The NASCAR Cup Series hits the Lone Star State for the first road-course race of the 2025 season, when the Circuit of the Americas hosts the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix on Sunday.

It will be a big change of pace for drivers after opening the season with superspeedway events at Daytona and Atlanta. In addition to going from fast, pack-style racing on the high-banked ovals to adjusting to multiple left and right turns on the Austin, Texas, road course, drivers will also have to adapt to a shorter, reconfigured circuit.

The section from Turn 7 through the Turn 11 hairpin was eliminated, reducing the course from 3.41 miles (same as the Formula One U.S. Grand Prix) to 2.4 miles. But the shorter circuit means the number of laps has increased, going from 68 to 95.

Qualifying will also be extremely important – unlike Daytona and Atlanta – as the past two race winners at COTA – William Byron in 2024 and Tyler Reddick in 2023 – started on the front row.

Who will be the first road warrior of 2025? Here’s all the information you need to get ready for Sunday’s EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix:

SCHEDULE: How to watch NASCAR Cup Series races in 2025

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What time does the NASCAR Cup race at COTA start?

The EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix starts at 3:30 p.m. ET (2:30 p.m. local) at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.

What TV channel is the NASCAR Cup race at COTA on?

Fox is broadcasting the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix and has a pre-race show beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET (1:30 p.m. local).

Will there be a live stream of the NASCAR Cup race at COTA?

The EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix can be live streamed on Max and the FoxSports app. Viewers can also stream the race on Fubo, which is offfering a free trial to new subscribers.

Watch NASCAR at Circuit of the Americas on Fubo (free trial)

How many laps is the NASCAR Cup race at COTA?

The EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix is 95 laps around the 2.4-mile road course for a total of 228 miles. The race will feature three segments (laps per stage) — Stage 1: 20 laps; Stage 2: 25 laps; Stage 3: 50 laps.

Who won the most recent NASCAR Cup race at COTA?

What is the lineup for the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at COTA?

(Car number in parentheses)

(45) Tyler Reddick, Toyota
(23) Bubba Wallace, Toyota
(9) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet
(77) Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet
(99) Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet
(88) Shane Van Gisbergen, Chevrolet
(5) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet
(8) Kyle Busch, Chevrolet
(1) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet
(34) Todd Gilliland, Ford
(11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota
(16) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet
(54) Ty Gibbs, Toyota
(87) Connor Zilisch, Chevrolet
(24) William Byron, Chevrolet
(71) Michael McDowell, Chevrolet
(4) Noah Gragson, Ford
(19) Chase Briscoe, Toyota
(20) Christopher Bell, Toyota
(38) Zane Smith, Ford
(48) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet
(47) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet
(22) Joey Logano, Ford
(17) Chris Buescher, Ford
(12) Ryan Blaney, Ford
(6) Brad Keselowski, Ford
(3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet
(60) Ryan Preece, Ford
(7) Justin Haley, Chevrolet
(41) Cole Custer, Ford
(35) Riley Herbst, Toyota
(43) Erik Jones, Toyota
(42) John Hunter Nemechek, Toyota
(10) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet
(21) Josh Berry, Ford
(2) Austin Cindric, Ford
(51) Cody Ware, Ford

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Not every quarterback is participating in on-field drills at the NFL combine, but a few of those who did really stood out.

Mississippi gunslinger Jaxson Dart and Texas’ Quinn Ewers were among the top-ranked quarterbacks who did participate in Saturday’s on-field drills.

Top quarterback prospects Cam Ward (Miami FL) and Shedeur Sanders (Colorado) both opted out of throwing in Indianapolis; they’ll both wait for their respective pro days to work out. As a result, the other quarterback invitees had a chance to step up and boost their draft stock as top participants at the combine.

Here’s who performed the best out of the quarterbacks that chose to work out in Indianapolis:

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

2025 NFL combine: Top five quarterback rankings

Of the quarterbacks who threw in Indianapolis on Saturday, there were five who stood out in particular. Here’s how the top five quarterbacks at the NFL combine shake out, using only their performance Saturday to evaluate each of them:

1. Brady Cook, Missouri

Cook’s performance was an especially impressive feat considering he was largely throwing to receivers he hadn’t thrown to before. In addition, the Missouri product managed to stand out in a quarterback group that also included Mississippi’s Jaxson Dart and Texas’ Quinn Ewers.

What was also notable about Cook’s combine outing was his performance in the athletic testing. Not only did the Missouri product choose to participate in the vertical leap, broad jump and 40-yard dash, he was also the leader of all quarterbacks by a wide margin – albeit in an admittedly small sample size.

2. Jaxson Dart, Mississippi

Dart did just about everything he needed to in order to keep himself in the argument for QB2 in the 2025 NFL draft class. Like Cook, he looked accurate in his passing to receivers he has not worked with, showing off his touch and anticipation throughout his on-field drills.

All that kept Dart from the top spot on this list was some shakiness in his deep passes. While his accuracy looked good at longer ranges, the Mississippi product’s mechanics broke down a bit when trying to push the ball further downfield. If Dart can maintain a better lower half and base in throwing those deeper balls, his future as an NFL starting quarterback will become clearer.

3. Tyler Shough, Louisville

The 25-year-old from Louisville still did have some bad misses at points during Saturday’s drills, and the NFL Network commentary crew noted that Shough appeared to be ‘doing too much.’ There was at least one occasion in which he pretended to shake off a pass-rusher and unleashed a poor throw after a shoulder shimmy. In a drill that is intended to show off a quarterback’s skills without a defense to read or contend with, it’s hard to disagree with NFL Network’s analysis.

4. Quinn Ewers, Texas

The strongest parts of Ewers’ outing in on-field drills on Saturday were his solid mechanics and impressive accuracy. The Texas product was hitting receivers on all levels of the field with nice ball placement the first half of his throws, and he was really able to show off his nice footwork and lower-body mechanics with no pass rush to worry about.

Ewers wasn’t quite as strong as Dart was when he had to throw to his right side and on some of the deeper throws on ‘go’ routes. The 2024 second-team All-SEC quarterback missed some easy throws on comeback routes to his right side and didn’t show off much of the requisite anticipation on those routes. When it came time to throw deep, Ewers had some bad underthrows that took away from an otherwise solid performance.

5. Kyle McCord, Syracuse

McCord was able to stand out in a second group of throwers that was a bit more lackluster than the first. The former Ohio State quarterback was solid in his ball placement on throws to either sideline. In addition, he had some deep throws that were among the best of any of the quarterbacks that threw on Saturday, though he also had some underthrows that required adjustments from receivers.

Where McCord didn’t shine quite as brightly was in his anticipation. The Syracuse product frequently was late on his throws, waiting for his receivers to get out of their breaks before starting his throw. Though that could partly be attributed to his lack of work with those receivers, it was a notable part of his performance that was lacking compared to other quarterbacks – who also haven’t worked with all of the receivers – that threw Saturday.

Wide receiver Deebo Samuel will go. All. The. Way. Across the country.

A few weeks after his team granted Samuel permission to seek a trade, the 49ers agreed to terms to trade their former first-team All-Pro wideout to the Commanders according to several reports on Saturday. Washington will send San Francisco the Saints’ fifth-round pick: No. 148 overall.

In completing the trade, the 49ers free up some cap space after signing receivers Jauan Jennings and Brandon Aiyuk to extensions last year. San Francisco also gets some extra space to work with as negotiations loom for an extension for quarterback Brock Purdy.

Washington brings in another pass-catching weapon for quarterback Jayden Daniels before he enters his second year. Samuel will start alongside Commanders star Terry McLaurin in the Kliff Kingsbury-designed offense.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

Since the trade took place after the end of the NFL season, it won’t become official until the start of the new league year on March 12.

Deebo Samuel trade grades

San Franciso 49ers: B

It became clear during the 2024 season that Samuel’s role was diminishing in the 49ers’ offense. Even after Aiyuk’s injury midway through the season, it was Jennings, not Samuel, who led San Francisco receivers in targets, catches, yards and touchdowns.

Last year was the first season of both Jennings’ and Aiyuk’s new contract extensions, and this offseason is the first in which Purdy, their quarterback, can sign an extension of his own. San Francisco needed to free up some cap space with so much money committed – or soon to be committed – to the leaders of their passing offense. By trading Samuel, the team frees up over $15 million, which helps their grade in this trade at first glance.

However, it feels like San Francisco got less compensation for Samuel than they could have. This year’s pending free agent class is lacking young wide receivers that have an All-Pro-level ceiling. Tampa Bay’s Chris Godwin and Cincinnati’s Tee Higgins are by far the most talented pending free agent receivers younger than 30, and there’s a sizable drop-off after that.

For the 49ers to only get the No. 148 overall pick for Samuel – a receiver that still has a high ceiling despite a lack of recent production – feels underwhelming.

Washington Commanders: A

The Commanders got a weapon to pair with McLaurin, their star receiver, and Daniels, their young quarterback, in their passing offense. And all it cost them was a fifth-round pick.

For context, the Eagles traded the Commanders a third-round pick and two seventh-round picks for wide receiver Jahan Dotson before the 2024 season

It immediately fills one of the Commanders’ biggest needs to address this offseason with receivers Olamide Zaccheaus and Noah Brown set to hit free agency and no true No. 2 pass-catcher to play with McLaurin. In filling that need via trade, Washington general manager Adam Peters now has the ability to tackle other roster needs (read: cornerback, linebacker) in free agency and April’s NFL draft.

Washington will take a cap hit of around $15 million by bringing in Samuel, but that’s not a huge problem for the team that ranks third in cap space this offseason, according to OverTheCap.com.

LOS ANGELES — The Big Ten officially belongs to Southern California. 

In the battle of Los Angeles between No. 2 UCLA and No. 3 USC, the Trojans came out hot and never looked back en route to winning the conference regular-season crown, sweeping the rival Bruins with an 80-67 victory.

USC star JuJu Watkins opened up the night with a 3-point shot and USC started the game on a 9-0 run. They led wire-to-wire. UCLA did close the deficit on a few occasions, getting it to a four-point game in the third quarter. But the USC offense didn’t freeze. Bucket after bucket went in and it stretched the lead to as much as 20 points in the final quarter.

It’s the fourth consecutive win over UCLA for the Trojans.

Watkins was again the star against UCLA with a 30-point outing. She added five assists, three rebounds and three blocks. 

The Trojans will head into the Big Ten tournament next week as the No. 1 seed and the Bruins will be the No. 2 seed. There’s a great chance the two sides meet again in the final in Indianapolis. 

USC vs. UCLA highlights

USC vs. UCLA score

Trojans less than two minutes away from win

It’s all but over in Pauley Pavilion as USC leads by 19 points with 1:58 to go in the contest. A USC chant broke out from the Trojan fans in attendance.

USC closing in on win

The Trojans can smell the Big Ten crown as the offense hasn’t let up in the fourth quarter. They lead 76-59 with just under five minutes to go. Two consecutive 3-point shots from Avery Howell were big shots that took much of the life out of Pauley Pavilion. USC had the lead at 20 points just a few minutes ago.

End of third quarter: USC 64, UCLA 51

The Big Ten regular-season championship is 10 minutes away from being decided. The Trojans are closing in on the title with a 13-point lead after three quarters.

UCLA came out of halftime and made it a close battle, closing the deficit to four points with three minutes left in the frame. That would be the last time the Bruins would score, with USC going on a 9-0 run to push the lead back to 13 points. Despite some uncharacteristic missed free throws, JuJu Watkins remains the leading scorer with 28 points.

USC pushes lead after UCLA run

The Bruins were able to cut the deficit to four points, but a 7-0 Trojan run has USC up by double-digits again in the final minute of the third quarter.

UCLA hanging around

The Bruins are showing some fight out of halftime. The offense has found some rhythm to make it a single-digit deficit halfway through the third quarter.

Kiki Rice and Londynn Jones have each scored five points in the quarter. But on the other side, Kiki Iriafen has also added five points to keep the distance away from the Bruins.

Halftime: USC 46, UCLA 32

It’s another edition of the JuJu Watkins Show as she continues to torch her crosstown rival. The Trojans lead 46-32 at the break. Watkins made the first bucket of the night and she’s been scoring in flurries since. She has 23 points and she’s 4-of-7 from 3-point land.

Meanwhile, turnovers and defensive lapses are hurting UCLA. It has turned it over 11 times and its led to 17 points for the opponent. The other star, Lauren Betts, has been quiet so far. The Trojans have a near-perfect game plan for her in the post. She has nine rebounds, a game-high, but only four points. The Bruins haven’t led.

USC shot 18-for-38 (47.4%) and UCLA was 11-for-30 (36.7%) from the field in the first half.

Trojans extend lead

USC continues to hit shots and capitalize on UCLA mistakes, leading by 14 points with less than three minutes to go in the half. The Bruins have turned it over six times in the quarter and nine times overall, leading to 14 Trojan points.

USC gets hot again

Something about great starts to quarters for the Trojans, who have a double-digit lead again at 34-24 with five-and-a-half minutes to go in the second frame. USC has made four of its first seven attempts in the quarter. Guard Kennedy Smith is getting it going on offense. UCLA has turned it over three times in the quarter.

End of first quarter: USC 23, UCLA 20

It was a USC blitz to start the contest but the Bruins have clawed back and Pauley Pavilion is rocking. The Trojans lead by three at the end of the first 10 minutes.

Just like in the first matchup, JuJu Watkins started off hot, making five of her first six shot attempts and scoring 13 of the first 21 points for the Trojans. Defenders weren’t able to do much early on and it looked like it was going to be a long night for UCLA as USC led by as much as 11 points.

UCLA eventually started making shots and got itself back in the game. It also disrupted USC’s momentum and it drew fouls, primarily on Lauren Betts. USC starters Kiki Iriafen and Kennedy Smith had two fouls each in the first eight minutes and will now be in trouble for at least the remainder of the first half. The Bruins closed the quarter on an 8-2 run to cut the deficit.

USC starts with massive run

The Trojans have continued their momentum from the first meeting, on fire with a 13-2 lead in the first four-and-a-half minutes. JuJu Watkins got the first bucket of the night on a 3-point shot, signaling another big night from the star, and USC opened on a 9-0 run. Talia von Oelhoffen then got a 3-point shot and the foul to give her team an early double-digit lead. The Bruins missed their first eight shot attempts.

When is UCLA vs. USC women’s basketball game?

The game is scheduled for Saturday, March 1 at 9 p.m. ET.

How to watch UCLA vs. USC

Date: Saturday, March 1
Time: 9 p.m. ET
TV: Fox
Streaming options: Fox Sports Go app | Fubo (free trial)

Fox will nationally broadcast Saturday’s game between UCLA and USC. It can be streamed on the Fox Sports Go app (with a TV login) and Fubo, which carries Fox and offers a free trial to new subscribers.

What channel is UCLA vs. USC women’s basketball game on?

USC and UCLA’s matchup on Thursday will be broadcasted on Fox.

UCLA starting lineup

Kiki Rice, G
Londynn Jones, G
Gabriela Jaquez, F
Angela Dugalic, F
Lauren Betts, C

USC starting lineup

Kennedy Smith, G
JuJu Watkins, G
Talia von Oelhoffen, G
Rayah Marshall, F
Kiki Iriafen, F

UCLA vs. USC women’s basketball odds

Odds according to BetMGM.

Spread: UCLA (-4.5)
Moneyline: UCLA (-250); USC (+200)
Over/under: 140.5

UCLA resume

Record: 27-1
NET ranking: No. 5
Quad 1 record: 10-1
Quality wins: No. 6 South Carolina, No. 18 Baylor, No. 17 Maryland, No. 12 Ohio State, No. 22 Michigan State
Losses: No. 3 USC

USC resume

Record: 25-2
NET ranking: No. 6
Quad 1 record: 9-2
Quality wins: Mississippi, No. 5 Connecticut, No. 17 Maryland, No. 12 Ohio State, No. 2 UCLA, No. 22 Michigan State
Losses: No. 4 Notre Dame, Iowa

UCLA last five results

Thursday, Feb. 13: USC 71, UCLA 60
Sunday, Feb. 16: UCLA 75, Michigan State 69
Thursday, Feb. 20: UCLA 70, Illinois 55
Sunday, Feb. 23: UCLA 67, Iowa 65
Wednesday, Feb. 26: UCLA 91, Wisconsin 61

USC last five results

Saturday, Feb. 8: USC 84, Ohio State 63
Thursday, Feb. 13: USC 71, UCLA 60
Sunday, Feb. 16: USC 69, Washington 64
Wednesday, Feb. 19: USC 83, Michigan State 75
Sunday, Feb. 23: USC 76, Illinois 66

Keys to UCLA vs. USC

There’s more than just city bragging rights at stake when UCLA and Southern California meet again on Saturday.

The No. 2 Bruins and No. 3 Trojans had an epic first clash on Feb. 13, with JuJu Watkins delivering a signature performance as USC beat its rival in front of its home fans. The second game will take place at UCLA. Just like the first matchup at the Galen Center, an electric environment is expected; it will be a sell-out crowd at Pauley Pavilion.

UCLA and USC have had little trouble in their first season in the Big Ten. Saturday’s winner can cap off an incredible regular season with a championship and generate momentum as March Madness approaches. Each team has national championship aspirations and is in prime position to get a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament based on Thursday’s selection committee rankings.

‘It’s for all the marbles here,’ said USC forward Rayah Marshall.

– Read the keys and things to watch for the matchup here.

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

LOS ANGELES — The Big Ten officially belongs to Southern California. 

In the battle of Los Angeles between No. 2 UCLA and No. 3 USC, the Trojans came out hot and never looked back en route to winning the conference regular-season crown, sweeping the rival Bruins with an 80-67 victory.

USC star JuJu Watkins opened up the night with a 3-point shot and USC started the game on a 9-0 run. They led wire-to-wire. UCLA did close the deficit on a few occasions, getting it to a four-point game in the third quarter. But the USC offense didn’t freeze. Bucket after bucket went in and it stretched the lead to as much as 20 points in the final quarter.

It’s the fourth consecutive win over UCLA for the Trojans.

Watkins was again the star against UCLA with a 30-point outing. She added five assists, three rebounds and three blocks. 

The Trojans will head into the Big Ten tournament next week as the No. 1 seed and the Bruins will be the No. 2 seed. There’s a great chance the two sides meet again in the final in Indianapolis. 

UCLA vs. USC score

Trojans less than two minutes away from win

It’s all but over in Pauley Pavilion as USC leads by 19 points with 1:58 to go in the contest. A USC chant broke out from the Trojan fans in attendance.

USC closing in on win

The Trojans can smell the Big Ten crown as the offense hasn’t let up in the fourth quarter. They lead 76-59 with just under five minutes to go. Two consecutive 3-point shots from Avery Howell were big shots that took much of the life out of Pauley Pavilion. USC had the lead at 20 points just a few minutes ago.

End of third quarter: USC 64, UCLA 51

The Big Ten regular-season championship is 10 minutes away from being decided. The Trojans are closing in on the title with a 13-point lead after three quarters.

UCLA came out of halftime and made it a close battle, closing the deficit to four points with three minutes left in the frame. That would be the last time the Bruins would score, with USC going on a 9-0 run to push the lead back to 13 points. Despite some uncharacteristic missed free throws, JuJu Watkins remains the leading scorer with 28 points.

USC pushes lead after UCLA run

The Bruins were able to cut the deficit to four points, but a 7-0 Trojan run has USC up by double-digits again in the final minute of the third quarter.

UCLA hanging around

The Bruins are showing some fight out of halftime. The offense has found some rhythm to make it a single-digit deficit halfway through the third quarter.

Kiki Rice and Londynn Jones have each scored five points in the quarter. But on the other side, Kiki Iriafen has also added five points to keep the distance away from the Bruins.

Halftime: USC 46, UCLA 32

It’s another edition of the JuJu Watkins Show as she continues to torch her crosstown rival. The Trojans lead 46-32 at the break. Watkins made the first bucket of the night and she’s been scoring in flurries since. She has 23 points and she’s 4-of-7 from 3-point land.

Meanwhile, turnovers and defensive lapses are hurting UCLA. It has turned it over 11 times and its led to 17 points for the opponent. The other star, Lauren Betts, has been quiet so far. The Trojans have a near-perfect game plan for her in the post. She has nine rebounds, a game-high, but only four points. The Bruins haven’t led.

USC shot 18-for-38 (47.4%) and UCLA was 11-for-30 (36.7%) from the field in the first half.

Trojans extend lead

USC continues to hit shots and capitalize on UCLA mistakes, leading by 14 points with less than three minutes to go in the half. The Bruins have turned it over six times in the quarter and nine times overall, leading to 14 Trojan points.

USC gets hot again

Something about great starts to quarters for the Trojans, who have a double-digit lead again at 34-24 with five-and-a-half minutes to go in the second frame. USC has made four of its first seven attempts in the quarter. Guard Kennedy Smith is getting it going on offense. UCLA has turned it over three times in the quarter.

End of first quarter: USC 23, UCLA 20

It was a USC blitz to start the contest but the Bruins have clawed back and Pauley Pavilion is rocking. The Trojans lead by three at the end of the first 10 minutes.

Just like in the first matchup, JuJu Watkins started off hot, making five of her first six shot attempts and scoring 13 of the first 21 points for the Trojans. Defenders weren’t able to do much early on and it looked like it was going to be a long night for UCLA as USC led by as much as 11 points.

UCLA eventually started making shots and got itself back in the game. It also disrupted USC’s momentum and it drew fouls, primarily on Lauren Betts. USC starters Kiki Iriafen and Kennedy Smith had two fouls each in the first eight minutes and will now be in trouble for at least the remainder of the first half. The Bruins closed the quarter on an 8-2 run to cut the deficit.

USC starts with massive run

The Trojans have continued their momentum from the first meeting, on fire with a 13-2 lead in the first four-and-a-half minutes. JuJu Watkins got the first bucket of the night on a 3-point shot, signaling another big night from the star, and USC opened on a 9-0 run. Talia von Oelhoffen then got a 3-point shot and the foul to give her team an early double-digit lead. The Bruins missed their first eight shot attempts.

When is UCLA vs. USC women’s basketball game?

The game is scheduled for Saturday, March 1 at 9 p.m. ET.

How to watch UCLA vs. USC

Date: Saturday, March 1
Time: 9 p.m. ET
TV: Fox
Streaming options: Fox Sports Go app | Fubo (free trial)

Fox will nationally broadcast Saturday’s game between UCLA and USC. It can be streamed on the Fox Sports Go app (with a TV login) and Fubo, which carries Fox and offers a free trial to new subscribers.

What channel is UCLA vs. USC women’s basketball game on?

USC and UCLA’s matchup on Thursday will be broadcasted on Fox.

UCLA starting lineup

Kiki Rice, G
Londynn Jones, G
Gabriela Jaquez, F
Angela Dugalic, F
Lauren Betts, C

USC starting lineup

Kennedy Smith, G
JuJu Watkins, G
Talia von Oelhoffen, G
Rayah Marshall, F
Kiki Iriafen, F

UCLA vs. USC women’s basketball odds

Odds according to BetMGM.

Spread: UCLA (-4.5)
Moneyline: UCLA (-250); USC (+200)
Over/under: 140.5

UCLA resume

Record: 27-1
NET ranking: No. 5
Quad 1 record: 10-1
Quality wins: No. 6 South Carolina, No. 18 Baylor, No. 17 Maryland, No. 12 Ohio State, No. 22 Michigan State
Losses: No. 3 USC

USC resume

Record: 25-2
NET ranking: No. 6
Quad 1 record: 9-2
Quality wins: Mississippi, No. 5 Connecticut, No. 17 Maryland, No. 12 Ohio State, No. 2 UCLA, No. 22 Michigan State
Losses: No. 4 Notre Dame, Iowa

UCLA last five results

Thursday, Feb. 13: USC 71, UCLA 60
Sunday, Feb. 16: UCLA 75, Michigan State 69
Thursday, Feb. 20: UCLA 70, Illinois 55
Sunday, Feb. 23: UCLA 67, Iowa 65
Wednesday, Feb. 26: UCLA 91, Wisconsin 61

USC last five results

Saturday, Feb. 8: USC 84, Ohio State 63
Thursday, Feb. 13: USC 71, UCLA 60
Sunday, Feb. 16: USC 69, Washington 64
Wednesday, Feb. 19: USC 83, Michigan State 75
Sunday, Feb. 23: USC 76, Illinois 66

Keys to UCLA vs. USC

There’s more than just city bragging rights at stake when UCLA and Southern California meet again on Saturday.

The No. 2 Bruins and No. 3 Trojans had an epic first clash on Feb. 13, with JuJu Watkins delivering a signature performance as USC beat its rival in front of its home fans. The second game will take place at UCLA. Just like the first matchup at the Galen Center, an electric environment is expected; it will be a sell-out crowd at Pauley Pavilion.

UCLA and USC have had little trouble in their first season in the Big Ten. Saturday’s winner can cap off an incredible regular season with a championship and generate momentum as March Madness approaches. Each team has national championship aspirations and is in prime position to get a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament based on Thursday’s selection committee rankings.

‘It’s for all the marbles here,’ said USC forward Rayah Marshall.

– Read the keys and things to watch for the matchup here.

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

MEDLEY, Fla. – Unrivaled’s postseason is taking shape with just four nights remaining in the regular season.

Napheesa Collier’s Lunar Owls clinched the No. 1 overall seed in the Unrivaled playoffs Saturday. They got a 78-72 win over the Vinyl in the first of two games and then got some help.

Skylar Diggins-Smith led the Lunar Owls with 27 points, Allisha Gray scored 17 points and the game-winning free throw and Collier added 16 points and nine rebounds in the victory.

The Lunar Owls (10-1) needed the Rose to lose the second game. They got a helping hand from the surging Mist.

Breanna Stewart scored 22 points to help the Mist beat the Rose 71-62 despite Chelsea Gray scoring 38 points, tying the league-high set by Collier on Feb. 8.

“It’s March Madness outside this bubble, and inside this bubble now. Everybody is fighting for position, trying to clinch playoff spots” Diggins-Smith said after the victory.

“People are playing their best basketball. Maybe, some are coming back from injury. People are getting in a rhythm. So, it’s going to be competitive all the way to the end, and that’s the type of basketball we expected when we first started.”

The battle for the final three playoff seeds will only heat up in the final stretch.

The Rose (6-5) are still in second place, followed by the Laces (5-6) in third place. Both teams will meet on Monday night.

The Mist have won three straight games, rising from last to fourth place with a 5-7 record.

“The way we’ve played the last three games has been tremendous,” Mist coach Phil Handy said of wins over the Rose, Phantom and Laces in the last week.

The Vinyl, who started the day in third place, have fallen to fifth place with a 5-7 record after a loss where Dearica Hamby had 31 points and 11 rebounds and Rhyne Howard scored 18 points.

Jordin Canada, who had 11 points and eight assists in the Vinyl’s defeat, says the club can still build from its close showing against the Lunar Owls, and their defeat of the Laces one day earlier.

“Even though we didn’t get the win today, I still feel like we’re competing to the buzzers. We just started, and we have to keep that momentum going in these next two games,” Canada said.

The Phantom are in last place at 3-8. They face the Lunar Owls in the second game on Monday.

Only four of the six Unrivaled clubs will reach the postseason.

After Monday’s games, the final days of Unrivaled’s first season will be on March 7, 8 and 10.

Unrivaled’s two-day postseason begins with semifinal games on March 16 before the March 17 final.

“You’re going to see the intensity pick up because everybody in this league is super competitive, and everybody wants to make the playoffs,” Rose coach Nola Henry said. “The intensity level will just go up.”

The Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings made sure that the late Johnny Gaudreau was well-remembered during Saturday’s NHL Stadium Series game at Ohio Stadium.

And continuing this season’s pattern, the Blue Jackets used the memory of Gaudreau to pull off another key win that helps them with their surprising run toward a possible playoff spot.

Columbus won 5-3 in their first outdoor appearance despite being outshot 46-21. Dmitri Voronkov and Mathieu Olivier scored 23 seconds apart in the second period to give the Blue Jackets a 3-1 lead. Justin Danforth then scored a little more than a minute after Detroit’s Alex DeBrincat had tied it 3-3 late in the third period with his second goal of the game.

The Blue Jackets moved past the Red Wings for sole possession of the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.

Few around the NHL had expected that type of performance from the Blue Jackets this season after Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were killed on Aug. 29 when they were hit by a car while riding their bikes in New Jersey.

A look at the tributes to the Gaudreau family during the game:

Blue Jackets, Red Wings pay tributes to Gaudreau family

NHL players always pick a team outfit theme to enter the stadium for outdoor games. This game was about the Gaudreaus.

The Gaudreau family, including Johnny’s widow Meredith, led Blue Jackets players toward the stadium complex. Players wore Avalon hoodies, sweatpants and a hat with three stars, just like ‘Johnny Hockey’ used to wear to the rink.

Detroit players wore various jerseys that the Gaudreaus had worn during their careers. They included Boston College, where both brothers played, and Team USA, which Johnny represented multiple times.

The Gaudreau family later led the Blue Jackets players onto the field.

During the game, a giant Gaudreau No. 13 banner was passed around the stadium by fans.

‘It’s just so cool to see everything Columbus has done and everything Detroit is doing in his honor,’ Meredith Gaudreau said during an interview with ESPN. ‘It’s really, really touching.’

There has been a season-long tribute to Johnny Gaudreau. The Blue Jackets keep his jersey in their dressing room, and so did Team USA at the 4 Nations Face-Off. Honorary captain and ‘Miracle on Ice’ hero Mike Eruzione wore the jersey on the ice before the championship game against Canada.

The Calgary Flames, who Gaudreau played for before he signed with Columbus, held a pregame ceremony in December.

The family’s father, Guy, has helped out at Philadelphia Flyers practices and was included in the USA’s 4 Nations team photo.

‘These moments help me,’ Meredith said. ‘It’s so nice to see. It’s nice to be a part of and have our whole family be a part of it.’

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Not only did John Cena punch his ticket to WrestleMania 41 Saturday night, he shocked the WWE community with his actions after the men’s Elimination Chamber match.

The Elimination Chamber 2025 took place in Canada as the final premium live event before WrestleMania takes place in seven weeks.

The night was highlighted by both Elimination Chamber matches and some shocking returns. In each contest, six contestants entered the punishing steel structure and whoever emerged victorious earned a main event match at WWE’s grand event in April.

Two other matches that took place on the show included the next chapter in the long history between Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens, as well as the return of WWE Hall of Famer and hometown hero Trish Stratus.

USA TODAY Sports has highlights and analysis from the Elimination Chamber event:

John Cena turns heel after winning Elimination Chamber

The Rock did not take kindly to Rhodes’ decision and gave a signal for Cena to backstab the current champion by attacking Cody Rhodes.

Travis Scott and The Rock joined in on the assault and left a bloodied Rhodes in the ring. With no immediate assistance available for Rhodes, announcer Michael Cole entered the ring to check on the champion after it was cleared by the trio.

Analysis: John Cena has been held in high regard by the WWE audience as a fan favorite for the majority of his career and a sudden switch now provides a new wrinkle in what is expected to be the final year of Cena’s career. Cena can surpass Ric Flair as the all-time winningest world champion with a title victory at WrestleMania.

Cody Rhodes arrives to confront John Cena after Elimination Chamber match

Rhodes came down to the ring after Cena’s victory to have a word with his WrestleMania opponent. Cena started talking with Rhodes and shook hands before rapper Travis Scott and The Rock appeared.

Both Scott and The Rock arrive in the ring to confront Rhodes and Cena.

The Rock had been awaiting a decision from Rhodes in recent weeks. Rhodes denies The Rock’s offer with some choice words that drew a huge reaction from the crowd (and Cena).

John Cena wins Men’s Elimination Chamber match

Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre will start the match. Damian Priest, John Cena, Logan Paul and CM Punk will wait inside their respective pods.

The winner of the match will position themselves to be the No. 1 contender for the Undisputed WWE Championship and be penciled in for the main event against Cody Rhodes.

McIntyre had the upper hand over Rollins in the match before the pod door opened for Priest to enter the match. Paul was next to join the match, leaving Cena and Punk in the pods.

Paul moved quickly to attack his opponents and made several pin attempts but was unable to get the first elimination of the match.

McIntyre became the first man eliminated shortly after attacking Cena, who had just entered the match, only to be caught from behind and eliminated by Priest.

McIntyre showed frustration and attacked Priest after his shocking elimination. Paul would take advantage of his fallen opponent and hit a frog splash from the top of the pod before securing the pinfall.

The field was down to three after Punk hit his finishing move to put down Paul and eliminate him.

Cena, Rollins and Punk took a moment to collect themselves while staring one another down from opposite corners of the ring.

Cena and Punk manage to work together by performing a ‘Hart Attack’ on Rollins to briefly take him out of the match. The two embrace with a quick hug in the ring before exchanging blows in the center of the ring.

Cena nearly eliminates Punk after an Attitude Adjustment but it wasn’t enough to put the former champion away. Rollins gets back on the offensive and tosses Cena into one of the chamber’s pods.

Punk was nearly eliminated again after Rollins powerbombs him into the turnbuckle and stomped his face into the mat.

Cena interjects himself back into the match and helps Punk eliminate Rollins. Cena and Punk remain the final two.

Rollins manages to stomp Punk’s face into the mat before he is forced to leave the ring. Cena applies his STF submission on Punk to win the match.

Cena is headed back to the WrestleMania main event.

Analysis: John Cena’s retirement tour continues with a spot in the main event of WrestleMania. He is slated to face Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship.

Punk has made it clear for years that his dream was to main event the company’s biggest event of the year. He fell short of that mission after Rollins got involved after his elimination. It would be safe to assume that Punk and Rollins will be added to the card in a match that’s been building up since Punk returned to the company in November 2023.

Drake in the crowd for Elimination Chamber

Canadian rapper Drake was in the crowd to watch WWE’s premium event in Toronto. Several members of the audience took photographs of Drake and shared them on social media.

Drake was sitting alongside fellow rapper Lil Yachty in the front row behind the announcer’s table.

Unsanctioned match: Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens

It was everything you would’ve expected from these two Canadian friends-turned-rivals. The match was not only unsanctioned but pure chaos with Kevin Owens getting the victory.

The match featured everything from steel chairs wrapped in barbed wire to tables and more. Zayn did have the upper hand at one point during the match and managed to drive Owens through two tables in short order.

Zayn needed medical attention after the match but despite officials coming down to the ring, Owens was ready to continue the assault on his opponent. That intuition was stopped when Randy Orton came out to confront Owens in the ring.

Orton was returning for the first time since being injured at the hands of Owens.

Analysis: It’s clear we will see Owens move forward with a feud with Orton that will likely culminate at WrestleMania in Las Vegas. It will likely make for one of the featured mid-card matches or may even start the show on one of the two nights. With both men already having a history with one another, it will be interesting to see what extremes these two are willing to go to get the victory over the other. It remains unclear how long Zayn could be out of action or what his involvement might be in the story between Orton and Owens.

Tiffany Stratton and Trish Stratus vs. Nia Jax and Candice LeRae

Stratton and Stratus were clearly feeling the energy of the WWE Hall of Famer performing in front of her home city, as she and Stratton quickly landed some strikes to get Jax out of the ring. It was a good start, but it was only a matter of time before Jax began to take control of the match, and she happened to do so on Stratus. 

Stratus was thrown around so easily in a manner that was rarely seen during her decorated career, and LeRae brought her own flair with some quick strikes that really rattled Stratus. After taking so many hits, Stratus got the tag in and the WWE Women’s Champion teed off on LeRae. 

Stratton even did damage on Jax, and Stratus was able to regain composure and did a stunning Stratusfaction off the top rope on Jax, proving she still has it. LeRae tried to break up the tag attempt, but Stratus moved out of the way and accidentally landed on her teammate. Stratus got the champion in, and she landed the Prettiest Moonsault Ever on Jax and got the pin.

Analysis: There wasn’t any way Stratus was going to lose in her return match at home, and she showed she definitely still has the skills that made her a pioneer in the women’s division. She took some shots from her opponents, but her offensive skill still remains, and she made sure to help her partner get over as she heads toward WrestleMania. The Stratusfaction on Jax was an impressive sequence from the veteran, and the champion getting the pin on Jax officially put the feud they’ve had to rest.

Stratton gets a feel-good victory and now turns her attention to Charlotte Flair, which has the potential to be a classic next month in Las Vegas.

Women’s Elimination Chamber match

Can’t spell WrestleMania without ‘EST.’

After that disturbing start with the attack on Naomi from Jade Cargill, Liv Morgan was relaxed in the ring until the next competitor came in: Bianca Belair. The former Women’s Tag Team Champion was clearly disturbed and Morgan capitalized on the vulnerable star. 

One by one, the competitors emerged from the pods until all of them were in the ring. The first legitimate attempt to eliminate someone came from Roxanne Perez on Bayley, someone she has been feuding with for weeks. She tried to get Bayley to submit only for the veteran to use the cage to her advantage to break out of it. Bayley was focused on Perez when Morgan sneaked up to hit the ObLivion on the “Role Model,” then got the pin for the elimination.

Morgan and Belair met on top of the pods. Belair used her hair to whip Morgan. It was a loud shot that knocked her down. The whip was so hard it left a mark on Morgan’s midsection.

The next sequence resulted in the elimination of Perez. She ran into a Code Breaker from Morgan that set up Alexa Bliss for a Twisted Bliss. She got the pin. The three remaining stars then entered a wild sequence of finisher attempts that ended with Morgan rolling up Bliss to leave two people in the ring. 

Morgan and Belair took turns brutalizing each other off the cage, and Belair went for the K.O.D. when it got countered by a Code Breaker. Morgan tried to turn it into an ObLivion but Belair caught it and made sure to land the K.O.D. this time. It was executed and Belair got the final pin to secure her spot at WrestleMania.

Afterward, Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky met Belair near the entrance, as one of the two women will be the one to face Belair in April.

Analysis: What a stunning, wild event that was. The brutal attack from Cargill to start not only stunned the crowd, but upped the intensity for the match. All the stars pretty much got their chance to shine in the match, with Bliss most notably showing off her star power. But from beginning to end, it was apparent it was going to come down to Morgan and Belair given their history.

Despite the emotional despair she was in, Belair not only was the winner but was the clear MVP of the match. She put on an incredible performance and added such a deep layer to the situation going on with her and Naomi. While she is going to WrestleMania 41 for a championship match, Belair still will have to deal with the ramifications from Cargill’s attack. It may even add another layer to what she’ll have to go through in order to get to that title match, but it’ll absolutely help the build of what will be a fantastic match next month, no matter if it’s Ripley or Sky she faces.

After she didn’t compete for any gold at WrestleMania 40, Belair is back to adding another accolade to her impress career.

Jade Cargill returns, attacks Naomi

Looks like we know who attacked Jade Cargill.

Just as the women’s chamber match was getting underway, Jade Cargill emerged for the first time since that mysterious attack weeks ago. It had been assumed Liv Morgan was behind it, but as Cargill got in the ring, she immediately attacked her friend Naomi, shocking the crowd with a ruthless assault.

It was a disturbing assault as Cargill threw around Naomi, banging her against the pods as her other friend Bianca Belair could only watch in agony. She pleaded for Cargill to stop but she didn’t until Naomi was out. Naomi was then ruled unable to compete and eliminated. It wasn’t confirmed, but it appears Naomi was − or at least Cargill thinks Naomi was − behind the attack. Morgan taunted Belair afterward, telling her ‘that’s what you get.’

Watch Elimination Chamber preshow

When is Elimination Chamber 2025?

Elimination Chamber is Saturday, March 1.

What time does Elimination Chamber 2025 start?

The 2025 Elimination Chamber starts at 7 p.m. ET. The preshow for the event begins at 5 p.m. ET.

Where is Elimination Chamber 2025?

Elimination Chamber 2025 will take place at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada.

How to watch Elimination Chamber 2025

The event can be streamed on Peacock, but you must have their premium or premium-plus subscription to watch. Internationally, it will be available on Netflix in most markets.

How to watch Elimination Chamber 2025 preshow

The preshow will be available to watch on Peacock, and on WWE’s social channels, including on YouTube.

Elimination Chamber 2025 match card

Matches not in order

Men’s Elimination Chamber match
Women’s Elimination Chamber match
Tiffany Stratton and Trish Stratus vs. Nia Jax and Candice LeRae
Unsanctioned match: Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens
Cody Rhodes makes his decision on The Rock’s offer

Jordan Mendoza’s Elimination Chamber predictions

Men’s Elimination Chamber match: A case could be made for nearly everyone in the match to win. While John Cena is the popular pick, CM Punk finally gets the WrestleMania main event and throws some more chaos in the Cody Rhodes-The Rock angle. Winner: CM Punk.
Women’s Elimination Chamber match: No one wants to see Rhea Ripley vs. Liv Morgan again, and Bianca Belair seems like a prime choice, but it feels like the wrench of the Jade Cargill mystery finally comes out and ruins her chance. I’m going with the dark horse in Alexa Bliss. She’s always been fantastic in the ring, and she brings her sinister side to thrust herself right into the title picture. Winner: Alexa Bliss.
Tiffany Stratton and Trish Stratus vs. Nia Jax and Candice LeRae: There just isn’t a way the hometown star loses. Stratton and Stratus get the victory, but it feels like a Charlotte appearance is due. Winner: Tiffany Stratton and Trish Stratus.
Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens: It’s gotten really dark between the longtime friends, and expect plenty of brutal spots between two with amazing in-ring chemistry. However, Owens snaps a cold streak to generate some momentum toward WrestleMania. Winner: Kevin Owens.

James H. Williams’ Elimination Chamber predictions

Men’s Elimination Chamber match: It might be time for Punk to finally get his WrestleMania match. Winner: CM Punk.
Women’s Elimination Chamber match: Bayley will be back on the WrestleMania main stage as the chamber winner. Bianca Belair would’ve been the pick to finally have a WrestleMania program with Rhea Ripley, but that might be on hold for another year. Winner: Bayley.
Tiffany Stratton and Trish Stratus vs. Nia Jax and Candice LeRae: Trish and Tiffany get the job done. It would be a nice win for Trish in front of the hometown crowd. Winner: Stratton and Stratus.
Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens: Kevin Owens is likely to be the aggressor and have his way against his former best friend. Winner: Kevin Owens.

How does the Elimination Chamber match work?

Introduced in 2002, the Elimination Chamber match puts six stars in an enclosed steel structure that surrounds the ring and the area right outside of it.

The match starts with two competitors, while the other four participants are locked in pods that are just outside of the ring. Every five minutes, a new competitor is randomly selected to be released from the pod and into the match. 

Since it’s an elimination match, competitors are only eliminated if they are pinned or submitted, as there are no disqualifications. Whoever is the last person remaining after everyone else has been eliminated at the end of the match is the winner. 

Saturday will be the 35th and 36th Elimination Chamber match in history. Since its inception, the match has been contested for a championship or a championship match at WrestleMania.

Men’s Elimination Chamber history

There have been 28 men’s Elimination Chamber matches, with current WWE chief content officer Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque having the most wins at four. Here are all the list of winners, and what they won the match for:

2002: Shawn Michaels for the World Heavyweight Championship
2003: Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship
2005: Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship
2006: John Cena for the WWE Championship
2006: Bobby Lashley for the ECW World Championship
2008: The Undertaker for a World Heavyweight Championship match at WrestleMania 24
2008: Triple H for a WWE Championship match at WrestleMania 24
2009: Triple H for the WWE Championship
2009: Edge for the World Heavyweight Championship
2010: John Cena for the WWE Championship
2010: Chris Jericho for the World Heavyweight Championship
2011: Edge for the World Heavyweight Championship
2011: John Cena for a WWE Championship match at WrestleMania 27
2012: CM Punk for the WWE Championship
2012: Daniel Bryan for the World Heavyweight Championship
2013: Jack Swagger for a World Heavyweight Championship match at WrestleMania 29
2014: Randy Orton for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship
2015: The New Day for the WWE Tag Team Championship
2015: Ryback for the Intercontinental Championship
2017: Bray Wyatt for the WWE Championship
2018: Roman Reigns for a WWE Universal Championship match at WrestleMania 34
2019: Daniel Bryan for the WWE Championship
2020: The Miz and John Morrison for the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship
2021: Daniel Bryan for a WWE Universal Championship match
2021: Drew McIntyre for the WWE Championship
2022: Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship
2023: Austin Theory for the United States Championship
2024: Drew McIntyre for a World Heavyweight Championship match at WrestleMania 40

Women’s Elimination Chamber history

The women’s Elimination Chamber match was introduced in 2018 and there have been six matches. Here are all the list of winners, and what they won the match for:

2018: Alexa Bliss for the WWE Raw Women’s Championship
2019: Bayley and Sasha Banks for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship
2020: Shayna Baszler for a WWE Raw Women’s Championship match at WrestleMania 36
2022: Bianca Belair for a WWE Raw Women’s Championship match at WrestleMania 38
2023: Asuka for a WWE Raw Women’s Championship match at WrestleMania 39
2024: Becky Lynch for a Women’s World Championship match at WrestleMania 40

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A ticket to a WWE championship match at WrestleMania 41 is up for grabs. Who will take it?

Elimination Chamber 2025 takes place Saturday night in Canada, the final premium live event before WrestleMania 41 takes place in seven weeks. The night is highlighted by the men’s and women’s Elimination Chamber matches. In each contest, six contestants will enter the punishing steel structure and whoever emerges victorious will be in the main event matches at WWE’s grand event in April.

Two other matches will take place, including the next chapter in the long history between Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens, as well as the return of WWE Hall of Famer and hometown hero Trish Stratus. But the big moment likely isn’t a match; after The Rock asked for Cody Rhodes’ soul as Undisputed WWE Champion, the ‘American Nightmare’ must make his decision with major WrestleMania implications at stake. When the smoke settles inside Rogers Centre, the WrestleMania 41 picture will be much clearer.

Follow USA TODAY Sports for all the highlights and analysis from Elimination Chamber:

John Cena turns heel after winning Elimination Chamber

The Rock did not take kindly to Rhodes’ decision and gave a signal for Cena to backstab the current champion by attacking Cody Rhodes.

Travis Scott and The Rock joined in on the assault and left a bloodied Rhodes in the ring. With no immediate assistance available for Rhodes, announcer Michael Cole entered the ring to check on the champion after it was cleared by the trio.

Analysis: John Cena has been held in wide regard by the WWE audience as a fan favorite for the majority of his career and a sudden switch now provides a new wrinkle in what is expected to be the final year of Cena’s career. Cena can surpass Ric Flair as the all-time winningest world champion with a title victory at WrestleMania.

Cody Rhodes arrives to confront John Cena after Elimination Chamber match

Rhodes came down to the ring after Cena’s victory to have a word with his WrestleMania opponent. Cena started talking with Rhodes and shook hands before rapper Travis Scott and The Rock appeared.

Both Scott and The Rock arrive in the ring to confront Rhodes and Cena.

The Rock had been awaiting a decision from Rhodes in recent weeks. Rhodes denies The Rock’s offer with some choice words that drew a huge reaction from the crowd (and Cena).

John Cena wins Men’s Elimination Chamber match

Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre will start the match. Damian Priest, John Cena, Logan Paul and CM Punk will wait inside their respective pods.

The winner of the match will position themselves to be the No. 1 contender for the Undisputed WWE Championship and be penciled in for the main event against Cody Rhodes.

McIntyre had the upper hand over Rollins in the match before the pod door opened for Priest to enter the match. Paul was next to join the match, leaving Cena and Punk in the pods.

Paul moved quickly to attack his opponents and made several pin attempts but was unable to get the first elimination of the match.

McIntyre became the first man eliminated shortly after attacking Cena, who had just entered the match, only to be caught from behind and eliminated by Priest.

McIntyre showed frustration and attacked Priest after his shocking elimination. Paul would take advantage of his fallen opponent and hit a frog splash from the top of the pod before securing the pinfall.

The field was down to three after Punk hit his finishing move to put down Paul and eliminate him.

Cena, Rollins and Punk took a moment to collect themselves while staring one another down from opposite corners of the ring.

Cena and Punk manage to work together by performing a ‘Hart Attack’ on Rollins to briefly take him out of the match. The two embrace with a quick hug in the ring before exchanging blows in the center of the ring.

Cena nearly eliminates Punk after an Attitude Adjustment but it wasn’t enough to put the former champion away. Rollins gets back on the offensive and tosses Cena into one of the chamber’s pods.

Punk was nearly eliminated again after Rollins powerbombs him into the turnbuckle and stomped his face into the mat.

Cena interjects himself back into the match and helps Punk eliminate Rollins. Cena and Punk remain the final two.

Rollins manages to stomp Punk’s face into the mat before he is forced to leave the ring. Cena applies his STF submission on Punk to win the match.

Cena is headed back to the WrestleMania main event.

Analysis: John Cena’s retirement tour continues with a spot in the main event of WrestleMania. He is slated to face Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship.

Punk has made it clear for years that his dream was to main event the company’s biggest event of the year. He fell short of that mission after Rollins got involved after his elimination. It would be safe to assume that Punk and Rollins will be added to the card in a match that’s been building up since Punk returned to the company in November 2023.

Drake in the crowd for Elimination Chamber

Canadian rapper Drake was in the crowd to watch WWE’s premium event in Toronto. Several members of the audience took photographs of Drake and shared them on social media.

Drake was sitting alongside fellow rapper Lil Yachty in the front row behind the announcer’s table.

Unsanctioned match: Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens

It was everything you would’ve expected from these two Canadian friends-turned-rivals. The match was not only unsanctioned but pure chaos with Kevin Owens getting the victory.

The match featured everything from steel chairs wrapped in barbed wire to tables and more. Zayn did have the upper hand at one point during the match and managed to drive Owens through two tables in short order.

Zayn needed medical attention after the match but despite officials coming down to the ring, Owens was ready to continue the assault on his opponent. That intuition was stopped when Randy Orton came out to confront Owens in the ring.

Orton was returning for the first time since being injured at the hands of Owens.

Analysis: It’s clear we will see Owens move forward with a feud with Orton that will likely culminate at WrestleMania in Las Vegas. It will likely make for one of the featured mid-card matches or may even start the show on one of the two nights. With both men already having a history with one another, it will be interesting to see what extremes these two are willing to go to get the victory over the other. It remains unclear how long Zayn could be out of action or what his involvement might be in the story between Orton and Owens.

Tiffany Stratton and Trish Stratus vs. Nia Jax and Candice LeRae

Stratton and Stratus were clearly feeling the energy of the WWE Hall of Famer performing in front of her home city, as she and Stratton quickly landed some strikes to get Jax out of the ring. It was a good start, but it was only a matter of time before Jax began to take control of the match, and she happened to do so on Stratus. 

Stratus was thrown around so easily in a manner that was rarely seen during her decorated career, and LeRae brought her own flair with some quick strikes that really rattled Stratus. After taking so many hits, Stratus got the tag in and the WWE Women’s Champion teed off on LeRae. 

Stratton even did damage on Jax, and Stratus was able to regain composure and did a stunning Stratusfaction off the top rope on Jax, proving she still has it. LeRae tried to break up the tag attempt, but Stratus moved out of the way and accidentally landed on her teammate. Stratus got the champion in, and she landed the Prettiest Moonsault Ever on Jax and got the pin.

Analysis: There wasn’t any way Stratus was going to lose in her return match at home, and she showed she definitely still has the skills that made her a pioneer in the women’s division. She took some shots from her opponents, but her offensive skill still remains, and she made sure to help her partner get over as she heads toward WrestleMania. The Stratusfaction on Jax was an impressive sequence from the veteran, and the champion getting the pin on Jax officially put the feud they’ve had to rest.

Stratton gets a feel-good victory and now turns her attention to Charlotte Flair, which has the potential to be a classic next month in Las Vegas.

Women’s Elimination Chamber match

Can’t spell WrestleMania without ‘EST.’

After that disturbing start with the attack on Naomi from Jade Cargill, Liv Morgan was relaxed in the ring until the next competitor came in: Bianca Belair. The former Women’s Tag Team Champion was clearly disturbed and Morgan capitalized on the vulnerable star. 

One by one, the competitors emerged from the pods until all of them were in the ring. The first legitimate attempt to eliminate someone came from Roxanne Perez on Bayley, someone she has been feuding with for weeks. She tried to get Bayley to submit only for the veteran to use the cage to her advantage to break out of it. Bayley was focused on Perez when Morgan sneaked up to hit the ObLivion on the “Role Model,” then got the pin for the elimination.

Morgan and Belair met on top of the pods. Belair used her hair to whip Morgan. It was a loud shot that knocked her down. The whip was so hard it left a mark on Morgan’s midsection.

The next sequence resulted in the elimination of Perez. She ran into a Code Breaker from Morgan that set up Alexa Bliss for a Twisted Bliss. She got the pin. The three remaining stars then entered a wild sequence of finisher attempts that ended with Morgan rolling up Bliss to leave two people in the ring. 

Morgan and Belair took turns brutalizing each other off the cage, and Belair went for the K.O.D. when it got countered by a Code Breaker. Morgan tried to turn it into an ObLivion but Belair caught it and made sure to land the K.O.D. this time. It was executed and Belair got the final pin to secure her spot at WrestleMania.

Afterward, Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky met Belair near the entrance, as one of the two women will be the one to face Belair in April.

Analysis: What a stunning, wild event that was. The brutal attack from Cargill to start not only stunned the crowd, but upped the intensity for the match. All the stars pretty much got their chance to shine in the match, with Bliss most notably showing off her star power. But from beginning to end, it was apparent it was going to come down to Morgan and Belair given their history.

Despite the emotional despair she was in, Belair not only was the winner but was the clear MVP of the match. She put on an incredible performance and added such a deep layer to the situation going on with her and Naomi. While she is going to WrestleMania 41 for a championship match, Belair still will have to deal with the ramifications from Cargill’s attack. It may even add another layer to what she’ll have to go through in order to get to that title match, but it’ll absolutely help the build of what will be a fantastic match next month, no matter if it’s Ripley or Sky she faces.

After she didn’t compete for any gold at WrestleMania 40, Belair is back to adding another accolade to her impress career.

Jade Cargill returns, attacks Naomi

Looks like we know who attacked Jade Cargill.

Just as the women’s chamber match was getting underway, Jade Cargill emerged for the first time since that mysterious attack weeks ago. It had been assumed Liv Morgan was behind it, but as Cargill got in the ring, she immediately attacked her friend Naomi, shocking the crowd with a ruthless assault.

It was a disturbing assault as Cargill threw around Naomi, banging her against the pods as her other friend Bianca Belair could only watch in agony. She pleaded for Cargill to stop but she didn’t until Naomi was out. Naomi was then ruled unable to compete and eliminated. It wasn’t confirmed, but it appears Naomi was − or at least Cargill thinks Naomi was − behind the attack. Morgan taunted Belair afterward, telling her ‘that’s what you get.’

Watch Elimination Chamber preshow

When is Elimination Chamber 2025?

Elimination Chamber is Saturday, March 1.

What time does Elimination Chamber 2025 start?

The 2025 Elimination Chamber starts at 7 p.m. ET. The preshow for the event begins at 5 p.m. ET.

Where is Elimination Chamber 2025?

Elimination Chamber 2025 will take place at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada.

How to watch Elimination Chamber 2025

The event can be streamed on Peacock, but you must have their premium or premium-plus subscription to watch. Internationally, it will be available on Netflix in most markets.

How to watch Elimination Chamber 2025 preshow

The preshow will be available to watch on Peacock, and on WWE’s social channels, including on YouTube.

Elimination Chamber 2025 match card

Matches not in order

Men’s Elimination Chamber match
Women’s Elimination Chamber match
Tiffany Stratton and Trish Stratus vs. Nia Jax and Candice LeRae
Unsanctioned match: Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens
Cody Rhodes makes his decision on The Rock’s offer

Jordan Mendoza’s Elimination Chamber predictions

Men’s Elimination Chamber match: A case could be made for nearly everyone in the match to win. While John Cena is the popular pick, CM Punk finally gets the WrestleMania main event and throws some more chaos in the Cody Rhodes-The Rock angle. Winner: CM Punk.
Women’s Elimination Chamber match: No one wants to see Rhea Ripley vs. Liv Morgan again, and Bianca Belair seems like a prime choice, but it feels like the wrench of the Jade Cargill mystery finally comes out and ruins her chance. I’m going with the dark horse in Alexa Bliss. She’s always been fantastic in the ring, and she brings her sinister side to thrust herself right into the title picture. Winner: Alexa Bliss.
Tiffany Stratton and Trish Stratus vs. Nia Jax and Candice LeRae: There just isn’t a way the hometown star loses. Stratton and Stratus get the victory, but it feels like a Charlotte appearance is due. Winner: Tiffany Stratton and Trish Stratus.
Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens: It’s gotten really dark between the longtime friends, and expect plenty of brutal spots between two with amazing in-ring chemistry. However, Owens snaps a cold streak to generate some momentum toward WrestleMania. Winner: Kevin Owens.

James H. Williams’ Elimination Chamber predictions

Men’s Elimination Chamber match: It might be time for Punk to finally get his WrestleMania match. Winner: CM Punk.
Women’s Elimination Chamber match: Bayley will be back on the WrestleMania main stage as the chamber winner. Bianca Belair would’ve been the pick to finally have a WrestleMania program with Rhea Ripley, but that might be on hold for another year. Winner: Bayley.
Tiffany Stratton and Trish Stratus vs. Nia Jax and Candice LeRae: Trish and Tiffany get the job done. It would be a nice win for Trish in front of the hometown crowd. Winner: Stratton and Stratus.
Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens: Kevin Owens is likely to be the aggressor and have his way against his former best friend. Winner: Kevin Owens.

How does the Elimination Chamber match work?

Introduced in 2002, the Elimination Chamber match puts six stars in an enclosed steel structure that surrounds the ring and the area right outside of it.

The match starts with two competitors, while the other four participants are locked in pods that are just outside of the ring. Every five minutes, a new competitor is randomly selected to be released from the pod and into the match. 

Since it’s an elimination match, competitors are only eliminated if they are pinned or submitted, as there are no disqualifications. Whoever is the last person remaining after everyone else has been eliminated at the end of the match is the winner. 

Saturday will be the 35th and 36th Elimination Chamber match in history. Since its inception, the match has been contested for a championship or a championship match at WrestleMania.

Men’s Elimination Chamber history

There have been 28 men’s Elimination Chamber matches, with current WWE chief content officer Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque having the most wins at four. Here are all the list of winners, and what they won the match for:

2002: Shawn Michaels for the World Heavyweight Championship
2003: Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship
2005: Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship
2006: John Cena for the WWE Championship
2006: Bobby Lashley for the ECW World Championship
2008: The Undertaker for a World Heavyweight Championship match at WrestleMania 24
2008: Triple H for a WWE Championship match at WrestleMania 24
2009: Triple H for the WWE Championship
2009: Edge for the World Heavyweight Championship
2010: John Cena for the WWE Championship
2010: Chris Jericho for the World Heavyweight Championship
2011: Edge for the World Heavyweight Championship
2011: John Cena for a WWE Championship match at WrestleMania 27
2012: CM Punk for the WWE Championship
2012: Daniel Bryan for the World Heavyweight Championship
2013: Jack Swagger for a World Heavyweight Championship match at WrestleMania 29
2014: Randy Orton for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship
2015: The New Day for the WWE Tag Team Championship
2015: Ryback for the Intercontinental Championship
2017: Bray Wyatt for the WWE Championship
2018: Roman Reigns for a WWE Universal Championship match at WrestleMania 34
2019: Daniel Bryan for the WWE Championship
2020: The Miz and John Morrison for the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship
2021: Daniel Bryan for a WWE Universal Championship match
2021: Drew McIntyre for the WWE Championship
2022: Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship
2023: Austin Theory for the United States Championship
2024: Drew McIntyre for a World Heavyweight Championship match at WrestleMania 40

Women’s Elimination Chamber history

The women’s Elimination Chamber match was introduced in 2018 and there have been six matches. Here are all the list of winners, and what they won the match for:

2018: Alexa Bliss for the WWE Raw Women’s Championship
2019: Bayley and Sasha Banks for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship
2020: Shayna Baszler for a WWE Raw Women’s Championship match at WrestleMania 36
2022: Bianca Belair for a WWE Raw Women’s Championship match at WrestleMania 38
2023: Asuka for a WWE Raw Women’s Championship match at WrestleMania 39
2024: Becky Lynch for a Women’s World Championship match at WrestleMania 40

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