Browsing: College

Saturday’s clash in Norman comes at a pivotal point in the season for both Ole Miss and Oklahoma.

The Sooners are back home where they won Top 25 games already this season, but their playoff spot is in danger because of the defeat to the Texas Longhorns two weeks ago.

John Mateer didn’t look fully healthy in that game and he only had 164 total yards in last week’s win over South Carolina.

But where Oklahoma has been uber consistent is its defense. The Sooners’ only concession of 20 or more points came against Texas.

Ole Miss proved it could win a low-scoring game against LSU on September 27, but winning on the road against one of the nation’s top defenses is a whole other task.

Lane Kiffin’s team needs a win in Norman to solidfiy its playoff spot. If it wins on Saturday, it can cruise to 11-1 with an easy schedule.

Oklahoma only has ranked opponents left on its schedule. It feels like Saturday is a must-win because it is at home before a two-game road trip to Alabama and Tennessee.

The Sooners are going to have to win the game with defense, which is why the Under 52.5 feels like a far safer wager to make than betting on two teams facing a ton of pressure.

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The Top 10 looks quite a bit different in the Associated Press Top 25 poll heading into Week 9 of the 2025 college football season.

Ohio State retained the top spot thanks to a 34-0 shutout of Wisconsin, but Miami’s 24-21 upset at the hands of Louisville opened the door for Indiana to move up another spot to No. 2.

The Hurricanes, meanwhile, fell to ninth after suffering their first defeat.

Texas Tech was another big loser from Week 8 after coming up short to Arizona State. The Red Raiders went from seventh to 14th.

If nothing else, Miami fans are at least well versed in dealing with the feelings they’re experiencing right now.

The Hurricanes aren’t out of the College Football Playoff picture for good, but a sense of déjà vu on multiple fronts resulted from Saturday’s upset.

Mario Cristobal’s game management, especially in the fourth quarter, left something to be desired. Carson Beck threw four interceptions, a performance Georgia fans know pretty well. And Miami crashed back to earth after stringing together enough wins to fire up the “The U is back!” discourse.

Miami Loses 1st Game Of Season

Ohio State fans were ready to fire Ryan Day after last year’s loss to Michigan, and that quieted down after the Buckeyes lifted a national championship. People were checking into Kalen DeBoer’s buyout at Alabama after a season-opening defeat to Florida State, only for the Crimson Tide to knock off Georgia, Vanderbilt, Missouri and Tennessee in succession.

Maybe Cristobal rights the ship and silences the skeptics for good. Finding people in South Florida who truly believe that can happen might be difficult, though.

It’s probably a similar scene in Baton Rouge with Vanderbilt giving LSU its second loss of the season.

Four years and zero CFP berths isn’t what the administration envisioned when it hired Brian Kelly on a $95 million contract.

The lack of a breakthrough is frustrating when comparing LSU’s fortunes to those of SEC rivals at or even below the Tigers’ level.

DeBoer was seemingly in a no-win situation as he replaced the greatest coach of the modern era. Instead, the Tide are trending toward double-digit wins and a CFP spot.

Texas A&M is a Top-Five squad in Year 2 under Mike Elko. Ole Miss was off to a 6-0 start and could be CFP-bound for the first time under Lane Kiffin. Even Vanderbilt has leapfrogged in the SEC hierarchy for now.

The Tigers still have to play A&M, Alabama and Oklahoma.

Those matchups give Kelly an opportunity to write a different finish to 2025. Running the table would rebuild some of the confidence the fanbase has lost in him. Conversely, the final month could make it even more clear how far LSU has fallen relative to the SEC’s best.

The battle between the Tigers and Aggies is one of the biggest games on the Week 9 slate. The stakes will also be high in Missouri vs. Vanderbilt and Ole Miss vs. Oklahoma. As all four teams are sitting on one loss, the losers will see their CFP hopes suffer a big blow.

Outside of the SEC, UCLA could be a tricky foe for Indiana as the Bruins are riding a three-game winning streak. They’ll be big underdogs but shouldn’t be written off prematurely.

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20. Tennessee (5-2, Previous Rank: 10)

Week 8 Result:Loss at Alabama (20-37)
Next Week:at Kentucky

The Volunteers allowed 16 unanswered points in the final eight minutes of the first half, including a safety and an interception returned for a touchdown, and they were unable to dig out of that early hole against the Crimson Tide defense. DeSean Bishop had a good individual game out of the backfield, tallying 123 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Tennessee will need to win out to have a chance at a playoff spot, with Oklahoma and Vanderbilt their toughest remaining games.

19. Cincinnati (6-1, Previous Rank: 21)

Week 8 Result:Win at Oklahoma State (49-17)
Next Week:vs. Baylor

The Bearcats cruised to victory against arguably the worst Power Four team in the nation, building a 28-10 lead at halftime behind three second quarter touchdowns. Brendan Sorsby completed 20-of-29 pass attempts for 270 yards and three touchdowns while adding a fourth score on the ground, and he has quietly emerged as one of the more consistent quarterbacks in the nation in his second year under center at Cincinnati.

18. South Florida (6-1, Previous Rank: 20)

Week 8 Result:Win vs. Florida Atlantic (48-13)
Next Week:at Memphis

After previously undefeated Memphis lost earlier in the day, South Florida took care of business against Florida Atlantic to cement their status as the top Group of Five team in the nation midway through the season. Dual-threat quarterback Byrum Brown had another big game, logging 256 passing yards, 111 rushing yards and four touchdowns, and the Bulls piled up 522 total yards of offense while recording their fourth straight game with at least 200 rushing yards.

17. Notre Dame (5-2, Previous Rank: 23)

Week 8 Result:Win vs. USC (34-24)
Next Week:BYE

On the strength of a career night from running back Jeremiyah Love, the Fighting Irish took another significant step toward putting their 0-2 start in the rearview mirror as they try to win out and make their case for a spot in the College Football Playoff. Love had 228 rushing yards on 24 carries while also recording one of Notre Dame’s three rushing touchdowns. Meanwhile, the defense shut down the USC running game, picked off Jayden Maiava twice and held standout wide receiver Makai Lemon to four catches for 76 yards.

16. Louisville (5-1, Previous Rank: NR)

Week 8 Result:Win at Miami (24-21)
Next Week:vs. Boston College

Miller Moss (23-of-37, 248 yards, 2 TD), Isaac Brown (15 carries, 113 yards) and Chris Bell (9 catches, 132 yards, 2 TD) all had strong games, but it was Louisville’s defense that shined in a huge win against previously undefeated Miami. After jumping out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, they locked down the victory by picking off Carson Beck four times and allowing just 2.6 yards per carry.

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Six days after being fired as Penn State’s head coach, James Franklin made his first public comments on Saturday’s episode of College Gameday.

Appearing on the desk with the entire panel, led by host Rece Davis, Franklin said he was informed by Penn State athletic director Pat Kraft he was being fired about 30 minutes prior to the team’s scheduled practice on Oct. 12.

“That was it. It was that quick. I was in shock,” said Franklin.

Despite the abrupt nature of his firing after 12 seasons, Franklin was very complimentary toward Penn State while acknowledging how many people were impacted by the decision.

One thing Franklin did make clear is that he wants to coach again because he doesn’t “know anything else” and never had any hobbies to occupy his time.

Things shifted dramatically for Penn State in a 14-day period from Sept. 27 to Oct. 11. The Nittany Lions were 3-0 and ranked No. 2 in the AP Top 25 poll with Happy Valley hosting College GamedayÂleading up to their game against No. 6 Oregon on Sept. 27.

Oregon won a 30-24 double-overtime thriller on the road. It was a disappointing result for the Nittany Lions, but hardly one that suggested anything worth panicking about because the Ducks are a terrific team.

Things really started to go south the next week against a then-winless UCLA team that fired head coach Deshaun Foster after an 0-3 start. Penn State fell behind by 20 at halftime and failed to pull off the comeback in a 42-37 loss that knocked Franklin’s squad out of the AP Top 25.

The final straw that broke things for the Nittany Lions was a 22-21 home loss to Northwestern last week. They became the first FBS program in at least 30 years to lose back-to-back games as a 20-point favorite.

There were certainly extenuating circumstances that led to Penn State’s fall from grace. Quarterback Drew Allar suffered a season-ending broken ankle in the fourth quarter against Northwestern.

Franklin’s overall resume is with Penn State is impressive. He went 104-45 in 12 seasons, tied for 11th in wins among all FBS programs during that span.

The primary issue, though, was Franklin’s struggles against top-tier teams. He had a 4-21 record against teams ranked in the AP top 10, including one win in 19 such matchups against Big Ten opponents.

Kraft cited that mark as one of the factors in the decision to make a coaching change.

Franklin absolutely deserves credit for putting Penn State back on the map after the wayward two-year run with Bill O’Brien as head coach. Franklin led the program to at least 10 wins six times in eight seasons from 2016 to ’24, matching its total over a 21-year period from 1994 to 2015.

The two parties were able to move on in a manner that was less than ideal for each side, but it at least gives them both time to plan out their next steps for the 2026 season.

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25. Nebraska (5-1, Previous Rank: NR)

Week 7 Results:Win at Maryland (34-31)
Next Week:at Minnesota

The Cornhuskers trailed 31-24 going into the fourth quarter, but rattled off a 12-play, 83-yard drive that ended in a field goal, forced a punt on defense and then marched 81 yards for a touchdown to take the lead. Dylan Raiola threw three interceptions, but also had four touchdown passes, and Emmett Johnson finished with 176 rushing yards on 21 carries. With Ohio State, Indiana and Oregon not on their schedule this year and Michigan already in the rearview, don’t sleep on this Nebraska team as a contender for the Big Ten championship game.

24. Washington (5-1, Previous Rank: NR)

Week 7 Results:Win vs. Rutgers (38-19)
Next Week:at Michigan

Demond Williams Jr. put up video game numbers in a lopsided win over Rutgers on Friday night, racking up 402 passing yards, 136 rushing yards and four total touchdowns. The Huskies actually trailed 10-0 in the first quarter and 13-10 at halftime, but they found the end zone three times in the third quarter to take control. With a 24-6 loss to Ohio State as their only blemish, Washington has a solid resume, and they have a chance to add a signature win at the Big House next Saturday.

23. Notre Dame (4-2, Previous Rank: NR)

Week 7 Results:Win vs. NC State (36-7)
Next Week:vs. USC

NC State quarterback CJ Bailey entered Saturday’s game leading the ACC in completion percentage (74.6%) and passer rating (168.8), with 1,660 passing yards, 13 touchdowns and four interceptions through his first six games. However, the Fighting Irish defense proved to be a different animal than the previous teams he had faced, as he was picked off three times and limited to 17-of-30 passing for 186 yards. After leading 10-7 at halftime, Notre Dame tacked on 26 unanswered points in the second half.

22. Memphis (6-0, Previous Rank: 24)

Week 7 Results:BYE
Next Week:at UAB

The Tigers will need to be careful not to start looking ahead next weekend to a huge head-to-head clash with South Florida on Oct. 25 that could ultimately decide who gets the Group of Five bid in the playoff field. Brendon Lewis has taken a nice step forward as a passer after transferring from Nevada during the offseason, but the Memphis offense is built on running the ball and averages 238.7 rushing yards per game on 5.8 yards per carry.

21. Cincinnati (5-1, Previous Rank: 25)

Week 7 Results:Win vs. UCF (20-11)
Next Week:at Oklahoma State

Despite finishing on the short end in total yardage (413 to 306), first downs (26 to 14) and time of possession (39:44 to 20:16), the Bearcats managed to pull out a victory. After building a 17-0 lead with 4:13 remaining in the second quarter behind a pair of touchdown passes from Brendan Sorsby, they scored just three more points the rest of the way, but that was enough to squeeze out a win.

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Let’s make something abundantly clear. Indiana won’t be ranked No. 1 in any poll anytime soon as long as Ohio State keeps winning. In fact, no one is likely to unseat the Buckeyes unless the Buckeyes finally unseat themselves.

Fine. Understood. But let’s at least have a conversation about it. Let’s talk about the team, the path and everything behind and in front of it.

After thoroughly dismantling one of college football’s best teams in one of college football’s best environments, one has to, at the very least, entertain the conversation that Indiana might have the best football team in America.

Say it with me, and don’t hold back.

Indiana, the best team in college football.

It sounds weird, right? If it makes you feel any better, it’s probably as weird to type as it is to read. But that doesn’t mean it’s wrong, and that’s exactly the point.

Whether you’re there or not, one thing cannot be overstated enough. If the logo on the side of the helmet was different—say a classic football blueblood—this team would be viewed and respected differently. We would appreciate what we just witnessed far more.

On Saturday, the Indiana defense, which came into Saturday ranked No. 3 in the nation, limited Oregon, the nation’s No. 6 scoring offense, to just 267 yards of offense on the road.

The 30-20 victory, while plenty acceptable, could have been far more lopsided. A pick-six and a slew of costly penalties slowed the Hoosiers, although that’s about the only thing that could.

Soobum Im/Getty Images

Indiana was the dominant team, which is saying something considering the opposition. Oregon has looked the part of a legit title contender from the start of the year—and the Ducks still very much could be.

At home, Oregon is another beat entirely. This was the first loss the Ducks have suffered at home since December of 2023. Since 2021, this team has lost a grand total of three times at home.

To understand how we arrived here, one doesn’t have to travel far. At this point a season ago, Indiana was a CFB darling in the making. The Hoosiers won their first 10 games under new head coach Curt Cignetti, becoming the story of the 2024 season.

Acceptance was mixed given Indiana’s limited football history, but that didn’t matter. Cignetti’s team ultimately crashed the postseason. Although they ultimately lost to Notre Dame in the opening round, a statement was made.

Some, including this writer, questioned whether the pieces could come together in a meaningful way for the second year in a row. With the schedule, the changes and the assumption (clearly wrong) that a regression of some kind was in order, it seemed certain.

Soobum Im/Getty Images

Many of the key cogs on defense returned. And with a void at quarterback, Cignetti zeroed in on former Cal QB Fernando Mendoza. Mendoza hasn’t just grabbed the baton. In many respects, he’s lifted this offense to a different level.

What we’re left with is a team with incredible balance and few holes. While the roster might be overflowing with the same level of star power as others, it’s closed the gap.

That was on display on Saturday, and it was certainly on display when the Hoosiers throttled Illinois 63-10. This group can win with style points; it can also win ugly, just like we raw in a road win at Iowa.

Now, with a suddenly manageable path the rest of the way, Indiana is no longer a playoff hopeful. The Hoosiers are a real threat to Ohio State in the Big Ten, and they should be dreaming as big as they possibly can.

Indeed, the Buckeyes are still a force. And if both teams continue to thrive, they could meet in the Big Ten Championship Game—a matchup that would be oozing with intrigue. While time will hopefully tell how these teams stack up, it would feature one powerhouse vs. another.

Cinderella? That label has long been shed.

The charm that hovered over this team all of last year has been replaced with something more daunting and overpowering. Indiana is no longer the little engine that could. The Hoosiers are a beast of a team capable of beating any program in any building.

They have the defense, the quarterback and the head coach. They have all the pieces a program needs to win every single game they play.

While they probably won’t be ranked No. 1 heading next week, the resume up until this point is the best in college football. And if all goes according to plan, the Hoosiers will have the opportunity to prove itself worthy of such an honor.

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Editor’s Note: A previous version of this story included UC Santa Barbara instead of West Virginia.

It is always difficult to trim the list of every recruiting class in college baseball down to a top 25 ranking. In what is the case every year, a number of schools end up having a valid argument to make the list but end up just missing out.

Below, you can find the 10 schools that just missed out on cracking our final top 25 recruiting class ranking for 2025. The list includes some blue blood programs, but also a handful of other schools that could be in store for an exciting 2026 season due in part to their impact newcomers. Itâ€s important to keep in mind that the teams below are listed alphabetically, and that this is not a ranking.

Central Florida

Following a tournament appearance in 2024—its first since 2017—UCF took a bit of a step back in 2025 and finished with a more modest record of 29-26. However, it was the Golden Knights†first year in the Big 12, and they showed plenty of positive flashes that bode well for the 2026 season. In addition to his quality transfer portal class, coach Rich Wallace and his staff have a few freshmen who could make an impact sooner rather than later.

Starting on the mound, lefthander Alan Soler presents an exciting blend of athleticism and remaining projection. Soler moves well on the mound and attacks from a three-quarters slot with a clean arm stroke. His fastball has been up to 92 mph with more velocity likely on the way, while his low-80s changeup has plus potential, and his upper-70s-to-low-80s slider is a solid third pitch. Soler fits into a number of appealing buckets, and getting him on campus is a major win for the Golden Knights.

The standout of the position player group is catcher Dallas Brooks. Brooks†defense is currently ahead of his offense, and heâ€s a good athlete behind the dish with advanced catch-and-throw skills. His swing is a little stiff and can get long at times, but Brooks†defensive ability is loud enough to be his carrying tool. Fellow backstop Sebastian Hurtado was a member of the Braves†East Coast Pro Showcase team, and he flashed solid bat-to-ball skills on the summer circuit.

Clemson

Clemson won 40-plus games for the third-straight year in 2025, but its season again came to an end on its home field. While there is lost production to make up for—especially as it pertains to the irreplaceable hole left by star centerfielder Cam Cannarella—the Tigers boast both an exciting group of newcomers and returning talent. Clemson hasnâ€t made the College World Series since 2010, but it will again have Omaha upside in 2026.

Projection lefthander Nicholas Frusco is the headliner of Clemsonâ€s recruiting class. Standing at 6-foot-5, Frusco features a fastball that sits in the high 80s/low 90s to go along with a low-80s slider for which heâ€s shown feel to spin. Fruscoâ€s heater was up to 93 mph this spring, and he should add a few ticks of velocity as he continues to mature physically. He rounds out his arsenal with a low-80s changeup, though at this point itâ€s a distant third offering. Itâ€s rather easy to dream on what Frusco will look like when heâ€s next eligible for the draft in 2028.

Speaking of lefthanders, Daniel Margolies is another Tigers arm to follow. He doesnâ€t quite have the upside of Frusco, but his fastball has been up to 93 mph to go along with a mid-to-upper-70s curveball that proved to be effective on the 2024 travel circuit. Margolies relies heavily on his heater, and he lacks a distinct third pitch, but he has a chance to log a handful of innings this spring.

Indiana

Indiana coach Jeff Mercer has done a fantastic job since taking the reins of the program ahead of the 2019 season. While the Hoosiers took a slight step back in 2025 after back-to-back tournament appearances, they won 30-plus games for the third-straight season, and their 16 conference victories were tied for the most since 2021.

Indiana is no stranger to having freshmen make a considerable impact. Two of the last three Big Ten freshmen of the year—Devin Taylor in 2023 and Jake Hanley in 2025—were both Hoosiers. In whatâ€s become the standard in Bloomington, Mercer and his staff have put together another strong recruiting class.

Six-foot-three righthander Xavier Carrera has plenty of pure talent, though heâ€s more of a thrower than he is a pitcher at this point. Carrera has no shortage of arm speed, and last spring his high-spin heater was up to 97 mph. The pitch has plus potential, and he pairs it with a slurvy breaking ball that sits in the upper 70s. Carrera rounds out his arsenal with a low-80s changeup thatâ€s emerged as a serviceable third pitch against lefthanded hitters. In addition to taking a sizable step forward in the strike-throwing department, Carrera will need to improve the quality of his breaker to help diminish his reliever risk.

On the other side of the baseball, outfielder Trey Meyers was one of the most athletic prepsters in the 2025 class. While heâ€s listed at an impressive 6-foot-6 and 220 pounds, Meyers has managed to turn in plus run times and was a standout physical tester. As someone with long levers, Meyers†swing can get disconnected at times, which leads to swing-and-miss. And while there are hit tool questions, Meyers has no-doubt plus power upside and moves well enough to potentially stick in the outfield.

Kentucky

The Wildcats in 2025 couldnâ€t quite replicate the success of back-to-back super regional appearances, but they did make the tournament for the third-straight year for the first time in program history. Coach Nick Mingione has turned the Wildcats into a perennial contender and, after breaking down the door to Omaha for the first time in program history in 2024, the “Bat Cats†are hungry for more.

While Kentucky has a knack for faring well in the transfer portal, it also recruits at a high level. Lefthanded hitting outfielder Braxton Van Cleave has an exciting toolset. He fits into the “tools over performance†bucket right now, but he has big-time bat speed to go along with present strength and projection remaining. He also consistently turns in above-average run times. A torn UCL and subsequent Tommy John surgery robbed Van Cleave of his senior high school season, but he still has a chance to earn meaningful at-bats this spring.

While weâ€re on the subject of tools, catcher Owen Jenkins shows the ability to impact the game in a number of different ways. He has thunderous bat speed and above-average raw power, though his hit tool needs a coat or two of polish. Behind the plate, he has a plus arm, and his throws consistently carry through the base. As a cherry on top, Jenkins has also turned in above-average run times.

NC State

Following a run to the College World Series in 2024, NC State last spring made a regional for the third consecutive year. The Wolfpack have won at least 35 games in each of the last 10 full seasons, and itâ€s a streak that seems destined to continue in 2026.

NC State brought in a handful of quality additions via the portal, but the freshman duo of Everett Johnson and Vincent DeCarlo are a pair of standouts. Johnson is an undersized outfielder who fits the mold of a slash-and-dash hitter at the top of the order. He boasts advanced bat-to-ball skills and a patient approach while consistently turning in plus run times. Johnson has the potential to stick in center field, though he could also slide over to left.

DeCarloâ€s defense is ahead of his bat right now, and he was one of the more highly-regarded defensive catchers in the 2025 high school class. He has a prototypical catcherâ€s build, and he moves well behind the dish with reliable hands. On top of his catch-and-throw skills, DeCarlo has demonstrated the ability to block at a high level. He has an above-average arm, regularly gets off quick transfers and his footwork is compact and clean. DeCarloâ€s approach and contact skills serve as a solid foundation to his offensive profile.

Notre Dame

The Fighting Irish are still searching for their first tournament berth since their run to the College World Series in 2022, but 2025 was a major step in the right direction. Notre Dame coach Shawn Stiffler and his staff have the program trending in the right direction, and their 32 wins last season were the program’s third-most since 2015.

When it comes to sheer athleticism, it will be hard for any freshman to top Brandon Logan. A four-star safety with multiple Power Four football offers, Logan committed to Notre Dame for both baseball and football. On the diamond, he’s a double-plus runner whose speed and athleticism give him a chance to be an impact defender in center field. Loganâ€s offensive ability is a bit more crude, but he has above-average bat speed and intriguing power upside.

The son of former major leaguer Jim Crowell, Caden Crowell is a 6-foot-4 southpaw with a solid three-pitch mix featuring a fastball that has been up to 94 mph. His command of the pitch can get scattered at times, but he demonstrated a solid feel for both his upper-70s-to-low-80s slider and low-80s changeup. As Crowell continues to fill out, expect both his velocity and pure stuff to tick up across the board.

Oregon State

The Beavers are a perennial College World Series contender, and last season was their first trip to Omaha since 2018. While they fell short of their ultimate goal, it was still a mighty successful 2025 season for coach Mitch Canhamâ€s crew.

Mason Pike ranked No. 68 on the final iteration of the BA 500, and he heads into 2026 as one of the most prized freshmen in the country. Pike has a chance to make an immediate impact on both sides of the baseball, but his ability on the mound is slightly more appealing. His fastball has been up to 97 mph, and itâ€s a high-spin pitch for which he deploys two different shapes. In addition to his four-seamer, Pikeâ€s sinker this fall has proven to be effective with upwards of 18 inches of run. His go-to secondary offering is a low-to-mid-80s sweeper that routinely flashes above-average, while his mid-80s changeup is a clear third pitch. Pikeâ€s strike-throwing can be inconsistent, but his pitchability took a step in the right direction last spring. In the box, Pike is a switch-hitter with quick hands who has shown he can drive the baseball into either gap.

Josh Proctor boasts some of the most impressive raw power of any freshman in the country. While he stands in at a massive 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds, Proctor does a nice job keeping his swing rather compact for someone of his stature. He has a knack for generating quality contact and could develop into plus game power. Proctor is not a standout athlete by any means, but his arm translates well over at third base. If he is unable to stick on the dirt, Proctor could man a corner outfield spot.

Southern California

For the first time since 2015, USC returned to the tournament last spring. It was a long time coming for the Trojans, and coach Andy Stankiewicz has done an excellent job since taking over ahead of the 2023 season. Rather than an anomaly, it’s not unreasonable to expect 2025 to become the new normal for the Trojans.

The big fish of this yearâ€s group of incoming freshmen for USC is undoubtedly Diego Velazquez. While he was just 17 years old on draft day, Velazquez boasts an impressive blend of bat speed and physicality. He has a loose, easy swing from the left side and regularly works the middle of the field. Velazquez has a chance to possess an enticing hit-power combination when all is said and done, and heâ€s performed well this fall. Defensively, his actions and smooth hands give him a chance to stick at shortstop, but his above-average arm also profiles nicely at third base if he needs to move off the position.

On the bump, Gavin Lauridsen is an intriguing ball of clay that Southern Californiaâ€s staff will get the chance to mold. Lauridsen measures 6-foot-5, 200 pounds with ample room to add strength and physicality. His delivery is accompanied by a head whack, but he has present arm speed, and his effort figures to diminish as he matures physically. Lauridsenâ€s fastball has been up to 95 mph with real carry through the zone, and it’s a pitch he supplements with a mid-70s curveball that has solid depth, a distinct upper-70s-to-low-80s slider and a low-80s changeup.

Virginia Tech

After hosting a super regional in 2022, Virginia Tech has failed to make the tournament in each of the last three seasons. With returning production and a group of newcomers hungry to leave their mark on the program, the Hokies will look to return to form in 2026.

Headlining the group of newcomers is righthander Ethan Grim. Grim had tons of draft buzz last spring, but opted to honor his commitment to Virginia Tech. His performance on the summer circuit was particularly impressive, and between East Coast Pro and the Area Code Games he struck out 11 of the 19 batters faced. Grimâ€s fastball has been up to 96 mph with life through the zone, and it consistently gets over the barrel of opposing hitters. He has a feel for both his upper-70s-to-low-80s slider and mid-70s curveball. Grim rounds out his arsenal with a low-80s changeup—another pitch for which he has an advanced feel. He is perpetually in “attack mode,†and he consistently competes in and around the strike zone. With an appealing blend of strikes and stuff, Grim is a safe bet to start long term.

Infielder Ethan Ball has a clean stroke from the left side with more impact than his 6-foot, 185-pound frame might suggest. Thereâ€s some swing-and-miss to his game, but Ball is a plus runner whose actions on the dirt give him a strong chance to stick up the middle.

West Virginia

The Steve Sabins Era got off to a roaring start in Morgantown last season, as the first-year coach led West Virginia to its second-straight super regional. Thereâ€s plenty of veteran production to replace on both sides of the baseball, but Sabins has a solid group of returners to build around in addition to an impressive crop of newcomers.

On the dirt, shortstop David PerezhasÂintriguing tools on both sides of the baseball. Perez has strength packed into his 5-foot-10, 190-pound frame, and he doesnâ€t get cheated in the box. In addition to his impressive bat speed, Perez has flashed particular impact to the pull side. His approach, however, will need a coat or two of polish. Perez has a no-doubt plus arm on the dirt and he likely fits best over at the hot corner. On the hill, heâ€s flashed a fastball thatâ€s been up to 95 mph in addition to a low-80s breaking ball.

While he missed the 2024 summer circuit recovering from Tommy John Surgery, 6-foot-6 righthander Hudson Cavallo is an arm on which to keep close tabs. He deploys two different fastball shapes—a four-seamer thatâ€s been up to 95 mph with carry through the zone and a two-seamer with distinct armside run—as well as a slider and changeup. With plenty of projection remaining, Cavallo has a chance to blossom during his time in Morgantown.

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The SEC has its share of important Week 7 games as well.

The Alabama Crimson Tide continue a brutal stretch of their schedule with a road clash against the Missouri Tigers.

Bama beat the Georgia Bulldogs on the road and then fended off the Vanderbilt Commodores in consecutive weeks. After Saturday’s trip to Columbia, Bama is back home against the Tennessee Volunteers.

Mizzou’s played far less of a brutal schedule, but it be able to catch Alabama at a difficult part of its own SEC slate.

Bama needs its defense to travel to avoid an upset and continues its push toward the top five.

The Crimson Tide limited Georgia to 21 points and held three other opponents to 14 points or fewer in their three other victories.

Containing the Beau Pribula-Ahmad Hardy duo will be tough because Bama averages 155.5 rush yards allowed per game.

Alabama does boast the nation’s fifth-best passing defense, so if it can slow down Hardy out of the backfield, it can limit Pribula’s passing potential.

Mizzou has some impressive defensive numbers of its own. The Tigers allow 203.8 yards per game, the second-fewest total in the country, but they’ve only played two power-four schools.

Saturday’s game will be the true test of Mizzou’s defense, but right now, Bama has the more proven unit.

Prediction: Alabama (-3.5)

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A pair of major upsets helped to change the complexion of the Top 10 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll heading into Week 7 of the 2025 college football season.

Penn State sunk from No. 7 to unranked altogether after losing to previously winless UCLA at the Rose Bowl. Texas, previously No. 9, met the same fate thanks to a road defeat to unranked Florida.

That allowed Texas Tech and Georgia to move up a few spots into the Top 10.

At the risk of being a prisoner of the moment, Saturday might be the beginning of the end for James Franklin.

Coming up short to Oregon was bad enough because it continued the Nittany Lions’ struggles against upper-tier opponents under Franklin’s watch. Falling behind by 20 points in the first half to an 0-4 UCLA squad is an order of magnitude worse.

Penn State allowed the Bruins to churn up 280 yards on the ground, including 128 from quarterback Nico Iamaleava. UCLA had the ball for nearly 40 minutes.

Franklin’s handling of a 4th-and-2 late in the fourth quarter was puzzling as well to say the least. The Nittany Lions let nearly 30 seconds run off the clock despite having all of their timeouts.

The Bruins finally used a timeout, which allowed Franklin and his staff to draw up something to get at least three yards. Instead, quarterback Drew Allar was stuffed for a loss of three on a jet pass option that had no chance of success.

The conundrum for Penn State is that the football team has been incredibly consistent under the current regime. As bad as things are now, the Joe Paterno era tailed off toward the end, and Bill O’Brien won 15 combined games over two years while helping the program navigate through all of the sanctions resulting from the Jerry Sandusky scandal.

Franklin’s 104 wins are tied for second in school history behind Paterno.

And yet, you can’t blame fans for believing they’ve seen Penn State’s ceiling with the 53-year-old on the sideline. There’s the risk his replacement would be worse, but seeing the same general campaign unfold over and over again can be tiring.

Speaking of notable figures under increasing pressure, it seems increasingly clear why Arch Manning failed to beat out Quinn Ewers for the starting job in 2024.

The redshirt sophomore went 16-of-29 for 263 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in a 29-21 loss for Texas. Perhaps some of the reactions are still over the top, but there’s no question the star signal-caller is not reaching the heights everyone expected.

If Manning isn’t as good as advertised, that puts a serious dent in the Longhorns’ national championship hopes.

At the other end of the spectrum, a 28-22 road win over Florida State was a strong statement from Miami. The Hurricanes led by 25 points heading into the fourth quarter before taking their foot off the gas.

This was a particularly encouraging showing from starting quarterback Carson Beck, who had 241 passing yards and four touchdowns. Beck and freshman wide receiver Malachi Toney, who had seven catches for 107 yards and two scores, were particularly devastating through the air.

Miami fans have seen their fair share of false dawns, including just last year as a 9-0 start became a 10-3 finish. This might be when everything finally clicks into place for the Canes.

Looking forward, Week 7’s schedule is an example of when the quad box gets put to good use.

Illinois hosts Ohio State at 12 p.m. ET, the same time Alabama hits the road to play Missouri. At 3:30 p.m., fans are treated to Indiana vs. Oregon and Oklahoma and Texas in the newest installment in the Red River Rivalry. In the prime-time slots, Florida vs. Texas A&M, Kansas vs. Texas Tech and Georgia vs. Auburn could all be ripe for upsets.

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25. Cincinnati (4-1, Previous Rank: NR)

Week 6 Results:Win vs. Iowa State (38-30)

The Bearcats have won four straight since dropping their opener to Nebraska, and they are 2-0 to begin Big 12 play after securing a 37-34 victory over Kansas in Week 5. Brendan Sorsby threw for 214 yards and two touchdowns while adding a third score on the ground, while Evan Pryor (10 carries, 111 yards, 2 TD) and Tawee Walker (14 carries, 89 yards) anchored a rushing attack that averaged 7.6 yards per carry. With UCF and Oklahoma State up next, they have a golden opportunity to run their winning streak to six straight.

24. Memphis (6-0, Previous Rank: NR)

Week 6 Results:Win vs. Tulsa (45-7)
Next Week:BYE

The Memphis offense is averaging 40.5 points during their 6-0 start to the year, and they are nipping at the heels of South Florida for the top spot among Ground of Five teams. Quarterback Brendon Lewis had another productive game with 266 passing yards, 67 rushing yards and four total touchdowns. He also threw two interceptions, but those were offset by the three picks the Tigers defense had against Tulsa quarterback Kirk Francis, to go along with a fumble recovery.

23. South Florida (4-1, Previous Rank: 25)

Week 6 Results:Win vs. Charlotte (54-26)
Next Week:at North Texas

A staggering 407 rushing yards helped the Bulls cruise to victory in a sloppy game where both teams turned the ball over four times, with quarterback Byrum Brown leading the way with 162 yards on 17 carries. A road matchup against North Texas next weekend will not be an easy game, and could be the toughest remaining test for a South Florida team trying to secure the Group of Five bid to the playoffs.

22. Vanderbilt (5-1, Previous Rank: 19)

Week 6 Results:Loss at Alabama (14-30)
Next Week:BYE

“If we play our game, it won’t be close.”

Bold words from Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia entering Saturday’s clash of ranked SEC squads, and a year after beating Alabama at home, he was unable to find that same magic in Tuscaloosa. Pavia finished 21-of-35 passing for 198 yards with one touchdown and one interception, and after briefly leading 14-7 in the second quarter, the Commodores were held scoreless in the second half.

21. Utah (4-1, Previous Rank: 23)

Week 6 Results:BYE
Next Week:vs. Arizona State

The Utes outscored the opposition by a 185-39 margin in their four wins, but laid an egg against Texas Tech when they allowed 24 fourth quarter points en route to a 34-10 loss. Devon Dampier has been dynamic under center and the defense has looked stout outside of that one ugly quarter, but back-to-back games against Arizona State and BYU will better illustrate just how good this Utah team is going to be in 2025.

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