We’re going to have a College Football Playoff for the first time that doesn’t include Alabama or Clemson and one that does include TCU.
There are similar surprises on ESPN’s 2022 All-America team. Some of the players on everybody’s radar when the season began didn’t make it, and some players nobody was talking about prior to the season played their way onto the team.
The lasting image of Williams from the Pac-12 championship game is him limping around after popping a hamstring and doing his best on one leg to lead USC to victory. The Trojans lost to Utah and missed out on a playoff berth, but Williams put together an amazing season in winning the Heisman Trophy. He tied for the national lead with 37 touchdown passes and threw just four interceptions while also rushing for 10 touchdowns.
Robinson is the latest to join Texas’ esteemed running back fraternity. He was the nation’s only running back this season with more than 1,500 rushing yards and 300 receiving yards. The 6-foot junior beefed up to 222 pounds and was even more explosive. He rushed for at least 100 yards in nine of his last 10 games, including a pair of 200-yard games. Robinson had seven total plays (five rushing, two receiving) of at least 40 yards.
The epitome of a go-to running back, Corum was the main cog in a Michigan offense that ranked second nationally with 38 rushing touchdowns. The only thing that derailed him was a season-ending knee injury in November. The 5-8, 210-pound junior still rushed for 1,463 yards and 18 touchdowns, averaging 5.92 yards per rush. Corum had eight straight 100-yard rushing games before being limited to two carries against Ohio State.
Not only was Hyatt one of the most explosive players in college football; he also was one of the most improved. He tied for the national lead with 15 touchdown receptions after having just four touchdown catches in his first two seasons. The 6-foot, 185-pound Hyatt got bigger and stronger over the course of his career and had one of the more memorable performances of the season when he caught five touchdown passes in the Vols’ win over Alabama.
The wide receiver pipeline at Ohio State has been unbelievable. With Jaxon Smith-Njigba injured for much of the season, Harrison stepped right into the spotlight and was spectacular. He was the nation’s highest-graded receiver, according to Pro Football Focus, and tied for fourth nationally with 12 touchdown catches. The 6-4, 205-pound true sophomore had just two drops all season and was at his best on contested catches.
Tight end was one of the hardest positions to pick this season because there were so many good ones. But Bowers gets the nod as the country’s most complete player at the position. He’s a big-play threat in the passing game, runs great routes, blocks like an offensive lineman and can make defenders miss after the catch and when the Dawgs hand the ball off to him. The true sophomore led Georgia with 52 catches, including six touchdowns, and he also rushed for three scores.
The Wildcats had a disappointing 1-11 season, but there was nothing disappointing about the way the 6-4, 315-pound Skoronski played. He’s an elite pass-protector from his left tackle position and also is a physical run-blocker. Voted the Big Ten’s offensive lineman of the year, Skoronski was a starter from the day he stepped onto campus and has a lot of good football in front of him at the NFL level.
It wasn’t a lengthy stay for Torrence at Florida, but it was a successful one. The 6-5, 346-pound junior had already made a big impression at Louisiana, but he was equally impressive in his one season with the Gators after transferring. Going back to his freshman year at Louisiana, Torrence has 46 career starts. He has another year of eligibility remaining but instead has declared for the NFL draft.
The Wolverines’ offensive line was a juggernaut this season, one of the finalists for the Joe Moore Award as the best in college football, and right in the middle was the 6-3, 307-pound Oluwatimi. He made the most of his one season at Michigan after transferring from Virginia and spearheaded a unit that allowed just 13 sacks in 13 games and helped the Wolverines finish sixth nationally in rushing offense (243 yards per game).
There’s nothing like having somebody on your offensive line who is capable of playing any position. The 6-4, 322-pound Beebe has made a career of that, and after starting 13 games at left tackle in 2021, he moved to left guard this season. He’s a mauler as a run-blocker and helped Deuce Vaughn motor his way to 1,425 rushing yards for the Big 12 champion Wildcats.
The best news for Notre Dame fans is that Alt is only going to get better. A true sophomore, the 6-7, 317-pound Alt is extremely agile at his left tackle position and a great example of a player who wasn’t the most recruited prospect coming out of high school but has quickly developed into one of the best in the game. Pro Football Focus graded Alt as the No. 1 offensive lineman in the country.
About the only thing Abanikanda didn’t do was kick field goals. The 5-11, 215-pound junior was the nation’s only player with more than 1,400 rushing yards, 100 receiving yards and 200 kickoff return yards. He scored an FBS-leading 21 touchdowns, was second nationally in all-purpose yards (164.1 yards per game) and broke Tony Dorsett’s school record when he rushed for 320 yards and six touchdowns in a win over Virginia Tech.
The nation’s leader in tackles for loss among Power 5 players, Tuipulotu leads all of college football with 12.5 sacks. At 6-4 and 290 pounds, Tuipulotu is a menace when it comes to chasing down opposing quarterbacks. He collapses pockets with his power and uses his quickness to beat offensive linemen off the edge. Even when he was double-teamed this season, which was often, Tuipulotu made his presence felt.
Pitt has produced its share of talented defensive linemen over the years, and Kancey is the latest. He led all interior defensive linemen with 14.5 tackles for loss despite missing parts of two games with injuries. The 6-foot, 280-pound redshirt junior was the only player in the country selected as a finalist for both the Outland Trophy and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy. He won’t play in the Panthers’ bowl game because of his late-season injuries.
When healthy, Carter is the most unblockable defender in college football. Some might say he’s the best player in college football. He battled foot, ankle and knee injuries this season, but he recovered to play some of his best football in Georgia’s most important games. Few players create pressure in the pocket the way the 6-3, 300-pound Carter does. He’s the centerpiece of a Georgia defense that once again was elite.
For the second year in a row, Anderson won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy as the nation’s best defensive player, and for the second year in a row, he was one of those defenders every opposing offensive coordinator schemed around. The 6-4, 243-pound junior was second among Power 5 players with 17 tackles for loss, including 10 sacks.
Campbell is Iowa’s first Butkus Award winner as the top linebacker in the country. The Hawkeyes’ senior middle linebacker has been Mr. Steady the whole time he’s been on campus and will leave as one of the top defenders in school history. He had a team-leading 118 total tackles this season after collecting 143 a year ago. The 6-5, 246-pound Campbell also had two interceptions, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble.
Can anybody remember a time that Georgia didn’t have a dynamic linebacker? This year’s version is Dumas-Johnson, who in his first season as a starter tied for the team lead with 64 total tackles, including a team-leading eight for loss. A true sophomore, the 6-1, 245-pounder did a little bit of everything from his inside linebacker position, from making plays in space in the run game to racking up 21 quarterback hurries.
Pace was a tackling machine for the Bearcats. He had 107 total tackles, including 19 for loss. Seven of those were sacks, and he also forced two fumbles. The 6-foot, 235-pound senior made an immediate impact for Cincinnati from his inside position after playing his first three seasons at Miami (Ohio). Pace combined speed, strength and instincts to become one of the best big-play defenders in the sport.
An elite cover cornerback, Forbes was someone opposing quarterbacks did their best to avoid. He has great speed, superior ball skills and the kind of competitive fire that would make him a difference-maker on any defense. Forbes tied for second nationally with six interceptions and returned three picks for touchdowns. He also blocked a field goal that was returned for a touchdown.
One of the mainstays in TCU’s remarkable run to the College Football Playoff — for several years now — has been Hodges-Tomlinson. The 5-9, 180-pound senior went four straight games with a takeaway this season. The Thorpe Award winner as the nation’s top defensive back, Hodges-Tomlinson intercepted three passes and broke up 11 others.
Alabama asked Branch to do a little bit of everything this season, and he delivered. He was versatile enough to play the nickel cornerback spot, safety and even what the Tide call their “money” linebacker spot. Branch was Alabama’s third-leading tackler with 78 stops and was second on the team to Will Anderson Jr. with 10 tackles for loss. The 6-foot, 193-pound junior also returned a punt 68 yards for a touchdown.
As a true sophomore, Kinchens developed into one of the more productive defensive backs in college football. He’s smart, has good size (205 pounds) and is always around the ball, as evidenced by his six interceptions. He tied a school record with three picks in a 35-14 win over Georgia Tech and returned one of those 99 yards for a touchdown. Kinchens led the Hurricanes with 59 total tackles and also broke up six passes.
Dunn, a fifth-year senior, capped a record-setting career with his finest season yet in winning the Lou Groza Award as the nation’s top place-kicker. He was 24-of-25 on field goal attempts and 10-of-11 on field goals of 40 yards or longer. The Wolfpack’s all-time leading scorer with 377 points, Dunn’s longest field goal this season was a 53-yarder, and he made both of his attempts from 50-plus yards.
It’s fitting that the best punter in college football was an integral part of Beamer Ball. The Beamer name is intertwined with stellar special teams play, and Kroeger was terrific. He was second nationally in punting average (46.8 yards) and had 27 of his 52 punts downed inside the 20. In the Gamecocks’ biggest win of the season, against rival Clemson, Kroeger averaged 53 yards on seven punts, and four were downed inside the 10.
An injury cost Gould the last two games of the season, but he still produced a pair of punt returns for touchdowns, an 80-yarder and 55-yarder. The 5-8, 165-pound redshirt sophomore led the country in punt return average (18.6 yards) and always seemed to be making big plays for the 9-3 Beavers. He also was second on the team with 27 catches and had three touchdowns, one a 74-yarder.
It was old faces in familiar places for the Atlanta Braves on Monday after they activated right-hander Ian Anderson to the active roster and signed outfielder Eddie Rosario to a major league contract.
In corresponding moves, outfielder Jarred Kelenic was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett, while right-hander Davis Daniel was optioned to Triple-A after Sunday’s game.
Both Anderson and Rosario emerged as 2021 postseason heroes in Atlanta as the Braves went on to win the World Series.
Anderson, who was claimed off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday, went 4-0 with a 1.26 ERA in eight postseason starts for the Braves over the 2020 and 2021 postseasons.
In the 2021 World Series, Anderson famously pitched five no-hit innings in Game 3 to lead Atlanta to a 2-0 victory over the Houston Astros. The Braves defeated the Astros in six games.
Anderson, who turns 27 Friday, was traded by the Braves to the Angels on March 23 for left-hander Jose Suarez. He struggled badly with his new club, going 0-1 with an 11.57 ERA in seven relief appearances. He allowed 17 hits and seven walks in just 9⅓ innings.
Rosario, 33, signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers in February and played in two games with the club, going 1-for-4. He was designated for assignment and became a free agent when Shohei Ohtani returned from the paternity list just over a week ago.
Rosario was the 2021 National League Championship Series MVP, when he powered the Braves past the Dodgers with three home runs, nine RBIs and a 1.647 OPS in six games.
Over parts of 11 seasons, Rosario is a career .261 hitter with 169 home runs and 583 RBIs in 1,123 games with five different clubs, including five seasons with the Minnesota Twins (2015-20) and four with the Braves (2021-24).
Kelenic, 25, was batting .167 with two home runs in 23 games and is a career .211 hitter with 49 home runs and 156 RBIs in 406 games with the Seattle Mariners (2021-23) and Braves.
Daniel, 27, made his only appearance for the Braves on Sunday with a scoreless inning and has appeared in 10 games (six starts) over the past three seasons with a 4.95 ERA.
Mike Sullivan, who led the Pittsburgh Penguins to back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017, is out as the team’s head coach, it was announced Monday.
Sullivan was the longest-tenured coach in Penguins history after just completing his 10th season. The 57-year-old, who also coached Team USA at the 4 Nations Face-Off, was under contract in Pittsburgh through 2026-27.
In a statement, Penguins GM Kyle Dubas said the decision was “the best course forward for all involved” as Pittsburgh navigates a transitional period.
“On behalf of Fenway Sports Group and the Penguins organization, I would like to thank Mike Sullivan for his unwavering commitment and loyalty to the team and City of Pittsburgh over the past decade,” Dubas said. “Mike is known for his preparation, focus and fierce competitiveness. I was fortunate to have a front-row seat to his dedication to this franchise for the past two seasons. He will forever be an enormous part of Penguins history, not only for the impressive back-to-back Cups, his impact on the core of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and Bryan Rust, but more importantly, for his love and loyalty to the organization. This was not a decision that was taken lightly, but as we continue to navigate the Penguins through this transitional period, we felt it was the best course forward for all involved.”
The Penguins have missed the playoffs for three straight seasons as Dubas works to retool the team into a contender while Crosby is still competing at a high level. Crosby just completed his 20th straight season in which he posted a point-per-game scoring pace, and he was voted by his peers in the NHLPA as the league’s most complete player. The captain is under contract through next season on a two-year extension he signed prior to the 2024-25 season.
Sullivan was elevated to Penguins head coach in 2015 after leading the organization’s AHL team in Wilkes-Barre. With 409 wins in Pittsburgh, he leaves as the Penguins’ all-time wins leader.
Sources also said Sullivan is keen on coaching again next season and will be a top candidate for several of the vacancies. Sullivan worked as an assistant coach with the Rangers and as both an assistant and head coach with the Bruins earlier in his career.
Home teams are on a tear in the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs, going 21-10 thus far. Will that trend continue Monday?
The early matchup is Game 4 of the Battle of Florida, and the festivities have become heated; Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brandon Hagel was given a major penalty for his hit on Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov in Game 2, and subsequently suspended for Game 3. In that game, Matthew Tkachuk leveled a hard hit on Jake Guentzel but did not receive the same punishment. What will transpire in Game 4?
In the nightcap, the clash of West titans continues, as the Colorado Avalanche look to keep the momentum going after their 4-0 victory over the Dallas Stars in Game 4 on Saturday.
Teams that hold a 2-1 series lead have gone on to win the best-of-seven matchup 69% of the time in Stanley Cup playoff history. The Panthers have won two out of three best-of-seven series when holding a 2-1 lead, and the Lightning are 6-7 all time when trailing 2-1.
Jake Guentzel had three points (goal, two assists) in Game 3, and his 40 career playoff goals are third most among active U.S.-born players, trailing Patrick Kane (53) and Chris Kreider (48).
With his win in Game 3, Andrei Vasilevskiy now has 67 for his postseason career, second most among active goaltenders (behind Marc-Andre Fleury, who has 92), and one behind Andy Moog for 11th on the all-time list.
Matthew Tkachuk scored his third goal of the series in Game 3, and became the third player in franchise history with 20 career playoffs goals (Carter Verhaeghe 26, Sam Reinhart 22); he is also the third Panther to record 50 playoff points for the club (Aleksander Barkov 62, Verhaeghe 54).
Aaron Ekblad‘s return from suspension didn’t go so well. According to Stathletes, Ekblad and Gustav Forsling played 10:50 together at 5-on-5, and the Lightning scored three goals while they were on the ice.
With the series tied 2-2, history is on the Stars’ side: Colorado is 11-12 when a series is tied 2-2. Dallas has gone 18-14 in the same scenario.
Nathan MacKinnon is up to 52 career playoff goals, which is six away from tying Peter Forsberg for second in Avalanche/Nordiques franchise history; Joe Sakic is first with 84.
Gabriel Landeskog made his return to the ice in Game 3 for the first time since the 2022 Stanley Cup Final, and scored a goal in Game 4, the 28th playoff goal of his career.
Mikko Rantanen (formerly of the Avs, now of the Stars) has only one point (an assist) through four games, but it’s not for a lack of trying; he has 12 shots on goal, which is second most on the team this postseason (Roope Hintz has 13).
Stars goalie Jake Oettinger was pulled in Game 4, just the fourth time in 49 career playoff starts he has played 40 minutes or less. Since 2022, Oettinger has the second-most postseason wins (25), behind Sergei Bobrovsky (34).
Arda’s three stars from Sunday night
Svechnikov potted a hat trick to lift the Canes to a 5-2 win against the Devils in Newark, giving them a 3-1 series lead. Svechnikov is the only Hurricanes/Whalers player in franchise history (45 seasons, 205 playoff games) with a hat trick in the playoffs (he now has two).
His two goals in the third period tied the game at 3, setting the stage for the Oilers to win in OT and tie up the series. Bouchard is now the fourth defenseman to have back-to-back multigoal games in Stanley Cup playoff history.
After two points over the first three games of the series, Neighbors scored a goal and added two assists as the Blues emphatically tied the series with a 5-1 victory in Game 4.
Although he is the overwhelming favorite to win the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s best goalie in the regular season, Connor Hellebuyck is not having a great time this postseason. He was pulled in the third period of this loss after giving up five goals on 18 shots. Winnipeg’s Kyle Connor opened the scoring in this game, but the Blues charged back with five straight goals off the sticks of Jake Neighbours, Tyler Tucker, Brayden Schenn, Justin Faulk and Robert Thomas. The home team has won every game in this series. Will that continue in Game 5 in Winnipeg? Full recap.
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Tyler Tucker puts the Blues ahead with a goal
Tyler Tucker scores in the second period to give the Blues a 2-1 lead over the Jets.
After the Canes went up 3-0, the Devils punched back with two second-period goals, and Carolina starting goalie Frederik Andersen was knocked out after a collision with New Jersey’s Timo Meier. However, that was as close as the Devils would get, as Brent Burns added a goal at 14:14 of the third, and Andrei Svechnikov finished off his hat trick with an empty-net goal to seal the deal. Full recap.
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Andrei Svechnikov scores his second career playoff hat trick
Andrei Svechnikov lit the ice with his second career playoff hat trick in Game 4 vs. the Devils.
The Bell Centre was rocking again for this one. Washington’s Dylan Strome started the scoring at 1:25 of the second period, but the Canadiens answered back with two power-play goals (from Juraj Slafkovsky and Cole Caufield) to take the lead heading into the third. However, the Caps proved they were the better team, tying it 6:39 into the third, taking the lead 10 minutes later and then pumping in two empty-netters to put it out of reach. Full recap.
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Andrew Mangiapane’s big-time goal gives Caps a lead in the 3rd period
Andrew Mangiapane notches a big-time goal to give the Capitals a lead late in the third period.
Another back-and-forth contest for these two teams. The Kings held a 3-1 lead heading into the third, thanks to goals from Trevor Moore, Warren Foegele and Kevin Fiala. But the Oilers came back, thanks to a pair of goals by Evan Bouchard (both of which were assisted by Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid) to send the game to overtime. Draisaitl then scored the winner on the power play with just 1:42 left in the extra session. Full recap.
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Leon Draisaitl’s OT winner evens the series for the Oilers
Leon Draisaitl nets the winning goal in overtime to give the Oilers a dramatic win over the Kings in Game 4.