Two clubs, two different footballing worlds, and two matches that have already produced enough drama to make this one of the more closely watched fixtures in North American soccer. Inter Miami and Tigres UANL have only met twice, but both games ended 2-1, both were decided late, and both carried real stakes in the Leagues Cup. Here’s the full timeline of what’s happened so far.

Direct Answer: What Is the Inter Miami vs Tigres UANL Timeline?

The Inter Miami vs Tigres UANL timeline covers two competitive matches, both played in the Leagues Cup, the annual tournament pitting MLS clubs against Liga MX clubs. Tigres won the first meeting 2-1 in the 2024 group stage, while Inter Miami won the rematch 2-1 in the 2025 quarterfinal. The overall head-to-head record stands at one win apiece, with no draws, making it one of the most evenly balanced young rivalries in the sport.

Background: Why This Matchup Draws Attention

Inter Miami and Tigres UANL come from very different footballing traditions, and that contrast is part of what makes their meetings compelling. Inter Miami, an MLS club owned by an ownership group led by David Beckham, had limited international profile before Lionel Messi’s arrival in July 2023 fundamentally changed the club’s visibility overnight.

Tigres UANL, based in the Monterrey metropolitan area and playing home matches at Estadio Universitario in San Nicolás de los Garza, carries a very different kind of weight. With eight Liga MX championships and a 2020 CONCACAF Champions League title, Tigres entered this rivalry as an established continental heavyweight, not a club still building its reputation.

The Leagues Cup, which brings every MLS and Liga MX club into a shared mid-season tournament, has become the primary stage for this dynamic to play out, turning a fixture between two clubs with no traditional rivalry into a genuine measuring stick for MLS ambition against Liga MX’s tactical depth.

Match One: 2024 Leagues Cup Group Stage

The first official meeting between the two clubs took place on August 3, 2024, at NRG Stadium in Houston, during the Leagues Cup group stage.

Tigres controlled much of the early tempo, and that patience paid off in the 18th minute, when Juan Brunetta opened the scoring with a composed finish. Inter Miami responded in the 74th minute, with Leonardo Campana converting from the penalty spot to level the match at 1-1. The equalizer didn’t hold. In the 84th minute, Juan Pablo Vigón restored Tigres’ lead, and the match finished 2-1 in Tigres’ favor.

Notably, Lionel Messi did not feature in this match due to an ankle injury, and Luis Suárez remained on the bench throughout. The absence of Inter Miami’s biggest attacking names shaped how the match unfolded, with Tigres able to control large stretches of the game against a Miami side missing key attacking options.

Match Two: 2025 Leagues Cup Quarterfinal

The rematch came roughly a year later, in the 2025 Leagues Cup quarterfinal, played at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Inter Miami’s home ground.

This match swung several times. Inter Miami took an early lead in the 23rd minute, when Luis Suárez converted a penalty to make it 1-0. Tigres answered in the 67th minute, with Ángel Correa beating goalkeeper Óscar Ustari to level the score at 1-1, continuing a strong individual tournament for Correa, who had scored four goals across the earlier phase of the 2025 Leagues Cup.

The decisive moment came in the 89th minute. Tigres pushed for a late equalizer, and a header from Edgar López in stoppage time struck both posts without going in, allowing Miami to hold on for the win.

As in the first meeting, Lionel Messi didn’t play, this time due to a muscle injury rather than the ankle issue from 2024. The victory sent Inter Miami through to the Leagues Cup 2025 semifinals and ended Tigres’ run in that year’s tournament.

Head-to-Head Summary

Based on both official meetings to date, the record between the two clubs is closely balanced:

• Total meetings: 2
• Inter Miami wins: 1 (2025 Leagues Cup quarterfinal, 2-1)
• Tigres UANL wins: 1 (2024 Leagues Cup group stage, 2-1)
• Draws: 0
• Competition: Both matches played in the Leagues Cup

Key Players in the Rivalry So Far

A few individual performances have defined both matches played to date.

Luis Suárez (Inter Miami)

Suárez has been the decisive figure in the head-to-head so far, scoring both of Inter Miami’s goals in the 2025 quarterfinal, both converted from the penalty spot under pressure in a knockout-stage match.

Ángel Correa (Tigres UANL)

Correa has established himself as one of Tigres’ most dangerous attacking threats in these meetings, scoring the equalizer in the 2025 match as part of a broader strong run of form in that tournament.

Juan Pablo Vigón and Juan Brunetta (Tigres UANL)

Both players were directly involved in Tigres’ 2024 win, with Brunetta opening the scoring and Vigón netting the eventual match-winner.

Leonardo Campana (Inter Miami)

Campana scored Miami’s lone goal in the 2024 meeting, converting from the penalty spot to briefly level the match before Tigres retook the lead.

One recurring storyline worth noting: Lionel Messi has missed both matches between these two clubs, first due to an ankle injury in 2024, then due to a muscle issue in 2025, meaning a Messi appearance against Tigres remains something fans of both clubs haven’t yet seen.

What’s Next for This Matchup

As of the most recent Leagues Cup cycle, no future match between Inter Miami and Tigres UANL has been formally scheduled. Because the Leagues Cup runs annually and both clubs have consistently qualified for the tournament, another meeting between the two is a realistic possibility in a future edition, though the specific timing depends on tournament seeding and results in earlier rounds.

Good to Know

Both matches have been decided by narrow, late margins. Neither game has been a comfortable result for either side, both finished 2-1, and both featured a decisive goal in the final 15 minutes or stoppage time.

Penalties have played an outsized role. Three of the four total goals scored across both matches have come from the penalty spot, a detail that’s shaped how each match’s turning points unfolded.

The rivalry predates a long shared history. Unlike longstanding regional rivalries, this matchup has only existed since 2024, meaning the “timeline” is still in its early chapters, with plenty of room for the head-to-head record to develop further.

Key Facts

• Inter Miami and Tigres UANL have met twice, both times in the Leagues Cup.
• The 2024 group stage match, played August 3, 2024, in Houston, ended 2-1 to Tigres.
• The 2025 quarterfinal, played at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, ended 2-1 to Inter Miami.
• The head-to-head record stands at one win each, with no draws.
• Lionel Messi has missed both matches due to injury.
• Luis Suárez has scored both of Inter Miami’s goals in the head-to-head so far, both penalties.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Who has won more matches between Inter Miami and Tigres UANL?

Ans: The record is even, with one win for each club across two total meetings, both decided by a 2-1 scoreline.

Q2: Has Lionel Messi ever played against Tigres UANL?

Ans: No. Messi missed both meetings due to injury, an ankle issue in 2024 and a muscle injury in 2025.

Q3: What competition have Inter Miami and Tigres UANL played each other in?

Ans: Both matches have taken place in the Leagues Cup, the annual tournament featuring clubs from MLS and Liga MX.

Q4: Who scored the winning goal in each match?

Ans: Juan Pablo Vigón scored the decisive goal for Tigres in the 2024 meeting, while Luis Suárez scored the winning penalty for Inter Miami in the 2025 quarterfinal.

Q5: Is there a traditional rivalry between these two clubs?

Ans: No long-standing rivalry existed before 2024. The current dynamic has developed specifically through their Leagues Cup meetings since then.

Q6: Will Inter Miami and Tigres UANL play again?

Ans: No future match is currently scheduled, but since both clubs regularly qualify for the Leagues Cup, another meeting is considered likely in a future edition of the tournament.

Key Takeaways

• Inter Miami and Tigres UANL have played twice, both in the Leagues Cup, with each side winning once by a 2-1 scoreline.
• Tigres won the first meeting in 2024; Inter Miami won the rematch in the 2025 quarterfinal.
• Luis Suárez has been the decisive figure for Inter Miami, scoring both of the club’s goals in the head-to-head via penalties.
• Lionel Messi has missed both matches to date due to injury.

In Short

Two matches, two 2-1 results, and one win apiece, the Inter Miami vs Tigres UANL series has managed to pack plenty of drama into a short history. With Messi yet to feature in either match and both clubs likely to keep crossing paths in future Leagues Cup editions, this remains a rivalry very much in its opening chapters.

Introduction

Maxx Crosby has spent his entire career with the Las Vegas Raiders, and his contract has become one of the more closely watched deals in the NFL, partly because of its size and partly because of how much drama has surrounded it since it was signed. Readers searching for details on the Maxx Crosby contract usually want to know the numbers, how it compares to other pass rushers, and whether recent injury and trade rumors put his future with the Raiders in question.

This article breaks down the terms of his current deal, the history behind it, and where things stand heading into the 2026 season.

Direct Answer: What Is Maxx Crosby Contract?

Maxx Crosby signed a three-year, $106.5 million extension with the Las Vegas Raiders in March 2025, including $91.5 million guaranteed and an average annual salary of $35.5 million. The deal made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league at signing. His base salaries for 2025 and 2026 were fully guaranteed at $32.5 million and $30 million, while his 2027 salary becomes guaranteed only if he’s on the roster early in the 2026 league year.

Background: How Crosby Got Here

The Raiders drafted Crosby in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Eastern Michigan, a relatively low-profile pick who developed into one of the league’s most productive edge rushers. His first extension came in March 2022, a four-year deal worth just under $99 million. That contract still had two years remaining when the Raiders decided to renegotiate again in 2025, largely because Crosby’s production had outpaced his existing salary.

Before the 2025 extension, Crosby had two years left on his 2022 deal, with base salaries of $22.2 million in 2025 and $18.8 million in 2026, but none of that remaining money was guaranteed. The new deal changed that significantly.

Contract Terms Explained

Total Value and Guarantees

The March 2025 extension is a three-year deal worth $106.5 million, with $91.5 million fully guaranteed. That guarantee level was notable at the time because it gave Crosby long-term security rather than year-to-year risk, which is unusual for a player already several years into his career.

Average Annual Salary

Crosby’s contract carries an average annual value of $35.5 million, which briefly made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history. That distinction didn’t last long, since other top pass rushers around the league, including Myles Garrett, signed even larger deals within days of Crosby’s extension.

Year-by-Year Breakdown

In 2026, Crosby is set to earn a base salary of $30 million, fully guaranteed, with a salary cap hit of roughly $35.8 million. That cap number represents close to 12 percent of the Raiders’ total salary cap for the season. His 2027 salary of $29 million is currently guaranteed only for injury, but it becomes fully guaranteed if he remains on the Raiders’ roster on the third day of the 2026 league year.

Why This Contract Matters

Crosby’s deal matters for a few reasons beyond the raw dollar figures. First, it reflects how the market for elite pass rushers has shifted, with teams increasingly willing to offer near-full guarantees to keep top defensive talent rather than let them approach free agency. Second, it ties directly into the Raiders’ broader roster planning, since a cap hit this large limits flexibility elsewhere on the roster.

There’s also a performance angle. Some analysts have pointed out that Crosby’s sack totals dipped in the two seasons before signing the extension compared to his 2022 and 2023 peak, which has led to debate over whether the deal will age well. Others argue that sacks alone don’t capture his value, noting his consistently high tackles-for-loss numbers as a better measure of his overall impact.

Recent Developments: Injury and Trade Speculation

Crosby’s contract situation became more complicated during the 2025 season. He played through a left knee injury starting in October, and the Raiders placed him on injured reserve in late December to end his season early, a decision Crosby reportedly disagreed with at the time. He underwent surgery for a torn meniscus in early January 2026.

In March 2026, the Raiders and Baltimore Ravens reportedly agreed to a trade sending Crosby to Baltimore, but the Ravens pulled out of the deal after Crosby did not pass their physical, with reports citing durability concerns tied to his knee. Following the collapsed trade, Crosby returned to the Raiders organization, and both sides have since described the situation as resolved, with Crosby stating he wants to remain in Las Vegas. By mid-2026, Crosby reported that his recovery was ahead of schedule, with an expected return to full participation in time for training camp.

Common Mistakes and Misconceptions

Assuming the entire contract is guaranteed. Only $91.5 million of the $106.5 million total is guaranteed. The 2027 salary is currently guaranteed for injury only, and full guarantee depends on roster status early in the 2026 league year.

Confusing his 2022 extension with his 2025 extension. Crosby has signed two separate extensions with the Raiders. The 2022 deal was worth roughly $99 million over four years; the 2025 deal replaced the remaining years of that contract with new, larger terms.

Assuming the failed Ravens trade voided his contract. The trade falling through didn’t change the terms of Crosby’s existing deal with the Raiders. He remains under contract with Las Vegas under the same 2025 extension terms.

Believing cap hit and salary are the same number. Crosby’s 2026 base salary is $30 million, but his cap hit is higher, around $35.8 million, because cap accounting spreads signing bonus money and other contract elements across multiple seasons.

Real-World Example: How the Deal Affects Roster Building

When the Raiders signed offensive lineman Tyler Linderbaum and other free agents during the 2026 offseason, Crosby’s $35.8 million cap hit was already factored into how much room the team had left to spend. Because his number represents such a large share of the total cap, decisions about extending or trading other players often get discussed in relation to Crosby’s contract, since it’s the single largest commitment on the roster.

Key Facts About the Maxx Crosby Contract

• Three-year extension signed March 5, 2025, worth $106.5 million total.
• $91.5 million of the deal is fully guaranteed.
• Average annual salary of $35.5 million, briefly the highest among non-quarterbacks in NFL history.
• 2025 and 2026 base salaries were fully guaranteed at $32.5 million and $30 million.
• 2027 salary of $29 million is currently guaranteed for injury only.
• Crosby’s 2026 cap hit is approximately $35.8 million, close to 12 percent of the Raiders’ total cap space.
• A March 2026 trade to the Baltimore Ravens fell through after Crosby did not pass a physical related to his knee.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: How much is Maxx Crosby contract worth? 

Ans: His current deal with the Raiders is a three-year extension worth $106.5 million, including $91.5 million guaranteed.

Q2: Is Maxx Crosby the highest-paid defensive player in the league? 

Ans: He was briefly the highest-paid non-quarterback by average annual value when he signed in March 2025, but several other pass rushers have since signed larger deals, moving Crosby down the rankings.

Q3: Why did the Ravens trade for Maxx Crosby fall through? 

Ans: Reports indicate the Ravens backed out after Crosby did not pass their physical, with concerns tied to durability issues connected to his knee injury and subsequent surgery.

Q4: Is Maxx Crosby still with the Raiders? 

Ans: Yes. Following the collapsed trade, Crosby returned to the Raiders organization and has stated he intends to remain with the team.

Q5: What happens to his contract if he gets traded in the future? 

Ans: If traded, Crosby’s existing contract terms would generally transfer to the new team, though trade agreements can sometimes include restructured terms depending on what both teams negotiate.

Q6: Is his 2027 salary guaranteed? 

Ans: Only for injury at this time. It becomes fully guaranteed if Crosby is on the Raiders’ roster on the third day of the 2026 league year.

Key Takeaways

• Crosby’s current deal is a three-year, $106.5 million extension signed in March 2025, with $91.5 million guaranteed.
• The contract made him briefly the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
• His 2026 cap hit of about $35.8 million represents a significant share of the Raiders’ total cap space.
• A trade to the Ravens in March 2026 fell through due to physical concerns related to his knee.
• Crosby has since returned to the Raiders and expects to be ready for the 2026 season.

Conclusion

Maxx Crosby’s contract reflects both his standing as one of the league’s top pass rushers and the financial risk teams take on when committing significant guaranteed money to a player in his late twenties. Between the size of the deal, the injury history, and the trade speculation that followed, his situation offers a clear look at how modern NFL contracts are structured and how quickly circumstances around them can shift.

Searches for “USC Upstate vs UNC” usually point to one specific event: the December 2025 men’s basketball matchup between the North Carolina Tar Heels and the USC Upstate Spartans. This game drew attention because it paired a nationally ranked ACC program against a mid-major opponent, and it marked the first time the two schools had ever met on the court. Here’s a full breakdown of the game, the teams involved, and the numbers that mattered.

Direct Answer: What Was the Result of USC Upstate vs UNC?

On December 13, 2025, 14th-ranked North Carolina defeated USC Upstate 80-62 at the Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill. Caleb Wilson recorded a double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds, while Jonathan Powell tied his career scoring high with 17 points. The win improved UNC to 9-1 overall and 7-0 at home, and it marked the first men’s basketball meeting between the two programs.

Background on the Two Programs

North Carolina, often called the Tar Heels, competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference and is one of the most recognized programs in college basketball history. Under head coach Hubert Davis, the team plays its home games at the Dean E. Smith Center, known informally as the Dean Dome, where the Tar Heels have built a strong home-court record over the years.

USC Upstate, the University of South Carolina Upstate, is a mid-major program that competes in the Big South Conference. The Spartans are a smaller program by national profile, but they’ve built a reputation for competitive shooting, particularly from three-point range, which showed up clearly in this matchup.

Games between a power-conference team like North Carolina and a Big South program like USC Upstate are common in the non-conference portion of the college basketball schedule. Larger programs often schedule these games early in the season to build depth in their rotation and gain experience before conference play begins, while smaller programs use the matchup as a chance to test themselves against elite competition and earn a bigger paycheck for the athletic department.

How the Game Unfolded

The opening minutes were slow for both sides. USC Upstate missed its first six shots before finally getting on the board, and North Carolina didn’t pull away right out of the gate either. Henri Veesaar scored the Tar Heels’ first points, and Caleb Wilson added an early dunk to get UNC moving.

USC Upstate found its rhythm from beyond the arc, hitting several three-pointers in a row to stay within striking distance. At one stretch, the Spartans actually took a 21-20 lead during the first half, showing they weren’t there simply to be an easy win for a ranked opponent.

North Carolina answered with a 14-0 run that pushed the score to 32-21 and forced USC Upstate to call a timeout with just over three minutes left in the half. The Tar Heels finished the opening 20 minutes shooting better than 55 percent from the field while holding USC Upstate to just over 32 percent shooting, even though the Spartans had knocked down six three-pointers in that span.

In the second half, North Carolina built its largest lead of the game at 68-52. USC Upstate didn’t fold completely, answering with an 8-0 run of its own to cut the margin back into single digits and keep the outcome from feeling fully decided. North Carolina closed the game with a 12-0 run in the final minutes, which stretched the final margin wider than the score had suggested for most of the second half.

Key Stats and Standout Performances

North Carolina’s balanced scoring and ball movement stood out as much as any individual performance. The team recorded 20 assists on 28 made baskets, a sign of an offense built around passing rather than isolated scoring.

• Caleb Wilson: 20 points, 11 rebounds (double-double)
• Jonathan Powell: 17 points, tying his career high
• Luka Bogavac: 15 points, including multiple three-pointers
• Henri Veesaar: 14 points and strong early rebounding
• Kyan Evans and Bogavac: five assists each to lead the team in playmaking

On the USC Upstate side, Learic Davis and Mason Bendinger each scored in double figures, and the team’s perimeter shooting, six three-pointers in the first half alone, kept the score competitive for a longer stretch than the final margin might suggest.

Why This Game Mattered

For North Carolina, the win extended a long tradition of success at the Smith Center, where the program has built one of the most dominant home-court records in college basketball. The victory also gave Hubert Davis and his coaching staff another opportunity to experiment with lineup combinations and rotations early in the season, which matters more once conference play begins and the margin for error shrinks.

For USC Upstate, the game offered a chance to measure the roster against a ranked ACC opponent. Even in a loss, keeping the game within reach for large stretches, and briefly taking a lead in the first half, gave the Spartans useful film and experience heading into their own conference schedule in the Big South.

This matchup also carried some historical weight simply because it was new. Two programs meeting for the first time always creates a small amount of extra interest, since there’s no head-to-head history or rivalry storyline to draw from, just a fresh data point for both fan bases.

Common Mistakes and Misconceptions

Mistake: Assuming “UNC” always means the same school in every USC Upstate matchup. USC Upstate’s actual longtime conference rival is UNC Asheville, a separate school within the University of North Carolina system that also competes in the Big South Conference. When people search “USC Upstate vs UNC” expecting a rivalry breakdown, they may actually be looking for the UNC Asheville series rather than the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Mistake: Thinking this was a close, competitive game throughout. While USC Upstate briefly led in the first half and kept things within single digits at points in the second half, North Carolina controlled most of the game and closed on a decisive run.

Mistake: Assuming mid-major teams have no chance against ranked opponents. USC Upstate’s three-point shooting in the first half showed that a smaller program can still create real problems for a ranked team, even in a game it ultimately loses.

Mistake: Confusing USC Upstate with the University of Southern California. USC Upstate is short for the University of South Carolina Upstate, located in Spartanburg, South Carolina. It has no affiliation with the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.

Real-World Context: Why Fans Track Games Like This

Non-conference games like USC Upstate vs UNC matter beyond the final score. College basketball’s selection process for postseason tournaments weighs a team’s full schedule, including wins over lesser-known opponents, so a comfortable win like this one helps build a resume without much risk.

For fans of smaller programs, games against nationally ranked teams are also a chance to see how their team’s identity, in USC Upstate’s case, an aggressive three-point shooting approach, holds up against much deeper and more talented rosters. Even in a loss, a strong first half can offer real encouragement heading into a team’s own conference schedule.

Key Facts

• Final score: North Carolina 80, USC Upstate 62
• Date: December 13, 2025
• Location: Dean E. Smith Center, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
• This was the first-ever men’s basketball meeting between the two programs
• North Carolina improved to 9-1 overall and 7-0 at home with the win
• Caleb Wilson recorded a double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds
• Jonathan Powell tied his career scoring high with 17 points
• North Carolina recorded 20 assists on 28 made field goals
• USC Upstate made six three-pointers in the first half alone

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What was the final score of USC Upstate vs UNC? 

Ans: North Carolina won 80-62 on December 13, 2025, at the Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill.

Q2: Had North Carolina and USC Upstate played before? 

Ans: No. The December 2025 game was the first men’s basketball meeting between the two programs.

Q3: Who led North Carolina in scoring? 

Ans: Caleb Wilson led the team with 20 points and also grabbed 11 rebounds for a double-double. Jonathan Powell added 17 points, tying his career high.

Q4: Is USC Upstate the same as the University of Southern California? 

Ans: No. USC Upstate stands for the University of South Carolina Upstate, based in Spartanburg, South Carolina. It’s unrelated to the University of Southern California.

Q5: Does USC Upstate usually play UNC Asheville instead? 

Ans: Yes. UNC Asheville is USC Upstate’s regular conference opponent in the Big South Conference, and the two schools have a long shared history of matchups. The North Carolina (Chapel Hill) game was a separate, non-conference event.

Q6: Was the game competitive? 

Ans: USC Upstate kept the score close in stretches, briefly leading in the first half and cutting a large second-half deficit down to single digits at one point, but North Carolina closed the game with a strong late run to secure the final margin.

Key Takeaways

• North Carolina beat USC Upstate 80-62 on December 13, 2025, in the teams’ first-ever meeting.
• Caleb Wilson and Jonathan Powell led North Carolina’s scoring, while the team shared the ball well with 20 assists.
• USC Upstate’s three-point shooting kept the game competitive for stretches, especially in the first half.
• USC Upstate is not affiliated with the University of Southern California, and its usual conference rival is UNC Asheville, not the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Conclusion

The USC Upstate vs UNC matchup gave North Carolina a solid, if not flawless, non-conference win and gave USC Upstate a useful measuring stick against ranked competition. The final score reflected North Carolina’s depth and ball movement, while USC Upstate’s shooting showed the kind of competitive spark that can make even lopsided-looking box scores more interesting than they first appear.