Sep. 14—PULLMAN — Shortly after Washington State wrapped up its last game, a blowout road loss to Kansas State over the weekend to drop coach Kirby Moore's team to 0-2 to open the season, Cougar quarterback Caden Pinnick was short on words.
On some of the team's biggest problems on offense, Pinnick said only, "We just lost. Next question."
On what was holding back WSU's passing offense, which produced only 65 yards, Pinnick said, "Good team. We lost."
On whether he felt like offensive coordinator Matt Miller's playcalls were putting the team in the best positions to succeed, Pinnick said, "It's not for me to say. We just gotta get better."
On Monday, Pinnick led off his news conference addressing that postgame session, which lasted less than two minutes, saying it was "not quite the response that you want."

#offense

Drew Brees went into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this summer, but he considered coming out of retirement with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line. The former New Orleans Saints quarterback explored joining the Denver Broncos ahead of January's AFC Championship Game, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported.
The conversations followed Bo Nix's fractured ankle in Denver's Jan. 17 playoff victory over the Buffalo Bills. Then-offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and offensive **** istant Pete Carmichael, two of Brees' longtime coaches in New Orleans, contacted him about a potential return.
Brees had turned 47 just two days before Nix was injured. He wanted to test his body before committing to a comeback, but wrist discomfort during his workout ended the possibility, Schefter reported.
The initial talks happened without Sean Payton's involvement. Lombardi and Carmichael first wanted to see whether Brees was interested, and Payton didn't learn about their conversations until the offseason, according to Schefter.
Had Brees felt ready to return, Denver would've signed him and evaluated whether he or Jarrett Stidham would start, Schefter noted. One Broncos source explained to ESPN how the team viewed the possibility: "At a minimum, you sign (Brees), he's 1A or 1B. And Drew's point was: 'I know how to win a game like that.'"

#brees #orleans #Broncos

Marshall Faulk not happy with Southern's 77-6 money game beatdown to Houston appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Marshall Faulk was not happy with his team's resounding 77-6 loss to the University of Houston on Saturday. The matchup was one of several money games FCS HBCU programs played over the past couple of weeks, and it was Faulk's first money game. In comments obtained by Kevin Batiste, Faulk expressed his disappointment with the result and what it meant.
"That was awful. That wasn't really a game. That was a kind of a pre-season crash dummy test for Houston to work on all their good plays, and we didn't show up…I felt like, for the most part, the guys that we had in early, our guys that's going to play, I feel like they gave the effort. But let's just be real, okay? They're better than us. All right? They're better than us. They're ranked what, twenty-second? We're FCS. Everybody know what this is. Let it be what it is. We're gonna get better, we're gonna lick our wounds, and get ready to play some football."
He then talked about maintaining his players' health after the Houston game and heading into SWAC play.
"I don't know. I know we have a couple of guys dinged up, but for the most part, I'm gonna say yes. Listen, man, I took my guys out. I wanted to make sure that we were healthy. We got SWAC play coming up in two weeks, and as much as winning this game seemed important as it started, with the start that we had, I just needed to make sure — or ensure — that we got out of this game as healthy as possible."

#faulk

Michael Page won significantly more times than he lost in the UFC, yet it still wasn't enough to sway the promotion to keep him around after his contract expired.
The former Bellator superstar entered the UFC with plenty of fanfare in 2024, scoring a clear-cut unanimous decision win against Kevin Holland at UFC 299. Page, 39, styled on Holland in vintage fashion, utilizing his flashy striking skills to outpoint the veteran in a welterweight showdown. As it turned out, though, finishes — or even similarly entertaining performances — failed to materialize in Page's subsequent five UFC appearances.
Despite winning four straight fights, capped off by his fight against Nursulton Ruziboev at UFC Paris, the promotion opted not to re-sign Page without even having a discussion.
Speaking on Monday's edition of "The Ariel Helwani Show," Page vented his frustrations, saying he felt disrespected by the entire close to his UFC run.
"I had goals to achieve, so regardless of anything, I was winning my fights, which says to me you get to stay," Page told Uncrowned. "That's the premise of this game. Success should breed more opportunities. So, I still felt like we'd sit down at the table.

#holland #winning #fights

Hyrox, the popular indoor fitness competition, is adjusting its policies and procedures after a world champion was allowed to continue at a competition in China last weekend despite suffering fecal incontinence.
Joanna Wietrzyk was competing in the age 16-24 elite event in Beijing on Saturday when she suddenly became ill. But despite fecal matter running down her legs, Wietrzyk was allowed to keep competing. The Australian continued on and ended up winning the race in a time of 1:01.23.
But in the days since, Hyrox has received heavy criticism for allowing Wietrzyk to continue competing despite the potential health risks. The company said that, despite having "clear biocontaminant and medical procedures in place," the situation "blurred" protocols and created "ambiguity in how they were applied and understood."
"I apologize to all that were directly or indirectly affected, as well as to everyone who felt like we did not handle the situation like we should have," Hyrox co-founder Moritz Furste said in a statement. "Hyrox made a mistake by not reacting immediately during the race. In the end, it is my job to foresee these potential incidents — and I did not.
"Of course, we started improving event processes, plus making rulebook changes immediately. As of this moment, there are new rules and procedures in place to prevent situations like this from happening again."

#allowed

Rams' Myles Garrett 'wasn't in the kind of shape' he needed to be before season, NFL insider says originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Los Angeles Rams are in a bit of turmoil following Myles Garrett's injury to start the season. It's never a good thing when an important player isn't available to do his thing, but that's even more so the case with Garrett, who the Rams obviously did a blockbuster trade to get.
Garrett was supposed to be the centerpiece of the Rams' defense, but he's out. Now, ESPN and NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport is sharing an update about the injury, and it also reveals some telling news about Garrett's health in general.
"The Los Angeles Rams knew that Miles Garrett had a knee injury, knew that he was working through it, knew that he wasn't in the kind of shape, honestly, that he really needs to be to go out and be the best player in football, which he essentially was last year," Rapoport said on Monday in a video shared on X. "They just sort of felt he could go out, manage it, handle it, and still play at a very high level."
He added that the team saw him on the field in Australia and saw he was struggling. So, "their decision was, and Miles Garrett's decision was, have surgery now, fix it, make sure that when he is next back on the field, this will no longer be an issue."

#garrett #knew

SPRINGFIELD — Missouri State secured its first win of the season with a 48-14 drubbing over FCS Lindenwood on Saturday, Sept. 12. In the win, the Bears still suffered some key injuries.
During head coach Casey Woods' press conference, he gave an update on the health of his roster on Monday, Sept. 14.
Linebacker Dylan Dixson is set to undergo neck surgery and will miss the season. Dixson did not feature against Lindenwood. His injury did not stem from one particular play, according to Woods.
"I hate that for him and it's something that we will have to fight through," Woods said. "Dylan has had kind of a lingering issue. We did some more research on it and felt like this was the time to correct it."
Missouri State football: Bears retire Dennis Heim's No. 71: 'It blows my mind'

#sept #bears #dylan #springfield

Britney Spears is celebrating her sons' birthdays.
Over the weekend, the "Toxic" singer took to Instagram with a heartfelt tribute to her two children, Sean Preston, who turned 21 on Monday, and Jayden James, who turned 20 on Saturday.
Within one post dedicated to her younger son, she said, "Happy birthday to my handsome young boy oh dear lord we have this beautiful thing called life in front of us.
"It's such a beautiful delicate thing," Britney added, before confessing her wishes for their relationship.
She mentioned, "I hope I can be the best mommy in the world every day of ur life!!!!"

#britney #beautiful #spears #sean

When the New York Giants signed former Baltimore Ravens backup tight end Isiah Likely to a three-year, $40 million contract in the early hours of free agency this past March, many were curious.
Why him, and why the hurry?
On Sunday night, in the Giants' 28-20 opening-night win over the Dallas Cowboys to start the John Harbaugh era, the nation saw exactly why the Giants targeted Likely.
"Yeah, I kind of was," Harbaugh said after the game when asked if he felt Likely would have such a huge impact so early in the season. "I mean, we paid him a lot. That's what we paid him for and he did it.
"And even after he put the ball on the ground, which I was not happy about, he knows he's going to get that video about three o'clock in the morning this morning with a comment. But he said, he goes, 'You can trust me.' He said, 'You can trust me.' And Skatt said the same thing. He said, 'You can trust me.' And I do trust him."

#early #paid #morning #york

Lady Gaga wrapped her Mayhem Ball tour at New York City's Madison Square Garden on April 13 before largely retreating from the public eye. Now, a new report is shedding light on what was happening behind the scenes.
Rob Shuter reported in his Naughty But Nice Substack on Saturday, September 12, that the 40-year-old singer quietly pulled back from public life while preparing for one of the biggest changes of her life: becoming a mother.
"People close to her felt completely blindsided," a source told Shuter. "Not because they were upset, but because she managed to keep something this big hidden for so long. In Hollywood, that's almost impossible."
As In Touch previously reported, Gaga welcomed her first child with fiancé Michael Polansky. The couple, who began dating in 2019 and became engaged in 2024, have not confirmed their baby's name or date of birth.
MEGA

#gaga #reported #life #mayhem

Luke Kuechly spent his playing career making sure he never had to guess where the ball was going. But these days, the harder question is guessing which network has him next.
CBS announced Monday that the newly enshrined Pro Football Hall of Famer will make his debut as a CBS game ****** yst in Week 3, calling Raiders-Saints from New Orleans alongside play-by-play voice Chris Lewis and sideline reporter Amanda Balionis.
A radio ****** yst for the Carolina Panthers, Kuechly's stock skyrocketed in recent months as he became Netflix's top NFL game ****** yst after auditioning with Noah Eagle at NBC's Stamford, Connecticut studios in early July. Eagle said Kuechly's football knowledge was never in question — that much was obvious from his playing days — but what stood out during their audition, a mock call of a game from the previous season, was how quickly he got comfortable in the chair given he'd never done the job before. Eagle told Sports Media Watch that it felt like Kuechly "could see things happening before they happen."
He justified that faith in his Week 1 debut, as Awful Announcing's Megan Armstrong wrote that he dazzled alongside Eagle in Melbourne, with the reaction across sports media running overwhelmingly positive.
The streamer is expanding its NFL package from two games to five this year, including the opening-week matchup in Australia, a Thanksgiving Eve game, and a Saturday night game in Week 18, and Kuechly is expected to anchor most of that slate. Between Netflix and his new CBS ****** ignments, he's on pace to call somewhere in the range of eight to 10 games as a game ****** yst this season, on top of his usual Sunday work as a Panthers radio ****** yst. Kuechly is also replacing Bill Belichick opposite Peyton Manning on The Breakdown.

#Football

Manchester City captain Ruben Dias say Phil Foden needed to be "more controlled and composed" when provoked by Bruno Fernandes in Sunday's Manchester derby.
Foden was sent off for violent conduct after kicking out at Fernandes on the floor after being fouled and kicked himself by the Manchester United skipper.
"In the moment I felt it was a bit harsh because my perception was Bruno kicks Phil and then he has a rushed reaction and maybe kicks him back," Dias said.
"I'm not saying Phil didn't do wrong - obviously he needs to be more controlled and composed in that moment.
"I believe he, more than anyone, is frustrated with what happened. That is why it was my biggest joy to come back in and be able to celebrate for him because I know for sure he was feeling responsible for how much more difficult the game became."

#foden #composed #kicks

Gillian Anderson revealed that she identifies as pansexual in a new interview with The Australian
The actress previously told the Sunday Times last month that one of her "first relationships" was with a girl in high school
Earlier in her life, she said she "felt I didn't have the language" to describe her ***** uality
Gillian Anderson is opening up about her ***** uality.
In a new interview, the actress, 58, shared that she identifies as pansexual. "In my younger years I was in relationships with women," she told The Australian.

#relationships

Jim Curtis is opening about about his romance with Jennifer Aniston.
The wellness expert and hypnotherapist, 50, explained the couple's low-key beginnings in an interview with the Sunday Times Magazine published Saturday, September 12, revealing there was "a many-month friendship first" before things turned romantic.
"The drive was more natural, more organic, less needy," Curtis explained.
Curtis admitted his approach to relationships had changed by the time he connected with the Friends star, 57, after previously putting pressure on himself to find a partner.
"In the past I've felt this idea of, 'I need you to be in love with me,'" he reflected, adding that when Aniston came into his life, he wasn't "searching for love anymore."

#aniston #explained #jennifer #saturday

After struggling in the Super Bowl, the New England Patriots offense was hopeful to turn things around in its rematch with the Seattle Seahawks defense in Week 1. While the game as a whole was much more competitive, the end result was still disappointing.
The Patriots finished with just 10 points on the day, turned the ball over three times, and were plagued by some of the same issues that already haunted them back on Super Sunday. The game was there for the taking, but Drake Maye's third interception of the day sealed it in the home team's favor, which came away with a 13-10 victory over the reigning AFC champions.
In the aftermath of the loss and New England's disappointing outing, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels found himself the subject of criticism for what was seen as a fairly conservative game plan. However, head coach Mike Vrabel defended the plan on Monday.
"I don't look at things as conservative. That's what we felt like was best against this defense," Vrabel said during an appearance on WEEI's The Greg Hill Show.
"We didn't hit some things and you have to be able to run the football against split safety defense. That's no secret. You don't play split safety defense to stop the run; they play it to not give up big plays. We tried to hit some shots down the field. We threw it to the running backs a couple times for 12 or 15 yards when they were all off there, and on the interception should have thrown it to the back again for a third time. You just can't get bored doing things right. If it's not there it's not there."

#things #disappointing

Queen Camilla has reportedly put the royal ambitions of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on notice. The report came after the Sussexes made a striking return to the UK with their two kids, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, last month. The return came six years after the Sussex couple started living in the US after stepping down from their roles as working royals.
Queen Camilla has allegedly pushed her husband, King Charles, to draw a line with his youngest son, Prince Harry, and his wife, Meghan Markle, after they moved back to the UK. As reported by RadarOnline, sources reported that the Queen consort of the United Kingdom had concerns that the Duke and ***** ss of Sussex's return to Britain could blur the boundaries between the monarch and the Sussexes.
In the meantime, a royal insider claimed that Queen Camilla knows how the idea about the monarchy can turn complex very fast. Thus, she reportedly felt "determined" that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's UK move should not be seen as the start of any "restoration" of their previous royal positions. According to the insider, Queen Camilla's "feeling was that everyone – the Sussexes, officials and the public – needed absolute clarity from the outset."
The source also explained that no one should "underestimate" the "influence" Queen Camilla has on her husband, King Charles. The source then said, "She is somebody whose judgment he trusts enormously, particularly when difficult family questions risk becoming institutional problems. Camilla believed allowing uncertainty to linger would simply store up a much bigger confrontation later."
Meanwhile, another insider told the news outlet that Queen Camilla's move is not about stopping the King from having a relationship with Prince Harry and his kids. "The distinction Camilla was concerned about was between the private family and the public monarchy," the insider added.

#prince #royal

Brentford boss Keith Andrews has been speaking to the media before Tueday's Carabao Cup third round game against League One side Reading at The Select Car Leasing Stadium (20:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Andrews confirmed he intended to start 19-year-old striker Kaye Furo, who won the Premier League 2 Player of the Month award, on Tuesday but the youngster picked up an injury in the last few days and had to undergo surgery on Monday.
Providing more detail, he added: "Unfortunately for him, he's had to have an operation this morning. The timing of an injury is obviously never good for a player, but I felt he was just coming into a really good place with his game. That's really frustrating for him. I would've started him against Reading because I felt he deserved it and was in that type of ****** e. I'm not sure how long he's going to be out for but we'll obviously look after him and get him back to a good place."
However, young defender Benjamin Fredrick will be involved against the Royals: "He hasn't had a lot of football but has come back in the last couple of weeks. We decided not to play him in the B team game on Sunday to make sure he was in the right place to be available for our game against Reading. I anticipate he'll be involved."

#good

By the time Lincoln Financial Field's clock struck 0:00 late Sunday afternoon and the Eagles had survived a 24-22 Week 1 win over the Washington Commanders, a palpable sense of relief could be felt by the fanbase.
For the sixth straight time under Nick Sirianni and Jalen Hurts, the Eagles won their opening game. It is the longest active streak in the NFL and it is always better to start 1-0 than 0-1.
Just ask the Dallas Cowboys.
While the Eagles' defense looked absolutely gassed by the end of it, they managed one last goal-line, two-point conversion stand, and spent the better part of the first three quarters limiting Jayden Daniels and the Washington offense for most of the afternoon.
It was reminiscent of a season ago, when the defense carried an offense that had trouble maintaining consistency.

#washington #better #defense #offense

Brandi Glanville's health battle sparked an unexpected Bravo reunion, with Housewives stepping up financially. Several former co-stars donated to her GoFundMe after years of unexplained medical problems.
The fundraiser aimed to cover treatment costs linked to multiple diagnoses affecting Glanville. She admitted asking for help felt humiliating, but her medical expenses had pushed her toward crowdfunding.
TMZ reported that Glanville's GoFundMe had raised about $7,000 toward its $28,000 goal. Kyle Richards contributed $500, while Claudia Jordan and longtime friend James Maas each donated $100. Camille Grammer, who starred alongside Glanville on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, gave $200. She also explained why she decided to contribute despite their complicated history.
"I remember when she sent me flowers when I had my hysterectomy for uterine cancer," Grammer told TMZ. "I wanted to return the favor, and I feel bad for what she's going through." The pair had clashed during Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip in Morocco. Grammer acknowledged they were not particularly close, yet she still wanted to help.
Gina Rodriguez, another longtime friend, created the fundraiser earlier that week. She said doctors had discovered a fungal ball in Glanville's face that required removal. Glanville later discussed the fundraiser through her Brandi Glanville Unfiltered podcast. She broke down while describing the financial pressure surrounding her treatment.

#glanville #housewives #brandi #donated

Harvey Elliott went to Valencia in search of calm, minutes and the sort of fresh start that can rescue a career from drift. Instead, as Liverpool.com reports, he has arrived in the middle of turbulence, and for a young footballer trying to rebuild belief, that can be a cruel place to begin again.
The move to Spain felt, on the surface, like a sensible answer to a difficult year. Elliott had returned from an underwhelming loan at Aston Villa, a spell that promised more than it delivered, and came back to Liverpool needing clarity. Under Andoni Iraola, opportunities in pre-season were there in glimpses, but the direction of travel soon became obvious. He was not an obvious fit and early omissions from matchday squads told their own story.
So Valencia offered possibility. A big club, a demanding crowd, a league that can reward intelligence and craft, it seemed a place where Elliott might reconnect with the qualities that once made him such an exciting young midfielder. Yet football has a habit of mocking tidy plans.
IMAGO | Anfield Index
Valencia are bottom of La Liga after five matches, with only one draw to show for them. Supporters are restless, results are poor and the mood has soured quickly. Elliott, still working his way towards full sharpness, has managed only two substitute appearances. That was already a delicate situation. It has now become even more unstable.

#valencia #place #obvious

Hope season for the New York Giants lasted longer than most teams this year, and so too did the questions that hung over their offseason.
With the second-to-last kick-off of opening weekend, Giants fans had to wait, and wait… and wait to find out what their team would look like in 2026. Likewise, they also had to wait until the last minute to find out whether star receiver Malik Nabers would even play against the Dallas Cowboys.
Nabers' status remained unclear even into Sunday afternoon, and reports eventually emerged that Nabers would be a true game-time decision.
Even Nabers himself wasn't sure if he'd be ready to go against the Cowboys. He even told his family to not come to the game, in case he wouldn't be able to play.
"I really didn't know; my family didn't even come to this game because it's a one-on-one battle that you have go through. You have to do it for yourself," he said after the game. "I didn't want everybody here, I didn't want my family here and I feel like I let them down by not playing, so I had to do it for myself first. I had to go out there, feel it out, feel like I was doing it and I felt good."

#game

Rapper Chingy has been in the spotlight for over two decades, and in a recent interview, the "Right Thurr" performer made a revelation that shocked everyone. Speaking with blogger Jason Lee, Chingy revealed that he's a father of four, including Isaiah Russell-Bailey, a known actor who has appeared alongside Tia Mowry and Raven-Symoné. Shortly after, Chingy reportedly commented on his strained relationship with Bailey and claimed that his mother manipulated the young actor into disliking him. Bailey clapped back after a few days with a post that has since gone viral.
"I've stayed quiet about my relationship with my father because I've never felt the need to share that aspect of my life publicly," he wrote. "But after seeing his comments, I feel compelled to speak for myself."
Bailey added that Chingy's statements about their relationship aren't an "accurate representation." He continued, "Saying something publicly doesn't make it true. You cannot rewrite years of absence, neglect, or lack of involvement with a few paragraphs about love, support, and being there for your child."
Bailey didn't stop there. He said he clearly understood what his relationship with his father looked like growing up. "I know who was present and who wasn't," he wrote. "I know who supported me and who didn't."
Before his post, Bailey, known for his roles in Netflix's "Family Reunion" and Disney's "Raven's Home," praised his mother, Brittany Perry-Russell, an actor and choreographer, for always supporting him.

#bailey #russell #known #mother

Jim Curtis gave insight into the early days of his relationship with Jennifer Aniston in a new interview with The Sunday Times.
The hypnotherapist and life coach noted that "There was a many-month friendship first" and that he "wasn't searching for love" when they met.
He did, however, have a premonition when he was 47 years old about meeting a remarkable partner by the time he turned 50; the couple started dating when Curtis was 49.
Jim Curtis is shedding some light on the early days of his romance with girlfriend Jennifer Aniston as he promotes his new project, The Book of Possibility.
In a new interview with The Sunday Times published on September 12, the hypnotherapist and life coach said that, with the Friends star, "There was a many-month friendship first. The drive was more natural, more organic, less needy. In the past I've felt this idea of, 'I need you to be in love with me…' I wasn't searching for love anymore."

#love #aniston #interview

When Sunderland were awarded a penalty following Ezri Konsa's impromptu wrestling match with Dan Ballard, it felt like a massive opportunity to break the deadlock against the notoriously watertight Gunners as Enzo Le Fée lined up his spot kick against David Raya.
There was little wrong with the Frenchman's attempt — firmly struck and aimed towards the corner — but the Spaniard made a superb save to deny Le Fée his second success from twelve yards inside a week. And when everyone's favourite villain Bruno Guimaraẽs duly fired a venomous dipping shot past Robin Roefs barely minutes later, it felt like the classic one-two punch and it ultimately defined the game.
Sunderland more than held their own in this contest; we looked sharp, combative and were able to fashion a number of decent chances against the defending champions, but the finishing touch eluded the Lads on this occasion and that somehow made the loss even more frustrating.
We know we're capable of giving the league's big guns a run for their money on any given day, and occasionally emerging victorious, but during what could easily be a "difficult second season", we need to find ways to bridge the gap and to continue to eke out points from tricky positions.
A disappointing outcome. The 0-2 scoreline might've felt slightly harsh and Reinildo's late red card was a sickener, but the way the game panned out wasn't entirely unexpected, given ******* nal's current status and Sunderland's ongoing attempts at evolution.

#second #ezri

Ryan Garcia crushed Briton Conor Benn with a ruthless second-round stoppage to retain his WBC welterweight crown in a world **** le mismatch in Las Vegas.
The American dominated from the opening bell, repeatedly punishing Benn as the 29-year-old charged forward with a wild and increasingly desperate approach.
Benn was dropped by a flush right hook in round two but managed to beat the count. before Garcia continued the onslaught with Benn backed against the ropes until the referee stepped in.
"I knew he would bring the pressure, I felt the shots and though 'I'll let him have his way', but I knew his was reckless and you can't do that with me," Garcia told DAZN.
"147lb is my division. I'm here, you can trust me as a champion."

#round #vegas

College football is unpredictable and delightful, which is why we live for what happens on Saturdays. And Week 2 absolutely delivered, from a stunner in Stillwater to an instant classic in Austin.
Each Sunday, I'll publish my biggest takeaways from the college football weekend. I'll highlight the most interesting storylines, track College Football Playoff contenders and specifically shout out individual and team performances that deserve the spotlight.
He beat one of college football's bluest bluebloods. I know he took the Longhorns to the semifinals of the College Football Playoff in back-to-back seasons, but we live in a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately world. And lately, Texas had been overhyped and under-delivering — with three losses to Georgia since joining the SEC, and two losses to Ohio State (in the CFP and last year's season-opener). After starting last year as the preseason No. 1 team, Texas didn't even make the CFP.
But Saturday was different, even after a first half that felt all too familiar. Arch Manning delivered with the game on the line. Hollywood Smothers showed the value of adding the transfer portal's best available running back. And Sarkisian got the kind of win that helps a head coach sleep at night. The kind of win that gives a team a nice cushion heading into conference play, knowing that its CFP resume has a pretty shiny centerpiece.
One note: Sark might want to work on his postgame interview etiquette.

#Football #playoff #texas #lately

SAN MARCOS - As UTSA quarterback Owen McCown was preparing for his final season, he felt a lingering weight on his shoulders.
He carried the burden of two straight losses to rival Texas State, of slow starts and road woes and missed opportunities in close losses. No matter what drills or exercises the Roadrunners devised, he knew he couldn't replicate those moments. He dove into the mental aspect as much as he could, searching for answers that might pay off when the situation finally arrived.
With UTSA trailing in the final two minutes against Texas State in a pivotal early season showdown Saturday in San Marcos, McCown delivered. The Roadrunners orchestrated a drive that ended in a 25-yard touchdown run by Brandon High with 14 seconds remaining, providing the final blow in a 30-26 win over the Bobcats.
"Obviously that's something we've been working on, and it showed today," McCown said. "To go out my last year against a rival here, a road win on a two-minute drill, it's big time. It says a lot about our team."
UTSA's Owen McCown, on the mindset entering his game-winning drive to beat Texas State: "Go win the game. And I think the last two years, you look at where we need to work the most with road games, was two-minute drill. … For this to happen the way it did is super special." pic.twitter.com/RFflc5dTIZ

#state #utsa #owen #season

PASADENA -- San Diego State's defense did practically everything they could to keep the Aztecs in the game against UCLA. They just needed the offense to come along for the ride.
Despite the defense largely holding UCLA's offense in check, SDSU's offense managed just 189 yards and one touchdown — coming effectively in garbage time — in a 28-10 loss to the Bruins at the Rose Bowl on Saturday.
"Inefficiency on offense led to a bunch of snaps for the defense," head coach Sean Lewis said. "Starting three and out there constantly, we were behind in the field position game. So I think just the culmination of snaps, the inefficiency on offense. It starts with the play calling, with myself, the leadership throughout the course of the week, so that we can have more success and flip the field."
Nowhere was SDSU's offensive struggle more apparent than in the passing game. The Aztecs completed just six passes for 45 yards, and several deep shots by quarterback Jayden Denegal were wildly off-target.
"[We] felt like we had good matchups on the edge," Lewis said. "There was a lot of single-high coverage. Again, those are good, calculated shots downrange. We got ***** on hands that we didn't catch. We had other guys wide open that we missed."

#yards #shots

Colorado head coach Deion Sanders was not in the mood to celebrate a 31-point victory Saturday.
The Buffaloes moved to 2-0 with a 52-21 win over Weber State at Folsom Field. Still, Sanders arrived in the media room focused on the points Colorado left on the field, 13 penalties, special teams mistakes and an offensive performance he felt had another level available.
Colorado quarterback Julian Lewis threw for 366 yards and four touchdowns while accounting for five total scores, and running back Micah Welch became the first Buff to rush for 100 yards in a game since 2022. Sanders praised the playmakers who contributed, though the consistent message after the rout remained the same: make the Buffaloes a team capable of winning and dominating.
Here is everything Sanders said following Colorado football's win over Weber State.
"We only scored 52 points," Sanders said. "It should've been a lot more. We're not satisfied with the outcome."

#state #deion

The Diamondbacks selected the contract of first baseman Pavin Smith from Triple-A Reno, bringing back the longtime lefty bat a couple of months after his struggles in the majors led to him being designated for ****** ignment.
To make room, the Diamondbacks optioned catcher Adrian Del Castillo.
Smith went a miserable 11 for 78 (.141) with one homer in 28 games before the Diamondbacks moved on from him in July. Smith cleared waivers and was outrighted to Reno, where he hit .287/.423/.504 in 39 games. He was even better in recent weeks, going 15 for 47 (.319) with four homers and a 1.109 OPS over his past 13 games.
"It's an opportunity for Pavin to go and show what he can do against some right-handed pitching," Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. "He's been performing in Triple-A. We're just curious to see what it looks like this time around. I know the last time around it did not go well at all, but he's going to get a start here and there and it's an opportunity for him to show us where he's at and what he's picked up since he was sent back down."
Lovullo added: "The Triple-A staff felt very strongly he could come back up here and help contribute."

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