Penn State is closing in on hiring D’Anton Lynn as its defensive coordinator, according to several reports on Monday.
Lynn, a former Penn State letterman, has spent the last two seasons leading Southern Cal’s defense. His hiring will make him the fourth defensive coordinator at Penn State in as many years.
Jim Knowles, the Philadelphia native who served as the program’s defensive coordinator in 2025, was not retained on new coach Matt Campbell’s staff and left to take the same position at Tennessee. Jon Heacock, who was the defensive coordinator in every season Campbell served as head coach at Iowa State, was expected to follow the new Penn State coach to Happy Valley, but he opted to retire last week.
The 36-year-old Lynn also spent a year as UCLA’s defensive coordinator and spent time as an assistant in the NFL for the Chargers, Texans, Bills, and Ravens.
This season, USC’s defense ranked 45th nationally in passing yards allowed per game (203.3), 48th in total defense (348.8 yards), and 49th in points allowed (22.4).
Lynn played defensive back at Penn State from 2008-11 and finished with 162 tackles (seven for losses), four interceptions, and a fumble recovery in 47 career games.
Sunday’s game between the Eagles and Buffalo Bills, premier teams in their conferences, could ultimately serve as a Super Bowl preview and a much-needed measuring stick before the teams prepare for the playoffs.
The Eagles and Bills are coming off wins over teams without playoff aspirations, and both are on the upswing after midseason lulls. Playoff seeding will be on the line as the Eagles chase the No. 3 seed and the Bills chase the Patriots in the AFC East race.
From Buffalo’s two-headed rushing attack of Josh Allen and James Cook to a shaky run defense, here is what the film says about Sunday’s Week 17 matchup (4:25 p.m., Fox29):
How the Bills forged the NFL’s best rushing attack
Cook has been lethal all season, particularly between the tackles. He leads the NFL in rushing with 1,532 yards, with more than half coming between the tackles (853 yards), according to Next Gen Stats.
The Bills do their most damage in the run game from under center. Over 1,300 of Cook’s 1,532 rushing yards have come from under center, and the Eagles allow the fifth-most rushing yards (73 yards) per game from those alignments. The Birds, though, have a minus-0.11 expected points added against under-center runs, which ranks ninth in the NFL.
The defensive plan for the #Eagles starts with slowing down #Bills RB James Cook, the NFL's leading rusher. This tight end and FB counter (HF) play has been their bread and butter run scheme, though Buffalo has a scheme diverse run game, and run IZ, OZ, power, counter, and duo. pic.twitter.com/AxAI8dmRHH
Buffalo has a diverse run game, but Cook is particularly dominant on counter runs that pull fullback Reggie Gilliam and tight end Jackson Hawes across the formation. Cook scored a 64-yard touchdown against Carolina on a counter run and scored from 45 and 44 yards out against the Texans and Browns, respectively.
In addition to counter runs, Cook also thrives finding cutback lanes on zone runs, making defenses pay if they overpursue the running back on the back side. His vision and acceleration in the hole allow him to weave through defenses. Cook has recorded 1,034 of his 1,532 yards after contact.
#Bills RB James Cook is such a slippery runner between the tackles, and consistently finds cutback lanes on inside and outside zone runs. #Eagles can't over pursue him on the backside, or he can make them pay. 1,034 of his 1,532 rushing yards have come after contact. pic.twitter.com/r0SvdeoviZ
Buffalo also likes to get Cook on the perimeter on toss plays, and its offensive line does a nice job of paving lanes for him to create explosive runs.
#Bills RB James Cook has also been effective on outside toss plays as well, as part of Buffalo's diverse running game that leads the NFL in rushing yards per game (158.9 yards). pic.twitter.com/gNK8lPzxGQ
If Cook has one weakness, it’s fumbling the ball. He has coughed it up six times but has just lost three. His three fumbles lost this season are tied for the most among qualified running backs, according to Next Gen Stats.
Allen, meanwhile, leads quarterbacks in rushing yards (552) and rushing touchdowns (12). He is particularly dangerous when he can escape the pocket on throwing downs. Of Allen’s 16 runs that have gone for 10 or more yards, five have come from the quarterback scrambling for third-down conversions, according to Next Gen Stats, and he has converted seven third-downs by scrambling.
One of the things the #Eagles defense has struggled with is defending QB scrambles, and #Bills QB Josh Allen is one of the best at extending plays with his legs and feet. He has 7 scrambles for first downs on third down, and they use him plenty in designed QB runs as well. pic.twitter.com/0FzZLQLEfq
The Bills quarterback has became the go-to short-yardage player on quarterback sneaks and designed runs. If it is third-and-short, more than a yard, the Bills will utilize Allen on zone read runs or motion into an empty formation and follow a pulling linemen on a downhill quarterback run.
On 3rd-and-short plays (excluding 3rd-and-1 sneaks), the #Bills like to use Josh Allen on designed QB runs, usually out of empty sets or utilizing the RB as a decoy to allow Allen to follow a pulling center or tackle. The frequency increases near the goal line. pic.twitter.com/DTWaIA7EGn
The same can be said about utilizing Allen’s legs in the red zone. Allen will carry the ball on similar designed quarterback runs, like a draw, counter, and power scheme runs. Even the threat of Allen running can draw extra defenders into the box inside the red zone, allowing space for Buffalo’s receivers to make plays.
Inside the 10 yard line is where #Bills QB Josh Allen is really dangerous in the run game, especially on designed QB runs. Scored twice on a QB sweep against the Bucs and on a QB draw with the RB leading against the Steelers. pic.twitter.com/NX0ANEqyHG
Poor run defense and tackling is Bills’ Achilles’ heel
While Buffalo’s rushing offense is elite, the Bills defense is allowing the fourth-most rushing yards per game this season (144.3 yards) and gives up the most yards per rush after contact in the NFL (4.1 yards), according to Next Gen Stats. They have allowed 63 runs of 10 or more yards, and nearly 60% of their opponents’ rushing production has come outside of the tackles. The Bills have also allowed 5.4 yards per rush per play, second-most in the NFL.
Early-down runs have been a killer for Buffalo, which is allowing the fourth-most rushing yards on first down — 34 of the 63 runs that have gone for 10 or more yards have come on that down, according to Next Gen Stats.
From under-center alignments, gap scheme runs and outside toss/zone runs have hurt the #Bills run defense. Of the rushing production allowed this season, over 57% has come outside the tackles, per @NextGenStats. pic.twitter.com/HN6qmA0b9t
In addition to the run-game struggles, Buffalo’s defense allows the most rushing yards from pistol formation runs (36.5 yards per game), according to Next Gen Stats, and a large chunk of those yards have come on outside zone and counter scheme runs.
The Eagles deviated from pistol formation runs after their first meeting with the Giants earlier this season, and have used them sparingly since the bye week. The only pistol run during their Week 16 win over the Commanders resulted in a 12-yard gain by Tank Bigsby to close out the game, and the Birds used the formation five times against the Raiders, four of which came with the game already decided in the fourth quarter of their shutout win.
The #Bills allow the third-most rushing yards per game in the NFL, and allow the most rushing yards from pistol formations (36.5 yards). The #Eagles have gone away from pistol runs after using the formation against the Lions with some success, but could add in some wrinkles this… pic.twitter.com/avS5EtMk2H
Only five times this season have the Eagles posted a positive rushing EPA. Three of them came in the first three weeks, and the other two were Week 8 against the Giants and Week 16 against the Commanders, according to Next Gen Stats. But Saquon Barkley has rushed for 100 yards or more in two of his past three games, with one trend starting to materialize.
Barkley has had four games with positive EPA on under-center runs: the Chiefs in Week 3, the Giants in Week 8, the Chargers in Week 14, and the Commanders last week. Yards after contact accounted for 117 of Barkley’s 132 yards, and the same trend carried over from the Raiders game: 75 of his 78 rushing yards were after contact vs. Las Vegas.
No clip more clearly shows the impact of the QB in the run game. The right of screen DT, DE, and LB are all taken out of the play by Jalen Hurts and then Saquon Barkley does the rest. What a run! pic.twitter.com/lt5Ulp1vQT
The Eagles are finding a formula in the run game and need to keep riding it against a struggling Buffalo defense.
X-factor: Shutting down Shakir and screen game
The passing game for Buffalo has been inconsistent, but one constant has been wide receiver Khalil Shakir, who leads the team in receptions (66) and yards (684).
As an extension of their run game and to take advantage of his elusiveness, the Bills get the ball into Shakir’s hands quickly on swing routes and screen passes. It forces defensive backs to come up and make tackles, while also challenging off coverage looks.
Of the #Bills wide receivers, the #Eagles should be most concerned with Khalil Shakir, who they move all over the formation and try to get the ball to in space. Swing passes, screens, orbit motion, and tunnel screens are all part of the Bills' offense to get Shakir the ball. pic.twitter.com/FkUJ6iKV3J
Of Shakir’s 684 receiving yards, 506 have come after the catch, according to Next Gen Stats. The bread and butter play for Buffalo’s passing game is mesh, which usually has one or two players running shallow crossing routes.
Shakir often is asked to run those routes in the offense, especially on third-and-medium distances. He’s also effective in making the first defender miss and forces missed tackles similar to a running back in space.
Khalil Shakir is the #Bills' leading receiver this season, and 506 of his 684 receiving yards have come after the catch, even though his average depth of target is 3.8 yards. Very dangerous after the catch and Josh Allen loves hitting him on shallow crossing routes on mesh… pic.twitter.com/jnbagRexa9
Cooper DeJean and Adoree’ Jackson likely will be tested in those situations to get Shakir to the ground. If Shakir is forcing missed tackles and turning 5-yard gains into 10 yards or more, it could be a long day for the Eagles’ secondary.
DeSean Jackson made a splash in his first season coaching Delaware State’s football team. Now, the former Eagles wide receiver is being rewarded for it.
After an 8-4 finish, the Hornets’ most wins in a season since 2007, the university announced Tuesday that it has signed Jackson to a contract extension that runs through the 2028 season.
The Hornets were picked to finish last in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference but finish second to South Carolina State after a 28-17 loss to the Bulldogs in the regular-season finale. Jackson’s team led the FCS in rushing yards per game (291.2) and had a winning record for the first time in 13 years.
“Just two days before Christmas last year, I began the next phase of my professional career, as a first-time head coach, in a community I did not know, with players I did not recruit. It was not easy, but it was important,” Jackson said in a news release. “Giving my whole self to these young men and representing one of the best Historically Black colleges in the country has been a high honor and one I do not intend to take for granted. We have some unfinished business to take care of on the field, and I am proud to be a part of the athletic transformation taking place at the school.”
The highlight of Jackson’s season came during the Battle of Legends between Delaware State and Michael Vick’s Norfolk State at Lincoln Financial Field, as the former Eagles teammates faced off for the first time as coaches. Delaware State beat Norfolk State, 27-20, in the Oct. 30 matchup. The game brought in more than 47,000 fans and felt like a night of celebration that transcended the game.
“The job of Delaware State is not to develop a good story about access and opportunity that changes and prepares young people to take their rightful place of usefulness and honor in a global community. That is Delaware State already,” Tony Allen, Delaware State’s president, said. “Our goal is to increase the number of storytellers who believe in the power of HBCUs like ours and can make the investment in a future they can see for themselves, their community, and their country. Coach Jackson understands that vision and is helping us carry that message around the world.”
After two seasons working on Camden native Fran Brown’s staff at Syracuse, Elijah Robinson is returning to Texas A&M as defensive line coach, according to a report from CBS Sports.
Robinson, also a Camden native, spent the last two seasons at Syracuse as the defensive coordinator and assistant head coach, but after a 3-9 season in 2025 in which the defense struggled, he was demoted to co-defensive coordinator. He was still listed on Syracuse athletics’ official website as of Sunday evening.
Before he followed Brown to Syracuse, Robinson served as the Aggies’ defensive line coach from 2018-23, and added the title of assistant head coach and co-defensive coordinator in 2023. He was hired for Jimbo Fisher’s staff and worked under current head coach Mike Elko from 2018-21, when the Penn graduate was the program’s defensive coordinator. Elko left to be Duke’s head coach after the 2021 season and returned to the Aggies as head coach three seasons later. Now the pair will reunite in College Station.
Robinson took over as interim coach in 2023 after Fisher was fired and went 1-2. At Syracuse, Robinson’s defense ranked 96th in scoring defense (29.2 points per game) and 78th in total defense (377.5 yards) nationally in 2024 for a team that went 10-3. Those numbers worsened in 2025 to 130th in scoring defense (34.9 points) and 127th in total defense (427.7 yards).
Elijah Robinson during his time as Texas A&M’s interim head coach in 2023.
The 40-year-old coach had other suitors in recent weeks, including LSU and Matt Rhule’s Nebraska. Robinson worked with Rhule at Temple (2014-16) and Baylor (2017).
Texas A&M saw its season end in the first round of the College Football Playoff on Saturday with a 10-3 loss to Miami.
After overcoming a 16-6 deficit late in the fourth quarter Saturday night, the Chicago Bears beat the Green Bay Packers, in overtime, 22-16, thanks to a 46-yard touchdown reception from Philly native DJ Moore.
Three plays after the Bears stopped Green Bay on its drive in overtime, quarterback Caleb Williams found Moore, an Imhotep Charter graduate, off a play-action post route to score the walk-off touchdown, his sixth touchdown reception of the season.
“I just had to run, run like I did in practice and connect like we did at practice,” Moore said of his winning reception. ”It was really a practice rep but we did it in a game. Like I said, it was just amazing that we did it against the Packers.”
The victory moved Chicago to the NFC’s No. 2 seed and put the Bears in the driver’s seat to win the NFC North for the first time since 2018. The Bears haven’t made the playoffs since 2020.
Moore is the Bears’ leading receiver this year with 664 yards and is tied for the team lead in touchdowns with Rome Odunze.
Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell tackles the Bears’ DJ Moore on Nov. 28.
Now in his eighth season in the NFL after a standout career at Maryland, Moore has scored three of his touchdowns in the last two games. This is his third year in Chicago after getting traded from the Carolina Panthers after the 2022 season and he has led the team in receiving each of the last three years.
After Saturday’s game, Moore wore a cheese grater hat, a reference to the Packers’ cheesehead hats that fans are known for wearing.
Bears WR DJ Moore pulling out the cheese grater hat is perfect. 😂
Moore and the Bears face the San Francisco 49ers next week and end the regular season by hosting the Detroit Lions. Chicago controls its destiny to win the division and clinch a playoff spot.
MILWAUKEE — Duke Brennan came up to the top of the key and set a screen for Devin Askew, rolled to the paint, and rose for a two-handed dunk to put Villanova up eight in overtime, sending Wisconsin fans to the exits.
The inside of Fiserv Forum on Friday night felt more like a Wisconsin home game than a neutral-site nonconference matchup. It was a tale of two halves for Villanova, but when the clock hit zero, the Wildcats picked up a resumé-boosting 76-66 overtime win against the pesky Badgers, who had beaten Big East foes Providence and Marquette.
The win moved Villanova (9-2) into the 29th spot of KenPom’s rankings and sends the Wildcats into the Big East slate on a high note.
“I thought they did a really good job of extending their halfcourt defense on us, which kind of surprised us a little bit,” Villanova coach Kevin Willard said postgame. “We had opportunities in the second half to win the game. And when you have two freshmen and a sophomore out there, sometimes you have to live through those mistakes.”
Live by the three, die by the three
The Wildcats got off to a hot start from the three-point line, hitting 8 of 19 attempts in the first half, led by Tyler Perkins’ barrage. He came into the game making 40.5% of his three-pointers, and his third three-pointer of the half from the top of the key pushed Villanova’s lead to 13 before the break.
Perkins paced the Wildcats with 19 points and earned praise from his coach afterward.
“I like the fact that Perk’s looking to shoot the basketball,” Willard said. “He’s shooting a high percentage. He does all the little things that most people don’t see. But when he’s aggressive out there, it gives us another scorer.”
Villanova guard Tyler Perkins prepares to shoot a three-pointer against Wisconsin on Friday.
But the second half was a different story. The three-point shots weren’t falling (1-for-10 in the second half), and the pressure Wisconsin (7-4) put on Villanova’s ballhandlers, like freshman Acaden Lewis and transfer guard Bryce Lindsay, left little room to operate.
A lead that had ballooned to 15 early in the second half was slowly whittled to three with less than seven minutes remaining in regulation. After a Brennan layup with 6 minutes, 16 seconds left, the Wildcats did not score a field goal for nearly five minutes. Villanova was outscored, 34-21, in the second half and shot just 8-for-29 from the field.
“We knew they [were] going to go on that run,” Lindsay said. “They got everybody in the crowd [into it], their fans. We just had to stay [together] as a team and play together.”
Wisconsin tied the game with 31 seconds left, and Lewis’ contested stepback jumper fell short right before the buzzer to send the game to the extra frame.
But in overtime, it was Lindsay, who shot 1-for-9 from the field through the first 40 minutes, who ignited the Wildcats. He opened the scoring with a curling three from the top of the key after a Brennan screen freed him. A dribble handoff with Villanova’s big man got Lindsay loose again two minutes later, pushing the Wildcats up seven with 2:59 left in overtime.
“I see one fall, the hoop gets a little bigger for me,” said Lindsay, who finished with 12 points.
Brennan’s battle on the boards
Brennan was tested by the size of Wisconsin big men Nolan Winter (7-foot) and Aleksas Bieliauskas (6-10). The 6-10 Brennan, who entered the night averaging 11.6 rebounds, second-most in college basketball, pulled down seven of his 11 rebounds in the first half and outrebounded Winter and Bieliauskas combined.
He also found soft spots in the middle of Wisconsin’s defense on pick-and-roll action. Lindsay found him in the lane for an and-one layup to open the second half, and Lewis found him on a similar action to end a scoring drought later in the half.
Villanova’s Duke Brennan dunks the ball during overtime of a 76-66 win over Wisconsin.
He played a team-high 39 minutes finished with his fourth double-double of the season.
Turning up the heat defensively
It was a shame that Lewis got into foul trouble in the first half because he was a big reason Wisconsin turned the ball over.
His full-court pressure, along with Lindsay and Askew, made the Badgers uncomfortable in the first 20 minutes, which was part of Villanova’s game plan. The Wildcats scored 15 points off 16 Wisconsin turnovers, eight of which came in the first half.
“That’s a Wisconsin team that can put up a lot of numbers,” Willard said, “and to have them struggle and turn them over like that, to me, was huge.
“If you let them just run their offense, they will pick you apart. And really early in the game, we wanted to get them uncomfortable.”
Free basketball at Fiserv Foum. Villanova and Wisconsin tied at 56 heading into extra period.
Friday was another learning experience for Lewis, who had opportunities to close out the game for Villanova. He missed the front end of a one-and-one with the Wildcats up three with 59 seconds left, committed a foul on the other end to give Wisconsin two free throws, then missed the potential game-winning shot and didn’t play most of the overtime period.
However, he didn’t turn the ball over and finished with seven points and two assists on 3-for-9 shooting.
Villanova freshman Acaden Lewis attempts a shot over Wisconsin’s Nick Boyd on Friday at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.
“I thought he played great,” Willard said. “This is a great learning experience for him of what to do at the end of the game. But he had two huge steals in the end of the second half. And he’ll make his free throws next time, and he’ll make a better play at the end of the game.
“That’s why you got to put him in those situations, and he’ll learn from it. He’s done it every game.”
Added Perkins: “He’s so mature. … He got in foul trouble early. And a lot of freshmen would dig in their head, not be ready, not stay in the game. But he had some great stops at the end of the game.”
Before the game, Villanova announced that freshman guard Chris Jeffrey underwent right knee surgery and is out indefinitely. Jeffrey, a Brooklyn native, had a knee injury before he arrived on campus that “recently flared up,” the program said.
In nine games this season, Jeffery was averaging 4.2 points across 10.6 minutes. The team also announced that walk-on Wade Chiddick also had right knee surgery and has no timetable to return.
Up next
Villanova will open conference play at Seton Hall on Tuesday (7 p.m., Peacock). The Wildcats hope to ride the momentum they gained through their tough stretch of nonconference play.
“The schedule we inherited, didn’t give us a whole ton of games in November to test ourselves,” Willard said. “And I think going through Michigan, [Pittsburgh], now Wisconsin, and now we got a really good Seton Hall team on Tuesday, now we’re testing ourselves, and I like the way these guys are going.”
The first round of the College Football Playoff gets underway Friday with Oklahoma taking on Alabama (8 p.m., 6ABC).
Three more games follow on Saturday: Miami-Texas A&M, Mississippi-Tulane, and Oregon-James Madison. There will be plenty of draft prospects to keep an eye on, especially ones who could end up on the Eagles next season with the team projected to have eight picks in the 2026 draft.
Here’s a look at the players the Eagles should be keeping a close eye on this weekend.
Tight end Kenyon Sadiq leads Oregon in receptions (40) and touchdowns (eight).
Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
The Oregon offense has plenty of weapons at quarterback Dante Moore’s disposal, but no one may be quite as important as tight end Sadiq, who leads the team in receptions (40) and touchdowns (eight). The 6-foot-3, 245-pound Sadiq is more of a receiving tight end than blocker, but he has tenacious effort in the run game, kicking out edge rushers and driving linebackers and secondary players backward in space.
Sadiq is an explosive athlete who thrives working the seam and finding soft spots in zone coverage. And his value in the red zone is noteworthy, with his ability to win vertically against secondary players and athleticism to catch passes in congested areas. The Eagles have a long-term need at tight end, despite Dallas Goedert’s strong year, and Sadiq can bring youth and elite athleticism to the room.
#Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq's value as a blocker, working the seams, and red zone value are all super valuable to the Oregon offense and are skill sets that should translate at the NFL level. Incredible athlete that consistently showcases the ability to catch the ball among chaos. pic.twitter.com/DGN6UzQrYX
Over the summer, Mauigoa was at Lane Johnson’s OL Masterminds event in Dallas, picking the brain of one of the most consistent tackles in the NFL. That time with Johnson has seemed to pay off for Mauigoa, who is technically refined as a pass protector and a mauler as a run blocker.
Across 394 pass-blocking snaps, Mauigoa has allowed just two sacks and nine pressures, according to Pro Football Focus. Though the three-year starter has made all of his appearances in college at right tackle, some teams view Mauigoa as a high-level guard with his run-blocking prowess. Whether the Eagles view him as a guard or tackle, the 6-6, 335-pound lineman would be a nice addition at either spot.
#Miami OT Francis Mauigoa generated a lot of displacement at the POA against NC State's edge rushers, and showed off his athleticism in space pulling across the LOS. Dominant run blocking display from him yesterday, mauler mentality. pic.twitter.com/szSZXUwMgu
Howell, who was named SEC Defensive Player of the Year last week, is one of the few edge rushers in this class with first-round worthy film, but his 30¾-inch arms, well below the NFL’s standard of 32-inch arms, may scare some teams off. But his athleticism and fluidity running the arc as a pass rusher makes him hard to ignore.
Though he needs to work on his run defense, Howell’s pass-rush ability will be coveted. In a class without many top-end edge rushers, he seems like a good bet to go in the back half of Round 1. Edge rusher probably isn’t the most pressing need for the Eagles’ defense, but Howell would bring some additional juice to it.
Playing for his third school in five years, Oregon’s left guard is a road grader in the run game, easily passes off defensive line stunts, and isn’t afraid to clean up a pocket if he isn’t blocking a defensive lineman. Pregnon has a powerful initial punch to redirect pass rushers and climbs to the second-level of a defense on double-team blocks in the run game.
He has only surrendered three pressures across 351 pass-blocking snaps, according to PFF, and is rarely caught out of position. He has experience at both guard spots and could slot in at right guard if the Eagles feel the need to upgrade with Tyler Steen entering the final year of his contract next season.
Pass pro ain't passive featuring #Oregon LG Emmanuel Pregnon, who has been stout for the Ducks' offensive line and is always looking for work on running and passing downs. pic.twitter.com/7p7389CCYG
The Eagles could be looking to upgrade their receiver room with Jahan Dotson set to be a free agent after this season, though drafting a wideout early seems unlikely. Still, Concepcion is a dynamic receiver who has returned to his freshman form this season, consistently winning on a vertical plane and creating explosive plays with the ball in his hands.
Concepcion transferred from North Carolina State and has become the Aggies’ top receiver, leading the team in receptions (57), receiving yards (886), and touchdowns (nine). He recently won the Paul Hornung Award, which is given to the most versatile player in college football, and would be a welcome addition to the Eagles’ passing attack.
Texas A&M WR KC Concepcion made a couple of big time catches outside of his frame against Notre Dame, including one on a double move between two DBs.
Already knew he was a RAC threat but showing his ability to make catches in traffic. Good ball tracker too. pic.twitter.com/Dh5eeYl90f
Though Adoree’ Jackson has settled into the corner spot across from Quinyon Mitchell, the Eagles could still look to upgrade the position. Lee is a physical, long defensive back who excels at disrupting routes and breaking on timing routes on an island. An exceptional athlete who is sticky in man coverage, Lee doesn’t have quite the same production as last year when he had two interceptions. But he has seven passes defended this season and has allowed catches on just 54.5% of his targets.
While he can get overly aggressive and grabby on routes (six penalties in 2025) and must find the ball better in man coverage situations, Lee has the size (6-1, 189 pounds) and competitiveness to excel at the NFL level. A good showing against Miami could be a big stock booster.
Oklahoma pass rusher R Mason Thomas was limited by injury this season, but he’s still been productive.
R Mason Thomas, DL, Oklahoma
The Oklahoma pass rusher has been limited to just nine games because of injury, but his production hardly decreased with nine tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks for the Sooners. Thomas is an elite rusher with excellent closing speed to run the pass rush arc and has a lethal speed-to-power conversion in his repertoire.
Like Howell, Thomas is likely to be a pass-rush specialist early in his NFL career, but his value getting after the quarterback should still have him selected within the first two rounds of the 2026 draft.
Akheem Mesidor, DL, Miami
All of the attention will be on Miami’s star pass rusher Rueben Bain Jr., an expected early-round pick, but versatile edge rusher Mesidor deserves some love, too. The sixth-year senior has inside-out pass-rush ability, possesses strong, active hands, and a quick first step to turn the corner on offensive linemen.
He played more of an interior role in 2024, but has a natural fit as a defensive end. Mesidor plays with good leverage and hand usage in the run game, and though he’s an older prospect (24), he can make an immediate impact along a defensive line in need of players who can man multiple spots. Mesidor has a career-high 12 tackles for loss and has matched a career high in sacks with seven in 11 games this season.
Before the 2024 football season began, defensive back Tyreek Chappell was expecting it to be his final year with Texas A&M. But just two games into that season, he suffered a noncontact ACL injury during practice that ended his season prematurely.
Chappell, a Northeast High graduate who has played football since he was 4 years old, said the “process was long” to get back on the field for the 2025 season.
“The players that were here, coaches that were here, kind of helped me to come back [to] football, because I was kind of losing it,” Chappell told The Inquirer. “Obviously, just me being hurt and I was supposed to leave that year.”
The fifth-year senior has made up for lost time and has done so at a new position. After playing outside cornerback in his first three seasons in College Station, he transitioned to nickel corner in 2024, when Penn alum Mike Elko returned to Texas A&M to be the head coach after coaching at Duke for two years. Chappell remained at the spot in 2025, and has yielded just one touchdown across 333 coverage snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.
There has been a lot of change since Chappell arrived on campus. He was recruited under Jimbo Fisher’s staff, which included Elko at defensive coordinator and Camden’s Elijah Robinson as defensive line coach, both of whom recruited the Philly native. When Fisher was fired before the end of the 2023 season, Robinson took over as interim coach, then left for Syracuse at the end of that season.
Through all of the changes, though, Chappell says he never wavered in his commitment to Texas A&M.
“After I had got relationships with other coaches, it really wasn’t just about like, ‘Who [is leaving], who [is staying],’ for real, I was just all about A&M at that point,” Chappell said. “The coaches treated me well here ever since I came [here]. … It was pretty much me loving A&M.”
Crash course together
When Chappell arrived at Texas A&M in the spring of 2021, former NFL defensive back Antonio Cromartie joined the program as a graduate assistant. Cromartie, who collected 31 career interceptions in 11 seasons with the Chargers, Colts, Cardinals, and Jets, quickly built a relationship with Chappell, since the former NFL player was working with defensive backs.
Cromartie says he was drawn to coaching because he wanted to “give back what I’ve learned from all the coaches that I’ve learned from.” His coach at Florida State, Bobby Bowden, was big on relationships, and Cromartie says that was “something that I wanted to build on.”
Antonio Cromartie of the Cardinals intercepts a pass against the Eagles on Oct. 26, 2014.
“Those two years of me being around them and just being able to coach them and pour into them, you get to see a different side of kids,” Cromartie said. “Get to have a kid come and talk to you, tell you what’s going on. A lot of that time, Tyreek lost friends and family members back at home in Philly, so just being able for somebody he can lean on, to talk to and express himself when he needed to was big, too. … It’s just like having a big brother that can help you along the way and guide you and make sure that you’re doing the things that you need to do, not only just the football, but off the field, too.”
When Chappell was a freshman, Cromartie immediately recognized his work ethic. At the time, being thrown into the fire as a rookie was a necessity because of injuries in the Aggies’ secondary, and he responded with 41 tackles, one interception, and nine passes defended in 12 starts.
Though Cromartie spent only two years on the coaching staff at Texas A&M, he believes if Chappell had stayed healthy last year, he would have been “one of the better corners in the SEC just from a technique standpoint.” The former coach also supports Chappell’s position switch to nickel.
“It shows that you can play inside, you can play outside,” Cromartie said. “It just shows how versatile you are, and that’s something that’s very valuable in the NFL. And I think you just see growth and maturity from him, and understanding his role. And I think that’s what makes him who he is.”
Texas A&M defensive back Tyreek Chappell reacts after the Aggies stopped LSU on a third down in 2022.
‘Once-in-a-lifetime moment’
On Saturday, Chappell will get to play on his biggest stage yet when Texas A&M hosts Miami in the first round of the College Football Playoff (noon, 6abc, ESPN).
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime moment,” Chappell said. “A lot of people don’t get a chance to make playoffs. So this really is big for everybody.”
Cromartie will be watching his former player try to slow down Miami’s aerial attack.
It could be Chappell’s final game in college, but Cromartie believes the Texas A&M defensive back has shown the skill set and dependability to be an impact player at the NFL level.
“Somebody that’s consistent, that understands what’s been asked of them, that understands what he needs to try to do. I think that is what’s going to make him an even better defensive back once he gets in the NFL,” Cromartie said. “You can look at him and say, ‘OK, I know what I’m getting out of him every single week, every single down, because of the way he practices and the way he plays.’ … He makes plays that he should make, and he does everything that’s asked of him.”
What has happened since Sunday’s College Football Playoff selection show could begin to shape the future of the sport this year and beyond.
Miami and Notre Dame, both 10-2 and ranked 12th and 10th, respectively, ahead of conference championship weekend, were essentially vying for one spot in a 12-team playoff that was mostly set with the top eight teams seeing little movement.
After No. 9 Alabama lost to third-ranked Georgia by three touchdowns and No. 11 Brigham Young lost by 27 to No. 4 Texas Tech and No. 17 Virginia dropped the ACC title game to Duke, the debate then shifted to whether the Crimson Tide deserved to be in the field.
In the end, though, BYU dropped out of the top 12, Alabama remained at No. 9, and Miami jumped two spots to knock Notre Dame out of the playoff field, creating a firestorm in the process with Tulane and James Madison getting the final two spots.
The committee pointed to Miami’s head-to-head victory over Notre Dame in Week 1 of the season as the ultimate deciding factor.
In response to getting left out of the playoff field, the Irish decided to turn down a potential bowl game matchup against BYU in the Pop-Tarts Bowl in Orlando, ending the season.
The outrage is all too familiar. An undefeated Florida State team in 2023, ranked No. 4 in a four-team playoff format at the time, was dropped because of an injury to star quarterback Jordan Travis in favor of No. 8 Alabama, which had defeated Georgia in the SEC title game that year.
That 2023 decision to leave the ACC champion out of the playoff has continued a negative trend for the selection committee:distrust. Distrust in the committee’s criteria. Distrust in what it values in playoff-caliber teams vs. what it does not. Distrust in how the panel measures the resumés of each team. Distrust in measuring programs by a different set of standards.
Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman reacts on the sideline against Stanford on Nov. 29.
To be clear, every conference should have a fair shot at winning the national championship.
Tulane, which beat three Power Four schools, plays in the toughest Group of Six conference in the American, and its coach, Jon Sumrall, was hired to be Florida’s next head coach.
James Madison, although it lost its lone game against a Power Four opponent, had Bob Chesney poached to be UCLA’s next head coach. Both Sumrall and Chesney are sticking with their teams through the playoffs.
Notre Dame’s decision to sit out a bowl game could set a precedent. With Name, Image, and Likeness reshaping college sports, more programs built specifically with playoff aspirations may do the same if their seasons don’t go as planned.
Keeping Notre Dame out of the playoff is fine, but don’t have the school ranked ahead of Miami for five weeks only to flip it on Selection Sunday. What about keeping Alabama at No. 9 after losing by three touchdowns, but moving down BYU and Ohio State after their losses?
After this, the CFP committee ought to figure out a better way to determine the best 25 teams every week — because this current format is not working and could have long-term ramifications for the sport.
Villanova’s tall task
The star of Villanova’s two wins to open the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs has been its defense, which allowed just seven points in each win, the lowest among the remaining eight teams.
That defense will be put to the test Saturday against fourth-ranked Tarleton State (12-1) of Texas, which has one of the best scoring offenses in the FCS (44.1 points per game) and the No. 3 total offense (472.3 yards), led by Walter Payton Award finalist Victor Gabalis, the team’s quarterback.
The Texans also have wins over an FBS school, Army, and are a perfect 7-0 at their Memorial Stadium in Stephenville, Texas, while averaging 41.8 points.
Tarleton State, about 80 miles southwest of Fort Worth, also ranks in the top 10 in scoring defense (18 points) and passing yards allowed (160.5 yards) but has one glaring weakness: defending the run. On the season, Tarleton ranks 69th in rushing defense, giving up 163.6 yards per game, which should offer the Wildcats an opportunity to control the game in that aspect.
Tarleton State’s Victor Gabalis in action against Army on Aug. 29.
Saturday’s quarterfinal game (noon, ESPN) will ultimately come down to Villanova’s defense holding Tarleton State’s offense in check. Harvard and Lehigh each ranked inside the top 25 in total offense, but the Wildcats shut both teams down.
The only game Tarleton State lost this season came against Abilene Christian, the only time the Texans scored less than 30 points.
Villanova (11-2) will need big games from running backs Ja’briel Mace and Isaiah Ragland and the offensive line to clinch the program’s first semifinal appearance since 2010. The winner of this matchup will face the winner of UC Davis and Illinois State next Saturday.
Although Delaware State’s season came to an end with a loss to South Carolina State two weeks ago that determined the Mid-Eastern Atlantic Conference’s representative in the Celebration Bowl, coach DeSean Jackson, the former Eagles wideout, earned some recognition after his debut season.
On Monday, Jackson, after an 8-4 season was named the 2025 Boxtorow HBCU Coach of the Year for his efforts at Delaware State this season. The Hornets led the FCS in rushing yards per game (291.2 yards), and Jackson led his team to a win over Michael Vick’s Norfolk State on Oct. 30 at Lincoln Financial Field.
For the 126th time, Army and Navy will meet, this year at Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium, with the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy on the line. Navy won last year’s matchup with a resounding 31-13 victory at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md.
Navy leads the series, 63-55-7, but Army has won six of the last nine matchups. The Midshipmen, though, have the best player in quarterback Blake Horvath and the nation’s top rushing offense (298.4).
Navy quarterback Blake Horvath in last season’s game against Army.
After one season as Penn State’s defensive coordinator, Jim Knowles will not be retained on new head coach Matt Campbell’s staff, according to several reports. The news was first reported by On3.com. But the 60-year-old defensive coordinator already has a new job lined up.
According to CBS Sports, Knowles, a Philly native and St. Joseph’s Prep alum, will become Tennessee’s new defensive coordinator. Knowles spent three seasons at Ohio State before joining the Nittany Lions earlier this year. Now he’ll direct the defense at a third school over three seasons.
Penn State made Knowles the highest-paid coordinator in college football history with a three-year, $3.1 million deal on the heels of a national championship with the Buckeyes. He replaced Tom Allen, who departed for Clemson. Knowles’ unit at Ohio State was No. 1 in the country in yards allowed per game (254.6), points allowed (12.9), second in first downs allowed per game (15.1), and third in passing yards (167) and rushing yards per game (87.6).
The longtime coordinator was viewed as the critical piece to help the Lions get over the hump this season in the College Football Playoff. That did not happen as Penn State’s defense took a significant step back compared to previous years. The Lions finished 34th nationally in total defense (334.3 yards), 37th in points allowed (21.4 points), and 72nd in rushing yards allowed per game (150.8). The defense also ranked 92nd in third down percentage (.416).
Penn State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles (left) and offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki before the game against Nebraska on Nov. 22.
Knowles has been a defensive coordinator at the Football Bowl Subdivision level since 2010. He spent eight seasons with Duke in that role before joining Oklahoma State in 2018. He spent four seasons in Stillwater before becoming the Buckeyes’ defensive coordinator in 2022.
Tennessee moved on Monday from defensive coordinator Tim Banks, who was Penn State’s co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach from 2016-20. Banks spent five seasons as the Volunteers’ defensive coordinator, but he struggled in 2025 as the defense ranked 88th in total defense (395.5 yards) and 93rd in scoring (28.8 points).
On3.com reported earlier this week that Campbell’s defensive coordinator at Iowa State, Jon Heacock, would join him in Happy Valley, but it’s unclear if he will be in the same role at Penn State. Heacock spent all 10 years running the Cyclones defense under Campbell.
