Huffman Sports Wire News Break · Around the Wire · Reporting · Published · Huffman Sports Wire News Desk
Thursday’s results give Friday’s sports calendar two clear developments: Cleveland has a third consecutive win, and Atlanta has the final National League Division Series berth. The Browns beat Pittsburgh 27–24; the Braves beat Philadelphia 6–2 to win their Wild Card Series.
Elsewhere, a reported five-year agreement keeps Jalen Duren at the center of Detroit’s plans. Washington prepares for its London matchup, Miami and Toronto head toward a Quebec City exhibition, and Pitt has announced a sellout for next week’s North Carolina game.
Browns win 27–24 on Szmyt’s late field goal
Cleveland’s third straight victory came down to the last possession before Pittsburgh’s final attempt. According to the Associated Press recap carried by ESPN, Deshaun Watson moved the Browns into range for Andre Szmyt’s career-long 56-yard field goal with 10 seconds remaining on October 1.
The win puts Cleveland at 3–1 and Pittsburgh at 2–2. AP reported that Watson had now directed a fourth-quarter go-ahead drive in three consecutive weeks. Cleveland has also won eight straight Thursday night games, with four of those victories coming against Pittsburgh.
Sources: Associated Press via ESPN
Washington takes its quarterback questions to London
The Commanders face Indianapolis at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, October 4. Washington enters the trip after beating Seattle 33–31, and the team has recognized Marcus Mariota with a Week 3 FedEx Air and Ground Player of the Week award.
Jayden Daniels’ recovery from a left elbow injury remains part of Washington’s preparations. The team injury report lists limited participation on Wednesday and Thursday. Mariota’s recent performance gives Washington a quarterback who has already helped deliver a win while Daniels works toward returning.
Sources: Washington Commanders · Washington Commanders
Braves win 6–2 and earn a Dodgers matchup
Atlanta finished its Wild Card Series with a 6–2 victory over Philadelphia on October 1, taking the series two games to one and advancing to a best-of-five NLDS against the Dodgers. AP’s recap identifies Michael Harris II’s three-run first-inning homer as the early break in the deciding game.
Ozzie Albies added a two-run homer in the fourth, and Matt Olson hit a solo homer in the seventh. Atlanta’s pitching also supplied a decisive stretch: Ray Kerr worked 3⅓ scoreless innings, and Chris Sale handled the final 1⅓. The next task is a new series against Los Angeles, rather than another Wild Card elimination game.
Sources: Associated Press via ESPN
Duren agreement is reported; Heat and Raptors head to Quebec City
Jalen Duren has reportedly agreed to a five-year, fully guaranteed $200 million extension with Detroit. FantasyPros’ October 1 update attributes those terms to Chris Haynes. The reported agreement would give Detroit a long-term commitment from its center as the club prepares for the new season.
Miami’s official preseason schedule lists a game against Toronto at Videotron Centre on Saturday, October 3, at 7 p.m. ET. The Heat describe it as the first NBA preseason game in Quebec City, bringing the two teams to a new exhibition setting before the regular season.
Sources: FantasyPros, citing Chris Haynes · Miami Heat
Saturday matchups approach as Pitt confirms a sellout
Notre Dame and North Carolina are scheduled to meet on Saturday, October 3, with NCAA.com listing a noon Eastern start. Mississippi State’s official schedule also lists its home matchup with Alabama for October 3, giving Saturday’s slate an ACC opponent for Notre Dame and an SEC meeting in Starkville.
Pitt has confirmed that its October 10 home game against North Carolina at Acrisure Stadium is sold out. The school’s October 2 announcement calls it the first sellout of the 2026 season and the first at the stadium’s current capacity of 51,416. Pitt’s earlier kickoff announcement sets the game for noon Eastern and says the program will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its 1976 national championship team.
Sources: NCAA.com · Mississippi State Athletics · Pitt Athletics · Pitt Athletics
Tennessee’s next basketball checkpoints are exhibitions
Tennessee’s next two scheduled men’s basketball games are exhibitions. The Volunteers host Xavier on October 15, then visit Duke on October 20, according to the school’s official 2026–27 schedule.
The regular-season opener is scheduled for November 3 against Wofford in Knoxville. The exhibitions give Tennessee two opportunities to prepare before that opening game.
Sources: Tennessee Athletics
Sources
- Associated Press via ESPN — Cleveland’s October 1 win over Pittsburgh · Checked
- Washington Commanders — Commanders–Colts London preview · Checked
- Washington Commanders — Commanders–Colts injury report · Checked
- Associated Press via ESPN — Atlanta’s Wild Card Game 3 victory · Checked
- FantasyPros, citing Chris Haynes — Reported five-year, $200 million Duren agreement · Checked
- Miami Heat — Official 2026–27 preseason schedule · Checked
- NCAA.com — Notre Dame–North Carolina October 3 game listing · Checked
- Mississippi State Athletics — Official 2026 football schedule · Checked
- Pitt Athletics — Pitt–North Carolina at Acrisure Stadium sold out · Checked
- Pitt Athletics — October 10 North Carolina kickoff announcement · Checked
- Tennessee Athletics — Official 2026–27 men’s basketball schedule · Checked