AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — Kentucky notched seven sacks and allowed just one trip to the red zone in a 10-3 victory at Auburn on Saturday night, ending a four-game skid.
It was the first win for Kentucky (3-5, 1-5 Southeastern Conference) against Auburn (4-5, 1-5) since 2009. The Wildcats had lost 19 of their previous matchups against the Tigers.
https://mymotherlode.com/sports/college-sports-general-news/10133792/kentucky-notches-7-sacks-in-a-10-3-victory-at-auburn-for-wildcats-first-sec-win.html
Syracuse football (3-5) has been searching for answers since quarterback Steve Angeli suffered a torn Achilles in a huge road win versus Clemson on Sept. 20. Orange head coach Fran Brown is turning to an unlikely player to help lift the team out of the doldrums and back into the win column.
True freshman and walk-on Joseph Filardi will make his first start under center in Friday night’s game against North Carolina (2-5), according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Filardi, a lauded lacrosse recruit, has only logged one offensive snap this season entering the ACC showdown.
While the Tar Heels have yet to earn a conference victory, inexperienced signal-callers do not tend to fare well against all-time great NFL head coach Bill Belichick. However, perhaps Brown is looking to use the unknown to his advantage. Syracuse clearly feels like it has nothing left to lose at this stage of the season.
The Orange have been painfully outmatched without Angeli, losing five consecutive games all by double digits and failing to score 20 points. Rickie Collins posted a sub-50% completion percentage twice while occupying the starting role and has thrown more interceptions than touchdown passes. Change was needed.
Filardi has a chance to rejuvenate a dejected fan base that is doing its best to remember what it felt like trouncing Clemson in Death Valley. He can also put the Belichick regime under even more scrutiny.
The JMA Wireless Dome may need to prop up the Dix Hills, New York native, as nerves are bound to be high in this televised matchup. Whether or not the move works, Fran Brown is displaying a notable amount of fearlessness in the face of Bill Belichick.
The opening kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
https://clutchpoints.com/ncaa-football/syracuse-football-news-walk-on-first-career-start-vs-bill-belichick-north-carolina
While the Minnesota Vikings expect to start quarterback J.J. McCarthy on Sunday against the Detroit Lions, things remain unsettled beyond their expected starter. The Vikings lost backup quarterback Carson Wentz for the season due to a shoulder injury, leaving Minnesota’s quarterback depth thin. Currently, the backups are rookie Max Brosmer on the active roster and veteran John Wolford on the practice squad.
USA Today’s Jacob Camenker predicts that the Vikings will trade for New York Giants backup quarterback Russell Wilson, a 10-time Pro Bowler who has seen better days. “That could lead the Vikings to buy low on Wilson,” Camenker wrote. “It wouldn’t be to install him as a starter, but it would provide McCarthy with a veteran sounding board as he looks to establish himself as Minnesota’s quarterback of the future.”
Camenker also noted, “The Giants should be willing to part with Wilson on the cheap, and the Vikings would only have to take on a prorated version of the 36-year-old quarterback’s $2 million salary for the 2025 season.”
Wilson’s experience would be invaluable for a young quarterback like McCarthy. In 14 seasons, Wilson has thrown for 46,921 yards and 353 touchdowns versus 114 interceptions across 204 career games. He led the Seattle Seahawks to two Super Bowl appearances, winning one. Wilson also holds a 9-8 career postseason record with 4,056 yards and 27 touchdowns compared to 12 interceptions.
**Russell Wilson Would Give Vikings QB Insurance**
If McCarthy were to get hurt again, the Vikings would have a proven veteran ready to step in with Wilson. While Wilson hasn’t looked like a dominant starting quarterback in recent years, he has still produced impressive performances at times.
For instance, last season in Week 5, Wilson threw for 414 yards and three touchdowns for the Pittsburgh Steelers against the Cincinnati Bengals. This season, he had a 450-yard, three-touchdown game against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2. In both cases, Wilson wasn’t working with a receiving corps on the same level as the Vikings’ stars Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and tight end T.J. Hockenson.
**NFL Analyst Weighs In on Playoff Hopes With J.J. McCarthy**
While the jury is still out on McCarthy after just two regular season games, former NFL running back and current analyst Rashad Jennings is optimistic about the Vikings’ future.
“Not sure if it’s going to happen this year,” Jennings said during *Good Morning Football* on Friday. “When you talk about the NFC North… they’re at the bottom, and they’re at the bottom with a really good team up top, and that’s good teams and that’s being the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions.”
Jennings added, “I don’t know if it’s enough juice over there to take them over that hump.”
As the Vikings continue to develop McCarthy and consider veteran additions like Wilson, their playoff aspirations remain a topic to watch closely this season.
https://heavy.com/sports/nfl/minnesota-vikings/trade-prediction-russell-wilson-ny-giants/
**UCF (4-3) at Baylor (4-4) – November 1 at 12 p.m. EDT**
**BetMGM College Football Odds:**
Opening Line: Baylor by 4.5
Against the Spread: Baylor 1-7, UCF 4-3
**How to Watch:**
ESPNU
—
### Team and Player Stats
#### Baylor Offense
– Overall: 458.6 yards per game (22nd in FBS)
– Passing: 318.4 yards per game (5th)
– Rushing: 140.3 yards per game (89th)
– Scoring: 34.3 points per game (35th)
#### Baylor Defense
– Overall: 402.5 yards per game (103rd in FBS)
– Passing: 212.0 yards per game (56th)
– Rushing: 190.5 yards per game (119th)
– Scoring: 32.6 points per game (120th)
#### UCF Offense
– Overall: 445.1 yards per game (26th in FBS)
– Passing: 237.0 yards per game (65th)
– Rushing: 208.1 yards per game (20th)
– Scoring: 30.7 points per game (54th)
#### UCF Defense
– Overall: 292.1 yards per game (15th in FBS)
– Passing: 146.3 yards per game (6th)
– Rushing: 145.9 yards per game (71st)
– Scoring: 17.1 points per game (16th)
—
### Additional Team Stats
– UCF ranks 112th in third down conversion percentage, converting 35.3% of the time.
– Baylor ranks 111th on third down defense, allowing opponents to convert 43.4%.
– Baylor holds the 131st spot in the FBS with a -9 turnover margin, while UCF is 65th with an even turnover margin.
– Baylor averages 28:38 in time of possession (104th in FBS) compared to UCF’s 31:27 (31st).
—
### Team Leaders
**Baylor:**
– Passing: Sawyer Robertson – 2,513 yards, 23 TDs, 7 INTs, 61.7% completion
– Rushing: Bryson Washington – 603 yards on 120 carries, 6 TDs
– Receiving: Josh Cameron – 576 yards on 44 catches, 4 TDs
**UCF:**
– Passing: Tayven Jackson – 1,183 yards, 5 TDs, 2 INTs, 65.2% completion
– Rushing: Myles Montgomery – 522 yards on 100 carries, 3 TDs
– Receiving: Duane Thomas Jr. – 316 yards on 30 catches, 0 TDs
—
### Recent Performances
**Baylor:**
Baylor fell to Cincinnati 41-20 on Saturday, October 25. Quarterback Sawyer Robertson completed 18-of-26 passes for 137 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions (69.2% completion). He also ran eight times for six yards, adding one rushing touchdown. Michael Turner rushed 14 times for 90 yards and added three receptions for 19 yards. Josh Cameron contributed 34 yards on four catches with one touchdown.
**UCF:**
UCF dominated West Virginia 45-13 on Saturday, October 18. Tayven Jackson threw for 277 yards on 23-of-34 attempts (67.6%) with two touchdowns and one interception. Jaden Nixon posted 116 rushing yards on seven carries with two touchdowns and caught one pass for two yards. Chris Domercat added 89 yards on five catches, scoring two touchdowns.
—
### Looking Ahead
Baylor will host No. 24 Utah on November 15, while UCF prepares to host No. 22 Houston on November 7.
—
This upcoming matchup between UCF and Baylor promises an exciting college football showdown as both teams vie for a crucial win in the middle of their seasons. Tune in November 1 at 12 p.m. EDT on ESPNU to catch the action live.
https://wtop.com/ncaa-football/2025/10/baylor-hosts-ucf-in-big-12-play/
FREEPORT — After Freeport quarterback Andrew Thomas threw an interception late in the first half, he knew the second half had to look different for the Falcons.
“Coach came over to me with the iPad, showed me what I did wrong,” Thomas said after Freeport’s 35-13 win over Dirigo. “I made the wrong read, but he was there. Everyone was there to support me. This is a great team, everyone just tried to lift me up. It was amazing.”
Dirigo’s Trevor Crosby intercepted that pass from Thomas and returned it 88 yards for a touchdown on the final play of the second quarter to cut Freeport’s lead to 15-13 at halftime. However, the Falcons took control in the second half, scoring 20 unanswered points.
“I personally struggled in the first half, threw two interceptions in one half,” Thomas admitted. “Our defense came up clutch, and after the half we just exploded and never stopped scoring.”
The Freeport offense was sparked early in the second half by a spectacular one-handed catch by Sam Walker, who hauled in a 35-yard gain to the Dirigo 10-yard line. Thomas took care of the rest on the very next play, running into the end zone to extend the Falcons’ lead to 22-13.
“(Sam’s) a very emotional player, loves the game, and him and I have a very fun relationship,” Freeport coach Paul St. Pierre said. “Sometimes when he gets upset, he plays better, so I find ways to motivate him throughout the game. I think I did, and he responded extremely well. I’m proud of him for making it. He’s going to remember that catch for probably the rest of his life.”
Sam Willard, who finished the night with 10 carries for 119 yards and two touchdowns (3 and 24 yards), called Walker’s catch “inspirational” and “just what we needed” to ignite the offense in the second half. Willard’s second touchdown gave Freeport a 29-13 lead with 3:32 left in the game.
“I just want to give a big shout-out to our linemen for the blocking,” Willard said. “They made it possible for me to get into that end zone, and all props go to them.”
Senior lineman Dietrich Schultz capped the scoring with his first career touchdown, a 2-yard run following a 9-yard gain on the previous play, with 1:47 remaining to put the game away.
Dirigo struck first on a 1-yard run by Tanner Bradeen, giving the Cougars a 7-0 lead midway through the opening quarter. Freeport answered four minutes later with Keigan Haveran’s 18-yard touchdown run, tying the score at 7-7.
Willard then gave the Falcons the lead with a 3-yard run. On the 2-point conversion, Thomas found Drew Pound in the end zone to make it 15-7 early in the second quarter. Dirigo’s Crosby responded with an 88-yard interception return, closing the gap to 15-13.
Dirigo attempted a 2-point conversion to tie the game but their pass was intercepted by Freeport’s defense.
“I think (Trevor’s) up to eight interceptions this year, [he’s returned] two or three to the house,” Dirigo coach Joshua Newhall said. “He’s incredibly smart, he calls probably 80% of our defense, and just reads and reacts. I can’t say enough nice things about the kid, I think he’s underrated… that’s just next level. He’s got wheels.”
Dirigo’s roster has dwindled from 30 players at the start of the season, notably losing junior Hudson Lufkin—a two-way standout at quarterback and linebacker and one of the best players in Class D—to an ACL tear. Senior Brady Philbrick moved from receiver to replace Lufkin at quarterback.
“Brady went into a tough situation,” Newhall said. “Anybody stepping in after Hudson, it’s a tough spot. He hadn’t played quarterback for us, and I think tonight was tough. We had a hard time with some reads, but he ran the ball well. He threw a couple good balls, we dropped a couple balls that normally we wouldn’t drop. I think that playoff version of him will be a little different than what we saw tonight.”
Despite the loss, Dirigo (5-3) may secure the second seed in the Class D South playoffs, granting them a first-round bye and a home game in the semifinals. Freeport (5-3), on the other hand, could end up as the fifth seed and face a road game in next week’s quarterfinals.
Freeport coach Paul St. Pierre: “(Dirigo is) a great town, great program, and they fought hard. It could have been a whole different game if we were up at their place. I’m just very lucky that we were able to lock them down in the second half and get the win against a very good program.”
Dirigo coach Joshua Newhall: “Statistically, I think we’re one of the top defenses in turnovers, even statewide; it puts us at 18 interceptions this season. They bought into the culture early, they bought into what we wanted to do defensively, and we generate turnovers, we generate fumbles, we generate interceptions, we create pressure.”
Paul St. Pierre on his team: “This is a great team. I know we’ve had some losses. We’ve had other seasons where we’ve had better records, but these kids are just phenomenal. They’re a great group of kids. This has been one of the most fun seasons I’ve ever had. They come to work every single week, working hard. They watch film, they’re dedicated, they’re loyal, they work hard every day. I’m so proud to get this resolved on Senior Night. They all chipped in, whether it’s on the field, off the field. In games and practice, they’re doing all the right things, and I hope it carries over into their life. Who knows, 10, 20 years down the road, maybe they’re coaching, maybe they’re fathers of players.”
https://www.sunjournal.com/2025/10/24/freeport-football-surges-past-dirigo-in-second-half/
Somehow, Mike McDaniel is still the Miami Dolphins head coach, and he’s sticking with Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback. Additionally, he’s continuing to say unusual things, recently dropping another surprising take about the team’s effort against the Cleveland Browns, as reported by Marcel Louis-Jacques on X.
“I don’t have an opinion on the two teams in the game, because we didn’t participate in the game, in my opinion,” McDaniel said. While he acknowledged that Miami’s “want to” was there, he criticized their desire to execute the actual assignment or game plan as lacking.
Regardless of these comments, the Dolphins are now trying to regroup and climb out of the mess left behind by a 31-6 thrashing at the hands of the Browns.
### Mike McDaniel Sticking with Tua Tagovailoa
It seems strange that McDaniel hasn’t pulled the plug on Tagovailoa as the starter. At this point, it doesn’t look like the six-year veteran will be able to lead the team to a victory anytime soon. And a win soon may be the only thing that secures McDaniel’s future with the organization.
When asked about Tagovailoa’s status, McDaniel emphasized that his decisions won’t be based on emotion. “It will be tape-driven,” he said. “I will have to take a look at the tape. But before watching the tape, I don’t want to over-conclude anything.”
He added, “I think, when you turn the ball over, you know, it is the number one indicator of wins and losses. And it negatively affects the team. I think there’s multiple factors in those turnovers. I know at least one or two of them were extremely preventable from Tua, and he knows that just wasn’t good enough. We’ll watch the tape and change our style of play if we [have] to.”
### Tagovailoa’s Struggles
Unfortunately for the Dolphins, Tagovailoa currently leads the NFL in a category no quarterback wants to: interceptions. He has thrown 10 interceptions as Miami has stumbled to a disappointing 1-6 record.
Tagovailoa’s poor play is certainly an issue, but McDaniel’s team also didn’t seem prepared to face the Browns, who notched just their second win of the season. When teams show up not ready to play, the responsibility almost always falls on the head coach.
As the season progresses, all eyes will be on McDaniel and Tagovailoa — whether changes are coming and if Miami can turn things around before it’s too late.
https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/miami-dolphins/dolphins-news-mike-mcdaniel-crazy-take-effort-browns
When Ben Johnson took the Chicago Bears head coaching job, helping quarterback Caleb Williams reach his No. 1 pick ceiling was his top priority. So far, the results have been mixed.
Week 7’s matchup against the New Orleans Saints was a clear negative for Williams. Although the Bears came out with a 24-16 victory, even the quarterback admitted that he didn’t play his best.
“We weren’t efficient enough in the passing game,” Johnson noted. “We’ll see why that was. I was hopeful by Week 6 we would play cleaner football than that.”
“The benefit when you win,” Johnson added, “is you usually can coach a little harder. We’re always truth tellers, on Monday in particular. When it’s good, we’ll tell them when it’s good. When it’s bad, we’ll tell them what we’ve got to clean up.”
Overall, Williams completed 15-of-26 passes for 172 scoreless yards and one interception. He fumbled twice, although he didn’t lose possession on either occasion. Still, he failed to pass the 200-yard threshold and did not throw a touchdown pass for the first time this season.
Meanwhile, the Bears’ run game and defense were on fire. Chicago rushed for 222 yards, while the defense forced three interceptions and a fumble. However, Williams and the offense couldn’t capitalize fully.
They’ll take the 24-16 win, but the victory could have been much larger had Chicago’s quarterback delivered a stronger performance.
Johnson isn’t necessarily looking for blowouts, though he probably wouldn’t mind. More importantly, he wants to see Williams play a consistent, four-quarter game of football.
Williams and the Bears will have their next opportunity to improve in Week 8 against the Baltimore Ravens.
https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/chicago-bears/bears-news-ben-johnson-caleb-williams-notice-beating-saints
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — Quarterback Mason Heintschel ran for a touchdown, Kenny Johnson returned a punt 66 yards for another score, and Trey Butkowski kicked three field goals as Pittsburgh defeated Syracuse 30-13 on Saturday night.
Pitt (5-2, 3-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) secured its third straight win behind true freshman Heintschel, while the Orange (3-4, 1-3) suffered their third consecutive loss. This was Syracuse’s third straight game with LSU transfer Rickie Collins starting at quarterback, following a season-ending injury to Steve Angeli.
With the victory, Pitt extended its dominance over Syracuse, winning seven of the last eight meetings and 20 of the last 24 games in the series that dates back to 1955.
Both teams struggled offensively, combining for just 28 first downs and 472 total yards. Penalties were also a factor, with the teams committing 25 combined infractions.
Heintschel completed 13 of 24 passes for 143 yards with one interception and was sacked seven times. Ja’Kyrian Turner led the Panthers on the ground with 42 rushing yards. Collins finished 16-of-32 passing for 126 yards, throwing two touchdown passes alongside three interceptions, and led Syracuse with 37 rushing yards. Johntay Cook was the Orange’s top receiver with seven catches for 66 yards.
The first half featured several critical quarterback turnovers. After an interception by Pitt cornerback Tamon Lynum, Heintschel broke free for a 36-yard touchdown run, putting Pitt on the board first. Late in the first quarter, Syracuse cornerback Davien Kerr intercepted Heintschel and returned the ball to the Pitt 12-yard line, setting up an 11-yard touchdown pass from Collins to Darrell Gill Jr. to tie the game at 7.
From there, Pitt took control. Just before halftime, following a Syracuse three-and-out, Johnson fielded a punt from Jack Stonehouse and sprinted 66 yards for a touchdown with only two seconds remaining, giving the Panthers a 17-7 lead at the break.
Syracuse’s offensive woes continued in the second half. A potential fourth interception for Pitt was thwarted by a dropped catch from safety Javon McIntyre. Freshman Luke Carney briefly replaced Collins for two drives in the third quarter before Collins returned.
The Orange managed only 74 yards and five first downs in the first 30 minutes, including just 14 yards on 12 rushes against a Pitt defense that ranked nationally among the best against the run, allowing just 2.16 yards per carry. Syracuse also went three-and-out six times.
**The Takeaway**
**Pittsburgh:** The Panthers did just enough to secure their third straight victory but struggled to consistently move the ball and protect Heintschel.
**Syracuse:** With their offense plagued by turnovers and inefficiency, the Orange face the daunting prospect of three of their next four games on the road against ranked opponents, including a crucial matchup next Saturday at undefeated No. 7 Georgia Tech.
**Up Next**
– Pitt hosts N.C. State on Saturday.
– Syracuse travels to No. 12 Georgia Tech on Saturday.
Stay updated with the AP Top 25 poll alerts throughout the season. Sign up for updates [here](#).
AP college football coverage is available at APNews.com.
https://wtop.com/ncaa-football/2025/10/pitt-dominates-syracuse-30-13-for-third-straight-win/
The Cincinnati Bengals delivered a lackluster performance against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, with quarterback Jake Browning throwing three interceptions—two in the second quarter and one in the third—while managing three touchdowns in a 24-37 defeat. The outcome left at least one person notably displeased.
During the game, Camilla Stewart, mother of Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins, sent a scathing message: “Quarterback me please” accompanied by two sadly sighing emojis.
All but one of Browning’s interceptions resulted in Lions touchdowns. Notably, Detroit running back David Montgomery even threw a touchdown pass to backup tight end Brock Wright on a trick play, further frustrating the Bengals.
Between plays, analyst Daryl Johnston expressed concern, saying, “This offense has got to stop being a hindrance to this team! This offense isn’t even close to where it is with Joe Burrow at quarterback.” Play-by-play commentator Kevin Kugler added, “Without Joe Burrow there, that deep ball is absent. There’s no vertical passing game at all.”
After the third quarter, Johnston continued to question the quarterback’s performance: “The recklessness we saw in Weeks 3 and 4…it has come back again here this afternoon.”
On the bright side, all of the Bengals’ touchdowns came in the fourth quarter. Tee Higgins caught one, while Ja’Marr Chase was responsible for the other two scores.
**Bengals Urged to Trade for Veteran Quarterback After Week 5 Loss**
With Joe Burrow sidelined for the foreseeable future and Jake Browning struggling over three games, many believe Cincinnati’s coaching staff, led by Zac Taylor and General Manager Duke Tobin, should explore trade options for a veteran quarterback such as Kirk Cousins, Joe Flacco, or Russell Wilson.
So far, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Bengals have yet to initiate any trade talks, maintaining confidence that Browning will regain the form that helped the team finish 9-8 the last time their franchise faced a significant injury to Burrow.
However, USA Today’s Chris Roling urges the Bengals to act quickly: “This needed to happen a week ago. Browning looks lost and is probably suffering from the fact that defenses aren’t caught off guard by his lack of film now. The price on a quarterback trade is going up the more obviously desperate the Bengals get, but they need to acquire a Russell Wilson-caliber veteran and field a watchable team.”
The Bengals’ next game is against the Green Bay Packers. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:25 p.m. ET on CBS.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/nfl/news-tee-higgins-mom-throws-shade-jake-browning-cryptic-3-word-message-bengals-qb-throws-3-ints-loss-lions
The Cincinnati Bengals had a mediocre performance against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, as quarterback Jake Browning threw three interceptions—two in the second quarter and one in the third—against three touchdowns in a 24-37 defeat. At least one person was not happy with the showing. During the game, Camilla Stewart, mother of wide receiver Tee Higgins, sent this scathing message on social media: “Quarterback me please” followed by two sadly sighing emojis.
All but one of the interceptions turned into touchdowns for the Lions, with running back David Montgomery even throwing one to backup tight end Brock Wright on a trick play. The Bengals’ defense struggled to keep the Lions’ offense in check throughout the game.
In between plays, analyst Daryl Johnston commented, “This offense has got to stop being a hindrance to this team! This offense isn’t even close to where it is with Joe Burrow at quarterback.” Play-by-play announcer Kevin Kugler added, “Without Joe Burrow there, that deep ball is absent. There’s no vertical passing game at all.”
After the third interception, Johnston voiced his concerns about the quarterback’s approach: “The recklessness from Weeks 3 and 4… it has come back again here this afternoon.”
Despite the struggles earlier in the game, all of the Bengals’ touchdowns occurred in the fourth quarter. Tee Higgins caught one of them, while Ja’Marr Chase was responsible for the other two scores.
### Bengals Urged to Trade for Quarterback After Week 5 Loss to Lions
With Joe Burrow out for the foreseeable future and Jake Browning performing poorly in three games, speculation is mounting that head coach Zac Taylor and general manager Duke Tobin should start entering trade talks to acquire a veteran quarterback, such as Kirk Cousins, Joe Flacco, or Russell Wilson.
So far, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Bengals have not begun any trade discussions, remaining confident that their backup quarterback will regain the form that helped the team finish 9-8 the last time their franchise faced a serious injury at the quarterback position.
However, in his instant analysis, USA Today’s Chris Roling urges the Bengals to act quickly: “This needed to happen a week ago. Browning looks lost and is probably suffering from the fact that defenses aren’t caught off guard by his lack of film now. The price on a quarterback trade is going up the more obviously desperate the Bengals get, but they need to acquire a Russell Wilson-caliber veteran and field a watchable team.”
The Bengals’ next game is on the road against the Green Bay Packers. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:25 p.m. ET on CBS.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/nfl/news-tee-higgins-mom-throws-shade-jake-browning-cryptic-3-word-message-bengals-qb-throws-3-ints-loss-lions
