William Byron’s 16th career NASCAR Cup Series victory might be his most impressive – and most important – of his eight-year career.

Byron claimed at berth in the NASCAR Championship 4 with a victory in the season’s penultimate playoff race at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday, Oct. 26 and will have a chance to race for his first Cup title next weekend at Phoenix Raceway.

Byron joins Joe Gibbs Racing drivers Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe, who won playoff races at Las Vegas at Talladega, respectively, to claim their championship spots. Bryon’s Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson, the 2021 series champion, earned the final berth on points after finishing fifth at Martinsville.

Byron started the 2025 season by winning his second consecutive Daytona 500.

“I watched my first NASCAR race up there in that (Martinsville) crowd at the start finish line,” Byron said after climbing out of his car, ‘and man, I am just so thankful, excited to see my family and just celebrate this one. We obviously go to Phoenix and just try to go kick (butt) there.”

Byron swept the opening two stages of the Xfinity 500 in dominating fashion before two-time defending race winner Ryan Blaney turned up the heat in the final stage. Blaney led nearly every lap of Stage 3 before Byron passed him with less than 40 laps to go in the race.

‘We just came up short. We did a good job and we got control of the race for a bit, but, gosh, (Byron’s) car was really fast,’ Blaney said after the race.

Byron ended the day with 304 laps led – the most in a single race of his career – for his third win at Martinsville but first in the fall playoff race. Blaney, the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series champion, led 177.

Byron, who will turn 28 on Nov. 29, won the 2025 regular-season title and was cruising along in the playoffs until the third round commenced at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Byron had led 55 laps at Las Vegas and was contending for a win before he was caught up in a late-race accident with around 30 laps remaining that ruined his day. The following week at Talladega Superspeedway, Byron was again contending for the win in overtime before contact spun his No. 24 Chevrolet out of the lead and into 25th place.

“You just work so hard – all these guys work so hard – and you put everything into Sundays and sometimes you don’t get anything in return, and that’s been the last couple of weeks,” Byron said. “Sometimes life is that way, but you just got to keep being resilient, and we were, and it just feels damn good.”

Hendrick Motorsports driver Chase Elliott, the 2020 champion, finished third but was eliminated along with Blaney, Christopher Bell, who finished seventh, and three-time Cup Series champion Joey Logano, who finished eighth.

Of the 2025 championship contenders – Byron, Larson, Hamlin and Briscoe – Larson is the only one who has won a Cup Series title.

Hamlin was the series runner-up in 2010 and finished third in the final standings in 2006, 2014 and 2021. Byron finished third in 2023 and 2024, while Briscoe, in his first season with JGR, had his previous best season in 2022 when he finished ninth driving for Stewart-Hass Racing.

NASCAR at Martinsville highlights

Watch the extended highlights from Sunday’s Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway, the penultimate race of the 2025 NASCAR season.

NASCAR at Martinsville results

Here are the top 10 finishers in the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville (starting position in parentheses):

(1) William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
(31) Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford, 0.717 seconds behind
(8) Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, -1.738
(13) Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, -2.511
(3) Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, -3.418
(18) Ryan Preece, RFK Racing Ford, -3.716
(12) Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, -4.326
(4) Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford, -4.538
(16) Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports Ford, -4.892
(27) Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing Ford, -5.874

William Byron wins NASCAR playoff race at Martinsville

William Bryon outdueled Ryan Blaney on a late-race restart to take the checkered flag and advance to the NASCAR Championship 4. Byron swept all three stages and led more than 300 laps in the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway.

Hocevar spin brings out caution and pit stops for leaders

Carson Hocevar spun in his No. 77 Chevrolet after contact from Michael McDowell to bring out the caution with 18 laps to go in the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway.

William Byron was leading Ryan Blaney but nearly 1 second when the yellow flag came out. The drivers maintained their positions during pit stops and will line up on the front row for the restart and a late-race shootout.

William Byron passes Ryan Blaney for lead

William Byron squeezed inside Ryan Blaney then bumped Blaney’s No. 12 Ford for the lead with less than 40 laps remaining in the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway.

Byron dominated the first two stages of the race before Blaney leapfrogged him during a pit-stop cycle to dominate stage 3. Both drivers must win the race to make the Championship 4 next weekend at Phoenix Raceway.

Championship contenders pit before caution flag waves

Joey Logano, Chase Elliott, Christopher Bell, Kyle Larson, William Byron and Ryan Blaney – all seeking to earn the final two spots in the Championship 4 – made green-flag pit stops on successives laps as they seek capture the win in the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway.

Moments laters, the caution flag waved following a spin by Erik Jones after contact with Bubba Wallace.

Blaney and Byron will lead the field to green on the restart.

Denny Hamlin retires from race with engine issues

Denny Hamlin joined Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Chase Briscoe with an early exit after a blown engine on Lap 335. Riley Herbst in a 23XI Racing Toyota also was forced to retire with mechanical issues.

Hamlin and Briscoe have already clinched berths in the Championship 4 next weekend at Phoenix Raceway.

Ryan Blaney leads William Byron, Chase Elliott, Ryan Preece, Christopher Bell, Kyle Larson and Joey Logano. All but Preece remain in championship contention.

Chase Briscoe retires from race with engine issues

Chase Briscoe, who clinched his berth in the Championship 4 with his victory at Talladega Superspeedway last week, was forced to retire from the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway with an engine issue. Briscoe is guaranteed to race for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series championship along with Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin. The other two final four berths will be determined at the end of this race.

Josh Berry brings out caution early in Stage 3 at Martinsville

Josh Berry spun from the 18th position after contact with Bubba Wallace and Brad Keselowski on Lap 279 of 500.

Two-time defending Martinsville playoff winner Ryan Blaney led the field to green followed by Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano. Blaney started 31st.

William Byron who dominated the opening two stages surged past Ty Gibbs and Tyler Reddick into fourth. Bryon’s Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott followed him to fifth place.

William Byron sweeps first two stages at Martinsville

William Byron has led nearly every lap of the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway and swept the first two stages. Byron had led 254 laps with 260 of 500 laps in the books ahead of Stage 3.

Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson finished second ahead of Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell and Hendrick’s Chase Elliott. The top four are among six drivers seeking to join Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe in the Championship 4. Todd Gilliland, Briscoe, Ryan Preece, Shane van Gisbergen, Tyler Reddick and Erik Jones rounded out the top 10.

Team Penske playoff contenders Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano along with Denny Hamlin opted to pit before the end of the stage during a caution and will restart ahead of Byron to begin Stage 3.

Hocevar spins to bring out caution at Martinsville

Carson Hocevar spun from 25th position after contact with Daniel Suarez, bringing out the caution flag on Lap 216. All lead-lap cars came down pit road for fuel and tires. William Byron maintained the lead following pit stops and has now led 224 of 229 laps.

NASCAR at Martinsville: Lap 175 update

William Byron has continued to dominate the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway, leading 170 of 175 laps so far. Reigning Series champion Joey Logano runs second, followed by Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, Ty Gibbs, Christopher Bell, Denny Hamlin and Ryan Blaney.

William Byron wins Stage 1 of NASCAR race at Martinsville

Hendrick Motorsports driver William Byron led 127 of 130 laps at Martinsville Speedway to win the opening stage of the Xfinity 500 as he seeks to make the Championship 4.

Reigning Cup Series champion Joey Logano made late passes on Hendrick drivers Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson to finish second, with Larson third and Elliott fourth. Ty Gibbs, Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, Christopher Bell, Todd Gilliland and Austin Cindric rounded out the top 10.

Hamlin has already clinched his spot in the Championship 4 – along with Chase Briscoe – while Bryon, Logano, Larson, Ellliott, Blaney and Bell remain in contention.

NASCAR at Martinsville: Lap 100 update

William Byron has led 96 laps in the opening stage of the Xfinity 500. His Hendrick Motorsports teammates Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott, run second and third, respectively. Joey Logano, Ty Gibbs, Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell round out the top 7. All but Gibbs are playoff drivers.

Which drivers are best positioned to make Championship 4?

NASCAR Martinsville playoff race: Caution flag on Lap 29

The caution flag waved on Lap 29 of the opening stage of the Xfinity 500 when Daniel Suarez spun after contact from Bubba Wallace at Zane Smith. Suarez was able to right his No. 99 car before any damage.

William Byron led the first 30 laps of the race as the field came down pit road for fuel and tires under the yellow flag. Michael McDowell took just two tires on the stop to leapfrog the field, and he will restart alongside Byron, who took four tires and kept his position.

NASCAR Martinsville playoff race goes green

Hendrick Motorsports driver William Byron, seeking to make the Championship 4, leads the field as the green flag waves for the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway. Teammate Kyle Larson quickly siezed the second spot from Joe Gibbs Racing’s Ty Gibbs on the first lap.

What time does the NASCAR playoff race at Martinsville?

The Xfinity 500 is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. ET on Sunday, Oct. 26 at Martinsville Speedway in Ridgeway, Virginia.

What TV channel is the NASCAR playoff race at Martinsville?

The Xfinity 500 will be broadcast on NBC, the channel for the final three races of the Cup Series playoffs. Pre-race coverage will start at 1:30 p.m. ET.

Will there be a live stream of the NASCAR playoff race at Martinsville?

Yes, the Xfinity 500 will be streamed on Peacock, HBO Max, Sling TV and Fubo, which is offering a free trial to new subscribers.

Stream the NASCAR playoff race at Martinsville on Fubo

How many laps is the NASCAR playoff race at Martinsville?

The Xfinity 500 is 500 laps around the 0.526-mile track for a total of 263 miles. The race will have three segments (laps per stage) — Stage 1: 130 laps; Stage 2: 130 laps; Stage 3: 240 laps.

NASCAR Cup Series playoff standings

Here’s how things look with one race left in the Round of 8. The bottom four drivers will be eliminated after Martinsville ahead of the finale in Phoenix. Drivers who have secured a spot in the Championship 4 are marked with an asterisk.

Chase Briscoe*
Christopher Bell (+9)
Kyle Larson (+10)
Denny Hamlin (+13)*
William Byron (+46)
Joey Logano (+48)
Ryan Blaney (+57)
Chase Elliott (+72)

Who won the NASCAR playoff race at Martinsville last year?

The race wasn’t without controversy, though, as Christopher Bell’s late pass on Bubba Wallace was ruled illegal because of ‘wall-riding’ and that kept Bell out of the Championship 4.

NASCAR playoff race at Martinsville starting lineup

William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford
Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Cole Custer, No. 41 Haas Factory Team Ford
Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Austin Cindric, No. 2 Team Penske Ford
Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Christopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Tyler Reddick, No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota
Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford 
Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Ryan Preece, No. 60 RFK Racing Ford
Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Bubba Wallace, No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota
Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Zane Smith, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford 
John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
Riley Herbst, No. 35 23XI Racing Toyota
Ty Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Josh Berry, No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford
Erik Jones, No. 43 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
Chris Buescher, No. 17 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 HYAK Motorsports Chevrolet
AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Justin Haley, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Noah Gragson, No. 4 Front Row Motorsports Ford
Cody Ware, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Ford
Casey Mears, No. 66 Garage 66 Ford

Carol Davis, mother of Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis and wife of the late former owner Al Davis, died Friday, Oct. 24, the team said Sunday, Oct. 26.

She was 93.

‘Carol provided unbridled support and unparalleled guidance to the Davis family and the Raiders organization for over 60 years,’ the team said in a statement announcing her death. ‘Her direct impact on the Greatness (sic) of the Raiders continues to be felt, cherished, and honored, and is woven into the fabric of this historic franchise. If Al was the heart of the Raiders, Carol was the soul.’

Al Davis started coaching the Oakland Raiders in 1963 while the team was still part of the American Football League, which he briefly led until it merged with the NFL. Davis eventually became the owner of the team and passed it down to his son, and the family also owns the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces.

The Raiders won three Super Bowls while Carol Davis was the ‘First Lady of Raider Nation.’ She was in Canton, Ohio in 2021 for the Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement of former Raider Tom Flores.

A public memorial will be planned following a private service in Oakland, per the team.

USA Today Sports has live coverage of theSteelers vs. Packers in today’s NFL ‘Sunday Night Football.’

New York Giants rookie running back Cam Skattebo suffered a significant-looking ankle injury during his team’s Week 8 game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

The injury occurred as Skattebo tried to make a catch over the middle of the field from Jaxson Dart. Eagles linebacker Zack Baun grabbed him just as the ball was arriving and twisted him to the ground.

Skattebo’s legs got caught underneath him as he was tackled. When he came up, his right ankle appeared to be facing the wrong direction.

Skattebo was tended to by Giants medical staff on the field after his injury. He was then carted into the locker room with his right leg in an air cast.

Cam Skattebo injury update

The Giants announced Skattebo suffered an ankle dislocation and will undergo surgery to repair the injury at a Philadelphia-area hospital. The team originally announced Skattebo had been taken to a local hospital for further evaluation after suffering the injury.

Giants coach Brian Daboll did not have much of an update on Skattebo when asked about him after the game.

‘I feel absolutely terrible for the young man,’ Daboll said.

Skattebo had three carries for 12 yards before exiting the game. He also added an 18-yard touchdown reception on his lone catch of the game.

Who is Cam Skattebo’s backup?

Tracy entered Week 8 having logged 120 yards and a touchdown on 35 carries. He also had eight catches for 54 yards on 13 targets.

Giants RB depth chart

The Giants have three running backs on their 53-man roster, including Skattebo. Below is a look at the pecking order among the group:

Cam Skattebo
Tyrone Tracy Jr.
Devin Singletary

The Giants also have Dante Miller on the practice squad. He could be called up to the active roster if Skattebo’s absence is of the long-term variety.

(This story will be updated as more information becomes available.)

One of the NBA’s biggest stars is going to be missing some time early in the 2025-26 season.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Dončić will be sidelined for at least one week after suffering a left finger sprain and a lower left leg contusion, the organization confirmed on Sunday, Oct. 26.

The five-time NBA All-Star is off to a blistering start in his seventh season in the league, with 43 points in the Lakers’ season-opening loss to the Golden State Warriors and 49 points in a victory last Friday against the Minnesota Timberwolves. His 92 points in the first two games broke a 56-year franchise record previously held by Jerry West.

In those two contests, Dončić added 11.5 rebounds and 8.5 assists per game. He hasn’t just been productive, but efficient, shooting 62% from the field in those games.

He’s not the only notable absence for the Lakers in the opening weeks of the season. LeBron James hasn’t played in either of Los Angeles’ first two games and will reportedly be out until mid-November as the 40-year-old deals with sciatica.

Dončić is in his second season with the Lakers after being acquired from the Dallas Mavericks last February in a blockbuster trade.

The New Orleans Saints made a big change in Week 8.

Near the end of the third quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Saints benched second-year quarterback Spencer Rattler in favor of rookie Tyler Shough.

Shough, 26, had played in just one game prior to Oct. 26’s divisional clash. The Saints’ second-round pick in this year’s draft was 0-of-2 on pass attempts in his three-snap outing against the Seattle Seahawks five weeks prior.

Rattler, who won New Orleans’ Week 1 starting job in training camp, secured his first career win as a starter in Week 5 against the New York Giants but has been winless otherwise – 1-12 overall. Before the Saints benched him, he began the Oct. 26 game against the Buccaneers 15-of-21 for 136 yards and one interception, which was returned for a touchdown.

The Saints trailed, 17-3, when they made the change.

Shough completed two of his first three pass attempts on his first drive under center on Oct. 26. His fourth pass attempt hit receiver Chris Olave in the hands, but Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield stripped the ball away for an interception.

As of the time of writing, it is unclear whether Shough will be taking over as the Saints’ primary starter going forward. Head coach Kellen Moore is likely to provide an update on that decision after the conclusion of the Week 8 game.

Saints QB depth chart

Here’s an updated look at the Saints’ quarterbacks room after Shough entered the Oct. 26 game vs. Tampa Bay:

Tyler Shough
Spencer Rattler
Jake Haener

Shough was the No. 40 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, making him the third quarterback the Saints have drafted in the last three years. The 26-year-old rookie had collegiate stints at Oregon and Texas Tech before playing for Louisville last season, throwing for a career-high 3,195 yards and 23 touchdowns.

Rattler was a fifth-round pick by the Saints in 2024 and has started every game this season. He won New Orleans’ quarterback competition in training camp and earned his first career win in Week 5. Entering Week 8’s game, Rattler had a career 62.4% completion rate, 2,767 yards, 12 touchdown passes and nine interceptions in 14 games (13 starts).

Haener, once the 2023 Senior Bowl MVP, joined the Saints as a fourth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. He played eight games (1 start) in 2024. He had a 0-1 record with a 46.2% completion rate, 226 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Haener has exclusively served as New Orleans’ emergency third quarterback this season.

Former New York Jets center Nick Mangold has died, the team announced Sunday. Mangold passed away from complications of kidney disease Saturday night.

He was 41 years old.

“It is with profound sadness that we acknowledge that we acknowledge the passing of Nick Mangold, a true legend of our franchise and cherished member of the Jets family,” Jets vice chairman Christopher Johnson said in a statement.

“Nick was the embodiment of consistency, strength, and leadership. For over a decade, he anchored our offensive line with unmatched skill and determination, earning the respect of teammates, opponents, and fans alike. His contributions on the field were extraordinary – but it was his character, humility, and humor off the field that made him unforgettable.”

Mangold played all 11 seasons of his career with the Jets. He earned two first-team All-Pro honors and was selected to seven Pro Bowls. He started in 171 games for New York, including the playoffs. He is a member of the Jets ring of honor.

The Jets originally selected Mangold in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft.

Mangold recently shared on social media his battle with kidney disease that required him to undergo dialysis treatment.

‘Nick was more than a legendary center,’ Jets owner Woody Johnson said, via the team’s website. ‘He was the heartbeat of our offensive line for a decade and a beloved teammate whose leadership and toughness defined an era of Jets football. Off the field, Nick’s wit, warmth, and unwavering loyalty made him a cherished member of our extended Jets family.’

The Washington Capitals have fired assistant coach Mitch Love after a league-wide investigation into his personal conduct.

Multiple reports suggest that investigation looked into allegations of domestic abuse.

The decision to relieve Love of his duties came after the NHL suspended him for the entire 2025-26 season.

According to reports, the victim reported allegations against Love directly to the NHL while he was interviewing for head coach positions, including one with the Seattle Kraken, during the summer. The investigation began in June.

In a post to social media addressing the situation, the Capitals said ‘the organization is committed to maintaining the highest standards of conduct and accountability.’

Mitch Love joined the Capitals in June 2023 as an assistant coach to Spencer Carbery, working with the team’s defensemen. The details of the evidence against Love have not been disclosed.

The NHL, in a statement to the Washington Post, said, ‘Following a thorough investigation, Mitch Love has been suspended for the remainder of the 2025-26 season for conduct detrimental to the League. Mr. Love will be eligible to apply for reinstatement to the League for the 2026-27 season subject to certain conditions.”

The NHL did not disclose the findings of its investigation.

The Post reported that Love had not been with the Capitals since the 2024-25 season ended in May.

Ex-Jets coach Rex Ryan paid a tearful tribute to Nick Mangold after the former center’s death.
The Jets announced Sunday that Mangold had died at 41 due to complications from kidney disease.
Former Jets offensive lineman Willie Colon was among the other notable figures who spoke highly of his former teammate.

The news of former New York Jets center Nick Mangold’s death at 41 hit the NFL world hard on Sunday, when the team announced the seven-time Pro Bowl center had passed away from complications from kidney disease.

Among those who paid tribute to Mangold was former Jets coach Rex Ryan, who counted on the two-time All-Pro as a fixture up front for his entire tenure (2009-14) in New York.

‘It’s brutal,’ a tearful Ryan said on ‘Sunday NFL Countdown’ on ESPN. ‘Such a great young man. I had the pleasure of coaching him for all six years with the Jets. I remember (when) it was obvious I was getting fired, my last game, Mangold’s injured. And he comes to me and says, ‘I’m playing this game.’ And he went and played for me.

‘That’s what I remember about this kid. He was awesome, and just way too young. I feel so bad for his wife and family.’

Ryan then stopped as fellow ESPN analyst Randy Moss comforted him and Mike Greenberg took over.

Former Jets offensive tackle Willie Colon, who played alongside Mangold from 2013-15, said he talked to Mangold last week but that the morning’s news ‘broke’ him.

‘Those who knew about my career as a Jet, I was injury-prone,’ Colon said on ‘Jets Pre-Game Live’ on SNY. ‘I had a lot of injuries, and there were a lot of days I was going out on that field on one leg. And I could look to 7-4 (Mangold’s number), and he’s like, ‘I got you.”

‘There was times where emotionally, I was a wreck. And he always had my back. So, I love you, Nick.’

Twelve days prior to Sunday’s announcement, Mangold had revealed that he was diagnosed in 2006 with a rare genetic disorder and was seeking a kidney transplant.

A staple of the Jets’ line throughout his 11-year career and a leading figure in the team’s push to consecutive AFC Championship Game appearances in 2009-10, Mangold started 164 of 176 possible games with the team. He was inducted into the Jets’ Ring of Honor in 2022 and is among the 52 modern-era candidates currently under consideration for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2026 class.

Brian Kelly is out of answers at LSU, and this tragedy nears its final act.
Lane Kiffin left rooting for LSU? Yeah, that actually makes sense.
Michigan State’s Jonathan Smith finds the hot seat, too.

How do you know a coach is cooked? Well, when he runs out of answers, that’s generally a good indicator.

Brian Kelly is out of answers at LSU, but one question lingers: Is LSU ready to admit its hiring mistake and eat a buyout that tops $53 million?

Hot seats and coaching searches remain the headline story after college football’s Week 9, but the College Football Playoff will make a bid for the spotlight when the initial rankings come out next week.

Here’s what lingers on the brain after Week 9:

Brian Kelly becomes fired-coach-in-waiting after Texas A&M routs LSU

Brian Kelly stars in a four-act tragedy that’s playing in Baton Rouge. Let’s call it, “A Sad Season and a Broken Coach.”

The curtain rises on a veteran coach wearing LSU gear in a beachfront hotel in Miramar Beach, Florida. Reporters gather ‘round, and he tells them on this May day, when hope springs eternal, he’s assembled his best team yet on the Bayou. And the reporters lap it up like it’s Louisiana’s finest gumbo and begin to believe maybe this Yankee with the faux Southern accent is poised for his finest hour, inside the SEC’s fires, no less.

Act I: Seeding of hope. In Week 1, at the show’s beginning, we’re free to believe anything. So, when we see Kelly’s Tigers beat Dabo’s Tigers, we don’t see two past-their-prime coaches or a pair of overrated teams. We see an LSU team with a star quarterback and a worthy supporting cast, bought from the transfer portal.

Act II: Warning signs. Clemson loses twice more. It’s apparent Dabo’s Tigers are a fraud. Down in Baton Rouge, cracks show. The offensive line can’t block. The offense can’t score. The quarterback looks off. The coach gets hot under the collar. In a classic warning sign of a failing coach, he lashes out at the media. Trouble brews.

Act III: The jig is up. The coach humbles himself before the press after a loss to a former doormat that’s become emboldened in Nashville. The Vandy boys play with more spirit and swagger than this LSU team ever mustered. Vanderbilt looks like LSU, and LSU looks like Vanderbilt. Then comes an enemy from the west, and Texas A&M completes this unmasking of LSU by emptying out Tiger Stadium, so that Aggies are all who are left. LSU’s coach is revealed to be a charlatan. He yells at anyone within earshot, for all the good that does. He looks tired. So very tired.

Act IV (still to come): Failure. A sad trombone plays, while a broken coach prepares for his last stand against an unforgiving adversary in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Somewhere back in Louisiana, a hat is passed.

Would Lane Kiffin be an option for LSU … in 2026?

Kelly might have one fan left. For multiple reasons, it’s good for Lane Kiffin if LSU perks up in November. If LSU fizzles, that downgrades one of Mississippi’s top victories, which could negatively affect its playoff seeding.

Also, Kelly persisting into 2026 could give Kiffin a potential offramp, should he desire to exit Ole Miss next season.

Kiffin is understandably attached to Florida’s ongoing coaching search, but the Rebels making the playoff would complicate an exit. If Kiffin stays at Ole Miss and LSU sat out this year’s crowded coaching carousel and waited a year to fire Kelly, Kiffin could emerge as a target for LSU in 2026.

Either way, it behooves Kiffin for LSU to find some life these next few weeks.

Hot seat finds Jonathan Smith at Michigan State

The cutting of the buyout check looks like the only possible ending for Jonathan Smith at Michigan State. He’s gone bust. His Spartans are 0-5 in the Big Ten after a 31-20 loss to Michigan.

As Smith languishes in his second season, no signs of life have presented either on the field or on the recruiting trail.

Spartans athletic director J Batt arrived this summer, meaning he’s not responsible for hiring Smith. Neither is Michigan State President Kevin Guskiewicz. He, too, arrived after Smith’s hiring. A coach with an 8-12 record working for bosses who didn’t hire him becomes a recipe for a swift firing.

In Smith’s defense, he inherited a rough situation. He hasn’t improved it. There’s no sign of this being a well-coached team. Curt Cignetti’s Indiana success makes programs like Michigan State think: Why not us?

CFP committee must consider Texas A&M for No. 1 ranking

The first CFP rankings will arrive next week (Nov. 4) with at least a sliver of intrigue around the No. 1 ranking, with the potential for three undefeated teams from either the Big Ten or the SEC.

Ohio State, riding an 11-game win streak that dates to last season, is the prevailing candidate, even if the Buckeyes lack a signature victory. Indiana offers one alternative. The Hoosiers ace the eye test and own a road win against Oregon.

If the committee values resumé above all else, though, then Texas A&M would be No. 1. The undefeated Aggies claim road wins at Notre Dame and LSU. Their average margin of victory does not stand out like that of Indiana or Ohio State, but the Aggies have played the toughest schedule of the trio.

My prediction: Texas A&M will rank No. 3, behind Ohio State and Indiana. The Aggies would rank No. 1 if they wore Ohio State or Alabama uniforms.

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.

The Philadelphia Eagles converted a fourth down using their controversial ‘tush push’ play against the New York Giants.
Officials ruled quarterback Jalen Hurts’ forward progress was stopped, negating a fumble recovered by the Giants.
The ruling on the field was not reviewable, despite a challenge attempt by Giants coach Brian Daboll.
The Eagles scored a touchdown two plays after the controversial call.

It wouldn’t be a NFL Sunday without some “tush push” controversy involving the Philadelphia Eagles. 

With the Eagles facing a 4th-and-1 early in the second quarter against the New York Giants, the Eagles lined up ready to execute the much-debated short-yardage play that they have both mastered and popularized – although the minor infractions that give Philadelphia an advantage have come under scrutiny this season, to the point officials have been instructed to call the play more stringently. 

Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts lunged forward and pushed the ball beyond the line of gain for a first down, but Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux snatched the pigskin from Hurt’s clutches. The side judge, however, had ruled that Hurts’ forward progress had been stopped – a dubious assertion in real time and even more questionable thanks to slow-motion replay. 

Giants head coach Brian Daboll attempted to challenge the play, but calls involving forward progress are not eligible for further review. 

FOX rules analyst Dean Blandino said “the key here is they ruled progress.” 

The Eagles scored two plays later, with Saquon Barkley adding another touchdown against his former team (his second of the day), to make it 14-7.