SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Imagine this: The No. 1 team in the country wins — and it's considered a big upset.
It could happen.
A rarity awaits on Saturday night, when No. 1 Miami (8-0, No. 1 College Football Playoff ranking) visits No. 4 Notre Dame (7-1, No. 11 CFP). The Fighting Irish are more than a touchdown favorite at most sportsbooks after the injury to star Miami wide receiver Malachi Toney in what could mark the first time in 12 years that the AP No. 1 was that large of an underdog.
The most recent instance of an AP No. 1-ranked team being an underdog in a regular-season game by at least seven points is believed to have come in 2014, when Mississippi State (which featured quarterback Dak Prescott, now of the Dallas Cowboys) was a touchdown underdog to then-No. 4 Alabama (which featured running back Derrick Henry, now of the Baltimore Ravens). Mississippi State lost that game, 25-20.
Clemson was ranked No. 1 for the national title game against Alabama on Jan. 11, 2016, but a 6.5-point underdog.
“Toney’s a big part of the offense," DraftKings Director of Sports Operations Johnny Avello said Friday. "You want to look at the offensive production and for that team, he’s half of it. He's a big deal. From a betting perspective, sometimes these injuries happen and the team rallies around that. ... And sometimes, the line gets a little more carried away than it should.”
Avello said he wouldn't be shocked if the line dipped below seven points by kickoff Saturday night.
“I don’t think the general public is going to just say, ‘OK, this is a gimme for Notre Dame,’" Avello said.
It's hardly unprecedented for a No. 1 team to be an underdog; it has happened twice already this season. Ohio State was a 2.5-point underdog when it lost to Texas, and Georgia — which originally was favored — ended up as a 2.5-point underdog when it beat Alabama. Both of those games were on the road, like this one is for No. 1 Miami.
What makes this one different is the actual size of the point spread. Miami could end up as the biggest top-ranked underdog in nearly 14 years — going back to when No. 1 Notre Dame was a 10-point underdog to Alabama in the national championship game on Jan. 7, 2013.
Alabama wound up winning that game, 42-14.
Joey Feazel, head of football at Caesars Sportsbook, also thinks the line could dip below seven points by game time. As of Friday afternoon, Caesars had 58% of bettors taking the Notre Dame moneyline, but 73% of bettors taking Miami with the spread.
“I think it’s a little high on Notre Dame right now,” Feazel said.
Toney's injury also affected the betting lines in the Heisman Trophy race. He was one of the favorites before the injury; now with him expected to be out until December, Toney is off most Heisman boards — with Miami quarterback Darian Mensah (+175) a slight underdog to Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith (+160) according to Caesars.
“If Mensah is able to get this win, in really the best game Miami has on its schedule, it's going to be really hard to kind of take that Heisman Trophy away from him,” Feazel said.
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Miami wide receiver Malachi Toney (1) escapes a tackle from Pittsburgh linebacker Braylan Lovelace (0) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers were trailing by double digits in the final seconds of a tough first half against Portland when Doncic took a few dribbles, stopped in the far free-throw circle and heaved a glorious 61-footer off the backboard and in.
Doncic has done all types of magic during his spectacular start to the Lakers’ season, but this epic buzzer-beater was much more than simply the most memorable moment from his 53-point performance in the Lakers’ 124-118 win Friday night.
“I think it changes the whole energy in the team and in the gym,” Doncic said. “I thought it was an important shot to make — so that’s why I decided to make it.”
A sly smile creeped onto Doncic's face with that playful boast — but after the NBA's leading scorer topped 40 points for the sixth time in seven games, after he surpassed 50 points for the second time already this season, it was clear Doncic can conjure just about anything he pleases on the court this season.
And Doncic had a very good point: His three-quarter-court shot flipped the momentum in a game that had been controlled by the Trail Blazers. Los Angeles rode that wave into a dominant third quarter — in which Doncic outscored Portland all by himself — and all the way to its eighth win in 10 games to start the season amid Doncic's historic offensive success.
“When you've got a guy that can make shots like that, it's fun basketball,” said Lakers center Walker Kessler, who had 16 points and 12 rebounds. “He's incredible to watch. He's incredible to play alongside. He's my MVP. I think it's pretty clear right now.”
Doncic is averaging 40.1 points per game through the Lakers' first 10 games while hitting 49.8% of his shots and 41.9% of his 3-point attempts.
Nobody who spends time around the Lakers is surprised when Doncic makes a shot from half-court or beyond. He’s pretty obsessed with those shots, sometimes taking dozens of them after practice at the Lakers’ training complex.
He already hit a memorable half-court shot just last month, squaring up and banking it in over trash-talking Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg in the Lakers’ season-opening victory over Golden State.
"Luka can do some things that maybe a handful (or) no one can do in basketball," Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “When he shoots it from three- quarter court, you're surprised when it doesn't at least go in and out, hit the rim.”
Doncic is scoring from everywhere else on the court lately, too.
Even with a slow start against Portland in which he missed his first five 3-point attempts, he finished 17 for 33 with only three turnovers. He had five 3-pointers, five rebounds and five assists, hitting those marks along with at least 35 points for his seventh consecutive game.
He has four 50-point performance in his 101 regular-season games with the Lakers, already tied for the fourth-most in team history. He has 11 50-point games in his nine-year career, passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and tying Allen Iverson for 10th in league history.
“I’m having a lot of fun,” Doncic said. “Obviously, playing basketball, it’s a lot of fun for me. It’s more when you play like this and when you win games.”
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Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic reacts after being called for a foul during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers, Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic follows through on a free throw during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers, Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic reacts after being called for a foul during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers, Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic, left, shoots as Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Portland Trail Blazers guard Jrue Holiday, right, reaches in on Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
