Week 9 in the NFL proved that the action is only picking up as the campaign reaches midseason and the trade deadline approaches.

One week after a historically lopsided slate, Sunday proved exponentially more scintillating thanks to upsets, close calls, injuries and plenty of other notable developments. And the shifting isn’t likely to stop there, as Tuesday’s trade deadline could prompt more movement in the next 36 hours or so, even if the swaps are of the more minor variety seen in the last month or so.

Here are the biggest winners and losers from Week 9 in the NFL:

NFL Week 9 winners

Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense

The league’s highest-paid defense has been sharply criticized this season for being static and ineffective, particularly in consecutive losses in the last two weeks. Sunday, however, marked a clear breakthrough. In a 27-20 win over the Indianapolis Colts, Pittsburgh nabbed six takeaways from an offense that only had four turnovers in its previous eight games. Good fortune surely played into that sharp contrast, but so too did strong execution. Running back Jonathan Taylor was held to a season-low 45 yards on 14 carries by a unit that made his erasure its top priority. From there, the Colts struggled to replicate their previous magic, as edge rushers Alex Highsmith (two sacks) and T.J. Watt (one sack) feasted against an Indianapolis front that was out of sorts in obvious passing downs. Pittsburgh still has to prove it can exist somewhere closer to this performance extreme rather than the other it in which it resided recently, but conjuring an answer for the league’s most efficient attack made quite the statement.

Colston Loveland

When the Chicago Bears tight end hauled in his first career touchdown to give his team a third-quarter lead against the Cincinnati Bengals, it seemed like a nice contribution from a player who otherwise had largely been an afterthought in his rookie campaign. On this day, though, he would be nothing short of essential to the Bears, especially with starter Cole Kmet sidelined by a second-quarter concussion. With Chicago staring down a crushing collapse after giving up 15 points in the final two minutes, Loveland hauled in a Caleb Williams dart down the seam, bounced off one would-be tackler and spun past another before racing for a go-ahead, 58-yard score. It was enough to give Loveland more receiving yards on the day (118) than he had all year before Sunday (116). More importantly, he put Chicago right in the thick of a condensed NFC North race on a day when the organization seemed to be teetering on the verge of disaster. It might be another year before the No. 10 overall pick becomes a staple of the offense, but after this performance, it will be hard for coach Ben Johnson to overlook what dimensions the field-stretching threat adds to the aerial attack.

Rico Dowdle

For most running backs, tallying a franchise-record 473 yards from scrimmage over a two-game span would lead to a featured role for the rest of the season. For Dowdle, it yielded a split with typical starter Chuba Hubbard. Dave Canales acknowledged last week, however, that the rugged ball carrier gave the offense something a little extra, and Dowdle did just that in powering a 16-13 win over the Green Bay Packers. Not only did he notch his first game with two rushing touchdowns, his 130 yards on 25 carries kept Carolina chugging on a windy day during which Bryce Young passed for just 102 yards. The only party capable of pushing back on him was the officiating crew, who flagged Dowdle for his, uh, evocative touchdown celebration. At 5-3, the Panthers are in the mix to end a seven-year playoff drought. That’s thanks in no small part to Dowdle, who seems due for a much bigger payday this offseason than the one he received in March with a $2.75 million deal.

Brian Flores

The Minnesota Vikings’ performance behind center has sparked the most headlines, but there’s been slippage across the board – including from Flores’ vaunted defense. Sunday’s 27-24 win over the Detroit Lions served as a needed return to form on several fronts. A maligned defensive front bottled up Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, allowing the dynamic backfield duo to post just 65 yards on 20 carries. Detangling the Lions’ intricate offense allowed the Vikings to tee off on Jared Goff, who took five sacks as the offense converted just five of 17 third-down attempts. That helped enable Minnesota to play its own brand of complementary football, with a solid ground game (142 yards on 29 carries) aiding J.J. McCarthy in the quarterback’s return from an ankle injury. It’s going to be difficult for this group to reach a level anywhere close to the lofty highs it discovered last season, but this was an encouraging showing against a team that long had Flores and the Vikings’ number during the Ben Johnson years.

Buffalo Bills’ playoff-seeding outlook

There’s still that little matter of holding onto the AFC East crown for a sixth consecutive season, which might not prove so easy given the New England Patriots’ one-game lead and highly favorable schedule down the stretch. But Buffalo’s 28-21 win over the Kansas City Chiefs held importance beyond the symbolic value of vanquishing the foe that has repeatedly blocked the franchise’s Super Bowl path. Of course, the Bills have been here before, having now won the last five regular-season matchups with no postseason breakthrough to follow. But Sean McDermott’s crew now possesses a two-game advantage on Kansas City in the loss column, along with the all-important head-to-head tiebreaker. If the defense can thwart surging passing attacks the way it halted Patrick Mahomes (who was pressured on 52.6% of his dropbacks, according to Next Gen Stats) and Co., then maybe Buffalo is the AFC team to be feared rather than Kansas City.

Cam Little

The second-year kicker already set himself apart from many of his peers by booting a 70-yard field goal in preseason. Now, however, he officially stands above everyone else in NFL history with a record-setting 68-yard field goal against the Las Vegas Raiders. Little hasn’t been the picture of reliability, with three misses – two field-goal attempts and a point-after try – in the last two games. With range like this, though, he’s a legitimate asset for an offense that still hasn’t fully found its stride. Yet with the Dallas Cowboys’ Brandon Aubrey already having drilled two kicks of at least 64 yards in regular-season games, it might not be long before Little faces a legitimate challenge for his new mark.

Matthew Stafford

Good weekend to be a Southern California sports fan. One day after his old pal Clayton Kershaw secured another World Series title, Stafford made quick work of the New Orleans Saints’ undermanned secondary with four touchdown throws – all coming against the blitz – in the Los Angeles Rams’ 34-10 romp. Two of his scoring strikes went to Davante Adams, while Puka Nacua caught another. The quarterback also averted disaster with Nacua’s rib injury, with coach Sean McVay saying after the game that the receiver could have returned if he had been needed. The MVP race is a flavor-of-the-week matter right now with no clear front-runner, but Stafford is keeping himself at the forefront of the conversation.

NFL Week 9 losers

Washington Commanders

Pinpointing blame for player injuries is typically a fruitless endeavor in a sport that can swing multiple parties’ fortunes in an instant. In the case of the Commanders and Jayden Daniels’ gruesome elbow injury in Sunday night’s 38-14 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, however, it’s fair game to question coach Dan Quinn’s culpability. Daniels was hurt on a second-down scramble with his team trailing 38-7 with less than eight minutes remaining. Even by the rosiest outlooks, that comeback isn’t materializing. Worse yet, Quinn said after the game that Washington’s performance was ‘unacceptable’ and that the team ‘missed the opportunity by a mile.’ Why, then, leave it all on the shoulders of Daniels to try to claw all the way back? The quarterback already has an acknowledged issue with protecting himself that dates back to his Heisman Trophy-winning year at LSU, during which he would routinely subject himself to massive hits when taking off as a runner. It’s difficult for an organization that has embraced an all-in mentality to pull back, especially when the season has gone as haywire as this 3-6 campaign has for the Commanders. But now the near future looks murky for Daniels, who reports indicated had suffered a dislocated elbow, and Quinn will have to answer for an unwillingness to cut his losses.

Packers

The bottom line was bad enough, with Green Bay being dealt another stunning defeat as well as the loss of breakout star Tucker Kraft, who the team fears suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament, per multiple reports. But the manner in which the Packers arrived at their last-second defeat compounded the agony. Once again, a team that couldn’t hang with the NFL’s elite last season can’t seem to handle its most straightforward matchups this year. From Jordan Love’s several questionable throws on Sunday – one of which resulted in an interception – to kicker Brandon McManus missing another field goal, the Packers have plenty of baked-in volatility. But Matt LaFleur is ultimately responsible for a unit that too often amounts to less than the sum of its parts, with the coach bemoaning a 1-of-5 red-zone performance Sunday. On a day when the Lions also faltered, Green Bay should have seized the opportunity to build some separation in the NFC North. Instead, the outing helped reinforce that the division is fully up for grabs in the final two months.

Bengals’ defense

For a minute, it appeared as though Joe Flacco’s career performance and Cincinnati’s offensive resilience might be enough to cover for another dreadful day from the team’s defense. But it took just that same minute – less, even – for the Bengals to squander a stunning rally that briefly looked capable of saving the franchise’s season. Yes, the tackling and coverage on Loveland’s game-winning touchdown were nothing short of shameful. But pinning the outcome on that one play would be reducing the group’s problems to a single misstep, and that in no way captures the full extent of the futility here. The Bears trampled the Bengals for 283 yards, the bulk of it coming from hard-charging Kyle Monangai in the seventh-round rookie’s first start. When Chicago wasn’t simply pushing Cincinnati aside, however, it was literally playing ‘hot potato,’ which was the name of the trick play on which Caleb Williams scored a receiving touchdown. And the defense’s known vulnerability over the middle continued to be exploited, as opposing tight ends now have 12 touchdowns against the unit this season. One week after begging for a leader to emerge, coach Zac Taylor said he felt ‘sick to lose like that.’ In reality, though, his team has been floundering in this fashion for quite a while. It just hasn’t seemed this dramatic until now.

Los Angeles Chargers’ protection plan

Any confidence the Bolts had in their ability to safeguard Justin Herbert was short-lived. In his second game back from a high-ankle sprain that sidelined him for three weeks, left tackle Joe Alt was carted off in the second quarter of the Chargers’ 27-20 win over the Tennessee Titans. With Alt out – and starting right tackle Bobby Hart also leaving due to a groin injury – Herbert took a season-high six sacks while also throwing a pick-six in the face of a blitz. Even with star defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons inactive on the day, the Titans’ pedestrian collection of pass rushers applied consistent heat, with Dre’Mont Jones and Jihad Ward each notching four hits. If Alt misses another significant stretch of time, the Chargers will be hard-pressed to stave off the likes of the Steelers, Jaguars and Philadelphia Eagles, all of whom are ahead in the team’s next four contests.

Parker Romo

Gillette Stadium just isn’t the kicker’s scene. Two-plus months after Romo lost a competition to rookie Andy Borregales for the New England Patriots’ job, Romo missed an extra point that proved decisive in the Atlanta Falcons’ 24-23 loss. Romo enjoyed a nice debut in stepping in for Younghoe Koo, converting all five field-goal attempts in a Week 2 win over the Vikings. But he’s missed three field goals since then, and it’s difficult for a team with this little margin for error to operate like this.

San Francisco 49ers’ injury luck

Weathering personnel losses has become a way of life for San Francisco for a year-plus, but the 49ers’ injury hits have reached a level of absurdity. The latest blow: First-round rookie defensive end Mykel Williams is feared to have torn his anterior cruciate ligament in Sunday’s 34-24 win over the New York Giants. For a unit that’s already without its superstars in defensive end Nick Bosa and linebacker Fred Warner, a breaking point feels imminent despite the impressive work of coordinator Robert Saleh. Keion White’s addition last week should add a bit of depth and upside along the defensive front, but San Francisco can’t be reasonably expected to forge ahead in the playoff chase unless it brings aboard another piece before the trade deadline. 

The Dallas Cowboys are playing the Arizona Cardinals on ‘Monday Night Football’ to close NFL Week 9. Less than 24 hours after that game ends, the 2025 NFL trade deadline will come to pass.

That will give Jerry Jones and the Dallas brain trust little time to make a definitive decision about which direction to take the Cowboys at the midpoint of the league’s season.

The Cowboys have sported one of the league’s best offenses during the first half of the 2025 NFL season, but their defense has ranked second-worst in defensive EPA per play. As a result, they are 3-4-1 across their first eight games, keeping them well behind in the NFC East race and on the outside looking in for the NFC wild-card race.

That said, if Dallas can bolster its defense, it may have a shot to climb the ladder and get into the NFC playoff picture. That could be enough to convince Jones, 83, to try to find some upgrades on the trade market, even if the Cowboys will merely be floating around .500 at best by the time the deadline arrives.

Who could the Cowboys target if they do become buyers? Here’s a look at the top defensive options Dallas could pursue.

EDGE Bradley Chubb, Miami Dolphins

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports the Cowboys ‘are in the market for a pass rusher’ ahead of the 2025 trade deadline. That’s not a major surprise, considering the team doesn’t have a true, No. 1 pass rusher after trading Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers on eve of the 2025 NFL season.

The Dolphins figure to be one of the deadline’s major sellers after parting with general manager Chris Grier following a Week 9 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on ‘Thursday Night Football.’ They already offloaded Jaelan Phillips to the Eagles for a third-round pick and would probably relish finding an opportunity to trade Chubb, who is under contract through 2027 and has a $19.45 million base salary for next season.

The Cowboys may view that as a reasonable price for Chubb, especially since the 29-year-old’s 25 pressures this season are seven more than any player currently on Dallas’ roster.

EDGE Trey Hendrickson, Cincinnati Bengals

If Chubb represents a realistic option for the Cowboys, Hendrickson may be the pie-in-the-sky one. USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon reports the Bengals are ‘unlikely’ to deal the star edge rusher despite him playing on an expiring contract.

But could the 3-6 Bengals be swayed to offload Hendrickson, who requested a trade during the offseason? If so, the Cowboys would be a sensible landing spot for the 30-year-old, who produced 17.5 sacks in back-to-back seasons and has generated 23 pressures and four sacks across seven games this year.

EDGE Jermaine Johnson, New York Jets

Johnson generated 7.5 sacks and made a Pro Bowl in 2023. Since then, he has played in seven games due to injury and has generated just one sack.

Johnson is still just 26 and is under contract for a reasonable $13.4 million in 2026. The Florida State product has athletic upside, and perhaps a change of scenery could allow him to regain the solid form of his breakout, second season.

The issue with trading for Johnson? He wouldn’t come cheap. The Athletic reports the Jets are asking for ‘a second-round pick or better’ to part with the fourth-year edge rusher.

Still, Dallas could consider targeting him as a long-term replacement for Parsons at a fraction of the cost.

EDGE Arden Key, Tennessee Titans

If Dallas just wants to add depth to its edge rush rotation, it could consider targeting Key. The 29-year-old has racked up at least 4.5 sacks in four consecutive seasons and has 1.5 sacks in a rotational role across five games with the Titans this season.

Key is playing on an expiring contract and would be a cheap addition for the Cowboys. The only question is whether he would move the needle enough to justify pursuing him.

LB Logan Wilson, Cincinnati Bengals

Wilson has requested a trade away from the Bengals and hopes to be dealt away from Cincinnati, per USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon. Could he find a new home in Dallas?

The Cowboys could use an upgrade at linebacker, as Kenneth Murray Jr. – their primary starter at the position – ranks 80th among 83 qualified players at the position this season, per Pro Football Focus. Wilson may not be as good in coverage as he once was, but the 29-year-old team captain remains a quality downhill linebacker who has posted 100-plus tackles in four consecutive seasons.

LB Demario Davis, New Orleans Saints

Davis would be a bigger upgrade for the Cowboys at linebacker, as he remains one of the league’s best run-stopping linebackers. He is graded as PFF’s third-best run defender at linebacker and has generated 84 tackles thus far in 2025, good for fourth-most in the league.

While Davis would be a major upgrade for Dallas, it would be of the short-term variety. He is set to turn 37 in January and is playing on an expiring contract.

CB Riq Woolen, Seattle Seahawks

Woolen has allowed a career-worst 98.9 passer rating when targeted and grades as PFF’s 96th cornerback out of 103 qualifiers. He may need a change of scenery, and the Seahawks could be willing to provide that if they are content to roll with the trio of Devon Witherspoon and Josh Jobe as their top cornerbacks with rookie Nick Emmanwori in the slot.

Dallas could then use Woolen in place of the injured Trevon Diggs and hope the 6-4, 210-pound cornerback can become a matchup nightmare again in Matt Eberflus’ defense.

On Monday, however, a deal that served all parties well materialized.

The Miami Dolphins agreed to send edge rusher Jaelan Phillips to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a 2026 third-round pick, according to multiple reports.

For the defending-champion Eagles, much-needed help with a flagging pass rush arrives in the form of a familiar figure. And for the floundering Dolphins, a long-awaited reset finally appears imminent.

Here’s how each team graded out in the deal:

Philadelphia Eagles trade grade: B-

Howie Roseman wasn’t going to toil in the bargain bin of trade deadline action for long. After bringing aboard cornerbacks Jaire Alexander and Michael Carter II last week, the architect of the Eagles once again got bold with what could be one of the most sizable moves before Tuesday’s cutoff.

Phillips is plenty talented and legitimately changes the outlook of an edge-rushing group that still sorely misses the injured Nolan Smith – as well as the departed Josh Sweat. Philadelphia will add more juice to a defense that has yet to reach anything close to last season’s championship form.

The incentive here is understandable, with Philly wanting to give itself every edge – wordplay not intended – to repeat. But the price is steep for getting either a half-year rental or a jump on a player set to hit the open market anyway. Fangio surely was drawn to a player whom he helped reach 6 1/2 sacks in eight games in 2023, when the defensive coordinator held the same position for the Dolphins. But Phillips isn’t the same player that Fangio last coached given that each of his last two seasons has ended with a significant injury (torn Achilles and torn anterior cruciate ligament).

Phillips might reconfigure the Eagles’ pass rush, but he seems unlikely to revolutionize it. But with no Myles Garrett, Maxx Crosby or (potentially) Trey Hendrickson within reach, this was likely the Eagles’ best option before February.

Miami Dolphins trade grade: B+

The calculus here isn’t nearly as complicated for Miami. A non-contender that’s in the process of bottoming out clearly needed to take advantage of a sellers’ market. The only question was whether the Dolphins would actually pull the trigger on moving one of its most valuable assets.

For a long stretch, it appeared as though the answer was no, given how the franchise’s embattled leadership appeared intent on clawing back to some semblance of relevance this season. But things shifted significantly with Friday’s parting with general manager Chris Grier. The timing seemed to suggest an interest in changing approach before the trade deadline and capitalizing on a potential sell-off.

Re-signing or franchising Phillips didn’t seem to make much sense for an organization that could be facing an extended timeline before it’s competitive again, so facing reality and selling him off to the highest bidder was the best option for getting a rebuild going. A third-round pick was likely the ceiling for a gifted player who has an injury history and is on an expiring contract.

Howie Roseman and the Philadelphia Eagles have made their splash move at the NFL trade deadline.

The Miami Dolphins are trading edge rusher Jaelan Phillips to the Eagles in exchange for a 2026 third-round draft pick.

The Dolphins are paying a portion of Phillips’ pro-rated $13.25 million salary to facilitate the deal, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported.

The Eagles had already been active in the lead-up to Tuesday’s cutoff, last week acquiring cornerbacks Jaire Alexander and Michael Carter II to add flexibility to their secondary.

With Phillips, however, the team adds a former first-round draft pick who can change the complexion of a pass rush that has netted just 16 sacks in eight games. Veteran Brandon Graham came out of retirement during the season to aid the group.

Phillips, 26, is in the final year of his rookie contract. He has three sacks on the season, with all of them coming in the last five games. He’s also compiled 20 pressures during that span, according to Next Gen Stats.

Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio previously coached Phillips in 2023, when he held the same title with the Dolphins. Phillips recorded 6 ½ sacks in eight games that season before being sidelined by a torn Achilles.

The Dolphins parted ways with general manager Chris Grier on Friday, giving interim general manager Champ Kelly the opportunity to reshape the 2-7 team’s outlook by shipping off key pieces ahead of the trade deadline.

This story has been updated with new information.

Austin Reaves was streaking down the court before he floated a high-arching lob that a player with the last name James thundered home for an alley oop.

Only, it wasn’t Los Angeles Lakers icon LeBron James, who remains sidelined with sciatica, but his son, Bronny James.

The play came in the 43-point first quarter of L.A.’s eventual 130-120 victory on Sunday, Nov. 2 over the Miami Heat and marked the first points of the season for a member of the James family.

And for Reaves, it might represent another first.

“I’ve got to be the first person in NBA history to throw a father a lob and the son a lob. I don’t know. It’s got to be, right?” Reaves told reporters after the game. “While they’re still on the same team? Y’all want to do all these damn statistics, I want to do it, too.”

LeBron, who has taken his regular spot at the end of the bench during Lakers games as he recovers from his injury, got out of his seat and celebrated the play, clapping and gesturing afterward.

Last season, LeBron and Bronny became the first father-son duo to ever play in the same NBA game.

Bronny James, 21, has struggled from the floor to start his second season in the NBA. He’s now shooting just 14.3%, missing six of his seven attempts.

Reaves, on the other hand, has been exceptional in LeBron James’ absence, picking up an increased offensive load; he’s averaging 31.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 9.3 assists per game, while shooting 48.9% from the field.

The Lakers are 5-2 and in third place in the Western Conference.

UConn is aiming for a repeat championship with Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd leading the Huskies.
All of the 2025 Final Four teams are capable of returning to the national semifinals.
Several conferences, including the SEC and ACC, will be exciting competitive races to watch.

It’s time for another season in women’s hoops.

We are nearly seven months removed from when Connecticut won its 12th national championship, with the 2025-26 season tipping off on Monday, Nov. 3. The game continues to grow as its expected to be another exciting campaign. There are veteran stars that are ready to make that push for a title, while a new crop of players are ready to make their introduction to the country. Parity is as strong as ever with so many teams capable of making the Final Four and hoisting that national championship trophy.

Here are the top 10 storylines to watch in women’s college basketball as the race to Phoenix and the 2026 Final Four tips off.

UConn repeat?

Geno Auriemma will be turning the Paige with Bueckers gone, but his team still remains the top dog in the sport. Unanimous USA TODAY Sports preseason All-America selection Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd will be leading the national championship defense alongside KK Arnold, Jana El-Alfy and Ice Brady. Reinforcements come from transfers Kayleigh Heckel and Serah Williams to give Auriemma another loaded team.

When Connecticut wins titles, it doesn’t just do it once. The past three times the Huskies broke a national title drought, they won it again the following year (2002-04, 2009-10, 2013-16). UConn has the pieces to break off another back-to-back title run, and everyone will be chasing it all season.

Dawn Staley reloads South Carolina

South Carolina has made the Final Four five consecutive seasons, and while Dawn Staley lost several key players that got the Gamecocks there, the expectation is still to get back.

Leading scorer Joyce Edwards will get a more expanded role, and she’ll be joined on the court by Ta’Niya Latson, who led the nation in scoring at Florida State last season. Plus, a pair of five-star freshmen join the fold in Agot Makeer and Ayla McDowell, giving South Carolina plenty of firepower to keep the Final Four streak going.

UCLA Betts on sister duo

Lauren Betts is back at UCLA following her dominant run to get the Bruins in the Final Four for the first time, and she’s brought help with little sister and touted freshman, Sienna. It will be a veteran core leading the Bruins with the Betts sisters, with seniors Kiki Rice, Gabriela Jaquez, Angela Dugalic and Utah transfer Gianna Kneepkens making up the attack.

With this being the last run for a squad that has taken UCLA to new heights, it feels like its the best shot the Bruins have to win their first national championship. They are the clear favorite to run the Big Ten.

USC without JuJu

Arguably the best player in the sport won’t be on the court this season with Southern California star JuJu Watkins sitting out as she recovers from her torn ACL she suffered in the tournament last March. Given the Trojans will be without their do-it-all guard, the hype has died down for USC.

However, don’t sleep on the Trojans just yet. Even though they lost some players to graduation or transfer portal, No. 1 recruit Jazzy Davidson arrives and has the ability to keep the team a threat alongside Kennedy Smith and Londynn Jones. Even without Watkins, USC may be the dark horse team to watch this season.

Kim Mulkey and LSU

Some might have expected the loss of Angel Reese would mean a down year for LSU, but the Tigers nearly made the Final Four again. After two consecutive Elite Eight appearances, coach Kim Mulkey is eyeing a return to the national semifinals.

The Tigers got Flau’jae Johnson back and she’ll be the center piece of Mulkey’s high scoring offense alongside Mikaylah Williams. A trio of highly-rated freshman also join the fold, as well as MiLaysia Fulwiley from South Carolina. Mulkey always make her teams worth watching, but LSU will be a mystery for the few month with a really easy non-conference schedule. We won’t know if the Tigers are legit until 2026 comes around.

SEC gauntlet

The SEC was great in hoops last season, getting two teams in the Final Four in men’s and women’s. Now to start the season, the league is looking incredibly deep and one that’s going to have plenty of high stakes matchups.

Three teams − South Carolina, Texas and LSU − start the season in the top five of the coaches poll, with another five ranked. Oklahoma and Tennessee are building off solid seasons, and Mississippi could be a new power on the block with the arrival of Cotie McMahon. Plus, there’s the ever entertaining Mikayla Blakes of Vanderbilt. It’s going to be tough for every team to navigate this heavy conference slate.

TCU looks for encore with new players

How do you follow up a dream season at TCU? Do everything you can to make it more than a one-hit wonder.

The Horned Frogs advanced to their first Elite Eight with Hailey Van Lith leading the charge, but nearly everyone is gone. TCU coach Mark Campbell got the best addition of the transfer portal with star Olivia Miles coming from Notre Dame. New arrivals also include Clara Silva, Kennedy Basham and Veronica Sheffey to make it not just a completely new team in Fort Worth, but one that can run the Big 12 again. This is by far the most intriguing team to watch in the country.

Who runs the ACC?

Every conference has its top contenders, but the race in the ACC is as good of a guess as anyone with so many teams trying to claim the league.

It starts with Duke since it is the defending tournament champions and have Toby Fournier back. But there’s also North Carolina State and North Carolina which are trying to replace veteran stars with transfer portal additions. Notre Dame did lose Miles, but Hannah Hidalgo is also still in South Bend to lead the Fighting Irish team. There’s really so much unknown in this league, it’s going to make a compelling race to watch and see who rises to the top.

Which mid-major makes Cinderella run?

Only one double-digit seed advanced to the second round of the tournament last season in South Dakota State. Could this be the year a mid-major or double-digit seed makes it to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2022?

The Jackrabbits still have a deep team that will definitely run the Summit League and likely make the tournament, where it could get to its first Sweet 16 since 2019. There’s also Richmond, which gave UCLA all it could handle in the second round and returns top two scorers in Maggie Doogan and Rachel Ullstrom to dominate the Atlantic 10. Princeton also looms as well. This could be the year we get a great Cinderella run in the big dance.

Can a new team make Final Four?

Along with Texas, UConn, South Carolina and UCLA made up the 2025 Final Four and every team has everything they need to do it again. So, will anyone be able to make sure the semifinals look different this time around?

It hasn’t happen in nearly 30 years, when in 1996, UConn, Tennessee, Georgia and Stanford all made it back to the Final Four one season later. It’s happened several times with three of the teams, with 2015 being the last occurance. For more than 350 other teams, it will be their mission to make sure its not a repeat when the NCAA Tournament gets to Phoenix.

USA TODAY Sports’ NHL points projections saw pretty much the status quo from the 2024-25 playoff field.

The Utah Mammoth would replace the St. Louis Blues in the West and the Columbus Blue Jackets would replace the Montreal Canadiens in the East.

But in the early going – emphasis on early – the changeover is potentially more drastic. The Mammoth are looking great. The Pittsburgh Penguins, Detroit Red Wings and Anaheim Ducks are better than expected. The Blues and Minnesota Wild aren’t.

Here are the latest USA TODAY Sports NHL power rankings (change from preseason rankings are in parentheses):

1. Colorado Avalanche (+7)

Martin Necas is off to a strong start and received an eight-year, $92 million contract extension. The Avalanche ended the Devils’ eight-game winning streak and downed the Golden Knights before falling to the Sharks.

2. Winnipeg Jets (+4)

Mark Scheifele has passed Blake Wheeler as the franchise’s all-time point leader and is the NHL’s top scorer this season. The reigning Presidents’ Trophy winners are starting strong again.

3. Montreal Canadiens (+17)

Cole Caufield, who wasn’t part of the 4 Nations Face-Off, is putting himself in the mix for the U.S. Olympic team with 10 goals in his first 12 games.

4. Vegas Golden Knights (-2)

Jack Eichel is putting up MVP-worthy numbers, helping the Golden Knights through some injuries, including to Mark Stone. The oft-injured Stone is week-to-week.

5. New Jersey Devils (+6)

Jack Hughes is healthy and has 10 goals. He helped the Devils win eight in a row, though the team is in a 1-3 slide.

6. Pittsburgh Penguins (+22)

They’re the biggest surprise of the early season. Sidney Crosby remains ageless, and Evgeni Malkin is joining him in that category with 18 points in 13 games at age 39. They’ll have to cope without injured Rickard Rakell.

7. Utah Mammoth (+8)

Utah put together a seven-game winning streak this season after introducing their new mascot. They’re a deeper team that’s coming together. Logan Cooley received an eight-year extension.

8. Detroit Red Wings (+17)

The YzerPlan seems to be working this season. General manager Steve Yzerman has brought in many pieces over the seasons, but the key is that captain Dylan Larkin is on pace for his best season.

9. Carolina Hurricanes (-4)

The Hurricanes won their first five games without a point from free agent signee Nikolaj Ehlers. Injuries on the blue line have dropped them a little and Ehlers is still seeking his first goal with Carolina.

10. Anaheim Ducks (+12)

GM Pat Verbeek hired coach Joel Quenneville to make a push toward a playoff spot. They were leading the Pacific Division on Nov. 2.

11. Dallas Stars (-10)

They opened 3-0 before the injuries start piling up. Jamie Benn (collapsed lung) hasn’t played all season, and Roope Hintz and Matt Duchene have missed time. Still, they have points in their past six games.

12. Edmonton Oilers (-9)

Connor McDavid went the first six games without a goal and Evan Bouchard went the same number of games without a point. But they have picked it up, including Bouchard’s overtime goal on Nov. 1.

13. Tampa Bay Lightning (-7)

The Lightning’s 1-4-2 start was one of the season’s big puzzles. But the team has turned it around with five wins in a row.

14. Seattle Kraken (+15)

The Kraken, who have made the playoffs once in their history, were sitting in a wild-card spot on Nov. 2.

15. Columbus Blue Jackets (+2)

The Blue Jackets were sitting in a wild-card spot on Nov. 2. They’ll need to improve on their special teams to stay there.

16. New York Rangers (+3)

Maybe the Rangers need to spend the rest of the season on the road. They’re 6-1-1 away from Madison Square Garden and 0-4-1 at home, scoring one goal in their first four games there.

17. Florida Panthers (-13)

The Panthers are above .500, not bad considering the major injuries they’re going through.

18. Washington Capitals (-9)

Alex Ovechkin needed three goals entering the season to reach 900. He still hasn’t reached it after 12 games and has a 7.4 shooting percentage.

19. New York Islanders (+4)

Defenseman Matthew Schaefer, 18, picked up a point in his first six NHL games and was named rookie of the month for October. He’s off to a good start for the November award with a two-goal game on Nov. 2.

20. Toronto Maple Leafs (-10)

Mitch Marner left in free agency and William Nylander has missed time with injury. That’s a lot of offense to make up.

21. Buffalo Sabres (+3)

Sabres fans were chanting for general manager Kevyn Adams’ firing after an 0-3 start. Those chants have vanished now that they’re over .500.

22. Philadelphia Flyers (+5)

GM Daniel Briere’s offseason moves are paying off. Trevor Zegras is leading the team in scoring and Dan Vladar has been the better of the two netminders.

23. Chicago Blackhawks (+9)

The Blackhawks are more competitive this season. Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar make them fun to watch and goalie Spencer Knight is doing his part while being kept very busy.

24. Los Angeles Kings (-11)

Captain Anze Kopitar’s final NHL season isn’t off to a good start. He missed four games with a foot injury and is still seeking his first goal.

25. Ottawa Senators (-11)

26. Boston Bruins (-2)

Which team are they? The one that opened 3-0? The one that lost six in a row? Or the one that has won its last three?

27. Vancouver Canucks (-9)

Kiefer Sherwood is among the leaders in hits again this season. The big difference: The pending free agent also has scored nine goals.

28. Nashville Predators (+2)

Defenseman Roman Josi, who suffered an upper-body injury on Oct. 23, has been placed on injured reserve.

29. Minnesota Wild (-17)

The Kirill Kaprizov-led power play has been in the top five. But the Wild are at or near the bottom in penalty killing and 5-on-5 play.

30. San Jose Sharks (+1)

No sophomore slump for Macklin Celebrini, who’s among the NHL’s top scorers. After a rough start, the Sharks have won three of their last five games.

31. St. Louis Blues (-15)

The Blues have been plagued by poor goaltending numbers and injuries to Robert Thomas and Jake Neighbours.

32. Calgary Flames (-11)

The Flames are the NHL’s most disappointing team. After missing the playoffs on a tiebreaker, they didn’t do too much to address their scoring woes. They’re last in goal per game and are in the hunt for better draft lottery odds in the Gavin McKenna sweepstakes.

Howie Roseman and the Philadelphia Eagles have made their splash move at the NFL trade deadline.

The Miami Dolphins are trading edge rusher Jaelan Phillips to the Eagles in exchange for a 2026 third-round draft pick, according to multiple reports.

The Dolphins are paying a portion of Phillips’ pro-rated $13.25 million salary to facilitate the deal, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported.

The Eagles had already been active in the lead-up to Tuesday’s cutoff, last week acquiring cornerbacks Jaire Alexander and Michael Carter II to add flexibility to their secondary.

With Phillips, however, the team adds a former first-round draft pick who can change the complexion of a pass rush that has netted just 16 sacks in eight games. Veteran Brandon Graham came out of retirement during the season to aid the group.

Phillips, 26, is in the final year of his rookie contract. He has three sacks on the season, with all of them coming in the last five games. He’s also compiled 20 pressures during that span, according to Next Gen Stats.

Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio previously coached Phillips in 2023, when he held the same title with the Dolphins. Phillips recorded 6 ½ sacks in eight games that season before being sidelined by a torn Achilles.

The Dolphins parted ways with general manager Chris Grier on Friday, giving interim general manager Champ Kelly the opportunity to reshape the 2-7 team’s outlook by shipping off key pieces ahead of the trade deadline.

This story has been updated with new information.

With the calendar turned to November, the sounds of bouncing balls, squeaking sneakers and referees’ whistles are echoing in campus gyms throughout the land. Yes, college basketball is back, and it’s time to look at who might play a starring role in the coming months on the way to March Madness.

Two weeks ago, we unveiled the preseason USA TODAY Sports men’s basketball poll with Purdue at No. 1. Last week it was 10 players on our preseason All-America team. But there are a lot more guys who could have a major impact once teams and conference races start to take shape. In no particular order, here’s a look at a number of other players to watch in 2025-26.

Trey Kaufman-Renn, F, Purdue

Braden Smith is Purdue’s engine, of course, but Kaufman-Renn is often the finisher. He averaged 20.1 points and 6.5 rebounds last season, and he might be even more productive in his final season with a couple of true centers allowing him to return to his natural power-forward position.

Milos Uzan, G, Houston

The Cougars will again be greater than the sum of their parts, but Uzan is the glue that holds it all together. He can score himself (11.4 ppg) and shot 42.8% from the three-point arc, but he’s even more valuable as a distributor (4.3 apg). With some key pieces departing and talented newcomers arriving, Uzan’s leadership will be more critical this season.

Nate Bittle, C, Oregon

The seven-footer with three-point range averaged 14.2 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.1 blocks for the Ducks. He’s expected to add more to those total this season. With high-scoring guard Jackson Shelstad also back in Eugene, Oregon could be a dark horse in the loaded Big Ten with Bittle manning the middle.

Mikel Brown Jr., G, Louisville

One of the nation’s top recruits and a standout on the U.S. under-19 team this past summer, Brown will step in immediately to run the point for the Cards as a freshman. Brown has the ability to shoot from deep and penetrate to the basket that should fit well in Pat Kelsey’s system.

Tamin Lipsey, G, Iowa State

Though an injury limited his work in the preseason, the experienced floor leader shouldn’t miss a beat when he retakes the court for the Cyclones. He averaged 10.6 points, 3.1 assists and 2.0 steals as a junior last year and should again be among the Big 12’s most efficient ball handlers.

Graham Ike, C, Gonzaga

Ike will give away an inch or two to opposing post players at times, but he makes up for it with footwork and positioning. He’ll likely be asked to add to his 17.3-point, 7.3-rebound averages for a rebuilt squad with new pieces in the backcourt as the Bulldogs hope to restart their streak of Sweet 16 appearances that ended last season.

Donovan Dent, G, UCLA

Dent arrives in Westwood after putting up 20.4 points and 6.4 assists a game at New Mexico last year. He’s a high-speed, high-motor guy at both ends of the floor, which should make him a quick study in Mick Cronin’s system. If he its the ground running, the Bruins should be in the thick of the Big Ten race.

Bennett Stirtz, G, Iowa

The reigning Missouri Valley Conference player of the year followed coach Ben McCollum to Iowa City from Drake. Stiritz rarely left the floor last season, averaging 39.4 minutes per game. During that time, he put up 19.2 points and 5.7 assists for the Bulldogs, so it will be interesting to see if his skills translate to the rigors of the Big Ten.

Richie Saunders, G, Brigham Young

Much of the attention given to the Cougars will center on prized recruit AJ Dybantsa, but it might by the play of Saunders that is most critical to helping the team reach the Final Four. The senior sharpshooter averaged a team-high 16.5 points per game and made 43.2% of this 3-point shots last season. His ability to play a foil to Dybantsa and hit open shots when the defense is draw away from the freshman could be a lethal combination.

Tomislav Ivisic, C, Illinois

Kasparas Jakucionis was the freshman that was had the biggest impact for the Illini last season, but quietly Ivisic had a standout first campaign, leading the team with 7.7 rebounds and finishing second with 13.0 points per game. Jakucionis is now in the NBA which opens the door for Ivisic to be one of the breakout players this season. He has size at 7-1 to be an interior force, while bringing a deceptive shooting touch that can stretch defenses and pull big defenders away from basket.

After a magical postseason run in 2024 during which the Washington Commanders QB could do no wrong, it has been the exact opposite in 2025. A sophomore slump might’ve been expected, but no one could’ve imagined the nightmare that the Commanders are living after Week 9.

Daniels exited ‘Sunday Night Football’ against the Seattle Seahawks with an elbow injury. To make matters worse, it came with the team facing a 31-point deficit with just over seven minutes left in the game.

Questions will be asked about the reasoning for Daniels’ continued participation at that point, but the freak injury was seemingly just that.

Depending on the timeline, Daniels’ potential extended absence might just be the final nail in the Commanders’ coffin this season.

Here’s the latest on the Commanders’ star.

How long is Jayden Daniels out?

There is not yet a concrete timeline for Daniels’ return to action, but he is expected to miss time after suffering an elbow dislocation against the Seahawks on ‘Monday Night Football.’

ESPN’s John Keim reports Daniels ‘is expected to be sidelined indefinitely, but it is uncertain whether his season is over.’ Meanwhile, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports the second-year quarterback is expected to ‘miss several games’ but that ‘the belief is [the injury is] not as bad as it could’ve been.’

Daniels will have an MRI to reveal the extent of the injury Monday. X-Rays on Daniels’ injured left arm were negative, according to multiple reports.

Commanders coach Dan Quinn did not provide much of an update about Daniels’ injury following the game. He simply told reporters during a postgame news conference the 24-year-old quarterback had suffered a left elbow injury.

‘I’ll update you more once I know more,’ Quinn said. ‘But that’s what I know tonight.’

Week 9 marked Daniels’ return to game action after he missed the team’s previous contest with a hamstring injury. He missed two games earlier in the season with a knee injury, marking what has been an injury-plagued season for the young star.

Jayden Daniels injury update

Daniels suffered an elbow injury in Week 9 and had his arm promptly put into an air cast before being helped off the field.

The quarterback was injured on a scramble with just over seven minutes remaining in the game. His arm was bent backward by the Seahawks’ Drake Thomas, who swung Daniels down on the tackle.

Commanders QB depth chart

Jayden Daniels (injured)
Marcus Mariota
Josh Johnson

Daniels is the unquestioned starter in Washington. As he goes, the Commanders go. He is the face of the franchise and one of the league’s brightest young stars.

It’ll be difficult for Washington to continue their playoff chase without their starter under center.

Mariota figures to continue starting, while Johnson serves as the backup if Daniels is forced to miss an extended period.