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A 24-Team College Football Playoff: What Would it Look Like Today?

By
Stephen Patrick
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0
Photo Cred: CFP

The NCAA and ESPN agree to a deal expanding the College Football Playoffs (CFP) to 24 teams starting next season.

Four years ago, the CFP committee approved a deal expanding the playoffs from four teams to 12. Teams like the 2021 Florida State Seminoles wouldn’t miss the playoffs.  All New Year’s Six games became playoff games, with lower-ranked teams playing on set campuses. The top four teams earn byes and advance to the Rose, Cotton, Sugar, or Orange Bowls. Semifinal played at the Peach or Fiesta Bowls.

After this year, there will be 16 total playoff games taking place on college campuses. The New Year’s Six games are still taking place as the quarterfinal and semifinal games.

To figure out how it will look, refer to the chart below based on the Associated Press Top 25 (after Week 7):

First Round (on campus)

24th Northwestern vs. 9th UCLA
23rd SMU vs. 10th Utah
22nd Missouri vs. 11th Tennessee
21st Boise State vs. 12th Kentucky
20th Florida vs. 13th Alabama
19th Texas vs. 14th Houston
18th LSU vs. 15th Iowa
17th Wake Forest vs. 16th USC

Second Round (on campus)

24/9 vs. 8th Texas Tech
23/10 seed vs. 7th Ole Miss
22/11 seed vs. 6th Indiana
21/12 seed vs. 5th Georgia (projected SEC champ)
20/13 seed vs. 4th Notre Dame
19/14 seed vs. 3rd Ohio State (projected Big Ten champ)
18/15 seed vs. 2nd BYU (projected Big 12 champ)
17/16 seed vs. 1st Miami, FL (projected ACC champ)

Quarterfinals (Rose, Cotton, Sugar, or Orange Bowl)

24/9/8 seed vs. 1 seed
23/10/7 seed vs. 2 seed
22/11/6 seed vs. 3 seed
21/12/5 seed vs. 4 seed

What’s Happening to the Army-Navy Game?

It’s easy to schedule more playoff games, but what about the Army-Navy game? This classic rivalry occurs a week after conference championships are played, with this game scheduled for December 12 at 3 p.m. ET.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order last March to make this matchup the ONLY game in primetime. This year, the game will take place following the Cricket Celebration Bowl, which takes place at 1 p.m. ET.

Any changes to the playoff picture will require an immediate decision about when those two play.

Kentucky Football Has Big Blue Nation Believing Again

By
Kirsten Vergnolle
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Now ranked No. 12 in the AP Poll going into Week 8, the Kentucky Wildcats are turning heads. The University of Kentucky has long been known as a basketball school with eight NCAA men’s basketball national championships. Now, its football team is worth talking about. Kentucky is 6-1 heading into Week 8. They are also 4-1 in SEC play, tied with Georgia for first in the conference after their tough loss to Auburn. First-year head coach Will Stein has become the first Kentucky coach in school history to defeat two ranked opponents in his first season.

Kentucky stuns No. 9 Texas A&M in College Station: 3 things to know and postgame cheers | A Sea Of Blue

Photo Cred: Sea of Blue

Coming from Oregon as an offensive coordinator, he quickly changed fans’ expectations for the football program. It began when Kentucky beat No. 9 Texas A&M in College Station, 31-21. After this game, fans started to think this season could be different. That was until the next week, when Kentucky went to Columbia and trailed by 17 points against South Carolina before winning in overtime. One week later, Kentucky beat No. 10 LSU in overtime at Kroger Field. This was one of Kentucky’s biggest wins in years. Quarterback Kenny Minchey ran up the middle and scored. Fans stormed the field, and it was a night in Lexington they’ll never forget.

The University of Kentucky Athletic Program shared on its website that these two games were the first back-to-back overtime wins in Kentucky football history. Both games ended 35-34, with Kentucky scoring a touchdown and then converting the two-point attempt. Along with his other accomplishments so far this season, Will Stein became the first Kentucky head coach to lead the Wildcats to a 5-1 record in his first season since 1913, when Alpha Brumage started 6-1.

CFB Week 6 Biggest Winners: Will Stein & Bob Chesney

Photo Cred: CBS Sports

In his postgame interview, Stein said: “We are a really good football team. Really good football team. People count us out. I took a picture of College GameDay this morning, and everybody picked LSU. Keep doing that. I appreciate that. Gives us a lot of fuel and a lot of fire, because everybody doubts us.”

Kentucky then went to Norman and beat Oklahoma 21-13. That left them 6-1 and gave them their third SEC road win of the season. Beating Oklahoma helped prove Kentucky wasn’t just lucky to win two overtime games. They are a talented team and are hungry for what’s to come in the rest of the season.
Next week, the Kentucky Wildcats return home to Kroger Field to play the Vanderbilt Commodores in a sold-out game. Looking ahead, their remaining schedule includes Tennessee, Florida, Missouri and Louisville. Can the Wildcats finish what they started?

Caleb Williams Returns as Bears Win Over Falcons

By
Jaxson Love
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0
Photo Cred: Shaw Local

The Chicago Bears flew down to take on the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Bears shook off the rough loss to Green Bay last week. The 31-23 score is closer than the score. Star quarterback Caleb Williams returned to action, and Bears fans responded by packing the house. The Falcons, coming off a heartbreaking loss to the Baltimore Ravens, simply failed to execute until it was too late. As a spectator in Atlanta, the environment felt like a Bears home game. Falcons fans took up approximately only 30% of the stadium. Here’s an analysis of both teams from this matchup.

Atlanta Falcons
For the Falcons to have a chance in this game, they needed to get Bijan Robinson going, stop the Bears’ run game, and keep Michael Penix Jr. on his feet. Unfortunately for Falcons fans, they achieved not a single one of these things. Robinson was held to 61 yards and no touchdowns. They gave up three touchdowns to the run game, and Penix Jr. was sacked five times. Some positives for the Falcons included Kyle Pitts Sr., who had a great game in the final stretch, making this game close.

Bijan Robinson totals just 11 touches in Week 6 - Yahoo Sports

Photo Cred: Yahoo Sports

He had five receptions for 60 yards and two touchdowns. Jahan Dotson made a huge impact as a deep threat with three receptions for 87 yards and a touchdown of his own. The defense also managed to sack Caleb Williams four times in this game. The first half was a struggle for the Falcons, creating a deficit that just could not be overcome. Special teams woes, failure to establish the usually dominant run game, and struggles to stop the Bears’ high-powered offense were the ultimate downfalls for the Dirty Birds. That seems to be the ongoing theme of this Falcons season: if Bijan plays well, they win. If not, then it’s a loss.

Chicago Bears

Caleb Williams is back from his hamstring injury suffered in Week 2. He returned in a big way, having his most efficient game of his career. Williams went 30-of-36 for 305 yards and a touchdown. He did get sacked four times. though. But he made good targeting decisions and threw no interceptions in this game. D’Andre Swift did not have a lot of yardage. But he got into the end zone twice. Colston Loveland got his first touchdown of the year as well.

Good, bad and ugly from Bears' 31-23 win vs. the Falcons - Yahoo Sports

Photo Cred: Yahoo Sports

The Bears defense held Bijan Robinson to 61 yards. The running back running wild is how the Falcons get most of their wins. The player of the game, however, was on the defensive end. Kyler Gordon had an incredible return to action. He accumulated three sacks and forced two fumbles. Other than continuing fumbling problems, becoming lackadaisical when up in the fourth quarter, and some slight pass protection mishaps, this was practically a perfect game from the Bears. If this is what we can expect every time Caleb plays, this Bears team has a chance to beat just about anyone in this league.

A 24-Team College Football Playoff: A New Era for the Sport

By
Jaxson Love
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SEC commissioner Greg Sankey, Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti and Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua held the most conversations with ESPN’s representatives. While there is still a lot more to be done about finalization. It seems that come next season, the College Football Playoff will be expanding to a 24-team structure. According to ESPN, “The College Football Playoff has reached a ‘handshake agreement’ with ESPN to broadcast a 24-team playoff beginning in the 2027 season, sources told ESPN on Friday.” What does this mean for the future of college football? Will this shake the foundation of a once-sturdy association?

College Football Playoff expansion is just the latest example of why 'growing the game' isn't always healthy

Photo Cred: FOX

A 24-team playoff would mean more teams make the playoffs. There would be double the number of teams with a bye in the first round. The playoffs would start a week earlier. This would also eliminate the Power 4 conference championships, favoring the start of the playoffs. So the regular season winner of the Power 4 will get the top seeds.

According to ESPN, “Though final details have yet to be announced, discussions about the 24-team field have included 19 at-large bids, the Power 4 conference champions as determined by each league and the highest-ranked Group of 6 team.”

The greatest college football coach stated, “The bottom line is money. That’s the bottom line,” Saban said “You explained it. Universities need it because of the way we’re spending more now for players. There’s still a cost to having Olympic sports, which are important, I think to be able to keep and give people opportunities to compete. And how do we do that?”

Adding more teams to the playoff will equalize the opportunity for different schools to make the playoffs. This new playoff format will completely transform how future college football programs approach the postseason. Will a national championship have a higher value in a format where you have to play more games to win?

College Football Playoff expansion to 14 teams in 2026 is still on the table | FOX Sports

Photo Cred: FOX Sportss

Will we see more variation in postseason winners? How will fans and players alike adjust to the new schedule? All are valid questions for a format that has worked for years but is on its way out. While this is close to happening, it is not finalized. However, the next steps are not that far down the road. What’s the answer to all of these questions? Only time will tell.

LSU Dominates Mississippi State in Victory at Death Valley

By
Makayla Gregory
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Photo Cred: KALB

LSU was able to outshine Mississippi State on Oct. 17. The game was the Tigers’s homecoming game after a tough loss on the road to Kentucky. LSU needed to lift some spirits, especially with an early kickoff time. Early morning kickoffs were much different from what the Tigers have been used to. The injury to Mississippi State’s star quarterback, Kamario Taylor, was a hard loss for the visiting Bulldogs.

LSU’s defense was able to take advantage of the young freshman quarterback, Parker Puckett, as the Tigers held the Bulldogs scoreless throughout the entire game. This was Puckett’s first time playing an entire game, and his performance couldn’t replace Taylor’s. Puckett threw for 121 yards and rushed for 40. He threw one interception directly into the hands of LSU safety Ty Benefield.

Mississippi State football vs LSU, Billy Puckett vs Sam Leavitt

Photo Cred: USA Today

Their running game was not able to sufficiently make up for missing Taylor either. Their top two rushers, running back Fluff Bothwell and Kamario Taylor, were out for the LSU game. They totaled 170 yards. The Bulldogs relied on Kolin Wilson, who had 18 carries for 71 yards, averaging only 3.9 yards per carry. These were all season highs for Wilson.
Their drives did present a lot of opportunities. They totaled five drives past LSU’s 40-yard line, including one drive into the 10-yard line. However, the Bulldogs couldn’t take advantage of their position and could not finish the opportunities they had created.

The LSU defense played strong throughout the whole game, despite seeing their star defensive end, senior Prince Umanmielen, go out early in the first quarter with an upper-body injury. They held Mississippi State to zero fourth-down conversions, forcing five turnovers on downs, including one fourth-down stop at LSU’s own 6-yard line.
Meanwhile, LSU’s offense simply seemed unstoppable, moving the ball for a total of 379 yards. They had only 90 yards from the rushing game, which mainly consisted of Dillon Jones, who ran for 84 of those yards.

Sam Leavitt was able to throw for 289 yards and all four of LSU’s touchdowns. This game was his first of the season in which he had zero turnovers. Leavitt seems to have gained confidence sitting in the pocket, with only four carries that went for 11 yards.
Leavitt’s top targets for the game included Dillon Jones, Winston Watkins Jr., and Jackson Harris. The three men totaled 18 of his receptions and 174 yards. Most of those yards came from Harris, who caught two touchdowns.

LSU Gets Back On Track With 31-0 Shutout Victory Over Mississippi State | Gridiron Football

Photo Cred: Gridiron

 

Eugene Wilson III and Malik Elzy received the other two. After two tough losses for the LSU Tigers, there’s heavy pressure for them to win out the rest of the season if they want a chance at the playoffs. Their remaining opponents remain heavy hitters in the SEC, but the homecoming win against Mississippi State in a day game at Death Valley is a step in the right direction.

Broncos Defeated Seahawks in a Defensive Battle

By
Landon Dyess
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0
Photo Cred: Herald Net

The Denver Broncos defeated the Seattle Seahawks 17-14 in an overtime game Thursday night. A late interception in overtime led to a game-winning 53-yard field goal from Wil Lutz to secure the victory at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium. Denver has improved to 4-2 on the season, while the defending champions fall to 3-3 after losing their second game in a row.

The Broncos relied on their defense after giving up an 11-point lead in the fourth quarter. Denver controlled the game in the first half after two touchdown drives. Running back J.K. Dobbins opened the scoring on a four-yard touchdown run to cap off the 74-yard drive. The Broncos extended their lead when RJ Harvey scored a rushing touchdown.
The Broncos entered halftime with a 14-3 lead, but their offense began to struggle.

Quarterback Bo Nix completed 17 of 27 passes for only 107 yards. Denver didn’t score during the second half. Seattle’s defense took advantage of the struggling Denver offense. They repeatedly forced punts and gave the Seattle offense opportunities to get back into the game. Meanwhile, Denver’s defense continued to pressure quarterback Sam Darnold.
Darnold finished with 278 passing yards on 27-of-51 passing, but his two interceptions were detrimental to the comeback.

Will Seahawks Consider Benching Sam Darnold After Brutal Performance vs. Broncos? - The Spun

Photo Cred: The Spun

Wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba was a bright spot for Seattle, catching 12 balls for 134 yards. The Seahawks finally found the end zone late in the fourth quarter when George Holani scored a rushing touchdown. Seattle then converted the two-point conversion.
Seattle’s defense forced another stop, and the Seahawks received one final drive to tie the game.

A 31-yard punt return by Rashid Shaheed helped set up kicker Jason Myers for a 34-yard field goal to send the game to overtime. The momentum quickly shifted back to Denver in overtime when cornerback Ja’Quan McMillan intercepted Darnold at Seattle’s 43-yard line. Lutz then drilled the game-winning kick from 53 yards with 4:53 remaining in Denver’s overtime victory.

Ja'Quan McMillian Stats, News and Video - CB | NFL.com

Photo Cred: NFL

Denver only had 168 total yards but found a way to get the victory. Seattle’s late comeback attempt showed the team’s resilience. However, the turnovers were too much to overcome.
Denver’s ability to find a way to win is a huge strength. Seattle will look to solve its offensive struggles heading into its next matchup.

New Season, Old Faces, and New Challenges for LSU Basketball

By
Makayla Gregory
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0
Photo Cred: Audacy

The LSU men’s basketball team tipped off its season with an exhibition game against the University of Central Florida. The 2026-27 season will see a new head coach Matt McMahon was fired in March 2026. He failed to turn around the Tigers’ losing seasons. The coach finished his tenure at LSU with an overall record of 45-42 and only one winning season. He was replaced by Will Wade. Wade coached the team from 2017-2022 before being replaced by McMahon.

Will Wade makes return to Baton Rouge as LSU's head coach - Southeastern Conference

Photo Cred: SEC

Wade had been fired from LSU in 2022 due to a large-scale investigation into NCAA basketball in 2019. It was over impermissible payments to high school recruits. However, LSU has welcomed him back with open arms. The illegal actions he performed were made legal in the groundbreaking NIL case of NCAA v. Alston. The case allowed athletes to receive NIL benefits. It caused a domino effect that has now allowed colleges to pay student-athletes.

His previous actions were no longer an issue. LSU athletic director Verge Ausberry found no reason not to offer him his position back. However, Will Wade did not come without his controversies. Most notably, he recruited former professional or semi-professional players. They included RJ Luis, who signed with an NBA team and played in the G League. He also recruited three other players who were known to have played in the EuroLeague.

This sparked a lot of controversy in the NCAA and among men’s college basketball head coaches. Inevitably, none of these players were granted eligibility, and none played in the exhibition against UCF. For months, the roster maintained only four players. While Wade had claimed the roster had 13 men in September, the public roster showed only four players, raising speculation that their eligibility was unclear. The UCF game ended in the fashion that Will Wade often brings, with a thriller at the end.

Two last-second scores by Donovan Dent and Mo Dioubate allowed LSU to win and put the game out of reach for UCF. Wade has relied very heavily on his starters, with five players playing practically the whole game. Jordan Bender was the only player to come off the bench, totaling only 10 minutes. His reliance on these players may prove to do LSU more harm than good, especially when the season starts and they begin facing their SEC opponents.

Will Wade's Culture': Inside Donovan Dent's decision to join LSU and his vision for the Tigers

Photo Cred: 247SPorts

Without the ability to rest, Wade might just run these players into the ground. In both of their exhibition games so far, LSU has seen close scores, winning by one score against McNeese and two against UCF. Next Saturday, LSU travels to Florida State University for its last exhibition game. The season opener is around the corner on November 3, when LSU will play its extension school, LSU New Orleans, at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

NFLSU: Tigers Dominate the NFL

By
Stephen Patrick
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With Week Four passing in the NFL, now seems like a great time to check in on how some popular LSU Tiger alumni are doing in the pros.

Joe Burrow

No better person to start off with than National Champion and Heisman winner Joe Burrow. His memory at LSU is cemented in one of the best teams in college football, the 2019 Tigers. After the championship, Burrow went on to be drafted by a struggling Bengals franchise. In his second year as a Bengal, he led them to their first Super Bowl in the 21st century. Currently, he’s 2-2 with the Bengals, reaching over 1,000 yards. He has a completion percentage of over 70%, and has thrown for seven touchdowns. Burrow’s performance has been strong, maintaining over 200 yards per game and at least one touchdown pass. Though, his performance is going to have to continue to improve to help this struggling Bengals team.

Why the Bengals and Joe Burrow are poised to bounce back in 2024 | FOX Sports

Photo Cred: Fox Sports

Ja’Marr Chase

A top receiver for Joe Burrow in 2019, Ja’Marr Chase remains his teammate in Cincinnati. After a rocky season opener, with only two catches for 12 yards the stars game picked back up. Over the next two games, he averaged almost 11 yards per catch but failed to hit the 100-yard mark. Chase was forced out in the second quarter against the Jaguars with a concussion. He continues to be looked at day-to-day.

Ja'Marr Chase continues record year as Bengals end drought: 'We ain't accomplished nothing yet' | Latest NFL News, Analysis & Updates | NFL.com

Photo Cred: NFL

Justin Jefferson

Receiver No. 2 to Ja’Marr Chase, Jefferson moved from the warmth of Baton Rouge to the cold of Minnesota. Jefferson’s numbers have struggled through the season. His first game was a strong start, with eight receptions on nine targets, going for 92 yards with two touchdowns. In the game against the Bears, he wasn’t a constant threat. But when he did get his hands on the ball, he was effective, averaging 18 yards. However, in Week Three, he was forced out early in the first quarter against the Buccaneers with a sprained ankle. But is hopeful to return this week in time for the New Orleans Saints.

Justin Jefferson agrees to record-setting $140M contract extension with the Minnesota Vikings

Photo Cred: NBC

Mansoor Delane

On the other side of the ball, Mansoor Delane is a product of both Virginia Tech and LSU, transferring to the Tigers for his last season. A star cornerback, he was drafted sixth overall in the 2026 Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. He’s a strong addition to the team after the Chiefs traded young star cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams. His entrance to the NFL wasn’t much of a success, but he had a bright spot with an interception against division rival the Denver Broncos. He missed Week Two with an injured shoulder and has since averaged 10 total tackles each game and a pass defended.

2026 NFL Draft: Chiefs trade up to select LSU CB Mansoor Delane with No. 6 pick

Photo Cred: NFL

Malik Nabers

Malik Nabers - NFL News, Rumors, & Updates | FOX Sports

Photo Cred: FOX Sports

After a tough sophomore season that ended early with an ACL tear, Nabers is hoping to bounce back. He is starting to reclaim his rookie year form. That’s when he was nominated for Offensive Rookie of the Year. He’s maintained even numbers, except for the loss against the Los Angeles Rams. He had only one reception for one yard and Jackson Dart went down with season-ending injuries to his knee. His most recent game against the Cardinals was more impressive, as he gained 112 yards with six receptions and his sole touchdown of the season. He is also reaching a familiarity with veteran backup quarterback Jameis Winston.

LSU maintains over 40 alumni on active NFL rosters, the fourth-highest total among college programs.

Lake Forest Foresters Making Noise in Division III Football

By
Terrance Biggs
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The Division III football universe is populated by North Central, Mount Union, and the other giants of the sport. Lake Forest, halfway through the season, had formerly placed itself in the conversation for one of the best teams in the country. Not just in the Midwest Conference or the state of Illinois. Yet, the school, located just north of Chicago, isn’t begging for the spotlight. Instead, the Foresters choose to let their play do all the talking, placing the onus on those in sports media to find them.

LFC took the ride up to Ripon, Wisc., to battle the Red Hawks. The game concluded with a convincing 45-14 victory, but the final score fails to capture the full story—not just of the game itself, but also of a team that has built a national résumé without receiving the recognition it deserves. Why? The Foresters play in a major market, displaying a yearly excellence that should garner more attention.

The Best Receiver You Don’t Know

Lake Forest wideout Dom Esposito isn’t the biggest playmaker on the field. Listed at five-foot-nine and 175 pounds, the senior from Queen Creek, Ariz., goes about his game in the quietest, most explosive way possible. Against a Ripon defense that bowed its collective neck early, Esposito enjoyed yet another big day. He opened up the second-half scoring on a 54-yard touchdown reception.

Yet, he wasn’t done, posting 26- and 35-yard touchdown catches. The senior ended his day with eight catches and 177 yards. Despite the warm October day, the Forester offense did not wilt, racking up 466 yards. LFC only possessed the ball for 23:52.

The Architect

Long before Ethan Springer stepped into Hopp Stadium, many regarded him as the best quarterback in the Midwest Conference. The statistics alone may convince many of Springer’s prowess. However, seeing him lead the Lake Forest offense in person reveals a different narrative entirely.

The junior processes quickly, makes sound decisions, and does not appear stressed by the oncoming rush. Most impressive during the Ripon game was the toughness Springer displayed. Ripon recorded three sacks, and the Forester signal-caller found himself on the ground a little more than he would have liked.

Home Cooking’

LFC leaves the state of Illinois one more time, facing Beloit on Halloween afternoon. They will compete against 4-3 Luther College before concluding the regular season with a matchup against their arch rival, the University of Chicago. While the schedule looks favorable, the stakes may rise for a program looking to add to its current 13-game win streak. Is 2026 the year the Foresters will make an impact in the postseason and instill fear in a national powerhouse?

Jahmyr Gibbs, Byron Murphy & Corliss Waitman Named Week 5 NFC Players of the Week

By
Stephen Patrick
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0
Photo Cred: NFL

NEW YORK — Oct. 14, 2026 — Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs, Minnesota Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy and San Francisco 49ers punter Corliss Waitman are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played in Week 5 (October 8, 11-12).

OFFENSE: RB JAHMYR GIBBS, DETROIT LIONS

  • Gibbs led the NFL in scrimmage yards (207), ranked second in rushing yards (151) and scored two touchdowns (one rushing, one receiving) in Detroit’s 45-21 win at Arizona in Week 5, surpassing Pro Football Hall of Famer Barry Sanders (57 scrimmage touchdowns) for the most scrimmage touchdowns by a player under the age of 25 in NFL history. Gibbs also joined Pro Football Hall of Famers Jim Brown (1958 and 1963 with Cleveland), Eric Dickerson (1983 with the L.A Rams) and Emmitt Smith (1995 with Dallas) as well as Priest Holmes (2002 with Kansas City) as the only running backs all-time with at least 700 scrimmage yards and nine scrimmage touchdowns in his team’s first five games of a season.
  • This is Gibbs’ fourth career Offensive Player of the Week award. He joins Pro Football Hall of Famer Barry Sanders (11-time winner) as the only Lions running backs in franchise history to win the award four times.
    • 2024: Week 18
    • 2025: Weeks 10 and 12
    • 2026: Week 5
  • Gibbs is the third former Alabama running back to earn four Offensive Player of the Week awards, joining Derrick Henry (10-time winner with Tennessee and Baltimore) and Shaun Alexander (seven-time winner with Seattle).

DEFENSE: CB BYRON MURPHY, MINNESOTA VIKINGS

  • Murphy recorded three tackles, two interceptions and a tackle for loss in the Vikings’ 23-13 win at New Orleans as Minnesota allowed fewer than 100 passing yards for the second-consecutive week.
  • This is Murphy’s second-career Defensive Player of the Week award (Week 3, 2021 with Arizona). He is the 10th Vikings cornerback to win the award and the first since Isaiah Rodgers (Week 3, 2025).
  • Murphy is the second former Washington cornerback to win multiple Defensive Player of the Week awards, joining Marcus Peters (three-time winner with Kansas City).

SPECIAL TEAMS: P CORLISS WAITMAN, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

  • Waitman recorded five punts for 216 yards (43.2 avg.) with all five punts landing inside the 20-yard line, including three inside the 10-yard line in San Francisco’s 32-29 win at Seattle. His five punts inside the 20-yard line and three punts inside the 10-yard line are tied for the most in a single game this season.
  • This is Waitman’s second-career Player of the Week award (Week 3, 2022 with Denver). He becomes the fourth 49ers punter to win Special Teams Player of the Week, joining Andy Lee (three-time winner), Mitch Wishnowsky (two-time winner) and Bradley Pinion (Week 9, 2018).
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