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  • The Trojans’ perspective on MSU vs. USC

    The Trojans’ perspective on MSU vs. USC


    Matt Zemek from TrojansWire previews USC vs. Michigan State

    As we all know, Michigan State football is making its way out west this weekend to face USC just shy of midnight Eastern Time. There is a lot of intrigue around this game, as USC is now ranked in the AP poll (at No. 25), and MSU will want to prove that this year is different than last year despite a shaky 3-0 start.

    To prepare for the game, we had Matt Zemek, Lead Writer of TrojansWire, give us the USC perspective on the game, which you can find below.

    1. Picks and Over/Under (58 points): MSU vs. USC (-17.5)

    Matt is taking Michigan State +17.5 in this one, although he thinks USC will win the game itself. He is also taking the over in this one, as 58 points seems low for these offensive-focused teams.

    2. What should MSU fans know about this USC team?

    This USC team is a work in progress. Last season’s team was a defense-first group with Miller Moss (who is now at Louisville) struggling to master the quarterback spot. Early in 2025, USC is an offense-first team. Quarterback Jayden Maiava isn’t a finished product, but he is already a lot more comfortable in Lincoln Riley’s offense than Moss was at any point in 2024. Maiava really needed four starts late in the 2024 season to begin to learn how to play the position. Riley has used those four games as a teaching tool in the offseason, and the early results are encouraging. No interceptions at Purdue is a good first step in Maiava’s development. Now, USC needs to see consistency in decision-making and processing reads. The defense is a concern. The secondary is banged up and shorthanded. Corners are not reacting well to the ball. USC also struggles to contain dual-threat QBs, making Aidan Chiles a real threat in this upcoming game.

    3. Thoughts on this Michigan State team?

    Michigan State, being coached by Jonathan Smith, should have an offensive game plan which will largely work against an inconsistent USC defense. Smith has undressed USC before, albeit not a D’Anton Lynn defense. Given the way the Trojans are playing on defense right now, MSU should be able to score at least 24 points, very probably more than that. The thing about Michigan State which should concern all Spartan fans is that the Boston College team MSU barely defeated — in overtime — just got soundly beaten by an awful Stanford side. That tells me the MSU win over BC was a lot less impressive than it initially seemed. The Spartans should struggle to contain Maiava and the USC offense, given that they struggled to contain Boston College.

    4. How will this game play out?

    There will be plenty of points in the Coliseum. USC probably scores in the 40s, and I wouldn’t be remotely surprised if MSU scored in the 30s. The over-under is way too low. More than the 17.5-point spread (where I lean MSU), I think the over is the best play in this game. If Michigan State wants to hold USC under 40 or (even more ideally) 35 points, it has to control the clock, probably with at least 35 minutes of possession if not 38 or 39. USC’s defense has struggled to get off the field, so MSU needs to be money on third and fourth downs. That’s the Spartans’ path to a possible upset, since their defense figures to be outgunned.

    Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan state news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Andrew Brewster on Twitter @IAmBrewster.





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  • Justin Fields ruled out for Jets’ Week 3 game against Buccaneers due to a concussion

    Justin Fields ruled out for Jets’ Week 3 game against Buccaneers due to a concussion


    The New York Jets won’t have starter Justin Fields when the team takes on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 3. Fields was ruled out of the contest Wednesday due to a concussion, head coach Aaron Glenn told reporters.

    Fields sustained the injury during the team’s Week 2 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

    The 26-year-old Fields struggled mightily in the contest, completing just three of 11 attempts for 27 yards before leaving the game. He was replaced by Tyrod Taylor.

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  • Asia Cup 2025: Pakistan match delayed amid uncertainty over participation

    Asia Cup 2025: Pakistan match delayed amid uncertainty over participation


    Pakistan’s match against the United Arab Emirates at the Asia Cup has been delayed by an hour amid the ongoing fallout from Sunday’s match against India.

    Pakistan said India’s players refused to shake hands after the match – the first between the two countries since the military conflict earlier this year – and also claim match referee Andy Pycroft told their captain Salman Agha not to shake hands with his India counterpart at the toss.

    Pakistan subsequently asked for Pycroft, due to be match referee for Wednesday’s match against the UAE, to be removed from officiating at the tournament.

    Wednesday’s match, a must-win for Pakistan, was due to begin at 15:30 BST.

    Their players remained at the team hotel as talks continued but did depart for the Dubai International Stadium around 30 minutes before the scheduled toss.

    Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chair Mohsin Naqvi held talks with his predecessors Ramiz Raja and Najam Sethi shortly before their departure.

    Soon after organisers announced the match will begin at 16:30 BST. Pycroft is expected to remain as match referee.

    Should Pakistan beat the UAE, they will meet India again in Dubai on Sunday in their first match of the Super Four stage, meaning the episode will continue.

    It is the latest occasion relations between India and Pakistan has impacted cricket.

    They already do not play each other outside of global events and India’s matches at the Champions Trophy were moved to Dubai earlier this year after they refused to travel to hosts Pakistan.

    Pakistan will not travel to India for next month’s Women’s World Cup, with their matches instead being moved to Sri Lanka.

    India and Pakistan meet in Colombo on Sunday 5 October.



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  • Top 2026 recruit Mimi Thiero commits to Maryland

    Top 2026 recruit Mimi Thiero commits to Maryland


    Top 2026 recruit Mimi Thiero has committed to the Maryland Terrapins, she announced. Thiero chose Maryland over programs including Louisville, Kentucky, Michigan, Vanderbilt and Clemson.

    “I’m definitely looking for education,” Thiero previously told Rivals. “I want to major in something STEM-related, so going to a school that definitely has something related to what I want to major in. I also just want a great program – somewhere I can make an impact early and somewhere that’s just a great fit.”

    The 6-4 post player from Leetsdale (PA) Quaker Valley sees her versatility as one of her biggest strengths.

    “I definitely pride myself on being able to guard multiple positions and also being able to handle the ball,” Thiero said. “Being my height and being able to handle the ball – I feel like that’s also something that’s really great. Just being able to play multiple positions and guarding multiple positions.”

    As a junior, Thiero averaged 23.1 points, 16.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 3.9 steals, and 3.8 blocks per game, while shooting 48% from the field.



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  • Stephen A. Smith addressed Molly Qerim First Take exit

    Stephen A. Smith addressed Molly Qerim First Take exit


    Molly Qerim is no longer the host of First Take, with her announcing her departure from the ESPN show in stunning news that broke on Tuesday morning.

    Tuesday’s episode opened up with Stephen A. Smith delivering a heartfelt speech about Qerim in which he said, “She’s been an enormous part of our success for a decade. Not only did she keep me and many others in line, she did it with dignity, class and kindness to say the least.”

    MORE MOLLY QERIM: 5 names who could replace her at First Take

    But then, he took some time on his own SiriusXM show to speak about the Qerim departure. He said she “abruptly” resigned and that it would be an understatement to say he was sad about her leaving.

    “The details, quite frankly, are none of y’all business, but it’s not as if I know all the details,” he added. “There was a contract negotiation that was going on. ESPN certainly didn’t want to lose her. But in the end, he made a decision to walk away from the show effective immediately.”

    There are a couple of new details there, even though he said the reasons why she was out were not our business. He said her leaving was effective immediately and it seemed like it was contract related.

    Perhaps more details come out from reporting soon, but it’s still all stunning that she’s now out so quickly.





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  • Enrico Cardile already making an impact alongside Adrian Newey

    Enrico Cardile already making an impact alongside Adrian Newey


    Aston Martin Formula 1 CEO Andy Cowell says Ferrari hire Enrico Cardile is already making his mark on the team’s ambitious 2026 project.

    Former Ferrari technical director Cardile finally started his role as Chief Technical Officer for Aston Martin at the start of August following a 12-month gardening period, which was subject of lengthy legal proceedings back in Italy.

    Cardile’s arrival is the final piece of the puzzle as the Lawrence Stroll-owned team put together an ensemble cast to tackle F1’s 2026 regulation overhaul, which is providing the ambitious squad with the best opportunity to become a frontrunner.

    Cardile has joined forces with legendary designer Adrian Newey, who in his role as managing technical partner has been exclusively focused on bringing the 2026 car to life.

    Reporting on Cardile’s start at Aston’s Silverstone campus, Cowell said the vastly experienced Italian has already made an impact on his new team, which has rapidly grown in numbers over the past 24 months.

    “Enrico is a wonderful human being with a wealth of experience in Formula 1, both in terms of organisational methods and technical understanding,” Cowell said.

    Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing, Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

    Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing, Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

    Photo by: Andy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images

    “He’s not been with us for long, but the team can feel that experience already through the early impact he’s had, and I’m excited to see how that develops further as he fully embeds himself and gets to know everyone.

    “On a personal note, being in a position to work with the likes of Enrico, Adrian and all the other fantastic minds we have inside the team, as we bid to get Aston Martin to the front of the Formula 1 grid, is hugely exciting. Adrian has added a big lift to the approach the team is taking and people are enjoying their work; they’re smiling at the results they’re seeing.”

    Aston’s well documented 2026 focus has seen its results this season suffer, but a series of smaller upgrades has allowed Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll to fight higher up in the midfield, accentuated by empathic double points finishes in Hungary and the Netherlands.

    Those results lifted it above Racing Bulls and Sauber into sixth, but its bid to go after fifth-placed Williams hit a snag with a disappointing weekend in Monza, where Alonso’s front suspension collapsed during the race. The team believes the suspension was damaged by gravel kicked up by another car, with the continuous loading eventually causing the part to give way. Meanwhile, Williams eked out its lead to 24 points thanks to Alex Albon finishing in seventh.

    “We’ll become stronger through understanding that. Issues are painful, but they provide opportunity to learn and the willingness from the team to do so has been great,” Cowell said, while being content with the value for money the team managed to get out of the limited resources it invested into its mid-season upgrades, including an upgraded floor and front wing.

    “With the slender amount of resource that’s still being applied to AMR25, it’s really good to see the way department leaders have been pulling together to work out the best direction for development and optimisation,” he added. “Of course, we would love to put more of our energy into the AMR25, but nearly all of our time now is being spent on the 2026 car.

    “Naturally, we’re focused on the bits that have not gone so well so we can keep improving.”

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  • Mourinho touted as next Benfica coach after Champions League loss leads to Lage’s exit

    Mourinho touted as next Benfica coach after Champions League loss leads to Lage’s exit


    LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Benfica fired coach Bruno Lage after the team’s home loss to Qarabag in the Champions League on Tuesday, and José Mourinho was quickly touted as the top candidate to replace him.

    Benfica president Rui Costa announced the decision to part ways with Lage after the league-phase loss in which Benfica squandered a two-goal lead in front of its fans.

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    Costa cited the club’s poor results recently. Benfica was coming off a disappointing 1-1 home draw against 10-man Santa Clara in the Portuguese league on Friday.

    “We’ve reached an agreement with Bruno Lage and he is not our coach anymore,” Costa said. “We feel it’s time for a change. It was a tough week for all Benfica fans after the games against Santa Clara and Qarabag. We are not out of any competition yet, but we feel it’s time to change.”

    Costa said he expected to announce a new coach in time for the team’s league match in Vila das Aves on Saturday.

    Enter Mourinho?

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    Portuguese media said Mourinho was set to take over the club. His time with Fenerbahce ended last month after the Turkish club was eliminated by Benfica in a qualifying playoff of the Champions League.

    Mourinho won the Champions League with Porto, Benfica’s main rival, in 2004. He also won the top European club competition with Inter Milan in 2010.

    Mourinho has not coached in the main stage of the marquee competition for six seasons, though. He won the third-tier Conference League with Roma in 2022 but his time at the Italian club from 2021-24 was marked by squabbles that resurfaced in his brief and chaotic spell in Turkey.

    Mourinho started his coaching career at Benfica but lasted only three months in 2000 before leaving in a contract dispute with the board of directors.

    ___

    AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer



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  • Bengals place Joe Burrow on injured reserve, sign 2 QBs to practice squad

    Bengals place Joe Burrow on injured reserve, sign 2 QBs to practice squad


    The Cincinnati Bengals made some roster moves after Joe Burrow’s injury.

    [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

    The team announced that it has signed former New York Jets quarterback Mike White and former Green Bay Packers quarterback Sean Clifford to its practice squad.

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    Clifford played high school football at St. Xavier and attended Penn State before being drafted in the fifth round in 2023 by the Packers.

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    Cincinnati also placed Burrow on the injured list after suffering a toe injury in Sunday’s win over Jacksonville.

    Head coach Zac Taylor said the team is still sorting out the recovery timeline.

    “One thing I know about Joe is he’s going to do everything he can to tackle the rehab process if it gets to that point,” he said. “Again, I don’t know what total rehab looks like, but I know Joe is going to give it everything he’s got and do everything he can to get back on the field. I’ve got full confidence in that.”

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    Jake Browning will start in Burrow’s place. The team signed Brett Rypien from the practice squad to the active roster.

    The Bengals play at Minnesota on Sunday. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.

    The game will be televised here on Channel 7.

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  • Three questions and three answers from Real Madrid 2-1 Olympique Marseille

    Three questions and three answers from Real Madrid 2-1 Olympique Marseille


    Real Madrid began their 2025/26 UEFA Champions League campaign with a victory as they overcame French side Olympique Marseille with a 2-1 win at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. Timothy Weah gave the visitors the lead 22 minutes in, but Kylian Mbappé leveled the scoreline seven minutes after and scored a winner on 81 minutes to seal a victory, with both goals coming from the penalty spot, either side of a red card for Dani Carvajal.

    1. How much rotation would there be?

    The only certainty from Xabi Alonso’s first four games in charge has been uncertainty. The new coach has regularly rotated and mixed up his team in the opening weeks of the season, and that was the case again here. Without Antonio Rüdiger, injured in training on Friday, there would be little room for experimentation beyond the choice of Trent Alexander-Arnold, albeit for only five minutes, ahead of Dani Carvajal at right-back. The surprise came in attack, where Vinícius Júnior was “rested”. Benched for the second time in five games, the Brazilian is not immune to the changes in the same way that Kylian Mbappé appears to be. “We’re at a very demanding point in the calendar, we need everyone, it’s important that everyone feels important,” Xabi Alonso explained in his press conference.

    2. Would Real Madrid start off better than last season in the Champions League?

    In 2024/25, Real Madrid ended up facing an up-hill battle after winning only two of their first four games in the Champions League group stage. Things started well with a 3-1 win over Stuttgart, albeit with two late goals, but Marseille posed a tougher challenge with a more experienced squad. AC Milan and Arsenal both won at the Bernabéu in the competition to weaken the air of invincibility around the stadium, and so Marseille came with perhaps less fear than they could have 12 months ago. With Juventus, Liverpool and Manchester City among those ahead, Real Madrid could not afford to slip up early on. The 2-1 win ensures that Real Madrid spent Tuesday night fourth in the table, level with Tottenham and Qarabag on goal difference and behind Arsenal and Union St. Gilloise. It’s early days, but a strong start from Real Madrid.

    3. Would fatigue be a factor?

    Playing 60 minutes with 10 men on Saturday was always bound to have an impact on Real Madrid’s performance just 72 hours later as Los Blancos took on Marseille. Having to do another 20 minutes again with only 10 men didn’t help, and the fact that the team are still adjusting to life under Xabi Alonso is still evident. In the first half, Real Madrid’s press was arguably the most effective it has been at any time since the coach’s arrival with good coordination and consistency, but that faded in the second half where basic errors crept in. Real Madrid’s pass accuracy dropped 6% in the second half compared to the first half, and Arda Güler, who has started each of the team’s five games and Turkey’s two international fixtures, was among those to show the toll of such workload.

    1. What was Dani Carvajal thinking?

    In 433 appearances for Real Madrid, Dani Carvajal has only been sent off four times, including his dismissal on Tuesday night. It makes it all the more baffling that a 33-year-old veteran and the team’s captain would be so ignorant as to get himself red carded for violent conduct with the score at 1-1 in a crucial Champions League fixture, even more so after the team’s only other right-back limped off injured on the same night. This was his first straight red since December 2017, when he turned goalkeeper to clear the ball in a Clásico in La Liga, and seemed wildly out of character for such an experienced and responsible figure within the team. Now, he’s given Xabi Alonso a real selection headache for the visit to Kairat Almaty at the end of the month should Trent Alexander-Arnold’s injury be as serious as it seemed.

    2. How many penalties has Kylian Mbappé scored?

    This was a landmark occasion for Kylian Mbappé as he scored goal number 50 for Real Madrid, a remarkable feat for a player who has only been at the club for a little more than a year. One big source of those goals has been from the penalty spot, as was reflected in the fact that he scored two penalties on Tuesday night. Taking his tally for the season to six goals in five games, three of those have been from the spot, with this duo adding to his winning goal against Osasuna from matchday one of La Liga. In total, 10 of his 50 goals, 20%, have come from 12 yards out. That’s in addition to three missed penalties, including the two penalties missed in a week during his lowest point as a Real Madrid player against Liverpool and Athletic Club last November. Now, he’s at arguably his highest point since.

    3. When will Real Madrid start to take these chances and win convincingly?

    When you take a look at the expected goals and see a score of 3.65 compared to Marseille’s 0.73, you’d have the impression that this was a comfortable win for Real Madrid and was plain sailing. The reality was anything but. Real Madrid have won five from five since the start of the season, and so there can be few complaints, but none have been completely convincing. Three consecutive 2-1 wins, twice coming from behind, have followed a 3-0 win over newly-promoted which was only 1-0 until the 82nd minute, and a 1-0 win over Osasuna. “We’re growing, the players feel that we can carry out what we talk about, we have very good phases in matches, perhaps we lack a bit of continuity, but we’re on the right track and in three months’ time we’ll be much better,” Xabi Alonso insisted post-match. It may take a little while for the team to get going with his new approach.

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  • Spurs Secure Champions League Win After Villarreal Goalkeeper Error


    Tottenham edge Villarreal in Champions League opener

    Early fortune changes the contest

    Tottenham marked their return to the Champions League with a victory that owed as much to fortune as it did to discipline. Thomas Frank, making his debut as a manager in Europe’s elite competition, could scarcely have dreamed of a more generous start.

    With only four minutes played, Villarreal goalkeeper Luiz Junior inexplicably fumbled Lucas Bergvall’s cross into his own net. It was a moment of chaos that handed Spurs control, lifting the noise inside the stadium and setting the tone for what should have been a statement performance. Instead, Tottenham were forced to labour for their points.

    Villarreal threaten despite early setback

    For all their early advantage, Spurs offered encouragement to their visitors. Nicolas Pepe, once of Arsenal, almost punished a defensive lapse, only for Micky van de Ven to intervene decisively. Tajon Buchanan, too, spurned a clear chance when he dragged a shot wide.

    Tottenham did create opportunities of their own — Pape Matar Sarr drawing a sharp save from Junior midway through the first half — but the rhythm never fully settled. Villarreal sensed as much after the interval, pressing forward with increasing urgency, though Tottenham’s back line stood tall to absorb the pressure.

    Defensive resilience makes the difference

    Richarlison’s missed header in the second half might have proved costly on another evening, yet the defensive partnership of Van de Ven and Rodrigo Bentancur ensured Villarreal never found a route back. Frank’s side, though sloppy at times in possession, exhibited what he later called a “clean sheet mentality” — a pragmatism that may serve them well in Europe.

    The visitors introduced former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey late on, his presence inevitably drawing attention given his forthcoming court appearance in London on rape and sexual assault charges. It was his first match on English soil since the allegations emerged.

    Spurs maintain European momentum

    For Tottenham, the significance lies not just in the scoreline but in the sense of momentum. Unbeaten now in 21 home matches in UEFA competition, they have established their ground as a fortress. Frank’s team were far from flawless — too many loose passes, too many moments of carelessness — yet they withstood Villarreal’s surge and emerged intact.

    It was not a display to strike fear across Europe, but as Tottenham know well, in the Champions League sometimes survival is the first step towards ambition.

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