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Welcome to College Football’s $50 Million Era: Inside the Roster Spending Explosion

It’s what coaches are saying. It is being said by personnel staff. It’s being said by agents. It’s being said by athletic directors.
You’ve probably learned that the cost of fielding a college team will increase. Up.
Ross Bjork, the athletic director at Ohio State University revealed that the Buckeyes had spent around $20 million on the football team before winning the national championship in 2024. Indiana did not disclose how much money it spent to win the title last year, but sources in the industry believe that it was slightly more than $20 million. This is still nowhere near $40 million or $30 million as rivals have claimed.
The Buckeyes will spend two-to-three times as much in 2026 than they did today. It’s actually multiple teams in multiple leagues.
One coach in a power conference says that if you don’t spend at least $20,000,000, then “you will struggle to compete.”
Sports Illustrated talked to over 40 coaches, athletic directors and general agents about the money that colleges spend on players for college football this summer. In an opaque environment where numbers aren’t officially released and kept under tight security, the top-line figures and overall investment in rosters have been eye-watering.
Coaches in non-Power 2 football leagues believe that $20 million per team is the typical amount they spend on their teams. Some coaches even think that this figure could be higher. The Big Ten and SEC’s median figures are believed to be higher than the House settlement cap of $21 million, the total amount for all sports in the coming athletics season.
In contrast to last year, nearly all power-conference programs (including Notre Dame), are either near or at the maximum revenue-sharing limit in 2026-2027. This was not true for all schools in the past, but it has been a major factor driving the growth of overall salaries and the number of players on a team. The amount of money spent on players by Group 6 teams has increased, sometimes multiples. This is true at the top and bottom of the scale.
If we assume that 75% of the full revenue-sharing is allocated for football – a standard many programs use – then more than one billion dollars will be spent directly on FBS players. When other funding sources are taken into account, the actual number will likely be doubled.
The distribution of cash has become more diverse than ever before. In the past, this was primarily done by collectives. It can be anything from negotiating national deals with brands (think Texas quarterback Arch Manning and his ubiquitous Vuori or Warby Parker advertisements) to structuring apparel contracts, multimedia rights agreements that allow players a share of the revenue. Even small businesses in college towns are paying for Instagram posts. There are several groups that still try to use a content or membership model to distribute booster dollars. The days of having to pay cash for fake community appearances and autographs have not gone away either.
One Power 4 athletic director puts it succinctly: “We are just washing our money.”
Numbers confirm this, with compensation escalating. In July, the College Sports Commission announced that their clearinghouse had approved $228,000,000 in NIL agreements during the first half of 2026. Multimedia-rights firm Learfield also reported it has more than doubled revenue from partnerships for schools involved in NIL in 2018.
We’ve lost this war. One ACC coach laments, “I don’t think we will ever be able to get back (to having a limit).” We were supposed to have a cap of $20.5 [million] but now the number is closer to $30 million.
SI has revealed the salaries paid to college football players in Power 4 and Group of 6 leagues this year.
ACC
Most expensive roster: Miami
The median estimate for a team is between $17 and $24 million
Miami is the team that spends most money in the ACC. Hurricanes, national runners-up last year, were in front of the game when it came time to pay players in the NIL age. They have not slowed down since Mario Cristobal took over. Miami’s budget was praised for being above average and for the amount it pays at different positions. This includes more than six million dollars for Darian Mensah, who is rated as one of the best quarterbacks in America.
Clemson is not far behind the Canes. Also, Florida State and Louisville are close.
One coach says that Miami will be spending more than $40 million. The ACC has a wide range of prices. Six to eight colleges can be built for $25 million to $35 millions. In the $18 to $20 [million] range, I believe you can have four or six more schools. “I think there are another 6 to 8 schools in that range.”
The ACC’s rapid spending growth is perhaps the most fascinating aspect. Some schools have gone from spending low-single-digit millions on players last year to now double-digits this season. Boston College, which is among the league’s laggards but has roughly doubled their investment in its roster according to Bill O’Brien, still lags behind. Virginia Tech went from being in the lower third of the league, to the top third with the new hire James Franklin. The investment was more than 20 million dollars not only for this season but also the future.
The top teams are still not slowing and they are now competing for talent less against their ACC counterparts, and more with the well-heeled power conferences.
Everyone, eventually, will run out of cash. “Whether they spend $50 million, 10 million, 20 million or 30 million dollars,” a high-ranking SMU representative says. With the resources we have and our support, I do not think that we’ve ever felt we were outbid or couldn’t compete. We sometimes let someone go even though we said we wouldn’t go higher. But that is more a matter of strategy than money.
Big 12
Most expensive roster: Texas Tech
The median estimate for a team is between $18 and $25 million
The Red Raiders are no longer considered a disruptive force in college football because of the amount they spend on players. Most people in Lubbock view them as being in a completely different league than their rest.
College fans in general say, “Hey Texas Tech shouldn’t be doing that.” Joey McGuire, Tech’s coach says: “That’s fine. We’re okay with it.” I thought we were a target last year because of what we did at the portal. The situation with Brendan Sorsby, our quarterback this year, has definitely put a target in front of us. “It’s us against everyone.”
The Big 12 is expected to have the most expensive team, even if Tech were to remove the majority of its budget for Sorsby. According to the survey this is a total figure of $40-45 million, which would fit in perfectly with a Power 2 League. Several coaches and staffers said it was difficult to understand the total figure given that so much money is being paid for high-school talent (five-star tackle Felix Ojo signed last year, and another two blue-chip players in the top-30 are already committed for 2027).
There is an increase of acceptance for what Tech does, especially among the coaches, compared to last year’s offseason. Last year there were plenty of grumbles in the back and an overt sense of jealousy about the Red Raiders’ spending to sway the price needed to get players. Now? The Red Raiders’ offer is not the only one being accepted, even if it comes with a grudging appreciation.
The fact that most schools spend millions more each year on retention is also a big help. According to a Big 12 coach, the highest third of the conference, including BYU and TCU, will spend closer to $30 million for next season, than they did last year.
After Texas Tech, Big 12 spending on rosters is very close to the results seen in the game. The Big 12 has a lower variance of spending, from bottom to top. This is due to the influx of new coaches.
It’s become very transactional at times. Eric Morris, the new Oklahoma State head coach says he doesn’t want be “the guy that sits there and complains about things I haven’t had because I’ve not been in an area with resources.” When I arrived at OSU, I was grateful for the money that I had to spend. My job is now to find out how to create a culture and build a winning team on Saturdays.
Big Ten
Most expensive rosters: Ohio State, Oregon
The median estimate for a team is between $22 and $28 millions
It is not surprising that the richest conference of all is spending as much money. Next summer, at Big Ten Media Days, it will be no surprise if Tony Pettiti stands by his fourth College Football Playoff Trophy.
One Big Ten coach says that Oregon and OSU are the only two teams in the Big Ten with a combined $50 million.
Internally and externally there’s probably a lot of focus on the Big Ten elite schools that are at the top.
Buckeyes are among the most expensive teams in this group, although they’re not alone. Jeremiah Smith, a wide receiver for the Ohio State Buckeyes, was cited by many respondents as being one of sports’ highest paid players. Most estimates put his compensation at more than $5 million. A few estimated it to be closer to twice that amount. It’s also not just Ohio State, because he probably earns more money than many Power 4 quarterbacks.
Ducks in similar situation, spending a lot on defensive depth and having the ability to accommodate expensive backups. Michigan and USC, who are both close to $40 million in revenue, continue to move closer towards the top with every passing year. The reigning champs, however, are more than capable of competing in the $30-35 million range.
In the Big Ten, there is a healthy middle class that has continued to increase the resources they devote to their teams in terms of both dollar amounts and personnel. It’s more fascinating to see how the teams at the bottom of conference open their wallets simultaneously. Coaches and general managers from both inside and outside of the conference cited UCLA as an example where a university is more aggressive than ever. Purdue, Rutgers and other schools have budgets of around $20 million and more than they had in recent years.
One Big Ten AD said, “I believe it has been a evolution for many donors and donor bases.” Look at how much behind the SEC we were all with our collectives. It was necessary to catch up.
SEC
Most expensive rosters: LSU, Texas, Texas A&M
The median estimate for a team is between $25 and $33 Million
The SEC is the only conference where more means better. At least three-quarters of its teams have a salary of over $25 million, easily the highest of all conferences in college football for this year.
The arrival of new managers has heightened the rivalry between the clubs in the league.
One Big 12 coach said, “LSU has the most expensive roster in the nation.” It’s well over $40 million, and close to $50.
People surveyed mentioned LSU, Texas, and Texas A&M as the three most expensive teams in the nation, with a comfortable spending of $40 million. In a lengthy bidding process, the Longhorns paid for Cam Coleman via the portal. The bids kept rising past $3 million per season. They may also have assembled the most expensive ever backfield when you factor in seven-figure sums spent to bring in Hollywood Smothers to play alongside Manning and Raleek to fill out the rest of the line. Texas A&M could have six offensive players earning more than $1,000,000 this year. Aggies also have the top-ranked recruiting class for next year. The Aggies have also assembled the No.
One head coach says that if you spend $15 million to train a new high school class (incoming), your team must be worth at least $50 million.
This floor is also what sets apart the SEC, as it’s expected that no SEC team will field a roster this year costing under $20 million. Vanderbilt, South Carolina and other power conferences would envy Arkansas’ spending. One rival pointed out that even after Kentucky paid for Mark Stoops’s buyout of $37 million, it is still in the middle in terms of spending on the roster and far ahead of what they spent last year.
Georgia, Ole Miss, and Tennessee all spent upwards of $35 million each to drive the figures higher.
Notre Dame and The Group of 6
The Fighting Irish are treated well by football independence on and off the field. Its wealthy boosters have never been short of money, which is reflected in their roster’s spending. They are now competing with other schools for a title with the same amount.
One ACC coach says, “They’re no different than a top-tier Big Ten team when it comes to the total number.” To me, it’s clear that they have done an excellent job of keeping guys. “They don’t let anyone go if they do not want to.”
Since Marcus Freeman became coach, there has been a new emphasis on high-end players who have graduated from high school.
The rest of college football, outside of Notre Dame continues to push the limits of what’s possible despite the fact that some recognizable athletes in the sport make more money than entire teams of Group of Six teams at the end-of-the-day–ranging between six figures for the low-end Sun Belt team to single-digit millionaires most of them. Some schools are able to double the money they can commit for their 2026 rosters, which is a good thing. Many programs, including UTEP and other unexpected ones, now have multimillion dollar teams due to increased revenue sharing.
The high-end of the new Pac-12 and a few teams from the American upper echelon are generally viewed as leading the group in terms of player expenditures in the G6. Boise State and Memphis, for example, aren’t yet spending $10 million on player salaries in power conferences but they are getting closer. The rest of their leagues slot in behind–with a few aspirational outliers in the mix from other conferences–followed by your average Mountain West and Sun Belt team spending a few million on players. The majority of MAC and Conference USA football teams are in the lower tiers and do not spend more than seven figures. However, more and more schools have reached this level.
No matter where a college team falls on the spectrum, from LSUs to Ohios to Louisiana-Monroes, there is one thing that can be said about the budget for 2027: the price of playing will not go down any time soon.

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Patriots vs. Seahawks prediction, odds, time: 2026 NFL Kickoff Game picks

In 2026, the Super Bowl-winning Seattle Seahawks will host the New England Patriots in the NFL Kickoff Game. This year’s NFL Kickoff Game will be played on a Wednesday instead of a Thursday. Seattle just finished a regular season that ended in a victory of 29-13 over the Pats. New England went 14-3 during the regular season, in Mike Vrabel’s first year at the helm of the team. New England’s running back TreVeyon Henderson (ankle), has been declared out. Seattle’s secondary has some questions regarding injuries. Starting safety Ty Okada is out with a hamstring injury and Nick Emmanwori, a safety who was a starter in Seattle, may be questionable. Get $200 bonus after placing $5+ wagers with our DraftKings Promo Code Review.
The kickoff time is 8:20 pm. ET at Lumen Field, Seattle. Seahawks are 3-point favorites in the latest Seahawks-Patriots betting odds. Total points are at 44.5. Check out the SportsLine model before making your Patriots vs. Seahawks predictions or your 2026 NFL Kickoff Game picks.
Since its creation, the model has generated well over $7000 for players betting $100 on NFL top picks. Model enters 2026 NFL with a record of 53-37 on the top picks since 2024. Anyone who followed its predictions at NFL betting websites could have enjoyed strong returns.
The model is now focused on the Seahawks and Patriots. SportsLine has its predictions available. Below are some NFL betting odds for Patriots at Seahawks.
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Patriots vs. Seahawks: Top predictions
The model predicts that the Seahawks will win by a margin of over 44.5 (-110) points at online betting apps after 10,000 simulations. Both teams were among the top scoring units last year and both upgraded their offenses in the off-season. New England signed three-time All-Pro A.J. Brown will also use its first-round pick to secure an offensive lineman to protect Drake Maye. Seattle’s rookie Jadarian price, who was selected in the first-round out of Notre Dame, will be given a lot of work early on due to Zach Charbonnet being injured and Kenneth Walker III leaving.
Last year, the Over was 7-2 when Seattle had home advantage. This was the best record in the league. Three games). In 2025, however, the Over was 11-6 for Patriots regular-season games, tied with the NFL’s second best record. The model predicts that this total will be exceeded, given these trends and the fact the Over was hit at each of the six previous regular season meetings between the two teams. The model projects 46 points combined, which gives value to Over. SportsLine lets you know which team is the best to bet on.
Seahawks and Patriots: How to pick the winners
The model predicts that the Patriots will beat the Seahawks by a margin of 60% in simulations for the NFL Kickoff Game. SportsLine has the details.

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NFL Kickoff Game preview: Patriots try to be more competitive in Super Bowl rematch vs. Seahawks

It was logical that the NFL chose the New England Patriots to play the Seattle Seahawks in the first game, since it is a Super Bowl clash.
The Super Bowl was also an interesting experience.
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The Super Bowls have been competitive for the most part, but the last postseason saw the second consecutive blowout. From the beginning, it was clear that the Patriots would lose. Seahawks won 29-13, but the mismatch was much worse than that score would indicate. Seahawks’ defense shut down the Patriots who failed to score during the first three-quarters. New England scored a pointless touchdown in the last three minutes to bring Seahawks’ lead down to 29-7. Seattle’s performance was superior to New England on every level.
It doesn’t necessarily mean that a second match will be the same. Signing Romeo Doubs, and making the big A.J. Brown. Many players who have been on the team since the Super Bowl last year will recall being humiliated and wish to atone for that. They will, however, be missing a key player due to the ankle injury of running back TreVeyon.
Create or join a Yahoo Fantasy Football League for the NFL 2026 season
Seahawks also have motivation. The Seahawks have been overlooked as the Los Angeles Rams, their NFC West counterparts, grab all of the attention this offseason with their major roster changes. They have suffered some losses, including running back Kenneth Walker III, and their offensive coordinator Klint Kubica, but the Seahawks were still a champion, and they won’t be beaten by the Rams.
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Smith-Njigba told Yahoo Sports Jori Epstein that Donald was a competitor in the division. He’s someone you need to be accountable for, and we will do everything to keep him in check and stop him. We’re up for the challenge. Each week we’ll accept the challenge, come up with an excellent game plan and then execute. This is something I truly believe.
We’ll be prepared for anything that comes our way.
Both teams have a lot to play for as the game was moved from Thursday to Wednesday to allow the 49ers and Rams to meet in Australia on that night. This game should be better than their last meeting.
Who has more need?
Super Bowl champs, the Seahawks are in a good position. It will be disappointing if they don’t perform as well this year, but at least they have a free pass. It was surprising that the 14-3 AFC champs were so harsh in their offseason after missing out on the Super Bowl. The Patriots were criticized for their soft schedule and how the team would regress. This narrative would be changed instantly if the Patriots won at Seattle in their season opener. With Mike Vrabel as head coach and Drake Maye as quarterback, this team should be able to stay together for some time.
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Seahawks Jadarian price is a key player
In free agency, they let Kenneth Walker III leave the Seahawks for the Chiefs. Price was selected with the final first-round draft choice as part of a plan to replace Walker. Price was a gifted player, who just happened to have been behind Jeremiyah love at Notre Dame. Zach Charbonnet, a talented back, is out for at least four games as he heals an ACL tear. Price will be heavily relied upon by a team who like to run with the ball until September. Price can become an important player if he is able to thrive in a larger role when Charbonnet’s out.
Ben Fawkes, betting market watch
Seahawks-3.5 was the opening line for the Super Bowl 60 matchup, and unlike Super Bowl (which went up to 5-5) the line remained at that level. In some bookmakers it has even been lowered to Seahawks-3. Christian Gonzalez, the Patriots’ cornerback who is currently in a dispute over a contract, will suit up. RB TreVeyon is not available. Drake Maye can look even better when facing that Seattle defense. Super Bowl champions New England haven’t received much media coverage this off-season. They’ll wait to use that against them on the field. Seattle is favored by the betting public and I concur.
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Yahoo Sports Betting Hub has more Ben’s works.
Seahawks vs Patriots will kick-off the 2026 NFL season on Wednesday, in a repeat of the noncompetitive Super Bowl from last year. Three fantasy angle to keep an eye on:
1. A.J. Is A.J.
Brown is a fantasy superstar despite seven years of playing on teams who ran the ball to the ground. Drake Maye comes into Brown’s world at the perfect time. However, Brown is dealing with chronic degenerative knee conditions. Brown was a logical second-round pick in this summer’s fantasy draft, but there are some concerns about the floor.
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2. Jadarian price will he be able to hit the ground running when he starts?
Seahawks hope it is true, as Zach Charbonnet and Kenneth Walker III are both out for several weeks. Price was a bit of a stretch as an NFL 1st-round selection, but given the lackluster depth chart behind him, he may get 18-20 touches for the Seahawks’ opener.
3. Has Rashid Shaheed been unlocked by the Seahawks?
Seattle traded for Shaheed during the mid-season of 2025. He did not do much after that — only a 15-188-1 line in nine games. The organization believes in Shaheed and gave him a $31 million, three-year extension at the end of the year. Even though receivers are sometimes able to produce immediately after being traded in the middle of a season (see Jakobi Meyers from last year), slow integration is more likely. Shaheed could be an important fantasy depth player for 2026.

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Frances Tiafoe breaks Alex Michelsen’s heart as hug produces enduring image of U.S. Open

NEW YORK – After Frances Tiafoe had played four hours, forty minutes, and watched his last passing forehand shot bounce off the strings, there was one thing that remained.
Alex Michelsen fell into his arms, weeping, as Tiafoe ran forward. He is Tiafoe’s 21-year old tennis brother. The bear hug was a comfort to Michelsen as he shook and wept with Tiafoe.
Tiafoe didn’t let him go. In the last two years he’s played on the same court so many times, even in 2024 when he lost a semifinal lead to Taylor Fritz. He was the victim of the cruel tennis equation on Tuesday, both in the afternoon and evening.
Tiafoe, who was on the brink of earning the most important win in his career with Michelsen’s big serving talent, grabbed a lifeline and miraculously climbed back to victory from being down two sets at 5-3. He won 5-7, 6-6, 7-5, 7-6, 10-6 and will now face Ben Shelton after he defeated Carlos Alcaraz.
Tiafoe stated, “It is the quarterfinals for a Slam. You have to go all out.”
He did a lot.
Tiafoe had disappeared, returned, and then seemed to have vanished again. He then rose again to stop Michelsen’s last attack with a series of nasty slices and affluent aces that seemed beyond his ability just two hours earlier.
The match was everything it promised when it began. Tiafoe, Michelsen and others smashed serves, charged nets, feathered drops volleys as well as found angles in the court and seams that they only saw.
Tiafoe was able to find a few more when it mattered the most. In the tiebreak he smashed a forehand along the line to gain an advantage early on. He then smashed a second service beyond Michelsen’s reach. Michelsen was able to even the score, but Tiafoe then blasted his forehand across court and won. He had the biggest lead of all: one that he would never give back.
Tiafoe sped across the finish with an Ace, another non-returnable serve and that curling winner that he probably has hit over 10,000 times ever since he first picked up a racket. But never in a situation as important.
Tiafoe told him what he has heard too often before, while Michelsen tried to hold his emotions back.
Michelsen later said at a press conference that “he was saying many nice things about me, like you will be there when I am older and you are going to play in the same situation.”
He’s an amazing guy who comforted me at that time.
Tiafoe stated in his press conference, “I love Alex. I truly, deeply do. I wanted to just come up and dap him.” “I did not think that it would be so long, but I get it now.”
Tiafoe was at his worst for more than 2 hours, and almost 3 sets. He landed only 35 percent of first serves in the second set. Michelsen was mainly crushing him with his second serves. It was an awkward moment for a player that puts on the show at his Grand Slam in Denmark and is known to be a performer like no other.
Tiafoe describes himself as flat and slow.
He said, “It was not good.”
After a decade of playing on tour, he has learned how fast a game can turn. Sometimes, if a player keeps on pushing and hanging around, it’s just enough to score a single point.
You see the opening of a window, you can see points that will turn things around. A single point could… four hours later in a fight, just for one point. “Tennis is an unique sport.”
Michelsen was on the verge of making the final four after playing a tennis match that was close to an absolute screamer. He was up 7-5, 6-1, 5-4 when he made two double-faults in the first game. This could have put him on the path to the promised land.
It was the first time he had played in this tournament.
Michelsen didn’t understand what was wrong. He began to think about the fact that he was four points from reaching the semi-finals.
He said: “It is a terrible way of looking at it because you only get to play one game at a given time.” Sometimes my arm is so tight. “I wasn’t tight at all, I only missed a few serves and then after double-failing twice I was just like, here it is.” “It’s bad.”
Tiafoe smashed. He then held serve. He then broke to bring the deficit back up to two sets.
The U.S. Open was once again Tiafoe’s fiesta. After spending a long afternoon looking for the service box, he has made it to the semi-finals on three occasions since 2022.
What was nearly Michelsen’s fifth straight win in the tournament, turned out to be every tennis player’s worst nightmare.
No one, before Tiafoe was able to fix the issues Michelsen had caused everyone who has been on the other side of the internet to him for the last 10 days.
Michelsen is ranked 46 in the world. The 46-year-old has some Grand Slam experience, having reached the fourth round at the Australian Open in 2013. His serve and style of playing big-ball, which can force opponents to the back of the baseline, are praised by everyone in the sport.
Even he admits that he’s far from being a finished article, particularly when it comes moving around the tennis court with his 6-foot-4 inch frame.
He is far removed from the “giraffe-on-ice” that he used to be a few years ago. But he still has a lot of work ahead.
Tiafoe, to his advantage, didn’t exploit this weakness until late in the game. He spent too much time trying to make his serve do something.
Michelsen returned more than 80 per cent of his first serves.
Michelsen, on the other hand, was experiencing the exact opposite, as he let his levers generate the power which has proven to be a kryptonite against each of his competitors. Federico Cina was a qualifier of 19 years old.
In the second round he made a big statement when he beat his compatriot Brandon Nakashima in straight sets, who was one of the best players in sport.
He was on the way to winning his three next matches by ranking. In his first match, he beat Daniel Merida from Spain. Then he defeated Tomas Martin Etcheverry, an Argentinean. And then a Tiafoe. Just a few weeks ago, it didn’t look that way. Michelsen had played every match like a favorite.
He didn’t. Tennis wobbles are one thing, but what happened with Michelsen Tuesday afternoon was another. It was evident when he served to 4-3 at the end of the third set. The slice backhand was too long, and Tiafoe jumped on the second serve to send him running. Tiafoe appeared to be on his way out of the match.
Michelsen then served an ace and a forehand to bring the score back up to two. He was just a single game away from reaching the final four after two big serves.
On the next shift, he drank some water, his sports drink, and then toweled himself off before returning to work.
When the real trouble started, it was a big deal. Then the trouble really started.
In the following 75 minutes it was Tiafoe. The electric crowd favourite suddenly discovered his serve. He whipped his forehand, and sprinted all over the court.
Then he stopped. Even after three and a half hours, he still fell behind 3-0 in the final game. Michelsen’s confident self returned. The wobbly version also returned.
Michelsen, who was serving at 15-30 and 3-1 with a serve of 3, twisted his forehand off the court. Michelsen, who had Tiafoe in the corner of his forehand, hit an open backhand at him two points later instead of hitting it into open court.
Tiafoe revved again. He didn’t slow down this time. He was 2 points away from losing 5-4 twice, but he managed to score 3 aces within 4 points. Five-five in the fifth set. Why not stop at that?
After two games, the teams headed to a match tiebreak. The first to score 10 points will be in the top four. Tiafoe played well for the 15 first minutes to give him a lead of 9-6. He then smashed the ball down to the line. There is one more thing.

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2026 NFL predictions: Projecting the 14 teams that will make the playoffs and Super Bowl LXI winner

We already know the Super Bowl winner and who will make it to the playoffs in the NFL 2026 season.
We may have exaggerated a little, but our simulation of the 2026 football season was to determine who would win the Lombardi Trophy at the end of February. Stephen Oh, SportsLine’s resident data scientist, created the simulation. Oh, the work of Stephen Oh at SportsLine is something that I would like to call the AI equivalent for the human race.
Oh’s simulation suggests that we are in for an exciting season. This is especially true in the NFC West where there was a big surprise.
Even the Cleveland Browns have hope at the start of the new season. Each team has a fresh start and will all hope to finish the season in Los Angeles where Super Bowl LXI is being played.
Who will be playing the Valentine’s Day Super Bowl? Find out the results of our simulation.
AFC Playoff Projections
SportsLine provides you with the latest sports predictions.
1. Baltimore Ravens, AFC North Champion
Record projected: 11-6
In our simulation, the Ravens are on their way to winning the division in Jesse Minter’s first season. Ravens have a 60% chance to win the division, which is a lot more than the Bengals who only get 2%. The simulation shows that THREE AFC North Teams will finish with winning records in this year but only ONE of those teams makes the playoffs.
2. Houston Texans, AFC South champion
Record projected: 11-6
Jacksonville will not be able to repeat their AFC South title from last year. Houston is projected to be the winner of the division. The Jaguars and Colts are expected to come close behind. The Texans would win the AFC South for the third time in the last four years and would make their fourth consecutive playoff appearance.
3. Denver Broncos (AFC West champion)
Record projected: 10-7
The oddsmakers don’t think the Broncos are the favorites to win the AFC West. Our simulation disagrees with the view that Denver is the favorite to win the AFC West. Our projection shows that the Broncos have a better chance to win the AFC West than either the Chiefs or Chargers.
4. Buffalo Bills (AFC East champion)
Record projected: 10-7
It is predicted that the race for top position in the AFC East between the Patriots and Bills will be tight. Buffalo has a slight edge over the Patriots (41.5%) in our simulation, with a chance to win the AFC East of 52.4%. Our simulation shows that the Bills, who have won five division titles since 2020 and dominated the AFC East over the last decade, will be back at the top in Joe Brady’s first season as coach.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars (Wild card 1)
Record projected: 10-7
Our simulation shows the Jaguars making it to the postseason, even though they don’t win the AFC South a second time. It would be a huge deal for the Jaguars to make it as a wildcard. They haven’t been in consecutive playoff seasons since 1998-1999.
6. Kansas City Chiefs Wild card 2
Record projected: 10-7
Patrick Mahomes’ return and his health are two reasons why the oddsmakers favor the Chiefs this year to win the AFC West. Our simulation does not think this will be enough to allow Kansas City overtake Denver as the AFC West division champion.
7. New England Patriots Wild Card 3
Record projected: 9-8
Our simulation suggests that Week 18 in the NFL will be a wild one. The Patriots will fight tooth and nail to win the last wild card slot in AFC, even though they are projected as this team. In our simulation, the Patriots are projected to finish 9-8, with New England having a chance on a tiebreaker.
Colts (55.5%); Bengals (52.4%); Chargers (47.1%); Browns (7.1%); Dolphins (6.5%); Jets (4.9%); Raiders (1.1%); Titans (0.1%).
NFC Playoff Projections
SportsLine provides you with the latest sports predictions.
1. Seattle Seahawks, champion of the NFC West
Record projected: 12-5
The SEAHAWKS are the winners of the NFC West division in our simulation. Seattle is favored by our simulation because the Rams are building an essentially super-team. Seattle’s chances of winning their division are 50.3%, while those for the Rams is 42.7%.
2. Detroit Lions (NFC North champion)
Record projected: 11-6
The Lions have officially returned! It’s still not official, but according to our simulation, the Lions are back! Our simulation has the Lions returning at the top of NFC North which will be expected to have the most difficult division this season. In our simulation, all four teams finish above.500. The Lions are the heavy favorites: they have a 44 percent chance to win the division. They’re followed by the Bears (21.9%), Vikings (18.1%), and Packers (18.1%).
3. Philadelphia, champion of the NFC East
Record projected: 10-7
Our computer predicts the NFC East will finally end its 20-year drought of winning three consecutive division titles this year. In our simulation, the Eagles are a clear winner in the NFC East. Philadelphia is the favorite to win the championship, with a 65.4% probability. The Cowboys are second (15.5%), followed by Commanders (11.4%) and Giants (7.7%).
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFC South champion)
Record projected: 9-8
We saw zero NFC South teams finish the season with a winning mark. Our computer predicts that the Buccaneers will win this division with a record of 9-8 if they can achieve a finish over.500. The Buccaneers are one of only two teams that have a chance to win the division. They’re at 44.2%. Next come the Falcons, Panthers, and Saints.
5. Los Angeles Rams (Wild card 1)
Record projected: 12-5
Our simulation shows that the Rams would finish with a 12-5 record, which is tied with the Seahawks for the NFL’s best. Our computer has the Rams tied with the Seahawks. Seattle will win the tiebreaker.
6. Chicago Bears Wild card 2
Record projected: 9-8
Bears’ strength of schedule is the toughest in NFL and as a result, it is expected that they will take a slight step backwards in their win total after finishing at 11-6 in last season. The computer predicts that they will finish 9-8. This won’t be enough for them to win the NFC North but should put them into the playoffs again.
7. Minnesota Vikings Wild card 3
Record projected: 9-8
Our computer seems to love Kyler Murray because the Vikings are stealing the final NFC playoff slot from the Packers and 49ers. When trying to determine which team should win the final spot, the computer nearly malfunctioned. Minnesota is RIGHT BEHIND the Packers at 48.1%, with a 48.3% shot of reaching the playoffs.
The following teams have a chance to make the NFC playoffs: Packers (48.1%), 49ers (44.9%), Falcons (26.7%), Cowboys (25.4%), Panthers (23.7%), Commanders (19.4%), Saints (15.9%), Giants (13.2%), Cardinals (0.8%).
Wild card matchups
NFC
Lions win over Vikings
Three Eagles take on six Bears
Rams (5) over Buccaneers (4)
Seahawks are out
AFC
(7) Patriots at (2 Texans
Chiefs (6) at Broncos (3)
Five Jaguars against four Bills
Bye: Ravens
There are no surprises in the WILD CARD BREAKDOWN. The home team won five out of six games. Rams is the only team that won on the road, and it’s no surprise.
Matches in the divisional rounds
NFC
Rams (5) over Seahawks (1)
Two Lions over three Eagles
AFC
(1) Ravens over (4) Bills
Broncos lose to (2) Texans
DIVISIONAL BREAKING DOWN: Our first surprise in the playoffs is here! The computer predicts the Rams to be the NFC’s overall favorites, despite the Seahawks being the NFC West winners. Rams has a 26.03 % chance to reach the Super Bowl through the NFC while Seahawks is at 24.14 %.
Here’s the second twist in your NFC West: the Seahawks will win their division but the Rams will go further in the playoffs.
In the AFC, home teams have won all games in the AFC Playoffs thus far. This trend will continue here.
AFC Championship and NFC Championship Games
AFC: (1) Ravens over (2) Texans
NFC: Rams (5) over Lions (2)
Our simulation predicts that we will get Jared Goff for the ultimate revenge match. Goff, the Lions and Matthew Stafford would host the Rams in a Super Bowl LXI game. Goff would get a trip to Los Angeles for free if the Lions won. He’d play a Super Bowl at the Rams’ stadium in Los Angeles on Valentine’s Day. Our simulation shows the Rams as the winners.
In the AFC we see the unstoppable power going against an immovable object. Lamar Jackson is facing Houston’s defense, which should be among the top in the NFL for this season. It’s because of this unstoppable power that Jackson and the Ravens are moving forward in the simulation.
Super Bowl LXI is at SoFi Stadium
(5) Rams over (1) Ravens
SUPER BOWL RECAP: Our simulation tells us that Rams will win the Super Bowl. The computer predicted that the Seahawks will win the NFC West. However, in the end the Rams took the Super Bowl at their SoFi Stadium home field.
The Rams’ defensive talents are able to stop Lamar Jackson.

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Kirk Herbstreit Confirms Broadcasting Blunder in Controversial Michigan Win: “Gonna Find Out”

Fans of college football in America still can’t believe how Michigan won 13-12 against Western Michigan at Ann Arbor for their first game. When the Broncos’ clock stopped on an incomplete throw, they thought that they were in for a major upset. In a bizarre turn of events the replay officials added one second to the clock of the game, giving Michigan a last-ditch chance to win.
Kirk Herbstreit, a veteran college football expert who was addressing the elephant in the living room when fans demanded answers as to why the broadcast timer showed that the game had ended, addressed the issue while frustrated viewers were asking questions. The ESPN commentator revealed something surprising to even the most ardent fans on his Nonstop show with co-host Joey Galloway.
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Herbstreit admitted that despite covering sports from the pressbox for over 30 years, he was unaware the television clock does not match the clock used on the playing field. Herbstreit and co-host Joey Galloway admitted, “I didn’t know that the regulation clock was not in sync with the broadcast clock.” I’m going talk to Billy Benell our producer and ask him, “How is it that the broadcast clock doesn’t match the official field clock? ‘… No, I also don’t. But I will find out. “I’ll let you know.”
The visual chaos was a sham for fans, he said. Everyone at home depends on the TV scores bug to keep track of what is happening. The score bug is a visual mess. We’re going jump to conclusions. Millions of people will jump to conclusions based on this. They should, of course! “This is what they only see.”
Michigan’s controversial and close finishes define the season. Subscribe to more stories.
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This bizarre situation resulted from a mismatch in the technical equipment. NBC broadcast graphics hit zero just before the ball was kicked out of bounds by the defender. The Big Ten’s replay booth, however, relies solely on an internal camera that is focused on the venue clock in the stadium. These two systems are separate, so the TV viewers saw a game that was dead while officials looked at a clock which had one second remaining.
This disconnect in modern broadcasting is a major cause of distrust among viewers. The television scorebug is the source of ultimate truth for fans watching from home during high-stakes, tight endings. The official protocol for replays is seriously undermined when a booth in a stadium makes an important game-changing call that contradicts what the millions of viewers saw on screen.
All of the controversy stems from those final seconds in regulation. Bryce Underwood, the Michigan quarterback, launched a long desperate pass as the television clock was running out. Western Michigan started to celebrate a historic win, but officials stopped the game in order to see if the Broncos’ defender had touched the ball when stepping outside of bounds. This would stop the clock according NCAA rules.
Bryce Underwood, Michigan’s quarterback, made sure to make the most out of the opportunity when officials reinstated that one second on the stadium clock. Underwood threw an incredible 47-yard Hail Mary pass to JJ Bucanan, giving Michigan the 13-12 win.
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This ending led quickly to the accusation that Michigan was treated differently because it took place in the Big Ten. Mid-American Conference accepted this explanation at first, but changed their position later and made a formal request to the FBS Oversight Committee.
MAC commissioner Jon Steinbrecher argued Big Ten replay officials shouldn’t have used a different internal camera system in place of the television broadcast timer.
Now, the NCAA is also involved in this controversy. Ron Snodgrass’ memo, the National Coordinator of Officials, has reportedly stated that future adjustments to the replay clock must be made using the time shown on the broadcast.
The NCAA has confirmed that it won’t retroactively reverse Michigan’s victory. However, under this new rule, if the match had taken place today, then the review would have been illegal, and Western Michigan could not claim the historic win.
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Kirk Herbstreit will have his say when he finds out the truth.
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