stretch

With the second bye behind them and USC’s season at a crossroads, Lincoln Riley has spent the better part of two weeks focusing his team on what’s in front of them — a stretch of three winnable games — and not behind them — a demoralizing defeat at Notre Dame.

In doing so, the Trojans coach borrowed a well-worn rallying cry, one that traces back 2,000 years. Riley told his team, they had to “burn the boats.”

“We’ve put ourselves in great position, and we’ve got to be a really forward-focused team right now,” Riley said. “Things can get pretty fun from here if you really get on a run. This team is capable of that. They know it. We know it.”

Considering the stakes, it’s an apt enough metaphor. Any hope of USC staying alive in the College Football Playoff conversation hinges on leaving Lincoln, Neb., with a win. And that will, at the very least, require presenting a much better product than before the bye, when USC’s defense gave up over 300 yards on the ground to Notre Dame.

That loss has left a notably bitter taste with the Trojans — especially on defense. This week, sophomore linebacker Jadyn Walker said he felt the group “didn’t come out ready to play” and wasn’t “hungry” enough against Notre Dame. Defensive tackle Jide Abasiri said fixing USC’s issues on defense meant “having our minds right.” For the second time in three weeks, USC returned to the basics on defense during the bye in an effort to iron out those issues.

“You study for a test, you’re not gonna be nervous,” Abasiri said. “Just keep studying, I guess.”

The time for studying is over. The final exam for USC and its defense is a five-game gauntlet, starting on the road in one of the Big Ten’s more hostile environments. It’s just as much a critical test for the team as its coach, who has won just two true road games — at Purdue and at UCLA — during the last two calendar years.

“We continue to put ourselves in position to win these, and I feel like we’re doing the things on a daily basis that ultimately lead to winning,” Riley said. “We’re here and we’re pushing that notion, and I just see us getting closer and closer to that as we go on. That’s where my confidence is.”

Here’s what you should watch for when No. 23 USC (5-2 overall, 3-1 Big Ten) faces Nebraska (6-2, 3-2) on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. PDT (NBC, Peacock).

A heavy dose of Emmett Johnson

Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson carries the ball against Northwestern on Oct. 25.

(Bonnie Ryan / Associated Press)

After watching Notre Dame’s duo of Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price steamroll USC’s defensive front, Nebraska offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen surely smells blood in the water. In Emmett Johnson, he has one of the Big Ten’s best backs, a bruising tackle-breaker who has become a bigger part of the Husker offense as the season has worn on.

He’ll no doubt be a huge part of the plans for Holgorsen, who knows Riley better than most any other coach in college football, save maybe his brother, Garrett, at Clemson. Presumably, Holgorsen will hope to keep the ball out of USC’s hands, grinding out long drives with Johnson.

“We set ourselves up the rest of the season to see a lot of run game,” safety Bishop Fitzgerald said. “This week, making sure we can stop that will be huge for us.”

Johnson isn’t easy to bring down. His 44 missed tackles forced, per PFF, ranks third in the Power Four among running backs.

“He runs really hard,” Fitzgerald said. “He’s usually always going to break the first tackle. He just plays with an edge. He’s not necessarily a blazer, but once he hits that edge, he can make a guy miss and he can get a lot of yards. So I think it’s about stopping him and surrounding the ball.”

It’s just that easy. Or maybe not.

Pick up the pressure

USC defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn stands on the sideline during the third quarter of a win over Michigan State on Sept. 20.

(Luke Hales / Getty Images)

USC led the nation in sacks through the first month of the season. But in both of the Trojans’ losses, the pass rush — or lack thereof — was part of the problem. After producing 24 pressures in a win over Michigan State, USC tallied just 25 in its next three games combined.

Nebraska offers a golden opportunity to get that right. The Huskers have allowed 26 sacks, second-most in the Big Ten.

“I do think we’ve shown growth and we’ve gotten better,” defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn said of the pass rush. “But we’re not satisfied.”

Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola has been sharper this season than when he came to the Coliseum in 2024. His completion rate is up almost 6%, and he already has 17 passing touchdowns, compared to just 13 last season.

But Raiola has a tendency to hold the ball too long. At times, that has paid off with big plays. Other times, it has derailed drives.

“It puts a lot of pressure on us,” Lynn said. “When he’s holding onto the ball, he’s not looking to scramble. He’s keeping his eyes downfield.”

The key to counteracting that for USC? Putting as much pressure on him as possible.

Something has gotta give

USC has the top passing offense in the nation, averaging 10 yards per attempt and 326 yards per game. Nebraska boasts one of the nation’s best pass defenses, with just one opposing quarterback even reaching the 160-yard mark against them.

The Huskers have yet to face a quarterback quite like Jayden Maiava. Maiava’s first start at USC came last season against Nebraska, and he has improved leaps and bounds since — notably in his ability to avoid crippling mistakes.

That’ll be at a premium against a Nebraska defense that has swallowed up quarterbacks this season.

“He’s making a lot of right decisions right now,” Riley said this week of Maiava. “If he keeps doing that, we’re going to have a chance to win every game.”

Sept. 21 (UPI) — Officials at London’s Heathrow airport are warning of a second day of delays for travelers after a cyber attack disabled a passenger check-in and baggage system.

The problem resulted in hundreds of delayed flights at several European airports on Saturday and left workers using pen and paper to check passengers in for their flights.

At least 90% of the 350 scheduled departures at Heathrow had been delayed, most by at least 15 minutes. Six had been delayed as of Sunday afternoon, according to Flightradar24, which tracks air traffic. Thirteen flights were canceled on Saturday, but most of the hundreds of scheduled flights were delayed.

A Heathrow spokesperson said the “underlying problem was outside our influence” and added that the airport brought on additional staff to help manage the situation.

“We apologize to those who have faced delays, but by working together with airlines, the vast majority of flights have continued to operate,” the spokesperson said.

There was no timeline for a return to a fully functional system, officials at Brussels Airport said, where authorities asked several air carriers to cancel at least half of their flights scheduled to depart on Monday.

RTX, owner of the software provider Collins Aerospace, said it was “aware of a cyber-related disruption” to its system in some airports, and that it was working to resolve the situation, the BBC reported.

The company has not disclosed the error in its software that caused the system to shut down, or how long the outage could last, but added that the disruption would stretch into at least until Monday because Collins has yet to provide a secure software update or any recommendations on a solution, airport officials said.

Airports urged travelers to check flight status before heading to the airport and recommended they arrive at their selected airport no earlier than three hours prior to long flights and at least two hours before shorter ones.

The outdoor enthusiasts at Millets have compiled a list of the UK’s best free hidden gems, based on ratings on TripAdvisor and Google, and the results are in

England is brimming with hidden treasures, from quaint, untouched coves in Cornwall to breathtaking woodland strolls in Lancashire. Embleton Bay, a beach tucked away in the north of England, has been crowned the country’s top free hidden gem.

This pristine and dramatic beach in Northumberland has won the hearts of visitors from far and wide. The outdoor experts at Millets have curated a list of England’s top free hidden gems, based on TripAdvisor and Google ratings, with this stunning beach clinching the top spot.

Porth Joke in Cornwall, another beautiful and untouched beach, came in second, while Gloucestershire’s Forest of Dean secured third place.

The top pick of Embleton Bay is an unspoilt stretch of coastline, flanked by low dunes and overseen by the imposing ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle. It’s also a stone’s throw away from the historic town of Embleton, which boasts the UK’s largest village hall.

Dunstanburgh Castle, whose remnants are visible from the beach, was erected in the 1300s by Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, a cousin and adversary of Edward II. By the late 1800s, the castle had deteriorated into ruins, and the remains of Dunstanburgh became a favourite subject for artists and poets.

And it’s not just the outdoor specialists at Millets who rave about Embleton. One visitor took to TripAdvisor to write: “Beautiful, quiet dog friendly beach with great views. A castle at one end of the bay and a pub at the far end up at Low Newton By The Sea.

“Embleton Beach is pretty amazing. We were lucky enough to be staying in a cottage overlooking the bay and walked the dog on the sands every morning, often with nobody else in sight!”.

Meanwhile, another visitor gushed: “Embleton bay is a hidden gem on the Northumberland coast. The beach is powdery white sand and the sea is clear and safe for bathing. Dunstanburgh castle makes a dramatic backdrop and it is a pleasant walk along the coast to Craster.”

A third raved: “Beautiful beach and coastline. Water very clear, and looked clean. Great views of Dunstanburgh Castle, sandy and rocks, great for dogs and children.”

One more holidaymaker remarked: “This is a delightful and peaceful beach with wonderful views of the nearby castle. Wonderful to watch the birdlife. It is very peaceful and calming, but unfortunately that depends on how many dogs are around at the time.”

Revealing the findings of their study into England’s finest free hidden treasures, Millets blog writer Sam Chadwick explained: “The UK is full of beautiful locations, and in recent years, more people have discovered the benefits of spending time outdoors. We have collated our ultimate hidden gems list, revealing the highest rated hidden gems that are completely free to enjoy.”

England’s best free hidden gems:

1. Embleton Bay, Northumberland
2. Porth Joke, Cornwall
3. Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire
4. Kingley Vale, West Sussex
5. Portheras Cove, Cornwall
6. Barricane Beach, Devon
7. Norsey Wood, Essex
8. Lantic Bay, Cornwall
9. Forest of Bowland, Lancashire
10. Warburg Nature Reserve, Oxfordshire
11. Covehithe Beach, Suffolk
12. Cardinham Woods, Cornwall
13. Box Hill, Surrey
14. Heartwood Forest, Hertfordshire

It’s an age-old question when it comes to the Dodgers, cast upon a new-look roster battling familiar injury-related headaches.

In a best-case scenario, the Dodgers could end the season with Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, and Shohei Ohtani (in some capacity) headlining their rotation.

In the bullpen, they could have Blake Treinen, Michael Kopech and Brusdar Graterol bolstering more heavily-used arms like Tanner Scott, Alex Vesia and Kirby Yates — plus wild card options in Ben Casparius, Emmet Sheehan and Jack Dreyer to serve in more versatile roles on the mound.

But best-case pitching scenarios, of course, have often been unrealized fantasies with the franchise in recent years.

Thus, down the stretch this season, the Dodgers’ top priority (after winning the division and securing a first-round bye) will be keeping their arms as healthy as possible.

That will be most important with Glasnow (who just returned from a shoulder injury) and Snell (who should be back from his own shoulder problem in the next couple of weeks). To this point, the Dodgers have signaled a reluctance to urgently pursue a starter at the trade deadline. And even if they did, the lack of available front-line options means it’d be difficult to insure against either (or, in a nightmare world) both going down again.

The Dodgers have been interested in adding to the bullpen, and might set their sights on a legitimate closer given Scott’s season-long struggles. But still, much of their depth will depend on Treinen (who is also nearing a return from a forearm injury), Kopech (who went on the 60-day IL after a knee surgery, but is still expected back this season) and Graterol (who is also still expected to return after missing the first half recovering from offseason shoulder surgery).

The Dodgers also have their fingers crossed on Roki Sasaki (hoping he can return in late August from his own shoulder issue) and haven’t yet ruled out Tony Gonsolin (though he has remained shut down since suffering an elbow injury). But for now, their primary hope is to keep Glasnow and Snell upright, and replenish an overworked bullpen with late-season reinforcements.