The Texas Longhorns will kick off the 2025 college football season ranked No. 1 in the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll. But if history is any guide, No. 2 Ohio State may be better positioned to finish at the top.

Sure, Texas is good bet finish No. 1. BetMGM Sportsbook gives the Longhorns the best odds (+500) to win the national championship. Last season, Texas held the top spot for three weeks and ultimately finished third behind the Buckeyes and Notre Dame. They’ll also turn the quarterbacking duties over to Arch Manning, who appeared ready last season to burnish his family’s legacy.

Still, recent history isn’t on Texas’s side. No preseason No. 1 has finished the season atop the poll since Alabama did it in the 2017 season. In fact, only four teams have managed that feat in the 35-year history of USA TODAY Sports administering the Coaches Poll.

Eight seasons since Alabama started and ended first

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Winning a championship, of course, doesn’t rest on what a panel of 67 head coaches at Football Bowl Subdivision schools say in August. But since the College Football Playoff started in 2014, one of top six teams in the preseason poll has won the national championship and finished first in the poll. Here’s a look at this year’s top six:

For the past two seasons, the team ranked No. 2 in the preseason has gone on to finish No. 1 in the final US LBM Coaches Poll. In the 2024-25 season, Ohio State followed a winding path to the top – helped in part by the expanded playoff format. The Buckeyes’ journey included a run from the eighth seed in the playoffs to a national championship win over Notre Dame, ranked seventh in the preseason and seeded seventh in the playoffs.

The path to No. 1 was a wild ride in 2024 season

In the poll’s last 35 years, the team ranked second in the preseason is more likely to finish first than the top-ranked team. Ten preseason No. 2 teams have ended the season at No. 1, compared to just four preseason No. 1 teams. In the past two preseason polls, both Ohio State and Michigan were ranked second behind Georgia.

Where post-season No. 1 college football teams started

How many college football preseason No. 1s have finished No. 1

Georgia’s two No. 1 preseason rankings followed two consecutive years when the coaches panel put Alabama at the top ranking only to watch the Bulldogs – its SEC rival – finish No. 1 in the season’s final poll and claim back-to-back national championships.

Since USA TODAY began administering the poll in the 1991 season, the coaches’ preseason No. 1s have become postseason No. 1s just four times – just over 11% of the time. Only twice have teams held the No. 1 position throughout: Florida State in 1999 and Southern California in 2004.

With all of the uncertainty and change entering this season, it’s worth analyzing the schools that find themselves starting in the rankings. Click here to see the season outlooks for all of the teams that begin their campaigns in the preseason poll.

Summer is almost over. Kids are going back to school. And the college football season is less than four weeks away. So that means it’s time for the release of the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll.

The 2025 campaign will kick off with plenty of uncertainty about who will finish with the national title. For now, Texas holds down the No. 1 spot in the first ranking of the season for the first time. But there was plenty of support for both defending champion Ohio State and Penn State out of the Big Ten.

So what is the outlook for the leaders and the rest of the Top 25? We break down all the teams that begin their campaigns in the preseason poll:

1. Texas (13-3)

Points: 1,606 (28 first-place votes).  Previous ranking: 3. Opens: Aug. 30 at No. 2 Ohio State.

The Longhorns hold the top spot in the preseason poll for the first time and overall their first No. 1 position since 2008. Most of the lofty expectations ascribed to them revolve around Arch Manning, who now assumes the QB reins after a lengthy evolution from touted recruit to famous backup. His receiver corps is long on talent but short on experience, and the same can be said for his offensive line. But there’s cause for optimism on the defensive side as well, where LB Anthony Hill Jr. is back to lead what should be a devastating pass rush.

2. Ohio State (14-2)

Points: 1,565 (20 first-place votes).  Previous ranking: 1. Opens: Aug. 30 vs. No. 1 Texas.

QB Julian Sayin would seem to be positioned to take over what should again be a flashy offense, with Jeremiah Smith back to lead one of the best receiver units in the nation. Running backs Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson must be replaced, but West Virginia transfer C.J. Donaldson and holdover James Peoples should produce. The defense also sent its share of talent on to the NFL, but having Caleb Downs back to anchor the secondary will help ease the transition for the new starters.

3. Penn State (13-3)

Points: 1,525 (14 first-place votes).  Previous ranking: 5. Opens: Aug. 30 vs. Nevada.

In the era of the transfer portal, the Nittany Lions have something most teams don’t, namely a third-year starter at QB in the person of Drew Allar. His RB room also returns intact, led by Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, and the wideout group might be better thanks to new arrivals, though lynchpin TE Tyler Warren will be tough to replace. Abdul Carter is gone, but the defensive front should still be among the nation’s best with Dani Dennis-Sutton and Zane Durant.

4. Georgia (11-3)

Points: 1,466 (3 first-place votes).  Previous ranking: 6. Opens: Aug. 30 vs. Marshall.

The Bulldogs won the SEC and made the playoff, but their inconsistencies caused some of their wins harder than they needed to be. It’s now up to Gunner Stockton to make the Georgia attack explosive again, and the arrival of playmakers like Zachariah Branch and Noah Thomas from Suthern California and Texas A&M, respectively, could help him do just that. The defense should be its usual rock-solid self with DL Christen Miller and LB CJ Allen plugging the inside.

5. Notre Dame (14-2)

Points: 1,360.  Previous ranking: 2. Opens: Aug. 31 at No. 10 Miami (Fla.).

Even the most diehard fan would have had a tough time imagining the team’s appearance in the national championship game after the inexplicable loss to Northern Illinois in Week 2. It will now be up to some new starters to keep the momentum going. Redshirt freshman CJ Carr emerged from spring drills as the front-runner to succeed Riley Leonard at QB, although the star of the offense might prove to be veteran RB Jeremiyah Love. LB Drayk Bowen should be the centerpiece of a deep and talented defense.

6. Clemson (10-4)

Points: 1,324 (2 first-place votes).  Previous ranking: 11. Opens: Aug. 30 vs. No. 9 LSU.

The Tigers are seven years removed from their last national championship, but this year’s version might just have what it takes to be back in the hunt. They’re undoubtedly the team to beat in the ACC, with third-year starter Cade Klubnik back in charge of the offense. The receiver unit that was a weakness for the last few seasons should be a strength this time with Antonio Williams and T.J. Moore returning. There’s not much experience at running back, but the group will work behind a line that retains four starters. T.J. Parker is poised to become Clemson’s next great edge rusher.

7. Oregon (13-1)

Points: 1,307.  Previous ranking: 4. Opens: Aug. 30 vs. Montana State.

An otherwise stellar season didn’t end well for the Ducks in their rematch with Ohio State in the Rose Bowl, and now they’ll have to reload on offense if they want to return to the playoff. The top likely ball handlers are QB Dante Moore, Tulane transfer RB Makhi Hughes and WR Dakorien Moore seemingly ready to break out as a freshman. It might be the defense, with returning stars like LB Bryce Boettcher, that carries the team for a while as the new parts on the offensive side find their rhythm.

8. Alabama (9-4)

Points: 1,210.  Previous ranking: 17. Opens: Aug. 30 at Florida State.

Kalen DeBoer was well aware of the standard in Tuscaloosa when he accepted the job, and that a second absence from the playoff would not be met with calm and patience. There’s still plenty of talent in the program, so year two will be about eliminating mistakes and winning the games the Crimson Tide are supposed to win. QB Ty Simpson has waited his turn and could prove to be a more natural fit for DeBoer’s system. The explosive potential will be there with Ryan Williams and Germie Bernard back catching passes, and RB Jam Miller will provide another set of experienced hands. The defense should be sound with hard-to-move LT Overton allowing LB Deontae Lawson and DB Keon Sabb to make plays behind him.

9. LSU (9-4)

Points: 1,056.  Previous ranking: Not ranked. Opens: Aug. 30 at No. 6 Clemson.

The return of QB Garrett Nussmeier and an infusion of talent through the transfer portal has the Tigers thinking about contending in the SEC. How quickly new faces at receiver and offensive and defensive line get integrated will paint a picture of whether that’s possible or whether Brian Kelly’s seat might get hot with a disappointing season.

10. Miami (Fla.) (10-3)

Points: 823.  Previous ranking: 18. Opens: Aug. 31 vs. No. 5 Notre Dame.

The Hurricanes are hoping transfer QB Carson Beck rebounds from a disappointing season at Georgia and an arm injury in the SEC title game to lead the offense. Should Beck revert to his solid 2023 form, look for Mimi to be in the mix for the playoff if there is significant improvement on defense with new coordinator Corey Hetherman.

11. Arizona State (11-3)

Points: 806.  Previous ranking: 7. Opens: Aug. 30 vs. Northern Arizona.

Can the Sun Devils build on the momentum of last year and avoid being a one-hit wonder? That’s the task for third-year coach Kenny Dillingham. He’ll have QB Sam Leavitt and WR Jordyn Tyson to lead the offense. The defense returns loads of experience with DB Xavion Alford leading a group that should show major improvement.

12. Illinois (10-3)

Points: 734.  Previous ranking: 16. Opens: Aug. 29 vs. Western Illinois.

With their highest preseason poll ranking since 1990, the Illini are another team blessed with a wealth of returning starters and high expectations. QB Luke Altmyer and strong running game will be the foundation on offense. DL Gabe Jacas and DB Xavier Scott are standouts on a defense that will again be stingy.

13. South Carolina (9-4)

Points: 665.  Previous ranking: 19. Opens: Aug. 31 vs. Virginia Tech in Atlanta.

The Gamecocks narrowly missed the playoff after a late-season surge and return several of its key pieces, starting with QB LaNorris Sellers and DL Dylan Stewart. More responsibility will be on Sellers to have the offense carry things due to some holes along the defensive front that may take time to sort out. His development will be critical to having them in contention this season.

14. Michigan (8-5)

Points: 580.  Previous ranking: Not ranked. Opens: Aug. 30 vs. New Mexico.

Sherrone Moore’s debut season started slowly, but a finish that included wins against Ohio State and Alabama has the needle pointing up. The offense was a major problem in 2024. The running game will be the focus with the hope is that either heralded recruit Bryce Underwood or Fresno State transfer Mikey Keene will boost the passing game.  There’s some big losses on defense up front. Those holes were addressed with through the portal and there’s high hopes for DL Derrick Moore to have a breakthrough season.  

15. Mississippi (10-3)

Points: 573.  Previous ranking: 13. Opens: Aug. 30 vs. Georgia State.

Much of the attention will be on the transition from Jaxson Dart to Austin Simmons at quarterback. There’s also other areas of concern. Needs at receiver were addressed with transfers and the offensive line will be mostly new. DL Suntarine Perkins should contend for all-conference honors and there’s some young players on that side of the ball that should keep the unit in good shape. Lane Kiffin has shown he knows how to integrate a host of new players and could have his fourth 10-win season in the last five years.

16. SMU (11-3)

Points: 555.  Previous ranking: 11. Opens: Aug. 30 vs. East Texas State.

The first season in the ACC was as good as could have been anticipated for the Mustangs with QB Kevin Jennings leading the team to the College Football Playoff. This year’s schedule is tougher with the additions of Clemson and Miami in league play. On the plus side, Jennings returns, but there’s concerns about who fills a void at running back. DBs Isaiah Nwokobia and Ahmaad Moses key one of the conference’s best secondaries.

17. Florida (8-5)

Points: 498.  Previous ranking: Not ranked. Opens: Aug. 30 vs. Long Island.

From the hottest of hot seats to having his team in the preseason poll, Billy Napier has flipped the script for the Gators. The emergence of QB DJ Lagway was a big part of the resurgence last season. His health will be critical, and the running game led by RBs Jadan Baugh and Ja’Kobi Jackson should take some pressure off him. The defense made significant gains in the second half of last seson and should be strong up front, which will be needed to navigate another difficult schedule.

18. Tennessee (10-3)

Points: 492.  Previous ranking: 8. Opens: Aug. 30 vs. Syracuse in Atlanta.

With former quarterback Nico Iamaleava off to UCLA, Tennessee hands the offense to former Appalachian State transfer Joey Aguilar. A high-volume and productive passer in the Sun Belt, Aguilar has to trim his turnovers to keep the Volunteers in the mix for an at-large playoff berth. Tennessee has other holes to address, including in the backfield, and will need to form another top-level defense to compete with the best of the best in the SEC.

19. Indiana (11-2)

Points: 460.  Previous ranking: 10. Opens: Aug. 30 vs. Old Dominion.

Last year’s Cinderella won’t sneak up on any opponent in or out of the Big Ten. The offense turns to former California quarterback Fernando Mendoza, potentially one of the most impactful transfers in the Power Four. Heavy work through the portal is once again the story for coach Curt Cignetti and his program: Indiana found a number of immediate-impact contributors as transfers and will contend for eight or more wins should this group largely pan out. 

20. Kansas State (9-4)

Points: 438.  Previous ranking: Not ranked. Opens: Aug. 23 vs. No. 21 Iowa State in Dublin, Ireland.

The Wildcats hope to spark second-year starting quarterback Avery Johnson’s growth by adding size and length at receiver through transfers to join established all-conference starter Jayce Brown. Another key position to watch heading into the season opener is the defensive backfield, which brings back veteran safety VJ Payne and added a three-year starter from Arizona in safety Gunner Maldonado but has to replace both cornerbacks. If those groups come together, the Wildcats could be favored in every game and return to the top of the Big 12.

21. Iowa State (11-3)

Points: 392.  Previous ranking: 15. Opens: Aug. 23 vs. No. 20 Kansas State in Dublin, Ireland.

With QB Rocco Becht back for his third year as a starter, Iowa State can win the Big 12 by beefing up a pass rush that had just 16 sacks in 2024, last in the conference. There aren’t any other obvious issues, though the Cyclones do need to settle competitions for playing time and starting roles on the offensive line, linebacker and the secondary. The pieces are in place for another solid season.

21. Texas A&M (8-5)

Points: 392.  Previous ranking: Not ranked. Opens: Aug. 30 vs. Texas-San Antonio.

After cratering down the stretch last season, the Aggies look to take a leap forward with a promising offense and a defense that should benefit from coach Mike Elko’s more hands-on approach. There are still some questions about the defense, including what kind of production A&M will get from freshmen and transfers on the interior and edge of the defensive front, and how much improvement we’ll see at cornerback. The answers will determine whether the Aggies can crack nine wins in the regular season.

23. Brigham Young (11-2)

Points: 287.  Previous ranking: 14. Opens: Aug. 30 vs. Portland State.

The Cougars land in the Top 25 despite recently losing starting quarterback Jake Retzlaff. Replacing him won’t be easy. With weeks to go until the opener, BYU is still auditioning former transfers McCae Hillstead (Utah State) and Treyson Bourguet (Western Michigan) alongside promising true freshman Bear Bachmeier. While there are complementary pieces across the two-deep, this team could be hampered in its quest for the Big 12 crown by this distinct lack of experience under center.

24. Texas Tech (8-5)

Points: 261.  Previous ranking: Not ranked. Opens: Aug. 30 vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

Once again, Texas Tech loaded up its roster with one of the top portal classes in the nation. The biggest additions include edge rusher David Bailey (Stanford), defensive lineman Lee Hunter (Central Florida) and offensive tackle Howard Sampston (North Carolina). If the transfers pan out and the offense stays healthy, the Red Raiders may finally deliver an elusive Big 12 title.

25. Boise State (12-2)

Points: 246.  Previous ranking: 9. Opens: Aug. 28 at South Florida.

The only Group of Five team to make the cut in the preseason poll, Boise State squeezes into the Top 25 amid concerns about how well the offense can replace running back Ashton Jeanty. To stay atop the Mountain West, the Broncos need even more production from quarterback Maddux Madsen. But the defense looks powerful, especially up front and in the pass rush. The only thing missing is more takeaways after making 16 last season.

Others receiving votes: Oklahoma (6-7) 221; Missouri (10-3) 142; Louisville (9-4) 126; Southern California (7-6) 116; Utah (5-7) 86; Baylor (8-5) 76; Auburn (5-7) 50; Iowa (8-5) 49; Memphis (11-2) 34; Army (12-2) 33; Tulane (9-5) 31; Georgia Tech (7-6) 27; TCU (9-4) 24; Nebraska (7-6) 19; Syracuse (10-3) 16; Washington (6-7) 15; Navy (10-3) 14; Arkansas (7-6) 14; Duke (9-4) 12; Colorado (9-4) 12; Minnesota (8-5) 11; UNLV (11-3) 8; Florida State (2-10) 8; Kansas (5-7) 6; Vanderbilt (7-6) 3; Buffalo (9-4) 1.

The US LBM Board of Coaches for the 2025 season: Tim Albin, Charlotte; Dave Aranda, Baylor; Tim Beck, Coastal Carolina; David Braun, Northwestern; Jeff Brohm, Louisville; Fran Brown, Syracuse; Troy Calhoun, Air Force; Jason Candle, Toledo; Ryan Carty, Delaware; Jamey Chadwell, Liberty; Bob Chesney, James Madison; Curt Cignetti, Indiana; Chris Creighton, Eastern Michigan; Spencer Danielson, Boise State; Ryan Day, Ohio State; Kalen DeBoer, Alabama; Manny Diaz, Duke; Dave Doeren, North Carolina State; Eliah Drinkwitz, Missouri; Sonny Dykes, TCU; Jason Eck, New Mexico; Mike Elko, Texas A&M; Luke Fickell, Wisconsin; Jedd Fisch, Washington; James Franklin, Penn State; Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame; Hugh Freeze, Auburn; Willie Fritz, Houston; Alex Golesh, South Florida; Thomas Hammock, Northern Illinois; Blake Harrell, East Carolina; Tyson Helton, Western Kentucky; Charles Huff, Southern Mississippi; Brent Key, Georgia Tech; GJ Kinne, Texas State; Zach Kittley, Florida Atlantic; Tre Lamb, Tulsa; Dan Lanning, Oregon; Rhett Lashlee, SMU; Clark Lea, Vanderbilt; Lance Leipold, Kansas; Pete Lembo, Buffalo; Sean Lewis, San Diego State; Mike Locksley, Maryland; Chuck Martin, Miami (Ohio); Joey McGuire, Texas Tech; Bronco Mendenhall, Utah State; Jeff Monken, Army; Jim Mora, Connecticut; Eric Morris, North Texas; Billy Napier, Florida; Pat Narduzzi, Pittsburgh; Brian Newberry, Navy; Ken Niumatalolo, San Jose State; Jay Norvell, Colorado State; Gerad Parker, Troy; Brent Pry, Virginia Tech; Matt Rhule, Nebraska; Rich Rodriguez, West Virginia; Jay Sawvel, Wyoming, Willie Simmons, Florida International; Kirby Smart, Georgia; Mark Stoops, Kentucky; Jon Sumrall, Tulane; Lance Taylor, Western Michigan; Jeff Traylor, Texas-San Antonio; Scotty Walden, Texas-El Paso.

Sixteen-year-old Cooper Lutkenhaus made United States history at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Sunday, Aug. 3.

And all it took was dialing in some old middle school tactics.

Lutkenhaus, who attends Northwest High School in Justin, Texas, made a miraculous comeback at the 800-meter final in Eugene, Oregon, to become the youngest American ever to qualify for the World Track and Field Championships. The rising high school junior was in seventh place with 200 meters to go before rising to runner-up with his time of 1:42:27.

‘I’ve always kind of had a natural spot with 200 (meters) to go,’ Lutkenhaus told reporters after the race. ‘Ever since middle school that’s kind of been the spot I’ve really pushed from. Kind of just decided to go back to middle school tactics with 200 to go and really just give everything I had left.’

Lutkenhaus’ time shattered the previous U18 world record, which was set by Kenya’s Timothy Kitum at the 2012 London Olympics, by 1.1 seconds.

Donovan Brazier, a 28-year-old from Grand Rapids, Michigan, won the race with a personal-best time of 1:42:16.

‘I saw someone coming up and I was like, ‘dang, this could be the high schooler,” Brazier told reporters after the race. This kid’s phenomenal. I’m glad that I’m 28 and maybe have a few more years left in me, hopefully won’t have to deal with him in his prime because that dude is definitely pretty special.’

Lutkenhaus’ time not only tops the best for a youth runner ever, but it’s also one of the fastest by a U.S. man in history. His time ranks as the fourth-fastest ever by a U.S. man and 18th-fastest ever in the world.

The previous record for youngest American at track and field worlds was set in 2013 by Mary Cain, who ran at 17 years and 3 months old. Lutkenhaus will shatter the record by youngest U.S. man at the worlds, which is held by Erriyon Knighton, who ran at 18 years and 5 months in 2023.

Lutkenhaus’ time was so impressive that it would have been the American record before Aug. 10, 2024. Bryce Hoppel set the mark at 1:41.67 after finishing fourth at the 2024 Paris Olympics. There are only three times better than Lutkenhaus’ time from Aug. 3 in American history.

Lutkenhaus now sets his sights on the world championships in Tokyo in September, where he will be joined by Brazier and Hoppel. The high schooler will certainly make plenty of headlines again at the world’s brightest stage.

With the start of the college football season less than a month away, the time has come to unveil the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll. And this year, the results create some history and guarantee that the campaign will begin with even more than the usual bang.

The Buckeyes received 20 first-place votes heading an almost equally crowded field of Big Ten contenders. The No. 1 vs No. 2 matchup in the season opener is unprecedented in the history of the coaches poll, and the hype leading up to the clash in Columbus will be as well.

TOP 25: Complete preseason US LBM coaches poll

OUTLOOKS: Breaking down every Top 25 team in poll

Penn State, expected to be Ohio State’s primary Big Ten challenger, is No. 3 with 14 top nods, giving the preseason poll three teams with double-digit first-place votes for the first time since 2012. Georgia, accustomed to high starting positions in recent years, will begin at No. 4 while claiming three No. 1 votes. Notre Dame, last season’s runner-up, didn’t pick up any firsts in preseason balloting but enters the campaign in good position at No. 5.

The last two No. 1 votes went to Clemson, which will open at No. 6 overall. Oregon is No. 7, with Alabama, LSU and Miami (Fla.) rounding out the initial top 10. The Crimson Tide’s ranking at No. 8 is the lowest in the preseason poll since the second season under Nick Saban in 2008.

The SEC, in addition to its quartet ranked No. 9 or higher, has a total of nine teams in the Top 25, with a couple more just outside the poll. The Big Ten has six ranked squads in all. Those include No. 12 Illinois getting its highest starting spot since 1990, and last year’s surprise playoff team Indiana opening at No. 19.

The Big 12 has five teams ranked, albeit none higher than defending champion Arizona State at No. 11. The ACC placed its two favorites in the top 10 but only one other, No. 16 SMU, landed in the top 25.

No. 25 Boise State is the lone representative of the Group of Five leagues to crack the poll.

Since its inception in 2007, the FedEx Cup Playoffs have marked the end of the golf season with an emphatic exclamation. The series of tournaments offers fans a sense of finality to the sport each year while simultaneously rewarding golfers who have been playing well.

The event has obviously undergone several changes over the years, from the number of participants to the format itself. But despite its constant progression, it never fails to give fans exactly what they hope for from a golf playoff.

With Scottie Scheffler at the top of the FedEx Cup standings through the regular season, perhaps we are in store for our first ever back-to-back champion. That said, you can never discount Rory McIlroy, who finished second in Cup standings and has hoisted the FedEx Cup on three separate occasions (2022, 2019, 2016).

Here’s everything to know about the 2025 FedEx Cup Playoffs:

Who is participating in the 2025 FedEx Cup Playoffs?

Here are the 70 golfers who have qualified for the FedEx Cup Playoffs. Golfers are listed in order of FedEx Cup standings following the Wyndham Championship.

Scottie Scheffler
Rory McIlroy
Sepp Straka
Russell Henley
Justin Thomas
Ben Griffin
Harris English
J.J. Spaun
Tommy Fleetwood
Keegan Bradley
Maverick McNealy
Andrew Novak
Corey Conners
Ludvig Aberg
Robert MacIntyre
Cameron Young
Shane Lowry
Nick Taylor
Collin Morikawa
Brian Harman
Hideki Matsuyama
Chris Gotterup
Patrick Cantlay
Sam Burns
Justin Rose
Viktor Hovland
Lucas Glover
Sam Stevens
Sungjae Im
Daniel Berger
Ryan Gerard
Ryan Fox
Jacob Bridgeman
Brian Campbell
Thomas Detry
Michael Kim
Jason Day
Taylor Pendrith
Denny McCarthy
Tom Hoge
Matt Fitzpatrick
Xander Schauffele
Aldrich Potgeiter
Harry Hall
Akshay Bhatia
Si Woo Kim
Jake Knapp
Jordan Spieth
Wyndham Clark
Min Woo Lee
J.T. Poston
Kurt Kitayama
Bud Cauley
Joe Highsmith
Aaron Rai
Jhonattan Vegas
Max Greyserman
Stephan Jaeger
Mackenzie Hughes
Tony Finau
Chris Kirk
Nico Echavarria
Patrick Rodgers
Rickie Fowler
Davis Riley
Kevin Yu
Emiliano Grillo
Erik van Rooyen
Cam Davis
Matti Schmid

What is the FedEx Cup Playoff format?

The FedEx Cup Playoffs are a series of three tournaments between Aug. 7 and Aug. 24, starting with the top 70 golfers for the first tournament and narrowing the field down to the top 30 for the final tournament.

The top 70 golfers will compete in the St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee between Aug. 7 and Aug. 10. From there, the field will be limited to the top 50 the following weekend for the BMW Championship at Caves Valley Golf Club in Owings Mills, Maryland between Aug. 14 and Aug. 17. Only the top 30 will be invited to the Tour Championship the following weekend at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia between Aug. 21 and Aug. 24.

Both the St. Jude and BMW Championship will have a total prize purse of $20 million with the winners each receiving $3.6 million.

Prize purse for FedEx Cup Championship

In 2024, Scottie Scheffler brought home $25 million for winning the FedEx Cup Championship. This year, the winner pot seems to be substantially lower with the PGA Tour saying the champ will earn just $10 million.

While the first two events of the playoffs are prize-money driven, the Tour Championship is considered ‘bonus’ money, not lending itself to a golfer’s all-time winnings.

Changes to the Tour Championship

From 2019 to 2024, golfers who completed the regular season high in the FedEx Cup standings were giving ‘starting strokes’, designed to reward golfers for their play earlier in the season. That has been done away with for 2025. Instead, all golfers will start at even par regardless of finish at previous tournaments or in the FedEx Cup standings.

How to watch FedEx Cup Playoffs

NBC Sports, Golf Channel and ESPN+ are hosting coverage of each of the FedEx Cup Playoffs’ three events.

Lionel Messi suffered a ‘minor’ upper right leg muscle injury during Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup match against Necaxa on Aug. 2.
It is uncertain how long Messi will be sidelined, but his status for the Aug. 6 Leagues Cup match against Pumas UNAM is in question.
Inter Miami would advance to the knockout stage of the Leagues Cup with a win against Pumas.

Lionel Messi is expected to miss some playing time with Inter Miami, but it’s unclear how long he could be sidelined due to his upper, right-leg injury.

Messi has ‘a minor muscle injury,’ Inter Miami announced on Aug. 3 in a statement. The announcement did not include a timetable for his return.

Inter Miami’s next match is in the 2025 Leagues Cup tournament – Aug. 6 against Pumas UNAM at Chase Stadium – with a prime opportunity to advance to the knockout stage.

It’s likely Inter Miami will play their next match without their eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and Argentine World Cup champion.

Here’s everything you need to know about Lionel Messi’s latest injury, including Inter Miami’s upcoming schedule and two matches Messi could play with Argentina in early September:

Will Messi play in Inter Miami’s next Leagues Cup match?

Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano will have a press conference on Tuesday, Aug. 5, a day before their next match, where Messi’s status for the Aug. 6 match could be announced.

What injury does Lionel Messi have?

Messi has an upper, right-leg injury – which Inter Miami described as a ‘minor muscle injury.’

When did Messi get injured?

Messi was injured in the opening minutes of Inter Miami’s Aug. 2 Leagues Cup match against Necaxa. Messi attempted to charge forward into the penalty area with possession, but was tripped up and fell to the pitch.

Messi made the move in the 6th minute of the match, and was removed as a substitute in the 11th minute. He walked off on his own into Inter Miami’s locker room after a trainer massaged his upper, right leg upon evaluation.

How much time will Messi miss due to injury?

It’s unclear how long Messi will be out or how many matches he would miss due to this injury.

Inter Miami has prime opportunity to advance in Leagues Cup

Inter Miami is in third place – behind Seattle Sounders and Portland Timbers – in the MLS side of the Leagues Cup table after the first two matches. Only the Top 4 clubs from MLS and LIGA MX will advance to the knockout stage.

Simply put, Inter Miami would advance if they beat Pumas by any score. With five points in the standings, Inter Miami is ahead of six other MLS clubs with four points. A win to reach eight points would be enough to advance.

Could Messi return if Inter Miami advances in Leagues Cup?

The best-case scenario for Inter Miami is they advance to the knockout stage, and Messi returns to play in the Leagues Cup quarterfinals on either Aug. 19 or 20. But it’s still too early to guess if Messi would recover in time.

What is Inter Miami’s upcoming schedule?

After Inter Miami plays against Pumas, they will have two MLS regular-season matches before the Leagues Cup quarterfinals – if they qualify. Here’s Inter Miami’s upcoming schedule through August:

Aug. 6: Inter Miami vs. Pumas, 7:30 p.m. ET (Leagues Cup)
Aug. 10: Orlando City vs. Inter Miami, 8 p.m. (MLS regular season)
Aug. 16: Inter Miami vs. LA Galaxy, 7:30 p.m. (MLS regular season)
Aug. 19 or 20: Leagues Cup quarterfinals (if applicable) 
Aug. 23: D.C. United vs. Inter Miami, 7:30 p.m. ET (MLS regular season)
Aug. 26 or 27: Leagues Cup semifinals (if applicable)
Aug. 30: Inter Miami vs. Chicago Fire, 7:30 p.m. ET (MLS regular season)
Aug. 31: Leagues Cup final and third-place match (if applicable)

Will Messi play with Argentina in September World Cup qualifiers?

Argentina has already qualified for the 2026 World Cup, but still has two more qualifying matches to play: Sept. 4 vs. Venezuela and Sept. 9 vs. Ecuador.

The Sept. 4 match is one to keep an eye on: It will be played in Argentina, and could possibly be Messi’s last match in his home country.

As the Los Angeles Dodgers look to repeat as World Series Champions, the historic franchise will need its star-studded roster to rise to the occasion again this season.

Among those stars is Mookie Betts, who has accomplished just about everything the sport of baseball has to offer.

 The latest hurdle in his career is his season-long slump.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had briefly benched Betts before moving him to the leadoff spot in the lineup on July 20.

Roberts tried switching Betts and Shohei into the first two spots for 11 games, hoping it would create a spark for Betts.

“I’ve done everything possible,” Betts told reporters on Sunday in Tampa. “It’s just kind of the same result. I’m out of answers. I’ve done everything I can do. It’s up to God at this point.”

The manager decided to move Betts back to second in the batting order on Sunday with Ohtani now back to leadoff in the lineup. He would go 0-for-3 and is now 0-for-16 over the last four games.

Betts has a .233 batting average this season with 93 hits, 11 home runs and 48 runs batted in. He has a career-low .664 OPS this season. 

Betts has averaged 142 hits, 94 runs, 24 home runs, and 73 RBI throughout his career. He also has a .290 career batting average and a .881 career OPS.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts recently moved Betts from the leadoff spot to second in the lineup with the hope that it can help make a difference.

“I thought yesterday in a vacuum that he had a good offensive day,” Roberts told reporters before Sunday’s game. “I really did. I thought he had good at-bats. … Other days it looks like he is lost.”

Roberts did not completely shy away from the possibility of still moving Betts around in the lineup, but a lot of it may depend on what he sees from Betts going forward and what the rest of the roster looks like in terms of health.

Max Muncy is expected to return to the Dodgers’ lineup soon and has been playing for the Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets this past weekend. There is a possibility that Betts could continue to shift around in the lineup after Muncy returns.

On Betts, Roberts expressed his desire to “instill my faith in him and confidence in him.”

“I know he is frustrated and obviously at a point now where he wants results, which I can appreciate, but hopefully he can build off the at-bats quality from yesterday,” Roberts added.

Betts continues to work closely with his hitting coaches to refine his mechanics at the plate, but the Dodgers manager believes that there may be a mental aspect contributing to the slump.

Off the field, it has been just as tough a season for Betts.

Before the start of the season, Betts was dealing with an undiagnosed illness that caused him to lose approximately 18 pounds in a two-week span and he was throwing up every time he had solid foods. He did undergo necessary blood work and vital tests, but everything came back normal. 

Betts recently spent a few days away from the Dodgers to be with his family, located in Nashville.

“My stepdad passed, so I had to go home,” Betts told reporters on July 27. “(He’s) been there in my life from fourth grade until now, so that was tough for me and the family.

“I just had to be there for my mom and my brothers and sisters. It’s just a tough time and there’s no real way to really explain something like that outside of just being there and spending time with the family.”

When will Mookie Betts and the Dodgers play next?

Betts and the Dodgers will play six games at home this week. The St. Louis Cardinals will start a three-game series with the Dodgers on Monday, Aug. 4 at 10:10 p.m. ET.

The Toronto Blue Jays will visit Dodger Stadium for a three-game series starting Friday, Aug. 8.

One thing we know about preseason polls is how little it means in the grand scheme of things. A high ranking doesn’t automatically mean success, and there’s always teams not ranked that surprise.

But that doesn’t stop fans — or the media — from letting the rankings set the expectations.

The preseason US LBM Coaches Poll is out and it provides the first real snapshot of who are the contenders for this season’s College Football Playoff.

While there are plenty of teams obviously positioned to compete for a national championship and potential darkhorse candidates, there are clearly some that have the summer hype train at over capacity. 

Whether it’s built off last season’s finish or some hyped up additions, there are some squads that have too much excitement to start. Now, it’s not saying they will have a disappointing season. For all we know, they could be playing meaningful football in January. But these teams need to prove something before we can say they deserve the number next to their name.

2. Ohio State

The defending national champions are ranked second and are poised to compete for another title, but there are still so many questions regarding the Buckeyes. 

Yes, they have arguably two of the best players on both sides of the ball in receiver Jeremiah Smith and safety Caleb Downs. But Ryan Day has to replenish so much from last season’s squad, from installing new coordinators while having to replace veterans at quarterback, running back and both lines of the ball. 

The Buckeyes have a top five recruiting class coming into Columbus and some potential stars ready to shine, but they’re an extremely unproven team that seems to benefit from winning it all last year. Of course, they can erase all concern when they face top ranked Texas in the season opener. 

15. Mississippi 

Lane Kiffin continues to make Mississippi a respectable squad in the SEC, but like last year, lofty expectations are being put on a Rebels team that has yet to break through.

The 2024 squad felt like Ole Miss’ best yet, but it couldn’t avoid traps and missed out on the playoff. Now Jaxson Dart and a plethora of talent are gone and Kiffin has to practically rebuild from scratch. He went deep into the transfer portal to replenish the offense, which will be led by sophomore quaterback Austin Simmons. There are holes to fill at receiver and offensive line to keep the high standard established under Dart.

On the plus side, the Rebels have a chance to jump up the rankings with an easy start on the schedule, but it will remain a question whether it is legit until the big game start at the end of September.

16. SMU

Can the Mustangs repeat magic? SMU had a tremendous run to the College Football Playoff in 2024, but it will take a lot for it to get back into the field.

SMU benefits from Kevin Jennings returning under center, and Rhett Lashlee went into the portal to replenish the skill positions that really paved the way for last season’s successful run. While the pieces are there, it’s worth noting SMU greatly benefited from a relatively easy schedule that avoided the top four teams in the ACC. The schedule in 2025 is much more difficult, with Baylor and TCU in non-conference action and Clemson, Miami and Louisville in conference play.

If SMU can navigate a tougher schedule, they will present a solid argument to the playoff committee to be back in. But a tougher slate makes it tough for the Mustangs to survive.

18. Tennessee

Despite all of the offseason drama in Rocky Top, Tennessee has a favorable starting position. However, Josh Heupel has quite the task to keep a high potent offense.

The loss of Nico Iamaleava was not only tough for the Volunteers after guiding them to the playoff, but it came at a difficult time when there wasn’t a wide pool for the Volunteers to look for at signal-caller. They essentially did a swap with UCLA and brought in Joey Aguilar. Could the former Appalachian State quarterback take over the job? A lot of pressure rests on him trying to guide a young offense. Defense will have to lead. 

Tennessee should be a dark horse contender for the SEC title, but they are in the position of what they can do. Right now, it’s not a guarantee the Volunteers are contenders. They need to prove something before it should be in the top 20. 

23. Brigham Young

Of all the ranked teams, the most questionable one on the list is Brigham Young. 

The Cougars fell just short of the playoff and had a real shot of contending in the Big 12 again. But the outlook drastically changed when Jake Retzlaff departed the team. Now whomever wins the job will have the Cougars rolling with a quarterback that doesn’t have significant experience, making it look like they won’t be able to replicate the magic from 2024. 

There’s a good shot BYU starts the season 3-0, but the Big 12 scheduling is daunting by mid-October. Don’t be shocked if the Cougars are just trying to make sure they are bowl eligible.

Receiving votes: Auburn

Twenty-six teams received votes in the poll, and there’s no team that has a bigger question mark and spot than Auburn. The Tigers earned 50 points, putting them at No. 32 among teams in the rankings.

Sure, the Tigers had some back luck in 2024, but they still went 5-7 and nothing has shown it will take a major step forward. The quarterback room has experience but none of them are proven stars, and they’re trying to show they can start. Hugh Freeze showed promise with a strong recruiting effort, but he hasn’t shown he can put together a winning team yet in his two seasons at Auburn.