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Notre Dame–Pittsburgh Game Gets Unexpected Kickoff Time
General Sports

Notre Dame–Pittsburgh Game Gets Unexpected Kickoff Time

Notre Dame (6-2) moved up to No. 10 in the AP Poll Top 25 Sunday after its rather sleepy 25-10 victory at Boston College. The win keeps Notre Dame's College Football Playoff hopes alive, but some possible trap games soon await the Fighting Irish. That starts this week with a one-loss Navy team coming to South Bend, and continues next week at Pittsburgh, a team that sits 7-2 and has a great case that it should be ranked. While the Navy game will take place under the lights Saturday in South Bend, the Pittsburgh game has officially gotten the opposite treatment. Notre Dame and Pittsburgh to Kickoff at Noon E.T. Notre Dame gets the early kickoff time at Pittsburgh, making it an early start for Fighting Irish fans. What was not yet announced is what channel the game will air on, as it'll be either ABC or ESPN. Pittsburgh started 2-0 before dropping contests at West Virginia and to Louisville to fall to 2-2. It has since won five-straight games, and is in the thick of the ACC race as it is one of five league teams with one conference loss. Notre Dame vs. Pittsburgh Series History Notre Dame has played Pittsburgh nearly as much as any other opponent in program history, having taken on the Panthers 73 times, winning 51 of those while tying another. The Fighting Irish have won seven of the last eight matchups with Pittsburgh dating back to the 2010 season. While Pittsburgh has often made life difficult for Notre Dame in that stretch, the last two matchups have been lopsided blowouts in favor of the Irish. Notre Dame won the last meeting, a 2023 contest in South Bend, 58-7. It also won at Pittsburgh its last trip back in 2020, routing the Panthers 45-3. Nick Shepkowski's Quick Thoughts: It's Navy week and that unique offense deserves the complete attention of the Notre Dame team this week, but I can't help but play a little bit of look ahead. Perhaps it's because of scar tissue over the years, but I see Pittsburgh being a significantly more difficult task than first thought for Marcus Freeman's Fighting Irish. Maybe that's because of the close calls in some of Notre Dame's biggest recent seasons (2012 and 2018 certainly both come to mind). Perhaps playing an early game and not getting the home crowd overly rocking from a full day of tailgating beforehand will prove good for the Irish.

Marcus Spears jokes about Howie Roseman after latest Eagles trade: ‘I hate him’
NFL

Marcus Spears jokes about Howie Roseman after latest Eagles trade: ‘I hate him’

The Philadelphia Eagles got the ball rolling over 24 hours before the NFL trade deadline. Jaelan Phillips will join the Eagles via the Miami Dolphins, adding an impact pass rusher. It’s the type of move we have come accustomed to from Philadelphia general manager Howie Roseman in recent years. ESPN’s Marcus Spears is fed up with Roseman, at least when he has his Dallas Cowboys fan hat on. Spears is just like plenty of other people in Dallas, watching their bitter NFC East rivals continue to push for Super Bowls. “I hate Howie,” Spears said. “I hate him. I’m so sick of him. I’ve been sick of him for a couple years now… Howie knows I don’t hate him. I actually admire the way he goes after winning championships and does not wait. You think about the Eagles for the last four years — going to Super Bowls, having opportunities to win them. He’s made a significant trade, at some point, in all of those seasons.” Roseman lifted the Lombardi Trophy in February, then watched the banner be unveiled at Lincoln Financial Field before the Eagles and Cowboys played. Philadelphia emerged as a winner, starting their Super Bowl defense 1-0. Now, the record sits at 6-2 overall in a wide-open NFC, and Roseman appears to have his sights on another championship. Spears has nothing but respect for the way Roseman conducts business. You have to imagine many across the league feel the same way. But they may just express it in the same way Spears did, coming at it with a little jealousy. Dallas Cowboys yet to make move ahead of NFL trade deadline This one may even sting a little more because Dallas is searching for a player who can get after quarterbacks too. Philadelphia wound up sending a third-round pick to Miami, something the Cowboys do not currently have. The Pittsburgh Steelers have that due to the George Pickens trade. Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones hinted, if not told us, something is on the way soon. When speaking to Stephen A. Smith on the radio, Jones claimed a trade is done and will be released on Tuesday, just hours after the team plays on Monday Night Football against the Arizona Cardinals. “Immediately it will have him on the field and it will address some of the things that have been our shortcomings,” Jones said via Jon Machota of The Athletic.

Buffalo Bills receive devastating news on injured rookie CB
NFL

Buffalo Bills receive devastating news on injured rookie CB

Not the news Buffalo Bills fans wanted to hear. Head Coach Sean McDermott delivered a troubling update on Dorian Strong during a Tuesday afternoon press conference, pointing toward a long-term absence for the Bills’ rookie cornerback. The sixth-round pick has been dealing with a neck injury which led to his placement on Injured Reserve on Oct. 4, and entering Week 10, McDermott says that Strong has not received an encouraging update regarding his ailment. “I do have some more clarity, it’s not good in terms of the reports and everything,” said McDermott. “I don’t want to get into where it may go. It’s not moving in the direction we would like it to at this point. I’ll stop there just out of respect for Dorian.” Strong was selected by the Bills with the 177th overall pick in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft and went on to earn the start in the first game of his NFL career in Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens in place of injured veteran Tre’Davious White. Strong played in each of the Bills’ first four games of the season, but was injured before Buffalo’s Week 5 matchup against the New England Patriots and it now appears he has been lost for the year. The next question is, will this injury impact his career? Neck injuries are tricky and often dealt with conservatively. “He and I have had some conversations over the last few days and I wish the reports were better at this point,” added McDermott. Strong recorded 10 tackles during four games in his first professional season. — Sign up for OnSI’s Free Buffalo Bills Newsletter —

Seahawks GM's comments offer clue at potential NFL trade deadline partners
NFL

Seahawks GM's comments offer clue at potential NFL trade deadline partners

If there was any question about whether the Seattle Seahawks should be buyers or sellers going into the NFL trade deadline, last night's crushing victory over the Washington Commanders answered it. After eight games played, Seattle has a top-five scoring offense, a top-five scoring defense and a special teams unit that's making high-impact plays routine. That gives the Seahawks all the reason in the world to be aggressive at the trade deadline, and the latest reporting suggests that's exactly what they're going to do. General manager John Schneider may have offered a hint in his pre-game radio hit with KIRO, saying that the Seahawks spoke with teams at the Maryland-Indiana game on Saturday. That give us an idea of who they might be dealing with, based on the reports of the other teams who sent personnel to that game. That includes the San Francisco 49ers, the New York Jets, the Carolina Panthers, the Cleveland Browns and the Washington Commanders, who may have had some extra face time with the Seahawks during last night's game. We can safely cross the 49ers off the list of potential trade partners, but we can't do that with any others. The one question mark is the Panthers - and nobody seems to know which way they're leaning. Carolina is a surprise 5-4 after shocking the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, but the gap between the Panthers and the NFC teams currently on pace for a playoff spot is pretty massive. That makes the Jets, Browns and Commanders the most likely candidates to make a deal with the Seahawks from this list but we also have to assume they're talking with other teams. Pete Carroll's Raiders are another obvious potential trade partner based on their relationship and the fact that they're 2-6 going into the deadline. The Seahawks have also had a long history of making deals with the Philadelphia Eagles, who need cornerback help an have reportedly been considering a deal for Riq Woolen. On that note, the math may have changed last night due to the injuy to Josh Jobe, who was ruled out early with a concussion. Woolen responded with his best game of the season - which might be just enough to convince the Seahawks to keep him around for the playoffs.

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