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Jeff Mezydlo

A Chicago native, Jeff Mezydlo has professionally written about sports, entertainment and pop culture for parts of four decades. He was an integral member of award-winning sports sections at The Times of Northwest Indiana (Munster, Ind.) and Champaign (Ill.) News-Gazette, where he covered the NFL, PGA, LPGA, NCAA basketball, football and golf, Olympics and high school athletics. Jeff most recently spent 12 years in the editorial department at STATSPerform, where he also oversaw coverage of the English Premier League. A graduate of Northern Illinois University, Jeff's work has also appeared on such sites at Yahoo!, ESPN, Fox Sports, Sports Illustrated and NBA.com. However, if Jeff could do it again, he'd attend Degrassi Junior High, Ampipe High School and Grand Lakes University

EXPERTISE:

NCAA football, NCAA basketball, PGA/LPGA, international soccer, sports history, rock music, film history

The best men's and women's college basketball storylines for 2023-24

The 2023-24 men's and women's college basketball seasons are underway, and there is plenty to talk about. Here are some storylines to follow this season.

The 25 greatest FCS programs of all time

The Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), previously known as Division I-AA, has produced some of college football's greatest teams and established perennial powers. Here are our rankings of the 25 best all-time FCS schools.

The most memorable defunct NHL teams

In the rich, storied history of the National Hockey League, there have been plenty of memorable teams to grace the ice. Especially those who no longer exist.

The top FBS programs never to win a recognized national title

There are plenty of college football programs who have never officially, or universally been recognized to, win a national championship within the poll era (beginning in 1936 with The Associated Press). Here's our list of some of the best. 

The 25 best players in Notre Dame football history

Trying to narrow down the 25 best players in the history of Notre Dame's storied football program is no easy task. However, we gave it a go. Listed in chronological order.

The 25 best players in Oregon football history

It might be surprising to the casual college football fan just how much individual stardom the Oregon football program has produced, even if the Ducks' prominence didn't truly start until the late 1990s. Here's our list of the 25 best players to sport those creatively loud Oregon uniforms over the years.

25 rock guitarists who are incredibly underrated

Determining whether or not a musician receives the appropriate amount of praise can be subjective. However, we believe there are some successful, even legendary rock stars, who are not truly appreciated for their guitar-playing abilities. Here's our rankings of rock's most underrated guitarists.

Actors who had sustained success after playing iconic characters

Having success in one role is a goal of any actor. Earning icon status with a character is truly special. Then continuing that success just proves when someone has true talent.

The most iconic couples of the music world

Couples within the entertainment industry come and go. However, those who make music together tend to be remembered forever, especially the really good ones.

25 famous musicians who play multiple instruments quite well

Playing one instrument is hard enough — excelling at more than one is the stuff legends are about. Here is our list of great musical artists who are also successful multi-instrumentalists.

The 25 greatest final lyrics from iconic songs

There's a lot that goes into making a great song, or even just one with memorable lyrics — especially those that close out a song. Here's our list, in chronological order, of 25 notable final song lines. 

20 notable musical artists who found success in multiple genres

These truly special artists have drawn fans from different audiences than those in their usual genre, demonstrating an ability to step outside their comfort zone and successfully branch out in other directions.

25 defensive players to watch during the 2023 college football season

A look at 25 of the top defensive players to keep an eye on once the 2023 college season kicks off.

Teams who can surprise during the 2023 college football season

They might not be national championship contenders, though some might have a shot. But general improvement from one season to another is obviously important. Here are 20 teams who can make important strides in 2023. 

Heisman Trophy odds for the 2023 college football season

It's never too early to talk about Heisman Trophy favorites — even before the season starts. Here's a list of player odds for the 2023 Heisman Trophy.

The 25 greatest hits albums in music history

It seems impossible to rank the best greatest hits collections of all time, but we gave it a go. Enjoy.

Which 25 rock albums have sold the most copies all-time?

In terms of what constitutes a "rock" album, we went with consensus and inclusion of sub-genres of the "rock" category, such as hard rock/heavy metal, pop rock, soft rock, and folk rock.

The 20 most underappreciated bands of all time

Whether overshadowed by their contemporaries or never able to find sustained commercial or mainstream success, there are plenty of bands who weren't fully appreciated for their work or influence on those who followed.

The 20 greatest bands from Canada

When it comes to the music — and not just its fantastic national anthem — that's come out of the country, there's plenty to celebrate.

25 offensive players to watch during the 2023 college football season

As the 2023 college football season approaches, here is our list of 25 offensive players to keep an eye on this season. Listed in alphabetical order, broken down by position.

25 quarterbacks to watch during the 2023 college football season

Trying to list the 25 best quarterbacks entering the 2023 college football season can be a daunting task. However, we gave it a shot. 

20 underrated 1970s bands that you should be listening to

During the 70s, there were certainly special musical moments that either flew under the radar, were overshadowed, or weren't appreciated.

20 A-list actors who took roles where they were unrecognizable

Diving head-first into a role is obviously nothing new for any actor. That includes transforming one's physical appearance to truly embrace a character.

Character actors you instantly recognize, but don't know their name

You likely recognize their faces, and the movies they've been in. However, the names continue to escape the mind — and that's OK. Here are some actors and actresses that we've seen in countless movies and television shows, but can't think of their names for the life of us.

Notable musicians who found success with multiple bands

Having success with one band is a dream for just about any serious musician. Doing so with two or more is not just good fortune, but proof that he or she is doing something right.