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TORONTO — Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts knows the significance and consequences of Friday’s World Series game.

They win Friday night (8 p.m. ET on FOX) against the Toronto Blue Jays, and they extend their season, forcing a Game 7 at the Rogers Centre.

They lose, and their season is abruptly over.

And, fair or not, it will be considered a failure.

This is the way it works when you have one of the highest payrolls, the most talent in the game, and are heavy favorites to repeat as World Series champions.

Roberts also knows this responsibility runs much deeper for the Dodgers than any other franchise, with their passionate and frenzied fanbase in Japan, having three of the country’s biggest stars wearing Dodger uniforms, including the biggest of all-time in Shohei Ohtani.

Simply, losing is unacceptable.

Roberts sees that passion raging in the faces of Ohtani, Roki Sasaki and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who will start Game 6.

And he sees in the faces of the devoted group of about full-time Japanese reporters who religiously follow the Dodgers, breathlessly reporting on anything and everything the Dodgers’ Japanese players do on a daily basis, whether it’s a game, bullpen session, batting practice, or even the latest on Ohtani’s dog, Decoy.

Roberts, the son of a Japanese mother and Black father, certainly relates, particularly after the Dodgers signed Ohtani two years ago and become Showtime in spikes.

“I think going my whole life, I was always aware of my Black side of the family with my dad, and the Japanese side of my family with my mom,’’ Roberts, who was born in Okinawa but primarily grew up in San Diego, tells USA TODAY Sports. “But growing up, because of the language and the geography, I haven’t been able to embrace my mom’s side as much as I would have liked.

“But now, having Japanese players, Japanese media, the sponsorships that come through, really allowed me to facilitate trips to Japan and really bring that part of my life to light. I couldn’t be more excited.’’

Roberts took his son, Cole, to Japan last winter after the season and spent a week visiting Okinawa, shooting a commercial, and receiving an award. He plans to return this off-season.

“It’s really been great,’’ Roberts said. “The only problem is my Japanese hasn’t gotten any better. That’s the problem. But I tell you, it’s really been enjoyable with all the Japanese media. I mean, we have more [Japanese] media, obviously, than any place in the country, by far.

“It’s certainly, you know, ramped up the job responsibilities. But you know what, the Japanese media is so respectful. It’s actually refreshing seeing how kind the Japanese people are. Even going back to Tokyo for the Japan Series, it really gives me hope in humanity, just a genuine kindness.

“They love their baseball, and there’s just pure excitement and joy, and not skepticism or cynicism. And for me to kind of pull from that, it’s really been additive for my mental state, it really has. You see their excitement, and it’s like then you get excited. You’re not always having to defend decisions or things that don’t work out.’’

Now, it’s only appropriate, of course, that the biggest pitching star of all, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, will be the one starting Friday to save their season, trying to become only the fourth pitcher in history to throw three complete games in a single postseason.

If he pitches anything like he did in Game 2, when he threw a four-hit complete game, retiring the final 20 batters of the game for the first time in a World Series game since Don Larsen’s perfect game in 1956, you can book a Game 7.

“Man, hopefully he’s a little tired,’’ Blue Jays manager John Schneider said, “throwing that many innings. He’s unique because he’s got what seems like six or seven pitches, and can kind of morph into different pitchers as the game kind of goes on.

“You got to be stubborn, you have to be ready to hit, and you have to be stubborn with what kind of swings you’re taking. That’s what it comes down to. He’s not a guy you can kind of wait out. He’s going to pound the zone, so sometimes you got to force some action on him.’’

The Dodgers aren’t really worried about how Yamamoto responds at all, but whether they can start generating any offense. The Dodgers are hitting .168 in their last 29 innings, scoring just four runs. Roberts shuffled the lineup for Game 4, dropping Mookie Betts to the No. 3 spot for the first time since 2021, and they struck out 15 times and scored just one run.

Roberts hinted Thursday that he might shake things up again, and if they can get to a Game 7, plan to employ Ohtani to be their secret weapon in relief, perhaps even use him as an opener, or even consider him playing the outfield for a few innings if necessary.

“We’ll talk about everything,’’ Roberts said, “so we’ll kind of talk through whatever is the best. If we get to that point, we’ll see. He’s not going to play the outfield [in Game 6], I do know that.

“But if we get to Game 7, we’ll have a good discussion about everything.’’

If the Dodgers are even mildly stressed, they didn’t show it during their workout on Thursday. It was an optional workout, but every player showed up. They were even treated to a challenge by Roberts to race infielder Hyeseong Kim. But even given a big lead Roberts tripped and fell rounding second, with the entire team bursting in laughter.

“I think that I’m in good spirits, our coaches are,’’ Roberts said. “What better way to win the World Series … in Game 7. But we got to win [Friday.]’’

Besides, nothing has come easy for the Dodgers, so why start now? They battled a litany of pitching injuries all year, and at one time had 15 pitchers on the injured list. Yamamoto is their only starter in the playoff rotation who has pitched more than 91 innings all season. Their bullpen has been a mess.

They have dealt with adversity all year, and the way they figure it, if they can come back from two elimination games to defeat the San Diego Padres in last year’s division round, and also win the 2024 World Series with only three healthy starting pitchers, this is nothing more than a speed bump.

“It’s fight or flight, it’s whatever adage or saying you want, to leave it all out there,’’ Roberts said. “It’s certainly not war. I’m not trying to compare that to war. But in our world, in our small world of baseball, it is war.

“So that’s the mindset.’’

Follow Bob Nightengale on X @Bnightengale.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

Days after LSU fired football coach Brian Kelly, athletic director Scott Woodward is leaving the university after disparaging comments from the Louisiana governor.

The school announced the departure Thursday in a release. Executive deputy athletics director Verge Ausberry will serve as interim athletics director and lead the search for Kelly’s replacement.

‘We thank Scott for the last six years of service as athletic director,’ said Scott Ballard, LSU’s board of supervisors chair, said in a statement. ‘He had a lot of success at LSU, and we wish him nothing but the best in the future. Our focus now is on moving the athletic department forward and best positioning LSU to achieve its full potential.’

The decision comes following remarks from Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry that criticized Woodward’s decision making. Woodward was the one that hired Kelly in 2021, but after a rather disappointing tenure that resulted in the coach’s dismissal on Oct. 26, LSU owed Kelly approximately $54 million; the two sides are working on what the exact buyout would be.

Because of the large buyout, Landry told reporters Woodward would not be part of the search for LSU’s next coach. He also noted how Woodward hired Jimbo Fisher when he was at Texas A&M, which ended in $77 million buyout when he was fired in 2023 (though Woodward was not responsible for that number, with now-Ohio State AD Ross Bjork penning Fisher’s extension).

‘I can tell you right now, Scott Woodward is not selecting the next head coach. Hell, I’ll let Donald Trump select it before I let him do it,’ Landry said. ‘The board of supervisors is going to come up with a committee and they go find us a coach.’

Landry reportedly had a hand in LSU firing Kelly, and has appointed nine of the 18 board of supervisors members that will apparently lead the search for a new coach.

A Baton Rouge, Louisiana native and an LSU grad, Woodward had been the Tigers’ athletic director since 2019. In his tenure, he hired women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey and baseball coach Jay Johnson, both of which won national championships at LSU.

Prior to his arrival at LSU, Woodward was the athletic director at Texas A&M from 2016-19 and Washington from 2008-16.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

While 2025 is considered an ‘off-year election,’ without the high-profile presidential showdown of last year or the competitive midterm elections that could shift the congressional balance of power next year, there are more than a dozen local races across the country this year.

Election Day is on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. Whether voting early or in-person on Election Day, it’s important to review your ballot before you head to the polls to research candidates and make an informed decision.

Here’s how to find your sample ballot ahead of Election Day 2025.

Virginia

This year, Virginians will vote for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, Virginia House of Delegates and local offices.

The Virginia Department of Elections has an easy, one-stop shop to look up your polling site and what’s on your ballot.

Start by entering your full address and zip code to see the specific ballot information for your precinct.

For more information, visit the Virginia Department of Elections’ official website.

New Jersey

In New Jersey, voters will cast their ballots for governor, lieutenant governor, state senate and general assembly.

The Department of State, Division of Elections, has created a 2025 Election Information guide, including links to the official candidate lists.

Jersey City voters will also select a new mayor. For sample ballots, visit your local county clerk’s website.

California

California is hosting a special election on Nov. 4, where voters will decide whether to allow the state legislature to redraw congressional districts.

Los Angeles County has provided an online interactive sample ballot for the special election.

Pennsylvania

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s website has information about voting and sample ballots for this year’s local Supreme Court race.

Visit your individual county for a sample ballot.

Texas

Texas’ 18th Congressional District is holding a special election on Nov. 4.

Texas is also hosting a special election on constitutional amendments and for a local state Senate race.

Visit the Texas Secretary of State’s website for more information.

New York City

To access a sample ballot in New York City, simply enter your address into this form.

New York City voters will choose a new mayor on Nov. 4.

New Yorkers will also vote on citywide public advocates, city comptroller, district attorney, borough presidents and several amendment proposals, among others.

Miami

Click here to view Miami’s sample ballot from the City of Miami’s website.

Voters will select a new mayor and commissioners.

Cincinnati

In Ohio, Cincinnati voters will elect a new mayor on Nov. 4.

To view your sample ballot, visit the Hamilton County Board of Elections website.

Ohio’s Secretary of State’s office also provides an interactive map to access sample ballots by county.

Detroit

In Michigan, Detroit voters will also vote for a new mayor, city council members and police commissioners this Election Day.

To access your sample ballot, visit Michigan’s Voter Information Center on the Department of State’s website, and enter your county, jurisdiction and precinct.

Minneapolis

Voters in Minneapolis will also cast their ballot for mayor this Election Day.

Visit the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website, and type in your address to access your sample ballot.

Seattle

Seattle voters will also vote for mayor on Nov. 4, while Washington state voters will vote on measures, local city council members and executives, legislative and judicial candidates.

For access to your Seattle sample ballot, visit this King County website, or go to the Washington Secretary of State voters’ guide.

Don’t see your state, city or county on the list? When in doubt, check your official election office’s website.

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President Donald Trump’s announcement that the U.S. would revive nuclear weapons testing — which the U.S. has not done since 1992 — left experts, lawmakers and military personnel scratching their heads Thursday.

The president announced, just before his high-stakes meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, he is instructing the Pentagon to start testing nuclear weapons on an ‘equal basis’ as Russia and China, and that the process for testing these weapons would begin immediately.  

‘They seem to all be nuclear testing,’ Trump later told reporters on Air Force One. ‘We don’t do testing — we halted it years ago. But with others doing testing, it’s appropriate that we do also.’

It’s unclear exactly what Trump meant, since no country has conducted a known nuclear test since North Korea in 2017. The last known tests for China and Russia date back to the 1990s, when Russia was still the Soviet Union.

The White House did not provide comment to Fox News Digital. And the Pentagon did not respond to a request for comment. 

However, those dissecting the president’s comments say Trump may have been referring to ramping up testing of nuclear-powered weapons systems or conducting covert, low-yield nuclear weapons testing.

Andrea Stricker, the deputy director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies’ nonproliferation and biodefense program, described the announcement as a ‘power move’ from Trump ahead of Xi’s meeting, and said that one option the president may be considering is authorizing low-yield nuclear explosive testing that would go above the zero-yield threshold outlined in the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty from 1996, which bans all nuclear explosions.

Although ratification from the U.S. and several other countries is necessary in order for the treaty to take effect, the pact established no nuclear testing as a worldwide norm and the U.S., Russia and China have since maintained a moratorium on full-scale nuclear testing.

However, Stricker said that the U.S. has detailed in multiple reports that it suspects that Russia and China may have conducted low-yield type tests for years, despite the moratorium laid out in the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. For example, now-retired Lt. Gen. Robert Ashley Jr. said in 2019, while serving as the director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, that the U.S. believes Russia isn’t adhering to the nuclear testing moratorium ‘in a manner consistent with the zero-yield standard.’

As a result, Stricker said that Trump’s comments indicate he will match near-peer adversaries’ actions.

‘The president’s statement implies reciprocity: he will increase testing as they do, which puts the onus on Moscow and Beijing to rein in their efforts,’ Stricker said in a Thursday email to Fox News Digital. ‘Trump may also be seeking to engage both countries in arms control talks with the remaining nuclear arms treaty between the United States and Russia, New START, set to expire in February 2026 and China refusing such talks.’

Meanwhile, Navy Vice Adm. Richard Correll, who Trump nominated to lead U.S. Strategic Command, told lawmakers Thursday during his confirmation hearing that although he didn’t have insight into Trump’s thinking, the president may have been discussing testing nuclear-powered weapon delivery systems, like ballistic and cruise missiles.

Correll said that since neither China nor Russia has conducted a nuclear test to his knowledge, he’s ‘not reading anything into it or out of it’ when lawmakers on the Senate Armed Services Committee asked about the president’s statement. However, Correll said he’d be prepared to carry out the president’s directive if he is confirmed.

U.S. Strategic Command is a combatant command that oversees nuclear deterrence for the U.S. military.

Matthew Kroenig, the vice president and senior director of the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, told Fox News Digital that Russia’s recent missile test also ‘gives credence’ to the possibility that Trump meant testing these nuclear-powered weapon delivery systems.

Russia announced Sunday that it had successfully tested its new, nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile, which NATO has dubbed ‘Skyfall.’ The announcement came after the Trump administration imposed stringent sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil companies.

Kroenig, who previously worked on nuclear and defense policy at the Pentagon and helped craft the 2018 U.S. Nuclear Posture Review, also said Trump’s statement could signal an end to the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. 

Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, told reporters Thursday that it’s paramount the president respond accordingly to actors, like Russian President Vladimir Putin, who have nuclear weapons.

‘When you have a madman that has nuclear weapons like Putin does and he starts rattling his saber, it’s important for the president to respond,’ Risch said. ‘And he responded in a way that is reasonable.’

Democrats had a different take. The top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., said that Trump ‘has it wrong’ on nuclear weapons policy, and said resuming nuclear weapons testing could upend decades of nonproliferation efforts.

‘Breaking the explosive testing moratorium that the United States, Russia, and China have maintained since the 1990s would be strategically reckless, inevitably prompting Moscow and Beijing to resume their own testing programs,’ Reed said in a statement Thursday. ‘Further, American explosive testing would provide justification for Pakistan, India, and North Korea to expand their own testing regimes, destabilizing an already fragile global nonproliferation architecture at precisely the moment we can least afford it.

‘The United States would gain very little from such testing, and we would sacrifice decades of hard-won progress in preventing nuclear proliferation,’ Reed said. 

Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance told reporters Thursday that while the president would continue to work on nuclear proliferation, that testing would be done to ensure weapons are functioning at optimal capability.

‘It’s an important part of American national security to make sure that this nuclear arsenal we have actually functions properly,’ Vance said. ‘And that’s part of a testing regime. To be clear, we know that it does work properly, but you got to keep on top of it over time. And the president just wants to make sure that we do that with his nation.’

Fox News’ Chad Pergram and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Fans often dream about their favorite teams making big-swing moves to bolster their Super Bowl chances at the NFL trade deadline.

But in reality, there are rarely many moves of consequence for the NFL’s version of the event.

While the other major North American sports leagues – the MLB, NBA and NHL – all tend to see plenty of movement among star players, the NFL’s transactions are comparatively mild. Sure, the volume of them has increased over the years, but most of the blockbuster NFL trades occur during the offseason.

There are several reasons this is the case. Chief among them are the draft capital is extremely valuable in building an NFL roster and that it is difficult for players to quickly acclimate to new schemes during football season.

Nonetheless, NFL teams remain willing to make smaller-scale deals ahead of the deadline. That will lead a handful of role players to swap teams ahead of Week 10 in trades that figure to be more pragmatic than dramatic.

With that in mind, here’s a look at seven trades that could realistically happen before the 2025 NFL trade deadline on Nov. 4.

Saints trade WR Rashid Shaheed to the Broncos

NFL fans may be hoping that one of A.J. Brown, Chris Olave or Jaylen Waddle is traded ahead of the deadline. In reality, Shaheed may be the most likely wide-out to be traded, as the veteran speedster is playing on the final year of his contract with the Saints.

The Broncos should be interested in adding Shaheed to their offense. The team’s receiver room has gotten a boost from the emergence of Troy Franklin, but Marvin Mims Jr. hasn’t been as consistent as he was in 2024. That could prompt Denver to add more deep speed to its big-bodied receiving room, and Shaheed would compliment Courtland Sutton and Franklin well with his field-stretching abilities.

Shaheed never overlapped with Sean Payton in New Orleans, but he played in Pete Carmichael Jr.’s offense for two seasons with the Saints. Carmichael is now a senior offensive assistant with the Broncos.

Saints trade TE Taysom Hill to the Broncos

Here’s another trade the Saints and Broncos could consider. The Saints just signed 41-year-old Marcedes Lewis to the practice squad because they are thin at tight end. Could that prompt Sean Payton to acquire his former do-it-all, gadget weapon to provide depth at the position?

Hill is 35 years old and coming off an ACL tear. He’s not as explosive as he was pre-injury – he has just 20 yards on 14 touches this season – but his unique skill set as a passer, runner and receiver would give Payton a fun weapon with which to work in an already solid Broncos offense.

The Saints wouldn’t likely ask much for the veteran. It’s just a matter of whether the Broncos are willing to pay whatever remains of the final year of Hill’s four-year, $40 million deal with the Saints.

Dolphins trade DE Matthew Judon to the 49ers

Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips have drawn attention as high-end trade targets the Dolphins could try to offload. However, Miami may have an easier time offloading the 33-year-old Judon, who is on a much cheaper deal and can serve as an experienced depth piece on a playoff team.

The 49ers are desperate for help on the edge after losing Nick Bosa (torn ACL) for the season. They traded for former Patriots second-round pick Keion White but could still use a high-end starter given the injuries they have at the position.

San Francisco could try to pry Chubb or Phillips away from the Dolphins, but Judon would be the easier and cheaper alternative to consider. Perhaps they will value adding his experience after adding White’s upside in the trade with the Patriots.

Browns trade RB Jerome Ford to the Patriots

ESPN’s Mike Reiss reported running back is one of the ‘most likely’ areas the Patriots will target ahead of the trade deadline. It’s easy to understand why. Antonio Gibson is out for the season with a torn ACL, Rhamondre Stevenson is dealing with a toe injury and Mike Vrabel doesn’t seem to fully trust second-round rookie TreVeyon Henderson in a major role.

Who could the Patriots target? Perhaps they could get the Panthers to give up pending free agent Rico Dowdle, or for the Titans to move on from veteran Tony Pollard. Short of that, however, they will likely be stuck shopping around for veteran backups.

Ford has averaged a respectable 4.3 yards per carry during his NFL career and has caught 102 passes across 52 games. He’s presently just a third-stringer with the Browns, so the Patriots can get him cheap and install him as a veteran depth piece who can help take pressure off Henderson.

Bears trade OT Braxton Jones to Chargers

Jones lost his starting job with the Bears to undrafted rookie Theo Benedet. Ben Johnson also has rookie second-round pick Ozzy Trapilo on the roster, so it’s hard to imagine Jones finding a considerable role with the Bears long-term.

There aren’t often tackles with high-level starting experience available on the trade market, though Jones was placed on injured reserve last week, meaning he’ll miss at least three more games. Buyer beware with his injury history, but Jones has made 44 at left tackle and would provide top-tier swing tackle depth for the Chargers, who have dealt with numerous injuries to the tackle position and could immediately find a starting role for Jones.

Giants trade QB Russell Wilson to Vikings

Carson Wentz is going to miss the rest of the season because of a left shoulder injury. That leaves the Vikings with little experience at quarterback, as J.J. McCarthy and Max Brosmer will enter Week 9 having combined to make just two NFL starts.

That could lead the Vikings to buy low on Wilson. It wouldn’t be to install him as a starter, but it would provide McCarthy with a veteran sounding board as he looks to establish himself as Minnesota’s quarterback of the future.

The Giants should be willing to part with Wilson on the cheap, and the Vikings would only have to take on a prorated version of the 36-year-old quarterback’s $2 million salary for the 2025 season.

Saints trade LB Demario Davis to the Steelers

It’s no secret the Steelers need help fortifying their defense. Pittsburgh already traded for Kyle Dugger to bolster its weakness at safety, but adding another linebacker with Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson playing inconsistently would be sensible.

Davis is 36, but he is still playing at a high level, grading as Pro Football Focus’ 11th overall linebacker heading into Week 9. He fits the Steelers’ all-in approach with 41-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers, so they shouldn’t be afraid to get the 2019 All-Pro first teamer to shore up the middle of their stop unit.

(This story has been updated with additional information.)

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A Senate Republican accused Google and its AI of targeting conservatives with false allegations and fake news stories, including allegations of a sexual assault that never happened.

Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., wrote to Google CEO Sundar Pichai in a letter first obtained by Fox News Digital that Google’s large language model AI Gemma allegedly produced false and defamatory allegations against conservatives, including herself.

Specifically, she alleged that the AI generated a fabricated sexual assault allegation against her and a series of links to fake news articles to support the false claim.

Her letter to Pichai came on the heels of a Senate Commerce Committee hearing earlier this week that zeroed in on ‘jawboning,’ the practice of government officials using indirect coercion to get tech companies, like Google or social media platforms, to censor posts or speech.

During the hearing, Blackburn went after Google Vice President for Government Affairs and Public Policy Markham Erickson over AI ‘hallucinations’ that allegedly produced false allegations against conservative activist Robby Starbuck.

AI hallucinations are when a generative AI or large language model, like Gemma, creates false, misleading or inaccurate information that is then presented as fact.

Starbuck sued the company after Google’s AI tools allegedly linked him to false accusations of sexual assault, child rape and financial exploitation.

That spurred her to enter a prompt into Gemma asking, ‘Has Marsha Blackburn been accused of rape?’

The AI then produced a story, she wrote, that alleged that during her run for Tennessee State Senate in 1987 she had a sexual relationship with a state trooper, and that, ‘the trooper alleged that she pressured him to obtain prescription drugs for her and that the relationship involved non-consensual acts.’

Blackburn noted, however, that she ran for seat in 1998 and that, ‘There has never been such an accusation, there is no such individual, and there are no such news stories.’

‘This is not a harmless ‘hallucination,’’ she said. ‘It is an act of defamation produced and distributed by a Google-owned AI model. A publicly accessible tool that invents false criminal allegations about a sitting U.S. senator represents a catastrophic failure of oversight and ethical responsibility.’

She charged that there was a consistent pattern of bias against conservatives by Google’s AI, and whether on purpose or the result of ‘ideologically biased training data, the effect is the same: Google’s AI models are shaping dangerous political narratives by spreading falsehoods about conservatives and eroding public trust.’

Blackburn demanded that by Nov. 6, Google provide how the company identifies how and why Gemma generated the false claims about her, what steps Google has taken to prevent political or ideological bias in AI, what guardrails failed to stop this incident, and what Google will do to remove defamatory material and prevent similar occurrences.

‘During the hearing, Mr. Erickson said, ‘[large language models] will hallucinate,’’ she said. ‘My response remains the same: Shut it down until you can control it.’

Google did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

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If one of the athletic directors looking to fill one of the Power 4 head coach vacancies in college football thought they had a chance at luring Dan Lanning away from Oregon football, it’s time to change course.

Appearing on the ‘Rich Eisen Show’ on Thursday, Oct. 30, Lanning intercepted Eisen in the middle of Eisen’s question when asked what his interest level would be in entertaining the thought of leaving the Ducks for one of the current openings and gave a definitive no.

‘Zero,’ Lanning said. ‘I’m not leaving Oregon.’

Lanning did add some additional words to the end of that sentence that got a few chuckles from Eisen and his staff.

‘… As long as I win. That’s what I always tell my kids, ‘If your dad wins, we will be at Oregon.’ So I got to win. That’s how it changes,’ Lanning said.

There are currently seven openings — Arkansas, Florida, LSU, Penn State, Virginia Tech, Oklahoma State and UCLA — at the Power 4 Conference level of Division I college football as of Oct. 30, with the possibility of more openings coming before the season ends. That does not include the opening at Oregon State, which is competing as if it is an independent as the Pac-12 rebuilds, and the opening at Stanford that was created back in March.

Asked about his thoughts on the number of firings midseason, including James Franklin’s firing at Penn State that happened two weeks after Lanning’s Ducks beat the Nittany Lions in double overtime in a No. 3 vs. No. 5 matchup, Lanning offered a reflective response.

‘Probably more than anything, it makes me more grateful for where I am at. And recognizing how fragile and special it is. It motivates me to keep working hard because you realize how temporary things can be if you are not moving in the right direction,’ Lanning said.

‘On the same note, I always think of everyone else involved in that. The assistant coach, the graduate assistant, the player that is signed up to play for somebody and how quickly your world can change. Continuity and stability are important and it’s hard to have, and when you have it, you’ve got to recognize it and take advantage of it.’

Since being hired at Oregon in 2021, Lanning has built the Ducks into one of the top programs in the country. In four seasons at Oregon, Lanning has posted an overall record of 42-7, which includes a Big Ten title and a College Football Playoff berth last season. He was awarded a six-year contract extension by the Ducks last March, which keeps him in Eugene through the 2030 season.

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With the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) expiring Friday, Oct. 31, the WNBA and Women’s National Basketball Player’s Association (WNBPA) have reportedly agreed to a 30-day extension.

ESPN and the Athletic reported Thursday that the two sides have agreed to extend the current CBA until Nov. 30 to allow more time for an agreement to be reached without a work stoppage which could result in a lockout by the owners or a strike by the players.

It’s a path that WNBA commissioner Cathy Englebert alluded to earlier this month during her annual press conference before the 2025 WNBA Finals, saying, ‘We have extended deadlines in the past.’

The league and players association previously agreed to a 60-day extension in 2019, three days before the last CBA was set to expire on Oct. 31, 2019. A new deal was subsequently reached on the current CBA on Jan. 14, 2020 and singed into effect three days later on Jan. 17, 2020.

‘Last time, when I was only a couple days on the job, we got to an extension and got a deal done that was progressive at the time,’ said Engelbert, who took over as WNBA commissioner in July 2019. ‘So again, I feel confident that we can get a deal done, but if not, I think we could do an extension.’

The WNBA and players association are trying to find compromise on revenue sharing and pay structure. The players are seeking a revenue-sharing model that ensures their salaries grow with the league, while the WNBA has allegedly offered a fixed salary system and capped revenue-sharing plan.

Negotiations reached a boiling point this week when the sides released competing statements about who was at fault for the impasse. The WNBPA alleged the league offered ‘more of the same’ in their latest proposal while the WNBA accused the players association of ‘disseminating public misinformation.’

The 30-day extension will likely impact the 2026 WNBA draft lottery, which is typically held before the end of the calendar year. The 2025 draft lottery was held Nov. 17, 2024 and the 2024 edition took place on Dec. 10, 2023. The league must also squeeze in expansion drafts for the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire before the year ends, both are contingent on a new CBA.

‘Obviously we need to get a collective bargaining agreement done before we will probably have those expansion drafts, as well as the draft lottery,’ Engelbert said on Oct. 3. ‘So those are the two things we usually do before the calendar year end, leading into the free agency and ultimately the draft in the spring.’

The Tempo noted on their team website that their expansion draft will be held in December 2025, but the format and process must be negotiated in the new CBA. That leaves the Tempo and Fire in limbo, as they are set to join the league as the 14th and 15th franchises in 2026. The expansion draft must be held before free agency, which is expected to start in January barring any setbacks.  

Engelbert said the league gave general managers ‘some guidance’ on what to expect for the expansion draft, saying the process will be ‘something similar’ to Golden State Valkyries’ expansion draft last year.

When Golden State joined the league as the 13th franchise in 2025, the expansion draft was held on Dec. 6, 2024. Each team designated six ‘protected players’ who were ineligible for selection. The Valkyries went on to select 11 players, including Kayla Thornton from the New York Liberty and Veronica Burton from the Connecticut Sun.

There will be more expansion drafts in the future. The league is set to expand to 18 teams by 2030 with the additions of Cleveland (2028), Detroit (2029) and Philadelphia (2030), who each paid a $250 million expansion fee to join the league.

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Man versus dog was the featured matchup when the World Series predictions contest began. But that’s unraveled thanks to the birds.

The Toronto Blue Jays, that is.

With the Blue Jays leading the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-2 heading into Game 6, man and dog might soon be commiserating rather than competing.

The men, Bob Nightengale and Gabe Lacques – esteemed baseball writers at USA TODAY Sports – both picked the Dodgers to win the World Series in six games. That’s impossible.

Luna, the 7-year-old Maltipoo, picked the Dodgers to win in seven games. That’s possible but perhaps unlikely with the final two games of the World Series set to be played in Toronto.

But Luna also has predicted the outcome of each game, and not with great accuracy. She is 2-3.

This contest could end with man and dog licking their wounds, and birds dancing atop their heads.

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

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

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

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

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

Cowboys among teams to watch ahead of NFL trade deadline

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

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

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

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

Colts’ red-hot offense faces reeling Steelers defense

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

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

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

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

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

Patrick Mahomes 1-4 against Bills in regular season

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

J.J. McCarthy returns for Minnesota

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jayden Daniels slated to be back under center

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

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

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

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

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

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

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