The 2020 NFL campaign will be remembered most for empty stadiums. But last season also brought another dramatic change: the sharp decline of punting.

By the numbers: NFL teams punted an average of 3.7 times per game last season, the lowest figure in recorded pro football history.

• Teams averaged 4.8 punts per game as recently as 2017, a rate that had held steady since the early 1980s but is now falling fast.

Between the lines: Today's high-powered, creative offenses can zip up and down the field. That has made field position — and therefore punts — less valuable, permitting coaches to take more risks on fourth down.

• The average offense gained 5.6 yards per play in 2020, which makes fourth-and-short sound like a cake walk.
• It also means coaches are wary of gifting the ball to an opposing team that can march right back down the field 5.6 yards at a time.

The big picture: With kick returns also declining thanks to new NFL rules, the role of special teams as a whole is dwindling.

The last word, via NYT's Mike Tanier:

"There will always be a place for the punt on fourth-and-15 from the shadow of a team's own goal posts. ... But gradually, coaches will begin to wonder why they are replacing their multimillion-dollar quarterbacks in high-leverage situations with the player most likely to walk through a parking lot tailgate unrecognized."

Of note: While punters are booting fewer balls, don't forget: most are also the holder on field goals and extra points. So it's not like they're bored. In fact, when teams approach midfield, they're preparing for both jobs.

Former President Trump will be in the commentary booth for Saturday's boxing event headlined by Evander Holyfield vs. Vitor Belfort.

• His son, Donald Trump Jr., will join him on the call at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, on the 20th anniversary of 9/11.
• Viewers will have the option to purchase either the main telecast or the Trump "gamecast" for $49.99.
• Holyfield, 58, stepped in on short notice as a replacement for Oscar De La Hoya, who tested positive for COVID-19.

The backdrop: The event is hosted by Triller, a TikTok rival that has expanded into boxing. It distributed last year's Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. pay-per-view event, with Snoop Dogg providing commentary.

Georgia jumped three spots to No. 2 behind Alabama in this week's AP poll, giving the SEC the nation's top two teams — and three of the top five.

• Ohio State moved up two spots to No. 3, while Oklahoma dropped two spots to No. 4 after a narrow win over Tulane.
• Texas A&M is fifth and Clemson fell three spots to sixth, marking the first time the Tigers have been out of the top four since 2017.

The state of play: Eight ranked teams lost over Labor Day Weekend, including five who were beaten by another ranked team.

• Moving in: No. 16 UCLA is ranked for the first time since a brief stay at No. 25 in 2017. Also joining the Top 25 are No. 19 Virginia Tech, No. 20 Ole Miss and No. 25 Auburn.
• Moving out: Indiana, ranked in the preseason for the first time since 1969, dropped out after getting destroyed by Iowa. Also gone: Washington (lost to Montana) and Louisiana (lost to Texas).

📆 Coming up: Saturday's slate features two ranked-on-ranked matchups, highlighted by a massive rivalry game in Ames, Iowa.

• No. 12 Oregon at No. 3 Ohio State: This will be the first regular-season meeting between the Ducks and Buckeyes since 1987.
• No. 10 Iowa at No. 9 Iowa State: This is their first ranked-on-ranked matchup ever, and both teams are in the top 10. Epic.

Go deeper: What's next for each Top 25 team? (ESPN)

🏒 NWHL rebrand: The National Women's Hockey League has rebranded as the Premier Hockey Federation.

💬 Quote du jour: Paul Pierce on why he didn't like working at ESPN: "There's a lot of stuff over there that you can't say. And you have to talk about LeBron all the time." Great SI interview.

🏈 31 tackles: That's how many Fordham senior linebacker Ryan Greenhagen had against Nebraska, a Division I record. Sheesh.

🏀 Magee retiring: Herb Magee, the Hall of Famer whose 1,123 career wins trail only Mike Krzyzewski among all active coaches, will retire from D-II Jefferson University at the end of the season.

⚾️ Good read: A complete breakdown of the Soto Shuffle (Ben Lindbergh, The Ringer)

"One of the most disciplined hitters in baseball has one of the game's most exciting routines. But Juan Soto's batter's box shuffle isn't just a simple gimmick."

A longtime tension between Nielsen and major TV networks came to a head last week, Axios' Sara Fischer writes.

Driving the news: The media industry's de-facto measurement watchdog — the Media Rating Council — has voted to suspend the accreditation for Nielsen's National Television measurement service.

• The suspension came as a result of an audit in response to complaints from major TV networks that argue Nielsen undercounted viewership during the pandemic.
• This is the latest escalation in a series of confrontations. While Nielsen ratings will be used to measure TV viewership in the short-term, executives are calling for new solutions long-term.

Why it matters: This saga underscores the grim reality that no one in the media industry knows who to trust when it comes to measuring viewership in the digital era.

• Nielsen has long been the most authoritative provider of TV measurement. But after admitting to undercounting viewership during the pandemic, it is seeking to improve its system.
• The rise of streaming and mobile video has put pressure on the company to modernize. Not everyone believes it's up to the task.

My thought bubble ... TV ratings are extremely important to sports leagues (see: the monthly debate over why ratings are up or down). So viewership accuracy is key, particularly as consumer habits change.

NEW YORK — Canadian Leylah Fernandez, 19, continued her stunning run through the U.S. Open field by upsetting No. 5 seed Elina Svitolina, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (5), to advance to the semifinals.

ST. LOUIS — Albert Pujols received a 40-second standing ovation in his return to Busch Stadium, then promptly hit a home run, sending the Dodgers to a 7-2 win over the Cardinals.

BOSTON — Nelson Cruz homered twice in the Rays' 12-7 win over the Red Sox, and at 41 years old, became the oldest player in MLB history to hit 30 HR in a season.

The NFL season is fast approaching. While we eagerly await its arrival, we're counting down the league's top 20 players.

• Player: Tom Brady, QB (Buccaneers)
• Age: 44
• College: Michigan
• Contract: 1 year, $25M (with possible extension)
• 2020 stats: 4,633 passing yards, 40 TD, 12 INT
• 2021 fantasy: No. 70 ADP (average draft position)
• Week 1: Buccaneers vs. Cowboys (tomorrow)

The big picture: What Brady did last year at age 43 was simply incredible, rebounding from a down 2019 season in New England to lead Tampa to its second Super Bowl.

• By the numbers: Brady's Total QBR in 2020 was 72.6 (up from 55.7 in 2019). He improved his yards per attempt (7.6) by a yard and threw 40 TD — 16 more than 2019.
• Wild stat: Brady has more postseason wins (34) than all but four NFL franchises (Patriots, Packers, Steelers and Cowboys).

What they're saying: "He was not throwing the ball as well [in 2019], but his arm looked stronger," an AFC scout told ESPN (subscription). "The dude is an anomaly."

ICYMI: 20. Dalvin Cook; 19. Trent Williams; 18. Bobby Wagner; 17. Tyreek Hill; 16. Jaire Alexander; 15. Stefon Diggs; 14. Myles Garrett; 13. Jalen Ramsey; 12. George Kittle; 11. Josh Allen; 10. Russell Wilson; 9. T.J. Watt; 8. Derrick Henry; 7. Quenton Nelson; 6. Davante Adams; 5. Travis Kelce

56 years ago today, Bert Campaneris of the Kansas City Athletics became the first major leaguer to play all nine positions in a game.

The backdrop: A's owner Charles Finley was behind the stunt, designed to increase attendance for his last place team. Campaneris started at his regular shortstop position before moving all over the diamond.

• He went 0-for-3 at the plate with a walk and a run scored, stole a base, made an error in right field, and made five putouts.
• He was involved in a critical collision at home plate that kept the Angels from scoring, and he even pitched ambidextrously, throwing lefty to lefties and righty to righties.

The big picture: Four more players have since joined the club in César Tovar (Twins, 1968), Scott Sheldon (Rangers, 2000), Shane Halter (Tigers, 2000) and Andrew Romine (Tigers, 2017).

• In 2015, Will Ferrell played in five spring training games at all nine positions to honor Campaneris and raise money for cancer research.

Question: Honduras, which hosts the USMNT tonight (10:30pm ET Paramount+), was home to which notable civilization?

• Aztec
• Maya
• Inca

Answer at the bottom.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame was opened in Cooperstown, New York, in 1939, with an inaugural class of Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson and Walter Johnson.

• Since then, the village of 1,762 people has hosted hundreds of thousands of baseball-loving tourists every year, highlighted by the annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
• After last year's ceremony was canceled due to the pandemic, the 2020 class will be inducted today with fans in attendance (there were no 2021 inductees).

The 2020 class:

• Derek Jeter, the legendary Yankees shortstop
• Larry Walker, the first-ever Rockies player inducted
• Marvin Miller, the father of modern free agency
• Ted Simmons, one of the best catchers ever

Coverage starts at 1:30pm ET on MLB Network