Chicago faces Washington after Banham's 20-point game
Fairfax, Virginia; Tuesday, 11:30 a.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Chicago Sky visits the Washington Mystics after Rachel Banham scored 20 points in the Sky's 80-75 loss to the Minnesota Lynx.
The Mystics are 5-5 against Eastern Conference opponents. Washington ranks second in the Eastern Conference with 37.1 points per game in the paint led by Shakira Austin averaging 8.3.
The Sky are 1-7 against Eastern Conference teams. Chicago is second in the WNBA with 10.5 offensive rebounds per game led by Angel Reese averaging 4.4.
Washington's average of 5.6 made 3-pointers per game is 4.9 fewer made shots on average than the 10.5 per game Chicago gives up. Chicago has shot at a 42.0% rate from the field this season, 0.2 percentage points below the 42.2% shooting opponents of Washington have averaged.
The teams meet for the second time this season. The Mystics won 79-72 in the last matchup on June 18.
TOP PERFORMERS: Kiki Iriafen is averaging 12.3 points and 8.3 rebounds for the Mystics. Austin is averaging 15.0 points over the last 10 games.
Reese is averaging 12.6 points, 12.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.6 steals for the Sky. Banham is averaging 2.1 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Mystics: 5-5, averaging 80.7 points, 34.9 rebounds, 18.9 assists, 7.3 steals and 2.2 blocks per game while shooting 43.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 81.2 points per game.
Sky: 3-7, averaging 79.4 points, 35.8 rebounds, 20.1 assists, 7.6 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 43.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 85.2 points.
INJURIES: Mystics: Georgia Amoore: out for season (acl).
Sky: Courtney Vandersloot: out for season (acl).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
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New York Times
30 minutes ago
- New York Times
Knicks summer-league preview: What to watch from Tyler Kolek, Pacôme Dadiet and more
And just like that, New York Knicks basketball is back — sort of. The Knicks will join the rest of the NBA this week to begin Las Vegas Summer League play. New York's roster will feature some intriguing players, all with something to prove as new head coach Mike Brown will sit on the baseline and evaluate some of the young talent he will inherit. From a Knicks perspective, the stars of the annual event will be Tyler Kolek, Pacôme Dadiet, Ariel Hukporti, Kevin McCullar Jr. and recently-drafted Mohamed Diawara. Advertisement There shouldn't be overreactions either way when it comes to how these names perform. However, with New York hoping to develop its young talent a bit more next season under Brown, a first impression can go a long way. Here's what I'll be focusing on from the five key players who will play for the Knicks. As far as true point guards go, Kolek is the only one on the Knicks' bench at this point in the offseason. Kolek will be a solid pro one day, but there is work to be done for the 24-year-old guard. Kolek played under 300 minutes last year as a rookie, which is not enough time to make any sweeping conclusions about how he projects long term. However, when Kolek was on the floor, he did a good job of running the offense and setting up his teammates. He finished with 70 assists and just 18 turnovers in 41 games (albeit a small sample size). In Las Vegas, I want to see Kolek create and hunt his own shot. I know he can pass and do point-guard things. In today's NBA, it's hard to be successful as a lead guard without being a threat to score. Kolek's 70 assists as a rookie was only slightly under the number of shot attempts he took (82). In college, Kolek averaged a hair over 15 points as a senior. He took over 11 shots per game while still averaging nearly eight assists. He has that balance somewhere in there. It's possible that Kolek's lack of shot attempts last season was a product of doing what the coaching staff asked of him. It's also possible that the rookie just didn't want to use his limited playing time to be ultra-aggressive as a scorer and, potentially, upset his coach. Well, summer league is the time to try things out, get comfortable and see what you can get away with. Let me lead with this: Dadiet will turn 20 shortly after summer league comes to a close. By no means does he have to be close to a finished product anytime soon. However, I think it's important for him to show progress sooner rather than later so that the franchise can feel comfortable investing real reps into him during a championship-or-bust season. Dadiet, like Kolek, intrigues me. The shooting form is good. The defense even popped at times last year — Dadiet had one of my five favorite individual defensive moments by a Knick last season. PACOME DADIET LOCK DOWN DEFENSE — KnicksNation (@KnicksNation) November 18, 2024 There is stuff there worth looking deeper into, but Dadiet needs to use summer league to show that he can do things consistently. He only played in 18 games last year for the Knicks and fewer than 115 minutes, so there is very little to take from his experience with the main ballclub. In the G League, where he played significantly more, he had underwhelming shooting numbers. The 19-year-old only shot 40.6 percent from the field and 31.9 percent from 3 in 14 games with Westchester. Again, he's a teenager and doesn't need to be perfect, but given that he had already played professional basketball in a respectable league before getting drafted, you'd like to see some consistency in the G League. Advertisement The 6-foot-7 Dadiet, along with McCullar, may have the easiest pathway of the young players to meaningful minutes with the Knicks. Teams are always looking for 3-and-D wings. Coaches are always willing to play them. He has to show he's worth investing real minutes into as soon as next season, and that might start with his performance in Las Vegas. Behind Kolek, no rookie played more than Hukporti (217 minutes) last season, and it's possible Hukporti would have surpassed Kolek in total minutes played had he not suffered a knee injury in the middle of the year that forced him to miss months. Hukporti had some impressive stints as a rookie. Most were in short bursts but enough to understand why former head coach Tom Thibodeau would give the 23-year-old center legit rotation minutes here and there. Hukporti, who stands 6 feet 11, moves well for a big man. I think he anticipates well defensively. He can get off the ground quickly to deter shots. He was always asking questions of his teammates. There is stuff to like about Hukporti. I want to see him physically dominate at summer league. I don't mean average 20 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks or anything. That's not realistic. I want to see him contest any shot near him at the basket. I want him to make offensive players think twice about attacking him at the rim when he's near it. I want to see him set hard, crisp screens. I want to see him be a hard roller and lob threat. I want to see him rebound like someone who already has NBA experience. Hukporti didn't play a ton as a rookie but he did play more meaningful minutes out of any of the other youngsters. And like Dadiet, he was a pro player before coming to the NBA. Hukporti should have a leg-up on many of the players he'll be going against in Las Vegas. You'd like to see that experience reveal itself. Advertisement McCullar's basketball career as of late has been halted due to lower-body injuries. He was hurt as he finished up his college career at Kansas and spent most of his rookie season rehabbing with the Knicks. He's a 6-foot-6 wing who came into the NBA as an older prospect. Many scouts and executives around the league viewed him as someone who can do a few things well, but nothing great. McCullar averaged 18 points per game as a senior at Kansas but never averaged more than 10 in his three college seasons prior. He also never shot better than 33 percent from 3 in four years at college. However, McCullar was a savvy college player who did well moving without the ball and in the open floor. He had solid defensive moments in college despite his lack of athleticism. McCullar, who played many roles in college, plays in a way that is better in a team concept than as an individual, which is good. But unless the shooting translates — he shot 22.2 percent from 3 in 13 G League games last year — it's hard to see how he carves out a role for himself. To show what he can do, though, McCullar has to prove he can stay healthy. The best way to work on your game and impress decision-makers is to be out there playing. With hopes of sticking with the Knicks for one more season, the 24-year-old needs to show that he can make it to the end of Las Vegas healthy and be around to show off his game this summer. first nba points for kevin mccullar jr 🎉 — NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) March 26, 2025 The Knicks drafted the French prospect with the No. 51 pick in June, and his contract status won't be determined for at least a few weeks. Per league sources, there is a good chance Diawara ends up being a draft-and-stash prospect this year, but he also has an opportunity to show at summer league that he's worth a two-way slot and should stay around the franchise this season. I'm not going to sit here and act like I'm super familiar with Diawara's game. I know that he's huge, as he stands 6 feet 8 with a 7-foot-4 wingspan and a 9-foot-2 standing reach. This is what The Athletic's Sam Vecenie had to say about Diawara on draft night: 'The idea here begins and ends on the defensive end, where he's genuinely quite impactful due to his athleticism and length. He flies around and moves well laterally on the perimeter but he's not nearly the shot blocker or contester that you expect for someone this size. My bet is that he doesn't end up making it over, but I get the bet on these tools, at least.' Advertisement This is what our John Hollinger also had to say about Diawara: 'Diawara is a 6-8 forward who had a rather underwhelming season as a 20-year-old in the French league, but he does raise the Knicks' total to 16 overseas-rights players under their control … including the rights to Luka Mitrović that were obtained when the Knicks swapped picks 50 and 51 with the Clippers. Like nearly all of them, there seems little chance Diawara will play in the NBA.' 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New York Times
30 minutes ago
- New York Times
Projecting the Blackhawks' 2025-26 lineup, line by line and pair by pair
No, Mitch Marner or Nikolaj Ehlers aren't coming, Yes, the Chicago Blackhawks' offseason was underwhelming. But the Blackhawks are going to be young next season. They might even be younger than you expect. That could be intriguing, especially under a new coach in Jeff Blashill. You may just want to refrain from peering at the standings too much. Advertisement Based on who the Blackhawks have returning among veterans and prospects, plus what they did this offseason in free agency, trades and the draft, here's what the Blackhawks' 2025-26 lineup could look like line to line, pairing to pairing and in net: The more I hear about what the Blackhawks think of No. 3 draft pick Anton Frondell, the more I think he's going to stick with them out of training camp. How he does in the Tom Kurvers Prospects Showcase could be an early indication. That's always been a huge barometer for me. Over the years, I think back to Gustav Forsling and Alex DeBrincat, and more recently Bedard and Wyatt Kaiser, and how those players separated themselves from most in the rookie games. Some of those players, like Forsling and Kaiser, still had to spend time with the Rockford IceHogs, but you could see their potential early on. In the case of Frondell, the Blackhawks are likely going to give him every opportunity to make the team, meaning he'll likely play in a lot of preseason games, too. With the focus being so much on development and playing the young players this season, there's really no downside for him being in the NHL. He can also be sent to Rockford if they want. If Frondell is in the NHL lineup, playing with Bedard might make sense out of the gate, too. The Blackhawks envision Frondell and Bedard as future linemates. Whether they'd experiment with that early on could also depend on what Bedard looks like come fall. You would think he's primed for a bigger season in his third year. If Frondell isn't on the top line or in the NHL, André Burakovsky could be a fit there. He's played in top-six roles and produced in the past. His production fell off in Seattle, but he attributes that to his injury issues and is healthy now. We'll see if he can return to form, but he's someone who could play up or down the lineup depending on the Blackhawks' need. Ilya Mikheyev also played with Bedard last season, so that's another possibility; Mikheyev is probably better suited further down the lineup. Advertisement As for the other winger, Donato is the logical choice. Can he repeat a 30-goal season? He thinks so and will be motivated to show it. He also understands the opportunities he got with the Blackhawks last season helped him there. If he's playing up the lineup and on the first power-play unit, he's going to get his share of chances. There is always the question about Bedard at center, too. The Blackhawks believe he's still destined to be there, but they've also been willing to move him around ba it or have another center on his line to split faceoffs and defensive responsibilities. Frondell can probably be a center or wing in the future. He played wing in Sweden last season, but he's also played center at his age level and likes to think of himself there in the future. Blashill might have other ideas, too. Bedard and Nazar had some time together at five-on-five last season, but it's not something the Blackhawks would like to do much of this season. Again, the decision will ultimately come down to Blashill, but the organization thinks Bedard and Nazar are best apart, other than on the power play, and both are future centers. In time, maybe it's a Patrick Kane-Jonathan Toews scenario where they're united when really needed. Nazar looks like he could have a breakout season based on his performance last season and at the World Championship in May. The Blackhawks ended the season with this line, and Nazar was at his most productive in five-on-five play with them. The trio had a 49.58 expected goals percentage in 107:33 of ice time, according to Natural Stat Trick. Teräväinen and Bertuzzi had some ups and downs during the season, especially with Bertuzzi's goalless stretches, but both probably finished with the type of production the Blackhawks expected out of them. More consistency would obviously benefit the Blackhawks next season. Another option for a winger for Nazar could be Colton Dach. Before Dach's late-season injury, he and Nazar were playing well together. The Blackhawks outscored teams 7-6 in five-on-five play with the pair on the ice, but the expected goals percentage wasn't as high, at 41.62 over 128:40 of ice time. Dach feels like one of the wild cards this preseason. If he plays well, the Blackhawks have to find a spot for him, which could come at the cost of another young player. The Blackhawks don't necessarily need all their veterans, but they need most of them on the roster to stay above the cap ceiling. Advertisement Nick Lardis will be another player to keep tabs on throughout this season. He probably stars in the AHL with the IceHogs, but he has the potential to be an NHL regular sooner rather than later. The Blackhawks want to make sure he's physically ready for the NHL, but they're confident his offensive game will translate nicely to the top level. A Dickinson bounce-back from last season would really help the Blackhawks. He may not get back to scoring 20 goals, but if he can be the steady defensive presence and match up against other teams' top centers as he has in the past, that can take a lot off the young players' plates and elevate what the team is capable of. In the 2023-24 season, the Blackhawks outscored opponents 45-36 with Dickinson on the ice at five-on-five. Last season, opponents flipped that and outscored the Blackhawks 36-24. Not all of that is on him, and injuries did factor into it, but he'd be the first to say last season wasn't his best. Mikheyev may have been the biggest surprise last season. He was arguably the Blackhawks' best all-around player. Based on Evolving-Hockey's analytics, Mikheyev was by far the best defensive player on the team and the fifth-best offensive player. He probably played up the lineup more than the Blackhawks expected last season, but that was a credit to his reliable game. Foligno will be 38 come October, but he's been durable throughout his time in Chicago. He played 74 games his first season and 78 games last season. His 46.31 expected goals percentage was among the highest on the Blackhawks last season. The actual goals percentage didn't match that; the Blackhawks were outscored 53-38 with him on the ice. Foligno, Dickinson and Mikheyev are in the final year of their contracts. The Blackhawks will likely still need to get the cap floor after the trade deadline, but it's possible the Blackhawks are active moving players out if they're out of contention in the standings and it works financially. Sacha Boisvert may be the only college prospect the Blackhawks try to sign this season and have play in the NHL. The Blackhawks want to start having some lines play as they hope to see in the future. That starts with speed and skating. Slaggert is a safe bet for this line after last season; his linemates could be up in the air. Moore and Greene made their NHL debuts after turning pro last season. Whether they start off this season in the NHL will likely depend on their preseasons. If they don't start in the NHL, they could easily go the same route as Nazar last season and spend some time playing in Rockford before being recalled. Greene was someone the Blackhawks previously thought might not need any time with the IceHogs, but time will tell. Burakovsky fits this line if he isn't higher up in the lineup. Sam Lafferty will likely join this line, too. That's why the Blackhawks got him: He could be in and out of the lineup throughout the season depending on need. Advertisement Where will Lukas Reichel be at the start of the season? If he's not traded by training camp, he's going to have really open some eyes to earn a roster spot. The Blackhawks don't have the patience they once did with him, and there are plenty of young players coming in whom they want to see. Samuel Savoie likely starts the season in Rockford, but he probably gets an NHL call-up if he can build on last season. He plays how the Blackhawks want on that line, too. Sam Rinzel opened eyes with his play last season. The Blackhawks were hopeful about him, but he exceeded their expectations after signing out of college. He's positioned himself to play on the Blackhawks' top pairing and quarterback their power play to start the 2025-26 season. His play factors into that, but also trading Seth Jones also made it much easier. Alex Vlasic wasn't as reliable last season as he was the season before. His ice time and role did vary at times last season, so that could have an impact. You would hope to see more consistency out of his game this season, with it being his third full NHL season and potentially having a consistent defensive partner. He and Rinzel played a lot together last season in a short time: 126:10 minutes together of Rinzel's 165:46 total five-on-five ice time. Vlasic, Rinzel, Kaiser and Connor Murphy are probably the locks among the defensemen next season. The others are not. Levshunov played better than expected in the NHL last season, but he wasn't perfect by any means. He did play some of his best hockey with Kaiser. Kaiser could play to Levshunov's strengths but also cover his unpredictability. The Blackhawks outscored teams 5-4 with them on the ice together at five-on-five. Kaiser will be looking to build off last season, too. He was a different player after his last trip to Rockford, coming back more assertive and in control. The Blackhawks still have high hopes for him. Murphy played better last season when healthy. It's just a matter of whether he can stay healthy. With such a young defense, the Blackhawks will lean on his experience and his toughness. He loves Chicago, but whether he ends the season here is unknown, as he enters the final year of his deal with so many young defensemen pushing for spots. Murphy would like to get a taste of the playoffs at some point in his career. Advertisement Del Mastro may have been the most consistent young defenseman through last season. His ceiling isn't probably as high as some of the others, but he's showing he can be reliable in all zones. The veterans also developed a lot of respect for him. Whether he's in the NHL or AHL could depend on how some of the younger defensemen perform in the preseason. Kevin Korchinski can easily earn a spot out of camp if he performs well. The Blackhawks haven't lost faith he can still become the player they want him to be, but they've learned it's going to take more time than originally expected. He only turned 21 in June, so there is time. The defensive part of his game definitely improved last season. The Blackhawks just want him to be more aggressive offensively and pull those attributes out of his game on more shifts. He showed last season he can take over when he asserts himself. Nolan Allan is another who could be in the NHL. He was with the Blackhawks almost all of last season. His game took a dip late in the year and he ended up in Rockford, but he's shown the potential to be a consistent NHLer. Louis Crevier has also come a long way and shown he can be a third-pairing defenseman. He could be the seventh defenseman next season if the Blackhawks don't add another veteran in the coming months. The Blackhawks are expected to run back Knight and Söderblom as their tandem this coming season. Knight is expected to be the No. 1 goalie, as he was down the stretch last season, but their performances will likely dictate the split more than last season. The Blackhawks just wanted to give Knight as much of the net as possible after he arrived from the Florida Panthers last season. Knight looked great in some games, less so in others and finished with an .893 percentage in Chicago. He will be in a contract year. Söderblom will be hoping to build on last season. After a disastrous 2023-24 campaign, he proved he can be an NHL goalie last season. His numbers weren't amazing either with an .898 save percentage, but it was up from .879 the season before. The league average was .900 last season, so both goalies were around that. The unknown going into the season is Laurent Brossoit. The Blackhawks signed Brossoit to a two-year contract with a $3.3 million cap hit to share the net with Petr Mrázek last season but Brossoit never played due to injuries. It doesn't sound like the Blackhawks know if he'll be healthy next season. If he is, it'll be interesting to see whether there's a real competition. Brossoit had a .927 save percentage in 23 games with the Winnipeg Jets two seasons ago. Drew Commesso has to wonder where he fits into the big picture. He's still just 22 years old (he'll turn 23 this month) but he's trending up and could be worth an NHL call-up next season. He was outstanding late in the season for the IceHogs last year. (Top photo of Anton Frondell: Matt Winkelmeyer / Getty Images)
New York Times
30 minutes ago
- New York Times
How I ranked college football's top 100 rivalries: who got left out and who's next
Editor's note: All week, The Athletic is writing about college football rivalries at a moment of change in the sport. Read our ranking of the top 100 rivalries here and also vote for your favorites. Evaluating and ranking college football's greatest rivalries from one to 100 requires more than just a working knowledge of the sport's history and a spreadsheet. But both come in handy when evaluating rivalries from college football's primitive past to its sprawling future. Advertisement When this process began in March, approximately 150 rivalries were considered from all levels of college football. After research and multiple conversations, a preliminary list of 100 came together. Each rivalry was judged independently by applying 11 core criteria. The rivalries then were re-ranked after delving into each one's history. Only 13 rivalries stayed in their original slot, with some (USC-Stanford) moving up significantly, while others (Utah-BYU) fell a few slots. Here is a look at the 11 principles and questions asked within those categories to gauge these rivalries: Even after answering those questions, many of the final rankings come by feel. Minnesota-Wisconsin, for instance, doesn't consistently determine championships, but its longevity, co-dependency and series record (63-63-8) vaults it past similar rivalries. Michigan-Ohio State was an easy No. 1. It meets every principle and tops the charts in meaningful games historically. Oklahoma-Texas and Auburn-Alabama were nearly even, but the iconic Iron Bowls over the past 15 years nudged into No. 2. In another decade, it might flip now that all four are in the SEC. Ranking Army-Navy is about ambiance and tradition rather than the games, but no rivalry is more revered or embedded in the fabric of the sport. As a transcontinental, nonconference series, USC-Notre Dame is unique among great rivalries. It features the third-most ranked matchups (35) and is tied for second with 18 top-10 clashes. In the 1980s, Nebraska-Oklahoma could have ranked No. 1. Although it's dormant, it still rates as historic, and the numbers back it up. Miami-Florida State and Florida State-Florida had direct national title implications for decades. Ohio State-Penn State in the top 10 may be a surprise, but the numbers don't lie. Of their 39 meetings since the AP poll began in 1936, both teams were ranked in 25 games, and 12 were top-10 matchups. By percentages, it's hard to beat. Among the top 35 rivalries, 31 consisted of in-state or border series. Some, like Auburn-Alabama and Miami-Florida State, often are as relevant nationally as locally. But how do you separate the Backyard Brawl from the Holy War from Cy-Hawk from Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate? What about the Apple Cup, Civil War, Bedlam and the Egg Bowl? Advertisement Statistical comparisons like matchups, total ranked meetings, top-10 competitions and win-loss disparity were critical in separating the rivalries. All figures are considered guidelines, not an automatic determination. Oklahoma-Oklahoma State was the most difficult to slot. Bedlam boasts 19 ranked matchups, including three in the top 10. Based on those numbers, it's a top-15 rivalry. However, Bedlam has the second-widest win-loss disparity in FBS history with a 71-victory difference in favor of the Sooners. That made it difficult to measure alongside Kansas-Missouri (one win) or Minnesota-Wisconsin (tied). Also, Bedlam is now dormant without any scheduled games on the horizon. In similar fashion, Iowa-Iowa State fell lower than initial expectations, with just one matchup of ranked teams in the history of the rivalry. BYU-Utah (three) and Stanford-Cal (four) also fell with a low number of ranked matchups. They struggled to measure up against Michigan-Michigan State (19 ranked matchups), for instance. On the flip side, Washington-Oregon and Iowa-Wisconsin each finished higher than initially expected. Washington-Oregon has featured 10 ranked matchups and 53 games with at least one team ranked, which was more than Oregon-Oregon State (6, 31) or Washington-Washington State (8, 34). Washington-Oregon also has a robust trajectory as protected Big Ten foes. Only two wins separate Wisconsin from Iowa (49-47-2), with nine ranked matchups between them, and they combined for seven of the 10 Big Ten West titles. Their proximity (175 miles) is similar to an in-state battle, and their series is protected by the Big Ten. What non-FBS rivalries lack in prominence, they make up for in tradition. Harvard-Yale, Lehigh-Lafayette, Williams-Amherst and Richmond-William & Mary all trace their roots to the sport's infancy. Southern and Grambling are not only HBCU historical powers, but the game sometimes becomes a footnote at 'The Bayou Classic' to all the pageantry that surrounds it, first and foremost the marching bands. Advertisement North Dakota State-South Dakota State is the preeminent FCS rivalry, while the Montana-Montana State 'Brawl of the Wild' is the best FCS in-state feud. Either of those games can hold its own against some of the top FBS contests. Wisconsin-Whitewater and Mount Union have played only 12 times, but nine times they met for the Division III national title over 10 years. The second-most difficult task (after separating the in-state rivalries) was deciding which rivalries to leave out. Here are 10 that were strongly considered but didn't make the list: Ohio State-Michigan State: This clearly was No. 101. From 2011-16, the teams split their matchups 3-3, and three games directly impacted the Big Ten championship. Ohio State leads 38-15 overall, but over the past 50 years, it's 31-7, and the Buckeyes average 21 points per victory. Ohio State has won nine straight, and the last eight have come by 34.1 points per game. Florida-Auburn: The Gators and Tigers played annually from 1944-2002, and it was a protected series when the SEC first split into divisions. They have played 84 times (Auburn leads 43-39-2), including 18 ranked battles, but have had just four meetings since 2002. It's just too irregular to make the top 100. Air Force-Army/Navy: Games among the service academies are worth acknowledging, but Army-Navy overshadows Air Force in the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy series. Air Force leads Army (38-20-1) and Navy (34-23) and boasts 21 CIC trophies, while Navy has 17 and Army 10 (and five ties) since it was instituted in 1972. But in games involving Air Force, there were none with two ranked teams. St. John's-St. Thomas: The battle for the 'Holy Grail' set a Division III record with 37,355 fans at the Twins' Target Field in 2017. Two years later, schools in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference — but not St. John's — voted to evict St. Thomas after it had become too dominant. St. Thomas left Division III for FCS, and the football rivalry is history. St. John's owns a 53-35-1 record. Tuskegee-Morehouse: Known as 'The Granddaddy of All Classics,' the Tuskegee-Morehouse series began in 1902, but the teams have competed at neutral sites (mostly Columbus, Ga.) since 1936. The nation's oldest and most-played rivalry among HBCU schools, Tuskegee leads 75-31-7. This fall, the Division II classic shifts to Montgomery, Ala. Advertisement Cincinnati-Louisville: Only 100 miles separate the campuses, and they play for the 'Keg of Nails.' Cincinnati leads the series 30-23-1, although they never had a ranked matchup. But when Louisville moved to the ACC in 2014, the schools never scheduled a home-and-home. If it wasn't important enough for a bus trip, it's not a top-100 rivalry. Northwest Missouri State-Pittsburg State: Since 1989, these teams have dominated the MIAA. Northwest has won or shared 19 league titles while Pitt State has claimed 14. Northwest has Division II records in national titles (six) and appearances (10), while the Gorillas have two and five, respectively. From 2002-13, they met at Arrowhead Stadium. The Bearcats lead, 29-28. Utah-Utah State: The schools played annually from 1919-2009, and they join BYU in competition for the Beehive Boot. Individually, this series is called 'Battle of the Brothers.' But Utah outgrew this series when it joined the Pac-12 (which Utah State will join in its diminished form in 2026) and then the Big 12. The Utes have won 80 of their 113 meetings, and they've played just twice since 2013. Boston College-Holy Cross: From 1919-86, the teams played every season but two — 1943 (World War II) and 1969 (hepatitis outbreak at Holy Cross, 75 players infected). After NCAA football split into FBS and FCS in 1978, the programs grew on different trajectories. They've played just twice since 1986 (2018, 2023). BC leads 50-31-3, though Holy Cross notably trounced No. 1 Boston College 55-12 in a stunning 1942 upset. Duke-Georgia Tech: From their first meeting in 1933, these teams played every fall, a 90-year streak that began 20 years before the ACC was formed and 30 years before Georgia Tech left the SEC. That string was snapped in 2023 when the ACC eliminated divisional play. Beginning in 2024, they're scheduled to play four times over seven years. The Yellowjackets lead 55-35-1. Ten others considered: Colorado-Utah, Illinois-Purdue, Iowa-Northwestern, Miami-Virginia Tech, Missouri-Nebraska, Nevada-UNLV, Notre Dame-Pittsburgh, Penn State-Syracuse, Sam Houston-Texas State, UTEP-New Mexico State. With realignment still swirling, new series pop up every year. Sure, Ohio State-Oregon, Alabama-Texas and USC-Michigan can become must-see events in the SEC and Big Ten. But what about series that can turn into legitimate annual rivalries? Here's a look at six that have that potential. Washington State-Boise State: The new-look Pac-12 Conference features plenty of intriguing matchups, but neighbors Boise State and Washington State have the most upside. They've played only seven times (Wazzu leads 5-2), but the Cougars could give Boise State its first true FBS enemy, and the Broncos could fill Washington State's rivalry void. Advertisement West Virginia-Cincinnati: These teams competed for seven years together in the Big East. But back then, the Mountaineers had plenty of established rivals in the Big East. Now, they're in their third year together in the Big 12, and they're alone in their geographic footprint. West Virginia leads 18-3-1 overall. TCU-Houston: These former Southwest Conference and Conference USA foes have played only 27 times, but Houston joined the Southwest in 1976, and it lasted just 20 more seasons. Now, as Big 12 anchors in Houston and the Metroplex, there's a chance to elevate this series for both programs. After last year's 30-19 upset, Houston ended a nine-game losing streak and now leads 14-13. Arkansas-Oklahoma: Only 230 miles separate these border programs, but they've played just 14 times overall and only three times since 1926. All three meetings were in New Year's Day bowl games (1977, 1986, 2001). This would have made for a great Big Eight or Big 12 rivalry, but now, as SEC partners, Oklahoma-Arkansas seems natural as they navigate through a 16-team conference. Rutgers-Maryland: Maryland had long-standing rivalries from the ACC, while Rutgers did not have a previously dedicated foe when they joined the Big Ten together in 2014. The league stapled them as annual opponents, and it has developed into a nice series. Less than 200 miles separate their campuses, and they are now cemented as permanent Big Ten rivals. Notre Dame-Clemson: The schools have agreed to a 12-year home-and-home series that not only pits two of the top football brands against one another, but it also raises eyebrows. For the Irish, it gives them a dedicated annual opponent should the USC rivalry fade away. For Clemson, this contract runs through 2038, which is beyond the ACC's current grant of rights. Although they've played only eight times — the Tigers lead 5-3 — this has the makings of a marquee national rivalry. (Illustration: Will Tullos / The Athletic; photos: Brian Bahr, Erica Denhoff, John Cordes / Getty Images)
