A Dodgers-Yankees World Series? Stacking up the powerhouses as they battle in the Bronx
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Jorge Castillo
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Jorge Castillo
ESPN Staff Writer
- ESPN baseball reporter. Covered the Washington Wizards from 2014 to 2016 and the Washington Nationals from 2016 to 2018 for The Washington Post before covering the Los Angeles Dodgers and MLB for the Los Angeles Times from 2018 to 2024.
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Alden Gonzalez
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Alden Gonzalez
ESPN Staff Writer
- ESPN baseball reporter. Covered the L.A. Rams for ESPN from 2016 to 2018 and the L.A. Angels for MLB.com from 2012 to 2016.
Could this weekend’s showdown in the Bronx be a World Series preview?
The New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers have the star power — and the early success — that puts them squarely among the favorites in their respective leagues.
It’s been (mostly) good news for each team so far, but with that comes a lot of pressure. ESPN MLB experts on each coast — Jorge Castillo in New York and Alden Gonzalez in Los Angeles — tackle the state of their local team and project ahead to October.
On a scale of 1-10, how much pressure is each team under to make a World Series run this season — and why?
Castillo on Yankees: It’s always championship-or-bust for the Yankees, but the expectations this season are particularly lofty. It’s been 15 years since the Yankees last won a World Series. That, in the Bronx, is a drought of catastrophic proportions. Yankees brass, feeling the heat after a disastrous 2023 season, traded for Juan Soto and Alex Verdugo going into their walk years. You don’t make those moves unless you’re going for it. Soto and Verdugo are part of an impending group of likely free agents that also includes Gleyber Torres, Clay Holmes and Anthony Rizzo (club option for 2025). This group will have just one shot together. And yet I still don’t think the Yankees face as much pressure as the Dodgers. So let’s go with a 9.5.
Gonzalez on Dodgers: That’s easy: 10. This Dodgers era has carried World Series expectations with it on an annual basis, but club officials, coaches and players would all have to admit that it’s at an entirely new level this year. It’s what happens when you sign the two best free agents and splurge more than $1 billion in one offseason. It’s what happens when you’ve followed back-to-back 100-plus-win seasons with division series eliminations. It’s what happens when you’re trying to shed the label of a team that dominates in the summer and chokes in the fall. The Dodgers won 1,031 regular-season games from 2013 to 2023, 91 more than the second-best Yankees. But all they have to show for it is one championship, captured in a pandemic-shortened season. They need to do better.
How much pressure is each manager facing?
Castillo on Aaron Boone: Fairly or not, the fanbase was itching for Boone’s dismissal after last season’s injury-riddled debacle. The Yankees chose to run it back with one guaranteed year left on Boone’s contract, and he’s responded so far by leading the Yankees to the best record in the American League. The Yankees look like a juggernaut under Boone in his seventh season at the helm. But the pressure will remain on Boone as long as his job security is in flux. Maybe a deep October run will be enough for the Yankees to give him a new contract or exercise the club option for the 2025 season in his current deal. Maybe he needs to lead the club to the World Series for the first time. Maybe he needs to win championship No. 28 for the franchise. For now, he’s a lame duck and the pressure is on.
Gonzalez on Dave Roberts: Any blame for the failures of prior Octobers seems to fall squarely on Roberts’ lap, most of it centered on late-game bullpen decisions that cost key games. A lot of that is probably unfair. We live in a time when games are carefully scripted and front office involvement is prevalent, and so it’s hard to know where a manager’s feel ends and an executive’s calculation begins. But this is the job of the manager, now more than ever — to be the de facto spokesperson for a team and, when needed, absorb blame. Roberts has done a lot of that while putting together a .629 winning percentage through nine seasons in L.A. His contract runs through 2025. But if the Dodgers fall short of expectations again in October, it wouldn’t surprise anyone if he took the fall.
On David Schoenfield’s offseason report card, the Dodgers got an A++ and the Yankees got a B. How would you grade their winter work now?
Castillo on Yankees: This is an easy A. Let’s start with Brian Cashman’s biggest offseason move: Soto’s impact cannot be overstated. He’s putting together the best season of a career that was already on a Hall of Fame track. But The Soto Effect goes beyond the numbers. His amazingly consistent ability to make pitchers work is a constant challenge. His swagger and intensity have been infectious. He and Aaron Judge are the best one-two punch in baseball. Verdugo has been a consistent producer out of the cleanup spot and is playing an elite left field after seamlessly fitting into the clubhouse. Marcus Stroman — signed to a two-year, $37 million contract — is outperforming his deal, posting a 3.16 ERA through 13 starts. Cashman couldn’t seal the deal with Yoshinobu Yamamoto or Blake Snell, but the Yankees’ rotation has been just fine — even without Gerrit Cole.
Gonzalez on Dodgers: I’m going to mark them down to a B, because while Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow and Yamamoto have been great, and any holes they have in the bottom of their lineup or in the back of their bullpen can be shored up before the trade deadline, the Dodgers seemed woefully — shockingly — unprepared at shortstop. And so when Gavin Lux, coming off an ACL tear, began to show a propensity for errant throws, they were essentially forced to scramble, converting Mookie Betts to shortstop at a time when he was already converting from right field to second base. Betts is handling arguably the most physically demanding position — one he hadn’t really played since high school. He has worked extremely hard to figure it out. Few players would even attempt to do what he’s doing. But it was shocking to see the Dodgers get caught flat-footed at such an important position ahead of such an important season.
What has surprised you most about each team so far this season?
Castillo on Yankees: The starting rotation being this good without Cole. Yankees starters rank second in ERA, first in strikeouts per nine innings, and third in innings pitched across the majors. Stroman has a 3.16 ERA and a top-10 groundball rate. Nestor Cortés (3.73 ERA) and Carlos Rodón (3.08 ERA) are enjoying encouraging bounce-back seasons. Clarke Schmidt was on track for a breakout season, with a 2.52 ERA in 11 starts before going on the injured list with a right lat strain last week. But the club’s ace has been 26-year-old rookie Luis Gil. The right-hander is the first Yankee to ever log at least six innings and allow one run or fewer over seven straight starts. He’s held the opponents to three or fewer hits in 10 of his 12 outings. His 1.82 ERA ranks second in the majors. His strikeout rate is sixth. He’s on track to start the All-Star Game for the American League. Oh, and Cole, the reigning Cy Young Award winner, began his rehab assignment Tuesday by throwing 3⅓ scoreless innings and could make his season debut by the end of the month.
Gonzalez on Dodgers: The top half of the Dodgers’ lineup has been as advertised, with Betts, Ohtani, Freddie Freeman and Will Smith combining for a .306/.390/.525 slash line. But the bottom half has been worse than anyone could have imagined. Lux, James Outman and Enrique Hernandez have all struggled. Chris Taylor, slashing an abhorrent .095/.198/.107, has been unplayable. The Nos. 1 to 5 hitters in the Dodgers’ lineup lead the majors in OPS; the Nos. 6 to 9 hitters rank 24th. Lately, with Max Muncy on the injured list and Betts and Ohtani in mini-slumps, the Dodgers have struggled to generate runs because they don’t possess the lineup depth we thought they would.
Make the case for each team’s dynamic duo being best in baseball right now.
Castillo on Judge/Soto: The leaderboard makes the case for them. Pick your stat, almost any stat. WAR? Which version do you prefer? Judge is first in bWAR across the majors, Soto is fifth. They’re tied for first in fWAR. They also occupy the top two spots in wRC+, OPS+, on-base percentage and OPS. They are, at the moment, the two best hitters on the planet. Betts’ transition to shortstop is wildly impressive and unprecedented, but so is a 6-foot-7, 282-pounder playing center field every day. Soto, meanwhile, has been solid in his return to right field, though Yankees fans are holding their breath after he left the game during Thursday night’s rain delay with forearm discomfort. Yes, Ohtani is an elite runner and he can pitch, but he’s not pitching this season. He’s a DH right now. And if this is about right now, the answer is easy.
Gonzalez on Betts/Ohtani: It’s hard to match up with what Judge and Soto are doing offensively right now, but Betts and Ohtani might be the two best all-around players in the game. On top of being elite hitters, they’re both dynamic baserunners. One (Ohtani) also happens to be a Cy Young-caliber pitcher, even if offseason elbow surgery has put a pause on that for a year. The other (Betts) is a six-time Gold Glove outfielder who is somehow handling himself pretty well at shortstop this season. Judge and Soto have combined for 68 FanGraphs wins above replacement since 2018, which is incredible. Betts and Ohtani? 74.
Both teams are missing aces. What’s the latest on Clayton Kershaw‘s and Cole’s road back to the mound? And could we — gasp — see Ohtani pitch this year?
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Gerrit Cole’s rehab start for Yankees affiliate is a ‘great first step’
Jorge Castillo reports on Gerrit Cole’s first rehab start for the Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, the Somerset Patriots.
Castillo on Cole: Cole looked very sharp in his first rehab start Tuesday with Double-A Somerset. He gave up two singles, didn’t issue a walk, and struck out five. He said his fastball was clocked between 94 and 97 mph. Most importantly, he felt healthy and said he had more in the tank after throwing his 45 pitches. Boone this week said Cole will make at least “a couple more” rehab starts before making his season debut. The good thing for the Yankees is there’s no rush. Schmidt recently went on the injured list, denting their depth a bit, but owning the best record in the AL affords the Yankees the luxury to be as patient as they need to be with their prized ace.
Gonzalez on Kershaw/Ohtani: Let’s get this out of the way: No, Ohtani will not be pitching this season. Roberts has been asked a handful of times, as Ohtani has navigated his throwing progression, and Roberts has consistently said he can’t picture that happening. Frankly, there shouldn’t be any need for it. It’s already hard enough to be a two-way player, let alone one coming off a second UCL repair. The Dodgers have way too much invested in Ohtani to rush him through that.
As for Kershaw — he should be back at some point after the All-Star break. And though a timetable hasn’t been provided, we can now start to map one out. He threw a one-inning simulated game from Dodger Stadium over the weekend and the plan is for him to basically tack on an inning every week, treating this basically like spring training. If no setbacks occur, that puts Kershaw at the six-inning mark right around the first week of July. So, perhaps shortly after the All-Star break? We’ll see. The Dodgers certainly won’t rush this, either.
What does each team need to do from here to make an L.A. vs. N.Y. World Series happen?
Castillo on Yankees: Stay healthy, ensure Cole is ready for October, and maybe acquire a hard-throwing reliever or two for the back end of the bullpen. The Yankees don’t have much starting pitching depth beyond Cole and the six pitchers who have started games for them this season. And as good as the rotation has been, Cole is one of the best pitchers in the world, the kind of starter you need to advance deep into October. If you want to nitpick further, the Yankees’ bullpen is tied for 21st in strikeout rate. Strikeouts are the best outs, especially late in games. Adding a strikeout artist or two would help. Otherwise, just stay healthy. This is a veteran team with a checkered recent injury history. If the Yankees stay healthy, they have the talent to win it all.
Gonzalez on Dodgers: The Dodgers went into last year’s playoffs with an unstable rotation, a precursor to a stunning sweep at the hands of the division rival Arizona Diamondbacks. With Glasnow and Yamamoto, that won’t be the case this season. But someone else — whether it’s Kershaw, Walker Buehler, Bobby Miller, James Paxton or Gavin Stone, who has been outstanding in his first full season — will have to step up in October. The Dodgers’ front office will also have to make moves to shore up the back end of the bullpen and the bottom of the lineup next month. If they can find a full-time shortstop to ease some of the burden off Betts, even better. But what they really need to do is come through when it matters. The Dodgers went 9-for-51 with runners in scoring position the last two postseasons. That can’t happen again.
The first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs has heated up, and the end of many series is approaching. How many teams will move on with clinching games Wednesday night?
There are two potential elimination games on the docket. First up is Montreal Canadiens–Washington Capitals (7 p.m., ESPN), with Alex Ovechkin & Co. on the verge of sealing the deal over the Habs.
Staggered just 30 minutes later is the possible final game of the 2025 edition of the Battle of Florida (7:30 p.m., ESPN2). Will the Florida Panthers get win No. 4, or can the Tampa Bay Lightning draw the series to 3-2?
Finally, the St. Louis Blues visit the Winnipeg Jets (9:30 p.m., ESPN) in a series that sits at 2-2 following the first four, including major intrigue as leading Vezina Trophy candidate Connor Hellebuyck continues to struggle in goal.
Read on for game previews with statistical insights from ESPN Research, recaps of what went down in Monday’s games, and the Three Stars of Monday Night from Arda Öcal.
Matchup notes
Montreal Canadiens at Washington Capitals
Game 5 (WSH leads 3-1) | 7 p.m. ET | ESPN
Historically, teams that have a 3-1 series lead have gone on to win the series 90.8% of the time in Stanley Cup playoff history. The Capitals’ record in that scenario is 8-5, which is 62%.
Cole Caufield is taking many shots. His 21 shots on goal are the second most in the playoffs (trailing Nathan MacKinnon, with 31), and he has had 11 shot attempts blocked, which is tied for second most in the playoffs, behind Jack Eichel.
Rookie defenseman Lane Hutson is the sixth first-year blueliner in playoff history to record at least five assists in his first postseason series, joining Ray Bourque (1980), Janne Niinimaa (1997), Erik Karlsson (2010), Marc-Andre Gragnani (2011) and Quinn Hughes (2020).
Alex Ovechkin has scored the most goals in NHL regular-season history, and he is 13th on the all-time playoff list with 75. His next will tie Mario Lemieux for 12th.
Anthony Beauvillier is the first player in Capitals history to record an assist in each of his first four playoff games with the club, and the fourth with at least one point, following Dave Christian (five GP in 1984), Adam Oates (four GP in 1998) and Mike Knuble (five GP in 2010).
Florida Panthers at Tampa Bay Lightning
Game 5 (FLA leads 3-1) | 7:30 p.m. ET | ESPN2
In the 2025 playoffs, home teams have a 23-10 record. That script has flipped in the Battle of Florida series as the road team has won three of four games.
The Panthers are 5-0 all time when leading a playoff series 3-1, closing out three of the previous series in Game 5. The Lightning are 1-5 all-time in a best-of-seven series when trailing 1-3.
Lightning forward Jake Guentzel is tied with Brad Marchand for the fourth most playoff goals since 2017 (40), behind Nathan MacKinnon (51), Leon Draisaitl (44) and Brayden Point (44).
Andrei Vasilevskiy has been doing his part: He allowed five goals combined in Games 2-4 (.936 save percentage) after allowing six goals in Game 1 (.647).
Matthew Tkachuk is tied with Nate Schmidt for the Panthers’ goal-scoring lead this series (three), and has 20 in 48 career playoff games with Florida; that is third most in franchise history, behind Sam Reinhart (22 in 59) and Carter Verhaeghe (27 in 65).
With each game and win, Sergei Bobrovsky adds to his lead in each category since the start of the 2023 playoffs (47 games played, 31 wins).
St. Louis Blues at Winnipeg Jets
Game 5 (series tied 2-2) | 9:30 p.m. ET | ESPN
Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck has encountered another postseason rough patch. He allowed 11 goals combined in the past two games, and has now allowed four-plus goals in 10 of 14 starts the past three postseasons. That is a 71% rate, and his regular-season rate for that same stat is 17% in the same three-season span.
After starting the series hot — with five points in the first two games, both wins for the Jets — Mark Scheifele has been pointless in the two losses in Games 3 and 4. Kyle Connor has been just slightly better, with four points in the first two and just one goal in the ensuing two.
Although the Jets outshot the Blues 31-23, Jordan Binnington was up to the task in Game 4, stopping all but one. Overall this postseason, Binnington has a .907 save percentage and 2.29 goals-against average. In the Blues’ Stanley Cup run in 2019, he finished with a .914 save percentage and 2.46 goals-against average.
In-season trade addition Cam Fowler is playing in his first postseason since 2017, and he’s making up for lost time, leading the Blues with eight points (one goal, seven assists) through four games. Fowler’s career-high postseason point total was 10 in 16 games in the 2015 playoffs.
Arda’s three stars from Tuesday night
Ullmark recorded his first career playoff shutout, becoming the second goalie in Senators franchise history (with Craig Anderson) to secure a shutout in a potential elimination game.
Two goals, including the overtime winner, to cap a three-point night to send the Hurricanes to the second round with a 5-4 win. The Canes scored three goals in four minutes in the second to tie the game after going down 3-0 early. This was Aho’s 10th career postseason power-play goal, which ties Eric Staal for the franchise record.
Tkachuk and Stutzle are the first Senators teammates to have three points when facing elimination in franchise history. They’ll get another chance at it Thursday at home.
Tuesday’s scores
Ottawa Senators 4, Toronto Maple Leafs 0
TOR leads 3-2 | Game 6 Thursday
Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark faced questions heading into this postseason, as his playoff career performances had not been up to par with his regular-season success. On this night at least, he was stellar. Ullmark stopped all 29 shots the Maple Leafs directed at him, and the Senators got goals from Thomas Chabot and Dylan Cozens, with empty-netters by Tim Stutzle and Brady Tkachuk capping the evening. Full recap.
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Dylan Cozens doubles lead for Senators in Game 5
Dylan Cozens’ goal in the third period gives the Senators some breathing room in Game 5 vs. the Maple Leafs.
Carolina Hurricanes 5, New Jersey Devils 4 (2OT)
CAR wins 4-1, plays winner of WSH-MTL
It was a wild one Tuesday night in Raleigh, with eight goals between the two teams through two periods. The goalies shut it down for 40 minutes thereafter, with the teams going scoreless in the third period and first overtime. It wasn’t until 4:17 of the second OT when Sebastian Aho scored the game- and series-winning goal. Full recap.
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Sebastian Aho slots in a goal for Hurricanes
Sebastian Aho answers with the Hurricanes’ fourth goal of the second period to tie the game 4-4 vs. the Devils.
Vegas Golden Knights 3, Minnesota Wild 2 (OT)
VGK leads 3-2 | Game 6 Thursday
The teams traded a pair of goals early on the same Minnesota power play — William Karlsson scoring short-handed and Kirill Kaprizov notching the power-play tally — and Mark Stone capped off the first period with a goal at 13:24. The score would remain 2-1 Knights until 3:31 of the third, when Matt Boldy tied things the game at two. The Knights needed just 4:05 of the first OT period to score the game-winner off the stick of Brett Howden. Full recap.
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Brett Howden nets OT winner for Golden Knights to seal Game 5
Brett Howden’s close-range snap shot finds the back of the net to win it in overtime for the Golden Knights and claim a 3-2 series lead vs. the Wild.
Edmonton Oilers 3, Los Angeles Kings 1
EDM leads 3-2 | Game 6 Thursday
After wins in the first two games of the series, the Kings are now looking up at the Oilers — the team that has beaten them the past three postseasons. The Kings were on the board first via an Andrei Kuzmenko power-play goal in the second, but Evander Kane would tie things up less than three minutes later. The eventual game-winner came off the stick of Mattias Janmark 7:12 into the third, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins added an empty-net goal to put the game further out of reach. Full recap.
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Mattias Janmark puts the Oilers ahead in the 3rd
Mattias Janmark scores off the rebound to give the Oilers the lead in the third period vs. the Kings.
Will the Presidents’ Trophy curse claim a new victim this year?
For the past 11 NHL seasons, the winner of the trophy — awarded to the team with the most regular-season points — has failed to win the Stanley Cup. In fact, none of the last 11 Presidents’ Trophy winners have even played in the Stanley Cup Final.
All told, of the 38 seasons when the trophy has been awarded, just eight of its victors have also lifted the Stanley Cup. With the Winnipeg Jets‘ series against the St. Louis Blues in the first round of the playoffs knotted at two games apiece, could the curse be looming large again?
Here’s a look at the eight squads the Jets will be hoping to emulate that defied the curse:
Chicago Blackhawks, 2012-13
The most recent team to take home both the Presidents’ Trophy and Stanley Cup, the Blackhawks earned the regular-season crown in a campaign that didn’t start until January due to lockout. Patrick Kane would go on to earn Conn Smythe Trophy honors after a postseason in which he posted nine goals (tied for second on the team) and 10 assists (third on the team).
Detroit Red Wings, 2007-08
Winning the Central Division by an impressive 24-point margin, the Red Wings bolstered the best goals-against record in the league and raced to an impressive 115-point regular season. Henrik Zetterberg, the team’s top goal scorer in the regular season, won the Conn Smythe after a 27-point postseason.
Detroit Red Wings, 2001-02
Not to be outdone by their franchise counterparts six years later, the Red Wings turned in a regular season that not only saw them win the Central Division by 18 points, but top the overall league standings by a 15-point margin as well. The Conn Smythe went to Hall of Fame defenseman Nicklas Lidström, capping off the third of his three Stanley Cup triumphs in Detroit.
Colorado Avalanche, 2000-01
Combined with the Red Wings’ subsequent title, Colorado’s Stanley Cup win marks the only time in league history teams won both the Presidents’ Trophy and Stanley Cup in back-to-back years. Goalkeeper Patrick Roy was awarded his third Conn Smythe — a record that still stands today.
Dallas Stars, 1998-99
Dallas led the league in goals allowed, a trend that continued into the postseason. In just one of the Stars’ 12 postseason wins did the team concede more than two goals. Centers powered the squad’s offense — Mike Modano’s 81 regular-season points led the team by a sizable margin, while Joe Nieuwendyk earned the Conn Smythe.
New York Rangers, 1993-94
After the regular season saw the Rangers beat local rivals the New Jersey Devils to both the Atlantic Division crown and the Presidents’ Trophy, New York’s postseason didn’t lack for rivalry thrills either.
The Rangers met New Jersey in the Eastern Conference finals, coming away victorious in a seven-game series that featured three games decided by double overtime. New York’s subsequent Stanley Cup Final series with the Vancouver Canucks would go seven games as well, with Conn Smythe winner Brian Leetch scoring the opener in the decisive final game.
Calgary Flames, 1988-89
The 1988-89 NHL season was all about Calgary and the Montreal Canadiens, who posted 117- and 115-point regular seasons respectively — no other team in the league amassed more than 92. Fittingly, the two squads met in the Stanley Cup Final, where the President Cup champion Flames bested Montreal again, topping the Canadiens in six games. Defenseman Al MacInnis racked up 24 postseason assists en route to Conn Smythe honors.
Edmonton Oilers, 1986-87
Led by Wayne Gretzky at his peak, Edmonton raced to a 106-point regular season as Gretzky led the NHL in goals, assists and plus/minus as he earned his eighth Hart Trophy. Unsurprisingly, Gretzky was a driving force in the Oilers’ postseason march as well — he totaled 29 assists as Edmonton won its third Stanley Cup in what would end up being a run of four Cups in five years for the franchise.
Following two transfer portal windows and the NFL draft, college football fans might need Apple AirTags to track where their favorite players wound up.
This space is dedicated to those who decided to stay — commitments who boosted their teams’ College Football Playoff hopes. Penn State’s 2022 recruiting class could take up half the list: quarterback Drew Allar, running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton and defensive tackle Zane Durant are all back from the Nittany Lions’ CFP semifinal run.
“When we all committed here coming out of our ’22 class, that was one of our goals coming in as Penn Staters, we wanted to compete for championships, both Big Ten and obviously national championships,” Allar said. “And obviously we had a taste of that last year, and we know how close you are, so it’s just building off that and trying to make another run at it.”
Here’s a look at 13 players from 11 schools and representing five different leagues whose decisions to either forgo the NFL draft or sidestep the portal have beefed up their respective teams’ playoff chances.
The decision: Forgo the 2025 NFL draft
What his return means: Nussmeier, a fifth-year senior, and offensive coordinator Joe Sloan are entering their second season together and aiming to improve upon a stellar debut, which will help the Tigers contend for the SEC title. Nussmeier threw for 4,052 passing yards last year, 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Even if LSU can’t win the league, Nussmeier’s return can help the Tigers earn an at-large CFP bid — especially if he makes a similar jump to his predecessors, Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels, who both won the Heisman Trophy in their second seasons in Baton Rouge. Nussmeier’s dad, Doug, will be nearby as the Saints’ offensive coordinator after winning a Super Bowl as the Eagles’ quarterbacks coach. With four new starters on the Tigers’ offensive line, there’s going to be an adjustment period, but if the “Nuss Bus” gets the time he needs, this should be a breakout season and his draft stock will rise with LSU’s playoff chances.
2. Drew Allar, QB, Penn State
The decision: Forgo the 2025 NFL draft
What his return means: Penn State has something Ohio State and Oregon don’t — a starting quarterback with playoff experience. The Nittany Lions might finally have the pieces in place to return to the top of the Big Ten and contend for a national title. Allar, who’s entering his third season as the starter, will be surrounded by NFL talent on the offensive line and in the running game, and could make a case to be Penn State’s first Heisman Trophy winner since John Cappelletti in 1973. Last season, he had 3,327 passing yards, the third most in a season in school history. With a second season under coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, and more options at wide receiver — plus a still-loaded tight end room — there will be no shortage of options for Allar to push the ball downfield more.
The decision: Forgo the 2025 NFL draft
What his return means: On paper, Clemson has enough offensive firepower returning to elevate the Tigers into a deeper CFP run than their first-round exit in 2024 and they should have the Heisman-contending quarterback the program has desperately missed. Klubnik leads a Clemson offense that is No. 1 in the FBS in returning production (81%), according to ESPN’s Bill Connelly. Klubnik reestablished himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the country following a down season in 2023. Last year, his 308 completions, 3,639 passing yards and 36 passing touchdowns all ranked among the best seasons in program history. As he enters his third season as a starter under offensive coordinator Garrett Riley, Klubnik’s understanding of the offense and his relationship with Riley has grown, positioning Klubnik for what should be his best season with the Tigers.
4. Nicholas Singleton/Kaytron Allen, RBs, Penn State
The decision: Forgo the 2025 NFL draft
What their return means: The nation’s best running back duo returns intact, and they’ve got playoff experience along with familiarity and knowledge of the offense in coordinator Andy Kotelnicki’s second season, all of which should boost the Nittany Lions’ hopes of winning the Big Ten and returning to the CFP. Singleton and Allen were projected by ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. to be the Nos. 5 and 6 running backs available in the 2025 draft after becoming the first combo in Penn State history to each have at least 1,000 rushing yards in the same season. Penn State ran for more than 200 yards in 10 games last season, and the Nittany Lions led all Power 4 teams and Notre Dame in rushing with 3,237 yards. Of course, it helps to have 6-foot-4, 350-pound offensive guard Olaivavega Ioane blocking.
The decision: Avoid the transfer portal
What his return means: Sellers absolutely drew interest from other teams in November and December, but he re-signed quickly with the Gamecocks — and his commitment could be the difference between receiving or not receiving a CFP bid. The same can be said for edge rusher Dylan Stewart, who also attracted attention after 10.5 TFLs and 6.5 sacks last year. South Carolina made a playoff case with Sellers leading the offense last year, but the CFP selection committee didn’t rank the No. 15 Gamecocks high enough for inclusion. He improved throughout the season last fall, increasing his Total QBR from 52 in his first six games to 81 over the last six. This year, he’ll be working with Mike Shula, the son of Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Don Shula.
The decision: Avoid the transfer portal (twice)
What his return means: Illinois can be a CFP sleeper team by competing for the Big Ten title and earning an at-large bid if it doesn’t win the league. The importance of Illinois retaining its starting quarterback after a strong spring push from Tennessee can’t be understated. The Illini have a chance to be this year’s Indiana — a Big Ten contender with a manageable schedule that can play its way into the selection committee’s rankings with a standout quarterback and his supporting cast. After public speculation he might transfer for his final year of eligibility, Altmyer announced in December he would return to the team. He did it again in April, following the drama at Tennessee. Altmyer passed for 2,543 yards, 21 touchdowns and only five interceptions last year, leading Illinois to a 9-3 regular season and a top-20 ranking in the Associated Press poll.
The decision: Avoid the transfer portal
What his return means: K-State can win another wide-open Big 12 race and earn an automatic bid into the playoff as one of the five highest-ranked conference champions. Johnson never entered the transfer portal, but he attracted interest, especially after Tennessee lost Nico Iamaleava. “We got a damned wall built around him,” a K-State source told ESPN. “They better bring the Tennessee National Guard.” Expectations will be higher this year for Johnson, who threw for 2,712 passing yards, 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in his first full season as a starter last year. He also had 605 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. With the depth at wide receiver, K-State’s passing game could flourish this fall.
The decision: Forgo the NFL draft
What his return means: A veteran offensive line that includes four returning starters from a group that allowed the third-fewest sacks in the SEC last season (20). It also means better protection for quarterback DJ Lagway, who could be one of the best in the country if he can stay healthy — and Lagway’s health is the most critical component to Florida’s success this year. According to Pro Football Focus, Slaughter allowed one sack, one QB hit, six QB hurries and eight pressures — with only three penalties — in 728 snaps. The Gators again have one of the toughest schedules in the country, and Slaughter is the kind of veteran they need up front to help Lagway survive it.
The decision: Forgo the NFL draft
What his return means: That the Buckeyes didn’t lose everyone from their national championship defense. Styles had an outstanding 2024 season with 100 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, six sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and five passes defended. His draft stock rose as the Buckeyes ascended through the CFP bracket, but he told reporters at their national championship celebration that he “wasn’t ready to leave yet.” Styles still has room to improve and grow, and his draft stock will continue to rise. He’s now in a position of leadership as one of just three returning starters on defense and the most experienced player among the rising seniors.
The decision: Forgo the NFL draft
What his return means: The Ducks retained a 6-foot, 175-pound receiver who played a key role in advancing them to the top seed in the 2024 CFP, and they’ll need his help again — especially with the departure of Tez Johnson, who entered the NFL draft after leading Oregon with 83 receptions for 898 yards and 10 touchdowns his senior season. Stewart is Oregon’s only returning receiver who had more than 30 receptions in 2024. Stewart, who transferred to Oregon from Texas A&M, had 48 catches last season for 613 yards and tied for the team high with five receiving touchdowns. He was Oregon’s second-most targeted receiver in an offense that finished 13th nationally in passing yards. Stewart’s role will increase, and his decision to return will help the Ducks’ new starting quarterback, which could be former UCLA QB Dante Moore.
The decision: Forgo the NFL draft
What his decision means: The Longhorns have leadership, playoff experience, NFL talent and a familiar face returning to a defense that again has to replace multiple starters from the previous season. Taaffe, a rising senior who ascended from walk-on to All-American, had 71 tackles, 6 TFLs, 2 sacks, 2 interceptions, 10 passes defended, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery. His decision to return was driven in large part by the desire to win a national title at Texas and the devastation he said he felt following the loss to Ohio State. Taaffe will get another chance at the Buckeyes in the season opener.
The decision: Withdrew name from portal
What his return means: The Broncos were able to retain top talent from their 2024 CFP run, which featured one of the nation’s top defensive fronts, a huge boost for coach Spencer Danielson as he tries to own the Group of 5’s guaranteed spot as one of the nation’s five highest-ranked conference champions. Fely took visits to Miami and Cal before announcing on social media he planned to return to Boise. Fely, who spent the past three seasons at Boise State, started 28 games in the past two seasons. He had nine TFLs last year and 5.5 sacks.
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