Search Results

By Owen Pannell | KZA Sports The Sooners’ first game is just around the corner, and it’s time to go over everything you need to know for the 2025 season. Realistic Expectations OU has one of the hardest schedules in the country, so winning every game is unrealistic. However, it’s fair to say that if Oklahoma doesn’t make the CFP, coach Brent Venables should be fired. The talent on this roster is there for a playoff berth, and at this point anything less is unacceptable. A National Title isn’t out of the realm of possibility. It’s not a season where that is the only goal, but we shouldn’t count it out. With the schedule the Sooners have, 9 wins is the minimum they need to secure a shot at the playoffs. Ten or more wins, though, would get them in for sure. Now let’s talk expectations for the players. On offense, John Mateer is one of the best quarterbacks in the country; he should at the very least be in the Heisman conversation. Jaydn Ott, who leads a stacked RB room, should be in All-SEC talks, along with Deion Burks. Elijah Thomas, Tory Blaylock, Michael Fasusi, and Ryan Fodje should be in All-Freshman team conversations, and OU should get at least a couple of All-Americans overall. The defense is in an even better position. In many folks’ eyes, they have the best defensive line in the SEC, led by potential first-round pick R Mason Thomas. There is a plethora of guys who could make an All-SEC team on this defense. Along with Thomas, there’s Gracen Halton, Damonic Williams, Marvin Jones Jr., Danny Okoye, Jayden Jackson, and David Stone—in the D-line alone. Across the rest of the defense, you have guys like Kip Lewis, Kendel Dolby, Kandal Daniels, Eli Bowen, Cortland Guillory, and Robert Spears-Jennings who could all make a case for an All-Conference appearance. Overall, the offense and defense are both loaded with talent, so I see absolutely no reason why this team should fall short of 9 wins. Position Previews (all depth charts are estimates) QB John Mateer Michael Hawkins Jr. Whitt Newbauer Jett Niu The QB room is far better than last year, thanks to the addition of star John Mateer. He has Heisman potential, so the Sooners are in good hands here. RB Jaydn Ott Jovantae Barnes Xavier Robinson Tory Blaylock Taylor Tatum An extremely deep room. The competition will surely make all of these guys better. Led by electric transfer Jaydn Ott, Oklahoma’s rushing attack should be lethal in 2025. WR Deion Burks Javonnie Gibson Isaiah Sategna Elijah Thomas Zion Kearney Jayden Gibson Jer’Michael Carter Keontez Lewis Jacob Jordan Ivan Carreon This room is LOADED with talent. Take that depth chart with a grain of salt—it could be completely different, plus some guys are currently battling injuries. The top 6 are clearly the best in my opinion, but there are legitimately 10 guys who could contribute to this football team. Watch out for the progression of true freshman Elijah Thomas throughout the year. TE Will Huggins Jaran Kanak Carson Kent The tight end position seems to be the weakest on the offense, so OU needs someone to step up. Kanak is a great playmaker, but his blocking is just not good. Huggins is a better blocker but not as dynamic. Expect a rotation here. LT Michael Fasusi Logan Howland True freshman Michael Fasusi is EXTREMELY talented—so talented he could be a day-one starter for the Sooners. Howland is more experienced, so we’ll see who gets the nod. LG Jacob Sexton Eddie Pierre-Louis This spot could go to multiple guys right now, but I would say veteran Sexton will be put there if he doesn’t start at a tackle position. EPL is close behind. C Troy Everett Jake Maikkula Everett currently holds a slight lead over Maikkula, but this is still an ongoing battle. RG Febechi Nwaiwu Ryan Fodje Nwaiwu is by far Oklahoma’s best offensive lineman; he is a lock for this position. However, freshman Ryan Fodje is extremely talented and it will be hard to keep him off the field. RT Derek Simmons Jake Taylor Transfer Derek Simmons seems to have a lead at this position. We’ll see if Taylor can get some snaps. DE R Mason Thomas Danny Okoye Marvin Jones Jr. PJ Adebawore Taylor Wein This is a stacked room of edge rushers. Thomas is clearly the best, but whoever lines up opposite him will still be lethal. Breakout season incoming for Danny Okoye. DT Gracen Halton Jayden Jackson Damonic Williams David Stone Once again, a stacked group of defensive linemen. All four of these guys have All-SEC potential, and Halton could very well be a first- or second-round pick come April. MIKE Kobie McKinzie Sammy Omosigho This is a solid linebacker corps. Good competition has been going on throughout camp, and I feel good with whoever ends up starting—right now it leans McKinzie. OLB Kip Lewis Kendal Daniels Kip Lewis is the clear No. 1 outside backer, but Kendal Daniels will certainly get playing time at multiple positions, so I’m just putting him here. CTH Kendal Dolby Reggie Powers Kendal Dolby is a stud, but he’s coming off a big injury, so the Sooners hope he can bounce back and make a huge impact. Reggie Powers has made major strides this offseason, so he should contribute as well. CB Eli Bowen Devon Jordan Cortland Guillory Gentry Williams Jacobe Johnson Jeremiah Newcombe Trysten Haynes Corner was a question mark coming into fall camp, but it’s been answered. Presumed top CB Eli Bowen has missed time, but Devon Jordan and true freshman Cortland Guillory have stepped up in a big way. This will be a strong cornerback room. FS Robert Spears-Jennings Michael Boganowski Spears-Jennings is a top-10 safety in college football. He should be in for an amazing year. Boganowski has been improving tremendously and should also contribute. SS Peyton Bowen Jaydan Hardy Bowen, a former 5-star, is in position to finally break out. He’s been behind Billy Bowman the past couple of seasons, but now he has room to shine. Powers and Boganowski could also see time here. K Tate Sandell Austin Welch Liam Evans Sandell has been solid so far, and the Sooners need a reliable kicker this season. P Jacob Ulrich Grayson Miller Oklahoma hasn’t had reliable punting in a while, so they need Ulrich to be consistent this year. LS Ben Anderson Seth Freeman Most fans probably don’t care about the long snapper, but Anderson is a vet who should be mistake-free, which is always a huge plus. Closing This team has the potential to be special. A CFP berth is very plausible, with a National Title not out of the question. It’ll be a very fun season, but one that will undoubtedly be filled with pressure and anxiety. You can find Owen Pannell on X here. Shop KZA Exclusive offers here.

By Owen Pannell | KZA Sports Week 0 is finally here.  Throughout the season, I’ll be previewing each week, looking at the best games, biggest storylines, making predictions, and more. Get everything you need to know for the Week 0 action right here! Biggest Games Let’s take a look at the biggest games of Week 0. Usually, I’ll pick the top five games in my opinion, but since there are only five this week, it works out perfectly. 1. Iowa State vs. Kansas State (-3) Ireland The annual college football kickoff in Ireland is a big game for multiple reasons. Not only are two ranked teams going at it in their first game, but they’re also conference foes with aspirations of winning the Big 12. KSU is favored, and for good reason. They have a great QB in Avery Johnson, RB Dylan Edwards should have a breakout year, and their defense looks solid. However, Iowa State has arguably the better quarterback in Rocco Becht, who is surrounded by good weapons and a strong defense. This should be a great game, and I’m super excited for it. The winner will get a head start on that coveted Big 12 championship—and a potential playoff berth—while the loser will have to battle from behind. 2. Stanford at Hawai’i (-2.5) Stanford projects to be one of the worst Power 5 teams this year. Hawai’i, well, they’re Hawai’i. The Rainbow Warriors are actually favorites in this one, and if they can pull out the win, it would be huge. Elijah Brown needs to step up for Stanford to have a chance. He’s shown flashes, but in an offense that will be subpar at best, he needs to ball out. Hawai’i will lean on veteran running back Landon Sims, who hopes to have a breakout season. This game could really go either way, and it would be a good win for both sides. 3. Fresno State at Kansas (-12) There’s a chance Fresno State can pull off this upset, but even if they don’t, this will be an entertaining game. Jalon Daniels has tons of talent, but injuries have plagued his career. The Jayhawks hope this is the year he can stay healthy and lead them to success. Fresno State QB EJ Warner has been solid at Temple and Rice over the past three years, and the Bulldogs are hoping he can carry that success with them. They don’t have the straight-up talent Kansas has, so they’ll need to play their best to pull off the upset—but it certainly could happen. 4. Sam Houston at Western Kentucky (-10) This might end up being the least-watched game of Week 0, since Stanford-Hawai’i kicks off 30 minutes after it, and Fresno State-Kansas 30 minutes before. Still, it’s special nonetheless. The Hilltoppers are 10-point favorites at home, but they’re up against a solid Sam Houston team. WKU has a totally revamped offense, going hard in the portal, and they hope it’ll turn into one of their classic high-powered attacks that can put up 35+ points per game. Sam Houston looks to dominate on the ground. Transfer RB Elijah Green is entering his sixth year, and North Texas transfer Shane Porter rushed for over 600 yards last season. This will definitely be a game to keep an eye on. 5. Idaho State at UNLV (-25.5) On a normal week, this is a game you’d probably only watch if you’re a UNLV or Idaho State fan, but in Week 0, it might as well be the Super Bowl. UNLV hopes to claim the Group of 6 playoff bid this year, and losing this game would crush that dream. They should win by 30+, but it’ll also be our first look at this team under Dan Mullen. Biggest Storylines Rocco Becht or Avery Johnson? ISU-KSU will feature two dark horse Heisman contenders at QB, but which one is superior? This matchup will say a lot about these teams, and both Johnson and Becht will look to impress early and show they’re the better player. Is Hawai’i a dark horse? Yes, it’s unlikely. But if Hawai’i blows out Stanford, we at least have to start the conversation that they could be a dark horse playoff team. They play Arizona in Week 1, and if they start 2-0, it’s not crazy. How good is UNLV? Obviously, they’ll look great against an FCS team, but people are picking them to dethrone Boise State in the Mountain West. They need to look absolutely dominant here. They also have a crucial QB battle we’ll get to in a second. Players to Watch 1. Rocco Becht & Avery Johnson - I’m lumping these two together because they’re in very similar positions. As mentioned earlier, both are aiming for the Heisman race and a spot in the CFP, so expect them to ball out on Saturday. 2. UNLV QBs - We still don’t know if the starter will be Alex Orji or Anthony Colandrea, but both will see action. It’ll be important to see who looks better. The Rebels need a great QB this season, and it would be nice to see a clear difference in Week 0. 3. Jalon Daniels - Yes, I know—three (technically five) QBs in a row is lame, but quarterback play is what makes this week so exciting. Daniels looks to finally fulfill his potential this season, and it’s crucial he gets off to a strong start against Fresno State. Game Predictions Every week I’ll pick 25 games (only five this week) and keep track of my record, as well as my score in the #KZACFBpicks  challenge. If you want to play along, all you have to do is pick 25 games each week (you can use mine or choose your own), post them on X/Twitter with #KZACFBpicks , and the weekly winner gets a cash prize! The scoring system is at the bottom of this article. #22 Iowa State vs. #17 Kansas State (-3): Kansas State - I’ve got Kansas State here, covering the spread as well. I think they’re slightly better overall, and I like Johnson just a bit more than Becht. Idaho State at UNLV (-25.5): UNLV - Easy pick. A potential CFP team vs. an FCS opponent—no doubts here. Fresno State at Kansas (-12): Kansas - Kansas is the better team, and at home they should take care of business. The spread will be close, though, so watch that. Sam Houston at Western Kentucky (-10): Sam Houston - I’ve got a bit of an upset here. Sam Houston has a talented backfield and a solid offensive line that should be able to dominate WKU. The Bearkats’ defense is a big question mark, though, so this will be a close one. Stanford at Hawai’i (-2.5): Stanford - Even though the Cardinal are going to be one of the worst Power 4 teams, they’re still more talented than Hawai’i. It’ll be tough on the road, but I think Stanford pulls off the “upset.” KZA CFB picks Scoring System 35+ = 0.5 points 21.5–34.5 = 1 point 15.5–21 = 1.5 points 11–15 = 2 points 7–10.5 = 2.5 points 3.5–6.5 = 3 points 0.5–3 = 3.5 points +0.5–3 = 4.5 points +3.5–6.5 = 5 points +7–10.5 = 5.5 points +11–15 = 6 points +15.5–21 = 6.5 points +21.5–34.5 = 7.5 points +35+ = 10 points You can find Owen Pannell on X here. Shop KZA Exclusive offers here.

By Owen Pannell | KZA Sports You have certainly heard about the John Mateer “Venmogate” situation by now. I’m here to tell you why you should not be worried an ounce about this. It all started Monday night when a creepy Texas fan decided to comb through all of Mateer’s Venmo transactions, as he had a public account. There, the fan found a couple of transactions labeled “sports gambling (USC vs UCLA),” which would violate the NCAA rules on gambling on college football games and could potentially make him ineligible to play. However, Mateer has informed the Oklahoma athletics department that he has never done such a thing. It’s very likely he was just putting a funny caption with his friends (like we’ve all done), and that theory is supported by some of his other Venmo transactions. The fact that Texas fans, along with a ton of other college football fans, are celebrating this—hoping that it will take out Mateer or just hurt him or OU in some way—shows how afraid they really are of him. They know that he is one of the best quarterbacks in the nation and will bring the Sooners’ offense back to what it once was. The lengths folks will go to for college football rivalries, especially Red River, are just nuts. It makes the sport so elite. Plus, in the very off chance that John has to miss a game or two, I have full confidence in Mike Hawkins Jr. to quarterback the Oklahoma Sooners, and y’all should too. This won’t be a big deal in a couple of days—college football fans are just dying for some content right now. This won’t turn into anything. Only 11 days until Week 0… You can find Owen Pannell on X here. Shop KZA Exclusive offers here.

By Owen Pannell and KZA Voters | KZA Sports With the 2025 college football season bearing down upon us, we hear at KZA Sports have come together to provide you with a complete preseason Top 25 poll. The rankings of each team is an accumulation of the thoughts of all our voters, while the analysis is provided by one of our writers, Owen Pannell. Pannell goes over his record predictions in depth for each Power 4 school through 4 separate articles which will be listed at the end of this poll. That said, enjoy our first ever KZA CFB Top 25 Poll. Ohio State - Coming off a national title, the confidence in Columbus is very high. They have one of the most talented rosters in the country. If they can get good QB play, they could be in perfect position for a 2-peat. They have 3 losable games — vs. Texas, vs. Penn State, and at Michigan. I’ve got them winning all 3 though. This is gonna be a scary team once again. Owen's prediction? 12-0 Penn State - This is the best Penn State team we’ve seen in years. Drew Allar is one of the best quarterbacks in the country, and the RB duo of Singleton and Allen will be lethal. I think they lose in Columbus to the Buckeyes, but other than that go undefeated with a CFP berth. Owen's prediction? 11-1 Texas Longhorns - The Longhorns lost a lot of talent to the draft, they still have a great team, but with an unproven QB and a very hard schedule this could be a bit of a down year for Texas. Their defense will be elite, led by arguably the top LB in the country Anthony Hill Jr, but I have a lot of questions with Arch Manning, and their offense will surely take a step back. I have them getting upset by Vandy in a look ahead spot to the Georgia game (in which I have the Horns getting the W), and finishing with a 9-3 record, which may still be good enough to land a playoff spot. Owen's prediction? 9-3 Georgia Bulldogs - Georgia is due for a big year. They haven’t won a Championship since 2022 (I know, so long) and they feel like they are due for one. They have a great team, elite coach, and a relatively easy schedule. An 11-1 season for them seems likely, and the Texas game is a tossup. I would give them an absolute floor of 9-3, and definitely a possibility for 12-0. This isn’t the most talented Georgia team we’ve ever seen, but the stars could align for another UGA national title. Owen's prediction? 11-1 Notre Dame Fighting Irish - The Irish have an easy schedule, so they are definitely expecting to make it back to the CFP. They also have a pretty good team, RB Jeremiyah Love is one of the best players in the country, so they should be able to make some noise again. Owen's prediction? 12-0 Clemson Tigers - This Clemson team has everything you could ask for. A great offense led by a top QB, an elite defense, and a phenomenal Head Coach. They’ve got some difficult games on here, particularly the 1st and last games of the season, but I’ve got Clemson going undefeated, with National Title hopes. Owen's prediction? 12-0 Oregon Ducks - Oregon lost a lot of talent from last season, but they also gained a bunch. RB Makhi Hughes was one of the top in the portal, and true freshman wide receiver Dakorian Moore was the top WR in the class. QB Dante Moore seems primed for a breakout season, and the Ducks should once again be able to make a playoff appearance. Owen's prediction? 11-1 Arizona State Sun Devils - Arizona State returns the best QB and WR in the Big 12. After nearly beating Texas in the CFP last season, the folks in Tempe believe they have something special. HC Kenny Dillingham is one of the best up and coming coaches in the sport, and I expect big things from the Sun Devils in 2025. Owen's prediction? 11-1 Alabama Crimson Tide - After a disappointing, playoff-less season, for the Tide, they have big expectations in year 2 of the Deboer era. Their roster isn’t as talented as other SEC teams, and they have a pretty hard schedule. 9-3 likely isn’t a playoff team with this schedule, so I predict another year to end in disappointment in Tuscaloosa. Owen's prediction? 9-3 LSU Tigers - LSU has a very, very good team. A top 3 QB in Garrett Nussmeier, and the additions of talented transfer receivers Nic Anderson (Oklahoma) and Barion Brown (Kentucky). Their defense should be good, and they have a good coach in Brian Kelly. I believe this will be the year they get back to the CFP, and I have them going 10-2 with losses to Clemson and OU. Owen's prediction? 10-2 South Carolina Gamecocks - LaNorris Sellers is one of the top QBs in college football, and the Cocks have a great team around him. Head Coach Shane Beimer is one of the top young coaches in the sport. With a tough SEC schedule, and a non-con game vs the top team in the country (in my opinion), a playoff appearance will be difficult, but not impossible. I have them going 9-3 which probably won’t land them a spot in the CFP, but you never know with the love the SEC gets. Owen's prediction? 9-3 Oklahoma Sooners - After a terrible 6-6 season for the Sooners, they totally revamped their offense, bringing in Washington State OC Ben Arbuckle, who brought along top 3 QB in the country John Mateer. They also added top portal RB Jaydn Ott, along with good receivers to rebuild that WR core. Their defense projects to be one of the best in the nation, with defensive specialist Brent Venables now calling the defensive plays, I predict the Sooners to have an outstanding year, finishing 11-1, with huge wins over Texas, Michigan, Alabama, and LSU. Owen's prediction? 11-1 Miami Hurricanes - After producing the #1  pick and not even making the playoffs, the Canes really want to make a CFP appearance. They hit the portal hard, but I don’t believe their talent is on par with last years team. They have a hard non-conference, but an easy conference schedule, so it is possible for them to win the ACC and clinch a birth that way. Owen's prediction? 9-3 Tennessee Volunteers - Coming off a playoff appearance, the Vols had high expectations. However that changed with the unexpected exit of Nico Iamaleava. This will most likely be sort of a rebuilding year for the Vols, in a stacked SEC another playoff appearance will be difficult. They have the top player and QB in the 2026 class committed currently, so no need to fret in Knoxville. An 8-4 season wouldn’t be the end of the world. Owen's prediction? 8-4 Indiana Hoosiers - Following a playoff berth, 15 would be a disappointment for the Hoosiers. They have no Ohio State on the schedule, but other than that, they have a very tough one. I do not foresee another Hoosier CFP appearance, even with the atrocious non-conference schedule. Owen's prediction? 7-5 Illinois Fighting Illini - Coming off a successful 9-3 season, Illinois is returning 16 starters and looks to get the program’s first CFP berth. 9-3 doesn’t get that done, however. I’ve got them losing tough road games against Duke and Washington, but 11-1 is possible for this team. Owen's prediction? 9-3 Ole Miss Rebels - The Rebels lost a lot this year. They don’t have a great culture, coach Lane Kiffin is great on the field, but has some questions off the field. Their whole season relies on the success of Austin Simmons, and once they are out of the playoff race I see Ole Miss sort of giving up on the year. This would be very disappointing for the folks in Oxford, so for their sake let’s hope my prediction of 6-6 is wrong. Owen's prediction? 6-6 Texas Tech Red Raiders - The Red Raiders have the best roster they’ve had in a long time. There isn’t a massive hole on this roster, and they’re arguably the best team in the Big 12. I’ve got them going 11-1, with a tough road loss to Arizona State, but this would get them a spot in the Big 12 Championship, and possibly a playoff spot. Owen's prediction? 11-1 Florida Gators - With all of the hype in the world surrounding QB DJ Lagway, expectations are high this year for the Gators. With a very difficult schedule, it will be hard to make a playoff appearance. Florida is still missing some talent needed to make a run, so I've got them with an 8-4 record, and 4-4 in the SEC. Owen's prediction? 8-4 Iowa State Cyclones - Matt Campbell has a solid squad this year who could make some noise in the Big 12. I love QB Rocco Becht, and they’ve got some other solid pieces around him, but they have a very tough schedule, and it will be hard to win the conference. They can definitely upset some teams though (like I have them doing to Arizona State) and who knows, the Big 12 is nuts so maybe they could make a run. I’ve got them going 8-4, but with this schedule, they could be way better or way worse. Owen's prediction? 8-4 Michigan Wolverines - I think this Michigan team is actually really good. I don’t think they are better than Oklahoma or Ohio State, but the rest of their schedule is relatively easy. However, I’ve got them dropping the Washington game, which is sandwiched between two difficult road games against USC and Michigan State. If they avoid losing that, and win one of either OU or OSU, this is a playoff team. Owen's prediction? 9-3 SMU Mustangs - Coming off of the programs first ever playoff birth, expectations are high in Dallas. They return a lot of talent, and they look to make the CFP again. They have a pretty hard schedule, but I’ve got them going 11-1 with a likely playoff spot. Owen's prediction? 11-1 Kansas State Wildcats - The Wildcats will be good this year. They’ve got a great starting QB in Avery Johnson, a great RB Dylan Edwards, a good defense, they have all the tools. In the wild Big 12, a playoff birth is a possibility for K-State. Losing 2 games would make it very difficult, but their ceiling this year is 12-0. Owen's prediction? 10-2 BYU Cougars - After a great 2024 season for the Cougars, their star QB Jake Retzlaff is no longer on the team. Last year was a bit of a fluke in my opinion, and I expect a drop off, with a worse roster and a pretty difficult schedule. Owen's prediction? 6-6 Boise State Broncos - Coming off a very successful season, I’ve got Boise State having another great season. Yes, they lost their best player of all time, but they return a bunch of talent, and brought in some solid transfers. I’ve got them going 11-1, with a very close loss to ND and, spoiler alert,  another CFP birth. Owen's prediction? 11-1 You can find Owen Pannell on X here. Shop KZA Exclusive offers here.

By Owen Pannell | KZA Sports Who are the best RBs going into the 2025 College Football season? I rank them here, but a lot can change in a long season. ______ Jeremyah Love – Notre Dame Coming off a great sophomore campaign, Love is in position to be the best back in the country and help lead the Irish back to the postseason. Nicholas Singleton – Penn State Sharing the backfield with Kaytron Allen and still putting up the numbers he did last season is very impressive. Singleton will be a key part of the Nittany Lions’ effort for a National Championship. Makhi Hughes – Oregon Hughes had a MONSTER season at Tulane, and transferring to Oregon should only help him. Playing in that electric Ducks offense with a far superior offensive line will be astronomical for him, and I can see him being a first-round pick in April. Kaytron Allen – Penn State Allen is arguably better than his teammate Singleton. If he had a team where he was the clear No. 1 back, he could definitely be number one on this list. His receiving is a bit worse than Singleton’s; that’s why I’ve got him lower. Isaac Brown – Louisville Brown ran for over 1,000 yards as a freshman, and he should be even better this year. He will be the focal point of the Cardinals’ offense and has All-American First Team potential. Ahmad Hardy – Missouri Hardy had a great freshman season at ULM, and now in the SEC he will either be elite or far worse. Unlike Makhi Hughes, ULM played absolutely garbage teams, so there’s a chance his game doesn’t translate as well. Jonah Coleman – Washington Going into his senior year, the former Arizona transfer expects to have a huge season. Washington has a good offense, and he should be a big part of that. Jaydn Ott – Oklahoma Ott was not good in 2024 due to being heavily injury-plagued. However, in 2023 he had over 1,500 total yards and 14 TDs. Under Ben Arbuckle and the revamped Sooner offense, he should be great. Quintrevion Wisner – Texas Wisner had a decent 2024 season, and he should be better this year. He had over 1,000 yards, and sharing a backfield with a mobile QB should help him get there again. Darius Taylor – Minnesota Taylor will be the main weapon for the Gophers this season, and coming off back-to-back good years, he should be able to finally eclipse the 1,000-yard rushing mark. Fluff Bothwell – Mississippi State Bothwell is coming from South Alabama after a tremendous freshman season. Like the other transfers from smaller schools, there are questions about the competition he played, but he should be a bright spot for the Bulldogs. Caden Durham – LSU He battled a toe injury throughout the season, and he still had a successful freshman campaign. Durham projects to be a big reason LSU’s offense will be prolific next year. Kanye Udoh – Arizona State Udoh was a huge part of Army’s extremely successful season in 2024. Now at Arizona State, he hopes to have a similar season to what Cam Skattebo had last year. Bryson Washington – Baylor Bryson Washington is very underrated. Not many folks are talking about him, but he had over 1,000 yards and 12 TDs in 2024, and he will play a critical role in what the Bears hope will be a great Baylor offense. Desmond Reid – Pitt Reid is one of the best receiving backs in the nation, bringing in over 500 yards in 2024. He’s been very productive all three years of college so far, and he could be one of the more underrated backs in college football. Dylan Edwards – Kansas State Edwards was pretty quiet for most of the season until the Wildcats’ bowl game against Rutgers, where he exploded for 223 total yards and 3 TDs. It’s risky to hype up a player this much over a bowl game, but Edwards could be great in 2025. Demond Claiborne – Wake Forest Claiborne has been steadily improving over his three years at Wake Forest, and after a very impressive season for the Demon Deacons last year, he should be one of the best backs in the ACC. Anthony Hankerson – Oregon State After transferring from Colorado, Hankerson went off at Oregon State—over 1,000 yards and 15 TDs—and he is going into 2025 as the clear best back in the Pac-2. Jamal Haynes – Georgia Tech Over the past two seasons, Haynes has totaled over 2,000 yards and 20 TDs. In a run-first Georgia Tech offense, he should have a big year in 2025 and will make an all-conference team. Le’Veon Moss – Texas A&M Moss has been solid over his three years as an Aggie so far, but A&M fans are hoping this is the year he really breaks out. He’s improved his yards every season, and they need him to be a stud in 2025. Jahiem White – West Virginia White is coming off back-to-back 800-yard seasons in Morgantown, and with CJ Donaldson gone to Ohio State, he should hit 1,000 yards this year. Rashul Faison – South Carolina Coming from Utah State, the Gamecocks are hoping Faison can be an elite backfield pairing with LaNorris Sellers. He’s racked up over 1,800 yards over his two years in Logan. If he can be a 1,000-yard back, that would be huge for SC. Nate Frazier – Georgia Frazier was great as a freshman for UGA last season, earning himself All-SEC Freshman Team honors, and he needs to build on that to help Georgia’s offense get back to one of the best in the conference. Jai’den Thomas – UNLV Thomas nearly hit 1,000 yards in 2024, and as the Rebels push for a playoff spot, he needs to hit that mark. Their offense should be pretty good this season, and he’ll be a big part of that. Jaden Nixon – UCF Three years at Oklahoma State and one at Western Michigan have made Nixon very experienced and well-traveled. He should be good at UCF, who project to be one of the worst Power 4 teams but want to avoid that. You can find Owen Pannell on X here. Shop KZA Exclusive offers here.

By Owen Pannell | KZA Sports The AP Poll is the thing we all care so deeply about that doesn’t matter at all. It plays no role in determining who makes or doesn’t make the playoffs at the end of the season, yet we all want to see our team with the lowest number next to their name on Saturdays. The first AP Poll of the season has been released, so let’s take a look at it. _____ Texas Penn State Ohio State Clemson Georgia Notre Dame Oregon Alabama LSU Miami Arizona State Illinois South Carolina Michigan Florida SMU Kansas State Oklahoma Texas A&M Indiana Ole Miss Iowa State Texas Tech Tennessee Boise State What jumps out Texas at 1 - Obviously, this is going to be a main talking point of this poll. Personally, I don’t see how Texas is the best team in the country, but everybody and their mama is glazing the heck out of them. I see how they’re there, but not why. Miami at 10 - This implies that the voters have a ton of faith in Carson Beck. I believe he will be alright, but I don’t think the Canes are a top-10 team. They lost a ton of talent, including the best QB in the country, and last season they didn’t even make the playoffs. They aren’t a top-10 team in my eyes—they will have to prove it on the field. Penn State above Ohio State - Saying that the defending national champs aren’t the best team in their conference is a bold move. It’s definitely arguable, but for now, I would have to put OSU above PSU. We’ll find out who the Buckeyes are in Week 1, when they play the #1 team in the country. Tennessee at 24 - Tennessee is in a tough spot this season. It’s most likely going to be a reload year for them, and I wouldn’t have had them ranked in the top 25—especially over some of the teams that got left out (we’ll get to that later). They could very well be an eight- or nine-win team, but their floor is pretty low. Michigan at 14 - This is pretty high for a team with extreme question marks on the offensive end. As good as Bryce Underwood might be, I don’t think a true freshman QB is good enough to make you a top-15 team. We’ll see who the Wolverines really are when they head down to Norman in Week 2 (OU should not be below Michigan). Who got left out? Georgia Tech - The Yellow Jackets are a popular pick for a dark-horse playoff team, and they aren’t even ranked to start the season. They had a solid season last year, finishing 7–6, but they return a bunch of talent and had a good portal class. They should certainly be ranked, in my opinion. Auburn - I’m not dead set on the Tigers being in the top 25, but I do think they should be above Ole Miss and Tennessee, who are both SEC teams that made it. I get that Jackson Arnold is a huge question mark, but surrounded by a loaded offense, he should be good—along with the team itself. Baylor - I didn’t even have Baylor in my top 25, but there’s a great argument for having them in there. They return great talent on both sides of the ball and have a top-20 QB, RB, and WR, which is always a recipe for success. Who is overrated? Texas at 1 - This is the obvious one to start. The Longhorns are banking on Arch Manning to be as good as everyone says he is, which is far from a guarantee. Their offense has a lot of holes going into the season, which have been demonstrated in fall camp thus far. If they win Week 1 in Columbus, by all means put them number 1—but I just don’t feel they deserve that ranking right now. Miami at 10 - As mentioned earlier, Miami is not a top-10 team. Losing the talent that they did and not even being a CFP team last season, they should not be in the top 10. Florida at 15 - This is expected with all the DJ Lagway hype, but I still don’t see how the Gators are a top-15 team. Will they be a lot better this season? Yes. Will they contend for a playoff spot? No. And putting them at 15 implies they will be contending for a spot in the CFP, so this is too high for them. Who is underrated? LSU at 9 - LSU is a clear top-5 team in my eyes—I’ve even got them winning the national title at the end of the year. They return a top-3 QB in the country, who is surrounded by arguably the best weapons in the league, plus they have a solid defense. Nine is too low for them; at the absolute lowest, put them at 7. Clemson at 4 - I know, I know—4 is really high. However, Clemson should be the clear #1 team at this point. They have a top-5 offense and defense, as well as one of the best coaches paired with an elite QB he’s had for years. This team is going to be hard to beat; Week 1 vs LSU will be cinema. Texas A&M at 19 - Usually, we are saying that A&M is overrated at this time, but I’m actually doing the opposite this year. They have QB Marcel Reed, who should take a big jump. They had a good portal class and have weapons around him, along with a good defense. This is a top-15 team to me, and they could be fighting for a playoff spot in November. You can find Owen Pannell on X here. Shop KZA Exclusive offers here.

By Owen Pannell | KZA Sports Who are the best QBs going into the 2025 College Football season?  I rank them here, but a lot can change in a long season. ____ Cade Klubnik – Clemson Klubnik came back to Clemson with one goal: a National Title. He’s the most talented QB in the country in my eyes, and he has had many years at Clemson, all leading up to this. John Mateer – Oklahoma Coming from Wazzu with his OC Ben Arbuckle, Mateer is going to lead the Sooners’ offense back to what it once was. Drawing comparisons to OU legend Baker Mayfield, expectations are sky-high for John Mateer in 2025. Garrett Nussmeier – LSU Nussmeier leads arguably the most talented offense in the country. Coming off a good season for the Tigers, he has lethal weapons all around him, which should lead to a monster season. Drew Allar – Penn State In a rather shocking move, Drew Allar decided to return to PSU for his senior year. He and the Nittany Lions have title hopes, and Allar will need to be elite for that to happen. LaNorris Sellers – South Carolina LaNorris Sellers is one of the best running QBs in the country, and his arm is spectacular too. The Gamecocks look to make the CFP for the first time in program history, and they’ll need him to do so. Sam Leavitt – Arizona State The Michigan State transfer shocked the world last season, leading the Sun Devils to the playoffs and almost upsetting Texas. He’s back for another year under Kenny Dillingham, and it should be special. Kevin Jennings – SMU A lot of folks expected Preston Stone to be great for the Mustangs last year, but it ended up being Kevin Jennings. Jennings looks to snag that ACC title and make another appearance in the playoffs. He’s in for a big year. Arch Manning – Texas Arch Manning is currently the betting favorite to take home the 2025 Heisman Trophy. Personally, I haven’t bought into the hype. He has a heck of a lot of pressure on him, and he has to perform or the folks down in Austin are going to be real disappointed. Luke Altmyer – Illinois Altmyer is one of the most underrated QBs coming into the season. He’s got a lot of talent around him at Illinois, and I expect big things from him and the Fighting Illini this year. Sawyer Robertson – Baylor Following a great year at Baylor, throwing for over 3,000 yards and 28 TDs, he could be even better this season. Baylor has real CFP potential, and Robertson wants to be a high draft pick next season. DJ Lagway – Florida The hype around DJ Lagway is NUTS. I think he’s good, but not a top 10 QB yet. It’s very likely that after the season I would put him in the top 5, but right now I’m going to slide him in at 11. Darian Mensha – Duke I’m a big fan of the Tulane transfer. I believe he is going to thrive at Duke and lead them to a very successful season. He’s getting hardly any national attention, but he should be. Rocco Becht – Iowa State People don’t appreciate Rocco Becht. Going into his 3rd season in Ames, he is about to have a crazy year. The Cyclones are a dark horse playoff team, and Becht is a dark horse Heisman contender. Avery Johnson – Kansas State This could be the year that Johnson really breaks out in Manhattan. He was good last year, but with lofty goals for the Wildcats this season, he needs to be even better. Johnson has All-Big 12 First Team potential, which is very impressive in a conference stacked with QBs. Behren Morton – Texas Tech Another Big 12 QB, Morton and the Red Raiders are primed for a huge year. I’ve predicted them to win the Big 12 and make a CFP appearance, and that shows my confidence level in Morton. He is a top 15 QB right now but could definitely move up to the top 10 by the end of the year. Carson Beck – Miami Beck was very overrated last year, but he’s arguably underrated this year. He threw for over 3,400 yards and 28 TDs and led the Bulldogs to an SEC Title (which he obviously got hurt in). He hit the portal, and he could end up having a really good year at Miami. Josh Hoover – TCU Josh Hoover may just be the most underrated QB in college football. He threw for nearly 4,000 yards and 27 TDs and is returning to a good TCU offense. The Big 12 can go anywhere this year, so Hoover and the Frogs are going after it. Haynes King – Georgia Tech King is an elite rusher and efficient passer. He’s rushed for 21 TDs over the past 2 years (missed 2 games last year) and has shown flashes of being an elite passer. Georgia Tech is a playoff contender, so prepare for an outstanding year from Haynes. Kaidon Salter – Colorado Hardly anybody is talking about the Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter. He had an injury-filled 2024 campaign, but in 2023 he threw for 32 TDs with only 6 interceptions. In my opinion, he has a real chance of being a top 10 QB, but it’ll be tough. Diego Pavia – Vanderbilt This man just has the aura it takes to be an SEC QB. Leading the Dores to their best season in a decade, he claims he’s coming for the National Title. That seems just a tad bit delusional, but hey, you never know with college football. Maddux Madsen – Boise State All the focus was on Ashton Jeanty, but Madsen actually had a very good year in 2024. He could be worse without his star RB, but he showed last season that he is a top-25-caliber quarterback. Fernando Mendoza – Indiana Some Hoosier fans think this guy will win the Heisman. While I wouldn’t go that far, I do think he is very talented and is about to have a great year in Bloomington, surrounded by great weapons. Nico Iamaleava – UCLA In a surprising transfer, Nico had to settle for a big downgrade—now a UCLA Bruin. He is very talented, no question. However, I do question his character, leadership, and ability to mesh right away with his new team. Dante Moore – Oregon After starting at UCLA in 2023 and then learning under Dillon Gabriel in 2024, Dante Moore has sky-high potential. There are a lot of question marks, but it’s entirely possible for Moore to be a Heisman candidate and a top 5 QB by the end of the year. Blake Horvath – Navy An ELITE runner, Blake Horvath might be a better running back than quarterback (just kidding). Leading the Midshipmen to a big bowl win over the Sooners, he’s back for another great season with big expectations. HM:  Marcel Reed, Gunner Stockton, Dylan Raiola, Devon Dampier, Noah Fifita You can find Owen Pannell on X here. Shop KZA Exclusive offers here.

By Isaiah Magar | KZA Sports Much has been said about Shedeur Sanders' stint with the Colorado Buffaloes and his surprising fall to the fifth round of the NFL Draft. Many critics (and there are plenty) claimed his arm strength wasn’t good enough, or that his ability to read defenses was too slow. But perhaps the biggest “flaw,” according to them, was his flashy personality. Undoubtedly inherited from his father, many pundits argued he simply didn’t have the talent to back it up the way his dad did. Yet, the endless criticism never kept Shedeur from focusing on his work and continuing to improve himself. Most realistic fans and analysts expected Sanders to be drafted in the first round, with some even predicting he could go first overall. However, as the first round slowly ticked away, onlookers were shocked to see the Buffaloes’ quarterback still available. Jokes began swirling all over social media as the haters had a field day. “This downfall is hilarious,” stated one X user. Shedeur was finally picked up by the Browns in the fifth round. Though he faced plenty of skeptics, he calmly stated, “My job here isn’t to prove people wrong. It’s to prove myself right.”  Fast forward a few months, and he now has the chance to do just that. After statistically outplaying his peers in training camp, he was named the starter for the Browns’ preseason opener against former teammate Jimmy Horn Jr. and the Carolina Panthers. It sounds like he already overcame the hardest part, right? Wrong. The Browns’ organization is so poorly run that the coaching staff seems to believe they made the playoffs last season. They intend to sit their starters, leaving Shedeur to play alongside the second- and third-string offense against Carolina’s starters. It appears as if the coaching staff is intentionally trying to set the fifth-round pick up for failure. Either that, or they are too incompetent to run a professional football team and should be out of the league entirely. Regardless, Sanders has his shot. And if history tells us anything, it’s that he’ll make the most of it—no matter what the critics say. You can find Isaiah Magar on X here. Shop KZA Exclusive offers here.

By Owen Pannell | KZA Sports Do you know what games to look forward to this college football season? Whether you’re a new fan who is just getting into the sport, or your favorite team is just on a bye week, these are the games you need to watch! Week 0 1. Iowa State vs Kansas State (Dublin, Ireland) The annual game in Dublin, Ireland, this game headlines the week 0 slate. Two Big 12 teams with playoff dreams clashing in the first game of the college football season? Nothing more to ask for. 2. Stanford at Hawai’i  Stanford is going to be really bad this year, so this game could go either way. Hawai’i is technically favored, but it would feel like an upset if they get this win. The night cap of week 0, this should be a fun one. 3. Fresno State at Kansas Kansas should win this one, but it’ll be cool to see the Jayhawks in action, and see if they might have something this year. QB Jalon Daniels should be electric, so this will be interesting at the least. Week 1  1. Texas at Ohio State This game has potential to be one of the best games of the whole season. Two teams with National Title hopes in week 1? Sign me all the way up! Everyone will be tuning into this one, college football fanatic or not. It will be nuts. 2. LSU at Clemson It’s absolutely insane that this game is the 2nd best game of week 1. These are two of the best teams in the country (I have them playing in the Title game) and we get it to cap off a loaded week 1 slate. This also has "game of the year" potential, you don’t want to miss it. 3. Notre Dame at Miami This game is actually on Sunday, but it’s nonetheless a massive game for both sides. Notre Dame looks to make it back to the championship, while Miami wants to make a CFP berth with Carson Beck at the helm. Should be fun, and following the electric games on the previous day, people from all across the country should be locked in.  Week 2 1. Michigan at Oklahoma A game that will set the tone for both teams with playoff aspirations, the storyline will be Bryce Underwood (assuming he is the starter) vs Brent Venables’ defense. BV will certainly have some nasty looks to throw at the true freshman in what will only be his second ever start, and first ever road game. Either way, it will be electric in Norman, and a great game to look forward to. 2. Baylor at SMU A rivalry game, with two teams who have dreams of making the playoffs. Nothing more you could ask for in week 2. Plus, both starting QBs in the game, Sawyer Robertson and Kevin Jennings, have all-conference potential, so that’s another bonus for this game. 3. Iowa at Iowa State Another rivalry, this one less exciting playoff-wise, but arguably a top 10 rivalry in the sport. These two teams want to show they are the best in the state, and that never disappoints. Rocco Becht vs the Iowa defense will be absolute cinema. HM: Illinois at Duke I opted to put Baylor/SMU and Iowa/Iowa State above this one since they are both rivalries, but this is going to be a massive game for both teams. Both of these programs have a decent shot at the playoffs if everything goes great for them, but they both must-win this game for that shot to come into fruition. Week 3 1. Clemson at Georgia Tech A lot of folks are picking Georgia Tech to do big things this year, and this will be a massive test to see if they will. Clemson has national title expectations, so a loss here would definitely hurt, especially if they lose to LSU in week 1. Super excited for this matchup, just wish it wasn’t a noon kickoff. 2. Texas A&M at Notre Dame Texas A&M gets a ton of hype every year, but they never deliver. This year, they actually aren’t generating much hype, which could be great for them. If they fly under the radar, go into South Bend and beat Notre Dame, that would be MASSIVE. ND is on a quest to make it back to the Championship, and finish the job this time, and not being in a conference makes it harder for them to get into the playoffs with multiple losses. 3. Florida at LSU The Florida hype is pretty insane, so this will be their chance to show that the hype is legit. LSU will be very intense for this game, either 2-0 on a national title run, or 1-1 and angry. Either way it’ll be very hard for the Gators to go into Death Valley and get a win here, but it’ll be very entertaining. Week 4 1. Arizona State at Baylor Arizona State is the best team in the Big 12, and Baylor is one of the best, hoping to make a playoff appearance. This will be a huge test for both sides, and the winner of this will instantly become the front runner for the Big 12 (unless they have a loss already). 2. Florida at Miami This is a big rivalry game, and both teams want to play well into December. The Gators will be coming off a big game vs LSU, so back-to back difficult road games could be rough. No matter the outcome, this game is always fun. 3. Auburn at Oklahoma Former Sooner QB making his return to Norman, a fantastic storyline. The Palace on the Prairie will be rockin, and the Sooner defense will be giving it to Jackson Arnold. But Arnold wants his revenge for getting benched and won’t go down easy. This will be a good one. Week 5 1. Alabama at Georgia Alabama-Georgia is always massive, and this year isn’t any different. With Alabama getting the win last season in Tuscaloosa, the Bulldogs want this one bad. Athens will be NUTS, and Kirby Smart will have the team ready to murder the Tide. Bama won’t let it be so easy though, and this one will be electric. 2. Oregon at Penn State I really cannot believe they scheduled this game at the same time as Bama-Georgia, really upsetting we can’t focus on both games. But this game is going to be insane anyways. It could even have a bigger spotlight, depending on everyone’s records, so this will be a must-watch, probably going to be split screening both games September 27. 3. Ohio State at Washington Washington is overlooked this year, and getting OSU at home will be a huge test for them. The Buckeyes will have a tough challenge, and as a team trying to repeat as champions, dropping this one would hurt a ton. It will be an amazing game, and I’m crossing my fingers they give it a noon or 3:30 kick. Week 6 1. Boise State at Notre Dame Boise State has a very manageable schedule, other than this game. If they can find a way to pull off a huge upset, they would be in perfect position to make another CFP push. Notre Dame is trying to go undefeated to make their second straight playoff appearance, so this is also very important for them. Week 6 doesn’t have the big headline games that most weeks have, but it is very deep. 2. Kansas State at Baylor This is a very crucial game for the Big 12 Title race. Both teams should be among the best in the conference, so this is a must-win. This is Baylor’s third time on this list already, so they could have a loss by this game, which would make it even more important for the Bears. 3. Texas at Florida This will be a good test for the Longhorns, in a lookahead spot to Red River, they need to lock in for this one. I do think they are much more talented than the Gators, but anything can happen in the Swamp. Week 7 1. Oklahoma vs* Texas The Red River Rivalry. Personally, my favorite time of the entire year. There’s really nothing like it, halfway between the two colleges, at the Texas state fair, nothing but bitter hate, and absolute madness on the field. Both teams will be very good next season, and you can count literally nothing out of this game, so it’s a MUST-watch, and will be one of the best games of the 2025 season. 2. South Carolina at LSU A battle between two elite QBs never disappoints. LaNorris Sellers vs Garrett Nussmeier will be absolute cinema. This game will have major implications for the playoff race, and the SEC Title race, and both teams will bring their A game. Death Valley will be torture for Sellers and the Gamecocks offense, and Dylan Stewart and the Cocks' DLine will try and make it the same for Nussmeier. 3. Iowa State at Colorado Another crucial Big 12 game, this time in Boulder, Colorado. The Deion Sanders-led Buffaloes will continue their quest for a playoff appearance with a huge game vs Rocco Becht and the Cyclones. Becht is back for his 3rd year as the Iowa State starter, and he wants a Big 12 Championship. This game is crucial for both teams, and will be a fun one. Week 8 1. Tennessee at Alabama This game is always memorable. Tennessee might have a down year this year, but they’ll surely come to play for this one. Alabama is out for revenge on everyone after missing the playoffs last season, and this game will be very intense. 2. Texas Tech at Arizona State I predicted this game will be a preview of the Big 12 Championship. These are the two best teams in the conference in my opinion, so this game is extremely important for both sides. 3. Oklahoma at South Carolina Both these teams are dark horses in the SEC. With OU coming off a massive game vs the Longhorns they will need to be sure this isn’t a let down spot. SC killed the Sooners last season in Norman, so they have all the confidence they can do that again, this time at home. HM: Ole Miss at Georgia, Washington at Michigan, SMU at Clemson, UNLV at Boise State, USC at Notre Dame We’ve got a TON of honorable mentions for this week. Honestly, you could swap any of these game out at any spot in the top 3 and I would be fine with it. Week 8 is so incredibly deep, it will be a magical day of football for fans around the country. Week 9 1. Texas A&M at LSU Will this be the year A&M breaks through? We don’t know yet, but they will certainly be a talented team at the least. LSU, on the other hand, looks primed for a huge year, so this game will be a massive one in Death Valley.  2. Alabama at South Carolina These two teams don’t like each other. Like previously mentioned, the Tide are trying to make their first CFP berth under Kalen DeBoer, but the Gamecocks want to make their first playoff appearance ever. With back-to-back huge games in Columbia, South Carolina, these fans are living it up. LaNorris Sellers could be a dark horse for Heisman, but he’ll be going against an elite Alabama defense. 3. Illinois at Washington Two dark horse Big 10 teams battling late in the season, it’ll be a great show. The Fighting Illini return some of the most production in the country, and they have a real chance at a CFP berth if they win some crucial games, and this is one of them. However, The Huskies are very talented, their offense should be one of the best in the Big 10, and with home field advantage, this will be a very close one. Week 10 1. Penn State at Ohio State A MASSIVE Big Ten showdown late in the season, this will have major playoff and Big 10 Championship implications. Right now, you could make an argument for both teams to be the best in the country and, more than likely, they will both be top 10 teams at the time of this matchup. 2. Oklahoma at Tennessee Huge matchup in Knoxville, if this gets a night kickoff it will be beautiful. Big games in Neyland at night, hard to find something better than that. Both teams could be fighting for a playoff berth at this time, and the Sooners want revenge on the Vols for spoiling their SEC debut last season. 3. Arizona State at Iowa State Another Big 12 game with playoff implications, the Sun Devils go up to Ames and try to avoid an upset, but the Cyclones want to make a CFP appearance of their own. Both teams will want this one bad, and it’ll be electric. Week 11 1. LSU at Alabama When it’s LSU vs Alabama, you know it’s going to be a fun one. The Tigers are on a quest to get another championship, and they have the talent to do so. But the Tide need to make a CFP appearance, or the future of Kalen DeBoer will start to be in question. Both teams should be great, and Bryant-Denny Stadium will be WILD. Don’t miss it. 2. Indiana at Penn State The Nittany Lions will either be elated going into this game, or extremely angry. They’ll be coming off a massive showdown vs the Buckeyes, and they will either be in trouble of falling victim to a trap game, or coming out with all the motivation possible. The Hoosiers want to repeat their CFP berth, but it will be a tough task, especially this game. 3. UNLV at Colorado State If a team is going to dethrone Boise State as the top non-power 4 team, I think it’ll be one of these two. UNLV will have already played Boise State and Colorado State will play them in a couple weeks, so if they can pull out a win there, the winner of this game will be in perfect position to win the Mountain West, and snag a potential CFP spot. Week 12  1. Texas at Georgia This could be a possible SEC Championship preview. Both teams are elite and have National Title hopes. Texas has a tall task going into Athens and getting a win, but it’s certainly not impossible. Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs are looking to get back on top of the College Football world, so this is a massive game for them. 2. Oklahoma at Alabama The Sooners pulled off the massive upset last season to knock the Crimson Tide out of the CFP, and Bama wants revenge. They have a very tough stretch on their schedule, and this is the last one of those games, so if they can get through this with minimal losses, they will be in perfect position for a good run. 3. South Carolina at Texas A&M Both these squads could be in the middle of a playoff push for this game, in which case it would be a must-win for both sides. Losing this game for either team most likely knocks them out of the CFP, so you best believe we’ll get the best from both sides, and an insane performance from the 12th man. Week 13 1. Tennessee at Florida This rivalry is always very fun and very intense. I don’t see either team making the playoffs, but I can definitely see them both being pretty good. The Swamp will be INSANE for this game, hopefully they put it in the late window, it would be a crime not to. 2. Missouri at Oklahoma This is a pretty mid week of games, so I’m putting Mizzou at OU at the 2 spot. It is a good rivalry, and the Sooners lost a heartbreaker last year in Columbia, so they want this one bad. They will also likely be in the midst of a playoff chase, it’s unlikely that Missouri will be, but it is possible. 3. Arizona State at Colorado If the Buffaloes want a surprise CFP berth, this is a must-win. They have to have 1 or 0 losses going into this game, but that’s not impossible. The Sun Devils once again have a tough matchup if they want to make another CFP run. Week 14 (Rivalry Week) 1. Ohio State at Michigan The Game. There’s obviously no other choice for the #1 spot this week. Ohio State NEEDS to win this game, having lost four straight in the biggest rivalry in all of sports. Many Buckeye fans would legitimately rather win this game than another National Championship. Michigan won’t go down easy though. Three of the last four matchups have had the Buckeyes as favorites and Bryce Underwood will be playing in his first game as a member of this rivalry, which he will not want to lose. 2. Alabama at Auburn The third biggest rivalry in College Football, it’s a staple of rivalry week. We’ve seen absolute madness in this game before, so I would not count out the Tigers from pulling off an upset at all. They could play spoiler to Bama’s playoff hopes, which would feel so, so good for them. 3. Texas A&M at Texas This rivalry is huge for both sides (Red River is more important for the Longhorns) and both teams will likely be fighting for a CFP spot. With the Longhorns getting the win last year in College Station, the Aggies want to return the favor. It’s on Black Friday, it will be an EXTREMELY fun one on a loaded slate. 4. Georgia at Georgia Tech It’s impossible for me to only have three games on this list, so I’m going to do five (I’m still going to have a ton of honorable mentions). They stupidly changed the name of this rivalry this year, but it’s still good, old-fashioned hate. Both teams should be very good this year, and with the Yellow Jackets having homefield advantage, there’s a real world where they are even favored in this game. It will be a must-watch game, on an absolutely stacked Black Friday. 5. Clemson at South Carolina The battle for SC will be extremely important for both sides this year. The Tigers have National Title hopes, and the Gamecocks, CFP hopes. Winning this game would be a huge step towards that goal. In Columbia, SC very well could be favored, similar to the UGA-GT game. Anything can happen here, and it's too bad it’s at the same time as Ohio State-Michigan. HM: Arizona at Arizona State, Ole Miss at Mississippi State, Iowa at Nebraska, Indiana at Purdue, Florida State at Florida, Kentucky at Louisville, Vanderbilt at Tennessee, Oregon at Washington, Wisconsin at Minnesota, UCLA at USC, Northwestern at Illinois, Boston College at Syracuse, North Carolina at NC State, Virginia Tech at Virginia, Notre Dame at Stanford, Houston at Baylor, Oregon State at Washington State This LOAD of honorable mentions is only big rivalries, that unfortunately couldn’t make the top 5 games of this week. All of these games mean so much to all of these fanbases, which is really what College Football is all about. Rivalry Week is super fun every year, and this year will not disappoint. Madness will go down. You can find Owen Pannell on X here. Shop KZA Exclusive offers here.

By Owen Pannell | KZA Sports Final Rankings (Top 12 Seeds) Clemson  (13-0) Ohio State  (13-0) Oklahoma  (12-1) Notre Dame  (12-0) Georgia  (11-2) Penn State  (11-2) LSU  (10-2) Oregon  (11-1) Texas Tech  (12-1) SMU  (11-1) Texas  (9-3) Boise State  (11-1) Playoff Bracket & Results Round 1 12. Boise State at 5. Georgia UGA 41, BSU 13 11. Texas at 6. Penn State PSU 24, TEX 20 10. SMU at 7. LSU LSU 45, SMU 21 9. Texas Tech at 8. Oregon ORE 42, TTU 38 Quarterfinals 1. Clemson vs 8. Oregon CLEM 37, ORE 17 2. Ohio State vs 7. LSU LSU 35, OSU 31 3. Oklahoma vs 6. Penn State OU 32, PSU 31 4. Notre Dame vs 5. Georgia UGA 31, ND 20 Semifinals 1. Clemson vs 5. Georgia CLEM 34, UGA 24 3. Oklahoma vs 7. LSU LSU 48, OU 45 National Championship 1. Clemson vs 7. LSU Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta LSU 35, CLEM 32 The LSU Tigers are your 2025-26 National Champions. A New Era in Baton Rouge This LSU squad may not be undefeated like the legendary 2019 team, but they found their rhythm when it mattered most. Despite regular season losses to Clemson and Oklahoma, the Tigers turned it on in the postseason, eliminating both squads on the road to glory. Clemson proved to be the most consistent team all season and looked poised to win it all, led by Heisman Trophy winner Cade Klubnik. But LSU simply had the magic when it counted. Individual Awards Heisman Trophy : Cade Klubnik, QB, Clemson Maxwell Award : Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State Lombardi Award : Anthony Hill Jr, LB, Texas Davey O’Brien Award : Cade Klubnik, QB, Clemson Doak Walker Award : Jeremiah Love, RB, Notre Dame Biletnikoff Award : Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State Mackey Award : Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt Outland Trophy : Ar’maj Reed-Adams, OL, Texas A&M Ted Hendricks Award : TJ Parker, DL, Clemson Chuck Bednarik Award : Anthony Hill Jr, LB, Texas Butkus Award : Anthony Hill Jr, LB, Texas Jim Thorpe Award : Caleb Downs, DB, Ohio State Lou Groza Award : Dominic Zvada, K, Michigan Ray Guy Award : Rhys Dakin, P, Iowa Coach of the Year : Brent Venables, Oklahoma If you want more in depth predictions for every Power 4 team, check them out here. You can find Owen Pannell on X here.

By Owen Pannell | KZA Sports As the college football season approaches, the ACC and its affiliated programs are set for a rollercoaster year filled with rising stars, rebuilt rosters, and title hopes for a select few. From Clemson’s dominant, undefeated run to a flurry of struggling programs like Wake Forest, Stanford, and Cal, the landscape of the 2025 campaign promises stark contrasts in performance. With playoff contenders such as SMU, Georgia Tech, and Miami vying for a shot at glory and traditional powerhouses like Florida State and NC State facing uncertain futures, this comprehensive season preview breaks down the projected paths for all 17 teams—including independents like Notre Dame and hopeful outsiders like Boise State. Boston College Eagles Game 1 vs Fordham- Win Game 2 at Michigan State- Loss Game 3 at Stanford- Win Game 4 vs California- Win Game 5 at Pitt- Loss Game 6 vs Clemson- Loss Game 7 vs UConn- Win Game 8 at Louisville- Loss Game 9 vs Notre Dame- Loss Game 10 vs SMU- Loss Game 11 vs Georgia Tech- Loss Game 12 at Syracuse- Loss 4-8 (2-6) Don’t expect much from BC this year, they lost a lot of talent and didn’t get enough to replace it. They might be able to make a bowl game, but that is the best I see them doing. California Golden Bears Game 1 at Oregon State- Loss Game 2 vs Texas Southern- Win Game 3 vs Minnesota- Loss Game 4 at San Diego State- Win Game 5 at Boston College- Loss Game 6 vs Duke- Loss Game 7 vs North Carolina- Loss Game 8 at Virginia Tech- Loss Game 9 vs Virginia- Loss Game 10 at Louisville- Loss Game 11 at Stanford- Loss Game 12 vs SMU- Loss 2-10 (0-8) Prepare for a rough year for the Bears. They went 6-6 last year (although they were close to doing much better) and lost a TON of talent. Their star QB and RB are gone to the portal, and I predict dark times for Cal coming up. Clemson Tigers Game 1 vs LSU- Win Game 2 vs Troy- Win Game 3 at Georgia Tech- Win Game 4 vs Syracuse- Win Game 5 at North Carolina- Win Game 6 at Boston College- Win Game 7 vs SMU- Win Game 8 vs Duke- Win Game 9 vs Florida State- Win Game 10 at Louisville- Win Game 11 vs Furman- Win Game 12 at South Carolina- Win 12-0 (8-0) This Clemson team has everything you could ask for. A great offense led by a top QB, an elite defense, and a phenomenal Head Coach. They’ve got some difficult games on here, particularly the 1st and last games of the season, but I’ve got Clemson going undefeated, with National Title hopes. Duke Blue Devils Game 1 vs Elon- Win Game 2 vs Illinois- Win Game 3 at Tulane- Win Game 4 vs NC State- Win Game 5 at Syracuse- Win Game 6 at Cal- Win Game 7 vs Georgia Tech- Loss Game 8 at Clemson- Loss Game 9 at UConn- Win Game 10 vs Virginia- Win Game 11 at North Carolina- Win Game 12 vs Wake Forest- Win 10-2 (6-2) The Blue Devils had a great portal class, bringing in great QB Darian Mensha, along with talented weapons for him such as Andrel Anthony and Cooper Barkate. They finished 9-3 last year, and with an even better roster I’ve got them at 10-2 this year with a long shot at the CFP, and if they can pull off an upset over Georgia Tech or Clemson, they would very likely be a playoff team. Florida State Seminoles Game 1 vs Alabama- Loss Game 2 vs ET A&M- Win Game 3 vs Kent State- Win Game 4 at Virginia- Loss Game 5 vs Miami- Loss Game 6 vs Pitt- Loss Game 7 at Stanford- Win Game 8 vs Wake Forest- Win Game 9 at Clemson- Loss Game 10 vs Virginia Tech- Loss Game 11 at NC State- Win Game 12 at Florida- Loss 5-7 (3-5) After an embarrassment of a 2024 season, the Seminoles look to bounce back with a reshaped roster. I see them being better, but barely. They have a hard non-conference schedule, and making a bowl game will be tricky for them. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Game 1 at Colorado- Win Game 2 vs Gardner-Webb- Win Game 3 vs Clemson- Loss Game 4 vs Temple- Win Game 5 at Wake Forest- Win Game 6 vs Virginia Tech- Win Game 7 at Duke- Win Game 8 vs Syracuse- Win Game 9 at NC State- Win Game 10 at Boston College- Win Game 11 vs Pitt- Win Game 12 vs Georgia- Loss 10-2 (7-1) The Yellow Jackets are a very popular team to make a playoff run going into this season, they are extremely improved with a top 3 QB in the ACC. They will be a great team this year, but I don’t see them beating Georgia or Clemson, so an at large CFP birth seems a bit unlikely, but they could win the ACC. Louisville Cardinals Game 1 vs Eastern Kentucky- Win Game 2 vs James Madison- Win Game 3 vs Bowling Green- Win Game 4 at Pitt- Loss Game 5 vs Virginia- Win Game 6 at Miami- Loss Game 7 vs Boston College- Win Game 8 at Virginia Tech- Win Game 9 vs California- Win Game 10 vs Clemson- Loss Game 11 at SMU- Loss Game 12 vs Kentucky- Win 8-4 (4-4) The Cards have some talented players on offense, especially star running back Isaac Brown. However, they are a few pieces away from really competing in the ACC, so I’ve got them with another really solid 8-4 record. Miami Hurricanes Game 1 vs Notre Dame- Loss Game 2 vs Bethune- Win Game 3 vs South Florida- Win Game 4 vs Florida- Loss Game 5 at Florida State- Win Game 6 vs Louisville- Win Game 7 vs Stanford- Win Game 8 at SMU- Loss Game 9 vs Syracuse- Win Game 10 vs NC State- Win Game 11 at Virginia Tech- Win Game 12 at Pitt- Win 9-3 (7-1) After having the #1 pick and not even making the playoffs, the Canes really want to make a CFP appearance. They hit the portal hard, but I don’t believe their talent is on par with last years team. They have a hard non-conference, but an easy conference schedule, so it is possible for them to win the ACC and clinch a birth that way. NC State Wolfpack Game 1 vs East Carolina- Win Game 2 vs Virginia- Win Game 3 at Wake Forest- Win Game 4 at Duke- Loss Game 5 vs Virginia Tech- Loss Game 6 vs Campbell- Win Game 7 at Notre Dame- Loss Game 8 at Pitt- Loss Game 9 vs Georgia Tech- Loss Game 10 at Miami- Loss Game 11 vs Florida State- Loss Game 12 vs North Carolina- Loss 4-8 (1-7) This is a shame for Wolfpack fans, I don’t hate their roster this year. But they have a tough run of conference games, and I think it’ll be hard to get to 6 wins. It would not shock me if they make a bowl game though, so don’t count out NC State to pull an upset here or there. North Carolina Tar Heels Game 1 vs TCU- Loss Game 2 at Charlotte- Win Game 3 vs Richmond- Win Game 4 at UCF- Win Game 5 vs Clemson- Loss Game 6 at California- Win Game 7 vs Virginia- Win Game 8 at Syracuse- Loss Game 9 vs Stanford- Win Game 10 at Wake Forest- Win Game 11 vs Duke- Loss Game 12 at NC State- Win 8-4 (5-3) Not a terrible star for the Belichick era. Tar Heel fans would hope for another win or 2, but the reality is this isn't an elite roster, and coaching in the NFL is a lot different than college. This is a good place to start though, and they should be able to build off this. Pittsburgh Panthers Game 1 vs Duquense- Win Game 2 vs Central Michigan- Win Game 3 at West Virginia- Loss Game 4 vs Louisville- Win Game 5 vs Boston College- Win Game 6 at Florida State- Win Game 7 at Syracuse- Win Game 8 vs NC State- Win Game 9 at Stanford- Win Game 10 vs Notre Dame- Loss Game 11 at Georgia Tech- Loss Game 12 vs Miami- Loss 8-4 (6-2) Eli Holstein is one of the most underrated QBs in the country in my opinion, and I really like this roster around him. They have a relatively easy schedule until their final 3 games, where it gets really tricky. If they can find a way to win 2 or 3 out of the 4 games I’ve got them losing, they could be in prime position for a CFP birth. SMU Mustangs Game 1 vs ET A&M- Win Game 2 vs Baylor- Win Game 3 at Missouri State- Win Game 4 at TCU- Win Game 5 vs Syracuse- Win Game 6 vs Stanford- Win Game 7 at Clemson- Loss Game 8 at Wake Forest- Win Game 9 vs Miami- Win Game 10 at Boston College- Win Game 11 vs Louisville- Win Game 12 at California- Win 11-1 (7-1) Coming off of the programs first ever playoff birth, expectations are high in Dallas. They return a lot of talent, and they look to make the CFP again. They have a pretty hard schedule, but I’ve got them going 11-1 with a likely playoff spot. Stanford Cardinal Game 1 at Hawai’i- Loss Game 2 at BYU- Loss Game 3 vs Boston College- Loss Game 4 at Virginia- Loss Game 5 vs San Jose State- Win Game 6 at SMU- Loss Game 7 vs Florida State- Loss Game 8 at Miami- Loss Game 9 vs Pitt- Loss Game 10 at North Carolina- Loss Game 11 vs California- Win Game 12 vs Notre Dame- Loss 2-10 (1-7) The Cardinal are going to be real bad this year, no way around it. I even have them losing at Hawai’i, which would be very disappointing. I do have them getting a win over rival Cal (both teams are so bad, should be a good game) which is a positive for the fanbase. Syracuse Orange Game 1 vs Tennessee- Loss Game 2 vs UConn- Win Game 3 vs Colgate- Win Game 4 at Clemson- Loss Game 5 vs Duke- Loss Game 6 at SMU- Loss Game 7 vs Pitt- Loss Game 8 at Georgia Tech- Loss Game 9 vs North Carolina- Loss Game 10 at Miami- Loss Game 11 at Notre Dame- Loss Game 12 vs Boston College- Win 3-9 (1-7) This pains me to do, but the Orange schedule is just extremely difficult. They have to play UT and ND on top of a very hard conference schedule, consisting of Clemson, Duke, SMU, Georgia Tech, Miami, and other good teams. I love Fran Brown, but this is likely going to be a down year for Syracuse. Virginia Cavaliers Game 1 vs Coastal Carolina- Win Game 2 at NC State- Loss Game 3 vs William & Mary- Win Game 4 vs Stanford- Win Game 5 vs Florida State- Win Game 6 at Louisville- Loss Game 7 vs Washington State- Win Game 8 at North Carolina- Loss Game 9 at California- Win Game 10 vs Wake Forest- Win Game 11 at Duke- Loss Game 12 vs Virginia Tech- Win 8-4 (5-3) This is one of the better Virginia rosters we’ve seen in recent years. Veteran QB Chandler Morris should be one of the better ones in the conference, and I believe they can get some wins with him at the helm. They haven’t been great under Tony Elliott, so hopefully they can use this as a building block towards future success. Virginia Tech Hokies Game 1 vs South Carolina- Loss Game 2 vs Vanderbilt- Loss Game 3 vs Old Dominion- Win Game 4 vs Wofford- Win Game 5 at NC State- Win Game 6 vs Wake Forest- Win Game 7 at Georgia Tech- Loss Game 8 vs California- Win Game 9 vs Louisville- Loss Game 10 at Florida State- Win Game 11 vs Miami- Loss Game 12 at Virginia- Loss 6-6 (4-4) Kyron Drones is back for his 3rd season as the Hokies starter, and they look to make some noise. They have been hyped up the past couple years, but hardly done anything. I don’t believe this is the year they will breakout though, they open up the season against 2 SEC teams, and their conference schedule isn’t the easiest. They should be solid though, and I’ve got them going 6-6. Wake Forest Demon Deacons Game 1 vs Kennesaw State- Win Game 2 vs Western Carolina- Win Game 3 vs NC State- Loss Game 4 vs Georgia Tech- Loss Game 5 at Virginia Tech- Loss Game 6 at Oregon State- Loss Game 7 vs SMU- Loss Game 8 at Florida State- Loss Game 9 at Virginia- Loss Game 10 vs North Carolina- Loss Game 11 vs Delaware- Win Game 12 at Duke- Loss 3-9 (0-8) Wake Forest has arguably the easiest schedule in the country, but this team is extremely bad and I still only have them getting 3 wins. It’ll be a long year for the 4th best team in North Carolina. Standings 1. Clemson 8-0 (12-0) 2. Georgia Tech 7-1 (11-1) 3. SMU 7-1 (11-1) 4. Miami 7-1 (9-3) 5. Duke 6-2 (10-2) 6. Pittsburgh 6-2 (8-4) 7. North Carolina 5-3 (8-4) 8. Virginia 5-3 (8-4) 9. Louisville 4-4 (8-4) 10.Virginia Tech 4-4 (6-6) 11. Florida State 3-5 (5-7) 12. Boston College 2-6 (4-8) 13. Syracuse 1-7 (3-9) 14. NC State 1-7 (4-8) 15. Stanford 1-7 (2-10) 16. California 0-8 (2-10) 17. Wake Forest 0-8 (3-9) ACC Championship - Clemson vs Georgia Tech Clemson- 37 Georgia Tech- 17 Clemson is just an absolutely elite team this year. Georgia Tech is very talented as well, and to make the ACC Championship they had to have a special year, but Clemson is just too good in my opinion. I’ve got Clemson winning here, and clinching a top 2 seed. Playoffs Locks: - Clemson 50-50: - SMU - Georgia Tech Long shot:  - Duke BONUS I am going to also predict Notre Dame, Washington State, Oregon State, and Boise State, since they are not in a conference that I am making predictions for.  Notre Dame Fighting Irish Game 1 at Miami- Win Game 2 vs Texas A&M- Win Game 3 vs Purdue- Win Game 4 at Arkansas- Win Game 5 vs Boise State- Win Game 6 vs NC State- Win Game 7 vs USC- Win Game 8 at Boston College- Win Game 9 vs Navy- Win Game 10 at Pittsburgh- Win Game 11 vs Syracuse- Win Game 12 at Stanford- Win 12-0 The Irish have an easy schedule, so they are definitely expecting to make it back to the CFP. They also have a pretty good team, RB Jeremiyah Love is one of the best players in the country, so they should be able to make some noise again. Washington State Cougars Game 1 vs Idaho- Win Game 2 vs San Diego State- Win Game 3 at North Texas- Win Game 4 vs Washington- Loss Game 5 at Colorado State- Loss Game 6 at Ole Miss- Loss Game 7 at Virginia- Loss Game 8 vs Toledo- Win Game 9 at Oregon State- Loss Game 10 vs Louisiana Tech- Win Game 11 at James Madison- Loss Game 12 vs Oregon State- Loss 5-7 (0-2) The Cougs lost a TON this offseason. OC Ben Arbuckle, star QB John Mateer, and a lot of other very important pieces. They might be able to make a bowl game, but I’ve got them falling just short, with 2 losses to the only other Pac 12 team. Oregon State Beavers Game 1 vs California- Win Game 2 vs Fresno State- Win  Game 3 at Texas Tech- Loss Game 4 at Oregon- Loss Game 5 vs Houston- Loss Game 6 at App State- Win Game 7 vs Wake Forest- Win Game 8 vs Lafayette- Win Game 9 vs Washington State- Win Game 10 vs Sam Houston- Win Game 11 at Tulsa- Win Game 12 at Washington State- Win 9-3 (2-0) The Beavs have an improved team from last year, and outside of a 3 game stretch they have a pretty easy schedule. This should shape up for a successful year for Oregon State, and a “Pac 2 Championship”. Boise State Broncos Game 1 at South Florida- Win Game 2 vs Eastern Washington- Win Game 3 at Air Force- Win Game 4 vs App State- Win Game 5 at Notre Dame- Loss Game 6 vs New Mexico- Win Game 7 vs UNLV- Win Game 8 at Nevada- Win Game 9 vs Fresno State- Win Game 10 at San Diego State- Win Game 11 vs Colorado State- Win Game 12 at Utah State- Win 11-1 (7-1) Coming off a very successful season, I’ve got Boise State having another great season. Yes, they lost their best player of all time, but they return a bunch of talent, and brought in some solid transfers. I’ve got them going 11-1, with a very close loss to ND and, spoiler alert, another CFP birth. You can find Owen Pannell on X here. Shop KZA Exclusive offers here.

By Owen Pannell | KZA Sports The Belgian from UCSB. The 2nd-round pick who quickly became a key rotational player. The man who absolutely dominated the Summer League. Ajay Mitchell can be described many ways. Around OKC, he is a fan favorite. He looks to play a vital role in the Thunder’s effort to repeat as NBA champions — but how did he get here? Roots in Belgium Growing up in Liège, Belgium, Ajay’s love for the sport started with his dad, Barry. He played in youth leagues in Belgium and continued getting better every day. Then, when he was 17, he turned pro. Signing with French team Nanterre, he quickly went back to Belgium to play for Limburg United. Mitchell ended up being a 3-star recruit and the 23rd-ranked PG in the 2021 class (247). He was really only ever interested in one school — UC Santa Barbara. A Star at UCSB Ajay shined as a freshman at UCSB. He started 23 games and averaged 12 points and 4 assists on great efficiency, which was good enough to land him Big West Freshman of the Year. His sophomore season was even better, averaging 16 and 5, and earning himself Big West Player of the Year. He also brought the Gauchos to a Big West Championship and an NCAA Tournament berth. Instead of declaring for the draft, he decided to come back to UCSB for another season — where he was once again phenomenal. Despite battling some injuries, he poured in 20 points a game and got himself his 2nd All-Big West First Team honors. That led him to enter the 2024 NBA Draft after 3 seasons at UC Santa Barbara. The NBA Leap The Oklahoma City Thunder were coming off a disappointing 2nd-round exit in the 2024 playoffs and wanted to make the 2024–25 season THEIR year. They ended up selecting Mitchell with the 38th pick in the 2024 draft. People expected Mitchell to just be a two-way guy — get a couple minutes here and there — but not make a huge difference. But they were very wrong. Ajay balled out and earned himself a full contract on February 6th. His stats aren’t insane — 7 PPG, 2 RPG, 2 APG — but the impact he made by stepping in and running the point guard position when Shai was off the court was astronomical. Setback and Comeback He ended up suffering a toe injury, which held him out most of the year. However, he came back in time for the playoffs and helped the Thunder win their first ever NBA Championship. His hard work was rewarded on July 6th, when OKC extended him on a 3-year, $9 million deal. He will surely play a big part in the future of this OKC dynasty — and we are all excited for it.