• The NFL could see plenty more trade action before the Nov. 4 deadline.
• Several notable veterans could be on the block, including multiple players from the Saints, Titans and Browns.
• Trey Hendrickson, Alvin Kamara and Jeffery Simmons might be long shots to be dealt, but they should still spark plenty of interest.

Determining which players are available ahead of the NFL trade deadline isn’t always a cut-and-dried process.

Look no further than last week’s deal that sent Joe Flacco from the Cleveland Browns to the Cincinnati Bengals for evidence of how fluid things can be.

‘The Joe (Flacco) trade took us by surprise,’ Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said after the deal. ‘Not something we saw coming. They called us … They wanted Joe.’

If only other teams had it so easy in prying their players of choice away from their current organizations.

With the Nov. 4 deadline looming, more deals will assuredly come together in short order. But even with a few teams positioned to become sellers as their seasons continue to sink, there’s been little clarity about which figures are actually on the block.

These 25 players, however, loom as perhaps the most notable potential trade candidates over the next 20 days:

2025 NFL trade deadline candidates who could move

QB Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons

The four-time Pro Bowl passer might not be able to grab a ticket out of Atlanta until the offseason considering the scarcity of midseason quarterback deals. Then again, who could have foreseen Flacco starting for a division rival just a few weeks after opening the season as the Browns’ starter? Pulling this off would probably entail a comparably calamitous long-term quarterback injury for another contender – one without a viable plan – still harboring hopes of staying afloat. The cost, too, could be considerable given the prorated portion of the $27.5 million in base salary any acquiring team would need to shell out, in addition to the draft capital necessary to entice the Falcons into parting with their veteran backup. If those elements align, maybe there would be sufficient incentive for Cousins to waive his no-trade clause? Don’t count on any movement, but hold off on fully ruling it out.

QBs Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston, New York Giants

Big Blue didn’t rush out to move either veteran signal-caller following Wilson’s demotion after three weeks. And with Jaxson Dart yet to rein in his reckless abandon as a runner, it’s understandable that the Giants might not be actively looking to move a backup. But perhaps this situation is analogous to the Browns moving Flacco in that the right offer could prompt a change of plans. Both passers are probably a bit more volatile than some teams might tolerate behind center, but there’s little question they can more comfortably attack defenses downfield than the typical second-stringer.

RB Breece Hall, New York Jets

He stirred plenty of intrigue with his Instagram caption Monday that ended with ‘#Free20.’ No one could fault the fourth-year back for seeking greener pastures – or at least some more running room, given that he’s faced stacked boxes on 25% of his carries – in his contract year. But will an 0-6 Jets team clawing for some level of competence be willing to send off its lead backfield asset at a time when backup Braelon Allen remains shelved for the foreseeable future with a knee injury? If Hall truly wants out, coach Aaron Glenn and GM Darren Mougey might be wise to take a page from Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, who once stated, ‘We want volunteers, not hostages.’ Hall likely would be the most enticing option at running back if available, and several playoff-caliber outfits could stand to give their ground game a boost.

RB Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints

The five-time Pro Bowler probably isn’t headed anywhere, as the 30-year-old made clear when he signed an extension in 2024 that he wants to retire in New Orleans. Still, he has to be mentioned here given that his name will likely hang around until the deadline passes. Kamara’s 3.8 yards per carry marks the second-lowest average of his career, yet he continues to be a matchup problem in the passing game with 22 catches on the season. If both sides become more amenable to a separation, he’d unquestionably be one of the buzziest candidates on the market.

WR Jakobi Meyers, Las Vegas Raiders

The Silver and Black didn’t budge when Meyers made a trade request this summer amid dissatisfaction with his contract. Things might be looking a little bit different now, however, after the Raiders’ 2-4 start, which has featured a litany of offensive issues. Meyers’ production has been on the downswing since the opener, so moving him might equate to selling low. But the receiver offerings around the league aren’t particularly inspiring, so the seven-year veteran could be the starting point for any passing attack in search of a bit more stability.

WRs Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed and Brandin Cooks, Saints

Speed surely isn’t the issue with New Orleans’ aerial attack, with Olave and Shaheed among the league’s most formidable field-stretchers. But even with Spencer Rattler showing some promise while fighting against some unfavorable conditions, first-year coach Kellen Moore’s offense has yet to take off. New Orleans might be reticent to deal Olave given that the team in April exercised his fully guaranteed fifth-year option of nearly $15.5 million, which might be a sticking point for other teams wary of his concussion history. Shaheed is probably the more straightforward option as a complementary vertical threat, while the 32-year-old Cooks might lack the upside for teams to overlook the guaranteed money he’s still set to be due in 2026. But if New Orleans is committed to flipping its roster, it probably shouldn’t stand pat.

TE Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens

Seems unlikely that Baltimore would retreat to seller status until its hopes of a long-shot resurgence are dashed. But if things aren’t looking up by the time the Ravens face the Miami Dolphins in a ‘Thursday Night Football’ tilt five days prior to the deadline, it might be time to consider sending Andrews on his way. The three-time Pro Bowler’s name has been tossed around in trade rumors since shortly after his drop in the AFC championship game, with plenty of uncertainty about how the final year of his contract would play out. Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta deflected any talk of a move in the spring, saying ‘we’re in the business of keeping as many great players as we can.’ But if the Ravens can’t pull up from their nosedive after the upcoming bye, there’s little point in clinging onto the veteran, who could get a jump start on starting a second chapter elsewhere.

TE David Njoku, Cleveland Browns

Cleveland is giving plenty of indications that it’s already training its focus on 2026, when it will have two first-round picks and will be poised to finally move on from the ill-fated Deshaun Watson era. As such, outside of Myles Garrett, Denzel Ward and the members of a promising rookie class, no piece should be off the table in trade talks. Njoku suffered a knee injury in Sunday’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he’s been an asset to a floundering unit when healthy, ranking second on the team in catches (23) and third in receiving yards (223). Still, third-rounder Harold Fannin Jr. is both the present and future here, and a 29-year-old target due to hit the market this offseason might best assist the Browns this season by returning more draft capital.

TE Chig Okonkwo, Tennessee Titans

He’s one of several Titans who could be on the block following the reset that appears imminent after Brian Callahan’s firing. Okonkwo leads the Titans in receptions with 23 while ranking second in receiving yards (218), his production reflecting his value as a safety valve for No. 1 pick Cam Ward. But he’s in the final year of his deal, and fourth-round rookie Gunnar Helm is waiting in the wings. While Okonkwo won’t fetch a major return, he could be attractive to a team looking to round out its receiving corps with a versatile piece. He’s also a sizable threat with the ball in his hands, with his 159 yards after the catch ranking fifth among all tight ends.

Gs Wyatt Teller and Joel Bitonio, Browns

Cleveland’s decrepit offense doesn’t have many pieces that would spark interest, but perhaps these two accomplished veterans could catch the eye of teams looking to fortify their fronts. Teller, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, and Bitonio, a two-time All-Pro, can help hold down the interior while also providing some veteran savvy.

G Kevin Zeitler, Titans

A 35-year-old blocker who’s already been dinged up this year might not seem like much of a draw. But Zeitler was one of football’s best guards not even a full year ago, and he also earned a Pro Bowl berth in 2023. The Titans’ persistent troubles up front shouldn’t fall on him, though maybe depriving Ward of another capable blocker – even one on a one-year contract – might be reason to dissuade Tennessee from a deal. But his skills could be put to greater use elsewhere.

DE Trey Hendrickson, Cincinnati Bengals

Any decision to move him is probably at least a few weeks off, as Cincinnati looks focused on trying to save a rapidly spiraling season rather than punting to 2026. If the four-game losing skid keeps extending and the season reaches a breaking point, however, it might be best for the Bengals to examine what returns they could secure now for the NFL’s reigning sack king instead of playing the compensatory pick game. Bartering for Hendrickson could be tricky given that he’s made clear he expects a hefty long-term contract after the season, but the Bengals should have no shortage of callers if they signal that they’re willing to listen on a deal.

DE Carl Granderson, Saints

He’s one of the few legitimate building blocks on a Saints roster starved for talent. Still, with several of the league’s top teams standing to benefit greatly from a boost on the edge, his greatest value to New Orleans might be in helping kick-start the rebuild with what he could return in a trade. Granderson has 4 1/2 sacks for an underwhelming defense, and his work as a run-stopper should make him an attractive option for defenses demanding a well-rounded threat along the front.

DT Jeffery Simmons, Titans

Trading the roster’s lone elite player might be a non-starter for general manager Mike Borgonzi, especially after Simmons held the team accountable for what he called ‘one of our worst weeks of practice’ prior to Brian Callahan’s firing. But if you want to supercharge a reset, this is how you do it. Simmons is operating at a Defensive Player of the Year level, taking his play to new heights after long ago establishing himself as one of the league’s most disruptive interior forces. Nothing suggests any movement here, but teams have to take a shot.

OLBs Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips, Miami Dolphins

Injuries have prevented Chubb and Phillips from seeing as much time together on the field as Miami initially envisioned for its talented pair of pass rushers. Now, it might be time to break the duo up. Phillips is set to become a free agent, and the Dolphins could help their cause in next year’s draft by moving him to the highest bidder. Chubb, who leads the Dolphins with four sacks, is signed through 2027, but he carries no guaranteed money on his deal past this season.

OLBs Arden Key, Dre’Mont Jones and Jihad Ward, Titans

You might not be able to tell from the team’s sack total (nine), but there’s some solid edge-rusher talent in Tennessee. Key has impressive credentials when it comes to corralling quarterbacks, with at least six sacks in three of his last four seasons. Jones is attempting to boost his value after an uninspiring two-year stint with the Seattle Seahawks. And Ward has come on strong as an inside-outside threat capable of setting the edge and being a force against opposing rushing attacks. All should be available as rentals on expiring deals to potential contenders, as it’s probably time for Tennessee to look to the future at this spot with second-rounder Oluwafemi Oladejo.

CB Riq Woolen, Seattle Seahawks

At a time when many of his peers are flourishing on the Seahawks’ swarming defense, Woolen has had trouble cementing his status in Mike Macdonald’s complex system. He missed Sunday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars with a concussion, but the larger problem has been his erratic play, giving up a 113.6 passer rating so far this season as the nearest defender in coverage, according to Nex Gen Stats. Still, teams seldom find blazing-fast cornerbacks who measure in at 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, and such players are even harder to obtain in the middle of the season. He’s high risk for a rental, and Seattle might not be inclined to shed parts without receiving something in return as it loads up for a potential playoff run. But a fresh slate might be best for both sides if there’s a team willing to pay the proper price.

CB Roger McCreary, Titans

Only fitting to wrap up this exercise with one last option from the Titans. McCreary might be one of the few inherited pieces worth keeping around, but he’s on the final year of his rookie contract. If the front office has any reservations about extending him – amid a nickel market that’s ticking up, it’s time to recoup some value. Cornerbacks, even those who occupy the slot, can be hard to come by at the trade deadline, so he could be an attractive piece for a contender needing to account for a hole on the back end.

From utter futility to a startling fusillade: That’s the story of the Toronto Blue Jays in this American League Championship Series.

And after two games of punchless offense was followed by a lineup uprising in Game 3, they are still very much in it.

The Blue Jays annihilated Seattle Mariners starter George Kirby and three relievers, banging out 18 hits and five home runs in a 13-4 victory Oct. 15 at T-Mobile Park in Seattle.

The biggest wake-up call? Vladimir Guerrero Jr., held hitless in seven at-bats at Rogers Centre, ripped a pair of doubles and a homer in his 4-for-4 night, serving notice the series’ most dangerous hitter would not go quietly.

Seattle still leads this series 2-1, and in Game 4, the Blue Jays will trot out 41-year-old Max Scherzer for his first start this postseason. Perhaps Game 3 was just a speed bump on the way to the Mariners’ first World Series appearance in franchise history.

Or maybe this series has truly taken a turn.

The road team has won every game in this best-of-seven, a trend the Blue Jays hope holds for Games 4 and 5. It looked like an early winter in Ontario after Julio Rodriguez hit a two-run, first-inning home run and Mariners starter Kirby continued his solid postseason with two scoreless innings.

And then they jumped him: No. 9 hitter Andrés Giménez tied the game with a two-run homer and Daulton Varsho ripped a two-run double, Toronto taking a 5-2 lead in the top of the third.

George Springer and Guerrero added home runs in the fourth and fifth and Kirby was chased without recording an out in that inning, with eight runs charged to him.

The lead was extended to 12-2 before solo homers by Randy Arozarena and Cal Raleigh prettied the scoreboard in the eighth.

But what a turnabout: Toronto had no extra base hits and just eight overall in 61 at-bats (.131) in their two losses at Rogers Centre. In Game 3: Seven extra-base hits and 18 overall.

It’ll all go back to zero in Game 4. But the Blue Jays, at long last, are on the board in the ALCS.

Here’s how Game 3 unfolded:

Alejando Kirk home run makes Game 3 a blowout

It’s a full-fledged blowout in the Pacific Northwest – putting the Toronto Blue Jays in even better position to climb back in this ALCS. 

Alejandro Kirk’s three-run homer in the sixth inning pushed Toronto’s lead to 12-2 over the Seattle Mariners in Game 3. 

That means the Blue Jays can keep all their high- and even medium-leverage relievers out of the game – saving them for Game 4, where they’ll probably need the backup for 41-year-old Max Scherzer’s first start of this postseason. 

Vlad Guerrero Jr. goes deep, Jays extend lead to 8-2

Vladimir Guerrero chased George Kirby from the game, and the Toronto Blue Jays are piling on in Seattle.

Guerrero hit his first home run of the ALCS – and now needs just a triple for the cycle – and the Blue Jays lead the Mariners 8-2 midway through the fifth inning.

Guerrero’s shot to dead center field barely eluded the grasp of a leaping Julio Rodriguez. It was Toronto’s third home run of the night, following Andrés Giménez’s two-run shot and George Springer’s solo homer. Ernie Clement added an RBI single later in the inning.

George Springer makes home run history

The Toronto Blue Jays are fully activated. 

George Springer moved into fourth place on the all-time playoff home run list by blasting a George Kirby pitch out to dead center field in the fourth inning, giving Toronto a 6-2 lead over the Seattle Mariners in Game 3 of the ALCS. 

Springer’s homer was the 22nd of his postseason career, moving him into a tie with Bernie Williams.

It was also the Blue Jays’ fifth extra-base hit in their past two innings as they look for their first win in this ALCS. 

Blue Jays take 5-2 lead with third-inning rally

The Toronto Blue Jays have awoken. And this ALCS might not be done yet, after all. 

After going without an extra-base hit through the first two games and two innings of this series, they banged out four of them in the third inning, including Andrés Giménez’s game-tying two-run homer and Daulton Varsho’s two-run double, to take a 5-2 lead entering the bottom of the third. 

What an attack: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., hitless in seven at-bats entering the game, drilled a 105-mph blast off the left field wall to reignite the rally after Giménez’s game-tying shot, which followed Ernie Clement’s leadoff double.

The go-ahead run scored on a bases-loaded wild pitch that Cal Raleigh could not block, and then Varsho – also 0-for-8 in the ALCS at that point – drilled the right field wall with a line drive and a 5-2 lead. 

The damage all came off starter George Kirby, who looked untouchable through two innings – until he wasn’t.

Julio Rodriguez home run starts Mariners off right

With T-Mobile Park ready to ignite, Julio Rodriguez did not waste time lighting up ALCS Game 3. 

Rodriguez blasted a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning as the Seattle Mariners took a 2-0 lead over Toronto, on a night they can move one game away from their first World Series trip in franchise history. 

It could be a short night for Blue Jays starter Shane Bieber, who did not escape the third inning in his AL Division Series start against New York. On this night, he issued a leadoff walk to Randy Arozarena, then left a 93-mph fastball over the middle of the plate for Rodriguez, who blasted it into the left field seats. 

George Kirby tosses scoreless first

Mariners starter George Kirby worked around Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s infield single with two outs to get through the first inning unscathed.

This is Kirby’s fifth career postseason appearance and he has a 1.50 ERA with 20 strikeouts 18 innings.

‘I think he’s done a really good job of really mixing really well,’ Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh said of Kirby before Game 3. ‘Obviously, I think he’s kind of, in a way, kind of hitting his stretch just because of the injury this year and he’s finally found that groove.’

Mariners lineup today: ALCS Game 3

1. Randy Arozarena (R) LF
2. Cal Raleigh (S) C
3. Julio Rodríguez (R) CF
4. Jorge Polanco (S) 2B
5. Josh Naylor (L) 1B
6. Eugenio Suárez (R) 3B
7. Dominic Canzone (L) DH
8. Victor Robles (R) RF
9. J.P. Crawford (L) SS

Blue Jays lineup today

1. George Springer (R) DH
2. Nathan Lukes (L) LF
3. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (R) 1B
4. Anthony Santander (S) RF
5. Alejandro Kirk (R) C
6. Daulton Varsho (L) CF
7. Addison Barger (L) 3B
8. Ernie Clement (R) 2B
9. Andrés Giménez (L) SS

Mariners vs Blue Jays prediction, Game 3 odds

What time is Mariners vs Blue Jays today?

Game 3 of the ALCS begins at 8:08 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Oct. 15.

The Utah Mammoth have a new name, logo, practice facility and renovated arena in their second season in Salt Lake City.

And now they have a new mascot.

The Mammoth unveiled Tusky on Wednesday, Oct. 15, before the team’s home opener against the Calgary Flames at the Delta Center.

‘Standing 6-feet-5-inches tall, Tusky the Mammoth connects the team’s bold brand identity with Utah’s prehistoric past,’ the team said in a statement. ‘With Mountain Blue fur, Dark Blue mohawk, Salt White tusks, and a long blue trunk, Tusky embodies the strength, momentum and earth-shaking presence of the herds that once roamed Utah more than 10,000 years ago.’

The name fits in with the team’s new ‘Tusks Up’ slogan.

The Jazz Bear had been the Mammoth’s temporary mascot last season, when the team was known as the Utah Hockey Club. Ryan and Ashley Smith own both the Mammoth and Jazz.

Tusky is the latest mascot in the NHL, joining the Flyers’ Gritty, the Predators’ Gnash, the Capitals’ Slapshot and others. It will have social media accounts at @TuskyNHL.

AI-assisted summary
• Ohio State, Indiana, and Oregon are currently positioned as strong playoff contenders from the conference.
• Key upcoming games include USC at Notre Dame, Nebraska at Penn State, and Ohio State at Michigan.
• At least three Big Ten teams are expected to make the 12-team College Football Playoff field.

Things are about to get very serious in the Big Ten.

The first half of the college football is in the books. Penn State is out of the mix. Wisconsin is terrible. No. 1 Ohio State is intimidating. No. 3 Indiana looks unbeatable.

The second half of the regular season will decide which teams meet to decide the conference championship and which Big Ten teams make the College Football Playoff.

For now, the Buckeyes, Hoosiers and No. 9 Oregon look like playoff locks. The second tier of contenders include No. 21 Southern California, Michigan, Nebraska and Illinois.

The expectation is that at least three and as many as four Big Ten teams make the 12-team field. Four made last year’s bracket in the Buckeyes, Hoosiers, Ducks and Nittany Lions.

These games will shape the Big Ten race in the second half and help clean up an unsettled playoff race:

Southern California at No. 15 Notre Dame, Oct. 18

After beating Michigan to break into the US LBM Coaches Poll, the Trojans take on another big test against the red-hot Fighting Irish. USC could lose this game and still make the playoff as an at-large team, or even rally in Big Ten play to reach the conference championship game. What happens in South Bend will show whether the Trojans have what it takes.

UCLA at Indiana, Oct. 25

This is looking like Indiana’s biggest test the rest of the way, underscoring how the Hoosiers might have the best playoff odds of any team in the Power Four. UCLA has turned a corner since firing Deshaun Foster and clearly found an offensive identity. Will that be enough to score a mammoth upset?

Southern California at Nebraska, Nov. 1

One-loss Nebraska is hanging around the playoff race in Matt Rhule’s third season. A close win against Maryland shows how thin the margin of error is for a team that has improved dramatically under Rhule but isn’t quite a finished product. Beating USC would provide some national respect and set up the possibility of a 10-win regular season.

Nebraska at Penn State, Nov. 22

This might be awkward. A former Penn State linebacker, Rhule was immediately floated as James Franklin’s successor due to his ties to the program and deep connection with Nittany Lions athletics director Pat Kraft. It’s possible that Rhule will have made a public commitment to Nebraska before this road trip. If not, though, and if the Cornhuskers are surging in the Top 25, this matchup will be one of the most storyline-heavy of the second half.

Oregon at Washington, Nov. 29

The Ducks should be in firm position for an at-large playoff bid and even the Big Ten title game before the trip to Seattle. If not, though — let’s say they slip and fall at Iowa or the week prior against USC — this could be a winner-take-all matchup that determines much more than just bragging rights.

Ohio State at Michigan, Nov. 29

Can the Buckeyes finally crack Michigan’s code? The Buckeyes seem better equipped to handle the Wolverines thanks to an elite defense that ranks near the top of the country in every major category. And by this point in the year, the Julian Sayin-led offense could be the best in the conference.

AI-assisted summary
• The SEC has as many as 10 teams in contention for the 12-team College Football Playoff.
• Key games include No. 10 LSU at No. 18 Vanderbilt and No. 5 Mississippi at No. 7 Georgia.
• Rivalry games like Texas A&M at Texas and the Iron Bowl could have major playoff implications.

There is no shortage of high-impact SEC games involving every College Football Playoff contender occurring every weekend from now through the end of the regular season.

But that’s life in college football’s meatgrinder.

While the Big Ten might have five or six teams in the playoff mix, the list of candidates in the SEC goes as many as 10 deep, matching the number of teams the league has in this week’s US LBM Coaches Poll.

It’s easy to identify which teams are contending for the 12-team bracket. What’s not so easy is predicting which three or four teams rise to the top of the standings and earn automatic and at-large playoff bids.

The second half of the year will help bring this into focus. From this weekend through the final Saturday of November, these games will determine where the SEC lands:

No. 10 LSU at No. 18 Vanderbilt, Oct. 18

It’s a huge test and a potential breaking point for Vanderbilt, which looked a clear step behind the best teams in the SEC in this month’s loss to No. 6 Alabama. A win establishes the Commodores as a legitimate playoff hopeful and essentially bounces LSU from contention. This is an opportunity for the Tigers offense to finally get on track.

No. 5 Mississippi at No. 7 Georgia, Oct. 18

There are still some unknowns about the Rebels, especially after a too-close-for-comfort win against Washington State. There are questions about the Bulldogs, too, given their uneven play through the first half of games. This is a tone-setting game for both teams that will provide some separation near the top of the conference.

No. 11 Tennessee at No. 6 Alabama, Oct. 18

The third marquee game this Saturday alone rekindles a rivalry that has shifted back to the Volunteers, winners of two of the last three meetings. Both teams have some playoff wiggle room, but the winner could head out of the weekend as the favorite in the SEC. It’s another test for Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar, who hasn’t faced a ranked opponent on the road.

No. 4 Texas A&M at LSU, Oct. 25

Saturday’s trip to Arkansas won’t help decide whether A&M is truly one of the top five teams in the Bowl Subdivision or just a very good team taking advantage of an easier schedule. That answer could come a week later in Death Valley. LSU has the talent to flip a switch and run the table in the second half.

Georgia vs. Florida, Nov. 1

The annual meeting between the schools in Jacksonville, Florida, is notable for potentially being the final game for Florida coach Billy Napier, who has been able to dodge a pink slip but finds his job security more tenuous than ever. Look for the school to make a coaching change should the Gators lose.

Texas A&M at No. 16 Missouri, Nov. 8

This one of three games remaining against ranked teams for Missouri, sandwiched between matchups against Vanderbilt and No. 13 Oklahoma. Should they get past the Commodores, a win against the Aggies could put the Tigers on track to land an at-large bid.

LSU at Alabama, Nov. 8

One potential backdrop to this game is Brian Kelly’s future at LSU should the Tigers lose once before heading to Tuscaloosa. The same might be said of Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer, though he’s solidified his status during an active five-game winning streak. This could determine half of the makeup of the SEC championship game if both teams have just one loss.

Oklahoma at Alabama, Nov. 15

By this point, the hope for Oklahoma is that quarterback John Mateer has fully recovered from his hand injury and is playing at the level that made him a Heisman Trophy front-runner. The Sooners’ defense is one of the best nationally, so a playoff bid comes down to whether the offense gets back in gear.

No. 17 Texas at Georgia, Nov. 15

This game would take on much less meaning if Texas slips up and takes a third loss against Vanderbilt. If the Longhorns have just two losses, the trip to Athens would be one of the biggest regular-season games of the Steve Sarkisian era. A loss might end their postseason hopes. A win could vault them into the SEC title game.

Georgia at No. 13 Georgia Tech, Nov. 28

This could be a playoff eliminator for the loser should unbeaten Geogia Tech lose once or twice in ACC play and fall short of the conference title game. While who the loss or losses come against matters, the Yellow Jackets could still meet the Bulldogs with an at-large playoff bid at risk. Last year’s rivalry was an epic, eight-overtime win by Georgia.

Texas A&M at Texas, Nov. 28

This rekindled rivalry would be must-see TV even if both teams were hovering around five or six wins. There’s a chance that this game carries the same weight as last year’s meeting, which had profound consequences for the SEC and the playoff. If Sarkisian is under fire after the Georgia game, a loss to Mike Elko and the Aggies would make his job security one of the main talking points of the offseason.

Alabama at Auburn, Nov. 29

The Iron Bowl will also draw national eyeballs regardless of the records involved. In this year’s case, don’t look for Auburn to have much more on the line than getting to six wins, which even then might not be enough to salvage Hugh Freeze’s job. There will be plenty of pressure on DeBoer, though, because of the chance the Tigers play spoilers and knock the Crimson Tide out of the title conversation.

MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Brewers knew their pitching was going to be a weak spot in the NLCS.

What they didn’t foresee was their offense being a complete dumpster fire.

The Brewers have managed a whopping two runs and five hits in the first two games against the Los Angeles Dodgers. They never had a runner in scoring position in Game 2 on Tuesday night. They went down in order in each of the last four innings, with just one ball making it out of the infield.  

Christian Yelich is 0-for-7 against Los Angeles, extending a slump that began in the NLDS against the Chicago Cubs. Jackson Chourio, William Contreras and Brice Turang aren’t much better, with Milwaukee’s big four a combined 2-for-29 in the NLCS.

“Not the best,” Yelich said after a 5-1 loss that dropped the Brewers to 0-2 in the best-of-seven series. “I started (the postseason) out good and then just hit a little bit of a rough patch here the last few games.

“Unfortunate time for that to happen,” said Yelich, who had 29 home runs and 103 RBIs during the regular season. “I’ve got to be better. I’ve got to figure it out. That’s just how it goes.”

It’s true that any team would have struggled to scratch out hits, let alone runs, off Blake Snell and Yoshinobu Yamamoto with the way they were pitching. The Dodgers starters were masterful, with Snell throwing eight innings of one-hit ball Monday and Yamamoto tossing the first complete game in the postseason in eight years Tuesday.

But the Brewers had the season they did because they thrived on pressuring opposing pitchers. No matter what was thrown at them, they found ways to get on base and manufacture runs.

Remember that sweep of Los Angeles in the regular season? The Brewers tagged the Dodgers for 31 runs in those six games. They ran Yamamoto off before he could get through an inning in his one regular-season start against them.

Now they can’t buy a base hit.

“We chased way more than we’ve chased all year,” Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy said. “We’ve been the best in baseball at not chasing. These pitchers brought out the worst in us.

“Offensively, you’ve got to grind out at-bats. That’s been our forte. … Sometimes great pitching brings out the worst in you.”

It didn’t start out that way.

When Chourio went deep on the first pitch he saw from Yamamoto, it looked as if the Brewers were going to build off their momentum from the ninth inning in Game 1. It was only the third leadoff home run in Brewers postseason history, and it had the sellout crowd at American Family Field rocking.

But Milwaukee quickly faded, with Turang, Contreras and Yelich grounding out to end the inning that began on such a high.

“It’s a great feeling to have, for sure, to be able to put your team ahead right away from the first pitch of the game,” Chourio said. “But unfortunately we were unable to add onto that and to keep going.”

Milwaukee would only put five people on base the rest of the game, and no one after the first out in the fifth inning.  

“The way this offense runs is just getting on base,” Chourio said. “They did a good job of limiting our ability to do that.”

Now the Brewers head to Los Angeles, with only one day to figure out what ails them before Game 3 on Thursday night.

As dire as their circumstances seem, Milwaukee is capable of both digging itself out of a hole and reeling off a winning streak.

The Brewers began the season with a four-game losing streak — giving up 47 runs in the process, no less — only to win four in a row and seven of its next eight. They had an 11-game winning streak in July and a 14-game winning streak in August. They have not lost four in a row since the end of April.  

“This team has been counted out a lot this year. And I think there’s some fight left in them,” Murphy said.

There might be fight, but it’s offense the Brewers need.

“We’re just looking for that one where it kind of clicks,” Yelich said. “Get a few guys going and make a series of it.”

Time is running out.

Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.