Good morning! Barehand a home run today. Coming up:
- 🏈 An NFL preview, with a new stat
- 🫥 A contender nearly goes down
- 🧢 MLB hat scandal continues
Ole Miss and Notre Dame entered the season brimming with hope. The Rebels, fresh off their best campaign ever, boast a Heisman‑talking quarterback. The Fighting Irish are a hot pick for a deep playoff run.
Both teams showed a few first‑game jitters last night, starting with the SEC’s tougher case:
- No. 9 Ole Miss needed a last‑second field goal to beat No. 24 Louisville 41‑38 in a game I can’t quite evaluate. Offenses were electric, defenses shaky for both sides.
- On the other hand, No. 4 Notre Dame entered halftime with a 13‑10 lead over unranked Wisconsin. Paranoia loomed, as the Irish have stumbled early these past two seasons. They closed with a 28‑3 surge. That settles it.
Now let’s shift to the other football action this week:
We’ve shouted “football’s back” far too often, but this week it finally feels genuine. Excitement is real.
After two weeks of college games, the NFL returns sooner than expected. Here are five quick thoughts, aided by friends:
1. Yes, the season starts on a Wednesday. The league has already claimed much of the fall calendar, edging into Thanksgiving and Christmas slots. In Week 1 of 2026, play kicks off the day after tomorrow, with another game Thursday before the Sunday slate.
2. The favorites are? First, the Rams lead the betting odds, followed closely by the Bills, Ravens and Seahawks. No complaints there, especially with no games yet. Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow top the MVP chatter.
💬 Charles: “I can’t leave without praising Falcons back Bijan Robinson. Coach Kevin Stefanski and OC Tommy Rees maximized Cleveland’s backs last year—Robinson looks set for a historic season (just ignore the rest).”
💬 Max: “Jets rookie Kenyon Sadiq will explode and become a top fantasy tight end.”
Bold predictions for every team dropped today. See where yours lands.
4. Wait, let’s back up. I want to talk quarterbacks. First, I asked Max—former USC and Pitt QB—who will surprise us in the NFL:
💬 “Kyler Murray. Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell knows revivals, and Murray already outshines Daniel Jones and Sam Darnold before reaching Minnesota.”
Our Austin Mock unveiled a new QB metric this morning, the Quarterback Index (QBI). It sets average play at 100, borrowing from baseball analytics. Scores above 100 signal above‑average performance; below 100, the opposite. Last season’s top three QBs by QBI:
- Burrow – 132
- Matthew Stafford – 125
- Brock Purdy – 125
5. There’s just so much to watch. What am I missing? I turned back to Charles for the final take:
💬 “The Detroit Lions could be the most entertaining team for neutral fans. Drafting Clemson tackle Blake Miller at 17 may raise their offensive line ceiling, giving a solid scoring base. The pass rush may lag, making defense tougher, but a high‑octane offense with a middling defense is always fun.”
Go Lions? At least on the watch guide.
Let’s keep moving:
News to Know
WMU: Big Ten blamed ‘discrepancy’
Western Michigan president Russ Kavalhuna said the Big Ten blamed a “known discrepancy” between the replay clock and NBC’s game clock after Saturday’s loss to Michigan, leaving little recourse for WMU’s upset claim. See the backstory here.
- Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani could suit up tonight, though he likely won’t pitch again this year. Interesting.
- Yikes: Yankees starter Gerrit Cole gave up back‑to‑back‑to‑back homers to his first three batters yesterday. Whoops.
- Meanwhile, Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman joined an elite club as the ninth pitcher ever to reach 400 saves. Impressive.
- NFL commissioner Roger Goodell signed an extension through the 2030 season, likely making him the league’s highest‑paid employee.
- A buzzy women’s college volleyball event at Wrigley Field was halted last night due to a wet court. It was a scene.
📰 Find more news here 24/7.
Watch Guide
📺 Tennis: U.S. Open fourth round
11 a.m.–8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN2
Final day of the fourth round, with quarterfinal spots fading. Top seed Alexander Zverev plays, while Coco Gauff, Naomi Osaka and Elena Rybakina compete on the women’s side. The tournament’s been solid.
📺 FIBA Women’s World Cup: Team USA vs. Czechia
2:45 p.m. ET on TNT and TruTV
USA sits 2‑0, Czechia 0‑2. Likely a blowout, but anything can happen. Good midday TV if you’re free.
📺 MLB: Cardinals at Giants
8:10 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock
I’m mainly watching St. Louis, still dealing with Friday’s odd hat controversy. Might boost their chase for the NL wild‑card.
Pulse Picks
Our NFL Hope‑O‑Meter returns for Week 1. Rams and Browns bookend the results, but the middle holds intrigue, and your responses are a joy. Dive in here.
Candace Buckner’s column on what the WNBA needs in a new commissioner was spot‑on. The hire must satisfy everyone.
I valued Scott Dochterman’s historical recap, who, after Saturday’s Michigan‑WMU game, listed ten of the most controversial college‑football finishes.
College football fans must learn a new stat this season: the Heat Index. The record‑breaking early‑year heat has deeper roots than you’d expect.
Most‑clicked in the newsletter yesterday: Our story on a Little League coach’s relatable advice to his squad.
Most‑read on the website yesterday: The explainer on why Michigan earned an extra second.