Latest news with #Lassan
USA Today
10-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Michigan State football left off Athlon Sports' preseason bowl projections
Where does Steve Lassan of Athlon Sports have Michigan State football bowling this season? Well, unfortunately, no where. Lassan released some early bowl projections for the upcoming season earlier this week and somewhat surprisingly he left the Spartans out of the mix. He didn't even have them in the list of teams he considered "just missing the projections." Click here to see the complete bowl projections from Lassan on Athlon Sports. Michigan State is coming off three straight seasons of missing the postseason, including a 5-7 finish last year in new head coach Jonathan Smith's first campaign. The Spartans opened up last year with a 3-0 mark before a rough 2-7 finish to the year. Lassan has Rutgers landing in the GameAbove Sports Bowl and Minnesota going to the Rate Bowl. Those are two landing spots I could see Michigan State end up this season but clearly he likes the Scarlet Knights and Golden Gophers better than our Spartans. Michigan State kicks off the 2025 season on August 29 against Western Michigan at Spartan Stadium. Kickoff in the opener is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET with the game set to be televised on FS1. Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.
USA Today
10-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Georgia football ranked in Athlon Sports' preseason top five
The Georgia Bulldogs are once again expected to be one of the best teams in the nation. Athlon Sports' Steven Lassan released his official preseason rankings, and the Bulldogs ranked fourth on the list. Lassan prefaces that Kirby Smart and his squad come into the 2025 season with more question marks than past squads. Expected starter Gunner Stockton has just two games of experience (the 2024 SEC championship and Sugar Bowl) and one start. However, Georgia did make a strong effort to help him, adding top receiver transfers Noah Thomas (from Texas A&M) and Zachariah Branch (from USC). The Georgia running game also struggled in 2024 (second-to-last in the SEC in yards per game) and Georgia only has one returning offensive lineman from last year. However, Lassan believes that the talent in the backfield is too good to struggle again next year, believing that sophomore Nate Frazier will have a breakout season as a lead back. Josh McCray and Bo Walker could be interesting pieces behind Frazier, while Cash Jones adds another weapon to the passing game. Lassan also believes the defense is in transition as well. The Bulldogs lost tons of young talent through the transfer portal and several key starters to the 2025 NFL draft, but Georgia still has stars, such as Christen Miller on the defensive line, CJ Allen on the linebacker core, and cornerback Daylen Everette and safety KJ Bolden in the secondary. Overall, development will be the key to proving the No. 4 ranking true. Georgia ranks second in the SEC and fourth in the nation behind Ohio State, Penn State, and Texas, who earned the No. 1 spot. Georgia and Texas play each other on Nov. 15 in a potential de facto SEC championship. Athlon Sports' preseason top 25 rankings Follow UGAWire on Instagram or Threads for more Georgia football coverage!
USA Today
02-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Several Oklahoma Sooners selected to Athlon Sports All-SEC preseason team
The Oklahoma Sooners did not have the first year in the SEC that they hoped to have. However, the folks over at Athlon Sports believe OU might have the players to change their fortunes this season. Staff writer Steve Lassan released his All-SEC preseason team for the 2025 season, and his squads featured plenty of Sooners. "An important note on the all-conference teams: These are based on how players will perform in 2025. Career statistics and awards matter in the evaluation, but choosing players for the 2025 all-conference team is largely based on predicting and projecting the best for the upcoming year. Also, team strength does not play a role in selections. These are the best individual players at each position in the league for '25." - Lassan, Athlon Sports. On the first team, running back Jaydn Ott, wide receiver Deion Burks, and defensive end R Mason Thomas each made the cut. Ott is a newcomer who transferred in from Cal during the spring transfer portal window, while Burks and Thomas are key returners from last season. Thomas had a breakout season, leading the Oklahoma Sooners with nine sacks. Burks showed promise, but battled injuries for much of last season. Defensive tackle Gracen Halton was selected to the second team. He enjoyed a breakout year a season ago, finishing second on the team in sacks and pressures, and will be leaned on even more as part of a stout defensive line for Oklahoma. On the third team, defensive tackle Damonic Williams, inside linebacker Kip Lewis, and cornerback Eli Bowen all made the list. All three are also going to be moving into more of a leadership role in their respective position rooms this season, with key veterans off to the NFL. Williams was a key addition in the transfer portal last offseason and was a force in the middle of the Sooners' defensive line. Lewis made game-changing plays throughout the season, most notably his interception returns for touchdowns to help lift Oklahoma to wins over Auburn and Alabama. Bowen was one of two true freshmen to earn a starting role for the Sooners, and he was key in the Sooners' win over the Crimson Tide. The Sooners also had one player selected on the fourth team, safety Peyton Bowen. Bowen is a former five-star prospect and has the potential to be a game-changer on the back end of the Sooners' secondary. He's another key returner for Brent Venables and Co., who gives Oklahoma eight players on the preseason all-conference squad. OU had two players represented on offense and six players represented on defense. Oklahoma also has a few other players who will play big roles that weren't selected for Lassan's All-SEC Team. Quarterback John Mateer, defensive tackle Jayden Jackson, inside linebacker Kobie McKinzie, and safety Robert Spears-Jennings will all be pivotal to OU's success in 2025. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X @Aaron_Gelvin.
