The latest CBS Sports HQ AM Newsletter covers a busy night across American sports, highlighted by the Chicago Bears' statement 34-17 victory over the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks on Monday Night Football. The win firmly inserts Chicago into the Super Bowl conversation, with defensive addition Jeffery Simmons proving impactful. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Falcons reinstated edge rusher James Pearce Jr. after an eight-game suspension for violating the league's personal conduct policy, bolstering their NFC South push.
College Football Shakeup
In college football, No. 22 UCLA stunned No. 5 Arizona 84-75 in a season-opening thriller, while top-ranked Florida opened its 2026-27 campaign with a 77-67 win over No. 14 Miami behind Thomas Haugh's 19 points and 10 rebounds. North Carolina narrowly escaped Western Carolina 80-72, raising early questions for new coach Michael Malone. Oklahoma fired offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle amid offensive struggles, with Hall of Famer Jason Witten expected to assume play-calling duties.
Cardinals Turn to Minshew, CFB Rankings Shift
The Arizona Cardinals named Gardner Minshew the Week 9 starter after his comeback win over Dallas, demoting Jacoby Brissett to third string and making him a potential trade asset. The CBS Sports College Football Power Rankings saw Miami rise to No. 1 ahead of a marquee matchup at No. 4 Notre Dame, while USC jumped 14 spots after a top-five win. The first College Football Playoff rankings of the season were set to be released Tuesday night.
Mock Draft, MLB, Golf, and Tuesday Slate
In a 2027 NFL mock draft, CBS Sports' Ryan Wilson projected Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker to the Cleveland Browns at No. 1 overall, praising his tape. Other first-round projections included quarterbacks Trinidad Chambliss (Steelers) and Jayden Maiava (Vikings). In baseball, the Guardians earned a bright outlook in early 2027 MLB Power Rankings, while Tarik Skubal's future destination and NL MVP finalists Pete Crow-Armstrong and Shohei Ohtani drew attention. Golfer Fifa Laopakdee qualified for the 2027 Masters by winning the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship. Tuesday's viewing guide features UEFA Champions League action, plus college basketball and MAC football games.
