Keegan Bradley wants the Procore Championship to be a team-building opportunity ahead of the 2025 Ryder Cup after the preparation of the United States team came under scrutiny two years ago. But not every team member is allowed (or wanted) to play.

The fall PGA Tour event in Napa, California this week has a more loaded field than usual, with 10 of the 12 members of this year’s United States Ryder Cup team scheduled to tee off two weeks before the biennial international match-play event pitting the best golfers from the U.S. and Europe against one another comes to the Bethpage Black course in Farmingdale, New York beginning Friday, Sept. 26.

There will be two notable stars absent on course at the Silverado Resort with Scottie Scheffler, Justin Thomas and the other members of the team finalized by Bradley following the conclusion of the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup playoffs. Bryson DeChambeau and Xander Schauffele were not in the announced Procore Championship field for different reasons.

Here’s a breakdown of what happened and how DeChambeau and Schauffele wound up not playing this week with the rest of their Ryder Cup teammates at the PGA Tour’s Procore Championship:

Why Bryson DeChambeau can’t be in Procore Championship field

DeChambeau’s absence at the Procore Championship is related to his decision to leave the PGA Tour for LIV Golf in 2022. The PGA Tour has deemed DeChambeau ‘not eligible’ for competition now that he is no longer a member of the PGA Tour and did not make an exemption for this year’s Ryder Cup.

“That’s up to the Tour and their decision to make,” DeChambeau told Sports Illustrated last month. “It’s on them if they don’t let us become together as a team and play.”

‘It’s a scenario that’s unfortunate, and I wish it was different,’ he added, ‘but LIV’s willing to let me play.” 

DeChambeau is scheduled to be in Napa, California during tournament week, he told Golfweek, with plans to attend a Tuesday night dinner for the United States Ryder Cup team before the Procore Championship begins.

Is Xander Schauffele in Procore Championship field?

Xander Schauffele was non-committal about playing in the Procore Championship during his final appearance of the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup playoffs at the BMW Championship. He did not qualify for this year’s Tour Championship.

“I don’t know how many guys have signed up or not, but I wouldn’t say there’s an expectation for us to play,’ Schauffele said on Aug. 17, ‘but a lot of us do want to play just to stay fresh, knock off some rust. I’ll have an even longer break, so we’ll see how that goes.”

His agent later told Golfweek Schauffele was ‘undecided.’ He ultimately decided not to play. Schauffele was not included in the field released ahead of Thursday’s first round. He was an automatic qualifier for the Ryder Cup team after winning the first two majors of his career in 2024, but missed time early in 2025 due to injury and struggled more than expected to regain his spot atop PGA Tour leaderboards the rest of the way.

When is the 2025 Ryder Cup?

The 2025 Ryder Cup is scheduled for September 26-28. The event will be broadcast nationally by NBC and USA Network and available via live stream on Peacock and Fubo. Times and schedule have not been announced yet.

Procore Championship 2025: TV, streaming for PGA Tour Ryder Cup tune-up

The Procore Championship will be played Thursday through Sunday, Sept. 11-14. It is the first event of seven events on the PGA Tour’s 2025 FedEx Cup Fall schedule. Golf Channel will provide television coverage through all four rounds of the tournament, with live streaming available via ESPN+ and Fubo.

AI-assisted summary
• Matthew Stafford showed no issues from a previous back injury in the Rams’ 14-9 win over the Texans.
• Stafford surpassed 60,000 career passing yards, becoming the 10th player in NFL history to do so.
• New wide receiver duo Puka Nacua and Davante Adams combined for 14 catches and 181 yards.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. − Matthew Stafford didn’t show any ill effects from a back injury that hampered him most of the summer.

The Los Angeles Rams quarterback completed 21 of 29 passes for 245 yards and tossed one touchdown in the team’s gritty 14-9 win over the Houston Texans. Stafford was even sacked three times and hit six more.

The 37-year-old QB got back up every single time.

“It was great. I don’t take it for granted. I love being out there with those guys. I love getting to work with them,” Stafford said. “Just happy that I was able to kind of get through what was going on. A lot of support from a lot of people, teammates, coaches, trainers, everybody (and) family. A lot of appreciation goes to those people for helping me. Put a bunch of work in and was able to get back to this point. Just happy to do it. I love being out there. I love playing.”

Maybe the best cure for Stafford’s back is Puka Nacua and Davante Adams — one of the NFL’s top new wide receiver tandems. The two were the recipients of 14 of Stafford’s 21 completions and combined for 19 targets.

One of Nacua’s receptions elevated Stafford over 60,000 career passing yards, becoming one of 10 players in NFL history to reach such milestone.

“I thought Matthew Stafford was in great command all day,” Rams coach Sean McVay said. “He came up with clutch play after clutch play. I thought he was seeing the field really well. Really awesome for him to go over 60,000 yards. That’s unbelievable. Real testament to the consistency of what he’s done.”

Nacua produced a game-high 10 catches for 130 yards despite leaving the game momentarily to be evaluated for a concussion. Adams hauled in four catches for 51 yards in his Rams debut.

“A lot of the game plan is geared to get us involved. Puka had a great game,” Adams said postgame. “I think there’s a lot more we can build on, for sure.”

Houston had a problem covering Nacua most of the contest. Yet, Nacua owes Adams an assist. Adams’ presence on the field gave Nacua a matchup advantage because Adams was covered by Texans All-Pro cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. That allowed the Rams to exploit Nacua’s matchup against Kamari Lassiter and Houston’s other corners.

Bloodied Los Angeles Rams receiver Puka Nacua evaluated for concussion

“It’s huge. He has a ton of respect, and rightfully so. He’s an unbelievable player. He’s made a bunch of big plays,” Stafford said of Adams. “It’s fun to go out there and work with him, get to throw the ball to a guy that’s a future Hall of Famer. Unbelievable player. I feel lucky.”

The Rams essentially replaced Cooper Kupp with the three-time All-Pro Adams during the offseason. Adams at age 32 might be at the end of his prime, but Week 1 showed teams still have to gameplan for his mere presence on the field. He had a modest outing by his standards, but the Rams have something good brewing with their newly formed duo on the outside.

“It’s fun. These guys are just gritty and grimy dudes that’s gonna go out there and find a way to make it work,” Adams said of his Rams teammates. “A young team with a lot of energy and really everything that it takes to be a great team.”

AI-assisted summary
• The New York Jets lost their season opener 34-32 to the Pittsburgh Steelers in head coach Aaron Glenn’s debut.
• Despite the loss, the Jets’ offense showed significant improvement, with quarterback Justin Fields accounting for three total touchdowns.
• New York’s offense did not punt in the first half for the first time since 1991 and averaged 6.4 yards per play.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Postseason berths aren’t earned in Week 1, and the New York Jets have waited 14 years for one. 

Maybe the missed-playoff streak will continue for another one. But the Jets, in 2025, might at least have some semblance of an identity. In the first year of head coach Aaron Glenn’s tenure, that would be a successful campaign alone after a decade and a half of wandering the wilderness. 

Indeed, there were elements of Sunday’s 34-32 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers – the return of Aaron Rodgers – that indicated “same old Jets.” Special teams blunders. Points left on the table via missed extra points and two-point conversions in a close game. A star player (wide receiver Garrett Wilson, who had seven catches for 95 yards and a touchdown) being blown up by the opposition’s star (Steelers cornerback Jalen Ramsey) on the final play from scrimmage. 

Aaron Rodgers says ‘no hard feelings’ about Jets exit. His words indicate otherwise

“Because of the way that we play, and the way that we want to operate, there’s a chance that we’re going to be in a lot of those games,” Glenn said. “Plus, we know this league comes down to that anyway. To be able to make plays in games like this here is going to be critical for us.

“But I would say this, there’s going to be no confidence lost from these guys. These guys have been busting their butts for a long time. Again, there’s no such thing as moral victories in my eyes, but there are some things that we can definitely build on both sides of the ball. Even though there are some things we have to fix on defense, but there are some things we can build on.”

The biggest difference was the offense, obviously. Offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand clearly has a plan for Fields’ usage and will highlight his running prowess. Fields carried 12 times for 48 yards and two touchdowns. Engstrand’s call on 4th-and-goal from the one with seven minutes left in the game – a Fields bootleg to the right for a walk-in touchdown that the quarterback amplified with some zesty steps – was one example of the creativity and emphasis on the overall run game the Jets will deploy all season. 

“(The Steelers) acquired all these guys in the offseason, future Hall of Famers on that side of the ball (defense),” Fields said. “We put up 32 and there were still plays left out there. So, like I said, all we got to do is keep building, keep getting better, and we’ll be good.”  

New York had 23 first downs, which was the second-most they had all of last season with Rodgers as quarterback (their best mark was 27 in 2024). The 6.4 yards per play the unit averaged would have been third last year. 

Fields finished 16-for-22 with 218 passing yards and a score through the air. Running back Breece Hall averaged 5.6 yards per carry against (19 carries, 107 rushing yards). 

The Jets scored on four straight possessions to start the game and didn’t punt in the first half since 1991. Chad Pennington, Brett Favre, Vinny Testaverde, Mark Sanchez and many more passed through before the combination of Fields and Engstrand (and others) helped the Jets pull it off again. 

“I thought he did an outstanding job, outstanding,” Glenn said of his quarterback’s play. 

Fields looked an awful lot better than his Steelers’ quarterback competition last season, Russell Wilson, who is now with the Giants. A couple-hundred miles down I-95 in Maryland, Wilson was 17-for-37 with 168 yards for his new team that failed to score a touchdown in a 21-6 loss to the Washington Commanders. 

Glenn, the former Detroit Lions’ defensive coordinator, has plenty to address on that side of the ball. His top players know that too. 

“We have to do the right things right and delete the wrong things out of our DNA, out of our standards, and out of our culture,” defensive lineman Quinnen Williams said. “That’s the things that we have to kind of go to the drawing board and delete – all the negative things, all the small details that we didn’t execute on. We have to get that completely deleted. 

“We did some good things today but ultimately to be the team that we want to be and the team that we’re capable of being we have to delete those small things that ultimately help (you lose) football games.”

The European Ryder Cup roster is set for 2025 after Luke Donald made his six selections for his captain’s picks.

Donald named Ludvig Åberg, Matt Fitzpatrick, Viktor Hovland, Shane Lowry, Jon Rahm and Sepp Straka as the group to round out the roster.

Donald’s selections help set up Europe for another successful outing, with all but one player returning from the winning team in 2023.

Rasmus Højgaard is the only newcomer on the team this year, replacing his twin brother Nicolai Højgaard. Rasmus earned the sixth and final automatic qualifying spot.

The rest of the 12-man roster includes Rory McIlroy, Robert MacIntyre, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose and Tyrrell Hatton.

European Ryder Cup roster

Rory McIlroy

The 36-year-old golfer is currently ranked as the No. 2 golfer in the world. He returns as one of the most experienced Ryder Cup competitors on either roster, preparing to compete in his eighth event.

Robert MacIntyre

MacIntyre, who made his Ryder Cup debut in 2023, is currently ranked as the No. 9 golfer in the world. The 29-year-old finished as the runner-up at the U.S. Open and the BMW Championship in 2025.

Tommy Fleetwood

Fleetwood returns for his fourth Ryder Cup event. He finished out the FedEx Cup tour at No. 1, winning his first PGA Tour title in late August. He’s also held in high regard, ranking sixth in the world.

Justin Rose

Justin Rose is the oldest player in the field at age 45. While it will be Rose’s seventh Ryder Cup appearance, it will be his first in America since 2016. He’s currently ranked No. 12 in the nation and finished in a tie for 21st in the FedExCup standings.

Tyrrell Hatton

Hatton returns to the team for a fourth consecutive time. He is ranked No. 25 in the world. The 33-year-old won $1.7 million in prize money for finishing first in the Hero Dubai Desert Classic back in January, shooting 15 over par and one ahead of Daniel Hillier.

Rasmus Højgaard

Højgaard is making his first Ryder Cup appearance, although he does have some level of experience being involved with the team in the past. The 24-year-old is ranked No. 64 in the world and finished No. 85 in the FedEx Cup.

Shane Lowry

Lowry will make his third Ryder Cup appearance for Europe. The 38-year-old golfer is coming off a 13th-place finish in the FedEx Cup. He also currently ranks No. 23 in the world and served as a runner-up in two events during the first half of 2025.

Jon Rahm

The 30-year-old golfer, currently ranked No. 79 in the world, has produced successful outings throughout his three previous Ryder Cup appearances. The Spaniard tied for 14th at the Masters Tournament, eighth at the PGA Championship and seventh at the U.S. Open. He is coming off a performance at The Open Championship, where he finished in a tie for 34th back in July.

Sepp Straka

Straka is back for his second Ryder Cup appearance. The No. 13-ranked golfer in the world had success this year, winning the Truist Championship and the American Express tournament. The 32-year-old finished 30th in the FedEx Cup standings.

Viktor Hovland

The 27-year-old is back for his third Ryder Cup appearance. He won the Valspar Championship in March and finished third in the U.S. Open. He is ranked No. 15 in the world and was 12th in the FedEx Cup standings.

Ludvig Åberg

Åberg returns to the team with experience after making his Ryder Cup debut in 2023. The 25-year-old has produced a strong outing in three of his final five starts, finishing in the top 10. He’s ranked No. 14 in the world and finished in a tie for 21st for the FedEx Cup.

Matt Fitzpatrick

Fitzpatrick is back for his fourth Ryder Cup appearance with plenty of momentum. He’s curated four top 10 finishes through his last six events this year. The 30-year-old golfer ranks 34th in the world and in the FedEx Cup.

When is the 2025 Ryder Cup?

The 2025 Ryder Cup will be held Sept. 26-28 on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park Golf Course in Farmingdale, New York.

How to watch the 2025 Ryder Cup?

The 2025 Ryder Cup TV schedule has not yet been announced, but NBC has the rights to the event. Various networks under the NBCUniversal umbrella will have coverage throughout the competition.

• Date: Sept. 26-28
• TV: NBC, Golf Channel and USA Network
• Steam:Peacock, Fubo (free trial to new subscribers)
• Location: Bethpage State Park Black course (Farmingdale, New York)

Stream the 2025 Ryder Cup on Fubo

Week 1 of the fantasy football season is almost in the books.

The takes are flying and overreactions can be found everywhere, meaning it’s easy to make a decision that could ultimately cost your team in the long run. Remember, it’s a long season.

We can’t win the championship in Week 1, but we can lose it with a disastrous emotional decision.

The inaugural week of the season is often a liar, meaning what is true now may not be the case in a few weeks. Let’s try and decipher what took place in the games to this point and what that means for your fantasy team.

It’s a collaborative effort so help us, help you. Here are some players you can give an early pink slip to this fantasy season.

Waiver wire players to drop: Week 1

Tank Bigsby, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars

All eyes were on the Jacksonville backfield with the addition of Liam Coen as head coach. Some thought it would be Bigsby who would get the work. Others thought maybe it would be Bhayshul Tuten. Instead, it ended up being ol’ reliable, Travis Etienne.

Bigsby managed just six carries in the contest, finishing with 12 yards. Etienne was the clear RB1 in the room, leaving little doubt about the player to roster there. Bigsby’s fantasy relevance falls off a cliff barring injury and you shouldn’t wait to cut bait if there’s a better option available.

Jerome Ford, RB, Cleveland Browns

Much like Bigsby, Ford’s fantasy relevance took a significant hit in Week 1. The running back’s snaps will only diminish over time, especially with Quinshon Judkins’ debut quickly approaching. Rookie Dylan Sampson led the charge on Sunday, finishing with 12 carries for 29 yards. However, the real hit to Ford’s value came with Sampson’s involvement in the passing game.

Ford was projected to be a receiving option for Cleveland, but finished with just one catch. Sampson totaled eight receptions for 64 yards, establishing himself as the running back to roster for the Browns until Judkins returns.

Jaydon Blue, RB, Dallas Cowboys

Many thought that Blue could make an immediate impact for Dallas given the state of its running back room. Previously littered with questions, Javonte Williams provided a clear answer to that, staking his claim to the RB1 role for Brian Schottenheimer’s squad.

Blue was inactive for Thursday night’s contest, but could ultimately take over for Miles Sanders after a costly fumble in the opener. You likely weren’t rostering Blue as a player to start immediately, but it’s a tough start for the rookie. If you need the roster spot, we won’t fault you for moving on.

Ollie Gordon II, RB, Miami Dolphins

Similar to Blue, Gordon came into Week 1 with a certain level of hype from the fantasy community, but fell short in a big way. The first game of the season showed that we want no part of the Dolphins right now – overreaction or not. They were dominated by the Indianapolis Colts all day long and it was never a game.

Even De’Von Achane struggled to get involved, proving that we should avoid this team like the plague. Gordon is nothing more than an Achane handcuff, but that may not even be that valuable.

Josh Downs, WR, Indianapolis Colts

On the flip side of the dominating Colts’ victory, Downs was a ghost in the passing attack. He finished with just two catches for 12 yards, despite a historic effort from Daniel Jones. Considering this is likely to be the Colts’ best offensive performance of the season, it’s a hard sell to keep Downs on your roster when this team plans to run everything through Tyler Warren and Michael Pittman Jr.

All the NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY’s 4th and Monday newsletter.

AI-assisted summary
• Aaron Rodgers led the Pittsburgh Steelers to a 34-32 victory over his former team, the New York Jets.
• Aaron Rodgers led the Pittsburgh Steelers to a 34-32 comeback victory over his former team, the New York Jets.
• The 41-year-old quarterback threw for 244 yards and four touchdowns in his first game with the Steelers.
• Rodgers acknowledged he was happy to beat the Jets after the organization decided to move in a different direction.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The dichotomy of Aaron Rodgers was on full display Sunday behind the podium at MetLife Stadium, minutes after the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback authored his latest come-from-behind victory, albeit the first in his new uniform. 

It was merely a Week 1 victory, the first of 17 games, he repeated. Already, he’s adopted Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin’s “the standard is the standard” idiom. But he wasn’t overly shy about the fact he had something to prove to the New York Jets, the organization that essentially told him “thanks but no thanks” after two dramatic years that is probably best characterized as mostly disastrous. 

“I was happy to beat everybody associated with the Jets,” Rodgers said. 

A seemingly revitalized Rodgers – who signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers after a prolonged courtship (the quarterback cited “personal reasons” for the delay) – led his team to a 34-32 victory over his former squad. The 41-year-old threw his counterpunch to Father Time with four touchdown passes and 244 yards on 22-for-30 passing. 

It was a day of firsts for Rodgers wearing the black and gold, but it marked his 24th career comeback victory and 35th game-winning drive. 

“I love beating everybody,” Rodgers said. “It doesn’t matter who it is.”  

Before the game, Rodgers caught up with Jets running back and former teammate Breece Hall, who asked him how it felt to be back at MetLife facing his former team. Rodgers quickly pointed out that he only played 18 games here. He said the emotions won’t be close to what he will experience Week 8 when the Steelers host the Green Bay Packers, the team he played for during the first 18 seasons of his storied career. 

The last time Rodgers made a debut at MetLife Stadium, it was the most devastating night of his career. Everybody, especially Jets fans, remembers. In his Jets’ debut, the first time he didn’t wear a Packers jersey to that point, ended four plays into his New York career with a torn Achilles and a lost season that included the firing of Robert Saleh and a 14th consecutive season without a playoff berth for the franchise. 

“The energy definitely felt different today,” Rodgers said about Sept. 11, 2023, when he took the field to an elated crowd while carrying an American flag. “Anybody who was there could feel that there was a major difference.” 

As Rodgers took the field at 1:12 p.m. local time Sunday, Jets fans – only a little bit more than half of the crowd – serenaded him with boos. He heard the “cat calls and boo birds.” 

“I’m not sensitive about that. I respect that. I kind of like that,” Rodgers said. “But there were probably people in the organization that didn’t think I could play anymore so it was nice to (show) those people I still can.” 

That was an obvious reference to his offseason meeting with new Jets head coach Aaron Glenn and the new front office. It was conveyed to Rodgers, in his words, that he wasn’t right for the direction the Jets wanted to go. 

“Yes, that’s what (Glenn) did,” Rodgers replied when asked about the interaction that he first detailed months ago during a “Pat McAfee Show” appearance. 

To have a season taken away, battle back and have a rough season in 2024, he said, was not easy for him to stomach. He gave as much as he could to the Jets. No hard feelings about that, he added. But he didn’t necessarily appreciate how the Jets handled the decision by making him fly cross-country to deliver the news they were moving in a different direction. 

“That’s in the past,” the four-time MVP said, “and we’re 1-0.” 

The Athletic columnist and Rodgers biographer Ian O’Connor asked him about his career mission dating back to his high school days of overcoming slights. 

“You already wrote about that,” Rodgers said. 

So was the hype about Rodgers’ return overblown? Nope, he said. Did he have something to prove? Also no, apparently. 

At times, Rodgers looked like a sitting duck in the pocket and his former Jets teammates made him pay by sacking him four times. Rodgers was still mobile enough to fake a handoff and roll to the right and lead Jaylen Warren for an easy walk-in touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter to cut the Steelers’ deficit to two points at 26-24.

Four plays later, after a Jets’ special-teams blunder that gave Pittsburgh the ball back, he found Calvin Austin III for a go-ahead touchdown. Thanks to some ball luck on the final drive – even though the offense couldn’t convert on the plus-side of the field – Pittsburgh kicker Chris Boswell nailed the game-winning field goal from 60 yards out with 63 seconds left on the clock. 

Throughout the game, but particularly in the fourth quarter, right guard Isaac Seumalo found Rodgers to be calm and confident. No stage is too big for No. 8, Seumalo said. 

“I always say the best players have the foundation of just being excellent in the basics, and then the creativity, to improvise on the run,” Seumalo told USA TODAY Sports. “He knows how to make the game easy, make it slow, improvise when he needs to. He played great today.

“This is what we expect from him. And he expects that from himself too.” 

Tight end Jonnu Smith, who caught one of Rodgers’ touchdown on a goal-line pop pass with 32 seconds before halftime, said he’s long known the type of player Rodgers is but has been impressed by how he comports himself as a teammate. 

Rodgers said he’s always tried to have meaningful conversations and will talk to guys before, during and after practice. He mentioned how he asked wide receiver D.K. Metcalf (four catches, 83 yards), another Steelers’ offseason acquisition, during camp – they shared a bathroom – to give him a report early in game week about how he viewed his matchups and what he wanted to see in the game plan. Rodgers didn’t think much about it after the ask. But come Tuesday of last week, Metcalf authored a lengthy text message to him. 

“We just wanted to play for each other and play for (number) eight,” said Austin III, who had four catches for 83 yards. “When we go out there, we have his full confidence that whatever he’s saying, he’s getting us in the best position.” 

The identity of the offense – offensive coordinator Arthur Smith called 30 passes compared to 20 rushes, though Pittsburgh trailed most of the game had something to do with that – will vary week-to-week and is based in selflessness, Austin said. 

“It doesn’t matter if it’s running or passing,” he said, “it’s playing for each other. I know one thing – our identity is that we’re going to be with each other.” 

Rodgers still holds fond feelings for people associated with the Jets. He named backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor, linebacker Quincy Williams and running backs Braelon Allen and Hall as individuals he was glad he saw on the field before the game. He even warmed up with a ballboy he worked with during his time with the Jets. 

Rodgers wondered how he would react once the competitive juices started flowing on the sideline. He thanked his still-anonymous wife and circle of friends for encouraging him to take time with the decision. 

“Happy to be a Steeler,” Rodgers said, “and happy things went the way they did.” 

All the NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY’s 4th and Monday newsletter.

AI-assisted summary
• The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are often overlooked as Super Bowl contenders despite winning four straight NFC South titles.
• General Manager Jason Licht and players like Mike Evans embrace an underdog mentality, fueled by a perceived lack of respect.
• The team returns key offensive players, including quarterback Baker Mayfield, who had a career year in 2024.

Quick. Raise your hand if you see the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a Super Bowl contender.

I didn’t think you’d go there.

No, Tom Brady isn’t coming out of retirement again. If the Bucs are going to make a legitimate run at another championship, it’ll happen with Baker Mayfield having another career year. With Mike Evans and Lavonte David. With Vita Vea, Tristin Wirfs and Bucky Irving. With low-key coach Todd Bowles flanked by underrated GM Jason Licht.

Not convinced?

Understood. There’s a healthy, worthy discussion going on about the Eagles maybe repeating as Super Bowl champs. The Lions gagged in their last two playoff exits, so perhaps it’s Amon-Ra’s time. If, with all due respect, Micah Parsons doesn’t morph into the second coming of Reggie White and lead the Packers to the promised land.

In the NFC field, there’s noise about the Commanders and a 49ers revival, too.

But the Bucs? They’ve got 30-to-1 odds to make it to Santa Clara for Super Bowl 60.

Never mind that Tampa Bay has won four consecutive NFC South titles and with the best five-year stretch in franchise history, is the only team in the NFC to make the playoffs in each of the past five seasons. Usually, that’s a track record that leaves a team poised to take the next step. Until it’s not.

“We’re in witness protection,” Licht told USA TODAY Sports before a training camp practice. “Nobody cares. We’re down here in Tampa. Nobody realizes that we’ve quietly built – Todd, myself, our staffs – a really good team.”

In some ways, like when it’s convenient, they can roll with a Rodney Dangerfield complex and grumble about a lack of respect.

“It’s the market,” said Evans, the Hall of Fame-credentialed receiver who was Licht’s first draft pick for the Bucs in 2014, standing in a hallway at One Buc Place. ‘But it don’t matter.”

Until it can be used to make a point. Are they underdogs again?

2025 NFL season predictions: Experts pick who will win MVP, Super Bowl, more

“I hope so,” Licht replied. “Our quarterback likes a chip on his shoulder. Our GM likes a chip on his shoulder. We all like a chip on our shoulder. Seems like everybody wants the Falcons and the Panthers…”

Licht stopped himself right there. But he knows. There’s buzz about division-rival Carolina (5-12 in ’24) progressing with young quarterback Bryce Young. Atlanta, meanwhile, is loaded with weapons around its young quarterback, Michael Penix Jr., and used its two first-round picks in the NFL draft to address its weak pass rush.

Then again, there was talk about the Falcons (8-9 in ’24) overtaking the Bucs last year behind new quarterback Kirk Cousins. The Bucs won with division by two games with a 10-7 record but something was just a bit off as they were swept by Atlanta as Cousins passed for a combined 8 TDs in the two contests and threw for a career-high 509 yards in Week 5.

That sets up an intriguing subplot for the regular-season opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Cousins was benched last season as the Falcons faded after a 6-2 start, but he sure lit up the Bucs.

“If we played Tampa Bay every week last year, he’d be in the Hall of Fame now,” Falcons owner Arthur Blank quipped during the NFL owners meetings in March.

Ouch. As if the Bucs need any bulletin-board material.  

Typically, Bowles, prompted from defensive coordinator in succeeding the retired Bruce Arians in 2022, smiled and shrugged when presented with the chance to claim a headline with some bold statement about disrespect. Jimmy Johnson, he is not. Denny Green, hardly. And he won’t be compared with the Tuna

“We feel like we should win every ballgame and we don’t really care who we play,” Bowles told USA TODAY Sports after a camp practice.

This optimism has substance. The Bucs had the only offense in the NFL last season to rank in the top five in rushing (fourth) and passing (third) and were the first team in NFL history (est. 1920) to complete 70% of its passes while averaging 5 yards per carry. All the key contributors return, including Evans (who shares an NFL record with Jerry Rice with 11 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons) and Mayfield, who in 2024 posted career highs for passing yards (4,500) and TDs (41) and set the franchise mark with a 106.8 passer rating.

Bowles’ defense, meanwhile, has impact players at every level, including Vea, the nose tackle, David, a 14^th-year linebacker, and safety Antoine Winfield, Jr. And it will be interesting to see whether Haason Reddick regains the form that allowed him to post 50 ½ sacks over a four-year span beginning in 2020, when he compiled double-digit sacks for four consecutive seasons.

After Brady retired in 2023, having led the Bucs to a Super Bowl 55 crown that capped the 2020 campaign, it seemed natural to expect a drop-off. After all, they won the division in Brady’s final season in 2022 with a losing record (8-9), then was blown out at home – by the Cowboys, of all unlikely teams – in the NFC playoff opener was Brady’s last game. There was no viable succession plan at quarterback. And after breaking the salary cap bank in chasing championships with TB12, they were cap-dry. Enter Mayfield, to go with shrewd cap management (take a bow, cap guru Jackie Davidson) and the typically deft draft stockpiles provided by Licht & Co.

“I thought we would still be a team that competed,” Evans told USA TODAY Sports, reflecting on Brady’s departure. “Obviously, we needed to figure out the quarterback situation. Luckily, Baker was available. I knew that if I played with Baker, we would get the respect that he deserves. Because quarterbacks need good skilled players and a good offensive line.”

Evans points to another factor, too. Culture.

Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott facing more pressure after Micah Parsons trade

“I think it’s everything,” he said. “The front office. The coaching staff. The veteran leadership is really top tier. It’s way better than it was earlier in my career. Not trying to knock my guys back then, but…we’re all about playing for each other.”

Mayfield: “I think it starts with the two franchise guys, Mike Evans and Lavonte David, that have been criminally underrated for a long time. They just work their tails off and lead the way. I think everybody kind of follows that.”

Still, championship DNA or not, nobody’s picking the Bucs to get to the Super Bowl. I mean, according to USA TODAY Sports soothsayer Nate Davis, the ceiling for Bowles’ team is a 9-8 finish that’s good enough to win the weak NFC South again and claim the No. 4 seed in the NFC playoffs.

“We make our own projections and predictions,” Bowles said, maybe tapping his inner Nate vibe. “And our projection is to try to win the division and try to win the Super Bowl. Whatever else everybody has to say, if we listen to that, we’d be in last (place) every year. So, we don’t, and we’ve been in first every year.

“That’s how we treat it. At this point, it’s kind of a running joke, so we don’t care.”

Which leaves the Bucs flying under the radar as a team that just might emerge as a legit championship contender. In other words, Shh!

Contact Jarrett Bell at jbell@usatoday.com or follow on social media: On X: @JarrettBell

On Bluesky: jarrettbell.bsky.social

It took one weekend for Chase Briscoe to equal his regular season win total in the playoffs.

Briscoe dominated the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs opener at Darlington in leading 309 of 367 laps and sealing his spot in the Round of 12. The fourth win of his Cup Series career came by 0.408 seconds over Tyler Reddick and a second over Erik Jones.

Briscoe earned his playoff spot by winning in Pocono back in June. Three months later, he’s secured his best finish in the Cup Series since 2022 when he finished ninth.

This week, NASCAR heads to World Wide Technology Raceway – known as Gateway – for the Cup Series’ first playoff race at the venue. The event has only been on the calendar since 2022 with different winners in each race.

A new winner could emerge again this weekend as the playoff field marches closer to the first stage of elimination. Here’s everything you need to know to get ready for the Enjoy Illinois 300 presented by TicketSmarter on Sunday, Sept. 7:

What time does the NASCAR Cup race at Gateway start?

The Enjoy Illinois 300 presented by TicketSmarter is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, Sept. 7 at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois.

What TV channel is the NASCAR Cup race at Gateway on?

The Enjoy Illinois 300 presented by TicketSmarter will be broadcast on USA Network, the channel for most of the Cup Series playoffs. Pre-race coverage will start at 2:30 p.m. ET.

Will there be a live stream of the NASCAR Cup race at Gateway?

Yes, the Enjoy Illinois 300 presented by TicketSmarter will be streamed on Peacock, HBO Max, Sling TV and Fubo, which is offering a free trial to new subscribers.

Stream the NASCAR playoff race at Gateway on Fubo

How many laps is the NASCAR Cup race at Gateway?

The Enjoy Illinois 300 presented by TicketSmarter is 240 laps around the 1.25-mile track for a total of 300 miles. The race will have three segments (laps per stage) — Stage 1: 45 laps; Stage 2: 95 laps; Stage 3: 100 laps.

NASCAR Cup Series playoff standings

Here’s how things look after the playoff opener at Darlington with the gap to the leader in parentheses. The bottom four drivers will be eliminated after the first round of the playoffs.

1. Chase Briscoe
2. Denny Hamlin (+3)
3. Kyle Larson (+8)
4. Tyler Reddick (+11)
5. Bubba Wallace (+21)
6. William Byron (+21)
7. Ryan Blaney (+24)
8. Ross Chastain (+25)
9. Austin Cindric (+34)
10. Christopher Bell (+35)
11. Chase Elliott (+37)
12. Shane van Gisbergen (+43)
13. Joey Logano (+46)
14. Austin Dillon (+51)
15. Alex Bowman (+62)
16. Josh Berry (+62)

Who won the NASCAR Cup race at Gateway last year?

Last year’s race came down to the final laps in a battle between Team Penske teammates as Austin Cindric earned his first win of the season. Teammate Ryan Blaney led heading to the start/finish line for the final lap but his No. 12 Ford ran out of gas and he slowed as Cindric soared past and into the lead and his first win since the 2022 Daytona 500. Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski, Tyler Reddick and Joey Logano rounded out the top five.

NASCAR Cup race at Gateway starting lineup

1. Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
2. Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
3. Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
4. Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
5. Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford
6. William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
7. Tyler Reddick, No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota
8. Christopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
9. Austin Cindric, No. 2 Team Penske Ford
10. Zane Smith, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford
11. Chris Buescher, No. 17 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
12. Josh Berry, No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford
13. Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford
14. Bubba Wallace, No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota
15. Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
16. Erik Jones, No. 43 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
17. AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
18. Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
19. Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
20. John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
21. Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
22. Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
23. Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
24. Noah Gragson, No. 4 Front Row Motorsports Ford
25. Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
26. Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
27. Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
28. Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
29. Cole Custer, No. 41 Haas Factory Team Ford
30. Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford
31. Justin Haley, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
32. Ryan Preece, No. 60 RFK Racing Ford
33. Riley Herbst, No. 35 23XI Racing Toyota
34. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 HYAK Motorsports Chevrolet
35. Ty Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
36. Cody Ware, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Ford

AI-assisted summary
• Oregon defeated Oklahoma State 69-3 in a dominant performance at Autzen Stadium.
• Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy’s comments earlier in the week about Oregon’s spending only fueled the fire for the Ducks.
• Oregon coach Dan Lanning encouraged his team to ‘break the scoreboard’ in 66-point win.

EUGENE, OR — It was expected No. 5 Oregon would have little trouble against Oklahoma State, evident in their 69-3 drubbing of the Cowboys inside Autzen Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 6.

But if we’re being honest, this game was over way before the Ducks put the game out of reach in the first quarter. In fact, it was well decided five days prior.

When playing a team that is clearly on another level than you, a coach’s job is to bring belief that their team can pull off the unbelievable. When you’re a 27.5-point underdog, you have to inspire your squad to show up in the stadium.

So what did a renowned coach like Mike Gundy do? Try to reason why his team was no match for the Ducks.   

The longtime Cowboys coach alleged Oregon spent in one year more than five times the amount of money his team spent in three years, adding that maybe teams spending that much dough on its roster should be playing non-conference games against similarly constructed teams.

That’s as close as you can get without directly admitting you are going to lose. Is that how Gundy meant it? Maybe not, but he sealed his fate, giving Oregon coach Dan Lanning motivation like dangling a chunk of tuna in front of a great white shark. 

“I told our team right before the game that it never requires extra motivation for an opportunity to go out and kick ass,” Lanning said. “But it never hurts when somebody pours gasoline on the fire.”

If there’s one thing we’ve learned about Lanning in his four seasons in Eugene, you better not test him. Remember that infamous pregame speech against Colorado and what his team did? It was almost as if Gundy dared Lanning to see how badly he could dispose of his team. 

Not one to shy away from any shots directed at his squad, there wasn’t anything spicy said ahead of the contest. Lanning gave nothing but love to Gundy in the pregame conversation. 

But once that ball was kicked, he sure showed how invested he was in putting a straight beatdown on the Cowboys.

On the second play of the game, running back Noah Whittington sprinted right through a wide open gap for a 59-yard touchdown. On the first play of the second drive after the Ducks defense forced a three-and-out, quarterback Dante Moore rolled to his left and placed the ball perfectly into Dakorien Moore’s hands, who finished off a 65-yard touchdown score for a 13-0 lead just 96 seconds into the game. 

The torture didn’t stop there. Lanning and offensive coordinator Will Stein had their foot planted on the gas pedal for the entirety of the first half. Reverses, trick plays, going for it on fourth down. Nothing was off limits as Oregon had seven plays gain at least 25 yards en route to a 41-3 halftime lead.

You’d think Oregon would lay off the pressure in the second half? Think again. 

As if Gundy didn’t give Oregon enough bait, he served up another delicious platter by saying he wasn’t sure if his quarterback, Zane Flores, making his first college start, would be affected much by the Autzen Stadium crowd.

The crowd clearly rattled the redshirt freshman; he finished 6-of-18 with 61 yards, 35 of which came on a play where the Ducks’ coverage collapsed. When the game was well wrapped up in the third quarter, he threw back-to-back Pick-6s to add more misery. 

Oregon scored all 69 points in the first three quarters before finally pressing the brakes for the fourth quarter. The Ducks finished with 631 yards to Oklahoma State’s 211, and Oregon had more touchdowns (10) than the Cowboys had first downs (nine).

‘Obviously, some things were said, some things were brought up,’ said Oregon linebacker Bryce Boettcher. ‘Throw a little fuel on the fire. You love that.’

Moore said Gundy’s comments “hit close to home” since they were directed at Lanning and the program, likening it to attacking his dad. As a result, he took it personally and the team used it “to make sure that we push ourselves and score 69 points.”

It helps when your coach is telling you not to let up.

“Coach Lanning said, ‘We keep the foot on the neck, make sure you score as many points and try to break the scoreboard,’” Moore said. 

Coming off a horrid 3-9 season and having a team that clearly doesn’t look like it will have a rebound year, it’s worth pondering if this week is the beginning of the end of Gundy’s time in Stillwater. That fiery nature that helped make the Cowboys relevant seems like it’s fading, and he couldn’t bring it to what was by far his program’s biggest game of the season. All he did was aid the Ducks in handing Oklahoma State its worst loss since 1907 when it lost to Oklahoma 67-0.

While Gundy did his team no favors, he did prove his point. Maybe teams that spend like Oregon should play against those that do the same, because the talent discrepancy was easy to see.

But let this blowout be a warning: if you’re going to give Lanning extra motivation – especially in his home stadium where he’s now 21-1 – that raging fire is only going to get bigger.