University of Illinois athletics is a tide of momentum, with its football program rising to No. 9 in the latest US LBM Coaches Poll ahead of Week 3.

The positives continued on Tuesday, Sept. 9 with the school announcing a $100 million donation from Larry Gies, an Illinois alum. The school will rename the Fighting Illini’s football stadium to ‘Gies Memorial Stadium’ after the gift.

Gies is a longtime Illinois donor, as the university’s business school is also named after him following a $150 million donation in 2017. It’s the largest athletics gift ever to the school and one of the biggest in college athletics history, according to the announcement.

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Gies said the donation is in honor of his father, Larry Gies Sr., a U.S. Army veteran.

‘This gift is about honoring my father, a true patriot, and every brave soul who has worn or will wear the uniform to defend our country,’ Gies said in the announcement. ‘With this investment, we can ensure that this stadium continues to be a place where their sacrifices will never be forgotten—and a shining light for every American who protects our freedom in the future.’

Illinois football coach Bret Bielema and men’s basketball coach Brad Underwood shared their thoughts on the gift.

‘Larry’s love and support for Illinois is greatly appreciated,’ Bielema said. ‘He has a special ability to impact the lives of young people, not only through his philanthropy but also by establishing meaningful relationships that extend outside of our campus and athletics. Our football program feels the results of his leadership on a daily basis by understanding our emphasis on famILLy and building sustainable success. We would not be where we are today without his influence.’

Underwood added: ‘Larry is a tremendous supporter of our program, our department, and our University. The passion he has for his alma mater shines through in every conversation we have and every game he is sitting courtside cheering us on. Larry’s loyalty and championship-level commitment is extraordinary, and the impact he’s made will be felt by everyone associated with Fighting Illini Athletics for generations to come.’

Under Bielema, Illinois won a program-high 10 wins last season after beating South Carolina in the Citrus Bowl. The men’s basketball program is the winningest team in Big Ten play during the last six years, and the women’s basketball team has reached the NCAA Tournament in two of coach Shauna Green’s first three seasons.

Gies is the founder and CEO of Madison Industries, one of the largest privately held companies in the world.

Alex Zendejas and Folarin Balogun scored goals for the USMNT in the 2-0 win.
The U.S. desperately needed a positive outcome on Tuesday night after a humbling 2-0 defeat against South Korea on Saturday.
The USMNT’s next matches come against Ecuador (Oct. 10) and Australia (Oct. 14).

Mauricio Pochettino and the U.S. men’s national soccer team got the bounce-back performance it desperately needed.

The USMNT defeated Japan, 2-0, on Tuesday, Sept. 9 in Columbus, Ohio, on goals from Alex Zendejas and Folarin Balogun. The victory came three days after a humbling 2-0 defeat against South Korea in Harrison, New Jersey.

Zendejas opened the scoring in the 30th minute with a spectacular volley off a long pass from teammate Max Arfsten, who was playing in the home stadium of his club team, the Columbus Crew. Balogun doubled the U.S. lead in the 64th minute with a nifty goal of his own as Pochettino’s squad earned a much-needed victory against a Japan side that already has qualified for the 2026 World Cup.

While Tuesday’s game was just a friendly, the USMNT needed a positive outcome after some disappointing performances — the team has endured six defeats in 2025. Even with Tuesday night’s win, Pochettino’s record with the USMNT is a less than stellar 10-1-7 since taking over as coach in September 2024. Pochettino has precious little time to turn around what has been an underperforming national team squad before next summer’s World Cup.

The USMNT’s next two matches (both friendlies) come in the next FIFA international match window in October. The U.S. will play Ecuador in Austin, Texas, on Oct. 10 before playing Australia in Colorado on Oct. 14.

USMNT vs. Japan highlights

USMNT 2, Japan 0: Folarin Balogun rewarded to excellent finish

Folarin Balogun netted his sixth career goal for the U.S. in the 64th minute with a terrific finish that got past Japan goalkeeper Keisuke Osako.

Balogun’s left-footed shot from the left side of the box came after an assist from Christian Pulisic.

The U.S. has been cruising in this one, with Japan unable to mount a significant threat to score.

Halftime: Alex Zendejas’ goal the difference at intermission

Alex Zendejas’ goal in the 30th minute remains the only tally of Tuesday night’s friendly so far.

The USMNT had eight shot attempts with five on target, compared to four shots on goal on seven attempts for Japan.

The U.S. enjoyed a 62%-to-38% advantage in possession as the team aims to end a two-game losing streak.

USMNT 1, Japan 0: Alex Zendejas nets his first international goal since 2023

The USA and Japan went a half hour of play before Alex Zendejas finally tallied the game’s first goal in the 30th minute. For Zendejas, it was his second goal for the USMNT and first since March 2023 when he scored in a 7-1 rout of Grenada in Concacaf Nations League play.

Max Arfsten earned the assist with a cross to Zendejas, who slammed home the goal on the long volley from the Columbus Crew player.

The USMNT had enjoyed the possession advantage against Japan through the game’s first 30 minutes, and it paid off with a brilliant strike.

How to watch USMNT vs. Japan: Time, TV, streaming

Date: Tuesday, Sept. 9
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Lower.com Field (Columbus, Ohio)
TV channel: TNT (English); Telemundo, Universo (Spanish)
Streaming: Max, Sling TV (English); Peacock (Spanish)

Stream USMNT vs. Japan on Sling TV

USMNT starting 11 vs. Japan

USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino has tabbed four different starters from his lineup for Saturday’s 2-0 loss to South Korea.

Defender Chris Richards, midfielder Cristian Roldan, and forwards Folarin Balogun and Alex Zendejas get the start Tuesday night. All four came on as substitutions on Saturday.

Sebastian Berhalter, Sergiño Dest, Diego Luna and Josh Sargent each started on Saturday, but will open this game on the bench.

For Christian Pulisic, this will be his 80th career USMNT cap. Max Arfsten makes the start in the home stadium of his club team, the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer.

Japan starting 11 vs. USMNT

The Samurai Blue currently are on a 13-match unbeaten streak that dates back to February 2024. 

In the most recent matchup against the U.S., Japan prevailed 2-0 in a 2022 World Cup tune-up match in Düsseldorf. Germany.

Japan was the first team (non-host nation) to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

USMNT roster for September friendlies

Goalkeepers (3): Roman Celentano (FC Cincinnati), Matt Freese (New York City FC), Jonathan Klinsmann (Cesena/Italy)
Defenders (8): Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew), Noahkai Banks (FC Augsburg/Germany), Tristan Blackmon (Vancouver Whitecaps/Canada), Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven/Netherlands), Alex Freeman (Orlando City SC), Nathan Harriel (Philadelphia Union), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/England)
Midfielders (7): Tyler Adams (Bournemouth/England), Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps/Canada), Luca de la Torre (San Diego FC), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake), Jack McGlynn (Houston Dynamo), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders), Sean Zawadski (Columbus Crew)
Forwards (6): Folarin Balogun (AS Monaco/France), Damion Downs (Southampton/England), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan/Italy), Josh Sargent (Norwich City/England), Tim Weah (Marseille/France), Alex Zendejas (Club América/Mexico)

Japan roster for USMNT friendly

Goalkeepers (3): Zion Suzuki (Parma/Italy), Keisuke Ōsako (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Tomoki Hayakawa (Kashima Antlers)
Defenders (7): Yūto Nagatomo (FC Tokyo), Kō Itakura (Ajax/Netherlands), Ayumu Seko (Le Havre/France), Tsuyoshi Watanabe (Feyenoord/Netherlands), Hayato Araki (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Hiroki Sekine (Reims/France), Yukinari Sugawara (Werder Bremen/Germany)
Midfielders (11): Wataru Endo (Liverpool/England), Takumi Minamino (Monaco/France), Junya Itō (Genk/Belgium), Ritsu Dōan (Eintracht Frankfurt/Germany), Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad/Spain), Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton & Hove Albion/England), Kaishu Sano (Mainz 05/Germany), Joel Chima Fujita (FC St. Pauli/Germany), Henry Heroki Mochizuki (Machida Zelvia), Daichi Kamada (Crystal Palace/England), Kodai Sano (NEC Nijmegen/Netherlands)
Forwards (6): Ayase Ueda (Feyenoord/Netherlands), Daizen Maeda (Celtic/Scotland), Mao Hosoya (Kashiwa Reysol), Kōki Ogawa (NEC Nijmegen/Netherlands), Shūto Machino (Borussia Mönchengladbach/Germany), Yuito Suzuki (SC Freiburg/Germany)

USMNT’s Alex Freeman is the son of Super Bowl winner Antonio Freeman

Alex Freeman, a 21-year-old defender who plays professionally for Orlando City SC of Major League Soccer, is the son of former NFL wide receiver Antonio Freeman.

Antonio Freeman spent eight of his nine NFL seasons with the Green Bay Packers, helping the team win Super Bowl XXXI. In that victory, Freeman had an 81-yard touchdown reception.

Alex Freeman, who was born in Baltimore, Maryland, signed a homegrown deal with Orlando City in 2022. He made his debut with the team on April 29, 2023 during a win over the LA Galaxy. Alex Freeman made his USMNT debut as a starter in the team’s 2-1 defeat against Turkey on June 7, and earned his ninth national team cap with a start against Japan.

USMNT to face Portugal in March friendly, per reports

The U.S. men’s national team is set to face Portugal in a March friendly, according to multiple reports.

Fox Sports reported that the USMNT-Portugal match would take place at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The 71,000-seat venue could also potentially host a match against Belgium, though Washington, D.C. and other locations are also being considered. — Seth Vertelney, Pro Soccer Wire

Mauricio Pochettino frustrated with Tim Weah’s position at Marseille

Mauricio Pochettino has expressed frustration with the amount of fullback Tim Weah has played early in his time at Marseille.

Weah has alternated between fullback and winger during the past few years of his club career, taking him from Lille to Juventus and now back to France with Marseiile.

Mauricio Pochettino: Results won’t matter until the World Cup

HARRISON, N.J. — Mauricio Pochettino has dismissed the need to win friendlies leading up to the World Cup, saying that results will only matter when the tournament kicks off next summer.

The U.S. men’s national team fell 2-0 against South Korea on Saturday, Sept. 6, as goals from Son Heung-min and Lee Dong-gyeon in the first half settled the match at Sports Illustrated Stadium.

Pochettino has now lost seven of 17 games during his tenure as USMNT head coach, particularly struggling against high-quality sides.

In 2025 alone, the USMNT has lost to Panama, Canada, Türkiye, Switzerland, Mexico and South Korea. — Seth Vertelney, Pro Soccer Wire

USMNT 2025 schedule and results

Jan. 20 (friendly) — United States 3, Venezuela 1
Jan. 22 (friendly) — United States 3, Costa Rica 0
March 20 (Concacaf Nations League) — Panama 1, United States 0
March 23 (Concacaf Nations League third-place match) — Canada 2, United States 1
June 7 (friendly) — Türkiye 2, United States 1
June 10 (friendly) — Switzerland 4, United States 0
June 15 (Concacaf Gold Cup) — United States 5, Trinidad and Tobago 0
June 19 (Concacaf Gold Cup) — United States 1, Saudi Arabia 0
June 22 (Concacaf Gold Cup) — United States 2, Haiti 1
June 29 (Concacaf Gold Cup quarterfinal) — United States 2, Costa Rica 2 (U.S. won penalty shootout, 4-3)
July 2 (Concacaf Gold Cup semifinal) — United States 2, Guatemala 1
July 6 (Concacaf Gold Cup final) — Mexico 2, United States 1
Sept. 6 (friendly) — South Korea 2, United States 0
Sept. 9 (friendly) — United States vs. Japan, 7:30 p.m. ET (Lower.com Field, Columbus, Ohio)
Oct. 10 (friendly) — United States vs. Ecuador, 8:30 p.m. ET (Q2 Stadium, Austin, Texas)
Oct. 14 (friendly) — United States vs. Australia, 9 p.m. ET (Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, Colorado)

USA TODAY Sports’ 48-page special edition commemorates 30 years of Major League Soccer, from its best players to key milestones and championship dynasties to what exciting steps are next with the World Cup ahead. Order your copy today!

Billy Napier is 20-20 in four seasons coaching Florida.
Napier survived hot seat last season before squandering goodwill with Gators’ loss to South Florida.
Hugh Freeze, then Brent Venables, put up heat shield with big wins.

It’s Billy Napier vs. The Field in the race within the SEC to claim the season’s first buyout check.

Florida’s embattled fourth-year coach coughed up the goodwill he built at the end of last season when the Gators lost, 18-16, at home to South Florida in Week 2. Fans exited The Swamp chanting for Napier’s firing.

On this edition of “SEC Football Unfiltered,” a podcast from the USA TODAY Network, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams reset the hot seat sweepstakes.

Before the season started, Toppmeyer listed Napier at No. 4 on his SEC hot seat list. He came in at No. 3 on Adams’ list.

Just two games into the season, Napier has surged into the No. 1 spot on the SEC’s hot seat chart.

Who will be fired first in the SEC: Billy Napier, or someone from the field?

Adams: It’s risky business picking Napier to win something, but I’d take Napier to win this competition to be the first SEC coach fired. Florida faces a brutal schedule, with four consecutive ranked opponents on deck. Three of those games will be played on the road. Napier won’t be the last SEC coach fired this season, but he’ll be the first.

Toppmeyer: I, too, would take Napier against the field. While Oklahoma’s Brent Venables, Auburn’s Hugh Freeze and Arkansas’ Sam Pittman put up at least a temporary heat shield with their 2-0 starts, Napier’s Gators fell into a pit of familiar blunders in their loss to the Bulls. Florida’s next two games are on the road against No. 4 LSU and No. 6 Miami, leaving open the possibility that Napier’s already coached his last game at The Swamp.

Later in the episode

∎ Adams agrees with Toppmeyer’s take: Arch Manning doesn’t stink, and he doesn’t appear destined for greatness this season. It might just be that he’s an average to a notch above average quarterback.

∎ Toppmeyer is starting to buy stock in Oklahoma’s playoff possibilities, but Adams holds off investing in the Sooners.

Week 3 picks against the spread!

Toppmeyer’s five-pack of picks (picks in bold):

∎ Oklahoma (-24.5) at Temple

∎ Louisiana-Lafayette at Missouri (-27.5)

∎ Texas A&M at Notre Dame (-6.5)

∎ Vanderbilt at South Carolina (-5.5)

∎ Oregon (-27.5) at Northwestern

Season record: 5-5 (2-3 last week)

Adams’ five-pack of picks (picks in bold):

∎ Arkansas at Mississippi (-9.5)

∎ Wisconsin at Alabama (-20.5)

∎ Florida at LSU (-9.5)

∎ Vanderbilt at South Carolina (-5.5)

∎ Buffalo (-21.5) at Kent State

Season record: 3-7 (1-4 last week)

Where to listen to SEC Football Unfiltered

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Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s national college football columnist. John Adams is the senior sports columnist for the Knoxville News Sentinel. Subscribe to the SEC Football Unfiltered podcast, and check out the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.

Colorado coach Deion Sanders wants to settle on one starting quarterback instead of rotating players.
Sophomore Ryan Staub unexpectedly outplayed the top two quarterbacks in a recent win against Delaware.
Sanders has not officially confirmed who will start the next game, but Staub has been taking first-team reps.

Colorado football coach Deion Sanders declined to confirm that sophomore Ryan Staub will start at quarterback in his team’s next game Friday night Houston but he also said he doesn’t want to play “musical chairs” with his three top quarterback candidates and instead wants to settle on one.

Sanders then referenced the game of roulette and his former jersey No. 21.

“That’s the goal,” Sanders said Tuesday, Sept. 9. “I don’t want to play musical chairs with quarterbacks. Why would I want to come to the game and do that? To spin the darn wheel and it lands on, you know, I mean, I wasn’t good at roulette… I would put everything on 21 black any day. You better believe that. Hey, I don’t want to put them on three numbers, man. I want one thing. Yeah, one thing and hopefully we get to that point.”

Sanders’ quarterback situation got an unexpected jolt last week in a 31-7 win against Delaware. Colorado (1-1) previously brought in two quarterbacks to replace Sanders’ son, Shedeur, who is now with the NFL’s Cleveland Browns. Both of those quarterbacks were listed as the top two quarterbacks on the depth chart before the first two games – Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter and celebrated freshman Julian “JuJu” Lewis.

But then Deion Sanders pulled a surprise in the second quarter against Delaware. He inserted a third quarterback into the game, Staub, who outplayed the other two with three touchdown drives in four possessions. He also gave the team an energy injection that the other two didn’t match.

This week, Staub was seen working with the first-team offensive line in a video posted Monday by Deion Sanders Jr.

“Staub has been doing a phenomenal job doing and getting a majority of the reps,” Sanders said. “But I haven’t made that assessment and decision yet.”

What is the situation with Deion Sanders’ three quarterbacks?

Each has a different set of skills and history, which adds to the delicate nature of trying to keep them all happy with only one ball to share between them:

∎ Salter led Liberty to a 13-1 season in 2023 and is in his final year of college eligibility. He started the first two games of this season for Colorado, including a 27-20 loss at home against Georgia Tech in the season opener. He led his team to a touchdown and a field goal on its first two drives against Delaware, but in his first game he also missed key throws and was tentative at times with his feet. Deion Sanders said after the opener he wanted him to be more of the dual-threat quarterback he was at Liberty.

∎ Lewis, the heralded freshman from Carrollton, Georgia, is more of a traditional drop-back passer. At age 17, he also has played the least of the three quarterbacks. He played three series in his team’s win against Delaware and completed 2 of 4 passes for 8 yards. He needs more development than the other two quarterbacks, but there’s also pressure to keep him involved for fear that he might transfer out if he’s not getting enough attention.

∎ Then there’s Staub, a redshirt sophomore who was the backup quarterback in 2023 and 2024 behind starter Shedeur Sanders. He started the final game of 2023, after Shedeur fractured his back. He played well in that 23-17 loss at Utah but barely played again until Saturday against Delaware, when he came in the game with 45 seconds left in the first half. The Buffaloes led at the time, 10-7. By the time he left the game in second half after playing four series, the Buffs led 31-7. He electrified the team by throwing two touchdown passes of 21 and 71 yards.

Staub is the hot hand, but playing him extensively risks making the other two unhappy, both of whom have business agents to help drum up income for their name, image and likeness (NIL).

‘He (Staub) took advantage of his opportunities, and that’s something that Coach Prime preaches all the time,” Colorado running back Simeon Price said. “And that goes for every single one of us. When your number is called, you go out there and show out.”

Shedeur Sanders called Ryan Staub after game

Deion Sanders said his son Shedeur called Staub after the Delaware game. He labeled Staub ‘the ultimate teammate’ and ‘ultimate character guy.’

‘First of all, you gotta understand, Staub is a lovable dude, man,’ Deion Sanders said. ‘Like everybody who’s played here previously have reached out to him and and congratulated him. … He’s always been a standup guy. No matter who’s starting, he’s always been there in support.’

One thing that Deion Sanders said was important for quarterbacks was to go ‘off-script’ when a play breaks down and make ‘three plays on his own’ per game.

‘A quarterback has to make at least three plays a game for us to be successful,’ Sanders said.

Staub showed that kind of moxie against Delaware. Now it looks like he’ll get another chance Friday night at Houston.

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

The Green Bay Packers came out swinging in Week 1 to take a dominant win over the two-time defending NFC North champion Detroit Lions.

While the offense had a strong start to the season, they were missing one piece in the wide receiving corps: Christian Watson.

The former second-round pick is still recovering from a torn ACL suffered in the regular season finale against Chicago last season. Still, the franchise opted to sign Watson to a one-year extension worth $13.25 million, per multiple reports.

Watson is still weeks away from a return to the field but the Packers are banking on a solid return.

Green Bay selected Watson in the second round, No. 34 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft out of North Dakota State. Watson had 611 receiving yards and a career-best nine total touchdowns in his rookie season, but he has since struggled to stay healthy in Green Bay.

Watson dealt with a nagging hamstring injury to start the 2023 season. Ultimately, he played in just nine games, tallying 422 receiving yards and five touchdowns in his sophomore season.

He was inactive for two games in 2024 before his ACL tear in Week 18. In 15 games of action, Watson had 29 receptions, 620 yards and a career-low two touchdowns.

This is the final year of Watson’s rookie contract and he was set to hit free agency after the season. This deal keeps him with the Packers at a low cost: $13.25 million puts him on par with fellow 2022 draftee Khalil Shakir’s average annual value (AAV), per OverTheCap.

Packers WR depth chart

Even with Watson out, the Packers are well-stocked at the wide receiver position. The franchise selected Matthew Golden with its first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and has multiple young players at the position.

Here’s how things look entering Week 2:

Romeo Doubs
Matthew Golden
Jayden Reed
Savion Williams
Malik Heath
Dontayvion Wicks

Green Bay also has wide receivers Mecole Hardman, Will Sheppard and Isaiah Neyor signed to the practice squad.

Coming off a humbling 2-0 defeat against South Korea on Saturday, Sept. 6, coach Mauricio Pochettino’s United States squad will look to rebound against another strong squad from East Asia: Japan.

Japan already has qualified for the 2026 World Cup. The USMNT has qualified by default as one of the host nations. Like the U.S., Japan will go into next year’s tournament with aspirations to make a run well into the knockout stages. In the previous two World Cups, Japan has reached the Round of 16. That represents the furthest Japan has advanced in the World Cup.

The USMNT reached the Round of 16 in the 2022 World Cup, but the squad in its current form does not appear competent enough to even accomplish that. The pressure is mounting for Pochettino and his team to improve and give American fans any sort of hope that the team can at least get through the group stage next summer. A strong showing against a quality opponent such as Japan could go a long way in building some confidence.

Halftime: Alex Zendejas’ goal the difference at intermission

Alex Zendejas’ goal in the 30th minute remains the only tally of Tuesday night’s friendly so far.

The USMNT had eight shot attempts with five on target, compared to four shots on goal on seven attempts for Japan.

The U.S. enjoyed a 62%-to-38% advantage in possession as the team aims to end a two-game losing streak.

USMNT 1, Japan 0: Alex Zendejas nets his first international goal since 2023

The USA and Japan went a half hour of play before Alex Zendejas finally tallied the game’s first goal in the 30th minute. For Zendejas, it was his second goal for the USMNT and first since March 2023 when he scored in a 7-1 rout of Grenada in Concacaf Nations League play.

Max Arfsten earned the assist with a cross to Zendejas, who slammed home the goal on the long volley from the Columbus Crew player.

The USMNT had enjoyed the possession advantage against Japan through the game’s first 30 minutes, and it paid off with a brilliant strike.

How to watch USMNT vs. Japan: Time, TV, streaming

Date: Tuesday, Sept. 9
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Lower.com Field (Columbus, Ohio)
TV channel: TNT (English); Telemundo, Universo (Spanish)
Streaming: Max, Sling TV (English); Peacock (Spanish)

Stream USMNT vs. Japan on Sling TV

USMNT starting 11 vs. Japan

USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino has tabbed four different starters from his lineup for Saturday’s 2-0 loss to South Korea.

Defender Chris Richards, midfielder Cristian Roldan, and forwards Folarin Balogun and Alex Zendejas get the start Tuesday night. All four came on as substitutions on Saturday.

Sebastian Berhalter, Sergiño Dest, Diego Luna and Josh Sargent each started on Saturday, but will open this game on the bench.

For Christian Pulisic, this will be his 80th career USMNT cap. Max Arfsten makes the start in the home stadium of his club team, the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer.

Japan starting 11 vs. USMNT

The Samurai Blue currently are on a 13-match unbeaten streak that dates back to February 2024. 

In the most recent matchup against the U.S., Japan prevailed 2-0 in a 2022 World Cup tune-up match in Düsseldorf. Germany.

Japan was the first team (non-host nation) to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

USMNT roster for September friendlies

Goalkeepers (3): Roman Celentano (FC Cincinnati), Matt Freese (New York City FC), Jonathan Klinsmann (Cesena/Italy)
Defenders (8): Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew), Noahkai Banks (FC Augsburg/Germany), Tristan Blackmon (Vancouver Whitecaps/Canada), Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven/Netherlands), Alex Freeman (Orlando City SC), Nathan Harriel (Philadelphia Union), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/England)
Midfielders (7): Tyler Adams (Bournemouth/England), Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps/Canada), Luca de la Torre (San Diego FC), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake), Jack McGlynn (Houston Dynamo), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders), Sean Zawadski (Columbus Crew)
Forwards (6): Folarin Balogun (AS Monaco/France), Damion Downs (Southampton/England), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan/Italy), Josh Sargent (Norwich City/England), Tim Weah (Marseille/France), Alex Zendejas (Club América/Mexico)

Japan roster for USMNT friendly

Goalkeepers (3): Zion Suzuki (Parma/Italy), Keisuke Ōsako (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Tomoki Hayakawa (Kashima Antlers)
Defenders (7): Yūto Nagatomo (FC Tokyo), Kō Itakura (Ajax/Netherlands), Ayumu Seko (Le Havre/France), Tsuyoshi Watanabe (Feyenoord/Netherlands), Hayato Araki (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Hiroki Sekine (Reims/France), Yukinari Sugawara (Werder Bremen/Germany)
Midfielders (11): Wataru Endo (Liverpool/England), Takumi Minamino (Monaco/France), Junya Itō (Genk/Belgium), Ritsu Dōan (Eintracht Frankfurt/Germany), Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad/Spain), Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton & Hove Albion/England), Kaishu Sano (Mainz 05/Germany), Joel Chima Fujita (FC St. Pauli/Germany), Henry Heroki Mochizuki (Machida Zelvia), Daichi Kamada (Crystal Palace/England), Kodai Sano (NEC Nijmegen/Netherlands)
Forwards (6): Ayase Ueda (Feyenoord/Netherlands), Daizen Maeda (Celtic/Scotland), Mao Hosoya (Kashiwa Reysol), Kōki Ogawa (NEC Nijmegen/Netherlands), Shūto Machino (Borussia Mönchengladbach/Germany), Yuito Suzuki (SC Freiburg/Germany)

USMNT’s Alex Freeman is the son of Super Bowl winner Antonio Freeman

Alex Freeman, a 21-year-old defender who plays professionally for Orlando City SC of Major League Soccer, is the son of former NFL wide receiver Antonio Freeman.

Antonio Freeman spent eight of his nine NFL seasons with the Green Bay Packers, helping the team win Super Bowl XXXI. In that victory, Freeman had an 81-yard touchdown reception.

Alex Freeman, who was born in Baltimore, Maryland, signed a homegrown deal with Orlando City in 2022. He made his debut with the team on April 29, 2023 during a win over the LA Galaxy. Alex Freeman made his USMNT debut as a starter in the team’s 2-1 defeat against Turkey on June 7, and earned his ninth national team cap with a start against Japan.

USMNT to face Portugal in March friendly, per reports

The U.S. men’s national team is set to face Portugal in a March friendly, according to multiple reports.

Fox Sports reported that the USMNT-Portugal match would take place at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The 71,000-seat venue could also potentially host a match against Belgium, though Washington, D.C. and other locations are also being considered. — Seth Vertelney, Pro Soccer Wire

Mauricio Pochettino frustrated with Tim Weah’s position at Marseille

Mauricio Pochettino has expressed frustration with the amount of fullback Tim Weah has played early in his time at Marseille.

Weah has alternated between fullback and winger during the past few years of his club career, taking him from Lille to Juventus and now back to France with Marseiile.

Mauricio Pochettino: Results won’t matter until the World Cup

HARRISON, N.J. — Mauricio Pochettino has dismissed the need to win friendlies leading up to the World Cup, saying that results will only matter when the tournament kicks off next summer.

The U.S. men’s national team fell 2-0 against South Korea on Saturday, Sept. 6, as goals from Son Heung-min and Lee Dong-gyeon in the first half settled the match at Sports Illustrated Stadium.

Pochettino has now lost seven of 17 games during his tenure as USMNT head coach, particularly struggling against high-quality sides.

In 2025 alone, the USMNT has lost to Panama, Canada, Türkiye, Switzerland, Mexico and South Korea. — Seth Vertelney, Pro Soccer Wire

USMNT 2025 schedule and results

Jan. 20 (friendly) — United States 3, Venezuela 1
Jan. 22 (friendly) — United States 3, Costa Rica 0
March 20 (Concacaf Nations League) — Panama 1, United States 0
March 23 (Concacaf Nations League third-place match) — Canada 2, United States 1
June 7 (friendly) — Türkiye 2, United States 1
June 10 (friendly) — Switzerland 4, United States 0
June 15 (Concacaf Gold Cup) — United States 5, Trinidad and Tobago 0
June 19 (Concacaf Gold Cup) — United States 1, Saudi Arabia 0
June 22 (Concacaf Gold Cup) — United States 2, Haiti 1
June 29 (Concacaf Gold Cup quarterfinal) — United States 2, Costa Rica 2 (U.S. won penalty shootout, 4-3)
July 2 (Concacaf Gold Cup semifinal) — United States 2, Guatemala 1
July 6 (Concacaf Gold Cup final) — Mexico 2, United States 1
Sept. 6 (friendly) — South Korea 2, United States 0
Sept. 9 (friendly) — United States vs. Japan, 7:30 p.m. ET (Lower.com Field, Columbus, Ohio)
Oct. 14 (friendly) — United States vs. Australia, 9 p.m. ET (Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, Colorado)

USA TODAY Sports’ 48-page special edition commemorates 30 years of Major League Soccer, from its best players to key milestones and championship dynasties to what exciting steps are next with the World Cup ahead. Order your copy today!

Giddey had limited leverage as a restricted free agent in a market with little available salary cap space.
The 22-year-old guard averaged career highs in assists, rebounds and steals last season.
The contract provides Chicago with a young core to build around alongside Coby White and Matas Buzelis.

The top remaining free agent in the NBA has finally reached a deal, and it’s one that makes sense for both sides.

The Chicago Bulls announced Tuesday, Sept. 9 that they have reached an agreement with point guard Josh Giddey. The team did not disclose terms of the contract, but ESPN reported it’s a four-year, $100 million deal. For both the Bulls and Giddey, a restricted free agent who saw the market dry up, this offers a win-win compromise for each party.

Giddey, 22, was reportedly seeking a long-term deal worth at least $30 million a year in average annual value.

This was a terrible offseason for any free agent looking to get paid. The Brooklyn Nets were the only team, in practical terms, that had ample salary cap space. That left Giddey with very little leverage, especially considering that he was further hamstrung by the limitations of being a restricted free agent – essentially, the Bulls would’ve had the right to match any offer sheet he would’ve signed with another team.

What new contract means for Josh Giddey

With no other suitors in a depressed market, there was no need for the Bulls to negotiate against themselves and overpay for Giddey, whose only other option was to sign the one-year qualifying offer for around $11.4 million. Had Giddey done that, he would’ve been betting on himself to post another career season, before hitting the open market next offseason.

With this deal, the Bulls show their commitment to Giddey as their point guard of the future, and do so at a relatively affordable rate. Giddey, on the other hand, gets the chance to build on the momentum he accrued late in the season.

Giddey averaged 14.6 points per game, but recorded career highs in assists (7.2), rebounds (8.1) and steals (1.2). Giddey, who has excellent size (6-foot-8) at the position, took ownership of Chicago’s offense and oversaw a significant improvement for the Bulls, particularly after the All-Star break.

Giddey, over the final 30 games of the season, averaged 18.9 points, 9.1 rebounds, 7.8 assists and 1.4 steals per game. In fact, five of Giddey’s seven triple-doubles last season came in the final month of the regular season.

What this means for the Chicago Bulls

Bulls coach Billy Donovan unlocked this productive play out of Giddey by putting the ball in his hands and allowing him the freedom to create – both for himself and for his teammates. Not only did Giddey’s play shine, but he also helped young players like rookie forward Matas Buzelis grow.

Pairing those two with shooting guard Coby White gives Chicago a nice, young core and one the Bulls can build around.

Now, it’s up to the Bulls coaching staff to continue entrusting Giddey, and it’s on the front office to put more talent around him.

One last point for Chicago: this deal signals some growth for the Bulls front office. They remained patient and didn’t cave to pressure to force an overpay – something the team learned from the five-year, $90 million contract it gave forward Patrick Williams. That deal proved premature for a player who simply hasn’t lived up to his potential.

First impressions aren’t everything in the NFL, but several rookies, veteran newcomers and coaches in new spots stood out in a big way in Week 1.
J.J. McCarthy’s first showing was ugly through three quarters, but the Vikings QB flipped the script in the fourth with three TDs.
Micah Parsons proved not only to be a one-man wrecking crew but also a force multiplier for the Packers defense.

First impressions aren’t everything in the NFL.

Recall that at this time last year, Jerod Mayo had the league buzzing about his coaching debut when he guided the New England Patriots to a stunning upset of the Cincinnati Bengals. On the flip side, the Washington Commanders didn’t look ready to compete in their 17-point loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Of course, neither data point ended up being indicative of an emerging trend.

But it’s always tantalizing to get a first glimpse of rookies, veterans in new places and coaches in new posts. Regardless of where things are headed, here are USA TODAY Sports’ ranking of the best and worst debuts from Week 1 in the NFL.

Best NFL Week 1 debuts

1. Emeka Egbuka, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

A game-winning touchdown in his first pro contest puts Egbuka above the rest of his competition. In snaring the go-ahead, 25-yard strike from Baker Mayfield to help give the Buccaneers a 23-20 win over the Atlanta Falcons, the Ohio State product joined former Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Ernest Wilford as the only players since the 1970 merger to record a game-winning touchdown reception with less than a minute remaining in regulation or overtime in his first career game. The play itself was thanks in part to the attention Mike Evans drew underneath, which left Egbuka free to burn cornerback Mike Hughes on a post route. But the 6-1, 205-pounder was the savvy and reliable presence the Buccaneers envisioned him as right out of the gates, and his contributions – four catches for 67 yards and two touchdowns – were paramount on a day when Mayfield struggled to settle in behind a reworked offensive line.

2. Micah Parsons, DE, Green Bay Packers

In just 29 snaps while still fighting a back injury, Parsons reaffirmed his place in the game’s elite class of game-wreckers. But what was truly special about the edge rusher’s first showing with Green Bay in a 27-13 win over the Detroit Lions wasn’t what he did on his own, but rather the effect he can have as a force multiplier. Beyond his sack and three pressures – one of which directly led to an Evan Williams interception before halftime – Parsons seemed to change everything for a Packers defense that previously lacked the juice to create havoc without significant schematic assistance. When Parsons was on the field, Jared Goff sped up his time to throw by more than a half-second, according to Next Gen Stats. With a promising group of playmakers – including fellow pass rusher Rashan Gary, linebacker Edgerrin Cooper and safety Xavier McKinney – poised to capitalize on the attention dedicated to Parsons, this could be the first step toward the unit becoming one of the league’s most imposing matchups.

3. Geno Smith, QB, Las Vegas Raiders

His underappreciated brand of passing now figures to be properly respected not only by Pete Carroll, under whom he revived his career in a three-year starting stretch with the Seattle Seahawks, but also a Raiders franchise desperate for some semblance of an answer behind center. Despite the soggy conditions, Smith confidently attacked the New England Patriots’ defense in a 20-13 win. He was once again unafraid to take vertical shots but largely was efficient in doing so, posting the second-highest average intended air yards (10.6) of any Week 1 quarterback while still ranking third in completion percentage over expectation (8.9), according to Next Gen Stats. The effort was all the more impressive given how lopsided the Silver and Black’s attack became with the ground game averaging just 2.3 yards per carry. Pass protection woes could be problematic down the stretch given the nine hits he took, but Smith has ample experience navigating issues up front after his time in Seattle. More importantly, he has the backing of a coaching staff that knows what it will get from him and is prepared to ride out the ups and downs of his aggressive style.

4. Pittsburgh Steelers’ veteran newcomers

A group project deserves group recognition. Naturally, Aaron Rodgers was destined to remain the focus throughout the Steelers’ 34-32 comeback win over the New York Jets, and the four-time NFL MVP shook off his recent habit of slow starts with four touchdown passes. But a game plan predicated on allowing his receivers to rack up yards after the catch – his 4.3 average intended air yards were the lowest of any quarterback in Week 1, according to Next Gen Stats – shifted plenty of responsibility to the skill-position players. Offseason acquisitions DK Metcalf (four catches, 83 yards), Ben Skowronek (one 22-yard touchdown catch) and Jonnu Smith (3-yard touchdown on a pop pass) all made meaningful contributions. But cornerback Jalen Ramsey delivered the definitive play of the day when he sealed the result by forcing a fourth-down incompletion with his perfectly timed leveling of Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson. Tougher tests await, but the present-minded approach paid off for at least one week.

5. Justin Fields, QB, New York Jets

Moral victories are clearly of no interest to Aaron Glenn and a new Jets regime not satisfied with merely being competitive. But legitimate hope is nothing to take for granted given how things have panned out for Gang Green the last two years, and Fields provided plenty of it in his first showing with his new team. His integral role in a rushing attack that reeled off 182 yards – with the quarterback accounting for two of the three scores on the ground – came as no surprise. What was most encouraging, however, was the elevated poise and precision Fields exhibited as a passer, connecting on 16 of 22 attempts for 218 yards and another touchdown. It’s probably unfair to expect Fields’ progress to be linear, as setbacks seem inevitable. But the offense’s production was early validation of a formula that should allow New York to stay in the mix in the early portion of a broader reset.

6. Daniel Jones, QB, Indianapolis Colts

There’s a good chance that much of Sunday’s 33-8 romp was more reflective of the Miami Dolphins’ problems rather than the Colts’ aptitude. But there’s not much more that could have been asked of Jones in his first game back as a starter since he was dumped by the New York Giants midway through last season. After coach Shane Steichen harped on decisiveness and precision in declaring the veteran signal-caller the winner of the quarterback competition over incumbent Anthony Richardson, Jones got the ball out quickly – his 2.52-second time to throw was the fifth lowest of the week, according to Next Gen Stats – and put Indianapolis’ playmakers in prime position to do damage. Yes, the degree of difficult was dialed down considerably. But Indianapolis will take whatever semblance of cohesion it can get after Richardson’s inconsistent results clearly wore on the franchise. The Colts also got great debuts out of rookie tight end Tyler Warren, who racked up seven catches for 76 yards, and defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, who reanimated a previously listless group with his variety of different looks.

7. J.J. McCarthy, QB, Minnesota Vikings

Maybe this is an overly forgiving assessment for a player who through three quarters looked destined to end up on the flip side of this list, especially after a particularly ill-advised pick-six. But McCarthy and the Vikings offense flipped the emerging narrative surrounding them with a surprising surge in a 27-24 win over the Chicago Bears. The 2024 first-round pick, who missed his entire rookie campaign with a torn meniscus, became the first player to score three touchdowns in the fourth quarter of his NFL debut. His performance was, as expected, linked to the efficacy of the run game, which was non-existent early on but came alive late. While McCarthy still needs plenty of help – just as coach Kevin O’Connell and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah planned for – he also demonstrated that he can at least occasionally be more than merely a product of his surroundings.

8. Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB, Washington Commanders

This nod easily could have gone to Commanders all-purpose threat Deebo Samuel Sr., who had 96 yards from scrimmage on eight touches and went full ‘wide back’ on his 19-yard touchdown scamper. But there’s no going against a rookie who had the crowd cheering his nickname whenever the announcer called him out. Elongated chants of ‘Bill’ were routine on Sunday as Croskey-Merritt piled up 82 yards on 10 carries in a 21-6 win over the New York Giants. The seventh-rounder immediately made the backfield more dynamic and explosive with four runs of 10-plus yards, including a 42-yard gain that was longer than any rush in former starter Brian Robinson Jr.’s three-year stretch with the team. There are sure to be some hiccups along the way, but the quick-cutting Croskey-Merritt unquestionably looks like a better fit than Robinson for what offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury wants to do in fully weaponizing the run game from the shotgun and pistol.

9. Jihaad Campbell, LB, Philadelphia Eagles

When the Eagles selected Campbell with the No. 31 pick in April’s draft, it stood to reason that they would slowly bring along a player who was still finding his way at his position and underwent surgery in March to repair a torn labrum. So much for that. With fellow linebacker Nakobe Dean still sidelined by the torn patellar tendon he suffered in January, Campbell was everywhere in the Eagles’ season-opening win over the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday, playing 92% of the defensive snaps. His biggest play of the night came late in the third quarter, when he forced a fumble deep in Eagles territory and ended the Cowboys’ threat of retaking the lead. The 6-3, 235-pounder also showed remarkable range in covering tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford down the seam and breaking up Dak Prescott’s pass. With Dean set to come back at some point and Zack Baun continuing to operate at an elite level after re-signing on a three-year deal this offseason, Campbell gives Howie Roseman a true embarrassment of riches in the middle of his defense.

10. Will Johnson, CB, Arizona Cardinals

It wasn’t a fall of Shedeur Sanders proportions, but the Michigan product’s tumble to the second round was one of the draft’s most intriguing Day 1 developments (Johnson ranked No. 6 overall on my final big board rankings). After a strong camp, he continued Sunday that the Cardinals possibly got a steal. In Arizona’s 20-13 win over the New Orleans Saints, Johnson provided his usual steady coverage presence while adding three pass breakups as well as an interception that was called back to a teammate’s penalty far away from the play. His highlight, however, came on a perfectly timed crushing hit that broke up a swing pass to Chris Olave. With Johnson, Garrett Williams and Max Melton all under 25, the Cardinals have the makings of a formidable secondary for years to come.

Worst NFL Week 1 debuts

1. Russell Wilson, QB, New York Giants

It took all of one game for Wilson to shift from Big Blue’s unquestioned starter to a veteran at least temporarily twisting in the wind regarding his status when Brian Daboll wouldn’t commit to keeping him in place immediately after the loss to the Commanders. At least that was clarified one day later, when Daboll shot down any notion of going to first-round pick Jaxson Dart right away. But the change in tone was notable after Giants brass went to great lengths this offseason to stifle any notion of a quarterback controversy. Wilson’s debut was a full-on systemic failure, but the combination of New York’s pervasive protection problems and the signal-caller’s panicked responses proved to be a lethal cocktail. That dynamic rendered Wilson’s deep passing ability moot, sapping the team of one of its primary sources of optimism. Inserting Dart might not be the answer, either, especially given the continued absence of left tackle Andrew Thomas, the one strong link in an otherwise broken chain. But unless Wilson and the rest of the unit can get right in a hurry, the franchise’s embattled leadership might soon have to consider taking drastic action.

2. Andre Szmyt, K, Cleveland Browns

Szmyt’s first NFL game was one to forget. The kicker not only botched an extra-point attempt that proved to be the difference in a 17-16 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, he also missed a 36-yard field-goal try that could have put Cleveland up with a little more than two minutes remaining in the game. Coach Kevin Stefanski stood by him but said ‘those are kicks that we expect him to make.’ The Browns likely won’t find themselves sticking with many teams late into games this season, so Szmyt can’t afford any recurrences of his nightmare outing.

3. John Morton, offensive coordinator, Detroit Lions

Following Ben Johnson was never going to be easy, with Morton tasked with maintaining the magic behind the league’s top scoring offense. A once tightly bound operation might not have come fully unraveled in the loss to the Packers, but the threads are surely loosening. The problems seemed to start up front, where a line that lost Kevin Zeitler and Frank Ragnow looked thoroughly out of sorts. That manifested in a ground attack that mustered just 46 yards on 22 carries. With that threat absent as Detroit tried to climb out of an early hole, Jared Goff repeatedly reverted to checkdowns to mitigate Green Bay’s pass rush, with just eight of his 39 passing attempts being delivered more than 10 yards downfield, according to Next Gen Stats. Only an impressive scoring grab by rookie Isaac TeSlaa with less than a minute remaining spared the Lions the indignity of being held without a touchdown against a division rival. Dan Campbell after the game called the issues ‘so correctable,’ but Morton has plenty to sort out after just one week.

4. Nick Caley, offensive coordinator, Houston Texans

Jettisoning Bobby Slowik and reconfiguring the offensive front were essentially musts given the toll the protection problems took on C.J. Stroud during his relative letdown of a sophomore campaign. But based on the offense’s play in a 14-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, you’d be forgiven if you briefly assumed that Houston had run things back from its 2024 form. Stroud was pressured on 41% of his dropbacks and took seven hits as the Texans were held without a touchdown and mustered just 265 yards. Given the wider reshuffling up front prompted by injuries, it should come as no surprise that Caley’s system empowering Stroud with more responsibility didn’t take hold right away. But the inability to scheme up better opportunities for Pro Bowl wide receiver Nico Collins, who finished with just 25 yards on three catches, needs to be revisited.

5. Mike Vrabel, coach, New England Patriots

A new day in New England seemed imminent upon Vrabel’s arrival, with the organization embarking on a serious free-agent spending spree to overhaul its roster. Why, then, did the Patriots present such intensely familiar feelings of ineptitude in their loss to the Raiders? Drake Maye yet again didn’t receive nearly enough support from either his surrounding personnel or the coaching staff. With quick pressures on the quarterback quickly piling up and the dead-on-arrival run game essentially abandoned, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels reverted to a bevy of throws behind or near the line of scrimmage. Meanwhile, a Raiders defense that looked prone to being exploited on the back end managed to force four three-and-outs. Most disappointing of all was New England’s overall lack of fight, as Vrabel opted to punt on a fourth-and-10 with his team down 10 points and less than five minutes remaining.