Monday, 3 a.m.

That's why you don't turn the franchise over to the rookie.

As popular as free agent Jalon Daniels has become in Tampa Bay in recent weeks, it was a bit presumptive to assume that the Bucs should shelve quarterback Baker Mayfield and start Daniels instead. After all, Mayfield has won 27 games with the Bucs; Daniels has won one.

Perhaps, then, it shouldn't have been such a surprise that Daniels struggled so mightily in the fourth quarter of the team’s 26-19 overtime loss to Pittsburgh at Raymond James Stadium.

Daniels, who had played well in guiding the Bucs to a 16-3 lead, had a rough late going. In his fourth quarter and overtime, he hit only five of 15 passes for 50 yards and threw two interceptions for 50 yards. His throws were off.

"Obviously, they made plays," Bucs' coach Todd Bowles said. "It's a good defense over there. Those guys made some plays. He probably would like to have some of those back, but we can't put him in those situations. We have to play is a team. It's not just him -- everyone is involved in that. He's going to make a few mistakes, but he played hard."

Look, this isn't to pin it all on Daniels. The defense gave up 23 points in the fourth and overtime. They allowed Aaron Rodgers and D.K. Metcalf to look young again. The running game disappeared. The line gave up five sacks. The Bucs deserved to fall to 1-5.

"We have no margin for error," Bowles said. "We played hard. Very hard, very competitive. We have to learn how to finish ball games. We didn't finish at the end. You play that hard and grab a lead, you have to keep it. We practice two minute situations for a reason."

If there is a silver lining, the Bucs got impact from its young players. Rueben Bane had his first sack. Ted Hurst had three catches. Bauer Sharp had his first catch. Josiah Trotter had 12 tackles. Second-year pro David Walker had two sacks. Keionte Scott had a sack.

The older Bucs did less.

Especially in the fourth quarter.

The Bucs travel to Carolina Sunday at 1 p.m.

You remember the big guy, right? The one with the bulging arms? He had been a shadow of himself in the playoffs.

Well, welcome back, Yandy Diaz. He had a clinching two-run homer in the Rays' 7-3 victory to tie their best-of-seven series at two games each.

And you remember the guy with the wooly hair? A search party couldn't have found him in this series.

Well, hello there, Jonathan Aranda. He had three hits and drove in two.

And how about the Junior Caminero, the guy with the explosive bat. He had only one hit Saturday night, but it was a sixth-inning double that drove in the Rays' go-ahead run.

In other words, the top of the Rays' lineup has finally showed up in the AL Championship series. It's now down to the best-of-three series, and two of the game would be at Tropicana Field.

The Rays snapped a 1-1 tie in the sixth when Caminero drove in Aranda.

In the seventh, the Rays scored three more times. Two of the runs came on a single by Aranda (and an error). Chandler Simpson followed with a sacrifice fly.

Still, Cleveland came back with two. But Diaz iced the game with his home run that barely reached the right field fence.

Aranda and Richie Palacios each had three hits for the Rays.

Nick Martinez picked up the win for the Rays. He went five and a third innings and allowed just two hits.

The teams play again today at 5 p.m. at Cleveland's Proggressive Field. Drew Rasmussen will start for the Rays against Parker Messick.

Sunday, 4 a.m.

For a half, the South Florida Bulls could not get possession of the ball, let alone do any damage with it.

They led, well, by providence over Kent State.

The second half was better. The Bulls, who had only 21 snaps in the firsthalf, seized control of the game and ran away with a 29-2 win over the Golden Flashes at Raymond James Stadium.

In the first half, Kent State kept threatening, but they couldn't finish a drive. They were stopped on fourth down at the South Florida 3. They fumbled and allowed a 96-yard return by C.J. Hicks. They missed field goals.

Kent State's only points came when Bulls' running back D.J. Crowther was tackled for a safety.

The Bulls outscored Kent State 19-0 in the second half.

Quarterback Michael Van Buren hit 22 of 27 passes for 193 yards.

The Bulls are off this week. They are home at Raymond James Stadium against UAB on October 31. The time has not been announced.

Florida 27, Texas 24: The extremely up and extremely down season of the Gators continued at Texas Memorial Stadium Saturday.

The Gators, who have beaten Ole MIss and lost to South Carolina this year, added seventh-ranked Texas to their victims Saturday. Tramell Jones Jr. started his first game and beat Texas, No. 1 in the nation last week, by three points.

The Gators trailed 17-3 in the first half.

Jaden Baugh gave the Gators a 27-17 lead on an 11-yard run. Baugh had 91 yards rushing.

Jones Jr. hit 22 of 35 passes for 155 yards and two scores, both to Lacota Dippre.

Florida plays Georgia Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in Jacksonville.

Miami 43, FSU 35: In a season of upsets, the best thing you can say about the Miami Hurricanes is that, so far, they have avoided one.

The Hurricanes held off rival FSU in double overtime, 43-35, at Hard. Rock Stadium. The Seminoles had seemingly converted a fourth-and-21 situation late, but were called for holding,.

FSU fell to 3-4 with the loss. Maimi, ranked third in the nation, is 6-0.

Darian Mensah threw for 326 yards and three scores for the Canes. Ashton Daniels threw for 298 yards and four scores in the loss.

Malachi Toney caught 11 passes for 154 yards and two scores. Javian Mallory ran for 108 yards and two scores for Miami.

Duce Robinson caught five passes and two scores for FSU

FSU plays Clemson at home on Oct. 31. Miami is home against Pitt Saturday at noon.