‘Nightcaps’ is a daily column that catches you up on the biggest sports, news and culture stories you may have missed while pretending to do work at your desk. It runs Monday–Friday on OutKick.com.
To the WNBA, NBA, NHL, MLB and FIFA … rest easy, your watch has now ended.
The KING is back. The NFL season is upon us. Is it a little weird to be kicking off the new year on a Wednesday? Sure. No argument there.
But will we care at 8:20 tonight when AJ Brown gives us our first anytime touchdown cash of the betting season? Nope.
We will not.
AJ BROWN SAYS THERE’S BEEN SILENCE BETWEEN HIM AND EX-TEAMMATE JALEN HURTS SINCE HIS MOVE TO NEW ENGLAND
Welcome back, NFL. Goodness, we’ve missed you.
And, of course, welcome to a Hump Day Nightcaps — the one where Sophie Cunningham enjoys a day on the boat before taking in some opening night football action from Seattle.
Sophie Cunningham #8 of the Indiana Fever reacts during the second half against the New York Liberty at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind., on Aug. 11, 2026. (Getty Images)
What else? I’ve got a 49ers wife saying goodbye to summer before her husband kicks things off in Australia, a rundown of the Rams’ INSANE travel schedule this week, and if the SEC were to expel LSU from the conference, who would YOU pick as a replacement?
It’ll never happen (right?), but it’s still a thinker. And in this class, we like to challenge ourselves!
Grab you some grilled chicken for National Grilled Chicken Day — throw it out and fry some WINGS like a man — and then settle in for a Hump Day ‘Cap!
Sophie Cunningham enjoys some R&R while Team USA plays in Berlin
Look, I love the NFL. It’s No. 1 for me, followed by college football and MLB. So, I’ll never complain about a Wednesday night kickoff.
That being said …
It is odd that the schedule-makers decided this was the best matchup possible. Did they watch the Super Bowl earlier this year? It stunk. It was never, ever close. Why on earth did they think we’d want to follow it up with … the exact same matchup?
A general view of the Seattle Seahawks versus the New England Patriots defense during Super Bowl LX game on Feb. 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. (Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Vrabel stuff from the offseason was a juicy storyline in March, but that’s faded away (for now). I guess you could argue that AJ Brown makes it more interesting. But other than that? It’s pretty much the same teams, minus Ken Walker.
Oh well. It’s a nitpick, I know. I’m just happy football is back.
I’m also happy that Sophie Cunningham is getting some nice rest while the WNBA takes a month off for the FIBA World Cup over in Germany.
She deserves it.
She leads off today’s class:
Who’s excited for some NFL betting?!
That’s how you spend the finals day(s) of summer … one last boat trip before the leaves start to fall and the WNBA playoffs kick into gear.
Sophie gets it. I know the girls are overseas right now playing in the world cup, but I’d rather be here, in the U-S-of-A, on a boat. Point to Sophie Cunningham!
PS: I had a reader bring this up a few days ago, and had to doublecheck it to be sure. Anyone here want to take a guess at when the FIBA championship game is?
This Sunday … at 2 p.m.
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham smiles after falling Friday, May 15, 2026, during the second half of a game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Washington Mystics defeated the Indiana Fever in overtime, 104-102. (USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)
The FIRST NFL Sunday of the year! Right at peak hours for RedZone. Amazing. They don’t even stand a chance back here in the states.
OK, let’s move it along because I have to fire up the Hard Rock app and see if I can get this NFL betting season started with a bang.
Or, you know, I guess I could try and use Novig for all my sports betting needs this season …
Rams schedule, LSU replacement and NFL WAGs gear up for the season
Goodness gracious. I saw that ad making the rounds over on Elon’s Twitter this morning, and thought it was AI. Seriously. I know Sydney Sweeney doesn’t shy away from anything, but even I thought there was no way that was real.
It is real, and it’s a TALKER.
“The campaign was about embracing a fun idea,” Sweeney in a statement, according to Variety. “The concept is simple: cut through the noise and put the focus entirely on sports. The campaign brings that idea to life with confidence, humor and a playful edge.”
Yep. The focus of that ad is certainly all on the sports! No argument here, Sydney.
OK, let’s rapid-fire this Hump Day class into a big NFL night. First up? We’ve got Pats-Seahawks tonight, but did you know we have another game tomorrow?
Rams-49ers … in Melbourne! It’s on Netflix, which is dumb, but that’s the world we now live in. It’s also, technically, taking place on Friday since Australia is a billion hours ahead of us.
The Niners left the states for this game last week. The Rams? They left YESTERDAY:
“The Rams will spend more than 30 hours on an airplane, travel over 15,000 miles, cross 7 time zones, and play a football game, yet technically be back in Los Angeles less than 72 hours after leaving.”
That’s insane. Australia is 14 hours ahead of us, which means tomorrow night’s game will actually be taking place on Friday at 10:35 a.m. in Melbourne.
And the Rams are going to have been there for a cup of coffee before strapping in and hitting the field.
No idea if it’s gonna work, but I’m excited to see if it does!
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay watches from the sideline during the second half of the NFC Championship NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Next? You know what’s probably not gonna work? Kicking LSU out of the SEC. I just don’t see it happening. I know the SEC has a big meeting this week about it, but come on. Let’s be real for a second. That ain’t happening.
If it DID, though, who would you want to replace the Tigers?
First of all … “hobo on a ham sandwich” and “I’ve got rocks in my driveway that are smarter than that” are two absolute bangers from John Kennedy.
There is nobody better at their craft right now. He’s the GOAT.
Secondly … I think I’d go with: Miami, Va. Tech, FSU, or my wild card, Tulane. That’s right.
Tulane!
Don’t forget, Tulane was a founding member of the SEC and competed in the conference until 1966. The Green Wave have three SEC titles to their name. They’re already in Louisiana, so you stay in the state.
They were also in the playoffs last year!
Not ridiculous, right?
… Right?!
Sydney Warner is seen on the pitch ahead of the 2026 World Cup round of 32 match between Mexico and Ecuador at Mexico City Stadium in Mexico City on June 30, 2026. (AFP via Getty Images)
OK, that’s it for today. Good Hump Day, everyone. Welcome back, NFL.
And welcome back to 49ers LB Fred Warner’s wife, Sydney! She’s celebrating the return of football from a beach in Hawaii as the offseason officially comes to a close.
See you tomorrow.
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Who would you pick to replace LSU? Let me know! Zach.Dean@OutKick.com.
