Mississippi coach Lane Kiffin is a top target for both LSU and Florida, creating a major off-field storyline.
Several teams, including Ohio State and Indiana, are in a strong position to make the College Football Playoff.
The Heisman Trophy race remains wide open, with several quarterbacks emerging as leading candidates.

Drama, debate, controversy, madness, chaos: November will have it all.

College football’s regular season rounds the corner and heads toward the finish line with heavy focus on the College Football Playoff. While two teams have separated themselves from the pack in the Big Ten, races in the ACC, Big 12 and SEC could come down to the final weekend of the month and rivalry games that may decide who gets seated and where in the 12-team bracket.

Another major theme in November will be the direction of high-profile coaching searches at LSU, Florida and Penn State. While the Nittany Lions’ search has cast a wider net, the Tigers and Gators have zeroed in on Mississippi coach Lane Kiffin.

The playoff, a potentially wild coaching cycle and a very open-ended Heisman Trophy race are among the storylines to watch across the final month of the regular season:

Where will Lane Kiffin land?

There’s always a chance Kiffin opts to stay at No. 8 Mississippi and retains ownership of a program he’s built into one of the best in the SEC. While NIL and the transfer portal have trimmed the resource gap separating traditional SEC powers from the rest of the pack, there are still better odds he lands at one of LSU or Florida, rivals set to duel for Kiffin’s signature in November’s defining off-field storyline.

Meanwhile, Kiffin will look to land the Rebels’ plane in the playoff — or maybe the conference championship game, though that’s less likely — against a four-game stretch of South Carolina, The Citadel, Florida and Mississippi State. While this is a smooth run by SEC standards, the Rebels haven’t made things easy all season: Six of their past seven games have been decided by a single possession, including a puzzling nail-biter against Washington State.

Not even a bellyflop in November could derail Kiffin’s candidacy for these two positions, though. Should the Rebels take care of business, in fact, Kiffin could become a case study for coaches who have teams in the playoff mix while negotiating for another opening.

Would he leave for another SEC program before the postseason? Could he simultaneously balance coaching one team while recruiting for another? Would Florida and LSU be willing to wait until January to make the hire official, potentially losing a chunk of their rosters while missing out on the transfer-portal window? What Kiffin decides could set a precedent.

Will the Big Ten get a fourth playoff team?

No. 1 Ohio State and No. 2 Indiana are currently the safest bets in the Power Four to make the playoff. No. 6 Oregon is in good shape with only a loss to the Hoosiers in hand, though the Ducks have to get back in gear before taking on Iowa, Southern California and Washington.

After sending four teams into last year’s bracket, the Big Ten may be capped at three playoff teams given the ridiculous depth in the SEC — the league has nine teams in the US LBM Coaches Poll — and the number of potential one- and two-loss teams in the Big 12 and ACC. Given the wealth of contenders, it’s reasonable to expect that a three-loss Big Ten team would be squeezed out of the field.

Based on that condition, there are five Big Ten teams in the mix for this fourth spot: No. 21 Michigan, Iowa, Southern California, Washington and Nebraska. One of the Trojans and Cornhuskers will be eliminated after Saturday night’s matchup in Lincoln. USC then hosts Iowa on Nov. 15 and heads to Autzen Stadium a week later.

The race could come down to the final weekend of November, when the Hawkeyes travel to Lincoln and Michigan hosts the Buckeyes. The Wolverines could shake up the entire playoff picture by beating OSU to reach the Big Ten championship game.

Can Vanderbilt lock down an at-large berth?

The No. 11 Commodores will be impossible to keep out of the field with road wins this month against No. 19 Texas and No. 14 Tennessee.

But there will be almost no room for error in November. A loss in Austin this weekend would hand the Longhorns a potentially huge head-to-head tiebreaker. Dropping one of Auburn and Kentucky at home would be devastating. And with the Volunteers favored to beat No. 18 Oklahoma, New Mexico State and Florida, the season finale in Knoxville could be a win-or-go-home eliminator for the final at-large SEC berth.

Beating elite opponents on the road is the last hurdle for Clark Lea’s program, which is just 4-13 away from home since he took over in 2021. While Vanderbilt topped then-No. 10 South Carolina in Columbia back in September, the Commodores haven’t earned a road win against an SEC opponent that finished the season ranked since Alabama in 1950.

What teams are in the best shape?

Five teams hold the pole position for the playoff heading into November:

Ohio State could lose twice and still earn an at-large berth, though even one loss — to Michigan or to a shared opponent with Oregon — could once again hold the Buckeyes out of the Big Ten championship game.
Indiana will be expected to steamroll Maryland, Penn State, Wisconsin and Purdue; even a loss wouldn’t prevent the Hoosiers from reaching Indianapolis thanks to the tiebreaker against the Ducks.
No. 3 Texas A&M has an excellent road win against No. 12 Notre Dame and will be a playoff lock with a win against Missouri on Nov. 8 or the Longhorns on Black Friday.
As noted, Mississippi’s remaining schedule should grease the Rebels’ path to the playoff amid the high likelihood of off-field drama.
And after dropping games to No. 9 Miami and A&M by a combined four points, Notre Dame will not be held out of the field by closing with wins against Boston College, No. 23 Navy, Pittsburgh, Syracuse and Stanford.

Oregon doesn’t make the list because of those three difficult Big Ten games, two coming on the road. While there’s a case for No. 7 Georgia Tech, the unbeaten Yellow Jackets could get squeezed out of an at-large bid by losing once in ACC play, dropping the rivalry against No. 5 Georgia and then losing in the ACC championship game.

Who wins the Heisman Trophy?

Few Heisman races in recent history have been this uncertain and unsettled heading into November. That raises the possibility of a contender coming out of relative anonymity this month, such as Georgia Tech’s Haynes King or Cincinnati’s Brendan Sorsby.

But the conversation has coalesced around four quarterbacks. Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza is the current favorite thanks to his 1,932 passing yards and 24 touchdowns. He’s followed by Alabama’s Ty Simpson, who has been spectacular during the Crimson Tide’s seven-game winning streak and has just one interception in 261 attempts.

Just behind this pair is Ohio State’s Julian Sayin, who has hit on 80.6% of his attempts with 11 touchdowns and no turnovers in Big Ten play. Then comes Texas A&M sophomore Marcel Reed, last seen putting on a clinic in the second half against LSU, and Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia.

The Buss family’s four-decade run as majority owner of the Los Angeles Lakers is ending as the NBA approved the sale of the team to Mark Walter.

The Buss family will retain an ongoing interest, and the league said the transaction is expected to close shortly.

Walter, the CEO and co-chairman of TWG Global, is also a majority owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

“Mark Walter has a long association with our leagues, having served as a minority owner of the Lakers and as the principal owner of the WNBA’s Sparks for more than a decade,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement.  “As Mark assumes his role as majority owner of the Lakers, I have no doubt that he will be a committed steward of the team and a great addition to our league given his many successful ventures in business and sports.

Dr. Jerry Buss bought the Lakers in 1979 for $67.5 million, and the team achieved immediate success, winning an NBA championship the following year. Los Angeles went on to win nine more titles in 16 appearances under Buss, until he died in 2013.

Upon his death, control of the team went into a family trust, with Jeanie Buss, his daughter, serving as the team’s Governor. She will remain the team’s Governor for a period of at least five years following the closing of the transaction.

“I also want to thank and congratulate Jeanie Buss and the Buss family for 46 years of transformational leadership and service.  While this historic transaction transfers the Buss family’s majority interest in the Lakers, I am thrilled that Jeanie will remain the team’s Governor and an active and engaged member of our league.”

The Washington Nationals are on the verge of finalizing a deal to bring on board Blake Butera as their next manager, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN.

At 33 years of age, Butera is set to become the youngest manager in the MLB in more than 50 years.

Butera has managed in the minor leagues for four seasons and also spent one year as a minor league coach within the Tampa Bay Rays’ system. In October 2023, he was named the Rays’ senior director of player development after serving as an assistant field coordinator for one year. Butera played college baseball at Boston College and was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 35th round of the 2015 MLB draft. He played for two seasons before transitioning into a coaching role.

The Nationals have been on a quest for a new manager after parting ways with Dave Martinez and president of baseball operations Mike Rizzo in July. Rizzo and Martinez led the Nats to a World Series victory in 2019, but Washington has finished no higher than fourth place in their division since then.

Who is Blake Butera?

Blake Butera has held several positions within the Rays organization, and he most recently served as Tampa Bay’s senior director of player development for the past two seasons. At 33 years old, Butera will become the youngest manager since Frank Quilici, who was hired by the Minnesota Twins in 1972 at the age of 33.

The 2025 NFL trade deadline hasn’t built much of a buzz, but there are still several notable players who could be dealt.
The New Orleans Saints are a potential seller to watch thanks to receivers Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, as well as cornerback Alontae Taylor.
The New York Jets also have to decide whether they’re prepared to part with key contributors, such as running back Breece Hall and linebacker Quincy Williams.

The recent action around the NFL trade deadline has made it clear that most deals made ahead of next Tuesday’s cutoff will begin in the bargain bin.

After two weeks of no movement, things finally picked back up early this week with a handful of low-stakes swaps. The Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles added cornerbacks in Roger McCreary and Michael Carter II, respectively, while the New England Patriots shipped off spare parts in edge rusher Keion White (San Francisco 49ers) and Kyle Dugger (Pittsburgh Steelers). Of course, those exchanges are a far cry from the frenzy set off just last year with the likes of Davante Adams, Amari Cooper and Marshon Lattimore changing places.

And with just one more round of games before teams need to buckle down and decide whether to change course, it doesn’t seem like many of the biggest names that have been floated in rumors – including the Las Vegas Raiders’ Maxx Crosby, Cincinnati Bengals’ Trey Hendrickson and New York Jets’ Quinnen Williams, among others – look particularly likely to be sent packing. Yet any opening for teams to reshape their fortunes is bound to drive intrigue, and there are several notable figures who could be realistic trade considerations.

With that in mind, here is our ranking of the top realistic trade candidates ahead of next Tuesday’s deadline:

2025 NFL trade candidates

1. Chris Olave, WR, New Orleans Saints

Installing second-round pick Tyler Shough as the starting quarterback only to deprive him of his top target might amount to rebuild malpractice. Olave acknowledged that he’s been in discussions with the Saints regarding an extension, and the most reasonable outcome here is for the two sides to stick together given how few true assets New Orleans has at its disposal. But that same problem could entice the Saints to consider flipping the speedy receiver for the right price if the organization doesn’t envision him as a staple for the foreseeable future. With his fifth-year option locked down, Olave would be an enticing target for any passing attack seeking a little midseason juice.

2. Jaelan Phillips, DE/OLB, Miami Dolphins

If the true Pro Bowl-caliber tier of edge rushers is off limits, Phillips might be the best acquirable option. It remains to be seen whether the Dolphins would truly split ways with the former first-rounder, however, given how intent the team’s embattled leadership appears to be in trying to catch up in the playoff race. But creating a bidding war for a pass rusher would be the easiest way to look to the future, and Phillips – even as a potential half-year rental – could be dealt more cleanly than teammate Bradley Chubb. He’s found his stride with 18 pressures in his last four games, according to Next Gen Stats, and he can hold his own against the run as well.

3. Breece Hall, RB, New York Jets

Dealing their lead back was already shaping up to be a difficult proposal for the Jets after No. 2 option Braelon Allen went down with a knee injury that will sideline him until late in the season. Parting with Hall looks like an even more difficult proposition after the fourth-year back ran for a season-high 133 yards and two touchdowns while also throwing the clinching score in a breakthrough first win over the Bengals. Still, even though first-year coach Aaron Glenn has shunted rumors aside, the new regime has to take the long view, and there’s a window to sell high here. If made available, Hall would stand alone as the most appealing ball carrier available thanks to his ability to shoulder the load – he ranks sixth in rushing yards – while also serving as an every-down contributor. And regardless of whether he moves, the running back demonstrated he knows how to stir up intrigue with his tweeting of a cryptic GIF on Wednesday.

4. Alontae Taylor, CB, New Orleans Saints

Competent starting cornerbacks are difficult to come by at the trade deadline, so an imbalance between supply and demand pushes Taylor up the board a bit here. Losing the talented cover man would further dent a ramshackle Saints secondary, but he’s one of the more valuable chips that the organization has at its disposal. Taylor’s versatility, aggressiveness and playmaking streak could make him a coveted piece for any defense due for a little something extra on the back end.

5. Quincy Williams, LB, New York Jets

Younger brother Quinnen seems likely to stay put, but might Gang Green part with Quincy? The front office has already made a substantial investment at linebacker with Jamien Sherwood’s three-year, $45 million deal in March, and a rebuilding team probably doesn’t want to approach the top of the market twice at a non-premium position. A reunion with former Jets coach Robert Saleh, under whom Williams became a 2023 All-Pro selection, on the 49ers’ shorthanded defense would be fun, but there could be multiple suitors for a playmaker with good range.

6. Jakobi Meyers, WR, Las Vegas Raiders

The Silver and Black’s understandable refusal to oblige Meyers’ trade request before the season was based on the presumption that a return to relevance was imminent. Things change quickly, though. The Raiders are just 2-5 and look as far back as ever in the hypercompetitive AFC West. With Meyers poised for an exit this spring in free agency, there’s little reason for either side to see this arrangement out given that Las Vegas – flush with more than $100 million in projected cap space for 2026, according to Over The Cap – doesn’t seem likely to reap any compensation pick rewards for his departure. In a thinned-out receiver market, the seventh-year veteran holds distinct value as a complementary piece who could help stabilize an aerial attack.

7. Riq Woolen, CB, Seattle Seahawks

Doesn’t seem like there’s much of an impetus to take any parts away from a Seahawks defense that’s conceding the third-fewest yards per play (4.7) of any team. Still, it’s clear after a season-and-a-half that Woolen is an odd fit for Mike Macdonald’s defense and a long shot to hang around in 2026, when he’s set to hit the open market. Woolen is coming off an excellent outing against the Houston Texans in which he allowed just two catches for 13 yards on seven targets. Depth concerns may ultimately dissuade Seattle from shipping him off, but the 6-4, 210-pound cornerback should intrigue any teams that lean heavily on man coverage.

8. David Njoku, TE, Cleveland Browns

With less than $1.26 million in base salary, Njoku figures to be one of the cheaper options out there, as landing the former first-round tight end likely won’t necessitate forking over much draft capital. He’s been hobbled by a knee injury, but he still produces as a receiver. The Browns already have seen rookie Harold Fannin Jr. position himself as the long-term answer at tight end, so it’s time for Cleveland to scrounge up whatever it can for Njoku.

9. Rashid Shaheed, WR, New Orleans Saints

If dealing Olave is a non-starter for a New Orleans team that seemingly resists a full rebuild at every turn, maybe a more reasonable outcome would be sending off Shaheed. The dynamic downfield target could jolt any offense with his deep speed, which hasn’t been put to optimal use in a season in which his average yards per catch has plummeted from 17.5 to 11.1. It’s worth noting, though, that Shough took an early shine to him, with Shaheed getting eight of his season-high 12 targets last week after the rookie signal-caller was subbed in for Spencer Rattler.

10. Kevin Zeitler, G, Tennessee Titans

At 35, he’s spending the twilight of his career with a franchise that has already fired its coach. Beyond providing Cam Ward a tiny bit more comfort in an already trying year for the rookie, there’s little point in keeping Zeitler, who, like the recently traded Roger McCreary, might not be a priority for Tennessee to re-sign. Plenty of contenders could use some fortifying on the interior, and the 2023 Pro Bowl selection could get back to doing his best work for a legitimate playoff threat after doing superlative work with the Baltimore Ravens and Detroit Lions in recent years.

11. Chig Okonkwo, TE, Tennessee Titans

Tennessee has tried to bring along its receiving corps for Cam Ward with fellow rookies Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike playing vital roles. It doesn’t seem as though Okonkwo factors into that future, especially with first-year tight end Gunnar Helm steadily progressing. A major run-after-catch threat, Okonkwo could find his talents better appreciated elsewhere.

12. Arden Key, DE/OLB, Tennessee Titans

The Titans are treading water for the rest of the season, and it’s difficult to say with any confidence that Key figures into the organization’s plans beyond that. The edge rusher’s production has never quite lined up with his physical tools, but Key has reached six sacks in three of his last four seasons. If a contender strikes out on its higher-priced options or just wants to look at a rotational piece on the edge rather than pursuing a full overhaul, he’d be a sensible settling point.

13. Arnold Ebiketie, OLB, Atlanta Falcons

After recording six sacks in each of the last two seasons, the former second-round pick has yet to bag a single one in 2025. Maybe it’s time for a change of scenery, especially with Atlanta having reconfigured its pass rush by equipping new defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich with Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr., both of whom are first-round rookies. The Falcons might resist parting with him as they try to move past a clear letdown through the first two months of the season, but they have to be mindful about their draft assets, as they’re without both their first-rounder and fifth-rounder next spring.

Lady Vols basketball legend Candace Parker was elected to the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in her first year of eligibility on Thursday, Oct. 30.

Former WNBA MVP Elena Delle Donne, Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve, NBA analyst Doris Burke, international players Isabelle Fijalkowski and Amaya Valdemoro and Kirkwood Community College coach Kim Muhl also were elected. Barbara Kennedy-Dixon is being honored posthumously. The class will be inducted on June 27, 2026, at the Tennessee Theatre in Knoxville.

Parker, who retired in 2024, played 16 seasons in the WNBA. She was a two-time WNBA MVP, a three-time champion and a 10-time All-WNBA selection. Parker’s No. 3 jersey was retired by the Los Angeles Sparks and Chicago Sky during the summer.

Parker won WNBA Rookie of the Year and MVP in 2008, the only player to accomplish the feat. She’s also the only WNBA player to rank in the top 10 in career points, assists, rebounds and blocks.

Parker led Tennessee to back-to-back national championships in 2007 and 2008, winning Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four both years.

Delle Donne helped the Washington Mystics to their only title in 2019. The two-time MVP became the first player in WNBA history to finish a regular season with a 50% field goal percentage, 40% 3-point field goal percentage and 90% free throw percentage during the 2019 season.

Reeve, who has coached the Lynx for 16 seasons, has the most career wins (364) and playoff wins (52) in WNBA history. She coached the Lynx to four championships and the U.S. women’s national team to an eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal at the 2024 Paris Games.

ESPN analyst Burke, who’s in the Naismith Hall of Fame, made history when she called the 2024 NBA Finals. Burke started her career as an analyst for Big East games and as the radio and TV voice of the New York Liberty.

Valdemoro won three WNBA championships with the Houston Comets, played in two Olympic Games for Spain and won Spanish League titles eight times. Fijalkowski is a five-time French League champion and the all-time leading scorer in the league.

Muhl has coached for 36 seasons at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He has won nine NJCAA Division II championships and has a career record of 1,045-171.

Kennedy-Dixon, who played at Clemson from 1978-82, scored 3,113 career points for seventh all-time in women’s college basketball history. A two-time All-American, she holds ACC career records for scoring, rebounds (1,252), field goals (1,349) and field goal attempts (2,688).

The NFL season reaches its halfway point with Week 9 action.
The Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills will face off in a highly anticipated rivalry game.
Week 9 concludes with the Cardinals and Cowboys playing on Monday night.

The 2025 NFL season reaches its halfway point this weekend, which will feature one of the league’s preeminent rivalries.

Before we get there, the Baltimore Ravens and Miami Dolphins will kick off Week 9 on Thursday night − two-time league MVP and South Florida native Lamar Jackson set to make his return to action after missing a month with a hamstring injury.

Sunday’s best game on paper appears to be the Indianapolis Colts’ visit to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the weekend’s lone matchup of division leaders.

However it’s a meeting of second-place squads that will garner the most attention, when the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills engage in what should be another spirited battle in Western New York on Sunday afternoon. The Bills have won four straight over K.C. in the regular season.

The action wraps in prime time, the Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders meeting outside the nation’s capital on ‘Sunday Night Football’ before the Arizona Cardinals and Dallas Cowboys face off on Monday night.

How will it all unfold? USA TODAY Sports’ panel of NFL experts reveal their weekly picks:

(Odds provided by BetMGM)

NFL Week 9 picks, predictions odds

Ravens at Dolphins
Bears at Bengals
Vikings at Lions
Panthers at Packers
Chargers at Titans
Falcons at Patriots
49ers at Giants
Colts at Steelers
Broncos at Texans
Jaguars at Raiders
Saints at Rams
Chiefs at Bills
Seahawks at Commanders
Cardinals at Cowboys