Category: Soccer

What to Watch This Weekend: October Kings and Contact Sports: Dodgers, Jays, and Everyone Else Fighting for Oxygen

What to Watch This Weekend: October Kings and Contact Sports: Dodgers, Jays, and Everyone Else Fighting for Oxygen

It’s one of those weekends that looks like the remote’s about to sprain a thumb. We’ve got the World Series, the NBA back in full swing, and a football slate that runs wall-to-wall with a side of chaos. F1 rolls through Mexico City, NASCAR bangs fenders in Martinsville, and there’s just enough combat and global flair to keep you from pretending you’ll get anything productive done.

MLB — World Series (Dodgers vs Blue Jays)

  • Game 1 — Fri 8:00 PM ET (FOX)
  • Game 2 — Sat 8:00 PM ET (FOX)

Toronto’s trying to prove they belong with baseball’s heavyweights; Los Angeles is looking to repeat

NBA — Opening Weekend Highlights

  • Fri: Celtics at Knicks — 7:30 PM ET (Prime Video)
    A great NBA rivalry with one of the favorites in the East taking on the Celtics looking to compete without Tatum.
  • Fri: Warriors at Trail Blazers — 10:00 PM ET (NBA TV)
    Portland’s in post-scandal mode; Golden State’s in perpetual drama mode.
  • Sat: Suns at Nuggets — 9:00 PM ET (League Pass)
    Denver looks the part; Phoenix looks like a team still learning each other’s names.
  • Sun: Bucks at Cavaliers — 6:00 PM ET (NBA TV)
    Milwaukee’s size, Cleveland’s speed—whoever blinks first loses.

NFL — Week 8 Headliners

  • Bills at Panthers — Sun 1:00 PM ET (FOX)
    Buffalo’s firepower meets Carolina who are a surprising team over .500.
  • Cowboys at Broncos — Sun 4:25 PM ET (CBS)
    Denver’s altitude vs. Dallas’ attitude; something’s getting gassed.
  • Packers at Steelers — Sun 8:20 PM ET (NBC / Peacock)
    Classic uniforms, classic bruises—bring an ice pack.

NHL — Saturday Showcase

  • Avalanche at Bruins — Sat 3:00 PM ET (ESPN+)
    Two Cup contenders in October form, which means both already look terrifying.
  • Golden Knights at Panthers — Sat 6:00 PM ET (ESPN+)
    A pair of Stanley Cup hopefuls, including one looking to repeat.

College Football — Rivalries & Ranked Clashes

  • Ole Miss at Oklahoma — 12:00 PM ET (ABC)
    Points everywhere. Defenses optional.
  • Missouri at Vanderbilt — 3:30 PM ET (ESPN)
    Vandy looking like a genuine football school suddenly.
  • Illinois at Washington — 3:30 PM ET (BTN)
    Two teams who have had some ups and downs, need this one big.
  • Texas A&M at LSU — 7:30 PM ET (ABC)
    Baton Rouge at night—equal parts football and exorcism.
  • Michigan at Michigan State — 7:30 PM ET (NBC / Peacock)
    Hate runs deep, records don’t matter, neighbors don’t speak.
  • Houston at Arizona State — 8:00 PM ET (ESPN)
    Expect points and coaches who age a decade by halftime.

NASCAR — Martinsville Playoff Weekend

  • Truck Series (“Slim Jim 200”) — Fri 6:00 PM ET (FS1)
  • Xfinity (“IAA & Ritchie Bros 250”) — Sat 7:30 PM ET (The CW)
  • Cup (“Xfinity 500”) — Sun 2:00 PM ET (NBC / Peacock)

The paperclip where patience dies and bumpers retire early.

F1 — Mexico City Grand Prix

  • FP1 — Fri 2:30 PM (ESPNU)
  • FP2 — Fri 5:55 PM (ESPNEWS)
  • FP3 — Sat 1:25 PM (ESPNEWS)
  • Qualifying — Sat 5:00 PM (ESPN2)
  • Race — Sun 4:00 PM (ESPN)

No Perez this year to soak up the cheers, but the Foro Sol grandstand will still sound like a jet engine. Altitude kills grip and lap times—and usually someone’s strategy.

Combat Sports — Day Violence, Night Violence

UFC 321 — Abu Dhabi

  • Prelims: Sat 10:00 AM ET (ESPN+)
  • Main Card: Sat 2:00 PM ET (ESPN+ PPV)
    Aspinall vs Gane for the heavyweight title—lunch with left hooks.

Boxing — Joseph Parker vs Fabio Wardley

  • Undercard: Sat 1:30 PM ET (DAZN PPV)
  • Main Event: ~5:30 PM ET
    London heavyweights with bad intentions and worse defense.

Soccer — World and Club Action

Women’s U-17 World Cup (Morocco) — Group stage through the weekend on FOX Sports platforms and FIFA+.

Men’s Club Highlights

  • Fri: Inter Miami vs Nashville SC — 7:30 PM ET (MLS Season Pass)
  • Sat: Chelsea vs Sunderland, Napoli vs Inter Milan (Paramount+), Lens vs Marseille (beIN)
  • Sun: Real Madrid vs Barcelona — El Clásico (ESPN)

🧠 The Stain Remote Plan

Friday: World Series G1 → Celtics-Knicks → Warriors-Blazers → Martinsville Trucks if sleep is overrated.
Saturday: Ole Miss-OU brunch → F1 qualifying → UFC 321 main card → World Series G2 → Xfinity night race.
Sunday: Mexico City GP → Martinsville Cup race → NFL double (Cowboys-Broncos, Packers-Steelers) → El Clásico cool-down.

Your couch is the MVP.

What to Watch This Weekend: NFL Week 8, F1 in Austin, MLB Playoffs, and a Regatta of Pumpkins

What to Watch This Weekend: NFL Week 8, F1 in Austin, MLB Playoffs, and a Regatta of Pumpkins

If you thought last weekend was busy, this one’s an all-you-can-eat buffet of sports chaos. We’ve got international football that starts before your coffee, college rivalries that spill into the night, playoff baseball holding America hostage, and an F1 sprint weekend deep in the heart of Texas.

Oh — and if none of that moves the needle, there’s a regatta featuring people racing in hollowed-out pumpkins. Let’s dive in.

NFL — Week 8
  • Rams vs Jaguars (London, Wembley) — Sunday 9:30 AM ET, NFL Network
    The NFL international games roll on. Stafford vs. Lawrence with tea and scones.
  • Patriots at Titans — Sunday 1:00 PM ET, CBS
    Mike Vrabel faces his old team, and Tennesse plays its first game since firing his replacement. You can practically smell the awkward.
  • Eagles at Vikings — Sunday 1:00 PM ET, FOX
    Two of the best receiving duos in the NFL, if Hurts decides to use his receivers again.
  • Colts at Chargers — Sunday 4:05 PM ET, CBS
    Two teams with plenty of talent, let’s just hope nobody on the Colts has to go to the hospital pregame.
  • Falcons at 49ers — Sunday 4:25 PM ET, FOX
    Motion on motion on motion. Somewhere, an analytics intern is having a breakdown.
  • Monday Night Football Doubleheader — 7:00 PM ET (Buccaneers @ Lions, ABC) and 10:00 PM ET (Texans @ Seahawks, ESPN)
    Baker and Dan Campbell sure to bring plenty of entertainment. Texans still trying to figure out who they are while Darnold is looking legit in the Pacific Northwest.
College Football — Rivalries and Ranked Drama
  • Louisville at Miami (FL) — Friday 7:30 PM ET, ESPN
    Friday-night humidity meets ACC volatility.
  • LSU at Vanderbilt — Saturday 12:00 PM ET, ESPN
    Vandy is no longer the SEC dormat of the past, this is no cakewalk for LSU.
  • Ole Miss at Georgia — Saturday 3:30 PM ET, CBS
    Rebels air raid vs. Bulldogs brick wall.
  • Tennessee at Alabama — Saturday 7:30 PM ET, ABC
    The Third Saturday in October: cigars, grudges, and one coach crying in the tunnel.
  • USC at Notre Dame — Saturday 7:30 PM ET, NBC/Peacock
    Not Catholics vs. Convicts, but the tension’s familiar.
  • Utah at BYU (Holy War) — Saturday 10:15 PM ET, FOX
    You’ll be watching at midnight. Don’t lie.
MLB Postseason — One Ticket to Toronto, One to L.A.

Friday, Oct 17

  • Blue Jays @ Mariners — Game 5 (ALCS) — 6:08 PM ET, FS1
  • Brewers @ Dodgers — Game 4 (NLCS) — 8:38 PM ET, TBS/truTV/Max

Saturday, Oct 18 — Game 5 Brewers–Dodgers (if necessary)

Sunday, Oct 19

  • Blue Jays vs. Mariners — Game 6 (ALCS) — 6:03 PM ET, FS1

October baseball — because your blood pressure wasn’t high enough already.

NHL — Early-Season Showdown
  • Bruins vs Avalanche — Saturday 8:00 PM ET, ABC/ESPN+
    Two heavyweights skating like it’s April already. Someone’s goalie gets embarrassed.
Soccer — Cups, Classics, and Chaos
  • U-20 World Cup: Third Place — Colombia vs France — Saturday 2:00 PM ET, FS2
  • *Final — Argentina vs Morocco — Sunday 4:00 PM ET, FS2
  • Bundesliga: Bayern Munich vs Borussia Dortmund — Saturday 12:30 PM ET, ESPN+
  • Premier League: Liverpool vs Manchester United — Sunday 11:30 AM ET, NBC/Peacock
Racing — Two Flavors of Mayhem
NASCAR Playoffs — Talladega Superspeedway

Sunday 2:00 PM ET, NBC/USA Network
Restrictor-plate roulette: half the field finishes upside down, the other half finishes furious.

Formula 1 — United States Grand Prix (COTA, Austin)

Sprint Weekend Schedule (ET):

  • Friday: Practice 1 (1:30 PM, ESPN2), Sprint Quali (5:30 PM, ESPN)
  • Saturday: Sprint Race (1:00 PM, ESPN), Grand Prix Qualifying (5:00 PM, ESPN/ABC)
  • Sunday: Grand Prix (3:00 PM, ABC)

McLaren’s dominance, Ferrari’s optimism, Mercedes’ confusion — all served with brisket.

Wildcard Window — West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta (Tualatin, Oregon)

Sunday, Oct 19 — Heats at 3:00 PM & 5:00 PM ET
Competitors climb into 1,000-pound pumpkins and paddle across the lake in costume.
Part race, part fever dream, all glory

The Stain Viewing Plan

Friday: Louisville–Miami, then Game 5 in Seattle.
Saturday: Ole Miss–Georgia, F1 Sprint, and nighttime chaos in South Bend and Tuscaloosa.
Sunday: London football breakfast → Talladega mayhem → F1 COTA → MLB ALCS → Pumpkin boats.
Your remote deserves hazard pay.

What to Watch this Weekend: Football at Breakfast, Baseball for Dinner, and Beer for the Weight of Your Wife

What to Watch this Weekend: Football at Breakfast, Baseball for Dinner, and Beer for the Weight of Your Wife

We’re deep into October, that stretch where every screen in your house wants attention and the remote is one bad decision from becoming a weapon. NFL mornings in London, college football heat, playoff baseball drama, NASCAR in Vegas, and yes—a weekend where people literally carry their spouses for beer while others float peacefully over Albuquerque. Balance, baby.

NFL — Sunday Stack + MNF Double Shot

  • Broncos vs Jets (London, Tottenham) — Sun 9:30 AM ET, NFL Network. Brunch football and jet lag—London’s favorite export.
  • Seahawks at Jaguars — Sun 1:00 PM ET, FOX. Sunshine, humidity, and enough fourth-quarter weirdness to melt fantasy lineups.
  • 49ers at Buccaneers — Sun 4:25 PM ET, CBS. West Coast grit meets Florida man energy.
  • Lions at Chiefs (SNF) — Sun 8:20 PM ET, NBC/Peacock. Arrowhead after dark. Loud enough to make your ribs vibrate.
  • MNF Doubleheader — Mon 7:15 PM ET (ESPN) & 8:15 PM ET (ABC). Two helpings for your Monday misery.

College Football — Ranked vs Ranked & Rivalry Flavor (Sat)

  • No. 1 Ohio State @ No. 17 Illinois — 12:00 PM ET, FOX. Trap-game vibes in Champaign.
  • No. 8 Alabama @ No. 14 Missouri — 12:00 PM ET, ABC. The Tide rolls into Columbia needing points and answers.
  • No. 7 Indiana @ No. 3 Oregon — 3:30 PM ET, CBS/Paramount+. Ducks at home with two of the top QBs in college football.
  • Texas vs Oklahoma (Red River Rivalry, Dallas) — 3:30 PM ET, ABC. Hate in the Cotton Bowl, as it should be.

MLB Postseason — Win or Go Home

  • Friday (Oct 10) — Tigers @ Mariners, Game 5 (ALDS) — TBS/truTV/Max. Winner gets Toronto on Sunday in the ALCS opener.
  • Saturday (Oct 11) — Cubs @ Brewers, Game 5 (NLDS) — FOX/FS1. Winner heads west to face the Dodgers in the NLCS.
  • Sunday (Oct 12) — ALCS Game 1: Blue Jays vs Tigers/Mariners Winner, Rogers Centre.

October baseball—where heart rates go to die.

NHL — Opening Weekend

First full weekend of the new season. ESPN, TNT, and ESPN+ all carry national windows, but every fan base thinks their team’s goalie looks sharper than last year. (He doesn’t. No one’s does.)

NASCAR Playoffs — Viva Las Vegas (Round of 8 Opener)

  • Xfinity: Focused Health 302 — Sat 7:30 PM ET, The CW. Desert night race.
  • Cup: South Point 400 — Sun 5:30 PM ET, USA Network. Eight drivers, one ticket to Phoenix.

Soccer — U-20 World Cup + Senior Action

  • U-20 World Cup Quarterfinal: USA vs Morocco — Sun 4:00 PM ET, FS2. The Americans are alive and kicking into the quarters.
  • USMNT vs Ecuador (Friendly, Austin) — Fri 8:30 PM ET, TNT/truTV/Peacock/Universo/HBO Max. South American pace, Texas humidity.
  • World Cup Qualifying — Ongoing across UEFA, CAF, and CONMEBOL. If you wake up at odd hours, there’s soccer on.

Wildcard Window — Nonsense, Elevation, and True Romance

North American Wife Carrying Championship — Newry, Maine

Sat, Oct 11 (late morning ET) — Sunday River Ski Resort
Couples sprint an obstacle course while one carries the other—preferably Estonian-style—for her weight in beer and five times her weight in cash. Romance isn’t dead; it’s just wheezing at the finish line.

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta — Albuquerque, NM

Fri–Sun, Oct 10–12, Balloon Fiesta Park
Dawn Patrol (~6 AM MT / 8 AM ET) and Night Magic Glow each evening. Hundreds of balloons, thousands of burners, zero logical reason not to look up.

The Stain Remote Plan

Saturday: Bama-Mizzou brunch → Texas-OU and Indiana-Oregon chaos → Xfinity under the lights.
Sunday: London breakfast football → Cup chaos in Vegas → Lions-Chiefs primetime → U-20 Yanks vs Morocco closer.
Anytime: Balloon Fiesta streams for zen; Wife Carrying for comedy; MLB for palpitations.

What to Watch This Weekend: Flush the Excuses, Strap In, and Pray for Your Plumbing

What to Watch This Weekend: Flush the Excuses, Strap In, and Pray for Your Plumbing

The Stain Sports was born out of bathroom humor, so it’s only fair the weekend ahead feels like a marathon Taco Bell run — fast, messy, and guaranteed to test your guts. What is a Taco Bell run you wonder? Well Denver’s most deranged ultramarathon makes Taco Tuesday look like a spa day. NFL goes abroad, college football brings service-academy swagger in fighter-jet threads, F1 lights the streets of Singapore, NASCAR chews up the ROVAL, and UFC straps up for a title brawl.

NFL — Week 5 Headlines

  • Vikings vs Browns (London) — Sun 9:30 AM ET, NFL Network/ESPN+
    Breakfast football, defense vs. Jefferson, and another chance for London to politely clap for punts.
  • Broncos at Eagles — Sun 1:00 PM ET, CBS
    Philly’s trench dominance against Denver’s pass rush.
  • Buccaneers at Seahawks — Sun 4:05 PM ET, FOX
    Baker’s chaos in one of the loudest stadiums in sports.
  • Commanders at Chargers — Sun 4:25 PM ET, CBS
    Washington’s front four trying to collapse SoFi.
  • Patriots at Bills — Sun 8:20 PM ET, NBC/Peacock
    Bills are supposed to own the division, but divisional dogs always bite harder in primetime.

College Football — Rivalries and Flyovers

  • Boise State at Notre Dame — Sat 12:00 PM ET, NBC/Peacock
    Blue turf toughness hits the golden helmets.
  • Air Force at Navy — Sat 12:00 PM ET, CBS Sports Network
    Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy opener. Forget “whiteout” — Air Force is rolling out F-16 inspired uniforms built for supersonic option football that go entirely too hard.
  • Vanderbilt at Alabama — Sat 3:30 PM ET, CBS
    Last year Vandy shocked Bama; Tuscaloosa hasn’t stopped muttering since. Revenge tour or repeat nightmare?
  • Virginia at Louisville — Sat 3:30 PM ET, ABC/ESPN App
    ACC undercard with bite.
  • Miami (FL) at Florida State — Sat 7:30 PM ET, ABC
    Sunshine State spite in primetime.

MLB Postseason — Division Series Begin

American League

  • New York Yankees vs Toronto Blue Jays — Game 1 Sat Oct 4, Rogers Centre, Toronto (FOX/FS1)
    Classic AL East blood feud, now with October stakes. The Bronx Bombers ride momentum into a hostile Canada.
  • Seattle Mariners vs Detroit Tigers — Game 1 Sat Oct 4, T-Mobile Park, Seattle (TBS/TruTV/Max)
    Mariners’ power vs. Detroit’s arms. Two fan bases starving for October glory collide.

National League

Philadelphia Phillies vs Los Angeles Dodgers — Game 1 Sat Oct 4, Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia (FOX/FS1)
Two heavyweights. Two stacked lineups. One ticket to the NLCS.

Milwaukee Brewers vs Chicago Cubs — Game 1 Sat Oct 4, American Family Field, Milwaukee (TBS/TruTV/Max)
NL Central neighbors turned October enemies. Wrigley vs. Milwaukee taps straight into Midwest baseball heartache.

Formula 1 — Singapore Grand Prix (Marina Bay)

  • Practice: Fri 5:30 AM & 9:00 AM ET (ESPN platforms).
  • Qualifying: Sat 9:00 AM ET, ESPN.
  • Race: Sun 5:00 AM ET, ESPN.
  • Support: F1 Academy + Porsche Carrera Cup Asia.

It’s hot, it’s humid, and if a driver sneezes in Turn 18, half the field’s in the wall.

NASCAR — Charlotte ROVAL Playoffs

  • Truck: EcoSave 250 — Fri 3:30 PM, FS1
  • Xfinity: Blue Cross NC 250 — Sat 5:00 PM, The CW
  • Cup: Bank of America ROVAL 400 — Sun 3:00 PM, USA Network/truTV

Half oval, half road course, all mayhem.

Combat Sports — UFC 320

  • UFC 320: Ankalaev vs Pereira II (Light Heavyweight Title) — Sat Oct 4
    • Early Prelims: 6:00 PM ET, ESPN+
    • Prelims: 8:00 PM ET, ESPN+/ESPNEWS
    • Main Card: 10:00 PM ET, ESPN+ PPV

Ankalaev plays the long game, Pereira brings the sledgehammer.

Soccer — Euro Heavyweights & U-20 Spotlight

Saturday:

  • Chelsea vs Liverpool — 12:30 PM ET, NBC/Peacock/Universo
  • Dortmund vs RB Leipzig — 9:30 AM ET, ESPN+
  • Eintracht Frankfurt vs Bayern Munich — 12:30 PM ET, ESPN+
  • Real Madrid vs Villarreal — 3:00 PM ET, ESPN+/ESPN Deportes

Sunday:

  • Sevilla vs Barcelona — 10:15 AM ET, ESPN+/ESPN Deportes
  • Juventus vs AC Milan — 2:45 PM ET, Paramount+
  • Lille vs PSG — 11:45 AM ET, beIN/stream TBA
  • Porto vs Benfica — 11:15 AM ET, GolTV/Fubo

Youth Spotlight:

  • FIFA U-20 World Cup — South Africa vs USA — Sun 4:00 PM ET, FS2

WNBA Finals — Aces vs Mercury

  • Game 2 — Sun 3:00 PM ET, ABC
    Las Vegas star power vs Phoenix grit. And yes, it comes after the league’s commissioner made headlines for all the wrong reasons this week — which only adds heat to a Finals already packed with it.

Taco Bell 50K Ultramarathon (Denver)

Forget Boston. Forget Berlin. The most sadistic race on Earth involves ten Taco Bells, nine required food items, and 31 miles of regret.

By Stop 4, you’ve got to hammer down a Chalupa or Crunchwrap. By Stop 8, it’s a Burrito Supreme or Nachos Bell Grande. All while running. All under 11 hours. Only one designated bathroom break (avoid Wash Park if you in Denver this weekend).

Optional bonuses include drowning everything in Diablo sauce or attempting to keep two liters of Baja Blast inside your body. Spoiler: it won’t work.

The prize? A commemorative token. The punishment? Your own digestive tract filing for divorce.

The Stain Remote Plan

Saturday: Boise-ND and AF-Navy at noon → ROVAL Xfinity mid-afternoon → Miami-FSU primetime → UFC 320 at night.
Sunday: London breakfast football → Singapore GP sunrise → ROVAL Cup chaos → NFL quadruple stack (Vikings-Browns, Broncos-Eagles, Bucs-Seahawks/Commanders-Chargers, Pats-Bills) → WNBA Finals G2 → and the Taco Bell 50K if you dare.
Saturday and Sunday: Baseball playoff action.

What to Watch This Weekend: Dublin Wake-Up Calls, Whiteout Nights, and Ryder Cup Roars

What to Watch This Weekend: Dublin Wake-Up Calls, Whiteout Nights, and Ryder Cup Roars

Got plans this weekend? Too bad, better cancel them as this weekend doesn’t ask for balance — it demands endurance. From Dublin kickoffs to Georgia’s hedges, Ryder Cup galleries to Madrid’s derby, playoff baseball stress, WNBA semifinals, and climbers hanging on by fingertips, the remote’s got a full shift.

NFL — Dublin Showcase + Heavyweight Sunday

  • Vikings vs Steelers (Dublin, Ireland) — Sun 9:30 AM ET, NFL Network/ESPN+
    Breakfast football from Aviva Stadium.
  • Eagles at Buccaneers — Sun 1:00 PM ET, FOX
    Philly’s line speed vs. Tampa Bay grit.
  • Colts at Rams — Sun 4:05 PM ET, CBS
    Goodbye Danny Dimes, hello Indiana Jones. Daniel Jones takes the wheel in Indy, with Stafford waiting on the other sideline.
  • Packers at Cowboys — Sun 4:25 PM ET, FOX
    Green Bay trying to slow Micah Parsons inside Jerry World.
  • Ravens at Chiefs — Sun 8:20 PM ET, NBC/Peacock
    Lamar vs. Mahomes. That’s the sentence. Prime-time centerpiece of the week.

College Football — Friday Sparks, Saturday Blockbusters

  • Florida State at Virginia — Fri 7:30 PM ET, ESPN
  • TCU at Arizona State — Fri 10:30 PM ET, ESPN
  • USC at Illinois — Sat 12:00 PM ET, FOX
  • LSU at Ole Miss — Sat 3:30 PM ET, CBS
  • Alabama at Georgia — Sat 3:30 PM ET, ABC/ESPN app
  • Oregon at Penn State (Whiteout Game) — Sat 7:30 PM ET, ABC

MLB — September Stress Tests

Check local listings (regional nets / national windows vary).

  • Tigers at Red Sox
  • Diamondbacks at Padres
  • Reds at Braves
  • Mets at Marlins
  • Astros at Angels
  • Dodgers at Mariners

Ryder Cup — Bethpage Black, New York (Sept 26–28)

  • Fri Foursomes/Fourballs — USA Network / Peacock
  • Sat Foursomes/Fourballs — NBC / Peacock
  • Sun Singles — NBC / Peacock

Soccer — Derby Heat & Global Stage

  • Atlético Madrid vs Real Madrid — Sun 3:00 PM ET, ESPN+
  • AC Milan vs Napoli — Sun 2:45 PM ET, Paramount+
  • FIFA U-20 World Cup — group stage continues all weekend (Fox Sports platforms, FS2 + Tubi).

NASCAR — Playoffs Roll On

  • Cup Series: YellaWood 500 (Talladega) — Sun 2:00 PM ET, NBC
    High-speed chess with wreck potential on every lap.

WNBA — Semifinals Continue

  • Minnesota Lynx vs Phoenix Mercury — Game 2 this weekend on ESPN family of networks.
  • Las Vegas Aces vs Indiana Fever — Game 2 on tap as well.
    Five-game series, two heavyweights, two challengers — Finals tickets on the line.

IFSC — World Championships (Seoul)

Lead and Boulder rounds continue all weekend on IFSC YouTube. Finals sessions spill into U.S. mornings — expect new names on podiums.

The Stain Remote Plan

Friday night: FSU–Virginia then TCU–ASU.
Saturday: USC–Illinois at noon → LSU–Ole Miss and Bama–Georgia in the mid-afternoon → Whiteout at Happy Valley → MLB late window.
Sunday: Wake up in Dublin → Talladega chaos → NFL quad (Eagles-Bucs, Colts-Rams, Packers-Cowboys, Ravens-Chiefs) → Madrid Derby → WNBA semis tucked between.
Floaters: Ryder Cup every morning, IFSC finals when you need adrenaline.

What to Watch This Weekend: NFC Perfection Tests, Derby Day Static, and Baku at Warp Speed

What to Watch This Weekend: NFC Perfection Tests, Derby Day Static, and Baku at Warp Speed

Two 2–0 NFC stare-downs, sneaky-spicy college tilts, playoff-grade baseball, three heavyweight EPL fixtures, F1 threading city walls under the shadows of the castle in Baku, NASCAR playoff elbows, first looks from NHL preseason, WNBA semifinals, plus world championships lifting the volume. All the windows, zero panic.

NFL — Undefeated Energy + Divisional Drama (Sun)

  • Rams at Eagles — 1:00 PM ET, FOX
    One of two NFC 2–0 vs 2–0. Philly’s bully ball vs. L.A.’s spacing and timing.
  • Cardinals at 49ers — 4:25 PM ET, FOX
    The other NFC 2–0 vs 2–0. Speed meets sledgehammer at Levi’s.
  • Broncos at Chargers — 4:05 PM ET, CBS
    Divisional voltage; late-game weirdness is practically on the schedule.

College Football — Ranked/Rivalry Filter (Sat)

  • Texas Tech at Utah — 12:00 PM ET, FOX
    Altitude, attitude, and a defense that punishes mistakes.
  • Auburn at Oklahoma — 3:30 PM ET, ABC
    SEC horsepower visits a playoff-minded Sooners outfit.
  • Illinois at Indiana — 7:00 PM ET, NBC/Peacock
    Big Ten primetime with tangible stakes.
  • Michigan at Nebraska — 3:30 PM ET, CBS/Paramount+
    Memorial turns up the pressure; upset sensors on.

MLB — September With Teeth

  • Giants at Dodgers — rivalry heat under the lights.
  • Mariners at Astros — AL West division title stress test; bullpens decide somebody’s week.
    Watch: Check local listings (regional sports nets / national windows vary by market).

Prospect Spotlight — Prep Baseball All-Star Game (Sat)

  • First pitch 1:15 PM ET, streamed on the Prep Baseball YouTube channel
    Top prep talent on one field—premium velo, loud barrels, and plenty of draft chatter. 2027 vs. 2026

Soccer — Derby Day & Big-Six Theater

  • Liverpool vs Everton — Sat 7:30 AM ET, USA Network/Universo
    Merseyside noise to start the day.
  • Manchester United vs Chelsea — Sat 12:30 PM ET, USA Network/Universo
    Two giants under the microscope.
  • Arsenal vs Manchester City — Sun 11:30 AM ET, USA Network/Peacock
    Pass-and-press chess with title scent.
  • Real Madrid vs Espanyol — Sat 10:15 AM ET, ESPN+
    Bernabéu business trip; upset alarms always possible.

Formula 1 — Azerbaijan Grand Prix (Baku) + Support Races

  • Qualifying — Sat 8:00 AM ET, ESPN platforms
  • Race — Sun 7:00 AM ET, ESPN
  • Support — F2 Sprint: Sat morning ET; F2 Feature: Sun pre-dawn ET (U.S. coverage on ESPN+ / F1 TV).

NASCAR — Playoffs Grind (Sun)

  • Cup Series: Mobil 1 301 (New Hampshire) — 2:00 PM ET, USA Network
    Track position matters, pit crews matter more, and one mistake is a week of explanations.

NHL — Preseason: First Looks

  • Sat 7:00 PM ET — Blues @ Stars, NHL Network
  • Sun 1:00 PM ET — Rangers @ Devils, NHL Network
  • Sun 5:00 PM ET — Wild @ Jets, NHL Network
    Rookies forcing decisions, vets testing new combos—the trailers before the feature.

IFSC — World Championships (Seoul)

  • Lead Finals — Fri night local → Fri morning ET, IFSC YouTube
  • Weekend slate — Lead qualifications roll into Sunday (ET). Speed/Boulder highlights run throughout the championship window.

World Athletics Championships — Tokyo (through Sun)

Live sessions run overnight into U.S. mornings across Peacock with broadcast windows on NBC/USA/CNBC; key finals sprinkled Saturday–Sunday. Relays and field events will swing medals.

WNBA — Semifinals Begin (Sun)

  • Game 1 Doubleheader — 3:00 PM ET, ABC and 5:00 PM ET, ESPN
    Four left standing, two tips on Sunday. Matchups locked after the first round, but the stakes are clear: five games to the Finals.

The Stain Remote Plan

Saturday: Liverpool–Everton → Tech–Utes → Prep Baseball ASG at 1:15 → Auburn–OU in the afternoon → prime-time Illinois–Indiana → late Giants–Dodgers.
Sunday: Baku lights out → Rams–Eagles early → Cards–Niners late while spot-checking Mariners–Astros → NHLN preseason hit.
Floaters: Michigan–Nebraska on CBS, IFSC finals overnight, World Athletics finale windows.

What to Watch This Weekend: Big Fights, Border Battles, and a Bristol Nightlight

What to Watch This Weekend: Big Fights, Border Battles, and a Bristol Nightlight

Clear the coffee table—the remote’s getting a workout. Between a true superfight in Vegas, SEC heat, Arrowhead vs. Philly fireworks, a Bristol brawl under the lights, Rugby World Cup knockouts, speed climbing at ludicrous velocity, two tasty MLB national windows, and the WBSC U-18 World Cup Final, this weekend is stacked. All times ET with U.S. viewing info.

Boxing — The Superfight

Canelo Álvarez vs. Terence “Bud” Crawford — Sat 9:00 PM, Netflix

No PPV tax—just log in and watch one of the decade’s pound-for-pound showdowns from Allegiant. Prelims on Netflix at 5:30 PM; main card at 9:00 PM. Crawford chases audacious history up at 168; Canelo defends the empire.

College Football — Brand Fights (Sat)

Georgia at Tennessee — 3:30 PM, ABC

Checkerboard tension, volume knob stuck at 11. Georgia tries to stay clinical; Neyland tries to melt faces.

Texas A&M at Notre Dame — 7:30 PM, NBC & Peacock (pregame 7:00 PM)

Gold helmets in prime time with two defenses that hit like rent’s due. Elko vs. Freeman is the chess inside the brawl.

NFL — The National Mood (Sun/Mon)

Eagles at Chiefs — Sun 4:25 PM, FOX

You’ve seen this movie; the ending’s never guaranteed in a Super Bowl rematch. Arrowhead humidity vs. Philly spite.

Sunday Night Football: Falcons at Vikings — Sun 8:20 PM, NBC/Peacock

Two young QBs with cannons and zero fear under the dome lights.

Monday Night Football Doubleheader — Mon 7:00 PM & 10:00 PM

  • Buccaneers at Texans — 7:00 PM, ABC/ESPN
  • Chargers at Raiders — 10:00 PM, ESPN
    Two-screen night: precision at happy hour, chaos for the nightcap.

NASCAR — Playoffs Under the Coliseum Lights

NASCAR Cup: Bass Pro Shops Night Race (Bristol) — Sat 7:30 PM, USA Network

Short-track truth serum. Concrete, tire wear, tempers—someone’s title hopes leave with stripes.

Rugby World Cup (Women) — Quarterfinal Weekend

  • New Zealand vs. South Africa — Sat 8:00 AM, CBS Sports Network & Paramount+
  • Canada vs. Australia — Sat 11:00 AM, Paramount+
  • France vs. Ireland — Sun 8:00 AM, Paramount+
  • England vs. Scotland — Sun 11:00 AM, CBS Sports Network & Paramount+
    Coffee, collisions, and bracket nerves.

IFSC — Speed World Cup Finale (Guiyang)

Speed Finals — Sat 7:30 AM, IFSC YouTube (geo-restrictions possible)

Blink-and-you-miss-it. Fifteen meters, sub-five seconds, overall titles on the line.

International Baseball — WBSC U-18 World Cup Final (Okinawa)

World Championship Final — Sun 3:00 AM, GameTime (PPV tournament pass)

Night-owl special: elite prospects, loud atmospheres, morning-coffee baseball.

Prospect Showcase — UA Next All-America Baseball Game (Baltimore)

Sat 1:00 PM, streaming on GameChanger

The nation’s top high-school talent takes over an MLB cathedral. Expect premium velocity, loud contact, and a handful of future first-rounders.

MLB — Two National Windows, Perfect Between-Football Bites

  • Cardinals at Brewers — Sat 8:15 PM, FOX
    September baseball with playoff teeth.
  • Yankees at Red Sox — Sunday Night Baseball — Sun 7:00 PM, ESPN
    Fenway. Lights. Volume.

The Stain Remote Plan

Saturday: Speed finals with coffee → UA All-America at 1:00 PM (GameChanger) → Georgia–Tennessee → Bristol under the lights → Canelo–Bud.
Sunday (pre-dawn): WBSC U-18 Final, 3:00 AM.
Sunday: Eagles–Chiefs late window → Yankees–Sox collide → SNF in Minneapolis.
Monday: Doubleheader damage control—hydrate and charge both screens.

What to Watch This Labor Day Weekend (Aug 29–Sept 1)

What to Watch This Labor Day Weekend (Aug 29–Sept 1)

College Football Week 1 is here and it’s glorious — five straight days of real games, real stakes, and real irrational confidence. Plus F1’s back from the beach, the Cup Playoffs fire up at Darlington, Liverpool–Arsenal headlines Sunday, The Hundred crowns a champ, and baseball serves pennant-race spice.

College Football (Week 1)

Texas @ Ohio State

Sat, 12:00 PM ET — FOX
On January 10, Ohio State ended Texas’ season on the way to a national title. Eight-plus months later: run it back to open 2025. Arch vs. the Shoe. Yes, please.

Alabama @ Florida State

Sat, 3:30 PM ET — ABC
Both stumbled last year — Bama dropped four, FSU barely found wins — so someone gets a clean slate and someone gets a fresh bruise.

LSU @ Clemson

Sat, 7:30 PM ET — ABC
Death Valley vs. Death Valley. Tigers win. (We are contractually obligated to make that joke.)

Virginia Tech vs South Carolina (Aflac Kickoff — Atlanta)

Sun, 3:00 PM ET — ESPN
Beamer vs. his past, Hokies vs. the logo they love to hate, and it’s indoors so no weather excuses.

Notre Dame @ Miami

Sun, 7:30 PM ET — ABC
Not quite Catholics vs. Convicts, still a delicious Sunday-night brawl to close your weekend proper.

TCU @ North Carolina

Mon, 8:00 PM ET — ESPN
It’s the head-coaching debut of… Jordon Hudson—er, Bill Belichick—in Chapel Hill. Monday Night college ball and a pregame studio show on-site.

Formula 1

Dutch Grand Prix — Zandvoort

Sun, 9:00 AM ET — ESPN (Race)
Summer break’s over. Max gets a home roar, McLaren’s title push has teeth, and the banking’s still a rollercoaster.

F1 Academy is on the card, too — live via F1’s official channels (YouTube/X) and F1 TV, with select U.S. sessions on ESPN+. Tune in across Sat/Sun.

MLB

  • Cardinals at Reds — Busch bats vs. Cincy kids with the NL Central wobbling week-to-week.
  • Mariners at Guardians — Two bullpens you trust with your life and lineups you don’t; October leverage in August.
  • Tigers at Royals — Greene/Tork vs. Witt Jr.: the AL Central future, present tense.
  • Brewers at Blue Jays — Power vs. prevention; sneakily huge Wild Card ripple series.
  • Diamondbacks at Dodgers — NL West heat check in Chavez Ravine; vibes vs. vibes-and-a-billion-wins.

(Find them on MLB.TV/local RSNs; national windows rotate across FOX/FS1/ESPN/TBS.)

Soccer

Liverpool vs Arsenal (Premier League)

Sun, 11:30 AM ET — USA Network (stream: Peacock)
High-tempo, high-line, high-drama. Title-caliber litmus test before your Sunday dinner.

NASCAR

Cup Playoffs — Cook Out Southern 500 (Darlington)

Sun, 6:00 PM ET — USA Network
The Lady in Black opens the postseason with a tire-eating, wall-kissing reality check. Someone’s championship dream leaves with stripes.

Tennis — US Open (NYC)

Middle Sunday rolls with wall-to-wall coverage (day session around 11:00 AM ET, evening session around 7:00 PM ET), and Labor Day’s Round of 16 begins Monday at 11:00 AM ET. Park it on the couch; hydrate accordingly.

Cricket — The Hundred (Finals Weekend)

Eliminator on Saturday at The Kia Oval; Final on Sunday at Lord’s. In the U.S., watch on Willow TV. Perfect coffee cricket before your afternoon football.

Your Remote-Optimized Itinerary

  • Sat: Texas–Ohio State → Alabama–FSU → LSU–Clemson. Sprinkle in Dutch GP quali replays and a late Dodgers–D-backs nightcap.
  • Sun: Dutch GP with breakfast → Liverpool–Arsenal → Hokies–Gamecocks → Southern 500 → Notre Dame–Miami nightcap.
  • Mon: Belichick’s UNC debut under the lights.

What to Watch This Weekend: August 22-24

What to Watch This Weekend: August 22-24

Every Friday, we’re cutting through the clutter and telling you what’s actually worth your eyeballs this weekend. Big stage, small stage, and the stuff hiding in the corner that you’ll be glad you found. Let’s roll.

Football

Forget the fake preseason stuff—real football is here. Week 0 drops Saturday with FBS and FCS action, and it’s juicier than usual.

  • Iowa State vs. Kansas State — Dublin, Ireland (Sat, Noon ET, ESPN)
    This isn’t your sleepy Week 0 cupcake. Two ranked Big 12 teams, two future NFL quarterbacks in Rocco Becht (Iowa State) and Avery Johnson (K-State), and playoff stakes already in the air. Add in the novelty of Irish pints before kickoff—this one’s appointment viewing.
  • Incarnate Word @ Nicholls (Sat, 1 PM ET, ESPN2)
    Don’t sleep on the FCS. Southland rivals, a Top-5 squad in UIW, and a Nicholls team trying to bounce back from a flop season. Should be spicy down in Thibodaux.
  • Stanford @ Hawaii (Sat, 7:30 PM ET, CBS)
    Normally, this is perfect midnight-on-the-mainland Rainbow Warrior chaos. Instead, we’re stuck with a standard kickoff. Still, plenty to watch: Andrew Luck is running Stanford’s GM chair, Frank Reich is on the sideline, and transfer QB Ben Gulbranson just beat out freshman Elijah Brown for the starting gig. New era vibes for the Cardinal.

Baseball

Rivalry weekend, full blast.

  • Red Sox at Yankees (capped by Sunday Night Baseball, ESPN) — two clubs fighting for positioning in the Wild Card standings
  • Dodgers at Padres — San Diego gets another swing at the reigning champs of the NL West.
  • Mets at Braves — Braves fans haven’t had a ton to cheer for this season, but they always get up to root against the Mets.

And don’t forget: Little League World Series Championship hits Sunday (1 PM ET, ABC). U.S. vs. International, bragging rights for life.

Golf

The Tour Championship is live from East Lake, with $40M on the line. Scottie Scheffler has the inside track, but there are plenty ready to wreck his repeat bid.

Rugby

The Women’s Rugby World Cup kicks off in England. The U.S. opens against the hosts at the Stadium of Light (CBS Sports, late Friday night/early Saturday morning stateside). Pour one more and root for the Eagles.

Soccer

Europe’s back in full swing, and there are some tasty matchups to keep on your radar this weekend:

Bayern Munich vs. RB Leipzig (Fri, 2:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2/ESPN Deportes/ESPN+)
Bundesliga action from the Allianz Arena. Bayern usually dominates Leipzig, but Leipzig loves a statement game.

West Ham vs. Chelsea (Fri, 3:00 p.m. ET, USA Network/Universo)
West Ham hosts Chelsea at London Stadium in a clash that could set the tone for the rest of the season. Expect drama, late tackles, and maybe a surprise upset.

Manchester City vs. Tottenham (Sat, 7:30 a.m. ET, USA Network/Universo)
Early bird gets the goals. Pep’s squad at home, Spurs looking to prove a point. It’s a Premier League heavyweight bout that kicks off bright and early stateside. Coffee mandatory.

Sure, there’s more. But these are the headliners, the sneaky gems, and the built-in excuses not to mow the lawn. The couch is calling—answer it.

Where to Find USMNT Players in Europe This Season

Where to Find USMNT Players in Europe This Season

The European soccer season is kicking off, and plenty of American players—past, present, and future USMNT stars—are on the move. Some transfers are done, others are still hanging in the balance, but here’s your guide to who’s playing where and which clubs to keep an eye on if you’re following the U.S. men’s national team.

Still Waiting on Final Moves

  • Gio Reyna, Yunus Musah, Josh Sargent, Ricardo Pepi – All are linked with transfers, but nothing’s official yet. Expect late-window drama here.

Completed Transfers & Loans

  • Matt Turner – Looked set for Lyon until the club’s financial troubles complicated the deal. It eventually went through, but Turner has been loaned back to New England Revolution in MLS. The move should give him much-needed minutes as he battles for the No. 1 goalkeeper spot ahead of the home World Cup.
  • Malik Tillman – After a standout season at PSV, the versatile attacker joins Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga. With Florian Wirtz off to Liverpool, Tillman has a genuine shot at regular starts.
  • Timothy Weah – Loaned to Marseille, where his father once played. His throwback magazine cover recreation for the announcement was an instant classic.
  • Johnny Cardoso – Moves from Real Betis to Atletico Madrid. Playing time could be scarce under Diego Simeone, but if Cardoso becomes a regular, his spot on the World Cup roster would be almost certain.
  • Damion Downs – After a brief USMNT cameo this summer, the striker joins Southampton in the EFL Championship.
  • Patrick Agyemang – Heads to Derby County, also in the Championship. This league has been a strong springboard for Americans in recent years.
  • Caleb Wiley – On loan to Watford, another Championship side.
  • Julian Eyestone – The 19-year-old goalkeeper is now with Brentford’s senior squad in the Premier League, serving as a backup.

Clubs with Multiple USMNT Players

While the days of big “American hubs” in Europe are fading, a few teams still have more than one U.S. player:

  • Celtic (Scottish Premiership) – Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Trusty anchoring the defense.
  • AC Milan (Serie A) – Christian Pulisic plus Yunus Musah—for now. Musah’s transfer rumors are heating up.
  • PSV (Eredivisie) – Sergiño Dest and Ricardo Pepi, though Pepi could still move before the window closes.
  • Eintracht Frankfurt (Bundesliga) – Veteran Timmy Chandler and Paxten Aaronson.
  • West Bromwich Albion (EFL Championship) – George Campbell and Daryl Dike, though neither is likely to feature at the next World Cup.

Bottom line: American players are scattered more widely than in past seasons, but there’s still plenty to watch across Europe’s top leagues. The real intrigue will come in the next few weeks as Reyna, Musah, Sargent, and Pepi finalize their futures.