With the 5-3 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night, the Atlanta Braves are now 4-13 since June 9. At least now they can say dreaded month is over. They can mentally turn the page.
As we look ahead to July, we’ll look at who needs the new month the most and needs to keep doing what they’re already doing.
Saving Grace: Mauricio Dubón
As the offense has continued to sink, Dubón has experienced an inverse trend. Since June 9, he has batted .290 with a .754 OPS, two home runs and seven RBIs.
Both his season average and season OPS increased. He went hitless once in his final 17 games of June, and finished the month on an eight-game hitting streak. It’s unfortunate for him that what he’s doing hasn’t been able to translate to the win column.
Needs New Month: Drake Baldwin
At least he didn’t finish the month on a hitless streak. His single in the bottom of the seventh gave him his first base knock since June 17, his second game back.
He had 50 plate appearances since he returned. He’s gone 3-for-48 with a walk and reaching base on a hit by pitch. His strikeout rate is 44% overall during that span.
Baldwin needs to see what it’s July 1 and smack that reset button.
If it means anything, he’s been putting the ball in play more as of late. He has struck out four times in his last 19 trips to the plate. There has been some harder contact mixed in there that hasn’t gone his way. Maybe something will start to drop or find a hole during the new month.
Saving Grace: Chris Sale
Chris Sale continues to do what he does as the ace of the staff. He hasn’t gotten the run support, but he has gotten the job done regardless. In four starts, he had a 2.35 ERA with 29 strikeouts.
Baserunners gave him trouble. While he walked five total batters, he allowed 29 hits. To his credit, he managed to work around it. Regardless of whether they were flying high during the first week of the month or the misery that followed, Sale has been the same.
Needs New Month: Ha-Seong Kim
Maybe this will be the month that Kim starts to turn the corner. That’s as positive of an angle that can be found. There is no way to sugarcoat this one.
Kim’s last hit was on June 6. He’s only started five games during this tailspin. In five other games, he’s seen action in a game but never stepped in the batters box. The Braves haven’t been able to afford to wait and see.
Some of his recent swings have been better, but until some results show, the Braves aren’t going to have much confidence. Maybe that comes in July. We’ll find out.
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]]>In New York City before World War II, all oral leases ended on May 1. On the same day, a vast number of the city’s renters would pick up and change residences. This phenomenon was known, appropriately enough, as “Moving Day.”
Moving Day may have died out in the Big Apple, but a version of it persists in the world of college athletics. On July 1, athletic directors everywhere will ditch their 2025–26 calendars in favor of 2026–27. With the start of the new academic year, over two dozen schools playing FBS football and/or Division I basketball will change conferences.
Here’s a look at the programs changing conferences Wednesday in either basketball or football, followed by a brief note on each.
Every Division I school switching conferences on July 1 in basketball or FBS football
|
SCHOOL |
OLD CONFERENCE |
NEW CONFERENCE |
|---|---|---|
|
Austin Peay |
Atlantic Sun |
United Athletic |
|
Boise State |
Mountain West |
Pac-12 |
|
California Baptist |
WAC |
Big West |
|
Central Arkansas |
Atlantic Sun |
United Athletic |
|
Colorado State |
Mountain West |
Pac-12 |
|
Denver |
Summit |
West Coast |
|
Eastern Kentucky |
Atlantic Sun |
United Athletic |
|
Fresno State |
Mountain West |
Pac-12 |
|
Gonzaga |
West Coast |
Pac-12 |
|
Hawai’i |
Big West |
Mountain West |
|
Little Rock |
Ohio Valley |
United Athletic |
|
Louisiana Tech |
Conference USA |
Sun Belt |
|
North Alabama |
Atlantic Sun |
United Athletic |
|
North Dakota State |
Missouri Valley (football only) |
Mountain West (football only) |
|
Northern Illinois |
MAC |
Horizon League (most sports), Mountain West (football only) |
|
Oregon State |
West Coast (non-football) |
Pac-12 |
|
Sacramento State |
Big Sky |
Big West (most sports), MAC (football only) |
|
Saint Francis |
Northeast |
Presidents’ Athletic (Division III) |
|
San Diego State |
Mountain West |
Pac-12 |
|
Southern Utah |
WAC |
Big Sky |
|
Tennessee Tech |
Ohio Valley |
Southern |
|
Texas State |
Sun Belt |
Pac-12 |
|
UC Davis |
Big West |
Mountain West (not football) |
|
Utah State |
Mountain West |
Pac-12 |
|
Utah Tech |
WAC |
Big Sky |
|
Utah Valley |
WAC |
Big West |
|
UTEP |
Conference USA |
Mountain West |
|
Washington State |
West Coast (non-football) |
Pac-12 |
|
West Florida |
Gulf South (Division II) |
Atlantic Sun (not football) |
|
West Georgia |
Atlantic Sun |
United Athletic |
Austin Peay
The Governors are leaving the Atlantic Sun for the United Athletic (a rebranded WAC) after four years. To join the Atlantic Sun, the Governors left the Ohio Valley—their home of six decades—in 2022.
Boise State
The Broncos are departing the Mountain West for the Pac-12—a reconstitution of the once-towering Western league following its 2024 implosion—after 15 years. The Broncos thrived in their old home, peaking on the gridiron with a 12–2 campaign in ’24.
California Baptist
The Lancers are leaving the WAC—the only Division I home they’ve ever known—for the Big West after eight years, and doing so on the heels of its first-ever NCAA tournament appearance.
Central Arkansas
The Bears are leaving the Atlantic Sun for the United Athletic after five years. The Bears’ winning men’s basketball season in ’26 was only their second in Division I.
Colorado State
The Rams are leaving the Mountain West for the Pac-12 after 27 years. The Rams were a charter member of the league and posted three 10-win football seasons there (2000, ‘02, ’14), and were frequent flyers in both NCAA basketball tournaments.
Denver
The Pioneers are leaving the Summit League for the West Coast Conference after 13 years. Denver, far better known for its hockey success, never made an NCAA basketball tournament in the Upper Midwest-centric conference.
Eastern Kentucky
The Colonels are leaving the Atlantic Sun for the United Athletic after five years. Like Austin Peay, EKU was a longtime member of the Ohio Valley, playing men’s basketball in that league from 1949 to 2021.
Fresno State
The Bulldogs are leaving the Mountain West for the Pac-12 after 14 years. Fresno State won 10 football games on five separate occasions in their old conference, most recently in ’22.
Gonzaga
The Bulldogs are leaving the West Coast Conference for the Pac-12 after 47 years. No move being made Wednesday is more significant, as Gonzaga transformed itself into a national men’s basketball power in the WCC—winning the league regular season title 27 times and the league tournament 23 times, while falling one win short of the national title in 2017 and `21.
Hawai’i
Hawai’i departs the Big West for the Mountain West (where it already plays football) after 14 years. The Rainbow Warriors made NCAA men’s tournaments in their old home in 2016 and ’26, upsetting a California team that starred forward Jaylen Brown in the first round of the ‘16 tournament.
Little Rock
The Trojans are leaving Ohio Valley for the United Athletic after four years. Little Rock was a bit of an awkward cultural fit for the OVC, having spent 1992 to ’22 in the Sun Belt before being caught up in the post-pandemic realignment wave.
Louisiana Tech
The Bulldogs leave Conference USA for the Sun Belt after 13 years. This move set off a protracted legal tiff over Louisiana Tech’s actual date of departure, which was only ironed out in late April.
North Alabama
The Lions are leaving the Atlantic Sun for the United Athletic after eight years. The Atlantic Sun is the only basketball league that North Alabama has competed in since jumping to Division I before the 2019 campaign.
North Dakota State
The Bison are leaving the Missouri Valley Football Conference for the Mountain West in football only after 18 years. This is a seismic move, as NDSU won a gobsmacking 10 FCS national titles under the MVFC’s jurisdiction.
Fischer: Why North Dakota State Joined the Mountain West and Made the Jump to FBS
Northern Illinois
UNI is leaving the MAC for the Mountain West in football and the Horizon League in most sports after 29 years. This is not a wholly unfamiliar move for the Huskies, who’ve been highly successful on the gridiron in the MAC: they played football in the Big West for three years in the 1990s, and three years in the Midwestern Collegiate Conference (now the Horizon League) in the same decade.
Oregon State
The Beavers are leaving the West Coast Conference for the new-look Pac-12 after two years. There are special circumstances at play here—Oregon State played two years in the WCC and two years as de facto football independents after the implosion of the old Pac-12 before the ’24 football season.
Sacramento State
Sac State is leaving the Big Sky for the MAC in football and the Big West in most sports after 20 years. The Hornets are making a major bet on their NIL infrastructure, seemingly hoping it will mask the fact they’ve won just two FCS playoff games since moving up from Division II in 1993.
Saint Francis
SFU is leaving the Northeast Conference for the Presidents’ Athletic Conference in Division III after 45 years. The Red Wolves (rebranded from the Red Flash ahead of their move down in divisions), battered by college sports’ age of above-board commercialism, are bowing out of Division I altogether—taking with them 14 NCAA basketball tournament appearances (12 from their women, two from their men).
San Diego State
The Aztecs are leaving the Mountain West for the Pac-12 after 27 years. Like Colorado State, SDSU was a charter member of the conference, and they may have provided its signature moment (guard Lamont Butler’s game-winning shot against Florida Atlantic in the 2023 men’s Final Four).
Southern Utah
SUU is leaving the WAC for the Big Sky after four years away from the conference. The Thunderbirds previously played basketball in the Big Sky from 2013 to ’22.
Tennessee Tech
The Golden Eagles are leaving the Ohio Valley for the Southern Conference after 78 years, giving the the school the distinction of being the longest-tenured conference member to switch leagues this offseason. The move will make Morehead State the sole member of the OVC to have joined that conference before the 1980s.
Texas State
The Bobcats are leaving the Sun Belt for the Pac-12 after 13 years. The distance between San Marcos, Texas and (say) San Diego is about 1,300 miles.
UC Davis
UCD is leaving the Big West for the Mountain West in all sports but football after 19 years. The Aggies will continue to play football in the Big Sky, which they’ve called home since 2012.
Utah State
The Aggies are leaving the Mountain West for the Pac-12 after 13 years. USU has been a consistent men’s basketball winner in the conference for the better part of the decade, making six of the last eight NCAA tournaments.
Utah Tech
Utah Tech is leaving the WAC for the Big Sky after six years. The Trailblazers are still relatively new to Division I, having registered their first men’s basketball winning season at the top level in ’26 after winning women’s seasons in ’23 and ’24.
Utah Valley
Utah Valley is leaving the WAC for the Big West after 13 years. This one you may have heard of, because the WAC was so insistent it collect the Wolverines’ exit fees it briefly attempted to ban Utah Valley from both basketball tournaments.
UTEP
UTEP is leaving Conference USA for the Mountain West after 21 years. The Miners played in the WAC for 37 years before that, so this is a bit of a cultural homecoming for a program whose compass has pointed westward historically.
Washington State
Wazzu is leaving the West Coast Conference for the Pac-12 after two years, with the same circumstances as Oregon State. The Cougars have remained competitive on the gridiron, making a bowl game in ’24 and winning one in ’25.
West Florida
UWF departs the Gulf South Conference in Division II for the Atlantic Sun after 22 years. The Argonauts are moving up in the world amid a spectacular 10-year rise to power in football, which saw them go 13–2 and win the Division II national title four years into their existence.
West Georgia
UWG is leaving the Atlantic Sun for the United Athletic after two years. The Wolves, just two seasons into their Division I journey, posted their first basketball winning season on the women’s side in `26.
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]]>Julián Quiñones volvió a aparecer en un momento importante para México en el Mundial 2026, pero después del triunfo de 2-0 ante Ecuador, en el que anotó el primero de los goles y ayudó a firmar el pase a los octavos de final, evitó poner el foco en sus números personales.
Aunque sus tres goles en esta Copa del Mundo lo ponen a uno de empatar la marca histórica de cuatro que le pertenece a Luis “Matador” Hernández y Javier “Chicharito” Hernández, el delantero aseguró que no piensa en esa marca individual.
“No pienso en eso, pienso más que todo en lo colectivo, que eso es lo que realmente ve la gente, lo que la gente quiere y lo que queremos todos”, dijo Quiñones, quien insistió en que su felicidad pasa primero por el resultado y por el trabajo grupal que ha hecho la selección mexicana.
El atacante reconoció que vive un momento especial con la camiseta nacional, pero lo atribuyó al respaldo del grupo y del cuerpo técnico.
“Me están dando la oportunidad, ya la oportunidad la estoy aprovechando al máximo”, señaló, además de agradecer el apoyo de sus compañeros y de la gente que lo acompañó en los momentos más complicados de su carrera.
Quiñones también respondió a las críticas sobre el nivel del plantel mexicano, sobre todo por los jugadores que no militan en equipos de élite en Europa. Para el artillero, esa lectura no refleja el trabajo que hacen dentro y fuera del Tri, ni significa que lleguen en desventaja frente a otras plantillas como la ecuatoriana.
“Aunque algunos no estemos en Europa, eso no quiere decir que no trabajemos al máximo para estar al tope”.
Sobre quienes lo cuestionaron en el pasado, especialmente por el tema de ser un naturalizado, Quiñones prefirió no entrar en polémica.
Yo no callo bocas. Si cuando me criticaban me callé, ahora también. Creo que en los momentos felices lo que menos se piensa en eso”.
El jugador de 29 años cerró con un mensaje más personal, ligado a su historia de vida y a quienes migran en busca de una mejor oportunidad, como él lo hizo con 18 años al llegar a México desde Colombia.
Quiñones pidió que nadie se sienta menos por perseguir una vida distinta y recordó que su camino también estuvo marcado por el sacrificio.
“Que nunca se sientan menos que nadie por estar buscando lo mejor para su familia, lo mejor para ellos y que nadie les diga que no pueden”, sentenció.
#Pienso #más #todo #colectivo
The first day of NBA free agency came and went with the Los Angeles Lakers losing a couple of key pieces to other teams.
Firstly, superstar LeBron James let it be known that he would not be returning to the storied franchise, as he intends to sign with another team as an unrestricted free agent.
Along with James, sharpshooter Luke Kennard chose to leave Los Angeles in favor of signing with the Phoenix Suns, which was also a surprising development.
Despite James and Kennard deciding to head elsewhere, the Lakers may have gotten some good news in their pursuit of restricted free agent Jalen Duren.
Jalen Duren Set for Second Meeting With Lakers
According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, Duren had such a “productive meeting” with the 17-time NBA champions that he plans to meet with them again on Wednesday, which is obviously a promising sign for the Lakers.
Detroit Pistons restricted free agent center Jalen Duren had a productive meeting with the Lakers on Tuesday and is scheduled to meet with them again on Wednesday morning, league sources told The Athletic.
Apparently, the Lakers’ brass think highly of the talented Detroit Pistons center and appear ready to extend a sizable offer to prove that.
Duren was told by the Lakers in the meeting that they view him as a maximum-salary level player, according to the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe ongoing deliberations.
Along with Duren, the Lakers also covet two other restricted free agents. Walker Kessler of the Utah Jazz is likely the top target for Los Angeles, but the Denver Nuggets rising star Peyton Watson is also reportedly in the team’s crosshairs this summer.
The Lakers’ top priority during this offseason now that they’ve agreed to terms with Austin Reaves on a lucrative long-term deal is acquiring an A-list center, which is what the new face of the franchise, Luka Doncic, requested ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.
With center options in free agency dwindling with a number of players the team was interested in signing with their current squads or elsewhere, the Lakers might be forced to be aggressive in their pursuits for restricted free agents to address their biggest area of need.
It’ll be interesting to see how this situation develops and whether the Lakers can somehow land Duren or Kessler during this offseason, which will be the end of the LeBron era and the beginning of the Luka era.
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The Brewers have now won five games in a row against the Reds. After a dominating win Tuesday night, the Reds drop to 39-45 and to 4-19 against the NL Central Division.
Rhett Lowder gave up 11 hits and six earned runs in 4.2 innings pitched. He did manage to strike out eight Brewers. The stat line for Lowder will not accurately reflect what happened. A majority of the hits for Milwaukee were under 80 mph. A lot of bad luck and weak hit baseballs resulted in six earned runs.
By no means was it a good outing, but it does seem unfair giving him that stat line.
Meanwhile, the Brewers’ Brandon Sproat looks like a Cy Young candidate against the Reds despite his 5+ season ERA. In back-to-back starts against the Reds, he has only given up two earned runs while striking out 17.
Ivan Johnson made his major league debut tonight for the Reds, but unfortunately, his lone at-bat ended in a strikeout.
The incredible start that this team had at the beginning of this season is long forgotten. Here are our takeaways from the Reds 7-2 loss to the Brewers.
Jose Trevino’s Struggles Continue
Many believed Jose Trevino to be a solid addition to the Reds. He would back up Tyler Stephenson, and provide a solid glove. Nick Krall gave him a three-year extension before he played a game. In hindsight, Krall should have probably waited to see him swing a bat.
Since July 1st, 2025 he is slashing .182/.207/.210. He is hitting sub .200 this season, and went hitless tonight. The Reds simply can’t afford to have players who produce nothing offensively. His glove certainly isn’t worth the contract extension either. It has been a frustrating tenure for the Reds, and every time Stephenson needs a night off, it continues to be a tough look.
Sal Stewart & Elly De La Cruz Shine
In a night full of negatives, these two guys continue to give Reds fans a reason to watch. Sal Stewart went 2-4 with a home run in the first inning, and Elly went 2-4 with a double and later came around to score.
This season appears to be unraveling quickly, but every time you think there isn’t a reason to watch, these guys show up. It has been incredibly fun to watch them play baseball this year, and hopefully, Reds fans can watch them for a long time.
Stewart has a chance to win Rookie of the Year, and Elly De La Cruz is still performing like an All-Star night in and night out despite dealing with injuries. They have both hit safely in three straight games. Sal has 10 hits in his last six games.
John Sadak Appreciation
St Louis Cardinals At Cincinnati Reds | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
Instead of listing another negative, let’s highlight an underrated part of the 2026 Reds. It is hard to watch this team right now as a fan. Imagine how hard it is watching every night as a broadcaster. Sadak continues to keep fans engaged and invested despite what is happening on the field.
His chemistry with the Cowboy and Jim Day was fun to listen to tonight, regardless of the outcome.
If nothing else, this season has shown how important it is to have a good broadcaster calling your team’s games. He battles harder in the booth to keep fans interested than the bottom of the lineup does against mediocre pitching.
The Reds and Brewers continue their series tomorrow night in Milwuakee at 8:10. It will be Andrew Abbott taking on Shane Drohan.
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#Brewers #Rout #Reds #Fall #Divisional #Games
]]>The Indiana Pacers announced their Summer League roster on Tuesday afternoon, but one notable name was left off the roster: two-way wing/guard, Ethan Thompson.
A source confirmed to me that the talented Thompson is not playing for the Pacers Summer League team because he has committed to play for the Puerto Rico National Team. The Pacers Summer League roster will miss the scoring and defense that Thompson provides, but it opens up more opportunities for other players.
Indiana gave Jalen Slawson a qualifying offer on June 29, 2026, making him a restricted free agent. Slawson was converted to a two-way contract on February 28, 2026 this season and performed well throughout the remainder of the season. It makes sense that Indiana would want to bring him back since they originally only signed him for the remainder of the season.
So, if Jalen Slawson is brought back, that creates a bit of a logjam for the three two-way spots. Ethan Thompson and Taelon Peter are already signed to two-way deals, and reports have indicated that the Pacers will sign the No. 38 overall pick, Purdue’s Braden Smith, to a two-way contract.
Expectations were that the four players would likely be battling for the three spots during the NBA’s Summer League, but with Thompson missing the event it makes things a little more interesting.
Braden Smith is likely a shoe-in for one of the two-way spots, and it will come down to what the Pacers value more. It would make sense for Jalen Slawson to be on a two-way contract, considering the position he plays is power forward and small-ball center in the G-League. This means it likely comes down to Peter or Thompson for the final spot. An interesting battle is among us.
The Summer League Roster
The Indiana Pacers Summer League team will be coached by assistant Johnny Carpenter, who joined the team this season with the departure of Mike Weinar.
Here is a look at the Pacers Summer League Roster:
- Braden Smith – Purdue
- Taelon Peter – Indiana Pacers
- Kowacie Reeves, Jr. – Georgie Tech
- Gabe McGlothan – Noblesville Boom (G League)
- Jalen Slawson – Indiana Pacers
- Tamin Lipsey – Iowa State
- Rienk Mast – Nebraska
- Keba Keita – Brigham Young
- Jalen Warley – Gonzaga
- Yuki Kawamura – Chicago Bulls
- Taevion Kinsey – Santa Cruz Warriors (G League)
- Alex Reese – Rip City Remix (G League)
- Keion Brooks Jr. – Noblesville Boom (G League)
- Cameron Hildreth – Noblesville Boom (G League)
- MJ Iraldi – Noblesville Boom (G League)
Summer League Schedule
July 10th (Friday) at 4:30 PM EST vs. Cleveland
July 11th (Saturday) at 5:30 PM EST vs. Philadelphia
July 13th (Monday) at 4:30 PM EST vs. Toronto
July 15th (Wednesday) at 3:30 PM EST vs. Minnesota
You can follow me on X @AlexGoldenNBA and listen to my daily podcast, Setting The Pace, wherever you get your podcasts.
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]]>Last season, the Florida State Seminoles rocked the country after toppling the Alabama Crimson Tide 31-17, entering the game as heavy underdogs at home to kick off the home-and-home series between the two programs.
FSU is no stranger to having the odds stacked against it over the past 10 years, and their road matchup against Alabama this season is no different.
Alabama Favored by More Than Two Touchdowns
Florida State entered the matchup in 2025 at a near two-touchdown disadvantage, and the stakes have gotten higher this time around. Per DraftKings SportsBook, Alabama is currently favored by 15.5 points.
The last time the two teams met, Florida State quarterback Tommy Castellanos led the Seminoles with 152 passing yards and 78 rushing yards with a touchdown, snapping the Crimson Tide’s 23-game win streak in season openers.
Florida State’s defense held Alabama’s rushing attack to under 100 yards while FSU punished the ground game with 230 yards, averaging 4.7 yards per carry, with touchdown runs from Caziah Holmes, Micahi Danzy, Gavin Sawchuk, and Castellanos.
A Massive Early Test Awaits the Seminoles
Florida State will have an opportunity to build momentum before traveling to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, opening the season against New Mexico State before hosting SMU in its ACC opener.
While the ‘Noles are heavily favored against New Mexico State, they are slight underdogs against the Mustangs at 2.5 points.
Even if the Seminoles enter Week 3 undefeated, they’ll still face one of the toughest environments in college football against a national title contender.
The matchup could serve as an early measuring stick for Florida State head coach Mike Norvell’s rebuilt roster, and an upset over Alabama would immediately reshape the national conversation surrounding the program after two consecutive losing seasons.
Florida State failing to win a road game over the last two years only adds more weight to the matchup. The last time FSU won a road test was at Ben Hill Griffen Stadium against the Florida Gators during their 2023 ACC Championship run.
The Seminoles aren’t just trying to win games in 2026; they’re trying to change the program’s perception.
A win against Alabama would instantly change how the rest of the country views Norvell’s team and flip the discussion from whether Florida State can return to eligibility to whether it can end the season as an ACC contender.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
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#FSU #Football #Opens #Massive #Underdog #Alabama #Week
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Arkansas Razorbacks and coach Dave Van Horn continue to add to its offseason transfer poral haul ahead of the summer window closing in the coming days.
Tennessee short stop Manny Marin announced his commitment to the Razorbacks Tuesday morning following a couple of years in Knoxville with the Volunteers.
He was a mainstay in the starting lineup as a sophomore, earning 52 starts in 55 appearances while swatting a .291 batting average, nine home runs and 43 RBIs.
Marin was a bit prone to errors, committing five while touting a .976 fielding percentage.
As a freshman, Marin had quite a dependable bat with a .283 average, .356 OBP and a .401 SLG in in 45 starts. A member of the 2024 recruiting class, he was the No. 88 overall recruit, No. 23 among short stops and No. 14 among Florida prospects, according to Perfect Game.
Marin’s announcement came from Instagram, where he simply posted “Woo Pig.”
While his number offensive numbers dropped a bit once the Volunteers began SEC play, Marin still hit well by boasting a .254 batting average with two home runs over 29 league games. His presence in the lineup remained strong due to his strong play in the field for Tennessee.
During his time in Knoxville, the rising junior appeared in 113 career games, including 97 starts, which certainly backs up his ranking as a top-100 prospect.
The Volunteers struggled a bit through a coaching transition after coach Tony Vitello left for the San Francisco Giants following the 2025 season. He was replaced with long-time assistant Josh Elander, who led Tennessee to a 38-22 overall record (15-15 SEC), but failed to advance out of the NCAA Regionals after reaching the Super Regionals in 2025.
Marin is the second Tennessee player to transfer to Arkansas this offseason, joining right-handed pitcher Brayden Krenzel, who also spent the previous two seasons in Knoxville. Krenzel’s production took a step back this season, but did notch 28 strikeouts across 17.1 innings as a sophomore.
Van Horn is looking to make it back to the College World Series in Omaha next year, and has done exactly that by recruiting one of the best transfer portal class in the country, according to 64 Analytics.
After falling behind last summer due having an extended stay at the CWS, the veteran Arkansas coach made sure that his coaching staff hit the ground running to restock its roster for another deep NCAA Tournament run.
While he acknowledged that his program lacked for rescources just 12 months ago, they aren’t having the same issues this go around.
“We’ve worked every day since we got back from Kansas,” Van Horn recently said. “Obviously discussing things with the players that are coming back and with kids that aren’t. We just have to get our roster right as far as what our main needs are.”
“We didn’t get hardly anybody last year,” Van Horn added. “We were playing, and we didn’t have the resources. Bottom line. This year, we have the resources.”
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The transfer portal era in college athletics seems like it’s been with us forever. Likewise, most fans can recall less turbulent times when transfers happened, they simply didn’t look like a stampede to the 1849 California Gold Rush.
We thought it was time to rank the best transfers Cal teams have attracted, most of them in recent seasons but also including a few OGs from yesteryear.
We limited our ranking to transfers from four-year colleges.
Here is the next athlete in our countdown:
11. Chad Hansen
Sport: Football
Arrival year at Cal: 2014
Previous school: Idaho State (45 receptions, 501 yards, 3 touchdowns as a true freshman in 2013)
Contributions at Cal:
— After sitting out as a walk-on transfer in 2014, Hansen had 19 catches for 249 yards and a touchdown in quarterback Jared Goff’s final season at Cal.
— The 6-foot-2, 205-pound wide receiver blossomed as a redshirt junior, catching 92 passes for 1,249 yards and 11 touchdowns. He caught touchdowns in seven different games.
— Hansen ranked third in the country in per-game receptions (9.2), fourth in receiving yards (124.9) and 12th in total receptions (92), despite missing two games due to injury.
— He had six games of at least 10 catches, including 14 in back-to-back games against Hawaii and San Diego State to open the season. Hansen posted seven games with 100-plus receiving yards.
— In his final game with the Bears, Hansen caught a 70-yard touchdown pass from Davis Webb on Cal’s first play from scrimmage of the 119th Big Game. He went on to earn Cal’s player of the game award after catching seven passes for 114 yards with two TDs, but the Bears lost 45-31 to Stanford.
— Davis was named second-team All-Pac-12 by the coaches, first team by Associated Press and ESPN. He was chosen by the New York Jets in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL draft.
Standout performance: The high point of Cal’s 2016 season was a 50-43 home victory over Texas in which Hansen caught 10 passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns. His second TD, a 23-yarder, broke a 43-43 tie with 3:41 left.
Impact on his team: Hansen was virtually unstoppable, but the Bears went just 5-7 and missed playing in a bowl game, prompting the exit of coach Sonny Dykes after four seasons.
Previously on our list:
No. 12: Bob Milano
No. 13: Teddye Buchanan
No. 14: Geno Carlisle
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]]>The Washington Commanders have several players heading into the 2026 season with more than production on the line. For some, this year is not just about helping the team bounce back from a disappointing season. It is about proving they still belong in the franchise’s plans beyond this fall.
That is where contract-year players make things interesting.
Every NFL player is looking for long-term security, but not every contract situation is the same. Some players are fighting to stay in the league. Others are trying to turn one strong season into real leverage. The Commanders have a few players who fall into that second group, and if things break the right way, they should have every reason to deliver some of the best football of their careers.
Washington does not need all of them to become superstars. But if these three players hit their ceiling in 2026, the Commanders will not only have a better football team. They will also have some tougher business decisions to make next offseason.
Frankie Luvu: Making Himself Impossible to Let Walk
Frankie Luvu is not the kind of player the Commanders should want anywhere near the open market if he plays the way he is capable of playing this season.
This is not about Luvu proving he belongs. That part has already been answered. He brings the physicality, violence, energy, and edge that Washington’s defense badly needed when he arrived. He is the kind of defender who can change the attitude of a room without needing to say much. When he is around the football, you usually feel him.
I found a player that Arvell Reese can emulate his game off of early in his career. Frankie Luvu with the Panthers and Commanders can get 100+ tackles, 7+ sacks and 10+ TFL on a year to year basis. No reason why Reese can’t reach some of these number year one. pic.twitter.com/KMIST6fn2K
— Justin Penik (@JustinPenik) June 29, 2026
Now the question becomes how valuable he is to the next version of Washington’s defense.
With Ohio State rookie Sonny Styles added to the linebacker room and Leo Chenal also in the mix, Luvu should not have to carry as much of the defensive personality by himself. That should actually make him more dangerous. If Washington can become more stable around him, Luvu can get back to being the kind of downhill problem who creates chaos instead of constantly trying to clean it up.
That matters because a monster season from Luvu would force the Commanders into a real decision. Letting productive, tone-setting defensive players get close to free agency is how teams end up paying more later or watching someone else enjoy the prime years.
Luvu does not need to be sold as a future piece. He just has to make it impossible for Washington to imagine this defense without him.
#Commanders LB FRANKIE LUVU IS READY TO PUT 2K25 BEHIND HIM & RAISE HAIL IN 2026
pic.twitter.com/3NJxsFu9wY
— Lynnell Willingham (@Nell_BTP) June 16, 2026
Dorance Armstrong: Premium Position and an ACL Comeback
Dorance Armstrong may not be a name that jumps off the page when you look at Washington’s roster, but he plays one of the positions where a strong season can change everything. Before tearing his ACL in Week 7 against the Dallas Cowboys last year, Armstrong was on his way to the kind of season that would have completely changed the way people talked about him, with five and a half sacks through his first seven games.
That is what makes this season so important.
Armstrong is not just trying to prove he can still get after the quarterback. He is trying to prove that the injury did not take away the burst, timing, and finishing ability that had him trending toward one of the best seasons of his career. For a pass rusher fighting for his next contract, that matters almost as much as the production itself.
A name that is not talked about a lot: #Commanders DE Dorance Armstrong
Through 7 weeks in 2025, Armstrong led the NFL in pressures and posted a 15.4% pressure rate. Armstrong generated 22 total pressures including 5.5 sacks.
He suffered a torn ACL vs the Cowboys. pic.twitter.com/dnx5hKQUzc
— brandon (@JayDanielsMVP) June 6, 2026
Pass rushers get paid. That is the reality of the NFL. Teams will always chase players who can affect the quarterback, and the Commanders need more of that from Armstrong this season. They also need to know they can count on him again after losing him at a point last year when he was becoming one of the more important pieces of the defense.
The good news is that Armstrong already has a foundation in this kind of defense. He knows what Dan Quinn wants from his edge players, having worked with the coach since their time together in Dallas. The adjustment will come with new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones’ playbook and getting his body back to the point where Washington can count on him again.
That gives Armstrong a clear opportunity, but it also gives him something to prove.
He does not have to turn into one of the league’s elite pass rushers to have a monster season for his role. He needs to be healthy, steady, disruptive, and timely. He needs to turn pressures into sacks. He needs to show up in the games where Washington cannot afford for its defensive front to disappear.
Pressure has not been the problem for Armstrong, who has logged 73 total pressures in the 23 games he has played in Washington. His PFF grades below support the idea that production was not the concern before the injury.
There is real money in being a reliable edge defender. There is even more money in being one who returns from a major injury and proves he can still be the same problem off the edge.
For Armstrong, this season should be viewed as more than another year in the rotation. It is a chance to remind everyone why he was becoming so valuable before the injury, and why useful pass rushers do not stay cheap for long.
Rachaad White: Turning Passing-Down Value Into a Payday
Rachaad White might be the most interesting name on this list because his situation is not built around the traditional running back conversation.
This is not just about carries. In today’s NFL, backs who can protect, catch, and create in space can still carve out real value, especially when they are tied to a quarterback like Jayden Daniels.
One of my biggest takeaways today was how was
fast
— Mitchell Tischler (@Mitch_Tischler) May 28, 2026
White does not need to be handed the entire backfield to matter in Washington. He needs to become dependable. He needs to be the kind of player Daniels can trust on passing downs, in the screen game, and when the offense needs an easy answer instead of another difficult throw downfield.
That is where White’s chance becomes bigger than it may look on paper.
A running back fighting for his next contract has to prove he can help an offense in multiple ways. White has the skill set to do that. If he becomes one of Daniels’ more reliable outlets, his value to Washington could grow quickly. Quarterbacks tend to elevate the players they trust, and offensive staffs tend to keep finding touches for players who make the game easier.
A monster season for White may not look like 1,500 rushing yards. It may look like becoming one of the most trusted passing-down backs in the league and one of Daniels’ easiest answers when the offense needs a spark.
White may not enter the season as the biggest name in the Commanders’ new offense under offensive coordinator David Blough, but that does not mean he cannot become one of its more useful pieces. Sometimes the best prove-it seasons come from players who do not need the spotlight every week. They just need the right role and enough chances to show they belong.
For White, that is the assignment. That does not mean he cannot handle a larger role, but with Washington’s running back room trending toward a committee approach, White is in a prime spot to become the featured third-down option.
Cannot wait to see Rachaad White take plays like this to the house in the Burgundy & Gold #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/jvy3V3j6iP
— brandon (@JayDanielsMVP) June 28, 2026
The Commanders have a lot to figure out before next offseason arrives. Luvu, Armstrong, and White can make those decisions harder in the best possible way. If all three produce the way they can, Washington will get more than strong individual seasons.
It will get proof that some of its short-term questions may deserve longer-term answers.
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