How new coaches at Michigan, Alabama and more are faring on the recruiting trail
There were 11 head coaches in new jobs across the power conferences once the dust finally settled on college football‘s latest coaching carousel in mid-February.
From Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer, Michigan’s Sherrone Moore and Texas A&M’s Mike Elko in some of the biggest jobs in the country to intriguing fits for Syracuse’s Fran Brown, Michigan State’s Jonathan Smith and Houston’s Willie Fritz, the cast of newcomers won’t be properly judged until fall Saturdays roll around. Until then, early returns and insights into the newest faces in new places across the sport can be found in their work on the high school recruiting trail.
As of Thursday, 157 of the prospects ranked inside the 2025 ESPN 300 had made commitments, including 24 pledged to programs with coaches in their first cycle. That leaves 144 of the nation’s top prospects uncommitted with just under six months to the start of the early signing period on Dec. 4.
Auburn’s Hugh Freeze was the only first-year coach to land a top-10 class in 2024. However, we’re only two years removed from the 2023 cycle that saw a whopping six first-year coaches deliver top-10 classes to their new school. In 2025, both Alabama and Texas A&M appear poised to crack the top 10. Meanwhile, the likes of Syracuse and UCLA reach mid-June in position to secure their highest-ranked signing classes of the decade.
Let’s dive into how each of the new coaches have settled in on the recruiting trail, where they stand in the 2025 class and what’s left for them to do as the 2025 recruiting cycle hits full steam.
Nick Saban landed top five classes in 12 of the 13 recruiting cycles from 2012-24. DeBoer, conversely, never landed a class higher than 28th in two cycles at Washington before taking the Crimson Tide job in January.
Yet, if there were doubts in Tuscaloosa over his ability to maintain the momentum as an SEC newcomer operating in Saban’s wake, DeBoer has provided some early assurances.
DeBoer’s first recruiting win came when he kept five-star wide receiver Ryan Williams in the 2024 class just 13 days after he landed on campus. In the months since, DeBoer has pulled pledges from seven states on his way to refurbishing a 2025 class that initially lost all but one of its Saban-era commits, including top-50 prospects Jaime Ffrench (No. 16 in ESPN 300) and Zion Grady (No. 45).
The rebuild began in March when Alabama secured six commitments in 23 days, headlined by in-state athlete Derick Smith, No. 30 in the ESPN 300 and the top prospect in the Crimson Tide’s current class. That flurry of activity also saw DeBoer gain pledges from outside linebacker Darrell Johnson (No. 34 in ESPN 300), athlete Zymear Smith (No. 114), and defensive tackle Antonio Coleman (No. 177), a previous member of Saban’s class who had decommitted from the program late last year.
While DeBoer, 49, has hit familiar recruiting hotbeds in Alabama, Georgia and Texas, he’s also used his West Coast connections for a pair of commitments from Southern California power Mater Dei in inside linebacker Abduall Sanders Jr. (No. 153) and cornerback Chuck McDonald III (No. 166). Earlier this month, DeBoer gained his first quarterback commit, flipping Keelon Russell, an Elite 11 finalist and a dual-threat prospect, from SMU. Russell who has drawn comparisons to former Washington Heisman Trophy runner-up Michael Penix Jr.
All told, Alabama’s 2025 class now includes 11 ESPN 300 commits and could continue to grow.
The Crimson Tide are still in the mix for recent visitors: offensive tackle Ty Haywood (No. 17 in ESPN 300), running back Jordon Davison (No. 88) and outside linebacker Dawson Merritt (No. 100). Upcoming visitors include top offensive tackle David Sanders Jr. (No. 4) and Micah Debose (No. 71), and cornerback Dijon Lee Jr., No. 24 in the ESPN 300 and a potential class cornerstone as Alabama seeks to rebuild its depleted secondary depth.
Elite recruiting was a staple of Saban’s success across his 17 seasons. Six months into college football’s biggest coaching job, DeBoer is off to a strong start, likely on his way to securing his first top five class with the Crimson Tide.
Jedd Fisch started from scratch when he arrived at Arizona in 2021. Four years later, Brennan, a disciple of Arizona coaching legend Dick Tomey, finds himself in a similar position.
Fisch’s January departure triggered seven decommitments from the Wildcats’ incoming 2024 class, and a flood of players out of the program through the transfer portal. To boot, since Brennan’s Jan. 16 hiring, Arizona has seen leadership changes at athletic director and university president.
In the near term, Brennan, 51, has combated mass upheaval with two dozen incoming transfers for his 2024 roster. But, like Fisch in his three seasons, Brennan will have to find success in high school recruiting. For Brennan, that could prove an uphill climb in 2025 and beyond.
Arizona reaches the middle of June with just three commitments in the 2025 class, led by Spring Valley, California, tight end Kellan Ford, the 20th-ranked recruit at his position per ESPN rankings. The Wildcats’ most recent commitments have come at the quarterback position from in-state commit Luke Haugo and California’s Robert McDaniel, ranked as the No. 52 and No. 54 pocket passers in the 2025 class, respectively.
Up ahead, Brennan has pointed to the potential new recruiting footprint that will open up for the Wildcats as they join the Big 12 later this year.
“Now knowing that we’re going to be going to Texas and Oklahoma and Florida, that opens up some other areas where we know there’s a lot of talented football players,” he told reporters last month. “So that pushes us out a little bit more across the country.”
Perhaps it won’t be until the 2026 cycle that Brennan’s complete recruiting vision comes into frame. As things stand, it’s going to be a challenging road for Brennan and the Wildcats in 2025.
On paper, it’s all set up for Fritz to succeed with the Cougars on the recruiting trail.
The former Tulane coach has Texas ties, a track record of doing more with less and a history of developing lower-ranked prospects into stars. Houston offers updated facilities, a Power 4 conference alignment and — never to be overlooked — a home within one of the most concentrated areas of high school football talent in the nation.
The Cougars picked up the centerpiece of their 2025 class last month with a commitment from Missouri City, Texas, quarterback Austin Carlisle. Undersized at 5-foot-10, Carlisle threw for 3,115 yards and 35 touchdowns as a junior at Ridge Point High School last fall and ranks No. 6 among the dual-threat quarterbacks in his class.
Along with Carlisle, Houston has pledges from four other high three-star prospects in 2025, led by in-state recruits Travis Buhake (No. 44 DT per ESPN) and Zaylen Cormier (No. 60 ATH).
The Cougars have a busy slate of official visits in the coming weeks. ESPN 300 cornerback Micah Strickland of Brownsboro, Texas, a potential class-changer who holds interest from fellow in-state rivals Baylor, TCU and Texas Tech. The 6-foot, 175-pound defensive back is set to be on campus with the Cougars this weekend.
Cignetti waited only minutes into his opening news conference in Bloomington to offer his straightforward recruiting pitch with the Hoosiers.
“It’s pretty simple — I win,” he said. “Google me.”
Indeed, Cignetti’s 52-9 record across five seasons at James Madison speaks for itself. Now, can he do it in charge of a Big Ten minnow that’s recorded back-to-back winning seasons just once since the mid-1990s?
Cignetti offered early signs of recruiting promise with the 38-man signing class — 16 high school signees and 22 transfers — he inked weeks into the new job, complete with four-star signees Jah Jah Boyd (No. 30 ATH) and Josh Philostin (No. 40). A boosted NIL program should help the Hoosiers, too. The 10 prospects already committed in Indiana’s upcoming class indicate that Cignetti’s momentum has carried into 2025.
With four-star wide receiver LeBron Bond (Norfolk, Virginia — No. 42 WR) and three-star safety Byron Baldwin (Baltimore — No. 28 S), Cignetti has mined his old James Madison stomping ground for the top commits in his 2025 class. Chris McCorkle, the No. 43 cornerback in the 2025 class, stands as another high three-star prospect set to join the Hoosiers next year.
Cignetti’s latest class took hit Tuesday with the decommitment of three-star Travares Daniels II (No. 32 LB). Indiana will have opportunities to add more in the coming weeks with high three-star wide receiver JonAnthony Hall, the No. 7 overall prospect in the state in 2025, among the top visitors set to be on campus on June 21.
Michigan strung three consecutive wins over Ohio State and crafted an unbeaten national championship roster with only one ESPN top-10 signing class from 2020-23. Such was the developmental recruiting style of the Wolverines under Jim Harbaugh.
Moore’s staff features several new faces, most notably former Ohio State running backs coach Tony Alford and defensive coordinator Wink Martindale, but early results in the 38-year-old Moore’s first recruiting cycle suggest he’s not deviating from the blueprint in Ann Arbor.
Michigan’s success in recent years has started at the line of scrimmage. So it’s no surprise that four of the Wolverines’ six commits to date have come on either side of the line, led by four-star ESPN 300 prospects Nathaniel Marshall (No. 4 DT) and Avery Gach (No. 34 OT). Jaylen Williams, the No. 24 defensive tackle recruit in the nation, became the latest member of Michigan’s 2025 class with his commitment Tuesday afternoon.
The third ESPN 300 in the Wolverines’ upcoming class is four-star quarterback Carter Smith, the No. 14 pocket passer in 2025, who committed to Michigan under Harbaugh last fall. Between Smith and 2024 signee Jadyn Davis, the future of the quarterback position in Ann Arbor is fortified for the time being.
Moore & Co. entered June with only five commitments in the 2025 class, but high-profile additions could be on the horizon.
The Wolverines remain in the running for Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) offensive linemen S.J. Alofaituli and Douglas Utu. The pair are ranked No. 10 and No. 11 respectively in the ESPN 300 and have each visited Michigan in recent weeks. The Wolverines are also in the hunt for four-star safety Kainoa Winston (No. 42 in ESPN 300) and are expected to host top 100 recruits including safety Jordan Young (No. 33), offensive tackle Andrew Babalola (No. 44), outside linebacker Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng (No. 73) and running back Jordon Davison (No. 88) this month.
Michigan’s current crop isn’t currently ranked in ESPN’s 2025 class rankings. With a productive summer, Moore’s inaugural recruiting class will surely climb.
If Mel Tucker’s recruiting classes in East Lansing were defined by initial flash, followed by thin depth and a lack of development, Smith should offer the Spartans something different in this part of the job.
In scope and in scale of resources, Michigan State is a bigger gig than the one Smith left at Oregon State. But parallels exist between the programs. It was in Corvallis that Smith showed he could win without recruiting top-tier talent, authoring back-to-back top-25 finishes in 2022 and 2023 with only six four-star signees over six seasons in charge of the Beavers. Perhaps he can return the Spartans to the talent development that carried Michigan State under Mark D’Antonio?
Smith has maintained his touch on the West Coast with pledges from quarterback Leo Hannan (No. 29 pocket passer) and offensive guard Drew Nichols (No. 24 OG), a pair of high-three-star prospects from California. He’s also beginning to establish himself in Michigan, too, most prominently with last month’s commitment from four-star rusher Jace Clarizio, the No. 1 in-state running back in 2025. Linebackers Di’Mari Malone (No. 24 ILB) and Charles White (No. 56 OLB) stand among Smith’s other in-state recruiting wins in his initial class.
Smith has pulled heavily from the transfer pool with 24 portal additions since his arrival in East Lansing. While challenges will persist competing with the likes of Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, USC and Oregon in an evolving Big Ten, Smith appears to have his feet under him on the high school recruiting trail.
Lebby established himself as an effective recruiter during his time on Lane Kiffin’s staff at Ole Miss, then at Oklahoma where he helped secure the Sooners’ back-to-back top-10 classes and five-star quarterback Jackson Arnold in the 2023 class.
Since returning to Mississippi with the Bulldogs as a first-time head coach late last year, Lebby has made his claim in prioritizing the talent within the state. And while his inaugural recruiting class has only four players committed to date, Lebby already has a pair of in-state cornerstones and could have bigger additions later this summer.
Mississippi State’s current class is led by ESPN 300 linebacker Tyshun Willis. The four-star defender from Camden, Mississippi, committed to the Bulldogs in late April and ranks 27th among ESPN’s outside linebackers in his class. Alongside Willis is three-star dual-threat quarterback KaMario Taylor of Macon, Mississippi, who gave his pledge to the Bulldogs under the previous coaching staff. Taylor is one of 20 quarterbacks who will compete in next week’s Elite 11 finals.
The Bulldogs remain in the running for in-state ESPN 300 prospects Caleb Cunningham (No. 19), Cortez Thomas (No. 112) and Kevin Oatis (No. 127), with the latter pair slated for official visits later this month. ESPN 300 offensive tackle Dramodd Odoms is also expected to visit Mississippi State in the coming weeks.
Elko built impressive recruiting classes during his time at Duke. Now, the 45-year-old former Aggies defensive coordinator is back in College Station recruiting on one of the sport’s biggest stages.
The relationships Elko formed during his stint on Jimbo Fisher’s staff from 2018-21 have made for a smooth transition back into the insular world of Texas high school recruiting. And the results are promising with eight ESPN 300 prospects committed to Elko’s first class with the Aggies. Since securing early pledges from inside linebacker Kelvion Riggins (No. 171 in ESPN 300), cornerback Deyjohn Pettaway (No. 105) and running back Deondrae Riden (No. 273), Texas A&M has filled out its group of incoming recruits with some of the top prospects in the nation.
The Aggies nabbed an April commitment from four-star quarterback Husan Longstreet, an Elite 11 finalist and the No. 6 pocket passer in his class. Earlier that month, a pledge from four-star defensive tackle Landon Rink (No. 10 DT) gave Elko a foundational piece on the line of scrimmage, and four-star cornerback Adonyss Currie (No. 9 CB), who committed to the Aggies in May, could be the most talented newcomer in the bunch as Texas A&M chases down another top-10 class.
Where Elko’s first class finishes will depend on how the Aggies fare on the trail over the next several months. Texas A&M remains a strong contender for five-star recruits Jonah Williams (No. 1 OLB) and offensive tackle Michael Fasusui (No. 2 OT) and will host a slate of top 100 prospects including ATH Trey McNutt (No. 41 in the ESPN 300), linebackers Noah Mikhail (No. 53) and Riley Pettijohn (No. 63) later this month.
The former Georgia assistant took on one of the most challenging jobs in the Power 4 in late November. In the seven months since, Brown has put his reputation as one of the nation’s top recruiters and his connections in the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut to work.
The impressive finish Brown crafted in the final weeks of the 2024 cycle has spilled into 2025. Buoyed by a series of high three-star commits, the Orange’s class is up to 21 commits.
Sharlandiin Strange, the No. 42 defensive end in the nation, was the first domino to fall in late January and he remains the top recruit in Syracuse’s incoming class. Alongside Strange, inside linebacker Antoine Deslauriers (No. 15 ILB), cornerbacks Ziyyon Bredell (No. 46 CB) and Javon Lawrence (No. 62) and defensive tackle Haleem Muhammad (No. 45 DT) fill out the top of a promising defensive class forming with the Orange.
On offense, Brown found his centerpiece close to home with Darien Williams, a skilled wide receiver from Syracuse’s Christian Brothers Academy. Julian McFadden, the No. 72 wide receiver in his class, stands as another promising skill position talent head to Syracuse in 2025.
ESPN 300 cornerback Dawayne Galloway, the No. 124 prospect in the 2025 class, will visit Syracuse this weekend and is one of the top prospects the Orange remain in the mix with. Brown is looking to secure the program’s best signing class of the ESPN rankings era (since 2006), topping Dino Baber’s 49th-ranked class in 2017.
As for 2026, Brown already has commitments from ESPN 300 prospects Izayia Williams (No. 41) and Demetres Samuel (No. 82).
Under Chip Kelly, the Bruins made a gradual, then swift move away from high school recruiting, with only 26 high school signees arriving on campus over Kelly’s final two complete classes.
Since taking over in February, Foster, a former UCLA running back and first-time head coach, has shifted the paradigm back, in the direction of the days of Jim Mora, when the Bruins landed four top-20 recruiting classes from 2013-17.
The window into Foster’s impact begins at the top of UCLA’s incoming class and the program’s lone ESPN 300 commit in 2025. With Madden Iamaleava‘s commitment on May 25, the Bruins secured the nation’s No. 7 pocket passer, the No. 83 overall recruit in the country and foundational piece for a transitional recruiting class under revamped approach to recruiting.
Clear, as well, from Foster’s early months on the trail is a renewed commitment to recruiting the state of California. Of the Bruins’ nine commits to date, six come from within the state, headlined by high-three-star running back Karson Cox (No. 33 RB), offensive tackle Garrison Blank (No. 55 OT) and outside linebacker Weston Port (No. 50 OLB).
In recruiting circles, early credit for UCLA’s hot run on the recruiting trail has gone to Foster and a recruiting team headed up by director of player personnel Stacey Ford, along with assistant general manager Chris Carter and director of player performance Keith Belton.
The Bruins face a stiff challenge jumping into the Big Ten in a state of transition and will only boost their recruiting by proving they can win in the new conference. But with Foster at the helm, UCLA has a direction on the high school recruiting front that’s been missing for some time.
As Fisch made clear while he constructed one of the nation’s most promising up-and-coming programs at Arizona, Washington’s first-year coach knows how he wants to build as the Huskies dive into the Big Ten fresh off a national title game appearance.
“I want to build [our roster] through high school recruiting,” he told reporters in February. “In order to do that, you have to have a little bit of patience and know that you have to play some young players and deal with some mistakes.”
The flow of former Arizona transfers and commits to the Huskies has been steady since Fisch’s arrival. But patience might be required in order for Washington to assemble the caliber of recruiting class Fisch expects to land in Seattle, where the Huskies have not secured a top-20 class since the 2020 cycle.
Washington hits mid-June with five players committed to its 2025 class. The most prominent name in that group arrived in April with four-star IMG academy wide receiver Raiden Vines-Bright, No. 45 in ESPN’s wide receivers rankings for the 2025 class.
Elsewhere in his inaugural class, Fisch has plucked high-three star offensive tackle Jake Flores (No. 46 OT), quarterback Dash Beierly (No. 27 pocket passer) and ATH Julian McMahan (No. 59 ATH) from California.
Another quarterback commit, three-star Treston McMillan (No. 30 pocket passer), comes from Hawaii’s Mililani High School, the same program that produced former UCF quarterback McKenzie Milton and Oregon transfer passer Dillon Gabriel.
It has been a slow start on the high school recruiting trail for Fisch, whose top class at Arizona reached No. 25 in ESPN’s team rankings in 2022. However, the Huskies’ class could heat up this summer with Washington linked with a handful of ESPN 300 prospects, including offensive guard Douglas Utu (No. 11) and Dijon Lee Jr. (No. 24), who visited late last month. In-state outside linebacker Zaydrius Rainey-Sale (No. 201) is scheduled for an official visit on June 21.
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.
0:32
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.
1:09
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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