3 hours ago
2027 NFL Draft QB rankings: Darian Mensah, Drew Mestemaker on the rise appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The 2027 NFL Draft class was talked up to be loaded with quarterbacks, which was much-needed for many NFL teams coming off of what many claimed was a one-QB class in 2026. Before the college football season, this was billed as one of the most talented QB classes in recent memory.
So far, that hasn't necessarily played out on the field. Dante Moore, our No. 1 quarterback on the board in the preseason, has looked awful, to put it bluntly. Arch Manning and Julian Sayin were up-and-down in their blockbuster Week 2 clash between Ohio State and Texas.
On the other side of the coin, Darian Mensah and Trinidad Chambliss have been very impressive so far in the opening few weeks, and CJ Carr has also played very well against a soft schedule to open the year.
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#darian
The 2027 NFL Draft class was talked up to be loaded with quarterbacks, which was much-needed for many NFL teams coming off of what many claimed was a one-QB class in 2026. Before the college football season, this was billed as one of the most talented QB classes in recent memory.
So far, that hasn't necessarily played out on the field. Dante Moore, our No. 1 quarterback on the board in the preseason, has looked awful, to put it bluntly. Arch Manning and Julian Sayin were up-and-down in their blockbuster Week 2 clash between Ohio State and Texas.
On the other side of the coin, Darian Mensah and Trinidad Chambliss have been very impressive so far in the opening few weeks, and CJ Carr has also played very well against a soft schedule to open the year.
Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)
#darian
4 hours ago
The Heisman Trophy got a lot more interesting this weekend when Arch Manning led Texas to a 20-point fourth quarter comeback over Jeremiah Smith and #1 Ohio State. Both players crack the top three this week and we have two drop outs from the top 10 — one as you can guess is Dante Moore after the Oregon Ducks lost at Oklahoma State as three touchdowns favorites! Heisman Trophy odds are courtesy of DraftKings. Let's get started!
1. Darian Mensah, Miami Hurricanes (+550)
2026 Stats: 653 pass yards | 8 pass TDs | 91.1 comp% | 0 INTs
Last Game: 252 pass yards | 3 pass TDs | 93.3 comp% | 0 INTs
Next Game: At Wake Forest — Friday at 7:30 PM ET
Darian Mensah and Miami torched Florida A&M into a burnt crisp. The Hurricanes offense posted a school-record 856 yards and that comes with five minutes being shaved off the fourth quarter. Mensah didn't play the second half and sat the fourth against Stanford, so he has eight touchdowns and 653 yards through five quarters of action. Wake Forest is next on the schedule and they just allowed Purdue to throw for 329 yards and a touchdown on 32-of-42 passing.
2. Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State Buckeyes (+700)
2026 Stats: 16 rec | 315 yards | 3 total TDs | 19.7 ypc
Last Game: 8 rec | 164 yards | 1 TD | 20.5 ypc
Next Game: Vs Kent State — Saturday at 12:00 PM ET
Texas may have won the game, but Jeremiah Smith won the night! Smith had an extraordinary stat line for a top five matchup. He caught eight passes for 164 yards and a touchdown. Smith could have easily had 200-plus yards and three touchdowns if he and Julian Sayin could have connected on two tough contested catches in the end zone.
#fourth
1. Darian Mensah, Miami Hurricanes (+550)
2026 Stats: 653 pass yards | 8 pass TDs | 91.1 comp% | 0 INTs
Last Game: 252 pass yards | 3 pass TDs | 93.3 comp% | 0 INTs
Next Game: At Wake Forest — Friday at 7:30 PM ET
Darian Mensah and Miami torched Florida A&M into a burnt crisp. The Hurricanes offense posted a school-record 856 yards and that comes with five minutes being shaved off the fourth quarter. Mensah didn't play the second half and sat the fourth against Stanford, so he has eight touchdowns and 653 yards through five quarters of action. Wake Forest is next on the schedule and they just allowed Purdue to throw for 329 yards and a touchdown on 32-of-42 passing.
2. Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State Buckeyes (+700)
2026 Stats: 16 rec | 315 yards | 3 total TDs | 19.7 ypc
Last Game: 8 rec | 164 yards | 1 TD | 20.5 ypc
Next Game: Vs Kent State — Saturday at 12:00 PM ET
Texas may have won the game, but Jeremiah Smith won the night! Smith had an extraordinary stat line for a top five matchup. He caught eight passes for 164 yards and a touchdown. Smith could have easily had 200-plus yards and three touchdowns if he and Julian Sayin could have connected on two tough contested catches in the end zone.
#fourth
2 days ago
CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Freshman Tait Reynolds replaced an injured Christopher Vizzina at quarterback and threw for 178 yards and led five scoring drives as Clemson defeated Georgia Southern 22-7 on Saturday night following a two-hour lightning delay.
T.J. Moore had seven catches for 103 yards and a touchdown and Nolan Hauser was 5 for 5 on field goal attempts for Clemson (1-1), which rebounded from a 51-10 thrashing at the hands of No. 11 LSU last week.
That loss, combined with a seventh place finish in the ACC last year, left fans and former players frustrated with the Tigers' sharp falloff under longtime head coach Dabo Swinney. Clemson's win likely did little to inspire much confidence in new coordinator Chad Morris' offense.
The Tigers (1-1), who were outgained by nearly 500 yards by LSU, finished with 345 yards but were 2 of 13 on third down conversions and managed just one touchdown on five trips inside the red zone against the Sun Belt Conference foe.
Max Johnson, a North Carolina transfer, finished 27-of-47 passing for 244 yards and a touchdown for Georgia Southern (1-1).
#last
T.J. Moore had seven catches for 103 yards and a touchdown and Nolan Hauser was 5 for 5 on field goal attempts for Clemson (1-1), which rebounded from a 51-10 thrashing at the hands of No. 11 LSU last week.
That loss, combined with a seventh place finish in the ACC last year, left fans and former players frustrated with the Tigers' sharp falloff under longtime head coach Dabo Swinney. Clemson's win likely did little to inspire much confidence in new coordinator Chad Morris' offense.
The Tigers (1-1), who were outgained by nearly 500 yards by LSU, finished with 345 yards but were 2 of 13 on third down conversions and managed just one touchdown on five trips inside the red zone against the Sun Belt Conference foe.
Max Johnson, a North Carolina transfer, finished 27-of-47 passing for 244 yards and a touchdown for Georgia Southern (1-1).
#last
2 days ago
The Colorado Buffaloes entered Saturday needing a more confident passing game after a tight opening win at Georgia Tech, and Julian Lewis supplied it before Weber State even had time to settle into the afternoon at Folsom Field.
On Colorado's first offensive snap, Lewis hit DeAndre Moore Jr. for a 66-yard touchdown. A few minutes later, Lewis found Joseph Williams for a 63-yard score, and Colorado had already put Weber State in a position where it needed to chase the game.
From my seat, the biggest development was how quickly Lewis played. The Buffs came out attacking downfield, trusting Lewis to make the reads and allowing the receivers to use their speed against Weber State's coverage.
Colorado's 52-21 win moved the Buffs to 2-0 for the first time since 2023. Lewis completed 17 of 23 passes for a career-high 366 yards, four touchdown passes and no interceptions. He added a 3-yard rushing touchdown before halftime, accounting for five scores before leaving the game with 5:50 remaining in the third quarter.
The 52-point afternoon came with a few defensive concerns, particularly in the secondary, but Colorado showed far more life offensively than it did a week ago. Lewis played like a quarterback who could give this team an explosive passing game, while Micah Welch ended one of the program's longest rushing droughts.
#lewis #weber #state #buffs
On Colorado's first offensive snap, Lewis hit DeAndre Moore Jr. for a 66-yard touchdown. A few minutes later, Lewis found Joseph Williams for a 63-yard score, and Colorado had already put Weber State in a position where it needed to chase the game.
From my seat, the biggest development was how quickly Lewis played. The Buffs came out attacking downfield, trusting Lewis to make the reads and allowing the receivers to use their speed against Weber State's coverage.
Colorado's 52-21 win moved the Buffs to 2-0 for the first time since 2023. Lewis completed 17 of 23 passes for a career-high 366 yards, four touchdown passes and no interceptions. He added a 3-yard rushing touchdown before halftime, accounting for five scores before leaving the game with 5:50 remaining in the third quarter.
The 52-point afternoon came with a few defensive concerns, particularly in the secondary, but Colorado showed far more life offensively than it did a week ago. Lewis played like a quarterback who could give this team an explosive passing game, while Micah Welch ended one of the program's longest rushing droughts.
#lewis #weber #state #buffs
2 days ago
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Cam Edwards rushed for 152 yards and two touchdowns and Alessio Milivojevic tossed two touchdown passes Saturday to help Michigan State to a 35-7 victory over Eastern Michigan.
The Spartans (2-0) broke away from a close game at the start of the third quarter with two quick touchdowns. Edwards ran for 2 yards on the first score and Milivojevic threw a 38-yard pass to Charles Taplin to put Michigan State up 28-7. Jazium Patterson also added 7-yard score midway through the fourth quarter.
Milivojevic completed 12 of 20 passes for 170 yards as the Spartans outgained the Eagles (1-2) 472-219.
Michigan State took a 14-7 halftime lead on Milivojevic's 18-yard touchdown pass to Fredrick Moore and Edwards' 1-yard run.
The Spartans led 14-0 after Edwards scored with 8:45 left in the second quarter, but Eastern Michigan responded with a 78-yard drive. Noah Kim scored on a 4-yard run with 1:50 remaining. The Eagles (1-2) were able to move the ball throughout the half but struggled to convert drives.
#michigan
The Spartans (2-0) broke away from a close game at the start of the third quarter with two quick touchdowns. Edwards ran for 2 yards on the first score and Milivojevic threw a 38-yard pass to Charles Taplin to put Michigan State up 28-7. Jazium Patterson also added 7-yard score midway through the fourth quarter.
Milivojevic completed 12 of 20 passes for 170 yards as the Spartans outgained the Eagles (1-2) 472-219.
Michigan State took a 14-7 halftime lead on Milivojevic's 18-yard touchdown pass to Fredrick Moore and Edwards' 1-yard run.
The Spartans led 14-0 after Edwards scored with 8:45 left in the second quarter, but Eastern Michigan responded with a 78-yard drive. Noah Kim scored on a 4-yard run with 1:50 remaining. The Eagles (1-2) were able to move the ball throughout the half but struggled to convert drives.
#michigan
2 days ago
Being a successful college football program usually means the head coach will have to replace his coordinators fairly often. Dan Lanning has needed to do this at Oregon, and he had to fill both coordinator spots this past offseason. Tosh Lupoi went to Cal, and Will Stein went to Kentucky. After Oregon's 39-31 loss to Oklahoma State, it's clear that Will Stein meant more to Oregon than we all previously realized.
Oregon's offense did not improve from its first game to its second. That's a very alarming development for Dan Lanning. Not getting basic improvement out of his team shows that his new offensive coordinator, Drew Mehringer, is not performing at the needed standard.
Oregon had two delay-of-game penalties on a crucial fourth-quarter drive when trailing. That shows a lack of coaching. Drew Mehringer does not have firm command of his offense.
Dante Moore was good but not incredible last season. He delivered some huge clutch plays but went through cold spells. Will Stein was really skilled at teaching Moore how to learn from mistakes and evolve as a quarterback. Moore doesn't have Stein's wisdom to learn from this year. It is showing in Oregon's very inconsistent offense, which had just 65 total yards just before halftime.
Dan Lanning keeps going for it on fourth downs at Oregon. That's how he rolls. With a new offensive coordinator on staff, that risky approach now looks less effective. Lanning needs an elite offensive coordinator for his ultra-aggressive approach to work.
#coordinator #offense #mehringer
Oregon's offense did not improve from its first game to its second. That's a very alarming development for Dan Lanning. Not getting basic improvement out of his team shows that his new offensive coordinator, Drew Mehringer, is not performing at the needed standard.
Oregon had two delay-of-game penalties on a crucial fourth-quarter drive when trailing. That shows a lack of coaching. Drew Mehringer does not have firm command of his offense.
Dante Moore was good but not incredible last season. He delivered some huge clutch plays but went through cold spells. Will Stein was really skilled at teaching Moore how to learn from mistakes and evolve as a quarterback. Moore doesn't have Stein's wisdom to learn from this year. It is showing in Oregon's very inconsistent offense, which had just 65 total yards just before halftime.
Dan Lanning keeps going for it on fourth downs at Oregon. That's how he rolls. With a new offensive coordinator on staff, that risky approach now looks less effective. Lanning needs an elite offensive coordinator for his ultra-aggressive approach to work.
#coordinator #offense #mehringer
2 days ago
Oregon survived a scare against Boise State in Week 1, overcoming an upset to open the season with a win.
A week later at Oklahoma State, Oregon found itself in a similar position — only this time Dan Lanning's squad couldn't deliver the same ending: Oklahoma State defeated No. 6 Oregon 39-31 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma on Saturday, Sept. 12.
REQUIRED READING: Oregon stunned by Oklahoma State by running and throwing of Drew Mestemaker
The Ducks fought all the way back and briefly took a 31-30 lead when Dante Moore connected with Evan Stewart for a 38-yard touchdown. But Oklahoma State answered right back, as quarterback Drew Mestemaker scored on a 10-yard rushing touchdown to permanently put the Cowboys back in front.
Oregon then made a bold decision with 6:48 remaining in the fourth quarter, going for it on fourth-and-8 from its own 33-yard line. The gamble did not pay off, as Moore's pass to Dierre Hill Jr. on the right side fell incomplete, resulting in a turnover on downs. The failed conversion gave Oklahoma State prime field position and put the Ducks' comeback hopes in serious jeopardy when the Cowboys tacked on a 31-yard field goal from Sam Keltner.
#ducks
A week later at Oklahoma State, Oregon found itself in a similar position — only this time Dan Lanning's squad couldn't deliver the same ending: Oklahoma State defeated No. 6 Oregon 39-31 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma on Saturday, Sept. 12.
REQUIRED READING: Oregon stunned by Oklahoma State by running and throwing of Drew Mestemaker
The Ducks fought all the way back and briefly took a 31-30 lead when Dante Moore connected with Evan Stewart for a 38-yard touchdown. But Oklahoma State answered right back, as quarterback Drew Mestemaker scored on a 10-yard rushing touchdown to permanently put the Cowboys back in front.
Oregon then made a bold decision with 6:48 remaining in the fourth quarter, going for it on fourth-and-8 from its own 33-yard line. The gamble did not pay off, as Moore's pass to Dierre Hill Jr. on the right side fell incomplete, resulting in a turnover on downs. The failed conversion gave Oklahoma State prime field position and put the Ducks' comeback hopes in serious jeopardy when the Cowboys tacked on a 31-yard field goal from Sam Keltner.
#ducks
2 days ago
A week after losing to Tulsa and a year after losing by over 60 points to Oregon, the Cowboys shocked the No. 6 Ducks 39-31 on Saturday.
Oregon, a 24-point favorite, was somehow even sloppier than it was in its Week 1 win over Boise State. And the epitome of that adjective came just after the 2-minute warning. As Oregon needed a touchdown and a 2-point conversion to tie the game, RB Dierre Hill simply dropped a toss from QB Dante Moore and Oklahoma State recovered.
THE PITCH IS **** ED AND OKLAHOMA STATE HAS IT!!! pic.twitter.com/HAyEKGLIMM
Oregon had three timeouts after the fumble, but QB Drew Mestemaker kept the ball on a third-down read option to seal the game with a run for a first down.
"I don't know if I can top this," OSU coach Eric Morris told ESPN after the game. "I'm not going to retire but I might think about it tonight."
#week #cowboys
Oregon, a 24-point favorite, was somehow even sloppier than it was in its Week 1 win over Boise State. And the epitome of that adjective came just after the 2-minute warning. As Oregon needed a touchdown and a 2-point conversion to tie the game, RB Dierre Hill simply dropped a toss from QB Dante Moore and Oklahoma State recovered.
THE PITCH IS **** ED AND OKLAHOMA STATE HAS IT!!! pic.twitter.com/HAyEKGLIMM
Oregon had three timeouts after the fumble, but QB Drew Mestemaker kept the ball on a third-down read option to seal the game with a run for a first down.
"I don't know if I can top this," OSU coach Eric Morris told ESPN after the game. "I'm not going to retire but I might think about it tonight."
#week #cowboys
2 days ago
FC Köln welcome Werder Bremen to the RheinEnergieStadion on Saturday evening as both sides look to secure their second Bundesliga win of the season.
The Billy Goats were handed their first defeat of the season last time out, losing 4-1 away at VfB Stuttgart.
Bremen, meanwhile, make the trip to the Cathedral City after securing a fantastic 3-1 win against RB Leipzig last Saturday.
With kick-off at 18:30 CEST, here are the confirmed starting lineups.
FC Köln (4-5-1): Schwäbe - Castro-Montes, Simpson-Pusey, Lochoshvili, Mensah - Bülter, Krauß, Skhiri, Moore, Maina - Dallinga
#saturday #goats
The Billy Goats were handed their first defeat of the season last time out, losing 4-1 away at VfB Stuttgart.
Bremen, meanwhile, make the trip to the Cathedral City after securing a fantastic 3-1 win against RB Leipzig last Saturday.
With kick-off at 18:30 CEST, here are the confirmed starting lineups.
FC Köln (4-5-1): Schwäbe - Castro-Montes, Simpson-Pusey, Lochoshvili, Mensah - Bülter, Krauß, Skhiri, Moore, Maina - Dallinga
#saturday #goats
2 days ago
The Buffalo Bills will visit the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium on Sunday with an important win on the line. Come the end of the season, these early-year victories come in handy.
For this AFC battle between Joe Brady's Bills and DeMeco Ryan's, it will be the games, within the game, that will make all the difference.
Here are Bills Wire's three key matchup to watch Week 15's Bills vs. Texans matchup in Week 1:
Anderson led the line for a Texans defense that beat up Bills quarterback Josh Allen when these two teams faced off last season. Anderson had 2.5 sacks and the Texans had eight as a team. Brown needs to be a lot better against him in 2026. Brown has noted that he was playing through injury last year.
Expectations are high for Moore's debut with the Bills. Can he be the top playmaker Buffalo's offense has lacked in recent years? If he is, Moore will have a tough task to show it. Stingley is a two-time All-Pro defensive back and will probably follow Moore around all game.
#bills #moore #come #year
For this AFC battle between Joe Brady's Bills and DeMeco Ryan's, it will be the games, within the game, that will make all the difference.
Here are Bills Wire's three key matchup to watch Week 15's Bills vs. Texans matchup in Week 1:
Anderson led the line for a Texans defense that beat up Bills quarterback Josh Allen when these two teams faced off last season. Anderson had 2.5 sacks and the Texans had eight as a team. Brown needs to be a lot better against him in 2026. Brown has noted that he was playing through injury last year.
Expectations are high for Moore's debut with the Bills. Can he be the top playmaker Buffalo's offense has lacked in recent years? If he is, Moore will have a tough task to show it. Stingley is a two-time All-Pro defensive back and will probably follow Moore around all game.
#bills #moore #come #year
3 days ago
New Mexico vs. Mercyhurst
When and where: 2 p.m. Saturday at University Stadium.
How to watch/listen: MW+ – the Mountain West's new subscription-based streaming service – will carry UNM-Mercyhurst with Robert Portnoy (play-by-play) and DonTrell Moore (analyst) on the call. J.J. Buck (play-by-play) and Ned James (analyst) will broadcast the game via radio on the Lobo Radio Network (770 AM/96.3 FM).
Who's favored: UNM is listed as a 41.5-point favorite, per bet365. The over/under is set at 51.5 points.
Every year, more than a few coaches say it: The biggest improvement a team makes in any given season is from its first game to its second.
#radio #analyst #saturday #university
When and where: 2 p.m. Saturday at University Stadium.
How to watch/listen: MW+ – the Mountain West's new subscription-based streaming service – will carry UNM-Mercyhurst with Robert Portnoy (play-by-play) and DonTrell Moore (analyst) on the call. J.J. Buck (play-by-play) and Ned James (analyst) will broadcast the game via radio on the Lobo Radio Network (770 AM/96.3 FM).
Who's favored: UNM is listed as a 41.5-point favorite, per bet365. The over/under is set at 51.5 points.
Every year, more than a few coaches say it: The biggest improvement a team makes in any given season is from its first game to its second.
#radio #analyst #saturday #university
3 days ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — Jorbit Vivas hit a tiebreaking two-run double in the eighth inning to lift Washington to a 4-3 victory over the Los Angeles Angels that snapped the Nationals' seven-game losing streak Friday night.
The Angels led 2-1 before pinch-hitter Andrew Pinckney tied it with a sacrifice fly off Samy Natera Jr. (1-2) in the eighth. Then Vivas hit a flyball that dropped into the corner in right field to make it 4-2.
Clayton Beeter (6-5) won in relief, and Erik Tolman worked the ninth for his second save. Tolman allowed an RBI double by Christian Moore that very nearly cleared the wall in right-center for a tying homer, but it stayed in the park and the left-hander retired pinch-hitter Kyren Paris on a flyball to end it.
Mike Trout homered for the first time in over a month for Los Angeles.
Trout hadn't gone deep since Aug. 10 against Texas, but after 27 consecutive homerless games, he connected off Cade Cavalli in the first inning to put the Angels up 1-0.
#vivas #tolman #inning #pinch
The Angels led 2-1 before pinch-hitter Andrew Pinckney tied it with a sacrifice fly off Samy Natera Jr. (1-2) in the eighth. Then Vivas hit a flyball that dropped into the corner in right field to make it 4-2.
Clayton Beeter (6-5) won in relief, and Erik Tolman worked the ninth for his second save. Tolman allowed an RBI double by Christian Moore that very nearly cleared the wall in right-center for a tying homer, but it stayed in the park and the left-hander retired pinch-hitter Kyren Paris on a flyball to end it.
Mike Trout homered for the first time in over a month for Los Angeles.
Trout hadn't gone deep since Aug. 10 against Texas, but after 27 consecutive homerless games, he connected off Cade Cavalli in the first inning to put the Angels up 1-0.
#vivas #tolman #inning #pinch
3 days ago
The opener for Oregon Football at Autzen Stadium was an interesting one, as an electric go-ahead touchdown from Moore to Moore sealed the deal late in the game.
Many felt it shouldn't have come down to that, and they have a point.
Now granted, Boise State has been and is a dog of a program, a total workhorse. You're not going to catch the Broncos sleeping, as Oregon knows only too well.
That being said, the talent disparity is real. Boise, as determined as they may be, simply cannot match up with Oregon skill-wise position by position.
Knowing that, perhaps Oregon was a bit overconfident? They certainly didn't need to help the Broncos out as much as they did.
#Broncos
Many felt it shouldn't have come down to that, and they have a point.
Now granted, Boise State has been and is a dog of a program, a total workhorse. You're not going to catch the Broncos sleeping, as Oregon knows only too well.
That being said, the talent disparity is real. Boise, as determined as they may be, simply cannot match up with Oregon skill-wise position by position.
Knowing that, perhaps Oregon was a bit overconfident? They certainly didn't need to help the Broncos out as much as they did.
#Broncos
3 days ago
The Detroit Lions will enter Week 1 with only one player carrying an injury designation for Sunday's opener against the New Orleans Saints.
Defensive back Christian Izien is questionable with a groin injury after being limited throughout the week. Everyone else listed on Detroit's final report finished Friday as a full participant and carries no game-status designation.
That includes rookie edge rusher Derrick Moore and defensive lineman Mekhi Wingo, who both progressed from limited participation Wednesday and Thursday to full participation Friday. Detroit's official final Week 1 injury report leaves Izien as the only legitimate availability question heading into the weekend.
That is a considerably cleaner injury picture than Detroit faced during much of training camp.
Moore's progression is particularly encouraging.
#injury #detroit #designation
Defensive back Christian Izien is questionable with a groin injury after being limited throughout the week. Everyone else listed on Detroit's final report finished Friday as a full participant and carries no game-status designation.
That includes rookie edge rusher Derrick Moore and defensive lineman Mekhi Wingo, who both progressed from limited participation Wednesday and Thursday to full participation Friday. Detroit's official final Week 1 injury report leaves Izien as the only legitimate availability question heading into the weekend.
That is a considerably cleaner injury picture than Detroit faced during much of training camp.
Moore's progression is particularly encouraging.
#injury #detroit #designation
3 days ago
The familiar faces arrived one by one, climbing the staircase into The Pool on Thursday evening as the Kering Foundation's fifth annual Caring for Women Dinner got underway.
Benicio Del Toro was among the first, followed by Julianne Moore, Colman Domingo, Pamela Anderson, Alix Earle and Camila Morrone. Inside, guests circled the bar over ****** tails as trays of spicy tuna bites, fried artichokes and crab cakes made the rounds. Every so often, the VIPs would be summoned to a back room before reappearing in the crowd just before dinner.
More from WWD
Elle Fanning Revives Mob Wife Mentality at Coach's Spring 2027 Show
Bigger and Better: '80s Hair Is Having a Resurgence
#pool
Benicio Del Toro was among the first, followed by Julianne Moore, Colman Domingo, Pamela Anderson, Alix Earle and Camila Morrone. Inside, guests circled the bar over ****** tails as trays of spicy tuna bites, fried artichokes and crab cakes made the rounds. Every so often, the VIPs would be summoned to a back room before reappearing in the crowd just before dinner.
More from WWD
Elle Fanning Revives Mob Wife Mentality at Coach's Spring 2027 Show
Bigger and Better: '80s Hair Is Having a Resurgence
#pool
3 days ago
One could call it chance or call it fate, but there's little doubt that it required quite a bit of good fortune for the Chicago Bears to wind up with Caleb Williams as their No. 1 quarterback. As they prepare to meet the Carolina Panthers in this weekend's season opener, the trade history of the two franchises is back in the spotlight.
The Bears famously sent the No. 1 overall pick to the Panthers back in 2023. In return, they acquired the Panthers' first and second-round picks in 2023, another first-round pick in 2024, a 2025 second-round pick, and wide receiver D.J. Moore. Moore is, of course, now in Buffalo, but mainstays in Darnell Wright, Tyrique Stevenson, and Luther Burden III remain key components of the 2026 squad.
The ability to draft Williams the following year, however, remains the most crucial part of the deal that allowed the Panthers to select Bryce Young atop that 2023 draft. The two quarterbacks enter the new season with differing development paths and outside perceptions, but Williams, for his part, expressed gratitude over how things materialized.
#round
The Bears famously sent the No. 1 overall pick to the Panthers back in 2023. In return, they acquired the Panthers' first and second-round picks in 2023, another first-round pick in 2024, a 2025 second-round pick, and wide receiver D.J. Moore. Moore is, of course, now in Buffalo, but mainstays in Darnell Wright, Tyrique Stevenson, and Luther Burden III remain key components of the 2026 squad.
The ability to draft Williams the following year, however, remains the most crucial part of the deal that allowed the Panthers to select Bryce Young atop that 2023 draft. The two quarterbacks enter the new season with differing development paths and outside perceptions, but Williams, for his part, expressed gratitude over how things materialized.
#round
4 days ago
NEW LONDON - The Connecticut Heritage Maritime Festival is playing in this waterfront town this weekend. The "Eagle," the Coast Guard's iconic three-masted ship, will be a big draw.
On Thursday night, the New London football team got the party rolling a day early, running the "Jolly Jack" up the S.S. Cochran and defeating Joel Barlow 56-17 in a Connecticut High School Football Alliance game at Pat Cannamela Field that marked coach Jack Cochran's return to the New London sidelines after a 17-year absence.
Cochran and his Whalers came in with a roar - literally. They were led down to the field by a motorcycle escort.
From there, they simply kept revving.
Junior Zhi'Mir Maddox-Moore took the opening kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown and later caught three touchdown passes from junior quarterback JoJo Rivera-Perry - all big-hitters for 30, 66 and 59 yards - as the home team built a 36-17 lead by halftime.
#field
On Thursday night, the New London football team got the party rolling a day early, running the "Jolly Jack" up the S.S. Cochran and defeating Joel Barlow 56-17 in a Connecticut High School Football Alliance game at Pat Cannamela Field that marked coach Jack Cochran's return to the New London sidelines after a 17-year absence.
Cochran and his Whalers came in with a roar - literally. They were led down to the field by a motorcycle escort.
From there, they simply kept revving.
Junior Zhi'Mir Maddox-Moore took the opening kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown and later caught three touchdown passes from junior quarterback JoJo Rivera-Perry - all big-hitters for 30, 66 and 59 yards - as the home team built a 36-17 lead by halftime.
#field
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4 days ago
The Oklahoma Sooners hit the road for the first time in 2026 on Saturday afternoon. OU heads to Ann Arbor to take on the Michigan Wolverines in the Big House in Week 2.
Michigan went 9-4 last year, but the Wolverines have changed a lot since then. Former head coach Sherrone Moore was fired at the end of the regular season, with Biff Poggi serving as the interim head coach. Michigan hired former Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham as the new head man on December 26th.
Whittingham coached Utah from 2005 to 2025, posting a 177-88 record as the head man of the Utes. His teams won three conference ****** les and played in three more conference ****** le games. The Wolverines were looking for a stable presence in the wake of everything that happened with Moore and his predecessor Jim Harbaugh, and they certainly got that in the veteran Whittingham. He'll square off with Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables in a huge game for both programs.
Michigan won at home last week against Western Michigan, 13-12. That victory came in controversial fashion, as the Wolverines were given an extra second on the clock after it appeared the game was over. Michigan used that second to throw a Hail Mary that was caught for the win. After escaping by the slimmest of margins, the Wolverines will certainly play a lot better on Saturday than they did last week.
On offense, Venables will be matched up against offensive coordinator Jason Beck, who came over with Whittingham. Beck has led strong offenses at New Mexico in 2024 and at Syracuse in 2023. His scheme is know for a stout rushing attack that also runs the quarterback a lot, something the Sooners got a heavy dose of last week against UTEP.
#head #whittingham #last #Sooners
Michigan went 9-4 last year, but the Wolverines have changed a lot since then. Former head coach Sherrone Moore was fired at the end of the regular season, with Biff Poggi serving as the interim head coach. Michigan hired former Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham as the new head man on December 26th.
Whittingham coached Utah from 2005 to 2025, posting a 177-88 record as the head man of the Utes. His teams won three conference ****** les and played in three more conference ****** le games. The Wolverines were looking for a stable presence in the wake of everything that happened with Moore and his predecessor Jim Harbaugh, and they certainly got that in the veteran Whittingham. He'll square off with Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables in a huge game for both programs.
Michigan won at home last week against Western Michigan, 13-12. That victory came in controversial fashion, as the Wolverines were given an extra second on the clock after it appeared the game was over. Michigan used that second to throw a Hail Mary that was caught for the win. After escaping by the slimmest of margins, the Wolverines will certainly play a lot better on Saturday than they did last week.
On offense, Venables will be matched up against offensive coordinator Jason Beck, who came over with Whittingham. Beck has led strong offenses at New Mexico in 2024 and at Syracuse in 2023. His scheme is know for a stout rushing attack that also runs the quarterback a lot, something the Sooners got a heavy dose of last week against UTEP.
#head #whittingham #last #Sooners
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4 days ago
Here's everything Houston Texans defensive coordinator Matt Burke said on Thursday ahead of Week 1's matchup against the Buffalo Bills, including his thoughts on running back James Cook, containing MVP quarterback Josh Allen and the play of the young defensive linemen making their NFL debut.
Q: On what he wants to prevent Bills QB Josh Allen from doing Week 1
Matt Burke: "Score touchdowns and complete passes. He's a great player, dangerous throughout the play. He has a history of making off schedule plays and extending plays and creating explosives off that, which is obviously a thing we've talked about a lot. I think the usual stuff of just trying to keep him from working his magic and he's got a lot of it. Obviously, he has the big arm. We've been working a lot on trying to limit explosives and there's different ways those things show up. I think that's a big starting point with their offense and with Josh especially, just his ability to make huge plays in the passing game and the running game, to be honest with you, is where we've got to start."
Q: On Bills WR DJ Moore
Burke: "Explosive receiver, great with the ball in his [Bills QB DJ Moore] hands. They've created a lot of explosives with run after the catch in the pass. He is another guy that fits in that mold, but then also can get vertical down the field. I played him a few years ago when he was in Chicago when we were here one of those night games. They have a very good group of skill players and he just adds another element, another weapon that we've got to be ready to defend."
#matt #week
Q: On what he wants to prevent Bills QB Josh Allen from doing Week 1
Matt Burke: "Score touchdowns and complete passes. He's a great player, dangerous throughout the play. He has a history of making off schedule plays and extending plays and creating explosives off that, which is obviously a thing we've talked about a lot. I think the usual stuff of just trying to keep him from working his magic and he's got a lot of it. Obviously, he has the big arm. We've been working a lot on trying to limit explosives and there's different ways those things show up. I think that's a big starting point with their offense and with Josh especially, just his ability to make huge plays in the passing game and the running game, to be honest with you, is where we've got to start."
Q: On Bills WR DJ Moore
Burke: "Explosive receiver, great with the ball in his [Bills QB DJ Moore] hands. They've created a lot of explosives with run after the catch in the pass. He is another guy that fits in that mold, but then also can get vertical down the field. I played him a few years ago when he was in Chicago when we were here one of those night games. They have a very good group of skill players and he just adds another element, another weapon that we've got to be ready to defend."
#matt #week
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4 days ago
Demi Moore and Rob Lowe just had the sweetest Brat Pack reunion!
A whopping four decades since the height of their Brat Pack days, and some months after the premiere of the documentary on the era, Brats, the St. Elmo's Fire co-stars delighted fans by getting together in Los Angeles.
And as the West Wing alum surprised fans to support the The Substance actress for a screening of the body horror film, they left fans marveling over just how little they have changed.
After Rob made a surprise appearance at a The Substance screening last week, Demi took to Instagram over the weekend to thank him for it.
The current Golden Globe nominee shared a photo of the two posing side-by-side; she was wearing a brown plaid blazer and skirt set paired with a coordinating cardigan, while Rob wore a gray striped t-shirt under a satin bomber jacket paired with black jeans.
#pack #moore
A whopping four decades since the height of their Brat Pack days, and some months after the premiere of the documentary on the era, Brats, the St. Elmo's Fire co-stars delighted fans by getting together in Los Angeles.
And as the West Wing alum surprised fans to support the The Substance actress for a screening of the body horror film, they left fans marveling over just how little they have changed.
After Rob made a surprise appearance at a The Substance screening last week, Demi took to Instagram over the weekend to thank him for it.
The current Golden Globe nominee shared a photo of the two posing side-by-side; she was wearing a brown plaid blazer and skirt set paired with a coordinating cardigan, while Rob wore a gray striped t-shirt under a satin bomber jacket paired with black jeans.
#pack #moore
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4 days ago
When Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes went down with a torn ACL, there were panic-stricken takes that he might miss some or most of the 2026 season.
That didn't happen. At every step of Mahomes' recovery he has looked right on track, and it will culminate with him starting on Monday night. He made it back for Week 1, which was within the normal timetable for his injury.
Mahomes should be fine for the opener. But the Chiefs' issues around him persist.
The last thing the Chiefs want to do in Mahomes' first game back, against a very good Denver Broncos defense, is put him in harm's way. But with preferred left tackle Josh Simmons dealing with a back injury and Jaylon Moore, just signed to a two-year, $30 million deal this offseason, staying at right tackle, the Chiefs have had to scramble.
The result is that Mahomes will return and be protected by an undrafted rookie left tackle against a Broncos defense that led the NFL with 68 sacks last season. That's not ideal.
#back #Broncos
That didn't happen. At every step of Mahomes' recovery he has looked right on track, and it will culminate with him starting on Monday night. He made it back for Week 1, which was within the normal timetable for his injury.
Mahomes should be fine for the opener. But the Chiefs' issues around him persist.
The last thing the Chiefs want to do in Mahomes' first game back, against a very good Denver Broncos defense, is put him in harm's way. But with preferred left tackle Josh Simmons dealing with a back injury and Jaylon Moore, just signed to a two-year, $30 million deal this offseason, staying at right tackle, the Chiefs have had to scramble.
The result is that Mahomes will return and be protected by an undrafted rookie left tackle against a Broncos defense that led the NFL with 68 sacks last season. That's not ideal.
#back #Broncos
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6 days ago
Pop star Pink is under fire online for resharing an anti-Israel message and then following it up with a series of Instagram posts directed at her detractors.
Macklemore, whose real name is Benjamin Hammond Haggerty, supported British musician Ed Sheeran on stage at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey in a show called Loop Tour on September 4 and 5. Donning a keffiyeh in front of an 80,000-strong audience, the rapper shouted "Free Palestine" and addressed Gaza and the occupied West Bank, saying that they are not being forgotten.
"Every human being walking on this earth deserves exactly the same freedom," he added, as reported by Variety.
The rapper then performed his protest song "Hind's Hall," which featured flashes of Gaza on the stadium screens. Macklemore referenced Hind Rajab, a young Palestinian girl killed in Gaza, named after student demonstrators at Columbia University who renamed a campus building in her honor. The rapper then addressed Jewish concertgoers, saying that criticizing Israel and condemning their actions as genocide is not a condemnation of Jewish people and that his message is a message of peace and dignity for everyone.
American pop diva, whose legal name is Alecia Beth Moore Hart, posted a video with the message "Awful" to her Instagram Story, claiming that Jewish fans who came to see Sheeran's performance are exposed to propaganda against Israel. According to Pink, Macklemore's speech and video presentation amount to a false accusation of genocide, and people who came to the concert are entitled to "apologies and refunds."
#Instagram #macklemore
Macklemore, whose real name is Benjamin Hammond Haggerty, supported British musician Ed Sheeran on stage at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey in a show called Loop Tour on September 4 and 5. Donning a keffiyeh in front of an 80,000-strong audience, the rapper shouted "Free Palestine" and addressed Gaza and the occupied West Bank, saying that they are not being forgotten.
"Every human being walking on this earth deserves exactly the same freedom," he added, as reported by Variety.
The rapper then performed his protest song "Hind's Hall," which featured flashes of Gaza on the stadium screens. Macklemore referenced Hind Rajab, a young Palestinian girl killed in Gaza, named after student demonstrators at Columbia University who renamed a campus building in her honor. The rapper then addressed Jewish concertgoers, saying that criticizing Israel and condemning their actions as genocide is not a condemnation of Jewish people and that his message is a message of peace and dignity for everyone.
American pop diva, whose legal name is Alecia Beth Moore Hart, posted a video with the message "Awful" to her Instagram Story, claiming that Jewish fans who came to see Sheeran's performance are exposed to propaganda against Israel. According to Pink, Macklemore's speech and video presentation amount to a false accusation of genocide, and people who came to the concert are entitled to "apologies and refunds."
#Instagram #macklemore
6 days ago
The Buffalo Bills have the similar expectations heading into the 2026 NFL season that they have had in recent years.
Will the Bills reach the Super Bowl in 2026?
The Bills are widely considered to be one of the strongest Super Bowl contender in the AFC heading into next season.
Quarterback Josh Allen has star wide receiver DJ Moore to look to as his new No. 1 wide receiver, while Khalil Shakir offers strong WR2 production and James Cook has the ability to lead the league in rushing again in 2026. Defensively, things were shaken up by the addition of coordinator Jim Leonhard following the firing of former head coach Sean McDermott.
The ***** ociated Press' predicted that the Bills will in fact reach the Super Bowl next season, but lose to the Philadelphia Eagles.
#bowl #season #next
Will the Bills reach the Super Bowl in 2026?
The Bills are widely considered to be one of the strongest Super Bowl contender in the AFC heading into next season.
Quarterback Josh Allen has star wide receiver DJ Moore to look to as his new No. 1 wide receiver, while Khalil Shakir offers strong WR2 production and James Cook has the ability to lead the league in rushing again in 2026. Defensively, things were shaken up by the addition of coordinator Jim Leonhard following the firing of former head coach Sean McDermott.
The ***** ociated Press' predicted that the Bills will in fact reach the Super Bowl next season, but lose to the Philadelphia Eagles.
#bowl #season #next
7 days ago
NORMAN — Oklahoma softball landed a 2028 commitment on Monday evening.
Moore High School product Braylyn Saenz announced her commitment to the Sooners via Instagram. Saenz is ranked as the No. 41 overall prospect in the class by Softball America.
"I have decided to commit to the University of Oklahoma to further my academic and softball career," Saenz wrote.
Saenz is also ranked as the No. 13 ranked middle infielder and No. 3 player in Oklahoma.
The Sooners will begin their fall Battle Series games on Sept. 30.
#oklahoma #Sooners #norman
Moore High School product Braylyn Saenz announced her commitment to the Sooners via Instagram. Saenz is ranked as the No. 41 overall prospect in the class by Softball America.
"I have decided to commit to the University of Oklahoma to further my academic and softball career," Saenz wrote.
Saenz is also ranked as the No. 13 ranked middle infielder and No. 3 player in Oklahoma.
The Sooners will begin their fall Battle Series games on Sept. 30.
#oklahoma #Sooners #norman
7 days ago
NORMAN — Oklahoma softball landed a 2028 commitment on Monday evening.
Moore High School product Braylyn Saenz announced her commitment to the Sooners via Instagram. Saenz is ranked as the No. 41 overall prospect in the class by Softball America.
"I have decided to commit to the University of Oklahoma to further my academic and softball career," Saenz wrote.
Saenz is also ranked as the No. 13 ranked middle infielder and No. 3 player in Oklahoma.
The Sooners will begin their fall Battle Series games on Sept. 30.
#saenz
Moore High School product Braylyn Saenz announced her commitment to the Sooners via Instagram. Saenz is ranked as the No. 41 overall prospect in the class by Softball America.
"I have decided to commit to the University of Oklahoma to further my academic and softball career," Saenz wrote.
Saenz is also ranked as the No. 13 ranked middle infielder and No. 3 player in Oklahoma.
The Sooners will begin their fall Battle Series games on Sept. 30.
#saenz
7 days ago
Luke Bracey is quickly becoming one of Hollywood's most eligible bachelors — and a source tells Examiner that the Little House on the Prairie star's got a high-profile admirer in none other than Demi Moore!
"The reboot on Netflix has quite suddenly put Luke on a lot of people's radars, including Demi's," reveals the source. "Demi personally has a lot of affection for the source material and the period costuming in both versions of the show are catnip for Demi."
However, "her interest in Luke really boils down to his smoldering good looks," the source admits. "Not only is he exactly the kind of middle-aged hunk she's been looking for, he also has zero ties to Ashton Kutcher's expansive social circle, which is a must for anybody Demi is looking to meet."
The Substance star, 63, split from the That '70s Show alum, 48, in 2011 after eight years of marriage after learning he had cheated on her, per The New York Times.
Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency
#LUKE #looking #little #prairie
"The reboot on Netflix has quite suddenly put Luke on a lot of people's radars, including Demi's," reveals the source. "Demi personally has a lot of affection for the source material and the period costuming in both versions of the show are catnip for Demi."
However, "her interest in Luke really boils down to his smoldering good looks," the source admits. "Not only is he exactly the kind of middle-aged hunk she's been looking for, he also has zero ties to Ashton Kutcher's expansive social circle, which is a must for anybody Demi is looking to meet."
The Substance star, 63, split from the That '70s Show alum, 48, in 2011 after eight years of marriage after learning he had cheated on her, per The New York Times.
Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency
#LUKE #looking #little #prairie
7 days ago
In her most candid interview yet, Emma Heming Willis opens her heart to talk as never before about the reality of living with someone who has frontotemporal dementia (FTD), the condition affecting her husband, the actor Bruce Willis.
Emma recounts how she managed to transform the brutal shock of a diagnosis that made her feel as though her world was crumbling around her into an inspiring life mission, writing her book, The Unexpected Journey, to help caregivers of loved ones with dementia
It is a unique account where pain coexists with daily laughter, sustained by the unbreakable bond of the couple's blended family. Alongside their children, Mabel, 14, and Evelyn, 12, Bruce's eldest daughters – Rumer, 38, Scout, 35, and Tallulah, 32 – and his former wife, Demi Moore, have all pulled together, guided by a firm resolve to cherish every moment of happiness and celebrate the present amid what experts call "the long goodbye".
Emma Heming Willis, the wife of Bruce Willis, shares how she stays resilient in the face of the Hollywood icon's frontotemporal dementia diagnosis (@ Craig Salmon)
Emma, you've mentioned that writing this book was a painful but necessary process. Was there any particular chapter or memory that was difficult to put into words?
#frontotemporal #diagnosis #writing
Emma recounts how she managed to transform the brutal shock of a diagnosis that made her feel as though her world was crumbling around her into an inspiring life mission, writing her book, The Unexpected Journey, to help caregivers of loved ones with dementia
It is a unique account where pain coexists with daily laughter, sustained by the unbreakable bond of the couple's blended family. Alongside their children, Mabel, 14, and Evelyn, 12, Bruce's eldest daughters – Rumer, 38, Scout, 35, and Tallulah, 32 – and his former wife, Demi Moore, have all pulled together, guided by a firm resolve to cherish every moment of happiness and celebrate the present amid what experts call "the long goodbye".
Emma Heming Willis, the wife of Bruce Willis, shares how she stays resilient in the face of the Hollywood icon's frontotemporal dementia diagnosis (@ Craig Salmon)
Emma, you've mentioned that writing this book was a painful but necessary process. Was there any particular chapter or memory that was difficult to put into words?
#frontotemporal #diagnosis #writing
8 days ago
USC football shut out Fresno State on Friday night. The Trojans were able to earn a day off and watch college football on Saturday. The game you know the Trojans were watching on Saturday was Oregon versus Boise State. The Ducks got a severe test. Ducks Wire reacted:
"'I'm glad this game was how it was; we've got a lot to learn,' (Dante) Moore said after a career day with 378 yards passing. 'Thank God it wasn't a 40- or 50-point blowout, because this just shows us who we are right now, and what we have to attack coming into next week.'
"If that's what (Dan) Lanning instilled in his guys after a tense, nerve-wracking, and often frustrating season-opener, then I think the Ducks won in more ways than one. Did Oregon look good on Saturday? No, not by their standards. Did they play well? At times, but it was far too inconsistent. Is there a lot to clean up? Yes, undoubtedly. Is everything they're aiming for still out in front of them?
"Coaching a championship contender is hard. You want them to be so dominant that they blow every opponent out of the water, but you also want to keep them motivated and hungry enough to keep working hard. It's like a magic trick, or threading a needle. Lanning has walked that tightrope several times over the years, and he got a bit of an ****** ist on Saturday in Week 1. The Ducks played far below their standards against what we believe is a pretty good Boise State team. They still showed how good they can be, keeping the ceiling high, but left us thinking about how hard they need to work to reach their goals. In the coming weeks, Oregon will undoubtedly tip towards the side of blowouts and bloodbaths. They may eventually fall toward humility down the road, too."
Oregon fell well short of expectations, but it did win a tough game, which could fuel the Ducks' confidence. It will be fascinating to see how the Ducks evolve before they play the Trojans on September 26.
#state #hard
"'I'm glad this game was how it was; we've got a lot to learn,' (Dante) Moore said after a career day with 378 yards passing. 'Thank God it wasn't a 40- or 50-point blowout, because this just shows us who we are right now, and what we have to attack coming into next week.'
"If that's what (Dan) Lanning instilled in his guys after a tense, nerve-wracking, and often frustrating season-opener, then I think the Ducks won in more ways than one. Did Oregon look good on Saturday? No, not by their standards. Did they play well? At times, but it was far too inconsistent. Is there a lot to clean up? Yes, undoubtedly. Is everything they're aiming for still out in front of them?
"Coaching a championship contender is hard. You want them to be so dominant that they blow every opponent out of the water, but you also want to keep them motivated and hungry enough to keep working hard. It's like a magic trick, or threading a needle. Lanning has walked that tightrope several times over the years, and he got a bit of an ****** ist on Saturday in Week 1. The Ducks played far below their standards against what we believe is a pretty good Boise State team. They still showed how good they can be, keeping the ceiling high, but left us thinking about how hard they need to work to reach their goals. In the coming weeks, Oregon will undoubtedly tip towards the side of blowouts and bloodbaths. They may eventually fall toward humility down the road, too."
Oregon fell well short of expectations, but it did win a tough game, which could fuel the Ducks' confidence. It will be fascinating to see how the Ducks evolve before they play the Trojans on September 26.
#state #hard
8 days ago
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Embarrassing. An embarrassment. And more embarrassing beyond that.
The Kyle Whittingham era was supposed to embody toughness, discipline, playing smart, and doing things the right way. After saying all of the right things and appearing to be confident in what Michigan football would bring to the table in his debut in Ann Arbor, Whittingham's team was not only the opposite of everything he espouses, it was a debacle in every way. The Wolverines were a miracle away from, at best, the second-worst loss in program history, and given what the head coach's teams had been for two-plus decades in Salt Lake City, it's a head-scratcher.
The opening offensive drive was as impressive as the rest of the game was bad. Despite mistakes, quarterback Bryce Underwood sliced through the Western Michigan defense like a hot knife through ***** er, making what ended up being fall camp bluster look prescient. But that was it. 75 yards on the opening drive, and a 47-yard Hail Mary aside, it accounted for all but 154 yards accumulated all game. The offense, against a supposedly overmatched foe, made the Sherrone Moore-era offense look like the air raid by comparison. The defense got off the field, surrendering little in terms of points, sure, but it also allowed the Broncos to hold the ball for over 40 minutes, including a 13-minute, 40-second drive spanning from the third to fourth quarters. When the offense got the ball back, it quickly relinquished possession after three plays, managing seven yards on first down before deciding that moving the ball forward was anathema to its goals.
And then there were the other mistakes: missed ***** ignments, an ***** ortment of penalties, and all-around bad play. It wasn't just the opposite of what was expected; it was the opposite of how Whittingham's teams in Utah played for 21 years.
"I'm going to reserve judgment on that until I dissect the film," Whittingham said after the game. "But we talked about how we improved dramatically through fall camp. That's a fact. I mean, there's no one that attended practice that wouldn't tell you anything different. We had former players there, and everybody had the same ***** ysis. And so, and we're not -- I'm not saying that Bryce played a bad game. This isn't on Bryce Underwood. This is, like I said, it's on me, and I've got to figure out a way to have these guys better prepared and be able to get into a rhythm offensively. It's like we never got into a rhythm after that first drive. We always found a way to screw it up. We were like 0-for-5 or 0-for-6 before we converted on third down. And you just can't win football games like that. We were very fortunate to win, obviously."
#drive #whittingham
The Kyle Whittingham era was supposed to embody toughness, discipline, playing smart, and doing things the right way. After saying all of the right things and appearing to be confident in what Michigan football would bring to the table in his debut in Ann Arbor, Whittingham's team was not only the opposite of everything he espouses, it was a debacle in every way. The Wolverines were a miracle away from, at best, the second-worst loss in program history, and given what the head coach's teams had been for two-plus decades in Salt Lake City, it's a head-scratcher.
The opening offensive drive was as impressive as the rest of the game was bad. Despite mistakes, quarterback Bryce Underwood sliced through the Western Michigan defense like a hot knife through ***** er, making what ended up being fall camp bluster look prescient. But that was it. 75 yards on the opening drive, and a 47-yard Hail Mary aside, it accounted for all but 154 yards accumulated all game. The offense, against a supposedly overmatched foe, made the Sherrone Moore-era offense look like the air raid by comparison. The defense got off the field, surrendering little in terms of points, sure, but it also allowed the Broncos to hold the ball for over 40 minutes, including a 13-minute, 40-second drive spanning from the third to fourth quarters. When the offense got the ball back, it quickly relinquished possession after three plays, managing seven yards on first down before deciding that moving the ball forward was anathema to its goals.
And then there were the other mistakes: missed ***** ignments, an ***** ortment of penalties, and all-around bad play. It wasn't just the opposite of what was expected; it was the opposite of how Whittingham's teams in Utah played for 21 years.
"I'm going to reserve judgment on that until I dissect the film," Whittingham said after the game. "But we talked about how we improved dramatically through fall camp. That's a fact. I mean, there's no one that attended practice that wouldn't tell you anything different. We had former players there, and everybody had the same ***** ysis. And so, and we're not -- I'm not saying that Bryce played a bad game. This isn't on Bryce Underwood. This is, like I said, it's on me, and I've got to figure out a way to have these guys better prepared and be able to get into a rhythm offensively. It's like we never got into a rhythm after that first drive. We always found a way to screw it up. We were like 0-for-5 or 0-for-6 before we converted on third down. And you just can't win football games like that. We were very fortunate to win, obviously."
#drive #whittingham
9 days ago
What channel is Washington vs. Washington State on? Live stream, time, TV schedule to watch Apple Cup game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Washington and Washington State know each other as well as two teams can, but Sunday's matchup will still bring something new.
The 118th Apple Cup will mark the first time the rivals open their seasons against each other in a series that dates to 1901.
The 17th-ranked Huskies will host this year and are hoping to use the game as a springboard to further improvement after taking a big step forward in 2025. Coach Jedd Fisch's second season at the helm saw Washington win three more games than the previous campaign and will look for more this fall as quarterback Demond Williams and other key players return.
The Cougars are also coming off a winning season at 7-6 but have a new coach at the helm in former Missouri offensive coordinator Kirby Moore. He has overhauled the roster with nearly 30 incoming transfers, including new QB Caden Pinnick. The sophomore threw for 3,206 yards and 32 touchdowns last season for UC Davis.
#washington #state
Washington and Washington State know each other as well as two teams can, but Sunday's matchup will still bring something new.
The 118th Apple Cup will mark the first time the rivals open their seasons against each other in a series that dates to 1901.
The 17th-ranked Huskies will host this year and are hoping to use the game as a springboard to further improvement after taking a big step forward in 2025. Coach Jedd Fisch's second season at the helm saw Washington win three more games than the previous campaign and will look for more this fall as quarterback Demond Williams and other key players return.
The Cougars are also coming off a winning season at 7-6 but have a new coach at the helm in former Missouri offensive coordinator Kirby Moore. He has overhauled the roster with nearly 30 incoming transfers, including new QB Caden Pinnick. The sophomore threw for 3,206 yards and 32 touchdowns last season for UC Davis.
#washington #state
