the Big Ten with an upgraded passing game. Iowa State QB Rocco Becht has been efficient if not overly flashy with his aerial game, taking advantage of TEs Gabe Burkle and Benjamin Brahmer in the red zone. The Hawkeyes LB corps, with veterans Karson Sharar and Jaden Harrell now in starting roles, must be ready. New Iowa QB Mark Gronowski wasn’t asked to do much in the Week 1 tune-up against Albany, and he’ll likely try to stretch the field more this time to give promising freshman RB Xavier Williams room to operate. That won’t be easy against the Cyclones’ solid secondary, anchored by DB Jamison Patton.

Why it could disappoint: Again, there aren’t likely to be a lot of aerial fireworks in this one with the strong defensive units figuring to get the better of things. But that means a blowout either way is unlikely, so expect another down-to-the-wire finish.

No. 14 Mississippi at Kentucky

Time/TV: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC.

Why watch: Notable as the first official SEC game of the season, this contest ultimately might not figure in the league race. But the Wildcats are hopeful that it does after a down year in the conference. Ole Miss arguably has tougher games ahead but must nevertheless take this one seriously, especially after its loss in this series last year like cost it a College Football Playoff berth. Kentucky prevailed 24-16 in its opener against Toledo, likely to be among the top teams in the Mid-American Conference. Well-traveled QB Zach Calzada had a subpar passing day but delivered a needed TD run to help the Wildcats escape. The Ole Miss attack is now in the hands of QB Austin Simmons, who was more productive but served up a couple of picks as well against overmatched Georgia State.

Why it could disappoint: Kentucky’s inconsistency in the passing game must be ironed out quickly, or any early deficit the Wildcats face might prove insurmountable. The Rebels for their part would like to quiet the Kentucky crowd early.

No. 12 Illinois at Duke

Time/TV: Saturday, noon ET, ESPN.

Why watch: Don’t dismiss this matchup just because it’s not taking place on hardwood. The Fighting Illini put their highest starting poll position since 1990 on the line in Durham, North Carolina, where the Blue Devils look to continue their quest for an increased gridiron presence in the ACC. QB Luke Altmyer and his Illinois offense were nearly flawless in a warm-up against Western Illinois. Duke DE Vincent Anthony Jr. will lead the effort to disrupt his rhythm. New Blue Devils QB Darian Mensah took a little longer to get rolling in his team’s opener against Elon, but he finished well and threw for nearly 400 yards. Opposing him will be Illini LB Gabe Jacas.

Why it could disappoint: We’ll probably know fairly soon if it will. If the Blue Devils hold their own on both sides of the line of scrimmage, the game should be competitive for four quarters. If Illinois proves to have a significant edge in the trenches, there won’t be much Duke can do about it.

South Florida at No. 15 Florida

Time/TV: Saturday, 4:15 p.m. ET, SECN.

Why watch: What was expected to be a tune-up for the Gators on the eve of entering SEC competition got a lot more interesting after South Florida’s impressive takedown of Boise State. Now the Bulls look to upend the balance of power in the Sunshine State with this opportunity and a date with Miami to follow. The best news for Florida from its opener against Long Island was that QB DJ Lagway got in some work and got out of the game quickly, and the same can be said for LB Myles Graham and his fellow first-teamers on the Gators defense. The Bulls counter with veteran QB Byrum Brown, who played a clean game and ran for two scores, and LB Jhalyn Shuler, who was all over the field in the Aug. 28 stunner against the Broncos.

Why it could disappoint: With all due respect to the Mountain West and its defending champion Boise State, a road game in the SEC represents a major step up in weight class for the Bulls. That said, the Gators haven’t needed to show much yet, so it will be worth a look to see how long USF can hang around.

Kansas at Missouri

Time/TV: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2.

Why watch: The Border War returns after a 14-year hiatus, and the timing seems ideal with both programs on an upward trajectory. Neither the Tigers nor the Jayhawks have been challenged in their combined three victories to date, so this figures to be a huge measuring stick game for both. Mizzou QB Beau Pribula wasted little time establishing himself in Columbia after backing up Drew Allar at Penn State. Kansas regains the services of dual-threat QB Jalon Daniels, who is finally healthy and showing how dynamic he can be. Names to know on the defensive side include Jayhawks LB Trey Lathan and Mizzou LB Josiah Trotter, who were formerly teammates at West Virginia.

Why it could disappoint: It shouldn’t, but again it’s hard to peg how these teams will stack up in the trenches given the lack of tangible results thus far. There was more than a little animosity between these programs when they were Big Eight rivals, but hopefully the renewal of acquaintances won’t lead to fisticuffs.

Just when it seems like the dust settled on Week 1 of the college football season, we roll into the second weekend with one of those schedules that might be slim on first glance but can be full of surprises when Saturday is done.

Such is the brilliance of the sport that produces surprises and upsets when you least expect them. There’s an obvious pressure point for Oklahoma and Michigan in the games’s notable matchup. There’s also the renewal of a Border War full of disklike. There’s other games with big stakes and potential for upsets. But where will they take place?

GET IN THE GAME: Play our college football survivor pool

PATH TO PLAYOFF: Sign up for our college football newsletter

That’s why the USA TODAY Sports college football staff is here. Matt Hayes, Jordan Mendoza, Paul Myerberg, Erick Smith, Eddie Timanus and Blake Toppmeyer weigh in with their bold predictions for Week 2 of the college football season:

A big scare from Florida before SEC schedule

Florida has received plenty of offseason priase and earned a spot in the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll. The road for the Gators isn’t easy in the SEC. But before they get there, there’s a big in-state matcup worth watching. Florida needs a last-minute drive, and touchdown from tailback Jaden Baugh, to beat South Florida. — Matt Hayes

South Florida becomes Group of Five contender

Meet the newest College Football Playoff contender: South Florida. The Bulls opened with a 34-7 dominating win against Boise State. Now, the Bulls have to go into “The Swamp” and play DJ Lagway and Florida to see if they are legit. The Gators are heavy favorites, but South Florida is a dangerous team led by Byrum Brown. He is the real deal at quarterback, puts up another gritty performance in the air and on the ground to stun Florida and move the Bulls to 2-0. — Jordan Mendoza

Iowa earns big road with at Iowa State

Iowa pulls off a minor shocker and beats Iowa State to continue one of the most ridiculous runs in the FBS: If they pull it off, this would be the Hawkeyes’ seventh win in a row in Ames. It’ll take more from new quarterback Mark Gronkowski, who had just 44 yards in the opener against Albany. — Paul Myerberg

Duke gives Illinois all it wants

Illinois has been trumpeted as the next Indiana after the Hoosiers made a surprising run to the College Football Playoff last season. But the Illini aren’t coming out of nowhere. They won 10 games last season, so this could be a team feeling a bit overconfident and overlooking a Duke team that is very dangerous. Tulane transfer Darian Mensah will lead the Blue Devils offense, and the defense is good enough to slow down the Illinois attack. This shapes up to be a tight game with Duke having more than a puncher’s chance to pull the upset. — Erick Smith

Another scoreless effort from Akron

We apologize in advance to devotees of MACtion for the following item. All 136 members of the Bowl Subdivision have now played at least once. Three of them have yet to score a point, and all three reside in the Mid-American Conference. One member of this trio of futility is about to get whitewashed again, and it’s the one with perhaps the most unfortunate nickname in the sport. Yes, Akron, we mean you and your game against Nebraska after falling 10-0 at Wyoming.

Ball State is another candidate after a loss at Purdue and now a trip to Auburn, The third member of the club, Miami (Ohio), should at least get off the schneid at Rutgers. — Eddie Timanus

The narrative turns for Arch Manning, Texas

Arch Manning was heralded all off seasons as the Heisman Trophy favorite. That narrative took a hit when Manning and the Longhorns fell flat at Ohio State. After the Longhorns hangs 50 points on San Jose State, the pundits will reanoint Manning as the greatest quarterback since Tim Tebow. — Blake Toppmeyer

Cal Ripken Jr. made history in 1995, months after MLB return from a crushing strike.
Baseball appears headed for another work stoppage in December 2026.
Would MLB be able to recover from another long-term labor dispute?

Yet despite this singular experience, Ripken, now 65 years old, is humble enough to admit it’s not the stuff of superhumans.

“I still feel,” he said Sept. 5, “somebody else will do it.”

Here we are, though, 30 years later, and only Miguel Tejada, the former Orioles and Oakland Athletics infielder, has cracked four figures, his streak ending in 2007 at 1,152 games. Matt Olson, the Atlanta Braves first baseman, has the longest current active streak at 760 games.

And as the Orioles mark the 30th anniversary of Sept. 6, 1995, when Ripken played in his 2,131st consecutive game, and hit a home run in front of the President, and the numerals on Camden Yards’ warehouse flipped to the magic number and confirmed Ripken surpassed Lou Gehrig’s unbreakable record, the streak’s subtle greatness and its enormity stand untouched.

It’s the simplest act – showing up to work every day, to earn a multi-million dollar paycheck playing a game, no less – yet one that resonated for the masses.

And we’d be remiss not to mention the conditions under which he broke the record: With baseball returning from a nasty work stoppage that canceled the 1994 World Series, truncated the ’95 season and pushed fans toward alternate means of spending their time and money, some never to return.

Three decades later, things are only so different: Major League Baseball owners, including Orioles steward David Rubenstein, are suggesting or agitating once again for a salary cap, a hard line that created baseball’s nuclear winter of ’94 and sent the industry into a tailspin.

Save me

It was Ripken, pundits suggested, who first “saved baseball,” his streak leaping from the sports pages to Good Morning America-worthy chatter, signing autographs late into the night after he played nine innings, patiently answering media queries every day the O’s blew into a new town.

Three years later, the Mark McGwire-Sammy Sosa home run showdown was next to “save baseball,” the sluggers’ multi-cultural race to 70 and 66 home runs creating so many warm memories that Big Mac’s Mack Truck-sized build could be overlooked until many years later.

Yet as we recount baseball’s climb off the mat of its most egregious self-inflicted wound, one thing becomes apparent: The game is just about out of party tricks.

With commissioner Rob Manfred locking the players out once before (December 2021 feels like yesterday) and claiming this time around that a lockout can be a good thing (??), the very worst can be expected come December 2026.

Vegas, or the sports book inside your little phone, hasn’t yet set odds on whether games will be missed in 2027, yet a betting person might opt for yes on that question.

This time around, the buttons, it seems, have all been pushed.

A clock to move the game along faster and make it friendlier for TV and the fan in the park? (Ah, well).

A superstar player so unbelievably dynamic that he can throw 100 mph and hit 50 homers with regularity while appealing to fans in two hemispheres? (Been there).

A decade-plus of unrepentant performance-enhancing drug use, to goose the home run numbers and torch the record book as we know it? (Yeah, let’s not do that again).

‘I hurt myself in the brawl’

No, Ripken was truly 1 of 1. A day before he’d be honored at Camden Yards, he relaxed in the Orioles dugout under a plaque of his father, who managed him for two seasons and remained a fount of wisdom until his 1999 death.

It was Ripken Sr. and wife Vi who were Junior’s first call in 1993, after a bench-clearing incident on June 6 against the Seattle Mariners resulted in Ripken hearing a pop in his knee. A phalanx of Mariners collapsed him into a pile after Mike Mussina hit Bill Haselman with a pitch and the dugouts emptied

Sore the next day, trainers determined him fit to play, doubt reigning until he’d use that leg to plant and throw.

And of course the first ball was hit to Ripken in the hole at short.

“I said ‘Mom, I hurt myself in the brawl. I don’t know what it’s going to be like, but I might not play today,’” Ripken recalls. “The cool part about it was they lived 45 minutes away, and in 45 minutes exactly they were knocking on my door.

“Baseball sometimes can test you. First play I got was a two-hopper in the hole. I wasn’t sure it was going to hold. But I planted on it and it held.”

As did Ripken in 1997 when, record in hand, a herniated disc roiled his back. Doctors recommended he take the last six weeks off. Yet the Orioles, no longer a sad sack after years of futility since Ripken and Co. won the 1983 World Series, were in contention.

“We were good. And when you endure a rebuilding process and the pain of getting to the point of being good, you don’t want to miss out on good,” says Ripken. “And I asked the doctor, if I can play, if I can endure the pain, will I do any permanent damage? And the doctor said no.”

The Orioles won the division and reached the ALCS. One year later, just as the Streak was a footnote and the McGwire-Sosa chemical romance neared its apex, Ripken stunned the baseball world by sitting down, on a Sunday Night Baseball tilt Sept. 19.

No heirs to the throne

Suddenly, the 2,131 obsession gave way to a number – 2,632 – so far away that it takes a minute to make sure you’re reading it right.

Ripken says his feat resonated with folks who’d tell him about their own streaks – perfect attendance through high school, or showing up to work, or far more trivial pursuits. He’s right: We may see another player reach those heights.

Perhaps it will be the Braves’ Olson. Hey, he’s an affable, low-key dude and a great enough player to earn three All-Star nods, two Gold Gloves and hit 54 home runs in a single season. All he needs to do is stay healthy for 11 years and play until he’s 42.

Yeah, not easy.

And even if that was realistic, it wouldn’t be the same. Every late-night signature scrawled beneath dying stadium lights, every assured glance at a lineup card knowing he’d be in there, every unbelievably timely home run he hit in consecutive games Nos. 2,129, 2,130 and 2,131 cannot be replicated.

No, Ripken and his streak were a gift to the game. And as another gray winter lurks on the horizon for baseball, it’d be helpful if stakeholders realized that this time around, he won’t be there to save them.

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Davey Johnson, the manager of the 1986 World Series champion New York Mets, has died at 82.
Johnson was a four-time All-Star as a player and won Manager of the Year honors in 1997 and 2012.
He managed five MLB teams: the Mets, Reds, Orioles, Dodgers, and Nationals.

Davey Johnson, a longtime player and Major League Baseball manager who led the New York Mets to the World Series title in 1986, has died at the age of 82.

Johnson, who played in the majors from 1965 to 1978 with the Baltimore Orioles, Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, and Chicago Cubs, was a four-time All-Star, earned three Gold Glove awards, and won two World Series as a second baseman with the Orioles.

He managed the Cincinnati Reds, Orioles, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Washington Nationals, earning Manager of the Year honors in 1997 and 2012. He finished with 1,372 career managerial wins and 25 postseason victories.

But Johnson’s time is best remembered for managing the talented and sometimes volatile personalities of the 1986 Mets, who won 108 games and beat the Boston Red Sox in an epic seven-game World Series battle.

‘I’m deeply saddened by the loss of Davey Johnson, a remarkable leader who transformed the Mets franchise into a winning organization,’ Darryl Strawberry, a member of the 1986 Mets, wrote on social media. ‘His ability to empower players to express themselves while maintaining a strong commitment to excellence was truly inspiring. Davey’s legacy will forever be etched in the hearts of fans and players alike. My heartfelt condolences go out to Susan Johnson and the entire Johnson family during this difficult time. He will be missed but remembered for his incredible impact on the game and the lives he touched. Love You Forever Davey Johnson.’

He was hired by the Mets in 1984, taking over a team that had finished 68–94 the previous year. He then went on an unprecedented run, becoming the first manager in Major League Baseball history to win 90 games or more in each of his first five seasons.

His 1997 Orioles team won 98 games, but they lost in six games in the American League Championship Series to the Cleveland Indians. He made the postseason one last time in 2012 with the Nationals, who won the NL East before they were eliminated in the Division Series by the St. Louis Cardinals.

A young Philadelphia Phillies fan met Harrison Bader after an apparent dispute with another spectator over a home run ball at the Sept. 5 game against the Miami Marlins.

At the top of the fourth inning, Bader hit a solo home run to left field to increase the Phillies’ lead to 5-1 over the Marlins. Philadelphia would go on to defeat Miami 9-3.

After fans scrambled to snatch the ball in the stands, cameras captured what appeared to be a heated argument over who was the ball’s rightful owner.

When a man in Phillies merch grabbed the ball, he gave it to a young boy who viewers suspected was his son. Moments later, another nearby spectator, a woman also wearing Phillies gear, confronted him in what seemed to be a tense exchange.

In the end, the man who originally retrieved the ball gave it up to the woman.

The Phillies appeared to take notice of the incident, which quickly went viral on social media.

‘Going home with a signed bat from Bader,’ the team wrote on X, alongside photos of the young fan meeting the center fielder.

The Marlins also apparently stepped in afterwards and gave the boy a bag of gifts, a video posted on X by another spectator showed.

Social media defends boy after Phillies home run ball incident

On X, several videos of the incident each garnered millions of views as many users praised Bader and the Phillies for the postgame meeting.

‘Class act by Harrison Bader, turning a tough moment into an unforgettable memory for that young Phillies fan with a signed bat!’ one person wrote.

Another said, ‘Glad to see this situation be made right.’

Others commended the man for effectively diffusing the situation by giving the woman the ball.

‘People are gonna hate on the dad for giving it up, but teaching your kids not to argue over trivial things with crazies is probably the better life lesson,’ one user said.

Someone else agreed, ‘True, not every hill is worth dying on. Teaching kids to value peace over petty conflict might be the bigger win here.’

Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at melina.khan@usatoday.com. 

The College Sports Commission issued a correction on Sept. 5 that it had overstated the value of name, image, likeness deals by more than $40 million in a data set released on Sept. 4.

Deloitte, which helped develop the platform called NIL Go, was blamed by the commission for the clerical reporting error. The Sept. 4 report initially stated that $79.8 million worth of NIL deals had been cleared between June through the end of August.

However, the updated commission report states that the total value of the deals is $35.42 million. The $79.8 million total was the amount for all the deals in the system, which included pending ones as well.

Another correction in the commission report was that the previously reported 8,359 deals were incorrect, as the correct number is 6,090 deals.

‘We take full responsibility for this reporting error,’ Deloitte said in a statement. ‘We have taken additional measures to avoid any future recurrence and are fully confident in the NIL Go platform.’

NIL Go was created in the wake of the House settlement that allowed universities to distribute payments for the use of NIL directly to athletes. Each school is allowed to spend up to $20.5 million per year on athletes. The deals athletes have with schools do not go through the College Sports Commission, as only external deals need to get approval from NIL Go.

Just when the dust settled on Week 1 of the college football season, we roll into the second weekend with one of those schedules that might be slim on first glance but can be full of surprises when Saturday is done.

Such is the brilliance of the sport that produces surprises and upsets when you least expect them. There’s an obvious pressure point for Oklahoma and Michigan in the games’s notable matchup. There’s also the renewal of a Border War full of disklike. There’s other games with big stakes and potential for upsets. But where will they take place?

GET IN THE GAME: Play our college football survivor pool

PATH TO PLAYOFF: Sign up for our college football newsletter

That’s why the USA TODAY Sports college football staff is here. Matt Hayes, Jordan Mendoza, Paul Myerberg, Erick Smith, Eddie Timanus and Blake Toppmeyer weigh in with their bold predictions for Week 2 of the college football season:

A big scare from Florida before SEC schedule

Florida has received plenty of offseason priase and earned a spot in the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll. The road for the Gators isn’t easy in the SEC. But before they get there, there’s a big in-state matcup worth watching. Florida needs a last-minute drive, and touchdown from tailback Jaden Baugh, to beat South Florida. — Matt Hayes

South Florida becomes Group of Five contender

Meet the newest College Football Playoff contender: South Florida. The Bulls opened with a 34-7 dominating win against Boise State. Now, the Bulls have to go into “The Swamp” and play DJ Lagway and Florida to see if they are legit. The Gators are heavy favorites, but South Florida is a dangerous team led by Byrum Brown. He is the real deal at quarterback, puts up another gritty performance in the air and on the ground to stun Florida and move the Bulls to 2-0. — Jordan Mendoza

Iowa earns big road with at Iowa State

Iowa pulls off a minor shocker and beats Iowa State to continue one of the most ridiculous runs in the FBS: If they pull it off, this would be the Hawkeyes’ seventh win in a row in Ames. It’ll take more from new quarterback Mark Gronkowski, who had just 44 yards in the opener against Albany. — Paul Myerberg

Duke gives Illinois all it wants

Illinois has been trumpeted as the next Indiana after the Hoosiers made a surprising run to the College Football Playoff last season. But the Illini aren’t coming out of nowhere. They won 10 games last season, so this could be a team feeling a bit overconfident and overlooking a Duke team that is very dangerous. Tulane transfer Darian Mensah will lead the Blue Devils offense, and the defense is good enough to slow down the Illinois attack. This shapes up to be a tight game with Duke having more than a puncher’s chance to pull the upset. — Erick Smith

Another scoreless effort from Akron

We apologize in advance to devotees of MACtion for the following item. All 136 members of the Bowl Subdivision have now played at least once. Three of them have yet to score a point, and all three reside in the Mid-American Conference. One member of this trio of futility is about to get whitewashed again, and it’s the one with perhaps the most unfortunate nickname in the sport. Yes, Akron, we mean you and your game against Nebraska after falling 10-0 at Wyoming.

Ball State is another candidate after a loss at Purdue and now a trip to Auburn, The third member of the club, Miami (Ohio), should at least get off the schneid at Rutgers. — Eddie Timanus

The narrative turns for Arch Manning, Texas

Arch Manning was heralded all off seasons as the Heisman Trophy favorite. That narrative took a hit when Manning and the Longhorns fell flat at Ohio State. After the Longhorns hangs 50 points on San Jose State, the pundits will reanoint Manning as the greatest quarterback since Tim Tebow. — Blake Toppmeyer

Hall of Fame goaltender Ken Dryden, a key player in the Montreal Canadiens’ 1970s dynasty, has died at age 78.
Dryden won six Stanley Cups, five Vezina Trophies, and a Conn Smythe Trophy in just eight NHL seasons.
He retired at age 31 to pursue other interests, including law, writing, and politics.

Hall of Fame goaltender Ken Dryden, a six-time All-Star, six-time Stanley Cup winner and an integral part of Montreal’s dynasty of the 1970s, died Friday after a battle with cancer, the Canadiens announced. He was 78.

Known for his intellectual pursuits off the ice, Dryden played only eight seasons in the NHL before retiring in his prime at age 31. Along with the Cups, the Canada native won the Vezina Trophy – awarded to the league’s top goalie – five times.

‘Ken Dryden was an exceptional athlete, but he was also an exceptional man,’ Canadiens owner Geoff Molson said in a statement. ‘Behind the mask he was larger than life. We mourn today not only the loss of the cornerstone of one of hockey’s greatest dynasties, but also a family man, a thoughtful citizen, and a gentleman who deeply impacted our lives and communities across generations. He was one of the true legends that helped shape this club into what it is today.’

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said, ‘From the moment Ken Dryden joined the Montreal Canadiens as a 23-year-old rookie in 1971, he made an immediate and lasting impact on the NHL, the Canadiens franchise and the goaltending position. Ken’s love for his country was evident both on and off the ice.’

Dryden was born in Hamilton, Ontario, on Aug. 8, 1947. Drafted by the Boston Bruins in the third round in 1964, Dryden was traded to the Canadiens later that year. Rather than play for the Canadiens, however, Dryden opted to attend Cornell University to play hockey for the Big Red while attaining a bachelor’s degree in history.

After making his debut with the Canadiens on March 14, 1971, Dryden was named the club’s No. 1 goalie for the playoffs that season despite playing in only six-regular season games. All he did was go 12-8 in the postseason and take home the Conn Smythe Trophy for the most valuable player of the playoffs after Montreal beat the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3 in the Stanley Cup Final.

The following year, Dryden went 39-8-15 – leading the league in games played, wins and ties – and picked up the Calder Trophy for the NHL’s rookie of the year (though the Canadiens fell in the first round of the playoffs).

He would win another Cup in 1973 before taking a year away from hockey to earn his law degree.

After returning to the Canadiens for the 1974-75 season and leading his team to the Stanley Cup semifinals, Dryden led Montreal to four straight Cups. But Dryden retired after the 1978-79 season to pursue numerous endeavors, including writing books, teaching, sports commentating and serving as president of the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1997-2003.

Among his off-the-ice highlights was serving as the color commentator with announced Al Michaels for the famous ‘Miracle on Ice’ broadcast in which the United States stunned the heavily favored Soviet Union in the semifinals of the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, N.Y.

Dryden eventually made his way into politics, highlighted by his election to the Canadian House of Commons in 2004 and his re-election in 2006. He was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983 and was named to the NHL’s 100th Anniversary Team in 2017.

Despite playing in only 397 career games, Dryden sits 63rd all time with 258 wins and is tied for 35th with 46 shutouts.

Justin Herbert tabled persistent criticisms by lifting the Chargers to a win over the Chiefs in Brazil.
Patrick Mahomes did more than enough to spark the Chiefs, but Kansas City squandered the QB’s effort.
Quentin Johnston also came up big for the Bolts with two touchdowns, including one that helped put the game away.

It was only fitting that the NFL’s first international game of the 2025 season at times felt like it was being conveyed in a foreign language.

From well before kickoff, the showdown between the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers in São Paulo had a distinct flair. The setting itself was unique, with the NFL returning to South America – and its ultra-rare Friday night window – after last year’s foray into new territory. But the league also zagged from past precedent in partnering with YouTube for an exclusive, free stream of the game, marking the latest shift in an ever-moving broadcast landscape. Meanwhile, the matchup itself – featuring two divisional rivals and playoff teams from 2024 – wasn’t short on surprising wrinkles, including the Chiefs’ record 17-game win streak in one-score contests coming to an end with the Chargers’ 27-21 victory.

But who were the biggest winners and losers on the night overall? Here’s our breakdown:

WINNERS

Justin Herbert

Kudos to the Chargers gunslinger for quickly extinguishing one of the more inane offseason discourses with the repeated questioning of whether he can deliver in key spots. Yes, his (limited) playoff track record is subpar. But Herbert is 27, and games like this serve as a reminder of just how vital he is to the Chargers’ hopes of competing with the best. The sixth-year signal-caller finished with 318 passing yards and three touchdowns, and he cooked Kansas City’s defense from the very beginning with a slew of play-action shots and throws on the move. And when Patrick Mahomes threatened to mount yet another comeback, Herbert answered by completing all eight of his passes on the penultimate drive for 73 yards and a score to nearly wrap things up (his 19-yard scramble on third-and-14 late in the fourth officially sealed it). The postseason talk is sure to resurface later, but Herbert deserves his moment in the sun after this one.

Jim Harbaugh

Who’s got it better than him on Week 1? In NFL history, literally no one. The Chargers coach is now 6-0 in openers, tying him for the most wins of any coach without a loss. His Bolts appeared to be the far more composed and in command team, and the offense deftly navigated the season-long loss of standout left tackle Rashawn Slater. Long way to go to knock the Chiefs from their AFC West perch, but it’s always nice to get a win at ‘home’ – though maybe the sea of red helped recreate the SoFi Stadium experience.

Quentin Johnston

After Los Angeles selected Tre Harris in the second round and KeAndre Lambert-Smith in the fifth round in April and brought back Keenan Allen in August, Johnston seemed to be fading into the background of the receiving corps. In the season opener, however, he quickly reasserted his relevance. Johnston helped provide an early spark with a 33-yard catch-and-run on the opening drive, which he capped with a 5-yard touchdown snag. He bookended the night by breaking free for a 23-yard scoring connection with Herbert in the fourth quarter that helped put the game out of reach. Beyond just his stats, it spoke volumes that he and Allen remained fixtures in the lineup alongside Ladd McConkey. For a player who has struggled to establish a semblance of consistency through his first two seasons, his usage – and emergence at critical junctures – served as another important vote of confidence.

NFL’s international showcase

In the league’s inaugural game in São Paulo and the Southern Hemisphere last year, the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers were treated to a late-summer Slip-N-Slide with the field turf at Corinthians Arena, which is primarily a soccer stadium. Credit to the league for making a concerted effort to upgrade the surface by renewing the synthetic fibers this summer. In more ways than one, the groundwork has been laid for a successful expansion to Rio de Janeiro, which CBS Sports reported could be ahead in 2026.

YouTube

The unrelenting onslaught of influencer types was undoubtedly overkill, especially for anyone over 35. Rich Eisen also had a few hiccups, from misidentifying Tyler Conklin as Will Dissly to punctuating the Chiefs’ exhilarating emergency field goal before halftime by incorrectly stating the ensuing deficit. No matter how distasteful the whole display might have been to some, however, YouTube didn’t appear to have any major setbacks in its overall streaming experience. Pulling off the broadcast without stepping on any of the many land mines is unquestionably a victory as the league continues to mull changes in how viewers can and should consume games.

LOSERS

Patrick Mahomes

This is by no means intended as a slight to the Chiefs quarterback. Rather, Mahomes’ inclusion reflects how quickly even one of the league’s greatest players can become a victim of circumstance. After spending much of the offseason touting his belief in the re-emergence of Kansas City’s downfield passing attack, the signal-caller found himself without his top two wideouts in Rashee Rice – who is serving a six-game suspension – and Xavier Worthy, who was lost for the night with a shoulder injury sustained in a first-quarter collision with Travis Kelce.

At that point, the offensive regression appeared imminent. In the early going, Mahomes kept plugging away, missing two downfield deep shots to speedster Tyquan Thornton. But he eventually had to recalibrate, spraying the short area in the first half with a 2.15 second time to throw in the first half, according to Next Gen Stats, which would have been the lowest single-game total of his career. When the passer began ripping off long scrambles and lowering his shoulder into defenders, it was clear that he had fully activated the hero mode that has become all too commonplace. And he elevated things to another level in the second half, single-handedly extending and creating plays that otherwise seemed dead on arrival.

The three-time Super Bowl MVP wasn’t without fault, and he ultimately bears responsibility for an attack that went 5-of-14 on third down. But between this and last season’s slog that culminated in the Super Bowl unraveling, we might be witnessing Mahomes bumping his head against the ceiling of this go-it-alone dynamic. If Worthy returns in short order, maybe Kansas City can shake this all off. But the upcoming schedule – which includes visits from the Eagles, Baltimore Ravens and Detroit Lions in the next five weeks – doesn’t provide much margin for error.

Travis Kelce

To be fair, there might have been no better offseason winner than the 10-time Pro Bowl tight end, who got engaged to Taylor Swift a little more than a week before his 13th pro season began. But this shouldn’t be a satisfying output for Kelce in his team’s time of need. A 37-yard touchdown connection helped ignite a comeback bid that was eventually stamped out, but Kelce otherwise only had one catch for 10 yards on the night. On a second-and-goal late in the fourth, he and Mahomes couldn’t get on the same page on a look that could have led to a touchdown, leaving the Chiefs to settle for a field goal. There’s no cause for panic, but Kelce still has a long way to go to prove that the talk of his slimmed-down physique amounts to anything more than a summer trope.

Jawaan Taylor

The Chiefs’ right tackle has long drawn scrutiny for a technique that charitably could be described as overeager. Taylor once again found himself in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons on Friday, but there was little debate as to the legality of his actions, which included two holding calls and two false starts. The flags appeared to take a toll on Kelce, who butted helmets with Taylor after one infraction in the third quarter. With free agent signing Jaylon Moore also in the mix at right tackle, Taylor might feel the heat if he doesn’t iron things out in short order.

Chiefs’ run game

Many fans’ last impression of the Chargers was their wild-card ouster, in which the Houston Texans racked up 168 rushing yards en route to a 32-12 win. With perpetually underrated run-stuffing defensive tackle Poona Ford departing for the Los Angeles Rams this offseason, the Chargers entered this season on particularly shaky ground up front. Yet Kansas City’s running backs netted just 41 yards on 10 carries, with Mahomes (57 yards) surpassing them on six rushes. Andy Reid largely waved off the matter in his postgame remarks, but this can’t stand for an entire season.

Chargers rookies

Los Angeles was widely projected to see an immediate impact from its top picks, but maybe some patience is required. Running back Omarion Hampton didn’t find many openings in rushing for 48 yards on 15 carries. His night, however, was likely defined by a blunder with less than a minute before halftime, when his move to run out of bounds on a third-down carry opened the door for Mahomes to get Harrison Butker in position for a 59-yard field goal that cut the deficit to 7 points. That decision drew the ire of Harbaugh, but the bell-cow back received some counseling from ballcarrier-turned-shutterbug Marshawn Lynch. Meanwhile, the youth movement in the receiving corps is on hold, with Harris notching just one catch and Lambert-Smith blanked.