World Junior Championship guide: Top contenders, key players to watch
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Rachel Doerrie, ESPN
The holidays are here, and for hockey fans, that means it is time to settle in on the couch and make sweeping judgments about prospects based on their performance at the World Junior Hockey Championship.
Taking place in Ottawa, Canada, this year, the tournament is sure to be a good one. Without the likes of Connor Bedard or Macklin Celebrini — who are still eligible to play but are sticking with their NHL teams for obvious reasons — this is an opportunity for other prospects to shine.
Every team has medal hopes, and five or six teams have legitimate shots at gold. Canada and the United States always have golden expectations, Sweden and Finland will be in the hunt, and Czechia and Slovakia are, as always, upset threats.
The tournament is loaded with first-round picks and players expected to be drafted in the top five of upcoming drafts. There will be no shortage of highlight-reels plays, mistakes, heartbreak and jubilant moments.
Trying to predict a highly unpredictable tournament is always a fool’s errand, that’s why we’ve never had a perfect March Madness bracket. Every year, there is a Cinderella, a team that disappoints and players who announce themselves as potential stars of their sport.
That is no different this year, as many hockey fans will be introduced to the likes of James Hagens (U.S., 2025 draft-eligible), Matthew Schaefer (Canada, 2025) and Gavin McKenna (Canada, 2026). They will be reacquainted with drafted players such as Dalibor Dvorsky, Ryan Leonard, Zeev Buium, Konsta Helenius and Brayden Yager.
Group A in this year’s tournament includes Canada, Finland, Germany, Latvia and the United States. Group B is Czechia, Kazakhstan, Slovakia, Sweden and Switzerland.
Here’s a look at what each team is bringing to the ice, presented in reverse order of each team’s competitiveness:
Kazakhstan
The Kazakhs will be in a tough spot at this tournament and are likely to find themselves in the relegation round.
Kazakhstan has plenty of continuity, as many of its players are centralized on one team for the season. Asanali Sarkenov is the lone Canadian Hockey League (CHL) player for Kazakhstan, playing for the Spokane Chiefs of the WHL.
Latvia
Latvia brings two NHL draftees to the tournament, Darels Uljanskis (Anaheim) and Eriks Mateiko (Washington) and nine returnees from last year’s team in Sweden. The Latvians have continuity in their lineup with the returnees but lack a true standout talent. However, they are always a scrappy, hard-working team capable of shocking a traditional power.
Latvia’s most important game will come against Germany and will likely determine which team makes the quarterfinal and which plays in the relegation round.
Germany
Germany brings a very young team to the tournament and lacks the eye-popping talent it has enjoyed in recent years with Tim Stutzle, JJ Peterka and Florian Elias. Germany’s only NHL draftee, Norwin Panocha (Buffalo), will be relied upon to play big minutes in a shutdown role on the blue line.
In fact, the strength of the team is on the blue line with Paul Mayer and Lua Niehus returning, and while they are undrafted, they have talent and could play themselves into a development camp invite next summer.
The Germans are missing their most dangerous forward in Kevin Bicker (Detroit), a major loss to the offense. The Germans will have to rely on David Lewandowski (2025), Julius Sumpf and Lenny Boos to drive the offensive engine. The game against Latvia should determine whether the Germans qualify for the medal round, and they have a few more offensive weapons than the Latvians do.
A solid showing in a quarterfinal, with a young team that can return many of its players next year, would be considered a success.
Switzerland
Every year, one team goes on a Cinderella run. This year, the candidate to do that is Switzerland on the back of Ewan Huet, son of Stanley Cup champion Cristobal Huet.
On paper, the Swiss lack the talent to get past the quarterfinal, but that hasn’t stopped them in the past. Huet has struggled to find consistent playing time in the WHL this season, but this is likely his net, and we all know what Huets are capable of when they feel confident in their game. This is the perfect opportunity for Huet to showcase his abilities and backstop Switzerland on a Cinderella run.
Leon Muggli (Washington) and Ludvig Johnson will play key roles on the Swiss blue line, with Muggli expected to play in all situations and log big minutes. The Swiss blue line has capable defenders who skate well and cause turnovers in games where flashiness gets the best of some players. They will be physical, block shots and make life difficult at the net front.
Up front, Lars Steiner is a skilled playmaker who isn’t draft-eligible until 2026, but he will surely draw attention from scouts and could produce a few highlight-reel plays. Jamiro Reber and Jan Dorthe are having productive seasons for their respective teams and will be leaned on to produce the bulk of the offense.
If Switzerland is going to ruffle feathers in a weaker Group B, the game against Czechia may be their spot to make noise.
Czechia
Czechia is always an interesting team at this tournament thanks to talented players and inconsistent goaltending (jaw-dropping or devastating). Seemingly always on the verge of an upset, this year feels like it could have more ups and downs than a roller coaster. After shocking Sweden to win bronze last year, many believe the Czechs have the most volatile projection this year.
Michael Hrabal (Utah) is the clear starter in goal, and while he is extremely talented, he has struggled to perform when he wears his nation’s colors. He is capable of more than he has shown at the WJC level, and the Czechs are hoping they see that version of him over the next two weeks.
All eyes will be on Adam Jiricek (St. Louis), the 2024 first-rounder who has been riddled with injuries over the past few seasons. The Czechs inexplicably left Dominik Badinka (Carolina) off their roster, making their blue line even thinner. That places the pressure squarely on the shoulders of Jiricek and AHL Ontario’s Jakub Dvorak (Los Angeles) to carry the load. Both are capable of impacting the game and will need to keep the best opposing players at bay while producing offense.
Up front, the Czechs lack a true game-breaking talent. Eduard Sale (Seattle), Miroslav Holinka (Toronto) and Adam Jecho (St. Louis) will be relied upon to lead the charge offensively. Sale is on a tear with Coachella Valley in the AHL, while Holinka and Jecho are scoring nearly a point per game with the Edmonton Oil Kings in the WHL. The Czech forward group is bigger and will play a tighter checking style to frustrate teams, while hoping to capitalize on power-play opportunities or turnovers generated from their defensive play.
The bottom line is that if Hrabal is at his best, the Czechs are likely to finish second in Group B, meaning they’d get one of Canada, USA or Finland in the quarterfinal. That’s a tough task, but the Czechs have proved they are capable of frustrating more talented teams and getting key saves from their goaltender in an upset.
Slovakia
Slovakia lost a heartbreaker in overtime of last year’s quarterfinal after an excellent run of group play. The Slovaks have had outstanding goaltending recently, and that is unlikely to change this year.
The Slovaks return quite a few key players to the tournament. Maxim Strbak (Buffalo), Luka Radivojevic and Dalibor Dvorsky (St. Louis) will play major roles, with Dvorsky expected to be one of the stars of the tournament. This age group has enjoyed success at the under-18 level, and could send Canada, USA or Finland home in the quarterfinal.
Samuel Urban well tend the goal, and has been a key piece of that recent Slovakian success at the under-18 level. The undrafted goaltender is more than capable of backstopping Slovakia through the medal round, and earn himself some draft consideration as a re-entry in the 2025 draft.
Strbak is playing in his fourth WJC (!) and will be the most important defenseman for the Slovaks. He is capable of producing offensively and shutting down the best players on other teams. Dvorsky joins Strbak returning for his fourth go-round, and should contend for various tournament awards. He will be appointment television at this tournament, capable of producing highlight-reel plays with dazzling skill.
Finally, Radivojevic will draw plenty of attention from scouts at the tournament after last year’s performance and a solid first half with the USHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks. The highly skilled defenseman could find himself in the first-round conversation with a standout performance in Ottawa.
Slovakia cannot be considered a Cinderella because of expectations and previous success, but there is reason to believe it could medal with its game-breaking talent and excellent goaltending.
Finland
Finland finds itself in Group A with Canada and the United States after a bitterly disappointing finish at the 2024 WJC. Given the talent in Group A, the Finns will be hard-pressed to finish higher than third, but the proverbial group of death means Finland avoids both Canada and the USA in the quarterfinals and is likely to face Slovakia or Czechia.
In terms of the roster makeup, Finland lacks superstar talent but has excellent depth at every position.
Finland continuously gets excellent goaltending at the tournament, and this year should be no different. Petteri Rimpinen, Kim Saarinen (Seattle) and Noa Vali are all options, with Rimpinen projected to start. None of the three are expected to be NHL stars, but given the goaltending factory that Finland is, it is more likely than not that Finland’s goaltending performs well enough to see it through to a semifinal appearance.
Finland has excellent depth on the blue line, with five NHL draftees, led by Aron Kiviharju (Minnesota). The highly skilled defender could be the difference between a medal and not in this tournament. He’s capable of taking over games and could find himself in the conversation for tournament’s best defender if he plays to his capabilities.
Every one of Finland’s defenders can play quality minutes, meaning there is room for error if one of the top six options falters. In an ideal situation, Finland does not have to overplay any of their defenders, and can run Kiviharju out in situations that allow him to showcase his tremendous talent.
Konsta Helenius (Buffalo) is the player to watch up front for the Finns, and he will be expected to play a major offensive and defensive role. He’s not Aleksander Barkov, but expect the Finnish coaching staff to deploy him in a similar manner to Paul Maurice’s deployment of Barkov in Florida. He’ll play in every key situation and be expected to lead the charge offensively.
Jesse Kiiskinen (Detroit) along with the London Knights duo of Jesse Nurmi (New York Islanders) and Kasper Halttunen (San Jose) will be relied upon to perform offensively for Finland against tough competition. Emil Hemming (Dallas) is a quality two-way player whose playmaking ability has developed this season. He will be a key player in the middle six who can forecheck, produce offense and keep top players off the scoresheet.
Given Finland’s talent and depth, its special teams should be among the best in the tournament, making it a legitimate threat to medal.
Sweden
Sweden is the prohibitive favorite to top Group B, with anything less seen as a disappointment. After a heartbreaking loss in the gold medal game on home ice at last year’s WJC, Sweden returns key players at every position, looking to improve upon its silver medal performance.
It is rare that a team’s top defensive pairing returns — as they are usually 19-year-olds. Axel Sandin-Pellikka (Detroit) and Theo Lindstein (St. Louis) will play huge roles on Sweden’s blue line, with slick puck-moving ability and solid two-way play.
Tom Willander (Vancouver) is another puck mover who will log key minutes in a second-pair role for Sweden, balancing the physical depth the Swedes have on the third pair.
Otto Stenberg (St. Louis), David Edstrom (Nashville) and Felix Unger Sorum (Carolina) will feature prominently for the Swedes. Stenberg was outstanding in last year’s tournament and is off to great start in the SHL this season. He has a knack for elevating his play when wearing his country’s colors and will be a key player in all situations.
Projected top-15 pick Viktor Eklund will draw the attention from scouts and executives, and is expected to play a prominent role in Sweden’s top six.
With Sweden’s solid depth and returning players, it is a threat to win gold, which would end a drought that has spanned more than a dozen years.
United States
The United States is bringing back a few players to defend its gold medal, a feat it has not been able to accomplish in the tournament through the years. The Americans were perfect in 2024 and they remain among the top gold medal contenders.
Goaltending is locked and loaded, with Trey Augustine (Detroit) returning as the starter for the third consecutive year, and the prohibitive favorite to be the tournament’s top goaltender.
Zeev Buium (Minnesota) returns and will lead the way for the Americans on defense. He started as the seventh defenseman in last year’s tournament, and ended as one of their best, scoring a crucial goal in the third period of the gold medal game. He’ll log major minutes alongside Drew Fortescue (New York Rangers), another returnee who is excellent in transition and complements Buium’s skillset.
Cole Hutson (Washington) is likely to lead the second power-play unit with his excellent puck movement and dynamic skating ability. The ability to pair both Buium and Hutson, two dynamic offensive players, with quality defense-minded partners is a luxury for the Americans, and provides balance to one of the best blue lines in the tournament.
The Americans went with a traditional top-six, bottom-six forward orientation for the tournament: a high-octane, productive top six, and a bottom six with physicality and energy.
Three of the top six come from Boston College, and will be expected to produce the bulk of the scoring output for the U.S. James Hagens, a 2025 top prospect, super sniper Gabe Perreault (New York Rangers) and captain Ryan Leonard (Washington) are more than capable of filling the net, and will be a dangerous trio.
Cole Eiserman (New York Islanders) and Trevor Connelly (Vegas) were hot topics at the 2024 draft, and both possess game-breaking offensive skill. Look for Eiserman to be a power-play triggerman with his excellent shooting ability.
The bottom six features solid two-way players who will be relied upon in matchup roles and to play a heavier style to wear down opponents. The U.S. left some skill off the roster in favor of a more balanced team, but the Americans have a quality roster capable of winning gold.
The U.S. might not be the favorite, but it has quality goaltending and game-breaking talent, which means the team is always dangerous.
Canada
Canada is a team looking to bounce back from a poor showing at last year’s WJC that saw it leave without a medal. Anything less than gold will fall short of expectations at every WJC, and even though the Canadians are missing Connor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini, they have the talent depth to win gold at home.
Calum Ritchie (Colorado) and Jett Luchanko (Philadelphia) bring NHL experience to the roster. Those two, along with Brayden Yager (Winnipeg), Bradly Nadeau (Carolina), Berkly Catton (Seattle) and Easton Cowan (Toronto) will be expected to provide speed, skill and a ton of offense.
Gavin McKenna, the favorite to be picked No. 1 in the 2026 NHL draft, possesses incredible talent, and if utilized properly, could be an X factor for Canada.
On defense, Tanner Molendyk (Nashville) and Oliver Bonk (Philadelphia) will play major roles for Canada. Bonk will log key minutes against top lines and on the penalty kill, and Molendyk will be expected to drive and produce offense from the back end. Matthew Schaefer, a projected top-three pick in 2025, possesses elite hockey sense, quality skating and excellent transition play. Even as a draft-eligible player, he’ll probably play a key role on Canada’s blue line and could be a difference-maker by tournament’s end.
Canada will need its special teams to be good to win gold, and much of that will rely on Molendyk’s power-play proficiency and a penalty kill that should feature Bonk, Andrew Gibson (Nashville) and Caden Price (Seattle).
Canada’s issue has never been talent, it has been getting in its own way. Whether it’s undisciplined penalties, shaky goaltending, head-scratching coaching decisions or ill-timed turnovers, Canada will need everyone pulling the rope in the same direction to get back on top of the podium.
The last time that Ottawa hosted this tournament, it produced one of the most iconic Canadian hockey moments: Jordan Eberle‘s tying goal against Russia with 5.4 seconds to go. The Canadians are hoping that more of that magic still lies within the walls of the Canadian Tire Centre.
Canada and the U.S. enter the tournament with gold medal expectations. There were some rather shocking cuts by both teams, and both should hope that cutting EJ Emery (U.S., New York Rangers) and Zayne Parekh (Canada, Calgary) or Andrew Cristall (Canada, Washington) do not come back to haunt them.
Mark your calendars: the New Year’s Eve showdown between the two clubs is likely to determine who tops the group. One can only hope it is a classic like the last time these teams played in Ottawa on New Year’s Eve in 2008.
Tournaments with young players are unpredictable because of emotions, highly skilled players trying to do a little too much and the occasional brain cramp. That’s what makes this my favorite tournament every year.
We’re bound to see plays that make our jaws drop, that makes us pull our hair out and even, laugh. This tournament does not make or break a player’s career. After all, these are kids who are still developing physically and emotionally. The one prediction you can take to the bank: We’re bound to be entertained.
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Craig Haubert
The recruiting trail is starting to heat up, in anticipation of being set ablaze in June. As that always active month approaches, several five-stars have come off the board recently, including two of the top linemen in the nation.
Former Miami offensive lineman and current Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal scored a key win in the trenches for his Hurricanes, landing five-star offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell over the likes of Georgia, Oregon and Ohio State. A massive presence at roughly 6-foot-7 and 320 pounds, Cantwell possesses coveted size and power but also bends well, has good agility and can be a tenacious finisher.
Oregon continues to have plenty of success in recruiting, climbing to the cusp of the top 10 by landing Richard Wesley, the top defensive lineman out west. The five-star defensive end is an explosive and powerful defender who can play the run and be a pass-rushing threat.
Penn State has been consistently building its 2026 class and breaks into the top five. The Nittany Lions pulled ESPN 300 wide receiver Davion Brown from Virginia. A target with good size, he brings big-play speed and can be a red zone threat.
Here’s a look at our latest top 25.
New this ranking: Ole Miss
Out: Baylor
(Previous update: May 5)
Previous ranking: 1
ESPN 300 commits: 13
Top offensive prospect: OT Keenyi Pepe
Top defensive prospect: CB Elbert Hill
No program has more 2026 momentum than USC under Lincoln Riley, especially after hiring general manager Chad Bowden away from Notre Dame. The Trojans have double-digit ESPN 300 commits, with several joining the list since January. That includes two five-stars to start May in Pepe and Hill, and a pair of four-star commits who flipped from Big Ten rival Oregon: in-state defensive lineman Tomuhini Topui and quarterback Jonas Williams. Topui is a physical, aggressive defensive tackle who could develop into an interior pass-rushing headache for opposing offenses, and Williams is a true dual-threat signal-caller.
USC also made it a point to beef up in the trenches. It pulled four-star defensive tackle Jaimeon Winfield out of Texas, landed in-state defensive end Simote Katoanga and traveled to Utah to snag Corner Canyon offensive lineman Esun Tafa. To further bolster the O-line, the Trojans landed Pepe out of IMG Academy. He is huge at roughly 6-foot-7 and 320 pounds, but is light on his feet as well as physical and can become a standout tackle. On the perimeter, in-state defender R.J. Sermons is one of the top CB prospects in the nation, and they pulled Hill, the top-ranked corner, out of the Midwest. Hill possesses elite speed, having been measured at over 22 mph in game play.
Previous ranking: 2
ESPN 300 commits: 10
Top offensive prospect: WR Chris Henry Jr.
Top defensive prospect: S Blaine Bradford
Ryan Day has the luxury of building his 2026 class around one of the most coveted players in the country: five-star receiver Henry, whose father, the late Chris Henry, was a star receiver for West Virginia and the Cincinnati Bengals. Henry Jr. stands 6-6 and has a combination of length and quickness rarely seen from high school receivers.
The rest of the Buckeyes’ class has started to take shape around Henry. The team has added a handful of ESPN 300 prospects since March, including Bradford out of Louisiana and linebacker Simeon Caldwell out of Florida. C.J. Sanna is a prospect we like on tape; he is a big, physical linebacker with excellent range and is a bit of an underrated pickup for this talented class. In-state offensive tackle Maxwell Riley is impressive changing direction and finishes plays with the type of nastiness that will endear him to fans in Columbus.
Previous ranking: 3
ESPN 300 commits: 10
Top offensive prospect: OT Tyler Merrill
Top defensive prospect: DE Rodney Dunham
Notre Dame started the year off slowly on the recruiting trail but heated up during the spring, landing a handful of ESPN 300 prospects in April. On defense, the Irish landed Dunham, an edge player with nice length and a quick first step, and Ayden Pouncey, a rangy safety out of Florida.
On offense, ESPN 300 OT Gregory Patrick joined a class that already featured several top OL prospects including top-10 OT Merrill, who at 6-7 and 335 pounds is a massive presence with physicality and power in the run game. This group collectively can continue the school’s strong reputation as an offensive line factory.
The Irish also landed Thomas Davis Jr., whose father is former Panthers star Thomas Davis, and four-star quarterback Noah Grubbs, who already has shown impressive footwork and a sound release from the pocket.
Previous ranking: 6
ESPN 300 commits: 7
Top offensive prospect: WR Davion Brown
Top defensive prospect: S Matt Sieg
The Nittany Lions jumped out to a fast start fueled by strong in-state recruiting and have kept that momentum going. Several of their top commits are Pennsylvania natives, including four-star Harrisburg High School teammates Kevin Brown and Messiah Mickens. Brown is a big, flexible offensive tackle, while Mickens has been a productive prep running back, which bodes well for a Penn State program that must finally replace Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton after 2025.
James Franklin also landed in-state athlete David Davis Jr., who has clocked a 20.5 mph max speed and has the cover skills to fit into the back end of a defense one day. While most of the early commits are within Penn State’s primary recruiting radius, the Nittany Lions also landed strong-armed quarterback Troy Huhn out of California. He’s a big body with good feet and brings nice upside. They also went out of state to land a potential big-play target in Davion Brown. Out of Virginia, Brown possesses excellent speed, having been recorded at over 21 mph in game play, and can do a good job of high pointing the football to win contested matchups.
Previous ranking: 5
ESPN 300 commits: 7
Top offensive prospect: WR Naeem Burroughs
Top defensive prospect: DT Kameron Cody
Clemson is coming off a College Football Playoff appearance, but the Tigers are still chasing the heights of their mid-2010s success under Dabo Swinney, and their 2025 class ranked just 37th in the country. Their 2026 group is looking more promising, especially after a red-hot March in which Swinney landed eight verbals, including five ESPN 300 commits.
Much of the talent is currently concentrated on offense. Burroughs is a burner in the 100-meter dash who can take the top off a defense and has a high football IQ. Fellow receiver Connor Salmin is another big-play threat, and both Grant Wise and Adam Guthrie are four-star linemen. They could one day protect fellow four-star Tait Reynolds, a dual-threat QB out of Arizona who could push to be part of the long-term solution to replace Cade Klubnik.
Previous ranking: 7
ESPN 300 commits: 6
Top offensive prospect: RB Jonathan Hatton Jr.
Top defensive prospect: CB Victor Singleton
Mike Elko has quickly proved he can identify and recruit at a high level. He has worked fertile recruiting grounds, landing the Aggies’ top-ranked commit, defensive end Jordan Carter, out of Georgia. He landed fellow four-star defensive tackle Jermaine Kinsler out of New Jersey.
Elko has also been able to unearth talent from more unlikely places, such as quarterback Helaman Casuga out of Utah. Casuga is not a big, physical prospect at roughly 6 feet, but he has a live arm and can get the ball out quickly. Singleton, one of the top prospects in Ohio, was a nice flip from Illinois. He has clocked a 21 mph max speed and has the type of quickness and excellent feet to thrive in man coverage. A key in-state keep is Hatton, who has an excellent blend of size (200 pounds) and speed (he was measured hitting 21 mph on film).
Previous ranking: 8
ESPN 300 commits: 1
Top offensive prospect: OT Javeion Cooper
Top defensive prospect: DE Kamron Wilson
The Fran Brown era in Syracuse certainly isn’t boring. He led the Orange to just their second 10-win season since 2001 behind Ohio State transfer Kyle McCord, then landed a solid 2025 recruiting class. Now he’s pushing for more talent in 2026. Four-star defensive end Jarius Rodgers out of Florida is one of Brown’s biggest gets so far. The 6-5, 220-pounder has tremendous length and an impressive track background. He has considerable physical tools and upside if Syracuse’s coaching staff can harness it. Wilson is another big pull out of Florida; the edge defender has good initial quickness and tallied 17 sacks in 2024.
Cooper has real upside too. He has good size (6-5, 300 pounds), yet plays with impressive balance for someone with his power and contact explosiveness. The Orange also have been active in the Mid-Atlantic, landing three receivers from Delaware.
Previous ranking: 9
ESPN 300 commits: 1
Top offensive prospect: OL Kaden Snyder
Top defensive prospect: CB J.J. Dunnigan
Lance Leipold is no stranger to building a program, and he’s off to a hot start in fortifying Kansas’ 2026 class. At 6-3, 190 pounds, in-state corner Dunnigan has the length to reroute receivers off the line and the straight-line speed to hang with them on vertical routes. The Jayhawks have a few offensive linemen committed, led by 6-5 Kansas native Snyder, who has an enticing combination of athleticism, pass protection skills and upside if he can continue to fill out his frame.
The Jalon Daniels era enters its sixth and final season in 2025. In-state three-star commit Jaylen Mason is an intriguing developmental option for the future at QB.
Previous ranking: 10
ESPN 300 commits: 2
Top offensive prospect: QB Jake Fette
Top defensive prospect: DE Julian Hugo
Kenny Dillingham deftly pulled all the roster-building levers available to him as he rebuilt the Sun Devils back to national relevancy. They have an interesting 2026 class so far that includes a pair of ESPN 300 recruits. Fette, a four-star Texas native, is a dual-threat playmaker with excellent short-area quickness and a smooth, consistent release.
They lost a key, potentially productive, target with the decommitment of Israel Briggs, but still sit in good position. The class already included another TE in Hayden Vercher, who possesses excellent ball skills and is a good route runner, with more than 1,000 yards receiving in 2024. Shortly after losing Briggs, they added ESPN 300 WR Nalin Scott, a big target at roughly 6-3, 210 pounds who moves well for his size and can be tough to tackle after the catch.
Previous ranking: 4
ESPN 300 commits: 9
Top offensive prospect: WR Tristen Keys
Top defensive prospect: CB Havon Finney Jr.
The Tigers are tough to beat for in-state talent, and they built the foundation for one of the top classes in the country on homegrown recruits. But landing Keys from nearby Mississippi delivered Brian Kelly and his staff their first five-star of the 2026 cycle. As of now, the 6-3 Keys would be the highest-rated receiver to make it to Baton Rouge since Kayshon Boutte. Keys is a long strider with long arms who prioritizes winning and is a favorite of coaches and teammates alike.
LSU also recently added wide receiver Jabari Mack (a strong route runner) and offensive tackle Brysten Martinez, a pair of in-state four-star recruits who bolster a class that now features more than half of the top 10 players from Louisiana. That includes a pair of teammates from Edna Karr High: DT Richard Anderson, a stout presence at more than 300 pounds with good initial quickness, and Aiden Hall, a safety with good length, speed and downhill physicality. Though much of their recruiting success is from within their primary recruiting footprint, the Tigers did go out west to land ESPN 300 Finney. A 2027 prospect who reclassified into the 2026 class, he has shown he can be physical in press coverage but also brings excellent speed to be able to run with receivers.
Previous ranking: 14
ESPN 300 commits: 5
Top offensive prospect: TE Kendre’ Harrison
Top defensive prospect: DE Richard Wesley
Dan Lanning’s run of sustained excellence in Eugene rolls on with Oregon’s 2026 class. Reeling in five-star tight end Kendre’ Harrison in November set the tone. The 6-6, 250-pounder is a dynamic two-sport athlete with an exceptional catch radius who is a nightmare for opposing defenses in the red zone. In late February, the Ducks added four-star defensive back Xavier Lherisse, who clocked an impressive 1.62 10-yard dash and 4.49 40-yard dash a few days later at the Under Armour Miami camp. Four-star running back Tradarian Ball adds explosiveness and excellent ball skills.
Defensive linemen are the initial foundation for this class. The Ducks secured the top two big men in-state, in ESPN 300 DTs Tony Cumberland and Viliami Moala. The latter is a massive 300-pounder who brings not only jolting power but is light on his feet for his size and can be a handful in the heart of the trenches. They also pulled a five-star out of California in Richard Wesley, a physical defender who brings a nice blend of speed and power. They may have to work to hold on to his commitment, but are in position to bring in a quick contributor with impact ability.
Previous ranking: 17
ESPN 300 commits: 5
Top offensive prospect: OT Jackson Cantwell
Top defensive prospect: LB Jordan Campbell
Despite a rocky finish to the 2024 season, the Hurricanes are trending in the right direction. They’re coming off a 10-win season, former QB Cam Ward was the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft and they’ve reeled in two consecutive top-15 recruiting classes. Mario Cristobal’s 2026 class is working to match or even exceed those groups.
The Hurricanes are adding pieces to field a dominant offensive line. They could lose several projected 2025 starters after this season but are adding big men who can step in and project a bright future in the trenches. In addition to landing the top-rated interior OL in the 2025 class, they have added several OLs to their 2026 class, led by No. 1 tackle Jackson Cantwell. Much like current standout OT Francis Mauigoa, who was a five-star himself and a Year 1 starter, Cantwell could step in at one of the tackle spots upon arriving in South Florida. He is a massive presence at roughly 6-7 and 320 pounds and carries his size well. In addition to being powerful, he possesses good quickness and flexibility, and much like Mauigoa is being projected to be a high NFL draft pick.
QB Dereon Coleman has room for growth but has a quick release and accuracy. Four-star Miami native Jordan Campbell is 6-2, 220 pounds with the versatility to make plays in pursuit and the bend and power that portend a potential impact pass rusher. He’s a candidate to take a leap with college coaching. The Hurricanes landed a trio of offensive linemen recently, including 6-6 tackle Joel Ervin, who flipped from ACC rival Louisville.
Previous ranking: 11
ESPN 300 commits: 1
Top offensive prospect: RB Crew Davis
Top defensive prospect: DT Trashawn Ruffin
Unsurprisingly given his ethos, Bill Belichick is building North Carolina’s 2026 class from the inside out. In-state four-star defensive tackle Ruffin flipped from Texas A&M and the 300-pounder has plenty of raw physicality to mold. Ruffin is one of several interior linemen in the class right now, and Belichick went to his former home base in Massachusetts to bring in 335-pound guard Lenneil Hall. The Tar Heels also pulled a pair of three-star corners out of California in Justin Lewis and Marcellous Ryan. High three-star athlete O’Mari Johnson further bolsters that unit as he also projects to the secondary.
Now North Carolina is beginning to layer in skill players such as three-star receiver Darrion Kirksey, who picked the Tar Heels over offers from Ole Miss and Arkansas and has outstanding short-area quickness. Davis can be a versatile back with the power to run between the tackles, but he also possesses good ball skills. As a junior, he rushed for more than 1,300 yards and also hauled in more than 50 receptions.
Previous ranking: 12
ESPN 300 commits: 1
Top offensive prospect: RB Evan Hampton
Top defensive prospect: DB Jaydin Broadnax
Jeff Brohm has raised Louisville’s floor with a 19-8 record and an appearance in the ACC championship game two years ago. His 2026 class already has more than a dozen commits, with four-star defensive back Broadnax out of Florida the biggest get so far. At nearly 6-3, he has great length, balance and body control for a corner. DE Kevontay Hugan was another nice pull out of Florida. He lacks ideal length but possesses a quick first step and has been a versatile defender for his high school and was productive as a junior with more than 100 tackles with 18 sacks.
Hampton, a three-star running back, ran for 1,549 yards and 20 touchdowns as a junior at in-state Owensboro High School. He’s an elusive, upright runner with the ball skills to affect the pass game and also has a baseball background; he originally committed to rival Kentucky as a freshman before pursuing football. Adding more help along the line could be a focus for Louisville after Miami flipped three-star offensive tackle Joel Ervin.
Previous ranking: 15
ESPN 300 commits: 5
Top offensive prospect: QB Jared Curtis
Top defensive prospect: S Zechariah Fort
The Bulldogs have been a consistent staple among the top three overall classes during Kirby Smart’s tenure and look to be a contender to do so again in 2026. A big step toward finishing near the top again is bringing five-star quarterback Curtis back into the mix. After a decommitment, the Bulldogs were able to fend off other suitors, most notably Oregon, and give themselves a potential impact QB for the future. Curtis might need to adjust to a relatively steep jump in competition level, but he has elite physical tools, including a smooth, quick release and the ability to change arm angles.
With three of their top four pass catchers from 2024 having moved on and the fourth likely to leave after this season, Georgia is bringing in new receiving targets with speed. Vance Spafford out of California won the fastest-man competition last summer at the UA Future 50 event and in-state prospect Brady Marchese has been recorded hitting over 22 mph in game play. After signing two ESPN 300 TEs in their 2025 class, the Dawgs continue to restock there, adding Lincoln Keyes, who with his big frame and good body control can offer a wide catch radius. On defense, Fort is a safety with good range who can be active in run support.
Previous ranking: 16
ESPN 300 commits: 5
Top offensive prospect: WR Devin Carter
Top defensive prospect: DE Hezekiah Harris
Though other teams have more total commits at this stage, Hugh Freeze has done a great job attracting premium talent to the Plains as he rebuilds the Tigers. In-state defensive talent forms the early foundation, with commitments from Harris and linebackers JaMichael Garrett and Shadarius Toodle. Harris is a lengthy edge defender with good power and range. Toodle and Garrett are highly productive players who have combined for more than 200 tackles and 20 tackles for loss in their careers.
Freeze then added four-star Carter out of Douglasville (Georgia) High School in January. The son of 1990 NFL first-round running back Dexter Carter, Devin is one of the faster receivers in the class and pairs his speed with fluid, smooth route-running ability.
Previous ranking: 18
ESPN 300 commits: 3
Top offensive prospect: QB Faizon Brandon
Top defensive prospect: LB Braylon Outlaw
Brandon, a five-star quarterback, is the headliner, and rightfully so. He’s a strong, accurate passer who fits Tennessee’s offense perfectly. His commitment was big initially but seems even more impactful now after the well-publicized split with Nico Iamaleava.
In-state four-star receiver Tyreek King (Knoxville Catholic) pairs well alongside Brandon. He is a quick, fluid target who has clocked in-game speeds faster than 21 mph. They also added 6-3 wide receiver Tyran Evans out of North Carolina in January, and likely aren’t done at the position. Keep an eye on in-state offensive tackle Gabriel Osenda, who is a massive presence (6-7, 330 pounds) for the Vols to develop.
Previous ranking: 19
ESPN 300 commits: 3
Top offensive prospect: ATH Efrem White
Top defensive prospect: S Tedarius Hughes
The Seminoles are coming off a disastrous 2-10 season and a disappointing No. 26 finish in the 2025 recruiting cycle after losing several ESPN 300 commitments down the stretch. Florida State also took a hit when four-star 2026 quarterback Brady Smigiel decommitted in late January. Despite the challenges, they are still scoring some victories on the recruiting trail.
In-state athlete White projects as a receiver but has been a jack-of-all-trades in his high school career as a quarterback, corner and returner. Though he’s undersized at 155 pounds, his speed, quickness and creativity make him dangerous in space. Fellow four-star athlete Darryon Williams has the elusiveness and ball skills to develop into a valuable receiver in the open field once he gets to campus. The Seminoles further bolstered their class by adding a trio of in-state prospects early in 2025: offensive tackle Xavier Payne, running back Amari Thomas and linebacker Karon Maycock, who can close well and be a physical hitter.
Previous ranking: 20
ESPN 300 commits: 3
Top offensive prospect: OT Kodi Greene
Top defensive prospect: DE Derek Colman-Brusa
Jedd Fisch did an excellent job bringing in talent at Arizona and is now working to retool Washington’s roster and get the Huskies back into the playoff hunt. The Huskies won a key recruiting battle by pulling away Greene, an ESPN 300 OL, from rival Oregon. He is a 300-pounder who moves very well for his size with good quickness and the one-time Washington resident can be a key option in the trenches. The Huskies went east to land their QB in Derek Zammit, a tough, smart player with a smooth, quick release. He should continue to improve with the tools to develop into a productive starter.
Washington landed several commitments in the secondary, including in-state Durr, who has good size at roughly 6 feet and is smooth in his movements. He could develop at cornerback or safety.
Previous ranking: 13
ESPN 300 commits: 0
Top offensive prospect: OL Casey Thomann
Top defensive prospect: LB Cam Thomas
Bret Bielema and his staff were unable to hold on to four-star corner Victor Singleton, a big early recruiting win, but they still have built a strong foundation for 2026. Four-star Thomas is a defender with an outstanding first step and could develop into an edge rusher with big upside. Tony Williams, out of Florida, is a middle linebacker with good instincts and can be a physical presence between the tackles.
The Illini have made some strong in-state additions in the trenches. At 6-7, Thomann is one of the top OL prospects in Illinois, and three-star Tony Balanganayi is an interesting big man. He projects to the defensive line, where he has shown he can be disruptive but with more mass could offer higher upside as an OL.
Previous ranking: 22
ESPN 300 commits: 0
Top offensive prospect: WR Dequane Prevo
Top defensive prospect: DE Colton Yarbrough
The talk about coach Sam Pittman on the hot seat seemed to cool off entering the offseason, which will benefit recruiting and aid a 2026 class that already has a solid foundation. Four-star Prevo out of Texas is a 5-10 receiver who has outstanding balance, body control and short-area burst. Several high-three-star prospects anchor the class, including quarterback Jayvon Gilmore, a tall (6-4) but lean passer with a nice frame to develop. He has a strong arm with a smooth release and is a nice early pickup by the Razorbacks.
Yarbrough brings upside at defensive end with good first-step quickness and range. Pittman, a former offensive line coach, also landed in-state big man Tucker Young, who can get push and help create lanes in the run game.
Previous ranking: 21
ESPN 300 commits: 1
Top offensive prospect: OG Marek Jin
Top defensive prospect: DE Mason Leak
Bill O’Brien has injected new life into Boston College by returning the program to its local roots. That has continued so far in 2026, with most of BC’s commits hailing from Massachusetts, Connecticut or New York. A key add from that Northeast footprint is Jin, an ESPN 300 OL. At their height, the Eagles built a reputation for developing NFL-caliber talent, particularly along the offensive line and on defense, and just recently had two offensive linemen drafted into the NFL. Jin, who played both ways in high school, fits that mold but projects to the offensive line, where he can be very productive with a nice blend of flexibility and mobility.
On defense, Leak is an interesting prospect who probably will need developmental time but flashes very good raw tools and could in time be a breakout player from this class.
Previous ranking: NR
ESPN 300 commits: 2
Top offensive prospect: RB Damarius Yates
Top defensive prospect: LB Izayia Williams
The Rebels have built a reputation that has them closely linked to the transfer portal, but they by no means have turned their back on bringing in top young talent. They signed a top-20 class for 2025 as well one of the top 10 newcomer classes for the last cycle.
Damarius Yates was a key in-state keep, as he rushed for more than 1,300 yards and caught 31 passes as a junior for Kemper County. He possesses explosive lateral movement with the acceleration to separate from defenders. Corey Barber is a receiver with the speed to be a vertical threat as well as create plays on jet sweeps. Izayia Williams has bounced around with multiple commitments, but if Ole Miss can keep him in the mix, their “landshark defense” will have a defender with excellent speed and range.
Previous ranking: 23
ESPN 300 commits: 2
Top offensive prospect: TE Brock Harris
Top defensive prospect: DT Bott Mulitalo
The Cougars finished 63rd in the 2025 cycle but are capitalizing on in-state talent to compete for one of the top classes in the Big 12 in 2026. Harris is the top-rated player in the state of Utah and one of the top TE prospects in the country. He has excellent size at roughly 6-6 and is smooth in his movements with excellent ball skills. Harris could be a highly productive target in BYU’s passing attack.
Mulitalo, the top-ranked defensive player in the state, can offer versatility along the line and, in camp evaluations, has demonstrated an intense demeanor with the ability to take and apply coaching well. He has been transitioning his focus to the offensive line, evident by his OL MVP performance at the UA Salt Lake City camp this spring. His ability to contribute on either side of the ball only raises his value. The Cougars also stayed in-state to land a QB to develop in Kaneal Sweetwyne, who has a rangy frame with quick feet and can be a dual-threat option with nice upside as a passer.
Previous ranking: 24
ESPN 300 commits: 2
Top offensive prospect: WR Dyzier Carter
Top defensive prospect: ATH Chris Hewitt Jr.
The Scarlet Knights have added some top talent to their wide receiver room with Carter and Elias Coke, both of whom have been long-time commits, having joined the class before the 2024 season started. Carter is a good route runner with strong hands and could be a quick contributor once arriving. Coke is a nice target at roughly 6-2.
On defense, Joey Kopec is a two-way player in high school, contributing at RB and LB. He has good range and is effective dropping into coverage. Athlete Hewitt projects to the secondary.
Following just one game on the schedule on Tuesday night, Wednesday night is back to the standard of two games — one of which could be the swan song for a recent Stanley Cup champion.
The first matchup pits the Florida Panthers against the Toronto Maple Leafs (7 p.m. ET, ESPN); those teams are tied 2-2. In the nightcap, the Vegas Golden Knights host the Edmonton Oilers (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN), with the home team hoping to avoid a 4-1 series loss just two seasons after winning it all.
Read on for game previews with statistical insights from ESPN Research, a recap of what went down in Tuesday’s game and the Three Stars of Tuesday from Arda Öcal.
Matchup notes
Florida Panthers at Toronto Maple Leafs
Game 5 | 7 p.m. ET | ESPN
With the series tied 2-2, ESPN BET has the Panthers as the favorites to win the series at -210 compared to +170 for the Leafs. Florida is now +400 to win the Cup, while Toronto is +900.
When a best-of-seven series is tied 2-2, the winner of Game 5 has gone on to win the series 79% of the time in Stanley Cup playoffs history.
Each goal that Carter Verhaeghe scores extends his lead atop the franchise leaderboard for career playoff goals; he’s currently at 30, ahead of Sam Reinhart (24), Aleksander Barkov (22) and Matthew Tkachuk (20).
Acquired at the trade deadline from Boston, Brad Marchand has a personal 4-0 record against Toronto in playoff series, and is tied for the third-most points against the Leafs in Stanley Cup playoff history; his 33 are tied with Henri Richard, trailing Alex Delvecchio (35) and Gordie Howe (53).
William Nylander leads Toronto in goals this postseason, with six, and he continues to climb the Leafs’ career playoff goal-scoring leaderboard. With 26, he is tied with Steve Thomas and George Armstrong for fifth on the list; Ted Kennedy is fourth, with 29.
Fellow member of the Core Four Mitch Marner is on the precipice of a career milestone too; with his next assist, he’ll join Doug Gilmour as the only Maple Leafs with 50 or more career playoff assists.
Edmonton Oilers at Vegas Golden Knights
Game 5 | 9:30 p.m. ET | ESPN
The Oilers take a 3-1 lead into Game 5, and ESPN BET has adjusted the series winner odds accordingly; Edmonton is now -1000 to win this series, with the Knights at +550. Edmonton also has the shortest Stanley Cup odds, at +260, while Vegas’ are +3000; only the Capitals have longer odds, at +7500.
When leading a best-of-seven series 3-1, the Oilers have gone on to win 94% of the time in their history; the Knights have never rallied to win a series after trailing 3-1.
Adam Henrique had two goals in the first period of Game 4 after just one goal in the first nine games this postseason. It was his second career multigoal game — the last came in 2012 during the Devils’ run to the Stanley Cup Final.
Connor McDavid assisted on Evander Kane‘s goal in Game 4, extending his assist streak to eight games. That ties Wayne Gretzky (1983) for the third-longest such streak in Oilers postseason history, trailing Leon Draisaitl (2022) and Glenn Anderson (1985), both of whom had a nine-game assist streak in a single postseason.
Vegas’ Mark Stone has 36 career playoff goals, tied with Jonathan Marchessault for the Knights’ franchise playoff record.
Teammate Jack Eichel is getting pucks on net, but he has scored only once this postseason. His 27 shots on goal lead the Knights, but among the 43 players with 20 or more shots on goal this postseason, Eichel’s 3.7% shooting percentage is the lowest.
Öcal’s Three Stars from Tuesday
Granlund scored his first career hat trick to lead the way for Dallas. He now has multiple points in consecutive playoff games within a single postseason for the first time in his career.
The Minnesota native stopped 31 of 32 shots to earn the win. He’s the sixth U.S.-born goalie to win 30 playoff games — Tom Barrasso leads the list, with 60.
The star defenseman had an assist and skated just under 15 minutes in his first game since Jan. 28.
Tuesday’s recap
Dallas Stars 3, Winnipeg Jets 1
DAL leads 3-1 | Game 5 Thursday
For much of the postseason, it has been the Mikko Rantanen show for the Stars. On this night, center stage belonged to another Finn the Stars added in trade during the season. Mikael Granlund scored his first career hat trick — spacing them out nicely with one in each period — which was more than enough to outscore the visiting Jets. Nikolaj Ehlers‘ tally at 1:02 of the second period was the only shot that got past Dallas’ Jake Oettinger, as chants of “Otter’s better!” rained down from the Dallas faithful in the seats to torment Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck. Dallas brings a 3-1 lead to Game 5 in Manitoba, pushing for a third conference finals trip in the past four years. Full recap.
0:19
Jake Oettinger’s save earns rousing ovation from Dallas fans
Stars goalie Jake Oettinger makes a beautiful save early in Game 4 vs. the Jets.
Illinois has locked in its football and men’s basketball coaches for the long term, agreeing to six-year contracts with Bret Bielema and Brad Underwood.
Illinois rewarded Bielema for turning around its struggling football program, and Underwood for an eight-year run that includes five NCAA Tournament appearances and a trip to the Elite Eight. Both deals were announced Tuesday.
Bielema’s deal runs through 2030, while Underwood is locked in through the 2030-31 season. The contracts are pending approval by the university’s board of trustees on May 22.
Bielema’s annual salary would begin at $7.7 million, while Underwood’s would start at $4.4 million. Both coaches would be eligible for four one-year extensions if performance benchmarks are met, as well as annual retention incentives starting next July 1.
For Bielema, the retention incentives would start at $700,000 and increase each year. For Underwood, they would begin at $1.15 million.
In four seasons in Champaign, Bielema has led Illinois to a 28-22 record and an 18-18 mark in Big Ten play. The Illini matched a school record for wins in 2024 when they went 10-3. They beat South Carolina in the Citrus Bowl and became just the fifth team in the program’s 133 years to reach double-digit victories.
“Over the last four seasons, our program has been built on tough, smart, dependable people in every facet: from our players, to our coaches and staff, to our administration,” Bielema said in a statement. “I am fortunate to work every day with an athletic director that fully believes in our football program and a coaching staff that fully believes in our players.”
Underwood praised his program’s “alignment” with athletic director Josh Whitman, the administration and trustees.
“That foundation created the environment where — led by all the tremendous players we’ve had along with a group of talented assistant coaches and a dedicated staff — we have been able to achieve success,” he said.
Bielema, who led Wisconsin to three Rose Bowls before a disappointing run at Arkansas, replaced the fired Lovie Smith after the 2020 season. He got a six-year contract at the time with a salary starting at $4.2 million to return to the Big Ten and his home state.
Illinois had nine straight losing seasons before Bielema was hired. The Illini went 5-7 in his first year before winning eight games in 2022. They went 5-7 in 2023 before bouncing back last year.
Illinois won 10 games for the first time since 2001 and were ranked by the College Football Playoff selection committee a program-record four straight weeks, while appearing in the AP poll 11 times, finishing at No. 16.
Underwood is 165-101 overall at Illinois and 92-66 in Big Ten play, with three league championships. He and Lou Henson are the only Illini coaches with at least five consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. Illinois was also on track to make the 2020 tournament that was canceled because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Illini won 22 games last season after losing five starters and the top eight scorers from a team that reached the Elite Eight in 2024.
Underwood has a 274-128 record in 12 seasons as a head coach, including three at Stephen F. Austin and one at Oklahoma State.
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