Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar faces a defining game against Georgia after a tumultuous offseason for the Vols.
Former Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava transferred to UCLA after a reported NIL dispute, leading the Vols to add Aguilar from the transfer portal.
A win for Aguilar and Tennessee could be seen as a victory for coaches against player empowerment, yet it also highlights the benefits of the transfer portal.

There are undeniable crossroads every college football season, defining moments where change arrives when least expected. 

Welcome to Joey Aguilar’s line in the sand.

For himself and for Tennessee. And for every college football coach desperate to gain some semblance of control in a rapidly-changing sport overtaken by player empowerment.

“(Georgia’s) another team on the schedule that we have to go play,” Aguilar said last weekend after Tennessee disposed of East Tennessee State.

But it’s so much more than that. More than beating SEC king Georgia on Saturday in Knoxville, more than Tennessee making an early statement in a conference race with no clear leader.

This is the moment where Aguilar – who has thrived financially and with upward mobility through newfound player empowerment – takes a stand against the current state of college football. Or against players gaming the system.

Which, of course, he did, too. 

If this is all confusing, let me take you back to April, and a mere 48 hours before the opening of the spring transfer portal. It was then that former Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava decided to use leverage to gain financial advantage. 

He wanted more money from Tennessee, or he was entering the transfer portal — and leaving the Vols with an inexperienced quarterback room and slim pickings from the portal. Tennessee coach Josh Heupel told Iamaleava goodbye, and said he’d find another quarterback that could win. 

No player, Heupel said, is bigger than the team.

Then Iamaleava transferred to UCLA, and in true transfer portal fashion, Aguilar – who months earlier transferred from Appalachian State to UCLA – got more money to transfer again to Tennessee. Hence, the juxtaposition. 

By playing well and beating Georgia, Aguilar supports the theory that no player is good enough to leverage a program. There’s always another proverbial bus arriving at the station. 

But by playing well and beating Georgia, Aguilar also underscores the need and beauty of the portal: the right player with the right coach means everything. 

Think about that concept. If Tennessee wins, it’s a victory for coaches in the rapidly-evolving player empowerment era. And if Tennessee wins, it’s essentially a victory for the very same thing — without the fanfare that comes with it.

Because without the transfer portal and free player movement and millions upon millions in private NIL money changing hands every season, the Vols are preparing to play the Death Star of college football with a slingshot after Iamaleava’s departure.    

That brings us all the way back to Iamaleava, and a scene dripping with karma. UCLA is winless after two weeks, with ugly performances against Utah and UNLV — where Iamaleava had as many touchdown passes (two) as interceptions. 

Meanwhile, there is Aguilar. He and the Vols have played an easier schedule, and Aguilar has looked the part. He’s accurate, he throws on time, he’s athletic enough to stress defenses as a willing runner. 

And sonofagun, can he throw the deep ball. The same throw Iamaleava missed so many times last season, in so many moments where the offense needed it.

Aguilar is averaging 9.1 yards per attempt; Iamaleava is at 7.8 — exactly where he was last season at Tennessee when the biggest criticism was a lack of vertical throws. Aguilar is also averaging 13.7 yards per completion. 

“He’s got great arm talent,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said of Aguilar. “He’s had some really well-thrown balls, a couple they’ve dropped in crucial times. A really good deep ball passer.”

But Aguilar making it look easy against Syracuse and East Tennessee State is completely different from doing it against what could be the best defense in college football at pressuring the quarterback. Don’t let Georgia’s measly three quarterback sacks fool you. 

No one in college football pressures the quarterback, forces quick decisions and errant throws and game-changing mistakes, quite like the Georgia defense. 

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Exhibit A. 

“It’s just going out there and trusting my guys,” Aguilar said. “And playing how we play.”

Sounds simple enough. Then again, it sounded simple to Quinn and Arch, too. 

But there’s much more on the line this time around, at any number of levels. The game within the game could change the way coaches deal with high-value quarterbacks moving forward.

Deep into Tennessee’s rout of ETSU last weekend, Heupel called timeout to talk with freshman backup quarterback George MacIntyre. Instead of hanging on the bench or laughing with teammates long after he was replaced, Aguilar stood in the huddle with Heupel and offered encouragement for MacIntyre.

“Great teammate,” Heupel said. “That’s who he has been from the time he got here, developing relationships as he was first onboarding into our program. That’s important leadership.”

As important as the statement, the leadership, Aguilar could make for the rest of college football. No player is bigger than the team. 

Unless he becomes bigger and better than the guy before him. 

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

More professional women’s basketball players will be able to stay in the United States to play during the WNBA offseason.

Unrivaled, a 3×3 league founded by WNBA All-Stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier in 2024, will increase in size from six to eight teams and add a practice pool. That will increase the number of roster spots from 36 to 54, the league announced Wednesday, Sept. 10. The two new teams will be called Breeze BC and Hive BC.

‘Expanding a year earlier than planned is a testament to the strong business model we’ve built and the potential Unrivaled has for long-term success,’ said Luke Cooper, Unrivaled president of basketball. ‘We outperformed every goal we set for the league in year one, and with the incredible talent we have returning paired with the influx of new stars, it was a no brainer to add two more clubs this season.’

ESPN reported that Unrivaled made $30 million in revenue its inaugural season, double what league officials had projected. The league averaged 221,000 viewers on TNT and truTV during its first season, with Rose BC’s victory over Vinyl BC drawing 364,000 viewers.

Unrivaled announced on Monday, Sept. 8, that it has been valued at $340 million after a second round of investment led by Bessemer Venture Partners, Serena Williams’ venture capital company Serena Ventures, Warner Bros. Discovery and Trybe Ventures. NBA players Trae Young, Franz Wagner and Moritz Wagner, sports executive Sam Rapoport and University of Maryland president Darryll J. Pines also invested.

Unrivaled players earned an average of $222,222 and received equity in the league. Salaries will be in the same range for 2025 by only select athletes will receive equity, decided on a case-by-case basis as contracts are negotiated.Unrivaled plays an an eight-week season from January to March in Miami. Rosters for the 2025 season will begin to be unveiled later this month.

Australian Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt has been suspended for two weeks by the International Tennis Integrity Agency.
The suspension stems from an incident where Hewitt pushed a 60-year-old anti-doping volunteer in Spain.
Hewitt denied the charge, claiming he acted in self-defense, but was found to have engaged in the conduct.

The International Tennis Integrity Agency has suspended Australian Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt for two weeks for pushing a 60-year-old anti-doping volunteer at the conclusion of a match in Spain last November.

Hewitt, 44, denied the charge – which was brought by the ITIA following review of video evidence, witness statements and interviews – saying he acted in self-defense.

Hewitt had asked to appear in person before the independent tribunal so a hearing wasn’t held until July. After a ruling in August, Hewitt’s suspension is set to begin Sept. 24 and run through Oct. 7.

During his suspension, the ITIA says Hewitt will be ‘unable to take part in all tennis-related activities including coaching, mentoring, playing, captaincy and other associated roles.’

‘Anti-doping personnel play a fundamental role behind the scenes in upholding the integrity of tennis, and they should be able to go about their roles without fear of physical contact,’ Karen Moorhouse, CEO of the ITIA, said in a statement. ‘In this case, that line was clearly crossed, and we had no other option but to take action.”

Hewitt is allowed to appeal the suspension before it takes effect, but the ITIA says no appeal has yet been filed.

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.

‘That’s what our team has really focused on throughout the whole season,’ added Hiedeman, who dyed her hair red ahead of the postseason in partnership with U by Kotek. “Remember that feeling, have that chip on your shoulder and every time you step on the court, whether it’s practice, shootaround or whatever, bring that intensity and bring the energy, because all these little things are going to matter when it comes down to playoffs.’

Lynx look to emulate 2017 title team

Reeve has been here before.

After the Lynx suffered a heartbreaking, one-point loss to the Los Angeles Sparks in the deciding Game 5 of the 2016 WNBA Finals, Minnesota responded with the league-best record and No. 1 overall seed in the 2017 postseason. The Lynx got their revenge by defeating Los Angeles in the 2017 WNBA Finals to hoist their fourth WNBA title in seven years. Lynx center Sylvia Fowles was named league MVP and Finals MVP.

The Lynx have followed a similar script coming off their 2024 Finals loss. They have the best record in the league with a franchise-high 33 wins and claimed the No. 1 seed in the playoffs to secure home-court advantage at Target Center, where the team is 19-2 this season.

Like the 2017 squad, Minnesota has the top-ranked offense and defense in the league this season. It’s a rare feat that has led to championships. Of the eight teams in WNBA history to accomplish both in the same season, seven went on to win the WNBA title. Will the 2025 Lynx be next?

Even though the Lynx are the betting favorites to hoist the WNBA championship trophy in October, other teams have closed the gap down the stretch. The Lynx lost to the second-place Atlanta Dream on Aug. 21 and third-place Las Vegas Aces on Sept. 4. The Aces, led by reigning MVP A’ja Wilson, are on a franchise-record 15-game win streak.

The Lynx, however, are not panicking.

“We’ve had a target on our back all season. We’ve been the No. 1 team,” said MVP frontrunner Napheesa Collier, who sat out of Tuesday’s night loss to the Indiana Fever to rest for the postseason. “We get everyone’s best shot. I think that’s great for us. It allows us to prepare for how hard it’s going to be in the playoffs.’

‘Our team is not our team if not for’ Napheesa Collier

Reeve said she sees direct parallels between the selflessness and talent of her 2017 squad and her current team that hopes to bring Minnesota its league-leading fifth WNBA title and first since 2017.

‘Maya (Moore) was the perfect superstar for the group, because the selfless nature of superstars … can’t be understated,’ Reeve said on Sept. 6 after Moore and Fowles were inducted into the Pro Basketball Hall of Fame. ‘There’s no way you can be in the WNBA Finals in six out of seven years and maintain that level of success without that as your core being.’

And then came Collier in 2019, who Reeve called ‘an extension of the Lynx culture that was built before her.’

‘We have the group now because of Napheesa Collier,’ Reeve said. ‘The last two years, we’re 60-plus wins and counting because we got the right people

‘The buy-in, the selfless is not real sexy … but that’s what it is.’

Collier’s leadership has been paramount to the Lynx and her efforts have her in the MVP conversation as she’s averaging career-highs in points (23), field-goal percentage (52.6%) and blocks (1.6). She ranks top 10 in points, field-goal percentage, rebounds, blocks and steals per game. Collier is just shy of joining Elena Delle Donne in the exclusive 50-40-90 club. Delle Donne became the first WNBA player to record 50% shooting from the field, 40% from the 3-point line and 90% from the free throw line in a season in 2019, her MVP season.

‘Our team is not our team if not for (Collier),’ Lynx guard Courtney Williams told USA TODAY Sports. ‘What she does on the defensive end, the offensive end, the coverages that every team has to throw at her every single game and she thrives. I think when you have a player that is doing it at every level, every single night consistently, you got to tip your hat off to her. So shout out to MV-Phee, man. We love that girl.’ 

Lynx have team chemistry, depth and talent

The Lynx glided to a 20-4 record by the 2025 WNBA All-Star break, which featured three Minnesota players in Collier, Kayla McBride and Courtney Williams. After an eventful All-Star weekend — which saw Team Collier handily defeat Team Caitlin Clark — Collier, Williams, McBride and Hiedeman all sang along to Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club” to cap the Stud Budz’s epic 72-hour All-Star live stream. 

The chemistry was palpable through the screen and has contributed to the Lynx’s team-first mentality. Minnesota returned six players from last year’s Finals roster, tying the Liberty, Atlanta Dream and Las Vegas Aces for the most continuity.

“We just have a great relationship off the court and that’s kind of the basis for our chemistry on the court,’ Collier said. ‘We just have such a deep love and respect for one another. We hang out a lot. We’ve built those bond over the past two seasons now. So you’re able to hold people accountable and not point fingers because you care about them as a person and you know everyone is trying their hardest. We’re trying to reach a collective goal.’

The Lynx have the fourth-highest scoring bench in the league (22.4), led by sixth women of the year candidate Hiedeman, who appears to be hitting her stride heading into the playoffs, averaging 18 points over the last four games, including a double-double against the Dallas Wings earlier this month with 10 assists.

“(Hiedeman) brings that energy. … She over here breaking records,” said Williams, who also dyed her hair red alongside her Stud Budz counterpart. “We’ve been needing every bit of it, right? I think she just embodies what our team is right next man up, whoever night it is, that’s who we cheering on. That’s who we want on the floor.”

The Lynx added to their depth by trading for guard Dijonai Carrington to bolster their defense, although Carrington is nursing a left shoulder injury that has sidelined her for three consecutive games. 

Lynx have a potential first round matchup vs. Seattle Storm

The Lynx will likely face the Seattle Storm in the first-round of the WNBA playoffs. A rivalry has been brewing between the teams as multiple scuffles have broken out this season. The Lynx and Storm split their regular-season series 2-2, but the last matchup was extra contentious.

The Storm overcame a 21-point deficit to defeat the Lynx by 14 points on Aug. 28, completing a 35-point swing on the road to hand the Lynx their second loss of the season at Target Center. Following the comeback, Storm guard Skylar Diggins appeared to mock the Lynx’s post-victory Electric Slide dance, adding further fuel to the fire.

When asked if the Lynx were aware of the Storm’s postgame antics, Williams said, ‘We see everything, honestly.’ Hiedeman added, ‘Whoever we play, whoever we play, we bring in our best games. It don’t even matter. Doesn’t matter who the team is.’

The first-round of the WNBA playoffs will be best-of-three, the semifinals will be best-of-five and the WNBA Finals will move to best-of-seven for the first time in league history.

‘You have to be mentally and physically strong. You are adding on two more games,’ Williams said. ‘We went to a Game 5 last year and we were feeling it, I ain’t going to lie.

‘Knowing that it is Game 7, you got to already mentally prepare yourself to play those games. We want to be there.’

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Kyle Schwarber became the second player in Philadelphia Phillies history to hit 50 home runs in a season.
He is the first National League player to reach the 50-homer mark in 2025.
Schwarber joins Ryan Howard as the only other Phillies player to accomplish this feat.

Kyle Schwarber’s career year just keeps getting better.

The reigning All-Star Game MVP joined an exclusive club on Tuesday, Sept. 9, when he became just the second player in Philadelphia Phillies history to slug 50 home runs in a single season – and the first National Leaguer to do it in 2025.

Schwarber snapped a home run drought that had reached 10 games when he launched a 437-foot blast to deep left-center in the seventh inning off New York Mets reliever Justin Hagenman. The milestone moonshot made him just the second player to reach the 50-homer mark this season, joining Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, who leads the majors with 53.

Schwarber also joined Ryan Howard as the only other member of the Phillies’ 50-homer club. Howard hit a franchise-record 58 homers during his MVP-winning season in 2006.

‘Just to join him, it’s an honor, it’s a privilege,’ Schwarber said of Howard. ‘That guy has done so many great things for Philadelphia. You can only hope to follow the way he went about his business and the way that he played the game and the way he brought excitement to the fans here.’

Schwarber also leads the NL with 123 RBIs. And he’s chipped in a career-high in stolen bases as well this season with 10.

Only 10 players in MLB history have ever produced at least 50 homers, 120 RBIs and 10 steals in a single season. Schwarber now joins the list that includes Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, Ken Griffey Jr., Sammy Sosa, Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani.

Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford fight on Sept. 13.
Alvarez is the betting favorite.
Crawford is the underdog, primarily because he is making a big move up in weight.

The betting odds for the Sept. 13 fight between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford in Las Vegas are valuable to more than gamblers.

Why is Alvarez the favorite? Why is Crawford the underdog? Why is the line so close?

The moneyline helps answer those questions and better understand other conundrums.

For example, recently Alvarez has exhibited deficiencies. Take his last fight, when his opponent, William Scull, looked more interested in avoiding punches than landing punches. Largely speaking, Alvarez looked content letting Scull run and threw only 152 punches, a measly 12.7 punches per round.

Yet Alvarez (63-2-2, 39 KOs) remains the favorite.

And Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) has a spotless record and has shown the ability to adapt to all boxing styles. Yes, he’s jumping up two weight classes, but he’s also bulked up – and yet still he’s the underdog.

The lowest moneyline on Alvarez is about minus-190 (meaning a $190 bet will pay out $100 if Alvarez wins). The highest moneyline on Crawford is plus-155 (meaning a $100 bet will pay out $155 if Crawford wins).

But in terms of odds, not much separates the two.

“Pure boxing, they have a very similar game, where they’re kind of waiting to counterpunch,’’ Brandon Yaeger, lead combat sports oddsmaker at Caesars Sportsbook, told USA TODAY Sports.

Yaeger also noted both boxers use the early rounds to analyze data about their opponent ‘and then try to turn it on later in the later rounds to just cement the victory.’’

‘Very analytical’ boxers

Yaeger this week had Alvarez at minus-185 and Crawford at plus-155. He said he thinks Alvarez and Crawford have comparable boxing skills.

The difference: size.

Yaeger cited Crawford’s jump up two weight classes – to the 168-pound super middleweight division from the 154-pound super welterweight division – as the reason Alvarez is the favorite.

“Canelo is the established guy at the weight class (168 pounds),’’ Yaeger said. “Pretty active for a guy of his stature, fighting at least two times a year to where you look at Crawford (fighting) one time a year, then you’re jumping up two weight classes. That’s (a) pretty massive move.’’

Yaeger said he thinks Alvarez will exploit his size against Crawford.

“Maybe even get in close and just put his weight on him,’’ Yaeger said. “But it’s going to be interesting just because they’re both very analytical type of fighters where they’re just analyzing data and then using it in later rounds, so it could very well turn out to be a lackluster fight.’’

Yaeger said he sees a route to victory for Crawford.

“Just be more active early and kind of bank some rounds and then in the later back half of the fight he could still keep his speed and move around the ring and frustrate Canelo. I think that would be his best path.’’

Canelo Alvarez’s motivation

Johnny Avello, head oddsmaker at DraftKings, this week had Alvarez at minus-180 and Crawford at plus-145.

While Avello pointed out the significance of Crawford’s jump up two weight classes, he also acknowledged Alvarez looking less than scintillating in recent fights.

“(But Alvarez) deserves to be the favorite,’’ Avello said. “I mean 63-2 with two draws. And those two losses, one is to (Floyd Mayweather Jr.) and the other one when he moved up in class (against Dmitry Bivol at 175 pounds). So he definitely deserves to be the favorite here.

“Now you can say that he’s dropping off. But his record doesn’t show he’s dropping off and the competition that he has fought as of late, maybe he wasn’t as motivated for some of those fights.’’

On Sept. 13, Alvarez will be facing an opponent widely regarded as the sport’s best pound-for-pound fighter, and the bout will take place at Allegiant Stadium three days before Mexican Independence Day.

“So whatever he has left, you’re going to see (it),’’ Avello said.

On Crawford’s chances for the upset, Avello said, “If he’s going to beat (Alvarez), he’s probably going to have to beat him on points, which means he’s going to have to do a lot of scoring during the course of the night.’’

Terence Crawford the better boxer?

John Murray, Vice President for Race & Sports at Westgate Superbook in Las Vegas, had Alvarez fluctuating between minus-165 and minus-170 and Crawford at plus-155.

In Murray’s view, there’s no secret to why Alvarez is the favorite – Crawford having to move up in weight.

“We saw what happened to Canelo when he moved up to fight against Dmitry Bivol,’’ Murray said, referring to Alvarez’s loss to Bivol in 2022 by unanimous decision. “It’s tough to fight a guy who’s an elite fighter and bigger than you.’’

Crawford moved up to 154 pounds from 147 pounds in his last fight, a victory over Israel Madrimov by unanimous decision.

“He won the fight and I thought he deserved to win,’’ Murray said. “But he didn’t exactly look comfortable in there. So I do think there’s some concern about him moving up to fight somebody who’s so much bigger than him.’’

But despite the issue of size, Crawford will not climb into the ring defenseless.

“I think he’s the better boxer,’’ Murray said. “He’s the guy who’s never been beat. He’s got this reputation. He doesn’t back down. He’s a mean fighter.’’