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The biggest conference storyline that has dominated the headlines (aside from the future of the league) is whether the ACC has two teams with legitimate College Football Playoff chances in Clemson and Florida State. Both teams have plenty of questions to answer first.

At Clemson, new offensive coordinator Garrett Riley enters the mix to try and fix a unit that has lost its fastball. After making six straight playoff appearances, Clemson has not made the playoff the past two years, and that has led to questions about whether the program has long-term staying power. The move Dabo Swinney made to bring in Riley is a clear indication he believes there is plenty Clemson has left to prove.

In Tallahassee, Florida State has sent expectations soaring, thanks to a 10-win season plus all the starters coming back. But this is also a program that had a three-game losing streak in the middle of last season and has not beaten Clemson since 2014. If the Seminoles can get past a tough September, when they play both LSU and Clemson, expectations will be even higher.

While playoff appearances generally determine the way conferences are perceived, the ACC has been a far more balanced league than in years past. Perhaps that ends up playing a role in what happens in 2023, when the ACC plays without divisions.

Top storyline: The Eagles are going with a different starting quarterback this spring and a different offensive approach following a 3-9 season that was plagued with injuries and inconsistency. Emmett Morehead takes over as the starter after playing at a high level in 2022 in place of the injured Phil Jurkovec. Quarterbacks coach Steve Shimko adds the title of offensive coordinator, but no matter who is calling the plays, it is imperative for the Eagles to get back to running the football. BC could never keep the same offensive line together a year ago because they were so young and banged-up. But that should provide a far more experienced unit this year, especially with the return of possible first-round pick Christian Mahogany.

Newcomer to watch: There’s no question receiver Zay Flowers leaves behind big shoes to fill. Watch for UCF transfer Ryan O’Keefe to make the most of his opportunity. O’Keefe was a big-time playmaker for the Knights (2,002 receiving yards), but there will be other opportunities to get him the ball in space beyond lining him up at wide receiver. He also reunites with BC receivers coach Darrell Wyatt, who coached him at UCF.


Top storyline: This spring provides our first glimpse at what new offensive coordinator Garrett Riley will do to help quarterback Cade Klubnik get the Clemson offense back on track. Without question, Dabo Swinney’s decision to hire Riley from TCU was among the biggest in the college football offseason — an admission that fixing the offense needed to be handled by someone outside the program. The turning point was seemingly a loss to Tennessee in the Capital One Orange Bowl, when Clemson scored just 14 points on 101 plays. Riley’s offensive scheme has worked everywhere he has been, but for the first time in his career, he will be at a program that has consistently pulled in top-10 recruiting classes. The talent is there for Clemson to be a high-powered offense again.

Newcomer to watch: We will stay on the offensive side of the ball and go with freshman receiver Noble Johnson, an early enrollee who was one of the top offensive recruits Clemson signed in its 2023 class. Not only does Clemson have to get more consistency from its receivers, it also needs a big-play target who can stretch the field. Johnson, at 6-foot-3, 205 pounds, has an opportunity to fit that category after averaging 17.2 yards per catch in high school.


Top storyline: In Mike Elko’s first year as head coach, Duke’s defense went from the worst in the ACC — and among the worst in the country — to being respectably middle-of-the-pack thanks to drastically improved tackling, a better pass rush and 26 takeaways, nearly twice its 2021 total. Building on that success will be key to the Blue Devils’ growth, but they’ll need to do it with a new defensive coordinator. Robb Smith left after just one year, and Elko brought in his former Texas A&M assistant Tyler Santucci to take over the D. There’s work to be done for a unit that still allowed 7.2 yards per pass, but if Santucci can get the defense to take another step forward, there’s no reason the Blue Devils can’t repeat last year’s surprising nine-win campaign.

Newcomer to watch: Speaking of the pass defense, Duke added a potential difference-maker this offseason in Miami transfer Al Blades Jr. The onetime blue-chip recruit started 14 games in 2019 and 2020, but an injury-plagued 2021 and the new coaching staff at Miami in 2022 kept him off the field for long stretches. He’s still immensely talented, however, and a fresh start with the Blue Devils could equate to another shot at stardom for Blades and a big improvement for Duke’s secondary.


Top storyline: The Seminoles rank No. 1 in the nation in returning production, including bringing back their quarterback (Jordan Travis), leading rusher (Trey Benson) and leading receiver (Johnny Wilson). There are not many high-profile position battles that need to be addressed in the spring. The biggest storyline centers around how this team handles the increased expectations and hype following a 10-win season. Florida State is a legitimate threat to win the ACC this year for the first time in seven years. Nobody is talking about hot seats and whether Florida State can ever get back as a program. Now the talk is whether this team can contend for the playoff. How Mike Norvell and his team handles all that outside noise will be fascinating to watch.

Newcomer to watch: Once again, Florida State has no shortage of transfers as Norvell and his staff continue to rely on a model that allows them to integrate veteran playmakers into their team. It has worked wonders since Norvell arrived. Among this year’s talented group of transfers, keep an eye on Virginia transfer cornerback Fentrell Cypress II, who ranked No. 1 in the ACC and ninth nationally in pass breakups in a breakout season in 2022. He has the potential to be the best shutdown cornerback in the ACC.


Top storyline: Did last year’s 4-4 finish represent progress or a post-coaching change blip? Brent Key did enough down the stretch to earn the full-time head-coaching job, but now the real work begins. Key must develop some explosiveness on an offense that often lacked any downfield threat, continue to develop an O-line that’s been among the league’s worst for years and reignite a ground game that used to be the signature of Georgia Tech’s brand but in 2022 averaged just 3.75 yards per rush. Finding an offensive identity this spring will go a long way to determining how competitive the Yellow Jackets will be. Key helped turn around the defense in 2022. Now it’s time for the offense to take a similar leap forward.

Newcomer to watch: Haynes King spent three years in Jimbo Fisher’s offense, winning the starting job three different times, and yet it never seemed to quite work. Whether because of injuries or inconsistency, King wrapped his Aggies career with just 10 touchdown passes to go with 10 picks. Still, he brings some serious talent to Georgia Tech, which dealt with its own frustrating inconsistency through three years with Jeff Sims. Out from under Fisher’s long shadow, it’s easy to envision a scenario where the change of scenery and far less pressure to meet sky-high expectations offer King a chance to finally thrive. If he does, it’d be a boon for the Yellow Jackets and potentially one of the biggest portal additions of the year.


Top storyline: It feels as if everybody in America described the hire of Jeff Brohm as a “slam dunk” for the Cardinals, and for good reason. He is Louisville football royalty, and he had great success as head coach at Purdue before finally deciding to come back to his alma mater. Of course, that has put a lot of the focus on the Louisville offense, which had stagnated under coach Scott Satterfield. Brohm is sure to get the offense jump-started, especially when it comes to playing with more tempo. He was also able to hang onto a top-tier recruiting class, so how the players on the roster mesh with what Brohm wants to do is one of the biggest storylines to watch.

Newcomer to watch: There are two quarterbacks to watch: Incoming freshman Pierce Clarkson, a four-star recruit and huge pickup for the Cards, and transfer Jack Plummer. Brohm made it a point to bolster the depth in his quarterback room as soon as he arrived. Bringing Plummer in does just that — especially since Plummer has experience with Brohm. Plummer started his career at Purdue and spent four years there before transferring to Cal last season. His familiarity with Brohm could give him an advantage. But either way, there will be competition for this spot, and that is exactly what Brohm wants.


Top storyline: Miami opened the 2022 season amid much fanfare with the return of Mario Cristobal, a renewed investment from the school in football, an all-star cast of assistant coaches and an incumbent QB poised for stardom. The result: 5-7. This offseason saw an exodus of assistants and players, but folks around Miami think it might be better for it. In particular, QB Tyler Van Dyke looks like he’ll be a far better fit in new OC Shawn Dawson’s offensive scheme. There are still plenty of big questions for Miami, but the biggest accomplishment the team might achieve this spring will be simply putting 2022 in the rearview mirror for good.

Newcomer to watch: Miami signed a pair of five-star offensive linemen, and both players — Francis Mauigoa and Samson Okunlola — will participate in spring ball. Given the Hurricanes’ offensive woes last season, which included just 1.42 yards before contact per carry, adding size and strength up from is critical. If Mauigoa and Okunola develop as Cristobal hopes they will, they’d fit nicely into a group that also includes veteran Zion Nelson and UCF transfer Matt Lee.


Top storyline: When NC State brought in Virginia transfer quarterback Brennan Armstrong, the natural assumption was that he would take over the starting quarterback job with Devin Leary off to Kentucky. Especially with his former offensive coordinator, Robert Anae, coming to NC State as well. But coach Dave Doeren has made it clear there will be an open competition this spring between Armstrong and returning quarterbacks MJ Morris and Ben Finley. Morris and Finley played last season after Leary got hurt and showed their own flashes of potential. How the competition goes this spring could determine how the NC State offense looks moving forward.

Newcomer to watch: The obvious choice here is Armstrong, who put up huge numbers when he was with Anae at Virginia. In 2021, their last season together, Armstrong threw for 4,449 yards (a single-season Virginia passing record) and accounted for 40 total touchdowns. His ability to run makes him a true dual-threat. But without Anae at Virginia last season, he struggled. This fresh start with the Wolfpack could get him back on track, if he’s able to win the competition.


Top storyline: In Mack Brown’s first season with the Tar Heels in 2019, UNC’s defense had a 58.3% successful play rate. The next year, 57.1%. The next, 55.2%. And last season? A dismal 52.2%, good for 121st nationally. Can you spot the trend? The Heels had a genuine Heisman Trophy contender in Drake Maye and a ton of skill position talent in 2022. They posted big numbers on offense. And in the end, the woeful state of the D left UNC with a four-game losing streak to close out the season. Afterward, a host of defensive mainstays hit the portal, and Brown and DC Gene Chizik are looking to start fresh. That ultimately means getting better production up front and playing more aggressively to disrupt the opposing QB — something the Heels were atrocious at in 2022. Can the D-line make a big jump this spring? Will fresh faces bring a new energy? Or will it be more of the same as Maye’s heroics are offset by a paper-thin defense in 2023?

Newcomer to watch: After three years running Brown’s offense, Phil Longo left for Wisconsin this offseason. In his place, Brown hired former UCF offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey, who came up under Gus Malzahn. It will be interesting to see how Lindsey’s style of play works with Maye, who excelled under Longo’s up-tempo, Air Raid principles. Lindsey led a stellar rushing attack at UCF a year ago, but UNC’s offensive identity has always started with the QB.


Top storyline: The offense will have a completely new feel in 2023 with the departure of last year’s leading passer, rusher and receiver. In the case of the ground game, replacing Izzy Abanikanda will be no easy task, but the Panthers got a taste of what Rodney Hammond Jr. could bring in the Sun Bowl as he rushed for 94 yards and two touchdowns, earning game MVP honors. LSU transfer Derrick Davis Jr. could also add some pop this spring. Finding a replacement for explosive receiver Jared Wayne and a host of veteran O-linemen will be critical, too. But, of course, the QB room figures to grab the bulk of the headlines.

Newcomer to watch: The Panthers think they hit a home run by adding hometown product Phil Jurkovec through the transfer portal this offseason. Once a blue-chip signee for Notre Dame, then a burgeoning prospect with first-round draft pick potential at Boston College, Jurkovec has battled injuries the past two seasons and struggled behind a woeful Eagles O-line in 2022. At Pitt, he may have found the perfect landing spot on an offense that will allow him to use his athleticism and big arm, while playing with a defense that should keep him in every game.


Top storyline: This has been an offseason filled with transition for Syracuse, which had to revamp its coaching staff after five assistants left for other jobs. Jason Beck takes over as offensive coordinator, but his familiarity with quarterback Garrett Shrader and the system they want to run should make for an easy transition. The more fascinating move was hiring veteran defensive guru Rocky Long to replace Tony White as defensive coordinator. White learned the 3-3-5 defensive scheme from Long, and because coach Dino Babers wanted Syracuse to continue running that scheme, he decided to go after the creator himself.

Newcomer to watch: Syracuse signed three key additions from the transfer portal. All three have a chance to make an immediate impact. Nebraska transfer cornerback Jaeden Gould and Notre Dame transfer cornerback Jayden Bellamy (former high school teammates) fill an immediate needed for the Orange, who have to replace both Garrett Williams (NFL draft) and Duce Chestnut (transfer). The most intriguing could be Alabama transfer defensive lineman Braylen Ingraham, who has the opportunity to help transform a defensive front that was often overmatched last season.


Top storyline: Few teams have ever had to navigate a spring like the one Virginia is about to undertake. Last season ended abruptly after 10 games when four members of the football team were shot, including three who were killed, by another Virginia student following a field trip in November. The season had already been a mess on the field as a new coaching staff attempted to weave veteran talent with a new approach, and the off-field tragedy rightfully shifted all focus away from football. How does Tony Elliott pick up the pieces as he enters Year 2 as head coach? Can he refocus his team on needed improvement while not losing sight of the immense emotional toll of the past year? Elliott has spent months preparing to find the right balance.

Newcomer to watch: Elliott preached the need for a more balanced offense in 2022 than the pass-happy attack the Cavaliers had run under Bronco Mendenhall, but finding a productive running game remained elusive for the Hoos. This offseason, Elliott turned to a familiar face to try to fill the void, bringing in former Clemson back Kobe Pace to anchor the ground game. Pace split starting reps with Will Shipley in 2021, when Elliott was Clemson’s offensive coordinator, rushing for 641 yards and six touchdowns. An injury sidelined him for much of 2022, however, but he could provide a needed spark for this year’s Cavaliers while helping to mentor younger talent such as sophomore Xavier Brown.


Top storyline: Last year was a mess offensively for Virginia Tech, but that wasn’t entirely unexpected. Brent Pry was rebuilding from the ground up, and that meant a lot of learning on the job for the Hokies. This offseason, both QB coach Brad Glenn (Cincinnati) and OL coach Joe Rudolph (Notre Dame) left for other jobs, further complicating the growth process. The continued development of Grant Wells at QB is paramount, but nothing would help the Hokies more in their push back to bowl eligibility in 2023 than getting the ground game going. A year ago, Virginia Tech finished 13th in the ACC in rushing yards, with Wells providing a healthy chunk of their total. Finding running lanes for transfer Bhayshul Tuten and up-and-comer Malachi Thomas. There’s not much depth here, so keeping Thomas healthy and finding more holes up front will be critical.

Newcomer to watch: The Hokies seemed to have found a genuine star last season in receiver Kaleb Smith, only to see him leave this offseason for Notre Dame. What did Pry do to fill that hole? He brought in perhaps the most productive player available, landing Old Dominion‘s Ali Jennings III, who hauled in 54 catches for 959 yards and nine touchdowns last season for the Monarchs. At 6-2, Jennings provides an enticing target, and he could help Wells and the passing game take a big leap in 2023.


Top storyline: Sam Hartman set a plethora of school records during his time as Wake Forest quarterback, in addition to an ACC-record 110 touchdown passes. But his transfer to Notre Dame marks the start of a new era for the Demon Deacons offense, one that will feature Mitch Griffis as the starting quarterback. The good news here is that Griffis has starting experience, playing in place of Hartman last season against VMI and throwing for 288 yards and three touchdowns. He will have plenty of help, too, as Wake Forest returns four of its top five receivers from a year ago.

Newcomer to watch: Wake Forest was able to hire cornerbacks coach Chip West away from Syracuse, and that could pay off immediate dividends. West and head coach Dave Clawson go way, way back (to Fordham in 2003) and West also has experience working with defensive coordinator Brad Lambert. In three years with the Orange, all of his cornerbacks earned All-ACC honors. Wake Forest has struggled in coverage in recent years, giving up 29 passing touchdowns in 2022, among the worst in the country. It should also be noted Wake Forest signed ESPN 300 cornerback Antonio Robinson to help at this position as well.

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2025 MLB Home Run Derby: The field is set! Who is the slugger to beat?

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2025 MLB Home Run Derby: The field is set! Who is the slugger to beat?

The 2025 MLB All-Star Home Run Derby is fast approaching — and the field is set.

Braves hometown hero Ronald Acuna Jr. became the first player to commit to the event, which will be held at Truist Park in Atlanta on July 14 (8 p.m. ET on ESPN). He was followed by MLB home run leader Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners, James Wood of the Washington Nationals, Byron Buxton of the Minnesota Twins, Oneil Cruz of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Junior Caminero of the Tampa Bay Rays, Brent Rooker of the Athletics and Jazz Chisholm Jr. of the New York Yankees.

On Friday, however, Acuna was replaced by teammate Matt Olson.

With all the entrants announced, let’s break down their chances at taking home this year’s Derby prize.

Full All-Star Game coverage: How to watch, schedule, rosters, more


2025 home runs: 17 | Longest: 434 feet

Why he could win: Olson is a late replacement for Acuna as the home team’s representative at this year’s Derby. Apart from being the Braves’ first baseman, however, Olson also was born in Atlanta and grew up a Braves fan, giving him some extra motivation. The left-handed slugger led the majors in home runs in 2023 — his 54 round-trippers that season also set a franchise record — and he remains among the best in the game when it comes to exit velo and hard-hit rate.

Why he might not: The home-field advantage can also be a detriment if a player gets too hyped up in the first round. See Julio Rodriguez in Seattle in 2023, when he had a monster first round, with 41 home runs, but then tired out in the second round.


2025 home runs: 36 | Longest: 440 feet

Why he could win: It’s the season of Cal! The Mariners’ catcher is having one of the greatest slugging first halves in MLB history, as he’s been crushing mistakes all season . His easy raw power might be tailor-made for the Derby — he ranks in the 87th percentile in average exit velocity and delivers the ball, on average, at the optimal home run launch angle of 23 degrees. His calm demeanor might also be perfect for the contest as he won’t get too amped up.

Why he might not: He’s a catcher — and one who has carried a heavy workload, playing in all but one game this season. This contest is as much about stamina as anything, and whether Raleigh can carry his power through three rounds would be a concern. No catcher has ever won the Derby, with only Ivan Rodriguez back in 2005 even reaching the finals.


2025 home runs: 24 | Longest: 451 feet

Why he could win: He’s big, he’s strong, he’s young, he’s awesome, he might or might not be able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. This is the perfect opportunity for Wood to show his talent on the national stage, and he wouldn’t be the first young player to star in the Derby. He ranks in the 97th percentile in average exit velocity and 99th percentile in hard-hit rate, so he can still muscle the ball out in BP even if he slightly mishits it. His long arms might be viewed as a detriment, but remember the similarly tall Aaron Judge won in 2017.

Why he might not: His natural swing isn’t a pure uppercut — he has a pretty low average launch angle of just 6.2 degrees — so we’ll see how that plays in a rapid-fire session. In real games, his power is primarily to the opposite field, but in a Home Run Derby you can get more cheapies pulling the ball down the line.


2025 home runs: 20 | Longest: 479 feet

Why he could win: Buxton’s raw power remains as impressive as nearly any hitter in the game. He crushed a 479-foot home run earlier this season and has four others of at least 425 feet. Indeed, his “no doubter” percentage — home runs that would be out of all 30 parks based on distance — is 75%, the highest in the majors among players with more than a dozen home runs. His bat speed ranks in the 89th percentile. In other words, two tools that could translate to a BP lightning show.

Why he might not: Buxton is 31 and the Home Run Derby feels a little more like a younger man’s competition. Teoscar Hernandez did win last year at age 31, but before that, the last winner older than 29 was David Ortiz in 2010, and that was under much different rules than are used now.


2025 home runs: 16 | Longest: 463 feet

Why he could win: If you drew up a short list of players everyone wants to see in the Home Run Derby, Cruz would be near the top. He has the hardest-hit ball of the 2025 season, and the hardest ever tracked by Statcast, a 432-foot missile of a home run with an exit velocity of 122.9 mph. He also crushed a 463-foot home run in Anaheim that soared way beyond the trees in center field. With his elite bat speed — 100th percentile — Cruz has the ability to awe the crowd with a potentially all-time performance.

Why he might not: Like all first-time contestants, can he stay within himself and not get too caught up in the moment? He has a long swing, which will result in some huge blasts, but might not be the most efficient for a contest like this one, where the more swings a hitter can get in before the clock expires, the better.


2025 home runs: 23 | Longest: 425 feet

Why he could win: Although Caminero was one of the most hyped prospects entering 2024, everyone kind of forgot about him heading into this season since he didn’t immediately rip apart the majors as a rookie. In his first full season, however, he has showed off his big-time raw power — giving him a chance to become just the third player to reach 40 home runs in his age-21 season. He has perhaps the quickest bat in the majors, ranking in the 100th percentile in bat speed, and his top exit velocity ranks in the top 15. That could translate to a barrage of home runs.

Why he might not: In game action, Caminero does hit the ball on the ground quite often — in fact, he’s on pace to break Jim Rice’s record for double plays grounded into in a season. If he gets out of rhythm, that could lead to a lot of low line drives during the Derby instead of fly balls that clear the fences.


2025 home runs: 19 | Longest: 440 feet

Why he could win: The Athletics slugger has been one of the top power hitters in the majors for three seasons now and is on his way to a third straight 30-homer season. Rooker has plus bat speed and raw power, but his biggest strength is an optimal average launch angle (19 degrees in 2024, 15 degrees this season) that translates to home runs in game action. That natural swing could be picture perfect for the Home Run Derby. He also wasn’t shy about saying he wanted to participate — and maybe that bodes well for his chances.

Why he might not: Rooker might not have quite the same raw power as some of the other competitors, as he has just one home run longer than 425 feet in 2025. But that’s a little nitpicky, as 11 of his home runs have still gone 400-plus feet. He competed in the college home run derby in Omaha while at Mississippi State in 2016 and finished fourth.


2025 home runs: 17 | Longest: 442 feet

Why he could win: Chisholm might not be the most obvious name to participate, given his career high of 24 home runs, but he has belted 17 already in 2025 in his first 61 games after missing some time with an injury. He ranks among the MLB leaders in a couple of home run-related categories, ranking in the 96th percentile in expected slugging percentage and 98th percentile in barrel rate. His raw power might not match that of the other participants, but he’s a dead-pull hitter who has increased his launch angle this season, which might translate well to the Derby, even if he won’t be the guy hitting the longest home runs.

Why he might not: Most of the guys who have won this have been big, powerful sluggers. Chisholm is listed at 5-foot-11, 184 pounds, and you have to go back to Miguel Tejada in 2004 to find the last player under 6 foot to win.

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Reds’ Fraley to play through partially torn labrum

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Reds' Fraley to play through partially torn labrum

CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Reds right fielder Jake Fraley was activated from the 10-day injured list on Saturday.

He had injured his right shoulder while trying to make a diving catch June 23 against the New York Yankees.

An MRI revealed a partially torn labrum that will eventually require surgery. Fraley received a cortisone shot and will try to play through it for the rest of the season.

The Reds were 7-4 in his absence.

Christian Encarnacion-Strand, who hasn’t played since Noelvi Marte returned from the IL on July 4, was optioned to Triple-A Louisville.

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Royals P Lorenzen (illness) scratched from start

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Royals P Lorenzen (illness) scratched from start

Kansas City Royals right-hander Michael Lorenzen was scratched from Saturday’s start due to an illness.

Left-hander Angel Zerpa replaced Lorenzen for the game against the visiting New York Mets.

Lorenzen, 33, is 5-8 with a 4.61 ERA through 18 starts this season.

Zerpa, 25, is 3-1 with a 3.89 ERA in 40 appearances out of the bullpen this season. His last start was in August 2023.

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