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Fox Sports
29-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Jackson Arnold, Dante Moore among names to know ahead of FOX College Football Friday
FOX Sports announced a portion of its 2025 college football schedule on Thursday afternoon, and it is stacked with must-see matchups. In addition to announcing the first three "Big Noon Saturday" games of the season and the entire Week 1 slate, which is highlighted by a heavyweight showdown between Texas and Ohio State, FOX also announced the return of "FOX College Football Friday," which will mostly feature a mixture of Big Ten and Big 12 matchups. "FOX College Football Friday" kicks off on Aug. 29 with Auburn taking on Baylor in Waco, Texas, and concludes with the Mountain West Championship on Dec. 5 on FOX. With the likes of Auburn, Nebraska, USC, Oregon and Arizona State all featured on "FOX College Football Friday," there will be plenty of individual star power taking the field. Let's take a look at the complete Friday night slate and then highlight eight names to watch this fall during "FOX College Football Friday." Auburn at Baylor (Friday, Aug. 29 on FOX) Player to watch: Jackson Arnold, QB, Auburn I'm eagerly awaiting to find out if Auburn coach Hugh Freeze believes Arnold is good enough to start for not just one, but two SEC programs in two years. Arnold showed up to Oklahoma after winning National Gatorade Player of the Year at Guyer High School (Denton, Texas) in 2022. In his first start at Oklahoma, he completed 26 of 45 passes for 361 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions in an Alamo Bowl loss to Arizona. Every other start after that failed to hit that high-water mark, even after helping Oklahoma get past No. 7 Alabama last season. At Auburn, Arnold enters the building as the most talented prospect in what should be a loaded QB room for Freeze. Kansas State at Arizona (Friday, Sept. 12 on FOX) Player to watch: Avery Johnson, QB, Kansas State Johnson will begin this season as the front-runner to win Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year after passing for more than 2,700 yards and rushing for more than 600 with 32 total touchdowns and 10 interceptions as a sophomore. Alongside the explosive Dylan Edwards, Kansas State's backfield is the fastest in the Big 12. The Wildcats should feel good about their chances of winning the Big 12 title and being selected for the College Football Playoff for the first time in school history this season. Iowa at Rutgers (Friday, Sept. 19 on FOX) Player to watch: Mark Gronowski, QB, Iowa For too long, the Hawkeyes have longed for a quarterback who could simply get out of the way of Phil Parker's otherworldly defense. For nearly the first half of the season last year, Cade McNamara was able to do just that. But after an injury, the Hawkeyes were forced to put their offensive hopes and dreams on the back of departed running back Kaleb Johnson. Now, they need a great QB more than ever and Kirk Ferentz found one in Gronowski. His pedigree is that of a winner. He is 49-6 as a starter, a two-time FCS national champion, Walter Payton Player of the Year (FCS Heisman) and a first-team All-American. His ability to make plays in the passing and rushing game makes him a natural fit for Ferentz's ball-control, complimentary style of football. TCU at Arizona State (Friday, Sept. 26 on FOX) Player to watch: Josh Hoover, QB, TCU After throwing for more than 3,900 yards with 27 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, Hoover should be expected to be a 4,000-yard, 30-TD QB in 2025. Indeed, his talent on tape is so prodigious that he reportedly t urned down a seven-figure NIL deal to transfer . Last season, Hoover threw for at least 212 yards in every start and at least 300 yards in six of his starts. Nebraska at Minnesota (Friday, Oct. 17 on FOX) Player to watch: Dylan Raiola, QB, Nebraska Raiola enters his sophomore season having led the Huskers to their first bowl game appearance in eight seasons. The next step in his evolution needs to be contending for the Big Ten championship. In a league that has produced the last two national champions, that's a tough task. But so is playing through the middle of the field where many expect Minnesota to be. If Raiola can mature into a credible downfield passer, accumulate 3,500 passing yards and 30 passing touchdowns with Dana Holgorsen calling plays, there's every reason to believe the Huskers can put themselves in position to contend for a CFP spot. Northwestern at USC (Friday, Nov. 7 on FOX) Player to watch: Jayden Maiva, QB, USC After getting his first start against Nebraska last year, Maiva threw for at least 221 yards in each game and accumulated 15 total touchdowns. In partnership with Lincoln Riley, Maiva could turn into one of the upper-tier QBs in the Big Ten. Minnesota at Oregon (Friday, Nov. 14 on FOX) Player to watch: Dante Moore, QB, Oregon At this point in the season, quarterback Dante Moore and wide receiver Dakorien Moore ought to have generated a partnership worth national recognition. This quarterback-wideout combo features one of the most entertaining passers of the 2023 class with the best wide receiver in the 2025 class. Following Heisman finalists Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel, Dante Moore has the physical tools to lead Oregon to another Big Ten championship. Arizona at Arizona State (Friday, Nov. 28 on FOX) Player to watch: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State Not many wideouts were more dependable and prolific as Tyson was at Arizona State last season. In four of his last six games for the Sun Devils, Tyson recorded 100 receiving yards or more — one game with 99 — and ended the season with 75 catches for 1,101 yards and 10 touchdown catches. With Sam Leavitt back at QB, Tyson could be the best wideout in the Big 12. RJ Young is a national college football writer and analyst for FOX Sports. Follow him at @RJ_Young . 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 recommended Get more from College Football Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Hugh Freeze Sends Strong Message on Oklahoma Transfer Jackson Arnold
In an interview with The Next Round Live, Auburn Tigers head coach Hugh Freeze outlined the blueprint for transfer quarterback Jackson Arnold's success in Year 1 with the Tigers. Signing with the Oklahoma Sooners as a five-star and the No. 8 player in the 2023 class, according to 247Sports' rankings, Arnold had a rather lackluster year in his first year at the helm of the Sooners' offense as he was benched just four games in – ahead of the Sooners' matchup with Auburn – for freshman Michael Hawkins. Jr. Advertisement As one of the first coaches to reach out to Arnold when entering the transfer portal this spring, Freeze has expressed that Arnold is the Tigers' number one guy and says that regaining some of the confidence and swagger that made him a 2022 National Gatorade Player of the Year out of Guyer High School in Texas is just what he needs to get back to that level in 2025. Auburn Tigers quarterback Jackson Arnold (11).Jake Crandall/ Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images 'I think the whole deal is confidence. I think if he can regain some of that swagger and confidence that a Gatorade Player of the Year has, he's got all the tools… this spring I witnessed that,' Freeze said in the interview. After an up-and-down season with the Sooners last year in an offense that was hampered by injuries, especially in the wide receiver room, Arnold is now working with an uber-talented group of pass catchers. The unit includes two of the top receivers in the country, and Freeze believes they helped him build confidence throughout the spring. Advertisement 'I think a lot of that has to do with the receivers around him. He now has great confidence that, 'Man if I throw a 50-50 ball in a one-on-one situation to (Eric) Singleton, Malcom (Simmons) Perry (Thompson), Horatio (Fields) or Cam (Coleman), I think that our guys have a good chance of succeeding,' said Freeze. After four straight losing seasons, Auburn must improve in Year 3 under Freeze's tutelage, and its success may rest in the hands of Arnold under center. Related: Hugh Freeze Takes Clear Stance on Being on Hot Seat Ahead of 2025
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Aaliyah Chavez, No. 1-ranked high school player, commits to Oklahoma women's basketball
Aaliyah Chavez, the No. 1-ranked women's college basketball recruit in the nation, has announced her college decision. Chavez, the National Gatorade Player of the Year in 2025, announced her commitment to Oklahoma live via ESPN's "SportsCenter" on Tuesday afternoon. She chose the Sooners over Texas, Texas Tech, LSU, South Carolina and UCLA. Advertisement Chavez, a 5-foot-9 point guard, is rated the No. 1 player nationally, according to ESPN's rankings. Her Gatorade Player of the Year honor also puts her in elite company, which includes Juju Watkins, Paige Bueckers, Breanna Stewart and Maya Moore, among many others. UConn's Azzi Fudd, South Carolina's Joyce Edwards and UCLA's Kiki Rice, who are all still playing in the women's NCAA Tournament, also won the award. SWEET 16 RANKINGS: Reseeding women's NCAA Tournament field from No. 1 to No. 16 Chavez, who attends Monterey High School in Lubbock, Texas, averaged 34.9 points, 9.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game this season while leading her team to a Class 5A state championship. She was also selected as a McDonald's All-American and scored 50 or more points nine times in her high school career. Advertisement The Sooners are a team on the rise, especially after Chavez's commitment. Oklahoma made the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2013 this season and are set to return star forward Raegan Beers, the No. 1-ranked transfer last offseason. On3's Pete Nakos reported Tuesday that Chavez is expected to also sign an NIL deal with Jordan Brand, which sponsors Oklahoma's football and men's and women's basketball teams. Chavez made some noise with her March commitment, but this time next year she looks to be making some noise in March Madness. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Aaliyah Chavez commitment: Top recruit joins Oklahoma basketball
Miami Herald
27-03-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Top prospect Aaliyah Chavez commits to Oklahoma
Aaliyah Chavez, considered the top women's high school recruit, committed to Oklahoma. The five-star point guard also considered LSU, South Carolina, Texas, Texas Tech and UCLA. The 5-foot-9 National Gatorade Player of the Year scored 4,796 career points with 1,279 rebounds and 771 assists in 150 games at Monterey High School in Lubbock, Texas. Chavez averaged 35.3 points per game this past season as Monterey won a Texas 5A Division II state championship. She was named a McDonald's All-American and will participate in the Nike Hoop Summit next month. In addition to Chavez, Oklahoma's incoming class will include four-star guard Keziah Lofton and four-star forward Brooklyn Stewart. The Sooners (27-7) won their first two games in the current NCAA Tournament in dominating fashion and will face UConn on Saturday in a Sweet 16 game at Spokane, Wash. --Field Level Media Field Level Media 2023 - All Rights Reserved
Reuters
27-03-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Top prospect Aaliyah Chavez commits to Oklahoma
March 27 - Aaliyah Chavez, considered the top women's high school recruit, committed to Oklahoma. The five-star point guard also considered LSU, South Carolina, Texas, Texas Tech and UCLA. The 5-foot-9 National Gatorade Player of the Year scored 4,796 career points with 1,279 rebounds and 771 assists in 150 games at Monterey High School in Lubbock, Texas. Chavez averaged 35.3 points per game this past season as Monterey won a Texas 5A Division II state championship. She was named a McDonald's All-American and will participate in the Nike Hoop Summit next month. In addition to Chavez, Oklahoma's incoming class will include four-star guard Keziah Lofton and four-star forward Brooklyn Stewart. The Sooners (27-7) won their first two games in the current NCAA Tournament in dominating fashion and will face UConn on Saturday in a Sweet 16 game at Spokane, Wash.
