When former FBI agent Katherine Schweit heard about the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, her mind drifted to a crime that took place in rural Wisconsin more than two decades ago.
An 88-year-old grandmother was abducted from her home in February 2003 and placed in the trunk of her car. Her abductor drove her to his property and shackled her inside a trailer. Soon after, the woman’s grandson, who owned a construction company, started to receive messages demanding millions for her release.
“The kidnapper thought he could get a big ransom from the family,” said Schweit, who investigated the case and helped capture the suspect and rescue the woman five days after she was taken.
The Guthrie case doesn’t seem to be following that script, Schweit said. “If you were going to abduct somebody for cash, why wouldn’t you aggressively try to get the cash by communicating with the family right from the start, so you could get your money and return the victim?”
It’s one of the big questions baffling investigators, law enforcement experts and the millions of Americans following the high-profile case. Even the recent release of home surveillance footage showing a potential subject provides no additional information about the person’s possible motive or what happened to Guthrie.
An FBI billboard in California displaying a missing person alert for Nancy Guthrie on Monday.via KNBC
The 84-year-old mother of NBC’s “TODAY” show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie vanished from her home outside of Tucson, Ariz., after she was dropped off by family members on the night of Jan. 31.
Eleven days later, the identity of her abductor or abductors remains a mystery. But Tuesday, the FBI released images and videos from Guthrie’s home security camera showing a person in a ski mask and gloves and carrying what appears to be a handgun. The person walks up to her house, head down, and then attempts to tamper with the camera.
Michael Alcazar, a retired New York Police Department detective who is now an adjunct professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, said he expects the new images and videos to produce a flood of tips that will help investigators identify the person.
“One hundred percent, somebody is going to recognize him,” Alcazar said.
Alcazar said he thinks it’s significant that the suspect approached the house with the head down, an apparent effort to keep the doorbell camera from recording the face. “That tells me he’s been there before,” said Alcatraz, who added that he wouldn’t discount the possibility that it was a burglary gone wrong.
Following the release of the new images and videos, Savannah Guthrie posted on her Instagram page: “We believe she is still alive. Bring her home.”
Abductions involving adults are rare in the United States, and rarer still are the kind that do not involve family disputes, drug traffickers or gangs, experts say.
Chip Massey, a retired FBI hostage negotiator, said the unusual circumstances of the case — an abduction involving a famous American family — reminded him of the 1932 kidnapping of famed aviator Charles Lindbergh’s 20-month-old son from his home in New Jersey.
“This is the stuff of movies,” he said.
In Guthrie’s case, a possible ransom note was sent to three news outlets, and the FBI said it referenced an Apple Watch, which she is believed to have worn. The note contained two deadlines — one at 5 p.m. Feb. 5, and a second deadline Monday, according to Heith Janke, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Phoenix division. But he said the note did not establish a means for communication.
A second note was sent to local TV station KOLD, but it did not contain a ransom demand and was different “in almost every way” from the first one, according to its news director Jessica Bobula.
Massey, the retired FBI hostage negotiator, said the lack of communication complicates law enforcement’s ability to identify whoever is responsible.
“If I can’t hear a voice, if they can’t hear mine, a lot of my training and background is now useless,” he said.
Written messages alone, Massey added, can provide important leads for investigators, but they also could be used to deceive law enforcement.
A Pima County Sheriff’s Office deputy stands outside of the home of Nancy Guthrie in Tucson, Ariz., on Sunday.Rebecca Noble / Getty Images
The authorities have revealed that Guthrie’s blood was found on her porch. She has mobility issues and requires daily medication, but her mind is sharp, according to local authorities.
Jim Cavanaugh, a retired agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives who is now an NBC News law enforcement analyst, said he’s not convinced the ransom note is legitimate. He said that anyone could know that Guthrie wore an Apple Watch — all you have to do is Google her.
“There’s a picture that pops right up where they’re on the set of the ‘TODAY’ show, and the mother has a very prominent Apple Watch on,” he said. “Anybody sitting in Kathmandu could hit Google and see those pictures and demand bitcoin.”
Cavanaugh noted that Tucson is close to the southern border, where Mexican drug cartels operate. In the mid-2000s, its neighboring big city, Phoenix, was labeled the “kidnapping capital of the U.S.A,” and many of the crimes were linked to the cartels.
He sees no reason why a cartel would target someone like Guthrie. He thinks it’s more likely that a homegrown criminal would seek to hold her for ransom, but that this person did not expect the case to blow up so quickly into a national obsession.
“It got too big, too fast,” Cavanaugh said. “They could have gotten scared by the scope of the response and then abandoned it. But then, why wouldn’t they release Nancy? Where’s Nancy?”
Cavanaugh said that’s not the only possibility investigators would consider. The abductors could have hit the wrong house and decided against returning her out of fear of going to prison. Or this could have nothing to do with money, he said, and the person responsible could be harboring some kind of grudge.
Schweit, the former FBI agent, said it wouldn’t be especially hard for someone to remove Guthrie from her home and drive away undetected given the location. She lives in a quiet community about 6 miles north of Tucson where homes are spread out across desert terrain.
“That’s what makes it challenging for law enforcement,” she said.
In the absence of eyewitness accounts and additional surveillance footage revealing more about the suspect, Schweit said, investigators seeking clues are forced to scrutinize the recordings from cameras that could be miles away.
They must canvass an almost endless number of locations and neighborhoods seeking information from people who might have seen something suspicious. And the FBI’s behavioral experts based in Quantico, VIrginia, will be reviewing large amounts of data in the hope of finding a kernel of information that could lead to a suspect, Schweit said.
“It’s not a straight line,” she added, “from somebody gets abducted, a ransom note goes out, the person who gets kidnapped is recovered. That only happens in the movies.”
The FBI, Schweit said, is “incredibly capable of carrying out very complex work.”
“She’s out there, and they will find her. We just want to find her in time.”
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The Children’s Cancer Fund of New Mexico is a nonprofit that helps kids and families living with pediatric cancer. The organization’s performing arts program gives kids an opportunity to perform music, act and dance. The performing arts program provides kids weekly classes for music, acting and dancing is coming soon. The classes […]
W.A.S.P. have announced a major U.S. and Canada tour for fall 2026, unveiling the aptly titled 1984 To Headless Tour, with KK’s Priest confirmed as very special guests.
Kicking off on September 10 in California and running through October 31, the tour will see W.A.S.P. return to North American stages playing selected hits from their first four albums, a period that frontman Blackie Lawless calls foundational to the band’s legacy. Get your tickets here.
The 1984 To Headless tour pays tribute to the era that cemented W.A.S.P.‘s place in rock history, beginning with their self-titled debut in 1984, followed by The Last Command, Inside The Electric Circus, and culminating in what Lawless describes as “their greatest yet,” 1989’s The Headless Children.
“The 1st Five Years of an artist’s career most always determine what their legacy will be,” the band notes, and W.A.S.P. used that period to establish themselves as pioneers of shock rock, psycho drama, and theatrical live spectacle — a reputation they plan to fully embrace on this run.
According to Lawless, this tour is something the band has never attempted before. “Playing those songs from those 1st Four Albums in a combined package like this is something we’ve never attempted,” he said. “The entire stage show will look like the album covers from those records will come alive… right before your eyes.”
He added that the production will lean heavily into the bombast and visual storytelling that made W.A.S.P. legendary live. “When elements of those album covers start to come alive, right on the stage before the people, it’s gonna be something they’ll not soon forget.”
KK’s Priest founder K.K. Downing echoed that enthusiasm, confirming the band’s return to North America after an extended absence. “Great news! KK’S PRIEST is going to be returning to the US and Canada this September and October 2026,” he said. “With over 40 shows, this is going to be an epic metal and steel tour featuring lots of Priest classics.”
9/10 El Cajon, CA The Magnolia 9/11 Los Angeles, CA The Wiltern 9/12 Riverside, CA Fox Performing Arts Center 9/13 Phoenix, AZ Celebrity Theater 9/14 Santa Fe, NM Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino 9/16 Austin, TX Emos 9/17 Tulsa, OK Tulsa Theater 9/18 Dallas, TX House Of Blues 9/19 San Antonio, TX Aztec Theater 9/20 Houston, TX House Of Blues 9/22 Clearwater, FL Ruth Eckard Hall 9/23 Daytona, FL Peabody Auditorium 9/24 Jacksonville, FL Florida Theater 9/25 Raleigh, NC The Ritz 9/26 Jim Thorpe, PA Penn’s Peak 9/27 Portland, ME Aura 9/29 Boston, MA House Of Blues 9/30 Hampton, NH Hampton Beach Casino 10/1 Wallington, CT Toyota Oakdale Theatre 10/2 New York, NY The Palladium 10/3 Carteret, NJ Carteret Performing Arts Center 10/5 Montreal, QC Mtelus 10/6 Ottawa, ON Hard Rock Casino 10/7 Pickering, ON Pickering Casino Resort 10/9 Des Plaines, IL Des Plaines Theater 10/10 St Charles, IL Arcada Theater 10/11 St Charles, IL Arcada Theater 10/13 Glenside, PA Keswick Theatre 10/14 Harrisburg, PA Capitol City Music Hall 10/15 Cleveland, OH Agoura Theater 10/16 Milwaukee, WI Pabst Theater 10/17 Green Bay, WI EPIC Event Center 10/19 Winnipeg, MB Burton Cummings Theatre 10/21 Edmonton, AB Midway Music Hall 10/22 Calgary, AB The Palace Theater 10/23 Coquitlam, BC Great Canadian Casino Vancouver 10/25 Seattle, WA Moore Theater 10/27 San Jose, CA San Jose Civic 10/29 Rancho Mirage, CA The Show Agua Caliente 10/30 Las Vegas, NV House Of Blues 10/31 Anaheim, CA The Grove
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The 2025 college football season was a wild one, culminating with a thrilling College Football Playoff and a national title for undefeated Indiana, capping one of the most unlikely turnarounds in the sport’s history.
The season also saw a tumultuous coaching carousel, with several big-brand programs — LSU, Penn State, Florida and Michigan among them — making changes at the top.
On the heels of all that, it’s hard not to look forward to the fall to see what college football does for an encore. So we asked our reporters what games, players and teams they are most excited to see in 2026.
What early-season game are you most excited to see?
Adam Rittenberg: Ohio State at Texas, Sept. 12. The game should deliver more fireworks and better overall play than the one that kicked off the 2025 season in Columbus. Texas quarterback Arch Manning likely will enter the season as the Heisman Trophy favorite after his strong finish to 2025. Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin actually was a Heisman finalist in 2025, which many seem to forget after the Buckeyes’ poor finish. Both quarterbacks and offenses should be better in 2026, and the winner certainly will feel good about its College Football Playoff chances.
Dave Wilson: I’ll second Ohio State-Texas. The game in Columbus last year began with Lee Corso’s farewell to “College GameDay” and ended with all-new levels of hot-take hysteria around Manning, despite just a seven-point loss on the road to the defending national champions. Manning certainly didn’t play well in that one, but he rounded into form as the season went on, and the Horns are excited to get a rematch at home with new players added around their QB. Don’t forget Will Muschamp is back in Austin taking over the defense. Texas will be under the microscope once again.
David Hale: Clemson at LSU in Week 1. This game has the feeling of two ships passing in opposite directions. On one side, there’s LSU, awash in hope after snagging Lane Kiffin to helm the program. The Bayou Bengals have loaded up on talent in both the portal and the recruiting trail, and Kiffin has injected an air of optimism that exceeds even what came with Brian Kelly’s arrival four years ago. For Clemson, the opposite is true. Dabo Swinney is coming off his worst season since 2010, with a question mark at QB and a host of NFL talent now off to the NFL. A year ago, this game was marked as a top-five matchup with the winner a likely title contender. LSU didn’t live up to that hype, and it cost Kelly his job. Clemson lost last year, and the wheels came off after that. A win in this game could turn the wariness of Clemson fans on its head and make 2026 the year Swinney revived the program — or it could be the year it all came to a crashing halt.
Mark Schlabach: Arizona State at Texas A&M, Sept. 12. The Aggies were on their way to one of the best seasons in program history until the wheels came off in the last two games with losses at Texas and against Miami in the CFP. Quarterback Marcel Reed is back, and he’ll be better if he cuts down on his turnovers. Alabama transfer Isaiah Horton is a big target to work the field with Mario Craver. The Sun Devils took a step back after winning the Big 12 in 2024, then lost quarterback Sam Leavitt (LSU), tailback Raleek Brown (Texas) and receiver Jordyn Tyson (NFL). Can Kentucky transfer Cutter Boley take the next step at quarterback? The talent is there to do it.
Andrea Adelson: LSU at Ole Miss, Sept. 19. The Lane Kiffin grudge match — in his return to Oxford — should be No. 1 on every viewing. How will the crowd greet him? How will his former players greet him? Will there be any pregame antics? How will his old team stack up against his new team? Will bygones be bygones? Somehow I doubt it. This game also should have plenty of SEC and CFP implications after both teams loaded up through the transfer portal.
Heather Dinich: I’m with Andrea on LSU-Ole Miss. There’s no shortage of drama in this one, and in addition to the Kiffin theatrics, let’s not forget he was hired to win a national title — yesterday. LSU will have already faced Clemson, which is also in must-win mode. This will be Kiffin’s first road trip as LSU’s head coach — and it couldn’t be in a more hostile environment. If LSU loses its opener against Clemson, the biggest game of the year might be in Oxford.
Jake Trotter: I’ll throw Oklahoma at Michigan on Sept. 12 into the conversation. The Sooners are coming off a banner season under Brent Venables, and with quarterback John Mateer back, they should have aspirations of returning to the playoff and potentially making a run. Kyle Whittingham, meanwhile, has stabilized a Michigan program that fell into disarray under Sherrone Moore. Whittingham succeeded in convincing ballyhooed quarterback Bryce Underwood to stick in Ann Arbor. This will be a prime opportunity for Underwood to show he can propel the Wolverines into playoff contention.
Harry Lyles Jr.: Florida State at Alabama, Sept. 19. This pick is based partially on seeing how Alabama responds after losing this matchup last year and partially on the potential fallout from this result. A loss for either the Seminoles or the Crimson Tide will put their coach firmly on the hot seat, assuming both teams enter this game 2-0. I think both Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer and FSU’s Mike Norvell are really good coaches, but knowing college football fans, the heat will be on for the loser of this one and the margin for error will become pretty much zero.
What storyline are you most intrigued by?
Rittenberg: How does the SEC bounce back? The 12-team CFP era has humbled the sport’s most dominant conference, but it is still packed with well-resourced programs led by talented coaches. Georgia and Texas project as national title contenders, and Texas A&M and Ole Miss are coming off of their first CFP appearances. Will the momentum sustain at Oklahoma? How quickly can Lane Kiffin make progress at LSU? There are a lot of possibilities.
Adelson: I am intrigued to see whether Miami will remain a national championship contender. What happened in 2025 should not be considered a fluke — coach Mario Cristobal has spent years stacking top 15 recruiting classes with elite portal talent. This year is no different, with homegrown talent Malachi Toney and Mark Fletcher Jr. returning, along with key portal additions Darian Mensah, Cooper Barkate and defensive end Damon Wilson II. Miami was not satisfied just playing for the national title. Miami wants to win it. Is Mensah enough of an upgrade at quarterback to make the difference?
Schlabach: Circling back to the SEC, I’m intrigued to see what Ole Miss looks like after Pete Golding’s first offseason in charge, and how much better LSU is under Lane Kiffin. There are new coaches at Kentucky (Will Stein), Florida (Jon Sumrall), Auburn (Alex Golesh) and Arkansas (Ryan Silverfield). The hottest storyline in the SEC, other than Ole Miss vs. LSU, will be if Kalen DeBoer can turn things around at Alabama. Anything short of a 5-0 start won’t go over well in Tuscaloosa.
Wilson: Parity. Indiana gave new hope to the other 99% of college football teams. For most of my lifetime, every season began with what felt like no more than seven or eight legitimate national championship contenders that truly could win it every year. In the past 15 years, you could pick from Alabama, Clemson, Georgia or Ohio State with the occasional Florida State, LSU or Michigan. Those days are gone, as the portal and NIL have thinned out two-deeps, and a team with the right pieces can make a run.
Dinich: Life after Fernando Mendoza at Indiana. Hoo Hoo Hoo’s quarterback, again? Meet TCU’s Josh Hoover, who is a prolific passer with starting experience — and 13 interceptions last season. Will this be a seamless transition at quarterback? Hoover broke TCU’s single-season passing record with 3,949 yards in 2024, and his 9,629 career passing yards are the most among returning FBS quarterbacks. It’s also the second straight offseason IU has had to replace its quarterbacks coach, as Chandler Whitmer, who worked with the Heisman-winning Mendoza last year, is off to the NFL. Whitmer will be replaced by Tino Sunseri, who left IU for UCLA following the 2024 season.
Trotter: Can the Big Ten make it four in a row? The league will have a slew of legitimate national championship contenders once again. Oregon is absolutely loaded, headlined by the return of quarterback Dante Moore. Curt Cignetti has another high-profile quarterback transfer in Hoover and plenty of incoming talent via the transfer portal. Ohio State has a brutal schedule but arguably the best returning offensive trio in the country in quarterback Julian Sayin, running back Bo Jackson and superstar wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. USC (No. 13), Iowa (16), Michigan (18), Washington (19) and Penn State (22) are all in ESPN’s Way-Too-Early Top 25 as well. Another championship would make it hard to argue that the Big Ten isn’t the best football conference in the country.
Lederman: Perhaps this is a bit down ballot, but I’m intrigued to see how the Group of 5 darlings of last fall’s coaching cycle fare in 2026. Bob Chesney (UCLA), Alex Golesh (Auburn), Eric Morris (Oklahoma State), Ryan Silverfield (Arkansas) and Jon Sumrall (Florida) all jumped to Power 4 programs after crushing it in traditional Group of 5 jobs. Now each is staring down a fresh set of challenges and varying levels of expectations. How this group handles the weight of their new jobs could help dictate how rising coaching stars in the Group of 5 are evaluated moving forward.
Which players will be making the biggest impact?
Rittenberg: Incoming transfer quarterbacks have led the last two national championship teams in Will Howard (Ohio State) and Fernando Mendoza (Indiana). We could see similar impacts in 2026 at places such as Texas Tech (Brendan Sorsby), Indiana (Josh Hoover), Miami (Darian Mensah) and LSU (Sam Leavitt), although there are more incumbent QBs for CFP contenders. I also think Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith goes on a tear in what will be his final college season.
Adelson: Speaking of incumbent quarterbacks, it is hard to imagine Dante Moore not having a huge impact in his return to Oregon. Moore could have left and been a top selection in the NFL draft, but his performance in the CFP semifinals left him wanting one more chance to end his career on a much brighter note. Oregon once again has the talent in place to compete for a national championship. Will 2026 be the year with Moore back?
Schlabach: I can’t wait to see what wide receiver Cam Coleman does at Texas. He showed elite potential at Auburn, even as the Tigers couldn’t seem to figure out the quarterback spot under Hugh Freeze. Now that Coleman will be catching passes from Manning, the sky seems to be the limit. He’ll form a scary receiver duo with Ryan Wingo.
Wilson: Miami’s Malachi Toney will be just 18 when the season starts, already with a 109-catch, 1,211-yard season with 10 TDs under his belt, and he didn’t have his first 100-yard game until October. With a year of experience and a full offseason for his coaches to find new ways to use him, the future is scary for “Baby Jesus.”
Dinich: Don’t you guys know that defense wins championships? Nine of Notre Dame’s top 10 tacklers return from 2025. Quarterback CJ Carr will be better in his second season, but as the offense adjusts to life without running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, the Irish should have a championship-caliber defense it can depend on.
Trotter: You all remember Jeremiah Smith, right? Yeah, he’s still in college after two All-American seasons. The rising junior wide receiver remains the most impactful non-quarterback in college football. With several marquee games on Ohio State’s schedule, Smith will have plenty of chances to make his mark on this season.
Lyles: I agree with all of the above, but I’ll add Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood based on his potential. I am excited to see what new offensive coordinator Jason Beck is going to be able to do with him after seeing the success Beck had with Devon Dampier at both New Mexico and Utah. If he’s able to have similar success with the Wolverines, there’s no question Underwood will be one of the more impactful players this season.
Which newcomers should we be keeping tabs on?
Hale: James Franklin at Virginia Tech. No one should reasonably expect Franklin to have the Hokies in the playoff hunt in his first year on the job, but after more than a decade with the program largely adrift, the feeling is the former Penn State coach can finally create some positive vibes around Blacksburg and get Virginia Tech pointed in the right direction. He’s brought in a good bit of talent — much of it from Penn State — and the school is spending money. This isn’t exactly the same as Curt Cignetti raising Indiana from the dead, but the combination of a big-name coach and a cash infusion makes Virginia Tech a great test case for long struggling programs in the revenue share era.
Adelson: I am going to use the newcomer term loosely here and go with a player who is a newcomer on his team — Hollywood Smothers at Texas. The Longhorns have not had a game breaker at running back the past few seasons, and that is what they are banking on Smothers being. Over his time at NC State, Smothers emerged as a versatile, reliable and quick back with the ability to make defenders miss. His addition will help Texas compete for a national title.
Schlabach: How about the 24 transfers joining Matt Campbell at Penn State? Don’t sleep on the Nittany Lions, who bombed in Franklin’s last season in Happy Valley. Quarterback Rocco Becht is a veteran and is familiar with the offense, and running back Carson Hansen is good enough to make the attack balanced. Penn State doesn’t play Indiana, Ohio State or Oregon during the regular season, so it could be a sleeper in the Big Ten.
Wilson: Texas Tech went all in last year in the portal and it paid off big, with a 12-2 season, its first Big 12 championship — and its first outright conference title since 1955 — and a CFP appearance. The one place the Red Raiders didn’t look for new blood last offseason was at quarterback, with Behren Morton returning. Morton completed 67% of his passes with 22 TDs to just four interceptions in the regular season but struggled in his final game, throwing for just 137 yards and two interceptions in a 23-0 playoff loss to Oregon. Tech was not denied in its pursuit of the best player in the portal to replace Morton, adding Cincinnati’s Brendan Sorsby, a Texas native who threw for 2,800 yards with 27 TDs and five INTs, while rushing for 580 yards and nine TDs. The Red Raiders aren’t looking to rebuild, but instead to reload with Sorsby.
Dinich: Alabama’s next QB. With Ty Simpson gone, it will be either Keelon Russell or Austin Mack, and neither has thrown more than 35 career passes. Instead of hitting the transfer portal, coach Kalen DeBoer and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb remained confident one of the first-time starters already in the program can get the job done.
Lederman: How have we gotten this far without mentioning Darian Mensah at reigning national runner-up Miami? In the aftermath of his controversial transfer from Duke, Mensah holds the keys to a Hurricanes offense that includes star running back Mark Fletcher, homegrown phenom Malachi Toney and fellow wide receiver Cooper Barkate, the one-time Harvard pass catcher whom Mensah leaned on for 72 receptions for 1,106 yards and seven touchdowns at Duke in 2025. The circumstances surrounding Mensah’s arrival will only fuel the general off-field spectacle of Miami football. The Hurricanes’ Week 11 visit from Manny Diaz and the Blue Devils should be plenty juicy too.
Lyles: I’ve attended a few Byrum Brown games at South Florida the last couple of seasons, and I’m excited to watch what he’s able to do at Auburn and in the SEC. There’s no question it’s a different game than playing in the American Conference, but Brown is one of the most exciting players in college football when he’s at his best. He has the physicality to play not just in the SEC, but in the NFL. A greater audience will have the chance to become familiar with the aspiring orthodontist this fall.
What teams are going to surprise us?
Rittenberg: Washington has the potential for a breakthrough in its third season under coach Jedd Fisch. The Demond Williams Jr. transfer portal drama certainly is a subplot to watch, but Washington should get past it and rally around its talented junior quarterback and others who have been in the program the past two seasons. Washington ultimately must perform better against the Big Ten’s best teams but has a fairly favorable schedule until the end, when it hosts Indiana (Nov. 21) before visiting rival Oregon (Nov. 28).
Hale: SMU has lost three ACC games since joining the conference — all on field goals (makes by 2024 Clemson and 2025 Wake, and a miss against 2025 Cal) in the final seconds. The Mustangs have proven they belong in the top tier of the conference, claiming a playoff berth in 2024. So, perhaps SMU shouldn’t count as a “surprise” team. But with QB Kevin Jennings returning, a strong portal class and an established defensive front, SMU has the talent to win the ACC — and, perhaps, a playoff game or two — in 2026. Then look at the schedule: After getting FSU and Louisville in the first three games, it’s relatively smooth sailing until a road trip to Notre Dame in late November. It’s not exactly an easy road, but if SMU can start strong and not stumble against lesser talent, there’s every reason to think the Mustangs will be playoff-bound again.
Adelson: Not to go too ACC-heavy here but keep an eye on Cal. The Bears have been an average program for the last decade, hovering around six or seven wins most years. But with Tosh Lupoi in as new head coach, there is fresh perspective and a roster that was put together to win now, with rising sophomore Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele returning after a Freshman All-America season. Cal brought in playmakers at receiver — including Ian Strong from Rutgers — and signed six offensive linemen from the portal as its portal class ranks among the best in the nation. With JKS behind center, Cal should have a chance to win every game. The Bears just have to avoid the too frequent “Cal moments,” that keep holding them back.
Schlabach: Along with Penn State, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Michigan rebound in former Utah coach Kyle Whittingham’s first season. Underwood is going to be great, and tailback Jordan Marshall and receiver Andrew Marsh have a chance to be very, very good. If John Henry Daley bounces back from a lower-leg injury, he’ll be one of the best edge rushers in the country.
Wilson: Willie Fritz shouldn’t qualify as a “surprise” anymore. He’s a two-time national coach of the year, won two juco national championships at Blinn, went to two FCS title games in three seasons at Sam Houston, has won conference titles in four leagues and rebuilt Tulane, leading the Green Wave to their first major bowl win since 1935. After going 4-8 in Year 1 at Houston, the Cougars finished 10-3 last year and bring back quarterback Conner Weigman, landed one of the best portal classes in the Big 12 and signed the No. 1 overall recruit in the country in QB Keisean Henderson. Fritz’s track record suggests Houston could push Texas Tech this season.
Dinich: I haven’t closed the door on Lincoln Riley and USC — yet. This feels like a playoff-or-bust season for Riley, but he’s got the pieces in place to do it. Quarterback Jayden Maiava returns, along with standout running back King Miller and all five of the starting offensive linemen. Riley also lured in the nation’s top recruiting class, and if the Trojans can beef up their defense, a postseason run is possible.
Trotter: Arizona quietly won five games in a row to close out the regular season before falling to SMU in its bowl game. Quarterback Noah Fifita, who had a resurgent 2025 campaign, has 73 career touchdown throws, more than any returning passer in the country. The Wildcats do have several starters to replace on both sides of the ball. But behind Fifita’s experience, they could still emerge as a stealthy playoff contender.
Lederman: How ’bout them (Oklahoma State) Cowboys? It won’t take much for first-year coach Eric Morris and his staff to improve upon the dire 1-11 season the fans in Stillwater endured last fall. It would also be naive to understate the challenge on their hands replacing more than 60% of the program’s scholarship roster from a year ago. But after bringing along quarterback Drew Mestemaker, running back Caleb Hawkins and wide receiver Wyatt Young and 14 other transfers with him from North Texas, Morris & Co. possess some continuity and the core of the nation’s No. 1 scoring offense from a year ago. Combine that with an impressive overall transfer portal class and a relatively favorable 2026 schedule in a fairly wide-open Big 12 behind Texas Tech, and there’s a path for Oklahoma State to get back on track quickly in the fall.
Elizabeth Lemley and Jaelin Kauf won gold and silver for Team USA in women’s freestyle moguls skiing at the Winter Olympics on Wednesday.
Lemley won the eight-skier final with a score of 82.30 points. The 20-year-old from Vail, Colorado, is making her Olympic debut at the Milan Cortina Games.
During the medal ceremony, Lemley’s gold detached from its ribbon, an issue that organizers have acknowledged has been happening to a “limited number” of medalists. At a news conference afterward, Lemley displayed her repaired medal.
Elizabeth Lemley of Team USA celebrates after winning gold in women’s freestyle moguls skiing at Livigno Aerials & Moguls Park in Livigno, Italy, Feb. 11, 2026.
Reuters/Hannah Mckay
Kauf repeated as silver medalist with a score of 80.77. The 29-year-old from Alta, Wyoming, also won silver in 2022 in Beijing.
Both of Kauf’s parents were professional mogul skiers.
“My mom has always been my biggest hero and role model, just watching how she’s just gone at life and done what she’s done, pushing the boundaries,” she told CBS News ahead of the Games.
Jaelin Kauf and Elizabeth Lemley of Team USA hug each other after their runs in the women’s moguls finals at the Winter Olympics in Livigno, Italy, Feb. 11, 2026.
Reuters/Gonzalo Fuentes
Perrine Laffont of France, the 2018 gold medalist, took bronze in Wednesday’s finals.
Defending champion Jakara Anthony of Australia finished eighth after slipping on the last run of the final.
Team USA speed skaters are encountering difficulties with soft ice conditions at the Milan Olympics, leading to several crashes during competitions. Top medal contender Corinne Stoddard fell three times, including in the 500-meter race, where she slipped and took out two opponents, costing her a chance to advance to the finals. She also lost control during the 2000-meter relay semifinals.Skaters have been slipping at the same spot on the track, coming out of a turn. Teammate Julie Letai fell similarly in the mixed-team relay shortly after. In the men’s 1000-meter event, British speed skater Niall Treacy slipped and collided with a Canadian skater. Skaters reported that the ice felt soft on the first day of competition. Short track and figure skating events share the same venue. U.S. Speedskating communications explained that figure skating requirements might call for softer ice, which is not unusual. They stated that skaters will adapt by changing their gear and making adjustments, but emphasized that when it comes to the speed skating Olympic competitions, “We all skate on the same ice.”Team USA trains at the Utah Oval, known for its superior ice quality. Long track skater Casey Dawson previously highlighted the facility’s reputation, saying, “We have some of the best ice technicians in the world working here.” Long track events are held at a different venue in Milan, where the ice conditions have been favorable, with Olympic records being set.Short track speed skating competition continues Thursday.W2lmcmFtZSBzcmM9Imh0dHBzOi8vaGVhcnN0dGVsZXZpc2lvbmRhdGFqb3VybmFsaXNtLmh0dmFwcHMuY29tL29seW1waWNzLzIvbWlsYW4taG9tZXRvd24vaW5kZXguaHRtbCIgc2Nyb2xsaW5nPSJubyIgZnJhbWVib3JkZXI9IjAiIHN0eWxlPSJ3aWR0aDogMDsgbWluLXdpZHRoOiAxMDAlICFpbXBvcnRhbnQ7IGJvcmRlcjogbm9uZTsiIGhlaWdodD0iODUwcHgiXVsvaWZyYW1lXQ==
MILAN, Lombardy —
Team USA speed skaters are encountering difficulties with soft ice conditions at the Milan Olympics, leading to several crashes during competitions.
Top medal contender Corinne Stoddard fell three times, including in the 500-meter race, where she slipped and took out two opponents, costing her a chance to advance to the finals. She also lost control during the 2000-meter relay semifinals.
Skaters have been slipping at the same spot on the track, coming out of a turn.
Teammate Julie Letai fell similarly in the mixed-team relay shortly after.
In the men’s 1000-meter event, British speed skater Niall Treacy slipped and collided with a Canadian skater. Skaters reported that the ice felt soft on the first day of competition.
Short track and figure skating events share the same venue. U.S. Speedskating communications explained that figure skating requirements might call for softer ice, which is not unusual.
They stated that skaters will adapt by changing their gear and making adjustments, but emphasized that when it comes to the speed skating Olympic competitions, “We all skate on the same ice.”
Team USA trains at the Utah Oval, known for its superior ice quality.
Long track skater Casey Dawson previously highlighted the facility’s reputation, saying, “We have some of the best ice technicians in the world working here.” Long track events are held at a different venue in Milan, where the ice conditions have been favorable, with Olympic records being set.
Short track speed skating competition continues Thursday.
Travis Tritt has withstood the test of time, as his songs still resonate with today’s younger country audience, and that audience has been showing him the love on social media over the years.
Tritt told me that fans both young and old message him a lot on social media — some with pictures of his own face tattooed onto various body parts.
He was a guest on Taste of Country Nights in 2023, and when I was going through the archives, I found this tidbit that I just had to share with you.
I asked the “It’s a Great Day to Be Alive” singer if he has seen his face tattooed on anyone’s body before.
Tritt said, “I have, I have. People have sent me photos on Twitter [X] or Instagram of face tattoos that they’ve had done over the years. It’s really a compliment.”
“I remember seeing so many people that were huge fans of people like Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash, y’know, people like that that had their faces tattooed on their bodies at some point or another. It’s always complimentary, it’s a huge compliment — just shows how much of a fan they really are.”
What Were Travis Tritt’s Biggest Songs?
Tritt had a total of 5 No.1 hits on the country charts:
“Help Me Hold On” (1990)
“Anymore” (1991)
“Can I Trust You With My Heart” (1992)
“Foolish Pride” (1994)
“Best of Intentions” (2000)
Interestingly enough, Tritt explained to me how “It’s a Great Day to Be Alive” was never a No.1 song for him, but over the years it has gotten even more popular.
He told me, “It started catching on with a lot of the younger people, and there’s a lot of people today that are in their 20s or whatever, or teens, that basically relate to that song, that’s the main song from me that they know.”
See 50 Essential ’90s Country Songs
If you call yourself a real fan of ’90s country music, you probably need to know the words to all of these hit songs.
Snacks from the ’90s That Have Disappeared
Was there anything better than opening your lunch box and seeing Shark Bites packed in next to some Hi-C Ecto Cooler? A simple pleasure kids of today can’t experience.
What other snacks came and went from our lives in the 1990s and beyond? Follow us as we look back at some ’90s snacks that have since disappeared.
The new Major League Soccer season kicks off in only 10 days with St. Louis City SC and Charlotte FC ringing in things on Saturday, Feb. 21. With the season around the corner, it’s time to address the biggest issue of the off season. How are all the new threads that teams are wearing going to stack up? Due to MLS having a two-year cycle for jerseys, each team has either has released a home or away jersey ahead of this season, which means that they have to be ranked, because what else does one do when given new jerseys?
From music to historically designed kits, there’s a lot to like in here, including the fact that not a single team released something that could be considered a plain white shirt with a logo. Don’t worry, there are plain shirts of other colors with logos, with that out of the way, let’s get ranking.
30. Nashville SC – The Reverb Kit
MLS
You can almost swap this with the next team on our list, Miami, without issue. The yellow is a nice color, but it also seems like a training shirt and could’ve used something else, anything else, to spruce it up.
29. Inter Miami – Presagio
MLS
Is this a training top with an ad? Miami have great colors to work with, and this is what we got? It’ll be everywhere with Lionel Messi’s number 10 on it, but opening a new stadium this season, it would’ve been nice to see a bigger, bolder swing.
28. St. Louis City SC – The Tina Turner Kit
MLS
St. Louis did nail the design of this, looking like a flowing dress that the “Queen of Rock” would wear, but it’s also odd as a soccer jersey. We’ve seen plenty of musical tributes around the league, and this one misses the mark.
27. Houston Dynamo – Mission Control
MLS
The concept of this being a satellite image of Houston is cool and unique, but how this works with their colors on the pitch will be interesting to see. This is one that could grow on you with time, but it’s not catching me right now.
26. San Jose Earthquakes – The Dead Kit
MLS
In what may be the most polarizing kit in the league, you’re either going to love or hate this with no in between. San Jose know their target audience here, honoring the Grateful Dead.
25. Columbus Crew – The Crafted for Excellence kit
MLS
This is better than a standard yellow shirt, thanks to the collar, but there was room to do more.
24. San Diego FC – Unprecedented Unity Kit
MLS
I can’t get past the fact that this looks a bit like an oil spill on a marble countertop. San Diego has such a good team, and they deserve a kit to match.
23. New England Revolution – Independence Day
MLS
One of two America 250-themed jerseys on this list, the utilization of the badge to represent fireworks is cool, but also kind of clunky.
22. Atlanta United – Spirit of 96
MLS
The colors on this jersey are excellent, and it’s cool to get the nod to the Olympic Games in the jersey, but when it comes to everything working together, the off-center sash makes things wonky for me. Central or leaning heavier into the green would’ve been excellent.
21. CF Montreal – The Procure Jersey
MLS
It’s almost there, but it feels like CF Montreal are missing something here. I like the digital look, but they could’ve leaned further in. Instead the kid ends up giving the impression that the printer was running out of ink during printing.
20. FC Cincinnati – The Seven Hills Kit
MLS
You get what Cincinatti are trying to do here, and the orange may end up growing on me, but it feels a bit cluttered. Credit for trying something outside the box.
19. Colorado Rapids – Colorful Colorado
MLS
Uh, I’m not sure where the colors went in this one. It’s clean, and the trim does add to the jersey, making it a nice look, but there’s so much that can be done with the burgundy that the Rapids sport.
18. DC United – The Black and Red Kit
MLS
Technically, there’s red in there. It’s fine, but this is another team with a standard shirt that’s saved by a nice detail in the trim.
17. Chicago Fire – Forever Red
MLS
You always know what you’re going to get in Chicago’s looks. The iconic red with a white stripe is instantly recognizable, and collars are always a nice touch. There’s a thin line between classic and boring, but Chicago are on the right side of it. Just.
16. Orlando City SC – Sunken Treasure Kit
MLS
This is a tough one, while I think the purple elements are great, it doesn’t feel like there’s enough contrast in the shades of yellow, making the details hard to make out but it could seem different in person or on the pitch.
15. Austin FC – The Rooted Kit
MLS
Mint green is becoming a good look for Austin, as this is a clean jersey. The black of the Adidas stripes seems a little out of place here, but for working with a unique color, Austin have created something recognizable even when they don’t use their primary colors, which is impressive.
14. LA Galaxy – The VeloCITY kit
MLS
The Galaxy are an iconic brand in American soccer, so it makes sense that their home kit will reflect that. It’s not a bad thing that it only reaches the top half of the new releases; that’s a credit to improvement around the board.
13. Minnesota United – The Decade Kit
MLS
Minnesota are another club that does jerseys well. This is a great way to add a sash without it taking over a jersey, and the slight color elements are excellent.
12. Red Bull New York – The Rooted Kit
MLS
Going back to black but spicing it up in a nice way, this is a great way to usher in the Michael Bradley era at the club as he takes over at manager.
11. New York City FC – The All Nations Kit
MLS
Fitting design undertones in without making a shirt too busy can be tough, but the way NYCFC executed this is great. It’s also the club’s way of honoring the five boroughs ahead of the World Cup.
10. Charlotte FC – Carolina Kit: Crowns Up
MLS
An excellent one, as simplicity is better with this stellar shade of blue. The crowns integrated into the sleeves and the collar are a nice touch in an all-around great look.
9. Seattle Sounders – The Evergreen kit
MLS
Mostly monotone jerseys can be great — it’s all about the detail, and that’s something that Seattle nail. The slight texture in their iconic green also helps the logo pop, which is a nice touch. The ultimate if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it look.
8. Portland Timbers – Civic Stadium Kit
MLS
A lovely shade of green rarely seen in MLS, the Timbers are honoring the 100th anniversary of Providence Park in this look. The arches are a nice touch in a kit that will age well.
7. FC Dallas – DNA Kit
MLS
The name nails it. Dallas do a great job of giving an iconic look a fresh feel, and it’s a nice touch putting some space between the hoops. This will look great on and off the pitch.
6. Real Salt Lake – The Switchback
MLS
More hoops is always a good thing. Real Salt Lake have great colors, and this kit uses them well. The detail of the mountains is a nice touch in what is an all-around great look.
5. Vancouver – The Coastal Jersey
MLS
On one hand, this is a simple look that may be a bit understated, but the mountains around the collar and cuffs are such a nice touch, while even the sponsor looks like it belongs. A jersey doesn’t always have to be busy to be great.
4. Toronto FC – Winter Kit
MLS
Refreshed roster and a refreshed kit to match. This is a clean look and immediately identifiable as Toronto’s. The six stripes are also a nice touch to represent local communities.
3. Philadelphia Union – 1776 Kit
MLS
Looking to honor Philadelphia’s place in America’s history, the Union hit all the right notes here with elements of the team and city mixed throughout their unique jersey. It may be a little strange to keep this as a home look for two years, but right now as part of America’s 250th birthday, Ben Franklin a solid look.
2. Los Angeles FC – 2026 Primary Kit
MLS
When your primary colors are black and gold, making a stunning kit is easier than some teams have it but the attention to detail is where LAFC nail it by weaving the gold into the jersey while still giving it a striking appearance.
1. Sporting Kansas City – The 18th & Vine Kit
MLS
Sporting with another banger. The jersey honors their jazz district, and you can pick up the vibe just from looking at it. Excellent work all around in a shirt that will age well with time.
