TORONTO — Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts knows the significance and consequences of Friday’s World Series game.

They win Friday night (8 p.m. ET on FOX) against the Toronto Blue Jays, and they extend their season, forcing a Game 7 at the Rogers Centre.

They lose, and their season is abruptly over.

And, fair or not, it will be considered a failure.

This is the way it works when you have one of the highest payrolls, the most talent in the game, and are heavy favorites to repeat as World Series champions.

Roberts also knows this responsibility runs much deeper for the Dodgers than any other franchise, with their passionate and frenzied fanbase in Japan, having three of the country’s biggest stars wearing Dodger uniforms, including the biggest of all-time in Shohei Ohtani.

Simply, losing is unacceptable.

Roberts sees that passion raging in the faces of Ohtani, Roki Sasaki and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who will start Game 6.

And he sees in the faces of the devoted group of about full-time Japanese reporters who religiously follow the Dodgers, breathlessly reporting on anything and everything the Dodgers’ Japanese players do on a daily basis, whether it’s a game, bullpen session, batting practice, or even the latest on Ohtani’s dog, Decoy.

Roberts, the son of a Japanese mother and Black father, certainly relates, particularly after the Dodgers signed Ohtani two years ago and become Showtime in spikes.

“I think going my whole life, I was always aware of my Black side of the family with my dad, and the Japanese side of my family with my mom,’’ Roberts, who was born in Okinawa but primarily grew up in San Diego, tells USA TODAY Sports. “But growing up, because of the language and the geography, I haven’t been able to embrace my mom’s side as much as I would have liked.

“But now, having Japanese players, Japanese media, the sponsorships that come through, really allowed me to facilitate trips to Japan and really bring that part of my life to light. I couldn’t be more excited.’’

Roberts took his son, Cole, to Japan last winter after the season and spent a week visiting Okinawa, shooting a commercial, and receiving an award. He plans to return this off-season.

“It’s really been great,’’ Roberts said. “The only problem is my Japanese hasn’t gotten any better. That’s the problem. But I tell you, it’s really been enjoyable with all the Japanese media. I mean, we have more [Japanese] media, obviously, than any place in the country, by far.

“It’s certainly, you know, ramped up the job responsibilities. But you know what, the Japanese media is so respectful. It’s actually refreshing seeing how kind the Japanese people are. Even going back to Tokyo for the Japan Series, it really gives me hope in humanity, just a genuine kindness.

“They love their baseball, and there’s just pure excitement and joy, and not skepticism or cynicism. And for me to kind of pull from that, it’s really been additive for my mental state, it really has. You see their excitement, and it’s like then you get excited. You’re not always having to defend decisions or things that don’t work out.’’

Now, it’s only appropriate, of course, that the biggest pitching star of all, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, will be the one starting Friday to save their season, trying to become only the fourth pitcher in history to throw three complete games in a single postseason.

If he pitches anything like he did in Game 2, when he threw a four-hit complete game, retiring the final 20 batters of the game for the first time in a World Series game since Don Larsen’s perfect game in 1956, you can book a Game 7.

“Man, hopefully he’s a little tired,’’ Blue Jays manager John Schneider said, “throwing that many innings. He’s unique because he’s got what seems like six or seven pitches, and can kind of morph into different pitchers as the game kind of goes on.

“You got to be stubborn, you have to be ready to hit, and you have to be stubborn with what kind of swings you’re taking. That’s what it comes down to. He’s not a guy you can kind of wait out. He’s going to pound the zone, so sometimes you got to force some action on him.’’

The Dodgers aren’t really worried about how Yamamoto responds at all, but whether they can start generating any offense. The Dodgers are hitting .168 in their last 29 innings, scoring just four runs. Roberts shuffled the lineup for Game 4, dropping Mookie Betts to the No. 3 spot for the first time since 2021, and they struck out 15 times and scored just one run.

Roberts hinted Thursday that he might shake things up again, and if they can get to a Game 7, plan to employ Ohtani to be their secret weapon in relief, perhaps even use him as an opener, or even consider him playing the outfield for a few innings if necessary.

“We’ll talk about everything,’’ Roberts said, “so we’ll kind of talk through whatever is the best. If we get to that point, we’ll see. He’s not going to play the outfield [in Game 6], I do know that.

“But if we get to Game 7, we’ll have a good discussion about everything.’’

If the Dodgers are even mildly stressed, they didn’t show it during their workout on Thursday. It was an optional workout, but every player showed up. They were even treated to a challenge by Roberts to race infielder Hyeseong Kim. But even given a big lead Roberts tripped and fell rounding second, with the entire team bursting in laughter.

“I think that I’m in good spirits, our coaches are,’’ Roberts said. “What better way to win the World Series … in Game 7. But we got to win [Friday.]’’

Besides, nothing has come easy for the Dodgers, so why start now? They battled a litany of pitching injuries all year, and at one time had 15 pitchers on the injured list. Yamamoto is their only starter in the playoff rotation who has pitched more than 91 innings all season. Their bullpen has been a mess.

They have dealt with adversity all year, and the way they figure it, if they can come back from two elimination games to defeat the San Diego Padres in last year’s division round, and also win the 2024 World Series with only three healthy starting pitchers, this is nothing more than a speed bump.

“It’s fight or flight, it’s whatever adage or saying you want, to leave it all out there,’’ Roberts said. “It’s certainly not war. I’m not trying to compare that to war. But in our world, in our small world of baseball, it is war.

“So that’s the mindset.’’

Follow Bob Nightengale on X @Bnightengale.

Days after LSU fired football coach Brian Kelly, athletic director Scott Woodward is leaving the university after disparaging comments from the Louisiana governor.

The school announced the departure Thursday in a release. Executive deputy athletics director Verge Ausberry will serve as interim athletics director and lead the search for Kelly’s replacement.

‘We thank Scott for the last six years of service as athletic director,’ said Scott Ballard, LSU’s board of supervisors chair, said in a statement. ‘He had a lot of success at LSU, and we wish him nothing but the best in the future. Our focus now is on moving the athletic department forward and best positioning LSU to achieve its full potential.’

The decision comes following remarks from Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry that criticized Woodward’s decision making. Woodward was the one that hired Kelly in 2021, but after a rather disappointing tenure that resulted in the coach’s dismissal on Oct. 26, LSU owed Kelly approximately $54 million; the two sides are working on what the exact buyout would be.

Because of the large buyout, Landry told reporters Woodward would not be part of the search for LSU’s next coach. He also noted how Woodward hired Jimbo Fisher when he was at Texas A&M, which ended in $77 million buyout when he was fired in 2023 (though Woodward was not responsible for that number, with now-Ohio State AD Ross Bjork penning Fisher’s extension).

‘I can tell you right now, Scott Woodward is not selecting the next head coach. Hell, I’ll let Donald Trump select it before I let him do it,’ Landry said. ‘The board of supervisors is going to come up with a committee and they go find us a coach.’

Landry reportedly had a hand in LSU firing Kelly, and has appointed nine of the 18 board of supervisors members that will apparently lead the search for a new coach.

A Baton Rouge, Louisiana native and an LSU grad, Woodward had been the Tigers’ athletic director since 2019. In his tenure, he hired women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey and baseball coach Jay Johnson, both of which won national championships at LSU.

Prior to his arrival at LSU, Woodward was the athletic director at Texas A&M from 2016-19 and Washington from 2008-16.

Fans often dream about their favorite teams making big-swing moves to bolster their Super Bowl chances at the NFL trade deadline.

But in reality, there are rarely many moves of consequence for the NFL’s version of the event.

While the other major North American sports leagues – the MLB, NBA and NHL – all tend to see plenty of movement among star players, the NFL’s transactions are comparatively mild. Sure, the volume of them has increased over the years, but most of the blockbuster NFL trades occur during the offseason.

There are several reasons this is the case. Chief among them are the draft capital is extremely valuable in building an NFL roster and that it is difficult for players to quickly acclimate to new schemes during football season.

Nonetheless, NFL teams remain willing to make smaller-scale deals ahead of the deadline. That will lead a handful of role players to swap teams ahead of Week 10 in trades that figure to be more pragmatic than dramatic.

With that in mind, here’s a look at seven trades that could realistically happen before the 2025 NFL trade deadline on Nov. 4.

Saints trade WR Rashid Shaheed to the Broncos

NFL fans may be hoping that one of A.J. Brown, Chris Olave or Jaylen Waddle is traded ahead of the deadline. In reality, Shaheed may be the most likely wide-out to be traded, as the veteran speedster is playing on the final year of his contract with the Saints.

The Broncos should be interested in adding Shaheed to their offense. The team’s receiver room has gotten a boost from the emergence of Troy Franklin, but Marvin Mims Jr. hasn’t been as consistent as he was in 2024. That could prompt Denver to add more deep speed to its big-bodied receiving room, and Shaheed would compliment Courtland Sutton and Franklin well with his field-stretching abilities.

Shaheed never overlapped with Sean Payton in New Orleans, but he played in Pete Carmichael Jr.’s offense for two seasons with the Saints. Carmichael is now a senior offensive assistant with the Broncos.

Saints trade TE Taysom Hill to the Broncos

Here’s another trade the Saints and Broncos could consider. The Saints just signed 41-year-old Marcedes Lewis to the practice squad because they are thin at tight end. Could that prompt Sean Payton to acquire his former do-it-all, gadget weapon to provide depth at the position?

Hill is 35 years old and coming off an ACL tear. He’s not as explosive as he was pre-injury – he has just 20 yards on 14 touches this season – but his unique skill set as a passer, runner and receiver would give Payton a fun weapon with which to work in an already solid Broncos offense.

The Saints wouldn’t likely ask much for the veteran. It’s just a matter of whether the Broncos are willing to pay whatever remains of the final year of Hill’s four-year, $40 million deal with the Saints.

Dolphins trade DE Matthew Judon to the 49ers

Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips have drawn attention as high-end trade targets the Dolphins could try to offload. However, Miami may have an easier time offloading the 33-year-old Judon, who is on a much cheaper deal and can serve as an experienced depth piece on a playoff team.

The 49ers are desperate for help on the edge after losing Nick Bosa (torn ACL) for the season. They traded for former Patriots second-round pick Keion White but could still use a high-end starter given the injuries they have at the position.

San Francisco could try to pry Chubb or Phillips away from the Dolphins, but Judon would be the easier and cheaper alternative to consider. Perhaps they will value adding his experience after adding White’s upside in the trade with the Patriots.

Browns trade RB Jerome Ford to the Patriots

ESPN’s Mike Reiss reported running back is one of the ‘most likely’ areas the Patriots will target ahead of the trade deadline. It’s easy to understand why. Antonio Gibson is out for the season with a torn ACL, Rhamondre Stevenson is dealing with a toe injury and Mike Vrabel doesn’t seem to fully trust second-round rookie TreVeyon Henderson in a major role.

Who could the Patriots target? Perhaps they could get the Panthers to give up pending free agent Rico Dowdle, or for the Titans to move on from veteran Tony Pollard. Short of that, however, they will likely be stuck shopping around for veteran backups.

Ford has averaged a respectable 4.3 yards per carry during his NFL career and has caught 102 passes across 52 games. He’s presently just a third-stringer with the Browns, so the Patriots can get him cheap and install him as a veteran depth piece who can help take pressure off Henderson.

Bears trade OT Braxton Jones to Chargers

Jones lost his starting job with the Bears to undrafted rookie Theo Benedet. Ben Johnson also has rookie second-round pick Ozzy Trapilo on the roster, so it’s hard to imagine Jones finding a considerable role with the Bears long-term.

There aren’t often tackles with high-level starting experience available on the trade market, though Jones was placed on injured reserve last week, meaning he’ll miss at least three more games. Buyer beware with his injury history, but Jones has made 44 at left tackle and would provide top-tier swing tackle depth for the Chargers, who have dealt with numerous injuries to the tackle position and could immediately find a starting role for Jones.

Giants trade QB Russell Wilson to Vikings

Carson Wentz is going to miss the rest of the season because of a left shoulder injury. That leaves the Vikings with little experience at quarterback, as J.J. McCarthy and Max Brosmer will enter Week 9 having combined to make just two NFL starts.

That could lead the Vikings to buy low on Wilson. It wouldn’t be to install him as a starter, but it would provide McCarthy with a veteran sounding board as he looks to establish himself as Minnesota’s quarterback of the future.

The Giants should be willing to part with Wilson on the cheap, and the Vikings would only have to take on a prorated version of the 36-year-old quarterback’s $2 million salary for the 2025 season.

Saints trade LB Demario Davis to the Steelers

It’s no secret the Steelers need help fortifying their defense. Pittsburgh already traded for Kyle Dugger to bolster its weakness at safety, but adding another linebacker with Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson playing inconsistently would be sensible.

Davis is 36, but he is still playing at a high level, grading as Pro Football Focus’ 11th overall linebacker heading into Week 9. He fits the Steelers’ all-in approach with 41-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers, so they shouldn’t be afraid to get the 2019 All-Pro first teamer to shore up the middle of their stop unit.

(This story has been updated with additional information.)

If one of the athletic directors looking to fill one of the Power 4 head coach vacancies in college football thought they had a chance at luring Dan Lanning away from Oregon football, it’s time to change course.

Appearing on the ‘Rich Eisen Show’ on Thursday, Oct. 30, Lanning intercepted Eisen in the middle of Eisen’s question when asked what his interest level would be in entertaining the thought of leaving the Ducks for one of the current openings and gave a definitive no.

‘Zero,’ Lanning said. ‘I’m not leaving Oregon.’

Lanning did add some additional words to the end of that sentence that got a few chuckles from Eisen and his staff.

‘… As long as I win. That’s what I always tell my kids, ‘If your dad wins, we will be at Oregon.’ So I got to win. That’s how it changes,’ Lanning said.

There are currently seven openings — Arkansas, Florida, LSU, Penn State, Virginia Tech, Oklahoma State and UCLA — at the Power 4 Conference level of Division I college football as of Oct. 30, with the possibility of more openings coming before the season ends. That does not include the opening at Oregon State, which is competing as if it is an independent as the Pac-12 rebuilds, and the opening at Stanford that was created back in March.

Asked about his thoughts on the number of firings midseason, including James Franklin’s firing at Penn State that happened two weeks after Lanning’s Ducks beat the Nittany Lions in double overtime in a No. 3 vs. No. 5 matchup, Lanning offered a reflective response.

‘Probably more than anything, it makes me more grateful for where I am at. And recognizing how fragile and special it is. It motivates me to keep working hard because you realize how temporary things can be if you are not moving in the right direction,’ Lanning said.

‘On the same note, I always think of everyone else involved in that. The assistant coach, the graduate assistant, the player that is signed up to play for somebody and how quickly your world can change. Continuity and stability are important and it’s hard to have, and when you have it, you’ve got to recognize it and take advantage of it.’

Since being hired at Oregon in 2021, Lanning has built the Ducks into one of the top programs in the country. In four seasons at Oregon, Lanning has posted an overall record of 42-7, which includes a Big Ten title and a College Football Playoff berth last season. He was awarded a six-year contract extension by the Ducks last March, which keeps him in Eugene through the 2030 season.

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With the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) expiring Friday, Oct. 31, the WNBA and Women’s National Basketball Player’s Association (WNBPA) have reportedly agreed to a 30-day extension.

ESPN and the Athletic reported Thursday that the two sides have agreed to extend the current CBA until Nov. 30 to allow more time for an agreement to be reached without a work stoppage which could result in a lockout by the owners or a strike by the players.

It’s a path that WNBA commissioner Cathy Englebert alluded to earlier this month during her annual press conference before the 2025 WNBA Finals, saying, ‘We have extended deadlines in the past.’

The league and players association previously agreed to a 60-day extension in 2019, three days before the last CBA was set to expire on Oct. 31, 2019. A new deal was subsequently reached on the current CBA on Jan. 14, 2020 and singed into effect three days later on Jan. 17, 2020.

‘Last time, when I was only a couple days on the job, we got to an extension and got a deal done that was progressive at the time,’ said Engelbert, who took over as WNBA commissioner in July 2019. ‘So again, I feel confident that we can get a deal done, but if not, I think we could do an extension.’

The WNBA and players association are trying to find compromise on revenue sharing and pay structure. The players are seeking a revenue-sharing model that ensures their salaries grow with the league, while the WNBA has allegedly offered a fixed salary system and capped revenue-sharing plan.

Negotiations reached a boiling point this week when the sides released competing statements about who was at fault for the impasse. The WNBPA alleged the league offered ‘more of the same’ in their latest proposal while the WNBA accused the players association of ‘disseminating public misinformation.’

The 30-day extension will likely impact the 2026 WNBA draft lottery, which is typically held before the end of the calendar year. The 2025 draft lottery was held Nov. 17, 2024 and the 2024 edition took place on Dec. 10, 2023. The league must also squeeze in expansion drafts for the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire before the year ends, both are contingent on a new CBA.

‘Obviously we need to get a collective bargaining agreement done before we will probably have those expansion drafts, as well as the draft lottery,’ Engelbert said on Oct. 3. ‘So those are the two things we usually do before the calendar year end, leading into the free agency and ultimately the draft in the spring.’

The Tempo noted on their team website that their expansion draft will be held in December 2025, but the format and process must be negotiated in the new CBA. That leaves the Tempo and Fire in limbo, as they are set to join the league as the 14th and 15th franchises in 2026. The expansion draft must be held before free agency, which is expected to start in January barring any setbacks.  

Engelbert said the league gave general managers ‘some guidance’ on what to expect for the expansion draft, saying the process will be ‘something similar’ to Golden State Valkyries’ expansion draft last year.

When Golden State joined the league as the 13th franchise in 2025, the expansion draft was held on Dec. 6, 2024. Each team designated six ‘protected players’ who were ineligible for selection. The Valkyries went on to select 11 players, including Kayla Thornton from the New York Liberty and Veronica Burton from the Connecticut Sun.

There will be more expansion drafts in the future. The league is set to expand to 18 teams by 2030 with the additions of Cleveland (2028), Detroit (2029) and Philadelphia (2030), who each paid a $250 million expansion fee to join the league.

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Man versus dog was the featured matchup when the World Series predictions contest began. But that’s unraveled thanks to the birds.

The Toronto Blue Jays, that is.

With the Blue Jays leading the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-2 heading into Game 6, man and dog might soon be commiserating rather than competing.

The men, Bob Nightengale and Gabe Lacques – esteemed baseball writers at USA TODAY Sports – both picked the Dodgers to win the World Series in six games. That’s impossible.

Luna, the 7-year-old Maltipoo, picked the Dodgers to win in seven games. That’s possible but perhaps unlikely with the final two games of the World Series set to be played in Toronto.

But Luna also has predicted the outcome of each game, and not with great accuracy. She is 2-3.

This contest could end with man and dog licking their wounds, and birds dancing atop their heads.

AI-assisted summary
• Week 9 results could influence whether teams become buyers or sellers ahead of the Nov. 4 NFL trade deadline.
• The 7-1 Indianapolis Colts, led by Jonathan Taylor, boast the league’s top offense and will face the struggling Steelers defense.
• Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs will face Josh Allen and the Bills, with Mahomes holding a 1-4 regular-season record against Buffalo.
• Quarterbacks J.J. McCarthy of the Vikings and Jayden Daniels of the Commanders are expected to return from injuries this week.

Week 9 is upon us, and the NFL’s Nov. 4 trade deadline is just days away.

This week’s slate of games could determine which teams are buyers and sellers with Tuesday’s trade deadline on the horizon.

Thirteen teams have earned at least five wins this season, the third-most through Week 8 since 1970, according to NFL Research. And there are no more winless clubs in the NFL after the New York Jets overcame a 15-point deficit in the fourth quarter to notch their first victory of the season.

With the trade deadline around the corner, USA TODAY Sports examines things to watch in Week 9:

Cowboys among teams to watch ahead of NFL trade deadline

It’s going to be interesting to see how teams and players navigate the NFL’s looming trade deadline.

There have already been multiple trades this week alone, and more are expected to come. Will results from Week 9 persuade teams to be buyers or sellers before Tuesday’s deadline?

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones claimed last week’s loss won’t impact his team’s decision-making process, but he went on 105.3 The Fan on Tuesday and described the type of player the Cowboys would go after if a trade were to happen.

‘One that loves football. Loves football. That seems trite. Why wouldn’t they be out there playing? Some do more than others,’ Jones said, per the Cowboys official website. ‘And so you’re looking for guys that just are from within, self-motivators, miserable when they don’t play well and they exude that around their teammates. That’s just a little thing called makeup right there. Now obviously you want to get a player that is in the top percentile of the kind of players that you’d like to go forward with. That has a price tag.’

Colts’ red-hot offense faces reeling Steelers defense

The 7-1 Colts are off to their best record since 2009. The Colts rank first in the NFL in total offense (385.3 yards per game), touchdowns (32) and points per game (33.8).

Daniel Jones is having a career renaissance in his first year in Indy. He ranks top five in the league in passing yards, but Jonathan Taylor is the engine to the Colts offense. He’s on pace for the running back triple crown. Taylor leads the NFL in scrimmage yards (1,056), rushing yards (850), scrimmage touchdowns (14) and rushing touchdowns (12).

T.J. Watt and the Steelers defense have underperformed this season. Pittsburgh ranks 30^th in total defense, has the NFL’s worst pass defense and ranks 18^th against the run.

If the Steelers don’t shore up their defense in a hurry, it’s going to be a long game for Mike Tomlin’s team at Acrisure Stadium.

“We make no excuses about how or why we fall short. Our job is to perform and perform at a high level and we haven’t done that. I’m excited about getting back to it,” Tomlin said this week. “Seven games or whatever doesn’t make a season. We certainly got more in front of us and more opportunities to write our story, whether it’s individuals, a component of our team, whether it’s our team in general. I think that’s our general mindset.”

Patrick Mahomes 1-4 against Bills in regular season

The regular season hasn’t been kind to Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs against the Bills. Buffalo has won the past four regular-season meetings against Kansas City. Mahomes has a 1-4 regular season record against Josh Allen and company.

However, Mahomes is 4-0 against Buffalo in the postseason.

“Every single game comes down to like one play here or there that someone has to make, if that’s offense, defense (or) whatever it is,” Mahomes said of previous matchups against the Bills. “I think it comes down to players making plays in big moments and that’s worked out for us in the playoffs and worked out for them in other times.”

Mahomes enters Week 9 as a midseason MVP candidate. Mahomes’ 17 touchdown passes are tied for first in the league and his 2,099 passing yards rank second.

The Bills and Chiefs both enter Sunday’s marquee matchup with top-five offenses. Defensively, Buffalo and Kansas City rank second and third in pass defense, respectively.

The Chiefs have the NFL’s No. 2 scoring defense. Buffalo ranks second in the NFL in both pass block and run block win rate, per ESPN.

While Mahomes and Allen will garner most of the headlines, whichever defense has the better performance could be the deciding factor.

J.J. McCarthy returns for Minnesota

Is McCarthy the answer in Minnesota? The sample size isn’t large enough to accurately answer the question.

McCarthy has only played in two games since the Vikings drafted him in 2024 due to injuries. The second-year quarterback is expected to return this week from high right ankle sprain.

‘I’m ready to go,’ McCarthy told reporters this week. ‘I feel like myself again. I feel like I have those mobility things that I was concerned about going into last week and the prior weeks. So yeah, ready to go.’

The Vikings need McCarthy to stay healthy the remainder of the season to get a thorough evaluation of the QB, and because veteran Carson Wentz is out for the remainder of the year with a shoulder injury.

McCarthy has just a 58.5% completion percentage and averaged 150.5 passing yards per game, statistics well below the league average.

The Lions have won five consecutive games against their NFC North rival. Minnesota hasn’t defeated Detroit since Sept. 25, 2022.

Jayden Daniels slated to be back under center

The Washington Commanders have lost three straight games and desperately need Daniels to return from a hamstring injury. Daniels has missed three starts this year due to knee and hamstring injuries. Washington is 1-2 without its star quarterback.

“I’m good. If I’m out there I’m not even thinking about it,” Daniels said of his injuries this season. “If I was worried about something I wouldn’t even be playing. If I’m out there on the field, I’m gonna be confident in myself and my abilities to go out there and execute and play football.”

The Commanders won’t have Terry McLaurin (quad) on Sunday.

Washington has struggled to defend the pass this year and ranks 26^th in the league in pass defense. That doesn’t bode well as the Commanders face a Seahawks team featuring wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba who tops the NFL with 819 receiving yards. Smith-Njigba tallied at least eight receptions, 100 receiving yards and a touchdown catch in each of his past three contests.  

Since 2024, the Seahawks are 10-1 (.909 winning percentage) on the road under coach Mike Macdonald, the highest road winning percentage in the league, per NFL Research.

Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.

Before we embark on our Week 10 college football viewers’ guide, we must start with a public service announcement. No. 1 Ohio State is hosting Penn State (noon ET, Fox). This is also the week of the world’s largest outdoor cocktail party in Jacksonville, Fla., which is likewise accompanied by a football game between No. 5 Georgia and Florida (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC).

We provide that information on the off chance either of those contests produces unexpected happenings as rivalry games can. But is our mission in this space to identify what we think will be the best games to watch. We therefore cannot in good conscience recommend those contests unless you have a rooting interest. We’ll look instead in further detail at these seven games somewhat farther down the rankings but should feature more evenly matched opponents.

No. 11 Vanderbilt at No. 19 Texas

Time/TV: noon ET, ABC.

Why watch: The headliner in the early window is this SEC showdown that is a major role reversal for the programs involved. The Longhorns’ improbable escape at Mississippi State last week kept their slim playoff aspirations alive. Vandy, SEC doormat no more, has a couple of quality results in the bank but could use a road victory to solidify its playoff position. Commodores QB Diego Pavia continues to generate Heisman buzz, with 20 total TDs to his credit on the season thus far. He’s sure to receive added attention from Longhorns LB Anthony Hill Jr.. Texas QB Arch Manning’s frequent adventures outside the pocket have taken their toll as he is in concussion protocol and officially listed as questionable. If he’s not available, at least backup Matthew Caldwell has had some success in his limited snaps. The Vanderbilt defense, coming off a strong outing against Missouri, is led by DB C.J. Heard and LB Bryan Longwell.

Why it could disappoint: We suspect this might look a lot like Vanderbilt’s most recent outing, a tough slog against Missouri that was challenging to behold through most of it. But the dramatic finish was the payoff, and there will likely be more fourth-quarter intrigue here.

No. 16 Cincinnati at No. 24 Utah

Time/TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, ESPN.

Why watch: Nearly forgotten after an opening loss to Nebraska, Cincinnati has rattled off seven wins in a row and played itself into the thick of the Big 12 title picture. After this week the Bearcats will only have to leave home one more time, so a victory here in SLC would be huge. The Utes would need a lot of help to win the league but hope to at least stay within shouting distance. Cincinnati QB Brendan Sorsby has tossed 20 TDs with just one pick, spreading the wealth among WRs Cyrus Allen and Caleb Goodie and TE Joe Royer. They’ll give Utes LB Johnathan Hall and DB Jackson Bennee a lot of responsibilities. Utah QB Devon Dampier was fortunately not needed as he sat out last week’s victory against Colorado with an ankle injury. IF he is not ready to return, the team will have confidence in backup Byrd Ficklin after his solid outing. Either signal caller must steer clear of Bearcats’ LB Jake Golday.

Why it could disappoint: A couple scenarios come to mind. The Bearcats could struggle with the lengthy travel and unaccustomed altitude, or the Utes’ offense could bog down as it did in their blowout loss to Texas Tech. But hopefully a #Big12AfterDark shootout will unfold, and viewers will have a reason to take advantage of the extra hour on ‘fall back’ night.

No. 18 Oklahoma at No. 14 Tennessee

Time/TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC.

Why watch: The SEC nightcap is in effect a playoff eliminator. A three-loss team wouldn’t be automatically disqualified from at-large consideration, but the loser here would face an uphill climb to get back to the top 12. Sooners QB John Mateer is still trying to regain his passing touch since returning from a hand injury, but the Vols’ secondary hasn’t exactly been airtight. A good push up front from DTs Joshua Josephs and Donovan Bailey would help them out. Tennessee QB Joey Aguilar, with help from RBs DeSean Bishop and Star Thomas, haven’t been easy to stop either. But the OU defense, featuring LB Kip Lewis and DE R Mason Thomas, surrenders just 12.5 points a game.

Why it could disappoint: It probably won’t – Tennessee’s games have tended to be close. But it’s possible that either the strength-against-strength confrontation when the Vols have the ball or the less accomplished pairing when the Sooners have possession will prove to be a mismatch. But a mismatch which way? That is hard to predict.

No. 23 Navy at North Texas

Time/TV: noon ET, ESPN2.

Why watch: The Midshipmen are riding a 10-game winning streak dating back to last season, but they embark on a treacherous November slate against the upper echelons of the American, with the annual Notre Dame showdown thrown in there as well. Up first are the Mean Green, who bounced back nicely from their lone loss against South Florida with a couple of 50+-point outings to stay in the championship hunt. This game features two of the nation’s most explosive offenses, both averaging in the neighborhood of seven yards per snap. Driving the ship for Navy is QB Blake Horvath, who has 12 TDs by land and another seven by air. When he doesn’t take it himself, the ball usually wins up with RB Alex Tecza or SB Eli Heidenreich. North Texas will counter with QB Drew Mestemaker, who has 21 scoring throws and just four picks. His top weapons are WR Wyatt Young and RB Caleb Hawkins. The defenses will have their hands full, but names you’ll likely hear a lot include Navy LB MarcAnthony Parker and Mean Green LB Shane Whitter.

Why it could disappoint: Hopefully it won’t and we’ll get the entertaining track meet these potent offenses promise. But neither team can afford turnovers, as getting stops to assist a multi-score comeback will be difficult.

No. 15 Virginia at California

Time/TV: 3:45 p.m. ET, ESPN2.

Why watch: The Cavaliers found overtime magic for the third time this season to maintain, barely, their place in the ACC driver’s seat. They now take their turn to visit the league’s new Bay Area outpost, where the Golden Bears have already shown they’re more than capable of causing chaos. Cal QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele isn’t afraid to sling it around, though protecting him has been a problem. That could mean a big day for UVa DE Daniel Rickert. Cavs QB Chandler Morris and RB J’Mari Taylor lead a balanced attack, but Morris would do well not to challenge Bears CB Hezekiah Masses, who has swiped a league-high four passes.

Why it could disappoint: How could it? Virginia games have been wild rides all season. The Golden Bears have been involved in some lopsided affairs, but most of their ACC contests have been within a score. Buckle up and enjoy.

No. 13 Texas Tech at Kansas State

Time/TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, Fox.

Why watch: The Red Raiders took a hit a couple weeks ago at Arizona State. They’re now more than a little banged up as they head to the Little Apple, where the Wildcats still have hope of salvaging their season after a disappointing start. Texas Tech QB Will Hammond sustained a season-ending knee injury in last week’s Oklahoma State win, but the good news for the Red Raiders is regular starter Behren Morton is ready to return. RB Cameron Dickey will also get opportunities to exploit K-State’s leaky ground defense. Wildcats QB Avery Johnson’s play has likewise been uneven this fall, though he has only been intercepted twice. RB Dylan Edwards remains sidelined with a foot issue, so Joe Jackson must lend as many tough ground yards as he can.

Why it could disappoint: We’ll likely know early on if it will. If the Red Raiders can take the home crowd out of it with a couple quick scores, it will probably be safe to look in on other viewing options in this window. But if the Wildcats are also able to move the ball, you’ll want to stick around.

Southern California at Nebraska

Time/TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBC.

Why watch: We’re stepping outside the Top 25 for this one, but it might turn out to be the most consequential matchup of the day in the Big Ten. The participants themselves are clinging to long-shot playoff hopes, but past and future opponents of both squads will also have interest in the outcome. After a rough outing at Minnesota, Cornhuskers QB Dylan Raiola and RB Emmett Johnson delivered a clutch drive to get by Northwestern. The Trojans haven’t lacked scoring punch even in their losses with QB Jayden Maiava and WR Makai Lemon able to strike at any time, but getting needed defensive stops on the road remains an issue for the program.

Why it could disappoint: Nebraska’s offensive inconsistencies could show up again, but given USC’s defensive shortcomings this is more likely to be a back-and-forth affair. Dare we say the sneaky-good game of the night? It’s possible.