GREG COTE’S HOT BUTTON TOP 10 (AUGUST 24): WHAT IN SPORTS HAS GRABBED US THIS WEEK : Miami-Notre Dame Week, Dolphins’ rare feat, fantasy drafts, Messi, golf, tennis, floundering Fish and more. Welcome to the 115th edition of HB10, bringing you what’s on our minds from a Miami lens and accentuating stuff that’s big, weird, damnable, funny or worth needling as the sports week past pivots to the week ahead:
1. HURRICANES: 7 days ‘til biggest (*) college game of Week 1: Fans of Texas/Ohio State and LSU/Clemson might respectfully disagree (see No. 7 below), but No. 6 Notre Dame at No. 10 Miami next Sunday night feels like the biggest game of Week 1 to us — certainly a fitting prime-time crescendo to kick off college football. Irish reached the CFP championship game last season before falling. Canes narrowly missed the 12-team playoff but return with new quarterback Carson Beck and sky-high hopes to launch Year 4 for Mario Cristobal.
2. DOLPHINS: Miami wraps rare unbeaten preseason: Dolphins won their preseason home game over Jacksonville 14-6 Saturday night, finishing exhibition play 2-0-1 with two wins and a tie. That’s historic of sorts). Last time Fins were unbeaten in preseason was 4-0 in 1998. Dolphins ooen regular season Sept. 7 in Indianapolis. Colts are presently a 2-point favorite but I’d not doubt if that line swings to Miami by kickoff.
3. NFL: It’s fantasy draft week in America!: Ready to win your league for a change? Consensus top-six overall draft picks based on ADP will be Ja’Marr Chase, Bijan Robinson, Saquon Barkley, Jahmyr Gibbs, Justin Jefferson and CeeDee Lamb. First QBs gone figure to be Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, Jayden Daniels and Jalen Hurts — but wait a second! “I’m not sure anyone is playing the position better than I am right now,” says Joe Burrow. He may be right. He has Chase and Tee Higgins for targets, and last year led the NFL in passing yards (4,918) and touchdowns (43). Joe Cool as a draft’s QB1 should be somebody’s smart gamble.
4. GOLF: Two lead but Scheffler lurking into FedEx Cup finale: Tommy Fleetwood and Patrick Cantlay are tie for first at minus-16 in the Tour Championship in Atlanta to decide the FexEx Cup winner — the PGA Tour’s de facto fifth major. But Scottie Scheffler, betting favorite going in, lurks in the hunt at four strokes back.
5. INTER MIAMI: Herons draw nemesis Orlando in Leagues Cup semi: It will be an all-MLS final in the MLS vs. Mexico Leagues Cup tournament as the August 27 semifinals match host Inter Miami vs. Orlando City and Seattle at L.A. Galaxy. Miami advanced with a 2-1 win over Tigres on a pair of penalty kicks by Luis Suarez but is only 4-7 all-time (with five draws) vs. Orlando City. Herons have dropped the two 2025 meetings 3-0 and 4-1. Lionel Messi should be back for the semifinal after resting Saturday as host Miami settled for a 1-1- draw at dreadfully bad D.C. United in MLS play.
6. TENNIS: U.S. Open serve is on in New York: Tennis’ co-biggest major with Wimbledon is underway today/Sunday in New York and runs through Sept. 8. Jannik Sinner at -100 tops men’s beting favorites as he reniews his rivalry with Carlos Alcaraz at -175. Women’s side also tight with Iga Switaek at -250, Aryna Sabalenka at -275, and Coco Gauff a longshot to watch at -950.
7. FOOTBALL: Week 1 offers shot at early top-10 shakeup: The sport’s elongated Week 1 schedule already is underway but reaches its crescendo next weekend as No. 1 Texas play at No. 3 Ohio State early Saturday and 9-LSU visits 4-Clemson that night. Then it’s 6-Notre Dame at 10-Miami Sunday night. Buckle up as a possible top-10 earthquake awaits. Opening Week began Saturday with the only other top-25 matchup out the gate as 22- Iowa State won 24-21 at 17-Kansas.
8. MARLINS: Time to snuff out faint Fish hopes: Finishing .500? They’re 60-69 now. Wild-card playoff hunt? They’re 9 games back. R.I.P., Marlins hopes. Saturday’s loss in extras to Toronto made it 1-4 on this homestand and a 2-11 skid overall as the 9-game homestand continues today/Sunday. They surprised us for a while (that home sweep of the Yankees!) but it’s back to the same ol’ same ol’ Fish.
9. HEAT: Ex-security guard cops to merch heist: As Heat tries to convince itself and fans it has a roster better than middling in the NBA East, the former team security guard accused in a multi-million dollar merch and memorabilia heist has pleaded guilty to the interstate transport and transfer of stolen goods. Items included a LeBron James jersey worn in the NBA Finals. Marcos Thomas Perez, 62, a retired 25-year veteran Miami cop, faces a max penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250K.
10. SOCCER: ‘26 World Cup draw set at Kennedy (for now) Center: The draw for the 2026 men’s FIFA World Cup will be held December 5 at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., with Donald Trump teasing or perhaps threatening at the announcement that it may be called the Trump Center by then. The World Cup will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico next summer as the first WC with expansion to 48 national teams.
THE LIST: MIAMI-NOTRE DAME SERIES : The old rivals meet in Miami next Sunday in their 28th all-time matchup, a series Notre Dame leads 18-8-1. The five most recent meetings:
Year Winner and score
2017 @Hurricanes, 41-8
2016 @Fighting Irish, 30-27
2012 @Fighting Irish, 41-3
2010 Fighting Irish, 33-17 (Sun Bowl)
1990 @Fighting Irish, 29-20
Note: 2012 Irish win was later vacated for use of ineligible players.
Other select most recent stuff from me : Dolphins will surprise doubters — if Tua finally proves he’s the star they need him to be // Cristobal has ‘insatiable’ drive for new Hurricanes glory days, and he’s getting close // Poll: Top Dolphin for fantasy team // Like it or not, UFC & Dana White’s world domination tour just grew // Previous HB10 // Poll Dance // Fins, Canes & ‘26 Hall // GCS 283 pod: Trip to sex store, monkey bars // Asked & answered: Solving 8 biggest questions in Miami sports today // Cowboys owner Jerry Jones still chasing glory — and attention // This one goal for Dolphins and another for Hurricanes will define success or failure in 2025 // Why Miami staunchly remains a Football Town even as Dolphins and Canes disappoint // Strobe lights? Trajekt Arc? How Marlins’ trust in youth, player-development is paying off // Jalen Ramsey, now Asante Samuel drama = Dolphins mess at cornerback // Heat getting 3-point ace Powell a pickpocket-win for Riley // Champion Panthers keep revving this summer while Heat stays quiet // Dolphins’ gamble on Waller after Ramsey & Smith for Fitzpatrick was net loss // Inter Miami falls to PSG but won big to reach Club World Cup final 16 // Panthers celebrate as 1 of 4 South Florida sports dynasties — with no end near // Major news on future of Dan Le Batard Show, Meadowlark Media, DraftKings // A tribute to Miami sports legend Jimmy Johnson as he retires from Fox TV // 15 years later, Dolphins Cancer Challenge is the life-saving legacy of Jim Mandich // And my latest podcast: