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ASHBURN, Va. — The shirt did not look right on Washington Commanders receiver Terry McLaurin, but a bet’s a bet.

He put on Michigan colors. A player reared in scarlet and gray now had to don maize and blue thanks to Ohio State’s loss to the Wolverines last year. Two days after the game, McLaurin showed up in a team meeting wearing the Michigan top with teammate Khaleke Hudson‘s name and No. 7 on the back.

It’s a ritual that plays out in every NFL locker room during the season, a player losing a bet because the college he played for lost to another teammate’s school. It’s not about money changing hands; it’s about pride. It’s about showing up in another team’s shirt — or overalls. Maybe it’s the joy of seeing another player proclaiming on video that the other side is the best. Or maybe it’s seeing even the GOAT can be humbled.

“For me to pose in Michigan blue? That’s nasty,” McLaurin said, repeating the last line a couple of times for emphasis.

Of course, one of the first teammates to comment on McLaurin’s shirt was Commanders long-snapper Camaron Cheeseman, who also played at Michigan.

“You look good wearing our colors,” Cheeseman told him.

Even now, McLaurin shudders when retelling the story.

“It was kind of embarrassing,” McLaurin said. “But that’s why guys do it, because your money, that comes and goes, but the bragging rights, you wearing the other team’s gear and possibly having to post it on social media. … I definitely would rather lose my money than come in here in that Michigan blue, like last year.”

McLaurin eventually got the last laugh, though, pointing to the number of times he beat the Wolverines over his five years in Columbus.

“I hate to be this guy, they beat us, but I’m like, ‘When I was there you didn’t beat me Khaleke.’ I ride with Ohio State, so they lost. But when I was there, I got five gold pants if we’re going to really count it,” McLaurin said, referring to the gold charms given to Buckeyes players for beating Michigan.

McLaurin is hardly alone in having to honor a bet. And while these scenes go on throughout the season, it intensifies this week with a number of big rivalries — such as Ohio State-Michigan, Alabama-Auburn and even Iowa-Nebraska — kicking off.

‘Schmediums look good’

THE TRASH TALK and bets start because of a simple fact about NFL players.

“We have a competitive nature, that’s why we play this sport,” Atlanta Falcons corner Darren Hall said.

Competition is a part of being in the locker room — whether it’s arguing over basketball skills, cornhole games or even putting contests. When it comes to their schools, it gets more intense. NFL teams pick their players, but the players picked their colleges. Even though some players mention bets that could reach four figures, almost all said it wasn’t about money. They’re prideful; they’re loyal.

“Somebody at that program had to believe in you to get you in the school,” Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither said. “And that translated into you getting to the NFL. It works hand in hand to me.”

Bengals coach Zac Taylor allows players to wear their college swag during Saturday walk-throughs, and it’s obvious who lost a bet from the previous week.

Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman Zach Allen, who went to Boston College, had to wear a Wake Forest T-shirt, courtesy of wide receiver Greg Dortch, after BC lost to Wake last month

“The shirt was like a frickin’ medium,” Allen said. “I made it look good though. … There are no examples of Dortch and I going against each other, so it’s cool stuff like that, it brings the whole 53[-man roster] together. People get invested because they enjoy seeing a 285-pound guy in a size medium.”

But, as teammate Maxx Williams said, “Schmediums look good.”

Williams should know: The former Minnesota Golden Gophers tight end lost his own bet to teammate Trace McSorley, a former Penn State quarterback. So he, too, wore a skin-tight shirt that was one size too small and therefore a tight medium — hence “schmedium.”

“It’s fun,” McSorley said. “It lightens it up.”

Cardinals quarterback Colt McCoy, a Texas alum, looked glum while wearing a Texas Tech shirt on social media earlier this year — thanks to a bet lost to a pair of Arizona teammates.

Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury, who coached Tech from 2013 to 2018, was not one of those who wagered with McCoy, however.

“I’m not wearing that burnt orange s—, I can assure you,” Kingsbury said.

But he saw the pain in McCoy’s face in the photo.

“He looks like his dog died, man,” Kingsbury said.

In 2018, when McCoy played for the Commanders, he got to see former Oklahoma punter Tress Way wear a Longhorns shirt every day in and out of the facility. They also had a standing bet every year: a six-pack of their choice.

“It was painful,” Way said about wearing the shirt. “But that’s the fun of it; college ball is the best.”

Hall lost a bet to Falcons running back Avery Williams when Boise State beat San Diego State. Hall was going to give Williams an Aztecs backpack, maybe a hat. As he said, “Nothing crazy.” But Williams showed up with his Boise State jersey, so Hall wore it all day.

“I sported it because he’s my favorite player,” Hall said.

“I could have given him my helmet, too, but I wouldn’t do that to him,” Williams said. “His big head probably couldn’t fit in my helmet.”

Players watch games together in the dining room during team meals Saturday night at the hotel. The Commanders, for example, have three TVs set up during team meals. Other times individual groups will gather in hotel rooms to watch games.

“You don’t want your team playing and losing,” defensive end Shaka Toney said.

If you’re from, say, Georgia, all comers are welcome. If they dare.

“That’s the worst part, because we all get paid pretty well, so a $20 bet here and there is not as bad as having to wear the other team’s colors,” said Falcons linebacker Lorenzo Carter, who played at Georgia. “It’s hard being a Georgia Bulldog. People see us and get intimidated and don’t want to make those bets. I haven’t won as much as I wanted because everyone’s pretty scared.”

‘Everybody hates Bama’

IT’S ALMOST UNIVERSAL in NFL locker rooms: Players root against Alabama. What’s also true: The Crimson Tide players have the trump card in many cases that quiet conversations even after a rare loss.

After all, they’ve won six national championships since 2009 under coach Nick Saban.

Take New England Patriots linebacker Mack Wilson Sr., for example. When the former Crimson Tide standout played with the Cleveland Browns, he had to pay off his bet to teammates Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr. after Alabama lost to LSU in 2019. So, Wilson showed up later that day wearing an LSU T-shirt to team meetings.

But he also wore something else: jewelry. He snapped a selfie wearing four championship rings, two on each hand, from his time at Alabama.

“Before I left the house to go to the team hotel I made sure I grabbed all my rings and brought them to the hotel,” Wilson, who won a national championship, two SEC championships and an SEC West title in his three years at Alabama, said. “I wore them and I was messing with them the whole day.”

LSU defeated Alabama again this season. Two of Wilson’s Patriots teammates played at LSU: cornerback Jalen Mills and defensive tackle Davon Godchaux. But Wilson was ready for them.

“I went 3-0 against them,” Wilson said.

Toney, a former Penn State standout now on the Commanders practice squad, summed it up: “Everybody in the NFL hates Bama. I like success. I respect what they’re doing, but everybody hates Bama.”

The Commanders have four players from Alabama — defensive linemen Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen, as well as running back Brian Robinson and receiver Cam Sims.

Despite Alabama losing two games this season and the national championship game last year, it will take more to kill the Tide’s vibe in NFL locker rooms.

“They’re Bama until they’re not Bama no more,” Toney said. “People give Bama slack for their losses. But until you see consecutive years — and it has to be multiple years; it has to be Bama don’t look like Bama. It’s tough.”

Teammate James Smith-Williams, a defensive end, summed it up: “Jon and Payne have like five national championships. What can you say to that?”

Jacksonville Jaguars offensive tackle Cam Robinson — another ex-Alabama player — said he knows who reigns supreme in the Jags’ locker room, even though rookie linebacker Travon Walker played on Georgia’s national championship team last year.

“You’re talking about probably the greatest college football dynasty ever,” Robinson said of Alabama. “It’s me and only me if I’m being honest. Josh [Allen] runs his mouth [about Kentucky]; I don’t know why, it’s a basketball school. Travon can talk a little bit. Daniel Thomas [from Auburn] likes to talk a lot. Who knows why? He can’t really say much.”

Falcons linebacker Rashaan Evans, who played at Alabama from 2014 to 2017, said in the past teammates were “too scared” to bet him when their school played Alabama. But running back Cordarrelle Patterson had no such qualms before his Tennessee Volunteers beat Alabama on Oct. 15.

Evans had to wear orange and white checkered overalls. It made him laugh. He also revealed, once again, the mindset of the Alabama players.

“It was bound to happen eventually. It was fun for me because finally someone beat us. It gets boring winning sometimes.”

‘Undefeated on the mic’

FALCONS LINEBACKER WILL Compton developed a reputation in the NFL for one thing in particular: defending Nebraska, which is where he played from 2008 to 2012.

Compton turned his orator skills into the popular “Bussin with the Boys” podcast, where he made the case this summer for an 11-1 season by the Cornhuskers. They’re 3-8. Last year, he dubbed them the best three-win team in college football history — it didn’t win any bets, but it did shut down some arguments.

While Nebraska was 48-20 during his five years in Lincoln, the school has only three winning seasons since, and none since 2016.

“One thing I always said about Compton: He was undefeated on the mic,” Way, who was teammates with Compton in Washington, said. “He could be dead wrong and find a way to win the argument. It would be him against the whole locker room. He was the best in that regard.”

Here’s how Compton did it:

“A group would gather around me and I’d catch one person who laughs or chuckles whose team got destroyed,” he said. “I’d defend myself and immediately point at the other loser in the room and get the spotlight on him and throw seven different kinds of smoke on that guy until nothing was said about Nebraska.”

But even Compton has to pay up on his bets. And he knows the payoff might occur again this week when Iowa plays Nebraska, courtesy of his yearly wager with San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle.

If Nebraska loses for the eighth consecutive time to the Hawkeyes, Compton will record yet another video. In it, he’ll have to proclaim Iowa’s superiority and shout out the Hawkeyes on social media once again.

In 2020, Compton looked as if he was being forced to read a statement on video. After declaring he wasn’t going to “talk about me being 2-0 [against Iowa], getting player of the game one year; that’s irrelevant,” Compton took a deep breath and looked away from the camera.

“They are the big brother of the border. They are the more superior program.”

Nine seconds passed before he continued.

“I wish I had committed to Kirk Ferentz and the Iowa Hawkeyes back in 2008, and I wish I had never went to Nebraska because Iowa is the better football team.” He then called Kittle a “sick SOB” for making him do the video.

But Compton isn’t about to change.

“I s— talk,” he said. “I still get texts from guys I played with. They’ll tell me they tune in to see what Nebraska is doing — when they’re doing bad they’ll shoot me a message. They’ll tell me they want to see if they’re winning or losing to know what state of mind I’ll be in.”

Nor are players on other teams about to change. They enjoy it too much.

“Definitely it’s fun,” Wilson said. “It’s almost every day someone brings up some story from college, whether it’s about them or in general. We’re always talking trash.”

Undefeated against the GOAT

IN EIGHT SEASONS playing with Tom Brady in New England, there’s one game former NFL safety Nate Ebner never lost: the Ohio State-Michigan game. Every year, Brady, perhaps Michigan’s most famous football alum, was convinced it was The Year. It wasn’t. So, eight times he had to pay off a bet to his teammate from Ohio State.

After a while, Ebner, who played with Brady from 2012 to 2019, wanted to be more creative in what he asked Brady to do after a Michigan loss. And because there were two Ohio State players and two Michigan players involved, Ebner knew what to do: Have them strike an O-H-I-O pose. Brady formed the H; defensive lineman Chase Winovich was the I, and ex-Buckeye John Simon bookended the O’s with Ebner.

“[Winovich] is probably one of the most annoying Michigan players of all time,” Ebner said. “There was nothing better than to see him do it with us.”

It led to a photo Ebner posted on his Instagram page. It wasn’t the first time Brady had to swallow his pride after a bet, either: In 2012, he wore then-teammate Mike Vrabel’s Ohio State jersey over his pads in practice.

Seven years later, it was Ebner’s turn to strike a pose with Brady that Ohio State fans adored. He said Brady was a good sport for paying off the bet. He says Brady is the best quarterback of all time, but Ebner knows he has an upper hand in one area. And by the time Michigan beat Ohio State last year — its first win since 2011 — Ebner was on to the Giants and Brady was with Tampa Bay.

“You can see the look on his face like, ‘I can’t believe I’m doing this right now,'” Ebner said of the 2019 photo. “He didn’t have a lot to say, but he did say, ‘I’m never going to live this down.’ … Maybe I could get with some charities around Columbus to raise money with that picture because it’s such a special Ohio State picture. Maybe one day I’ll get Tom to sign a copy for me.”

Mike Rothstein, Ben Baby, Mike Reiss, Josh Weinfuss and Michael DiRocco contributed to this story.

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2025 MLB Home Run Derby: The field is set! Who is the slugger to beat?

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2025 MLB Home Run Derby: The field is set! Who is the slugger to beat?

The 2025 MLB All-Star Home Run Derby is fast approaching — and the field is set.

Braves hometown hero Ronald Acuna Jr. became the first player to commit to the event, which will be held at Truist Park in Atlanta on July 14 (8 p.m. ET on ESPN). He was followed by MLB home run leader Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners, James Wood of the Washington Nationals, Byron Buxton of the Minnesota Twins, Oneil Cruz of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Junior Caminero of the Tampa Bay Rays, Brent Rooker of the Athletics and Jazz Chisholm Jr. of the New York Yankees.

On Friday, however, Acuna was replaced by teammate Matt Olson.

With all the entrants announced, let’s break down their chances at taking home this year’s Derby prize.

Full All-Star Game coverage: How to watch, schedule, rosters, more


2025 home runs: 17 | Longest: 434 feet

Why he could win: Olson is a late replacement for Acuna as the home team’s representative at this year’s Derby. Apart from being the Braves’ first baseman, however, Olson also was born in Atlanta and grew up a Braves fan, giving him some extra motivation. The left-handed slugger led the majors in home runs in 2023 — his 54 round-trippers that season also set a franchise record — and he remains among the best in the game when it comes to exit velo and hard-hit rate.

Why he might not: The home-field advantage can also be a detriment if a player gets too hyped up in the first round. See Julio Rodriguez in Seattle in 2023, when he had a monster first round, with 41 home runs, but then tired out in the second round.


2025 home runs: 36 | Longest: 440 feet

Why he could win: It’s the season of Cal! The Mariners’ catcher is having one of the greatest slugging first halves in MLB history, as he’s been crushing mistakes all season . His easy raw power might be tailor-made for the Derby — he ranks in the 87th percentile in average exit velocity and delivers the ball, on average, at the optimal home run launch angle of 23 degrees. His calm demeanor might also be perfect for the contest as he won’t get too amped up.

Why he might not: He’s a catcher — and one who has carried a heavy workload, playing in all but one game this season. This contest is as much about stamina as anything, and whether Raleigh can carry his power through three rounds would be a concern. No catcher has ever won the Derby, with only Ivan Rodriguez back in 2005 even reaching the finals.


2025 home runs: 24 | Longest: 451 feet

Why he could win: He’s big, he’s strong, he’s young, he’s awesome, he might or might not be able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. This is the perfect opportunity for Wood to show his talent on the national stage, and he wouldn’t be the first young player to star in the Derby. He ranks in the 97th percentile in average exit velocity and 99th percentile in hard-hit rate, so he can still muscle the ball out in BP even if he slightly mishits it. His long arms might be viewed as a detriment, but remember the similarly tall Aaron Judge won in 2017.

Why he might not: His natural swing isn’t a pure uppercut — he has a pretty low average launch angle of just 6.2 degrees — so we’ll see how that plays in a rapid-fire session. In real games, his power is primarily to the opposite field, but in a Home Run Derby you can get more cheapies pulling the ball down the line.


2025 home runs: 20 | Longest: 479 feet

Why he could win: Buxton’s raw power remains as impressive as nearly any hitter in the game. He crushed a 479-foot home run earlier this season and has four others of at least 425 feet. Indeed, his “no doubter” percentage — home runs that would be out of all 30 parks based on distance — is 75%, the highest in the majors among players with more than a dozen home runs. His bat speed ranks in the 89th percentile. In other words, two tools that could translate to a BP lightning show.

Why he might not: Buxton is 31 and the Home Run Derby feels a little more like a younger man’s competition. Teoscar Hernandez did win last year at age 31, but before that, the last winner older than 29 was David Ortiz in 2010, and that was under much different rules than are used now.


2025 home runs: 16 | Longest: 463 feet

Why he could win: If you drew up a short list of players everyone wants to see in the Home Run Derby, Cruz would be near the top. He has the hardest-hit ball of the 2025 season, and the hardest ever tracked by Statcast, a 432-foot missile of a home run with an exit velocity of 122.9 mph. He also crushed a 463-foot home run in Anaheim that soared way beyond the trees in center field. With his elite bat speed — 100th percentile — Cruz has the ability to awe the crowd with a potentially all-time performance.

Why he might not: Like all first-time contestants, can he stay within himself and not get too caught up in the moment? He has a long swing, which will result in some huge blasts, but might not be the most efficient for a contest like this one, where the more swings a hitter can get in before the clock expires, the better.


2025 home runs: 23 | Longest: 425 feet

Why he could win: Although Caminero was one of the most hyped prospects entering 2024, everyone kind of forgot about him heading into this season since he didn’t immediately rip apart the majors as a rookie. In his first full season, however, he has showed off his big-time raw power — giving him a chance to become just the third player to reach 40 home runs in his age-21 season. He has perhaps the quickest bat in the majors, ranking in the 100th percentile in bat speed, and his top exit velocity ranks in the top 15. That could translate to a barrage of home runs.

Why he might not: In game action, Caminero does hit the ball on the ground quite often — in fact, he’s on pace to break Jim Rice’s record for double plays grounded into in a season. If he gets out of rhythm, that could lead to a lot of low line drives during the Derby instead of fly balls that clear the fences.


2025 home runs: 19 | Longest: 440 feet

Why he could win: The Athletics slugger has been one of the top power hitters in the majors for three seasons now and is on his way to a third straight 30-homer season. Rooker has plus bat speed and raw power, but his biggest strength is an optimal average launch angle (19 degrees in 2024, 15 degrees this season) that translates to home runs in game action. That natural swing could be picture perfect for the Home Run Derby. He also wasn’t shy about saying he wanted to participate — and maybe that bodes well for his chances.

Why he might not: Rooker might not have quite the same raw power as some of the other competitors, as he has just one home run longer than 425 feet in 2025. But that’s a little nitpicky, as 11 of his home runs have still gone 400-plus feet. He competed in the college home run derby in Omaha while at Mississippi State in 2016 and finished fourth.


2025 home runs: 17 | Longest: 442 feet

Why he could win: Chisholm might not be the most obvious name to participate, given his career high of 24 home runs, but he has belted 17 already in 2025 in his first 61 games after missing some time with an injury. He ranks among the MLB leaders in a couple of home run-related categories, ranking in the 96th percentile in expected slugging percentage and 98th percentile in barrel rate. His raw power might not match that of the other participants, but he’s a dead-pull hitter who has increased his launch angle this season, which might translate well to the Derby, even if he won’t be the guy hitting the longest home runs.

Why he might not: Most of the guys who have won this have been big, powerful sluggers. Chisholm is listed at 5-foot-11, 184 pounds, and you have to go back to Miguel Tejada in 2004 to find the last player under 6 foot to win.

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Reds’ Fraley to play through partially torn labrum

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Reds' Fraley to play through partially torn labrum

CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Reds right fielder Jake Fraley was activated from the 10-day injured list on Saturday.

He had injured his right shoulder while trying to make a diving catch June 23 against the New York Yankees.

An MRI revealed a partially torn labrum that will eventually require surgery. Fraley received a cortisone shot and will try to play through it for the rest of the season.

The Reds were 7-4 in his absence.

Christian Encarnacion-Strand, who hasn’t played since Noelvi Marte returned from the IL on July 4, was optioned to Triple-A Louisville.

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Royals P Lorenzen (illness) scratched from start

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Royals P Lorenzen (illness) scratched from start

Kansas City Royals right-hander Michael Lorenzen was scratched from Saturday’s start due to an illness.

Left-hander Angel Zerpa replaced Lorenzen for the game against the visiting New York Mets.

Lorenzen, 33, is 5-8 with a 4.61 ERA through 18 starts this season.

Zerpa, 25, is 3-1 with a 3.89 ERA in 40 appearances out of the bullpen this season. His last start was in August 2023.

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