Good Morning! Today is Thursday, August 28. Here’s what’s happening in the world of sports this week.

MLB

Can you believe that the next Remix will be published in September? We’re heading down the stretch and the postseason is just around the corner. But we’ve still got today before our focus turns to the playoff race. For one last time in 2025, let’s shine a light on the action from all around the league:

• The Rangers scored 20(!) runs last night against the Angels, and the Texas broadcast gave a pretty great call of the final home run of the evening.

• Yordan Alvarez is back and hitting home runs again! As if the Astros needed any more help…

• Bubba Chandler has done it again! The rookie followed up his debut with another dominant four-inning outing. He’s just the fifth pitcher in MLB history to record a save and a win in his first two appearances.

• The Mets have a talented young flamethrower of their own– after just three starts, Nolan McLean is 3-0 in his career. He’s sporting a sparkling 0.89 ERA, too.

• And congratulations to Giants third baseman Matt Chapman on his 200th career home run!

TENNIS

The biggest story of the US Open so far might have nothing to do with tennis. Carlos Alcaraz made the drastic decision to shave his head just a few days before he took the court in New York. A new look was no issue for Carlos, however as he rolled through his opening round matches. And while most seeds cruised through their first matches, a few big names have started to fall– Madison Keys, Jack Draper, Casper Ruud, and Holger Rune have all exited the draw. Nevertheless, the stars are showing out in the Big Apple. The second round wraps up today as the best in the world stake out their spots in week two!

SOCCER

I am so, so excited to share these two absolutely incredible moments from across the Atlantic. First, an injury-time game-winner by a 16-year-old:

So that’s your moment of individual heroism. Is there any way to top that? How about one of the greatest upsets in recent memory:

Grimsby just knocked out one of the biggest clubs in the world! That’s the beauty of sports. On any given day, right? Grimsby goalie Christy Pym had this all-time quote after the monumental win: “It's not sunk in yet. I'm a Man United fan, so I'm half-fuming a little bit. Night's like this is what you play football for. Just brilliant… I should have done a little bit better [in the shootout], shouldn't I? I made one save to keep us in it and the boys have done the rest. It's brilliant." Well said Mr. Pym. ‘Twas indeed brilliant.

NOTEWORTHY NEWS

Captain Keegan Bradley announced his six picks to fill out the USA Ryder Cup roster. After much speculation, Bradley did not pick himself for the team, despite the fact that his stellar play over the last year had vaulted himself into worthy consideration. Instead, Bradley chose Justin Thomas, Cameron Young, Sam Burns, Patrick Cantlay, Ben Griffin, and Collin Morikawa to join the six previously announced automatic qualifiers. Get ready for some great golf, it’s going to be quite a battle at the end of the month!

Rosters have been cut to the required 53 and the season kicks off in one week, so we’ve got a few NFL updates to go over:

• The Commanders agreed to a deal with WR Terry McLaurin and the Bengals negotiated a contract with DE Trey Hendrickson. That leaves just Micah Parsons and the Cowboys as the last remaining hold-out/hold-in contract dispute.

• Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice has been suspended for six games as a consequence of his role in a serious multi-car crash last year.

• Amari Cooper has been reunited with the Raiders. That news broke just after word leaked that fellow Vegas reciever Jakobi Meyers had requested (and been denied) a trade.

• Slowly but surely, the chaotic Browns quarterback room is sorting itself out. Cleveland dealt Kenny Pickett to Las Vegas for a fifth-round pick.

• And last but not least, Adam Thielen is returning to the place where it all began. The veteran wideout was traded by Carolina to Minnesota in exchange for draft picks.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW

College football is back! We’ve got week one’s big games outlined below, but first, here are three stories to keep an eye on this season:

HEISMAN RACE

Opening weekend immediately gives us two amazing duels between Heisman hopefuls. Arch Manning and top-ranked Texas are underdogs on the road against Ohio State and WR Jeremiah Smith, while LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier travels to Death Valley to take on Clemson’s Cade Klubnik. Outside of those four favorites, keep an eye on South Carolina QB LaNorris Sellers– especially if the Gamecocks put up big numbers this weekend versus Virginia Tech.

BIG TEN/SEC DOMINANCE

Four of the top five, eight of the top ten, and 17 of the preseason top 25 teams come from the largest and winningest conferences in the sport. Will they continue to pull away from the rest of the nation? Or will Clemson, Notre Dame, or some other school challenge their position at the top of the game. As the future of the playoff and the organization of the competition continues to shift each offseason, this storyline may have the greatest longterm impact of all.

WHO’S GOING TO BE THIS YEAR’S INDIANA?

No one predicted the Hoosiers and their impressive run to the playoff last season. But it’s possible, and maybe even likely, that once again an unranked team from a Power Four school will take advantage of a favorable schedule and launch themselves into the championship conversation. Could it be Missouri out of the SEC? Bill Belichick’s North Carolina? Kansas looked good last week, might they take advantage of the always dramatic Big 12? This is college football we’re talking about, so who knows… remember the expectations for Florida State last season? Time to embrace the chaos.

BONUS: The Group of Five Race!

It’s unlikely more than one non-power four team makes it to the CFP. Last year it was Ashton Jeanty and Boise State who made the final 12. So who are the candidates for this year? Boise is back in the mix again. Tulane, James Madison, UNLV, and Memphis are all contenders for the top spot as well.

THIS WEEKEND’S BIG GAMES (all times Eastern)

THURSDAY:

• Nebraska @ Cincinnati, 9 PM on ESPN

FRIDAY:

• US Open, all weekend on ESPN

SATURDAY:

• (1) Texas @ (3) Ohio State, Noon on Fox

• (8) Alabama @ Florida State, 3:30 PM on ABC

• (9) LSU @ (4) Clemson, 7:30 PM on ABC

SUNDAY:

• Arsenal @ Liverpool, 11:30 AM on USA Network/Peacock

• (6) Notre Dame @ (10) Miami, 7:30 PM on ABC

“Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married,” –Taylor Swift on Instagram, announcing her engagement to Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce

Enjoy the weekend! See you all on Monday