Sports

The most-hyped WNBA regular season since the league’s inception delivered excitement from start to finish, but the real drama is just getting started. After a 2023 season that seemed like one long prelude to the Aces-versus-Liberty finals, the 2024 playoffs promise more chaos and intrigue from the get-go.

Here are five burning questions for the 2024 postseason, starting with how this whole format works and a breakdown of each series.

How are the playoffs structured?

The top eight teams in the league, regardless of conference, qualify for the postseason. The first-round matchups are 1 vs. 8, 2 vs. 7, 3 vs. 6, and 4 vs. 5. There is no re-seeding in between rounds, so the victor of 1 vs. 8 plays the winner of 4 vs. 5, and the 2 vs. 7 winner faces the 3 vs. 6 victor.

The playoffs last for three rounds, starting with a three-game series in the first round, in which the higher seed hosts the first two games. That format helped simplify travel before the league started flying exclusively on charters this season. The 2-1 series has been in place since 2022, and though the lower seed has forced a decisive Game 3 three times at its home arena, the higher seed has never failed to advance. The semifinal round is a five-game series (2-2-1 format), as are the WNBA Finals.

No. 1 New York (32-8) vs. No. 8 Atlanta (15-25)

Game 1 at New York: Sunday at 1 p.m. (ET), ESPN

Game 2 at New York: Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. (ET) ESPN

Game 3 (if necessary) at Atlanta: Thursday TBD, ESPN2

Did Atlanta’s season-ending win over New York mean anything?

The Liberty won their first three games against the Dream by a combined 44 points before taking their foot off the gas in the season finale — a game Atlanta had more incentive to win in order to clinch a playoff spot. However, all three of the previous matchups took place in June, when the Dream were without at least one of Jordin Canada or Rhyne Howard. Since the Olympic break, once Atlanta has been able to start its preferred lineup of Canada, Howard, Allisha Gray, Naz Hillmon and Tina Charles, the Dream have a net rating of plus-2.2 per 100 possessions, which is far better than the minus-10 mark they sported during the month of June.

GO DEEPER

Tina Charles becomes WNBA’s all-time leading rebounder

Nevertheless, even at full health, Atlanta lags behind the pace New York has set. The Liberty outscored opponents by 11.7 points per 100 possessions over the course of the season. They have the reigning MVP in Breanna Stewart, who has averaged more than 20 points against the Dream over the last two years. They also have an elite scoring defense, while Atlanta had the worst shooting percentage in the WNBA. One number to keep an eye on will be how many foul shots the Dream generate — they had the third-highest free-throw rate in the league, while New York conceded the fewest free throws to its opponents.

Unfortunately for Atlanta, their advantages in this matchup are minimal. The Liberty scored the most points in the league off turnovers, but if the Dream try to turn this into a half-court contest, the Liberty also are the league’s best offensive rebounding team. Atlanta was the fourth-best defense after the break but now goes up against the best offense. The Dream might have secured their playoff berth with a win against New York, but it should be their last of the season.

The pick: New York in 2 games

No. 2 Minnesota (30-10) vs. No. 7 Phoenix (19-21)

Game 1 at Minnesota: Sunday at 5 p.m. (ET), ESPN
Game 2 at Minnesota: Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. (ET), ESPN
Game 3 (if necessary) at Phoenix: Friday TBD, ESPN2

Can Kahleah Copper create any playoff magic?

The Mercury had one of the largest variances during the first half of the season, collecting wins against the Liberty, Lynx and Aces, yet also losing to the Dallas Wings. The second half didn’t feature the same highs, as Phoenix’s lone win over a playoff team came against Atlanta. Without a healthy Rebecca Allen, the Mercury aren’t as versatile defensively and are missing another shooter; they also miss her experience with Celeste Taylor and Mikiah Herbert Harrigan filling in those minutes.

But let’s focus on what the Mercury have, and that is Kahleah Copper, who just completed arguably the best season of her career. Copper led the league in usage (31.1 percent), just edging out A’ja Wilson, and still managed a league-average effective field goal percentage under that burden. She scored at least 30 points in nine games, including a 34-point outing with a game-winner to boot in Phoenix’s lone victory over Minnesota. Her shot chart from that game exemplifies what the Mercury need from her in this series: a high volume of 3-point attempts (12 in that game) combined with relentless rim pressure to compromise the Lynx’s defense. Minnesota congests the paint as well as anyone, but even the Lynx are powerless to stop the athleticism of Copper when she puts her head down.

“I’m one of the few two-way players in this league.”

KFC has been a show to watch all season long. Put her on your All-WNBA ballot! pic.twitter.com/P5HbCRPbMD

— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) September 17, 2024

Copper’s heroics might be moot if Phoenix gets destroyed on the glass, as has been the case of late, or if it lets Minnesota get going from long range. The Mercury allow the most 3-point attempts of any team, and the Lynx are the best 3-point shooting squad (38 percent). Phoenix will have to pick its poison between protecting the interior or the perimeter, while Minnesota has demonstrated the ability to do both. Regardless of how good Copper has been, Napheesa Collier is still the best player in this series. If Collier and company perform as they have since the break — Minnesota has lost once at full strength since the All-Star Game — they’ll comfortably extinguish any upset hopes.

The pick: Minnesota in 2

Game 1 at Connecticut: Sunday at 3 p.m. (ET), ABC
Game 2 at Connecticut: Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. (ET), ESPN
Game 3 at Indiana: Friday TBD, ESPN2

Will Connecticut’s experience overwhelm Indiana’s youth?

The Sun have made five straight WNBA semifinals with largely the same core. Every player in their rotation participated in last year’s postseason, while only four Fever players — all bench players — have ever suited up in the playoffs. To put it another way, Indiana’s roster has played in 19 total playoff games — four individual Connecticut players have exceeded that, including 80 playoff game appearances from DeWanna Bonner. The Fever’s stars bring a wealth of NCAA Tournament experience, but they’ve never played on this stage, and it’s fair to wonder if the stakes of this moment will affect them.

The main question from a strategic perspective is how the Sun will defend Caitlin Clark. Are they content to let others beat them, or will they show Clark more single coverage?

Clark has been an absolute flamethrower during the second half of the season, averaging 23.1 points and 8.9 assists while making 37 percent of her 3s. However, in the lone meeting of this stretch, Connecticut limited her to 19 points and five assists and forced seven turnovers. The Fever still won, and Clark’s gravity was a determining factor — Aliyah Boston had eight assists, several coming out of the short roll as two defenders converged on Clark, and Kelsey Mitchell and Lexie Hull had big scoring nights for the Fever.

“Rain drop. Drop top. I ball non stop stop.” – Caitlin Clark pic.twitter.com/kTIDFkTzee

— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) September 20, 2024

Throughout the season, the Sun have applied significant defensive pressure to Clark, but that has been less effective as Indiana’s offense has learned how to play out of traps and blitzes. Boston is making the right reads in the lane, and the shooting around that pick-and-roll partnership has been sublime. There is value in limiting the head of the snake, but perhaps it’s better to force the rookie to try to beat Connecticut on her own. My guess is the Sun stay aggressive with two on the ball in Game 1 but adjust after the Fever pick that apart.

The pick: Connecticut in 3

No. 4 Las Vegas (27-13) vs. No. 5 Seattle (25-15)

Game 1 at Las Vegas: Sunday at 10 p.m. (ET), ESPN
Game 2 at Las Vegas: Tuesday at 9:30 p.m. (ET), ESPN
Game 3 (if necessary) at Seattle: Thursday TBD, ESPN2

How healthy are Jewell Loyd and Ezi Magbegor?

Magbegor missed the last three games of the season in concussion protocol, and Loyd missed the same stretch with a right knee injury. If they aren’t right for the start of the playoffs, Seattle is toast. Magbegor, with her length and athleticism, is the Storm’s only hope of even containing Wilson. Seattle also needs Loyd’s offense against the league’s highest-scoring team (86.4 points per game).

The matchups between these teams are tantalizing. Two of the best scoring guards in the league in Loyd and Kelsey Plum. Another two Olympians at point guard in Chelsea Gray and Skylar Diggins-Smith, who approach the game with diametrically opposed style and pace. One of the most efficient forwards in WNBA history in Nneka Ogwumike against Wilson, who is in the midst of the best season the league has ever seen. Defensive specialist Gabby Williams gets to dig into guarding Jackie Young, and two-time Storm champion Alysha Clark faces off against her former squad.

Seattle won the first matchup before Gray was healthy, then Las Vegas took the next three. However, the Storm didn’t have their first-choice starting lineup in any of those losses, since Williams joined the team late, and she was an important factor for Seattle when these teams faced off in the 2022 postseason.

Of course, she’s also the @WNBA Western Conference Player of the Month!

26.1 PPG
12.0 RPG
1.4 SPG
1.9 BPG
51% FG@_ajawilson22 // #ALLINLV pic.twitter.com/ZyCB2Onpz8

— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) September 20, 2024

Ultimately, it’s hard to see the Storm scoring enough to keep up with the Aces, especially in Las Vegas. If the Aces take care of the ball and sell out to protect the paint, how is a team that shot 28.8 percent on 3-pointers supposed to generate offense? A three-game series means that Seattle only needs to get hot once or twice, but Las Vegas hasn’t lost with Wilson in the lineup in nearly four weeks. The defending champs are peaking at the right time, while the Storm have looked shaky lately, even in wins.

The pick: Las Vegas in 2

(Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic)

College football’s Week 4 didn’t have any truly stunning upsets, but we got to know more about the teams that should be in College Football Playoff contention at the end of the year. Some teams aren’t out of it, while others aren’t as dominant as we expected, and the pool for one spot looks a lot bigger than it did a week ago.

Here are five lessons from Week 4 as they relate to the CFP:

1. Clemson’s not done yet

It seemed the college football world moved past Clemson after the opening 34-3 loss to Georgia, but reports of the Tigers’ demise may have been greatly exaggerated. Since that loss, Clemson has a 66-20 win against Appalachian State and a 59-35 win against NC State on Saturday.

Yes, the Wolfpack started a true freshman quarterback, but it didn’t matter. Clemson was up 28-0 in the first quarter and the game was over not long after it began. The Tigers used quarterback Cade Klubnik’s legs a bit more, highlighted by his 55-yard touchdown run. Running back Phil Mafah left the game briefly with an apparent shoulder injury, but returned and immediately scored on a 38-yard touchdown run. He finished with 107 yards on seven carries.

Clemson doesn’t need to be a top-four team to make the CFP. The Tigers just need to win the ACC. The Clemson we’ve seen in the last few weeks looks like a team that could get an automatic or maybe even at-large spot. Clemson hosts Stanford next week and then travels to Florida State. The Tigers don’t play Miami in the regular season and will get Louisville at home, making for a manageable slate.

Clemson has a 29 percent chance to make the Playoff, according to The Athletic’s projections, with a 25 percent chance to win the ACC.

GO DEEPER

College Football Playoff 2024 projections: Utah back in, USC hangs on in bracket

Much of the hype around the Volunteers this season was about their quarterback, but Saturday’s 25-15 win at No. 15 Oklahoma was a different approach. The Vols knew Oklahoma couldn’t move the ball against their defense, and they played conservatively in the second half to secure a win without style points, and that’s OK. (Oklahoma’s defense also appears to be very good, so don’t play too risky.)

GO DEEPER

Tennessee looks like a contender in wrecking Oklahoma’s SEC debut: What it means for both teams

Iamaleava was good, completing 13 of 21 passes for 194 yards and a touchdown, but the Vols ran the ball 52 times total. Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold was such a disaster, with three turnovers, that he was benched in the first half for true freshman Michael Hawkins Jr. Tennessee led 19-3 at the half and played the second knowing the Sooners wouldn’t catch up.

Oklahoma finished with 222 total yards and 1.1 yards per rush, including sacks. This Tennessee defense is really good, and it’s why the Vols are in prime CFP position. Their chances of making the Playoff increased from 58 percent to 75 percent, according to our model.

3. USC blew a chance to make an early statement

The Trojans have improved, especially on defense. It’s obvious. There’s reason to feel good about the direction of the program under Lincoln Riley again. But Saturday’s 27-24 loss at Michigan was a badly missed opportunity. USC came back from a 14-0 deficit to take the lead in Ann Arbor, but last year’s poor tackling showed up at the worst possible time, as the Wolverines ran their way down to a game-winning touchdown in the final seconds.

GO DEEPER

USC let Michigan off the hook, and now the Trojans’ margin for error is slim

Michigan threw for just 32 yards. The Wolverines had fewer than 20 total yards in the second half going into their final drive. But USC threw a costly pick-six and the defense stumbled at the end. A win would’ve put USC at 3-0 with wins against LSU and Michigan and a manageable path to a CFP spot. Instead, the loss means the Oct. 12 home game against Penn State could be a must-win for Big Ten championship game hopes. It also means USC may only be able to afford one more loss to have a chance at an at-large bid. This would’ve been a good win to have in its back pocket, as its odds to make the Playoff fell from 69 percent to 45 percent in our model.

Utah WR Dorian Singer had seven receptions for 95 yards in the Utes’ win against Oklahoma State. (William Purnell / Imagn Images)

4. Utah took early control of the Big 12, but can it hold?

Utah’s trip to Oklahoma State to open Big 12 play was always going to be a statement game for early advantage in Big 12 play among the favorites. That edge went to Utah, which won 22-19, holding on after having a 22-3 lead in the fourth quarter. The Utes defense was stout as expected, holding the Cowboys to 285 yards and running back Ollie Gordon II to just 42 rushing yards.

Quarterback Cam Rising missed another game with a finger injury on his throwing hand. Receiver Dorian Singer said earlier in the week that Rising would play. The betting line swung from -2.5 for Utah to -2.5 for Oklahoma State overnight Wednesday, seemingly indicating he would not. Rising ultimately warmed up but did not play. Backup Isaac Wilson completed 17 of 29 passes for 207 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, along with 41 rushing yards. It was enough to win, and his play has been better in recent weeks, but Utah likely needs Rising healthy if it wants to win the Big 12 and make the CFP.

Among the other Big 12 preseason favorites, Kansas is 1-3, Arizona is 2-1 and Kansas State is 3-1 after a late-night blowout loss at BYU. The Utes get Arizona next week, and three of their final four games are against BYU (4-0), Iowa State (3-0) and UCF (3-0).

5. The fifth CFP spot for the Group of 5 is wide open again

It didn’t take long for the good feeling from some Power 4 upsets to drop away. Memphis lost 56-44 at Navy, one game after beating Florida State. Northern Illinois lost in overtime to Buffalo, one game after beating Notre Dame. Toledo lost to Western Kentucky one game after beating Mississippi State. It was a reminder that it’s tough for any G5 team to go undefeated against G5 teams with a similar talent level (or a unique style, in the case of Navy).

Boise State also has one loss to Oregon. UNLV, ranked in the coaches poll, is undefeated for now, and James Madison, pedestrian for two weeks, beat North Carolina 70-50 in a stunning game. And then there’s Liberty, now 4-0 after pulling away late for a 35-24 win against East Carolina.

Most of the early favorites for the top G5 spot have dropped a game or two, keeping this race wide open as we move into conference play, but the Undefeated Liberty Question continues to loom over it all.

(Top photo of Cade Klubnik and Phil Mafah: John Byrum / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

As the Las Vegas Aces begin their quest for a third consecutive WNBA championship, their star forward, A’ja Wilson, will lead the team having received the league’s highest honor. On Sunday, Wilson was named the 2024 WNBA MVP, becoming only the second player ever to win the award unanimously and the first since the Houston Comets’ Cynthia Cooper-Dyke in the league’s 1997 inaugural season. 

That Wilson took home the award was of little surprise. Her season was arguably the most dominant in WNBA history. She set a new WNBA single-season scoring record (26.9 points per game) and also set single-season records with 1,021 total points — she was the first player ever to cross the 1,000-point mark — and 451 total rebounds. Wilson was also the first player to lead the WNBA in total points, rebounds and blocks (98) in a season.

“I don’t want it to ever get lost on how good (A’ja) is,” Aces coach Becky Hammon told reporters in mid-September. “She just does it all. She’s in the middle of a run that sometimes I want to shake her and say, ‘Do you know how good you are?’ But then I don’t want to shake her because I don’t want to wake her up. She can just stay in whatever zone she’s in.”

Records shattered. Milestones conquered.

A’ja Wilson claims her third MVP title with a historic season for the ages 🌟

2024 @Kia WNBA MVP #KiaMVP pic.twitter.com/5fDSXwkYzf

— WNBA (@WNBA) September 22, 2024

With the victory, Wilson has now won the MVP in three of her seven WNBA seasons, including 2020 and 2022. She joins Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie and Lauren Jackson as the only other three-time MVP recipients. Wilson could also join a trio of three-time Defensive Player of the Year winners (Swoopes, Tamika Catchings and Sylvia Fowles) when that award is announced later this postseason. 

Wilson finished third in last year’s MVP voting in a historically close race, behind the New York Liberty’s Breanna Stewart and the Connecticut Sun’s Alyssa Thomas. Wilson received one fourth-place vote, and later said she used that as a form of motivation. 

“Whoever you are out there that voted me fourth (for MVP), thank you. Thank you so much,” Wilson said during Las Vegas’ championship rally last fall. “I wanna say I appreciate you, ’cause that just means that I got a lot more work to do.”

The moment ✨

“I cannot thank you all enough. I hope you guys understand how much you mean to me. I hope you guys know that this trophy is nothing without y’all. We’ve been through the ringer – and we gon’ continue to go through the ringer – but one thing y’all don’t ever have… pic.twitter.com/NOnm0BP4yr

— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) September 22, 2024

Beyond Wilson, there was little drama as to who would take second in the MVP voting. Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (467 points) received 66 of the 67 votes from a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. Stewart received the other second-place vote and finished third overall (295 points).

Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark finished fourth in the voting (130 points) and Thomas finished fifth (83 points). Players were awarded 10 points for a first-place vote, seven for second, five for third, three for a fourth and one for fifth.

In the 2024 regular season, Wilson was named the Kia WNBA Western Conference Player of the Month four times (May, June, July and September) and the WNBA Western Conference Player of the Week six times. If she wins MVP again in her career, she will become the first player in WNBA history to do so four times. 

Wilson and the Aces begin their postseason run on Sunday. Las Vegas is the No. 4 seed and hosts the No. 5 Seattle Storm, with tipoff set for 10 p.m. ET. 

Required reading

(Photo: Steph Chambers / Getty Images)

Heading into this Premier League weekend, Manchester City were top of the table and Arsenal were in second place.

It all feels extremely familiar.

In 2022-23, Arsenal lost home and away to City, and finished five points behind them. Last season, Arsenal beat City in London but drew with them in Manchester and ended up two points adrift of them in the final standings. When the margins separating the winners and losers in title races are tiny, winning away to your rivals for the trophy is important. But does the fact we are so early into the new season mean another stalemate at the Etihad Stadium today (Sunday) would suit Mikel Arteta’s visitors?

Both sides recorded goalless draws in their Champions League openers in midweek, but Pep Guardiola’s side head into this game with an extra 24 hours of rest in their legs and with Erling Haaland one away from becoming the first player to reach double figures for goals in his first five appearances of a Premier League season. However, he’s facing a defence who have conceded just three times in nine Premier League away games across the calendar year so far.

We asked our City writer (Sam Lee), one of our Arsenal writers (Art de Roche) and one of our data and tactics experts (Thom Harris) to ponder some key questions ahead of the fixture.

Will Arsenal’s mindset be that winning is essential this time?

That would definitely have been the case if they had not won at Tottenham Hotspur last weekend, but that result changes things ever so slightly. Three points today would see Arsenal leapfrog City, but returning to north London with a draw shouldn’t be catastrophic. While many assumed they settled for a point on their last visit to City, Arsenal’s approach was similar to their two previous wins over them and that north London derby win last weekend. Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard squandering chances was the difference. This time, they will look to be just as competitive but will need to be more clinical in those key offensive moments.

Art de Roche

(Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)

I agree with Art — while it might not feel like it at the moment, City will drop points somewhere along the line, and it’s surely advisable to focus on staying within touching distance rather than going all out for a victory here and risk falling five points behind and having to play catch-up at this early stage. A point would be a precious one, and if Arsenal can keep it as tight as they did against Tottenham, they may well get a chance or two to nick all three anyway.

Thom Harris

Will City be able to cope with Arsenal’s set-piece threat?

Obviously, Arsenal are strong in that department but it is not as if City are particularly weak. Of the six first-team defenders likely to be selected, only 5ft 6in (169cm) Rico Lewis is small for a defender. The rest are Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias, Manuel Akanji, John Stones and Josko Gvardiol. Height is not the only determining factor, of course, and City are pretty tenacious when challenging for balls into the box, and it should not be underestimated that they know a thing or two about screening themselves; they have even benefited from NBA tactics via the Boston Celtics. City can be caught out from set pieces at times — who doesn’t? — but because they know that many teams visiting the Etihad will be focused on nicking an advantage from dead balls, they have to put in at least equal amounts of work to stop that from happening.

Sam Lee

Set plays are highly situational; a lapse in concentration, a lost individual duel or a particularly good cross can undo hours of hard work during the week. Still, the general dead-ball trends are revealing — while Arsenal have been extremely dangerous when it comes to attacking set-pieces since the start of last season, City have been by far and away the best at defending them. The below scatter chart tells us that Guardiola’s side have conceded just 1.6 goals per 100 set pieces, not including penalties — that equates to three in the last 186 they’ve faced – the best defensive rate among the 17 Premier League ever-presents in that time.

Records are there to be broken, though, and City haven’t looked completely infallible; Ethan Pinnock alone had three chances from corners at the Etihad last weekend, while fellow Brentford defender Nathan Collins was only denied by an instinctive Ederson save early in the first half. Having said that, the cautious, data-led suggestion would be that these two teams cancel each other out once again.

Thom Harris

(Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Is Haaland vs Arsenal’s centre-backs the key battle?

It will be one of a few key battles. Arsenal shut out Haaland in all three meetings last season (including the Community Shield), with the striker failing to even have a shot on target in any of those matches. Key to that was how William Saliba and fellow centre-back Gabriel took turns in getting tight and physical with him. They did not allow him to get any momentum, whether it was when running in behind or simply in getting a feel for the game. Replicating that will be important, as will how Arsenal decide to approach defending certain spaces. Their wingers were essential to keeping Spurs quiet last Sunday, and similar work could help in Manchester.

Art de Roche

Haaland is obviously City’s main scoring threat, but while we have all focused on his nine league goals in four games, including those back-to-back hat-tricks, it has probably gone unnoticed that there are not many goals coming from their other players. In that sense, if he cannot get service, or if he does but misses his chances, it severely impacts City’s chances of winning. On the other hand, we know he often goes through games without having many touches, and that this is largely by design — so he can pin centre-backs and create space in midfield for City’s other forwards.

(Darren Staples/AFP via Getty Images)

In that sense, it is possible that he could win the battle by getting four touches and doing nothing of note all afternoon, as long as he keeps Saliba and Gabriel occupied and lets his colleagues get on with it. Whether Haaland scores or not will have a big say in the actual result, but it is just one aspect of this game — City will have to be good enough to get through the Arsenal press to try to create chances for him anyway.

Sam Lee

I very much agree with Sam here; the two centre-backs could nullify Haaland for 99 per cent of the game, only to be undone by a moment of quality — much like they were in City’s 3-1 win at the Emirates Stadium in February 2023, when he scored with virtually his first sight of goal with less than 10 minutes of the 90 to go.

Unstoppable 💪

Erling Haaland scored his 26th Premier League goal of the season against Arsenal 🤯#PLonPrime pic.twitter.com/uy2aXK91Lm

— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) February 16, 2023

The signs are encouraging for Arsenal, though — that is Haaland’s only goal in 359 minutes against the Saliba and Gabriel partnership across all competitions, racking up just 0.58 xG in close to four full games. His only truly dominant performance against Arteta’s side came when Rob Holding stepped in for an injured Saliba later that same season. I’ll continue to sit on the fence — keeping Haaland quiet is probably necessary for an Arsenal win, but it won’t guarantee one either.

Thom Harris

Should we expect a classic between the league’s best two teams?

While it would be nice, I am not expecting an all-timer of a game. After the three matches between the sides last season, and Arsenal’s recent matches against Spurs and Atalanta, it feels like another 90 minutes of tension is on the horizon. Arteta tried to go blow-for-blow against City in his first title challenge in 2022-23, but individual mistakes crept in and allowed Guardiola’s side to run away with the match. His switch to more of a ‘Plan B’ for bigger games was a welcome change last season and has kept Arsenal in these encounters. If the Spaniard had the midfield three he envisaged in the summer (Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice and Mikel Merino) available then things may have been different, but he doesn’t — so expect more of the same.

Art de Roche

I remember one thing very clearly from after the goalless draw at the Etihad in March: I did not want the two clubs to meet again in the Champions League semi-finals, which was possible at the time. I had been expecting a good game before kick-off that Sunday, because most of City’s recent title deciders, home or away, had been pretty dramatic, with excellent football on show — and we obviously got nowhere near that. It may just be that was what Jurgen Klopp brought to the party when his Liverpool team were City’s main challengers, and Arteta has a different way of facing these big games.

That said, it is not like Guardiola never chooses a defensive approach. City’s game plan at the Emirates last year was to escape with a 0-0, given he was concerned about the absence of a suspended Rodri from his midfield. And City were not at their best in the return game, either. It is not controversial to say that if Arteta wants his team to dig in, then it is harder to imagine a classic, just by the nature of the encounter. It could still be a good game if both teams take their chances, of course, but who says Arsenal are going to go with the same game plan anyway?

Sam Lee

Very happy to be wrong on this one, but I feel like an early-ish goal is the only thing that will relieve us from another tense battle of attrition.

Thom Harris

This fixture ended 6-3 in 2013 but today’s game is unlikely to have nine goals (Martin Rickett/PA Images via Getty Images)

Who will be the bigger miss, Kevin De Bruyne (if he doesn’t recover) or Odegaard?

Although De Bruyne is one of the Premier League’s best-ever midfielders, City’s strength in depth makes his absences easier to deal with. Arsenal have lacked any real tempo without Odegaard, as he is instrumental to what they do on the ball in all thirds of the pitch. Considering there has been such a stark stylistic difference without him in the side, it does not feel too rogue to suggest that Arsenal’s captain would be the bigger miss. Aside from goal contributions, Odegaard is almost always the player who sets the tone for Arsenal with and without the ball, and he will be a massive miss during this ongoing injury lay-off.

For an example of how influential he is, last season he was one of just two Arsenal players to be involved in at least two actions that were either build-up, chance creation or a shot per 90 minutes. The other was Bukayo Saka, with Odegaard understandably registering higher numbers in build-up and chance creation.

Art de Roche

I agree with Art. City have proved they can get by without De Bruyne basically every time he has been injured, going back years. Given his quality, that is quite an achievement. He missed a lot of 2018-19, quite a bit of 2020-21 and half of last season, and City won the title in all three years anyway. They have always had the players, or tactical tweaks, that mean they can more than make up for De Bruyne’s absence. In 2018-19, it was Bernardo Silva operating from the middle, two years later they embraced the false-nine system which involved Bernardo and Ilkay Gundogan pinging the ball around for fun, and last year they just kind of got by in a variety of ways, with no particular stand-out replacement. On the other hand, Odegaard is one of Arsenal’s (and the Premier League’s) best players, and they do not have equivalent squad depth.

Sam Lee

(Michael Regan/Getty Images)

I’ll play devil’s advocate. City have scored 17 goals against Arteta’s Arsenal in the Premier League; De Bruyne has had a hand in six of them, despite playing around 54 per cent of the total minutes. His impact on this often title-tilting fixture is unparalleled, and City will clearly miss his clinical edge in games such as this. He has started the season in dominant form too, second only to Dwight McNeil of Everton for chances created, while his 162 passes in the attacking third puts him 65 clear of any other player in the division.

The argument that City are more equipped to deal with De Bruyne’s absence is fair, but there is nobody quite like the Belgian for blowing games like this wide open, and given Arsenal’s recent solidity, the defending champions could miss that spark.

Thom Harris

(Top photos: Getty Images)

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Lando Norris wins his third Formula One race of the season, taking the Singapore Grand Prix 20 seconds ahead of Max Verstappen.

This narrows the driver championship gap to 50 points, with Verstappen still in the lead.

Norris was still leading by the end of Lap 1, and he began building a gap to Verstappen, getting over 11.5 seconds clear by Lap 17. But behind the leaders at the start, it was a messy Turn 1 as numerous cars ran wide. Franco Colapinto divebombed his way into the top 10, a spot he held until he pitted on Lap 30. Sergio Pérez struggled to pass him for a period of time.

“He’s very good,” the Red Bull driver said over the radio on Lap 16. “Difficult to pass, Colapinto.”

It became evident during the early stages of the Singapore GP that the undercut was looking strong. This is when a car pits before those in front to gain an advantage.

Lewis Hamilton was among the first frontrunners to pit, swapping his soft tires for hard tires on Lap 19. But he later said over the radio that he felt they’d have trouble later on, adding that he was already struggling with the hard tire by lap 23. The Singapore GP is traditionally a one-stop race unless the race is neutralized.

It seemed like it would be a runaway for Norris, who was building a notable lead. But by around Lap 30, he reported over the radio that he had front wing damage and began slowing. However, when he pulled into the pits, McLaren didn’t change his front wing — it just tweaked the setup and swapped the medium tires for the hard compound. Norris was later told over the radio that it was a “small issue but nothing serious.”

All eyes fell on Oscar Piastri as the race reached the middle stages. George Russell pitted on Lap 29, and the McLaren driver lurked behind him. Piastri began taking time out of Verstappen’s laps, moving into second as the Dutchman pitted. But the McLaren driver could feel his tires dropping off, finally pitting for hard tires on Lap 39. It was a late pit stop, a bold move by McLaren at a track where overtaking can be difficult. But he had a notable tire offset.

Piastri emerged from the pits behind the Mercedes duo and wasted no time passing Hamilton. He began hunting down Russell for the final podium position, nailing the overtake on Lap 45 at Turn 4 as he took the long way around the Silver Arrow.

The race settled from there. Norris had a close call when he clipped the wall, the same place where Russell crashed last year, but he put together a fastest lap shortly after, nearly two seconds quicker than Verstappen’s previous lap. Meanwhile, Pérez reported over the radio that he had no traction and was “bouncing like a kangaroo.”

Colapinto was right on his tail, putting the Red Bull under pressure, but the Williams driver ultimately finished outside of points, never getting around Pérez.

In a twist at the end, Daniel Ricciardo pitted for a third time in the final few laps, swapping for a set of soft tires. He was flying, and at the time, Norris had the race’s fastest lap. Ricciardo instead took the fastest lap, spoiling Norris’ chance at his first grand slam.

📻 GP: “Your old pal Daniel got the fastest lap at the end there as well.”

📻 Verstappen: “Thank you, Daniel.”#F1 #SingaporeGP

— Luke Smith (@LukeSmithF1) September 22, 2024

Here’s how the top 10 finished:

1. Lando Norris
2. Max Verstappen
3. Oscar Piastri
4. George Russell
5. Charles Leclerc
6. Lewis Hamilton
7. Carlos Sainz
8. Fernando Alonso
9. Nico Hülkenberg
10. Sergio Pérez

This is a developing story.

Top photo: Mark Thompson/Getty Images

Texas redshirt freshman quarterback Arch Manning’s highly anticipated starting debut had its share of ups and downs, but the Longhorns dominated overmatched Louisiana-Monroe 51-3 on Saturday night before 102,850 at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.

Manning, the son of Cooper Manning, nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning and grandson of Archie Manning, finished 15 of 29 passing for 258 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Manning started on Saturday night in place of injured starter Quinn Ewers, who is recovering from a strained oblique suffered last week in a win against UTSA.

Manning led the Longhorns’ first team offense for 10 series, leaving the game early in the fourth as true freshman Trey Owens entered. Here’s what we learned from his performance.

Manning’s top highlights

It’s clear to see why Manning was such a coveted recruit. His arm strength and accuracy were impressive on Saturday night. The deep balls he uncorked typically landed at or near their intended targets, and he completed passes of 56 and 46 yards.

ARCH MANNING RESPONDS AFTER HIS INT 🔥

A 56-yard DIME right to the hands of Isaiah Bond 😤 pic.twitter.com/mZ1aDgpLzT

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 22, 2024

The 6-4, 225-pound Manning didn’t seem to get rattled at any point, even when taking big hits. He got right back up each time. And he operated the offense like a veteran quarterback.

ARCH MANNING DROPPIN’ DIMES vs. UL Monroe 😳

A 46-yard throw and catch to Matthew Golden 💪 pic.twitter.com/xWJtwqYu8A

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 22, 2024

He bounced back from an interception on his first drive to lead four consecutive touchdown drives, which pushed Texas out to a 28-0 lead early in the second quarter. It was an up-and-down showing from there, and he threw another interception late in the first half, but he finished strong with two more touchdown drives of 66 and 63 yards in the second half. — Sam Khan Jr.

Scouting Arch’s first start

It was hardly perfect, but Manning looked firmly in control of the offense, wasn’t confused or overwhelmed by any checks or changes and kept things moving against an inferior opponent without issue. Texas put Manning in several play-action situations, allowing the big-armed sophomore to throw a few pretty deep balls. Like a lot of quarterbacks his age, Manning still defaults to the deepest throw in the concept. He forced one into multiple defenders early on and got picked off. He threw another one into two more defenders a little bit later and nearly completed it. More experience should build more comfort and clean up most of the current hiccups in Manning’s game.

He’s still a little late with his general pocket processing, especially if the coverage isn’t something he was anticipating or a route gets thrown off-kilter. A lot of that is timing, though, and Manning’s a young backup – so that’s understandable. In general, this will go in the books as a terrific experience for Manning as he was able to put both great throws and correctable mistakes on tape. He’ll gain confidence and learn a ton at the same time. — Nick Baumgardner

Texas continues to play its QB situation correctly

Although Manning’s highs were impressive, his mistakes showed his youth and inexperience. From forcing throws he shouldn’t to simply lacking the polish that Ewers has from his 25 career starts, it’s clear that Manning still has room to grow.

Manning’s potential seems limitless given his raw physical skill. Saturday’s extended action will be a good teaching tape for coach Steve Sarkisian. — Khan

GO DEEPER

How Texas is achieving rare QB harmony with Arch Manning, Quinn Ewers

Arch’s first college interception

Right now, Manning’s biggest areas for improvement are general pocket awareness and moving quickly through his progressions when his first read is taken away. The first pick of his college career, on Texas’ opening drive, was an example of both. Manning took an unnecessary hit because he stared down a read far too long, rather than either moving off that receiver and onto his No. 2, or scrambling. Then he forced a throw into three defenders. Everything about Manning’s pass mechanics, from his feet to his release, is ahead of his years. The basics of playing quarterback against live defenders, though? Still a work in progress, as expected. — Baumgardner 

Arch Manning throws his first career interception on the opening drive of the game. pic.twitter.com/2wXd8q4HcK

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 22, 2024

Should Quinn Ewers be looking over his shoulder?

No, there is no quarterback controversy in Austin. Quinn Ewers led Texas to the College Football Playoff last season, coming within an end-zone deflection against Washington from advancing to the national championship game. Just two weeks ago, Ewers shredded Michigan in the Big House, a performance so impressive it helped vault the Longhorns to the No. 1 ranking in the AP poll a week later. Once he returns to health, Manning will return to being the best backup quarterback in the country.

Obviously, it would become an issue for Sarkisian if Ewers comes back but struggles, especially with games against Oklahoma and Georgia looming back-to-back in mid-October. But if and when Texas loses for the first time, it will probably not be due to its passing game, which has thus far been the biggest strength of the team. — Stewart Mandel

(Photo: Tim Warner / Getty Images)

The hot dogs are out of my house. Something about the way Mike Tomlin emphasized how we don’t want to know what’s in them forced me to chuck them … maybe forever.

Mike Tomlin just compared the Steelers locker room to a hot dog. pic.twitter.com/Fxsl12h1nv

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 17, 2024

Tomin’s 2-0 Steelers are starting Justin Fields in their home opener and hoping the ingredients in this offense start cooking up something delicious. I’m hearing they feel that they are close to it, too. Fields is getting more confident and comfortable in Arthur Smith’s offense. Russell Wilson continues to rehab his calf strain, but he’s still not at 100% health. While the offense is still moderately conservative, they’ll try to take off against the Chargers.

Jim Harbaugh and company, on a mission to go 3-0 for the first time in 22 years, have their own QB problems. Justin Herbert has a high ankle sprain but is trying to play in Pittsburgh. (Context: Former Titans QB Ryan Tannehill had this injury last season; he missed two games.) For Herbert to play, I’m told the team is going to want to see that he can plant his foot and even get up on his toes.

That’s two injuries in two months to the same side for Herbert. He missed most of training camp with a plantar fascia injury in his right foot. I’m told the QB, who is known in the building for his toughness, is trying to play. L.A. is already planning a run-heavy game against a very stingy Pittsburgh defense with or without Herbert under center.

This is what I’m hearing this week:

• The Packers and Jordan Love made their decision on his status Friday but don’t want the Titans to know their final call.

• Bryce Young was stunned when told he’d been benched, and the offense is frustrated. One Panthers player said, “Young was making the same mistakes over and over.”

• The Vikings are the complete opposite side of the coin from the Panthers when it comes to quarterback development structures.

• Before the Jets acquired Aaron Rodgers, the team’s top choice for a veteran QB was Derek Carr.

• Kickers are the new star of the NFL.

• And the desperate Colts will try to be more physical on defense this week.

Love is a mystery (in terms of his Sunday availability)

Jordan Love has been keeping fans (and reporters) on their toes. The quarterback missed last week’s game against the Colts but was at practice all week. He was limited, but I’m told he’s getting better by the day. The team and Love made their decision on his status Friday afternoon but don’t want the Titans to know their final call. Matt LaFleur told reporters they will test the injury all the way up until kickoff but a veteran NFL trainer said, “this isn’t a type of injury you ‘test’ on the field; it’s been decided.”

In other words: the Packers are all in on keeping the competitive edge!

Under the original recovery timeline, the Week 3 game against the Titans was categorized as “a long shot,” but Love is rebounding quicker than expected. He is wearing a metal brace on his left knee and a black leg sleeve for added support. This wouldn’t be his first time playing with a brace; at Utah State, he wore one after tearing the meniscus in his right knee.

It’s over for Bryce Young in Carolina

The NFC South is spicy right now and could have the most wins of any division after three weeks. They also have the Panthers…

Things are bad in Carolina right now. After just two games in a new offensive system with a new head coach, the Panthers made a bold decision and pulled the plug on 2023 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young.

It’s over. No matter what Carolina says, rest assured: It’s over.

This isn’t an experiment.

This isn’t a Ross and Rachel break.

This is Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston over.

Bryce Young heads to the bench 18 games into his NFL career, with Andy Dalton (left) stepping in. (Grant Halverson / Getty Images)

The quarterback was stunned when told he’d been benched. On the field, the offense is frustrated. One Panthers player said, “Young was making the same mistakes over and over.”

Young was fully aware that he needed to improve, but he was reassured that he was still the guy. The coaching staff told him they were in this together. They told him that “he was fine,” and that they were all on board to reach their goals.

On Monday, it changed.

It’s why Young admitted he was surprised by the move — he thought he had more time. First-year head coach David Canales told the world it was his call, but it was hard to find anyone in the league who believed that owner David Tepper had nothing to do with this decision.

History in Carolina tells us that while Tepper has tried to be more hands-off and allow the football people to make the football decisions, it’s never that easy. Even people on the Panthers believe ownership said, enough. “Too much changed from Sunday to Monday,” one source added. Now, veteran Andy Dalton gets a shot at trying to give the offense some life.

Eighteen months ago, Tepper and the Panthers had a choice: Young or C.J. Stroud with the No. 1 overall pick. Tepper and company told people and were convinced that they found their Drew Brees in Young. The height and weight were always an issue for the team, but they were willing to pick outside the prototype quarterback in hopes of hitting the jackpot.

GO DEEPER

Bryce Young, Tua and Watson: An NFL tipping point, or billionaires’ business as usual?

Meanwhile, in Minnesota

When the Panthers benched Bryce Young, I texted the news to a trusted league source. He quickly responded: “They should bench their program.”

I usually think of college football when I hear “program,” but looking at quarterback development structures through that lens is informative. A program encompasses everything: Environment, support staff, planning, teaching philosophy, and the list goes on. Speak to folks around the league about QB development, and they’ll often mention all of these layers as being essential. Carolina is one side of the coin — Minnesota is the other.

Kevin O’Connell, who is currently in his third season as the Vikings’ head coach, has created an organizational environment built on intentionality. Circumstances have not always been optimal, but the varying factors have not pulled O’Connell away from his belief that growth and development require consistency over time.

Around the NFL, countless coaches and execs have paid attention to what O’Connell has accomplished. One opposing defensive coach said, “I’d trust KOC more than anyone in our league to get the most out of his quarterback.”

Sam Darnold’s first two games under Kevin O’Connell were two of the best games of his career so far. (Brad Rempel / Imagn Images)

Last year, veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins tore his Achilles in Week 7. A revolving door of sorts happened, with Nick Mullens, Jaren Hall and Josh Dobbs all starting at some point. Remember the run the Vikings had with Dobbs after acquiring him on a whim? This does not happen if not for an overarching philosophy centered around instilling belief and ensuring the player is not being asked to do more than they are capable of.

It helps to have a surrounding cast featuring Justin Jefferson, Christian Darrisaw, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson, but the ancillary aspects speak to O’Connell’s program. Before the Vikings drafted quarterback J.J. McCarthy, they hired longtime NFL quarterback Josh McCown. After they drafted McCarthy, they explored the biomechanics space, even bringing in some of the game’s best minds to talk about quarterback movements.

All of this relates to the stellar play of their current reclamation project: Sam Darnold, a player who has bounced around four different teams (including the Panthers). Last week, after the Vikings beat the 49ers, San Francisco’s star edge rusher Nick Bosa said: “That’s an excellent coach … he’s just really good with the scheme. He knows how to scheme up the big-time players [against] the defense, and he’s got a lot of outstanding players and a good offensive line. You could feel it when you’re playing a good coach who knows what they’re doing.”

All of this brings up an interesting topic regarding the Vikings’ future. When the team hired O’Connell and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah in February 2022, it signed them to four-year contracts. This is their third season, and during training camp, Vikings co-owner Mark Wilf said extension talks would not be happening this season. Meanwhile, Mike McDaniel, who was hired at the same time as O’Connell, was extended by Dolphins owner Steve Ross.

It should be noted that extensions rarely happen after two seasons, but if optimal development programs are as hard to find as they seem to be, why not invest now? In the eyes of many around the league, O’Connell deserves a new contract. If one does not come, free agency is always an alternative.

GO DEEPER

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Before Rodgers, Jets wanted ‘future Hall of Famer’ Carr

Aaron Rodgers’ Thursday night performance against the Patriots was incredible. That is what the New York Jets had been waiting for.

Before they acquired Aaron Rodgers in the spring of 2023, the team’s top choice for a veteran QB was Derek Carr. Members of the organization eagerly recruited him, expressing their unwavering belief in his abilities. At a dinner, head coach Robert Saleh told Carr that he saw the quarterback as a future Hall of Famer.

While many doubted that assertion, Carr’s stellar performance so far in 2024, including Sunday against Mike Zimmer’s formidable Cowboys defense, suggests that Saleh might have been on to something. First-year Saints offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak has injected a new level of dynamism into the team’s offense, reminiscent of the high-powered Sean Payton-Drew Brees years.

Though as one defensive coordinator pointed out: “The Payton offense is out of the building, the run game has made a huge difference in making sure Carr is not carrying the offense solely on his shoulders. Credit to Carr too, who has been really efficient.”

Pre-snap shifts and play-action passes are all part of the offense, with Carr under center 70% of the time. That leads the league, and the Saints lead the league in points. Who saw that coming?

GO DEEPER

Why Derek Carr may have found the right fit in Klint Kubiak’s Saints offense

Kickers play the long game

If Taylor Swift was the talk of the NFL all of last season, this year there’s an even more popular star dominating the game: your team’s kicker.

Yep, this will be the only place you ever read that sentence. There is nothing sexy about kickers, of course, but what they are doing right now has everyone admiring elite feet. Kicking long field goals in the NFL all of a sudden looks easy. (It isn’t.) League-wide this season, kickers have made 35 of 39 (90%) of their field goal attempts from 50 yards or longer. What’s behind the long-range trend? I asked around the league.

The most common answer is that weather conditions and playing surfaces have been ideal. Most surfaces are in great shape this time of year — significantly, the natural grass fields — leading to fewer issues for kickers. We will likely see the success rate go down once it gets colder, windier, and the weather shifts.

One coach said: “There are more indoor stadiums. There are more specialist coaches. There is more exposure to kicking as a specialized skill. Guys are actually growing up aspiring to be kickers, compared to how it used to be when guys kicked and played another position.”

A general manager added: “Specialists are their entity, and that’s all they work on, so they should be good at it. Snap, hold, and kick timing can be worked on regularly so you can get good at the process. And teams likely really don’t spend too much time on FG Block since they’re devoting resources to other areas.”

Another head coach expanded on that last point: “Since the rule changes in recent years, it’s almost impossible to block a kick. You can’t cover the center, you can’t jump and land over the line of scrimmage, and you can’t push interior lineman … blocking kicks is almost a non-factor.”

Three of Ka’imi Fairbairn’s six NFL-leading field goals of 50-plus yards came in primetime on Sunday night. (Alex Slitz / Getty Images)

And a special teams coach added: “They’ve gone the way of a lot of the positions — personal coaches, and there is politics in that, but they do a really good job of refining their craft, swing mechanics, technique, strength. They have summits like the other positions do. They can self correct … and if they can’t there’s a talent pool to go get someone else. They don’t necessarily have the same career path where they have to have immediate success, and you may not hear about them for a few years. It truly has to be a passion for them.”

The strangest part about all these boots on fire is that the one kicker who has been burning up the record books for years, Baltimore’s Justin Tucker, is off to a slow start. He’s already missed two kicks — though his record for longest field goal, 66 yards, still stands. For now.

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And finally…

The desperate, 0-2 Colts will try to be more physical on defense this week against the Bears. The combined quarterback age in that game is 44: Caleb Williams in 22, and Anthony Richardson is 22.

I’m definitely not feeling 22. (I’m allowed one Taylor Swift lyric reference a season. Thank you.)

Make sure you check out the “Scoop City” Podcast this Tuesday to get more information and insight on the Week 3 games. Two-time Super Bowl champion Chris Long will join co-host Chase Daniel and I to let us know which teams and quarterbacks have him in shock.

(Top photo: Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)

Arch Manning, the most famous backup quarterback in football, will make his first college start Saturday night for No. 1 Texas against Louisiana-Monroe, replacing the injured Quinn Ewers.

The 19-year-old son of Cooper Manning, Arch represents the next generation of football royalty from the Manning family. His grandfather, Archie, starred at Ole Miss in the 1960s and played for the New Orleans Saints in the NFL. His uncles, Peyton and Eli, won two Super Bowls apiece in the NFL after decorated college careers at Tennessee and Ole Miss, respectively.

How did Arch get here and what’s next? Here’s a guide to what to know heading into the Longhorns’ game against the Warhawks, which will be streaming on ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET Saturday.

What has Manning done at Texas so far?

Manning’s existence at Texas has been a bit of a throwback to the way quarterback development used to be before the transfer portal. Manning enrolled at Texas in 2023, redshirted and saw minimal time as the third-string quarterback behind Ewers and backup Maalik Murphy. He made his career debut in the fourth quarter of the Longhorns’ regular-season finale, a 57-7 win over Texas Tech, and led two drives.

Manning saw just 27 snaps in two games last year (he came in the following week to take knees and kill the clock in the Longhorns’ Big 12 championship game win over Oklahoma State) but Murphy transferred to Duke after the season. Ewers opted to stay at Texas for one more season rather than enter the draft, cementing him as the Longhorns’ starter for a third consecutive season.

Manning has been Ewers’ primary backup and is already seeing more game time in 2024, with 55 combined snaps in wins against Colorado State and UTSA. In the 12 drives Manning has led this season, the Longhorns have scored seven touchdowns. For the season, Manning is 14-of-18 passing for 318 yards and five touchdowns and has two touchdown runs.

He completed his first five pass attempts in a 52-0 Week 1 win against Colorado State, notching his first career touchdowns. Against UTSA, Manning entered for an injured Ewers in the second quarter and threw for four touchdowns and ran for a 67-yard score. He finished 9 of 12 passing for 223 yards in a 56-7 win over the Roadrunners. — Sam Khan Jr.

CAN’T TOUCH HIM 😮‍💨@ArchManning pic.twitter.com/65nR57qIR5

— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) September 15, 2024

Why is Manning making his first start now?

Ewers left the UTSA game early in the second quarter with a strained oblique and did not return. Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said Monday that Ewers was “questionable” for Saturday’s game against ULM and that the Longhorns would monitor his progress throughout the week. On Thursday, Sarkisian said Ewers made “great strides” in his recovery but in the interest of his long-term health and career, as well as getting him healthy for SEC play, decided to start Manning.

“I’m looking forward to his future as a player but also the future of the season for us and the longevity,” Sarkisian said. “Getting him possibly one more week healthier for the long term, I think is good for us as we’re getting ready for SEC play.”

Sarkisian added that Ewers’ goals — leading Texas to a national championship, being in the Heisman Trophy race and becoming a top-five NFL Draft pick — won’t be disrupted by missing Saturday’s game. And Sarkisian wants to see how Manning runs the offense and operates as the starter.

“(He) had a really good week to work, understands the plan,” Sarkisian said of Manning. “But it’s different when you’re the starting quarterback as opposed to coming in cold off the bench as a backup. So, different challenge for him. But I know that he’ll be more than ready to go out and operate and play football at a high level for us.” — Khan

GO DEEPER

Texas is college football’s new No. 1. What have we learned?

Will Texas have a QB controversy when Ewers returns?

No. Ewers is the starter. When he’s healthy enough to return, he will be QB1.

Manning is a superb talent and looks like he’ll be a star when his time comes. He’s good enough to start for most other programs today. But Ewers has risen to the occasion in big moments for Texas time and again and happens to also be an elite talent too. Like Manning in 2023, Ewers was the No. 1 recruit in the 2021 class. He’s a potential first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. He beat Alabama in Tuscaloosa and took the Longhorns to the Playoff last year and beat Michigan in Ann Arbor this year. He has 25 starts under his belt and three years of experience in this offense. There is no quarterback controversy at Texas. — Khan

GO DEEPER

How Texas is achieving rare QB harmony with Arch Manning, Quinn Ewers

Does Louisiana-Monroe pose a challenge Saturday?

The Warhawks were picked to finish last in their division and got the fewest votes in the Sun Belt Conference’s preseason media poll, though they have had a nice 2-0 start under new coach Bryant Vincent. They dominated UAB, 32-6, on Sept. 7. ULM has 73 new players on its roster, headlined by Oklahoma transfer quarterback General Booty, who has a connection to Manning, even though they’ve never met.

Despite the feel-good nature of ULM’s start, don’t expect the Warhawks to be in this game deep into the second half. They’re ranked 100th in The Athletic’s rankings of all 134 Football Bowl Subdivision teams and are 44.5-point underdogs on Saturday according to BetMGM, because the talent gulf between the programs is significant. ULM is hoping to make a bowl game for the first time since 2012, while the Longhorns have their sights set on the Playoff and a national championship run. — Khan

GO DEEPER

Arch Manning won’t be only football royalty on field Saturday night. Meet General Booty!

How did Manning end up at Texas?

No recruit in the modern era attracted more general interest than Manning, who was ranked as the nation’s top prospect in the Class of 2023. Manning had his pick of any school in the country as one of the most coveted prospects in recruiting history, but he took official visits to three schools in June 2022: Georgia, Alabama and Texas.

He committed to the Longhorns just six days after his official visit to Austin and about 11 months after news broke that Texas would be leaving the Big 12 for the SEC. The Texas decision made a lot of sense for Manning, who could spend his early days with the program developing and learning behind Ewers before taking over the offense himself once Ewers headed to the NFL.

Sarkisian has long been considered one of the sport’s most prominent offensive masterminds and has spent his career coaching quarterbacks. After Manning issued his commitment, his high school coaches at Isidore Newman School in New Orleans — where his father and uncles played — could sense how at peace he felt.

“He’s just in such a good place mentally,” Manning’s high school coach, Nelson Stewart, said in October 2022. “He’s having fun … and he’s playing so free.” — Grace Raynor

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What was Manning like as a recruit?

Pundits docked Manning for the level of competition he faced while at Newman, a Class 2A school, but he was able to combat that stigma when Newman played one of its most difficult schedules in program history during his senior year and he opened the season with a 21-point road victory at Class 5A Hahnville. Among Manning’s most impressive traits were his ability to extend plays when things broke down and the patience to go through multiple reads in his progression — even scoring touchdowns on his fifth read at times. Manning broke Eli’s school record of 7,268 career passing yards and Peyton’s school record of 93 career passing touchdowns. He finished his high school career with 8,599 career passing yards and 115 touchdowns against 20 interceptions, throwing just two picks during his senior season.

But for as decorated as Manning was on the field, he was one of the most low-maintenance recruits in recent history off it. He stayed out of the spotlight as much as possible and announced his commitment to Texas by sending out his first and only tweet at the time to his personal Twitter page. Once he committed to the Longhorns, there was never any buzz about a potential flip and he signed the paperwork in a ceremony at his high school. — Raynor

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How Texas landed Arch Manning

What is Manning’s NFL Draft future?

The 19-year-old Manning will be eligible for the 2026 NFL Draft after his junior year of classes, though he will have three years of eligibility for college football remaining after this season because he redshirted as a freshman in 2023.

Physically, at 6 feet 4, 225 pounds with legit speed, athletic burst and first-round arm talent, Manning looks like an ideal quarterback prospect. It’s possible he’ll add strength, only improving his burst and agility in the pocket and general durability long-term. Frankly, we don’t have enough data right now to give him a proper draft projection. The relief duty last week against UTSA was the most we’ve seen of Manning, and while it featured a lot of great stuff — both with his feet and arm — it also showed an inexperienced passer who missed a few reads and wasn’t always in rhythm.

However, Manning’s natural quarterback instincts — footwork and processing — are elite. He generally plays the game with a rhythm and shows an understanding of a complex offense. Most important: He’s patient. The fact he wasn’t afraid to go to a school like Texas and grind without drama — simply because he wants to learn from Sarkisian in a stable environment — shows a type of maturity not often seen from today’s blue-chip quarterback recruits. — Nick Baumgardner

(Photo: Tim Warner / Getty Images)

Four of the NFL’s nine unbeaten teams meet Sunday, which should provide some buzz, albeit so early in the season.

While C.J. Stroud’s Houston Texans meet the resurgent Sam Darnold’s Minnesota Vikings, Justin Herbert — questionable with a high ankle sprain as of Friday — and the Los Angeles Chargers meet the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have one touchdown through eight quarters.

Elsewhere around the league, Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s concussions land him on IR as doubts surrounding his career continue. The Saints’ offense is off to a torrid start. Carolina Panthers QB Bryce Young has been benched in favor of veteran Andy Dalton. The Atlanta Falcons — coming off a thrilling win at Philadelphia — host the Kansas City Chiefs in Sunday’s nightcap.

What will Sunday’s action bring? The Athletic’s NFL writers Mike Sando, Zak Keefer and Jeff Howe discuss.

We have a pair of matchups between unbeatens in Week 3 — Texans-Vikings and Chargers-Steelers. What are you watching for in each of these games?

Sando: I’ll be interested in seeing how Sam Darnold plays if the Vikings fall behind. Can he continue to avoid the errors that have marked his career? In the other game, I want to see how Chargers right tackle Joe Alt fares against the Steelers’ T.J. Watt. Alt has been pretty dominant so far. This will be a fun matchup and if Alt wins it, he’s going to be voted All-Pro this year. He might be anyway.

Howe: Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores is off to a hot start, but C.J. Stroud is going to be his greatest challenge so far. If Flores can make life tough on Stroud, it could mean the Vikings have real staying power in the race for a playoff spot. The Chargers-Steelers game will be a brawl, and I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if neither team scores 20 points. I’m very interested to see how Justin Herbert and Justin Fields handle those stifling defenses. Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh has Herbert playing a more conservative style, and that could be important in a game like this. But with Herbert questionable with a high ankle sprain, the element of a measuring-stick game might be wiped away if he’s unavailable or significantly limited. I still think this will be a fun game from a defensive perspective, though.

Keefer: I’m with Jeff — the Texans’ offense struggled a bit in the second half Sunday night against an excellent Bears defense, and I’m wondering if Flores’ unit can give them some of the same problems. As for Chargers-Steelers, how many touchdowns will we see? Less than four? For a Pittsburgh team that’s 2-0 despite scoring one touchdown in eight quarters, I can’t see that formula working for long. The Steelers are going to have to unlock something offensively to keep winning games.

Panthers QB Bryce Young has been benched 18 games into his career as Carolina travels to Las Vegas to face the Raiders. What’s next for Young? Would the league benefit from sitting more rookie/young QBs to start their careers?

Sando: While the Panthers did a poor job supporting Young, the situation serves as a reminder against betting big on outlier quarterbacks. Young’s size was an issue coming into the 2023 draft. It’s a bigger issue now that teams have seen just how much his stature has complicated his ability to play well. The Panthers will either draft a quarterback early in 2025 or find a veteran. I don’t see Young in the picture.

Howe: The Panthers have to do everything in their power to rebuild Young’s confidence because he clearly hasn’t been playing with any. That’s on the Panthers for dropping him into a bad situation — three head coaches, a dearth of talent at the skill positions and a line that has failed to protect him. They can’t put Young back on the field until everything else is operating at a higher capacity, even if that’s not until 2025. I don’t think the league should change its consideration over how quickly to play its QBs, though. Quarterbacks enter the league far more ready to start now than ever before because of all the camps, all-star games and everything else that comes with the high school and college spotlight. However, if a team can’t protect its QB due to a lack of talent, it’s better to avoid shattering his confidence by playing him too early and exposing him to failure. I think that’s what you’re seeing with the Patriots and Drake Maye.

Bryce Young: “For the last year and these two games, every snap hit my hands and I didn’t do enough with it.”

h/t ⁦@SteveReedAP⁩ for the video. pic.twitter.com/l1QFOfjurl

— Joe Person (@josephperson) September 19, 2024

Keefer: Young’s benching is an organizational failure, and one of the worst we’ve seen in this league in some time. I don’t get the sense Dave Canales is ready to give up Young — he raved about his poise and processing in the preseason — so I’d assume the thinking is: Give the young quarterback a breather, let him reset, and see if he can rediscover his confidence on the practice field the next few weeks and months. And yes, I’ve long felt that only a select few rookie quarterbacks are ready for the rigors of starting a rookie season. But teams are in too much of a hurry to play the long game. It’s backfired before, and it backfired here.

Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was placed on injured reserve this week while in concussion protocol and can’t return to action before Week 8. Are the playoffs a realistic goal for Miami if Tagovailoa’s absence stretches even longer?

Sando: Not without acquiring a quarterback from another team. Tyler Huntley’s signing from the Ravens’ practice squad isn’t going to be enough, in my view. It’ll be fun to see if Mike McDaniel can scheme the Dolphins out of this, much the way Green Bay’s Matt LaFleur did for the Packers against Indy. I just don’t think that’s plausible for a long stretch. If Tagovailoa is out for a long time, Miami will need to do something to upgrade the position and send a message of hope to the locker room.

Howe: No, the AFC has too many quality teams, and the Dolphins have too difficult of a schedule. They’re going to need to play terrific defense and scheme up a run game and quick passing attack to play perfect complementary football to steal some games along the way, and I think that’s too much to ask. It’s not unrealistic to think the Dolphins can get to 3-3 by the time Tagovailoa is eligible to return, but a longer absence could cost him games against the Cardinals, Bills and Rams. That’s going to be a season-defining stretch regardless of who’s at QB.

Keefer: I don’t see this team making the playoffs with Tua sidelined for the next month — and likely longer. Tua may have limitations, but he’s an excellent fit for McDaniels’ offensive system, one built on speed. Tua’s accuracy is what makes it go, accentuating the talents of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Without the QB, the Dolphins lose a part of their identity, and I don’t trust the defense, either, not after the way Josh Allen and the Bills ran over them last week. It could be a long couple of months in Miami.

GO DEEPER

Bryce Young, Tua and Watson: An NFL tipping point, or billionaires’ business as usual?

The New Orleans Saints and their offense are the talk of the league as they host the Eagles in Week 3. What is so different about the Saints than in the past?

Sando: They have a very well-schemed rushing attack and it’s giving them a refocused identity, something they needed, in retrospect, after the transition out of the Drew Brees/Sean Payton era. Adding left tackle Taliese Fuaga in the draft was another important move. It’s not going to look as good when the Saints fall behind, but their rushing attack and defense have given the offense, and especially quarterback Derek Carr, a favorable context.

Howe: Klint Kubiak is off to a tremendous start. The Saints had gotten stale on offense under Pete Carmichael, and they had been looking to replace him after Payton stepped away. Now with an innovative coordinator, the Saints are clicking in a way we haven’t seen since Brees was running the show. Thing is, they’ve shown flashes in short spurts the past couple of years but never sustained it, so I’m intrigued to see if this continues.

Keefer: Early-down success in the run game has changed everything for the Saints, opening up the playbook on later downs, which has allowed Carr to be aggressive. Alvin Kamara has not-so-subtly reminded the league how dangerous he is, giving this offense the type of balance that’ll scare defensive coordinators for most of the rest of the season. To think: The Saints opened the season with 15 straight scoring drives. I’ll be eager to see how defenses counter them the rest of the way, and if they find any way of slowing them down.

Kirk Cousins’ prime-time record didn’t matter much Monday night, when the Falcons earned one of the best wins of Week 2 in Philadelphia. Sunday night, they host the Chiefs, who have won a pair of nail-biters to start the season. What are your thoughts on this matchup?

Sando: I think the Chiefs will start fast offensively and then get after Cousins when Atlanta has to depart from its run-oriented script. The Chiefs will do a better job in coverage as well.

Howe: Cousins’ game-winning drive was clutch and showed he can still play at a higher level, but it also masked a number of earlier mistakes when he didn’t trust his reads or simply didn’t see open receivers. Whether it’s the injury-related layoff or adjusting to a new offense and organization, Cousins is still playing catchup. I think he’ll get there eventually, but it looks like it’s going to require patience. However, there was a pivotal point midway through the Monday nighter when the Falcons recognized they could bully the Eagles with Bijan Robinson. They’ve absolutely got to see if that will work against the Chiefs because that’s a well-coached, veteran defense that I’d expect to give Cousins a headache if he’s put in too many passing situations.

GO DEEPER

An ‘alien’ is coming to Atlanta: Falcons admit Mahomes Week is different

Keefer: Impressive as Atlanta’s game-winning drive was, the Falcons were sloppy most of Monday’s game, and Cousins admitted he needed to be better in his postgame interview. The Chiefs, similarly, eeked out a narrow win over the Bengals they probably shouldn’t have had. In a game headlined by the offenses, I think Kansas City’s defense will be the difference. The Falcons still have a ways to go.

(Photo: Sam Hodde / Getty Images)

OAKLAND — Juan Soto didn’t feel great.

When he woke up Friday morning, his left knee was stiff, swollen and achy. The night prior, he slammed it into the wall making a sliding catch at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, and with just nine games left in the season and a month until his hotly anticipated free agency, he was worried something might be very wrong.

Turned out, he wasn’t just OK. He was en route to delivering another signature moment in his first and — avert your eyes, New York Yankees fans — perhaps only season in pinstripes.

Soto battled through soreness in his knee to deliver 10th-inning, pinch-hitting heroics in a crucial 4-2 win over the Oakland A’s at the Coliseum.

“Showman-like,” said Gerrit Cole, the night’s other hero who allowed just one run over nine innings and 99 pitches.

Let’s run through the most standout parts of Soto’s brief, but impactful performance.

Soto. Clutch. pic.twitter.com/w8Xf28blfL

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) September 21, 2024

Playing through pain

Soto wasn’t totally ready. Though manager Aaron Boone’s initial lineup had the 25-year-old batting second and playing right field, Soto’s pregame work told the team to yank him out just hours before first pitch.

Earlier in the day, Soto received the best news of all: X-rays of his kneecap didn’t reveal structural damage.

“It was really a relief,” he said.

A bigger relief? Getting the job done when Boone called upon him with the game on the line.

In the 10th with the score tied 1-1, after Anthony Rizzo led off with a single to right field and moved automatic runner Jasson Domínguez to third base, Boone figured it was the right time. So, Soto pinch hit for center fielder Trent Grisham.

With the count 1-1, Oakland reliever T.J. McFarland whipped an 88-mph sinker that went all the way to the backstop for a wild pitch. Domínguez slid feet-first under the pitcher’s tag. The Yankees had taken the lead.

Then, on the next pitch, Soto roped a slider to the right-field corner. The ball (exit velocity: 110 mph) zipped over the left fielder’s head, scoring pinch-runner Oswaldo Cabrera from second base.

Soto cruised into second base and then came out for pinch runner Jon Berti.

“What a big-time at-bat,” Boone said.

“That was awesome,” catcher Austin Wells said. “I mean, he couldn’t play the whole game? He came in at the end? Just a piece-o’-cake double. No, I’m glad he’s healthy, and he did a great job coming off the bench.”

It brought to mind Soto’s performance from nine days prior when he fouled a ball off his foot, went down in pain and then continued the at-bat only to crush a long two-run homer off Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Cole Ragans. The Yankees won the game 4-3.

Willingness to put his body on the line

On Friday afternoon, Soto spent time hitting in the cage with assistant hitting coach Pat Roessler and doing squats in the weight room. But he wasn’t ready. Soto and the Yankees decided to give him more time to rest. So, Aaron Judge shifted to right field and Grisham started in center.

Yet, by the time the middle of the game came around, Boone said that Soto approached him to tell him that he could hit if the game was on the line.

Soto didn’t have to do that. He could have taken the rest of the day to protect his knee — and his availability for the postseason. The Yankees clinched a playoff berth Wednesday and maintained their four-game lead in the American League East with eight games remaining.

But Soto wanted to play.

“I know we clinched and this and that,” he said. “But at the end of the day, the goal is to win the division, and we are really close. I didn’t think about any day off or anything. But we’re trying to be smart too and think about October and not think about right now. So, yeah, all the options came through my mind.”

Cole had a simple explanation.

“He loves the moment, man,” Cole said. “He loves it.”

Juan Soto discusses status of his knee, pinch-hitting, playoff anticipation and more. pic.twitter.com/WnpFPVpna2

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) September 21, 2024

A nod to his teammates and training staff

The Yankees’ dugout exploded after Soto’s double. It was clear how much Soto adores his teammates as he danced and sprayed champagne with them during Wednesday’s celebration of the Yankees nailing down a playoff spot.

But he put it into words Friday.

“These guys are unbelievable,” he said. “These guys are great. I love every single guy that is in here. We’ve been together since Day 1, and we’ve been showing love day in and day out, and it’s just a great feeling.”

Soto also credited the Yankees’ medical and strength staffers for their work on his knee.

“The trainers did a pretty good job to help me get the swelling down and it felt very good,” he said.

He added, “(The knee) reacted pretty well. So throughout the game, I was feeling good. It wasn’t sore or anything after all the work we put in, and that’s when I knew I had a good chance to be an option.”

(Photo: Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images)