In their zeal to create compelling studio television, Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez rankled their former boss.

Brian Cashman, the New York Yankees’ longtime general manager and vice president, fired back at criticism of his regime and the handling of manager Aaron Boone in an appearance on an area radio station.

After the Yankees were eliminated in Game 4 of their American League Division Series by the Toronto Blue Jays, Jeter and A-Rod fired some shots from their Fox Sports postgame show perch.

Rodriguez called these Yankees “one of the worst constructions of a roster I’ve ever seen,” after the club won 94 games, defeated Boston in the AL wild card series and succumbed to the Blue Jays, who also won 94 games and claimed the division title on a tiebreaker.

Jeter, while claiming he had no “inside knowledge,” repeated the well-worn claim that Boone merely parrots front office strategy and that in-game maneuvers are scripted by his superiors.

“I’m pretty sure Aaron’s not the one that’s calling every move that they make throughout the game,” Jeter said on air.

Cashman appeared on WFAN, the Yankees’ flagship station, to push back against the two baseball legends who once patrolled the left side of his infield. He intimated that he called Jeter to discuss the criticism.

“Clearly, they don’t know,” Cashman said. “I know DJ said that, I don’t know what he meant by it, he did say he doesn’t have inside knowledge when he said it, but he did say it, for whatever reason. And I think that’s the bugaboo that people get to throw out there when they got nothing else to throw.”

Cashman bemoaned the notion of “analytics, analytics, analytics” and that “none of that is accurate,” though the perception has existed ever since Boone replaced Joe Girardi – who was fresh off a trip to the 2017 ALCS – as Yankee manager before the 2018 season.

Jeter retired as Yankees shortstop after the 2014 season and went on to take an ownership stake and president position with the Miami Marlins before they parted ways in 2022 after five years. He intimated before his Hall of Fame induction that year that he looked forward to being a more regular presence around Yankee Stadium, even if that didn’t involve an official role.

Rodriguez, who Cashman signed to a $275 million extension when A-Rod opted out of an earlier deal in 2008, was ensnared in performance-enhancing drug scandals for two of his last six seasons as a Yankee. 

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• Monday night’s battle between the Bucs and Lions in Motown projects as Week 7’s crown jewel.
• The league will stage its final London game of 2025 on Sunday morning.
• A team in need of a coach will be hosting its former one.

Week 7 of the 2025 NFL schedule will serve up a good-looking lineup … insomuch as a lot of teams will look a little different.

Thursday night, the Pittsburgh Steelers will visit the Cincinnati Bengals, who will wear their white tiger uniforms − perhaps in a needed bid to change their luck given the Steelers have prevailed in 10 of their past 12 trips to Paycor Stadium.

The Browns, Chargers, Cowboys and Lions will also be wearing alternate uniforms this weekend, while the 49ers will sport the throwbacks made famous during the march to their last Super Bowl crown during the 1994 season.

No novel unis Sunday morning, when the Los Angeles Rams and Jacksonville Jaguars play this season’s final game in London − but don’t worry, the league will invade continental Europe two weeks from now.

Sunday afternoon will feature the first-place New England Patriots traveling to Nashville to visit head coach Mike Vrabel’s former team, the Tennessee Titans, who would probably like to have him back at this point. The Los Angeles Chargers will host the Indianapolis Colts in a meeting of other teams currently residing atop their respective divisions.

The Niners will welcome the Atlanta Falcons, back in prime time again, in a matchup of top-tier RBs Bijan Robinson and Christian McCaffrey on ‘Sunday Night Football.’ Monday will bring a true doubleheader, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions clashing in what could be the game of the week at 7 p.m. ET before the Houston Texans and Seattle Seahawks lock up on the West Coast in a 10 p.m. ET kickoff.

What outcomes should you expect? We can’t speak for you … but USA TODAY Sports’ panel of experts will share their outlooks with these prognostications:

(Odds provided by BetMGM)

NFL Week 7 picks, predictions and odds

• Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals
• Los Angeles Rams vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
• Las Vegas Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs
• Miami Dolphins at Cleveland Browns
• New Orleans Saints at Chicago Bears
• Philadelphia Eagles at Minnesota Vikings
• Carolina Panthers at New York Jets
• New England Patriots at Tennessee Titans
• Indianapolis Colts at Los Angeles Chargers
• New York Giants at Denver Broncos
• Green Bay Packers at Arizona Cardinals
• Washington Commanders at Dallas Cowboys
• Atlanta Falcons at San Francisco 49ers
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Detroit Lions
• Houston Texans at Seattle Seahawks

Yet while some things will be forever, a 41-year-old with a surgically repaired back and a balky thumb that may portend arm trouble and thinning hair beneath his Toronto Blue Jays cap – fifth team in five years – suggests something else.

That it might be wise to take a look around, to cherish the moment, to appreciate the opportunity before the man never again throws another competitive pitch.

Then again, Mad Max could never.

The mound-stalking, snarling, three-time Cy Young Award winner has been largely missing the past four years, disappeared due to injury and a general lack of dominance and changes of addresses that, combined with performance, might gently suggest that his voice ought not be the loudest in the room.

Yet Scherzer’s Toronto era took a massive turn Oct. 17, two outs, fifth inning, Game 4, John Schneider heading out to the mound and, even though they’ve been co-workers since January, about to really meet Scherzer for the first time.

There were death stares and cuss words and raised voices – OK, all of that from Scherzer – and bemused infielders watching a future Hall of Famer take on his purest form.

“I thought he was going to kill me,” says Schneider. “It was great.”

Yeah, it takes a certain kind of masochist to manage a major league team, and a certain touch to realize that, even as most playoff starts nowadays are expired by the fourth inning, and that Scherzer’s Seattle Mariners counterpart, Luis Castillo, was hooked in the third inning, that performance – and pedigree – earns some slack.

“I’ve been waiting for that all year, for Max to yell at me on the mound,” Schneider told reporters in Seattle. “I think at that point there’s numbers, there’s projections, there’s strategy, and there’s people.

“So I was trusting people.”

And Scherzer rewarded him, striking out Randy Arozarena with a nasty curveball to strand a runner, and preserve Toronto’s four-run lead in an eventual 8-2 victory.

This ALCS is now tied, 2-2, just 48 hours after the Blue Jays stared at a 2-0 deficit and the notion that the next time the lads would toss the ball around together might come in Dunedin, not Toronto.

Yet suddenly, the Blue Jays are outflanking the Mariners in the most important ways. Their starters are pitching deeper into games, exposing Seattle’s bullpen further. They amassed 29 hits in two games in Seattle, with Game 5 in front of their Western Canada supporters to come.

It’s what one expects from the No. 1 seed in these AL playoffs. It’s just that Scherzer wasn’t expected to be a key part of it.

He hadn’t pitched since Sept. 24, the Blue Jays excluding him from the ALDS roster because a four- or five-inning starter who doesn’t miss a ton of bats simply had no role in that format.

And to be brutally honest, Scherzer’s last four postseason starts dating to 2022 produced an 0-2 record, 8.79 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP.

In his last October run, he pitched three shutout innings in Game 3 of the 2023 World Series, then abruptly exited while warming up in the fourth, back tightness ending his postseason. The Texas Rangers went on to win the World Series; Scherzer headed for offseason back surgery.

This year, myriad aches and pains – including that vexing thumb condition – limited Scherzer to 17 starts. Game 4, though, was different: Scherzer took a minute to find his rhythm in issuing two first-inning walks, got a key double-play ball, gave up a Josh Naylor second-inning home run and then was cruising.

He was snapping his curveball, and catcher Alejandro Kirk kept pressing for it. He picked off a runner. He outlasted Castillo.

It was within all that context that Schneider strolled to the mound and stared up at the toughest dude to lift from the game.

Good luck, Schneids.

“And then all of a sudden I saw Schneids coming out, and I kind of went, ‘Woah, woah, woah,” says Scherzer in a postgame news conference. “Like, I’m not coming out of this ballgame. I feel too good.

“So we had a little conversation that basically I wanted to stay in the game but just with some other words involved. I just knew I was strong, I knew I wanted the ball, I knew I could get outs in this situation.

“I just wanted to stay in. I wanted it.”

He got it. And got Arozarena, and stalked to the dugout, leading to another Schneider-Scherzer confab –away from cameras – that Schneider described as “another fun conversation, in the tunnel.”

So Scherzer got the sixth, too, and took down two more outs before leaving to a roar from the Blue Jays fans on hand.

With two more wins, the Blue Jays will reach the World Series for the first time since 1993. That would likely ensure another Scherzer start, probably against his former Los Angeles Dodgers club.

Yet there are no guarantees, not in this game, certainly not for those north of 40. So when Schneider lifted Scherzer, he tucked the ball in his back pocket.

“I just put it in my pocket and brought it in the dugout,” says Schneider. “Pretty cool for Max to have. He’s got a lot of stuff on his mantle, but I don’t know if he wanted it.”

Perhaps someday, but maybe not now. The sentimental glances around the stadium, the mementoes, the curtain calls are at least for now, still for another day.

On this one, Mad Max was back.

From utter futility to a startling fusillade: That’s the story of the Toronto Blue Jays in this American League Championship Series.

And after two games of punchless offense was followed by a lineup uprising in Game 3, they are still very much in it.

The Blue Jays annihilated Seattle Mariners starter George Kirby and three relievers, banging out 18 hits and five home runs in a 13-4 victory Oct. 15 at T-Mobile Park in Seattle.

The biggest wake-up call? Vladimir Guerrero Jr., held hitless in seven at-bats at Rogers Centre, ripped a pair of doubles and a homer in his 4-for-4 night, serving notice the series’ most dangerous hitter would not go quietly.

Seattle still leads this series 2-1, and in Game 4, the Blue Jays will trot out 41-year-old Max Scherzer for his first start this postseason. Perhaps Game 3 was just a speed bump on the way to the Mariners’ first World Series appearance in franchise history.

Or maybe this series has truly taken a turn.

The road team has won every game in this best-of-seven, a trend the Blue Jays hope holds for Games 4 and 5. It looked like an early winter in Ontario after Julio Rodriguez hit a two-run, first-inning home run and Mariners starter Kirby continued his solid postseason with two scoreless innings.

And then they jumped him: No. 9 hitter Andrés Giménez tied the game with a two-run homer and Daulton Varsho ripped a two-run double, Toronto taking a 5-2 lead in the top of the third.

George Springer and Guerrero added home runs in the fourth and fifth and Kirby was chased without recording an out in that inning, with eight runs charged to him.

The lead was extended to 12-2 before solo homers by Randy Arozarena and Cal Raleigh prettied the scoreboard in the eighth.

But what a turnabout: Toronto had no extra base hits and just eight overall in 61 at-bats (.131) in their two losses at Rogers Centre. In Game 3: Seven extra-base hits and 18 overall.

It’ll all go back to zero in Game 4. But the Blue Jays, at long last, are on the board in the ALCS.

Here’s how Game 3 unfolded:

Alejando Kirk home run makes Game 3 a blowout

It’s a full-fledged blowout in the Pacific Northwest – putting the Toronto Blue Jays in even better position to climb back in this ALCS. 

Alejandro Kirk’s three-run homer in the sixth inning pushed Toronto’s lead to 12-2 over the Seattle Mariners in Game 3. 

That means the Blue Jays can keep all their high- and even medium-leverage relievers out of the game – saving them for Game 4, where they’ll probably need the backup for 41-year-old Max Scherzer’s first start of this postseason. 

Vlad Guerrero Jr. goes deep, Jays extend lead to 8-2

Vladimir Guerrero chased George Kirby from the game, and the Toronto Blue Jays are piling on in Seattle.

Guerrero hit his first home run of the ALCS – and now needs just a triple for the cycle – and the Blue Jays lead the Mariners 8-2 midway through the fifth inning.

Guerrero’s shot to dead center field barely eluded the grasp of a leaping Julio Rodriguez. It was Toronto’s third home run of the night, following Andrés Giménez’s two-run shot and George Springer’s solo homer. Ernie Clement added an RBI single later in the inning.

George Springer makes home run history

The Toronto Blue Jays are fully activated. 

George Springer moved into fourth place on the all-time playoff home run list by blasting a George Kirby pitch out to dead center field in the fourth inning, giving Toronto a 6-2 lead over the Seattle Mariners in Game 3 of the ALCS. 

Springer’s homer was the 22nd of his postseason career, moving him into a tie with Bernie Williams.

It was also the Blue Jays’ fifth extra-base hit in their past two innings as they look for their first win in this ALCS. 

Blue Jays take 5-2 lead with third-inning rally

The Toronto Blue Jays have awoken. And this ALCS might not be done yet, after all. 

After going without an extra-base hit through the first two games and two innings of this series, they banged out four of them in the third inning, including Andrés Giménez’s game-tying two-run homer and Daulton Varsho’s two-run double, to take a 5-2 lead entering the bottom of the third. 

What an attack: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., hitless in seven at-bats entering the game, drilled a 105-mph blast off the left field wall to reignite the rally after Giménez’s game-tying shot, which followed Ernie Clement’s leadoff double.

The go-ahead run scored on a bases-loaded wild pitch that Cal Raleigh could not block, and then Varsho – also 0-for-8 in the ALCS at that point – drilled the right field wall with a line drive and a 5-2 lead. 

The damage all came off starter George Kirby, who looked untouchable through two innings – until he wasn’t.

Julio Rodriguez home run starts Mariners off right

With T-Mobile Park ready to ignite, Julio Rodriguez did not waste time lighting up ALCS Game 3. 

Rodriguez blasted a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning as the Seattle Mariners took a 2-0 lead over Toronto, on a night they can move one game away from their first World Series trip in franchise history. 

It could be a short night for Blue Jays starter Shane Bieber, who did not escape the third inning in his AL Division Series start against New York. On this night, he issued a leadoff walk to Randy Arozarena, then left a 93-mph fastball over the middle of the plate for Rodriguez, who blasted it into the left field seats. 

George Kirby tosses scoreless first

Mariners starter George Kirby worked around Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s infield single with two outs to get through the first inning unscathed.

This is Kirby’s fifth career postseason appearance and he has a 1.50 ERA with 20 strikeouts 18 innings.

‘I think he’s done a really good job of really mixing really well,’ Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh said of Kirby before Game 3. ‘Obviously, I think he’s kind of, in a way, kind of hitting his stretch just because of the injury this year and he’s finally found that groove.’

Mariners lineup today: ALCS Game 3

1. Randy Arozarena (R) LF
2. Cal Raleigh (S) C
3. Julio Rodríguez (R) CF
4. Jorge Polanco (S) 2B
5. Josh Naylor (L) 1B
6. Eugenio Suárez (R) 3B
7. Dominic Canzone (L) DH
8. Victor Robles (R) RF
9. J.P. Crawford (L) SS

Blue Jays lineup today

1. George Springer (R) DH
2. Nathan Lukes (L) LF
3. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (R) 1B
4. Anthony Santander (S) RF
5. Alejandro Kirk (R) C
6. Daulton Varsho (L) CF
7. Addison Barger (L) 3B
8. Ernie Clement (R) 2B
9. Andrés Giménez (L) SS

Mariners vs Blue Jays prediction, Game 3 odds

What time is Mariners vs Blue Jays today?

Game 3 of the ALCS begins at 8:08 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Oct. 15.

• The NFL could see plenty more trade action before the Nov. 4 deadline.
• Several notable veterans could be on the block, including multiple players from the Saints, Titans and Browns.
• Trey Hendrickson, Alvin Kamara and Jeffery Simmons might be long shots to be dealt, but they should still spark plenty of interest.

Determining which players are available ahead of the NFL trade deadline isn’t always a cut-and-dried process.

Look no further than last week’s deal that sent Joe Flacco from the Cleveland Browns to the Cincinnati Bengals for evidence of how fluid things can be.

‘The Joe (Flacco) trade took us by surprise,’ Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said after the deal. ‘Not something we saw coming. They called us … They wanted Joe.’

If only other teams had it so easy in prying their players of choice away from their current organizations.

With the Nov. 4 deadline looming, more deals will assuredly come together in short order. But even with a few teams positioned to become sellers as their seasons continue to sink, there’s been little clarity about which figures are actually on the block.

These 25 players, however, loom as perhaps the most notable potential trade candidates over the next 20 days:

2025 NFL trade deadline candidates who could move

QB Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons

The four-time Pro Bowl passer might not be able to grab a ticket out of Atlanta until the offseason considering the scarcity of midseason quarterback deals. Then again, who could have foreseen Flacco starting for a division rival just a few weeks after opening the season as the Browns’ starter? Pulling this off would probably entail a comparably calamitous long-term quarterback injury for another contender – one without a viable plan – still harboring hopes of staying afloat. The cost, too, could be considerable given the prorated portion of the $27.5 million in base salary any acquiring team would need to shell out, in addition to the draft capital necessary to entice the Falcons into parting with their veteran backup. If those elements align, maybe there would be sufficient incentive for Cousins to waive his no-trade clause? Don’t count on any movement, but hold off on fully ruling it out.

QBs Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston, New York Giants

Big Blue didn’t rush out to move either veteran signal-caller following Wilson’s demotion after three weeks. And with Jaxson Dart yet to rein in his reckless abandon as a runner, it’s understandable that the Giants might not be actively looking to move a backup. But perhaps this situation is analogous to the Browns moving Flacco in that the right offer could prompt a change of plans. Both passers are probably a bit more volatile than some teams might tolerate behind center, but there’s little question they can more comfortably attack defenses downfield than the typical second-stringer.

RB Breece Hall, New York Jets

He stirred plenty of intrigue with his Instagram caption Monday that ended with ‘#Free20.’ No one could fault the fourth-year back for seeking greener pastures – or at least some more running room, given that he’s faced stacked boxes on 25% of his carries – in his contract year. But will an 0-6 Jets team clawing for some level of competence be willing to send off its lead backfield asset at a time when backup Braelon Allen remains shelved for the foreseeable future with a knee injury? If Hall truly wants out, coach Aaron Glenn and GM Darren Mougey might be wise to take a page from Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, who once stated, ‘We want volunteers, not hostages.’ Hall likely would be the most enticing option at running back if available, and several playoff-caliber outfits could stand to give their ground game a boost.

RB Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints

The five-time Pro Bowler probably isn’t headed anywhere, as the 30-year-old made clear when he signed an extension in 2024 that he wants to retire in New Orleans. Still, he has to be mentioned here given that his name will likely hang around until the deadline passes. Kamara’s 3.8 yards per carry marks the second-lowest average of his career, yet he continues to be a matchup problem in the passing game with 22 catches on the season. If both sides become more amenable to a separation, he’d unquestionably be one of the buzziest candidates on the market.

WR Jakobi Meyers, Las Vegas Raiders

The Silver and Black didn’t budge when Meyers made a trade request this summer amid dissatisfaction with his contract. Things might be looking a little bit different now, however, after the Raiders’ 2-4 start, which has featured a litany of offensive issues. Meyers’ production has been on the downswing since the opener, so moving him might equate to selling low. But the receiver offerings around the league aren’t particularly inspiring, so the seven-year veteran could be the starting point for any passing attack in search of a bit more stability.

WRs Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed and Brandin Cooks, Saints

Speed surely isn’t the issue with New Orleans’ aerial attack, with Olave and Shaheed among the league’s most formidable field-stretchers. But even with Spencer Rattler showing some promise while fighting against some unfavorable conditions, first-year coach Kellen Moore’s offense has yet to take off. New Orleans might be reticent to deal Olave given that the team in April exercised his fully guaranteed fifth-year option of nearly $15.5 million, which might be a sticking point for other teams wary of his concussion history. Shaheed is probably the more straightforward option as a complementary vertical threat, while the 32-year-old Cooks might lack the upside for teams to overlook the guaranteed money he’s still set to be due in 2026. But if New Orleans is committed to flipping its roster, it probably shouldn’t stand pat.

TE Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens

Seems unlikely that Baltimore would retreat to seller status until its hopes of a long-shot resurgence are dashed. But if things aren’t looking up by the time the Ravens face the Miami Dolphins in a ‘Thursday Night Football’ tilt five days prior to the deadline, it might be time to consider sending Andrews on his way. The three-time Pro Bowler’s name has been tossed around in trade rumors since shortly after his drop in the AFC championship game, with plenty of uncertainty about how the final year of his contract would play out. Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta deflected any talk of a move in the spring, saying ‘we’re in the business of keeping as many great players as we can.’ But if the Ravens can’t pull up from their nosedive after the upcoming bye, there’s little point in clinging onto the veteran, who could get a jump start on starting a second chapter elsewhere.

TE David Njoku, Cleveland Browns

Cleveland is giving plenty of indications that it’s already training its focus on 2026, when it will have two first-round picks and will be poised to finally move on from the ill-fated Deshaun Watson era. As such, outside of Myles Garrett, Denzel Ward and the members of a promising rookie class, no piece should be off the table in trade talks. Njoku suffered a knee injury in Sunday’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he’s been an asset to a floundering unit when healthy, ranking second on the team in catches (23) and third in receiving yards (223). Still, third-rounder Harold Fannin Jr. is both the present and future here, and a 29-year-old target due to hit the market this offseason might best assist the Browns this season by returning more draft capital.

TE Chig Okonkwo, Tennessee Titans

He’s one of several Titans who could be on the block following the reset that appears imminent after Brian Callahan’s firing. Okonkwo leads the Titans in receptions with 23 while ranking second in receiving yards (218), his production reflecting his value as a safety valve for No. 1 pick Cam Ward. But he’s in the final year of his deal, and fourth-round rookie Gunnar Helm is waiting in the wings. While Okonkwo won’t fetch a major return, he could be attractive to a team looking to round out its receiving corps with a versatile piece. He’s also a sizable threat with the ball in his hands, with his 159 yards after the catch ranking fifth among all tight ends.

Gs Wyatt Teller and Joel Bitonio, Browns

Cleveland’s decrepit offense doesn’t have many pieces that would spark interest, but perhaps these two accomplished veterans could catch the eye of teams looking to fortify their fronts. Teller, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, and Bitonio, a two-time All-Pro, can help hold down the interior while also providing some veteran savvy.

G Kevin Zeitler, Titans

A 35-year-old blocker who’s already been dinged up this year might not seem like much of a draw. But Zeitler was one of football’s best guards not even a full year ago, and he also earned a Pro Bowl berth in 2023. The Titans’ persistent troubles up front shouldn’t fall on him, though maybe depriving Ward of another capable blocker – even one on a one-year contract – might be reason to dissuade Tennessee from a deal. But his skills could be put to greater use elsewhere.

DE Trey Hendrickson, Cincinnati Bengals

Any decision to move him is probably at least a few weeks off, as Cincinnati looks focused on trying to save a rapidly spiraling season rather than punting to 2026. If the four-game losing skid keeps extending and the season reaches a breaking point, however, it might be best for the Bengals to examine what returns they could secure now for the NFL’s reigning sack king instead of playing the compensatory pick game. Bartering for Hendrickson could be tricky given that he’s made clear he expects a hefty long-term contract after the season, but the Bengals should have no shortage of callers if they signal that they’re willing to listen on a deal.

DE Carl Granderson, Saints

He’s one of the few legitimate building blocks on a Saints roster starved for talent. Still, with several of the league’s top teams standing to benefit greatly from a boost on the edge, his greatest value to New Orleans might be in helping kick-start the rebuild with what he could return in a trade. Granderson has 4 1/2 sacks for an underwhelming defense, and his work as a run-stopper should make him an attractive option for defenses demanding a well-rounded threat along the front.

DT Jeffery Simmons, Titans

Trading the roster’s lone elite player might be a non-starter for general manager Mike Borgonzi, especially after Simmons held the team accountable for what he called ‘one of our worst weeks of practice’ prior to Brian Callahan’s firing. But if you want to supercharge a reset, this is how you do it. Simmons is operating at a Defensive Player of the Year level, taking his play to new heights after long ago establishing himself as one of the league’s most disruptive interior forces. Nothing suggests any movement here, but teams have to take a shot.

OLBs Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips, Miami Dolphins

Injuries have prevented Chubb and Phillips from seeing as much time together on the field as Miami initially envisioned for its talented pair of pass rushers. Now, it might be time to break the duo up. Phillips is set to become a free agent, and the Dolphins could help their cause in next year’s draft by moving him to the highest bidder. Chubb, who leads the Dolphins with four sacks, is signed through 2027, but he carries no guaranteed money on his deal past this season.

OLBs Arden Key, Dre’Mont Jones and Jihad Ward, Titans

You might not be able to tell from the team’s sack total (nine), but there’s some solid edge-rusher talent in Tennessee. Key has impressive credentials when it comes to corralling quarterbacks, with at least six sacks in three of his last four seasons. Jones is attempting to boost his value after an uninspiring two-year stint with the Seattle Seahawks. And Ward has come on strong as an inside-outside threat capable of setting the edge and being a force against opposing rushing attacks. All should be available as rentals on expiring deals to potential contenders, as it’s probably time for Tennessee to look to the future at this spot with second-rounder Oluwafemi Oladejo.

CB Riq Woolen, Seattle Seahawks

At a time when many of his peers are flourishing on the Seahawks’ swarming defense, Woolen has had trouble cementing his status in Mike Macdonald’s complex system. He missed Sunday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars with a concussion, but the larger problem has been his erratic play, giving up a 113.6 passer rating so far this season as the nearest defender in coverage, according to Nex Gen Stats. Still, teams seldom find blazing-fast cornerbacks who measure in at 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, and such players are even harder to obtain in the middle of the season. He’s high risk for a rental, and Seattle might not be inclined to shed parts without receiving something in return as it loads up for a potential playoff run. But a fresh slate might be best for both sides if there’s a team willing to pay the proper price.

CB Roger McCreary, Titans

Only fitting to wrap up this exercise with one last option from the Titans. McCreary might be one of the few inherited pieces worth keeping around, but he’s on the final year of his rookie contract. If the front office has any reservations about extending him – amid a nickel market that’s ticking up, it’s time to recoup some value. Cornerbacks, even those who occupy the slot, can be hard to come by at the trade deadline, so he could be an attractive piece for a contender needing to account for a hole on the back end.

The Utah Mammoth have a new name, logo, practice facility and renovated arena in their second season in Salt Lake City.

And now they have a new mascot.

The Mammoth unveiled Tusky on Wednesday, Oct. 15, before the team’s home opener against the Calgary Flames at the Delta Center.

‘Standing 6-feet-5-inches tall, Tusky the Mammoth connects the team’s bold brand identity with Utah’s prehistoric past,’ the team said in a statement. ‘With Mountain Blue fur, Dark Blue mohawk, Salt White tusks, and a long blue trunk, Tusky embodies the strength, momentum and earth-shaking presence of the herds that once roamed Utah more than 10,000 years ago.’

The name fits in with the team’s new ‘Tusks Up’ slogan.

The Jazz Bear had been the Mammoth’s temporary mascot last season, when the team was known as the Utah Hockey Club. Ryan and Ashley Smith own both the Mammoth and Jazz.

Tusky is the latest mascot in the NHL, joining the Flyers’ Gritty, the Predators’ Gnash, the Capitals’ Slapshot and others. It will have social media accounts at @TuskyNHL.

AI-assisted summary
• Ohio State, Indiana, and Oregon are currently positioned as strong playoff contenders from the conference.
• Key upcoming games include USC at Notre Dame, Nebraska at Penn State, and Ohio State at Michigan.
• At least three Big Ten teams are expected to make the 12-team College Football Playoff field.

Things are about to get very serious in the Big Ten.

The first half of the college football is in the books. Penn State is out of the mix. Wisconsin is terrible. No. 1 Ohio State is intimidating. No. 3 Indiana looks unbeatable.

The second half of the regular season will decide which teams meet to decide the conference championship and which Big Ten teams make the College Football Playoff.

For now, the Buckeyes, Hoosiers and No. 9 Oregon look like playoff locks. The second tier of contenders include No. 21 Southern California, Michigan, Nebraska and Illinois.

The expectation is that at least three and as many as four Big Ten teams make the 12-team field. Four made last year’s bracket in the Buckeyes, Hoosiers, Ducks and Nittany Lions.

These games will shape the Big Ten race in the second half and help clean up an unsettled playoff race:

Southern California at No. 15 Notre Dame, Oct. 18

After beating Michigan to break into the US LBM Coaches Poll, the Trojans take on another big test against the red-hot Fighting Irish. USC could lose this game and still make the playoff as an at-large team, or even rally in Big Ten play to reach the conference championship game. What happens in South Bend will show whether the Trojans have what it takes.

UCLA at Indiana, Oct. 25

This is looking like Indiana’s biggest test the rest of the way, underscoring how the Hoosiers might have the best playoff odds of any team in the Power Four. UCLA has turned a corner since firing Deshaun Foster and clearly found an offensive identity. Will that be enough to score a mammoth upset?

Southern California at Nebraska, Nov. 1

One-loss Nebraska is hanging around the playoff race in Matt Rhule’s third season. A close win against Maryland shows how thin the margin of error is for a team that has improved dramatically under Rhule but isn’t quite a finished product. Beating USC would provide some national respect and set up the possibility of a 10-win regular season.

Nebraska at Penn State, Nov. 22

This might be awkward. A former Penn State linebacker, Rhule was immediately floated as James Franklin’s successor due to his ties to the program and deep connection with Nittany Lions athletics director Pat Kraft. It’s possible that Rhule will have made a public commitment to Nebraska before this road trip. If not, though, and if the Cornhuskers are surging in the Top 25, this matchup will be one of the most storyline-heavy of the second half.

Oregon at Washington, Nov. 29

The Ducks should be in firm position for an at-large playoff bid and even the Big Ten title game before the trip to Seattle. If not, though — let’s say they slip and fall at Iowa or the week prior against USC — this could be a winner-take-all matchup that determines much more than just bragging rights.

Ohio State at Michigan, Nov. 29

Can the Buckeyes finally crack Michigan’s code? The Buckeyes seem better equipped to handle the Wolverines thanks to an elite defense that ranks near the top of the country in every major category. And by this point in the year, the Julian Sayin-led offense could be the best in the conference.

AI-assisted summary
• The SEC has as many as 10 teams in contention for the 12-team College Football Playoff.
• Key games include No. 10 LSU at No. 18 Vanderbilt and No. 5 Mississippi at No. 7 Georgia.
• Rivalry games like Texas A&M at Texas and the Iron Bowl could have major playoff implications.

There is no shortage of high-impact SEC games involving every College Football Playoff contender occurring every weekend from now through the end of the regular season.

But that’s life in college football’s meatgrinder.

While the Big Ten might have five or six teams in the playoff mix, the list of candidates in the SEC goes as many as 10 deep, matching the number of teams the league has in this week’s US LBM Coaches Poll.

It’s easy to identify which teams are contending for the 12-team bracket. What’s not so easy is predicting which three or four teams rise to the top of the standings and earn automatic and at-large playoff bids.

The second half of the year will help bring this into focus. From this weekend through the final Saturday of November, these games will determine where the SEC lands:

No. 10 LSU at No. 18 Vanderbilt, Oct. 18

It’s a huge test and a potential breaking point for Vanderbilt, which looked a clear step behind the best teams in the SEC in this month’s loss to No. 6 Alabama. A win establishes the Commodores as a legitimate playoff hopeful and essentially bounces LSU from contention. This is an opportunity for the Tigers offense to finally get on track.

No. 5 Mississippi at No. 7 Georgia, Oct. 18

There are still some unknowns about the Rebels, especially after a too-close-for-comfort win against Washington State. There are questions about the Bulldogs, too, given their uneven play through the first half of games. This is a tone-setting game for both teams that will provide some separation near the top of the conference.

No. 11 Tennessee at No. 6 Alabama, Oct. 18

The third marquee game this Saturday alone rekindles a rivalry that has shifted back to the Volunteers, winners of two of the last three meetings. Both teams have some playoff wiggle room, but the winner could head out of the weekend as the favorite in the SEC. It’s another test for Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar, who hasn’t faced a ranked opponent on the road.

No. 4 Texas A&M at LSU, Oct. 25

Saturday’s trip to Arkansas won’t help decide whether A&M is truly one of the top five teams in the Bowl Subdivision or just a very good team taking advantage of an easier schedule. That answer could come a week later in Death Valley. LSU has the talent to flip a switch and run the table in the second half.

Georgia vs. Florida, Nov. 1

The annual meeting between the schools in Jacksonville, Florida, is notable for potentially being the final game for Florida coach Billy Napier, who has been able to dodge a pink slip but finds his job security more tenuous than ever. Look for the school to make a coaching change should the Gators lose.

Texas A&M at No. 16 Missouri, Nov. 8

This one of three games remaining against ranked teams for Missouri, sandwiched between matchups against Vanderbilt and No. 13 Oklahoma. Should they get past the Commodores, a win against the Aggies could put the Tigers on track to land an at-large bid.

LSU at Alabama, Nov. 8

One potential backdrop to this game is Brian Kelly’s future at LSU should the Tigers lose once before heading to Tuscaloosa. The same might be said of Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer, though he’s solidified his status during an active five-game winning streak. This could determine half of the makeup of the SEC championship game if both teams have just one loss.

Oklahoma at Alabama, Nov. 15

By this point, the hope for Oklahoma is that quarterback John Mateer has fully recovered from his hand injury and is playing at the level that made him a Heisman Trophy front-runner. The Sooners’ defense is one of the best nationally, so a playoff bid comes down to whether the offense gets back in gear.

No. 17 Texas at Georgia, Nov. 15

This game would take on much less meaning if Texas slips up and takes a third loss against Vanderbilt. If the Longhorns have just two losses, the trip to Athens would be one of the biggest regular-season games of the Steve Sarkisian era. A loss might end their postseason hopes. A win could vault them into the SEC title game.

Georgia at No. 13 Georgia Tech, Nov. 28

This could be a playoff eliminator for the loser should unbeaten Geogia Tech lose once or twice in ACC play and fall short of the conference title game. While who the loss or losses come against matters, the Yellow Jackets could still meet the Bulldogs with an at-large playoff bid at risk. Last year’s rivalry was an epic, eight-overtime win by Georgia.

Texas A&M at Texas, Nov. 28

This rekindled rivalry would be must-see TV even if both teams were hovering around five or six wins. There’s a chance that this game carries the same weight as last year’s meeting, which had profound consequences for the SEC and the playoff. If Sarkisian is under fire after the Georgia game, a loss to Mike Elko and the Aggies would make his job security one of the main talking points of the offseason.

Alabama at Auburn, Nov. 29

The Iron Bowl will also draw national eyeballs regardless of the records involved. In this year’s case, don’t look for Auburn to have much more on the line than getting to six wins, which even then might not be enough to salvage Hugh Freeze’s job. There will be plenty of pressure on DeBoer, though, because of the chance the Tigers play spoilers and knock the Crimson Tide out of the title conversation.