| The Commish will be The Commish through at least 2030. Grant Gordon of NFL.com: Commissioner Roger Goodell has agreed to terms with NFL owners on a contract extension through the 2030 season, the league announced Sunday. ESPN’s Adam Schefter initially reported the extension. Goodell’s current contract was set to run through March of 2027 after signing an extension in October 2023. It is now set to expire on March 31, 2031. His newest extension comes with negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement — with the current one also expiring in March 2031 — and broadcasting deals forthcoming, along with a potential move to an 18-game season. A memo sent from Compensation Committee chairman Robert Kraft to the other team owners, obtained by ESPN and NFL Network, expanded on the agreement, describing it as “heavily performance based, with more than 95% of the total compensation tied to Roger’s and the NFL’s performance measured against various metrics and at the discretion of the Compensation Committee.” “We believe we are very fortunate to have Roger at the helm for the next four years,” the memo continued. Goodell, 67, succeeded Hall of Famer Paul Tagliabue when he was elected NFL commissioner in 2006. He is the eighth full-time commissioner in league chronicle and, after Tagliabue’s passing in November 2025, is the only living NFL commissioner. This is Goodell’s fifth extension, as he previously re-signed in 2009, 2012, 2017 and 2023. Ahead of his previous re-up, Goodell declined to address speculation that 2027 would be his final year. Clearly, that wasn’t the case. Goodell’s time with the NFL began in 1982 as an administrative intern in the league office serving then-Commissioner Pete Rozelle. Since taking over as commissioner, Goodell’s tenure has been marked by improved safety in the game, piloting the league through the COVID-19 pandemic without a single game canceled, the game’s massive growth globally and the support of growing flag football, which will debut in the 2028 Summer Olympics. More from Mike Florio: When the league office was structured as a tax-exempt trade association, the NFL was required to disclose Goodell’s compensation on an annual basis. Since the league pivoted away from that approach, there has been no true clarity as to his total pay. It is surely substantial, most likely more than any player earns. And it’s not hard to argue that Goodell has earned his keep, given the manner in which the sport has continued to grow, with ever-increasing profits and staggering franchise values. He also continues to provide a valuable service to his 32 bosses, taking the public heat for any and all potentially unpopular policies or decisions. Goodell’s extension covers the duration of the current broadcast deals, which means that he’ll be in the captain’s chair for the next wave of TV and streaming contracts. The deal ends, however, not long after the expiration of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement with the NFL Players Association. Absent an early renegotiation with the NFLPA, the league will need another new deal with Goodell (who will be 72 at the time) or an effective transition plan to be implemented during a potential lockout aimed at securing an 18-game regular season and 16 annual international games. The news comes three days before the start of Goodell’s 21st season at the helm of the sport, at the otherwise quiet midpoint of Labor Day weekend. |
| NFC NORTH |
| DETROITWe had already used a first round draft pick on RB JAHMYR GIBBS before we saw this which only reinforces that decision. Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com: The Lions have the highest-paid running back in the NFL, Jahmyr Gibbs, as their starter. Behind him, they have two other running backs on the roster: Sione Vaki, who has seven carries for 18 yards in his NFL career, and Jacob Saylors, who has two carries for 11 yards in his NFL career. That makes depth at running back a major concern. Or at least it would seem to be, but Lions head coach Dan Campbell said the Lions will be fine playing running-back-by-committee with Saylors and Vaki if needed. “It’s by committee,” Campbell said. “I see Vaki getting some reps too. I don’t see it like Saylors is running back 2. Saylors brings special teams value and there’s things he’s been able to do. We’ve seen more of him than Vaki in games, preseason games, but Vaki had some pretty good reps in practice, and we know Vaki is a very valuable special teams player, too. But we feel like Vaki is ready to take some of this on as a runner and pass protector and receiver. So we feel good with either one of those guys in there when Jah needs a breather.” After trading David Montgomery to Houston, the Lions expect to give Gibbs a bigger workload than he’s ever had before. But Gibbs won’t be on the field for every play, and Vaki and Saylors also will get a heavier workload. |
| NFC EAST |
| NEW YORK GIANTSThe Giants have made a significant commitment to QB JAMEIS WINSTON. Jordan Ranaan of ESPN.com: The New York Giants have extended backup quarterback Jameis Winston on a two-year deal through the 2028 season. Financial terms were not disclosed but sources told ESPN the deal is worth $13 million. The Giants also agreed to a two-year extension with guard Jon Runyan. That deal is worth $22 million and includes $21.5 million guaranteed, agents Drew Rosenhaus and Kyle Lincoln told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Winston gets two years added to his current contract, which has him signed for just over $4 million this season. He’s set to serve as the backup to Jaxson Dart. Winston, 32, serves as a contingency for the second-year quarterback, who plays a physical brand of football and has been prone to trips to the medical tent. Dart missed a pair of games during his rookie season with a concussion. Runyan, 29, was entering the final season of a three-year, $30 million deal and is entrenched as the team’s starting left guard. His extension further accentuates the stability of the Giants’ offensive line. New York returns four starters and only center John Michael Schmitz remains unsigned for multiple years. The Giants signed Winston as the backup to Russell Wilson last offseason for two years and $8 million. They then picked Dart in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft. When Dart took over as a starter early last season, Winston slotted in as the backup. Winston started two games last season. He completed 56.1% of his passes for 567 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in three appearances. He also caught a touchdown pass in one of the more memorable plays of the season. In addition to his ability to start games, Winston is looked at as a solid veteran presence and calming influence in the locker room. He’s one of the oldest and most experienced players on the roster. “Jameis is a great leader, man,” running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. said earlier this summer. “He’s a great teammate. He’s always there. He’s always helping out [second team], [third team], even the [starters], man. He’s always picking us up. So, I think with Jameis and Jaxson, we have a great quarterback room.” The Giants also have Jake Haener on the practice squad as a developmental quarterback. Winston and his oversized personality have thrived off the field during his short time in New York. Winston appeared on the Fox pregame show in 2025 during the Giants’ bye week and was a correspondent during this year’s World Cup. Dart has spoken glowingly about Winston’s influence and support. The duo has worked seamlessly over the past 18 months. |
| NFC SOUTH |
| ATLANTAIf QB TUA TAGOVIALOA goes under to the Steelers Week 1 onslaught – QB MICHAEL PENIX, Jr. is not the next man up on Sunday. Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com: Head coach Kevin Stefanski said at a Monday press conference that Penix will be inactive for the season opener. Cooper Rush will be the backup to Tagovailoa. Penix was cleared for full football activities in late August and did not play in the preseason, but Stefanski said that he has been pleased with the quarterback’s progress as he returns from a torn ACL. “We’re all on the same page, and feel good about where he is heading,” Stefanski said, via Tori McElhaney of the team’s website. Stefanski did not say when he thinks Penix will be ready for game action or what the quarterback depth chart will look like once that’s the case, which should make updates on the plans for the position a regular part of life in Atlanta for the near future. |
| NFC WEST |
| LOS ANGELES RAMSSo here is the problem, the game will be played at 10:35 a.m. local time in Melbourne, Australia. When do you make the approximately 15-hour flight from the US West Coast so that your team has maximum performance? Conventional wisdom might have said – leave on Sunday night about 10 pm PST, sleep all US night, arrive in Melbourne early on Tuesday afternoon. Two days to acclimate. Play on Friday morning. But the Rams and 49ers have chosen paths that are diametrically opposed. Jarrett Bell of USA Today. How’s this for the game-within-a-game: The San Francisco 49ers left for Melbourne, Australia, last Wednesday for their grand season opener, allowing roughly a week to adjust their body clocks and acclimate to the environment in the Land Down Under. The Los Angeles Rams are still in California, set to take off Tuesday night for a 17-hour flight, arriving about 24 before kickoff. Which strategy wins? “We felt like staying in our rhythm and routine and then traveling when we do,” Rams coach Sean McVay told reporters over the weekend. “The thinking in its simplest form is, what do we deem the best for our football players and for them to try to be at their best? There are different approaches and theories. But I do have a lot of trust in our group and we’ll see.” The Rams have a three-game winning streak abroad under McVay. But this is new territory. The previous three international tilts were in London. Last year, the Rams stayed in Baltimore after a game against the Ravens, then flew to the UK the day before they clobbered the Jaguars, 35-7. So, in a universe where NFL coaches swear by routines, the day-before arrival suits the mission. It’s just that this time, the NFL is staging its furthest game yet from the U.S. Somehow, that seems fitting in a year when the Artemis II crew set the record for the longest human spaceflight by traveling more than 250,000 miles in its furthest distance from Earth. In any event, the added layer of uncertainty creates an intriguing subplot for a game that kicks off at 10:35 a.m. local time on Friday – 8:35 p.m. ET on Thursday night. “Obviously, that’s the club’s choice on when and how they go into the market,” executive vice president Peter O’Reilly, the NFL’s international point man, told reporters last week. This has increasingly become the new normal for NFL teams. The league is staging a record nine international games this season – across four continents, seven countries and eight stadiums – and almost assuredly will hit the maximum of 10 allowed in the collective bargaining agreement. Eventually, with owners voting in 2022 for each team to give up one home game every four years, Commissioner Roger Goodell maintains that the NFL wants 16 international games per year – which would make for a nice TV or streaming package to bundle and sell. Or multiple packages. Just hold off on some of the visions that pop up about the NFL basing a team abroad, or establishing a European division, or taking the Super Bowl internationally. “The NFL’s very proud of how fast they sell out these games, but it’s a diversion,” Andrew Brandt, a former Green Bay Packers executive and current sports law professor at Villanova, told USA TODAY Sports. “It’s like Premier soccer games in our country.” Brandt certainly has a unique perspective on this. During the early 1990s, he spent a year as the GM of the Barcelona Dragons when the NFL created a spring league, the World League of American Football (WLAF). He details that experience – selling football abroad – in a fascinating book, “Smarter About Sports” (Triumph Books), about his wide-ranging journey in the sports industry. Of course, the NFL has come a long way since those failed developmental spring leagues and series of preseason games. The difference came with a philosophical shift that, despite challenges added for preparation, is in full force now. “I think we all learned some lessons,” Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney II told USA TODAY Sports. “Roger, in particular, looked at it and said, ‘What we’ve been putting out is not our best product.’ “We were doing World League games with guys that were barely making teams, right? Doing preseason games in other countries. Not that they were a complete waste of time. But we weren’t making great progress doing that and so now we’re starting to make progress. We still have a long way to go, but we’re starting to see there’s a path forward here. I think Roger’s mindset is if we’re doing this, we’ve got to put our best product out there and showcase to people in other countries, here’s what our game really looks like.” The Rams vs. 49ers showcase an intense NFC West rivalry, much like the A-West tilt featuring the Chiefs and Chargers in Sao Paulo, Brazil, last year. In Week 3, the Cowboys and Ravens will each take 10-hour flights and play the NFL’s first game in Rio de Janeiro. Paris. Madrid. Mexico City. Munich. The NFL global game is just getting started. Meanwhile, McVay is bracing himself for the feedback – for better or worse. “I understand the narratives and hey, when we do good, it’s nice things,” he said. “And when we do bad, you’re criticizing me…I’m comfortable with that. That’s the world we live in.” In more ways than one. |
| AFC NORTH |
| CLEVELANDAt least for this week, it’s Captain DESHAUN WATSON. Myles Simmons of ProFootballTalk.com: For at least one week, Deshaun Watson will be a Browns captain. Head coach Todd Monken named Watson one of Cleveland’s five captains for the season opener against Jacksonville. Monken explained that the team will not have season-long captains, instead doing them weekly. There will be two captains from offense, two from defense, and one from special teams chosen by the coaches. And in Week 1, Watson — the starting quarterback — will be one of the offensive representatives. “It’ll vary week-to-week, and then at the end of the year, the players will vote on the permanent 2026 captains,” Monken said in his Monday press conference. “I just like it that way. I think we have a fairly young team. I’m not ready to name guys that are permanent for us. I do think it’s cool for players to go out for the coin toss, I think it’s really cool. “I think most teams have more leaders than just four or five guys — I just believe that. I believe that with each game you reward guys for the week that they’ve had, and that’s what we’re going to do.” Watson, guard Zion Johnson, cornerback Tyson Campbell, defensive tackle Mason Graham, and long snapper Rex Sunahara will be the Browns’ Week 1 captains. |
| AFC EAST |
| NEW ENGLANDOC Josh McDaniel is candid about what happened against the Seahawks in SB60. Mike Reiss of ESPN.com: New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels didn’t mince words when asked what he learned from how the Seattle Seahawks terrorized quarterback Drake Maye in Super Bowl LX in February. “I didn’t do a good enough job. Point it at me. They ‘out-everythinged’ us in the game,” McDaniels said as the Patriots continued preparations for a rematch that opens the NFL’s regular season Wednesday. “We have a lot of things we learned. But I think this will be a different game, I think it will be a new game. It’s a new year. We have some different players. They have a few guys that are new. They certainly found some opportunities last year, and hopefully we’ve done a good job trying to limit those Wednesday night.” Maye, the MVP runner-up last regular season, was sacked six times in the 29-13 loss. The Patriots started two rookie offensive linemen, left tackle Will Campbell and left guard Jared Wilson, and both remain in the starting lineup this season, with Wilson moving to his more natural position at center. Former New York Jets first-round pick Alijah Vera-Tucker starts at left guard between Campbell and Wilson, while the right side of the line — guard Mike Onwenu and tackle Morgan Moses — returns from 2025. Campbell, who struggled in the playoffs after returning from a sprained right MCL injury, was praised by McDaniels for his approach this year. “He’s had a really good mindset. Locked in,” McDaniels said. “He had a good spring, good [training] camp — trying to work on the things he knows at his position are important and critical to his improvement.” McDaniels added there is confidence in the offensive game-plan and that players have had a good week of preparation. The Patriots will practice Monday and then will travel to Seattle later in the day. Maye and the starters didn’t play in a preseason game this year, nor did Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold and most of their starters. “Opening day is completely different than every other week in the year because you’re hunting and pecking for, ‘How do you want to play the game?’ as the game is unfolding,” McDaniels said. “They’re going to tell us some things in the first quarter that maybe we don’t know.” The Patriots might be short-handed at running back Wednesday. TreVeyon Henderson hasn’t practiced since Aug. 24, when he injured his ankle in practice. Henderson, who totaled nine rushing touchdowns last season, provides a speedy complement to starter Rhamondre Stevenson. |
| THIS AND THAT |
| THE BIG TEN’s SECRET CLOCKAn aside before we get into the events in Ann Arbor which ended up with Michigan still in line for a CFP Playoff Berth for the Big Ten. We like ESPN’s Joe Tessitore, even though he’s over the top, he makes games exciting. That said, we heard him say that Baylor QB DJ Lagway would be taking the last step in a “fairy tale” if he completed the final drive and led Baylor to victory over Auburn. We thought that was a bit much, even for Tessitore, as we don’t think a mid-level Big 12 team beating a low level SEC team (until proven differently ) in Week 1 is a “fairy tale” victory. A nice opening win if they had pulled it off, but not amazing or magical. That said, if Western Michigan were to beat Michigan in the Big House – that might qualify. Which made what the Big Ten did to the Broncos after the witching hour Saturday night all the more cruel. You all know the tale by now. Western Michigan was celebrating their dramatic upset as the final pass came to rest after the clock ticked zero while the ball was in the air. Everyone saw it – all 100,000 in the stadium, millions more at home – as they looked at both NBC clock and, then on a replay, the stadium clock, the clock that all but a handful of Big Ten officials deemed official. But, after video review, a full second was put back on the clock, Michigan’s prayers were answered, the field was stormed for the mighty victory and Western Michigan bussed back to Kalamazoo distraught. The Big Ten, sort of to its credit, put forth a confusing statement and a recording of the deliberations of the replay crew. And it soon became apparent that their clock, a secret “official” clock, was running several tenths of a second behind the clock of NBC/the stadium. Even then, with the slower running clock, since there is a full second remaining when any of these clocks turn to :01, the replay officials felt that Western Michigan #18 may touched the ball a micro-second before :00 appeared. They then, since they deal in full seconds except in this instance, gave Michigan a full second. We know that there was a full 9.0 seconds remaining when the clock was re-set. We have observed that, as to be expected, it instantly flipped to :08 (8.9+ seconds shows as :08) as the ball was snapped. The stadium/NBC clock begin to run exactly as they should. So, we have yet to see why the secret official clock (or more accurately perhaps – the Big Ten’s supposedly synched shot of the scoreboard clock – was running behind, apparently in something called the Hawkeye system. But it was, and Western Michigan was done in. Two things to know, the NFL has never wanted this issue to hinge on micro seconds. Andrew Halloran of YahooSports.com: If Michigan and Western Michigan would have played Saturday night’s game under NFL rules, the finish would have been different. The Big Ten Conference announced (the DB would say “contended” is a better verb here) on Saturday night that the referees made the right ruling, in putting 0:01 back on the clock, to allow time for Michigan to run one more play. That one more play, of course, was a historic Hail Mary!, giving the Wolverines a 13-12 victory. “Following video review, it was determined Western Michigan’s #18 started his jump from an established out-of-bounds position (left foot) and made contact with the ball with one second remaining on the clock. As shown in the provided video of what was viewed during the replay process, a side-by-side view of the play and the game clock, using a direct shot of the game clock in the stadium, was used to determine the final ruling,” the conference said. “Eighty-five minutes prior to the game, all broadcast cameras used for the replay system, including the camera on the game clock, are synced using a strobe system to ensure all cameras are aligned. “Per NCAA Football rule 4-2-3-a, ‘A ball not in player control, other than a kick that scores a field goal, is out of bounds when it touches the ground, a player, a game official or anything else that is out-of-bound, or that is on or outside a boundary line,’ and thus the clock is stopped.” But if the game was being played under NFL rules, Michigan’s final play could not have happened. NFL rules say that a clock review can only happen when an official determines that it should have stopped with at least 0:02 on the clock. Rules in the NFL are differentPro Football Talk outlined it. “From Rule 15, Article 9(b) of the official 2026 NFL rulebook: “An on-field ruling that time expired during or after the last play of any half, or of an overtime period in the regular season, or of an overtime half in the postseason, is reviewable by the Replay Official only when the visual evidence demonstrates that the clock should have stopped with two or more seconds remaining.” (Emphasis added.),” Mike Florio shared. “The Michigan controversy comes down to whether the clock showed one second or no time remaining when a Western Michigan player touched a Hail Mary attempt that sailed out of the back of the end zone. The Big Ten split hairs in a way that gave Michigan a mulligan.” Should college football move to NFL rules? Mike Pereira reveals his knowledge of the “secret clock” but says the network shot of the stadium clock is the one that should determine the outcome of replays such this. Bruce Feldman and Ralph D. Russo of The Athletic: Fox rules expert Mike Pereira says college replay officials are advised to use the clock television viewers see when trying to determine whether time should be added back after what was seemingly a game-ending play. Had Big Ten replay officials done that Saturday night during Michigan’s game against Western Michigan, the Wolverines would not have gotten another second to beat the Broncos with a Hail Mary. “It is my understanding that if there is a discrepancy between the video and replay command center versus the television network video that everybody sees, that replay is to use the TV video,” Pereira told The Athletic Sunday. “And that is the same protocol in the NFL, in the UFL. It’s the same. You use the footage that everybody sees if there is a discrepancy.” That is not, however, spelled out in the NCAA’s Instant Replay Case Book. There is no reference to which clock to defer to if there is a discrepancy. Within the Timing section of the Instant Replay Case Book, there are references directing officials to use “the game clock superimposed on the replay monitor.” At the heart of the issue that caused one of the wildest and most controversial endings maybe in the history of college football was a discrepancy of fractions of a second. The clock viewers could see on NBC’s broadcast as Michigan’s first Hail Mary attempt sailed beyond the back of the end zone and touched a Western Michigan defender clearly hit 0:00. NBC brushed over its involvement during halftime of Sunday’s Washington-Washington State broadcast, with host John Fanta mentioning the clock shown on the television screen is not the official game clock. Game officials are responsible for tracking the official clock with the conference of the home team. The in-stadium clock replay officials had a camera trained on and were using to make the call had a second left when they determined the WMU defender touched the ball and ended the play. We have also heard Pereira on Joel Klatt’s podcast where he elaborates a bit. We thought we heard the word “panic” in describing the replay room’s failure to realize they were using a differently-synched clock. Just to be clear, NBC proved after the game that its clock in the score bug was perfectly aligned with the stadium clock. The replay decision was made by anonymous Big Ten employees at a control room in Chicago. We have seen no reason explained as to why the stadium clock would be running aheadof that used by the replay officials. Most explanations tend to make one think that the clock running behind, in this case the Big Ten’s clock, would be the one in error – especially as signals traveled hundreds of miles to Chicago. There is no evidence that the Big Ten replay officials knew of the discrepancy between the secret clock and what was shown to everyone else. Except, the Big Ten told Western Michigan that it knew of the “discrepancy” and assumed its secret systems were correct. This is well put by Western Michigan’s president Russ Kavalhuna, here at The Athletic: Western Michigan president Russ Kavalhuna told ESPN on Sunday night that he didn’t think the Big Ten’s replay process that put a second back on the clock, leading to Michigan’s winning touchdown pass over the Broncos, “is as good as it could be.” “And that’s because what the [TV] viewers see in a pivotal question is different than what the review process shows,” Kavalhuna said. “Is there a real reason why we can’t have those things equal? And if there is, let’s try and fix that. And if there isn’t a real reason why we can’t have those things synced up, then we should sync them up so that everybody who’s watching at home doesn’t start to wonder what happened.” On what appeared to be the final play of Saturday’s game, Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood sailed a Hail Mary pass beyond the end zone and into the arms of Western Michigan safety Micah Davis. TV replays showed the clock hitting zero with the ball still in the air. But Big Ten replay officials put a second back on the clock, giving the Wolverines another play. With one second remaining, Underwood threw another Hail Mary, and JJ Buchanan hauled it in for a 47-yard touchdown, giving the Wolverines the stunning 13-12 victory. Kavalhuna said he spoke to Big Ten officials after the game, including conference commissioner Tony Petitti, to get an explanation for why the clock the Big Ten reviewed was different than the clock shown on the NBC broadcast. “If you look at what they saw, then you reach the conclusion they reached,” Kavalhuna said. “However, if you look at what the broadcasters broadcast, you reach a different conclusion. “I think it would be good to ask ourselves, can we sync those up so that the viewers could see what the officials would be looking at?” Kavalhuna added that if there were an appeals process, he would ask for a review to determine whether the Big Ten’s clock was more accurate than the one shown on the broadcast. “There is no mechanism to appeal. That just doesn’t exist,” he said. “If there were an opportunity to do that, what I would ask is, ‘Hey, are we sure that the sync that the Big Ten used is better than the sync that the broadcasters and all my fans saw?'” Kavalhuna reiterated that he didn’t believe the Big Ten was “trying to change the process or apply it inequitably,” but he believes his players deserve evidence showing why the Big Ten’s clock was more accurate. In the world of conspiracy theories – how should a 10-2 or 9-3 Michigan team be evaluated for a CFP bid in December? Opening week results were all important last year when Miami successfully campaigned for its spot. How important and how much money will be at stake for the Big Ten to get more bids than the SEC? Clay Travis ran a poll: @ClayTravisIf Western Michigan had been throwing the hail mary at Michigan, the clock expired on the field with an incomplete pass just like we all saw, do you believe the Big Ten would have given Western Michigan one second back and allowed them an extra play? Yes or no? Yes, extra play for WMU 6.7%No, no extra play for WMU 93.3% We wouldn’t quite go that far, because the chances that Michigan would actually complete the second pass weren’t all that great, so a conspiracy would need to be instantly hatched with little chance of being relevant. Still… We are late to the party with Josh Pate who is an influential on-line, well-connected figure in the world of college football. His sources in the officiating community, he says, are unanimous in being appalled. This from AwfulAnnouncing: For all intents and purposes, Josh Pate is the voice of college football. If it’s not Kirk Herbstreit or Joel Klatt, or even Pat McAfee, it’s the Columbus, Georgia native who built an entire media career from a Facebook Live stream a decade ago, growing Josh Pate’s College Football Show from a side hustle with 15 viewers into a daily program now distributed by On3 Sports, with regular appearances on ESPN’s Get Up, and a new weekly show alongside Taylor Lewan and Will Compton. On Sunday, Pate turned that reach toward the Big Ten, as he dedicated the opening segment of his eponymous college football show to the conference’s handling of Michigan’s 13-12 win over Western Michigan. He said he’d spent that same morning fielding calls from several officials and referees, all of whom wanted him to convey, in no uncertain terms, exactly how disgraceful they considered the Big Ten’s response. After Michigan escaped with a 13-12 win on a Hail Mary that, according to NBC rules analyst Terry McAulay, shouldn’t have happened at all — his own clock, supposedly synced to the stadium’s, showed the ball still in the air when it hit zero, and he said he had no explanation for how the Big Ten’s replay system found a different number — the conference offered a statement nearly two hours after the fact, claiming that Western Michigan’s No. 18 had made contact with the ball while one second still showed on the clock. “I would love for someone in the league office to look me in the eye and tell me if Western Michigan was at midfield heaving a prayer up and that exact same set of circumstances were to have played out, that this is the way it would have gone down,” Pate said. “I have been on the phone with several officials and several referees this morning who wanted to make sure that they articulated how much of a [cover your ass] move this is, how big of a pile of garbage that is from the Big Ten league office, and how egregious, like beyond the pale, horrifically bad the machinations of the way that was handled last night were.” “Hold up, you’re telling me the conference that just this past spring considered issuing a league-wide mandate not to schedule Texas Tech after the Sorsby stuff because of, wait for it, integrity of the game, is expecting me and a skeptical public to believe after two hours and a Canva edit later that they’ve explained away the problem here,” Pate said. “And we’re going to wait two hours after the game. We’re going to tell you guys, no, no, no, no, no, there’s another clock, and it’s a magic clock. And truthfully, we don’t have to tell you where the clock is. We don’t have to tell you who runs it. We didn’t even have to tell you it exists. You’re blessed that we’re even communicating this with you. Transparency, after all.” The Big Ten had already branded itself as an industry leader on transparency this season, announcing it would give networks live audio and video access to its replay center for select Friday games, following the ACC’s lead from a year earlier. But according to Pate, the conference’s actual behavior in the early hours of Sunday morning looked less like transparency and more like a favor being extended to a skeptical public that never asked to be indebted. “Why is transparency so important, ladies and gentlemen? It’s important because if you don’t have integrity of game and outcome, then you don’t have a sport,” Pate said. “That’s why it shouldn’t be in the Big Ten’s hands. That’s why a billion-dollar industry shouldn’t have a nickel-and-dime rules enforcement mechanism attached to it, but that’s what college football officiating is. “It’s so easy to shout those words when it’s not in your backyard, when it’s about someone in Lubbock, Texas. And by the way, I didn’t have any problem with what they were saying about it, because I didn’t like the Sorsby situation either. But then it happens right there in your backyard, and instead of doing the right thing, you contribute to the thing.” So, the Big Ten can insist that one second remained on the clock. It can insist its replay officials got the call right. What it can’t reasonably expect, as Pate made clear, is for a skeptical public, or the officials who called him that morning, to simply take its word for it. Pate also implied that some of his officiating sources have burrowed into DVSports, the home of the replay system. And they don’t think it showed what the Big Ten tells you it did. |
| BOLD PREDICTIONSFrom Seth Walder (and other excerpts) from ESPN.com’s 1 (Rams) to 32 (Dolphins) season preview: 1. Los Angeles RamsChances to make the playoffs: 84.9%Chances to win division: 50.4%Projected wins: 11.3 Biggest strength: The passing game. Biggest concern: Offensive tackle. QB stat to know: Stafford is coming off a career-high 46 passing touchdowns — his third season with 40 or more passing scores. Those three seasons are tied for the most by any QB in NFL history along with Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady. However, Stafford has seen major regression following each season of 40 passing TDs — including going from 41 to 20 in 2012 and going from 41 to 10 in 2022. — ESPN Research Best-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 14-3Worst-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 9-8 Bold prediction for 2026: Tight end Terrance Ferguson will catch eight touchdown passes. I’m buying the hype here because it just makes too much sense. The Rams need a third pass catcher behind Nacua and Adams, and with a year of experience in the league after being a 2025 second-round pick, Ferguson could emerge as that guy. If either of those two receivers misses time, his ceiling could be even higher. — Walder 2. Buffalo BillsChances to make the playoffs: 84.1%Chances to win division: 67.1%Projected wins: 10.7 Biggest strength: Josh Allen. Biggest concern: It is a transition year for the new defensive scheme. QB stat to know: Allen’s dual-threat ability is unlike anything the NFL has seen. Allen already has 299 passing and rushing TDs combined in his first eight seasons, 40 more than the next-closest player (Patrick Mahomes, 259). In fact, he already has the most through a player’s first nine seasons (next closest: Peyton Manning, 288). — ESPN Research Best-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 13-4Worst-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 8-9 Bold prediction for 2026: Wide receiver Keon Coleman will record 750 or more receiving yards and at least five touchdowns — both career highs. 3. Seattle SeahawksChances to make the playoffs: 68.0%Chances to win division: 26.3%Projected wins: 10.2 Biggest strength: The defense remains the strength even though it lost three players ‘ Biggest concern: It’s more of a question mark than a concern, but Sam Darnold and the offense will be relying on a first-time coordinator in Brian Fleury. QB stat to know: Darnold has won 14 games in each of the past two seasons, making him one of two quarterbacks in NFL history with consecutive 14-win seasons along with Tom Brady in 2003 and 2004. No quarterback has had three consecutive 14-win seasons. — ESPN Research Best-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 13-4Worst-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 8-9 Bold prediction for 2026: Jadarian Price will finish the season as a top-eight running back in terms of fantasy points. He’s a first-round pick at a position that doesn’t usually have them, and Zach Charbonnet is coming back from a serious injury. The opportunity — and talent — is there for Price. — Walder 4. Baltimore RavensChances to make the playoffs: 79.8%Chances to win division: 50.3%Projected wins: 10.7 Biggest strength: QB Lamar Jackson. Biggest concern: Center. QB stat to know: Jackson is coming off a losing record as a starter for the first time of his career (6-7 in 13 starts). Over the last eight weeks, Jackson had a 6-6 TD-to-interception ratio and was off target on a league-worst 22% of his pass attempts. However, he did average 8.4 YPA (third in NFL) over the season. — ESPN Research Best-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 13-4Worst-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 8-9 Bold prediction for 2026: The Ravens’ defense will rank in the top four in EPA per play. That’s a pretty big jump from last season, when it finished 16th 5. San Francisco 49ersChances to make the playoffs: 63.8%Chances to win division: 23.2%Projected wins: 10.0 Biggest strength: Offensive talent and continuity. Biggest concern: The pass rush Best-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 12-5Worst-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 7-10 Bold prediction for 2026: Rookie running back Kaelon Black will record at least 650 rushing yards as the 49ers — for real this time — take it easy on Christian McCaffrey’s workload. 6. Los Angeles ChargersChances to make the playoffs: 66.2%Chances to win division: 36.1%Projected wins: 9.8 Biggest strength: Offensive tackle. Biggest concern: Interior offensive line. Best-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 12-5Worst-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 7-10 Bold prediction for 2026: Alt will win Protector of the Year. This was my bold prediction in this space last year, and I feel like I was on track for the six games he played 7. Green Bay PackersChances to make the playoffs: 61.9%Chances to win division: 31.3%Projected wins: 9.9 Biggest strength: Jordan Love’s connection with his pass catchers. Biggest concern: Can they survive without Josh Jacobs and Micah Parsons to start the season? Best-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 12-5Worst-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 7-10 Bold prediction for 2026: Love will finish in the top 3 in MVP voting. 8. Detroit LionsChances to make the playoffs: 71.4%Chances to win division: 40.4%Projected wins: 10.5 Biggest strength: The offense. Biggest concern: Injuries. Best-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 13-4Worst-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 8-9 Bold prediction for 2026: Edge Aidan Hutchinson will win Defensive Player of the Year. 9. Kansas City ChiefsChances to make the playoffs: 68.0%Chances to win division: 37.7%Projected wins: 9.9 Biggest strength: Beyond Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs have revitalized their rushing attack with Kenneth Walker III, Emari Demercado and rookie Emmett Johnson. All three are an upgrade from the position a year ago. Biggest concern: A lack of depth could sink the Chiefs. Best-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 12-5Worst-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 7-10 Bold prediction for 2026: The Rashee Rice season of fantasy managers dreams finally happens. Rice will stay healthy and collect 1,300 receiving yards, establishing himself as one of the game’s top wideouts 10. Philadelphia EaglesChances to make the playoffs: 62.8%Chances to win division: 46.3%Projected wins: 9.8 Biggest strength: The defense. Biggest concern: How Jalen Hurts & Co. will take to the new offense. Best-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 12-5Worst-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 7-10 Bold prediction for 2026: Jonathan Greenard will record at least 0.8 sacks per game. I’m framing it that way because it’s unclear when Greenard will be back from a pec strain in the offseason. 11. Dallas CowboysChances to make the playoffs: 51.9%Chances to win division: 33.9%Projected wins: 9.2 Biggest strength: The offense led by QB Dak Prescott. Biggest concern: Defense. Even if there is optimism about what the unit displayed over the summer with Christian Parker, there is still everything to prove when the games are real. Best-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 12-5Worst-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 7-10 Bold prediction for 2026: Kicker Brandon Aubrey will record the most field goals over expected, per NFL Next Gen Stats. Even though Aubrey is an elite kicker who earned a record-setting extension this offseason, he has never led the league in that metric. Incredibly, Aubrey has finished second in every season of his three-year career. — Walder 12. Cincinnati BengalsChances to make the playoffs: 70.7%Chances to win division: 35.5%Projected wins: 10.1 Biggest strength: The defensive line. Biggest concern: Offensive tackle. Best-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 13-4Worst-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 8-9 Bold prediction for 2026: Running back Chase Brown will record at least 15 total touchdowns. With the Bengals having the easiest strength of schedule, I’m bullish on Brown’s ability to score this season. 13. Houston TexansChances to make the playoffs: 58.9%Chances to win division: 40.5%Projected wins: 9.3 Biggest strength: How could it be anything but Houston’s defense? Biggest concern: Well the general consensus would be quarterback C.J. Stroud, but in reality it’s the people protecting Stroud Best-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 12-5Worst-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 7-10 Bold prediction for 2026: Wide receiver Nico Collins will record 1,500 receiving yards. 14. New England PatriotsChances to make the playoffs: 59.4%Chances to win division: 30.4%Projected wins: 9.3 Biggest strength: Drake Maye. Biggest concern: Pass rush. Will moving on from K’Lavon Chaisson (team-high 7.5 sacks last season) and signing Dre’Mont Jones to take his place at OLB be an upgrade? Best-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 12-5Worst-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 7-10 Bold prediction for 2026: The Patriots will trade for an edge rusher before the trade deadline. This is a team with Super Bowl aspirations and what should be an explosive passing offense that will win them games. But Landry and Jones aren’t a good enough pair at this stage of their career. I think at some point New England will bring in reinforcements. — Walder 15. Denver BroncosChances to make the playoffs: 54.2%Chances to win division: 24.8%Projected wins: 9.2 Biggest strength: Continuity on defense. Biggest concern: Slow starts. Best-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 12-5Worst-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 7-10 Bold prediction for 2026: Cornerback Riley Moss will command a $17 million per year contract — the same AAV as the deal Jaylen Watson signed with the Rams this offseason — either re-signing with Denver or as a free agent. Moss is best known as the cornerback opposite Surtain, but if he can get the penalties under control (he led cornerbacks in penalty yards last season) I think he will be viewed as a valuable cornerback if he hits the free agent market. — Walder 16. Jacksonville JaguarsChances to make the playoffs: 52.4%Chances to win division: 32.9%Projected wins: 9.0 Biggest strength: The receivers. Biggest concern: Are Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Bhayshul Tuten going to be able to carry the running game Best-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 12-5Worst-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 6-11 Bold prediction for 2026: Cornerback Montaric Brown will record a worse-than-average yards allowed per coverage snap (1.1 per Next Gen Stats). Brown is coming off a breakout season in which he allowed 0.8 yards per coverage snap, but that was fueled by a negative-5% completion percentage over expected. I’m betting that last year will look like the outlier when we zoom out. — Walder 17. Chicago BearsChances to make the playoffs: 45.5%Chances to win division: 18.5%Projected wins: 9.1 Biggest strength: Ben Johnson’s offense. Biggest concern: Injuries in the secondary were the story of training camp Best-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 12-5Worst-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 7-10 Bold prediction for 2026: The Bears will lead the league in team open score. It’s a metric the team was middle-of-the-road in a year ago. But this is blind faith in Johnson’s ability to scheme up open receiver, along with continued growth for Luther Burden III, Rome Odunze and Colston Loveland. 18. Tampa Bay BuccaneersChances to make the playoffs: 45.4%Chances to win division: 39.5%Projected wins: 8.3 Biggest strength: TBD. And that’s OK. Even coach Todd Bowles agreed it’s too soon to tell. Here’s why: The offensive line, which was long regarded as the team’s strength, is coming off multiple season-ending injuries. It could be that the exciting new additions of Rueben Bain Jr., Al-Quadin Muhammad, A’Shawn Robinson, Josiah Trotter and Alex Anzalone really help power the front seven. The pass rush looks feistier, and the team could be more stout against the run. — Jenna Laine Biggest concern: Health. Best-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 11-6Worst-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 6-11 Bold prediction for 2026: Wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. will record at least 1,000 receiving yards. 19. Indianapolis ColtsChances to make the playoffs: 39.2%Chances to win division: 22.0%Projected wins: 8.4 Biggest strength: Skill players. Biggest concern: Pass rush. Best-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 11-6Worst-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 6-11 Bold prediction for 2026: One of Sauce Gardner or Charvarius Ward will be a first-team All-Pro cornerback. 20. Minnesota VikingsChances to make the playoffs: 29.7%Chances to win division: 9.9%Projected wins: 8.3 Biggest strength: Linebackers. Biggest concern: Quarterback Kyler Murray. There’s a difference between being the best quarterback in training camp, as Murray clearly was, and being ready to have a great season. Best-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 11-6Worst-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 6-11 Bold prediction for 2026: Murray will finish in the top 12 in QBR. It doesn’t feel like that should be that bold of a prediction considering he did that just two years ago. 21. Pittsburgh SteelersChances to make the playoffs: 39.2%Chances to win division: 13.2%Projected wins: 8.5 Biggest strength: Defensive front. Anchored by the ageless Cameron Heyward and premier edge rusher T.J. Watt, the Steelers’ defensive front has an enviable mix of veteran leadership and up-and-coming talent. Biggest concern: Offensive line. Center Zach Frazier is the strength of the line, but the unit is a work in progress Best-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 11-6Worst-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 6-11 Bold prediction for 2026: Tight end Darnell Washington will score five or more touchdowns. That would be a huge jump considering he has two career touchdowns in three seasons. 22. Washington CommandersChances to make the playoffs: 18.9%Chances to win division: 9.5%Projected wins: 7.3 Biggest strength: Jayden Daniels. Biggest concern: Offensive line. Best-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 10-7Worst-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 5-12 Bold prediction for 2026: New safety Nick Cross will lead all safeties in tackles 23. New York GiantsChances to make the playoffs: 19.7%Chances to win division: 10.3%Projected wins: 7.5 Biggest strength: The running game, which includes quarterback Jaxson Dart’s ability to run. He had nine rushing touchdowns last season and the Giants now average 325 pounds on their offensive line. Biggest concern: The secondary. Best-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 10-7Worst-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 5-12 Bold prediction for 2026: TE Isaiah Likely will lead the Giants in receptions. This would probably be bad news for the Giants if it happened because it would be a bad sign for Malik Nabers. But after Nabers there isn’t a whole lot on the receiving depth chart, although perhaps rookie Malachi Fields could make an impact right away. The Giants could end up leaning heavily on their new tight end. — Walder 24. Atlanta FalconsChances to make the playoffs: 31.7%Chances to win division: 25.9%Projected wins: 7.7 Biggest strength: The ground game. Biggest concern: Will a quarterback step up? Best-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 10-7Worst-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 5-12 Bold prediction for 2026: Safety Xavier Watts will be a first- or second-team All-Pro. 25. New Orleans SaintsChances to make the playoffs: 25.7%Chances to win division: 20.7%Projected wins: 7.4 Biggest strength: Continuity. The Saints returned almost their entire coaching staff from last season, and quarterback Tyler Shough had an entire offseason to prepare to be the starter. Biggest concern: Depth is a problem in areas. Best-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 10-7Worst-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 5-12 Bold prediction for 2026: Tyson will be a top-15 fantasy WR per game. 26. Carolina PanthersChances to make the playoffs: 17.3%Chances to win division: 13.9%Projected wins: 6.7 Biggest strength: CBs. The Panthers have one of the league’s better cornerback duos with Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson Biggest concern: Depth in the trenches. Best-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 9-8Worst-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 4-13 Bold prediction for 2026: The Panthers will finish last in the NFC South. I remain mostly a nonbeliever in Young (and the Panthers, clearly, are unconvinced considering they haven’t extended him), and the offensive line has some serious questions between injuries and newcomers. Even though the Panthers brought in some defensive reinforcements in free agency, I could see this year going quite poorly for Carolina. — Walder 27. Tennessee TitansChances to make the playoffs: 9.6%Chances to win division: 4.6%Projected wins: 6.3 Biggest strength: The front seven. Biggest concern: The secondary. Best-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 9-8Worst-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 4-13 Bold prediction for 2026: Taylor will allow at least 1.4 yards per coverage snap — solidly worse than average for a starting corner. That would be a tough number considering the contract (a three-year, $60 million deal) the Titans gave him in free agency. — Walder 28. Las Vegas RaidersChances to make the playoffs: 5.0%Chances to win division: 1.3%Projected wins: 5.7 Biggest strength: Tight end. Brock Bowers continues to show why he is one of the best players at his position. Biggest concern: Wide receiver. The Raiders are one of five teams (Bears, Packers, Chiefs and Dolphins) without a wide receiver who has recorded at least 1,000 yards in a season. Best-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 8-9Worst-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 3-14 Bold prediction for 2026: Bowers will win Offensive Player of the Year. Last year, Klint Kubiak had one clear-cut playmaker who was better than all the rest. What happened? A 35% target rate for Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Now, it’s Bowers who is the clear-cut best receiver. I think the Raiders will run their offense through him, and he’ll put up monster numbers. — Walder 29. New York JetsChances to make the playoffs: 6.5%Chances to win division: 2.0%Projected wins: 6.0 Biggest strength: There are no glaring strengths, but one thing the Jets should do reasonably well is run the ball. Biggest concern: The team that made history last season with no defensive interceptions has major questions in the secondary — ironic, considering coach Aaron Glenn was a terrific cornerback in his day. Best-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 8-9Worst-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 4-13 Bold prediction for 2026: The Jets will sign defensive tackle Jowon Briggs to a contract extension before the end of the season. 30. Cleveland BrownsChances to make the playoffs: 5.4%Chances to win division: 1.0%Projected wins: 5.8 Biggest strength: Defense. Biggest concern: Quarterback. Best-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 8-9Worst-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 3-14 Bold prediction for 2026: Quarterback Taylen Green will start at least four games. 31. Arizona CardinalsChances to make the playoffs: 1.4%Chances to win division: 0.1%Projected wins: 4.9 Biggest strength: Skill players. WR Marvin Harrison Jr., WR Michael Wilson, TE Trey McBride and RB Jeremiyah Love are as good as any group in the league Biggest concern: The defense. The unit allowed 35.2 points per game in the final nine games last season, all losses, and the Cardinals are running it back with largely the same unit and coordinator. Best-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 7-10Worst-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 3-14 Bold prediction for 2026: The Cardinals will go 1-16. Where will that win come? Maybe against the Jets? The Saints? The Commanders? The Raiders? But I don’t see much hope for this team, and the schedule is absolutely brutal. — Walder 32. Miami DolphinsChances to make the playoffs: 1.6%Chances to win division: 0.5%Projected wins: 4.5 Biggest strength: The front seven. The defensive line is deep with Zach Sieler and the young trio of Jordan Phillips, Kenneth Grant and Zeek Biggers. And the linebacker tandem of Jordyn Brooks and Jacob Rodriguez has intriguing potential Biggest concern: Everything else. Best-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 7-10Worst-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 2-15 Bold prediction for 2026: Willis will finish in the top 12 in QBR. I’ve been bullish on the Willis acquisition all offseason — why quit now? In a tiny sample, he was unbelievable in Green Bay. |
