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It's time to vote for the Gadsden area boys athlete of the week.

This year, the Gadsden Times will split the boys and girls polls. Below is the boys poll featuring some of the top athletic performances from Oct. 16. Last week, Westbrook Christian's Titus Jones won 57% of the vote.

The nominees can come from any AHSAA sport. Nominees for athlete of the week come from the top performers the week before. Coaches and team stat keepers can submit stats to nominate players for top-performer lists. Voting will last until noon Thursday.

Gadsden Times area boy athlete of the week nominees

• Boaz's Beau Bennett - 275 passing yards, 3 TDs
• Cherokee County's Tatum Perry - 151 rushing yards, 5 total TDs
• Coosa Christian's Jack England - 327 passing yards, 4 TDs
• Gaston's Zyien Dupree - 378 rushing yards, 5 TDs
• Geraldine's Jon Beck Wade - 3 passing TDs

Vote for Gadsden Times Boys Athlete of the Week for Oct. 16

STATE COLLEGE – Penn State women's basketball coach Tanisha Wright was a college head coach with no players on the roster at one point.

Now, with the season opener less than a month away, Wright and Penn State women’s basketball are ready for the start of a new era.

Prior to Vitória Santana’s return on Sept. 29, every player from the 2025-26 roster either ran out of eligibility or transferred, including leading scorer Kiyomi McMiller (who’s now at Florida with Moriah Murray) and 6-foot-6 center Gracie Merkle (now at Minnesota).

That meant Wright and her newly assembled staff had to put together a roster from scratch. As great and established as Wright is as a program legend and accomplished WNBA coach, finding talented players under those circumstances isn’t ideal.

And yet, after the dust has settled, the Lady Lions are 11-deep heading into 2026-27, and the roster includes some legitimate talent.

“We started this journey with zero players,” Wright said at media day on Oct. 12. "So, to be able to fill the roster with 11, and with the caliber of people that they are, we’re ready to get started.”

More: Penn State football linebacker Alex Tatsch to miss rest of the season

Petra Božan brings two years of Big Ten experience from Nebraska, along with FIBA experience for Team Croatia; Skylar Durley won Mountain West Freshman of the Year last season at Nevada; Kamrah Banks is a 247Sports top-100 recruit and top-12 point guard in the country; and Ava Black saw real minutes on one of the top programs in country as a freshman at Vanderbilt.

What’s more impressive than the quick accumulation of basketball talent, is how quickly the players have bonded with each other. An entirely new team can struggle to develop chemistry, especially this early, but Wright said it’s been the opposite thus far.

“I got really lucky, to be honest with you,” Wright said. “We do some things together, but they’ve taken the initiative to do things on their own and build the culture that they want.

“Ultimately, when you’re building a team, you want it to be player-centric, where the players decide who they want to be, and the identity they want to be. They’re doing that on their own, so it’s made our lives a lot easier.”

Graduate forward Savannah White credited “Coach T” with recruiting “good people,” which has made the chemistry building much easier. She added how the team has a unified belief in Wright’s goals and a shared desire for success, both individually and as a unit.

Games still have to be played, but the cultural identity of the new-era Penn State women’s basketball is off to a good start.

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: After starting at zero, Tanisha Wright built Penn State women's basketball from scratch

It’s time to select the boys and girls fall high school sports athletes of the week from Sept. 27-Oct. 3.

Each week, the Beaver County Times will post two new polls featuring student-athletes who had strong performances during the past week. 

The Times will pull nominees based on input from our staff and contributors. You can also nominate an athlete for the upcoming week via email to timesscores@gmail.com and/or emorrison@usatodayco.com. Please include details of their achievements for the current week only, including statistics or results. All submissions will be considered but not necessarily selected. 

The poll will be live until noon, Friday, Oct. 23. The winners will be announced at the beginning of each week.

Week of Aug. 23-29 winners

Boys: Brenden Fortner, Lincoln Park [1,377 votes]

Girls: Claire Brett, Central Valley (Tennis) [479 votes]

Week of Aug. 30-Sept. 5 winners

Boys: Emmit Olenic, Ambridge (Golf) [1,152 votes]

Girls: Mia Furda, Beaver Arae (Soccer) [362 votes]

Week of Sept. 6-12 winners

Boys: Luca Carsele, Ellwood City (Golf) [21,427 votes]

Girls: Peyton Davidson, Central Valley (Volleyball) [17,897 votes]

Week of Sept. 13-19 winners

Boys: Anthony Popovich, Ellwood City (Soccer) [870 votes]

Girls: Reese Anderson, Riverside (Cross Country) [10,589 votes]

Week of Sept. 20-26

Boys: Anderson Weisz, Ellwood City (Golf) [2,749 votes]

Girls: Reese Anderson, Riverside (Cross Country) [3,982 votes]

Week of Sept. 27-Oct. 3

Boys: Quincy Sannon, Hopewell (Soccer) [3,501 votes]

Girls: Ashley Bible, Central Valley (Volleyball) [587 votes]

Week of Oct. 4-10

Boys: Quincy Sannan, Hopewell (Soccer) [5,328 votes]

Girls: Emily Milanovich, Sewickley Academy (Golf) [9,360 votes]

Required Reading: West Allegheny boys golf captures first team title in program history

Required Reading: Quaker Valley's Jonah Montagnese captures second MAC cross country title

Required Reading: The Times' fall high school sports top performances for Oct. 11-17

Ethan Morrison is the sports reporter for the Beaver County Times. Contact him at emorrison@usatodayco.com and follow him at EthanMorrison26 on X.

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Vote for Beaver County Times' high school athletes of the week, Oct. 11-17

What’s the real fallout of a bunch of upsets happening in mid-October? Several teams that seemed to be locks for the College Football Playoff are suddenly in danger of being realistically knocked out of the hunt.

On the plus side, there’s the likelihood now that teams like Texas and Alabama have to find homes in top bowl games, potentially making the games more attractive – at least when it comes to brand names.

The results from one of the wildest weekends in a long, long time are reflected in the latest CFN bowl projections. Jump to the College Football Playoff Bracket and Predictions.
– What will the final CFP Top 12 field be?

Week 8 Bowl ProjectionsOct 17, 2026; Athens, Georgia, USA; Auburn quarterback Byrum Brown (17) and wide receiver Chas Nimrod (5) celebrate a touchdown during the second quarter against Georgia at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn ImagesBowl Projections Quick Hits

• We’re predicting that only three SEC teams will find their way into the College Football Playoff, which means the bowl powers-that-be will have to find showcase games for several powerful football schools.
• With Arizona State and Cal being blown out, Washington rallying back, and Colorado and Stanford not realistically a part of the mix, there aren’t a ton of sure-thing former Pac-12 programs with several slots being held open for them.
• Remember, several schools won’t accept the bowl bids or won’t be able to go. The projections now are based on what we think will happen if everyone can field a full team. If you don’t see your team, don’t worry – it should all be fine once teams drop out.

Cricket Celebration Bowl

South Carolina State vs Jackson State 
Saturday, December 12, 2026
Game Time: 12:00, ABC
Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA
Last Season: South Carolina State 50, Prairie View A&M 38 4OT
Bowl Affiliations: MEAC, SWAC

IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl

Middle Tennessee vs Louisiana Tech
Tuesday, December 15, 2026
Game Time: 5:30, ESPN
Location: Cramton Bowl, Montgomery, AL
Last Season: Jacksonville State 17, Troy 13
Bowl Affiliations: CUSA, MAC, Sun Belt

Frisco Football Classic

FIU vs Troy 
Tuesday, December 15, 2026
Game Time: 9:00, ESPN
Location: Ford Center at the Star, Frisco, TX
Last Season: No Game
Bowl Affiliations: CUSA, Sun Belt

Boca Raton Bowl

UCF* vs Mississippi State* 
Friday, December 18, 2026
Game Time: 11:00 am, ESPN
Location: Flagler Credit Union Stadium, Boca Raton, FL
Last Season: Louisville 27, Toledo 22
Bowl Affiliations: Group of 6

Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl

USF vs South Carolina 
Friday, December 18, 2026
Game Time: 3:30, ESPN
Location: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
Last Season: NC State 31, Memphis 7
Bowl Affiliations: AAC, CUSA (ACC, SEC)

Myrtle Beach Bowl

Jacksonville State vs North Texas 
Monday, December 21, 2026
Game Time: 11:00 am, ESPN
Location: Brooks Stadium, Conway, SC
Last Season: Western Michigan 41, Kennesaw State 6
Bowl Affiliations: Group of 6

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

Western Michigan vs North Dakota State 
Monday, December 21, 2026
Game Time: 2:30, ESPN
Location: Albertsons Stadium, Boise, ID
Last Season: Washington State 34, Utah State 21
Bowl Affiliations: MAC, Mountain West

Puerto Rico Bowl

Miami University vs Oregon State
Tuesday, December 22, 2026
Game Time: 1:30, ESPN
Location: Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium, Bayamón, Puerto Rico
Last Season: No Game
Bowl Affiliations: MAC, Group of 6 or Pac-12

StaffDNA Cure Bowl

Georgia State vs Florida Atlantic 
Tuesday, December 22, 2026
Game Time: 5:00, ESPN
Location: Exploria Stadium, Orlando, FL
Last Season: Old Dominion 24, USF 10
Bowl Affiliations: Group of 6

Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl

Baylor vs Boise State* 
Tuesday, December 22, 2026
Game Time: 8:30, ESPN
Location: Independence Stadium, Shreveport, LA
Last Season: Louisiana Tech 23, Coastal Carolina 14
Bowl Affiliations: Big 12, Former Pac-12

New Orleans Bowl

Liberty vs Louisiana 
Wednesday, December 23, 2026
Game Time: 2:00, ESPN
Location: Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, LA
Last Season: Western Kentucky 27, Southern Miss 16
Bowl Affiliations: CUSA, Sun Belt

Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl

Army vs West Virginia 
Wednesday, December 23, 2026
Game Time: 5:30, ESPN
Location: Amon G Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, TX
Last Season: Texas State 41, Rice 10
Bowl Affiliations: AAC, CUSA, (or Big 12)

Poinsettia Bowl

Washington vs UNLV 
Wednesday, December 23, 2026
Game Time: 7:30, CW
Location: Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego, CA
Last Season: No Game
Bowl Affiliations: Former Pac-12, Mountain West

Frisco Bowl

Fresno State vs TCU*
Wednesday, December 23, 2026
Game Time: 9:00, ESPN
Location: Toyota Stadium, Frisco, TX
Last Season: Ohio 17, UNLV 10
Bowl Affiliations: Group of 6

Isleta New Mexico Bowl

New Mexico vs South Alabama 
Thursday, December 24, 2026
Game Time: 2:30, ESPN
Location: University Stadium, Albuquerque, NM
Last Season: North Texas 49, San Diego State 47
Bowl Affiliations: Mountain West, CUSA or Sun Belt

Sheraton Hawaii Bowl

Wyoming vs East Carolina 
Thursday, December 24, 2026
Game Time: 7:00, ESPN
Location: Clarence TC Ching Athletics Complex, Honolulu, HI
Last Season: Hawaii 35, Cal 31
Bowl Affiliations: Mountain West, CUSA (or AAC)

Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl

Virginia Tech vs Minnesota 
Saturday, December 26, 2026
Game Time: 12:00, ABC
Location: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Last Season: Penn State 22, Clemson 10
Bowl Affiliations: ACC, Big Ten

Wasabi Fenway Bowl

Memphis vs Florida State 
Saturday, December 26, 2026
Game Time: 2:00, ESPN
Location: Fenway Park, Boston, MA
Last Season: Army 41, UConn 16
Bowl Affiliations: AAC, ACC

Duke’s Mayo Bowl

North Carolina vs Northwestern 
Saturday, December 26, 2026
Game Time: 3:30, ABC
Location: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
Last Season: Wake Forest 43, Mississippi State 29
Bowl Affiliations: ACC, Big Ten (or SEC)

68 Ventures Bowl

Ohio vs App State 
Saturday, December 26, 2026
Game Time: 5:30, ESPN
Location: Hancock Whitney Stadium, Mobile, AL
Last Season: Delaware 20, Louisiana 13
Bowl Affiliations: CUSA, MAC, Sun Belt

Cactus Bowl

Penn State vs Oklahoma State 
Saturday, December 26, 2026
Game Time: 7:30, ABC
Location: Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ
Last Season: Minnesota 20, New Mexico 17 OT
Bowl Affiliations: Big Ten, Big 12

Freedom Mortgage Military Bowl

Tulane vs Virginia 
Monday, December 28, 2026
Game Time: 2:00, ESPN
Location: Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Annapolis, MD
Last Season: East Carolina 23, Pitt 17
Bowl Affiliations: AAC, ACC

Holiday Bowl

Duke vs USC 
Monday, December 28, 2026
Game Time: 5:00, CW
Location: Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego, CA
Last Season: SMU 24, Arizona 19
Bowl Affiliations: ACC, Former Pac-12

JLab Birmingham Bowl

UTSA vs Auburn 
Tuesday, December 29, 2026
Game Time: 2:00, ESPN
Location: Protective Stadium, Birmingham, AL
Last Season: Georgia Southern 29, App State 10
Bowl Affiliations: AAC, SEC

Pop-Tarts Bowl

Clemson vs Kansas State 
Tuesday, December 29, 2026
Game Time: 5:30, ABC
Location: Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL
Last Season: BYU 25, Georgia Tech 21
Bowl Affiliations: ACC, Big 12

Valero Alamo Bowl

Oregon vs Houston 
Tuesday, December 29, 2026
Game Time: 9:00, ESPN
Location: Alamodome, San Antonio, TX
Last Season: TCU 30, USC 27 OT
Bowl Affiliations: Former Pac-12, Big 12

TaxSlayer Gator Bowl

Louisville vs Ole Miss 
Wednesday, December 30, 2026
Game Time: 11:30 am, ESPN
Location: EverBank Stadium, Jacksonville, FL
Last Season: Virginia 13, Missouri 7
Bowl Affiliations: ACC, SEC

Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl

Nebraska vs Florida 
Wednesday, December 30, 2026
Game Time: 3:00, ESPN
Location: Nissan Stadium, Nashville, TN
Last Season: Illinois 30, Tennessee 28
Bowl Affiliations: Big Ten, SEC

ReliaQuest Bowl

Michigan vs Kentucky 
Thursday, December 31, 2026
Game Time: 12:00, ESPN
Location: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
Last Season: Iowa 34, Vanderbilt 27
Bowl Affiliations: Big Ten, SEC

Old El Paso Sun Bowl

SMU vs Utah
Thursday, December 31, 2026
Game Time: 2:00, CBS
Location: Sun Bowl, El Paso, TX
Last Season: Duke 42, Arizona State 39
Bowl Affiliations: ACC, Former Pac-12

Las Vegas Bowl

Oklahoma vs Arizona
Thursday, December 31, 2026
Game Time: 3:45, ESPN
Location: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, NV
Last Season: Utah 44, Nebraska 22
Bowl Affiliations: SEC, Former Pac-12

Kinder’s Texas Bowl

Texas Tech vs Texas 
Thursday, December 31, 2026
Game Time: 7:30, ESPN
Location: NRG Stadium, Houston, TX
Last Season: Houston 38, LSU 35
Bowl Affiliations: Big 12, SEC

Citrus Bowl

Wisconsin vs Alabama 
Saturday, January 2, 2027
Game Time: 12:00, ABC
Location: Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL
Last Season: Texas 41, Michigan 27
Bowl Affiliations: Big Ten, SEC

SERVPRO First Responder Bowl

Pitt* vs Texas A&M* 
Saturday, January 2, 2027
Game Time: 3:30, ESPN
Location: Gerald R Ford Stadium, University Park, TX
Last Season: UTSA 57, FIU 20
Bowl Affiliations: Group of 6 (or ACC)

Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl presented by Gin & Juice by Dre and Snoop

Toledo vs Air Force
Saturday, January 2, 2027
Game Time: 5:30, CW
Location: Arizona Stadium, Tucson, AZ
Last Season: Fresno State 18, Miami University 3
Bowl Affiliations: MAC, Mountain West

AutoZone Liberty Bowl

Cincinnati vs Missouri 
Saturday, January 2, 2027
Game Time: 7:30, ESPN
Location: Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, Memphis, TN
Last Season: Navy 35, Cincinnati 13
Bowl Affiliations: Big 12, SEC, (or AAC)

College Football Playoff ProjectionsOct 17, 2026; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Indiana Hoosiers wide receiver Nick Marsh (11) reacts after an incomplete pass reception during the fourth quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-Imagn ImagesCollege Football Playoff First Round

Tennessee (9) at Iowa (8) 
Friday, December 18, 2026
Game Time: 8:00, ESPN
Location: To Be Determined

James Madison (12) at Georgia (5) 
Saturday, December 19, 2026
Game Time: 12:00, ABC/ESPN
Location: To Be Determined

Wake Forest (10) at Indiana (7) 
Saturday, December 19, 2026
Game Time: 3:30, TNT/truTV
Location: To Be Determined

LSU (11) at UCLA (6) 
Saturday, December 19, 2026
Game Time: 7:30, TNT/truTV
Location: To Be Determined

College Football Playoff QuarterfinalsVrbo Fiesta Bowl

Indiana (7) vs BYU (2) 
Wednesday, December 30, 2026
Game Time: 7:30, TNT/truTV
Location: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ

Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl

Georgia (5) vs Miami (4) 
Friday, January 1, 2027
Game Time: TBD
Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA

Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic

LSU (11) vs Notre Dame (3) 
Friday, January 1, 2027
Game Time: TBD
Location: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX

Rose Bowl Presented by Prudential

Iowa (8) vs Ohio State (1) 
Friday, January 1, 2027
Game Time: TBD
Location: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA

College Football Playoff SemifinalsCapital One Orange Bowl

Indiana (7) vs Notre Dame (3) 
Thursday, January 14, 2027
Game Time: 7:30, TNT/truTV
Location: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL

Allstate Sugar Bowl

Georgia (5) vs Ohio State (1) 
Friday, January 15, 2027
Game Time: 7:30, ABC/ESPN
Location: Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, LA

College Football Playoff National Championship

Georgia (5) vs Notre Dame (3) 
Monday, January 25, 2027
Game Time: 7:30, ABC
Location: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, NV

1. Elon Musk says he is going to give SpaceX stock away to kids  Yahoo Finance
2. Elon Musk says he will give a SpaceX share to ‘every kid in America’  CNN
3. Elon Musk pledges SpaceX stock gift to every child in the U.S.  Quartz
4. Musk Says He’ll Gift SpaceX Shares to ‘Every Kid in America’  Bloomberg.com
5. AM Markets Need to Know: Musk plans SpaceX gift, Samsung taps TSMC, and more (SPX:)  Seeking Alpha

How Bad Is Another Case of Covid?  The New York Times

1. Eagles’ persistent offensive struggles mean ‘everything’s on the table’ — and that could include Sean Mannion’s role  Inquirer.com
2. Albert Breer’s Week 6 NFL Takeaways: Why You Should Still Trust Howie Roseman and the Eagles  Sports Illustrated
3. Do the Eagles have a Sean Mannion problem? What could change? ‘Everything’s on the table’  Yahoo Sports
4. Different QB, same problems: Is Sean Mannion’s system holding back the Eagles?  The New York Times
5. Week 6 non-Eagles rooting guide  PhillyVoice

Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Tavien St. Clair (9) warms up during the NCAA football game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City on Oct. 3, 2026. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co

Ohio State defeated Indiana 19-15 on Saturday in Bloomington, but the victory costed the Buckeyes their starting quarterback.

Midway through the fourth quarter, Julian Sayin was hit as he was trying to throw, ultimately fumbling with the ball being recovered by Philip Daniels. The tackle jolted Sayin’s arm in an awkward position, and he got up clearly in pain with his arm at his side.

The second-year QB was taken into the locker room, and returned shortly after with his arm in a sling. Ryan Day announced after the game that while they didn’t have all the details of Sayin’s injury, they knew he will be out for, “several weeks.”

That is a pretty huge deal for an Ohio State team whose passing offense ranks near the top nationally, in addition to the effect it could have on the Heisman candidacy of Jeremiah Smith, who despite being the best player in the sports does still need someone to throw him the ball.

Sayin was having a nightmare game prior to the injury. The usually accurate QB was completing barely over 50% of his passes and threw two very bad interceptions, missing some very wide open receivers and looking rattled from the start. Still, even with Sayin’s struggles in big games, having him on the field is likely still a better alternate than the huge question mark that now exists at quarterback.

There seem to be two options to replace Sayin moving forward, whether that be only for a few weeks or more long term, and both are freshmen: Luke Fahey and Tavien St. Clair.

Fahey is the one who replaced Sayin against Indiana, and while it was an extremely difficult situation to be thrown into, he didn’t exactly look ready to go. He did have one nice 8-yard scramble, which also led to a late hit 15-yard penalty on Indiana, but outside of that Fahey threw two incomplete passes and was also called for an intentional grounding.

Fahey was a three-star quarterback in the 2026 class. The California native was ranked as the No. 35 QB nationally and the No. 586 player overall, per the 247Sports Composite. Fahey is undersized at his position, listed at 5-foot-11, but was incredibly productive at the prep level, throwing for more than 7,000 yards with 68 touchdowns to only nine picks in his high school career.

The Mission Viejo product had been the first man up off the bench in blowouts this season for Ohio State, getting a few throws in early in the year against Ball State and Kent State. Fahey completed 9-of-11 passes for 204 yards and two TDs in garbage time of those two games, but he also threw two picks.

It has been surprising to most that it is Fahey that has earned the backup quarterback job, given that he has been competing with former five-star Tavien St. Clair, the other option to take over for Sayin.

St. Clair came to Ohio State viewed as the quarterback of the future for the Buckeyes. Standing at 6-foot-4, St. Clair was ranked as the No. 1 player in Ohio and the No. 3 quarterback in the 2025 class, also coming in as the No. 7 overall prospect.

Winner of the Elite 11’s accuracy competition and a finalist for 2o24 Ohio Mr. Football, St. Clair threw for more than 10,000 yards and more than 100 touchdowns at Bellefontaine, and was a three-time Central Buckeye Conference Offensive Player of the Year.

St. Clair also made his way into both the Ball State and Kent State games this season. He completed five of his six pass attempts in the opener for 52 yards and a touchdown, but was picked off in his only pass attempt against the Golden Flashes.

Everyone thought St. Clair would be the heir apparent to Sayin, taking over as the Buckeyes’ starting quarterback in 2027, and so Fahey earning the backup job out of camp has come as a bit of a shock. Now, with Ohio State once again in need of a quarterback, does that competition reset?

Fahey and St. Clair have wildly different prospect rankings coming out of high school, but clearly the coaching staff has seen more from the former than the latter in their time in Columbus. That being said, winning a job as Ohio State’s backup quarterback to take over during mop-up duty is a hell of a lot different than making a start against USC in two weeks.

Day and his staff should use this first week of practice heading into the off week as an open quarterback competition. Let Fahey and St. Clair get as many reps as possible with the ones, and figure out which guy gives you the best chance to win games.

Once you have established the winner heading into the weekend, you can then use the following week of practice to actually install the offense for the new QB before heading out west.

Either way, they cannot look to completely change what they have been doing just because Sayin is no longer out there. The passing attack has been the much better half of the offense this season, and they can’t just abandon that — especially because they still have Jeremiah Smith and a bunch of other talented receivers out there.

The coaching staff has to trust whichever quarterback earns the job to continue leading this offense the same way they had before. There will be no time for a learning curve with USC and Oregon on the horizon, so they really need to get this right.

Ohio State is in a great position heading into the back half of the schedule, but that could all flip on its head if they don’t have a quarterback who can get the job done.

Gio Reyna marked his return to the starting lineup with a goal on Saturday. Photograph: Sathire Kelpa/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images

For an entire four-year cycle, to write about Gio Reyna was to write about his potential – especially the nagging feeling that it was going unfulfilled. Once hyped as possibly the greatest prospect in US men’s history, a series of injuries kept him from simply taking the field, much less making his mark on it.

Since his emergent 2020-21 season, when he logged nearly 2,000 Bundesliga minutes running alongside Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham, and Jadon Sancho, Reyna finished each of the ensuing five seasons without even cresting 630 league minutes. “Rotational” became a generous descriptor for his role at Nottingham Forest on loan, and then last season with Borussia Mönchengladbach. Still, Gregg Berhalter and Mauricio Pochettino kept involving Reyna with the US squad based on that pesky potential – betting that, on his day, he still had the raw talent to do what few compatriots could.

Related: European football: 10-man Lyon hold off Nice to move top of Ligue 1

This year, those days are finally coming with regularity. Since faring well in a contributor’s role at the World Cup, Reyna has moved to France with Strasbourg, and he’s remained first-choice in a youthful squad whose average age of 21.6 more closely resembles a postgrad program than a Ligue 1 roster. Coupled with his newfound status as a two-time World Cup selection, Reyna appears more comfortable as a budding leader than the would-be wunderkind with an unfortunately lengthy injury ledger. Life’s simpler that way.

“Keep showing up every day, training, recovering,” Reyna said of his current focus when speaking with reporters during the most recent US window. “[I’m] doing everything I need to prepare mentally and physically for every training and game. I feel good, though, and I’m feeling more confident every time I step on the pitch.”

The only player to start in all four friendlies during the September/October international window, Reyna was understandably rotated out of Strasbourg’s first lineup upon his return to France before being restored for Saturday’s visit from Paris Saint-Germain. It ended as most Ligue 1 matches involving PSG do, with the two-time defending European champions doing just enough to claim all three points.

But before PSG’s three goals, there was an opening strike from Reyna. Beginning with his attacking-half regain from a bad pass by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Reyna collected the ball and worked a one-two before dribbling into the box. With Lucas Digne in tow, Reyna drifted toward the center before slotting a well-placed shot between a befuddled Filip Jörgensen and his near post.

A run to the supporters. A knee slide. A casual salute. At last, Reyna is more relevant for his exploits as a player rather than as a concept – but the reason why goes far beyond that goal. For the first time in his career, Reyna has managed to start eight consecutive games for club and country, with the streak only ending as he was rotated following the window. A month shy of turning 24, his body is finally letting him lean into the promise he’s shown since he first turned heads as part of the New York City FC academy.

Related: The Florian Wirtz mystery: why has he not found Leverkusen form at Liverpool?

It doesn’t hurt that he harbors less pressure to carry the team than he previously has. Much like Christian Pulisic, the bombastic arrival of Cavan Sullivan and a host of other young players have eased the pressure of the spotlight, and Reyna can once again act as a veteran voice. To start the window, Justin Ellis said he especially looked up to Reyna during his own academy days in Orlando. Shortly afterward, Ellis opened his US scoring account off of a looping free-kick from Reyna.

At last, the US is developing enough players who appear to boast potential to play in Europe’s big five that no individual is seen as the make-or-break piece.

Still in the first half of his 20s, there’s plenty of time left for Reyna to put forth a fine career, away from the dueling shadows of his father, Claudio, and the initial idea of what he could be during his Dortmund heyday. At long last in a comfortable position at Strasbourg, he’s beginning to write his own story.

Kawhi Leonard is back for a second spell with the Raptors. Photograph: Cole Burston/Getty Images

When Kawhi Leonard became a Toronto Raptor for the first time in the summer of 2018, he looked shellshocked. “There’s just more questions you have to ask me in order for me to tell you about myself,” he said, introducing himself to an organization and city he reportedly had no interest in joining.

Leonard had fallen out with his former team, the San Antonio Spurs – one of the most respected franchises in professional sports – due to differences in opinion about an injury that had limited him to just nine games in the 2017-18 season. The Los Angeles native had hoped to end up in southern California, but instead the Raptors risked it all by swapping franchise cornerstone DeMar DeRozan for one year of an injured, malcontent Leonard. It worked: Leonard led the Raptors to their maiden championship on the back of a historic playoff run, averaging 30.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.7 steals en route. Leonard won his second finals MVP to go alongside the one he had claimed with the Spurs when he helped them to the title in 2014.

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“The narrative of not wanting to come to this city is gone,” the team’s president, Masai Ujiri, said at that 2018 press conference, speaking to insecure Raptors fans who had watched American players like Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady, and Chris Bosh leave Toronto since the franchise opened its doors in 1995. “We should move past that. Believe in this city. Believe in yourselves … We are proud of who we are.”

But even a historic season wasn’t enough to convince Leonard to stay north of the border. After a long and contentious free-agency period managed by his uncle, Dennis Robertson, Leonard spurned the reigning champions in favor of his hometown Los Angeles Clippers. “There wasn’t as much anger in 2019 as there was with Vince Carter or some of the other guys who left,” says Bruce Arthur, who has covered Leonard since 2018 for the Toronto Star. “I think he was given a little bit of special dispensation because he was going home, because he had delivered a title, and because I never felt like there was ever a connection outside of Kawhi the basketball player, with Toronto.”

Raptors fans’ anger was instead directed towards the Clippers, who not only showed up to almost every Raptors game during the championship season, but who also, we now know, went under the table to ensure Leonard signed lucrative endorsement deals totaling over $50m – violating the NBA’s salary cap rules.

Robertson was suspended for five years and Clippers owner Steve Ballmer was handed the harshest punishment in NBA history, including the loss of five first-round draft picks and a year-long suspension. However, thanks to a side-deal between the NBA and its Players Association executed to avoid arbitration, Leonard was given a relatively light $700,000 fine (he has earned $375m in salary so far in his career).

“Kawhi’s … gotten away really clean from what is obviously out-of-bounds behavior,” says Arthur, who reported that Leonard – as much as he pleads ignorance to all this – was in the room when Robertson asked the Raptors for an ownership stake in the Toronto Maple Leafs and at least $10m per year in no-show sponsorship deals in 2019. “So, perfect heist-type stuff from Kawhi.”

Despite being one of the greatest players of his generation, the 35-year-old has burned bridges on his way out of every franchise he’s played for. Spurs fans are still upset by the way his injury was handled in 2017-18, while Clippers fans are distraught about being left holding the bag without even a genuine apology from Leonard. But Raptors fans have much more complicated feelings towards the seven-time All-Star – arguably the best player in franchise history.

On the one hand, “There was a sense of defiance, especially the first year after Kawhi left [when the Raptors lost to the Boston Celtics in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semi-finals] ... and there was a great deal of pride that went into that,” says William Lou, the host and creator of the Hello and Welcomepodcast. But as time went on, “The Clippers were humbled in a basketball sense. They never could get that version of Kawhi … that Toronto got in their one year, and so it’s hard to be too mad.”

Arthur says Raptors fans will always associate Leonard with the championship win. “I think the bottom line isn’t necessarily about a lack of moral reckoning by Raptors fans as much as: this guy’s so good that you forgive him, right?” says Arthur. “The [championship] was the greatest moment in franchise history by galaxies. Two and a half million people on the streets of Toronto for the parade. That was one of the best days Toronto’s ever had.”

The sentiment was seemingly shared by the organization. Despite being frustrated by the way his previous free agency unfolded, the Raptors front office couldn’t pass up the opportunity to grab the lifeline Leonard represented – even in his mid 30s. The Raptors have failed to win a playoff series since 2020, a stretch that includes three grim seasons of 30 wins or fewer. Last season, the franchise pulled itself out of the dregs of the league thanks to a star leap from 25-year-old Scottie Barnes and a handful of smart trades and draft picks, but the Raptors looked like a relatively expensive, middle-of-the-pack team with a difficult path towards contention until Leonard not only became available, but pushed his way towards Toronto.

“This city took a liking to my family, and I took a liking to this city,” Leonard said in the team-owned documentary series Open Gym after the Raptors traded Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first-round picks, two second-round picks and a pick-swap for him in mid-September. “Hopefully they embrace me back and [I] give them my all again, and we can make something special happen once again.”

Although there were extenuating circumstances leading to Leonard’s return – he and the Clippers are under investigation by the Justice Department – it is meaningful that he chose the Raptors over big-market championship contenders like Miami, Minnesota, and Detroit. It’s also important that he proclaimed his desire to retire a Raptor before signing a two-year, $115m extension with the franchise. “He deserves to have his jersey retired somewhere,” says Lou. “But due to the circumstances of his career, he kind of was a player without a home.”

Leonard now has a chance to rewrite his complicated legacy with a familiar franchise. Leading the Raptors back to anywhere near the promised land would ensure him a jersey retirement ceremony, a first-ballot Hall of Fame induction, and Canadian sports immortality.

The Raptors, meanwhile, aren’t just getting an upgrade at the wing position; they are getting an all-time great coming off one of the best seasons of his career – an American superstar who experienced all the small cultural discomforts of playing in Toronto and still had such positive memories of the fans, organization, and city that he chose to return to.

“It’s a little surreal having this guy who leaves after a championship, and you think the story’s done there, and then he becomes the biggest scandal in the NBA, and then somehow forces his way to the Raptors,” says diehard Raptors fan Imman Adan. “But I definitely think him coming back cements Toronto’s legacy.”

It’s complicated, of course. It always will be so long as the Raptors are the lone NBA franchise outside of the United States. But no matter how Leonard’s second tenure in Toronto plays out, his return is a stamp of approval – one that many Raptors fans have been waiting for since the franchise began.

NBA Power Rankings: Where Lakers, Spurs, Celtics and others land on opening day of the season originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The start of the season is finally here, and with it comes my opening day power rankings for all 30 teams in the league. This season will be one of the more fun ones in recent memory, with the league championship totally up for grabs. We've had a new winner in each of the last eight years and 12 different NBA Finals teams since 2020. The Knicks are a great team, but a repeat championship is far from a guarantee. 

The Spurs and Thunder are the obvious candidates to usurp them out of the West. If both falter, then there are several quality teams at their heels. The East is looking even tougher, with seven teams that wouldn't shock me if they made it to the Finals. 

Here's how I see the league shaking out, along with predicted records for each team. 

RANKING ALL 150 NBA STARTERS: 11-150 | Top 10

NBA Power Rankings1. Oklahoma City Thunder

Last season: 64-18, No. 1 in the West

Projected record: 64-18

The Thunder did lose some key rotation players from last year's 64-win team in Lu Dort, Isaiah Joe, and Aaron Wiggins. They still maintained the rest of their core, including two-time reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. They've been a historic defense over the past two seasons, and that isn't changing. And Jalen Williams should be much healthier this season, re-establishing himself as an All-Star. 

Oklahoma City has an embarrassment of riches on its roster to bolster its top-end talent in SGA, Williams, and Chet Holmgren. Cason Wallace is a capable fill-in for Dort in the starting lineup. Ajay Mitchell and Jared McCain are ready for more minutes off the bench. Bennett Stirtz and Aday Mara have looked great in preseason. That depth makes them an easy pick for best record in the league. 

2. San Antonio Spurs

Last season: 62-20, No. 2 in the West

Projected record: 61-21

The Spurs' young core is only getting better from their Finals run. Although he's currently slated to come off the bench, Dylan Harper already appears ready to be a strong No. 2 next to Victor Wembanyama, who should be the favorite to win MVP if he stays healthy. Tobias Harris upgrades a scary starting lineup. And veteran Billy Donovan should provide a steadying hand as an assistant coach in some of the rough moments that San Antonio experienced in the most high-leverage moments last year. 

3. Boston Celtics

Last season: 56-26, No. 2 in the East

Projected record: 54-28

The Celtics shocked the world by trading Jaylen Brown during the offseason. They shouldn't experience much of a decline. Jayson Tatum's return should fill the void left by Brown. Paul George is a perfect fit in Joe Mazzulla's system, where he can capably switch on defense and shoot a high percentage from 3 on offense. Mitchell Robinson might be the most underrated addition of the offseason, both weakening the Knicks and adding to an already-elite offensive rebounding team. 

MORE: What's next for the Celtics? Evaluating Boston with Paul George

4. New York Knicks

Last season: 53-29, No. 3 in the East

Projected record: 54-28

It might seem disrespectful to have the defending champs this low, but they weren't a great regular season team last season. They don't have the depth of the teams above them, and the drop-off between Robinson and his replacement Andre Drummond is huge. 

The Knicks will still be a powerhouse and should be considered the favorite to come out of the East in the playoffs. Jalen Brunson shows up for the biggest moments, and their top-end talent is on par with anyone. 

5. Houston Rockets

Last season: 52-30, No. 5 in the West

Projected record: 54-28

The Rockets are my pick to be among the biggest overachievers in the league. They've won 52 games in each of the past two seasons, and they've added some talent that should make them even better.

Marcus Smart had a comeback season last year for the Lakers. He fits the team's tenacious defensive identity perfectly. Fred VanVleet's return from injury addresses the biggest weak point as far as a steady hand to guide the team late in games. Steven Adams' return should allow Houston to continue pummeling teams on the glass. 

Houston probably won't get quite the same level of production from Kevin Durant, who had a remarkably healthy season in which he played in 78 games and was among the league leaders in minutes. But they have better balance and more depth to lean on. 

NBA PROJECTED WIN TOTALS: Eastern Conference | Western Conference

6. Toronto Raptors

Last season: 46-36, No. 5 in the East

Projected record: 53-29

The Raptors are my other pick for overachiever. They were already a solid team last season that looked feisty in the playoffs. Scottie Barnes has arrived as an All-NBA talent, despite getting snubbed for that award last season. And Kawhi Leonard was a top-five player in the league last year. He replaces a good-not-great player in Brandon Ingram. 

That Barnes-Leonard duo will be among the best in the league. What will carry the Raptors though is their defense. They should be in contention with the Spurs for the No. 2 defense in the league after finishing No. 5 last season. 

7. Cleveland Cavaliers

Last season: 52-30, No. 4 in the East

Projected record: 50-32

I'm going against consensus by having the Cavs this high. They didn't look particularly impressive in the playoffs despite making it to the Eastern Conference Finals. But this is a team that has a ton of talent and a history of winning in the regular season. 

Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen have led the Cavs to 52 and 64 wins over the past two seasons. For all of the criticism that James Harden gets, he's been a reliable workhorse during the regular season. And newcomer Peyton Watson shores up the team's biggest long-term need as an athletic wing who can both play defense and shoot from 3. 

The Cavs don't have the best depth, but Sam Merrill and Jaylon Tyson are both reliable bench players. I'm a Craig Porter Jr. believer too. That is enough in the regular season to complement a terrific starting five. 

8. Detroit Pistons

Last season: 60-22, No. 1 in the East

Projected record: 49-33

The Pistons cruised to a top seed in the East last season, but a regression is probably on the horizon. Cade Cunningham will keep the floor very high. But Jalen Duren, who was excellent during last year's regular season, is more of a question mark. His playoff collapse, along with messy public contract negotiations, generates some worry about his upcoming season. 

There are some other cracks showing deeper in the team's rotation. Tobias Harris, Isaiah Stewart, and Caris LeVert are all gone. The team did address its shooting woes by adding Isaiah Joe, and a full season of Kevin Huerter will help. But this looks like a worse roster than the one from last year. While Detroit will always bring great defense and play with an edge, the offensive pieces still look like an awkward fit. 

Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images

9. Denver Nuggets

Last season: 54-28, No. 3 in the West

Projected record: 49-33

Nikola Jokic is still the best offensive player in the game. He didn't have his best year by his standards last year though, as he fought his way through some injury issues. His defense slipped as well, dropping him to No. 3 in my player rankings. 

The Nuggets will be a good team even if Jokic is beginning to decline. Even at 90 percent of his peak, he will give them a decent shot at a championship over the next few seasons. But the road to get there is tougher this year than last.

DeMar DeRozan was a nice pickup and should bolster the league's worst bench. Cameron Johnson looked like he was figuring things out at the end of last season. Denver still needs one or two more pieces though, particularly given Aaron Gordon's struggles in staying healthy and the loss of Watson. 

10. Minnesota Timberwolves

Last season: 49-33, No. 6 in the West

Projected record: 49-33

The Wolves added high-end talent in LaMelo Ball. Anthony Edwards and Ball should create an absolutely electric offense that is fast, bombs 3's, and makes flashy plays. Rudy Gobert is still an elite rim protector that can anchor the team to a top-10 defense. And a full year of Ayo Dosunmu should help as Donte DiVincenzo recovers from his torn Achilles. 

Power forward depth is a question mark that keeps the Wolves out of the top tier of teams. Jonathan Kuminga is the presumptive starter there. He will have to improve his all-around game rather than being just a scorer. 

11. Los Angeles Lakers

Last season: 53-29, No. 4 in the West

Projected record: 49-33

The Lakers lost LeBron James, but they added personnel that fits better around Luka Doncic. That should have them fighting as a home court advantage team in the West. They added some shooting in Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton, and Sandro Mamukelashvili. That group, along with more production from Austin Reaves, should have Los Angeles as a top 10 offense. But the team's main concerns were on defense, where Walker Kessler is expected to clean up a ton of mistakes. 

That is a big bet on Kessler, who has struggled to stay healthy. Marcus Smart was also critical to keeping the Lakers' defense respectable last season. The team will need to find some way to replace his perimeter defense. One of Matisse Thybulle, Bronny James, or Jarred Vanderbilt will need to step into that Smart role. 

12. Philadelphia 76ers

Last season: 45-37, No. 7 in the East

Projected record: 46-36

The Sixers have the star talent that is going to make them exciting to watch. Joel Embiid looks like he's in the best shape of his life, Tyrese Maxey is one of the league's brightest young stars, and everyone knows what LeBron James and Jaylen Brown can do. Concerns about the team's offense are overblown. They're going to be fantastic on that end of the floor, with LeBron connecting all of the pieces. 

Defense is another story. Embiid is still not able to move particularly well even after his weight loss. The team's depth behind him is poor and looking even worse after Ariel Hukporti's Achilles tear during the preseason. VJ Edgecombe will have to be the lockdown perimeter defender on the team, and Brown will need to be more engaged off the ball than what he showed last year with the Celtics.

Those defensive concerns and lack of depth should lead the Sixers to a modest regular season record. They'll be much more dangerous in the playoffs, when rotations get shortened. 

MORE: Give the Sixers a 'B' on the Paul George-Jaylen Brown trade 

13. Miami Heat

Last season: 43-39, No. 10 in the East

Projected record: 46-36

The Heat have an elite defensive foundation between Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo. Concerns about their lack of 3-point shooting seem overblown given the additions of Klay Thompson and Tim Hardaway Jr., along with Davion Mitchell's progression as a shooter. 

That makes them another team that has an extra gear to go to in the playoffs, but their lack of depth should prevent them from reaching the top of the regular season standings. This is a weak bench, and Giannis' health is also a question mark at this stage in his career. 

MORE: Grading the Giannis Antetokounmpo Bucks-Heat blockbuster

14. Indiana Pacers

Last season: 19-63, No. 14 in the East

Projected record: 43-39

The Pacers are only 16 months removed from Game 7 of the NBA Finals, but this is a different team than the one that ran roughshod over the East.

Tyrese Haliburton hasn't played a game of basketball since that date, and it's reasonable to expect that he will need some time before he reaches that top-10 level of player that he was in those 2025 playoffs. He will also need to adjust to a new big man in Ivica Zubac who is expected to play a different, more aggressive defensive scheme than the drop coverage that he thrived in with the Clippers.

Indiana may start slow, but they should finish fast. They have talent that always seems to ramp up as the season progresses, along with an elite coach in Rick Carlisle. 

15. Atlanta Hawks

Last season: 46-36, No. 6 in the East

Projected record: 43-39

The Hawks have the assets to make a major move for a star player. Until that guy becomes available, they're taking a patient approach. They have an extremely well-balanced roster and six capable starters between Jalen Johnson, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, CJ McCollum, Dyson Daniels, Onyeka Okongwu, and Lu Dort. They have strong coaching and good veterans that know how to play off each other. 

That group will keep them as a good-not-great team in the East until they make a move for a top-10 star. Johnson doesn't look quite ready to break into that tier of player, and the Hawks will need that superstar if they want to rise to the top of the conference. 

NBA BOLD PREDICTIONS: Eastern Conference | Western Conference

16. Orlando Magic

Last season: 45-37, No. 8 in the East

Projected record: 41-41

The Magic changed their coach, but they still have most of the same problems from last season. This offense is shaky until proven otherwise, with a lack of shooting, below-average playmaking from guards, and a weird fit between Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.

Orlando's defense should still be very good. But Sean Sweeney will have to prove that he's a brilliant offensive tactician before the Magic dig themselves out of mediocrity.

Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images

17. Portland Trail Blazers

Last season: 42-40, No. 8 in the West

Projected record: 40-42

The Blazers made a bold move in trading for Ja Morant, whose fit is a bit odd next to Damian Lillard. Both are electric ballhandlers with glaring defensive deficiencies. Donovan Clingan is an elite rim protector, but he can only do so much. Morant joins a crowded backcourt that also includes Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson. 

Lillard's return should help address the Blazers' biggest weakness last season, a lack of shooting around Deni Avdija. At age 36 though and coming off an Achilles injury, he isn't changing the team's fortunes dramatically from the plucky 42-win team that overachieved last year. 

18. Golden State Warriors

Last season: 37-45, No. 10 in the West

Projected record: 40-42

Stephen Curry is still one of the premier stars in the league, but his minutes need to be monitored carefully at this stage of his career. Jimmy Butler won't be back until the end of the season, and there's no star who can carry the team when Curry misses games here and there. Kristaps Porzingis' availability for the year is already in question. And Draymond Green's offensive abilities have been falling off a cliff. 

The all-around concerns from the Warriors' high-end talent has them looking like a Play-In Tournament team. There are some brighter spots on the bench though. They have one of the league's sleepers in Gui Santos, who was very solid as a starter last season. Yaxel Lendeborg will be one of the most productive rookies. And familiar faces like Gary Payton II, De'Anthony Melton, and Al Horford can be counted on for solid minutes. 

19. Phoenix Suns

Last season: 45-37, No. 7 in the West

Projected record: 38-44

The Suns made a win-now move by trading for Miles Bridges, whose offensive skill should make them a more dangerous team. Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks form a good scoring duo in the backcourt.

I'm not as sold on Jalen Green, who is a presumptive starter but should probably be coming off the bench for Collin Gillespie. Another reason for regression is Mark Williams' labrum injury before the start of preseason. Oso Ighodaro and Khaman Maluach are capable backups, but neither profile as a quality starter. 

20. Charlotte Hornets

Last season: 44-38, No. 9 in the East

Projected record: 36-46

The Hornets should take a clear step back after trading away LaMelo Ball. They still have a ton of 3-point shooting, particularly after adding Grayson Allen, Royce O'Neale, and Christian Anderson. But the team's ability to generate clean looks has gone down.

Coby White has filled in as a point guard before during his time with the Bulls. He's a capable distributor and good scorer, but he's no Ball. Brandon Miller can create too, but he needs to add strength and become a more efficient finisher. Kon Knueppel can also take some playmaking duties on. All three will need to fill larger roles for the Hornets to maintain their momentum from last season, and Charlotte will start on a tough note as White and Knueppel recover from a calf and hamstring strain. 

21. Memphis Grizzlies

Last season: 25-57, No. 13 in the East

Projected record: 35-47

The Grizzlies are a strong contender to overachieve their modest preseason expectations. While they don't have any clear All-Stars on their roster, they do have tremendous depth and role players with a proven track record of success. 

Cameron Boozer looks like the rookie that is most ready to contribute. Zach Edey's ankle surgery should have him ready for a Most Improved Player campaign. Ty Jerome was excellent in the few games that he was able to suit up in last season. Jerami Grant brings a good offensive skillset. The list of productive players goes on and on. 

22. Utah Jazz

Last season: 22-60, No. 15 in the West

Projected record: 31-51

I'm much lower on the Jazz than consensus. Their wins have been suppressed over the past several seasons, and they will get better this year. But they still have some concerning holes on their roster.

Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. are a good duo, but neither is particularly suited to playing full-time center. Jusuf Nurkic is a well below-average starter who is already starting the year off with a foot injury. And there isn't much behind Nurk in the rotation. 

That lack of depth poses a real problem for the Jazz, who will be trying hard to win this season. They do have strong coaching and good offensive talent, particularly in last year's breakout star Keyonte George and rookie Darryn Peterson. But this was a very bad defensive team last year, and there's only so much that Jackson Jr. can do to shore up that side of the ball by himself. 

23. Los Angeles Clippers

Last season: 42-40, No. 9 in the West

Projected record: 30-52

The Clippers have dealt with a nightmarish offseason that saw them lose a ton of draft picks and face constant distractions. And they have already faced significant injuries to both Max Strus and Brandon Ingram. 

Despite those obstacles, Los Angeles should still be somewhat respectable. They have some decent veterans to hold down the fort, led by a rejuvenated Darius Garland. Rui Hachimura is a solid incoming starting piece, and there are some great defenders in Kris Dunn and Derrick Jones Jr. in the rotation as well. Add in stellar coaching and a lack of tanking incentive, and the Clippers should stay out of the very bottom of the standings. 

NBA DRAFT: First-round grades | Ranking team performances

24. New Orleans Pelicans

Last season: 26-56, No. 11 in the West

Projected record: 30-52

The Pelicans do have some decent talent on their roster. Zion Williamson is possibly the most slept-on scorer in the league, still capable of wreaking havoc when going downhill. He doesn't have quite as much offensive responsibility as in recent years, and his fit is wonky next to Derik Queen, making him a potential trade candidate at some point in the season. Trey Murphy has All-Star potential as an athletic sharpshooter who can drop buckets in a hurry. Those two will keep the floor from falling out. 

The Pelicans also have All-Defensive stud Herb Jones to wreak havoc on the defensive end. Jones' shooting looked shaky last year, and he will need a return to form in that area for the Pelicans to overachieve. As good as Jones is, it's hard to see New Orleans with a good team defense. Too many weak individual defenders along with poor center depth should keep them out of the playoff picture. 

Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images

25. Dallas Mavericks

Last season: 26-56, No. 12 in the West

Projected record: 29-53

Kyrie Irving's return from ACL surgery should make the Mavs better. Their guard play was a weakness last year, and they desperately need his playmaking ability. How much they can count on the 34-year-old is a real question. And they don't have good depth behind him. The team's roster construction is way too forward-heavy, with very few quality guards. 

That puts an oversized creation burden squarely on Cooper Flagg's shoulders for the second straight year. Flagg had a great rookie season but did looked overtaxed in consistently creating efficient offense for himself and others. 

While Irving and Flagg are both excellent players, there isn't enough around them at this stage to get more than a modest improvement from last season's win total.

26. Washington Wizards

Last season: 17-65, No. 15 in the East

Projected record: 25-57

The Wizards do have a scenario where they can break into the playoff picture. Trae Young is a good floor raiser who remains one of the best passers in the game. Anthony Davis is a top-15 player when healthy. And AJ Dybantsa could win Rookie of the Year. 

I'm not a believer in everything hitting right for Washington due to several reasons. Young's athleticism was waning in Atlanta before getting traded last year. His once-trusted floater and 3-pointer haven't quite looked right in a while. Davis' health is always a massive risk, and he's a trade candidate. Dybantsa is going to score, but his shot selection needs cleaning up. And Brian Keefe hasn't shown much since taking over the Wizards head coaching position in 2024. 

Washington should see some good development from its young roster. Young will make life easier for everyone. But there are too many potential points of failure to expect a giant leap.

NBA POWER RANKINGS IN 2029: Which teams have the brightest future?

27. Chicago Bulls

Last season: 31-51, No. 12 in the East

Projected record: 25-57

The Bulls are no longer shying away from the word rebuild. They have taken a meaningful step back over the past year in order to build towards something more ambitious than the middle of the East.

There are some adults in the room that will keep Chicago respectable while they develop their youth. Norman Powell is a big time scorer that will have a permanent green light. Josh Giddey and Tre Jones are both quality passers that can get the team organized. Isaac Okoro is a quality defender. And the Bulls have two low-end starting-caliber centers in Nic Claxton and Jalen Smith. The depth on this team isn't bad. 

Chicago will still struggle to win games despite that veteran group because Caleb Wilson's development will be the priority this year. While his athleticism will lead to some bright moments, he's not the type of NBA-ready prospect that can be leaned on for consistent play. Dailyn Swain similarly will need time to figure out his role in the NBA. And Matas Buzelis still needs to sharpen his all-around game to complement his dynamic scoring and terrific shot-blocking skills. 

MORE: Best-case and worst-case scenarios for 2026-27 Bulls

28. Milwaukee Bucks

Last season: 32-50, No. 11 in the East

Projected record: 24-58

The Bucks were rough with half a season of Giannis last year, going 32-50. They were at their worst in games that he missed, going 15-31 in those contests.

They now face a future without their franchise centerpiece. Getting Tyler Herro in the Giannis trade will help staunch some of the bleeding, and Brayden Burries should add some playmaking as a polished one-and-done rookie. There isn't enough high-end talent to drive much winning though, and at least a handful of the team's veterans are likely to be gone mid-season.

This year is more about seeing what Burries, Nate Ament, and some of the team's prospects acquired via trade can do. 

29. Brooklyn Nets

Last season: 20-62, No. 13 in the East

Projected record: 23-59

Julius Randle is a good floor raiser, Michael Porter Jr. is coming off a brilliant offensive season in which he improved both his passing and showed that he could scale up his scoring role, and Day'Ron Sharpe is the most underrated starting center in the league. Egor Demin and Nolan Traore showed nice potential in their rookie years.

The Nets still have a ton of young players though who aren't totally ready to contribute to winning. Rookie Mikel Brown will throw some creative passes and score in bunches, but he will need to play through plenty of mistakes too. They also need to figure out if any of Danny Wolf, Ben Saraf, or Drake Powell are part of their future. 

30. Sacramento Kings

Last season: 22-60, No. 14 in the West

Projected record: 19-63

Darius Acuff should be the focal point of the Kings as they try to rebuild. Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine are still on this roster, but maybe not for long. The pieces on this roster clearly don't mesh well together, as LaVine said last season. 

"You can have the most talented people in the world, but if the guitarist and the violin guy, and then somebody that is orchestrating, and somebody on the saxophone, if they are all not playing in the same key, it ain't going to sound like music. It is going to sound like a bunch of instruments playing," LaVine stated bluntly about the team's chemistry. 

There are some bright spots that could be part of the next great Kings team alongside Acuff. Dylan Cardwell looks like a quality NBA defender. Maxime Raynaud's offensive game is fun to watch. Maybe Ben Simmons has some gas left in the tank. But in the immediate future, the Kings are going to lose a lot of games. 

How to Watch Penguins vs. Mammoth Tonight: Channel, Live Stream & Start Time for NHL Game originally appeared on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Add SportsNet Pittsburgh as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Penguins will close out a four-game road trip with a matchup against the Mammoth on Monday night.

It's been a rough stretch for the Pens, who have been outscored 16-7 in their last three losses, most recently falling to the Golden Knights on Saturday. Pittsburgh stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin scored against Vegas, but the Penguins were unable to match the Golden Knights' offensive firepower.

Now, Pittsburgh will try to snap out of its slump against a Utah squad that has won three of its last four games.

Here is everything you need to know about Penguins vs. Mammoth, including TV and streaming options for the game.

How to watch Penguins vs. Mammoth tonight: TV channel, live stream

• TV channel: SportsNet Pittsburgh
• Live stream:SNP 360, Fubo

Penguins vs. Mammoth will air on SportsNet Pittsburgh. The game will also be available to stream on SNP 360 and Fubo.

Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and 100-plus top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)

Penguins vs. Mammoth date, start time

• Date: Monday, Oct. 19
• Time: 9 p.m. ET

Penguins vs. Mammoth is scheduled to start at 9 p.m. ET on Monday, Oct. 19. The game will be played at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City.

Pittsburgh Penguins schedule 2026-27

Here is the upcoming schedule for the Penguins:

DateOpponentTime (ET)Oct. 19at Mammoth9 p.m.Oct. 22vs. Panthers7 p.m.Oct. 24vs. Predators7 p.m.Oct. 29vs. Mammoth7 p.m.Oct. 31at Canadiens7 p.m.Utah Mammoth schedule 2026-27

Here is the upcoming schedule for the Mammoth:

DateOpponentTime (ET)Oct. 19vs. Penguins9 p.m.Oct. 22at Kraken10 p.m.Oct. 24vs. Lightning9 p.m.Oct. 27vs. Wild9 p.m.Oct. 29at Penguins7 p.m.More Penguins

• Latest Penguins news
• PPG Paints Arena fan guide: What to know before you go
• Complete history of Penguins championships

1. 6 winners and losers from Patriots’ win over Jets  Pats Pulpit
2. Jets WR Garrett Wilson holds tongue after 'frustrating' loss to Patriots  ESPN
3. 10 things we learned from Patriots vs. Jets  Pats Pulpit
4. An amusing Drake Maye analogy, Mike Vrabel doesn’t mince words, an unexpected Patriots hero seizes the spotlight and more (notes)  MassLive
5. The Patriots clawed out a win over the Jets, but their problems are starting to add up  The Boston Globe

The New England Patriots stayed in the win column on Sunday with a divisional win over the New York Jets. While head coach Mike Vrabel said his team tried to beat itself, the Patriots celebrated a 26-16 victory to improve to 4-2 on the season.

Here is who caught our eye for better or worse upon live-viewing the Week 6 contest from the Gillette Stadium press box.

Winners

QB Drake Maye: The Jets entered Sunday as one of the most aggressive defenses in football, but they smartly pivoted from that game plan blitzing Maye just nine times. Maye showed patience in clean pockets throughout the game that led to numerous big plays, such as the 42-yard touchdown to Romeo Doubs and a 9-yard touchdown to DeMario Douglas. It was an overall another efficient day in the office for Maye, who added +0.39 EPA per drop back.

TE Hunter Henry: The veteran tight end was a steady presence for the Patriots’ offense on Sunday recording four catches for 48 yards and a touchdown. Henry’s score came on a busted coverage on third-down while his three other receptions all moved the chains — including a 3rd-and-13 on the Patriots final offensive drive in which he made a defender miss. After a slower start to the year, Henry has been his usual self in recent weeks.

Offensive line: New England lost three starters along the offensive line Sunday but still did not allow a sack of Maye. Rookie Caleb Lomu continued to play well and did not allow a pressure in relief of Morgan Moses, while Will Campbell held up on the opposite end allowing just one pressure. Along the interior, New England was forced to use four different guards as Matt Pryor and Walter Rouse were called upon for the injured Ben Brown and Alijah Vera-Tucker. They were solid in relief, while Jared Wilson continued to be steady in pass protection (one pressure) with all the movement around him.

CBs Christian Gonzalez and Charles Woods: In his return, Christian Gonzalez played every defensive snap and matched up with star wide receiver Garrett Wilson for most of the day. On 17 matchups (12 in man coverage) Gonzales allowed just two catches for 20 yards on two targets. Charles Woods then earned a game ball for hauling in a late interception — the first Geno Smith had thrown all season.

Losers

WR A.J. Brown: There was plenty of rust for wide receiver A.J. Brown in his return from injured reserve. Brown was targeted a game-high 10 times but managed to bring in just three for 27 yards. Maye had two misfires in Brown’s direction while the receiver dropped two passes — including a deep go-ball down the right sideline — and failed to corral the final onside kick.

“I didn’t play well. I don’t know – if the timing was off. I’m much better than what I put on display today, there’s no excuses. I’ll be better,” Brown said post game.

In a positive department, Brown was creating separation throughout the game and played 52 snaps as his ankle felt healthy.

Honorable mentions

• The Patriots turned the ball over twice on Sunday with TreVeyon Henderson and DeMario Douglas fumbling. Douglas had a strong game elsewhere.
• Kyle Williams ran a nice route on a third-down that Drake Maye converted with plenty of anticipation. Efton Chism III then played 42 snaps with most of his contributions coming in the run game as a blocker.
• Romeo Doubs made an impressive 42-yard touchdown which he hurt his shoulder on. Vrabel noted postgame that looking back at it, the touchdown was “one of the huge plays of this football game.”
• Corey Kiner led the team in rushing as he ran hard late in the fourth quarter with eight straight carries.
• Elijah Ponder continued his strong start to the season with another sack working a stunt with Robert Spillane. He added three other pressures.
• Milton Williams and Christian Barmore recorded back-to-back sacks along the interior. DaQuon Jones was also notable early as a run defender and drew a pressure with Gabe Jacas on Woods’ interception.
• The Patriots kickoff return and coverage units had strong days, with Kiner also recording a 37-yard return.
• Punter Mitch Wishnowsky recovered from a poor snap to place a 54-yard punt at the three yards line.
• Andy Borregales missed an extra point, but made both short field goal attempts.

Maja Chwalinska and Sonay Kartal have both been rewarded for their runs to the Wuhan Open final.

Chwalinska beat Kartal 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 to win her first ever WTA title at the Wuhan Open, which is a 1000 level tournament.

This is another huge result in a breakout season for Chwalinska, who reached the Roland Garros final after coming through qualifying earlier this year.

While Kartal was unable to capture the title in Wuhan, both she and Chwalinska have now both made major moves in the latest update of the WTA rankings.

Maja Chwalinska and Sonay Kartal make significant jumps up the rankings

Chwalinska was the world number 22 coming into the Wuhan Open, having begun the season as the world number 146, and after beating the likes of Iga Swiatek, Iva Jovic and then Kartal in the final has taken it even further.

The Pole has now risen 11 places up to a career-high ranking of world number 11, putting Chwalinska on the brink of making her top 10 debut. This is something that Chwalinska has a good opportunity to achieve next year, with minimal ranking points to defend until Roland Garros next year.

While Chwalinska is the standout from the Wuhan Open as the champion, Kartal’s ranking rise is perhaps even more remarkable.

Kartal was a top 50 player earlier this year, but after suffering a stress fracture in her lower back, she was forced to spend six months on the sidelines before recently returning for the Asian swing.

Prior to the Wuhan Open this year, Kartal was the world number 170 and required a protected ranking to enter the tournament. Kartal took full advantage of this and after reaching the final in Wuhan, she has climbed a huge 121 places up to world number 149.

This is not Kartal’s career-high ranking, as she has been as high as world number 44, but it does now mean that she has overtaken Katie Boulter to become British number one for the first time.

Maja Chwalinska reveals what her ranking goal was before the start of 2026

Chwalinska was the world number 146 before the start of the 2026 season, and had only ever won one Grand Slam match before.

The 25-year-old was asked about now being the world number 11 after winning the Wuhan Open, with Chwalinska admitting that her goal before the start of the year was to become a top 100 player for the first time.

“Yeah, I’m obviously very happy. My goal at the beginning of the year was top 100, so I think I did a great job,” said Chwalinska. “So, I’m very happy that I reached that goal finally.

“Of course this year was very rewarding for me, but I’ve been playing tennis for 18 years so I think sometimes you just need to trust that the right things will come at the right time and yeah, I think that this season is just an example for that.”

Chwalinska has decided not to compete at the Ningbo Open this week, taking a break after her Wuhan victory, but she is still entered into the Tokyo Open to bring an end to her hugely successful 2026 season.

Ayao Komatsu has rejected claims that Haas is turning into a Ferrari B-team now that it has signed a second Ferrari Driver Academy driver. The Haas team principal said Ferrari never pressured the team over its line-up, and he dismissed the B-team idea as "just not even a starter".

Last week, Haas announced that 21-year-old Brazilian Rafael Camara will drive for the team in 2027 on a multi-year contract. He replaces Esteban Ocon, who will leave at the end of this season. While not yet confirmed, it is expected that Camara will partner Oliver Bearman, who is also a Ferrari Driver Academy product, and the prospect of an all-Ferrari junior line-up that has prompted questions about who really runs the American team.

Komatsu: Ferrari connection only gives Haas access

Asked whether the signing could change how people see Haas. Komatsu replied that the partnership with Ferrari simply gives the team access to the academy's drivers. Because of that link, Haas could test Bearman in Mexico in 2024 and Camara at Portimao this summer.

He said the decisions themselves are made at Haas alone, by him and team owner Gene Haas. He also said Ferrari never lobbied him to give a race seat to either driver.

So, yes, they are FDA drivers, their careers have been supported by Ferrari, but they are Haas F1 team drivers and we are under no obligation or pressure to take anyone from Ferrari. So that Ferrari B-team thing is just not even a starter.

Why the paddock sees a sister team

The doubts go beyond the two drivers as Haas has a technical partnership with the Italian team. Haas buys its engines, gearboxes and other technical components from Ferrari and has a design office inside Maranello.

Both Bearman and Camara remain tied to Ferrari and hope to drive for the Scuderia in the future, which means Haas would be developing two drivers whose long-term goal is a seat in Maranello.

Toyota's candidate missed out too

Haas's other major partner also had a stake in the decision. Haas has a technical partnership with Toyota alongside its long-standing Ferrari relationship, and Toyota-backed Ryo Hirakawa was one of the drivers Haas assessed for the seat, along with Camara, Jack Doohan and McLaren reserve Leonardo Fornaroli.

Komatsu flew to Tokyo to explain the decision to Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda in person before Camara's contract was signed and that Toyota's ambition had been clear from the start.

From the moment we started talks with Toyota in 2024, I knew Akio Toyoda wanted a Toyota driver racing in 2027.

Komatsu said he had told Toyoda from the outset that Haas would choose the fastest driver, and that Toyoda was "completely happy with that".

Haas and Ferrari face the media in Austin

F1 heads next to the United States Grand Prix in Austin on 23 to 25 October, where Haas and Ferrari will both face the media again. Komatsu has already set the tone for what happens inside his own garage.

Formula 1, as a whole, is a huge competition. So, a team-mate is the first person you need to beat.

Darien's Adriana Gromelski, center, and Trumbull's Hailey Borgia fight for the ball in the second half during a girls soccer game Oct. 8, 2026, in Darien. (Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media)

Darien celebrated three state championships in girls sports last school year: field hockey, girls ice hockey and girls lacrosse.

Adriana Gromelski was an integral part of all three as she earned GametimeCT All-State First Team honors in each sport and was named GametimeCT Female Athlete of the Year.

In all, Gromelski has been part of six state titles during her time with the Blue Wave.

"Only one team can win it. It's a moment not everyone gets to have," Gromelski said. "I'm super grateful I've gotten to experience it multiple times."

With that in mind, the senior star decided to switch sports this fall for a new high school experience. Instead of helping Darien defend its CIAC field hockey crown, Gromelski switched to soccer. It's a sport she played from elementary school through eighth grade.

Gromelski has already chosen her sport and college: Yale University to play lacrosse. She also considered Harvard, Cornell and Princeton in her search for a school with strong academics. 

Gromelski, who is planning to play three sports again in her final season, said she thought about switching to soccer as last school year came to a close. She even discussed it with her parents. She decided to start by playing soccer with her friends in a summer league.

"I played a lot in the summer league with the team and I loved it," Gromelski said.

She called Darien field hockey coach Maureen Minicus to let her know about the switch.

"I wanted to do what I felt was best for me. I made the right decision," Gromelski said.

Gromelski was an offensive juggernaut her junior year, scoring more than 100 goals combined across three sports. She had 28 goals and 10 assists to help the Blue Wave win the Class L field hockey title. In the winter, Darien girls hockey won the state championship, as Gromelski finished with 35 goals and 17 assists to earn CHSGHA Player of the Year honors.

She had 38 goals, including consecutive hat tricks in the Class LL semifinals and final, to help the Blue Wave complete an undefeated season with a second straight CIAC crown.

This fall, she has been trying to score goals as a field player, in addition to trying to stop them as a goalkeeper.

"I definitely had to knock some of the rust off because it's been so long (since she played soccer)," Gromelski said.

Gromelski said she played either goalkeeper or center midfielder on her youth teams. Now she is getting to play multiple positions for her high school team.

"It's actually really fun," Gromelski said. "It's been a great change for me. I've been enjoying it as much as possible."

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This article originally published at Darien 3-sport All-Stater Adriana Gromelski is trying a new sport as senior: ‘I made the right decision'.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 19: Jeremiah Estrada #56 of the San Diego Padres pitches during the game against the New York Mets at Citi Field on August 19, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images) | Getty Images

NY Post | Joel Sherman: The Yankees have long eyed San Diego Padres relief pitcher Jeremiah Estrada, according to Sherman. The righty is entering his first year of arbitration and, of course, wouldn’t be easy to acquire given his 3.47 career ERA and 34.2 percent strikeout rate. He would come with some injury-related questions, though, having missed time with knee and shoulder issues this year. It isn’t clear when the Bombers’ interest became a thing, or if there were even discussions of a trade.

MLB Trade Rumors | AJ Eustace: The Yankees didn’t really get much from the third base position in 2026, with their 74 wRC+ tied for fifth-worst in the league. That was in large part the result of playing Ryan McMahon and his 78 wRC+ in 124 games. Eustace believes it is ‘increasingly hard’ to envision the former Rockie having a prominent role in 2027, and names Teruaki Sato, Alec Bohm, J.P. Crawford or bringing back Jazz Chisholm Jr. as free agent options, and Isaac Paredes, Royce Lewis, and Nolan Gorman as potential trade targets.

Newsday | Erik Boland: The Yankees have plenty of needs this offseason, and a lot of players on their 2026 roster are also hitting the market. Boland examined 10 of those players and their likelihood of returning to the Bronx. It’s definitely worth a read, but we’ll give you a hint: most of them are unlikely to call New York their home come 2027.

GNH's Airyn Berube (3) gets dragged out of bounds by Derby's Ayden Moran (12) during their game Thursday, October 15, 2026 at Derby High School. (Jim Shannon/Hearst Connecticut Media)

Here are the top performances in football from last week. Please email your top performers each week to will.aldam@hearstmediact.com.

Anthony Abarno, Plainville:The senior completed 20 of 29 passes for 346 yards and five touchdowns in Plainville's 43-6 victory over Rocky Hill.

Hunter Ballai and Luke Moneyhon, Staples: Each intercepted a pass in the Wreckers' 20-0 victory over Darien. Moneyhon made a diving catch for his interception.

Carmine Balogh, Xavier: The defensive back intercepted two passes, including one in the end zone just before halftime, in a 28-0 win over Foran.

Abner Barillas-Rivera, Derby: The senior quarterback threw three touchdown passes and ran for a 59-yard score in Derby's 50-36 loss to GNH.

Santino Barrella, Ridgefield: The senior scored on a 1-yard run in Ridgefield's 30-15 loss to Ludlowe.

Lonzell Barnes, Xavier: The senior scored twice on second-half runs of 5 and 6 yards as Xavier pulled away in a 28-0 win over Foran.

Airyn Berube, GNH:The senior caught a 72-yard touchdown pass from Campbell and threw a touchdown pass to Jadiel Perez in GNH's 50-36 victory over Derby.

Victor Bonet, Middletown: The senior ran for a 1-yard touchdown and added the two-point conversion in Middletown's 24-7 victory over Wethersfield.

Thomas Bornn, Bethel:Junior completed 9 of 13 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown, and rushed for 103 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries in a 35-34 loss to New Milford.

Chase Bouchard, Plainville: The senior caught 10 passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns in Plainville's 43-6 victory over Rocky Hill.

Grant Bozeman, Staples: The quarterback threw touchdown passes of 51 and 15 yards in the Wreckers' 20-0 victory over Darien.

Trevor Campbell, Gilbert/Northwestern/Housatonic: The junior quarterback from Northwestern fired a 72-yard touchdown pass to Airyn Berube on the first play, and later added two rushing touchdowns when GNH scored its first win of the season 50-36 over Derby.

Mirsad Cekovic, Bethel:Rushed for 130 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries in a 35-34 loss to Bethel.

Michael Charlang, St. Joseph: The running back rushed 22 times for 163 yards and two touchdowns in St. Joseph's 31-0 victory over Wilton.

Aaron Champagne, Masuk:The senior quarterback passed for 229 yards and two touchdowns and rushed 20 times for 135 yards and three touchdowns when the Panthers defeated Bunnell 41-26.

Jack Colonel, Newtown:The junior quarterback ran for 46 yards on the drive that set up Gagnon's second touchdown in Newtown's 20-9 victory over Notre Dame Prep.

Chris Colsey, Ridgefield: The senior had a 62-yard catch to set up Ridgefield's first touchdown and later scored on a 6-yard run in the Tigers' 30-15 loss to Ludlowe.

Domenico Convertito, Masuk: The senior caught a 50-yard touchdown pass from Champagne in Masuk's 41-26 victory over Bunnell.

Josh Coughlin, Pomperaug:Rushed for 79 yards and three touchdowns and passed for another score in Pomperaug's 51-0 win over Harding.

Caden Cuomo, Newtown:The senior intercepted a pass in the fourth quarter to stop Notre Dame Prep's potential rally in Newtown's 20-9 victory.

Jackson Danylko, Ludlowe: The senior caught an 8-yard touchdown pass from Love on fourth down in Ludlowe's 30-15 victory over Ridgefield.

Sam DiMattio, Cromwell/Portland: The junior threw for 234 yards and two touchdowns in his first varsity start in Cromwell/Portland's 41-28 loss to Granby/Canton.

Da'zhor Duggins, Middletown: He recovered a bad snap in the end zone for a first-quarter touchdown in Middletown's 24-7 victory over Wethersfield.

Aiden Dupre, Branford: The senior caught a 6-yard touchdown pass from McKittrick in Branford's 37-14 loss to Ledyard.

Isaiah Edwards, Wethersfield:The senior rushed for 117 yards in the first half, including a 64-yard touchdown in Wethersfield's 24-7 loss to Middletown.

Dylan Feltt, Plainville:The senior made nine tackles, recorded three sacks and scored a safety in Plainville's 43-6 victory over Rocky Hill.

Angel Figueroa, Derby: The senior caught a 58-yard touchdown pass from Barillas-Rivera in Derby's 50-36 loss to GNH.

Luke Gagnon, Newtown: The senior scored on 4- and 15-yard runs in Newtown's 20-9 victory over Notre Dame Prep.

Jake Garrigan, Bunnell:The senior threw a touchdown pass and ran for two scores in Bunnell's 41-26 loss to Masuk.

Anthony Gatinella, Northwest Catholic:Quarterback threw five touchdown passes to four different receivers in a 32-12 win over RHAM.

Christian Geanuracos, Pomperaug:Rushed for 69 yards and a touchdown in a 51-0 win over Harding.

Jackson Grimm, Ledyard:The senior scored an 8-yard touchdown during Ledyard's 37-14 victory over Branford.

Jack Guinipero, Pomperaug:Rushed for 75 yards and touchdown and added a 13-yard TD catch in a 51-0 win over Pomperaug.

Christian Hairston, Plainville:The senior caught a 62-yard touchdown pass from Abarno in Plainville's 43-6 victory over Rocky Hill.

Xavier Hodge, Cromwell/Portland:The junior caught nine passes for 174 yards and two touchdowns in Cromwell/Portland's 41-28 loss to Granby/Canton.

Luca Houle, Rockville:The quarterback completed 12 of 21 passes for 231 yards and two touchdowns in Rockville's 26-0 victory over VRLOL.

Keandre Hunter, Granby/Canton:The senior caught a 23-yard touchdown pass in Granby/Canton's 41-28 victory over Cromwell/Portland.

Ben Kaminsky, Ludlowe:The senior ran for 96 yards on nine carries and scored a touchdown in Ludlowe's 30-15 victory over Ridgefield.

Gryfn Kobylarz, Lewis Mills/Wolcott Tech: The junior had nine receptions for 91 yards and two touchdowns on offense, and two interceptions on defense when the Spartans defeated Tolland 30-14.

Gabe Lesizza, Ludlowe: The senior caught a 14-yard touchdown pass from Love on fourth down in Ludlowe's 30-15 victory over Ridgefield.

Joe Lewie, Granby/Canton: The senior quarterback passed for 144 yards and two touchdowns, rushed for 1`13 yards and another three touchdowns, and had nine tackles with two tackles for a loss in the Bears' 41-28 win over Cromwell/Portland.

Ryan Love, Ludlowe:The senior quarterback threw for 206 yards and three touchdowns in the Falcons' 30-15 victory over Ridgefield.

Ryan Lyons, New Milford:Completed 17 of 25 passes for 199 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-34 win over Bethel. 

Mason Margiotta, Rocky Hill:The senior rushed for 108 yards and scored Rocky Hill's only touchdown in its 43-6 loss to Plainville.

Jace McGee, Masuk: The junior caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from Champagne in Masuk's 41-26 victory over Bunnell.

Chris McKittrick, Branford: The senior threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Aiden Dupre and ran for a 2-yard score in Branford's 37-14 loss to Ledyard.

Terence Morris, Rocky Hill:The senior ran for 82 yards on four carries in Rocky Hill's 43-6 loss to Plainville.

Maxx Murphy, Xavier:The junior quarterback threw for 164 yards and a touchdown, and rushed for a score in the Falcons' 28-0 victory over Foran.

Vincent Nuzzo, Derby:The senior caught touchdown passes of 48 and 71 yards in Derby's 50-36 loss to GNH.

Timmy O'Neill, Ludlowe: The senior caught seven passes for 112 yards and a 24-yard touchdown in Ludlowe's 30-15 victory over Ridgefield.

Aiden Okasio, Middletown: The linebacker forced a fumble on the opening kickoff of the second half, helping turn the game in Middletown's 24-7 victory over Wethersfield.

Jake O'Keefe, Danury:Quarterback threw for 202 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for two more scores in a 34-6 win over Trumbull.

Gabe Ouellette, Bristol Central:The senior rushed 18 times for 185 yards and four touchdowns in a 40-16 victory over Hall.

Jadiel Perez, GNH:The senior scored on 1- and 7-yard touchdown runs in GNH's 50-36 victory over Derby.

William Putnam, Plainville:The senior caught two touchdown passes, including a 19-yarder and a 5-yarder, in Plainville's 43-6 victory over Rocky Hill.

Rowan Reynolds, Hartford co-op: The quarterback threw a 68-yard touchdown pass to Lamont Applewhite in the co-op's 18-7 victory over Haddam-Killingworth.

Rody Ricketts, Bunnell: The senior caught a 14-yard touchdown pass in Bunnell's 41-26 loss to Masuk.

Noah Romano, Danbury:Had 136 receiving yards and caught two touchdown passes in the Hatters' 34-6 win over Trumbull.

TJ Ruedemann, New Milford:Caught eight passes for 140 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-34 win over Bethel.

Elijah Sam, Granby/Canton: The senior caught a 39-yard touchdown pass and ran for a 10-yard score in Granby/Canton's 41-28 victory over Cromwell/Portland.

Noah Sandrew, Staples:The receiver caught a 51-yard touchdown pass from Bozeman in Staples' 20-0 victory over Darien.

Devin Santacroce, Newtown: The freshman returned an interception 43 yards for a touchdown to swing the momentum in Newtown's 20-9 victory over Notre Dame Prep.

Brendin Smith, Middletown: The senior intercepted a pass to stop a Wethersfield scoring threat, then caught a 40-yard touchdown pass in the first play of the second half in Middletown's 24-7 victory over Wethersfield.

Mason Stachura, Cromwell/Portland: The senior made 10 tackles and scored on a 7-yard run in Cromwell/Portland's 41-28 loss to Granby/Canton.

JJ Studeny, Notre Dame Prep: The senior caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from Jordan Razor in Notre Dame Prep's 20-9 loss to Newtown.

Titus Streckfuss, Ledyard: The junior running back scored four touchdowns when Ledyard defeated Branford 37-14 and stretched its win streak to four games.

Andre Sutherland, Northwest Catholic:Caught touchdown passes of 2 and 6 yards in a 32-12 win over RHAM.

Tanner Walker, Masuk: The senior broke off a 51-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter of Masuk's 41-26 victory over Bunnell.

Jayson Williams, Derby: The senior ran for a 39-yard touchdown in Derby's 50-36 loss to GNH.

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This article originally published at Week 6 Connecticut high school football top performers (Oct. 19).

North Augusta kicker Jacob DeGennaro practices during halftime after missing a field goal in the first half against South Aiken. He later kicked the game-winning field goal in the fourth quarter on Oct.16. Taylor Beltz/Staff

NORTH AUGUSTA — In football, special teams often get overlooked in favor of exciting offensive and defensive plays, but for North Augusta, they're the team’s secret weapon.

The work that the Jackets have put into developing their kickers and long snappers over the years has paid off as they continue to give them an edge each week.

Head coach Richard Bush said he understands how much of a game changer talented kickers and long snappers can be for a high school football program, so they prioritize them in training sessions as much as the other phases of the game.

“ A good special teams unit is very, very important at the high school level, or really any level, but especially high school level,” he said. “It's a third of the game. We always say we need to win special teams each and every week. We spend a lot of time on our special teams, watching film, practicing it, preparing it, putting game day emphasis on it. And we stress it to our kids, and our kids understand the importance of special teams from our kickers to the individual guys that are on each and every special team. Like I said, we spend a lot of time on it throughout the week, so it's very important to our program.”

Most recently, it was senior kicker Jacob DeGennaro’s late-game field goal that helped propel North Augusta to a 10-7 victory over South Aiken on Oct. 16. It was a poetic ending to the game for DeGennaro, who missed a field goal on the opening drive that would have given the Jackets an early lead.

He said he approaches every kick the same way no matter if it’s to win the game or a routine kick after a touchdown. Kickers and punters only get a couple of times each game to go out and prove themselves, so they have to make the most of it.

That’s what he loves about football; every time he takes the field, the stakes feel a little higher.

“ I think the one-shot mentality is really important,” he said. “I love that every rep has to count, and if you don't do your job when it's time on a Friday night, it doesn't matter if you get your number called, you’ve got to do it.”

DeGennaro and punter Landon Sweat started on the soccer team like most high school kickers before finding their way to the football team, making them teammates in two different sports. For DeGennaro, it was his dad, who was the soccer coach for North Augusta at the time, that recommended him for the team when they needed a new kicker.

Heading into his senior season, he had an 82% success rate in field goals and made 126 point after touchdown kicks out of 129 attempts.

Sweat has continued to develop and has found his stride during his senior season, making several punts that have pinned opposing teams to their own end zone to start drives this season, including during big wins against South Aiken and Irmo.

The last piece of the puzzle for the pair is long snapper Keaton Middlebrooks, who is also the starting center for the team. His job is to consistently snap the ball to Sweat or DeGennaro without missing their hands or fumbling it. He said he enjoys playing the position because it’s such a specialized skill set compared to others.

“ It can change a game,” he said. “I have looked at college, and special teams is so important because not a lot of people can do it. It's so special. It's like golf. You're just out there by yourself, but when the time comes, you better be able to do your job, that one-shot mentality. And so that's why it's so important because it can literally flip a game.”

The difference between this trio and others not only comes down to their development on the field, but also their dynamic with the rest of the team. Sweat said the level of communication they have with each other and the rest of the offense sets them apart from other high school programs he’s seen.

“ I just think our operation,” he said. “Our connection with all three of us, we just have a great connection, and just when we're in game time it just really affects everything.”

And during practices, Middlebrooks said there’s always someone else willing to help out if anyone has something specific they want to work on ahead of a game. Their philosophy as a group is just to take everything one day at a time as they work towards their goals.

For DeGennaro, the reliability of everyone in the special teams unit makes it possible for him to go out and execute each week.

“ I think that we have the most talent and want to of any three that are in our region or even in the state,” he said. “And I mean, I couldn't ask for a better group for these two guys. They make my job tremendously easier, and we just put work in day in and day out.”

Alums from past North Augusta special team units have found profound success in recent years, including Drew Stevens from the Class of 2022, who recently made his first start in the National Football League for the Washington Commanders on Sept. 13. Before the big leagues, he played college football at the University of Iowa, breaking several program records as a four-year starter, including total field goals made and some of the longest field goals in school history.

After he departed for college ball, it was his younger brother Jack Stevens who took over for him for the Jackets, and later he would pass the baton to DeGennaro after his departure in 2024. Jack played at South Dakota State for a season before transferring to Washington State in 2025, where he is now a redshirt sophomore.

Bush said both former players have remained a big part of the program and serve as role models for the younger kickers.

“ Drew and Jack Stevens spent a lot of time with these guys,” he said. “Kicking with them, teaching them different fundamentals, teaching them different things to do and work on. So they spend a lot of time with them, and they've given back to this program, and they've continued their careers for the Commanders and Jack at Washington State. So both those guys are doing well. But they're sort of part of our program still, and they do a good job working with them, and those guys do a good job of listening too and helping each other. And then Coach Quinn and Coach Johnson spend a lot of time on special teams too.”

For Middlebrooks and DeGennaro, seeing the Stevens brothers find so much success after high school helps them visualize what’s possible for them too.

“ The Stevens brothers paved the way,” Middlebrooks said. “And now we're just, I personally want to take it to the next level. I know Jacob does, too, and Landon wants to go to soccer. So, that's just how our mindset is to not only be good here on Friday nights, but then take us to college and, and past that.”

Sweat said seeing how their hard work is paying off this season has even made him think more about continuing to pursue football at the college level as well. He said it was his game against Irmo that started to change his mind about what he could achieve as a punter after high school.

“ I came in here not even trying to punt at all or go to college at all, but now that I'm thinking about it,” he said. “After the game two weeks ago against Irmo, now I think I could do something like that.”

All three of them understand the importance of passing on their knowledge to the next generation of special teams players too, especially with this being their final season on the team. DeGennaro said it comes down to learning the balance between meshing with the team and developing as an individual when it comes to kicking.

“ You just have to pass on what I already know, and I think it's really about pushing these guys,” he said. “Because in special teams, it's the third phase of the game, but it gets overlooked a lot, and nobody's going to be there to push you all the time, so you have to have someone with you to do it, and if they're not there, you have to know how to do it yourself.”

North Augusta has two more games in the regular season and sits comfortably at the top of the Region 5-AAAA standings with a 4-0 record. As the Jackets start to look towards the postseason and the chance at bringing home a state championship, the special teams unit is ready to continue doing their jobs each week.

For them, special teams may be overlooked at times, but that's exactly how they like it.

“ [Coach Kyle] Stelter, he always says with special teams, it's so important to go unnoticed because you don't need it until you need it,” Middlebrooks said. “And me, as a long snapper, don't get put in the paper or anything like that, so it's good to go unnoticed. It's good to just have that perfect snap because if you mess up, that's when people start talking about you, so it's good to go unnoticed. You do your job, you go unnoticed, and that's ultimately the goal.”