The matchup between No. 6 Miami and No. 23 South Florida has been halted due to weather.

Lightning was detected within eight miles of Hard Rock Stadium at roughly 5:25 p.m. ET. wiith Miami 14-3. There was 13:45 left in the second quarter when the teams were told to exit the field. Fans in the stadium were told to seek shelter while the teams headed to their locker rooms.

The forecast in Miami Gardens, Florida shows thunderstorms are expected until 7 p.m. ET, according to AccuWeather.

Miami-South Florida weather updates: Game still in delay

Lightning is still in the area and the game is still suspended. The CW Network, which is broadcasting the game, said the game will resume at 7:07 p.m. ET. It was originally slated to resume at 6:07 p.m. ET.

College football lightning rules

NCAA rules state games must be delayed or must stop if lightning is detected within a six-mile radius of the stadium. Teams cannot return to the field until there is no lightning in the area for 30 uninterrupted minutes. The clock to resume plays resets with each lightning strike in the radius.

After there is no lightning in the area for 30 minutes, teams are then allowed a 10-minute warm-up before play can begin or resume.

Year Two of the Kalen DeBoer era at Alabama got off to an inauspicious start, with a 31-17 loss to Florida State dampening at least some of the enthusiasm that greeted the Crimson Tide entering the 2025 college football season.

Since then, however, the Tide have been rolling — with their latest game only continuing that trend.

Stream Wisconsin vs. Alabama live with Fubo (free trial)

Alabama’s offense was ruthlessly efficient against Wisconsin, racking up 454 yards and averaging 8.7 yards per play as the Crimson Tide knocked off the Badgers 38-14 on Saturday, Sept. 13 at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Quarterback Ty Simpson was stellar for Alabama, completing 24 of his 29 passes for 382 yards and four touchdowns. Ryan Williams was his favorite target, with the sophomore phenom hauling in five passes for 165 yards and two touchdowns, both of which went for at least 40 yards. Germie Bernard added a pair of touchdowns for the Crimson Tide, one rushing and one receiving.

Since the season-opening dud against Florida State, Simpson has completed 41 of his 46 passes for 608 yards and seven touchdowns.

Wisconsin struggled for much of the day, managing only 209 yards and scoring just one offensive touchdown, which didn’t come until 5:29 remained in regulation. Starting in place of Billy Edwards Jr., Badgers quarterback Danny O’Neil completed 11 of 17 passes for 117 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, both of which ended up in the hands of Alabama safety Bray Hubbard.

USA TODAY Sports brought you live updates, scores and highlights from the game:

Wisconsin vs Alabama score

This section will be updated throughout the game

Wisconsin vs Alabama live updates

Final: Alabama 38, Wisconsin 14

Alabama vs Wisconsin highlights

Danny O’Neil TD pass gets Wisconsin first offensive points

The game is well out of hand and a win is out of the question, but Wisconsin’s still fighting.

The Badgers go 70 yards in seven plays, with much of that coming on a 41-yard touchdown pass from Danny O’Neil to Jayden Ballard to make it 38-14 with 5:29 remaining.

Alabama punts for the first time

It took until about six minutes into the fourth quarter, but at long last, Alabama has been forced to punt. A Ty Simpson pass bounces off the hands of Lotzeir Brooks on third down, wiping out what would have been at least a 14-yard gain.

Wisconsin will take over at its own 30-yard line with 9:27 left.

LT Overton injury

LT Overton, Alabama’s star defensive lineman, left the game in the second half after sustaining what was described as an upper-body injury after bringing down Wisconsin quarterback Danny O’Neil. Given the lopsided nature of this game, it’s hard to envision him returning, even if only out of an abundance of caution.

Alabama tacks on field goal

The Alabama drive stalls out in the red zone, with the Crimson Tide settling for a Conor Talty 33-yard field goal to push their lead to 38-7. Ty Simpson very nearly had his fifth touchdown pass of the game, but Ryan Williams is unable to bring in a ball that hit him in the hands in the end zone.

End of third quarter: Alabama 35, Wisconsin 7

The Crimson Tide enters the final quarter with a 28-point lead and may soon be adding on to it, with a first-and-goal from the Wisconsin 9-yard line.

Bray Hubbard gets second interception of day for Alabama

Wisconsin pieces together its best offensive drive of the day, but it ends with no points.

On a second-and-6 from the Alabama 21-yard line, Badgers quarterback Danny O’Neil tries to connect with Lance Mason, but the ball ends up in the hands of Crimson Tide safety Bray Hubbard, who comes down with his second interception of the day.

Alabama will take over at its own 13-yard line.

Ryan Williams gets second TD of half on spectacular move

For the second time in the opening four minutes of the second half, Ryan Williams has a touchdown for Alabama. And this one may have been even more extraordinary than his first one.

Williams catches a pass from Ty Simpson at the Wisconsin 21-yard line, stops on a dime on the sideline, makes two Badgers defenders miss and has a clear path to the end zone for a 41-yard touchdown.

With the extra point, the Crimson Tide lead is back to 28, 35-7, with 11 minutes left in the third quarter.

Wisconsin gets on the board with kickoff return TD

Moments after giving up a 75-yard touchdown to Alabama and Ryan Williams, Wisconsin responded with a big play of its own.

Vinny Anthony II takes the ensuing kickoff back 95 yards for a touchdown to get the Badgers some long-awaited and sorely-needed points. Wisconsin still has a long way to go, with a 21-point deficit, but at the very least, coach Luke Fickell’s team won’t be shut out.

Ryan Williams scores TD for Alabama on first play of second half

It took only 11 seconds in the second half for Alabama to add to its lead.

On the first play from scrimmage in the second half, a series of pitches ends with the ball back in the hands of Ty Simpson, who tosses it to Ryan Williams. From there, the sophomore phenom does the rest, catching the ball at his own 18-yard line, following his blockers and slicing through the Wisconsin defense for a 75-yard touchdown that gives the Crimson Tide a 28-0 lead.

Halftime: Alabama 21, Wisconsin 0

Alabama was dominant in the opening 30 minutes, outgaining Wisconsin by a 212-59 margin on its way to a 21-0 lead. It could soon get worse for the Badgers, too, with the Crimson Tide set to receive the opening kickoff of the second half.

Germie Bernard stats

Few players were quite as impactful in the first half as Germie Bernard. The wide receiver caught two passes for 48 yards and a touchdown. He made his mark on the ground, too, scoring the Crimson Tide’s first touchdown of the game on a 2-yard rush on fourth down.

Ty Simpson TD pass puts Alabama up 21-0

The Tide’s starting to roll.

A drive that started in the shadow of Alabama’s own end zone ends on the other side of the field, with the Crimson Tide marching 98 yards in eight plays and 4:58. It’s capped off by a bullet of a 13-yard touchdown pass from Ty Simpson to Isaiah Horton, giving Alabama a 21-0 lead with 45 seconds remaining in the first half.

Simpson is on a tear, with 13 completions on 14 attempts for 192 yards and two touchdowns. Since the start of Alabama’s Week 2 win against Louisiana-Monroe, Simpson has completed 30 of his past 31 passes.

Wisconsin punts again

The Badgers are able to move the ball a bit against Alabama, but facing a fourth-and-12 from the Crimson Tide 43-yard line, coach Luke Fickell opts to punt.

Wisconsin downs the ball at the Alabama 2 with 5:43 left in the first half.

Germie Bernard’s second TD doubles Alabama’s lead

Germie Bernard finds the end zone yet again for Alabama, this time through the air. The Crimson Tide wide receiver gets open across the middle, catches a pass from Ty Simpson at the Wisconsin 24-yard line and runs unimpeded the rest of the way for a 43-yard touchdown, pushing Alabama’s lead to 14-0.

The previous play, Wisconsin forced a fourth down, but Badgers linebacker Mason Reiger was flagged for a personal foul for a late hit on Simpson, giving Alabama a first down.

Jake Renfro leaves game with injury for Wisconsin

Not only are the Badgers trailing, but they’re now down one of their best players. Center Jake Renfro, who was questionable with an injury heading into the game, is rolled up on by Alabama linebacker Qua Russaw on a sack of Wisconsin quarterback Danny O’Neil. Renfro remained on the turf for a bit before walking gingerly off the field alongside team medical personnel.

After another O’Neil sack, the Badgers punt, with the Crimson Tide taking over at their own 35-yard line.

End of first quarter: Alabama 7, Wisconsin 0

Wisconsin’s got a second-and-9 at its own 41-yard line as we head into the second quarter with Alabama holding a 7-0 lead.

Germie Bernard TD gives Alabama the lead

Alabama’s second fourth-down conversion attempt went much better than their first.

On a fourth-and-1 from the Wisconsin 2-yard line, Kalen DeBoer goes for it, with Ty Simpson handing off the ball to wide receiver Germie Bernard, who bounces to the outside and dives for the pylon for a touchdown.

The Crimson Tide have a 7-0 lead with 2:24 left in the first quarter.

Alabama picks off Danny O’Neil

As it turns out, the failed fourth-down conversion didn’t end up making much of a difference.

On Wisconsin’s first play of its drive, a Danny O’Neil pass to Vinny Anthony II is intercepted by Alabama’s Bray Hubbard, who returned it 3 yards to the Crimson Tide’s 39-yard line.

A much-needed jolt of positive momentum early for Kalen DeBoer’s team.

Alabama turns it over on downs

On his team’s first possession, Kalen DeBoer makes the gutsy call to have Alabama go for it on a fourth-and-2 from its own 46-yard line. Wisconsin is able to get pressure on Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson, who’s flushed from the pocket and is unable to connect with Germie Bernard.

The Badgers have the ball in Alabama territory.

Wisconsin punts on first possession

The Badgers initially convert a third-and-4 with an 8-yard Danny O’Neil completion to Chris Brooks Jr. to the Wisconsin 46-yard line, but they’re flagged for pass interference for a pick play by another Badgers wideout.

On a third-and-19, O’Neil is sacked for a 7-yard loss and Wisconsin punts, with Alabama taking over at its own 30.

What time does Wisconsin vs Alabama start?

• Date: Saturday, Sept. 13
• Time: Noon ET
• Where: Bryant-Denny Stadium (Tuscaloosa, Alabama)

Wisconsin and Alabama are scheduled for a noon ET kickoff on Saturday, September 13 at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

What TV channel is Wisconsin vs Alabama on today?

• TV: ABC
• Streaming: Fubo (free trial)

Wisconsin vs. Alabama will broadcast nationally on ABC in Week 3 of the college football season. Joe Tessitore (play-by-play) and Jesse Palmer (analyst) will call the game from the booth at Bryant-Denny Stadium, with Katie George serving as the sideline reporter.

Streaming options for the game include Fubo, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.

Stream Wisconsin vs. Alabama live with Fubo (free trial)

Wisconsin receives opening kickoff

Alabama won the pregame coin toss and elects to defer, meaning Wisconsin will receive the opening kickoff.

Greg Sankey speaks about SEC before Wisconsin-Alabama

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey met with reporters before the Alabama vs. Wisconsin game to discuss some of the most important topics surrounding his conference.

Jam Miller injury update

Alabama running back Jam Miller, the team’s top non-quarterback rusher last season, is not expected to play against Wisconsin, according to a report from ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

Miller’s still recovering from a collarbone injury he suffered in the preseason.

Wisconsin injury updates

Here’s a look at the status of Wisconsin’s injured players heading into the Alabama game, according to the Big Ten availability report:

Out: TE Tucker Ashcraft, S Luke Emmerich, LB Evan Van Dyn Hoven, OL Kevin Heywood, OL Barrett Nelson, WR Ben Lemirand, LB Corey Walker

Questionable: QB Billy Edwards Jr., DL Charles Perkins, OL Jake Renfro

Wisconsin vs Alabama predictions

After a 73-0 drubbing of Louisiana Monroe in its home opener, Alabama is at a high even with a Tallahassee-sized chip on the team’s collective shoulder. The two-win Badgers have not seen a challenge like the Crimson Tide. With the efficiency of Alabama’s offense paired with a defense that is still looking to make a statement after the Florida State loss, the Crimson Tide should walk away and look toward SEC play with another dominating win notched to its belt.

We all know the odds are stacked against the Badgers, but is the Crimson Tide really 21 points better as the oddsmakers have listed the game? The goal this week for UW is to play respectable ball, learn more of its strengths and stay healthy with the start of Big Ten play one week away. I’m not expecting an upset this week, but a solid showing is possible.

Wisconsin football schedule 2025

Here is Wisconsin’s 2025 football schedule and results:

All times Eastern.

• Thursday, Aug. 28: Wisconsin 17, Miami (Ohio) 0
• Saturday, Sept. 6: Wisconsin 42, Middle Tennessee State 10
• Saturday, Sept. 13: at No. 18 Alabama | Noon | ABC (Fubo)
• Saturday, Sept. 20: vs. Maryland
• Saturday, Sept. 27: BYE
• Saturday, Oct. 4: at No. 22 Michigan
• Saturday, Oct. 11: vs. Iowa
• Saturday, Oct. 18: vs. No. 1 Ohio State
• Saturday, Oct. 25: at No. 5 Oregon
• Saturday, Nov. 1: BYE
• Saturday, Nov. 8: vs. Washington
• Saturday, Nov. 15: at No. 19 Indiana
• Saturday, Nov. 22: vs. No. 9 Illinois
• Saturday, Nov. 29: at Minnesota

Alabama football schedule 2025

Here is Alabama’s 2025 football schedule and results:

All times Eastern

• Saturday, Aug. 30: Florida State 31, Alabama 17
• Saturday, Sept. 6: Alabama 73, Louisiana-Monroe 0
• Saturday, Sept. 13: vs. Wisconsin | Noon | ABC (Fubo)
• Saturday, Sept. 20: BYE
• Saturday, Sept. 27: at No. 3 Georgia | 7:30 p.m. | ABC (Fubo)
• Saturday, Oct. 4: vs. Vanderbilt
• Saturday, Oct. 11: at Missouri | Noon
• Saturday, Oct. 18: vs. No. 15 Tennessee
• Saturday, Oct. 25: at No. 10 South Carolina
• Saturday, Nov. 1: BYE
• Saturday, Nov. 8: vs. No. 4 LSU
• Saturday, Nov. 15: vs. No. 16 Oklahoma
• Saturday, Nov. 22: vs. Eastern Illinois | 2 p.m.
• Saturday, Nov. 29: at Auburn

The Big Ten opener between Southern California and Purdue won’t be starting on time.

The first meeting between the Trojans and Boilermakers since 1998 is delayed due to lightning. It is taking place at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana. The game was scheduled to kick off at 3:40 p.m. ET.

Teams were instructed to stay in their locker rooms and fans were instructed to seek shelter at nearby Lambert Fieldhouse, Mackey Arena or Holloway Gymnasium, according to the Indianapolis Star, part of the USA TODAY Network.

There is a thunderstorm currently in the area, but it is not expected to last for the entirety of the evening, according to AccuWeather.

USC-Purdue weather updates: Game still delayed

The game will start at least an hour later than its original kick off time. CBS Sports, which is broadcasting the game, reported lightning flashes were in the area at 4:05 ET. That means the game can kick off no earlier than 4:45 p.m. ET.

AccuWeather’s hourly forecast shows thunderstorms are in the forecast until 6 p.m. ET. It is also expected to return around 10 p.m. ET.

College football lightning rules

NCAA rules state games must be delayed or must stop if lightning is detected within a six-mile radius of the stadium. Teams cannot return to the field until there is no lightning in the area for 30 uninterrupted minutes. The clock to resume plays resets with each lightning strike in the radius.

After there is no lightning in the area for 30 minutes, teams are then allowed a 10-minute warm-up before play can begin or resume.

AI-assisted summary
• Colorado fell to 1-2 after a 36-20 loss to Houston, leaving coach Deion Sanders ‘dumbfounded.’
• Sanders expressed uncertainty about the team’s quarterback situation after starter Ryan Staub’s performance.
• Sanders took full responsibility for the team’s performance, stating they need to improve in every phase.

HOUSTON – Colorado football coach Deion Sanders sat down on a folding chair in a warm, cramped room Friday night and tried to provide some answers about what just happened.

But he didn’t really have any.

He said he was “dumbfounded” after his team fell apart in various ways during a 36-20 loss to Houston. The loss dropped Colorado to 1-2 this season in front of an announced crowd of 37,899 at TDECU Stadium. Houston improved to 3-0 in the Big 12 Conference opener for both teams.

“Nobody could have told me that was gonna go down like that,” Sanders told reporters afterward. “There’s no way.”

Sanders even blamed “night games” for his team’s sluggishness before backtracking and noting that the opponent is playing at night, too. Sanders’ laundry list to clean up otherwise included his defense, his coaching and his quarterback situation, which remains unresolved.

“I have no idea,” Sanders said when asked about the future of that position.

At one point he was asked where he was falling below his own expectations as a coach. Which specific areas?

“Every,” Sanders said. “Every. Every. Yeah, every.”

It starts with the most important position on the field.

What did Deion Sanders say about his new quarterback?

Sanders tried a new starting quarterback Friday, Ryan Staub, who was listed as the team’s third-string passer before he came off the bench to spark the team in a 31-7 win against Delaware. Staub started slowly against Houston, leading his team to punts on four consecutive possessions to start the game. He then came alive to bring his team to within 16-14 at halftime. But then he couldn’t sustaine the momentum in the third quarter and finished with two interceptions in the fourth.

“Staub didn’t play well,” Sanders said. “I saw what you saw. He did not play well today.”

Staub completed 19 of 35 passes for 204 yards and one touchdown pass – a 37-yarder to receiver Joseph Williams with 4:34 left in the game. It was too little, too late, cutting Houston’s lead to 33-20.

“At the end of the day, it always falls on the quarterback,” Staub said.

Yet it wasn’t his fault alone. His receivers dropped passes at times and sometimes he didn’t get good protection. He was sacked three times.

In the third quarter, he barely got the ball. Colorado possessed the ball for only 2:11 of the 15-minute quarter as Houston grinded away on offense with 25 plays, compared to only five for Colorado.

“It wasn’t good,” Sanders said of the overall effort. “It wasn’t good at all. I take full responsibility of the foolishness that went on out there.”

What will Deion Sanders do at quarterback now?

He said he had no idea and wasn’t thinking about that after the game. Sanders basically has two choices: Stick with Staub and give him another shot at home next weekend against Wyoming in another night game. Or, go back to Kaidon Salter, the Liberty transfer who started Colorado’s first two games.

Celebrated freshman quarterback Julian Lewis also is an option but still is considered too young and underdeveloped at age 17.

“Our team is going to go as far as our QB room goes,” Staub said. “Those guys definitely need to stay ready, stay supportive. We need to all support each other, help each other, and yeah, this team is only going to go far as that room goes.”

What’s the deal with Colorado’s defense?

Colorado entered the game ranking among the bottom 30 in the nation in rushing defense and total defense. This time the Buffaloes gave up 209 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns, including two in the second half to Houston quarterback Conner Weigman. His last one came on a 7-yard draw with 11:39 left, helping the Cougars go up 33-14.

“We just had trouble stopping the run,” Colorado defensive back Preston Hodge said. “It’s not a specific person’s fault.”

They often bent but didn’t always break. Houston kicker Ethan Sanchez drilled five field goals of 52, 43, 47, 35 and 49 yards.

“We’re getting our butts kicked,” Sanders said of his defense.

Sanders was particularly surprised by how his team fell flat after a week of practice that left him impressed.

‘No one could have told me that this game was gonna turn out like this with the week of preparation that we had, with the meetings that we had and the film study and the preparation that we had,’ Sanders said.

Kickoff against Wyoming next Saturday is 8:15 p.m. local time (10:15 p.m. ET). A week later, the Buffs host BYU in a game at the same time.

“We gotta do better in every phase of the game,” Sanders said. “We gotta to better preparing our kids. We gotta do better period.”

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

Just two weeks remain in the 2025 Major League Baseball season with some playoff races going down to the wire, while the New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge and Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani are the heavy favorites to repeat as Most Valuable Player award winners.

While the sport’s biggest stars hog the hardware, USA TODAY Sports takes a look at one guy on every team who deserves a round of applause for their 2025 performance – from workhorse pitchers to former All-Stars reborn.

Baltimore Orioles

2B Jackson Holliday: The young man had a nice season at age 21! Sure, he only has a league-average 100 OPS+ but the former No. 1 overall pick made huge progress after a disappointing 2024 debut and has been one of the few bright spots in Baltimore’s season.

Boston Red Sox

SS Trevor Story: His first three years in Boston couldn’t have gone much worse, but Story has stayed healthy in 2025 and had 15 homers with 56 RBIs and an .857 OPS in 75 games from the day Rafael Devers was traded.

New York Yankees

OF Giancarlo Stanton: Has absolutely mashed since his June debut with 20 homers and 49 RBIs in 61 games and unexpectedly became an outfielder again, stepping in so that Aaron Judge could DH.

Tampa Bay Rays

SP Ryan Pepiot: Acquired from the Dodgers in the Tyler Glasnow trade, Pepiot had another strong year as a full-time starter, tossing 163 innings over 29 starts this season. He’s under team control through 2028.

Toronto Blue Jays

RP Yariel Rodriguez: With Jeff Hoffman far from a sure thing in the ninth inning, Rodriguez has been an anchor in high-leverage situations for John Schneider and Toronto.

Chicago White Sox

RP Jordan Leasure: A product of the Division II powerhouse University of Tampa, Leasure has earned a part-time ninth-inning role with 73 strikeouts in 62 appearances, racking up 12 holds and seven saves.

Cleveland Guardians

1B Kyle Manzardo: Manzardo just turned 24 and has an .801 OPS with 26 home runs in his first full season following an impressive 2024 ALCS.

Detroit Tigers

C Dillon Dingler: Has firmly established himself as the team’s catcher of the future, batting .282 with 13 homers and 55 RBIs in 390 at-bats while throwing out would-be base stealers at an elite 33.3% clip.

Kansas City Royals

SP Michael Wacha: Just went on the injured list but Wacha has turned in another strong season and helped keep Kansas City in the wild-card hunt. It’s the 34-year-old veteran’s fourth season in a row with an ERA under 3.50.

Minnesota Twins

CF Byron Buxton: Having the best season of his career with 31 home runs and a .905 OPS in – most importantly – 111 games. Maybe it’s all happening in his 30s?

Athletics

C Shea Langeliers: While Nick Kurtz and Jacob Wilson have earned the spotlight at various points in 2025, Langeliers has further established himself as one of the game’s premier offensive catchers with 30 homers after 29 last season.

Houston Astros

RP Bryan Abreu: Stepped into the closer’s role when Josh Hader went down and has had a few bad outings in recent weeks, but the right-hander had another season as one of the more reliable setup men in baseball and is the natural stand-in for the ninth inning.

Los Angeles Angels

OF Jo Adell: With 35 homers and 94 RBIs, Adell is becoming the player he was projected to be as an elite prospect five years ago.

Seattle Mariners

CF Julio Rodríguez: Earned an All-Star nod for an underwhelming first half, but has come alive since the break with a .904 OPS and 16 homers. Though (understandably) overshadowed by Cal Raleigh’s history-making season, J-Rod is proving that his down 2024 was just an aberration.

Texas Rangers

SP Patrick Corbin: After getting crushed over his last four years in Washington, the left-hander is one of baseball’s best comeback stories with a 4.36 ERA in 27 starts.

Atlanta Braves

1B Matt Olson: It’s been a disastrous 2025 for the Braves, but their first baseman has of course played in every single game and brought his average back up after dipping last season.

Miami Marlins

SS Otto Lopez: You’d certainly like to get more than a .700 OPS, but a 3.4 WAR season with 72 RBIs represents a more-than-solid year for the 26-year-old infielder.

New York Mets

2B/OF Jeff McNeil: The 2022 NL batting champion didn’t contribute much the two seasons that followed, but he’s played a crucial role this year, stepping in admirably in center field while posting with an OPS around .800.

Philadelphia Phillies

RP Tanner Banks: The left-hander helped steady the Phillies’ bullpen all season long as it dealt with suspensions, injuries and ineffectiveness.

Washington Nationals

P Brad Lord: Pitched his way into the rotation over the summer, maybe enough to get penciled into the picture for 2026.

Chicago Cubs

2B Nico Hoerner: He’s never going to put up big numbers, but Hoerner has raised his batting average 20 points from last year while his 5.8 fWAR entering Saturday ranked 10th in all of baseball.

Cincinnati Reds

OF Austin Hays: Hasn’t been able to stay totally healthy only totaling 95 games, but had an enormous April and has been key in a Cincinnati lineup that has had its ups and downs throughout the season.

Milwaukee Brewers

OF Sal Frelick: The 25-year-old took a huge leap forward in his second full season, raising his OPS more than 100 points on top of the defense that won him a Gold Glove last season.

Pittsburgh Pirates

RP Dennis Santana: Was Pittsburgh’s best reliever all season and took over the ninth inning after David Bednar was traded. Hasn’t been perfect as the closer, but the 29-year-old has probably earned himself the job for next year – or at least will be a hot trade chip this winter.

St. Louis Cardinals

DH/C Ivan Herrera: Still a small sample size, but proved his impressive 2024 (.301 in 229 AB) was no fluke with 15 HR, 56 RBIs and a .820 OPS in 335 at-bats this year.

Arizona Diamondbacks

SP Zac Gallen: A free agent after the season, Gallen has a 2.83 ERA in eight starts since Arizona kept him at the trade deadline. Great to see him finish on a high note after his all contributions to the club through the years

Colorado Rockies

OF Mickey Moniak: Added off the scrap heap to begin the season, the former No. 1 overall pick has performed well all year for a historically terrible team.

Los Angeles Dodgers

RP Alex Vesia: Things haven’t gone according to plan for the Dodgers’ bullpen this year, but the lefty Vesia has put together another terrific season with a 2.67 ERA in 61 games, holding opponents to a .184 average.

San Diego Padres

SP Nick Pivetta: Pivetta’s four-year, $55 million deal raised some eyebrows but the right-hander has been terrific in his first season with a 2.73 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 5.3 WAR in 29 starts.

San Francisco Giants

SP Robbie Ray: The former Cy Young winner has come all the way back after two lost seasons due to Tommy John surgery, earning an All-Star nod and is signed through next year.

AI-assisted summary
• Quarterback Joe Flacco will lead the Cleveland Browns against the Baltimore Ravens, the team he played for from 2008-2018.
• Flacco, a Ravens legend who won a Super Bowl with the team, has the utmost respect from current Ravens players and coaches.
• This will be Flacco’s second time facing his former team, but it will mark the first time he’s playing them as a visitor at M&T Bank Stadium.

Kyle Hamilton was only on his way to complimenting and showing respect to Joe Flacco. But the truth makes it sound worse, even in the most innocent way. 

“Growing up – I’m not trying to age (him)– but just watching him,” the Ravens safety, 26, told reporters this week, “he was always known for his arm and just his deep pass. He’s still got that. 

“Respect to him being in this league and still starting in this league still. I’m sure it’ll be cool for him coming back to Baltimore.”

Flacco, 40, is the second-oldest starting quarterback in the league, behind the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Aaron Rodgers. On Sunday, he’ll lead the Cleveland Brown in an AFC North matchup he is familiar with, except from the opposite side. 

Flacco spent 11 seasons with the Ravens after they drafted him in the first round (18th overall) in 2008. He owns the franchise record for most victories as a quarterback and helped bring the franchise – which moved to Baltimore from Cleveland in 1996 – its second Lombardi Trophy with one of the most memorable postseason runs in NFL history. Shortly, he is a Ravens legend. 

“What an amazing run, and what an era for the Ravens, the ‘Joe Flacco era,’” Ravens head coach Joe Flacco said. “ … He’s iconic, I think, in Baltimore football history. I respect that and admire that and still keep in touch with him. Except not this week.” 

It won’t be the first time Flacco faces his former team. As the New York Jets’ Week 1 starter in 2022, he threw for 300 yards in a 24-9 Baltimore road victory. 

“I definitely think playing them in the past and getting that kind of getting that little bit out of the way, I do think that was probably – even though it wasn’t in Baltimore, like just from playing the Baltimore Ravens, like getting that out of the way already will make this a little bit easier,” Flacco told reporters. 

Flacco departed Baltimore on “good terms,” he said. In 2018, the Ravens drafted two-time MVP Lamar Jackson with the final pick of the first round. By all accounts, Flacco handled the transition with professionalism; Jackson took over by the end of the season, which ended with the wild card loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. 

To Ravens tight end Mark Andrews, a rookie on that 2018 team, Flacco taught him what it looked like to be a pro. 

“That’s the type of person and type of player he is. And for him to still be in the league and doing his thing and playing really well, it’s awesome to see.

“I just remember we had a good tight end group, and he loved his tight ends. But just being able to joke before the games, it was always very casual, very fun, and there were just constant jokes and having a good time.”

Jackson and Flacco don’t keep in touch much. But in Cleveland, Flacco maintains a mentoring aspect of his job. The Browns drafted two quarterbacks in 2025 in Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders and both have sought out his guidance. 

For Flacco, it’s nothing but love for the franchise and the city. 

“It’s one of those things, like, in the NFL, there’s a business side of it and things happen. I’m fortunate to be where I am today and be in this position, but I have nothing but love for that city and for that organization. I mean, I was a small school guy that they took a little bit of a chance on early on in the draft.

“I have so many good memories with those people in that city and that stadium, so very special place.”

Flacco’s journey took him to the Denver Broncos for one season followed by three years with the Jets. His first Browns stint came in 2023, when Deshaun Watson’s season-ending shoulder injury in November of that season prompted the team to sign Flacco straight from the school pickup lane. Cleveland went 4-1 in his five starts and the Browns earned the top wild-card seed but fell to the Houston Texans in the playoffs. For his abbreviated efforts, Flacco won the 2023 Comeback Player of the Year award. He relieved Anthony Richardson with the Indianapolis Colts for six starts last season before signing a deal with the Browns this past offseason. 

It’s been a while since his Baltimore days, Flacco said. 

“I think I’m very capable of just seeing it as another division game,” the University of Delaware product said. “But it will be cool to go back in that stadium. I haven’t had a chance to do it since I played there. I really love playing there. It’s an awesome place to play. It’s an awesome venue. It’s an awesome atmosphere.”

NFL Week 2 games: Odds and predictions for every matchup

A fun wrinkle is that calling the plays for the Ravens’ defense is one of Flacco’s former Baltimore teammates, defensive coordinator Zach Orr, who remembers Flacco as a teammate who “was one of the guys” and loved talking about basketball and playing cornhole. 

“It’s crazy that he’s still playing, and he’s still playing at a high level,” Orr said. “He’s a starting quarterback. The challenges he does pose is that he’s a veteran, so there is not a lot of stuff you’re going to be able to throw at him that he hasn’t seen. You have to make it as difficult as possible for him. And then, there is a reason why he’s still in this league. His arm talent is still legit. He can still push the ball down the field at a very accurate and dangerous rate.” 

Both of Flacco’s interceptions in the Browns’ Week 1 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals hit his intended receiver in the hands. He completed 31 of 45 attempts for 290 yards in the 17-16 defeat.

The Ravens, meanwhile, are coming off a disastrous meltdown against the Buffalo Bills in a game Baltimore blew, 41-40. 

Flacco will head to the field for warmups maybe 10 minutes earlier to leave time for his hellos, he said. Family and friends will drive to the game from his native New Jersey. 

“A lot of people that have a lot of memories watching me play in that stadium. So, I think it’s kind of cool for them,” Flacco said. “Yeah, I got to prepare to play another football game, but I think when you look at, like, the outside of it, there’s going to be some people that kind of get to have some fun with this.”

NHL training camps and the preseason are around the corner, and teams are still getting their rosters in shape.

What has happened during the offseason?

There were trades made and unrestricted and restricted free agents re-signed. Salary arbitration hearings were scheduled from July 20 to Aug. 4, although players and teams settled beforehand in all 11 cases.

More moves are likely. Players whose contracts run out after the 2025-26 season are eligible to sign contract extensions at any time.

Here is a look at the latest signings, trades and other news that have happened since the initial surge of movement in late June and early July:

Sept. 13: Blackhawks’ Spencer Knight gets extension

Goalie Spencer Knight, acquired from the Panthers last season, will average $5.83 million in his three-year extension. The deal runs through 2029-30. He is moving into a No. 1 role after coming over in the Seth Jones trade from Florida, where he had backed up Sergei Bobrovsky. Knight will face the Panthers on the Oct. 7 opening night of the 2025-26 season.

Sept. 13: Kings’ Corey Perry has knee surgery

Kings free agent signee Corey Perry had knee surgery on Friday and being injured while skating during training, the team announced Saturday. He’ll miss six to eight weeks, which could keep him out for the first month of the season. The Kings open play on Oct. 7. Perry received a one-year, $2 million contract and can earn another $2 million in bonuses.

Sept. 12: Penguins sign Marc-Andre Fleury to tryout agreement

The Penguins signed retired goalie Marc-Andre Fleury to a professional tryout agreement. He will practice with the team on Sept. 26 and play part of the team’s home preseason game on Sept. 27. Fleury won three Stanley Cup titles with the Penguins before later playing for the Golden Knights, Blackhawks and Wild. He ranks second all-time in goalie wins.

‘Marc means so much to our team, our fans and the City of Pittsburgh because of the person he is and the example he set,’ Penguins GM Kyle Dubas said in a statement. ‘The Penguins feel he and his family are most-deserving of this opportunity to celebrate this full-circle moment back where it all started in front of the black and gold faithful.”

Sept. 11: Alexandar Georgiev signs with Sabres

The goaltender gets a one-year, $825,000 contract after splitting last season between the Avalanche and Sharks. He was an All-Star with Colorado in 2024 but struggled at the start of 2024-25 and was traded to San Jose. He finished with a 3.71 goals-against average and .871 save percentage. Georgiev is the second goalie signed by the Sabres this offseason after adding Alex Lyon. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was the No. 1 goalie last season, but he has tweaked something, according to The Athletic. Devon Levi also is in the system.

Sept. 9: Dustin Wolf re-signs with Flames

Wolf was overlooked for the USA Hockey Olympic orientation session, but he got a lucrative contract extension from Calgary. He’ll average $7.5 million in the seven-year deal. Wolf finished second in rookie of the year voting after going 29-16-8 with a .910 save percentage and a 2.64 goals-against average. 

Aug. 21: Frank Nazar signs extension with Blackhawks

The Blackhawks saw enough after 56 games to make Nazar, 21, the highest-paid player on the team – for the moment. The nearly $6.6 million cap hit in his seven-year extension, which kicks in during the 2026-27 season, will move him past Tyler Bertuzzi ($5.5 million).

Nazar, a 2022 first-round pick and former University of Michigan center, had 26 points in 53 games in 2024-25 after being recalled from the American Hockey League in December. The extension continued his run of good news. He helped the United States win gold at the world championships for the first time since 1933 and he has been invited to USA Hockey’s Olympic orientation session.

Chicago’s Connor Bedard, the No. 1 overall pick of 2023, is also eligible for an extension and almost certainly will top Nazar’s number.

Aug. 20: Victor Olofsson signs with Avalanche

Olofsson signed a one-year deal with Colorado worth $1.575 million, according to puckpedia.com. He played last season with the Vegas Golden Knights and had three 20-goal seasons with the Buffalo Sabres. The winger will provide secondary scoring after the Avalanche traded Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood this summer.

Also: Utah Mammoth goaltender Connor Ingram was cleared by the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program to return to the NHL. He went into the program in March.

Aug. 19: Milan Lucic signs tryout agreement with Blues

Lucic, 37, will try an NHL comeback, coming to St. Louis’ training camp on a professional tryout agreement. He last played in October 2023 and entered the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program. He has been cleared by the program, the Blues said. During his prime, Lucic was a key power forward and won a Stanley Cup with the Boston Bruins in 2011. His numbers had dropped off in recent seasons.

Aug. 18: Hudson Fasching signs with Blue Jackets

The Blue Jackets added forward depth by signing Hudson Fasching to a one-year deal. It’s a two-way contract, meaning he’d make less if sent to the American Hockey League. Fasching, 30, played for the New York Islanders the past three seasons and has 40 points in 175 career NHL games with three teams.

Also: The Colorado Avalanche signed University of New Hampshire defenseman Alex Gagne to a two-year, entry-level contract. The 6-foot-5, 225-pounder was team captain last season, had a career-best 17 points and led the Wildcats with 62 blocked shots.

Aug. 15: Travis Hamonic signs with Red Wings

Hamonic is getting a one-year deal at $1 million. The veteran depth addition likely will play in the bottom defense pairing. He ranked second on the Ottawa Senators last season in blocked shots per 60 minutes and also killed penalties. Detroit will be his fifth NHL team. Hamonic, who turns 35 on Aug. 16, has 53 goals and 242 points in 900 career games.

Aug. 10: Jack Johnson signs tryout agreement with Wild

The 38-year-old defenseman will go to camp as a tryout in a bid for a 20th NHL season. He played 41 games last season with the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Wild might be without defenseman Jonas Brodin at the beginning of the season, according to The Athletic.

Also: The Kraken agreed to terms with defenseman Ryker Evans for two years at a $2.05 million average. He ranked fourth among Seattle blueliners with 25 points and was first with 123 hits.

Aug. 9: Nathan Bastian signs with Stars

He’ll get a one-year, $775,000 contract and add depth to the forward group. Bastian had played all but 12 games of his NHL career with the New Jersey Devils and ranked third among New Jersey regulars last season with 12.83 hits per 60 minutes. He has career totals of 33 goals, 68 points and 190 penalty minutes in 276 regular season games between the Devils and Seattle Kraken.

Aug. 8: Two-time Stanley Cup winner Kyle Clifford retires

Clifford, who won Stanley Cup titles in 2012 and 2014 with the Los Angeles Kings, is retiring after 13 NHL seasons. The NHL Players’ Association said he would move into a player development role with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Clifford had two stints with the Leafs and finished his playing career in the organization with the American Hockey League’s Marlies. He also played for the St. Louis Blues and finished with 66 goals, 144 points and 905 penalty minutes in 753 NHL games.

Aug. 8: Avalanche re-sign Joel Kiviranta

Kiviranta is sticking around for a third season in Colorado by signing a one-year deal. Terms weren’t released. The bottom-six forward had 16 goals last season.

Aug. 2: Nick Robertson settles before arbitration hearing

All 11 players who filed for salary arbitration settled their cases before their hearings, with the Maple Leafs and Robertson the last to do so. Here are the new contracts the players agreed to, listed alphabetically.

• Morgan Barron (Winnipeg Jets): Two years, $3.7 million.
• Lukas Dostal (Anaheim Ducks): Five years, $32.5 million.
• Drew Helleson (Anaheim Ducks): Two years, $2.2 million.
• Kaapo Kakko (Seattle Kraken). Three years, $13.575 million.
• Nick Robertson (Toronto Maple Leafs). One year, $1.825 million.
• Dylan Samberg (Winnipeg Jets): Three years, $15.75 million.
• Arvid Soderblom (Chicago Blackhawks): Two years, $5.5 million.
• Jayden Struble (Montreal Canadiens): Two years, $2.825 million.
• Conor Timmins (Buffalo Sabres): Two years, $4.4 million.
• Maxim Tsyplakov (New York Islanders): Two years, $4.5 million.
• Gabriel Vilardi (Winnipeg Jets): Six years, $45 million.

July 31: Sabres’ Devon Levi re-signs for two years

He’ll average $812,500 in the deal and is the final restricted free agent who needed to re-sign. He has had back-to-back solid seasons in the American Hockey League. With the Buffalo Sabres signing Alex Lyon this summer, Levi is expected to spend more time in the AHL for now.

July 28: Nicklas Backstrom signs deal in Sweden

The former Capitals star, 37, is returning to hockey by signing a deal to play for Brynas for the first time since 2006-07. He had played 1,105 NHL games in between, recording 1,033 points. But he had missed all of last season and most of 2023-24 while recovering from 2022 hip surgery.

July 17: Maple Leafs acquire Dakota Joshua from Canucks

Vancouver receives a 2028 fourth-round pick. Joshua will likely slot in the Maple Leafs’ bottom six forwards. He had a career-best 18 goals and 32 points in 2023-24 but missed the beginning of last season after having surgery for testicular cancer. He finished with 14 points in 57 games. He originally was drafted by the Maple Leafs but never played for them.

July 17: Blue Jackets’ Yegor Chinakhov requests trade

Yegor Chinakhov, a former first-round draft pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets, has asked for a trade.

The agent for Chinakhov posted on X, formerly Twitter, about the trade request.

“I had some misunderstandings with the coach during the season,” read the post quoting Chinakhov. “Now I would be glad to have a trade. I would like to move to a different location. Will I return to Russia? As long as I can play in the NHL, I will keep developing here.”

Chinakhov, who was selected with the No. 21 overall selection in 2020, missed nearly half of last season with a back injury, an issue that also sidelined him for the final 17 games in the previous season. – Joey Kaufman, Columbus Dispatch

July 15: Sabres re-sign Bowen Byram for two years

The defenseman will average $6.25 million in the deal. He was considered a candidate for an offer sheet but the Sabres reportedly filed for arbitration to prevent that. He ranked third among Sabres defensemen in average ice time and third with 38 points. The cap hit makes him the third highest paid defenseman on the team behind Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power.

AI-assisted summary
• The start of conference play in Week 3 of the college football season increases the likelihood of upsets.
• Quarterbacks Taylen Green of Arkansas and Joey Aguilar of Tennessee are predicted to have standout performances.
• Other potential upsets include Texas A&M over Notre Dame and Georgia Tech defeating Clemson.

The college football season has already reached the Week 3 schedule and that means the start of conference play for many teams. It also means there’s a greater likelihood for upsets as teams are more familiar with each other.

There some challenge games Saturday for SEC contenders. No. 3 Georgia must hit the road against a ranked opponent. No. 4 LSU hosts a team smarting off a embarrassing loss. No. Mississippi struggled at Kentucky last week and returns to home to face a dangerous offense. Is this where the surprises happen or could they come in other locations across the country?

That’s why the USA TODAY Sports college football staff is here. Matt Hayes, Jordan Mendoza, Paul Myerberg, Erick Smith, Eddie Timanus and Blake Toppmeyer weigh in with their bold predictions for Week 3 of the college football season:

Arkansas stuns Mississippi behind Taylen Green

Arkansas and Sam Pittman are in need of an important SEC road win to build momentum in a critical season for the coach and the team. Razorbacks quarterbck Taylen Green will make a major move to join the Heisman Trophy race with a big performance (and Hogs win) at Ole Miss. — Matt Hayes

Joey Aguilar jumps into Heisman race with win over Georgia

The marriage between Aguilar and Tennessee couldn’t have gotten off to a better start, but the journeyman quarterback faces his toughest test yet against Georgia. The Volunteers haven’t been able to defeat the Bulldogs in the last eight attempts, but this feels like the perfect opportunity to flip the script. Aguilar puts on a dazzling display that gets him into Heisman Trophy consideration as Tennessee beats Georgia for the first time since 2016. — Jordan Mendoza

Florida rebounds with defeat of LSU

Florida bounces back from the loss to South Florida to beat LSU and get its season back on track. A win might even save Billy Napier’s job. With more than a handful of games against ranked opponents to come, Napier probably has more work to do. But beating LSU would be huge for the Gators and just awful for the Tigers and coach Brian Kelly, who seemed to have exorcised some demons by beating Clemson in the opener. — Paul Myerberg

Texas A&M takes down Notre Dame

The foundation of the Fighting Irish’s run to the College Football Playoff title game was their strength in the trenches. With most of the offensive line returning, it was expected Notre Dame would have an elite run game. That didn’t materialize in the opener against Miami. Now comes another difficult assigning against the Aggies, who comes to South Bend looking for some revenge after last season. Look for Texas A&M to to slow down the Irish and get enough offense from quarterback Marcel Reed to escape with a win. — Erick Smith

Georgia Tech pulls off upset of Clemson

Clemson’s setback against LSU a couple of weeks ago marked the fourth time in five years that the Tigers dropped their season opener. In two of those previous three seasons, Clemson sustained a second loss by the end of September.

But even without that recent history, the Tigers’ upcoming road date with Georgia Tech feels like an upset in the making. The Clemson offense has been nondescript at best, and Yellow Jackets’ quarterback Haynes King should be back after sitting out the tune-up against Gardner-Webb. The ACC race is about to get a major shakeup as Georgia Tech pulls off the win. — Eddie Timanus

Northwestern gets easy treatment from Oregon

After what happened to Mike Gundy and Oklahoma State in their trip to Oregon, Northwestern coach David Braun showered Ducks coach Dan Lanning in praise. So, Lanning will take mercy on Braun’s Wildcats and call off his Oregon Ducks in a 66-3 road victory. — Blake Toppmeyer

This story was updated to fix a typo.The Chicago Sky’s season came to a close Thursday night with second-year player Angel Reese missing her fourth consecutive game.

Reese was suspended for the first half of the first missed game because of comments made during a league-mandated media session. A ‘coach’s decision’ was said to be the reason for the second missed game and the last two missed contests were the result of a back injury, according to the injury report.

Reese shared her frustration with the team last week, telling the Chicago Tribune that she “might have to move in a different direction and do what’s best for me” if the team didn’t look to improve.

General manager Jeff Pagliocca told reporters during the team’s exit interviews on Friday that the team has moved on from the situation, and Reese spoke to her teammates about her comments.

Pagliocca added that he has daily conversations with Reese and the rest of the team.

“They’re constant, and they’re productive, and until I hear differently, that’s the direction we’re gonna move in, is that she’s on the roster,” Pagliocca said when asked about Reese’s long-term future with the Sky.

Reese was one of three players who did not speak to the media on Friday. It remains unknown if those players will speak in the coming days, according to a message from the team’s media relations department.

Pagliocca praised Reese and the development he saw from the second-year player despite her missing 14 games this season.

“We saw so much new and so much good out of her compared to last year,” Pagliocca said. “She was able to build on the success she had. We saw her as a facilitator, we saw her playing in space, we saw her put the ball on the floor.”

Reese averaged 14.7 points and 12.6 rebounds in 30 games this season. But the Sky finished the season with a 10-34 record, losing eight of their last nine games.

Some fans were seen in a video chanting “fire Jeff (Pagliocca)” during the season finale on Thursday. Other fans were seen with signs and a shirt that said “free Angel.’

“It’s hard to hear, but, you know, I’m also appreciative that we have passionate fans that want to see winning,” Pagliocca said. “We feel the same, and I know I have full support from ownership. We have great conversations. There’s a lot of mutual respect there.”

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill was asked for comment today regarding the domestic violence claims made by his estranged wife.

Hill’s attorney Julius Collins gave a statement USA TODAY Sports denying the claims and saying that Vaccaro only amended the initial petition for separation.

‘The new allegations that Ms. Vaccaro and her counsel have decided to allege are all unsubstantiated, untrue and an attempt to generate bad media coverage for Mr. Hill and therefore extort a large settlement offer from Mr. Hill,’ the statement read in part.

“I’m a role model to a lot of people,” Hill said today. “I’m a mentor to a lot of people. So I’ve got to be able to set a great example.

“All the noise, I feel like if you allow that kind of stuff to get in the way of what you’re trying to do, it can only cloud what you’re really trying to get accomplished.’

Hill and the rest of the Dolphins are in Miami this week for the team’s home opener against the New England Patriots.

Miami suffered the biggest loss in the league last week to the Indianapolis Colts. The Dolphins had just 211 yards of offense – third-fewest in the league – in the 33-8 loss. Hill had a team-high 40 receiving yards on four catches.

Hill was asked whether he’s still happy and wants to remain in Miami amid rumors that the team may trade him.

“No comment, too,” Hill said. “Like I said, man, I’m blessed to be here, dawg. Each and every day, I don’t take lightly. I’m going to continue to work my tail off. So at this point, whatever happens, happens. I’m happy here. I would love to be here.”