Today: Final Four paths, Player of the Year power rankings, and intel on Rivals' top QBs. |
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The teams best positioned for a Final Four run in 2026 NCAA Tournament |
The 2026 NCAA Tournament field has been revealed, and now every college basketball fan can take a look at their team's path to a Final Four. While there is a case to be made for plenty of teams as championship contenders, there are undoubtedly a handful with better draws in the bracket. On3 broke down the possible paths for eight teams with the best chance to make a deep run, and a few more sleepers from further down the list (read the full breakdown here). - (1) Duke: Rolled through the ACC Tournament behind Cameron Boozer. The path starts against Siena before a second-round test against Ohio State or TCU, with St. John's or Kansas the most probable Sweet 16 opponent.
- (1) Michigan: After opening against Howard, the Wolverines project favorably against Texas Tech, Alabama, or even a potential Cinderella before a likely Elite Eight meeting with Iowa State or Virginia.
- (2) Houston: Will need to beat multiple top offenses in college basketball, but could land in their hometown during the second weekend. The run starts against Idaho before a matchup with St. Mary's or Texas A&M, with North Carolina or Illinois potentially waiting in the Sweet 16.
- (4) Arkansas: Doesn't meet the regular makeup of a Final Four contender, but they do have Darius Acuff, who has hit another gear in March. Opening against Hawaii, the Razorbacks could then face Wisconsin or High Point before a potential Sweet 16 showdown with Arizona.
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| Final college basketball National Player of the Year power rankings |
Conference tournaments are over, and the NCAA Tournament field has been decided. This is the final power ranking of the college basketball season, and the freshmen were the story of the year. Four first-year players landed in the top 10, joined by four seniors, one sophomore, and one junior. Cam Boozer has been on top of this list for the majority of the season, and the distance between No. 1 and No. 2 is significant. 1. PF Cam Boozer, Duke Cam Boozer's freshman season was one of the ages. He led the top-ranked Blue Devils in points, rebounds, and assists, finishing top-20 in Division I in both categories. Boozer led the country in Player Efficiency Rating (34.7), Win Shares (9.6), and Box Plus/Minus (19.9). The No. 2 finisher in each category was not particularly close. 2. SF AJ Dybantsa, BYU Despite an injury-riddled, up-and-down year for BYU, it was the steady play of AJ Dybantsa that kept the Cougars competitive in many games. He led the country in scoring after going for 20 or more in 27 games, including each of his final 13. 3. PF Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan Yaxel Lendeborg earned Big Ten Player of the Year honors and was named first-team All-Defense. The senior forward was the best player on a team consistently ranked among the top 5 throughout the season, finishing No. 2 overall in Box Plus/Minus (16.8). 4. PG Braden Smith, Purdue While Braden Smith's stats might not be as high as some of the others, his presence is felt each time he steps on the floor. Smith earned first-team All-Big Ten honors for the third consecutive year and was named the Big Ten Tournament MVP. |
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Quarterback dominoes: Favorites, visit intel and decision timelines on top passers |
The quarterback dominoes in the 2027 class are still dropping. Here's the latest intel on several of the top uncommitted quarterbacks in the country ahead of pivotal spring and official visits. 5-star QB Elijah Haven Rivals Industry Ranking No. 1 passer Elijah Haven intends to see Alabama, Kentucky, Florida, and Auburn before locking in his commitment. No team has built as strong a connection with Haven and his family as the Crimson Tide, which has been setting the pace in this recruitment since the fall. Haven's next few visits are expected to be his last as he nears his decision. 4-star QB Colton Nussmeier The offer and subsequent weekend in Lexington around storied Will Stein and Joe Sloan have Kentucky well-positioned in the race for 4-star QB Colton Nussmeier. Nussmeier has a fantastic connection with Sloan, who coached his brother Garrett at LSU. He's also excited about being developed by Stein, who has an excellent track record during his time in Eugene. Georgia and Arkansas are also in line to get Nussmeier to campus this spring with a summertime decision in the works. 4-star QB Luke Babin Since reopening his recruitment, a host of Big 12 teams have been in pursuit of Luke Babin. Oklahoma State made a big splash, and Houston and Baylor have taken giant steps forward in Babin's recruitment since. The 4-star QB was on campus in Houston last week and will return June 4-6 for an official visit. We are hearing a lot of buzz around the Bears as they dial up their efforts with the in-state target, who's set to officially visit June 19-21. |
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| Below, you'll find 3 facts about a random college football player. You'll try to guess who the player is based on the facts. Let's go. I was rated a four-star and the No. 7 WR in the country by Rivals out of high school in South Florida, ultimately choosing FSU over Auburn, Florida, Miami, and others.
- A big-bodied WR at FSU, I caught 54 passes for 1,011 yards and 15 touchdowns in my sophomore season.
- With 13 seconds left in the 2014 BCS National Championship, I caught the game-winning touchdown against Auburn to seal the title, before later being drafted in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the Panthers.
Answer at the bottom. |
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D1Baseball updates college baseball top 25 rankings |
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