Latest news with #FuturePowerRankings
USA Today
16 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
ESPN gives interesting evaluation of Rams' long-term future
The Los Angeles Rams have rarely been known as a long-term-looking franchise since Sean McVay and Les Snead joined forces in 2017. They've focused on winning now and playing in the postseason over building sustainability for the long haul. In the end, though, they've still maintained status as a contender through the years. But will that continue? ESPN analysts Ben Solak, Louis Riddick, Aaron Schatz and Seth Walder created a "Future Power Rankings" to see which teams are built for more than just the next year or so. The rankings are based on ratings for each team's quarterback situation (20%), roster (30%), front office (25%) and coaching staff (25%). The Rams came in at No. 13 with a score of 82.2. This is how their ratings netted out: The Rams quarterback rating is low because Matthew Stafford is 37 and on the final legs of his NFL career. This was the main point of concern for Riddick, who wrote that the Rams' true lack of a succession plan beyond (maybe) Jimmy Garoppolo makes the situation tough to ascertain. However, Solak noted that "coach Sean McVay and wide receiver Puka Nacua give this offense a very good floor ..." and that "edge rusher Jared Verse, safety Kamren Kinchens, linebacker Omar Speights ... look like impactful players for years to come." In the end, Walder gave an optimistic outlook of the what the Rams will do in 2025 and beyond. The Rams will be a relative long shot to make the playoffs … but do it anyway. After a final run with Stafford in 2025, they will reset in 2026 and enter 2027 with a new, young quarterback -- plus a boatload of cap space. They'll make trades for stars to spend that money and get back to the postseason faster than most imagined. Who that quarterback will be remains to be seen, though. The Rams reportedly love Texas quarterback Arch Manning, who may not come out of college until ... 2027. We'll see what McVay and Snead have in store for the future.
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Future Power Rankings: Best WNBA Teams in 5 Years [FULL EPISODE]
Ben and Sabreena dig into the details behind another big reporting project: Future Power Rankings in the WNBA. How might WNBA teams stack up against each other in five years? Which franchises are poised to be the most successful? Ben and Sabreena share the methodology behind it all – from weighting players and coaches to draft picks and facilities – and give a window into the W's future. Plus, thoughts on the Portland Fire announcement and some truly strange league rules around players wearing hats on the sidelines.
USA Today
16-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Spartans listed low in College Football Future Power Rankings through 2026 from ESPN
Spartans listed low in College Football Future Power Rankings through 2026 from ESPN When it comes to future power rankings from ESPN, Michigan State ranks near the bottom of the Big Ten. Adam Rittenberg of ESPN took a different spin on your typical power rankings that look ahead to just the upcoming season and put together a list for the next two years -- which he has labeled as College Football Future Power Rankings through 2026. The key areas Rittenberg is analyzing as part of these future power rankings are: Returning quarterback Likelihood of a multiyear QB on roster Offensive line/defensive line outlook Roster management Star power (All-Americans, national award contenders, all-conference contenders) Coaching staff So where did Michigan State rank among the 68 power four teams included in the poll? Firmly in the back half at No. 51 nationally -- which came out to No. 14 in the Big Ten. Within the Big Ten, the Spartans were ahead of Purdue, Maryland, Wisconsin and Northwestern, and right behind UCLA (two spots nationally). Here are a few of the notable items Rittenberg called out about the Spartans: Likelihood of a multiyear QB: Quite likely. (Aidan) Chiles carries junior eligibility and has great familiarity with Smith, offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren and the staff. His backups are all young players. Chiles could have a breakout season and move on, but few would be surprised if he's leading the MSU offense in 2026. Quite likely. (Aidan) Chiles carries junior eligibility and has great familiarity with Smith, offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren and the staff. His backups are all young players. Chiles could have a breakout season and move on, but few would be surprised if he's leading the MSU offense in 2026. Roster management: Michigan State's roster has been fairly fluid under Smith, with transfers going in and out, but the team retained wide receiver Nick Marsh, one of its top young playmakers, and several other key holdovers. The team has made some portal gains, especially at spots such as wide receiver, offensive line and defensive back. Smith has been fairly quiet in high school recruiting, although the team has a commitment from ESPN 300 prospect Kayd Coffman for the 2026 class. Michigan State's roster has been fairly fluid under Smith, with transfers going in and out, but the team retained wide receiver Nick Marsh, one of its top young playmakers, and several other key holdovers. The team has made some portal gains, especially at spots such as wide receiver, offensive line and defensive back. Smith has been fairly quiet in high school recruiting, although the team has a commitment from ESPN 300 prospect Kayd Coffman for the 2026 class. Star power: Michigan State lost All-Big Ten player Newman to the draft and interceptions leader Charles Brantley to the portal (Miami). Marsh and veteran tight end Jack Velling have all-conference potential, and Chiles is a talented quarterback seeking more consistency. MSU will be banking on big production from transfers such as Moore and wide receivers Chrishon McCray and Omari Kelly. Personally, I would have Michigan State ranked higher than some of the programs Rittenberg slotted ahead of the Spartans. But I also understand the need to see more from Jonathan Smith at Michigan State from a national writer before putting a ton of faith into the Spartans. So it's a fair ranking, but certainly something I would be very disappointed about should Michigan State be a sub top 50 team nationally by the end of year three under Smith. Click on the post below to see the complete rankings from Rittenberg and his full write-up on the Spartans: Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.
USA Today
12-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Where Florida ranks on ESPN's Future Power Rankings
Where Florida ranks on ESPN's Future Power Rankings ESPN's Future Power Rankings used to look forward three years, assuming that most elite players remained at one school through their junior year. The transfer portal has changed the way college football programs view windows to win, and so the list is now a two-year "snapshot of the landscape." The Florida Gators check in at No. 15 after not being ranked in the previous update. ESPN college football reporter Adam Rittenberg uses six categories to determine his rankings: returning quarterback, likelihood of a multi-year quarterback on the roster, offensive and defensive line outlook, roster management, star power (including All-Americans, national award contenders, and all-conference contenders), and the coaching staff. Rittenberg adds that a team doesn't have to be strong in every category to warrant a high ranking, but most top-25 teams likely check multiple boxes. The future is bright for the Gators. Here's why. Returning QB/Likelihood of Multiyear QB DJ Lagway is the reason for much of the optimism aimed at Florida this offseason, and the former five-star being the unquestioned start coming into the 2025 campaign answers the first two questions Rittenberg asks. Lagway got a taste of SEC action as a starter once Graham Mertz went down, and the team never lost a game that he started and finished. He's the leader of the program for at least the next two seasons if he can stay healthy. "Top 10 national recruit DJ Lagway emerged as Florida's starter last season, and displayed impressive deep-ball accuracy, finishing with 1,915 passing yards and 12 touchdowns," Rittenberg wrote. "He didn't throw this spring because of a shoulder injury but should be ready for preseason camp." Offensive and Defensive Line Outlook Florida's good here, too. The Gators return four starters on the offensive line, including All-America center Jake Slaughter. Austin Barber is entering his third year as Florida's left tackle, Knijeah Harris took a big step forward at left guard last season and Damieon George Jr. decided to return for his senior year instead of going to the draft. The only position up front that's a question mark is right tackle, following Brendan Crenshaw-Dickson's graduation. "The Gators excelled in both pass protection and run blocking, and promising sophomore Bryce Lovett is pegged to take over at right tackle. Florida brings back one of the SEC's top defensive line tandems in senior tackle Caleb Banks and senior end Tyreak Sapp, who led the team in both sacks (7) and tackles for loss (13)." Beyond Banks and Sapp, Florida is getting Jamari Lyons back from a broken ankle that happened during the preseason. George Gumbs Jr. was one of the more productive edge rushers for Florida, too, and several young guys will get the chance to step up on defense. Roster Management/Star Power Lagway is the obvious star on offense, but there are plenty of guys on both sides of the ball looking to make an impact. The return of Eugene Wilson III is highly anticipated, and the running backs room was the talk of the spring game. Florida has a roster full of Billy Napier-recruited talent now, which means its time to produce. "A small number of incoming transfers (seven) underscores how pleased Florida is with its returning group. The Gators retained several players who could have gone to the NFL, especially linemen Slaughter, Banks and Sapp. They also brought back one of the nation's top young offensive backfields..." "... Napier has his best roster entering Year 4, headlined by an established star in Slaughter, experienced defensive linemen in Banks and Sapp, and a group of exciting non-seniors, including Lagway, (Jadan) Baugh and safety Bryce Thornton." Coaching Staff Napier's coaching decision might still come under fire from the fans, but his team produced results in the second half of the season and was one of the most injured programs in the SEC. With a healthier and more mature group, the success Florida saw at the end of the season should only continue. Yes, there were changes to the staff, but Florida still has its primary defensive coordinator in the fold and Napier runs the offense alongside Russ Callaway." "Napier is in a much stronger position after a strong finish to 2024. He brought in Vinnie Sunseri to replace Austin Armstrong at defensive coordinator and work alongside veteran Ron Roberts. Russ Callaway is back to lead the offensive staff and work with Lagway." Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
USA Today
12-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Where every Big Ten team ranks in ESPN's Future Power Rankings ahead of 2025 season
Where every Big Ten team ranks in ESPN's Future Power Rankings ahead of 2025 season As the 2025 college football season approaches, several Top 25 polls and rankings of various types will be published in the coming months. But the overall health of a football program is also important, not just for the 2025 season. Some teams are built for success now and for the next few years. Some are set for just this year, and then who knows? And then some programs are floundering for this year, and their future is in question. ESPN has ranked each of the Power 4 teams in terms of how well they are set up for not only this season, but for 2026 as well. Having a returning quarterback seems to be a huge factor, as it should be. It's difficult to have a continuous revolving door at the QB1 spot. Although the Ducks have had tremendous success through the transfer portal with the quarterback position, Dan Lanning realizes that this plan is probably not sustainable. Dante Moore is set up for success for the next couple of seasons and the Ducks have worked hard on the recruiting trail to get prep quarterbacks, develop them and go that route. Not everyone is in Oregon's spot and has work to do. This is how each Big Ten team is ranked, according to ESPN, as to how well they are set for success for the present and near future. No. 18 — Purdue Boilermakers National Rank: 67 Purdue is under a major rebuild with new coach Dave Odom. They have new faces on both sides of the line and a new quarterback in Ryan Browne. Don't expect a lot from the Boilermakers in the next two or three seasons, at least. No. 17 — Maryland Terrapins National Rank: 60 Maryland lost a lot of last year's squad that went 4-8, so that could be a blessing in disguise. Quarterback Billy Edwards, Jr. bolted for Wisconsin, and the Terrapins don't have a clear favorite to take over, yet. It's going to take a bit to get their house in order, and playing in a great conference doesn't help that process. No. 16 — Northwestern Wildcats National Rank: 58 Northwestern is trending up some although the national ranking isn't great. They secured former SMU signal caller Preston Stone with hopes of revitalizing what was an anemic offense. The Wildcats should be better in 2025 and they hope that trend continues on an upward trajectory. Having their stadium reopen in 2026 will be a huge plus for the program. No. 15 — Wisconsin Badgers National Rank: 54 Adding Edwards from Maryland should help what was a bad offense from a year ago, but he's just there for a season. The Badgers program seems to be a bit stagnant at the moment, which shouldn't bode well for coach Luke Fickell being in Madison a lot longer. No. 14 — Michigan State Spartans National Rank: 51 The Spartans should be better in Year 2 under Jonathan Smith as they hope quarterback Aiden Chiles comes into his own in the next two seasons. Exactly how much he improves will determine the direction of the program going forward. No. 13 — UCLA Bruins National Rank: 49 The addition of quarterback Nico Iamaleava will improve the Bruins' offense a lot, but whether he returns for a second season in Pasadena remains to be seen. UCLA might be good for a bit, or they might just have a one-year surge before dropping down to mediocre status once again. No. 12 — Rutgers Scarlet Knights National Rank: 43 Rutgers is a program that has spurts of being good and then it dips. It's a rollercoaster, and for this year, the Scarlet Knights should be a decent team with quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis. But after he leaves, Rutgers might experience yet another dip in success unless the transfer portal helps out, which is entirely possible. No. 11 — Minnesota Golden Gophers National Rank: 40 When Minnesota hired P.J. Fleck nine years ago, they probably expected more success. But they've been consistently good, just not great. They break in sophomore quarterback Drake Lindsey, who should be the guy for a while. The Gophers expect to be on the rise in the coming years. No. 10 — Nebraska Cornhuskers National Rank: 36 The Cornhuskers seem to be heading in the right direction under coach Martt Rhule and he has his star quarterback in Dylan Raiola, who had a remarkable freshman season. Nebraska could easily see a resurgence of power in the coming seasons. No. 9 — Washington Huskies National Rank: 33 The Huskies should be pretty good over the next few seasons, assuming quarterback Demond Williams lives up to the hype. Washington has done well in recruiting under coach Jedd Fisch, but they aren't good enough to be a huge threat to the conference's elite teams. Yet. No. 8 — USC Trojans National Rank: 26 USC didn't hire Lincoln Riley to be a team just outside the Top 25. He was brought in to win national championships, something the Trojans aren't close to achieving yet. They are recruiting better, but patience is wearing thin in Los Angeles. No. 7 — Iowa Hawkeyes National Rank: 23 Iowa could go either way in the coming seasons, but they'll have to develop the talent they do have. South Dakota State quarterback Mark Gronowski has come in, so the Hawkeye offense should be better. Unfortunately for them, it's possible Iowa could be one of those middle-of-the-road teams for a while. But having a national rank of 23 isn't bad. No. 6 — Indiana Hoosiers National Rank: 20 Indiana came out of nowhere last season and reached the College Football Playoff, and it's impossible to expect that kind of success again so quickly. But the exposure the Hoosiers received is invaluable. It might take them a couple of years to build it back up, but at least the days of Indiana being the doormats of the Big Ten are over. No. 5 — Illinois Fighting Illini National Rank: 17 Illinois could very well be the sleeper team of the Big Ten this season with quarterback Luke Altmyer behind center. They have a very good line on both sides of the ball, and coach Bret Beilma has this program on the rise. They might not be one of the elite teams in the conference, but they should be above everyone else in the Big Ten. No. 4 — Michigan Wolverines National Rank: 13 Michigan might be well on its way back to national prominence after a couple of "down" seasons. No. 1 overall recruit in quarterback Bryce Underwood is expected to be the next great Wolverine and should be there in the foreseeable future. A return to the playoffs is a definite possibility, not only this year, but for the coming seasons as well. No. 3 — Penn State Nittany Lions National Rank: 6 Penn State's window to win the national title is open right now. How long it stays open is the big question. Coach Jamees Franklin hasn't been able to maintain elite status. But they have quarterback Drew Allar for another season. The Nittany Lions need to take advantage right now. If not, who knows when their next chance will come? No. 2 — Oregon Ducks National Rank: 4 Oregon is ranked this high due to the amount of talent throughout the roster. It's not offensive-heavy or defensive-heavy. It's the balance that makes the Ducks so tough. Quarterback Dante Moore was one of the top recruits in the country for a reason, and after playing behind Dillon Gabriel for a season, Moore could very well show why he was so heavily recruited. No. 1 — Ohio State Buckeyes National Rank: 2 Despite losing their quarterback, Will Howard, and offensive coordinator, Chip Kelly, to the NFL, the Buckeyes still have Jeremiah Smith at receiver for two more seasons. As long as he's healthy and have a formidable defense, Ohio State will still be nearly impossible to beat. Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
