This is how stadiums became temples of nationalism. When the Constitution functions like Scripture, and the pledge serves as our creed, and the flag is revered like the cross, and the national anthem becomes our hymn, and the hand over heart is a sacred expression like the sign of the cross, then a swelling patriotism becomes our religion and dissenters are heretics.

James K.A. Smith is professor of philosophy at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich., whose latest book, “Awaiting the King: Reforming Public Theology,” was just published by Baker Academic.

Kamara leads a wave of young backs who have been developing receiving skills for years. The rise of offseason passing leagues and pass-heavy spread offenses in college have created a new breed of running back.

“Whatever you want to credit that to — seven-on-seven passing academies to just the style of offenses that they run in college, I’m not sure — but guys seem to come in even more prepared now than they ever have been,” Saints quarterback Drew Brees said. “What they’re able to do, I think their versatility is something that you see with so many of these young backs that come in. They can run the ball between the tackles, they can catch the ball out of the backfield, you can split them out and almost treat them as receivers sometimes. Just really talented players.”

The traditional plow-horse running back is not extinct — the Jaguars took Leonard Fournette fourth overall and would probably do so again; he is a battering ram suited for their ball-control offense. But many running backs may be better viewed as skill players.

This week’s bracket projection incorporates what the committee revealed last Thursday. But in the ever-evolving world of college basketball, Monday’s projection also includes adjustments based on a weekend of games. Four days can change plenty — or in some cases, not much at all.

Despite scoring 31 points below their season average and losing at home to Florida State on Sunday, the Cardinals remain a No. 1 seed and the third overall team on the board. The reasons are many, but the most important is that there isn’t a logical successor to Louisville’s spot. Oregon, the No. 4 overall team on the committee’s list Thursday, lost — and did so to a team (Oregon State) not ranked as high as the Seminoles.

This was also the Cardinals’ first loss. Possible contenders such as Texas and Tennessee each have three. The Lady Vols lost twice in the four days since the reveal.

In the Vikings-Saints game, there were four lead changes in the final 3:01 of the fourth quarter. Titans vs. Bills had four lead changes in the second half, and three in the last 1:48 of the game.