On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
The TCU Horned Frogs (37-17, 19-11 Big 12) lept back into two of the national polls this week after winning the series over Utah and clinching third place in the final conference standings.
Kansas is ranked in four polls this week, the most of any team from the Big 12. Eight teams from the conference are either ranked or receiving votes in at least one poll.
Ranked Big 12 Baseball Teams - Week 15:
- Arizona (36-18, 18-12) - Receiving votes (NCBWA and USA Today Coaches Poll)
- Arizona State (35-21, 18-12) - Receiving votes (NCBWA)
- Cincinnati (31-23, 16-14) - Receiving votes (Perfect Game)
- Kansas (42-14, 20-10) - No. 21 (Baseball America), No. 22 (Perfect Game), No. 25 (D1 Baseball and USA Today Coaches Poll), and receiving votes (NCBWA)
- Kansas State (31-23, 17-13) - Receiving votes (NCBWA and USA Today Coaches Poll)
- Oklahoma State (27-22, 15-12) - Receiving votes (USA Today Coaches Poll)
- TCU (37-17, 19-11) - No. 24 (D1 Baseball), No. 25 (Perfect Game), and receiving votes (NCBWA and USA Today Coaches Poll)
- West Virginia (40-13, 19-9)- No. 17 (NCBWA) and No. 23 (Perfect Game and USA Today Coaches Poll)
TCU Non-conference Ranked Opponents - Week 15
- Arkansas (43-12) - No. 4 (Baseball America and USA Today Coaches Poll) and No. 5 (D1 Baseball, NCBWA, and Perfect Game)
- DBU (38-14) - No. 13 (Baseball America and Perfect Game), No. 18 (D1 Baseball), No. 19 (USA Today Coaches Poll), and No. 21 (NCBWA)
- Michigan (33-21) - Receiving votes (NCBWA)
- Southern Miss (41-13) - No. 12 (D1 Baseball), No. 14 (USA Today Coaches Poll), No. 15 (Perfect Game), No. 17 (Baseball America), and No. 18 (NCBWA)
- UTRGV (36-18) - Receiving votes (NCBWA)
- UTSA (42-11) - No. 17 (Perfect Game), No. 20 (Baseball America), and receiving votes (NCBWA and USA Today Coaches Poll)
LSU remains the top team in all five polls this week. The remainder of the Top Five vary across the different polls but include a mix of Arkansas, Florida State, Georgia, North Carolina, Oregon, and Texas.
Here are the highlights from five of the national polls:
Baseball America Poll - Week 15
1 - LSU (42-13), no change
2 - North Carolina (39-12), up 1
3 - Georgia (42-14), up 1
4 - Arkansas (43-12), up 3
5- Texas (42-11), up 1
6 - Oregon (41-13), up 3
7 - Auburn (38-17), down 5
8 - Coastal Carolina (44-11), no change
9 - Florida State (37-13), down 4
10 - Vanderbilt (39-16), no change
13 - DBU (38-14), up 2
17 - Southern Miss (41-13), up 7
20 - UTSA (42-11), up 5
21 -Kansas (42-14), previously not ranked
D1Baseball Poll - Week 15
1 - LSU (42-13), no change
2 - Texas (42-11), up 1
3 - North Carolina (39-12), up 1
4 - Oregon (41-13), up 1
5 - Arkansas (43-12), up 3
6 - Florida State (37-13), down 4
7 - Oregon State (41-12-1), no change
8 - Auburn (38-17), down 2
9 - Vanderbilt (39-16), no change
10 - Georgia (42-14), up 1
12 - Southern Miss (41-13), up 7
18 - DBU (38-14), up 6
24 - TCU (37-17), previously not ranked
25 - Kansas (42-14), previously not ranked
Dropped from rankings - West Virginia (#16), Duke (#20), Louisville (#21), Troy (#22)
NCBWA Poll - Week 15
1 - LSU (42-13), no change
2 - Texas (42-11), no change
3 - North Carolina (39-12), up 1
4 - Florida State (37-13), down 1
5 - Arkansas (43-12), no change
6 - Oregon (41-13), up 1
7 - Georgia (42-14), up 1
8 - Oregon State (41-12-1), up 2
9 - Vanderbilt (39-16), up 2
10 - Auburn (38-17), down 2
17 - West Virginia (40-13), down 3
18 - Southern Miss (41-13), up 1
21 - DBU (38-14), up 2
Dropped from rankings - Oklahoma (#16), Louisville (#22), Arizona (#24)
Other Big 12 teams receiving votes - Arizona, Arizona State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, and TCU
Perfect Game Poll - Week 15
1 - LSU (42-13), no change
2 - Oregon (41-13), up 1
3 - North Carolina (39-12), up 2
4 - Georgia (42-14), no change
5 - Arkansas (43-12), up 2
6 - Texas (42-11), up 2
7 - Auburn (38-17), down 5
8 - Oregon State (41-12-1), up 1
9 - Coastal Carolina (44-11), up 1
10 - Vanderbilt (39-16), up 1
13 - DBU (38-14), no change
15 - Southern Miss (41-13), up 6
17 - UTSA (42-11), up 1
22 - Kansas (42-14), previously not ranked
23 - West Virginia (40-13), down 9
25 - TCU (37-17), previously not ranked
Dropped from rankings - Troy (#22), Oklahoma (#23), NC State (#24)
Other Big 12 teams receiving votes - Cincinnati
USA Today Coaches Poll - Week 15
1 - LSU (42-13), no change
2 - Texas (42-11), up 2
3 - North Carolina (39-12), up 1
4 - Arkansas (43-12), up 1
5 - Oregon (41-13), up 2
6 - Florida State (37-13), down 4
7 - Oregon State (41-12-1), up 3
8 - Georgia (42-14), no change
9 - Vanderbilt (39-16), no change
10 - Auburn (38-17), up 4
14 - Southern Miss (41-13), up 5
19 - DBU (38-14), up 3
23 - West Virginia (40-13), down 6
25 - Kansas (42-14), previously not ranked
Dropped from rankings - Troy (#20), Louisville (#23), Duke (#24)
Other Big 12 teams receiving votes - TCU (#26), Oklahoma State (#33), Arizona (#34), Kansas State (#35)
Bold teams = Big 12 Conference teams
More must-reads:
- Baseball Hall of Fame announces eight names on Era Committee ballot
- Bills might finally have the formula to beating Chiefs in January
- The 'NFL Passing YPG leaders' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
TODAY'S BEST
Oklahoma Sooners star player responds to weird criticism in the best way possible after win over Tennessee
The Oklahoma Sooners went to Knoxville, Tennessee, and beat the Tennessee Volunteers in their first-ranked road win since 2019. And for some reason, all of the talk was about OU kicker Tate Sandell and the pants he was wearing, not enough about the insane kicks he was making. Sandell's football pants were rolled up to his thighs, which, although not completely normal, is more common in today's game. Kirk Herbstreit and everyone else could not stop talking about the pants, so much so that Herbstreit actually said Sandell should have been flagged for his pants being so high. Sandell responded to that via a tweet, saying "smh," which is an abbreviation for "shaking my head." In other words, he wasn't a fan of what was being said. It's a good thing he's good at kicking. Tate Sandell is the MVP from the Sooners' win over Tennessee This may have been the best kicking game in OU football history. That's saying something when you factor in how much history is in this program. Sandell was responsible for 15 points against Tennessee on Saturday. That's pretty impressive considering the Sooners scored 33 and he's - I don't know - the kicker. Sandell was 4/4 on field goals and 3/3 on extra points, with his longest being 55 twice. He also made a 51-yarder, too. Sandell, at this point, is a weapon for Oklahoma. As long as they pass the opponent's 40-yard line, they feel comfortable that they will walk away from that drive with some points. In college football, not every team can say that with their kicker situation. At this rate, Sandell could end up becoming one of the greatest OU kickers ever, and knowing how bad this offense has been, he's going to be needed a ton as the Sooners get ready to play teams like the Alabama Crimson Tide and the LSU Tigers. window.addEventListener('message', function (event) {if (event.data.totalpoll event.data.totalpoll.action === 'resizeHeight') {document.querySelector('#totalpoll-iframe-1538').height = event.data.totalpoll.value;}}, false);document.querySelector('#totalpoll-iframe-1538').contentWindow.postMessage({totalpoll: {action: 'requestHeight'}}, '*');
Marcus Spears jokes about Howie Roseman after latest Eagles trade: ‘I hate him’
The Philadelphia Eagles got the ball rolling over 24 hours before the NFL trade deadline. Jaelan Phillips will join the Eagles via the Miami Dolphins, adding an impact pass rusher. It’s the type of move we have come accustomed to from Philadelphia general manager Howie Roseman in recent years. ESPN’s Marcus Spears is fed up with Roseman, at least when he has his Dallas Cowboys fan hat on. Spears is just like plenty of other people in Dallas, watching their bitter NFC East rivals continue to push for Super Bowls. “I hate Howie,” Spears said. “I hate him. I’m so sick of him. I’ve been sick of him for a couple years now… Howie knows I don’t hate him. I actually admire the way he goes after winning championships and does not wait. You think about the Eagles for the last four years — going to Super Bowls, having opportunities to win them. He’s made a significant trade, at some point, in all of those seasons.” Roseman lifted the Lombardi Trophy in February, then watched the banner be unveiled at Lincoln Financial Field before the Eagles and Cowboys played. Philadelphia emerged as a winner, starting their Super Bowl defense 1-0. Now, the record sits at 6-2 overall in a wide-open NFC, and Roseman appears to have his sights on another championship. Spears has nothing but respect for the way Roseman conducts business. You have to imagine many across the league feel the same way. But they may just express it in the same way Spears did, coming at it with a little jealousy. Dallas Cowboys yet to make move ahead of NFL trade deadline This one may even sting a little more because Dallas is searching for a player who can get after quarterbacks too. Philadelphia wound up sending a third-round pick to Miami, something the Cowboys do not currently have. The Pittsburgh Steelers have that due to the George Pickens trade. Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones hinted, if not told us, something is on the way soon. When speaking to Stephen A. Smith on the radio, Jones claimed a trade is done and will be released on Tuesday, just hours after the team plays on Monday Night Football against the Arizona Cardinals. “Immediately it will have him on the field and it will address some of the things that have been our shortcomings,” Jones said via Jon Machota of The Athletic.
Dream (but realistic) trade targets for every MLB team this offseason
Every MLB offseason brings its share of blockbuster rumors and bold predictions, but some trade ideas actually make sense — for both sides. With free agency about to heat up and front offices reshaping rosters for 2026, Yardbarker MLB writers looked at one dream (but still realistic) trade target for every MLB team. From contenders looking for that final piece to rebuilders seeking a spark, these hypothetical moves blend star power with plausibility. Here’s how all 30 teams could swing a deal that transforms their outlook heading into next season (2025 records in parentheses). AL East Baltimore Orioles (75-87) | LHP Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers: The Orioles traded for ace right-hander Corbin Burnes before the 2024 season, and that worked well. Why not try to employ the same strategy with Skubal, an ace in his own right, as Baltimore looks to bounce back from a last-place finish? Skubal’s elite 2.21 ERA in 2025 would be a perfect fit atop the rotation. Boston Red Sox (89-73) | 2B/OF Brendan Donovan, St. Louis Cardinals: It’s unclear whether prospect infielders Kristian Campbell or Marcelo Mayer are the answer up the middle, but there’s no doubt that Donovan would be an established upgrade over both. The 2025 All-Star would bring positional versatility and solid offensive production (.772 career OPS) to a lineup that had trouble scoring at times. New York Yankees (94-68) | 1B/OF Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies: New York could lose outfielders Cody Bellinger and Trent Grisham and first baseman Paul Goldschmidt in free agency, so the Yankees theoretically have both of Harper's positions to fill this winter. The veteran’s left-handed swing is made for the Yankee Stadium right-field short porch, which could help him improve upon a 2025 season in which he produced an .844 OPS, the lowest since his rookie season in 2012. Tampa Bay Rays (77-85) | LHP Mackenzie Gore, Washington Nationals: Typically, the Rays trade pitchers who are young but increasingly expensive (LHP Blake Snell, RHP Tyler Glasnow and RHP Chris Archer). This time, though, it could make sense for Tampa to swing for the fences with Gore, who boasts immense strikeout upside (10.4 K/9 in 2025) and is controllable through the 2028 season. The All-Star southpaw could also thrive in the team's analytics-driven pitching lab. Toronto Blue Jays (94-68) | RHP Joe Ryan, Minnesota Twins: The Blue Jays nearly won the World Series, so they have a lot to look forward to. However, it wouldn’t hurt Toronto to replace members of its oldish rotation with someone like right-hander Ryan, whose 3.42 ERA in 30 starts with the Twins in 2025 should make him one of the top trade candidates of this offseason. — Seth Carlson AL West Athletics (76-86) | Infielder Nolan Gorman, St. Louis Cardinals: The A’s received virtually nothing from second and third in 2025. Former top prospect Zack Gelof should get another chance to prove himself, but the A’s do not have many options at third. Gorman, who hit 27 homers in 2023, may not cost much and could provide a respectable stopgap at the hot corner. Houston Astros (87-75) | IF/OF Brendan Donovan, St. Louis Cardinals: The Astros missed the postseason for the first time since 2016; the outfield was a key factor in that. Astros outfielders posted a .665 OPS, 25th in the majors. Donovan, who has predominantly played at second and left, would solve a black hole in the middle of the lineup and provide a needed left-handed hitter. Los Angeles Angels (72-90) | RHP Brady Singer, Cincinnati Reds: The Angels and Reds line up perfectly as trade partners. The Angels have a logjam in the outfield with either Jo Adell or Taylor Ward expected to be traded during the offseason. Meanwhile, the Reds have plenty of pitching and need help in the outfield. Singer, who has one more year of team control left, would be the most likely Reds pitcher to be dealt. He would solidify the middle of L.A.'s rotation. Seattle Mariners (90-72) | 3B Alec Bohm, Philadelphia Phillies: Because Eugenio Suarez is expected to sign elsewhere in free agency, the Mariners will once again be looking for help at third. Bohm had been on the trading block during the 2024-25 offseason but remained in Philadelphia because no one would meet its price. Bohm hit just 11 homers and 18 doubles in 2025, crushing his trade value. Texas Rangers (81-81) | RHP Mitch Keller, Pittsburgh Pirates: The Rangers should have a solid top of the rotation with Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi. However, neither pitcher is a paragon of health. Keller has thrown at least 159 innings in each of the past four seasons and is under team control through 2028. He would be a solid middle-of-the-rotation arm. — David Hill AL Central Chicago White Sox (60-102) | 1B Triston Casas, Boston Red Sox: The rebuilding White Sox made progress in 2025 but have many holes remaining. Acquiring a player such as Casas could be a perfect buy-low option while improving the power for a team that ranked 23rd in the majors with 165 homers. Cleveland Guardians (88-74) | RHP Edward Cabrera, Miami Marlins: The Guardians need help in the lineup, but several top prospects are expected to make an impact in 2026. The same cannot be said for the rotation that is lacking a top-of-the-rotation arm. Cabrera finally put everything together for the Marlins in 2025 and is under team control through 2028. Miami has pitching depth, so Cabrera could be available. Detroit Tigers (87-75) | 3B Josh Jung, Texas Rangers: The Tigers need a third baseman and Jung could be the answer. The 2023 All-Star has seen his star dim over the past two seasons as he battled injuries and contact woes. Jung may need a change of scenery and could be what the Tigers need to get his brother, Jace, to tap into his potential. Kansas City Royals (82-80) | OF Jarren Duran, Boston Red Sox: The outfield was one of the worst in the majors in 2025, ranking 29th with a .633 OPS. Duran may not be the player he was in 2024, but his ability to drive the ball into the gaps, excellent speed and stellar defense would be a perfect fit in Kauffman Stadium. Minnesota Twins (70-92) | RHP Jonah Tong, New York Mets: The rotation disappointed in 2025 and sorely needs an ace. The Twins began to dismantle the roster at the 2025 trade deadline, so it's unlikely that pitchers Pablo Lopez or Joe Ryan will be with Minnesota in 2026. Both will be expensive. — David Hill NL West Arizona Diamondbacks (80-82) | RHP Pete Fairbanks, Tampa Bay Rays: The Diamondbacks had issues with the bullpen throughout 2025 (27th in the league with a 4.82 ERA) and it will likely be a point of emphasis for the team this offseason. Fairbanks totaled 27 saves last season and pitched a career-high 60.1 innings. There is a club option for $11 million that the Rays will likely pick up only if they can trade him. At 32, Fairbanks might be worth it for one season in the desert. Colorado Rockies (43-119) | RHP Freddy Peralta, Milwaukee Brewers: It’s a new day in Denver with a new GM coming soon. Colorado desperately needs starting pitching, especially an ace. The Rockies have a crowded outfield in terms of proven players and prospects, so they could work a deal with Milwaukee, a team that they have traded with, and secure a big arm. Los Angeles Dodgers (93-69) | OF Steven Kwan, Cleveland Guardians: After a year in which the Dodgers had to overlook some deficiencies in the outfield with Michael Conforto and Teoscar Hernandez, landing someone like Kwan makes sense for the two-time defending champions. Kwan doesn’t strike out much (only 8.7 percent of the time in 2025), something the Dodgers needed when their offense sputtered in the postseason. San Diego Padres (90-72) | RHP Sandy Alcantara, Miami Marlins: Depending on what happens with pitchers Michael King and Dylan Cease, the Padres are going to need someone who can step in as a face of the rotation. Alcantara, 30, has a $19 million deal for 2026 and a $21 million team option for 2027, so he won’t come to San Diego cheap. However, the NL West will be another arms race in 2026, and Alcantara could be a fascinating addition for the Padres. San Francisco Giants (81-81) | LHP JoJo Romero, St. Louis Cardinals: Adding a solid southpaw to the bullpen is rarely a bad move, and the 29-year-old Romero has been quietly building a reputation as one of the best lefties in the late innings. He’s controlled through arbitration through the 2026 campaign and has logged 57 holds over the past three seasons. Pitching is expected to be a priority for the Giants this offseason. — Kevin Henry NL East Atlanta Braves (76-86) | SS Jeremy Pena, Houston Astros: The former World Series MVP was drafted by the Braves out of high school in 2015 but chose not to sign. Perhaps a reunion is in order in Atlanta, which has desperately needed a true shortstop since the departure of Dansby Swanson during the 2022 offseason. The 28-year-old Pena was named an All-Star in 2025, batting .304 with 17 home runs and 62 RBI in 125 games. Miami Marlins (79-83) | 1B/OF Alec Burleson, St. Louis Cardinals: Miami exceeded expectations in 2025 and, if they have a strong offseason, could be a sleeper contender for an NL wild-card spot in 2026. Before that happens, though, they must solve their first base conundrum by trading for Burleson, who can play there and in the outfield. Burleson, who will turn 27 on Nov. 25, posted a career-high .801 OPS with 18 homers and 69 RBI in 2025. New York Mets (83-79) | LHP Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers: Skubal, in line for his second straight AL Cy Young Award, would be a dream trade candidate for any team but especially owner Steve Cohen and the Mets. New York desperately needs a frontline starter after its pitching largely failed it in 2025. Philadelphia Phillies (96-66) | C Adley Rutschman, Baltimore Orioles: Longtime catcher J.T. Realmuto is a free agent and, despite entering his age-35 season in 2026, is expected to be a hot commodity on the open market. It’s clear the Phillies must get younger at the position, and acquiring the former No. 1 overall pick from Baltimore would be a solid way to secure their future at backstop and keep their competitive window open. Rutschman, who will turn 28 on Feb. 6, hasn't lived up to his draft pedigree but still has decent upside. Washington Nationals (66-96) | RHP Jonah Tong, New York Mets: The Nationals are more than one piece from being competitive, so Washington’s focus should be who they can acquire in potential trades for left-hander MacKenzie Gore, 2B Luis Garcia Jr. and OF Robert Hassell III. Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller proposed a wild divisional trade that would send Tong to the Nationals for Gore. — Lauren Amour NL Central Chicago Cubs (92-70) | RHP Shane Bieber, Toronto Blue Jays: Chicago leaned heavily on veteran arms in its rotation, with 34-year-old Matthew Boyd anchoring the staff. Bieber, 30, joined the Blue Jays this season, posting a 4-2 record with a 3.57 ERA and 1.017 WHIP. With Chicago expected to be a playoff-level team in 2026, Bieber could be another experienced arm to help with a deep postseason run. Cincinnati Reds (83-79) | LHP JoJo Romero, St. Louis Cardinals: The Reds need reliable back-end bullpen arms, and Romero offers late-inning experience. He became the Cardinals’ closer after the team dealt Ryan Helsley to the New York Mets. In 2025, Romero posted a 2.07 ERA, a career best in the big leagues, in 61 innings. Milwaukee Brewers (97-65) | 1B Pete Alonso, New York Mets: Milwaukee's lineup struggled to produce consistent power in 2025, finishing 22nd in MLB with 166 home runs. Alonso, who launched 38 home runs — leading all first basemen — would be an immediate upgrade. He also hit .272 and drove in 126 runs, the second most in the majors. Andrew Vaughn filled the role well after being traded to Milwaukee midseason, but Alonso would be the definitive No. 1 option. Pittsburgh Pirates (71-91) | 2B Brandon Lowe, Tampa Bay Rays: The Pirates haven’t made much of a trade splash in recent offseasons, so dealing for a proven bat like Lowe would be smart. He hit .256 with 31 home runs in 2025, bringing power and veteran experience to a younger lineup. St. Louis Cardinals (78-84) | RHP Dylan Cease, San Diego Padres: The pitching staff lacked swing-and-miss stuff in 2025, finishing 29th in MLB in strikeouts. Cease delivered 215 strikeouts over 168 innings — sixth most in MLB — and led the majors with 11.52 strikeouts per nine innings. — Taylor Bretl
Chiefs have a no-brainer trade target after loss vs. Bills
The last time the Kansas City Chiefs lost four games in a season, they went on to make the Super Bowl and beat the San Francisco 49ers. Six years have passed since, and Andy Reid's team will have to make some adjustments to replicate that fortune. That's especially evident after another heartbreaking regular-season loss to the Buffalo Bills, which exposed what might be the Chiefs' biggest flaw on offense: a lack of an explosive running game. That's why they need to pick up the phone and reach out to the New York Jets to trade for Breece Hall. Chiefs need to trade for Breece Hall According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the Jets are more than open to trading Hall, who's in the final year of his contract. "The Jets have been getting calls on RB Breece Hall for a while, and while there is interest, New York is looking for at least a third-round pick in return," wrote Russini. Hall is just 24 years old, and while he had a major injury as a rookie, he's been pretty durable since. This season, he's up to 117 carries for 581 rushing yards and two touchdowns, averaging 5.0 yards per carry. He also has 21 receptions on 30 targets for 178 receiving yards. The Chiefs average 121.2 rushing yards per game, the 12th most in the NFL. That's with Patrick Mahomes accounting for one-third of their rushing yards, though. Neither Isiah Pacheco — who's currently out with an injury — nor Kareem Hunt has been efficient, and rookie Brashard Smith might not be ready to take on a bigger role. The Chiefs ran for just 79 yards against a Bills defense that gives up the fourth-most rushing yards per game (141.4), and Hall could certainly fix those woes.
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
