recent posts

about

Freelance writer based in Salt Lake City, UT

Desk Editor at KSL News
Freelance writer based in Salt Lake City, UT.

  • Unaccredited Top 25: Week 12

    Last Saturday’s slate of college football disappointed many of us, coming just short of delivering a truly historic day of upsets. Disappointment aside, the results provided substantial movement in the playoff picture while allowing the handful of elite teams at the top to separate themselves from the pack. 

    Texas A&M went down by 27 hosting South Carolina and retook the lead remarkably fast. It looked like SC had no desire to win that game in the second half. Northwestern was up late on Michigan and a few late defensive lapses in pass defense saw them squander that game away. Iowa had USC on the ropes, going up 21-10 in the first half with passing, rushing and receiving catches from Mark Gronowski. They made the mistake of laying back on their defense and USC was all over them, that game also slipped away quickly for the underdog. 

    A&M, Michigan and USC all could have dropped in the rankings but their victories reinforced the log jam around the bubble playoff spots making things even more difficult for the BYUs and Utahs of the world. 

    This shakeup in the top 12 taken into account with the criteria the committee has laid out and will likely retract after this season, most teams we’ll see in the CFP are set in stone but there will be two or three decisions made by the committee that will inevitably come with backlash, not unlike Florida State in 2023. 

    Week 12 Winners:

    The SEC added another team to the playoff fold. OU took down Alabama in Tuscaloosa in a contest that meant much more to the Sooners who could finish 10-2 and get into the playoff along with Georgia, Ole Miss, Texas A&M and Alabama. Tennessee and Vandy also have a pulse 

    Texas A&M’s kicker missed two first half field goals as the Aggies went down big to South Carolina. Luckily for him they pulled up the schools biggest come from  behind win in history and all was forgiven.

    The Big 12 has three teams in the top 12 in the committee’s latest rankings. It’s unlikely all three get in but it’s a relief for fans in the nation’s heartland that if your team plays good football, they’ll be at the very least entertained by the selection show. 

    Notre Dame secured a ranked win at Pitt which was never close and will be inflated by the committee in terms of difficulty. The Irish have a chance to finish 10-2 with no conference championship game. Until further notice, you can pencil them in as the nine or ten seed come postseason. 

    Losers:

    South Carolina was up 30-3 at halftime at Texas A&M. Shane Beamer gave a glowing interview to the sideline reporter going into the half and their lead evaporated with ten minutes to go in the fourth quarter. Lanoris Sellers was shaky in the first half and absolutely brutal in the second. Once Nyck Harbor came out of the game, the ball simply had nowhere to go. One second half field goal gets you your program’s best win in over a decade and they just couldn’t find a way. At halftime the broadcast showed a SC fan mouthing, “this is the best day of my life.” Ouch. Shane Beamer will not be coaching there next season.

    Utah had a clear path to jump Texas and OU as they traveled to Georgia and Alabama respectively. Assuming both teams would take their third loss of the season, the 10-2 Utes would have a legit case to be selected. OU had other plans, upsetting Alabama on the road and jumping up to #8 well Bama falls to #10, both still ahead of Utah who needs every inch it can get. 

    The way I see it, there are three ways to look at the playoff picture after the committee released their top 25 the other night; you can look at the best 25 teams top to bottom, you can look at the most deserving teams based on record, SOS and quality wins/losses and you can look at who the committee is inevitably going to put in because they fail all tp often to take things like head to head matchups or margin of victory with common opponents into account. 

    Teams that will get the benefit of the doubt:

    Notre Dame has two losses to teams that have looked far from perfect as of late. Their quality wins include USC, Navy and Pitt. USC is a good team and Pitt was a ranked road win although the team itself isn’t a prototypical top 25 team. The case against the Irish getting in would be their soft schedule week three and on combined with their lack of conference championship game; one less chance for them to lose the committee’s favor.

    USC has a chance to take down Oregon, bringing them to 9-2 with a top-ten win in Eugene. They would have a signature win identical to Indiana but with losses to Notre Dame and Illinois, both ranked at the time of kickoff. I believe a 10-2 USC team would surpass both BYU and Utah and sneak into the playoff with double digit wins out of the Big Ten. 

    Oklahoma will likely finish 10-2 with losses to Texas and Ole Miss but with wins over Alabama, Tennessee and Michigan. If they stumble at Mizzou and finish 9-3, I think they committee could justify themselves putting the Sooners in over a two-loss Utah or BYU. OU beating Bama was a disaster for all the two-loss bubble teams. 

    Teams deserving of a playoff berth but could be left on the outside looking in:

    BYU could be edged out by Notre Dame or Miami, who the committee will likely favor, but has the edge over Utah. A win over Cincinnati almost guarantees the Cougars a spot in the top 12 while Utah needs BYU to lose among other chips falling their way if they want to get in without a conference championship appearance. 

    The crushing loss to Tech hurts but their head to head win vs Utah is critical, even with Utah dismantling every other team in the conference. Winning against the Bearcats eliminates a cannibalistic circle outcome that could be detrimental for all three teams in the end. If the Cougs win out in any fashion, they should absolutely be in over Notre Dame, Miami and USC. 

    Utah will likely finish the season with ten blowout wins accompanied by two losses to the other Big 12 elite; the only two teams from the conference ranked ahead of them in the polls. Utah has shown they’re a good Big 12 team and can run most teams out of the building but stumbled in their two biggest tests of the season. Ranked No. 12 in the playoff rankings, they’ll likely be forced out by the 5th best conference champion, leaving a ten win operation on the outside looking in. Utah’s key to getting in is to keep dismantling opponents and pray Cincinnati can surprise BYU. 

    Vanderbilt has a chance to end the season with a win at Tennessee to get them to ten wins on the season. If they can pull this off, I think they’re the most deserving bubble team to get it. Their biggest wins include Mizzou, South Carolina (ranked 11 at the time) and LSU (ranked 10 at the time) while the Texas loss could end up being the nail in the coffin on their season.

    My 12 team playoff if it started today:

    1. Ohio State      (BYE)
    2. Indiana           (BYE)
    3. Texas A&M     (BYE)
    4. Texas Tech     (BYE) 

    (5) Georgia    vs    (12) JMU*

    (6) Oregon     vs    (11) Alabama 

    (7) Ole Miss   vs    (10) BYU

    (8) GA Tech   vs    (9)   Oklahoma  

    *The best five conferences champions secure an automatic berth

    First four out: Vanderbilt, Utah, Notre Dame, Miami

    My top 25 best teams:

    1. Ohio State
    2. Indiana 
    3. Georgia 
    4. Oregon
    5. Texas Tech 
    6. Texas A&M
    7. Oklahoma
    8. Ole Miss
    9. Alabama 
    10. BYU
    11. Utah
    12. Texas
    13. Miami 
    14. Vanderbilt 
    15. Georgia Tech
    16. USC
    17. Notre Dame 
    18. Michigan 
    19. Virginia
    20. Tennessee
    21. JMU
    22. Houston
    23. North Texas
    24. Arizona State
    25. Mizzou

  • Unaccredited Top 25: Week Ten

    DISCLAIMER: I work for a national media affiliate but do not have a vote in the Associated Press poll so my opinion means virtually nothing. These rankings have nothing to do with preseason polls or last season’s results; they’re based on games that have been played this year only. The rankings will be volatile, especially early in the season.

    This weekend’s rankings will be a bit different than the previous nine. Since the College Football Playoff Committee has released their first poll of the season, my rankings will be a 1-12 team playoff if the playoffs began right now. I’ll also include a few teams that I think will be in the mix for those 5-12 spots come season’s end. 

    In terms of teams that I have in, not a lot of movement at the top. A few quality teams were given a run for their money last weekend. Looking at scores you’d think Florida had Georgia on the ropes but the Bulldogs were a possession ahead the entire game and ran the clock out on the one yard line as time expired, keeping it a one score game. 

    Ohio State and Indiana continue to dominate while Texas A&M and Alabama were both on bye. The games played have to mean something so I’m taking out one-loss Alabama and putting undefeated BYU in the four spot. That can change quickly as BYU heads to Lubbock for a monumental showdown with Texas Tech that could potentially decide the fate of the Big 12 in the playoff.

    Georgia Tech took their first loss of the season to NC State so Georgia slides up to take their spot while Vanderbilt also falls out of the playoff picture after a Texas loss that got out of hand right out of the gate. 

    The final poll will almost certainly not look like this, winning your conference should be essential to getting a top three spot and a bye while the top four consist of two SEC and two Big Ten teams. Teams that have a chance to grab one of those top four are undefeated BYU and the loser of the Big Ten championship if both Ohio State and Indiana come in unbeaten.  

    Brutal weekend for Vandy, GT and Houston; three one-loss power four teams with conference championship aspirations that are now in all-likelihood gonna miss out of the playoff. 

    My top four seeds

    1. Ohio State (B1G) – undefeated power four. 
    2. Indiana (B1G) – undefeated power four.
    3. Texas A&M (SEC) – undefeated power four.
    4. BYU (Big 12) – undefeated power four.

    My five through twelve:

    1. Alabama (SEC) One loss and have killed everyone they’ve played since the FSU loss. They can grab a top four spot if they win out and win the SEC.
    2. Georgia (SEC): Needs Alabama to lose another game because of their head-to-head loss. 
    3. Oregon (B1G): The third best team in the B1G and without a doubt a playoff team if they handle their business the last three games. The Indiana loss and no chance at Ohio State means they won’t sniff the conference championship game.
    4. Texas Tech (Big 12): Was hurt big by losing to Iowa State but can jump right back into a bye if they beat BYU this weekend and go on to win the Big 12.
    5. Ole Miss (SEC): Similar to Oregon; high end team in one of the two premiere conferences but won’t have a shot at the SEC championship because of the Georgia loss and no chance at Bama.
    6. Virginia (ACC): One loss power four with a win over Louisville. That NC State team is pesky, having knocked off Georgia Tech and UVA. 
    7. Louisville (ACC): One loss power four but loss was to UVA.
    8. Memphis (American): Best resume of any G5 team with wins over USF and Arkansas with a chance to take down two-loss Tulane this weekend. 

    Teams with a chance to crack the top twelve constitute any ten-win power four team or eleven-win G5.

    From the power four we have Utah, Vanderbilt, Georgia Tech, Miami, Texas, Oklahoma, USC, Tennessee, Mizzou, Iowa, Michigan, Washington, Pitt and independent Notre Dame. 

    The group of five programs that can get in if they run the table include Navy, North Texas and San Diego State. 

  • Unaccredited Top 25: Week Nine

    DISCLAIMER: I work for a national media affiliate but do not have a vote in the Associated Press poll so my opinion means virtually nothing. These rankings have nothing to do with preseason polls or last season’s results; they’re based on games that have been played this year only. The rankings will be volatile, especially early in the season.

    Lot of chalk this weekend in college football which means not a lot of movement near the top of the rankings. LSU has joined Penn State and Florida as premiere open coaching destinations which could lead up to an all time offseason coaching carousel. I imagine we’re not far off from seeing screenshots of flight trackers around mid sized cities in the south. If they’re not in talks already, Ole Miss better have a Brinks truck ready for Lane Kiffin. 

    FSU isn’t far behind the other programs I just mentioned; I’d be surprised to see Norvell finish the season there. Coach prime probably realizes he’s topped out his potential at Colorado after that brutal Utah loss so expect him to be in the mix for the Seminoles. 

    It’s wild to think the Big 12 could finish regular season play with three or four ten-win teams if the teams at the top don’t completely cannibalize each other. BYU, Texas Tech, Houston, Cincinnati and Utah could all reach ten wins and have just wiped the floor with the rest of the conference. 

    Anyone have preseason odds for College Gameday going to Cincinatti at Utah?

    Winners:

    Texas was dead in the water in Starkville and came back out of nowhere to win in overtime. At 6-2, the Longhorns are still in the mix to get to the SEC title game. It helps that one of their losses was non-conference. 

    Lane Kiffin is going to make a lot of money this offseason. Ole Miss took care of OU on the road and sit at 7-1, ranked 7th in the country. 

    Byrd Ficklin put on a show against Colorado from start to finish. The true freshman gained 151 on the ground and propelled the Utes back into the top 25. His meager 45% completion rate was good for a 128.9 rating and Big 12 offensive player of the week. 

    BYU just can’t lose. Iowa State had them on the ropes and they utilized a defect they saw in the Cyclones’ punt return scheme to bury them. This team is going to win 11 or 12 games and be in the college football playoff. 

    Losers:

    UNC finally almost secured the signature win of Belichick’s first and likely only season there. They went for two to win the game against a ranked Virginia team and came an inch short. South Carolina had Alabama in their crosshairs and just couldn’t pull the trigger in a game where Lanoris Sellers looked like the player scouts pegged him to be this season. 

    PJ Fleck is 1-8 vs Iowa throughout his Gophers tenure. If Wisconsin wasn’t so bad, there’d be a lot of talk about his job. 

    Oklahoma State just might never win a game again. 

    1. Ohio State can lose to Michigan a fifth straight time and still cruise to a natty.
    2. Indiana looks like Ohio State without a Michigan problem. They finish with Maryland, Penn State, Wisconsin and Purdue. Two think two Big Ten teams finish 12-0 is crazy, but for one of them to be the Hoosiers?
    3. Texas A&M is quietly headed towards their first SEC championship game appearance. Their season finale with Texas could decide their fate while Bama or Georgia wait for them on the other side.
    4. Alabama is the best team not named Ohio State. 
    5. Georgia Tech – Haynes King for Heisman? They’re 7-0 and could get a first round bye in the playoff if they can take care of Georgia down the stretch.
    6. Georgia’s matchup with Georgia Tech in week 13 could be the biggest game in the history of the rivalry. 
    7. BYU plays like a team of destiny, every week getting the karmic bounces that Notre Dame fans think they should be getting. 
    8. Vanderbilt wins even when Pavia doesn’t play all that well. They just took down Mizzou for their third ranked win of the season and could get their this weekend at Texas. If they can get a bigger stadium built quickly, they won’t be the doormat of the conference ever again. 
    9. Oregon is really being punished for the Indiana loss. They Ducks could finish 11-1 and miss the conference championship game. 
    10. Ole Miss needs to extend Kiffin like how IU did Cignetti. Too many good openings to lure him away from Oxford. 
    11. Louisville
    12. Miami
    13. Texas Tech
    14. Virginia
    15. Notre Dame 
    16. Memphis
    17. Tennessee
    18. Houston
    19. Cincinatti
    20. Texas 
    21. Navy
    22. Iowa 
    23. Michigan
    24. Utah
    25. North Texas

  • Unaccredited Top 25: Week Eight

    DISCLAIMER: I work for a national media affiliate but do not have a vote in the Associated Press poll so my opinion means virtually nothing. These rankings have nothing to do with preseason polls or last season’s results; they’re based on games that have been played this year only. The rankings will be volatile, especially early in the season.

    Week eight of college football season provided the first serving of late season rivalry games, featuring historic, deep seeded faceoffs such as BYU/Utah, Alabama/Tennessee, USC/Notre Dame and of course, Oregon and Rutgers. 

    Numerous undefeated playoff contenders were handed their first losses of 2025 starting with Miami’s loss to Louisville Friday night and continuing with Texas Tech, Ole Miss, Memphis all taking losses. Texas A&M survived a 45-42 thriller at Arkansas, UCLA keeps winning and controls their playoff destiny while Penn State and FSU continue to freefall.

    Florida fired head coach Billy Napier following a win at Mississippi State while the coaching dominoes begin to fall with offseason speculation swirling about. The 2026 offseason will be one of the most spectacular, chaotic coaching carousels the college football world will ever witness. 

    Big time programs in Florida, FSU, Penn State, Arkansas and UCLA already have openings which could poach coaches from other programs, creating an even more immense void. Brian Kelly, Lane Kiffin and Jon Gruden have been floated out as candidates to fill some of these spots while Indiana got ahead of the curve and inked Curt Cignetti to an eight-year extension, shutting the door on any speculation that he would abandon the Hoosiers for Penn State. 

    Florida is by far the most intriguing opening even if Kiffin opts to stay at Ole Miss, which he alluded to on social media. UF could very well be the best job in the country when considering the program’s profile, their recruiting base, their athletic department’s track record of success and their boosters’ willingness to spend. After Florida’s last two hires, Gator football can’t afford another swing and miss when taking into account their basketball team just won a national championship and enters this season ranked #3.


    Winners from week eight:

    BYU football took down their arch rival in a nationally featured game and completely threw a wrench in Utah’s gameplan on fourth down and special teams. The Cougars are 7-0, the last unbeaten team in the Big 12 and are ranked 10th in the coaches poll.

    Alabama beat the brakes off Tennessee in the first half, culminating in an Aguilar pick-six to give the Tide a 17-point lead. After their week one loss to FSU, Alabama has won six straight and sits with Texas A&M atop the SEC with a favorable schedule the rest of the way. Kalen Deboer now has a .864 win pct against ranked opponents, ranking first in FBS history. 

    Georgia Tech has completely capitalized on FSU and Clemson’s demise, improving the 7-0 on the season. Ranked now 7th in the country, the Yellow Jackets sit atop the ACC standings following Miami’s Louisville loss. They could be 11-1 when they take on Georgia in the regular season finale, a game that will have major playoff implications. 

    Week eight losers:

    FSU and Penn State’s downfall should be studied. Penn State allowed 25 points to Iowa while the Noles lost to an Andrew-Luck-built Stanford team that has started to come to form. They look worse every week and just might not land some of the big name coaching hires they would usually expect. These two athletic departments have crucial decisions to make this offseason. 

    Kyle Whittingham‘s coaching absolutely lost Utah their game at BYU and tanked them out of the rankings. He’s falling in bad graces amongst the Utah faithful with many fans clamoring for him to step down from his position. After over two decades in SLC, the times have passed him by; his style of football is a relic of the past. They take on Colorado this weekend with the starting QB Dampier doubtful to play. Utah may not obtain bowl eligibility for the second straight season. 

    LSU had national championship hopes just two months ago and sits at 5-2 following their first loss to Vandy in almost four decades. Brian Kelly is the worst possible culture fit in Baton Rouge and since the team’s not winning, that’s becoming a major point of emphasis. Nussmeier hasn’t panned out to be the first round QB many expected him to be and the Tigers have Texas A&M and Alabama the next two weeks. Splitting those two could save Kelly his job.

    My rankings:

    1. Ohio State
    2. Indiana 
    3. Texas A&M
    4. Alabama
    5. Georgia Tech
    6. Georgia
    7. BYU
    8. Vanderbilt
    9. Oregon
    10. Ole Miss
    11. Louisville
    12. Miami
    13. Oklahoma
    14. Virginia 
    15. Texas Tech 
    16. Notre Dame
    17. Missouri
    18. ASU
    19. LSU
    20. Michigan
    21. USF
    22. Texas
    23. Cincinatti
    24. Minnesota
    25. Tennessee

  • 103rd Holy War Preview

    Saturday marks the 103rd playing of the Holy War, the bitter, hate-fueled rivalry between Utah’s two marquee universities. The 23rd ranked Utah Utes will undertake the hour-long pilgrimage to Provo to take on the undefeated and highly touted BYU Cougars. 

    This iteration of the rivalry features two ranked teams for the first time since 2009 as bad blood between the two fanbases boils as hot as ever. FOX Big Noon Kickoff will be on site for this one, emphasizing that the national media has come to respect the bitter feud.

    Utah holds an all time record 62-36-4 over the Cougs but hasn’t won since 2019 after rattling off nine straight victories during their time in the PAC-12. Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham, a former Cougar himself, has compiled an impressive 12-5 record against his alma mater but sits at just 1-2 since BYU brought in his former pupil, Kalani Sitake to oversee the program back in 2016.

    Leaving LaVell Edwards Stadium with a win is critical for both sides. The No. 15 Cougars enter at 6-0 and can solidify their place near the top of the Big 12 alongside Texas Tech with another victory, fresh off a double-overtime escape against Arizona last week. A 7-0 BYU team would likely break into the top ten and strengthen the conference’s bid to place two teams in the College Football Playoff. Big 12 favorite Texas Tech ranks 7th nationally and is still unbeaten in 2025. They’ll host the Cougars in Lubbock on Nov. 8th. 

    From BYU’s perspective winning this game is pivotal for a handful of reasons aside from the obvious desire to take down your most hated rival. A win on Saturday effectively puts the nail in the coffin for Utah’s season as it would give the Utes two losses against the two programs it would have to overcome to win the Big 12. 

    Victory would also give the Cougars some breathing room in the race to the Big 12 championship game; they’d have a two game advantage over Utah and hold the tiebreaker in case they stumbled in November. Even if BYU were to lose to Tech, they’d still be in that two or three team mix with Cincinnati and Houston to challenge Tech in the conference championship game. 

    This game is huge for BYU in the national conversation as well. In the College Football Playoff rankings, where resume is everything, BYU doesn’t have any edge whatsoever on competing programs fighting for the 12 spots. So far BYU hasn’t had a win that the committee would call  “quality,” their best have come against Colorado and Arizona on the road. CU had them on the ropes and Arizona took them to two overtimes. 

    The Holy War will undoubtedly be BYU’s biggest test of the season so far, while Utah already had theirs back in September where Texas Tech kicked their teeth in. The Utes have bounced back in dominant fashion since that loss, steamrolling every opponent including a ranked Arizona State team. The final score against Tech doesn’t exactly tell the full story, either. Utah was right in it until midway through the fourth quarter, but a mix of costly turnovers and big plays from the Red Raiders caused things to unravel late on the defensive side.

    A win Saturday would give BYU its first ranked win this season, while Utah recently notched its own during the aforementioned ASU blowout. A win is equally important for Utah. It would move both teams to 6-1, giving the Utes an edge not only through the tiebreaker but also in strength of schedule. Utah’s remaining challenging games are limited to Colorado and Cincinnati, whereas BYU still faces tough tests against Iowa State, Texas Tech, TCU and Cincinnati consecutively following the Utah game.

    If BYU manages to rattle off five straight wins, they’ll be getting a first round bye in the College Football Playoff whether they win the conference or not. We saw a similar scenario play out with a 12-0 TCU team back in 2022 that didn’t win the Big 12 but was still chosen to play Michigan in the Fiesta Bowl before being tarred and feathered by Georgia in the title game. 

    As Vegas favorites this weekend, Utah is likely to be favored in every remaining game and has a legitimate chance to finish 11-1 regardless of Saturday’s outcome. Winning out would award Utah with their best regular season since the undefeated 2008 Sugar Bowl campaign. 

    The 3.5-point line feels aggressive; sharp bettors would be wise to take BYU with the points. Historically, these matchups often come down to the final drives: nine of the 11 meetings since 2000 have been decided by a single possession, with six settled by a field goal or less. If you’re on Utah, consider buying the line down to -2.5.

    This game will be won by each defensive front seven’s ability to contain the rushing attack of their adversaries. BYU has been a force on the ground putting up a staggering 238 rushing yards per game. This number could be inflated as the Cougars have played a favorable schedule, affording them the luxury of putting on cruise control early. 

    The true Freshman Bachmeier has eclipsed 1200 passing yards through six games and added eight touchdown passes with three on the ground versus three interceptions. He hasn’t been tasked with going out and winning a game aside from the Arizona game and they got a lot of help from officiating down the stretch, getting a questionable roughing the passer call. 

    BYU’s soft schedule opens up a path to victory for Utah: overwhelm the inexperienced Bachmeier, use the size of your pass rushers to get to him early and often, preventing BYU from getting into any sort of rhythm in the pass game. 

    Proportionally, my analysis of Utah’s offense is quite similar. The Utes have rushed for 248.2 YPG with the transfer QB Dampier leading the team in total rushing. BYU is going to use a spy to contain Dampier so Wayshawn Park and Na’Quari Rodgers are going to be crucial in blitz pickup for the pass game to work.

    All of Utah’s wins have come in blowout fashion so Dampier has seen a lot of time on the bench late in games. Despite Byrd Ficklin seeing a substantial amount of snaps, Dampier’s still accounted for 1509 yards of total offense (251 per game) and 16 total touchdowns against three picks, no fumbles. He’s been lucky at times, a lot of times this season when he’s thrown ducks, they’re misplayed by defensive backs or in one instance against Arizona State, called back for a weak DPI. 

    Dampier’s numbers suggest Heisman-level production, but his impact through the air has been limited at Utah. Much of his yardage comes after the catch, thanks to a standout pass-catching group highlighted by Dallen Bentley and Ryan Davis . 

    First year OC Jason Beck has ensured the bulk of Dampier’s throws are designed as quick releases, masking an ongoing weakness in deep passing that carried over from the pair’s time at New Mexico. If BYU consistently brings seven and forces Utah’s offensive line on its heels, the Utes could find themselves in serious trouble, staring down a repeat of the Texas Tech outcome.

    This year’s matchup is especially compelling because as I’ve laid out, Utah and BYU share the same blueprint for victory: bring relentless pressure, force the opposing quarterback to win through the air, establish the run and rely on playmakers to create yards after the catch.

    For Utah, offensive success hinges on the production of their running backs and tight ends. If Buchanan and Bentley get involved early, BYU’s linebackers will be forced into coverage, opening up lanes for the Utes’ ground game.

    What BYU can’t do is let Utah execute the west coast offense and spread the ball around resulting in clock-eating scoring drives. What Utah needs is to limit Bachmeier’s deep passing with a clean pocket. The Stanford transfer has shown impressive timing and placement on his deep balls which could expose Utah’s secondary, the thinnest unit on the team.

    Both of these teams are going to need to get to the quarterback in this one and the winner will have a real shot to make the playoff. I predict Utah wins this one ugly, 23-20.

  • Unaccredited Top 25: Week Seven

    DISCLAIMER: I work for a national media affiliate but do not have a vote in the Associated Press poll so my opinion means virtually nothing. These rankings have nothing to do with preseason polls or last season’s results; they’re based on games that have been played this year only. The rankings will be volatile, especially early in the season.

    Week 7 Winners: 

    Indiana went on the road and beat Oregon in Eugene, handily. No huge offensive output from IU and they were still in control the whole time. Two Dante Moore interceptions definitely helped the cause. The Hoosiers are a national title contender. Best win in college football this week. 

    Utah finally won a home conference game. Arizona State didn’t have their starting QB and it didn’t matter; the Utes completely routed the Sun Devils. Devon Dampier was a menace in the run game.His box score would indicate a good passing performance but every receiver he hit was wide open. Utes are back in the Big 12 race and the UCLA win looks pretty good right about now. 

    UCLA might just be a good team. Jerry Neuheisel seems to have saved the program and if the Bruins don’t throw a ton of money at him after this season, another program surely will.

    Losers:

    Penn State – Another loss, Drew Allar out for the season, James Franklin canned. Their season got turned on its head remarkably quickly. 

    Florida State – If you subtract the Alabama win, this team hasn’t done anything substantial. Losing to Pitt doesn’t help. Mike Norvell should start packing his bags, I imagine Deion Sanders is named head coach within the next 18 months. 

    My rankings:

    1. Ohio State 
    2. Miami
    3. Indiana 
    4. Texas A&M
    5. Texas Tech 
    6. Alabama 
    7. Oregon
    8. Georgia
    9. Tennessee
    10. LSU
    11. Georgia Tech
    12. BYU
    13. Virginia
    14. Notre Dame 
    15. Oklahoma
    16. Utah 
    17. Mizzou
    18. USF
    19. Texas
    20. USC
    21. Washington
    22. Memphis
    23. Vanderbilt
    24. Cincinnati
    25. Houston

  • Vikings Bye Week Thoughts

    Last night’s shocking Thursday Night Football game in which the New York Giants stunned the Philadelphia Eagles commenced week six of the 2025 NFL season. The week is a meaningful one for the state of Minnesota because the Vikings don’t have to play a game this weekend. 

    Reeling with injuries and marred with uncertainty at the QB position, the wounded Vikings limp into the bye with a fortuitous 3-2 record. I use that adjective because when watching these games, this doesn’t look like a team that should have more wins than losses. 

    If a caged prisoner in some underground cave was forced to watch all 20 quarters of Vikings football in a row, without a score bug on the screen, their impression would be that this team surely has a losing record. If you remove the Cincinnati game from the equation and run that same exercise, their impression would be that this team stinks. 

    This admittedly limited five-game sample size has presented mostly bad tape; two of the three wins required late game heroics against objectively bad teams. I don’t care if the Browns have an elite defense, I don’t care that the Browns beat the Packers. It’s the Browns, the most inept organization in pro sports. Cleveland started Dillon Gabriel in London on a few days notice and almost won. 

    This is what I’ve taken away from this team game by game. I’m not looking back at highlights or pulling up stats, just going off the cuff. 

    Game One: Win at Chicago 

    McCarthy’s first NFL play was almost a delay of game, the Vikings seem to be playing with fire when it comes to the play clock, it’s infuriating to watch. They go three and out. For three quarters, they go three and out often, I think it took them three or four drives to get a first down. McCarthy is having balls tipped at the line, throwing passes into the dirt, taking sacks, looking completely unprepared for what playing in the NFL requires.

    Then, the pick six. In classic Vikings fashion, our young franchise quarterback throws his first NFL TD pass to the other team. Maybe Jefferson messed up on the break of his route. Doesn’t matter, I will never blame number 18 for any of this team’s blunders. 

    It seems all is lost, the Bears look awesome, Caleb is making crazy, off-platform throws. Then the fourth quarter begins and McCarthy turns it on. Two passing touchdowns and rushing touchdown to dagger Chicago. The young QB made some awesome throws. He fit that touchdown ball to JJ in a tight window under pressure. The rushing touchdown was so fun to watch after a half decade of Cousins. JJ McCarthy wins NFC offensive player of the week. We have our guy, the new Vikings have finally arrived. Onto Atlanta. 

    Is McCarthy a clutch performer, a guy who will dig deep and pull out a win when it matters most? Or do the Bears just stink. 1-0.

    Game Two: Loss vs Atlanta. 

    Sunday Night Football, at home, wearing the classic jerseys from the Tarkenton days, all the hype and optimism in the world. They host Atlanta; a team largely perceived as being not very good. Minnesota beat them with Jaren Hall and Josh Dobbs less than two years ago. 

    Even more interesting is that the Falcons have fully committed to QB Micheal Penix Jr., a guy that a lot of people wanted Minnesota to draft (myself included) but Atlanta beat them to the punch. Penix also started for a Washington Huskies team that lost to McCarthy’s Michigan Wolverines in the 2023 national title game. You think this wasn’t a bit personal for him?

    Thinking back to 2023, Penix was more impressive than McCarthy in every facet of throwing the football. His drawbacks? Very suspect injury history, two ACLs I think. He’s also a lefty which freaks a lot of talent evaluators out. Most importantly, he’s not known as a runner whatsoever. He looked to be an ideal replacement to fill the void left by Cousins. I guess he did end up doing that. 

    Ironically 18 or so months after that fateful draft, it’s McCarthy who’s fledgling career is riddled with injuries while Penix has unlocked the Falcon offense, getting Pitts, London and Bijan involved, something they haven’t been able to figure out until now. 

    This game was an extension of the first game if you take out the fourth quarter of the Bears game. McCarthy is a deer in headlights, they get nothing done offensively and only muster up six points in the home opener and don’t even score a touchdown. Is the offensive line bad? Yes. Were we sold a bill of goods that this offensive line would be awesome and that JJM has the best scenario ever handed to a rookie QB? Also yes.

    The Falcons went on to lose by like 40 to Carolina the next week. I’m not even sure they scored a point, a real quality club, those Panthers.

    So that’s eight quarters of football. Seven of them looked horrific, sloppy, stagnant, soul-draining. One quarter was admittedly awesome and is the only tangent of hope any Vikes fan can cling onto at this juncture. 1-1.

    Game Three: Win vs Cincinnati

    McCarthy suffers an ankle injury and will miss time. Just like the preseason injury from last year, we find out after the fact and it’s difficult to pinpoint the play where it happened; he didn’t leave the game. Then, JJM misses practice that week because he has a child at 22 years old. Not even married, quite ungodly if you ask me.

    So now we have a very young quarterback who’s dealt with injuries throughout his brief pro career after never having dealt with that before. Throw in the obstacles of becoming a father while the mental health of 5.5 million Minnesotans rides on his success as a quarterback. Most 22 year olds crumble under these circumstances. We will find out soon enough if this kid is half as tough as Michigan fans insist he is. 

    Dark clouds loom in the distance once again. It’s Carson Wentz time.

    The game was over before it started. Jake Browning and the Bengals are so bad that Minnesota’s offense could have knelt the ball out every drive and the Vikings still would have won. 

    Watching the defensive performance gave me a lot of hope for the team going forward. Maybe the team plays lights out and minimizes what they task McCarthy with and they stay afloat that way. 

    Carson Wentz got to pad his stats in a game where every snap he took was virtually meaningless. This would have been an awesome game to have JJ start. Allow the kid to make some successful throws and play carefree football against an NFL defense and put some good tape out there. Wentz got to do that instead. 2-1.

    Game Four: Loss in Dublin to the Steelers.

    Rodgers did Rodgers things; he was cerebral, he got the ball out fast all game and the Vikes just didn’t have a chance. A late comeback allowed for some hope but a few fluky plays kind of kept them in it. In the end, they don’t get it done. 2-2. It was 7:30 am where I live and I was at work. I didn’t get much out of this one. 

    Game Five: Win in London vs Browns. 

    Dillon Gabriel was accurate in short passes but his deep ball is just brutal. Losing to the Browns would have been such a kick in the dick and it took them almost four quarters to finally figure it out. A few 50-50 balls to number 18 kept them alive. I seriously can’t fathom what this team would look like without Justin Jefferson. We owe Rick Spielman an apology; a thanks at the very least. 3-2.

    Now it’s the bye week and the Vikes are 3-2. It’s an ugly 3-2, admittedly, but they have a winning record. For now. 

    Decimated by injuries already, a millions question marks regarding the offense and a  pissed off Philly team on the horizon. Now the Vikings are tasked with navigating what I’d call the teeth of the schedule. The next four games go as such: Eagles at home, at Chargers, at Lions, Ravens at home. 

    Call me a pessimist but I don’t expect Vegas to have the Vikings favored in any of those games, especially if McCarthy’s play doesn’t improve dramatically. 

    That’s assuming he plays at all. 

    If the vikings are lucky, they steal one of those games and sit at 4-4. Mind you they still have the Lions once and the Packers twice still on the schedule. We will unfortunately (or maybe not) be forced to see what this team is made of.

    Jaxson Dart looked so composed yet imposing last night, the opposite of what JJM has shown us, a lot of parallels can be drawn between the Vikings and Giants. Watching New York, a largely inept organization as of late, succeed in what we failed to do, was frustrating at the very least. New York used two first round picks on a QB and highly regarded defender In their case: Dart and Carter. In Minnesota’s case: McCarthy and Turner. 

    Abdul Carter is a monster. Nobody expected Dallas Turner to be that kind of player but considering the draft capital management relinquished in order to draft him, you kind of need him to be that kind of gamebreaking player.

    One could argue that draft capital is virtually worthless to this team because Kwesi has done absolutely nothing to show the fan base that he has any talent evaluation skills whatsoever. They might as well give up five, six, seven first round picks for a top tier veteran QB. What’s the point of having picks if none of them ever pan out? 

    Lets look at some Kwesi first and second rounders.

    • Lewis Cine: No longer on the team. That was a huge miss considering they traded back to get him, passing on Kyle Hamilton.
    • Andrew Booth Jr: No longer on the team.
    • Addison: Hit. Off the field issues could be, well, an issue. 
    • JJ McCarthy: jury is out but not looking good.
    • Turner: same as McCarthy. 
    • Donovan Jackson: Has already had a surgery five games into his career.
    • No second round pick in 2025 because of Turner. 

    There have been some diamonds in the rough like Reichard and Nailor. That’s three whole drafts and they have three productive players to show for it. 

    Seeing Minnesota’s draft picks and FA signings flop should make the fanbase extremely skeptical, even hostile towards Kwesi’s handling of the team. He brings in all these guys that are supposed to create the greatest offensive line in the history of Vikings football and it’s all but certain those five guys will never, ever take the field at the same time. 

    Is it Kwesi’s fault they all got injured, no. Did he know a lot of these guys had injury history and still went all in with them, he absolutely did. That’s why they were available to begin with. 

    Is it Kwesi’s fault they all got injured, no. Did he know a lot of these guys had injury history and still went all in with them, he absolutely did. That’s why they were available to begin with. 

    Throw in the fact that Daniel Jones and Sam Darnold, both on this team last season, look like sure pro bowlers? I don’t see how anybody can have trust in KOC or Kwesi right now.

    Maybe McCarthy comes form and makes me look like an ass. I hope that’s the case. I’ll be the first to admit I was wrong. I hope more than anything I have to eat these words. I just don’t see it.

    Expect another rebuild. This time, it won’t be a competitive one. 

  • #21 ASU at Utah Preview

    SALT LAKE CITY — This Saturday night, No. 21 Arizona State makes its first trip to Rice-Eccles Stadium as a Big 12 opponent, setting the stage for a showdown between two 4–1 teams; and a possible revival of the late-night chaos once known as “Pac-12 After Dark,” stripped away by college football’s super-conference shuffle.

    In classic Pac-12 fashion, this will be the lone primetime matchup among power schools, drawing national attention and giving both teams a chance to secure a quality win against a one-loss opponent.

    Arizona State arrives in Salt Lake City with two impressive wins over ranked TCU and Baylor, earning them a spot in the AP Top 25. Their only loss came in Week 2 against an up-and-coming Mississippi State squad in Starkville. That game ended 24–20, with quarterback Sam Leavitt throwing for just 82 yards but adding a fourth-quarter touchdown to tie the game at 17. Head coach Kenny Dillingham leaned heavily on the run, calling 51 rushing plays for 251 yards while holding Mississippi State to just 61 yards on the ground, a game ASU arguably should have won.

    Despite the loss, ASU’s effort was gritty. Nearly stealing a win on the road in the SEC while throwing for under 100 yards speaks to a team willing to rely on the run and play disciplined defense.

    Looking back to 2024, ASU won the Big 12 in its inaugural season, earned a first-round playoff bye, and took Texas to overtime in Dallas. The Sun Devils erased a two-score deficit before questionable officiating helped Texas advance to face Ohio State, where they ultimately lost by 14. One glaring difference between last year’s ASU squad and this one is the absence of RB Cam Skatteboo, who moved on to the NFL after racking up 2,316 yards of total offense, a level of output nearly impossible to replace.

    Still, ASU returns 17 starters, maintaining continuity that contrasts sharply with Utah’s massive offseason roster overhaul. Utah’s growing pains have been evident. ASU’s portal pickup of RB Kanye Udoh has helped lighten the load for featured back Raleek Brown, allowing Dillingham to balance the offense and mitigate turnovers.

    One Sun Devil to watch is junior WR Jordyn Tyson. The former three-star recruit posted over 1,100 receiving yards last season and is on pace to comfortably surpass that mark. With seven touchdown receptions already, he’s tracking as the top pro prospect on ASU’s roster.

    QB Sam Leavitt, though banged up, has delivered respectable passing numbers and remains a threat on the ground. In 2025, he averaged just over 50 rushing yards and a touchdown per game. Weather could be a major factor this weekend; videos have surfaced of ASU staff spraying Leavitt’s hands with a hose during practice to simulate the stormy conditions forecasted for Salt Lake City.

    Defensively, ASU’s front doesn’t feature marquee names like Texas Tech’s, and they’ll be without star safety Xavion Alford. That opens the door for Utah to find success on offense as they chase their first Big 12 home win.

    Utah’s bread and butter is the run game but it struggled mightily against Texas Tech. Unfortunately for the Utes, ASU ranks second in the conference in run defense, meaning Kyle Whittingham may need to take the shackles off Devon Dampier and let him air it out despite the suboptimal conditions. This could spell disaster for a Utah team that remains the butt of Big 12 jokes until they notch a home conference win.

    For Utah to win, they’ll need to keep the offense balanced and force ASU into turnovers. If Dampier can keep his throws simple and take what the defense gives him on the ground, the Utes should cruise to a low-scoring win. Then again, these are two former Pac-12 teams playing in a thunderstorm at night; the point total is set at 48.5 but could very well reach into the 60s.

    Turnovers doomed Utah against Tech, and they’ll need to protect the ball this week. Playing at night in wet conditions on turf means fumbles are likely, and the Utes need to be the ones recovering them.

    The injury report is a bright spot for Utah. Aside from the absence of safeties Nate Ritchie and Rabbit Evans, the Utes are healthy, a rarity for this program as of late. Inversely, ASU is dealing with a laundry list of injuries. Utah’s intact offensive line should help keep Dampier upright and control possession, Whittingham’s preferred style of football.

    The importance of this game can’t be understated. The victors will emerge 5-1 and likely earn a top 20 spot in the AP poll while the losers fall to 4-2 and will  find themselves out of the poll and assuredly out of playoff contention.

    Prediction: Field goal kicking and turnovers will be critical. Utah wins a rock fight, 17-13.

  • Unaccredited Top 25: Week Six

    DISCLAIMER: I work for a national media affiliate but do not have a vote in the Associated Press poll so my opinion means virtually nothing. These rankings have nothing to do with preseason polls or last season’s results; they’re based on games that have been played this year only. The rankings will be volatile, especially early in the season.

    Not even gonna summarize this past weekend of football; we were all there, and it was incredible. 

    Week six winners: 

    UCLA – Finally won a game and it was the biggest story of the weekend. Let’s look back at the Bruins’ season. They bring in a highly touted QB, they’re new to the Big Ten, things can’t possibly be worse than they’ve already been as of recent. Then they start 0-4, they’re getting rolled by G5 teams, the Rose Bowl is empty every Saturday and the whole thing is falling apart. They fire head coach Deshaun Foster and elevate Tim Skipper to interim head coach. The new head coach gives complete offensive playcalling oversight to Jerry Neuheisel, an assistant coach who played QB at the school and was brought in as a GA and Neuhiesel gets more production out of the offense than any coach has in the last three seasons. UCLA beats #7 Penn State for their first win of the season, the strigg;ling QB throws for five touchdown passes and the new OC gets carried off the field. An all time moment in the history of college football.

    Texas Tech – With Iowa State’s crushing loss at Cincinnati, the Red Raiders are one of two remaining unbeaten Big 12 teams and the only team in the conference ranked inside the top ten. They have the inside track to win the Big 12.

    Miami – Following a defeat of #18 Florida State, the U has now taken down FSU, Florida, USF and Bethune Cookman. At 5-0 the reign supreme in Florida and are ranked #2 in the country behind only Ohio State in the AP Poll. Their non-Florida win? Notre Dame. 

    Week six losers:

    Penn State – This program should be embarrassed for so many reasons I don’t know where to start. James Franklin has taken this team as far as he can. His buyout is enormous and there’s no one available to replace him with. You come into every season ranked in the top five just to lose to Ohio State or Michigan in the big game, you’ve now lost two straight, one to the worst team in FBS and you’ve fallen out of the rankings altogether. And to think this isn’t nearly the most disgraceful era in Penn State football in recent memory. 

    Texas – Came in ranked #1 in the country, hasn’t beaten any formidable opponent yet and the quarterback who has been projected to go first overall in the draft for almost a decade hardly looks like he would start for a G5 team. Texas plays Oklahoma this weekend and are somehow favored to beat the #6 Sooners in the Red River Shootout. A win here would completely fix the mood in Austin, I just don’t see them pulling this one off. 

    The SEC – Alabama is back in the top 10 and rattling off quality wins. They said NIL would create parity in college football and it has just done that. Despite the shifting landscape, the Tide have seemed to bottom out and recover in a five-week span; the more things change, the more they stay the same.

    My rankings:

    1. Oregon was on bye and host #7 Indiana this week. A win of any kind will keep them at #1. 
    2. Ohio State dismantled Minnesota and play Illinois on the road who have really come to form since the Indiana loss
    3. Miami’s win over Florida propels them past Ole Miss, for now. 
    4. Ole Miss is coming off the bye and plays Wazzu this weekend. A loss to the Cougs would hurt them tremendously
    5. Texas A&M is a cult but they’re a cult that’s undefeated and in the SEC.
    6. Indiana just keeps on winning but they took on Oregon this weekend. Oregon and Indiana are participating in a top ten matchup between Big Ten teams, this is the new college football. 
    7. Texas Tech – Undefeated, quality wins at Utah and Houston, loaded roster.
    8. Georgia Tech – One of 11 unbeaten P5 teams. Haynes King is a wrecking ball at QB and one of my favorite players to watch this season.
    9. Virginia – Not how long the transitive property can hold now that Bama’s rolling.
    10. Alabama – That FSU loss seems like a lifetime ago as the Tide return to form. This week’s matchup with unbeaten Mizzou is massive in the SEC championship conversation. 
    11. Missouri
    12. Georgia 
    13. BYU
    14. Tennessee 
    15. Michigan
    16. Illinois
    17. Memphis
    18. LSU
    19. Florida State
    20. Vanderbilt
    21. Cincinatti
    22. Arizona State
    23. North Texas
    24. Iowa State 
    25. South Florida

  • Mammoth Season Preview

    Mitchell Linsley, October 8th, 2025 

    SALT LAKE CITY — The newly minted Utah Mammoth begin their second season of play in Salt Lake City on Oct. 8, 2025. The team takes the ice with a new name, new jerseys that have received critical acclaim, and a renovated arena, giving the franchise an opportunity to further develop an identity unique to this market.

    The ongoing remodeling will create a loud and distinctly Utah environment. The seats behind the nets are the steepest in any NHL arena, reminiscent of Montreal’s Centre Bell, and the lower bowl creates a college-like atmosphere where opposing goaltenders will surely have difficulty blocking out the crowd noise. That advantage could be noteworthy if Utah qualifies for postseason play.

    Further development of this forward core will be key for the organization to take a step forward in 2025-26. One of the most promising aspects of this roster is the depth scoring among the forwards. Clayton Keller, Dylan Guenther, Logan Cooley, Nick Schmaltz, and Jack McBain are all in or nearing the prime of their careers and can easily contribute 20 goals each. Keller was named team captain at 27 and remains the only 30-goal scorer in Utah’s brief history. The highly skilled forward has three more seasons at $7.15 million per year, and it would be ideal forGeneral Manager Bill Armstrong to secure an extension before Keller potentially becomes a 40-goal player and the salary cap rises.

    Winger Dylan Guenther signed an eight-year, $7.14 million extension last season and should be an integral part of Armstrong’s long-term plan. The 2021 first-round selection started the 2024-25 season strong, leading the league in goals for several games before tapering off. He finished last season with 60 points in 70 games. His ability to play both wings adds flexibility, and continued development could make him a highly undervalued asset relative to his cap hit.

    Logan Cooley, 22, enters 2025 in the final year of his entry-level contract with a cap hit under $1 million. The former Minnesota Gopher is the most skilled forward on the roster. Although he contributed 25 goals and 60 points last season, he remains the most dynamic player on the ice, particularly when navigating the neutral zone and crossing the blue line with puck possession. Cooley is expected to see substantial power-play time and has the potential for 35 goals and 40 assists. If he explodes offensively and an extension is not completed before the trade deadline, he could command $7 million or more on the open market.

    Nick Schmaltz enters the final year of his contract and regularly plays as the Mammoth’s first-line center. Securing him with an extension soon will be crucial for maintaining stability up the middle. He is set to hit unrestricted free agency next season and could command a significant salary depending on his performance, influenced by teams’ need for a top-two center and an expected rise in the league salary cap.

    Jack McBain has yet to contribute significantly offensively in Utah but remains a flexible player who can play center or wing. Coach André Tourigny can move him throughout the lineup because of his two-way play. McBain has five years remaining on his contract, and getting production at his current cap hit would be a major boost to the lineup.

    An exciting facet of this roster is the depth scoring across the forward group. Peterka, Cooley, Keller, McBain, and Guenther are all capable of surpassing 20 goals. If three to five of those players eclipse 30 goals, the Mammoth will have a balanced offense, critical in the playoffs. Optimistic projections suggest Utah could produce four 30-goal scorers this season.

    The Mammoth’s defensive core is anchored by Mikhail Sergachev, who has five more seasons at $8.5 million. He is the highest-paid and most decorated player on the roster, providing elite defensive play while contributing on both the power play and penalty kill. The two-time Stanley Cup winner from Russia recorded 53 points last season, ranking fifth on the team, and averaged 25:07 minutes per game, the most of any Mammoth player.

    Sean Durzi contributed four goals and 11 points in 30 games last season and will see time on the second power-play unit. John Marino is a reliable top-four defenseman with two 25-point seasons. Dmitry Simashev, 20, has never played an NHL game but impressed at last year’s prospect camp. At 6-foot-5, he could become a dominant presence once he fills out. He was Arizona’s sixth overall pick in 2023 and has the potential to become a superstar with proper development. Kevin Stenlund, 29, adds size at 6-foot-4 and is a fan favorite. He recorded 14 goals and 14 assists last season and is in a contract year.

    Utah’s goalie tandem features two 29-year-old Czechs. Starter Karel Vejmelka posted a 2.58 goals-against average and a .904 save percentage last season, while backup Vitek Vanecek had a 3.88 GAA and .882 SV%. Their shared age and nationality help create strong chemistry in the locker room. With Vejmelka catching right and Vanecek catching left, opposing teams face distinctly different looks, giving Utah added flexibility in net.

    The Mammoth also added key pieces to the roster. JJ Peterka was acquired via trade from Buffalo. The 23-year-old scored 27 goals and 68 points last season on a struggling Sabres team and is projected to be one of the few Mammoth forwards to reach 30 goals this season. He carries a $7.7 million cap hit over the next five seasons. Brandon Tanev was signed as a free agent, bringing grit, speed, and toughness to the bottom six. At $2.5 million for a fourth-line winger, he is expected to deliver consistent contributions. Nate Schmidt, another Stanley Cup champion, adds defensive depth while providing occasional offensive support. Scott Perunovich, also a free-agent signing, was an elite offensive defenseman at Minnesota Duluth but has yet to make a significant impact in three NHL seasons.

    The team lost Josh Doan and Michael Kesselring in the Peterka trade. Doan was a promising forward with deep ties to the organization, and Kesselring was a solid defenseman with developmental upside, reflecting the organization’s confidence in Peterka. An interesting move from Armstrong came shortly after training camp when Tij Iginla, son of NHL legend Jarome Iginla, was assigned to the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets. Iginla is expected to be a major offensive contributor once he turns pro, having scored well over a point per game in major junior.

    Last season, Utah was competitive but narrowly missed the playoffs, finishing 11th in the Western Conference with 38 wins and 89 points. Optimistic projections suggest three to five forwards could surpass 30 goals this season, giving the Mammoth a balanced offensive attack that will be critical in a playoff push.

    Ryan Smith’s ownership group has made it clear the franchise expects to compete immediately. No Western Conference playoff team from last season is expected to regress significantly, leaving a narrow margin for Utah. Dallas, Colorado, and Winnipeg appear locked into the top three in the Central Division, while Vegas, Edmonton, and Los Angeles are similarly secure in the Pacific. That leaves two wild-card spots for Utah, St. Louis, Minnesota, Anaheim, Calgary, Nashville, and Vancouver.

    Last year’s wild-card teams each present unique challenges. St. Louis remains competitive and is expected to build further around its core. Minnesota, dominant when healthy, enters “win-now” mode after locking up Kirill Kaprizov and Filip Gustavsson. Anaheim and San Jose feature young, ascending cores poised to challenge for playoff positioning. Calgary finished last season strong with a physical style that makes them a difficult out. Nashville boasts a talented roster expected to rebound, and Vancouver faces urgency to win to retain Quinn Hughes. Utah will need its forward core to develop, new additions to contribute immediately, and its goaltending tandem to perform consistently to seize one of the available wild-card spots.

    If the core develops as expected and the new additions bring depth, toughness, and scoring, Utah could add at least five wins, putting them around 43 wins and 99 points. That projection would make them either the last team in or the first team out of the playoffs in year two of NHL hockey in the Beehive State.

  • No Room for Error: Wild Go All-In with Kaprizov

    The Minnesota Wild made league history this week, signing Kirill Kaprizov to an eight-year, $136 million extension. It is the largest contract in NHL history by both annual cap hit and total value. A player of Kaprizov’s caliber guarantees relevance; as long as he’s on the ice, the Wild won’t completely fade from contention.

    The Wild’s future rests on a young core built around Matt Boldy, Brock Faber, Zeev Buium, Joel Eriksson Ek and Marco Rossi. Kaprizov’s health is imperative in this group’s development; it’s no secret that Boldy, Ek, Rossi and Zuccarello all produce more when Kaprizov’s in the lineup, either because he opens up the ice and relieves pressure for them or allows them a spot on the second or third line where they won’t play against opponents’ shut down forwards.

    This situation is all too familiar among tenured Wild fans. Back in 2012, the massive signings of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter were meant to anchor a roster that relied heavily on the development of prospects like Mikael Granlund, Charlie Coyle, Nino Niederreiter, Matt Dumba, Jason Zucker and Erik Haula. That group produced solid NHL players, but never the game breakers the organization desperately needed, considering how highly touted Minnesota farm system was in the 2010s.

    Jonas Brodin and Jared Spurgeon did emerge as reliable franchise cornerstones, turning Minnesota’s blue line into one of the league’s best for over a decade. Unfortunately it’s now 2025 and the Wild will soon be confronted with the arduous task of replacing the two, especially an elite skating defender like Brodin, who will likely retire with the most games played in franchise history. The crucial distinction this time is that the Wild’s success isn’t expected to come from a collective balance. Unlike the Parise/Suter blueprint, this era revolves around a singular superstar in Kaprizov with the young core asked to grow into complementary pieces around him.

    Guerin has moved to surround Kaprizov with more Russian talent. Vladimir Tarasenko is by no means the player he was when the St. Louis Blues hoisted Lord Stanley in 2018, but if he can regain even part of that touch, he could be an important addition, especially on the power play. A 25 goal scorer on the second or third line would be a spectacular addition to this club. Yakov Trenin gives the lineup a dependable bottom-six center with some offensive upside, and with three years left on his contract at $3.5 million, he offers cost certainty in a role the Wild have struggled to fill.

    Danila Yurov is another intriguing piece. In the final three years of his entry-level contract, he brings first-round talent at a league-minimum cap hit. The decision to draft him may have been influenced by the appeal of adding another Russian player to the mix but the upside is palpable. At just 21 and with the Wild’s track record of injuries, Yurov should get a chance to contribute in a middle-six role and possibly see substantial time on the second power-play unit.

    Yurov’s production in the KHL last season was strong, putting up 49 points in 62 games for Metallurg Magnitogorsk. KHL stats often undersell offensive impact because secondary assists aren’t recorded. For context, Kaprizov posted 61 points in 57 games during his final year with CSKA Moscow before stepping into the NHL and winning the Calder Trophy in the pandemic-shortened season.

    This summer marked the beginning of a new era in Minnesota. With the Parise and Suter buyouts finally off the books, the Wild can operate without the crushing weight of a massive dead cap hit. General Manager Bill Guerin resisted the urge to overspend this offseason and should be commended for it. 2025 didn’t provide a strong free agent class and teams paid a premium for players like Nikolaj Ehlers and JJ Peterka; quality forwards, but not the type to change a franchise. The Wild would have had to overpay, especially with the cap set to rise in the near future.

    The bet now is on health. When the roster was intact last year, Minnesota was a top-five team by record and Kaprizov was tracking as the Hart Trophy favorite. Management is gambling that a full season with a healthy core can carry over that momentum, while leaving the door open to make a bigger move in free agency next summer, when the team could present itself as a more attractive destination with money to spend.

    It is, however, a gamble rooted in optimism. Even after committing to the largest contract in NHL history, for a winger nonetheless, Guerin has managed to preserve some flexibility, a stark contrast from the $14 million deficit the team operated under during the buyout years.

    The Wild’s new priority is to re-sign is Filip Gustavsson; if he gets to free agency next offseason with no significant offer from the Wild, he could easily get a much more lucrative deal from a team desperate for a quality goaltender, perhaps a team like Edmonton, Vegas or Toronto.

    If the salary cap continues to rise and Kaprizov maintains his level of production, Minnesota should have an easier time attracting free agents, especially at center where help is most needed. Realistically, these signings will be short-term deals for veteran players nearing the end of their careers. The more critical task for management is finding value in younger players who haven’t met expectations elsewhere. A 25 or 26-year-old center, once drafted high but in need of a fresh start, could thrive alongside Kaprizov and Boldy.

    Minnesota will never be a marquee market in the national landscape, which is a disadvantage in bringing in European talent in free agency. The path to landing top-end talent without overspending is narrow. The only way to make it viable is through results: deep playoff runs, proof of sustained success and Kaprizov continuing to establish himself as a perennial Hart and Rocket Richard candidate. That combination is what can transform the Wild from an average to above average club into a national free-agent destination.

    Ownership and management have expressed their desire to secure another big fish to bolster the lineup, either in free agency or at the trade deadline. Next season’s free-agent market should be more favorable for buyers compared with this year. The class is deep, and the top-tier players will likely sign quickly, especially now that Kaprizov has set the market. You can watch Guerin’s lengthy interview with KFAN’s Dan Barriero below.

    The current state of the leagues add pressure to Kaprizov’s situation; Kyle Connor, McDavid and Jack Eichel have all signed extensions with substantially less AAV than the Wild will pay Kaprizov. 97 will be the highest paid player in hockey for at least this season.

    Minnesota’s realistic targets will probably come from the second tier of this upcoming class. Adrian Kempe should be this team’s absolute top priority if he doesn’t get a deal done with the LA Kings soon. the 29 year old Swede plays a fantastic 200 foot game and would provide Kaprizov an elite counterpart at wing.

    Another forward with a nonzero amount of experience at center (albeit in the Czech league with Kometa Brno) , Martin Necas could be a trade candidate if Colorado doesn’t extend him although the Mikko Rantanen debacle will force Colorado’s hand to overpay Necas in an attempt to save face.

    An aging Evgeni Malkin also presents an intriguing but improbable-at-best option. Malkin fits the new Russian connection mold Geurin is subtly establishing. He’s won three Stanley Cups, a Hart Trophy, two Art Ross trophies, a Calder and a Conn Smythe. Malkin has one or two productive years left and the Penguins have don’t nothing to show they’ll be competitive in the short term.

    Maybe Geurin and Marc-Andre Fleury, who recently put down roots in Minnesota permanently, can put on their recruiting caps and capitalize on their Pittsburgh connections to get Sidney Crosby to come over too, and play in the state where he played high school at Shattuck-St. Mary’s. It should be noted Guerin, Fleury, Crosby and Malkin won a Stanley Cup together in 2009. This is a pipe dream.

    Anders Lee could serve as a short-term homecoming option at center, finishing out his career in a familiar setting for the former Edina Hornet. Any of these additions would be low-risk, short-term moves, but the more prudent path may be relying on internal development. The key for the Wild will be nurturing players in the system fast enough to avoid reaching for free agents out of necessity.

    No matter how things unfold, Wild fans can breathe a sigh of relief. Losing Kaprizov would have set the team back at least five years, leaving them without a star to help develop the young core. Without 97, they may as well be an expansion team headed into 2026. The crisis has been avoided: a repeat of Marian Gaborik’s departure in free agency. That loss sank the Wild into a prolonged stretch of mediocrity and ultimately contributed to the Parise and Suter contracts that have long weighed on the team. It’s up to Bill Guerin to assure wild fans don’t suffer the same fate once more, another decade in the doldrums.

    Mitchell Linsley

  • Unaccredited Top 25: Week Five

    DISCLAIMER: I work for a national media affiliate but do not have a vote in the Associated Press poll so my opinion means virtually nothing. These rankings have nothing to do with preseason polls or last season’s results; they’re based on games that have been played this year only. The rankings will be volatile, especially early in the season.

    The 27th day of September, in the year of our Lord 2025 provided a historic day of television for those who fancy themselves connoisseurs of college football. Virginia’s upset of #8 FSU set the table for a day so momentous that its impacts won’t soon be forgotten in the national conversation. Ole Miss at LSU, Auburn at A&M Tennessee at Miss. State and GT vs. Wake Forest all came down to the wire in the early state, even Vanderbilt looked to be on upset alert early hosting a pesky Utah State team.

    What culminated Saturday night were two instant classics in Oregon/Penn State and Alabama Georgia and a little dessert for the west coast watchers in BYU visiting Colorado, which stirred more controversy in the stands than on the field.

    Putting together rankings for this week was difficult, I relied heavily on the transitive property and quality of wins, rather than strength of schedule, injuries and quality of losses. This is especially apparent in my rankings of Georgia, Alabama, FSU and Virginia.

    Biggest Winners of Week Five: 

    Alabama has rebounded spectacularly and could win the SEC for the first time in this new college football landscape. DeBoer remains undefeated against Sark, Lanning and Smart. The Tide are back on track and if that one lady wins the state lottery, she can keep the $71M. 

    Lane Kiffin is an obvious one; that’s a game you have to win to keep order at home.

    Hoosier Nation is undefeated after what some would call the most fraudulent 11-win season in the history of the Big Ten. Winning at Kinnick is never easy and they have the bye week to recover from that 20-15 rock fight.

    Iowa State is unbeaten, already got Iowa out of the way and doesn’t have to play Texas Tech or Utah in the regular season.

    Biggest Losers: 

    USC complained about the early kickoff as if they didn’t dismantle the conference predicated on playing late games and mitigating travel among spread out western power schools. Expect them to keep suffering in this cornfield-laden hell that they anointed themselves to.

    James Franklin can’t win a big game unless it’s against a crippled Utah team in the Rose Bowl. I commend Penn State for choosing Oregon for the whiteout game but next year, maybe play Michigan State. Penn State will make the playoffs but I’d bet my life they don’t win the national championship.

    Arkansas – Players can’t redshirt after five games without losing a year of eligibility so you knew this would be Sam Pittman’s final stand and they laid an egg. Bobby Petrino back in Fayetteville coaching with nothing to lose will be entertaining at the very least. 

    My Top 25:

    1. Oregon has the best resume in the country featuring a top five win on the road; they can add to this resume when they take on a top ten Indiana team with both squads coming off the bye. Dante Moore is my Heisman favorite.
    2. Ohio State has the second best resume, beat a number one ranked team and handled business at Washington, a place where Oregon is known to struggle. The two schools don’t have each other on the schedule and see themselves on a collision course for a postseason rematch. 
    3. Ole Miss hosted LSU in a huge top ten, SEC matchup. Lane Kiffin coached marginally better than Brian Kelly and the Rebs head into the bye unbeaten.
    4. Miami didn’t play this week, remained undefeated and sits atop the ACC with the FSU loss.
    5. Texas A&M put up another quality win, this time over Auburn. They don’t put too much reliance on their QB which limits turnovers. They do  rely heavily on Le’Veon Moss who has been a machine this year, contributing 139 and a score on the ground last week. 
    6. Indiana is a 5-0 Big Ten team and just might be the best team in Indiana. Fernando Mendoza is putting up top tier numbers and could very well take this team back to a Big Ten title game now that Michigan and Penn State have sustained losses. The looming openings for jobs like Florida, Clemson and Arkansas could cast a cloud of uncertainty over Cignetti’s long term future with IU. 
    7. Texas Tech is the best team in the Big 12 and has proven you can absolutely buy a successful roster if you have the right funding, management and coaching. Joey MacGuire has done a fantastic job with this team, especially in the trenches. 
    8. Iowa State will be the best team in the Big 12 the moment Tech takes a loss. The Cyclones and Red Raiders are on the insane track to meet in Dallas for a conference championship.
    9. Penn State is still an elite team and will qualify for the twelve-team playoff. The Oregon loss will be hard to overcome in terms of getting into the top five but a November matchup with Ohio State will give James Franklin a chance to redeem himself in the eyes of the fan base. Until this team wins a national title, it’s just the same old Penn State. 
    10. Virginia (!) is undefeated and took down FSU in a double overtime thriller which saw a Seminoles receiver possibly get trampled to death. By the transitive property that propels the Hoos into the rankings past FSU who beat Alabama who beat Georgia who beat Tennessee.
    11. Mizzou
    12. Georgia Tech
    13. Florida State 
    14. Alabama 
    15. Georgia 
    16. Tennessee 
    17. Illinois 
    18. Vanderbilt 
    19. Texas
    20. Mississippi State 
    21. Michigan 
    22. Notre Dame
    23. BYU
    24. Arizona State 
    25. Utah

  • Unaccredited Top 25: Week Four

    DISCLAIMER: I work for a national media affiliate but do not have a vote in the Associated Press poll so my opinion means virtually nothing. These rankings have nothing to do with preseason polls or last season’s results; they’re based on games that have been played this year only. The rankings will be volatile, especially early in the season. 

    This past weekend gave the college football faithful a handful of  close games among those expected to win through the regular season, while other teams faltered when put in a spot to ascend in the national conversation. The Big Ten and SEC continue to implement their stronghold on the coveted 1-12 spots while some of the other conferences’ “at large” contenders chomped at the bit to crash the party.

    Winners of Week Three:

    Texas Tech was dominant at Utah and could gave found an upgrade at QB following Morton’s injury in the second quarter at Utah. The Red Raiders steamrolled the Utes in the trenches in a nationally televised game for all to see. They appear to be the class of the Big 12 and possibly could be the best team in Texas. Expect this team to be around in January. 

    Indiana hosted a top ten Illinois and just took them out to the wood shed. Curt Cignetti has this unit playing with a chip on their shoulder, no thanks to the national media’s criticism of his team that won 11 games and made the playoffs last season. With Iowa and Oregon on the schedule, we might know exactly who this IU squad is in two weeks time. Fernando Mendoza has also looked like a top tier QB thus far and should be scouted as an NFL prospect.

    https://twitter.com/Jordan_Reid/status/1970108745989669318/video/1

    USC has seemingly re-written the narrative of their program in Lincoln Reilly’s tenure and has fielded quite a serviceable defense, perhaps one of the best in the Big Ten. At 4-0, the Trojans have the opportunity to perhaps break into the top five with upcoming games against Illinois, Michigan and Notre Dame. Had the Caleb Williams teams of yesteryear played with this much resolve, he likely could have played in a national championship game. 

    Loser of Week Three:

    Oklahoma State fired their head coach following a beat down by G5 Tulsa at home as 10.5 point favorites. Mike Gundy’s 21 year tenure as head coach in Stillwater has come to a close in disastrous fashion and Cowboys enter the meaty part of their schedule very much behind the eight-ball.

    https://twitter.com/barstoolsports/status/1970533631186870404/video/1

    Utah fans talked a lot of trash to Texas Tech and Big 12 fans as a whole leading up to Saturday. The 28 point loss, littered with turnovers, horrible offensive play calling and miscues on special teams saw the Utes drop out of the rankings altogether. To add insult to injury, TTU moved up to #12 and BYU broke into the top 25. The Utes could go on to finish 11-1 and not make the playoffs and they still haven’t won a home game against a Big 12 opponent since joining the conference. I think it’s fair to speculate when the team moves on from Whittingham just like OSU with Gundy. 

    Cal had some momentum and started out hot, seemingly out of nowhere. Their QB was getting national praise, then they went to San Diego State and lost 34-0. Ouch.

    My Top 25:

    1. Ohio State
    2. Miami 
    3. LSU
    4. Penn State 
    5. Oregon
    6. Georgia 
    7. Florida State 
    8. Texas Tech
    9. Texas A&M 
    10. Indiana
    11. Oklahoma 
    12. Ole Miss 
    13. Michigan
    14. Iowa State 
    15. USC
    16. Texas 
    17. Tennessee
    18. Georgia Tech
    19. Alabama 
    20. TCU
    21. BYU
    22. Vanderbilt
    23. Mississippi State 
    24. Missouri 
    25. Illinois 

  • Texas Tech at Utah Preview

    Tomorrow at 10am local time, the earliest game since I’ve lived in Utah, the 16th ranked Utes are set to host the 17th ranked Red Raiders of Texas Tech in the first meeting between the two programs since 1973. 

    It should be noted Texas Tech won that game 29-22.

    The result is likely to decide the fate of the Big 12, especially with Kansas State’s unforeseen fall from grace. FOX Big Noon Kickoff will broadcast their weekly show live from Rice Eccles Stadium and the eyes of the nation will turn their focus on Salt Lake City for the early slate Saturday.

    Entering the season as two of the prohibitive favorites to contend for what will likely be just one playoff spot awarded to the conference, the build up has been usually high for a matchup between two programs who haven’t met in over five decades. 

    This game provides considerable intrigue for a few reasons.

    TTU and Utah are both 3-0 with wins over what some would call cupcake schools. In Utah’s case, UCLA, Cal Poly and Wyoming and in Tech’s, AR-Pine Bluff, Kent State and Oregon State. 

    As the national rankings indicate at this very moment, neither program will face a ranked opponent for the remainder of the season after this weekend. A win would be a propitious opportunity to keep the wheels turning toward an undefeated regular season. 

    Another component is the big picture we could be forced to look at come season’s end. Let’s say the loser of this game finishes 11-1 and doesn’t win the Big 12. The national media, the fans and most importantly, the playoff committee (who don’t actually watch any of these west coast games) are going to reminisce on this September weekend and say, “Well, they played one ranked opponent all season and lost, so this conference really isn’t worthy of sending two teams to the College Football Playoff.”

    Both of these programs were recognized entering the season as having the most effective offensive and defensive lines in the conference. Utah’s strength in the trenches is part of the program’s identity over the last two decades while Texas Tech has used NIL to buy themselves a defensive front full of NFL talent.

    Cody Cambell is a billionaire and the Co-founder & Co-CEO of Double Eagle Energy Holdings, an oil & gas extraction company headquartered in Fort Worth. Why does this matter? Cambell is a fourth-generation alum of TTU and played offensive lineman for the Red Raiders from 2001-2004. He’s got deep pockets and is willing to invest in his alma mater, much like Phil Knight and his involvement at the University of Oregon. 

    Texas Tech’s edge rushers David Bailey and Romello Height will be central to this game. Bailey, a projected Day 2 draft pick, lines up against Utah tackles Spencer Fano and Caleb Lomu in what should be the biggest test of his career, and the toughest challenge the young Utah tackles will face all season.

    Texas Tech’s triple threat at receiver, Reggie Virgil, Caleb Douglas, and Coy Eakin, gives QB Behren Morton multiple deep-ball options and will be the toughest test Utah’s secondary has faced all season. The Utes have a solid back end, but the secondary isn’t the strength of the defense. There is no Clark Phillips or Jaylon Johnson to shadow a single receiver for an entire game. The unit is also thinner than expected with the season-ending loss of Rabbit Evans.

    Utah is expected to rely heavily on their tight ends, a wrinkle Texas Tech hasn’t seen this season. Will linebacker Jacob Rodrigues, who spent a full year as Virginia’s quarterback before transferring to Tech, brings a rare combination of football IQ and instinct. Now in his second year linebacker and considered an NFL prospect, Rodrigues will be tasked with limiting the production of Dallen Bentley and JJ Buchanan, who Dampier has leaned on heavily thus far.

    Texas Tech has a path to victory if Utah starts slow like they did in Laramie. The Utes have a history of playing up and down to their competition mwanwhile Texas Tech’s defensive and offensive lines represent the toughest fronts Utah will likely face all season. History also suggests Utah can be vulnerable when national shows come to town, with multiple College GameDay losses over the past decade to programs like Oregon, Washington and Cal.

    Utah has several advantages that could carry them to a win. They are at home, where the environment will be loud, intense and hostile. Their pro-style defense features some big bodies up front, and Logan Fano could disrupt Texas Tech’s game plan. The Utes also have an elite coaching staff and Whittham has a knack for getting the team up for big games, though it will be interesting to see how they respond without the usual “Utah at night” factor. Quarterback Devon Dampier and his fellow Lobo transfers have carried the offense so far, but they will be tested by a legitimate defense for the first time since facing Auburn last season. Meanwhile, Snowden and Dampier are excellent at setting the tone and could get the rushing attack rolling downhill early.

    All told, this should be a compelling matchup. The game will almost certainly be decided by key battles in the trenches, the quarterback-to-receiver connections, and how each defense handles the opponent’s top playmakers. With both teams ranked and the winner likely shaping the Big 12 race, Saturday presents a prime opportunity to make a statement on the national stage.

    I predict Utah wins this one 29-23.

    My Top 25:

    1. LSU
    2. Miami
    3. Oregon
    4. Ohio State
    5. Georgia
    6. Penn State
    7. Texas A&M
    8. Utah
    9. Illinois
    10. Florida State
    11. Illinois
    12. Tennessee
    13. Oklahoma
    14. Ole Miss
    15. Texas
    16. Notre Dame
    17. Iowa State
    18. Alabama
    19. Mizzou
    20. Texas Tech
    21. Georgia Tech
    22. Auburn
    23. Mississippi State
    24. BYU
    25. Indiana

    Mitchell Linsley

  • Sinners (2025) Review

    Sinners arrived earlier this year riding considerable hype, bolstered by the star power of Michael B. Jordan and Hailee Steinfeld. Directed by Ryan Coogler, I went in with no knowledge of the story, premise, or critical response. To my surprise, I found myself engaged throughout. Coogler’s past work , notably Black Panther and the Creed films, never resonated with me, so I didn’t expect much. In fact, had I known in advance this was his project, I likely would have not have given it a chance. 

    Before diving further into the plot, it’s worth examining the characters, who are truly the heart of Sinners. Their arcs, performances, and interactions carry much of the film’s weight, and understanding them is key to appreciating how the story unfolds.

    The strongest element of Sinners lies in its character work. The film takes its time showing how each figure’s life has been shaped by the realities of the Jim Crow South, making their struggles and ambitions feel lived-in. That grounding pays off;  it’s easy to become invested in their arcs. Coogler supports this with striking cinematography, particularly in sequences of the Twins driving down dusty Delta roads, gathering old friends against a backdrop of cotton fields. The technical side holds up as well: the audio design is sharp, and the soundtrack adds depth without overwhelming the narrative.

    When I first realized Michael B. Jordan would be playing twins, I was understandably skeptical. Yet the twins’ backstory: working for Capone in Chicago, securing a massive score, and returning to Mississippi to open a juke joint proved compelling. The film does a remarkable job showing how the community evolved in their absence, while everyone still either respected, loved, or feared them. Jordan instills the characters with charisma and gravitas, providing a dynamic center for the story to orbit around.

    R&B singer Miles Caton, stepping into acting for the first time, delivers the standout performance of the film. Little Sammy’s journey from a preacher’s son cautiously navigating the lifestyle of sinners to a young man asserting his ambition beyond the Delta, is handled with nuance. One of his defining moments, at the train station, standing his ground with Delta Slim and Pearline, captures the essence of his early development. Musically, the character is vibrant and integral to the narrative, a natural fit given Caton’s real-life talents. The closing scenes, showing Little Sammy reunited with Stack and Mary decades later in Chicago, provide a rare moment of mystery in an otherwise meticulously foreshadowed story.

    Annie, portrayed by Wunmi Mosaku, is one of the film’s most compelling characters. A strong, witty Hoodoo practitioner and herbalist, she serves as a protector for her community, relying on her instincts and spiritual practices to guide and defend those around her, including her long-lost lover, Smoke. Her role during the vampire invasion, insisting that Smoke drive a wooden stake through her heart to prevent her soul from being replaced, highlights her agency and creates a truly heartbreaking and memorable moment for the audience. Annie’s deep connection to her culture and spirituality, coupled with her past with Smoke and the shared loss of their daughter, adds emotional weight and richness to the narrative, providing the audience with a grounded, human anchor amid the supernatural chaos.

    Remmick, the Irishman-turned-vampire, is a villain both terrifying and darkly humorous. James O’Connell delivers a performance that is simultaneously evil, human, and eerily charismatic. If not for Caton’s performance, this would be the best performance in the film. His portrayal draws parallels between heaven and hell within the Jim Crow South and highlights the illusory freedoms afforded to black communities, suggesting how submission to the vampires might have been “better” in a grotesque sense. The role demanded musicality and physicality and O’Connell utilized those attributes to command every scene he occupies, making him an undeniably compelling antagonist.


    Hailee Steinfeld’s character, Mary, is less memorable as she is attractive, though she delivers a few notable moments, particularly a climactic sex scene in which she kills Stack. While her presence is limited, it arguably benefits the film, granting Steinfeld enough to make an impact without overshadowing the richly developed cast.

    While the ensemble cast brings depth and nuance to the story, the film’s structure doesn’t always serve them well. As the narrative shifts from character-driven moments to broader plot mechanics, the pacing begins to falter, revealing some tonal inconsistencies that affect how the story unfolds.

    The film opens with a two-minute tangent that felt oddly Disney-esque to me (light, whimsical, and frankly, kind of lame). It sets up the climax so transparently that the rest of the movie becomes a waiting game. For the first hour or so, the audience isn’t really discovering anything; we’re just sitting around waiting for the inevitable chaos to unfold. That early reveal robs the story of tension and mystery, which could’ve made the buildup far more compelling.

    One of the film’s most striking qualities is its heavy use of foreshadowing; some subtle, others glaringly overt. Early on, the priest warns his son, Little Sammy, that if he keeps dancing with the devil that one day the devil will follow him home. This line is immediately followed by a “one day earlier” title card, which leaves little mystery about the dark events to come. 

    Visually, the cinematography shines in moments like the car ride through dusty backroads and cotton fields, as the twins return from Chicago and reconnect with old friends. Those scenes are beautifully shot and carry a nostalgic weight. Symbolism is woven throughout, such as the killing of a snake in the back of a truck; a clear nod to ancient and biblical associations of serpents with evil. The audio work is also worth mentioning: the soundtrack complements the mood well, and the overall sound design adds depth to the setting without being overbearing.

    That said, certain choices undercut the tension. Grace’s decision to let all the vampires in with a simple command compresses what could have been a drawn-out, terrifying confrontation into a brief scene. A more deliberate buildup, perhaps a dawn showdown between the Klan and the vampires, might have delivered a more gripping climax, and even offered a darkly clever allegory for the monstrous reality of the Klan.

    I didn’t expect Sinners to land as a horror film, but it succeeds in surprising and engaging its audience. The performances are strong, even outstanding in several key moments, and the script largely holds up, balancing character development with suspense. While a few plot points stumble or could have been handled differently, the film remains compelling and well-crafted. Its 7.6 rating on IMDb feels appropriate.