INDIANAPOLIS – NFL teams awash in disposable income now have a better idea of how to earmark their funds later this month.

“Free agency is a great roster-building tool,” Arizona Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort said at the annual scouting combine last week. “We’re right here on the cusp of the two biggest roster-building opportunities for us in free agency followed by the draft.

“We’re going to be active in both of them,” continued Ossenfort, who is projected to have something close to an $80 million bankroll, among the league’s largest this offseason, to lure veteran players.

“We’re going to make smart decisions and things that we think are the right fit for our team, both the person – (their) makeup – and then also schematically, who can help us the most.’

Ossenfort and his peers across the league have less than a week before they can officially begin recruiting that help in earnest. NFL free agents cannot begin signing contracts with new teams until 4 p.m. ET on March 12, though they can engage in negotiations with outside clubs starting next Monday. The passage of Tuesday afternoon’s deadline to apply franchise and transition tags has brought some measure of clarity to the market, Cincinnati Bengals WR Tee Higgins and Kansas City Chiefs G Trey Smith – both likely to be among the top five players available this year if they’d been unrestricted – effectively taken off the shelf after both were franchised.

Though Higgins and/or Smith could still be traded down the line, their tags dilute what was already a fairly thin crop of highly desirable veterans. With franchised players excluded, here is USA TODAY Sports’ updated list of the top 25* free agents available in 2025:

WINNERS AND LOSERS: Of NFL’s 2025 franchise tag deadline

1. QB Sam Darnold

Does he bring an element of concern given the arc of his career, despite its 2024 spike? Surely. But is there anyone else on the market with the potential to have such a franchise-changing impact? Good luck finding one. Last season had a suboptimal ending for Darnold and the Minnesota Vikings with convincing losses to the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams in Week 18 and the playoffs, respectively. Prior to that, Darnold, 27, was something of a belated revelation six years after he was drafted third overall by the New York Jets – driving the Vikes to the cusp of the NFC’s No. 1 seed during a 14-3 campaign that earned him Pro Bowl recognition for the first time as he passed for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns and a 102.5 rating, all easily career bests. And now, with Matthew Stafford no longer unofficially available after redoing his deal with the Rams, Darnold could also be the financial beneficiary of a thin class of quarterbacks in the draft at a time when at least a half-dozen teams seem solidly in the market for an answer behind center – which isn’t to say Minnesota might not lure him back once all is said and done … the Vikings just weren’t willing to do it for $40 million.

2. OLB Josh Sweat

At 6-5, 265 pounds, he’s built to man the edge, whether as a base end or stand-up linebacker. Just 27, Sweat has averaged better than eight sacks and 26 pressures over the last four seasons since he was named a Pro Bowler for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2021. And, unlike Darnold, Sweat, who already mans a highly coveted post, should get a postseason premium attached to his negotiations as a guy who’s played in two Super Bowls over the past three seasons. All he did in the Super Bowl 59 rollover of the Chiefs was generate 2½ sacks and seven pressures (per Pro Football Focus) of QB Patrick Mahomes – an MVP-caliber performance on the NFL’s grandest stage that could especially make prospective contenders salivate.

3. CB Byron Murphy Jr.

He erupted for the Vikings in 2024, named a Pro Bowler for the first time after recording career highs for interceptions (6), passes defensed (14) and tackles (81) – all while often working on an island given Minnesota’s propensity to blitz. Quarterbacks only managed an 80.5 rating when targeting him. Murphy, 27, should be especially valuable given he’s comfortable lining up wide or playing in the slot.

4. DT Milton Williams

Yet another Philly player in line for a Lombardi bump, Williams excelled in 2024, when he played a career-high 501 snaps and responded with a personal best five sacks to go along with 28 hurries (per PFF). A third-round pick in 2021, the 25-year-old has started 17 times over the past two seasons but appears to be in line for a front-liner’s playing time – and a starter’s money. Given the Eagles’ depth on the D-line, he’s not likely to get that in Philly. But Williams had to be smiling Tuesday, when the Dallas Cowboys rewarded fellow DT Osa Odighizuwa with a four-year, $80 million extension in order to keep him off the market.

5. LT Ronnie Stanley

The two-time Pro Bowler is definitely the most talented blind side protector on the market and just played a full season for the first time in his nine-year career, attributes that should fetch him a fat bag. Stanley is also almost 31 … and just played a full season for the first time in his nine-year career, attributes that may give several teams pause. Still, his value likely got a further bump after the Rams recently took LT Alaric Jackson out of play by extending him for three years.

6. S Jevon Holland

On the plus side, he’ll be 25 at the start of next season and – when on top of his game – is an impact player, whether as a pass rusher or ball hawk, Holland responsible for nine takeaways in his four seasons to go along with five forced fumbles. But consistency has been an issue at times, and he’s missed seven games over the past two seasons. Regardless, good bet Holland lands financially at the summit of the safety market currently topped by Antoine Winfield ($21 million per season).

7. CB D.J. Reed

Still only 28, he also mans a position where demand always outstrips supply. Reed has averaged double-digit passes defensed over the past four seasons even if he’s not necessarily an interception machine (four total over that stretch). But he’s durable and a willing tackler, a trait that distinguishes him from many of his peers. However penalties have been an issue in recent years with the Jets, and he has had the benefit of playing opposite of Sauce Gardner the past three seasons.

8. WR Chris Godwin

He was having a monster season for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2024 – and on pace for a career year – with 50 catches for 576 yards and five TDs in seven games. But Godwin, who just turned 29, suffered a dislocated ankle in October that obviously required surgery and relegated him to injured reserve. Such a setback is concerning for a middle-aged (by NFL standards) wideout. Yet perhaps it will be offset not only by the fact Godwin can line up anywhere and is tough as nails, but also because he could command more suitors (and money) with Higgins spoken for and this year’s draft not nearly as stocked with high-end wideouts as 2024’s was.

9. LT Cam Robinson

Stanley is more gifted when it comes to safeguarding quarterbacks. But Robinson, 29, is slightly younger and generally more likely to remain in the lineup – though he was suspended four games at the start of the 2024 campaign, while in Jacksonville, for violating the performance-enhancing substances policy before later being dealt to Minnesota. Jackson’s deal, which averages $19 million annually, should also boost Robinson’s market.

10. S Justin Reid

He posted one of his best seasons in years in 2024. Reid, who turned 28 last month, is an extremely bright player, a reliable tackler and has literally been the last line of defense for Chiefs coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who has counted on him with confidence the past three years. Yet Reid typically doesn’t make a ton of splash plays – i.e., generating turnovers or as a blitzer – so it’s little surprise that K.C. prioritized Smith, especially given the need to safeguard Mahomes.

11. C Drew Dalman

Looking for a highly reliable snapper to anchor your line who’s only 26 and has Stanford smarts? Then Dalman might be your guy, though he did miss eight games last season for the Atlanta Falcons with an ankle injury. Doesn’t mean he shouldn’t get a deal that pays him at least $15 million annually.

12. OLB Joey Bosa

*QB Aaron Rodgers

Technically, he’s not a free agent – yet – but he is effectively, permitted to speak with potential employers after the Jets signaled their intention to end their two-year relationship with the four-time league MVP prematurely. Rodgers’ age (41) is just one red flag on what’s a sterling résumé from a football standpoint. Yet despite the off-field baggage he lugs into a locker room, he’s also a quarterbacking savant and a tough one – starting all 17 games despite a litany of injuries to his lower body in 2024. Yet over his final nine starts with the NYJ, Rodgers passed for 218 yards per game with 14 touchdowns and just three interceptions (95.1 QB rating). It wasn’t on par with his Green Bay heyday, but those modestly impressive figures should certainly be sufficient to get him a starting job in 2025 … maybe even with a contender like Pittsburgh given the mutual man crush coach Mike Tomlin and Rodgers seem to have.

13. CB Carlton Davis

A solid player who’s just 28 and has 17 takeaways in seven NFL years. However Davis tends to get banged up, having never played a full season – a broken jaw cutting his 2024 stint with Detroit short at 13 games.

14. WR Davante Adams

Released by the Jets on Tuesday, he’s 32 and two years removed from his most recent All-Pro season. In fairness to Adams, he’s played on two bad teams (Las Vegas Raiders, NYJ) and more than a half-dozen quarterbacks during that period, yet seemed to be recapturing his deadly form in the second half of 2024 after getting reacquainted with Rodgers. Even after a bumpy assimilation following his trade to New York last October, Adams’ numbers projected over 17 games with the Jets would have translated to 104 receptions for 1,320 yards and 11 TDs … which seems like a typical campaign during his peak. His market might actually be more limited by choosing to remain hitched to Rodgers – if that, in fact, transpires – than his ability to, at minimum, perform at a 1A wideout level. As a ‘street free agent’ – meaning his contract was terminated prior to its expiration – Adams is already free to sign with a new club.

15. S Talanoa Hufanga

Two years ago, he looked (literally) like the next Troy Polamalu, earning All-Pro honors for the San Francisco 49ers while wreaking havoc all over the field. Hufanga has yet to regain that form since suffering a torn ACL late in the 2023 season, but this might be the right time to invest in a guy who recently turned 26.

16. CB Charvarius Ward

Like Hufanga, Ward, 28, is coming off a disappointing season with the Niners. However given he was dealing with a knee injury and, more importantly, the death of his 1-year-old daughter, Ward’s struggles were more than understandable. He was a dominant player in previous seasons and very well could be again.

17. QB Russell Wilson

If you want a Super Bowl-proven quarterback with a different set of issues than Rodgers’, then Mr. Unlimited might be your guy. Wilson was named a Pro Bowler for the 10th time this season … though only after enough AFC quarterbacks declined the invitation. Overall, his passing numbers in 2024 (63.7% completion rate, 2,482 yards, 16 TDs, 5 INTs, 95.6 rating), his first in Pittsburgh, were generally in line with his career norms on a per-game basis. But the 36-year-old’s late-season decline (which bookended a training camp calf injury that cost him six regular-season starts) also mirrored the downfall of the Steelers, who lost their final five games and weren’t even competitive in most of those. He’s basically no longer a threat with his legs, either, which can amplify his tendency to struggle from the pocket. Still, Wilson might still find an opportunity to start – a reunion with Pete Carroll in Las Vegas? – even if those days appear decidedly numbered.

18. QB Justin Fields

If you want a younger passer with scads of talent – and a far more pronounced ability to make plays with his legs than Darnold – rather than a veteran, then Fields, who turns 26 on Wednesday, might be your guy. Though Wilson initially justified Tomlin’s decision to bench Fields, many never understood the logic given how well he played while winning four of his six starts to begin the 2024 campaign. And Fields showed noticeable improvement along the way, earning his teammates’ trust while adding what seemed an ideal dimension to OC Arthur Smith’s offense given his dynamic ability to make plays outside the pocket. Seems like there’s a much stronger chance Pittsburgh would choose to run it back with Fields in 2025 than Wilson.

19. DE Chase Young

Despite the outlandish pre-draft comparisons in 2020, he’ll never become the next Lawrence Taylor. But the New Orleans Saints may have hit on something, solely using Young as a situational pass rusher in 2024. He responded with 5½ sacks and a career-best (by far) 34 pressures. Young, still only 25, may not break the bank, but he should do better than having to settle for another one-year deal.

20. RB Rico Dowdle

Is he the next Saquon Barkley? Hardly. But Dowdle, 26, did explode for a career-best 1,328 yards from scrimmage (on 274 touches) when Dallas finally gave him a chance to play in 2024 – and the Cowboys almost certainly would have been better off had they given him more reps rather than force Ezekiel Elliott into the rotation early in the season. Newly promoted head coach Brian Schottenheimer has already expressed his hope that Dowdle, who ran with maximum effort after finally getting his NFL opportunity, returns. But he might fetch more money – whether as a starter or change-of-pace back – elsewhere … and might be especially attractive given his relative lack of usage (387 career touches) since the Cowboys signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2020.

21. RB Najee Harris

22. LB Nick Bolton

He’s unlikely to sniff the three-year, $51 million extension Zack Baun raked in from Philadelphia on Wednesday. But Bolton has been a staple in Kansas City the past four seasons, his touchdown in Super Bowl 57 the turning point of that contest. And for anyone looking to steal a little Chiefs magic, why not poach a productive backer who will celebrate his 25th birthday Monday?

23. OLB Khalil Mack

His age (34) will almost certainly suppress what’s left of his earning power. Nevertheless, he has been a Pro Bowler in nine of his 11 NFL season – and the league’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2016 – and was ranked by PFF as the fifth-best player on the edge in 2024. Mack has always been stout against the run, however his 2023 sack total (17) plummeted to six last season while his 22 pressures were barely half the previous year (36). He should certainly be an asset to a contender, but it’s a stretch to ask him to anchor a defense at this juncture. He might be more valuable to the ascending Bolts than anyone given Bosa’s release.

24. G/T Mekhi Becton

The 11th overall pick of the 2020 draft, he rarely came close to fulfilling his potential with the Jets, who expected Becton, 25, to be their long-term left tackle. But, not all that surprisingly, his career was revived in Philadelphia by O-line guru Jeff Stoutland, who shifted the massive (6-7, 363) blocker inside to guard. Becton might have priced himself out of Philly, but he will do much better financially after earning $2.75 million during his year with the Eagles – maybe far better if another team wants to give him another shot at the blind side.

25. OLB Haason Reddick

Between 2020 and ’23, he averaged better than 12½ sacks and nearly 36 pressures per season, eye-popping numbers for teams looking for pass-rush enhancement – and precisely why the Jets traded for Reddick last year. However his obstinate holdout in 2024 didn’t shed him in the best light, and that was exacerbated by his complete lack of production (1 sack and 7 pressures in 10 games after he reported to the team). Reddick will be 31 in September, and his relative age and low snap count last season might create a better market for him than, say, Mack’s. But hard to believe there won’t be a buyer-beware label Reddick will have to overcome.

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Put four teams in a hat — shoot, put six or even seven teams in a hat — and then draw at random to pick which team leads the Big 12 heading into spring practice.

It’s a guessing game at this point. Kansas State, Arizona State? Kansas, Brigham Young, Iowa State? What about Texas Tech? Utah? Could Colorado take another leap under Deion Sanders?

More so than any other Power Four league, the Big 12 will open the spring with a wide-open race that could make this the most interesting conference in the Bowl Subdivision. But what the Big 12 lacks is one surefire bet to make the playoff and contend for the national championship.

Here’s our pre-spring rankings for the conference:

1. Kansas State

It boils down to this: In his second season as the team’s starter, quarterback Avery Johnson has to be more consistent if the Wildcats want end atop the conference. The pieces are in place should Kansas State’s transfer class boost a defense that was hit or miss in 2024. The offense will benefit from the return of running back Dylan Edwards, who had 196 yards on the ground in the Wildcats’ bowl game with departed starter DJ Giddens opting out.

2. Arizona State

The defending conference champions are a threat to get back into the College Football Playoff and advance deeper than last season’s exit in the quarterfinals. Nearly every position brings back experience and depth minus running back, where Cam Skattebo’s departure leaves a huge void. That gives the opportunity for quarterback Sam Leavitt to lead the offense.

SPRING POWER RANKINGS: Big Ten | SEC | ACC | Big 12

LOOKING AHEAD: Our way-too-early college football Top 25 for 2025

3. Kansas

Jalon Daniels is back at quarterback, and the Jayhawks will need him to deliver given the changes elsewhere on the offensive side of the ball. The biggest reason for optimism comes from how close this team was to having another Top 25 finish after six single-possession losses last season. That coincided with better play from Daniels after a slow start.

4. Brigham Young

This could be Kalani Sitake’s best team. The defense that led the Big 12 in scoring and total defense last season has to blend in several transfers to stay near the top of the conference. Offensively, the Cougars bring back quarterback Jake Retzlaff, a strong running back group and wide receiver Chase Roberts.

5. Iowa State

The schedule includes games against each of the four teams ranked higher than Iowa State in our pre-spring rankings, though all four come in Ames. Add in a third-year starting quarterback Rocco Becht and coach Matt Campbell’s track record to get a team very capable of winning the Big 12 and earning a playoff spot.

6. Texas Tech

Tech’s hopes hinge on how quickly and how deftly coach Joey McGuire blends in what may be the best transfer class in the FBS. This group will join established standouts such as quarterback Behren Morton and linebacker Jacob Rodriguez to give the Red Raiders a roster that on paper looks capable of double-digit wins.

7. TCU

Don’t worry about the offense. Why would you? Josh Hoover should be among the top quarterbacks in the Big 12 after throwing for 27 touchdowns last season. What TCU needs is more development on defense after that unit began to turn a corner in the second half under coordinator Andy Avalos. If Avalos can continue that trend, the Horned Frogs could be dangerous.

8. Utah

Meanwhile, Utah’s offense is a wild card with the hiring of former New Mexico coordinator Jason Beck and his quarterback from last year, Devon Dampier. If this thing clicks, the Utes might be the most physical team in the conference. And if the offense does rebound to join a solid defense, Utah could jump back toward nine or more wins.

9. Baylor

Baylor looks to carry over a six-game winning streak that saw the Bears playing as well as any team in the Big 12. One clear positive is the rapport between offensive coordinator Jake Spavital and quarterback Sawyer Robertson, a definite all-conference contender. Baylor is yet another team capable of playing for the conference championship.

10. Colorado

This will be an interesting case study for Deion Sanders’ style of roster management. The Buffaloes won’t have stars Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, two of the most irreplaceable players in the FBS. But the offense could remain efficient should new quarterback Kaidon Salter from Liberty be helped by a stronger running game. The baseline should be six or seven wins.

11. Houston

That Houston is ready to add two wins and get into the postseason should be unsurprising to anyone familiar with coach Willie Fritz’s career. With a defense that’s already in the top half of the Big 12 and an offense that’s set to be led by a high-profile quarterback transfer in Connor Weigman, the Cougars are ahead of schedule.

12. Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State will be better, since the Cowboys really can’t get worse after going winless in league play last season. Given the uncertainty that dots the roster, picking Oklahoma State to get back to the postseason is pretty much a testament to the work coach Mike Gundy has done since taking over a generation ago. A lot will ride on how the quarterback position gets sorted.

13. West Virginia

The second Rich Rodriguez era begins with the Mountaineers lacking the pieces to effectively run his scheme. That’s going to hamstring his first campaign and keep West Virginia from doing more than hover around six wins. But look for the Mountaineers to improve as the season progresses and set things up for better days in 2026.

14. Central Florida

Scott Frost returns to Orlando after his failed stint at Nebraska. What did he learn from that experience? He’ll need more time to get UCF into Top 25 contention given the state of the roster and the difficult path through Big 12 play. Sometimes a reunion can work. But like Rich Rodriguez, he’ll need some time to get things sorted.

15. Arizona

The Wildcats are on shaky ground heading into coach Brent Brennan’s second season. While the offense can build around quarterback Noah Fifita, there are major gaps in nearly every other position group after an exodus of potential contributors into the transfer portal. While Brennan and his staff worked to rebuild, this roster isn’t built to contend on a weekly basis.

16. Cincinnati

The defense doesn’t look noticeably improved after cratering in the second half of last season and costing the Bearcats a bowl berth. Embattled coach Scott Satterfield should get things going on offense behind quarterback Brendan Sorsby, who had over 3,200 yards of total offense in 2024 but was lost in the shuffle amid the league’s deep quarterback group. But Cincinnati is not a safe bet to do more than claw around four to six wins, which would likely mean the end of the road for Satterfield.

Former NFL star cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones previously has been an outspoken advocate of cannabis and even revealed last year that he smoked marijuana before playing in NFL games.

Now in an interview that aired Tuesday, Jones came clean about how he concealed his marijuana use to avoid getting in trouble under the NFL’s substance abuse policy. He said he never used his own urine in league drug tests.

“I cheated the program,” Jones said on Deion Sanders’ weekly show on Tubi called “We Got Time Today.” “Like I was really good. People don’t know how smart I am, but like, I can say it now. I don’t play no more. But like, I’ve never used my (urine) for a (urine) test. Not one time. Not one time.”

Sanders, the show’s co-host, then tried to tell Jones that such cheating “can’t happen today” because the NFL has made it harder for players to do that.

Jones disagreed with Sanders, a mentor of Jones who is currently the head coach at Colorado.

“It can happen if you know what you’re doing,” Jones told Sanders. “Don’t say it can’t happen, pop. Hey pop, don’t say it can’t happen.”

“The reason it can’t because they go in there with you right now,” Sanders said of NFL drug testers. “No, no. They go in there and watch you pull out.”

“You still can get ‘em,” Jones said.

How could Pacman Jones get away with it today?

Sanders’ co-host, Rocsi Diaz, then asked Jones how he still could evade testing positive under the league policy.

“You want me to tell you how?” Jones told her. “I’m gonna give you all the secret right now…”

But Sanders, who doesn’t drink or smoke, wouldn’t let him say more. “Nope, nope, nope,” Sanders said.

“The cups they give you…” Jones said.

Sanders then shut it down before Jones could explain.

Jones, 41, was the sixth overall NFL draft pick in 2005 and went on to play for four NFL teams, including the Tennessee Titans and Cincinnati Bengals. He last played in the NFL in 2018.

In 2007, he was suspended for the entire season under the league’s personal conduct policy after a number of off-the-field incidents and run-ins with the law. This led to increased drug testing for him, he said, including “every other day” and even when he was out of the country.

The NFL has changed its marijuana policy

The NFL has relaxed its marijuana policy in recent years after pressure from players as society’s views on cannabis generally have become more accepting of its benefits. In Jones’ last season in the NFL, in 2018, 35 nanograms per milliliter triggered a positive test for marijuana under the league’s substance abuse policy, which is agreed to by the NFL Players Association. Just two years ago, it was 150 nanograms per milliliter. Now it’s up to 350 nanograms per milliliter.

Testing positive could lead to fines and previously could lead to suspensions. But cheating the drug test could have led to stiffer punishment if caught. The substance abuse policy in 2018 said that a deliberate attempt to alter a test result “will be treated as a positive test and may subject a player to additional discipline.”

The NFL and the NFL Players Association declined comment Wednesday.

Jones noted on the show with Sanders and Diaz that cannabis is not considered a performance-enhancing drug. It is not part of the league’s separate performance-enhancing drugs policy.

“They’re giving guys opiates, pain pills, muscle relaxers; you’re telling me that a guy that’s smoking THC (cannabis), that it’s helping him perform more, or are you telling me is it helping his body?” Jones said.

He said “no sport” should be testing for THC and said it helps with pain.

“I’m all for the weed,” he said.

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

(This story was updated to add new information.)

The field at the West Coast Conference tournament is bigger this year with Pac-12 refugees Oregon State and Washington State joining the party in Las Vegas. Overall the balance of power in the league hasn’t changed appreciably. The newcomers finished in the middle of the pack, while the two teams expected to finish at the top did so once again.

At the very top, however, the script has changed for the last couple of years as Saint Mary’s has usurped front-runner status from long-time mainstay Gonzaga. But one of those two teams raised the trophy every year since 2009, and that streak is unlikely to end this year.

West Coast Conference tournament schedule, bracket

First round

Thursday, March 6

San Diego vs. Pacific, 5:30 p.m.

Second round

Friday, March 7

Pepperdine vs. Portland, 9 p.m.

San Diego-Pacific winner vs. Loyola Marymount, 11:30 p.m.

Third round

Saturday, March 8

Pepperdine-Portland winner vs. Oregon State, 9 p.m.

San Diego-Pacific-Loyola Marymount winner vs. Washington State, 11:30 p.m.

Quarterfinals

Sunday, March 9

Pepperdine-Portland-Oregon State winner vs. Santa Clara, 8:30 p.m.

San Diego-Pacific-Loyola Marymount-Washington State winner vs. San Francisco, 11 p.m.

Semifinals

Monday, March 10

Pepperdine-Portland-Oregon State-Santa Clara winner vs. Saint Mary’s, 9 p.m.

San Diego-Pacific-Loyola Marymount-Washington State-San Francisco winner vs. Gonzaga, 11:30 p.m.

Championship

Tuesday., March 11

Semifinal winners, 9 p.m.

All times Eastern

West Coast Conference tournament favorite

Saint Mary’s enters the tourney as the top seed for the third consecutive year. The Gaels are coached by Randy Bennett, no relation to Tony, but nevertheless bring to mind a vintage Virginia squad as they control the tempo, play tight defense and select smart shots. They headed the WCC standings by three games and swept Gonzaga home-and-home. The Bulldogs can never be counted out, of course, but they didn’t secure the No. 2 spot until the final day of the regular season with a win at San Francisco. The Dons, incidentally, handed the Gaels their lone league loss but would have to get past the Zags in the semifinals to earn a rematch.

BRACKETOLOGY: Tennessee rises to No. 1 seed in projected NCAA field

West Coast Conference tournament top players

Augustas Marciulionis, G, Saint Mary’s – The league player of the year and last season’s WCC tourney MVP with NBA genes picked up where he left off, putting up 14.4 points and 6.1 assists a game.

Mitchell Saxen, C, Saint Mary’s – Another key veteran for the experienced Gaels, the two-time conference defensive player of the year is averaging eight rebounds while adding 10.4 points on the offensive end.

Ryan Nembhard, G, Gonzaga – the Nation’s assists leader handing out 10 dimes a game can score a bit as well when he has to (10.9 ppg), but the Zags are at their best when the long-time floor general is mainly the distributor.

Graham Ike, F, Gonzaga – The Zags’ scoring leader at 17 a game, he is not a dominant post presence but knows how to find openings near the rim. It also helps that he makes free throws at a nearly 80% clip.

Malik Thomas, G, San Francisco – One of the league’s most explosive scorers, the high-volume shooter paces the Dons with 19.1 points a game hitting just a shade under 40% from the arc.

Adama-Alpha Bal, G, Santa Clara – The lead guard for the back-court oriented Broncos averages 13 points and 3.1 assists.

West Coast Conference tournament bubble storylines

The Gaels and Bulldogs are safely in the field, so there won’t be any bubble drama unless either happens to lose on Monday. San Francisco and Santa Clara have potential to be bid thieves but would almost certainly need to earn the automatic berth.

One of the most intriguing mid-major conference tournaments in men’s college basketball tips of in St. Louis, Missouri with the Missouri Valley Conference tournament − popularly known as Arch Madness.

Typically held the week before Selection Sunday, the conference tournament is one to pay attention to given the MVC’s track record in sending multiple teams to the NCAA Tournament. Although not a regular occurrence − it last sent two teams to March Madness in 2021 − a case could be made depending on the results inside the Enterprise Center.

Drake enters as the regular season champion and the projected automatic bid in the USA TODAY Sports Bracketology, but quality teams in Bradley − which beat the Bulldogs last month − and Northern Iowa lurk and could punch their tickets to the big dance. Bubble teams will certainly keep their eyes on this tournament to see if any bid-stealing will occur.

Missouri Valley Conference tournament schedule, bracket, scores

First round

Thursday, March 6

Southern Illinois vs. Indiana State, 1 p.m.

Illinois State vs. Missouri State, 3:30 p.m.

Murray State vs. Evansville, 7 p.m.

Illinois-Chicago vs. Valparaiso, 9:30 p.m.

Second round

Friday, March 7

Drake vs. Southern Illinois-Indiana State winner, 1 p.m.

Belmont vs. Illinois State-Missouri State winner, 3:30 p.m.

Bradley vs. Murray State-Evansville winner, 7 p.m.

Northern Iowa vs. Illinois-Chicago-Valparaiso winner, 9:30 p.m.

Semifinals

Saturday, March 8

Drake-Southern Illinois-Indiana State winner vs. Belmont-Illinois State-Missouri State winner, 3:30 p.m.

Bradley-Murray State-Evansville winner vs. Northern Iowa-Illinois-Chicago-Valparaiso winner, 6 p.m.

Championship

Sunday, March 9

Semifinal winners, 2:15 p.m.,

Missouri Valley Conference tournament favorite

Will we have the second-ever three-peat in the MVC? Drake is the favorite to win the conference tournament after a dominant season with a 27-3 record and 17-3 mark in conference play, with wins in 15 of its last 16 games. The Bulldogs play some of the best defense in the country, allowing only 59.2 points per game, third-best in Division I. Opponents have scored more than 70 points in just four games as first-year head coach Ben McCollum has continued the winning for Drake with a program regular season record in wins.

The Bulldogs will try to be the first team since Southern Illinois in 1993-95 to win three consecutive Missouri Valley Conference tournaments. However, one team that could prevent that is Bradley, which finished second in the regular season and split the season series with Drake. Northern Iowa is another to watch. The Panthers nearly beat Drake last month before falling in overtime.

BRACKETOLOGY: Tennessee rises to No. 1 seed in projected NCAA field

Missouri Valley Conference tournament top players

Bennett Stirtz, Drake – The conference player of the year had no trouble transitioning to the Division I level after he was one of four players to follow McCollum from Northwestern Missouri State. He led the conference in points (18.9), assists (5.9) and steals (2.2) per game, the third player in the league to achieve the feat in the same season.

Duke Deen, Bradley – A back-to-back first team all-conference selection, Deen does it all offensively for the Braves with 14.1 points and 3.8 assists per game. He’s also a dangerous 3-point shooter with a 41.1% mark from beyond the arc.

Tytan Anderson, Northern Iowa – Not only does Anderson lead the Panthers with 15.3 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, but he sets the tone defensively. His play in the second half of the season was critical to Northern Iowa finishing as a No. 3 seed.

Connor Turnbull, Evansville – Good luck trying to score on this 6-foot-10-inch junior. He averages 1.87 blocks per game, ranking 30th in the country. His impact in conference play with an average of 11.4 points and 5.3 rebounds in league games.

NCAA tournament bubble storylines for the Missouri Valley Conference

It’s likely only one spot in the NCAA men tournament for the Missouri Valley Conference, but it depends on how Drake performs. Currently slotted a No. 12 seed in the recent bracket projection, the Bulldogs have an interesting case should they lose in the championship game. They have are 5-0 in Quad 1 and 2 games, but the NET ranking of 60 isn’t a spot where most at-large teams can have confidence. For reference, Indiana State finished No. 29 in the NET with a 28-6 record last year and missed the tournament.

The Denver Broncos fired outside linebackers coach Michael Wilhoite following his arrest for an altercation in the departure area of Denver International Airport.

‘After thorough discussions as an organization, I met with Michael Wilhoite and informed him we have decided to part ways,’ Broncos head coach Sean Payton said in a statement to the Denver Post’s Parker Gabriel. ‘We recognize the serious nature of the allegations against him and believe this is the best course of action at this time.

‘I appreciate Michael’s contributions to the Broncos and am confident he will move forward in a positive direction.’

Per a Denver Police probable cause statement, the alleged altercation happened on Sunday, Feb. 23 when Wilhoite left his 2021 Ford Bronco unattended. When he came back to the vehicle, an officer approached him and told him he couldn’t leave the car like that, according to the statement.

Wilhoite told the officer to ‘shut the (expletive) up,’ according to the probable cause statement. The officer again told Wilhoite he couldn’t leave his vehicle like that and Wilhoite repeated what he said and bumped the officer in the chest.

The officer shoved him in response and Wilhoite reacted by punching the officer, the statement said.

Wilhoite was charged with second-degree assault of a police officer on Feb. 25 and is expected to appear again in court on March 10.

Wilhoite was hired on to the Broncos’ staff under Payton in 2023. He spent the 2019 and 2020 seasons on Payton’s staff with the New Orleans Saints as a special teams and defensive assistant.

Before reuniting with Payton in Denver, Wilhoite worked as a linebackers coach for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2021 and 2022.

Wilhoite spent six years as a linebacker in the NFL. He played for the San Francisco 49ers from 2012-16 and the Seattle Seahawks in 2017.

Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin is on pace to pass Wayne Gretzky’s NHL career goal record before season’s end.

Ovechkin, 39, entered this season needing 42 goals to break Gretzky’s record of 894 career goals, which has stood since 1999. The Washington captain has 32 goals this season and needs 10 more with 20 games left to become the NHL’s all-time leader.

Ovechkin scored 15 times in his first 18 games before suffering a fractured left fibula during a Nov. 18 game against the Utah Hockey Club. He has scored 17 times since he returned on Dec. 28.

This season, he moved into second place with 20 consecutive 20-goal seasons and set a record for number of goalies scored against in his career. He tied records for game-winning goals and most franchises against which he has a hat trick. And he became the first player to score 200 goals in three different decades.

If he doesn’t reach Gretzky’s goal record this season, he has one more season left on his contract.

Here’s where Ovechkin stands in his chase of Gretzky’s goal record (stats through March 5):

OVECHKIN VS. GRETZKY: Comparing the two greats

How many goals does Alex Ovechkin have?

Ovechkin has 885 career goals.

How many goals does Alex Ovechkin need to pass Wayne Gretzky?

Ovechkin needs 10 goals to break Gretzky’s record.

Can Alex Ovechkin break Wayne Gretzky’s record this season?

Ovechkin has 32 goals and 17 assists in 46 games. Factoring in the 16 games he missed, that is a 46-goal pace, giving him a chance to reach the 42 goals he needs to break the record this season. As of Wednesday, Ovechkin has played 15 fewer career games than Gretzky.

What did Alex Ovechkin do in his last game?

Ovechkin scored a power-play goal on five shots in a 3-2 overtime win against the New York Rangers. He charged in, picked up a loose puck and beat Igor Shesterkin to tie the game in the third period. Shesterkin robbed him in overtime with a glove save.

When is Alex Ovechkin’s next game?

The Capitals play Friday, March 7, at home against Detroit. Ovechkin has 25 goals in 36 career regular-season games against the Red Wings.

Alex Ovechkin goals in 2024-25

Oct. 19: 1 vs. New Jersey
Oct. 23: 1 vs. Philadelphia
Oct. 29: 2 vs. N.Y. Rangers
Oct. 31: 1 vs. Montreal
Nov. 2: 1 vs. Columbus
Nov. 3: 1 vs. Carolina
Nov. 6: 1 vs. Nashville
Nov. 9: 2 vs. St. Louis
Nov. 17: 3 vs. Vegas
Nov. 18: 2 vs. Utah
Dec. 28: 1 vs. Toronto
Dec. 29: 1 vs. Detroit
Jan. 2: 1 vs. Minnesota
Jan. 4: 1 vs. N.Y. Rangers
Jan. 11: 1 vs. Nashville
Jan. 16: 1 vs. Ottawa
Jan. 23: 1 vs. Seattle
Jan. 30: 1 vs. Ottawa
Feb 1: 1 vs. Winnipeg
Feb. 4: 1 vs. Florida
Feb. 6: 1 vs. Philadelphia
Feb. 23: 3 vs. Edmonton
Feb. 25: 1 vs. Calgary
March 1: 1 vs. Tampa Bay
March 5: 1 vs. N.Y. Rangers

Alex Ovechkin career goals breakdown

Even strength: 559, third overall

Power play: 321, a record

Short-handed: 5

Empty net: 64, a record

Game winners: 135, tied for first with Jaromir Jagr

Overtime goals: 27, a record

Multi-goal games: 178, second overall

Goalies scored against: 181, a record

Hat tricks: 32, tied for fifth overall. Ovechkin has hat tricks against 20 franchises, tying Brett Hull’s record.

20-goal seasons: 20, tied for second

30-goal seasons: 19, a record

40-goal seasons: 13, a record

Alex Ovechkin empty-net goals

Ovechkin has a record 64 empty-net goals, but Gretzky is up there, too, with 56. Ovechkin passed Gretzky in that category last season.

Alex Ovechkin goals per season

Season: Goals, career total

2005-06: 52, 52
2006-07: 46, 98
2007-08: 65*, 163
2008-09: 56*, 219
2009-10: 50, 269
2010-11: 32, 301
2011-12: 38, 339
2012-13: 32*, 371
2013-14: 51*, 422
2014-15: 53*, 475
2015-16: 50*, 525
2016-17: 33, 558
2017-18: 49*, 607
2018-19: 51*, 658
2019-20: 48*, 706
2020-21: 24, 730
2021-22: 50, 780
2022-23: 42, 822
2023-24: 31, 853
2024-25: 32, 885

*-led league in goals that season

NHL all time goal leaders

The top 21 NHL all-time goal scorers all have 600 or more goals. All of the players are in the Hockey Hall of Fame, except Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby and Jagr, who are still playing.

1. Wayne Gretzky, 894 goals in 1,487 games

2. Alex Ovechkin, 885 goals in 1,472 games

3. Gordie Howe, 801 goals in 1,767 games

4. Jaromir Jagr, 766 goals in 1,733 games

5. Brett Hull, 741 goals in 1,269 games

6. Marcel Dionne, 731 in 1,348 games

7. Phil Esposito, 717 goals in 1,282 games

8. Mike Gartner, 708 goals in 1,432 games

9. Mark Messier, 694 goals in 1,756 games

10. Steve Yzerman, 692 goals in 1,514 games

11. Mario Lemieux, 690 goals in 915 games

12. Teemu Selanne, 684 goals in 1,451 games

13. Luc Robitaille, 668 goals in 1,431 games

14. Brendan Shanahan, 656 goals in 1,524 games

15. Dave Andreychuk, 640 goals in 1,639 games

16. Jarome Iginla, 625 goals in 1,554 games

17. Joe Sakic, 625 goals in 1,378 games

18. Sidney Crosby, 611 goals in 1,333 games

19. Bobby Hull, 610 goals in 1,063 games

20. Dino Ciccarelli, 608 goals in 1,232 games

21. Jari Kurri, 601 goals in 1,251 games