The Iron Bowl, The Game and beyond: What makes a perfect rivalry?
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ESPN staff
Welcome to that most glorious time of the year, when we gather with family, stuff ourselves with food and then ungather from that same family, angrily stomping off to our own private corners of the house because we refused to endure the treasonous slander that our supposed loved ones just spoke about a place and a people that they damn well know we hold near and dear to our hearts.
Thanksgiving? No. Rivalry Week!
When teams play the latest edition of games in which they have competed for a century or more. When schools fight for cups and buckets and other brass mementos that look like they came from the back shelf of a junktique store. When thousands of people pay hundreds of dollars to sit in the snow and lose their voices as they watch all that happen. And during this high holiest of college football weeks, that makes all the sense in the world.
But what really makes a rivalry a rivalry? What factors combine to take an annual game to a whole different level of intensity and fun? As it turns out, there are many to consider, and we’ve documented a few here.
So what’s the best and strangest of Rivalry Week? Grab a turkey leg, read on and find out.
Jump to:
Bad blood | Geography | Tradition
Iconic plays | Bizarre moments
Title implications | Bands and game-day atmosphere
Trophies and game names
BAD BLOOD
Florida State-Florida
0:27
Florida and Florida State players nearly break out into a scuffle on the field prior to their heated rivalry match.
There’s the Choke at Doak, 1994. First, the setup. Earlier that year, multiple Florida State football players went on a shopping spree at Foot Locker, paid for by an agent in violation of NCAA rules, leading to one of the all-time great quips from Florida coach Steve Spurrier.
“You know what FSU stands for, don’t you? Free Shoes University,” Spurrier said. Needless to say, those connected to Florida State were not amused.
Then, the game. Florida held a 31-3 lead after three quarters. Easy going from there, right? Not so fast. Florida State stormed back to tie the game at 31, leading to one of the greatest nicknames ever given to a game anywhere. Period. After the game, late Florida State coach Bobby Bowden said, “It is a pretty dang good win … I mean tie.”
In 1996, Florida State handed the Gators their first loss of the season, and Spurrier accused Bowden and his players of taking “cheap shots” and trying to injure quarterback Danny Wuerffel. Bowden said his team would “hit until the echo of the whistle.” The teams played a rematch in the 1997 Sugar Bowl for the national championship, where the Gators stomped the Noles 52-20.
But there was more to come. In 1997, Florida used a two-quarterback system to shock No. 1 Florida State to ruin the Seminoles’ undefeated season and national championship hopes. In 1998, there was a pregame brawl in which Florida quarterback Doug Johnson nearly hit Bowden in the head with a football (Johnson later apologized and said he was not aiming at Bowden). Star safety Tony George was ejected for throwing a helmet after two walk-ons taunted him.
In 2001, Spurrier and running back Earnest Graham accused Darnell Dockett of intentionally injuring Graham. The following year, Mo Mitchell admitted to chop blocking a Florida State player, injuring his knee. Dockett believed it was retaliation for the previous year. Then in 2003, Florida State players celebrated a win in Gainesville by jumping up and down on the Florida logo at midfield, leading to a brawl.
???? love this moment. pic.twitter.com/NYaXRkCo60
— SeabeeNole85 (@NW_GA_Nole) November 13, 2022
While the animosity between the schools reached its greatest heights in the Bowden-Spurrier years, the bad blood extends to 1947, when Florida State went from being an all-girls school to co-ed and shortly thereafter decided to play collegiate athletics. As the flagship public university in the state, Florida was less than thrilled and refused to play Florida State. The animosity grew so heated Florida governor LeRoy Collins had to broker a deal to get the schools to begin playing each other. Their first game was in 1958, and they have played every year since except 2020 (due to the pandemic).
“There was an overriding feeling of disrespect from the Gator program and fan base as looking down on Florida State’s program through the years,” said Mark Richt, who was Florida State offensive coordinator for 14 years under Bowden, and is a Miami graduate and former Georgia head coach. “From my personal experience, being at Florida State, Miami and Georgia, it was hard to find any love for the Gators.”
“I think there is a big brother-little brother dynamic that exists in the state,” former Florida receiver Chris Doering said. “It’s kind of like a mini Alabama-Auburn vibe. Even though FSU has grown to an equal in college football, that dynamic has been passed along from the older generations to the next. FSU focuses on UF because they don’t really have any other true rivals. We have rivalries with UGA, [Tennessee] and LSU that are at least as important to us as the FSU game is. The difference is that there is an underlying respect that exists for those SEC rivals. We don’t respect our little brother a bit. It’s just complete disdain.”
“From my experience, there’s a level of healthy bad blood,” former Florida State quarterback E.J. Manuel said. “Being an implant from Virginia, I didn’t feel the weight of the rivalry until I played in the game. Simply put, [there were] in-state bragging rights that would be remembered for a lifetime.” — Andrea Adelson
HONORABLE MENTION
Ole Miss-Mississippi State: A big Mississippi State fan and owner of a website covering the Bulldogs, Steve Robertson, was involved in exposing some of the phone calls to escort services that was the last straw in bringing down former Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze in 2017.
Alabama-Auburn: There’s a lot of ground to cover here, but it can be summed up with one name — Harvey Updyke, the Alabama fan who did prison time for poisoning the iconic oak trees at Toomer’s Corner in 2010.
Michigan-Ohio State: Don’t dare wear anything that’s remotely red in or around the Michigan football complex or dare say the word “Michigan” in or around Ohio State’s football complex, or you could find yourself doing pushups. And of course there’s Woody Hayes’ famous quote when he explained that he went for two against Michigan late in the 1968 game while leading 50-14 “because I couldn’t go for three.”
Clemson-South Carolina: In 1992, South Carolina quarterback Steve Taneyhill drew the ire of Clemson fans by pretending to autograph the famed Tiger paw at midfield at Death Valley after throwing a touchdown pass. Clemson fans still fume any time it’s brought up.
Georgia-Georgia Tech: The tradition of Georgia Tech players tearing up some of the hedges around Georgia’s Sanford Stadium and parading around with pieces in their teeth following wins over the Bulldogs would qualify in this category, but for these rivals, the bad blood extends even into the record books. The Georgia records reflect two fewer Bulldogs losses in this series than the Tech record book, thanks largely to longtime UGA sports information director Dan Magill. In 1943 and ’44, during World War II, Georgia Tech was used as a training school for the U.S. Navy, and its student body included officer candidates and prospective sailors. Georgia’s teams, however, had to draw primarily from students who were too young or physically unable to enter the military. Tech posted lopsided wins both years, 48-0 in ’43 and 44-0 in ’44. After the war, Magill decided to remove those games from the series record because he thought the Bulldogs were at an unfair disadvantage, and those games are still marked with an asterisk in the Georgia media guide.
GEOGRAPHY
NC State-UNC
Carter-Finley Stadium, home of the NC State Wolfpack, and Kenan Memorial Stadium, home of the North Carolina Tar Heels, are only 22 miles apart. That stretch of Tobacco Road serves as the DMZ that divides one of the nation’s most under-appreciated rivalries. It doesn’t have a trophy or a name (it’s just “Carolina-State”) and only recently was it finally moved to its rightful scheduling slot here amid Rivalry Week.
It also isn’t a basketball game. But spend an afternoon driving along those 22 miles, through Cary, Morrisville, and even the southern edge of Durham, and you can feel the tension of rubbing all of that red and black up against all of that light blue. You can see it in BBQ joint parking lots via the opposing bumper stickers on pickup trucks and BMWs (“That ain’t tar on those heels”), neighboring but not neighborly yard signs, opposing porch flags flapping in the fall Piedmont wind or even — gulp — mixed marriages!
Since 1894, when the schools first played and did so twice in one week, Carolina and State have represented the two dueling personalities of the state known as Carolina, the tech and agricultural giant in Raleigh repping the country and the lawyers and bankers of Chapel Hill symbolizing the city folk. Is that a gross oversimplification of two diverse universities? Absolutely. But did that keep UNC quarterback Drake Maye from joking “people who go to State just can’t get into Carolina” or Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren describing an interaction with a Heels fan as they waited in line to pick up their dry cleaning as “you know, typical, in his khakis, shoes and a fancy belt with UNC things on it and a light blue shirt with the collar up.” Absolutely not. — Ryan McGee
HONORABLE MENTION
Oregon-Oregon State: 36 miles from Eugene to Corvallis
Georgia-Georgia Tech: 61 miles from Athens to Atlanta
Louisville-Kentucky: 70 miles from Louisville to Lexington
Kansas-Kansas State: 73 miles from Lawrence to Manhattan
Ole Miss-Mississippi State: 75 miles from Oxford to Starkville
UCF-South Florida: 77 miles from Orlando to Tampa
Purdue-Indiana: 89 miles from West Lafayette to Bloomington
Source: distance-cities.com
TRADITION
Notre Dame-USC
For the nearly 100 years the USC-Notre Dame rivalry has been played, there has been plenty of memorable moments on and off the field. This is a rivalry that began when teams were still traveling by train — famously, Knute Rockne argued for keeping the rivalry despite the long travel times in anticipation that air travel would soon be ubiquitous — once had 120,000 fans in attendance at Soldier Field, won eight national titles combined from 1960 to 1982 and features a trophy that is a bejeweled club made of oak from Ireland.
But no discussion of the rivalry can begin or end without a mention of the 2005 “Bush Push” game (more on that in the “Game-Changing Plays” section). Games when Rockne and Howard Jones patrolled the sidelines were legendary in their own right, even as scores sometimes barely cracked double digits, but in the modern era, no matchup between the teams is as memorable as this one.
This game marked a stretch of USC dominance in the rivalry throughout most of the 2000s when players like Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush, LenDale White, Carson Palmer and Mark Sanchez fueled the Trojans to an eight-game winning streak from 2002 to 2009. The Irish, however, have the overall edge in the game, with a 56.7% winning percentage.
There’s little to no reason a yearly game between a Pac-12 team and an independent should exist, let alone be this big of a rivalry, but the fact that it is underlines the kind of national prominence both teams have. There is no regional connection, just two teams who won a combined 11 national championships each. In other words, the history and tradition is in the winning. — Paolo Uggetti
HONORABLE MENTION
Minnesota-Wisconsin: The real granddaddy of them all. This rivalry has had 131 meetings and was first played in 1890.
Purdue-Indiana: 123 meetings; first played in 1891
Oregon-Oregon State: 125 meetings; first played in 1894
Kansas-Kansas State: 119 meetings; first played in 1902
South Carolina-Clemson: 118 meetings; first played in 1896
Ole Miss-Mississippi State: 118 meetings; first played in 1901
Michigan-Ohio State: 117 meetings; first played in 1897
Georgia-Georgia Tech: 115 meetings; first played in 1893
Washington-Washington State: 113 meetings; first played in 1900
North Carolina-NC State: 111 meetings; first played in 1894
Virginia-Virginia Tech: 103 meetings; first played in 1895
Arizona-Arizona State: 95 meetings; first played in 1899
ICONIC PLAYS
Auburn-Alabama
1:04
On Nov. 30, 2013, Auburn improbably beats Alabama as Chris Davis returns a field goal attempt for a touchdown as time expires.
“Chris Davis is going to drop back into the end zone. A single safety. I guess if this comes up short, he can field it and run it out.”
Rod Bramblett, Auburn radio’s play-by-play announcer, remarked on what few others had noticed in real time when Adam Griffith lined up a potential game-winning 57-yard field goal with 1 second left in the 2013 Iron Bowl. Alabama’s kicking team certainly wasn’t prepared for the possibility of anything other than a win or the game going into overtime.
“All right,” Bramblett said right before the snap, “here we go.”
The rest is history. The kick fell short, defensive back Chris Davis caught it and took off, veering left and then hugging the sideline. Once he got past the holder, Cody Mandell, he was home free.
Pick your favorite Bramblett line after that. Here are a few:
“There goes Davis!”
“They’re not going to keep them off the field tonight!”
“Holy cow! Oh my God! Auburn wins!”
Stan White, Bramblett’s partner as color analyst, was astonished. Listen closely, he said, and you can hear the sound engineer turn down his volume because he was shouting too loudly, “Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!”
White has witnessed some incredible Iron Bowls. He was Auburn’s starting quarterback in 1993 when the Tigers knocked off the defending champs and secured an undefeated season. But 2013 stands alone.
White said Bramblett’s call of Davis’ return has to be among the best in sports history — alongside Al Michaels and the “Miracle on Ice.”
What makes it especially poignant is how it has become a reminder of the life and legacy of Bramblett, who died alongside his wife in a car crash in 2019. Bramblett was beloved and respected at Auburn and throughout the SEC before that night in 2013. But voicing the “Kick Six” made an entire country aware of his gift for finding the right words, at the right decibel, at the exact right moment.
White remembers being at the SEC championship game the week after the Iron Bowl when someone knocked on the door. It was Kirk Herbstreit. Then another knock. It was Verne Lundquist. Both came to congratulate Bramblett.
Lundquist’s CBS television partner, Gary Danielson, came to Auburn for a memorial held for Bramblett and his wife years later. Before the service ended, Bramblett’s call of the Kick Six was played in Auburn Arena. Hearing the joy in his voice — rising as Davis passes midfield — you couldn’t help but smile.
If they had played video from the booth, they would have shown White hugging Bramblett in celebration.
“It’s rare to have that type of call and that type of moment in a broadcaster’s lifetime,” White said. “And he captured it so eloquently and he relayed the energy that everyone was feeling, but he was so professional about it.
“When you think about that play, you have to think about Rod. It’s a call that will stand the test of time.” — Alex Scarborough
HONORABLE MENTION
Notre Dame-USC: With seven seconds to play in the 2005 game, USC trailed 31-28 but was on the Irish 1-yard line. Trojans coach Pete Carroll appeared to call on quarterback Leinart to spike the ball so USC could go for a tying field goal, but that was a decoy. Instead Leinart attempted a QB sneak but was stopped cold — until running back Reggie Bush gave him a forceful nudge around the end of the goal-line pileup, which was illegal but not called. Hence the “Bush Push” was etched into the rivalry’s lore.
Michigan-Ohio State: Desmond Howard’s 93-yard punt return and celebratory Heisman pose in 1991 remains the most famous play from one of the sport’s greatest rivalries.
BIZARRE MOMENTS
Ole Miss-Mississippi State
1:18
Elijah Moore’s touchdown cuts Ole Miss’ deficit to one point, but an unsportsmanlike penalty pushes the Rebels’ extra-point attempt back and it’s missed by Luke Logan.
In 2019, Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral, who had completed a fourth-and-24 play from the Rebels’ own 14 to start the final drive, threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Elijah Moore with four seconds left to ostensibly tie the game against Mississippi State.
But Moore celebrated his touchdown by mimicking a dog urinating in the end zone in a nod to DK Metcalf, who did the same to the Bulldogs two years before. Moore was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct, forcing Ole Miss to attempt a 35-yard extra point.
The Rebels missed, of course, losing the game 21-20 and falling to 4-8 on the season. The fallout was swift as Rebels coach Matt Luke was fired, followed shortly after by MSU coach Joe Moorhead, who was fired after a loss in the Music City Bowl and a 6-7 finish.
“It just happened spur of the moment,” Moore told ESPN in advance of the 2020 Egg Bowl. “It wasn’t planned. A lot of people thought it was planned. It wasn’t planned.”
Lane Kiffin was hired to replace Luke, and Moore was one of the first players Kiffin sought out after taking the job.
“You hear people say, ‘Well, that’s not who he is,’ or, ‘Man, that was so out of character for him,’ and maybe you think they’re just making excuses for a guy, trying to have his back,” Kiffin said ahead of the 2020 game. “But the moment I met him, I knew that was for real. Anyone who knows Elijah knows that’s not who he is.” — David Wilson
HONORABLE MENTION
Notre Dame-USC: In 1977, Notre Dame coach Dan Devine had a plan to fire up his team. After the Irish warmed up in their traditional blue jerseys, they returned to the locker room to a surprise — new bright green game jerseys. The players loved it, as did the fans, who roared as the team stormed out of the tunnel trailed by a giant Trojan horse. Irish receiver Kris Haines said some USC players told him years later, “We knew it was all over at that point.” Right they were: Notre Dame rolled over No. 5 USC 49-19 and went on to win the national championship.
Oregon-Oregon State: In 1983, the field was swamped with rain and the game included four missed field goals, five interceptions and 11 fumbles. Oh, it ended in a tie. It’s why the game earned itself the name, the “Toilet Bowl.”
Washington-Washington State: A legendary snow game in 1992, an ugly incident including bottle throwing after a Wazzu loss in 2002 and a sophomore running back quitting and changing into street clothes at halftime: The Apple Cup has rarely been dull.
LSU-Texas A&M: In 2018, the teams played an epic, seven-overtime, 74-72 Aggies win, setting a record for the most points scored in a single game and the most OTs. There also was a brawl on the field after the game, with LSU offensive analyst Steve Kragthorpe saying he got punched in his pacemaker by Cole Fisher, A&M coach Jimbo Fisher’s nephew.
CHAMPIONSHIP IMPLICATIONS
Michigan-Ohio State
The game that became The Game first took place in October 1897. Michigan and Ohio State began playing annually in 1918, but the introduction of the AP poll in 1936 added a new element to the rivalry. The 1941 game marked the first in which both teams were ranked. The following year, Michigan came in at No. 4 and Ohio State at No. 5.
There were three more top-10 matchups in the 1940s, but the series reached a new stratosphere when Michigan hired Bo Schembechler as coach after the 1968 season. Between 1970 and 1977, Ohio State and Michigan had five top-five meetings. Schembechler’s first 10 games against Ohio State coach Woody Hayes were labeled the “Ten-Year War,” where Michigan held a 5-4-1 edge. But the most memorable result came in 1973, as the teams both came into Michigan Stadium undefeated and played to a 10-10 tie.
Which team would go to the Rose Bowl? Big Ten athletic directors voted to send Ohio State, in part because Michigan quarterback Dennis Franklin sustained a broken collarbone against the Buckeyes. But Michigan had seemingly been the better team, and Schembechler lashed out, saying “petty jealousies were involved” in the decision.
The rivalry had provided just about everything except a No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup, which arrived in 2006. The day before the game, Schembechler collapsed and died, adding drama to a game that needed none. Ohio State won 42-39 and advanced to play for the national title.
Ten years later, The Game came down to a controversial fourth-down spot, where No. 2 Ohio State was awarded a first down and went on to beat No. 3 Michigan in overtime. Michigan lost eight straight to the Buckeyes and 15 of 16 before shocking Ohio State in the snow last year to reach its first Big Ten championship game, followed by the College Football Playoff semifinal. And the stakes are sky high again this year. — Adam Rittenberg
HONORABLE MENTION
Auburn-Alabama: The Tigers and Crimson Tide have met as top-10 teams eight times, including 2017 and 2013, when Auburn knocked off No. 1 Alabama. From 2009 to 2013, five consecutive Iron Bowl winners went on to play in the BCS national title game.
Florida-Florida State: No rivalry can match the high stakes of Gators-Seminoles from 1990 to 2000. In that span, the teams met 13 times, and every one was a top-10 matchup, with six of them a top-five matchup. That includes the Sugar Bowl in 1995 and 1997, which served as the Bowl Alliance’s national championship game. Florida rolled 52-20 in that one, but Florida State had the upper hand overall, 8-4-1.
Notre Dame-USC: The Irish and Trojans have met as top-10 teams 18 times, the first in 1938 and the most recent in 2006. The teams staged a No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown in 1988 at the L.A. Coliseum, with Notre Dame winning 27-10 en route to the national title.
BANDS AND GAME-DAY ATMOSPHERE
Grambling-Southern
It’s just good planning to have your annual rivalry game a mile or so from Bourbon Street. New Orleans gives itself to the Bayou Classic over Thanksgiving weekend, and thousands make a weekend of it. The game itself tends to draw well over 65,000 to the Superdome, which is impressive enough. But Friday night’s Battle of the Bands and Greek show can draw up to 30,000 by itself.
The Battle is a sight to behold. The crowd — filling up nearly half the Superdome just to watch two bands play — is engaged and loud. The bands, both great and both huge, are even louder. They march in to hype videos. They trade songs for over an hour. Their fans talk smack to each other, then they all wander down to fill Bourbon Street for the rest of the night. It has been a uniquely full and worthwhile weekend before the game, which is often very close, has even started.
You might remember the 2014 Classic. It went viral when a former Southern fullback, Calvin Mills Jr., proposed to his girlfriend during the halftime show with Southern’s band, the Human Jukebox, spelling out “Marry Me.” (The game itself was incredible, too, with Southern winning via a last-second goal-line stand.)
Afterward, he gave the best possible summary of what makes the weekend — from the Battle to Bourbon Street to the game — so special.
“People plan their whole Thanksgiving around the Classic,” he said. “It’s like one big family reunion. It’s a fun rivalry. You have families with kids who have gone to both schools.” And both schools have an absolute blast before, during and after the game. — Bill Connelly
Clemson-South Carolina
Clemson and South Carolina like to kick off their rivalry week with fire. Lots and lots of fire.
The current iteration of “Cocky’s Funeral” at Clemson and the “Tiger Burn” at South Carolina dates to 1902. According to South Carolina, the idea started after students from both schools had a standoff following the game that year, in which the Gamecocks upset the Tigers 12-6 — winning for the first time since they began playing in 1896.
At issue was a poster depicting a gamecock standing on top of a tiger and holding its tail. Clemson students found the poster to be insulting, and fights between both sides broke out. They agreed to burn the poster to ease the tensions — hence, the tradition of both sides setting their rivals’ respective mascots on fire.
To accomplish this, student-led organizations at both schools spend months planning. At Clemson, there is a group of 35 students on the alumni council responsible for creating a Gamecock out of wood, chicken wire and tissue paper. This year’s Gamecock is set to be 13 feet tall.
In the past, a casket has been involved and a eulogy read before they light their Gamecock on fire. (Not to worry, fire marshals are on hand to ensure everyone’s safety at both schools). But this year, students have given Cocky’s funeral more of a pep rally feel. It’s the first time they’re able to hold the event in their traditional way since 2019, before the pandemic. Anne Horton, assistant director of Cocky’s funeral, has a long line of Clemson alumni in her family, dating back to her great-grandfathers in the 1930s. She always dreamed of being a part of the event.
“In my application to the alumni council, I wrote I wanted to be the one to light Cocky on fire,” she said. “It always stood out to me. I’ve always loved the rivalry. I love that friendly competition that USC and Clemson have and how cool it is that we all get to get together on that Saturday.”
At South Carolina, the school’s chapter of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers is in charge of building their large scale tiger, with the help of a few other organizations. This year’s tiger is going to be its largest yet, about 32 ½ feet tall. The build started in July. The day of the burn, it is transported to a large field outside Williams-Brice Stadium, then put together to reach its full height. At this year’s event, the university president, coach Shane Beamer, the band and cheerleaders are scheduled to attend.
“The whole goal in building something is for it to be strong and stand up,” said Jackson Goldsmith, president of the ASME. “But there’s nothing more satisfying than watching the tiger get caught on fire.” — Andrea Adelson
HONORABLE MENTION
Ohio State-Michigan: Yes, the Wolverines have an iconic fight song, but the Ohio State marching band has a “signature” move, with a veteran sousaphone player stepping out to dot the “i” of his bandmates’ script “Ohio.”
Notre Dame-USC: Yes, the Irish have an iconic fight song, but the Trojan marching band has a platinum album from its 1979 collaboration with Fleetwood Mac, “Tusk.”
The Ramblin’ Wreck, Georgia-Georgia Tech: The 1930 Ford Model A Sport coupe that leads the Georgia Tech football team onto the field adds a touch of whimsy and nostalgia. (Rumor has it Georgia fans have stolen the Wreck on at least two occasions.)
TROPHIES AND GAME NAMES
Minnesota-Wisconsin
Paul Bunyan’s Axe. It wasn’t the first prize at stake for Minnesota and Wisconsin. Beginning in 1930, the rivals played for a slab of bacon, but the trophy — actually a slab of black walnut wood with a carving of a football — disappeared after the 1943 game, only to be found in 1994 inside a storage room at Wisconsin. Needing a replacement, Wisconsin’s lettermen group, the National W Club, introduced the axe, named after the mythical Midwestern lumberjack and featuring Wisconsin cardinal and Minnesota gold on each side.
Scores of all the games lined the axe’s handle until filling it, prompting the first trophy to be retired after the 2003 game, and donated to the College Football Hall of Fame. In 2004, the current axe debuted with a six-foot handle. Wisconsin won it that first year and didn’t relinquish it until 2018, the longest win streak by either team in a rivalry dating back to 1890.
The most dramatic axe moments come when it exchanges hands. Players sprint across the field, grab the axe, congregate around each goal post and begin to chop. In 2013, Minnesota players tried to prevent the “chop” around their goal post, leading to an altercation. The following year, the axe was not kept in the bench area, but presented in the end zone, as Wisconsin won again.
“In the celebrations, you see the creativity come out,” Wisconsin interim coach Jim Leonhard, an All-America safety/returner for the Badgers who went 2-2 in Axe games, told ESPN. “It’s one of those trophies that everybody recognizes. It’s been fun to be a part of it. It’s never a good feeling to be on the losing side, but it really is an amazing experience to keep the axe or to run across to get it back from the other team.” — Adam Rittenberg
HONORABLE MENTION
The Old Oaken Bucket, Purdue-Indiana: In 1925, the Chicago chapters of Indiana’s and Purdue’s alumni associations decided to introduce a rivalry trophy, and agreed that a bucket from an Indiana well would meet their vision. They found one on the Bruner family farm in southern Indiana, and created a chain with blocks in the shape of a “P” or an “I” for each team’s rivalry win.
The Territorial Cup, Arizona-Arizona State: Certified by the NCAA as college football’s oldest rivalry trophy, the Territorial Cup dates to 1899, when Arizona wasn’t yet a state but a U.S. territory (hence the name). In that first game, the University of Arizona played the Arizona Territorial Normal School, which evolved into Arizona State. (The “Normals” won 11-2.) The trophy’s whereabouts were unknown for close to 80 years until it was found in the basement of a church near the Arizona State campus. The tradition of the cup being passed to the winning team each year started in 2001.
The Egg Bowl, Ole Miss-Mississippi State: The Golden Egg trophy, a regulation-size gold-plated football — which looks like a golden egg — mounted on a wooden pedestal, was introduced in 1927 in an effort to calm fans and add dignity and decorum with a postgame ceremony after a chair-throwing brawl broke out following the previous year’s game. What was called “The Battle of the Golden Egg” was dubbed the Egg Bowl by The Clarion-Ledger newspaper in 1978, when neither team was bowl eligible, and the name stuck.
The Apple Cup, Washington-Washington State: Why the Apple Cup? Washington state produces more than 10 billion apples each year. (Sometimes it’s that simple.)
The Game, Michigan-Ohio State: If the game is known as The Game, it must be pretty important.
The Iron Bowl, Auburn-Alabama: Auburn coach Ralph “Shug” Jordan is credited with coming up with this name in 1964. It references the influence of the steel industry in Birmingham, home of Legion Field, the neutral site where the game was most often played through the early 1990s.
Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate, Georgia vs. Georgia Tech: What says Thanksgiving weekend more than clean, old-fashioned hate?
A week into the 2025 MLB season, we created our annual MLB Rank list of the top 100 players in baseball to answer the question: Who will be the best player in 2025?
More than four months later, we asked 17 ESPN MLB experts to give their ranking of the top 50 players in the sport this season. We averaged those lists to create our first MLB Rank in-season update — giving us a chance not only to take a look at who has excelled this season, but also see what we got right (and wrong) on our initial top-100 player ranking.
Our list features the MVPs and Cy Young Award winners you’d expect, as well as the budding young megastars who have broken out this season and could dominate MLB for many years. However, because we asked voters to rank players based on their overall impact on the 2025 season — combining what they’ve done with what we expect them to do the rest of the way — you won’t see notable names such as Mookie Betts, Yordan Alvarez or Ronald Acuña Jr. on this list.
So, who’s No. 1? Where does the best player on your team rank? And how different does this top 50 look compared with our top 100 at the beginning of the season? To go with our updated ranking, 10 of our voters also broke down what each player has done and what to expect over the final months of the season.
More: Snubs, surprises and more
Jump to team’s top-ranked player:
American League
ATH | BAL | BOS | CLE
DET | HOU | KC | MIN
NYY | SEA | TEX | TOR
(No top 50 players: CHW, LAA, TB)
National League
ARI | CHC | CIN | LAD
MIA | NYM | PHI
PIT | SD | SF | WSH
(No top 50 players: ATL, COL, MIL, STL)
What he has done so far: Judge has followed his historic 2024 season with another historically productive campaign that has him on a path toward his second straight American League MVP and third in four seasons. The Yankees captain, despite a relative “slump” since the beginning of June, leads the majors in wRC+ and batting average by comfortable margins, and is within striking distance in home runs and RBIs as he seeks to become the AL’s second Triple Crown winner since 1967. He’s still the best hitter in the world.
What to expect from here: The Yankees go as Judge goes, and a recent flexor strain produced a scare for a club suddenly fighting for a playoff spot. Judge returned after the minimum 10 days on the injured list, but he’s limited to DH for the time being. While the flexor strain impacts his throwing far more than his hitting, it also affects his ability to grip a bat. He should win AL MVP as long as he stays on the field, but that’s not a guarantee for the remainder of the season. — Jorge Castillo
What he has done so far: Two-way Ohtani has (almost) been fully unlocked. His second year with the Dodgers has seen him put together another dominant offensive season, the type that might merit the National League MVP Award. But now he’s shining on the mound, too. The Dodgers took their time with Ohtani’s pitching progression, and have him stretched out to four innings at the moment. He’s coming off a second repair of his ulnar collateral ligament, and yet he is as effective now as ever.
What to expect from here: The expectation is that Ohtani will start games in October. The question facing the Dodgers is how much they stretch him out. They want his arm, of course, but they’re also conscious about taxing him to where it affects his offense — or worse, leads to another injury. We’ve already seen Ohtani take a major step back with stolen bases. That was expected. But for as good as Ohtani can be — and already is — as a pitcher, he’s even more important as a catalyst atop the Dodgers’ lineup. So, they’ll tread carefully. — Alden Gonzalez
What he has done so far: After winning the Cy Young Award last season, Skubal has gotten better in 2025: higher strikeout rate, lower walk rate, lower batting average allowed and pitching slightly deeper into games. His SO-BB% is one of the highest of all time. He doesn’t have the AL Cy Young locked up, given the strong competition, but the consensus view is he’s the top starter in the majors.
What to expect from here: With Cleveland drawing closer in the division, it will be interesting to see if the Tigers push Skubal a little harder. He has made six starts on four days of rest this season, but since the All-Star break, he has gone eight days, five days, six days and five days between starts. You want to keep him strong for the postseason, but you need to get there first. — David Schoenfield
What he has done so far: Break records. Become the physical and spiritual leader of an ascendant Mariners team. Play all but three of the Mariners’ 119 games, a seeming impossibility for a modern catcher. Bang a major-league-leading 45 home runs, fitting for a Home Run Derby champion. The defense is still elite, too: He has one of the five most dangerous arms and is a top-10 framer. More impressive than all the numbers, narrative and MVP talk is that he has gotten a nation of people to refer to him as the Big Dumper with a straight face.
What to expect from here: Other records could fall. Four more home runs and he beats Salvador Perez’s single-season mark for catchers. Another 11 will tie Ken Griffey Jr.’s Mariners record of 56. Perhaps the AL mark of 62 by Judge is out of reach, but it’s impossible to say with the sort of heaters Raleigh has gone on multiple times this season. With the thump that surrounds him in Seattle’s lineup, he doesn’t have quite the same onus to carry the Mariners. But if there’s a big at-bat, there’s only one person they want to take it. — Jeff Passan
What he has done so far: Witt hasn’t been as special as he was in 2024, but he has still been great. Few players can match his elite skill set, from bat speed to foot speed to defensive range and arm strength. If teams had to redraft the majors from scratch, Witt might be the first player off the board. It has all been on full display in 2025.
What to expect from here: A big finish. Witt hasn’t had one of the extended torrid stretches that he has enjoyed the past two seasons, though he has had some hot streaks. Lately, his plate discipline — the one remaining weak spot — has ticked up, which could portend a surge for a player hoping to carry his club back to the playoffs, and one who is uniquely suited for such a project. — Bradford Doolittle
What he has done so far: Continuing the best start to a pitching career MLB has seen in a long time. Arguably ever. Among qualified starters, he throws harder than everyone (98.4 mph average fastball), has the lowest ERA of anyone (1.94), a strikeout rate in the 87th percentile, walks hitters less frequently than three-quarters of his peers and is pretty damn great at everything. This is the most exciting start to a career since Shohei Ohtani.
What to expect from here: More of the same, right? Why would you think any differently? That Skenes is also doing this with the Pirates, receiving 2.9 runs per game, which ranks 118th out of 127 pitchers who have made at least 14 starts, according to Baseball-Reference — only reinforces his dominance when one run can be the difference between a win and a loss. His record is 7-8. No starter has won the National League Cy Young with a record of .500 or below. Will Skenes become the first? — Passan
What he has done so far: Despite some struggles against left-handed pitching, Crow-Armstrong is high on the list thanks to a rare combination of power, speed and defense — especially at the all-important position of center field. It’s why he ranks third in baseball in wins above replacement, even though his on-base percentage is just under .300. His ability to hit pitches outside the strike zone for damage was a signature part of his game for most of the first half. And one reason he’s a top-10 player.
What to expect from here: It would be hard for Crow-Armstrong to repeat his first half, when he hit 21 home runs in about nine weeks, so expect great glove work the rest of the way, a bunch of stolen bases and the more occasional home run — at least compared with his previous pace. The good news is he has been more selective at the plate lately, seeing his on-base percentage creep up thanks to laying off some pitches he was swinging at previously. He probably won’t improve that much against lefties before next season, but he’s still dangerous: Seven of his 27 home runs have come against left-handed pitching. — Jesse Rogers
What he has done so far: Ramirez has been his same ol’ MVP-caliber self, though his Guardians might miss the playoffs for the fourth time in the past 10 seasons. He sports the ninth-most WAR (4.9) and is the only hitter to rank among the top 20 in batting average, home runs and stolen bases. Ramirez is a 20/20 player for the seventh consecutive nonshortened season, tied for the fourth-longest streak in history.
What to expect from here: The Guardians have shaved 9½ games off their AL Central standings deficit in the past month and are again in striking distance of a wild-card spot. His veteran leadership plays a huge part in their October prospects (and, with it, his gaining MVP votes). He has a legitimate chance at his first .300 batting average since 2017, as well as a second straight 30/40 season. — Tristan Cockcroft
What he has done so far: One of baseball’s true aces, Wheeler leads the majors in strikeouts, is eighth in ERA and third in WHIP. He remains an NL Cy Young hopeful, though he might have to settle for another second-place finish (he has two already).
What to expect from here: Normally, we would say expect greatness, but Wheeler’s recent struggles — he’s 1-2 with a 4.71 ERA, seven HRs and five HBPs in his past five starts — must concern the Phillies, especially when his slump has come with recent diminished fastball velocity, likely due to shoulder stiffness that pushed his weekend start back a few days. The Phillies boast rotation depth. They might need it in a surprising way. — Eric Karabell
What he has done so far: If Skubal doesn’t win the AL Cy Young Award this year, Crochet will. He has been what the Red Sox had hoped for when they moved aggressively to trade for him last winter. Imagine how different the baseball landscape would look to the Orioles, who had the prospect power to win the Crochet bidding last winter, if they had landed an ace.
What to expect from here: Crochet, three years removed from Tommy John surgery, is just 26 years old and locked into the long-term deal (six years, $170 million) he signed with the Red Sox this past spring. Boston has its No. 1 starter for the foreseeable future. — Buster Olney
What he has done so far: Tucker had about as steady a first half of the season as you’ll find. One minor slump didn’t impact his ability to start his first All-Star Game, and his combination of speed, power and defense has come in handy playing in Wrigley Field, where the weather is ever-changing. Players need to adjust their game, and Tucker found plenty of ways to reach base over the first three months of the season. It’s why he ranks around the top 10 in WAR and why the Cubs are in the playoff hunt.
What to expect from here: Tucker has struggled for most of July and August. He’s fouling balls off that he should be hitting hard and swinging and missing more often than usual. He’s also hitting too many ground balls — though some have been smoked right at the infielder. Tucker is too good for this to continue. Expect a hot finish to his season — and his free agent year. The foul balls are a sign he’s close to breaking out. — Rogers
What he has done so far: Soto’s first season in Queens, as the player with the most lucrative deal in baseball history, has been underwhelming relative to expectations after his slow start.
Though still one of the most productive hitters in the majors, his numbers across the board — batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS+ and wRC+ among them — have regressed from his MVP-level platform campaign with the Yankees in 2024. Still, he should’ve been an All-Star, and nearly every player would gladly take this as a “down” year.
What to expect from here: Soto has historically peaked in the second half with better power production, so the safe bet is a return to elite form down the stretch after a torrid June and average July. The Mets’ offense, sputtering for long stretches this season, could use it as New York looks to hold on to a playoff spot. — Castillo
What he has done so far: Tatis hasn’t reached his offensive heights from before his injury and suspension, but his off-the-charts defensive metrics have helped him to one of the highest WAR totals in the NL (he leads all right fielders with 16 defensive runs saved). He has already drawn a career high in walks, giving him a high OBP, while also cutting down on his strikeouts.
What to expect from here: Tatis stormed out of the gate in April, hitting .345 with eight home runs, but then scuffled in May and June before picking it up again in July, when he hit .308 with a .438 OBP. The Padres don’t hit a lot of home runs, and to secure a playoff position, they might need the power Tatis provided earlier in the season. — Schoenfield
14. Kyle Schwarber, DH, Philadelphia Phillies
What he has done so far: Schwarbombs are once again the norm in Philadelphia as one of the game’s most prolific power hitters of his era already has 42 home runs. Does Schwarber ever hit one that isn’t a no-doubter? And though he strikes out a lot, he also takes his walks. It’s why he can fit anywhere in a lineup. His top-20 ranking in WAR as a designated hitter is impressive. He has been the offensive MVP of the first-place Phillies.
What to expect from here: With his on-base percentage trending toward a career high, Schwarber’s production might be the easiest to predict: more home runs and more walks. If he’s challenged, it’s leaving the park. If not, he’ll jog to first instead of around the bases. The playoffs are when he really shines, as he has done it all throughout his career in every situation. No moment is too big for Schwarber, so expect Schwarbombs to rain down when Philly needs them most. — Rogers
What he has done so far: De La Cruz’s second full season as a major leaguer has been a step forward in nearly every offensive category. He’s getting on base more and striking out significantly less while providing a similar slugging output. He’s stealing fewer bases, but he’s also getting caught less while supplying the highest baserunning value in the sport. The metrics suggest he has regressed defensively at shortstop, but De La Cruz, still just 23 years old, remains on a superstar track for an organization battling for a postseason ticket.
What to expect from here: De La Cruz fell off down the stretch in 2024, his first full major league season, so the final six weeks will be a test. A strong July — he slashed .305/.389/.442 with seven steals in 25 games — suggests 2025 could be different. Perhaps a playoff race will bring out his best. — Castillo
16. Will Smith, C, Los Angeles Dodgers
What he has done so far: Smith was already one of the game’s best catchers, but now, at age 30, he is in the midst of his best offensive season, setting career highs in batting average and on-base percentage while on track to reach 20 home runs for the fourth time in five years. He’s making better swing decisions, but he has also held up strong one year after his numbers cratered in the second half. A big reason is probably the presence of rookie Dalton Rushing, who is allowing Smith to squeeze in more rest days each week.
What to expect from here: The Dodgers haven’t been playing all that great since the start of July. Their lead over San Diego has shrunk because of it, and they have six games against the Padres coming in the next couple of weeks. Expect Smith to play a lot more during the stretch run of the season. With Mookie Betts, Teoscar Hernandez, Tommy Edman and others slumping to varying degrees this year, the Dodgers need Smith’s bat in the middle of their lineup as often as possible. — Gonzalez
What he has done so far: If Machado never played another game, he would have already done enough to be elected into the Hall of Fame: a seven-time All-Star, two Gold Glove Awards, more than 2,000 hits and he’s closing in on 400 homers.
What to expect from here: He just turned 33 years old, so he’s still in the prime of his career, with an adjusted OPS of 135 this season. The Padres got close to reaching the World Series in 2024 and have a shot again this year, and Machado has demonstrated a knack for thriving on the big stage. — Olney
What he has done so far: Carroll is in the conversation for the most dynamic player in baseball. (His MLB-leading 14 triples don’t hurt the case.) He’s good at pretty much everything. He hits for power. He’s the best baserunner in the big leagues. He uses his speed to catch up to everything in the outfield — and, as if he has heard the criticism about his arm, is throwing 3 mph faster this year. Carroll has a touch of that prime Mike Trout ability to acknowledge a weakness and fix it the next season. Bit by bit, Carroll keeps getting better. And considering how good he is, that’s saying something.
What to expect from here: Carroll has evolved. Long respected for his willingness not to chase, he now goes after out-of-zone pitches — and clearly with good results, as his numbers show. His strikeout rate spiked to 21% in the second half last year, when he shook off a bad first half and finished with aplomb, and this year, he’s striking out in nearly a quarter of his plate appearances. Carroll is continuously trying to find that balance between patience and aggressiveness at the plate, and when he does — the old Trout skill — watch out. — Passan
What he has done so far: Over the past two seasons, Sanchez’s sinker velocity has spiked 3.2 mph, which has made his slider firmer. It also has enhanced the effectiveness of his changeup, which is now the third-best pitch in the majors in terms of run value, per Baseball Savant. In 2025, he has 11 wins with a 2.36 ERA, good for fourth best in the majors, and a 1.08 WHIP.
What to expect from here: He’s the fourth-best pitcher by WAR over the past two seasons combined, so you can expect him to stay on the current track he’s on — asserting himself as one of the best pitchers in the game when it matters, down the stretch and into the playoffs this fall. — Kiley McDaniel
20. Ketel Marte, 2B, Arizona Diamondbacks
What he has done so far: As well as he is regarded, Marte remains a bit underrated, especially for someone who has continued to be one of baseball’s best all-around hitters even after turning 30 years old. Marte had a career OPS+ of 114 through his age-29 season. Now 31, Marte has been at a 154 OPS+ since reaching an age when middle infielders are supposed to hit their downside. He has been doing it long enough for Arizona that he’s now third on the Diamondbacks’ career WAR leaderboard.
What to expect from here: Marte has to focus on finishing strong. He has had a tough year — he was taunted by a fan about his late mother in Chicago and his home was burglarized during the All-Star break. The Diamondbacks don’t seem likely to make the playoffs, but Marte has a chance to earn a few down-ballot MVP votes once again. — Doolittle
What he has done so far: Perhaps we should have expected this from a shortstop who won a World Series MVP as a rookie. Peña is a high-caliber defensive shortstop with some of the fastest wheels in the game. He’s hitting like a star this year, too, and even if some of it is driven by the eighth-best average on balls in play (.354) among 201 players with at least 300 plate appearances, who cares? In that same cohort, only 34 players strike out at a lower rate than Peña — and just three have a higher slugging percentage than his .484.
What to expect from here: The BABIP suggests a regression is in store, particularly considering Peña has not hit the ball hard compared with his statistical peers. Even if his season evens out, he is still one of the five best-performing shortstops in baseball. But what if this offensive breakout isn’t an anomaly? What if the combination of consistent contact and barrel-to-ball ability makes for a good hitter? Peña has both right now, and he’s batting 44 points higher than his career average coming into the season. Which version he really is will help determine whether he’s very good or great. — Passan
What he has done so far: In some ways, it has been another frustrating season for J-Rod, as his offensive numbers have, once again, failed to match what he did in his first two seasons in 2022 and ’23. But he has also played a superlative center field, he plays every day, he might still finish with a 30/30 season and he’s about to reach 5.0 WAR for the third time in his career.
What to expect from here: Rodriguez is a renowned second-half hitter (his career OPS in August and September is over .900 compared with .654 in April), and he’s showing signs of heating up once again. The Mariners would love to see him replicate what he did last September, when he hit .328 with 22 RBIs. History says that might happen. — Schoenfield
What he has done so far: Brown has been extremely steady this season, highlighted by his first seven starts, when he pitched six innings or more in each of them. Other than a couple of blips, there hasn’t been much drop-off in his game, as Brown ranks in the top 10 in ERA and strikeouts for the first-place Astros. Batters are hitting just .156 off a fastball that averages nearly 97 mph. He gives up just 6.2 hits per nine innings, best in the league.
What to expect from here: Brown is already off to a good start this month, so there’s no reason to believe he can’t finish strong. He threw 170 innings last season, plus another 5⅔ innings in the postseason, so he’s conditioned for whatever comes next. If he hasn’t replaced Framber Valdez as the Astros’ No.1 pitcher, then he’s no worse than 1-A. The pair gives Houston a lethal 1-2 combo for the postseason, when Brown should be as dominant as he has been all year. Expect an October gem or two from him. — Rogers
What he has done so far: The Blue Jays, once again, failed to land premium free agents last offseason, and there was uncertainty about whether they could lock down their homegrown superstar. They ultimately did, lavishing Guerrero with a 14-year, $500 million extension in early April. And since then, they’ve seen a team shine around him. The Blue Jays have surged to the top of the American League East, and Guerrero has produced like one would expect while at the center of it.
What to expect from here: Last year, Guerrero turned around a lackluster season and finished sixth in MVP voting with a dominant last 4½ months. This year, he has incrementally gotten better each month. Now, with the Blue Jays looking to stave off the Tigers and Astros and others to nail down a first-round bye, they need Guerrero to be at his best. For whatever reason, Guerrero’s production in September is his worst of any month (career .267/.337/.456 slash line). That needs to change this year. — Gonzalez
What he has already done so far: It’s not a given that a team gets high-end production from a player on a megadeal, but that’s what has happened for the Mets with Lindor. He is nearly halfway through that 10-year, $341 million contract he signed in 2022 and remains a preeminent shortstop.
What to expect from here: Lindor is in exceptional condition, and even if there’s a time in the distant future when the Mets want to move him off shortstop, his transition will likely be very smooth. He has missed more than 20 games in a season only once. And soon, he’ll be closing in on 2,000 career hits and 300 career homers. — Olney
What he’s done so far: Buxton has recaptured some of the oomph in his bat that he lost in 2023-24, driving in a career-best 60 runs behind 24 home runs this season while sporting his best hard hit rate (55.3%). But perhaps most importantly, he has remained on the Twins’ active roster for more than 70% of their games. His 4.0 WAR is already tied for his third-best single-season number, and he has 85th percentile-or-better Statcast xwOBA, sprint speed and defensive outs above average.
What to expect from here: After remaining in Minnesota beyond the trade deadline, reportedly by his choice, Buxton is the centerpiece of a gutted Twins roster. He’s on the mend from a rib cartilage injury, and he might set personal bests in home runs and perhaps steal 20-plus bases for the first time since 2017. But with the Twins already looking ahead to 2026, they won’t push him any more than necessary over the last months of the season. — Cockcroft
What he has done so far: Yamamoto took the mound in Game 2 of the World Series last fall, in the wake of a rookie season tarnished by a prolonged stint on the injured list, and dominated the Yankees through 6⅓ innings. That start, Yamamoto later said, gave him confidence about how he could perform in the major leagues. He has followed that with a 2025 campaign in which he is in the running for the NL Cy Young Award, showing why he became coveted enough out of Japan to sign the largest deal by a starting pitcher.
What to expect from here: In a season that has seen them, once again, suffer a litany of injuries to their pitching staff — most notably to fellow frontline starters Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow — the Dodgers have kept Yamamoto’s innings manageable, even though he has taken every turn through the rotation. They hope this not only keeps Yamamoto’s right arm healthy but that it puts him at his best for the stretch run. He’s trending toward being the Dodgers’ Game 1 starter in October. He’s the logical choice. — Gonzalez
28. Framber Valdez, SP, Houston Astros
What he has done so far: The reliable lefty remains a picture of consistency, pacing toward his best season yet in WAR and having won more games than home runs permitted. Valdez is fourth in innings and is one of two pitchers (Nick Lodolo is the other) with more than one complete game (Bob Gibson would mock the current state of pitching).
What to expect from here: The Astros will continue to depend heavily on the top of their rotation, especially Valdez. He has won 10 of 11 decisions, and he boasts a 1.65 ERA in home games. His next outing should come at home this weekend. — Karabell
What he has done so far: The Marlins’ shocking turnaround this season has been largely fueled by Stowers’ emergence as one of the best hitters in baseball.
The 27-year-old outfielder has been consistently elite, peaking with a blistering July in which he compiled a 1.269 OPS with 10 home runs. He made his first All-Star team and should receive down-ballot MVP votes. He’s a cornerstone for a franchise with a bright future. It all happened suddenly, but it looks to be for real.
What to expect from here: Stowers’ underlying numbers strongly suggest this is not a fluke. His Baseball Savant page is filled with red. He ranks in the 97th percentile in barrel rate, 92nd percentile in hard-hit rate, 93rd percentile in xwOBA and 89th percentile in bat speed. He strikes out a bunch — his strikeout and whiff rates are in the 8th and 4th percentiles, respectively — but he hits the ball hard often, and that is a rock-solid formula for steady success. — Castillo
30. Max Fried, SP, New York Yankees
What he has done so far: Fried was dominant through June, posting a 1.92 ERA in 108 innings across 17 starts to pitch himself into the AL Cy Young conversation. It was the ace-level performance the Yankees needed to offset the losses of Gerrit Cole for the season and Luis Gil for the first half. But Fried hasn’t been the same pitcher since the start of July. The All-Star left-hander recorded a 5.54 ERA in five July starts, allowing at least three runs in each outing, and he surrendered four runs over five innings in each of his first two games in August.
What to expect from here: A blister on Fried’s left index finger ended his start against the Cubs on July 12 after three innings. He avoided the IL, but it’s impossible to ignore the issue coinciding with his regression. It’s an issue Fried has dealt with — and overcome — in the past. Whether he returns to his previous form remains to be seen. — Castillo
What he has done so far: Henderson burst onto the scene in 2023 and 2024 and has posted the third-most shortstop WAR since then, behind only Bobby Witt Jr. and Francisco Lindor. Henderson, 24, has 3.7 WAR this season, as he’s hitting .284 — a higher average than he finished with last season — with a .464 slugging percentage.
What to expect from here: He has established himself as one of the best infielders in the game, even if his 2024 numbers look like an outlier season. However, I expect his numbers to tick up in the last month-plus of the 2025 season. — McDaniel
32. Trea Turner, SS, Philadelphia Phillies
What he has done so far: It has been a representative age-32 season for Turner, though his power numbers are down. But because he has never had a lot of walks, he has been more reliant on batting average. Luckily, he’s one of baseball’s top hitters for average, and he remains an offensive force for one of baseball’s top attacks.
What to expect from here: Turner has lost a bit of bat speed over the past couple of years, and the decline in isolated power might be who he is. He hasn’t homered since June. But Turner remains an exceptional athlete and a key part of the Phillies’ push for a title as a star-level player who helps his team all across the stat sheet. — Doolittle
33. Bryce Harper, 1B, Philadelphia Phillies
What he has done so far: A couple of ailments kept Harper out of the lineup long enough this season that his counting stats aren’t lofty, but he’s as dangerous as ever when it matters most, as evidenced by his .379 OBP and .866 OPS with runners in scoring position. Pitchers still fear him as he possesses one of the most violent swings in the sport. His strikeout-to-walk ratio (1.68) is his lowest since 2021 and one of the lowest of his career. His game screams winning.
What to expect from here: Harper understands what’s in front of him: another chance at a ring — perhaps the last with this group of Phillies. Expect a big finish during which he helps his team to a division title and then does what he always does in the postseason: hit critical home runs. Harper has a career 1.016 OPS in the playoffs. Another great October could cement him as one of the better postseason performers of his era — if he isn’t already. — Rogers
What he has done so far: Kurtz was somewhat unexpected as the No. 4 pick in last summer’s draft, with Jac Caglianone still on the board. They’re both now in the big leagues ahead of schedule, but Kurtz’s 3.4 WAR vs. Cags’ minus-1.3 WAR isn’t what anyone expected, on either count. He had a dominant July in which he slashed .395/.480/.953 with a whopping 1.433 OPS.
What to expect from here: Kurtz has the fifth-best bat speed in the league, so he’s a legitimate All-Star-level player, but I expect his 1.012 OPS to come down a bit, as he has been quite lucky on ball-in-play outcomes. — McDaniel
35. Joe Ryan, SP, Minnesota Twins
What he has already done so far: Contenders looking for a starting pitcher really hoped that the Twins would consider swapping the right-hander in July. But even during a massive makeover, Minnesota kept Ryan, who has become one of the most reliable starters in the game with a sub-3.00 ERA and a sturdy six innings just about every start.
What to expect from here: Ryan will have four-plus years of service time after this season, so unless the Twins’ ownership gives him a long-term deal, you’ll see his name in trade rumors again this winter and next summer. And, once again, you will hear about contenders pestering his team for the chance to sign him. — Olney
What he has done so far: Seager ranks second among qualified shortstops with a .359 wOBA, and his 17 home runs ranks in the top 10 for shortstops despite missing 33 games, mostly because of a hamstring injury in May. The Rangers have struggled on offense, with Seager their lone hitter with an OPS better than .727 (he’s at .847).
What to expect from here: Seager must finish strong to reach 30 home runs for the fourth consecutive season (despite averaging only 131 games the first three years), which is possible, as he enjoyed several double-digit home run months in 2024. The two-time World Series MVP (once with the Rangers in 2023) can thrive again and carry this beleaguered offense back to October. — Karabell
What he has done so far: Suarez is a throwback slugger, a guy whose best skill is his ability to regularly hit baseballs really hard. He’s not much of a defender at third base and can’t really run, so he just hits home runs, which is a pretty good consolation prize. He has 37 this season and is now back with Seattle, which, at one time, sent him to the Diamondbacks. The Mariners got him back at the trade deadline to bat behind the dominant top of their lineup, which will allow Suarez to find one of his hot streaks and use it to carry the team.
What to expect from here: Even at his best, Suarez hasn’t been anyone’s idea of a consistent hitter. He can lapse into deep funks and emerge as a world-beater. That’s how the swing works for mashers like Suarez. He doesn’t walk, and he strikes out too much. Almost nobody swings and misses more. But when he’s seeing the ball well and the swing is right, it’s majestic, the kind of swing that, from the No. 5 hole, can drive in a lot of baserunners. That is why the Mariners traded for Suarez: He is one of the best at the most important thing to do in the game. — Passan
What he has done so far: Mr. Consistency is on track for a typical Logan Webb season, which means making every start and perhaps leading the NL in innings for the third straight season. Though his ERA is right in line with his career numbers, he has significantly increased his strikeout rate. Signed for three more seasons, he remains the anchor of not just the pitching staff, but the team. That contract looks like one of the best deals in the game.
What to expect from here: The Giants’ playoff hopes are slim, but they’ll have to depend on Webb and Robbie Ray and hope somebody else in the rotation steps up to have any chance of getting in. Webb had a couple of bad starts in July, twice giving up six runs, before reeling off back-to-back strong starts against the Pirates. He then gave up four runs against the Padres. So, let’s see what continues to happen against better lineups. — Schoenfield
What he has done so far: At age 35, Eovaldi is enjoying the most outstanding season of his 15-year MLB career. He has 4.0 WAR, and if not for his monthlong stint on the IL in June, he’d have the requisite innings to lead the majors in ERA. Before giving up five runs to the Diamondbacks on Monday, Eovaldi had a 0.47 ERA since the beginning of July, helping keep the Rangers within striking distance of a wild-card spot.
What to expect from here: If the Rangers are to rally their way back into the wild-card race, they’ll need Eovaldi and his filthy splitter to remain healthy to form one of baseball’s best one-two starter duos alongside Jacob deGrom. Eovaldi’s ratios are sure to regress, considering he has the sixth-widest ERA/FIP divide among pitchers who have worked at least as many innings as him, but he should remain one of the league’s better — and most underrated — starters. — Cockcroft
What he has done so far: Through the season’s first two months, Freeman performed like one of the best players in the game. For most of the next two months, he lost his swing, displayed no power and navigated through a prodigious slump. Now, he’s back to hitting. The key, Freeman said, was getting into his front side. At this rate, despite the roller coaster, his numbers will look about as good as they always do.
What to expect from here: Freeman is in his age-35 season, with the DH spot unavailable to him on the Dodgers. He also hates taking days off. So, the Dodgers will hope Freeman can hold up over the stretch run. They need him at his best in October, but also, they need his best now. The Dodgers are in a tight division race. And they need Freeman to continue to hit like he has in August (.361 batting average and three home runs in the first 10 games), not like he did in July (.253 batting average and one home run in 24 games). — Gonzalez
41. Jacob deGrom, SP, Texas Rangers
What he has done so far: After starting nine games over his first two Rangers seasons from 2023 to 2024, deGrom has made 23 starts in 2025, his most since 2019. Perhaps reducing his fastball velocity (to 97.5 mph) and strikeout rate has allowed him to stay healthy. He is among the top pitchers in the majors with 10 wins, a 2.86 ERA and 0.95 WHIP, but he has thrown 100 pitches in a start only once.
What to expect from here: Texas leads MLB in rotation ERA, and a healthy deGrom is critical to team success. The Rangers are aware of the durability issues, and the 37-year-old has thrown 100 pitches in a start only once, in May. — Karabell
42. Pete Alonso, 1B, New York Mets
What he has done so far: Playing on a two-year contract with an opt-out after this season, Alonso has rebounded significantly at the plate, with his 146 OPS+ tied for his second-best single-season number and his 93 RBIs the third most in baseball. Statcast reflects a significant jump in his contact quality, as his barrel and hard hit rates, as well as his average exit velocity, are personal bests.
What to expect from here: As should be expected from a three true outcomes-style slugger, Alonso’s 2025 has been streaky. He registered a .920-plus OPS in April, June and August; his OPS dipped below .700 in May and July. Which version of Alonso the Mets get from this point on will determine whether they win the NL East or advance to October as a wild card, but either way, he’s aligning himself nicely for another crack at a free agent payday this winter. — Cockcroft
43. Bo Bichette, SS, Toronto Blue Jays
What he has done so far: For a month, Bichette’s 2024 slump seemed to carry over. Then, it didn’t. He didn’t homer until May 3, but he has hit 16 since then in returning to his pre-2024 form. His days as a 20-plus-steals guy appear to be over, but his aggressive, bat-on-ball approach has Bichette on track to lead the AL in hits for the third time and pushed his average back over .300.
What to expect from here: A soft MVP push? Bichette won’t win, but the deeper we get into the season, the hotter he seems to get — and he’s doing this for a Blue Jays team in great position to win the AL East. After a robust .941 OPS in June, Bichette is at 1.094 in August. What will September look like? — Doolittle
What he has done so far: Perdomo was long admired as a prospect because of his well-rounded skill set that lacked only power. This season has been his breakout, as his in-game power has ticked up to fringe-average while the rest of his profile is above average-to-plus — the makings of a perennial All-Star.
What to expect from here: He’s already at 3.7 WAR — the highest total of his five-year career. I think this season might look like a career year going forward, but I’d expect 3- or 4-win seasons soon. — McDaniel
What he has done so far: The 22-year-old made the All-Star team in his first full season in the majors and arguably deserved to start after hitting .278/.381/.534 at the break with 24 home runs. It looked like he might get to 40 home runs, but the strikeouts have piled up in big numbers since then, and Wood has been one of the worst hitters in the majors the past three weeks.
What to expect from here: Can he make the necessary adjustments to get back on track? He has above-average plate discipline with a 66th percentile chase rate, so that helps, and he has crushed fastballs. But he has struggled big time against breaking balls and off-speed pitches, hitting under .200 against those offerings. These are typical issues for a young player, and he has time to figure things out and return to being one of the most exciting hitters in the game. — Schoenfield
46. George Springer, RF, Toronto Blue Jays
What he has done so far: Springer’s OPS progression for his first four seasons with Toronto went .907, .814, .732 and .674, the last of those declining figures coming in his age-34 season in 2024. If you thought Springer’s best days were behind him, you would have been justified. Instead, he has enjoyed a resurgent campaign, pushing his OPS near .900 and matching his counting numbers for last season by early August.
What to expect from here: Whatever Springer figured out, his game has truly turned back the clock. While keeping his strikeout rate steady, he has increased his walk rate by a third while somehow coaxing another 2.5 mph out of his average exit velocity. His increasing tendency to hit too many balls on the ground has vanished, and he’s getting the ball in the air as much as ever. Meet the new Springer … who looks like vintage Springer. — Doolittle
What he has done so far: Boyd’s first full season after Tommy John surgery in 2023 has gone superbly, as he has won a career-best 11 games, has an ERA (2.45) more than two runs below his career number (4.53) and made his first All-Star team. He only seems to be getting better, with five scoreless starts of at least five innings in his past eight outings, during which his fastball has averaged an elevated 93.5 mph.
What to expect from here: It remains to be seen how Boyd will hold up, considering he didn’t exceed 88 professional innings in any of the previous five seasons, though he hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down. Nevertheless, the Cubs are considering moving to a six-man rotation once Jameson Taillon and Javier Assad return, helping lighten the load on Boyd, who is a critical part of their quest to advance deep into October. — Cockcroft
What he has done so far: The heights of his 2019 NL MVP season are likely in the rearview for good, but Bellinger has remade himself as a hitter with an above-average contact rate and in-game power. He has the third-best batting average of the Yankees’ regular starters and has 20 home runs and 66 RBIs.
What to expect from here: He’s now 30 years old and playing mostly corner outfield, on pace for a 4-win season. Given his age and trajectory, I wouldn’t expect him to move up this list or eclipse 4.0 WAR again, but I think he has multiple years left as an above-average regular. — McDaniel
What he has already done so far: In his first foray into free agency, Bregman bet heavily on himself by taking what is effectively a one-year deal with the Red Sox because he can opt out after this season. And that bet figures to pay off this winter, with Bregman generating his highest slugging percentage (.541) since 2019 and his highest batting average ever; he could hit .300 for the first time in his career.
What to expect from here: He’s 31 years old and there are no signs that his peak years are waning, so it figures that Bregman will see significant offers again this winter. The Red Sox have loved having him, and you’d assume there will be conversations about a long-term deal, but he continues to be a really nice potential fit on paper for the Tigers, as well. — Olney
50. Matt Chapman, 3B, San Francisco Giants
What he has done so far: Chapman is enjoying another typical season for him, with above-average offense (thanks to his power and walk rate) and excellent third base defense. He missed most of June because of a hand injury, but then he produced a reasonable .739 OPS in July.
What to expect from here: Chapman might still play in 140 games for the seventh consecutive full season, reach 27 home runs for the fifth time and earn his third consecutive Gold Glove (and sixth overall). He produced an .888 OPS last September. He can do it again for a franchise seeking its first postseason berth since 2021. — Karabell
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Greg Wyshynski
FIVE YEARS AGO, the Hockey Diversity Alliance was a group chat among several NHL players of color, discussing civil rights issues and the obstacles that have prevented equality within the sport they love.
On Saturday at Canoe Landing Park in Toronto, the HDA is scheduled to host its Summer Fest, a grassroots event for over 2,200 people. They’ll come from diverse communities and different economic circumstances. They’ll meet NHL players and sports celebrities. They’ll also be further exposed to hockey, which has been at the heart of the HDA’s mission.
“We just want to continue to show off the amazing work that we’re doing,” said Akim Aliu, a former player for the Calgary Flames and a founding member of the HDA. “None of us gain anything from this personally, financially, or in any type of way. It’s just the families and communities that continue to blossom and grow through our program. And that’s something that, I think, the world should see.”
Wayne Simmonds, who played 15 seasons in the NHL and is a founding member of the HDA, called this weekend’s Summer Fest “a wonderful culmination of the last five years of all the work that we’ve been putting in [at the HDA].”
“Obviously, it was a struggle at the start for us, trying to gain traction and everything like that,” he said. “But I think we’ve really been able to sink our teeth into the grassroots level, and that’s kind of where we really wanted to start.”
The HDA-branded event will have ball hockey, food and a carnival for kids.
The eight NHL-affiliated players behind the HDA are scheduled to attend: Aliu, Simmonds, Calgary Flames center Nazem Kadri, New York Islanders forward Anthony Duclair, Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Matt Dumba and retired NHL players Chris Stewart, Joel Ward and Trevor Daley.
Also expected to attend are former NFL running back Marshawn Lynch and quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who has a long history with the HDA. Kaepernick shares representation with Aliu, and participated in a series of videoconference calls with the founding members before the initiative launched.
“He’s someone that we leaned on at the start,” Simmonds said of Kaepernick, now a civil rights activist. “It was good to pick his mind on how his battle went and how he went through it. He said if we were going to do this, obviously we had to stick together no matter what.”
THE HDA WAS FOUNDED in June 2020 during a period of civil unrest in the U.S. after the murder of George Floyd. What started as a text thread among a group of current and former players soon became a first-of-its-kind coalition, with Aliu and Evander Kane — now with the Vancouver Canucks and no longer affiliated with the HDA — as its co-leads.
Those six current and former NHL players announced their intentions in an introductory letter. They wanted to “eradicate racism and intolerance” in hockey.
“Although we will be independent of the NHL, we are hopeful that we will work productively with the league to accomplish these important changes. We believe in the importance of accountability in developing inclusivity and diversity for all involved in our sport, including fans and the league office,” the statement partially read.
The organization had a presence during the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs, which were held in the “hub cities” of Toronto and Edmonton because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The NHL acknowledged the nationwide protests by displaying “We Skate For Black Lives” ads on video screens around the rink.
Defenseman Matt Dumba, a founding member of the HDA who was playing for the Minnesota Wild during the 2020 playoffs, opened the NHL’s Western Conference postseason with a heartfelt speech against racial injustice before taking a knee during the U.S. national anthem. He was wearing an HDA sweatshirt.
The HDA pushed hard to effect change in its early months. In August 2020, it published an eight-point pledge that it wanted the NHL to sign, with requests ranging from hiring targets for hockey-related personnel to funding for grassroots initiatives.
After months of negotiations, the HDA announced it would “operate separate and independent” of the NHL, which created its own Player Inclusion Coalition to confront the issues of inequality.
“The first route for us was trying to partner with the league, but we didn’t really see eye to eye on some of the subjects,” Simmonds said.
Within months of its founding, there were debates about the HDA’s motivations and effectiveness. Aliu said the most rewarding part of the past five years was feeling the temperature getting turned down around the HDA’s existence.
“There was controversy. There was blowback and pushback. You can see where we are now,” Aliu said. “When you’re on a ride of a lifetime like this for something that’s so much bigger than us … to see how timid we were on Day 1 to even be associated with this organization, to now being so proud and rocking apparel. We’re just being super proud of what we’ve built and what we continue to do.”
THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE for the HDA in the past five years?
“That’s unfortunately an easy question to answer,” Aliu replied.
He said there was robust corporate support in North America for the HDA at the start, but that support has waned.
“That just means that we have to turn kids away because we have a waiting list to get into our programs,” Aliu said. “We’d like to continue to expand, but obviously this is a difficult sport to expand without money.”
Despite those headwinds, the HDA is having some of the most substantive impact in its history.
“We’re flourishing, and I think that’s because we’ve shown who we are and what we are. I think our character has shined brightly,” Aliu said. “Folks that were haters against us now largely see that we’re in it for the right reasons. They’ve seen the impact that we’ve had on kids, on families, on youth as a whole.”
A focus on the grassroots has always been at the heart of the HDA’s mission. Its introductory statement in 2020 included a passage that read: “We will promote diversity at all levels of the game through community outreach and engagement with youth. We will endeavor to make the game more affordable and accessible.”
Simmonds said that after the HDA’s early clashes with the NHL and the coalition’s critics, a renewed focus was on grassroots efforts.
“We realized that everything starts at the beginning. If you can affect change right from the start, then you save yourself more trouble going down the line,” he said.
The HDA’s first successful youth hockey program was in the greater Toronto area in 2022: free hockey clinics for children between 6 and 15 years old from diverse communities. The HDA has run clinics for the past three years.
Its early pilot programs had around 220 young athletes. Aliu estimates that the HDA has 1,500 young players involved in its programs “playing hockey completely free of cost,” with programs running 22 to 26 weeks.
“The numbers speak for themselves. About 45 to 50 of those players have moved on to play mainstream competitive hockey as well,” Kadri told ESPN. “These are kids growing more of a passion for the sport. The initial obstacle was just the introduction to hockey, and that’s what we’ve provided.”
The HDA supports programs in the Greater Toronto Area, Montreal and Halifax, and is launching one in Vancouver. Aliu said there have been conversations about launching one in Chicago as well. The HDA said it has an 80% retention rate in its programs.
Aliu said that though the HDA is dedicated to promoting “people of color, because I think they’ve been largely overlooked for a very, very long time,” the organization is focused on breaking down all barriers to entry for young disadvantaged players — especially economic ones.
“We just wanted to help kids that couldn’t afford to play hockey,” Aliu said. “Our programs have 40% girls. Our programs have 30% white kids in them. White kids can be poor, Black kids can be poor, brown kids can be poor, Asian kids can be poor and not be able to access the game of hockey because of how financially demanding it is.”
Kadri said his most rewarding experience with the HDA was hearing from families that have gone through the program.
“I’ve had people tell me that the HDA has helped their kids make friends because of the camaraderie aspect of playing a sport they love,” he said. “Just seeing the excitement on the parents’ faces when they’re telling us these stories, you kind of have a realization of, ‘OK, this is why we’re doing this.'”
WHAT DOES THE HDA want to accomplish in the next five years?
“We’re just trying to bring hockey to the world. We’re not trying to reinvent the wheel here,” Simmonds said. “We’re trying to take a game that we love but that’s had some problems — and our game does have problems and everybody knows it — and expand the game. The more we can expand the game, the better we can make the game.”
Aliu acknowledges that “a lot is out of our control” when it comes to the HDA’s future.
“All we can do is continue to push, continue to grow, continue to look for financial opportunities,” he said. “That’s really what it boils down to: People wanting to support a cause to help communities that have been largely overlooked.”
Could some of that support come from the NHL? There’s no relationship between the league, the Player Inclusion Coalition and the Hockey Diversity Alliance.
Aliu acknowledged it was a “pipe dream” to have the HDA and NHL become partners one day, but believes their objectives can be aligned.
“We’re tapping into a ton of different demographics. It’ll grow viewership, it’ll grow talent, it’ll grow all the things that they care about,” he said. “The hockey establishment is huge for us. If we’re doing this together, I think we can get to a place where everybody feels welcome and safe in that space.”
Kadri, who’s entering his 16th NHL season, said he has never experienced any friction with the league about his role in the HDA. He believes both organizations have common objectives and that a partnership isn’t impossible.
“Even though we might do it in different ways, I think the end goal is very similar,” Kadri said. “One of these days, it might come to fruition, but as of right now, we are completely independent. And what a long way we’ve come.”
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