INDIANAPOLIS — The NBA Finals TV ratings discussion is a classic struggle between the optimist and the pessimist.

One headline: ‘NBA Finals have been most-watched programs since first week of May.”

Another headline: “NBA Finals ratings down 24%.”

Two things can be true in this season’s Finals between “small-market” Indiana and Oklahoma City.

Yes, ratings are down from last season’s Finals between Boston and Dallas, and yes, the Thunder-Pacers Finals have brought in millions of viewers, including a peak of 11.54 million at 11 p.m. ET of Game 3 on Wednesday, June 11.

Of the top 10 TV shows June 2-8, four were NBA-related for ABC: Games 1 and 2 of the Finals, postgame coverage of Game 2, and the Game 1 pregame show. Those four totaled 25.6 million viewers, including 8.9 million for Game 1 and 8.7 million for Game 2, according to Nielsen.

The topic of NBA TV ratings is shaped by the teams playing; the lack of household names driving the competition even though OKC’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is this season’s MVP and Tyrese Haliburton is a two-time All-Star, 2024 Paris Olympics gold medalist and cold-blooded, game-winning shooter; a new era in which different teams are playing the Finals each season; and stars not named LeBron James, Steph Curry and Kevin Durant getting to the Finals.

The league and its TV partners need to navigate those issues, and they are focused on attracting more viewers, especially casual sports fans.

But, if you were to ask the league and Disney/ABC/ESPN if they are unhappy with the numbers, their answer is no. Would they like more viewers? Of course.

However, winning the night and winning with key demographics is exactly what they and corporate/partners advertisers want.

In today’s world of viewing consumption – streaming, multiple devices, YouTube highlights – nuance is required. Nielsen numbers are important but no longer the only factor.

“Ratings have changed from what they used to be,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said before Game 1 of the Finals. “Netflix is the most valuable pure play media company out there. Nobody in this room knows what their ratings are. We don’t even think in terms of ratings. We think maybe in terms of popularity, buzz around a program. We’re going through a transition, and we’re going to work through that.”

Silver and his business operations staff have given considerable thought to the topic. Don’t fret too much for the league. The NBA’s nine-year, $24 billion TV deal expires after the Finals, and the new 11-year, $76 billion pact with ESPN/ABC, NBC and Amazon starts next season.

That’s almost triple the previous deal. Before that deal was secured, there was skepticism that the NBA could net a deal that averaged $7 billion annually. But Silver got it done. That amount does not include the league’s media deals with international broadcast partners.

For the TV partners, the amount they agreed to pay the NBA was not arbitrarily snagged from the ether. High-paid executives analyzed the data and the financials and settled on a figure that allows their network to make money.

There is extreme value in the NBA, and that’s also reflected in the value of franchises. The Boston Celtics are expected to sell for at least a valuation of $6.1 billion, and if the NBA decides to expand, those expansion teams will go for at least $6 billion.

Live sports on TV remain desirable to traditional and modern means of consumption. The NBA’s YouTube channel has more than 20 million followers, its X account has 48 million followers, its Instagram account has 90.8 million followers and its Facebook account has 50 million followers.

In February, Disney CEO and chairman Bob Iger said, “We obviously believe in the NBA long term. We think it’s a growth sport. We don’t really look at ratings year-to-year that carefully. … We’re not distracted in any sense by what’s happening ratings-wise this season. We’re happy to have this now for 11 more years, including the Finals in 10 of those years. It is and will continue to be a marquee part of ESPN’s offering.”

Also in February, this time at All-Star Weekend in San Francisco, Silver addressed the topic with a five-minute answer when asked by USA TODAY Sports how the NBA views TV ratings and what is considered success. It’s clearly a topic that is front of mind for Silver.

“I like the challenge, frankly, because I think for the league, and together with our partners, we have to up our game at the same time,” Silver said. “There’s a lot more competition for attention than there used to be. Just think of all of your habits in the room for people who grew up watching more traditional television. …

“I don’t think that kind of engagement through social media is necessarily a substitute for watching live games because that comes up all the time. Some suggesting, ‘Well, isn’t that bad you’re training the next generation of fans who might never watch live games but only watching highlights?’ I actually think it’s additive. We have a much better chance of moving young fans, in particular, to live games if they become engaged with various forms of our content, whether it’s things that our players are doing off the floor, music they love, fashion or highlights.”

TV ratings for the NBA’s 2024-25 season were down 2% which mirrors the NFL’s 2.2% decline for its 2024 season. Through the NBA’s conference finals, playoff ratings were up 3%, and viewership for Games 1 and 2 was 50% higher than the next three highest-rated shows (“The Tony Awards,” “60 Minutes,” “America’s Got Talent”) for the week of June 2-8.

Thunder-Pacers has turned into a compelling series of talented, well-coached teams whose offensive and defensive efforts make every possession matter.

This Finals is going at least six games, and any Finals series that goes more than five games is a financial success for the league’s TV partners.

One game after blowing a big lead in the Stanley Cup Final, the Florida Panthers figured out a solution: put on a defensive gem.

The Panthers shut down the Edmonton Oilers for much of Game 5, allowing only Connor McDavid’s first goal of the series and Corey Perry’s late goal, to win 5-2 and take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Florida can clinch its second consecutive Stanley Cup title with a home victory in Game 6 on Tuesday, June 17. Game 7, if necessary, would be Friday, June 20, in Edmonton.

Brad Marchand helped the Panthers to a 3-0 lead with spectacular goals in the first and third period. He split the defense on the first goal and made a nifty move around Jake Walman on the other one.

‘What he can do under duress in a small area is world-class,’ Panthers coach Paul Maurice said. ‘It’s as good as I’ve seen.’

Sam Bennett (15th goal) and Sam Reinhart also scored for Florida, and Eetu Luostarinen added an empty-netter.

Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch gave Calvin Pickard the Game 5 start after his solid play in relief helped the Oilers rally from a 3-0 deficit for a Game 4 overtime win. Knoblauch will have to make a decision between Stuart Skinner and Pickard before the next game with Edmonton’s season on the line.

‘From what I saw, Picks didn’t have much chance on those goals: Breakaways, shots through screens, slot shots,’ he said. ‘There’s nothing saying that it was a poor performance.’

Highlights from Game 5 between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers:

Panthers vs. Oilers highlights

Game recap

Final score: Panthers 5, Oilers 2

The Panthers play a perfect road game to take a 3-2 lead in the Stanley Cup Final. Brad Marchand (two goals) was key on offense, but the Panthers also were solid on defense, holding Edmonton to 21 shots.

The Panthers celebrate the victory by shooting plastic rats at Marchand.

Score update: Panthers 5, Oilers 2

Eetu Luostarinen scores into the empty net with a long shot from his defensive zone.

Calvin Pickard to the bench again

Edmonton has extra skater. There’s 1:39 left.

Score update: Panthers 4, Oilers 2

Oilers have an extra skater again and Corey Perry scores on a slap shot from the point.

Calvin Pickard to the bench

Oilers have an extra skater.

Score update: Panthers 4, Oilers 1

Aleksander Barkov finds Sam Reinhart alone in the faceoff circle as the Panthers restore their three-goal lead.

Score update: Panthers 3, Oilers 1

Connor McDavid scores his first goal of the series with some stickhandling after a nice pass from Evan Bouchard.

Score update: Panthers 3, Oilers 0

Another spectacular move by Brad Marchand. He gets around Jake Walman and then beats Calvin Pickard.

Five minutes in

Still no shots for Edmonton in this period.

Third period underway

Panthers on power play to start. That’s killed off.

End second: Panthers 2, Oilers 0

A rare scoreless period in this series. Edmonton shows more life. Two power plays will do that. Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch is using the nuclear option of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl together. McDavid has no shots on goal, though he did hit the post. Florida’s Gustav Forsling makes some good defensive plays. Shots are 13-11 Panthers through two periods.

Panthers power play

Leon Draisaitl high sticks Dmitry Kulikov with 20 seconds left in the second period. There will be a 1:40 carryover in the third period.

Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl together

Oilers have their stars on the same line. Edmonton takes the lead in shots.

Oilers power play

Sam Reinhart clears the puck from his zone but it goes over the glass for a delay of game penalty. Edmonton got good looks on its first power play. Connor McDavid hits the post. Florida kills the rest. Edmonton gets two shots and is a 0-for-3 on the power.

Oilers power play

Gustav Forsling loses the puck to Evander Kane, who is tripped by Aaron Ekblad. Florida kills it off. Sergei Bobrovsky makes back-to-back saves on Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Corey Perry.

Second period underway

Oilers kill off the rest of the Panthers power play.

Oilers have come back before

In both of their wins in this series, the Oilers were trailing after the first period. They were down 3-0 in Game 4.

End first: Panthers 2, Oilers 0

Another strong first period by the Panthers. They’ve outscored the Oilers 7-0 in the first period in the last three games. Brad Marchand and Sam Bennett score as the Panthers get two goals on eight shots against Calvin Pickard. He had held them to one goal in Game 4. Oilers get back-to-back shots around the nine-minute mark and nothing since. They have three shots in the period.

Panthers power play

Vasily Podkolzin is calling for tripping. Seventeen seconds will carry over into the second period.

Score update: Panthers 2, Oilers 0

Sam Bennett scores his 15th goal. He starts the play by intercepting the puck in the neutral zone and feeding Matthew Tkachuk. Tkachuk’s shot is blocked and Bennett pounces on the rebound.

Oilers power play

Seth Jones is called for interference at 15:44 for the game’s first penalty. A big difference from the past few games, which featured multiple power plays in the first period. Panthers kill it off. No shots for the Oilers, who are stuck at three shots.

Big check

Florida’s Dmitry Kulikov sends Evander Kane flying.

Score update: Panthers 1, Oilers 0

What a goal by Brad Marchand. He splits the defense for a mini-breakaway and beats Calvin Pickard at 9:12. The Panthers have scored first for four games in a row.

Jonah Gadjovich injury update

The Panthers forward heads to the dressing room, TNT reports. He blocked a shot earlier in the game. And now he’s back on the bench.

Five minutes in

Still scoreless. Edmonton gets a couple good chances on Sergei Bobrovsky.

Game 5 underway

Connor McDavid line vs. Sam Bennett line. Sergei Bobrovsky makes a glove save on Connor Brown early.

When is Stanley Cup Final Game 5? Panthers vs. Oilers game time

The Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers will face off at 8 p.m. ET (6 p.m. local) at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, on Saturday, June 14.

What TV channel is Panthers vs. Oilers Game 5 on?

TNT and truTV are broadcasting Game 5 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final. Kenny Albert will provide play-by-play, while Eddie Olczyk, Brian Boucher, Darren Pang and Jackie Redmond will provide analysis and reporting.

Stream the 2025 Stanley Cup Final on Sling TV

How to watch Panthers vs. Oilers Game 5

Date: Saturday, June 14
Location: Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta
Time: 8 p.m. ET (6 p.m. MT)
TV: TNT, truTV
Streaming: Max, Sling TV

Starting lines

The Panthers are starting the Sam Bennett line. The Oilers are countering with the Connor McDavid line. Florida’s Sergei Bobrovsky vs. Edmonton’s Calvin Pickard in net.

Game 5 on-ice officials

Referees: Francis Charron and Wes McCauley

Linespersons: Scott Cherrey and Trent Knorr

Florida Panthers lineup

Edmonton Oilers lineup

Goaltending matchup

Oilers’ Calvin Pickard (7-0, 2.69 goals-against average, .896) vs. Panthers’ Sergei Bobrovsky (14-7, 2.27, .912)

Edmonton Oilers’ leading scorers

The Oilers have the top three scorers in the series: Forwards Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid are tied with a league-best 32 points, followed by defenseman Evan Bouchard (22). Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has 20 points and Draisaitl has a team-best 11 goals.

Florida Panthers’ leading scorers

The Panthers have 11 players with double-digit points, led by Sam Bennett (20), Carter Verhaeghe (19) and Brad Marchand and Matthew Tkachuk (18 each). Bennett is the playoffs’ leading goal scorer with 14.

Troy Stecher back in lineup

Oilers defenseman Troy Stecher will make a second consecutive appearance in the Stanley Cup Final. He had a turnover in Game 4 that led to the Panthers’ third goal and played only 4:18 in the game. ‘We know his game is very dependable and when we need him, he’s able to give us quality minutes,’ coach Kris Knoblauch said.

Leon Draisaitl is overtime hero

Oilers star Leon Draisaitl has four playoff overtime goals this season, setting an NHL record. He also scored six OT goals during the regular season.

Most overtime games in Stanley Cup Final

Three games in the 2025 Stanley Cup Final have gone to overtime, the most since 2014. The record is five in the 1951 final between the victorious Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens. Every game that year went to OT.

Late tying goals

The Oilers (Corey Perry, 19:42 in Game 2) and Panthers (Sam Reinhart, 19:40 in Game 4) have the two latest tying goals in Stanley Cup Final history. In each case, the team that tied the game late ended up losing in overtime.

Why Game 5 is so critical

The Stanley Cup Final has been tied 2-2 on 26 previous occasions. The team that has won Game 5 has gone on to win the Stanley Cup 19 times. The last four Game 5 winners in this situation won the Cup.

Calvin Pickard on Game 5 start

Calvin Pickard will be making his first start since the second round, but he played more than 50 minutes in Game 4 with little margin for error after entering the game at the start of the second period with his team trailing 3-0.

‘You can look at tonight as the biggest game of my life, but last game was the biggest of my life until the next one,’ he told reporters. ‘It’s rinse and repeat for me.’

Oilers lineup changes

In addition to Calvin Pickard going into the net, the Oilers are bringing back Viktor Arvidsson, who was scratched for Game 4. Kasperi Kapanen will come out of the lineup.

2025 Stanley Cup Finals schedule

Series tied 2-2

All times Eastern; (x-if necessary)

Game 1: Oilers 4, Panthers 3 | Story
Game 2:  Panthers 5, Oilers 4 (2OT) | Story
Game 3: Panthers 6, Oilers 1 | Story
Game 4: Oilers 5, Panthers 4 (OT) | Story
Game 5: Panthers 5, Oilers 2 | Story
Game 6: Tuesday, June 17, Edmonton at Florida | 8 p.m. | TNT, truTV
x-Game 7: Friday, June 20, Florida at Edmonton | 8 p.m. | TNT, truTV

Stanley Cup Final Game 5 odds: Panthers vs. Oilers betting lines

Spread: Oilers by 1.5
Moneyline: Oilers -110, Panthers -110
Over/Under: 6.5

Odds to win 2025 NHL Stanley Cup Final

Oilers -115
Panthers -105

OMAHA, NE ― Day 2 of the 2025 Men’s College World Series saw powerhouse LSU move into the winners bracket while mid-major darlings Murray State will face elimination against Arkansas.

The Tigers saw a strong start from Kade Anderson in a 4-1 win over the Razorbacks, while UCLA defeated the Racers, 6-4.

LSU and UCLA will face off on June 16 (7 p.m. ET, ESPN) for a spot in the semifinals, while Arkansas will face Murray State in the early game (2 p.m. ET, ESPN).

Here were the Day 2 winners and losers:

WINNERS

Bunting

Bunting has always been a bigger part of college baseball than MLB, but in a lower-scoring College World Series, teams have more frequently turned to the bunt. UCLA bunted twice in its victory, including one squeeze bunt by star shortstop Roch Cholowsky that got the Bruins a run.

Ironically, Bruins coach John Savage wasn’t too pleased with the play, even though it worked.

‘That was on his own,’ Savage said. ‘That was not us. I’m like, ‘Come on, Roch, what are we doing here?’ But … how can you blame a guy for playing baseball?’

Then, in the second game, with two on and one out, LSU’s Daniel Dickinson dropped down a perfect bunt single. The Tigers ultimately scored three runs in that inning.

Rocco’s Jello shots

Rocco’s, an Omaha bar most famous for its ‘Jello Shot Challenge,’ surely cheers for LSU every postseason. Tigers fans show up in droves and, known for their tailgating prowess, buy up plenty of Jell-O shots.

Now, LSU is guaranteed to be in Omaha through at least Tuesday and likely longer. That will surely net Rocco’s more cash − and Tigers fans more social media notoriety.

Freshmen

Think freshmen have become unimportant in the age of NIL and the transfer portal? Think again.

Both winning teams, UCLA and LSU, saw significant contributions from freshmen. The Tigers’ Derek Curiel had two of the biggest plate appearances of the game, coming back from down 0-2 to draw a walk in an eventual three-run second inning and hitting an RBI single for an insurance run in the eighth.

‘I think the first at-bat might have been one of the most under-noticed, most important at-bats in the game, where he fell down 0-2 to Zach Root, and fought his way back to put a runner in scoring position for the first time,’ LSU coach Jay Johnson said in the postgame press conference. ‘ … But I’m not surprised. Like I said, he was born to hit. His disposition, his demeanor is made for hitting with runners on base is made for playing in games like the College World Series.’

Several other freshmen pitchers contributed for multiple teams. The Tigers’ Casan Evans got the save with a scoreless ninth inning. UCLA’s Easton Hawk also picked up the save after Murray State chipped away at an early lead, striking out two in a perfect inning. Arkansas reliever Cole Gibler struck out three in one inning of work.

LOSERS

Home runs (again)

Day 1 in Omaha saw just one home run. But Day 2 featured teams with more offensive firepower, so perhaps the long ball would reappear?

Not so much.

Murray State and UCLA didn’t hit a single home run in their matchup and had three total extra-base hits, all doubles. Arkansas’ Reese Robinett went deep in game 2, the first no-doubt home run of the tournament.

Just two home runs have been hit so far in Omaha, and neither team that homered won its game.

Shoelaces

During the top of the fifth inning against LSU, Arkansas pitcher Gabe Gaeckle had to leave the mound and go into the dugout when his shoelace broke. Gaeckle threaded a new shoelace into his cleat and returned to the mound after a few minutes.

It certainly wasn’t a ringing endorsement of whoever made the shoelaces Gaeckle used, and it didn’t help that Steven Milam hit a single right afterward.

After that inning, Gaeckle changed out the other shoelace in the dugout.

Neutral fans

Many people in Omaha not supporting a specific team pulled for Murray State, as evidenced by the Rocco’s Jello Shot Challenge leaderboard. But the Racers will face elimination in their next game and they won’t have an easy matchup with Arkansas.

Those seeking hotel rooms in Omaha won’t be too happy with LSU’s win, either, as Tigers fans tend to be one of the largest groups in Omaha.

Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X @aria_gerson.

MIAMI GARDENS, FL — Lionel Messi knew he didn’t score, but it didn’t stop fans at the FIFA Club World Cup opener from thinking he did, and cheering until they realized he didn’t.

Messi lined up for a free kick with his legendary left boot in the 64th minute and missed outside the left post. The ball still ricocheted into the outside of the net, giving the appearance he scored.

Messi’s reaction said it all. He raised his arms over his head, through his hair, and onto the back of his head. And got back to playing. It was the second-closest moment to a score for Messi during the first match of the 2025 Club World Cup.

The next was Messi’s attempt in the closing minutes (90’+5), where he soared a shot outside the box that could have snuck into the top left corner before Al Ahly goalie Mohamed El Shenawy hit it away.

Both teams play again on Thursday, June 19: Inter Miami in Atlanta against FC Porto (Portugal), while Al Ahly faces Brazilian club Palmeiras in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

“Today is one of those days where – at least for me – with the effort, the work the team put in, the sacrifice, I think I’m leaving satisfied despite not having won,” Inter Miami’s Luis Suarez said after the match.

While the match was void of the magic Messi moment or a goal from either club, the near misses by both clubs provided plenty of drama.

Messi delivered a pass to Inter Miami’s Fafa Picault, whose header was saved by the last second by El Shenawy and over the crossbar in the 85th minute. Early in the second half, El Shenawy also stopped a kick from Inter Miami’s Tadeo Allende in front of the net.

Just before halftime, Al Ahly striker Wessam Abou Ali was the last line of defense on a floater by Suarez that Allende could have scored before it was deflected.

“We pushed really hard at the end … Their goalkeeper made three incredible saves, but it wasn’t to be. And now we’re moving on,” Inter Miami’s Benajmin Cremaschi said.

Inter Miami’s Club World Cup message to the world after the opener? That they can hang with the best. Even a club as accomplished as Al Ahly, which has won 45 Egyptian Premiere League titles – including 16 of the last 20.

Were there any empty seats? Sure, there were some despite reports of slow ticket sales. But the stadium filled out just before kickoff, and even more as the first half began.

Al Ahly supporters wearing red optically appeared to outnumber Inter Miami’s fans – wearing a variety of colors from light pink, black, aqua and orange from last year’s third kit, and Argentina’s light blue and white to support Messi. Sonically, the Al Ahly fans were louder too – until the Messi chants filled the stadium.

Too bad Messi was unable to score to lift the roof off the building, and send a message to the rest of the world that the Club World Cup has begun and will be the focal point of sports this summer in the United States.

“He’s the best player in the world, so it was a pleasure to play against him. But we had a really good chance to win,” Al Ahly’s Taher Mohamed said.

Ultimately, Inter Miami’s 38-year-old goalie Oscar Ustari was the MVP in this match – his eight saves helped his club have a respectable opener instead of the embarrassing last month in MLS play that they had before the Club World Cup.

Ustari – who surrendered 23 goals in an eight-game stretch before the tournament – saved shots by Wessam Abou Ali in the 5th minute, and Emam Ashour in the 8th minute.

Ustari’s crucial save on a penalty kick from Al Ahly’s Mahmoud Trézéguet in the 43rd minute was also a turning point, keeping Inter Miami in the match.

“I got to help the team by blocking it, and it made us change a few things for later,” Ustari said of his penalty save. “We knew what kind of game we were in for, against an intense team … but I think it was a good performance.”

Inter Miami is in must-win mode for its next two group stage matches in the Club World Cup. They have one point already, but four points could be enough to get them into the knockout stage.

Messi has never been ousted in a tournament for club or country in the group stage. Despite feeling accomplished with a draw, the pressure is on for Inter Miami to reach the next round. And for Messi to deliver.

“Everyone knows how much peace of mind it gives you to have him on your side,” Suarez said of Messi. “And I’m going to enjoy the time I have left playing alongside him and achieving important things with him, too.”

Watch every FIFA Club World Cup game free on DAZN. Sign up now.

Inter Miami vs. Al Ahly highlights

Fafa Picault’s header misses in front of net: Inter Miami 0, Al Ahly 0

Messi’s pass was in prime, but Fafa Picault’s header was barely clipped by by Al Ahly goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy and over the crossbar in the 85th minute.

Messi’s free kick fools fans: Inter Miami 0, Al Ahly 0

Messi knew he didn’t score, but he definitely fooled many inside Hard Rock Stadium. Messi barely missed his free kick outside the left post, but the ball hit the side of the net – causing fans to think he scored.

Messi’s attempt in the 64th minute was the closest Inter Miami had to score in his match, but his club’s collective energy in the second half has risen a notch in this Club World Cup opener.

Marcelo Weigandt’s shot high over net: Inter Miami 0, Al Ahly 0

Lionel Messi found a teammate in open space, but the finish by right-back defender Marcelo Weigandt was high and over the net.

Lionel Messi fires shot in 57th, but doesn’t score: Inter Miami 0, Al Ahly 0

Lionel Messi found a window, and fired a left boot toward the net. But his shot was stopped by Al Ahly goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy in the 57th minute.

Tadeo Allende’s attempt saved by Al Ahly goalie: Inter Miami 0, Al Ahly 0

Inter Miami nearly had its first shot on goal in the match. Tadeo Allende’s kick in front of the net was stopped by Al Ahly goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy in the 51st minute. Luis Suarez deflected the ball into Allende’s direction in the middle of the goal area, but Inter Miami was unable to capitalize.

Halftime: Inter Miami 0, Al Ahly 0

It’s halftime in the Club World Cup opener. It might be 0-0, but there hasn’t been a shortage in drama.

After Oscar Ustari’s save on a penalty kick, Al Ahly striker Wessam Abou Ali was the last line of defense on a floater by Luis Suarez that Tadeo Allende nearly scored. Abou Ali kicked away the pass, practically under the crossbar to keep this match scoreless heading into the second half.

Oscar Ustari blocks Mahmoud Trézéguet’s penalty kick: Inter Miami 0, Al Ahly 0

Inter Miami’s Oscar Ustari has been their MVP in the first half of this match, saving a penalty kick by Al Ahly’s Mahmoud Trézéguet in the 43rd minute. In the biggest moment of the match, Inter Miami’s goalie showed up to keep this match scoreless.

Play stops as Messi tends to hard hit: Inter Miami 0, Al Ahly 0

Lionel Messi took some time on the pitch to tend to a hit to his right knee before getting up to cheers by fans. Messi was hit by Al Ahly defender Achraf Dari, who swung through his kick and struck Messi with his cleat.

Achraf Dari’s header is saved by Oscar Ustari: Inter Miami 0, Al Ahly 0

Al Ahly defender Achraf Dari’s header was saved by Inter Miami goalie Oscar Ustari, his third save in the match.

Wessam Abou Ali offsides on goal: Inter Miami 0, Al Ahly 0

The Al Ahly fans cheered loudly, but Wessam Abou Ali was called offside to deny the opening goal in the match to the Egyptians in the 30th minute.

Messi’s free kick is high in 15th minute: Inter Miami 0, Al Ahly 0

Messi lined up for a free kick, aiming for the top left corner, but his shot soared over the net in the 15th minute. But it’s clear: The fans were waiting for a major Messi moment to unfold.

8’: Al-Ahly’s Emam Ashour has shot blocked: Inter Miami 0, Al Ahly 0

Another save by Inter Miami’s Oscar Ustari, the 38-year-old goalie who is off to a great start in this match after a shaky last month in MLS play. He blocked a shot by Emam Ashour in the 8th minute.

5’: Al Ahly’s Wessam Abou Ali misses shot: Inter Miami 0, Al Ahly 0

A shot by Al Ahly’s Wessam Abou Ali is blocked by Inter Miami goalie Oscar Ustari in the 5th minute, stopping a one-on-one opportunity between the two early in this match.

What time is Inter Miami vs. Al Ahly Club World Cup match?

The match begins at 8 p.m. ET at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.

How to watch Inter Miami vs. Ahly in Club World Cup?

The match will be broadcast on TBS in English and TUDN in Spanish, and available to live stream free on DAZN.

Fans cheer Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez at Hard Rock Stadium

Is Messi playing tonight in Club World Cup? Inter Miami starting 11 vs. Al Ahly

Defenders Jordi Alba and Gonzalo Lujan, and midfielder Yannick Bright had all been ruled out of Saturday’s game.

Al Ahly starting 11 vs. Inter Miami

Al Ahly manager José Riveiro has revealed his starting 11 for the FIFA Club World Cup opener against Inter Miami.

Wessam Abou Ali is the team’s key goal-scoring threat. Goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy is the team captain. Midfielder Emam Ashour has made 16 appearances for the Egyptian national team.

Inter Miami vs. Al Ahly betting odds

Latest odds according to BetMGM:

Spread: Al Ahly +230, Inter Miami +110, Tie +260
Over/under: 2.5 goals

Inter Miami vs. Al Ahly prediction

Inter Miami 2, Al Ahly 1: This feels like a night and stage where Lionel Messi will shine the brightest. Messi scores a goal, Luis Suarez will score the other as Inter Miami beats Al Ahly in the first match of the tournament. — Safid Deen, Lionel Messi reporter for USA TODAY Sports

What to know about Inter Miami in Club World Cup

Inter Miami and its former Barcelona stars in Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba (who won’t play due to hamstring injury) enter the Club World Cup as a bit of an underdog despite being favored to win vs. Al Ahly.

Under new coach Javier Mascherano, Inter Miami started this season unbeaten in its first 14 matches across all competitions (11 wins and three draws) but hit a major slump toward the end of April. Inter Miami was bounced by the Vancouver Whitecaps 5-1 on aggregate score in the semifinals of the Concacaf Champions Cup.

Since April 24, Inter Miami has played 10 matches – it has lost five with two draws. It was outscored 23-15 in the first eight matches, before outscoring CF Montreal and Columbus Crew 9-3 in two wins before the Club World Cup.

What to know about Al Ahly in Club World Cup

Al Alhy is regarded as one of the best teams in Africa. It has won 26 continental titles and 45 Egyptian Premiere League titles – including 16 of the last 20. It has played in the Club World Cup nine times and finished in third place in 2006, 2020, 2021 and 2023. However, the Inter Miami match will be the first for Al Ahly’s José Riveiro, who was announced as the club’s new coach on May 29.

When is Messi’s birthday?

Messi will turn 38 years old on June 24 – which is one day after Inter Miami completes its group stage matches in the Club World Cup. Messi will turn 39 during FIFA World Cup 2026, which he has not yet declared to play in for defending champion Argentina.

Will ICE or Border Patrol be at Club World Cup?

The presence of federal law enforcement officers, including those from U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) or Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), is relatively common at major sporting events, which often carry special designations that prompt more rigorous security. There are concerns that CBP and ICE will go beyond their traditional security roles at the Club World Cup.

What is the FIFA Club World Cup?

The Club World Cup features 32 of the best soccer teams from across the world, split into eight groups of four teams each. European powerhouses like Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City and Chelsea, Inter Milan and Bayern Munich will be taking on winners of previous competitions across CONCACAF, Africa, Asia and South America.

What is the Club World Cup schedule?

After Inter Miami-Al Ahly Club World Cup opener, four matches will be played across the country on Sunday.

Group C: Bayern Munich vs. Auckland City, Noon ET (Cincinnati)
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain vs. Atlético Madrid, 3 p.m. ET (Pasadena, California)
Group A: SE Palmeiras vs. FC Porto, 6 p.m. ET (East Rutherford, New Jersey)
Group B: Botafogo vs. Seattle Sounders, 10 p.m. ET (Seattle)

Here’s more on the Club World Cup groups, group stage schedule, and the full tournament schedule.

Club World Cup predictions

Winner: PSG. Paris Saint-Germain completed the treble with its demolition of Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League final, how about accomplishing a historic ‘quadruple’ by winning the Club World Cup, too? PSG has been an unstoppable force, winning the French Cup final (vs. Reims) and Champions League final by a combined score of 8-0, and expect the newly crowned European champions to carry that momentum into their next high-profile tournament.

Which MLS team has the best chance to advance? Perhaps I’m being a bit optimistic, but my bracket has both Inter Miami and Los Angeles FC advancing to the knockout rounds. They get eliminated there (by PSG and Bayern Munich, respectively), but if MLS could get just one team beyond the group stage, then the Club World Cup will be considered a success for the league. You cannot discount Lionel Messi on a stage like this, and Miami was gifted a favorable group (alongside FC Porto, Palmeiras and Al Ahly). LAFC, meanwhile, is playing with house money after defeating Club America in a play-in game thriller. The Seattle Sounders’ path to the knockout rounds is a monumental challenge with PSG and Atlético Madrid also in their group.

Teams due for a group stage upset: Aside from having two MLS teams moving on to the knockout rounds, my bracket is rather chalk. However, in Group H there’s the European entrant that seems most susceptible to not advancing: FC Salzburg. Real Madrid should win the group, but I like Liga MX’s Pachuca to advance over Salzburg. — Jim Reineking

The U.S. Open concludes Sunday with the fourth and final round of the event at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania.

Sam Burns (4-under-par for the tournament) remains at the top of the U.S. Open leaderboard for a second straight day and will tee off Sunday afternoon.

J.J. Spaun (-3) has remained competitive and enters the final day tied for second with Adam Scott (-3).

Scott shot a 67 in the third round to move up two spots on Saturday. Spaun and Burns both shot a 69.

Jordan Smith (+15), Matthieu Pavon (+16) and Cam Davis (+19) all sit at the bottom of the leaderboard. The trio will open the fourth round in the morning.

The event will be back on schedule for the final day, after a weather delay suspended play in the second round on Friday and forced an early morning on Saturday to finish out the round. The third round was also pushed back from its originally scheduled start as a result, but finished on Saturday evening.

US Open pairings: Round 4 tee times and groups

*All times listed are Eastern

7:52 a.m.: Cam Davis
8:03 a.m.: Matthieu Pavon, Jordan Smith
8:14 a.m.: Hideki Matsuyama, Harris English
8:25 a.m.: Ryan McCormick, Taylor Pendrith
8:36 a.m.: Johnny Keefer, Michael Kim
8:47 a.m.: James Nicholas, Brian Harman
8:58 a.m.: Philip Barbaree Jr., Sungjae Im
9:14 a.m.: Niklas Norgaard, Denny McCarthy
9:25 a.m.: Daniel Berger, Tony Finau
9:36 a.m.: Rory McIlroy, Andrew Novak
9:47 a.m.: Adam Schenk, Mackenzie Hughes
9:58 a.m.: Justin Hastings (a), Matt Fitzpatrick
10:09 a.m.: Collin Morikawa, Rasmus Hojgaard
10:20 a.m.: Ryan Fox, Corey Conners
10:36 a.m.: Patrick Reed, Laurie Canter
10:47 a.m.: Jon Rahm, Tom Kim
10:58 a.m.: Maverick McNealy, Xander Schauffele
11:09 a.m.: Si Woo Kim, Jhonattan Vegas
11:20 a.m.: Aaron Rai, Trevor Cone
11:31 a.m.: Jordan Spieth, J.T. Poston
11:42 a.m.: Brooks Koepka, Thomas Detry
11:58 a.m.: Jason Day, Chris Kirk
12:09 p.m.: Keegan Bradley, Sam Stevens
12:20 p.m.: Matt Wallace, Ryan Gerard
12:31 p.m.: Ben Griffin, Victor Perez

Where to watch the US Open: TV channel, streaming Sunday

The 2025 U.S. Open is being broadcast by NBC and USA Network, with the two networks splitting coverage for the third and final rounds. All rounds of the U.S. Open will be live streamed on Peacock, usopen.com, the USGA app and Fubo, which offers a free trial. Peacock will also broadcast U.S. Open All-Access, its whip-around style offering, for every round.

Final Round: Sunday, June 15

9 a.m.-12 p.m. on USA Network, Fubo
12-7 p.m. on NBC, Peacock, Fubo

Watch the U.S. Open on Fubo (free trial)

ST. LOUIS — The Michigan Panthers defeated the DC Defenders badly in their lone matchup of the 2025 UFL regular season.

The Defenders returned the favor in a 58-34 UFL championship game drubbing of the Panthers.

Jordan Ta’amu’s MVP performance fueled the Defenders. DC’s quarterback set a UFL record with 390 passing yards and had five total touchdowns during the contest. That included a 73-yard strike to receiver Ty Scott, in which Ta’amu demonstrated pinpoint accuracy and hit his receiver in stride.

Michigan’s offense had issues dealing with Blake Williams’ attacking defense but nearly broke through late. They were able to execute the UFL’s onside kick alternative, a fourth-and-12 attempt from their 28-yard line, twice and cut DC’s lead to 18 in the later stages of the fourth quarter.

However, Kiondre Thomas broke up a pass intended for Cole Hikutini to break Michigan’s streak. That allowed Defenders receiver Chris Rowland to score on a 19-yard scamper and put the game out of reach.

The victory put a bow on Shannon Harris’ first season as Defenders coach, a job he took on six days before the season opener after Reggie Barlow’s departure to take an opening at Tennessee State.

DC Defenders win 2025 UFL championship

The Defenders were able to stop the Panthers on a fourth-and-3 with 1:38 left in regulation. Michigan has just one timeout remaining, so DC will be able to run out the clock and win the 2025 UFL championship.

DC Defenders vs. Michigan Panthers UFL championship game highlights

Chris Rowland notches 19-yard TD run to re-extend Defenders lead to three scores

The Defenders were able to chew some clock with running plays and Rowland found the end zone after an 19-yard scamper. They couldn’t get the 1-point conversion, but DC’s lead is 24 with 3:33 left in regulation. Defenders 58, Panthers 34

Defenders stop Panthers fourth-and-12 attempt

After twice allowing Michigan to notch fourth-down conversions, DC finally gets a stop. Kiondre Thomas undercut Bryce Perkins’ pass to Cole Hikutini, who briefly appeared to be open before Thomas flashed in front of him. DC will now have a chance to run some clock and rest its defense while nursing an 18-point lead.

B.T. Potter makes 49-yard field goal to make it two-score game

Michigan wasn’t able to get into the end zone after their second conversion, so they attempted a 49-yard field goal. Potter’s kick was true and cut DC’s lead to 18, which is a two-score game in the UFL thanks to the league’s 3-point conversion. Defenders 52, Panthers 34

Michigan converts second consecutive fourth-and-12 to keep ball

Once again, the Panthers have managed to execute their onside kick alternative to perfection. Bryce Perkins scrambled away from pressure and found Malik Turner for 15-yard gain. This will be Michigan’s third consecutive possession, and they have held the ball for 5:29 of consecutive game time – and counting.

Malik Turner gets third TD as Panthers cut lead to 21

The Panthers made the Defenders pay for allowing them to convert the fourth-and-7. Bryce Perkins found Turner, who made a nice catch amid tight coverage for his third score of the game. Michigan couldn’t punch in a 2-point conversion, but they have cut DC’s lead to 21 with 9:57 left in regulation. Defenders 52, Panthers 31

Panthers convert fourth-and-7 to keep ball

In the UFL, teams are allowed to attempt a fourth-and-12 conversion from their 28-yard line instead of an onside kick. Michigan’s attempt became a fourth-and-7 attempt after DC jumped offside, and Bryce Perkins found Devin Ross for a 22-yard gain.

That will allow Michigan to keep the ball and try to further cut into DC’s 27-point lead.

Panthers score: Malik Turner notches second TD

The Panthers are on the board for the first time in the second half. Bryce Perkins found Turner open over the middle of the field and he managed to make his way into the end zone for a 26-yard score. The Panthers’ 2-point attempt was slightly behind the receiver, so Michigan’s deficit remains 27. Defenders 52, Panthers 25

Defenders set single-game scoring record after Briley Moore scores

Jordan Ta’amu once again had a wide-open receiver, as Moore broke away from his defender to notch a 1-yard touchdown. The score pushed the Defenders over 50 points, making them the first team in UFL history to reach that plateau.

Moore was whistled for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after the play, which moved the try back to the 17-yard line. A holding penalty on Michigan then moved the try to the 12-yard line. The Defenders couldn’t convert but now lead by 33 with 14:56 left in the fourth quarter. Defenders 52, Panthers 19

End of third quarter: Defenders in control with 46-19 lead

The Defenders are closing in on a championship as they continue to pull away from the Panthers in the second half. DC outscored Michigan 9-0 in the third quarter and will be on the goal line again to open the fourth quarter.

Jordan Ta’amu has set a single-game UFL passing record while another DC score would give Shannon Harris’ team the record for the most points scored in a UFL game.

Jordan Ta’amu sets UFL single-game passing yards record

Ta’amu hit Seth Williams for a 45-yard gain with just about three minutes remaining in the third quarter. That gave him 388 passing yards for the game, good for the most in a single game in the UFL’s two-season history.

Score update: Deon Jackson scampers for second TD

DC continues to pour it on. Jackson found a seam behind the left side of the offensive line and ran untouched into the end zone for a 19-yard score. The Defenders went for a 1-point conversion, but Abram Smith couldn’t get it. DC’s lead has now ballooned to 27, and they are threatening the record for most points scored in a UFL game. Defenders 46, Panthers 19

Bryce Perkins intercepted by Kiondre Thomas

Michigan’s first drive of the second half was not as successful as DC’s. Perkins was desperately trying to keep a play alive after scrambling left out of the pocket and then back to his right. He ultimately threw the ball downfield but sailed it directly to Thomas. The defensive back returned it to Michigan’s 31-yard line, once again putting DC in scoring range.

Defenders score: Matt McCrane makes 38-yard field goal to open second half

The Defenders continue to score every time they touch the ball. They couldn’t turn the opening possession of the second half into a touchdown, but McCrane came on to put a 38-yard field goal through the uprights to give DC a three-score lead. Defenders 40, Panthers 19

Jordan Ta’amu halftime stats

Ta’amu is on his way to a potential MVP performance at halftime. Below is a look at his statline from the first half:

Comp./Att.: 16 of 20 (80%)
Passing yards: 320
Passing TDs: 3
Interceptions: 0
Passer rating: 158.3
Carries: 4
Rushing yards: 10
Rushing TDs: 1

Who are The Black Moods?

The UFL booked The Black Moods to perform their halftime show in 2025. They are a rock band comprised of guitarist Josh Kennedy – who is originally from Wheaton, Missouri – bassist Brendan McBride and drummer Chico Diaz.

Kennedy also performed an instrumental version of the National Anthem at the UFL championship game.

Halftime score: Defenders hold 37-19 lead over Panthers

The 2024 UFL championship game was all about the Birmingham Stallions’ defense. This year, DC and Michigan are trading offensive haymakers, as they notched a combined 56 points in the first half.

Jordan Ta’amu has been the game’s star so far. The Defenders quarterback has completed 16 of 20 passes for 320 yards and three touchdowns, demonstrating pinpoint downfield accuracy throughout the game.

The Panthers offense has also been solid, with UFL MVP Bryce Perkins completing 8 of 13 passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns, but Blake Williams’ defense managed to pressure him at times in the second quarter. Those stops helped DC notch 25 unanswered points, and 31 total in the second quarter, to bring an 18-point lead into the half.

Jordan Ta’amu hits Ty Scott for 73-yard TD

The Defenders and Panthers continue to trade 70-plus-yard scores. This time, Ta’amu found Scott behind the defense and hit the 6-1 receiver in stride for the score. The Defenders couldn’t make the 2-point conversion, so DC’s lead will remain 18, which is a two-score game in the UFL. Defenders 37, Panthers 19

Bryce Perkins finds Malik Turner for 71-yard touchdown

The Panthers finally ended the Defenders’ run of 25 consecutive points. Perkins scrambled away from pressure and managed to find Turner open after his defender broke off him in an effort to contain the mobile quarterback. Turner then ran through DC’s defense and powered through a tackle near the goal-line to score.

DC used its super challenge to attempt to negate the score, but the play was upheld. Michigan could not convert the 3-point conversion, ensuring DC’s lead would remain two scores. Defenders 31, Panthers 19

Deon Jackson punches in 5-yard Defenders TD run

The Defenders continue to pour it on offensively. Jackson ran for a 5-yard touchdown before Fred Kaiss broke out the ‘Philly Special’ on the ensuing 2-point conversion. Wide receiver Jaydon Mickens’ pass to quarterback Jordan Ta’amu was on the mark, and DC has now scored 25 unanswered points.

Defenders force Panthers to punt for second consecutive possession

The Defenders forced Bryce Perkins into three consecutive incompletions after the Panthers started the drive with a first-and-15 following a too many men in the huddle penalty. As a result, Michigan was forced to punt, and DC will take over at its 45-yard line.

Jordan Ta’amu powers through Michigan defense for fourth-and-1 TD

The Defenders got to the 1-yard line on a third-down run but couldn’t pound it in. Ta’amu kept the ball off play-action and had to power his way through a couple of Michigan defenders to get the ball over the goal line.

Ta’amu then found Briley Moore for the 2-point conversion to give DC a double-digit lead with 7:13 remaining in the first half. Defenders 23, Panthers 13

Michigan fumbles kickoff return, DC gets goal-to-go opportunity

On the kickoff following the Defenders’ touchdown, DC’s special teams made a big play, stripping the ball out of the hands of Panthers returner Xavier Malone. Willie Drew Jr. was able to jump on it and set DC up with a goal-to-go opportunity from the 7-yard line.

Defenders take first lead on 19-yard Cornell Powell TD reception

The Defenders once again moved down the field with relatively little resistance from the Panthers. This time, Jordan Ta’amu found Powell open in the end zone. He managed to make the catch and get both of his feet down before going out of bounds.

DC wasn’t able to complete their 2-point conversion pass, but they still have their first lead of the game with 9:24 left in the second quarter. Defenders 15, Panthers 13

Defenders sack leads to first punt of the game

The Panthers went three-and-out following DC’s field goal. Bryce Perkins attempted to scramble away from pressure on a third-and-4 but was brought down for a 3-yard loss by Malik Fisher.

The Defenders will get the ball back and can take their first lead of the game with a score.

Score update: DC settles for field goal after goal-to-go stall-out

The Defenders couldn’t turn Jaydon Mickens’ explosive play into a touchdown. They opted to kick a field goal on fourth-and-goal from the 4-yard line and veteran Matt McCrane knocked it through with ease to cut Michigan’s lead to four. Panthers 13, Defenders 9

End of first quarter: Panthers lead 13-6 but Defenders are driving

The UFL championship game is off to a roaring start, as the Defenders and Panthers combined for a whopping 310 yards and 19 points in the first quarter. Michigan has the early lead but DC will open the second quarter with a second-and-goal play.

Jordan Ta’amu has been the game’s early star, as DC’s quarterback has completed 7 of 9 passes for 149 yards and a touchdown. Bryce Perkins has performed well for Michigan, racking up 84 yards and a touchdown while completing 6 of 7 passes. Nate McCrary (3 carries, 40 yards) has Michigan’s other score.

Defenders’ Jaydon Mickens makes 66-yard reception

Just one play after Cornell Powell’s 70-yard touchdown was wiped out, the Defenders had another massive passing play. This time, Jordan Ta’amu found Mickens open down the middle of the field for a big gain. DC now has a goal-to-go opportunity.

Defenders 70-yard TD called back by penalty

It appeared Jordan Ta’amu and the Defenders had answered immediately again after Cornell Powell had a 70-yard catch-and-run score. However, a member of the offense was illegally downfield, wiping out the score and moving DC back 5 yards.

Panthers score: Bryce Perkins finds Siaosi Mariner for 38-yard TD

Michigan got DC’s defense to bite on a play-action pass after methodically marching down the field. Perkins found Mariner wide open downfield as a result.

Once again, the Panthers went for one. This time, they passed, and Perkins was able to find Mariner to put Michigan up 7. Panthers 13, Defenders 6

Jordan Ta’amu feathers 26-yard TD pass to Jaydon Mickens

The Defenders punched back against the Panthers and scored on their first drive of the game. On a third-and-10, Ta’amu faded back to pass and lofted a pass to Mickens, streaking down the middle of the field and toward the end zone. The 31-year-old receiver had a step on his defender and caught the pass with ease.

DC tried to go for 2 after the score, but Ta’amu couldn’t find anyone open on a bootleg. The teams are tied with 5:12 remaining in the first quarter. Defenders 6, Panthers 6

Panthers open scoring with 35-yard Nate McCrary TD run

The Panthers get on the board first. McCrary, the team’s backup running back, found a lane on the left side of the defense and scampered untouched into the end zone.

Michigan wasn’t able to punch in the ensuing 1-point conversion attempt, but the Panthers have a lead early in the first quarter. Panthers 6, Defenders 0

DC Defenders win coin toss

The Defenders elected to defer, so the Panthers will begin the game with the ball. The game is officially set to kick off at 8:15 p.m. ET.

Who is home team for UFL championship game?

The Panthers are serving as the home team for the UFL championship game, which is being played at a neutral site in St. Louis. Michigan is wearing white because of its designation while DC is wearing red.

Michigan Panthers inactives

The following Michigan players will not be active for the 2025 UFL championship game: 

CB Keni-H Lovely 
RB Matthew Colburn 
LB Andrew Parker 
DE Kenny Willekes 
OT Keith Russell 
OT Brian Dooley 
TE Jalen Wydermyer 

DC Defenders inactives

The following DC players will not be active for the 2025 UFL championship game: 

S Tayler Hawkins
WR Javon Antonio 
DE Davin Bellamy 
CB Kelvin Joseph 
RB Darius Hagans 
LB Brian Abraham 
TE Ben Bresnahan 

Who is the Michigan Panthers QB?

Bryce Perkins is the starting quarterback for the Panthers. The 28-year-old went undrafted out of Virginia in 2020 but landed with the Los Angeles Rams. He spent three years in Sean McVay’s organization and was a part of the Super Bowl 56-winning squad. 

Perkins played sparingly during his first UFL season in 2024 but was named the UFL’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2025. He completed 69% of his passes for 1,342 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions in seven games while adding 269 yards and five scores on the ground.

Who is the DC Defenders QB?

Jordan Ta’amu is the starting quarterback for the Defenders. The 27-year-old has been a spring-league staple, playing five consecutive seasons dating back to the 2020 XFL campaign. 

Ta’amu was one of the league’s most prolific passers in 2025, completing 54.4% of his passes for 2,153 yards, a league-best 17 touchdowns and four interceptions. He also ran for 178 yards and two scores across nine games. 

Who is the Michigan Panthers coach?

Mike Nolan is in his third season as Michigan’s coach. The 66-year-old who coached the San Francisco 49ers from 2005-08 came out of retirement to lead the Panthers and has posted a 17-13 record across three seasons. 

Nolan led the Panthers to their first championship game appearance since the 2022 USFL reboot and earned his first-ever win over the three-time reigning champion Birmingham Stallions in the conference championship game. 

Who is the DC Defenders coach?

Shannon Harris is coaching the Defenders in 2025. He was named the team’s interim coach six days before the season after Reggie Barlow took the coaching job at Tennessee State.  

Harris led the Defenders to a 6-4 record and an upset win over the St. Louis Battlehawks in the XFL conference championship game. 

UFL championship game start time

Time: 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT) 

The Michigan Panthers vs. DC Defenders UFL championship game will kick off at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 14 at The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis. 

UFL championship game TV channel

TV: ABC 

ABC will broadcast the UFL championship game in 2025. Joe Tessitore (play-by-play) and Jordan Rodgers (analyst) will be on the call while Sam Acho and Tom Luginbill report from the sidelines. 

Erin Dolan will also be a part of ABC’s broadcast as a betting analyst. 

UFL championship game live stream

Stream: Fubo | ESPN+ 

Football fans hoping to catch the UFL championship game will be able to watch it on Fubo, which comes with a free trial, or on ESPN’s proprietary streaming service, ESPN+.

Where is the UFL championship game 2025?

Venue: The Dome at America’s Center 
Location: St. Louis, Missouri 

For the second consecutive season, St. Louis will host the UFL championship game. The contest will be played at The Dome at America’s Center, the home of the UFL’s St. Louis Battlehawks. 

The Dome has been open since 1995 and has a seating capacity of 67,277.

UFL championship game odds

The Panthers are favored to beat the Defenders in the 2025 UFL championship game, according to BetMGM.  Here is a look at the spread, moneyline and point total for the contest:

Spread: Panthers (-3.5) 
Moneyline: Panthers (-185) | Defenders (+150) 
Over/under: 50.5

What is the UFL?

The UFL is a spring football league that was created in 2024. The league formed after the USFL and XFL merged from two, separate eight-team leagues that competed head-to-head in the 2023 season into one eight-team league. 

Like its predecessors, the UFL operates with a 10-week regular season and a two-week postseason. The season begins on March 28 and will complete play with its championship game on June 14.

What does UFL stand for?

UFL stands for ‘United Football League.’ It was a familiar name chosen by the USFL and XFL after their merger, as another spring league with the United Football League moniker operated from 2009-12. 

This iteration of the UFL has no relation to that league or the spring football league that ran from 1961-64.

Who owns the UFL?

The UFL is a joint venture between Fox Sports, RedBird Capital Partners, Dany Garcia and Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. Fox Sports, which originally invested in the USFL, owns 50% of the league; the other 50% is shared by the other three partners, according to Fox Sports’ website. 

Garcia and Johnson were previously co-owners of the XFL; Garcia served as the chair of the league.

UFL teams 2025

The UFL fielded eight teams during the 2025 season. They are separated into two divisions, the USFL and XFL divisions, and are as follows: 

USFL division

Birmingham Stallions 
Houston Roughnecks 
Memphis Showboats 
Michigan Panthers 

XFL division

Arlington Renegades 
DC Defenders 
San Antonio Brahmas 
St. Louis Battlehawks 

These teams are the same eight that participated in the first UFL season. There were no relocations nor was there any expansion ahead of the 2025 campaign.

How much are UFL players paid?

UFL players have a minimum salary of $62,005 for the 2025 season, a 12.7% increase from the previous year. They will also get a small raise for the 2026 campaign, per the new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) reached earlier this season. 

Below is a look at the league’s minimum salary by year since 2024: 

2024: $55,000 
2025: $62,005 
2026: $64,000

Who won the 2024 UFL championship game?

The Birmingham Stallions won the 2024 UFL championship game. They beat the San Antonio Brahmas 25-0, marking their third consecutive spring-league title.

The dust has settled after moving day at the 2025 U.S. Open.

American Sam Burns (-3) sits atop the leaderboard following the third round of play on Saturday at Oakmont Country Club, which has proven to be a challenge as only four golfers are currently under par. Adam Scott (-2), J.J. Spaun (-2), Viktor Hovland (-1) and Carols Ortiz (E) rounds out the top five.

U.S. Open leaderboard

1. Sam Burns: -4 (F)
T2. J.J. Spaun: -3 (F)
T2. Adam Scott: -3 (F)
4. Viktor Hovland: -1 (F)
5. Carlos Ortiz: E (F)
T6. Thriston Lawrence: +1 (F)
T6. Tyrrell Hatton: +1 (F)
8. Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen: +2 (F)
T9. Robert MacIntyre: +3 (F)
T9. Cameron Young: +3 (F)

Adam Scott into the co-lead

Adam Scott is climbing up the leaderboard. The Australian golfer birdied three of the past five holes to move into the co-lead at 3-under on the day. He’s carded four total birdes in the third round and one bogey. Scott, who turns age 45 next month, looks to become one of the oldest players to win the U.S. Open. Hale Irwin became the oldest champion when he won the 1990 U.S. Open while aged 45 years and 15 days.

Sam Burns takes solo lead

Sam Burns is alone at the top. Burns took sole possession of the lead at the 2025 U.S. Open after sinking a birdie on hole No. 13, marking his second birdie of the third round. He saved par on hole No. 14 to maintain his one-stroke lead over J.J. Spaun through 14 holes.

Ben Griffin gets back to even

After scoring two-over on the front nine, Ben Griffin notched birdied on two of three holes to get his score back to even and into a tie for fourth place.

Carlos Ortiz cards 3-under third round

A bogey on No. 18 was Carlos Ortiz’s only blemish to an otherwise splendid third round at the U.S. Open. Ortiz finished the day with a 3-under, which puts him at even heading into Sunday’s final round.

In addition to the bogey, Ortiz had four birdies and pars on the other 13 holes. He enters the clubhouse three strokes behind J.J. Spaun and Sam Burns, who currently share the lead.

Tyrrell Hatton making late charge

Tyrell Hatton is back to even at the U.S. Open after putting up three birdies over his past four holes. Hatton is 3-under for the day.

Carlos Ortiz surging in third round

Carlos Ortiz went into the clubhouse after Friday’s second round at 3 over par, but he’s in the thick of contention after a sizzling third round at Oakmont.

Ortiz has made four birdies and 10 pars to move to 1-under after 14 holes. He’s in third place, just two strokes behind co-leaders J.J. Spaun and Sam Burns.

JJ Spaun tied for US Open lead

J.J. Spaun drained the first birdie on No. 1 of the day and got himself into a tie for the lead with Sam Burns.

Last group on the course trying to maintain momentum

Sam Burns (-3) and J.J. Spaun (-2) took their tee shots for the third round, as two of three golfers who are currently under par. Viktor Hovland began the day two shots back and bogeyed his first hole of the day, while J.J. Spaun took a share of the lead with a birdie on his first hole.

Two-time champ tees off for third round

Brooks Koepka, the 2017 and 2018 U.S. Open champion, began his third round at 2-over tied for ninth as the final five groups get set for their rounds with the last group starting at 3:35 p.m. Koepka started off on the par 4, 487-yard first hole and missed for a 10-foot par putt to start his day to push him back to 3-over.

2025 U.S. Open prize money, purse

The $21.5 million total purse is the same as it was last year, and the winner will also take home the same amount that Bryson DeChambeau did when he won at Pinehurst No. 2 in 2024.

1st: $4,300,000
2nd: $2,322,000
3rd: $1,459,284
4th: $1,023,014
5th: $852,073
6th: $755,520
7th: $681,131
8th: $610,034
9th: $552,103
10th: $507,118
11th: $462,792
12th: $427,901
13th: $398,716
14th: $367,995
15th: $341,663
16th: $319,719
17th: $302,164
18th: $284,609
19th: $267,054
20th: $249,499
21st: $234,358 
22nd: $219,217
23rd: $204,515
24th: $190,910
25th: $179,060
26th: $168,966
27th: $161,286
28th: $154,483
29th: $147,900
30th: $141,317
31st: $134,734
32nd: $128,151
33rd: $121,567
34th: $115,643
35th: $110,815
36th: $105,987
37th: $101,379
38th: $96,991
39th: $92,602
40th: $88,213
41st: $83,824
42nd: $79,436
43rd: $75,047
44th: $70,658
45th: $66,269
46th: $62,320
47th: $58,370
48th: $54,639
49th: $52,445
50th: $50,251
51st: $48,934
52nd: $47,837
53rd: $46,959
54th: $46,520
55th: $46,081
56th: $45,642
57th: $45,203
58th: $44,765
59th: $44,326
60th: $43,887
61st: $43,448
62nd: $43,009
63rd: $42,570
64th: $42,131
65th: $41,692
66th: $41,254

Slow starts defining third round

If golfers are expecting to get off to a fast start in the third round, the first two holes haven’t been cooperative.

The first two holes have produced only three birdies for the more-than-30 golfers that have taken the course on Saturday, and the first hole, a par 4, 487-yard hole, hasn’t recorded a single birdie. The back nine isn’t much better with one birdie carded on the 10th hole.

Future U.S. Open sites

2026: Shinnecock Hills Golf Club – Southampton, New York (June 18-21)
2027: Pebble Beach Golf Links – Pebble Beach, California (June 17-20)
2028: Winged Foot Golf Club – Mamaroneck, New York (June 15-18)
2029: Pinehurst Resort & C.C. (Course No. 2) – Village of Pinehurst, North Carolina (June 14-17)
2030: Merion Golf Club – Ardmore, Pennsylvania (June 13-16)
2031: Riviera Country Club- Pacific Palisades, California (June 12-15)
2032: Pebble Beach Golf Links – Pebble Beach, California (June 17-20)
2033: Oakmont Country Club – Oakmont, Pennsylvania (June 16-19)
2034: Oakland Hills Country Club (South Course) – Bloomfield Hills, Michigan (June 15-18)
2035: Pinehurst Resort & C.C. (Course No. 2) – Village of Pinehurst, North Carolina (June 14-17)

Rough start for golfers in third round

As the third round commences, those who are already on the golf course are having a tough time posting positive scores, with a light rain soaking the course. Almost two hours into the round, only two golfers are under par, with very few birdies. Brian Harmon got a birdie at the par-five four to improve to 6-over and Matthew Fitzpatrick has the same score after his 31-foot birdie putt on 600-yard par-five fourth hole.

Rory McIlroy, who won this tournament in 2011 and finished second in 2023 and 2024, has begun his third round and sits at 6-over through 36 holes.

Third round underway at Oakmont

Sam Burns is the 36-hole leader at the U.S. Open after the second round was completed early Saturday morning and is only one of five players who are above par heading into the weekend.

The third round is underway with golfers who barely made the cut line at 7-over par, starting with Philip Barbaree, Jr. and Cam Davis being among nine golfers set to tee off before 10 a.m. ET.

U.S. Open 2025 live leaderboard

1. Sam Burns: -3 (F)
2. J.J. Spaun: -2 (F)
3. Viktor Hovland: -1 (F)
T4. Adam Scott: E (F)
T4. Ben Griffin: E (F)
T6. Victor Perez: +1 (F)
T6. Thriston Lawrence: +1 (through 17)
T8. Russell Henley +2 (F)
T8. Brooks Koepka +2 (F)
T8. Si Woo Kim: +2 (F)
T8. Thomas Detry: +2 (F)

Click here to see the complete U.S. Open leaderboard

When will U.S. Open second round finish today?

Thirteen golfers were still on the course when the second round was suspended for inclement weather. All 13 had completed at least 16 holes, and each will pick up exactly where they left off on Saturday, June 14, beginning at 7:30 a.m. ET.

South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence, who is tied for sixth on the leaderboard at +1, is among the golfers that still need to complete the second round. Two other golfers – Chris Gotterup (+5 through 17) and Philip Barbaree Jr. (+6 through 16) are hovering around the projected cut line of +7.

Where to watch the U.S. Open: TV channel, streaming Saturday

The 2025 U.S. Open is being broadcast by NBC and USA Network, with the two networks splitting coverage for the third and final rounds. All rounds of the U.S. Open will be live streamed on Peacock, usopen.com, the USGA app and Fubo, which offers a free trial. Peacock will also broadcast U.S. Open All-Access, its whip-around style offering, for every round.

Third round: Saturday, June 14

10 a.m.-Noon ET on USA Network, Fubo
Noon-8 p.m. ET on NBC, Fubo

Watch the U.S. Open on Fubo (free trial)

US Open 2025 Saturday tee times, groups for Round 3

Tee times for the third round have been set. Here’s the complete schedule, pairings, with all players teeing off from the No. 1 tee:

All times Eastern; (a) amateur

9:12 a.m. – Philip Barbaree, Jr.
9:23 a.m. – Cam Davis, Brian Harman
9:34 a.m. – Matt Fitzpatrick, Andrew Novak
9:45 a.m. – Harris English, Hideki Matsuyama
9:56 a.m. – James Nicholas, Laurie Canter
10:07 a.m. – Ryan McCormick, Patrick Reed
10:18 a.m. – Ryan Gerard, Niklas Norgaard
10:34 a.m. – Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele
10:45 a.m. – Jordan Smith, Justin Hastings (a)
10:56 a.m. – Tony Finau, Marc Leishman
11:07 a.m. – Michael Kim, Corey Conners
11:18 a.m. – J.T. Poston, Matt Wallace
11:29 a.m. – Chris Gotterup, Johnny Keefer
11:40 a.m. – Maverick McNealy, Tom Kim
11:56 a.m. – Mackenzie Hughes, Matthieu Pavon
12:07 p.m. – Sungjae Im, Jordan Spieth
12:18 p.m. – Ryan Fox, Robert MacIntyre
12:29 p.m. – Taylor Pendrith, Trevor Cone
12:40 p.m. – Rasmus Højgaard, Aaron Rai
12:51 p.m. – Daniel Berger, Jhonattan Vegas
1:02 p.m. – Cameron Young, Scottie Scheffler
1:18 p.m. – Collin Morikawa, Denny McCarthy
1:29 p.m. – Jon Rahm, Nick Taylor
1:40 p.m. – Sam Stevens, Keegan Bradley
1:51 p.m. – Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, Carlos Ortiz
2:02 p.m. – Chris Kirk, Jason Day
2:13 p.m. – Tyrrell Hatton, Christiaan Bezuidenhout
2:24 p.m. – Adam Schenk, Max Greyserman
2:40 p.m. – Emiliano Grillo, Thomas Detry
2:51 p.m. – Si Woo Kim, Brooks Koepka
3:02 p.m. – Russell Henley, Thriston Lawrence
3:13 p.m. – Victor Perez, Ben Griffin
3:24 p.m. – Adam Scott, Viktor Hovland
3:35 p.m. – J.J. Spaun, Sam Burns

What is the weather forecast today for US Open Round 3 at Oakmont?

It could be a frustrating day for both competitors and fans if the weather forecast holds, which calls for a 100% chance of precipitation. The Weather Channel is projecting rain in the morning at Oakmont then scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. The day will begin with temperatures in the high 60s before reaching a high of 75 degrees. Humidity is expected to be around 90%.

US Open odds: Favorites at Oakmont

All odds via BetMGM as of evening of Friday, June 13

1) Sam Burns: +360
2) Viktor Hovland: +550
3) J.J. Spaun: +750
4) Scottie Scheffler: +800
5) Ben Griffin: +1200
6) Adam Scott: +1400
7) Brooks Koepka: +1800
9) Jon Rah : +2500
10) Russell Henley +3000