NHL Power Rankings: The best trade of the past five years for every team
The NHL’s 2023 trade deadline is March 3. We’ve seen two big deals consummated thus far — with Vladimir Tarasenko joining the New York Rangers and Bo Horvat heading to the New York Islanders — but we’re pretty sure the volume will pick up in the coming weeks.
For this week’s edition of the Power Rankings, we identified the best trade that each team has made at the past five deadlines.
How we rank: A panel of ESPN hockey commentators, analysts, reporters and editors rates teams against one another — taking into account game results, injuries and upcoming schedule — and those results are tabulated to produce the list featured here.
Note: Previous ranking for each team refers to the most recent edition, published Feb. 10. Points percentages are through Thursday’s games.
Previous ranking: 1
Points percentage: 80.56%
Next seven days: vs. NYI (Feb. 18), vs. OTT (Feb. 20), @ SEA (Feb. 23)
Hampus Lindholm (2022). Boston shipped a hefty package of picks and prospect to Anaheim last season for Lindholm, then signed the 28-year-old to an eight-year, $52 million contract. He’s worth every penny. Lindholm has boosted the Bruins’ blue line to new heights this season, playing upwards of 24 minutes a night, pumping in points and packing a physical punch. That’s a true game-changer.
Previous ranking: 2
Points percentage: 74.07%
Next seven days: vs. WSH (Feb. 18), vs. STL (Feb. 21)
Patrick Marleau (2019). Carolina never expected Marleau to play for them; they just played the role of middleman. Toronto needed to dump Marleau’s contract in 2019 and the Hurricanes took it on for draft capital, including a 2020 first-round choice that became forward Seth Jarvis. The 21-year-old has been an important addition for the Hurricanes (he had a 40-point freshman season in 2021-22) and projects to play a key role in the team’s future.
Previous ranking: 4
Points percentage: 67.27%
Next seven days: vs. MTL (Feb. 18), @ CHI (Feb. 19), @ BUF (Feb. 21)
Rasmus Sandin (2018). Toronto drafted Sandin in 2018 after GM Kyle Dubas swapped the No. 25 overall pick for the No. 29 and No. 76 overall selections. Dubas selected Sandin at No. 29, and he has become an integral piece of Toronto’s current blue line (not to mention its future). And with that extra pick at No. 76, Toronto got forward Semyon Der-Arguchintsev, a 22-year-old bursting with potential.
Previous ranking: 3
Points percentage: 69.44%
Next seven days: @ PIT (Feb. 18), vs. WPG (Feb. 19), vs. MTL (Feb. 21), vs. LA (Feb. 23)
Vitek Vanecek (2022). New Jersey was desperate to improve its goaltending this past offseason. Landing Vanecek from Washington in July for a pair of draft choices has given the Devils what they needed — a reliable No. 1 starter. Now, New Jersey looks like a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. Pretty clean work by GM Tom Fitzgerald.
Previous ranking: 6
Points percentage: 67.59%
Next seven days: @ VGK (Feb. 18), vs. ANA (Feb. 21), vs. BUF (Feb. 23)
Ryan McDonagh (2018). Former Lightning GM Steve Yzerman orchestrated a megadeal with the New York Rangers in 2018 to bring the Bolts their shutdown defenseman in McDonagh (plus forward J.T. Miller) for two impending Stanley Cup runs. Tampa Bay gave up a mix of players, prospects and picks to make it happen, but without McDonagh’s blue-line presence, the Lightning would have been far less likely to become champs (twice over).
Previous ranking: 5
Points percentage: 64.55%
Next seven days: @ MIN (Feb. 17), vs. CBJ (Feb. 18), vs. CHI (Feb. 22)
Scott Wedgewood (2022). Dallas boosted its goaltending depth by adding Wedgewood in March from Arizona in exchange for a conditional fourth-round pick that will become a third if the Stars make playoffs this season. Which they will. That’s a solid complement for Jake Oettinger in net on a tidy return. Well done, GM Jim Nill.
Previous ranking: 7
Points percentage: 62.73%
Next seven days: @ NJ (Feb. 19), @ NYR (Feb. 20), @ NYI (Feb. 22)
Neal Pionk (2019). Winnipeg had a disgruntled Jacob Trouba on its hands in June 2019, and offered him to the Rangers for a first-round pick (that became defenseman Ville Heinola) and Pionk. Back then the trade seemed to favor New York, but Pionk has emerged as a minute-munching, wholly reliable top-pairing blueliner and Heinola (still just 21 years old) has a promising future too.
Previous ranking: 8
Points percentage: 66.67%
Next seven days: @ EDM (Feb. 17), @ CGY (Feb. 18), vs. WPG (Feb. 20), @ DET (Feb. 23)
Adam Fox (2019). Yes, the Rangers’ recent trade for Vladimir Tarasenko has been so stunningly successful it almost ended up here. But let’s not go overboard. New York acquired Fox from Carolina in 2019 for a second-round pick and conditional third. In turn, Fox has become the Rangers’ top-pairing defenseman and just the second NHL blueliner — after Bobby Orr — to win a Norris Trophy before his third pro season.
Previous ranking: 10
Points percentage: 63.64%
Next seven days: vs. TB (Feb. 18), @ CHI (Feb. 21), vs. CGY (Feb. 23)
Jack Eichel (2021). The Golden Knights risked acquiring Eichel in November 2021 when he wanted an experimental surgery on a herniated disc in his neck. When Eichel got healthy, he proved Vegas right on rolling the dice. The 26-year-old is an elite top-line player, producing at nearly a point-per-game pace this season. And Eichel’s prime should be on display for years to come.
Previous ranking: 14
Points percentage: 60.91%
Next seven days: @ ANA (Feb. 17), vs. ARI (Feb. 18), @ MIN (Feb. 21), @ NJ (Feb. 23)
Kevin Fiala (2022). Los Angeles upgraded its attack last June by acquiring Fiala from Minnesota. He’s the Kings’ leading scorer this season, represented them at the NHL All-Star Game and continues to make what L.A. gave up in the deal (Brock Faber and a first-round pick) look exceedingly reasonable for a difference-maker.
Previous ranking: 9
Points percentage: 61.82%
Next seven days: vs. DET (Feb. 18), @ SJ (Feb. 20), vs. BOS (Feb. 23)
Daniel Sprong (2022). Seattle hasn’t made many trades, of course. But collecting Sprong from Washington last March in exchange for Marcus Johansson stands out. Sprong has carved out a solid bottom-six role, is producing the best numbers of his career this season and has scored some big goals for the Kraken.
Previous ranking: 11
Points percentage: 60.00%
Next seven days: vs. NYR (Feb. 17), @ COL (Feb. 19), vs. PHI (Feb. 21), @ PIT (Feb. 23)
Brett Kulak (2022). It wasn’t a splashy move by GM Ken Holland to pluck Kulak from Montreal last March for William Lagesson and two picks. It was a smart one. Kulak signed a four-year extension to stay in Edmonton and is a consistent second-pairing defender with good offensive upside who can play well with anyone. That’s good value.
Previous ranking: 12
Points percentage: 59.43%
Next seven days: @ STL (Feb. 18), vs. EDM (Feb. 19)
Devon Toews (2020). Colorado took advantage of the Islanders’ salary cap crunch and acquired Toews in October 2020 for a pair of 2021 second-round picks. Highway robbery. Toews has blossomed into a premier defender, analytics darling and, crucially, a perfect partner for Cale Makar (and they’ve got the Stanley Cup rings to prove it).
Previous ranking: 13
Points percentage: 59.43%
Next seven days: @ NYI (Feb. 17), vs. NJ (Feb. 18), vs. NYI (Feb. 20), vs. EDM (Feb. 23)
Rickard Rakell (2022). Pittsburgh grabbed Rakell — then a pending unrestricted free agent — from Anaheim last season without giving up a first-round pick. That was ideal. Even better? Having Rakell sign a six-year, $30 million extension and work his way into a top-line role. Talk about a massive early return.
Previous ranking: 17
Points percentage: 54.39%
Next seven days: @ CAR (Feb. 18), vs. DET (Feb. 21), vs. ANA (Feb. 23)
Michal Kempny (2018). Washington sent Chicago a third-round pick for Kempny in 2018. The Capitals’ return was a top-pairing defender for their ensuing run to a Cup championship. Injuries and age slowed Kempny after that, and he has since moved on from the NHL. But what he gave Washington at his best was more than enough.
Previous ranking: 15
Points percentage: 56.48%
Next seven days: vs. DAL (Feb. 17), vs. NSH (Feb. 19), vs. LA (Feb. 21), @ CBJ (Feb. 23)
Marc-Andre Fleury (2022). Wild GM Bill Guerin acquired Fleury — a three-time Stanley Cup winner and future Hall of Fame goaltender — from Chicago for a conditional second-round pick last season. Low risk; high reward. Fleury isn’t flawless, but he is durable and produces solid stats while standing tall as Minnesota’s No. 1 netminder.
Previous ranking: 19
Points percentage: 55.45%
Next seven days: vs. NYR (Feb. 18), vs. PHI (Feb. 20), @ ARI (Feb. 22), @ VGK (Feb. 23)
Jonathan Huberdeau/MacKenzie Weegar (2022). Calgary has yet to see Huberdeau’s best. That’s undeniable. But the trade Brad Treliving pulled off last July to bring Huberdeau and Weegar (plus prospect Cole Schwindt) from Florida? Stunner. The GM was in a tough spot when Matthew Tkachuk said he wouldn’t re-sign with the Flames. Treliving made something of nothing, and there is plenty of time for Huberdeau — now on an eight-year deal — to find his footing.
Previous ranking: 23
Points percentage: 53.85%
Next seven days: vs. FLA (Feb. 18), @ MIN (Feb. 19), vs. VAN (Feb. 21), @ SJ (Feb. 23)
P.K. Subban (2019). Some moves just have to be made. In 2019, Nashville needed cap space to extend Roman Josi and sign Matt Duchene. The Predators sent Subban (and his $9 million annual cap hit) to New Jersey to get that done. Josi is inarguably Nashville’s most important player, and Duchene has excelled (for the most part) in a top-six forward spot.
Previous ranking: 18
Points percentage: 54.72%
Next seven days: @ SJ (Feb. 18), vs. TOR (Feb. 21), @ TB (Feb. 23)
Tage Thompson (2018). No disrespect to GM Kevyn Adams’ work on the Jack Eichel trade last November. But Buffalo’s seriously feeling the benefits now from parting with Ryan O’Reilly and acquiring Thompson — among other assets — from St. Louis in July 2018. The towering centerman is at the core of the Sabres’ resurgence, as the team’s leading scorer, a budding playmaker and all-around offensive wrecking ball.
Previous ranking: 20
Points percentage: 53.51%
Next seven days: vs. PIT (Feb. 17), @ BOS (Feb. 18), @ PIT (Feb. 20), vs. WPG (Feb. 22)
Jean-Gabriel Pageau (2020). The Islanders ponied up for Pageau in February 2020, sending Ottawa a first-, second- and third-round pick for the versatile forward. The 30-year-old center has been worth the Islanders’ investment (which included a six-year, $30 million extension) to be a Swiss Army knife in the team’s offense; he can collect points while slotting into any situation across 5-on-5 and special teams.
Previous ranking: 16
Points percentage: 53.45%
Next seven days: @ NSH (Feb. 18), vs. ANA (Feb. 20)
Matthew Tkachuk (2022). Florida swapped its former top scorer (Jonathan Huberdeau) for its newest one. It’s safe to say that the Panthers are pleased. The blockbuster deal last July sending Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar to Calgary for Tkachuk was a risk that has paid off; Florida’s feisty forward has dominated offensively (with nearly 30 points more than his closest teammate) and Tkachuk represented the club well as the 2023 NHL All-Star Game MVP.
Previous ranking: 21
Points percentage: 55.56%
Next seven days: @ SEA (Feb. 18), @ WSH (Feb. 21), vs. NYR (Feb. 23)
Ville Husso (2022). Detroit traded with St. Louis at last year’s draft, grabbing its now-No. 1 netminder in Husso for a third-round pick. The deal is aging like a fine wine already, since Husso has been the Red Wings’ inarguable MVP through a tough first season. The 28-year-old might just be hitting his peak, and that’s good news for Detroit’s future prospects.
Previous ranking: 24
Points percentage: 51.89%
Next seven days: vs. CHI (Feb. 17), vs. STL (Feb. 19), @ BOS (Feb. 20)
Josh Norris (2018). Ottawa sent Erik Karlsson to San Jose in September 2018 for a return haul that had Norris — one of the Sharks’ top prospects — at its center (along with a handful of other players and picks, too). Norris is one of the Senators’ key core pieces now, despite being sidelined by injury most of this season. At age 23, there’s plenty more Norris will have to offer as the Senators continue finding their way back to contending status.
Previous ranking: 25
Points percentage: 48.21%
Next seven days: @ VAN (Feb. 18), @ CGY (Feb. 20), @ EDM (Feb. 21)
Owen Tippett (2022). Philadelphia added the up-and-coming Tippett — plus a first- and third-round draft choice — by trading then-captain Claude Giroux to Florida last March. Giroux held all the cards selecting his next destination, but the Flyers made the most of their options by getting a power forward in Tippett who’s just 23 years old and has so far exceeded expectations for Philadelphia in his best statistical season to date.
Previous ranking: 22
Points percentage: 50.93%
Next seven days: vs. COL (Feb. 18), @ OTT (Feb. 19), @ CAR (Feb. 21), vs. VAN (Feb. 23)
Justin Faulk (2020). St. Louis made waves acquiring Faulk from Carolina in 2020 for Joel Edmundson, a prospect and a draft pick. It took time for Faulk to find his fit, but the veteran has become a stalwart defensive defenseman providing stability — and a few timely goals — from the Blues’ back end.
Previous ranking: 26
Points percentage: 45.45%
Next seven days: @ TOR (Feb. 18), @ NJ (Feb. 21)
Nick Suzuki (2018). Montreal traded its former captain Max Pacioretty to Vegas in September 2018 to acquire a future one in Suzuki. The 23-year-old does a lot more for the Canadiens than just wear their “C” — he’s the team’s leading scorer this season and a foundational piece of the hopeful next chapter Montreal has been writing.
Previous ranking: 28
Points percentage: 41.82%
Next seven days: vs. PHI (Feb. 18), @ NSH (Feb. 21), @ STL (Feb. 23)
J.T. Miller (2019). Vancouver going all-in on acquiring Miller from Tampa in June 2019 was a controversial choice. The Canucks parted with a first-round and third-round choice, plus goalie Marek Mazanec, to grab the Bolts’ middle-six winger. Miller grew into much more than that in Vancouver, operating near a point-per-game clip in a top-six role the past two seasons.
Previous ranking: 27
Points percentage: 40.18%
Next seven days: vs. BUF (Feb. 18), vs. SEA (Feb. 20), vs. NSH (Feb. 23)
Erik Karlsson (2018). Controversial choice? Perhaps. San Jose swapped players and picks with Ottawa in September 2018 to get Karlsson, signed him to a mammoth eight-year, $92 million extension and then watched injuries and inconsistencies eat away at Karlsson’s abilities. That all changed this season with Karlsson back in the Norris Trophy conversation and boasting bona fide trade potential. If GM Mike Grier can find the right suitor, trading Karlsson away would be a major win for the Sharks, too.
Previous ranking: 29
Points percentage: 41.82%
Next seven days: @ LA (Feb. 18), vs. CBJ (Feb. 19), vs. CGY (Feb. 22)
Jack McBain (2022). Arizona pounced on McBain last March when it was clear the college free agent wouldn’t be signing with Minnesota (which drafted him 63rd overall in 2018). For a paltry second-round draft choice, the Coyotes acquired a 23-year-old forward who put up over a point per game at Boston College and has ample NHL potential. He’s another exciting young player to aid in the Coyotes’ build.
Previous ranking: 32
Points percentage: 34.55%
Next seven days: @ DAL (Feb. 18), @ ARI (Feb. 19), vs. MIN (Feb. 23)
Artemi Panarin (2017). Columbus targeted Panarin in a 2017 draft day deal with Chicago and received one the most talented forwards the club has ever had. Panarin stuck around for only two seasons, but he was the first skater in franchise history to produce multiple 80-plus-point seasons and helped Columbus make the playoffs both seasons, too.
Previous ranking: 30
Points percentage: 34.91%
Next seven days: @ OTT (Feb. 17), vs. TOR (Feb. 19), vs. VGK (Feb. 21), @ DAL (Feb. 22)
A pair of picks (2022). Chicago isn’t tiptoeing around a rebuild. It has leaned all the way in. That’s why the Blackhawks sent Brandon Hagel to Tampa Bay last March for a first-round pick in each of the 2023 and 2024 drafts (plus Taylor Raddysh and Boris Katchouk). The depth of talent available in 2023 is said to be excellent, too, which only makes the move look better on Chicago’s part.
Previous ranking: 31
Points percentage: 36.36%
Next seven days: vs. LA (Feb. 17), @ FLA (Feb. 20), @ TB (Feb. 21), @ WSH (Feb. 23)
Draft picks galore (2022). Anaheim is rebuilding, and so GM Pat Verbeek’s attention is on the future. That’s why shipping Hampus Lindholm to Boston last March to stock the cupboards with a first-round pick, two second-round choices and defenseman Urho Vaakanainen (Boston’s 18th overall pick in 2017) made so much sense. Sometimes the long game is the best one.
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Chris Low, ESPN Senior Writer
Tennessee‘s Nico Iamaleava has been cleared medically to play Saturday against Georgia and is set to return as the Vols’ starting quarterback, sources told ESPN.
Iamaleava, a redshirt freshman, missed the second half of the 33-14 win over Mississippi State last week after suffering a blow to the head. He was listed as questionable earlier this week on the SEC availability report but has been removed in the latest report.
Iamaleava practiced this week, including team periods, and there was optimism among the staff that he was trending in the right direction and would be able to play. But the final call was made by medical personnel. Iamaleava was examined by doctors for what sources told ESPN were concussion-like symptoms after leaving the Mississippi State game. He did not return to the sideline for the second half.
Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said on Monday that he felt like Iamaleava would be in “great shape for Saturday” and noted that Iamaleava was with the team earlier Monday morning for meetings and team activities. The Vols’ first full-scale practice was Tuesday.
Iamaleava was having his most productive outing against an SEC team this season before leaving the game against Mississippi State. He completed 8 of 13 passes for 174 yards, no interceptions and a pair of touchdowns as Tennessee built a 20-7 halftime lead. In Iamaleava’s previous five SEC games, he had accounted for three touchdowns and turned it over five times. He was also sacked 15 times in those five games.
Redshirt senior Gaston Moore filled in for Iamaleava in the second half last week and finished 5-of-8 for 38 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.
Getting Iamaleava back for the Georgia game is big news for Tennessee, which is right in the middle of the SEC championship race and College Football Playoff picture.
Receiver Dont’e Thornton (hand) has also been given the green light to play for Tennessee after earlier being listed as questionable.
Week 12 is here as we take a look at an SEC matchup that has College Football Playoff implications, learn about three of the nation’s top passers who all played under the same coach and see what’s going on in the Big 12.
No. 7 Tennessee will visit Sanford Stadium as it takes on conference opponent No. 12 Georgia on Saturday night. With so much at stake, what can each team improve on ahead of this SEC showdown?
The Big 12 has six teams in the hunt for a spot in the conference title game. With the final CFP rankings coming out in less than a month, what scenario looks most realistic for the conference in terms of how many of its teams could make the 12-team field?
Our college football experts preview big games and storylines ahead of the Week 12 slate.
Jump to a section:
Tennessee-Georgia | The coach behind three top QB passers
What’s going on in the Big 12 | Quotes of the Week
What has each team done well in conference play? What improvements can be made?
It has been a historic (and dominant) season for Tennessee’s defense, which has yet to give up more than 19 points in any of its nine games. Against SEC competition, the Volunteers lead the conference in scoring defense, giving up 16.7 points per game, and also lead the way in third-down defense and red zone defense. In other words, they’ve given up very little of anything on defense and are buoyed by a line that’s both talented and deep. Tennessee plays a ton of players up front and has been especially good at forcing key turnovers. In 23 trips inside its own 20-yard line, the Vols have forced six turnovers.
The reality is that Tennessee has played to its defense for much of this season out of necessity. The offense has lacked consistency and struggled to generate explosive plays, particularly in the passing game. It’s not all on redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava, either. Iamaleava has thrown only five touchdown passes in six SEC games, and the Vols are tied for 10th with an average of 7.5 yards per completion. Iamaleava, who sustained a head injury in a win over Mississippi State last week, has been the victim of poor pass protection at times, and his receivers have dropped some costly passes. Iamaleava has also been shaky when it comes to overthrowing receivers and occasionally holding onto the ball too long.
The bright spot on offense for Tennessee has been running back Dylan Sampson, who has a school-record 20 rushing touchdowns. He has been a constant for the Vols on offense and has an SEC-leading 772 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns in conference play. As good as he has been, the Vols are probably going to need more from their passing game to win in Athens. — Chris Low
The Bulldogs didn’t do much of anything well in last week’s 28-10 loss at Ole Miss, which was the first time in a long time that Kirby Smart’s team was manhandled on the lines of scrimmage.
The good news for Georgia: It’s heading home to Sanford Stadium for the first time in more than a month. Georgia hasn’t dropped back-to-back games in the regular season since 2016, Smart’s first season, and it has bounced back after each of its past eight losses. The Bulldogs have won seven of their past eight games against the Volunteers.
For all of quarterback Carson Beck‘s turnovers, Georgia’s problems on offense probably start up front. The offensive line hasn’t done a good job of protecting him, and the Bulldogs’ lack of a potent running game has prevented them from effectively utilizing play-action passes. Their banged-up offensive line is going to face another formidable defensive front Saturday. Georgia has 27 dropped passes, fourth most in the FBS, according to TruMedia, so its receivers need to become more reliable as well. — Mark Schlabach
The coach behind three of college football’s top passers
Miami‘s Cam Ward, Washington State‘s John Mateer and North Texas‘ Chandler Morris are three of the top five quarterbacks in total offense this season in FBS. All three have the same head coach to thank for where they are today.
North Texas coach Eric Morris coached Ward at Incarnate Word and Washington State, recruited Mateer to the Cougars and signed Morris out of the transfer portal this offseason. All three hailed from Texas and are putting up big numbers this season. Morris, a Mike Leach disciple, knows what he’s looking for when it comes to QBs.
For each one, the journey was different. Ward was a zero-star recruit out of West Columbia, Texas, played in a wing-T offense and had no scholarship offers. But he showed up to Incarnate Word’s camp in 2019 and impressed with his quick release and accuracy. Morris saw appealing traits, too, in Ward’s multisport talents.
“He was such a good basketball player,” Morris said. “He was a bigger guy who could really handle the ball and move with ease. He had a twitch and quickness about him that was almost Mahomes-esque, where he’s not fast but you see him get out of the pocket and scramble and he’s nifty on his feet. He saw the floor great and shot the basketball great.
“It might be easier at an FCS school to take that risk, but it was something we were really confident in.”
Ward came in with extreme confidence, telling coaches he’d win the starting job over their returning all-conference player (and he did). He followed Morris to Pullman, Washington, out of loyalty to the coach who believed in him. Now he’s playing on a big stage, chasing a College Football Playoff bid and a Heisman Trophy with the No. 9 Hurricanes.
“It’s been fun to watch him flourish and get rewarded for being patient all these years,” Morris said.
When Morris left UIW to become Washington State’s offensive coordinator in 2022, he brought Ward but needed another QB. On his first recruiting trip in Texas, he stopped by to check out Mateer. The two-star recruit had a prolific senior season at Little Elm High School but was committed to Central Arkansas. Morris didn’t understand what FBS programs were missing and convinced Mateer to flip.
After two seasons behind Ward, Mateer has emerged as one of the top dual-threat QBs in college football with 2,332 passing yards, 805 rushing yards (excluding sacks) and 33 total TDs.
“I think the sky’s the limit,” Ward said. “He’s just so dang hard to tackle in the open field. Just a kid that loves ball and was under-recruited. The tide’s turned and he ends up being a big-time ballplayer.”
Chandler Morris was not an under-the-radar talent, but he’s having his best season yet at North Texas. He began his career at Oklahoma, won the starting job at TCU in 2022, sustained a knee injury in its season opener and then watched Max Duggan lead the Horned Frogs to the national title game.
Morris had a six-game stint as TCU’s starter last season before injuring the same knee. At UNT, he’s leading the nation’s No. 3 passing offense with 3,244 total yards and 30 TDs. Like Ward and Mateer, he processes information quickly, makes plays with his feet and throws outside the pocket with accuracy. If you ask Eric Morris, those traits are a must in today’s game. When paired with his version of Air Raid ball, you get big-time results.
“It’s been fun to see him get his swagger back,” Morris said.
Eric Morris points to Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson and Jayden Daniels. The QBs thriving at the highest level are becoming unstoppable by creating plays out of the pocket. And so are his guys.
“Everybody obviously watches Cam and the magic he makes,” Morris said, “but I think all three of ’em can make plays when it’s not a perfect play call. There are a bunch of really good pure passers nowadays, but that’s what sets them all apart.” — Max Olson
What’s going on in the Big 12?
Two-thirds of the way through the Big 12 schedule, six teams are still in the hunt for a title-game appearance: BYU (6-0), Colorado (5-1), Arizona State, Iowa State, Kansas State and West Virginia, all of which are 4-2. There are too many variables to discuss all the scenarios, but the conference has a straightforward tiebreaker policy.
It’s possible to come up with scenarios in which the Big 12 could get two bids, one bid or shut out altogether.
For the Big 12 to get two bids, BYU probably would have to finish 12-0, then lose a close game in the championship to a two-loss team (Colorado, Iowa State or Kansas State). A 12-1 BYU team would get consideration, but it would become a question of how far it would fall and what else happens around the country.
The most likely scenario is the Big 12 will get one team in: whichever one wins the conference title game. If BYU wins out, it will have a bye, but if it slips up even once — or if another team wins the title — Boise State might be in position to get a first-round bye, assuming the Broncos win out.
The doomsday scenario in the Big 12 is if the conference champion has two or three losses and Army and Boise State win out. If that’s the case, there is a good possibility both of those schools would be ranked ahead of the Big 12 champion and the Big 12 would be left out. — Kyle Bonagura
Quotes of the Week
“They’re stubborn, man. They’re physical. He is an elite runner. The runs they run are sometimes nontraditional. They run some runs that other people don’t run because of the space in the box. He’s very patient. He hits small creases. He’s hard to tackle. How many touchdowns has he got in the SEC? Twenty-something? That’s crazy. In the SEC? The SEC is the hardest league in the world to run the ball in on because they’ve got the most size defensive lineman, and he continues to do it at a crazy pace to me.” — Kirby Smart on Volunteers tailback Dylan Sampson.
“I never try to take a step back. I try to take a step up. I’m always putting my head out the window. I’m trying to see around the corner, not trying to see straight ahead. It’s normalcy for everybody to see what’s in front of them. I’m trying to see around the corner. That’s the relationship I have with the Lord, to help me see around the corner so I can help navigate these young men as well as the women that’s attached to our program to a better way and a better life. So I don’t get caught up in the ‘You go, boys!’ or the ‘You ain’t nothing.’ You know, if I would’ve listened to you guys earlier, I’ve gotta listen to you now. So I might as well just put some headphones on and block you out. Notice I don’t have a sponsor for headphones, but that would’ve been a good placement for a sponsor.” — Deion Sanders when asked if he takes time to step back and appreciate the magnitude of Colorado’s turnaround.
“I hope anyone who has ambitions about playing in the National Football League, let’s see what you’ve got against Clemson. Let’s see you play your best game here. If you weren’t focused for Virginia, which I can’t imagine you weren’t — and I’m not saying anybody was not focused — but if they didn’t get your focus, I imagine Clemson will get your focus when you put the tape on.” — Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi on whether playing Clemson gets the attention of his players.
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