
College Football Power Rankings: Top teams hang on and advance
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adminWhen you reach this point of the season, sometimes teams just have to hold on and get by winning any way they can.
It might be a feisty rivalry (Tennessee–Alabama), the first true conference test (Penn State–Ohio State), matchups with new conference-mates (UCF–Oklahoma; Texas–Houston) or the last foreseeable matchup between two others (Arizona State–Washington). It’s Week 8, just make it through it.
Alabama, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Texas and Washington did just that. Iowa, North Carolina, and USC did not.
With all that in mind, here’s how the Power Rankings play out after Week 8 results:
Georgia hasn’t looked the part of a No. 1 team all that often in 2023, but that hardly matters: The Bulldogs have reached 7-0 despite a number of key injuries, and, with a bye week before the home stretch, they have a shot to get a little healthier. Star tight end Brock Bowers, perhaps the MVP of the team to date, is out four to six weeks with an ankle injury, but another key playmaker with a wonky ankle, tackle Amarius Mims, could return soon. Georgia faces a challenging stretch run — Florida (in Jacksonville), Missouri, Ole Miss, at Tennessee — and while the Dawgs have yet to play particularly well away from Athens, the one time they needed to absolutely show up this year (against unbeaten Kentucky in Week 6), they played by far their best game of the season. — Bill Connelly
Up next: vs. Florida in Jacksonville (12:30 p.m. ET, CBS)
The Wolverines held Michigan State to 51 total yards in the first half, with just 10 rushing yards. Michigan’s offense put up more than 300 yards in the first half in its 49-0 rout against the Spartans. Michigan has scored 30 or more points in 11 consecutive games now, which is the longest streak in program history. The Wolverines had some distractions this week with news breaking of an NCAA investigation regarding sign stealing, but it didn’t impact the play on the field. Backup quarterback Jack Tuttle was put in the game with five minutes remaining in the third quarter after J.J. McCarthy had thrown for 287 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions. It was a nearly flawless night for Michigan against in-state rival Michigan State. — Tom VanHaaren
Up next: vs. Purdue, Nov. 4
It was ugly and nearly a disaster, but Washington still made enough plays to stay undefeated. This is a case where playing late at night on the West Coast benefits the Huskies. Most of the country was not awake to see Michael Penix Jr. struggle (season-low 275 yards passing, 2 INT, 0 TD) and the Huskies get outplayed in large stretches by a team with zero FBS wins this season. As bad as it was, UW’s first poor showing of the season still ended in a win. They’ll travel to Stanford next week before a brutal four-game stretch to end the season (at USC, Utah, at Oregon State, WSU). — Kyle Bonagura
Up next: at Stanford (7 p.m. ET, FS1)
Once again, the Seminoles needed a strong second-half performance to win — this time in a 38-20 victory over Duke. Florida State scored 21 unanswered points to rally from a 20-17 deficit. Quarterback Jordan Travis was a big reason why. Travis helped open up the running game with 10 carries for a season-high 62 yards and a score. He also threw for 268 yards and two touchdowns. The fourth-quarter performance was reminiscent of the season opener against LSU. Coach Mike Norvell would love nothing more than for his team to start fast and finish strong, but there are no complaints about sitting undefeated at this point in the season.— Andrea Adelson
Up next: at Wake Forest (Noon ET, ABC)
The Buckeyes’ path to victory this season is clearly different from past ones under coach Ryan Day. Ohio State’s defense has risen in its two biggest wins- – Sept. 23 at Notre Dame and Saturday against Penn State — while a banged-up offense does just enough. Coordinator Jim Knowles’ unit was spectacular against the Nittany Lions, stopping them on their first 12 third-down attempts and keeping them out of the end zone until the game’s final minute. Ohio State had four sacks, four quarterback hurries and six pass breakups, making things miserable for Penn State quarterback Drew Allar. J.T. Tuimoloau delivered in the fourth quarter for the second straight season against the Lions, while Josh Proctor continued his excellent play. The offense had its struggles but also had the best player on the field, wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., who accounted for 11 of the team’s 22 receptions, 162 of Ohio State’s 286 receiving yards and 10 of 22 first downs. This isn’t Day’s most dominant team, but Ohio State is 7-0 because of its defense and physicality. — Adam Rittenberg
Up next: at Wisconsin (7:30 p.m. ET, NBC)
The Sooners got gouged by big plays, mostly by misdirection, and needed a late two-minute stop to hold on against UCF, which fell to 0-4 in the Big 12. It was ugly at times, including giving up an 86-yard touchdown pass, but they held UCF to 397 total yards (they averaged 516.7 per game) and 149 rushing yards (they were third in the nation at 246.3 ypg). The Sooners also kicked their running game into gear with 132 yards on 27 carries in the second half alone. OU moved to 7-0 for the third time in the past five years, but afterward, Brent Venables said that Kansas will pose a similar offensive challenge for these Sooners next week, so they’ll have to fix those defensive discipline issues. — Dave Wilson
Up next: at Kansas (noon ET, Fox)
After suffering their first defeat of the season last week in heartbreaking fashion, Oregon responded with a convincing 38-24 win against Washington State in what will likely be the last meeting between the Northwest teams for a long time. Quarterback Bo Nix completed 18 of 25 passes for 293 yards in his 54th career NCAA start, which broke the record he previously shared with Boise State’s Kellen Moore and Texas’ Colt McCoy. The Ducks had a tough time slowing down WSU’s passing offense as Cam Ward threw for 438 yards, but the Cougars weren’t effectively able to turn that production into points. The Ducks will now turn their attention to a big game at Utah next week in a battle of one-loss Pac-12 teams. — Bonagura
Up next: at Utah (3:30 p.m. ET, Fox)
Similar to Oklahoma, the Longhorns had to fend off a Big 12 upstart — an old rival, Houston, in front of a sellout crowd in their first meeting since 2002 — to avoid an upset. Texas jumped out to a 21-0 lead, but had to hold on as the Cougars outgained Texas, 392-360, and had a chance to tie or win it with about a minute left, but Donovan Smith‘s pass on 4th-and-1 at the 9 was slightly behind his receiver and fell incomplete. Quinn Ewers exited early with an injury after taking a big hit on a scramble in the third quarter and was replaced by Maalik Murphy, who finished the game. Jonathon Brooks rushed for 99 yards, and freshman CJ Baxter added 42 on six carries, including a 16-yard TD that gave Texas the lead for good. — Wilson
Up next: vs. BYU (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Whatever Nick Saban said at halftime worked because the Crimson Tide, after trailing 20-7, went on to score 27 unanswered points and beat the Vols to enter the bye week on a high. Saban went as far as to run over to the student section and congratulate them on the victory. Jalen Milroe, who threw for 220 yards and two scores, did the same. The defense should’ve taken a bow as well, though. Chris Braswell, Malachi Moore and Kool-Aid McKinstry helped shut down Joe Milton III at the Tennessee passing game in the second half, giving Alabama fans hope for what lies ahead when LSU and star quarterback Jayden Daniels come to town in two weeks. — Alex Scarborough
Up next: vs. LSU, Nov. 4
The Beavers had a bye this week after a 36-24 win over UCLA. The team is 6-1 on the season and has three wins in a row, including a 21-7 win over Utah. Oregon State is getting a rest before it takes on Arizona, Colorado and Stanford. The toughest stretch will come at the end of the season, however, when they play at home against Washington, then on the road against Oregon to close out the season. With just one loss, Oregon State is still in the hunt for the Pac-12 Championship, but those final two games will be difficult to get through unscathed. — VanHaaren
Up next: at Arizona (10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Kyle Whittingham continues to have Lincoln Riley’s number and Saturday’s 34-32 win over USC at the Coliseum may have been the most blatant proof of that fact. Without Cam Rising under center, Whittingham used Bryson Barnes and Sione Vaki (215 all-purpose yards) to perfection, outgaining USC’s offense by 81 yards while also limiting Caleb Williams and the rest of the unit to a subpar performance with the Utes’ steady defense. The win was yet another showcase of Utah’s continuity, culture and chemistry that they were able to beat the more talented Trojans on their home turf, while keeping their own Pac-12 title hopes alive. With Rising officially out for the year, there’s plenty of reason to think Whittingham’s team won’t get to Las Vegas, but as they’ve shown in recent weeks, it wouldn’t be a surprise if they did. — Paolo Uggetti
Up next: vs. Oregon (3:30 p.m. ET, Fox)
Coaches love to see their team take over the second half of a game, especially on the road, and that’s what most pleased Lane Kiffin on Saturday night. His Ole Miss Rebels turned a 14-14 halftime tie into a two-touchdown lead and won 28-21 over Auburn at Jordan-Hare Stadium. It’s the first time Ole Miss has won in back-to back seasons over Auburn since 1951 and 1952. Quarterback Jaxson Dart continues to play outstanding football for the Rebels. He had 246 yards in total offense and three touchdowns. Running back Quinshon Judkins rushed for 124 yards and a fourth quarter touchdown. He’s had 100-yard rushing games in two of his last three outings. — Chris Low
Up next: vs. Vanderbilt (7:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network)
There’s no other way to put it for Penn State. It was about as ugly as it gets on offense in a 20-12 loss on the road to Ohio State. Quarterback Drew Allar really struggled, but in his defense, nobody played well around him on offense, and some of the playcalling didn’t put him in the best position to succeed. The Nittany Lions finished a woeful 1-for-16 on third down and never had any success moving the ball until a meaningless touchdown drive at the end of the game. Penn State (6-1, 3-1) has to find a way to generate more explosive plays in the passing game if it’s going to beat Michigan at home on Nov. 11. The good news for the Nittany Lions is that they’re stout on defense, which is why they were able to hang around Saturday at Ohio Stadium. James Franklin’s club still has an excellent chance to get to double-digit wins, but has to figure out some things on offense to get back in the Big Ten race. — Low
Up next: vs. Indiana (Noon ET, CBS)
After eight games in eight weeks, beginning with a Week 0 trip to Ireland, Notre Dame took the first of what will be two byes in four weeks, and after laboring for weeks, they finished their pre-bye period on a high note with a defense-driven 48-20 win over USC. The Irish recorded three interceptions and six sacks of defending Heisman winner Caleb Williams. The offense … well … it did enough. Notre Dame averaged just 5.1 yards per play — only Nevada has managed a lower average against the Trojans in 2023 — and Sam Hartman threw for just 126 yards on 13 completions. Good feelings aside, the offense has been an issue for most of the season. The bye week and next week’s matchup with Pitt should give them a chance to figure out some answers before a potentially season-defining trip to Clemson. — Connelly
Up next: vs. Pittsburgh (3:30 p.m. ET, NBC)
Talk about leaving no doubt. The final score — LSU 62, Army 0 — only told part of the story. The Tigers racked up 570 yards of offense, including 6.1 yards per rush and 13.7 yards per pass. On defense, they forced four turnovers, allowed only 42 yards passing and had five tackles for loss. Meanwhile, Jayden Daniels continued to build on his Heisman credentials with four touchdowns (three passing, one rushing). Riding a three game winning streak, LSU is playing its best football going into the bye week with a Nov. 4 trip to Alabama to follow. — Scarborough
Up next: at Alabama, Nov. 4
If it works, keep doing it. Cody Schrader rushed 26 times for 159 yards and two touchdowns, and Missouri beat up South Carolina, 34-12, to move to 7-1 for the first time since 2013. Quarterback Brady Cook wasn’t asked to do as much as normal — he threw 24 times for 198 yards and rushed nine times for 62 — but Schrader, the former Division II All-American, was relentless, as was a Tigers pass rush that sacked the Gamecocks’ Spencer Rattler six times. Mizzou took a 24-0 lead in the second quarter and survived a stagnant second half to win comfortably. Now comes a bye week, followed by a massive Week 10 trip to Georgia for control of the SEC East. The last time the Tigers beat the Bulldogs? Also 2013. Just saying. — Connelly
Up next: at Georgia, Nov. 4
Coach Mack Brown warned his team against eating “poisonous cheese” this week, knowing full well that his Tar Heels have not handled success well since his arrival. In what has become typical North Carolina fashion, the Tar Heels unexpectedly lost a game as a heavy favorite, as 24-point underdog Virginia won 31-27. Just like last season, North Carolina could not capitalize on an undefeated start to the season. What had been an improved North Carolina defense gave up 228 yards rushing to one of the worst rushing teams in the country. Virginia came into the game averaging less than 100 yards rushing per game. While North Carolina was able to move the ball, the Tar Heels went 4-of-13 on third down. Drake Maye was not as efficient, either, only completing 50 percent of his passes. — Adelson
Up next: at Georgia Tech (8 p.m. ET, ACC Network)
Ranked in the AP Top 25 for the first time in four years and off to a 7-0 start for the first time since 1997, Air Force isn’t letting up. Quarterback Zac Larrier, a game-time decision after injuring his knee in last week’s win over Wyoming, showed little rust for the Falcons by completing 4 of 5 five passes for 151 yards, highlighted by a 94-yard touchdown pass to Dane Kinamon — the longest pass play by a service academy school on record. For the first time in 47 games, Air Force’s offense didn’t rush for at least 150 yards (137) and survived going 1-of-13 on third down. Its defense buckled down, as well, limiting Navy to 124 total yards (20 in the first half) and permitting only three third-down conversions on 17 attempts. With a Nov. 15 game looming with UNLV, the only team over .500 left on their schedule, can the Falcons begin dreaming about the program’s first unbeaten season since finishing 9-0-2 in 1958? — Blake Baumgartner
Up next: at Colorado State (7 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network)
Louisville had the week off to stew over what went wrong in the second half against Pittsburgh last week. Despite having a 430-288 edge in total yards against the Panthers, the Cardinals’ first 6-0 start in 10 years came to a halt in a lopsided loss. Turnovers have become an issue for Louisville. In two of their past three games they’ve had three turnovers. QB Jack Plummer (1,901 passing yards, 13 TDs, eight interceptions) was picked off twice by both NC State and Pittsburgh. Louisville’s defense, which sits in the ACC’s top five in both total and scoring defense, must remain opportunistic (eight interceptions). The Duke game on Oct. 28 begins a three-game homestand that will determine whether Louisville (6-1, 3-1 ACC) can fight its way back up the conference leaderboard. — Baumgartner
Up next: vs. Duke (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Quarterback Michael Pratt came to the rescue at the exact right time for Tulane, which was on the cusp of squandering a big lead. Already having seen a pair of 21-point advantages go by the wayside, Pratt’s 19-yard TD run with 2:34 left in regulation eventually pulled the Green Wave out of the fire as Willie Fritz’s team came away with a fifth straight victory. Pratt accounted for 264 total yards (194 passing yards) and four total touchdowns (three passing), connecting with tight end Alex Bauman for two scores. Freshman running back Makhi Hughes (121 rushing yards, one touchdown) continued to find his stride, eclipsing the 100-yard mark for a third straight week and paced a 245-yard rushing attack for Tulane, which has churned out at least 400 total yards (439) for the fourth straight week and for the fifth time this season. — Baumgartner
Up next: at Rice (4 p.m. ET, ESPN2)
Quarterback Riley Leonard gave it his best shot on an injured right ankle, starting the game against Florida State. But once he left the game after reinjuring it on a sack, the Blue Devils’ fortunes changed. Duke led 20-17 late in the third quarter, but after failing to punch it in on fourth-and-goal from the 4-yard line behind backup quarterback Henry Belin IV, Florida State took over. The Seminoles scored on a 96-yard drive, then stymied Duke offensively for the rest of the game. Duke finished with just eight completions, and the physicality on the offensive and defensive lines wore down as the game wore on. — Adelson
Up next: at Louisville (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Josh Heupel and the coaching staff are going to stew on this loss to Alabama for a while. That’s what happens when you blow a 13-point halftime lead on the road, fail to score a point in the second half and give up 27 unanswered points. Instead of winning two straight against one of your top rivals, you’re sent back to the drawing board to figure out why the defense, which had pressured Jalen Milroe so well during the first half, let off the gas, and why the offense couldn’t move the ball consistently, especially through the air. Going on the road to Kentucky after a loss like this could spell trouble. — Scarborough
Up next: at Kentucky (7 p.m. ET, ESPN)
The Dukes’ veteran defensive line continued to show why it’s one of the nation’s best, limiting Marshall to nine points, zero offensive points, 10 first downs and minus-4 net rushing yards in a key road win. Jalen Green tied JMU’s single-game record with five sacks, while Jamree Kromah added 1.5 sacks. The Dukes finished with eight total sacks and 15 tackles for loss. The Dukes held an opponent to a negative rushing total for the second time this season, and outgained Marshall 405-169. Reggie Brown recorded his second 100-yard receiving performance, catching six passes for 126 yards and a 28-yard score early in the fourth quarter to extend JMU’s lead to 20-2. Marshall’s only scores came on a safety and a kickoff return touchdown. Led by Green, 10 different Dukes defenders contributed at least a half tackle for loss. — Rittenberg
Up next: vs. Old Dominion (8 p.m. ET, ESPNU)
For the third straight game against Utah, coach Lincoln Riley and USC could not engineer a much-needed victory. Following their first loss of the season to Notre Dame, the Trojans looked improved, but not by much. USC allowed the Utes to execute their game plan and win the possession battle by 10 minutes while outgaining USC by 81 yards. Caleb Williams looked like a shell of his Heisman self, throwing for only 256 yards and zero touchdowns. And the USC defense committed its customary mistakes, allowing big plays on the ground, including a 23-yard rush by Utah quarterback Bryson Barnes to set up the game-winning field goal. Riley will say the Trojans still have plenty to play for with two losses (one of them in conference), but the uphill climb to a Pac-12 title game is steep, and there is only so much USC can improve upon during the season. — Uggetti
Up next: at Cal (4 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network)
Coach Chip Kelly made a change at quarterback, switching back to junior Ethan Garbers from true freshman Dante Moore. It appeared to be the right move as Garbers looked in control, connecting on 20 of 28 passes for 240 yards with a pair of touchdown passes as UCLA routed Stanford, 42-7. The Bruins scored the game’s first 35 points and didn’t allow Stanford to replicate its comeback against Colorado from a week ago. UCLA hosts Colorado this week with a chance to become bowl eligible. — Bonagura
Up next: vs. Colorado (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
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Sports
Source: USC flips Ducks’ Topui, No. 3 DT in 2026
Published
3 hours agoon
April 1, 2025By
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Eli LedermanApr 1, 2025, 06:09 PM ET
Close- Eli Lederman covers college football and recruiting for ESPN.com. He joined ESPN in 2024 after covering the University of Oklahoma for Sellout Crowd and the Tulsa World.
USC secured the commitment of former Oregon defensive tackle pledge Tomuhini Topui on Tuesday, a source told ESPN, handing the Trojans their latest recruiting victory in the 2026 cycle over the Big Ten rival Ducks.
Topui, ESPN’s No. 3 defensive tackle and No. 72 overall recruit in the 2026 class, spent five and half months committed to Oregon before pulling his pledge from the program on March 27. Topui attended USC’s initial spring camp practice that afternoon, and seven days later the 6-foot-4, 295-pound defender gave the Trojans his pledge to become the sixth ESPN 300 defender in the program’s 2026 class.
Topui’s commitment gives USC its 10th ESPN 300 pledge this cycle — more than any other program nationally — and pulls a fourth top-100 recruit into the impressive defensive class the Trojans are building this spring. Alongside Topui, USC’s defensive class includes in-state cornerbacks R.J. Sermons (No. 26 in ESPN Junior 300) and Brandon Lockhart (No. 77); four-star outside linebacker Xavier Griffin (No. 27) out of Gainesville, Georgia; and two more defensive line pledges between Jaimeon Winfield (No. 143) and Simote Katoanga (No. 174).
The Trojans are working to reestablish their local recruiting presence in the 2026 class under newly hired general manager Chad Bowden. Topui not only gives the Trojans their 11th in-state commit in the cycle, but his pledge represents a potentially important step toward revamping the program’s pipeline to perennial local powerhouse Mater Dei High School, too.
Topui will enter his senior season this fall at Mater Dei, the program that has produced a long line of USC stars including Matt Leinart, Matt Barkley and Amon-Ra St. Brown. However, if Topui ultimately signs with the program later this year, he’ll mark the Trojans’ first Mater Dei signee since the 2022 cycle, when USC pulled three top-300 prospects — Domani Jackson, Raleek Brown and C.J. Williams — from the high school program based in Santa Ana, California.
Topui’s flip to the Trojans also adds another layer to a recruiting rivalry rekindling between USC and Oregon in the 2026 cycle.
Tuesday’s commitment comes less than two months after coach Lincoln Riley and the Trojans flipped four-star Oregon quarterback pledge Jonas Williams, ESPN’s No. 2 dual-threat quarterback in 2026. USC is expected to continue targeting several Ducks commits this spring, including four-star offensive tackle Kodi Greene, another top prospect out of Mater Dei.
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Sources: QB Pyne leaves Mizzou, seeks 4th team
Published
6 hours agoon
April 1, 2025By
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Max OlsonApr 1, 2025, 03:48 PM ET
Close- Covers the Big 12
- Joined ESPN in 2012
- Graduate of the University of Nebraska
Missouri quarterback Drew Pyne has entered the portal as a graduate transfer, sources told ESPN on Tuesday.
Pyne is looking to move to his fourth school after stints at Notre Dame, Arizona State and Missouri. He’ll be a sixth-year senior this fall.
Pyne joined Missouri last year as a backup for senior starter Brady Cook. He earned one start, leading the Tigers to a 30-23 comeback win over Oklahoma while Cook was sidelined by ankle and wrist injuries.
Missouri brought in former Penn State quarterback Beau Pribula via the transfer portal this offseason. He’ll compete with redshirt junior Sam Horn and true freshman Matt Zollers, the No. 86 overall recruit in the 2025 ESPN 300, for the opportunity to start this season.
Pyne, a former ESPN 300 recruit, began his career at Notre Dame and started 10 games for the Fighting Irish in 2022. He threw for 2,021 yards on 65% passing and scored 24 total touchdowns with six interceptions while winning eight of his starts.
After the Irish brought in grad transfer quarterback Sam Hartman, Pyne transferred to Arizona State but appeared in just two games with the Sun Devils before an injury forced him to sit out the rest of the season.
Pyne played 211 snaps over six appearances for the Tigers last season and threw for 391 yards on 60% passing with three touchdowns and three interceptions.
The NCAA’s spring transfer window opens April 16, but graduate transfers are permitted to put their name in the portal at any time. More than 160 FBS scholarship quarterbacks have already transferred this offseason.
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What’s going on with Rafael Devers? Putting his historic strikeout streak into context
Published
7 hours agoon
April 1, 2025By
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David SchoenfieldApr 1, 2025, 11:50 AM ET
Close- Covers MLB for ESPN.com
- Former deputy editor of Page 2
- Been with ESPN.com since 1995
There are slow starts, there are slumps, and then there is whatever Rafael Devers is going through.
The 28-year-old three-time All-Star for the Boston Red Sox has been one of baseball’s best hitters since 2019, posting three 30-homer seasons, three 100-RBI seasons and a whole bunch of doubles.
His first five games of 2025 have been a nightmare. It’s the early-season equivalent of dealing Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees. Johnny Pesky holding the ball. Bucky Dent. The ball rolling through Bill Buckner’s legs. Aaron Boone. Just to name a few Red Sox references. Here’s how those games unfolded for Devers:
Game 1: 0-for-4, three strikeouts
Game 2: 0-for-4, four strikeouts
Game 3: 0-for-4, three strikeouts, walk, RBI
Game 4: 0-for-4, two strikeouts, walk
Game 5: 0-for-3, three strikeouts, two walks
Along the way, Devers became the first player to strike out 10 times in a team’s first three games of a season — and that’s not all.
He became the first player to strike out 12 times in a team’s first four games. And, yes, with 15 strikeouts through five games he shattered the old record of 13, shared by Pat Burrell in 2001 and Byron Buxton in 2017. Going back to the end of 2024, when Devers fanned 11 times over his final four games, he became the fourth player with multiple strikeouts in nine straight games — and one of those was a pitcher (the other two were a rookie named Aaron Judge in 2016 and Michael A. Taylor in 2021).
With Devers struggling, the Red Sox have likewise stumbled out of the gate, going 1-4 after some lofty preseason expectations, including an 8-5 loss to the Baltimore Orioles in the home opener Monday. To be fair, it’s not all on Devers: Jarren Duran, Devers and Alex Bregman, the top three hitters in the lineup, are a combined 11-for-62 (.177) with no home runs.
But there is one question weighing heaviest on the minds of Red Sox Nation right now: What is really going on with Devers?
It’s easy to say his head simply isn’t in the right space. Devers made headlines early in spring training after the Red Sox signed Bregman, saying he didn’t want to move to DH and that “third base is my position.” He pointed out that when he signed his $331 million extension in January of 2023, the front office promised he would be the team’s third baseman.
That, however, was when a different regime was in charge. Bregman, a Gold Glove winner in 2024, is the better defensive third baseman, so it makes sense to play him there and move Devers — except many players don’t like to DH. Some analysts even build in a “DH penalty,” assuming a player will hit worse there than when he plays the field. While Devers eventually relented and said he’d do whatever will help the team, it was a rocky situation for a few weeks.
But maybe it’s something else. While Devers avoided surgery this offseason, he spent it trying to rebuild strength in both shoulders after dealing with soreness and inflammation throughout 2024. He didn’t play the field in spring training and had just 15 plate appearances. So maybe he is still rusty — or the shoulder(s) are bothering him.
Indeed, Statcast metrics show his average bat speed has dropped from 72.5 mph in 2024 to 70.3 mph so far in 2025 (and those are down from 73.4 mph in 2023). His “fast-swing rate” has dropped from 34.2% in 2023 to 27.9% to 12.2%. Obviously, we’re talking an extremely small sample size for this season, but it’s clear Devers isn’t generating the bat speed we’re used to seeing from him.
That, however, doesn’t explain the complete inability to make contact. Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters after the series in Texas that Devers had made alterations with his foot placement — but was having trouble catching up to fastballs. Following Monday’s game, Devers told reporters (via his interpreter) that, “Obviously this is not a position that I’ve done in the past. So I need to get used to it. But I feel good, I feel good.”
Which leads to this question: Does this historic bad start mean anything? Since the DH began in 1973, three DHs began the season with a longer hitless streak than Devers’ 0-for-19 mark, so let’s dig into how the rest of their seasons played out:
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Don Baylor with the 1982 Angels (0-for-20). Baylor ended up with a pretty typical season for him: .263/.329/.424, 24 home runs.
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Evan Gattis of the 2015 Astros (0-for-23). Gattis hit .246 with 27 home runs — not as good as he hit in 2014 or 2016, but in line with his career numbers.
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Curtis Terry with the Rangers in 2021 (0-for-20). Terry was a rookie who ended up playing just 13 games in the majors.
Expanding beyond just the DH position, I searched Baseball-Reference for players in the wild-card era (since 1995) who started a season hitless in at least 20 plate appearances through five games. That gave us a list of … just seven players, including Evan Carter (0-for-22) and Anthony Rendon (0-for-20) last season. Both ended up with injury-plagued seasons. The list also includes Hall of Famer Craig Biggio, who was 0-for-24 for the Houston Astros in 1995. He was fine: He hit .302/.406/.483 that season, made the All-Star team and finished 10th in the MVP voting. J.D. Drew started 0-for-25 through five games with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2005; he hit .286/.412/.520, although an injury limited him to 72 games.
But none of those hitters struck out nearly as often as Devers has.
So let’s focus on the strikeouts and expand our search to most strikeouts through the 15 first games of a season. Given his already astronomical total, Devers is likely to rank high on such a list even if he starts making more contact. Seventeen players struck out at least 25 times through 15 games, topped by Yoan Moncada and Miguel Sano with 29, both in 2018. Not surprisingly, all these seasons have come since 2006 and 12 since 2018.
How did that group fare?
They were actually OK, averaging a .767 OPS and 20 home runs. The best of the group was Matt Olson in 2023, who struck out 25 times in 15 games, but was also hitting well with a .317/.423/.650 line. He went on to hit 53 home runs. The next best season belongs to Giancarlo Stanton in 2018, his first with the Yankees. He finished with 38 home runs and an .852 OPS — but that was a big drop from his MVP season in 2017, when he mashed 59 home runs. His strikeout rate increased from 23.6% in 2017 to 29.9% — and he’s never been as good.
Indeed, that’s the worrisome thing for Devers: Of the 16 players who played the season before (Trevor Story was a rookie in 2016 when he struck out 25 times in 15 games, albeit with eight home runs), 13 had a higher OPS the previous season, many significantly so.
As Cora argued Monday, it’s a small sample size. “You know, this happens in July or August, we’d not even be talking about it,” he said.
That doesn’t really sound quite forthright. A slump, even a five-game slump, with this many strikeouts would absolutely be a topic of discussion. Still, that’s all the Red Sox and Devers have to go on right now: It’s just a few games, nothing one big game won’t fix. They just hope it comes soon.
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