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No. 19 Ole Miss braces for Arkansas

NCAA Football: Louisiana State at ArkansasOct 19, 2024; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback Taylen Green (10) passes as LSU Tigers defensive end Paris Shand (0) defends during the second quarter at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images

In the always dangerous Southeastern Conference — where seemingly easier, unranked matchups on paper become 60-minute battles on the field — coach Lane Kiffin and No. 19 Ole Miss understand what can happen one state to the west.

Ole Miss (6-2, 2-2) will face one of those situations Saturday afternoon when it meets Arkansas (5-3, 3-2) in Fayetteville, Ark.

Both teams are part of a glut of two-loss SEC teams, as the Rebels and Razorbacks join No. 14 Alabama and No. 25 Missouri as programs that cannot afford a third defeat if the College Football Playoffs remain the end goal.

Like Arkansas, Vanderbilt (5-3, 2-2), one of the season’s best stories, and Florida (4-3, 2-2) have two SEC setbacks. Their third losses overall — non-conference ones — are practically an eliminator when it comes to at-large CFP consideration, however.

Favored Ole Miss should be wary of the Razorbacks on Saturday, and Kiffin need look no further than the plight of one of the schools he coached, Tennessee.

Ranked No. 4, the Vols cruised down to Fayetteville and lost 19-14 on Oct. 5, destroying their top-five position nearly as soon as they achieved it.

Kiffin and Arkansas’ Sam Pittman have been in wild games against each other, including a 52-51 Ole Miss home win in 2021, when the Razorbacks missed a potential game-winning, two-point conversion on the final play.

The home coach has won all four meetings between Kiffin and Pittman.

“We’ve had a lot of really tough matchups over time with them since we’ve been here,” the Rebels’ coach said Monday.

Arkansas has eclipsed last season’s four-win total by winning every other week since opening conference play with a 24-14 win at Auburn in Week 4.

In its 58-25 blowout of host Mississippi State last Saturday, Arkansas was dazzling behind quarterback Taylen Green, who passed for five scores, ran for one TD and led an offense that gained 675 yards.

Green has 2,451 all-purpose yards and 16 touchdowns — 11 passing, five rushing — and has ignited the offense following the departure of three-year starter KJ Jefferson to UCF.

The Razorbacks rank seventh nationally in total offense — with an average of 482.5 yards per game — while Ole Miss grids second (538.1).

Pittman said these Rebels are different from the past: The defense might be better than the offense. Former Razorbacks linebacker Chris “Pooh” Paul Jr. has a team-high 58 tackles.

“I just thought he was physical and played so hard,” Kiffin said of why he added Paul in the offseason. “He got hurt in our game against them a year ago. It was just different when he was in there, a difference-maker. He’s been great for us.”

The difference in Ole Miss’ defense is noticeable.

“They’ve always played well on defense, but you’re looking at the No. 1 rush defense in the country and No. 1 in points allowed,” Pittman said. “Their front is deep, and they’re very good at every defensive position. (Paul) is their leading tackler. He’s playing extremely well. They’re just really good defensively.

“You think about Ole Miss, you (usually) think about offense.”

Pittman said top running back Ja’Quinden Jackson and defensive back Jaylon Braxton are doubtful for Saturday’s game because of injuries, while running back Rodney Hill is probable.

–Field Level Media

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Chiefs unveil renderings of new $3B stadium schedule to open in '31

The Kansas City Chiefs' new enclosed stadium is scheduled to open in Kansas City, Kansas, in 2031.The Kansas City Chiefs’ new enclosed stadium is scheduled to open in Kansas City, Kansas, in 2031.

Though the exact location of the Kansas City Chiefs’ new stadium in Kansas has not been finalized, the team on Wednesday revealed the first renderings of the $3 billion, fully enclosed dome set to open for the 2031 season.

Paying homage to Arrowhead Stadium, the team’s home since 1972, the dome will feature a symmetrical, curved exterior, including a scalloped upper deck in both end zones. It will also feature a ceiling of translucent ethylene tetrafluoroethylene panels and be surrounded by 20,000 parking spots.

The stadium will have 70,000 seats and fulfill the request of several season-ticket holders of amplifying crowd noise, club owner Clark Hunt said in a team statement. Arrowhead regained the Guinness world record in 2014 for loudest stadium at 142.2 decibels.

“From the beginning, our goal has been to build something that (improves) the gameday experience for every single fan,” Hunt said in the statement. “This new stadium will do just that. It’s spectacular. It honors the rich legacy of this franchise while setting a bold course for the future of Chiefs Kingdom.”

Hunt added that he and his family will commit $1 billion in additional development to the stadium and the mixed-use district, which includes the team’s new training facility. Kansas lawmakers voted unanimously in late December to allow for sales tax and revenue (STAR) bounds to be issued to cover up to $70% of the cost of the entire project.

“I’ve been thrilled with what I’ve seen,” Hunt said in late March. “It’s very, very exciting. Our fanbase is going to get an incredible stadium, something that’ll be iconic and serve the community well for a minimum of 30 years — and hopefully closer to 60.”

As for the location, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly said the dome would be in Wyandotte County. The Chiefs have shown interest in having it built near the Kansas City Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas, which is also near The Legends – a retail and entertainment district. That area also features Children’s Mercy Park, where the MLS club Sporting Kansas City calls home.

When the new dome opens, the Chiefs plan to bid to host their first Super Bowl, among other major sporting events, including the World Cup and College Football Playoff games.

“When the World Cup comes back (to America) in 25 or 30 years, the field will be designed so that we don’t have to do the work that we had to do to (expand the field’s width) on Arrowhead in order to host the World Cup,” Hunt said during the NFL draft. “We’ll plan on bidding on Final Fours, College Football Playoff games, bowl games and, of course, a Super Bowl. The construction of the stadium is going to coincide with the construction of several other new NFL buildings, so we are going to have some competition.

“I’ll make sure that the Chiefs and Kansas City put their best foot forward in that process.”

–Field Level Media

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Red Sox tie club mark with 15th straight win in DH opener vs. O's

Jul 22, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox third baseman Caleb Durbin (5) hits a two run RBI double against the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn ImagesJul 22, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox third baseman Caleb Durbin (5) hits a two run RBI double against the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images

Ceddanne Rafaela homered, Jarren Duran drove in three runs and the Boston Red Sox tied a franchise record for consecutive victories with 15 by beating the visiting Baltimore Orioles 6-3 in the first game of a split doubleheader Wednesday.

The Red Sox, who also won 15 straight during the 1946 season, haven’t lost since a 10-2 home setback against the Washington Nationals on July 1.

Boston starter Jake Bennett (6-3) pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on nine hits and struck out five. Aroldis Chapman tossed a scoreless ninth to earn his 23rd save of 2026 and 390th overall, tying him for ninth on the all-time list with former Red Sox pitcher Dennis Eckersley.

Dean Kremer (1-3) gave up six runs on eight hits in six innings. He struck out five and walked one.

Rafaela, Caleb Durbin and Willson Contreras each collected two hits for the Red Sox, who never trailed.

Baltimore received a solo home run from Christian Encarnacion-Strand, who had three hits and two RBIs.

Durbin’s two-run single and a two-run triple from Duran handed Boston a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first.

Baltimore made it 4-1 in the third, when Pete Alonso doubled and scored on Tyler O’Neill’s two-out double that Rafaela lost in the sun.

The Red Sox regained a four-run lead in the bottom of the third. Durbin scored on Duran’s sacrifice fly to make it a 5-1 contest.

Encarnacion-Strand’s home run came against Bennett in the fourth and cut Boston’s lead to 5-2. It was his second home run in as many games since being called up from Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday.

Rafaela’s home run, his ninth of the season, extended Boston’s edge to 6-2 in the bottom of the fourth, but Encarnacion-Strand’s third hit of the game was an RBI single that drove in Coby Mayo and trimmed Boston’s advantage to 6-3 in the sixth.

–Field Level Media

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Guardians star 3B Jose Ramirez activated, batting second

Jun 8, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez (11) celebrates after scoring during the third inning against the New York Yankees at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn ImagesJun 8, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez (11) celebrates after scoring during the third inning against the New York Yankees at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

In a virtual tie atop the American League Central, the Cleveland Guardians received a major boost with the activation of star third baseman Jose Ramirez, who is in the starting lineup and batting second Wednesday against the visiting Minnesota Twins.

Ramirez, 33, a seven-time All-Star and six-time Silver Slugger, had been out since June 13 with a left hamate fracture. He underwent surgery three days later and was given a timetable of five to seven weeks. Wednesday marked five weeks and a day since the procedure.

In a corresponding move, outfielder Kahlil WIlson was optioned to Triple-A Columbus.

Without Ramirez, the Guardians went 15-15 but struggled offensively, ranking 28th in the majors in runs (121) and 26th in OPS (.690). In 72 games this season, the 14-year veteran is hitting .239 with 10 home runs and 33 RBIs, along with 18 doubles and 24 stolen bases.

In other injury news, Cleveland outfielder Angel Martinez began a rehab assignment on Friday after suffering a non-displaced left foot fracture the same day of Ramirez’s injury.

Martinez played seven innings in his third rehab game for Triple-A Akron on Tuesday and could be activated by this weekend, MLB.com reported. In 66 games this season for Cleveland, he has hit .239 with 11 home runs and 33 RBIs.

–Field Level Media

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