BOULDER, CO – Coach Deion Sanders has been telling everybody for months that his new football team at Colorado this year is better than before, possibly even the “best team we’ve ever assembled,” as he said this week.

Then came their first game on Friday, Aug. 29 at sold-out Folsom Field.

And it turns out he might be a little off, at least for one game.

Georgia Tech beat Colorado 27-20 after Georgia Tech quarterback Hayne King scored the game-winning 45-yard touchdown run with 1:07 to go.

It was Sanders’ first game at Colorado without his two youngest sons playing for him: quarterback Shedeur and safety Shilo. Two-way star Travis Hunter also has moved on to the NFL after winning the Heisman Trophy last season with the Buffaloes.

In their place, Sanders fielded a new-look band of Buffaloes, who didn’t fully capitalize on Georgia Tech’s three turnovers in three possessions to start the game. They netted only an 8-yard touchdown pass from new quarterback Kaidon Salter, a transfer from Liberty.

Salter finished 17-for-28 for 159 yards and had that passing touchdown. He added 43 more yards on the ground on 13 carries and scored another touchdown.

But King for Georgia Tech was more prolific. He was 13-for-20 passing for 143 yards and had an interception, but he rushed 19 times for a career-high 156 yards and scored all three Georgia Tech touchdowns, including the 45-yard game-winner with just over a minute to go.

Georgia Tech gained 463 total yards, including 320 rushing yards, before Colorado’s Hail Mary pass fell flat to end the game in front of the announced crowd of 52,868.

Georgia Tech vs. Colorado highlights

Final: Georgia Tech 27, Colorado 20

Colorado’s Hail Mary falls incomplete. There was some questionable time management there in the final minute.

Haynes King gives Georgia Tech late lead

King bursts through the line and cruises the rest of the way for a 45-yard rushing TD. Georgia Tech leads 27-20 with 1:07 to go.

The QB has rushed 19 times for 156 yards and three touchdowns. He’s added 143 yards passing.

Colorado answers, ties game again

Colorado quarterback Kaidon Salter engineered his best drive of the game, capped by his 7-yard scramble for a touchdown with under nine minutes left in the game. The score helped tie the game at 20-20 after Salter drove the Buffs downfield 75 yards in 15 plays as coach Deion Sanders implored him to “be you” during an in-game interview with ESPN.

Game officials initially called Salter down at the 1-yard line on his third-down run. But replay review showed he had pushed the ball across the goal line before his knee was down.

End of third quarter: Georgia Tech 20, Colorado 13

Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King busted loose for a 17-yard touchdown run after faking a handoff. He moved his team downfield 75 yards on 11 plays. The touchdown put the Yellow Jackets up 20-13 with 14 seconds left in the third quarter.

The drive chewed up 5:46 of game clock and included five first downs for the Yellow Jackets.

Colorado then ran one play – a completion for 16 yards – as time expired in the third quarter. 

King has 99 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 15 attempts. He also has completed 11 of 17 passes for 115 yards with one interception.

Colorado ties it up again

Colorado has tied the game at 13-13 with six minutes left in the third quarter. Kicker Alejandro Mata drilled a 29-yard field goal after the Buffs drove to the Georgia Tech 5-yard line but got stuffed on three plays before the kick. The scoring drive went 39 yards on eight plays, including a 21-yard pass from Kaidon Salter to receiver DeKalon Taylor on the drive’s first play.

Quiet start to third quarter

Both teams opened the second half with punts, with Georgia Tech still leading 13-10 with 10:15 left in the third quarter. Colorado opened the half with three straight runs by running back Micah Welch, including a 22-yarder to the left on the first play after halftime. But the Buffs stalled at the Georgia Tech 45-yard line.

Welch has eight carries for 65 yards. 

Halftime: Georgia Tech 13, Colorado 10

Georgia Tech responded to Colorado’s field goal with a 43-yard field goal of its own as time expired in the first half. The Yellow Jackets lead at halftime 13-10.

Colorado coach Deion Sanders told ESPN at halftime that quarterback Kaidon Salter has been having communication issues but otherwise has had a “solid game.”

Salter has completed 6 of 10 passes for 48 yards and a touchdown.

Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King has completed 9 of 13 passes for 97 yards. He added a rushing touchdown in the second quarter.

Both teams have reason to be disappointed. Georgia Tech gave up three turnovers to start the game, but Colorado only came up with one touchdown to show for it.

Georgia Tech has outgained Colorado 279-119 in total yards and 18-5 in first downs.

Colorado gets the ball to open the second half.

Colorado ties it up

Colorado rediscovered a little bit of offense to tie the game at 10-10 with 1:39 to go until halftime. The Buffs went 51 yards in eight plays, including a 39-yard pass from quarterback Kaidon Salter to receiver Omarion Miller on third-and-10. That catch on the left side brought the Buffs to the Georgia Tech 25-yard line, but then they had to settle for a 42-yard field goal from kicker Alejandro Mata. 

Georgia Tech takes the lead

The momentum has swung back to Georgia Tech after Colorado failed to fully capitalize on the Yellow Jackets’ three turnovers to start the game. They now lead 10-7 with 4:33 left in the second quarter after going 80 yards in 10 plays, capped by a 4-yard touchdown run by quarterback Haynes King.

Georgia Tech has outgained Colorado 230-63 in total yards. The Yellow Jackets have 16 first downs, compared to three for the Buffs. 

Colorado offense stuck in neutral

Colorado’s offense has fizzled after scoring a touchdown on its first possession. Since then, it’s been three straight punts, including two three-and-outs. Quarterback Kaidon Salter is 4-for-8 passing for 12 yards, including his 8-yard touchdown pass. Georgia Tech has outgained Colorado 150-63 in total yards with 10:30 left before halftime. 

Georgia Tech settles for field goal

The Yellow Jackets settled for a 32-yard field goal after driving from their 2-yard line all the way to the Colorado 8. But a holding penalty pushed them back from there, and now it’s 7-3 with 13:31 left before halftime. They ran 13 plays for 84 yards before the field goal by Aidan Birr. 

End of first quarter: Colorado 7, Georgia Tech 0

Colorado leads 7-0 after one quarter of play but Georgia Tech is threatening to score at the start of the second quarter. The Yellow Jackets finally settled down on their fourth possession of the game, chipping away at Colorado’s defense with a drive that started at its own 2-yard line.

Georgia Tech has outgained Colorado after one quarter, 144-45 yards. The Yellow Jackets have the ball inside the Colorado 20-yard line.

Georgia Tech turns the ball over again

Now it’s three turnovers in three possessions to start the game for Georgia Tech. This time Yellow Jackets quarterback Haynes King threw to the left on first down in Colorado territory, only to be intercepted by Colorado cornerback DJ McKinney. The interception gave the Buffs possession at their own 34-yard line. 

But the Buffs squandered the opportunity for the second straight time and punted the ball back. 

Georgia Tech fumbles again

Two possessions, two fumbles for Georgia Tech. This time a high snap from center ended up on the ground and was recovered by Colorado defender Keaten Wade, putting the Buffaloes in good field position again at its own 48-yard line early in the first quarter. 

The Buffaloes went three-and-out and had to punt, however.

Colorado turns turnover into touchdown

Colorado has struck first and is up 7-0 after recovering a fumble and scoring after going 36 yards in five plays. Quarterback Kaidon Salter threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to newcomer DeKalon “TrackHawk” Taylor with 12:08 left in the first quarter.

Linebacker Martavius French took the ball away from Georgia Tech on the Yellow Jackets’ second play from scrimmage to set it all up.

When is Colorado vs Georgia Tech?

Kickoff is at 8 p.m. ET Friday, Aug. 29 from sold-out Folsom Field in Boulder.

How to watch Colorado vs Georgia Tech

The game will be televised on ESPN and also is available on Fubo.

Colorado vs Georgia Tech odds

The latest odds can be found below. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub.

Rain falling at Colorado before game

With less than an hour before kickoff, rain is falling on the field, but not too heavily. It’ll make for wet conditions on Colorado’s new artificial turf field, even if the rain stops after kickoff, as has been forecasted. The rain also has kept the seats from filling at the stadium so far. It’s mostly empty except for students wearing white shirts as part of a coordinated color scheme for Colorado.

Portable toilet on sideline for Deion Sanders

Deion Sanders wasn’t joking when he talked about having a portable toilet on the sideline. A Colorado official confirmed that the black tented box near the 20-yard line is Sanders’ bathroom if he needs it. It is sponsored by Depend, the adult underwear brand. Sanders has a partnership with Depend after having his cancerous bladder removed in May. He has discussed his incontinence and bladder issues openly since then in his effort to remove the stigma around the issue.

What happened to Colorado’s bison mascot?

Raphie VI, Colorado’s live mascot, has retired after four seasons, as was announced earlier this week. Colorado is training a new bison for the job, but she won’t be ready to run on the field before the game.

“We all saw that coming,” Deion Sanders said on the ‘Colorado Football Coaches Show’ Aug. 27.

He was referring to Ralphie VI’s slow trots and seeming lack of interest in the job. Prior Ralphie mascots charged out of the gate down and around the field before kickoff.

“I’m hating the point that we are missing a Ralphie for this game,” Sanders said on the show.

What is the history between Colorado and Georgia Tech?

They’ve never played. But they shared the national championship for the 1990 season after the Associated Press picked Colorado No. 1 to finish the season and the UPI Coaches’ Poll coronated Georgia Tech. It came down to a single point in the Coaches’ Poll. Then-Nebraska coach Tom Osborne previously declined to talk about it but revealed in a recent interview with USA TODAY Sports that he picked Georgia Tech No. 1 instead of Big Eight Conference rival Colorado. Georgia Tech finished 11-0-1 that year. Colorado finished 11-1-1.

Who is replacing Travis Hunter for Colorado?

It takes a village to fill the shoes of the two-way star. On defense, cornerback DJ McKinney was the “other” cornerback last year and is NFL draft material. He’ll be the guy to take on the other team’s top receiver. On offense, the Buffs have a stacked set of fleet feet to catch passes, including a transfer from Incarnate Word who goes by the moniker of “TrackHawk.” That’s DeKalon Taylor, a running back/receiver who is the fastest player on the team.

Why is Colorado wearing a new jersey patch?

The Buffs will wear their traditional home uniforms from the 1990s: gold helmet, black jersey, gold pants, white socks and black shoes. This is to honor former Colorado coach Bill McCartney, who died in January. McCartney led the Buffs to the national championship in 1990 before retiring abruptly after the 1994 season, when his team finished No. 3 nationally.

“We’re going to give some love to Coach McCartney,” Deion Sanders said earlier this week.

The team also will wear a patch on their jerseys to honor “Coach Mac.”

Who will walk with Deion Sanders before the game?

In his first two seasons at Colorado, Sanders would take part in a ritual with his son Shedeur and sometimes his safety son Shilo. They would walk and talk together down the field as father, coach, sons and players. Now that his sons have left the program, another player on the current team offered to walk the same walk with him before the game, which Sanders found touching. But Sanders didn’t say who it was.

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

Aliyah Boston produced a game-high 22 points and 11 rebounds for the Indiana Fever on the road against the Los Angeles Sparks at Crypto.com Arena on Friday night.

Boston shot 11-of-18 from the field and created opportunities for Indiana with six steals. Odyssey Sims added 21 points and six rebounds in the victory.

Kelsey Plum and the Sparks held a lead throughout most of the game but weren’t able to hold on to it in the second half, including the final seconds of the fourth quarter.

Sims put the game away in the final seconds, scoring the final five points for the Fever, including a 10-foot jumper off an assist from Lexie Hull.

The Fever took their first lead of the game when Hull made a two-point shot to move the team ahead 50-49 with 6:41 left in the third quarter.

The two squads went back and forth in the final period. Plum had the ball in her hands near the basket and a chance to help facilitate a go-ahead shot, but Boston intercepted a bad pass by Plum to secure the victory.

Highlights: Fever vs. Sparks

Final: Fever 76, Sparks 75

Aliyah Boston produced a double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds for the Fever. Odyssey Sims contributed to the victory with 21 points and six rebounds.

3Q: Sparks 58, Fever 57

The Sparks did enough to hold on to the lead at the end of the third quarter. Rae Burrell made a two-point shot off an assist from Sarah Ashlee Barker with 4.5 seconds left in the quarter to retake the lead.

The Fever took their first lead of the game when Lexie Hull made a two-point shot to move the team ahead 50-49 with 6:41 left in the third quarter.

Kelsey Plum continued to be the Sparks’ only double-digit scorer after three quarters of play. Plum has shot 5-of-10 from the field for 12 points in 26 minutes of play.

Aliyah Boston has a game-high 16 points and eight rebounds for the Fever. Odyssey Sims and Kelsey Mitchell each have 12 points.

Halftime: Sparks 47, Fever 44

Kelsey Plum had 12 points in the first half to lead the Sparks against the Fever. Azura Stevens and Rickea Jackson added eight points in the first half.

The Sparks compiled nine assists in the first quarter but just one in the second quarter.

Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston each scored 12 points for the Fever.

1Q: Sparks 31, Fever 24

The Sparks finished out the opening period with the lead against Indiana at home. Azura Stevens had eight points and two assists for the Sparks in the first quarter. Dearica Hamby added six points and two assists. Kelsey Mitchell led the Fever with seven points. Aliyah Boston had six points, three rebounds and two assists against L.A.

Sparks starting lineup vs. Fever

Rickea Jackson, Dearica Hamby, Azura Stevens, Kelsey Plum and Julie Allemand started for the Sparks at home against the Fever on Friday.

Fever starting lineup vs. Sparks

Odyssey Sims, Kelsey Mitchell, Lexie Hull, Natasha Howard and Aliyah Boston make up the Fever’s starting lineup for Friday’s game against the Sparks.

What time is Indiana Fever vs. Los Angeles Sparks?

The Los Angeles Sparks will host the Indiana Fever at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT) on Friday, Aug. 29, at crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The game will be broadcast nationally on ION.

How to watch Indiana Fever vs. Los Angeles Sparks: TV, stream

Time: 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT)
Location: Crypto.com Arena (Los Angeles)
TV channel: ION
Streaming: Fubo (free trial to new subscribers)

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

Aliyah Boston produced a game-high 22 points and 11 rebounds for the Indiana Fever on the road against the Los Angeles Sparks at Crypto.com Arena on Friday night.

Boston shot 11-of-18 from the field and created opportunities for Indiana with six steals. Odyssey Sims added 21 points and six rebounds in the victory.

Kelsey Plum and the Sparks held a lead throughout most of the game but weren’t able to hold on to it in the second half, including the final seconds of the fourth quarter.

Sims put the game away in the final seconds, scoring the final five points for the Fever, including a 10-foot jumper off an assist from Lexie Hull.

The Fever took their first lead of the game when Hull made a two-point shot to move the team ahead 50-49 with 6:41 left in the third quarter.

The two squads went back and forth in the final period. Plum had the ball in her hands near the basket and a chance to help facilitate a go-ahead shot, but Boston intercepted a bad pass by Plum to secure the victory.

Highlights: Fever vs. Sparks

Final: Fever 76, Sparks 75

Aliyah Boston produced a double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds for the Fever. Odyssey Sims contributed to the victory with 21 points and six rebounds.

3Q: Sparks 58, Fever 57

The Sparks did enough to hold on to the lead at the end of the third quarter. Rae Burrell made a two-point shot off an assist from Sarah Ashlee Barker with 4.5 seconds left in the quarter to retake the lead.

The Fever took their first lead of the game when Lexie Hull made a two-point shot to move the team ahead 50-49 with 6:41 left in the third quarter.

Kelsey Plum continued to be the Sparks’ only double-digit scorer after three quarters of play. Plum has shot 5-of-10 from the field for 12 points in 26 minutes of play.

Aliyah Boston has a game-high 16 points and eight rebounds for the Fever. Odyssey Sims and Kelsey Mitchell each have 12 points.

Halftime: Sparks 47, Fever 44

Kelsey Plum had 12 points in the first half to lead the Sparks against the Fever. Azura Stevens and Rickea Jackson added eight points in the first half.

The Sparks compiled nine assists in the first quarter but just one in the second quarter.

Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston each scored 12 points for the Fever.

1Q: Sparks 31, Fever 24

The Sparks finished out the opening period with the lead against Indiana at home. Azura Stevens had eight points and two assists for the Sparks in the first quarter. Dearica Hamby added six points and two assists. Kelsey Mitchell led the Fever with seven points. Aliyah Boston had six points, three rebounds and two assists against L.A.

Sparks starting lineup vs. Fever

Rickea Jackson, Dearica Hamby, Azura Stevens, Kelsey Plum and Julie Allemand started for the Sparks at home against the Fever on Friday.

Fever starting lineup vs. Sparks

Odyssey Sims, Kelsey Mitchell, Lexie Hull, Natasha Howard and Aliyah Boston make up the Fever’s starting lineup for Friday’s game against the Sparks.

What time is Indiana Fever vs. Los Angeles Sparks?

The Los Angeles Sparks will host the Indiana Fever at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT) on Friday, Aug. 29, at crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The game will be broadcast nationally on ION.

How to watch Indiana Fever vs. Los Angeles Sparks: TV, stream

Time: 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT)
Location: Crypto.com Arena (Los Angeles)
TV channel: ION
Streaming: Fubo (free trial to new subscribers)

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

Friday’s matchup between the Indiana Fever and Los Angeles Sparks has huge playoff implications. As Fever head coach Stephanie White put it, ‘Every game is like a playoff game at this point.’

The injury-riddled Fever (20-18) are currently in sixth place in the WNBA standings with six games remaining in the regular season, while the Sparks (17-19) are in ninth place with eight games remaining. If the regular season ended today, Indiana would advance to the postseason in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2015-16, while the Sparks would miss the playoffs yet again. (The Sparks haven’t made the playoffs since 2020.)

There’s still time for the Fever and Sparks to move up (or down) the leaderboard as teams jockey for playoff positioning during the final stretch of the season. The top eight teams advance to the playoffs and only four games separate sixth place from 10th place.

The Fever are 10.5 games behind the league-leading Minnesota Lynx, followed by the Golden State Valkyries (11 games behind Lynx), Seattle Storm (11), Sparks (12.5) and Washington Mystics (14.5). The Connecticut Sun, Dallas Wings and Chicago Sky have all been eliminated from playoff contention.

The Fever have dropped six of their last nine games while navigating a series of season-ending injuries amid Caitlin Clark’s extended absence, while the Sparks have lost three of their last five, meaning Friday’s game is all the more important.

‘We can’t get caught watching the standings. We can’t get caught looking too far ahead,’ White said on Tuesday. ‘It is one game at a time.’

Here’s everything you need to know about Tuesday’s game between the Fever and Sparks:

What time is Indiana Fever vs. Los Angeles Sparks?

The Los Angeles Sparks will host the Indiana Fever at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT) on Friday, Aug. 29, at crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The game will be broadcast nationally on ION.

Halftime: Sparks 47, Fever 44

Kelsey Plum had 12 points in the first half to lead the Sparks against the Fever. Azura Stevens and Rickea Jackson added eight points in the first half.

The Sparks compiled nine assists in the first quarter but just one in the second quarter.

Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston each scored 12 points for the Fever.

1Q: Sparks 31, Fever 24

The Sparks finished out the opening period with the lead against Indiana at home. Azura Stevens had eight points and two assists for the Sparks in the first quarter. Dearica Hamby added six points and two assists. Kelsey Mitchell led the Fever with seven points. Aliyah Boston had six points, three rebounds and two assists against L.A.

Sparks starting lineup vs. Fever

Rickea Jackson, Dearica Hamby, Azura Stevens, Kelsey Plum and Julie Allemand started for the Sparks at home against the Fever on Friday.

Fever starting lineup vs. Sparks

Odyssey Sims, Kelsey Mitchell, Lexie Hull, Natasha Howard and Aliyah Boston make up the Fever’s starting lineup for Friday’s game against the Sparks.

How to watch Indiana Fever vs. Los Angeles Sparks: TV, stream

Time: 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT)
Location: Crypto.com Arena (Los Angeles)
TV channel: ION
Streaming: Fubo (free trial to new subscribers)

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

Walker Buehler, signed by the Boston Red Sox to lengthen their rotation and hopefully provide the big-game playoff heroics that marked his career, was released by the club Aug. 29 as they aim to rework their rotation down the stretch in the American League playoff chase.

Buehler, 31, was signed to a one-year, $21.05 million contract but never found his footing pitching for the Red Sox, failing to complete five innings in nine of his 22 starts and giving up four or more runs in eight of them. Boston recently demoted Buehler to the bullpen, where he made one appearance, and the club has ridden the dominant trio of Cy Young candidate Garrett Crochet, Brayan Bello and Lucas Giolito to the top of the AL wild card standings.

But with swingman Richard Fitts on the injured list and no off day relief until Sept. 4, the club opted to release Buehler now and promote their top pitching prospect, Payton Tolle, who makes his debut at Fenway Park against Pittsburgh ace Paul Skenes. Tolle, 22, struck out 13 batters per nine innings over three minor league stops in this, his first professional season. He was picked in the second round of the 2024 draft.

Buehler won his second World Series title with the Los Angeles Dodgers last season, starting and winning Game 3 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium and then coming back two nights later to earn the save in the clinching Game 5. He has a 0.47 ERA in four World Series games from 2018, 2020 and 2024.

Walker Buehler contract

Buehler’s contract signed with the Red Sox guaranteed him $21.05 million in 2025. That includes a $3 million buyout on the $25 million option for 2026.

Walker Buehler stats

Walker Buehler had a 5.45 ERA in 112.1 innings with the Red Sox, making 22 starts before being demoted to the bullpen. His 6.7 strikeouts per nine is the lowest mark of his career, entering the season at 9.5 in eight years with the Dodgers.

For fantasy football fans, Labor Day weekend has an entirely different meaning. It means beer, wings, fantasy drafts, and more beer.

Whether you’re playing in full-PPR, half-PPR, or standard leagues, our staff has you covered. Scroll below our top-150 list and you’ll see our complete rankings for every format. If you’re looking for downloadable or printable rankings, we have you covered as well.

We also have no shortage of content at USA TODAY Sports to help you build your teams from start to finish. Looking for the best fantasy team names? Here are 213 of the best options. Need to know who the top sleepers are? We have you covered for quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, kickers, defenses and late rounds. Head over to our fantasy football hub for much more.

Here are our rankings for 2025 fantasy football drafts.

USA TODAY Sports consensus top 150 fantasy football draft rankings

Ja’Marr Chase, CIN (WR1)
Bijan Robinson, ATL (RB1)
Justin Jefferson, MIN (WR2)
Saquon Barkley, PHI (RB2)
Jahmyr Gibbs, DET (RB3)
CeeDee Lamb, DAL (WR3)
Amon-Ra St. Brown, DET (WR4)
Puka Nacua, LAR (WR5)
Malik Nabers, NYG (WR6)
Derrick Henry, BAL (RB4)
Nico Collins, HOU (WR7)
Brian Thomas Jr., JAC (WR8)
Christian McCaffrey, SF (RB5)
Ashton Jeanty, LV (RB6)
Bucky Irving, TB (RB7)
A.J. Brown, PHI (WR9)
Chase Brown, CIN (RB8)
Brock Bowers, LV (TE1)
Drake London, ATL (WR10)
Jonathan Taylor, IND (RB9)
Josh Jacobs, GB (RB10)
De’Von Achane, MIA (RB11)
Ladd McConkey, LAC (WR11)
Kyren Williams, LAR (RB12)
Trey McBride, ARI (TE2)
James Cook, BUF (RB13)
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, SEA (WR12)
Lamar Jackson, BAL (QB1)
Tee Higgins, CIN (WR13)
Josh Allen, BUF (QB2)
Tyreek Hill, MIA (WR14)
George Kittle, SF (TE3)
Mike Evans, TB (WR15)
Terry McLaurin, WAS (WR16)
Davante Adams, LAR (WR17)
Jalen Hurts, PHI (QB3)
Jayden Daniels, WAS (QB4)
Garrett Wilson, NYJ (WR18)
Kenneth Walker III, SEA (RB14)
DK Metcalf, PIT (WR19)
Marvin Harrison Jr., ARI (WR20)
Omarion Hampton, LAC (RB15)
DJ Moore, CHI (WR21)
Courtland Sutton, DEN (WR22)
DeVonta Smith, PHI (WR23)
Breece Hall, NYJ (RB16)
Joe Burrow, CIN (QB5)
Alvin Kamara, NO (RB17)
D’Andre Swift, CHI (RB18)
Chuba Hubbard, CAR (RB19)
TreVeyon Henderson, NE (RB20)
Jameson Williams, DET (WR24)
Tetairoa McMillan, CAR (WR25)
James Conner, ARI (RB21)
Xavier Worthy, KC (WR26)
Calvin Ridley, TEN (WR27)
Zay Flowers, BAL (WR28)
Isiah Pacheco, KC (RB22)
David Montgomery, DET (RB23)
Tony Pollard, TEN (RB24)
Sam LaPorta, DET (TE4)
Patrick Mahomes II, KC (QB6)
Aaron Jones Sr., MIN (RB25)
Travis Kelce, KC (TE5)
RJ Harvey, DEN (RB26)
George Pickens, DAL (WR29)
Jaylen Waddle, MIA (WR30)
Jerry Jeudy, CLE (WR31)
Rome Odunze, CHI (WR32)
Tyrone Tracy Jr., NYG (RB27)
Travis Hunter, JAC (WR33)
Kaleb Johnson, PIT (RB28)
Jaylen Warren, PIT (RB29)
Ricky Pearsall, SF (WR34)
T.J. Hockenson, MIN (TE6)
Baker Mayfield, TB (QB7)
Bo Nix, DEN (QB8)
Mark Andrews, BAL (TE7)
Jakobi Meyers, LV (WR35)
Rashee Rice, KC (WR36)
Chris Olave, NO (WR37)
Javonte Williams, DAL (RB30)
Kyler Murray, ARI (QB9)
Emeka Egbuka, TB (WR38)
Travis Etienne Jr., JAC (RB31)
Matthew Golden, GB (WR39)
Dak Prescott, DAL (QB10)
Evan Engram, DEN (TE8)
Deebo Samuel Sr., WAS (WR40)
Brock Purdy, SF (QB11)
Tank Bigsby, JAC (RB32)
Jordan Mason, MIN (RB33)
David Njoku, CLE (TE9)
Chris Godwin Jr., TB (WR41)
Stefon Diggs, NE (WR42)
Najee Harris, LAC (RB34)
J.K. Dobbins, DEN (RB35)
Tucker Kraft, GB (TE10)
Justin Fields, NYJ (QB12)
Jauan Jennings, SF (WR43)
Khalil Shakir, BUF (WR44)
Drake Maye, NE (QB13)
Jordan Addison, MIN (WR45)
Justin Herbert, LAC (QB14)
Caleb Williams, CHI (QB15)
Josh Downs, IND (WR46)
Jordan Love, GB (QB16)
Zach Charbonnet, SEA (RB36)
Jayden Reed, GB (WR47)
Tyler Warren, IND (TE11)
Jared Goff, DET (QB17)
Jake Ferguson, DAL (TE12)
Austin Ekeler, WAS (RB37)
Dalton Kincaid, BUF (TE13)
Trevor Lawrence, JAC (QB18)
Jerome Ford, CLE (RB38)
Cooper Kupp, SEA (WR48)
Joe Mixon, HOU (RB39)
Cam Skattebo, NYG (RB40)
Michael Pittman Jr., IND (WR49)
Jacory Croskey-Merritt, WAS (RB41)
Darnell Mooney, ATL (WR50)
Rhamondre Stevenson, NE (RB42)
Nick Chubb, HOU (RB43)
Rashid Shaheed, NO (WR51)
Kyle Pitts Sr., ATL (TE14)
Rachaad White, TB (RB44)
Dallas Goedert, PHI (TE15)
Quinshon Judkins, CLE (RB45)
C.J. Stroud, HOU (QB19)
Brian Robinson Jr., SF (RB46)
Brandon Aiyuk, SF (WR52)
Rashod Bateman, BAL (WR53)
J.J. McCarthy, MIN (QB20)
Jaydon Blue, DAL (RB47)
Tua Tagovailoa, MIA (QB21)
Christian Kirk, HOU (WR54)
Hunter Henry, NE (TE16)
Trey Benson, ARI (RB48)
Bryce Young, CAR (QB22)
Marvin Mims Jr., DEN (WR55)
Colston Loveland, CHI (TE17)
Keon Coleman, BUF (WR56)
Cedric Tillman, CLE (WR57)
Ollie Gordon II, MIA (RB49)
Rico Dowdle, CAR (RB50)
Tyjae Spears, TEN (RB51)
Braelon Allen, NYJ (RB52)
Ray Davis, BUF (RB53)
Jayden Higgins, HOU (WR58)

Complete 2025 fantasy football staff draft rankings

Former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski is leading an NBA committee to improve youth basketball in the U.S.
The committee aims to address overuse, player health and wellness, and inconsistent coaching in youth basketball.
Part of the plan includes incorporating elements of the European model, which emphasizes team play and skill development within a 5-on-5 setting.

The state of elite basketball in the United States is not in shambles. Far from it.

The U.S. men’s and women’s senior national teams extended gold-medal streaks at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and the U.S. men’s and women’s under-19 teams won gold at the FIBA World Cup this summer.

However, the state of elite basketball in the United States is not perfect. Work is required.

Enter former Duke Blue Devils men’s basketball coach and former U.S. Olympic men’s coach Mike Krzyzewski.

‘The game in our country is undertaught and probably overplayed, if that makes sense,’ Krzyzewski told USA TODAY Sports.

Krzyzewski is a special advisor to NBA commissioner Adam Silver and the chairman of the NBA’s Global Basketball Committee, a carefully curated group focused on examining the state of elite youth U.S. basketball and developing recommendations to address shortcomings and opportunities.

‘The NBA is fully committed to helping youth basketball and college basketball,’ Krzyzewski said. ‘Adam, the board of governors, everyone understands our responsibility in taking care of our game. The NBA should take care of our game, and they want to.’

Three years ago, Silver called his good friend who a year earlier had stepped aside as the Duke men’s basketball coach after 42 Hall of Fame seasons. Silver, a Duke alum, wanted to know if Krzyzewski had interest in chairing a committee that examined the state of youth basketball in the USA and implement changes to address issues, strengthen programs and improve the overall quality of a U.S.-based player’s game.

‘I can’t think of anything that is more important to basketball than the development of the next generation of players,’ Silver told USA TODAY Sports. ‘What we’ve noticed as a trend is that while we get spectacular athletes who are incredibly skilled, they haven’t played as much team basketball on a consistent basis than some of the players from the generation before them.

‘The opportunity presented itself to work directly with one of the greatest coaches of all-time, and somebody who is passionate about teaching the game of basketball and passionate about youth basketball.’

Also on the committee: New Orleans Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations Joe Dumars, who was a co-chair before leaving the league office to join the Pelicans; Minnesota Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly, Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison, NBA great and Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul; Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers; Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum; and Pelicans general manager Troy Weaver.

While the committee’s primary focus is on the men’s side, Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson is a strategic advisor for the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Court of Leaders program and WNBA and head of WNBA league operations Bethany Donaphin is involved in youth development programs.

Krzyzewski and the global basketball committee have been tasked with reshaping the direction of elite youth U.S. basketball and creating a holistic approach that addresses player development with a focus on team play, off-court leadership skills, player wellness and enhanced collaboration with college basketball and AAU programs.

It is a massive and ambitious undertaking. Change at that scale is not easy, but Krzyzewski and the NBA seek a transformation they believe is necessary.

Krzyzewski remains committed to basketball – just in a different capacity. ‘I want to be involved with the game I love and the game that I spent my life loving and coaching,’ he said.

At the first NBA meeting Krzyzewski attended, he said, ‘Our country, it’s on a scholastic model. Most kids play more basketball outside of that scholastic model. And how can we make that better? How can we educate coaches and help them become better? How can we teach kids the game?’

Some ideas are as basic as learning to play with a shot clock. Not every state high school association employs a shot clock, though the National Federation of High School Athletic Associations 31 states plus the District of Columbia will have a shot clock by 2026-27. However, several players reach the college game with no prior experience playing with a shot clock. He also wondered why men’s college basketball is the only elite level in the world that plays two halves instead of four quarters.

‘We need to unify (and) modernize the game,’ Krzyzewski said. ‘There should be some time in coaching where you prepare for a game, you play the game, and then you give feedback about the game. And then you have some level of practice or instruction where you talk about a few of the points you didn’t do well. And so just like a college coach would learn during the season, you bring your team along and the game is actually what you’re getting prepared for. And then after the game, ‘let’s analyze what we did. Why didn’t we do this?”

The youth basketball landscape in the U.S. has changed dramatically in the past few years with NIL and alternative paths to the NBA that didn’t exist or weren’t as popular such as the G League, international leagues and Overtime Elite.

Youth basketball in the U.S. is a massive operation, from youth leagues to high school to AAU to elite tournaments sponsored by athletic apparel companies. The committee has received buy-in from major backers, including Nike which runs the prominent Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL) comprised of travel AAU teams, some sponsored by NBA players such as Bradley Beal, Kevin Durant and Chris Paul. The EYBL has limited the number of games played at each event and implemented a day off for rest for each team at its Peach Jam event.

‘One of the biggest deficiencies in our grassroots system is overuse,’ NBA senior vice president/head of youth basketball development David Krichavsky said.

The NBA began surveying top high school players about six years ago and found the average elite youth basketball player plays between 80 and 110 games per year. Half of the respondents said they did not have time off from organized basketball activities in a 12-month span, and 50% responded that they had played four games in a day and seven games in a weekend.

The Global Basketball Committee also wants to inject portions of the European coaching and training model into the U.S. That means teaching and coaching that operate within a 5-on-5 game while still developing individual skills.

‘The U.S. player is very skilled with the ball, can shoot and has the athleticism,’ Krzyzewski said. ‘The international player is skilled in 5-on-5. They understand better than the American player movement off the ball, the total concept.’

The NBA also is focused on player health and wellness and has created guidelines.

‘Those guidelines recommended multi-sport participation, age-appropriate limit on the number of games, both in a day and in a week, specific durations of time off for rest and recovery,’ Krichavsky said. ‘And that’s all age- and stage-based to promote healthy development. The first piece is making sure that you’ve documented what the science is to promote healthy development in the sport.’

The NBA/WNBA Jr. Court of Leaders program assembled in July some of the best boys and girls high school players in the country for a week of on- and off-court seminars. In attendance: Alex Constanza, Jason Crowe, Caleb Gaskins, Caleb Holt, Cayden Daughtry, Jaxon Richardson, C.J. Rosser, Autumn Fleary, Sanai Green, Jordyn Jackson, Haylen Ayers, Ryan Carter, Lauren Hassell and Ivanna Wilson-Manyacka.

The group went through sessions on mental health and wellness, film study, media training, social impact, financial education, contracts and agents; and skill sessions from experts in those fields.

‘We want,’ Krzyzewski said, ‘to be able to help teach that boy or girl along the path of becoming, maybe a WNBA player, maybe an NBA player, the total game of basketball.’

Arch Manning faces immense expectations as Texas’ starting quarterback, fueled by his family legacy and the team’s No. 1 ranking.
Despite limited starting experience, Manning is considered a Heisman Trophy front-runner, a testament to the Manning name.
Unlike his grandfather and uncles, Manning enters a program with sky-high expectations and a roster primed for immediate success.

There’s this old Sylvia Plath quote that says if you expect nothing from anybody, you are never disappointed.

If the inverse of that is true, if you expect everything from somebody, you’re sure to be disappointed.

And that brings us to the incomparable proposition for Arch Manning. The bar for this 21-year-old quarterback with two career starts to his name (neither start occurred against a competent team) has been set so impossibly high, he’d need to be Superman in a football uniform to meet the hopelessly high expectations.  

Or, alternatively, just be a Manning. That’d probably work, too.

Therein lies the rub. If this quarterback possessed any other surname, we’d all find it more than a tad ridiculous that the preseason Heisman Trophy front-runner has thrown all of 95 passes in his career, and more than a tad hyperbolic when prominent ESPN commentator Paul Finebaum dubbed Manning the greatest thing since Tim Tebow.

But those seven letters stitched across the back of his burnt orange jersey signify that this Texas quarterback is the latest in the line of the first family of college football.

And, so, we wonder: Maybe, the bar isn’t hopelessly high. Maybe, the expectations are reasonable. His grandfather became a Southern icon, and his uncles cemented the family’s legacy as football royalty.

He’s a Manning. That gives him a chance.

Arch Manning has pedigree to meet expectations

Manning’s coach, Steve Sarkisian, told reporters that he said this to his quarterback: We are not asking any superhuman efforts of you to do anything that is extraordinary.

Who is ‘we’ in that sentence? Because, there are plenty who do expect the extraordinary from this former five-star recruit who will start for the nation’s No. 1-ranked team when Texas plays Saturday at No. 2 Ohio State, the defending national champions.

‘This is what I’ve been waiting for,’ Manning told reporters this week. ‘I spent two years not playing (as a backup behind Quinn Ewers), so I might as well go have some fun.’

Might as well accept that he’s facing expectations that supersede even those for the Mannings who came before him.

Texas, despite losing twice to Georgia last season, and after falling in the College Football Playoff semifinals for the second straight year, and despite losing 12 players to the NFL Draft, was ranked preseason No. 1 in the US LBM Coaches Poll for the first time ever.

Which means that, for Manning to meet expectations, he’d have to win the Heisman and deliver to Texas its first national championship since the 2005 season.

Manning does not come off as one to seek fanfare. He chose to play his college ball in a metropolis of nearly a million people, inside a city that prides itself on being weird and where he might stand a chance of blending in, something he’d have had no hope of doing in Oxford, Mississippi, or Tuscaloosa, Alabama, or Athens, Georgia.

But, then, when you’re Arch Manning, what hope do you really have of blending in? When Manning went on a Walmart run this summer in Thibodaux, Louisiana, with LSU’s talented quarterback, Garrett Nussmeier, while they roomed together at the Manning Passing Academy, shoppers recognized Arch and wanted photos with him. LSU’s starting quarterback faded into the background, apparently undetected.

There’s starting quarterback fame, and then there’s Manning fame. The latter is on another level.

Arch Manning faces unique pressure compared to relatives

If Manning needs advice, he can call his grandpa Archie or uncles Peyton or Eli. Each won SEC offensive player of the year accolades. They navigated fanfare and ascended to the moment.

None of those three Mannings, though, could speak to facing demands on par to these, in their first seasons as starter.

Mississippi was unranked in the 1968 preseason ahead of Archie Manning’s first season starting, his sophomore season. Ole Miss had gone 10-0 in 1962, but, by 1968, the Rebels were on the backslope from the summit of the John Vaught era. Archie Manning rekindled some good times, especially during a special 1969 season that culminated in a Sugar Bowl triumph.

Uncle Peyton was a coveted recruit, with the notebook to prove it. He kept meticulous records of the coaches who called him during his recruitment. One Sunday before his senior season of high school, his records show he fielded calls from 23 coaches, from Steve Spurrier to Phillip Fulmer. He chose Tennessee.

In 1994, he was supposed to be third string. Tennessee had big expectations, but not No. 1 expectations. Injuries to Todd Helton and Jerry Colquitt forced Manning into the starting role. The Vols nursed a 1-3 record at the time of his first start. The season had become a lost cause, until Manning became the savior and rallied Tennessee to an 8-4 finish.

Eli Manning became Ole Miss’ starter as a redshirt sophomore, mirroring the timeline his nephew is on at Texas. Just as when Archie Manning became the Rebels’ starter, Ole Miss was not ranked in the preseason when Eli took the reins.

Arch’s dad, Cooper, was set to play wide receiver at Ole Miss before a spinal stenosis diagnosis halted his career.

Texas hoping Arch Manning can deliver title

Archie, Peyton and Eli delivered nothing but winning seasons while starting in college. Though none of them won a national championship or a Heisman – Tennessee fans will tell you all about how Peyton got robbed in 1997 – they were hailed major successes.

A simple winning record in Arch Manning’s first season starting wouldn’t be remembered the same way. The expectations are so far beyond that, heightened by his surname and also a well-stocked Texas roster backed by an NIL war chest.

This program seems like it sits on the precipice of greatness, and here’s a Manning to deliver it.

And if you expect that Manning deliver the world, maybe that’s unfair, and maybe that’s a recipe for disappointment. Or, perhaps, he’ll deliver the world. He’s a Manning, after all.

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

The Green Bay Packers traded for star linebacker Micah Parsons, significantly boosting their Super Bowl chances.
Green Bay paid a hefty price, including two first-round picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark, but secured Parsons on a record-breaking contract.
Without Parsons, the Pack still generated 45 sacks in 2024.

The Green Bay Packers elevated themselves into the NFC’s premier tier – if not all the way to the top – following Thursday’s blockbuster trade with the Dallas Cowboys for edge rusher and linebacker Micah Parsons, one of the game’s best defensive players.

One news cycle is all it took for Packers fans from Kenosha to Eau Claire to start having Super Bowl dreams. Rightfully so.

In the playoffs, rushing attacks and defense travel. Quarterback Jordan Love has played better in the second halves of back-to-back seasons and, should he be healthy, the list of teams capable of knocking off the Packers is short. Like, Eagles, Lions (maybe?), end-of-list short. And I know who I’ll now be picking to represent the NFC in California at Super Bowl 60.

You might laugh at the idea of Parsons making the Packers even more of a Super Bowl contender. I laughed at the idea of Parsons playing for any team outside of the greater Dallas metro area. Comedy can precede reality.

Green Bay secured Parsons for an additional four years on a deal worth $188 million with $136 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history. Sacrificing two first-round picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark for a two-time All-Pro who has recorded at least 12 sacks in a season? Clark will be missed in the middle of the defensive line, but if Green Bay can realize its postseason potential, the picks in the 20s could be less consequential.

At 26, the Packers will have the pleasure of employing Parsons through the rest of his 20s. I’m no GM, but acquiring a player of Parson’s caliber on the right side of his expected prime can only be a good thing.

The circumstances of arrival aren’t the same, but Reggie White’s signing with the Packers before the 1993 season is similar to the Parsons trade. White was second in Defensive Player of the Year voting his first season in Green Bay. Four seasons after he signed, the Packers were Super Bowl champions. The Packers are hoping for a more immediate return on investment this time, with the NFL’s latest dynasty, the Kansas City Chiefs, playing in the AFC. Gone are the NFC powerhouse dynasties of the 1990s in the San Francisco 49ers and Cowboys.

Green Bay made six consecutive postseasons following White’s arrival. But getting into the dance hasn’t been the issue for the Pack since Aaron Rodgers led them to a victory in Super Bowl 45 over the Pittsburgh Steelers after the 2010 season. Making it to the final game of the season has been the challenge, and Parsons’ presence raises their chance of making it through the NFC gauntlet.

The production won’t happen immediately, since Parsons is apparently nursing some sort of back ailment – a negotiating tactic with Dallas, perhaps – and sat out training camp. The Week 2 ‘Thursday Night Football’ game between the Packers and Commanders is now that much juicier.

Famously, the Packers do not have a singular owner (or ownership group), which may be a welcome development for Parsons and his representation in the wake of his contract dispute with Jerry Jones and the Cowboys’ front office that played out publicly and, clearly, didn’t end well.

Kudos to Packers general manager Brian Gutenkust for pulling off the deal amid the scrutiny of social-media narratives and a franchise legend openly messing around online (turns out manifestation is a powerful tool). Ed Policy, the franchise’s new CEO who took over for Mark Murphy last month, deserves credit for allowing Gutenkust to spend that type of resources – surrendering quarterback-level compensation in the process.

Love is on a mega-extension, offensive lineman Zach Tom signed a big deal this offseason and Josh Jacobs and Xavier McKinney were brought in as a free agents prior to last season. The front office has identified a window and is going for it. Ask a Cowboys fan (or a Mavericks fan, sorry Dallas) – that’s not always the case.

If Parsons can replicate his production over the next four seasons (52.5 sacks), he’d be 10th on the all-time Green Bay sack list. Defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, entering his second season in Green Bay, should be doing backflips on the tarmac at Austin Strabel International Airport to greet Parsons and thank him for the immediate augmentation he provides to the Packers’ pass rush.

The Packers tied for eighth in sacks as a team last season with 45. They were middle-of-the-pack with 94 quarterback hits and toward the bottom of the league in sack percentage (7.4). But Parsons joining up with Rashan Gary, Edgerrin Cooper and Lukas Van Ness is problematic for playcallers in the stacked NFC North and beyond.

Compared to the Packers, the Eagles still have the better roster. Repeating as champions is no easy task, however. Winning both games last season against Green Bay, the Lions have the recent momentum. The Commanders (run game, defense) and Rams (Matthew Stafford’s back) have question marks.

If pre-Week 1 thoughts are meant to be intrusive, let this one float in the cranial membrane for a moment: the Packers are going to the Super Bowl.