Huffman Sports Wire News Break · ALL · Reporting · Published · Huffman Sports Wire News Desk
Thursday evening brings a late change to Dallas’ secondary, another season-on-the-line game for Cleveland and a look ahead to two significant NBA injury comebacks. College basketball’s preseason and Conference USA’s midweek football schedule round out Huffman Sports Wire’s five-league edition.
This report covers confirmed roster news, postseason context and preseason developments. Records and series standings describe the situation entering Thursday’s games; this edition is not a live scoreboard or a report of Thursday’s final results.
NFL: Smith returns, Porter ruled out for Dallas
Dallas activated All-Pro guard Tyler Smith from injured reserve Thursday after a thumb injury and surgery kept him out of the first four games. The Cowboys waived running back Emari Demercado in the corresponding roster move, bringing an experienced blocker back into the offense for the Tampa Bay matchup.
The defensive news was less encouraging: Dallas announced at 5:45 p.m. that cornerback Joey Porter Jr. would miss the game because of illness. Cobie Durant and DeMarvion Overshown were also among the inactives with hamstring injuries, while defensive backs Reddy Steward and Juanyeh Thomas received practice-squad elevations.
The Buccaneers entered Thursday at 0–4 against a 2–2 Dallas team. The Associated Press preview identified Jalon Daniels as Tampa Bay’s starter for a second consecutive game with Baker Mayfield sidelined by a dislocated thumb on his throwing hand. The matchup was scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET on Prime Video.
Sources: Dallas Cowboys · Dallas Cowboys · Associated Press / CBS Sports
MLB: Cleveland’s survival test; Dodgers and Brewers advance
Cleveland’s 9–3 victory Wednesday kept the Guardians in the postseason, but Chicago still entered Thursday’s AL Division Series Game 4 with a 2–1 lead. The game was scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on TBS and HBO Max. A White Sox victory would complete the series; a Guardians victory would require a deciding Game 5 on Saturday, October 10.
Tampa Bay is already through after defeating the Yankees 4–3 Wednesday to finish a three-game sweep. The Rays await the Chicago–Cleveland winner in the ALCS, leaving one remaining Division Series to decide the American League matchup.
The National League field is settled. Los Angeles defeated Atlanta 4–1 Wednesday to win its series in four games, while Milwaukee’s 3–1 victory over San Diego completed another 3–1 series win. The Dodgers and Brewers now turn their attention to the NLCS rather than a fifth Division Series game.
Sources: NBC10 Philadelphia
NBA: Macao games carry comeback stakes for Irving and VanVleet
Houston and Dallas will meet at The Venetian Arena in Macao on Friday, October 9, at 8 a.m. ET and again Sunday, October 11, at 6 a.m. ET. NBA TV and NBA League Pass will carry both preseason games, offering an early-morning viewing window for U.S. fans.
NBA.com reports that Kyrie Irving and Fred VanVleet are each expected to appear in one of the two games, according to Dallas coach Dusty May and Houston coach Ime Udoka. Irving has been recovering from a left ACL tear suffered in March 2025; VanVleet missed the 2025–26 season after tearing his right ACL that September. Those expectations do not confirm that either guard will play Friday or appear in both games.
The trip also gives Dallas another preseason setting to develop its new coaching partnership with May and second-year forward Cooper Flagg, the reigning Rookie of the Year. For Houston, a possible VanVleet return adds another preparation priority alongside Kevin Durant’s second season with the Rockets.
Sources: NBA.com
NCAAB: Bradds’ Belmont era brings him back to Cameron
Duke’s Thursday preseason scrimmage against Belmont offers a familiar setting for a new head coach. Evan Bradds, a Duke assistant last season, now leads his alma mater after finishing his playing career as Belmont’s Division I scoring leader with 1,921 points. The Cameron Indoor Stadium meeting was scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on ACC Network Extra; it is preseason action, not a regular-season result.
Belmont returns six players from a 26–6 team that won the Missouri Valley regular-season championship. Duke, meanwhile, enters Jon Scheyer’s fifth season with returners including Cayden Boozer, Caleb Foster, Patrick Ngongba II and Dame Sarr, alongside nine newcomers. The roster turnover makes the matchup an opportunity to evaluate combinations, not evidence of an established regular-season rotation.
Sources: Duke Athletics
NCAAF: Liberty’s rushing attack meets Sam Houston’s passing test
Liberty’s official game-day preview sets up a contrast for Thursday’s Conference USA meeting: the Flames entered with the league’s leading rushing offense at 208.2 yards per game, while Sam Houston led CUSA in passing offense at 308.0. Liberty brought a 4–1 record and Sam Houston a 1–3 mark into the Williams Stadium matchup in Lynchburg, scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on ESPNU.
Sam Houston quarterback Landyn Locke already had three 300-yard passing games entering the contest. Liberty’s preview noted that its defense had allowed only one opposing quarterback to reach that total since the start of 2024, making pass defense a key area to watch without assuming Thursday’s outcome.
A separate Liberty feature published Thursday adds a player’s perspective on that defense. Brenton Williams described adjusting to coordinator Shawn Quinn’s emphasis on the front seven and choosing to remain at Liberty after entering the transfer portal following the 2025 season. His account, published in the school’s game program, also explains the preparation changes required by CUSA’s midweek schedule.
Sources: Liberty Athletics · Liberty Athletics
Sources
- Dallas Cowboys — Tyler Smith officially activated from IR for Cowboys vs. Buccaneers · Published
- Dallas Cowboys — October 8 updates: Joey Porter Jr. ruled out and defensive backs elevated · Checked
- Associated Press / CBS Sports — Buccaneers at Cowboys: Thursday night preview · Checked
- NBC10 Philadelphia — Updated ALDS and NLDS bracket, results and October 8 schedule · Checked
- NBA.com — NBA China Games 2026: Everything to know · Published
- Duke Athletics — Duke Scrimmages Belmont at Cameron on Thursday · Published
- Liberty Athletics — Game Day: Sam Houston · Published
- Liberty Athletics — Brenton Williams: A Season of Adjustments · Published