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It’s only Week 3, and already the college football season has been rife with surprises. Can Colorado, 1-11 last season, run its record to 3-0 when the Buffaloes take on Colorado State (10 p.m. ET, ESPN) on Saturday?

Colorado isn’t the only early-season surprise, though. No. 21 Duke looks to go to 3-0 when it plays host to Northwestern (3:30 p.m. ET, ACCN), while No. 3 Florida State travels to Boston College (noon ET, ABC), No. 4 Texas hosts Wyoming (8 p.m. ET, LHN) and No. 7 Penn State opens Big Ten play at Illinois (noon ET, Fox).

No. 22 Miami kicks off Week 3 when Bethune-Cookman travels to Coral Gables to face the unbeaten Hurricanes (7:30 p.m. ET, ACCN).

Our reporters preview Week 3 with a look at teams that have surprised, quarterbacks to watch, big-picture numbers and some of the week’s best quotes.

Teams that have pleasantly surprised

Duke: The Blue Devils won nine games last season and returned 18 starters, including quarterback Riley Leonard. Yet what Duke did to Clemson in the season opener stunned the entire college football world. Well, except for one group: the Blue Devils themselves. While the 28-7 victory might have seemed surprising — considering the opponent and domination — Duke is not your grandfather’s football team. Second-year coach Mike Elko has done a remarkable job of not only transforming the culture, belief and mindset in the locker room, but he and his staff have done terrific work to instill core principles needed to win at a place like Duke: get the fundamentals right, force turnovers, keep the penalties down and accentuate the strengths of their players. They also happen to have a potential first-round NFL pick in Leonard, who was going to play basketball in college before receiving an eleventh-hour offer to play quarterback for the Blue Devils. Elko is 11-4 through his first 15 games at Duke, marking the best 15-game start to a head-coaching stint in school history. With its huge win over Clemson, Duke is ranked for the first time since 2018 and will be heavily favored in its next two contests, starting Saturday against Northwestern. After a trip to UConn, Duke will host Notre Dame on Sept. 30 in another national spotlight game for a program that is starting to get used to them. “If we can have a good season, there’s no question what type of football program we have,” Leonard told ESPN. “Coach Elko is in this thing for the long run, so I think Duke football is building a name for itself, and we’re going to be around for a long time.” — Andrea Adelson

Texas: You obviously have to highlight Texas for the simple fact that the Longhorns finally pulled off the type of win they’ve flirted with for a while. Granted, they now have to maintain that level during their final run through the Big 12, against a bunch of conference foes that will be taking home run swings at them. But anytime Quinn Ewers and the Longhorns’ defense play like they did Saturday at Alabama, Texas will probably win. Beyond that, both Kansas State and Oklahoma have backed up their status as vice favorites, which might or might not be surprising. And further down the pecking order, Kansas has shown both the offensive prowess we expected and at least a little bit of potential defensive push. The Jayhawks are better knocking teams off schedule, and the pass rush looks excellent. — Bill Connelly

Penn State: It might be a stretch to say they have surprised, because Penn State started the season ranked in the top 10. But for fans who don’t pay attention nationally or regionally, it probably has been a surprise to see the Nittany Lions playing as well as they have through the first two weeks with a new quarterback. Drew Allar has been as advertised, throwing for 529 yards and four touchdowns. The offense is balanced with Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen in the backfield. And despite losing some NFL talent on defense, Penn State has shown few weaknesses thus far. Michigan and Ohio State have gotten all the attention in the Big Ten, but the Lions are going to get more and more at the rate they’re playing. — Tom VanHaaren

Colorado: It’s too easy to say Colorado here, but it’s hard not to focus on the Buffs after they won their first two games under Deion Sanders and more or less dominated TCU and Nebraska. Things will get tougher for Sanders’ team soon enough, but the way the staff and player turnaround has paid immediate dividends is remarkable. Shedeur Sanders has looked every bit the part of an elite college quarterback, throwing for over 900 yards and six touchdowns in two games, while Travis Hunter has turned into an immediate Heisman Trophy contender by not just playing both ways but excelling on defense and offense. The Buffs certainly have holes in their roster and weaknesses to be exploited, but until a team can take advantage of those and overcome the play of Sanders, Hunter & Co., this will be the story of the Pac-12 and the college football world as a whole. — Paolo Uggetti

Ole Miss: The harsh reality for the SEC is that nobody has looked great. Two-time defending national champion Georgia has won two blowouts over outmatched opponents, and even then, some fans have grumbled about first-year offensive coordinator Mike Bobo’s playcalling. Imagine that. The nod here goes to Lane Kiffin and his Ole Miss Rebels, especially coming off their 37-20 win at No. 24 Tulane. The Rebels trailed 17-7 at one point but outscored the Green Wave 27-3 in the second half. Quarterback Jaxson Dart‘s toughness has been a big part of Ole Miss’ 2-0 start. The defense also made a couple of big plays, including a fumble return for a touchdown and an interception return that set up the go-ahead field goal. — Chris Low


Quarterbacks to watch in Week 3

Sam Hartman, Notre Dame: Hartman became a touchdown-passing king at Wake Forest, setting the ACC career record with 110, so it shouldn’t be a shock he already has 10 scoring strikes through three games at Notre Dame — the most ever by a Fighting Irish QB in his first three contests. He leads Power 5 quarterbacks with 87 touchdown passes since the start of the 2021 season. Hartman has spread the ball around well, targeting six different players for touchdown receptions. “We’re able to go through a progression and not just say, ‘This is the go-to guy,'” Irish coach Marcus Freeman said. “That’s the beautiful part about how we’re playing offensively right now, is that everybody and anybody on any play has a chance to have the ball going their way.” — Adam Rittenberg

Quinn Ewers, Texas: The biggest knock on Ewers since his arrival at Texas has been his inconsistency on deep passes, allowing opponents to stack the line against the Longhorns. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Ewers did not have a touchdown in his career on passes thrown more than 20 yards downfield. On Saturday against Alabama, Ewers was 3-of-5 for 115 yards and two TDs on deep attempts. Even better, in the second half, he had the most completions (five) of 30-plus yards in a half against a top-three opponent in the past 20 seasons. That’s a new wrinkle that makes Texas tough to beat. — Dave Wilson

J.J. McCarthy, Michigan: McCarthy worked this offseason to bulk up, add strength and get back to 100 percent health, and it has paid off thus far. He is completing over 87% of his passes through the first two games and now holds the second- and third-highest completion percentages in a single game for Michigan quarterbacks. With all the talk about running back Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards returning to the backfield, McCarthy has put the spotlight on himself. He has 558 yards and five touchdowns this season and has shown opposing defenses they can’t just stack the box to stop the run against Michigan. McCarthy has done all of this against lesser competition, but if he continues to play this well through the Big Ten portion of the schedule, Michigan has a great shot at making it back to the Big Ten championship game for a third year in a row. — VanHaaren

Shedeur Sanders, Colorado: Sanders has been an instant revelation at Colorado, where he is the national leader in passing yards per game (451.5) and averages over 10 yards per attempt (10.2). What’s clear is that offensive coordinator Sean Lewis has the utmost confidence in Sanders. He drops back to pass more than any quarterback in the country, and it has paid off with a completion rate (77.5%) that ranks No. 9 nationally. If the Buffaloes can get the run game going, they have the potential to remain one of the country’s most explosive offenses. — Kyle Bonagura

Jalen Milroe, Alabama: Coach Nick Saban thought about benching Milroe during last Saturday’s loss to Texas. Then Milroe threw a 49-yard touchdown to take the lead, and Saban reconsidered. But Milroe turned around and threw a backbreaking interception. So what gives? If Milroe starts against South Florida, he’ll be on a short leash. Notre Dame transfer Tyler Buchner would likely be next up. On Monday, Saban said of Buchner, “We feel really good about how he’s continued to improve and develop and gain confidence.” — Low


Big-picture numbers

Riding high out West

The Pac-12 is rolling, with eight teams ranked in this week’s AP Top 25 poll. Two are in the top 10, with USC at No. 5 and Washington at No. 8. The others to make the cut: Utah (12), Oregon (13), Oregon State (16), Colorado (18), Washington State (23) and UCLA (24). According to the Allstate Playoff Predictor, the conference has a 65% chance to send a team to the College Football Playoff, fourth among the Power 5 conferences and just ahead of the ACC at 58%.

SEC struggles

SEC teams have dropped six nonconference games this season. It lost just seven nonconference contests during the entire 2022 campaign. Overall, it is 1-4 vs. the ACC. But Ole Miss will host Georgia Tech on Saturday and should be able to add to the SEC win column, with ESPN’s FPI giving the Rebels a 90.2% chance to prevail.

Back, back, back?

Not to speak too soon, but Texas, Florida State and Miami all have been impressive. No. 4 Texas’ defense is powering the Longhorns and is ranked No. 1 in ESPN’s defensive FPI. Miami got a solid win over Texas A&M and snuck its way into the AP poll at No. 22. And third-ranked Florida State currently has a 41% chance to reach the CFP. We’ll be keeping our eyes on these teams as the weeks go on to see if they are in fact … back.


Quotes of the week

Dabo Swinney: The Clemson coach let everyone know neither he nor the Tigers are done just yet after his team’s 66-17 win against Charleston Southern.

“A lot of y’all probably want me to be gone now, but we’re still hanging in there. Like a hair in a biscuit. We’re still going.”

Mack Brown: North Carolina‘s coach made no apologies for last week’s criticism of the NCAA after transfer wide receiver Devontez Walker was denied an appeal to play this season.

“I’m not going to apologize for standing up and trying to do what’s best for our young person and making sure that he understands we have exhausted every possibility that we can to help him. Because if we haven’t, then we’re not doing our job. None of this was to embarrass anybody, to get anybody threats. The only thing we’ve done is take up for our player. And I’m very proud of that. And if I had to do it over again, I’d do exactly the same thing.”

Mike Bloomgren: The Rice coach hadn’t seen a celebration like the one his Owls had in the locker room after a double-overtime upset of crosstown rival Houston since, well …

“It was like a club I don’t go to anymore.”

Tyler Booker: The Alabama offensive guard described his team’s attitude after Saturday’s home loss to Texas, which was about what most would expect.

“The mindset of the team, we’re pissed off. Not gonna lie.”

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Ranking Elite 11 quarterbacks by system fit: Who could thrive at the next level

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Ranking Elite 11 quarterbacks by system fit: Who could thrive at the next level

The Elite 11 Finals annually spotlight the nation’s top high school quarterbacks, offering a firsthand look at how the next wave of signal-callers stacks up against elite competition.

With most participants already committed, it’s a valuable window into how these prospects will fit into their future college systems and translate to the next level. Here are the top 10 committed quarterbacks attending the event later this month ranked by system fit.

ESPN 300 ranking: 8

Tennessee’s scheme is plug-and-play friendly and fits Brandon’s big arm and sneaky mobility. There’s a clear trend emerging in Knoxville when it comes to quarterback traits in terms of stature, athleticism and arm strength. Brandon checks all three boxes. He’s very similar to former Vols standout Hendon Hooker and is further along developmentally than Hooker was at Brandon’s age. Though not quite as polished as Nico Iamaleava coming out of high school, Brandon throws a great deep ball, which Tennessee coach Josh Heupel requires from all his quarterbacks. By the time he arrives on campus, it’s likely at least one quarterback currently on the Tennessee roster will have hit the transfer portal.


ESPN 300 ranking: N/A — three-star

Duke offensive coordinator Jonathan Brewer is looking for a run-pass option quarterback with consistent accuracy and high-level production in the run game. Walker is that guy. He’s strikingly similar to Darian Mensah, the quarterback Duke brought in via the transfer portal, only Walker has a stronger arm. The Blue Devils want a dynamic runner at quarterback — something former QB Maalik Murphy wasn’t — and that’s what Walker is. A true playmaker, he also has a sky-high ceiling for development as a passer. Walker’s commitment is more evidence that the perception of Duke is shifting among top-tier recruits.


ESPN 300 ranking: 157

It’s easy to see why Arizona State’s coaching staff loves Fette considering he’s a mirror image of current quarterback Sam Leavitt. Fette is a sandlot-style riverboat gambler who thrives when the play breaks down. He looks like a pocket passer, but has the athleticism of a runner and can stress defenses with his legs. Coach Kenny Dillingham will use a lot of smoke and mirrors with shifts, motions, personnel groupings and backfield action to maximize Fette’s dynamic skill set and make him a threat both inside and outside the pocket.


ESPN 300 ranking: 6

Bell enters an ideal situation. The Longhorns don’t need to rush him, and instead can allow him to develop at his own pace. His fit is quite akin to Arch Manning‘s, and if Bell follows a similar blueprint he will get bigger, stronger and more mature over time. He already displays the tools of a high-level passer and adds value as a more capable runner than Quinn Ewers did in Steve Sarkisian’s system. Bell is a naturally gifted passer with a long track record of performance against elite competition, so he is ready to make the jump.


ESPN 300 ranking: N/A — three-star

Regardless of Carson Beck‘s production this fall, Coleman will be able to deliver the dynamism that Miami showcased with Cam Ward at the helm, which will make the Hurricanes much more difficult to defend. Coleman is the type of player Miami will prefer at quarterback in the long run. He has moxie, a gunslinger’s mentality and a live arm capable of making off-platform plays look routine. Remind you of anyone?


ESPN 300 ranking: 155

It’s easy to see shades of former Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams when watching Jonas Williams. He’s a naturally creative and improvisational quarterback. The play is never over, sometimes to a fault, but often to devastating effect. Williams can move the launch point and change arm angles, especially when asked to get the ball out quickly on screens and underneath throws. He thrives in chaos and can run the play-action offense Lincoln Riley loves to employ.


ESPN 300 ranking: 16

Henderson is another signal-caller with similarities to Darian Mensah, who played for current Houston coach Willie Fritz at Tulane. Landing Henderson was a huge win for Fritz. Henderson is a terrific athlete who can reach 20.6 mph max speed, an elite number for a quarterback. We’re intrigued to see whether he sticks at quarterback or moves to another position. For that reason, he’s more of a developmental player who needs to get more consistent in the passing game, but he has a high ceiling regardless of position.


ESPN 300 ranking: 198

At 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, Huhn has the kind of stature coach James Franklin and offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki love. Though not as mobile as Drew Allar, Huhn is very athletic in the pocket. He can extend plays and shows strong anticipation off play-action. Huhn loves to play under center, which is a valuable trait in a Penn State offense that blends shotgun and traditional looks. With a scheme that frequently shifts the launch point through varied play-action concepts, Huhn’s footwork and functional mobility make him a natural fit.


ESPN 300 ranking: N/A — three-star

It’s still unclear exactly what North Carolina’s offense will look like under Bill Belichick, but recent quarterback additions offer a clue. The Tar Heels brought in dual-threat options in South Alabama transfer Gio Lopez and 2025 commit Bryce Baker. Neither is a traditional pocket passer, nor is Burgess. He’s a great get for North Carolina with his athleticism, live arm, quick release and developmental upside. He also won’t be thrust into action immediately. Once the staff understands his strengths, he’s the kind of player it can build a system around. Though not as tall, he’s reminiscent of NC State’s CJ Bailey.


ESPN 300 ranking: N/A — three-star

Cherry is the prototypical athletic pocket passer for Jeff Brohm’s system. He’s decisive, releases the ball quickly and anticipates plays well. Combine that with Brohm’s tried-and-true scheme, and it’s easy to see why Louisville is a destination for quarterbacks such as Cherry who are looking to up their game. He is similar to Cardinals transfer quarterback Miller Moss in both skill and style. Cherry thrives in quick-game concepts, excels in the intermediate passing attack and is highly effective off deep play-action. Louisville is attractive for Cherry because it always layers good skill players around its quarterback.

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Panthers-Oilers Game 6 preview: Can the Oilers force a Game 7?

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Panthers-Oilers Game 6 preview: Can the Oilers force a Game 7?

Will Tuesday night’s matchup between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers be the final game of the 2024-25 season? Or will there be one more on Friday?

The Panthers lead 3-2 in the 2025 Stanley Cup Final ahead of Game 6 (8 p.m. ET, TNT/Max). If they win, they skate the Cup on home ice. If the Oilers win, Game 7 is back in Edmonton.

Here are notes on the matchup from ESPN Research, as well as betting intel from ESPN BET:

More from Game 5: Recap | Grades

Matchup notes

Florida Panthers at Edmonton Oilers
Game 6 | 8 p.m. ET | TNT/Max

With a 3-2 lead ahead of Game 6 on home ice, the Panthers are now -400 favorites to win the Cup and the Oilers are +300; those numbers are adjusted from prior to Game 5, when both clubs were -110. As for the Conn Smythe Trophy, Sam Bennett remains the leader, but his odds have shifted from +150 to -190. Brad Marchand (+300), Connor McDavid (+700) and Leon Draisaitl (+700) round out the top four.

The Panthers are seeking to become the first team to repeat as Stanley Cup champions by beating the same team since the Montreal Canadiens did so against the Boston Bruins in 1977 and 1978 — for the Habs, those were titles No. 2 and 3 of four straight earned between 1976 and 1979. A Panthers win would be the fourth Stanley Cup for a team based in the state of Florida this decade (the Tampa Bay Lightning won in 2020 and 2021).

The Oilers are facing elimination for the first time in the 2025 playoffs. Last year, they were 5-1 when facing elimination — including three wins in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final after falling behind 3-0. Road teams facing elimination in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final have gone 6-6 in the past 12 occurrences.

Marchand is having a superb Stanley Cup Final, scoring six goals thus far. That marks the most goals in a Cup Final since Esa Tikkanen (1988, also six). Marchand is the first player to score five or more goals with multiple teams in a Cup Final, and his five road goals in this series are the most in a single Cup Final since Jack Adams had six for the Vancouver Millionaires in 1922. With multiple multigoal games in the Cup Final, Marchand joins Jeff Friesen (New Jersey Devils, 2003) and Max Talbot (2009, Pittsburgh Penguins) as the only players to pull off that feat in the past 30 years.

Teammate Sam Bennett is also entering historic territory. With a goal in Edmonton in Game 5, he became the fifth player in NHL history with a streak of six straight road games with a goal. He is also the fourth active NHL player to score 15 goals in a single postseason, joining Zach Hyman (16, 2024), Alex Ovechkin (15, 2018) and Sidney Crosby (15, 2009).

Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky tied the NHL record for most road wins in a single postseason (10). The other five goalies tied atop the list are: Jordan Binnington (St. Louis Blues, 2019), Braden Holtby (Washington Capitals, 2018), Jonathan Quick (Los Angeles Kings, 2012), Miikka Kiprusoff (Calgary Flames, 2004), Martin Brodeur (Devils, 2000 and 1995).

With three goals in this series, Edmonton’s Corey Perry tied Mark Recchi (Bruins, 2011) and Igor Larionov (Detroit Red Wings, 2002) for the most goals by a player age 40 or older in a single Cup Final.

McDavid scored a point in every home game he played since the 4 Nations Face-Off break — a run of 17 straight games, with 36 points in that span. He reached 150 playoff points in 95 games, the third-fastest player in NHL history to reach that benchmark, behind Wayne Gretzky (68 games played) and Mario Lemieux (86).

With one more game-winning goal this series, Draisaitl would become just the third player in the NHL’s modern era (since 1943-44) — and first since 1977 — to have three game winners in a single Stanley Cup Final. The previous players to do so are Jacques Lemaire (1977) and Jean Beliveau (1965 and 1960), both of whom accomplished the feat for the Canadiens.

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Oilers coach: We’ve overcome difficult situations before

Kris Knoblauch keeps faith in his Oilers as he reflects on losing Game 5 in Edmonton.


Scoring leaders

GP: 22 | G: 15 | A: 7

GP: 21 | G: 11 | A: 22


Best bets for Game 6

Evander Kane over 4.5 total hits (+107): The Oilers need to be more physical if they hope to have a legitimate shot at pushing this series to a Game 7. Saturday’s team total of 25 hits, including only a pair from Kane, isn’t going to cut it. An aggressive difference-maker when he’s at his best at nearing, but not crossing, the line as he has too often this series, the winger will be one to watch from the get-go Tuesday. Notably, he registered 17 total hits through both overtime games to open this series in Edmonton. Win or lose, Kane is going to serve as a factor. Hopefully for the Oilers, not by earning himself time in the penalty box.

Stuart Skinner under 25.5 total saves (-120): If Skinner — presuming coach Kris Knoblauch goes with his No. 1 netminder to start Game 6 — struggles, or the rest of the Oilers fail to perform well enough out front, he won’t last long enough in the crease to make 26 saves before all is said and done. The leash will be short in this must-win contest. Or perhaps Edmonton’s team defense rises to the occasion and prevents more scoring chances in support of their starting goaltender, as it did in earlier rounds versus Dallas and Vegas.

Connor McDavid first period anytime goal-scorer (+600): After Leon Draisaitl scored the opener in Game 1, the Panthers are perfect in four straight games at catching the back of the net first, outscoring Edmonton 11-4 altogether in the initial period. The Oilers understand reversing that trend would go a long way in helping them survive, particularly by forcing Florida to sway from their stifling defensive play. Who better to look to than McDavid, who finally found the back of the net this series in Saturday’s losing effort? The sport’s best player needs to shoot more, and he knows it. He’ll be revved right up to make a statement, early. — Victoria Matiash

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Ohtani allows 1 run, 2 hits in 28-pitch inning

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Ohtani allows 1 run, 2 hits in 28-pitch inning

LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani jogged off the pitcher’s mound and leaned against the dugout railing while strapping on his elbow guard and batting gloves. He was thrown a towel to wipe the sweat off his face, then walked to the batter’s box to face San Diego Padres ace Dylan Cease without taking any practice swings.

With that, Ohtani began his quest to once again do what many in the sport consider impossible.

Ohtani made his pitching debut from Dodger Stadium on Monday, giving up a run in his lone inning of work, then struck out in his first plate appearance as the Los Angeles Dodgers’ designated hitter, marking the first time he has pitched and hit in a game since Aug. 23, 2023. He would eventually finish 2-4 with two RBIs in his club’s 6-3 victory.

Ohtani is close to 21 months removed from a second repair of his right ulnar collateral ligament but faced hitters only three times before essentially rejoining the Dodgers’ rotation, his last session, from Petco Park in San Diego last Tuesday, spanning three simulated innings and 44 pitches.

Ohtani communicated to the Dodgers that facing hitters hours before games, then cooling off and having to ramp back up to DH later that night, was more taxing on his body than doing both simultaneously, prompting him to return to pitching sooner than expected. These initial starts will basically function as the continuation of Ohtani’s pitching rehab. On Monday, he was basically utilized as an opener.

Ohtani reached 99.9 mph and 100.2 mph with his fastball but also uncorked a wild pitch while utilizing 28 pitches to record the first three outs. Fernando Tatis Jr. led off with a bloop single and Luis Arraez followed with a line-drive single. Ohtani should have recorded a strikeout of Manny Machado, who went around on a two-strike swing. But first-base umpire Ryan Blakney ruled otherwise, bringing the count to 2-2 and later prompting a sacrifice fly to score the game’s first run.

Ohtani followed by inducing groundouts to Gavin Sheets and Xander Bogaerts, and with that, his pitching debut was over.

The Dodgers hope it’s the first of many starts.

Ohtani, 30, functioned as a transformative two-way player from 2021 to 2023, winning two unanimous MVPs and also finishing as the runner-up to Aaron Judge. On offense, Ohtani slashed .277/.379/.585 with 124 home runs and 57 stolen bases. On the mound, he posted a 2.84 ERA with 542 strikeouts and 143 walks in 428⅓ innings.

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