WEDNESDAY · OCTOBER 28, 2026 · SPORTS, IN SMALL SIPS

Halloween arrived early in the SEC. During Saturday's LSU-Auburn game, LSU's mascot Mike the Tiger walked around Jordan-Hare Stadium dressed as Michael Myers, complete with a white mask, quietly following a referee until a staff member led him away. Meanwhile, on ESPN's SEC Nation set, Auburn's Aubie threw candy at host Matt Barrie from a pumpkin bucket until Barrie joked on air, "I'm gonna punch the tiger if he doesn't stop throwing candy at me." The real Halloween is on Saturday.

Extra life. The Rays kept their season alive by beating the Brewers 4-3 in 12 innings on Tuesday, avoiding a World Series sweep. Milwaukee's Cooper Pratt hit a solo home run in the top of the 12th, but Tampa Bay came back with two runs in the bottom half. Milwaukee still leads the series 3-1, and all 25 teams that have led the Series 3-0 have gone on to win it. Game 5 is tonight.

The other Highbury. Arsenal, the current Premier League champions, spent 93 years playing at a London stadium called Highbury. On Tuesday, they visited Fleetwood Town's home ground, which is also named Highbury, and were knocked out of the League Cup on penalties, losing 5-3 after a 1-1 draw. According to ESPN, no reigning champion had ever been eliminated from the cup by a fourth-tier club before.

Block party. The Golden State Valkyries defeated the Atlanta Dream 64-55 in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals. The game was so defensive that the 25-22 halftime score was the lowest in Finals history, according to the AP. Kiah Stokes and Veronica Burton combined for seven blocked shots, and the Valkyries, in just their second year, are now one win away from a championship.

Fired, then fire sale. After firing their general manager last week, the 2-5 Indianapolis Colts spent Tuesday making trades. Six-time All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson was sent to the Seattle Seahawks, the defending Super Bowl champions, in exchange for a third- and a fifth-round pick. Later that day, defensive tackle DeForest Buckner was traded to the 6-1 San Francisco 49ers, reportedly for a fourth-round pick.

Stock buyback. Buckner's trade stands out. San Francisco originally drafted him seventh overall in 2016, then traded him to Indianapolis in 2020 for the 13th overall pick. Now, they have brought him back for just a fourth-round pick. The 49ers paid a high price, traded for more, and then got him back for less.

Who's next. Looking ahead, the trade deadline—the final day teams can make player trades—is Tuesday, Nov. 10. According to ESPN, the Chiefs are searching for a receiver, as 37-year-old Travis Kelce is still their top receiver. The Colts also have more veteran players they might trade.

Circle Nov. 29. Mark your calendar for Nov. 29. On that Sunday, Seattle and San Francisco will face each other again, with Nelson now blocking for Seattle and Buckner rushing for San Francisco. Both teams made big trades on the same day, showing how they view their chances this season.

— Landen Hull

Last call. Monday's pick wasn't close: Cowboys 38, Eagles 21. Dallas ran for 204 yards, and Philadelphia has lost five straight.

Tonight is the Battle of Alberta. Calgary heads to Edmonton, but this time the rivalry feels different. The Oilers, at 8-2-2, have lost their last two games, while the Flames, sitting at 5-6-0, are riding a four-game winning streak. Who’s your pick to win?

Bottoms up. See you Friday.