Earth to Kirby Smart, Nick Saban has been retired for nearly two years now. You’re allowed to beat Alabama.
Kalen DeBoer continues mastery of top coaches. Beware of Vanderbilt, though.
Penn State, LSU deliver familiar acts.

The past few seasons, programs ranging from Tennessee to Florida State to Vanderbilt have treated Alabama with as much reverence as a paper napkin, while stripping off the Crimson Tide’s cloak of invincibility and trampling the elephant.

And then there’s Georgia’s Kirby Smart. He acts if he’s still facing Nick Saban’s Alabama — and not just that, but Saban-in-his-prime Alabama.

Kalen DeBoer owns Smart, and maybe that shouldn’t be so surprising — DeBoer does his best work in the biggest games — except that Georgia’s coach acts as if it’s no big thing. Acts as if he expects it, almost.

Alabama toppled Georgia, 24-21, to snap the Bulldogs’ 33-game home winning streak and send Smart’s career record against the Tide tumbling to 1-7.

What’s he think of that?

“I mean, what’s everybody else’s record against them?” responded Smart, who offered a similar remark after losing at Alabama last season. “… I don’t lose sleep over that, because those games have been championship-caliber games.”

Cringe.

Maybe, an opposing coach could say something like that when Saban was on the sideline and nobody would gag, but, earth to Kirby, the GOAT’s been a TV talking head for nearly two years now.

“I just saw 25 scouts out here,” Smart said, in a nod to the talent on the two rosters.

And I just saw Smart lose to Alabama again. As brilliant of a coach as he’s has been throughout his Georgia tenure, he still turtles upon the sight of crimson.

And the next time Alabama fans want to punt their coach back to Washington, remember that Smart is a Georgia Tech 2-point conversion away or a Tennessee field goal away from being DeBoer the past two seasons. There’s no monster left in the SEC, just a bunch of pretty good teams, and it’s a messy affair from Saturday to Saturday.

As for everybody else’s record against Alabama, I don’t have the full list of figures at my fingertips, but, off the top of my head, Tennessee’s Josh Heupel has two wins in his past three tries against Alabama, and Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia has more career victories against Alabama than any Georgia starter not named Stetson Bennett IV during Smart’s tenure.

Speaking of Pavia, the Tide lost to Vanderbilt last season, a week after Alabama beat Georgia in one of those “championship-caliber games.’ Pavia’s Commodores will roll into Bryant-Denny Stadium next weekend with an unblemished record.

Quick, DeBoer, grab a megaphone and scream, Rat poison!

What a difference a few weeks have made for Alabama’s offensive line. A unit that got battered like a screen door in a hurricane in the opener at Florida State held steady while protecting the quarterback against a Georgia defense opponents used to fear.

Credit Alabama coordinator Ryan Grubb and quarterback Ty Simpson for scheming and executing circles around Georgia, but DeBoer pulled off the same feat last season with a different coordinator and a different quarterback.

DeBoer’s living up to his reputation of saving his best work for the biggest moments. At Washington, DeBoer went 2-0 against Texas and Steve Sarkisian and 3-0 against Oregon and Dan Lanning. It’s the unranked opponents that lay in the weeds before springing up and clubbing DeBoer’s teams with a two-by-four.

Alabama’s not out of the woods yet, but it’s as much alive in the College Football Playoff hunt as any of the SEC’s one-loss teams, a list that now includes Georgia, Texas, Tennessee and LSU.

For Georgia, at least there’s no opponent left on the schedule that its coach venerates in the same way as Alabama.

Here’s what else is on my mind after Week 5:

Penn State delivers another ‘Big Game James’ Franklin special

Penn State is like one of those puzzles where you look at two similar photos and you’re supposed to find the difference between the images. Except, you stare at the images for a minute, and you realize there’s something off with this exercise: The image on the right is the exact same as the one on the left.

Seriously, try to convince me 2025 Penn State isn’t the same as 2024 Penn State.

Same coach who wilts in big games, as sure as the sun rises every morning. Same average quarterback whose special skill is bamboozling the NFL mock draft cottage industry. Same pathetic schedule that will grease the wheels for Penn State to roll back into the playoff for another also-ran finish.

Penn State rallied and came close against Oregon in a 30-24 overtime loss, but, that’s the script, isn’t it?

Same picture, different year.

“I get that narrative,” Penn State coach James Franklin said of his unflinching persistence to lose to the best teams on his schedule, “and it’s really not narrative, it’s factual. It’s the facts. I get it, but I try to look at the entire picture and what we’ve been able to do here.”

Hard to miss the picture. Looks the same as the one last year.

Speaking of losing big games … let’s go to Brian Kelly

If LSU coach Brian Kelly hadn’t been so busy berating a reporter a couple of weeks ago, he’d have noticed there was a dead canary in the Tigers coal mine.

LSU’s 24-19 loss to Mississippi was weeks in the making, the product of an offense that simply won’t ignite. The Tigers will enter October having not yet reached 24 points in any game against a Bowl Subdivision opponent.

After this one, Kelly and Garrett Nussmeier impersonated some sort of odd comedic act in which Kelly insists his quarterback is healthy, and his quarterback insists he’s not discussing his health. I’m not a doctor, and I probably shouldn’t attempt to play one in a newspaper column, so I’ll leave it at this: Nussmeier’s trademark zip is missing. Make of that what you will.

How about giving the quarterback some help, though? Nussmeier’s receivers struggled to get open, and LSU didn’t even bother attempting a ground game until the second half.

Meanwhile, Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin seems like he’ll be too busy to move to Gainesville, Florida, this winter. Hands full with the College Football Playoff, and all. Kiffin’s Rebels are undefeated, with only two ranked opponents left on the schedule.

I’m not entirely convinced this Ole Miss team is as good as the one last season that squandered a playoff roster. It doesn’t have to be, though. Just don’t blow it in games against the likes of Kentucky and Florida. Kentucky already is in the rearview mirror.

And would Ole Miss fans rush the field at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium after this victory against LSU?

No. Been there, done that.

Instead, jovial Rebels fans settled for trolling LSU by singing Garth Brooks’ “Callin’ Baton Rouge” while exiting the stadium.

“You don’t rush the field, because we did what we’re supposed to do, and that’s win the game,” Kiffin said. “And so, that makes me happy that this program’s got to that place.”

Three and out

1. Who will Auburn blame this time, after yet another one-score loss served by embattled coach Hugh Freeze, this one against Texas A&M? Is this result on the officials, too? Auburn doesn’t have it so bad as Arkansas and Florida. Those teams are led by fired-coaches-in-waiting, but the season’s young yet, and there’s still pink slips to be written. Let’s check back on Freeze after games against Georgia and Missouri.

2. Ohio State is surrendering just 5.5 points per game after a 24-6 win at Washington. Oh, and quarterback Julian Sayin will take a 78.8% completion rate into October. Who’s the national championship frontrunner? Don’t overthink this. It’s Ryan Day’s team with the No. 1 by its name.

3. Has anyone checked to see whether Florida State wide receiver Squirrel White remains embedded into the turf in Charlottesville, Virginia, after Cavaliers fans stampeded onto the field and engulfed White and anyone around him, milliseconds after the conclusion of an overtime takedown of the Seminoles?

My first thought as the field-storming unfolded: I hope the players make it out of there OK.

My second thought: That’s one heck of a lot of boat shoes on a football field.

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 Pittsburgh Steelers grabbed a dub in Dublin over the Minnesota Vikings.

The surgically efficient Aaron Rodgers has continued to develop chemistry with new No. 1 target DK Metcalf on Sunday. The pair linked up for five receptions and 126 yards, with an 80-yard chunk TD play accounting for most of that.

The Vikings made it a game in the second half, especially late. A touchdown-saving tackle from linebacker Payton Wilson may have proven to be the difference; the tackle would shave about a minute off of game clock late, which was sorely needed.

The Vikings would get another chance to possess the ball after the Steelers would punt on a fourth-and-short. A few questionable calls and officiating decisions later, the Vikings would have an opportunity to tie or take the lead, but a Carson Wentz attempt to Jordan Addison on fourth-and-18 was broken up by safety DeShon Elliott, giving the Steelers the 24-21 win.

USA TODAY Sports provided updates, highlights and more from the Dublin game below.

Watch 2025 NFL action with Fubo (free trial)

Steelers vs. Vikings instant takeaways

The Rodgers-Metcalf Connection: Aaron Rodgers and DK Metcalf cooked in the first half with five catches for 126 yards and a touchdown. Entering the game, Metcalf had 135 receiving yards total. That should portend good things to come,as long as the chemistry keeps growing as the season rolls along.
Carson Winz?: Yeah, Wentz threw two picks (and almost a third) in this matchup. But he looked largely sharp throughout the matchup, and having Jordan Addison back in the fold should help him and the Vikings offense stay afloat in the absence of J.J. McCarthy – no matter how long that may be.
Sacks, sacks and more sacks: The Vikings gave up seven sacks on the day, and most were of the instant-pressure variety. That won’t bode well for whoever’s under center moving forward.

Vikings vs. Steelers highlights

Vikings fail to convert fourth-and-long, Steelers win

The Vikings made it interesting, but ultimately the Steelers came out on top. A fourth-and-long Carson Wentz pass attempt to Jordan Addison was broken up by DeShon Elliott. A kneel would seal the game for Pittsburgh in Ireland.

Carson Wentz called for intentional grounding

A sack from Nate Herbig, Pittsburgh’s seventh on the day, leads to a Carson Wentz intentional grounding call. There’s 28 seconds left and the Vikings need about 35 yards to get to into field goal range.

James Pierre interception overturned after review

James Pierre looked to seal the game with an interception, but after review, it was overturned to an incomplete pass. Pierre looked to bobble the ball while heading out of bounds.

Steelers stopped on third down, opt not to go for it on fourth down

Rather than going for it on fourth-and-short, the Steelers decided to take a delay of game and punt late. There’s 1:02 left in the game and the Vikings will take over with no timeouts, down by three points.

Vikings fail to recover onside kick, Steelers take over

The Vikings can stop the clock twice, once via timeout and once via 2-minute warning with 2:07 left.

Steelers vs. Vikings score: Jalen Nailor grabs TD pass

The Vikings have brought it back to within a field goal with 2:08 left after Nailor grabbed a short touchdown pass on fourth down. The Vikings will attempt an onside kick, and they have just one timeout remaining.

Carson Wentz finds Jordan Addison for big gain after blown coverage

The Vikings are showing signs of life late. A blown coverage led to Jordan Addison taking the ball down to the 1-yard line.

Payton Wilson made a touchdown-saving tackle on Addison to put the ball down at the 1-yard line.

Aaron Rodgers, Steelers fail to convert fourth-and-goal

It’s still a 10-point game with 4:09 after the Steelers failed to convert a fourth-and-goal. There was some back-and-forth between Rodgers and the Steelers coaching staff, before deciding to go for it.

The Vikings are down 10 points with 4:05 left in the game.

Dallas Turner flagged for 15-yard penalty

Some post-whistle activities led to a 15-yard penalty for Dallas Turner, after he slapped D.K. Metcalf in the facemask. Metcalf was grabbing Turner, which led to the flag.

Steelers vs. Vikings score: Carson Wentz finds Xavier Scott for TD

Carson Wentz escaped the pressure and found running back Xavier Scott at the back of the end zone, who made a toe-tap touchdown grab for six points. The Vikings would successfully convert the 2-point conversion to make it a 10-point game with 7:50 left in the fourth quarter.

Steelers 24, Vikings 14

Jalen Ramsey injury update: Steelers CB back in

Ramsey had a small bit of an injury scare after the cornerback limped off the field and went directly to the bench. He reentered the game on the following Steelers defensive drive.

Steelers vs. Vikings score: Another Pittsburgh field goal lengthens lead

The Steelers are putting some more distance between themselves and the Vikings, with another Chris Boswell kick giving the Steelers another three points.

Steelers 24, Vikings 6

Minnesota Vikings QBs

Entering Sunday, the Vikings had a few healthy passers on the roster:

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

Calvin Austin injury update: Steelers WR heads to locker room

The Steelers wide receiver snagged a pass at the end of the third quarter, then was down on a knee for a brief period. He walked to the medical tent and then to the locker room. It’s unclear what was injured on the tackle.

Steelers-Vikings attendance: Nearly 75K show up for NFL football

Early in the fourth quarter, attendance for the international game was announced as 74,512 at Croke Park.

Steelers vs. Vikings score: Pittsburgh up 21-6 entering fourth

While the stats have been pretty evenly matched, the Steelers hold a 15-point advantage entering the fourth quarter.

Jalen Ramsey injury update: Steelers CB limps to sideline

After Ramsey faked a hamstring injury earlier in the game on his nullified scoop-n-score touchdown, the Steelers cornerback was seen hobbling to the bench. He was seen with a massage gun, massaging the back of his left leg.

Myles Price big kickoff return nullified by flag

The rookie appeared to give the Vikings a big spark, but the 54-yard kick return was called back on a holding call. The Vikings drive will start at the 18-yard line.

Steelers vs Vikings score: Kenneth Gainwell scores second TD of day

No Jaylen Warren, no problem: Kenneth Gainwell notched his first career multi-TD game on Sunday when he hit pay dirt for the second time in the third quarter. A Chris Boswell XP makes this a 15-point game with the fourth quarter around the corner.

Steelers 21, Vikings 6

Who is No. 80 on the Steelers?

The Steelers’ No. 80 is tight end Darnell Washington. His a big, big target: The tight end is 6-7 and tips the scale at 264 pounds. He is a product of Georia.

TJ Watt picks off Carson Wentz, Steelers defense locking in

Pass rusher T.J. Watt found himself picking off a Wentz pass after a batted ball, with a modest return to set up the Steelers offense in plus territory.

With two sacks and a pick on this set of downs for the Vikings, the Steelers defense looks to be bearing down as the game inches closer to the fourth quarter.

Carson Wentz still mobile, shows off wheels on third down

The Vikings quarterback still has wheels. The passer just picked up 12 yards for a first down, showcasing his athletic ability.

Vikings QB coach: Josh McCown in Year 2

Former QBs apparently are all the rage on the Vikings coaching staff. Josh McCown is in Year 2 as the Vikings QB coach after spending a season in Carolina in 2023. McCown has been a hot commodity amongst NFL teams, even interviewing for a head coaching job with the Texans earlier in his coaching career.

Carson Wentz sacked, ends first drive of first half

The Vikings have struggled on third down this season, a trend that continued in their first drive coming out of the tunnel. Wentz was sacked on third down to end the Vikings drive.

Carson Wentz poked in the eye near end of first half

NFL Network’s Jamie Erdahl reports that the Vikings quarterback was poked in the eye near the end of the first half. The passer received treatment, but he’s good to go for the second half.

Who is Myles Smith?

Smith (b. June 3, 1998) is a British singer-songwriter. He is known for his hits ‘Stargazing,’ ‘River,’ ‘My Home’ and ‘Nice to Meet You.’

Smith performed during the halftime show of the Steelers-Vikings Dublin game.

Aaron Rodgers stats today

Rodgers is 12-of-14 passing for 165 yards and a touchdown in the first half. Rodgers was mostly living underneath, with DK Metcalf securing almost half of his passing yards on an 80-yard touchdown catch and run. Rodgers has an 139.6 passer rating at half.

End of first half: Steelers lead 14-6

The Steelers got a stellar first-half performance from quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who found DK Metcalf early and often in the first half. That led to a 14-6 led to end the half. The Vikings get the ball coming out of break.

Steelers vs. Vikings score: Promising Minnesota drive leads to field goal

The Vikings were putting together a very fruitful drive, but it resulted in just three points, not six, as they had to settle for a Will Reichard field goal with 12 seconds left in the half.

Steelers 14, Vikings 6

Justin Jefferson stats today

Jefferson and Wentz seem to have a nice thing going: The superstar wideout has eight receptions for 97 yards in the first half.

Carson Wentz finds Xavier Scott, Steelers flagged for roughing the passer

The Minnesota drive is off to a decent start: After being backed up on their own 9-yard line, Wentz finds Xavier Scott for a short pass. On top of that, Derrick Harmon was flagged for roughing the passer after a blow to Wentz’s helmet. That all combines to put the Vikings on their 35-yard line.

Vikings block Steelers field goal attempt

There goes Isaiah Rodgers again. Fresh off of PFF’s highest-ever performance by grade, the Steelers cornerback flew in to block a Chris Boswell field goal attempt.

The Vikings will take over on their own 9-yard line with 1:38 left in the half.

Jalen Redmond notches second sack on Aaron Rodgers

The Oklahoma product is having a nice day for Brian Flores’ defensive line. The interior defensive lineman came up with a crucial sack to push the Steelers further from the goal line.

Aaron Rodgers height

For those curious how tall Rodgers is, he is listed at 6-foot-2. That’s certainly not tall by NFL passer standards, but it gets the job done.

Aaron Rodgers takes off, fumbles, Steelers recover

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers showed off the 41-year-old wheels trying to escape the Vikings pass rush. He did get away for the first down, but the ball was knocked loose, but offensive lineman was in a fortuitous position to recover the loose ball. The Steelers are again threatening to score with under two minutes left in the first half.

Aaron Rodgers stats today: QB throws first incompletion of the game

It took nearly two quarters and multiple drives, but Steelers passer Aaron Rodgers was ifnally off target with time ticking down in the second quarter. Rodgers is now 10-of-11 passing for 152 yards and a touchdown on the day.

Carson Wentz throws interception to DeShon Elliott

The Vikings backup was looking sharp on the day, until an untimely pick thrown to DeShon Elliott. Steelers rookie Derrick Harmon may have gotten a hand on the ball at the line of scrimmage to change the ball’s trajectory enough to force the pick.

Jordan Mason converts fourth down

One play after being stopped nine inches short of a first down, Mason bursts through a hole to give the Vikings a fresh set of downs in Steelers territory.

Carson Wentz stats today

Nearing midway through the second quarter, Wentz looks sharp and has yet to fire an incompletion.

Wentz is 10 for 10 with 90 yards.

Darius Slay injury update: Steelers CB returns

After an injury scare, the Steelers CB is back in the game.

DK Metcalf stats today

The Steelers wide receiver already has 122 yards on four catches, with an 80-yard touchdown to go with it. All has happened in the first half.

Steelers vs. Vikings score: Rodgers finds Metcalf for 80 yards

Yes, the Rodgers-Metcalf connection is alive and well, indeed.

Rodgers found Metcalf for an 80-yard touchdown grab. Rodgers found Metcalf over the middle, and the receiver took it the rest of the way for the score.

Steelers 14, Vikings 3

Darius Slay injury update: Steelers CB heads to locker room

The NFL Network broadcast said that Slay made a slow walk to the locker room and seemed to be holding his side while doing so.

The Steelers entered the day without Joey Porter Jr., and are now without their No. 2 CB for the time being.

Jordan Addison ends first quarter with contested catch

Carson Wentz found Jordan Addison for his first catch of the 2025 season with a 22-yard back-shoulder throw down the right sideline. The Vikings are driving with the second quarter coming up.

Brian O’Neill injury update: Vikings OT questionable to return

Brian O’Neill was injured on the Vikings field goal attempt, and he’s now questionable to return with a knee injury. The NFL Network broadcast said O’Neill ‘hobbled’ to the locker room.

Steelers vs. Vikings score: Kenneth Gainwell scores first TD in Ireland

The Steelers capped off a pretty scoring drive with a 1-yard touchdown run up the gut. Steelers take the early lead over the Vikings.

Steelers 7, Vikings 3

Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf connection alive and well

Rodgers has found his No. 1 target a few times on this drive. Metcalf has 34 yards on three receptions, including a pretty back-shoulder catch down the left sideline.

Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf connect for first completion

Rodgers has largely been living underneath early in this game, and that was the same on his first throw to wideout DK Metcalf. Rodgers found Metcalf for a short throw, and the wideout gained some yards after the reception for 15 yards.

Brian O’Neill injury update: Vikings OT in medical tent

Vikings right tackle Brian O’Neill was seen writhing in pain after the Vikings field goal attempt. He walked gingerly to the medical tent.

Steelers vs. Vikings score: Will Reichard field goal gives Vikings lead

After the sack, the Vikings notched a field goal courtesy of Will Reichard, who just squeezed the ball inside of the right upright.

Vikings 3, Steelers 0

Patrick Queen sacks Carson Wentz, forces field goal attempt

The Vikings offense looked to score, but linebacker Patrick Queen screamed through the right side of the Vikings line to sack Wentz to force a field goal attempt.

Jordan Mason fumbles, Jalen Ramsey touchdown overturned

It looked like Jalen Ramsey had the first score of the game, a 60-yard scoop-n-score fumble recovery. However, video review indicated that Mason had touched the ball with a leg out of bounds, so the ball was ruled dead and possession returned to the Vikings.

Jordan Mason takes hand off for five yards

Jordan Mason gets the first run play of the game for five yards to give the Vikings a first down.

Steelers have ugly first drive, punt

After the Rodgers sack, two short dump offs led to a Steelers punt. The Vikings take over on their own 25-yard line.

Aaron Rodgers sacked on first dropback

It didn’t take long for the Vikings defense to make an impact: Jalen Redmond sacked Rodgers for a loss of eight yards.

Aaron Rodgers, Steelers offense take field

A Trey Sermon kick return to the 35-yard line sets up the Steelers to open shop vs. the Vikings.

What channel is Steelers vs. Vikings on today?

TV channel: NFL Network
Local (Minnesota market): Fox 9
Local (Pittsburgh market): ABC 4

NFL Network will broadcast the Dublin game. Joe Davis will be on the call alongside Greg Olsen.

For viewers in the Vikings’ TV market, the game will be broadcast on Fox 9. In Pittsburgh, the game will be broadcast on ABC 4.

Where to stream Steelers vs. Vikings

Live stream:Fubo

Cord-cutters looking to live stream the Steelers-Vikings matchup can sign up for Fubo. The streaming service carries NFL Network, as well as CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox and the ESPN family of networks, meaning you’ll be able to catch NFL games all season long.

Watch 2025 NFL action with Fubo (free trial)

Steelers’ Skylar Thompson robbed in Dublin

Backup quarterback Skylar Thompson was robbed on Friday night in Dublin. Thompson, who is on injured reserve, suffered minor injuries and is with the team.

“We are aware of a situation involving Skylar Thompson on Friday night in Dublin,’ the Steelers said in a statement to USA TODAY Sports. ‘We will have no further comment at this time as we are working with NFL security to gather more information regarding the incident.”

Adam Thielen stats

The Vikings wide receiver is back home in Minnesota and provides a decent bit of depth to an already loaded wide receiver room.

That said, Thielen only has two catches for 26 yards this season through three games.

Steelers backup RB

With Warren out vs. the Vikings, the team may turn to Kenneth Gainwell out of the backfield. Rookie Kaleb Johnson and fifth-year back Trey Sermon are behind him.

Steelers inactives today vs. Vikings

Jaylen Warren will not play today after previously labeled as expected to play. Instead, the running back will be inactive.

Here’s the Steelers active list for their matchup vs. the Vikings:

No. 24 CB Joey Porter Jr.
No. 30 RB Jaylen Warren
No. 56 LB Alex Highsmith
No. 71 G Andrus Peat
No. 93 DE Esezi Otomewo

Jaylen Warren injury update: Steelers RB will not play vs. Vikings

Warren popped up on the injury report this week with a knee injury, and the running back will not play vs. the Vikings.

Warren tried to give it a go in pregame warmups, but ultimately is inactive today.

Pittsburgh Steelers RB depth chart

With Warren out, Kenneth Gainwell may be in line to get the next most snaps. Here’s how the Steelers running backs line up:

Kenneth Gainwell
Kaleb Johnson
Trey Sermon

When do the Vikings, Steelers play today?

Start time: 8:30 a.m. CT | 9:30 a.m. ET | 2:30 p.m. IST

Vikings inactives vs. Steelers

No surprises on the inactives list for the Vikings. J.J. McCarthy headlines as the passer continues to nurse an ankle injury.

What time is the Steelers game in Ireland?

Start time: 9:30 a.m. ET | 8:30 a.m. CT | 2:30 p.m. IST

The Steelers and Vikings are set to kick of at 9:30 a.m. ET. Locally, the game is set to kick off at 2:30 p.m. Irish Standard Time.

Is Jordan Addison playing today?

The Vikings receiver is set to play after serving a three-game suspension to start the season. Addison returned to practice this week and will add another weapon for Carson Wentz to utilize.

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Minnesota Vikings injury report

Vikings schedule 2025

Below is a complete look at Minnesota’s 2025 slate of games:

Steelers vs Vikings history

The Steelers have an 8-10 overall record vs. the Vikings in their history. The odds may tip in their favor, however: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has a 17-12-1 record in his career vs. the Vikings.

Vikings defense rank

Minnesota’s defensive unit is one of the better ones in the NFL. Entering Week 4’s Sunday games, they rank ninth in points allowed and sixth in yards allowed. Their passing defense is among the best in the NFL, ranking first in touchdowns allowed and third in yards allowed.

NFL games today: Week 4 Sunday schedule

Fans tuning in for the international tilt between the Steelers and Vikings can prep themselves for a full day of football. Here’s the complete schedule for Week 4 (all times are Eastern):

Minnesota Vikings at Pittsburgh Steelers, 9:30 a.m.
Washington Commanders at Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m.
New Orleans Saints at Buffalo Bills, 1 p.m.
Cleveland Browns at Detroit Lions, 1 p.m.
Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans, 1 p.m.
Carolina Panthers at New England Patriots, 1 p.m.
Los Angeles Chargers at New York Giants, 1 p.m.
Philadelphia Eagles at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1 p.m.
Indianapolis Colts at Los Angeles Rams, 4:05 p.m.
Jacksonville Jaguars at San Francisco 49ers, 4:05 p.m.
Baltimore Ravens at Kansas City Chiefs, 4:25 p.m.
Chicago Bears at Las Vegas Raiders, 4:25 p.m.
Green Bay Packers at Dallas Cowboys, 8:20 p.m.

Steelers record in 2025

The Steelers enter their Dublin matchup at 2-1 on the season. They hold wins over the Jets and Patriots, with their sole loss coming to the Seahawks in Week 2.

Jaylen Warren stats

Through three games, Warren has 43 carries for 132 yards and no touchdowns.

Is JJ McCarthy playing today?

No, the Vikings quarterback will not suit up against the Steelers as he recovers from an ankle injury. McCarthy may play in Week 5, but an update will provide clarity on his status later this week.

Kenneth Gainwell stats

Through three games, Steelers running back Kenneth Gainwell has 55 yards on 16 rushing attempts and one touchdown. He’s also caught seven passes for 30 yards.

Where is Steelers-Vikings being played?

Venue: Croke Park
Location: Dublin, Ireland

The Steelers-Vikings matchup is the first NFL game to be played in Ireland.

Has the NFL ever had a game in Ireland?

Sunday’s game between the Steelers and Vikings in Week 4 will be the first time an NFL game takes place in Ireland.

Vikings 2025 record

The Vikings enter their Week 4 international matchup vs. the Steelers with a 2-1 record. They dispatched the Bears in Week 1 and the Bengals in Week 3. They were handed a 22-6 loss to the Falcons in Week 2.

Steelers vs. Vikings prediction

Despite the addition of Aaron Rodgers, the Steelers offense hasn’t exactly played up to snuff through three weeks. While a Week 1 explosion seemed to portend things to come, the results have been the opposite: Pittsburgh notched just 203 yards of total offense in Week 3, a step down from the 267 yards of total offense they had in Week 2. Expect the Vikings’ defense – which is among the best in the NFL through the first three weeks – to stifle the Steelers offense once again.

Prediction: Vikings 21, Steelers 17

Pittsburgh Steelers defense ranking

Overall, the Steelers are firmly middle of the pack in the NFL, according to PFF, with a 66.2 overall defensive grade. good for 15th in the league entering Sunday’s games.

They rank 22nd in points allowed and 28th in yards allowed this season, overall.

Highest-paid NFL defenders: T.J. Watt ranks high

Packers pass rusher Micah Parsons is the highest-paid NFL defender in both AAV and total contract value. Watt ranks second in AAV, but fifth in total value. Here’s a look at the top 10 defenders in each category:

AAV

Micah Parsons, edge, Packers: $46.5million
T.J. Watt, edge, Steelers: $41 million
Myles Garrett, edge, Browns: $40 million
Danielle Hunter, edge, Texans: $35.6 million
Maxx Crosby, edge, Raiders: $35.5 million
Nick Bosa, edge, 49ers: $34 million
Chris Jones, DL, Chiefs: $31.75 million
Sauce Gardner, CB, Jets: $30.1 million
Derek Stingley Jr., CB, Texans: $30 million
Nik Bonitto, edge, Broncos: $26.5 million

Total contract value

Micah Parsons, edge, Packers: $186 million
Nick Bosa, edge, 49ers: $170 million
Myles Garrett, edge, Browns: $160 million
Chris Jones, DL, Chiefs: $158.75 million
T.J. Watt, edge, Steelers: $123 million
Sauce Gardner, CB, Jets: $120.4 million
Maxx Crosby, edge, Raiders: $106.5 million
Nik Bonitto, edge, Broncos: $106 million
Milton Williams, DL, Patriots: $104 million
Zach Allen, DL, Broncos: $102 million

While Parsons tops defensive players in AAV and total contract value, he ranks just 12th and 15th across the two categories league-wide, behind a plethora of

Steelers vs. Vikings live betting odds

The Pittsburgh Steelers thought they sealed the deal.

With a minute to go in regulation, the Minnesota Vikings were looking for a game-tying, or potentially game-winning, drive. Facing a three-point deficit, Vikings QB Carson Wentz loaded up for a pass on first down before the ball fell into the arms of Steelers CB James Pierre.

The cornerback undercut the route, seemingly ending the game in Dublin.

After review, however, the ruling on the field was overturned and the pass was ruled incomplete.

It initially appeared that there wasn’t an angle to overturn the call, but another view emerged from the sideline – showing that Pierre bobbled the ball and didn’t get two feet in bounds.

Wentz would struggle to get anything going on the drive as a shorthanded Minnesota offensive line couldn’t contain the Pittsburgh pass rush.

Luckily for Pierre and the Steelers, it didn’t come back to haunt them. The Vikings couldn’t march into field goal range and Pittsburgh held on for the 24-21 victory in the NFL’s first Dublin game.

Tony Gwynn leaned over to his wife, Alicia, from his hospital bed, and whispered in her ear.

“Don’t let the people forget about me,’ Gwynn told Alicia, his wife of 33 years.

Alicia, who had known Tony since they were grade school classmates, promised she would forever protect his legacy.

‘That really dug into my heart,’ Alicia Gwynn told USA TODAY Sports, “with Tony saying, ‘Don’t let the people forget about me.’ He’d say, ‘I need you to finish the work, keep the family together.’

“I don’t think Tony let go until he knew I’d be fine.’’

Tony Gwynn, the San Diego Padres’ eight-time batting champion and Hall of Famer, died two days later on June 16, 2014. He was 54.

Gwynn was one of the greatest pure hitters in baseball history, with a .338 career batting average. And he was an even better person.

He was everyone’s favorite, from the writers, to the groundskeepers, to the batboys, to the fans.

If you knew Gwynn, you loved him.

Alicia, with two children and seven grandchildren, wanted to honor her husband the best she could, while also taking care of her family.

She and the family decided to sell virtually all of Gwynn’s memorabilia, from his Gold Glove awards to his Silver Sluggers, to his All-Star rings, to personalized bats and autographed baseballs. Only Gwynn’s Roberto Clemente Award, Hall of Fame ring and batting champion rings will remain in the family.

In all, according to Scott Keeney, founder and CEO of Realest, a sports and entertainment memorabilia authentication company, the memorabilia (via The Tony Gwynn Memorabilia Auction) could generate in excess of $1 million.

“I was always so proud of the awards, especially each Gold Glove,’’ Alicia said, “but Tony didn’t care about keeping them. He was like, ‘I know what I did. I carry my awards with my heart, I know what I did. I don’t need to see them in a glass case, I know what I did.’’’

Alicia, who moved to a smaller home after Tony’s death, needed five large storage rooms at facilities just to preserve all of the memorabilia. She realized that at some point, they needed to go.

“I’d literally go to a place to see the stuff,’’ Alicia said, “and get overwhelmed. I knew it was mentally time for me to move on and let go.’’

So she contacted Realest, had all of the memorabilia loaded into a huge 26-foot truck, and began auctioning items, using the money to help support the family and assuring that all of the grandkids will be taken care of through their young adult lives.

“The memories will always stay with me,’’ Alicia said. “I feel like I was part of the Gold Gloves and batting titles. I was on the Bazooka bucket, eight months pregnant, throwing to him and putting balls on a tee for him. I remember when people said he couldn’t play defense and he worked so hard on that. He was so proud to get those Gold Gloves.

“Those things all brought good memories, but it was more stressful hanging onto all of that stuff. I feel good about fans wanting to still buy things, letting us know how much they think of him.’’

Oh, they remember, all right. There’s a reason why Gwynn’s 1991 Gold Glove award brought in a record $62,500 alone, with his 1994 Silver Slugger selling for $52,000. They are getting bids not only from folks in San Diego, but throughout the world, Keeney says.

“When we went into this together, it was, ‘How do we keep the legacy of Tony alive?’ ‘ Keeney says. “How the history is told through these artifacts, and not just in San Diego, but across the globe.

“The Gwynn family already lived it, they don’t need the awards any longer, and are letting the fans experience it, showing how beloved Tony was to everyone.’’

The family knew the impact Gwynn had in the San Diego community, but perhaps underestimated what the rest of the world thought of him,

 “I feel good about it,’’ Alicia said. “I feel good about fans wanting to still buy that stuff. It lets me know people don’t forget, but fans tell me all of the time, ‘I’ll never forget him. Not just for the player he was, but the person he was.’

“Even before he died, Tony told me, ‘I don’t want to be remembered as a good baseball player, I want to be remembered as a good father, a good husband, a good confidant, a good friend. I did things the right way.’

“I think Tony would be proud seeing what we’re doing.’’

On Sunday in Ireland, a concert broke out at the NFL’s first Dublin game. As the Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings departed for the break, Myles Smith took centerstage to entertain the fans in attendance.

Best known for his song ‘Stargazing,’ the British singer-songwriter introduced himself to a worldwide audience in Ireland.

If you’re wondering who this breakout artist is, here’s a little background on him and a look at the halftime performance.

Who is Myles Smith?

Smith a British singer-songwriter.

The 27-year-old is a native of Luton, England and rose to fame after posting clips on TikTok, building a fanbase on the popular social media app by posting covers of other popular songs.

It wasn’t always about music for Smith though.

He initially dove into the business scene after graduating from the University of Nottingham in 2019, starting his own company at 19 and making it profitable by age-23.

‘I was earning good money, but I wasn’t fulfilled within my heart,’ Smith told Billboard in 2024. ‘That, for me, was a moment of realizing that I can’t dedicate years of my life to doing something that I know I’m truly not completely invested in.’

Eric Parker, founder of Extended Play Music Group, discovered Smith on TikTok in 2022 and reached out, becoming his manager later that year. The duo continued building an audience on social media before seeking out a traditional deal with a label.

Smith signed with RCA UK, a division of Sony Music Entertainment.

Watch the NFL Dublin game halftime show

Penn State lost 30-24 in double-overtime to No. 5 Oregon, continuing a trend of falling short in high-stakes games.
Coach James Franklin’s record against top-10 opponents dropped to 4-20, leading to fan frustration.
Quarterback Drew Allar’s performance was inconsistent, culminating in a game-ending interception in the second overtime.

STATE COLLEGE, PA – The moment was too big for James Franklin, for Drew Allar and for No. 2 Penn State. But the moment is always too big for the Nittany Lions.

Nine years ago, the Nittany Lions used a special teams touchdown to beat then-No. 2 Ohio State 24-21, landing a marquee win that at the time seemed to set the stage for a renaissance in Franklin’s third season. Looking back, the entire program should’ve posed for a picture beneath the scoreboard at Beaver Stadium, capturing for posterity a rare victory against an opponent with similarly massive expectations but the actual wherewithal to see those goals through to fruition.

This season was supposed to be different. Penn State was supposed to have learned painful lessons from a narrow loss to Notre Dame in the national semifinals of last year’s College Football Playoff. After years of missteps and fumbled opportunities, the Nittany Lions were supposed to take that last step and cross the divide separating the very good teams of the Power Four from the very, very best.

But the 30-24 double-overtime loss to No. 5 Oregon on Saturday night reestablishes the Nittany Lions as college football’s surest thing, at least in games against the best of the Bowl Subdivision: When push comes to shove, Franklin’s program will inevitably come up short.

“It’s tough for me and everyone in this program,” said senior edge rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton. “We put so much into this year-round, so when you don’t win, it’s like, what do you do that for? But we know we’re going to bounce back next week.”

In this case, the offense should take a share of the blame. Penn State scored first on a 49-yard field goal early in the second quarter but wouldn’t score against until nearly five minutes into the fourth, when Allar sparked the first of two touchdown drives to force overtime.

But those two possessions accounted for nearly half of the Nittany Lions’ 276 yards of offense. The list of issues is long and troubling, and predate the loss to the Ducks to include a troublingly ineffective run through nonconference wins against Nevada, Villanova and Florida International.

“We just didn’t execute the way we were supposed to in the beginning of the game,” said senior offensive lineman Nick Dawkins. “We got it going a little bit at the end, but that’s inexcusable. That’s not our standard.”

There is still a distinct lack of game-breaking talent at wide receiver. The Nittany Lions managed just 75 yards after the catch with just one completion of more than 16 yards, while touted Syracuse transfer Trebor Pena failed to make an impact with only two catches.

An offensive line praised during the offseason as the best of the Franklin era — damningly light praise given how this unit has played for most of the past decade — allowed five tackles for loss and two sacks, along with a number of other busted assignments in protection that hindered the timing of the Nittany Lions’ passing game.

Allar continues to be a conundrum. After missing throws for three quarters, he piloted Penn State to those two late touchdown drives by taking matters into his own hands, especially as a runner. His 42 rushing yards were the fourth-most of his career and the most since going for 54 yards in last year’s Big Ten championship game loss to the Ducks.

But struggles in tight, high-pressure spots against elite competition continue to define Allar. He was intercepted late in the fourth quarter of last year’s loss to the Fighting Irish, setting up the go-ahead field goal with seconds remaining. After the defense stopped Oregon’s 2-point conversion in the second extra frame, setting up the possibility of a walk-off touchdown, Allar’s throw on first down was intercepted by safety Dillon Thieneman.

“I’m always very critical of myself,” said Allar, who finished 14-of-25 for 137 yards. “Our process is our process, and we won’t change that. We have to learn from a lot of stuff from this game. Obviously, the outcome sucks.”

The contrast with Oregon sophomore Dante Moore was clear. In his first year as the Ducks’ starter after transferring from UCLA and spending last season in a backup role, Moore completed 29-of-39 attempts for 248 yards and three touchdowns without an interception.

“I think we have the best quarterback in college football,” Oregon coach Dan Lanning said. While that’s open to debate — Moore is one contender in a crowded competition for the title — the sophomore was easily the best quarterback here Saturday night, dramatically outplaying the Nittany Lions’ seasoned senior starter.

The offense will shoulder some of the blame; the rest falls on Franklin.

“I get that narrative, and it’s really not narrative, it’s factual. It’s the facts,” said Franklin, who dropped to 4-20 at Penn State in games against top-10 competition. “I totally get it, and I take ownership, and I take responsibility. At the end of the day, I wanted that for those kids in that locker room. How hard they work, how much they sacrifice. And we had our opportunities. We had our opportunities, but yeah, I take responsibility.”

After Penn State had dropped behind by two scores in the fourth quarter, a very audible smattering of “Fire Franklin” chants broke out in Beaver Stadium, summing up the frustrations of a fan base impatiently waiting for this program to finally take the next step a dozen seasons into his tenure.

“Fans have their opinions,” said Dawkins. “He takes the blame for all of this. We have to rewrite that narrative.”

He’s not the only established winner in the Power Four feeling the heat after the first month of the regular season. Clemson’s Dabo Swinney is on the defensive. LSU is souring on Brian Kelly. But the biggest difference between those two situations and what’s continuing to occur at Penn State is seen in how these fan bases approach this disappointment.

The question for Clemson and LSU asks: Why are we bad now? The question for the Nittany Lions asks: Why aren’t we great yet?

“We made plays. We battled,” Sutton said. “They’re a great team, as well. It’s not like they’re not a good team — they’re a great team. We competed all the way to overtime. Now we know, at least we’ve been in that position and been battle-tested. I think we’re going to learn from this and grow from this and that’s going to help us later in the season.”

The loss to Oregon puts Franklin back in familiar yet nonetheless strange territory. Among coaches in the Power Four, maybe only Swinney can match Franklin’s combination of win-now pressure against the backdrop of nearly unimpeachable job security.

Something has to change. That won’t be on offense, at least from a dramatic, back-to-the-drawing-board perspective. The personnel won’t change, especially with former backup quarterback Beau Pribula now the starter at Missouri.

What’s obvious, though, is this loss won’t be the single spark that ignites a run to the program’s first national championship in nearly four decades. The Nittany Lions have been here before, time and again against top competition, and never learned their lesson.

But there is no easy answer. Once again, Penn State looks very good, but not great. There should be something to be said for being consistently very good, as the program has been. But the Nittany Lions want to be great. After Saturday, greatness feels as far away as ever.

“The way college football is today, there’s going to be very few teams that finish the end of the season unscathed,” Franklin said. “We’ve got to learn from this. We need to have a great week next week. We’ve got to tune out all the noise, and we’ve got to get better from this and get on a roll for the rest of the season.”

Colorado lost to No. 24 BYU 24-21 after blowing an early 14-0 lead.
The Buffaloes’ record is now 2-3 overall and 0-2 in the Big 12 Conference.
Quarterback Kaidon Salter threw a late interception that sealed the loss for Colorado.

BOULDER, Colo. – Colorado football coach Deion Sanders didn’t get too hot or bothered about what happened to his team late Saturday night against No. 24 BYU.

After blowing an early lead and losing the game, 24-21, he expressed gratitude for the air conditioning at the postgame news conference and even said he wasn’t “highly upset” about the way things went for his Buffaloes.

He instead said it was “awkward.”

“Thank you, for our facility, for turning the air on for us at this late hour,” Sanders said after another long night. “Ah, Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord, lordy.”

He sounded exasperated. His team is now 2-3 overall and 0-2 in the Big 12 Conference. But he insisted it wasn’t that bad.

His team took a 14-0 lead on its first two possessions before getting outplayed and outscored the rest of the way by a margin of 24-7. Then when the Buffs got the ball back on their own 4-yard line with 1:49 remaining. quarterback Kaidon Salter threw an interception four plays later to seal the win for BYU (4-0).

“I can’t say I’m highly upset,” Sanders said. “I’m upset with a few things. But sometimes when it seems like you had more talent, but you didn’t quite win the game, it makes it feel somewhat awkward. We had opportunities, a tremendous amount of opportunities, but nevertheless we didn’t cash in on it. And sometimes it felt like the moment was just too big for some of our athletes. And they gotta do something about that.”

They don’t have much time. Colorado now must run a gauntlet in the Big 12 over the next month, starting at TCU next weekend, followed by a home game Oct. 11 against No. 13 Iowa State.

Why did Deion Sanders’ team blow this game?

By Sanders’ reasoning, it goes back to one of his constant coaching buzzwords: consistency.  

“I don’t want to single anyone out, but we got to get consistency at all positions,’ he said. ‘When we get that, you’re gonna see the continuation of what you saw early on in the game. You guys act like you can’t see, right? You see the same darn thing I see.”

A national television audience on ESPN saw it, too. So did an announced crowd of 52,265 at Folsom Field. But if this moment was “too big” for his players, can he fix that with all those bigger games coming up?

“We can try, but they gotta step up,” Sanders said of his players. “I’m not gonna make excuses for them. They gotta step up. They gotta step up. I don’t know what else I can say about it.”

Sanders’ overall record in three seasons at Colorado is now 15-15, reflecting the same kind of problem with consistency as his players. He didn’t absolve himself of blame, however.

“We gotta do better as a staff, as a team, and I gotta do better,” he said.

Quarterback play an issue again

Earlier this season, Sanders grew frustrated Salter wasn’t doing enough. He even benched him one game as a result. On Saturday, the veteran transfer from Liberty said the issue was the opposite.

“I did too much when trying to make plays,” Salter said.

One example came after BYU took a 24-21 lead early in the fourth quarter on a 32-yard gadget-play run from receiver Cody Hagen. Salter faced 3rd-and-3 from the CU 32-yard line with 12:23 remaining. But instead of throwing the ball away under heavy pressure, he ended up running backward and taking a 22-yard sack.

He was outplayed by BYU freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier, who completed 19-of-27 passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 98 yards on 15 carries.

The Buffs converted only three of 10 third downs, including one of five in the second half. Salter rushed for 49 yards and one touchdown while completing 11-of-16 passes for 119 yards and another touchdown.

Colorado defender issues an apology

At one point late in the third quarter, Salter came back to life and threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Dre’Lon Miller, helping Colorado retake the lead at 21-17.  

The Colorado defense had a chance to shut down BYU after that, when Bachmeier faced 3rd-and-17 from his own 35-yard line.  

Instead, Bachmeier scrambled upfield for 16 yards to set up a short first-down run on the next play. Three plays later, BYU took the lead for good, 24-21.

“That play is killing me right now…,” Colorado safety Tawfiq Byard said of Bachmeier’s scramble. “I just want to apologize to Buff nation. You guys were out there rocking today. You guys showed that we’re really a top program in this country, as far as the fans aspect. And now we just have to go out there and show it.”

It’ll be an uphill climb. The Buffs need four wins in their final seven regular-season games to become eligible for a postseason bowl game. A Big 12 title seems like a longshot now.

With a tough stretch ahead, this was the wrong time to take this kind of loss. Yet Sanders saw it in simple terms, the kind that could describe most defeats for most teams.

“We had tremendous opportunities to make the plays,” Sanders said, “We just didn’t.”

Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com

The PGA of America said a Ryder Cup master of ceremonies stepped down after video of an expletive-laced chant toward Rory McIlroy was posted on social media on Saturday, Sept. 27.

On Sunday, the PGA released a statement to BBC Sports announcing that comedian and actress Heather McMahan will not return to emcee the first tee on the final day at Bethpage Black. This decision follows her involvement in directing the crowd to participate in a chant directed at McIlroy.

‘Heather has extended an apology to Rory Mcllroy and Ryder Cup Europe and has stepped down from hosting the first tee of the Ryder Cup,’ the PGA of America’s statement said.

The atmosphere at the Ryder Cup has been rowdy, prompting McIlroy to curse out fans at one point during Saturday’s matches.

The European team heads into the final day of competition with a significant lead. Team Europe is leading 11.5 to Team USA’s 4.5 as the singles matches are set to tee off in a few hours.