First Call: Could Kenny Pickett, Russell Wilson really be moved again?; Gavin McKenna to make PSU debut

Friday’s “First Call” links Kenny Pickett’s name to trade speculation again. A pair of ex-Pittsburgh Pirates performed well in MLB playoff elimination games. Local college hockey is getting ramped up.

And there is a full weekend of bounce-back potential for some regional college football teams.

Pickett predicament

Could ex-Steeler Kenny Pickett be traded yet again?

ESPN’s Dan Graziano suggested that could happen.

The Pitt product has already been dealt by the Steelers to the Philadelphia Eagles after his first two years in the NFL. That happened in the offseason prior to the 2024 campaign.

Philadelphia then moved him to the Cleveland Browns this offseason. From there, Cleveland dealt Pickett to the Las Vegas Raiders in August.

However, in a recent post about the notion of a quarterback being traded prior to the deadline, the first two names Graziano mentioned were Pickett and Minnesota’s Carson Wentz (who is on his sixth team in six years).

Another name Graziano advanced was ex-Steeler Russell Wilson’s, now that he has been replaced as the New York Giants starter by Jaxson Dart.

“It doesn’t feel like Wilson has a real role in New York, where rookie Jaxson Dart is now the starter and Jameis Winston is signed through 2026 to be his backup,” Graziano wrote. “Wilson’s trade value is also likely very low right now, so the Giants might wait until someone gets desperate to ship him out.”

Pickett has yet to play for the Raiders.

More sports

• Special teams shaping the outcome of Steelers games through 4 weeks of season
• Pitt's Pat Narduzzi names QB Eli Holstein starter against Boston College
• U mad, bro?: Mike Tomlin's decision-making, Pirates’ failures anger fans

Closing ’em aht

Jameson Taillon did his job to help the Chicago Cubs advance beyond the first round of the Major League Baseball playoffs.

The former Pirate pitched four shutout innings Thursday as the Cubs went on to beat the San Diego Padres in a decisive Game 3 of their Wild Card series 3-1.

Jameson Taillon, Painted 85mph Cutter. ????️???? pic.twitter.com/SMYkyOPPKM

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) October 2, 2025

Taillon didn’t walk anyone, posted four strikeouts and allowed just two hits along the way.

"Wrigley was unlike anything I've ever seen tonight."

Jameson Taillon after the Cubs advanced to the NLDS! pic.twitter.com/fpaZaGiVik

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) October 3, 2025

Daniel Palencia ended up getting credit for the win. Chicago will face Milwaukee in a best-of-five divisional series starting Saturday.

Also, Mars’ David Bednar recorded the last three outs of the New York Yankees’ 4-0 win over Boston in the Bronx on Thursday night. The Yanks eliminated the Red Sox and will now face Toronto in a divisional series.

Football forecasting

West Virginia gets the local college football slate going this weekend with a Friday night game at Brigham Young. The kickoff in Provo isn’t until 10:30 p.m.

At 4-0, No. 23 BYU is a 20.5-point favorite over the 2-3 Mountaineers.

After a heartbreaking double-overtime loss to Oregon last weekend, Penn State has to head west for a long road trip.

But the No. 7 Nittany Lions (3-1) are facing 0-4 UCLA. So James Franklin’s team is a 24.5-point favorite according to ESPN BET. PSU beat UCLA, 27-11, in Beaver Stadium last year.

Pitt is only 2-2, losing to both of the Power-4 teams they have faced (West Virginia, Louisville). Now they get Boston College at 1-3. The Eagles beat Fordham, 66-10, in the season-opener. Since then, they’ve dropped decisions to Michigan State, Stanford and Cal by a combined 16 points.

The Panthers are 6.5-point favorites at Acrisure Stadium for the noon kick Saturday.

At the FCS level, Duquesne (2-3) opens its NEC schedule against Stonehill (2-3) at noon Saturday. Both teams are 2-3. Robert Morris (1-3) is at Merrimack (2-3) for a 1 p.m. kick.

Hockey happenings

It’s a big weekend for the Penn State men’s hockey team. Prized prospect Gavin McKenna makes his debut Friday with the fifth-ranked Nittany Lions when they face Arizona State in Tempe on Friday and Saturday.

The Sun Devils are ranked 14th in the preseason USCHO poll. McKenna is projected to be the No. 1 pick in this year’s NHL draft. The game is on the NHL Network.

The Robert Morris men’s hockey team takes the ice for the first time in 2025-26 this weekend in preseason action. The Colonials will visit Bowling Green on Saturday (6 p.m.) for an exhibition. Then they’ll host the University of Waterloo (Ont.) for another exhibition at 4 p.m. Sunday.

Derek Schooley’s club will open the regular season Oct. 16 at Michigan. The team makes its home debut Oct. 31 against Niagara.

As for the women’s team, they swept a home series from Assumption last weekend to open up their 2025-26 campaign, and will travel to Bemidji State this weekend for two games in Minnesota.