Bowl season: What you need to know about all 42 games
-
ESPN staff
The most magical time of the year is finally here. It’s bowl season.
The 2022 season of bowls, featuring 43 games, kicks off Friday with Miami (Ohio) facing UAB in the Home Lenders Bahamas Bowl on Friday and lasts all the way to Jan. 9 when college football will claim a national champion at SoFi Stadium in the College Football Playoff National Championship game.
Our writers gathered together to break down every single bowl game ahead of all the action on the field.
College Football Playoff
Dec. 31
CFP semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl: Georgia Bulldogs vs. Ohio State Buckeyes
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, Georgia) | Tickets
Jalen Carter is finishing strong — and reminding everyone why scouts claimed he was the most talented player on last year’s star-studded Georgia defense. The 6-foot-3, 300-pound defensive lineman was injured for most of the first half of the season. But he worked his way back and is making a case to be the first non-quarterback taken in next year’s draft. During the last five games, he has 23 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 14 quarterback hurries. — Alex Scarborough
CFP semifinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl: Michigan Wolverines vs. TCU Horned Frogs
State Farm Stadium (Glendale, Arizona) | Tickets
This year’s David-Goliath match up is TCU, from a 10,000-student private school that last won a national title in 1938, against Michigan, with 45,000 students and boasting one of the most storied programs in college football history. It’s Sonny Dykes in Year 1 with the Horned Frogs against Jim Harbaugh, the former Bo Schembechler quarterback who returned from the NFL to restore the Wolverines to glory. Can TCU withstand Michigan’s Big Ten strength? Can Michigan keep up with TCU’s Texas speed? The Horned Frogs will have a well-rested Heisman runner-up in Max Duggan, who took punishment all year, while Michigan’s Heisman contender, running back Blake Corum will miss the game with a knee injury. TCU’s quick-strike offense will face a major challenge against a Michigan D that allows just 13.4 points and 85.2 rushing yards per game. Cincinnati held strong against Alabama last year in the semifinal, but never threatened to win the game. Can this year’s Cinderella continue its improbable run and make history? — Dave Wilson
Bowls
Dec. 16
Hometown Lenders Bahamas Bowl: Miami (Ohio) Redhawks vs. UAB Blazers
Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium (Nassau, Bahamas)
Chase Brown, Blake Corum and Bijan Robinson deserve accolades for the seasons they put together, but how UAB’s DeWayne McBride didn’t make the cut as a Doak Walker Award finalist this season is puzzling. All he did was lead the FBS in rushing yards (1,713) — and he hit that mark in one fewer game than Brown, Corum and Robinson. Among the top 10 rushers this season, McBride’s 7.35 yards per rush was the best by nearly a yard. Against a Miami (Ohio) defense that gives up an average of 135.8 rushing yards per game, McBride should pad his totals. — Scarborough
Duluth Trading Cure Bowl: Troy Trojans vs. UTSA Roadrunners
Exploria Stadium (Orlando, Florida) | Tickets
Two programs on a heater collide in Orlando, each on a 10-game winning streak. UTSA has one of the nation’s most dynamic offenses. Frank Harris is sixth in the FBS with 3,865 passing yards and completing 71.1% of his throws, and WR Zakhari Franklin‘s 14 TDs rank third nationally. Troy, meanwhile, has the eighth-best scoring defense in the FBS, allowing just 17.5 points per game and 4.7 yards per play — ninth best in the country. — Wilson
Dec. 17
Wasabi Fenway Bowl: Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Louisville Cardinals
Fenway Park (Boston, Massachusetts) | Tickets
It’s the Scott Satterfield Bowl … without really being the Scott Satterfield Bowl. The now former Louisville head coach agreed to be Luke Fickell’s replacement at Cincinnati, where the team’s last game as a non-Big 12 member will be in the Fenway Bowl. Former Cardinals star and Super Bowl MVP with the New England Patriots Deion Branch will be coaching Louisville, while Kerry Coombs will lead Cincinnati. The game will likely be a low-scoring affair, featuring two of the nation’s best linebackers in Cincinnati’s Ivan Pace Jr. and Louisville’s Yasir Abdullah. — Harry Lyles Jr.
Cricket Celebration Bowl: Jackson State Tigers vs. NC Central Eagles
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, Georgia) | Tickets
Obviously Deion Sanders’ departure as Jackson State’s head coach is dominating the Celebration Bowl headlines, but there are a couple of other interesting storylines to follow here. First, you’ve got the QBs: JSU’s Shedeur Sanders and NCCU’s Davius Richard have combined for 5,889 passing yards, 60 touchdown passes and 18 rushing TDs and won their respective conferences’ offensive player of the year awards. Then you’ve got the redemption angle: JSU underachieved and got thumped by SC State in its only Celebration Bowl appearance (2021), and NCCU has had to wait six years for a chance to avenge a one-point heartbreaker to Grambling State in the 2016 game. — Bill Connelly
New Mexico Bowl: BYU Cougars vs. SMU Mustangs
University Stadium (Albuquerque, New Mexico) | Tickets
BYU and SMU meet for the first time since the 1980 Holiday Bowl, known as the “Miracle Bowl” after BYU came back from 20 points down with four minutes left to win 46-45. Both teams are trying to recapture past glory, with BYU trying to build to its Big 12 entrance and SMU trying to win its first bowl game since 2012 as it continues piling up new players in the transfer portal. SMU QB Tanner Mordecai is just one touchdown pass shy of tying the school record (71) for his career but will be without receiver Rashee Rice (1,355 yards this year), who’ll sit out with an injured toe before heading to the NFL. BYU’s star QB Jaren Hall is also unlikely to play with an ankle injury after throwing 31 TD passes this year. — Dave Wilson
Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl Presented by Stifel: Fresno State Bulldogs vs. Washington State Cougars
SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California) | Tickets
Wazzu hasn’t won a bowl game since 2018, and if there’s a player that will help them break that streak, it’s quarterback Cameron Ward. After transferring from Incarnate Word to Pullman last offseason, Ward totaled just over 3,000 passing yards and 23 touchdowns this season. It wasn’t quite the output the sophomore had at Incarnate Word, but the good news for the Cougars is Ward has at least one more year in Pullman. This game will likely be a battle of quarterbacks between Ward and Jake Haener, who is a great story and player in his own right and led the Bulldogs to another 9-4 season, including a Mountain West title. If Haener doesn’t opt out, prepare for a shootout. — Paolo Uggetti
LendingTree Bowl: Southern Miss Golden Eagles vs. Rice Owls
Hancock Whitney Stadium (Mobile, Alabama) | Tickets
Frank Gore Jr. is making a name for himself while following in the footsteps of his famous father. Gore Jr. a sophomore, ended the year for Southern Miss (6-6) with a career-high 199 yards in a win over UL Monroe. He’ll be looking to build on that effort and head into the offseason on a high note as the Golden Eagles meet Rice (5-7). Southern Mississippi’s running game (122.6 YPG) will aim to move the ball against a Rice defense that allowed 166.8 rush yards per contest. — Blake Baumgartner
SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl: Oregon State Beavers vs. Florida Gators
Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas, Nevada) | Tickets
Oregon State is going for its first 10-win season since 2006 after a surprising season, one that earned coach Jonathan Smith a new six-year contract. While the Beavers should be close to full strength, the opposite is true for Florida, which will be without starting quarterback Anthony Richardson, All-American guard O’Cyrus Torrence and a host of other players who have either decided to opt out of the game or enter the transfer portal. Jack Miller III is expected to make his first career start for the Gators at quarterback after Jalen Kitna was dismissed from the team. Miller threw only 14 career passes at his previous stop, Ohio State. — Andrea Adelson
Frisco Bowl: Boise State Broncos vs. North Texas Mean Green
Toyota Stadium (Frisco, Texas) | Tickets
Boise State (9-4) is a win away from its first 10-win season since 2019. The Broncos’ offense (29.1 PPG) faces a North Texas (7-6) defense that gives up 460 yards a game, and junior running back George Holani (1,133 yards, 10 TDs) will look to exploit that. The Mean Green hired Washington State offensive coordinator Eric Morris as head coach on Dec. 13 following Seth Littrell’s dismissal after seven seasons. North Texas junior quarterback Austin Aune‘s (3,309 yards) 32 TDs were eighth in FBS, but he will be tasked with moving the ball against a tough Boise State pass defense (160.7) that’s ranked fourth best in the FBS. — Baumgartner
Dec. 19
Myrtle Beach Bowl: UConn Huskies vs. Marshall Thundering Herd
Brooks Stadium (Conway, South Carolina) | Tickets
Jim Mora’s resurrection of UConn has been one of the season’s better stories — from 1-11 to bowl eligibility. It’s truly been a team effort in Storrs as they’ve found ways to win. The Huskies (6-6) haven’t been bowling since 2015 and last won a bowl game in 2009. They now face a Marshall team that beat Notre Dame in South Bend back in September. The Thundering Herd (8-4) bring a stingy defense (16.2 PPG) and a stout running back (senior Khalan Laborn; 1,423 yards, 16 TDs) to the party. — Baumgartner
Dec. 20
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: San Jose State Spartans vs. Eastern Michigan Eagles
Albertsons Stadium (Boise, Idaho) | Tickets
San Jose State (7-4) prefers to move the ball through the air (263.9 YPG) more than on the ground (92.5 YPG). Whether the Spartans are successful in beating Eastern Michigan (8-4) may depend on the ability of senior Kairee Robinson (696 yards, 10 TDs) to find holes against a defense that surrenders 158.1 rush yards a game. Eagles senior running back Samson Evans (1,084 yards, 13 TDs) goes opposite a Spartan run defense (122.1 YPG) that’ll provide a stiff push. Eastern Michigan’s only previous bowl win came in 1987 against San Jose State (California Bowl). — Baumgartner
RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl: Toledo Rockets vs. Liberty Flames
FAU Stadium (Boca Raton, Florida) | Tickets
It’s a much different Liberty team that will play in the Boca Raton Bowl than the one that beat BYU and Arkansas in back-to-back games in late October and early November. Gone is coach Hugh Freeze, who left Nov. 29 to take the Auburn job. As speculation swirled that he might be leaving, the Flames faltered down the stretch and lost their last three games, including a 49-14 beatdown at home to New Mexico State in the finale. Josh Aldridge will serve as interim coach for the Flames, who will go up against a Toledo team that won the MAC championship thanks to a strong running game (236 yards). Liberty struggled to stop the run in each of its last three losses. — Chris Low
Dec. 21
R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl: Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs. South Alabama Jaguars
Caesars Superdome (New Orleans, Louisiana) | Tickets
He didn’t make the cut as one of the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year finalists, but South Alabama’s Kane Wommack certainly stood out during his second year on the job. The 35-year-old led the Jaguars to 10 regular-season wins — their most since South Alabama became an FBS program in 2012, and a far cry from 2019, when the team finished 2-10. A former defensive coordinator, Wommack has helped put together a defense that gave up the third fewest yards per game in the Sun Belt (304.5). — Scarborough
Dec. 22
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl: Air Force Falcons vs. Baylor Bears
Amon G. Carter Stadium (Fort Worth, Texas) | Tickets
These two haven’t met since 1977, and have just three times in history (Baylor has won all three). Air Force running back Brad Roberts is third among FBS running backs in total yards (1,612) and has 15 TDs. The Falcons led the FBS with 330 rushing yards per game, which will test Baylor, a team that ranked 44th and allowed 137.6 rushing yards per game. The Bears will also be replacing defensive coordinator Ron Roberts, who was dismissed after the regular season. Air Force is trying to complete its second straight 10-win season since 1997-98 while Baylor is seeking to avoid its second losing season in three years. Richard Reese has become a breakout star for the Bears, already rushing for a school freshman record 962 yards, and will force the Falcons defense to make plays. — Wilson
Dec. 23
Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl: Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns vs. Houston Cougars
Independence Stadium (Shreveport, Louisiana) | Tickets
Michael Desormeaux’s first year replacing Billy Napier at Louisiana resulted in the school’s fifth consecutive bowl game, where it will be going up against a Houston team that was picked to win the American Athletic Conference in the preseason. The Cougars won five of their last seven games, with quarterback Clayton Tune having thrown for over 2,600 yards, 28 touchdowns and 7 interceptions in that span. He’ll be the player to watch in this one. — Lyles Jr.
Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl: Missouri Tigers vs. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida) | Tickets
On paper, it’s difficult to find a more even matchup, but how much might end-of-season momentum matter in a bowl game? The answer will dictate the advantages in the land of Gasparilla Pirate Fest: Missouri won four of its last six games to rally to 6-6, while Wake Forest lost four of five to slump to 7-5. Mizzou quarterback Brady Cook averaged 238 passing yards and 105 rushing yards over his last three games as the Tigers’ offense found its footing, but Mizzou has been hit harder than Wake by early transfer portal entry, and QB Sam Hartman appears to be sticking around for at least one more game in a Demon Deacons uniform. — Connelly
Dec. 24
EasyPost Hawai’i Bowl: Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders vs. San Diego State Aztecs
Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex (Honolulu, Hawai’i) | Tickets
There might not be a single 2022 bowl with a wider array of realistic potential outcomes than this one. Middle Tennessee blew out Miami but got blown out by a bad Louisiana Tech team. All of the Blue Raiders’ seven wins came by double digits, as did all of their five losses. SDSU still has one of the best defenses in the Group of Five and still has one of its worst offenses, too. The Aztecs have won four games by at least 16 and lost three by at least 18. Name the result — a 49-16 MTSU win? a 20-0 SDSU win? — and it could absolutely happen. What more could you possibly want to distract you from family festivities on Christmas Eve? — Connelly
Dec. 26
Quick Lane Bowl: Bowling Green Falcons vs. New Mexico State Aggies
Ford Field (Detroit, Michigan) | Tickets
New Mexico State (6-6) rebounded in its first year under Jerry Kill after combining to win just seven games in the last four years. The Aggies haven’t been to a bowl game since 2017. The running game may dictate things. Bowling Green (6-6) had trouble running it (100.8 YPG) and trouble stopping the run (163 YPG) this season. New Mexico State’s sophomore running backs, Star Thomas (477 yards, five TDs) and Jamoni Jones (368 yards, six TDs), have an opportunity to break out in the bowl game. — Baumgartner
Dec. 27
Camellia Bowl: Buffalo Bulls vs. Georgia Southern Eagles
Cramton Bowl (Montgomery, Alabama) | Tickets
Georgia Southern (former Buffalo) quarterback Kyle Vantrease is the player to watch in this game. Vantrease started 25 games for Buffalo over five years before ultimately making the move to Statesboro. In 2022, Vantrease completed over 61% of his passes for 3,895 yards, 25 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Clay Helton has helped him get the most out of his talent this season, and Vantrease will certainly be hoping to do his best against his former team. — Lyles Jr.
SERVPRO First Responder Bowl: Utah State Aggies vs. Memphis Tigers
Gerald J. Ford Stadium (Dallas, Texas) | Tickets
It was a rollercoaster of a season for Memphis, who started off 4-1, before ultimately finishing the year 6-6. Seth Henigan didn’t take quite the leap the Tigers had hoped he would after a standout 2021 season, but it’s understandable given the weapons lost (like Calvin Austin III). Regardless, you should still expect to see flashes of greatness from Henigan, who has tons of potential. Utah State, on the other hand, started 1-3, and lost quarterback Logan Bonner for the season after their loss to UNLV. Since then, Cooper Legas has been running things at quarterback, where the Aggies have been 5-3 since. Expect to see some fight from two teams who had challenging seasons. — Lyles Jr.
TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl: East Carolina Pirates vs. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
Protective Life Stadium (Birmingham, Alabama) | Tickets
This battle of the Carolinas features a pair of teams that overcame some tough losses to finish with winning records. East Carolina (7-5) had won four of five games, but lost 42-3 to Houston on the road in the next to last game of the regular season. Running back Keaton Mitchell is ECU’s go-to guy on offense and piled up 300 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns in the 49-46 win over Temple to close the regular season. Coastal Carolina will be led by interim coach Chad Staggs, who’s filling in for Jamey Chadwell, who left to take the Liberty head job. The Chanticleers (9-3) lost in the Sun Belt championship game to Troy after losing 47-7 to James Madison the week before. The health of Coastal Carolina quarterback Grayson McCall and his status will be key in this game. — Low
Guaranteed Rate Bowl: Oklahoma State Cowboys vs. Wisconsin Badgers
Chase Field (Phoenix, Arizona) | Tickets
The only thing certain for this matchup is uncertainty. Both teams’ veteran starting quarterbacks — Spencer Sanders at Oklahoma State and Graham Mertz at Wisconsin — have entered the transfer portal. The Badgers’ two backups, Chase Wolf and Myles Burkett, have attempted a combined 11 passes this season. True freshman Garret Rangel started two games for the Cowboys this season filling in for the injured Sanders, a four-year starter. New Badgers coach Luke Fickell said he will act as head coach for the game alongside six of the assistants who have been with the team this year. — Wilson
Dec. 28
Military Bowl Presented by Peraton: Duke Blue Devils vs. UCF Knights
Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (Annapolis, Maryland) | Tickets
While UCF quarterback John Rhys Plumlee might be the more well-known dual-threat QB in this game, nobody should sleep on Duke quarterback Riley Leonard — a huge reason why the Blue Devils are in a bowl game for the first time since 2018. Leonard threw for 2,794 yards, 20 touchdowns and 6 interceptions, while adding 636 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground. Plumlee was banged up for the last month of the season, so this game will be his opportunity to showcase his best — especially since he announced he will return for 2023. — Adelson
AutoZone Liberty Bowl: Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Kansas Jayhawks
Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium (Memphis, Tennessee) | Tickets
Two 6-6 teams, two teams that feel very differently about that record. For Kansas, this is a step on the climb, a chance to beat an SEC opponent for the first time since beating Vanderbilt in 1985 (of course, it hasn’t played an SEC member since 1988). For Arkansas, it marks the end of a disappointing season against one of the toughest schedules in the country, losing four of its six games by a total of nine points. The Hogs’ All-American linebacker, Drew Sanders, is not playing and Arkansas just lost defensive coordinator Barry Odom, who became the new head coach at UNLV. Star linebacker Bumper Pool is out with injury and leading receiver Jadon Haselwood is also bypassing the game after declaring for the draft. — Wilson
San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl: Oregon Ducks vs. North Carolina Tar Heels
Petco Park (San Diego, California) | Tickets
Both the Ducks and the Tar Heels had opportunities this season to emerge as fringe playoff contenders. Both got off to 8-1 starts before faltering late in the season and ending up here. It’s partly why the Holiday Bowl matchup between them feels fitting. The tone of this game will shift if quarterback Bo Nix decides to return to school for another season. Meanwhile, UNC has a rising Drake Maye on their side. Should Nix run it back for one more year, not only will this game look a lot different given that Oregon will have new offensive coordinator Will Stein, but the Ducks will be looking forward to building on the offensive foundation Nix and offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham (now the head coach at Arizona State) built this past season. — Uggetti
TaxAct Texas Bowl: Texas Tech Red Raiders vs. Ole Miss Rebels
NRG Stadium (Houston, Texas) | Tickets
These two teams, both of whom finished 7-5, were going in opposite directions when the regular season concluded. Ole Miss was trying to navigate through a wave of coaching drama surrounding Lane Kiffin. Was he going to Auburn or was he staying? He wound up staying and signing a new contract that will pay him $9 million per year, but the Rebels lost four of their last five games. The Red Raiders, meanwhile, played their way into the postseason by winning their last three games, capped by a thrilling 51-48 win against Oklahoma in overtime. Texas Tech had a tough schedule and played six teams nationally ranked at the time of the game. One of the key matchups in this game will be sensational freshman Quinshon Judkins and that Ole Miss running game against a Texas Tech defense that finished 90th nationally against the run (166.4 yards per game). — Low
Dec. 29
Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl: Syracuse Orange vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers
Yankee Stadium (New York, New York) | Tickets
This game is an enigma because neither team has been easy to predict all season. Few schools were as confounding in 2022 as Minnesota, which statistically speaking had one of the nation’s top defenses, a solid offense and a top-20 ranking in both ESPN’s FPI and SP+. On the field, however, that all added up to just an 8-4 record, and none of those eight wins came against an opponent who finished the regular season better than 6-6. Meanwhile, Syracuse opened the year 6-0 and nearly got a win at No. 7 Clemson before succumbing to the Tigers’ backup QB in the fourth quarter. After that, the Orange looked like a shell of a team, dropping five straight before a win over Boston College in the regular-season finale. Syracuse also lost both coordinators since the season ended. So, who exactly will show up here? The Minnesota that the deep-dive stats loved or the one that mustered just 10 points in a loss to Iowa? The Syracuse that started off the season 6-0 or the one that stumbled to the finish and then waved goodbye to two essential assistant coaches? It’s anyone’s guess. — David M. Hale
Cheez-It Bowl: Oklahoma Sooners vs. Florida State Seminoles
Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida) | Tickets
This has to qualify as a dream matchup for the Cheez-It Bowl organizers — two storied programs, with fan bases that love to travel. The excitement is on a different level for Florida State and understandably so. The Seminoles are in their first bowl game since 2019, and their fans from across the state can easily get to Orlando. With quarterback Jordan Travis already announcing he will be back for 2023, and All-ACC players Jammie Robinson and Jared Verse saying they will play in the bowl game, this is a game the team itself is geared up to play in, as they have a chance to win 10 games for the first time since 2016. — Adelson
Valero Alamo Bowl: Texas Longhorns vs. Washington Huskies
Alamodome (San Antonio, Texas) | Tickets
Outside the New Year Six bowls, the Alamo Bowl matchup between these two teams might be one of the best on the slate. The matchup between Quinn Ewers and Michael Penix Jr. alone will be worth the price of admission, and both programs will be looking to prove they are headed in the right direction. The Longhorns had their usual up-and-down campaign but ended on a two-game winning streak and a promising look ahead to next season. The Huskies, meanwhile, were turned around from a 4-8 team to a Pac-12 contender overnight by new head coach Kalen DeBoer and the addition of Penix Jr. Both teams should be intriguing heading into next season and it should make for an entertaining high-scoring affair in San Antonio. — Uggetti
Dec. 30
Duke’s Mayo Bowl: NC State Wolfpack vs. Maryland Terrapins
Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, North Carolina) | Tickets
Two former ACC rivals will get together with the winner getting a giant vat of mayonnaise dumped on them. What’s not to like here? NC State and Maryland have a long — and occasionally colorful — history but have not faced off since the Terrapins left the ACC for the Big Ten in 2014. Maryland struggled down the stretch this season, dropping three of its last four games. The Terps didn’t beat a bowl-eligible Big Ten team, but there remains a big question about how much gas is left in the tank for an NC State team beset by injuries in 2022. The Wolfpack had four different starting QBs win games this year, but lost two different starters to injury at the position and relied heavily on a defense that was among the ACC’s best. The matchup between Maryland’s talented QB, Taulia Tagovailoa, and a dominant NC State linebacking corps led by Drake Thomas should go a long way in determining who will finish the season with a win. — Hale
Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl: UCLA Bruins vs. Pitt Panthers
Sun Bowl Stadium (El Paso, Texas) | Tickets
For the second straight year, Pitt will play its bowl game without its starting QB. Last year, Kenny Pickett opted out of the Peach Bowl to prepare for the NFL draft. This year, Kedon Slovis hit the transfer portal. Against Michigan State last season, Pickett’s loss — as well as backup Nick Patti in the fourth quarter — proved Pitt’s downfall, but this is a much different Panthers team. Rather than rely on their QB, the Panthers have routinely been a run-first offense, led by star tailback Israel Abanikanda, who finished with 1,431 yards and 20 touchdowns on the ground. That should make for an interesting matchup against UCLA’s defense, which ranked second in the Pac-12 in yards per rush allowed this season, but gave up 565 yards and seven TDs on the ground in its three losses. — Hale
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl: Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. South Carolina Gamecocks
TIAA Bank Field (Jacksonville, Florida) | Tickets
South Carolina’s Shane Beamer did one of the best coaching jobs in college football this season. The Gamecocks (8-4) suffered some serious beatdowns (48-7 to Georgia and 38-6 to Florida), but got back up off the ground to finish the season with back-to-back wins over top-10 teams Tennessee and Clemson. Notre Dame, in its first season under Marcus Freeman, also finished 8-4. But much like the Gamecocks, the Irish played their best football down the stretch. Their only loss in their last six games was on the road to USC to close the regular season. Both teams will be without talented players. South Carolina tight end/running back Jaheim Bell entered the transfer portal. Notre Dame All-America tight end Michael Mayer and linebacker and career sacks leader Isaiah Foskey opted out to prepare for the NFL draft. — Low
Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl: Ohio Bobcats vs. Wyoming Cowboys
Arizona Stadium (Tucson, Arizona) | Tickets
Both the Bobcats and Cowboys stumbled late in the regular season — Ohio lost star quarterback Kurtis Rourke to injury, then lost the MAC championship to Toledo; Wyoming won four straight to move to 7-3 but lost a shot at a division title with a home loss to Boise State, then got thumped by Fresno State. This is definitely a “Who wants it more?” bowl, but the matchup of Ohio’s run game against Wyoming’s run defense could still be a delight, and both of these teams tend to deliver in the postseason: They’re both riding three-game bowl win streaks. — Connelly
Capital One Orange Bowl: Clemson Tigers vs. Tennessee Volunteers
Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, Florida) | Tickets
The ultimate battle of orange should undoubtedly take place in the Orange Bowl. This will also be a battle of quarterbacks who didn’t open the 2022 season as the starter. True freshman Cade Klubnik will make his first career start for Clemson. He came off the bench to replace DJ Uiagalelei in the season-ending loss to South Carolina. Uiagalelei then announced he was entering the transfer portal. Joe Milton III will be the starter for Tennessee after Hendon Hooker, the SEC’s Offensive Player of the Year, suffered a season-ending ACL tear in the loss to South Carolina. Milton, who has an incredibly strong arm, started in the regular-season finale against Vanderbilt. He also started the first two games of the 2021 season before being replaced by Hooker. The ACC champion Tigers are trying to win 12 games or more for the sixth time in the last eight seasons. The Vols are trying to win 11 games for the first time since 2001. — Low
Dec. 31
TransPerfect Music City Bowl: Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Kentucky Wildcats
Nissan Stadium (Nashville, Tennessee) | Tickets
Who gets a chance to play quarterback for Iowa before former Michigan quarterback Cade McNamara comes in next year? Fifth-year senior Spencer Petras‘ shoulder injury and junior Alex Padilla entering the transfer portal has the Hawkeyes (7-5) scrambling. Iowa’s defense (277.9 YPG, 14.4 PPG), led by senior linebacker Jack Campbell (115 tackles, two interceptions), will go up against a Wildcats’ offense (336.3 YPG, 22.1 PPG) that ranked last in the SEC and will be without senior quarterback Will Levis. Kentucky (7-5) has a defense that isn’t a slouch either as it ranked second in the SEC in passing (173.4) and points (19.1). — Baumgartner
Allstate Sugar Bowl: Kansas State Wildcats vs. Alabama Crimson Tide
Caesars Superdome (New Orleans, Louisiana) | Tickets
Will the Wildcats mix it up with a two-quarterback system against Alabama? Will Howard will be the starter, that much seems sure. Ever since he came in for an injured Adrian Martinez against Baylor, he’s been terrific. Kansas State is 4-0 and won a Big 12 championship as Howard threw a combined nine touchdowns and one interception. He also rushed for two scores during that time. But Martinez is healthy enough that he nearly appeared in the Big 12 title game. With an extended layoff, he could be called upon as a change-of-pace back against a tough Alabama defense. — Scarborough
Jan. 2
ReliaQuest Bowl: Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs
Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida) | Tickets
Illinois junior running back Chase Brown (1,643 yards, 10 TDs) needs 54 yards to eclipse Mikel Leshoure’s single-season school record. The Fighting Illini (8-4) have been a force on defense (12.3 PPG) all year but will have to deal with Mississippi State’s potent offense that averaged 314.3 passing yards per game. Junior quarterback Will Rogers (3,713 yards, 34 TDs) had a great year for the Bulldogs (8-4) but will need to find a way to solve the fifth-best pass defense (165.4 YPG) in FBS. — Baumgartner
Cheez-It Citrus Bowl: LSU Tigers vs. Purdue Boilermakers
Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida) | Tickets
Nine wins is already more than many LSU fans could have hoped for, especially after a sloppy loss to Florida State in the season-opener. Brian Kelly was able to turn things around, beat Alabama and get all the way to the SEC championship in his first season in Baton Rouge. But after an inexplicable loss at Texas A&M to end the regular season and a 20-point loss to Georgia in the SEC title game, LSU needs to get a bad taste out of its mouth. The Tigers also need quarterback Jayden Daniels to get healthy again, the passing game to make strides and the defense to bounce back — in particular the front seven vs. the run — to feel better about the team’s chances heading into next season. It needs a win. — Scarborough
Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic: USC Trojans vs. Tulane Green Wave
AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas) | Tickets
All eyes may still be on Heisman winner Caleb Williams once the Trojans suit up to play the Cotton Bowl, but the player to watch may be running back Raleek Brown. A five-star prospect who had flashes of serious speed and agility this season in limited carries could be fully deployed in this game. A lot will likely change on USC’s roster between now and next season, but Brown’s role will only grow. The Green Wave won’t make it easy for Lincoln Riley and Co., though. Tulane will be hoping to close out their storybook 11-2 season with a statement win over a program that, as Tulane athletic director Troy Dannen pointed out last week in Las Vegas, has “no business going up against financially.” On the field come Jan. 2, the two will be able to face off as equals. — Uggetti
Rose Bowl Game: Utah Utes vs. Penn State Nittany Lions
Rose Bowl (Pasadena, California) | Tickets
Utah made a resounding statement with its rout of USC for the Pac-12 title. Back in the Rose Bowl for a second straight year, the Utes (10-3) have unfinished business after losing to Ohio State. Junior quarterback Cam Rising (2,939 yards, 25 TDs) leads Utah’s offense against a Penn State defense (317.9 YPG) that was seventh in the Big Ten. The Nittany Lions (10-2) only lost to Michigan and Ohio State. Their revived running game behind freshmen Nicholas Singleton (941 yards, 10 TDs) and Kaytron Allen (830 yards, nine TDs) tangles with the Pac-12’s best run defense (107 YPG). — Baumgartner
-
Jorge Castillo
NEW YORK — David Stearns was about to disappear into the New York Mets‘ clubhouse Monday afternoon when he stopped to answer questions about the one potentially prominent flaw remaining on his roster after the trade deadline: the starting rotation.
The glaring inability of Mets starters to pitch deep into games over the past two months — David Peterson is the only one to log at least six innings in an outing during that span — prompted fans to plead for the Mets’ president of baseball operations to fortify the rotation. After he elected not to acquire a starting pitcher at the trade deadline, the talk has turned to potentially improving from within by promoting Brandon Sproat or Nolan McLean, two standout pitching prospects excelling in Triple-A.
“I think it’s always a combination of when, developmentally, those guys are ready,” Stearns said. “And also when there’s the need and how to fit it on the roster. And so we may get to the point where we decide that it’s the best thing to do to bring one or both of them here. But we’re not at that point right now.”
The Mets’ front office acted aggressively ahead of last Thursday’s deadline, acquiring three top-tier relievers (Ryan Helsley, Tyler Rogers and Gregory Soto) to strengthen a taxed bullpen, and a veteran center fielder (Cedric Mullins) to improve the lineup. But while Stearns said he “engaged” teams on starting pitchers — including Washington Nationals All-Star left-hander MacKenzie Gore, sources told ESPN — he determined the costs were too high.
The Mets were far from the only World Series contender to not bolster their starting rotation in a deadline with an exorbitant trade demand for the few available. But the difference between most of those clubs and the Mets is that refusing to pay the going rate for elite major league starting pitchers — whether in free agency or via the trade market — has been a fundamental principle in Stearns’ roster-building.
One of the mysteries surrounding Stearns’ move to New York after a hugely successful seven-year run leading the small-market Milwaukee Brewers was how he would use owner Steve Cohen’s deep pockets. The Mets have spent large sums of money — they gave Juan Soto the richest contract in North American sports history in December — but Stearns has remained disciplined and methodical in building his pitching staff, preferring starting pitchers he says he believes have untapped potential.
After an unexpected run to the National League Championship Series without a true ace last fall, the Mets head into the stretch run this season with the same missing ingredient.
“I think there are multiple ways to build a pitching staff and we focused on the back end of the pitching staff, the bullpen,” Stearns said. “We’re really happy with the arms we were able to acquire who are going to pitch out of our pen and we have confidence, not only in the stars who are here who we think are going to keep us competitive and help us win games, we are also pleased with the development of how some of the guys in Triple-A are progressing. And we understand that they could … be part of the mix going forward if needed.”
The Mets strongly pursued Yoshinobu Yamamoto before last season and offered him a contract similar to the 12-year, $325 million deal — the largest ever for a pitcher — Yamamoto signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers. But Yamamoto was an outlier — not just an already highly accomplished pitcher in Japan, but, just as importantly, only 25 years old. That rare combination of age and talent met Stearns’ criteria to offer an expensive long-term contract.
Ultimately, the Mets signed Sean Manaea to a one-year deal with an option and Luis Severino to a one-year contract for the rotation, then opted for a similar blueprint this past winter, choosing not to strongly pursue any of the top three starting pitchers (Corbin Burnes, Max Fried and Blake Snell) on the free agent market.
Stearns instead re-signed Manaea to a three-year, $75 million deal (the biggest contract Stearns has given to a starting pitcher), inked Clay Holmes to a three-year, $38 million deal (with an opt-out after 2026) to convert him from a reliever to a starter, gave Frankie Montas a two-year, $34 million contract (with an opt-out after this season), and added Griffin Canning on a one-year deal.
“I still think it’s really valuable and there have been teams that I’ve been around in my career that have had one or multiple ace-level starters on their staff and got bounced early in the playoffs and that can be tough to figure out sometimes too,” Stearns said last month. “So, you’d always like to have the horse at the front of the rotation, there’s no question. But it’s not the only way to build a rotation, it’s not the only way to win a playoff series, it’s not the only way to win a World Series.”
The moves have so far yielded mixed results.
The Mets’ rotation led the majors with a 2.84 ERA and ranked 14th in innings pitched through June 7, when they were 41-24 and led the NL East by 3½ games. Since then, Mets starters rank 24th in ERA (4.74) and 28th in innings pitched. The club has a 22-27 record during the stretch and now trails the Philadelphia Phillies by 2½ games in the division.
Injuries have played a factor in the drop-off, with four starters landing on the injured list in June. Kodai Senga, who signed a five-year, $75 million deal in 2022 — a year before Stearns’ arrival in Queens — strained his hamstring and sat out nearly a month. Canning had been a strong contributor until a ruptured left Achilles tendon ended his season, and Tylor Megill (elbow) and Paul Blackburn (shoulder) are still working their way back.
Manaea, who began the season on the IL, has made only five starts since his return last month, the most recent Monday against the Cleveland Guardians, when he dominated for five innings before surrendering five runs in the sixth. Montas, who has posted a ghastly 6.68 ERA in seven starts, is in danger of losing his rotation spot when Blackburn and Megill are activated.
Holmes, meanwhile, hasn’t logged more than 5⅓ innings in a start since June 7 against the Colorado Rockies, and has already doubled his previous career high for innings in a season. And Senga yielded four runs over four innings Saturday, marking the fourth straight start he has failed to pitch into the sixth.
“We haven’t gotten consistency out of the starting pitching,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Monday. “I think that’s where it starts every night. It starts on the mound, and we haven’t been able to get some quality starts.”
One of Sproat and McLean, if not both, could soon get the call to help. McLean has a 2.81 ERA in 15 games (12 starts) for Triple-A Syracuse after posting a 1.37 ERA in five games for Double-A Binghamton to begin the season. Sproat has emerged from early-season struggles with a dominant stretch for Syracuse, holding opponents to two earned runs in 33 innings over his past six starts.
The two 24-year-old right-handers, both drafted and developed by the Mets, have seemingly checked the necessary boxes in the minors. They could give the big league rotation the push it needs for the final stretch. For now, they and the Mets’ fan base wait.
Said Stearns: “I think they’re getting close.”
In the past six years, four of the College Football Playoff national champions have been SEC teams. Will 2025 be the season that yet another SEC team claims the title?
Texas, Georgia and Alabama all enter the season with new starting quarterbacks. Texas’ Arch Manning is under some very bright lights as we wait to see whether he lives up to the hype in his new starting role. Georgia’s Gunner Stockton got a taste at starting quarterback, stepping up in the 2025 Sugar Bowl after now-Miami quarterback Carson Beck got injured in the 2024 SEC championship game. And Alabama’s Ty Simpson has a big season ahead as Alabama looks to make a run at the CFP after just missing it last season.
Former Washington State quarterback John Mateer joins Oklahoma this fall after ranking No. 1 in the top 100 transfers list from the 2024-25 transfer cycle. Could Oklahoma bounce back after a seven-loss season last year?
We’re here to get you caught up on the SEC by breaking down the conference’s CFP outlook, Power Rankings, must-see games, top freshmen, key transfers and numbers to know.
Jump to:
CFP outlook | Must-see games
Freshmen | Transfers
Numbers to know
Power rankings
CFB outlook
Should be in: The SEC will attempt to restore its dominance after its teams failed to win each of the past two national championships. The league claimed four in a row from 2019 to ’22 and sent three teams (Georgia, Texas and Tennessee) to the CFP in 2024. Alabama was the first team left out of the 12-team bracket. The Longhorns should be right back in the mix, especially if former five-star quarterback Arch Manning is as good as advertised. Texas returns three potential All-Americans — edge rusher Colin Simmons, linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. and safety Michael Taaffe — from a defense that ranked No. 3 in the FBS in scoring defense (15.3 points) last season. Georgia will also be breaking in a new starting quarterback, as Gunner Stockton is replacing Carson Beck, who left for Miami. The Bulldogs will have four new starting offensive linemen, and they’re counting on Zachariah Branch (USC) and Noah Thomas (Texas A&M) to upgrade their receiver corps. The Crimson Tide will be looking to bounce back from a four-loss campaign in coach Kalen DeBoer’s first season, and their defense, led by an imposing front seven, should be good enough to get them back into the race for an SEC title. Ty Simpson is another first-year starting quarterback, and he’ll have plenty of weapons and a stout offensive line supporting him. — Mark Schlabach
In the running: LSU brings back the SEC’s most accomplished quarterback in Garrett Nussmeier, who threw for 4,052 yards with 29 touchdowns in 2024. With tailback Caden Durham and receiver Aaron Anderson returning, the Tigers should again be as explosive as any offense in the league. The question, of course, is whether LSU’s defense will be able to slow down opponents. The Tigers should be better after adding a plethora of defenders from the transfer portal, especially if Harold Perkins Jr. can stay healthy. Texas A&M is one of the few SEC contenders that won’t be breaking in a new quarterback. Marcel Reed was solid as a freshman, and if he can cut down on mistakes in his second season, the Aggies might be a big surprise. With tailbacks Amari Daniels and Le’Veon Moss running behind an offensive line that brings back five seniors, Reed won’t have to do too much. Ole Miss was in the running for a CFP bid until losing at Florida late in the 2024 season, and coach Lane Kiffin has used the transfer portal again to reload his roster. The Rebels will be breaking in a new quarterback, Austin Simmons, and they’re going to be relying on myriad transfers to rebuild their defense. They’ll play at Georgia and Oklahoma and get LSU, South Carolina and Florida at home. — Chris Low
Long shots: In what figures to be a big season for Oklahoma coach Brent Venables, the Sooners added former Washington State quarterback John Mateer and running back Jaydn Ott from Cal. The defense should be solid, and if new offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle can turn things around, the Sooners might be a sleeper. The Sooners play Texas in Dallas and South Carolina, Tennessee and Alabama on the road. South Carolina brings back one of the league’s best players in quarterback LaNorris Sellers, but it will have to replace its entire offensive line, leading rusher and most of its top playmakers on defense. Tennessee will be looking for a return to the playoff. Nico Iamaleava is out as quarterback, and Joey Aguilar comes in after spending the spring at UCLA. The Vols will again need Tim Banks’ defense to carry the load. Missouri has the most manageable schedule in the league, and this may be Eliah Drinkwitz’s best defense. The Tigers play eight of their 12 games at home and avoid Georgia, LSU and Texas. Florida will also be improved and has the quarterback and defense to make a run. But, whew, that schedule. — Schlabach
Must-see games
From Bill Connelly’s SEC conference preview
Here are the 10 games — eight in conference play, plus two of the biggest nonconference games of 2025 — that feature (A) the highest combined SP+ ratings for both teams and (B) a projected scoring margin under 10 points.
Texas at Ohio State (Aug. 30) and LSU at Clemson (Aug. 30). I have so many questions about each of these four teams, and I’m so happy that they’ve basically paired off with each other to help answer them. Toss in Alabama at Florida State in between the noon ET kickoff in Columbus and the evening kickoff in Clemson and you’ve got yourself a solid SEC headliner for each time slot on the first Saturday of the season.
Georgia at Tennessee (Sept. 13). The Bulldogs and Volunteers meet in September for the first time since 2018. Good. I like my UGA-Tennessee games early, when they can spark the largest possible existential crises.
Alabama at Georgia (Sept. 27). A rematch of the second-best game of 2024*. Aside from Ohio State-Michigan, no game did a better job of reminding us that huge college football games will still be huge and delightful even if the national title stakes are dampened by a bigger playoff.
(* Bama gets a rematch of the best game of 2024 the next week when Vandy comes to town.)
LSU at Ole Miss (Sept. 27). Is it too late to redraw the schedules? Between the Bama-Georgia and Oregon-Penn State main events and an undercard of LSU-Ole Miss, Indiana-Iowa, TCU-Arizona State and USC-Illinois (and, on top of everything else, South Dakota at North Dakota State), Week 5 might actually be too big! Goodness.
Texas at Florida (Oct. 4). Texas benefited from an easier slate (relatively speaking) in 2024, with just three regular-season opponents finishing in the SP+ top 20. But if Florida and Oklahoma improve as projected this fall, the Horns are looking at five such games, only one of which is in Austin. That’s the opposite of easy.
Ole Miss at Georgia (Oct. 18). Ole Miss might have enjoyed the single best performance of the regular season in last year’s 28-10 walloping of the Dawgs. That the Rebels turned right around and lost to Florida, eventually eliminating them from CFP contention, has to be one of the biggest on-field regrets of the past 50 years in Oxford.
Alabama at South Carolina (Oct. 25). South Carolina began turning its season around with a near-comeback win over Bama in 2024. This will be the Gamecocks’ third straight game against a projected top-20 team, so the season might have already gone in a couple different directions by the time Bama gets to town.
LSU at Alabama (Nov. 8). Bama crushed LSU in Baton Rouge last season, then pulled an Ole Miss and fell victim to a devastating upset two weeks later. Considering the expectations and pressure both of these teams are dealing with, this game could have playoff stakes and/or hot seat stakes. Or both?
Texas at Georgia (Nov. 15). Georgia was the only SEC hurdle Texas couldn’t clear last season. There’s obviously a chance this will be the first of two UGA-UT matchups in a four-week span.
Three freshmen to watch
Dallas Wilson, WR, Florida
Wilson showed up instantly by catching 10 passes for almost 200 yards and two touchdowns in Florida’s spring game. No matter who starts at quarterback on Week 1 for the Gators, there’s a good chance they’ll develop a quick connection with Wilson. The 6-foot-4 Florida native has a massive catch radius, 10-inch hands and surprising breakaway speed given his frame. He runs a legitimate 4.5 40-yard dash and has the shiftiness to pick up yards after the catch, making him a nightmare matchup who should see the field early in The Swamp.
David Sanders Jr., OT, Tennessee
Rarely does Tennessee turn a starting offensive line spot over to a freshman, but Sanders has all the developmental markers of an impactful tackle right out of the gate in Rocky Top. He was named North Carolina’s Gatorade Player of the Year as a junior, a rare accolade for an offensive lineman, and was the No. 7 recruit in the Class of 2025. Tennessee coaches challenged Sanders to put on weight after he enrolled early and he answered the call. The freshman now checks in at 6-6, 305 pounds with an exceptional combination of athleticism, lower body flexibility and reaction skills. Sanders will have every opportunity to win the starting right tackle spot on a Volunteers line that needs to replace four starters from last year as they retool in search of a national championship.
DJ Pickett, CB, LSU
At 6-4, Pickett has a monster frame and legitimate speed after recording a 10.7 100-meter time in high school, where he was a district sprinting champion. If he can carry over his momentum from spring practice into fall camp, Pickett has a shot to earn a starting job in Brian Kelly’s overhauled secondary. Pickett impressed LSU coaches with his combination of elite athleticism and playmaking. The five-star corner has a high ceiling and his combination of size and speed rarely seen on the boundaries in the SEC. — Billy Tucker
Three top transfers
These selections are based on Max Olson’s ranking of the top 100 transfers from the 2024-25 transfer cycle.
Transferring from: Washington State | Top 100 rank: 1
HT: 6-1 | WT: 219 | Class: Redshirt sophomore
Background: After spending two years behind Cam Ward, Mateer put together an impressive breakout season in 2024 that has made him one of the most coveted starting QBs in the country. Mateer threw for 3,139 yards and 29 touchdowns on 65% passing and ranked sixth among FBS starters with 1,032 rushing yards (excluding sacks) while scoring 15 rushing TDs. He’s explosive and fearless when he’s on the run, forcing 58 missed tackles according to ESPN Research (most among FBS QBs) with 22 rushes of 15 or more yards. The Little Elm, Texas, native went 8-4 as a starter, leading the Cougars as high as No. 18 in the College Football Playoff rankings, with a top-five expected points added (EPA) per dropback among FBS starters. Washington State put together a strong offer to bring Mateer back in 2025, but he chose to move on via the portal and has an opportunity to be the most impactful player in this portal cycle for 2025. — Max Olson
Scout’s take: Mateer is a true Air Raid guy in the passing game. He excels in rhythm and timing throws and is very decisive. He’s a very tough player to rush because he gets the ball out of his hand. He’s a solid runner who can get out of trouble and extend plays. He plays with a high confidence level and raises the play of the people around him. — Tom Luginbill
What he brings to Oklahoma: Much-needed swagger. Oklahoma hired Washington State offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle on Dec. 2, which made Mateer-to-OU the worst-kept secret in portal recruiting. Miami and others made a strong push, but Mateer couldn’t turn down a chance to join his coaches in Norman and play on a big stage next season. The Sooners have added a lot of talent via the portal to try to get things fixed, but Mateer will inject a ton of playmaking ability and confidence into their offense. — Max Olson
Transferring from: Georgia Tech | Top 100 rank: 6
HT: 5-11 | WT: 190 | Class: Sophomore
Background: Singleton was an instant difference-maker for Georgia Tech’s offense when he arrived, earning Freshman All-America honors in 2023 and finishing second for the ACC’s Offensive Rookie of the Year honor. The three-star signee from Douglasville, Georgia, caught 104 passes for 1,468 yards and scored 10 offensive touchdowns over the past two seasons. Singleton also ran track for the Yellow Jackets with a personal record of 10.32 in the 100-meter dash this spring. He has the talent to become an early-round draft pick and was one of the most coveted players in the portal. — Olson
Scout’s take: Singleton might be one of the best route runners and fastest overall players to enter the transfer portal. He’s really good in the underneath passing game, where he can turn screens and 5-yard catches into big chunk gains. He also has elite straight-line speed to get behind the defense and plucks most balls thrown in his vicinity. What made him such a high commodity in the portal are the intangibles. He’s a great blocker and tough player. — Billy Tucker
What he brings to Auburn: After the program’s fourth consecutive losing season, coach Hugh Freeze and the Tigers assembled an impressive transfer recruiting class that they hope will flip their fortunes in 2025. This is a significant win over Texas, Ole Miss and several other SEC foes; Singleton should play a high-target role for the Tigers as they replace talented pass catchers KeAndre Lambert-Smith and Rivaldo Fairweather. — Olson
Transferring from: USC | Top 100 rank: 8
HT: 5-10 | WT: 175 | Class: Sophomore
Background: Branch lived up to five-star hype right away with the Trojans and was one of the most dangerous all-purpose playmakers in the country in 2023. The No. 7 overall recruit became the first USC freshman to earn first-team All-America honors in program history. He was dominant in the return game (774 yards, two TDs) during his debut season and turned 89 touches on offense into 910 yards and four TDs over his two years at USC. He entered the portal along with his older brother, USC safety Zion Branch. — Olson
Scout’s take: One of the fastest players in the 2023 class, Branch quickly transitioned into one of college football’s most electrifying players as a true freshman at USC. He ran a verified 4.41 40 and had 100-meter track times in the 10.3 range coming out of national power Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas. That speed transferred to the field immediately as a returner in 2023. His special teams production dipped as a sophomore, but that might be more related to opponent scheme than any diminishing skill. In the passing game, he’s what you’d expect: a big-play weapon in the screen game, jet sweeps and on quick slants and crossers that get him the ball in space. He’s an underneath mismatch and a great YAC target. — Tucker
What he brings to Georgia: Branch is a big-time upgrade for a Georgia offense that must replace leading receivers Arian Smith and Dominic Lovett. The Bulldogs led all FBS teams with 36 receiver drops last season, according to ESPN Research, and will need Branch to be a reliable difference-maker for new starting QB Gunner Stockton. — Olson
Numbers to know
3: According to the Allstate Playoff Predictor, three of the four teams with at least a 10% chance of winning the national championship are in the SEC: Texas at 24%, Georgia at 18% and Alabama at 11%. (The fourth team is Ohio State of the Big Ten at 11%.)
0: The number of new head coaches in the SEC this season, marking just the fourth time that has happened since the league expanded to 12 teams in 1992. There also were only four coordinator changes this offseason after more than half of the SEC’s coordinators were replaced following the 2023-24 season.
+250: The odds of Texas winning the SEC championship, according to ESPN BET, which are the longest odds for an SEC favorite in at least 15 years. The preseason favorite has gone on to win the SEC title in six of the last 10 seasons. — ESPN Research
Power Rankings
Steve Sarkisian loves his roster, and he has plenty of reason to be excited with Manning, receivers DeAndre Moore Jr. and Ryan Wingo, and tailbacks Quintrevion Wisner and CJ Baxter returning. The Longhorns will have to replace four starting offensive linemen and fill some holes on the defensive front.
Stockton got a taste of being the starting quarterback in the second half of last season’s SEC championship game and a CFP quarterfinal and did an admirable job. If Georgia’s offensive line plays better and his receivers are more dependable, Stockton should be fine running the offense.
DeBoer’s first season didn’t go as planned, but replacing Nick Saban at Alabama would have been a nightmare for any coach. DeBoer’s track record of success is too good for the Crimson Tide not to bounce back in Year 2.
4. LSU Tigers
The Tigers are probably going to score a lot of points, and if Brian Kelly can figure out how to turn around his defense, they might be a legitimate SEC title and CFP contender. LSU has dropped five straight season openers, three under Kelly, and it plays at Clemson on Aug. 30.
The Aggies went 8-5 in Mike Elko’s first season after starting 7-1, and if the longtime defensive coordinator can figure out how to improve a unit that allowed 5.5 yards per play in 2024, they might be a CFP dark horse. The offense might be spectacular and pound teams in the running game if quarterback Marcel Reed continues to grow as a passer.
Lane Kiffin loves to score points, but the Rebels were in the CFP hunt in 2024 because of their defense, which ranked No. 2 in the FBS in scoring defense (14.4 points), behind only national champion Ohio State. If Austin Simmons takes care of the ball, the Rebels might be better than anticipated.
The SEC schedule gets a little harder for the Vols this season, with the Alabama and Florida games both being on the road. The Georgia game on Sept. 13 is also earlier than usual, albeit at home, as Tennessee breaks in a new quarterback. The defense should again be very good and keep the Vols in games, but they’re going to need more explosive plays on offense if they’re going to make the playoff again.
Mateer was a massive get in the transfer portal for the Sooners, who simply couldn’t score a year ago. They were held to 20 or fewer points in seven of their 13 games. Oklahoma addressed several other needs on offense in the portal, and Venables is taking over the play-calling duties on defense. A four-game stretch from Oct. 11-Nov. 1 against Texas in Dallas, South Carolina on the road, Ole Miss at home and Tennessee on the road will define OU’s season.
The two lingering questions with the Gators, who came back from the dead a year ago, are whether or not ultra-talented quarterback DJ Lagway can stay healthy for the season and how they navigate a killer schedule again. Florida plays six teams ranked nationally in the preseason polls.
The Gamecocks might have a bona fide star in Sellers, but they’re having to replace many of the key pieces around him, as well as several difference-makers on defense. South Carolina plays a five-game stretch against LSU (road), Oklahoma (home), Alabama (home), Ole Miss (road) and Texas A&M (road) in October and November.
11. Missouri Tigers
If the Tigers were more proven at quarterback, they’d probably be ranked a lot higher. Even so, don’t be surprised if Drinkwitz’s club makes a serious run at double-digit wins for the third straight season, which has never happened in school history. Penn State transfer Beau Pribula and Sam Horn, who missed all of last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, are competing for the starting quarterback job.
12. Auburn Tigers
This should be Hugh Freeze’s best team on the Plains, and the Tigers could be one of those teams that makes a lot more noise during the season than some outside of the program are expecting. So much will depend on quarterback Jackson Arnold, who’s getting a reset after transferring from Oklahoma. He has a deep and talented receiving corps, and edge rusher Keldric Faulk leads a defense that needs to be better at getting off the field in key situations.
Arkansas is another team that has a chance to be much improved, although the final record might not reflect it. The Hogs have one of the trickier schedules in the league, and some new faces need to step up on defense. But returning quarterback Taylen Green is dynamic as both a passer and runner and should be even better in his second season under offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino.
14. This is no diss to Clark Lea and the Commodores to be ranked this low. They reveled in proving people wrong a year and may do the same again this year, especially if they can stay healthy. Quality depth has always been a problem for Vanderbilt. What’s not a problem is its quarterback. Diego Pavia returns after a terrific debut season on West End. His teammates feed off his energy and toughness.
Mark Stoops, in his 13th season at Kentucky, is the dean of SEC coaches. He has built the Wildcats’ program from the ground up, but they dipped to 4-8 a year ago and 1-7 in the SEC. That’s after winning 10 games in 2018 and 2021 and going to eight straight bowl games. The Wildcats need to regain their tough, blue-collar approach and get consistent play from transfer quarterback Zach Calzada (on his fourth different team) if they’re going to bounce back in 2025.
16. Mississippi State Bulldogs
It has been a whirlwind for second-year Mississippi State coach Jeff Lebby, who has had to completely overhaul the roster, 80% consisting of players in their first or second year in the program. Lebby is excited by what he has seen from quarterback Blake Shapen, who missed most of last season with a shoulder injury. The home schedule for the Bulldogs is one of the toughest in the country. Four playoff teams from a year ago (Arizona State, Tennessee, Texas and Georgia) visit Starkville. — Schlabach, Low
Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin has partnered with a Russian technology company to produce a movie, series or documentary about his NHL career.
Yandex and its streaming platform, Kinopoisk, announced the agreement Tuesday.
Ovechkin this past spring broke Wayne Gretzky’s career goals record and has scored 897 going into the final season of his contract with the Capitals. Ovechkin, who turns 40 next month, has along with his representatives granted the rights to adapt his career to Yandex’s production label, Plus Studio.
The Moscow native began his professional career in the Russian league, now the KHL. He is expected to take part in commercials and serve as a Yandex ambassador as part of the deal.
Ovechkin has played his entire NHL career with Washington since the Capitals drafted him with the first pick in 2004, and he debuted in 2005. He has been the face of the franchise since, served as its captain since January 2010. He was playoffs MVP in 2018 when he led the Capitals to their first Stanley Cup championship.
-
Sports3 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports1 year agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports2 years agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Sports2 years agoButton battles heat exhaustion in NASCAR debut
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike