Huffman Sports Wire News Break · ALL · Reporting · Published · Huffman Sports Wire News Desk
Tampa Bay finally has a victory, and Cleveland has turned a two-game deficit into a winner-take-all Saturday. Thursday’s action also brought a strong preseason showing from Duke and another conference win for Liberty.
Huffman Sports Wire’s Friday morning edition covers NFL, MLB, NBA, college basketball and college football. The completed games below are Thursday’s results; Houston–Dallas in Macao is a preview of Friday’s 8 a.m. ET preseason game.
NFL: Tampa Bay defeats Dallas 24–16 for its first win
The Buccaneers defeated the Cowboys 24–16 at AT&T Stadium to improve to 1–4. Tampa Bay trailed 10–7 at halftime, then scored all 17 points of the third quarter to take control of the Thursday night matchup.
Bucky Irving rushed for 165 yards and scored twice, once on the ground and once on a reception. Jalon Daniels completed 19 of 25 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown, while Emeka Egbuka added a rushing touchdown on a jet sweep. Tampa Bay finished with 241 rushing yards against Dallas’ 50.
Dak Prescott threw for 316 yards, and George Pickens caught nine passes for 130 yards and a touchdown, but Dallas committed three turnovers. Alex Anzalone intercepted Prescott late in the fourth quarter to stop the Cowboys’ final scoring threat.
Sources: Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Sports Illustrated
MLB: Cleveland defeats Chicago 9–5 to force a deciding game
The Guardians and White Sox will settle their AL Division Series at Progressive Field on Saturday, October 10. Cleveland’s 9–5 victory at Rate Field tied the series at 2–2, ending Chicago’s second opportunity to clinch at home.
A six-run sixth inning changed the game. Travis Bazzana’s RBI double tied the score, and Cleveland kept producing against the White Sox bullpen, with Patrick Bailey, José Ramírez, Chase DeLauter and Jo Adell contributing run-scoring hits. Bailey had already homered off the bench in the fifth, followed by a two-run Ramírez homer.
Game 5 is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET Saturday, with coverage on TBS, truTV and HBO Max. Tampa Bay awaits the winner in the ALCS. Cleveland has won two consecutive elimination games, but neither club has secured the remaining championship-series berth.
Sources: MLB.com · ABC7 Chicago
NBA: Rockets–Mavericks opens an early-morning viewing window
Houston and Dallas are scheduled to play at 8 a.m. ET today at The Venetian Arena in Macao, with NBA TV and NBA League Pass carrying the preseason matchup. Their second game is Sunday, October 11, at 6 a.m. ET.
The key availability question involves Kyrie Irving and Fred VanVleet. NBA.com reports that the guards are each expected to appear in one of the two games after lengthy ACL recoveries, according to their coaches. That does not confirm a Friday appearance for either player. Dallas also brings reigning Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg into his second season under new coach Dusty May, while Kevin Durant begins his second year with Houston.
Sources: NBA.com
NCAAB: Duke defeats Belmont 102–62 in preseason scrimmage
Duke defeated Belmont 102–62 at Cameron Indoor Stadium, taking a 49–25 lead into halftime and shooting 53.1 percent from the field for the game. The Blue Devils made 11 of 25 three-point attempts and outrebounded the Bruins 46–28.
Dame Sarr and Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje each scored 19 points, while John Blackwell added 17. Boumtje Boumtje also collected seven rebounds, and Matthew Zobrist led Belmont with 11 points. The result belongs to the preseason: the official box score lists both teams at 0–0, so it does not count as a regular-season victory or defeat.
Sources: Belmont Athletics
NCAAF: Liberty defeats Sam Houston 35–3 for its fifth straight win
Liberty defeated Sam Houston 35–3 at Williams Stadium to reach 5–1 overall and 2–0 in Conference USA. The Flames kept the Bearkats out of the end zone and held their passing offense to 138 yards, well below its entering-game average of 308.0.
Liberty rushed for a season-high 297 yards. Jaylon Coleman supplied 92 yards on seven carries, Kam Davis added 67 yards and a touchdown, and Ethan Vasko scored twice on the ground. Deshawn Purdie completed 10 of 14 passes for 114 yards, including Bryce Randolph’s first career touchdown reception.
The Flames now have a bye before visiting Kennesaw State on Thursday, October 22. Liberty’s official recap lists that game for 7 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network. Sam Houston leaves the Thursday matchup at 1–4 overall and 0–1 in conference play.
Sources: Liberty Athletics
Sources
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Rapid Reaction: Buccaneers 24, Cowboys 16 · Published
- Sports Illustrated — Buccaneers–Cowboys final score and box score · Checked
- MLB.com — Guardians win ALDS Game 4 and force Game 5 · Checked
- ABC7 Chicago — White Sox lose Game 4 and travel back to Cleveland · Updated
- NBA.com — NBA China Games 2026: Everything to know · Published
- Belmont Athletics — Official Duke–Belmont October 8 preseason box score · Checked
- Liberty Athletics — Flames Run Their Win Streak to Five with 35-3 Thursday Night Win · Published