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  • Sam Brown almost walked away from football. Now he looks to lead Temple’s backfield.

    Sam Brown almost walked away from football. Now he looks to lead Temple’s backfield.

    There was a time when Sam Brown thought his college football career was over.

    Before transferring to Temple from Rutgers this past offseason, the running back was limited to 16 carries for 38 yards during an injury-riddled 2025 season with the Scarlet Knights.

    “There was a point where I didn’t really want to play anymore,” said Brown, a fifth-year senior from La Salle College High. “It was a lot on me mentally. Injuries were weighing on me a lot, and I didn’t want to be in a situation where I got hurt again.”

    Brown has been hampered with injuries throughout his college career. He dealt with a season-ending lower-body injury in 2024 which lingered into 2025, when he played in just three games. As a freshman in 2022, , he suffered a broken foot in the middle of the season. His sophomore year was his only complete season; he had 216 yards and two touchdowns in 12 games.

    Temple quarterback competition ‘not even close’ to being decided

    Before his foot fracture in his freshman season, he had rushed for 374 yards and three touchdowns. Now, in his final year of college, he’s looking to get back to that.

    “I wanted a fresh start,” he said. “I wanted to go somewhere that was definitely home-oriented, with a great coaching staff and great teammates. That is what went into my decision. And I met with everyone when I took my visit. It just felt like the right place and the right fit.”

    ‘Can’t just give up’

    The injuries took a physical and mental battle on Brown. But he spent most of his life playing football, so walking away wasn’t going to be easy.

    “I noticed that [quitting] wasn’t the right way to go about things,” said Brown. “I just thought [about] all the sacrifices that my parents made for me since I was 4 years old playing football, and I was like, I can’t just give up. I have another year left, and I need to take advantage of that.”

    Sam Brown could be a key piece to Temple’s offense this season.Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer

    But it’s taken Brown some time to feel like himself again.

    “It was definitely tough,” he said. “But my coaching staff at Rutgers and I, we already had kind of talked, and we kind of knew what the plan was for me [last] year. Even through that season, I wasn’t myself.”

    When Brown entered the transfer portal, he had an idea of what he wanted in a new school. As it turned out, that school wasn’t entirely new to him.

    While playing for La Salle College High, Brown, who grew up in Hunting Park, was recruited by Temple out of high school, albeit by a different regime.

    K.C. Keeler has no timetable for Temple’s QB battle as fall camp opens

    With the Owls losing one of their top producers in Jay Ducker to graduation, the starting spot was open. Brown has been competing in the backfield with Hunter Smith and Keveun Mason.

    “I think it’s a testament to his ability to fight through adversity,” said running backs coach Andrew Pierce. “He could have easily just said, ‘I’m done with football after injuries and all of those things,’ he could have said, ‘Football’s over for me, I’m going to move on.’ It’s just his ability to put his head down and work every single day, and I think that just improved the room overall.”

    Another opportunity

    Brown came into spring practices, getting reps with the second- and first-team offenses but quickly built separation between himself and the rest of the room.

    During the Owls’ Cherry and White spring game, Brown was the first running back to have his name called in the first drive of the game.

    Brown, at 6-foot-1, 215 pounds, is a powerful figure on the field. He can put defenders on their backs and trudge through the line in short-yardage spots.

    Temple quarterback Jaxon Smolik (14) hands the ball to running back Sam Brown (27) during the Cherry and White Spring Game on April 11.Isaiah Vazquez / For The Inquirer

    But Brown’s new calling card since he made it to North Broad has been speed.

    Since taking the field, and healthy for the first time in nearly two whole years, Brown’s acceleration out of the backfield has changed the Owls’ offense.

    “A lot of the work that I put in with the strength program played a big part in everything,” he said. “Having the spring, having the summer to train, even in the moments where I wasn’t in here, I was at home with my trainers. That all [played a] part in just staying positive and staying confident in my abilities through it all.”

    Temple kicks off its season against Rhode Island on Sept. 5 at Lincoln Financial Field, and Brown looks poised to headline the backfield.

    “The first thing is his character,” Pierce said. “Just who he is as a person, he’s the right fit for this program and what we are trying to accomplish. I think his character speaks volumes, and obviously, as a player, just his ability to be a big physical back who also can just run as well.

    “He is not a very talkative guy, but he also leads by example. Anybody in that building can tell you he’s in here 24/7 trying to get better every single day. And that, I think, trickles down to our room, which I think only improves everybody in there.”

    Nearly a year after Brown questioned whether he still wanted to play football, he is preparing to enter this season as one of the Owls’ most important offensive pieces.

    This time, there’s little question about whether he wants to be there.

    “I’m just grateful for every opportunity I get,” Brown said. “I just got to keep working and I’ll get what I deserve.”

  • 🦅 Trust the process | Sports Daily Newsletter

    🦅 Trust the process | Sports Daily Newsletter

    One game does not determine a season.

    Chances are you’ve heard that before, and that’s kind of the mantra it appears Eagles offensive coordinator Sean Mannion will continue to employ despite the Birds’ less-than-impressive performance against the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday.

    Sweeping changes aren’t on the table, it would appear — well, one, but it doesn’t pertain to the team. Mannion, who noted that during planned joint practices and a preseason game against the New England Patriots, he’ll call plays from the booth as opposed to the field, as he did against the Ravens.

    Why?

    “I think it’s an opportunity to get a feel for both,” Mannion said on Monday. “I think it’ll be an interesting perspective, but, you know, I think for this preseason, an opportunity to kind of experience.”

    Despite Saturday’s score, there were positives Mannion noted he’s focusing on going forward. Inquirer writer Ryan Novozinsky dives into what Mannion said and more right here.

    It’s Tuesday, Philly. Expect some rain today, with highs in the low 80s.

    — Kerith Gabriel, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    ❓Who’s the most important piece on the Eagles’ offense? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

    That was quite a meeting

    Kyle Schwarber has a .368 on-base percentage this season.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    Going into the last week of July, the Phillies reached base at a .303 clip, tied for last. But they also had the fourth-best hard-hit rate and were near the middle of the pack in barrel rate, which measures how often a hitter makes contact with the optimal combination of exit velocity and launch angle.

    Maybe it was bad luck. The Phillies were batting .281 on balls in play. (Major league average is .289.) Or maybe it was self-inflicted. As a team, they swung at the second-highest rate of non-strikes (34%).

    Whatever the case, they needed to figure it out.

    So, they had a meeting. What’s followed has been a dramatic turnaround.

    And on Monday, Cristopher Sánchez became the first MLB pitcher to earn 16 wins this season as the Phillies held off the Marlins, 6-5.

    Next: The Phillies continue their series against Miami at 6:40 p.m. tonight (NBCSP). Zack Wheeler (10-4, 2.89 ERA) will start for the Phillies. The Marlins have not announced a starter yet.

    What we’re…

    📖 Reading: What national pundits are saying about the Flyers’ chances for this season.

    🏈 Sharing: FBS and FCS polls dropped yesterday, with Penn State and Villanova cracking the Top 25 in their respective lists.

    💪🏽 Wondering: Who looks like they could crack the Eagles’ 53-man roster coming off last weekend’s preseason game against the Ravens.

    🏀 Saving: The date for next year’s JAB Classic, a summer basketball showcase with NBA stars playing for a unifying purpose.

    👀 Watching: What fight fans thought of UFC 330 in Philly this past weekend.

    Just ‘play better’

    Manager Ryan Richter (center) celebrates after the Union’s 3-2 win over New York City FC at Yankee Stadium on Sunday.Philadelphia Union

    So the Union are back in the win column. In part was due to gutsy play to come from behind, this time against New York City FC, but it was also a test put out by interim manager Ryan Richter.

    “It was more about challenging the guys to just play better,” Richter said after the Union’s 3-2 victory. “To give more, to be more connected when they didn’t have the ball.”

    Richter didn’t call out guys specifically he urged to step up and put the edict out, but as Inquirer writer Jonathan Tannenwald explains, he didn’t have to, given who outperformed in the second half.

    Now, the Union hope to do the same against league-leading Miami on Wednesday (7:30 p.m., Apple TV).

    Remembering Tommy John

    Former pitcher Tommy John, who died Saturday, was a teammate and friend of Phillies manager Don Mattingly. LARRY C. MORRIS

    Tommy John is widely known across the baseball world for the elbow surgery that bears his name, one which has revived the careers of thousands of pitchers.

    But to Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly, he was better known as a great teammate and a fellow Indiana native.

    John died Saturday at age 83. Yesterday, Mattingly took some time to remember his Yankees teammate, as the duo played together in 1982 and again from 1986-89.

    On this date

    Aug. 18, 2016: Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt wins an Olympic gold medal in the 200 meters for the third straight time, this time at the Summer Games in Brazil with a time of 19.78 seconds.

    Mike Sielski’s take…

    “The notion that throwing a pick during training camp should serve as any kind of referendum on any NFL starting quarterback is so stupid that it could gain traction only on X.” — Sielski’s latest looks at what people are saying about Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts on social media entering the season. Read that and more in his latest op-ed.

    🧠 Trivia time

    For all of the Eagles fans pining for the start of the season, it’ll be here before you know it. Until then, see if you know this: what number did Eagles defensive legend Reggie White wear in his rookie season?

    A) 90

    B) 92

    C) 91

    D) 95

    What you’re saying about the Phillies

    We asked: What will it take for the Phillies to make the playoffs and go on a run?

    More consistent hitting over the stretch to back up the starting pitching. Hitting that was evident during the recent Twins series must continue. The bullpen must pull its weight; the top three starters are excellent and give them a chance to win with almost every start. This is probably the last rodeo for this group. Perhaps they have reached their peak as a team, and there is very little upside to keeping them together for yet another season. — Bill B.

    What will it take for the Phils to make the playoffs? Nothing special. Just each guy playing up to his capabilities. No mysterious slumps (looking at you, Brandon Marsh). They are a better team on paper than Atlanta or San Diego or Arizona or the Cubs. Now they need to play that way on the field. With their three top starters, they could go deep in the playoffs. Very deep. — Dirk D.

    Right now I am somewhat pessimistic about the Phillies’ playoff chances. Going to take a big turnaround in both hitting and pitching to make it happen. Phils are 22nd best in batting average and 15th in runs scored. Marsh at .274, Harper at .256, Turner at .247, and JT at .215 are not going to do it. Very questionable relief group, and with Nola at a 5.33 ERA and Painter at 6.43, and Nola leading all MLB pitchers with 30 home runs allowed, it is not looking good. Maybe Mattingly has some magic he can perform, but I am not betting on it. — Everett S.

    Consistency. They need to be at their best and go on a run. They have a good start but need to keep it up. The bullpen, starters, and lineup need to do what they just did against the Twins. As Alec Bohm said in his postgame interview after the Saturday win, he needs to just make contact and not try to hit the ball out of the ballpark. And they need to take advantage of their schedule and win series against poorer teams. — Mitch B.

    We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Ryan Novozinsky, Lochlahn March, Scott Lauber, Jonathan Tannenwald, Mike Sielski, Gabriela Carroll, Mia Messina, Jeff Neiburg, Conor Smith, and Ariel Simpson.

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

    Thanks, Philly. We’ll catch you tomorrow. If you can’t sleep tonight, ESPN is showing a replay of the Corgi races at Emerald Downs from 2023 at 4 a.m. on the Ocho. No, seriously. — Kerith

  • Better than it looked? Four biggest film observations from the first preseason game of the Sean Mannion era

    Better than it looked? Four biggest film observations from the first preseason game of the Sean Mannion era

    Much like Sean Mannion’s first-ever play-calling experience in an exhibition atmosphere at the East-West Shrine Bowl earlier this year, the first-year Eagles offensive coordinator’s debut on Saturday night didn’t offer detailed play designs nor gaudy production.

    The Eagles’ 24-7 loss to the Ravens did, however, give the 34-year-old an opportunity to call and sequence plays at the NFL level and provided a glimpse into the many influences that could ultimately shape what the offense, in full, will look like during the 2026 regular season.

    And there were encouraging signs that the offense has been modernized this offseason to keep pace with some of the league’s potent attacks.

    Here’s what the film showed in Mannion’s first stab at calling plays for the Eagles:

    Outside zone leads the way in run game

    All spring and summer, there was an expectation that the Eagles would move toward running the Sean McVay/Kyle Shanahan outside zone run scheme as a key tenet of the run game, and the results from the preseason opener backed that up.

    Six of the 12 called run plays (including those that included post-snap penalties) were of the outside run variety. Four of them gained 8 yards (and two were called back for holding), and one went backward for a 3-yard loss because of a missed block.

    There will be growing pains implementing the new blocking style, which requires the offensive linemen and tight ends to create vertical seams to allow the running back to find a lane and go while stretching the defense horizontally.

    With the Rams, McVay paired the duo run to his patented outside zone run scheme, thriving when implementing it from under center.

    The Eagles ran duo three times from under center on Saturday, and it was the second-most called run scheme on a night where the ground game was hardly present in the second half. The run scheme allows the back to get downhill quicker and opens up play-action passing opportunities.

    For the other three runs, the Eagles sprinkled in under-center split zone with tight end Eli Stowers coming from the back side of the formation to block the play side edge rusher, inside zone from shotgun, and a zone-read keep from Cole Payton with a tight end leading the way on the edge.

    That last run should be particularly noteworthy should Jalen Hurts reemerge as a key part of the running game.

    Pre-snap motion limited, but effective

    Across the entire game, there weren’t many pre-snap motions or shifts as Andy Dalton and Tanner McKee got the offense set on their respective drives. In fact, of the six pre-snap motions that occurred, it was McKee who signaled them the most, accounting for five that Mannion dialed up.

    There were flashes of success because of how it made the defense react. On McKee’s 13-yard pass to Darius Cooper, he motioned Stowers away from a bunch set on the left side of the formation to align at tight end off the line to the right, and changed Baltimore’s off-ball linebacker from a second-level defender to a standup edge rusher. It opened a lane for Cooper to get hit in stride on a slant route.

    On another occasion, in the quick passing game, Cooper went from McKee’s right to his left on a motion, bumping the corner aligned over Stowers to outside the numbers, creating room for McKee to find the rookie tight end for a short gain.

    There was also an example of the offense changing its formation after breaking the huddle. After coming out in 10 personnel (one running back, zero tight ends), Carson Steele motioned to outside receiver, creating an empty backfield for McKee. It forced Baltimore to show its blitz and McKee was able to identify it and get the ball out.

    Compared to last year’s offense, there already seems to be a different approach to formation presentation. The more an offense can confuse the defense with motions and shifts, the more answers it can provide to a quarterback and keep defenses guessing.

    Generating ‘layup’ throws

    Under-center play-action throws have been an element of the offense the Eagles have shown during training camp, and carried over into the preseason opener.

    Dalton, McKee, and Payton each had an opportunity to run play-action from under center, with the first two quarterbacks running bootleg actions off it.

    The route combinations off the bootleg action — a deep corner route, a back side crossing route, and short flat route — are part of the McVay/Shanahan style of offense and can stress a defense that must respect the wide zone run threat.

    As teams prepare for that threat of play-action, the other route options will open up if the Eagles can generate those types of easy completions that weren’t always available for Hurts last season. Those quick-hitting throws on the move also allow for receivers to generate big plays in space.

    Grizzard’s pass game influence

    As the Eagles were deciding their next offensive coordinator hire, Josh Grizzard, who previously worked as a the Buccaneers’ pass game specialist, then was promoted to offensive coordinator, was among the candidates.

    Mannion has mentioned the offense would be a “blend” of various approaches and Grizzard, who was hired as Eagles pass game specialist, appears to have his fingerprints on the passing game — especially in third-down situations.

    A play Tampa commonly ran in 2024, when Grizzard presided over the third-down offense, featured a bunch formation that had two receivers clear out and created space for an option route for the third receiver to sit in a vacant area in zone coverage, or take advantage of a defender’s leverage in man coverage.

    On a couple of third downs in the preseason opener, the Eagles showed a similar type of play design: The two receivers ran in- or out-breaking routes and the tight ends got close to the first down line or found vacant space to turn and prepare for a pass to come their way, which was often a tight end.

    Another play Grizzard has seemingly brought from Tampa is mesh rail, which features two inside receiver shallow crossing routes, a route sitting over the middle of the field behind the mesh action, an outside receiver running a deep route, and a running back running a wheel route out of the backfield.

    The Bucs would catch teams off guard by quickly lining up and running the play while the defense was still getting set. The Eagles utilized this vs. the Ravens as they moved down the field on their lone touchdown drive.

    While the Eagles’ offense was vanilla with the objective of not revealing much, Mannion’s scheme change appears to match the expectation of the style of offense the team intends to run. The key will be the execution, and limiting the mistakes that prevented Mannion and the offense to get into a true game flow on Saturday night.

    We won’t see the offense in full until the season opener, but Saturday offered a glimpse of what the long-term vision can look like when plays are executed.

  • Alec Bohm, Philly’s latest scapegoat, nears the end of his run as a Phillie. Appreciate him.

    Alec Bohm, Philly’s latest scapegoat, nears the end of his run as a Phillie. Appreciate him.

    Nobody eats their own like Philadelphia.

    This time, this is about Alec Bohm, a career .273 hitter with a .734 OPS entering Monday night. That’s about 30 points better than the average major league batting average since Bohm hit the big leagues in 2020, and a slightly above-average OPS in the same span. That batting average is second-highest among the 11 everyday third basemen who have played at least 600 games at third since 2020.

    He does not stink.

    You’d never know that to listen to the critics.

    The ones who wanted Bohm traded in the offseason.

    The ones who wanted Bohm out of the lineup so Bryce Harper could move back to first base from right field, his natural position and where he was forced to return when the Phillies added infielder Luis Arraez near the trade deadline (Arraez’s arrival moved second baseman Bryson Stott to third base and Bohm to first).

    The Phillies’ playoff chances are complicated by one of MLB’s toughest remaining schedules

    The ones who went mysteriously silent over the last seven games going into Monday, in which Bohm hit .542 with four doubles, a homer, six RBIs, and a 1.426 OPS.

    Monday night, he added what became the game-winning RBI.

    These are the same folks who will tell you that Sixers cornerstones Andre Iguodala was overrated, Tobias Harris stole money, and Shayne Gostisbehere … yawn.

    To this day, Sixers aficionados will deride Iguodala as the first casualty of Josh Harris’ disastrous ownership tenure, traded after the 2012 season as part of a package that brought Andrew Bynum to Philly for a season in which Bynum did not play. Iguodala was an All-Star that year, was first-team All-Defense two years later in Golden State, where he won four titles and the 2015 NBA Finals MVP award.

    They’ll also bury Tobias Harris, who, in their minds, the Sixers chose to retain over Jimmy Butler in 2019. That’s a vast oversimplification, since there’s no real reason to believe the Sixers would have been better with Butler, who benefited from the presence of Harris that season, when Harris scored 18.2 points and pulled 7.9 rebounds and played well in the playoffs. Harris has had issues in other playoff appearances, but it’s foolish to let them diminish his overall body of work.

    But this isn’t about whether Harris was better than Butler. It’s about whether Harris was a good player. And he was. Maybe not good enough to warrant a maximum contract, but he was really good, and, on a team that gave players playoff games off for having upset tummies, Harris showed up; only eight players in the NBA played more minutes between 2019-20 and 2023-24 than Harris.

    Jimmy Butler (left) benefited from the presence of Tobias Harris in 2019.CHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer

    As for “Ghost,” the Flyers traded him to Arizona in 2021 for salary-cap relief. He’d accumulated 219 points in six seasons by then, but nobody much cared that he was gone. He’s got 243 points in the five seasons since, and he just won the Stanley Cup with Carolina, while the Flyers are still looking for a defenseman to run the point on their power play.

    I’ve been keeping this one in my holster for a few weeks, waiting for Bohm to surge. Even with his recent proficiency, Bohm is hitting .242 with a .684 OPS. He’s not having a great year, but few players have great years every year. Besides, there are obvious reasons.

    First, he’s in a contract year. He’ll be a free agent for the first time after this season. That’s a lot of pressure on any player regardless of their personal situation.

    Inside the hitters’ meeting that sparked the Phillies’ on-base percentage turnaround this month

    Second, he’s got a personal situation. As the season began, Bohm sued his parents for mismanaging his money. The suit remains active, the next hearing is scheduled for Sept. 3.

    Third, Bohm changed positions. He went 3-for-16 in his first five games at first base.

    Should stud players be able to play through the noise and changes? Yes. Is Alec Bohm a stud player? Probably not.

    But he does not stink.

    For some, Bohm, who turned 30 two weeks ago, is the embodiment of Gen Z entitlement.

    Alec Bohm will be a free agent for the first time after this season.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    He’s a first-round pick, No. 3 overall in 2018, who signed for a nearly $6 million bonus and has made almost $30 million. He’s also 6-foot-4 and weighs 218 pounds — both likely outdated underestimates — but has just 14 homers this season and, since he’s 16 shy, he probably won’t break the 100-homer mark as a Phillie, assuming they don’t re-sign him.

    Further, in 2022, after Bohm made two errors, he said, on camera and on the field, “I (bleeping) hate this place.” He apologized, and he has been effusively pro-Philly since, but, for some, this was unforgivable.

    Also, he was an All-Star in 2024. He has not been an All-Star caliber player since, but he hasn’t stunk, either.

    Finally, he pouts. He sulks. He has not been alone in this behavior — Taijuan Walker and Nick Castellanos come to mind — but now it’s part of his brand. Of course, the Phillies released both Walker and Castellanos this year, but less for their attitude than for their aptitude.

    Bryson Stott adjusting to the new challenge of playing third base

    Bohm remains because his aptitude outweighs his occasionally sour attitude.

    Dave Dombrowski, clearly a learned classicist, paraphrased the Greek aphorism “Familiarity breeds contempt” when asked recently why he didn’t trade Bohm at the deadline:

    “When you see a player every day, you have a tendency to look at their downside.”

    And that’s a choice.

    As of Monday, Bohm’s tenure as a Phillie included just 37 more regular-season games. It would be wise to choose to appreciate him.

  • Cristopher Sánchez earns MLB-leading 16th win as Phillies’ offense holds off Marlins

    Cristopher Sánchez earns MLB-leading 16th win as Phillies’ offense holds off Marlins

    The rain was so heavy during the sixth inning that Derek Hill had to wipe raindrops from the brim of his helmet. Marlins pitcher John King had already asked for a new rosin bag for his slick fingers.

    Even so, the elements didn’t really faze Hill much. The Phillies outfielder, fresh off the bench, punched an RBI single up the middle for his seventh pinch-hit of the season. It helped sustain a key two-run rally in the Phillies’ 6-5 win over Miami on Monday night.

    Hill, who also drew a bases-loaded walk in the eighth, said that past failures have prepared him for this role on the Phillies.

    “I’ve been in this role for multiple teams and had ups and downs,” he said. “Just being able to kind of lean on the teammates here. We have an incredible amount of experience, and the coaching staff is incredible. So just being able to put all the pieces together and go out there and execute is pretty awesome to be able to come through.”

    Starter Cristopher Sánchez became the first MLB pitcher to earn 16 wins this season, but it didn’t come easy. He allowed eight hits and walked three, but managed to limit the overall damage to just one run.

    To do it, he had plenty of help. Trea Turner started off the first inning with a big play on a grounder from Esteury Ruiz, making the throw to first while in midair. J.T. Realmuto successfully challenged a ball call on Brian Navarreto in the third inning, flipping it into a strikeout. He also combined with Luis Arraez to catch Ruiz stealing second base.

    Don Mattingly remembers former Yankees teammate Tommy John as ‘a really great person’

    In the fifth, after Sánchez allowed a pair of singles, the Phillies came inches away from turning a triple play. Bryson Stott fielded it, stepped on third, and fired to Arraez. Alec Bohm made a long stretch at first, but Heriberto Hernández beat Arraez’s throw by a step, and the Phillies settled for a double play.

    “They’re a contact-oriented team,” Sánchez said through team interpreter Diego D’Aniello. “I just went out there and took as many innings as I could and get as many scoreless innings as I could and zeros on the board.”

    Through 26 starts this season, Sánchez has a 2.51 ERA. But opposing teams are also hitting .253 against him, up from .227 in 2025.

    On Monday, his fastball velocity trended down a tick, though he did rear back for 96.1 mph, his hardest pitch of the night, in the sixth inning. Overall, interim manager Don Mattingly isn’t concerned about the traffic on the bases.

    “I thought he was good. That was kind of what he does,” Mattingly said. “He gets some traffic and hangs in there, gets the ball on the ground.”

    Justin Crawford celebrates his third inning lead-off double against the Marlins on Monday.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    The Phillies offense struck first, and the rally started with the rookie. Justin Crawford tucked a double just inside the left field line to lead off the third inning, turning the lineup back over to Kyle Schwarber. He struck out on a pitch below the zone, but Turner cashed in Crawford with a single to left.

    Bryce Harper drew a walk — extending his walk streak to eight consecutive games — before Arraez singled to score another. The Phillies threatened even more, loading the bases for Brandon Marsh, but he grounded into a force out to end it there.

    After Sánchez escaped a few jams, a leadoff double came back to haunt him in the sixth when Griffin Conine lined a sinker into left field to get the Marlins on the board.

    The Phillies’ playoff chances are complicated by one of MLB’s toughest remaining schedules

    Both teams played through rains that drifted through during the middle innings, but it wasn’t enough to stop play. Nor did it stifle the Phillies offense. Following Hill’s RBI single in the sixth, Schwarber sent a sacrifice fly to center. It wasn’t very deep, but the throw was off line and Realmuto made a perfect slide at the plate to score another run.

    “It’s one of the times you just want to keep scoring,” Mattingly said. “You don’t want to let anybody back in, but they did. They kept coming tonight. Seemed like every time they they scored, though, we were able to answer back, which was huge.”

    The Phillies caught a break in the seventh. With Jonathan Bowlan in to pitch for Sánchez, he gave up a bases-loaded hit to Javier Sanoja that was incorrectly called foul by first base umpire Shane Livensparger. The ruling was overturned by a Marlins challenge, and MLB replay officials determined that two runs scored, placing Otto Lopez on third and Sanoja on second.

    Due to Lopez’s speed, it’s possible he would have also scored if the initial call had been fair. But instead, Bowlan battled back with a strikeout to preserve the Phillies’ lead at 4-3.

    Marlins manager Clayton McCullough was ejected for arguing the ruling.

    “It’s tough to just give them the third run when you don’t see the play, but their guy does run good. Lopez runs good,” Mattingly said. “I wouldn’t have been shocked if they gave it to him. Glad they didn’t.”

    Even though the pesky Marlins had narrowed the lead, the Phillies struck back again, scoring a run without recording a hit in the seventh. Bohm was hit by a pitch, Stott reached on a fielder’s choice error, and Realmuto and Hill drew back-to-back walks to force in a run. Realmuto was initially called out on strikes but used an ABS challenge to flip it to a walk.

    Inside the hitters’ meeting that sparked the Phillies’ on-base percentage turnaround this month

    And when the Marlins homered off Brooks Raley in the eighth, the Phillies had one more response in them. An RBI single from Bohm gave Jhoan Duran back a two-run cushion for the ninth.

    The Phillies closer needed 33 pitches the night before to close out the series finale in Minnesota, but Mattingly checked in on him after he played catch Monday afternoon. Duran told Mattingly he was good to go.

    “Kind of trust him, where he’s at,” Mattingly said. “If he says he’s not feeling great today, then he’s down. Simple as that. And then you kind of plan accordingly.”

    By the time he jogged out to the mound, the skies had cleared. Duran conceded one run on two hits, but induced a pop out and groundout to pick up his 27th save.

    “That’s what we’re going to have to do down the stretch here,” Mattingly said. “Any good team out there, they’re going to keep playing and keep figuring out ways to win games. Sometimes we’re going to have to score, sometimes we’re going to have to pitch. We’re going to have to catch it. So it is good that we’re finding some ways.”

  • Don Mattingly remembers former Yankees teammate Tommy John as ‘a really great person’

    Don Mattingly remembers former Yankees teammate Tommy John as ‘a really great person’

    Tommy John is widely known across the baseball world for the elbow surgery that bears his name and has renewed thousands of pitchers’ careers.

    But to Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly, he was better known as a fellow Indiana native.

    John died Saturday at age 83. Mattingly took some time on Monday to remember his former teammate. The two played together on the Yankees in 1982 and again from 1986 to 1989.

    Inside the hitters’ meeting that sparked the Phillies’ on-base percentage turnaround this month

    “Tommy obviously was really a great person as far as the way he treated people,” Mattingly said. “Playing with him was interesting because it was obviously toward the end of his career, but just the competitiveness of him and the way he went about it.”

    Mattingly played with John after he underwent the eponymous surgery to reconstruct his torn UCL in 1974, a revolutionary procedure invented and performed by Dodgers doctor Frank Jobe. He became the first MLB player to return from elbow reconstruction surgery and played for 14 more years, pitching to a 3.34 career ERA and 2,245 career strikeouts.

    “Tommy is one of those guys from Indiana. We always talked about Indiana,” said Mattingly, an Evansville native. “It’s close, actually; Terre Haute’s like 100 miles away. A lot of time in my youth is going there to play basketball tournaments, baseball tournaments, things like that.”

    Mattingly also remembered a moment from a spring training game one year in West Palm Beach.

    “I forgot, but I think it was Joe Hesketh pitching against [us] this spring training,” Mattingly said. “Tommy was pitching, so he had to hit, and he was just shoving it on us the whole time.

    “And Tommy gets up and hits a two-iron off the wall in left-center. And I’m like, ‘Jesus!’ He made it look easy.”

    Phillies shortstop Trea Turner was back hitting second in the lineup for Monday’s game.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    Turner returns

    Trea Turner was back in the Phillies lineup Monday after sitting out Sunday’s series finale in Minnesota. He was confident he had avoided major injury after fouling a pitch off his upper right leg on Saturday, but the Phillies didn’t want to take any chances with the shortstop and held him out. One of Turner’s best assets at the top of the Phillies lineup is his speed, which ranks in the 98th percentile of the sport.

    But on Monday, Turner was back to full go. He was back in the No. 2 spot in the order, which has been Turner’s customary place in the lineup since the club acquired Luis Arraez at the trade deadline.

    Trea Turner isn’t moving off shortstop (yet). The Phillies’ goal for now: Help him get better.

    “I think he’s 100 [percent],” Mattingly said. “I’m sure he’s got some soreness to touch in areas, but that’s something at this point in the year that shouldn’t slow anybody down. Probably more bruised than injury.”

    Bryce Harper was in the lineup in right field for the sixth consecutive game. Mattingly said he feels comfortable running Harper out as the everyday right fielder so long as his medicals allow it. He said Harper’s left knee “has been fine.”

    Harper has been dealing with soreness in his knee that was aggravated by his return to the outfield, but the issue has not risen to the point where Harper needed a day off entirely.

    Extra bases

    Caleb Kilian (left oblique strain) is “starting to feel better” and moving around, but is still not throwing yet. Mattingly said Kilian is expected to possibly be available to return by the end of the season. … Rafael Marchán (left knee patellar tendinitis) is continuing to build up on his rehab assignment for triple-A Lehigh Valley and is scheduled to play nine innings on Tuesday … Zack Wheeler (10-4, 2.89 ERA) is scheduled to start Tuesday. Miami’s starting pitcher has not yet been announced.

  • Eagles practice observations: Jalen Hurts tosses another middle-field INT; Michael Carter II gets the pick; DeVonta Smith ready for Patriots

    Eagles practice observations: Jalen Hurts tosses another middle-field INT; Michael Carter II gets the pick; DeVonta Smith ready for Patriots

    The Eagles held the 12th practice of their 2026 training camp on Monday at the Jefferson Health Training Complex. Here were my observations from Day 12 (and links to Days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11):

    DeVonta Day

    DeVonta Smith returned to action after sitting out the last few weeks with a hamstring strain. He was limited and participated in individual drills. The Eagles are likely ramping him up ahead of this week’s joint practices with the Patriots. Cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell (glute) and Cooper DeJean (groin) made full returns and should be ready to face A.J. Brown & Co. in New England.

    The injury list grew after Saturday’s preseason opener. The following suffered injuries in Baltimore and missed practice: running back Tank Bigsby (toe), cornerback Jakorian Bennett (knee), cornerback Mac McWilliams (groin), tight end Grant Calcaterra (back), tackle John Ojukwu (pectoral), cornerback Shaun Wade (eye/shoulder), and outside linebacker Jose Ramirez (hamstring).

    The following remained out: receiver Makai Lemon (hamstring), cornerback Jonathan Jones (shoulder), receiver Johnny Wilson (knee), and running back Dameon Pierce (hamstring). The following were upgraded to limited participants: safety Cole Wisniewski (hamstring), outside linebacker Keyshawn James-Newby (ankle), cornerback Tariq Castro-Fields (heel), and receiver Danny Gray (concussion). Lemon did some sprints on a separate field. He’s running out of time if he is to play in the preseason.

    Defensive tackle Uar Bernard wasn’t listed on the injury report, but he didn’t practice. I can see a future setback that lands the football neophyte on injured reserve for the season.

    Nick Sirianni will likely place a lot of emphasis on the Patriots joint practices in his evaluations. David Maialetti / Staff Photographer

    Start ’em up

    The Eagles had a relatively light workout ahead of their trip to Massachusetts. First-unit players, most of whom didn’t face the Ravens, took most of the team drill repetitions. The same will likely hold for the joint practices. Coach Nick Sirianni is hoping the sessions with the Patriots carry a lot of weight ahead of the regular season, especially for his offense as it learns a new scheme. If Saturday showed anything, it’s that there could be a prolonged learning curve.

    Offensive coordinator Sean Mannion said before practice that he could open up the playbook a little more in Foxboro. The Eagles should have their entire projected starting lineup if Smith goes. They could be light at receiver and running back, but the offensive line will enter intact. Right tackle Lane Johnson and left guard Landon Dickerson have mostly been partial participants in camp, but they appeared to take every snap on Monday.

    Michael Carter II had a pick of Jalen Hurts on Monday. Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer

    Gimme Carter

    Defensive back Michael Carter II made the play of the day when he intercepted quarterback Jalen Hurts in team drills. Hurts threw to Quez Watkins on an intermediate route over the middle and Carter undercut the receiver to make a contested grab. It was a tight-window throw with a lot of bodies in the area. I’m not sure if Watkins’ route was precise or not, but it was another middle-field pick for Hurts. He’s had some strong throws in that area, but Sirianni may need to lower his turnover expectations if there are going to be more passes between the numbers.

    Carter has locked down his spot on the roster. He may not have beaten out Marcus Epps for the nickel safety spot, but the dime position appears to be his. He should also be DeJean’s backup in the slot. Carter got home for two would-be sacks off slot blitzes during team drills on Monday. I’m intrigued to see the built-in answers Mannion has schemed up for his quarterback when he’s “hot.” I’m not sure why Hurts held the ball on both occasions.

    Quinyon Mitchell is set to battle former teammate A.J. Brown later this week. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    Mitchie-poo

    The field tilts when Mitchell is manning the right side. We haven’t seen him follow a receiver since Smith’s injury, but he could be tasked with shadowing ex-teammate Brown later this week. They had their battles in Philly. Hurts did go at Mitchell on his first drop. Receiver Dontayion Wicks couldn’t shake the corner on a dig route, and the pass sailed incomplete.

    Kelee Ringo replaced Mitchell when he took his first few rests. I’m not sure if this represented a promotion with Bennett and McWilliams sidelined. Ringo had an interception against the Ravens, but he had shaky moments, too. If either Mitchell or Riq Woolen was to get hurt, DeJean would likely move to the outside. Carter in the slot is a better option than any of the backups on the outside.

    Monday was a good day for the Vic Fangio defense. David Maialetti / Staff Photographer

    For the defense

    Vic Fangio’s first-unit defense appeared, overall, to get the better of Hurts and Co. in about 25 plays. It wasn’t a lopsided performance by any stretch, but the turnover and several sacks gave the defense the edge. Hurts was forced to throw underneath a fair amount, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. He hooked up with receiver Darius Cooper and tight end Dallas Goedert on short hitch routes during the first set.

    The offense’s best moment might have come on a Hurts-to-Hollywood Brown connection for about 20 yards. Brown ran a curl route and settled in a soft spot in a deep zone. He made the catch and turned upfield ahead of Woolen for a few extra yards. Hurts then hit Gray on a slant on the next play.

    There were a few other completions: a short toss to Elijah Moore when he was the third read on a naked bootleg and another shortie to the slot receiver. Hurts kept a play alive — even though Carter had eased off on a would-be sack — and threw to an open Goedert. But the tight end bobbled the ball and couldn’t reel it in.

    Saquon Barkley (left) did not work out with the rest of the team in Baltimore but returned Monday. David Maialetti / Staff Photographer

    Run it up

    Barkley tweaked an ankle last week and didn’t warm up with the other starters ahead of the Ravens game. He was back in uniform, though, and took a few handoffs. Barkley hasn’t been kept in bubble wrap, but the Eagles have also been careful with their No. 1 running back. Bigsby will be the No. 2, but the guess here is that those expecting significantly more carries this season will be disappointed. Barkley will be the workhorse again.

    He didn’t have much room when edge Nolan Smith Jr. and defensive tackle Jalen Carter blew up a couple of his rushes. Barkley did have a productive dash to the outside. Will Shipley and Carson Steele got a fair amount of first-team totes with Bigsby out. Shipley and Hurts had a botched exchange on a pitch. It was tough sledding for both tailbacks, but there were a few inside runs into the second level.

    Moro Ojomo contrite about training camp skirmish with Eagles teammate Fred Johnson: ‘You fight with your brothers’

    Line dance

    It was mostly the topliners up front who took reps in one-on-ones. Defensive tackle Moro Ojomo was able to swim by Dickerson on their first matchup, but the guard rebounded and stood firm against a bull rush. Left tackle Jordan Mailata easily handled edge Jalyx Hunt on both his rushes. Tackle Fred Johnson had a couple of strong sets vs. Smith. Hunt, it should be noted, recorded a sack in team drills.

    Tyler Steen and Jalen Carter have had some battles in camp. Carter swam by the right guard in one-on-ones and bowled over him on the second turn. Steen might have had payback on his mind when he knocked the defensive tackle off his feet in team drills. Alas, the play resulted in Michael Carter’s interception.

    Willie Lampkin made an impression on Saturday night, as he has throughout camp. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    Willie conk-a

    Willie Lampkin was one of the few standouts on offense in the preseason opener. Loyal readers know I’ve been touting his abilities in camp. He has all the tools to compete in the NFL minus, maybe, his size (5-foot-11, 290). But the center/guard sure makes up for it with his technique, acumen and effort.

    He took a lone snap vs. defensive tackle Byron Young in one-on-ones and had yet another win by my count. Lampkin and the second O-line unit didn’t get many snaps during team drills. On Thursday, the fight between Johnson and Ojomo ended practice early. I didn’t see any encounters between the pair several days later. But I did see Lampkin help Ojomo off the ground as Johnson stood nearby.

    Ojomo addressed the fight after practice. “It’s football … I made a mistake,” he said. It’s time to move on.

    Tanner McKee (left), Andy Dalton (center) and Jalen Hurts all received reps on Monday. David Maialetti / Staff Photographer

    Back to basics

    Quarterback Andy Dalton was first up with the twos. Tanner McKee also got some snaps. As noted above, there weren’t many reps to go around, but the second-unit offense still looked ineffective. Dalton had to throw the ball away a few times. McKee essentially tossed one into the dirt when his receivers were all covered.

    Linebacker Chance Campbell, who missed time with a groin strain, was back in team drills. Wisniewski blitzed at one point. He has a lot of ground to make up.

    Extra points

    Linebacker Jihaad Campbell had a couple of run stops. His talent is undeniable. He just needs to play. … Cole Payton took the last few snaps at quarterback. He had another scramble for positive yards. … The Eagles will have a walk-through on Tuesday before traveling to New England. Wednesday’s joint practice with the Patriots will begin at 10:15 a.m. and last about two hours.

  • Sean Mannion talks Eagles’ sloppy preseason loss to Ravens, will move from sideline to coaches’ box vs. Patriots

    Sean Mannion talks Eagles’ sloppy preseason loss to Ravens, will move from sideline to coaches’ box vs. Patriots

    The Sean Mannion era got off to a rocky start on Saturday.

    Sure, the Eagles may have held out every projected starter on offense in their preseason opener, but their output was still concerning. They converted just two first downs over their first eight drives and were outgained 440-159 yards in the 24-7 loss to the Ravens.

    Of the three quarterbacks who played — Andy Dalton, Tanner McKee, and Cole Payton — it was the rookie Payton who led the Eagles in passing yards with 37.

    Heading into what could be a telling set of joint practices and a game against the New England Patriots, Mannion decided to change his approach. The first-year offensive coordinator announced Monday that he will call plays from the coaches’ box at Foxboro, not the sideline where he worked vs. the Ravens.

    “Yeah, I’m planning on calling the next game from the booth,” Mannion said before Monday’s practice. “I think it’s an opportunity to get a feel for both. And then go from there. But it was, you know, that’s been the plan all along. I think it’ll be an interesting perspective, but, you know, I think for this preseason, an opportunity to kind of experience.”

    This doesn’t mean Mannion is making sweeping changes to his offensive philosophy. Nor should he. The former Packers quarterbacks coach was hired to implement a wide-zone scheme with concepts that look similar to those of Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan, thus modernizing the Eagles offense.

    The offense has mostly looked sharp through three weeks of training camp, too, so the trueresults won’t be revealed until they open the season vs. the Commanders on Sept. 13.

    But it’s clear Mannion — who “works his butt off,” according to coach Nick Sirianni — is striving for better output, no matter who’s playing. He took responsibility for the sloppy performance — namely the Eagles’ 0-for-9 third-down conversion rate — ahead of Monday’s practice.

    “Obviously, we want to have a better performance offensively than we put on tape the other night, [and] we’ve got things that obviously we need to correct,” Mannion said.

    “I thought the biggest thing that stood out in the game is we just weren’t staying on schedule. We had a lot of first-and-longs, second-and-longs. Penalties led to a lot of that. A couple negative runs. So I think if we were able to be better on schedule and kind of eliminate some of those miscues on early downs, we’ll keep ourselves in more manageable third-down situations and hopefully lead to a better result.”

    Sean Mannion will move from the sideline to the coaching box on Saturday. David Maialetti / Staff Photographer

    Mannion was able to find one positive takeaway from Saturday’s mess. The 34-year-old ex-quarterback said communication among the coaching staff was strong, with clock management and substitutions both running smoothly.

    “We didn’t have any play-calls get jacked up where we got caught with them substituting late or anything like that,” he said. “I thought the lines of communication were clear. I was happy with how the quarterbacks were able to get us in and out of the huddle. We weren’t really up against the play clock at all, so I was happy with that.”

    Now comes the hard part: mixing those positives with better execution of the playbook. He’ll have another crack at it Saturday night at Gillette Stadium.

    “I think it’s just carrying the fundamental work that we’ve done in practice to the game setting. I think that was the biggest takeaway,” Mannion said. “We want to see these guys go out, play, execute their assignment and play with good fundamentals.”

  • Moro Ojomo contrite about training camp skirmish with Eagles teammate Fred Johnson: ‘You fight with your brothers’

    Moro Ojomo contrite about training camp skirmish with Eagles teammate Fred Johnson: ‘You fight with your brothers’

    Moro Ojomo admits that his fracas with Eagles offensive tackle Fred Johnson in the final moments of last Thursday’s practice was not the defensive tackle’s finest moment.

    Tensions between the two had been festering during team drills. They eventually quarreled on back-to-back snaps, with Ojomo lunging at Johnson’s lower half not long after their teammates attempted to separate them following the second play.

    Football is an aggressive sport, Ojomo said. But he expressed an understanding that he crossed the line.

    “Emotions, and you fight with your brothers,” Ojomo said Monday. “It was just over football. Got a little heated. It was wrong. It’s not a standard that we set out here, and it was a mistake, and I messed up.”

    After three weeks of practicing against his teammates in training camp, Ojomo is ready to direct his aggression at someone else.

    Enter the New England Patriots.

    Moro Ojomo is among the Eagles projected starters ready to hit someone from another team. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    The Eagles will head to Foxborough, Mass., for a pair of joint practices against the defending AFC champions on Wednesday and Thursday ahead of Saturday’s preseason game. For Ojomo, the joint practices are welcome opportunities to compete against another team in a controlled environment, especially for the starters who are unlikely to play in the preseason.

    “We’ve been hitting each other so much,” Ojomo said. “We want to kind of create that camaraderie and go versus someone, and ultimately we want to get the train rolling. We’re trying to have a great season, and you start it off with a great joint practice with [the Patriots].”

    Foxborough is familiar territory for the Eagles. The Patriots hosted them for a single joint practice ahead of the 2024 season. On that day, the Eagles defense — in its first summer under Vic Fangio — dominated the Drake Maye-led offense that went on to rank 30th in the NFL in scoring that year.

    Eagles 53-man roster projection 3.0: What changed after the first preseason game?

    This week’s practices should be a little more evenly matched for Ojomo and his defensive teammates. Maye, who finished second in MVP voting last season behind Matthew Stafford, is now headed into his third season and his second under head coach Mike Vrabel. The Patriots have invested in Maye’s supporting cast, from the offensive linemen who protect him to the receivers — including former Eagle A.J. Brown — who catch his passes.

    Brown won’t be the only former Eagle in attendance. Milton Williams, the 2021 third-rounder out of Louisiana Tech, signed a four-year, $104 million contract with the Patriots in the offseason that followed the Eagles’ Super Bowl victory.

    Ojomo had a theory regarding why Williams got paid by the Patriots that year.

    “He had a great, great practice up there,” Ojomo recalled of their joint practice.

    Ojomo acknowledged that the Eagles have a history of defensive tackles, including Williams in 2025 and Javon Hargrave in 2023, playing their way into paydays with other teams.

    He could follow the blueprint that Williams and others set forth. Ojomo, the Eagles’ 2023 seventh-rounder out of Texas, is in the final year of his rookie deal. If Ojomo builds upon a breakout 2025 season in which he registered six sacks, he could be in line for a hefty raise with the Eagles or elsewhere.

    Ojomo said earlier this month that watching Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter sign extensions to stay in Philadelphia this offseason is serving as motivation in Year 4.

    But he is driven by Williams’ trajectory, too, which ultimately landed him with a different team.

    The Eagles offense was not impressive in Sean Mannion’s debut. That’s not surprising … or all that concerning.

    “I think everyone’s encouraged by that,” Ojomo said. “Everyone’s encouraged by seeing when someone [balls] out and ultimately gets to that second contract, which is kind of that big, abstract goal for players as a rookie.”

    That abstract goal will become more tangible for Ojomo once the season gets underway. But first, after weeks of going head-to-head with his own teammates, he’s eager to compete in joint practices with an outside opponent.

    “At the end of the day, that’s a Super Bowl team from last year,” Ojomo said of the Patriots. “You’re not going to get much better competition than that, right? So, we’re very excited, and we’re going to try to give them our best shot. And I feel like, likewise, from their part.”

  • Villanova ranked No. 7 in preseason FCS coaches poll. Montana State at the top.

    Villanova ranked No. 7 in preseason FCS coaches poll. Montana State at the top.

    The American Football Coaches Association released its preseason Top 25 FCS poll Monday, and Villanova comes in at No. 7.

    The Wildcats are coming off a 12-3 season that ended in the Football Championship Subdivision semifinals with a 30-14 loss to Illinois State. Villanova’s 12 wins marked the second most in school history, and included a 7-1 record in the Coastal Athletic Association.

    As of July 1, Villanova became part of the Patriot League. In a conference preseason poll, the Wildcats were selected to finish first in their inaugural season in the league. They received seven first-place votes, with Lehigh, which won the Patriot title a year ago but fell to Villanova in the playoffs, receiving the other three.

    Villanova running back Ja’briel Mace returns for his junior season.Courtesy of Brendan Maloney

    Quarterback Pat McQuaide, an All-America candidate who passed for over 3,000 yards and 25 touchdowns a year ago, won a court ruling to gain eligibility to return to Villanova this season.

    Running back and rising junior Ja’Briel Mace, junior offensive lineman Chris McCullers, and sophomore Braden Reed, a wide receiver, were all named to the preseason All-Patriot League offensive team. Mace also got a nod on the special teams as a return specialist. Senior defensive lineman Capri Martin and sophomore linebacker Omari Bursey were both named to the preseason defensive team.

    Ohio judge rules that Villanova QB Pat McQuaide will be eligible this season

    Defending FCS champion Montana State tops the poll with 25 first-place votes, while South Dakota State, which comes in third, was the only other team to receive a vote for the top seed (1).

    Villanova’s season starts against William and Mary at home on Aug. 28, at 6 p.m., marking the first game in the Patriot League for both teams.