Joy Dunne scores back-to-back goals and Ohio State beats Cornell 4-2 in women's Frozen Four semis
Ohio State (29-7-3) advances to its fourth straight national title game on Sunday. The Buckeyes improved to 12-3 in six Frozen Four appearances – all occurring during Nadine Muzerall's nine-year tenure as head coach.
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Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Cade Klubnik, Caleb Downs among early favorites for college football's top awards
The race for college football's most prestigious awards is about to begin, and proven stars and rising sophomores are early frontrunners. From Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik to Ohio State's star tandem of Caleb Downs and Jeremiah Smith, here are six players positioned to add their name in the history books during the 2025-26 season: Fred Biletnikoff Award: Jeremiah Smith Few young receivers have generated as much hype as Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith, who comes off a dominant freshman season. Smith led the Buckeyes with 1,315 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns in 2024, finishing ahead of first-round pick Emeka Egbuka. The No. 1 recruit in the 2024 class delivered for the Buckeyes throughout their national title run, connecting with quarterback Will Howard for 381 yards and five touchdowns in the postseason. At 6-foot-4 with excellent hands and elite route running capabilities, it's hard to keep the ball out of Smith's hands. Jim Thorpe Award: Caleb Downs Two years into his collegiate career, accolades are stacking up for Ohio State safety Caleb Downs. The preseason first-team AP All-American was an immediate standout for the Buckeyes after spending his freshman season at Alabama. Downs was named the Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year after finishing the season with 82 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and six pass break-ups. He was critical to the championship run, consistently locking down threats in the passing and running games. He held tight end and eventual first-round draft pick Tyler Warren to four catches for 47 yards in Ohio State's 20-13 win over Penn State and picked off Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers in the CFP semifinal. Chuck Bednarik Award: Dylan Stewart After a breakout freshman campaign, South Carolina's Dylan Stewart is poised to lead the Gamecocks' defense in 2025. Stewart earned a spot on the SEC All-Freshman team after recording 23 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, four quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and a pass breakup. The edge rusher who can also drop into coverage put together one of the best freshman defensive campaigns in South Carolina since Jadeveon Clowney. Though Downs will likely make a strong case, the Bednarik Award has yet to be given to a safety in its 30 years of existence. Stewart is one of just seven sophomores on the watch list for the award. Doak Walker Award: Jeremiyah Love Love is widely considered the top returning running back after playing an integral role in Notre Dame's best season since 1988. The six-foot, 214-pound running back finished the season with 1,125 yards and 17 touchdowns on 163 carries, averaging 70.3 yards per game, 8.5 yards per carry and at least one score in each of the first 13 games. As Notre Dame undergoes a quarterback shift in 2025, Love could see even more opportunities to carry the offense, putting the preseason AP All-American in prime position to take home the Doak Walker Award as the nation's top running back. Outland Trophy: Spencer Fano The Outland Trophy is awarded to the best interior lineman in college football. Texas offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. earned the award in 2024, marking back-to-back Outland Trophy wins for the Longhorns after T'Vondre Sweat won in 2023. We expect the award to stay on the offensive side of the ball in 2025 and Utah's Spencer Fano is a player to watch. He led FBS offensive tackles in 2024 with a 92.7 PFF grade, allowing just two quarterback hits and one sack through 424 pass-block attempts. Fano held his opponents to zero sacks through the last 11 games of the season. The preseason AP All-American has shown versatility, lining up on the right and left sides, and seems a good bet to be a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL draft. Heisman Trophy: Cade Klubnik The most prestigious award in college football is likely to return to the hands of a quarterback in 2025. Arch Manning, Garrett Nussmeier and Cade Klubnik headline early Heisman conversations and possess the best odds heading into the season. Klubnik has the experience Manning lacks, the mobility Nussmeier strives for and enough consistency in the receiving room to hit the ground running in 2025. The Clemson quarterback comes off an impressive 2024-2025 campaign, completing 63.4% of passes for 3,639 yards, 36 touchdowns and six interceptions. A dual-threat, he added 463 yards and seven touchdowns on foot. His 36 touchdowns ranked behind only Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward, who were both selected in the 2025 NFL draft. Clemson landed at No. 4 in the AP Top 25 preseason poll. If Klubnik can measure up to high expectations, the Tigers could have their first Heisman winner since Trevor Lawrence. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: and
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Michigan football lands top overall 2026 target, 5-star RB Savion Hiter
There has been but one prospect in 2026 that Michigan football covets more than all of the rest, one who the Wolverines have gone all in on. And though it looked like a slam dunk that the maize and blue would land him, another school came calling while Michigan was silent. And with that, it was a two-team race. That prospect is 2026 Mineral (Va.) Louisa County five-star running back Savion Hiter, who the Wolverines have made more than a priority for over a year. His relationship with RB coach Tony Alford, going back to Alford's time with Ohio State, being key, Michigan has been in pole position all along. But Tennessee surged in a big way, and despite it being a four-team race, only two teams have been truly battling it out. On Tuesday, Hiter finally made his decision. As the Wolverines held their breath, it ended up being good news, as the five-star chose to play in Ann Arbor. Hiter is the second five-star to join the class (edge rusher Carter Meadows being the other) and is now the highest-rated commit for Michigan in 2026. He is the 22nd commit in the class and is ranked No. 9 overall, according to the 247Sports Composite. Here is his scouting report: Juiced-up running back with star potential for a College Football Playoff contender given the mix of his burst, power, agility, balance and vision. Has dominated the combine setting (1.52 10-yard split, 4.12 shuttle, 36-inch vertical jump) and is equipped with ready-to-play mass as he's already tipping the scales at 200 pounds. Effective as both an inside and outside runner as he's quick to chart a course and charge forward. Fast feet allow him to side-step trouble as he frequently dances around would-be tacklers in the backfield and turns negative plays into positive plays. Core strength and a lower pad level routinely negate arm tackles while full-speed cuts make it even harder for defenders to get him on the ground, especially when he breaks through the first wave of obstacles. Hasn't caught a ton of passes at the prep level, but has proven to be a tricky cover at offseason camps and looks to have true three-down potential as his physicality will only continue to give him an advantage in pass protection. Overall, should be viewed as a gifted ball carrier that can be a multi-year impact player on Saturdays and provide valuable minutes as early as Year 1. Must avoid setbacks and remain hungry, but profiles as a future NFL Draft pick with his size, testing and feel for the position. And here is the class now with Hiter in the fold: All rankings by the 247Sports Composite Hiter chose the maize and blue over Tennessee, Ohio State, and Georgia. He's the highest-rated running back to come to Ann Arbor -- perhaps ever.
San Francisco Chronicle
2 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Cade Klubnik, Caleb Downs among early favorites for college football's top awards
The race for college football's most prestigious awards is about to begin, and proven stars and rising sophomores are early frontrunners. From Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik to Ohio State's star tandem of Caleb Downs and Jeremiah Smith, here are six players positioned to add their name in the history books during the 2025-26 season: Fred Biletnikoff Award: Jeremiah Smith Few young receivers have generated as much hype as Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith, who comes off a dominant freshman season. Smith led the Buckeyes with 1,315 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns in 2024, finishing ahead of first-round pick Emeka Egbuka. The No. 1 recruit in the 2024 class delivered for the Buckeyes throughout their national title run, connecting with quarterback Will Howard for 381 yards and five touchdowns in the postseason. At 6-foot-4 with excellent hands and elite route running capabilities, it's hard to keep the ball out of Smith's hands. Jim Thorpe Award: Caleb Downs Two years into his collegiate career, accolades are stacking up for Ohio State safety Caleb Downs. The preseason first-team AP All-American was an immediate standout for the Buckeyes after spending his freshman season at Alabama. Downs was named the Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year after finishing the season with 82 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and six pass break-ups. He was critical to the championship run, consistently locking down threats in the passing and running games. He held tight end and eventual first-round draft pick Tyler Warren to four catches for 47 yards in Ohio State's 20-13 win over Penn State and picked off Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers in the CFP semifinal. Chuck Bednarik Award: Dylan Stewart After a breakout freshman campaign, South Carolina's Dylan Stewart is poised to lead the Gamecocks' defense in 2025. Stewart earned a spot on the SEC All-Freshman team after recording 23 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, four quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and a pass breakup. The edge rusher who can also drop into coverage put together one of the best freshman defensive campaigns in South Carolina since Jadeveon Clowney. Though Downs will likely make a strong case, the Bednarik Award has yet to be given to a safety in its 30 years of existence. Stewart is one of just seven sophomores on the watch list for the award. Doak Walker Award: Jeremiyah Love Love is widely considered the top returning running back after playing an integral role in Notre Dame's best season since 1988. The six-foot, 214-pound running back finished the season with 1,125 yards and 17 touchdowns on 163 carries, averaging 70.3 yards per game, 8.5 yards per carry and at least one score in each of the first 13 games. As Notre Dame undergoes a quarterback shift in 2025, Love could see even more opportunities to carry the offense, putting the preseason AP All-American in prime position to take home the Doak Walker Award as the nation's top running back. Outland Trophy: Spencer Fano The Outland Trophy is awarded to the best interior lineman in college football. Texas offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. earned the award in 2024, marking back-to-back Outland Trophy wins for the Longhorns after T'Vondre Sweat won in 2023. We expect the award to stay on the offensive side of the ball in 2025 and Utah's Spencer Fano is a player to watch. He led FBS offensive tackles in 2024 with a 92.7 PFF grade, allowing just two quarterback hits and one sack through 424 pass-block attempts. Fano held his opponents to zero sacks through the last 11 games of the season. The preseason AP All-American has shown versatility, lining up on the right and left sides, and seems a good bet to be a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL draft. Heisman Trophy: Cade Klubnik The most prestigious award in college football is likely to return to the hands of a quarterback in 2025. Arch Manning, Garrett Nussmeier and Cade Klubnik headline early Heisman conversations and possess the best odds heading into the season. Klubnik has the experience Manning lacks, the mobility Nussmeier strives for and enough consistency in the receiving room to hit the ground running in 2025. The Clemson quarterback comes off an impressive 2024-2025 campaign, completing 63.4% of passes for 3,639 yards, 36 touchdowns and six interceptions. A dual-threat, he added 463 yards and seven touchdowns on foot. His 36 touchdowns ranked behind only Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward, who were both selected in the 2025 NFL draft. Clemson landed at No. 4 in the AP Top 25 preseason poll. If Klubnik can measure up to high expectations, the Tigers could have their first Heisman winner since Trevor Lawrence.
