Julian Spivey: It was a wild NFL Wild Card weekend, at least for the first four games. Which game do you think was the best?

Eric Fulton: The first four games, you could make a case for all of them, but I will go with the Bears beating the Packers in that 4th quarter comeback. It was just epic by Chicago. The Packers did nothing in the second half, and it ultimately led to their elimination.

JS: Rams/Panthers was certainly the most surprising game of the weekend for me, as I thought the Rams would blow the Panthers out of the water, and it ended up going down to the wire. But I have to agree that the Packers/Bears game was the most exciting of the weekend, with the Bears staging an epic comeback led by quarterback Caleb Williams in his first playoff game, scoring 25 points in the fourth quarter to do it. But one thing I'm still pondering is whether that really was an epic comeback or more so a Packers choke, or can both things be true?

EF: I would say both can be true. We know Micah Parsons did not play for Green Bay, but I thought the Packer defense could make plays in the second half against a quarterback making his first playoff start. But give the Bears credit for holding on and coming back in the second half.

JS: Which player do you think was the M.V.P. of the Wild Card round?

EF: Josh Allen. The way he led his team to victory. He was injured a couple of times, but it is no wonder he is so valuable to the Buffalo Bills team.

JS: Josh Allen is certainly the reason the Bills won the game, and it was a tough-as-nails performance for him. I'm going to go with Caleb Williams leading the Bears back in the second half, mostly the fourth quarter, after the team did nothing in the first half. Williams ended up with a weekend high 361 passing yards in his playoff debut with two touchdown passes. He did throw two interceptions, though, which he'll need to cut down on next weekend.

The last thing I really want to talk about from the Wild Card week is something we briefly brought up in our preview before the weekend. Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert. Can we officially stop with the "elite QB" stuff when it comes to that guy?

EF: He still has some work to do in order to become elite. What didn't help him was not having a healthy offensive line for much of the season. Also, I feel as though he needs more receivers and a good running game. He has the coach in Jim Harbaugh, but now Herbert has to improve his game.

JS: Alright, that leads us to the second round of the NFL Playoffs, the Divisional Round. The first game will be on Saturday, January 17 at 3:30 p.m. (CST) on CBS, featuring the Buffalo Bills, hot off their exciting upset of the Jacksonville Jaguars, heading to Mile High Stadium to take on the No. 1 seed Denver Broncos. Does the Broncos' storybook season end here?

EF: This is a tough game for Denver. Yes, they are at home, but they have lost playoff games as the number one seed. The Bills beat them last year in the Wild Card Round. Has Denver learned a lot from the game a year ago? We shall see. I will say the Broncos will win, but I will not be surprised if the Bills do.

JS: I haven't had the luxury of seeing the Broncos play much this season, so even though they're the number one seed, I don't know a whole lot about the team. I also know the playoffs this season feel wide open, like any team remaining has a real shot at the Super Bowl. I might be placing too much on the back of Josh Allen here, but I'm going to go out on a limb and predict the Bills will upset the Broncos.

What would it take for that to happen?

EF: Josh Allen needs to continue to play well, but it would be nice to see James Cook have a really nice game.

JS: The Bills have relied on the run game for their success this season. The Broncos, however, have had one of the best run defenses all season, allowing around 91 rushing yards per game.

The second playoff game on Saturday is an intra-division rivalry between the San Francisco 49ers and the NFC No. 1 seed, the Seattle Seahawks. The 49ers knocked off the reigning champion Philadelphia Eagles, despite more devastating injuries. They have now lost their great tight end George Kittle to a torn ACL. The two teams split the season matchup. Are all these injuries for San Fran finally going to catch up with them against Seattle?

EF: I was extremely impressed with San Francisco on Sunday. To go to Philadelphia, set the tone early, and then come back to win it without a few key players is outstanding. Plus, what's good for the 49ers is that they just faced the Seahawks two weeks ago. So, they will tweak some things. I think the game will be closer than the week 18 matchup. But I am going with the Seahawks to win this one.

JS: The sad thing is, this season feels like it's going to end for the 49ers with the team and definitely the fan base saying, "What if we were healthy?"

EF: If they were a completely healthy team, they would be the team to beat in the NFC, in my opinion. But the fact that they are in the second round of the playoffs is remarkable.

JS: I'm still scratching my head at what happened with Sam Darnold to turn him around from a draft bust with the New York Jets and then the Carolina Panthers to a guy who has thrown for more than 4,000 yards each of the past two seasons.

EF: Getting out of the New York Jets organization was the best thing to happen to Sam Darnold. For him, he needed to go to a great organization and thrive, and Seattle is a great place to do that.

JS: I'm going to take the Seahawks here, too. I feel like the 49ers' injuries have to catch up to them at some point. I like the connection between Darnold and his receivers, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp, and I just mostly don't see both No. 1 seeds going down together on Saturday, and I've already predicted against one of them.

The first Sunday game has the Houston Texans going to the northeast to play the New England Patriots. That game will be on ESPN/ABC at 2 p.m. (CST). How do you see this one playing out?

EF: This will be a defensive game. Both teams have excellent defenses. It is ironic that these two teams won the non-competitive games of Wild Card weekend. I think it will come down to who plays better at quarterback. Drake Maye is playing the position better than C.J. Stroud. The divisional round is the kryptonite of the Texans. I am going with New England to win this game.

JS: This is the divisional round game I find myself the least interested in. Not really wanting a stellar defensive game at this point in the season, but maybe that's just me. I think the Pats holding the Chargers offense down is slightly more impressive than the Texans dominating the Steelers offense led by cantankerous father time Aaron Rodgers, so I'll agree with your Patriots selection for this week.

The final game of the divisional round sees the Los Angeles Rams, who were a bit lucky to escape the losing-record Carolina Panthers last weekend, traveling to Chicago to face the Bears. It's one of those things where maybe the Rams have shaken off all the dust from almost being embarrassed and will take control, or do you think Caleb Williams' heroic performances in the second half of the Bears/Packers game was all he needed to get rolling?

This game will be on NBC & Peacock on Sunday, January 18 @ 5:30 p.m. (CST).

EF: This game is hard to pick because I really like both teams, and I do believe the winner of this game could win the Super Bowl if everything goes well. Of course, the winner will also have to play a great opponent in the NFC championship game. The weather will play a role as it will be cold. Man, I do like the Rams as a team, but I feel like the Bears are playing like a team of destiny. So, I will go with the home team, but I don't feel confident in the pick only because the Rams are good.

JS: It’s the game I’m most looking forward to watching this weekend for sure. It is hard to pick. Both teams look bad at times in the Wild Card round and also seemed to be able to score at will at times. One of my biggest concerns will always be a young QB in their first postseason, as the Bears have with Caleb Williams. On the other sideline, the Rams have the most veteran QB in the postseason and a Super Bowl winner in Matthew Stafford. I think the veteran presence at QB is leaning me toward predicting a W for L.A.

Julian Spivey: The NFL Playoffs kick off this weekend with the Wild Card round. The Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks get the week off as the number-one seeds in their respective conferences.

The first game of Wild Card weekend sees the Los Angeles Rams (12-5) travel across the country to play the NFC South champion Carolina Panthers (8-9), which won the division despite a losing record. This game will be on Saturday, January 10, at 3:30 pm (CST) on Fox. Despite being the home team, do the Panthers have any chance at all?

Eric Fulton: It’s good to see new teams like the Panthers make the playoffs. Quarterback Bryce Young will make his playoff debut, and I am interested to see what he will do. But he will have to beat a Rams team that believed they should have been the one seed. I just think Los Angeles is the better team in this matchup with Matthew Stafford at quarterback. Will receiver Davante Adams return from his injury? That will be the biggest story leading up to this game. I think Carolina will keep it close for a bit, but the Rams will pull away late.

JS: I’m still flabbergasted at how the Tampa Bay Buccaneers managed to blow a 6-2 start to the season. The Rams should take this one rather easily, I would think. The Panthers should not be a playoff team.
The second game on Saturday sees one of the greatest rivalries in the NFL - if not the greatest - with the Green Bay Packers (9-7) heading south to take on the NFC North champion Chicago Bears (11-6). This has game-of-the-week potential. It airs on Amazon Prime Video, which I know is unfortunate for some of my older relatives who are Bears fans, at 7 p.m. (CST). How do you see it playing out?

EF: It’s always exciting when two rivals meet, especially in the playoffs when both teams' seasons are on the line. The Packers and Bears split the two games, with each team winning at home. The last time they met, Chicago came back from a 16-point deficit to win in overtime. Bears coach Ben Johnson is one of the top candidates for NFL Coach of the Year, and I am intrigued by what he has in store for the Packer defense. Bears quarterback Caleb Williams is playing his first playoff game. Will he lead the Bears to their first playoff win since 2011? Green Bay does like being the underdog. They were the seven-seed two years ago. They blew out the Dallas Cowboys. And almost beat the San Francisco 49ers to make the NFC championship game. Not having the injured Micah Parsons on defense for the Packers is huge, but I do expect Green Bay to play hard in this emotional rivalry game. Just based on experience, I am taking the Packers to win.

JS: I have a bad feeling about this one for the Bears. I caught the end of that comeback win against the Packers and felt like it took both Packers quarterback Jordan Love being concussed and a miracle onside kick to win it. I also worry about Williams’ first playoff game. I’m going to agree with you on the Packers winning this game.

The first Sunday game sees the Buffalo Bills (12-5) heading down south to Jacksonville to take on the AFC South champion Jaguars (13-4). This game will air on CBS at Noon (CST).  Does this feel like the Bills' last chance of this current team to do something in the postseason?

EF: Yes, it does. If the Bills do not win this game on Sunday, I would fully expect major changes to happen within the organization. Buffalo does not have a wide receiver you can trust, and their defense has not been great all year. Jacksonville is clearly the better team, and I believe they will win this game.

JS: I didn’t see the Jags' 13-4 season coming. Honestly, I didn’t see a Jags game all season. That may play a big role in why I think the Bills are going to pull this game out. I can’t say it’s more than just a hunch. But quarterback Josh Allen must show up big in this game for Buffalo. He has to show the skill that has him as the reigning MVP.

The second Sunday game sees the San Francisco 49ers (12-5) traveling across the country to take on the NFC East Champion and reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles (11-6). This game will be on Fox at 3:30 pm (CST). This is the game of the Wild Card weekend to me … and I kinda hate it. I think both teams are good enough to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, and one of them will be eliminated immediately. Which team will that be, Eric?

EF: This is the hardest game out of all of them to pick because both teams are capable of making a run toward the Super Bowl. The 49ers are dealing with a ton of injuries in key positions. No Fred Warner or Nick Bosa on defense. Receiver Ricky Pearsall is a game-time decision. And some of their biggest stars who’ll probably play aren’t completely healthy, like offensive tackle Trent Williams, who they missed dearly in week 18, and tight end George Kittle missed the Chicago game in Week 17. But the issue with the Eagles all season has been their inconsistent offensive play. Plus, it was a surprise move for their starters not to play in Week 18 because had they won with the Bears' loss, they would have had the two seed in the NFC. This will be a low-scoring defensive game. I am going with the Eagles because they have a slightly healthier team on both sides of the ball. But if Philly loses this game, Nick Sirianni is in big trouble.

JS: It's wild to think Sirianni could be in danger of losing his job less than a year after a dominant Super Bowl victory. I'm leaning toward Philly in this matchup, too, probably mostly because of running back Saquon Barkley and the 49ers being without key defenders in Bosa and Warner.

The third and final Sunday game sees the Los Angeles Chargers (11-6) go across the country to face the AFC East champion New England Patriots (14-3), one of the season's pleasant surprises. This game is on NBC and Peacock at 7 p.m. (CST). Chargers QB Justin Herbert has a bad track record when it comes to the postseason, plus a warm-weather team going to play in a colder climate often doesn't turn out well. Is this one going to be easy for the Pats?

EF: No, I don't think it will be easy for the Patriots. You do have quarterback Drake Maye making his first playoff start. I think the Chargers are pretty good at playing the underdog role. One flaw L.A. has is that they are banged up on the offensive line, with their two stars, Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt, unavailable. Does Herbert need a playoff win at some point to solidify himself as one of the top QBs in the NFL? Yes, but I believe in the Patriots and what they are doing in the post-Bill Belichick/Tom Brady era. I am going with New England to win.

JS: This may be the moment Herbert steps up and leads the Chargers to a playoff win, but I've got to roll with the team that has been better all season, and that's the Patriots. Maye may end up having first-playoff-game jitters that hurt the Pats, but I'm still taking them.

There is a Monday Night Football game in the Wild Card round of the NFL Playoffs, and in my opinion, that's the least interesting game of the week. It sees the Houston Texans (12-5) travel to Pittsburgh to take on the NFC North champion Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7). This game will air on ESPN and ABC at 7:15 p.m. Am I wrong in viewing this as the worst game of the Wild Card round?

EF: I don't think it will be the worst wild-card game. If you like high-scoring football, this game won't be it, but I think it will be a good game. The game features two pretty good defenses, though Houston's defense has been among the top all season. They are going to pressure Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers all night long, and I will say the Texans will win the game late based on their great defense.

JS: Pittsburgh will get its offensive weapon back in receiver DK Metcalf, who was suspended for the final two games of the regular season for an in-game altercation with a fan, but Pittsburgh just doesn't seem like a postseason team to me. They took advantage of a weak division and backed their way in. I don't really have faith that Houston will go far in the playoffs, but I'll give them this win.

EF: Houston does have a defense to get to a Super Bowl, but their offense is still a huge question mark.

Indiana. Oregon. Ole Miss. Miami. These are the final four teams left in the 2025 College Football Playoff. One of these programs will win a game-changing national championship. Only one team (Indiana) won its conference championship game (Big Ten), but even though the other three teams did not win their conference championships, they are all capable of winning the national championship. We have two exciting semifinal games coming up, but let’s quickly recap the quarterfinals.
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In the quarterfinal round, I was 2-2. I did not pick Ole Miss or Miami to win. But both the Hurricanes and Rebels really showed everyone how good they can be. I do wish that the college football playoff could be reseeded after every round. Because it will be heartbreaking to see one of these teams, either Miami or Ole Miss fall one game short of the national title game. I think both earned major credit for reaching this point in the season, but it will be a major heartbreak for one of them by the end of Thursday night. 
 
Vrbo Fiesta Bowl (Glendale, Ariz.) – No. 10 Miami Hurricanes vs. No. 6 Ole Miss Rebels (Thursday, January 8th at 6:30 (CST) on ESPN)
 
Both Miami and Ole Miss have looked the most impressive of the teams that have played two games. Also, both teams have done things differently. For the Hurricanes, it has been the defense that has carried them to victories over Texas A&M and Ohio State, two teams with really good offenses. Miami is led defensively by Reuben Bane, Jr., who is expected to be drafted in the first round in April’s NFL Draft. For Ole Miss, they had a historic comeback in the Sugar Bowl against Georgia. Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, Jr. continues to be the story on offense for the Rebels as they look to continue to fire on all cylinders offensively. For Ole Miss to win this game, they will need to have long drives to keep Miami’s defense on the field. Miami quarterback Carson Beck has some familiarity with the Rebels, having faced them as Georgia’s starting quarterback back in 2024. Ole Miss won the game, but Beck played well. I think Miami has the better defense. If Ole Miss gets to 30 points, they will win, but I don’t think it will happen. I have Miami going to the national championship game.
 
Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl (Atlanta) – No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 1. Indiana (Friday, January 9th at 6:30 (CST) on ESPN)

The Ducks and Hoosiers looked very good in their quarterfinal games last week. Indiana dominated a good Alabama team in the Rose Bowl, while Oregon shut out Texas Tech in the Orange Bowl. Indiana defeated Oregon in Eugene 30-20 in their last matchup on October 11th. That was the Ducks' only loss of the season up to this point. I am sure the Ducks and Duck fans have been chomping at the bit for this one. Both Fernando Mendoza and Dante Moore are likely going to be the first two quarterbacks drafted in April’s NFL Draft. This will be an opportunity for both to impress NFL teams with their play. (Currently, the Las Vegas Raiders and New York Jets hold the first two picks in this year’s draft, and both teams really need a quarterback.) This will be a hard-nosed, Big Ten fight. By the way, the winner will guarantee that the Big Ten will be represented in the national championship game for the third year in a row. This game could be the best of all the games during the CFB Playoff, including the upcoming national championship game. I feel whoever wins this game should be the favorite to win it all. It is a tough choice, but I am going with Indiana. But I will not be surprised if Oregon wins this game. 

​As we say goodbye to the Christmas season and enter the New Year, the college football playoff enters the second round with eight teams remaining with a chance to win the national championship.

First-round recap: I went 2-2 on my predictions. I am not surprised that Ole Miss and Oregon both dominated at home. The biggest surprise of the first round was Alabama coming back from a 17-point deficit to outlast Oklahoma in Norman. Meanwhile, Miami defeated Texas A&M in a very low-scoring affair in College Station. Now we will see the top four seeds in their first playoff games. Which teams will have some rust, and which teams will continue their hot starts?

Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic - Arlington, Texas
10. Miami Hurricanes vs. 2. Ohio State Buckeyes
December 31st - 7:30 PM (CST) on ESPN

The quarterfinals kick off with Miami making a return trip to the state of Texas after its victory over Texas A&M in the first round of the playoffs. This time, the Hurricanes will travel to Arlington to take on the defending national champion Buckeyes. Ohio State will play its first game since its loss to Indiana in the Big Ten Championship Game. For Miami to win this game, they will need quarterback Carson Beck to play much better than he did in round one. This game could be decided by which defense allows the fewest plays. I like Ohio State's offensive personnel more than Miami's, led by quarterback Julian Sayin and receiver Jeremiah Smith. The Buckeyes are the better team going in, but I won't be surprised if Miami wins because of its defense. Ultimately, I think the Buckeyes will win because they are the better team with more depth on both sides of the ball.

Capital One Orange Bowl - Miami Gardens, Fla.
5. Oregon Ducks vs. 4. Texas Tech Red Raiders
January 1st - 11 AM (CST) on ESPN

The first game of the New Year's Day trio is the Orange Bowl between the Ducks and the Red Raiders. Of all the teams remaining in the quarterfinals, you can say that Texas Tech is the biggest surprise to reach this part of the season. Texas Tech was clearly the best team in the not-so-good Big 12 Conference, but they will get a huge test from an Oregon team that looked good against James Madison in the first round of the playoffs. The key for Texas Tech is to play incredible defense against Oregon's Dante Moore. The Red Raiders are led defensively by linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, who was the best defensive player in college football in 2025. While I do think Texas Tech is a good team, I do not believe they have enough offense to challenge Oregon. The Ducks are going to win pretty easily, by at least 10 points.

Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential - Pasadena, Calif.
9. Alabama Crimson Tide vs. 1 Indiana Hoosiers
January 1st - 3:00 PM (CST) on ESPN

2025 Heisman Trophy Winner Fernando Mendoza is three wins away from accomplishing a dream season, winning the Heisman, and leading his team to a national championship. But first, he and the rest of the Hoosiers will have to take on an Alabama team that overcame a 17-point deficit to defeat Oklahoma in the first round. For the Crimson Tide to win, quarterback Ty Simpson must outplay Mendoza in the quarterback battle. Simpson must also connect well with his receivers, such as Ryan Williams. While Alabama brings in a ton of momentum into the Rose Bowl, Indiana is not afraid of any challenge. They have proven all year long why they are the number one team in the country, and I think they will continue to do so on New Year's Day.

Allstate Sugar Bowl - New Orleans
6. Ole Miss Rebels vs. 3. Georgia Bulldogs
January 1st - 7:00 (CST) on ESPN

The final quarterfinal matchup in the College Football Playoff features two SEC teams that are familiar with one another. Each team has won the last two matchups at home. Georgia won the previous matchup 43-35 on October 18th. On that day, Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss threw for 263 yards, and Georgia quarterback Gunnar Stockton threw for 289 yards. I expect both quarterbacks to play really well. The biggest question for both teams is which defense will step up in key situations. If we see a high-scoring affair like last time, I think it will benefit Ole Miss, even though Lane Kiffin is no longer the head coach. However, I think Georgia has the better defense and scheme in this matchup that will help them advance to the semifinals.

The 2025 college football season has reached its playoff portion of the schedule. We have seen one surprising team reach the top of the college football world in the regular season in Indiana. Also, the usual suspects are still in the hunt to bring home another championship to their schools (Georgia, Ohio State). Let's take a look at the four first-round games that will be played this weekend.
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9. Alabama @ 8. Oklahoma (December 19th at 6:30 PM CT on ABC/ESPN)
Two historic college football programs will clash in the first game of the 2025 playoffs. Since joining the SEC, the Sooners have won their two matchups over the Crimson Tide. For Alabama to win, it will need quarterback Ty Simpson to play much better than he did against Georgia in the SEC Championship Game. For the Sooners to win, they will need quarterback John Mateer to play better, as well. This game will be a low-scoring affair as both teams have great defenses. This could come down to whoever has the football last. I will pick Oklahoma to win a close one.

10. Miami @ 7. Texas A&M (December 20th at 11:00 AM CT on ABC/ESPN)
Neither the Hurricanes nor the Aggies played in their respective conference championship games, but they will come into their matchup winning double-digit games in the regular season. This game will also come down to which quarterback will have the better game: Carson Beck for Miami or Marcel Reed for Texas A&M. While both teams had a tough stretch to end the season, both are looking to rebound and get a huge first-round win. I will take the Aggies to win this game.

11. Tulane @ 6. Ole Miss (December 20th at 2:30 PM CT on TNT)
Tulane and Ole Miss will each play their first-ever college football playoff game. They will also play with new head coaches. Jon Sumrall left Tulane to coach Florida, and Lane Kiffin left Ole Miss to be the head coach at LSU. Which team will handle having a coaching change better? Although Tulane is a very good team, Ole Miss is a very tough team at home and would love to get their revenge on Georgia in the next round. To me, Ole Miss is the better team, even with Coach Kiffin gone, and I expect them to win the game in Oxford.

12. James Madison @ 5. Oregon) (December 20th at 6:00 PM CT on TNT)
The final first-round matchup of the College Football Playoff will feature Oregon, making its second straight playoff appearance, against James Madison, which won the Sun Belt Conference. Just a few short years ago, James Madison was one of the best teams in the FCS (Division 1-AA). Now, they have solidified their place as one of the best teams in mid-major FBS. However, this will be their biggest challenge. They will travel across the country to take on an excellent Oregon team, one of three Big Ten Teams in the playoff. Autzen Stadium in Eugene will be extremely loud, and I don't know if the Dukes can handle the noise or the speed that the Ducks have on both sides of the football. I predict Oregon will advance to the next round. 
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Team of the Year: Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder, over the 2024-25 season, when they won the NBA Championship, and the current 2025-26 season, in which they are 24-2 (UPDATE this when publishing), have been the most dominant team in sports in 2025. The Thunder, led by coach Mark Daigneault, went 68-14 during the 2024-25 NBA regular season en route to winning the NBA title, the first since the franchise moved to Oklahoma City in 2008, over the Indiana Pacers. Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won his first career M.V.P. award, averaging a league-high 32.7 points per game. The Thunder play a true team style of basketball, with Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren and others coming up big throughout the season and postseason. The Thunder are currently on pace to set the season record for most wins in a season for the 2025-26 season.

Athlete of the Year: Shohei Ohtani
I understand it might be getting a little boring seeing Shohei Ohtani as The Word on Pop Culture’s Athlete of the Year, as this is the third time in the last five years he’s been given this honor. The man is simply like no other player in sports as the best offensive player in the game, an All Star pitcher on the mound (which he was able to continue doing this season after surgery kept him from doing so in 2024) and he’s leading his team, the Los Angeles Dodgers, to championships – helping them become the back-to-back World Series champions in a quarter-century. Ohtani won his third consecutive M.V.P. award, and fourth of his career, this season, hitting .282 with a career high of 55 home runs, 102 RBI, and a 7.7 WAR (wins above replacement). Ohtani, being a sports unicorn, was on full notice during game 4 of the National League Championship Series this season against the Milwaukee Brewers, when he pitched six scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts, no walks and only two hits allowed, while also hitting three homers at the plate – something that had never been done in the history of baseball.

Coach of the Year: Curt Cignetti
I don’t typically like to honor a coach who hasn’t yet won a championship as coach of the year, but Indiana Hoosiers college football coach Curt Cignetti is the most deserving winner this year. He led his team to a perfect 13-0 season, a Big Ten championship over the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Hoosiers finished the season ranked No. 1. Cignetti, who was just awarded the Walter Camp Coach of the Year award for the second consecutive year (the first to ever do that), has taken the historically awful Indiana football team to the highest heights it has ever accomplished as a program. And, unlike many coaches in college sports, Cignetti hasn’t parlayed that success into a new contract at a bigger, more traditional college football powerhouse, but has extended for eight more years at Indiana.  

Game of the Year: World Series Game 7
There are always a handful of sporting events that could take this honor come year’s end, but how often do you have a do-or-die, game seven of the Major League Baseball World Series decided by extra innings? Game seven of the 2025 World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays was only the sixth in MLB history to go to extras. It looked like the Blue Jays were going to win the third World Series title in franchise history, as they took a 4-3 lead into the ninth inning. But then one of the unlikeliest heroes for the Dodgers offense stepped up to the plate in the former of infielder Miguel Rojas, who hit a game-tying home run off Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman. In the bottom of the ninth inning, the Dodgers brough starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamaoto into the game, despite him having thrown 96 pitches the previous night – something unheard of in today’s game. Blue Jays third baseman Ernie Clement, who had broken the record for most hits in a postseason earlier in the game, hit a deep fly ball to the outfield with runners on base that looked like a surefire game-winner, before a leaping Andy Pages, just recently inserted into the game as a defensive replacement, made an amazing catch while colliding with teammate Enrique Hernandez. The game continued. In the top of the 11th inning, Dodgers catcher Will Smith hit a go-ahead home run off Blue Jays pitcher Shane Bieber, and Yamamoto in his third inning of relief kept the Jays from scoring, allowing the Dodgers to become the first back-to-back MLB champions in a quarter-century.

Breakthrough Athlete of the Year: Cal Raleigh
Cal Raleigh was already one of the better catchers in Major League Baseball with the Seattle Mariners. He had averaged 30 home runs a season over his first three big league years and had driven in 100 runs for the Mariners in 2024. But nobody could have seen his record-breaking 2025 season coming. Raleigh went from being one of the best slugging catchers in baseball to its best slugger period, becoming just the seventh player to reach 60 home runs in a season (obliterating the previous record for most hit by a catcher), and he led the American League with 125 RBI. If it hadn’t been for another ridiculously impressive season by New York Yankees star Aaron Judge, Raleigh would’ve been M.V.P.

Record Breaker of the Year: Alex Ovechkin
There are some records in sports that feel like they will never be broken. One of those records was Wayne Gretzky’s record for most goals in an NHL career. When Gretzky retired in 1999, he finished with 894 career goals, which was nearly 100 more than the next closest guy on the all-time list. It felt insurmountable. And, then Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals kept playing and kept scoring goals at a remarkable pace, until it became clear one of the records many sports fans thought was untouchable was going to go down – and it did toward the end of the 2024-25 NHL season when Ovechkin scored goal No. 895 in a game against the New York Islanders. Ovechkin didn’t hang up his skates either. He’s still lacing them up nightly for the Capitals, and finds himself with 911 goals, as of this writing.

Legend of the Year: Clayton Kershaw
Few legends get to go out on top, but that’s precisely how Clayton Kershaw ended his Hall of Fame career with the Major League Baseball champion Los Angeles Dodgers in 2025 and a World Series ring. The 2014 National League M.V.P., three-time National League Cy Young Award winner and five-time N.L. Earned Run Average champion, had a pretty fantastic final season, going 11-2 with a 3.36 ERA and making his 11th career All-Star team. Kershaw only saw limited action in the World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays but proved to come up huge in a tight spot in extra innings of game three, which allowed the Dodgers to win the game in 18 innings. Kershaw retired with a 2.53 career ERA (the 46th best ever – but most of the players higher on the list pitched in the dead ball era), 223-96 record (the fourth best winning percentage in MLB history), and 3052 strikeouts (20th most in history).  

 
The National League champion Los Angeles Dodgers look to become the first team to repeat as World Series champions in a quarter-century. However, they must go through the American League champion Toronto Blue Jays, making their first World Series appearance since they were back-to-back champs in 1993, to do so.

​Here are the position breakdowns for the 2025 World Series to see which team has the edge in the Fall Classic:

Catcher:
Catcher is probably a bit closer between the Blue Jays and Dodgers than many think. Will Smith has been one of the better catchers in baseball during his tenure with the Dodgers and had another terrific season, hitting .296 with 17 home runs and 61 RBI, but a hairline fracture in his right hand cost him the last month of the season. He missed the N.L. Wild Card series against the Cincinnati Reds, played poorly in his postseason debut against the Philadelphia Phillies in the N.L. Division Series, but began looking like himself against the N.L. Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers, going 6-for-15.

Alejandro Kirk may not be as familiar to some baseball fans as Will Smith, but the Blue Jays backstop has been an All-Star in two of his first four full-time seasons, including this year. Kirk had career highs this season with 15 homers and 76 RBI, and his .282 batting average was just slightly behind his career best. Kirk hasn’t been one of Toronto’s best hitters in the postseason, only hitting .222, but he does have five extra-base hits. Still, when it comes to which backstop is more threatening, you’d have to go with Smith.

Did you know that every World Series champion of the 2020s has featured a Will Smith on its roster? Only twice has it been the Dodgers catcher (2020 & 2024), but relief pitcher Will Smith pitched for the 2021 Atlanta Braves, 2022 Houston Astros and 2023 Texas Rangers. How long can this streak go?

Edge: Dodgers

First Baseman:
The Blue Jays and Dodgers arguably have the two best first basemen in Major League Baseball in Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Freddie Freeman. I could easily understand someone wanting to take the cop out and say this position is a push for the World Series. However, the way Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has been dominated on offense this postseason, I think you have to give him and the Blue Jays the edge at first base. Guerrero, the A.L. Championship Series M.V.P., has been the hottest hitter during the postseason with a .442 average, six home runs, 12 RBI, and 19 hits. Freeman, however, is the reigning World Series M.V.P., and it wouldn’t be surprising if he had another fantastic series, but thus far in the 2025 postseason, he hasn’t quite been himself with a .231 average, one homer, and just one RBI. I will say, though, that .231 average is actually higher than N.L.C.S. M.V.P. Shohei Ohtani’s .220, but Ohtani does have five homers, nine RBI and 26 total bases.

Edge: Blue Jays

Second Baseman:
At this time last season, Dodgers second baseman Tommy Edman was coming off winning the N.L.C.S. M.V.P. and on quite a heater at the plate. It’s not been quite the same this postseason, but he’s still been one of the team’s better hitters at getting on base with a .286 average. He has two homers, six RBI, 17 total bases and 10 hits this postseason.

I don’t quite know what’s going on with the Blue Jays at second base for the World Series, because Blue Jays All-Star shortstop Bo Bichette has said he’s returning to action for the series after missing the entirety of the postseason thus far with a knee sprain suffered in early September. In Bichette’s absence, the team’s usual second baseman, Andres Gimenez, has been playing at short, with Ernie Clement and Isiah Kiner-Falefa splitting stars at second. Clement had a huge A.L.D.S. against the New York Yankees, going 9-for-14 with a homer. Then, he played third base primarily in the A.L.C.S., with Kiner-Falefa mostly at second, and had a good series, going 5-for-15 with two doubles. Gimenez, who might return to second when Bichette plays, has hit .263 this postseason with two homers and eight RBI, which is tied for third on the team this postseason. I suspect Clement will probably remain mostly at third for the World Series and second will probably be a combo of Gimenez and Kiner-Falefa.

Edge: Dodgers

Third Base:
As previously mentioned, Ernie Clement mostly played third in the A.L.C.S., despite having manned second base in the A.L.D.S. Addison Barger had the hot corner duties in the A.L.D.S. for the Jays. Both can play multiple positions and might during the World Series. Both Clement and Barger have had good postseasons at the plate. Clement is hitting .429, and Barger is hitting .286. They have combined for 44 total bases, three homers, 11 RBI and 28 hits. The Dodgers, however, have Max Muncy at third base, who has a lot of postseason and World Series experience. Muncy has been one of L.A.’s weakest hitters this postseason with a .214 average and a solo home run being his only RBI, but he also gets on base a lot via walks. It’s hard to choose here … do you go with the hot hand or the veteran experience? In this case, I think I’m going to take the vet experience.

Edge: Dodgers

Shortstop:
It’s amazing how often Mookie Betts has changed positions and wound up potentially the best player in the game at each position. He’s made shortstop, maybe the most challenging position in the game, look easy. He’s also been potentially the Dodgers' best hitter this postseason, with a .292 average and leading the team with 12 hits. He’s driven in six runs. It looks like the Jays might end up with a platoon of Bichette, who hasn’t played since early September and could easily be cold as a result, and Gimenez. If Bichette were healthy, this could be a lot closer, but as of now, the Dodgers have a pretty big edge at shortstop.

Edge: Dodgers

Outfield:
The Blue Jays have been playing Nathan Lukes in left field, Daulton Varsho in center field and Addison Barger, mostly, in right field. The Dodgers have been playing Kike Hernandez in left field, Andy Pages in center and Teoscar Hernandez in right field. Teoscar Hernandez, a former Blue Jays star, has been the Dodgers biggest power threat throughout the postseason with four homers and a team-leading 11 RBI. Meanwhile, Kike Hernandez has led the team in average, hitting .306 with his 11 hits being tied with Teoscar for the second most on the team. Pages, on the other hand, has been the Dodgers worst offensive player this postseason hitting .086.

Varsho has had a strong postseason at the plate for Toronto, hitting .273 with two homers and eight RBI. Lukes has also had a strong postseason, hitting .333 with seven RBI. Barger’s numbers were discussed in the third base section. Depending on where Bo Bichette plays in the World Series coming back from injury, George Springer could see time in the outfield, as well, be he’s hobbled with a knee injury suffered in the A.L.C.S. himself.

Edge: Dodgers

Designated Hitter:
George Springer has been getting most of the designated hitter at-bats for Toronto in the postseason, but as previously mentioned some of those ABs could go to Bo Bichette in the World Series, pushing Springer into the outfield. Springer is one of the greatest hitters in postseason history, mostly via his time with the Houston Astros, and has had another good showing with four home runs and nine RBI, but the Dodgers have the greatest player currently in the entire game of baseball as their DH in Shohei Ohtani, so this comparison isn’t even close. Ohtani hasn’t been his best self throughout much of the playoffs, but he did have a three-homer game in the N.L.C.S. clincher against the Milwaukee Brewers. Look for him to have a strong World Series.

Edge: Dodgers

Rotation:
The Dodgers' rotation has been nearly unhittable this postseason and is the primary reason the team has returned to the World Series. Blake Snell has taken over the ace position in the rotation and is 3-0 this postseason, only allowing two earned runs on six total hits over 21 innings pitched. Snell’s 28 strikeouts lead the team. Yoshinobu Yamamoto has been the No. 2 guy for the Dodgers. He was knocked around a bit by the Philadelphia Phillies in the N.L.D.S. but had the most dominant pitching performance of the entire postseason against the Milwaukee Brewers, with a complete-game shutout in the N.L.C.S. Yamamoto has allowed four earned runs over 19.2 innings, with 18 strikeouts. Tyler Glasnow leads the Dodgers' rotation with a 0.68 ERA this postseason. He’s also seen some time out of the bullpen and has only allowed one earned run in 13.1 innings. Shohei Ohtani is 2-0 this postseason with an incredible 19 strikeouts in just 12 innings pitched.

The Blue Jays are going with a rookie in Game One of the World Series in Trey Yesavage, who only has six combined starts at the big league level between the 2025 regular season and postseason. He’s been a stud in that short amount of time, though, and is 2-1 in the postseason with a 4.20 ERA, allowing seven earned runs over 15 innings pitched. His 22 strikeouts lead the Jays this postseason. It isn’t an enviable task opening up your World Series debut against the Dodgers 1-2-3 of Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman.

The Jays' best pitcher this postseason has been veteran Kyle Gausman, whose 2.00 ERA is the team's best this postseason. Gausman is 2-1, allowing four earned runs over 18 innings pitched this postseason. Shane Bieber is the Jays' No. 3 guy. He’s looked fairly well coming back to the game from Tommy John Surgery late in the season. He’s started three games, only one of which qualified as a quality start. He’s given up six earned runs over 12.1 innings pitched. Max Scherzer hadn’t started a game in nearly a month before taking the mound against the Seattle Mariners in the A.L.C.S., and the 41-year-old future Hall of Famer looked like he had turned the clock back a bit with a gutsy 5.2 innings, allowing two earned runs and striking out five. The Blue Jays also have Chris Bassitt, but he’s been pitching out of the bullpen thus far this postseason.

Edge: Dodgers

Bullpen:
The Blue Jays bullpen has been strong this postseason relying a lot on closer Jeff Hoffman (2 saves, 12 strikeouts, 7.1 innings), Louis Varland, who has pitched in 10 of the team’s 11 postseason games (13 strikeouts over 11 innings), Siranthony Dominguez (5 strikeouts in 6.2 innings) and Mason Fluharty (seven strikeouts in 4.1 innings). The bullpen had been the Dodgers' strong suit throughout the postseason and World Series last year, but with the stellar starting pitching this postseason, the team hasn’t had to rely on it much. Roki Sasaki, a starting pitcher, has been the team’s biggest threat out of the pen in the postseason, with Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts converting him into the team’s closer. He's been terrific, giving up just one run over eight innings and garnering three saves. Alex Vesia and Blake Treinen have been the Dodgers' other biggest go-to arms out of the bullpen, appearing in seven games each. Vesia has given up two earned runs over 4.2 innings pitcher. Treinen, who was the team’s closer during the regular season, hasn’t looked good this postseason with a 7.36 ERA in just 3.2 innings.

Edge: Blue Jays

Prediction: Dodgers in 6 games
I know this won’t be a popular prediction because damn near everybody who isn’t a Dodgers fan will be rooting for the Blue Jays to win the World Series, even if they are the lone MLB team outside of the United States. But the way the Dodgers' pitching staff has looked this postseason, coupled with so many All-Star caliber players in their lineup, it’s going to be hard for the Jays to even take two games this series.

by Julian Spivey
Charlie Kirk, an American right-wing activist and media personality, was shot and killed at a speaking engagement at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on Wednesday, September 10. He was 31.

Kirk’s death was the biggest story of the day in the U.S., though one could argue about the reasons why, given that it received so much more attention than a high school shooting in Evergreen, Colo., which has three students currently in critical condition.

Any death is sad. Kirk leaves behind a wife and two children. But why are we treating this death differently from others of a similar ilk, i.e., political killings?

I’m thinking specifically about why a Major League Baseball franchise like the New York Yankees would hold a moment of silence tribute for Kirk, when they haven’t for others in similar situations.

On Wednesday night, before the Yankees' home game at Yankee Stadium against the Detroit Tigers, the team held a moment of silence for Kirk, with his image on the stadium’s big screen and the words: “Remembering Charlie Kirk.” On the team’s social media accounts, the franchise posted: “Before tonight’s game, we held a moment of silence in remembrance of Charlie Kirk. Kirk founded the youth activist group ‘Turning Point USA’ and had become a fixture on college campuses. Charlie Kirk, a husband and father of two children, was 31 years old.”

It’s not unusual for the Yankees to hold moments of silence. They did so earlier this year for Miller Gardner, the son of longtime Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner, who died in March from carbon monoxide poisoning at age 14. Just this past weekend, the franchise also held a moment of silence for long-time baseball manager Davey Johnson, who died at age 82 on Sept. 5. But both of those deaths were either baseball-related or Yankees family-related.

The Kirk tribute seems atypical, and because of it, an inappropriate thing to do at a baseball game, especially for a public figure who has had controversial statements relating to race, sex and gender.

It’s important to note that Kirk was neither from New York nor a Yankees fan. He was from Arlington Heights, Ill., and based on photo and video evidence of him wearing a Chicago Cubs hat, he was likely a Cubs fan.

When Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were killed in their home in June, there was no moment of silence at Yankee Stadium. Last month, when children were gunned down while praying at their Catholic school in Minnesota, there was no moment of silence at Yankee Stadium.

The fact of the matter is that, as often as gun violence takes place in this country, the Yankees organization would be holding moments of silence on a daily basis if it chose to honor every victim of gun violence.

My only question remains … why?

Why Kirk, again a polarizing figure, and not others?

It seems strange, doesn’t it?

Maybe it was just a way of appeasing President Donald Trump, who it was announced today would be attending the Yankees/Tigers tomorrow in remembrance of 9/11?

Either way, it doesn’t quite seem right.

by Eric Fulton
The 2025 National Football League season kicks off this week. Thirty-two teams are fighting for the right to become the champion of Super Bowl 60. As always, the NFL provides six months of high drama, but in five of those months, 18 regular-season games are played, and while there are many exciting matchups, here are my 10 most anticipated matchups of the season.
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10. Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia Eagles (Week 1, September 4)
Opening Night in the NFL is always a show. The Super Bowl winners from the last season get to raise their championship banner in front of millions, and you can feel the excitement all around. For the second time in the last five years, the Eagles will get to kick off the season at home as champions. What better way to open up the season than by having their most hated rival come to town? The Cowboys are not supposed to be really good in 2025, but they would love nothing more than to spoil the celebration in Philadelphia in front of the world.

9. Denver Broncos vs. Houston Texans (Week 9, November 2)
Both Denver and Houston made the playoffs last season. While it was great for both teams, they want to be at the level the Chiefs, Bills and Ravens are right now. The Week 9 matchup features a very good offense in the Broncos facing a very good defense in the Texans. It should be a better game than people expect.

8. Kansas City Chiefs vs. Los Angeles Chargers (Week 1, September 5)
For the second year in a row, the NFL is headed to Brazil. This time around, two AFC West rivals will square off in South America. Kansas City is coming off its second Super Bowl loss in the last five years. The Chargers are coming off a playoff appearance last year and will look to dethrone the Chiefs in a highly contested AFC West. Plus, everyone will be able to watch the game for free on YouTube.

7. Chicago Bears vs. Washington Commanders (Week 6, October 13)  
Last year, Chicago and Washington had one of the best games of the year. The Commanders won that game on a “Hail Mary” touchdown that catapulted them to the NFC Championship game.  Both teams have two young quarterbacks in Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels. Will the Bears get their revenge from last year? Or will the Commanders continue their climb up the NFC ladder?

6. Washington Commanders vs. Philadelphia Eagles (Week 16 &Week 18, December 20 and January 3 or January 4)
Philadelphia and Washington will meet twice in the final three weeks of the regular season. Both matchups could decide the NFC East and possibly the number one seed heading into the playoffs. They split the regular-season matchups last year, but it was the Eagles that blew out the Commanders in the NFC Championship game. I am excited to see both games.

5. Baltimore Ravens vs. Kansas City Chiefs (Week 4, September 28)
Last year, these two teams put on a great game on opening night with Kansas City winning by a toe as Isiah Likely went out of bounds on the final play of the game. That game cost the Ravens the chance to play at home in the Divisional Round and maybe the AFC Championship game. Once again, home-field advantage could come into play when these two teams collide.

4.  Los Angeles Rams vs. Philadelphia Eagles (Week 3, September 21)
The Rams and Eagles played an awesome game in the Divisional Round in last season’s playoffs, with the Eagles hanging on late to end the Rams’ season. This time, the weather should be better than it was in January as the two meet for NFC supremacy in this early-season clash.

3. Baltimore Ravens vs. Buffalo Bills (Week 1, September 7)
Another thrilling game from last season’s Divisional Round in the NFL Playoffs was the great game between Baltimore and Buffalo. The Bills won a close affair thanks to a missed two-point conversion by the Ravens. Now the two teams meet early in week 1, which will decide who has the early advantage in the AFC.

2. Philadelphia Eagles vs. Kansas City Chiefs (Week 2, September 14)  
The rematch of Super Bowl LIX happens early in the season in Kansas City. The Eagles have won the last two matchups against the Chiefs, including their most recent visit to Arrowhead Stadium. Of course, the Chiefs will definitely bring their ‘A’ game in the best game of Week 2.

1. Kansas City Chiefs vs. Buffalo Bills (Week 9, October 26)
The Bills and the Chiefs have provided some classic games and moments over the last few years, and the matchup in week nine should be another great game. The biggest question is, can Josh Allen and the Bills finally get over that next hump and make it to the Super Bowl, or will Patrick Mahomes and company continue to be Buffalo’s kryptonite? 

16. Austin Dilon
Let’s face it – Austin Dillon is only in the playoffs because he and his No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet team have figured out a way to be the absolute best team at Richmond, which is weird as hell, considering the team is pretty much junk everywhere. I’ve never seen a driver/team combination have one track where you could consider them a favorite and nothing else.

15. Josh Berry
Josh Berry won a race early on in the season at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, a place he’d won twice at in the Xfinity Series. Following that win, Berry has pretty much been a non-factor for the remainder of the season. He’s only had one other top-5 and four other top-10s this season. Maybe Las Vegas is to Berry what Richmond is to Dillon?

14. Alex Bowman
Alex Bowman was the last driver into the postseason on points and one of only two drivers to make the playoffs, along with Tyler Reddick, without winning a race to qualify. Bowman has six top-5s and 14 top-10s this season with a 16.4 average finish. If one of the first four drivers I’m predicting to be eliminated were to make the second round, I’d say he’s probably the most likely.

13. Shane Van Gisbergen
There are only two ways I see Shane Van Gisbergen, who is actually tied for the series lead with four wins, making it out of the first round of the NASCAR playoffs. 1) Other drivers have misfortune that knocks them out, which is something that seemingly happens annually, and 2) He’s able to finish just well enough to rely on his playoff points, which currently have him 16 points to the good to get him through. If Van Gisbergen can somehow make it through the first round, I think he’ll make it through the second round, as the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval is among the tracks in that segment of the playoffs, and NOBODY is nearly as good at road racing in NASCAR as Van Gisbergen.
 
12. Tyler Reddick
Tyler Reddick just hasn’t been the same Tyler Reddick this season. He’s the most shocking non-winner of the year to me. I don’t know if the off-track stuff between 23XI Racing and NASCAR has been a factor or if the No. 45 team just hasn’t been able to get it done. However, I think he’ll at least be able to figure his way out of the first round of the playoffs.
​
11. Ross Chastain
Ross Chastain won one of the biggest races of the season at the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway to clinch his spot in the playoffs, but other than that race, he hasn’t seemed very “winning” this season. He has only two other top-5 finishes other than his win. You have to run upfront more than Chastain has this season to be a playoff threat.

10. Bubba Wallace
Bubba Wallace had the shining moment of his career thus far with his Crown Jewel win at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the Brickyard 400. Without that win, he may have found himself on the outside looking in for the second straight year. Wallace seems to be in the right mind frame to compete in the postseason, but his No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota team has had a lot of bad luck this season, including seven DNFs. 

9. Austin Cindric
Austin Cindric is having the best season of his career thus far. His 313 laps led are already more than any other season in his career. But his win at Talladega Superspeedway to clinch his playoff spot is only one of two top-5s this season, and he only has five total top-10s. He’s not running up front enough for me to place him in the top eight, though Penske Racing does seem to turn up its game come playoff time.

8. Chase Briscoe
Chase Briscoe has clearly been the third-best Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota this season in his first year in the No. 19, but his numbers are quite a bit better overall than the drivers I don’t have making the top eight. He has 10 top-5s this season, to go along with a series high six poles. His one win came at Pocono, but his win last season came at Darlington Raceway, which kicks off the playoffs this year.

7. Chase Elliott
Chase Elliott is quite the wonder in how he went from undoubtedly the best Hendrick Motorsports driver to the third best in a short period of time, and he’s not even out of his 20s yet. He enters the playoffs ranked seventh in the point standings, which is exactly where he finished in 2024, and it’s where I’m predicting him to finish this year. His one win came at the drafting track at Atlanta. He has seven top-5s and 13 top-10s this season.

6. Joey Logano
Joey Logano has an incredible knack for having mediocre regular seasons, getting into the playoffs by winning somewhere, and then somehow turning up the wick in the postseason, to the point where he’ll even go on and win the whole damn thing. That’s why I can’t put him any lower than No. 6 on this list. Once again, he hasn’t had a spectacular year. He only has three top-5s and seven top-10s, but he won at Texas Motor Speedway and got himself into the show. You simply can’t count him out.

5. Christopher Bell
I feel bad because fifth place in the playoffs is where Christopher Bell finished last year, and it’s where I have him once again this season, just on the outside looking in. Bell had a helluva start to the season, winning three races in a row early on, but those all came in the first month of the season, and he hasn’t seen Victory Lane since. He has nine top-5s and 14 top-10s, but he’s going to have to find his winning ways again to have a title shot.

4. Ryan Blaney
There’s just something about Ryan Blaney, like his Penske Racing teammate Joey Logano, and Penske in general, that seems like they’re made for the most important stretch of the season. Blaney is hot off his second win of the season at Daytona International Speedway last Saturday night and also won at Nashville this summer. His 10 top-5s are among the leaders in the sport.

3. William Byron
William Byron has been the most consistent driver in NASCAR this season, which is the reason he won the bonus as the regular season points leader. His nine top-5s and 13 top-10s are among the best in the Cup Series. He began the season by winning his second consecutive Daytona 500 and went on to win more recently at Iowa Speedway. Byron does seem to have a knack for trailing off as the season goes on, which he’ll need to avoid to make the Championship Four at Phoenix.

2. Kyle Larson
The only thing likely standing in Kyle Larson’s way of winning a second NASCAR championship is himself. He’s arguably the most talented driver in the sport, driving for arguably the best team in the sport, but sometimes he drives over his head/capabilities and puts himself in bad situations. His three wins are second in the sport behind only Denny Hamlin and road ace Shane Van Gisbergen, and he’s among the sport's leaders in top-5s with 11 and top-10s with 16. He’s led nearly 900 laps in the season’s first 26 races. If he can harness some of his bad habits, he’s probably the guy to beat.

1. Denny Hamlin
I honestly don’t know why I keep doing this … I frequently pick Denny Hamlin, the sport’s all-time greatest driver without a championship, to win a NASCAR championship. I guess I must know deep down that he deserves one, so surely it’s bound to happen. But at 44, he’s obviously running out of chances to get it done. He leads all drivers with four oval wins this season, and his 11 top-5s and 13 top-10s are among the series' best, as well. Is this the year he’ll finally hoist that trophy?