Philip Rivers’ remarkable return to the NFL has come to an end just as rapidly as it first materialized.

The Indianapolis Colts quarterback, who came out of retirement three weeks ago to rejoin his former team following a five-year break, is expected to sit out the team’s season finale Sunday against the Houston Texans, according to multiple reports. Rookie Riley Leonard will instead lead the offense.

With that decision, one of the most unlikely comebacks in NFL history is over.

The Colts were in dire straits in early December when starting quarterback Daniel Jones was lost for the season to a torn Achilles. Already spiraling after a sizzling start to the season, the Colts were without a true backup as second-stringer Anthony Richardson Sr. remained on injured reserve with a fractured orbital bone suffered in October.

With Leonard also ailing from a knee injury, Colts coach Shane Steichen and general manager Chris Ballard reached out to Rivers to see if the 44-year-old – who taught a version of the play-caller’s offense in his role as coach of St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope, Alabama – would be interested in returning. In the span of a few days, Rivers signed with the team, began practicing and took over as the starter for the Week 15 showdown against the Seattle Seahawks.

Rivers would go 0-3 as a starter, and the Colts became the first team in 30 years to miss the playoffs after starting the season 8-2. But the veteran signal-caller overcame limitations in his arm strength and mobility by manipulating coverages and making quick decisions.

On the season, Rivers finished with 544 passing yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions as well as a 63% completion rate.

The Colts were eliminated from playoff contention on Saturday, one day prior to the team’s 23-17 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Despite that, Rivers still played so as not to put Leonard into action after the quarterback did not receive starting reps throughout practice that week.

Rivers, who had been a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2026 class but now must wait another five years before becoming eligible again, has made clear that he will not entertain playing in 2026 and instead will return to his high-school coaching post. Still, independent of the results, the run is one he will remember fondly.

“If this is the last (game), again, I told you guys I wasn’t going to have any regrets about coming back – and I don’t, other than us not winning,” Rivers said Sunday. “It’s been an absolute blast for three weeks.”

League-leading Arsenal hosts third-place Aston Villa in London on Tuesday, Dec. 30, a crucial Premier League clash before the calendar flips to 2026. The match will mark the halfway point in the season for each team with Arsenal looking to get revenge for a last-gasp 2-1 loss suffered at Villa Park earlier in December.

‘I have a few ideas and things that we have to do better,’ Arsenal manager Miguel Arteta told reporters. ‘And it was quite cruel, as well, the way we lost it.’

Aston Villa has won 11 matches in a row – including eight in the Premier League – under manager Unai Emery and are very much in the title race, trailing Arsenal by three points and second-place Manchester City by one entering Tuesday.

How to watch Arsenal vs Aston Villa: Time, TV channel, live stream

• Time: 3:15 p.m. ET
• TV channel: NBC
• Live stream: Peacock

Watch Arsenal-Aston Villa on Peacock!

Gabriel Jesus goal! Arsenal 4, Aston Villa 0

Minutes after replacing Viktor Gyökeres, Gabriel Jesus bent a shot past a helpless Emi Martinez for Arsenal’s fourth goal, turning this one into a laugher in North London.

Leandro Trossard goal! Arsenal 3, Aston Villa 0

Arsenal looks to have clinched three points with Leandro Trossard firing home from the edge of the penalty area after a frantic passage of play in the 69th minute.

A VAR check confirmed that two different Arsenal players were not offside in the buildup, delaying the official celebrations inside the Emirates Stadium.

Martin Zubimendi goal! Arsenal 2, Aston Villa 0

Minutes after going ahead on Gabriel’s goal, Martin Zubimendi poked home another, getting on the end of a masterful through ball from Martin Odegaard.

Aston Villa is losing the plot in the first 10 minutes of the second half, succumbing to Arsenal’s high press with a handful of bad giveaways.

Gabriel goal! Arsenal 1, Aston Villa 0

Who else but Gabriel? Making his full return from injury, Arsenal’s mighty central defender scored from a corner kick just minutes into the second half to give the Gunners a 1-0 lead.

Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez wanted a foul called on Gabriel, who had positioned himself in front of the goalkeeper as the ball came in from Bukayo Saka’s corner, but a VAR check confirmed the goal.

James McGinn on for Villa to start second half

Aston Villa made a substitution to begin the second half, bringing on James McGinn for Amadou Onana, who picked up a knock before the break.

Halftime: Arsenal 0, Aston Villa 0

Scoreless after 45 minutes in London, with Aston Villa looking the more likely to score on the counter attack.

Arsenal’s Mikel Merino and Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers were each shown a yellow card in the final minutes of the half. Merino had a rough first half stepping into the midfield for the injured Declan Rice, struggling to deal with Villa’s 6-foot-5 Amadou Onana.

Dua Lipa in the house, Arsenal-Villa scoreless

Arsenal have enjoyed the majority of possession in the first 35 minutes, but Villa has created a pair of good chances. Leandro Trossard has looked lively on the left wing for the league-leading Gunners, who enter the match three points ahead of third-placed Villa.

Dua Lipa is in attendance at the Emirates. Is the worldwide icon a good luck charm? She was also in the house for Arsenal’s famous 3-0 win over Real Madrid in last season’s Champions League quarterfinals.

Arsenal vs Aston Villa underway in London

The showdown at the Emirates Stadium has kicked off with Arsenal pressing the visitors high in the first five minutes. Gabriel returns to start alongside William Saliba after several weeks on the shelf.

Arsenal vs Aston Villa lineups

Declan Rice injury for Arsenal

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice is expected to miss Tuesday’s match against Aston Villa after sustaining a knee injury on Saturday in a win over Brighton, according to multiple reports Rice played out-of-position at right back in that game and seems to have picked up a knock but played the full 90 minutes.

Regarded as one of the top midfielders in the world, Rice could be replaced by Mikel Merino or Christian Nørgaard in the lineup at the Emirates Stadium. Signed over the summer, Nørgaard has featured sparingly in his first season with Arsenal.

Arsenal vs. Aston Villa prediction, odds

Martin Odegaard on ‘unusual’ rematch vs. Aston Villa

A Premier League scheduling quirk has Arsenal and Aston Villa facing each other for the second time in less than a month, and Gunners captain Martin Odegaard says his team will use the recent defeat as ‘motivation.’

“We played Aston Villa a few weeks ago and it’s unusual to play a team twice so close together in the league. It feels more like a two-legged Champions League or cup tie, so this gives us a good chance to face them again soon after the defeat at Villa Park.” Odegaard said in the captain’s notes of Arsenal’s matchday program.

“We can use that as motivation. We feel like we could have won that away game & now we’ve got the opportunity to show that tonight. We know the quality they have & we saw that in the first game, but as always, we focus on ourselves.”

Premier League games today

• Burnley vs. Newcastle, 2:30 p.m. ET – Peacock
• Chelsea vs. Bournemouth, 2:30 p.m. – USA Network
• Nottingham Forest vs. Everton, 2:30 p.m. – Peacock
• West Ham vs. Brighton & Hove, 2:30 p.m. – Peacock
• Arsenal vs. Aston Villa, 3:15 p.m. – NBCSN / Peacock
• Manchester United vs. Wolves, 3:15 p.m. – Peacock

Premier League standings

(Entering Tuesday, Dec. 30)

1. Arsenal – 42 points
2. Manchester City – 40
3. Aston Villa – 39
4. Liverpool – 32
5. Chelsea – 29 (+11 goal difference)
6. Manchester United – 29 (+4 GD)

The longstanding high school football All-America team, which first kicked off in 1982, returns to the national stage.

Following a season of triumph and record-setting moments, of joys and heartbreaks, of championships and legends, USA TODAY Sports unveils its 2025 ALL-USA National Football Team.

Players from across the country who earned regional honors were finalists for the national recognition, which honors the best players of the 2025 high school football season. These selections highlight not only skill and achievement but also the toughness, leadership, and competitive fire that embody the spirit of the game.

Congratulations to all who were selected to a regional or national team.

2025 ALL-USA National Football Team

The All-America high school football team was selected by the USA TODAY High School Sports staff. Each All-American athlete on the national roster was first selected on the ALL-USA East, ALL-USA West, ALL-USA Midwest, ALL-USA Southeast, or ALL-USA Southwest regional football teams.

Team Captains and Coach of the Year

Offensive Captain — Keisean Henderson, Sr., Legacy the School of Sport Sciences (Spring, Texas)

Defensive Captain — Cincere Johnson, Sr., Glenville (Cleveland, Ohio)

Head Coach — Carson Palmer, Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.)

First Team Offense

Quarterback: Keisean Henderson, Sr., Legacy the School of Sport Sciences (Spring, Texas)

Keisean Henderson was the most dominant offensive player in high school football this year, which earned him USA TODAY Sports Offensive Player of the Year honors. He accounted for more than 400 yards and/or six touchdowns in seven of the 10 games he played. He had an unimpeachable 649-yard, six-touchdown performance. By passing for 3,880 yards at a 74.5% clip with 45 touchdowns and running for 522 yards on 74 carries and 10 scores on the ground, Henderson was unparalleled among quarterbacks this season.

Running Back: Ezavier Crowell, Sr., Jackson (Ala.)

Ezavier Crowell hits like a truck with a 5-foot-11, 205-pound frame. But he plays like a truck that can hurdle defenders and juke his way around would-be tacklers on a dime. He accumulated 2,632 rushing yards and 35 touchdowns in 14 games, running for more than 300 yards in three of the games, and the only game in which he didn’t reach the 100-yard mark was a 50-7 blowout in which he scored four touchdowns on 10 carries.

Running Back: David Gabriel-Georges, Jr., Baylor (Chattanooga, Tenn.)

David Gabriel-Georges battled through injury to put up some of the most impressive rushing lines of the season when it counted most. In the regular season game against rival and reigning two-time champion McCallie, the junior rushed for 280 yards and three touchdowns. In the semifinals rematch, he carried the ball 43 times for 435 yards and seven touchdowns, guiding the Baylor to an eventual title. In 11 games, he had 162 carries for 1,753 yards and 26 touchdowns.

Wide Receiver: Jermaine Bishop, Sr., Willis (Texas)

Jermaine Bishop is one of the most versatile and athletic players in the country, double-dutying as an elite wide receiver and cornerback. On offense, he had 120 receptions for 1,920 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns, and added 424 yards and eight more touchdowns on 45 carries (most of which came in a 258-rushing-yard, four-rushing-touchdown game in September). He had 344 total yards and four touchdowns in the regional playoff round and 227 total yards and three touchdowns in the quarterfinals loss to eventual champion DeSoto (Texas).

Wide Receiver: Roye Oliver III, Soph., Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.)

The sole sophomore to earn ALL-USA recognition, Roye Oliver III needed only eight games to break the Arizona 6A record for most receiving touchdowns in a season. In the game, he broke the previous record of 24, he recorded 210 receiving yards and two touchdowns on seven receptions against eventual champion Basha (Chandler, Ariz.) Oliver continued to tack on over the next four games, finishing with 1,893 yards and 29 touchdowns on 92 receptions. He also returned two punts for touchdowns.

Tight End: Ian Premer, Sr., Great Bend (Kan.)

A 6-foot-5, 220-pound tight end who can run the ball as well as catch is impossible to stop. Ian Premer had 40 receptions for 734 yards and 14 touchdowns, 56 carries for 620 yards and 14 touchdowns, returned a handful of punts, and had six interceptions — including two pick-sixes — on defense. Premer proved why he’s 247Sports’ No. 1 tight end and is set to take his talents to Notre Dame.

Flex: Landen Williams-Callis, Jr., Randle (Texas)

With 3,502 rushing yards and 59 rushing touchdowns, few had a better season than Landen Williams-Callis. The junior established himself as one of the best backs in the country, rushing for more than 200 yards in 10 games and five or more touchdowns in six. He led Randle to a 15-1 record and a championship game appearance, in which he had 169 total yards and a score.

Offensive Lineman: Jackson Cantwell, Sr., Nixa (Mo.)

Jackson Cantwell did nothing to disprove his No. 1 position in the USA TODAY High School Sports preseason composite rankings for the class of 2026. The 6-foot-8, 305-pound left tackle had 173 pancake blocks over the first 13 games, an average of more than 13 per outing, and helped the Eagles average 48.6 points per game en route to a 13-1 record and championship appearance.

Offensive Lineman: Lamar Brown, Sr., University Lab (Baton Rouge, La.)

It’s unusual to call a lineman one of the most versatile players in the country, but Lamar Brown’s athleticism, strength, and lateral movement make him a star on both the offensive and defensive sides of the line. From the left side of the offensive line, once he got his hands on a defender, that defender would not get by. The protection he offered helped University Lab go 10-3 and average 39 points per game.

Offensive Lineman: Darius Gray, Sr., St. Christopher’s School (Richmond, Va.)

Darius Gray has the size, strength, speed and athleticism to be an elite protector on the offensive line, dominate the defensive line, and bulldoze through opponents on occasional running back snaps. He has good lateral movement and the strength to push defensive linemen back several yards. The top-ranked IOL by 247Sports, Gray helped St. Christopher’s School go 7-4.

Offensive Lineman: Keenyi Pepe, Sr., IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)

Listed at 6-foot-7, 320-pound offensive tackle, Keenyi Pepe was a key fixture for one of the best teams in the country. Manning IMG Academy’s front line, Pepe helped the 9-0 Ascenders average more than 200 rushing yards per game and provided pocket protection that allowed the quarterbacks to throw only two interceptions all season.

Kicker: Mikey Barth, Sr., Basha (Chandler, Ariz.)

Mikey Barth did everything No. 17 Basha could ask of a kicker, kicking 68 touchbacks in 70 kickoffs, making all 64 PATs, and hitting 14 of 16 field goals — including, and arguably most importantly, the game-winner over Liberty (Peoria, Ariz.) in the semifinals.

First Team Defense

Defensive Lineman: Richard Anderson, Sr., Edna Karr (New Orleans, La.)

Richard Anderson proved himself as one of the top-ranked defensive linemen this season as he helped Edna Karr go undefeated, win the championship, and finish as a top-10 team in the Super 25. Listed at 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, “Big Rich” was unstoppable, picking up key sacks, returning a fumble for a touchdown, and generally providing pressure and forcing attention that led a defense that allowed less than 12 points per game.

Defensive Lineman: Bryce Perry-Wright, Sr., Buford (Ga.)

Bryce Perry-Wright set the tone on defense for the USA TODAY Sports Super 25 national champion Wolves, recording 50 solo and assisted tackles apiece, 17 tackles for loss and seven sacks to go with three forced fumbles and 26 QB hurries entering the championship game. He has a very effective swim move and uses his speed well to get around the outside and into the backfield.

Defensive Lineman: Deuce Geralds, Sr., Collins Hill (Suwanee, Ga.)

Deuce Geralds’ 37 tackles for loss, 16.5 sacks, 45 quarterback hurries and seven forced fumbles made him one of the most fearsome defensive linemen in the country. He led his team in each of those three stats, plus tackles, and was elite against the best teams in the league, combining for five TFLs, a sack, 9 QB hurries, and two forced fumbles against top-10 teams Grayson and Buford. Geralds set the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) record for career sacks with 51.

Defensive Lineman: Luke Wafle, Sr., Hun School (Princeton, N.J.)

With 45 solo and 55 assisted tackles, 37 tackles for loss, and 23 sacks, Luke Wafle was one of the most disruptive linemen this season. He did significant damage against top-10 national teams St. Frances Academy and IMG Academy, recording a combined eight solo and 14 assisted tackles, eight tackles for loss, and two sacks.

Linebacker: Cincere Johnson, Sr., Glenville (Cleveland, Ohio)

Nobody beelines to the ball like Cincere Johnson, who earned USA TODAY Sports Defensive Player of the Year nod. It doesn’t matter where it is — he will meet you, and he will take you down. This season, he had 185 total tackles, 42 tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks and five forced fumbles, according to his X account.

Linebacker: Tyler Atkinson, Sr., Grayson (Ga.)

A major defensive presence for one of the best teams in the country, Tyler Atkinson had 43 solo and 48 assisted tackles, 27 tackles for loss and 10 sacks to go with 24 QB hurries and two forced fumbles. Grayson, which was ranked No. 1 in the Super 25 for part of the season, went 12-1 and gave up an average of 10.5 points per game.

Linebacker: TJ White, Sr., Jackson Academy (Miss.)

One of the top-ranked linebackers in the country, TJ White recorded 88 tackles, 22 tackles for loss and 12 sacks, according to Gatorade. He had a versatile role in the playbook, and when he attacked the quarterback, his agility and mobility allowed him to finesse — or power — his way through double-teams. With good acceleration, once he gets to his man, he hits hard.

Linebacker: Quinton Cypher, Jr., Millbrook (Raleigh, N.C.)

With 48 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks, few linebackers were more effective than Quinton Cypher once they got behind the line of scrimmage. Extremely good at reading the field, he had 96 solo tackles, 85 assisted tackles, four interceptions, three forced fumbles, and touchdowns on both sides of the ball. Cypher was also disruptive on special teams.

Cornerback: Jermaine Bishop, Sr., Willis (Texas)

Bishop was a turnover machine on the defensive side of the ball, accumulating four forced fumbles and four interceptions, including a pick-six. This goes with 14 passes defended, nine tackles for loss, and 46 solo and 40 assisted tackles.

Safety: Jireh Edwards, Sr., St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, Md.)

Jireh Edwards had 167 tackles and six interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns, according to Gatorade. Behind his presence at defensive back, St. Frances Academy gave up only 87 points in nine games recorded on MaxPreps, four of which were shutouts.

Flex: Jaden Walk-Green, Sr., Centennial (Corona, Calif.)

Jaden Walk-Green had 10 interceptions and four pick-sixes, according to the LA Times. Two picks, one returned for a touchdown, were against Mater Dei, helping Centennial secure an early-season victory against the then-No. 1 team. Walk-Green also contributed with kicking, punting and returning duties for No. 10 Centennial.

Punter: Jimmy Gregg, Sr., University (Morgantown, Wv.)

One of the top-ranked punters in the country, Jimmy Grigg averaged 45.8 yards on his 49 punts, putting 25 of them inside the 20, 13 inside the 10 and not recording a touchback all season.

Second Team Offense

Quarterback — Jett Thomalla, Sr., Millard South (Neb.)

Jett Thomalla’s throws look effortless, despite high-level accuracy on short and deep passes. He amassed 3,484 passing yards and 58 touchdowns on a 72.6% completion rate in 12 games despite playing only half of some as Millard South had an average margin of victory of 57-3. In the championship game, Thomalla went 15-for-21 for 288 yards and seven touchdowns in the first half alone, securing a championship and his position on the ALL-USA team.

Running Back: Ty Keys, Jr., Poplarville (Miss.)

Ty Keys broke out as a junior, racking up 3,285 rushing yards and 45 rushing touchdowns in 13 games. He accounted for 63% of all Poplarville’s offensive yards this season, according to MaxPreps, including a 506-yard, eight-touchdown regular-season game, a 436-yard, seven-touchdown game in the quarterfinals, and nearly willed his team to a semifinals win with 316 yards and two touchdowns, which was 86% of all the team’s yardage.

Running Back: SaRod Baker, Jr., DeSoto (Texas)

SaRod Baker had an excellent regular season, racking up 1,600 yards and 25 touchdowns in 10 games. In the playoffs, he was different. Baker burst out in a way that attracted attention and offers from Div. I teams in the College Football Playoffs as he essentially doubled his season output in the postseason, recording 1,628 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns in six playoff games, according to the Athletic, as he led DeSoto to an impressive championship.

Wide Receiver: CJ Sadler, Sr., Cass Tech (Detroit, Mich.)

CJ Sadler helped Cass Tech achieve national notoriety this season with 65 receptions for 1,583 yards, good for 113 per game, and 32 total touchdowns. Twenty-one TDs were receptions, but two were rushes, one was a pass, one was a pick-six and seven were kick and punt returns.

Wide Receiver: Ethan ‘Boobie’ Feaster, Sr., DeSoto (Texas)

Feaster had some of the best highlight catches of the season, and his skill set is reflected in his stats: He had 85 receptions for 1,676 yards (105 per game) and 18 touchdowns for champion DeSoto. Feaster had 167 receiving yards and two touchdowns in the championship game.

Tight End: Kaiden Prothro, Sr., Bowden (Ga.)

With 85 receptions, 1,115 receiving yards and 27 touchdowns, Kaiden Prothro’s receiving chops rivaled those of WRs. He also showed his hands on defense, where he had three interceptions for GHSA Class A Div. II champion Bowden.

Flex: Cederian Morgan, Sr., Benjamin Russell (Alexander City, Ala.)

With explosive movement and the ability to go up to get the ball, Cederian Morgan showed why he’s one of the top-ranked senior wide receivers. He had 82 receptions for 1,419 yards (101 per game) and 16 touchdowns, including 256 yards and two touchdowns in the quarterfinals and 182 yards and two TDs in the semifinals.

Offensive Lineman: Kaeden Penny, Sr., Bixby (Okla.)

Bixby’s eighth straight championship team averaged 60.4 points per game, and Kaeden Penny’s presence on the offensive line was a key reason why. Still a junior, he has good speed and strength, can get in front of multiple defenders when necessary, and head coach Loren Montgomery called Penny one of the most talented linemen he has coached in his 26 years.

Offensive Lineman: Felix Ojo, Sr., Lake Ridge (Mansfield, Texas)

Felix Ojo has a unique ability to move across the line at the snap of the ball, almost like pre-snap movement for receivers or backs, setting up offensive action that the defensive line isn’t prepared for. His strength opens holes for ball carriers, and he’s able to get hands on multiple defenders to sow chaos downfield.

Offensive Lineman: Kodi Greene, Sr., Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)

Kodi Greene moves very well for a player of 6-foot-5.5 and 320 pounds. He can block multiple defenders on the same play, and has the speed to move downfield and keep up with the action when necessary. Greene was a key part of the Mater Dei offense that took down top-10 teams St. Thomas Aquinas and Bishop Gorman.

Offensive Lineman: Immanuel Iheanacho, Sr., Georgetown Preparatory (North Bethesda, Md.)

When watching Immanuel Iheanacho, it seems more often than not the 6-foot-6.5, 345-pound IOL either puts the defensive lineman several yards away from where the DL wants to be or puts him on the ground. He’s adept at running downfield to trail and play, and he provides additional blocking as well.

Kicker: Harran Zureikat, Sr., Fox Chapel Area (Pittsburgh, Pa.)

With an argument as the most talented kicker in high school football, Harran Zureikat broke the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League record with a 57-yard field goal, and though it doesn’t count, he hit the crossbar from 65 yards out. He had 32 touchbacks on 24 kickoffs and also handled punting duties.

Second Team Defense

Defensive Lineman: Carter Buck, Sr., Lake Travis (Austin, Texas)

Carter Buck’s 66 solo tackles (and 19 assisted), 36 tackles for loss and 22 sacks, plus three forced fumbles and an interception, helped lead a Lake Travis team that went undefeated through 14 games before falling in the semifinals to eventual champion North Shore (Houston, Texas). He had five tackles and 3.5 sacks in the quarterfinals win.

Defensive Lineman: Jordan Carter, Sr., Douglas County (Ga.)

Jordan Carter had 47 solo and 35 assisted tackles, 23 tackles for loss and 18 sacks for a very good Douglas County team. He showed up against elite talent — in three total games against No. 1 Buford and No. 4 Carrollton, he combined for 26 tackles, seven tackles for loss, and five sacks.

Defensive Lineman: Aaden Aytch, Sr., Lafayette Jefferson (Ind.)

Fluid and speedy off the edge, Aaden Aytch put together an excellent season, racking up 70 solo tackles, 42 assisted tackles, 33.5 tackles for loss, 19.5 sacks, 32 hurries and six forced fumbles. He helped Lafayette Jefferson go 10-2 and led the state of Indiana in sacks, according to the Journal & Courier.

Defensive Lineman: Prince Williams, Sr., Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.)

An incredibly productive player since his sophomore year, Prince Williams put up career-best numbers as a senior with 75 solo tackles (16 assisted), 44 tackles for loss, 13 sacks and three forced fumbles. He uses his speed to his advantage to beat offensive linemen around the edge, and was an important part of No. 2 Bishop Gorman’s 11-1 championship season.

Linebacker: Xavier Griffin, Sr., Gainesville (Ga.)

While Griffin is very adept at rushing the passer and getting into the backfield, his role is often to man the middle, combining patience and explosiveness. He had 67 solo tackles, 29 assisted, 12 tackles for loss and four sacks, along with an interception, for 12-3 Gainesville.

Linebacker: Anthony Jones, Sr., St. Paul’s Episcopal (Mobile, Ala.)

Playing from OLB and EDGE — and getting some snaps on offense out of the wildcat formation and at receiver — Anthony “Tank” Jones was one of the more versatile linemen in high school football. With the speed Jones has at his size, he was a menace during the season and projects to continue this at Oregon.

Linebacker: Roman Igwebuike, Jr., Mount Carmel (Chicago)

Roman Igwebuike was key for an excellent Mount Carmel squad, a team that went undefeated and allowed 17.4 points per game. The four-star junior recorded 115 total tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks, a pair of interceptions and three forced fumbles.

Linebacker: Jalaythan Mayfield, Jr., Lincolnton (N.C.)

Jalaythan Mayfield took care of business without assistance, recording 125 solo tackles with 27 assisted, according to MaxPreps. This, with six forced fumbles, six sacks, and 26 tackles for loss, showcased his skill set as one of the toughest linebackers in high school.

Cornerback: Jorden Edmonds, Sr., Sprayberry (Marietta, Ga.)

With five interceptions, 28 solo tackles (eight assisted), three tackles for loss and a forced fumble, Jorden Edmonds was one of the top defensive backs in high school football. He also scored nine touchdowns on offense.

Safety: Jett Washington, Sr., Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.)

The No. 1-ranked safety on 247Sports, Jett Washington had 48 total tackles, four interceptions — including a pick-six — and two forced fumbles this season.

Flex: Ayden Pouncey, Senior, Winter Park (Fla.)

Ayden Pouncey intercepted seven passes, which is impressive in its own right. He returned five of them for touchdowns, an absurd figure. In total, he had 16 touchdowns on the year, with nine on offense and a punt and a kick return each.

Punter: Wade Register, Sr., Trinity Christian (Dublin, Ga.)

The No. 2-ranked punter on Kohl’s, Wade Register averaged 46.8 yards per punt and placed 12 of them inside the 20-yard line.

AI-assisted summary
• Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman has informed NFL teams he won’t be seeking a job at the next level.
• Freeman confirmed his decision to remain with the Fighting Irish on social media.
• Freeman received a raise to remain at Notre Dame, according to multiple reports.

As Billy Madison once said, it’s “back to school, back to school” for Marcus Freeman. 

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach informed NFL teams he won’t be seeking job opportunities beyond his current one. Once those reports circulated, the 39-year-old confirmed his stance with a message on social media.

“2026 … run it back,” Freeman wrote. “Go Irish.”

Freeman was by no means a shoo-in for any current or potential NFL head-coaching vacancy. But the 2024 Coach of the Year was drawing interest from teams, per multiple reports. With good reason. He’s a young, successful coach who presents competence and projects confidence. Any organization looking for the traditional “culture-changer” archetype – cough, New York Giants, cough – would have had Freeman’s name on the interview list. 

For those front offices, it’s on to the next. 

Fans of Freeman, 39, say his leadership style will translate to the pros. Any team looking for a “CEO” at head coach rather than an offensive or defensive whiz – although Freeman made his bones as a successful defensive coordinator at Cincinnati and Notre Dame – would have to look at him. His experience, from leading the most visible program in America to playing at Ohio State, is another positive bullet point on Freeman’s resume.

Of all the cycles to fully commit to the NFL interview process, this was close to an ideal one for Freeman, since his current team is sitting at home, on the wrong side of the College Football Playoff selection committee’s policies and debates. The irked Irish – somewhat impolitely – also denied any bowl invitations.   

Perhaps Freeman wanted more options, with two openings currently, the Giants and Tennessee Titans. More jobs will become available. The normal average is seven NFL head coach openings each year, however, and that number might be lower this offseason. The counterpoint to that is the absence of a hot-shot coordinator or two who are sure to receive any of the openings, a distinction Ben Johnson held, for example, before being hired by the Chicago Bears last year. 

Get ready for the annual Marcus Freeman to NFL rumor cycle

The fluidity of roster construction in the college ranks, thanks to the transfer portal and NIL, has decreased the gap in the difference of responsibilities a college coach faces compared to a pro coach. Everybody’s getting paid now. Everybody’s a professional (allegedly). Egos are more pronounced in the NFL, but so is the overall maturity of the locker room, in most cases. 

Freeman boasts a 43-12 record since taking over after Brian Kelly’s departure four years ago and led Notre Dame to the national championship game last year. Every time his name floats into NFL coaching conversations, Freeman can look at Notre Dame’s coffers and do the “money please” dance. ESPN reported that the Irish gave Freeman an “enhanced contract,” on the heels of a raise in December 2024 that paid him $7.4 million annually, according to USA TODAY Sports’ NCAA coaches’ salary database. Per Sports Illustrated, the new deal puts him in the “top tier” of compensation among his peers. 

For Freeman, this can become an annual tradition – the next-generation Pete Carroll. On-field success. Rumors. Raise. Rinse and Repeat. 

Until Freeman actually makes the jump, that’s how it’ll go. And NFL owners will have to simply wonder what he’d look like leading their team. 

Southern California coach Lincoln Riley blamed Notre Dame for why the historic rivalry between the two teams has paused, adding the Fighting Irish didn’t keep to their word.

USC and Notre Dame announced on Dec. 22 their rivalry would not continue after they couldn’t come to terms on the future of the series that has been played 96 times since 1926. A week after the news, Riley was asked at a press conference on Monday, Dec. 29 ahead of the Alamo Bowl about what led to the halt of the rivalry game, and he pointed to Notre Dame as the reason.

Riley said both sides worked for months to continue the series and recently, USC athletics director Jen Cohen offered a proposal that would extend the game for two more years and Notre Dame rejected it.

‘We took Notre Dame at their word that they would play us anytime, anywhere,’ Riley said.

The Trojans coach added five minutes after the offer was rejected, Notre Dame announced a home-and-home series with Brigham Young that effectively ended any chance of the rivalry continuing. He said ‘that might be the fastest scheduling act in college football history.’

The main blocking point in the future of the game centered on the scheduling. Traditionally, it took place at Notre Dame in mid-October in odd years, and in even years, occurred in Los Angeles in November. The recent deal for the series ended with the 2025 game. The belief was USC wanted the game to be played earlier in the schedule to avoid it being in the middle of conference play. 

‘Had Notre Dame lived up to their word and played us anytime, anywhere, we would be playing in the next two years, and looking ahead after that and hopefully, continuing the series,’ Riley said. ‘They did not follow through on it. Thus, we are not playing them the next couple years.’

Riley has stated several times he has great respect for Notre Dame and the rivalry and wanted to keep it going. Since Riley took over at USC in 2022, Notre Dame has won three of the four meetings, including three consecutive victories. He said he’s hopeful something can be worked out in the future and ‘we at SC would love for the game to continue, and we have no problem following through on our promises in the future.’

After it was announced the rivalry would be paused, both schools said in a joint statement they ‘look forward to meeting again in the future.’

Notre Dame leads the all-time series 51–37–5.

Though Woods has somewhat stepped away from the PGA Tour in recent years — focusing on his businesses as well as Tomorrow’s Golf League (TGL) as they prepare for their second season — Woods’ career still leaves people in awe the more they learn.

Woods’ dominance on the links cannot be understated. So, as the man of the hour hits five decades, let’s take a look back at the 10 best moments of his career.

Keep in mind, this is a subjective list. You are allowed to disagree with it, but if you do, know that you are wrong and you look silly.

Top 10 moments of Tiger Woods’ career

10) ‘Better than Most’ — 2001 Players Championship

Ask any golfer and they can tell you the exact putt that the words ‘Better than Most’ came from. The iconic putt was great in and of itself, but it was made legendary by analyst Gary Koch’s commentary, repeating ‘Better than Most’ over and over with increasing enthusiasm as it got closer and closer to the hole.

9) 2000 U.S. Open

Woods’ dominance is well-documented, but it wasn’t always. The 2000 U.S. Open was one of the first tournaments where fans started to realize just how much damage Woods could do. After leading by just one shot after the first round, Woods then kicked his game to another gear, leading by six after 36, 10 after 54, and 15 when all was said and done.

Woods was the only player in the entire tournament to finish under par. He finished at 12-under.

8) Woods aces the 16th at 1997 Phoenix Open

Often referred to as the ‘loudest hole in golf,’ the 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale is known for producing legendary moments. Of course, Woods had to add himself to that mix. Woods’ ace in 1997 sent the crowd into an absolute frenzy, the kind of eruption that would make Shooter McGavin lose his mind.

7) Just short? — 2005 Masters

This is arguably the shot that Woods is most known for. Any golf fan can close their eyes and see the ball stop at the lip of the cup, flashing that iconic Nike logo, and leaving the crowd disappointed just moments before it takes one final turn into the cup and sending everyone into hysterics. The fact it happened at Augusta just added to the legend.

6) 2022 Masters

Woods did not win this tournament, but Woods’ career isn’t all about the wins, it’s also about the resilience, the ability to get back up when you get knocked down. Woods was involved in a serious car crash just 14 months prior to this tournament. Somehow though, Woods still managed to make the cut, extending his streak of consecutive Masters cuts made to 22, tying him with Fred Couples and Gary Player for the longest such streaks in tournament history.

5) ‘Hello, world’

Fresh off winning the U.S. Amateur for the third time in his young career, the golfing world was waiting in anticipation wondering if Woods would remain an amateur. However, it was clear that there was something in the works. After all, Woods’ dad, Earl, had secured a five-year, $40 million deal with Nike, which in all likelihood, wasn’t a spur of the moment deal.

Woods’ iconic ‘I guess, hello world’ marked the beginning of what would become the most iconic professional career in golf history.

4) The ‘Tiger Slam’

Not many golfers can say they’ve won a career Grand Slam. Tiger Woods won all four tournaments in a year. Though some skeptics will say that it doesn’t count since they didn’t all happen in the same year, those people don’t have friends, so who cares what they have to say.

Woods won all four major tournaments in a row, making him the defending champ at each of the biggest events in golf. That’s like being an undisputed heavyweight champion in boxing, but probably a thousand times less likely.

It’s very likely that we never see another golfer win all four majors in a row. That’s how insane this feat truly was.

3) 2006 Open Championship

Though this wasn’t the first or even the second time Woods would win the Open Championship, Woods’ victory in 2006 was iconic because of what Woods was dealing with at the time. Woods lost his father, Earl, earlier that year. You can see the emotion on Woods’ face after the winning putt as he shares an embrace with his caddie.

2) 1997 Masters

Woods was under a lot of pressure prior to this tournament. He was the young up-and-comer who would bring in a new era of golf. But he’d never won a major, he’d yet to make a major impact on the sport.

Then the 1997 Masters happened. He won by 12 strokes, and set a then-record four-round score of 270 (-18).

Even more iconic was Woods’ resilience in the tournament. Through nine holes, Woods carded a 4-over and was struggling immensely. He then shot four birdies and an eagle on the back nine, finishing the first round at 2-under. That was just a taste of all that was to come.

1) 2019 Masters

By 2019, Woods was well past his prime. He wasn’t the same dominant force that shook the Earth when he walked by. Woods hadn’t won a major in over a decade. Fans had written him off, but Woods wasn’t done.

It was a flash from the past that had fans giddy with enjoyment. He didn’t dominate like fans were accustomed to years prior, but he managed the win anyway. The best part was definitely him embracing his children behind the 18th green, the same place he hugged his parents after his win in 1997. It was really a full circle moment and an exclamation point on one of the greatest careers ever.

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