Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh started with quarterbacks Easton Stick (2) and Justin Herbert at cut-down day before adding Taylor Heinicke. (Ryan Sun / Associated Press) Taylor Heinicke is not supposed to be in the spotlight like this. The backup quarterback stood in front of his locker that was full of freshly laundered sweatshirts and spoke to a group of reporters …

No. 1 Georgia and No. 4 Alabama have met six times since 2018 but just once in the regular season, an Alabama win in 2020. The Crimson Tide would take home the national championship that season and Georgia the ensuing pair, with the Bulldogs’ only loss during that two-year span coming to, yes, Alabama. Separated by divisions throughout this span, …

Rams defensive lineman Braden Fiske will have some Bears fans rooting for him Sunday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) Braden Fiske remembers the Chicago Bears’ last trip to the Super Bowl. Fiske, a Rams rookie defensive lineman, grew up in Michigan City, Ind., about an hour by car from Soldier Field in Chicago. With family members and friends rooting …

Jan 10, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; ESPN commentator Rece Davis following the Alabama Crimson Tide game against the Georgia Bulldogs in the 2022 CFP college football national championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports ESPN “College GameDay” analyst Rece Davis has released his latest top 10 college football rankings. Davis, who is a voter …

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell with Matthew Stafford, the No. 1 pick of the 2009 draft by the Lions. (David Bergman / Getty Images) He was the top pick in the NFL draft, a quarterback regarded as a generational talent selected by an NFC North team coming off a losing season. Caleb Williams? No, Matthew Stafford. In 2009, a few months …

. 2025 Tennessee running back prospect Ousmane Kromah will delay his commitment announcement. Kromah was originally set to announce his commitment Saturday. He will now make his announcement on Oct. 5, according to Hayes Fawcett at On3. Kromah’s top schools are Tennessee, Georgia, Florida State and Auburn. The 6-foot, 205-pound four-star running back is from Lee County High School in …

For the sake of argument, let’s say you go to sleep one night and wake up the next morning in 1977. It doesn’t take very long to figure out that you’ve tumbled through some kind of rift in the space-time continuum; for one thing, Gramma sure seems to be alive, and she’s knitting a sweater with Rocky Bleier’s face on …

After cleaning up in non-conference play, Penn State is opening up its Big Ten schedule with a night game on national TV against Illinois on Saturday night. Beaver Stadium should be electric for the first night game of the year and fans are pushing for an unofficial whiteout atmosphere in Happy Valley. Penn State is a solid favorite this week …

Bears’ search for offensive answers revealing red flags, hard truths originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago LAKE FOREST, Ill. — The search for a competent and reliable offense is on at Halas Hall after the 1-2 Bears put up another disappointing showing in their 21-16 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. The Bears can’t run the ball. They’ve asked rookie quarterback …

The bold, unprecedented move this week by UNLV starting quarterback Matthew Sluka to leave an unbeaten team before using up his redshirt year — citing through his agent that an assistant coach verbally promised him at least $100,000 to sign with the Rebels and never got paid — is another sign of how college football is choking on its own …

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert remained limited in Thursday’s practice. Herbert initially injured his right ankle in Week 2 against the Panthers and aggravated it in the third quarter of last Sunday’s loss in Pittsburgh. He did not return to the game and was in a walking boot afterward. He will continue to try to play through the high ankle sprain, …

Free Press sports writer Chris Solari breaks down Michigan State football’s matchup with Ohio State on Saturday night in a Big Ten matchup in East Lansing. Fast facts Matchup: Michigan State (3-1, 1-0 Big Ten) vs. No. 3 Ohio State (3-0, 0-0). Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Saturday; Spartan Stadium, East Lansing TV/radio: Online only on Peacock; WJR-AM (760). Line: Buckeyes by …

The Dallas Cowboys are back in the win column, courtesy of the New York Giants. In an ugly, injury-filled “Thursday Night Football” game, the Cowboys held on for a 20-15 win against their NFC East rivals. It is starting quarterback Dak Prescott’s 13th straight win over New York. The Dallas defense was the difference-maker. After back-to-back rough outings against the …

NOKOMIS — Nolan Herpstreith venerates former NFL star running backs Marshawn Lynch and Barry Sanders. The Nokomis junior running back is a challenge to bring down in his own right and has averaged 139.3 rushing yards per game in a 4-0 start in the Lincoln Prairie Conference. Top breakout players: Springfield area football top breakout players at the 2024 midseason …

The Giants didn’t score in the 2023 season opener against the Cowboys at MetLife Stadium, getting blown out 40-0. They already have done more after one drive in Thursday Night Football. The Giants forced a three-and-out on the opening drive and then drove down the field for a field goal. But officials screwed the Giants out of a better chance …