
How a 64-team college football tournament would play out
More Videos
Published
1 year agoon
By
admin-
Chris Low, ESPN Senior WriterMar 18, 2024, 09:00 AM ET
Close- College football reporter
- Joined ESPN.com in 2007
- Graduate of the University of Tennessee
We’re finally up to 12 teams in the College Football Playoff, which means the expanded field in 2024 will feature some of the not-so-usual suspects.
At ESPN, we expanded the college football postseason a long time ago and will again count down from 64 teams in our fictional 2024 NCAA football tournament.
At the very least, the real world in college football is slowly catching up.
Here’s the format: We’ve seeded the teams 1 through 64, and the seeds are based largely on ESPN’s latest SP+ projections for the 2024 season.
The top four seeds are Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon and Texas (only Texas made the actual four-team playoff field a year ago). With the Longhorns being the fourth No. 1 seed, they will be forced to travel to the East Region.
Seeds are just seeds, and all that matters is what happens on the field, so get ready for some upsets. We’ll do our best to create some compelling storylines, even though the basketball committee insists it doesn’t engage in such contrived methods when putting together its bracket.
We’ve done our homework and looked over the rosters, especially with so many new faces at new schools — not to mention Nick Saban and Jim Harbaugh no longer coaching in the college ranks — but we always endeavor to have a little fun.
Today, we examine the field and work our way through the first two rounds of the tournament, narrowing the pool from 64 to 16. We’ll play the rest of the games and crown a national champion Wednesday.
The bracket
1-seeds: Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon, Texas
2-seeds: Alabama, Penn State, Michigan, Notre Dame
3-seeds: Ole Miss, Florida State, Oklahoma, Missouri
4-seeds: Arizona, Tennessee, LSU, Utah
5-seeds: Clemson, Kansas State, Louisville, Miami
6-seeds: Wisconsin, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, USC
7-seeds: NC State, Kansas, Iowa, Auburn
8-seeds: Iowa State, SMU, Florida, Virginia Tech
9-seeds: Washington, Kentucky, TCU, Memphis
10-seeds: Nebraska, Texas Tech, Maryland, Liberty
11-seeds: West Virginia, Oregon State, Minnesota, South Carolina
12-seeds: Colorado, UCF, Boise State, Rutgers
13-seeds: UCLA, Duke, Georgia Tech, BYU
14-seeds: North Carolina, Washington State, South Florida, Appalachian State
15-seeds: Illinois, Wake Forest, Arkansas, Northwestern
16-seeds: Fresno State, James Madison, Miami (Ohio), UNLV
First four out: Baylor, Cal, Louisiana, Arkansas State
South Regional
First round
(1) Georgia 42, (16) UNLV 7: A year ago, Trevor Etienne was carrying the football for rival Florida. He’s now one of the focal points of Georgia’s running game and pounds his way to 165 rushing yards against a UNLV defense that simply can’t hold up against the Bulldogs’ massive offensive line.
(2) Notre Dame 35, (15) Northwestern 20: David Braun did as good a coaching job as anyone in 2023 after taking over for Pat Fitzgerald in an interim role, then being promoted toward the end of the season and leading Northwestern to an 8-5 finish. The Wildcats follow up with another winning season in 2024, but fall behind early to the Irish and can’t make up the deficit.
(3) Missouri 30, (14) Appalachian State 28: Appalachian State leads the whole way in this one in what has upset written all over it, and the fans in Boone, North Carolina, are giddy about taking down Eliah Drinkwitz, who left App State following just one season. But a late 78-yard touchdown drive engineered by Brady Cook breaks the Mountaineers’ hearts.
(4) Utah 34, (13) BYU 24: There’s nothing like rivals clashing in a postseason game, and with Utah joining the Big 12 in 2024, that means we get to see these two go at it twice. The Utes win the regular-season game at home comfortably, but in the rematch, they need a forced fumble late in the third quarter to break open a close game.
(12) Rutgers 28, (5) Miami 24: Greg Schiano and Mario Cristobal, longtime friends and former colleagues, find themselves paired against each other for the second straight season after Schiano’s Scarlet Knights beat Cristobal’s Hurricanes in the Pinstripe Bowl to close the 2023 season. The old No. 5 vs. No. 12 curse strikes again, as Rutgers pulls off the first upset of the tournament.
(6) USC 31, (11) South Carolina 20: After all the pregame back-and-forth over who is the real “USC,” it’s settled on the field (for now) when the Trojans of the West Coast play their best defensive game of the season to hold the Gamecocks of the East Coast to one second-half touchdown.
(10) Liberty 35, (7) Auburn 34: Kaidon Salter was in the transfer portal at one point this offseason but withdrew his name. It’s a good thing for Liberty, as Salter accounts for four touchdowns and scores the game-winner in the final minutes to spearhead the upset victory over his old coach, Hugh Freeze, and the Tigers.
(8) Virginia Tech 28, (9) Memphis 23: Brent Pry’s third season at Virginia Tech is his most successful. The Hokies hold their own with the ACC’s best and win their last four games. In the postseason opener, Antwaun Powell-Ryland racks up three quarterback sacks to keep the Tigers on their heels every time it looks like they’re going to generate some offensive momentum.
Second round
(1) Georgia 35, (8) Virginia Tech 10: Georgia’s ability to make offenses one-dimensional has been a staple under Kirby Smart. Virginia Tech is unable to generate any running game, and the Bulldogs’ pass-rush feasts on a Hokies offensive attack that continually finds itself in third-and-long. Virginia Tech’s only touchdown comes on the 40-yard return of a blocked punt.
(2) Notre Dame 43, (10) Liberty 23: Riley Leonard transferred to Notre Dame to play in big games like this, and as Notre Dame’s second transfer quarterback in as many years, he delivers with three touchdown passes after starting the contest by completing his first nine passes.
(3) Missouri 34, (6) USC 28: Two of the most electric receivers in college football are on display in this one — Luther Burden III for Missouri and Zachariah Branch for USC. Of the two, Burden has the more seasoned and experienced quarterback, and Cook connects with Burden twice on third down to keep a game-clinching drive alive in the fourth quarter.
(4) Utah 28, (12) Rutgers 21: Determined to prove its first-round upset of Miami was no fluke, Rutgers leads most of the way against a Utah team that hurts itself with turnovers. But tight end Brant Kuithe saves the Utes with a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown receptions, the last one coming between two Rutgers defenders in the corner of the end zone.
Regional semifinals
(1) Georgia vs. (4) Utah
(2) Notre Dame vs. (3) Missouri
Midwest Regional
First round
(1) Ohio State 45, (16) Miami (Ohio) 20: This battle of Ohio has rarely been close in their six previous meetings, but the RedHawks put together another strong season after winning the MAC in 2023. They just don’t have the firepower to compete with an Ohio State roster laden with NFL talent.
(2) Michigan 31, (15) Arkansas 28: Sherrone Moore’s first NCAA tournament game as Michigan’s coach goes down to the last few possessions. The Hogs take a 28-24 lead on Landon Jackson‘s strip sack and 24-yard touchdown return. The Wolverines answer, though, thanks to two fourth-down conversions and a late 10-yard touchdown run by Donovan Edwards.
(3) Oklahoma 37, (14) South Florida 21: The improvement at South Florida in two seasons under Alex Golesh is hard to ignore, but so is the enormous talent of Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold. The Sooners sophomore doesn’t flinch in his first NCAA tournament game, throwing for 325 yards and three touchdowns.
(4) LSU 20, (13) Georgia Tech 14: It’s the SEC vs. the ACC in this first-round game that is played in a driving rainstorm. The teams combine to turn the ball over six times, and both defenses make stops with their backs at the goal line. The Tigers hold on to advance after a fourth-down pass into the end zone by Georgia Tech’s Haynes King is batted away.
(5) Louisville 30, (12) Boise State 20: Jeff Brohm guided Louisville to the ACC championship game in his first season back at his alma mater a year ago. That was just a teaser, as the Cardinals again get to 10 regular-season wins and see to it that there’s no drama in their postseason opener by building a 20-0 lead in the first half and cruising the rest of the way.
(6) Texas A&M 35, (11) Minnesota 24: Darius Taylor stays healthy for the whole season and establishes himself as one of the top young running backs in college football. He keeps Minnesota in the game with 145 rushing yards, but Texas A&M pulls away with Conner Weigman throwing a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown passes.
(10) Maryland 24, (7) Iowa 20: This is one of the biggest wins of Mike Locksley’s tenure at Maryland. Not only do the Terps advance to the Round of 32 by holding the Hawkeyes to 212 total yards, but they extend their winning streak to five straight games — one of those a win over Iowa the next-to-last week of the regular season in College Park.
(8) Florida 42, (9) TCU 24: The Gators needed something good to happen in Year 3 under Billy Napier, and they get it with one of their most impressive outings of the season in their NCAA tournament opener. Florida passes for more than 300 yards and rushes for more than 200 in a convincing victory.
Second round
(1) Ohio State 31, (8) Florida 10: Quarterback Will Howard bolted Kansas State for Ohio State with the hopes of playing for college football’s top prize. The Buckeyes move a step closer to doing just that even though Howard doesn’t have to play a huge role in a game that’s dominated by defensive tackle Tyleik Williams and an Ohio State defense that shuts out the Gators in the first half.
(2) Michigan 23, (10) Maryland 20: The Wolverines are living dangerously in the postseason, but there’s something to be said for finding ways to win when your season is on the line. For the second straight game, Michigan makes enough clutch plays in the fourth quarter to advance, none bigger than Will Johnson‘s one-handed interception on the sideline.
(3) Oklahoma 38, (6) Texas A&M 20: With the ever-changing landscape in college football, there will be an increased number of intraconference matchups in the tournament. Oklahoma’s first foray through the SEC includes a few hiccups, but the Sooners are playing their best football of the season and put the Aggies away by reeling off 21 unanswered points.
(5) Louisville 28, (4) LSU 24: The matchup everyone was anticipating going into this game was LSU’s offensive tackles vs. Louisville’s pass-rushers. There’s NFL talent on both sides, but the best player on the field is Louisville defensive end Ashton Gillotte. He’s the difference in this game with his ability to consistently pressure LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier.
Regional semifinals
(1) Ohio State vs. (5) Louisville
(2) Michigan vs. (3) Oklahoma
West Regional
First round
(1) Oregon 45, (16) James Madison 13: Dan Lanning’s third season at Oregon is his best yet, with the Ducks earning a No. 1 seed in their first year in the Big Ten. They play like a No. 1 seed in their NCAA tournament opener with more than 500 yards in total offense and three forced turnovers in a runaway victory.
(2) Penn State 33, (15) Wake Forest 17: Despite considerable turnover on a defense that led the country in sacks (49) and tackles for loss (111) in 2023, Penn State again flexes its muscles on that side of the ball under first-year coordinator Tom Allen. The Nittany Lions record five sacks in their first-round win over the Deacons.
(3) Florida State 34, (14) Washington State 21: It’s a new world for Washington State in a Pac-12 conference reduced to two teams. The Cougars play 11 nonconference games in Jake Dickert’s third full season as coach. Florida State, still smarting from its playoff snub a year ago, jumps out to a 17-point lead before putting together a seven-minute touchdown drive in the fourth quarter to end Washington State’s comeback bid.
(4) Tennessee 38, (13) Duke 28: A pair of former California star high school quarterbacks duel in this entertaining first-round contest that sees a total of six touchdown passes. In the end, Tennessee’s Nico Iamaleava has more talent around him, and the Vols advance despite Maalik Murphy playing one of his best games of the season for the Blue Devils.
(12) UCF 28, (5) Kansas State 23: Some of the best news for UCF in the offseason was running back RJ Harvey announcing that he was returning for his senior season. And what a season it is, as Harvey goes from one of the more underrated players in the country to one of the best. He rolls up 178 rushing yards and three touchdowns in an upset win over the Wildcats.
(6) Oklahoma State 28, (11) Oregon State 24: Similar to the 2023 season, Oklahoma State gets off to a slow start. But by the time the calendar flips to November, the Cowboys are peaking. That’s bad news for Oregon State, which hangs around and has a chance to win at the end under first-year coach Trent Bray. But the Beavers are stopped on first-and-goal inside the 10 in the closing minute.
(7) Kansas 31, (10) Texas Tech 30: Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels deserved an injury-free season after being plagued by injuries in 2023 and 2022, and he gets his wish. He makes big play after big play to counter a 204-yard rushing performance from Texas Tech’s Tahj Brooks to lead the Jayhawks to a thrilling win that isn’t decided until the final seconds.
(9) Kentucky 27, (8) SMU 23: Winning in the postseason is always a lot easier when you’re dominant in the defensive front. Kentucky’s Deone Walker is among the best interior linemen in the country and proves to be the difference in this tightly contested first-round game. The 6-foot-6, 348-pound junior is a one-man wrecking machine against the Mustangs.
Second round
(1) Oregon 31, (9) Kentucky 16: The Ducks post their second straight convincing victory in the tournament, this one coming after a slow start that leads to a fiery halftime lambasting by Lanning. It’s all Oregon in the second half with Tez Johnson twice getting open for deep touchdown receptions.
(2) Penn State 28, (7) Kansas 17: Daniels and Kansas manage to keep it close in the first half and have a chance to take the lead early in the third quarter, but a short field goal is blocked. The second half belongs to the Penn State running game, namely Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, as the Nittany Lions play keep-away and mash their way to two long scoring drives.
(3) Florida State 33, (6) Oklahoma State 23: Jared Verse was a difference-maker at defensive end a year ago for the ACC champion Seminoles. Now that he has gone to the NFL, Florida State will need others to step up. The good news is there’s depth at defensive end, and that depth shows up as five players record sacks against Oklahoma State.
(4) Tennessee 37, (12) UCF 27: Josh Heupel faces his old team, a UCF club that’s playing with a lot of confidence after upsetting Kansas State in the first round. Iamaleava plays mistake-free football for the Vols and doesn’t have to shoulder too much of the burden, as Dylan Sampson and Cameron Seldon each rush for 100 yards.
Regional semifinals
(1) Oregon vs. (4) Tennessee
(2) Penn State vs. (3) Florida State
East Regional
First round
(1) Texas 42, (16) Fresno State 14: The Longhorns fell one game short of playing for the national championship in 2023. In their first season in the SEC, they don’t take their foot off the gas and breeze through their first-round game. Several transfers make big plays, including former Alabama receiver Isaiah Bond catching two touchdowns (but none on fourth-and-31).
(2) Alabama 30, (15) Illinois 13: The postseason debut for Kalen DeBoer at Alabama is a successful one as the Crimson Tide’s defense steals the show. They hold Illinois to one touchdown and score one of their own when linebacker Deontae Lawson returns a tipped pass 42 yards for a touchdown.
(3) Ole Miss 38, (14) North Carolina 21: Lane Kiffin has his best roster yet at Ole Miss, especially on defense, and the Rebels use a balanced attack on offense and some game-changing plays on defense to put this first-round game away midway through the third quarter. Afterward, the focus shifts to whether Hall of Famer Mack Brown plans to retire as UNC’s coach.
(4) Arizona 35, (13) UCLA 24: Jedd Fisch left a talented roster at Arizona to take the Washington head-coaching job, and Brent Brennan was more than happy to come in and coach the players Fisch left behind. The Wildcats’ first-round win over their former Pac-12 mates is especially sweet for the Big 12, which gets a postseason win over the new-look Big Ten.
(5) Clemson 27, (12) Colorado 24: It’s Dabo vs. Prime, and the game more than lives up to its billing. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders is brilliant for the Buffaloes with 380 passing yards. They’re able to move the ball, but the Tigers’ red zone defense is the difference. Twice in the fourth quarter, All-America linebacker Barrett Carter comes up with third-down stops to thwart Colorado drives.
(11) West Virginia 24, (6) Wisconsin 20: Neal Brown took a small pay cut before the season so West Virginia could invest more in his coaching staff. That kind of selfless approach permeated the Mountaineers’ team, and they once again exceed outside expectations to move into the second round after holding the Badgers to 130 total yards in the second half.
(10) Nebraska 23, (7) NC State 21: It was a disappointing finish for Matt Rhule and Nebraska in his first season in Lincoln. The Huskers lost their last four games, but Rhule has been able to overhaul the roster. No addition was more important than getting quarterback Dylan Raiola to flip from Georgia. Even though he’s a freshman, Raiola plays like a veteran in a comeback win over the Wolfpack.
(8) Iowa State 31, (9) Washington 24: Don’t forget about Iowa State’s Rocco Becht when you start reeling off the top young quarterbacks in college football. Becht follows up a terrific redshirt freshman season with an even better sophomore campaign and throws touchdown passes to three receivers to move the Cyclones into the second round.
Second round
(1) Texas 24, (8) Iowa State 21: This was once a battle of Big 12 schools, and make no mistake, this game is the epitome of a battle. The Cyclones don’t back down against the heavily favored Longhorns and keep making clutch third-down stops on defense. But Texas’ defense makes the most important stand of the game when Becht’s fourth-down pass from the Longhorns’ 43 sails incomplete in the final seconds.
(2) Alabama 40, (10) Nebraska 21: Jalen Milroe does a little bit of everything for Alabama in its second-round win, even catching a touchdown on a throwback pass. The Crimson Tide’s offensive line sets the tone early, giving Milroe time to throw and clearing the way for Justice Haynes to rush for 127 yards and two touchdowns.
(3) Ole Miss 31, (11) West Virginia 20: The Portal King, aka Lane Kiffin, continues to have success plugging in new players and having them be a fit. One of the more highly coveted transfers in the 2024 class, defensive lineman Walter Nolen, keeps West Virginia quarterback Garrett Greene bottled up the whole game, and the Rebels surge into the Sweet 16.
(4) Arizona 28, (5) Clemson 26: The Noah Fifita-to-Tetairoa McMillan connection gives opposing defenses fits all season. Clemson’s defense is no exception. Fifita’s third touchdown pass of the game, all to McMillan, puts the Wildcats in the lead for good early in the fourth quarter. It’s Arizona’s sixth straight win and Brennan’s biggest yet in his first year as the Wildcats’ coach.
Regional semifinals
(1) Texas vs. (4) Arizona
(2) Alabama vs. (3) Ole Miss
You may like
Sports
Isles win draft lottery for first time since ’09
Published
4 hours agoon
May 6, 2025By
admin
-
Greg WyshynskiMay 5, 2025, 08:09 PM ET
Close- Greg Wyshynski is ESPN’s senior NHL writer.
SECAUCUS, N.J. — The New York Islanders won the NHL draft lottery on Monday night, moving up 10 spots to make the league’s first live televised drawing a memorable one.
“It was dramatic,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman told ESPN after the drawing. “It worked the way it was supposed to in terms of the process. But the result was unpredictable.”
The Islanders had a 3.5% chance of securing the first pick entering the draft, the 10th-best odds out of the 16 teams in the lottery. It’s the fifth time in franchise history that the Islanders will select first, and the first time since they picked center John Tavares in 2009. Other first overall picks for New York were forward Billy Harris (1972), defenseman Denis Potvin (1973) and goalie Rick DiPietro (2000).
“The hockey gods smiled on us. I can’t tell you how thrilled I am for Islander fans, for our ownership, for the entire Islander organization,” Islanders director of pro scouting Ken Morrow said.
The Islanders’ jump from 10th to first is the biggest involving a team winning the No. 1 selection. It comes after the last-place team won the lottery to retain the first pick in four of the past five years.
Boston College forward James Hagens, a Long Island native, is one of the top prospects available in the 2025 NHL draft, scheduled for L.A. Live’s Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on June 27-28.
Two drawings were held, the first to determine the No. 1 pick followed by the No. 2 selection. Only the bottom 11 teams in the standings were eligible to land the first pick due to a rule restricting teams to moving up no more than 10 spots in the draft order. Each drawing selected a four-number combination that had been assigned to a team before the draft, with balls drawn at 30-second increments. There were 1,001 possible combinations.
The San Jose Sharks entered the day with the best odds, 18.5%, to win the lottery and a 25.5% chance of landing the No. 1 choice for the second straight season, having selected center Macklin Celebrini first in 2024. Celebrini joined Montreal defenseman Lane Hutson and Calgary Flames goalie Dustin Wolf as finalists for the Calder Trophy for NHL rookie of the year, as announced on Monday.
The NHL draft lottery results are HERE 🤩
Did your team land in a good spot? 👀 pic.twitter.com/ug2L3moU6q
— ESPN (@espn) May 5, 2025
The Sharks settled for the second pick in 2025 after the Utah Hockey Club won the second lottery draw, moving up from 14th to No. 4 overall. The Chicago Blackhawks had the second-best chances to win the lottery and will pick third. The Nashville Predators had no lottery luck — despite having the third-best odds, they drop to the fifth pick.
The drama was amplified in this season’s lottery as the NHL televised the drawing live from the NHL Network studios for the first time in the event’s 30-year history. Previously, the drawing was held in a sequestered room at the facility, with deputy commissioner Bill Daly revealing each draft position by flipping over a stack of cards on television.
“It’s basically the same thing that I do when we’d pretape it and Bill would reveal it. For me, it’s the same. It’s a little different for Bill. He doesn’t have to flip the cards over now,” Bettman said.
The NHL decided to make the drawing live because it drew more fan bases into the excitement of the first overall pick than the previous format. Before the Islanders won the lottery, seven teams still had a shot at the first overall selection: The Blackhawks, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins and the Islanders each had two balls that would win them the lottery, while the Sharks, Seattle Kraken and Buffalo Sabres each had one.
“It gave those teams and those fan bases hope going into that final. To me, that was what this was all about: To keep hope alive all the way until the end,” Steve Mayer, the NHL’s chief content officer, said.
There was plenty of drama before the final ball was drawn, too. The NHL partnered with SportsMEDIA Technology (SMT) to create real-time odds adjustments after every ball was selected. When No. 7 was selected as the first ball in the first drawing, the Sharks’ odds spiked to 20.6%, while the Calgary Flames were eliminated. When No. 11 was taken second, the Sharks went up to 24.3% while four other teams were eliminated. When No. 12 was selected third, that’s when things took a turn: The Sharks’ chances dropped to 9.1%, the Predators and New York Rangers were eliminated and suddenly both the Penguins (9th) and the Islanders (10th) had an 18.2% chance at the first overall pick.
“This was the idea from the beginning. If we’re going to do this, we have to know after the first ball what the percentages are and who’s out. We need to know after the second ball and the third. We need to know going into the last ball what every team needs,” Mayer said.
“I said, ‘Can somebody way smarter than me figure this out?’ And that’s what they end up doing.”
At last year’s draft lottery, the NHL did a very rough run-through of what a live lottery draw might look like. Mayer sent that video to Bettman and Daly before the live broadcast as a way to present the run of show, with MLB Network employees having stood in for the commissioner and deputy commissioner.
Were there any concerns? “Steve said a hundred percent guaranteed, no problem. And his track record on putting on events, outdoor games, All-Star Games and the draft is impeccable. So we rely on his assurance,” Bettman said.
The NHL was pleased with the event after its completion, both in creating a more dramatic viewing experience and in the technology working. Bettman said there would be a debriefing among the league’s staffers but anticipated the format would return next season. That’s when the drama will really get amplified, when 17-year-old phenom Gavin McKenna of Medicine Hat in the Western Hockey League is expected to be the first pick.
“All the lotteries are important, and they all get the same treatment, in terms of how seriously we treat them,” Bettman said. “We can be a little lighthearted talking about how this [live drawing] came about, but in the final analysis, we had to get comfortable that this was a process with unquestionable integrity.”
Sports
Maple Leafs’ Stolarz injured, exits in 2nd period
Published
4 hours agoon
May 6, 2025By
admin
-
Kristen ShiltonMay 5, 2025, 10:23 PM ET
Close- Kristen Shilton is a national NHL reporter for ESPN.
TORONTO — Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz exited midway through the second period of Game 1 of his team’s second-round Eastern Conference series matchup against the Florida Panthers on Monday after taking an elbow to the head from forward Sam Bennett.
There was no penalty called on the play. Stolarz was replaced by backup Joseph Woll. He had made eight saves on nine shots before leaving while Toronto raced out to a 4-1 lead over its Atlantic Division rival.
On the game broadcast, during the third period, ESPN’s Emily Kaplan reported that a source said Stolarz had vomited on the bench before exiting for the locker room. The team made the official announcement that he wouldn’t return during the second intermission.
Stolarz started all six playoff games for Toronto against the Ottawa Senators in their first-round series victory, recording a 4-2 record with a .902 save percentage and a 2.21 goals-against average.
The 31-year-old veteran, who was the Panthers’ backup last season for Sergei Bobrovsky on their run to a Stanley Cup victory, was the Maple Leafs’ backbone in net throughout the regular season. He sat out some time after a midseason knee surgery but was an impressive 21-8-3 with .926 save percentage and a 2.14 GAA.
Woll took over starting duties when Stolarz was out during the regular season. He posted a 27-14-1 record with a.909 save percentage and a 2.73 GAA.
Sports
Five-star QB Jared Curtis to Georgia: How he fits and what’s next
Published
8 hours agoon
May 5, 2025By
admin
-
Eli Lederman
CloseEli Lederman
ESPN Staff Writer
- 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.
-
Tom Luginbill
CloseTom Luginbill
ESPN Analyst
- Senior National Recruiting Analyst for ESPN.com
- Coached in four professional football leagues
- Graduated from Eastern Kentucky and Marshall
May 5, 2025, 06:11 PM ET
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.
5⭐️ Georgia commit Jared Curtis makes it look easy 😮💨 The future Georgia Bulldog is the No. 1 QB in the class of 2026 😳🐶@Jaredcurtis37 I @NCSFB pic.twitter.com/jc6jGL7BYv
— SportsCenter NEXT (@SCNext) October 2, 2024
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
Trending
-
Sports3 years ago
‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports1 year ago
Story injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports2 years ago
Game 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years ago
MLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years ago
Japan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years ago
Game-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business3 years ago
Bank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway