Screen Shots: October 2nd-8th, 2025

Welcome to Screen Shots! This is where I tell you what sporting events you should watch on TV every week! Make sure you subscribe so it comes straight to your inbox! Have your own suggestions? Shoot me an email at [email protected]!

A fresh Nameless College Football Show for your viewing pleasure! Talking Lane Kiffin’s redemption arc, Drew Allar’s multitudes of sucking, and the showdown between Dabo and Bill Belichick on Saturday!

Now, to the sports!

Thursday, October 2nd, 2025

• MLB Playoffs: Game 3 Wild Card coverage (if necessary) starting at 1:00 pm (ET) on ESPN/ABC

The middle of the workday starts, national TV, and win-or-go-home stakes give it all a very March Madness feel. Keep in mind that the times are dependent on how many of these “if necessary” games are, well, necessary. Can you believe the Mets spent $340 million to miss out on it all?

Friday, October 3rd, 2025

• WNBA Finals: Phoenix Mercury @ Las Vegas Aces at 8:00 pm (ET) on ESPN

Game 1! Who had this matchup at the All-Star break? You’re lying. The Mercury return to the finals for the first time since Diana Taurasi broke a door after losing in 2021. Hell of a postseason run as they took down both last year’s champs and one of the most dominant regular season teams in league history to get here. They’re looking to cap it all off by taking down the Aces’ dynasty in the first best-of-7 WNBA Finals in league history. Let’s talk about Vegas in the game 2 entry!

Saturday, October 4th, 2025

• College Football: #14 Iowa State Cyclones @ Cincinnati Bearcats at 12:00 pm (ET) on ESPN2

These teams are more evenly matched than their rankings (or lack thereof) would have you believe, but the real story here is the names on the Bearcats’ roster. My personal favorite is Matthew McDoom, followed closely by Zebulin Kinsey, but take your pick.

• MLB Playoffs: Divisional Series coverage begins at TBD on Fox/FS1/TBS

The American League will be on Fox/FS1, and the National League will be on TBS. The Mariners, Blue Jays, Brewers, and Phillies await their opponents. Every time I talk about the best teams in baseball, I mention how shocked I am that the Blue Jays are there. But it’s true! The source of my surprise is a pitching staff full of guys old enough for me to use in my copy of MLB 15: The Show. Those old guys allowed the most runs of any club to make the postseason. A lot of offensive pop was needed to overcome that, and they’ve got it in bats like George Springer and Vlad Guerrero Jr. Is that something that will carry over against the best of the best in October? No team has won the World Series after finishing above league average in runs allowed since the 2009 Yankees.

• College Football: #3 Miami Hurricanes @ #18 Florida State Seminoles at 7:30 pm (ET) on ABC

This matchup WAS college football when I was growing up, but they haven’t faced off with one being ranked in the top 5 and the other being ranked in the top 20 since 2013. We were on track for a top-10 showdown, but Florida State lost a brutal double OT game that almost saw their team get swallowed up in the field storming. Win or lose, it should be much safer at home.

• NBA Preseason: New Orleans Pelicans @ South East Melbourne Phoenix at 11:00 pm (ET) on NBA TV

Yep, it’s that time. At least, I think. There’s some discrepancy across ESPN and NBA.com about when this one actually tips off and who is playing, so check your local listings. Either way, the Pelicans will be the first NBA team ever to play in Australia. That seems unbelievable considering how many Aussie players have come through the league. With all due respect to Shane Heal and Andrew Gaze, I also remember hating them during the Olympics. Fun fact: the Bloomin’ Onion isn’t actually Australian. Good news for svelte Zion!

Sunday, October 5th, 2025

• NFL: Minnesota Vikings vs. Cleveland Browns at 9:30 am (ET) on NFL Network

In London! According to my wife, the Vikings are the first NFL team to play back-to-back international games in different countries. When I asked her if that also made them the first NFL team to play back-to-back-to-back games in 3 different countries, if we included the United States, she said that could be right. Yes, it could!

• College Volleyball: Georgia Bulldogs @ South Carolina Gamecocks at 1:00 pm (ET) on SEC Network

As many of you know, my favorite pastime has quickly become recognizing parents of college volleyball players who are former athletes themselves. This week, we have the father of Bulldogs’ OH Bianna Muoneke. Gabe Muoneke had a solid career at Texas before moving on to the then-NBDL, where he had the opportunity to have yours truly as his ball boy whenever his Columbus Riverdragons came to town to face off with the Lowgators. Another reminder that you weren’t nearly as athletic as you thought if you don’t have a daughter playing D1 volleyball.

• WNBA Finals: Phoenix Mercury @ Las Vegas Aces at 3:00 pm (ET) on ABC

Which Aces’ team shows up for this series? The .500 version from the first half of the season? The historic 16-game winning streak iteration? The one that seemed determined to lose to a shorthanded Fever squad last series? As unpredictable as they’ve been, there has been one constant for Aces fans such as myself to take comfort in: A’ja Wilson. I mean, she’s the M’VP for a reason. Las Vegas didn’t lose to the Mercury in the 3 games in which she played. Can she carry them over the hump one last time?

• MLB Playoffs: AL Divisional Series coverage begins at TBD on Fox/FS1

Check your local listings for the Big Dumper.

Monday, October 6th, 2025

• MLB Playoffs: NL Divisional Series coverage begins at TBD on TBS

For those of you keeping track at home, the Brewers did end up breaking their team record for wins.

• NWSL: Kansas City Current at Angel City FC at 10:30 pm (ET) on CBSSN

I like checking in with the NWSL every 2 or 3 weeks, and, as luck would have it, most of those check-ins have featured a Current club that is running through the league. Well, this one is no different. They still have not suffered a defeat since May 2nd. They have a goal differential of +33 on the season. The next highest is +13. Their 56 standing points are 16 more than 2nd place. This 11th-place Angel City club is 16 points behind 2nd place. They play the games for a reason, but good luck, everybody else.

Tuesday, October 7th, 2025

• MLB Playoffs: AL Divisional Series coverage begins at TBD on Fox/FS1

What more can I say?

• Halloween Movie of the Week: Orphan (2009)

I’m not sure exactly what to write about this that won’t spoil it, but few things are creepier than a white child. If I had been one of the main characters, this would have been a TikTok because I would have done what was necessary from the jump. Enjoy!

Wednesday, October 8th, 2025

• MLB Playoffs: Divisional Series coverage begins at TBD on Fox/FS1/TBS

Okay, pay attention. Game 3 of each NLDS. Lock it in. However, if either ALDS goes to 4 games, they will also play today.

• WNBA Finals: Las Vegas Aces @ Phoenix Mercury at 8:00 pm (ET) on ESPN

Remember back before the Mercury’s game 3 win against the Lynx, when the big WNBA conflict was between Phoenix fans and Jonas Brothers fans? First of all, I didn’t know their fans were still ready to ride like that. Secondly, imagine Kevin Jonas trying to take a charge against Alyssa Thomas. He’d disintegrate like a Nature Valley bar.

As always, thank you for reading! Make sure you are subscribed so you get this in your inbox first thing Thursday mornings. It’d be cool if you shared it with a friend too! See you next week!