Monday takeaways: Colorado, Deion searching for answers
Things have taken a turn for the worse at Colorado following the team’s unexpected 3-0 start. And after Deion Sanders made a change at playcaller before another loss on Saturday, to Oregon State, more questions are being raised about the program.
Week 10 also shined a spotlight on an unexpected Heisman Trophy candidate and a pair of teams in the midst of surprising turnarounds.
Our college football reporters look at those stories and more with this week’s Monday takeaways.
Colorado, Deion having some growing pains
Sanders received a lot of justified praise during Colorado’s 4-1 start, not only for how he flipped the roster in one offseason, but for how his players performed on game days. Colorado wasn’t a perfect team but was a dramatically improved one, thanks in part to the coaching staff.
Now, after Colorado has dropped three straight games, coaching decisions are being debated, without a lot of clarity from Sanders. The topic after Saturday night’s loss to Oregon State was why Sanders had switched offensive playcallers, moving analyst and former NFL coach Pat Shurmur into the role that Sean Lewis had occupied through eight games. Lewis, who left a head-coaching job at Kent State for Colorado, had overseen an offense that opened with a record-setting passing performance at TCU, and averaged more than 500 yards and 41.3 points in four of the first five games. Colorado averaged 13.2 points per game in 2022.
When I first heard of the potential playcaller switch Thursday night, I couldn’t believe it. Neither could coaches who reached out Friday after the news was confirmed. “What on earth is going on at Colorado????” an SEC offensive coordinator texted. Sanders didn’t offer many details in explaining the move, only that he did it in Colorado’s best interests and didn’t second-guess himself. Colorado had 78 total yards through three quarters Saturday night before a nice burst in the fourth.
“You guys don’t know all the intangibles yet,” Sanders said after the game. “You’re just looking from the outside of the crib, looking in. I got tinted windows and you can’t even see in the house, but you’re making conclusions on what I should and should not do.”
Colorado’s house isn’t crumbling, but it’s starting to crack. Sanders didn’t disparage Lewis and has taken responsibility for the team’s play. But the move is bizarre, to put it mildly, and some are wondering if Lewis is being scapegoated for things outside of his control, like an offensive line group that wasn’t constructed for success.
There were also questionable in-game decisions, especially at the end of both halves. Trailing 7-3, Colorado forced a punt and took over at its own 4-yard line with 49 seconds left in the first half. The offense had generated 2 net yards of offense in the quarter — 2! Yet the Buffaloes twice passed from their own end zone before a run for no gain. Two plays later, Oregon State scored to go up 14-3. Sanders said Colorado’s plan was to try and move the ball on first down and, if unsuccessful, “hit the clock,” but the second incomplete pass allowed Oregon State to preserve its timeouts.
After a spirited fourth-quarter rally cut Colorado’s deficit to 7 with 1:42 left, Sanders eschewed an onside kick. The Buffs had all three timeouts, but would need an immediate stop, which they didn’t get. Colorado didn’t use its second timeout after a Damien Martinez run for a first down. By the time the Buffaloes used their final timeout, only two seconds remained.
“This is hard,” Sanders said. “The reason it’s so hard is because you know you’re capable of doing better, playing better, performing better, calling better games, coaching better on my behalf.”
The last part rings true after a bumpy week in Boulder, which revealed some growing pains for Sanders. — Adam Rittenberg
Ollie Gordon II for the Heisman? Why not?
Yes, the Heisman Trophy has become purely a quarterback award. And, yes, it seems running backs, for whatever reason, are being seriously disrespected at all levels of football these days. But watch Ollie Gordon II run — the passion with which he runs and the staggering numbers that he’s putting up — and it’s pretty hard to make a good case that the Oklahoma State back shouldn’t be in the middle of the Heisman conversation.
Gordon is the hottest player in college football, and he’s playing on one of the hottest teams. Oklahoma State has won five straight since a woeful start to the season, and Gordon has been the driving force in the Cowboys’ ascent to the top of the Big 12 standings. They’re tied with Texas, each with one league loss, after taking down Oklahoma 27-24 at home Saturday, the last scheduled game in the Bedlam rivalry.
Talk about lasting impressions. Gordon rushed for 138 yards and two touchdowns, the most rushing yards against the OU defense by any player this season, and has rushed for more than 100 yards in six straight games.
The Heisman has become synonymous with players who come up big on the biggest stages and guide their teams into championship contention and/or national relevance — usually a quarterback. Going back to the 2000 season, only two running backs (Derrick Henry and Mark Ingram) have won the Heisman. But it’s hard to imagine where Oklahoma State would be right now without Gordon’s emergence.
He carried the ball only 19 times in his first three games but has rushed for 995 yards and scored 11 touchdowns during the Pokes’ five-game winning streak, and three of the five opponents were in the top 25 of the first College Football Playoff rankings. A fourth opponent, West Virginia, is 6-3. So it’s not like Gordon is rolling up Barry Sanders-like numbers against bottom-feeders.
The 6-foot-1, 211-pound sophomore leads the nation in rushing yards (1,225) along with rushes of 20-plus yards (17), rushes of 30-plus yards (13) and rushes of 40-plus yards (6). Gordon has been as valuable to his team as any player in the country, and at the very least, deserves a trip to New York City as a Heisman finalist. — Chris Low
Jedd Fisch building momentum at Arizona
Arizona has done something only one other team (Georgia in 2006) has done, according to ESPN Stats & Information — win three straight games against AP-ranked opponents while being unranked going into each game.
The Wildcats’ latest triumph, a 27-10 victory over UCLA late Saturday night in Tucson, was one of precision as redshirt freshman quarterback Noah Fifita picked apart the Bruins’ defense by completing 25 of 32 passes for 300 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. While subbing for Jayden de Laura, sidelined since sustaining an ankle injury against Stanford on Sept. 23, Fifita has surpassed the 300-yard passing mark three times and has helped stabilize the fifth-best offense (439.8 yards per game) in the loaded Pac-12.
The win over the Bruins ended a stretch of five consecutive ranked opponents for the Wildcats (6-3) and they’ve proven to be battle tested in becoming bowl eligible for the first time since 2017. As a result, Jedd Fisch has made strides on the recruiting trail, even with in-state defensive end Elijah Rushing (No. 20 overall) decommitting Oct. 8. The Wildcats’ class, headlined by in-state quarterback Demond Williams Jr. (No. 219 overall), is fourth in the Pac-12. — Blake Baumgartner
From 1-3 to bowl eligibility, Boston College flying high
After Boston College started the season 1-3, there were a fair amount of critics questioning the direction of the program under fourth-year coach Jeff Hafley. But Hafley was adamant the Eagles would get their season turned around.
Five straight wins later, the Eagles are bowl eligible and on their longest winning streak since the 2010 season. They have doubled their win total from a season ago, with three games remaining. So how, exactly, did Boston College do it?
0:22
Thomas Castellanos calls his own number to give Boston College the lead
Boston College QB Thomas Castellanos takes it himself and finds the end zone to give the Eagles the lead.
For starters, the Eagles have an identity on offense behind dual-threat quarterback Thomas Castellanos. Emmett Morehead was the starting quarterback in the opener against Northern Illinois, but BC planned to play Castellanos too. The offense was never in sync, and a series of miscues cost the Eagles in a stunning loss. But it became clear in a 2-point loss to Florida State that Castellanos was the player to build around — after 400 total yards and two touchdowns.
BC is now one of the best rushing teams in the nation, ranking No. 9 with 211.2 rushing yards per game. Compare that to where BC was last season, when injuries decimated its offensive line and the quarterback position: The Eagles ranked last in the country in rushing yards per game (62.8).
The team also is playing with confidence. Hafley points to the second half against Virginia as the turning point. Down 14 points at halftime, BC held Virginia to 39 total second-half yards and engineered a 27-24 comeback victory. The following week, the Eagles needed another late comeback, beating Army with 25 seconds left. The same thing happened this past week against Syracuse — BC took the lead with 2:23 remaining, and the Eagles did it without top running back Pat Garwo III, top receiver Ryan O’Keefe and a host of others out with injuries.
“They could have gone in the tank, at 1-3 after getting beat up by Louisville, we’re down 14 points at the half against Virginia and we said, ‘Enough is enough,'” Hafley told ESPN on Sunday. “Since that second half, we’re a totally different team. We have an identity, and we’ve just continued to get better at finding out who we are.”
Nobody at Boston College is satisfied, though. With games remaining against Virginia Tech, Pitt and Miami, Hafley said the focus is on getting better, not sitting back and being happy with six wins, especially with a young team that is set to return the vast majority of its players next season.
“We’ve got a lot more to go, we’ve got to get better,” Hafley said. “We’re winning games in the fourth quarter, we’re finding a way to be gritty. It’s a tough-minded team, but we need to improve. That’s the cool thing, is now that they’re winning, you can coach them hard and the accountability is at an all-time high. It’s just fun to be around.” — Andrea Adelson
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.
CHICAGO — Chicago White Sox great Paul Konerko got a present from one No. 14 to another in honor of the 20th anniversary of the 2005 World Series championship run: a jersey signed by noted Chicago fan Pope Leo XIV.
Cardinal Blase Cupich, the archbishop of Chicago, presented Konerko a jersey with the new pontiff’s signature on the back during a ceremony prior to the game against the Cleveland Guardians. It had the six-time All-Star’s last name and “Pope Leo” above the No. 14.
Robert Prevost became the first pope from the U.S. in the history of the Catholic Church when he was elected on May 8. The Chicago-born missionary, who took the name Leo XIV, is a White Sox fan.
Prevost attended the 2005 World Series opener against Houston in Chicago. He watched from Section 140, Row 19, Seat 2 as the White Sox beat the Astros 5-3 on the way to a four-game sweep and their first title since 1917.
In May, the team unveiled a graphic installation near the seat paying tribute to Pope Leo and that moment. The pillar artwork features a waving Pope Leo XIV, along with a picture from the TV broadcast of the future pope sitting with good friend Ed Schmit and his grandson, Eddie.
Members of the 2005 team are in Chicago this weekend to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the championship run. The White Sox debuted uniform patches honoring late closer Bobby Jenks, who died last week in Portugal, where he was being treated for stomach cancer. On Friday, the team unveiled a statue of former ace Mark Buehrle.
-
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