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USA Today
12 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Clemson pitcher Chayce Kieck announces transfer to a Big Ten school
Former Clemson pitcher Chayce Kieck is heading north for the next step in his college baseball career. The right-hander announced Friday that he'll continue his playing days at Northwestern after entering the NCAA transfer portal earlier this month. Kieck spent just one season with the Tigers, where he saw limited action out of the bullpen. As a freshman in 2025, Kieck appeared in nine games and recorded a 2-0 mark but struggled with command and consistency, finishing with a 9.75 ERA over 12 innings. He allowed 19 hits, 13 runs, and five home runs, while striking out 11 and issuing five walks. Coming out of The Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida, Kieck was highly regarded as a prep standout. Perfect Game ranked him among the top 500 players nationally and the No. 14 right-handed pitcher in Florida for his class. He was a four-time letterman, earned first-team all-state honors, and was named Northeast Florida Player of the Year as a junior. Baseball runs in his family, too — his father, Greg, played at Johns Hopkins from 1996 to 2000. Now at Northwestern, Kieck will look to tap into his potential and build on his freshman experience as he joins the Wildcats in the Big Ten. Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions.
Fox Sports
18 hours ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
2025 CFB Predictions, Picks: Back Penn State To Surpass Win Total
The college football season will be here before you know it. I usually dive into the deep end of the pigskin pool immediately after the NBA Finals and Stanley Cup Finals are finito, so here we are. There aren't many moves I'm ready to make for Week 1 yet — I do love Over 54.5 total points in the Miami-Notre Dame — but I've done a good amount of work on regular season win totals and the power conference betting markets. Here are three future bets I like right now. Clemson to win ACC There aren't many higher on the Tigers than me. I'm far from a "Clemson guy," but Dabo Swinney's offense is loaded with skill and speed, and the Tigers have a first-round quarterback in Cade Klubnik. Sure, it's a younger group of skill position guys, but the talent is serious. And you already know there are four or five NFL players on defense. The ACC should be a two-horse race between Clemson and Miami, another team that's got gobs and gobs of talent. I currently have Clemson 4.5 points better on a neutral and that number might grow during the season. You'll have a nice middle shot if the Tigers are better than the market believes, and they are touchdown favorites or so in the ACC title game. PICK: Clemson (+120) to win ACC Penn State Over 10.5 wins A few people that I respect believe this is the most complete team James Franklin has ever had in Happy Valley. Obviously, that phrase gets overused in sports, but it's pretty difficult to disagree in this specific situation. The defense could be better than last year's and Penn State added a couple of legit receivers from the portal to go along with its returning quarterback Drew Allar, top two running backs and offensive coordinator. Stability is not an issue. One bettor flashed me a $5,000 ticket on Penn State to win the whole enchilada at 9/1. It'll pay $45,000 if it comes home. I certainly respect the play but just can't get there. My issue is that Franklin seems to find a way to flub a major decision in the biggest games. It's cruel, but fair. I'm pumping the brakes on a Big Ten title or national championship, believing it's a better bet to back the Nittany Lions to reach 11 wins. PICK: Penn State (+120) Over 10.5 wins Notre Dame Under 10.5 wins My "Bet Sweats" co-host Joe Ostrowski and I bet Notre Dame to win the national title at 10-1 a week before the College Football Playoff. We rode the wave over Indiana, Georgia and Penn State only to see the Irish get shoved against Ohio State in the championship game. Right size, wrong shape. The Irish are likely handing the keys on offense to freshman quarterback CJ Carr, a kid who is decidedly less experienced than transfers Sam Hartman and Riley Leonard were the last two seasons. And if Carr doesn't win the job, sophomore Kenny Minchey doesn't have much seasoning either. Notre Dame will run the ball a ton and their defense will carry the load for most games, but I can't ignore the quarterback youth or the schedule. And games against Miami, Texas A&M, Arkansas and USC are no walks in the park. PICK: Notre Dame (-140) Under 10.5 wins Sam Panayotovich is a sports betting analyst for FOX Sports and the BetMGM Network. He previously worked for WGN Radio, NBC Sports and VSiN. Follow him on Twitter @spshoot. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Get more from College Football Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Fox Sports
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
2025 College Football Predictions: 10 Matchups that will Shape the Regular Season
Every week, it feels like the college football season is getting just a little closer and closer. I truly can't wait for what's in store for the 2025 regular season. So, I decided to look at the schedule for the regular season again and try to pinpoint which 10 games will have the most impact. These aren't necessarily the 10 best games, although some look to be epic. Rather, they're the 10 games that I think will shape how we view the season and might have the biggest impact on the College Football Playoff. There are plenty of games early in the season that will certainly have some sway in how things get determined in 2025, with a couple of monster matchups taking place in Week 1. Let's start off our list with the one that I'll call for FOX. Texas vs. Ohio State (Week 1) It's a rematch of one of the CFP semifinal games, with Ohio State winning that game en route to a national championship. Both teams look poised to make another deep run in 2025. In fact, there's a chance that Texas and Ohio State might be the top two-ranked teams in the country entering Week 1. At worst, I think this will be a No. 1 vs No. 3 matchup. Not only will this be a monster matchup, but this will also be the first start of the Arch Manning era for Texas. This is his team and program, and he'll get a chance to prove what he's made of on the road against the defending champs. That's pretty awesome. We also don't know who Ohio State's quarterback will be. Is it going to be Julian Sayin? He's incredibly talented and I've enjoyed watching him when I've seen him practice. The Buckeyes will also have new playcallers on both sides of the ball (Brian Hartline and Matt Patricia). As for the coaching battle, Steve Sarkisian has gotten the Longhorns back to where they've wanted to get to for the last decade. He's done a remarkable job, and he's a top-five coach, but it's time for him to take a step forward. He's going against a top two or three coach in Ryan Day, who has to feel he is entering the season with the monkey off his back. That might be beneficial to Ohio State. LSU vs. Clemson (Week 1) Another Week 1 matchup that I think will feature two teams ranked in the top 10. Brian Kelly needs to win this game for LSU. Kelly went all in on the portal this offseason and is returning his quarterback, Garrett Nussmeier. But Kelly has gone 0-3 in season openers during his time in Baton Rouge, and LSU fans need to see this program progressing. It's fair for us to ask when the breakthrough is going to happen for Kelly at LSU. I do think we'll see that this year. Yet, I actually feel better about Clemson between these two teams. Dabo Swinney has bet on himself over the last few years, and it feels like Clemson has reloaded for another run. I've got Cade Klubnik as my No. 1 quarterback entering the season and that defense is really talented. There's also the conference element to this game. If LSU wins this matchup, and Clemson goes on to dominate the ACC en route to a conference title, the SEC will argue that the ACC should only get one CFP participant. But the SEC also needs a giant non-conference win after how the CFP and bowl season played out for the conference last winter. Michigan vs. Oklahoma (Week 2) Michigan needs a bounce-back season in Sherrone Moore's second season after going 8-5 a year ago. The defense was fine last year, the offense was not. We know the Wolverines got Bryce Underwood, who was one of the most sought-after recruits in a long time, and this might be his first major start. This is also right before Moore will serve his self-imposed suspension. Brent Venables also needs a bounce-back season at Oklahoma. Everyone was excited when Venables was hired to be the Sooners' next head coach, but now they need something on the field to feel good about. Oklahoma was able to poach quarterback John Mateer and offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle from Washington State, who I expect to help the Sooners take a step forward. But the Wolverines' defense is going to be outstanding, and defensive coordinator Wink Martindale figured things out late last season. The winner of this game will really get a big boost ahead of conference play, and this game could also help establish the perception of the depth between the Big Ten and SEC. Texas A&M vs. Notre Dame (Week 3) This was a great game in College Station last season. We all believe in Marcus Freeman, who led Notre Dame to a national championship game appearance last season. This feels like a program that can compete at the highest level and potentially win a national championship. I'm bullish on them this season. A win against A&M likely gets Notre Dame back into the CFP with how its schedule looks after Week 3. If it loses this game, it's another September loss for Freeman. Notre Dame lost three games at home in September over his first three seasons as head coach. I also really like Mike Elko and his fit at Texas A&M. He gets College Station and I think he'll work out at Texas A&M. But he'll have to win games like this one to prove that he's the guy for the Aggies. A rematch of the Big Ten Championship Game. I think this game is bigger for Penn State than Oregon. I've repeated over and over again that it's time for Penn State to beat someone it's evenly matched with or upset a team with more talent than it has. James Franklin has done a perfect job at winning the games he's supposed to win, which is a talent that shouldn't be underrated. But he and Penn State have to win those matchup games, where you have to beat a team that has equal talent to you. The Nittany Lions got close to doing that last year, playing Ohio State, Oregon and Notre Dame close. If Penn State can win this game, that would announce to everyone that this group is ready for the big stage and potentially make a run for a title. From an Oregon perspective, this is Dan Lanning's first opportunity to show what his squad is made of after getting blown out by Ohio State in the Rose Bowl. There isn't any shame in losing to that Ohio State team, but Oregon has to show that it has turned the page and can continue to play at a high level. If it can win at Penn State, which I think is the toughest place to play in the Big Ten, that would be saying something for Oregon. USC vs. Illinois (Week 5) This is a sneaky, under-the-radar one. This game is important for Illinois because the game gives them an opportunity to show they can be this year's Indiana. Both teams could be 4-0 entering this game. If Illinois wins this game, it'd likely be 5-0, with its game against Ohio State as its only difficult game remaining. That Ohio State game doesn't look as daunting if Illinois handles business against USC. Bret Bielema is building something very special at Illinois. However, they're going to have to fight the chance of being a former afterthought that turns into the apple of everyone's eye. Illinois doesn't have the talent to blow everyone out, but Bielema is building something very sustainable. As for USC, it's pretty obvious: Lincoln Riley needs to stack some good wins. He did great early in his tenure at USC, but things got shaky over the last couple of years. If USC loses this game, it's staring right down the barrel of another possible 7-5 season. USC has one of the best recruiting classes in the country for 2026, so it's building momentum off the field. Now, it needs to build momentum on the field, too. Alabama vs. Georgia (Week 5) This is an obvious one. This game is really always a great game. They could play it in a parking lot, and it would be a great game with high stakes. The winner of this game will likely be in the SEC Championship Game. Then, you get into the implications for both teams. Is Alabama back at the level it was at with Nick Saban? This is a huge early test for Kalen DeBoer in Year 2, and Alabama's schedule after this game is manageable. For Georgia, if it loses this game, we'll wonder if the Bulldogs are slipping. It'd mark two straight losses to Alabama, with a loss in the CFP quarterfinals sandwiched between that. Penn State vs. Ohio State (Week 10) This is likely another top-five matchup, which will present another opportunity for James Franklin to get a marquee win. If Penn State doesn't beat Oregon in Week 5, there will be a ton of pressure on Franklin and the Nittany Lions when they head to Columbus, especially in a year where the Buckeyes are breaking in a new quarterback and coordinators. This is also the most experienced and talented team Franklin has had in his tenure at Penn State. It's a big opportunity for Drew Allar to show what he's made of. The loser of this game will be in a precarious spot in the Big Ten title race. We'll see how it plays out, but Penn State needed a wild loss from Ohio State against Michigan to reach the Big Ten Championship Game last season. LSU vs. Alabama (Week 11) As I got to the later weeks of the season while making this list, I started predicting some outcomes from earlier games. Most of us probably think that Georgia will beat Alabama in Week 5. I think Clemson will beat LSU in Week 1. If those two results happen, the LSU-Alabama matchup in Week 11 will be a monster game with CFP implications. I don't know if the loser of this game can still make the CFP if it also lost its game earlier on this list. It could be a battle for the third or fourth CFP spot among SEC teams. And as I touched on with both teams' inclusions earlier on this list, this is a high-stakes game for both coaches. Brian Kelly needs as many high-profile wins as he can get, and you have to think that Kalen DeBoer doesn't have that long of a runway at Alabama. The way things finished for DeBoer in Year 1 wasn't very Alabama-esque. Ohio State vs. Michigan (Week 14) This game was obviously going to make the list. It's a battle between the last two national championship winners. You've got the backstory of how this game finished last year, with Michigan trying to plant the flag at The Shoe before a fight broke out. Even though Ohio State got its national championship, it still has to listen to Michigan say, "Well, you didn't beat us, and we won our national championship going 15-0." This year's game is going to be epic. Can Michigan actually win a fifth straight game against Ohio State? Thinking back to the COVID year, I didn't think Michigan was going to win The Game for the foreseeable future. Somehow, it's won four in a row. There are some games that were certainly worthy of being mentioned on this list, but these are the 10 that I feel will truly shape the 2025 college football regular season. Maybe I'll touch more on those games at a later date. Joel Klatt is FOX Sports' lead college football game analyst and the host of the podcast " The Joel Klatt Show. " Follow him at @joelklatt and subscribe to the "Joel Klatt Show" on YouTube . Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily. recommended Get more from College Football Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
USA Today
21 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Clemson basketball makes the final 5 choices for 4-star forward Dean Rueckert
Clemson remains firmly in the hunt for one of the top wings out West in the 2026 class. Four-star small forward Dean Rueckert, out of Timpview High School in Provo, Utah, announced his top five schools on Thursday, with the Tigers making the cut alongside BYU, Utah, Stanford, and Washington. Clemson offered Rueckert in late May, and it didn't take long for the Tigers to earn a spot among his finalists. Rueckert is considered one of the most versatile forwards in the West for his class. The 6-foot-6 prospect averaged 18.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game last season, showcasing his ability to score at all three levels while making an impact on the defensive end. He's currently ranked No. 62 nationally in the 247Sports Composite and checks in at No. 24 among small forwards. Clemson head coach Brad Brownell and his staff have quietly made inroads in the 2026 cycle, and Rueckert has emerged as a priority target. As Rueckert moves closer to a decision, the Tigers are positioning themselves as a serious contender for one of the most skilled perimeter players in the class. Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions.
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Eagles' 2025 undrafted free agents with the best chance to make the 53-man roster
With training camp fast approaching, we're looking at five undrafted free agents with the best chance to make the Philadelphia Eagles 53-man roster. The Eagles have star power at just about every position, and unlike past years, it'll be hard for an undrafted rookie to crack the starting lineup, let alone make the 53-man roster. Philadelphia added nine talented players who will be motivated by all 32 teams passing on them during the three-day event's selection process. The Birds added five on the offensive side of the football and two powerful offensive linemen. With the July training camp less than a month away, we're looking at five undrafted free agents with the best chance to make the 53-man roster. OL Marcus Tate-Clemson Philadelphia signed Tate (6-5, 321 pounds) after the former Clemson star participated in the Eagles' Rookie Camp earlier this spring. A four-year starter, Tate saw action in 42 games (37 starts), logging 2,502 snaps during his Tigers career. Tate became just the third true freshman offensive lineman in Clemson history to start a season opener in 2021. WR Darius Cooper – Tarleton State A player to watch, the St. Louis, Missouri native joins the Eagles from Tarleton State, where he earned first-team Associated Press FCS All-America honors in his senior season. The 5-foot-11, 210-pound receiver is athletic and finished second in Division I in receiving yards with 1,450 (the second most in single-season school history) and sixth in touchdowns with 14 (the third most in single-season school history) in 2024. In 48 career games, Cooper accumulated 164 catches for 3,185 yards and 29 touchdowns, averaging 19.4 yards per catch. DB Maxen Hook – Toledo A former teammate of star cornerback Quinyon Mitchell, Hook was a first-team All-MAC selection in 2024, his third straight season earning the honor. He was the third Toledo Rocket to make an All-MAC team in four seasons. Hook could be this year's Reed Blankenship after finishing 24th in the nation with 8.92 tackles per game. Hook finished his career with 356 tackles, seven interceptions, and 22 passes defended in 52 games. OL Hollin Pierce – Rutgers The 6-8, 341-pound Trenton, New Jersey native was Rutgers' first offensive lineman to earn All-America status since Anthony Davis in 2009. He also earned second-team All-Big Ten honors in 2024 after starting 13 games at left tackle. RB ShunDerrick Powell – Central Arkansas Powell rushed for over 4,000 yards in his collegiate career with 42 total touchdowns. He had eight 100-yard games in 2024. The two-time FCS All-American is a three-down running back and potential special-teams standout.
