This is the second February edition of The Lineup, a newsletter recapping many of the most important developments in the world of sports. This edition features an NFL Mock Draft, Four Nations Recap, debates NBA All-Star Weekend and discusses top storylines in NCAA Men’s Basketball.
Leading Off: Top 10 NFL Mock Draft
Hayden Shapiro, Nate Babcock, Tyler Steinberg
- TEN: Abdul Carter, EDGE Penn St
There’s no question the Titans need help at several positions, including quarterback. Taking your potential franchise quarterback may be an intriguing option here, but Carter is way too good of a prospect to pass up on. In 16 games played, the edge rusher tailed 12 sacks and 68 total tackles. When you lack talent like the Titans do, the approach should always be the best player available over need. You can never have too many elite pass rushers, and if the Titans can pair Carter and Jeffery Simmons, Tennessee creates a mismatch nightmare for years to come.
- CLE: Cam Ward, QB Miami
Despite the direction they take, the Cleveland Browns will leave the 2025 NFL Draft with much to be desired, but most importantly, the Deshaun Watson disaster-class has to end. Whether they keep the pick or opt to trade down, a long-term option at QB is needed before they start filling gaps in other areas. Ward’s unique combination of accuracy and arm strength paired with his adept decision making offers the Browns the most immediate solution to their offensive woes as they were dead-last in points scored sitting at an average of 15.2 points per contest. Ward would be a breath of fresh air in an organization in need of a new identity.
- NYG: Shedeur Sanders, QB Colorado
New York needs a face, a face that will put people in seats and bring the Giants back to contention; Sanders has the tools, flashiness, and charisma to do exactly that. He’s an uber-accurate signal caller and he fits throws into extremely tight windows. This selection would not only allow the G-Men to build around a first-rounder, but it also would allow them to utilize some underrated weapons (Robinson, Tracy, Johnson).
- NE: Travis Hunter, CB/WR Colorado
With New England already having their guy in Drake Maye, it’s time to focus on skill positions. With Travis Hunter, they get the best of both worlds. The 2024 Heisman, Biletnikoff and Chuck Bednarik winner can be the first-ever successful two-way player in the Super Bowl era. Only time will tell how the Patriots decide to use Hunter, but a potential all-pro cornerback and receiver in one player may be too good to pass up.
- JAX: Will Johnson, CB Michigan
After allowing a league-high 4,375 passing yards and 257 passing yards per game, the Jaguars have to be foaming at the mouth to draft a talent as perfectly suited for their needs as Will Johnson. At 6-2 with a 40 time of 4.4 seconds, Johnson is a match-up nightmare. Jacksonville saw their defensive backs struggle making the adjustment to running man coverage more frequently, meanwhile Johnson specializes in outside man and press CB roles. He held opposing quarterbacks to a halting 41.5 QB rating when targeting him, proving that his ability to make plays on the ball. Competitiveness, versatility and advanced anticipation for different route combinations in various coverages makes him the perfect target for the Jaguars.
- LV: Ashton Jeanty, RB Boise St
Jeanty burst onto the scene in 2024, breaking records left and right. His low center of gravity makes him a nightmare to tackle and he’s near impossible to bring down in the open field. This pick makes a ton of sense for Vegas, as it seems the Zamir White/Alexander Mattison experiment is over in Las Vegas.
- NYJ: Mason Graham, DT Michigan
Quinnen Williams has caused havoc for many years in his tenure with the Jets. Now what if I told you to add a 6-3, 320-pound defensive tackle that has the athleticism of an edge rusher to that equation? Graham may not have the sack numbers that jump out at you, but that has never stopped him from single-handedly ruining another team’s game plan. Defense wins championships, and if the Jets want to seriously contend, don’t overthink and take the best player available here at seven.
- CAR: Jalon Walker, LB Georgia
After trading away two-time pro-bowler Brian Burns, the Panther’s defensive struggles were inevitable this past season. However, that is no excuse for giving up a league-high 179.8 rushing yards per game, which was 38.4 more yards per game than the next-highest team. Selecting Jalon Walker would mend numerous chinks in the armor while being the perfect complement alongside Derrick Brown and Jaycee Horn. This would give the Panthers a star-caliber talent at all three levels and a solid core to build their defense around. Walker’s quick first step and talent as an edge rusher provides constant pressure on opposing backfields that had previously been lacking. Although Carolina may not be able to maximize Walker’s potential immediately, he is too talented to be left on the board.
- NO: Tyler Warren, TE Penn St
Warren is a physical, go up and get it tight end who’ll quickly become his QBs best friend. He blocks extraordinarily well and has some underrated speed. His prowess with the ball in his hands is reminiscent of a young George Kittle; yes, pretty high praise.
- CHI- Will Cambell, OL, LSU
Protect Caleb Williams at all costs. That should be the first and last thing on Ryan Poles mind with this pick. There have been some questions about where Will Campbell will play on the line, but I’d argue that the mix of versatility Campbell brings on top of the elite frame grants the Bears a premier prospect on what was a leaky front last year. I’m expecting a big jump this season with Ben Johnson at the helm, and Campbell would be a great start to this new era in Chicago.
The Cleanup Spot: Four Nations Recap
Four Nations Overall, by Jonny Martirano
On February 2, 2024, the National Hockey League (NHL) announced the first ever NHL Four Nations Face-Off. One year later, it became one of the biggest hockey events ever.
The Four Nations Face-Off is a mini international tournament between Canada, Finland, Sweden and the United States, replacing the annual All-Star Game for the 2024-25 NHL season. Taking place from February 12-20 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada and TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, it was the first major international best-on-best hockey tournament since the World Cup of Hockey in 2016.
Canada ended it victorious, in a storybook 3-2 overtime victory against the United States in Boston, courtesy of Connor McDavid, the game’s best player, in a high-paced intense matchup. Along with McDavid, Canadian and Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon won the tournament MVP, with four goals in four games.
This tournament garnered many eyeballs to the sport, with the championship game reaching 16.1 million viewers in North America alone (9.3 US, 6.3 CAN). The first game between USA and Canada also brought in 10.1 million in North America, and the tournament as a whole averaged 6.5 million viewers. The championship game was the second-most watched hockey game in the past decade, just behind Game 7 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers, which had 16.3 million viewers.
The mix of the absence of best-on-best international play for nearly 10 years and the ongoing political state between the USA and Canada made for an unforgettable week of hockey action. This tournament had everything from fights to exciting goals, fast-paced action and intensity. You name it, this tournament had it.
Before the first USA/Canada, the Bell Centre crowd rained down with boos during the USA’s National Anthem, which prompted three fights within the first nine seconds of the game. The Americans would go on to win the game 3-1 in a highly-tested affair with their iconic goal song “Free Bird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd playing after every US goal.
The one-off tournament was played in a round-robin format, along with one additional game for the championship for seven total games. For the round-robin, each team played each other one time, and the two teams with the most points moved on to the championship game.
The Final Standings after the Round-Robin were:
1. USA – 2 wins, 1 loss – 6 points
2. CAN – 1 win, 1 OT win, 1 loss – 5 points
3. SWE – 1 win, 2 OT losses – 5 points
4. FIN – 1 OT win, 2 losses – 2 points
*3 pts for reg W, 2 pts for OT W, 1 pt for OT/Shootout L, 0 pts for reg L
American Heartbreak, by Tommy Jacobellis
Looking to beat Canada in best-on-best hockey to win gold for the first time in 29 years, Team USA came up just short. Led by stars across the board like Auston Matthews, Connor Hellebuyck and the Tkachuk brothers, they took Team Canada to overtime, but Connor McDavid proved to be too much.
Team USA came out of the gates hot, defeating Team Finland in dominating fashion, 6-1. With their fast and physical play, they kept rolling as they beat Team Canada 3-1 in a game for the ages. With three fights in the first nine seconds, Team USA proved a point that they were not the little brothers and could compete with hockey royalty. After a loss to Sweden in which it had no seeding implications, the stage was set… USA vs. Canada.
In a back-and-forth game, it was tied 2-2 for the entirety of the third period, which brought us to overtime. With over nine million Americans watching from home, Connor McDavid netted a game-winner to win the tournament for Canada.
Although it was a painful loss, there were plenty of positives to take away from this tournament as the Winter Olympics quickly approaches. Blue Jackets defender Zach Werenski led the team with six points, and Hurricanes defender Jacob Slavin proved he can hold down the D-line for Team USA in the future.
Both Brady and Matthew Tkachuk were fantastic, each having three points, displaying great leadership and bringing a much-needed physical component. Finally, forwards Jack Eichel and Jake Guentzel were excellent offensively, each having four points as they tried to keep this offensive group on pace with the explosive Canadians.
With Team USA’s core set for the future, they have hopes of finally getting over the hump and winning gold at the Olympics for the first time since 1980.
Disappointing Swedish Performance, by Ben Rossi
With stars like Elias Petterson, Elias Lindholm and Victor Hedman, team Sweden was a popular pick to play spoiler and prevent either Team Canada or Team USA from making it to the Four Nations Face-Off championship game. These expectations were deflated in the first two matchups as Team Sweden suffered back-to-back overtime losses to Canada (4-3) and Finland (4-3). Team Sweden would finish the tournament on a positive note defeating Team USA 2-1 in a meaningless game in which many of Team USA’s stars including Matthew Tkachuk and Auston Matthews did not play.
While Sweden’s disappointing finish is evident the team showed flashes of brilliance that could leave many fans hopeful for the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics. They have foundational players in the prime of their careers. They have kids like 20-year-old Leo Carlsson, who made his tournament debut against Team USA, and a strong leader in Victor Hedman. At 34 years old Hedman led the team by averaging 25:19 minutes of ice time per game. Hedman is doing a fine job of succeeding Nicklas Lidstrom, Sweden’s previous do-it-all defenseman. Despite his age rising, Hedman projects to be a minutes-eating shutdown presence who should push the pace and help on the No. 2 power-play unit.
Jesper Bratt, 26, and Andre Kemp, 28, proved to be solid two-way wings. Bratt uses his exceptional agility to manufacture scoring chances whereas Kempe tends to be more of a line rush player.
None of this upside matters unless Team Sweden gets more out of players like Elias Petterson, Filip Forsberg, and William Nylander. Petterson in three games finished with zero points and looked like a completely different player than he’s been in previous seasons with the Vancouver canucks.
While the 4 Nations Face-Off ended in disappointment the Swedes will enter the 2026 Winter Olympics with a chip on their shoulder and stars with something to prove.
Finland Unable to Compete, by Hayden Shapiro
Team Finland had the names, talent, and charisma to do some damage in the 4 Nations Face-Off, but ultimately left with one overtime win, along with two losses. It was not the tournament they had hoped for, but there was a lot to like from the Fins throughout the two-week tournament.
Montreal Canadiens star, Patrick Laine, showed glimpses of what he used to be; a young sniping winger who can put the puck in the net from wherever on the ice. He was injured to begin the NHL season, but his production has turned up since the new year. Even though he’s only 26-years old, his presence and goal-scoring ability was evident for Team Finland.
Aleksander (Sasha) Barkov was the difference maker for the Fins. His defensive prowess, even though he’s a forward, brings some old-school hockey back to international play; and it was a beautiful thing to see. Barkov was spectacular in the face-off dot and was constantly setting up teammates in open space, oftentimes leading to a scoring chance.
One last key player that Finland had the pleasure of having on their roster was recently traded right-wing, Mikko Rantanen. Rantanen has had quite the travel log this season. Starting in Colorado, where he shined for years alongside Four Nations MVP Nathan Mackinnon, he was dealt to Carolina for a plethora of picks and RW Martin Necas. The travel didn’t affect him, though. He looked as good as new during the tournament, logging an average 20 minutes of ice team in each game. If the Fins wanted to succeed in the games they played, Rantanen was going to be a big part of it.
With all that being said, the Fins were not a threat in the tournament. This was partially because of how stacked the US and Canadian team’s were, but also because of the brand of hockey they played. They were set on transition/fast-break opportunities, which led to struggles setting up in the offensive zone and also led to multiple 2-on-1 chances for their opponents. They had the firepower, but ultimately did not make much noise in the tournament.
Canadian Champions, by Deegan Holden
Team Canada defeated Team USA in a dramatic overtime affair by a score of 3-2 in the NHL’s inaugural Four Nations Face-off. In the previous game between Canada and USA in the round-robin, there were a total of three fights in the first nine seconds of the game.
Led by the likes of forwards Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon, it seems almost inevitable that the Canadians would wind up competing for a trophy. While the first game between the two powerhouse teams was missing defenseman Cale Makar due to an injury sustained in their first game versus Sweden, the championship included the Avalanche defenseman. Leading the team in ice time with more than 28 minutes, as well as securing an assist on the overtime winner, Makar was certainly a large factor in his return.
The current political climate only further juiced the two games between the teams, and the victory for Canada felt a little sweeter than previous ones.
While this may be Crosby’s first and last 4 Nations Face-Off as he is 37 years old, he would certainly be leaving the team in good hands with McDavid and MacKinnon. With more NHL players in international play on the way, Canada’s offensive powerhouse is sure to remain for competitions to come.
Starting Pitcher, NBA All-Star Weekend
Pro-format, August Lieberman
For years, the NBA All-Star Game has been the topic of slander and disinterest amongst fans. For the 2025 All-Star Game, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver decided to revamp the event from the drafting process to the rules of the game. As opposed to the classic East vs. West matchup of years past, there were four teams this year — three teams composed of the 24 All-Stars, with the fourth team being the winner of the Rising Stars tournament. The four teams played two semifinal games, with the winners moving on to the championship. Each winning side had to score 40 or more points to advance in each game.
The stigma that surrounds the All-Star game is often tied to “effort”—fans complain that the game is pointless due to the players not playing with the intensity of a real NBA game. I believe this notion is grounded in biased nostalgia. Players never “played real defense” in the All-Star game dating back to its inception. If you don’t like the All-Star game because of this, that’s fine, but you can’t slander the modern one while praising the older ones. Not to mention this year’s game featured a surprising amount of effort from players like Victor Wembanyama.
As far as the new format—I found it fun, and with some tweaks, I think it can be great. Limit timeouts—I could not stand the incessant commercials that lapped the amount of time the ball was in play. Ditch the Kevin Hart Emcee business.
Playing to a score limit was superior to time. With time, the players can check out a lot earlier and just wait for the clock. I noticed that it felt more engaging with a score limit. Instead of forty points, push it to sixty or seventy, as the games were over a bit fast. The fans want more basketball to be played. I love the Rising Stars being able to play against the All-Stars—it opens the door for some fun narratives and intensity if the players want to see if they can topple the solidified vets in the league.
The NBA just needs to cut down the time spent on All-Star weekend that is spent on all things not basketball. What killed it this year was not hoops, it was the presentation.
Anti-format, Nate Shoemaker
The All-Star game was better but not good enough. The new all-star format game may have attracted more viewers but the quality was not there. The tournament idea was kind of entertaining but there were too many commercials and not enough game-play. The fans saw more of Kevin Hart than the All-Stars.
Since the TNT broadcast was coaching they decided to add more broadcasters on air including Draymond Green. Green was ranting about how they should change the All-Star format again and he wasn’t wrong. There were more commercials and out-of-game entertainment than real basketball. Mr Beast hosted an event during the game, a shooting event that took up a lot of screen time and players were annoyed by the event. Trae Young said, “I feel like the fans want to see us playing more.”
The players were frustrated with the current All-Star game format because they felt there wasn’t enough basketball being played. An idea of a USA vs World all-star game could make the weekend more interesting. This idea could work because there is a pride aspect for all players in the game because they are getting a chance to represent their country.
There is also evidence of this working in other professional sports. In the NHL instead of an all-star game, they created the Four Nations face-off and all the fans were very delighted by the players’ effort and game action.
The Olympics was a huge success in 2024, especially for basketball and this all-star game format would bring a little preview of the Olympics instead of us fans having to wait until 2028 to watch the next Olympics.
Mac McClung and Dunk Contest, by Sierra Fisher
The NBA All-Star game hasn’t been as enticing to viewers in recent years; the level of intensity from players has seemed to have gone downhill. There isn’t as much motivation for players to perform at their usual capacity with the NBA season being in full swing, but one player isn’t afraid to make his presence known.
Mac McClung, three time NBA All-Star Slam Dunk contest champion, had everything to prove this year. Most players see the All-Star game as a fun endeavor and want to enjoy their time on the court, but this game is everything for McClung.
He is the first to have won the contest three years in a row, and has earned a total of $310k from the competition, nearly tripling his guaranteed career earnings of $132.1k with the Orlando Magic. The fans loved his energy, the players loved his energy, and even more so the world loved his energy.
The crowd was ecstatic and social media had a field day with all hype that had been building up to that moment. McClung was able to bring in viewership from all over to see if he could be the first to complete the trifecta and be the proclaimed “All-Star Dunk Contest King” once and for all.
Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant took to Twitter after the competition to declare his interest in the contest next year claiming that “Mac might make me decide to dunk.” This caught the attention of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks power forward, who responded saying “If you do it, I’ll do it with you 💯.”
The Closer, NCAAB Storylines
The SEC is Dominating the College Basketball Landscape, by Marley Pope
Eight of the top 25 teams in KenPom, three of the projected four No. 1 overall seeds in March Madness and eight teams in the AP Top 25 rankings. The Southeastern Conference may be the strongest in the history of the sport.
The Big East holds the record for number of bids (11) from one conference in March Madness, doing so in 2011. The SEC is on track to tie or break that record come Selection Sunday.
At the top, Auburn has dominated elite competition, posting an absurd 15-2 Quad 1 record with 11 ranked wins behind national Player of the Year candidate Johni Broome and a slew of talented, versatile guards who shoot the lights out and cause havoc on defense.
Next is Florida, led by former MAAC star Walter Clayton with a 24-4 record including a road win over Auburn on February 8. The Gators are both top-10 in offensive and defensive efficiency per KenPom with an ability to control the paint but also play high tempo and make perimeter shots.
The last of the big three, Alabama, made a run to the title game last season behind their lightning-quick play led by Mark Sears. Sears is back for another season and averages 19 points per game as the Crimson Tide are once again an elite offensive unit.
Their conference schedules are unlike any other as almost every game is a Quad 1 opportunity. Three of the top six strengths of schedules in the country hail from the SEC. Texas A&M is a dangerous tourney team, Missouri is putting together an excellent season and Tennessee has the best defensive rating in the country.
Rounding out this stacked conference are Ole Miss, Kentucky, Miss St, Vanderbilt and Texas. That’s 11 teams firmly in the Big Dance. Can Arkansas or Georgia be the last to sneak in and break the record? Only time will tell with three games to go before the conference tournament.
Three Key Questions for the Big East as March Approaches, by Jacob Hume
Year after year, the Big East consistently delivers high-stakes basketball and elite competition. From Jay Wright’s dominant Villanova teams to UConn’s back-to-back national championships in 2023 and 2024, the conference has been home to some of college basketball’s most memorable battles.
With the 2024-25 Big East season winding down, three major questions stand out for the conference’s top teams—and with March Madness on the horizon, these questions could decide who thrives and who falls short.
1. Can Anyone Catch St. John’s?
St. John’s has been one of the season’s biggest surprises in Rick Pitino’s second year. The Red Storm have surged to the top of the Big East standings, highlighted by a major win over UConn on February 23rd.
With the second-best defense in college basketball and standout play from Kadary Richmond and Deivon Smith, the question is whether any team in the Big East can challenge St John’s.
St. John’s has already secured impressive victories over UConn, Marquette, and Creighton in February, giving them a substantial advantage in the standings.
2. Can UConn Regain Its Championship Form?
After winning back-to-back NCAA titles, UConn entered the season as the Big East favorite. However, inconsistency has cast doubt on their ability to defend their crown.
Turnovers, defensive lapses, and injuries have disrupted UConn’s rhythm, and their inability to defend without fouling—ranked 333rd in opponent free throw attempts/field goal attempts (KenPom)—is among the worst in Division I. Can UConn rediscover its championship form, or will this season prove to be a setback from years past?
3. NCAA Tournament Hopes: Will the Big East Show Well in March?
The Big East is known as one of the nation’s toughest conferences, but can its teams translate that strength into March Madness success? While the SEC, Big Ten, and Big 12 top the net ratings this year, the Big East has had a strong showing in recent tournaments.
Last year, Creighton and Marquette made deep runs, but both fell in the Sweet 16. With St. John’s emerging as a potential top seed, the Big East is positioned for another strong showing in March Madness.
Edited by Aidan Lavin and Marley Pope
Graphic by Cara Lacey
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