Huffman Sports Wire News Break · ALL · Reporting · Published · Huffman Sports Wire News Desk
Houston’s trip to Macao opened with a preseason victory and a productive return for Fred VanVleet. Back in the United States, quarterback availability in Baltimore and pitching decisions in Cleveland are among the biggest questions heading into the weekend.
Huffman Sports Wire’s Friday afternoon edition brings together the latest NFL, MLB and NBA developments, a college basketball roundup across conferences and a preview of tonight’s Florida State–Louisville football game.
NBA: Houston defeats Dallas 135–117 in Macao
The Rockets defeated the Mavericks 135–117 at The Venetian Arena, turning Friday’s early-morning matchup into a strong offensive start to their preseason. Houston led 65–45 at halftime and made 18 of 36 three-point attempts for the game.
Fred VanVleet scored 17 points, made five three-pointers and handed out seven assists. Alperen Sengun supplied a triple-double with 16 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, while Tari Eason led Houston with 20 points off the bench. Kevin Durant added 15 points.
Cooper Flagg led Dallas with 19 points and six rebounds, while Kyrie Irving did not play. The teams meet again in Macao on Sunday, October 11, at 6 a.m. ET on NBA TV and NBA League Pass. Friday’s result is a preseason win, not a regular-season record change.
NFL: Baltimore prepares for Jackson or Huntley against Atlanta
Baltimore is building separate offensive plans for Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley ahead of Sunday’s game against Atlanta. NFL.com reported Friday that Jackson missed Wednesday and Thursday practices while recovering from the ankle injury that ended his Week 4 appearance.
Offensive coordinator Declan Doyle is preparing to call the game differently depending on which quarterback is available. The Ravens have said Jackson does not have to practice to play, leaving his game status unresolved in the report. Huntley went 2–0 as Baltimore’s starter in 2025 and remains the alternative if Jackson cannot go.
Dallas, meanwhile, is dealing with the fallout from its 24–16 loss to Tampa Bay. Owner Jerry Jones expressed disappointment with the Cowboys’ performance, particularly the Buccaneers’ physical play and rushing success. Dallas fell to 2–3 after losing to a Tampa Bay team that entered the game winless.
MLB: Game 5 pitching remains unsettled as the LCS schedule takes shape
Cleveland and Chicago have a Friday off-day before their deciding ALDS game at Progressive Field on Saturday, October 10, at 8 p.m. ET. MLB.com’s Game 5 preview still lists both starting pitchers as TBD, with the series tied 2–2.
Gavin Williams threw 18 pitches in relief to finish Cleveland’s Game 4 victory, complicating a potential Saturday start. The White Sox expect Sean Burke to pitch in some capacity, but manager Will Venable has not committed to using him as the starter. Both clubs are planning around pitching staffs that have already carried substantial workloads in the series.
The winner heads to Tampa Bay for ALCS Game 1 on Monday, October 12, at 8 p.m. ET. The National League Championship Series begins first: the Dodgers visit the Brewers on Sunday, October 11, at 8 p.m. ET on FOX. Saturday’s ALDS finale airs on TBS, truTV, HBO Max and UniMas.
NCAAB: Friday exhibitions and a conference-wide preseason outlook
North Carolina and USC meet tonight at 7 p.m. ET at First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, with ACC Network carrying the exhibition. Michael Malone makes his first sideline appearance as the Tar Heels’ head coach, beginning the process of fitting 11 newcomers around returning senior forward Jarin Stevenson.
Virginia also hosts Richmond at 7 p.m. ET, giving the Cavaliers and Spiders another preseason opportunity to assess their rotations. In Lincoln, Nebraska welcomes Saint Louis at 8 p.m. ET. The Huskers’ official schedule includes a free video stream for that exhibition.
The American Conference supplied a league-wide update Friday when its coaches selected Wichita State as the preseason favorite. The Shockers received nine first-place votes and 140 points; Memphis collected the other four first-place votes and finished second with 131 points.
The rest of the coaches’ projected order is South Florida, Tulsa, Charlotte, UAB, North Texas, Florida Atlantic, Temple, Tulane, East Carolina, Rice and UTSA. That covers all 13 teams in the conference, not just its favorites. This is the American’s preseason coaches’ poll, separate from Huffman Sports Wire’s Top 25.
Individual honors also reached beyond the poll’s top two: North Texas guard Je’Shawn Stevenson was named Preseason Player of the Year, and Florida Atlantic guard Felipe Quinones earned Preseason Freshman of the Year. South Florida’s Sonny Wilson and Florida Atlantic’s Kanaan Carlyle joined Stevenson, Memphis’ Jayden Reid and Wichita State’s Will Berg on the preseason first team.
Duke and Belmont remain part of the broader preseason picture after the Blue Devils’ 102–62 scrimmage victory Thursday. Dame Sarr and Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje each scored 19 points. Duke next hosts Tennessee on Tuesday, October 20, at 7 p.m. ET on ACC Network. Exhibition and scrimmage results do not count toward regular-season records.
Sources: North Carolina Athletics · Virginia Athletics · Nebraska Athletics · American Conference · Duke Athletics
NCAAF: Florida State visits Louisville tonight at 7 p.m. ET
Florida State and Louisville meet tonight at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium in an ACC matchup televised by ESPN. The Seminoles enter at 3–2 overall and 1–1 in conference play, while Louisville is 2–3 and looking to end a two-game losing streak.
Ashton Daniels is the central challenge for Louisville’s defense. The Florida State quarterback rushed for 136 yards and five touchdowns in the Seminoles’ 38–7 victory over Virginia, earning Davey O’Brien National co-Quarterback of the Week recognition. He also threw for 183 yards in that game.
Louisville has lost each of its three games by three points, most recently falling 31–28 at NC State. Isaac Brown rushed for 125 yards and a touchdown on nine carries in that loss. Tonight gives the Cardinals another opportunity to turn their explosive offensive plays into a conference victory.
Sources: Louisville Athletics · Florida State Athletics
Sources
- ESPN — Houston Rockets–Dallas Mavericks October 9 final box score · Checked
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- NFL.com — Jerry Jones disappointed after Cowboys loss to Buccaneers · Checked
- MLB.com — White Sox–Guardians ALDS Game 5 pitching and matchup preview · Checked
- MLB.com — 2026 postseason and League Championship Series broadcast schedule · Checked
- Duke Athletics — Boumtje Boumtje and Sarr Lead Duke Offense in 102-62 Win Over Belmont · Published
- North Carolina Athletics — Men’s Basketball To Open Preseason Vs. USC In Greensboro Friday Night · Published
- Virginia Athletics — Men’s Basketball Announces Game Times and TV Designations for 2026–27 Schedule · Published
- Nebraska Athletics — 2026–27 Men’s Basketball Schedule: Saint Louis Exhibition · Checked
- American Conference — Wichita State Tabbed 2026–27 American Men’s Basketball Favorites · Checked
- Louisville Athletics — Cardinals Square Off with Florida State on Friday Night · Published
- Florida State Athletics — Daniels Named Davey O’Brien Quarterback of the Week · Published