The first in-season edition of Yahoo Sports’ 2026 NFL power rankings arrived after a Week 1 slate that scrambled the league’s hierarchy. Frank Schwab’s rankings reflect the early returns, and several teams made dramatic leaps or tumbles based on opening-week performances.
Biggest Risers: 49ers, Jaguars, Chiefs, Giants
San Francisco made the largest jump of any team, climbing 11 spots to No. 5 following a rout in Melbourne. The 49ers looked dominant abroad, though they lost rookie wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling for at least a month.
Jacksonville surged eight spots to No. 6 after extending its regular-season winning streak to nine games. Trevor Lawrence powered the Jaguars with a sharp outing: 18-of-23 passing for 245 yards and four touchdowns.
Kansas City moved up five spots to No. 7. The Chiefs are buoyed by Patrick Mahomes’ return from a torn ACL, and their Monday night win at Arrowhead helped their standing.
The Giants climbed nine spots to No. 14 after a primetime victory over Dallas on Sunday night. New head coach John Harbaugh has quickly made an impression, and Daniel Jones—nine months removed from a torn Achilles—guided the team to a statement win.
Biggest Fallers: Broncos, Cowboys, Patriots, Chargers, Colts
Denver suffered the steepest drop, falling 11 spots to No. 15 after a blowout loss at Arrowhead on Monday night. The Broncos’ stumble raises questions, including whether Sean Payton might take back play-calling duties from Davis Webb.
Dallas tumbled nine spots to No. 16 following its Sunday night defeat in New York. The Cowboys’ high-profile loss cost them significant ground.
New England dropped six spots to No. 11. The Patriots benefited from the third-easiest schedule in NFL history last season, but their Week 1 result suggests a tougher road ahead.
The Chargers fell six spots to No. 19, while the Colts slid five spots to No. 24. Indianapolis ended last season on a seven-game losing streak after starting 8-2, and the early 2026 returns have done little to reverse that momentum.
Holding Steady
Eight teams kept the same ranking from the prior week, providing some stability amid the churn. The full rankings, authored by Schwab, offer a first look at how the league is shaping up after one week of play.
MLB Milestones and Clinching
Pete Alonso reached a career milestone at Citi Field, hitting his 300th home run. The Mets first baseman remains a central figure in New York’s lineup.
Milwaukee clinched the NL Central, securing a division title. The Brewers’ pitching staff has been a strength, with Jacob Misiorowski delivering a standout performance: five innings, seven strikeouts, and no runs allowed.
Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero continued his flair for the dramatic, hitting his second walk-off homer in four games. The young slugger is quickly building a reputation for late-inning heroics.
In other MLB action, Francisco Lindor sits at 299 career home runs, one shy of 300. Cade Cavalli (12-5, 3.12 ERA) and Zack Wheeler (12-5, 3.14 ERA) have been among the league’s top arms. The White Sox lead the Guardians in their division, while the Mets host the Orioles, the Nationals host the Phillies, the Blue Jays host the Tigers, the Dodgers visit the Reds, and the Padres visit the Rockies.
Leagues Address Betting Harassment; WNBA Voices Displeasure
Five major sports leagues—the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and MLS—issued a joint statement addressing betting-related harassment. The unified message underscores growing concerns about the treatment of athletes and officials in the sports betting era.
The WNBA criticized the NBA for its exclusion from the joint statement, highlighting ongoing tensions between the two leagues. The WNBA’s response signals a desire for broader inclusion in such initiatives.
TV Ratings: College Football and NFL Draw Big Numbers
Texas’ win over Ohio State on Saturday drew 14 million viewers on ESPN, while the Giants’ Sunday night victory over the Cowboys attracted 25.7 million viewers on NBC. Both broadcasts rank among the most-watched sporting events of the week.
Messi Sets Farewell Match
Lionel Messi will play a farewell match for Argentina on Oct. 6 in Buenos Aires. The announcement marks the end of an era for the national team and its captain.
PGA Tour Unveils 2028 Qualification System, Shuts Out LIV Golf
The PGA Tour announced a two-tier qualification system set to debut in 2028. The new structure aims to streamline eligibility and create a clearer path for players.
Notably, the Tour will not offer LIV Golf players an opportunity to return, a decision that further entrenches the divide between the two circuits.
Top 20 Sports Owners Worth $666 Billion
The top 20 sports owners are worth an estimated $666 billion collectively, a 10% increase from last year. Ten NFL teams, eight NBA teams, and eight MLS teams are represented on the list.
Steve Ballmer is the richest NBA owner at $156 billion, while Rob Walton leads NFL owners at $132 billion. Henry Samueli tops NHL owners at $34 billion, and Steve Cohen is the wealthiest MLB owner at $27 billion. Stan Kroenke is set to replace Cohen following the Angels acquisition.
For context, the S&P 500’s market cap is approximately $69 trillion, and U.S. household wealth stands at $186 trillion. The top 20 owners represent just 0.36% of that household wealth.
Lane Kiffin's Return to Baton Rouge Draws Attention
Lane Kiffin left Ole Miss for LSU in December and spoke at a Monday press conference in Baton Rouge. His return to the SEC spotlight has generated significant discussion, including a column by Dan Wolken criticizing Kiffin.
For the first time in 64 years, both Ole Miss and LSU are ranked in the top 10. Ole Miss won 13 games last year and returns two Heisman candidates, while LSU won seven games. The matchup between the two programs carries added intrigue given Kiffin’s departure.
Wingsuit Championship Held in Zhangjiajie
The World Wingsuit League Championship took place last week in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in Hunan province, China. The 12th edition of the event featured 16 competitors from 11 countries.
Athletes launched from Yuhu Peak at 1,458 meters. In the precision race, competitors targeted a zone about the size of a water bottle cap while reaching speeds exceeding 130 mph. Zhang Shupeng described feeling free while flying.
The park’s pillars inspired Avatar’s Hallelujah Mountains, and one pillar was renamed Avatar Hallelujah Mountain after the 2009 film.
Travis Kelce Moves to Second on TE Receiving Yards List
Travis Kelce passed Jason Witten for second place on the all-time tight end receiving yards list on Monday. Kelce now has 13,073 career receiving yards, surpassing Witten’s 13,002.
Tony Gonzalez leads all tight ends with 15,127 receiving yards. Antonio Gates ranks third with 11,841, Shannon Sharpe is fifth with 9,961, and Rob Gronkowski is sixth with 9,286.
MLS Altcast on Yahoo Sports and Apple TV
Yahoo Sports and Apple TV will produce an MLS alternate broadcast, with the first soccer altcast during the Campeones Cup match between Inter Miami and Cruz Azul. The eighth annual Campeones Cup adds another layer to the partnership.
Other soccer action includes the US Open Cup semifinals: Columbus Crew vs. Orlando City and Colorado Rapids vs. St. Louis City. The WPBL Championship, in its inaugural edition, features Los Angeles vs. San Francisco.
