If everything we know about Texas’ starting quarterback was exactly the same except that his name was Art Janning instead of Arch Manning, the Longhorns would not be the No. 1 team in the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll. 

No disrespect intended, of course. The Longhorns have established themselves as one of the nation’s elite programs under Steve Sarkisian, a talent-accumulating factory that might already have a national championship if not for a shaky play call from the 1-yard line in the fourth quarter of last season’s semifinal against Ohio State.

But to believe the Longhorns are a deserving No. 1 – which is where a plurality of voters in the coaches’ poll have them heading into 2025 – requires corresponding conviction that Manning is ready to live up to his family name and high school reputation. 

I just have one question about that: Are we sure? 

OUTLOOKS: Breaking down every Top 25 team in poll

Pull the name off the jersey. Forget about the maturity, the presumed intangibles, the osmosis of a lifetime spent in proximity to two uncles who did some pretty good things on the football field. What do we really see? 

We see a player who has thrown a mere 95 passes in two seasons on campus, a player who didn’t play a meaningful snap against a good team last season outside of some situation-specific quarterback run packages. We also see a quarterback who was apparently not a viable option for Sarkisian in the second half of last season, even when it was clear that starter Quinn Ewers was not 100 percent healthy and dragging down the potential of Texas’ offense. 

Maybe it’s not fair to read into that. Coaches are notoriously weird about quarterbacks, hypersensitive to locker room dynamics and public perception if they even acknowledge the possibility of a change. If Sarkisian’s loyalty to Ewers wavered even an inch, it would have unleashed a cacophony of noise around the Texas program that might have been worse than watching his quarterback throw six interceptions over the final five games. 

That said, if Manning wasn’t ready to give Texas a better chance to win a national title last year when the deck was stacked in the Longhorns’ favor everywhere else on their roster, isn’t it fair to be a little skeptical that he’s going to be ready now? 

Most folks, it seems, are not skeptical. Manning begins the 2025 season as the betting favorite to win the Heisman Trophy at some prominent sports books. Texas was the far-and-away choice among SEC media members to win the league in their preseason poll, with Manning being named to the all-conference third team. And in perhaps the most outrageous bout of Arch Madness we’ve seen yet, ESPN/SEC Network commentator Paul Finebaum predicted he would be “the best college quarterback we have seen since Tim Tebow entered the scene in 2006.”

Mind you, since Tebow’s Heisman run in 2007, we’ve seen Cam Newton, Johnny Manziel, Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota, Lamar Jackson, Baker Mayfield, Joe Burrow, Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels come through college football. If Manning is even in the top half of that group, then yes, Texas will probably be this year’s national champion. 

But can’t we just slow down a little bit given, you know, the lack of on-field evidence that Manning deserves this level of expectation? 

A year ago, Manning in fact did get his chance to start for Texas when Ewers strained his oblique muscle in the middle of their third game against Texas-San Antonio. Manning remained at the controls for the next two home games against Louisiana-Monroe and Mississippi State and was largely good. Not transcendently great, but good. 

Then Ewers return from injury, and that was pretty much Manning’s season for all intents and purposes. Two full games and a little more than half of a third, all against bad opponents. And that was with the best and most experienced offensive line in college football protecting him. It’s not a critique of Manning whatsoever to say we didn’t learn much about what he’s capable of. 

Sarkisian talks about Manning in far more measured tones. He understands what the two-year buildup of hype has created and the potential for narratives to turn quickly if his quarterback plays poorly in the opener against No. 2 Ohio State. He also knows that turning over four starters on the offensive line is a wildcard that will probably make things incrementally more challenging for his inexperienced quarterback. 

“He’s a great guy. He’s a great teammate,” Sarkisian said last month at SEC Media Days. “He’s got an unbelievable work ethic. And I think, if he stays true to himself, that’s going to help him navigate these waters as they present themselves. We’ve got to do a great job of supporting him around him, as coaches, as players, and ultimately, I think he’s prepared for the moment. But now it’s just time for him to go do it and enjoy doing it quite frankly.”

Notice that’s quite a bit different than how Sarkisian spoke the same day about “the deepest and most talented defense that we’ve had” or the receiving corps that “we’re really excited about.” 

Maybe that’s just Sarkisian intentionally lowering the temperature, with the full understanding that his fan base has been frothing to watch Manning finally take his place in Texas history. Or maybe there’s a tiny part of him that’s skeptical his quarterback can live up to the trail of hosannas laid in front of him based more on name and reputation than on-field accomplishment. 

One way or another, after more than half a decade of hearing about the next-in-line to the Manning quarterback dynasty, we won’t have to wait long for an answer. 

We’re not going to mince words here: The Miami Marlins are for real.

We can talk about it now, because the Marlins, arguably Major League Baseball’s most forgotten franchise, have reached the .500 mark after a rousing weekend sweep of the New York Yankees, who have their own issues to worry about.

But there’s one team – the Milwaukee Brewers – that’s played as well as the Marlins since June 13, when they began a roll that’s now at 30 wins in 44 games and resulted in them being very much alive rather than a carcass to be picked over at the July 31 trade deadline.

Heck, they even held onto franchise bulwark Sandy Alcantara, which may or may not portend positive things for a winter to build upon this surprise season. Miami’s pitching staff leads the majors in WHIP (1.06) and the NL in ERA (3.16) since June 27, a 31-game stretch.

For now, though, the Marlins have zoomed up four more spots in USA TODAY Sports’ power rankings – and are even loitering on the fringes of the NL wild-card race, six games out but with three teams to pass.

But if they keep up this pace, there’s no ceiling that can stop them.

A look at our updated rankings:

1. Milwaukee Brewers (+2)

Banged out a franchise-record 56 hits in three-game sweep of Nationals.

2. Chicago Cubs (-1)

All-Star Game headed to Wrigley in 2027. Which uniform will Kyle Tucker be wearing?

3. Toronto Blue Jays (-1)

Don’t look now, but Max Scherzer has struck out 16, walked none and won each of his past two starts.

4. Detroit Tigers (-)

Can they unlock a closer-like performance from newly acquired Kyle Finnegan?

5. Philadelphia Phillies (+1)

Jhoan Duran’s dominant stuff accompanied his personal intro on trip from Minnesota to Philly.

6. Los Angeles Dodgers (+1)

Max Muncy is ready to return, with Tommy Edman likely replacing him on the IL.

7. New York Mets (-2)

Cedric Mullins will fit very snugly on their playoff roster.

8. San Diego Padres (+2)

Has anyone ever rebutted A.J. Preller when he simply asked, ‘Why not?’

9. Houston Astros (-1)

Carlos Correa still eight days away from playing his first home game at Minut-, errr, Daikin Park since Game 6 of the 2021 World Series.

10. Boston Red Sox (+1)

Once again, a pretty lame deadline, but Steven Matz is low-key a useful bullpen piece.

11. Seattle Mariners (+2)

Big series win against a Rangers team suddenly right in their way.

12. New York Yankees (-3)

Hard for Brian Cashman to blame Aaron Boone when the players he acquired blew up in the skipper’s face.

13. Cincinnati Reds (+1)

Survived the Speedway semi-debacle. Will rest of season be a red flag?

14. Texas Rangers (-2)

Jacob deGrom the fastest to 1,800 strikeouts in both innings (1,493 ⅓) and games (240).

15. San Francisco Giants (-)

A ‘soft sell’ at the deadline, if you will, but now they’re back at .500. One more run in ’em?

16. Miami Marlins (+4)

Kyle Stowers with a shot at 40 homers.

17. Cleveland Guardians (+1)

You’d think Emmanuel Clase would be the cautionary tale that gets ballplayers’ attention.

18. St. Louis Cardinals (-2)

.500 looking like their destiny.

19. Kansas City Royals (-)

Mike Yastrzemski kind of a nice ‘Why the hell not?’ pickup.

20. Tampa Bay Rays (-7)

Have now lost 11 of 16 since break.

21. Los Angeles Angels (+1)

Taylor Ward now with a career-high 26 home runs, his latest a walk-off.

22. Arizona Diamondbacks (-1)

The Jordan Montgomery Era really was something.

23. Minnesota Twins (-)

Like many Americans, they’re struggling to be debt-free.

24. Baltimore Orioles (-)

The deadline decimated entire roster, but lineup has responded; bullpen has not.

25. Atlanta Braves (+1)

Don’t think anyone will complain if someone calls the Speedway trophy ‘a piece of metal.’

26. Athletics (-1)

Just 23 wins in Yolo County; only Rockies, Nationals have fewer at home.

27. Pittsburgh Pirates (-)

The trade of moderate success story Bailey Falter was moderately depressing.

28. Washington Nationals (-)

Run differential now minus-134; only Rockies (-277) are worse.

29. Chicago White Sox (-)

Luis Robert is still here.

30. Colorado Rockies (-)

At least a few of their bros on the Yankees give them something to root for.

WASHINGTON – There’s very little, it seems, that can harsh the Milwaukee Brewers’ vibe these days.

From offseason talent-shedding to an in-season cycle of constant roster churn to robust competition in the National League, it’s almost impossible to puncture both the power of friendship and the league-leading prosperity the Brew Crew enjoys.

Heck, at this point, even an injury to a prized young pitcher that would otherwise portend storm clouds can be viewed positively.

Oh, we won’t know for sure until Aug. 15, when Jacob Misiorowski, the right-handed comet best known for earning an All-Star Game nod just five games into his career, is scheduled to come off the injured list.

The Miz, as he’s known from Menomonie to Muskego and points beyond, has a tibia contusion on his left shin, the result of a very real line drive that came off the bat of the Chicago Cubs’ Seiya Suzuki at 102.9 mph, coincidentally about as hard as Misiorowski’s nastiest fastball comes out of his hand.

Misiorowski received X-rays after that and additional imaging this weekend at Nationals Park before the Brewers scratched him roughly three hours before his Sunday, Aug. 3 scheduled start.

The Miz is fully ambulatory, has been throwing and will continue to throw, probably could’ve one hundred or so times Sunday but instead, gave way to rookie Logan Henderson against the Washington Nationals.

“They had an idea for me,” Misiorowski said Sunday morning, “and it’s basically, this is what it’s going to be. Obviously, I tried to fight it a little bit, trying to throw, but I understand and they’re looking out for me.”

It sounded like a rather tepid ‘fight,’ and it also sounds like a very good “idea.”

See, Henderson had few problems suppressing the moribund Nationals, pitching into the fifth inning in a 14-3 victory that capped a three-game sweep. Aggregate score: 38-14. While The Miz is hardly a luxury item, if you can avoid bringing Gucci luggage on a camping trip, why not?

After all, when the Brewers placed Misiorowski on the IL, seven of their next 10 games would come against the last-place Nationals, the 46-63 Atlanta Braves and the last-place Pittsburgh Pirates.

When he returns, Misiorowski’s first two starts would be against the wild-card contender Cincinnati Reds and those second-place, 64-46 Cubs, part of a five-game series at Wrigley Field that marks the last meeting between the teams this season.

And Misiorowski’s 96 ⅔ innings pitched this season almost exactly matches his professional high of 97 ⅓ innings, reached last year.

Sounds like a perfect time to pump the brakes on the kid a little bit. For competitive and, you know, other reasons.

“He’s had a lot coming at him,” says Brewers manager Pat Murphy. “He came to the big leagues, the great start, the All-Star Game, line drive off the leg, hyperextended knee.

“That’s all part of your first five, six games.”

Now the 23-year-old has seven whole big league starts under his belt, during which he’s struck out 47 batters in 33 ⅓ innings, riding a fastball whose 99.3 mph velocity is tied for eighth in the majors – including relievers.

While Misiorowski insists there is no hard ceiling on his innings count, there is a concept of how many bullets – especially of the 100-mph variety – a guy has in a season. The Brewers, now 67-44, are in an absolute dogfight in the Central and, more broadly, in an NL with a half-dozen teams playing at least .550 ball.

Much bigger fights almost certainly remain for a club with a 97.3% chance of making the playoffs, per FanGraphs.

“The kid is special,” Brewers veteran right-hander Brandon Woodruff tells USA TODAY Sports. “We’ve kind of seen here early on what he can do. He’s just scratching the surface for what he can become.

“Take care of this, have him fully ready to go for the stretch and the end of the year – probably be a good thing.”

Especially when there’s plenty of infrastructure to support it.

Got to get over the hump

Murphy is well-versed at roster juggling – the Brewers used 36 pitchers last season and have already called upon 28 this season. Henderson has shown well in his five starts – he now has a 1.78 ERA and 0.99 WHIP after getting into the fifth Sunday – yet is simply another next-man-up in the Brewers’ world.

It’s all by design, the pieces well-prepared.

“Everyone in our (spring training) room last year pitched for us,” says Murphy. “I let them know, if you have options, you’re going to be up and down. Because we need that flexibility. Anybody with options, you might be optioned.

“And probably will be.”

Saturday night, Henderson heard his name called in this version of Brewers bingo, scratched from his start with Class AAA Nashville at Scranton-Wilkes Barre, told to scramble to Washington to fill in for Misiorowski.

After an evening drive south with his family at the wheel, he shut down the Nationals and now, the Brewers are 5-0 in his starts.

A lot of Logan Hendersons add up to 67-44.

‘I did not expect it,’ says Henderson of his emergency assignment, ‘but I was ready for it. We’re all in Nashville watching the boys win up here and it’s been really fun and we all want to contribute.

‘I think that’s the toughest battle, to be quite honest, trying to feel a part of the team up here when you’re down there. It fuels you more. It makes you want to get back up here and be ready for any opportunity.’

It’s all part of the Brewers’ grand maneuvering, a place where a given winter might see them shed an All-Star piece like closer Devin Williams, or where the biggest trade deadline addition (upright division) might be reserve catcher Danny Jansen.

The deadline is past them and the maneuvering can begin, but Murphy realizes the Milwaukee mojo is a delicate brew.

“It works both ways. You get so myopic about all that and forget that these are still people,” says Murphy. “It’s got to be fun. If all of a sudden, these guys start taking on expectations that are different from the normal expectations of playing in the big leagues and playing as a team, if they start letting their energy and focus go toward something different, then it can screw everything up.

“You’ve got to keep their focus and their energies just on how we do it. And let it all play out.”

Since 2018, that more likely means a taste of the postseason but not much more. The Brewers lost Game 7 of the 2018 NLCS to the Dodgers, then bowed out as a wild card the next two seasons. They won the Central in 2021, ’23 and ’24 but lost in the first round each time, the past two seasons in the wild card round as they failed to secure a first-round bye.

If nothing else, they’re a worthy steppingstone. The Brewers lost to the eventual World Series champion in 2019, 2020 and ’21, while Arizona won the NL pennant after dispatching them in ’23 and the New York Mets made a startling NLCS run last season.

Not that there’s any satisfaction in that.

“We’ve had a good run here the last eight years. In ’18, one game away from getting to the World Series,” mused Woodruff, who has pitched excellently – a 2.01 ERA in four starts – in his return from shoulder surgery that cost him all of 2024. “Ever since then, it’s been a battle. We’ve made the playoffs, but it’s like we can’t get over that hump.

“You keep knocking on the door, knocking on the door and hopefully one of these years, you get over the hump. Hopefully this year is the year.”

That’s a question the next three months will answer. They’ll bid the Cubs farewell in three weeks, left to battle apart the remainder of the year.

Beyond that, many of the Brewers’ old tormentors will lurk in the postseason bracket. Carrying a bye beyond the wild card round would give Milwaukee an advantage it’s never enjoyed.

“There’s some really good teams out there, with a lot more experience. Teams with a lot more physical talent,” says Murphy. “But we’re pretty good as a team.

“We have to stick with that, and really understand that. If we think we’re not going to go through bumps, we’re crazy. There’s going to be bumps.”

Yet in the case of Misiorowski, the Brewers hope to turn a bump into a boon.

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Big expectations were set on SummerSlam 2025, and it proved to be an unpredictable weekend of wrestling in New Jersey.

The first two-day edition of WWE’s premier summer event had 12 matches, and the bigger card allowed for some craziness inside MetLife Stadium. Night 1 of SummerSlam was highlighted by the shocking cash-in of Seth Rollins, while the second day featured Cody Rhodes defeating John Cena in a thriller.

There were plenty of great matches and moments from the event, but there were also some bouts that either fell flat or were confusing.

Which ones were some of the best of 2025? And which ones we’ll be hoping to forget soon? Here is every SummerSlam 2025 match ranked from worst to best:

12. Sami Zayn vs. Karrion Kross

Kross has deserved a push given a rise in his popularity, and he lost to Zayn again in a match that encapsulated how most of the story had gone: underwhelming. There were plenty of avenues it could have gone but nothing really ever clicked. Zayn contemplating using the steel pipe was the only notable moment, and even that wasn’t much. It’s tough to argue how it benefited both sides.

11. Tiffany Stratton vs. Jade Cargill

A match that had the potential to be a clinic in athleticism fell way short. Cargill had been pushed heavy and this was her chance to prove that she’s ready to be main event talent. Instead, it was a battle that felt extremely rushed with no real flow. It was a sudden end that left a sour taste in the mouth. It seems like Cargill isn’t ready yet for the stage yet, which is unfortunate that it got shown in a major premium live event.

10. Solo Sikoa vs. Jacob Fatu

There was so much anticipating seeing what Fatu could do inside a steel cage. It ended up with a feeling like we didn’t get see that potential fully unleashed, and it actually set the fued between the family back given it ended in the same fashion the previous ones had. It’s a shame we didn’t see Fatu do anything spectacular until after the match, almost teasing fans.

9. Dominik Mysterio vs. AJ Styles

Given the comedic build-up to this match, this one had to have some fun, and it did. It was intriguing to see a seasoned veteran like Styles face Mysterio, and their chemistry was very evident. The nods to Eddie Guerrero, from the gear to the lie, cheat and steal attempts were great touches to the match, and Mysterio paid the ultimate tribute in how he unzipped his boots to pave the way for victory.

8. Logan Paul and Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton and Jelly Roll

To be fair, the expectations were low for this match. No one really knew how Jelly Roll was going to perform, and whether he’d be able to hang around. To his credit, he not only did that, but did something few celebrities do in taking major bumps. Go ahead and find a celebrity willing to take that monster leap from Paul onto the announcer’s table. It was entertaining and did its job.

7. Roman Reigns and Jey Uso vs. Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed

A great choice to kick off the weekend, this tag-team bout had a mix of veteran stars and the future of the business. Whether it was Breakker and Reed showcasing their impressive power or the veterans feeding into the hyped crowd, they all had a chance to shine, but Reigns’ performance really stood out. He was heavily involved in the ring and we saw some moves we hadn’t seen from him in some time.

6. Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair vs. Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez

See what happens when the women’s tag team division has storytelling? The Bliss and Flair partnership brought new life to their careers and the division, and the unusual pairing has really clicked with fans. The whole time, people wondered if it actually would work or whether it was going to turn sour. The stare Flair and Bliss was intense and had fans on the edge of their seats. The payoff worked and brought life back into the titles.

5. Becky Lynch vs. Lyra Valkyria

These two have put on absolute clincs the first couple of matchups, and they made sure to show out in their last one for now. This was a pure no disqualification match with no weapon spared from being used. The heat in the ring felt real and seeing these two go at it has been a treat for wrestling fans. What really helped is letting the fight have its time, never rushing to a sudden end that would ruin this great battle. Even if the crowd didn’t seem fully interested, it was one of the best matches of the weekend.

4. Naomi vs. Rhea Ripley vs. Iyo Sky

We knew Ripley and Sky would deliver. Would it work with Naomi? While it wasn’t the WrestleMania 41 or Evolution matches, this bout was another excellent display of talent from the top names of the women’s division. Ripley and Sky were going to have their moments, but Naomi really showed she deserves to be champion, having her moments that make her a top talent. It’s always going to be captivating when any of these stars are in the ring.

3. Six-team tables, ladders and chairs match for WWE Tag Team Championship

Pure chaos = pure gold. Every team showed why they should’ve been in the WrestleMania card by putting on the tag team performance for the ages. The absolute lengths everyone went to deliver stunning moments and brutal spots showed how deep and talented the tag team division is, and everyone involved deserves their flowers for captivating having fans stunned from start to finish.

2. CM Punk vs. Gunther, Seth Rollins vs. CM Punk

The main event match of Night 1 was pure wrestling, a masterclass in how to bring out the best of both Gunther and CM Punk. ‘The Ring General’ had his dominant moments while CM Punk not only hung around, but put on another big performance. Going the route of Gunther bleeding completely changing the game was a brilliant move to play into Punk’s favor.

Of course, that wasn’t all, as Rollins’ return shocked about everyone watching. It was pure cinema and another mark in legendary moments for ‘The Visionary.’ Adding more fuel to an already heated rivalry sets up another big showdown between Rollins and Punk.

1. Cody Rhodes vs. John Cena

The old Cena came back, and he delivered one more signature match in his final year in the ring. Most Cena matches this year have been underwhelming, but he turned back the clock in what was an absolute classic from start to finish. Rhodes and Cena didn’t hold back in their desire to win, and it was an enjoyable sight to see the 17-time champion willing to put his body on the line. The story of the match was if either would actually turned heel. They didn’t, and it was the right call for a major passing of the torch moment. Even if Cena doesn’t have another high-caliber match again, at least he ended SummerSlam with a bang.

In the actual NFL draft, NFL teams always want the No. 1 overall pick. In fantasy football drafts, the desire of fantasy managers varies.

Some prefer to have the top selection, as it gives them their preferred target atop the draft. Others would rather draft near the end of the snake and get an earlier pick in the second round.

As such, the No. 1 overall fantasy pick can be viewed as either a blessing or a curse. But either way, fantasy managers need to make sure they get the pick right. If they don’t, their roster depth will suffer as a result.

Who are the best options for the top fantasy selection this season? Below is a look at the only five players fantasy football managers should consider taking atop the draft, starting with a running back who was a league-winner for many last season.

2025 POSITION RANKINGS: QB | RB | WR | TE | K | D/ST | Overall

No. 1 pick options in fantasy football

1. Saquon Barkley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles

Barkley was the top fantasy running back last year as he generated just the ninth 2,000-yard rushing season in NFL history. He figures to once again be a highly productive runner after averaging 3.8 yards before contact per carry — a whopping 0.5 yards better than any other running back — behind a stellar Philadelphia offensive line.

The only concern with Barkley? He had a league-high 378 touches during the regular season and added another 104 to his ledger in the postseason. Since 2010, running backs with at least 337 touches in a season have seen an average decline of 113.9 PPR points, and 3.9 fewer PPR points per game, the following season.

2. Ja’Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

Chase won the receiving Triple Crown in 2024, leading the league in catches (127), yards (1,708) and touchdowns (17). He could certainly do it again, given the chemistry he has shown with long-time teammate Joe Burrow and the Bengals’ high-volume passing attack.

Receiver production is generally more consistent year-to-year than running back production, so few would fault anyone for taking Chase No. 1 overall, especially in PPR leagues. But in half-PPR or standard formats, it is difficult to pass on a high-end running back given how quickly top-tier talents at the position come off the board in snake drafts.

3. Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons

Only two running backs had more catches than Robinson’s 61 in 2024: De’Von Achane (78) and Alvin Kamara (68). That gives Robinson one of the highest PPR floors among fantasy running backs, and his on-the-ground production (1,456 yards, 14 touchdowns) is nothing to sneeze at, either.

Like Barkley, Robinson surpassed the dreaded 337-touch mark in 2024 with 365. Robinson, 23, is much younger than the 28-year-old Barkley, which might aid him in avoiding a decline. However, he also plays in a more volatile offense that will be entrusting second-year QB Michael Penix Jr. as a full-time starter for the first time.

4. Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Detroit Lions

Gibbs showed fantasy managers his potential as a workhorse over the final three weeks of the 2024 NFL season. With David Montgomery out, Gibbs averaged 25.7 touches and 162.3 total yards per game while scoring six total touchdowns.

While Gibbs’ ceiling is that of the No. 1 overall fantasy running back, Montgomery still figures to eat into his workload. Montgomery’s size (5-11, 224 pounds) will likely make him Dan Campbell’s preferred goal-line option. That might limit Gibbs’ upside, but it’s worth noting he had the fewest touches (302) among the consensus top-three fantasy running backs for 2025.

5. Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings

Jefferson has only once finished worse than the No. 6-rated wide receiver in fantasy. That came in 2023, when he played just 10 games because of a hamstring injury. As long as Jefferson remains healthy, he should be one of the best fantasy football wide receivers, which puts him in the running for the No. 1 overall pick.

Still, Jefferson seems more likely to be an early-to-mid first-round selection. The Vikings are breaking in a first-year starter at quarterback, J.J. McCarthy, so any early growing pains could impact Jefferson out of the gate. So, too, could a mild hamstring strain that is keeping Jefferson out of the early stages of Minnesota’s training camp.

EUGENE, OR — Four days of competition are complete at the 2025 U.S. track and field trials.

Melissa Jefferson-Wooden accomplished the sprint double, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone was golden in the 400 and Noah Lyles was braggadocious as he won another 200 national title.

On the field, Valarie Allman continued her reign over the discus and Tara Davis-Woodhall leaped to the top mark in the world in the long jump.

The U.S. track and field championships served as the qualifying stage for next month’s world championships in Tokyo, Japan.

WINNERS

Melissa Jefferson-Wooden wins 100-200 double

Jefferson-Wooden dominated the 100, leading from start to finish. She crossed the line well ahead of the other competitors with an impressive personal-best and world-leading time of 10.65. It’s tied for the fifth fastest time in the history of the event.

‘Amazing,’ Jefferson-Wooden said following her win in the 100. ‘I’ve been dreaming of days like this, and it’s finally starting to come true. Right now the sky is the limit. I just got to keep working toward bigger and better things.’

Jefferson-Wooden wasn’t done after the 100. On the final day of the championships, Jefferson-Wooden accomplished the sprint double by winning the women’s 200, running a personal-best 21.84. She was the only sprinter to run sub-22 seconds in the race.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone shines in 400

McLaughlin-Levrone is dominating her new event just like she did her old one.

McLaughlin-Levrone easily won the women’s 400 with a gold-medal winning time of 48.90.

The four-time Olympic gold medalist came up just short of the American record (48.70) that’s stood for almost 20 years.

“Everyone talks about the American record of course, that’s gonna come when it’s supposed to come,” McLaughlin-Levrone said after the win.

McLaughlin-Levrone already owns the American and world records in the women’s 400-meter hurdles.

Kenny Bednarek wins first national title

Bednarek ran a personal-best 9.79 to win his first national championship in what was a fast men’s 100 final. The top seven finishers all ran sub-10 seconds.

‘It’s about damn time,’ Bednarek said after winning his first national championship. ‘I always knew I had the capability of doing it but I just had to believe in myself. This year I feel like I started living up to my expectations.’

Bednarek’s 9.79 is the second fastest time in the world this year.

Noah Lyles boasts as he won men’s 200

Lyles had to come from behind to beat Kenny Bednarek in the 200. Lyles passed Bednarek with less than 10 meters remaining in the race and stared him down as he crossed the finish line, running a world-leading time of 19.63.

An annoyed Bednarek pushed Lyles after his boastful gesture.

“It’s unsportsmanlike (expletive),” Bednarek said after getting the silver medal. “I don’t deal with that.”

Lyles, who hasn’t raced a lot this year, said the win proves that he’s still on top.

“If they ain’t gonna beat me now, they ain’t gonna beat me ever,” Lyles said.  

Masai Russell has 100 hurdles crown

Russell gestured as if to put a crown on herself after winning the women’s 100-meter hurdles in convincing fashion, clocking in at 12.22.

Russell is on an impressive run. She’s the reigning Olympic champion, a two-time national champion in the event and is ranked No. 1 in the world this season.

“Winning the Olympics put a little more pressure on myself. Like now I feel like I have a standard to uphold. People expect something from the reigning Olympic champion,” Russell said. “I don’t think I would’ve been blessed with that title if I wasn’t able to carry the weight of that.”

Tara Davis-Woodhall jumps to top mark in world

On the first day of the U.S. championships, Tara Davis-Woodhall leaped 23 feet, 4 ½ inches to win the women’s long jump. It’s the top mark in the world this year. Davis-Woodhall is coming off a women’s long jump gold medal at the Paris Olympics.

Valarie Allman’s undefeated streak continues

Allman tossed 234 feet, 5 inches to win the women’s discus by more than 20 feet. The two-time Olympic champion hasn’t lost in the event since 2023. She is the No. 1-ranked discus thrower in the world as she heads to Tokyo.

LOSERS

Track and field fans located outside of Oregon

Eugene, Oregon, is affectionately known as Track Town, U.S.A. for its rich track and field history, and University of Oregon’s Hayward Field is a state-of-the-art track and field stadium. But this year was the 14th time Eugene’s hosted the championships.

Logistically, traveling to the city and hotel lodging aren’t very convenient. Plus, there isn’t an array of tourist attractions. It would behoove USA Track and Field to periodically change the host site for the national championships.

Los Angeles is a logical location. Afterall, the 2028 Olympics are in LA.  

Sha’Carri Richardson 

Unfortunately for Richardson, most of the news she made was off the track.

Richardson was arrested after an alleged incident at the Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, according to a police report obtained by USA TODAY Sports. According to the report, Richardson was arrested for domestic violence.

Richardson competed in the women’s 200 but didn’t advance to the final round.

Joe Kovacs misses team in men’s shot put

Kovacs was upset in the shot put. The two-time world champion finished fourth with a put of 72 feet, 5 inches.

Josh Awotunde won the event with a personal-best toss of 73 feet, 8 ¾ inches.

Athing Mu-Nikolayev comes up short in 800

Mu-Nikolayev failed to qualify for the world championships in the women’s 800. She placed fourth in her semifinal heat and didn’t advance on time.

Mu-Nikolayev is the American-record holder (1:54.97) and won gold at the Tokyo Olympics in the 800, but she’s struggled recently to regain her form.

Mu-Nikolayev admitted she’s had a difficult time mentally and physically the past year but is finding her way back. The good news is she ran a season-best 1:59.79 in the semifinal round and is still just 23 years old.

“I think I’m still pretty fit. When it comes to track your mentality and your mental side of things takes a big toll,” Mu-Nikolayev said. “If you’re not mentally in it, then your body won’t be in it. That’s what kind of held me back I think both in practice and also competing in bigger races this past year. So, I have to get myself back to being wholly Athing Mu and not just a good athlete running.”

EUGENE, OR — Noah Lyles had something to say after winning gold in the men’s 200 meters at the U.S. track and field championships.

Lyles ran a world-leading 19.63 to get the gold in the 200, but he had to work for it.  

Lyles was behind Kenny Bednarek at the turn. He pulled even with him with roughly 10 meters remaining. Lyles turned to look at Bednarek as he ran past him with only five meters remaining and continued to stare him down after he crossed the finish line first.

Bednarek retaliated by giving Lyles a slight push before the two shook hands.

“Noah is gonna be Noah. If he wants to stare me down that fine,” Bednarek said after the race. “I’m very confident I can beat him. What he said doesn’t matter. It’s just what he did. It’s unsportsmanlike (expletive) and I don’t deal with that.”

Lyles didn’t comment when asked what compelled him to taunt Bednarek.

“It felt really good,” Lyles said following the win. “If they ain’t gonna beat me now, they ain’t gonna beat me ever.”

It’s Lyles fifth national championship in the 200. Lyles said he had no doubt he would be victorious with roughly 80 meters left.

“We came off the turn and I saw how far Kenny was and I was like, ‘As long as I can keep him in my pocket then I can catch him,’” Lyles explained. “We got to the straight away, we passed the 60 meters left mark and I’m like, ‘Yeah, I’m coming for him.’ He ran out of energy and he ran out of momentum and mine was just starting to hit it.”

The 200 has always been Lyles’ marquee event despite being the defending world champion in both the 100 and 200 and the Olympic champion in the 100.

USA TODAY Sports was on the ground for the final day of action at the U.S. track and field championships. Here are the highlights from the competition:  

Melissa Jefferson-Wooden leaves no doubt in women’s 200

Jefferson-Wooden ran a personal-best 21.84 to win gold in the 200. She was the only sprinter to run sub-22 seconds in the race.

“It’s something I’ve been working toward,” Jefferson-Wooden said after winning the sprint double. “I’m excited. I get to say I completed the double at the U.S. championships, which is very hard by the way. It’s not easy.”

Anavia Battle took second, running a season-best 22.13. Gabby Thomas barely got the third and final qualifying spot, running a 22.20 in a photo finish for third place.

Valarie Allman remains undefeated this season

Allman continued her dominant run in the discus. She tossed 234 feet, 5 inches to win gold. Her mark was over 20 feet better than all other competitors.

Allman is undefeated in two seasons. She hasn’t lost since the 2023 world championships.

The two-time-Olympic champion heads to the world championships as the No.1 ranked discus thrower in the world.

Donavan Brazier wins exciting 800

Brazier was in fourth after the first lap, but sprinted past the pack during the final 60 meters to win the men’s 800 with a personal-best time of 1:42.16

Cooper Lutkenhaus placed second and broke the under-18 world record (1:42.27) in the process.

Dalilah Muhammad earns national title

The 35-year-old crossed the finish line first in the women’s 400-meter hurdles to win her first national championship since 2019 and fifth overall.

Muhammad won gold in the 400-meter hurdles at the 2016 Olympics. She’s said this will be her last year of competition.

Training camps are fully underway and this year features plenty of position battles, injuries and holdouts, all of which can have huge fantasy football implications.

Each year, fantasy managers across the country try to maximize the value as much as possible to win a championship and avoid punishments for finishing last.

Training camps can tip off who is improving and getting more of a share of the offense than expected. These developments aren’t an outright guarantee but could help fantasy managers get a clearer picture of what the 2025 season may hold.

Through the early part of training camp, some players have stood out as risers in the fantasy football landscape. Here are our top 10 as August begins:

2025 POSITION RANKINGS: QB | RB | WR | TE | K | D/ST | Overall

QB J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings

McCarthy inherits an incredibly talented offense in his first year as a starter. He’s getting reps in training camp against what was one of the tougher defenses in the league last season. Reporters attending training camp have noted how well he’s throwing; The Athletic’s Alec Lewis wrote the second-year quarterback has ‘checked critical boxes early on.’

As a first-year starter, McCarthy is an unknown in the fantasy landscape but signs point to him being at least a solid starter in 2025. With the pieces in place in this offense, that’s firmly high-end QB2 material.

RB Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers

Najee Harris’ eye injury from a fireworks incident earlier this summer cleared the way for Hampton to take full control of RB1 status with the Chargers. He had a pair of carries for 9 yards in the Hall of Fame game against Detroit and that may be the last we see of him in the preseason.

There’s no denying the Chargers offense wants to run the ball. Head coach Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman established that at previous spots. Hampton has the opportunity with Harris out to start the season with a large share of the touches out of the backfield.

RB Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers

McCaffrey had a rough season in 2024 amid injuries and a struggling 49ers offense. The 2023 Offensive Player of the Year failed to score a touchdown for the first time in his career. San Francisco drafted running back Jordan James in Round 5 of the 2025 NFL draft and he could eat into McCaffrey’s touches.

But James will miss time with a knee injury and McCaffrey seems to be fully healthy for the first time in more than a year. The 49ers offense will be without top wideout Brandon Aiyuk to start the season and second-year receiver Ricky Pearsall’s getting back up to speed after a hamstring injury. The conditions are there for McCaffrey to have a large share of the offensive load even in his age-30 season.

RB Jerome Ford, Cleveland Browns

Cleveland’s offense has plenty of questions entering the 2025 season. There’s a four-way battle for starting quarterback and the running back room has a pair of rookies in addition to Ford competing for carries.

One of those rookies, Quinshon Judkins, has yet to sign a contract following his battery charge in July. That’s left fellow rookie Dylan Sampson competing with Ford for carries. Ford’s the incumbent and with a likely suspension pending for Judkins, he’s in line for a bigger role as the season starts.

RB Jordan Mason, Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings traded for Mason in the offseason in a move that reflects a shift to a more effective ground game in Minnesota this year. Aaron Jones Sr. was the top back and had the majority of carries last year, but Mason’s arrival could signal a shift.

With training camp underway, ESPN’s Kevin Seifert reported that it may be closer to an even split in carries between Jones and Mason than what the Vikings have done in prior seasons. Jones should still be the lead back, but from training camp reps it looks like Mason should get a solid share of carries to start the season. That could raise his status from handcuff to low-end RB3.

RB Kenneth Walker III, Seattle Seahawks

The more training camp rolls on, the more Walker hype builds. New offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak said ‘we’re going to ask a lot out of him’ during his introductory press conference, and that’s been backed up in camp so far. Health is always a question mark with Walker; he’s missed a combined 10 games over his first three seasons. But if he can stay on the field there’s a chance he could outperform his draft slot.

WR Xavier Worthy, Kansas City Chiefs

Worthy closed his rookie season well with two top-15 WR performances in the final three weeks. He could be in for a strong start to his sophomore year in the NFL. Chiefs wideout Rashee Rice may be serving a suspension to open the season stemming from a car crash during the 2024 offseason. Whether he can hold onto a large share of the targets once Rice returns is a question. Until then, he’s looking like an improving option as a WR3 as the regular season approaches.

WR Deebo Samuel, Washington Commanders

San Francisco shipped Samuel east this offseason and he suddenly finds himself as the top wide receiver in the offense because Terry McLaurin requested a trade. Samuel dropped off in 2024 with just 806 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns, both the lowest since his injury-shortened season in 2020.

With McLaurin’s status in question amid contract negotiations, Samuel could capitalize with a larger target share through training camp. McLaurin may be off the field for a while and may need time to get up to speed once he comes back. That gives Samuel plenty of opportunity to produce as the top wideout for reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels.

WR Emeka Egbuka, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Egbuka was widely considered one of the most pro-ready prospects in the 2025 NFL draft. That made him an attractive pick in dynasty leagues, and now he’s becoming a more attractive option to have a good rookie season. Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin is recovering from another surgery on his ankle and is on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list in the early parts of training camp. Egbuka’s ceiling is likely capped given Mike Evans’ presence and late-season riser Jalen McMillan’s return for a sophomore season. He could be a low-end WR3 as the season starts, though.

TE A.J. Barner, Seattle Seahawks

Seattle released tight end Noah Fant and the former Seahawk has since signed with the Bengals. Barner is entering Year 2 with a new offensive coordinator in Kubiak. Seattle lacks a lot of weapons in the passing game and, with Fant’s departure, Barner could get a larger target share. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is the top man but behind him it could be a mix of Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Cooper Kupp and a pair of rookies who are getting a lot of work in training camp.

Barner has to fend off a rookie as well in Round 2 pick Elijah Arroyo. Both have impressed in camp early but Barner’s experience could keep him ahead as the season starts.