All articles tagged with #freshmen
Nebraska used two different lineups and the full bench to beat Iowa State in Sioux Falls, with Adriano, Sigler and Pierce combining for 24 kills on 34 swings, and freshmen Gabby DiVita, Keoni Williams and Jayden Robinson making notable debuts as the Huskers showcased a versatile, high-powered offense ahead of the regular season.
As BYU closes Spring Camp, the piece highlights one key takeaway for each scholarship true freshman, signaling who might contribute in 2026–27 (Enoch Watson at QB; Legend Glasker at WR; Jaron and Kennan Pula at WR/S; Bott Mulitalo at OL; Braxton Lindsey at DE; Nehemiah Kolone at DT; Devaughn Eka at RB; Terrance Saryon at WR; Matthew Mason at S). Several players look ready for early impact while others may need another year, with a summer conditioning phase likely to shift depth charts further.
Arizona rolled to a 32-point victory over LIU in the opening round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament, never letting the margin dip below 22 in the second half. Coach Tommy Lloyd stressed respecting the 16-seed and focusing on the next game, while freshmen Koa Peat and Brayden Burries reflected on their development and readiness as Arizona looks ahead to Sunday’s matchup.
No. 3 Oklahoma State dominated No. 7 Iowa 32-11 at Gallagher-Iba, led by true freshmen Jax Forrest’s 19-3 tech fall over Drake Ayala and Sergio Vega’s fall over Kale Peterson to open a 14-0 advantage, then Cody Merrill and Konner Doucet closed the dual with pins as OSU’s freshmen-forward onslaught propelled the Cowboys toward postseason momentum.
No. 10 Nebraska Softball split its opening day at the UTSA Invitational, with freshman Alexis Jensen earning the win in her debut (10 strikeouts) and transfer catcher Jesse Farrell homering in both games. The Huskers beat Washington 8-5 and fell to No. 1 Texas 15-10, led by Farrell’s two homers and Hannah Coor’s early RBIs, while injuries and illness left NU shorthanded.
A preseason-style ranking lists 21 top men’s college basketball players for the 2025-26 season, led by Duke freshman Cameron Boozer at No. 1, with standout performers from Michigan, Iowa State, Purdue, Vanderbilt, BYU, North Carolina, Arizona, Houston, and more, highlighting a mix of freshmen breakouts, transfers, and veteran stars who could shape March Madness.
Auburn's basketball team suffered its first loss of the season, falling 84-78 to Duke in the ACC/SEC Challenge. Freshmen played a significant role, with Duke's Cooper Flagg and Isaiah Evans scoring a combined 39 points, while Auburn's Tahaad Pettiford led his team with 20 points. Duke dominated in key areas, forcing turnovers and scoring 20 second-chance points. Auburn, now 7-1, will face Richmond next and participate in the Holiday Hoopsgiving against Ohio State.
Stats Perform has announced 25 finalists for the 2024 Jerry Rice Award, which honors the top freshman in FCS college football. The award, named after Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice, is in its 14th season and has previously been awarded to notable players like Cooper Kupp and Trey Lance. The winner will be announced on December 4 and honored at the Stats Perform National Awards Banquet on January 4 in Frisco, Texas.
Two UNC basketball freshmen, James Brown and Ian Jackson, will miss the game against American due to lower leg injuries. Jackson has been a key bench player, while Brown made an impact in his debut against Kansas. With a week off after the game, UNC hopes both players will recover before their upcoming trip to Hawaii.
In a wrestling dual where Stanford lost to Iowa 32-9, freshmen Tyler Knox and Lorenzo Norman achieved significant upsets. Knox defeated NCAA runner-up Drake Ayala 15-10 at 133 pounds, while Norman secured a 4-1 victory over All-American Nelson Brands at 174 pounds. Both wrestlers had impressive redshirt seasons and are now making strong starts to their collegiate careers, positioning themselves as potential All-American contenders.
BYU's men's basketball team, under new coach Kevin Young, opened their season with a dominant 88-50 victory over Central Arkansas, showcasing the talent of their highly-touted freshmen. Five-star recruit Egor Demin impressed with 18 points and 11 assists, while four-star recruit Kanon Catchings added 17 points. Despite a slow start, the team found their rhythm, with contributions from Richie Saunders and Mihailo Boskovic. The game highlighted the potential of the young squad as they prepare for their next match against UC Riverside.
Day 2 of the NCAA women’s tournament saw dominant performances from blue-blood programs UConn and Tennessee, with UConn's Paige Bueckers making a triumphant return. Freshmen players shined, Iowa's supporting cast stepped up, and Syracuse's Dyaisha Fair showcased heroic scoring despite an injury scare. Despite some close calls, there were no upsets on Saturday, going against the current trend of parity in women's basketball.
Notre Dame football head coach Marcus Freeman is cautious about praising the 15 scholarship freshmen who joined the program in January, emphasizing that each player's journey is different. He highlighted the journeys of former players Xavier Watts and Benjamin Morrison as examples. Freeman also discussed the team's tight end usage and evaluated the safety options, expressing confidence in the coaching staff. The official athletic director transition from Jack Swarbrick to Pete Bevacqua will take place on Monday, with Freeman expecting an easy transition and expressing gratitude for Swarbrick's mentorship.
Kentucky's surprising first-round NCAA Tournament exit serves as a cautionary tale for Rutgers, highlighting the potential pitfalls of relying solely on elite freshmen. The trend of freshmen leading teams deep into the tournament appears to be waning, with the current landscape favoring a mix of experienced veterans and strategically chosen freshmen. The rise of the transfer portal and NIL era has shifted the dynamics of college basketball, emphasizing the importance of roster construction and the need for a balanced team composition.
Caitlin Clark of Iowa earns her third straight AP All-America team honor, joined by freshmen JuJu Watkins of USC and Hannah Hidalgo of Notre Dame, along with Stanford's Cameron Brink and UConn's Paige Bueckers. Clark, the NCAA's all-time scoring leader, led the nation in scoring and assists, while Watkins and Hidalgo made significant impacts in their freshman seasons. Brink and Bueckers also stood out, with Brink being a dominant force at both ends and Bueckers returning to form after previous injuries.