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Diverging Reports Breakdown

Breakthrough coming? USA TODAY Sports Network’s Big Ten football preseason rankings tabs Penn State as best

Penn State hasn’t won a national championship in 39 years, and its lone Big Ten title win out of the East Division came in 2016. The Nittany Lions lost to Oregon, 45-37, in last year’s championship game, the first without divisions, but went on to reach a CFP national semifinal where they lost to eventual national runner-up Notre Dame. First-year Purdue football coach Barry Odom has his work cut out for him, as the Boilermakers were a consensus pick to finish 18th. The Big Ten hopes to have a third straight national champion, though the Nebraska Cornhuskers are expected to be a strong contender for the title. The team with the fewest points was ranked first, with a total points system used to rank teams.

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Penn State hasn’t won a national championship in 39 years, and its lone Big Ten title win out of the East Division came in 2016.

Writers from across the USA TODAY Sports Network like the Nittany Lions’ chances in 2025. Here are preseason predictions for order of finish.

INDIANAPOLIS — One of the fiercest rivalries in all of sports has teams who represented the Big Ten quite well as College Football Playoff national champions in consecutive years.

But it’s a team that has for years played third fiddle that is picked to break the glass ceiling it has faced. A pool of writers across the USA TODAY Sports Network from coast to coast were polled on who will win the league, and Penn State was the preseason choice to win the championship Dec. 6 at Lucas Oil Stadium.

The Nittany Lions have not won the Big Ten since 2016, their only time supplanting Ohio State and Michigan in the defunct East Division. Penn State lost to Oregon, 45-37, in last year’s championship game, the first without divisions, but went on to reach a CFP national semifinal where they lost to eventual national runner-up Notre Dame.

It may be Penn State’s best chance to win a national championship for the first time in 39 years. Though its 1994 team went undefeated, it was Nebraska that claimed the national title after beating Miami in the BCS national championship game. The Nittany Lions will have competition, though, as the Big Ten hopes to have a third straight national champion.

There was a grouping of Penn State, Ohio State and Oregon as the three programs who were predicted to finish first by network writers. A pool of teams were bunched up in the middle, and another cluster in the lower third.

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They ranked teams first through 18th with a total points system used to rank teams: a first-place prediction equaled one point and last was 18. The team with the fewest points was ranked first.

First-year Purdue football coach Barry Odom has his work cut out for him. His Boilermakers were a consensus pick to finish 18th. Meanwhile in-state rival Indiana is not expected to have much of a drop off from a (tied) second-place finish in Curt Cignetti’s first season.

USA TODAY Sports Network preseason Big Ten champion, order of finish

1. Penn State, 16

2. Ohio State, 20

3. Oregon, 26

4. Michigan, 45

5. Illinois, 55

6. Indiana, 63

7. USC, 72

(tie) 8. Nebraska, 85

(tie) 8. Washington, 85

10. Iowa, 86

11. Minnesota, 112

12. Wisconsin, 117

13. Rutgers, 138

14. UCLA, 139

15. Michigan State, 141

16. Maryland, 155

17. Northwestern, 165

18. Purdue, 180

Champion: Penn State (5 votes)

Aaron Ferguson is assistant sports editor at the Indianapolis Star. He coordinates Big Ten polls, rankings, enterprise and more for the USA TODAY Sports Network. Follow him on Twitter/X at @Sports_Aaron, Instagram at a_ferg_writes, TikTok at sports_aaron, Reddit at sports_aaron and BlueSky at sportsaaron.bsky.social.

Source: Indystar.com | View original article

Surprise invite sends 2009 Real Billings Football Club to nationals in Florida

The US Youth Soccer National Championships began Tuesday in Montana. For the first time, there will be representation in the field with not one, but two teams from the Treasure state. The 2009 Real Billings Girls Football Club received a last-minute surprise invitation. The team will continue pool play through July 24 and must win their pool to advance to the semifinals on July 26. For more details on the US Youth soccer National Championships, click here.

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BILLINGS, Mont. — The US Youth Soccer National Championships began Tuesday in what was a historic moment for Montana youth soccer. For the first time, there will be representation in the field with not one, but two teams from the Treasure state representing Montana on the national stage.

The 2010 Real Billings Football Club was already set for Nationals after winning their respective Far West Regional Tournament. However, the 2009 Real Billings Girls Football Club received a last-minute surprise invitation, making their summer a lot more exciting. Meadow Mahlmeister, a forward for the 2009 team, shared her unexpected reaction, “I was in Fargo for wrestling actually when I found out so I was supposed to be focusing on wrestling but then my mind went completely went to soccer.”

The 2009 Real Billings team thought their season had ended after a loss in the Far West Regional Championship and not receiving a wild card bid. However, they received a call just weeks before Nationals that changed everything. Adison Aspinwall, a 2009 Real Billings midfielder, noted the team’s unforeseen journey to Nationals. “It was definitely unexpected,” she said. “I don’t think anyone on the team thought we were going because we were told we weren’t. Then when we got the wild card spot, a lot of us were like wait, don’t go anywhere else, we’re going to Florida so change of plans a bit but just super thankful for the opportunity.”

The 2009 Real Billings Girls are motivated to compete and potentially win the national title. Mahlmeister emphasized their readiness, stating, “The good thing about this team is we are all very motivated when it comes to soccer so when we got the news we jumped back into training. We’re coming out stronger after our loss in the regional championship. We definitely think we deserve this spot whether it’s as a wild card or not.”

The team will continue pool play through July 24 and must win their pool to advance to the semifinals on July 26. For more details on the US Youth Soccer National Championships, click here.

Source: Swxlocalsports.com | View original article

Jets’ journey back to football heaven begins with big-ticket trio

All three were top 10 draft picks, all three joined the Jets with wide-eyed optimism. All three have earned their big-ticket contracts. But all three have been trapped inside the football hell of a franchise engulfed in a 14-

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All three were top 10 draft picks, all three joined the Jets with wide-eyed optimism, all three have earned their big-ticket contracts.

But all three have been trapped inside the football hell of a franchise engulfed in a 14-year playoff drought, the wasted Zach Wilson Years, the Aaron Rodgers Super Bowl Hail Mary, the untimely firing of Robert Saleh …

All three are desperate to experience football heaven, and for Aaron Glenn and Justin Fields to pilot the Jets to long-lost stratospheric heights, they will need all three to be the brightest of shining stars.

To whom much is given, much is expected.

Source: Nypost.com | View original article

See the coaches, players of Big Bend football at the 16th annual 4Quartersonline Media Day

4Quartersonline hosted its 16th annual Media Day at Hangar 38 in Tallahassee, Florida, Tuesday, July 22, 2025. Big Bend football coaches, players of Big Bend were on hand to share their thoughts on the day’s events. The event was part of the 4Quarters online Media Day series, which runs through the end of the school year. For more information, visit 4Quarteronline.com. For the full report, visit the USA TODAY FLORIDA NETWORK. The 4Qu quarters online series is also available on iTunes and the Google Play Store. For a full list of all the events, visit www.4QuarterOnline.com/MediaDay or click here for the full list, which includes the Big Bend High School Football Media Day, held on the same day and place as the Media Day on July 22. For. more information on the 4 Quartersonline Media Day Series, visit: http://www.4quartersonline.org/media-day.

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HIGH SCHOOL

See the coaches, players of Big Bend football at the 16th annual 4Quartersonline Media Day

Leon head football coach Ricky Bell speaks at 4Quartersonline Media Day at Hangar 38 in Tallahassee, Florida, Tuesday, July 22, 2025. Gerald Thomas, III/Tallahassee Democrat, USA TODAY FLORIDA NETWORK

4Quartersonline hosted its annual Media Day at Hangar 38 in Tallahassee, Florida, Tuesday, July 22, 2025. Gerald Thomas, III/Tallahassee Democrat, USA TODAY FLORIDA NETWORK

Leon football senior Brooks Warmack speaks at 4Quartersonline Media Day at Hangar 38 in Tallahassee, Florida, Tuesday, July 22, 2025. Gerald Thomas, III/Tallahassee Democrat, USA TODAY FLORIDA NETWORK

Leon football wide receiver Jeremiah Lalanne speaks at 4Quartersonline Media Day at Hangar 38 in Tallahassee, Florida, Tuesday, July 22, 2025. Gerald Thomas, III/Tallahassee Democrat, USA TODAY FLORIDA NETWORK