This article was written by Gus Wilson and published on <a href="https://sportandstate.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sport &amp; State</a>, a new media company founded by Clay Travis that is built around sports, culture, original voices, and live conversation. * * * * *
A member of the U.S. Air Force has been identified after a fatal fall during a pregame rappelling demonstration before Navy-UTSA on Saturday.
On Sunday, the service member was identified as Tech Sgt. Ian Patterson. The service member was one of four military personnel scheduled to participate in the demonstration as part of UTSA’s annual Salute to Armed Forces and Veterans game.
Prior to kickoff of the first-ever matchup between the two programs, a service member assigned to Detachment 2 of the 6th Combat Training Squadron fell while rappelling from the ceiling of the Alamodome.
Medical personnel immediately treated Patterson on the field before transporting him to a local hospital. The incident delayed kickoff by about 10 minutes.
The Air Force confirmed Sunday that Patterson died from his injuries at the hospital.
Video of the fall circulated on social media. Viewer discretion is advised.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
TRAGIC UPDATE: The Air Force service member who fell during a pregame rappelling demonstration at the UTSA-Navy football game Saturday nigh, has died. The service member was assigned to the 6th Combat Training Squadron, Detachment 2.
The Air Force said the incident is under investigation. The service member has not been identified.
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) <a href="https://x.com/Breaking911/status/2111790974775013735?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Patterson served for 15 years and was highly decorated, earning many commendation and achievement medals as well as Air Force Special Warfare Enlisted Instructor of the Year in 2022.
Both the American Conference and Nellis Air Force released statements over the weekend following the incident.
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We are deeply saddened by the incident that occurred at the start of tonight’s football game. Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the soldier who was affected, his family and his military colleagues.
We recognize that members of our campus community may be emotionally affected by this incident and are activating wellbeing services to support our faculty, staff and students. (1/2)
— UT San Antonio (@UTSA) <a href="https://x.com/UTSA/status/2111649612394123567?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2026</a></blockquote>
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“This tragedy is felt deeply across the 57th Wing,” <a href="https://www.nellis.af.mil/Nellis-News/News-Releases/Display/Article/4628173/service-member-dies-following-incident-at-utsa-game/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Scott C. Mills, 57th Wing commander. “Tech. Sgt. Patterson and his service mattered immensely to our wing, and to the family, friends, and teammates who had the privilege of knowing and serving alongside him. Our team is now focused on standing beside Ian’s family, loved ones, and fellow Airmen as we navigate this profound loss together.”
“All of us at the American Conference are heartbroken by the death of the U.S. Air Force service member who took part in the pregame demonstration at the Alamodome on Oct. 17,”  the conference <a href="https://theamerican.org/news/2026/10/18/general-statement-from-the-american-conference-on-the-pregame-incident-at-the-alamodome.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a>. “We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, teammates and members of the 57th Wing who had the privilege of serving with him. We honor his service and join the military community in mourning his loss.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Statement from the American Conference on tonight’s pregame incident at the Alamodome. https://t.co/74owLnGreQ
— The American (@American_Conf) <a href="https://x.com/American_Conf/status/2111673377647636840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2026</a></blockquote>
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According to Nellis Air Force, details surrounding the incident are currently under investigation.

SSUTSANavyDeath copy

Air Force IDs Service Member Who Died After Rappelling Accident Before Navy-UTSA

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This article was written by Gus Wilson and published on <a href="https://sportandstate.com/">Sport &amp; State</a>, a new media company founded by Clay Travis that is built around sports, culture, original voices, and live conversation.
* * * * *
C.J. Gardner-Johnson has added yet another chapter to his growing reputation as one of the NFL’s dirtiest players.
Two weeks ago, he was <a href="https://sportandstate.com/2026/10/05/mike-vrabel-fires-back-after-c-j-gardner-johnson-insulted-patriots-wr-efton-chism/">trash-talking Efton Chism after Buffalo lost to New England</a>.
On Sunday, he was ejected after spitting in the direction of Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers during the Bills’ 33-30 victory.
Just before the end of the first half, Gardner-Johnson and Bowers began jawing after a play before officials stepped in.
Then came the spit.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
C.J. Gardner-Johnson has been ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct https://t.co/S2ME5wNiRT
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) <a href="https://x.com/NFLonCBS/status/2111935908404768784?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Another angle shown on the broadcast made it clear why Gardner-Johnson was immediately disqualified.
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CJ Gardner-Johnson spit bills raiders bowers joe brady nfl https://t.co/78ujN7Oms1
— Moonball (@moonball30) <a href="https://x.com/moonball30/status/2111936331224072253?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Jim Nantz summed it up pretty well on the CBS broadcast, calling the act “about as disrespectful as it gets.”
Gardner-Johnson didn’t exactly appear bothered by the ejection, smiling and laughing as he made his way toward the locker room.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Here&#8217;s a look at CJ Gardner-Johnson walking off the field in Vegas after the #Bills DB was ejected late in the first half against the Raiders.
#BillsMafia @WGRZ https://t.co/QDAkcEw4ef
— Jonathan Acosta (@JAcostaTV) <a href="https://x.com/JAcostaTV/status/2111937915043655811?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2026</a></blockquote>
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After the game, Bills head coach Joe Brady and Gardner-Johnson both addressed the incident.
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&#8220;The discipline of our football team has to improve and that sure as hell can&#8217;t happen.&#8221;
#Bills HC Joe Brady on the ejection of safety CJ Gardner-Johnson from the team&#8217;s win in Las Vegas.
&#8220;It definitely has to be addressed.&#8221;
#BillsMafia @WGRZ https://t.co/aiTXFAJOQi
— Jonathan Acosta (@JAcostaTV) <a href="https://x.com/JAcostaTV/status/2111976184116588975?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 19, 2026</a></blockquote>
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CJ Gardner-Johnson wouldn’t admit to spitting on a Raiders player before he was ejected: “I gotta be a better player, a better vet.. got to control my emotions.”
Coward. Cut him https://t.co/6w0SQn1pX4
— alex brasky (@alexbrasky) <a href="https://x.com/alexbrasky/status/2111977056523194532?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 19, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Bills safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson apologized on IG after cameras captured him spitting at Raiders TE Brock Bowers. https://t.co/F51BVlLsSi
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) <a href="https://x.com/AdamSchefter/status/2112122913172103622?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 19, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Apparently, this may not even be Gardner-Johnson’s first spitting incident.
San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk took to X after the ejection and claimed Gardner-Johnson spit on him last season while playing for the Chicago Bears.
“This is the least surprising thing ever,” Juszczyk wrote.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
This is the least surprising thing ever. @CGJXXIII spit on me last year when we beat Chicago
— Kyle Juszczyk (@JuiceCheck44) <a href="https://x.com/JuiceCheck44/status/2111956305829331090?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2026</a></blockquote>
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There is also recent NFL precedent for what could come next.
Last season, Ja’Marr Chase received a one-game suspension for spitting on Jalen Ramsey. Jalen Carter was also suspended one game after spitting on Dak Prescott, although the league considered the punishment served by his ejection just seconds into the season opener.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
@NFL Jamarr Chase clearly spitting on Jalen Ramsey #Steelers #Bengals https://t.co/V23OSCpYQC
— Chip Skylark (@use_your_logic1) <a href="https://x.com/use_your_logic1/status/1990188343121035402?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
total trash move
Jalen Carter spit on Dak Prescott and was ejected https://t.co/Pmkp8Stwgu
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) <a href="https://x.com/SharpFootball/status/1963760941767802931?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Gardner-Johnson has already been fined multiple times this season and Sunday marked the second ejection of his career.
Now, the question is whether the NFL decides an ejection and another fine are enough.
Based on how the league handled the two most recent spitting incidents, Gardner-Johnson may be looking at some time away from the field as well.

Untitled design – 2026-10-19T093017.298

C.J. Gardner-Johnson Says ‘I Gotta Be Better’ After Spitting On Raider Leads To Ejection

brock bowers

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This article was written by Mark J. Burns and published on <a href="https://sportandstate.com/">Sport &amp; State</a>, a new media company founded by Clay Travis that is built around sports, culture, original voices, and live conversation. 
* * * * *
Bear Golesh asked his dad ahead of Saturday’s game against No. 1 Georgia if could he get on the field in Athens when the Tigers win.
Well, Bear got his wish as he joined dad Alex Golesh, Auburn’s first-year coach, on the field at Sanford Stadium after Tigers kicker Alex McPherson hit a last-second 34-yarder to beat the top-ranked Bulldogs 27-24.
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ICE IN HIS VEINS 🧊 
@AlexMc83 https://t.co/NIlE0v2wgR
— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) <a href="https://x.com/AuburnFootball/status/2111595720088096981?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Georgia, now 5-1, had previously won 53 consecutive games against unranked opponents before Saturday.
“I’m grateful for our coaches, our fan base,” Golesh said immediately after the upset. “It’s been through a lot. We’re going to build Auburn to where everybody wants it. One game at a time — just hang with us. This locker room, these dudes who chose to stay, that’s what it’s all about.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
One game at a time 🦅
🗣️ @CoachGolesh https://t.co/9C0frHfLRY
— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) <a href="https://x.com/AuburnFootball/status/2111596663982702812?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Auburn’s victory over Georgia is its first in Athens since 2005. Both Golesh and Florida’s first-year coach Jon Sumrall <a href="https://sportandstate.com/2026/10/17/early-cfb-recap-osu-survives-vs-indiana-gators-score-massive-upset-against-texas/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">secured signature SEC wins</a> on Saturday, with the Gators upsetting No. 7 Texas in Austin 27-24.
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AND AN IMMACULATE DOUBLE EAGLE 🦅 https://t.co/neGH4hUi01
— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) <a href="https://x.com/AuburnFootball/status/2111598789442388399?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2026</a></blockquote>
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As Sport &amp; State big boss <a href="https://x.com/ClayTravis">Clay Travis</a> pointed out, with the Georgia loss, there are no more unbeaten teams left in the Southern Conference, meaning it’s wide freakin’ open right now as we head to the second half of the college football season.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Auburn beats Georgia and there are no unbeaten teams left in the SEC. And there is only one unbeaten team left in the Big Ten — UCLA. College football is now the NFL, any given Saturday anything can happen, undefeated teams are going to become extraordinarily rare.
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) <a href="https://x.com/ClayTravis/status/2111594325226234056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2026</a></blockquote>
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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">What happened in Athens?</h3>
Was the Bulldogs’ emotional win last week at the Crimson Tide too much for the top-ranked team?
Did the college football gods put a hex on the No. 1?
That’s two consecutive weeks in which the top-ranked program lost — the Sooners upset the Longhorns in the Red River Shootout last Saturday.
OK, back to Georgia-Auburn.
After going down 14-0 to the Bulldogs, the Tigers rattled off 24 unanswered points before the 20-point favorites eventually tied it at 24 apiece late in the fourth quarter.
With about a minute remaining and the ball around mid-field, Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton fumbled the ball off a teammate’s back, giving the Tigers great field position at their own 44 yard line — they also had three timeouts. Auburn drove the ball inside the red zone before McPherson’s walk-off kick.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
GUNNER STOCKTON FUMBLES AUBURN BALL https://t.co/V9p0U1KTqj
— wok (@wokdior) <a href="https://x.com/wokdior/status/2111591968627150877?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2026</a></blockquote>
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What a finish.
To add insult to injury, Alabama watched its in-state rival Auburn celebrate in Athens as it simultaneously lost to Tennessee 26-10 in Knoxville, witnessing the Vol faithful and occasional player <a href="https://x.com/SportNState/status/2111602957854875742" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">party with a victory cigar</a> inside Neyland Stadium.
What a wild and weird knife-twister for the Tide.
Don’t you just love college football?
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Tennessee whipped Alabama’s ass all day long. Given the opponent, this is the most dominant win of the Josh Heupel era. Congrats to Tennessee boy George McIntyre &amp;amp; what about that defense and Desean Bishop?! Smoke ‘em if you got ‘em! https://t.co/5FvZseiQvX
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) <a href="https://x.com/ClayTravis/status/2111598953015767341?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Josh Heupel taking it all in with his players and fans after the Vols 3rd straight win over Alabama at home
🎥: @Ellie_Mai_ https://t.co/Zn8nJPDrEC
— Sport &amp; State (@SportNState) <a href="https://x.com/SportNState/status/2111610053501530386?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2026</a></blockquote>
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The city of Auburn, AL needed today.
Toomers Corner is HUMMING! 🧻🦅 https://t.co/UKTpwnLkZV
— Vince Wolfram (@vincewolfram15) <a href="https://x.com/vincewolfram15/status/2111597072927334843?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2026</a></blockquote>
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@AuburnFootball on X

Is College Football’s No. 1 Cursed? Auburn Deals Georgia Heartbreaking Blow In Athens

alabama crimson tide

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college football

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This article was written by Mark J. Burns and published on <a href="https://sportandstate.com/">Sport &amp; State</a>, a new media company founded by Clay Travis that is built around sports, culture, original voices, and live conversation. 
* * * * *
ESPN’s College GameDay crew didn’t mince words Saturday morning about the <a href="https://sportandstate.com/2026/10/15/the-college-football-playoff-wants-more-teams-just-not-more-underdogs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a> 24-team College Football Playoff expansion, which would begin in 2027.
No one voiced their displeasure or concerns more than seven-time national champion Nick Saban.
“There’s not 24 teams in the country that deserve to be in the playoffs,” he said. “I don’t think there’s 24 teams in the country that can win the championship.”
Tell us what you really think, Mr. Saban.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
&#8220;There&#8217;s not 24 teams in the country that deserve to be in the playoffs &#8230; I don&#8217;t think there&#8217;s 24 teams in the country that can win the championship.&#8221;
Nick Saban reiterated his concerns about a potential expansion to a 24-team College Football Playoff in 2027. https://t.co/fNEeydfaKb
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) <a href="https://x.com/CollegeGameDay/status/2111463634702344562?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2026</a></blockquote>
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&gt;“We’ve now lowered the bar to get into the playoffs with 24 teams, and we’re going to raise the expectation from fans to get into the game,” added Saban, who highlighted the elimination of conference championship games with the expanded postseason. “Where lots of coaches think this is going to give me job security if I get in the playoffs, it’s also going to create an expectation that if you don’t get into the playoff, we’re going to fire your ass.”
ESPN’s top college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit hopes doubling the amount of postseason teams “doesn’t diminish those meaningful games that we get excited about.”
“The passion of college football will always carry itself, but I hate that feeling of win and advance, lose and you’re out, taking that away,” he said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The GameDay crew weighs in on what a 24-team College Football Playoff could mean for the future of the sport. https://t.co/5vjDe3omxj
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) <a href="https://x.com/CollegeGameDay/status/2111466979055796265?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard said the additional postseason bids mean the calendar is “starting to creep toward an NFL-style schedule.” He also raised questions about the unionization of college athletes — voices we haven’t really heard from yet amid the reported news, he noted — and what that could mean for the sport’s future.
Ultimately, the biggest concern is the effect a 24-team College Football Playoff has on fans’ interest in consuming the sport, right? It’s a topic Pat McAfee dove into headfirst Saturday in Provo ahead of Notre Dame at BYU.
“There’s going to be some positives, there’s going to be some negatives, but the drawbacks from college football fans can’t affect the power of college football, which is its environment, its tradition, its pageantry,” he said. “These fans, if you turn these people off, college football is no longer college football — it’s just another sport. That’s the fear … is that you’re going to piss these fans off with such radical change that they’re somehow going to fall out of love with something that’s so special.”
Like it or not, it appears this is the future reality of the sport.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Let’s get social</h3>
Sport &amp; State is flooding the zone, so to speak, across America.
Follow along as our content crew provides behind-the-scenes footage and gameday coverage during Saturday’s <a href="https://sportandstate.com/2026/10/17/cfb-saturday-am-six-top-25-matchups-rocky-top-blockbuster-and-one-big-fig/">absolutely loaded slate</a> of college football.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Sport &amp;amp; State has you covered for ALL the biggest games today 🔥
@StephOtey &#8211; No. 4 Ohio State at No. 5 Indiana 
@Ellie_Mai_ &#8211; No. 6 Alabama at No. 14 Tennessee 
@breccastoll &amp;amp; @ByGusWilson &#8211; Florida State at No. 3 Miami
Follow for great coverage all Saturday long!
— Sport &amp; State (@SportNState) <a href="https://x.com/SportNState/status/2111456995354030103?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2026</a></blockquote>
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SEC Nation is ready to go in Knoxville for the Third Saturday in October!
🎥: @Ellie_Mai_ https://t.co/NAGTKuZsjD
— Sport &amp; State (@SportNState) <a href="https://x.com/SportNState/status/2111458031279931610?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Indiana’s famous “The Walk” ahead of today’s massive showdown with Ohio State 🔴⚪️ https://t.co/mPF2ZA2bxi
— Sport &amp; State (@SportNState) <a href="https://x.com/SportNState/status/2111460865723564414?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2026</a></blockquote>
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The Scene for No. 4 Ohio State at No. 5 Indiana is ELITE https://t.co/zdNVQk3TcB
— Sport &amp; State (@SportNState) <a href="https://x.com/SportNState/status/2111472189815787963?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2026</a></blockquote>
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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">BANG!</h3>
On his second field goal attempt, BYU freshman Carter Smith nailed a shot worth $3 millionas part of McAfee’s “Kicking Is Easy” contest on GameDay. I mean, you kinda have to make it if you’re wearing a Spider-Man costume.
Now comes the all-important question for the aspiring dentist — <a href="https://sportandstate.com/2026/09/18/kicking-is-easy-and-so-is-spending-how-pat-mcafees-money-changed-students-lives/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">what to do with all of the money</a>?&lt;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
HE JUST NAILED A FIELD GOAL WORTH $3 MILLION 😱🔥
THE BYU CROWD MOBBED HIM AFTER HITTING FOR 3 MILLY 💰 https://t.co/ywW4PydsGb
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) <a href="https://x.com/CollegeGameDay/status/2111472978894389540?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2026</a></blockquote>
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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Playing with fire</h3>
Before we let you go, check out this video below. What’s not to love about the BYU mascot Cosmos blackflipping before dawn with fire weights?
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
COSMO&#8217;S BACKFLIPPING WITH FIRE WEIGHTS 😭🔥
Not sure what sport this is 🤣 https://t.co/trFXAP52ZQ
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) <a href="https://x.com/CollegeGameDay/status/2111446494586794088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2026</a></blockquote>
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@BCrawford247 on X

Nick Saban: ‘There’s Not 24 Teams In The Country That Deserve To Be’ In Expanded CFP

college football playoff

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This article was written by Gus Wilson and published on <a href="https://sportandstate.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sport &amp; State</a>, a new media company founded by Clay Travis that is built around sports, culture, original voices, and live conversation. * * * * *
Sophie Cunningham continues to speak out against transgender athletes competing in girls’ sports.
This time, the Indiana Fever guard showed her support for 13 members of the Camas High School girls cross-country team in Washington who walked off the course rather than compete alongside a transgender teammate.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Refuse to pretend https://t.co/PoQEACENoZ
— XX-XY Athletics (@xx_xyathletics) <a href="https://x.com/xx_xyathletics/status/2110190343027073154?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2026</a></blockquote>
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The runners linked arms, walked for the beginning of the race and then exited the course. Some had painted, “Keep women in women’s sports” on their bodies.
The protest centered on Logan Mihailoff, who began the season competing on Camas’ boys junior varsity team before later moving to the girls division.
On Sept. 5, Mihailoff finished 76th in a boys JV race. Three weeks later, Mihailoff placed second out of 195 runners in the girls junior/senior JV race at the Nike Portland XC Invitational.
Cunningham responded to an XX-XY Athletics Instagram post about the protest with a simple message:
“Good work girls.”
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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1200667" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/10/IMG_8719-590x576.webp" alt="" width="590" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/10/IMG_8719-590x576.webp 590w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/10/IMG_8719-300x293.webp 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/10/IMG_8719-768x750.webp 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/10/IMG_8719.webp 1206w" sizes=" (max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit: @XX_XYAthletics on Instagram</figcaption></figure>
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The current Washington Interscholastic Activities Association policy allows students to compete in athletics consistent with their gender identity. The Camas School District has said it will continue following those rules while also working with athletes and families who have raised concerns.
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Just following orders. 
Sorry, not good enough.
— XX-XY Athletics (@xx_xyathletics) <a href="https://x.com/xx_xyathletics/status/2110893185757221224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 16, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Washington voters will also weigh in on the issue Nov. 3.
Initiative 638 would prohibit students it defines as biologically male from competing in certain K-12 athletic activities designated for female students and would require verification of biological sex by a health care provider.
Cunningham has made her position on the issue clear before, being a strong voice in the pushback against biological men attempting to infiltrate women’s sports.
Now, she is backing the Camas runners who decided to take action for their beliefs.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://x.com/ByGusWilson">Follow Gus Wilson on X at @ByGusWilson</a></h3>

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Sophie Cunningham Shows Support For High School Cross Country Team Refusing To Race

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transgender athletes in women's sports

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women's sports

This article was written by Matt Foley and published on <a href="https://sportandstate.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sport &amp; State</a>, a new media company founded by Clay Travis that is built around sports, culture, original voices, and live conversation. * * * * *
According to one prominent football insider, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was prepared to trade his helmet for a headset before this season.
Now, he’s being floated as the potential replacement for Troy Aikman in the Monday Night Football booth in 2027.
On Friday’s episode of “Pardon My Take,” Pro Football Talk founder Mike Florio predicted that Kelce will be one of the most sought-after broadcasting free agents next offseason, with ESPN, CBS, and Amazon all competing for his talents.
ESPN, of course, is at the center of a public spat with Aikman, who is reportedly upset about not being offered a new contract despite his 25-year broadcasting partner, Joe Buck, already signing a six-year, $108 million deal.
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Troy Aikman this morning on @dfwticket about rumors of tension between him and Joe Buck.
“There’s probably a time and a place for all that. I don’t know if now is the time. I don’t know if it’s hard to figure out kind of what happened. I’ll broadcast through this season and I’ll be a free agent at the end of the year and kind of see what happens. I’m looking forward to whatever the rest of this season does hold and the Super Bowl and all that and where my next landing spot may be.”
— Joseph Hoyt (@JoeJHoyt) <a href="https://x.com/JoeJHoyt/status/2110722355123179877?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 15, 2026</a></blockquote>
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When reached by Sport &amp; State, ESPN declined to comment on the current Monday Night Football contract negotiations, instead emphasizing that its focus is on this season and producing the network’s first Super Bowl in February.
But according to Florio, Kelce is actively looking for his next career move.
“Last year, [Kelce] and Greg Olsen were inquiring with Amazon about whether [Kirk Herbstreit’s] Amazon spot would be available this season,” he said. “Kelce was already looking into this before this season.”
Kelce has the connections to make a big splash into broadcasting. His wildly popular podcast, “New Heights,“ is distributed by Amazon, while his older brother, Jason Kelce, is fast <a href="https://sportandstate.com/2026/10/08/jason-kelces-debut-shows-why-not-every-ex-athlete-needs-a-spot-in-the-broadcast-booth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">becoming a featured player on ESPN’s NFL team</a>.
Oh, and then there’s the whole Mr. Taylor Swift angle.
Florio believes this could all create a full-blown bidding war in early 2027.
“He’s going to be the one they all want,” Florio said. “CBS is going to be looking, ESPN will be looking, and Amazon has a <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/breaking-news/article/amazon-prime-reportedly-signs-kirk-herbstreit-to-extension-but-leaves-door-open-for-high-profile-replacement-142003664.html">clause</a> that they can tear up [Herbstreit’s] contract if they find someone better.”
Florio added that Amazon and ESPN could also pursue Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay, but that Kelce would be the networks’ first choice.
And if ESPN wins that bidding war, it would be another sign that the network is fully embracing its Football Bro Era.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Pat McAfee rewrote the playbook</h3>
ESPN’s ever-growing Pat McAfee presence has brought <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7691367/2026/10/15/pat-mcafee-college-gameday-espn-future" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hand-wringing from traditional sports media</a> types, but despite the opinion of the vocal minority on social media, the proof is undeniable.
The Pat McAfee business is booming.
McAfee has quickly become one of, if not the, most valuable personalities at the Mothership. His show attracts a loyal audience, generates viral moments, and connects with a generation of sports fans who would rather talk about sports like they’re hanging out with friends than sitting on-set with the “Sports Reporters.” (RIP to that incredible program, by the way.)
The current, McAfee-centric version of “College GameDay” has turned in five of the 10 most-watched regular-season episodes in the show’s 40-year history. ESPN executives know this, and they’re betting that this direction is best for the bottom line.
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&#8220;The more he appears, the harder it is to see the show as the ultimate gathering place for all fans&#8221;
And yet, @CollegeGameDay continues to deliver historic numbers week after week in terms of viewership, on-site crowds and interest since @PatMcAfeeShow joined CGD. 🧐 https://t.co/s04lLR3gIY
— bill hofheimer (@bhofheimer_espn) <a href="https://x.com/bhofheimer_espn/status/2110753993345634778?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 15, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Which brings us back to the Kelces.
Jason’s beer-chugging, shirt-ripping, earnestly goofy personality made him a Philadelphia folk hero. Certainly, he’s taking some getting used to on a national stage — and much like McAfee, he seems to be feeling some backlash due to overexposure — but he’s a largely likable character with a clear future in the booth, on set, or in the podcast studio.
Then there’s Travis — a mega-celebrity with Super Bowl rings, McAfee’s frat-boy attitude, reality-show chops, and the global-icon connection that will draw the young female demographic the <a href="https://sportandstate.com/2026/09/14/meet-the-hot-new-nfl-position-group-wags/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NFL so desperately craves</a>.
Between the Kelce brothers and McAfee, ESPN could harness enough High T energy to offset, at least in part, a decade’s worth of accusations about the network’s progressive social engineering.
Look, nature is healing.
You may not like it, but one thing we know about the modern sports-media landscape is that personality sells. Authenticity beats polish every time, and (most) fans don’t need more trained journalists to tell them what to think.
They want to talk ball, and they want entertainers who can help them feel the moment.
The future of football broadcasting will keep changing. ESPN seems perfectly fine with that.

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Prepare Yourself: ESPN Could Add All-Time Football Bro Travis Kelce To ‘Monday Night Football’

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This article was written by Jason Foster and published on <a href="https://sportandstate.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sport &amp; State</a>, a new media company founded by Clay Travis that is built around sports, culture, original voices, and live conversation.
* * * * *
When the Brewers secured the final out in Game 4 of the NLCS on Thursday to complete a shocking sweep of the two-time defending champion Dodgers, it was literally a generational event.
The 27th out that punched Milwaukee’s ticket to the World Series came 43 years, 11 months and 26 days since it last played in the Fall Classic. That was a Game 7 loss to the Cardinals in 1982. None of the current Brewers had been born, and neither had many of their current fans. But now, both can revel in a moment that took forever to get here, but is certainly worth the wait.
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YOUR MILWAUKEE BREWERS ARE HEADING TO THE WORLD SERIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! https://t.co/9wrVOIy54p
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) <a href="https://x.com/Brewers/status/2110931653782548936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 16, 2026</a></blockquote>
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The chase for the first championship in franchise history begins Oct. 23 in Game 1 at American Family Field. You’ll have to forgive the city of Milwaukee if people there have forgotten what it’s like.
The last time they hosted a World Series game, Ronald Reagan was a first-term president, “E.T.” was the top movie at the box office and a gallon of gas was $1.26.
There are also pretty interesting differences — and ironies — between the current Milwaukee team and the one 44 years its senior.
The ’82 Brewers featured five future Hall of Famers in Robin Yount, Paul Molitor, Ted Simmons, Don Sutton and Rollie Fingers, and were collectively known as “Harvey’s Wallbangers,” a nod to manager Harvey Kuenn and the team’s propensity to crush dingers. They <a href="https://www.mlb.com/stats/team/1982" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.mlb.com/stats/team/1982">led the majors</a> with 216 homers and a .790 OPS, and far outscored every other team on their way to an MLB-best 95 wins. They were very much a 2026 type of team.
The actual 2026 Brewers don’t have any household names (yet), but they do have plenty of talent. With NLCS MVP Jake Bauers (26 homers, .874 OPS), Jackson Chourio (25 homers, .837 OPS), William Contreras (1.157 OPS this postseason) and others, they present an annoyingly tenacious lineup that’s closer to something out of 1982.
They had an MLB-best .341 on-base percentage and more hits than anyone else (1,422). They take walks. They’re patient. They bunt. They keep the line moving and wear opponents out.
But they can slug, too, as they demonstrated by out-homering the Dodgers 7-1 over the four games of the NLCS. Still, their 154 regular-season homers ranked as MLB’s second-lowest total, which isn’t supposed to be consistent with winning these days. But they still scored more runs than all but one MLB team (Cubs), which illustrates the thorough nature of their offensive attack. It certainly helps that they had the second-lowest ERA in baseball (3.51), led by NL Cy Young frontrunner Jacob Misiorowski and his MLB-best 1.80 ERA.
It’s not quite accurate to call the 2026 Brewers a throwback team, but they at least pay homage. They’re a multi-faceted bunch, which is why they compiled an MLB-best 103 wins this season before going 7-1 through the first two rounds of the postseason.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
GARRETT MITCHELL!
THE BREWERS HAVE COME ALL THE WAY BACK TO TAKE THE LEAD! https://t.co/dOx9zZUHT7
— MLB (@MLB) <a href="https://x.com/MLB/status/2110915093047198005?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 16, 2026</a></blockquote>
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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Spicy matchup awaits</h3>
The Brewers are a unique kind of juggernaut, one that did away with the supposedly unstoppable Dodgers rather easily and offers Milwaukee its best chance to be the last team standing for the first time ever. For that reason, the Brewers and their fans won’t love the seven-day wait between the NLCS and Game 1 of the World Series.
But at least they’ll have something to do: They can all watch the rest of the ALCS to see whether the Rays or Guardians will stand between them and the Commissioner’s Trophy.
Either team will present the Brewers with the same kind of challenge they pose to everyone else, that throwback-y style of play that can just as easily beat you with homers or a barrage of walks, singles and a well-time double down the line. It has the potential to be one of the more entertaining World Series in recent memory, so get ready for a fun ride.
The calendar says 2026, but the Brewers are about to party like it’s 1982 — just with a different ending in mind.

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Brewers Dethrone Dodgers, Ready To Party Like It’s 1982 (Just With A Better Ending)

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This article was written by Gus Wilson and published on <a href="https://sportandstate.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sport &amp; State</a>, a new media company founded by Clay Travis that is built around sports, culture, original voices, and live conversation.
* * * * *
Oregon State was one of two programs left behind when the Pac-12 collapsed.
Three years later, the Beavers might be playing their way into the College Football Playoff.
Oregon State is 4-2, has won four straight games, and just scored 122 points over its past two outings. Behind first-year head coach JaMarcus Shephard, the Beavers have built one of the highest-scoring offenses in college football around a freshman receiver leading the country and a former FCS quarterback doing the same.
If you haven’t been paying attention to what’s happening in Corvallis, now might be the time.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">From Pac-12 limbo to one of the nation’s best offenses</h3>
After the 2023 season, 10 Pac-12 programs departed for other conferences, leaving only Oregon State and Washington State behind.
The Beavers went 5-7 in 2024 before bottoming out at 2-10 last season.
Then came Shephard.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
JaMarcus Shephard is warning Oregon State fans now that their will be rough moments this football season- but needs the community to keep showing up #adversity https://t.co/9HTt13P8zj
— Tyree Smith (@TyreeSmithTV) <a href="https://x.com/TyreeSmithTV/status/2086645800181133453?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 10, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Oregon State hired Shephard after he spent two seasons at Alabama, most recently as assistant head coach, co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach. Before following Kalen DeBoer to Tuscaloosa, Shephard spent two seasons on his staff at Washington.
His background developing receivers and high-powered offenses has translated immediately.
After opening the season with losses to Houston and Texas Tech, Oregon State has won four straight. The Beavers beat Montana 52-17, UTEP 33-7, Colorado State 56-26 and San Diego State 66-14.
That’s four consecutive wins by at least 26 points. Oregon State is now averaging 41.8 points per game, the 11th-best mark in the country.
And two players are driving it.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">College football’s best duo may reside in the Group of Six</h3>
Freshman receiver Jesse Legree and quarterback Braden Atkinson have become one of the most productive combinations in the sport.
Legree currently leads the country in both receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. Yes, even more than Heisman-favorite Jeremiah Smith.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
THE BILETNIKOFF RACE IS HEATING UP 👀
Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith and Oregon State’s Jesse Legree are putting together ridiculous seasons.
Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State: 
48 REC 
916 YDS 
11 TD
Jesse Legree, Oregon State: 
38 REC 
932 YDS 
12 TD
Legree exploded for 10 catches, 191 yards and 3 TDs tonight, while Smith added 93 yards and 2 TDs for Ohio State.
Who’s your Biletnikoff favorite right now? 🏆
— CONTENDRS (@contendrsmedia) <a href="https://x.com/contendrsmedia/status/2109095608317288709?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 11, 2026</a></blockquote>
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He has eclipsed 100 yards in every game this season, becoming the first Oregon State receiver to do it in six consecutive games.
His latest performance may have been his best yet. Against San Diego State, Legree caught 10 passes for 191 yards and three touchdowns.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
See ya ✌️
@Braden_Atkinson ➡️ @jlegree24 for a 71 yard TD to open the half 🔥
📺 @USANetwork https://t.co/5r8SIKaUFU
— Oregon State Football (@BeaverFootball) <a href="https://x.com/BeaverFootball/status/2109073957064524227?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 11, 2026</a></blockquote>
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The guy throwing him the ball has been just as ridiculous.
Atkinson won the Jerry Rice Award as the top freshman in the FCS last season at Mercer, where he threw for 3,596 yards and 34 touchdowns. He transferred to Oregon State and won the starting job over former four-star quarterback Maalik Murphy.
He hasn’t looked back.
Atkinson leads the country with 2,257 passing yards through six games while throwing 21 touchdowns.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
See ya ✌️
@Braden_Atkinson ➡️ @jlegree24 for a 71 yard TD to open the half 🔥
📺 @USANetwork https://t.co/5r8SIKaUFU
— Oregon State Football (@BeaverFootball) <a href="https://x.com/BeaverFootball/status/2109073957064524227?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 11, 2026</a></blockquote>
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An FCS transfer and a freshman receiver are now powering one of the most explosive offenses in college football. And they may have something bigger to play for.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The playoff path is real</h3>
This is where Oregon State gets really interesting.
Under the new College Football Playoff format for 2026, the highest-ranked team from the Group of Six conferences receives an automatic bid into the 12-team field.
Right now, Boise State is the only Group of Six team ranked in the AP Top 25, sitting at No. 23. Oregon State received just one AP Poll vote this week.
That can change quickly.
The Beavers and Broncos are both undefeated in Pac-12 play and will meet in Boise on Nov. 14 in what could become one of the most important Group of Six games of the season.
Oregon State still has Washington State, Fresno State, Texas State, Boise State and Utah State remaining before its flex matchup to close the regular season.
The Beavers have already shown they can hang around with Power Four competition, losing to Houston by 13 and Texas Tech by 11 before rattling off four dominant victories. Keep winning, and the playoff conversation will take care of itself.
Oregon State went from being one of the programs left behind by conference realignment to having a legitimate path into the 12-team playoff. With Atkinson and Legree putting up video-game numbers, that possibility doesn’t look quite as crazy anymore.

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The Best Story In College Football You Don’t Know About Is At Oregon State

jamarcus shephard

oregon state

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<div>This article was written by Karen Crouse and published on <a href="https://sportandstate.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sport &amp; State</a>, a new media company founded by Clay Travis that is built around sports, culture, original voices, and live conversation.</div>
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Carlie Irsay-Gordon, the principal owner and CEO of the NFL’s Indianapolis franchise, is most undeserving of the Taylor Swift treatment (as is Swift herself). All the dads, Brads and Chads who object to Irsay-Gordon’s high profile during Colts’ games really need to touch grass — preferably, the real kind, not the synthetic turf on the team’s home field at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Those triggered whenever the television cameras find Irsay-Gordon, <a href="https://people.com/all-about-jim-irsay-daughters-11822619">who took over the franchise with her two sisters</a> after their father Jim’s death last year, on the Colts sideline during games must be self-employed and disinclined to critique the boss.
As for the rest of us, most would welcome answering to someone like Irsay-Gordon, who cares deeply about understanding what exactly her employees do and how they go about doing it so that when their yearly reviews roll around, the feedback she has to offer is thoughtful, substantive. Informed. On this, sports talk show host Colin Cowherd and I are in lockstep.
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Sunday thoughts on Colts Owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon https://t.co/mRFLP0JtEl
— Colin Cowherd (@colincowherd) <a href="https://x.com/colincowherd/status/2109290452755296265?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 11, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Irsay-Gordon is not a headset-wearing, note-taking dilettante. She has paid her dues and then some. As the sports journalist Leah Lowe noted in a story she posted to X in September, Irsay-Gordon has sold tickets, she has plopped herself down in different sections of the stadium to soak in the game-day experience from literally all sides and she has attended team and position meetings for years.
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Carlie Irsay-Gordon is there because her father spent decades preparing her for the responsibility. Maybe that&#8217;s something worth remembering the next time the television camera finds Jim Irsay&#8217;s eldest daughter down on the sideline. @colts @CIrsay #colts https://t.co/EYA9qySWNE
— Leah Lowe (@Leah2Go) <a href="https://x.com/Leah2Go/status/2103645875595579833?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 26, 2026</a></blockquote>
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My absolute favorite anecdote from Lowe’s story is that Irsay-Gordon had been sitting in the back row of the meetings for wide receivers for several weeks during the 2020 season before then-rookie Michael Pittman Jr. knew who she was.
Curiosity without conceit. It’s a rare quality to find in anybody these days, much less CEOs (or those in training) who are rewarded for leading from a place of self-protection.
And before it is suggested that no coach in their right mind would voluntarily agree to such a sideline arrangement, I must point out that the idea of putting a headset on Irsay-Gordon <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/50120611/indianapolis-colts-carlie-irsay-gordon-sideline">originated with Frank Reich in 2020</a>, when he was the Colts’ head coach.
I reached out to the Jets, where Reich is the offensive coordinator, to ask what he makes of the commotion that he unintentionally created, but I was told he was engrossed in getting the Jets back to .500 and wasn’t available to entertain my question.
Not for nothing, but it couldn’t hurt the Jets’ fortunes for their owner, Woody Johnson, to dedicate himself to becoming a student of the game in the manner of Irsay-Gordon. And I bet it would have been super instructive for Commanders owner Josh Harris to have been able to hear the headset chatter in the final seconds of <a href="https://sportandstate.com/2026/10/11/commanders-lose-track-of-time-in-wild-tie-against-giants/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" data-type="link" data-id="https://sportandstate.com/2026/10/11/commanders-lose-track-of-time-in-wild-tie-against-giants/">Washington’s tie</a> against the Giants.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The real winner from the Commanders late game disaster?
Carlie Irsay-Gordon https://t.co/uuGgQgBZIC
— #RingerNFLShow (@ringernflshow) <a href="https://x.com/ringernflshow/status/2110079670784004520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Given that most coaches guard their playbooks as if it were the nuclear code, I’ve occasionally wondered, Doth protect too much? Do their monosyllabic or meandering answers — because there’s seldom an in-between — in interviews spring from paranoia-style caution or because they’re essentially faking it till they make it?
In a 2025 interview <a href="https://www.colts.com/news/carlie-irsay-gordon-gameday-headset-playcall-sheet-owner-and-ceo-ownership">posted to the Colts website</a>, Irsay-Gordon recalled when the team was interviewing candidates that led to the 2012 hiring of head coach Chuck Pagano. The process drove home the reality for her that, “I need to learn more about this,” she said. “I need to be able to say, ‘Is this person full of B.S.? Do they even know what they’re talking about?’”
Wearing the headset and gaining access to ongoing communications pinpointed for Irsay-Gordon how complex an organism a football team is and how much needs to go right for a single play to succeed. If a pass fails, it’s not always because the receiver ran the wrong route or the quarterback threw a poor pass.
“So much of it comes down to just how we operate and how things work,” she said, adding, “I would suggest it for anyone else that has to pay coaches and GMs millions and millions of dollars. It helps you make a less expensive mistake potentially.”
She’s not Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who is alleged to have <a href="https://cowboyszone.com/threads/does-jerry-jones-have-a-direct-line-to-the-bench-during-games.538147/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">called down to the sideline</a> from the owner’s suite during a game at least once.
She’s not the former Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams owner Georgia Frontiere, <a href="https://notablepeopleproject.org/georgia_frontiere">the first active female majority owner of an NFL team</a>, who also spent most games on the sideline — where she was known for giving players pecks on the cheek and pats on the butt.
Frontiere, who took over majority ownership of the franchise after the death of her husband, Carroll Rosenbloom, and whose decades-long reign included a Super Bowl championship in 2000, was portrayed as a former nightclub singer turned socialite. She never got her proper due for being ahead of her time in providing her players with financial advisors, nutritionists, and mental health professionals.
Though they were shaped by different eras, Irsay-Gordon no doubt could appreciate where Frontiere was coming from when she famously said, “<a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/rams/onsi/georgia-frontiere-dick-vermeil-john-shaw-super-bowl">There are some who feel there are two different kinds of people: human beings and women.</a>”
Could it be that the most jarring aspect of Irsay-Gordon’s presence on the sideline, besides the fact she is a woman, is her anachronistic use of a pen and paper? Would she blend in better if people saw her tap-tap-tapping on her smartphone, working in a notes app?
“It’s not an issue at all,” Shane Steichen, the Colts’ head coach since 2023, <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/colts-shane-steichen-owner-carlie-192917607.html">told reporters last Friday.</a> “She’s been doing it for a long time.”
He added: “A ton of respect for what she’s doing. No one’s done it, and so it’s a credit to her that she’s learning and going through that process and hearing the right information that’s taking place on game day instead of hearing it from whoever else.’’
Indianapolis hasn’t advanced to the playoffs since the 2020 season and is 2-3 this season. In their 34-22 loss Sunday at Pittsburgh, the Colts punted only once but were able to convert only four of 15 third downs and were 1-of-3 in the red zone.
The Colts will host the 0-5 Tennessee Titans on Sunday, and Steichen has to know Irsay-Gordon is going through the process and gathering information to make the most informed decision on, among other things, his future. It’s what bosses do, and all he or any employee can hope for is to be evaluated fairly, based on having access to all the facts.
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CarlieIrsayGordon

Curiosity Not Conceit: We All Should Be So Lucky To Have Boss Like Carlie Irsay-Gordon

carlie irsay-gordon

indianapolis colts

jim irsay

shane steichen

This article was written by Gus Wilson and published on <a href="https://sportandstate.com/">Sport &amp; State</a>, a new media company founded by Clay Travis that is built around sports, culture, original voices, and live conversation. 
* * * * *
President Donald Trump is assembling quite the roster of sports legends for his midterm campaign rallies.
Roger Clemens. Mike Tyson. Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Three all-time greats have joined the president onstage in the past eight days, with the undefeated boxing legend becoming the latest Wednesday night in Arizona.
And that’s not even the entire roster.
The 50-0 Mayweather joined Trump at his rally in Bullhead City, Ariz. The former boxing champion praised Trump and reflected on representing the United States at the 1996 Olympics.
“We couldn’t have chose a better president twice than Donald Trump,” Mayweather told the crowd.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Almost every famous boxer and UFC fighter is a big supporter of Trump. Doesn’t surprise me. Combat fighters respect bravery and Trump in Butler is the baddest ass moment in American presidential history.
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) <a href="https://x.com/ClayTravis/status/2110494538293039352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2026</a></blockquote>
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The appearance was the latest in a growing trend of Trump bringing some of the biggest personalities in sports to his political events.
And he certainly isn’t slowing down.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Trump’s star-studded lineup</h2>
Last Wednesday, seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens joined Trump at his rally in San Antonio. But Trump had another surprise for the Rocket.
The president announced he would award Clemens the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, while also renewing his support for the pitcher’s Baseball Hall of Fame candidacy.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
President Trump announces he is awarding baseball legend Roger Clemens the Presidential Medal of Freedom during his San Antonio rally.
Trump invites the seven-time Cy Young Award winner onstage and says Clemens deserves a place in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
A visibly surprised Clemens responds, “Well I&#8217;m stunned, number one,” adding that the honor surpasses anything he accomplished during his playing career.
— Fox News (@FoxNews) <a href="https://x.com/FoxNews/status/2108011962906907126?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Two days later, it was Mike Tyson’s turn.
The former heavyweight champion accompanied Trump to Syracuse, N.Y., for a rally supporting Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.@POTUS: &#8220;This is Iron Mike Tyson. I won&#8217;t be fighting him today, but I&#8217;ve been his fan for a long time. We&#8217;ve been friends for a long time. Iron Mike — there&#8217;s nobody like him.&#8221; https://t.co/ZMgd7FAPwA
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/2108666439427080652?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 9, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Tyson, who has maintained a decades-long friendship with Trump, briefly addressed the crowd after the president called him onstage.
Former NFL coach Jon Gruden also joined Trump in Youngstown, Ohio, on Monday. And just two days later, Mayweather joined the growing list.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Sports Fan In Chief</h2>
Trump’s connection to the sports world isn’t new. From attending major college football games to hosting sporting events at the White House, the president has made athletes a regular part of his public appearances.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The biggest conversation of the Texas-Tennessee game may have happened off the field!
@ClayTravis caught up with President @realDonaldTrump for an exclusive halftime interview at Neyland Stadium.
Check out all the details here: https://t.co/aWDLvx7Q8N
— Sport &amp; State (@SportNState) <a href="https://x.com/SportNState/status/2103913070519091355?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 26, 2026</a></blockquote>
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It’s also a way to reach sports fans who might not normally pay attention to a campaign event, although celebrity appearances alone don’t guarantee votes.
The strategy has produced quite the lineup in just over a week. A seven-time Cy Young winner, two boxing legends and a Super Bowl-winning coach.
At this rate, Trump might need a bigger stage.

@rapidresponse47

Floyd Mayweather Jr. Is Latest Sports Legend To Join Trump’s Star-Studded Rally Lineup

2026 midterm election

donald trump

floyd mayweather

mike tyson

politics

roger clemens

This article was written by Matt Foley and published on <a href="https://sportandstate.com/">Sport &amp; State</a>, a new media company founded by Clay Travis that is built around sports, culture, original voices, and live conversation. 
* * * * *
In fourteen hundred ninety-two, Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue … just to catch strays 534 years later from an affluent white liberal woman at a sold-out country show in Dallas.
During her Sunday night performance at American Airlines Center, country music superstar Kacey Musgraves took a moment to <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media/musician-kacey-musgraves-condemns-columbus-the-lamest-person-probably-ever-exist" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lambast the Italian explorer</a>, calling him “the lamest person to probably ever exist” while celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
Yes, I’m inserting the obligatory Tony Soprano meme here:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Happy Columbus Day! https://t.co/Uhwg0ewrBQ
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) <a href="https://x.com/ClayTravis/status/2109616592330055960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2026</a></blockquote>
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The gleeful crowd at Musgraves’ show cheered, and once the video hit social media, yet another musician found herself in the middle of America’s endless culture war.
Which raises an interesting question: Should musicians keep their political opinions to themselves?
At a recent show at the Las Vegas Sphere, Metallica frontman James Hetfield thanked the crowd for joining them and said the heavy metal band has no political or social agenda to share.
“Metallica is not here to influence you with their bullshit,” Hetfield said. “Metallica’s agenda is love, energy, and heavy music.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Metallica’s front man says unlike other musicians they aren’t going to make political statements, they’re just going to entertain you. This is exactly what all artists should say. https://t.co/M0EY9U7nzS
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) <a href="https://x.com/ClayTravis/status/2109988405958582589?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2026</a></blockquote>
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While I certainly appreciate Hetfield’s apolitical preference on stage, and I understand the argument for keeping art and politics separate, I don’t entirely agree.
Politics and art go hand-in-hand.
The best artists are passionate, thoughtful, emotionally-driven people with deeply held convictions that inform their work.
From Bob Dylan‘s protest anthems to Toby Keith’s fiercely patriotic country Americana, music has always served as a vehicle for political and cultural expression.
Imagine how boring music would be if artists had to avoid writing what they feel. If there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s that we don’t need any more Morgan Wallens.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Here’s the difference</h3>
While I do believe politics and art can exist together, there’s a major difference between expressing your beliefs through the work and delivering a corny, giggly sermon to a captive audience.
Musgraves has never exactly hidden her politics. Her breakout 2013 hit “Follow Your Arrow” explored themes of LGBTQ+ acceptance and sexual exploration — all while most of her traditional country audience hummed along in ignorance.
That’s the beauty of music. It’s subjective and objective all at once. One listener hears Musgraves’ message about sexual autonomy while another taps his boot to the catchy melody.
Hell, it took some people decades to realize that a band literally named Rage Against the Machine was protesting structural corporate and government greed.
Side note: I think I listened to “Evil Empire” 10,000 times while shooting hoops in the backyard in the summer of 1996. What an album. Still, 7-year-old me didn’t really understand what Tom Morello and the boys were on about until the “Bulls on Parade” video dropped
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Rage Against The Machine - Bulls On Parade (Official HD Video)" width="500" height="375" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3L4YrGaR8E4?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
When artists step away from their instruments and start explicitly lecturing audiences about politics, there’s no more room for interpretation.
And that choice comes with consequences
Ask the Dixie Chicks, whose criticism of President George W. Bush in 2003 sparked a massive country music backlash. Or Kid Rock, whose outspoken conservative politics have become inseparable from his public persona.
Kid Rock has largely embraced the audience his politics attract. The Chicks dropped the “Dixie,” deepening their connection with the liberal left.
Musgraves is entitled to do the same, but she shouldn’t expect every longtime fan to follow her.
In 2026, everyone has a mouthpiece and an apparent calling to use it. But your audience isn’t obligated to subsidize your worldview. Choosing not to support Musgraves now that her politics are squarely in your face is a perfectly reasonable reaction.
Artists have every right to make music their way and speak their minds when compelled. Fans can decide if the art is worth the baggage.
So far, the Musgraves fallout is merely on social media. It remains to be seen whether she’ll keep speaking out, and how that will impact record sales or tour attendance.
Whether the impending answer to that equation is worth it will probably tell us everything we need to know about her and her convictions in the years to come.

@SpaceyKacey and @Metallica on Instagram

Kacey Musgraves Can Say What She Wants. Just Don’t Expect Everyone to Keep Buying Records

columbus day

entertainment

indigenous peoples day

kacey musgraves

metallica

music industry

This article was written by Mark J. Burns and published on <a href="https://sportandstate.com/">Sport &amp; State</a>, a new media company founded by Clay Travis that is built around sports, culture, original voices, and live conversation. 
* * * * *
Dust off the denim, throw on a graphic t-shirt, and break out your brightest colors. Perhaps even ask Dad for a vintage teal Starter jacket while you’re at it if you don’t mind sweating in the name of throwback fashion.
That’s the message from Coastal Carolina football as it dropped its fluorescent, 1990s-themed jerseys ahead of Friday night’s nationally-televised home matchup against Appalachian Stateat Brooks Stadium.
The night time affair is also part of the football team’s annual earmarked contest dubbed ‘Wait Til You See This,’ which in 2025 featured the Chanticleers sporting <a href="https://www.si.com/college-football/costal-carolina-glow-in-the-dark-uniforms-mascot-fights" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">glow-in-the-dark</a> uniforms around Halloween.
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The Friday night (‘90s) threads 👌 https://t.co/qzuVGlGP49
— Coastal Football (@CoastalFootball) <a href="https://x.com/CoastalFootball/status/2109787043555402002?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2026</a></blockquote>
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“If you look at [the conversation] online right now…<a href="https://x.com/CSOonX/status/2109978822284280286" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">some people hate the jerseys</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/BarstoolBigCat/status/2109822989441048893">some</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BarstoolBigCat/status/2109822989441048893">people love it</a>, but <a href="https://x.com/IowanStallion/status/2109809329117315428" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">they’re all talking</a> about our university, our football team, and our uniforms,” said <a href="https://x.com/cmiller05" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chance Miller</a>, Coastal Carolina Athletic Director, during a phone interview with Sport &amp; State. “You don’t have to be just a football fan to be engaged with it.”
Miller, a former practicing attorney in New York, explained that the creative initiative stemmed from conversations led by Chief Creative Officer <a href="https://x.com/StateFarm_Jake6" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jake Johnson</a> and <a href="https://x.com/PatrickONealOK" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Patrick Osborne</a>, Executive Associate Athletic Director for External Communications, about how the program could engage the campus community in a fun and unique way, similar to last year’s themed game.
Given the ’90s comeback in pop culture, the group landed on a decade-inspired concept, with creative and colorful influence from classic hit TV sitcoms like Saved By The Bell, Friends, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, among others.
This year’s theme, which centers around the throwback threads, will also include in-stadium videos boards with a VHS-style look and feel, in addition to ’90s music played throughout the stadium. Ultimately, it will provide broader brand exposure for not only the football team but also the university.
Maybe, just maybe, the deeper sense of nostalgia, for at least some of the Chanticleer fans who remember the good ol’ decade, will translate into more of a home-field advantage for the 2-4 program as it squares off against its biggest rival.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗕𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗲 B̷e̷l̷l̷ (𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀)
More info ➡️ https://t.co/9m1gJKCApM https://t.co/wQ9vhwCq8Q
— Coastal Football (@CoastalFootball) <a href="https://x.com/CoastalFootball/status/2109781582034727373?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2026</a></blockquote>
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“There’s so many people that are relocating from other places in the Northeast and the Midwest that might not have had that traditional college football fandom,” Miller said. “And we’re trying to get them to come to the games, buy tickets, and really adopt us. This is one of those ways that we can do it.”
The senior administrator and his staff already already have their sights set on 2027 as the Chanticleers once again try to make a creative splash — even it may result in the Internet comparing the future idea to <a href="https://x.com/GlassOfBennett/status/2109810982734495928" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a popular fast food chain</a> or <a href="https://x.com/FBallAnalysisYT/status/2109836796360004005" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">an iconic disposable cup design</a>.
“We’ve thrown a couple of ideas around, one of them is pretty unique, but we’re still trying to figure out how to pull it off,” Miller said.
In other words, stay tuned.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Deadhead influence</h3>
Cal football joined Coastal Carolina with some nostalgia-themed uniform modifications of their own for the upcoming weekend.
This time, the Golden Bears dialed it all the way back to the ’60 and ’70s with a Grateful Dead-inspired helmet, which will be worn at home against Wake Forest on Saturday night for the first and only time ever.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
⚡️⚡️⚡️
#GoBears https://t.co/roJxVwmhul
— Cal Football (@CalFootball) <a href="https://x.com/CalFootball/status/2109813918466256951?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Cal Athletics Chief Marketing Officer Jason Hobar told me the team’s goal was to “honor the iconic Bay Area band’s deep local roots and historic connection to the UC Berkeley campus.”
“Since 1966, the legendary group has played more concerts on or near campus than at any other university in the United States, cementing Berkeley as a true home for their music,” he added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
BTS of our Cal Football x Grateful Dead shoot 🎬
#GoBears https://t.co/vVeR2ZGrL8
— Cal Football (@CalFootball) <a href="https://x.com/CalFootball/status/2110116510350078203?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2026</a></blockquote>
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If you’re a self-proclaimed Deadhead or Golden Bear fan, <a href="https://classtrip.co/collections/cal-berkeley-grateful-bears" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">now might be a good time to add a little tie-dye to your wardrobe</a>.
You can thank me later.

GratefulDeadHelmets

Grateful Dead Helmets And 1990s-Themed Unis: College Football Is In Its Throwback Era

cal golden bears

coastal carolina chanticleers

grateful dead

throwback uniforms

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