The college basketball season begins Monday. And with the transfer portal in overdrive the the past few years no one will blame you for not knowing who is playing where these days.

Big Ten teams were certainly busy in the portal. To get you ready for the season we asked beat reporters from across the USA TODAY Network which transfers will have biggest impact in 2025-26. Here are there answers:

Illinois: Andrej Stojakovic

Indiana: Lamar Wilkerson

Iowa: Bennett Stirtz

Maryland: Pharrel Payne

Take your pick. The Terrapins have an entirely new roster under first-year coach Buzz Williams. Of the 16 players, 15 are new. Former Indiana and Washington State point guard Myles Rice will likely steer the ship, but we’ll go with the anchor in the post. Payne comes to College Park with Peterson from College Station and averaged 10.4 points and 5.1 rebounds for the Aggies last season. He’s also familiar with the Big Ten, having started his college career at Minnesota.

Michigan: Morez Johnson Jr.

Michigan State: Trey Fort

Minnesota: Cade Tyson

A North Carolina native, Tyson’s lone season as a Tar Heel didn’t go as he had hoped. The 6-7 forward returned home after two standout seasons at Belmont (15 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 45% from 3 in 59 starts). At UNC last season, Tyson averaged under 8 minutes a game and 2.6 ppg and 1.1 rpg. He arrives at Minnesota as a key piece for Niko Medved to build on. So far so good. Tyson scored 29 points and six 3-pointers in an Oct. 16 exhibition vs. North Dakota State and scored 26 points in an exhibition against North Dakota, including 4-of-6 from behind the arc.

Nebraska: Ugnius Jarusevicius

A 6-10 forward from Lithuania, Jarusevicius was first-team All-MAC last season in his lone year at Central Michigan, averaging 16.2 points and 7.3 rebounds. He led the MAC in double-doubles (eight) and had two 30-10 games last season for the Chippewas after arriving from Cal State Bakersfield. ‘Ugnius’ skill set fits well with our five-out system, and we are pleased to add someone of his size and ability to space the floor,’ Huskers coach Fred Hoiberg said after adding Jarusevicius from the portal.

Northwestern: Jayden Reid

Northwestern went in search of backcourt help now that Brooks Barnhizer is in the NBA and Ty Berry and Jalen Leach are gone, too. Chris Collins pulled Reid out of the portal from South Florida, where Reid led the Bulls in points (12.6), assists (3.6) and steals (1.8). ‘Jayden is a talented veteran lead guard that can impact the game on both ends of the floor,’ Wildcats coach Chris Collins said when Reid signed with Northwestern. ‘He plays with great toughness, competitiveness and a spirit which will fit in perfectly with the culture of our team.’

Ohio State: Christoph Tilly

The addition of Tilly didn’t get the national buzz that some of the more heralded big man transfers generated, but the senior from Santa Clara is positioned to help remake an Ohio State offense that too often got stuck in the mud a season ago. Tilly can stretch the floor and is viewed as a linchpin to how the Buckeyes want to attack. There’s no one else on this roster like him. — Adam Jardy, Columbus Dispatch

Oregon: Takai Simpkins

Purdue: Oscar Cluff

Rutgers: Tariq Francis

Francis arrives via nearby NJIT. He led the America East in scoring last season (19.2 ppg) and had 14 games of 20+ points. He shot 84% from the free-throw line and has made a 3-pointer in 45 straight games. Rutgers lost two lottery picks (Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey) and will have plenty of shots available. Francis should man one of the guard sports, alongside Jamichael Davis.

UCLA: Donovan Dent

The 2025 Mountain West Player of the Year and honorable mention All-American at New Mexico, Dent led the MWC in scoring (20.4) and was second in assists (6.4). He was first player since Ja Morant in 2018-19 with at least 600 points and 200 assists in the regular season. He’ll get to the free-throw line plenty (his 227 attempts last season were No. 19 in the nation).

USC: Chad Baker-Mazara

The Trojans have turned over most of their roster and landed some Final Four experience with the addition of Baker-Mazara from Auburn. The 26-year-old Baker-Mazara averaged 12.3 points and a team-high 1.2 steals per game last season while starting in 34 of Auburn’s 38 games. He was second on the team in scoring and earned third-team All-SEC honors.

Washington: Desmond Claude

Another take your pick. The Huskies only bring back two players from last season. A transfer from USC, Claude is already familiar with the Big Ten, finishing last season 12th in scoring in the conference (15.8 ppg). He led the Trojans in scoring and assists (4.2) assists and added 3.6 rebounds per game. Claude began his college career at Xavier, where he won Big East Most Improved Player as a sophomore.

Wisconsin: Nick Boyd

Boyd arrived in Madison after one NCAA tournament appearance with San Diego State and two appearances with Florida Atlantic, which includes the Owls’ improbable 2023 Final Four run. Boyd has quickly impressed coaches and teammates with his speed and other traits. He joins John Blackwell and Virginia transfer Andrew Rohde in what could be a dangerous backcourt trio in 2025-26. — John Steppe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Stay up to date with all of the latest Big Ten news with coverage of each school at USA TODAY’s Big Ten hub.

LOS ANGELES – They have lost a half-dozen games this postseason and every time they do, the Toronto Blue Jays dust off the platitudes with the ease of Tony Robbins on a book tour.

League leaders in comeback wins.

Flush the loss, turn the page.

Glue Jays. Get it?

Now, though, even the most jaded observer is forced to agree that there’s substance behind all this talk. Recovering from a devastating 18-inning loss and moving within two victories of a World Series championship can have that effect.

So when they played two games worth of baseball in Game 3 of the World Series and walked away only with a devastating setback that threatened their season, with the greatest two-way player in baseball history staring down from the mound in Game 4, the Blue Jays were all too happy to note that even a dispiriting 18-inning loss only counts as one.

They simply woke up, nine fresh innings ahead of them, and dented the myth of Shohei Ohtani with a go-ahead two-run home run from their own franchise player, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

They witnessed manager John Schneider, his pitching reserves greatly drained, guide a quartet of arms through the Los Angeles Dodgers’ snakepit of a lineup, allowing the rest of the staff to reload.

Finally, the sun down at Dodger Stadium and a one-run seventh-inning lead needing fortification, they chased Ohtani from the game, sent nine men to the plate, peppered a pair of relievers with base hits and basic execution and demoralized the Dodgers, tacking on four runs to ensure a 6-2 victory that squared this World Series at two games apiece.

In winning one game, the Blue Jays guaranteed so much, at a time their circumstances looked so dire:

That Rogers Centre will light up at least one more time this year, their best pitcher, Kevin Gausman, getting one more shot at the Dodgers.

That this best-of-seven is now a best-of-three, with a Game 5 at Chavez Ravine on Oct. 29 that once looked like a Dodger coronation instead becomes a massive opportunity for Toronto, which can ensure itself two shots to win a world championship back home.

And perhaps more important, further cement the Blue Jays’ conviction in one another and this cause they’ve taken on, to bring Toronto its first World Series championship since 1993.

These Blue Jays can be historic. They’re already fully convinced they’re something special.

“I think this is a quote from Herb Brooks,” says third baseman Ernie Clement, citing the man who led the 1980 USA men’s hockey team to a stunning gold medal. “But we are a team of uncommon men. I think a normal team would have folded today.

“And we’re not normal. I think we’re the best team in baseball. We got out of bed with our hair on fire and ready to play.”

Clement, the curly-haired infielder whose 26 postseason hits are second in these playoffs only to Guerrero’s 28, was proof enough.

His seventh-inning double ended Ohtani’s night. An inning later, his grounder to shallow right field became a hit when he dove into the first base bag, as if earning his eighth multi-hit game this postseason was the difference between eating or going hungry.

Oh, but there was so much more.

Like Shane Bieber, the Game 4 starter who began warming up in anticipation of an appearance in the 19^th inning of Game 3, only to watch Freddie Freeman’s walk-off homer end the nearly seven-hour saga.

It was wild-eyed veteran Max Scherzer, around the 11^th or 12^th inning, urging Bieber to think about coming into the game “if things got squirrely.” Pitching coach Pete Walker agreed. Bieber started tossing in the 18^th.

And then Freeman’s home run sent everyone home, and Bieber into a fitful night of attempted sleep.

“I was definitely amped up, right?” says Bieber. “You have to get yourself ready to pitch in the 19th inning of a World Series game marathon. Pete was like, ‘Yeah, we might need you as a last resort.’

“And I think I was probably very close to getting the ball.”

Yet in one of those twists of fate that occur every October, Toronto lost the game. Bieber stayed on turn for Game 4.

And a guy who couldn’t escape the third inning of one playoff start and the fourth inning of another stared down Ohtani, the slugger who reached base nine times on four hits, two homers and five walks in Game 3.

And struck him out twice, allowing just a harmless walk, and guided the Blue Jays into the sixth inning. It was the latest step forward for a guy who didn’t start a game until August after recovering from April 2024 Tommy John surgery.

“I’m really happy for him,” says Schneider, “for the last year-and-a-half journey he’s been on.”

Schneider’s hot hand warmed further when he yanked Bieber at just the right time for lefty Mason Fluharty, who got the final two outs in the sixth, still nursing a 2-1 lead.

Next? Erstwhile starter Chris Bassitt was asked to pitch on consecutive days in relief for the first time since 2012, in the minor leagues. He retired six of the seven batters he faced, a proud starter, at the age of 36, turning into deluxe playoff set-up man.

Who is loving life even more in this, his third and perhaps final year in Toronto.

“This is probably – I don’t want to discredit my Oakland teams – but this is the closest team I’ve ever been a part of. Thirty guys that truly care about each other,” says Bassitt. “As crazy as it is, you go to the wives’ suite, there’s 30 wives and girlfriends that are very, very close, too. Haven’t seen that.

“We just have a very family bond, so to speak, where we genuinely care for each other. We’re picking each other up constantly. Not putting too much pressure on each other. If we just play our game, we typically win.”

Bassitt has not given up a run in 6 ⅔ innings of postseason relief, spread across five games. He has retired 20 of 22 batters faced.

“He’s been unbelievable,” says Clement. “To kind of switch the role a little bit and do it seamlessly is really impressive.”

Yet Game 4 all started with Guerrero, the bell cow on this Blue Jays buildup since his April 2019 debut. He’s now smacked seven home runs this postseason, second to Ohtani’s eight, and they are tied with 14 RBIs.

In the third inning of Game 4, they were head-to-head, the sort of megastar matchup that typically doesn’t translate to baseball yet did here in the dying afternoon light of L.A.

It mattered to Guerrero, for sure.

“It was very important for me to hit that home run,” says Guerrero through interpreter Hector Lebron. “I respect Ohtani a lot, and I know basically myself and him, we are, like, the talk of the series, but when we are between those two lines, we’re competing.”

Translation: The sky-high Ohtani vs Guerrero logos don’t just make for great network TV backdrops. This can be a matter of significant pride.

“I get that it’s easy to write Ohtani versus Guerrero. To us, it’s Toronto versus Los Angeles,” says Schneider. “But that swing was huge.

“A sweeper is a pitch designed to generate pop-ups, in my opinion. And the swing that Vlad put on it was elite.”

Game 5 will be a Game 1 pitching rematch, 22-year-old Trey Yesavage vs. veteran lefty Blake Snell. The Blue Jays will arrive off a normal night’s sleep, a chance to take a 3-2 Series lead.

Cue Herb Brooks? Not exactly.

Even if Clement can draw inspiration from his words, there will be no need to run through a wall. Not even after an 18-inning journey devolved into misery.

“We didn’t need any of that. Every guy in the clubhouse came ready to play today,” says Clement. “There was no rah-rah speech. There was no need for that. We know what we need to do.

“It’s a testament to the character in there.”

And perhaps it’s time to start believing it when these Jays say so.

Week 8 of the NFL season featured another Sunday marked by a wild accomplishment by one of the league’s quarterbacks.

Last week, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts had a perfect passer rating, marking the 85th instance of the feat in NFL history. This week, Green Bay Packers signal-caller Jordan Love completed 20 straight pass attempts, tying the longest such stretch in a single game in Packers franchise history – a history that dates back 106 years.

Love accomplished the streak against the Pittsburgh Steelers and former mentor Aaron Rodgers on ‘Sunday Night Football.’ His 20 straight completions in a game tied Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre’s franchise record, which he set in 2007.

Week 9 of the NFL season is sure to bring more big moments with multiple quarterbacks around the league returning from various injuries and others making first career starts.

The Arizona Cardinals’ Kyler Murray, Baltimore Ravens’ Lamar Jackson and Minnesota Vikings’ J.J. McCarthy are among those expected to return after missing multiple games with injuries. Meanwhile, New Orleans Saints rookie quarterback Tyler Shough will make his first career start.

Here’s how the starting QBs for all 32 teams rank entering Week 9:

NFL quarterback power rankings: Week 9

1. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

Last week: 1

Metric that matters: Mahomes’ average depth of target this season is 7.9 yards, which would be his highest mark since 2020 if it holds. However, in two games with No. 1 receiver Rashee Rice, he’s had two of the three lowest ADOT marks of the season. The Chiefs are getting the ball in their top wideout’s hands quickly and letting him do the rest. Rice’s ADOT in two games is 2.8 yards.

2. Drake Maye, New England Patriots

Last week: 2

Metric that matters: Maye took six sacks – five from superstar edge rusher Myles Garrett – against the Browns and still managed to put together a seventh straight game with over 200 yards passing (282 in Week 8) and a passer rating over 100 (135.8).

3. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

Last week: 3

Metric that matters: Allen has made just three turnover-worthy plays in 2025, per PFF. That’s the lowest mark of any quarterback with more than 100 dropbacks (Allen has 239 in seven games). The Bills’ quarterback was responsible for three touchdowns in Week 8 – one in the air and two on the ground.

4. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

Last week: 6

Metric that matters: Herbert led the NFL in ESPN’s QBR (96.3) and PFF passing grade (91.5) in Week 8. Most impressively, he did it against a Vikings team that entered the matchup ranked third in the NFL in EPA/play allowed and success rate against opponents’ dropbacks.

5. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

Last week: N/A

Metric that matters: Jackson’s 71.6% completion rate and 130.5 passer rating in four games before his injury would both be the highest marks of his career if they held through the 2025 season. His 75.7 QBR would be his second-highest in a season behind only his unanimous MVP season in 2019.

6. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

Last week: 5

Metrics that matter: Stafford still is tied for the league lead with 17 passing touchdowns even after the Rams’ Week 8 bye. His 266.6 average passing yards per game are the most in a season since in 2021, the year Stafford led Los Angeles to a Super Bowl victory.

7. Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Last week: 4

Metric that matters: Mayfield still leads the NFL with four fourth-quarter comebacks and four game-winning drives. He’s ranked fifth in current MVP odds (+1300), per BetMGM Sportsbook.

8. Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts

Last week: 9

Metric that matters: Jones leads the NFL in passing success rate (56.3%) through eight weeks as he’s led the Colts to the NFL’s best record at 7-1.

9. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers

Last week: 12

Metric that matters: Love completed 20 straight pass attempts on ‘Sunday Night Football,’ tying him with Favre for the Packers’ single-game franchise record.

10. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions

Last week: 7

Metrics that matter: Goff ranks second in the NFL in completion rate (74.9%), passer rating (116.4), TD% (7.4%), and success rate (53.7%), per Pro Football Reference. He’s also second in completion rate over expected (9.6).

11. Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks

Last week: 8

Metrics that matter: Darnold leads the NFL in ADOT (10.3) and average completed air yards (8.7). He’s also third in the NFL in completion rate over expected (9.1)

12. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

Last week: 10

Metric that matters: Hurts’ four passing touchdowns against the Giants in Week 8 tied a career high that he’s reached twice before: once in 2022 and once in 2023. All three instances were in a Week 8 game.

13. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars

Last week: 13

Metric that matters: No quarterback has had as many passes dropped as Lawrence (21) this season, per PFF. Yet the Jaguars are still one win out of an AFC playoff spot at 4-3.

14. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders

Last week: 14

Metric that matters: Daniels has the third-lowest Int% (0.7%) in the NFL with just one thrown in 184 dropbacks.

15. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

Last week: 11

Metrics that matter: Prescott leads the NFL in completions (204) and QBR (79.5).

16. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos

Last week: 16

Metrics that matter: Nix graded out as the second-best passer of Week 8 (85.2), per PFF, and tied for first of all quarterbacks last week with three big-time throws against the Cowboys.

17. Jaxson Dart, New York Giants

Last week: 15

Metrics that matter: Dart led all starting quarterbacks in big-time throw percentage (12%) in Week 8, per PFF. His 11.6-yard average depth of target was tied for third among all Week 8 starters. The Giants’ quarterback had a 68-yard touchdown throw (39 air yards) nullified by a questionable offensive pass interference call.

18. Mac Jones, San Francisco 49ers

Last week: 19

Metric that matters: Jones is a top-10 quarterback in the NFL in success rate. Pro Football Reference lists his success rate at 50%, while Ben Baldwin’s rbsdm.com lists Jones at 51.1%.

19. C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans

Last week: 23

Metrics that matter: Stroud had his first 300-yard game of the season against the 49ers. Since a 0-3 start, Stroud and the Texans are 3-1 and up to a 43% chance to make the playoffs, per NFL.com. Since 2000, only the 2018 Texans have made it to the postseason after starting 0-3.

20. Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers

Last week: 18

Metric that matters: Rodgers is tied for third in the NFL with 16 touchdown passes, and his rate of throwing a touchdown on 7.7% of throws leads the league through eight weeks.

21. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears

Last week: 20

Metric that matters: Williams has made at least one turnover-worthy play in each of his last four starts, per PFF. Week 8’s loss to the Ravens broke a streak of three straight games with multiple such plays, though he still made one and was punished with an interception.

22. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals

Last week: N/A

Metric that matters: Through just five starts, Murray is more than halfway to his career-high total of passes batted down or deflected at the line of scrimmage. He has seven so far this year and will match his career high from his 2019 rookie season with five more.

23. Joe Flacco, Cincinnati Bengals

Last week: 24

Metrics that matter: Per PFF, Flacco’s big-time throw percentage (3.0%) and turnover-worthy play percentage (0.7%) are both better marks in three games with Cincinnati than they were in four games with the Browns: 2.9% BTT, 3.2% TWP.

24. Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans

Last week: 26

Metrics that matter: Ward is tied for 14th in the NFL with 10 big-time throws in eight games: more than Justin Herbert, Josh Allen and Jared Goff. He’s also tied for 11th-most turnover-worthy plays with eight of them: more than Herbert, Allen and Goff.

25. J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings

Last week: N/A

Metrics that matter: Per rbsdm.com, only one quarterback with 50 or more snaps has a worse EPA per play than McCarthy (-0.354) this year: Ravens backup Cooper Rush (-0.436). Only three quarterbacks in that sample have a lower success rate than McCarthy’s 41.7%: Russell Wilson (41.5%), Ward (40.4%) and Dillon Gabriel (36.7%). Most significantly of all, McCarthy’s career sample size is still just two games.

26. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins

Last week: 29

Metric that matters: Tagovailoa got the ball out faster than he had all season in Week 8. His four-touchdown day also came with the lowest average time to throw he had in any game this year: 2.23 seconds.

27. Justin Fields, New York Jets

Last week: 32

Metrics that matter: For the first time all season, Fields had multiple big-time throws in a game (2 in Week 8). For the first time all season, Fields took zero sacks.

28. Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints

Last week: N/A

Metric that matters: In just 35 dropbacks, Shough had two passes dropped by his receivers. One of them – on his first time targeting Chris Olave in his career – led to his first career interception.

29. Dillon Gabriel, Cleveland Browns

Last week: 25

Metrics that matter: Only two quarterbacks with more than 10 dropbacks this season have an ADOT below 6.5 yards: Kyler Murray and Gabriel, both of whom have an ADOT of 6.4 yards. Of 13 quarterbacks with an ADOT below seven yards, only Tagovailoa (13) has more turnover-worthy plays than Gabriel (9).

30. Geno Smith, Las Vegas Raiders

Last week: 28

Metric that matters: Smith is tied for the NFL lead in interceptions with 10 of them in seven games. Tagovailoa also has 10, but he’s played eight games.

31. Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons

Last week: N/A

Metric that matters: Excluding the ends of each half, the Falcons had nine ‘full’ offensive possessions against the Dolphins with Cousins starting under center. Four were three-and-outs and two ended in turnovers on downs.

32. Andy Dalton, Carolina Panthers

Last week: 30

Metric that matters: Dalton had a 4.2 QBR against the Bills in Week 8. Only one quarterback has had worse outings this year: Tagovailoa had a 3.2 QBR in Week 1 and 3.3 mark in Week 7.

All the NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY’s 4th and Monday newsletter.

As the calendar nears November, more NFL fans are considering their teams’ futures – specifically in April for the NFL Draft.

The 2025 NFL season hasn’t gone as well as hoped for some teams across the league and they’ll look to find future stars to build around in the next draft class. They’ll be rewarded with an intriguing group of prospects.

The 2026 NFL Draft was initially touted as one rife with quarterback talent. That hasn’t exactly panned out as expected thanks to multiple potential first-round quarterbacks regressing (Texas’ Arch Manning) or suffering season-ending injuries after inconsistent performances (Penn State’s Drew Allar).

Still, some passers have risen in the ranks thanks to breakout seasons. They’re not alone. Wide receiver was initially expected to be a one-player position in the first round – Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson – but players from multiple different programs are playing their way into first-round consideration.

Offensive tackle offers few finished products but plenty of talented, traits-filled prospects for coaching staffs to mold into long-term starters. It’s a good year to need a linebacker, too, as well as versatile edge rushers.

Here’s how our top 50 prospects stand entering Week 9 of the NFL season:

2026 NFL Draft top 50 prospects

1. S Caleb Downs, Ohio State

Downs won’t go No. 1 overall because of the position he plays. The Buckeyes’ star defensive back is one of the best safeties in recent memory. He offers impressive athleticism, coverage skills, run defense and general football IQ to be a true defensive weapon in multiple ways. He can be a force multiplier for a defense and creative playcaller.

2. Edge Ruben Bain Jr., Miami

Bain’s combination of speed and power at 6-foot-3 and 275 pounds makes him an every-down defender on the edge. The physicality he plays with will fit in immediately at the NFL level. Sack production isn’t there, but the sheer pressure numbers and eye test show he’s an impactful player on every down.

3. DT Peter Woods, Clemson

Woods looks at times like a prospect who is 90% of what Jalen Carter offers, thanks to his mix of size (6-foot-3, 315 pounds) and athleticism. He can beat defenders with a bull rush, chase down ball-carriers in the run game and eat up double teams. Yet he struggles with consistency. We’re willing to be on the tantalizing, Pro Bowl-caliber upside.

4. RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame

The 2026 class features yet another clear-cut No. 1 running back. Love is far and away the top player at the position with a skill set tailored to the modern NFL. He’s a three-down running back with size (6-foot, 214 pounds) and breakaway speed to score at any moment. His receiving skills mean he’s a true three-down back. He’s averaging 3.77 yards after contact per attempt this season.

5. LB Arvell Reese, Ohio State

Reese is one of the biggest risers on draft boards this season as he’s become arguably the top linebacker prospect of the past five years. He combines ideal size (6-foot-4, 243 pounds) with outlier athleticism. But it’s his football IQ that’s set him apart this season. The game’s slowing down for him and he can take on varied roles in a defense as a pass rusher, quarterback spy, run defender or coverage linebacker.

6. OT Spencer Fano, Utah

Fano’s started at both left (2023) and right (2024-25) tackle for the Utes. He’s a bit lean at 6-foot-6 and 308 pounds which may necessitate a move inside at the NFL level. If he can bulk up, there’s a lot to like about him. His relentless motor and movement skills show up in pass protection, as do his strong hands.

7. WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State

Tyson entered the year as the top wide receiver prospect and has done nothing to change that. He’s a sudden mover who can create space at will against defenders. His route-running is impressive at this stage of his development. His lone knock is a lack of elite speed but there’s so much versatility, ball skills and playmaking to love in a 6-foot-2, 200-pound frame.

8. OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama

There simply aren’t many humans on this planet who move like Proctor does at this size (6-foot-7, 366 pounds). Proctor’s incredible athleticism, power and physicality give him a higher ceiling than most tackles in the modern era. He just needs to improve his consistency and technique to match his gifts. In the Crimson Tide’s opener, he allowed six pressures and a sack. In the seven games since, he’s allowed eight pressures and no sacks.

9. Edge Keldric Faulk, Auburn

One of the younger prospects in the class, Faulk could hear his name called early come April because of his tools at 6-foot-6 and 285 pounds. That size and tools mean he’s versatile in alignment and can kick inside or stay on the edge for a creative playcaller. His strength shows up in run defense and he’s improving his hand usage in 2025. He could be a building block for a defense long-term.

10. QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana

Mendoza transferred to Indiana for 2025 and is making the most of it. He’s a bigger quarterback prospect at 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds but he has a surprisingly quick release. His NFL-caliber arm will fit in but what stands out most on tape is his processing abilities post-snap. He can read defenses quickly and know where to put the ball. He’s not a true dual-threat quarterback but can extend plays and pick up first downs when needed.

11. OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami

Mauigoa’s got an ideal size at 6-foot-6 and 335 pounds, which translates into good play strength and anchor power to start immediately at the NFL level. He’s spent his career at right tackle in Coral Gables. His strong hands and anchor work well in pass protection, and overall body control holds up in run blocking as well. His foot speed may be a question mark for NFL evaluators and cause him to kick inside to guard long-term.

12. WR Makai Lemon, USC

Lemon and Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava have built one of the top connections in college football this fall. The USC wideout is quickly turning into the Emeka Egbuka-type of this wide receiver class. He won’t blow you away with his athleticism or size (5-11, 195 pounds). But Lemon knows exactly where to be to maximize his targets every time. He’s primarily lined up in the slot and regularly gets extra yards even when blanketed in coverage.

13. Edge T.J. Parker, Clemson

Another talented Tigers defender, Parker offers a physical presence off the edge at 6-foot-3 and 260 pounds. His size and strength translates to setting the edge in run defense. His hand usage and fluid movement skills show up as a pass rusher and he uses his long arms to collapse the pocket in the right way. His lack of elite twitch keeps him out of the top 10 prospects.

14. TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon

Like Love at running back, Sadiq is the clear-cut No. 1 tight end in this class. The Ducks’ offensive weapon is a true mismatch in college football at an explosive 6-foot-3 and 245 pounds. He’s averaging seven yards after catch per reception, per Pro Football Focus (PFF) data, and a 152.5 quarterback rating when targeted. His blocking skills and dedication, in addition to his athleticism, make him a top-15 prospect.

15. CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee

McCoy is a tough evaluation because he hasn’t seen the field in 2025 due to an ACL tear early in the offseason. But he has ideal size at 6-foot and 195 pounds with elite athleticism on tape. He’s shown solid ability in both zone and man coverage schemes with impressive ball production. His anticipation and good technique for his age should translate to the NFL. The only question is his health.

16. QB Ty Simpson, Alabama

Simpson is rising fast in draft circles for the 2026 class as he matures in his first season as a starter. His accuracy, timing and precision are on full display for the Crimson Tide every week. He has an NFL-caliber arm and the mobility to extend plays and quickly reset in the pocket. How much evaluators will weigh his college experience could make the difference between Simpson going top five or outside the top 15.

17. Edge David Bailey, Texas Tech

Bailey transferred from Stanford to Texas Tech and has been one of the most productive edge rushers in the country. He leads the FBS in sacks (11) and is top five in pressures. He gets to the quarterback with his quick twitch, overall athleticism, hand usage and bend off the edge. At 6-foot-3 and 250 pounds, there are some concerns about his run defense. He may be a designated pass rusher to start in the NFL.

18. QB Dante Moore, Oregon

Moore ascended into the conversation for the No. 1 pick thanks to a stellar start to the 2025 season. His deep ball was one of the best in the country entering the year and he’s shown growth in the intermediate and short area. His accuracy, release and layering are exactly what evaluators want to see. He’ll need to improve with handling pressure as Indiana exposed that part of his game in their matchup.

19. WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State

Tate’s taken on a bigger role in Columbus in 2025 and looks to be the Buckeyes’ next first-round wide receiver. He has ideal size for the outside at 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds and regularly separates against coverage thanks to his crisp route running and impressive contested catch acumen. He’s not a burner but is averaging more than 17 yards per reception.

20. CB Avieon Terrell, Clemson

Terrell, the younger brother of Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell, plays much bigger than his 5-foot-11, 180-pound frame. What he lacks in size, he makes up for in athleticism and ball skills. He’s better in zone schemes thanks to his vision in coverage but he has the fluid athleticism to turn his hips and redirect quickly in man coverage.

21. Edge LT Overton, Alabama

Overton brings the size (6-foot-3, 275 pounds), power and athleticism to be a versatile defender at the NFL level. He can work inside or out for a creative defensive coordinator with the strength and physicality to shed blocks against the run or bull rush in pass rush situations. He’ll need to improve his hand usage to maximize his talents.

22. OT Caleb Lomu, Utah

Lomu lines up on the left side to bookend the Utes’ offensive line across from Spencer Fano. He’s similarly sized at 6-foot-6 and 305 pounds and boasts impressive athleticism and discipline in his long frame. Like Fano, he needs to bulk up a bit to stay at tackle and handle NFL power off the edge. His hand usage needs some work as well but the foundation of talent is there for development.

23. CB Mansoor Delane, LSU

Delane won’t wow you with his athleticism like Terrell or McCoy. What jumps off the tape is how opposing quarterbacks just avoid him entirely. His long frame at 6-foot-1 and 187 pounds, combined with the best technical skills at the position in this class, make him a potential first-round pick. He’s as savvy as it gets at cornerback. His lean frame brings concerns in run defense but he’s allowed just eight receptions for 100 yards in nine games.

24. QB LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina

Sellers’ elite athletic tools make him an outlier at the position. At 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds, his movement skills in the open field are reminiscent of Cam Newton. He has the strongest arm in the class. There’s no denying his tools; it’s all about how he evolves and improves as a passer. He still makes surprising errors that lead to costly turnovers. But the raw talent is incredibly tantalizing.

25. WR Denzel Boston, Washington

Boston is another prototypical outside receiver in a class full of that type at the position. At 6-foot-4 and 209 pounds, he has the physical makeup to be a good boundary receiver in the NFL. His hand usage, route running and contested catch acumen shine on tape as well. The lone knock is his lack of explosiveness and burst off the line.

26. DT Caleb Banks, Florida

Banks was in line for a strong season for the Gators before a foot injury ended his season early. He could end up in a situation much like Josh Simmons in 2025: undeniable talent and tools but injury concerns drop him down boards. At 6-foot-6 and 334 pounds, Banks is surprisingly athletic and a difference-maker in pass rush situations. He does need some work in run defense and overall consistency.

27. WR Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee

Brazzell stands 6-foot-5 and 200 pounds with elite burst off the line to be a matchup problem for defenders. Despite his long levers, Brazzell works well in underneath concepts. He lacks elite long speed to stretch defenses vertically but can separate at most any level with how he gets in and out of breaks.

28. LB CJ Allen, Georgia

Count Allen as the next fringe first-round linebacker coming out of Athens. At 6-foot-1 and 235 pounds, he has NFL size with great athleticism to be an every-down player at the position. He’s a reliable tackler who shines in run defense. He will need more development in coverage but has made strides in that department in 2025.

29. DT Christen Miller, Georgia

Miller’s elite strength and anchor shows up in both run defense and pass rush situations. His rare combination of size (6-foot-4, 310 pounds), strength and movement skills make him a versatile prospect along the defensive line and can be a contributor on every down. His anticipation and hand usage need some development to last in the NFL, though.

30. IOL Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State

Ioane boasts an ideal mix of size, mobility and strength at 6-foot-4 and 330 pounds to be the top pure-interior offensive lineman in the class. He could be a Day 1 starter at guard for most teams league-wide. He’s taken a huge step in pass protection in 2025, with just one pressure allowed through his first six games. He needs some refinement in hand usage but the basic skills are there to be a long-term starter.

31. Edge Zion Young, Missouri

Young improved in his second full season with the Tigers to be one of the more productive edge rushers in the country. His 29 pressures through eight games are a career-high, and he’s notched five sacks in that timeframe as well. His ideal size at 6-foot-5 and 262 pounds mixes well with his hand usage and mean streak off the edge to be a force as a pass rusher. He lacks elite explosiveness, though, which limits his ceiling draft-wise.

32. RB Justice Haynes, Michigan

Haynes is gradually taking hold of the No. 2 RB slot in this class thanks to his elite mix of contact balance and vision. He’s an ideal pure runner between the tackles who can break through arm tackles and accelerate to the next level. Like many young backs, he will need work in pass protection but has the frame at 5-foot-11 and 210 pounds to improve with coaching.

33. LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State

Styles is another outstanding athlete at 6-foot-4 and 238 pounds for the Ohio State defense. He patrols the field at a pace more fitting of a 200-pound safety. His elite athleticism and solid fluidity means he can take on a variety of coverage assignments. He’s a reliable tackler in run defense as well. He’ll need to strengthen up to improve his block shedding and also work on his vision in run defense to maximize his traits.

34. QB John Mateer, Oklahoma

Mateer had a strong start to 2025 before a hand injury slowed down his progression. Still, he’s a plus athlete at 6-foot-1 and 224 pounds with the escapability to make highlight-reel throws against good defenses. His performance against Michigan is one of the best on his resume. He can fire out of variable angles, layer the ball well and has the burst as a runner to add value on the ground.

35. DT A’Mauri Washington, Oregon

Washington’s improvement in 2025 has him in the mix for Round 1, particularly for teams seeking a top nose tackle for their system. His mix of size (6-foot-3, 330 pounds) and agility allow him to eat up double teams in the run game. His power gives him a solid baseline to build on as he improves as an interior pass rusher.

36. OT Caleb Tiernan, Northwestern

Tiernan stands 6-foot-7 and 325 pounds, making him one of the more imposing presences at tackle in the class. He lacks the elite athleticism of many other prospects at the position in this group but could be a Round 1 pick thanks to his footwork, hand usage and understanding of leverage. His ceiling is lower than others at the position but a high floor makes him a worthwhile pick at the position early on.

37. Edge Matayo Uiagalelei, Oregon

Uiagalelei makes the most of his 6-foot-5, 272-pound frame off the edge to affect the offense against the run and pass. His great agility and solid bend means he takes an ideal path to the quarterback from wherever he lines up on the defensive line. His strength and play recognition are solid as well. There’s no one elite thing Uiagalelei shines at, but he is very good to great at most of what NFL teams want at the position.

38. RB Jonah Coleman, Washington

Coleman offers surprisingly good agility in a 5-foot-9, 228-pound frame. His low center of gravity and overall strength negate arm tackles and should translate to the NFL. That frame and leverage makes him a solid pass protector as well. He lacks elite speed but offers enough to be a three-down back early on.

39. WR Chris Bell, Louisville

Bell will draw comparisons to Deebo Samuel thanks to his size at 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds. That mix of near-linebacker size and good speed will have creative offensive play-callers excited about his potential. He’s primarily lined up out wide for Louisville with the physicality and hand usage to handle press coverage well.

40. Edge R Mason Thomas, Oklahoma

Thomas’ smaller frame at 6-foot-2 and 249 pounds means he’ll likely be a designated pass rusher to start his career. He’s still plenty productive in that role with five sacks and 24 hurries through his first eight games in 2025. His explosive first step and overall burst will be rewarded in a system that asks its edge rushers to attack off the snap. He needs to add strength to last as a three-down edge rusher and could use more development in reading and reacting to offenses.

41. QB Garrett Nussmeier, LSU

Son of New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier, the Tigers’ quarterback offers an NFL arm and places the ball accurately with anticipation. His athleticism is a plus in the pocket and he can extend plays. He operates like a point guard from the pocket to distribute to his pass-catchers. His gunslinger mentality has caused some problems in 2025, though, and he needs to improve when pressured.

42. CB AJ Harris, Penn State

Harris looks straight out of central casting for modern cornerbacks thanks to his mix of size (6-foot-1, 191 pounds) and athleticism. That makes him an ideal fit as a boundary cornerback at the NFL level in man coverage-heavy schemes. He lacks ball production which may ultimately hurt his draft standing but the tools are there for a reliable cornerback long-term.

43. Edge Dani Dennis-Sutton, Penn State

Dennis-Sutton provides a powerful base in his 6-foot-5, 265-pound frame. He’s one of the better edge-setters in the country and a reliable asset in run defense. His hand usage is solid for his stage of development which bodes well for him improving his pass rush moves. He lacks elite bend for his size and he needs some refinement overall to maximize his tools.

44. LB Anthony Hill Jr., Texas

Hill has ideal NFL size for a linebacker at 6-foot-3 and 238 pounds and is one of the younger prospects in this class. He reads and reacts quickly to plays and uses his burst to maneuver to the ball-carrier quickly. His strength and size will make him a solid run defender from Day 1. He needs to improve his technique in coverage to become an every-down linebacker.

45. WR Germie Bernard, Alabama

Bernard is one of the more versatile wide receivers in this class. At 6-foot-1 and 204 pounds, he’s operated primarily outside for Alabama in 2025 but spent a lot of time in the slot earlier in his college career. He thrives in the intermediate areas with reliable hands that his future NFL quarterback will love. He’ll immediately carve a role for himself at the next level. His biggest knock is lack of elite burst or deep speed.

46. CB Malik Muhammad, Texas

Muhammad is an absolute pest for opposing wide receivers. His twitchy athleticism in a 6-foot frame and impressive footwork make him extremely effective at mirroring opposing wideouts. His awareness in zone coverage is easily apparent and his smooth movements means he can transition between assignments well. At 188 pounds, there will be concerns in run defense but he’s a willing tackler.

47. S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon

It’s hard to find a more reliable tackler than Thieneman among defensive backs in this class. He’s a rangy defender who can move between box and single-high roles at will, with the talent to handle run defense or coverage assignments. His impressive athleticism hasn’t fully translated in Oregon but the tools are there to blossom into a versatile NFL defender.

48. OT Gennings Dunker, Iowa

Dunker boasts the power and mean streak as a run blocker with NFL-level play strength to project well to the next level. At 6-foot-5 and 315 pounds, he has the frame to stick but could end up inside at guard due to his limited lateral agility. With improved pad level and hand usage, he should be a solid long-term starter.

49. WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M

Concepcion stands 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds but operates well on the outside for the Aggies. He’s exceptional in the intermediate areas of the field with impressive footwork to separate against defenders. His burst off the line is impressive and he works back to the ball on his routes. He offers immediate value as a returner. His lack of size will show up more in the NFL which may necessitate a move to the slot.

50. OT Xavier Chaplin, Auburn

Chaplin stands 6-foot-7 and 348 pounds but offers elite movement skills in that massive frame. His long arms, strong hands and good anchor give him a big edge in pass protection and his innate strength shows up in run blocking as well. Overall, he needs work technique wise to maximize his elite athleticism, namely his footwork.

LOS ANGELES – They talk a good game about never giving up, about fortitude and makeup and an indescribable cohesion that makes them the “Glue Jays.”

And after a resounding 6-2 victory in World Series Game 4, a result that squared this Fall Classic at 2-2, it’s very clear that the Toronto Blue Jays are more than adept at backing up their words.

Some 18 hours after a gut-punch, 18-inning loss in Game 3, the Blue Jays roared back with a meticulous and carefully-crafted gameplan, toppling the great Shohei Ohtani on both sides of the ball as they scored four runs off the two-way great in six-plus innings.

At the plate, Toronto starter Shane Bieber issued a leadoff walk to Ohtani in the bottom of the first, extending Ohtani’s streak of reaching base to 10 after his stunning four-hit, two-homer, six-walk performance in Game 3.

And then, Bieber and Co. attacked him.

Bieber struck him out in the third and sixth inning, mixing in a blend of knuckle curves, changeups and cutters at Ohtani, keeping the power hitter away from Bieber’s low-90s fastball.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the Blue Jays’ own franchise player, put the Blue Jays ahead for good with a two-run homer in the third inning and reached base three times as he continued an epic and powerful postseason.

On paper, the Blue Jays broke serve: Ohtani carried a 2.25 playoff ERA into Game 4, while Bieber failed to escape the third and fourth innings in two of his three playoff starts. The 2020 Cy Young Award winner is also not yet his best self after undergoing Tommy John surgery in April 2024.

Yet Bieber bobbed and weaved through the Dodger lineup, giving up just four hits and a sacrifice fly to Kiké Hernández in the second inning.

Faced with extremely limited relief pitching resources, Blue Jays manager John Schneider stuck with Bieber just long enough, pulling him with one out in the sixth inning, Toronto clinging to a 2-1 lead and two runners on.

Mason Fluharty, the Blue Jays’ lone semi-trusty lefty reliever, induced a flyout to center from Max Muncy and struck out Tommy Edman on three pitches. Threat over.

And then the dam burst on Ohtani and the Dodgers in the seventh, as Daulton Varsho and Ernie Clement finished Ohtani with base hits and Andrés Giménez floated a crucial RBI single into left field for a 3-1 lead.

Bo Bichette and Addison Barger also contributed RBI hits to extend the lead to 6-1, crucial add-ons that made reliever Louis Varland’s adventurous ninth stomachable.

In the end, Schneider leaned on four pitchers: Bieber, Fluharty, veteran starter Chris Bassitt – who contributed two quiet innings – and Varland. The rest of the crew will be reloaded for Game 5, Trey Yesavage vs Blake Snell.

And the Blue Jays clawed back to even footing in a World Series where momentum is elusive, but adhesion lasts.

— Gabe Lacques

Here’s how Game 4 unfolded in Los Angeles:

To the ninth: Blue Jays 6, Dodgers 1

Jack Dreyer worked in and out of trouble in the top of the eighth and Toronto’s Chris Bassitt completed his second scoreless innings by getting Will Smith to ground into a double play.

Blue Jays score four, lead 6-1 in seventh

LOS ANGELES – The Blue Jays solved Shohei Ohtani on both sides of the ball. Now, they need to find nine more outs to make sure this World Series makes it back to Toronto. 

The bottom of the Blue Jays’ lineup forged a meticulous rally against Ohtani and two relievers, scoring FOUR runs to take a 6-1 lead entering the seventh inning stretch of Game 4 at Dodger Stadium. 

Manager Dave Roberts, with his pitching staff bleary after their 18-inning Game 3 conquest, sent Ohtani out for the seventh nursing a 2-1 lead. But Toronto didn’t let him breathe. 

Lefty-swinging Daulton Varsho greeted him with a single and Ernie Clement doubled him to third, ending Ohtani’s night. Then, in the biggest confrontation of the night, Andrés Giménez won an eight-pitch battle against lefty reliever Anthony Banda, parachuting a single into left field for a 3-1 lead. 

Toronto benefited from a replay reversal after Isiah Kiner-Falefa lined out to third with runners at the corners, and Giménez was initially doubled off first, until the call was overturned. 

Pinch-hitter Ty France delivered an RBI groundout, and then RBI singles by Bo Bichette and Addison Barger off Blake Treinen pushed the Blue Jays comfortably ahead.

Mason Fluharty escapes sixth-inning jam

LOS ANGELES – Shane Bieber delivered for the desperate Blue Jays, and manager John Schneider went for the hook at just the right time. 

Bieber pitched 5 ⅓ innings and left with one out, Freddie Freeman on first and the dangerous Max Muncy at the plate. Schneider opted for his only relatively reliable lefty reliever, and Mason Fluharty got a first-pitch flyout from Muncy, then a three-pitch strikeout of Tommy Edman to end the sixth with the Blue Jays clinging to a 2-1 lead. 

Now, to find nine more outs. 

Schneider’s options from the left side will diminish, as long man Eric Lauer is unavailable and Brendon Little gave up game-winning or game-tying home runs in his past two outings. 

But Fluharty might have gotten them out of the biggest jam of the night. 

To the fifth inning; Blue Jays 2, Dodgers 1

LOS ANGELES- Shane Bieber is giving the Blue Jays exactly what they need to get back in this World Series. 

Bieber has given up just two hits through four innings of Game 4, displaying the sort of pitch efficiency necessary to give the Blue Jays length after their brutal 18-inning loss the night before. 

And he even struck out the great Shohei Ohtani, breaking a streak of 10 consecutive times reaching base as the Blue Jays clung to a 2-1 lead entering the fifth inning. 

Bieber threw 18 pitches in each of the first three innings, then needed just 12 to work around a two-out walk to Tommy Edman in the fourth. At 66 pitches, he’s primed to pitch at least into the sixth inning.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. home run puts Blue Jays in front

LOS ANGELES – Yep, the Blue Jays have a superstar of their own. And Vladimir Guerrero Jr. can impact a game significantly even if he only plays one side of the ball. 

Guerrero broke the Blue Jays’ 13-inning scoreless streak in this World Series by wrecking an Ohtani sweeper, sending it 395 feet over the fence in left center field, giving the Blue Jays a 2-1 lead as Game 4 heads to the bottom of the third inning. 

Guerrero’s homer came at a critical juncture of this Series, with the Dodgers drawing first blood after their draining 18-inning win in Game 3. And it provided dividends on Toronto’s plans to get aggressive early in counts against Ohtani, who came in with a 2.25 ERA in two playoff starts this year. 

Kiké Hernández gives Dodgers second-inning lead

LOS ANGELES – You’d think that the Toronto Blue Jays might want to make the hardest-working man in baseball toil a little longer in this, his busiest night of the World Series. 

Instead, the Blue Jays seem intent on ambushing Shohei Ohtani. And so far, that’s made life easy for the two-way superstar. 

Six of the first eight Blue Jays swung at the first pitch against Ohtani, resulting in a seven-pitch second inning and just 26 throws after two innings. Meanwhile, a Max Muncy walk and Kiké Hernández sacrifice fly gave the Dodgers a 1-0 lead, the fourth time in as many games they scored first in this Series. 

Ohtani drew a first-inning walk and now has reached base all 10 times he’s batted in two games at Dodger Stadium. Yet on this night, it is Ohtani the pitcher who will bear more scrutiny – and who, despite walking Bo Bichette and giving up a single to Addison Barger in the first inning, has responded perfectly to the challenge so far. 

Shohei Ohtani pitches scoreless first

Less than 18 hours after reaching base nine times in Game 3, Shohei Ohtani took the mound for the Dodgers as the Game 4 starting pitcher and tossed a scoreless first, working around a walk and an infield single to strand two runners.

George Springer injury update

LOS ANGELES — George Springer is not in the Toronto Blue Jays’ Game 4 starting lineup after being considered ‘hour-to-hour’ in the afternoon ahead of Tuesday’s game.

An MRI on Springer’s right side was negative after Game 3 and Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that the team had no plans to replace him on the roster and end his season. Springer was already physically compromised after he was hit on the right knee in the ALCS. Schneider did not divulge the specific nature of the MRI after Game 3.

Infielder Bo Bichette – himself compromised by a knee that kept him sidelined 48 days before the World Series – is starting at designated hitter with Springer out and the lineup had wholesale changes from one to nine.

Position player pitching? It almost happened in Game 3

LOS ANGELES — Just how close did this World Series come to suffering the indignity of a position player pitching in a tied Game 3?

We’ll never totally know thanks to Freddie Freeman’s walk-off home run in the bottom of the 18th inning, but a day later, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts acknowledged there were just two options had the game staggered on to a 19th inning.

It was either Game 2 starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto – pitching on one day of rest – or utility infielder Miguel Rojas.

Blue Jays lineup today

1. Nathan Lukes (L) LF
2. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (R) 1B
3. Bo Bichette (R) DH
4. Addison Barger (L) RF
5. Alejandro Kirk (R) C
6. Daulton Varsho (L) CF
7. Ernie Clement (R) 3B
8. Andrés Giménez (L) SS
9. Isiah Kiner-Falefa (R) 2B

Dodgers lineup today

1. Shohei Ohtani (L) P
2. Mookie Betts (R) SS
3. Freddie Freeman (L) 1B
4. Will Smith (R) C
5. Teoscar Hernández (R) RF
6. Max Muncy (L) 3B
7. Tommy Edman (S) 2B
8. Enrique Hernández (R) LF
9. Andy Pages (R) CF

Dodgers vs Blue Jays predictions for World Series Game 4

• Gabe Lacques: Dodgers 6, Blue Jays 2
• Bob Nightengale: Dodgers 7, Blue Jays 4
• Jesse Yomtov: Blue Jays 5, Dodgers 2
• Steve Gardner: Blue Jays 7, Dodgers 6
• Jon Hoefling: Dodgers 6, Blue Jays 3

Will Klein becomes Dodgers folk hero

LOS ANGELES — Will Klein woke up a nobody on Monday morning.

He went to bed early Tuesday morning etched in Los Angeles Dodgers lore.

One minute, he’s the last guy left in the Dodgers’ bullpen. The next, he’s shaking hands with legendary Sandy Koufax.

He drives to Dodger Stadium on Monday morning wondering if any of his old friends and coaches even realize he’s playing in the World Series. He leaves Dodger Stadium wondering how in the world so many people have his cell phone number, receiving 500 text messages after being the hero in the Dodgers’ 6-5 18-inning World Series victory over the Toronto Blue Jays, and then another 500 messages when he wakes up.

“I woke up this morning still not feeling like last night had happened,’’ Klein said, “so it was, yeah, it was an out-of-body experience.’

World Series Game 4 simulation

How will this year’s World Series play out? Using theDynasty League Baseball online simulation, USA TODAY Sports’ Steve Gardner and DLB designer Mike Cieslinski will pre-play each game to provide some insight into the key matchups and strategy fans can expect to see in the Fall Classic.

Who sang the national anthem Game 4 World Series?

Tinashe performed the American national anthem and Deborah Cox sang the Canadian national anthem before Game 4 of the World Series.

Toronto Blue Jays World Series appearances

Toronto won World Series championships in 1992 (vs. Braves) and 1993 (vs. Phillies), the previous only times in franchise history the club had reached the Fall Classic since starting play in 1977.

Toronto Blue Jays World Series roster

Pitchers (12): RHP Chris Bassitt, RHP Shane Bieber, RHP Seranthony Dominguez, RHP Braydon Fisher, LHP Mason Fluharty, RHP Kevin Gausman, RHP Jeff Hoffman, LHP Eric Lauer, LHP Brendon Little, RHP Max Scherzer, RHP Louis Varland, RHP Trey Yesavage.

Position players (14): C Tyler Heineman, C Alejandro Kirk, INF/OF Addison Barger, INF Bo Bichette, INF Ernie Clement, INF Ty France, INF Andrés Giménez, INF Vladimir Guerrero Jr., INF Isiah Kiner-Falefa, OF Nathan Lukes, OF Davis Schneider, OF George Springer, OF Myles Straw, OF Daulton Varsho.

Los Angeles Dodgers World Series roster

Pitchers (12): LHP Anthony Banda, LHP Jack Dreyer, RHP Tyler Glasnow, RHP Edgardo Henriquez, LHP Clayton Kershaw, RHP Will Klein, RHP Roki Sasaki, RHP Emmet Sheehan, LHP Blake Snell, RHP Blake Treinen, LHP Justin Wrobleski, RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

Position, two-way players (14): SS Mookie Betts, OF Alex Call, OF Justin Dean, INF/OF Tommy Edman, 1B Freddie Freeman, INF/OF Kiké Hernández, OF Teoscar Hernández, INF/OF Hyeseong Kim, 3B Max Muncy, DH/P Shohei Ohtani, OF Andy Pages, INF Miguel Rojas, C Ben Rortvedt, C Will Smith.

World Series 2025 schedule

• Game 1: Blue Jays 11, Dodgers 4
• Game 2: Dodgers 5, Blue Jays 1
• Game 3: Dodgers 6, Blue Jays 5 (18 innings)
• Game 4: Oct. 28 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PDT
• Game 5: Oct. 29 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PDT
• Game 6: Oct. 31, if necessary
• Game 7: Nov. 1, if necessary

What time is World Series today? Dodgers vs Blue Jays Game 4

First pitch in Game 4 is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET at Dodger Stadium.

When the ‘Monday Night Football’ game between the Dallas Cowboys and Arizona Cardinals finishes on Nov. 3, it will mark the end of Week 9 and the conclusion of the first half of the regular season.

Through half a season of games, the true postseason contenders will have mostly separated themselves from the rest of the field. The NFL playoff picture will take on a clearer shape. Races for all eight division titles will hit a second gear. Battles for the 14 total playoff spots will come into focus.

If the season ended before Week 9, a couple of surprise teams – the Indianapolis Colts and Green Bay Packers – would be enjoying a first-round bye.

But there are still 10 full weeks of action to go, and plenty can still change in that time.

Will the Baltimore Ravens, Washington Commanders and Minnesota Vikings bounce back with their starting quarterbacks getting healthy? Can the Cincinnati Bengals stay on the postseason bubble until quarterback Joe Burrow returns? And will the teams currently leading their divisions hold on?

Only time will tell, but for now, here’s what the NFL playoff picture looks like:

NFL playoff picture

AFC playoff picture

1. Indianapolis Colts (7-1, AFC South leaders)
2. New England Patriots (6-2, AFC East leaders)
3. Denver Broncos (6-2, AFC West leaders)
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-3, AFC North leaders)
5. Buffalo Bills (5-2, wild card No. 1)
6. Los Angeles Chargers (5-3, wild card No. 2)
7. Kansas City Chiefs (5-3, wild card No. 3)

In the hunt: Jacksonville Jaguars (4-3), Houston Texans (3-4), Cincinnati Bengals (3-5), Las Vegas Raiders (2-5), Baltimore Ravens (2-5), Cleveland Browns (2-6), Miami Dolphins (2-6), New York Jets (1-7), Tennessee Titans (1-7).

NFC playoff picture

1. Green Bay Packers (5-1-1, NFC North leaders)
2. Philadelphia Eagles (6-2, NFC East leaders)
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-2, NFC South leaders)
4. Seattle Seahawks (5-2, NFC West leaders)
5. Detroit Lions (5-2, wild card No. 1)
6. Los Angeles Rams (5-2, wild card No. 2)
7. San Francisco 49ers (5-3, wild card No. 3)

In the hunt: Chicago Bears (4-3), Carolina Panthers (4-4), Dallas Cowboys (3-4-1), Atlanta Falcons (3-4), Minnesota Vikings (3-4), Washington Commanders (3-5), Arizona Cardinals (2-5), New York Giants (2-6), New Orleans Saints (1-7).

Projected NFL playoff matchups entering Week 9

AFC playoff bracket

• No. 1 seed Indianapolis Colts (5-1), BYE
• No. 2 seed New England Patriots (6-2) vs. No. 7 seed Kansas City Chiefs (5-3)
• No. 3 seed Denver Broncos (6-2) vs. No. 6 seed Jacksonville Jaguars (5-3)
• No. 4 seed Pittsburgh Steelers (4-3) vs. No. 5 seed Buffalo Bills (5-2)

NFC playoff bracket

• No. 1 seed Green Bay Packers (5-1-1), BYE
• No. 2 seed Philadelphia Eagles (6-2) vs. No. 7 seed San Francisco 49ers (5-3)
• No. 3 seed Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-2) vs. No. 6 seed Los Angeles Rams (5-2)
• No. 4 seed Seattle Seahawks (5-2) vs. No. 5 seed Detroit Lions (5-2)

AI-assisted summary
• Deion Sanders has been staying at the team facility since Colorado’s 53-7 loss to Utah.
• The Buffaloes are 3-5 and need three wins in their final four games to become bowl-eligible.
• Sanders did not announce any changes to his coaching staff or quarterback lineup following the loss.

Colorado football coach Deion Sanders says he never went back to his house in Colorado after suffering the worst loss of his college coaching career Saturday at Utah.

The Buffaloes got beat 53-7 in Week 9, leading to questions about why and who was responsible for it as his team gets ready to play Saturday night at home against Arizona.

“I feel the worst,” Sanders said Tuesday at his weekly news conference. “I haven’t been home yet. I’ve been here every night since. I haven’t been home yet. So that’s how much I care. That’s how much I love it. That’s how much I embody this university, the school, what they’ve done for us.”

So what will he do about what happened?

Sanders didn’t announce any changes to his coaching staff or quarterback lineup. He instead ascribed his team’s performance against Utah to being “one of those days that it just didn’t work.”

“Now guess what?” Sanders said. “Let’s flush the darn toilet, and let’s move on. And that’s what we’ve done. We’ve flushed the toilet and moved on.”

Deion Sanders says ‘don’t say we weren’t prepared’

The Buffaloes are 3-5 and need three wins in their final four regular-season games to become eligible for a postseason bowl game. Arizona is a 4½-point favorite over Colorado, according to BetMGM. And it doesn’t look to be an easy bounce-back game for the Buffs.

The Wildcats are 4-3 this season after suffering two close losses in the last two weeks against No. 10 Brigham Young (8-0) and No. 22 Houston (7-1).

After the Utah game, Sanders said he wanted to know why his team failed in so many areas. Asked on Tuesday about what he learned about those ‘whys,’ Sanders said, “I don’t want to share those.”

Colorado was coming off a bye week and previously played its best game of the season Oct. 11 – a 24-17 win against Iowa State. He insisted his team was prepared to play Utah.

“We’re better than this,” Sanders said. “We really are. There’s no way we could play like that (against Iowa State), the last time you saw us play at home, and then go play like that (at Utah). That don’t add up. So don’t say we weren’t prepared. We were prepared. We just got our butts kicked.

Deion Sanders addresses all the fired coaches

Sanders was asked about all the coaches who have been fired in college football recently, often at the cost of high-priced buyouts. Sanders is 16-17 in three seasons at Colorado and just agreed to a new five-year contract in March that will pay him more than $10 million annually.

“Everyone wants the quick fix, the quick things,” Sanders said. You got mail-order brides, too, right? You get married, you know, right away. You can get a BBL (Brazilian Butt Lift). You could come in here flat, flat as I don’t know what and leave thick as a snicker. … It is a different country that we live in, man. Ain’t nobody got no patience no more. I understand that. And I don’t, either.”

His players seem to know that.

“Even though the season hasn’t gone the way we wanted it to, as long as we stay together, you know, we continue to be a brotherhood, I believe no one can stop us,” Colorado defensive back Preston Hodge said Tuesday.

Sanders also noted again Tuesday said his team is “a different team at night.”

Colorado is 6-12 in games starting at 7:30 ET or later, including 1-7 on the road in Sanders’ three seasons as head coach.

Kickoff on Saturday is set for 7 p.m. ET on FS1.

Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com

Two days after allowing Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love to complete 20 straight passes, the Pittsburgh Steelers are acquiring some help in their defensive secondary via the trade market.

The Steelers are trading a sixth-round pick to the New England Patriots for safety Kyle Dugger and a seventh-round pick, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Pittsburgh was leading the NFL in passing yards allowed per game (273.3) through eight weeks in its first season without three-time All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick since 2018. The Steelers also rank in the bottom half of the NFL in EPA (0.167 – 23rd) and success rate (49.2% – 21st) allowed to opponents.

Dugger was a second-round pick for the Patriots in the 2020 NFL Draft and had started in every game he played for New England over the last three seasons.

This year, his first under new head coach Mike Vrabel, the sixth-year veteran has played a career-low 44% of the Patriots’ defensive snaps – though he played 100% of snaps in his last two games healthy in Weeks 6 and 7. Dugger missed New England’s Week 8 win over the Cleveland Browns with a knee injury.

A move to acquire another safety had started to come into focus earlier in the day on Oct. 28. Head coach Mike Tomlin told reporters that the Steelers were working out former Cincinnati Bengals safety Vonn Bell that day.

Moving Dugger was the second trade the Patriots completed on Oct. 28, coming hours after they sent edge rusher Keion White to the San Francisco 49ers.

Kyle Dugger trade details: Steelers acquire Patriots safety

• Steelers receive: Safety Kyle Dugger, seventh-round pick
• Patriots receive: Sixth-round pick

New England’s second trade on Oct. 28 sends Dugger to the Steelers one week before the NFL trade deadline, according to multiple reports. The Patriots had sent White, an edge rusher, to the 49ers earlier in the day.

To make room on their roster, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Steelers moved safety DeShon Elliott to injured reserve with a knee injury he suffered in Week 8.

Dugger is the second former Patriots safety to join Pittsburgh’s secondary in 2025. Jabrill Peppers, who played his last three seasons in New England, hit free agency and signed with the Steelers in the offseason.

Kyle Dugger stats

Here are Dugger’s numbers through eight weeks of the 2025 season:

• Games: 7 (4 starts)
• Tackles: 17 (7 solo)
• Passes defensed: 0
• Interceptions: 0
• Forced fumbles: 0

In his first season under Vrabel, the Patriots’ new, defensive-minded head coach, Dugger has taken a backseat to Jaylinn Hawkins. Hawkins was originally a fourth-round pick by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2020 NFL Draft, 97 picks after Dugger.

Dugger could slide into Elliott’s strong safety spot with the Steelers after the latter’s knee injury landed him on injured reserve.