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Washington State transfer Cam Ward is one of the most highly sought-after quarterbacks available this offseason, and he has started visiting schools. He recently took a trip to Miami and is visiting Florida State this week. Ward said he enjoyed the Miami visit and it gave him his first look at a potential new school.

“It was a good visit for sure. With Mario Cristobal, [Shannon] Dawson, the offensive coordinator, I felt like the hospitality was off the charts,” Ward told ESPN. “I feel like what he’s building out there is good. … It’s for sure something that I wouldn’t mind being a part of.”

Ward currently has only those two visits planned.

“I haven’t set a third visit yet, but I wouldn’t be surprised if I set a third visit,” said Ward, who was fifth in the nation in passing yards in 2023. “I’m continuing to talk to a lot of other schools, so I’m going to play it by ear. USC is in there, Nebraska is in there, Washington for sure, and there are a couple other schools that haven’t reached out yet.”

Because this is his second time transferring, Ward knows what he’s looking for and what he wants out of his last season of eligibility.

“The biggest thing is just being part of a culture and the offensive line protecting, the weapons I put myself around,” Ward said. “And being able to play good team football. I feel like I have to put myself in a position where both sides of the ball are in it.”

Ward hasn’t ruled out entering the NFL draft, but that decision will come after he sees all the schools he has interest in. As the top-rated QB in the portal, Ward’s decision will impact other quarterbacks who are currently uncommitted, as well, with some schools overlapping in whom they’re targeting with limited spots remaining.

Here is a look at where the other quarterbacks stand in their transfer process, a few schools that had great weeks in the transfer portal and recruitments to watch over the next week:

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QB news
| Winners of the week
Commitments coming?

Where other top quarterbacks stand

DJ Uiagalelei | Transferring from: Oregon State

What he has done: Uiagalelei was an ESPN 300 recruit out of high school and signed with Clemson out of California. He sat his first season behind Trevor Lawrence, but showed flashes of his big arm in spot duty that first season. He had a roller-coaster sophomore year and transferred to Oregon State. He had a more consistent season in 2023, throwing for 2,638 yards, 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions for the Beavers.

Where things stand: Uiagalelei has been through the transfer process once before, leaving Clemson for Oregon State. He isn’t in a hurry to make a decision to find the best spot for him to continue developing his talent.

A source told ESPN that Florida State has interest but wants to bring him in for a visit to see if there is a cultural fit within the program. Uiagalelei is scheduled to visit Florida State this weekend, he told ESPN.

“I have a good idea what I want to find out, what I want to ask, I’m just excited to get down there,” Uiagalelei said. “I have only been there for a game, I’ve never taken a visit there before in high school. So, I’m excited to talk to Coach [Mike] Norvell, all the coaching staff there and see Tallahassee.”

Miami could be an option as well, as Uiagalelei and Ward are looking at some of the same schools. They might be playing a game of musical chairs to see what the other does first. Mississippi State and Louisville are two other schools that had been in the mix for Uiagalelei, as well, but the visit to Florida State could dictate how the rest of his recruitment plays out.

Danny Hernandez, a private quarterbacks coach who has worked extensively with Uiagalelei since junior high, believes the move to Oregon State was a big help for the star quarterback.

“It was just let me go in, do my thing and develop [at Oregon State], because that was a big thing for him. Let me just develop and he felt like he was getting that there with really good coaches,” Hernandez said. “With Jonathan Smith and Coach [Brian] Lindgren, it got him to just be able to relax and play.”

His resurgence and confidence has put him in a spot where he has a good number of options this time around.

“Obviously not being part of a rebuild and I think for him it would really make sense to be at a program that’s established,” Hernandez said. “I think that’s why a school like Florida State would make sense. If you have the need, you almost become that plug-and-play guy. I think that’s the ideal situation for a lot of these elite guys, especially if they’re leaving a spot where they were already a starter.

“Can I go into this spot that just seems like I might be that missing piece in order to keep the party going or take it to a higher level.”

Dante Moore | Transferring from: UCLA

What he has done: Moore was a five-star prospect from Detroit. He had an up-and-down true freshman season in 2023, playing in nine games and throwing for 1,610 yards, 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Where things stand: Moore’s agent told ESPN he has been ill and finishing up academic work at UCLA, so his process didn’t fully get started right away.

A source told ESPN, however, that Moore is planning to visit Oregon soon and the Ducks are still in the mix despite a commitment from Oklahoma transfer Dillon Gabriel.

“Others are being set up, too,” the source told ESPN.

The Ducks saw sophomore Ty Thompson recently enter the transfer portal and Gabriel has just one year of eligibility remaining, so Moore could come in and sit for a season then compete for the starting job.

Moore committed to Oregon out of high school before flipping to UCLA, and while then-offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham is now at Arizona State, there is still familiarity with the staff.

Michigan State and Ohio State had reportedly been under consideration for Moore, but the family is not releasing much on which schools are still in it for the former five-star.

Will Howard | Transferring from: Kansas State

What he has done: Howard helped Kansas State to a Big 12 title and 10-4 record in the 2022 season. The team didn’t fare as well this season, but Howard had 2,643 yards, 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He also had nine rushing touchdowns and 351 yards on the ground.

Where things stand: Howard also visited Miami this week, but as noted above, Ward could dictate what happens with the Hurricanes after his visit to Coral Gables.

USC has been mentioned as a potential option for Howard. While Caleb Williams hasn’t announced if he will enter the NFL draft, he is the presumed No. 1 overall pick.

Lincoln Riley signed five-star recruit Malachi Nelson in the 2023 class, but adding in more competition at the position, especially someone like Howard who has experience and would be able to run the offense, would be essential as the Trojans transition to the Big Ten next season.


Which schools won the portal this week

Kentucky Wildcats

The Wildcats have added quite a few players on offense through the transfer portal, capped by North Texas receiver Ja’Mori Maclin this week.

Maclin had 1,004 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns in 2023. Kentucky didn’t have a receiver who caught more than 553 yards this season, so Maclin will be a welcomed addition. He’s joining Texas A&M freshman receiver Raymond Cottrell, who was an ESPN 300 recruit in the 2023 class, as key transfers at the position.

The staff also got Ohio State running back Chip Trayanum, who ran for 373 yards and three touchdowns on 85 attempts this season. In addition, Georgia quarterback Brock Vandagriff transferred to Kentucky last week, giving the staff a new set of personnel.

NC State Wolfpack

The Wolfpack needed help at quarterback and the coaches were able to add Coastal Carolina quarterback Grayson McCall. He has experience and has had a ton of success over the past four seasons, throwing for 10,005 yards, 88 touchdowns and 14 interceptions, while also running for 18 touchdowns.

NC State is replacing Brennan Armstrong, who transferred in before last season, and now McCall will give the coaches a dynamic quarterback to run the offense and try to build on to the 9-3 season the team had in 2023.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

The Irish got their quarterback in Duke transfer Riley Leonard. It had been reported Leonard would likely transfer to Notre Dame, but he didn’t make it official until this week.

Coach Marcus Freeman needed to replace Sam Hartman, who is out of eligibility, and Leonard gives him an outstanding option. The team still has Steve Angeli on the roster and is bringing in ESPN 300 recruit C.J. Carr in the 2024 class, so Freeman has been able to build quality depth and competition at the position for the future in a short time.

Leonard will have a Duke teammate — defensive lineman R.J. Oben — with him in South Bend. Oben, whom Florida State was also interested in, had 14.5 sacks during his Duke career.

Michigan State Spartans

The Spartans saw most of their quarterback depth leave through the transfer portal with Noah Kim, Katin Houser and Sam Leavitt all leaving. That posed a challenge to new coach Jonathan Smith, but he was able to get Aidan Chiles, who is now following Smith from Oregon State.

Smith recruited Chiles to play for the Beavers in the 2023 class and the true freshman threw just 35 passes for four touchdowns and no interceptions this past season.

He already knows Smith’s system and how he coaches, so it should be an easy transition for both coach and player.


Recruitments to watch

DT Joey Slackman

The Penn transfer has become one of the more sought-after defensive linemen in the portal.

He was the Ivy League defensive player of the year and had 50 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss and four sacks. He has already taken visits to Florida and Wisconsin and told ESPN he is visiting North Carolina, Virginia Tech and Auburn in the coming days.

Slackman also told ESPN he likely will not take any other visits and could make his final decision once his weekend visits are done. He hasn’t named a top list, but it’s safe to assume he’ll decide from among one of the schools he has visited.

Whichever team gets him to commit will be getting a disruptive interior lineman who should make an immediate impact.

DE Princely Umanmielen

The Florida defender surprised some by entering the transfer portal when he was being considered as a potential NFL draft pick. He was a second-team All-SEC player with 39 total tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks in 2023.

He recently took a visit to Ole Miss. The Rebels could use pass rush help and Umanmielen would provide that and more up front for the defense.

S Andrew Mukuba

Mukuba is a former ESPN 300 recruit from the 2021 class, who signed with Clemson. He had 30 total tackles, two tackles for loss and seven pass breakups during the 2021 season. He had similar numbers in 2022 and followed that with 42 total tackles in 10 games this past season.

Mukuba has dealt with injuries over the past two seasons, but is healthy and looking for a new school. He told ESPN he is visiting Texas this weekend and the Austin native is not planning to take any other visits as of now.

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Five-star QB Jared Curtis to Georgia: How he fits and what’s next

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Five-star QB Jared Curtis to Georgia: How he fits and what's next

Five-star quarterback Jared Curtis, the No. 5 prospect in the 2026 ESPN 300, announced his commitment to the Georgia Bulldogs over the Oregon Ducks Monday, capping the most consequential recruitment to date in the 2026 cycle.

Curtis, who decommitted from Georgia this past October, is the No. 1 overall quarterback in the 2026 class. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound passer from Nashville took trips to both Georgia and Oregon earlier this spring. Sources told ESPN that Curtis held in-home visits with offensive coordinators Mike Bobo (Georgia) and Will Stein (Oregon) last week and had conversations with both programs on Sunday afternoon prior to making his decision.

Curtis’ return to the Bulldogs’ 2026 class marks a crucial recruiting victory for coach Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs’ staff. Curtis now lands as the highest-ranked of four ESPN 300 pledges in the program’s incoming class, a collection of talent that will surely grow this summer as Georgia contends for a 10th consecutive top-three signing class. If he signs later this year, Curtis will arrive as the program’s third highest-ranked quarterback pledge in the ESPN recruiting era, trailing only Justin Fields (No. 1 overall in 2018) and Matt Stafford (No. 5 in 2006).

With his pledge, Curtis cements his place as the potential quarterback of the future in Athens behind expected starter Gunner Stockton, redshirt freshman Ryan Puglisi and 2025 signees Ryan Montgomery and Hezekiah Millender. Oregon, meanwhile, returns to the quarterback market in search of a 2026 passer after missing out on a coveted target in Curtis.

Here’s what you need to know about the most consequential commitment in 2026 cycle this spring as the busy recruiting season of late-May and June enters the horizon:

What makes Curtis so good?

Curtis has supreme arm talent, ideal measurables and a competitive temperament. He has ideal measurables and good speed given his size and is a better athlete than he gets credit for. What we like best is his natural arm power, velocity, and ability to change arm angles. He’s a flexible thrower who can make off-platform throws look easy because he can find alternative ways to get the ball out without losing power or strength. He’s a crafty runner who can extend plays and get out of trouble.

If there is a concern, it would be the level of competition he faces at Nashville Christian, a 2A private school. He has yet to be truly challenged against elite competition throughout his high school career to this point. He is always the best player on the field. That being said, he has a winning mentality, likes to compete, and has abilities that can’t be coached. — Tom Luginbill


Who does he compare to?

When looking at current college players, Curtis, while much bigger, compares most to LSU Tigers QB Garrett Nussmeier. Their skillsets are eerily similar. They are both gunslingers, have live arms and things don’t have to be perfect for them to still make a play. Both players play the game with supreme confidence and make players around them better.

In Athens, Curtis can play like Stetson Bennett did in his last two seasons in college. Like Bennett, Curtis can use his legs, acumen, resourcefulness, and accuracy to lead this team. Unlike Bennett, Curtis is bigger and has a stronger arm. — Luginbill


What does the team’s QB roster look like now?

Curtis joins a QB room with highly rated prospects with limited experience on the field. Gunner Stockton was the fifth-rated dual-threat QB in the 2022 class and filled in admirably late last year for an injured Carson Beck.

In all likelihood, Stockton will be the starter in Athens over the next two seasons. However, Ryan Puglisi is uber-talented and will also push for the starting job in 2025 and UGA signed two QBs in the 2025 class. The reality is that this decision, if Curtis signs in December, will likely lead to at least one or more players entering the transfer portal. — Luginbill


What’s next for Oregon and Georgia’s recruiting classes?

Round 2 between the Bulldogs and Ducks comes May 13 when five-star offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell announces his commitment. No. 3 in the 2026 ESPN 300, Cantwell will visit both programs in the closing stages of his recruitment, and he certainly won’t be the last elite prospect the two powerhouses battle over, either.

Curtis’ commitment gives Smart and Co. a cornerstone pledge in the 2026 cycle. With the No. 1 overall passer in hand, Georgia will work to build around him. Top running back prospect Derrek Cooper (No. 7 in the 2026 ESPN) and four-star rusher Savion Hiter (No. 27) are a pair of priority targets at another position of need, as is in-state rusher Jae Lamar (No. 129). Five-star end Kaiden Prothro (No. 19 overall) could be the next piece in Georgia’s stellar tight end pipeline, and five-star offensive tackle Immanuel Iheanacho (No. 12) will be on campus for an official visit later this month.

On defense, the Bulldogs remain firmly in the mix for top linebacker Tyler Atkinson (No. 13) and No. 1 athlete Brandon Arrington (No. 14), as well as top-50 defensive backs Jireh Edwards (No. 30), Justice Fitzpatrick (No. 42) and Chauncey Kennon (No. 49).

Oregon whiffed on Curtis, but with multiple years of eligibility for third-year passers Dante Moore and Austin Novosad — paired with the arrival of four-star freshman Akili Smith Jr. — the Ducks don’t have to sign a quarterback in the 2026 class.

Oregon has been in contact with five-star Houston quarterback pledge Keisean Henderson (No. 16 overall) this spring. But the Ducks’ top non-Curtis quarterback target is four-star passer Ryder Lyons (No. 50), who intends to take a mission trip following his senior year and would not join Oregon until 2027. Given the program’s lack of an immediate need at the position, Lyons — the nation’s No. 5 quarterback prospect — could be an especially good fit in 2026.

Other top targets for the Ducks this cycle include: Iheanacho, Atkinson, Arrington, defensive end Richard Wesley (No. 18), safety Jett Washington (No. 22) and tight end Mark Bowman (No. 24). — Eli Lederman


How does this affect the QB dominoes?

As noted, Oregon doesn’t have to sign a QB in this cycle, but with Curtis off the board, the Ducks should still be a major player across the seven months between now and the early signing period.

That could hold significant ramifications for Houston if the Ducks up their efforts to flip Henderson. It could also impact USC and BYU if Oregon turns its full attention to Lyons this summer. The Ducks could look toward other quarterbacks across the country, too.

Alongside Oregon, Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, LSU, North Carolina, Ohio State, Ole Miss and South Carolina stand among the top programs still active in the quarterback market this spring.

However, as of May 5, only four of the 18 quarterbacks ranked inside the 2026 ESPN 300 remain uncommitted. With Curtis now committed, expect the recruitments of those remaining quarterbacks to pick up steam in the coming months.

Lyons is set for June officials with BYU, USC and Oregon. Ole Miss remains the front-runner for Duckworth, who also holds heavy interest from Auburn, Florida State and South Carolina. Bowe Bentley (No. 264) will get to Georgia, LSU and Oklahoma later this spring, while former Purdue pledge Oscar Rios (No. 193) will take official trips to Virginia Tech, Utah, Arizona and Colorado after an April visit to Oklahoma State. — Lederman

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Trump plan cuts funding for brain injury research

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Trump plan cuts funding for brain injury research

The Trump administration’s 2026 fiscal budget request to Congress eliminates major federal funding for traumatic brain injury (TBI) research and education, potentially undercutting efforts to address head injuries in sports, particularly at the high school and youth levels.

The White House’s proposed budget, released Friday, includes eliminating the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention umbrella agency responsible for TBI research, including the $8.25 million marked for brain injury research and public education about the dangers of concussions. The CDC is facing $3.59 billion in budget cuts.

Although the president proposes the federal budget, it is up to Congress to approve a final budget bill, so the TBI program could be restored or moved to a different agency. The White House did not respond to an ESPN request for comment.

The budget proposal comes after the CDC on April 1 placed all five staffers devoted to administering the government’s main traumatic brain injury program on paid administrative leave, CDC employees told ESPN. Paid administrative leave means the workers are still government employees.

The budget cuts would “roll back decades of progress,” said Dr. Owen Perlman, a brain injury specialist and board member of the Brain Injury Association of America.

Among the items targeted is Heads Up, a concussion-prevention program for youth and high school coaches, athletic trainers and other sports officials. The CDC staffers put on leave administered the program. Forty-five states participate in the program to varying degrees, a CDC official said, asking not to be identified.

Staffers interviewed by ESPN declined to speak on the record, citing fears of administration retribution.

“We’re really worried about the hundreds of thousands of coaches who have to take this training,” the CDC official said. “This is really built in, and we’ve lost the whole team” behind the program.

Some Heads Up training is part of coaches’ and other sports officials’ state compliance requirements. The CDC official said hundreds of email queries are arriving every week asking how to comply as the federal program shuts down. The Heads Up website says more than 10 million people have participated in its online training programs.

Congress first approved TBI research funding in 1996. Legislation to keep the program going expired at the end of 2024, and a House bill to renew it has yet to advance out of committee.

In a 2018 CDC survey, 12% of adult respondents reported experiencing a head injury in the previous 12 months, including but not limited to sports-related activities. A follow-up study was being prepared when the staffers were placed on leave. The research data was part of a program to measure TBI prevalence and boost prevention, care and recovery efforts.

The Heads Up website remained active Monday but offered no clues regarding the program’s endangered status.

“In the last month, I don’t think the public has felt an impact,” a laid-off CDC employee said. “But when those websites, trainings and materials get pulled down or when they can’t be updated, I think that’s when the public will feel it.”

In the proposed White House budget, the National Institutes of Health would retain an institute devoted to overall brain research, although the name would slightly change. The institute focuses on medical issues such as stroke and migraines, and it’s unclear whether TBI programs would be absorbed into it.

Hospitals and universities conducting TBI research funded by the CDC are bracing for potential funding cutbacks.

“We might not [get] the next year of renewal or the next wave of funding. And that’s sad and scary and impactful for all kinds of people, including myself in this project,” said Christine Baugh, an assistant professor at the University of Colorado’s School of Medicine who is studying how parents decide whether to let their children play contact sports and whether brain-injury awareness campaigns influence their decisions.

On April 23, the National Academy of Sciences received orders to cancel work on two TBI workshops, one of which analyzed the risks of repeated head impacts on children. Both workshops had already been held. One of the workshop organizers, Dr. Fred Rivara, a pediatrics professor at the University of Washington, told ESPN that the cancellation affected funding for publishing the information, and he called the potential cuts “tragic.”

“That’s a perfect example of how this change in, or devastation of, funding at the CDC is impacting people,” Rivara said. “They want to know, for sports: What about these repetitive impacts? Are they bad for kids? It’s a perfect example of the impact of this.”

Traumatic brain injuries have lifelong repercussions on a person’s physical, cognitive, emotional and behavioral health, Perlman said.

Even though some states fund TBI-treatment programs independently of the federal government, concerns are growing about a domino effect if Congress fails to renew funding.

“For many people with concussions or certainly moderate or severe brain injuries, there’s no endpoint,” Perlman said. “It’s a lifetime problem, and there needs to be lifetime funding for it.”

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Stanley Cup playoff picks: Who wins every second-round series?

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Stanley Cup playoff picks: Who wins every second-round series?

The first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs is complete. Eight of the teams that made the postseason bracket have moved on, and eight others have been eliminated.

Before the second-round series begin, ESPN’s experts have identified their picks for each matchup. Which four teams will move on to the conference finals?

More: Full schedule
Betting intel

Atlantic Division

John Buccigross: Panthers in seven
Ryan Callahan: Panthers in six
Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Panthers in six
Sachin Chandan: Panthers in six
Meghan Chayka: Panthers in six
Ryan S. Clark: Panthers in seven
Linda Cohn: Panthers in six
Rachel Doerrie: Panthers in six
Ray Ferraro: Panthers in six
Emily Kaplan: Panthers in seven
Tim Kavanagh: Maple Leafs in six
Peter Lawrence-Riddell: Panthers in six
Steve Levy: Panthers in six
Vince Masi: Panthers in six
Victoria Matiash: Panthers in six
Sean McDonough: Panthers in six
Mark Messier: Panthers in six
AJ Mleczko: Panthers in six
Arda Öcal: Maple Leafs in six
Kristen Shilton: Maple Leafs in seven
John Thoering: Panthers in six
Bob Wischusen: Panthers in six
Greg Wyshynski: Panthers in six

Consensus prediction: Panthers (20 of 23 picks)


Metropolitan Division

John Buccigross: Capitals in seven
Ryan Callahan: Capitals in seven
Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Capitals in six
Sachin Chandan: Capitals in six
Meghan Chayka: Hurricanes in six
Ryan S. Clark: Capitals in seven
Linda Cohn: Capitals in six
Rachel Doerrie: Capitals in six
Ray Ferraro: Capitals in seven
Emily Kaplan: Capitals in seven
Tim Kavanagh: Capitals in six
Peter Lawrence-Riddell: Hurricanes in seven
Steve Levy: Capitals in five
Vince Masi: Hurricanes in six
Victoria Matiash: Hurricanes in six
Sean McDonough: Capitals in seven
Mark Messier: Hurricanes in six
AJ Mleczko: Hurricanes in five
Mike Monaco: Hurricanes in six
Arda Öcal: Capitals in six
Kristen Shilton: Hurricanes in six
John Thoering: Capitals in seven
Bob Wischusen: Capitals in seven
Greg Wyshynski: Capitals in seven

Consensus prediction: Capitals (16 of 24 picks)


Central Division

John Buccigross: Stars in seven
Ryan Callahan: Stars in five
Sachin Chandan: Stars in six
Ryan S. Clark: Stars in seven
Linda Cohn: Jets in seven
Rachel Doerrie: Stars in six
Ray Ferraro: Stars in six
Emily Kaplan: Stars in six
Tim Kavanagh: Stars in seven
Peter Lawrence-Riddell: Stars in six
Steve Levy: Stars in seven
Vince Masi: Jets in seven
Victoria Matiash: Jets in seven
Sean McDonough: Stars in six
Mark Messier: Stars in six
Mike Monaco: Stars in six
Arda Öcal: Stars in six
Kristen Shilton: Stars in six
John Thoering: Stars in seven
Bob Wischusen: Jets in seven
Greg Wyshynski: Stars in six

Consensus prediction: Stars (17 of 21 picks)


Pacific Division

John Buccigross: Oilers in seven
Ryan Callahan: Golden Knights in six
Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Oilers in seven
Sachin Chandan: Oilers in seven
Meghan Chayka: Golden Knights in seven
Ryan S. Clark: Golden Knights in seven
Linda Cohn: Oilers in seven
Rachel Doerrie: Golden Knights in seven
Ray Ferraro: Golden Knights in seven
Emily Kaplan: Golden Knights in seven
Tim Kavanagh: Golden Knights in six
Peter Lawrence-Riddell: Golden Knights in six
Steve Levy: Golden Knights in seven
Vince Masi: Oilers in six
Victoria Matiash: Golden Knights in six
Sean McDonough: Golden Knights in seven
Mark Messier: Oilers in seven
AJ Mleczko: Golden Knights in six
Mike Monaco: Oilers in six
Arda Öcal: Oilers in six
Kristen Shilton: Oilers in seven
John Thoering: Golden Knights in seven
Bob Wischusen: Golden Knights in seven
Greg Wyshynski: Oilers in seven

Consensus prediction: Golden Knights (14 of 24 picks)

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