The day that culminates years of recruiting efforts has finally arrived on Wednesday, Dec. 3. The early national signing day will see most of the nation’s top prospects confirm their commitments with their letters of intent.

While the transfer portal has mitigated some of the importance of recruiting high school players, there’s still a strong correlation to having strong freshmen classes and success on the field. So landing elite recruits still has a great importance for teams.

Who stands to be the big winners? Will there be flips or delayed decision that have become synonymous with singing day? We will keep track of the highest-rated prospects, according to the 247Sports, composite as they make official where they will be playing next fall.

Where are the top 100 high school football recruits headed?

Jared Curtis, QB, 6-3, 225, Nashville Christian (Nashville, Tenn.) – Committed to Vanderbilt
Lamar Brown, ATH, 6-4, 285, University Lab (Baton Rouge, La. ) – Committed to LSU
Keisean Henderson, QB, 6-3, 185, Legacy the School of Sport Sciences (Spring, Texas) – Committed to Houston
Jackson Cantwell, OL, 6-7, 325, Nixa (Nixa, Mo.) – Committed to Miami
Zion Elee, Edge, 6-3, 220,  St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, Md.) Committed to Maryland
Carter Meadows, Edge, 6-6, 225, Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) – Committed to Michigan
Faizon Brandon, QB, 6-3, 200, Grimsley (Greensboro, N.C. ) – Committed to Tennessee
Savion Hiter, RB, 5-11, 200, Louisa County (Mineral, Va.) – Committed to Michigan
Dia Bell, QB, 6-2, 215, American Heritage (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) – Committed to Texas
Chris Henry Jr. WR, 6-5, 205, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) – Committed to Ohio State
Tristen Keys, WR, 6-2, 180, Hattiesburg (Hattiesburg, Miss.) – Committed to Tennessee
Rodney Dunham, Edge, 6-4, 227, Myers Park (Charlotte, N.C.) – Committed to Notre Dame
Felix Ojo, OT, 6-6, 275, Mansfield Lake Ridge (Mansfield, Texas) – Committed to Texas Tech
Ezavier Crowell, RB, 5-11, 205, Jackson (Jackson, Ala.) – Committed to Alabama
LaDamion Guyton, Edge, 6-3, 225, Benedictine Military School (Savannah, Ga.) – Committed to Texas Tech
Immanuel Iheanacho, OL, 6-6, 345, Georgetown Preparatory (North Bethesda, Md.) – Committed to Oregon
Xavier Griffin, LB, 6-3, 200, Gainesville (Gainesville, Ga) – Committed to Alabama
Kendre Harrison, TE, 6-7, 243, Reidsville (Reidsville, N.C.) – Committed to Oregon
Kodi Greene, OT, 6-5, 320, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) – Committed to Washington
 Tyler Atkinson, LB, 6-2, 210, Grayson (Loganville, Ga.) – Committed to Texas
Ian Premer, TE, 6-5, 220, Great Bend (Great Bend, Kan.) – Committed to Notre Dame
Jalen Lott, WR, 6-0, 176, Frisco Panther Creek (Frisco, Texas) – Committed to Oregon
Mark Bowman, TE, 6-4, 225, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) – Committed to Southern California
Khary Adams, DB, 6-2, 175, Loyola Blakefield (Towson, Md.)  – Committed to Notre Dame
Jorden Edmonds, DB, 6-2, 175, Sprayberry (Marietta, Ga.) – Committed to Alabama
Anthony Jones, Edge, 6-3, 240, St. Paul’s Episcopal (Mobile, Ala.) – Committed to Oregon
Kelvin Obot, OT, 6-5, 265, Fruitland (Fruitland, Idaho) – Committed to Utah
Richard Wesley, Edge, 6-5, 250, Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) – Committed to Texas
Richard Anderson, DL, 6-4, 340, Edna Karr (New Orleans) – Committed to LSU
Bralan Womack, DB, 5-11, 195, Hartfield Academy (Flowood, Miss.) – Committed to Mississippi State
Joey O’Brien, DB, 6-3, 185, La Salle College (Glenside, Pa.) – Committed to Notre Dame
Jireh Edwards, DB, 6-2, 210, St. Frances Academy (Upper Marlboro, Md.) – Committed to Alabama
Ekene Ogboko, OL, 6-6, 280, South Garner (Durham, N.C.) – Committed to Georgia
Brandon Arrington, ATH, 6-2, 180, Mount Miguel (Spring Valley, Calif.) – Committed to Texas A&M
 Kaiden Prothro, TE, 6-6, 210, Bowdon (Bowdon, Ga.) – Committed to Georgia
 Jett Washington, DB, 6-5, 205, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) – Committed to Oregon
 Darius Gray, OL, 6-3, 285, St. Christopher’s School (Richmond, Va.) – Committed to South Carolina
Ryder Lyons, QB, 6-2, 220, Folsom (Folsom, Calif.) – Committed to Brigham Young
Ethan Feaster, WR, 6-1, 180, DeSoto (DeSoto, Texas) – Committed to Southern California
Cederian Morgan, WR, 6-4, 210, Benjamin Russell (Alexander City, Ala.) – Committed to Alabama
Chauncey Kennon, DB, 6-1, 175, Booker (Sarasota, Fla.) – Committed to Florida State
Khary Wilder, DL, 6-4, 250,  Junipero Serra (Gardena, Calif.) – Committed to Ohio State
KJ Edwards, RB, 5-10, 180, Carthage (Carthage, Texas) – Committed to Texas A&M
Luke Wafle, Edge, 6-5, 245, Hun School (Princeton, N.J.) – Committed to Southern Caifornia
Salesi Moa, ATH, 6-1, 190, Fremont (Ogden, Utah) – Committed to Tennessee
Elbert Hill, DB, 5-10, 175, Archbishop Hoban (Akron, Ohio) – Committed to Southern California
Davon Benjamin, DB, 5-11, 180 Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, Calif.) – Committed to Oregon
Jaimeon Winfield, 6-4, 310, Richardson (Richardson, Texas) – Committed to Southern California
Davian Groce, WR, 6-1, 190, Frisco Lone Star (Frisco, Texas) – Committed to Florida
Cincere Johnson, LB, 6-3, 222, Glenville (Cleveland, Ohio) – Committed to Ohio State
Sam Greer, OL, 6-7, 315, Archbishop Hoban (Akron, Ohio) – Committed to Ohio State
Jamarion Matthews, DL, 6-2, 240, Gainesville (Gainesville, Ga.) – Committed to Alabama
Nolan Wilson, DL, 6-4, 250, Picayune Memorial (Picayune, Miss.) – Committed to Alabama
Deuce Geralds, DL, 6-2, 275, Collins Hill (Suwanee, Ga.) – Committed to LSU
TJ White, LB, 6-1, 230, Jackson Academy (Jackson, Miss.) – Committed to Tennessee
Zyan Gibson, DB, 6-0, 174, Gadsden City (Gadsden, Ala.) – Committed to Alabama
Tony Cumberland, DL, 6-4, 285, Willamette (Eugene, Ore.) – Committed to Oregon
Justice Fitzpatrick, DB, 6-0, 185, St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) – Committed to Georgia
Somourian Wingo, WR, 6-2, 180, St. Augustine (St. Augustine, Fla.) – Committed to Miami
Bryce Perry-Wright, DL, 6-2, 250, Buford (Buford, Ga.) – Committed to Texas A&M
Naeem Burroughs, WR, 5-11, 175, The Bolles School (Jacksonville, Fla.) – Committed to Clemson
Kevin Brown, OL, 6-5, 270, Harrisburg (Harrisburg, Pa.) – Committed to West Virginia
Devin Jackson, DB, 6-2, 195, The First Academy (Orlando, Fla.) – Committed to Oregon
Jay Timmons, DB, 5-11, 185, Pine-Richland (Gibsonia, Pa.) – Committed to Ohio State
Joel Wyatt, ATH, 6-4, 195, Oakland (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) – Committed to Tennessee
Jermaine Bishop, ATH, 5-11, 155, Willis (Willis, Texas) – Committed to Texas
Trenton Henderson, Edge, 6-4, 225, Pine Forest (Pensacola, Fla.) – Committed to LSU
Bowe Bentley, QB, 6-2, 200, Celina (Celina, Texas) – Committed to Oklahoma
Jett Thomalla, QB, 6-3, 220, Millard South (Omaha, Neb.) – Committed to Alabama
Calvin Russell, WR, 6-5, 195, Northwestern (Miami) – Committed to Syracuse
Blaine Bradford, DB, 6-1, 207, Baton Rouge Catholic (Baton Rouge, La.) – Committed to Ohio State
Jake Kreul, Edge, 6-3, 230, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) – Committed to Oklahoma
Keenyi Pepe, OL, 6-7, 320, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) – Committed to Southern California
Jonathan Hatton Jr., RB, 6-0, 205, Cibolo Steele (Cibolo, Texas) – Committed to Oklahoma
Caden Harris, DB, 6-0, 160, Haywood (Brownsville, Tenn.) – Committed to Georgia
John Turntine III, OL, 6-4, 270, North Crowley (Fort Worth, Texas) – Committed to Texas
Brian Bonner, RB, 6-0, 185, Valencia (Valencia, Calif.) – Committed to Washington
Talanoa Ili, LB, 6-3, 215, Kahuku (Kahuku, Hawaii) – Committed to Southern Caliifornia
Izayia Williams, 6-1, 215, Tavares (Tavares, Fla.) – Committed to Florida State
Tommy Tofi, OL, 6-6, 330, Archbishop Riordan (San Francisco) – Committed to Oregon
Ayden Pouncey, DB, 6-2, 160, Winter Park (Winter Park, Fla.) – Committed to Notre Dame
J’Zavien Currence, DB, 6-3, 205, South Pointe (Rock Hill, S.C.) – Committed to South Carolina
Brysten Martinez, OL, 6-5, 300, East Ascension (Gonzales, La.) – Committed to LSU
Aaron Gregory, WR, 6-2, 177, Douglas County (Douglasville, Ga.) – Committed to Texas A&M
Kentavion Anderson, DB, 6-2, 190, Dorman (Roebuck, S.C.) – Committed to Clemson
Brayden Rouse, LB, 6-2, 210, Kell (Marietta, Ga.) – Committed to Tennessee
James Johnson, DL, 6-2, 285, Northwestern (Miami) – Committed to Texas
Jordan Smith, DB, 6-1, 185, Houston County (Warner Robins, Ga.) – Committed to Georgia
Jamarion Carlton, DL, 6-4, 260, Temple (Temple, Texas) – Committed to Texas
Gabriel Osenda, OT, 6-7, 330, Baylor School (Chattanooga, Tenn.) – Committed to Tennessee
Aiden Harris, DL, 6-3, 245, Weddington (Matthews, N.C.) – Committed to South Carolina
Craig Dandridge, WR, 6-0, 172, Cambridge (Alpharetta, Ga.) – Committed to Georgia
Havon Finney, DB, 6-2, 170, Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) – Committed to LSU
Chase Campbell, WR, 6-1, 180, Wolfforth Frenship (Wolfforth, Texas) – Committed to Texas Tech
Jase Mathews, WR, 6-1, 193, Greene County (Leakesville, Miss.) – Committed to Auburn
Julian Walker, Edge, 6-5, 252, Dutch Fork (Irmo, S.C.) – Committed to Michigan
Jaquez Wilkes, LB, 6-4, 220, Wadley (Wadley, Ala.) – Committed to Auburn
Pierre Dean, Edge, 6-3, 255, West Forsyth (Clemmons, N.C.) – Committed to Georgia
Derrek Cooper, RB, 6-1, 205, Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, Fla.) – Committed to Texas
Victor Singleton, DB, 5-11, Central Catholic (Toledo, Ohio) – Committed to Texas A&M

The 2026 NHL draft class has been exciting to track early on. 

The preseason favorite for the first overall pick, Gavin McKenna, has had a good but not great season in the NCAA as a freshman, which has opened the door for others to get into the battle for the top spot.

The race for first overall is five players deep. McKenna headlines the group, while others – Ivar Stenberg, Keaton Verhoeff, Tynan Lawrence and Mathis Preston – could be in the discussion. The 2026 NHL Draft has some excellent depth of talent, which hasn’t always been the case over the last few years.

Let’s look at where the top 10 for the 2026 NHL Draft stand as we enter the holiday season and begin to put the top draft-eligible talent in focus.

Top 10 NHL draft prospects

Height and weight information are according to NHL Central Scouting’s preliminary players to watch list.

1. Frolunda (Sweden) left wing Ivar Stenberg

Not many of this year’s draft prospects can combine intelligence with electric play as well as Stenberg. He is a great skater who works his tail off to pressure in all facets of the game. The 5-foot-11, 183-pound left wing plays a cerebral game, looking to make some incredible plays with the puck as a playmaker and goal scorer. He’s pacing to be the most productive draft-eligible player in Swedish pro history.

2. Muskegon (USHL) center Tynan Lawrence

The top center in the draft class dealt with injuries to start the season, but his recent return has him back in the conversation at the top. The 6-foot, 185-pound Lawrence plays with relentless speed and power. He has an excellent shot, only made more dangerous by his desire to drive to the net. He’s been a dominant two-way force everywhere from the USHL playoffs to the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. 

3. Penn State (NCAA) left wing Gavin McKenna

After dominating the WHL, McKenna jumped to college hockey, where he’s faced a greater challenge from the bigger, stronger competition. McKenna has been the No. 1 prospect for so long that it seems silly to doubt it, but between his less-than-stellar start and the performance of the prospects around him, his ranking has come into question. Regardless, the 5-foot-11, 170-pound left wing’s electric skill and ability to dictate the offense will make him a hot commodity.

4. North Dakota (NCAA) defenseman Keaton Verhoeff

The transition from the WHL to the NCAA hasn’t been all that difficult for Verhoeff. He is the whole package on the back end. Verhoeff’s size (6-foot-3, 208 pounds) and mobility give him a very solid base to build on. What makes him special is his puck-handling and his unfazed nature when dealing with pressure. Verhoeff is poised and confident at both ends of the ice. 

5. Spokane (WHL) right wing Mathis Preston

When the game is on the line, Preston is the kind of player you want to have the puck. The 5-foot-11, 177-pound forward has the seamless ability to break up ice with speed, use his skill to get himself into a scoring position and generate a grade-A chance. Preston’s pace is unrelenting, backing defenders down and using them as screens to get pucks on net. His playmaking ability is silky smooth, with high-level creativity.

6. Windsor (OHL) left wing Ethan Belchetz

Belchetz’s 6-foot-5, 228-pound size and skill combo is impressive. Not many players can deke around before barreling through a defender on the way to the net. He has a heavy release from distance and deft touch from in tight. He’s been one of the most challenging players in the OHL to defend this season. His mobility has always been his biggest concern, but he’s worked hard on developing his skating over the last year.

7. Djurgarden (Sweden) center Viggo Bjorck

There has been some buzz about Bjorck for a couple of years now because of how highly productive he’s been in Sweden, but NHL scouts are concerned that his 5-foot-9, 177-pound frame will impede his effectiveness at the next level. His ability to dangle around the ice and create space for himself is entertaining to watch. If he can handle the game at Sweden’s pro level, he should stay near the top of the draft. 

8. Jukurit (Finland) defenseman Alberts Smits

Smits is the most unknown of the top names in the 2026 draft class. He’s a bit of a development project, but his physical tools are incredible. He’s a very strong skater who can maneuver around the ice with ease. Smits plays with a confidence you want to see at both ends of the ice, closing space defensively and pushing the pace offensively. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound Latvian defender is all upside. 

9. Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) defenseman Chase Reid

In his second OHL season, Reid has already become one of the top-producing blueliners in the league. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound Greyhound’s well-rounded game allows him to make an impact all over the ice. Defensively, he makes excellent reads and uses his edgework to match the attacker’s footwork. Offensively, he’s an effective and efficient puck-mover who consistently finds teammates in excellent scoring positions. 

10. Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL) defenseman Xavier Villeneuve

Villeneuve is not only one of the most purely skilled blueliners in the QMJHL, but he’s also among the most entertaining players in the draft class. His puck-handling at the blueline is almost video game-like, with matching passing ability. Villeneuve plays the game with as much creativity and flair as anyone. If there is any player who gives off the same vibe as Montreal Canadiens star Lane Hutson, it’s the 5-foot-11, 162-pound Villeneuve.

The story of this Oklahoma City Thunder team is best told in numbers, and let’s start with this one.

Late Tuesday night, with a 124-112 victory over the Golden State Warriors, the Thunder improved to 21-1, becoming just the third team in NBA history to record such a start or better.

Entering the night, they led the NBA in defensive rating, allowing just 103.6 points per 100 possessions … which was 7.0 fewer than the next closest team.

Entering the night, they led the league with a net rating of 15.3.

Reigning Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander recorded his 94th consecutive 20-point game, trailing only Wilt Chamberlain (126). SGA ranks second in the league in scoring.

They are — far and away — the most dominant team in the NBA, with stars often resting in fourth quarters because games are so out of hand. But it’s one other number that Oklahoma City is chasing: 74.

Not only are the Thunder on pace to become the first team in 10 seasons to reach 70 wins, they pose a legitimate threat to eclipse the record-setting 73 victories the Warriors achieved in 2015-16. After all, a 70-win season would represent just a modest increase over last season, when they won 68.

To that point, OKC is already superbly locked in, its roster is balanced and deep and coaches and players are almost obsessively nerdy about basketball.

When asked before Tuesday’s game about how Oklahoma City could improve even with their near-unblemished record, coach Mark Daigneault made it clear the Thunder wouldn’t settle.

“I think the first thing is — and this isn’t blowing smoke — it’s like none of that matters tonight,” Daigneault said of his team’s early success. “All the stuff that we’ve done well to this point doesn’t carry over. Tonight’s a new opportunity. The better team tonight will win. That’s the competitive challenge, and that’s one of the beauties of our players: that competitive challenge turns them on.”

Jalen Williams, 24, was a first-time All-Star last season. Recovering from a torn ligament in his right wrist, he missed the first 19 games of this season. Williams is a righty. Unable to shoot with his right hand over the offseason, he became so bored and frustrated that he worked exclusively on his left, even developing an off-hand jumper.

But the Thunder are also built to smother and overwhelm opponents. They pick up full-court pressure just as easily as they clamp down in half-court sets. They emphasize efficiency, ranking second turnover percentage (12.4%) and first in turnovers forced (17.9 per game). They don’t score in runs or bursts; they score in avalanches that squeeze the life out of opponents.

Tuesday night, the Warriors went on a third-quarter run to close the margin from 22, eventually taking a four-point lead in the fourth (103-99). Oklahoma City responded by not pressing and ripping off a 25-9 run to close the game.

Granted, the Thunder have played the NBA’s easiest schedule thus far, and have the league’s toughest remaining slate, so it won’t be an easy path. Oklahoma City will have to evade the pitfalls of complacency.

Their lone loss was an aberration, a two-point defeat on Wednesday, Nov. 5 against the Portland Trail Blazers. For the Thunder to make history, they will not be able to let up.

Tuesday night’s opposing coach, Steve Kerr, knows all about that. He orchestrated that 2015-16 team’s run to 73 wins, surpassing the 1995-96 Bulls — a team in which Kerr was a player.

“Overall a team mindset of zero agendas,” Kerr said prior to the game when asked what it takes to get to 70 victories. “Just win every night. Obviously great talent, but I think high-IQ players. The two teams you’re referring to that I was part of, both had really, really high IQs individually and as a team. That’s what I see with OKC: really, really smart players, great coach, really connected. They’re on pace to shatter the record, it’s pretty remarkable what they’re doing.”

The scary part — for the rest of the NBA, that is — is that the Thunder are the sixth-youngest team in the league, with an average age of 24.53 entering the season. They are coming off an NBA championship; they know what it takes to get there and know how they can get even better.

“They have a deeper level of confidence now that they’ve won it all,” Kerr said. “Then the continuity is so powerful. All their actions that they’re running, they’re so comfortable with. They’ve expanded their offense a little bit; they have a little more motion than they did a year ago.”

The wild card, however, is that the more the Thunder win, the greater the pressure intensifies.

“These are all things that, in my experience, happen after the championship, after the first one,” Kerr said. “You just got a little different swagger, a little different belief.

“But, yeah, next year is the harder one.”

It turns out the hottest accessory at the 2025 NCAA college volleyball tournament is not knee braces, or finger tape that can be customized, but a special hair tie created to solve a prominent problems.

Texas volleyball head coach Jerritt Elliott, 57, created TIY hair bands, an acronym for ‘tie it yourself,’ after noticing a number of his players would interrupt practice to readjust their hair. The hair band features a 3-foot strand of elastic that can be tied at the ends and looped as many times as necessary to accommodate any hair pattern or hair style. The elastic is covered in neon-colored fabric sheath to provide a strong, yet soft hold.

‘Until I got to college and started using TIYs, it was definitely a struggle to find a good hair tie to use consistently,’ Pittsburgh junior Olivia Babcock told ESPN.

Elliot first hatched the idea in 2013, telling the outlet he’s ‘very entrepreneurial’ and known for his ‘wild brain.’ Elliot brought $80 worth of various hair ties on the market and found that one-size fit all bands weren’t secure for all athletes and could cause hair damage and headaches if tied too tight.

His solution? A 34-inch basic hair tie that, the company boasts, is two times stretchier and 13 times stronger than an average hair tie, the company boasts. A basic TIY is available for purchase for $8.50 and is comes in numerous colors, including ‘Euphoria’ pink, ‘Fairydust’ lavender, ‘Lioness’ yellow and ‘Sunset’ orange. Players can even match their hair ties to their school colors, like Louisville setter Nayelis Cabello, who opts for a red TIY similar to the school’s official Cardinal red.

‘I feel like it’s definitely made the process easier and made my hairstyles look cleaner,’ Cabello told ESPN. ‘And it matches my game-day outfit, so that makes it 10 times better.’

TIYs not only infiltrated the Texas women volleyball team, but the entire college volleyball ecosystem. TIYs even expanded beyond volleyball and have been spotted in college softball and college basketball.

Elliot has the Longhorns (23-3) positioned as a No. 1 seed in the 2025 NCAA Tournament, which Texas opens with a first-round matchup against Florida A&M (14-16) on Thursday. They look to win their first national championship since its back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023. TIYs will surely be on display.

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There was the Thanksgiving triple-header loaded with excitement, a Black Friday game that gave the NFC a new No. 1 seed, a massive upset of the NFL’s top team, a surging second-year quarterback taking over as MVP favorite and more interceptions from the league’s co-leaders in the stat.

In the middle of it all, as always, were the quarterbacks. One quarterback’s clutch performance on late downs earned him a bump in this week’s power rankings. Another dropped a bit after throwing as many interceptions in the first quarter of Week 13 as he had in the first 12 weeks of the season combined.

And those quarterbacks were just the ones that played each other (Bryce Young the former, Matthew Stafford the latter).

Here’s how all 32 starting signal-callers stack up in the Week 14 edition of quarterback power rankings:

NFL quarterback power rankings: Week 14

1. Drake Maye, New England Patriots

Maye leads the NFL in completion rate (71.5%), passing yards (3,412) and MVP odds (-120, per BetMGM Sportsbook). He’s led the Patriots to 10 straight wins and the current top spot in the AFC.

2. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

Stafford threw two interceptions in Week 13, which matched his season total going into the game against the Panthers. Even with the shocking Rams’ loss, Stafford’s spot near the top of the power rankings remains unaffected as he continues to lead the NFL with 32 touchdown passes.

3. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

The reigning MVP and his offense kept things mostly on the ground against the Steelers in Week 13, but his six-touchdown game from two weeks prior still looms large in ranking considerations. Allen is fourth in the league in completion rate (69.4%) and yards per pass attempt (8.1).

4. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs may continue to find themselves on the wrong end of one-score games, but Mahomes is still Mahomes-ing this season. ESPN analyst Ben Solak pointed out that the Chiefs’ quarterback leads the NFL in expected points added (EPA) on extended dropbacks (four seconds or longer) with 0.14. Every other quarterback is in the negatives on EPA on extended dropbacks, meaning Mahomes is still proving himself to be the best signal-caller in the league when it comes to improvising.

5. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers

Love led all NFL quarterbacks in ESPN’s QBR efficiency metric and Pro Football Focus’ passing grade in Week 13. That should not be a surprise given his four touchdowns – a couple of them on terrific throws – and ability to avoid turnovers against a strong Lions defense.

6. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

Prescott is second in the NFL in pass attempts and first in the NFL in completions. It’s no wonder the Cowboys are so willing to lean on Prescott’s arm and their passing game, given the years that receivers George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb are having, along with tight end Jake Ferguson.

7. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

It’s unclear whether Herbert will be able to play in Week 14 after undergoing surgery to treat a left-hand fracture. But his 75% completion rate in Week 13’s 31-14 win over the Raiders, despite the broken hand, deserves recognition. The Chargers’ quarterback is sixth in the NFL with his 21 touchdown passes and eighth with 2,842 passing yards.

8. Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks

Darnold’s chance at a ‘revenge game’ against the Vikings wasn’t great, featuring season-low marks in completion rate (53.8%) and passing yards (128). But the Seahawks’ new quarterback has led the team to a tie atop the NFC West with five weeks to play. Darnold also has the fifth-best success rate of any passer (51.3%), sixth-best completion rate (68.2%), seventh-most passing yards (2,913) and the most yards per attempt (9.0).

9. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions

Goff is up over 3,000 passing yards for the season and is tied for second in the NFL with 25 passing touchdowns through 13 weeks. The Lions’ struggles are not entirely Goff’s fault. Detroit’s last three losses were all by one score and all ended with the Lions’ opponent holding the ball last and needing a first down (or multiple) to secure the win.

10. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals

Burrow is the only Week 14 starting quarterback with an undefeated record. Much of that is owing to the Bengals’ quarterback missing Weeks 3-12 with a turf toe injury, but still. Burrow’s return heralded a potential Bengals miracle run to the playoffs, as the Bengals beat the Ravens in Baltimore. Cincinnati will need to run the table and have a lot of other factors swing their way, but the Bengals played like they had more energy in Week 13 with their quarterback back. We’ll see if it lasts.

11. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

Jackson led the Ravens to four straight wins after he returned from injury but hit a major speed bump in Week 13’s loss to the Bengals. The Baltimore quarterback threw an interception and fumbled twice, and he’s still clearly playing hurt with all of his recent appearances on the Ravens’ weekly injury reports. Jackson’s league-leading 72.9% completion rate through five starts has not been a continued trend – he’s completed 56% of his pass attempts in the last four weeks.

12. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears

Williams’ surge up the power rankings for recent performance stops short of the top 10 after a (reasonably) shaky performance on a very windy day in Philadelphia. He threw his first interception since Oct. 26 on Black Friday, but the second year has the Bears owning the NFC’s No. 1 seed as they enter Packers Week.

13. Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

After a very strong start to the 2025 season, Mayfield has trended down toward the middle of the pack thanks to injuries to Buccaneers receivers and lead running back Bucky Irving limiting Tampa Bay’s offense. The arrow is pointing back up for Mayfield with Irving and Chris Godwin back in Week 13. Their returns correlated with one of Mayfield’s best passing performances since early in the season.

14. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

Where Mayfield’s arrow is trending up, Hurts’ is trending down. The Eagles’ offense struggled in the middle third of the season. Philadelphia has scored 20+ points just once in the last four weeks, and that was the only game in that span when Hurts had a completion rate over 60%.

15. Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts

Jones fractured his fibula in a Week 12 practice, and the Colts have lost back-to-back games since. The former Giants quarterback is still fifth in the league in passing yards (3,041) and has mostly avoided turnovers this season, aside from the two very bad games to start November.

16. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers

In each of the three games since Purdy’s return from an injury, the 49ers quarterback’s completion rate and passing yards total have declined. But San Francisco has won each of those games, so Purdy remains in just about the exact middle of the power rankings as he successfully executes head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offensive game plans.

17. C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans

Stroud returned after a three-game absence stemming from a stint in the NFL’s concussion protocol and had one of his best games en route to a massive divisional win over the Colts.

18. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars have won three straight games to take a share of the AFC South division lead in Week 13. Lawrence had a nice day against the Titans on Nov. 30, earning himself a 67.7 QBR and 79.6 PFF passing grade.

19. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos

Nix nearly matched a season-high with 321 passing yards against the Commanders on ‘Sunday Night Football.’ He also had an average depth of target of just five yards (fourth-lowest in Week 13) on his 45 pass attempts (third-highest in Week 13). To his credit, the Broncos’ second-year signal-caller was 5-of-9 with a touchdown and an interception on passes that traveled 10+ yards past the line of scrimmage.

20. Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers

Young played one of the most clutch games of his career in the Panthers’ shocking upset over the Rams in Week 13. The Panthers quarterback threw three touchdowns in the game. Each of them went for more than 30 yards, and each of them came on third or fourth down.

21. Jaxson Dart, New York Giants

Dart made his return from the NFL’s concussion protocol in Week 13, but it didn’t result in the Giants’ third win of the season. He did continue to avoid turnovers but did not avoid taking some big hits on a few rushing plays.

22. Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals

Brissett ranks highest among all (non-rookie) quarterbacks who started the season as backups. His 243.1 passing yards per game rank eighth in the NFL, and the Cardinals have been a top-10 team in dropback success rate (48.8%) since Week 6, when he took over behind center. It just hasn’t translated to many wins.

23. Tyrod Taylor, New York Jets

From Weeks 1-11, the Jets ranked 27th in dropback EPA (-0.056) and 29th in dropback success rate (43%). In Week 12, Taylor took over the starting role. Over the last two weeks, New York ranks 12th in dropback EPA (0.071) and 13th in dropback success rate (44.9%). In Week 13, Taylor’s 172-yard performance included a touchdown and the Jets’ third win of the season.

24. Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints

Shough has flown under the radar since taking over as the Saints’ starter in Week 9, but he has played mostly solid football behind center in New Orleans. The second-round rookie’s first shot at a game-winning drive came up a yard short on a fourth-down QB sneak in Miami in Week 13.

25. Marcus Mariota, Washington Commanders

Mariota had his most productive start of the season against the Broncos on ‘Sunday Night Football’ with 294 yards and two touchdowns. His pass on a two-point conversion to complete the upset against Denver was batted down behind the line of scrimmage. It’s so far unclear how much longer Mariota’s starting stint in Washington will continue, with starter Jayden Daniels itching to return this season.

26. Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans

Ward has had some flashes of greatness with poise and excellent ball placement against some tough defenses this year. He’s also had some poor performances against more middling units this year. In other words, he’s been playing like a rookie quarterback amid a chaotic situation in Tennessee.

27. Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons

Cousins’ performance in Week 13 was one of his better outings of the season, but he’s still a veteran backup quarterback, and the Falcons still lost to the Jets.

28. Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers

Rodgers turned 42 years old on Dec. 2. He has played like it this season – shying from contact, missing zip on his throws and unable to improvise in the pocket like he did in the past. Now, he’s playing with a broken wrist, and it’s limiting Pittsburgh’s offense.

29. Shedeur Sanders, Cleveland Browns

Sanders’ second career start was his first NFL appearance (he’s played in three games) without an interception. He also had a career-high 64% completion rate. But Sanders also held onto the ball for too long, lost yards on sacks he could have avoided by throwing the ball away and missed open receivers several times. In other words, he’s playing like a fifth-round rookie quarterback that began the season as the third-string option in Cleveland.

30. J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings

McCarthy didn’t play in Week 13 while dealing with a concussion, but he has struggled mightily in his de facto rookie season. He has 10 interceptions in six starts, and his 6.3% rate of throwing picks is the highest of all quarterbacks with at least four starts.

31. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins have won three straight games, but it has felt more like they’ve won despite Tagovailoa than because of him. The co-league leader in interceptions (14) got Miami down to New Orleans’ 29-yard line for a first down with about 20 seconds left in the first half in Week 13. Head coach Mike McDaniel had him wait 18 seconds to spike the ball and kick a first-half-ending field goal, rather than taking a shot at the end zone first. It spoke volumes about what the Dolphins think of their starting quarterback.

32. Geno Smith, Las Vegas Raiders

Smith has the second-highest pressure-to-sack ratio of any quarterback (26.6%), per PFF. He has the co-lead in interceptions (14) this season. He has the third-lowest average depth of target of Week 14 projected starters. The Raiders will likely have a top-five pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and they will have to heavily consider drafting a new quarterback with that pick.

The Toronto Blue Jays are not hesitating to fortify the backbone of their success the past four seasons: Starting pitching.

On the same day they announced the signing of Dylan Cease to a $210 million contract, the club agreed to a three-year, $30 million deal with another right-handed starter, Cody Ponce, a person with direct knowledge of the deal confirmed to USA TODAY Sports. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the deal, first reported by The Athletic, is not yet official.

Who is Ponce, you ask?

Well, he’s the latest pitcher who started his career in the major leagues, only to reinvent themselves playing overseas and return a finished product, ready to cash in on a more lucrative deal. Ponce, 31, pitched in 20 games, including five starts, for the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2020 and ’21 seasons, posting a 5.86 ERA.

Stuck in a perpetual swingman role even in the Pirates’ minor leagues, he ventured to Asia in 2022 and in three seasons in Japan’s top leagues, largely could not shake that inconsistency.

Yet a move to Hanwa of South Korea’s KBO seemed to flip the switch.

He dominated this past season for the Eagles, striking out 252 batters in 189⅔ innings, with a 1.89 ERA and a 17-1 record over 29 starts. He earned MVP honors for his performance. Ponce’s fastball now sits at 95 mph, a couple beats faster than his heater with the Pirates, and like so many major leaguers in recent years has added a split-finger pitch to his repertoire.

That will fit right in on the Blue Jays, whose rotation returnees in 2026 are splitter-happy veteran Kevin Gausman and rookie Trey Yesavage. Combined with Cease, that makes for a potentially dominant starting four, with veteran righty Jose Berrios – who sat out the Blue Jays’ World Series run with an elbow injury – leading a deep contingent of arms who could fill in the No. 5 spot, barring trade.

And it also backfills both current and expected future losses in the rotation. Chris Bassitt’s three-year deal with the club expired after the World Series, as did Max Scherzer’s one-year deal. Gausman’s $115 million pact is up after 2026.

Having taken care of their most significant winter need, the Blue Jays can now focus on retaining infielder Bo Bichette, their most significant free agent from their pennant-winning roster.

The penultimate College Football Playoff rankings serve as a table setter for Selection Sunday five days later with the majority of teams in at-large consideration not playing in conference championship games.

That means the fifth release of the season Tuesday, Dec. 2, was important in establishing a pecking order – both for seeds and for teams fighting to make the field.

The top of the rankings did not change with Ohio State and Indiana – the lone unbeatens in the Football Bowl Subdivision – leading as the Big Ten schools have since the first release. That will change in the final rankings on Sunday, Dec. 7, with the Buckeyes and Hoosiers set to meet in the conference title game.

Who would follow the top two was the first question for the committee to answer. Last week’s No. 3 Texas A&M lost to Texas, knocking the Aggies out of the SEC title game. How far would A&M fall? The committee slotted it at No. 7, meaning a likely first-round home game with no opportunity to earn a bye to the quarterfinals.

Georgia slides up one place to third with Texas Tech and Oregon making equal improvements to round out the top five. The Bulldogs will face No. 9 Alabama in the SEC title game. Avenging their lone loss should put them in the No. 2 spot in the final rankings. The Red Raiders could also move up further and secure a first-round bye if they defeat No. 11 Brigham Young in the Big 12 title game. The Ducks have completed their regular season.

In addition to where Texas A&M landed, the other question for the committee was where to place Mississippi. The Rebels finished 11-1 with a defeat of Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl. But the departure of coach Lane Kiffin to LSU was needed to be considered as part of the criteria the committee must follow. Ultimately, Ole Miss was placed at No. 6. with Oklahoma, Alabama and Notre Dame rounding out the top 10.

After that group comes BYU, Miami, Texas, Vanderbilt and Utah. Each of these teams is outside the bubble and must hope for losses by teams playing ahead of them and a boost from the committee when the final rankings are revealed.

The fight for the Group of Five’s place in the field got more definition, too. Tulane remains in the rankings at No. 21 and will face No. 24 North Texas in the American title game. The winner looks assured of taking that spot.

But another could go to No. 25 James Madison. Should the Dukes beat Troy for the Sun Belt championship, they could finish ahead of five-loss Duke if the Blue Devils defeat No. 17 Virginia in the ACC title game. Because the playoff rules state the five highest-ranked champions are in the field, it is possible for the ACC to get shut out in this scenario.

This is the final Tuesday ranking of the college football season. The College Football Playoff field is revealed in the final release on Sunday, Dec. 7.

CFP rankings Top 25

Ohio State (12-0)
Indiana (12-0)
Georgia (11-1)
Texas Tech (11-1)
Oregon (11-1)
Mississippi (11-1)
Texas A&M (11-1)
Oklahoma (10-2)
Alabama (10-2)
Notre Dame (10-2)
Brigham Young (11-1)
Miami (10-2)
Texas (9-3)
Vanderbilt (10-2)
Utah (10-2)
Southern California (9-3)
Virginia (10-2)
Arizona (9-3)
Michigan (9-3)
Tulane (10-2)
Houston (9-3)
Georgia Tech (9-3)
Iowa (8-4)
North Texas (11-1)
James Madison (11-1)

How the College Football Playoff would look based on rankings

First round

No. 12 Fifth-rated conference champion at No. 5 Oregon

No. 11 Fourth-rated conference champion at No. 6 Mississippi

No. 10 Notre Dame at No. 7 Texas A&M

No. 9 Alabama at No. 8 Oklahoma

Quarterfinals

No. 4 Texas Tech vs. Oregon-Fifth conference champion winner

No. 3 Georgia vs. Mississippi-Fourth conference champion winner

No. 2 Indiana vs. Notre Dame-Texas A&M winner

No. 1 Ohio State vs. Alabama-Oklahoma winner

What is the College Football Playoff schedule?

The schedule for first-round games taking place on campus sites will see No. 5 hosting No. 12, No. 6 facing No. 11, No. 7 meeting No. 10 and No. 8 squaring off with No. 9.

Winners of those games will advance to the quarterfinals with the Cotton Bowl hosting its matchup on Dec. 31. The other three games of the round will be played Jan. 1 with the Orange Bowl starting the day followed by the Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl. The Fiesta Bowl and Peach Bowl will host the semifinals on Jan. 8 and Jan. 9, respectively.

The championship game will be played on Jan. 19 in Miami Gardens, Florida, at Hard Rock Stadium.

College Football Playoff structure allows 7-5 Duke to remain in the hunt for a bid, while better teams are out.
Conference expansion makes you wonder whether automatic bids should be part of CFP.
Committee catches a lot of heat, but it’s not responsible for playoff structure.

Tell me what’s wrong with this picture.

Unranked Duke, at 7-5, remains alive for the College Football Playoff, while 10-2 Vanderbilt is out.

Try explaining that to someone who doesn’t closely follow this sport.

Heck, try explaining that to someone who follows the sport but watched Duke lose to UConn, plus four other teams.

We could be headed toward a truly stupid CFP bracket, and I’m not blaming the committee.

The committee just ranks the teams. The committee didn’t create this system, a system wherein — and I want to reiterate this — a 7-5 Duke team is alive, and 10-2 Vanderbilt is out.

Five-loss Duke can still qualify for playoff. Yes, really.

The committee, by rule, is required to select five conference champions as automatic qualifiers.

If unranked Duke upsets No. 17 Virginia this weekend, it would be eligible for one of those auto bids.

Yes, Duke might need help to secure an auto bid — No. 25 James Madison probably needs to lose in the Sun Belt Championship — but, I repeat once more: Five-loss Duke is alive, and two-loss Vanderbilt is out.

Dumb.

Duke is alive. No. 13 Texas, which just upset previously undefeated Texas A&M, is out.

Dumb.

Duke could win the ACC and qualify with five losses, and the Big 12’s No. 11 Brigham Young probably would miss the playoff if it finishes 11-2, with both losses coming to No. 4 Texas Tech.

Dumb.

The playoff’s size is not the problem. And I could live with the committee’s rankings. The top 12 teams in these latest rankings would create a bang-up bracket. SEC boss Greg Sankey would squabble about Texas and Vanderbilt being omitted, but once the moaning stopped, the bracket would look pretty stout.

Imagine No. 12 Miami at No. 5 Oregon in Round 1. You in for that? I’d be in.

Trouble is, we’re not going to get that, because the ACC’s standings and tiebreaker application has Duke headed to the conference championship game instead of 10-2 Miami.

Duke is one of five teams tied for second in the ACC standings. The Blue Devils own the worst overall record of the tied teams, but the league’s tiebreaker rules have Duke headed to Charlotte.

So, a Duke team that lost to Illinois by 26 points could be playoff bound, while a Miami team that beat Notre Dame is vulnerable of getting sent to an also-ran bowl.

Dumb.

We’re not there yet. Virginia could save some sanity for this bracket by beating and eliminating Duke, winning the ACC, and snatching one of those auto bids.

Are automatic bids the enemy of a top-notch bracket?

I’ve previously shown support for this 12-team playoff model, but this screwy scenario of Duke being alive for the playoff in the first week of December, while undeniably better teams are out of the mix, makes me question whether any automatic bids are worth retaining, as the playoff’s future size and shape go under evaluation.

Or, should all bids just be awarded via at-large selection?

Why should we have auto bids, when conference champions aren’t necessarily even the best team in their own league? They might just happen to be the team that drew the easiest conference schedule, or they caught a good break from the tiebreaker rules.

When conferences were smaller, we could say with a straight face conference championship games generally produced the conference’s best team as champion.

Not anymore.

Conference expansion and the elimination of divisions disrupted the utopia of conferences crowning worthy champs.

The ACC swelled to 17 teams and nixed divisions in favor of a united standings. Duke’s win against California pushed it a step closer to winning the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Think about that for a moment.

Each ACC team played only eight conference games. Put differently, Duke could win a 17-team conference and become eligible for a playoff auto bid after facing less than half the teams in the conference.

That’s dumb.

Perhaps, the playoff would be better served with no more conference championship games. No more automatic bids.

Expand the regular season by one week, giving the committee one additional data point for every team in the first week of December. This wouldn’t lengthen the season. You’d just be swapping in a 13th regular-season game in place of conference championship weekend.

Then, rank the 12-best teams, and congratulate Duke on its bid to the Gator Bowl.

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s senior national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.

The 2026 World Cup will feature an expanded field of 48 teams.
Teams will be sorted into 12 groups of four during the official draw.
The World Cup draw is scheduled to take place on December 5 in Washington, D.C.
USA TODAY Sports will host a Q&A session on December 4 to discuss the upcoming tournament.

The anticipation is building for the 2026 World Cup and soon we’ll find out which teams are playing in the 12 groups.

Overall, there will be 48 teams in the upcoming World Cup, which equates to four teams in each group. What teams will be in each group?

That’s an answer we’ll get on Dec. 5 in Washington, D.C., when the draw is conducted.

USA TODAY Sports’s Jesse Yomtov is ready to answer your questions about the 2026 World Cup, the upcoming draw and the teams that have qualified thus far on Thursday, December 4 at 12 p.m. ET.

You can send in your questions in advance via the box below and of course come back on Dec. 4 to get your answers.