The Washington Huskies have a problem on offense.
Jedd Fisch's unit has now scored 40 points in their first two games combined, ten fewer points than the Huskies were favored to win those two games by (23.5 against Washington State, 26.5 against Utah State). Washington has finished with more than 350 yards of offense in both of those games, but has found itself completely unable to move the ball consistently or score points efficiently through the first two games.
Quarterback Demond Williams Jr. has struggled to throw the ball in rhythm, often opting to scramble and utilize his talent as a runner to keep the offense on track. Washington has needed that from him, too: Williams has been the Huskies' leading rusher in both games as the running back depth has been decimated by injuries to Jordan Washington, Quaid Carr, and Jayden Limar.
But there has also been opportunity for Williams to throw the ball more effectively. He's missed several what should have been easy throws in the flat and placed longer throws into the end zone out of reach of his receivers more often than he's found those plays. It hasn't been all on Williams, however: starting X receiver Christian Moss left after two snaps in the Apple Cup, and starting Z receiver Rashid Williams left early on Saturday against Utah State, thrusting true freshmen Jordan Clay and Trez Davis into action. Dezmen Roebuck and running back Trey Cooley both also dropped passes that could have easily been touchdowns on Saturday, further putting the offense behind schedule and making for a messy operation.
"As an offense, we shot ourselves in the foot a lot," Williams told the media after the game.

#utah

LSU football faces Louisiana Tech on Saturday night in what should be a tune-up game for the Tigers, though not much tuning is needed after LSU beat Clemson 51-10 in Week 1.
LSU is a heavy favorite vs. the Bulldogs. Last week, LSU's second team got plenty of reps in a lopsided victory, and the depth chart could be emptied again today. If LSU starts fast and builds a healthy lead in the first half, a handful of true freshmen will get significant time in the second half.
The SEC schedule is a grind. And in the era of the 12-team playoff and extended seasons, developing depth can be the difference between missing the College Football Playoff or going on a run. LSU has the raw talent to make noise in Lane Kiffin's first year, but LSU will need some young guys to step up.
Here are four true freshmen to watch when LSU football takes on Louisiana Tech.
Lamar Brown was the headline piece of Lane Kiffin's first high school signing class. ESPN ranked Brown as the No. 1 overall recruit in the country and he was heralded as a player ready to make an immediate impact, despite not enrolling early.

#first #louisiana #Tech #brown

George Kittle is making a valiant return from a torn Achilles tonight in the San Francisco 49ers' season opener against the Los Angeles Rams. It's been only eight months since he suffered the injury, a remarkably fast recovery for any player, let alone a 32-year-old tight end who plays a particularly physical style.
A seven-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro, Kittle has been one of the best at his position for nearly a decade. If he can successfully return to form after his Achilles injury, it'll only bolster his Hall of Fame case.
As Kittle makes his way back to the field, his wife, Claire Kittle, will be cheering him on. Here's what we know about Claire.
Claire is a former Iowa basketball player who now works as an influencer and model. The Kittles met while freshmen at Iowa, according to People, and they were friends for eight months before they began dating. Claire and George eloped in 2019 and got married again in 2021 to celebrate with friends and family. The couple enjoys comic books and video games, plus they live in Nashville in the offseason.

#claire #eight

The Washington Huskies started three true freshmen on defense in their 24-10 Apple Cup win on Saturday, a fact that surprised some when the two-deep depth chart was released earlier this week. Defensive tackle Derek Colman-Brusa was the No. 158 player in the country and listed as an edge, but was the Huskies' third-highest-rated defensive recruit in the 2026 class.
Edge rusher Ramzak Fruean just barely edged his way into being a four-star as the No. 293 player in the country, but was listed at linebacker and didn't commit until December after a brief pledge to UCLA. Cornerback Jeron Jones was the lowest-rated four-star in the class, clocking in at No. 438, and was the second-highest-rated cornerback in the class.
And yet, Saturday showed why the Huskies haven't been able to keep their freshman trio off the field.
After Fruean jumped offside on a second-and-12 deep in Washington State's territory in the second quarter, he responded with a hit to Washington State quarterback Caden Pinnick's arm that forced an incompletion. On third down, Colman-Brusa came free on a looping rush around the edge and batted Pinnick's pass into the arms of Jones, who returned it 9 yards to put the Huskies on Washington State's 21-yard line.
Washington scored their first touchdown of the season on a 5-yard Demond Williams Jr. run five plays later.

#washington

The Wisconsin Badgers are in primetime to start the season, as they're taking on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Lambeau Field on Sunday, with kickoff set for 6:30 p.m. on NBC.
Wisconsin is coming off a 4-8 season, which was their worst season by win percentage since 1990. But this year's Badgers are quite different, as the program added over 30 transfers in the offseason, while making a few organizational changes with the coaching staff and front office.
Wisconsin's offense will be at the forefront of the conversation, as the Badgers are now led by Old Dominion transfer quarterback Colton Joseph, who threw for 2,624 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 10 touchdowns last year as the Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year. He also added over 1,000 yards and double-digit scores on the ground as a dual-threat quarterback.
The defense looks improved as well, with freshmen sensations Mason Posa and Cooper Catalano now transitioning to full-time roles as sophomores. Wisconsin made a lot of changes in the secondary, bringing in starters at cornerback and safety. They will be tested up front in the trenches against a strong Notre Dame offense, though.
The Fighting Irish are on a mission after missing the College Football Playoff last season with a 10-2 record. They return a ton of production defensively, while quarterback C.J. Carr is a Heisman candidate in his second year as the full-time starter.

#badgers #season #year #irish

Ranking the new quarterbacks' debuts, from Darian Mensah masterclass to DJ Lagway head-scratcher originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
In today's modern era of college football, teams have new guys starting at quarterback seemingly every season. From true freshmen, to guys who worked their way up the depth chart or transfer-portal stars, we have several guys who made their starting debuts in 2026.
Miami started Duke transfer Dariah Mensah, Indiana turned to TCU transfer Josh Hoover and Tennessee started true freshman Faizon Brandon.
Let's take a look at how 16 new 2026 quarterbacks did during their Week 1 debuts.
MORE:College football Week 1 overreactions: Is Dabo is done? Is Oregon a fraud?

#debuts #transfer

NORTH WALPOLE — The Portsmouth High School bass fishing team sent two crews of freshmen to compete in the junior varsity state championship tournament on the Connecticut River on Saturday, Sept. 5.
Portsmouth's Cameron Welch and Cavin Shaw placed 11th with a big fish weighing 1.79 pounds, while Luke Benton and Charlie Lavery placed 13th with a big fish of 1.33 pounds.
Portsmouth returns to action Saturday, Sept. 12 in the Coe-Brown Invitational on Northwood Lake.
Traip Academy 4
Wells 1

#pounds

Duke released some 5-on-5 video Friday, and almost immediately, one noticed Drew Scharnowski on crutches, with some sort of black sleeve covering most of his right leg.
Hopefully it's nothing serious.
As a result, freshman Maxime Meyer got more time than he probably would have.
What's immediately obvious, even without the powerful Scharnowski suiting up, is that this is a deep and talented roster. And while this is just a scrimmage, we saw a lot of promising things.
Let's start with talent. Obviously, this team is talented, but some of the freshmen are better than expected, and the returnees have grown their games.

#scharnowski #immediately #Friday #meyer

In the blink of an eye, college golf is back.
Three months ago, trophies were handed out to the Stanford women and Auburn men at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa, bringing an end to a stellar 2025-26 season. But after a great summer of amateur golf (with a couple more big events to go in 2026), college golf's time to shine has returned.
There are plenty of storylines to look forward to this season, but Golfweek is taking a look into a crystal ball to make some predictions for the season, including what may happen eight months from now at Omni La Costa.
Over the last week, Golfweek has announced its preseason men's and women's rankings, men's and women's All-Americans, men's and women's freshmen to watch and more. Now, it's time to predict what will happen come the end of the season.
More: Golfweek's 2026-27 women's college golf preseason team rankings

#omni

Quarterback
Kamario Taylor is entering his first season as the full-time starter for the Bulldogs. In two starts and some snaps taken throughout the season, Taylor completed 55.8% of his passes for 629 yards and five touchdowns to go with 458 yards and eight scores on 82 carries. His counterpart will be Aidan Armenta, who is heading into his third year as the starter for the Warhawks. Last season, Armenta completed 58.5% of his passes for 1,629 yards and 12 touchdowns. He is not much of a runner, totaling 57 yards and two scores on 60 carries.
Edge: MSU
Running back
Mississippi State is returning its top rusher from last season in Fluff Bothwell. The junior had 677 yards and six touchdowns on 142 carries. Those were all team highs, even though he missed two games due to injury. Behind him, Xavier Gayten and Kolin Wilson will jostle for the RB2 spot, while the likes of freshmen Cooper Crosby and J.J. Hill expect to get carries this season. Louisiana-Monroe went portaling for its top rusher, eventually landing Louisville transfer Don Chaney. In five seasons between there and Miami, Chaney ran for 1,030 yards and nine touchdowns on 225 carries. He will be backed up by Derrick Jameson.

#yards #season #taylor #last

Texas A&M's season opener vs. Missouri State kicks off on Saturday night, and after a productive preseason, coach Mike Elko, entering Year 3 at the helm after leading the Aggies to the College Football Playoff last season, is confident that his revamped roster is ready for battle, facing the new nine-game SEC schedule that features road tests vs. LSU, Missouri, Alabama, South Carolina, and Oklahoma.
Last week, Mike Elko's first in-season press conference revealed that a pair of redshirt freshmen will miss the season due to injury: running back Tiger Riden and defensive tackle Chace Sims were set to compete for reserve roles but will now have to wait until the 2027 offseason to compete for rotational roles.
Combined with former five-star wide receiver Jerome Myles and former four-star OL Nelson McGuire departing the program for unknown reasons, Elko's various media appearances on Wednesday did not include any new injury updates, which is obviously great news for the Aggies, who will heavily rely on their depth at every position to get through the nine-game conference schedule.
Most importantly, senior linebacker Daymion Sanford is on track to make his debut after suffering a lower-body injury to his fibula during the Maroon & White Game, as Elko stated that Sanford remains a "game-time decision" but is on track to play vs. Missouri State.
"Right now, yes. Probably still a little bit of a game-time decision. To ask me right now, I anticipate him being out there," Elko told TexAgs about Sanford on Monday.

#injury

The USC Trojans got a lot of great news from their second official depth chart release of the season. Many stars will be returning and potentially making their season debut. The Trojans' defense and offense should get a big boost with key players coming back. Many freshmen will still be in position to have another big game against Fresno State.
Here is what we learned about the Trojans' depth chart release prior to Game 2:
Tanook Hines was the first receiver listed on the depth chart, and that bodes well for his availability for Game 2. Tanook Hines already has a great connection with Jayden Maiava, and I expect that to show up vs Fresno State. I would not be surprised if Lincoln Riley and Maiava look to him early and often in this game to ramp him up. The Trojans' offense will have some fireworks with Hines' season debut.
Sophomore Corey Sims showed great flashes of being a big weapon for Jayden Maiava in Game 1. He was amazing all camp and offseason, and in Game 1 everything came to fruition for him. He is now looked at as one of the top receivers for the Trojans. The official depth chart for Week 1 directly reflects that.
Tron Baker was listed as a starter for another week in the category. Meaning he is held in high regard by the staff. Baker was another receiver who shined in Game 1. Baker posted a stat line of 4 catches for 45 yards. He caught the first pass out of the young receivers. He will continue to be heavily involved in the offense in Game 2.

#chart

The ACC/SEC Challenge matchups have quickly become some of the most anticipated games on the college basketball calendar. This year's slate once again features several high-profile programs going head-to-head in important early-season tests. With intriguing storylines, talented rosters, and plenty of national implications, a few games stand above the rest. Here are the three must-watch matchups in the 2026 ACC/SEC Challenge.
Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nate Oats reacts in the second half against the Michigan Wolverines during a Sweet Sixteen game of the Midwest Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
Despite losing their top scorer, Labaron Philon Jr., Alabama head coach Nate Oats has reloaded his roster by retaining key pieces and targeting the transfer portal. After testing NBA waters, Amari Allen felt it was best to return to Alabama. This is massive for the Crimson Tide as they return one of the nation's better defenders. Allen was tasked with the toughest ****** ignments game after game. The expectations will be high for him. This is similar to Philon Jr., who, in his first year, was great and turned into a phenomenal scorer. Philon led the Crimson Tide in scoring last season.
Alongside Allen's return, Oats has also brought in a talented freshman class that could make an immediate impact for the Crimson Tide. The first of the group is five-star McDonald's All-American Jaxon Richardson. The six-foot-six wing is known to be one of the most athletic and bouncy freshmen in the class. Richardson does a great job of running the floor, creating easy transition points for himself. This is a perfect match for Oats, who likes to play fast on offense.
Richardson moves exceptionally without the ball, showing that he does not need the ball in his hands to make an immediate impact. Richardson can make a major impact on the glass, consistently creating second-chance opportunities by securing offensive rebounds and finishing putbacks. Defensively, his long wingspan and high motor allow him to contest shots, protect the rim, and bring consistent energy.

#oats #richardson #philon

The opening week of fall sports was a busy one. Local volleyball teams played multiple games and Astoria soccer teams took the pitch for the first time. Here's what happened on the field and on the court.
Volleyball teams show improvement
Improvement looks to be the name of the game for local volleyball teams.
Seaside, Knappa and Jewell flashed moments of good play during their first official weeks on the court. The Seagulls, under new coach Nicole Aydt, look to be coming into their own. After rebuilding the program behind freshmen, the Seagulls won just one game over the last two seasons.
Now, with many of the players entering their third year in the program, the Lady Gulls' improvement looks to be real. The Seagulls had a solid showing at last Saturday's seven team tournament at Warrenton. Seaside and Warrenton played two great matches against each other including a three-set thriller in the semi-finals. After struggling last season to maintain points, the Seagulls defense, passing and serving was very solid. Junior libero Chloe Baker served great against Warrenton and her defense helped the Seagulls all day Saturday. Senior captain Autumn Fenton and juniors Araya Edwards, Sophia Saso and Tiera Spivey make up a solid group of building blocks for Seaside.

#seagulls #volleyball #played

Sep. 2—BEMIDJI — When looking at the singles side of the Bemidji High School tennis courts, the home fans would be forgiven if they thought Wednesday's match against Staples-Motley took place in 2025.
For much of this season, the Lumberjacks' singles lineup has carried over from last fall. Liz Peterson occupies the top spot, while Lilly Caron and Bailey Rupp typically play Nos. 2 and 3 singles, save for their occasional doubles appearances. Natalie ****** berg rounds out the group at No. 4 singles, just as she did on Wednesday in the Jacks' 6-1 win over the Cardinals.
The real differences so far in the young 2026 season have been on the doubles side of the court. With the departures of Megan Berg, Naomi Johnson and Abby Myhrer, almost every doubles pair had to be retooled for 2026.
Junior Kelli Carlson has been moved up to No. 2, paired with eighth-grader Piper Whiting. Freshmen Norah Friese and Emma Carlson are gaining experience at the No. 3 spot.
Then there are seniors Zoe McNallan and Millie Knott, who have known each other even before they became partners on the tennis court.

#season

After a breakout freshman season returning punts and kicks Florida football sophomore wide receiver Vernell Brown III earned preseason All-SEC third team honors as a return specialist over the summer.
The 5-foot-11, 178-pound Brown is expecting another big year as a return man for the Florida Gators in 2026. Florida football coach Jon Sumrall has made special teams a priority since first arriving at UF, adding his former special teams from Tulane, Johnathan Galante and special teams **** yst Greg McMahon, a former special teams coordinator with the New Orleans Saints from 2008-16.
"I just want to take advantage of my opportunities," Brown said. "But as far as third team All SEC, you know, that's fuel to the fire for me. There are three teams and the third team isn't the best team. So that's just fuel to the fire."
Brown ranked sixth in the SEC in punt return yardage at 11.7 yards per return last season. Overall, Brown tallied 261 return yards across 18 kick and punt returns and was one of two freshmen and 18 players in the FBS to have five punt returns of 20-plus yards.
Entering 2026, Brown will mainly focus on punt returns, as cornerback J'Vari Flowers and running back London Montgomery are penciled in to return kickoffs. But Brown said he would return kickoffs again if he's needed.

#Florida #special #Third

Tennessee football legend Peyton Manning awarded four UT freshmen with the latest installment of his namesake scholarship and he was on campus to honor the recipients on Aug. 31.
Hector Centeno-Lopez, Breanna Gonzalez, Olamide Olakunle and Mikayla Schumpert, the 2026 Peyton Manning Scholars, earned their four-year award and a spot in the selective Haslam Leadership Scholarship program through a rigorous selection process that sought "academically successful incoming Vols who exemplify service, leadership and integrity," UT said in a school release.
"The growth of this program remains a point of pride for me," Manning said. "This is just the beginning of the positive mark these students will leave on their community and this university. I hope they will leave UT with the same passion for this special place that I have."
Manning is still the most prolific passer in UT football history, having thrown for 11,201 yards over four seasons from 1994-97. The first overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft, Manning won a Super Bowl with both the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021.
He endowed the scholarship when he graduated from UT in 1998 and it has been awarded to 69 students in the 29 years since. This year's four Manning Scholars all have diverse academic and career interests but are bonded by a "desire to lead and leave UT better than they found it," according to UT.

#manning #scholars

Aug. 31—Gonzaga basketball fans will get their first look at this year's team on Oct. 3.
The Bulldogs announced their annual Kraziness in the Kennel showcase will take place on the first Saturday of October at 2 p.m.
The event will feature plenty of new faces after a tumultuous offseason starting point guard Mario Saint-Supery return to Spain and multiple incoming transfers.
The Zags will have player introductions followed by a scrimmage and other events. Expected to make their first appearance in a Gonzaga uniform will be underclassmen transfers Massamba Diop and Isiah Harwell; 5-in-5 transfers Javon Bennnett, Chauncey Wiggins and Xaivian Lee; international transfers Izan Almansa and Nathan De Sousa; and freshmen Luca Foster, Sam Funches and Juwan Ekanga Ehawa.
Note

#kraziness #october #saint

The Oklahoma Sooners are less than a week away from beginning their pursuit of another national championship. The Sooners last won a ****** le in 2000, and if they hope to do that this season, they need to get help from the offense.
The Sooners ranked No. 92 in total offense last year. They struggled to establish a run game and protect quarterback John Mateer. That was largely due to starting three freshmen offensive linemen. One of those is former five-star Michael Fasusi, who started at left tackle. He's expected to be the starter again this season.
College football ****** yst Josh Pate is very high on Fasusi, calling him his pick for breakout player for the Sooners.
"The breakout player is Michael Fasusi," Pate said on 'Josh Pate's College Football Show.' "He was pressed into action last year. Had to start at tackle as a true freshman. You don't often talk about offensive linemen as breakout players, but I think he qualifies. He's a guy with Sunday traits. He's had them since he arrived on campus."
More: Will the Oklahoma Sooners' offensive line make the jump?

#breakout

Every day from now until the start of the season, Land-Grant Holy Land is highlighting Ohio State football players that you should be watching this season. Check out all of our "Player to Watch" articles to get ready for the season opener against Ball State.
The Buckeyes' transfer portal class this year was note-worthy, filled with veteran experience and players intended to meet an immediate need. But amidst the hullabaloo, they also made a quieter addition, snagging cornerback Dominick Kelly from Georgia.
Don't be fooled by the lack of buzz: While Kelly might not have the same proven production as his peers, he's no less intriguing. In fact, if his upside ends up being as high as it looks, Kelly could very well end up being the biggest steal in this year's portal class, becoming an enormous impact player for Ohio State in the long run.
As far as experience goes, Kelly has relatively little at the collegiate level. He appeared in 10 games for the Bulldogs last season as a reserve cornerback, logging three tackles and three pass breakups while allowing three catches for 73 yards and a touchdown.
It might not seem like much, but the fact that Kelly has any experience at all speaks to his potential. Elite programs like Georgia aren't in the habit of handing snaps to freshmen cornerbacks, so his 61 defensive snaps (according to Pro Football Focus) indicate the trust Kirby Smart and his staff had in Kelly.

#three

Well, the good news is that Marquette women's soccer is unbeaten through five matches for the first time since 2007. The good news is that Marquette hasn't allowed a non-penalty kick goal yet this season. The good news is that freshman keeper Mia Hurd has three shutouts in five matches to start her career.
The bad news is that Marquette failed to score for the first time this season, and so they have to settle for a 0-0 draw with Milwaukee. The bad news is that the hundreds of Marquette freshmen who streamed down to the Valley for this match did not get to see the most thrilling example of competition with the two teams combining for just 21 shots in 90 minutes.
At least Marquette won the shots on goal battle 7-3, I guess?
Here's 90 seconds of highlights.
Up Next: Marquette is back in action on Sunday as they welcome Northern Illinois to Valley Fields. First kick is scheduled for 1pm Central, and ESPN+ will have the streaming broadcast. A 4-0 loss to Missouri on Thursday night dropped the Huskies to 1-2-1 on the season.

#marquette #kick

Missouri soccer showcased its most dominant performance of the 2026 season, flying past Northern Illinois in a 4-0 rout on Thursday, August 27 in Columbia. Junior midfielder Landis Canada led the way with her first collegiate brace, while Missouri's freshmen class continued to impress across the board.
The Tigers took the lead after 22 minutes of play, when junior midfielder Landis Canada drove the ball into the back of the net from point-blank range. The ball bounced around the box in the resulting calamity from a corner kick, and Canada finished it comfortably — finding her first goal of the season.
Freshman Lana Adams doubled the Tigers' lead in the 66th minute. She found her first collegiate goal by dancing around several Huskies defenders before rocketing the ball into the back of the net from 20 yards out. This broke the seal for the Tigers and allowed them to find their rhythm in front of the goal.
"It's mentality and execution," head coach Stefanie Golan said post-match. "I think that the women had the right mentality and they executed, and you know that's really what those opportunities come down to."
They continued this momentum when, just moments later, Canada found her second goal of the affair, knocking in a header from a corner kick in the 67th minute. The single-game brace matches her total goals in her collegiate career thus far.

#canada #goal #ball

Michigan basketball ended its foreign tour on a bittersweet note.
After dropping its first two exhibitions against Lithuania teams, the Wolverines capped their Europe trip with an 84-81 win over Serbia's Mega Superbet on Aug. 27 at the Sportski Centar in Herceg Novi, Montenegro but lost one of their standout freshmen in the process.
Brandon McCoy Jr., a five-star guard and one of the team's two incoming McDonald's All-Americans, exited 20 seconds into the game with an injury. After coming away with a steal on the first possession, he slipped as he drove to the basket in transition.
McCoy stayed down for several moments and was tended to by trainer Chris Williams. He got up favoring his right leg and didn't put any weight on it before he was carried off the court back to the locker room. He never returned to the bench.
The program didn't provide an immediate postgame update on McCoy's injury.

#mccoy #superbet

The Texas women's basketball program has once again expanded its recruiting map.
On Wednesday, Texas announced its signing of Australian guard Jayda Clark. The six-foot Clark will be eligible to compete with the Longhorns during the 2026-27 season.
Clark has not played collegiate basketball, but she should still add a veteran presence to a Texas roster that has five freshman on its. Clark is 21 years old, and she has played professionally in Australia. According to UT, Clark scored 36 points and made eight 3-pointers in her last WNBL game.
"We are thrilled to add such a great young lady and her family as well as a tremendous player to our program," Texas coach Vic Schaefer said in a statement. "Jayda has been playing in the WNBL Professional League in Australia for the past two years and she is coming to us after having a great season this year having scored 36 points in her last game. Jayda will bring experience and the ability to score the basketball at all three levels. She is a veteran player with size and strength at the guard position being able to play multiple positions."
Due to the graduation of Rori Harmon and the offseason defections of Jordan Lee and Aaliyah Crump, Texas is thin in its backcourt. But junior Bryanna Preston is back, and Clark, freshmen Addison Bjorn, Amalia Holguin and Lizzy Spaight and Oklahoma transfer Zya Vann will be among those who could compete for playing time.

#clark

When asked to identify college football programs that have elite talent at receiver even as freshmen, the first answer that crosses most people's minds is the Ohio State Buckeyes. The USC Trojans, however, aim to change that narrative with their most recent recruiting class. The Trojans also have a couple of talented freshmen who will be positioned to contribute to the offense.
Here are some freshmen on offense who could make a big impact for the USC Trojans:
Redeaux has track speed at the running back position. If he gets any carries this season, there is a good chance he will find his way to the end zone with his speed alone. With his breakout in fall camp, It is very likely he ends up as the 3rd back on the depth chart. Having to deal with thunder and lightning in King Miller and Waymond Jordan, and then having to deal with Redeaux's home-run-hitting speed, spells trouble for Big Ten defenses.
Boobie Feaster is a big play waiting to happen, and he has showcased that already in much of the Trojans' fall camp footage. There is a good shot that he will be the starting slot receiver, and with that, he will make many big plays for the Trojans this season. It is players like this that will be so necessary when facing defenses like Oregon, Ohio State, and Indiana. Lincoln Riley will love getting the ball in Feaster's hands. More often than not, Feaster will make both Riley and Jayden Maiava right.
Mosley will be a guy that Lincoln Riley will try to get involved, given how much of a playmaker he can be with the ball in his hands. He has game-changing speed and was already dubbed this year's potential Adoree' Jackson for the Trojans. His skill set will be useful on special teams, and if the Trojans can get production in that area to complement their offense, that could make a difference in some pivotal games this year.

#speed #freshmen

Even as college football offenses increasingly do most of their damage through the air, there's always room for an effective, ground-based attack.
As any frustrated fan has been liable to say at some point while watching their team on a given fall Saturday, it's never a bad idea to just "run the dang ball."
A stable and reliable run game is important to the fortunes of any team with even a faint hope of competing for a national championship. A good group of backs, and a strong contingent of linemen blocking for them, can pick up needed yards in critical moments, control the clock and, if a unit's really having its way, break the will of an opposing defense.
Who's too high, too low? USA TODAY Sports' Top 100 College Football Players for 2026
College football's next big stars? 10 freshmen who could make instant impact in 2026

#players

LYNDHURST — A year of maturity made a difference Saturday evening for the Lakeside Dragons. Playing freshmen and sophomores last year led to some growth in a 14-7 victory over Lutheran East.
The Dragons defense held Lutheran East to just seven points by staying on their ****** ignments and not freelancing, said Lakeside football coach Terry Henton.
"We talked all summer about putting in the work," Henton said of the team earning a chance to play winning football.
He said as long as they play as a team they have a chance.
"Everybody [on defense] is on a chain," Henton said. "You can't go any where alone."

#henton #lakeside #lutheran #defense

The 2026 high school cross country season has arrived, and the boys' division is loaded with talent and potential.
Top teams to keep an eye on include Chiles, Leon, Lincoln, and Maclay.
The Timberwolves feature plenty of quality and depth after they placed third in the FHSAA State Finals. Florida State signee Joshua Hicks (14:49) and returnee Jonathan Kiros (15:21) placed third and fourth respectively.
The Lions should be super motivated after missing out on state last year and picking up some of the top incoming freshmen in the area.
The Trojans have a strong core group, but will need to stay healthy and focused. And Maclay's top runners expect to help motivate a solid group.

#lincoln #maclay

Texas A&M's 2026 season opener is just a mere two weeks away, as the Aggies will open the new campaign against Missouri State in Kyle Field, officially kicking off coach Mike Elko's third season at the helm. While it would take several articles to accurately recap A&M's previous 13 practices, including last Saturday's scrimmage, this Saturday's final media-viewing practice was certainly the most informative.
Instead of giving away most of what we saw on Saturday, it's always important to start from the beginning: After making the College Football Playoff for the first time last season, Mike Elko's offseason premonition that "10 to 12" players would be selected in the 2026 NFL Draft came true, as a record 10 starters were picked, including star wide receiver KC Concepcion going 24th overall to the Cleveland Browns.
Elko's premonition helped prepare for the offseason departures, as 65% of the 2025 roster returns, combined with 17 transfer portal additions and nearly 30 freshmen from the 2026 signing class. While losing 15 starters on both sides of the ball certainly looks like a rebuild, that is far from the case.
With key starters returning at every position, led by redshirt junior quarterback Marcel Reed, junior wide receiver Mario Craver, safeties Dalton Brooks and Marcus Ratcliffe, and linebacker Daymion Sanford, four of five team captains will be counted on to lead on the field and in the locker room.
On Saturday, all five players and several others stood out for the final time before the season opener, while a couple of position battles may have been decided as well. Here are three key takeaways from Texas A&M's practice on Saturday.

#texas #mike #opener

We are officially two weeks from Texas football and another major piece of news has popped up. Ty'Anthony Smith, the third-year linebacker, has been dismissed from the team following a tumultuous fall camp.
As has been discussed throughout the offseason, the LB room is not the deepest on the team. The trio of freshmen, led by Tyler Atkinson, will need to play a bigger role this season. I believe they are up to the task but it's unlikely to come as quickly as Texas would like.
One of the single biggest storylines this offseason has been the freshmen LBs. Tyler Atkinson came in as the top dawg, but Rocky ******* s and Kosi Okpala were the story during spring camp. Since then, Atkinson has taken a step forward and seems poised to back up Rasheem Biles. ******* s will get looks behind Justin Cryer at MLB and Okpala is likely to occupy a role similar to Brad Spence.
That trio of players are talented enough to make this a relative non-problem. However, LB is not always a position that comes quickly to young players. It's a position largely defined off your experience and knowledge of the game. That's something this trio will have to find early in the season or the Texas LB unit will have to lean on the trio of Biles, Cryer and Spence more than they'd like.
So, how quickly can this group be ready? I'd argue Tyler Atkinson will be a consistent and confident contributor by the Oklahoma game. Before that, he will get reps but might not be ready to fill the role he'll eventually have to. The entire trio needs to find the field consistently against Texas State and UTSA, to speed up the process as much as possible. I would expect the veterans to carry the majority of the weight against Ohio State, simply because of the complexity and intensity that game will contain.

#tyler