Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James showcased his best performance of the season against the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night.

Despite the absence of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, the Lakers clinched a 123-115 win, largely due to Deandre Ayton’s stellar performance. Ayton’s 29 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks were instrumental in the victory. Rui Hachimura also played a significant role, contributing 28 points.

During his 19 minutes of play against the Blazers, Bronny James scored five points, collected six assists, and grabbed one rebound. He also became the first Lakers player this season to achieve at least six assists without any turnovers in a game.

The Lakers are now are a four-game winning streak but are dealing with a roster of injuries.

Bronny James stats vs Blazers

Points: 5
Field goals: 1-4
3-pointers: 1-2
Free throws: 2-2
Rebounds: 1
Assists: 6
Steals: 1
Blocks: 0
Turnovers: 0
Fouls: 1
Minutes: 19

When is Lakers’ next game?

The Los Angeles Lakers are back at the Crypto.com Arena on Wednesday night as they host the San Antonio Spurs at 10 p.m. ET.

Date: Wednesday, Nov. 5
Time: 10 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Location: Crypto.com Arena (Los Angeles)

The debate over the No. 1 spot in the debut College Football Playoff rankings will center on Ohio State, Indiana and Texas A&M.

Each has an argument for leading the pack. Ohio State has the nation’s best defense, one of the Bowl Subdivision’s most productive offenses and wins against Texas, Washington and Illinois. The Buckeyes have won seven in a row by 18 or more points.

Indiana has built upon last year’s breakthrough by bulldozing through Big Ten play. While the Hoosiers have often looked indestructible, they’ll be docked in this initial comparison with the Buckeyes and Aggies because of a weak non-conference slate of Old Dominion, Kennesaw State and Indiana State.

A&M is only unbeaten team in the SEC. But the Aggies didn’t draw Alabama, Georgia or Mississippi, and they struggled with game control in narrower-than-expected wins against two of the league’s worst teams in Auburn and Arkansas.

Alabama in 2020 and Georgia a year later are the only teams to land at No. 1 in the debut rankings and then go on to win the national championship. But every debut No. 1 from 2015-2018 — Clemson, Alabama, Georgia and then Alabama again — would lose in the championship game.

Here’s how the debut playoff rankings will look on Tuesday night, including where the selection committee should rank the best team in the Group of Five:

1. Ohio State (8-0)

Best win: vs. Texas (14-7), Aug. 30.

Loss: None.

Up next: at Purdue, Nov. 8.

Biggest game remaining: at Michigan, Nov. 29.

Playoff chances: Extremely strong. Ohio State can’t afford to lose out, obviously, but there’s ample wiggle room to land at least an at-large bid with four games left in the regular season.

2. Indiana (9-0)

Best win: at Oregon (30-20), Oct. 11.

Loss: None.

Up next: at Penn State, Nov. 8.

Biggest game remaining: Penn State.

Playoff chances: Extremely strong. Indiana has wins against Illinois, Iowa and Oregon. The Hoosiers have won every game but one (Iowa) by double digits and taken their past two Big Ten games by a combined 95 points. There is zero reason to think this team will lose before the Big Ten championship game.

3. Texas A&M (8-0)

Best win: at Notre Dame (41-40), Sept. 13.

Loss: None.

Up next: at Missouri, Nov. 8.

Biggest game remaining: at Texas, Nov. 28.

Playoff chances: The best in the SEC. Being unbeaten helps, of course. But A&M also has a top-notch road win against the Fighting Irish along with another two victories against SEC opponents with a winning record (Mississippi State and LSU). Barring the unexpected against South Carolina or Samford, the Aggies can grab at least an at-large berth with a road win this weekend against Missouri or against Texas on Black Friday.

4. Alabama (7-1)

Best win: at Georgia (24-21), Sept. 27.

Loss: at Florida State (31-17), Aug. 30.

Up next: vs. LSU, Nov. 8.

Biggest game remaining: vs. Oklahoma, Nov. 15.

Playoff chances: Getting stronger every week. Alabama’s seven-game winning streak includes four ranked wins, starting with a victory in Athens that represents the most impressive result by any team in the FBS. The Tide have a deeper résumé and a better strength of schedule than A&M but will be docked for that loss to the Seminoles.

5. Georgia (7-1)

Best win: vs. Mississippi (43-35), Oct. 18.

Loss: vs. Alabama (24-21), Sept. 27.

Up next: at Mississippi State, Nov. 8.

Biggest game remaining: vs. Texas, Nov. 15.

Playoff chances: Better than ever. Recent wins against the Rebels and Florida have left Georgia needing one win from Texas and Georgia Tech to lock in an at-large spot. While the rivalry with the Jackets will be must-see TV, the Longhorns are the bigger of the two matchups because of the possibility that a win there lands the Bulldogs the SEC championship game — though they’d still need some help to make that happen.

6. Mississippi (8-1)

Best win: at Oklahoma (34-26), Oct. 25.

Loss: at Georgia (43-35), Oct. 18.

Up next: The Citadel, Nov. 8.

Biggest game remaining: at Mississippi State, Nov. 28.

Playoff chances: Holding firm. The Rebels might’ve been in some trouble had they lost in Norman two weeks ago. But a win there and an easy finish to November will land them in the playoff, as long as they don’t slip up in the Egg Bowl.

7. Brigham Young (8-0)

Best win: vs. Utah (24-21), Oct. 18.

Loss: None.

Up next: at Texas Tech, Nov. 8.

Biggest game remaining: Texas Tech.

Playoff chances: Far from certain. But that would change with a win against Texas Tech. The unbeaten Cougars have four wins against opponents with a winning record (East Carolina, Arizona, Utah and Iowa State) but need to beat an elite opponent to strengthen their postseason case and provide more room for error.

8. Oregon (7-1)

Best win: at Northwestern (34-14), Sept. 13.

Loss: vs. Indiana (30-20), Oct. 11.

Up next: at Iowa, Nov. 8.

Biggest game remaining: at Washington, Nov. 28.

Playoff chances: Could be better. The Ducks pass the eyeball test and have the credibility to join Ohio State and Indiana in the playoff even with a second loss. Oregon has no meaningful wins, though, even if that could change with games against Iowa, Southern California and Washington. A loss to the Hawkeyes or Trojans would set up a must-win finale against the Huskies.

9. Texas Tech (8-1)

Best win: at Utah (34-10), Sept. 20.

Loss: at Arizona State (26-22), Oct. 18.

Up next: vs. Brigham Young, Nov. 8.

Biggest game remaining: Brigham Young.

Playoff chances: Check back on Sunday. Beating BYU would basically lock Tech into the Big 12 championship game and the playoff, given games against Central Florida and West Virginia to end November. That setback in Tempe notwithstanding, the Red Raiders have looked the part of the league’s best team by taking each of their five other Big 12 games by at least 23 points.

10. Notre Dame (6-2)

Best win: vs. Southern California (34-24), Oct. 18.

Losses: at Miami (27-24), Aug. 31; vs. Texas A&M (41-40), Sept. 13.

Up next: vs. Navy, Nov. 8.

Biggest game remaining: at Pittsburgh, Nov. 15.

Playoff chances: Start looking up flights. Notre Dame has recovered from those two losses out of the gate by taking six in a row. The next two games against Navy and Pittsburgh will decide whether the Irish return to the playoff. But one more loss would eliminate Notre Dame because of a lack of marquee wins.

11. Texas (7-2)

Best win: vs. Vanderbilt (34-31), Nov. 1.

Losses: at Ohio State (14-7), Aug. 30; at Florida (29-21), Oct. 4.

Up next: at Georgia, Nov. 15.

Biggest game remaining: Georgia.

Playoff chances: Texas has climbed back into at-large position during a four-game winning streak bookended by key wins against Oklahoma and the Commodores. While the rivalry against Texas A&M looms on Black Friday, the Longhorns would be cast in a spoiler role if they can’t upset Georgia in two weeks.

12. Oklahoma (7-2)

Best win: at Tennessee (33-27), Nov. 1.

Losses: vs. Texas (23-6), Oct. 11; vs. Mississippi (34-26), Oct. 25.

Up next: at Alabama, Nov. 15.

Biggest game remaining: Alabama.

Playoff chances: Not great. Things look better after the road win against Tennessee, but losses to Texas and Mississippi could be very hard to overcome when you think of the number of SEC teams the Sooners would have to leapfrog to land an at-large bid. An even more pressing concern is games against Alabama and Missouri. Those provide opportunity, sure, but one more loss would drop Oklahoma out of the picture. The Sooners’ strength of schedule and non-conference win against Michigan will put them ahead of a pair of one-loss ACC teams in Virginia and Louisville.

23. Memphis (8-1)

Best win: vs. South Florida (34-31), Oct. 25.

Loss: at Alabama-Birmingham (31-24), Oct. 18.

Up next: vs. Tulane, Nov. 7.

Biggest game remaining: Tulane.

Playoff chances: Pretty good. Look for the Tigers to be the only Group of Five team in the debut rankings, though contenders such as South Florida and North Texas will also come under consideration. Wins against the Bulls, Troy and Arkansas give Memphis the edge, though the order will change with a loss against Tulane. In the bigger picture, the winner of the American is virtually guaranteed to earn the automatic playoff bid.

Arizona’s defense was a key factor, forcing three takeaways and allowing only one offensive touchdown.
Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett threw for 261 yards and two touchdowns in the victory.
Rookie receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. had a career-high seven catches for 96 yards and a touchdown.

The Arizona Cardinals snapped their five-game losing streak on ‘Monday Night Football’ in Week 9.

Behind a strong defensive performance, the Cardinals stunned the Dallas Cowboys, 27-17, at AT&T Stadium.

Arizona’s defense contained a hot Cowboys offense throughout the game. The Cardinals forced three takeaways and only allowed one touchdown in the victory. It’s the Cardinals’ fourth consecutive win over the Cowboys.

The Cardinals improved to 3-5, while Dallas fell to 3-5-1 and now looks ahead to the trade deadline.

Winners from Cowboys vs. Cardinals

Marvin Harrison Jr. shines in first half

Harrison Jr. had a breakout game that we’ve all been waiting for.

Harrison equaled a career-high with six receptions in the first half alone. He produced 80 receiving yards and one touchdown in what was a stellar first half. His touchdown catch came on a filthy quick slant route that made Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland touch the earth.

Harrison produced a career-high seven catches for 96 yards and a touchdown. Almost all his production came in the first half.

Jacoby Brissett makes a case to be Arizona’s starter

Brissett recorded his first win of the season as the Cardinals’ starting QB. Cardinals coach might want to seriously consider starting Brissett the rest of the way.

Brissett completed 21-of-31 passes for 261 yards and two touchdowns. Arizona’s offense has performed more efficiently with Brissett behind center. He’s passed for at least 260 yards in every start this season. Kyler Murray hasn’t passed for over 220 yards in five games this season.

Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon has a big decision to make once Murray returns from a foot injury. Brissett did have a couple of errant throws, including one intended for Marvin Harrison Jr. in the fourth quarter that would’ve allowed the Cardinals to milk the clock with a little over two minutes remaining.

Brissett’s 115.1 passer rating on Monday night was a season-high for a Cardinals starting quarterback.

Cardinals defense

Arizona’s defense held the Cowboys offense to 122 total yards and no touchdowns in the first half. The Cowboys’ only first-half touchdown came on a blocked punt that was recovered for a touchdown.

The Cardinals’ defense didn’t give up an offensive touchdown until the fourth quarter.

Aside from the block punt TD, the Cardinals defense held the Cowboys to 10 total points, 333 total yards and Dallas went 0-3 on fourth downs. Arizona’s defense forced three takeaways, including a forced fumble and game-sealing interception in the fourth quarter.

Walter Nolen III

The Cardinals’ rookie defensive lineman made his NFL debut Monday night after Arizona drafted him 16th overall in the NFL draft. Arizona activated Nolen from the PUP list hours before the game.

The start of Nolen’s career was delayed due to a calf injury he suffered before training camp.

Nolen had a sack in his first NFL game. The rookie finished with four tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack and one pass deflection.

Calais Campbell

The oldest active defensive player in the NFL tallied two sacks and three QB hits. The 39-year-old defensive lineman still makes an impact up front.

Sam Williams

Williams blocked Pat O’Donnell’s punt with his helmet, of all things. Cowboys’ Marshawn Kneeland recovered the football in the end zone.

It was the Cowboys’ first block punt for a touchdown since 2021, per the ESPN broadcast.

Losers from Cowboys vs. Cardinals

Cowboys defense

Dallas ranked last in the NFC in both total defense and points allowed entering Monday night’s Week 9 game against the Arizona Cardinals.

The Cardinals equaled a season-high 27 points on the Cowboys’ defense. Arizona’s offense was moving the ball down the field at will through the first three quarters.

Dallas gave up 23 first downs and 340 yards. Arizona went 3-4 in the red zone.

Micah Parsons trade still haunts Cowboys, Jerry Jones

The Cowboys defense continues to be one of the worst units in the NFL without Parsons. Dallas has no impact players on defense after they traded away one of the most impactful defenders in all of football.

The ESPN cameras routinely showed Jones in his owner’s suite at AT&T Stadium while the Cowboys trailed throughout the contest.

To be determined

Cowboys trade?

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones appeared on SiriusXM Radio Monday and revealed the team already has a deal ahead of Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET deadline. Jones didn’t disclose the player’s identity but said he’ll be an instant contributor.

We’ll find out soon if Jones’ words on the radio are validated. The Cowboys need a lot of help on defense.

Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.

A senior vice president of the Atlanta Hawks has been indicted and charged with embezzling $3.8 million from the NBA franchise as part of what authorities in Georgia are saying was a yearslong scheme, according to a report in The Athletic.

Lester Jones, 46, had been part of the Hawks finance department for nearly a decade before a team-backed audit uncovered evidence of his alleged crimes, the report said.

The Hawks and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia declined to comment.

Jones, who is no longer employed by the Hawks, pleaded not guilty last week and was released on $10,000 bond, The Athletic reported.

Among the allegations in the indictment, Jones had the team pay off his American Express credit card balance of nearly $230,000 last January, claiming it was for a stay at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas. However, prosecutors said there was no bill from the hotel.

Also, Jones allegedly used some of the money he was stealing from the team to buy expensive gifts for another now-former Hawks employee whom he was dating.

It was all part of a scheme, prosecutors allege, in which Jones used his position as senior vice president of financial planning and analysis to authorize charges on multiple corporate credit cards for himself and others. Prosecutors say he used his power to pay for a luxury car, concert tickets and trips to the Bahamas, Hawaii, Thailand, Switzerland and other countries.

Jones is also charged with federal wire fraud for allegedly faking emails and altering reports to cover his activities.

The 2025-26 women’s college basketball season is upon us.

Less than seven months ago, Paige Bueckers led UConn to its first national championship since 2016 and earned the Wade Trophy and first-team All-American honors. Bueckers may have moved on to the WNBA, winning Rookie of the Year after being drafted first overall by the Dallas Wings, but the Huskies return senior Azzi Fudd and sophomore Sarah Strong and have high hopes for back-to-back titles.

Fudd and Strong are among 10 college basketball stars that deserve your attention as the women’s college basketball season gets underway. No. 1-ranked UConn opens the season against No. 19 Louisville on Tuesday (5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN).

It’s worth noting that USC guard Juju Watkins and South Carolina forward Chloe Kitts have been ruled out for the season due to injuries and are not on the list. Watkins said she’ll ‘sit out this season and fully focus on continuing to recover’ after suffering a torn right ACL in the second round of the NCAA tournament on March 24. Meanwhile, Kitts announced on Oct. 13 that she tore her right ACL at practice and will have surgery.

Azzi Fudd, UConn, Sr., G

2025 average: 13.6 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 2.2 steals, 47.4 FG%, 43.6 3PT% (34 games)

A string of injuries has hindered Fudd’s career. She played a total of 17 games her sophomore and junior seasons because of knee injuries. Fudd hopes to pick up where she left off last season, helping the Huskies to their record 12th national title. Fudd was named the Most Outstanding Player in the championship game vs. South Carolina after recording 24 points and five rebounds, shooting 9-of-17 from the field. Fudd surpassed the 1,000-point threshold in the title game, her 76th career game. Fudd opted out of the 2025 WNBA draft to return to UConn for another season to develop her skills and unlock her full potential. Like her podcast name, teams will ‘Fudd Around and Find Out’ this season.

Lauren Betts, UCLA, Sr., C

2025 average: 20.2 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2.9 blocks, 64.8 FG% (34 games)

Flau’jae Johnson, LSU, Jr., G

2025 average: 18.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.7 steals, 46.8 FG%, 38.3% 3PT (34 games)

Flau’jae Johnson has reached the Elite Eight in each of her three seasons under Kim Mulkey and won a national championship in 2023. Following the departure of Angel Reese in 2024, Johnson upped her average from 14.9 points per game to a career-high 18.6 points last season. She reached double-digits in three of LSU’s four NCAA Tournament games last season, including a career-high 28-point performance (24 came in the second half) against UCLA in their Elite Eight loss. Johnson will pair up with Mikaylah Williams and MiLaysia Fulwiley, who transferred from South Carolina, with hopes of contending for another championship.

Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame, Jr., G

2025 average: 23.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 3.7 steals, 46.3 FG%, 40% 3PT (32 games)

It’s hard to believe Hannah Hidalgo is only a junior after all she’s accomplished in her first two seasons at Notre Dame. Hidalgo is the fourth player in NCAA college women’s basketball history to be named an AP first-team All-American in her freshman and sophomore seasons, joining JuJu Watkins, Maya Moore and Courtney Paris. Hidalgo recorded back-to-back seasons with 700 or more points (only Arike Ogunbowale has done so at Notre Dame) and 100 or more steals. She also became the fastest player in program history to reach 1,000 career points and was named the ACC Player of the Year and ACC Defensive Player of the Year.

Audi Crooks, Iowa State, Jr., C

2025 average: 23.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.7 blocks, 60.5 FG% (35 games)

Audi Crooks announced herself to the world by dropping a career-high 40 points in the 2024 NCAA tournament vs. Maryland, shooting a staggering 18-of-20 from the field. Crooks continued that momentum into her sophomore season, where she not only led the Big 12 in scoring, but efficiency and field goal percentage. Crooks reached double digits in every game last season and led the nation in made field goals (329). She broke Iowa State’s single-season records for points (820) and field goals. Crooks earned AP and USBWA third-team All-American honors and she was named the Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year.

Sarah Strong, UConn, So., F

2025 average: 16.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.3 steals, 58.6 FG%, 33.8 3PT% (40 games)

Sarah Strong’s freshman campaign was true to her last name as she was named an AP second-team All-American and WBCA Freshman of the Year after setting multiple records. Strong dominated with a 24-point, 15-rebound double-double in UConn’s title win over South Carolina, marking her fourth double-double of March Madness. She holds the record for most points in an NCAA Tournament by a freshman (114). ‘There are players that play four years and don’t get as much done as she did this year,’ coach Geno Auriemma said after the title game.

Olivia Miles, TCU, Sr., G

2025 average: 15.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.4 steals, 48.3 FG%, 40.6% 3PT (34 games)

Olivia Miles was projected to be the No. 2 pick in the 2025 WNBA draft, but surprised some by entering the transfer portal. TCU snagged Miles, arguably the best playmaker and passer in the country, following the program’s first Elite Eight appearance. Miles is coming off an impressive season at Notre Dame after sitting out all of 2023-24 with a knee injury. She posted a 20-point triple-double in her return and teamed up with Hannah Hidalgo to form the best backcourt duo in the country. Miles raised her 3-point average from 22.8% in 2022-23 to a career-high 40.6% last season and was the only player in the nation to average 15-5-5 while shooting 40% or higher beyond the arc. There are high hopes for her at TCU — she was voted Big 12’s Preseason Newcomer of the Year.

Madison Booker, Texas, Jr., F

2025 average: 16.0 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.6 steals, 46.1 FG%, 40.3% 3PT (39 games)

SEC Player of the Year Madison Booker is a certified bucket and scored double-digit points in 32 of 38 games last season. She scored 20 or more points in 14 of those games. Booker led Texas to a program-high 35 wins and its first Final Four appearance since 2003. Booker earned first-team All-American honors as a result and, for the second consecutive year, won the Cheryl Miller Award, which is awarded to the best small forward in the country. Booker will team up with Rori Harmon in hopes of running it back.

Ta’Niya Latson, South Carolina, Sr., G

2025 average: 25.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 2.2 steals, 45.1% FG, 34.3% 3PT (29 games)

Latson is coming off a breakout junior campaign at Florida State, where she set career highs in points, rebounds, assists and steals. Latson led the nation in scoring and powered the Seminoles to the highest scoring offense in the country (86.9 ppg). She became the third player in ACC history to hit 2,000 points in their first three seasons. After Florida State had another early exit in the 2025 NCAA Tournament, Latson entered the transfer portal and landed with SEC powerhouse South Carolina. The Gamecocks will benefit from Latson’s offensive production after losing starting guards Bree Hall and Te-Hina Paopao to graduation and MiLaysia Fulwiley (LSU) to the transfer portal.

Mikayla Blakes, Vanderbilt, So., G

2025 average: 23.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.4 steals, 45.6 FG%, 34.2% 3PT (32 games)

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The beginning of November is also the start of crunch time for teams hoping to make the College Football Playoff. Week 10 saw some teams step forward and others put their playoff hopes in peril or be outright eliminated.

Moving into the forecasted field this week are three teams. Texas Tech is the new pick to win the Big 12 with Brigham Young moving into the at-large pool. Louisville takes over as the ACC champion, and South Florida replaces Tulane as the American favorite and Group of Five representative in the field.

Other teams improving their stock but not yet among the final 12 are Oklahoma and Texas after respective wins against Tennessee and Vanderbilt. The losses were damaging to the hopes of the Volunteers and Commodores, who each will need a lot to fall right to get a selection.

It was also a bad week for two ACC teams falling out of the field. Miami answered the question whether its loss last month to Louisville was a blip or evidence of a deeper issue. The Hurricanes are in serious trouble after falling to SMU. The path through the ACC seems closed and at-large hopes need some chaos ahead. Georgia Tech now must likely win the league to get in after an unsettling loss to North Carolina State.

Notes: Legacy Pac-12 schools in other conferences will fulfill existing Pac-12 bowl agreements through the 2025 season. Not all conferences will fulfill their bowl allotment. An asterisk represents a replacement pick.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has made conflicting statements about a potential trade ahead of the NFL deadline.
Jones initially claimed a trade had been agreed upon, but later said no deal was finalized.
The Cowboys owner also stated the team would not be shifting into ‘selling mode’ after their recent defeat.

(UPDATE: On Tuesday, the Dallas Cowboys agreed to acquire linebacker Logan Wilson from the Cincinnati Bengals, according to multiple reports.)

Jerry Jones is ready to deal at the NFL trade deadline. Unless he isn’t.

With Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET cutoff for swaps closing in, the Dallas Cowboys owner kept up his habit of engaging in double-talk regarding his team’s personnel plans. This time, Jones undermined his claim earlier in the day that he had reached agreement on a deal with another organization.

‘We could conceivably see something that we ought to do, in spite of tonight,’ Jones told reporters after a 27-17 loss to the Arizona Cowboys dropped the Cowboys to 3-5-1 on the season. ‘And the answer to your question: There is no trade right now. … But there is one I can do. Without question, there is one I can do, and I’m leaning toward doing it.’

Jones pushed back against the suggestion that the outcome of Monday night’s game in any way changed his outlook.

‘Everybody knows it’s subject to tomorrow,’ Jones said. ‘You can’t have a trade done if you haven’t gotten it done, OK? So we’ll see what goes tomorrow … I said we were going to have a trade that’ll be consummated tomorrow. That’s what I said.”

For any uncertainty Jones was willing to recognize, however, he made it clear that he doesn’t intend for his team to shift into selling mode after the defeat.

“I like our nuts and bolts a lot,’ Jones said.

Jones created a stir earlier in the day with his proclamation that a deal had been reached.

‘A lot of action going on right now in terms of trading,’ Jones said on ‘The Stephen A. Smith Show’ on SiriusXM Radio. ‘We certainly have made a trade, and we may make a couple more trades before that deadline. We’ve made one. We possibly could make two more, and I’m going to wait and let you read about that when we send the papers in tomorrow.’

The first College Football Playoff rankings for the 2025 season will be revealed Tuesday, Nov. 4, starting at 8 p.m. on ESPN.

A lot can change between now and Dec. 7 when the final CFP bracket is revealed, but Tuesday will provide the best barometer yet of where the selection committee sees this year’s contenders.

Of last year’s 12 teams in the first rankings, 10 made the final cut. Only Miami and BYU were left out in the final rankings. Here’s a look at how the rankings shifted:

2024 first CFP rankings vs final rankings

Notes:

Arizona State wasn’t ranked in the Top 25 in the initial CFP rankings last season. But the Sun Devils won six in a row to finish the season, including three ranked wins with a 45-19 Big 12 title game win over Iowa State.
Miami dropped from No. 4 to No. 13. The Hurricanes started 9-0 but lost two of their final three to put pressure on the committee.
BYU began the season 9-0 but was doomed by back-to-back losses to Kansas and Arizona State.
SMU was 8-1 and ranked 13th in the CFP reveal and won three more games before losing 34-31 to Clemson in the ACC Championship game. Miami and SMU didn’t play each other in the regular season, and the committee decided not to penalize the Mustangs for losing a close title game.

When will first 2025 CFP rankings be released?

The first College Football Playoff rankings will be announced between 8-8:45 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Nov. 4 on ESPN, which will drop all the CFP rankings.

Keep up with the latest news and analysis from college football’s top two conferences: Check out our Big Ten Hub and our SEC Hub to get school-by-school coverage from across the USA TODAY Network.