USA Today Up & Down Words October 23, 2026 Answers

MEMaya EllisonPuzzle Editor · Verified answers

The complete Friday word chain — 7 two-word answers, each linking into the next. Puzzle by David L. Hoyt.

Friday7 answersUSA Today

The Chain

1 Seasonal restlessness SPRING FEVER

2 State of extreme excitement FEVER PITCH

3 Completely dark PITCH BLACK

4 Formal dress code BLACK TIE

5 Contest with no winner TIE GAME

6 Quail, for one GAME BIRD

7 Hunter's canine helper BIRD DOG

About this puzzle

This page lists the complete answer chain for the USA Today Up & Down Words published on October 23, 2026. Each answer is a two-word phrase, and the second word of every answer is the first word of the next one down. Tap any clue to open that answer's own page.