The Atlanta Falcons are traveling to Minnesota to face the Vikings in Week 2 of the 2025 NFL season.

The matchup marks the second time in as many seasons the Falcons are playing the Vikings. While the major story of last year’s meeting was Kirk Cousins playing against his former team, the narrative has shifted to a younger pair of quarterbacks in 2025.

This time, Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and Vikings signal-caller J.J. McCarthy are set to go head-to-head for the first time of their NFL careers. It will mark the first meeting between the two 2024 first-round picks since they squared off in the 2023 College Football Playoff National Championship Game for Washington (Penix) and Michigan (McCarthy).

Penix will look to gain a measure of revenge against McCarthy, whose Wolverines defeated Penix’s Huskies 34-13 in the championship.

But where will Cousins be during Sunday’s game? Here’s what to know about the quarterback’s role with the Falcons for his age-37 season.

Is Kirk Cousins still on the Falcons?

Yes, Cousins is still on the Falcons. The 37-year-old has simply been relegated to backup duty behind Penix during the duo’s second seasons in Atlanta.

Despite losing his starting job, Cousins remains in Atlanta after signing a four-year, $180 million contract with the team as a free agent in 2024. The veteran requested a trade away from the Falcons, but Atlanta decided to keep him after being unable to find what it believed to be a suitable trade package for the four-time Pro Bowler.

As a result, Cousins remains with the Falcons as the NFL’s highest-paid backup quarterback.

Why isn’t Kirk Cousins starting?

Cousins lost his starting job at the end of the 2024 NFL season. He was benched for the final three games of the season amid a five-game stretch during which he completed 62.7% of his passes for 1,180 yards, one touchdown and nine interceptions while leading Atlanta to just a 1-4 record.

‘After review we have made the decision Michael Penix will be the Atlanta Falcons starting quarterback moving forward,’ Falcons coach Raheem Morris said in a statement at the time. ‘This was a football decision and we are fully focused on preparing the team for Sunday’s game against the New York Giants.’

Penix completed 58.1% of his passes for 775 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions across the three games. The Falcons evidently liked what they saw from the rookie in the small sample size, as Atlanta announced it planned to move forward with the Washington product as its starter.

That relegated Cousins to the backup role, where he has remained after the Falcons decided to hold onto him through the offseason.

Kirk Cousins stats 2024

Cousins got off to a hot start in his first season with the Falcons – he threw for 509 yards and four touchdowns in Week 5 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers – but cooled as the campaign progressed.

Below is a look at Cousins’ stats from his first season in Atlanta:

Starts: 14
Record: 7-7
Completion %: 66.9%
Passing yards: 3,508
Passing TDs: 18
INTs: 16
Yards/attempt: 7.7
Passer rating: 88.6
QBR: 47.0
PFF Grade: 74.3 (23rd of 44 QBs with 150-plus dropbacks)

Cousins’ passer rating of 88.6 was his lowest in a single season since 2014, when he started just five games for Washington. It ranked 22 among 36 qualified quarterbacks but was just slightly below the NFL’s league-average of 92.3 for the season.

Cousins’ 16 interceptions were a career-worst and tied Baker Mayfield for the NFL lead.

Falcons QB depth chart

The Falcons have three quarterbacks in their organization, but just two on their 53-man roster. Below is a look at the unit’s pecking order:

Michael Penix Jr.
Kirk Cousins
Easton Stick (practice squad)

The Falcons also have Feleipe Franks – who played quarterback during his college career at Florida and Arkansas before signing as an undrafted free agent with Atlanta in 2021 – on their roster at tight end. The 27-year-old has only thrown one career pass, which was intercepted.

PHOENIX — The New York Liberty’s title defense starts now.

The No. 5 seed Liberty tipoff the 2025 WNBA playoffs with a first-round matchup against the No. 4 seed Phoenix Mercury Sunday, and unlike New York’s 2024 championship run that ended with the team claiming its first title in franchise history, the Liberty won’t have home-court advantage this postseason.

New York has a losing record on the road this season (10-12), including a pair of losses to the Mercury, who made 18 3-pointers in a win over the Liberty on June 25 at PHX Arena. (The Mercury are 15-7 at home.) The Liberty have navigated a string of injuries to their superstar trio of Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones and Sabrina Ionescu, but New York’s Big 3 are available heading into the postseason.

‘Experience is the thing that you fall back on when the going gets tough and things aren’t going your way. It’s what brings the team back together, because you have a sense of awareness of what’s coming,’ said Stewart, who had 24 points to close the season against the Chicago Sky on Sept. 11. ‘The playoffs are an emotional roller-coaster, emotionally and physically. So to have that experience… is really important going forward.’

The Liberty will be tasked with slowing down MVP candidate Alyssa Thomas, who set a single-season record with eight triple-doubles this season. Her eight triple-doubles surpassed the previous record (six) she set in 2023 in Connecticut. No other player in WNBA history has more than four in a career.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Liberty-Mercury game on Sunday:

End of Q3: Mercury 57, Liberty 55

Phoenix’s Kathryn Westbeldknocked down a 3-pointer with 18.7 seconds remaining to give the Mercury a 57-55 lead to close the third quarter. Kahleah Copper has a team-high 11 points and four personal fouls, while Alyssa Thomas has 10 points and six assists. The Mercury are 23-1 this season when tied or leading after the third quarter.

Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart each have 14 points for the Liberty. Stewart surpassed Lindsay Whalen (953) for sixth place on the all-time playoffs points list with 963 points and counting.

Mercury star in foul trouble

Mercury guard Kahleah Copper picked up her fourth personal foul with 5:33 remaining in the third quarter. She remained in the game, where she has a team-high 11 points, one rebound and one assist. No other Mercury player has scored double digits yet.

Halftime: Liberty 44, Mercury 43

The Liberty have a one-point advantage over the Mercury heading into halftime following a closely contested first half that has featured nine lead chances and seven ties.

Three of the Liberty’s starters have reached double digits, led by a game-high 13 points from Natasha Cloud. Sabrina Ionesco and Breanna Stewart each added 11 points. The Liberty have used their size and controlled the boards through the first half, grabbing 21 rebounds (four offensive) to the Mercury’s 13 rebounds. New York is shooting 48.6% from the field and 5-of-16 from 3.

Kahleah Copper is the only Mercury player in double digits with 11 points. Satou Sabally added seven points and four rebounds, while Alyssa Thomas is more than halfway to a double-double with eight points and six assists. The Mercury are shooting 43.6% from the field and 4-of-12 from the 3-point line, including Monique Akoa Makani’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer to end the second quarter.

Phoenix Suns stars in the building

The star-studded crowd at PHX Arena includes several Phoenix Suns players, including Dillon Brooks, who was seated courtside for Sunday’s matchup.

Sabrina Ionescu heating up

The Liberty are starting to heat up from the 3-point line. Sabrina Ionescu knocked down two 3-pointers in a matter of 43 seconds in the second quarter, giving New York a 23-21 lead over Phoenix. Ionescu has eight points, three assists and two rebounds, while the Liberty are 4-of-13 from the 3-point line.

End of Q1: Liberty 17, Mercury 13

The Liberty led by as many as nine points in the first quarter and have a four-point advantage over the Mercury entering the second quarter. Jonquel Jones and Natasha Cloud each have five points. Breanna Stewart added four points. The Liberty are collectively shooting 36.8% from the field and 2-of-9 from 3.

DeWanna Bonner was a spark plug off the bench for the Mercury and scored four points in five minutes, including a transition layup with 1:12 remaining in the first quarter after swiping the ball from Cloud. Kahleah Copper added four points. The Mercury are shooting 31.6% from the field and only 1-of-8 from three.

What time is New York Liberty at Phoenix Mercury?

The Minnesota Lynx host the Golden State Valkyries at 5 p.m. ET (2 p.m. PT) on Sunday, Sept. 14 at PHX Arena in Phoenix. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.

Phoenix Mercury starting lineup

Head coach: Nate Tibbetts

0 Satou Sabally | F 6′ 4′ – Oregon
2 Kahleah Copper | G 6′ 1′ – Rutgers
4 Natasha Mack | C 6′ 4′ – Oklahoma State
8 Monique Akoa Makani | G 5′ 11′ – Cameroon
25 Alyssa Thomas | F 6′ 2′ – Maryland

New York Liberty starting lineup

Head coach: Sandy Brondello

9 Natasha Cloud | G 5′ 10′ – St. Joseph’s
13 Leonie Fiebich | F 6′ 4′ – Germany
20 Sabrina Ionescu | G 5′ 11′ – Oregon
30 Breanna Stewart | F 6′ 4′ – UConn
35 Jonquel Jones | C 6′ 6′ – George Washington

New York Liberty finally get healthy, just in time for WNBA playoffs

CHICAGO — Another title, or at least a third consecutive trip to the WNBA Finals, seemed to be a given as the New York Liberty opened the season with nine straight wins, most of them decisive. And then the injuries piled up.

Jonquel Jones missed almost two weeks with a sprained ankle. And then another month when she aggravated the injury. Breanna Stewart missed a month with a bone bruise. Natasha Cloud missed a game after breaking her nose. Sabrina Ionescu just returned Tuesday after missing four games with a toe injury. Nyara Sabally has played only 17 games this season because of knee issues. Leonie Fiebich avoided time on the DL, but she missed almost a month while playing for Germany at EuroBasket.

How to watch New York Liberty at Phoenix Mercury: TV, stream

Time: 5 p.m. ET (2 p.m. PT)
Location: PHX Arena (Phoenix)
TV channel: ESPN
Streaming: ESPN+, Disney+, Fubo (free trial to new subscribers)

Mercury vs. Liberty WNBA Playoffs schedule

Game 1: Liberty at Mercury, 2 p.m. ET Sunday (ESPN)
Game 2: Mercury at Liberty, 8 p.m. ET Wednesday (ESPN)
Game 3: Liberty at Mercury, TBD Friday (ESPN2)

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The Atlanta Dream’s quest to turn the best regular season in franchise history into their first WNBA championship is off and running after an initial hitch. The Dream fell behind early but recovered nicely en route to a gritty 80-68 win over the Indiana Fever in Game 1 of their WNBA first-round playoff series on Sunday afternoon. It was the Dream’s first playoff win since 2018.

The Dream tandem of Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard each had 20 points and helped spearhead a defensive effort that kept the Fever in check after they jumped out to a 15-6 lead in the first quarter. Naz Hillmon added 16 points and 9 rebounds as Atlanta’s depth proved too much for an injury-riddled Indiana roster during the second half at Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia.

Kelsey Mitchell led the Fever with 27 points and Aliyah Boston finished with 8 points, 12 rebounds and five assists, but Indiana did not have enough firepower to keep up with Atlanta in Game 1.

Here’s everything you missed from the Fever-Dream game on Sunday:

Player of the game

Allisha Gray didn’t have the most efficient shooting performance, but she filled up the stat sheet in Game 1 and demonstrated why she put together a career year this season. The Dream were 17 points better than the Fever when Gray was on the floor Sunday as she finished with 20 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals while igniting Atlanta’s suffocating defense.

Why the Dream won

This wasn’t a scintillating offensive display by two of the WNBA’s highest-scoring teams. Instead, Atlanta wore down the injury-riddled Fever with its defense and depth, keeping them well below their season averages. The Dream held Indiana under 35% shooting from the floor. Aside from Kelsey Mitchell, the Fever were a combined 13 of 45 shooting. Atlanta, meanwhile, had four players finish in double figures and nine players contribute at least one field goal. It seems like a replicable formula when the series heads to Indiana.

Why the Fever lost

Given Indiana’s injury situation, its options are already limited in this series. Turnovers, foul issues and poor 3-point shooting were problems the Fever couldn’t overcome in Game 1. They went 2 for 15 from beyond the arc and watched Aliyah Boston miss a key juncture of the fourth quarter with foul trouble. Mitchell and Boston formed an effective tandem when on the floor and Indiana will need to lean on them even more to keep their season alive. It’d also help if they stopped worrying about the refs. They wound up shooting more free throws than Atlanta in Game 1.

X-factor: Fever guard Lexie Hull

The Fever need another offensive option besides Mitchell and Boston, and Hull is the best remaining candidate to provide a boost. She was 3 for 13 from the floor in Game 1 and missed several good looks from 3-point range. Hit a couple of those back home in Indiana and perhaps the momentum of this series could turn.

When is Game 2?

The Indiana Fever host the Atlanta Dream at 7:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Sept. 16, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.

Indiana Fever’s frustration with fouls boils over

The Atlanta Dream have opened up a double-digit lead to start the fourth quarter of Game 1 and the Indiana Fever’s problems with the officials are exacerbating the problem. After Fever star Aliyah Boston picked up her fifth foul, a no call on Atlanta infuriated the Fever bench and led to coach Stephanie White picking up a technical foul. The next possession, guard Odyssey Sims got whistled for a technical foul.

The tension between the Fever and the refs had been building as the third quarter progressed, with injured star Caitlin Clark among the most demonstrative in expressing their disapproval about calls from the sideline.

End 3Q: Dream 58, Fever 53

The Indiana Fever got back into Game 1 with a 7-0 burst to begin the third quarter as Kelsey Mitchell’s effectiveness carried over into the second half. But Atlanta almost immediately responded with its own 7-0 run, and the back-and-forth sequence set the tone as these teams head into the fourth quarter. The Dream have mostly held the Fever at bay since Indiana’s hot start to the first quarter, but the Fever aren’t going away.

Mitchell (24 points) isn’t getting enough help. Aliyah Boston has been limited to four points and 12 rebounds. Lexie Hull is 3 of 12 from the floor. Natasha Howard has only four points and five shot attempts. Indiana, however, had a nice burst to close the second quarter.

This hasn’t been the prettiest game. Atlanta’s two stars, Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard, are a combined 9 for 27 from the field. But the Dream are proving capable of controlling the lead during a game played in a different style than they were accustomed to during the regular season. It could be a dramatic final 10 minutes.

Halftime: Dream 40, Fever 33

Rhyne Howard returned in the final two minutes of the second quarter, easing any lingering concerns after her collision with Lexie Hull early in the period. The Dream still trailed the Fever when Howard left for the locker room, but took the lead and then widened it while she was out.

Allisha Gray leads Atlanta with 13 points, perking up with Howard out. Howard added nine points as the Dream’s superior depth began to take a toll. Atlanta has a 10-1 advantage in bench points at halftime. Kelsey Mitchell has 13 points for the Fever, who were out-scored by 10 in the second quarter. The rest of the Indiana roster was 7 for 24 from the field in the first half. The good news is Odyssey Sims did return from her injury scare just before halftime, so she should be available for the second half.

Indiana Fever injury issues continue

The Fever’s injury woes are well-documented, with Caitlin Clark leading a group of five players not playing this postseason due to season-ending injuries. The problems have been particularly bad at point guard, where the Fever have had to scramble all year. They may have to again.

Fever guard Odyssey Sims left Sunday’s Game 1 against the Atlanta Dream after appearing to suffer a foot or ankle injury while driving to the basket. Sims was only signed by the Fever last month to a hardship contract. The 11-year veteran started Sunday’s game and had six points and one assist in more than 12 minutes of action before hobbling to the bench

Rhyne Howard injury update: Dream star leaves Game 1

There’s been an interesting turn of events during Game 1 between the Fever and Dream after Fever guard Lexie Hull collided with Dream star Rhyne Howard early in the second quarter. Howard had to leave the court after the two players’ heads appeared to inadvertently hit one another as Hull was running up court following a Howard 3-point attempt.

ESPN reported medical personnel were determining whether Howard would need stitches and Howard was seen heading back to the locker room holding a towel up to her face. She has a team-high nine points thus far.

End 1Q: Fever 21, Dream 18

The Indiana Fever remain in front of the Atlanta Dream, grabbing a three-point lead at the end of the first quarter. The Fever’s Kelsey Mitchell leads all scorers with nine points on the road. Rhyne Howard has seven points to pace Atlanta after it briefly trailed by nine.

Fever grabs early lead, Dream strikes back

The Indiana Fever got off to a fast start on the road behind Kelsey Mitchell (9 points), using a 9-0 run to take a 15-6 lead early on in Game 1 of their WNBA playoff series against the Atlanta Dream. The favored Dream missed eight shots in a row at one point, but Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard have begun to find their footing after the first media timeout of the afternoon. Atlanta’s deficit is down to 19-14 with less than three minutes left in the first quarter and the injury-riddled Fever are dealing with two quick fouls on guard Lexie Hull.

WNBA playoffs: Fever vs. Dream Game 1 starting lineups

What time is Indiana Fever at Atlanta Dream?

The Atlanta Dream host the Indiana Fever at 3 p.m. ET (Noon, PT) on Sunday, Sept. 14 at Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia. The game will be broadcast nationally on ABC.

How to watch Indiana Fever at Atlanta Dream: TV, stream

Time: 3 p.m. ET (Noon PT)
Location: Gateway Center Arena (College Park, Georgia)
TV channel: ABC
Streaming: ESPN+, Disney+, Fubo (free trial to new subscribers)

Dream vs. Fever WNBA Playoffs schedule

Game 1: Fever at Mercury, 3 p.m. ET Sunday (ABC)
Game 2: Mercury at Fever, 7:30 p.m. ET Tuesday (ESPN)
Game 3: Fever at Mercury, TBD Thursday (ESPN2)

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The Cleveland Browns are not considering making a quarterback change after starting the 2025 NFL season with an 0-2 record.

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski was asked about potentially moving off Joe Flacco to give rookie backup Dillon Gabriel a chance to prove himself. His response?

‘No,’ Stefanski said, shifting the blame to the team as a whole. ‘I don’t think we did good enough.’

Questions about Flacco’s job security come after the 40-year-old veteran struggled in his team’s 41-17 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Flacco completed 25 of 45 passes for 199 yards, one touchdown and one interception while posting a passer rating of 65.

By comparison, Gabriel, who played sparingly at the end of the game, completed all three of his passes for 20 yards and a touchdown. That was good for a 134 passer rating.

While Cleveland has lost both of its games to open the 2025 NFL season, the Browns offense has outgained its opponent in each contest. As long as the Browns can continue to do that, Stefanski may be content to stick with Flacco.

Either way, Flacco is trying not to worry about his job security and is staying focused on trying to operate at a high level.

‘It’s honestly not on my mind,’ Flacco said when asked about Stefanski’s comments. ‘I gotta go out there and just play my game, play the way I know how to lead this team the best I can.’

The 2025 NFL season is underway, and, boy, is it underway.

The Philadelphia Eagles began their title defense campaign with a thriller of a win over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1. The Kansas City Chiefs, the other participant of Super Bowl 59, didn’t quite have the same success, as they were handed a loss by the Los Angeles Chargers in Brazil.

The Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens treated everyone to a delight on Sunday night, when Josh Allen led Buffalo to a stunning comeback victory over their AFC foes. That must have rubbed off on J.J. McCarthy and the Minnesota Vikings, who downed the Chicago Bears in a comeback win of their own on the first ‘Monday Night Football’ matchup of the 2025 season.

All that means that Week 2 should provide an entertaining encore. Here’s what you need to know about Sunday’s matchups, news, injury updates, highlights and more.

NFL scores, results for Week 2 Sunday games

All times Eastern.

Cleveland Browns 10, Baltimore Ravens 27
Jacksonville Jaguars 27, Cincinnati Bengals 24
New York Giants 23, Dallas Cowboys 20
Detroit Lions 38, Chicago Bears 14
New England Patriots 23, Miami Dolphins 27
San Francisco 49ers 26, New Orleans Saints 14
Buffalo Bills 30, New York Jets 3
Seattle Seahawks 24, Pittsburgh Steelers 17
Los Angeles Rams 27, Tennessee Titans 16
Carolina Panthers at Arizona Cardinals, 4:05 p.m.
Denver Broncos at Indianapolis Colts, 4:05 p.m.
Philadelphia Eagles at Kansas City Chiefs, 4:25 p.m.
Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings, 8:20 p.m.

Bills QB Josh Allen exits briefly vs. Jets with nose injury

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen had to briefly leave his team’s Week 2 game against the New York Jets after suffering a nose injury.

The injury occurred on a designed quarterback running during which Allen tried to carry the ball up the middle. He appeared to inadvertently get hit in the face by a Jets tackler while he went to the ground.

NFL schedule today: Week 2 Sunday games

All times Eastern.

Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens, 1 p.m.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m.
New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys, 1 p.m.
Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions, 1 p.m.
New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m.
San Francisco 49ers at New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m.
Buffalo Bills at New York Jets, 1 p.m.
Seattle Seahawks at Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 p.m.
Los Angeles Rams at Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m.
Carolina Panthers at Arizona Cardinals, 4:05 p.m.
Denver Broncos at Indianapolis Colts, 4:05 p.m.
Philadelphia Eagles at Kansas City Chiefs, 4:25 p.m.
Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings, 8:20 p.m.

NFL Week 2 inactives

Here are some of the more notable inactive names for Sunday games:

Brock Purdy, QB, 49ers
George Kittle, TE, 49ers
Xavier Worthy, WR, Chiefs
Jaire Alexander, CB, Ravens
Andrew Thomas, LT, Giants
Curtis Samuel, WR, Bills
Taron Johnson, CB, Bills
Devon Witherspoon, CB, Seahawks
Jack Conklin, OT, Browns

This section will be updated as inactives are announced 90 minutes prior to game time.

Plane with disparaging message for Dolphins brass flies over Hard Rock Stadium

A plane flew over Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Sunday morning flying a banner that read, ‘Fire (Dolphins general manager Chris) Grier. Fire (Dolphins head coach Mike) McDaniel.’

NFL betting odds: Week 2

Looking back, Dabo Swinney’s bold prediction tells us the veteran Clemson coach had absolutely no feel for his team.
Clemson looks like an also-ran, not a national championship contender.
Brian Kelly pushes Billy Napier closer to the edge of a firing, then blows a fuse.

Dabo Swinney’s preseason quote needed a laugh track. It reads like satire in hindsight.

Swinney, in a summer interview with ESPN, predicted a 16-0 season in his program’s future.

Looking back, Swinney’s bold prediction tells us the veteran Clemson coach had absolutely no feel for his team. His Tigers turned in another clunky performance for their second loss in three games, this one a 24-21 defeat at upstart Georgia Tech, thriving under coach Brent Key and quarterback Haynes King.

Forget 16-0, and forget Clemson being a national championship contender. Swinney’s Tigers are on the fast track to also-ran status.

Swinney broke a cardinal rule of the preseason: Never, ever build up expectations to a level your team is not prepared to meet. Swinney would have been better off sticking to his little ol’ Clemson routine.

Because, many of us took his lofty assessment seriously and attached high expectations to this Clemson season. That wasn’t only because of Swinney’s big brag in the preseason. Clemson possessed a proven quarterback, a veteran roster and a premier defensive line – all the hallmarks of a national championship contender.

That makes it all the more galling that Clemson looks so average. Cade Klubnik continues to play like a quarterback mired in regression. His two turnovers factored into this latest loss.

‘Two heartbreaking losses, where we had a lead in the fourth quarter,’ Swinney said.

That’s one way of looking at it. Here’s another vantage point: Clemson has lost four of its last five games against Power Four opponents. It’s now been several years since Clemson ranked among the nation’s elite programs.

The Tigers got a lot of run out of their win against SMU in the ACC Championship, but, let’s face it, the Mustangs were not a playoff-caliber team, and the committee erred by admitting SMU into the bracket.

Clemson’s schedule will ease up for a few weeks, and there’s an avenue to the playoff through a conference championship, but that’s looking more and more far-fetched in a conference where Miami, Georgia Tech and Florida State have established themselves as frontrunners.

Swinney, perhaps realizing the error of his preseason assessment, begged the media after his team’s season-opening loss to LSU to revise their bullish assessment of Clemson.

‘Say we suck,’ Swinney pleaded.

Swinney’s comments amounted to a cry for help. He wanted to be able to play the little ol’ Clemson card again and use media criticism as a tool to rally his team.

Well, he won’t have to plead for criticism now, at least. It’s coming hot and heavy, not just from the media, but from a disgruntled fan base that got spoiled by the success Swinney delivered at the peak of his tenure and bought stock in Swinney’s sunshine pump before this season, only to have it go bust by mid-September.

‘I know there will be a ton of negativity,’ Swinney said after this loss, ‘but we can’t do anything about that.’

This season was supposed to provide vindication for Swinney. In this transfer era, he continues to build Clemson through a strategy of sign, retain and develop. Clemson’s lack of transfers contributed to it losing four games last season, tied for their most losses since 2011.

Clemson retained so much of its roster from last season that the Tigers seemed poised for a bounce-back, led by a bunch of seasoned players Swinney signed out of high school.

Clearly, Swinney believed in the possibilities.

The only vindication, though, is for the skeptics who never bought into Swinney’s preseason buoyancy.

Apparently, Swinney had no idea just how beatable his team is.

Here’s what else is on my mind after Week 3:

LSU defense goes off, then Brian Kelly goes off

No wonder Brian Kelly took up for embattled Florida coach Billy Napier before their rivalry game. Napier is the most beatable Gators coach since the 1940s. He’s exactly the type of coach you want your rival to employ.

LSU’s defense delivered a third straight gem in a 20-10 victory over Florida.

When the Gators opted to retain Napier last year, the silver lining was supposed to be that keeping the coach meant retaining the quarterback.

How’s that working out? LSU intercepted DJ Lagway five times, and Napier lost for the 21st time in 41 games. Napier, at this point, is just a seat warmer for Florida’s next coach.

Instead of enjoying a victory lap, Kelly launched into a postgame rant. When a reporter asked about LSU’s relative lack of offense, Kelly went bananas.

‘We won the game,’ Kelly said while his fuse blew. ‘I don’t know what you want. What do you want? You want us to win 70-0 against Florida to keep you happy?’

Maybe, try starting with with 24 points. LSU hasn’t reached that mark yet this season, but at least its defense looks dynamite, for the first time in several years.

Asked specifically about LSU’s quiet night in the run game, Kelly barked about the ‘ridiculous questions.’

‘You’re spoiled. You’re spoiled,’ Kelly screamed. ‘This is ridiculous, from a group of season reporters.’

Not really. Pretty basic questions, actually. Kelly could have answered the queries about the offense in any number of ways that didn’t involve an absurd rant.

On the other hand, Florida fans would go for a little more fire from their coach, and they’d definitely go for LSU’s 3-0 record and its dominant defense.

Brent Pry beats Billy Napier to a firing

Napier outlasted Brent Pry, at least.

Virginia Tech got trounced, 45-26, by Old Dominion to drop to 0-3. The Hokies fired Pry following that result. He went 16-24 in four seasons.

‘This team right now is the closest to the vision I have for Virginia Tech football,’ Pry said before the season.

His vision must have been a nightmare.

Virginia Tech athletic director Whit Babcock sounded the alarm on the football program’s finances before the season. Not exactly the best sales pitch to prospective job candidates.

Virginia Tech joins UCLA with Power Four openings. The Bruins fired DeShaun Foster after their own 0-3 start.

Ty Simpson heating up at Alabama

Ty Simpson has helped Kalen DeBoer turn down the heat in Tuscaloosa. Alabama’s quarterback has looked awesome these past two weeks, and the Crimson Tide regained their mojo after an ugly showing against Florida State in their opener.

Simpson played to a level of near perfection in a 38-14 smashing of Wisconsin.

Alabama will have an open week before traveling to Georgia, and though Kirby Smart’s team is undefeated, his defense looked quite vulnerable while needing to fend off Tennessee, 44-41, in overtime.

Alabama, though, is just 2-5 in games played away from Bryant-Denny Stadium in DeBoer’s tenure.

Podcast host wins a date thanks to Vanderbilt

Apparently, Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia promised to set up popular podcast host Theo Von on a date with his mom if the Commodores beat South Carolina.

Well, Vanderbilt smashed South Carolina, 31-7, to improve to 3-0.

There’s truly never been a better time in our history to be a podcast host.

Can Notre Dame go from 0-2 to 10-2?

Notre Dame snatched defeat out of the jaws of victory in a 41-40 home loss to Texas A&M.

Finally, the Irish have a quarterback, CJ Carr, who looks talented enough to pursue glory, but, in a cruel twist, their defense and fundamentals betrayed them.

Notre Dame botched an extra point after its final touchdown, turning what should have been a seven-point lead into a six-point lead and allowing Texas A&M to rally and win on an extra point.

The Irish also failed to secure what should have been a game-winning interception, two plays before Marcel Reed’s game-winning touchdown pass.

Notre Dame, even at 0-2, cannot be ruled out as a playoff contender. The Irish lost to Miami and Texas A&M by a combined total of four points, and their schedule now lightens up considerably. But, Notre Dame’s defense looks unrecognizable to the unit that powered the Irish to a national championship game appearance.

A road game against Arkansas and home game against Southern California are the trickiest games remaining. Would 10 straight victories be enough on the at-large résumé?

Or, Notre Dame could make the playoff by winning its conference championship. (Just kidding, folks!)

Three and out

1. A scene from the road: Hours after Tennessee’s overtime loss to Georgia, Vols fans gathered in a hotel lobby in Knoxville and read aloud the Los Angeles Times’ coverage of UCLA’s 35-10 loss to New Mexico.

The Vols squandered their chance to beat Kirby Smart, but they won the quarterback swap with UCLA. Nico Iamaleava ducked out on Tennessee in favor of a bad UCLA team, and he’s struggling, while the Vols’ Joey Aguilar threw for 371 yards and four touchdowns in the loss to Georgia. Tennessee stomached a painful overtime loss but dined on Iamaleava schadenfreude for dessert.

2. File this one under things I didn’t have on my Bingo card in the preseason: Texas fans booing Arch Manning amid his sloppy performance in a 27-10 win against UTEP.

3. After Texas A&M’s victory at Notre Dame, NBC play-by-play broadcaster Noah Eagle said of the Aggies: ‘They’ve announced to the nation, they’ve arrived!’

Easy now. This was a good win for Mike Elko in his second season, but Eagle’s comment reminded me of Joe Tessitore roaring that ‘Texas is back!’ after the Longhorns beat Notre Dame in 2016. As it turned out, Texas was not back. The Irish stunk that season.

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s senior national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.

(This story was updated to change a video.)

Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders almost ended up with one of their AFC North rivals in the 2025 NFL Draft.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Sunday that the Baltimore Ravens – Cleveland’s Week 2 opponent – wanted to draft Sanders in the fifth round. When Sanders heard about the Ravens’ plan to draft him, he requested that they didn’t, Schefter reports.

Sanders reportedly cited Baltimore’s starting quarterback, two-time MVP Lamar Jackson, as a reason he wished to go elsewhere. Given Jackson’s success, Sanders knew he would not have a real chance to compete for the starting job within in the first few years of his career.

The Ravens selected offensive tackle Carson Vinson with the No. 141 overall pick instead, and Sanders landed with the Browns three picks later, after Cleveland traded up to No. 144.

As of Week 2 of his rookie season, Sanders is listed as the No. 3 quarterback on the Browns’ roster. Veteran Joe Flacco remains the starter, and fellow rookie – and third-round pick – Dillon Gabriel is QB2.

Who is the Ravens’ backup quarterback now if it isn’t Sanders?

Ravens QB depth chart

Lamar Jackson
Cooper Rush
Tyler Huntley (practice squad)

Jackson is the Ravens’ two-time MVP starting quarterback and widely considered one of the best at his position in the NFL. He signed a five-year, $260 million contract extension with Baltimore in 2023 to keep him with the Ravens through 2027.

Rush spent the last four years in a second stint with the Dallas Cowboys as Dak Prescott’s backup quarterback. He signed a two-year, $6.2 million deal with the Ravens this offseason that could be worth over $12 million with incentives.

Rush is the only other quarterback on Baltimore’s active roster, though the team also has Huntley back on its practice squad for a third stint after he spent part of training camp with the Browns. Huntley previously backed up Jackson in Baltimore between 2020 and 2023. He was named to his first Pro Bowl appearance in 2022.

The Minnesota Lynx took care of business at home.

Despite trailing by as many as 10 points early, the Lynx handily defeated the Valkyries 101-72 at Target Center in Minneapolis during Game 1 of the best-of-three, first-round series of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs, led by a 20-point performance from Napheesa Collier. However, all eyes will be on Collier’s right ankle moving forward.

Collier, who was out for seven games in the regular season with a right ankle sprain, appeared to tweak her right ankle after Golden State’s Kate Martin fell on Collier as she fouled Martin on a 3-point attempt. Collier gingerly walked back to the bench and checked out of the game with 1:29 remaining in the third quarter. Collier didn’t return, but the Lynx were leading by double-digits at the time she exited.

Collier finished the night with 20 points, six rebounds, two assists and one steal, shooting 7-of-11 from the field and 1-of-3 from the 3-point line. Natisha Hiedeman added 18 points and Kayla McBride had 17 points.

REDEMPTION? Can the Minnesota Lynx channel 2017 magic and claim another championship?

Veronica Burton and Cecilia Zandalasini each had 14 points in the losing effort. Janelle Salaun added 13

Here’s everything you missed from the Valkyries-Lynx game on Sunday:

Player of the game

Natisha Hiedeman showed exactly why she’s in the running for sixth woman of the year. Hiedeman recorded 18 points, four assists and three rebounds in 25 minutes off the bench in Sunday’s win, which marks a playoff career high for Hiedeman. Hiedeman is paramount to the Lynx’s depth.

Why did Golden State Valkyries lose?

Golden State relies on the 3-point line more than any other team in the league. Nearly 38% of the Valkyries points come from beyond the arc this season and Golden State averages a league-leading 9.7 made 3s per game, but the 3-pointers weren’t falling on Sunday. The Valkyries finished 8-of-30 (26.7%) from beyond the arch and shot 32.1% from the field. That’s not going to get it done against the league-leading Lynx.

When is Game 2?

The Golden State Valkyries host the Minnesota Lynx at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT) on Wednesday, Sept. 17, at SAP Center in San Jose, California. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.

End of 3Q: Lynx 79, Valkyries 58

The Lynx are breaking the game open. Minnesota outscored the Valkyries 32-18 in the third quarter and have a commanding 21-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, marking the largest of the game.

Napheesa Collier has a game-high 20 points, six rebounds and two assists.

Collier was called for her fourth personal foul on a closeout on Valkyries’ Kate Martin at the 3-point line with 1:29 remaining in the third quarter. Martin didn’t have space to land and fell on Collier’s right ankle. Collier, who missed seven games this season due to a right ankle sprain, gingerly walked back to the bench while referees reviewed the play and was visibly upset on the bench after the play.

DiJonai Carrington returned to the lineup for the Lynx after missing the final four games of the regular season with a left shoulder injury. Carrington added instant impact from the bench and knocked down a pair of 3-pointers.

The Lynx are outscoring the Valkyries 34-16 in the paint.

Halftime: Lynx 47, Valkyries 40

The Lynx outscored the Valkyries 26-11 in the second quarter to take a seven-point lead into halftime.

Kayla McBride leads the Lynx with a game-high 14 points, shooting 5-of-8 from the field and 2-of-3 from the 3-point line. Napheesa Collier, who picked up two quick fouls in the final minute of the second quarter, has 11 points and five rebounds, while Natisha Hiedeman has nine points in 14 minutes off the bench. Courtney Williams is still looking for points after going 0-of-4 in the first half.

Three of the Valkyries starters have reached double digits, led by 12 points from Temi Fagbenle. Veronica Burton played all 20 minutes in the first half and has 10 points, shooting 3-of-11 from the field and 3-of-7 from 3. Cecilia Zandalasini added 10 points.

End of Q1: Valkyries 28, Lynx 21

The Lynx appeared to have some nerves early, with the Valkyries building a 10-point lead with 4:15 remaining in the first quarter. But the Lynx settled in and went on a 12-4 run to cut Golden State’s lead to four. Then it was the Valkyries turn. They closed the first quarter on a 6-0 run to extend their lead to seven points.

The 3 ball is falling early for the Valkyries. Golden State is shooting 5-of-8 from the 3-point line and 50% from the field. Temi Fagbenle and Janelle Salaun each have eight points for the Valkyries, while Veronica Burton added six.

The Lynx were missing some easy shots at the rim early and finished the quarter shooting 40% from the field and 2-of-6 from 3. Natisha Hiedeman provided an instant spark for the Lynx off the bench and is up to five points.

Veronica Burton gives Valkyries early lead vs. Lynx

The Valkyries didn’t appear to have nerves to begin the franchise’s first playoff game. Golden State jumped to a 11-4 lead in the first quarter, with Veronica Burton knocking down two 3-pointers for six points.

What time is Golden State Valkyries at Minnesota Lynx?

The Minnesota Lynx host the Golden State Valkyries at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT) on Sunday, Sept. 14 at Target Center in Minneapolis. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.

Minnesota Lynx starting lineup

Head coach: Cheryl Reeve

6 Bridget Carleton | F 6′ 2′ – Iowa State
8 Alanna Smith | F 6′ 4′ – Stanford
10 Courtney Williams | G 5′ 8′ – South Florida
21 Kayla McBride | G 5′ 11′ – Notre Dame
24 Napheesa Collier | F 6′ 1′ – UConn

Golden State Valkyries starting lineup

6 Kaila Charles | G 6′ 1′ – Maryland
12 Iliana Rupert | C 6′ 4′ – France
13 Janelle Salaun | F 6′ 2′ – France
14 Temi Fagbenle | C 6′ 4′ – USC
22 Veronica Burton | G 5′ 9′ – Northwestern

2025 WNBA playoff arrivals: Napheesa Collier serves

The Lynx saved some of their best looks of the year for the opening game. MVP candidate Napheesa Collier led the way for the Lynx with her cropped puffer vest, Jordan brand top and camo pants.

Lynx ready to ‘go to war’

The Minnesota Lynx are ready to ‘go to war for each other,’ forward Napheesa Collier declared.

The No. 1 seed Lynx will tipoff the 2025 WNBA playoffs on Sunday with a first-round matchup against the No. 8 Golden State Valkyries, who were swept by Minnesota in the regular-season (0-4), most recently in Thursday’s 72-53 blow out loss to end the regular season.

MVP candidate Collier had 19 points in the win, shooting 8-of-10 from the field and 3-of-4 from behind the arc. She finished the regular season averaging career-highs in points (22.9), field-goal percentage (53.1%) and blocks (1.5) and joins the exclusive 50-40-90 club. Collier is the second WNBA player to record 50% shooting from the field, 40% from the 3-point line and 90% from the free throw line, joining Elena Delle Donne (2019).

The Lynx are coming off a controversial 2024 WNBA Finals loss to the New York Liberty in a winner-take-all Game 5 that went to overtime.

‘We’re a better team just because we have that year of experience,’ she said following Thursday’s win over the Valkyries. ‘ We got to the very last possible game of the season last year. We know what it takes, so I think experience it makes us better. It made us hungrier. And obviously that’s something that we are thinking about going into the playoffs this year.’

The Valkyries became the first expansion team in WNBA history to make the playoffs in its inaugural season, but it will be a uphill battle against the Lynx, who have the top-ranked offense and defense in the league. Veronica Burton has emerged as Golden State’s leading scorer following Kayla Thornton’s season-ending injury in July. Burton is averaging 11.9 points, 6.0 assists and 4.4 rebounds.

How to watch Golden State Valkyries at Minnesota Lynx: TV, stream

Time: 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT)
Location: Target Center (Minneapolis)
TV channel: ESPN
Streaming: ESPN+, Disney+, Fubo (free trial to new subscribers)

WNBA playoffs schedule: Lynx vs. Valkyries first-round series

Game 1: Valkyries at Lynx 1 p.m. ET Sunday (ESPN)
Game 2: Lynx at Valkyries, 10 p.m. ET Wednesday (ESPN)
Game 3: Valkyries at Lynx TBD Friday (ESPN2)

Can the Minnesota Lynx channel 2017 magic and claim another championship?

The Minnesota Lynx have a chip on their shoulder. After losing the 2024 WNBA Finals to the New York Liberty in a winner-take-all Game 5 that went to overtime, Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve emphatically called out “disappointing officiating,” saying the championship was “stolen from us.”

The heartbreaking loss lingers 10 months later, as the league-leading Lynx are in position to make another deep playoff run. “You feel that loss for a long time,” Lynx guard Natisha Hiedeman told USA TODAY Sports. It has been the driving force behind the Lynx’s record-breaking season with the same goal: Winning a championship.

Minnesota Lynx roster

00 Jaylyn Sherrod G 1 5′ 7′ – Colorado
2 Natisha Hiedeman G 6 5′ 8′ 132 Marquette
3 DiJonai Carrington G 4 5′ 11′ 175 Baylor
6 Bridget Carleton F 6 6′ 2′ 177 Iowa State
7 Anastasiia Olairi Kosu F Rookie 6′ 1′ 190
8 Alanna Smith F 7 6′ 4′ 177 Stanford
10 Courtney Williams G 9 5′ 8′ 148 South Florida
15 Jessica Shepard F 6 6′ 4′ 175 Notre Dame
20 Camryn Taylor F Rookie 6′ 2′ – Virginia
21 Kayla McBride G 11 5′ 11′ 179 Notre Dame
24 Napheesa Collier F 7 6′ 1′ 180 Connecticut
77 Maria Kliundikova C 7 6′ 4′ 185

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The Brent Pry era at Virginia Tech came to a close on Sunday with the Hokies firing their head coach after four seasons.

The firing of Pry came less than 24 hours after the Hokies sustained one of their worst losses in four years with a 45-26 loss to Old Dominion at home at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia.

In his time in Blacksburg, Virginia, Pry led the Hokies to a 16-24 overall record and a 10-13 record in ACC play. The Hokies are 0-3 on the season which includes a Week 1 loss to South Carolina in the Aflac Kickoff Game and a Week 2 loss to Vanderbilt on top of Saturday’s loss to Old Dominion.

Who might the Hokies turn to next as they embark on their next rebuild in hopes of returning to the ACC championship game and playing for a spot in the College Football Playoff? Here’s a look at some potential coaching options for Virginia Tech:

Virginia Tech football head coaching candidates

Alex Golesh, South Florida

Golesh has quickly established himself as one of the top up-and-coming Group of Five coaches in college football at South Florida.

In three season at South Florida, Golesh has been widely successful by turning around the Bulls program into one of the top Group of Five programs in country with back-to-back bowl appearances and a 16-13 overall record. At 2-1 on the season this year, the Bulls were ranked in both the US LBM Coaches Poll and AP Top 25 poll last week and have a win against Florida on their resume.

Named by ESPN as one of ’30 coaches who will define the next decade of college football’ in 2024, Golesh has experience at the Power Four level, as he served as a an offensive coordinator at Tennessee from 2021-22 and was a recruiting coordinator at both Iowa State and Illinois.

The biggest obstacle for the Hokies with Golesh is the popularity that he is expected to have in this coaching cycle.

Bob Chesney, James Madison

If getting someone of Golesh’s status will be a tough task, Virginia Tech’s search should start with a Group of Five coach who isn’t too far away from the Hokies campus in Blacksburg, Virginia in James Madison’s Bob Chesney.

Chesney has experienced it all in his 16-year head coaching career, as he has held positions at Division I FBS, Division I FCS, NCAA Division II and NCAA Division III levels. In his second season at James Madison, the Dukes look to be a contender for the Sun Belt conference for the second straight season. James Madison went 9-4 under Chesney last season which included a win over North Carolina and the program’s first bowl win.

Chesney’s predecessor, of course, was now-Indiana coach Curt Cignetti, who led the Hoosiers to a playoff appearance in his first season.

Andy Kotelnicki, Penn State

Kotelnicki is one of the top offensive coordinators in the country, and has Penn State’s offense humming once again through the first three weeks of the season.

One of the top offensive minds in the country, Kotelnicki transformed Penn State’s offense last season with the likes of Drew Allar, Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton, not to mention No. 14 overall pick Tyler Warren. Helping lead Penn State to its first College Football Playoff berth last year, the Nittany Lions Penn State led the Big Ten in 15+ yard pass percentage plays (22.8; 5th nationally) and was second in big play percentage (16.5; 7th), as noted by his Penn State profile.

Unlike a candidate like Chesney, Kotelnicki doesn’t have head coaching experience, which shouldn’t stop Virginia Tech from potentially looking at him. He was in the mix for the vacant head coaching spot last coaching carousel at West Virginia but elected to remove himself from consideration from that search and return to Happy Valley for another season.

Pete Golding, Ole Miss

Golding is one of the top defensive coordinators in the country, and has built the Ole Miss defensive into one of college football’s top defenses in the last few seasons.

He just received a three-year contract extension this past offseason from Ole Miss that pushed him up the ladder among the highest-paid assistants in the SEC with a salary of $2.55 million for this season. So would he want to make a move for a program that is entering a rebuild after getting a financial backing like that?

Jeff Monken, Army

Monken has been a steady winner in his 12 seasons up at West Point. He’s gone 83-58 overall in his time at Army and has only led the Black Knights to three losing seasons in that time span. He most recently Army through a successful transition to the now American Conference last season, which included winning the conference and being a top 25 ranked team for much of the season.

Sure, Monken is up there in age and does not have much experience dealing with NIL and the transfer portal, but he is one of more experienced candidates out there, and that is something that Virginia Tech could benefit on as it embarks on a new era.

Michael Vick, Norfolk State

One of the program’s most well-known NFL alums, Vick is a long shot. The reason being the former Virginia Tech quarterback is just getting his college football coaching career started at Norfolk State, so it’d be quite a jump for him to move to the Division I FCS level and the ACC.

Despite that, a reunion between Virginia Tech and Vick would be an instant seat filler and add some juice back to the fanbase.

Shane Beamer, South Carolina

Similar to Vick, Beamer is viewed as a long shot candidate for Virginia Tech. Also like Vick, Beamer does have familiarity with the program — which can help in a rebuild that Virginia Tech is about to embark on — as he played for the Hokies from 1996-1999 and served as an assistant in Blacksburg from 2011-2015 for his dad, legendary Hokies coach Frank Beamer.

There’s no harm in Virginia Tech making a call to Beamer to get a fielder out there. But with Beamer having good thing happening in the SEC at South Carolina, it will likely take Virginia Tech a lot to get him to leave and return to his alma mater though a path to coaching in the College Football Playoff will be easier to get in the ACC compared to the SEC.