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'Football 301': Arch Manning's NFL Draft stock isn't cooked and here's why

As the college football season rolls into its second half, few quarterback prospects have drawn as much scrutiny or sparked as much debate as Arch Manning.

The Texas signal-caller has been thrust under the national microscope since Day 1, and this year's struggles have only intensified the noise around his NFL potential. But for Yahoo Sports' Nate Tice, the conversation around Arch is far from settled — and he remains steadfast in keeping Manning ranked among his top quarterback prospects.

He made his case on an episode of the "Football 301" podcast.

The constant social media barrage calling Arch "overrated" or a "bust" doesn't move Tice. He's seen enough from the process, traits and underlying play to keep faith in Manning's long-term NFL potential:

"There's more to Arch with his tools and even his process right now than I think what the narrative is right now," Tice said. " … It's a difference between him as a player right now and what he projects to be."

While the results aren't perfect and there's plenty to work on, Tice is willing to bet that Manning is still a "good prospect that should go in the first round" of the NFL Draft, even if he's not at the tier of a Drake Maye, Caleb Williams or Trevor Lawrence.

The narrative around Manning has been overwhelmingly negative. Texas' consecutive losses to Oklahoma and Florida, paired with underwhelming stat lines, have led many observers to label Manning a disappointment.

But Tice urges a look at the tape, suggesting that what shows up on film tells a more positive story than what the box score reveals.

"Some of the film in those games that might have felt lackluster, the end of Oklahoma, the Tennessee game where he finished with one pick, no touchdowns, the film of those games was much better than expected."

What stands out for Tice isn't necessarily the raw production, but Manning's process, particularly his willingness to work from the pocket, push the football downfield and stand tall under pressure. While Manning has had issues finishing critical drives and a few notable mistakes, Tice points out that Manning consistently shows toughness, advanced processing and the ability to step up in tight pockets.

There's a "willingness to push the football, work over the middle" and the traits that translate to the next level: size, athleticism, and a good — not just average — arm.

Manning's struggles, according to Tice, are as much a product of his supporting cast and Texas' coaching as of anything Manning himself can control. The Texas offensive line has struggled with blitzes and stunts, and the receiving corps has been "underwhelming." Even Cam Coleman, a preseason top-five player for Tice, "just doesn't have a real feel for the game" this year.

Manning's tendency to avoid tucking and running — sometimes missing open gains with his impressive athleticism — is viewed by Tice not as a flaw in confidence, but as a trait of a quarterback striving to own the pocket and process defenses like a pro, not just bail out for easy yards.

Despite the up-and-down execution and a rough game against Florida, Tice still sees the elite tools that made Manning a consensus top recruit:

  • Athleticism: "Very, very good athlete … this guy's going to run a 4.5 if he does run the 40"

  • Toughness and poise: Willingness to stand in and take hits, work through progressions, and not rely on just his legs

  • Arm talent: Not just average but a legitimately good one, able to drive throws at the NFL level

That combination still justifies a spot in the first-round conversation for the 2027 NFL Draft.

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Cubs BCB After Dark: Which free agent pitcher is the best fit?

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 06: Michael King #34 of the San Diego Padres pitches in the eighth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in game three of the National League Division Series at Petco Park on October 06, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images

We’re open for business here at BCB After Dark: the coolest club for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. Come on in out of the fall chill. There’s no cover charge. We always have room for a friendly face. We have a few tables available. The hostess can seat you now. Bring your own beverage.

BCB After Dark is the place for you to talk baseball, music, movies, or anything else you need to get off your chest, as long as it is within the rules of the site. The late-nighters are encouraged to get the party started, but everyone else is invited to join in as you wake up the next morning and into the afternoon.

Last night, I asked you who you were cheering for in the upcoming World Series. The vote wasn’t as lopsided as I thought it would be, as “only” 63 percent of you said you were cheering for the Rays. For the other 37 percent, I guess you have your reasons.

On Tuesdays, I don’t normally do any movie stuff. But I always have time for jazz and you’re free to join us.

Tonight we’re featuring Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox playing Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” as a 1930s Cab Calloway-style jazz tune. And yes, that’s Wayne Brady on lead vocals.

Welcome back to everyone who skips all that jazz.

Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma have an article up in The Athletic about some free agent pitching targets for the Cubs over the winter. (sub. req.) Tonight’s question is which one do you think would be the best fit for the Cubs?

OK, I’m cheating a little bit. The first name that Mooney and Sharma mention is Tarik Skubal, and if I put him in the poll he’d probably get at least 90 percent of the vote. But as Mooney and Sharma mention, signing Skubal would force owner Tom Ricketts to go way outside of his comfort zone as far as it comes to signing free agents. I’m not saying that there is no chance the Cubs sign Skubal. I do think there’s a chance that Ricketts and Hoyer decide to roll the dice on Skubal. But I don’t think it’s a big chance. Small chance. Really small chance. But I am saying there’s a chance. But not enough of a chance to include him here.

The other three starting pitchers mentioned by the pair are much more likely options for the Cubs. The three of them are:

Right-hander Michael King: King isn’t technically a free agent yet, but he has an opt-out clause that everyone is expecting him to exercise. As Mooney and Sharma note, the Cubs were interested in King last year, but didn’t want to match the Padres’ offer. For one, it would have cost the Cubs a draft pick as he had received a qualifying offer. Second, the deal for three years and $75 million with two opt outs meant that the Cubs would have been taking on all the risk and potentially getting only one year out of King.

But King had a good year in 2026, including shutting the Cubs down in the postseason, which you probably remember. The 31-year-old King went 12-10 with a strong 3.21 ERA over 185 innings this past season. He also kept the ball on the ground, which is good with the Cubs infield. The one warning sign is that King’s strikeout rate this past year dropped to a career-low 21 pecent in 2026.

Right-hander Freddy Peralta: The Cubs have been linked to Peralta for a while, mostly because of the long history between him and manager Craig Counsell in Milwaukee. With free agency approaching, the Brewers dealt Peralta to the Mets last winter and until the trade deadline in August, he was pretty freaking bad in Queens with a 4.99 ERA. Some of that was the Mets poor defense. Some of that was just Peralta being bad.

But Peralta was traded to the Rays at the deadline and after a disastrous start in Colorado when he got rocked for seven runs, Perlata was mostly pretty good for the Rays. He seemed to have rediscovered his old form from Milwaukee. In ten regular season starts with the Rays, Peralta had a 3.25 ERA. Then, of course, he dominated in the playoffs and was just named the American League Championship Series MVP last night after two terrific games against Cleveland. As Mooney and Sharma point out, Peralta’s velocity took a big step up during the playoffs, potentially indicating that his problems with the Mets are behind him.

The one potential yellow flag to Peralta’s time with Tampa Bay is that, like King, his strikeout rate dropped, striking out just 19.7 percent of batters. On the other hand, his walk rate dropped too.

Right-hander Sonny Gray: At 36, Gray is easily the oldest of the three pitchers we’re looking at tonight. But he really isn’t slowing down much at all. Gray had one of the best seasons of his career in 2026 and he led the league with 18 wins. Gray also had a 2.72 ERA, which was his lowest since his abbreviated rookie season in 2013.

Gray is also a strong ground ball pitcher, getting 46 percent ground balls last season and 49.4 percent over the course of his career. Gray also doesn’t walk batters, which allowed him to go deeper into games even as he ages. In 22 of his 29 starts last year, Gray went at least six innings. In six starts, he went seven innings or more.

The other advantage with Gray is that with his age, he’d probably be willing to settle for a much shorter contract of one or two years. That would mean a lot less risk if things go bad.

Mooney and Sharma mention the players and coaches on the Cubs with Vanderbilt connections, that might entice the Commodore alum. But I also wanted to mention that the Cubs drafted Gray out of high school in 2008 in the 27th round. Admittedly, Gray was a strong commit to Vandy and that draft pick was a kind of “Hey, if you change your mind. . .” pick, but the point is that the Cubs interest in Gray goes all the way back to the Jim Hendry era.

So which of these three pitchers would be the best fit for the Cubs in 2027?

Thanks for stopping by tonight. It’s been nice hosting you. Please get home safely. Tell your friends about us. Don’t forget any personal items. Tip your waitstaff. And join us again tomorrow night for more BCB After Dark.

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Purple Row After Dark: What was your first baseball jersey?

DENVER, COLORADO - JULY 22: A detailed look at the jersey of Kyle Karros of the Colorado Rockies during a game against the Washington Nationals at Coors Field on July 22, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Kyle Cooper/Colorado Rockies/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Since there’s no baseball until Friday, it seemed like a good time to bring back a Purple Row After Dark discussion.

I took this idea from a Denver Nuggets Instagram post I stumbled onto, and I thought it would be worth pursing here.

But first, let me turn it over to the Nuggets:

And that raises tonight’s question for the Purple Row Night Owls: What was your first baseball jersey?

Me, I went through a Chicago White Sox phase long ago (and it’s a long story), but my first MLB jersey featured Robin Ventura.

Share yours in the comments!

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Should Sabres Lose Out On Hellebuyck Sweepstakes, Here's Who They Should Acquire For Net Upgrade

Jerome Miron, Imagn Images
Jerome Miron, Imagn Images

For this column, we’re going to construct a potential reality for you: first, let’s presume the Buffalo Sabres don’t wind up winning the sweepstakes for disgruntled Winnipeg Jets star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. The Sabres are reported to have interest in Hellebuyck, and really, who can blame them? We’re talking about a Hart Trophy winner as the NHL’s most valuable regular-season player and a Vezina Trophy as the league’s best goalie. If you’re a team like the Sabres who could be seeking an upgrade in net, there may be no better upgrade than Hellebuyck.

But just because you want your first choice between the pipes, that doesn’t mean you’re going to get it. So let’s also presume another team outbids Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen for Hellebuyck’s services. If that turns out to be true, will Buffalo just ride out the season with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Colten Ellis and Alex Lyon as their three-headed goalie monster? Given that Luukkonen currently has a .860 save percentage, and Ellis has an .864 SP, that doesn’t sound like the best solution for the Sabres.

(And yes, we’ve heard Kekalainen speak of his confidence in his current goalies. What should we expect him to say – that he sees what the rest of us see, which is that there are definitely better options for the Sabres in net? He’d be sabotaging every shred of leverage he’d need to consummate a trade for a goalie. So let’s go forward with the understanding that Buffalo will still pursue a goalie.)

So, we’re proposing a different target if the Sabres don’t land Hellebuyck: Minnesota Wild veteran Filip Gustavsson. Of course, the 28-year-old Gustavsson has yet to play a game this season as he recovers from off-season hip surgery. But with young netminder Jesper Wallstedt currently thriving for the Wild, Gustavsson is likely to be the best available goalie after Hellebuyck.

Indeed, Gustavsson would be a major upgrade for the Sabres. He’s a workhorse who’s averaged 51 appearances per year in the past three seasons. He’s averaged a .911 SP in 219 career regular-season NHL games, and he’s averaged a 2.67 GAA in that span. And perhaps the best part – he’s in the first year of a five-year contract extension paying him $6.8-million per season. That’s the type of cost-certain asset that would allow Buffalo to spend in other areas.

The Wild aren’t simply going to hand Gustavsson to the Sabres. They’ll have to pony up something of value, but that’s Kekalainen’s job – he has to figure out how to sell Gustavsson on Buffalo as a team, and he’s got to sell Minnesota counterpart Bill Guerin on dealing Gustavsson to the Sabres.

That said, we see plenty of value in Gustavsson. He signed his contract extension before Wallstedt established himself as the Wild’s starter, and he no doubt is a proud veteran who doesn’t want to be relegated to the bench as Wallstedt’s understudy. In Buffalo, he’d be the clear-cut No. 1, and he’d be in that role for the long-term.

Thus, if you’re a Sabres fan and Buffalo fails to acquire Hellebuyck, don’t be despondent – there are other options out there. And from this writer’s point-of-view, the best goalie option probably available via trade – at least, right now – is most definitely Gustavsson.

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Yankees top prospect Dax Kilby continues surging start in Arizona Fall League

Dax Kilby’s tremendous start with the Yankees organization came to a screeching halt this season, as he was limited to just 32 minor league games due to multiple hamstring injuries. 

Kilby has been able to remain on the field thus far in Arizona Fall League action, though, and he’s back showing exactly why he’s the top-ranked prospect in New York’s system.

The 19-year-old former first-round pick out of Newnan High School made some changes to his swing in an effort to cut down his ground ball rate, and those appear to be paying off early on. 

Kilby reached base safely two more times during Tuesday’s exhibition meeting. 

He opened the scoring for the Salt River Rafters right out of the gate, crushing the fourth pitch of the game 107.1 mph to deep right-center for his second homer during Fall League play. 

The youngster was retired each of his next three times to the plate, but he ripped an RBI double to center in the top of the ninth, evening things up at 10 runs apiece. 

Kilby finished the day 2-for-5 with a pair of RBIs, bringing his average up to .306 and giving him a Fall League-leading nine extra-base hits through his first nine games. 

He’s also swiped a total of four bases and has shown tremendous plate discipline over that span, striking out just four times while drawing a trio of free passes. 

Kilby already sits as MLB Pipeline’s 78th overall prospect, and the middle infielder could quickly cruise his way through the Yankees’ system if he keeps this rolling into a healthy season. 

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San Diego’s breakout backstop

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 7: Luis Campusano #12 of the San Diego Padres swings and hits the ball in the fourth inning during Game Four of the National League Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers at Petco Park on October 7, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Welcome to our series grading every member of the San Diego Padres’ 40-man roster. The roster being evaluated is current as of Oct. 18, prior to the end of the World Series. Because of that, it will include players who will be free agents once the postseason concludes. Each player will be graded on their performance in the 2026 season, including the playoffs. That performance will be weighted based on how much time the player spent with the team (availability is the best ability). 

The Breakout Backstop

Regardless of his lack of total work this season, Luis Campusano truly broke out this season. Much of that is due to manager Craig Stammen placing his faith in the 28-year-old to back up Freddy Fermin. Eventually, Campusano seemed to actually win the starting catcher job once Fermin’s bat proved anemic. Still, Campusano looked phenomenal behind the dish. It’s a wonder why former manager Mike Shildt ever kept him out of the lineup in 2024-25.

Overall Grade: B+

In 71 games, Campusano hit .265/.363/.433 with a .796 OPS. He hit eight home runs, 20 extra-base hits and 30 RBI. All-in-all, he ended the season with a 122 OPS+ (22 points above league-average hitters). It was by far the most successful season of his career. The only other year when Campusano had more than 200 at-bats came in 2024. He posted -0.7 WAR that season compared to 1.7 WAR in 2026.

His defense also improved. Compared to that 2024 season, his Throwing Value went up from -3 to +3 while his Blocking Value increased from -3 to 0. Framing has continued to be a less valuable facet of Campusano’s game (-4 Framing Value), however with the advent of ABS challenges, framing as an art has dwindled in the game. That said, his ABS challenges haven’t been particularly great (-2 value).

Campusano missed significant time with a fractured toe after fouling a pitch off his foot. He left the team in the first week of May and didn’t return until early July. Still, he helped win the Padres some games in that time. He hit two walk-offs late in the season that won the Friars significant games. If Campusano can build on that in 2027, it’ll be a major improvement for San Diego’s historically subpar catching tandem.

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Scott Wedgewood Stands Tall as Avalanche Drown in Devils’ Shot Barrage

Scott Wedgewood has done everything in his power to keep the Avalanche in the game, but Colorado’s defensive breakdowns and lack of offensive production have left it chasing New Jersey through 40 minutes.

Gabe Landeskog’s first-period equalizer briefly erased an early deficit, but an unfortunate own goal from Brock Nelson put the Devils back in front, leaving the Avalanche trailing 2-1 while being outshot 32-13 heading into the third period.

First Period

The Avalanche were outplayed, outshot and on their heels for much of the opening period, but Gabe Landeskog ensured they had something to show for it on the scoreboard. Despite surrendering 14 shots and managing just four of their own, Colorado escaped the first 20 minutes tied 1-1 with the New Jersey Devils, thanks to Landeskog’s late equalizer.

The defensive issues that plagued Colorado against the Flyers carried over into its matchup with the Devils. New Jersey came out flying, recording seven shots on goal in the opening five minutes while the Avalanche failed to register a single shot of their own.

Nathan MacKinnon endured a difficult start as well, getting knocked to the ice in his own defensive zone by Devils forward Dawson Mercer while away from the puck. Despite what appeared to be a clear interference penalty, no call was made.

New Jersey broke the deadlock at 6:40, capitalizing on a defensive miscue by Colorado. MacKinnon was unable to corral a loose puck in the defensive zone, allowing the Devils to regain possession. The puck eventually found Luke Evangelista, who fired it past Scott Wedgewood to give New Jersey an early 1-0 lead.

Landeskog responded with 5:28 remaining in the period, bringing the Avalanche back even. Cale Makar shook off a defender before slipping a backhanded pass to Landeskog at the top of the right circle. Landeskog fired on goal and buried his own rebound to tie the game at 1-1.

Colorado’s defensive struggles continued late in the frame when Artturi Lehkonen was called for delay of game after shooting the puck over the glass with 1:38 remaining. The Devils immediately pressured the Avalanche net, crashing the crease and forcing Wedgewood to come up with several difficult stops to keep the game tied.

After 20 minutes, the score remained 1-1, but the shots on goal told a different story. New Jersey held a commanding 14-4 advantage, leaving Colorado with plenty to clean up heading into the second period.

Second Period

The second period brought more of the same, with Colorado struggling to generate offense as New Jersey continued to dictate the pace and pile up scoring chances.

Seven minutes into the period, the Devils held an 8-1 advantage in shots on goal, keeping Wedgewood under relentless pressure. The Avalanche netminder stood tall, turning aside one shot after another to prevent New Jersey from extending its lead.

As the period approached its midpoint, Parker Kelly provided a rare spark for Colorado. Coming off the bench, Kelly drove hard to the net and attempted to slip a puck past Devils goaltender Jake Allen with one hand, but Allen turned him away.

New Jersey eventually regained the lead with 7:29 remaining in the period, though the goal came on an unfortunate bounce for Colorado. Declan Chisholm unleashed a slap shot from the point that deflected off Brock Nelson and into the Avalanche net, giving the Devils a 2-1 advantage.

Colorado struggled to mount a meaningful response as the period wound down, leaving Wedgewood with little margin for error despite his strong performance between the pipes.

After 40 minutes, New Jersey held a 2-1 lead and a staggering 32-13 advantage in shots on goal. Wedgewood has kept the Avalanche within striking distance, but Colorado will need a much stronger third period offensively and a significant improvement defensively to avoid letting this one slip away.

Third Period

The Avalanche came out with more life to start the third, generating a flurry of chances. Martin Necas tested Jake Allen with a backhand before setting up a one-timer that led to a rebound opportunity for Nathan MacKinnon. Cale Makar even dove into the crease trying to jam the loose puck home, but Colorado couldn’t find the finish.

That brief burst of hope was cute while it lasted. Arseny Gritsyuk then picked MacKinnon’s pocket, skated past Necas, shrugged off Devon Toews, and buried a backhand past Scott Wedgewood to make it 3-1. A defensive disaster from start to finish, and another reminder that New Jersey had no intention of letting Colorado back into the game.

The Avalanche finally earned their first power play of the night with 11:17 remaining after Evan Rodrigues was called for hooking Gabriel Landeskog, giving Colorado a chance to claw its way back into the game.

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Football regulator has ‘absolute power’ to force Manchester City sale if verdict upheld

  • IFR chair David Kogan insists regulator has power to act

  • City have appealed against Premier League’s charges

The Independent Football Regulator (IFR) will have “absolute power” to force Manchester City’s owners to sell if they are ultimately found to have run the club improperly, the watchdog’s chair has said.

Manchester City have been found guilty of circumventing Premier League rules by an independent commission, which found they set up “sham” commercial arrangements to inflate revenues or reduce costs by over £900m over a nine-season period.

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Check out the New York Knicks' glamorous NBA championship rings

Put your shades on because these rings are dazzling!

The New York Knicks received their championship rings on Tuesday, Oct. 20 at Madison Square Garden ahead of their season opener against the Philadelphia 76ers. The arena was buzzing as Knicks and ABC play-by-play announcer Mike Breen led the ceremony to honor New York's first title in 53 years. Knicks superfan Ben Stiller was in the crowd filming the festivities on his phone.

The rings were crafted by Jason of Beverly Hills and feature the Knicks logo in orange gems on the ring face with a line of blue gems surrounding the entire base. The top of the ring opens up to reveal the inside of Madison Square Garden. The back of the band has "Knicks in Five" engraved on it, to commemorate that New York beat the San Antonio Spurs 4-1 in the NBA Finals. The inside of the band has the number "10 weeks" engraved in black, a call back to Knicks owner James Dolan rallying his team to make sacrifices for the length of the playoff run.

One of the sides of the ring says "World Champions" with the records for each of New York's series wins and the Larry O'Brien Trophy encrusted in diamonds. The other side has the player's name and number with a gold image of the outside of Madison Square Garden.

Jason of Beverly Hills is responsible for several recent championship rings across sports, including for the Carolina Hurricanes, Seattle Seahawks, Philadelphia Eagles and the winner of the WBC Crown Series Undisputed Championship fight between Canelo Álvarez and Terence Crawford.

New York Knicks championship rings

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Check out the New York Knicks' glamorous NBA championship rings

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Pistons erase 22-point deficit, stun Celtics with 23-0 fourth quarter run in season opening win

DETROIT — The Detroit Pistons erased a 22-point second-half deficit and used a 23-0 fourth-quarter run to defeat the Boston Celtics 121-113 Tuesday at Little Caesars Arena for their first win of the season.

Boston took its largest lead at 72-50 early in the third quarter before Detroit completely flipped the game, storming back behind its bench and a fourth-quarter surge.

Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren each scored 22 points for Detroit, with Cunningham adding eight assists and Duren grabbing nine rebounds. Duncan Robinson finished with 21 points and made five 3-pointers, while Ausar Thompson added 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Javonte Green provided perhaps the biggest spark. After not playing in the first half, Green scored 19 points off the bench and helped fuel Detroit’s comeback over the final two quarters.

Paul George scored a game-high 38 points in his Celtics debut, the most points ever scored by a Boston player in his first game with the team. Derrick White and Payton Pritchard added 17 points apiece.

Jayson Tatum finished with 13 points and 11 assists, but struggled from the field, shooting 6-for-23 and missing all seven of his 3-point attempts.

Neither team created much separation early. The game was tied at 13 midway through the opening quarter before Boston carried a 28-27 advantage into the second.

The Celtics began to take control late in the first half. After Detroit tied the game at 39, Boston used a 15-0 run as part of a 19-6 closing stretch to take a 58-45 lead into halftime.

Detroit shot 38.6% from the field and just 22.2% from beyond the arc in the first half, while Boston connected on 48% of its shots and 40% from 3.

George kept the Celtics rolling to begin the third quarter, hitting three 3-pointers in less than a minute as Boston built its 22-point lead.

That was when Detroit began to turn the game around.

The Pistons trimmed the deficit to 77-64 with 5:33 remaining in the third before a 16-4 run brought them within single digits for the first time since the second quarter. Green helped lead the charge as Detroit eventually pulled within three at 85-82.

Detroit outscored Boston 37-30 in the third and entered the fourth trailing just 88-82.

The Celtics appeared to regain control when they pushed their advantage back to 96-84 early in the fourth, but the Pistons responded again. Detroit pulled within 99-95 with 7:34 remaining before taking its first lead since the opening quarter.

Green hit the go-ahead 3-pointer, Duren followed with a three-point play and Robinson connected from deep as Detroit surged ahead 107-99.

The run eventually reached 23-0 as the Pistons turned what had been a double-digit deficit into their largest lead of the afternoon.

Boston finally ended the drought, but Detroit maintained control and pushed its lead to 114-105 with two minutes remaining. The Celtics made one final push to cut the margin to four, but the Pistons held on to complete the season-opening comeback.

Detroit travels to Miami on Friday, while Boston hosts the New York Knicks.

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SEE IT: Knicks unveil 2025-26 championship banner, rings in pregame celebration

Before the Knicks could begin their 2026-27 campaign, they had one last bit of important championship business to take care of.

In front of a roaring home crowd cloaked in blue and orange, New York celebrated its historic NBA Finals run one last time ahead of its season opener against the Eastern Conference-rival Philadelphia 76ers, forever memorializing the effort in the Madison Square Garden rafters with a banner after each player received their glittery championship rings.

Ahead of the evening's festivities, the team also retroactively hung up a banner recognizing their 2025 NBA cup win against the San Antonio Spurs. 

"I think it's just a recognition of what our journey was like last year," head coach Mike Brown said of the banners. "There were a lot of ups and down throughout the course of the year. Our guys rallied and figured out a way to win the NBA Cup, and then you go ahead and you win the ... Final. It's just a recognition [of] not just our guys, but the fans out there. We've got fantastic fans, and to be able to show a little love to them is pretty neat."

After receiving a lengthy round of "MVP" chants as he jogged onto the court to receive his ring, captain Jalen Brunson had a message for all the Knicks fans who waited 53 years for the title.

"As much as we won this, we wouldn't have done it without you guys. This is unbelievable. This is really a dream come true," he said. "I know that we're all excited to get the season going, and we're waiting to turn the page as a team, but one thing I would like to say is that the joy that this city had this summer — we would love to replicate that again."

Brown said that while he hopes his players can find an emotional balance between celebrating their previous accomplishments and working toward the new, he wanted them to experience the moment in full.

"Knock on wood, this could be a once-in-a-lifetime thing. You never know," Brown said. "You definitely want guys to embrace it and celebrate it with each other because they went through a lot, with the fans, with the rest of the organization, and with their families. You don't want to take that moment away from them."

But he also knows that one night — even if it ends up a rough one — shouldn't set the tone for the whole 82-game season.

"No matter what happens tonight ... there's a lot of basketball left. Whatever happens tonight is not going to define us," Brown said. "I would rather them enjoy the moment than me cutting it short or carving into their emotions."

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Mammoth Give Top Blueline Prospect His First NHL Call-up

The Utah Mammoth have called a player up from the AHL for the first time this season, and it’s one of their top defensive prospects.

On Tuesday, the team recalled Artem Duda from the Tucson Roadrunners. The defenseman has three points in six games with the Roadrunners this season. He is tied with Zac Jones for the team lead in points among defensemen. Duda is also a plus-six, the best plus-minus rating on the team.

This is Duda’s first-ever NHL call-up. He was originally drafted in the second round in 2022 by the Arizona Coyotes. Last season, Duda only played 27 games, producing 13 points before suffering a season-ending injury that resulted in knee surgery.

However, the defenseman worked hard over the summer to regain strength in his leg before having an impressive rookie camp and a very solid training camp. He was one of the final cuts, alongside Ben McCartney, as the Mammoth sent him down right before the season started.

Duda has mentioned that he has never felt better, and early results have shown that he’s not lying.

“I feel like I’m the strongest person I’ve ever been,” Duda said. “Everything is good. The knee is good. I’m skating and playing physically. I just have to keep going like that.”

The Mammoth are currently starting to deal with injuries. John Marino did not play in Monday’s game vs. the Pittsburgh Penguins, forcing Nick DeSimone to sub in his place. Michael Carcone was placed on injured reserve on Tuesday with an upper-body injury. The forward has not played since Oct. 8 in a game against the Boston Bruins.

It’s unclear if Duda will actually play in his first NHL game during this call-up. Last season, the Mammoth called up Maksymilian Szuber, Kevin Connauton, Scott Perunovich, Dmitri Simashev, and Maveric Lamoureux throughout the season. Only the latter two names appeared in games with the Mammoth.

Duda is also ineligible for waivers, meaning he doesn’t have to clear them to be returned to the Roadrunners, which could mean a quick return to the AHL if needed. It could be a reason why the Mammoth opted to call him up over someone like Jones, who has to clear waivers. 

The Roadrunners will likely play their first two games without Duda this weekend as they travel to Nevada to play the Henderson Silver Knights. They have options to fill that void with Cal Thomas and Brandon Holt, both deserving of the opportunity to play.

The Mammoth will play their next game on Thursday as they travel to Climate Pledge Arena to take on the Seattle Kraken.

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NBA winners and losers: Pistons rally past Celtics, Tatum struggles

The 2026-27 NBA season is officially underway with an unprecedented opening-day tripleheader that began with a rare weekday matinee game between the Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons.

The Pistons rallied from a 22-point deficit to stun Boston in the league's first game of the season, setting the stage for the New York Knicks' ring ceremony and championship banner-raising before they face LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers. A Western Conference finals rematch between the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder wraps up the NBA opening-day slate on Tuesday, Oct. 20.

Here's a live breakdown of the players, moments and storylines that emerged as winners and losers from the NBA's opening day.

NBA: We ranked the best player on every NBA team. Sixers among biggest surprises

NBA opening day winners

Javonte Green

Much of the offseason discussion in Detroit centered on whether the Pistons had added enough shooting around Cade Cunningham. But Detroit coach J.B. Bickerstaff turned to a lesser-known returning player on Tuesday to provide an unlikely spark that kick-started Detroit after beginning its season opener 4 of 22 from beyond the arc.

Green had 19 points and played nearly 18 minutes in the second half after not playing during the first two quarters of the game. A veteran in his second season with the Pistons, Green drilled three consecutive 3-pointers shortly after entering in the third quarter before adding two more in the fourth, including the go-ahead basket.

Paul George

George set a new Celtics record by scoring 38 points in his Boston debut and was especially good as the Celtics built a 22-point lead that the Pistons eventually erased. The 36-year-old George, who came to Boston in the Jaylen Brown trade this offseason, made 10 of his first 14 shots from the field including six 3-pointers. He seemed to work well with Jayson Tatum and took on the defensive assignment of guarding Cade Cunningham at times. Though George missed a couple 3-pointers late as the Celtics tried to reverse the momentum, this performance was a good sign that he can form an elite combination with Tatum if he can stay healthy.

NBA opening day losers

Jayson Tatum

Tatum's evolution as a playmaker was evident Tuesday, as he finished with 11 assists. But Boston also needs him to be its primary scorer, particularly after trading Jaylen Brown, and he couldn't fill that role in the second half. His poor shooting performance contributed to the team's collapse. He was 1 for 9 from the floor after halftime and his lone field goal came with less than three minutes left and the Pistons' lead in double digits. Tatum was just 6 of 23 from the floor and 0 for 7 from 3-point range overall on Tuesday.

NBA on NBC's matinee rollout

The NBA is closely watching the audience response to its opening-day matinee experiment, but some fans encountered issues as Tuesday's opening game unfolded. Social media was filled with complaints from viewers who said Celtics-Pistons was unavailable in their market, with YouTube TV subscribers appearing particularly affected. The company wrote on its X account that "the availability of games/programs on YouTube TV depends on our network partners."

It will be interesting to see what the ratings turn out to be considering the NBA is evaluating this initial game to determine whether to continue having daytime openers in the future.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA winners and losers: Pistons rally past Celtics, Tatum struggles

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Postseason off day chat and discussion: October 20

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 13: A Los Angeles Dodgers groundscrew worker paints the postseason logo on the field before the Milwaukee Brewers workout prior to the NLCS at Dodger Stadium on October 13, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Well, it looks like we’ll be sitting tight for a few days. Game 1 of the World Series won’t be until the night of October 23, so that means there will be no more baseball until then.

In the mean time, what are y’all planning on watching tonight? If you’re a basketball fan then you’re well aware that it’s Opening Night in the NBA, so there are a pair of really exciting games planned tonight as the Knicks host the Sixers and the Thunder host the Spurs. I’m still happy that the classic NBA on NBC theme is back, so that lone is enough to entice me.

Outside of that, is there anything else that y’all are planning on watching? If you’re still having trouble finding something to watch, here are some 2021 NLCS highlights to enjoy.

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