NFL

Chiefs receive: WR DeAndre Hopkins

Titans receive: 2025 fifth-round pick

For his lofty standards, Patrick Mahomes has struggled this season, so adding Hopkins should give the quarterback and the 6-0 Chiefs a lift. Hopkins isn’t the dominant outside force he was from 2014-2020, but the five-time All-Pro still attracts plenty of attention. Hopkins has recorded 15 receptions for 173 yards and one touchdown this season; he should reach 800 yards by the end of the year as a member of the Chiefs.

The fifth-round selection heading to Tennessee has a decent chance of becoming a fourth rounder, but even if it doesn’t, this trade forges a path toward a needed rebuild the Music City. In the meantime, with Hopkins gone, the Titans can feature Calvin Ridley to see how much the 29-year-old has left in the tank.

Chiefs’ Grade: A-

Titans’ Grade: C

Seahawks receive: LB Ernest Jones

Titans receive: LB Jerome Baker and 2025 fourth-round pick

Jones and Baker are similar-caliber linebackers, so it’s hard to understand why Seattle parted with a fourth-round selection to complete this deal. Sure, Jones is just 24 and Baker is 27, but that difference isn’t enough to justify this trade — not to mention that Baker is better in coverage. Seattle leads the NFC West, but it shouldn’t be in the business of making short-sighted moves like this.

Another Titans trade — although this one is better for 1-5 Tennessee. Adding — and taking advantage of — draft capital should be the name of the game for the Titans in the short term. Baker can also serve as a useful piece for Tennessee, as the Ohio State product has registered 37 tackles and a sack this year.

Seahawks’ Grade: D+

Titans’ Grade: A-

NCAAF

Kennesaw State 27, Liberty 24

Whoa. It could’ve been argued that Kennesaw State was the worst team in the FBS entering this week. Losing its first six games as a first-year member of college football’s highest division, the Owls didn’t create a strong argument against that notion. Last night, however, was monumental for the program, giving Kennesaw State its first FBS win in program history — and taking down the Conference USA favorite in the process.

It took some unordinary performances to pull this upset, most notably from Davis Bryson. The run-first quarterback was efficient as a passer in this game, finishing 16-of-20 for 189 yards and one touchdown.

Can the Owls continue their magic next week at Western Kentucky? Almost certainly not, but that doesn’t take anything away from the blast that was last night.

What a disaster for Liberty. The Flames generated some CFP discussion, but that was mostly on the back of a laughably weak schedule. Now 5-1, those hopes are gone for Liberty, victim of one of the biggest upsets in college football this season.

The talented Kaidon Salter did what he could for the Flames yesterday, but it wasn’t enough. Salter tallied 293 total yards and three passing touchdowns in the defeat.

Liberty gets an upstart Jacksonville State team next week. I expect the Flames to respond with a win.

Jacksonville State 42, Middle Tennessee 20

Rich Rodriguez might have something cooking at Jacksonville State. The Gamecocks are now 3-0 in Conference USA play thanks to a strong rushing attack. Jacksonville State ran for 438 yards and five touchdowns in this win.

The losses continue to pile up for 2-6 Middle Tennessee. The good news? The Blue Raiders face 1-7 UTEP next.

NBA

Pacers 115, Pistons 109

Indiana started this game slow, mostly a product of its three-point attempts not falling, but 20 points from Myles Turner and 19 from Pascal Siakam were enough to sneak by. I’ll advocate until the end of time for T.J. McConnell to receive more minutes. The outstanding backup point guard was 7-for-8 with 14 points and four assists yesterday.

The Pistons are at the point in their rebuild where moral victories aren’t enough. J.B. Bickerstaff was hired to take Detroit to the next level, but this game wasn’t a good start, as the Pistons were penalized for having six players on the court at one point. Detroit needs to clean that up, but also the play surrounding Cade Cunningham. The 23-year-old had a strong showing, recording 28 points, five rebounds and eight assists.

Cavaliers 136, Raptors 106

There’s some sneaky potential for Cleveland to emerge as a regular-season force, mostly thanks to extreme continuity. Wins are good. Continuity is good. What’s better, though? Progress, particularly from Evan Mobley. The 23-year-old displayed plenty of it yesterday, posting 25 points, eight rebounds and three blocks. Donovan Mitchell, of course, is the Cavaliers’ best player, but the team will go as far as Mobley takes it.

One game doesn’t make a season, but it might be a long year in Toronto. The Raptors were missing a few players in this game, but there’s no silver lining in getting boat raced. Scottie Barnes was bad in this loss, going 3-for-14 with nine points.