“Nightcaps” is a daily column that brings you the biggest sports, current affairs and culture stories that you may have missed while pretending to work at your desk. It operates Monday to Friday OutKick.com.
Take the plunge and safely enter a Big Thursday – which, in the fall, is essentially the start of the weekend.
Congratulations, you made it! Football tonight. Baseball playoffs this afternoon AND evening. More football tomorrow. And the next day. And the next day!
Who has it better than us right now? It’s mid-October, which is disappointing. It just means we have to enjoy this moment even more.
And we will.
Let’s go ride.
Welcome to a Thursday Nightcaps – one where ESPN is about to make one of the stupidest decisions it has made in years, which is saying a lot considering its recent history.
BREAKUP OF TROY AIKMAN AND JOE BUCK WOULD BE A BIG MISTAKE FOR ESPN | BOBBY BURACK
What else? I’ve got Western Kentucky players celebrating with the Sam Houston State cheerleaders after destroying the Bearkats last night, Dodgers fans getting DRAGGED through the mud today, and MLB Network’s Abby Labar checking in on this third Thursday in October.
OK, grab a headset and head over to the ESPN booth because you might be next in line on Monday night and settle in for a Thursday “Cap!”
ESPN commentator Troy Aikman looks on before the game between the Chicago Bears and the Philadelphia Eagles at Soldier Field on September 28, 2026, in Chicago, Illinois. (Getty Images)
ESPN isn’t going to do that, is it?
I hate to start with a contender today, but ESPN gave me no choice.
Obviously, the big story in the world of sports media today is the ongoing riff between Troy Aikman and Joe Buck. This started to seep in a few days ago when a report indicated that the two had argued before Monday night’s game in Los Angeles, and it all comes because Buck recently signed a contract extension with ESPN.
Troy – Joe’s longtime partner in the booth – didn’t.
Some have thrown cold water on the report coming from Front Office Sports.
A few. Not Troy.
Listen:
SUPER BOWL LXI GETS PAT MCAFEE TREATMENT AS ESPN ADDS ALTERNATIVE BROADCAST
This would be a stunning and stupid thing to do.
“There’s probably a time and a place for all of this. I don’t know if this is the time,” Aikman said when asked about it this morning. “I don’t know if it’s hard to understand what happened. I’ll stream through this season and be a free agent at the end of the year and see what happens.
“I’m looking forward to whatever the rest of this season has in store for us, the Super Bowl and all that and where my next landing spot might be.”
Lord. A few things…
- Aikman did not deny the reported argument, meaning it happened.
- Joe and Troy have been together for almost three decades. Separating them would be a shocking level of stupidity on ESPN’s part.
- I wrote a few weeks ago that Tony Romo’s departure from CBS (“departure”) and Aikman’s non-extension from ESPN would be something to watch. This is still the case.
There’s also this little video making the rounds following the reported argument. It was taken by a fan before Monday’s game in Los Angeles, and shows Buck and his wife appearing to have some sort of…disagreement? … on the field during warm-ups:
It could be nothing, but… it could also be something.
My opinion? I would be stunned if ESPN let Aikman go. Dazed. These two were a package deal when they joined ESPN a few years ago, and by all accounts (notes!), it’s been one of the company’s very few successes over the past decade.
Joe Buck and Troy Aikman watch before a game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC Wild Card playoff game at Raymond James Stadium on January 16, 2023, in Tampa, Florida. (Getty Images)
As for potential landing spots for Aikman, shouldn’t ESPN jump in…
- Amazon Prime has Kirk Herbstreit, but there is an opt-out clause in the deal that allows Prime to sign a top target if he becomes available. I guess Troy Aikman fits that bill.
- Many people will also point to the now vacant seat at CBS alongside Jim Nantz. JJ Watt fills it this year, but I imagine putting Troy Aikman next to Jim Nantz will be tempting.
- Netflix is becoming a major player in the NFL. I don’t know if they’ll have enough matches to attract Aikman, but it’s a spot to watch.
- Collinsworth isn’t going anywhere at NBC.
- It’s also possible that Troy leaves the booth altogether and joins an NFL front office. Remember, he worked with the Dolphins last offseason to hire new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan. So far, this hire looks great considering Miami’s draft class this season.
Bottom line? ESPN would be INSANE to do that. But as we’ve learned over the years, ESPN is a generally crazy business.
The good news? For you McAfee haters, you don’t have to worry about him joining the stand anytime soon:
Western Kentucky had a great night, Dodgers fans did NOT and readers’ mail!
Can you imagine the absolute outrage if ESPN put Pat McAfee in the MNF booth? The Internet would burn. Part of me just wants this to happen during the crisis.
Unfortunately, this seems to be a silly rumor, which almost NEVER appears on the Internet!
OK, let’s move on from Thursday’s class to a big FOOTBALL night! First of all ? I spent all day beating myself up for putting real American currency on the Sam Houston Bearkats last night. They were smoked by Western Kentucky and looked lifeless the entire game.
The Hilltoppers won 16-3 (miserable game to watch), then rubbed salt in the wound when the final buzzer sounded:
Amazing. What a decision by these Western Kentucky players. Beating the brakes on a team on its home turf is one thing, but then getting its cheerleaders moving once all is said and done is next-level psychological warfare.
It’s difficult to come back from a program like that…
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And this too, for you Dodgers fans:
A general view of the interior of Dodger Stadium as fans watch the fourth inning between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series on October 14, 2026, in Los Angeles, California. (Getty Images)
Lord. Brutal – and I mean brutal — presented for the Los Angeles faithful last night. No sugar coating. The internet has ganged up on the Rays throughout these postseasons for the empty seats at The Trop, so we have to be fair and hammer the Dodgers here.
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You can’t have empty seats for an NLCS game. You just can’t do it.
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Bad look.
Finally, on the way out, here’s MLB Network’s Abby Labar working out while the rest of the world freaks out about Shane Gillis.
Patriot.
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See you tomorrow.
Thoughts on Aikman and Buck? Zach.Dean@OutKick.com.
Gn sports
