According to NCAA statistics, Deion Sanders’ Colorado football team has faced the nation’s most difficult schedule through five games.
Despite a 2-3 record, Coach Sanders believes his team is competitive, having lost two games to ranked opponents by a total of only 10 points.
Sanders has dismissed the idea that a disparity in NIL resources is to blame for his team’s close losses.

Coach Deion Sanders and his Colorado football team have faced the toughest schedule in the nation after five games this season, as of Oct. 2, according to NCAA statistics.

They don’t have the same resources for players as some other teams.

And Sanders says he can’t make it through a game without needing to urinate after having his cancerous bladder removed in May.

Yet Sanders sees the light – and the heat − starting Saturday at TCU (Fox, 7:30 ET). Temperatures are forecast to be near 90 degrees in Fort Worth, prompting Sanders to say he might wear a short-sleeved shirt, which he never does.

“Never, ever,” Sanders said on the Colorado Football Coaches Show Thursday Oct. 2.

His team is 2-3 including two losses that came by a combined 10 points against teams in the US LBM Coaches Poll – No. 16 Georgia Tech (27-20) and No. 23 Brigham Young (24-21).

“We feel like we have a pretty darn good football team, even though the record don’t display that,” Sanders said this week at his weekly news conference in Boulder. “Two games to ranked opponents by 10 points in total makes us think, darn, a play here, a play there (and) we get it going.”

Deion Sanders’ team has played nation’s toughest schedule

NCAA statistics rank the nation’s toughest schedules by the combined win-loss totals of past opponents, regardless of the quality of their wins. Colorado’s five opponents so far have a combined record of 15-1, not including wins and losses against Colorado. That opponents’ winning percentage (93.8%) ranks first nationally after five weeks.

And now comes a return to TCU, where Sanders started his tenure at Colorado in 2023 with an astonishing 45-42 win in the season opener. The Horned Frogs are 3-1 this season.

“That (game) was a lot why I came here, so I was hyped about it,” Colorado sophomore running back Micah Welch said this week. “I’m ready to play them.”

Colorado’s gauntlet continues next week at home against No. 12 Iowa State, followed by an off weekend Oct. 18 and then a game at No. 25 Utah on Oct. 25.  

It might be easier for Sanders if there was more funding for Colorado players, but he rejected that notion this week.

Resources disparity at Colorado

Every school in major college sports this year is allowed pay athletes this year up to $20.5 million combined for their names, images and likenesses (NIL).  Some players get paid beyond that from external donor collectives, such as at Big 12 Conference rival Texas Tech, where The Matador Club raised $63 million since it was formed in 2022.

“We can’t blame it on the money,” Sanders said at his news conference.

Colorado is among some schools that cut ties with its NIL donor collective before this season to streamline fundraising in-house. But the true extent of the disparity between what players receive compared to those at other schools isn’t known because NIL contracts are private.

“I’m happy, I’m thankful – I’m not gonna cry broke just because we dropped (those two close losses),” Sanders said. “Money had nothing to do with those two games that we dropped.”

How Sanders plans to get Colorado over the hump

After shuffling through three quarterbacks in the first three games, Sanders is expected to stick with Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter as his starter for the third consecutive week. Salter started off hot in last week’s loss against BYU, leading his team to 14-0 advantage, but then sputtered in the second half and threw an interception on his last series to seal the loss.

Colorado still has gotten improved play from its offensive line, better than in Sanders’ previous two seasons at Colorado.  Two top running backs, Simeon Price and DeKalon Taylor, are expected to be out with injuries against TCU. But Sanders has repurposed sophomore receiver Dre’Lon Miller to be more of an all-purpose weapon now for the Buffaloes, as a receiver, running back or wildcat taking direct snaps from center. He scored two touchdowns against BYU last week.

“I want them to play like their life is on the line, like their careers are on the line, like the payment for a car is on the line,” Sanders said of his offense. “The payment for a home is on the line, like they have children depending on them as some do. I just want them to play with full intensity and passion. And when you look back on the field, you look back and say, ‘I gave ‘em my all.’ That’s all any coach wants.”

Sanders got that the last time his team played TCU. If he doesn’t get it this time, he might be in for a rough October.

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

The Vanderbilt football team is no longer the easy opponent it once was in the SEC.
Alabama players and coaches have stated they are not overlooking Vanderbilt after last season’s upset.
Quarterback Diego Pavia has emerged as a key player, elevating the team’s performance.

Here we go again. Football isn’t the story, excuses are. 

It started with Alabama players, in lockstep after last week’s thrilling win at Georgia, promising they’ve learned from last season.

“I think I can speak for everyone when I say we’re not overlooking Vanderbilt,” said Tide offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor.  

Then there was Crimson Tide coach Kalen DeBoer, who was asked right out of the gate at his weekly press conference about “not taking Vanderbilt seriously” in last season’s historic upset.

“I’m not going to argue against that,” DeBoer said.

Just stop it.  

This isn’t the same Vanderbilt of years past, the SEC’s annual tomato can stumbling and staggering through college football’s best conference with 40-point losses. 

This isn’t the same Vanderbilt, the program that fit better in the Ivy League than the conference that annually sends more players to the NFL than any other in college football.

This is a legit SEC team that already passed its first major test of the season last month, beating South Carolina – the rising College Football Playoff darling of the offseason – by 24 points on the road.

It’s not just dismissive that Alabama (or any other team) says they’re “not overlooking” Vanderbilt, it’s insulting. 

Vandy hung 40 last year on an Alabama defense full of future NFL players. Vandy knocked out South Carolina star quarterback LaNorris Sellers in September, bludgeoning a hot SEC program and making it look wildly outmanned.  

Vanderbilt has won 12 of its last 18 games, and among those six losses, was a three-point gut-punch it gave away to Texas — which advanced to the CFP semifinals last season and played Ohio State better than any other team in the playoff.

So yeah, Alabama – or anyone else – isn’t overlooking anything. It’s no different than any other team on the SEC schedule.

The Commodores are unbeaten, and beating teams by an average of 32 points. They have one of the best players in college football (QB Diego Pavia), and they’re playing with a level of confidence never seen in more than a century of football on the West End.

You think this team is intimidated by Alabama, or the fact that Tide players and coaches say, this time, really, they’re not overlooking Vanderbilt? Please, enough of this nonsense.

While Alabama was assuring everyone this time would be different, Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea was busy explaining this time would be like every other time.

Preparation, focus, execution.   

“They’re really excited to play” Lea said earlier this week. “We need to narrow our focus here in the next couple days just on the details within the plan.”

If teams truly are a reflection of their coach, Vanderbilt is a carbon copy of the measured but intense Lea. When the former Vanderbilt fullback first returned to his alma mater, he promised the goal wasn’t any different than any other school. 

He walked to the podium at his first SEC Media Days in 2021 – after a winless season in 2020 under Derek Mason – and said the goal is to win a national championship. And there was laughter in the big room. 

Because it’s never about what can be at Vandy, always about what has been. 

It’s not about the seven wins last season, the most at the school since 2013. It’s not about how Lea has transformed the roster with impact players from the transfer portal that just about nobody else wanted — and the detailed player development it takes to beat schools with significantly more advantages than you.

Like Alabama. Or Auburn. Or Florida.

It’s not about how Pavia has become a legitimate thrower this season, and how the offense is more dangerous because of it. His completion percentage is 75 percent, and he has 13 touchdown passes — while averaging nearly 10 yards per attempt.

But instead of embracing the new Heisman Trophy candidate no one expected, we’re focusing on the guy who already won it — who will parachute into the big moment in Tuscaloosa to reclaim some Q time. 

That’s Johnny Manziel on the Vanderbilt sideline. In a Pavia jersey. 

Stop it, already.

Football is the story at Vanderbilt. 

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

NEW YORK – After their Game 2 victory in the American League wild card series against the Boston Red Sox, Yankees manager Aaron Boone only needed a moment with Game 3 starter Cam Schlittler to realize he had nothing to worry about.

The moment would not be too big for the rookie.

Boone’s instincts were proven right, and the confidence he’s had in his young pitcher since spring training paid off in more ways than one.

Schlittler, a 24-year-old right-hander from Walpole, Massachusetts, just 30 minutes from Boston, took the mound at Yankee Stadium and mowed down the Red Sox lineup through eight innings, throwing a career-high 107 pitches (75 for strikes) and striking out 12 batters, outdueling fellow rookie Connelly Early. The 12 strikeouts are the most by a Yankees rookie pitcher in a postseason game.

“What a performance,” said Boone in the understatement of the night. ‘When you throw 100 and command the baseball and can land your secondary pitches, you can be a problem for the opposition. So that’s what he is capable of. And obviously efficient enough to get through eight innings there, and I mean, just … I am not surprised, honestly.’

While Schlittler kept Boston at bay in his postseason debut, his teammates gave him all the support he needed when New York sent 10 batters to the plate and scored four runs in the fourth inning, which decided the game.

The Yankees will face the Toronto Blue Jays in the Division Series.

Schlittler had it working all night, the command of a 100-mph heater mixed with high velocity secondary pitches befuddling the Red Sox hitters. Eleven of his pitches hit 100 mph or higher. He was also backed by a defense that didn’t throw the ball away; New York committed only two errors in the three-game series, after 94 in the regular season.

Even Schlittler was surprised that he gave the Yankees length, as it is something he hadn’t done in any of his 14 regular-season starts since making his major league debut July 9 against the Seattle Mariners. It was the first time at any professional level that he had more than 10 strikeouts in a start.

‘That’s something I did in college, but in my professional career, that’s not something I was able to get over that hump. I would get nine a lot. I didn’t always throw 100,’ said Schlittler, who showed up to the post-game press conference with a blinged-out, WWE-style championship belt around his shoulders and goggles ready for the champagne shower that was to commence.

‘So, once I got up here, it was something I was able to make an adjustment on. Even here I couldn’t get to 10 (strikeouts),’ Schlittler said. ‘Obviously that’s not the goal, is getting the most strikeouts, but it is a good feeling to be able to go out there and dominate a lineup.’

The Yankees are the first team since the three-team wild card format began to lose Game 1 and then come back to win the series. Their comeback begins with Boone, who sent Schlittler back to the mound for the eighth inning even though he had thrown 100 pitches through seven innings. 

The conversation between pitcher and manager as to whether Schlittler would continue was minimal.

‘I was going to go hitter to hitter with him. I trusted his ability to fill up the zone,’ Boone said. ‘Obviously, I had Devin (Williams) ready behind him in the eighth if anything got away, but he ends up having a really quick inning. He seemed good to me. It is a little bit of unchartered territory for him. I don’t think he has ever gone that deep. No, he seemed in control to me.’

The calm Schlittler sent Romy Gonzalez back to the Boston dugout after he struck out for the second time on the night to start the eighth. It was the next plate appearance by Jarren Duran that will be talked about for years to come. The Yankees are known for their late-inning theatrics – Thursday marked the 47th anniversary of Bucky Dent’s dramatic seventh-inning, three-run home run in 1978, which propelled the Yankees to the AL East title and eventually back-to-back World Series titles.

Duran swung at Schlittler’s first offering, a 96-mph cutter, and popped it up toward the Red Sox dugout on the third base side. Ryan McMahon raced to catch it … and his whole body ended up going over the dugout railing as he made a sensational catch. The very next pitch ended Schlittler’s night when he retired Trevor Story on a weak groundout to shortstop.

‘Yeah, that was amazing,’ Schlittler said of McMahon’s play. ‘I was just hoping he wasn’t hurt. Everybody running over there to check on him. Again, obviously the momentum was on our side, and he just kind of kept it going.’

The kid from Boston had plenty to say about the fans of his hometown team, admitting that people from that region can be aggressive and get under people’s skin. Yet he took the outside noise and used it in a brilliant performance, exuding the confidence it will take as the Yankees proceed deeper in the playoffs and face lineups more potent than the Red Sox.

‘It’s personal for me playing Boston,’ Schlittler said. ‘I was locked in. I trusted the guys to back me up there and they did. People from Boston had a lot to say before the game. For me, just being a silent killer and being able to go out there and shut them down. 

‘I didn’t like some of the things they said today. I’m not going to get into it, but there’s a line I think they crossed a little bit. Again, I’m a competitor and I’m going to go out there and make sure I shut them down. They just picked the wrong guy to do it to. And the wrong team to do it to.’

The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Los Angeles Rams 26-23 in overtime.
Quarterback Mac Jones passed for 342 yards and two touchdowns in the victory.
Wide receiver Kendrick Bourne had a career-high 142 receiving yards.

Down several starters, Mac Jones and the 49ers hung on to defeat the Los Angeles Rams 26-23 in an overtime thriller on Thursday night.

San Francisco got out to a surprising 14-0 lead in the first half and withstood a comeback by the Rams that brought the game to overtime.

It’s the 49ers’ first win versus their NFC West rival since Sept. 17, 2023.

Jones was sharp starting in place of Brock Purdy. Jones passed for 342 yards in two touchdowns in what was a superb outing for the QB.

USA TODAY Sports was at SoFi Stadium for the battle. Here are the winners and losers from the Week 5 matchup:

Winners

Mac Jones

Jones completed his first eight passes and was able to keep the offense moving throughout the night. He had 179 passing yards and two touchdowns in the first half.

Jones finished 33-of-29 passing for 342 yards and two touchdowns. It was easily his best game in a 49ers uniform and one of his top performances as a pro. He did a great job managing the 49ers offense.

Jones is now 3-0 as a starter in San Francisco.

Christian McCaffrey

McCaffrey came into Week 5 ranking third in the NFL with 31 receptions and 530 yards from scrimmage.

The do-everything running back was the 49ers’ primary source of offense on Thursday night.

McCaffrey touched the football five times during San Francisco’s opening touchdown drive. The opening series typified the kind of night it was for the running back.

McCaffrey tallied 18 touches, 89 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown in the first half alone.

The 49ers running back had 139 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown in the win.

Kendrick Bourne

Without Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall, Bourne was asked to San Francisco’s No. 1 wide receiver. He delivered.

Bourne produced 10 receptions for a career-high 142 receiving yards. He had contested catches and receptions over the middle. He was Mac Jones’ favorite target.

The Rams didn’t have an answer for him.

Alfred Collins

Collins stripped the football loose from Kyren Williams as he was about to score a game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter. Collins recovered the football on San Francisco’s one-yard line.

49ers coach Kyle Shanahan

The 49ers head coach and play caller had an excellent game despite being down several key players.

Eddy Pineiro

Hit a career-long 59-yard field goal. He connected on a 41-yard field goal in overtime that ended up being the game-winning score.

Fred Warner

Linebacker Fred Warner tied a team-high with 12 tackles. The 49ers linebacker got a great push on the final play of the game that allowed Marques Sigle to tackle Kyren Williams in the backfield to end the game.

Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh also deserves credit for having his defense ready.

Losers

Blake Corum

Just when the Rams were beginning to get a little momentum down 14-0 in the second quarter, Corum dropped an outside toss when the team was in position to score. Linebacker Trevis Gipson recovered the loose football at San Francisco’s 30-yard line.

Corum also had a drop in the third quarter.

Joshua Karty

Karty had two field goals blocked by the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 3. The 49ers got in on the block party on Thursday night.

Jordan Elliott blocked Karty’s extra point attempt after the Rams tied the score 20-20 on a Kyren Williams touchdown reception in the fourth quarter.

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

LAS VEGAS ― The WNBA has been in the headlines for reasons other than its first best-of-seven Finals this week after Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier torched commissioner Cathy Engelbert.

But when the WNBA Finals teams showed up in Las Vegas on Thursday, the temperature at team practices and at press conferences was much cooler as the hometown Aces and Phoenix Mercury answered questions around the biggest series of the year.

As Aces stars Chelsea Gray and A’ja Wilson sat down at the podium without smiling, a request was made by a nearby staffer to keep the questions focused on the Finals. Gray and Wilson jumped right into basketball as USA TODAY asked the first question about teammate Jackie Young.

‘She’s been great, man. Best two-way guard in the league,’ Gray said. ‘A lot of times she has the assignment of guarding one of their best perimeter players and then going down and getting buckets in the offensive end.’

Wilson, who’s usually chipper and never short on words, silently nodded in agreement as she looked down while Gray described just how important Young has been to the Aces. The quiet but strikingly loud gestures signaled that anything that happened in the playoffs no longer mattered. This was the WNBA Finals, and it was ‘a brand new season’ and ‘totally different’ than the regular season, as Gray told the media Thursday.

Wilson did crack a few smiles minutes later when answering questions, but her energy never got too high. She gave measured responses to every question and the room patiently waited for her thoughts on things like battling against Phoenix’s Alyssa Thomas.

‘It’s always fun competing against [Alyssa Thomas],’ Wilson said. ‘She can facilitate the game. She can pick the game apart, and I don’t get to guard that every single day … I try my best to make things very difficult. The way that she sees the game, her vision, the way that she gets her teammates open ― it’s something that she adds and brings to this game and to that position.

‘I don’t see [that] every single night. It helps me elevate … to another level every single game.’

Wilson was adamant the Aces would play their best basketball on the WNBA’s biggest stage and give fans ‘a good Finals matchup.’ When Thomas and Mercury guard Kahleah Copper arrived later in the hour for Phoenix’s press conference, they brought the same laser-focused energy with the singular mission to win a championship.

Thomas revealed she told her team in training camp they were going to the Finals. She said she never wavered on that declaration. Copper said she texted head coach Nate Tibbetts multiple times throughout the season with a simple three-word message: ‘I like us.’

The Phoenix veteran explained despite having several players who hadn’t played in the WNBA before this season or not getting as many minutes as they previously were, the team was able to fight through early injuries and adversity all the way to the playoffs. It’s that kind of resolve that Copper says led the Mercury to fully lean into an underdog narrative.

‘Everyone on our roster has been underrated or not talked about or whatever. At this point, I’m a psycho, looking for something,’ Copper jokingly admitted. ‘We know it comes with the game, but we really don’t care. Give us an edge. Like I said, don’t pick us. It’s cool … but I’m just wired a little different, you know?’

Copper, Thomas, Wilson and Gray are some of the fiercest competitors in the league and will always bring their best when the pressure is the highest. Still, it’s hard to know who will walk away with a ring in a best-of-seven series. One thing is very clear: the 2025 WNBA Finals will be the highest form of competitive basketball if the Mercury and Aces have anything to say about it.

NFC West rivals Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers needed extra time to decide who would win ‘Thursday Night Football’ from SoFi Stadium.

In a night defined by prolific offense, it was the 49ers’ defense and its rookies that made the difference.

Rookie safety Marques Sigle stonewalled Rams running back Kyren Williams on fourth-and-1 in overtime to seal a 26-23 win for San Francisco. Williams ended up short of the line to gain and that ended the Rams’ hopes for a game-winning finish to their lone overtime possession.

San Francisco took the upper hand early thanks to a prolific night from backup quarterback Mac Jones. With Brock Purdy still nursing a toe injury, Jones made his third start of the year and started hot. He completed his first eight passes in a row and ended the first half 11-of-13 passing with two touchdowns as the 49ers led 17-7.

San Francisco kicker Eddy Pineiro gave the 49ers a 20-7 lead midway through the third quarter before the Rams’ offense woke up and scored 13 points over two drives. Matthew Stafford’s second half powered one of his best nights of the year. The Rams’ quarterback ended the night completing 30 of 47 passes for 389 yards and three touchdowns.

Pineiro put the 49ers up 23-20 with a 59-yard field goal. On the ensuing Rams drive, another 49ers rookie made a play: defensive tackle Alfred Collins. He forced a Williams fumble before the Rams’ running back crossed the goal line on a long drive and, in doing so, gave the 49ers a chance to ice the game.

But Stafford and the Rams’ offense got the ball back quickly and drove 20 yards in 40 seconds at the end of the fourth quarter to set up Josh Karty for a game-tying field goal. He made it and the game went to overtime tied 23-23.

San Francisco’s offense had its best drive since the first half in overtime and went 37 yards in eight plays to set up a go-ahead field goal by Pineiro. His 41-yard kick caught a slice of the left upright but still went through to give San Francisco a 26-23 lead.

The Rams’ offense went 56 yards in five plays to set up 3rd and 6 from the 49ers’ 16-yard line. After those two timeouts, Sigle made the play to give the depleted 49ers another division win.

San Francisco moves to 4-1 on the season and into first place in the division. The 49ers are on the road again and will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 6.

Los Angeles moves to 3-2 and head on the road as well in Week 6 and will face the Baltimore Ravens.

Rams vs. 49ers instant takeaways

Return of the Mac? Mac Jones had a career day for the 49ers, throwing for 342 yards and two touchdowns against a young, hungry and talented Rams defense. Jones filled in for an injured Brock Purdy, and did it admirably. There’s no controversy here, but the 49ers and their fans have seen enough from the 2021 first-round pick to feel comfortable with his stopgap performance moving forward.
COTY Kyle? Kyle Shanahan picking up the win against the Rams with a depleted team is another feather in the cap for the coach. If this team can get, and stay, healthy, then they may find their way to another NFC championship game.
Los Angeles rammed: The Rams have losses to the 49ers and the Eagles this season, presumably two teams who they’ll have to battle for en route to the playoffs or in the playoffs. While they were competitive, if Sean McVay wants to put a second ring on his fingers, then they’ll have to take care of business against the Ravens, Buccaneers, Seahawks and Lions the rest of the way.

Rams vs. 49ers highlights

Mac Jones stats vs. Rams

Mac Jones had a career day vs. the Los Angeles Rams.

Competions/Attempts: 33/49
Passing yards: 342
Touchdowns: 2
Passer rating: 100.9
Interceptions: 0
Sacks: 1

Rams go for it on fourth-and-1, stopped by 49ers

After a timeout to think it over, the Rams opted to run on fourth-and-1, rather than kick the game-tying field goal. That turned out to be the wrong decision, with the 49ers D stopping him short of the first down, securing the win.

Rams vs. 49ers score: Eddy Pineiro puts Niners ahead

The 49ers struck first in overtime, with Eddy Pineiro putting San Francisco three points ahead on the Rams courtesy of a field goal. The Rams have a chance to tie or take the win on this ensuing possession.

49ers 26, Rams 23

Rams vs. 49ers score: Josh Karty hits 48-yarder to

After the Rams stopped the 49ers and forced them to punt, Matthew Stafford put the offense in position to kick a game-tying field goal with seconds left in the game. Karty came through, sending the game to OT.

49ers 23, Rams 23

Kyren Williams fumbles one one-yard line, 49ers recover

The Rams were threatening just yards from pay dirt, but a Kyren Williams fumble on the one-yard line led to a San Francisco recovery with 1:03 left in the game. The Rams have all three timeouts remaining.

49ers vs. Rams score: Eddy Pineiro puts San Francisco ahead

A 59-yard boot from the San Francisco kicker puts the Niners ahead with 2:52 left in the game.

49ers 23, Rams 20

Kendrick Bourne stats

The 49ers wide receiver, reunited with Kyle Shanahan and Mac Jones, has 10 receptions for 142 yards vs. the Rams. That’s a career high for the wideout.

Stafford nearly intercepted, Rams punt for first time in second half

Matthew Stafford fired a pass Davante Adams’ way on third-and-1 from the Rams’ 39-yard line and the pass was nearly picked off by 49ers linebacker Dee Winters. The Rams settled for their first punt since the first quarter and pinned the 49ers’ offense at their own 2-yard line.

San Francisco takes over with 8:04 to go in the game.

49ers go three-and-out, punt back to Rams once again

Los Angeles held San Francisco to just two yards on three plays as Mac Jones’ third-down pass falls incomplete intended for former Ram Demarcus Robinson. Thomas Morstead’s punt puts the Rams back on offense at their own 30-yard line with 9:11 to go in the game.

49ers vs. Rams score: Rams tie game on Kyren Williams TD

Los Angeles got a crucial third-down conversion near midfield and then went 50 yards in two plays to get deep into the red zone. Matthew Stafford connected with Kyren Williams from eight yards out on second-and-goal to tie the game.

Rams kicker Josh Karty missed the extra point after it was blocked by Jordan Elliott and the game is tied with 10:39 left in the fourth quarter.

Rams tackle McCaffrey for loss to force punt

Christian McCaffrey was stopped three yards behind the line of scrimmage on third-and-1 by Rams linebacker Nate Landman. San Francisco punted for just the second time tonight and the Rams will take over on their own 12-yard line with 14:03 to go in the game.

49ers vs. Rams score: San Francisco holds lead entering fourth quarter

The 49ers offense made a crucial fourth-down conversion at their own 36-yard line to extend their sixth drive of the night. San Francisco will face 3rd and 1 to open the fourth quarter from their own 47-yard line.

Rams vs. 49ers score: Puka Nacua dives across goal line for TD

Los Angeles moved the ball quickly down the field following the Pineiro field goal to respond with points of their own. The Rams went 69 yards in seven plays and less than three minutes of game time to score on a one-yard strike from Matthew Stafford to Puka Nacua.

Josh Karty’s extra point is good and the Rams have cut it to a one-score game once again with 3:45 left in the third quarter.

49ers 20, Rams 14

Rams vs. 49ers score: Pineiro FG extends 49ers’ lead

San Francisco went 55 yards in 12 plays to score their first points of the second half. Quarterback Mac Jones was slow to get up after third-and-goal from the Rams’ 2-yard line. Eddy Pineiro made his second field goal of the night to make it a 13-point game with 6:13 left in the third quarter.

49ers 20, Rams 7

49ers QB depth chart

With Mac Jones hobbled, here’s a quick look at the QBs suited up for ‘Thursday Night Football’:

Mac Jones
Adrian Martinez

Mac Jones hurts knee on third-and-goal

The 49ers’ starting quarterback tonight went down hard after releasing a throw toward Jake Tonges on third-and-goal. He was grabbing at his knee after Jared Verse landed on him but eventually jogged off the field.

Mac Jones injury

The former first-round pick started two games earlier this season for the 49ers before missing Week 4 against Jacksonville with a knee injury. He aggravated a PCL injury he suffered during the offseason and had to miss a week, leaving starter Brock Purdy as the best option in the 49ers’ loss to the Jaguars.

Josh Karty misses 53-yard FG

Los Angeles took the opening kick of the second half and went 28 yards in six plays, culminating in a dropped pass by running back Kyren Williams. Josh Karty missed wide right from 53 yards out and the San Francisco offense will get the ball back with 12:46 to go in the third quarter.

Rams vs. 49ers score: Eddy Pineiro gives San Francisco two-score lead at half

San Francisco’s offense marched 48 yards in 11 plays over two minutes to move the 49ers into scoring range. With two seconds left in the first half, kicker Eddy Pineiro knocked through a 37-yard field goal to give San Francisco a 10-point lead.

Los Angeles will receive the second-half kickoff.

49ers 17, Rams 7

49ers defensive coordinator

The 49ers defensive coordinator is Robert Saleh. Saleh rejoined the 49ers this offseason after his unsuccessful tenure with the Jets between 2021 and 2024. He was fired by the Jets in 2024 and spent time on the Packers sidelines the same season.

Saleh previously coached the 49ers defense between 2017 and 2020.

49ers vs. Rams score: Kyren Williams gets LA on the board

Los Angeles converted a key third-and-4 from their own 32 on a Matthew Stafford pass to rookie Terrance Ferguson. Stafford’s next three passes went for 47 yards as the Rams scored from 14 yards out on a pass to Williams.

Josh Karty’s extra point is good and the Rams have made it a one-score game with 2:09 to go in the first half.

49ers 14, Rams 7

49ers coaching staff

Head coach: Kyle Shanahan
Defensive coordinator: Robert Saleh
Offensive coordinator: Klay Kubiak

Rams defense forces 49ers’ first punt of the game

San Francisco couldn’t capitalize on the fumble recovery as Mac Jones didn’t connect with Kendrick Bourne on 3rd and 5 from the Rams’ 48. Thomas Morstead’s punt gives Los Angeles the ball back on their own 15-yard line with 6:11 to go in the first half.

Blake Corum fumbles, 49ers take over

Rams running back Blake Corum couldn’t hold on to Matthew Stafford’s pitch on first-and-10 and the San Francisco defense capitalizes. Defensive end Trevis Gipson fell on it to end the Rams’ latest drive and give the ball back to San Francisco’s offense.

Mac Jones and company will take over with 8:51 to go in the first half on their own 30-yard line.

Mac Jones stats

The San Francisco 49ers’ backup is dealing to start ‘Thursday Night Football’ tonight. Jones completed his first eight passes in a row and now sits at 11 of 13 passing (84.6%) for 131 yards and two touchdowns.

Rams vs. 49ers score: Christian McCaffrey finds end zone

San Francisco’s star running back scored a touchdown for the third time in four weeks to cap off the 49ers’ second drive of the game. Quarterback Mac Jones found him from one yard out on 2nd and goal to give the 49ers a two-touchdown lead. Eddy Pineiro’s extra point is good to seal the 14-point lead.

Los Angeles takes over on its own 30-yard line with 13:36 to go in the first half.

49ers 14, Rams 0

Rams-49ers score: San Francisco up and threatening and end of 1

San Francisco’s closing in on the red zone for the second time tonight as the first quarter comes to a close. The 49ers’ offense has gone 67 yards in 14 plays – including two crucial fourth-down conversions on short runs by Mac Jones and Brian Robinson Jr.

The 49ers offense is facing 3rd and 9 from the Rams’ 25 when the second quarter begins.

49ers 7, Rams 0

What happened to Nick Bosa?

The 2022 Defensive Player of the Year has been the 49ers’ top pass rusher for the last four years but won’t be back on the field in 2025. He suffered a torn ACL in Week 3 against the Arizona Cardinals and will be out for the remainder of the season.

Bryce Huff sacks Matthew Stafford, Rams punt

With San Francisco down edge rusher Nick Bosa for the rest of the season, the 49ers’ defense is counting on other players to step up in the pass rush. Bryce Huff made a statement early with a sack on Matthew Stafford that pushed the Rams back 11 yards on 2nd and 10.

Los Angeles couldn’t get the yardage back and settled for a punt. San Francisco’s offense will take over again at their own 9-yard line with 6:59 to go in the first quarter.

Rams-49ers score: Mac Jones finds Jake Tonges for first TD

San Francisco used a heavy dose of Christian McCaffrey to power the 49ers’ opening drive; he accounted for 40 yards on five touches (two catches, three carries). But quarterback Mac Jones instead found tight end Jake Tonges wide open in the middle for a six-yard touchdown pass.

Eddy Pineiro’s extra point attempt is good and the 49ers take a 7-0 lead with 10:09 to go in the first quarter.

Mac Jones starts hot

The 49ers quarterback, filling in for an injured Brock Purdy, has started the game 4-for-4 passing for 71 yards.

Rams vs. 49ers kicks off with ‘dirty ball’

Los Angeles won the coin toss and opted to defer to the second half. Rams kicker Josh Karty’s boomed a knuckleball-style kick to start the game and 49ers returner Skyy Moore fumbled it. After it bounced high in the air, Moore corralled it and the 49ers offense started its drive on their own 28 yard line.

49ers vs. Rams kickoff time

Kickoff time: 8:15 p.m. ET

The Rams will host the 49ers for a clash at SoFi Stadium at 8:15 p.m. ET on Thursday, Oct. 2. The game will begin at 5:15 p.m. local time and will mark the second consecutive week NFC West teams have faced off on ‘Thursday Night Football.’

What channel are the 49ers on?

San Francisco: KTVU (Fox 2)

49ers vs. Rams where to watch

NFL fans watching the game nationally will need to have an Amazon Prime subscription to access Thursday’s game. However, the NFL has an arrangement for the viewers in the local markets of each team – Los Angeles and San Francisco – to watch a simulcast of the game on local TV stations.

Below is a look at the local channels that will air the contest:

Los Angeles: KTTV (Fox 11)
San Francisco: KTVU (Fox 2)

Watch ‘Thursday Night Football’ with a Prime Video subscription

Jared Verse stats

The Rams pass rusher is following up a stellar rookie season with an equally impressive start to 2025. Through four games, Verse has 18 pressures, per PFF: Two sacks, five QB hits and 11 hurries. He grades out at a 91.8 overall, and his 91.5 pass-rush grade ranks No. 5 overall in the NFL (minimum 20% of 157 pass-rush snaps).

Colby Parkinson stats

Colby Parkinson’s in his second season as a tight end for the Rams and had his best game of 2025 so far in Los Angeles’ Week 4 win over Indianapolis. The former Seahawk caught both of his targets for 17 yards.

49ers record 2025

The 49ers are 3-1 on the season and are tied for first in the NFC West.

Rams inactives vs. 49ers

No surprises for the Rams as they enter their divisional matchup with the 49ers.

QB Stetson Bennett IV 
TE Tyler Higbee 
OL Rob Havenstein 
OL Beaux Limmer 
DE Desjuan Johnson

49ers inactives vs. Rams

The 49ers will be without quarterback Brock Purdy, as he continues to work his way back from a turf toe injury. Here are the rest of the inactives for the game tonight:

QB Brock Purdy
RB Jordan James
WR Jordan Watkins
WR Ricky Pearsall
WR Jauan Jennings
DL Robert Beal
LB Nick Martin

Los Angeles Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers predictions, picks

All six members of USA TODAY Sports’ expert picks panel believe the Rams will beat the 49ers on ‘TNF.’ Below are their projected scores for the contest:

Jarrett Bell: Rams 31, 49ers 24
Nick Brinkerhoff: Rams 27, 49ers 23
Chris Bumbaca: Rams 27, 49ers 18
Nate Davis: Rams 31, 49ers 23
Tyler Dragon: Rams 24, 49ers 20
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz: Rams 31, 49ers 17

2025 Los Angeles Rams schedule

Los Angeles Rams record 2025

The Rams are 3-1 on the season and are tied for first place in the NFC West.

2025 San Francisco 49ers schedule

The Chicago Cubs will face the National League Central rival Milwaukee Brewers in the NLDS after dispatching the San Diego Padres in the wild card series’ winner-take-all Game 3 at Wrigley Field on Thursday, Oct. 2.

Chicago notched a 3-1 win in the decider, chasing San Diego starter Yu Darvish in the second inning. The Cubs loaded the bases with nobody out in the frame, but only managed to scratch across two runs – on Pete Crow-Armstrong’s RBI single and Dansby Swanson’s RBI walk. 

The two teams then traded zeroes until the seventh, when Cubs first baseman Michael Busch hit a solo homer off All-Star reliever Robert Suarez to provide a crucial insurance run.

Cubs starter Jameson Taillon threw four shutout innings and Chicago relievers kept the Padres scoreless until Jackson Merrill led off the ninth inning with a solo home run. Brad Keller, who gave up the homer, got one more out and hit two batters, bringing the go-ahead run to the plate for the Padres. But Andrew Kittredge came in to slam the door and secure the Cubs’ first postseason series win since 2017.

The NLDS meeting between the Cubs and Brewers will be the latest chapter in the saga of Chicago manager Craig Counsell, who managed Milwaukee for nine years before skipping town after the 2023 season.

Game 1 in the best-of-five NLDS is set for Saturday, Oct. 4 at the Brewers’ American Family Field.

Where to watch Cubs vs Padres: TV channel, live stream

Thursday’s game is airing on ESPN and can be streamed with Fubo.

Watch Cubs vs Padres on Fubo

Jackson Merrill home run to lead off ninth inning

Trailing 3-0 and down to three outs, Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill hit a solo home run off Cubs reliever Brad Keller to get San Diego on the board and cut the lead in the final frame. Keller, who had a 2.07 ERA in 68 games this season, had pitched a clean eighth inning.

Cubs escape jam in fifth

With a 2-0 lead, lefty Caleb Thielbar relieved Cubs starter Jameson Taillon to start the fifth inning. Taillon gave up two hits and struck out four without a walk in four scoreless innings but won’t be in line for the win.

Daniel Palencia came in to relieve Thielbar with two outs and a man on first, prompty giving up a double to Padres catcher Freddy Fermin. But with two outs and runners on second and third, Palencia got Fernando Tatis Jr. to fly out to right and escape the jam.

Dansby Swanson walk forces in another run, Cubs up 2-0

Jeremiah Estrada relieved Yu Darvish with nobody out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the second and forced in a run by walking Dansby Swanson. But the right-hander recovered to strike out Matt Shaw and get Michael Busch to ground into an inning-ending double play.

Quite an escape from Estrada and the Cubs will regret only getting two runs in the frame.

Pete Crow-Armstrong puts Cubs in front in the second

The Cubs loaded the bases with nobody out against Yu Darvish in the bottom of the second on a Kyle Tucker single, Seiya Suzuki double and Carson Kelly was hit by a pitch. Pete Crow-Armstrong singled to center to drive in one bring in the Cubs’ first run, chasing Darvish. Jeremiah Estrada came on to replace San Diego’s starter.

Cubs vs Padres Game 3 underway at Wrigley Field

Cubs starter Jameson Taillon set the Padres down 1-2-3 in the top of the first and the winner-take-all Game 3 has officially begun in Chicago. Taillon struck out Fernando Tatis Jr. struck out to lead off, got Luis Arraez to fly out and then center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong made a sliding catch to rob Manny Machado of a hit and end the frame.

Cubs lineup today

Michael Busch (L) 1B
Nico Hoerner (R) 2B
Ian Happ (S) LF
Kyle Tucker (L) DH
Seiya Suzuki (R) RF
Carson Kelly (R) C
Pete Crow-Armstrong (L) CF
Dansby Swanson (R) SS
Matt Shaw (R) 3B

Padres lineup today

Fernando Tatis Jr. (R) RF
Luis Arraez (L) 1B
Manny Machado (R) 3B
Jackson Merrill (L) CF
Xander Bogaerts (R) SS
Ryan O’Hearn (L) DH
Gavin Sheets (L) LF
Jake Cronenworth (L) 2B
Freddy Fermin (R) C

Cubs vs Padres predictions

USA TODAY Sports’ MLB experts are split on the outcome of Game 3:

Bob Nightengale: Cubs 5, Padres 3
Gabe Lacques: Padres 7, Cubs 4
Jesse Yomtov: Padres 6, Cubs 3

Cubs vs Padres betting odds

The Chicago Cubs defeated the San Diego Padres 3-1 in the winner-take-all Game 3 of their wild card series on Thursday.

Things got dicey in the ninth inning for the home team, however – and the Cubs might have had to sweat even more if they hadn’t benefitted from what appeared to be a bad strike call by home plate umpire D.J. Reyburn.

After the Padres’ Jackson Merrill homered to kick off the top of the ninth at Wrigley Field, shortstop Xander Bogaerts struck out on a 3-2 count when he didn’t swing at a ball that appeared to be below the strike zone. Bogaerts protested immediately, as did manager Mike Shildt, who ran out to speak with Reyburn.

Making the call even more brutal: Cubs pitcher Brad Keller hit the next two batters he faced. The Padres could have theoretically had the bases loaded with no outs.

The Cubs then called on Andrew Kittredge and he was able to get out of the jam.

The Padres’ season is over. The Cubs are moving on to face the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLDS.

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