#season-opener

#season-opener

The start of year 100 felt eerily similar to many dispiriting nights in year 99. The New York Rangers' lethargic effort in a 3-0 season-opening loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday could be chalked up to a number of factors: adjustments to a new coach and new systems, the return of Artemi Panarin and J.T. Miller after lengthy preseason absences, and a general lack of execution.

All eyes were on the Patriots' offense in the season-opening game against the Raiders on Sunday, with hopes that we would see the start of the second-year jump of Drake Maye now that an upgraded group finally surrounds him. From the offensive line to the receiving corps, the excitement was palpable for the start of the Mike Vrabel era, until it became apparent they wouldn't live up to the hype this week.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Shane Steichen interrupted the backslapping in the celebratory locker room and called his team together. The Indianapolis Colts' coach had something to say about a victory that was more meaningful than the 33-8 win over the Miami Dolphins reflected on the scoreboard. Steichen wanted to mark the occasion of the team's first victory without its longtime owner, Jim Irsay, who died in May and was honored with induction in the team's Ring of Honor at halftime of Sunday's season opener.

SANTA CLARA Christian McCaffrey had on his 49ers helmet, No. 23 jersey, white gloves, black sweatpants and white cleats. He looked ready for Friday's practice and Sunday's season opener. Looks can be deceiving. Or encouraging. Whether another calf issue will keep him out of another season opener is yet to be answered. Coach Kyle Shanahan will address reporters after practice and provide McCaffrey's official status for Sunday's opener in Seattle against the Seahawks (1:05 p.m., FOX).

It was a helluva game, down to the last play,

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Julian Sayin had a 40-yard touchdown pass to Carnell Tate early in the fourth quarter, Ohio State's defense got a couple key stops in the red zone and the third-ranked Buckeyes opened their season with a 14-7 victory over top-ranked Texas on Saturday. It was the fourth time the AP's No. 1 team in the preseason poll has met the previous season's national champion in the opener. The defending champ has won the last three.

"We want to have the No. 1 defense, we talk about it, 100 percent," Broncos edge rusher Nik Bonitto said. "But we have to go out and do it, we have to do the things, each of us, to make that happen. How do we do that? Be better than last year and get off to a good start. It doesn't matter who is across from us every week, we want to be that defense that starts fast and just keeps going."

Barcelona secured a decisive 3-0 victory against nine-man Mallorca, dominating the game with a high conversion of attempts, highlighted by key performances from Raphinha and Lamine Yamal.

LSU and Clemson will face off at Clemson's 'Death Valley,' with LSU's Brian Kelly calling it 'Death Valley Junior.' This rivalry intensifies anticipation for their season opener.

Dykes noted a sense of déjà vu as TCU opens against another high-profile coach, this time Belichick, after a similar matchup with Sanders last year.