Much has changed since we unveiled our way-too-early college football Top 25 in the hours after Ohio State beat Notre Dame to take home the national championship.

One of the biggest stories of the offseason has been former Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava’s abrupt departure for the transfer portal. After leading his team to the College Football Playoff as a redshirt freshman, Iamaleava has decamped for UCLA and caused the Volunteers to drop from No. 9 in our January rankings to No. 14 in our post-spring update.

Another team falling out of the rankings is Boise State, the reigning Mountain West champions and debut Group of Five entrant in the expanded playoff bracket. In addition to losing star running back Ashton Jeanty, the Broncos have seen several key contributors enter the transfer portal, including all-conference defensive tackle Braxton Fely and former All-America punter James Ferguson-Reynolds.

But there’s no change at the top. Ohio State remains No. 1 in our reworked rankings despite some question marks at quarterback, followed by Penn State, Texas, Georgia and Clemson.

Below is our post-spring Top 25, once again heavily slanted toward the Big Ten and SEC. Rankings from January in parenthesis:

1. Ohio State (2024 record: 14-2) (1)

The Buckeyes are ready to reload and make another run at the national title. First, though, Ryan Day must decide on a starting QB between Julian Sayin and Lincoln Kienholz. Sayin was the favorite to claim the job this spring but was unable to put Kienholz away; the competition will continue this summer. The winner will throw to what again will be an elite WR room. The defense will need to be almost completely rebuilt, which is a definite concern. But there are building blocks on every level and one of the nation’s best overall players in DB Caleb Downs. The opener at home against Texas will be one of the biggest games of the year.

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2. Penn State (13-3) (4)

In QB Drew Allar and RBs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen, three linchpins of the Nittany Lions’ offense are set to return. While Penn State will lose star TE Tyler Warren, help is on the way at receiver in transfers Kyron Hudson (Southern California) and Devonte Ross (Troy). Defensively, the Nittany Lions lose edge rusher Abdul Carter but return senior Dani Dennis-Sutton, a likely preseason All-America pick. The expectations are that Penn State will again be right near the top of the Big Ten.

3. Texas (13-3) (2)

The Arch Manning era begins in Austin. Expectations will be unrealistic, and the reality is that Manning has limited game experience against SEC competition. Complicating matters are some unsettled situations at receiver and on the offensive and defensive lines. But this is a team full of talent compiled through strong recruiting classes and targeted transfers. Look for Ryan Wingo to emerge as Manning’s top target and for the defense to be led by LB Anthony Hill and DL Colin Simmons.

4. Georgia (11-3) (5)

After a slightly surprising step back last season, the Bulldogs look set to rebound behind new quarterback Gunner Stockton. To help out, Georgia added Noah Thomas (Texas A&M) and Zachariah Branch (Southern California) to boost the receiving room. The defense, per usual, lost significant players to the NFL but will reload behind LB CJ Allen, DB Daylen Everette and new EDGE Elo Modozie (Army).

5. Clemson (10-4) (7)

QB Cade Klubnik and the defending ACC champions will be expected to repeat in 2025 and go deeper into the playoff. The offense could have issues at RB after projected starter Jay Haynes tore his ACL in the ACC title game, though freshmen David Eziomume and Gideon Davidson looked good in the spring. Defensively, expect Clemson to rebound under new coordinator Tom Allen after falling to ninth in the ACC in yards allowed per play this past season. The pieces are in place for a run at the national tile.

6. LSU (9-4) (6)

This feels like a make-or-break year for Brian Kelly. The return of Garrett Nussmeier gives the Tigers one of the best quarterbacks in the country. Kelly then went to the transfer portal to add Nic Anderson (Oklahoma) and Barrion Brown (Kentucky) at wide receiver. LSU also made some key additions on the offensive line. The gem on defense is pass rusher Patrick Payton (Florida State), but there is also help coming in the secondary.

7. Notre Dame (14-2) (8)

The Irish have clearly arrived under Marcus Freeman. Redshirt freshman QB CJ Carr is poised to replace Riley Leonard after former backup Steve Angeli entered the transfer portal. Carr will be eased into the role by playing in front of top RBs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price. The offensive line will benefit from the injuries that caused some in-season shakeups last season and will build around a young core set to ascend into major roles. The schedule is once again pretty friendly, with road games against Miami and Arkansas but Texas A&M, Boise State and Southern California at home.

8. Oregon (13-1) (11)

The defending Big Ten champs will turn to UCLA transfer Dante Moore as the team’s new quarterback. Moore served as Dillon Gabriel’s understudy last season. The offense will benefit from major transfers such as RB Makhi Hughes (Tulane) and OTs Isaiah World (Nevada) and Alex Harkey (Texas State). Oregon’s defense added another playmaker into the secondary in Dillon Thieneman (Purdue) but has new pieces to insert on the DL, including transfer Bear Alexander (Southern California) and rising junior A’Mauri Washington.

9. Alabama (9-4) (3)

Kalen DeBoer is under pressure after an inaugural season with four losses and the departure of quarterback Jalen Milroe. Ty Simpson is the expected replacement under center, and the skill positions look to be well-stocked with WR Ryan Williams likely to have even more impact in his sophomore season. Alabama will have a strong defense that has depth in the front seven and key returners in the secondary. While there’s plenty of talent, there’s still a lot of uncertainty about the state of the program compared to the Tide’s biggest SEC rivals.

10. Miami (10-3) (16)

There’s a lot that hinges on the availability of Georgia transfer QB Carson Beck, who was injured in the SEC title game and may not be able to throw until after spring ball. On paper, though, Miami’s talent level will have it ready to rival Clemson in the ACC if Beck is healthy. The strong points are a terrific OL, a deep stable of RBs and a reworked defensive backfield. But the Hurricanes need to identify production at WR and have to get the most out of a young DL.

11. Florida (8-5) (12)

There’s going to be big expectations around the Gators after their strong finish to 2024. Can that momentum carry over? There are enough pieces to push for a place among the upper third of the league should QB DJ Lagway be healthy and make the expected jump in his sophomore season. RB Jadan Baugh will carry the running game. The defense also made major strides in the second half of last season and will be led by linemen Tyreak Sapp and Caleb Banks.

12. Kansas State (9-4) (15)

We’re going to roll the dice on QB Avery Johnson taking a big step in his second season as the starter after some highs and low last season. More consistency from him should make the offense better with RB Dylan Edwards ready to take a lead role in the ground attack and Jayce Brown one of the top receivers in the Big 12. LB Austin Romaine and DB VJ Payne, the team’s top two tacklers, return for a defense that should get back to a level good enough to compete for and win the conference championship.

13. Illinois (10-3) (13)

Eighteen returning starters from a 10-win squad will make this season one of the program’s most anticipated in years. Whether Illinois contends for the playoff may come down to whether it can rebuild at WR without this season’s top two targets and find new starters to replace three seniors on the DL. With QB Luke Altmyer back to lead the offense, an experienced OL, all-conference LBs and a very strong secondary, Illinois is going to be a very tough out in a very tough Big Ten.

14. Tennessee (10-3) (9)

Tennessee has already found Iamaleava’s replacement in former Appalachian State and UCLA transfer Joey Aguilar, who joins redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger and true freshman George MacIntyre in the quarterback room. The Volunteers will need reinforcements at running back, receiver and offensive line to support the new starter but should be stingy on defense with LBs Arion Carter and Jeremiah Telander returning and DB Jermad McCoy potentially recovered from an offseason knee injury in time for the season opener.

15. Michigan (8-5) (18) 

If the final weeks of last season are to be believed, Michigan is poised to reclaim a place among the top teams in the Big Ten. One reason for optimism is the clear upgrade at QB, whether it’s Fresno State transfer Mikey Keene or five-star freshman Bryce Underwood under center. But Underwood may need more time after making incremental progress as an early enrollee playing in spring drills. The Wolverines should be very strong on both lines even as the defense loses a star in tackle Mason Graham.

16. South Carolina (9-4) (14) 

The Gamecocks may have been one of the best team in the Power Four at the end of last season, so pushing for the playoff in 2025 seems like a realistic goal. QB LaNorris Sellers showed significant progress in his first year as a starter and should be among the best at his position in the SEC. With significant returns at receiver, the offense should be more balanced and allow Sellers to showcase his throwing ability. The defense had significant losses that will require retooling, but Dylan Stewart should push for double-digit sacks as a sophomore.

17. Brigham Young (11-2) (17) 

Jake Retzlaff is back for his second full season starting at quarterback and will lead an offense that should be among the best in the Big 12, with quality depth at running back and receiver. The key area to address is the defensive front, which lost several key contributors. But there’s enough strength in the back of the unit to help BYU push for double-digit wins again. The Cougars’ transfer class is heavy on help on both lines.

18. Louisville (9-4) (25) 

New QB Miller Moss (Southern California) joins an experienced OL, terrific young RB Isaac Brown and senior WRs Chris Bell and Caullin Lacy for what should be one of the top offenses in the ACC. Louisville will need this offense to carry the load while the defense rounds into form. While the linebacker corps looks solid, an uncertain pass rush and coverage concerns could keep the Cardinals from the ACC title game.

19. Mississippi (10-3) (24)

The Rebels’ first order of business is the change at quarterback, with Austin Simmons taking over for Jaxson Dart. Simmons flashed against Georgia and brings a different dimension to the offense. RB, WR and the OL line also need rebuilding. The story is the same with the defense. There will be growing pains but time to sort things out with a home schedule that has eight home games.

20. Iowa State (11-3) (20)

After putting up a school record for wins last year, the Cyclones are in contention for a playoff berth amid a Big 12 race that should be wide open. QB Rocco Becht will be at the forefront of things, though he loses his top two receivers to the NFL. Adding Chase Sowell (East Carolina) will help but that room needs a reboot to keep the passing game humming. Also, the defense must get better stopping the run after ranking near the bottom of the conference last season in yards allowed per carry and per game.

21. Arizona State (11-3) (10)

Kenny Dillingham and the Sun Devils look to build on last year’s surprising success. While RB Cam Skattebo departs, QB Sam Levitt is ready to assume more control on the offense. Getting back WR Jordyn Tyson to full health will be critical after a knee injury ended his season prematurely. The defense has all-conference picks Xavion Alford and C.J. Fife to anchor the unit. The rest of the Big 12 is waiting to see if ASU was a one-year wonder or a program on the verge of something much more substantial.

22. Nebraska (7-6) (22)

There’s still a talent gap between Nebraska and the best of the Big Ten, but this is a team and program ready for the next step. On offense, QB Dylan Raiola should put up big numbers under offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen. The defense has a new coordinator in John Butler and will have to rebuild up front. But the Cornhuskers have a terrific transfer class set to join the defense, including EDGE Dasan McCullough (Oklahoma), LB Marques Watson-Trent (Georgia Southern) and DL Williams Nwaneri (Missouri).

23. UNLV (11-3) (23)

UNLV looks to build on a recent surge under new coach Dan Mullen. The Rebels have been very active in the portal, where they’ve signed maybe the best class in the Group of Five. To get past Boise State and to the top of the Mountain West and reach the playoff, Mullen has to get the most out of Michigan QB transfer Alex Orji and rebuild at WR around several Power Four transfers. The defense played very well down the stretch of 2024 and looks to build on that strong close.

24. TCU (9-4) (NR)

TCU has quietly climbed back into the national picture after winning six of seven games to end last season. QB Josh Hoover is ready to take a big step forward in his second year as the starter. The defense returns linebackers Devean Deal and Kaleb Elarms-Orr and DB Jamel Johnson and looks to carry over last year’s improvement under second-year DC Andy Avalos. The potential is there for another unexpected playoff run.

25. Oklahoma (6-7) (NR)

The program’s downward trend under coach Brent Venables makes this a wild-card pick to round out our post-spring rankings. Defensively, Oklahoma should be in good shape after bringing back many of the key pieces behind a unit that ranked seventh in the SEC last season in yards per play. The offense will be sparked by QB transfer John Mateer (Washington State), who might’ve been the best overall player in the winter portal. But the Sooners need transfer WRs to step up and remake that room while the OL settles on a concrete starting five and stays healthy.

Dropped out: SMU, Boise State.

The Colorado Rockies are off to a historically bad start, but their 4-23 disaster has accomplished a lot more than falling one game shy of the 1988 Baltimore Orioles and 2003 Detroit Tigers for worst 27-game start in major league history.

They’ve also managed to unseat the Chicago White Sox at the bottom of USA TODAY Sports’ power rankings.

For the first time in 55 weeks, the White Sox – who finished last season with a record 121 losses – are not No. 30, not after something even worse has come along. Colorado finished the week on a six-game losing streak, got no-hit for six innings on Sunday and carries a minus-69 run differential after a month worth of games.

After years of being at least an entertaining franchise, the Rockies now have the worst of both worlds: They still can’t pitch credibly, with a 5.33 ERA that ranks 27th in the majors, yet have added an impotent offense to the mix, ranking 28th in both average (.213) and OPS (.635) despite playing half of their games at Coors Field.

At least by our measures, they can’t sink any lower.

A look at our updated rankings:

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (-)

Tyler Glasnow’s rocky April finishes with bout of shoulder discomfort.

2. New York Mets (+1)

Francisco Lindor is 13-for-26 with three homers leading off games this season.

3. San Francisco Giants (+3)

Take two of three from Brucy Bochy’s Rangers to climb atop NL West.

4. New York Yankees (-)

Max Fried leads majors with five wins and 1.43 ERA ranks third in AL.

5. San Diego Padres (-3)

8-2 before Jackson Merrill got hurt, 9-9 since.

6. Chicago Cubs (+2)

Pete Crow-Armstrong went from ‘can’t hit’ to ‘probable All-Star’ faster than he goes first to third.

7. Detroit Tigers (+2)

Casey Mize (4-1, 2.12 ERA, 1.05 WHIP) has biggest turnaround on team with several of ’em.

8. Boston Red Sox (+4)

Alex Bregman is happening in Boston – .319 average, .937 OPS.

9. Philadelphia Phillies (-4)

For the moment, the Mets look like a perpetual nightmare.

10. Seattle Mariners (+4)

What team is this? They’ve scored at least seven runs in five of past eight games.

11. Texas Rangers (-4)

Have lost 10 of 15 on the road.

12. Cleveland Guardians (+4)

Emmanuel Clase’s shoulder discomfort means Cade Smith is closing games for now.

13. Cincinnati Reds (+4)

Noelvi Marte starting to bang the ball one year after PED suspension.

14. Houston Astros (-1)

Hunter Brown stretches scoreless streak to 28 innings before finally giving up run.

15. Arizona Diamondbacks (-5)

They’ve suddenly lost three consecutive series.

16. Toronto Blue Jays (-5)

If not for Devin Williams’ final blown save, they’d be on an eight-game losing streak.

17. Tampa Bay Rays (+3)

6-2 since calling up Chandler Simpson, and there’s probably a connection.

18. Milwaukee Brewers (-3)

José Quintana becomes first lefty since CC Sabathia to win first four starts as a Brewer.

19. Kansas City Royals (-)

Rotation posts 21-inning scoreless streak.

20. Atlanta Braves (+3)

Are they back-back? Seven wins in nine games to crawl toward .500.

21. Washington Nationals (+3)

Went 2-11 against Mets last year, but already equaled that win total with a pair of walk-off wins.

22. St. Louis Cardinals (-)

Lefty Matthew Liberatore (0.97 WHIP) asserting himself.

23. Baltimore Orioles (-5)

Are they simply going through it or legitimately bad?

24. Los Angeles Angels (-3)

Yusei Kikuchi’s strikeout rate has dropped from 31.8% to 20%.

25. Athletics (+2)

Slugging prospect Nick Kurtz summoned to Yolo County, singles in first career at-bat.

26. Minnesota Twins (-)

Joe Ryan posts his 10th career 10-strikeout performance.

27. Miami Marlins (-2)

The Agustin Ramírez era begins with three homers in his first 19 at-bats.

28. Pittsburgh Pirates (-)

Paul Skenes beats Dodgers, Yoshinobu Yamamoto with 6 1/3 shutout innings.

29. Chicago White Sox (+1)

Miguel Vargas hits third home run in 233 plate appearances in Chicago.

30. Colorado Rockies (-1)

Can it get worse than 4-23? It can – they don’t play another presumed non-contender until Miami, June 2.

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Kirby Smart boasts a sterling record and two national titles within the past four seasons. Steve Sarkisian is the SEC’s only coach to make the College Football Playoff each of the past two seasons.
Brian Kelly and Kalen DeBoer each coached in a national championship game at their previous school, but LSU and Alabama are waiting to see it in the SEC.
Lane Kiffin made Ole Miss nationally relevant, not an easy task. Josh Heupel ended Tennessee’s years of disarray.

When ranking the Southeastern Conference football coaches, anointing the man at No. 1 isn’t a difficult proposition. He’s the guy with the 53-5 record the past four seasons.

Selecting an SEC runner-up comes naturally, too. He’s the guy who revived an underperforming program and took his team to back-to-back College Football Playoff semifinal appearances the past two seasons.

Then comes the challenge: Making sense of the logjam of four coaches behind top dogs Kirby Smart and Steve Sarkisian. Wading through the conference’s bottom few coaches teases the brain, too.

Here’s how it shakes out when listing the SEC coaches from No. 1 to No. 16:

1. Kirby Smart (Georgia)

Georgia’s 11-3 record with an SEC championship and exit in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals counts as a down season. That’s a credit to Smart. He raised Georgia’s bar to the extent that the annual expectations are now what they used to be for Nick Saban’s Alabama. The free agency market and NIL dealmaking create a more difficult space for Smart to stockpile the top talent, but his formula of ace recruiting, elite development and smart defensive coaching remains a good one.

2. Steve Sarkisian (Texas)

Sarkisian is the top threat to Smart’s SEC throne. Texas’ questionable toss sweep in the fourth quarter of the College Football Playoff semifinals notwithstanding, Sark is a superb play-caller. More importantly, he rivals Smart as a tremendous recruiter, and he’s an excellent quarterback developer. Texas arms him with an enviable war chest. While he shows a deft hand with quarterbacks, Sarkisian also instilled the line-of-scrimmage toughness the program needed. If Sarkisian stays at Texas for the long haul, then it’s a matter of when, not if, he delivers a national title.

3. Brian Kelly (LSU)

LSU needed more rocket fuel, so Kelly opened his wallet. His personal donation sparked NIL fundraising after last season. Kelly also opened his mind to more fully embracing transfers. The cash influx and mindset pivot resulted in Kelly compiling one of the nation’s best transfer hauls. What does he do with it? His LSU tenure has been marked with good quarterbacks and insufficient defense. Kelly’s been good, not great, at a program that expects greatness. Fixing the defense remains the bridge to greatness. The transfers should help.

4. Kalen DeBoer (Alabama)

DeBoer’s first season wasn’t a total bust – he beat LSU and Auburn – but it cannot be hailed a success. He lost to Vanderbilt and previously listless Oklahoma. We knew replacing the irreplaceable wouldn’t be easy. On the other hand, it must get better – and quickly. DeBoer’s teams accelerated in Year 2 at previous stops. His career .876 winning percentage says he can do this, but Alabama fans need to see him do it in the SEC. Hiring longtime wingman Ryan Grubb to run the offense was a wise redirect. The pairing helped take Washington to the national title game in 2023.

5. Lane Kiffin (Mississippi)

Kiffin became a face of stability and consistency. What a twist, eh? He’s the SEC’s third-longest-tenured active coach and the program’s best coach since Johnny Vaught. Armed with his best team last season, though, the Rebels wilted in tight moments. Is there a higher level for Kiffin at Ole Miss? It’s a fair question, but a question that shouldn’t overshadow his achievements. The Rebels are now a top-20 program, and they command a spot in the college football zeitgeist. Much of that is a credit to Kiffin.

6. Josh Heupel (Tennessee)

Heupel delivered Tennessee’s first playoff appearance last season, and that doesn’t even rank as his best accomplishment. He beat rival Alabama twice in four years. Heupel’s up-tempo offense puts opponents in conflict. That system, combined with his composure, proved just what Tennessee needed after the mess predecessor Jeremy Pruitt made. While it’s reasonable to wonder whether Heupel’s hit his ceiling, that ceiling exceeds what the Vols sniffed for two decades.

7. Eliah Drinkwitz (Missouri)

How rare are Missouri’s consecutive double-digit win seasons? Well, Gary Pinkel is the only coach other than Drinkwitz to pull it off. Drinkwitz can toggle between coach and lobbyist – a useful skillset in this era. Missouri’s NIL laws assist Drinkwitz’s instate recruiting. More importantly, he’s made Missouri a player in the transfer sweepstakes. When Drinkwitz’s tenure faced an inflection point, he gave up play-calling and hired an offensive coordinator. He deserves credit for enacting needed change, instead of digging in his heels.

8. Shane Beamer (South Carolina)

Beamer beat Clemson twice in the past three years. That counts for a lot. He hypes his guys up for big games, and South Carolina attained more consistency last season than it previously showed with Beamer. He’s a solid recruiter and effectively picks spots to land a punch in the portal. South Carolina experienced some low floors – call them basements – under past coaches Brad Scott, Lou Holtz and Will Muschamp. Beamer raised the floor and brought South Carolina to the playoff’s doorstep.

9. Mike Elko (Texas A&M)

While we stumbled over ourselves to applaud Elko’s efforts during his first season, something interesting happened: His team lost four of its last five. Elko’s eight-win debut holds up as an acceptable start. When paired with his Duke success, it’s fair to be bullish about his future. The Aggies still must develop their pass game, a holdover theme from the Jimbo Fisher era. Texas A&M attracts enough talented players to accelerate, but can Elko develop a strong SEC quarterback? That question lingers.

10. Mark Stoops (Kentucky)

Kirk Ferentz couldn’t retire fast enough for Stoops, an Iowa alumnus. Once the toast of the SEC, Stoops’ cachet erodes bit by bit. He delivered some commendable seasons, but he’s become stale, and staleness is the enemy of the NIL era. He’s in a tough spot coaching at basketball-first school in a football-driven conference, where every dollar counts. Stoops should be regarded as Kentucky’s best coach since Bear Bryant. His legacy will shine more than his ending.

11. Brent Venables (Oklahoma)

File Oklahoma’s raise and contract extension for Venables before last season among the all-time most unnecessary business moves. One year later, Venables is a bad season away from hot seat terrain. This program expects to be among the elite. With Venables, it’s struggled to attain mediocrity. The midnight hour approaches. Now, want the upside? Oklahoma stands to be one of the conference’s most improved teams after some splashy transfer grabs. With Venables’ job on the line, he’ll return to calling the defense, his strong suit.

12. Hugh Freeze (Auburn)

Freeze is like Katy Perry. Both were good once, but their best work occurred more than a decade ago, and they’re starting to come off like hangers-on, clinging by their fingertips to a world that left them behind. Credit Freeze for recruiting well, but a lot of coaches would recruit well at Auburn. He needs to coach and develop better. There’s enough talent on offense to produce more in 2025. This becomes a pivotal season for his tenure.

13. Clark Lea (Vanderbilt)

Credit Lea for seeing the transfer portal as a weapon and not a hindrance for Vanderbilt. His heady additions, starting with quarterback Diego Pavia, breathed life into a program that had flatlined. Consider Vanderbilt’s state before Lea: winless in 2020, while a friends-and-family crowd cheered a women’s soccer player making an extra point. Lea made Vanderbilt relevant. That’s a chore. Instituting staying power will be harder.

14. Sam Pittman (Arkansas)

Pittman became an effective bridge for Arkansas. He pulled the Razorbacks out of a Chad Morris-inspired wasteland and invigorated the masses by beating Texas in 2021 and firing up the jukebox. His peak is behind him, and he’s struggled to maintain roster consistency in the transfer era. It’s nearly time for Pittman’s bridge to connect to someone else.

15. Billy Napier (Florida)

Florida opted for another lap with Napier rather than hitting the reset button. The emergence of quarterback DJ Lagway, and Lagway’s steadfast support for Napier, helped the coach save his job, and Florida finished the season playing better than it ever had previously in his tenure. Florida was remarkably quiet in the transfer portal, and it still seems as if Napier and the Gators are playing with an old deck of cards. Napier will go as far as Lagway takes him.

16. Jeff Lebby (Mississippi State)

Lebby inherited a tough situation as the third coach in three years at a school where winning seasons don’t come easily. He failed to improve the situation in his first season. The more time passes, the more we’ll deepen our respect for what Dan Mullen and Mike Leach achieved at Mississippi State. If this doesn’t work for Lebby, he can return to being a good offensive coordinator. If this doesn’t work out for MSU, cue round of flush and repeat.

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com. Follow him on X @btoppmeyer.

Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard suffered a non-contact injury during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference first-round series against the Indiana Pacers.

Lillard appeared to try and control a loose ball coming his way with 6:11 left in the first quarter of the Bucks’ 129-103 loss Sunday.

Lillard fell on the floor holding his left ankle and needed help walking off the court. It appeared Lillard couldn’t put weight on his left leg.

He was taken back to the locker room and the Bucks announced that Lillard was not expected to return to the game due to a ‘left lower leg injury.’ He is scheduled for an MRI on Monday.

In late March, Lillard was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis (a blood clot) in his right calf. The guard’s blood clot was resolved and he returned on April 22 to play in Game 2.

Damian Lillard injured vs. Pacers

Assistant coach Darvin Ham and another member of the Bucks’ staff initially helped Lillard off the court before a teammate helped the star guard back to the locker room.

‘They’re going to do an (MRI) tomorrow,’ Bucks head coach Doc Rivers said during the postgame news conference. ‘Obviously it’s lower leg and just being honest, it’s not very promising.

‘I knew it right away. I felt bad for him. The guy tried to come back for his team, and I just felt bad for him.

‘This one is a tough one.’

Once in the tunnel on the way to the locker room, the television broadcast showed Lillard grab at the back of his left calf, just above his shoe, in the area where the Achilles tendon is located.

Lillard did not score any points but did collect two rebounds and one assist during his six minutes of play Sunday.

The Bucks entered Sunday’s game trailing in the series against the Pacers, 2-1.

On the same date in 2024, Lillard suffered an injury in a playoff series against the Pacers. The injury was considered a strained Achilles.

He would miss Games 4 and 5 of that series but returned for Game 6. It is the only other Achilles injury Lillard has had during his 13-year career.

It’s decision time.

All NFL rookies who are drafted sign four-year contracts, and the fifth-year option applies only to first-round picks.

Teams must make a decision regarding the fifth-year options after the first-round rookie has completed three full seasons in the NFL. This is why the 2022 NFL draft class will be considered for fifth-year options this offseason. If teams exercise this option, the players will remain under contract through the 2026 NFL season.

If a team declines the option, the player will become an unrestricted free agent after the 2025 season.

NFL teams have until May 1 to make all final decisions regarding fifth-year options for players from the 2022 NFL draft. Here’s each player eligible and every team’s decision so far.

NFL fifth-year option tracker 2025

Thirty-one of the 32 first-round picks from the 2022 NFL draft are eligible for fifth-year options.

(This section will be updated with each team’s decision)

EDGE Travon Walker, Jaguars: Option picked up on April 7
EDGE Aidan Hutchinson, Lions: Option picked up on April 25
CB Derek Stingley, Texans: Signed three-year extension on March 17
CB Sauce Gardner, Jets: Option picked up on April 21
EDGE Kayvon Thibodeaux, Giants: Option picked up on April 26
OT Ikem Ekwonu, Panthers: Option picked up on April 26
OT Evan Neal, Giants: General manager Joe Schoen said on April 26 that the team will not exercise Neal’s fifth-year option.
WR Drake London, Falcons: TBD
OT Charles Cross, Seahawks: TBD
WR Garrett Wilson, Jets: Option picked up on April 21
WR Chris Olave, Saints: Option picked up on April 23
WR Jameson Williams, Lions: Option picked up on April 25
DL Jordan Davis, Eagles: TBD
S Kyle Hamilton, Ravens: TBD
OG Kenyon Green, Eagles: The Texans traded Green to the Eagles on March 11, 2023. TBD.
WR Jahan Dotson, Eagles: The Commanders traded Dotson to the Eagles on Aug. 22, 2024. TBD.
OG Zion Johnson, Los Angeles Chargers: TBD
WR Treylon Burks, Titans: TBD
OT Trevor Penning, Saints: New Orleans has decided not to exercise Penning’s fifth-year option, as stated by general manager Mickey Loomis on April 23.
QB Kenny Pickett, Browns (drafted by Steelers – traded): TBD
CB Trent McDuffie, Chiefs: TBD
LB Quay Walker, Packers: TBD
CB Kaiir Elam, Cowboys: The Bills traded Elam to the Cowboys on March 12, 2025. TBD.
OG Tyler Smith, Cowboys: TBD
C Tyler Linderbaum, Ravens: TBD
EDGE Jermaine Johnson, Jets: Option picked up on April 21
LB Devin Lloyd, Jaguars: TBD
DL Devonte Wyatt, Packers: TBD
OG Cole Strange, Patriots: TBD
EDGE George Karlaftis, Chiefs: TBD
S Dax Hill, Bengals: TBD
S Lewis Cine, Eagles (drafted by Vikings – released): INELIGIBLE

The No. 32 overall pick, safety Lewis Cine, is not eligible for a fifth-year option because he was released from the team that drafted him. Kenny Pickett, Jahan Dotson, Kenyon Green and Kaiir Elam remain eligible because they were traded and not released.

Game 4 of the Minnesota Timberwolves-Los Angeles Lakers series was fantastic.

Especially offensively with Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle and Los Angeles’ Luka Doncic and LeBron James combining for 133 points – 43 from Edwards, 25 from Randle, 38 from Doncic and 27 from James.

The back-and-forth contest ended with the sixth-seeded Timberwolves taking Game 4 116-113 and taking a 3-1 lead against the third-seeded Lakers in their NBA Western Conference first-round playoff series.

Edwards’ two free throws with 10.7 seconds remaining – after Minnesota challenged a call and won, putting Edwards on the line – put the Timberwolves up 116-113, and Lakers guard Austin Reaves missed a 3-pointer to end the game.

Just 13 teams have come back from a 3-1 deficit, and it hasn’t happened since 2020 when Denver did it twice. The Lakers’ attempt to extend the series starts with Game 5 Wednesday in Los Angeles (10 p.m. ET, TNT).

Anthony Edwards’ star continues to rise and shine

For all the talk about the next “face of the NBA,” Edwards meets the requirement. He’s an elite talent. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, U.S. men’s basketball and Golden State coach Steve Kerr said, “As he continues to learn how to use (his talent) and be efficient in his play, he will be unguardable.”

He possesses the charismatic smile, the confidence and the humor. He’s in commercials (and yes, it would be nice if he limited his fines from the league office.)

Edwards put together one of his finest playoff performances, scoring a game-high 43 points on 12-for-23 shooting, including 5-for-10 on 3-pointers and 14-for-17 on free throws, and adding nine rebounds and six assists.

The talent and efficiency that Kerr mentioned was all there in Game 4. Edwards had 16 points, four rebounds, two assists and one block in the fourth quarter as the Timberwolves eliminated a 10-point deficit to start the fourth.

“You could see it in his eyes that he was going to bring it home,” Minnesota coach Chris Finch told reporters.

Lakers’ roster flaws exposed

Lakers coach JJ Redick mentioned the lack of rim protection after losing Game 3. Starting center Jaxson Hayes played just four minutes as the Lakers’ lack of versatility was exposed in Game 4.

It was Los Angeles’ best offensive game of the series (40% on 19 made 3-pointers and stellar production from James and Doncic). Yet, it wasn’t enough even though Rui Hachimura scored 23 points and Reaves added 17.

Take away shooting stats from James and Doncic, the Lakers were just 18-for-43 from the field (41.9%). Four Lakers played at least 40 minutes, including 46 minutes, 14 seconds from James and 45 minutes, 49 seconds from Doncic. The Lakers simply can’t go many minutes without either one on the court.

Minnesota’s bench outscored Los Angeles’ 25-6, and Dorian Finney-Smith, who played 41 minutes, was the only Lakers reserve to score.

Saving the coach’s challenge for the right time

Finch could’ve used his coach’s challenge long before 10 seconds remained in the fourth quarter. But he saved it. Saved it for just the right time.

With the Timberwolves leading 114-113 and in possession of the basketball, Edwards drove toward the rim. James swatted at the basketball, and it went out of bounds off of Edwards – Lakers ball, the refs ruled.

However, Finch still had his challenge available, and he used it, knowing that under review, the referees could call a foul on James. That’s what happened, sending Edwards to the free throw line for two foul shots, which he made.

Finch used his coach’s challenge 74 times this season and was successful 46 times (62.2% rate) – in the middle of the pack. A coach gets one challenge, and if they get that correct, they get one more in a game.

Each team has a behind-the-bench assistant coach who helps the head coach determine if a challenge should be made. For the Timberwolves, that’s Jeff Newton who has worked in the NBA for the past 12 seasons and had a stint as a head coach in the G League.

Finch and Newton made it work at the right time.