LeBron James remains an active member of the Los Angeles Lakers roster for his 23rd NBA season.

The four-time NBA champion has not made his season debut while dealing with a right sciatica injury. He is expected to be re-evaluated this week.

Charles Barkley, a Hall of Famer, spoke on “The Jim Rome Show” this week and shared his thoughts on James.

“I hope he leaves sooner than later, ’cause I hate to see great players out there struggling,” Barkley said about James. “I really struggled my last year, probably my last two years. It was very frustrating and humiliating for me. Obviously, LeBron is a better player than me, but I don’t want to see great players just hanging on.”

While it remains to be seen how James will fare this season, he did have a 2024-25 season in which he was named second-team All-NBA and finished sixth in the MVP voting.

James averaged 24.4 points, 8.2 assists and 7.8 rebounds per game in 70 games played last season. He averages 27 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7.4 assists during his career.

“I would love to see him have a farewell tour, then just walk away because he’s one of the three greatest players I’ve ever seen after Michael and Kobe,’ Barkley said. ‘So, I don’t want to see him hanging on just for the heck of it. But father time is always gonna win.”

Will LeBron James retire after this season?

James has not said that he will retire after this season, but did acknowledge during the Lakers’ media day in late September that the end of his career is near. He also said he doesn’t plan to wait around for Bryce James to make the NBA, compared to the public comments made about wanting to play in the NBA alongside his son, Bronny, years before.

James’ firstborn son currently plays for the Lakers.

The league will have the opportunity to honor LeBron on Feb. 15 with the NBA All-Star Game taking place at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

Spoelstra, who was recently named Team USA men’s basketball coach through the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, was spotted on video outside the scene surveying the damage after the team’s plane arrived in the Miami area.

‘We found a fire that was as tall as the trees,’ Miami-Dade fire Battalion Chief Victoria Byrd told reporters.

Here’s a breakdown of what happened according to officials on the scene in Coral Gables, Florida, as well as what impact this could have on Spoelstra and the Miami Heat:

Erik Spoelstra house fire aftermath

As of about 9 a.m. on Thursday crews remained on scene monitoring for hot spots, a fire dispatcher told USA TODAY, and no injuries had been reported. Byrd said arriving crews found two structures on the property fully engulfed in flames and it was difficult to access the scene due to privacy walls. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The house was unoccupied at the time of the fire, officials added, but images circulating on social media and released by the Miami-Dade Fire Department indicate Spoelstra’s residence was mostly destroyed by the fire.

Erik Spoelstra Miami Heat coach impact

Spoelstra’s unfortunate house fire is another obstacle for the Heat to confront early on this season. The team has started the 2025-26 NBA season without guard Tyler Herro due to injury and lost guard Terry Rozier after he was arrested as part of the federal indictments announced in the NBA’s ongoing gambling scandal.

The Heat (4-4) are next scheduled to play at home on Friday, Nov. 7 against the Charlotte Hornets in an NBA Cup game. Spoelstra’s status for the game has not changed, although the team did not immediately respond to a USA TODAY request for comment on the situation.

Spoelstra, 55, is the longest-tenured coach in the NBA, beginning his 18th season leading the Heat. He’s won two NBA championships and made six NBA Finals appearances.

Apparently, no suck luck.

The Carolina Panthers running back indicated on social media Wednesday that the NFL will indeed dock him for his two (but not three) pumps in the end zone after celebrating his second touchdown Sunday against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in a game eventually won 16-13 by the Panthers.

‘Starting a go fund me,’ Dowdle wrote on X, interspersing a few good-spirited emojis.

‘(T)hey got me.’

By NFL standards, the Panthers’ breakout star is vastly underpaid, his one-year deal with Carolina set to pay him $2.75 million … less the cut the NFL is taking for the 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty Dowdle incurred for his impersonation of McCringleberry, the central character of a ‘Key & Peele’ sketch that mocked the league’s historic tendencies to suppress player celebrations.

Dowdle, who ran for nearly 1,100 yards with the Dallas Cowboys in 2024 and currently ranks third in the NFL with 735 rushing yards − despite starting just three games since he took over the lead role from Chuba Hubbard − punctuated his fourth TD of the season while surrounded by teammates. He thrusted two pumps, a la McCringleberry, whose propensity to test a fictional rule that didn’t permit three pumps would draw the ire of officials.

Dowdle was surprised when he was penalized, holding up two fingers as he left the field for the sideline amid a mistake that contributed to a missed extra point by Ryan Fitzgerald. While realizing the gravity of his goof, Dowdle subsequently made up for it − rumbling for a 19-yard gain on the Panthers’ final possession to set Fitzgerald up for a game-winning 49-yard field goal as time expired.

‘From my understanding and everything I’ve learned, we go over stuff like this every week in the meeting room. I definitely think you’re supposed to get two pumps,’ Dowdle said following the game.

‘Hopefully, I don’t get a fine.’

Oops.

Dowdle’s infraction comes at a time when the league has emphasized good sportsmanship. However the entire episode has generally been met with good fun, actor and comedian Keegan-Michael Key, who portrayed McCringleberry, expressing faux outrage on Instagram on Sunday night.

‘Rico! Man, you got robbed − you only did two pumps,’ said a flabbergasted Key, tongue firmly placed in cheek.

‘I’m sorry, man. Now I’m gonna have to write a new sketch.’

‘We’ve got to be smarter in that situation,’ said Panthers coach Dave Canales while in a forgiving mood Monday.

‘We’ve got to make sure that we understand the rules. I might have to call up Keegan-Michael Key to get clarification on that part of it, but from what I understand, any kind of movement that way, any weapons, or all that stuff is going to get flagged. We’ve got to be smarter about that.’

Now Dowdle has learned a lesson McCringleberry never did. Not yet anyway.

Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin, the top NHL goal scorer of all time, is now the first to 900 goals.

He achieved the milestone on Nov. 5 against the St. Louis Blues. Every goal he scores adds to his record and makes it more difficult for someone to catch him.

But where does the Capitals’ 2004 No. 1 overall pick rank among the players taken first since 2000?

We’re using the opportunity of Ovechkin’s latest milestone to rank the NHL No. 1 overall picks since the start of this century.

The last five No. 1 picks (Owen Power, Juraj Slafkovsky, Connor Bedard, Macklin Celebrini and Matthew Schaefer) aren’t included in the rankings because it’s too early in their careers, but we’ll talk about them below.

Only two, maybe three, No. 1 picks could be considered disappointments. The rest is a matter of rankings.

Here is our list:

21. Nail Yakupov, Edmonton Oilers (2012)

The Oilers had three No. 1 picks in a row and Yakupov was the last – and least. He’s famous for an enthusiastic sliding goal celebration but little else. He lasted only four seasons in Edmonton with a career best of 33 points negated by a minus-35 plus-minus rating. Yakupov played a season each in St. Louis and Colorado before heading to Russia.

Best from 2012 draft: No. 19 overall Andrei Vasilevskiy

20. Rick DiPietro, New York Islanders (2000)

The Islanders traded future Hall of Fame goalie Roberto Luongo after selecting DiPietro. He was given a 15-year contract averaging $4.5 million in 2006.

But DiPietro never really established himself because of multiple injuries. He made the All-Star Game in 2008 but was injured at the game and eventually needed season-ending hip surgery.

The Islanders used a compliance buyout on him in 2013 and will pay him $1.5 million a year until 2029.

Best from 2000 draft: No. 205 overall Henrik Lundqvist

19. Alexis Lafreniere, New York Rangers (2020)

The 2020 draft year was a strange one because of COVID. A lot was expected of Lafreniere after two 100-point seasons in junior hockey, but he hasn’t had a breakthrough in the NHL yet. He appeared poised to in 2023-24 with 57 points in the regular season and nearly a point a game in the playoffs. But he, like the rest of the team, took a step back last season. He finished with 45 points in 2024-25 and is off to a slow start in 2025-26.

Best from 2020 draft: No. 13 overall Seth Jarvis

18. Erik Johnson, St. Louis Blues (2006)

The defenseman recently retired and had won a Stanley Cup with the Avalanche in 2022. He dealt with injuries, including knee surgery that cost him his second season. He was solid though not flashy.

Best from 2006 draft: No. 3 overall Jonathan Toews

17. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Edmonton Oilers (2011)

He was the middle of the Oilers’ three consecutive No. 1 overall picks and is the only one left with the team. He had a 100-point season but otherwise is a 50- to 60-point player. He’s overshadowed on the Oilers by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl but he’s valued for his versatility. He can play any forward position and is on the power play and penalty kill.

Best from 2011 draft: No. 58 overall Nikita Kucherov

16. Rick Nash, Columbus Blue Jackets (2002)

He became the face of the Blue Jackets, scored some stellar goals, was their captain and had his number retired. He won a share of the goal title in his second season and had three 40-goal seasons.

Best from 2002 draft: Nash

15. Taylor Hall, Edmonton Oilers (2010)

He won the Hart Trophy in 2017-18 with the Devils with a 39-goal, 93-point season. But that was his lone season topping 80 points and he’s had only two topping 70. He was limited to two goals in a partial season with the Sabres (2021) – one of the seven teams for which he has played.

Best from 2010 draft: No. 2 overall Tyler Seguin

14. Ilya Kovalchuk, Atlanta Thrashers (2001)

Two 50-goal seasons and four others with 40 or more. When the Thrashers made him available, the hockey world waited breathlessly for where he would be traded. His 17-year, $102 million contract with the Devils was the richest at the time. But it was structured so obviously as a cap circumvention that the NHL ordered it redone and punished the Devils. Kovalchuk returned to Russia in 2013 and attempted an NHL comeback from 2018-20.

Best from 2001 draft: Kovalchuk

13. Nico Hischier, New Jersey Devils (2017)

He has developed into a solid two-way center who was a Selke Trophy runner-up in 2022-23 and had 35 goals last season. Could he win the Selke this season with Florida’s Aleksander Barkov injured? Hischier has been the Devils’ captain since 2021-22.

Best from 2017 draft: No. 4 overall Cale Makar

12. Aaron Ekblad, Florida Panthers (2014)

The defenseman has won the last two Stanley Cup titles and has had eight seasons of double-digit goals. He was suspended for 20 games last season for a PED violation and another two games in the playoffs for elbowing.

Best from 2014 draft: No. 3 overall Leon Draisaitl

11. Rasmus Dahlin, Buffalo Sabres (2018)

He has become a franchise defenseman for the Sabres. If he weren’t playing for a team with a 14-year playoff drought, he might have a chance for a Norris Trophy. The best he has finished is sixth in voting.

Best from 2018 draft: No. 7 overall Quinn Hughes

10. Jack Hughes, New Jersey Devils (2019)

Based on skill, Hughes is a franchise player, but he needs to stay healthy. He scored a franchise-record 99 points in 2022-23 when he played 78 games. But he missed 20 games in each of the last two seasons. He’s off to another fast start this season.

Best from 2019 draft: Hughes

9. John Tavares, New York Islanders (2009)

The six-time All-Star recently scored his 500th career goal. He has topped 500 points with both the Islanders and the Maple Leafs, only the fourth NHL player to do that with two franchises. Tavares has been captain of both of his teams.

Best from 2009 draft: Tavares

8. Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning (2008)

He won two goal titles early in his career, with 51- and 60-goal seasons. He’s had five 40-goal seasons, including at age 33. He won Stanley Cup titles in 2020 and 2021 and went to the final in 2015 and 2022. He was Lightning captain from 2014-24, when the team let him go to free agency. Stamkos hasn’t found his footing yet after signing with the Nashville Predators.

Best from 2008 draft: Stamkos

7. Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh Penguins (2003)

Fleury recently retired after a 21-year career in which he finished with the second-most wins in NHL history (575), three Stanley Cup titles and two other trips to the final, plus a Vezina Trophy. He was taken by the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2017 expansion draft and gave that team instant credibility. He was known for his competitiveness, never giving up on a puck, poke checks, thanking the goal posts and his pranks.

Best from 2003 draft: Fleury and No. 45 overall Patrice Bergeron will be Hall of Famers

6. Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs (2016)

A pure scorer who had four goals in his NHL debut and has three goal titles, including two 60-goal seasons, and a Hart Trophy. He flirted with 70 goals in 2023-24 before falling one short. He is in his second season as Maple Leafs captain. A drawback: He has never been past the second round.

Best from 2016 draft: Matthews

5. Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks (2007)

Kane was taken first the year after Jonathan Toews was drafted third overall, and the two played key roles in the Blackhawks winning three championships from 2010-15. Kane ranks third in all-time scoring by U.S.-born players and second in assists. He won the scoring title and Hart Trophy in 2015-16 and was playoff MVP in 2013.

Best from 2007 draft: Kane

4. Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche (2013)

His size and powerful skating make him hard to defend. He developed into a consistent 90-point scorer and more recently morphed into 100 points or more a season. His best was 140 points in 2023-24, when he won the Hart Trophy. He led the league with 84 assists last season. He won a Stanley Cup in 2022 with a league-best 13 goals in the playoffs.

Best from 2013 draft: MacKinnon

3. Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers (2015)

Since he joined the league in 2015, no one has topped his average of 1.52 points per game. That ranks third all-time behind Hall of Famers Wayne Gretzky (1.92) and Mario Lemieux (1.88). McDavid’s speed makes him hard to stop. He has won three Hart trophies, highlighted by scoring 105 points in the 56-game COVID-shortened 2021 season and 64 goals and 153 points in 2022-23. He has five point titles. The only thing missing is a Stanley Cup, but he has been to the final the past two seasons and accepted a team-friendly extension to make sure the Oilers have the salary cap flexibility to get over the top.

Best from 2015 draft: McDavid

2. Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals (2004)

It’s more than the stunning volume of goals. He was a bull on the ice, delivering big checks and scoring spectacular goals. Everyone knows he’ll be set up for a one-timer on the power play, but he is hard to stop. He has nine goal titles, one Stanley Cup, three Hart trophies and scored 44 goals at age 39 to break Gretzky’s record.

Best from 2004 draft: Ovechkin

1. Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins (2005)

The NHL had to set up special draft lottery rules for the generational prospect because the 2004-05 season was lost to a lockout. The Penguins won and it changed the franchise. They reached the Stanley Cup Final in his third season and won a championship in his fourth, plus back-to-back titles in 2016 and 2017 in which he was playoff MVP. The three titles (plus two Olympic gold medals) give him an edge over Ovechkin. Crosby, a two-time MVP, is still putting up big numbers and recently scored his 1,700th point, a number that would be higher if he hadn’t had concussion problems earlier in his career.

Best from 2005 draft: Crosby

The last five No. 1 overall draft picks

Bedard (2023) and Celebrini (2024) are already stars. Bedard was rookie of the year in 2023-24, got off to a slow start the following season, but recently scored his first hat trick. Celebrini was a Calder Trophy finalist last season and is among the NHL’s early scoring leaders this season.

Power (2021), who returned for a final season at Michigan, was a Calder finalist in 2022-23, but it’s too early to judge his long-term impact. Slafkovsky (2022) also needs more time for evaluation. He followed a 10-point rookie year with two 50-point seasons.

Schaefer (2025) is off to a torrid start. He had points in his first six NHL games on the way to being named rookie of the month for October. He had a two-goal game in November.

The Week 11 slate in college football features key contests in all the power conferences, which should give our panel of expert prognosticators a lot to consider.

The headliner is in the Big 12, a top-10 clash between No. 8 Brigham Young and No. 9 Texas Tech. There’s also a rather important ranked pairing in the Big Ten, as No. 6 Oregon visits No. 24 Iowa with both teams at one loss in the league and still in the race for the conference title game.

Of course, the SEC gets in on the act as well. No. 3 Texas A&M hits the road to No. 17 Missouri, and No. 4 Alabama hosts LSU. In other contests involving playoff contenders, No. 10 Notre Dame hosts its annual showdown with Navy, and No. 23 Memphis takes on Tulane in a key Friday night tilt in the American.

Will our staff pickers have differing opinions on those contests, and does anybody sniff a possible upset elsewhere? Read on to find out, and have a look at our season standings to date if you’re curious.

College football picks for Week 11

After LSU women’s basketball team fell a victory short of reaching the Final Four last season, senior guard Flau’jae Johnson considered entering the 2025 WNBA draft. 

It wouldn’t have come as a surprise had she gone to the league. Johnson had achieved a lot in her three years at LSU under head coach Kim Mulkey. The Tigers won a national championship her freshman year, followed by two consecutive trips to the Elite Eight. That might be enough to satisfy some, but not Johnson. 

“It just shows that I haven’t done enough to lead my team over that hump. The Elite Eight is not good enough for me,” Johnson, who will lead LSU against Southeast Louisiana on Thursday (8 p.m., SECN+) told USA TODAY Sports. “I want to win. I want to go out how I came in.”

NCAA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL SEASON TIPS OFF: Top 10 storylines to watch this season

That insatiable desire to be the best at everything she does — whether it’s laying down lyrics in the studio or knocking down layups on the court — made Johnson’s decision to return to LSU a “no brainer.” She has more to give to the Tigers, and ‘to whom much is given, much is required,’ Johnson said, quoting Luke 12:48.

Mulkey has made one requirement clear. As the longest tenured player on the team, Johnson will be called upon to lead. While Johnson has had some hesitations, Mulkey has full faith in her senior guard.  

“She’s really trying to push me to become …. the player that she believes I can become,” said Johnson, one of the 14 women’s college basketball players selected to Unrivaled presented by Samsung Galaxy’s inaugural NIL class. “I feel like she’s challenging me. (Mulkey) has really been pushing me to my limit.”

Flau’jae Johnson’s leadership role

Johnson said she has ‘a great relationship’ with Mulkey, although she admitted her coach is slightly upset with her. Johnson posted a viral video impersonating Mulkey in a blonde wig and signature sequin jacket, which earned her extra sprints and conditioning this offseason, she told USA TODAY Sports.

‘She’s kind of mad at me about the wig (video),’ Johnson said with a laugh. ‘Every time we do conditioning, (Mulkey) says, ‘It’s because Flau’jae (Johnson) was playing in my office.’ … She’s going to make us condition anyway, but now she wants to blame me.’

Mulkey is known for her demanding coaching style that’s resulted in four national championships at Baylor (2005, 2012, 2019) and LSU (2023). Mulkey has pushes her players ‘out of love,’ Johnson said. Mulkey is now urging Johnson to take ownership of the Tigers, as one of four seniors on the team.

“She’s always been reluctant to be a leader of teammates because she wants them to like her,” Mulkey said last month during the SEC basketball media day. ‘She never felt comfortable doing it because she’s always had that great older player in the locker room.”

Johnson played with two outspoken veterans in Angel Reese and Aneesah Morrow, but both have graduated and moved onto the WNBA — leaving Johnson to lead whether she’s ready or not. 

“This is it. You are that older player. You’re the senior. You’ve been here,’ Mulkey added. ‘You know the ropes. So go lead your basketball team.’

Flau’jae Johnson: ‘I love proving people wrong’

Johnson doesn’t need too much pushing. The multi-hyphenated star said she’s ‘always had this self-motivation’ and aspirations ‘to do great things.’ She knows exactly the kind of leader she wants to be, one that sets the example.

‘I want to lead when things are tough. And so just building my character in those moments,’ Johnson said. ‘I feel like I’ve learned who I was when things didn’t suit me. I don’t want to be that person anymore, so I want to be a better leader. So I think just holding myself accountable because basketball comes with adversity, and once you face it, how are you mature enough to maneuver in that?’

Johnson understands adversity and the fragility of any given moment. Her father Jason Johnson was an up-and-coming rapper who was shot and killed in May 2003 while her mother was pregnant with her. Johnson pursued a rap career to continue her late father’s legacy and landed a distribution deal with RocNation. She is set to release her new EP “One of a Kind” next week.

‘I’m a dog. I love proving people wrong. I love proving myself right,’ Johnson said. ‘Everything that I do. I just want to excel. I feel like there is no tomorrow. Tomorrow’s not promised… That’s kind of how I live every day.’

LSU adds MiLaysia Fulwiley

The Tigers will have a different look this season. Johnson and sophomore guard Mikaylah Williams, who were both named preseason All-SEC, are the lone returning starters. Forward Aneesah Morrow, who led the nation in rebounds and double-doubles last season, played her first season in the WNBA. Six other players transferred.

But the Tigers made several additions including junior guard MiLaysia Fulwiley, who transferred from South Carolina. Johnson said Fulwiley has brought a level of ‘craftiness’ to the team. LSU also added transfers Kate Koval (Notre Dame) and Amiya Joyner (East Carolina), in addition to five-star freshman recruits Grace Knox, ZaKiyah Johnson and Divine Bourrage.

‘(Fulwiley) brings flare. She brings pace, creativity, quickness, a little bit of everything,’ Johnson said. ‘She’s so free … We’re so structured and then a new person comes and she’s doing it. I’m like, OK, I can vibe with that.

‘She just brings such a different imbalance to the team. That’s good for us though. She’s so young. She’s so fun and eager to learn. She’s just a really good teammate.’

The SEC media picked LSU to finish third in the conference, behind South Carolina and Texas. The Tigers opened the season with a 108-55 win against Houston Christian, with Fulwiley dropping 21 points and Johnson 12. Johnson has averaged double digit points in each of her three seasons at LSU, upping her scoring from 11.0 points as a freshman to 14.9 points as a sophomore and 18.6 last season.

‘I don’t put any pressure on myself and I’m blocking out the outside noise and the expectations that people have on me,’ Johnson said. ‘I know the path that I’m on… And this year is a part of my path. I’m going to make it as great as I can. I’m going to give everything I got.’

Johnson said she likes to stay in the present ‘right where my feet are,’ but just for a second, she allowed herself to dream about ending her collegiate career with another national championship.

‘It would be a storybook ending,’ Johnson said. ‘That’s what I’m trying to get to.’

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Red Panda, a well-known halftime performer, returned to the court on Tuesday for a performance during the Chicago Bulls-Philadelphia 76ers game. This was her first NBA halftime performance after recovering from a broken left wrist that she sustained during a performance over the summer.

Red Panda, whose real name is Rong Niu and who comes from a family of performing acrobats, fell during a halftime performance on July 1 at the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup final between the Indiana Fever and the Minnesota Lynx. She lost her balance while riding her unicycle and crashed onto the court. As a result, she was unable to complete her performance and was assisted off the floor in a wheelchair. Later, she revealed that she had broken her wrist during the incident.

Red Panda is famous for riding her unicycle, which is approximately 8 feet tall, while balancing custom-made bowls on her lower leg before flipping them onto the top of her head. She has been the star of many halftime performances, including during Game 5 of the NBA Finals in Oklahoma City.

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

The ACC is guaranteed one spot in the College Football Playoff but is vying for a second.
No. 6 Oregon faces a crucial game against Iowa to keep its at-large playoff hopes alive.
Colorado coach Deion Sanders is under pressure as his team struggles through a difficult season.

That’s guaranteed, of course, since the playoff grants automatic bids to the five highest-rated conference champions — the ACC is better than every Group of Five league, though the SEC, Big Ten and even the Big 12 are on a different level.

Every weekend until the end of the regular season, including the ACC championship game, will serve as a referendum on whether the conference warrants multiple teams in the tournament. A year ago, the ACC placed conference champion Clemson and runner-up SMU.

The drama begins on Saturday, when No. 11 Virginia hosts Wake Forest, No. 15 Louisville takes on California and No. 18 Miami hosts Syracuse. The one-loss Cavaliers are the only unbeaten team in ACC play and own the tiebreaker over the Cardinals, giving them some wiggle room in the race for Charlotte. But Virginia has just one other victory against a Power Four opponent with a winning record and would have slim odds of landing an at-large spot with a second loss. On the other hand, the Cardinals have wins against James Madison, Pittsburgh and Miami, giving them the foundation for an at-large run.

The Hurricanes are in dire straits after coming in eight spots behind No. 10 Notre Dame in the debut playoff rankings. League losses to Louisville and SMU have already doomed their shot at the conference crown, leaving only a single path to the playoff: Miami has to win out — and win out in style — while getting buckets of help from other Power Four leagues.

The ACC leads the USA TODAY Sports preview of the team, game, coach and quarterback facing the most pressure in Week 11 of the regular season:

Team: No. 6 Oregon

Landing at No. 9 in the debut playoff rankings should be a wake-up call for the Ducks, who might have to run the table from here, earning key wins against No. 24 Iowa, No. 21 Southern California and Washington along the way, to lock down a place as the second Big Ten team to earn an at-large berth. Looking ahead to Saturday, a loss in Iowa City would move the Hawkeyes into third among Big Ten teams in the playoff rankings.

A loss could even drop Oregon behind USC, which hosts Northwestern on Friday night. For now, the Wildcats are the Ducks’ best win, which justifies the three-spot difference between where Oregon falls in the US LBM Coaches Poll and in the playoff rankings.

Whether the Ducks can snap Iowa’s three-game winning streak is another question. The Hawkeyes’ two losses came by a combined eight points to Iowa State and No. 2 Indiana. In terms of shared opponents, both teams were competitive against the Hoosiers and both narrowly escaped against Penn State, while the Ducks were more dominant against Rutgers and the Hawkeyes much more impressive against Wisconsin.

The stakes are clear for Oregon. While the selection committee is impressed by what the Ducks bring to the table, chairman Mack Rhodes said on Tuesday night, a second loss in as many games against ranked competition could put their playoff hopes on life support.

Game: No. 8 Brigham Young at No. 9 Texas Tech

This is a highly meaningful matchup for the Big 12 that reflects the league’s increased strength compared to last season, when conference champion Arizona State was the only team to make the playoff. At no point last year did the Big 12 have more than one team inside the top 15 of the playoff rankings.

The best-case scenario has Texas Tech winning a well-played, close game that moves the Red Raiders inside the top eight of next week’s top 25 while not causing too much of a drop for the Cougars. But the opposite wouldn’t be bad, either, making BYU an even firmer playoff contender even at the expense of nearly erasing Tech’s at-large chances.

The two share the same ranked win, against No. 19 Utah, but the Red Raiders have been much more dominant in league play despite an October loss to the Sun Devils. Tech has won every other game by at least 24 points, including recent wins against Oklahoma State and Kansas State by a combined 65 points.

Coach: Deion Sanders, Colorado

Colorado won four games in Sanders’ debut, climbed to nine wins last year but may be capped at three wins this season with a loss on Saturday at West Virginia. Bowl eligibility is a pipe dream; the Buffaloes aren’t good enough, to be blunt, and will be pretty heavy underdogs in games against Arizona State and Kansas State to end the year.

It’s just been a rough year, period, raising concerns that last year’s breakthrough was an aberration. The Buffaloes have cycled through multiple quarterbacks, eventually landing on true freshman Julian Lewis against the Mountaineers. Sanders has also changed offensive coordinators, demoting Pat Shurmur in the wake of a loss to Utah in late October in favor of tight ends coach and passing game coordinator Brett Bartolone.

And things have gotten worse. Since beating Iowa State on Oct. 11, Colorado has been outscored 81-7 in the first half by the Utes and Arizona and lost by a combined score of 105-24. The lack of competitiveness is concerning.

Even WVU might be too much for the Buffaloes to handle. While the Mountaineers have struggled in Rich Rodriguez’s first year back on the sidelines, they did beat Pittsburgh earlier in the year and are fresh off an upset of Houston.

Quarterback: Matt Zollers, Missouri

No. 17 Missouri’s playoff chances hinge on the right arm of backup quarterback Matt Zollers, who will replace an injured Beau Pribula against No. 3 Texas A&M and become the first freshman to start for the Tigers since Drew Lock in 2015.

A four-star recruit and one of the top prospects in Pennsylvania, Zollers has played in five games and made 29 attempts, nearly all coming as Pribula’s replacement in a 17-10 loss against No. 16 Vanderbilt to end October. Zollers played well enough against the Commodores to justify the praise he’s drawn from coach Eli Drinkwitz since spring practices.

The extra week of preparation should help Missouri build a scheme and game plan to match Zollers’ skill set. The Aggies’ pass defense ranks fourth in the SEC in yards allowed per attempt but has allowed 13 touchdowns against just two interceptions, the fewest in the conference. A&M has also given up at least 218 yards in the air in each of the past three games.

A loss would drop Missouri out of the playoff conversation and inch A&M one step closer to locking down an at-large berth before meeting No. 13 Texas on Black Friday. But a win would move the Tigers closer to the Longhorns and No. 12 Oklahoma in next Tuesday’s playoff rankings.