Havoc has been created in Miami. 

Entering the week looking like the team to beat in a weakened Atlantic Coast Conference, No. 2 Miami football was upset at home by unranked Louisville 24-21 on Friday, Oct. 17. 

The win for Louisville marked its first win over an Associated Press top-two-ranked team since 2016. It also is the fourth win against a top-five ranked team for the Cardinals under Jeff Brohm since 2018. 

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The Hurricanes faced an uphill battle from the jump, as the Cardinals cashed in both of their first two drives of the night for touchdowns to get out to an early 14-0 lead. Miami would then put together a quick drive of its own to answer back and cut the deficit to 14-7 but that’s about as much success the Hurricanes offense had on the night until the fourth quarter. 

Facing a 24-13 deficit in the fourth quarter, Miami turned a forced fumble from Keionte Scott into eight points on a 12-yard rushing touchdown from true freshman wide receiver Malachi Toney. The Hurricanes would convert the 2-point conversion on a pass from Toney, a quarterback in high school, to CJ Daniels. 

The Cardinals’ defense sealed their signature win with 33 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter when T.J. Capers picked off Miami quarterback Carson Beck for the fourth time on the night. The Hurricanes had been in field goal range before Beck’s interception.

The loss is the first setback of the season for the Hurricanes. Beck finished 25 of 35 passing for 271 yards while Miller Moss finished 23 of 37 passing for 248 yards and two touchdowns on the night.

USA TODAY Sports is bringing you live updates, scores and highlights from the game. Follow along:

Miami vs Louisville football live score

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Miami vs Louisville live updates

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Final score: Louisville 24, Miami 21

Miami forces Louisville fumble, Malachi Tony TD

Miami finally has life!

Keionte Scott forces the ball out of the hands of Louisville running back Isaac Brown for the first takeaway of the night the Hurricanes’ defense. Then, on the very next play, Malachi Toney scores a 12-yard rushing touchdown on the jet sweep to give Miami its first touchdown since the first quarter. Toney would then successfully throw the 2-point conversion to CJ Daniels to make the deficit now three points at 24-21.

What a turn of events by the Hurricanes.

Carson Beck throws third interception of night

Carson Beck looks to go down the field on third-and-8 to continue a crucial drive for Miami, but instead his throw is intercepted by Louisville’s JoJo Evans Jr with no Hurricanes players around.

It is the third takeaway of the night for the Cardinals’ defense.

Miller Moss extends Louisville lead

Miller Moss converts a crucial third-and-3 for the Cardinals and it leads to a 36-yard touchdown pass to Chris Bell, who breaks through several Miami defenders to find the back of the end zone. It is the second touchdown of the night for Bell, who is now up to 116 receiving yards and two touchdowns on seven catches.

Louisville now leads No. 2 Miami 24-13 with 13:27 remaining in the fourth quarter. While there remains plenty of time on the board, Miami needs to score some points — preferably a touchdown — to keep itself in this game.

Third quarter: Louisville 17, Miami 13

Louisville leads Miami after third quarter

Louisville takes a 17-13 lead over No. 2 Miami into the fourth quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. The Cardinals have the ball and just moved into the Hurricanes’ side of the field after a 15-yard carry from Isaac Brown, who is now up to 112 rushing yards on the night.

The Hurricanes have 15 minutes to keep their undefeated start to the season alive, while the Cardinals are a quarter away from picking up a significant signature win to their season.

Miami cuts deficit with field goal

Miami cuts its deficit against Louisville to 17-13 with a 41-yard field goal from Carter Davis. The Hurricanes had a third-and-2 at the Louisville 18-yard line but were called for a false start, their seventh penalty of the night.

It’s a big stop for the Louisville defense, especially getting called for a roughing the passer penalty on second and long, to hold Miami to just a field goal, but the Hurricanes are going to need more than a field goal to take a lead or win this game.

Louisville extends lead with field goal

Louisville pushes its lead back up to seven points after Cooper Ranvier hits the 48-yard field goal down the middle of the field. The Cardinals now lead No. 2 Miami 17-10 with 10:58 remaining in the third quarter.

The Cardinals caught a break on third-and-3 as video replay overturned Miller Moss’ throw intended for Nate Kurisky to an incomplete pass from an original call of an interception by the Hurricanes’ defense.

Miami punts

It’s not the start Miami needed to start the second half, as the Hurricanes go three and out on their first drive of the third quarter. The Hurricanes were backed up before Carson Beck and Co. trotted out to the field as Miami was called for a hold on the kickoff return. Miami now has six penalties on the night.

The Hurricanes’ defense will need to come up with another stop to keep this game at a four-point deficit.

First half: Louisville 14, Miami 10

Louisville leads Miami at halftime

Miami gets the stop on defense to force the punt, but the Hurricanes take the knee for the final play of the first half. Louisville is up 14-10 at halftime against No. 2 Miami thanks to its defense coming up with two takeaways against Carson Beck.

The Hurricanes entered the night trailing just a combined 9:12 of game time in their first five games. But tonight, they have failed the Cardinals for a total of 23:55 after Louisville jumped out to a hot 14-0 lead.

Miami starts the second half with the ball.

Miami cuts deficit with field goal

Miami elects to take the points on fourth-and-goal after the two-minute warning. Carter Davis cuts Miami’s deficit to four points at 14-10 after successfully converting the 27-yard field goal attempt.

The big play of the drive came on second-and-10 from Miami’s own 30-yard line when Carson Beck found Malachi Toney on the right side and connected with the true freshman wide receiver for a 61-yard catch on the run. Toney now has 108 yards on four catches on the night, and leads all FBS freshman wide receivers with 483 receiving yards on the season.

Miami’s defense will now look for another stop before halftime.

Louisville picks off Carson Beck … Again

Carson Beck is picked off for the second consecutive drive, as his throw down the field that was intended for Keelan Marion falls short and into the hands of Jabari Mack. Back-to-back costly plays for the Hurricanes, who continue to set themselves back with self-inflicted mistakes and errors.

That’s now five interceptions for Beck on the season.

Keionte Scott sacks Miller Moss

Miami defensive back Keionte Scott picks up the blown protection from the Louisville offensive line and rushes the pocket and sacks Miller Moss for a loss of 11 yards. It’s the first big play of the night from the Hurricanes’ defense.

The Cardinals punt the ball back two plays later, setting up a big drive for Carson Beck and the Miami offense after Beck threw an interception on the previous drive. Miami trails 14-7 with 9:01 remaining in the first half.

Louisville picks off Carson Beck

Carson Beck attempts to go down the field to Malachi Tony but the throw is intercepted by Louisville linebacker Antonio Watts. It’s a costly throw and a poor decision by Beck, who gives the Cardinals back the ball with a 14-7 lead.

Louisville takes over at its own 32-yard line.

Louisville punts

Miller Moss throws three consecutive incomplete passes and Louisville sends the punt unit out onto the field. It’s a nice in-game adjustment by Miami’s defense on the drive as it dialed up the pressure more on Moss and was able to get to the quarterback to cause havoc and incompletions.

Miami gets the ball back on its own 7-yard line.

First quarter: Louisville 14, Miami 7

Louisville leads Miami after first quarter

Louisville leads No. 2 Miami 14-7 after the first quarter of action at Hard Rock Stadium. The Cardinals will begin the second quarter with a big decision of either going for it on fourth-and-1 on their own side of the field or punting the ball back to the Hurricanes after Miller Moss is unable to pick up the first on the quarterback sneak.

Miller Moss is 8 of 9 passing for 87 yards and a touchdown, while Carson Beck is 4 for 4 passing for 76 yards.

Mark Fletcher Jr. puts Miami on the board

Miami responds with a quick scoring drive of its own, as Mark Fletcher Jr. runs it in from the 2-yard line to put the Hurricanes on the board for the first time tonight. It’s the sixth rushing touchdown of the season for the Hurricanes’ top running back.

The scoring drive was set up by back-to-back throws from Carson Beck of at least 30 yards: a 30-yard catch up the right sideline to CJ Daniels and a 39-yard catch up the left side on the fade route to Malachi Toney.

The drive itself was five plays for 75 yards and took 2:50 off the game clock. Miami now trails Louisville 14-7.

Miller Moss throws 35-yard TD pass to extend lead

Louisville takes an early two-score lead against No. 2 Miami off a 35-yard touchdown pass up the middle of the field from Miller Moss to Chris Bell. It’s a nice start to the night for Moss and the Cardinals offense against a Miami defense that ranks first in the ACC in scoring. Miami’s defense entered the night giving up just 13.6 points per game to opponents.

The scoring drive was four plays for 46 yards and took just over two minutes of game time. Louisville leads Miami 14-0 with 5:09 remaining in the first quarter.

Miami punts

It’s a three-and-out for Miami on its first drive of the night. The Hurricanes were pushed up by a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty from offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa on second-and-6.

Louisville takes lead on touchdown

Louisville successfully executes the tush push on first-and-goal as Miller Moss runs it in from the 1-yard line to give the Cardinals an early 7-0 lead. It’s a statement opening drive for the Cardinals, as Moss’ touchdown marks the first touchdown given up in the first quarter by Miami’s defense this season.

The scoring play was set up by the Cardinals’ fake field goal attempt. The drive was 11 plays for 75 yards and took 6:05 off the game clock.

Louisville picks up first down on fake field goal

Halloween Trickery has come early in Miami! Louisville looks to have taken the field goal attempt after Miller Moss throws an incomplete pass on third-and-4 but Cardinals place kicker David Chapeau takes the snap and picks up the first down with a 3-yard carry.

First-and-goal coming up for Louisville.

Miami wins toss, Louisville offense up first

Miami wins the opening coin toss and defers the opening kickoff to the second half. That means it will be Miller Moss and Louisville’s offense trotting out onto the field first at Hard Rock Stadium. Kickoff is shortly away in Miami Gardens!

Pregame

DJ Khaled in attendance for Miami vs Louisville

The celebrities are out in Miami Gardens on Friday at Hard Rock Stadium as DJ Khaled is also in attendance for the ACC showdown between Miami and Louisville. He is one of three known celebrities at the game thus far, with the others being Ray Lewis and Michael Irvin.

Ray Lewis in attendance for Miami vs Louisville

Former Miami linebacker Ray Lewis is in attendance for Miami’s ACC home opener on Friday against Louisville. He is currently on the sidelines during pregame warmups on the field and is set to appear on ESPN’s ‘SportsCenter’ with Michael Irvin before the game.

Miami Hurricanes football running back depth chart

Mark Fletcher Jr. is RB1 for Miami’s offense and leads the Hurricanes’ running back room with 428 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns on 78 carries.

Here’s a list of Miami’s running backs from their official roster:

Mark Fletcher Jr.
CharMar Brown
Girard Pringle Jr.
Chris Wheatley-Humphrey
Jordan Lyle
Luke Hoaglund
Terrell Walden II
Jack Whitehouse

Who is starting at quarterback for Miami vs Louisville?

Carson Beck will once again start at quarterback for Miami on Friday against Louisville. The former Georgia quarterback has completed 102 of 139 passes this season for 1,213 yards and 11 touchdowns. He is 29-3 as a starting quarterback at the Division I FBS level, which is the best record among active players.

Who is starting at quarterback for Louisville vs Miami?

Miller Moss will make his sixth career start for Louisville on Friday against Miami. The former USC quarterback has completed 67% of his passes for 1,358 yards, seven touchdowns and four interceptions in five games with the Cardinals.

Click here to read more on why Moss transferred to Louisville this past offseason from USA TODAY Sports’ Craig Meyer.

Miami football walks into Hard Rock Stadium

Mario Cristobal and the Hurricanes are on site for Friday’s game at Hard Rock Stadium and have begun their pregame walk into the stadium. A win on Friday vs. Louisville would make Miami bowl-eligible.

Miami football unveils uniforms vs Louisville

The Hurricanes unveil on their official X (formerly Twitter) account that they will rock their orange uniform tops with the white pants for Friday night’s game vs. Louisville.

What time does Miami vs Louisville start?

Date: Friday, Oct. 17
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Where: Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, Florida)

Miami and Louisville are set to kick off at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, Oct. 17 from Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

What TV channel is Miami vs Louisville on today?

TV: ESPN
Streaming: ESPN app | Fubo (free trial)

Miami vs. Louisville will be broadcast nationally on ESPN in Week 8 of the college football season. Dave Pasch and Dusty Dvoracek will have the call from the booth at Hard Rock Stadium, with Taylor McGregor reporting from the sidelines.

Streaming options for the game include Fubo, which carries the ESPN family of networks and offers a free trial to new subscribers, and the ESPN app (with a TV login).

Stream Miami vs. Louisville football live with Fubo (free trial)

Miami vs Louisville predictions

Alexis Cubit, Louisville Courier Journal: Miami 35, Louisville 28

‘Louisville had the tools and momentum to get the program’s first win at Miami two years ago. It doesn’t feel like that’s the case this year. Although the Cards’ defense has played well all season, an extra week won’t be enough to help their offense clean up the costly mistakes and heal all the injuries sustained within the running back room.’

Miami football schedule 2025

Here is Miami’s schedule and results:

Sunday, Aug. 31: Miami 27, No. 6 Notre Dame 24
Saturday, Sept. 6: Miami 45, Bethune-Cookman 3
Saturday, Sept. 13: Miami 49, No. 18 South Florida 12
Saturday, Sept. 20: Miami 26, Florida 7
Saturday, Sept. 27: BYE
Saturday, Oct. 4: Miami 28, No. 18 FSU 22
Saturday, Oct. 11: BYE
Friday, Oct. 17: vs. Louisville * | 7 p.m. ET | ESPN (Fubo)
Saturday, Oct. 25: vs. Stanford * | 7 p.m. ET | ESPN (Fubo)
Saturday, Nov. 1: at SMU *
Saturday, Nov. 8: vs. Syracuse *
Saturday, Nov. 15: vs. NC State *
Saturday, Nov. 22: at Virginia Tech *
Saturday, Nov. 29: at Pitt *

* Denotes ACC game

Louisville football schedule 2025

Here is Louisville’s schedule and results:

Saturday, Aug. 30: Louisville 51, Eastern Kentucky 17
Friday, Sept. 5: Louisville 28, James Madison 14
Saturday, Sept. 13: BYE
Saturday, Sept. 20: Louisville 40, Bowling Green 17
Saturday, Sept. 27: Louisville 34, Pitt 27 *
Saturday, Oct. 4: No. 24 Virginia 30, Louisville 27 (OT) *
Saturday, Oct. 11: BYE
Friday, Oct. 17: at No. 2 Miami * | 7 p.m. ET | ESPN (Fubo)
Saturday, Oct. 25: vs. Boston College * | 7:30 p.m. ET | ACC Network (Fubo)
Saturday, Nov. 1: at Virginia Tech *
Saturday, Nov. 8: vs. Cal *
Friday, Nov. 14: vs. Clemson * | 7:30 p.m. ET | ESPN (Fubo)
Saturday, Nov. 22: at SMU *
Saturday, Nov. 29: vs. Kentucky

* Denotes ACC game

A historic New York City church that houses the basketball program considered one of the pioneers behind today’s multibillion-dollar youth sports industry is facing more than two dozen lawsuits related to allegations of child abuse by the program’s founder and longtime coach, according to a new joint investigation conducted by Rolling Stone and Sportico.

Ernest ‘Ernie’ Lorch stepped down from his position with the Riverside Church Hawks after more than 40 years in 2002 when several of the program’s players went public accusing him of child abuse. He died in 2012 while awaiting trial after an indictment for attempted rape from a Massachusetts grand jury. But a more definitive resolution is on the court docket, the two outlets reported.

More than two dozen lawsuits involving 26 plaintiffs, some dating more than 20 years, have been filed against Riverside Church underNew York’s Child Victims Act of 2019 over Lorch’s alleged behavior. Multiple former players accuse Lorch of pedophilia and child abuse spanning decades. The first trial date is set for January 2026.

Riverside Church has challenged the allegations in legal filings. Attorneys say the church had no knowledge that Lorch abused anyone, and no player ever complained about Lorch’s behavior to a person of authority. Lorch was a church deacon and president of the board of trustees at Riverside, according to the investigation, in addition to being a prominent New York City attorney.

Lorch was a volunteer leading the church’s youth recreation program for more than 40 years. The basketball program he started in the Riverside Church basement gym eventually produced future NBA players such as Chris Mullin, Kenny Smith, Kenny Anderson and Metta World Peace.

His teams are credited with being at the forefront of the mostly unregulated grassroots basketball model in which apparel companies dole out millions to sponsor the teams with the best prospects in the country.

Lorch is accused of child abuse in rooms throughout Riverside Church, his New York City apartment and his home in Vermont, according to court documents reviewed as part of the investigation. Former UTEP star Byron Walker said in sworn testimony and during an interview as part of the joint investigation that Lorch tried to rape him in the locker room at a basketball tournament in Massachusetts after Walker earlier had shown up late for the team van.

Lorch is also alleged to have paid hush money to his victims in exchange for their silence over the years, according to the investigation.

Playoff projection includes five teams from the SEC, reflecting the conference’s depth.
Big Ten team comes off the board first.
Last at-large team in? Georgia.

With the first pick in the midseason College Football Playoff draft, I do hereby select . . .

*Wait while the faux suspense builds*

The defending national champion Ohio State Buckeyes.

Who else, right?

The undefeated No. 1 Buckeyes possess no apparent weakness, and no ranked opponents remain on their schedule. They’re a slam dunk for the playoff.

On the most recent edition of “SEC Football Unfiltered,” the podcast I host alongside John Adams, we drafted our latest playoff projection.

We do this in tandem, choosing teams back and forth as we fill the bracket. Neither of us can veto the other’s picks.

We wound up with five SEC teams in our bracket, but no SEC team came off the board until the sixth round. That reflects the conference’s reality of being a deep league with a bundle of playoff contenders but no runaway front-runners.

In selecting the teams, we didn’t try to seed the bracket. Instead, we alternated picks choosing teams that we feel most strongly about qualifying for the playoff, while adhering to the playoff’s rules that at least five conference champions must be represented.

Here’s how our draft played out to result in a 12-team bracket:

My first pick: Ohio State

The Buckeyes’ robust defense, ironclad offensive line and wide receiver weaponry should protect them as they progress toward the Big Ten championship game.

John’s first pick: Miami

My thoughts on John’s pick: No argument. The Hurricanes put the hay in the barn early, with wins against Notre Dame, South Florida, Florida and Florida State. They don’t need to win the ACC to qualify. Just don’t collapse.

My second pick: Indiana

The Hoosiers proved themselves with a win at Oregon. They’re physical, athletic and propelled by strong quarterback play from Fernando Mendoza. The schedule becomes friendly, too.

John’s second pick: Texas Tech

My thoughts: Good choice. The Red Raiders are rolling. Put an SEC or Big Ten logo patch on their jersey, and they’d be ranked higher than their No. 8 spot in the latest US LBM Coaches Poll. Expect them to keep winning and keep climbing.

My third pick: Oregon

The loss to Indiana stings, and Oregon is left without a marquee victory thanks to Penn State’s collapse. The schedule is back-ended with games against Southern California and at Washington, but as long as Oregon keeps playing like the Big Ten’s third-best team, it’ll be fine.

John’s third pick: Ole Miss

My thoughts: The Rebels’ insistence on playing tight games every week causes me some unease with this pick, and road games against Georgia and Oklahoma are on tap. They enjoy some breathing room, though, thanks to their undefeated record.

My fourth pick: Alabama

Alabama has three ranked opponents left, but each of those games is at Bryant-Denny Stadium, where Kalen DeBoer hasn’t lost. The Crimson Tide show little resemblance to the team that flopped in Week 1 against Florida State. They look more like the SEC’s best team.

John’s fourth pick: Texas A&M

My thoughts: If Texas A&M wore Alabama jerseys, I’d breathe more easily. As it is, the Aggies’ history of shortcomings looms large. They’re undefeated but have road games remaining against LSU, Missouri and Texas, all ranked teams. Probably as safe as any pick at this point, though.

My fifth pick: Notre Dame

If Notre Dame beats Southern Cal at home this weekend, drop the blue and gold confetti. The Irish are in the playoff. Never mind the close losses to Miami and Texas A&M, because the schedule is cake after this weekend, and the committee is not going to omit a 10-2 Irish team.

John’s fifth pick: Tennessee

My thoughts: Tennessee’s defense makes me nervous. In three games against SEC opponents, it has allowed 36.3 points per game. Tennessee stands two losses away from a knockout, and Alabama is on deck.

My sixth pick: Georgia

One-loss Georgia’s dominance is long gone, but it usually finds a way to prevail. The win at Tennessee helps the résumé, but land mines remain. Not a foolproof pick, by any stretch.

John’s sixth pick: South Florida

My thoughts: A fine choice. We needed a Group of Five qualifier, and USF has looked as good as any team from this level. We’ll learn more in two weeks when USF plays at undefeated Memphis.

Our collaborative playoff projection at midseason: Ohio State, Miami, Indiana, Texas Tech, Oregon, Ole Miss, Alabama, Texas A&M, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Georgia and South Florida.

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 Minnesota Vikings are back in NFL action Sunday after their bye in Week 6 with a crucial matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Minnesota hosts the reigning Super Bowl champions in Week 7. A loss could drop the Vikings to last in the NFC North while a win could move them closer to division leader Green Bay (3-1-1).

So, no pressure – especially with a backup quarterback.

Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell confirmed Friday that former Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz will start Sunday against Philadelphia, per multiple reports. Starter J.J. McCarthy is still recovering from a high-ankle sprain suffered in Week 2 against the Atlanta Falcons.

Rookie undrafted free agent Max Brosmer will back up Wentz on Sunday.

Wentz has started three games for the Vikings this season, going 2-1. He has completed 69 of 100 passes (69%) for 759 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions. He has added seven carries for 29 yards on the ground.

Minnesota marks the sixth team Wentz has started at least one game for in the last six seasons. His final year in Philadelphia came in 2020 when he went 3-8-1 and threw an NFL-high 15 interceptions.

Since then, he has played for Indianapolis in 2021, Washington in 2022, the Los Angeles Rams in 2023, Kansas City in 2024 and Minnesota in 2025.

With a win on Sunday against Philadelphia, he’d equal his win total as a starter over the last three years combined.

McCarthy, Minnesota’s first-round pick in 2024, was limited in practice this week on Wednesday and Thursday. The team may have decided to sit him Sunday so he’s ready to go on a short week for Minnesota’s ‘Thursday Night Football’ matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 8.

Vikings QB depth chart

Carson Wentz
Max Brosmer
J.J. McCarthy (injured)

McCarthy isn’t starting but will be the team’s emergency third quarterback for Sunday’s game.

The San Francisco 49ers are still recovering from a season-ending injury to All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner in last week’s loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The 49ers have had a tough year with injuries. Fellow All-Pro defender Nick Bosa is also out for the rest of the year.

Things haven’t been as bad on offense but San Francisco will have to wait at least another week to get their starting quarterback back into the lineup.

Coach Kyle Shanahan ruled out Brock Purdy for Week 7’s ‘Sunday Night Football’ game at home against the Atlanta Falcons, per multiple reports. Backup Mac Jones will get the start for the fifth time in seven games this season.

Purdy initially suffered toe and shoulder injuries in San Francisco’s Week 1 win over Seattle. He’s been on the mend ever since. His appearance in a Week 4 loss to Jacksonville remains his most recent game.

Jones led the team to a 3-1 record as a starter. The former first-round pick has completed 113 of 168 passes (67.3%) for 1,252 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions through four games. His 313 passing yards per game leads the NFL.

San Francisco struggled against the Tampa Bay defense in Week 6. The Buccaneers sacked Jones six times for 51 yards and intercepted him twice.

Atlanta ranks first in the NFL in pass defense with 139.4 yards allowed per game and are second league-wide in sack percentage at 9.7%. Jones may have another tough day against an NFC South opponent.

When will Brock Purdy return?

There remains no set timetable for Purdy’s return from his toe injury. He at least was practicing this week even if it was in a limited fashion on Wednesday and Thursday.

San Francisco heads on the road in Week 8 for a game against the Houston Texans. Purdy may return to the field then, given that he’s taking part in practices.

49ers QB depth chart

Brock Purdy (injured)
Mac Jones
Adrian Martinez

Jones is also dealing with knee and oblique injuries ahead of Week 7. If he has to come out of the game at any point, former United Football League MVP Martinez will take over for him.

It’s been a tough six weeks so far for the Dallas Cowboys defense. That unit ranks last in the NFL in passing defense and 31st in points allowed.

After a pair of road games against the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers, Dallas is home in Week 7 to take on NFC East foe Washington. The Commanders are looking to bounce back after a last-minute loss to the Chicago Bears on ‘Monday Night Football’ in Week 6.

Dallas’ defense will have to slow them down without cornerback Trevon Diggs for a bizarre reason.

Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said the two-time Pro Bowler suffered a concussion at home Thursday night and won’t play Sunday against the Commanders, per The Athletic’s Jon Machota.

Diggs is off to a rough start this season. Per Pro Football Focus (PFF) data, Diggs is allowing a 154.9 passer rating when targeted. He’s allowed three touchdowns in coverage through six games which equals his season-long total allowed last year in 11 games.

Concussion recovery timetables vary from player to player. Diggs will be out for Week 7 against Washington and might not be good to go for Dallas’ Week 8 game on the road against the Denver Broncos.

With Diggs out, the Cowboys’ depth chart points to C.J. Goodwin as the next man up at outside cornerback. Goodwin has started one game in his 10-year NFL career – his rookie year in 2016 for Atlanta – but has played in all six games for the Cowboys this season. All of his 141 snaps this season were on special teams.

Drew Allar was once considered a potential top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
After a season-ending ankle injury, however, the QB’s stock could be headed for a major downswing.
Developmental QBs in the NFL draft can have a hard time latching on, and Allar might have a longer wait than anticipated.

Excitement about Drew Allar has long necessitated a bit of imagination.

That’s not to say optimism about the Penn State quarterback was ever unfounded. At 6-5 and 235 pounds with superlative arm strength and surprising mobility for a player his size, the former five-star recruit sparked visions of a playmaker comfortable dealing deep downfield from either the pocket or on the move. Things started to come together in the early portion of a 2024 campaign in which the junior signal-caller helped the Nittany Lions reach the College Football Playoff semifinal, completing 66.5% of his passes for 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions along the way.

Having eschewed the NFL draft to return to a loaded Penn State roster, Allar became a fixture of way-too-early mock drafts and preseason prospect big boards. It was only natural for others to jump ahead in projecting how far his skill set might take him if he made another leap in his development.

Could the Medina, Ohio, native be the savior of the hometown Cleveland Browns? Or might he break the New York Jets or New Orleans Saints out of their quarterback stasis? Perhaps he could learn under Matthew Stafford before taking over for a playoff-caliber Los Angeles Rams group. Or maybe he could serve as Aaron Rodgers’ successor for the Pittsburgh Steelers and conjure up Ben Roethlisberger comparisons thanks to his burly frame.

Regardless of where his play actually positioned him, numerous possibilities for a more prosperous future always seemed to be right at Allar’s feet. Now, however, the avenues for him to make good on his considerable potential have been cut off, with since-fired coach James Franklin revealing Saturday that Allar had suffered a season-ending injury, later revealed to be an ankle issue that would require surgery.

Suddenly, a player who once seemed like a good bet for the first round now faces a particularly perilous pro projection, with his spiraling draft stock potentially leaving him in the no-man’s land that has emerged for several players like him in recent years.

Penn State had plenty of problems in its multifaceted failure of a season, including a remade receiving corps not stepping up for the passing attack. But Allar also regressed at a time when the offense needed him to be the catalyst he had not truly served as is in previous years. His yards per attempt sank from 8.4 in 2024 to 6.9 this season. His ill-advised interception in double overtime against Oregon launched a three-game losing streak, with another bewildering pick against Northwestern accelerating the Nittany Lions’ slide.

For all those woes, however, it would be inaccurate and unfair to portray Allar as the gunslinger many assume him to be given his stature and powerful arm. To his credit, the quarterback set a Football Subdivision Record by opening his collegiate career with 311 passing attempts before throwing his first pick. His 1.3% interception rate is the lowest in school history.

And after the season opener against Florida International, Franklin indicated that Allar was actually dwelling too much on mistakes rather than embracing a let-it-rip mentality.

‘I think a couple times that happened where you miss a really easy throw that he makes 99.9% of the time and that frustrates you,’ Franklin said. ‘And if you’re not careful, that will linger.’

Of course, Franklin’s characterization was awfully charitable for a player who admitted he had trouble ‘making the easy throws easy.’ Allar completed more than 60% of his attempts in just one of his first five games, with the erratic ball placement and spotty mechanics that have dogged his career continuing to resurface. Short throws and quick hits that were routine for his peers were hardly guarantees for him.

But for all the problems Allar exhibited through six games, his 2025 campaign may go down as a greater disappointment due to missed opportunities. He won’t be able to answer for wilting performances in big games, finishing with an 0-6 record against teams with a top-six ranking. His struggles to rise to the moment when he was needed most were underscored by those matchups producing five of his 13 career interceptions, including a last-minute pick in the College Fooball Playoff semifinal that set Notre Dame up for a game-winning field goal.

It’s reasonable to ask, though, whether any of those shortcomings are disqualifying as they relate to Allar’s NFL draft stock. In a process that has permitted physically gifted passers a good deal of leeway in evaluations, shouldn’t a player of his tools be in high demand despite those performance concerns?

Maybe in another era.

The NFL world Allar is entering into is demanding more efficiency from quarterbacks while downfield passes dwindle. That doesn’t bode well for a player who has struggled to process quickly and respond to pressure, especially with star tigh end Tyler Warren no longer around to bail him out from troublesome spots this season.

And while teams have looked past the underwhelming college performances from the likes of Josh Allen and Anthony Richardson, among others, Allar can’t claim a comparable level of otherworldly athleticism or creativity.

With his lackluster showing this season, Allar likely has been leapfrogged by several potential 2026 quarterback prospects – including Oregon’s Dante Moore, Alabama’s Ty Simpson and Oklahoma’s John Mateer – while remaining far behind several more. But perhaps even more problematic for him is that the middle rounds of the draft have become somewhat of a wasteland for developmental signal-callers. As Shedeur Sanders learned in April, if a passer isn’t considered a potential starter in the near future, his wait might be far longer than anyone might have anticipated.

In the last two years, only two quarterbacks have been taken between the middle of the second round and the end of the fourth: Jalen Milroe and Dillon Gabriel. The former offered rare dual-threat ability that led Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald to plan a special package of plays for him, while the latter was a highly refined FBS record-holder for games started (63) who afforded the Cleveland Browns a degree of stability as they figured out a complex outlook at the position.

Allar is stuck somewhere in between those two. His physical tools don’t give him the same tantalizing upside as Milroe, but he might not be able to lock down a backup job in the same way Gabriel did. And that could lead to quite the tumble on draft day.

The worrisome reference point for Allar is Quinn Ewers, who preceded him as the top-ranked quarterback in the 2021 recruiting class. As a fellow three-year starter for a high-powered program who also led his team to the College Football Playoff semifinal, Ewers also generated a good deal of interest as a player who could rise up draft boards if his development took off in his final campaign. But his mechanics continued to take a back seat to his arm strength, and his college career remained plagued by overall inconsistency.

The result in the NFL draft: Despite many considering him a potential mid-round pick, he lasted all the way to the seventh, where he was eventually scooped up by the Miami Dolphins.

Maybe Allar’s fall won’t be that precipitous. If he’s healed in time for the pre-draft process, he could have the opportunity to showcase himself and hook the interest of a team that sees him as a potential future starter. As he wraps his collegiate career, he does so with a decorated résumé and more than a few backers.

‘Drew’s one hell of a young man,’ Penn State athletic director Pat Kraft said Monday, getting emotional while recapping the quarterback’s tenure. ‘He puts up with a lot of crap, and I get it. The NIL era, and he’s still a kid. There’s not a negative word that comes up when I think of Drew.’

It’s not out of the realm of possibility for Allar to become the ‘incredible pro football player’ Kraft said he was sure the quarterback would one day be. Envisioning just might entail a good deal of imagination and patience – and the NFL might be short on both for him.