Two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback Eli Manning is among eight first-year eligible modern-era players to advance to the next round of selection for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025.

Running back Marshawn Lynch, offensive linemen Joe Staley and Marshal Yanda, linebackers Luke Kuechly and Terrell Suggs, safety Earl Thomas and kicker Adam Vinatieri are the other first-year eligible players still in contention for next year’s enshrinement.

Among the 2024 Hall of Fame finalists remaining in contention for 2025 enshrinement are running back Fred Taylor, wide receivers Torry Holt and Reggie Wayne, tight end Antonio Gates, offensive linemen Willie Anderson and Jahri Evans, defensive lineman Jared Allen and defensive backs Eric Allen, Rodney Harrison and Darren Woodson.

In total, there are 50 modern-era players still in contention for the Hall of Fame Class of 2025.

Who are the remaining modern-era players?

Quarterbacks (2): Eli Manning, Steve McNair

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Running backs (6): Shaun Alexander, Tiki Barber, Eddie George, Marshawn Lynch, Fred Taylor, Ricky Watters

Wide receivers (6): Anquan Boldin, Torry Holt, Jimmy Smith, Steve Smith Sr., Hines Ward, Reggie Wayne

Tight ends (2): Ben Coates, Antonio Gates

Offensive linemen (12): Willie Anderson (T), Lomas Brown (T), Ruben Brown (G), Jahri Evans (G), Olin Kreutz (C), Logan Mankins (G), Jeff Saturday (C), Joe Staley (T), Richmond Webb (T), Erik Williams (T), Steve Wisniewski (G), Marshal Yanda (G)

Defensive linemen (8): John Abraham (DE/LB), Jared Allen (DE), Robert Mathis (DE), Haloti Ngata (DT), Simeon Rice (DE), Neil Smith (DE), Vince Wilfork (DT/NT), Kevin Williams (DT)

Linebackers (5): Cornelius Bennett, London Fletcher, James Harrison, Luke Kuechly, Terrell Suggs

Defensive backs (6): Eric Allen (CB), Kam Chancellor (S), Rodney Harrison (S), Earl Thomas (S), Troy Vincent (CB), Darren Woodson (S)

Special teams (3): Gary Anderson (K), Brian Mitchell (KR/PR also RB), Adam Vinatieri (K)

Who are the remaining senior players?

Quarterbacks (3): Ken Anderson, Charlie Conerly, Jim Plunkett

Running backs (5): Ottis Anderson, Roger Craig, Chuck Foreman, Cecil Isbell, Paul “Tank” Younger

Wide receivers (5): Billy ‘White Shoes” Johnson, Stanley Morgan, Art Powell, Sterling Sharpe, Otis Taylor

Offensive linemen (7): Ox Emerson, Joe Jacoby, Mike Kenn, Bob Kuechenberg, George Kunz, Jim Tyrer, Al Wistert

Defensive linemen (2): Jim Marshall, Harvey Martin

Linebackers (5): Carl Banks, Maxie Baughan, Larry Grantham, Clay Matthews Jr., Tommy Nobis

Defensive backs (4): Lester Hayes, Albert Lewis, Eddie Meador, Everson Walls

Who are the remaining coaches?

Bill Arnsparger
Tom Coughlin
Jeff Fisher
Alex Gibbs
Mike Holmgren
Chuck Knox
Richie Petitbon
Dan Reeves
Marty Schottenheimer
George Seifert
Mike Shanahan
Clark Shaughnessy

Who are the remaining contributors?

K.S. “Bud” Adams
Roone Arledge
Chris Berman
Howard Cosell
Otho Davis
John Facenda
Mike Giddings
Ralph Hay
Frank “Bucko” Kilroy
Eddie Kotal
Robert Kraft
Virginia McCaskey
Rich McKay
John McVay
Art Modell
Lee Remmel
Eddie Robinson
Art Rooney Jr.
Jerry Seeman
Seymour Siwoff
Amy Trask
Jim Tunney
Doug Williams
John Wooten

What are next steps for 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame selection?

The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s full Selection Committee will review the list of 50 modern-era contenders and vote for 25 nominees to the semifinalist stage. The names of the 25 semifinalists will be announced in about four weeks.

The lists for the senior players, coaches and contributors will be narrowed down to nine semifinalists apiece, with the announcements of those respective semifinalists expected in around two to three weeks.

Eventually, 20 total finalists will be presented at the Selection Committee’s annual meeting next year in advance of Super Bowl 59: 15 Modern-Era Players, three Seniors, one Coach and one Contributor.

While there is no set number of enshrinees for a Pro Football Hall of Fame class, the Hall of Fame’s selection process bylaws stipulate that between four and eight new members will be selected.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025 will be announced as part of the NFL Honors ceremony ahead of Super Bowl 59 in New Orleans.

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Saturday’s scheduled Mountain West Conference women’s volleyball match between Nevada and San Jose State has been moved from Reno, Nevada, to San Jose, California, the schools said in a joint statement.

‘The decision to move the location of the match has been made in the best interest of both programs and the well-being of the student-athletes, coaches, athletic staff and spectators,’ the statement said. ‘The decision has been made with the approval of the Mountain West Conference.’

The move comes after Nevada athletes had said they will not play San Jose State.

Nevada volleyball captain Sia Liilii told the Reno Gazette Journal on Oct. 15 that the team would not play over concerns about reports that a transgender player is on the San Jose team.

San Jose State has not commented on the gender of any player on its team and has said it complies with all NCAA and Mountain West Conference policies.

The university had told the RGJ on Monday that the team had still planned to travel to Nevada unless something changed.

‘At this time, unless something changes, SJSU volleyball plans to travel to Nevada for the scheduled match in order not to risk our team taking a forfeit,’ said Michelle Smith McDonald, senior director of media relations at San Jose State.

Nevada has remained steadfast that it couldn’t legally cancel the game, but it supports the decision of the players who have decided not to play.

With the venue change, Nevada would forfeit the game it doesn’t show up on Saturday.

Four colleges have refused to play San Jose State: Boise State, Southern Utah, Utah State and Wyoming. 

The start of the long journey toward ‘One Shining Moment’ is just a couple of weeks away, and our panel of voters has weighed in to determine who gets the honor of entering the men’s basketball season as the No. 1 team. Well, that honor can be a curse in some cases, as fans of this year’s choice are well aware.

For the second consecutive year, Kansas tops the preseason USA TODAY Sports men’s basketball coaches poll. The Jayhawks are one of four teams getting first-place votes, however, so it’s fair to say there might not be a clearcut favorite for the upcoming campaign. Kansas was voted No. 1 by 15 of the 31 coaches, and heads a group of five teams from the bigger Big 12 in the preseason top 10.

Alabama, coming off its first ever trip to the Final Four, will open at No. 2, finishing just one poll point ahead of two-time defending national champion Connecticut. Both the Crimson Tide and Huskies received six first-place nods. The remaining four No. 1 votes went to Houston, which will start the season at No. 4 overall. Perennial power Duke rounds out the top five.

TOP 25: Complete USA TODAY Sports preseason men’s basketball poll

IN-DEPTH: Season outlooks for every team in the preseason Top 25

Iowa State opens at No. 6, its highest starting point since USA TODAY began administering the coaches poll for the 1991-92 season, followed by No. 7 Gonzaga. The Big 12 holds the next two spots with Baylor at No. 8 and league newcomer Arizona at No. 9. North Carolina rounds out the top 10, though Duke and UNC are the only ACC squads in the Top 25.

In addition to claiming half the top 10 positions, the Big 12 is also represented by No. 20 Cincinnati for a total of six ranked teams. But it is the SEC that leads the overall conference numbers with nine in the Top 25. Among those is No. 25 Mississippi, making its first appearance in the preseason poll. The Big Ten has four, led by last year’s runner-up Purdue opening at No. 13. The Big East begins with three, meaning the so-called power-five leagues with the exception of Gonzaga comprise the entire Top 25.

Shohei Ohtani figures to be one of the stars of the 2024 World Series, with the Los Angeles Dodgers stars among the biggest worries for the New York Yankees.

However, the 30-year-old dual threat has spent the 2024 campaign playing as a designated hitter, with the Dodgers unable to call on the Japanese star as a pitcher. Since he signed an MLB-record $700 million contract to move across town from the Los Angeles Angels, a 2023 elbow surgery has kept Ohtani from taking the mound. The Dodgers have enjoyed an all-star season from Ohtani, but they haven’t seen what he can do as a pitcher just yet. Ohtani was seen throwing practice pitches before a game in August, but has yet to throw in competitive play as a Dodger.

That adds an element of intrigue going into the World Series. Ohtani’s surgery was over one year ago, opening the possibility that Los Angeles could throw a curve ball at the Yankees by adding a new pitcher to their rotation (or, at the very least, to their bullpen). With how important pitching is in playoff baseball, it’s an enticing option for the Dodgers, though if Ohtani isn’t ready, it could also come with a major risk.

Here’s what to know about whether Shohei Ohtani will pitch in the 2024 World Series:

Will Ohtani pitch in World Series?

The latest update on whether Shohei Ohtani will pitch for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series makes it sound like a very remote possibility.

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On Saturday, one day before the Dodgers secured their place in the World Series with a 10-5 Game 6 win over the New York Mets, Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts removed any hope of Ohtani pitching in Game 6 or Game 7.

Asked during a news conference whether there was any chance Ohtani could be called upon to step up to the mound in the NLCS, Roberts said ‘He is not, thank you for asking.’

While that doesn’t offer a ton of promise for Ohtani to function even as a reliever (much less getting a starting nod), the Dodgers have never completely ruled the Japanese star out of pitching in the playoffs. In September, Roberts said there was ‘not a 0% chance’ that Ohtani could pitch in the postseason.

‘Anything’s possible,’ said Roberts at the time. ‘This is something that is a long-term play. … I hope that’s on his mind, as far as motivation for his rehab. The odds of it coming to pass are very slim, but they’re not zero.’

As such, the signs are pointing to the New York Yankees having to deal with Ohtani the hitter (which is tough enough, given his 10 RBIs in 11 games in the playoffs), but not Ohtani the pitcher.

What is Shohei Ohtani’s injury?

On Sept. 19, 2023, Ohtani underwent surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow. The procedure, known as ‘Tommy John’ surgery, generally requires pitchers to spend a full calendar year rehabbing in order to return with the same sort of velocity and control they had before.

Fortunately for Ohtani and the Dodgers, Tommy John surgery is less taxing on a batter’s elbow. While the pitching motion stresses the UCL, batting requires a less lengthy recovery time. As a designated hitter, Ohtani has clearly recovered from the surgery: in 2024, he had a stellar season in his first year with the Dodgers, hitting 54 home runs and bringing in 130 RBIs.

How to watch 2024 World Series

Every game of the 2024 World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees will be broadcast on Fox. Fans looking to stream the games can watch with Fubo, which is offering a free trial to new subscribers.

Watch the World Series with a Fubo subscription

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Even at 6-0, the Kansas City Chiefs decided to follow some of their AFC competition’s lead in becoming the latest team to make a splashy deal for a wide receiver ahead of the NFL trade deadline.

On Wednesday, the Chiefs agreed to acquire five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins from the Tennessee Titans. The move comes just one week after the New York Jets secured Davante Adams and the Buffalo Bills landed Amari Cooper to boost their flagging passing attacks.

Hopkins has recorded just 15 catches for 173 yards and one touchdown, but he has been limited by a knee injury suffered in preseason and struggling Titans aerial attack. In Kansas City, he’ll be expected to help elevate an offense that posted just 145 passing yards in Sunday’s win over the San Francisco 49ers amid mounting injuries to the receiving corps.

Here are the winners and losers from the trade as well as our grades for both teams.

Winners

Patrick Mahomes

The two-time MVP was unflinching in the face of mounting injuries to his receiving corps, expressing faith last week in the diminished crew still at his disposal. Yet this move represents perhaps the most meaningful infusion of talent that was within reach for Kansas City – at least once Cooper was dealt. Scraping by with rookie speedster Xavier Worthy and veteran Justin Watson wasn’t a viable option, especially once JuJu Smith-Schuster went down with a hamstring injury that already has him out for Week 8. Mahomes might take some time to develop a rapport with Hopkins, but equipping the quarterback with a physical target who thrives in the short area gives him many of the easy throws that were shut off once Rice was lost. And for a passer who now is tied for the NFL lead with eight interceptions, he shouldn’t have to press quite as often.

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Travis Kelce

The blanket coverage that has followed him throughout the season isn’t going anywhere. But in light of his 17-yard outing against the 49ers, his second-lowest output of the season, it was clear that a change to the supporting cast was due. Mahomes will still have an eye out for his nine-time Pro Bowl tight end. But the quality of looks for Kelce should at least minorly improve.

DeAndre Hopkins

Call this a reward for his patience. Hopkins didn’t make a bunch of noise on his way out, and now the 32-year-old is bound to be a primary option for the NFL’s only undefeated team and its most dynamic quarterback. That’s a win merely in the scope of this season. But with his contract set to expire in the spring, Hopkins also is set up to showcase his skill set in a far more favorable setting than the one weighing him down in Tennessee.

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Losers

Will Levis and Mason Rudolph

Simply put, this deal doesn’t happen if Levis had given the Titans any reason to believe that he’s a worthwhile long-term investment at quarterback, or even a tenable one. But with the volatile passer unable to dial back his devil-may-care style, a Tennessee team that had been intent to be competitive this season instead pivoted, taking away one of its top receiving options to instead boost its draft capital. Hard to see that as anything other than an indication this team is already embracing a change behind center for 2025. With Levis still dealing with a shoulder injury that sidelined him in Week 7, the move also hurts Rudolph, who didn’t provide much of a spark as a fill-in starter against the Buffalo Bills.

Wide receivers on the trade block

When you’re mired in a poor offense on a sinking team, who wouldn’t dream of being shipped off to join Mahomes and the two-time champs? While this doesn’t necessarily preclude Kansas City from making another move, it’s enough of a splash to indicate that the team is set at receiver. Too bad for Cooper Kupp, Diontae Johnson, Darius Slayton, Christian Kirk and any other pass catchers.

JuJu Smith-Schuster

He had an impressive revitalization after Rice went down, recording seven catches for 130 yards against the New Orleans Saints. But did the hamstring injury he suffered at least in part open the door for this deal? While his connection with Mahomes will allow him to remain in the picture, it seems clear that Hopkins’ arrival cuts significantly into the role Smith-Schuster was trying to carve out.

AFC contenders

Everyone else in the field has at least two losses already. Ahead of matchups with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Denver Broncos and Buffalo Bills, the Chiefs have now shored up their weakest spot. The climb to knock Kansas City from its perch – and prevent another AFC championship game at Arrowhead Stadium – is only growing more imposing.

DeAndre Hopkins trade grades

Chiefs: A-

This seemed like the deal that made too much sense to actually happen. And for a while, it appeared it wouldn’t, with buzz that the Titans weren’t eager to move on from their No. 2 target and Hopkins not broadcasting any discontent with his standing. Still, general manager Brett Veach found a way to swing a deal for a pass catcher for the third consecutive year ahead of the trade deadline.

Here’s to betting that Hopkins’ impact could be greater than that of Kadarius Toney and Mecole Hardman, however. Try as the Chiefs might to forge ahead, it was clear that an additional weapon was required after Rashee Rice’s season-ending knee injury, which compounded the problems for a receiving corps that is already without Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown (shoulder) until at least the playoffs. Hopkins doesn’t need to rediscover his electric early-career form for this to work out. If he can simply continue to overpower defensive backs at the catch point and feast on a high volume of targets on underneath and intermediate routes, he can help the Chiefs’ revised offensive mission of being highly functional rather than explosive.

Titans: B

General manager Ran Carthon deserves some credit for seeing the bigger picture and not simply barreling ahead with Hopkins. While it stood to reason that a receiver who makes his mark on contested catches would be a fine complement to Calvin Ridley, who wins on separation, and a major asset to an unsteady second-year signal-caller in Levis, things obviously haven’t panned out for the 1-5 Titans. With Tennessee already down a third-round pick in 2025 thanks to the L’Jarius Sneed trade – which so far has yielded ugly results – it was time to scrounge up more draft assets for a team due for another offseason reboot in its offensive personnel.

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