Titans coach Brian Callahan is relinquishing offensive playcalling responsibilities.

• Quarterbacks coach Bo Hardegree will call the plays beginning Sunday against the Texans, Callahan announced yesterday.

Why it matters: A change in playcaller is the latest sign of troubled waters for Callahan and the winless Titans.

Flashback: Playcalling was a major question surrounding Callahan when the Titans hired him prior to the 2024 season.

• Although he was the Bengals offensive coordinator, he did not call plays.

What he's saying: Callahan signaled that the change means he can concentrate more on other aspects of running the team.

• "I got hired to be the head coach, and part of that process was being involved in the offense, but my job is to be the head coach of the football team," Callahan said at a news conference yesterday when he surprisingly announced the change. "I think this allows me to do that job a little bit better."

Caveat: There are other NFL coaches who don't call plays for offense or defense, such as Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh and the Lions coach Dan Campbell.

By the numbers: The bleak offensive stats say the Titans offense needs a jolt.

• The Titans rank 31st in yards per game and 28th in points scored.

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"Jimmy Kimmel Live!" returned to television in some parts of the country last night, but the show was still sidelined in Nashville.

The latest: Nexstar, which oversees Nashville's ABC affiliate WKRN, said it would continue replacing the talk show with other programming on its stations.

The big picture: The broadcast group first pulled Kimmel's show from its affiliates last week amid vocal criticism of the late night host from Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr.

• Carr warned ABC of potential repercussions for Kimmel's comments in the wake of conservative activist Charlie Kirk's killing. He also applauded broadcasters that pre-empted the show.
• ABC ultimately suspended the show temporarily before reviving it last night.

Between the lines: Nexstar is in the midst of acquiring the broadcast station group Tegna. But the transaction requires FCC approval.

What they're saying: Nexstar said yesterday its affiliates would continue pre-empting the show, saying it stands by that "decision pending assurance that all parties are committed to fostering an environment of respectful, constructive dialogue in the markets we serve."

Yes, but: "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" remains available through Disney's streaming products like Hulu.

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The Tennessee Supreme Court agreed to hear Metro's challenge of a state law that would slash the size of the Metro Council to no more than 20 members. (Nashville Business Journal, subscription)

Voucher applications for more than 11,100 Tennessee students got rejected because their families fell under the program's income cap. (Tennessean)

The state is fighting to keep confidential the full records surrounding the Tennessee Highway Patrol's participation in federal immigration enforcement activities. (Tennessee Lookout)

Nashville Fair Board chair Jasper Hendricks is accused in an ethics complaint of accepting an inappropriate gift and failing to abide by the city's procurement rules.

• Hendricks tells Axios the complaint is "baseless."

Why it matters: The complaint, filed last week, comes amid speculation that Mayor Freddie O'Connell could soon propose a racetrack revitalization plan.

• Hendricks has been a key supporter of a possible agreement between the city and Speedway Motorsports. The future of the fairgrounds racetrack is an emotionally charged issue.

Driving the news: According to the complaint, Hendricks attended the 2023 NASCAR Awards and Celebration gala at Music City Center presumably as a guest of Speedway Motorsports.

• The complaint says the value of the ticket can't be calculated because tickets weren't sold to the public, but points out a 2024 NASCAR gala ticket cost $249.
• The complaint also alleges that Hendricks is breaking the city's procurement and ethics rules by negotiating with Speedway Motorsports on a new deal despite not being authorized by the Fair Board to do so.

State of play: Last month, Hendricks told media outlets a new deal between the city and Speedway Motorsports to revitalize the fairgrounds speedway was imminent. Fox 17 and the Nashville Banner reported a deal was close.

• In the spring of 2023, several months before the NASCAR gala, Hendricks voted to support a racetrack deal between former Mayor John Cooper and Speedway Motorsports. That proposal failed to advance at the end of the previous Metro Council term.
• The ethics complaint was filed by residents John Spragens, Sandra Moore, Erica Lanier and Betty White.
• Opponents of a possible deal say the city should consider other uses for the fairgrounds property, including affordable housing. They want voters to decide the fate of the racetrack at a referendum.

Between the lines: The complainants cast doubt about Hendricks' ability to be impartial if a new deal comes before the Fair Board.

What he's saying: "The ethics allegations filed against me are baseless and rely on speculation, not facts," Hendricks tells Axios. "My focus remains on ensuring that the Nashville Fairgrounds serves the public, respects community input, and reflects the values of our city."

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Vanderbilt University remained Tennessee's top-ranked college in the latest edition of the annual list from U.S. News & World Report, released yesterday, which placed the institution at No. 17.

• The next Volunteer State entry was the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, at 102.

The big picture: The annual ranking remains an influential factor in many college searches — even if many colleges question its methods.

Zoom out: Princeton University topped the list, followed by MIT and Harvard University.

Flashback: Vanderbilt was fiercely critical of the list in 2023, when some academic metrics were retooled or phased out. Administrators said the methodology was incomplete and misleading.