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Deadspin | No. 23 Miami (Ohio) puts unblemished streak on line against UMass

Deadspin | No. 23 Miami (Ohio) puts unblemished streak on line against UMass

Sports news

Feb 13, 2026; Miami, Ohio, USA; Miami (OH) RedHawks forward Eian Elmer (0) drives to the basket against the Ohio Bobcats in the first half at Millett Hall. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

No. 23 Miami (Ohio) will try to move a step closer to an unbeaten regular season when it faces Massachusetts in a Mid-American Conference matchup Tuesday night in Amherst, Mass.

The RedHawks (25-0, 12-0 MAC) are the only undefeated team in Division I, and their 25-game winning streak is the longest to start a season since Gonzaga went 31-0 in 2020-21 before losing in the national championship game.

“I knew this could be done,” Miami coach Travis Steele said. “When you get like-minded people (in the school administration) pulling in the same direction, these types of things can happen.

“We got a great group and they’re doing extraordinary things. We want to have fun. When you have fun and you do it for others, you don’t feel pressure.”

UMass (15-11, 6-7) is coming off a 99-92 road setback to Akron on Saturday, and enters Tuesday’s contest on a two-game losing streak.

The Minutemen rank fifth among MAC teams in both scoring (81.0) and 3-point shooting percentage (35.5%), but they haven’t been as good at the other end of the court. UMass is allowing 76.7 points per game, which is eighth in the conference. Akron went to the free-throw line 43 times on Saturday, and the Zips made 38 of those attempts.

“We can’t guard,” UMass coach Frank Martin said following the game. “It’s not like (the Zips) ran some complicated offense. They ball-screen their point guard, our point guard gets sideways, gets behind the ball … we (have) no rim coverage. (Guys) get out of the way and reach. It’s unfortunate.”

UMass has two of the MAC’s top eight scorers in Leonardo Bettiol (sixth, 17.6 points per game) and Marcus Banks (eighth, 16.9).

Miami leads the MAC in scoring (92.6), field-goal percentage (53.6%) and 3-point field-goal percentage (40.1%). Brant Byers (15.0) and Peter Suder (14.5) are the team’s leading scorers.

The RedHawks have shot 50.0% or better from the field in 19 of their 25 games.

“We’ve just been trying to focus on winning each day, and with that comes winning each game,” Byers said.

Tuesday’s game will be the second time the RedHawks and Minutemen have met this season. Junior guard Eian Elmer tossed in a career-high 30 points to help Miami pull out an 86-84 home victory on Jan. 27. Elmer was 9 of 14 from the field, including 6-for-11 on 3-point attempts.

Bettiol had 22 points and 16 rebounds in the loss. Banks finished with 18. The Minutemen had a 65-60 lead midway through the second half.

“We’ve won a lot of different ways,” Steele said. “I do think that will serve us well in March because we’ve been in every situation. We have a very mature group that stays focused and emphasizes the process.

“There’s still room for improvement, but I think our defense is trending in the right direction, which I’ve been really, really focused on. Gotta continue to take care of the ball at the offensive end.”

–Field Level Media

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#Deadspin #Miami #Ohio #puts #unblemished #streak #line #UMass

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The Chicago Cubs have started the 2026 season as one of the hottest teams in baseball, despite dealing with countless injuries to their pitching staff. 10 pitchers have made trips to the IL this year, yet the Cubs still managed to lead a tightly contested NL Central with a 27-16 record.

Coming out of the gate, Edward Cabrera looked like he might be a steal for the Cubs. He only gave up 3 runs in his first three starts, but has cooled off with a less consistent May. Fortunately for Cabrera, his best ability has been availability.

Matthew Boyd, Justin Steele, Cade Horton, and top prospect Jaxon Wiggins have all missed time this year, while Cabrera has been a massive innings eater at the very least for the Cubs, going at least 5 innings in every appearance this season.

Chicago is obviously still needing more out of Cabrera, but their offseason acquisition for him is currently looking like a steal. Cabrera was traded from the Marlins for a three-player deal, with the center piece being Owen Caissie. Infield prospects Christian Hernandez and Edgardo De Leon were the other pieces in the deal, but they are many years away from reaching the big leagues, if they ever do.

Caissie was supposed to be an immediate-impact bat for the Marlins, but has been anything but that to start his tenure with the Marlins. He’s currently slashing .205/.259/.348 with three home runs. Not only that, but despite the obvious intangibles he can bring with his athleticism, they haven’t translated into production on defense, as he has been one of the worst position players in the sport.

He currently has -5 fielding run value, the worst in the sport, first percentile arm value, and 5th percentile range, all while playing one of the easiest defensive positions in the sport. The Marlins didn’t trade for his defense; they traded for the bat, and that has some massive concerns as well.

A high strikeout rate can be ignored if there’s enough production, but that isn’t the case. Caissie currently holds a 40.7 K%, which can be attributed to a whiff% in the 8th percentile. He also holds a nearly 40% ground ball rate, so even if he’s hitting it hard, it hasn’t been very productive.

Essentially, I think the Cubs sold high on a prospect and landed a guy in a position of need in Cabrera. Chicago seems to be in a position to contend this season, and they might need to swing for another front-line starter at the deadline. For now, they found a very solid middle of the rotation piece in Cabrera, and he has the potential to outperform that baseline as well.

#Chicago #Cubs #Mightve #Fleeced #Miami #Marlins #Edward #Cabrera #Trade #Deadspin.com">Chicago Cubs Might’ve Fleeced Miami Marlins in Edward Cabrera Trade | Deadspin.com The Chicago Cubs have started the 2026 season as one of the hottest teams in baseball, despite dealing with countless injuries to their pitching staff. 10 pitchers have made trips to the IL this year, yet the Cubs still managed to lead a tightly contested NL Central with a 27-16 record.Coming out of the gate, Edward Cabrera looked like he might be a steal for the Cubs. He only gave up 3 runs in his first three starts, but has cooled off with a less consistent May. Fortunately for Cabrera, his best ability has been availability.Matthew Boyd, Justin Steele, Cade Horton, and top prospect Jaxon Wiggins have all missed time this year, while Cabrera has been a massive innings eater at the very least for the Cubs, going at least 5 innings in every appearance this season.Chicago is obviously still needing more out of Cabrera, but their offseason acquisition for him is currently looking like a steal. Cabrera was traded from the Marlins for a three-player deal, with the center piece being Owen Caissie. Infield prospects Christian Hernandez and Edgardo De Leon were the other pieces in the deal, but they are many years away from reaching the big leagues, if they ever do.Caissie was supposed to be an immediate-impact bat for the Marlins, but has been anything but that to start his tenure with the Marlins. He’s currently slashing .205/.259/.348 with three home runs. Not only that, but despite the obvious intangibles he can bring with his athleticism, they haven’t translated into production on defense, as he has been one of the worst position players in the sport.He currently has -5 fielding run value, the worst in the sport, first percentile arm value, and 5th percentile range, all while playing one of the easiest defensive positions in the sport. The Marlins didn’t trade for his defense; they traded for the bat, and that has some massive concerns as well.A high strikeout rate can be ignored if there’s enough production, but that isn’t the case. Caissie currently holds a 40.7 K%, which can be attributed to a whiff% in the 8th percentile. He also holds a nearly 40% ground ball rate, so even if he’s hitting it hard, it hasn’t been very productive.Essentially, I think the Cubs sold high on a prospect and landed a guy in a position of need in Cabrera. Chicago seems to be in a position to contend this season, and they might need to swing for another front-line starter at the deadline. For now, they found a very solid middle of the rotation piece in Cabrera, and he has the potential to outperform that baseline as well. #Chicago #Cubs #Mightve #Fleeced #Miami #Marlins #Edward #Cabrera #Trade #Deadspin.com

Coming out of the gate, Edward Cabrera looked like he might be a steal for the Cubs. He only gave up 3 runs in his first three starts, but has cooled off with a less consistent May. Fortunately for Cabrera, his best ability has been availability.

Matthew Boyd, Justin Steele, Cade Horton, and top prospect Jaxon Wiggins have all missed time this year, while Cabrera has been a massive innings eater at the very least for the Cubs, going at least 5 innings in every appearance this season.

Chicago is obviously still needing more out of Cabrera, but their offseason acquisition for him is currently looking like a steal. Cabrera was traded from the Marlins for a three-player deal, with the center piece being Owen Caissie. Infield prospects Christian Hernandez and Edgardo De Leon were the other pieces in the deal, but they are many years away from reaching the big leagues, if they ever do.

Caissie was supposed to be an immediate-impact bat for the Marlins, but has been anything but that to start his tenure with the Marlins. He’s currently slashing .205/.259/.348 with three home runs. Not only that, but despite the obvious intangibles he can bring with his athleticism, they haven’t translated into production on defense, as he has been one of the worst position players in the sport.

He currently has -5 fielding run value, the worst in the sport, first percentile arm value, and 5th percentile range, all while playing one of the easiest defensive positions in the sport. The Marlins didn’t trade for his defense; they traded for the bat, and that has some massive concerns as well.

A high strikeout rate can be ignored if there’s enough production, but that isn’t the case. Caissie currently holds a 40.7 K%, which can be attributed to a whiff% in the 8th percentile. He also holds a nearly 40% ground ball rate, so even if he’s hitting it hard, it hasn’t been very productive.

Essentially, I think the Cubs sold high on a prospect and landed a guy in a position of need in Cabrera. Chicago seems to be in a position to contend this season, and they might need to swing for another front-line starter at the deadline. For now, they found a very solid middle of the rotation piece in Cabrera, and he has the potential to outperform that baseline as well.

#Chicago #Cubs #Mightve #Fleeced #Miami #Marlins #Edward #Cabrera #Trade #Deadspin.com">Chicago Cubs Might’ve Fleeced Miami Marlins in Edward Cabrera Trade | Deadspin.com

The Chicago Cubs have started the 2026 season as one of the hottest teams in baseball, despite dealing with countless injuries to their pitching staff. 10 pitchers have made trips to the IL this year, yet the Cubs still managed to lead a tightly contested NL Central with a 27-16 record.

Coming out of the gate, Edward Cabrera looked like he might be a steal for the Cubs. He only gave up 3 runs in his first three starts, but has cooled off with a less consistent May. Fortunately for Cabrera, his best ability has been availability.

Matthew Boyd, Justin Steele, Cade Horton, and top prospect Jaxon Wiggins have all missed time this year, while Cabrera has been a massive innings eater at the very least for the Cubs, going at least 5 innings in every appearance this season.

Chicago is obviously still needing more out of Cabrera, but their offseason acquisition for him is currently looking like a steal. Cabrera was traded from the Marlins for a three-player deal, with the center piece being Owen Caissie. Infield prospects Christian Hernandez and Edgardo De Leon were the other pieces in the deal, but they are many years away from reaching the big leagues, if they ever do.

Caissie was supposed to be an immediate-impact bat for the Marlins, but has been anything but that to start his tenure with the Marlins. He’s currently slashing .205/.259/.348 with three home runs. Not only that, but despite the obvious intangibles he can bring with his athleticism, they haven’t translated into production on defense, as he has been one of the worst position players in the sport.

He currently has -5 fielding run value, the worst in the sport, first percentile arm value, and 5th percentile range, all while playing one of the easiest defensive positions in the sport. The Marlins didn’t trade for his defense; they traded for the bat, and that has some massive concerns as well.

A high strikeout rate can be ignored if there’s enough production, but that isn’t the case. Caissie currently holds a 40.7 K%, which can be attributed to a whiff% in the 8th percentile. He also holds a nearly 40% ground ball rate, so even if he’s hitting it hard, it hasn’t been very productive.

Essentially, I think the Cubs sold high on a prospect and landed a guy in a position of need in Cabrera. Chicago seems to be in a position to contend this season, and they might need to swing for another front-line starter at the deadline. For now, they found a very solid middle of the rotation piece in Cabrera, and he has the potential to outperform that baseline as well.

#Chicago #Cubs #Mightve #Fleeced #Miami #Marlins #Edward #Cabrera #Trade #Deadspin.com

The 2026 NFL regular season is finally here.

Now we can talk about it.

Sure, the next few hours will be dominated by breakdowns of all the schedule release videos put together by the various teams, but let’s look ahead to the first week of the season. What games should you watch, and what games are you not even putting on the quadbox?

This will be a game of NFL football.

Yes, there is the Robert Saleh revenge factor, but even that does not move the needle too much.

This could be Kirk Cousins versus Malik Willis. Or it could be Fernando Mendoza versus Malik Willis. Either way, this is a game to keep tabs on using your phone.

Tua Tagovailoa versus Aaron Rodgers?

Michael Penix Jr. versus Drew Allar?

Yeah, we’re just not sure this should be high on your list of priorities in Week 1.

Who asked for this, besides perhaps Seattle fans?

We … just saw this game. It did not go well. After crossing the 50-yard line on their opening possession, the Patriots did not see Seahawks’ territory until their first drive of the fourth quarter. The highlight of the night was, unless you are a Seahawks fan, Bad Bunny’s halftime performance.

Sure, having a non-conference game in this slot makes sense, for playoff tiebreakers and things like that. But, we just saw this game and we’re not sure anyone wants to see it again anytime soon. Particularly on opening night.

12. Cardinals at Chargers

It will be fun to see Jeremiyah Love’s debut, but this could turn ugly quickly.

NFC East games in primetime slots will continue until morale improves.

Yes, this is John Harbaugh’s first game with the Giants, and yes since it is an island game we know you will be watching. But on a list like this, we do not feel compelled to bump this game up much higher.

10. Buccaneers at Bengals

The Bengals have hopes of a return to the postseason, provided they can get a year of completely healthy. The Buccaneers are hoping to bounce back after a collapse in the second half of 2025.

Still, we’re in something of “wait and see” mode when it comes to both teams. Given the rest of the early Sunday slate, there are some games on the schedule we are more excited about.

We are putting this game right in the middle for one simple reason.

We do not know who will be under center for each team.

Both Patrick Mahomes and Bo Nix are coming back from injuries suffered late in the season. If both starting quarterback are back for Week 1, then this game easily moves up this list. But if we are talking about a Justin Fields versus Jarrett Stidham matchup, then this game could just as easily slide down this list.

So it stays in the middle for now. Check with us in August.

We absolutely loved what the Browns did in the draft.

We were not fans of what the Jaguars did.

But that is why they play the games, right?

Honestly, the reason this game is so high is this: Sonny Styles.

The dynamic linebacker making his debut against Jalen Hurts and this offense? That is going to be a blast to watch.

Add in the return of Jayden Daniels, and the fact that this game is in the late afternoon Sunday slate (against games such as Cardinals at Chargers and Dolphins at Raiders) and you have a game you’ll want to be watching.

The Saints could be a sneaky good team this year, and we look at Detroit as one of the teams that missed the playoffs in 2025 yet should make a return to the postseason in 2026.

Because of that, this is a game we’re going to be keeping an eye on.

This game is an exciting, early-season test for both teams. Will Daniel Jones be back, allowing the Colts to return to what they showed during the first half of 2026? How will the Ravens fare in new head coach Jesse Minter’s debut? A Week 1 tonesetter for two teams with playoff aspirations.

Who will be under center for Minnesota when this game kicks off?

The folks at Startnine.win have a thought.

But beyond J.J. McCarthy versus Kyler Murray, the bigger question here is Jordan Love versus Brian Flores. How Love and the Green Bay offense handle what Flores throws at them will be worth watching.

Is it wrong that we are very excited about this game?

Yes, we are talking about two playoff teams from a year ago. But that’s not all. If the Bears are going to make the leap from “playoff team” to true contender, they need to win games like this on the road. If the Panthers are going to make the leap from “team that squeaked into the playoffs” to “true playoff contender,” they need to win games like this at home. Plus, it is the first meeting between Bryce Young and Caleb Williams, and we are excited to see what this Carolina defense looks like after what they have added this offseason.

Plus, you have two young offensive minds in Ben Johnson and Dave Canales.

Two AFC playoff teams from a year ago, each with aspirations of making a deep playoff run. And both teams have massive questions to answer. Was Joe Brady the right hire for Buffalo? Did the Bills put enough around Josh Allen? Have the Texans done enough along the offensive line? Can C.J. Stroud rebound from a tough end to 2025?

This will be a fun one, and a sneaky potential AFC Championship Game preview.

Two playoff teams from 2025. Two of the game’s brightest offensive minds squaring off. A big division rivalry to begin the year.

And the first NFL regular season game in Australia?

Yeah, this is the game of the week.

#NFL #Week #game #schedule #ranked #worst">Every NFL Week 1 game on 2026 schedule, ranked from worst to best The 2026 NFL regular season is finally here.Now we can talk about it.Sure, the next few hours will be dominated by breakdowns of all the schedule release videos put together by the various teams, but let’s look ahead to the first week of the season. What games should you watch, and what games are you not even putting on the quadbox?This will be a game of NFL football.Yes, there is the Robert Saleh revenge factor, but even that does not move the needle too much.This could be Kirk Cousins versus Malik Willis. Or it could be Fernando Mendoza versus Malik Willis. Either way, this is a game to keep tabs on using your phone.Tua Tagovailoa versus Aaron Rodgers?Michael Penix Jr. versus Drew Allar?Yeah, we’re just not sure this should be high on your list of priorities in Week 1.Who asked for this, besides perhaps Seattle fans?We … just saw this game. It did not go well. After crossing the 50-yard line on their opening possession, the Patriots did not see Seahawks’ territory until their first drive of the fourth quarter. The highlight of the night was, unless you are a Seahawks fan, Bad Bunny’s halftime performance.Sure, having a non-conference game in this slot makes sense, for playoff tiebreakers and things like that. But, we just saw this game and we’re not sure anyone wants to see it again anytime soon. Particularly on opening night.12. Cardinals at ChargersIt will be fun to see Jeremiyah Love’s debut, but this could turn ugly quickly.NFC East games in primetime slots will continue until morale improves.Yes, this is John Harbaugh’s first game with the Giants, and yes since it is an island game we know you will be watching. But on a list like this, we do not feel compelled to bump this game up much higher.10. Buccaneers at BengalsThe Bengals have hopes of a return to the postseason, provided they can get a year of completely healthy. The Buccaneers are hoping to bounce back after a collapse in the second half of 2025.Still, we’re in something of “wait and see” mode when it comes to both teams. Given the rest of the early Sunday slate, there are some games on the schedule we are more excited about.We are putting this game right in the middle for one simple reason.We do not know who will be under center for each team.Both Patrick Mahomes and Bo Nix are coming back from injuries suffered late in the season. If both starting quarterback are back for Week 1, then this game easily moves up this list. But if we are talking about a Justin Fields versus Jarrett Stidham matchup, then this game could just as easily slide down this list.So it stays in the middle for now. Check with us in August.We absolutely loved what the Browns did in the draft.We were not fans of what the Jaguars did.But that is why they play the games, right?Honestly, the reason this game is so high is this: Sonny Styles.The dynamic linebacker making his debut against Jalen Hurts and this offense? That is going to be a blast to watch.Add in the return of Jayden Daniels, and the fact that this game is in the late afternoon Sunday slate (against games such as Cardinals at Chargers and Dolphins at Raiders) and you have a game you’ll want to be watching.The Saints could be a sneaky good team this year, and we look at Detroit as one of the teams that missed the playoffs in 2025 yet should make a return to the postseason in 2026.Because of that, this is a game we’re going to be keeping an eye on.This game is an exciting, early-season test for both teams. Will Daniel Jones be back, allowing the Colts to return to what they showed during the first half of 2026? How will the Ravens fare in new head coach Jesse Minter’s debut? A Week 1 tonesetter for two teams with playoff aspirations.Who will be under center for Minnesota when this game kicks off?The folks at Startnine.win have a thought.But beyond J.J. McCarthy versus Kyler Murray, the bigger question here is Jordan Love versus Brian Flores. How Love and the Green Bay offense handle what Flores throws at them will be worth watching.Is it wrong that we are very excited about this game?Yes, we are talking about two playoff teams from a year ago. But that’s not all. If the Bears are going to make the leap from “playoff team” to true contender, they need to win games like this on the road. If the Panthers are going to make the leap from “team that squeaked into the playoffs” to “true playoff contender,” they need to win games like this at home. Plus, it is the first meeting between Bryce Young and Caleb Williams, and we are excited to see what this Carolina defense looks like after what they have added this offseason.Plus, you have two young offensive minds in Ben Johnson and Dave Canales.Two AFC playoff teams from a year ago, each with aspirations of making a deep playoff run. And both teams have massive questions to answer. Was Joe Brady the right hire for Buffalo? Did the Bills put enough around Josh Allen? Have the Texans done enough along the offensive line? Can C.J. Stroud rebound from a tough end to 2025?This will be a fun one, and a sneaky potential AFC Championship Game preview.Two playoff teams from 2025. Two of the game’s brightest offensive minds squaring off. A big division rivalry to begin the year.And the first NFL regular season game in Australia?Yeah, this is the game of the week. #NFL #Week #game #schedule #ranked #worst

Startnine.win have a thought.

But beyond J.J. McCarthy versus Kyler Murray, the bigger question here is Jordan Love versus Brian Flores. How Love and the Green Bay offense handle what Flores throws at them will be worth watching.

Is it wrong that we are very excited about this game?

Yes, we are talking about two playoff teams from a year ago. But that’s not all. If the Bears are going to make the leap from “playoff team” to true contender, they need to win games like this on the road. If the Panthers are going to make the leap from “team that squeaked into the playoffs” to “true playoff contender,” they need to win games like this at home. Plus, it is the first meeting between Bryce Young and Caleb Williams, and we are excited to see what this Carolina defense looks like after what they have added this offseason.

Plus, you have two young offensive minds in Ben Johnson and Dave Canales.

Two AFC playoff teams from a year ago, each with aspirations of making a deep playoff run. And both teams have massive questions to answer. Was Joe Brady the right hire for Buffalo? Did the Bills put enough around Josh Allen? Have the Texans done enough along the offensive line? Can C.J. Stroud rebound from a tough end to 2025?

This will be a fun one, and a sneaky potential AFC Championship Game preview.

Two playoff teams from 2025. Two of the game’s brightest offensive minds squaring off. A big division rivalry to begin the year.

And the first NFL regular season game in Australia?

Yeah, this is the game of the week.

#NFL #Week #game #schedule #ranked #worst">Every NFL Week 1 game on 2026 schedule, ranked from worst to best

The 2026 NFL regular season is finally here.

Now we can talk about it.

Sure, the next few hours will be dominated by breakdowns of all the schedule release videos put together by the various teams, but let’s look ahead to the first week of the season. What games should you watch, and what games are you not even putting on the quadbox?

This will be a game of NFL football.

Yes, there is the Robert Saleh revenge factor, but even that does not move the needle too much.

This could be Kirk Cousins versus Malik Willis. Or it could be Fernando Mendoza versus Malik Willis. Either way, this is a game to keep tabs on using your phone.

Tua Tagovailoa versus Aaron Rodgers?

Michael Penix Jr. versus Drew Allar?

Yeah, we’re just not sure this should be high on your list of priorities in Week 1.

Who asked for this, besides perhaps Seattle fans?

We … just saw this game. It did not go well. After crossing the 50-yard line on their opening possession, the Patriots did not see Seahawks’ territory until their first drive of the fourth quarter. The highlight of the night was, unless you are a Seahawks fan, Bad Bunny’s halftime performance.

Sure, having a non-conference game in this slot makes sense, for playoff tiebreakers and things like that. But, we just saw this game and we’re not sure anyone wants to see it again anytime soon. Particularly on opening night.

12. Cardinals at Chargers

It will be fun to see Jeremiyah Love’s debut, but this could turn ugly quickly.

NFC East games in primetime slots will continue until morale improves.

Yes, this is John Harbaugh’s first game with the Giants, and yes since it is an island game we know you will be watching. But on a list like this, we do not feel compelled to bump this game up much higher.

10. Buccaneers at Bengals

The Bengals have hopes of a return to the postseason, provided they can get a year of completely healthy. The Buccaneers are hoping to bounce back after a collapse in the second half of 2025.

Still, we’re in something of “wait and see” mode when it comes to both teams. Given the rest of the early Sunday slate, there are some games on the schedule we are more excited about.

We are putting this game right in the middle for one simple reason.

We do not know who will be under center for each team.

Both Patrick Mahomes and Bo Nix are coming back from injuries suffered late in the season. If both starting quarterback are back for Week 1, then this game easily moves up this list. But if we are talking about a Justin Fields versus Jarrett Stidham matchup, then this game could just as easily slide down this list.

So it stays in the middle for now. Check with us in August.

We absolutely loved what the Browns did in the draft.

We were not fans of what the Jaguars did.

But that is why they play the games, right?

Honestly, the reason this game is so high is this: Sonny Styles.

The dynamic linebacker making his debut against Jalen Hurts and this offense? That is going to be a blast to watch.

Add in the return of Jayden Daniels, and the fact that this game is in the late afternoon Sunday slate (against games such as Cardinals at Chargers and Dolphins at Raiders) and you have a game you’ll want to be watching.

The Saints could be a sneaky good team this year, and we look at Detroit as one of the teams that missed the playoffs in 2025 yet should make a return to the postseason in 2026.

Because of that, this is a game we’re going to be keeping an eye on.

This game is an exciting, early-season test for both teams. Will Daniel Jones be back, allowing the Colts to return to what they showed during the first half of 2026? How will the Ravens fare in new head coach Jesse Minter’s debut? A Week 1 tonesetter for two teams with playoff aspirations.

Who will be under center for Minnesota when this game kicks off?

The folks at Startnine.win have a thought.

But beyond J.J. McCarthy versus Kyler Murray, the bigger question here is Jordan Love versus Brian Flores. How Love and the Green Bay offense handle what Flores throws at them will be worth watching.

Is it wrong that we are very excited about this game?

Yes, we are talking about two playoff teams from a year ago. But that’s not all. If the Bears are going to make the leap from “playoff team” to true contender, they need to win games like this on the road. If the Panthers are going to make the leap from “team that squeaked into the playoffs” to “true playoff contender,” they need to win games like this at home. Plus, it is the first meeting between Bryce Young and Caleb Williams, and we are excited to see what this Carolina defense looks like after what they have added this offseason.

Plus, you have two young offensive minds in Ben Johnson and Dave Canales.

Two AFC playoff teams from a year ago, each with aspirations of making a deep playoff run. And both teams have massive questions to answer. Was Joe Brady the right hire for Buffalo? Did the Bills put enough around Josh Allen? Have the Texans done enough along the offensive line? Can C.J. Stroud rebound from a tough end to 2025?

This will be a fun one, and a sneaky potential AFC Championship Game preview.

Two playoff teams from 2025. Two of the game’s brightest offensive minds squaring off. A big division rivalry to begin the year.

And the first NFL regular season game in Australia?

Yeah, this is the game of the week.

#NFL #Week #game #schedule #ranked #worst

Two-time champion France named its 26-man squad for the FIFA World Cup 2026, starting on June 11 in the USA, Mexico and Canada.

Didier Deschamps, who will step down from his role as the French head coach after this World Cup, has made no surprises with his picks.

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe will likely skipper the team which boasts the current Ballon d’Or holder Ousmane Dembele.

The squad boasts plenty of experience while also having past World Cup winners in Mbappe, Dembele, N’Golo Kante and Lucas Hernandez.

Antoine Griezmann, who retired from the national team after the Euro 2024, will not be reversing his decision to be part of the squad, , while Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga has been dropped.

France is in Group I with Senegal, Iraq and Norway and will begin its campaign against Senegal on June 16.

FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 SQUAD FOR FRANCE

Goalkeepers: Mike Maignan, Robin Risser, Brice Samba

Defenders: Lucas Digne, Malo Gusto, Lucas Hernandez, Ibrahima Konaté, Jules Koundé, William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano, Maxence Lacroix, Theo Hernandez

Midfielders: N’Golo Kanté, Manu Koné, Adrien Rabiot, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Warren Zaïre-Emery

Forwards: Bradley Barcola, Rayan Cherki, Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué, Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Marcus Thuram, Maghnes Akliouche

Published on May 15, 2026

#France #squad #FIFA #World #Cup #Full #list #Mbappe #Griezmann">France squad for FIFA World Cup 2026: Full list; Mbappe in, No Griezmann Two-time champion France named its 26-man squad for the FIFA World Cup 2026, starting on June 11 in the USA, Mexico and Canada.Didier Deschamps, who will step down from his role as the French head coach after this World Cup, has made no surprises with his picks.Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe will likely skipper the team which boasts the current Ballon d’Or holder Ousmane Dembele.The squad boasts plenty of experience while also having past World Cup winners in Mbappe, Dembele, N’Golo Kante and Lucas Hernandez.Antoine Griezmann, who retired from the national team after the Euro 2024, will not be reversing his decision to be part of the squad, , while Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga has been dropped.France is in Group I with Senegal, Iraq and Norway and will begin its campaign against Senegal on June 16. FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 SQUAD FOR FRANCE Goalkeepers: Mike Maignan, Robin Risser, Brice Samba Defenders: Lucas Digne, Malo Gusto, Lucas Hernandez, Ibrahima Konaté, Jules Koundé, William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano, Maxence Lacroix, Theo Hernandez Midfielders: N’Golo Kanté, Manu Koné, Adrien Rabiot, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Warren Zaïre-Emery Forwards: Bradley Barcola, Rayan Cherki, Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué, Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Marcus Thuram, Maghnes Akliouche Published on May 15, 2026 #France #squad #FIFA #World #Cup #Full #list #Mbappe #Griezmann

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