Latest news with #nationalchampions
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
SMU's Rhett Lashlee questions SEC football's depth, calls conference 'top-heavy'
The SEC is generally recognized as the preeminent conference in college football, the home of the overwhelming majority of national champions from the past 20 years and some of the most fervently fan bases in the sport. At least one coach sees some holes in the league's resume. SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee took aim at the SEC's depth at ACC media days on July 22, describing the league as 'top-heavy' while noting that only six SEC teams have won the conference since 1964. REQUIRED READING: Big Ten college football power rankings start with Penn State, Ohio State The six schools Lashlee referenced are Alabama (24 championships), Georgia (11), LSU (eight), Florida (eight), Tennessee (seven) and Auburn (seven). The number Lashlee cited, though, doesn't include Kentucky, which the SEC credits as a co-conference champion alongside Georgia in 1976. A team from the SEC has won the national championship 13 times since the 2006 season, with five different schools achieving the feat. That figure does not include Texas' 2005 national championship, which came when it was a member of the Big 12 and happened nearly 20 years before it joined the SEC. Conference superiority has emerged as a persistent subject of arguments in college football this century. It has only intensified with the advent of the 12-team College Football Playoff, in which the number of at-large bids a league receives can depend largely on the perception of its strength and competitiveness. Lashlee's team was at the center of the first major debate of the 12-team playoff era, with the Mustangs earning an at-large berth to the event after losing to Clemson in the ACC championship game. SMU got in over several SEC teams — Alabama, Ole Miss and South Carolina — that were just below it in the playoff selection committee rankings. During the news conference portion of his appearance at ACC media days, Lashlee touted the ACC, saying it's one of three conferences that has had a current member win a national championship since 1990, with the SEC and Big Ten being the others. Current ACC programs have won seven national championships during that 35-year stretch, though Miami's two titles came while it was competing in the Big East. 'I don't know why that's not talked about more,' Lashlee said. 'We have national brands. We've won championships. The revenue is almost double who's fourth. We have our own network, the competition, the investment. I just think it speaks for itself. Most people want to see things decided on the field, so let's let it happen that way. 'I don't think there's any question that if (the playoff) stayed at 12 (teams), we're every year a multi-bid league. Miami should have been last year at 10-2. There's no question they were one of the top 12 teams in America. But it does get tough, especially when you have a human committee making decisions.' This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: SMU coach Rhett Lashlee describes SEC football as 'top-heavy'
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
2 Ohio State Buckeyes skyrocket in updated recruiting rankings
The Ohio State Buckeyes are the reigning national champions and have a top-10 recruiting class nationally. They also boast arguably the top two players in all of college football with wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and safety Caleb Downs. Advertisement But Ryan Day's program received even more good news Monday, as On3/Rivals updated their class of 2026 player ratings. Two future Buckeyes made the "biggest risers" list - and both are now among the nation's top prospects. Previously the nation's No. 96 overall prospect, Archbishop Hoban (Ohio) offensive tackle Sam Greer jumped to No. 14 - a staggering jump that will make him a five-star recruit on Signing Day. But that wasn't all. Juniperro Serra (California) edge-rusher Khary Wilder was "not rated" in the previous ratings, but jumped all the way up to No. 38 overall. Advertisement Several programs saw a commit or two jump up the list, including Notre Dame, Georgia, Oregon, Florida State and others, but no program has more to celebrate than Ohio State. The Buckeyes are, once again, reloading with the 2026 class.
Washington Post
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Terps basketball alumni reunite for TBT with $1 million at stake
HARRISONBURG, Va. — Former Maryland men's basketball players Juan Dixon, Byron Mouton and Andre Collins were together again Friday night, but this reunion wasn't about honoring their legacy as 2002 national champions. The trio instead joined forces on the coaching staff of Shell Shock TBT, the Terrapins' alumni-led team participating in The Basketball Tournament.
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ranking Ohio State football schedule in 2025 from easiest to toughest games
Ohio State's attempt to repeat as national champions begins with a formidable schedule in the regular season. Three nonconference games start with a potential top-five matchup with Texas, and five out of the nine Big Ten games are away from Ohio Stadium, including a trip to the West Coast for a second straight season. Advertisement Some teams always surprise, making it a bit of a challenge to assess the true strength of a schedule over the summer. Remember Indiana? The Hoosiers were pegged toward the bottom of conference preseason polls a year ago, but started 10-0 before a visit to Columbus last November. No one had that clash circled on the calendar in the preseason. But we'll nonetheless give it our best shot at sorting through the Buckeyes' slate, ranking the games from the easiest to the toughest to for a sense of the biggest obstacles awaiting Ohio State in 2025. 12. Sept. 6 vs. Grambling As the Buckeyes face a program from the lower Football Championship Subdivision for the second time in three years, expect Grambling to be even more overmatched than Youngstown State in 2023. The Tigers have not finished above .500 since 2019 and were 5-6 overall a year ago in their first season under Mickey Joseph, a former interim coach and assistant at Nebraska. Only an emotional letdown by Ohio State following its marquee season opener should keep this close. Advertisement 11. Sept. 13 vs. Ohio Dec 20, 2024; Orlando, FL, USA; Ohio Bobcats quarterback Parker Navarro (13) calls a play at the line against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks in the third quarter at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images It's likely Ohio is the best opponent from the Mid-American Conference to visit Columbus in at least several years. The Bobcats have had three straight double-digit win seasons, culminating last fall with their first conference championship since 1968. While coach Tim Albin left for Charlotte, they promoted offensive coordinator Brian Smith to lead the program, and along with the return of starting quarterback Parker Navarro, there is a bit of continuity for the MAC's highest-scoring team from 2024. 10. Nov. 8 at Purdue Purdue Boilermakers head coach Barry Odom smiles Saturday, April 12, 2025, during the spring showcase at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind. The Boilermakers have to improve after a year in which they were winless in the Big Ten for only the third time since 1946. The nine conference losses, including a 45-0 shutout by Ohio State in November, led to the firing of coach Ryan Walters and a roster makeover ushered by former UNLV coach Barry Odom. Purdue used the transfer portal to add 55 players, a haul that should allow them to begin climbing out of the conference's cellar, though the odds are against them seeing the overnight success Indiana found last season following its coaching change. Advertisement 9. Nov. 22 vs. Rutgers The Rutgers Scarlet Knights mascot, Sir Henry, on the field before the game against the Howard Bison at SHI Stadium. Greg Schiano has elevated Rutgers into the middle class of the Big Ten with consecutive winning seasons and bowl berths, but the Scarlet Knights' backfield no longer contains Kyle Monangai, who led the conference in rushing in 2023 and was second behind only Iowa's Kaleb Johnson last season. Florida Atlantic transfer CJ Campbell Jr. will need to be a plug-and-play option in his place. The placement on the schedule, just before the annual rivalry game with Michigan, always invites the possibility for a trap game, but it's been a decade since Ohio State has actually stumbled during the penultimate weekend of the regular season. 8. Nov. 15 vs. UCLA Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Nico Iamaleava (8) throws during the second half of the College Football Playoff first round game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Dec. 22, 2024. Ohio State won 42-17. Despite a drama-filled exit from Tennessee at the end of spring practice, Nico Iamaleava gives UCLA an immediate upgrade at quarterback and raises the ceiling for the West Coast school that faced the most difficult transition to the Big Ten. Iamaleava flashed potential as a redshirt freshman, leading the Volunteers to a 10-3 overall record and their first College Football Playoff appearance. The Bruins had one of the lowest-scoring offenses in the Football Bowl Subdivision, but there is reason to anticipate strides not only due to the arrival of Iamaleava but also the hiring of Tino Sunseri, a rising star assistant who helped Indiana reach the playoff, as offensive coordinator. UCLA, which won four of its last six games last season, could surprise. Advertisement Buy Ohio State books, posters, gear from CFP title win 7. Oct. 18 at Wisconsin Oct 19, 2024; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Luke Fickell is shown during the second quarter against the Northwestern Wildcats Saturday October 19, 2024 at Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Hoffman/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images Luke Fickell took steps this offseason to return Wisconsin to its roots, hiring former Kansas offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes to install a more run-oriented scheme, ending an experiment with the Air Raid that proved to be an odd fit in Madison. The Badgers missed a bowl game last fall for the first time since 2001. Grimes has an encouraging track record with the ground game. The Jayhawks were No. 13 in the FBS in rushing offense last fall, and he inherits capable personnel, from options in the backfield including Darrion Dupree, Dilin Jones and Cade Yacamelli to an offensive line returning three of five starters. But Wisconsin is only 12-13 in two seasons under Fickell, and it remains to be seen if the Badgers can recapture their success from the 2010s. Advertisement 6. Oct. 4 vs. Minnesota Oct 26, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers defensive back Koi Perich (3) runs with the ball after intercepting a pass against the Maryland Terrapins during the first half at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images There is no idle week for the Buckeyes following their Pacific Northwest trip this year. They instead host Minnesota, which promises to have one of the better defenses in the nation. The Gophers ranked fifth in total defense and ninth in scoring defense in the FBS last season and return key pieces such as Anthony Smith, a lengthy defensive end who led them in sacks and tackles for loss, and Koi Perich, a safety who was an All-Big Ten first-team selection as a freshman. The Gophers are rarely an issue for Ohio State, which has won 29 of the last 30 games in the series, including 10 in a row, but the combination of a tough defense and veteran running back Darius Taylor continues a formidable midseason stretch. 5. Oct. 11 at Illinois Nov 11, 2023; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema reacts to a call during the second half against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports The Illini have plenty of talent left following their first 10-win season since 2001. Among the 136 FBS teams, only Clemson and Arizona State have higher shares of returning production, according to Bill Connelly of ESPN. The core not only includes quarterback Luke Altmyer, one of the most experienced passers in the Big Ten, but also the entire starting offensive line and stars on defense that include Gabe Jacas, a linebacker who is second among returning Big Ten players in a sacks, and Xavier Scott, a shutdown cornerback who was one of 15 semifinalists for the Jim Thorpe Award as the top defensive back in the nation last fall. Illinois is well-rounded as it enters Bret Bielema's fifth season at the helm and won't be an easy out as the Buckeyes visit Champaign for the first time in a decade. Advertisement 4. Sept. 27 at Washington Sep 14, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Washington Huskies quarterback Demond Williams Jr. (2) hands the ball off to Washington Huskies running back Jonah Coleman (1) during the second half at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images The conference schedule for the Buckeyes begins with a 2,000-mile trek to Seattle, visiting a program that is on the cusp of moving up in the conference hierarchy. Coach Jedd Fisch turned late last season to Demond Williams Jr., a dynamic dual-threat quarterback who started against Oregon and Louisville in the Sun Bowl. While the Huskies lost both games, Williams flashed potential, completing 43 of 52 passes (82.6%) for 575 yards and five touchdowns with only one interception. Along with running back Jonah Coleman, one of the small handful of returning 1,000-yard rushers in the Big Ten, few teams in the league point to having a better backfield duo this fall. Fisch revived Arizona in his previous stop, and Washington, only two years removed from reaching the national championship game, is likely to be closer to the top of the standings this fall. 3. Nov. 29 at Michigan Ohio State Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs (2) intercepts a pass intended for Michigan Wolverines wide receiver Tyler Morris (8) during the second half of the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. Michigan won 13-10. No other game on the schedule looms as large as The Game. Ohio State has an active losing streak against only one team in the Big Ten, and it's to its most bitter rival. After a stunning upset last November, Michigan extended its winning streak over the Buckeyes to four games, its longest since 1988-91. The downturn only heightens the pressure among the Buckeyes, especially coach Ryan Day who has not prevailed since his debut season in 2019. Despite those circumstances, along with this year's meeting being in Ann Arbor, the quarterback uncertainty at Michigan keeps this from being the toughest matchup on the slate. All signs point to the Wolverines turning to a true freshman behind center, though even if Bryce Underwood was the top-ranked prospect in the nation in the last recruiting cycle, there's still a significant learning curve for a teenaged starter. Advertisement 2. Nov. 1 vs. Penn State Jan 9, 2025; Miami, FL, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Drew Allar (15) looks to pass in the second half against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium. Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images There's little question that Ohio State has Penn State's number. Even as their last eight meetings have been decided by an average of only 8 points, the Buckeyes have won them all. But the Nittany Lions pose their biggest threat this season. They retained most of their top upperclassmen, including quarterback Drew Allar and running backs Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton, an approach to roster building over the offseason that mirrored the construction of the Big Ten's previous national championship-winning teams. There's also Jim Knowles, the defensive coordinator at Ohio State the last three seasons who has returned to his home state. Knowles inherited one of the highest-ranked units in the FBS and knows the Buckeyes' personnel well, presenting a new X-factor. Penn State has not beaten Ohio State in Columbus since 2011, predating James Franklin's tenure, but on paper this is its best shot. 1. Aug. 30 vs. Texas Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian leads warm ups prior to the Cotton Bowl Classic College Football Playoff semifinal game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Texas Longhorns at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Jan. 10, 2025. The Buckeyes do not ease into the schedule this year. Their first game is against a potential top-five team they last saw in the playoff semifinals in January. Texas has one of the most talented rosters in the sport, having signed top-five classes in three out of the last four recruiting cycles. Though coach Steve Sarkisian is known for his offensive background, the Longhorns are well constructed across both sides of the ball, especially on defense with star edge rusher Colin Simmons and linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. Simmons beat out Buckeyes superstar receiver Jeremiah Smith for the Shaun Alexander Award as the best freshman in the nation last year. Of course the biggest name is Arch Manning, who is set to take over behind center for Quinn Ewers after spending the last two years as his backup. Not only does Manning have the most famous last name in football, but he was also the highest-ranked prospect in the 2023 recruiting class. Ohio State will need to hit the ground running, no small feat considering it is replacing its starting quarterback and both coordinators this offseason. Advertisement Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. Email him at jkaufman@ and follow along on Bluesky, Instagram and X for more. Get more Ohio State football news by listening to our podcasts This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State football schedule 2025: Ranking easiest to toughest games
Arab News
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Arab News
Sudanese clubs seek league title amid civil war
JOHANNESBURG: A civil war in Sudan has not prevented clubs competing to be national champions and qualify for the 2025/26 Confederation of African Football (CAF) competitions. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport
