New York Giants fans, get the Odell Beckham Jr. jersey out of the closet.

Beckham will wear No. 13, which he wore in his first stint with the franchise from 2014-18, for the Giants this season, the team announced on Tuesday afternoon.

The 33-year-old wide receiver wore No. 3 over the summer, but he had to pick a different number for the regular season, as second-year linebacker Abdul Carter, whom New York selected with the No. 3 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft out of Penn State, changed his number to No. 3 prior to Beckham signing a one-year deal with the Giants in June. For Beckham to wear No. 13, fourth-year receiver Jalin Hyatt had to give up the number, which he had worn his entire NFL career (2023-25).

Beckham was one of just five wide receivers to make New York’s initial 53-man roster. Appearing in each of the Giants’ three preseason games, Beckham logged seven receptions for 76 yards.

While he played just five seasons with the Giants, who drafted the wide receiver with the No. 12 pick in the 2014 NFL Draft out of LSU, the first time around, Beckham is second in franchise history with 5,476 receiving yards and fourth with both 390 receptions and 44 receiving touchdowns over 59 regular-season games. Beckham was a Pro Bowler in each of his first three seasons with the team, averaging 96 receptions for 1,374 yards and 11.7 touchdowns per year from 2014-16.

Making the Giants’ roster is a double reunion for Beckham, who played for new head coach John Harbaugh on the Baltimore Ravens in 2023.

The Giants open the 2026 regular season at home against the Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 13.

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Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney’s thoughts on the LSU Tigers trying to add players who were in NFL training camps to their roster are simple.

“It’s kind of embarrassing. Honestly, it’s embarrassing that’s where we are,” Swinney said in a press conference on Tuesday morning about LSU and any school attempting to add former college players to their roster. “I don’t blame the kids, but people trying to take advantage of the system. It’s embarrassing, but we’ve been there for a while. …

“No pun intended, but we’re just going to stay in our lane.”

Two weeks ago, a Louisiana judge granted temporary restraining orders and a fifth year of college eligibility to 16 players who graduated from high school in 2022. On that note, LSU added a handful of individuals who previously played for Kiffin on the Ole Miss Rebels, including tight end Dae’Quan Wright, defensive tackle Zxavian Thomas and safety Wydatt Williams. This promptly led to the Big Ten and SEC each banning players who have appeared on an NFL or professional football roster from playing in their respective conferences.

All that said, there’s a hearing in Baton Rogue, Louisiana on Thursday regarding the SEC banning players who have appeared on pro rosters from appearing on a conference roster (e.g., LSU), according to Yahoo Sports. Earlier in the week, Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian called adding a player with pro experience of any kid to a college roster “morally wrong.” Fortunately for college football fans alike, LSU hosts Texas on Nov. 14.

And, of course, Clemson opens its 2026 season on the road against LSU on Saturday night in what’s Kiffin’s first game as the Tigers’ new head coach following six seasons coaching SEC-rival Ole Miss (2020-25).

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Senior quarterback Christopher Vizzina will get the Week 1 starting nod for Clemson, beating out freshman Tait Reynolds, among others, for the job. Vizzina has spent his entire collegiate career at Clemson (2023-25) and will succeed three-year starter Cade Klubnik, who was selected by the New York Jets in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft and will be the team’s backup signal-caller. 

LSU defeated Clemson on the road to open the 2025 season; the Tigers fired head coach Brian Kelly after beginning the season 5-3. Meanwhile, Clemson is coming off a 7-6 season after opening the year as the No. 4 ranked team in the country. It marked the fewest games that Clemson has won since going 6-7 in 2010, Swinney’s third season as the Tigers’ head coach.

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Twenty-eight years after Sammy Sosa beat Mark McGwire in a National League MVP race for the ages, the Cubs’ all-time home run leader offered some prophetic words of encouragement for Chicago’s newest MVP contender.

As part of the Cubs’ 150th anniversary celebration, Sosa and other members of the franchise’s all-time roster were in attendance Saturday at Wrigley Field as they watched Pete Crow-Armstrong launch three home runs against the Reds. It was the latest statement in a season full of them for the phenom center fielder, who has leapfrogged Shohei Ohtani as the heavy MVP favorite. 

“Sammy did say I was going to hit three today,” Crow-Armstrong said afterward. “Sammy Sosa told me I was going to hit three, and I hit three, so put that on the record.” 

Crow-Armstrong is a player built for the spotlight. Even on a weekend devoted to the greatest Cubs of all time, it was PCA who again took center stage. 

As an encore, he added two more blasts on Sunday, giving him five home runs on the weekend and 38 on the season, a total that trails only Kyle Schwarber for the most in MLB. Crow-Armstrong also joined Sosa, Alfonso Soriano, Ryne Sandberg and Andre Dawson as the only players in franchise history with at least 14 home runs in a calendar month.

Crow-Armstrong, MLB’s leader in wins above replacement, has catalyzed his team with leadoff blasts — he has nine this year, trailing only Soriano for the most in a season in franchise history — and dazzled with walk-off winners. He has astounded with highlight-reel defensive plays, leading all outfielders in outs above average, and amazed with his speed, ranking second in MLB in both steals (32) and triples (seven). He has also hit for the cycle, among his many accomplishments this season. 

But it’s his consistency as a complete offensive force that might have him winning MVP over Ohtani, something no player has done since Aaron Judge’s 62-homer season in 2022.

(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

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Even a couple of months ago, the thought that anyone could push Ohtani for the award seemed far-fetched, if not outright impossible. 

Ohtani seemed to have his eye on winning his first ever Cy Young Award in his return as a full-time two-way player this year. When he puts his mind to something, it tends to happen. At the end of May, Ohtani was pitching himself into the conversation with a 0.82 ERA through nine starts.

But his performance began to suffer after he started dealing with knee pain in early June. By the end of the month, his ERA had doubled. 

Still, even as his Cy Young chances started to fade, it was hard to imagine anyone standing in the way of him winning a fifth MVP award. On July 3, Ohtani had a 1.79 ERA as a pitcher and a .927 OPS as a hitter.

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

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But he has not pitched since that date, due to left knee discomfort that required an injection over the All-Star break and a recurring right bicep problem. The lingering issues have not stopped him from being a mainstay in the Dodger lineup, but they continue to prevent his return to the mound. 

They also opened a door for another MVP contender. 

“If you guys want to talk about all this back and forth, I really should go get in the lab and start pitching,” Crow-Armstrong quipped a few weeks ago.

He probably won’t have to resort to that, the way he is hitting so dependably now.

The Cubs’ star outfielder demonstrated his upside last season in an All-Star and Gold Glove campaign while finishing ninth in NL MVP voting. But his production ebbed and flowed. He had an .888 OPS in May, a .771 OPS in June and a .984 OPS in July before falling off a cliff last August (.446). He slashed just .216/.262/.372 in the second half of 2025. 

The peaks and valleys were part of the package for a young player still adjusting to the big-league game. He chased too often (only four qualified players swung at a higher rate of pitches out of the zone), reached base too seldomly (he had the fifth-lowest walk rate and on-base percentage in MLB) and struggled too much against southpaws (.595 OPS) to sustain his success. 

This year, he looks like a different force altogether, not unlike the superstar jump Bobby Witt Jr. took from his age 23 to 24 season. After a slow start to the year, Crow-Armstrong has produced an OPS over 1.000 over each of his last three months. Even beyond the consistent production, there are underlying reasons to believe this steady uptick can endure.

(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

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He has become a much more selective hitter, lowering his swing rate by more than 10% and his chase rate by more than 7% from last season. Those are both the largest drops among all qualified hitters this year. His walk rate, meanwhile, has swelled from 4.5% last year to 11.5% this year, the biggest jump in MLB, and it’s not at the expense of driving the baseball. 

In fact, he’s swinging harder and mashing the ball better than ever before. Crow-Armstrong raised his hard-hit rate from 41.6% last year to 48.8% this season, the second-highest jump in the sport behind only Bryson Stott. 

It took some physical adjustments to get here, some more obvious than others. Most notably, Crow-Armstrong has dropped his hands lower before getting into his load. He has also moved farther back in the box and closer to the plate, especially against lefties, while narrowing the distance between his feet in his stance.

(Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

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It all seems to be working, allowing him to cover pitches better on the outer edge while still being able to turn on pitches and get to his pull-side power. His OPS against lefties has jumped nearly 400 points from last year to this year (.978). By wRC+, he went from the seventh-worst hitter against lefties last year to the seventh-best this year. 

The end result is an all-around force capable of pushing Ohtani for the league’s greatest individual honor. Crow-Armstrong leads MLB in fielding run value, Statcast’s metric for capturing a player’s defensive performance. He also leads the NL in batting run value and is tied for fifth in MLB in baserunning run value, demonstrating his ability to impact the game in myriad ways. 

The only thing he doesn’t do is pitch, but neither does Ohtani at the moment as the Dodger superstar’s MVP case hits a lull.

(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

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Ohtani was expected to be back on the mound Sunday or Tuesday to begin his build-up toward October, but his knee and biceps issues haven’t fully subsided. It’s now unclear when he’ll return to the mound. 

“I don’t think he’s 100%,” Roberts told reporters this weekend. 

Ohtani’s offensive performance has also declined since he started ramping his throwing program back up. 

After a weeks-long break from throwing, Ohtani threw his first bullpen session on Aug. 14. In the 15 games before that date, he had a 1.119 OPS. Over the 15 games since that date, he has a .716 OPS. 

Meanwhile, Crow-Armstrong’s push for MVP is full steam ahead. His achievements seem to get more spectacular by the day. On Saturday, two of his three home runs came off left-hander Andrew Abbott. On Sunday, his leadoff homer came off All-Star Chase Burns. His 14 home runs in August were the most by any player 24 or younger in a calendar month since Ken Griffey Jr. in May 1994.

Crow-Armstrong has already become the first player in franchise history to record back-to-back 30-homer, 30-stolen base seasons. He’s now just two homers and eight steals short of a 40-40 season, a feat that has only been accomplished six times in MLB history — most recently during Ohtani’s 50-50 campaign in 2024 — and never by a Cubs player. 

While Ohtani’s having another incredible year and doing something no other player can (.909 OPS as a hitter, 1.79 ERA as a pitcher), what Crow-Armstrong is accomplishing in Chicago could be historic. The club’s all-time leader in fWAR for a single season is Rogers Hornsby (11.0), a total that’s not out of reach for Crow-Armstrong (9.3) if he can keep this pace up. 

Of course, one month remains to sort everything out. Maybe Ohtani, focusing solely on hitting, goes on a tear. Maybe he returns to the mound and reminds everyone why the value he provides as a two-way titan can’t be matched. 

As of this moment, though, Crow-Armstrong holds the edge in nearly every offensive category (Ohtani has a slight lead in OBP) as well as WAR and stolen bases while also bringing elite defense at a premium position every day. 

And if he does become the first Cubs player to take home MVP honors since Kris Bryant in 2016, we might look back at this past weekend as the defining moment, when Crow-Armstrong put on a show for the ages while Ohtani’s return to the mound was put on hold. 

Rowan Kavner is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. He previously covered the L.A. Dodgers, LA Clippers and Dallas Cowboys. An LSU grad, Rowan was born in California, grew up in Texas, then moved back to the West Coast in 2014. Follow him on X at @RowanKavner.

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Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke has agreed to buy the Los Angeles Angels from Arte Moreno, expanding his sports holding company into Major League Baseball.

The transaction is through Kroenke Sports and Entertainment, which owns the Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, Colorado Rapids, and Arsenal. Kroenke also owns the Rams and developed SoFi Stadium and the surrounding Hollywood Park site in Inglewood.

Beyond the franchise acquisition, Kroenke reportedly intends to build a 2.5 billion dollar venue to replace Angel Stadium, according to Forbes. The venue opened in 1966 and has seen two major refurbishments.

The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2027, subject to approval by Major League Baseball. Financial terms were not publicly disclosed, though the sale was reportedly “more than the $3.9 billion sale price for the Padres.” according to the LA Times.

“The Angels Organization is pleased to announce this transaction with Kroenke Sports & Entertainment,” owner Arte Moreno said in a statement. “The Moreno Family has been honored to steward the Angels for 23 years and we believe with KSE’s experience and success they are the best next owner for the franchise. The Angels Organization looks forward to continuing its commitment to the fans, our employees, the players and our business partners.”

“The Angels are a storied franchise anchored in a great market,” KSE owner and chairman Stan Kroenke said in a statement. “We look forward to an exciting future with the Angels organization.”

Kroenke-affiliated entities own the Los Angeles Rams and developed SoFi Stadium along with the 300-acre Hollywood Park district in Inglewood. KSE also owns the Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, Colorado Rapids, and Arsenal.

Moreno became Major League Baseball’s first Latino owner when he purchased the team following its 2002 World Series championship. The team won five American League West titles between 2004 and 2009, but later endured an 11-season playoff drought through 2026.

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Let’s get weird. Let’s get spicy. Let’s get bold.

Could this be the year that running backs go off like it’s 1990? Could this finally be the year that the Cincinnati Bengals and the Dallas Cowboys stop messing around? Could the Kansas City Chiefs find themselves in rebuild mode?

Yes, yes and yes. At least that’s what I think.

I have some bold predictions for the 2026 NFL season. Twelve of them. Let’s talk ball.

1.

There’s just not a lot of buzz around the Chiefs that makes me feel optimistic. The one really positive preseason storyline — rookie receiver Cyrus Allen — has totally died out. The fifth-round pick played deep into the team’s final preseason game, perhaps indicating he’s not as impressive as the hype made him out to be. The team wants more from him. And offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy made it clear that the team needs a whole lot more from WR1 Rashee Rice. 

Wide receiver Cyrus Allen, a fifth-round pick out of Cincinnati, was a preseason darling for the Chiefs before his storyline faded. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)

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Patrick Mahomes will probably play Week 1 despite returning (quickly) from his ACL injury, but it remains to be seen whether his offensive line has improved substantially. And that’ll also dictate whether running back Kenneth Walker III will be as explosive as the Chiefs paid the Super Bowl MVP big money to be. Walker has never been a bell cow, but more than that, he’s never really had to run behind a bad offensive line. That concerns me.

Meanwhile, the Kansas City defense will be without cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, safety Bryan Cook and linebacker Leo Chenal. McDuffie was traded to the Rams and the others left in free agency.

I’ll always fear the Chiefs, because of Mahomes and Andy Reid. But logically, this team can’t possibly make the playoffs, can it?

2.

They invested in their defense by trading for three-time Pro Bowl tackle Dexter Lawrence and signing DT Jonathan Allen, edge Boye Mafe and safety Bryan Cook in free agency. And in a way, that was the Bengals investing in Joe Burrow — because he’s gotten killed trying to keep breakneck pace with his putrid defense (after years of getting killed behind his crappy offensive line).

Now, it feels like the Bengals have finally turned a corner. They kept Burrow’s weapons on offense. They’ve built a half-decent offensive line. And simultaneously, they’ve invested in defensive playmakers.

It seems like Cincinnati might be excellent this year. It seems like Cincinnati can legitimately contend for a Super Bowl for the first time since … well, since the Bengals made the Super Bowl.

3.

The Patriots have heavily favored Brown during training camp practices. Quarterback Drake Maye has a connection with Brown that typically takes years to develop. And this Patriots passing game feels like it’s on the verge of doing remarkable things.

Brown will be at the center of all of it. He got tired of not getting the ball in Philly. The Patriots will make up for it in spades. Maye is going to feed Brown early and often. The three-time All-Pro is 29 and has a knee issue that might impact his explosiveness down the line, which is all the more reason to get him to the top of the receptions category in 2026.

4.

This passing total would put him into contention to lead the league. And it would make him the first Chicago Bears quarterback to top 4,000 passing yards. Ever. 

I’m not sure that Williams is going to be the total package in 2026. I’m not sure we’ll see his playing style align perfectly with coach Ben Johnson’s scheme at all times. But the QB’s completion percentage will rise above 60%, and that, in itself, will generate more yards. 

Then I think young receivers Luther Burden and Rome Odunze will continue their upward growth, with both players taking major leaps forward this year. Second-year pro Colston Loveland will be a total menace in Johnson’s tight-end-friendly offense. 

Caleb Williams (18), Colston Loveland (84) and Cole Kmet are ready to dial it up in coach Ben Johnson’s tight-end-friendly offense. (Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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There are a few ways all this could go wrong. And one of the most obvious questions is left tackle, where the Bears were hesitant to name a starter. There’s also the matter of the youngsters on offense; fans and media members are prone to assume they’ll get better, but that doesn’t always happen.

Johnson, however, is what makes everything feel reassuring. If he keeps this offense steady, the Bears will see Caleb’s stats go crazy — and Chicago will make the playoffs again.

5.

This one is an easy pick. The Lions struggled last year while dealing with playcalling issues — and, frankly, some bad luck. But they’ve returned their core while addressing some issues, whether it’s right tackle (with rookie Blake Miller) or secondary (safety Chuck Clark and Christian Izien). Even offensive coordinator Drew Petzing is a compelling candidate in his new gig after putting up video-game numbers with the Cardinals’ offense. 

The Lions are angry and hungry. And they’re simply way, way too talented to stay in the basement of the NFC North.

6.

It’s interesting to see a Jalen Hurts replica starting to appear in the NFC South. Shough is sort of Hurts’ reincarnation, via the voodoo of coach Kellen Moore, who used to be the Eagles’ OC. 

Because Shough looked like he was rapidly ascending at the back end of his rookie season — and because the Saints added first-round receiver Jordyn Tyson (out with a hamstring injury to start the season) — I think he can jump into the top 10 in passing stats.

It’s totally doable. Baker Mayfield was the 10th-best passer in 2025 with 3,693 yards. In 2023, Hurts threw for 3,858 yards under Moore.

The NFC South is winnable, as usual. And I think the New Orleans rebuild starts to go exponential this season, in large part because I believe in the way Moore and Shough are clicking.

7.

This team is going to be bad. Like, tremendously terrible. On Monday, the Dolphins claimed seven players off waivers — effectively wiping away 13% of their current roster (players who actually attended their training camp) to bring in new guys who have never worked in the Miami system.

Think about that for a second. They’d prefer to school up those seven players with just 10 days until the season-opener — rather than keep working with the guys who have spent their entire offseason with the team. 

That reflects extremely poorly on the talent that is and was in Miami. (This shouldn’t come as much of a shock either. The joint practices were bloodbaths, with the Dolphins getting dominated by the Giants and Commanders.)

So they’re in a race with the Browns — to the bottom of the NFL.

8.

This might sound really crazy, but hear me out. The Rams have a mind-bogglingly large number of sack artists. Edge Myles Garrett is the obvious candidate to lead the team — and the league — in sacks. But before last season, when he set the record with 23, he’d had two consecutive seasons of 14 sacks. 

I think it’s possible that’s where he lands in 2025. It might even land lower, given that Rams edge Byron Young had 12 sacks last year. If teams are double-teaming Garrett, which would be reasonable, then that could open up things for Donald. He’s fresh after two seasons in retirement. He’s probably going to play in a pass-rushing-specific role.

It’s reasonable to think he could get 14 sacks this year. And if that’s the case, he could also lead a deep group of L.A. sack artists.

9.

Here’s my list: Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, James Cook, Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, Jonathan Taylor and either Christian McCaffrey, De’Von Achane or Javonte Williams.

Last year, it was just Cook, Henry and Taylor.

But given how much we’ve seen teams invest in their running backs — with new contracts for Robinson, Gibbs, Achane and Cook — I think they’re going to do what they can to help them succeed. Barkley will be back to being an offensive centerpiece for the Eagles in 2026. And don’t count out second-year Cowboys back Williams, who will likely be the uncontested RB1 on what I expect to be the NFL’s most explosive offense.

10.

I really liked Eagles first-round receiver Makai Lemon to win OROY, but a lingering hamstring issue sidelined him for most of camp, so I’m concerned about how immediately he’ll produce. 

Price, the final pick of the first round, will split touches with George Holani in Seattle’s backfield to start the year because Zach Charbonnet will miss at least the first four games after tearing his ACL in January. And though Charbonnet (and Holani) will probably steal touchdowns, Price is likely to rack up major yardage totals. That should be enough for him to edge any of the receivers and/or No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza, whom the Raiders insist they plan to sit behind veteran QB Kirk Cousins this season.

11.

The Raiders will spend this season playing from behind, but I sense that the aborted trade of Crosby to Baltimore in March shifted something in his brain. He seems to have a newfound fire. He might even get traded again before the deadline. 

With ample opportunities and increased intensity, Crosby should be able to tee off on quarterbacks and land at the top of the leaderboard for sacks.

12.

I want to go absolutely nuts and pick the Cowboys for a Super Bowl. But I’m apprehensive about doing that, given how little we know about this defense. We know that Jerry Jones did what he implied he was going to do. He split up the money that he was going to give to Micah Parsons and completely rebuilt the appalling unit using some of the picks he got by trading Parsons.

But I’m not certain that the rebuild on that side of the ball is complete.

I am certain, however, that the Dallas offense is going to be incredible again. And if the defense is even middling, the Cowboys will probably feel some pressure to put up points and yardage totals. It’s going to be fun to watch. They’re going to make the playoffs. And when that happens, Prescott’s numbers and win totals will put him in the MVP race.

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The doubleheader at The Milwaukee Mile was certainly unique.

INDYCAR started a race on Saturday but then had to suspend it because of rain. It then conducted an entire race early Sunday afternoon before finishing the Saturday race in the early evening … on Sunday.

And also unique — Pato O’Ward won both races. That vaulted him back into these power rankings, an indication of how much his season has been a disappointment.

Alex Palou clinched the INDYCAR title to add to his collection of four titles he had earned in 2021, 2023, 2024 and 2025. So you can imagine where he remains in these power rankings.

Here are my power rankings going into the season finale Sunday at Laguna Seca, a road course in Monterey, Calif.

Dropped out: Kyffin Simpson (Last Week: 8)

On the verge: Scott Dixon, Louis Foster, Kyffin Simpson

10.

Power did not have a good day at Milwaukee, as he had a pit-road speeding penalty in the Sunday race and then wrecked when trying to get by Nolan Siegel in the finale Sunday night. 

9.

Newgarden wrecked in the Sunday race and then rebounded to finish seventh in the finale Sunday evening. He had hoped for more at a short oval but he was never all that happy with the car.

8.

Ericsson, who had a win and a fourth in his last two starts, had a ninth and an eighth in the two Milwaukee races. It wasn’t great, but it was a pair of respectable days. It also helps that he was the best Andretti Global car in the finale. 

7.

VeeKay enjoyed his first podium on an oval. He finished third on Sunday evening, which was a great result and not a total surprise after he finished seventh — and led 25 laps — in the race Sunday afternoon.

6.

What a weekend for O’Ward. He swept Milwaukee and became the first driver to win two races in one day since 1981. That was back when the series had some regularly scheduled “twin” sprint races. He had four finishes outside the top 10 in his last seven starts before Milwaukee.

5.

Following his victory at Washington, Kirkwood’s weekend got off to a sour start with a wreck with Christian Rasmussen in practice Friday. He was sixth and 15th, dropping to third in the standings.

4.

Malukas had a solid weekend with a fourth and a second, but the second was a disappointment when he lost the lead in the finale on the last restart. But that gives him eight top-five finishes in the 17 races this year.

3.

McLaughlin also had a second and a fourth in the two Milwaukee events. For a driver who hasn’t won in two years, it’s good to know you are knocking on the door. He has six top-five finishes this year.

2.

Lundgaard had a third and a sixth in the Milwaukee races. Quite good for someone who has had his oval performance questioned. 

1.

Does it matter where he finished at Milwaukee? A fifth and 10th were high enough for him to clinch his fourth consecutive crown and his fifth in the last six years. One day, he won’t be No. 1 at the end of a season, but it’s hard to see when that day will come. 

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Àlex Palou has officially secured the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship, locking up the Astor Challenge Cup in the final leg of a Sunday doubleheader at the Milwaukee Mile.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers are slowly getting back to full strength.

The Dodgers announced on Tuesday afternoon that they’ve activated catchers Will Smith and Dalton Rushing and left-hander Justin Wrobleski from the injured list. They also added infielder Alex Freeland to the MLB roster.

To make room on the roster for the aforementioned returnees, the Dodgers sent outfielder Alek Thomas and catcher Ben Rortvedt — whom they acquired from the New York Mets before the MLB trade deadline — to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Smith, an All-Star in each of the last three complete seasons (2023-25), hasn’t played for the Dodgers since June 5 due to a neck injury. Over the 52 games Smith has appeared in this season, he has totaled six home runs, 23 RBIs and a 101 OPS+, while sporting a .249/.338/.382 slash line.

Rushing, who took Smith’s place as the team’s everyday catcher in the wake of his neck injury, hasn’t played since Aug. 1 due to an arm injury. Across 74 games, Rushing has logged 12 home runs, 36 RBIs, a 123 OPS+ and 1.4 wins above replacement, while possessing a .253/.335/.475 slash line.

Wrobleski hasn’t made a start for the Dodgers since Aug. 15, as he dealt with a forearm injury. The left-hander was an All-Star this year and boasted a 2.62 ERA entering his July 28 outing before posting a combined 8.69 ERA over his ensuing four starts, with a stint on the 15-day injured list following. In all, Wrobleski has recorded a 3.56 ERA, a 1.10 WHIP, a 114 ERA+ and two wins above replacement across 126 ⅓ innings pitched (20 starts/21 appearances).

The Dodgers could soon have their full starting rotation. Fellow left-hander Blake Snell is four starts back from elbow surgery, and right-hander Tyler Glasnow was activated last week after back spasms kept him off the mound for manager Dave Roberts for roughly 15 weeks.

The next piece in the puzzle for the Dodgers’ rotation could be Shohei Ohtani, as the two-way superstar hasn’t pitched since July 3 due to knee inflammation and is also dealing with a biceps issue. Granted, Ohtani has continued to be the team’s primary designated hitter.

Los Angeles is the No. 2 seed in the National League at 82-55, good for a half-game lead on the Atlanta Braves (82-56) for the second wild-card round bye and good for being 2.5 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers (85-53) for the best record in the NL. The Dodgers also hold a 9.5-game lead on the San Diego Padres (73-65) for first place in the NL West.

Los Angeles opens a three-game series at home against the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night.

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Who has the best chance to win the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series title?

Welcome to the FOX Sports Contender Rankings. Now that the regular season is over, the focus is on the 16 drivers in The Chase.

I have ranked the top-10 contenders based on what I believe their chances are to win the title and will update each week with a short outlook to the upcoming track.

On The Verge (Alphabetical Order):

Chris Buescher (RFK Racing No. 17 Ford, -70 points behind leader): He’s too inconsistent. He nearly won at Darlington in 2024 but has just one top five there in Next Gen era.

William Byron (Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 Chevrolet, -85): He just hasn’t had the pace this year. Maybe Darlington, where he won in May 2023, will be the place he finds it.

Austin Cindric (Team Penske 2 Ford, -95): His fifth place at Darlington earlier this year was his first top 10, so if he can get off to a good start, maybe he can be a factor.

Ryan Preece (RFK Racing No. 60 Ford, -100): He vaulted himself into The Chase but does that make him a contender? He has never had a top 10 in Darlington.

Daniel Suárez (Spire Motorsports No. 7 Chevy, -75): He only has seven top 10s this year and will need more than that over the next 10 races to win the title (and has just two career top 10s at Darlington).

Bubba Wallace (23XI Racing No. 23 Toyota, -90): He has been so up and down, so who knows? He has potential at Darlington with five top 10s.

Contender Rankings

10.

Hocevar could just as easily finish in the top five in the standings as he could 16th. He has speed and an aggressive attitude, which pays dividends but can also be costly. He has a ninth and a fourth in his last two Darlington starts.

9.

Logano is a three-time Cup champion and knows how to handle the pressure. The question is whether he has enough speed. He won the first Next Gen race at Darlington in 2022 but has only one top 10 in his last eight starts there and was awful there in April.

8.

Elliott has led laps in just three of the last nine races, and that likely won’t be enough to be a threat. He doesn’t have a top five in Darlington in his last eight starts, so getting off to a good start in the Chase could be a challenge.

7.

Larson’s winless streak has reached 50 races. What’s wild is he has led 659 laps this year without a victory. He will likely need some fortune and others to have some misfortune to have a shot at the title, but his resume includes wins at eight of the 10 Chase tracks. He won at Darlington in 2023, but it’s also a place where he’s visited the medical center a little more than he would like.

6.

Gibbs just probably needs a little more experience and a little more polish to challenge for The Chase title. He was second at Darlington in May 2024 and was sixth in April, so if he can start off strong, he could be more of a factor.

5.

Briscoe tends to hang around to give himself a chance, and this JGR No. 19 team is well tested in the postseason. He has won the last two Southern 500s, although he was 12th at this track in the spring. 

4.

Reddick is a two-time O’Reilly Series champion, so he is used to performing under pressure. The question is can he regain the momentum he had when he won the first three races of 2026 and then added two more to give him five wins in the first nine events. One of those was Darlington, so he has to feel good with The Chase starting there.

3.

The 2023 Cup champion has consistently been the best Ford this year with three victories. He was third at Darlington in the spring for his best finish ever at the track. His pit crew has not always performed to a championship level, and that could be the key. He also needs to keep earning stage points, as he has earned the most of any driver in the regular season.

2.

Bell doesn’t have a win this year but he already has a career-best 11 top-five finishes — including seven second-place finishes this year. He has been more consistent in racking up the stage points as of late, and he will need to continue to do that in The Chase. He has mixed results at Darlington, where he finished third in the 2024 Southern 500.

1.

Hamlin saw his 89-point regular-season lead on Ryan Blaney cut to 25 as part of The Chase reset and that was after having at least a 250-point gap on all but Blaney, Reddick and Gibbs. So he is the favorite going into The Chase. Hamlin has a win and three top fives in the Next Gen era at Darlington. He has won at all of The Chase tracks in his career. 

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The Los Angeles Rams have had just about the perfect offseason.

After coming up just short in a heartbreaking NFC Championship Game loss to the eventual Super Bowl-champion Seattle Seahawks, the Rams have gone all in once again.

Los Angeles acquired reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett in a blockbuster trade that sent Jared Verse and three draft picks to Cleveland. The Rams then acquired Super Bowl-winning cornerback Trent McDuffie for their 2026 first-round pick, before capping off the offseason by bringing franchise sack leader Aaron Donald back from retirement.

Sheesh. 

And it’s not like the Rams were far away before those additions. Los Angeles was arguably the second-best team in the NFL last season, losing twice in Seattle by a combined five points. The Rams also had one of the league’s most dominant offenses, leading the NFL in scoring (30.5 PPG), total offense (394.6 YPG), net passing offense (268.1 YPG), passing touchdowns (46), total first downs (396) and fewest sacks allowed (23). 

They also ranked seventh in rushing offense (126.6 YPG, 4.63 YPC) and fourth in fewest giveaways (15).

Now, that team adds arguably the best defensive player in football in Garrett, one of the league’s top cornerbacks in McDuffie, and one of the greatest defensive players of the past decade in Donald, who helped lead the Rams to a Super Bowl title four years ago.

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With a loaded roster comes massive expectations, and the betting market has taken notice.

Heading into Week 1, the Rams are clear favorites at +500 to lift the Lombardi Trophy in their home stadium in February. The Seahawks and Bills have the next-best odds at +1100, a remarkably wide gap considering the regular season hasn’t even begun.

That should be a great sign for a Los Angeles team that has gone all in, right?

Well, history tells a much different story.

According to senior sports betting analyst Ben Fawkes, over the past 30 years, the preseason Super Bowl favorite has entered the season at +500 or shorter odds 20 times.

Those teams went 0-for-20.

According to Sports Odds History, here’s the full list:

2024: KC +500
2021: KC +450
2020: KC +450
2019: NE +400
2017: NE +275
2015: SEA +450
2014: SEA +450
2011: NE +500
2009: NE +450
2008: NE +350
2007: NE +250
2005: IND/NE/PHI +500
2004: PHI +500
2002: STL +350
2001: STL +400
2000: STL +300
1999: MIN +450
1998: GB +250
1997: GB +250
1996: SF +250

The Rams certainly look like a Super Bowl favorite on paper, but if they are going to finish the job in 2026, they’ll have to buck a betting trend that has held up for three decades.

So, can Los Angeles finally break the curse?

Let’s check out the Rams’ full 2026 odds at DraftKings Sportsbook as of Sept. 1.

To Win Super Bowl: +500

To Win NFC: +290

To Make Playoffs: -460

Over/Under Win Total: 11.5

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College football kicked off last weekend with Bill Belichick and North Carolina surprising TCU as 9-point underdogs, winning in Ireland in the first game of the 2026 season. 

With the focus of this column once a week being on dangerous underdogs who have a chance to defy the odds and get a win, perhaps another ACC team can follow suit and surprise their favored opponent this weekend. 

On Sunday night, No. 24 Louisville is a 7-point underdog for its opener, as the Cardinals take on No. 9 Ole Miss in Nashville, Tennessee. 

Let’s get into my pick.

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  No. 24 Louisville vs. No. 9 Ole Miss

Ole Miss returns star quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and running back Kewan Lacy from last year’s College Football Playoff semifinals, as the Rebs eye a return to the CFP.

However, playing into January once again will not be an easy task for Ole Miss. 

A rigorous 2026 schedule awaits the team, starting with this clash against a Louisville team that has a chance to possibly flirt with a trip of its own to the Playoff.

Louisville will turn to Ohio State transfer Lincoln Kienholz at quarterback, a dual-threat player who finally gets an opportunity to start after throwing just 36 passes in his career so far. The former four-star recruit getting his chance provides some reason for optimism for Louisville, but it’s Kienholz’s coach that points me to the underdog here. 

Louisville head coach Jeff Brohm is 37-15 against the spread (ATS) in his career when his team is an underdog, as it will be Sunday night. He will also have the experience edge over his counterpart on the opposing sidelines, as Ole Miss’ coach Pete Golding took over for Lane Kiffin just last December after Kiffin left to coach LSU. 

Louisville has a solid running back in Isaac Brown, who topped 1,000 yards as a freshman in 2024 and likely would have eclipsed that mark in 2025 if not for injuries. The Cardinals also scooped up some offensive line help in the transfer portal. It’s a new group that brings with it 142 combined career starts.

Overall, it’s a new-look Louisville roster, but with the players the Cardinals added and a coach who thrives as an underdog, I like Louisville to make an early statement Sunday night against a very talented Ole Miss squad.

Hill’s Pick: Louisville (+7) to lose by fewer than 7 points or win outright

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