A football week worth clearing the calendar for: your September 9–14 TV guide
Ohio State-Texas gets our Saturday night screen. Here is the rest of the route from Wednesday NFL kickoff through Monday night.
More stories
The Vikings re-signed Harrison Smith to a one-year deal
Minnesota and safety Harrison Smith agreed to a one-year deal for 2026, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport reported Saturday, and the club confirmed it. Reports put the pact at about $12.25 million with incentives that can push the maximum near $16.25 million (base value about $8 million per Tom Pelissero). Smith, 37, returns for a 15th season with the only NFL team of his career after a March post-June 1 release. This is a 53-man re-signing, not a practice-squad dump.
LSU left Wright and Harris off the roster for Clemson
LSU submitted a 103-player roster for its September 5 opener against Clemson without Dae'Quan Wright or Zxavian Harris, leaving two spots open and their possible return unresolved.
LSU left Wright and Harris off the SEC 105 for Clemson
LSU left tight end Dae'Quan Wright and defensive tackle Zxavian Harris off Friday's SEC 105 for Saturday's home opener against Clemson, ESPN's Pete Thamel reported (story id 49831993). The Tigers submitted 103 players and left two spots open for a later add. Neither was expected to play Saturday even if rostered. A Louisiana judge cleared them with a preliminary injunction on Thursday; the Friday roster print is the institutional brake. Notre Dame transfer Junior Tuihalamaka is reportedly on the
UNC's Michael Lombardi resigned as GM while the investigation widens
WRAL and ESPN report Michael Lombardi resigned as UNC football GM on Thursday while the university investigation continues. WRAL says people familiar with the probe describe questions about Steve Belichick and alleged drug use, and separately about alleged sexual relationships involving staff and at least one player. This is the reported news, not a graded prediction.
Michael Lombardi resigned as UNC football GM amid a widening investigation
WRAL and ESPN report Michael Lombardi resigned as UNC football GM on Thursday. WRAL says people familiar with the probe describe questions about Steve Belichick and alleged drug use, and separately about alleged sexual relationships involving recruiting staff, assistants, and at least one player. The university says the investigation continues. This desk is summarizing those reports, not adjudicating the allegations.
The Cowboys restructured Clark, Bland, and Ferguson for about $19 million in 2026 cap space
Dallas converted base salaries into signing bonuses for DT Kenny Clark, CB DaRon Bland, and TE Jake Ferguson, creating about $19 million in 2026 cap space, ESPN's Todd Archer reported. The club had about $14.2 million of NFLPA-listed space before the moves. Future add-backs are sourced (Clark about $1.5M in 2027; Bland about $2.15M across remaining years; Ferguson about $1.2M). Weekly cash pay is unchanged. This is cap construction, not a practice-squad dump.
The SEC sued LSU and Lane Kiffin in federal court over former NFL players
On Thursday the SEC sued LSU, coach Lane Kiffin, President Wade Rousse, AD Verge Ausberry, and the LSU Board in the Northern District of Alabama, accusing them of recruiting players who had signed with the Browns, Saints, and Buccaneers. Greg Sankey testified the same day in Baton Rouge after a state judge left about 7 of 44 plaintiffs with SEC claims. Wright is practicing but likely sits Saturday vs Clemson under the seven-day rule; Friday is the SEC 105 roster deadline.
The Athletic found Dianna Russini violated its standards, with no clear Vrabel bias
The Athletic's nearly five-month review found Dianna Russini's relationship with Patriots coach Mike Vrabel was in clear violation of its standards and should have been disclosed. Standards editor Mike Semel reviewed 903 stories, 77 videos, and 204 podcast episodes and did not find a clear link that she used the platform to promote Vrabel or his teams. He did not speak to Russini. The Athletic added editor's notes to four pieces. Russini resigned in April after New York Post resort photos. The A
Jeff Hafley said Eagles staff had Packers pressures from fan camp video
Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley said passing-game coordinator Kevin Patullo already had half of Hafley's Green Bay pressures on tape from fan-filmed training-camp video before the Packers-Eagles Week 1 game in São Paulo. Hafley called it disappointing and said he is not sure what you can do about it. Miami's camp rules prohibit audio and video recording.
Armchair Coach Justin shows how coordinators watch the trenches, formation, and matchups
Armchair Coach Justin's how-to says the game is in the trenches, the formation, and the matchups, not the ball. He walks a Chiefs zone-pressure bind, a Jesse Minter same-side four-man rush, a blocked alley for Derrick Henry, and a Seahawks smash-plus-scissors throw that put Jackson Smith-Njigba alone in the end zone. Teaching clip, not a scoreboard.
Deion Sanders is back in Atlanta tonight for Colorado at Georgia Tech
Deion Sanders is back in Atlanta tonight. Colorado opens at Georgia Tech at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN from Bobby Dodd Stadium. Brent Key told SI on Tuesday, "Deion is probably the biggest sports celebrity to ever play in the city of Atlanta, and he's coming back home." SportsCenter On Campus is live 5-5:30 p.m. ET from the top of Peters Parking Deck, with Matt Barrie hosting then calling the game with Chase Daniel and Paul Carcaterra. Last year Georgia Tech won 27-20 in Boulder. On r/CFB, Sanders' line
Todd McShay says Nico Iamaleava could be the breakout QB of the 2027 NFL Draft
The Ringer posted a McShay Show clip in which Todd McShay says UCLA's Nico Iamaleava could be the breakout quarterback of the 2027 NFL Draft. The take is McShay's on-air projection as posted, not a consensus board this desk graded.
Kittle and Bosa are on the 49ers plane to Melbourne tonight
George Kittle and Nick Bosa are on the San Francisco plane leaving the Bay Area late Wednesday for Melbourne. That is the travel 53, not a Thursday dress list. Getting on the plane does not guarantee they play. Kickoff is Thursday, September 10 at 8:35 p.m. ET on Netflix at the MCG. Kittle was activated off PUP on August 23, had two positive practice days, and is trending to play. Bosa is ramping after an ACL and tendinitis and said he expects to play. The Rams are taking the opposite constructi
A.J. Brown's $27.45 million option is still live through September 8
The Patriots still have a $27.45 million option bonus due on A.J. Brown the day before Kickoff. ESPN's remaining-contract math is 2026 salary of $1.3 million plus that option, due Tuesday, September 8. Exercise and it prorates over five years, about $5.49 million a year plus the $1.3 million salary. Decline and the bonus converts to 2026 salary, about $28.75 million against this year's cap. Over The Cap prints the prorated shape as a model. The club has not filed that it picked the option up. Wa
Charbonnet will miss 49ers game as Seattle assesses depleted backfield
Macdonald says team reps are next for Charbonnet. Price remains on IR, Wilson leads the available group, and Mixon was scheduled for a workout.
The NFL opens Wednesday for the first time since 2012 so Netflix can own Thursday in Melbourne
Kickoff is Patriots at Seahawks on Wednesday, Sep 9, 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC, Peacock, and NFL+, the first Wednesday opener since 2012. The calendar leaves Thursday free for Netflix's 49ers-Rams at the MCG at 8:35 p.m. ET Sep 10, 10:35 a.m. AEST Friday. Noah Eagle has play-by-play. Luke Kuechly is in the booth for the first time as an analyst. Elle Duncan runs studio with Michael Irvin, Nick Foles, and Clay Matthews. The Jonas Brothers are the MCG halftime, the first of seven American Express intern
Patriots video boards showed opposing kickers a reverse set of uprights
Pat McAfee amplified Ryan Paganetti's tape study: when opposing kickers lined up at Gillette, the video board showed a reverse view with a second, offset set of yellow uprights. Paganetti said he found dozens of examples and that the illusion appeared on Patriots kicks zero times across 52 reviewed Patriot field-goal attempts. Those counts are his review, not a league finding.
Practice squads fill after the waiver awards
Practice-squad signings, elevations, pay bands and roster moves after the waiver awards. The September 5 update includes Minnesota waiving Kenny Dyson from injured reserve, the Rams releasing Zech McPhearson from injured reserve, and Seattle waiving Power Echols from injured reserve with a settlement, as reported by NFL Trade Rumors.