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NFL’s Better Birds: Falcons Stun Eagles

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PHILADELPHIA – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Atlanta QB Kirk Cousins threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Drake London with 34 seconds left and the Falcons rallied for a 22-21 win against the host Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night.

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The Falcons (1-1) trailed by six with no timeouts and 1:39 remaining and drove 70 yards in six plays in just 65 seconds on the game-winning possession.

The Eagles (1-1) had squandered a chance to run out the clock when Saquon Barkley dropped a pass on third-and-3, and Philadelphia settled for Jake Elliott’s 28-yard field goal and a 21-15 lead.

Following a touchback, Cousins completed passes of 11 yards to Kyle Pitts, 21 yards to Darnell Mooney, 26 yards to Mooney and 5 yards to London to get to the Philadelphia 7-yard line with 43 seconds left.

After an incompletion, Cousins found a wide-open London in the end zone for a 21-21 tie with 34 seconds to go. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on London forced Younghoe Koo to convert the go-ahead extra point from 48 yards out.

Cousins passed for 241 yards and two TDs and Bijan Robinson rushed for 97 yards for the Falcons. It’s the first win for Cousins since signing a four-year, $180 million deal with Atlanta in March and the first since he tore his Achilles tendon last October.

Jalen Hurts passed for 183 yards with a touchdown and a late interception while also rushing for 85 yards and a TD for Philadelphia. Barkley rushed for 95 yards in his home debut as an Eagle.

After a scoreless first quarter, the Falcons struck first on Koo’s 39-yard field goal early in the second.

The Eagles responded with Hurts’ 7-yard touchdown pass to DeVonta Smith for a 7-3 lead with 5:15 left in the first half.

Atlanta answered with Koo’s 22-yarder to make it 7-6 just before halftime.

The third quarter began with an exchange of field goals, with Koo’s third of the game — from 34 yards out — followed by a 29-yarder by Elliott that put the Eagles up 10-9.

One play after converting a fourth-and-4, Cousins connected with Mooney for a 41-yard TD and a 15-10 lead with 1:21 left in the third quarter.

Hurts’ 1-yard TD run and Barkley’s two-point conversion scamper with 6:47 left in the game put the Eagles up 18-15.

–Field Level Media

New England Patriots: Where’s Malcolm Butler When You Need Him?

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FOXBOROUGH – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Seattle kicker Jason Myers converted a 31-yard field goal with 4:37 remaining in overtime to give the Seahawks a 23-20 win over the New England Patriots on Sunday afternoon in Massachusetts. New England (1-1) got the ball to begin the extra session but went three-and-out. The Seahawks capitalized, using eight plays to move 71 yards to Myers’ game-winner.

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Myers also came through in the clutch in regulation, putting home a 38-yard field goal that tied the game at 20-all with 55 seconds left.

The Patriots went up 20-17 with 12:43 left in the fourth quarter when Rhamondre Stevenson polished off an 11-play, 66-yard march by taking a direct snap and bursting into the end zone from 1 yard out. Stevenson finished with 81 yards and the score on 21 carries.

Seattle (2-0) mustered just one first down on the ensuing possession before punting the ball away. A 45-yard run from Antonio Gibson helped the Patriots work down to the Seahawks 21, but New England ended up having to bring the field-goal unit out.

Joey Slye had his 48-yard field-goal attempt blocked by Julian Love, allowing Seattle to take over at its own 38.

Geno Smith completed 33 of 44 passes for 327 yards and a touchdown for the Seahawks. His favorite targets were Jaxon Smith-Njigba (12 catches, 117 yards) and DK Metcalf (10 catches, 129 yards, TD).

Gibson went for 96 yards on the ground for the Patriots, who got 149 yards and a TD on 15-of-27 passing from quarterback Jacoby Brissett.

Rookie Ja’Lynn Polk capped an eight-play, 60-yard drive with his first career touchdown reception, hauling in a 5-yard pass from Brissett to give New England a 7-0 lead with 4:56 left in the first quarter.

Four plays later, Smith connected with Metcalf for a 56-yard scoring strike that drew the Seahawks even.

Slye booted a 29-yard field goal early in the second quarter, but Seattle went back in front when Zach Charbonnet rushed for a 1-yard TD with 5:47 to go in the frame.

New England pulled within 14-13 when Slye made good on a 28-yard field goal with 2:31 remaining in the first half.

However, Myers drilled a 44-yarder as time expired in the half to provide the Seahawks with a 17-13 advantage at the break.

Joe Castiglione to Retire

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BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame broadcaster Joe Castiglione, the voice of the Boston Red Sox radio for over four decades, announced his retirement from the WEEI broadcast booth. His 42-season tenure (1983-2024) stands as the longest of any play-by-play announcer in franchise history. Castiglione will remain part of the Red Sox family in an honorary ambassador role. The club will pay tribute to his storied career prior to its final regular season game on September 29 at Fenway Park.

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“After 42 seasons with the Red Sox and more than 6,500 games, I have decided it’s time to retire from a regular broadcast schedule,” said Castiglione. “While I feel I am at the pinnacle of my career, have been blessed to call four World Championships, and received the Ford C. Frick Award from the Hall of Fame in July while working for the greatest franchise in sports, it’s time to spend more time with Jan, my bride of almost 53 years, my kids, and grandkids. The Red Sox and Audacy have been wonderful to me and have let me call my own shots, which is so rare in broadcasting. They will keep me in the family as a club representative making appearances with clients and fans, working special events, and filling in on game broadcasts when the need arises. While I will miss the daily interactions with baseball people and talking to the fans of Red Sox Nation, I think this is the right decision for my family and myself.”

“Joe is one of the greatest in baseball broadcasting,” said Red Sox Principal Owner John Henry. “His recognition by the Hall of Fame in July punctuated a career of vivid storytelling that has brought the game to life for generations of listeners. His brilliance in the booth is matched only by his exceptional character. Though his role has placed him squarely in the spotlight, he has aways let the action on the field take center stage, a trait he has shown even behind the mic with an uncanny ability to put others first. His kindness and genuine spirit have touched everyone around him and as he steps into a well-deserved retirement, he leaves behind a legacy of humility and warmth that will continue to inspire us all. We are grateful for his more than four decades of dedication and for sharing his love for baseball and the Red Sox with all of us night after night.”

“Joe calls games with an authenticity that makes every listener feel like an insider,” said Red Sox Chairman Tom Werner. “He turns every play into a shared experience, perfectly capturing our joy and disbelief with his unforgettable call ‘Can you believe it?’ after the final out of the 2004 World Series. He has carried us through loss and disappointment with compassion and sincerity and has been a nightly companion to millions for generations, earning his place as one of New England’s most beloved voices. So many of us at the Red Sox have been lucky to have him as a friend and witness the incredible relationships he built with the many broadcasters he’s mentored over the years. His legacy will last well beyond his final call, and we are profoundly thankful for his service and the immeasurable impact he’s had on our organization and the game of baseball.”

“You’d be hard-pressed to find someone more friendly and dependable than Joe,” said Red Sox President & CEO Sam Kennedy. “Like countless New Englanders, I grew up listening to him call Red Sox games every season and his broadcasts always felt like a conversation with a trusted friend, a rare gift that made him a fixture in homes across the region. After working with him for over two decades, I have come to appreciate that Joe’s talent in the broadcast booth is an attribute equaled only by his unfailing kindness. He is down-to-earth and one of the most authentic individuals I’ve ever had the privilege of working with. It’s difficult to have imagined a better voice or a finer person to serve as the narrator of Red Sox baseball these past four decades and he has certainly earned a very well-deserved retirement.”

“Joe Castiglione has provided the soundtrack of summer to Sox fans throughout New England on the WEEI Red Sox Radio Network for 42 seasons,” said Mike Thomas, SVP/Market Manager, Audacy Boston. “To work any job for 42 years is a colossal accomplishment, but to do play-by-play for one team for that long is legendary. As great as Joe is in the booth, he’s an even better person and teammate. It has been a privilege to listen to Joe and an honor to work with him. Congratulations Joe and thank you for bringing the sights and sounds of the Sox through our radio for so many memorable moments.”

Born March 2, 1947, in Hamden, Connecticut, Castiglione graduated from Colgate University and earned his master’s degree from Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communication. He began his broadcasting career at WFMJ-TV in Youngstown, Ohio, before calling MLB games for Cleveland (1979, 1982) and Milwaukee (1981). He joined the Red Sox broadcast team in 1983, first airing games for WPLM and later for WRKO/WEEI beginning in 1989. Over the years, Castiglione’s voice has become synonymous with iconic Red Sox moments, including the final outs of each of the club’s four World Series victories from 2004 to 2018.

In July 2024, Castiglione received the prestigious Ford C. Frick Award, presented annually by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum for excellence in broadcasting. He was inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2014 in a class that included Pedro Martinez, Roger Clemens, and Nomar Garciaparra. In 2022, Fenway Park’s home radio booth was officially named the “Joe Castiglione Booth” to honor his storied career.

Green Bay: All You Need is Love

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GREEN BAY – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Green Bay Packers downgraded quarterback Jordan Love from questionable to doubtful on Saturday for their home opener Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts.

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Love suffered a sprained MCL in his left knee in Green Bay’s Week 1 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Brazil and did not practice this week. Yet on Friday, he was listed as questionable for Sunday’s game despite not being medically cleared to play, according to coach Matt LaFleur.

The Packers haven’t ruled Love out nor have they placed him onthe team’s injured reserve, which would require he miss at least four games.

LaFleur had previously said the Packers would not place Love on injured reserve as they went “day to day” with his evaluation.

Love, 25, was helped off the field with six seconds left in the 34-29 loss to the Eagles Sept. 6. He went 17-for-34 passing for 260 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

Malik Willis was elevated to the starting role until Love’s return. Willis, 25, was acquired from the Tennessee Titans on Aug. 26 for a 2025 seventh-round draft pick and was the No. 2 quarterback behind Love entering Week 1.

Green Bay elevated quarterback Sean Clifford from the practice squad on Saturday to be Willis’ backup if Love is ruled out.

–Field Level Media

College Football: Top 25 Roundup

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LEXINGTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Georgia’s RB Trevor Etienne ran for a team-high 79 yards on 19 carries, helping No. 1 Georgia eke out a 13-12 win over Kentucky on Saturday in Kentucky.

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Georgia (3-0, 1-0 SEC) won its 42nd straight regular-season game as Carson Beck completed 15 of 24 passes for 160 yards, while Dominic Lovett caught six passes for 89 yards in the Bulldogs’ SEC opener.

Former Georgia quarterback Brock Vandagriff was 14 of 27 for 114 yards, while Demie Sumo-Karngbaye ran for a game-high 98 yards as Kentucky (1-2, 0-2) dropped its second straight game and its 15th consecutive game to Georgia. Alex Raynor was 4-for-4 on field-goal attempts, accounting for all of Kentucky’s scoring.

After a Kentucky punt late in the third, Etienne accounted for 51 of Georgia’s 68 yards on the next drive, setting up Branson Robinson’s 3-yard rushing score, giving Georgia a 13-9 lead with 12:20 remaining in the game.

No. 2 Texas 56, UTSA 7

Arch Manning passed for four touchdowns and ran 67 yards for another in relief of the injured Quinn Ewers as the Longhorns flew past the Roadrunners in Austin, Texas.

Manning went 9 of 12 for 223 yards in about two quarters of play in the most extensive action of the highly touted redshirt freshman’s career as the Longhorns (3-0) dominated from start to finish. Ewers was 14 of 16 passing for 185 yards, two TDs and an interception in just over a quarter of play before sustaining a strained abdomen.

Owen McCown led UTSA (1-2) with 132 yards passing while Robert Henry Jr. had 65 yards rushing and a touchdown on six carries.

No. 4 Alabama 42, Wisconsin 10

Jalen Milroe passed for three touchdowns and ran for two more in Madison, Wis., to pace the Crimson Tide to a nonconference rout of the Badgers, who lost starting quarterback Tyler Van Dyke on their opening possession.

Milroe completed 12 of 17 passes for 196 yards with touchdowns of 31, 26 and 37 yards. He also ran for a team-high 75 yards on 14 carries. Alabama (3-0) outgained Wisconsin 407-290 and averaged 7.3 yards per play to 4.0 for the Badgers (2-1).

Van Dyke was replaced by redshirt sophomore Braedyn Locke, who completed 13 of 26 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown. Chez Mellusi ran for 66 yards on 11 carries.

No. 5 Ole Miss 40, Wake Forest 6

Jaxson Dart had two scoring passes and a touchdown run and Henry Parrish Jr. ran for two touchdowns as the Rebels rode a strong start against the Demon Deacons in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Ole Miss (3-0) scored 20 first-quarter points and that set the tone for another comfortable victory. Dart completed 26 of 34 passes for 377 yards with an interception. Parrish gained 148 yards on the ground on 23 carries.

Hank Bachmeier was 22-of-39 passing for 239 yards but couldn’t direct Wake Forest to the end zone. The Demon Deacons (1-2) only scored on a pair of Matthew Dennis field goals.

No. 6 Missouri 27, No. 24 Boston College 21

Missouri’s QB Brady Cook completed 21 of 30 passes for 264 yards and a touchdown as the Tigers outlasted the Eagles in Columbia, Mo.

Cook also rushed for a touchdown for the Tigers (3-0), who erased a 14-3 second-quarter deficit. Blake Craig kicked four field goals for Missouri: two from 38 yards out, one from 31 yards out and one from 56 yards out.

Missouri overcame eight penalties for 78 yards and outgained the Eagles (2-1) 440-295. Thomas Castellanos completed 16 of 28 passes for 249 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions for Boston College.

It was the only game of the day featuring two Top 25 teams.

No. 7 Tennessee 71, Kent State 0

Dylan Sampson rushed for four touchdowns and DeSean Bishop added two during a program-record 65-point first half as the Volunteers steamrolled the Golden Flashes in nonconference play at Knoxville, Tenn.

Bishop rushed for 120 yards on seven carries and Sampson had 101 on 13 attempts as the Volunteers (3-0) annihilated the Golden Flashes over the first 30 minutes. Tennessee’s 37-point first quarter was a program record for any period and the Volunteers followed it with 28 points in the second quarter. Tennessee also set a school mark with 740 yards of total offense.

Nico Iamaleava completed 10 of 16 passes for 173 yards and one touchdown before leaving with Tennessee leading by 51 midway through the second quarter. Devin Kargman completed 9 of 15 passes for 58 yards for Kent State (0-3). Rocco Nicholl had 10 tackles.

No. 9 Oregon 49, Oregon State 14

Visiting Oregon (3-0) scored on eight possessions and turned an eight-point lead into a blowout for its first win at Oregon State since 2018. Dillon Gabriel finished 20-of-24 passing for 291 yards with two touchdown passes and added another touchdown on the ground.

Jordan James had 86 yards on 12 carries, including a touchdown in each half, and Noah Whittington added 64 rushing yards, including a 27-yard touchdown run in the fourth. Tysheem Johnson reeled in seven catches for 110 yards as the Ducks gained 546 yards of total offense against a defense that had allowed 15 points combined in its first two games.

Oregon won for the 14th time in the last 17 meetings.

No. 10 Miami 62, Ball State 0

Cam Ward passed for 346 yards and a career-high five touchdowns as the Hurricanes blasted the Cardinals in Miami Gardens.

Lightning in the area on Saturday delayed the start of the game by 2 1/2 hours, but that didn’t stop Miami (3-0), which set a school record with 750 yards of total offense. Miami’s stars included Jacolby George (six catches 109 yards, one TD), Xavier Restrepo (three catches, 47 yards, two TDs) and Ajay Allen (104 rushing yards, one TD).

Ball State (1-1) was led by Kadin Semonza, who finished 16-of-26 passing for 111 yards. He was intercepted once.

No. 12 Utah 38, Utah State 21

Isaac Wilson threw for 239 yards and three touchdowns in his first career start to lead the Utes over host Utah State in Logan, Utah.

Wilson, who was picked off once, filled in for Cameron Rising, who sat out after suffering an injury to his right (throwing) hand against Baylor last week. Wilson had his first career 200-yard game and helped Utah (3-0) beat Utah State for the 12th time in 13 games in the teams’ rivalry series.

Utah State’s Bryson Barnes threw for 223 yards and two touchdowns in his first game against his former team. Barnes also tossed a pair of interceptions. The Aggies (1-2) got 115 rushing yards on 19 touches from Rahsul Faison.

No. 13 Oklahoma State 45, Tulsa 10

Alan Bowman threw for 396 yards and five touchdowns as the Cowboys roared out to a 28-point halftime lead on their way to a road rout of the Golden Hurricane.

Bowman completed 24 of 31 passes with an interception as the Cowboys improved to 3-0. Oklahoma State outgained the Golden Hurricane 560-352 in its final nonconference tune-up before opening Big 12 play next week at home against Utah.

Kirk Francis hit 14 of 31 passes for 153 yards with an interception for Tulsa (1-2), which came into the contest averaging 43 points per game. The aggressive Cowboys notched seven tackles for loss, including a pair of sacks, and permitted just 5 of 16 third-down conversions.

No. 15 Oklahoma 34, Tulane 19

Jackson Arnold threw for 169 yards and a touchdown and ran for 97 yards and two scores for the Sooners in Norman, Okla.

Oklahoma was in a precarious position in the fourth after Tulane pulled within five. But then Billy Bowman Jr. pulled down a redirected Darian Mensah pass for an interception, giving Oklahoma the ball in Tulane territory.

Then the Sooners (3-0), who had come up empty on four consecutive drives, finally showed some life. Arnold broke off a 24-yard touchdown run to give Oklahoma some breathing room. Darian Mensah was 14-of-32 passing for 166 yards, a touchdown and an interception for the Green Wave (1-2).

No. 17 Michigan 28, Arkansas State 18

Kalel Mullings rushed for 153 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries as the Wolverines defeated the Red Wolves at Ann Arbor, Mich.

Donovan Edwards ran for 82 yards and a score on 17 carries for Michigan (2-1), which outgained Arkansas State 301-58 on the ground. Davis Warren completed 11 of 14 passes for 122 yards but was intercepted three times. Alex Orji tossed a touchdown pass after replacing Warren.

Jaylen Raynor completed 19 of 33 passes for 140 yards with an interception for the Red Wolves (2-1). Timmy McClain threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes to Reginald Harden Jr. after the Wolverines led by 25 points.

No. 16 LSU 36, South Carolina 33

Caden Durham rushed for two touchdowns and Josh Williams ran 2 yards for a winning touchdown with 1:12 remaining as the Tigers rallied to edge the Gamecocks in Columbia, S.C.

Garrett Nussmeier passed for 285 yards and two touchdowns and drove the Tigers (2-1, 1-0 SEC) 55 yards to the winning score. Backup QB Robby Ashford drove South Carolina to the LSU 31, but Alex Herrera missed a 49-yard field goal as time expired.

The Gamecocks (2-1, 1-1) passed for just 155 yards as starting quarterback LaNorris Sellers (9-for-16 passing, 113 yards) injured his right ankle on the second-to-last play of the first half and played just one possession in the second half.

No. 18 Notre Dame 66, Purdue 7

Riley Leonard rushed for 100 yards and three touchdowns, Jeremiyah Love rushed for 109 yards and another score, and the Fighting Irish crushed the Boilermakers in West Lafayette, Ind.

Jadarian Price and Kenny Minchey also rushed for a touchdown for Notre Dame (2-1), which bounced back from a stunning loss against Northern Illinois one week earlier. Leonard completed 11 of 16 passes for 112 yards before he gave way to backup Steve Angeli, who completed 6 of 9 passes for 100 yards and two touchdowns.

Hudson Card completed 11 of 24 passes for 124 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions for Purdue (1-1). Notre Dame ran for 362 yards and posted its highest point total since Sept. 14, 2019, when it tallied a 66-14 home win against New Mexico.

No. 23 Nebraska 34, Northern Iowa 3

Freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola threw for 247 yards and two touchdowns to guide the Cornhuskers to a victory over the Panthers in Lincoln, Neb.

The Cornhuskers (3-0) scored touchdowns on their first three possessions to win their first game as a ranked team since 2019. Dante Dowdell rushed six times for 55 yards as Nebraska finished with 423 total yards to improve to 3-0 for the first time since 2016.

For Northern Iowa (2-1), which entered the night ranked 21st in the FCS poll, quarterback Aidan Dunne completed 13 of 25 passes for 117 yards and rushed for a team-high 49 yards before getting knocked out of the game with 10 minutes to go.

–Field Level Media

 

Devers Delivers vs Cole, Yanks

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BRONX – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Boston’s 3B Rafael Devers hit a two-run single with the bases loaded in the fifth inning to continue his dominance of New York’s SP Gerrit Cole and the Red Sox snapped a seven-game road losing streak with a 7-1 victory over the host Yankees on Saturday afternoon in New York.

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The Red Sox (75-74) avoided falling under .500 for the first time since June 11 after opening the series with a pair of one-run losses.

Cole (6-5) hit Devers with a pitch in the first inning and intentionally walked the slugger with one out in the fourth to set up a three-run inning. According to YES Network (sourcing stathead.com), it was on record the earliest intentional walk with the bases empty ever issued by the Yankees.

In the fifth, Cole was forced to face Devers after grazing Jarren Duran with a pitch. Devers improved to 14-for-40 in the regular season off Cole by lining a 1-0 curveball to right field that allowed Trevor Story and Danny Jansen to score and give the Red Sox a 5-1 cushion.

Masataka Yoshida started Boston’s comeback with a tying RBI ground-rule double in the fourth, two batters after Devers drew his free pass. In the fifth, Yoshida followed Devers’ hit with a two-run single after Cole hit Tyler O’Neill with a pitch.

OF Wilyer Abreu put the Red Sox ahead 3-1 in the fourth with a two-run single. Earlier, Abreu made a strong throw from right field to throw out Alex Verdugo at second in the third inning.

Boston’s SP Brayan Bello (14-7) allowed one run on four hits in 5 1/3 innings and retired Aaron Judge three times after the slugger hit a go-ahead grand slam on Friday. Bello struck out two, walked two in improving to 4-2 in his past six starts.

Four relievers followed Bello, including left-hander Zach Penrod, who made his major league debut and retired Anthony Rizzo with two on to end the eighth.

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Before using four fingers on his right hand to signal he wanted to put Devers on, Cole retired nine of the first 10 hitters. After hitting Devers, he got O’Neill to bounce into a double play to end the first.

Cole was lifted after Yoshida’s single in the fifth and heard some boos while coming off the mound.

The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner was tagged for a season-high seven runs on five hits in 4 1/3 innings. He has allowed 11 runs on 12 hits in 8 2/3 innings during his two starts against the Red Sox this season.

New York’s Gleyber Torres hit an RBI single in the third for the Yankees (86-63), whose magic number to clinch a playoff spot remained at four.

–Field Level Media

 

Paxton to Retire at Season’s End

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NEW YORK – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Boston Red Sox left-handed pitcher James Paxton announced he will retire at the conclusion of this season. Paxton, 35, made three starts following a trade from the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 26. The Ladner, British Columbia native has been on the injured list since Aug. 12, one day after he sustained a strained right calf while attempting to cover first base in a game against the Houston Astros.

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“I’m hoping that we can squeak into the post-season and I can get the opportunity to pitch again,” Paxton said on the “Baseball Isn’t Boring” podcast. “But I think after this season [I’m] going to be retiring and moving on to the next chapter.
“It was tough. Obviously, I think that I can still do it. I can still go out there and compete and help a team win. But I just think with where my family’s at and what they need right now, they need me home, and I feel a duty and a responsibility to be at home with my family. And I’m looking forward to being at home with my family and spending more time with them, too.”
Paxton is 9-3 with a 4.40 earned-run average in 21 starts this season with the Dodgers and Red Sox.
He is a 73-41 with a 3.77 ERA in 177 regular-season starts for the Seattle Mariners (2013-18, 2021), New York Yankees (2019-20), Red Sox (2023, 2024) and Dodgers (2024).

Can Red Sox Stop Yankees’ Streak

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BRONX – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The New York Yankees have not relied on a prolific offense of late, but rather are doing just enough to eke out wins and widen their lead in the American League East. After game-ending hits by Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Juan Soto, the Yankees seek a third straight win when they host the Boston Red Sox on Friday night.

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The Yankees (85-62) are 5-2 in their past seven games after dropping six of their previous nine against the Texas Rangers, St. Louis Cardinals and Washington Nationals. Four of those wins are by three runs or fewer and the Yankees have scored more than four runs only once in those contests.

Chisholm got the game-winning single in the 11th inning in Wednesday’s 4-3 win over the Kansas City Royals and Soto gave the Yankees a 2-1 win over the Red Sox with a single in the 10th on Thursday. The Yankees are two games ahead of the Baltimore Orioles in the AL East, equaling their largest lead since regaining the division lead Aug. 21.

“Guys are playing really well,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “We haven’t had a lot of offense in us there the last few nights but (we’re) doing enough. I thought we had some good at-bats tonight.

The Yankees earned their last two wins despite going 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position and stranding 17. Before Soto’s game-winner, New York left the bases loaded in the fourth and sixth.

New York is getting these wins despite Aaron Judge being stuck on 51 homers. Since hitting two homers against the Colorado Rockies on Aug. 25, Judge is homerless in a career-high 16 straight games and is hitting .207 (12-for-58).

Boston (74-73) has lost three straight to New York and is 4 1/2 games behind the Minnesota Twins for the third and final AL wild card.

Danny Jansen hit a tying homer in the fifth but the Red Sox were held to four hits and struck out 14 times. The Red Sox have stuck out 50 times in their past four games and at least 10 times in 14 games since Aug. 18.

Rafael Devers was 0-for-4 with three strikeouts Thursday and is homerless in 14 games. Since his last homer on Aug. 25, Devers is 9-for-54 (.167).

“I’m not going through my best moments right now but that’s part of baseball,” Devers said through an interpreter. “There are some times when you’re going to go through this stretch and that’s what’s happening to me right now. I’m not perfect and that’s just baseball.”

New York’s Clarke Schmidt (5-3, 2.34 ERA) will make his second start since returning from a lengthy injured list stint. Schmidt missed 86 games due to a strained right lat and pitched 4 2/3 innings of four-hit ball in Saturday’s 2-0 win over the host Chicago Cubs, marking his third scoreless start this season.

Schmidt is 0-1 with a 4.23 ERA in eight career appearances (four starts) against the Red Sox. He last faced them Sept. 14 of last season, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings of a no-decision in Boston.

Tanner Houck (8-10, 3.24), who was scratched from his last scheduled start due to a shoulder ailment on Sunday, will pitch for the first time since allowing four runs on five hits in an 8-3 loss on Sept. 4 to the host New York Mets.

Houck is 0-4 with a 4.78 ERA in nine starts since the All-Star break after scattering two hits in six innings against the Oakland Athletics on July 11 in his final start before the break.

Houck is 3-3 with a 2.38 ERA in 14 career appearances (nine starts) against the Yankees.

–Field Level Media

 

BC to be Tested at Mizzou

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COLUMBIA – No. 6 Missouri reached rarified air this week. The Tigers, after all, haven’t been ranked this high in the Associated Press poll since 2013.

And the Tigers (2-0) will have a chance to validate that standing when they host No. 24 Boston College (2-0) on Saturday in Missouri.

Meanwhile, the Eagles upset then-No. 10 Florida State 28-13 on the road in head coach Bill O’Brien’s Boston College debut. Then they handled Duquesne 56-0 at home, which vaulted them into the AP Top 25 for the first time since the 2018 season.

“I think it’s great for BC, but really that’s not our focus at all,” O’Brien said. “It’s really about one day at time, really trying to get better.”

Missouri has rolled up 1,007 yards in its blowout victories while emptying the bench in both games.

Quarterback Brady Cook is 48-of-67 passing for 456 yards and a touchdown, and he has rushed for 84 yards and three touchdowns. Missouri alternates running backs Nate Noel (121 yards, two touchdowns on 23 carries) and Marcus Carroll (97 yards, one touchdown, 18 carries).

Preseason all-America wide receiver Luther Burden III has been quiet, catching seven passes for 64 yards and a touchdown and rushing for 21 yards and a TD in two games. He was limited by illness against Buffalo.

Wide receiver Theo Wease Jr. became Cook’s main target while catching 13 passes for 149 yards against the Bulls.

“Quarterback Brady Cook — very, very good player, can throw and run, two really good running backs and very, very good at wide receiver,” O’Brien said of the upcoming opponent. “At least three or four of them can play in the NFL. So we have a big challenge ahead of us, big, big challenge.”

While Missouri was unable to connect on deep passes during the first two weeks, coach Eli Drinkwitz wasn’t concerned.

“You’d rather be on ‘SportsCenter’ for that rather than for three yards and a cloud of dust or five-yard hitches,” he said. “But the reality of what we’re figuring out is that teams don’t really want to give up explosive plays versus our wide receiver corps. So, we have to be willing to make them defend us in a different manner.”

The Tigers could once again be without tight end Brett Norfleet, who suffered a shoulder injury in the opener and sat out Week 2. Guard Cam’Ron Johnson could return after sitting out the Buffalo game following an injury in practice.

Drinkwitz also wants to see his offense cut down on the offensive penalties. The Tigers had 17 in two games.

“Alignment penalties are embarrassing and that’s on me as head coach,” Drinkwitz said. “The holding penalties. We’ve got to learn to let go. When the ball is out-leveraged, just when a defender is broken away, we cannot continue to engage with the jersey of the defender. There were three of those that were clear calls, easy calls that are something that we have to correct.”

Boston College’s dual-threat quarterback Thomas Castellanos has completed 19 of his 26 pass attempts for 340 yards and six touchdowns. He has run for 81 yards and a TD.

The Eagles have rushed for 569 yards and five touchdowns in two games, led by Treshaun Ward (132 yards on 20 carries), Kyle Robichaux (112 yards, 25 carries) and Turbo Richard (102 yards on 19 carries).

Offensive tackle Logan Taylor returned to action after missing the first game and helped the unit dominate against Duquesne.

“Great to have him back,” O’Brien said. “Tough guy, big guy, athletic guy, very important to have him back. He’s my type of guy.”

–Field Level Media

Pac-12 Reloads with Four Schools

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SAN RAMON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Mountain West representatives Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State and San Diego State will join the Pac-12 in the 2026-27 academic year, the latter conference announced Thursday morning.

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The Pac-12 board of directors unanimously approved the additions of the four schools to join Oregon State and Washington State, the last two remaining schools after an offseason that saw 10 members jump to other power conferences. Oregon, Washington, UCLA and Southern California moved to the Big Ten; Utah, Colorado, Arizona and Arizona State shifted to the Big 12; and Cal and Stanford joined the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State and San Diego State officially will join the Pac-12 on July 1, 2026.

“For over a century, the Pac-12 Conference has been recognized as a leading brand in intercollegiate athletics,” Pac-12 commissioner Teresa Gould said in a statement. “We will continue to pursue bold cutting-edge opportunities for growth and progress, to best serve our member institutions and student-athletes. I am thankful to our board for their efforts to welcome Boise State University, Colorado State University, California State University, Fresno, and San Diego State University to the conference. An exciting new era for the Pac-12 Conference begins today.”

The NCAA gave the Pac-12 until July 2026 to have a minimum of eight universities if the league is to remain part of the Football Bowl Subdivision. The Mountain West additions still leave the league two short, although officials are pursuing additional options.

The four schools joining the Pac-12 would have to pay an exit fee of $18 million. The Pac-12 also would owe the Mountain West $43 million for taking schools away, part of the deal it reached to arrange scheduling of football matchups for Oregon State and Washington State this year.

MWC commissioner Gloria Nevarez released a statement late Wednesday to address reports that the four schools were exiting the conference.

“The Mountain West Conference is aware of media reports regarding the potential departure of several of our members, and we will have more to say in the days ahead,” Nevarez said. “All members will be held to the Conference bylaws and policies should they elect to depart. The requirements of the scheduling agreement will apply to the Pac-12 should they admit Mountain West members. Our Board of Directors is meeting to determine our next steps. The Mountain West has a proud 25-year history and will continue to thrive in the years ahead.”

Colorado State and San Diego State have been in the Mountain West since the league’s founding in 1999. Boise State joined the conference in 2011, and Fresno State followed in 2012. One of those four schools won or shared the league’s football championship in 10 of the past 12 seasons.

“We are ecstatic to be joining the Pac-12 Conference,” San Diego State athletic director John David Wicker said. “While we are grateful to be a founding member of the Mountain West with 26 years of success in the conference, we are excited at what lies ahead with these new opportunities. We will continue to compete for conference championships on the field and to graduate leaders in the community.”

–Field Level Media