Drake Maye upstaged Josh Allen. Tetairoa McMillan upstaged Amon-Ra St. Brown. And the Jacksonville Jaguars upstaged the Cincinnati Bengals.

That’s just the beginning as we try to digest Week 4. It wasn’t the Sunday that we expected. But it was the best NFL Sunday yet in 2026, with 10 games finishing with a one-score differential. It was chaotic in the best way.

Welcome to Sound Smart, where I take you beyond what’s obvious. Let’s go below the surface. Let’s spin it forward, dive deeper, think outside the box and read between the lines. If I do my job, you’ll be fluent in the NFL’s Week 4 action.

1.

Watching Kenneth Walker III explode for the Kansas City Chiefs feels a bit like watching LaDainian Tomlinson in 2006, when he rushed for 28 touchdowns (and caught three more). I know Walker’s touchdown total isn’t likely to flirt with what Tomlinson posted. But their levels of dominance feel comparable, with Walker running for 177 yards and two touchdowns — now up to six total on the season — in the team’s 30-27 win over the formerly undefeated Raiders.

This must exceed what the Chiefs imagined for Walker, whom the team signed to a three-year, $43.05 million contract as a free agent after he won Super Bowl MVP with the Seahawks. This is the beginning of something new for Kansas City. Something super.

Walker is one of a handful of newcomers who have opened up a new Super Bowl window for superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes. If not for this impressive offseason, it would be another rebuilding year for K.C. But the Chiefs are realistically thinking about a title again. Their rebuilding year was last year. 

They’ve jumped right back into dynasty mode.

Rookies Mansoor Delane and R Mason Thomas have looked like real contributors and, at times, stars for the Chiefs in these early games. Edge rusher Thomas managed eight pressures against the Raiders, a game-high and a season-high for the rookie. Cornerback Delane actually had an outlier game, allowing 83 yards and a touchdown. But on the season, he has allowed just 10 catches on 18 targets for 107 yards and this week’s TD. He has also been a willing and capable run defender, earning his snaps on just about every down. So, yeah, he’s doing just fine.

But Delane was selected sixth overall. He was supposed to be solid. Thomas went in Round 2. He was supposed to make some big plays.

What about tackle Kahlil Benson? Ever heard of him? He’s an undrafted rookie who has started multiple games on Mahomes’ blindside. And if you haven’t heard of him, it’s because Benson has been awesome, allowing just two pressures in Week 4. You don’t hear about him because he’s doing such a good job.

Kahlil Benson (No. 70), an undrafted offensive tackle out of Indiana, is protecting Patrick Mahomes’ blindside. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)

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Between Walker and the rookie class — the Chiefs have studs to build around for the long haul.

And that shouldn’t take anything away from the veteran additions. Defensive tackle (and fullback) Khyiris Tonga, safety Alohi Gilman and cornerback L’Jarius Sneed — all of whom joined K.C. in free agency — have allowed defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo to do what he does best: dial up elaborate blitzes. Those can be tricky for newcomers — even though Sneed originally played for the Chiefs before spending two years with the Titans — but you don’t see the personnel holding Spags back in the slightest.

Nor do you see the Chiefs holding back Mahomes. He seemed to carry the weight of the world or — at the very least — his offense in recent years. Now, he’s playing with a breezy, carefree attitude. The ball pops out of his hand. He’s running with energy that makes you forget he just got back from an ACL injury. There’s magic in his game again.

And you don’t hear any criticisms about Andy Reid’s play designs or calls. That’s gone, too.

It’s not because the Chiefs ran it back. It’s because they welcomed change. 

The new guys have meshed perfectly. And so the Chiefs’ dynasty rolls on.

2.

If the Rams are playing, then you’re going to see a close-up shot of Sean McVay imploring his team to get in the game. It has happened basically every week. It has become a 2026 staple.

And it certainly wasn’t one I expected.

McVay pulled his offense aside in Australia against the 49ers and begged the players to get it together. Then again in Denver, in the second half, when the Rams let the win slip through their fingers. And then again in Philadelphia — right before the Rams finally won a tight game against a good team. It took two touchdowns in the final four minutes to edge the Eagles 24-20.

McVay was asked what he said to the offense in Week 4 — when he pulled them aside. 

“I don’t remember exactly. It was more just what was on my heart. Just: ‘Guys, we’re capable. You’ve gotta believe. And you’ve gotta just string good plays together. Our defense is doing everything that they can to keep us in this game.’ And I believed in that group,” McVay told reporters after the game.

I guess this is the first time he’s gotten through to his squad.

The question is why this “Super Team” has gotten itself into so much trouble this year. Why has its coach had to implore the Rams players to believe in themselves? Now, the obvious answer is that they’re overhyped, overly confident and overly complacent. I’ll buy that.

The other obvious explanation is injuries. Edge Myles Garrett (knee) has missed three games. Aaron Donald (back) missed this week. Receiver Puka Nacua (hip/groin) missed time before returning this week. Outside of quarterback Matthew Stafford and receiver Davante Adams, those are the superstars who were supposed to make this team super.

McVay chose optimism for what was a deeply improbable win.

“[The comeback] says that they’re mentally tough. I think that’ll really serve us well,” he said. “I’m really proud to just be a part of this group — and what they represent.”

He added: “I’m proud that we came to life when we had to — and it’s because our defense gave us a chance to.”

Sean McVay reacts after a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on Oct. 4. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

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In theory, the Rams will get healthier — or, at the very least, they’ll see their stars progressively get healthier. And maybe McVay’s optimism is founded. Maybe he sees something developing that I’m missing. But I see Stafford struggling as much as he has since maybe 2022. I see the Rams lack consistency from quarter to quarter. 

They should be more dominant than this. They shouldn’t need their coach to pull them aside every game. They should play four quarters of good football. They should be a Super Team.

3.

Brock Purdy opened the season as the league’s most dominant quarterback, both in counting stats and in advanced stats — from touchdowns to interceptions to expected points added to completion percentage over expected. All that, however, came with an asterisk.

*But the 49ers hadn’t played anyone good.

Well, for all the haters, this performance checks off the unchecked box: Handle a good defense.

The Niners beat the Denver Broncos 24-14 on Sunday. There was a minute there when it didn’t look pretty for Purdy. He started 10-of-20, with the cold streak extending into the beginning of the third quarter. But he followed it with a concluding run of 9-of-10. 

By game’s end, he was 19-of-30 for 218 yards and two touchdowns — stats boosted in large part due to a huge screen play from George Kittle, who took it to the house for a 56-yard touchdown. 

Brock Purdy walks off after the 49ers beat the Broncos at Levi’s Stadium in Week 4. (Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images)

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Maybe it wasn’t a huge game. But it was an extremely clean game from Purdy — spotless, in fact. He had zero turnovers and took zero sacks. In fact, he hasn’t been sacked yet this season. He was much better against the Broncos’ blitzes (10-of-12, 124 yards, 2 TDs) than when they sent four or fewer (9-of-18, 94 yards). 

The game didn’t call for him to be the hero. He read the situation. He managed the situation. And the 49ers stayed undefeated, taking down a Broncos team that has quality wins against the Rams and Jaguars.

These sorts of gritty wins are a crucial part of the MVP hunt. Be a part of the win. Don’t get in the way of the team. Don’t turn a win into a loss.

And, from my vantage point, it was exactly the type of game that Purdy needed to stay on pace with the big dogs in the MVP race. Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson should all be in the mix this year. Eventually, Purdy will need a marquee performance. But if it’s meant to be, that’ll come. Because he’s in the NFC West. He’ll see the Rams again, and he’ll see the Seahawks twice. There will be no shortage of adversity.

This was his first big test. He passed — not with flying colors — but he did enough. And he knows as well as anyone that this is just his first test. He’ll get plenty more.

4.

It was a dizzying finish, with points upon points. Yards upon yards. 

In the Cowboys’ 34-30 win over the Texans, every play was competitive — all the way to C.J. Stroud’s final incompletion in the end zone on the game’s final play.

But the Cowboys don’t have to make it this hard.

CeeDee Lamb shouldn’t have had to log 17 catches for 189 yards and a touchdown with 40 seconds left. Running back Javonte Williams shouldn’t have had to score three touchdowns.

And that’s because this defense isn’t good enough to sustain the Cowboys. Which is exasperating, because … how long have we been saying that?

Of course, the Dallas defense did improve from last week — in a sense. It didn’t blow the game. Last week, in a string of game-management mistakes, the Cowboys let Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and receiver Zay Flowers complete an improbable play that put Baltimore in field-goal position. The Ravens took the lead as time expired. It was a 34-31 Baltimore win, but it felt more like the Cowboys lost it.

So, yeah, the Cowboys didn’t let their late lead slip away again. But I’m not really sure that counts for much. Not in my book, at least. The Texans are 0-4, and while they’re a little better than their record shows, they’re not much better. Stroud is playing his way out of a contract extension. DeMeco Ryans is testing his job security. Things are spiraling in Houston.

The Cowboys just need to learn how to put teams away. They’ll remain an unserious team until their defense … starts playing defense.

5.

What do you see when you watch that throw? I see a quarterback who’s confident beyond what’s reasonable.

For Drake Maye, that’s a good thing.

This isn’t your average 23-yard touchdown. Obviously, it’s an incredible throw — and an incredible catch. It was the go-ahead touchdown in the Patriots’ 29-26 win over the Bills in Buffalo. But also, that’s receiver Efton Chism III, who entered training camp as — maybe — the Patriots’ WR7. He had five career catches going into this game.

The throw flipped the game, changing the Patriots’ probability of winning from 27.4% to 60.2%, per Next Gen Stats. The pass had a 29.7% chance of completion.

Perhaps most importantly, the throw came from Maye, who I pegged as having confidence problems. I wasn’t the only one. Coach Mike Vrabel implied the same thing.

“I can’t manufacture confidence. I can’t just say, ‘Hey, be confident,’” Vrabel told reporters last week. “You have to practice. You have to hit those plays in practice, and you have to feel good about it.”

Over the first three weeks, Maye had one touchdown and six interceptions. He was taking too many unnecessary risks. His deep ball lacked the confidence that we saw in 2025. And every pass looked overly difficult — and overthought — particularly the final interception in New England’s blowout loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars last week.

Maye had confidence issues. And sometimes, that’s more complicated than fixing footwork and/or a throwing motion. Sometimes, that’s easier. Much easier.

Because, heck, maybe the Patriots and Maye just fixed those issues with a win on the road. They’re 2-2 and the sky is no longer falling in New England.

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Joel Klatt’s top four didn’t budge this week, even though one of them didn’t play.

Georgia holds at No. 1 after taking care of Vanderbilt, while Texas and Ohio State sit right behind at two and three. Alabama is climbing fast, moving up to No. 5 off a blowout of Mississippi State, and Indiana jumped a spot after a statement road win at Rutgers.

Elsewhere, BYU cracks the top 10 for the first time this season despite a banged-up, grind-it-out win over TCU, while Oregon and Utah both move up during bye weeks.

Now that five weeks of college football are in the books, here are Klatt’s 10 best teams in the country.

Record: 4-0

Previous ranking: Unranked ↑

Klatt’s thoughts: “Listen, you’re going to be mad even though I included you. But here you are in the top 10 because I know that you’re a good program. I didn’t think you played your best against TCU, but here’s BYU. They’re going to go in at number 10. 

“They had to grind out that 17-10 win. Running back LJ Martin did go down in that game — I’m not thrilled about that. Hopefully it isn’t serious. Isaiah Glasker also had to leave the game. QB Bear Bachmeier just found a way. He’s kind of gritty.”

Record: 4-0

Previous ranking: 10 ↑

Klatt’s thoughts: “At nine, I’ve got Utah. They were off this past week, but all they’ve done is take care of business. Who’d have thought that I’d be sitting here with Utah in my top 10 and Michigan not even close right now, man. 

“I’m already circling that holy war, by the way. The Utah-BYU game is going to be fire. That’s November 7. Winner of that one, I think, is definitely in Dallas for the Big 12 Championship Game, and I think the winner of that one likely wins the Big 12 Championship Game. 

“So the winner of that game, I really like in the College Football Playoff.”

Record: 3-1

Previous ranking: Unranked ↑

Klatt’s thoughts: “At No. 8 I’m going Oregon. They were off this week after that big win over USC. You guys know how I still feel about Oregon. They can walk on any field in America, and they can tell themselves if they play their best, they can win. 

“So the top eight teams are just different than everybody else right now in the country, and Oregon is number eight.”

Record: 5-0

Previous ranking: 5 ↓

Klatt’s thoughts: “At seven, I’ve got Notre Dame. And listen, maybe I can even say the top seven are interchangeable. I think Notre Dame could be the best team in the country. 

“They’ve just been a little bit inconsistent and at times sloppy. They were sloppy early against North Carolina, but they win it 37-26. They gave up a kickoff return for a touchdown to start the second half, but they’ve won their 15th straight game. CJ Carr had five total touchdowns in that game. The rainstorm made it kind of sloppy, and it was interesting, but 30 rushes for 166 yards — five and a half per. I’ve been wanting them to run it better. They have and did in that game.”

Record: 5-0

Previous ranking: 7 ↑

Klatt’s thoughts: “At six, I’ve got Indiana. Like any other program in the country, if they were the defending national champion and undefeated, on a 21-game winning streak — would they be number six? I’m just kicking myself for having them number six right now. 

“Turbo Richard was back. He ran for over 200 yards. Lee Beebe ran for over 100 yards — over 300 on the ground between them. Wide receivers Nick Marsh and [Charlie Becker] both went over 100 each. Hoover is playing well. They’ve got a couple of shutouts — they basically shut out Rutgers until the fourth quarter in that game.

“And I know it’s just Rutgers, and their schedule hasn’t been great, but the Northwestern win looks a lot better now than it did when they beat them. Indiana — 21-game winning streak — No. 6. That’s just fuel for Curt Cignetti.”

Record: 5-0

Previous ranking: 6 ↑

Klatt’s thoughts: “I’m kind of all in on Bama. I kind of love it, guys, I really do. Bama’s excellent. Where are they at in my top five? They’ve gone all the way up to number five. You might’ve thought I was going to put them number one, but I put them at five. And candidly, my top five teams are totally interchangeable. Maybe even my top six. Bama is right up there. They are excellent.”

Record: 5-0

Previous ranking: 4

Klatt’s thoughts: “At number four, I’ve got Miami. Miami is impressive, man. They destroyed Clemson 41-13 on the road. QB Darian Mensah continues to look like a dude. He’s really good. Mensah is an upgrade for the Canes. Wide receiver Malachi Toney didn’t have the biggest day, but he doesn’t have to, because they can do a lot of things — they can run it, and they’ve got other players who can get the ball too. 

“The defense was outstanding, they got after the quarterback. Miami’s going to be an issue, and they should absolutely win the ACC. They’ve separated themselves in the ACC by quite a large margin.”

Record: 4-1

Previous ranking: 3

Klatt’s thoughts: “Ohio State is going to be in my top 10. They did not move. I can’t put them over Texas because they did not beat Texas. So Ohio State is No. 3.”

Record: 4-0

Previous ranking: 2

Klatt’s thoughts: “Texas No. 2. Longhorns were off — they’ve got Oklahoma coming up. Nobody else has two wins over top-15 teams. They’ve got Ohio State and Tennessee on their résumé, so they’re there.”

Record: 5-0

Previous ranking: 1

Klatt’s thoughts: “I have Georgia No. 1. There’s just something about this Georgia team. It’s not as emphatic a statement as it was last week against Oklahoma, but they took care of Vanderbilt, a game that was a seven-point game at half, and then they ran away with it in the second half.

“Bulldogs have a big one this week, though, that ‘Bama game. If they don’t get pressure on Keelon Russell, they will lose this week, because Russell is outstanding. I think the winner of that game will be, at least for me, in the driver’s seat in the SEC, even with Texas out there with their two top-15 wins.”

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Sometimes, how good — or bad — a result is depends on which oddsmaker is relaying the news. NFL Week 4 odds provided a good case in point.

The Vikings were 9.5-point home favorites vs. the Dolphins. With Minnesota up 15-10 just before the two-minute warning, tight end T.J. Hockenson could’ve scored and likely given the Vikes a 22-10 win and cover.

Instead, he slid down just before the goal line, and QB Kyler Murray then ran out the clock on three kneel-downs.

“We needed the Vikings. If Hockenson scores, that’s a huge difference for us,” South Point sportsbook director Chris Andrews said Sunday night.

Alternatively, from BetMGM trading manager Adair Horne: “We ended up with a nice result due to the late kneel by Hockenson. If he had scored the touchdown, it would have been in our top-two worst results for the week.”

Oddsmakers from Las Vegas and across the country chimed in to recap the weekend that was in NFL and college football betting.

This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.

Patriot Punishment

Over the first three weeks of the season, Josh Allen and the Bills erased most of the Rams’ edge in Super Bowl futures odds. The two teams are now virtually co-favorites at several sportsbooks.

And the public betting masses expected Buffalo to keep rolling in Week 4, as a 7-point home favorite vs. the Patriots. But New England didn’t get the memo.

Drake Maye led a late 73-yard touchdown drive, capped by a 23-yard touchdown pass to Efton Chism III, and the Pats upset the Bills 29-26.

“While bettors enjoyed several marquee wins throughout the [early] slate, the Patriots’ shocker remained the result that did the most damage to parlays and gave the book its biggest sigh of relief,” Caesars Sports head of football trading Joey Feazel said.

The Jaguars topping the Bengals 22-17 as 2.5-point road underdogs, and the Cowboys outlasting the Texans 34-30 as 3-point road underdogs also dinged the masses in Sunday’s nine-game early window.

“Beyond the massive New England upset over Buffalo, a couple of under-the-radar results helped the house,” Feazel said. “Jacksonville and Dallas both chipped away at customer profits, making for a rare week where the book was happy to be a Cowboys fan.”

At BetMGM, Horne also highlighted the Pats and Cowboys wins, along with the Panthers’ 32-26 Sunday night upset as 4.5-point home underdogs to the Lions.

“Overall, it was not the best day for bettors, with a few outsiders winning and only four favorites covering the spread,” Horne said.

Carolina was one of those outsiders, helping blow up plenty of moneyline parlays that finished with Detroit on Sunday night. Based on BetMGM’s closing numbers, the Colts, Rams, Bears and 49ers were the only favorites to cover.

Drake Maye and the Pats turned Bills bettors into losers on Sunday (Getty Images).

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Performing For The Public

Horne pointed to three games that fell most favorably for BetMGM customers.

“The biggest losers for the book this week were the Colts vs. Commanders, Ravens vs. Titans and Steelers vs. Browns,” Horne said.

Indianapolis was a 5-point favorite and beat Washington 30-13 in London, in a game that saw Commanders QB Marcus Mariota suffer an early knee injury. South Point’s Andrews concurred with Horne on that result.

“We really needed the Commanders, and the quarterback gets hurt in the first quarter,” Andrews lamented.

Cleveland was a 2.5-point home ‘dog in the Thursday night game and beat Pittsburgh 27-24 on a waning-seconds field goal.

Baltimore built a 24-7 halftime lead over Tennessee, but didn’t have Lamar Jackson for the second half due to an ankle sprain. The Ravens still won 24-18, while failing to cover as hefty 11.5-point favorites.

However, Baltimore was seen as a Bingo free space in countless moneyline parlays. So just by winning, regardless of margin, the Ravens were a shot in the arm for the betting public.

Plus, per usual, Ravens running back Derrick Henry was hugely popular in the First Touchdown Scorer/Anytime Touchdown Scorer markets. Henry gave the masses a two-for-one by scoring the first TD, less than three minutes into the game.

Other notable wins for the bettors: the Rams, Giants and Bears.

“The Rams’ comeback and cover was the standout game result, paying off for bettors both pregame and in-play,” Feazel said. “The ever-popular Giants also delivered, while the Bears were among the biggest team winners of the day.”

The Rams trailed the Eagles 20-10 well into the fourth quarter. But L.A. scored two TDs in the final four minutes to win 24-20 and cover as a 3.5-point road favorite.

The Giants were 2.5-point home underdogs to the Cardinals and trailed 14-3 in the first quarter. But New York ultimately turned the game into a shootout and clinched a 36-24 win on Deonte Banks’ 98-yard interception return for a touchdown as time expired.

The Bears were never really threatened by the hapless Jets, winning 23-12 as 3.5-point home favorites.

The Rams’ comeback win over Philly was a boon for bettors (Getty Images).

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On Campus

As much as the public betting masses wanted nothing to do with Florida against Ole Miss in Week 4, they were all over the Gators in Week 5 at Missouri.

Florida was a 5.5-point favorite and was among the most-bet teams at all the big national sportsbooks. BetMGM’s Saturday pretty much hinged on whether Florida covered the spread.

Interestingly, much like Ole Miss imploded against Florida, losing 52-28, the Gators got flattened by Mizzou 45-17.

“It was a topsy-turvy day for the book,” BetMGM trading manager Seamus Magee said. “But Mizzou outright was a colossal result, especially on the in-play book.”

Indeed, bettors jumped on Florida as it fell behind 20-10 at halftime, certain that a big Gators comeback was looming. It wasn’t.

“That’s what really made that game a huge winner for the book, on top of the lopsided pregame need,” Magee said.

Notre Dame also bit the public masses Saturday by failing to cover as a 21-point road favorite vs. North Carolina. The Tar Heels made this game far more interesting than expected, pulling within 21-20 on Jaden Jefferson’s 98-yard kick return to open the second half.

Carolina ultimately lost 37-26, but easily covered the spread.

Magee noted a couple of favorable outcomes for the customers.

“Bettors had a great result on Ohio State winning big at Iowa, and also had a nice outing on Miami covering against Clemson,” he said.

The Buckeyes were 14.5-point favorites and notched a 31-14 win and cover. The Hurricanes had even less trouble, rumbling to a 41-13 victory as 14-point road favorites.

Source

When you rewrite Ohio State’s record book before you turn 21, fans can start etching your name amongst the greats. During Ohio State’s win over No. 14 Iowa, Jeremiah Smith gave them every reason to. 

The Buckeyes’ junior wide receiver caught 11 passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns in No. 5 Ohio State’s 31-14 win at Iowa, becoming the program’s all-time leader in both receptions and touchdown catches. 

His 57-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter was the 36th of his career, passing Chris Olave, and he celebrated with a Heisman pose. Along the way, he also passed Emeka Egbuka for the most catches in school history and became the first Buckeye with back-to-back 200-yard receiving games, following up a 217-yard performance against Illinois.

On the latest edition of “The Joel Klatt Show,” FOX Sports’ Joel Klatt brought up the question: Is Smith the greatest Buckeye of all time?

“I’ve seen this question posed out there on social media and the like: Is Jeremiah the best Buckeye ever? Is he starting to get into that territory?” Klatt said. “And you know what? I think he might be entering the chat.”

Klatt’s case starts with the single-season greats. He argued Smith has already passed many Buckeyes who built their legacies on one standout year, a group that includes Ezekiel Elliott, who led Ohio State to a championship, Chase Young and his 16.5 sacks and Eddie George and his 24 touchdowns.

“I think if you look at his entire body of work, he is wide receiver one at wide receiver U, and all of them would say it,” Klatt said. Klatt said the group of former Ohio State standouts includes Cris Carter, Olave, Garrett Wilson, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Marvin Harrison Jr. 

Klatt added that Egbuka, who stayed at Ohio State for an extra season in part to play alongside Smith, “said it to my face.”

Klatt stopped short of putting Smith at the very top. The two names he believes belong in that conversation are Archie Griffin, the only two-time Heisman Trophy winner in college football history, and Orlando Pace, the offensive tackle who won the Lombardi Award twice and finished fourth in the 1996 Heisman voting.

Buckeyes legend Orlando Pace won the Lombardi Award twice and finished fourth in the 1996 Heisman voting. (Photo by Sporting News via Getty Images via Getty Images)

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“I know that sounds crazy, but is he starting to get there? And here’s the deal: I can’t give him the nod over those two guys, and specifically Orlando Pace,” Klatt said.

But Klatt said Smith has a clear path to changing that. Smith was a freshman on Ohio State’s 2024 national championship team, and he is trying to become the first wide receiver to win the Heisman since Alabama’s DeVonta Smith in 2020.

“If this guy wins the Biletnikoff and wins the Heisman Trophy, he’s already got a national championship under his belt,” Klatt said. “I believe that then it becomes a question of is Jeremiah Smith or Orlando Pace the greatest Buckeye in history?”

For now, Klatt believes those two stand apart.

“If you’re just talking about singular talents and dominant players at their position in this sport, I think it’s Jeremiah Smith and Orlando Pace as the greatest Buckeyes ever.”

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Portugal wants Cristiano Ronaldo to know he’s welcome back to the national team, if he so desires. The issue? It’s not something he desires — not so long as Jorge Jesus is the coach.

According to a report from ESPN on Tuesday, the 41-year-old superstar has issued the Portuguese Football Federation an ultimatum, threatening not to return to the national team under Jesus.

Portugal coach Jorge Jesus and federation president Pedro Proença have downplayed the “misunderstanding” that led to Ronaldo’s decision to leave the national team’s training camp last week, saying after a 2-1 win over Norway in the Nations League on Sunday that the veteran star can return whenever he wants.

“We are talking about the greatest player of all time, a player who has given more than two decades to Portuguese soccer,” Proença told Portuguese television channel RTP. “He will always be part of this squad if he is technically fit to play. Cristiano knows this. He knows that is the sentiment. What happened was a misunderstanding that needs to be resolved internally.”

Ronaldo walked out on Portugal’s training camp on Wednesday, hours after Jesus said the veteran star would not start in a game against Denmark in the Nations League. Jesus had kept Ronaldo on the bench in a previous match despite saying he would play.

Portugal’s new coach, Jorge Jesus, stated at the time of his hiring that figuring out Ronaldo’s future was a priority. (Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images)

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Ronaldo said after leaving that in due course he would “tell the Portuguese people the truth about the reasons” behind his departure, but has not commented on the situation since.

Jesus said Sunday he had no reason to apologize to anyone, and that he would call up Ronaldo again for the next international break if the player wants to come back.

“I don’t know what Cris will decide,” Jesus said after Portugal’s win. “To me, there was never an issue. There are non-negotiable principles for a coach, but since there were no issues regarding my authority, for me, if Cris wants to return, he will be eligible for the next call-up, as long as he is playing for Al Nassr. It’s up to him.”

Proença said there will be time for everyone to sit down and discuss the situation.

Soccer Related Stories

“Ronaldo is a symbol of our country. He is a Portuguese icon, an absolutely extraordinary player who could have ended his international career after the World Cup but chose not to out of love for the national team,” Proença said.

While Ronaldo has said that the 2026 World Cup was his final one, he has not spoken on his future in international play. Jesus, who was hired in July following Portugal’s exit at the World Cup, said at the time of his hiring that he needed to discuss Ronaldo’s future with him at some point.

“That’s a conversation we’re both going to have. What does he want to do for the future of his career?”

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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We’re down to three unbeaten teams in the NFL, and those teams sit atop my rankings this week.

The Las Vegas Raiders and Buffalo Bills suffered their first defeat of the season and fell, but the No. 2 team didn’t slide straight into the top spot that Buffalo occupied last week. Instead, another jumped three spots to No. 1 after an impressive victory.

Here’s where things stand after NFL Week 4’s Sunday slate.

Record: 3-1

Previous ranking: 9 ↓

Kirk Cousins couldn’t pull out the win on Sunday, but the Raiders showed they can hang with the best in the NFL against the Chiefs. (Chris Unger/Getty Images)

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Super Bowl odds: +7400

A disappointing home loss to the Chiefs shouldn’t dim the Raiders’ outlook after the first four weeks of the season. Head coach Klint Kubiak has his offense clicking behind a creative scheme that showcases the Raiders’ blue-chip players in quarterback Kirk Cousins, running back Ashton Jeanty and tight end Brock Bowers.

Player Stat: Bowers reached 2,000 career receiving yards in his 31st career regular-season game, tying Hall of Famer Kellen Winslow for the second-fastest tight end to reach that mark in NFL history. The record is 30 games by fellow Hall of Famer Mike Ditka.

Record: 3-1

Previous ranking: N/A ↑

Browns kicker Andre Szmyt (25) celebrates his game-winning field goal last Thursday night against the Steelers. (Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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Super Bowl odds: +18000

Credit head coach Todd Monken for helping Deshaun Watson rediscover some of his playmaking magic. The quarterback delivered a third straight game-winning drive, while showing steady improvement as a passer and playmaker in a new offensive scheme.

Player Stat: Rookie receiver Denzel Boston shares the league lead with three receptions of 40 or more yards this season, tied with the Ravens’ Zay Flowers and the Chiefs’ Tyquan Thornton.

Record: 3-1

Previous ranking: 10 ↑

Another week, another Derrick Henry touchdown. This one came in a Ravens win over his former team, the Titans. (Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

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Super Bowl odds: +850

Derrick Henry’s presence and playmaking potential allow the Ravens to bludgeon opponents with a downhill running game that tests the discipline and courage of opposing defenders. The super-sized running back continues to find pay dirt as the ultimate short-yardage/goal-line weapon for a team that’s quietly sitting at 3-1.

Player Stat: On Sunday, Henry became the second player in NFL history to score a rushing touchdown against a former team with whom he recorded at least 9,000 career rushing yards. Adrian Peterson did it in Week 17 of the 2020 regular season for the Lions against the Vikings.

Record: 3-1

Previous ranking: N/A ↑

In Week 4, Tyson Bagent became the third Bears quarterback to start and win a game this season. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

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Super Bowl odds: +2000

Head coach Ben Johnson is showing the football world that his offense rolls with or without a franchise quarterback under center. The Bears’ underrated running game keys the weekly offensive explosions, with D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai taking turns leading the way. Monangai took the honors on Sunday, with a 30-carry, 146-yard effort that gives the Bears a pair of top-10 rushers this season.

Player Stat: Monangai’s 30 carries are the most in a single game in the NFL this season.

Record: 3-1

Previous ranking: 1 ↓

Josh Allen set a Bills record on Sunday, but he couldn’t get the win against the Patriots. (Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)

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Super Bowl odds: +750

Despite dropping a tough game to a divisional rival, the Bills are off to another strong start under Josh Allen. The former MVP became Buffalo’s all-time leader in scrimmage touchdowns (88), surpassing a pair of Hall of Famers — running back Thurman Thomas and wide receiver Andre Reed. With the rugged dual-threat QB continuing to flash take-over-the-game ability in head coach Joe Brady’s revamped offense, the Bills always have a puncher’s chance in an AFC heavyweight fight.

Player Stat: Allen is now the only quarterback in NFL history to hold a franchise’s all-time record for career regular-season scrimmage touchdowns. Across the other 31 active franchises, the all-time leader is either a running back, wide receiver or tight end.

Record: 3-1

Previous ranking: 6 ↑

Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba continued his stellar start to the season in a win over the Chargers. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

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Super Bowl odds: +950

The defending champs are thumping opponents with a hard-hitting defense and an efficient offense paced by wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s playmaking. The reigning Offensive Player of the Year joined Randy Moss (2007) and Jimmy Smith (2000) as the only players in NFL history with 30 catches, 450 receiving yards and six touchdowns through the first four games of the season.

Player Stat: Smith-Njigba set the Seahawks franchise records for receptions and receiving yards through the team’s first four games of a season.

Record: 3-1

Previous ranking: 8 ↑

Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars left Cincinnati with an impressive win against another potential AFC contender. (Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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Super Bowl odds: +1500

Trevor Lawrence & Co. are quietly putting together a run that is making the league take notice. The former No. 1 overall pick is carving opponents up with surgical precision without force-feeding the ball to a WR1. The ball could go anywhere and everywhere based on his reads and progression on any given play, which will always keep opponents guessing. 

Player Stat: With the Jaguars’ win over the Bengals, Lawrence has now beaten every AFC team in his career.

Record: 4-0

Previous ranking: 3

There’s still room for improvement for Kyler Murray and Minnesota’s offense. The defense is the reason why the Vikings are 4-0. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

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Super Bowl odds: +2200

If you’re into winning pretty, the Vikings won’t appeal to you. This is a gritty, hard-nosed team that lets the defense take the lead. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ unit disrupts and destroys opponents with an exotic scheme and relentless pressure from a collection of high-IQ and high-motor defenders.

Player Stat: Tight end T.J. Hockenson caught all 13 passes thrown to him for 119 receiving yards, ranking third in the NFL in Week 4 receptions (trailing only CeeDee Lamb’s 17 catches and Tetairoa McMillan’s 14 catches). On the season, Hockenson is tied for third in tight end receptions with 22.

Record: 4-0

Previous ranking: 2

Running back Kenneth Walker III has taken Kansas City’s offense to another level through four games this season. (Chris Unger/Getty Images)

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Super Bowl odds: +950

Kenneth Walker III has balanced out the Chiefs’ offense with his dynamic running skills. The marquee free agent leads the NFL in rushing, with his 537 yards ranking as the most by an NFL player through the first four games in over a decade.

Player Stat: Walker has the most rushing yards through the first four games of a season in Chiefs history.

Record: 4-0

Previous ranking: 4 ↑

George Kittle put the cherry on top of the 49ers’ win over the Broncos with a late 56-yard touchdown reception. (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

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Super Bowl odds: +850

The most consistent team in football continues to methodically beat down opponents, with its veterans leading the way. Tight end George Kittle (32 years old, four touchdowns), wide receiver Mike Evans (33, three), wide receiver Deebo Samuel (30, two) and fullback Kyle Juszczyk (35, one) are all thriving within their specific roles in head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense.

Player Stat: The 49ers have the most TD catches ever by players who are at least 30 years old through four games, with 11. Wide receiver Demarcus Robinson (32) is the other player 30 or older who has a score for San Francisco this season.

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Josh Allen got greedy, and it contributed to costing him and the Buffalo Bills.

Feeling an adrenalin rush after spinning out of New England’s Dre’Mont Jones sack attempt on second-and-6 at the Buffalo 40, Allen stepped up in the pocket and heaved the ball deep down the left sideline into double coverage only to have it intercepted by Craig Woodson.

The Bills never got the ball back in the final minute of a 29-26 loss.

“They went man, made a guy miss, (I) threw one up, and should have thrown that one out of bounds and live another day,” Allen said, noting Buffalo was already within 20 yards of field-goal range. “That’s what I should have done.”

So much for hindsight. And so much for Allen and the offense’s hot start to the season.

Buffalo dropped to 3-1 in losing its first game at its new Highmark Stadium, and first under rookie coach Joe Brady. And suddenly, the division rival Patriots are 2-2 and only one game out of first place.

“These ones sting,” Allen said. “Got to find a way to learn from this and move it to the back of our brain, learn from it and move on.”

Buffalo’s offense isn’t looking as sharp as it did in combining for 77 points and 855 yards in winning its first two games. The Bills were coming off a five-turnover outing in a 24-16 win against the Chargers last week, and committed two more against New England, including receiver Khalil Shakir losing a fumble.

After opening the season with two turnover-free outings, Allen’s combined for three interceptions and a lost fumble in his past two outings. Over his nine-year career, Allen is 42-7 when he doesn’t turn over the ball, while he dropped to 49-33 when he does.

Brady rallied to Allen’s defense by taking the blame in saying he needs to call a better play in that situation.

“We obviously have plenty of time there,” Brady said.

“In those moments, I’ve got to be better. Everybody on the field has to be better in that situation,” he added. “There wasn’t a second during that drive I didn’t think we were going to go down, and much less kick a field goal, than to score a touchdown. We obviously didn’t get it done.”

Allen scored on a 2-yard run, his 88th career TD from scrimmage to set the team record in passing Hall of Famers Thurman Thomas and Andre Reed. He also threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to Keon Coleman, who finished with six catches for 116 yards — the second-best total of his three-year career.

The Bills now hit the road for a two-game West Coast swing, beginning with a “Monday Night Football” matchup against the Los Angeles Rams.

And injuries are starting to take a toll after receiver DJ Moore (shoulder) and defensive tackle Ed Oliver (knee) were sidelined on Sunday. Buffalo was also without its top cornerback, Christian Benford, who is nursing a toe injury.

Reporting by the Associated Press.

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Argentina fans are confident there is a bright future beyond Lionel Messi as the team’s most influential player of the last two decades prepares to bid farewell.

The 39-year-old superstar will play his final match for Argentina on Tuesday — a friendly against Benin at Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires — marking a pivotal moment in the country’s football.

Messi leaves behind an extraordinary legacy, including the 2022 World Cup title, two more World Cup finals (2014, 2026), two Copa América trophies (2021, 2024), an Olympic gold medal (2008), and 125 goals as the national team’s all-time leading scorer.

An Argentine fan shows a sign to support Argentina’s footballer Lionel Messi at the Mas Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires on October 3, 2026. (Photo by Alejandro PAGNI / AFP via Getty Images)

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His international retirement raises an inevitable question: Can Argentina remain among the global elite, or is a long trophy drought — reminiscent of the 35-year dry spell following Diego Maradona’s departure — on the horizon?

“Messi leaves behind something unequaled,” national coach Lionel Scaloni says. “We have to keep playing, but the feeling of having him on the pitch is unique. I’ve never seen anyone else convey what he does on a football field, and that is what we’re going to miss.”

However, Scaloni — who is in advanced negotiations to renew his contract for another four years — looks beyond Messi with optimism: “The Argentine national team will endure. We will remain at a high level, I have no doubt about that.”

The Future Is Here

In the first two post-World Cup matches without Messi, Argentina dazzled in the past week with resounding victories against Bolivia 4-0 and Burkina Faso 7-0. Despite the opponents’ stature, the matches offered compelling glimpses of what lies ahead.

Alongside established stars like Emiliano Martinez, Cristian Romero, Enzo Fernandez, and Lautaro Martinez, an exciting wave of new talent emerged — creative midfielders Nicolas Paz and Franco Mastantuono, and wingers Gianluca Prestianni and Leonel Flores.

Flores is a Boca Juniors youth player who made his professional debut just two months ago and has already earned senior national team experience.

“There’s a changing of the guard; maybe we have to play differently now, not thinking in terms of ‘Messi and 10 others,’ but rather as a unified team,” supporter Cristian Versalles, 55, told the AP after watching the victory over Burkina Faso on Saturday.

His son, Ramiro, 23, added, “Given the number of players coming through, there’s definitely a new generation ready to step up. Nico Paz is the heir apparent.” Paz, playing out of Italian club Como, was one of the scorers.

Soccer Related Stories

Also at the friendly and wearing the No. 19 jersey — the same one Messi wore during his senior national team debut in 2005 — 10-year-old fan Uzzi Rivero admitted, “It makes me really sad that he doesn’t play for Argentina anymore.” However, the youngster scowled at the suggestion that Argentina might face a trophy-less era following Messi’s retirement.

Another fan, Valentina Gago, 20, said: “I’m excited about Argentina without Messi; my favorite player is Lautaro Martínez. It’s not the same as Messi but I love him just the same.”

With his goal against Burkina Faso, Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martínez ranks as Argentina’s third-highest all-time goal-scorer with 42.

“As long as the players are eager to give their all for the shirt, for me, Argentina will remain a contender,” Gago said.

The world will find out at the 2028 Copa América.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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Washington Commanders receiver Jaylin Lane has a fractured and dislocated left ankle, according to a person familiar with the situation, after getting hurt in the team’s game against Indianapolis on Sunday in London.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Monday because the team had not announced Lane’s injury. Lane is expected to miss the rest of the season.

Lane was injured on a kickoff return in the third quarter and taken off the field on a cart.

His absence is another blow to the offense, which has been without standout left tackle Laremy Tunsil because of a torn left triceps muscle and lost franchise quarterback Jayden Daniels to a dislocated left elbow that sidelined him the past two games. Fill-in Marcus Mariota injured his right knee in the game against the Colts.

The Commanders (1-3) could get Daniels back as soon as this weekend when they host the New York Giants.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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Kyle Larson potentially could have put a huge gap between himself and the rest of the Chase field with a win, but Chase Briscoe was able to hold him off Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

The defending Cup champion certainly remains, though, the definitive Chase favorite halfway through the 10-race postseason.

Here are my championship contender rankings going into the Charlotte oval race this weekend.

On the verge (in alphabetical order):

On The Verge (Alphabetical Order):

Chris Buescher (RFK Racing No. 17 Ford, -196 points behind leader): Buescher still seeks his first top 10 of The Chase after a 13th at Las Vegas.

William Byron (Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 Chevrolet, -160): Byron’s sixth at Vegas was his fourth consecutive top 10 but it’s too little, too late for him.

Chase Elliott (Hendrick Motorsports No. 9 Chevrolet, -163): Elliott was seventh at Vegas and still seeks his first top five of The Chase.

Carson Hocevar (Spire Motorsports No. 77 Chevrolet, -158): Hocevar was 12th with two stage points at Vegas, which was not enough to start a comeback.

Ryan Preece (RFK Racing No. 60 Ford, -200): Preece was 28th at Vegas and will look to just get some momentum for 2027.

Daniel Suárez (Spire Motorsports No. 7 Chevrolet, -195): Suárez finished 14th for the third consecutive week and still seeks his first Chase top 10. Charlotte could be the place; he won the 600 in May.

Contender Rankings

10.

Cindric gained 12 points on Larson, thanks to a strong opening stage and a fourth-place finish at Vegas as he has posted back-to-back top 10s on the 1.5-mile tracks. He’s ninth in the standings and that should make him smile. But Cindric’s best finish on the Charlotte oval is 20th.

9.

An early speeding penalty ruined the day for Gibbs as he finished 17th at Vegas and lost 16 points to Larson. He has no top fives in his four Next Gen starts on the Charlotte oval.

8.

Wallace finished in the top 10 in each stage and placed eighth at Vegas to gain three points on Larson. But he was challenging for the lead late in the race and the fact he was dicing it up front shows progress. He has four top 10s in the five Chase races. Wallace has just one top five in his career on the Charlotte oval.

7.

Reddick rebounded from an early battery issue — and three consecutive finishes outside the top 10 — to finish third at Vegas. He also gained five points on Larson. He has finished in the top five in three of the last four Next Gen races at Charlotte. Reddick was on the pole and placed fourth in the 600 in May.

6.

Logano lost four points to Larson with his 10th-place finish at Vegas. That 20th-place finish last week at Kansas hurts. Logano’s best Next Gen finish at Charlotte was his eighth in the 600 in May.

5.

Blaney gained 11 points on Larson, thanks to finishing in the top five in both stages and fifth in the race. He has three top fives in The Chase, but two finishes outside the top 30 are going to keep him from winning the title. He won the 600 in 2023, but that is his only top five in the Next Gen car on the Charlotte oval.

4.

Bell fought a power steering issue for much of the Vegas race, and he lost five points to Larson, thanks to his 23rd-place finish. It pretty much is his second mulligan of The Chase, and he is going to need a great five races to overcome it. Bell has three top-five finishes in the five Next Gen races at Charlotte — including the win in the 600 in 2024 and a second in May.

3.

Briscoe, with the Vegas win and sweeping the stages, gained 43 points on Larson. But can he do that again in the final five races to have a reasonable shot at the title? It’s possible but overcoming the 32nd and 27th earlier in The Chase is going to be a challenge. Briscoe has two top fives in the five Next Gen races at Charlotte. He crashed in May to finish 34th.

2.

Hamlin lost 14 points to Larson. He had a frustrating Vegas race where he spun and lost several spots. He also had his fuel pressure cut off under caution, costing him more as he tried to rally. However, he’s still just a couple of wins away from wiping out Larson’s lead. Hamlin has three top fives — including a win in 2022 — in the five Next Gen races at Charlotte. He was third in May.

1.

Larson finished second at Vegas, and his average finish of 2.0 in The Chase is mega. Yet he still doesn’t have a comfortable lead in the standings with five races remaining. Larson has only one top five in Next Gen races on the Charlotte oval which was his fifth in the race in May.

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