​It started with a viral contest. It ended in heartbreak — and an important lesson: Calling plays in real life isn't as easy as it appears in video games.Marty Whims II — a longtime season-ticket holder and Akron graduate — got to experience the joy and frustration of being the offensive coordinator for the Zips on Saturday as part of the program's "Offensive Coordinator of the Game" contest. Unfortunately, the dream opportunity only lasted four plays. Akron was moving the ball on its first possession against Robert Morris when wide receiver Marcel Williams fumbled at the Colonials’ 37-yard line. David Johnson recovered the ball after Tasheen Howard and Jake Lopinto forced the fumble. "We moved the ball, got some first downs. I thought we were going to get a touchdown if we didn’t fumble," Whims said shortly after his OC stint ended. Only season-ticket and suite holders were eligible for the contest. Suites sold out for the first time since InfoCision Stadium opened in 2009. Akron had more than 23 million social media views and an influx of new season ticket-holders since the contest was announced Aug. 4. Fans from 38 states and as far away as Germany became Zips season-ticket holders, including Jon Gruden, Pat McAfee, and Dan "Big Cat" Katz. Every season and suite ticket counted as an entry (four tickets, four entries). Season ticket holders also received extra entries for each new buyer they referred. Whims and Akron head coach Joe Moorhead met Friday to go over strategy and review game film before coming up with a 20-play script. Nick Saban — no stranger to the Mid-American Conference after graduating from rival Kent State and coaching one year at Toledo — told Whims on Saturday to get the play in quickly and "stay ahead of the sticks and run the ball. All the fans are going to want you to throw it. Run the ball. You won’t get criticized as much." Whims was staying ahead of the sticks until a false start penalty on right guard Nate Hampton put the Zips in third-and-6. Williams had the necessary yards for the first down on his catch, only to turn it over. Because of the turnover, Whims was unable to try Saban’s third idea: "Don’t get cute, but if you’re gonna get cute, throw the damn flea flicker. The fans will love it." Whims stayed on the sideline behind Akron’s bench before going back to the stands to watch the game with his three sons. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Read More

​Oklahoma State hadn't won a football game since last September. It was a 21-game losing streak to FBS opponents, to be exact. But Saturday, the Cowboys beat the No. 6 team in the country, so fans in attendance celebrated accordingly. Oklahoma State fans rushed the field at Boone Pickens Stadium immediately after the final whistle blew on a 39-31 upset win over No. 6 Oregon, tore down one of the goal posts, and carried it around campus and into Theta Pond — a small campus body of water that's become the traditional dumping ground for goal posts after big Cowboys wins, notably dating back to the Cowboys' 2023 Bedlam win over Oklahoma. As the goal post went on its way toward Theta Pond, Oklahoma State fans then rubbed salt into Oregon's wound. The Cowboys blasted "Shout" over the stadium speakers — the same song Oregon plays between the third and fourth quarters at Autzen Stadium to fire up its home crowd. The Cowboys entered Saturday as roughly 24-point underdogs while carrying the longest active losing streaks in the country: 12 straight games overall and 21 consecutive losses against FBS competition. With the win, Oklahoma State became the first program in FBS history to snap a losing streak of 10 or more games by beating a top-10 opponent. It was also the Cowboys' first win over an FBS opponent in nearly two full seasons. The result carried extra weight given recent history between the two programs. Almost exactly a year earlier, Oregon routed Oklahoma State 69-3, the worst loss of Mike Gundy's two-decade tenure as head coach. Oklahoma State finished that season 1-11, Gundy was fired, and Eric Morris was hired to replace him. In his first game as head coach in Stillwater, Morris beat the same team that had delivered his predecessor's lowest point. While the fans took over the field after the game, quarterback Drew Mestemaker led the way during regulation. He outplayed Oregon quarterback Dante Moore, a name already circled by NFL scouts ahead of the 2027 draft, finishing with 317 passing yards and two touchdowns while adding 109 rushing yards and a score on the ground. Oregon briefly took a 31-30 lead early in the fourth quarter on a 38-yard touchdown pass from Moore to Evan Stewart. Mestemaker answered, leading Oklahoma State on a 13-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a 10-yard touchdown run to put the Cowboys back in front. Kicker Sam Keltner added a 31-yard field goal to push the margin to eight, and Oklahoma State's defense closed it out by forcing a fumble on Oregon's final possession. See ya later, goal post. You will be remembered for generations to come. Read More

​This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Boxing fans have a massive showdown to follow this weekend as Ryan Garcia puts his WBC welterweight title on the line against Conor Benn at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Garcia enters as the favorite, while Benn looks to pull off the upset in his first world title challenge. Odds are available on DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, bet365 and more for Garcia vs. Benn, giving bettors plenty of ways to wager on the main event. The card also features Jai Opetaia vs. Noel Mikaelian in the co-main event, along with Mark Magsayo vs. Andres Cortes and Jose Ramirez vs. Alexis Rocha. The fight takes place Saturday, Sept. 12, with the main card streaming live on Paramount+ in the U.S. Garcia is making his first title defense after defeating Mario Barrios, while Benn enters the matchup with wins over Regis Prograis and Chris Eubank Jr. Both fighters made weight Friday, setting the stage for a high-profile U.S. vs. U.K. clash in Las Vegas. Catch the best odds and new users promos. FanDuel Bet $5, Get $350 in Bet Reset Tokens for 7 Days Garcia vs. Benn Odds *Odds may differ each site* DraftKings Claim the New User Offer No Promo Code Needed Exact Method of Victory *Odds may differ each site* Caesars Sportsbook Sign Up and Claim the Caesars Sportsbook Promo Code Method of Victory *Odds may differ each site* bet365 How to claim bet365 Promo with Bonus Code ‘FOX365’. Fight Winner & Total Knockdowns *Odds may differ each site* BetMGM How to Sign Up and Claim the BetMGM Sportsbook Bonus Code Read More

​This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Boxing fans have a major fight to follow this weekend, and Kalshi is giving new users another reason to tune in. Use promo code FOXSPORTS to get a $25 bonus ahead of Ryan Garcia vs. Conor Benn, with a world title and plenty of questions surrounding both fighters on the line. Benn will get his first shot at a world title against Garcia, who is making the first defense of his green-and-gold belt. Benn made a drastic weight cut after previously fighting at middleweight. The Las Vegas card also features Zuffa cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia defending his title against Noel Mikaelian in the co-main event. With Garcia defending his belt, Benn chasing his first world championship and Opetaia putting his title on the line, there is plenty to watch throughout the Las Vegas card. Use promo code FOXSPORTS on Kalshi to get a $25 bonus and get ready for Ryan Garcia vs. Conor Benn tonight. For more information and full terms and conditions, visit our Kalshi promo code page. How to Claim the Kalshi Welcome Bonus Ryan Garcia vs. Conor Benn *Probabilities are subject to change* More markets available on Kalshi. Where to watch Garcia vs. Benn Method of Victory Read More

​Michigan’s improbable Week 1 victory over Western Michigan added another unforgettable finish to the college football history books. The "Big Noon Kickoff" crew revisited some of the sport’s most legendary endings, from the band on the field in the 1982 Cal-Stanford game to Michigan State’s stunning last-second touchdown against Michigan in 2015. The list also included two other miraculous finishes at the Big Ten House, including Michigan's victory over the Broncos. Here’s a look at the wildest finishes in college football history: With four seconds remaining, Stanford took a 20-19 lead over California on a field goal. Then, the Golden Bears used five laterals on the ensuing kickoff return to score the winning touchdown, with members of the Stanford Band already on the field celebrating what they thought was a win. The finish became one of the most iconic moments in college football history. Miami took a 45-41 lead late in the fourth quarter. Boston College quarterback Doug Flutie threw up a desperation pass toward the end zone as time expired. Wide receiver Gerard Phelan came down with the pass for the game-winning score, creating the legendary "Hail Flutie." Michigan looked to be on its way to a win as Colorado had six seconds remaining and the ball at its own 36-yard line. Buffaloes quarterback Kordell Stewart launched a Hail Mary pass, which was tipped near the goal line and landed in the hands of Colorado wide receiver Michael Westbrook for a 64-yard touchdown. "For me, the Colorado game probably hurts the most," FOX Sports NFL analyst Charles Woodson said during the segment. Woodson, who was a young recruit at the time, attended the game and recalled leaving early with his cousin to beat traffic. "Next thing you know, Hail Mary," Woodson said. "I can’t believe it. That one hurt the most." Notre Dame looked poised to pull off a massive upset over No. 1-ranked USC. With the game on the line, USC quarterback Matt Leinart was pushed into the end zone by running back Reggie Bush for the game-winning touchdown. The play became known as the "Bush Push" and remains one of the most controversial finishes in college football history. With the game tied at 28 and one second remaining, Alabama attempted a 57-yard field goal to win the 2013 version of the Iron Bowl. The kick was short, and Auburn’s Chris Davis caught the ball in the end zone and returned it 109 yards for a touchdown as time expired, giving the Tigers a stunning victory over the Crimson Tide. Michigan was seconds away from defeating its in-state rival when a botched punt created one of the most improbable endings in college football history. Michigan punter Blake O’Neill mishandled the snap, and Michigan State’s Jalen Watts-Jackson scooped up the loose ball and returned it for a touchdown, leaving Wolverine fans stunned inside the Big House. Michigan trailed Western Michigan 12-7 in the final seconds of Kyle Whittingham’s coaching debut when quarterback Bryce Underwood launched a Hail Mary toward the end zone. The pass fell incomplete as the clock hit zero, and Western Michigan players began celebrating what they believed was a historic upset. But officials determined that the clock should have one second remaining. Given a second chance, Underwood connected with wide receiver JJ Buchanan on a 47-yard touchdown pass to lift Michigan to a 13-12 victory. According to Big Noon Kickoff's Dave Portnoy, the finish belongs near the top of the list. "I have it at No. 3 all time," Portnoy said. "Everyone thought it was over. My phone was blowing up. I’m getting texts. Everyone always wants to stick it to Michigan." Portnoy added that the only finishes he would rank ahead of Michigan’s latest miracle were the 1982 Cal-Stanford game and Flutie’s Hail Mary against Miami in 1984. Read More

​This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. College football is back, and Kalshi is giving new users another reason to follow one of the biggest games on the Week 2 slate. Use promo code FOXSPORTS to get a $25 bonus and make your trade on the highly anticipated Ohio State vs. Texas showdown. Ohio State looks to repeat last season's win over Texas, but this year's game is in Austin. Steve Sarkisan and quarterback Arch Manning have the weapons to make a deep run this season, and it all starts with this massive game. With two College Football Playoff contenders going head-to-head, Ohio State-Texas is one of the biggest games college football fans won't want to miss. The Week 1 schedule features plenty of other major matchups and top teams, giving college football fans plenty to follow beyond Ohio State and Texas. Use promo code FOXSPORTS on Kalshi to get a $25 bonus and add another way to follow the biggest games throughout the college football season. For more information and full terms and conditions, visit our Kalshi promo code page. How to Claim the Kalshi Welcome Bonus *Probabilities are subject to change* No. 4 Texas Longhorns vs. No. 1 Ohio State More markets available on Kalshi. How to Watch Ohio State vs. Texas Players to Watch A rematch of last season's Cotton Bowl semifinal puts extra weight on how Ohio State's quarterback handles the moment, and Julian Sayin has answered every question so far. He completed 21 of 25 passes for 320 yards and three touchdowns, and added a rushing score, in a 56-3 rout of Ball State to open the year. Saturday brings a different level of competition in Arch Manning and a Texas defense that will test his accuracy under duress. If Sayin sustains that efficiency against ranked competition, Ohio State's national title defense stays on track from the opening weekend. Texas needed its quarterback to look like a Heisman contender right away, and Arch Manning obliged, throwing for 305 yards and four touchdowns against one interception in a 59-7 win over Texas State. That performance came against overmatched competition; Saturday's visit from top-ranked Ohio State is the real measuring stick for a Longhorns team that lost to these same Buckeyes in last season's Cotton Bowl. Manning found three different receivers for scores in the opener, spreading the ball well beyond Cam Coleman. A poised outing against Ohio State's defense would validate Texas as a genuine playoff contender rather than a team still chasing signature wins. Coming off a two-touchdown, 151-yard afternoon against Ball State, Jeremiah Smith enters the Texas game as the most proven weapon on either side of the ball. His first score was a contested, one-handed grab in the end zone off play action, the kind of play that turns a clean coverage rep into a disaster for a secondary. Texas showed some vulnerability on the perimeter in its opener, and Smith's size and ball skills make him a matchup problem regardless of who lines up across from him. If he draws similar attention Saturday, it should open room underneath for Ohio State's running game against a Longhorns' defense that has to respect him on every snap. Cam Coleman needed only three catches to make his Texas debut memorable, turning them into 70 yards and two touchdowns, including a 44 yard connection with Arch Manning, in the win over Texas State. The Auburn transfer arrived in Austin as the consensus top non-quarterback name in the transfer portal, and the early chemistry with Manning already looks ahead of schedule. Ohio State's secondary returns plenty of experience but will see a different blend of speed and catch radius in Coleman than it faced in the opener. A big play from him against a ranked opponent would confirm Texas found its most explosive answer to replacing last year's receiving corps. Read More