Jun 4, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; San Francisco Giants shortstop Willy Adames (2) reacts after tagging out Milwaukee Brewers shortstop David Hamilton (6) trying to steal second base in the sixth inning at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images | Benny Sieu-Imagn ImagesThe Milwaukee Brewers are set to visit Old Friend Willy Adames and the San Francisco Giants this week to begin a six-game West Coast road trip that will also take them to visit the Angels.Milwaukee, at 66-39, sits atop the NL Central after a solid 7-2 homestand featuring series wins over the Marlins, Mets, and Rockies. On the other side, the Giants, at 44-61, sit just ahead of the Rockies near the bottom of the NL West. Theyre 4-6 since the break, with series losses against the Mariners and Royals but a recent series win over the Angels.The Brewers injured list includes pitchers DL Hall (close to returning), Kyle Harrison (close to returning), Joel Kuhnel (close to returning), Rob Zastryzny (TBD), Brandon Woodruff (out for season), Brian Fitzpatrick (out for season), Quinn Priester (out for season), and Angel Zerpa (out for season). Outfielder Brandon Lockridge is also on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville, while fellow outfielder Sal Frelicks return is TBD as he was recently shut down from baseball activities.San Francisco is without pitchers Trevor McDonald (TBD), Joel Peguero (August), Matt Gage (August or September), Jos Butt (September or out for season), Hayden Birdsong (out for season), Randy Rodrguez (out for season), and Rowan Wick (out for season). Third baseman Matt Chapman could be back for this series after missing the entire month of July, while outfielders Harrison Bader, Jonah Cox, and Victor Bericoto are all shelved. Jung Hoo Lee is also considered day-to-day with elbow soreness.Jake Bauers leads the Brewer offense with 18 homers, while Brice Turang and William Contreras have both reached the 100-hit threshold with 103 hits apiece. Jackson Chourio, Garrett Mitchell, Cooper Pratt, Andrew Vaughn, and Joey Ortiz have also been key cogs in recent weeks, with Gary Snchez, Christian Yelich, Luis Lara, David Hamilton, and Blake Perkins rounding things out. As a team, the Brewers are hitting .255/.337/.402 (.739 OPS ranks sixth), with 98 homers (tied for 29th), 535 runs (fifth), and 104 steals (tied for fourth).Rafael Devers leads the Giants with 22 homers this season, with Casey Schmitt (21 homers) and Willy Adames (18 homers) right on his tail. Luis Arraez leads the Giants with 129 hits this year, as hes slashing .327/.363/.451 and figures to be a trade chip at the deadline. Lee, Bryce Eldridge, Heliot Ramos, Drew Cavanaugh, and Drew Gilbert are also regulars offensively, with Daniel Susac, Jesus Rodriguez, Grant McCray, and Christian Koss serving as depth. As a team, the Giants are hitting .253/.308/.417 (.725 OPS ranks 15th), with 118 homers (tied for 19th), 436 runs (25th), and 40 steals (28th).Abner Uribe and Trevor Megill lock things down at the backend of Milwaukees bullpen, with Aaron Ashby, Grant Anderson, and Chad Patrick also serving as valuable arms. Craig Yoho, Bryse Wilson, and Garrett Stallings round out the group as the B arms after Lance McCullers Jr. was DFAd over the weekend. As a staff, the Brewers have a 3.43 team ERA (second), including a 3.39 starter ERA (second) and a 3.47 bullpen ERA (fourth). Theyve struck out 1,027 batters (second) over 940 2/3 innings.Caleb Kilian leads the Giants bullpen with 42 appearances and eight saves this year, though hes blown three opportunities and has a 4.57 ERA. Erik Miller (2.97 ERA over 30 1/3 IP), JT Brubaker (2.74 ERA over 49 1/3 IP), Sam Hentges (2.66 ERA over 20 1/3 IP), and Keaton Winn (3.38 ERA over 34 2/3 IP) have been the best arms for San Franciscos bullpen, with former Brewer Adrian Houser (4.86 ERA over 87 IP), Dylan Smith (2.81 ERA over 16 IP), and Jason Foley (6.00 ERA over 3 IP) rounding things out. As a staff, the Giants have a 4.38 team ERA (22nd), including a 4.40 starter ERA (17th) and a 4.38 bullpen ERA (21st). Theyve struck out 797 batters (28th) over 925 2/3 innings.Probable PitchersMonday, July 27 @ 8:45 p.m.: RHP Brandon Sproat (3-5, 5.09 ERA, 5.21 FIP) vs. RHP Tyler Mahle (2-9, 5.31 ERA, 4.52 FIP)Sproat continues to be plagued by some command issues, as he issued four walks in his latest outing against the Mets. The potential is still there, though, as hes flashed some promising signs at times this season. For the year, hes 3-5 with a 5.09 ERA, 5.21 FIP, and 91 strikeouts over 86 2/3 innings across 19 appearances (17 starts). The former second-round pick has never faced the Giants in his career.Mahle, 31, is a familiar opponent from his five-plus seasons with the Reds. On a one-year deal with the Giants, hes struggled to a league-worst nine losses this year, with a 5.31 ERA, 4.52 FIP, and 77 strikeouts over 83 innings through 16 starts. The 10-year veteran took the loss in his last outing against the Royals, allowing three runs on five hits and a walk while striking out four over five-plus frames. Mahle has made nine career starts against Milwaukee (all while with the Reds), with a 1-3 record, 5.36 ERA, and 63 strikeouts over 45 1/3 innings.Tuesday, July 28 @ 8:45 p.m.: RHP Logan Henderson (4-1, 3.05 ERA, 2.98 FIP) vs. RHP Landen Roupp (7-8, 3.93 ERA, 3.31 FIP)Henderson has looked great in a pair of major league cameos over the last two seasons, with a 2.54 ERA and 2.99 FIP over his first 63 2/3 innings, striking out 80. Hes picked up four wins in his eight starts this year, striking out 47 across 38 1/3 innings. He went five innings against the Mets in his last appearance, earning the win as he allowed two runs on five hits and no walks, striking out nine on 80 pitches. This marks Hendersons first career appearance against San Francisco.Roupp, 27, is in his third MLB season, and while he has the worst ERA of his career at 3.93, he also has the best FIP of his career at 3.31. Through 20 starts, hes 7-8 with 113 strikeouts across 110 innings. He went six frames against the Royals in a no-decision his last time out, allowing two runs on four hits and no walks, striking out seven. Roupp has made five career appearances (three starts) against the Brewers, with a 7.16 ERA and 14 strikeouts over 16 1/3 innings. That includes a rough appearance back on June 1, when he allowed eight runs in four innings of work in a loss.Wednesday, July 29 @ 2:45 p.m.: LHP Shane Drohan (5-4, 3.51 ERA, 3.01 FIP) vs. RHP Logan Webb (5-7, 3.98 ERA, 3.50 FIP)Drohan has been a reliable arm in Milwaukees rotation since stepping into that role a couple of months ago, as hes taken on a similar role to Tobias Myers in 2024 and Chad Patrick in 2025. The rookie has spanned 82 innings with a 3.51 ERA, 3.01 FIP, and 82 strikeouts. Hes coming off a bit of a rough start, though, as he went six innings but allowed five runs on six hits and a pair of walks, striking out six in a loss. Drohan pitched against the Giants back on June 1, going four innings with two runs allowed on four hits and two walks, striking out five in a no-decision.Webb, 29, is already in his eighth major league season. After a great month of June that saw him win NL Pitcher of the Month (0.71 ERA, 0.605 WHIP, and 29 K over 38 IP), hes had a bit of a rough July. Through four starts this month, hes 0-2 with 19 runs allowed over 22 2/3 innings (7.54 ERA), striking out just 13. Webb has been dominant against Milwaukee for his career, with a 5-0 record, 1.79 ERA, and 54 strikeouts over 50 1/3 innings across eight starts. That includes seven one-hit innings back in June, when he struck out four en route to a win.How to Watch & ListenMonday, July 27: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)Tuesday, July 28: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)Wednesday, July 29: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)PredictionThe Brewers once again are the superior team in this matchup, but Roupp and Webb are both tough pitchers. Still, give me the Brewers to eke out two of three.

NEW YORK (AP) Freddy Peralta and the last-place New York Mets never thought they would reach the final week of July well out of playoff contention, with the front office preparing to sell off assets at the trade deadline.An offseason makeover that went bust after last years second-half collapse has the Mets 18 games under .500 with eight days remaining before the Aug. 3 deadline, and Peralta is among those expected to get moved to a postseason contender.With his future uncertain, the right-hander held the Los Angeles Dodgers to three runs (two earned) and six hits while throwing 93 pitches in four innings Sunday before New York rallied with three-run homers by Tyrone Taylor and Marcus Semien in an 8-3 victory.It could end up being Peraltas last start for the Mets.I cant hide that, Peralta said. I know it probably is, but I have to focus and keep giving the best of myself and if it happens, it happens. Im just thankful and grateful to be part of this organization. I know that so far I let them down. I havent (done) what I was supposed to do, but Im grateful to be here.Peralta can become a free agent after the season. The two-time All-Star was acquired from Milwaukee in January for youngsters Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat as the Mets gave up a pair of players rated among the games top 100 prospects in the anticipation Peralta would be the frontline starter they needed.Instead, he is 5-9 with a 4.99 ERA in 22 starts and has failed to complete five innings in four of his past five outings. He was 5-5 with a 3.90 ERA after beating Atlanta 8-1 on June 14 but is 0-4 with a 7.93 ERA in his last seven starts, including a June 20 dud when he allowed 10 runs and 10 hits over 2 2/3 innings at Philadelphia.I just come here and try my best every day to stay healthy and give my best every five days, Peralta said. I know it hasnt been that way. We havent done what we expected to in general. I know that I can be way better than this. I still believe in myself. I am born to be a winner, not a loser, and I think that I have a lot in me, a lot to show. And I know that it can change because I still have time to make a change, to make it better.Before joining the Mets during an offseason when they also added Luis Robert Jr. and Semien in trades and signed Bo Bichette to a $126 million, three-year contract, Peralta went 17-6 with a 2.70 ERA in 33 starts last season. He led the National League in wins, finished fifth in Cy Young Award voting and helped the Brewers win their third straight NL Central crownI trust him because he is going to catch his rhythm and go dominate five or six innings, which is all youre ever looking for from a starter in a postseason situation, Mets interim manager Andy Green said. So hes a guy that has a track record, has the experience, has the stuff. It is going to continue to trend back towards what hes always been historically.Taylor, who played with Peralta in Milwaukee before joining the Mets in a December 2023 trade, also can become a free agent this fall and could be making himself more attractive to contenders with his current hot streak.Taylors homer was his fifth in 33 at-bats since returning from a strained right hip. Since being activated, the backup outfielder is hitting .382 with a 1.403 OPS, the highest in the big leagues since June 28 among players with at least 30 plate appearances.Im just bracing for each moment here, said Taylor, who is batting .237 overall with eight homers and 23 RBIs. Im trying to do my best to help the team win here. Im not thinking anything (about) that at all besides just being present.

Back during the 1965 season, the Dallas Cowboys finished as the runner-up in the Western Conference with a 7-7 record. This set up a date with their nemesis, the Baltimore Colts, in what the NFL called the Playoff Bowl a third-place match much like the World Cup format. On January 9, 1966, then Colts head coach Don Shula defeated Tom Landry's Cowboys 35-3 yet years later, the league would rescind that win from Shula as well as his win against the Eagles in the same game a year later. Shula finished his career with 347 total wins (328 regular-season wins) when his win total should be at 349.The NFL controversy may have been lost in time but the World Cup shed light on the situation. France played England in their version of a third-place game and although France's star player Kylian Mbapp benefited from the additional stats, his view of the consultation game speaks volumes."I would have preferred not to be the top scorer in history," Mbappe told FOX Sports in French, "and play in the match tomorrow." via FOX SportsCritics of the current NFL record-keeping point to a simple inconsistency: if the games were played, counted in the standings at the time, and required full effort from players and coaches, why shouldn't they be included? On the final page of the 1965 Cowboys media guide, the Playoff Bowl shows the contest was scheduled just like every other game that season. That grey area is where the controversy lives. On the other side, traditionalists argue the Playoff Bowl lacked true championship stakes and was often viewed as a consolation game even derided by some figures of the era. Because of that perception, the NFL has continued to exclude those results from official postseason and coaching records. While longtime Patriots coach Bill Belichick is closet with 333 combined wins, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid (307) has a chance to surpass the legendary Shula with a few more good years. Landry sits in fifth-place with 270 combined victories. Also of note, although nearly shut out, any statistics from players such as Cowboys quarterback Don Meredith, Hall-of-Fame defensive lineman Bob Lilly, and running back Don Perkins were wiped away from the official books. For Cowboys fans, the 1965 loss represents an early chapter in the franchise's climb towards relevance. For historians, it represents something complicated. For Don Shula, it leaves behind a lingering question linked to a Cowboys loss over 60 years ago and counting. You can follow Angel on X@ArmyChiefW3and be sure to followCowboys Wire on Facebookto join in on the conversation with fellow fans!This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys loss from the 60's can change history thanks to the World Cup

Midfielder suffers transfer blow in wake of Real Madrid exitEarlier in the summer, Real Madrid reached a mutual contract agreement with midfielder Dani Ceballos. The 29-year-old barely featured during the second half of last season after falling out with Alvaro Arbeloa, and after Jose Mourinho also made it clear that hes not in his plans, the decision was made for him to leave with immediate effect.Since then, the search for a new club has been ongoing for Ceballos. Staying in La Liga has looked likely given that interest has been shown in his services by Atletico Madrid and Real Betis, although clubs in Europe have also been keeping tabs on his situation one of them being Dutch giants Ajax.Prior to leaving Real Madrid, Ajax were linked with a move for Ceballos, with new head coach Michel Sanchez a fan of the midfielder. However, Marca have now reported that their interest has come to an end after failing to secure an agreement on personal terms.According to the report, Ceballos always had doubts about making the move to Amsterdam. There was a strong desire from Ajax to sign him, but after weeks of negotiations, the decision has been made to move on to other targets.Ceballos expected to return home in coming weeksThe reason for Ceballos unwillingness to move to Ajax is due to his strong desire to return to Betis, his boyhood club. Real Madrid signed him from the Andalusians nine years ago, and over the last 24 months, numerous reports have emerged regarding his plans to eventually end up back at Los Verdiblancos when his Los Blancos spell came to an end.Betis are working on Ceballos signing, although they have yet to reach an agreement on personal terms themselves. For now, they are not prioritising a deal for the midfielder, although it would be no surprise if he ended up at La Cartuja in the coming weeks.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass Will Campbell had an interesting summer, spending some time with veteran offensive linemen in an effort to get better. And the second-year left tackle told reporters on Sunday that he gained "a ton of knowledge" from players including Bills offensive tackle Dion Dawkins, Buccaneers offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs, Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson, as well as the 2026 Worlds Strongest Man winner Mitchell Hooper.Cambell said he was there to absorb as much information as possible. I think itd be kind of dumb not to when youre around Lane Johnson and Tristan Wirfs and Dion Dawkins, if they say something, Campbell told reporters on Sunday. Theyve all played almost 10 years plus, and all of them are All-Pro at some point. So yeah, I mean, they know what theyre talking about.And with that, one person who he truly bonded with is Dawkins, which is ironic considering he plays for the Patriots' top division rival. "A guy that I didnt really know before I got out there, but I definitely feel like I can reach out to him if I needed to is Dion Dawkins, Campbell explained I had never met him before. I had met with Wirfs and Id known Lane a little bit, but Dion was probably a guy I didnt know, and we got to know each other a little bit... Hes done it at a high level for a long time in this league and plays for a good team, and just whatever he can teach me that might translate to my game from his, Ill take it.Along with this special meet-up, he also did a training session in Dallas with Chargers offensive tackle Rashawn Slater and Jets offensive tackle Armand Membou. Follow Patriots Wire onTwitterandFacebook.This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Will Campbell details summer spent learning from NFL All-Pro tackles

The Dallas Cowboys thought they were solving their run defense problem with last summer's addition of Kenny Clark. Its why they insisted on including him in the trade that sent away Micah Parsons, and its why they chose to restructure and retain him this year, despite his lackluster performance in Year 1 in Dallas.Here in the Christian Parker era, faith in Clarks ability continues. When Dallas sent Osa Odighizuwa off in a trade this offseason, Parker essentially hitched his wagon to the 30-year-old war horse. Together with Quinnen Williams, the Cowboys will boast one of the better defensive tackle duos in the NFL. Theyll also have one of the costliest.Even with a restructured contract that sends a significant chunk of change into the void years, Clark is going to cost the Cowboys over $12 million in cap space this season. Thats a lot of money in any capacity, but its especially costly if asked to play a role that underutilizes certain skills.Will the Cowboys steal from Peter to pay Paul?How Parker deploys certain players in his defense has been a topic of conversation throughout the offseason. We know itll be a 3-4 base with some 4-3 concepts. We know itll be a nickel-heavy look with gratuitous use of the safety position. We expect big guys will play gap-and-a-half while the edge players provide most of pass-rush. We dont know to what extent any of this will happen, how the rotations will be built, or specifically what Clark will be doing on any given play.Clark, 6-foot-3, 314 pounds, has the proven ability to play anywhere on the defensive line. Hes been at the nose, 1-tech, 3-tech, 4i and 5-tech throughout his career. The further he moves outside the more hes freed up to use his natural playmaking ability. The further he moves inside the less those traits matter. Hence the $12.7M conundrum for Dallas.Expensive space fillerAt such a premium price (remember, those deferred dollars mean hes considerably more than his 2026 salary indicates), asking him to play 0 or 1 tech is a hefty price to pay at one of the blue-collarist positions in the game. Players with Clarks speed and quickness are rarely asked to be the trashcan full of dirt in the middle.Once upon a time, Clark could have been regarded as the best nose tackle in football. His ability to penetrate the backfield and move laterally in run support was as evident as his ability to post up and occupy space. But around 2024, those abilities began to fade, and Clark has since struggled to do it all like he once did.Unless the 10-year veteran suddenly finds the fountain of youth under Parker, his best days are probably behind him, and the Cowboys will have to pick their poison. If the Cowboys pick nose tackle, it means Clark could very well be the NFLs most expensive one-dimensional run stopper. If they chose a 4i or 5 tech defensive end, theyd be prioritizing his playmaking ability.Are alternatives even viable?Fellow defensive tackle Otito Ogbonnia has been making his case on the Cowboys defensive line but not at the nose tackle spot. Despite having more weight than Williams or Clark, he mentioned in an interview with Blogging the Boys 4i for me plays really well into my skillset. He also provided insight into where Clark might fit best:Yeah, with how this defense is built, we have Kenny (Clark) who has a lot of experience at nose, obviously Quinnen (Williams) is a game wrecker at 3-technique. Kennys been one of the best true nose tackles for a long time. I think going back to that true nose, true shade position, I think thats where he actually feels the most comfortable.What Ogbonnia seems to be lobbying for is for Clark to play the middle in a 3-4, with Ogbonnia and Williams flanking him outside. Its not a surprising plea since nose tackle can be as brutal as it is thankless. Playing 4i and 5 at least open up the opportunity for plays, which would behoove Ogbonnia because his career stat sheet is extremely sparse and he becomes a free agent after the 2026 season.Clark is still a playmakerWhile Clark might have slipped overall, hes still a darn good football player. He can pursue in space, meaning he can chase plays outside. Hes also effective against the double team. Based on Next Gen Stats, Clark saw double-teams on 47.8% of his plays last season. His tackle rate dropped to a career low but as Nick Eatman pointed out recently at DallasCowboys.com, he still finished third on the team in pressures.It stands to reason, shifting to a 3-4 in 2026 and asking him to play nose tackle would give rise to that double team rate and steal valuable opportunities to pressure the backfield. The conundrumTheres little question Clark has the ability to play the nose tackle effectively or even that Clark can do so better than someone like Jay Toia or Ogbonnia, but at what cost? Its not just that Clark costs over $10M more than the other two, its that his ability to be a playmaker in space may not be able to be replaced.In 4-3 looks like nickel, its likely to be heavy usage of Clark at 1-tech, Williams at 3-tech and then some combination of Rashan Gary and Donovan Ezeiruaku outside at defensive end. Thats an ideal setup. But3-4 looks arent so predictable. Ogbonnia wants Clark inside because that gives him a chance to play 4i or 5 tech, but Ogbonnia cant do what Clark can do outside; or at least we havent seen it yet.Clark presents the Cowboys a conundrum because its not clear what positions provide his maximum returns. Its also unclear what other players like Ogbonnia or LT Overton can do in roles like 4i and 5 tech. Training camp is going to shed a lot of light on the subject and hopefully solve the conundrum facing the franchise.You can follow Reid on X@ReidDHansonand be sure to followCowboys Wire on Facebookto join in on the conversation with fellow fans!This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Christian Parker, Kenny Clark and the Cowboys $12.7M conundrum

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Todd Gilliland reached the final round of NASCAR's second In-Season Challenge by taking advantage of all the right breaks.Daniel Suarez suffered an early tire problem in Round 1 at Sonoma and finished 31st. Carson Hocevar crashed early at Chicago in Round 2. Alex Bowman finished two laps behind the leaders at Atlanta in Round 3, then made a pit lane mistake at North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, that helped eliminate Chase Elliott and put Gilliland in Sunday's finale at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.So, naturally, the self-described underdog persevered again. He sifted his way through traffic, avoided trouble and took advantage of Ryan Blaney's late crash to collect the $1 million prize, earning the right to suddenly be called a champion."It was a tough day for us to be honest with you, he said after finishing 24th, two spots ahead of Blaney to claim the title. But I thought that was kind of our whole M.O. right through this whole thing. We were just barely scraping by and even today, it definitely took a little bit of bad luck clearly from the (No.) 12 (Blaney).While most NASCAR fans were watching Corey Heim speed past team co-owner Denny Hamlin on a late restart and into history with his first Brickyard 400 victory, Gilliland and Blaney continued to battle for the race inside the race with Gilliland seemingly one of the most unlikely winners in the challenge's field.The 26-year-old driver from Front Row Motorsports began the five-round, single-elimination tournament seeded 25th and a resume that appeared less than daunting.In five Cup seasons, he has never won a race or a pole and he has produced just 17 top-10 finishes in 164 career starts. So winning seemed almost unfathomable."Weve caught a lot of lucky breaks. Weve barely been skating by all these rounds, Gilliland said Friday. But now that were here, yeah, it feels a bit more real and you never know, right? Four hundred miles, anything can happen. So were just going to go give our best effort and try not to think about what it would be like if we won.The weekend sure didn't start well for Gilliland, who qualified 36th 23 spots behind Blaney. And aside from a pit cycle that helped him finish second in Sunday's second stage, Gilliland always seemed to be in Blaney's rearview mirror, until destiny intervened with 41 laps to go.This time, Blaney appeared to be perfectly positioned for a 12th consecutive top-11 finish and claiming one of the titles team owner Roger Penske hasn't held. That's when John Hunter Nemechek tapped Blaney's car, sending him hard into the wall, causing a nine-car crash that damaged the right side of Blaney's car.That 42 guy, it's every week with him," Gilliland radioed in, referring to Nemechek.Blaneys crew members scrambled to get the No. 12 Ford back on the track and Blaney methodically got his car within striking distance of Gilliland.But Gilliland, who luckily managed to navigate his way cleanly through the debris and cars involved in the crash, stayed in front and barely finished ahead of Blaney to be crowned champion.I think when you're the 25th seed, looking up at that mountain of We have beat this guy or this guy, it seems like a very tall task," Gilliland said. So yeah, maybe for myself, I never really thought this was a realistic goal. But when you get a little closer, you get past one round, two rounds and then you're in the final eight, final four and then you're in the in the finale, it ramps up a lot. So, yeah, it's cool, and I think you kind of saw that with my team.___AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/apf-AutoRacing

Serie D: Goiatuba, Gama, ABC, Nacional, CSA & ASA in QFsJoy and celebration among Gama players after confirming qualification for the quarterfinals, in a thrilling showdown with Amrica-RNCredits: Disclosure / GamaBrazils Srie D championship learned this weekend which eight teams will fight for promotion and the competition title. Goiatuba, Gama, ABC, Nacional, So Jos, Uberlndia, CSA and ASA advanced to the fifth round, which corresponds to the quarterfinals.In three of the matchups, the spot was decided on penalties. That was how Nacional got past Iguatu on Saturday after a 1-1 draw at Moreno. Since the first leg had ended with the same scoreline, the Amazonas side secured qualification with a 5-4 win in the penalty shootout.Also on Saturday, at Amigo, Treze beat So Jos 1-0. On aggregate, the tie ended 2-2. In the shootout, So Jos won 3-0. Then on Sunday, at Bezerro, Gama defeated Amrica-RN 3-2 and took the contest to penalties in the first leg in Natal, Amrica had won 1-0. In the shootout, Gama won 4-3.After an excellent campaign up to that point, Portuguesa-SP beat Uberlndia 1-0 on Saturday at Canind, but still fell short against the Minas Gerais side, which had won 2-0 last week in Uberlndia.The Alagoas duo of CSA and ASA also impressed and advanced on Sunday. ASA, which had already beaten Cianorte 1-0 away from home, thrashed its opponent 5-1 in Arapiraca. CSA, meanwhile, beat So Luiz 2-1 at Rei Pel after the first leg had ended in a 0-0 draw in Rio Grande do Sul.Another qualification that had already been all but decided in the first leg was also confirmed: Goiatubas, over Ferrovirio. In the opening clash, the Gois side had beaten the Cear team 3-0 at Divino. This Sunday, it picked up another win, beating Ferrovirio 2-1 in Fortaleza.Finally, also on Sunday, ABC thrashed Luverdense 4-1 at Arena das Dunas and joined the others in the quarterfinals. The week before, with Luverdense as the home side, the two had drawn 0-0.Check out the fifth-round matchups:So Jos vs. GamaGoiatuba vs. ASANacional vs. ABCUberlndia vs. CSAThis article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in here.

A pair of Spartans have been named to the preseason All-Big Ten teams released by The Athletic.The college football season is right around the corner, which means preseason awards and honors are being handed out. That included The Athletic's preseason All-Big Ten teams. Two Spartans were named to The Athletic's All-Big Ten teams -- return specialist Kenneth Williams Jr. and offensive lineman Trent Fraley.Williams was selected to the second team, while Fraley was a third team selection. Both are entering their first season with the Spartans after transferring into the program this past season.Williams comes to Michigan State from Nebraska, where he built up a name for himself in the return game. He is expected to step in and make an instant impact for the Spartans in special teams.Fraley comes from FCS powerhouse North Dakota State. He was one of the Spartans' top wins in the transfer portal market and will start as an interior offensive lineman this fall.Click on the post below to see the complete All-Big Ten teams from The Athletic:Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin edges out Oregons Dante Moore, USCs Jayden Maiava and Washingtons Demond Williams Jr. for preseason All-Big Ten honors in The Athletics analysis.See the complete first, second and third teams here: https://t.co/jeCWgmNDTDpic.twitter.com/x5U6HnicYy The Athletic (@TheAthletic) July 26, 2026Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWireon X (formerly Twitter) and like our page onFacebookto follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: Pair of Spartans named to preseason All-Big Ten teams

RENTON, Wash. (AP) Seattle Seahawks All-Pro wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba has never cared where he lines up at the line of scrimmage.Whether its in the slot or the outside, or as the No. 1 or No. 2, he wants to continue to be multifaceted like the receivers he grew up watching.I always watched the ABs (Antonio Brown), the Dez Bryants and the Larry Fitzgeralds, and those guys really line up everywhere, Smith-Njigba said Sunday. So, I just wanted to be versatile to where I can line up literally anywhere, whatever the coach needs.You know, its easy to get the ball in my hands and turn up.Smith-Njigba definitely turned up his 2025 campaign and was a main cog to help the Seahawks capture their second Super Bowl in franchise history with a 29-13 triumph over the New England Patriots.The AP Offensive Player of the Year set team records for receiving yards with 1,793 and receptions with 119 last season. He was a unanimous All-Pro selection, and had nine 100-yard receiving games during the regular season.Seattle rewarded him with a four-year, $168.6 million extension this past offseason that averages $42.15 million annually and includes more than $120 million in guaranteed money.But Smith-Njigba, 24, and Seattle are ready to move on after last seasons success, even if they have retained much of the roster.We want to create a new story with this upcoming season, Smith-Njigba said. And because its different, we do have different guys, we got different people in the building, so its going to be a unique story and a unique challenge different from last year. So, were excited to take it on.He also wants to be a new version of himself.I want yall to see different levels, almost a different player out there, and just kind of an upgraded version, Smith-Njigba said. I always say I can get better in all areas.Whats different, though, for Smith-Njigba this upcoming season is whos calling plays on offense.Seattle hired former San Francisco 49ers tight ends coach and run game coordinator Brian Fleury as their offensive coordinator, following Klint Kubiaks departure to become the Las Vegas Raiders head coach.In his four NFL seasons with Seattle, Smith-Njigba has never had the same offensive coordinator for consecutive seasons.This will be Fleurys first opportunity in the NFL to call plays.I love new stuff and new perspectives, Smith-Njigba said. As a player, its your chance to grow. And for me, I feel like whatever the coach asks, I can do it. And so its kind of cool just having a different mindset, a different coach.Seattle has one of the deepest receiver rooms in the NFL alongside Smith-Njigba with Cooper Kupp and last seasons midseason acquisition Rashid Shaheed, who signed a three-year, $51 million contract during the offseason. Second-year receiver Tory Horton is also healthy at training camp after a shin injury ended last season prematurely. He scored six touchdowns in eight games.Smith-Njigba believes the talent and versatility of the receiver room brings out the best in him.Our receivers can play different positions, which allows me to line up anywhere on the field as well, he said. I try to make everything look the same. Im not the tallest receiver, so I can sell and make everything kind of look the same. And I think inside and outside, thats kind of hard to detect and to cover.And a mutual feeling permeated throughout the roster is putting last season's success behind them. The Super Bowl was great. You know, love to have it, but at the end of the day, we got to brush that off to the side, Smith-Njigba said. ___AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl