Cody Rhodes did enough to defeat Kevin Owens and retain the Undisputed WWE Championship but the celebration was short-lived.

Owens attacked Rhodes after the Saturday Night’s Main Event show went off the air and performed a piledriver on the champion. Rhodes did not move after the attack and had to be carried out of the arena on a stretcher.

With Rhodes laid out in the middle of the ring, Owens picked up the Winged Eagle championship and began taunting the crowd.

As Owens was headed backstage, he was approached and shoved by Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque. The confrontation was first seen by fans in the arena who shared the footage on social media.

Here’s what happened at Saturday Night’s Main Event:

Cody Rhodes vs. Kevin Owens

Result: Cody Rhodes def. Kevin Owens

Highlights for this action-packed match:

Cody Rhodes brings back the Winged Eagle Championship

Chelsea Green vs. Michin

Result: Chelsea Green def. Michin

Highlights for this action-packed match:

Gunther (c) vs. Finn Balor vs. Damian Priest

Result: Gunther def. Damian Priest and Finn Balor

Highlights for this action-packed match:

Liv Morgan (c) vs. Iyo Sky

Result: Liv Morgan def. Iyo Sky

Highlights for this action-packed match:

Sami Zayn vs. Drew McIntyre

Result: Drew McIntyre def. Sami Zayn

Here are some highlights:

When is Saturday Night’s Main Event?

Saturday Night’s Main Event begins at 8 p.m. ET Saturday, Dec. 14. It will be a two-hour event.

Where is Saturday Night’s Main Event?

Saturday Night’s Main Event will take place at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York, on Long Island. It’s the same arena where the first Saturday Night’s Main Event was held in 1985.

How to watch Saturday Night’s Main Event: TV channel, streaming

The event will be broadcast on NBC or can be streamed on Peacock.

Watch WWE Main Event with Peacock.

Saturday Night’s Main Event match card

Matches not in order

Undisputed WWE Championship match: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Kevin Owens
Triple threat match for World Heavyweight Championship: Gunther (c) vs. Finn Balor vs. Damian Priest
Women’s World Championship match: Liv Morgan (c) vs. Iyo Sky
Final for inaugural Women’s United States Championship: Chelsea Green vs. Michin
Sami Zayne vs. Drew McIntyre

What is Saturday Night’s Main Event?

In the 1980s, if there was an event that had WrestleMania-worthy matches not at WrestleMania and for a nationwide audience, it was Saturday Night’s Main Event.

As wrestling continued to grow across the country and WWE strengthened its position as the top company in the U.S., Saturday Night’s Main Event was a way to showcase the biggest stars getting in the ring against each other. Typically held on NBC, it allowed millions of people a rare opportunity to tune in.

The show was a success and multiple shows a year would take place from 1985-1992. After a hiatus, it was brought back in 2006 and a couple more shows took place over the next few years. Now, in 2024, it’s back and appears to be something WWE is going to try to hold continuously; another Saturday Night’s Main Event will be held on Jan. 25 in San Antonio.

Who will be the announcers for Saturday Night’s Main Event?

A familiar voice will be on the call for Saturday Night’s Main Event.

WWE Hall of Famer Jesse Ventura will be back to put on the headset Saturday night. The former governor of Minnesota was a commentator for WWE after his wrestling career and was featured in the early editions of Saturday Night’s Main Event.

Women’s United States Championship tournament

History will be made on Saturday night with the crowning of the first Women’s United States Championship. For months, fans have been calling on WWE to introduce a mid-card title to the women’s division, and now it’s finally here.

To determine the first champion, a tournament was held with the finals taking place on Saturday night between Chelsea Green and Michin. Here is how the tournament played out:

First round

Bayley def. Candice LeRae and B-Fab
Chelsea Green def. Bianca Belair and Blair Davenport
Michin def. Lash Legend and Piper Niven
Tiffany Stratton def. Naomi and Elektra Lopez

Semifinals

Chelsea Green def. Bayley
Michin def. Tiffany Stratton

Finals

Chelsea Green vs. Michin

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

The Golden State Warriors reached a deal to acquire guard Dennis Schroder and a second-round pick from the Brooklyn Nets for guard De’Anthony Melton and three second-round picks, ESPN reported Saturday.

The trade cannot be made official until Sunday when Melton becomes trade-eligible.

The Warriors get backcourt help from Schroder, who had a strong summer at the 2024 Paris Olympics for Germany and is producing for the Nets, averaging 18.4 points and 6.6 assists and shooting 45.2% from the field, 38.7% on 3-pointers and 88.9% on free throws. He has three games with 30 or more points this season, including 34 against Milwaukee.

Schroder, 31, signed a two-year, $25.4 million with Toronto in 2023 and was dealt to Brooklyn at the trade deadline last season. He is a free agent after this season.

The Warriors signed Melton, 26, to a one-year, $12.8 million contract in the offseason, and he averaged 10.3 points in six games before undergoing season-ending knee surgery for a partially torn left ACL.

“I feel so bad for De’Anthony,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr told reporters last month. “He’s such a perfect fit for us and we were so excited to have him, and he was clearly going to be our starter next to Steph (Curry). The good news is he’s a young guy and the surgery is pretty routine these days, so he should be able to come back and resume his career really well, but I feel awful for him and bad for us, too.”

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast.Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

Cody Rhodes did enough to defeat Kevin Owens and retain the Undisputed WWE Championship but the celebration was short-lived.

Owens attacked Rhodes after the Saturday Night’s Main Event show went off the air and performed a piledriver on the champion. Rhodes did not move after the attack and had to be carried out of the arena on a stretcher.

With Rhodes laid out in the middle of the ring, Owens picked up the Winged Eagle championship and began taunting the crowd.

As Owens was headed backstage, he was approached and shoved by Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque. The confrontation was first seen by fans in the arena who shared the footage on social media.

Here’s what happened at Saturday Night’s Main Event:

Cody Rhodes vs. Kevin Owens

Result: Cody Rhodes def. Kevin Owens

Highlights for this action-packed match:

Cody Rhodes brings back the Winged Eagle Championship

Chelsea Green vs. Michin

Result: Chelsea Green def. Michin

Highlights for this action-packed match:

Gunther (c) vs. Finn Balor vs. Damian Priest

Result: Gunther def. Damian Priest and Finn Balor

Highlights for this action-packed match:

Liv Morgan (c) vs. Iyo Sky

Result: Liv Morgan def. Iyo Sky

Highlights for this action-packed match:

Sami Zayn vs. Drew McIntyre

Result: Drew McIntyre def. Sami Zayn

Here are some highlights:

When is Saturday Night’s Main Event?

Saturday Night’s Main Event begins at 8 p.m. ET Saturday, Dec. 14. It will be a two-hour event.

Where is Saturday Night’s Main Event?

Saturday Night’s Main Event will take place at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York, on Long Island. It’s the same arena where the first Saturday Night’s Main Event was held in 1985.

How to watch Saturday Night’s Main Event: TV channel, streaming

The event will be broadcast on NBC or can be streamed on Peacock.

Watch WWE Main Event with Peacock.

Saturday Night’s Main Event match card

Matches not in order

Undisputed WWE Championship match: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Kevin Owens
Triple threat match for World Heavyweight Championship: Gunther (c) vs. Finn Balor vs. Damian Priest
Women’s World Championship match: Liv Morgan (c) vs. Iyo Sky
Final for inaugural Women’s United States Championship: Chelsea Green vs. Michin
Sami Zayne vs. Drew McIntyre

What is Saturday Night’s Main Event?

In the 1980s, if there was an event that had WrestleMania-worthy matches not at WrestleMania and for a nationwide audience, it was Saturday Night’s Main Event.

As wrestling continued to grow across the country and WWE strengthened its position as the top company in the U.S., Saturday Night’s Main Event was a way to showcase the biggest stars getting in the ring against each other. Typically held on NBC, it allowed millions of people a rare opportunity to tune in.

The show was a success and multiple shows a year would take place from 1985-1992. After a hiatus, it was brought back in 2006 and a couple more shows took place over the next few years. Now, in 2024, it’s back and appears to be something WWE is going to try to hold continuously; another Saturday Night’s Main Event will be held on Jan. 25 in San Antonio.

Who will be the announcers for Saturday Night’s Main Event?

A familiar voice will be on the call for Saturday Night’s Main Event.

WWE Hall of Famer Jesse Ventura will be back to put on the headset Saturday night. The former governor of Minnesota was a commentator for WWE after his wrestling career and was featured in the early editions of Saturday Night’s Main Event.

Women’s United States Championship tournament

History will be made on Saturday night with the crowning of the first Women’s United States Championship. For months, fans have been calling on WWE to introduce a mid-card title to the women’s division, and now it’s finally here.

To determine the first champion, a tournament was held with the finals taking place on Saturday night between Chelsea Green and Michin. Here is how the tournament played out:

First round

Bayley def. Candice LeRae and B-Fab
Chelsea Green def. Bianca Belair and Blair Davenport
Michin def. Lash Legend and Piper Niven
Tiffany Stratton def. Naomi and Elektra Lopez

Semifinals

Chelsea Green def. Bayley
Michin def. Tiffany Stratton

Finals

Chelsea Green vs. Michin

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

Colorado star Travis Hunter was named the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner on Saturday night.

He was one of the four Heisman Trophy finalists that were revealed earlier this week.

Hunter, Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, Miami quarterback Cam Ward and Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel were all invited to attend the ceremony. Hunter and Jeanty were the favorites to win the award.

Hunter won several other awards, including the Walter Camp Award (college player of the year), the Biletnikoff Award (best receiver) and the Bednarik Award (best defensive player), on Thursday. He was also named the AP College Football Player of the Year.

Jeanty was also recognized with notable awards, including the Maxwell Award (college player of the year) and the Doak Walker Award (top running back). Ward won the Davey O’Brien Award, presented to the top quarterback in the country. Gabriel did not receive any major awards this week but has helped lead the Ducks to the top seed in the College Football Playoff bracket.

Follow USA TODAY Sports for all the latest news, highlights and analysis of the 2024 Heisman Trophy ceremony:

Heisman Trophy voting results

Travis Hunter hints at playing in Alamo Bowl

Colorado star Travis Hunter hinted at playing in the Alamo Bowl during his Heisman Trophy speech. Hunter said he didn’t want to get emotional talking about Shedeur Sanders because they still had one last game together as teammates at Colorado.

Travis Hunter wins the 2024 Heisman Trophy

Travis Hunter became just the second defensive player to win the Heisman Trophy along with Charles Woodson (1997).

Hunter also becomes the first Colorado football player to win the trophy since Rashaan Salaam in 1994.

Travis Hunter praised by Shedeur Sanders

Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders spoke highly of Hunter’s ability to communicate throughout the game. Sanders mentioned that Hunter will often come to him during games to explain what he has seen from opposing defensive backs on the field.

Ashton Jeanty stayed true to Boise State

Jeanty’s mom Pamela spoke proudly of her son for displaying a level of loyalty to Boise State.

‘He knew that was the best place for him to be,’ she told ESPN’s Holly Rowe.

Boise State coach Spencer Danielson also spoke about Jeanty’s desire to return to the program in order to leave a legacy. Danielson called Jeanty a ’10 out of 10 human being.’

Jeanty put his trust in Danielson, who was officially named the head coach for the 2024 season after leading the team as an interim coach in 2023.

Dillon Gabriel praised for leadership

Gabriel’s father Garrett and Oregon coach Dan Lanning spoke highly of Gabriel’s leadership abilities during the ceremony.

Gabriel’s mother Dori also spoke about his charisma being on display at a young age, being able to corral kids from around the neighborhood to play.

Cam Ward’s parents never miss a game

ESPN’s Chris Fowler credits Ward’s parents, Calvin and Patrice Ward, for never missing one of his games. Ward’s career started at Incarnate Word, which was his only offer coming out of high school, before transferring to Washington State and finishing out his last year of college as a Miami Hurricane. He played in 56 games during his college career.

Ron Dayne honored during ceremony

Former Wisconsin running back Ron Dayne was shouted out during the ceremony for winning the Heisman Trophy 25 years ago.

Ashton Jeanty lives up to early season remarks

The four finalists appear on stage surrounded by previous Heisman Trophy winners, including Desmond Howard and Tim Tebow during the opening minutes of the show.

Tebow recalled a conversation he had with Jeanty at the beginning of the season.

Tebow mentioned that he was at Boise State to speak with the team before Jeanty approached him to tell him that he would see him in New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony. After rushing for 2,497 yards and 29 touchdowns, Jeanty was named a finalist earlier this week.

Heisman Trophy finalists show up for award ceremony

Travis Hunter, Dillon Gabriel, Cam Ward and Ashton Jeanty are suited and ready for the Heisman Trophy ceremony on ESPN.

When is the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner announced?

The Heisman Trophy winner will be revealed on Saturday, Dec. 14.

What time is the Heisman Trophy winner announced?

The announcement will come during a special ‘Heisman Trophy Ceremony Presented by Nissan,’ airing at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN/ESPN+.

Watch Heisman Trophy coverage on ESPN with a Fubo subscription

Heisman Trophy winner odds:

Odds via BetMGM as of 5:00 p.m. ET Thursday:

CB/WR Travis Hunter, Colorado (-2500)
RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State (+1000)
QB Dillon Gabriel, Oregon (+25000)
QB Cam Ward, Miami (+25000)

Heisman Trophy ceremony: TV, Time and streaming

TV: ESPN
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Appel Room in New York
Streaming: ESPN+ and Fubo

How does Heisman Trophy voting work?

The Heisman Trophy Trust will distribute 928 ballots to designated representatives, including media members, previous winners and one fan vote conducted by ESPN through the Nissan Heisman House. These representatives will vote using a three-point system, ranking their top three players who had the most outstanding seasons in college football. The player with the highest total points will be awarded the Heisman Trophy. — Elizabeth Flores

Who were the other contenders for the 2024 Heisman Trophy?

The top 10 Heisman Trophy vote-getters were announced on Friday night on ESPN.

5th: Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo
6th: Army quarterback Bryson Daily
7th: Penn State tight end Tyler Warren
8th: Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders
9th: Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke
10th: Syracuse quarterback Kyle McCord

Who won Heisman Trophy in 2023? 

LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels was named college football’s most outstanding player in 2023 after leading the nation in total offense, passing efficiency, points responsible for and rushing yards per carry. Daniels had 40 passing touchdowns (tied for the most with Oregon’s Bo Nix) and 10 rushing touchdowns. He completed 72.2% of his passes for 3,812 yards, in addition to 1,134 rushing yards.

Daniels was the third LSU player to win the Heisman, following QB Joe Burrow (2019) and RB Billy Cannon (1959).

Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. finished second in voting, followed by Nix in third. — Cydney Henderson

Heisman Trophy winners by year

1935: RB Jay Berwanger (Chicago)
1936: TE Larry Kelley (Yale)
1937: HB Clinton Frank (Yale)
1938: QB Davey O’Brien (TCU)
1939: RB Nile Kinnick (Iowa)
1940: RB Tom Harmon (Michigan)
1941: RB Bruce Smith (Minnesota)
1942: RB Frank Sinkwich (Georgia)
1943: QB Angelo Bertelli (Notre Dame)
1944: HB Les Horvath (Ohio State)
1945: FB Doc Blanchard (Army)
1946: RB Glenn Davis (Army)
1947: QB John Lujack (Notre Dame)
1948: RB Doak Walker (SMU)
1949: TE Leon Hart (Notre Dame)
1950: RB Vic Janowicz (Ohio State)
1951: RB Dick Kazmaier (Princeton)
1952: RB Billy Vessels (Oklahoma)
1953: RB John Lattner (Notre Dame)
1954: FB Alan Ameche (Wisconsin)
1955: RB Howard Cassady (Ohio State)
1956: QB Paul Hornung (Notre Dame)
1957: RB John David Crow (Texas A&M)
1958: RB Pete Dawkins (Army)
1959: RB Billy Cannon (LSU)
1960: RB Joe Bellino (Navy)
1961: RB Ernie Davis (Syracuse)
1962: QB Terry Baker (Oregon State)
1963: QB Roger Staubach (Navy)
1964: QB John Huarte (Notre Dame)
1965: RB Mike Garrett (Southern California)
1966: QB Steve Spurrier (Florida)
1967: QB Gary Beban (UCLA)
1968: RB O.J. Simpson (Southern California)
1969: RB Steve Owens (Oklahoma)
1970: QB Jim Plunkett (Stanford)
1971: QB Pat Sullivan (Auburn)
1972: WR Johnny Rodgers (Nebraska)
1973: RB John Cappelletti (Penn State)
1974: RB Archie Griffin (Ohio State)
1975: RB Archie Griffin (Ohio State)
1976: RB Tony Dorsett (Pittsburgh)
1977: RB Earl Campbell (Texas)
1978: RB Billy Sims (Oklahoma)
1979: RB Charles White (Southern California)
1980: RB George Rogers (South Carolina)
1981: RB Marcus Allen (Southern California)
1982: RB Herschel Walker (Georgia)
1983: RB Mike Rozier (Nebraska)
1984: QB Doug Flutie (Boston College)
1985: RB Bo Jackson (Auburn)
1986: QB Vinny Testaverde (Miami-Fla.)
1987: WR Tim Brown (Notre Dame)
1988: RB Barry Sanders (Oklahoma State)
1989: QB Andre Ware (Houston)
1990: QB Ty Detmer (Brigham Young)
1991: WR Desmond Howard (Michigan)
1992: QB Gino Torretta (Miami-Fla.)
1993: QB Charlie Ward (Florida State)
1994: RB Rashaan Salaam (Colorado)
1995: RB Eddie George (Ohio State)
1996: QB Danny Wuerffel (Florida)
1997: CB Charles Woodson (Michigan)
1998: RB Ricky Williams (Texas)
1999: RB Ron Dayne (Wisconsin)
2000: QB Chris Weinke (Florida State)
2001: QB Eric Crouch (Nebraska)
2002: QB Carson Palmer (Southern California)
2003: QB Jason White (Oklahoma)
2004: QB Matt Leinart (Southern California)
2005: RB Reggie Bush (Southern California)
2006: QB Troy Smith (Ohio State)
2007: QB Tim Tebow (Florida)
2008: QB Sam Bradford (Oklahoma)
2009: RB Mark Ingram (Alabama)
2010: QB Cam Newton (Auburn)
2011: QB Robert Griffin III (Baylor)
2012: QB Johnny Manziel (Texas A&M)
2013: QB Jameis Winston (Florida State)
2014: QB Marcus Mariota (Oregon)
2015: RB Derrick Henry (Alabama)
2016: QB Lamar Jackson (Louisville)
2017: QB Baker Mayfield (Oklahoma)
2018: QB Kyler Murray (Oklahoma)
2019: QB Joe Burrow (LSU)
2020: WR DeVonta Smith (Alabama)
2021: QB Bryce Young (Alabama)
2022: QB Caleb Williams (Southern California)
2023: QB Jayden Daniels (LSU)

Which school has the most Heisman Trophy winners?

USC boasts the most Hesiman Trophy winners with eight recipients. Quarterback Caleb Williams was the Trojans’ most recent winner, taking the trophy in 2022. USC is followed by Ohio State, Oklahoma and Notre Dame, who each have seven winners.

Who are the 2024 Heisman Trophy finalists?

Travis Hunter stats

Travis Hunter currently has 92 receptions for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns in 12 games played. He also had one rushing touchdown. On defense, he recorded 32 tackles (one for a loss), four interceptions, 11 pass breakups and a forced fumble.

Ashton Jeanty stats

Ashton Jeanty currently has 344 carries for 2,497 yards and 29 touchdowns in 13 games this season. He added 116 receiving yards and a touchdown on 20 receptions.

Cam Ward stats

Cam Ward finished the regular season having completed 293 of his 435 pass attempts for 4,123 yards, 36 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 12 games played. He also rushed for 196 yards and four touchdowns on 58 carries.

Dillon Gabriel stats

Dillon Gabriel has completed 297 of 406 pass attempts for 3,558 yards, 28 touchdowns and six interceptions in 13 games played. He’s also contributed to the run game with 192 yards and seven touchdowns on 63 carries.

College Football Playoff bracket: CFP schedule

The first round of the College Football Playoff will begin with one game on Friday, Dec. 19 and conclude with three games scheduled for Dec. 20.

All times Eastern

FRIDAY, DEC. 20

Game 1: No. 7 Notre Dame vs. No. 10 Indiana, 8 p.m. (ABC/ESPN)

SATURDAY, DEC. 21

Game 2: No. 6 Penn State vs. No. 11 SMU, noon (TNT)
Game 3: No. 5 Texas vs. No. 12 Clemson, 4 p.m. (TNT)
Game 4: No. 8 Ohio State vs. No. 9 Tennessee, 8 p.m. (ABC/ESPN)

CFP quarterfinals schedule

The four quarterfinal games will be played on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, with one game on Dec. 31 and three on Jan. 1. All games will be televised by ESPN.

All times Eastern

TUESDAY, DEC. 31

Fiesta Bowl: No. 3 Boise State vs. Penn State/SMU winner, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 1

Peach Bowl: No. 4 Arizona State vs. Texas/Clemson winner, 1 p.m. (ESPN)
Rose Bowl: No. 1 Oregon vs. Ohio State/Tennessee winner, 5 p.m. (ESPN)
Sugar Bowl: No. 2 Georgia vs. Notre Dame/Indiana winner, 8:45 p.m. (ESPN)

CFP semifinals schedule

The semifinal games will be played on Jan. 9 and Jan. 10. Both games will be televised by ESPN.

All times Eastern

THURSDAY, JAN. 9

Orange Bowl: Fiesta Bowl winner vs. Sugar Bowl winner, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)

FRIDAY, JAN. 10

Cotton Bowl: Peach Bowl winner vs. Rose Bowl winner, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)

CFP national championship game schedule

MONDAY, JAN. 20

Game: Orange Bowl winner vs. Cotton Bowl winner
Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN

Catch CFP games with Fubo

CFP Rankings 

Oregon (Big Ten champion, No. 1 seed)*
Georgia (SEC champion, No. 2 seed)*
Texas (No. 5 seed)
Penn State (No. 6 seed)
Notre Dame (No. 7 seed)
Ohio State (No. 8 seed)
Tennessee (No. 9 seed)
Indiana (No. 10 seed)
Boise State (MWC champion, No. 3 seed)*
SMU (No. 11 seed)
Alabama
Arizona State (Big 12 champion, No. 4 seed)*
Miami
Mississippi
South Carolina
Clemson (ACC champion, No. 12 seed)**

*first-round bye; **automatic bid

Bowl game schedule

There are 46 games on the college football postseason schedule this season, with the expansion of the College Football Playoff adding to the intrigue of bowl season. The Salute to Veterans Bowl between South Alabama and Western Michigan kicks off the action on Dec. 14 and it all comes to a conclusion 37 days later at the CFP national championship game. USA TODAY Sports has you covered with a complete schedule for every bowl game coming up on the calendar. — Mark Giannotto

USA Today college football bowl schedule

How does College Football Playoff format work? 

The 12 participating teams in the College Football Playoff bracket are the five conference champions ranked highest by the CFP selection committee, and the next seven highest-ranked teams.

The four highest-ranked conference champions are seeded one through four and received a first-round bye. The fifth conference champion is seeded where it was ranked among the top 12 teams, or at No. 12 if it is outside the top 12 in the CFP rankings. Non-conference champions ranked in the top four will be seeded beginning at No. 5.

‘Because of this,’ the CFP warns on its website, ‘the seeding, 1 through 12, could look different than the final rankings.’

For the first round, the higher-ranked team in each pairing (5 vs. 12, 6 vs. 11, 7 vs. 10, 8 vs. 9) will serve as host on campus. The winners advance to the quarterfinals and match up with the corresponding top-four conference champion based on seeding. Quarterfinal games will played at the Fiesta Bowl, Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. The semifinals – played at the Orange Bowl and Cotton Bowl Classic – will take place Jan. 9-10.

The two semifinal winners will play for the national championship Jan. 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. — Mark Giannotto

Who is the Heisman Trophy named after?

The trophy is named after John W. Heisman, a former Georgia Tech head coach whose teams dominated offensively for the better part of two decades in the early 20th century. He coached the biggest rout in college football history, a 222-0 drubbing of Cumberland College in 1916. — Scooby Axson

How much does the Heisman Trophy weigh?

The completed trophy weighs 45 pounds and is 14 inches long, 13 inches high, and 6 inches wide. Since 2005, MTM Recognition, a Del City, Oklahoma company, has produced the Heisman and ships the trophy to New York before the ceremony. A generic nameplate goes along with the trophy and is replaced after the winner is announced and before the news conference later that night. — Scooby Axson

Heisman Trophy winners listed by school

USC Trojans (eight)

Mike Garrett (1965)
O.J. Simpson (1968)
Charles White (1979)
Marcus Allen (1981)
Carson Palmer (2002)
Matt Leinart (2004)
Reggie Bush (2005)
Caleb Williams (2022)

Notre Dame Fighting Irish (seven)

Angelo Bertelli (1943)
Johnny Lujack (1947)
Leon Hart (1949)
Johnny Lattner (1953)
Paul Hornung (1956)
John Huarte (1964)
Tim Brown (1987)

Ohio State Buckeyes (seven)

Les Horvath (1944)
Vic Janowicz (1950)
Howard Cassady (1955)
Archie Griffin (1974)
Archie Griffin (1975)
Eddie George (1995)
Troy Smith (2006)

Oklahoma Sooners (seven)

Billy Vessels (1952)
Steve Owens (1969)
Billy Sims (1978)
Jason White (2003)
Sam Bradford (2008)
Baker Mayfield (2017)
Kyler Murray (2018)

Alabama Crimson Tide (four)

Mark Ingram II (2009)
Derrick Henry (2015)
DeVonta Smith (2020)
Bryce Young (2021)

Army Black Knights (three)

Doc Blanchard (1945)
Glenn Davis (1946)
Pete Dawkins (1958)

Auburn Tigers (three)

Pat Sullivan (1971)
Bo Jackson (1985)
Cam Newton (2010)

Florida Gators (three)

Steve Spurrier (1966)
Danny Wuerffel (1996)
Tim Tebow (2007)

Florida State Seminoles (three)

Charlie Ward (1993)
Chris Weinke (2000)
Jameis Winston (2013)

Louisiana State University Tigers (three)

Billy Cannon (1959)
Joe Burrow (2019)
Jayden Daniels (2023)

Michigan Wolverines (three)

Tom Harmon (1940)
Desmond Howard (1991)
Charles Woodson (1997)

Nebraska Cornhuskers (three)

Johnny Rodgers (1972)
Mike Rozier (1983)
Eric Crouch (2001)

Georgia Bulldogs (two)

Frank Sinkwich (1942)
Herschel Walker (1982)

Miami Hurricanes (two)

Vinny Testaverde (1986)
Gino Torretta (1992)

Navy Midshipmen (two)

Joe Bellino (1960)
Roger Staubach (1963)

Texas Longhorns (two)

Earl Campbell (1977)
Ricky Williams (1998)

Texas A&M Aggies (two)

John David Crow (1957)
Johnny Manziel (2012)

Wisconsin Badgers (two)

Alan Ameche (1954)
Ron Dayne (1999)

Yale Bulldogs (two)

Larry Kelley (1936)
Clint Frank (1937)

Baylor Bears (one)

Robert Griffin III (2011)

Boston College Eagles (one)

Doug Flutie (1984)

Brigham Young University Cougars (one)

Ty Detmer (1990)

University of Chicago Maroons (one)

Jay Berwanger (1935)

Colorado Buffaloes (one)

Rashaan Salaam (1994)

Houston Cougars (one)

Andre Ware (1989)

Iowa Hawkeyes (one)

Nile Kinnick (1939)

Louisville Cardinals (one)

Lamar Jackson (2016)

Minnesota Golden Gophers (one)

Bruce Smith (1941)

Oklahoma State Cowboys (one)

Barry Sanders (1988)

Oregon Ducks (one)

Marcus Mariota (2014)

Oregon State Beavers (one)

Terry Baker (1962)

Penn State Nittany Lions (one)

John Cappelletti (1973)

Pitt Panthers (one)

Tony Dorsett (1976)

Princeton Tigers (one)

Dick Kazmaier (1951)

South Carolina Gamecocks (one)

George Rogers (1980)

Southern Methodist Mustangs (one)

Doak Walker (1948)

Stanford Cardinal (one)

Jim Plunkett (1970)

Syracuse Orangemen (one)

Ernie Davis (1961)

Texas Christian Horned Frogs (one)

Davey O’Brien (1938)

UCLA Bruins (one)

Gary Beban (1967)

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(This story has been updated to add new information).

Opting out of bowl games has become a common occurrence in the modern college football landscape, with players choosing not to play in the postseason for various reasons, often to prepare for the NFL draft.

Heading into this year’s bowl season, there’s an entire team making the decision not to play.

Marshall has informed officials from the Independence Bowl that it will not play its scheduled game against Army on Dec. 28 in Shreveport, Louisiana, with the bowl’s leadership confirming the move Saturday.

Marshall will be replaced in the game by Louisiana Tech, which finished the regular season 5-7. The Bulldogs’ proximity to the Independence Bowl, with the school’s Ruston, Louisiana campus only about an hour away from Shreveport, made them an enticing option as a relatively late replacement.

Independence Bowl officials cited ‘player unavailability due to activity in the transfer portal’ as the reason for the move.

The Thundering Herd has hemorrhaged players in recent days, with 29 scholarship players leaving the program since Dec. 8, according to 247Sports. The player departures stem from Marshall coach Charles Huff leaving the university for the same position at Southern Miss, a fellow Sun Belt Conference member.

Huff helped led the Thundering Herd to a 10-3 record this season, capped off by a 31-3 rout of Louisiana-Lafayette in the Sun Belt championship game last Saturday. 

Despite that success, Huff had been coaching on a contract that was set to expire after this season and, after not making progress with the school on an extension, he left. Marshall quickly replaced him with NC State defensive coordinator Tony Gibson, a West Virginia native who has spent much of his coaching career in the state.

The matchup between the Thundering Herd and Black Knights had been rated by USA TODAY Sports as the fourth-best non-playoff bowl game.

Independence Bowl statement on Marshall opt-out

‘It is unfortunate that Marshall determined they won’t be able to compete in the bowl in a couple of weeks. Our goal was to create the best matchup possible for our local fans and college football fans throughout the country, and we think we did that with two conference champions. Moving forward we are very excited to host Louisiana Tech and are thrilled we found an opponent for Army. We appreciate La Tech AD Ryan Ivey, Coach Sonny Cumbie, their players, and support staff for their willingness to step up and play in our bowl game.’

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NCAA bowl replacement rule

With no other bowl eligible teams remaining to choose from, the Independence Bowl will have to find a replacement to face off against Army, the American Athletic Conference champions and the No. 18 team in the latest US LBM Coaches Poll. 

An opponent for Army will be determined based on 5-7 teams with the highest NCAA Academic Progress Rate scores.

Here are the steps that are taken to select sub-.500 teams for bowl games, according to the 2024-25 NCAA postseason bowl handbook1:

a. All teams meeting deserving team status must be placed in available bowl opportunities.
b. Once all deserving teams are exhausted, an Academic Progress Rate listing of teams in rank order is established and confirmed by NCAA staff.
c. If more than one bowl slot is available, that number of teams, in APR rank order, establishes the pool that moves to eligible status for placement. (Example: If three teams with five wins are needed to fill three open bowl spots, the pool will consist of the top three APR teams in descending order.)
d. If a conference has a team in the APR pool and a primary contract with a bowl game with an opening, that conference team will fill the spot.
e. Other placements will be made through conference office, bowl partner and institutional discussions.
f. Contractual arrangements lie with the conference/institution and the bowl partner and are not the authority of the NCAA or Division I Football Bowl Subdivision Oversight Committee.

One of its biggest games just wrapped up the 2024 regular season.

In the annual Army-Navy game Saturday, the Midshipmen largely had their way with the Black Knights, knocking off the No. 18 team in the latest US LBM Coaches Poll in a 31-13 victory at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland — the home venue of the NFL’s Washington Commanders.

Navy quarterback Blake Horvath was the star of his team’s win, rushing for 204 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries, an average of 8.2 yards per rush. He added 107 passing yards and two touchdowns. With the win, Navy earned the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy outright for the first time since 2019.

Defensively, the Midshipmen contained an Army offense headlined by Bryson Daily and the Joe Moore Award-winning offensive line. Daily was intercepted three times after coming into the game with just one interception in his team’s first 12 contests this season. The Black Knights were held to 178 total yards and just 3.2 yards per play.

While the matchup is a source of intense interest nationally every year, this year’s meeting was particularly intriguing.

Under coach Jeff Monken, Army was 11-1, tying the single-season record at a program with three claimed national championships. The Black Knights earned their biggest victory of the season last Friday, blowing past Tulane 35-14 in the American Athletic Conference championship game.

The Midshipmen, meanwhile, entered the game with an 8-3 record, a sizable improvement after finishing 5-7 in coach Brian Newberry’s first season. After a 6-0 start, however, Navy has lost three of its past five games. On Saturday, in its biggest game of the year, it was able to rebound in spectacular fashion.

The 18-point margin of victory represented a break from the series’ recent history. Of the 10 past Army-Navy Games, eight have been decided by one score, including last season’s 17-11 Army victory in Foxborough, Massachusetts. After Navy’s 14-game win streak in the series was snapped in 2016, the Black Knights had won six of the past eight meetings.

Here’s a look at the score, updates, highlights and more from Navy’s win against Army:

Army vs Navy score updates

Army vs Navy live updates

Final: Navy 31, Army 13

Bryson Daily throws third INT

It has been a forgettable day for Army quarterback Bryson Daily, who has been brilliant for so much of the 2024 season, but has struggled at times today against Navy.

With the Black Knights likely needing a miracle to pull off a comeback win, Daily throws his third interception of the day, with Luke Pirris picking him off at the Army 37-yard line with 3:35 remaining. Daily came into the game today with just one interception this season.

Navy likely ices game with FG

The Midshipmen take another, decisive step to a victory in the Army-Navy Game. After the Bryson Daily interception, Blake Horvath busts out a 48-yard run to get Navy to the Army 12-yard line.

On the ensuing play, it appeared as though the Midshipmen got a touchdown, with Eli Heidenreich finding the end zone from 12 yards out, but a holding penalty nullifies that and pushes Navy back. Still, the Midshipmen end the drive with a 27-yard Lance Gossett field goal to go up 31-13 with 3:39 remaining. That should about do it.

Bryson Daily throws second INT

While trying to cut into a 15-point deficit, Army quarterback Bryson Daily throws across his body and across the field to an open wideout, but Navy’s Andrew Duhart jumps in to deflect the ball in the air. From there, and with the ball somehow managing not to hit the turf, Kenneth McShan, collects the ball for the interception, giving the Midshipmen the ball at their own 33-yard line after an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

Blake Horvath fourth TD stretches Navy lead vs Army

The Midshipmen are able to capitalize on their well-timed special teams trickery.

The play after the successful fake punt, Blake Horvath ran 19 yards to the Army 5-yard line. After a couple of short runs, Horvath follows the blocking of his linemen and gets into the end zone for his second rushing touchdown and fourth total touchdown of the day. With the extra point, Navy leads Army 28-13 with 8:50 remaining.

Navy gets first down on fake punt

A gutsy play from the Midshipmen, who appeared in position to punt from their own 47-yard line, but the snap goes directly to 285-pound nose guard Landon Robinson, who rumbles 29 yards for a first down. The ball was punched out at the end of the scamper, but Navy falls on it to gain a first down at the Army 24.

Army FG makes it one-score game vs Navy

The Black Knights go 45 yards in 13 plays to get a 31-yard field goal from Trey Gronotte. With his kick, Army gets within eight points, 21-13, with 14:44 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Army very nearly got more points, but Bryson Daily was unable to connect with a wide-open Casey Reynolds on a second-and-9 from the Navy 14-yard line.

End of third quarter: Navy 21, Army 10

The third quarter ends with Navy holding on to an 11-point lead, but Army’s driving, with a second-and-9 at the Midshipmen’s 14-yard line.

Blake Horvath’s second TD pass extends Navy lead vs Army

In a game of long, sustained drives, Navy shows that a service academy can also score in a quick strike, too.

On a third-and-4 from his team’s own 48-yard line, Blake Horvath finds an open Eli Heidenreich for a first down and from there, Heidenreich breaks a tackle near the Army 40 and scampers the rest of the way into the end zone for a 52-yard touchdown that pushes the Midshipmen lead to 21-10 with 6:34 remaining. Heidenreich is whistled for unsportsmanlike conduct for spiking the ball in the end zone, a questionable call since it looked like an Army player walked into the ball’s path rather than Heidenreich attempting to taunt his opponent.

Horvath is now up to 107 yards and two touchdowns on just four completions.

Army opening drive ends with FG

The Black Knights go 47 yards in 11 plays on the first possession of the second half for either team while draining 6:40 off the clock in the process. It ends with a 39-yard field goal from Trey Gronotte to get Army within four points, 14-10, with 8:15 remaining in the third quarter.

The points were made possible by a conversion on fourth-and-1 from the Navy 49-yard line, when a Bryson Daily pass fell incomplete, but the Midshipmen were whistled for pass interference.

Halftime: Navy 14, Army 7

Navy’s drive stalls out just shy of midfield, leading to a punt that downs Army at its own 9-yard line before the Black Knights take a knee to drain the rest of the clock and take us into halftime.

The Midshipmen with a seven-point lead, but Army will get the ball to open the second half with a chance to tie things up.

Army punts, giving Navy final chance to score before halftime

The Black Knights were able to pick up a first down, but got little else, with a Bryson Daily pass on third-and-9 falling incomplete to force a 49-yard Army punt that gets Navy back to its 35-yard line with 1:25 remaining.

Bryson Daily and company have gained 13 yards or fewer on three of their four drives today.

Navy punts

A Blake Horvath 37-yard run up the middle got Navy in an advantageous position, with a first-and-10 from the Army 33-yard line. From there, though, the Midshipmen’s drive stalls and they fail to gain another yard.

A 28-yard punt is downed at the Army 8 with 4:05 remaining in the half.

Bryson Daily TD gets Army on the board vs Navy

Suddenly faced with a two-touchdown deficit, Army gets a much-needed scoring drive.

The Black Knights successfully converted a fourth-and-3 from the Navy 46-yard line, with Bryson Daily finding Casey Reynolds for an 18-yard pickup. Two plays later, Daily again goes to the air, this time connecting with Hayden Reed on a jump pass for a 23-yard touchdown.

The play finished off an 8-play, 65-yard drive after Army had gained only 25 combined yards on its first two possessions. With the extra point, it’s 14-7 with 6:29 remaining in the half.

Blake Horvath TD pass doubles Navy’s lead vs Army

The Midshipmen make the most of the rare Bryson Daily interception. After running for 21 yards on the previous play, Blake Horvath finds Brandon Chatman in stride on a beautifully executed wheel route, allowing him to go into the end zone untouched for an 18-yard touchdown pass.

With the extra point, Navy doubles its lead, with a 14-0 advantage over Army with 11:30 remaining in the first half.

Bryson Daily interception sets Navy up in Army territory

Staring down a third-and-8, Army quarterback Bryson Daily throws an interception to Navy’s Dashaun Peele at the Black Knights’ 46-yard line, where the Midshipmen will take over. The play came on an apparent miscommunication between Daily and his receiver.

It is just the second interception on 82 attempts this season for Daily, who was recently revealed to be the No. 6 vote-getter for the 2024 Heisman Trophy.

End of first quarter: Navy 7, Army 0

Botched pitch forces Navy to punt

The Midshipmen appeared to be in a good position early in their second drive, with a first-and-10 at their own 38-yard line, but a pitch from Blake Horvath goes awry, with the Navy quarterback having to chase down the ball and fall on it for a 14-yard loss.

Facing a second-and-24, the Midshipmen were unable to pick up another first down, but a 52-yard Navy punt pins Army at its own 12-yard line with just over a minute left in the period.

Midshipmen force an Army punt

After their scoring march, the Midshipmen forces Army to punt after a Bryson Daily pass on third-and-7 goes long, with no wide receiver in the area.

Navy takes over at its own 23-yard line with 5:23 remaining in the quarter.

Blake Horvath TD puts Navy on the board

Navy receives the opening kickoff and strikes first, with Blake Horvath leaping over the line from one yard out to cap off a 12-play, 64-yard drive that drains 6:04 off the clock.

The scoring march was keyed by a 31-yard pass from Horvarth to fullback Alex Tecza on a third-and-8 that got the Midshipmen to the Army 22-yard line.

It was one of three successful third-down conversions for Navy on the drive. An encouraging start, to say the least, for the Midshipmen against the No. 7 scoring defense in the FBS.

Pregame

Army vs Navy uniforms

Here’s a look at the uniforms Army and Navy football will be wearing for today’s matchup:

Marshall opts out of bowl game vs Army

As the Black Knights take the field for their final regular season game, their postseason future is experiencing a bit of an unexpected change.

According to a report Saturday from Yahoo Sports, Marshall is opting out of its scheduled appearance in the Independence Bowl against Army. Since coach Charles Huff left for Southern Miss, the Thundering Herd has lost 29 players to the transfer portal, according to 247Sports.

With Marshall out of the game and no 6-6 teams remaining, a replacement will have to be found among 5-7 teams, with the Black Knights’ opponent determined based on NCAA Academic Progress Rate scores.

Cadets take the field before Army-Navy Game

With kickoff still about two hours away, hundreds of West Point cadets are on the field and leading the Army faithful in a chant.

Army vs Navy game location

The 125th installment of the Army-Navy Game will be held at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, the home venue of the NFL’s Washington Commanders. In the hours leading up to the game, the field is ready for the Black Knights and Midshipmen.

Army vs Navy time today

Date: Saturday, Dec. 14
Time: 3 p.m. ET
Location: Northwest Stadium (Landover, Maryland)

What channel is the Army vs Navy game on today?

TV channel: CBS
Streaming: Paramount+ | Fubo (free trial)
Radio: Westwood One

The Army-Navy Game will air on CBS Saturday. Brad Nessler (play-by-play) and Gary Danielson (analyst) will call the game from the booth while Jenny Dell will serve as the sideline reporter. Streaming options for the game include Paramount+ and Fubo, the latter of which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.

Watch the Army-Navy Game live with Fubo (free trial)

Army vs Navy history

Series record: Navy leads 62-55-7
Army’s last win: 2023 (Army 17, Navy 11)
Navy’s last win: 2021 (Navy 17, Army 13)

Army vs Navy predictions

Below are picks and predictions for Saturday’s Army-Navy Game:

College Sports Wire: Army 23, Navy 21
Fox Sports: Army 28, Navy 23
ESPN: Army has 65.9% chance to win

Army vs Navy betting odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Friday, Dec. 13

Spread: Army (-6)
Over/under: 39.5 points
Moneyline: Army (-250) | Navy (+200)

Army vs Navy weather update

According to a forecast from The Weather Channel, there will be a mix of sunshine and clouds Saturday afternoon in Landover, Maryland, with a high temperature of 39 degrees. There will be light and variable winds, but that should only matter so much to two teams that seldom pass the ball.

Army football schedule 2024

Friday, Aug. 30: vs. Lehigh (W, 42-7)
Saturday, Sept. 7: at Florida Atlantic * (W, 24-7)
Saturday, Sept. 14: BYE
Saturday, Sept. 21: vs. Rice * (W, 37-14)
Thursday, Sept. 26: at Temple * (W, 42-14)
Saturday, Oct. 5: at Tulsa * (W, 49-7)
Saturday, Oct. 12: vs. UAB * (W, 44-10)
Saturday, Oct. 19: vs. East Carolina * (W, 45-28)
Saturday, Oct. 26: BYE
Saturday, Nov. 2: vs. Air Force (W, 20-3)
Saturday, Nov. 9: at North Texas * (W, 14-3)
Saturday, Nov. 16: BYE
Saturday, Nov. 23: vs. No. 6 Notre Dame (L, 49-14)
Saturday, Nov. 30: vs. UTSA * (W, 29-24)
Friday, Dec. 6: vs Tulane * (AAC championship game) (W, 35-14)
Saturday, Dec. 14: vs. Navy
Record: 11-1 overall, 9-0 in AAC play

* Denotes American Athletic Conference game

Navy football schedule 2024

Saturday, Aug. 31: vs. Bucknell (W, 49-21)
Saturday, Sept. 7: vs. Temple * (W, 38-11)
Saturday, Sept. 14: BYE
Saturday, Sept. 21: vs. Memphis * (56-44)
Saturday, Sept. 28: at UAB * (W, 41-18)
Saturday, Oct. 5: at Air Force (W, 34-7)
Saturday, Oct. 12: BYE
Saturday, Oct. 19: vs. Charlotte * (W, 51-17)
Saturday, Oct. 26: vs. No. 11 Notre Dame (L, 51-14)
Saturday, Nov. 2: at Rice * (L, 24-10)
Saturday, Nov. 9: at USF * (W, 28-7)
Saturday, Nov. 16: vs. Tulane * (L, 35-0)
Friday, Nov. 29: at East Carolina * (L, 34-20)
Saturday, Dec. 14: vs. No. 18 Army
Record: 8-3 overall, 6-2 in AAC play

* Denotes American Athletic Conference game

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Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss announced Friday he is recovering from surgery to treat cancer.

‘I’ve told you all over the last couple of weeks about me battling something internally and your boy is a cancer survivor,’ Moss said in an Instagram livestream.

Moss said he has been battling a cancer found outside of his bile duct between his pancreas and liver. He was in the hospital for six days for surgery, treatment, and recovery and was released Friday.

Moss has been a regular on the ESPN show ‘Sunday NFL Countdown’ this NFL season. The network announced on Dec. 6 he’d be stepping away from the show for an extended time.

‘As soon as I get healthy to get back out with guys, I will be on set,’ Moss said on the livestream Friday after thanking his ESPN coworkers. ‘Hopefully I can be with you guys soon.’

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

He thanked multiple doctors from the Charlotte-area medical center where he was treated as well as the staff on site during his recovery.

‘Thank you guys for helping nurse me back to recovery that I’m able to get home to my family,’ Moss said.

The Hall of Fame wide receiver is selling the sweatshirt he wore during the livestream on his personal website. He stated that all proceeds from those sales will go to cancer research.

‘I am a cancer survivor but we made it through and for that I thank you all,’ Moss said.

The Kansas City Chiefs are releasing kicker Matthew Wright as Harrison Butker is set to return this week and is expected to play in the Week 15 matchup against the Cleveland Browns.

A week after Wright successfully kicked a game-winning 31-yard field goal in a thrilling 19-17 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, which secured the Chiefs’ ninth consecutive AFC West title and their 15th straight win, the Chiefs have decided to waive him. Butker has been activated from the injured reserve list and is expected to start in the Week 15 game against the Browns.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

East Forsyth quarterback Bryce Baker will sign with the Tar Heels, Baker announced Saturday in a social media post. 

The Kernersville native committed to UNC in 2023, but former head coach Mack Brown’s firing on Nov. 26 prompted Baker to wait and re-evaluate his options before ultimately following through with the Belichick-led Tar Heels. 

LSU and Penn State were among the other programs pursuing Baker, who will increase UNC’s 2025 class to eight players as of Saturday. 

Bryce Baker stats

The 6-foot-2, 185-pound quarterback is a four-star prospect, according to 247Sports. In his final prep season, Baker completed 74.7% of his passes for 3,523 passing yards and 40 touchdowns in 14 games. He also had 72 carries for 303 rushing yards and six TDs. Baker is eighth nationally among QBs, according to the 247Sports Composite, and the No. 3 among in-state prospects.

Bill Belichick recruiting philosophy in North Carolina, nationally 

During his introductory press conference on Thursday in Chapel Hill, Belichick was asked about the importance of targeting in-state players and getting those recruits to UNC. 

Belichick said it will “absolutely” be a priority to “recruit well” in North Carolina, but it goes beyond getting in-state players to stay home.  

“There’s a lot of good football players in North Carolina and the surrounding states, but North Carolina is a national university. I mean, this is the best public university in the country. Any kid that wants a good education, be in a good football program, be at a great campus, play in a great environment, we’ll recruit any kid to come here,” Belichick said. 

“I mean, I’ve been on just about every campus and major campus in the country. There’s not many nicer North Carolina, can’t get a better education than you can at this school. So there’s a lot going for it. I think we can recruit nationally. And look, there’s certain kids that don’t want to leave their region, I mean, I get that. But I think we’ll be able to recruit nationally. We’ll certainly try to.’