Rivals Five-Star: Interview with four-star QB Trae Taylor
LIVE FROM RIVALS FIVE-STAR MEDIA DAY: All the news, notes and interviews
RIVALS FIVE-STAR EVENT: Roster | Ten prospects to watch closely | Ten matchups we can't wait to see | ACC programs in the spotlight | Big Ten programs in the spotlight | SEC programs in the spotlight | Key QB storylines | Key RB storylines | Key WR storylines | Key TE storylines | Key OL storylines | Key DL storylines | Key LB storylines | Key DB storylines | Rivals Five-Star heading back to Indy
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Newsweek
9 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Astros' Concerning Announcement Spells Trouble For Playoff Hopes
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. As they battle to fight off a charge from the surging Seattle Mariners, the Houston Astros have managed to hold on to what is now just a one-game lead in the American League West. After an announcement by manager Joe Espada on Monday, the Astros' chances of a fifth straight division title -- ninth straight, discounting the abbreviated 2020 season -- suddenly looked much dimmer. Six-time All-Star closer Josh Hader has saved 28 games for the Astros this season, and did not blow a save until July 12, against the Texas Rangers in Hader's 40th appearance. That remains his only blown save so far. ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 15: Josh Hader #71 of the Houston Astros walks across the field prior to the MLB All-Star Game at Truist Park on July 15, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 15: Josh Hader #71 of the Houston Astros walks across the field prior to the MLB All-Star Game at Truist Park on July 15, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images Of Houston's 67 wins prior to Tuesday's home game against the Boston Red Sox, Hader has pitched in 42 of them. "Losing him for any length of time would be a crippling blow," wrote Athletic Astros correspondent Chandler Rome late Monday night. But losing Hader is exactly what the Astros are potentially looking at, after Espada announced that the nine-year veteran was unavailable to pitch in the season opener Monday against the Red Sox due to what the manager described as "shoulder discomfort." The southpaw was set to undergo tests on the shoulder Monday, but the Astros had not announced any results as of Tuesday morning. More MLB: Astros Dealing With Frustrating News on Highly Anticipated Outfield Prospect Since being swept by Boston in a three-game Fenway Park set, the Astros have stepped on the gas, winning five of seven. But Hader has not pitched since last Friday, when he threw two innings against the New York Yankees in what ended as a 10-inning victory for Houston. That outing was Hader's second two-inning stint in eight appearances, and just his fourth of the year. He was not been called upon to throw multiple innings at all between April 8 and July 19. Hader has now pitched 52 2/3 innings, after throwing 71 last season -- his highest total since his 75 2/3 inning 2019 season. He has now pitched 180 innings over his last three seasons, Hader's highest three-year total since logging 204 2/3 in the first three years of his career, 2017-2019, with the Milwaukee Brewers. But Hader is now 31 years old, compared to those initial three seasons which took him from age 23 to 25. More MLB: Yankees Fans Hope Latest Aaron Boone Ejection Precursor to Firing On Monday, with the Astros leading 7-6, two outs in the ninth inning and a runner on second base, Espada brought in lefty Bennett Sousa to face Red Sox Rookie of the Year candidate Roman Anthony — exactly the type of lefty vs. lefty matchup tailor-made for Hader. Sousa fanned Anthony to end the Red Sox' threat and nail down the save. If Hader misses significant time, the Astros will need numerous performances just like that one from Sousa and their other relievers if they hope to keep their grip on the division title, and possibly even a playoff spot as well. More MLB: Astros' Disturbing Announcement Gives Team MLB Lead in Unwanted Category
USA Today
38 minutes ago
- USA Today
Why the Penn State hype is real in 2025
The hype for Penn State football in 2025 is real, and it's spectacular. I have been following Penn State football for just over three decades now, going from a young sports fan watching Ki-Jana Carter and Kerry Collins blast their way to an undefetaed and unrewarded undefetaed season in 1994 to brekaing into the sports media world by covering Penn State football wiht some of my earliest press credentials, and there are a small handful of seasons I remember feeling the way I do about this team going into the new season. And it seems my giddiness is not unwarranted. A week after Penn State was given the no. 3 ranking in the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll, the Nittany Lions came within five points of being the preseason no. 1 in the AP Top 25. We have been here before with Penn State getting high national praise going into the season. The 1997 team began the year as the top-ranked team, and Joe Jurevicius was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated's preview magazine. The 1999 team started off in the top three and rocked Arizona to start the year with a bang (LaVar Arrington graced the cover of that year's Sports Illustrated preview issue). The 2017 team looked poised for big things a year after a surprising run to the Big Ten title. But something about this season feels different to me. If you check out on college football during the offseason, perhaps choosing not to think about the sport since the final seconds of Penn State's College Football Playoff semifinal loss to Notre Dame ticked off, nobody can blame you. There are more important things to focus on from February through the dog days of summer. So you may have missed the fact that Penn State is set to bring back one of the most experienced and veteran-led rosters in the country, not just the Big Ten. It is a major reason why Penn State was primed to receive a high preseason ranking. But maybe you missed when Penn State made efforts to bulk up one of its most questionable positions, wide receiver. It did so with a trio of transfer additions, two of which got a jump on things during spring football practices with Kyron Hudson from USC and Devonte Ross from Troy. On top of that, Penn State landed a transfer commitment from Trebor Pena, last year's fourth-leading wide receiver in the ACC. Together, the three new wide receivers combined for 2,446 receiving yards last season. If you take away receiving yards by players lost to the transfer portal or NFL and the running backs, Penn State had just 574 receiving yards coming back this season, so the extra receiver help was needed in a big way. Of course, you cannot forget those running backs. Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen each could have gone off to the NFL and been a draft pick in 2025. Either one could have opted to explore transfer portal options for a change of scenery and likely been a starter without having to split the role. Instead, both are back for another dynamic season behind one of the most experienced and deepest offensive lines Penn State has had in a long time. Singleton and Allen each have a shot to be Penn State's all-time leading rusher when this season is over, and it is probable the duo will occupy the top two spots on the list when all is said and done. And of course, Penn State brings back Drew Allar at quarterback. Allar places much on his shoulders after the way last season ended, with an untimely interception that would be impossible not to linger on the back of anyone's head for the entire offseason. But Allar is back with plenty of support around him on the field, and he gets another year to work with offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki. Even with having to fill the shoes of All-American tight end Tyler Warren, Penn State has reason to feel good about its offense. That includes at tight end, where Luke Reynolds and Khalil Dinkins are more than ready to keep the offense chugging along and continue the impressive tight end development under this coaching staff. The best part? I haven't even mentioned the defense yet. Penn State has a championship-caliber defense One of the biggest moves in the offseason came when Penn State broke the bank to lure defensive coordinator Jim Knowles from Ohio State to Penn State. If nothing else, Penn State showed it was not afraid to pay top dollar for a hire it feels it needs to help the program take the next step. Knowles, coming from a national championship run with the Buckeyes, was a major move in the coaching carousel this offseason, and Penn State is giving him plenty of sharp knives in the drawer to work with. Penn State does lose Abdul Carter, a high first-round draft pick in the 2025 NFL draft, but the defensive line should be in great hands with Zane Durant and Dani Dennis-Sutton each capable of being first-round picks a year from now. The secondary should also continue to make plays, with Zakee Wheatley and A.J. Harris among the best at their positions in the Big Ten this season. Is this one of the best teams in the country going into the 2025 season, a year after coming within one drive of playing for a national title? It absolutely is. Penn State is in a position where there are far fewer questions to answer than other programs are facing. Naturally, the biggest question will likely come back to James Franklin. Is this the year James Franklin silences his critics once and for all? Entering his 12th season as the head coach of Penn State, Franklin's critics are already equipped with the familiar bullet points on his resume. Franklin's record against top-ranked teams, notable teams like Ohio State, Michigan, and Orgeon, is impossible to ignore, and it is fair to mention in evaluating whether or not you believe this is the year Franklin and Penn State finally take that next step forward. A giant step was taken last season with a deep playoff run. But now comes the hardest challenge yet, and one that Franklin and his program have tended to stumble on: live up to the hype. Is this the year? If not this year, then when? Kickoff is just a few weeks away. Like you, I am ready to follow this ride all the way to the end, for better or worse. All aboard the hype train. Admission is free for all, and passports are not required. Follow Kevin McGuire on Threads, Bluesky, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. Follow Nittany Lions Wire on X, Facebook, and Threads.
Fox Sports
38 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
Alabama Reportedly Names Ty Simpson 2025 Starting Quarterback
College Football Alabama Reportedly Names Ty Simpson 2025 Starting Quarterback Published Aug. 12, 2025 12:18 p.m. ET share facebook x reddit link Ty Simpson has waited his turn, and now it's officially his time to shine. Alabama has informed Simpson that he'll be the team's starting quarterback to begin the 2025 college football season, ESPN reported on Monday. Simpson beat out redshirt sophomore Austin Mack and freshman Keelon Russell for the starting nod. A former five-star recruit, Simpson redshirted his 2022 freshman season and was a backup quarterback for Alabama behind two-year starter Jalen Milroe from 2023-24. Simpson has a combined 50 career collegiate passing attempts (2022-24), but he has posed a threat as a rusher. The Crimson Tide are coming off a 9-4 season (5-3 in SEC play) and entering their second year with head coach Kalen DeBoer, who had previously expressed that Simpson was the favorite to be his starting quarterback. Alabama opens the 2025 season on the road against Florida State on Aug 30. Its first SEC game comes on Sept. 27, as the Crimson Tide head East to play the Georgia Bulldogs. ADVERTISEMENT Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience College Football Alabama Crimson Tide Ty Simpson share
