FRISCO, Texas − Each of the 16 football teams in the Big 12 Conferences sent at least three players here this week for the league’s annual preseason media days event north of Dallas.

But only one sent two quarterbacks.

And only one dared to send a freshman quarterback to face the media here before he even played a single game of college football.

Neither of these choices is normal, not in the Big 12 or anywhere else.

So which teams would do such a thing?

Colorado did both Wednesday under head coach Deion Sanders.

Welcome to Coach Prime’s new world this year after the departure of his quarterback son Shedeur to the NFL.

“We brought both up because I don’t know which one is going to start,” Sanders said Wednesday, July 9.

After returning from a health issue that kept him off campus this summer, Sanders is still trying to strike a delicate balance at the most important position on the field. In December, he brought in two marquee players to help replace his son – celebrated freshman Julian “JuJu” Lewis and veteran Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter. Yet only one can play at a time, creating the possibility of tension if one gets too much attention. In Lewis’s case, he could transfer out if he doesn’t think he’s getting what he deserves in this new era of name, image and likeness (NIL) deals for college sports.

So what does Sanders do?

For now, he brings both.

Why is it unusual for two QBs to be at media days?

Each summer, teams choose which handful of players they want to speak to a horde of media at these preseason conference events. Usually, those players are team leaders or top performers, not freshmen like Lewis, who doesn’t turn 18 until September.  

Usually, those teams bring one or no quarterbacks, but almost never bring two, often because the quarterback is an established team leader with no realistic competition for the job. And in cases when there is realistic competition for the quarterback job, teams don’t exactly want to add to the controversy by bringing two quarterbacks to preseason media days.

Last year, not a single team in the Big 12, Big Ten and Southeastern Conferences listed two quarterbacks among its representatives at preseason conference media day events. None of the quarterbacks were freshmen. This year, none of the 18 teams in the Big Ten are bringing two quarterbacks to media days in Las Vegas July 22-24. Of the eight quarterbacks scheduled to appear there, none are freshmen. It’s the same at the SEC’s media days event next week – no freshman players, no teams bringing two QBS.

The Atlantic Coast Conferences has yet to name the attendees for their media days events this month. But last year, four the 17 teams in the ACC did bring two quarterbacks, embracing any quarterback controversy storyline instead of avoiding it as some might prefer. None were freshmen, however.

Sanders and Colorado did it differently this year for a couple of possible reasons, including one they might not want to admit.

They believe Lewis is ready for this moment, which speaks to their faith in him as a top recruit from Carrollton, Ga.
They can’t afford to leave Lewis out of the spotlight in favor of Salter. Doing so could increase the risk that Lewis might leave for better opportunities with several years of college eligibility remaining.

Lewis expressed some surprise Wednesday when asked by USA TODAY Sports about coming to Big 12 media days.

“It’s been kind of crazy,” Lewis said. “I didn’t expect to come here this early. I think it shows that Coach Prime and everybody trusts me enough. … The fact that they trust me enough to come speak, it’s definitely wild.”

Why there’s a delicate balance at QB for Colorado

Lewis committed to Colorado in November and signed with the Buffaloes Dec. 4. At the time, he appeared to be the heir apparent to Shedeur Sanders at quarterback despite his youth.

But then the Buffaloes got a commitment from Salter two weeks later – a smart move by Sanders to help ensure success at the position. Salter is entering his final year of college eligibility after becoming an established run-pass threat at quarterback. In 2023, his first season as a full-time starter, he threw for 2,876 passing yards and 32 touchdowns. He also rushed for 1,089 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Based on experience alone, this makes him the likely starter.

Both came to CU expecting to play this year, though the timing of their commitments raises a question: Did Lewis know when he signed that the Buffs would bring in Salter to compete with him?

“They had full transparency about going into the portal and grabbing a guy,” Lewis told USA TODAY Sports Wednesday. “I didn’t think it would be a guy of Kaidon’s caliber of course.”

But he added he’s ready to compete. “That’s football, and that’s life,” Lewis said.

‘We can’t lose’

Salter and Lewis have different styles. In high school, Lewis was more of a drop-back passer instead of a dual threat like Salter.

Salter still reminded him of someone in terms of another important attribute for the position: confidence.

“He’s so much like me when I was a freshman,” Salter said Wednesday.

The two quarterbacks were accompanied to the event Wednesday by Sanders and three other players: offensive tackle Jordan Seaton, defensive back DJ McKinney and kicker Alejandro Mata.

But the quarterbacks got much of the attention. Could both play this season?

“Yeah, as long as they’re doing their jobs and we’re winning,” Sanders said. “We definitely want to continue to develop JuJu, but Kaidon is unbelievable. Kaidon is off the chain. He’s been there, done that. He can get the job done. I wouldn’t have brought him here if I didn’t trust him. But JuJu is coming on round the mountain when he comes. And I love him. I love what he brings to the table. I don’t know how it’s going to play out as long as it plays out. We can’t lose either way with either of those two.”

Colorado opens the season at home against Georgia Tech on Aug. 29.

Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com

Forward Kayla Thornton may have been the last player picked in the WNBA All-Star Game draft, added to captain Caitlin Clark’s roster, but she’s certainly not the least. Clark said she’s had her eye on Thornton, much like the rest of the league as the expansion Golden State Valkyries have put everyone on notice in their inaugural season.

‘I wanted Kayla Thornton on my team. I think you got to give her a lot of credit for what Golden State accomplished this year,’ Clark said during the 2025 WNBA All-Star draft on July 8. ‘Obviously being an expansion team, you never know how it’s going to go. They’ve had an absolutely tremendous season and she’s had a tremendous season. I’m happy for her and excited for her. I’m glad she can be on our team.’

Thornton, who played her college ball at UTEP, picked up the first All-Star nod in her 10-year career after being named a reserve by the league’s 13 head coaches. With the selection, Thornton became the first player to be named an All-Star as a member of a first-year team since Candice Dupree did so with the Chicago Sky in 2006, further highlighting the Valkyries’ unprecedented start.

‘It’s a long time coming. I’m just thankful for my teammates,’ said Thornton, who is averaging 15.1 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 19 games this season. ‘Without them I wouldn’t be an All-Star, without my coaches I wouldn’t be an All-Star. I’m just grateful.’

WNBA expansion teams haven’t gotten off to the best starts in recent years. The Atlanta Dream went 4-30 in their inaugural season in 2008. The Chicago Sky went 5-29 in 2006. The Indiana Fever went 9-23 in their first season in 2000. The Seattle Storm went 6-26 in 2000.

You get the point.

The Valkyries, however, are rewriting that narrative and have proven themselves early. Under the tutelage of head coach Natalie Nakase, Golden State has opened its first season 10-9 as the All-Star break quickly approaches. The Valkyries notched their 10th win of the season on the road against the newly-minted Commissioner’s Cup champion Indiana Fever— Golden State’s second win of the season against the Fever — to become only the third expansion team in WNBA history to pick up its 10th victory in 20 games or less.

‘From the outside looking in it’s great to hear all that positivity, but for us we hold the standard,’ Nakase said. ‘We set out to win every game.’

The Valkyries have succeeded with their grit and defensive prowess. Golden State ranks second in the WNBA in defensive rating (97.3 points allowed per 100 possessions), trailing only the league-leading Minnesota Lynx. The Valkyries top the WNBA in rebounding (37.4 per game) and have allowed opponents the fewest paint points per game (28.1).

Golden State has three players — Thornton, Tiffany Hayes and Veronica Burton — averaging double figure in scoring. Thornton also leads the Valkyries in rebounding with 7.1 a game.

Nakase has also leaned on her team’s championship experience and ability to compete early on. The Valkyries’ inaugural roster includes four WNBA champions — center Temi Fagbenle and forward Cecilia Zandalasini (Minnesota Lynx, 2017); center/forward Iliana Rupert (Las Vegas Aces, 2022) and Thornton (New York Liberty, 2024). ‘We’re a team of sixth women,” Fagbenle said. “We come from different teams around the league. We know what it takes to be great teammates and we know what it takes to step up and do what we need to do for the team to succeed.

‘That’s really the strength of our team.’ 

More history could be on the horizon for the Valkyries. Golden State is looking to become the first expansion team to make the playoffs in its inaugural season since the Detroit Shock in 1998.

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Semenya is appealing against World Athletics regulations that female athletes with differences in sexual development (DSDs) medically reduce their testosterone levels.
The verdict of the Grand Chamber, part of the European Court of Human Rights, does not set aside these rules.
Semenya, 34, is not seeking a return to the track, but says she is carrying on the fight for other DSD athletes.

The Grand Chamber of the European Court on Thursday upheld a 2023 ruling that double 800-meter Olympic champion Caster Semenya’s appeal to a Swiss Federal Tribunal against regulations that barred her from competing had not been properly heard.

Semenya is appealing against World Athletics regulations that female athletes with differences in sexual development (DSDs) medically reduce their testosterone levels.

The verdict of the Grand Chamber, part of the European Court of Human Rights, does not set aside these rules.

Under World Athletics rules, female DSD athletes must lower their level of testosterone to below 2.5 nmol/L for at least six months to compete. This can be done medically or surgically.

Semenya, 34, is not seeking a return to the track and has turned to coaching, but says she is carrying on the fight for other DSD athletes, who she says are discriminated against.

The verdict, which does not give an opinion on the fairness of the regulations, opens the door for Semenya to continue her challenge to the regulations, which she says are discriminatory.

‘It’s a battle for human rights now,’ the South African recently told reporters. ‘It’s not about competing. It’s about putting athletes’ rights first. It’s about the protection of athletes.’

The Grand Chamber declared inadmissible Semenya’s complaint of violations to her right to privacy and effective remedy, or that she considers herself a victim of discrimination.

Semenya challenged the rules but lost at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland in 2019 and again at the Swiss Supreme Court in 2020.

But the ECHR ruled in July 2023, by a majority of four votes to three, that Semenya’s original appeal to a Swiss Federal Tribunal against the regulations had not been properly heard.

The Swiss courts, encouraged by World Athletics, appealed that verdict to the ECHR Grand Chamber.

The case could now return to the Swiss courts, or possibly the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

World Athletics told Reuters on Thursday they had no comment on the ECHR case, which does not relate to their regulations, but they have previously denied any attempt to discriminate against athletes.

‘World Athletics has only ever been interested in protecting the female category. If we don’t, then women and young girls will not choose sport. That is, and has always been, the Federation’s sole motivation,’ the sports body said in a previous statement to Reuters.

‘We remain of the view that the DSD regulations are a necessary, reasonable and proportionate means of protecting fair competition in the female category as the Court of Arbitration for Sport and Swiss Federal Tribunal both found, after a detailed and expert assessment of the evidence.’

You won’t find much fighting among college football fans if they are told who has the best environment in North American sports.

It’s who has the toughest one where the punches are thrown.

In one of the most argumentative-driven sports, perhaps nothing gets the blood boiling − other than playoff rankings − more than trying to determine which stadium is the class of college football, and hardest to play in.

Home field advantage is what makes college football great. Crazed student sections, packed stadiums in football cathedrals with more than 100,000 people partaking in traditions while ensuring their team has the best possible chance to win, no matter the opposition.

EA Sports tasks itself with trying to determine the top 25 toughest stadiums to play in for its annual video game. For College Football 26, EA Sports gave the top honors to LSU’s Tiger Stadium, with Beaver Stadium (Penn State), Ohio Stadium (Ohio State), Sanford Stadium (Georgia) and Bryant-Denny Stadium (Alabama) rounding out the top five.

Is there a consensus agreement on it? Not even close.

The social media replies to EA Sports’ account are filled with people questioning the rankings, wondering how could it come to such a conclusion. Even Florida’s Swamp, ranked seventh, and Tennessee’s Neyland Stadium, ranked 12th.

They certainly have a point. There isn’t a correct or wrong way to determine the rankings, but there are statistics that back it up or disprove it. So, which stadium really is the toughest to be in?

How does EA Sports determine toughest stadiums?

What’s certain in the top 25 rankings is the stadium size and attendance. The nine biggest stadiums in the country are on the list, and 20 of the 26 largest college football stadiums by capacity made it. National success is also consistent with 27 of the past 29 national champions on it, which plays a role in the EA Sports rankings.

Ahead of College Football 25, EA Sports said there are several factors that are considered in the rankings, but more notable ones are home winning percentage, home game attendance, active home winning streaks and team prestige, among other factors. USA TODAY Sports reached out to EA Sports did n for more information into this year’s rankings.

Home stadium success

After stadium size, a great starting point would be a team’s history at home. Sixteen of the 25 teams with the best home winning percentage since 2004 made the rankings. Ohio State has the highest figure at a 91.6% win percentage (141-13) in that timeframe. In the top eight, only Boise State (89.2%) didn’t make it.

In it are:

Ohio State: 1st (91.6%, 141-13)
Oklahoma: 2nd (89.7%, 122-14)
Alabama: 4rd (87.7%, 135-19)
Georgia: 5th (86.9%, 119-18)
Clemson: 6th (86.6%, 129-20)
LSU: 7th (86%, 129-21)
Oregon: 8th (85.9%, 122-20)
Wisconsin: 13th (80.8%, 118-28)
Michigan: 14th (79.1%, 121-32)
Florida: 16th (78.2%, 111-31)
Penn State: 17th (77.8%, 119-34)
Utah: 18th (76.9%, 103-31)
Iowa: 20th (75%, 111-37)
Oklahoma State: 22nd (74.8%, 107-36)
Auburn: 24th (73.9%, 119-42)
Texas: 25th (73.9%, 102-36)

Meanwhile, the worst top 25 team on the list is Mississippi State. Their 58.2% win percentage (82-59) is 90th.

Comparing 2024 rankings to 2025

Another way it could be looked is what last year’s rankings and how it affected the 2025 edition. In College Football 25, Texas A&M had the top spot, followed by Alabama, LSU, Ohio State and Georgia.

Texas A&M went 5-2 at home, with two top 10 victories and two close losses to Notre Dame and Texas. Yet the Aggies dropped to No. 11 this year, the biggest fall in the rankings. Meanwhile, LSU rose from third to first after a 6-1 home record. However, that included the laugher against Alabama, when the Crimson Tide beat the Tigers so bad the stadium was emptying out early in the fourth quarter. At the top, plenty of cases could be made for who should be where.

There were moves that made sense. After the abysmal season, Florida State went ninth to 14th with a 2-5 home record, and Wisconsin’s 3-4 mark dropped it from seventh to 15th. Washington joined the party at No. 18 following a 6-0 mark at Husky Stadium.

Yet there were head-scratching decisions. Five teams on the list had perfect home records, but arguably the most questionable move is Alabama. It went from 7-0 at home in 2024, including wins over Georgia and Missouri, but went from second to fifth. Plus, Oklahoma State jumped into the rankings at No. 23, even though it went 2-4 at home with the wins against South Dakota State and Arkansas. Meanwhile, Boise State continued its blue turf dominance with a 7-0 record, yet completely fell out.

In total, there are six teams − Auburn, Utah, Wisconsin, Oklahoma State, Mississippi State and Florida State − that were .500 or worse at home in 2024 and still in the rankings. All dropped spots except for the Cowboys.

Margin of victory

Winning at home is necessary, but what really determines the strength of the home field advantage is how a team does it. When it comes to crushing teams, no one on the list did it better than Tennessee. Not only did the Volunteers go 7-0 at home, but they won by an average of 33.6 points at Neyland Stadium, second-best in the country behind Indiana. How was Tennessee rewarded? Moving up just one spot to No. 12. Sure, the Volunteers have won just 67.6% (100-48) of their home games since 2004, but it’s coming off a dominant season in Rocky Top.

Eight teams − Tennessee, Ohio State, Texas, Alabama, Penn State, Notre Dame, Georgia and Iowa − won by an average of at least 20 points at home, showing how they mostly dominated opponents. Four are in the top five, yet Iowa (19th) only moved up one spot, and Notre Dame (21st) didn’t move at all.

No. 1 LSU’s average margin was 10.4, 18th-best on the list. The Tigers were winning, but ‘Death Valley’ wasn’t a terror. At No. 14, Florida State had a -6.3 average margin, the worst on the list, yet it’s ahead of eight teams that were positive, including the Hawkeyes and Fighting Irish. Oklahoma State (-4), Mississippi State (-4.1) and Michigan State (-4.3) were the others with a negative margin.

Did EA Sports get stadium rankings right?

It’s anyone’s guess how EA Sports made its rankings, but it’s safe to say they aren’t the end-all-be-all list.

Based on these determinations, Alabama, Tennessee, Oregon, Texas should have been ranked higher, while LSU likely shouldn’t have the top spot. Teams like Florida State, Auburn and Utah should’ve seen more dramatic drops than Texas A&M.

The cowbells can be tough to play in, but it’s evident Mississippi State shouldn’t be on a list where the only wins with against Eastern Kentucky and Massachusetts. North Carolina State’s admission is questionable but Oklahoma State had zero business moving into the top 25, resulting in Boise State being wrongfully punished.

Of course, these opinions won’t be correct to everyone. Determining the toughest − not the best − stadium isn’t an easy task, but there’s data that certainly backs it up.

Think your team deserves to be higher? Then show up, be raucous and hope your team wins, and wins by a lot.

Following a crash at a stock car track, former UFC fighter Randy Couture, 62, was airlifted to a burn center in the Kansas City area on Tuesday, according to multiple reports.

He is expected to make a full recovery, his spokesperson told MMA Junkie.

Couture had recently been preparing to make his National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) debut this year. Couture has long been a motorcycling enthusiast and had begun earning his competitive license in the hopes of racing stock cars in official races before the end of 2025.

What were Randy Couture’s injuries?

Couture suffered first- and second-degree burns, other trauma-related injuries, and smoke inhalation.

It is unclear what actually caused the crash.

Randy Couture’s interest in racing

Couture seemed excited at the prospect of pro racing. In a video on his Instagram from June, Couture was seen in a kitted-out vehicle gaining experience behind the wheel.

Couture even said: ‘This is a new way to tickle that competitive spirit that I’ve had most of my life; a new place for me to get competitive and make a mark in racing.’

Randy Couture’s UFC career

Couture is a legend in the world of mixed martial arts, winning UFC championships in two different weight classes during his career. He was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2006.

(This story was updated to include video.)