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  • ESPN staff

The College Football Playoff selection committee will never ask coaches to run up the score, and the protocol specifically states that comparing games against a common opponent is done “without incenting margin of victory.”

That doesn’t mean they don’t appreciate a good old-fashioned drubbing.

With no changes to the top five of the third ranking on Tuesday night — No. 6 LSU and No. 7 USC earned small promotions at the expense of two-loss Oregon, which sank to 12 — Week 12 will provide several opportunities for the top contenders to leave no doubt they’re the better team.

In the case of No. 7 USC, now the committee’s top-ranked Pac-12 team, the one-loss Trojans can make a statement against a ranked rival in No. 16 UCLA — or eliminate the Pac-12 entirely with a loss. No team is better positioned to finish in the top four than No. 1 Georgia, which clinched the SEC East and will face LSU in the conference title game. A resounding win at Kentucky, though, would be another highlight the committee could point to if Georgia finishes as SEC runner-up.

No. 3 Michigan has a chance to continue to assert itself against unranked Illinois, a three-loss team that dropped out of the CFP Top 25 but could still win the Big Ten West. Tennessee and TCU, meanwhile, should cruise against unranked, unheralded conference opponents.

With only two weeks remaining in the regular season, here’s how Week 12 could potentially influence the committee’s evaluation on Selection Day, ranked in order of biggest impact:

Jump to:
Anger Index | 12-team bracket | Résumés |

1. USC at UCLA

Why it’s important: USC has no margin for error, and the road game against the ranked neighborhood rival is the next step in padding a résumé that could eventually trump one-loss Tennessee. USC is the Pac-12’s best hope at the playoff, and while many seem to assume No. 5 Tennessee will finish in the top four because the Vols are currently ranked ahead of USC, it will be much more complicated for the committee once the conference titles are added to the résumés and Tennessee doesn’t have one. USC could finish the season with three straight wins against ranked opponents — UCLA, Notre Dame and the Pac-12 title game opponent — which would put it squarely in the conversation for the top four.

2. TCU at Baylor

Why it’s important: No. 4 TCU didn’t get a bump this week, even though it played its best defense of the season, earned a road win against what used to be a CFP Top 25 team in Texas, and clinched a spot in the Big 12 title game. That indicates the Horned Frogs still don’t have much if any margin for error, and a loss on Saturday to an unranked Baylor (6-4) team that K-State just hammered 31-3 would be difficult to overcome on Selection Day. If TCU finishes as an undefeated Big 12 champion, the Horned Frogs will finish in the top four, but a loss to either Baylor or Iowa State along the way will put them in a precarious position. It helped TCU that No. 22 Oklahoma State popped back into the Top 25, giving the Frogs two wins against ranked opponents, along with Kansas State. That would probably match Clemson, if it finishes as a one-loss ACC champ, but they could both be looking up at USC or Tennessee — or both.

3. Tennessee at South Carolina

Why it’s important: If you’re not playing on championship weekend, you’re praying. Without a division or conference title, Tennessee needs to impress the committee every chance it gets, and a road win against a bowl-bound SEC opponent is another boost for the Vols — even if South Carolina isn’t ranked. Assuming the SEC and Big Ten champions are in the top four, Tennessee needs to be concerned about undefeated TCU and one-loss USC. The Vols will need their wins against LSU and Alabama to overcome not having a conference title. Where it could get interesting is if LSU wins the SEC, because Tennessee could then claim a resounding 40-13 win over the SEC champs — in Baton Rouge. The Vols can’t control any of that, though, so finishing the season in style is their best bet.

4. Miami at Clemson

Why it’s important: Clemson and the ACC remain in the worst playoff position of any of the Power 5 conferences, so the Tigers cannot afford to struggle at home against a mediocre Miami team. Clemson hasn’t exactly dominated anyone this season, either. The Tigers are 2-1 against teams currently ranked in the CFP, and have a point margin of minus-5 in those three games (wins against NC State and FSU, loss to Notre Dame). If the SEC, Big Ten and undefeated TCU are in, Clemson needs to worry about one-loss Tennessee. The Vols’ wins against LSU and Alabama would be more impressive than Clemson’s wins against NC State, Florida State and UNC. The Tigers could also lose a résumé debate with one-loss USC. Their bigger problem, though, is that they’re already looking up at two two-loss teams, including Alabama.

5. Illinois at Michigan

Why it’s important: No, Illinois isn’t ranked, but the three-loss Illini are at least above .500, and that’s more than you can say for most of Michigan’s opponents. Because the only ranked win so far is against Penn State, and only the Nittany Lions, Maryland, Iowa, Illinois and UConn have winning records, Michigan needs to make the most of every opportunity it has against a respectable team in case it doesn’t beat No. 2 Ohio State. It’s not impossible for the loser of The Game to finish in the top four, but it would be more difficult for the Wolverines. The selection committee isn’t thrilled with Michigan’s schedule, which at No. 82 is easily the worst of any CFP contender. Michigan could face Illinois twice if they win their respective divisions and meet in the Big Ten championship game.

6. Ohio State at Maryland

Why it’s important: The Buckeyes haven’t clinched the East yet, and if they don’t beat Michigan in the regular-season finale, there’s zero chance Ohio State will finish in the top four if it can’t win in College Park. Ohio State has already struggled this season in bad weather against 1-9 Northwestern. Another ugly win could raise some eyebrows in the committee meeting room if Ohio State doesn’t win its division. Saturday will also give a glimpse into the health status of their two star running backs, TreVeyon Henderson and Miyan Williams, who have been injured and will be key to making a serious playoff run. Ohio State coach Ryan Day told reporters he wouldn’t know their statuses until Thursday. The selection committee considers injuries to key players, but so far, the Buckeyes have continued to piece it together but have relied heavily on their passing game.

7. Georgia at Kentucky

Why it’s important: What if LSU wins the SEC? It’s likely Georgia also finishes in the top four, but it’s not a guarantee — especially with Tennessee sitting there with a win over the SEC champs. The selection committee considers common opponents, and there is no example more critical than this one. Would the committee put in the team that lost to the SEC champs, and not the one that beat them? It’s not the only component, though. Head-to-head results also matter, and Georgia owned Tennessee in a game that was far more lopsided than the final score indicated. Georgia could continue to boost its case with a road win against a division opponent, and wouldn’t be a great look if the Bulldogs struggled against a team Vanderbilt just found a way to beat.

Anger index

There are just two weeks remaining in the regular season, which means we’ve got just three more sets of rankings to go before the committee retires to its underground lair to begin plotting against the Group of 5 for another offseason. This week’s CFP Top 25 offered few surprises. If anyone expected the committee to challenge conventional wisdom, they were sorely disappointed. But that doesn’t mean no one has cause for frustration in the aftermath of the release. This is college football, after all. Anger is the default setting. So, let’s get to this week’s Anger Index.

1. Washington Huskies (8-2)

We talk a lot about résumé when it comes to the College Football Playoff rankings, but we rarely define what exactly a good résumé looks like. So, here’s one suggestion:

• At least one win vs. a very good to great opponent (in the top 10% of FBS teams) to prove you can play with the best of the best.

• Three or more wins against good teams (in the top one-third of FBS teams) to prove you can survive the week-in, week-out grind.

• Two or more wins in true road games to show you can go into a hostile environment and hold your own.

Add those three things up, package them with a sterling win-loss record, and you’ve got a resumé worthy of playoff consideration.

So, who fits that bill right now?

As of this week, there are nine teams. Eight of them are ranked among the top nine teams in the country (No. 1 Georgia, No. 2 Ohio State, No. 3 Michigan, No. 4 TCU, No. 5 Tennessee, No. 6 LSU, No. 8 Alabama and No. 9 Clemson).

The ninth team? That’d be the Washington Huskies, who check in at a less-than-exciting No. 17 in this week’s rankings, behind four other Pac-12 teams, including two-loss Utah at No. 10 and two-loss UCLA at No. 16 as well as two-loss Oregon, ranked five spots higher, despite losing last week at home to… Washington!

So, why does the committee dismiss the Huskies? It’s all about style points.

Washington led Michigan State 39-10 in the second half, but the game finished 39-28.

The Huskies were up 30-7 on Stanford at the end of the third quarter, but the Cardinal rallied late for a 40-22 loss.

They were up 42-24 on Arizona in the second half, too, but that game ended 49-39.

Essentially, Washington has gone up big then gone on autopilot, and the end result is a handful of wins against lackluster opponents that look entirely mediocre.

Well, that and the loss to Arizona State. How can anyone explain that one? A pick six? Three turnovers on downs? Some sort of voodoo curse? Your guess is as good as ours.

The first eight teams we included here are 23-0 against the bottom half of FBS teams (per FPI) and have an average margin of victory of 40 points.

Washington is 4-1 and has won by an average of 10 points.

But is it reasonable to judge Washington by what it did against Arizona State when we’ve witnessed the Huskies toppled Oregon in Eugene?

The Pac-12 is essentially a five-team stalemate right now, so a lot can change. But there’s really very little case for Washington as the fourth of those five teams, and if we simply look at the credits rather than the debits on the Huskies’ resumé, there’s actually a fairly strong case for putting them at the top of the heap.

2. The ACC

Clearly the committee is not a fan of the ACC, despite the league’s nine teams with six wins or better already. That pesky Notre Dame deal, which keeps leading to ugly losses for the league and no salvation from realignment from the Irish is a real problem.

This week’s rankings put the ACC in a bit of a bind. Clemson is ranked No. 9, the lowest by any of the supposed playoff contenders, a spot behind two-loss Alabama. Yes, Clemson’s résumé is far superior to, say, No. 7 USC. And yes, Clemson beat a Florida State team that beat two-loss LSU (ranked three spots higher). And yes, the Tigers rebounded nicely from the Notre Dame loss last week with an emphatic win over Louisville. But the committee isn’t buying, which means the Tigers can win out and still be at the bottom of the conference champion pecking order.

That’s doubly true for North Carolina. Here’s a quick comparison:

Team A: 9-1, No. 11 strength of record, No. 75 strength of schedule, road loss to ranked team, Heisman contender QB, shaky defense, former Big 12 coaching great at the helm, sort of a wine-and-cheese fan base.

Team B: 9-1, No. 10 strength of record, No. 65 strength of schedule, road loss to a ranked team, Heisman contender at QB, former Big 12 coaching great at the helm, sort of a wine-and-cheese fan base.

Not much separating the two, right? And yet, six spots separate Team A (North Carolina) from Team B (USC) in the rankings.

3. Everyone outside the Big Ten

Ohio State is No. 2. Michigan is No. 3. Both, by any eye test or statistical metric, are very good teams.

And yet, look at the résumés.

Michigan beat Penn State. It’s next best win is by a touchdown at home vs. Maryland. Seven of its 10 wins are against teams .500 or worse (and the other is Iowa, which… sorry, we fell asleep while typing Iowa.)

Ohio State beat Penn State. It’s next best win was a rather unimpressive affair in the opener against Notre Dame. In Big Ten play, the best team the Buckeyes have beaten is… sorry, we nodded off again thinking about Iowa.

So the lynchpin for both teams to be ranked in the top three is Penn State. And yet, Penn State’s best wins are Purdue, Auburn and Minnesota — all unranked.

None of this is to suggest Michigan and Ohio State aren’t two of the three best teams in the country. They may well be. But even before the season began, it was obvious the path to get here was just a two-step process: Beat Penn State, meet up in Columbus on Nov. 26.

Must be nice.

How a 12-team playoff would look

Everyone with the power to expand the College Football Playoff wants the field to grow to 12 teams in time for the 2024 season.

But currently, expansion is scheduled to begin in 2026. So while discussions continue on how to move up the timeline, we’re taking a look at how a 12-team playoff would look today based on the already-determined model released by the commissioners and presidents.

The field will be composed of the selection committee’s six highest-ranked conference champions and its next six highest-ranked teams. The four highest-ranked conference champions will earn the top seeds and a first-round bye. The other eight teams will play in the first round, with the higher seeds hosting the lower seeds on campus or at another site of their choice.

Here’s what the playoff would look like if the 12-team format were in place today:

Seeds with byes

1. Georgia
2. Ohio State
3. TCU
4. USC

Remaining seeds
(conference champs in bold)

5. Michigan
6. Tennessee
7. LSU
8. Alabama
9. Clemson
10. Utah
11. Penn State
12. UCF

First-round games

No. 12 UCF at No. 5 Michigan
No. 11 Penn State at No. 6 Tennessee
No. 10 Utah at No. 7 LSU
No. 9 Clemson at No. 8 Alabama

Quarterfinal games

No. 9 Clemson-No. 8 Alabama winner vs. No. 1 Georgia
No. 10 Utah-No. 7 LSU winner vs. No. 2 Ohio State
No. 11 Penn State-No. 6 Tennessee winner vs. No. 3 TCU
No. 12 UCF-No. 5 Michigan winner vs. No. 4 USC

Top résumés

1. Georgia

Record: 10-0 | SOS: 44 | SOR: 2
Biggest win: Nov. 5 vs. Tennessee 27-13
Biggest remaining regular-season game: Saturday at Kentucky
Last playoff appearance: 2022 CFP National championship, No. 3 Georgia 33, No. 1 Alabama 18

No. 2 Ohio State

Record: 10-0 | SOS: 60 | SOR: 4
Biggest win: Oct. 29 at Penn State 44-31
Biggest remaining regular-season game: Nov. 26 vs. Michigan
Last playoff appearance: 2021 CFP National Championship, No. 1 Alabama 52, No. 3 Ohio State 24

No. 3 Michigan

Record: 10-0 | SOS: 82 | SOR: 5
Biggest win: Oct. 15 vs. Penn State 41-17
Biggest remaining regular-season game: Nov. 26 at Ohio State
Last playoff appearance: 2022 Playoff Semifinal at the Orange Bowl, No. 3 Georgia 34, No. 2 Michigan 11

No. 4 TCU

Record: 10-0 | SOS: 38 | SOR: 1
Biggest win: Oct. 22 vs. Texas 17-10
Biggest remaining regular-season game: Saturday at Baylor
Last playoff appearance: Never

No. 5 Tennessee

Record: 9-1 | SOS: 3 | SOR: 3
Biggest win: Oct. 8 at LSU 40-13
Biggest remaining regular-season game: Saturday at South Carolina
Last playoff appearance: Never

No. 6 LSU

Record: 8-2 | SOS: 11 | SOR: 7
Biggest win: Nov. 5 vs. Alabama 32-31
Biggest remaining regular-season game: Nov. 26 at Texas A&M
Last playoff appearance: 2020 CFP National Championship: No. 1 LSU 42, No. 3 Clemson 25

No. 7 USC

Record: 9-1 | SOS: 65 | SOR: 10
Biggest win: Sept. 24 at Oregon State 17-14
Biggest remaining regular-season game: Saturday at UCLA
Last playoff appearance: Never

No. 8 Clemson

Record: 9-1 | SOS: 55 | SOR: 8
Biggest win: Oct. 1 vs. NC State 30-20
Biggest remaining regular-season game: Nov. 26 vs. South Carolina
Last playoff appearance: 2021 Playoff Semifinal at the Sugar Bowl, No. 3 Ohio State 49, No. 2 Clemson 28

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ESPN Football Recruiting – 300 Player Rankings

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8 hours ago

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April 9, 2025

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ESPN Football Recruiting - 300 Player Rankings

RK PLAYER POS HOMETOWN HT WT STARS GRADE SCHOOL

1 DT Baton Rouge, LA
University Laboratory School 6’5” 285 93

2 DE Baltimore, MD
St. Frances Academy 6’4” 220 92

3 OT Nixa, MO
Nixa High School 6’8” 315 92

4 WR Santa Ana, CA
Mater Dei High School 6’6” 200 92

5 QB-PP Nashville, TN
Nashville Christian School 6’4” 225 92

6 QB-PP Plantation, FL
American Heritage High School 6’3” 215 91

7 RB Hollywood, FL
Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory School 6’2” 205 91

8 QB-PP Greensboro, NC
Grimsley High School 6’4” 195 91

9 DE Tupelo, MS
Tupelo High School 6’7” 260 91

10 WR Hattiesburg, MS
Hattiesburg High School 6’3” 190 91

11 TE-Y Reidsville, NC
Reidsville High School 6’6” 250 90

12 OT North Bethesda, MD
Georgetown Prep 6’7” 350 90

13 OLB Loganville, GA
Grayson High School 6’2” 215 90

14 ATH Spring Valley, CA
Mount Miguel High School 6’1” 180 90

15 CB Akron, OH
Archbishop Hoban High School 5’11” 180 90

16 ATH Spring, TX
Legacy The School of Sport Sciences 6’3” 185 90

17 OT Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 6’8” 325 90

18 DE Chatsworth, CA
Sierra Canyon High School 6’5” 245 90

19 TE-H Bowdon, GA
Bowdon High School 6’7” 210 90

20 OT Mansfield, TX
Lake Ridge High School 6’7” 285 90

21 DE Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 6’3” 235 90

22 S Las Vegas, NV
Bishop Gorman High School 6’5” 200 88

23 WR DeSoto, TX
DeSoto High School 6’1” 180 88

24 TE-H Santa Ana, CA
Mater Dei High School 6’5” 225 88

25 OLB Mobile, AL
Saint Paul’s Episcopal School 6’4” 220 88

26 WR Miami, FL
Miami Northwestern High School 6’6” 190 87

27 RB Mineral, VA
Louisa County High School 6’0” 200 87

28 CB Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Rancho Cucamonga High School 6’0” 185 86

29 OLB Gainesville, GA
Gainesville High School 6’4” 205 86

30 S Baltimore, MD
St. Frances Academy 6’3” 210 86

31 RB Jackson, AL
Jackson High School 5’11” 210 86

32 S Flowood, MS
Hartfield Academy 6’0” 200 86

33 TE-Y Saint George, UT
Pine View High School 6’7” 240 86

34 S Baton Rouge, LA
Catholic High School 6’1” 205 85

35 ATH Ogden, UT
Fremont High School 6’2” 175 85

36 RB Frisco, TX
Lone Star High School 6’1” 190 85

37 OT Santa Ana, CA
Mater Dei High School 6’6” 290 85

38 CB Marietta, GA
Sprayberry High School 6’3” 180 85

39 OLB Tavares, FL
Tavares High School 6’1” 215 85

40 DT Suwanee, GA
Collins Hill High School 6’2” 280 85

41 OLB Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 6’2” 220 85

42 CB Fort Lauderdale, FL
Saint Thomas Aquinas High School 6’1” 185 85

43 OLB Jacksonville, FL
The Bolles School 6’2” 195 85

44 OT Fort Worth, TX
North Crowley High School 6’4” 305 84

45 QB-PP Newbury Park, CA
Newbury Park High School 6’5” 210 84

46 S Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 5’11” 195 84

47 OT Vero Beach, FL
Vero Beach Senior High School 6’6” 320 84

48 WR Alexander City, AL
Benjamin Russell High School 6’4” 210 84

49 CB Sarasota, FL
Booker High School 6’2” 175 84

50 QB-PP Folsom, CA
Folsom High School 6’2” 205 84

51 OT Durham, NC
South Garner High School 6’6” 270 84

52 WR Knoxville, TN
Knoxville Catholic High School 5’11” 175 84

53 DE Picayune, MS
Picayune Memorial High School 6’5” 250 84

54 OLB Orange, CA
Orange Lutheran High School 6’4” 215 84

55 DT Buford, GA
Buford High School 6’2” 255 84

56 CB Toledo, OH
Central Catholic High School 6’0” 165 84

57 DE Charlotte, NC
Myers Park High School 6’4” 220 84

58 WR Morton, MS
Morton High School 6’3” 160 84

59 DE Douglasville, GA
Douglas County High School 6’3” 235 84

60 TE-H Great Bend, KS
Great Bend High School 6’6” 210 84

61 DE Pensacola, FL
Pensacola Catholic High School 6’4” 220 84

62 WR Cartersville, GA
Cartersville High School 6’1” 185 84

63 CB Westlake Village, CA
Oaks Christian High School 6’0” 180 84

64 WR Destrehan, LA
Destrehan High School 6’0” 200 84

65 CB Gadsden, AL
Gadsden High School 6’0” 175 84

66 WR Knoxville, TN
Webb School Of Knoxville 6’4” 195 84

67 OT Mechanicsburg, PA
Cumberland Valley High School 6’7” 335 84

68 WR Jackson, AL
Jackson High School 6’4” 190 84

69 CB Baltimore, MD
Loyola Blakefield High School 6’2” 175 83

70 QB-PP Tampa, FL
Jesuit High School 6’4” 230 83

71 WR Richmond, VA
Trinity Episcopal School 6’2” 200 83

72 CB Chatsworth, CA
Sierra Canyon High School 6’2” 170 83

73 OT Richmond, VA
St. Christopher’s School 6’4” 290 83

74 DT Santa Ana, CA
Mater Dei High School 6’3” 295 83

75 RB Cibolo, TX
Byron P. Steele II High School 6’1” 210 83

76 OT Charlotte, NC
Providence Day School 6’6” 280 83

77 WR Douglasville, GA
Douglas County High School 6’3” 180 83

78 OT Orange, CA
Orange Lutheran High School 6’5” 295 83

79 CB Los Angeles, CA
Loyola High School 6’3” 165 83

80 OT Harrisburg, PA
Harrisburg High School 6’5” 245 83

81 RB Forney, TX
Forney High School 5’9” 190 83

82 DT Cherry Valley, AR
Cross County High School 6’4” 300 83

83 TE-H Fairburn, GA
Langston Hughes High School 6’5” 215 83

84 CB Carrollton, GA
Carrollton High School 6’1” 175 83

85 DE Sarasota, FL
Cardinal Mooney High School 6’4” 255 83

86 OT Gonzales, LA
East Ascension High School 6’6” 280 83

87 CB Goodyear, AZ
Desert Edge High School 6’1” 180 83

88 DE Washington, DC
Gonzaga College High School 6’6” 220 83

89 RB Texarkana, TX
Texas High School 5’10” 180 83

90 DT Eugene, OR
Willamette High School 6’5” 275 83

91 RB Valencia, CA
Valencia High School 6’0” 185 83

92 DE Gainesville, GA
Gainesville High School 6’3” 255 83

93 DT New Orleans, LA
Edna Karr High School 6’4” 345 83

94 CB Brandon, MS
Brandon High School 5’11” 180 83

95 RB Painesville, OH
Thomas W. Harvey High School 5’10” 205 83

96 DE Temple, TX
Temple High School 6’5” 235 83

97 WR Mission Viejo, CA
Mission Viejo High School 5’10” 170 83

98 CB Cornelius, NC
Hough High School 6’0” 185 83

99 OT Avon Lake, OH
Avon Lake High School 6’5” 265 83

100 S Rock Hill, SC
South Pointe High School 6’4” 205 83

101 CB Richmond, VA
Hermitage High School 6’2” 170 83

102 WR Jacksonville, FL
The Bolles School 6’0” 175 83

103 ATH Wyndmoor, PA
La Salle College High School 6’4” 180 83

104 DE Princeton, NJ
The Hun School Of Princeton 6’4” 235 83

105 QB-DT Jackson, AL
Jackson High School 6’3” 195 83

106 DT Highland, UT
Lone Peak High School 6’5” 275 83

107 RB Carthage, TX
Carthage High School 5’10” 180 83

108 WR Plantation, FL
American Heritage High School 6’0” 170 83

109 ATH Frisco, TX
Panther Creek High School 6’0” 170 83

110 WR Chesapeake, VA
Oscar Frommel Smith High School 6’4” 180 83

111 RB De Kalb, MS
Kemper County High School 5’10” 195 82

112 WR Aledo, TX
Aledo High School 6’1” 195 82

113 QB-PP Mustang, OK
Mustang High School 6’3” 215 82

114 DT Richardson, TX
Richardson High School 6’4” 290 82

115 WR Mansfield, TX
Mansfield High School 6’3” 180 82

116 DT Clemmons, NC
West Forsyth High School 6’4” 305 82

117 WR Mineral, VA
Louisa County High School 6’0” 175 82

118 RB Westlake Village, CA
Oaks Christian High School 5’10” 185 82

119 WR Carrollton, GA
Carrollton High School 6’3” 210 82

120 ATH Detroit, MI
Cass Technical High School 5’10” 175 82

121 OG San Francisco, CA
Archbishop Riordan High School 6’6” 340 82

122 WR Naples, FL
First Baptist Academy 6’4” 200 82

123 DT Miami, FL
Miami Northwestern High School 6’3” 275 82

124 OT Clearwater, FL
Clearwater High School 6’5” 260 82

125 OLB Wadley, AL
Wadley High School 6’4” 220 82

126 S New Orleans, LA
Edna Karr High School 6’2” 195 82

127 WR Potomac, MD
Bullis School 6’1” 190 82

128 S Roebuck, SC
Dorman High School 6’2” 185 82

129 RB Moultrie, GA
Colquitt County High School 5’11” 200 82

130 WR Douglasville, GA
Douglas County High School 6’1” 175 82

131 DE Jemison, AL
Jemison High School 6’5” 220 82

132 OLB Torrance, CA
Bishop Montgomery High School 6’2” 205 82

133 DE Arlington, TX
James Martin High School 6’5” 230 82

134 CB Brownsville, TN
Haywood High School 6’0” 165 82

135 RB Harrisburg, PA
Harrisburg High School 5’11” 200 82

136 ILB West Palm Beach, FL
Cardinal Newman High School 6’2” 210 82

137 DE Columbus, GA
Carver High School 6’4” 220 82

138 TE-H Dunlap, IL
Dunlap High School 6’5” 220 82

139 OLB Auburn, AL
Auburn High School 6’2” 205 82

140 RB Carrollton, GA
Central High School 5’10” 200 82

141 TE-H Lexington, OH
Lexington High School 6’3” 220 82

142 OLB Miami, FL
Carol City High School 6’2” 220 82

143 DE Matthews, NC
Weddington High School 6’3” 250 82

144 WR Charlotte, NC
Providence Day School 6’3” 185 82

145 DE Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
Santa Margarita Catholic High School 6’5” 250 82

146 OLB Matthews, NC
Weddington High School 6’2” 210 82

147 WR Coconut Creek, FL
Monarch High School 6’2” 205 82

148 DE Duncanville, TX
Duncanville High School 6’4” 240 82

149 WR Saint Augustine, FL
Saint Augustine High School 6’2” 180 82

150 DT Bastrop, TX
Bastrop High School 6’3” 265 82

151 S McDonald, PA
Fort Cherry High School 6’0” 180 82

152 OLB Marietta, GA
Kell High School 6’3” 200 82

153 S Leesburg, GA
Lee County High School 6’3” 175 82

154 TE-Y Mount Zion, IL
Mount Zion High School 6’6” 235 82

155 OT Washington Court House, OH
Miami Trace High School 6’7” 280 82

156 QB-DT Frankfort, IL
Lincoln-Way East High School 6’2” 200 82

157 RB Delaware, OH
Rutherford B. Hayes High School 6’0” 195 82

158 QB-DT Del Valle, TX
Del Valle High School 6’0” 190 82

159 TE-H Newberry, SC
Newberry High School 6’4” 215 82

160 S Manhattan, KS
Manhattan High School 6’3” 190 82

161 DE Saint Louis, MO
De Smet Jesuit High School 6’5” 240 82

162 S Winter Park, FL
Winter Park High School 6’3” 170 82

163 OG Exeter, NH
Phillips Exeter Academy 6’5” 285 82

164 QB-PP Lake Mary, FL
Lake Mary High School 6’4” 220 82

165 OLB Santa Ana, CA
Mater Dei High School 6’3” 240 82

166 ILB Lakeland, FL
Lakeland High School 6’1” 225 82

167 ATH Chicago, IL
Morgan Park High School 6’0” 180 81

168 RB Fairburn, GA
Langston Hughes High School 6’1” 195 81

169 OT Lexington, MS
Holmes County Central High School 6’4” 295 81

170 ATH Buford, GA
Buford High School 6’0” 195 81

171 ILB Mobile, AL
Cottage Hill Christian Academy 6’3” 215 81

172 WR Pearland, TX
Shadow Creek High School 6’0” 180 81

173 ATH Vero Beach, FL
Vero Beach Senior High School 6’2” 165 81

174 OG Prosper, TX
Prosper High School 6’3” 280 81

175 CB Avon, OH
Avon High School 5’10” 180 81

176 DT Oradell, NJ
Bergen Catholic High 6’6” 270 81

177 WR Willis, TX
Willis High School 6’0” 165 81

178 OT Brunswick, GA
Brunswick High School 6’5” 265 81

179 DT Petal, MS
Petal High School 6’6” 300 81

180 WR Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
Santa Margarita Catholic High School 5’10” 170 81

181 OLB Cleveland, OH
Glenville High School 6’3” 225 81

182 DE Thomasville, GA
Thomas County Central High School 6’3” 230 81

183 S Milton, FL
Milton High School 6’3” 200 81

184 DT Monroe, LA
Ouachita Parish High School 6’3” 330 81

185 OLB McMurray, PA
Peters Township High School 6’3” 230 81

186 OG Cartersville, GA
Cass High School 6’4” 305 81

187 OT Tampa, FL
Berkeley Prep 6’6” 280 81

188 CB Waco, TX
Connally High School 6’2” 165 81

189 DE Las Vegas, NV
Bishop Gorman High School 6’3” 250 81

190 OG Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 6’6” 295 81

191 WR San Antonio, TX
James Madison High School 6’3” 200 81

192 OT Sarasota, FL
Cardinal Mooney High School 6’5” 340 81

193 QB-PP Downey, CA
Downey High School 6’3” 175 81

194 WR Bronx, NY
James Monroe High School 6’1” 185 81

195 OT Virginia Beach, VA
Green Run High School 6’7” 275 81

196 DT Decatur, GA
Southwest DeKalb High School 6’6” 285 81

197 OG Kennesaw, GA
North Cobb High School 6’4” 340 81

198 S Oradell, NJ
Bergen Catholic High 6’1” 180 81

199 QB-PP San Marcos, CA
Mission Hills High School 6’4” 200 81

200 DE Rolesville, NC
Rolesville High School 6’6” 230 81

201 OT Bauxite, AR
Bauxite High School 6’7” 325 81

202 DT Birmingham, AL
A. H. Parker High School 6’3” 305 81

203 OG Klein, TX
Klein High School 6’4” 325 81

204 WR Harrisburg, PA
Harrisburg High School 6’3” 190 81

205 OLB Bogart, GA
North Oconee High School 6’4” 225 81

206 S Warner Robins, GA
Houston County High School 6’2” 185 81

207 ATH Honey Grove, TX
Honey Grove High School 5’10” 175 81

208 OG Flower Mound, TX
Flower Mound High School 6’4” 290 81

209 WR New Orleans, LA
McDonogh 35 High School 6’0” 160 81

210 DE Burien, WA
John F. Kennedy High School 6’6” 250 81

211 RB Dallas, TX
Lake Highlands High School 6’1” 205 81

212 ILB Lewis Center, OH
Olentangy High School 6’3” 225 81

213 OT Portage, MI
Portage Northern High School 6’5” 260 81

214 RB Spartanburg, SC
Mountain View Preparatory 5’10” 210 81

215 CB Tuskegee, AL
Booker T. Washington High School 6’0” 165 81

216 OT Chicago, IL
Mount Carmel High School 6’6” 310 81

217 CB Windermere, FL
Windermere Prep 6’0” 165 81

218 ATH Tuskegee, AL
Booker T. Washington High School 6’5” 200 81

219 CB Jonesboro, GA
Jonesboro High School 6’0” 175 81

220 S Boca Raton, FL
West Boca Raton High School 6’3” 190 81

221 WR Santa Ana, CA
Mater Dei High School 6’2” 185 81

222 TE-H Visalia, CA
Redwood High School 6’5” 205 81

223 ATH Baltimore, MD
Milford Mill Academy 5’11” 180 81

224 WR Carrollton, GA
Walton High School 6’4” 190 81

225 OG Draper, UT
Corner Canyon High School 6’4” 295 81

226 WR Leakesville, MS
Greene County High School 6’2” 190 81

227 DE Irmo, SC
Dutch Fork High School 6’5” 230 81

228 OT Waterloo, IA
West High School 6’7” 270 81

229 DE Garner, NC
South Garner High School 6’4” 220 81

230 OG Orlando, FL
Lake Minneola High School 6’4” 290 81

231 S Windermere, FL
First Academy 6’2” 190 81

232 TE-H Old Hickory, TN
Donelson Christian Academy 6’6” 220 81

233 DE Duncanville, TX
Duncanville High School 6’4” 235 81

234 DT Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 6’1” 315 81

235 DE Cross Plains, TN
East Robertson High School 6’4” 220 81

236 WR Bossier City, LA
Airline High School 6’0” 180 81

237 QB-DT Nazareth, PA
Nazareth Senior High School 6’5” 205 81

238 OT Leesburg, VA
Loudoun County High School 6’5” 275 81

239 QB-DT Kentwood, MI
East Kentwood High School 6’2” 190 81

240 WR Bluffton, SC
Bluffton High School 6’4” 200 81

241 S Cocoa, FL
Cocoa High School 6’1” 180 81

242 WR Iowa Colony, TX
Iowa Colony High School 6’2” 185 81

243 DT Jackson, MS
Jackson Academy 6’2” 315 81

244 WR Bellflower, CA
St. John Bosco High School 6’2” 190 81

245 OLB Princeton, WV
Princeton Senior High School 6’2” 225 81

246 QB-PP Wayne, NJ
DePaul Catholic High School 6’1” 200 80

247 DE Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth Christian High School 6’3” 245 80

248 DT Clayton, NC
Clayton High School 6’4” 260 80

249 DE Naperville, IL
Naperville North High School 6’2” 240 80

250 OT Cold Spring, MN
Rocori High School 6’6” 275 80

251 WR Red Oak, TX
Red Oak High School 5’9” 165 80

252 CB New Orleans, LA
Edna Karr High School 6’2” 175 80

253 WR Savannah, GA
Benedictine Military High School 5’10” 180 80

254 DT Owasso, OK
Owasso High School 6’3” 275 80

255 WR Norman, OK
Norman North High School 5’11” 175 80

256 DT Fort Myers, FL
Fort Myers High School 6’4” 270 80

257 DE Gardena, CA
Junipero Serra High School 6’4” 245 80

258 CB Seffner, FL
Armwood High School 6’1” 175 80

259 DE Irvine, CA
Crean Lutheran High School 6’2” 270 80

260 CB Duluth, GA
Duluth High School 6’0” 195 80

261 DE Chicago, IL
Simeon Career Academy 6’5” 230 80

262 S Homestead, FL
Miami Northwestern High School 6’4” 180 80

263 OG Toms River, NJ
Monsignor Donovan High School 6’5” 290 80

264 QB-DT Celina, TX
Celina High School 6’1” 205 80

265 DT Eugene, OR
Willamette High School 6’3” 305 80

266 QB-DT Queen Creek, AZ
Queen Creek High School 6’2” 205 80

267 OLB Jackson, MS
Jackson Academy 6’2” 225 80

268 WR Sarasota, FL
Booker High School 6’0” 180 80

269 OT Akron, OH
Archbishop Hoban High School 6’7” 305 80

270 WR Wolfforth, TX
Frenship High School 5’11” 175 80

271 OT Honolulu, HI
Kamehameha Schools 6’6” 310 80

272 DT Calypso, NC
North Duplin High School 6’3” 310 80

273 RB Boca Raton, FL
West Boca Raton High School 6’1” 205 80

274 DE Miami, FL
Miami Southridge Senior High School 6’5” 210 80

275 WR Gainesville, FL
Buchholz High School 5’11” 190 80

276 OLB Venice, FL
Venice High School 6’2” 225 80

277 ILB Carthage, TX
Carthage High School 6’1” 215 80

278 OG Goodyear, AZ
Desert Edge High School 6’5” 315 80

279 S Miami Lakes, FL
Goleman High School 6’0” 190 80

280 OT Fruitland, ID
Fruitland High School 6’5” 270 80

281 OG Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 6’4” 330 80

282 OT Clarksville, TN
Kirkwood High School 6’6” 245 80

283 TE-H Jacksonville, FL
The Bolles School 6’4” 220 80

284 OLB Newnan, GA
Newnan High School 6’1” 210 80

285 OG Pace, FL
Pace High School 6’4” 300 80

286 S Jonesboro, GA
Jonesboro High School 6’0” 185 80

287 OLB Loganville, GA
Grayson High School 6’2” 195 80

288 OT Prosper, TX
Prosper High School 6’4” 270 80

289 WR Hollywood, FL
Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory School 6’1” 185 80

290 OG Davison, MI
Davison High School 6’6” 320 80

291 OT Prosper, TX
Prosper High School 6’5” 265 80

292 DT Richland, NJ
Saint Augustine Prep 6’2” 275 80

293 ILB Lawndale, CA
Leuzinger High School 6’4” 230 80

294 OT Hemingway, SC
Carvers Bay High School 6’5” 295 80

295 WR Pataskala, OH
Watkins Memorial High School 6’0” 190 80

296 OG Willis, TX
Willis High School 6’4” 300 80

297 TE-H Billings, MT
Billings West High School 6’4” 230 80

298 DE Rogers, AR
Rogers High School 6’2” 230 80

299 S Pascagoula, MS
Pascagoula High School 6’2” 185 80

300 WR Powder Springs, GA
McEachern High School 6’3” 210 80

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Auburn’s Freeze ‘at peace’ with cancer diagnosis

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9 hours ago

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April 9, 2025

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Auburn's Freeze 'at peace' with cancer diagnosis

  • Chris LowApr 8, 2025, 08:53 PM ET

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    • College football reporter
    • Joined ESPN.com in 2007
    • Graduate of the University of Tennessee

AUBURN, Ala. — About three months after his second straight losing season at Auburn, Hugh Freeze found out in February that he had prostate cancer.

“At the time, the only thing you hear is that ‘C’ word,'” Freeze told ESPN on Tuesday.

Admittedly rattled, and more scared for his family than anything else, Freeze has since settled on a course of treatment, and after getting some encouraging news recently from doctors that his form of cancer was low aggressive, he has decided to wait until January and let doctors reexamine his situation instead of having surgery.

“I’m only 55. We’re a family of faith, and I just didn’t feel like it was time to rush into surgery,” Freeze said. “I’m at peace with it.”

The same goes for his football team as Freeze enters his third season on the Plains. He’s by no means content with the results the past two seasons — and neither is he naïve about the lack of patience within the realm of SEC football — but Freeze was outspoken when he arrived that it would take three full recruiting classes to get Auburn back into championship contention. His first two have both been top-10 classes nationally.

“I think it’s as settled as we’ve been as a program, the continuity of our staff, the pieces of our staff that we’ve added and what we’ve been able to do in building our roster in high school recruiting and in the portal,” Freeze said. “Now, we’ve got to go compete and win some more games, but I don’t feel any sense of panic.

“We’re on our way to getting where we want to be and where we should be.”

Auburn last had a winning season in 2020, when it was 6-5, and has won more than eight games only twice (2017 and 2019) since playing for the national championship in 2013. The Tigers finished 5-7 last season.

Freeze said the support and commitment from Auburn chancellor Christopher Roberts and athletic director John Cohen couldn’t be stronger, and in the world of name, image and likeness, Auburn is going all-in on locking in key players financially. The payroll for the 2025 roster will exceed $20 million.

One of the key acquisitions was quarterback Jackson Arnold, who transferred from Oklahoma. Arnold was ESPN’s No. 2-ranked dual-threat quarterback prospect in the 2023 signing class, but he was benched for part of last season after some early struggles.

“One hundred percent, I needed a reset,” Arnold said. “It was just time to move on. I needed to go to a place where I was going to put myself in a better position. I’m never going to say anything bad about OU or any of the people there, but it just wasn’t a fit. And as the season went on, maybe it was them losing confidence in me or whatever, but I never doubted that I could play at this level and win at this level.”

Arnold said it was especially important to him to play for an offensive-minded head coach and one with a history of coaching and developing quarterbacks. Freeze said he plans to call the majority of the plays this season (although new offensive coordinator Derrick Nix might call some), and Freeze said he will spend more time with the quarterbacks on the practice field this fall.

“[Quarterbacks coach] Kent Austin is great,” Freeze said. “From fundamentals and coverage recognition and all that, he’s better than I am, but I think it’s vital that they’re hearing my thoughts, and I just think this fall it would be even more vital that Jackson is hearing my thoughts.”

As spring practice winds down this week for Auburn, Arnold said his rapport with the receivers grows stronger every practice. And for Freeze, he said he has seen a “monumental difference” in the receivers, particularly with the addition of transfers Eric Singleton Jr. from Georgia Tech and Horatio Fields from Wake Forest.

“We’ve got more depth, and there’s a maturity factor, too,” Freeze said. “I know quarterbacks take the brunt of the deal, but there were times that [last year’s starter] Payton [Thorne] was ready to pull the trigger on something that should have been there and we didn’t run the right depth of a route or the right route.”

Cam Coleman, who averaged 16.2 yards per catch and had eight touchdown receptions a year ago as one of the more heralded true freshman receivers in the country, said his emphasis has been more consistency. He said the entire receiving corps has taken on a leadership role to push each other and hold each other accountable, which wasn’t necessarily the case a year ago.

“Every receiver brings something different to the table, and our identity is we’re going to catch anything and everything, by any means as possible,” Coleman said. “That’s no matter if we make the quarterback look good or the quarterback makes us look good. We’re going catch the ball and make things happen.”

Singleton’s speed should complement Coleman’s ability to win one-on-one battles down the field, and Malcolm Simmons is equally explosive. He returns for his sophomore season after catching 40 passes last season. The 6-3 Coleman said he’s up to 205 pounds.

“Good luck. That’s all I can tell anybody trying to cover him,” Singleton said of Coleman.

Arnold said his role is to come in and “play point guard” and that Freeze also likes his ability to extend plays. The Tigers struggled mightily to score last season. They finished 14th in the SEC in scoring offense (19.1 points per game) and were 13th in third-down conversions, while scoring just six rushing touchdowns in eight SEC games. But they did move the ball on offense and finished second in the league in yards per play (6.67 yards). Three of their seven losses last season were by a touchdown or less.

What plagued the Tigers were crippling turnovers, coming up empty on key third downs and not being able to finish drives — or even make field goals. They were 8-of-17 on field goal attempts in SEC play, but the good news is that regular kicker Alex McPherson is back after missing almost the entire past season a with gastrointestinal issues.

“We’re all in this together, and I know for a fact these coaches believe in me and they know I can do it, and in turn, I’ve been able to play a lot more,” Arnold said. “Mistakes are going to happen. No one’s going to be perfect, but my confidence is really high right now. I’m playing free and just being myself.”

Even with the cancer diagnosis, Freeze has also felt a sense of freedom. His players have seen it up close and personal.

“He’s out here every day, and it gives the whole team the sense that he cares, and that whatever he’s going through, he’s going to push through,” junior defensive end Keldric Faulk said. “It gives us the confidence to just ride behind him.

“The only difference I see is that he’s brought way more energy, and it’s contagious to the whole team.”

Freeze would tend to agree that his cancer diagnosis has helped him to narrow his focus, although life as an SEC head football coach tends to have that effect naturally.

“I don’t know. I think as much as anything it’s just been a reminder that every day is a gift, and man, I’m going to give my best to these kids, my family and our fans,” Freeze said. “That’s what I should be concerned about.”

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Northwestern working to settle hazing lawsuits

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April 9, 2025

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Northwestern working to settle hazing lawsuits

  • Adam RittenbergApr 8, 2025, 10:53 AM ET

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      College football reporter; joined ESPN in 2008. Graduate of Northwestern University.

Northwestern is finalizing settlements with former athletes who filed hazing-related lawsuits against the university and former coach Pat Fitzgerald, whose $130 million wrongful termination lawsuit against the school is set to go to trial in November.

In a motion filed last week, requesting a continuation of the trial date in Fitzgerald’s claim, Northwestern stated it recently began mediation with the athletes that resulted in an undisclosed settlement currently being finalized. Northwestern said athlete plaintiffs “will be witnesses in the ongoing litigation” involving Fitzgerald.

“While the terms of the provisional settlement are confidential, we intend to continue to work through the remaining outstanding issues to finalize a settlement that will hopefully allow both sides to move forward in a positive way,” attorneys Patrick Salvi and Parker Stinar, who are representing some of the former football players, said in a statement.

Fitzgerald’s attorneys on Tuesday said Northwestern’s motion for continuation was denied, and that the trial date for his case remains set for Nov. 3. They have repeatedly requested earlier trial dates so that Fitzgerald, fired in July 2023 for cause, can return to coaching college football.

“Coach Fitzgerald committed no wrongdoing,” Fitzgerald’s attorneys Dan Webb and Matthew Carter said in a statement. “Despite extensive written and testimonial discovery, there remains no evidence to show or suggest that Coach Fitzgerald was aware of any hazing at Northwestern. The discovery has thus confirmed what Northwestern said through President Michael Schill both before and after Coach Fitzgerald’s termination: that there is no evidence that Coach Fitzgerald was aware of any hazing.”

Dozens of former athletes filed hazing-related lawsuits against Northwestern and Fitzgerald in 2023 and 2024. They cited sexualized acts and other troubling rituals that occurred during Northwestern’s preseason training camp and at other times.

In last week’s filing, Northwestern said that after repeated requests, attorneys representing the athletes responded Jan. 29, noting that 81 athletes had relevant information. Northwestern said it had conducted six depositions and has 33 more scheduled, and has identified 40 former athletes to be witnesses in its defense against Fitzgerald’s claim, as well as non-plaintiffs “identified as having information related to the hazing and other conduct in the football program during Fitzgerald’s tenure.”

The school requested the continuation so it could finish depositions with athletes and depositions or document requests with approximately 70 “third-party” individuals identified as having relevant information, including many who live outside of Illinois.

Northwestern fired Fitzgerald three days after announcing a two-week offseason suspension for the coach, following the completion of a university-commissioned investigation into allegations of hazing from a sole football player in late 2022. The investigation found that hazing had occurred in the program but that there was no evidence Fitzgerald knew about what had happened.

The player went public with his allegations to The Daily Northwestern and then ESPN, and Schill ultimately fired Fitzgerald amid significant backlash. Fitzgerald had led the program since 2006 as is Northwestern’s all-time winningest coach and a two-time national defensive player of the year at linebacker.

Fitzgerald filed his lawsuit in October 2023, claiming that Northwestern violated a verbal contract by firing him for cause, after agreeing to the suspension following the conclusion of its own investigation. He also claimed Northwestern and Schill violated his written contract. He’s seeking $68 million that remained on his contract, which ran through 2030, as well as future earnings losses of approximately $62 million. Fitzgerald has been a volunteer assistant for his son’s high school team but has not re-entered college coaching.

“Coach Fitzgerald has proven himself a staunch advocate of student well-being, including consistently emphasizing a zero-tolerance policy on hazing,” Webb and Carter’s statement reads. “He implemented and maintained some of the strongest anti-hazing programs and policies in collegiate sports.”

They added that every Northwestern player signed a hazing policy form before being allowed to practice, and that his actions to prevent hazing were “fully integrated” into the program.

“He continues to assert that Northwestern illegally terminated his employment, violated an oral contract, and defamed him, causing significant damage to his sterling reputation,” the attorney statement reads.

Former Northwestern offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian also sued the school for defamation and spreading false information in the wake of the hazing scandal. Bajakian’s case has been consolidated with Fitzgerald’s and also could go to trial. Bajakian spent the 2024 season at Utah and is currently offensive coordinator at Massachusetts.

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