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USC's 2026 recruitment class gets even bigger, literally, with five-star OT
USC head coach Lincoln Riley is building an incredible 2026 recruiting class, and it just got even better in a big way, literally and figuratively.
Keenyi Pepe, a five-star offensive tackle recruit from IMG Academy in Florida, has committed to the Trojans. Pepe is 6-foot-7, 320 pounds and is ranked as the No. 3 offensive tackle in the 2026 class, according to 247Sports. He's a literal big commitment for Riley and the Trojans, but figuratively, he should be a big recruit as well, considering the rankings.
Pepe was born and raised in California, so this commitment is a homecoming for him.
"Growing up, they were my dream school," Pepe had told 247Sports of USC. "As far as recruiting, they have been so consistent in recruiting me, especially with communication. I'm always getting to talk with (offensive line) coach (Zach) Hanson and (head) coach (Lincoln) Riley."
There was some major competition for Pepe's commitment. Along with USC, Florida, Georgia, Miami and Texas were in the running.
He was on campus this past weekend for a recruiting weekend, though, and that absolutely helped the Trojans. There's also the fact that his cousin, Kobe Pepe, is a senior defensive lineman for the team.
It all made sense, and Riley's 2026 class got much better as a result. Heading into Thursday, the Trojans had the top-ranked 2026 class in the nation, and Pepe's commitment only strengthens that ranking.
With 25 hard commits, Pepe will go down as Riley's second five-star of the cycle, joining athlete/linebacker Xavier Griffin from Gainesville, Georgia.
More must-reads:
- USC land coveted four-star WR as Lincoln Riley's top-ranked recruiting class gets even better
- Five-star athlete narrows down list to five powerhouses with decision date set
- The 'NBA Summer League MVPs' quiz
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Five SEC games that will shape the College Football Playoff
Last season was a disappointment for the mighty SEC in the first season of the 12-team College Football Playoff. The conference garnered three bids, but it failed to place a team in the championship game for the second straight season after eight straight such occurrences. There's hype surrounding the league with Arch Manning's ascension to full-time starter at Texas and teams hoping to breakthrough in LSU and Florida. The mainstays of Alabama and Georgia will also be contenders. Here are five SEC games that will shape the CFP in 2025: Florida at LSU | Sept. 13 This is an early measuring stick for both teams as they kick off SEC play. Florida is hoping to cash in on the work head coach Billy Napier has done over the past three seasons. LSU's Brian Kelly is also hoping his team will ascend to new heights under his leadership in his fourth season. "This is the best roster that we’ve put together," Kelly said according to On3. "It’s part of a process that has taken a little more time than we wanted, but we’re doing it the right way, and we’re pretty excited about what our football team looks like.” For his part, Napier is also confident in his team's growth. "I think that's where we really took a big step in the right direction last year is we found a level of confidence that we could go toe to toe with any team in the country any place, anytime," he said at SEC Football Media Days. "You spot the ball last year — at the end of the year, you could argue we were playing as good of football as anybody in the country, and I think that that's a result of our development process." Alabama at Georgia | Sept. 27 This is always going to be a big one. Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer went 9-4 in his first season, narrowly missing the CFP. Kirby Smart's team was dispatched by Notre Dame in the CFP quarterfinals. Both squads will also be working with new quarterbacks. As teams jockey for position in the standings, it is paramount to win games like these. Should Alabama find itself in fourth place in the SEC once again, a win like this on its resume could be the difference in an invite or sitting at home. Texas at Florida | Oct. 4 Texas is predicted to win the conference. At worst, it should enter this game 3-1 with a loss at Ohio State. But this game is important and won't be easy in The Swamp. The Longhorns' remaining schedule includes Oklahoma, at Georgia and at home against Texas A M. The Gators have the toughest schedule in the conference. To factor into the CFP conversation they must beat a team they aren't supposed to. Here's an opportunity. Manning and DJ Lagway should provide great theater in the quarterback matchup. Manning is projected to get a Heisman invite, while Lagway has the skills to be in New York as well. Texas A M at LSU | Oct. 25 At this point, it will be getting late in the season and we should know whether these teams are in the conversation or not. It's become a natural rivalry since A M joined the SEC and this one could have big implications on the CFP. The Aggies will have already traveled to Notre Dame and hosted Florida. A date at Texas looms on Black Friday. A M will most likely be in must-win territory to keep its hopes alive. An item to note heading into this one: the home team has won the last six games. Texas at Georgia | Nov. 15 It's a good bet both of these teams will be in the CFP picture, but that doesn't mean this game doesn't matter. If teams want the first-round bye they must be ranked in the top four. Winning this game would go a long way to making that reality. Yes, the SEC Championship could be a rematch, but for teams hoping to get an extra week of rest, this one will certainly mean something. Besides the CFP implications, it will be fascinating to watch Manning play against one of the best defenses in the country.
Clemson looking to take care of business on field vs. LSU as 'Death Valley' debate persists
All signs point to Yankees moving on from Anthony Volpe
With the trade for Ryan McMahon now complete, it would seem New York Yankees’ general manager Brian Cashman has fulfilled one of his three priorities. He can now cross third base off the list, which leaves the rotation and bullpen as his remaining priorities. However, according to one Yankees writer, Cashman might not be done with the infield. Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reported this after the McMahon trade: “The Yankees may not be done adding to their infield. A team source said the Yankees are interested in adding a right-handed hitter who could play the infield.” Kirschner adds that the Yankees have had interest in Willi Castro and Amed Rosario. But the question now is, how would another player fit in the Yankees’ infield? Needless to say, Paul Goldschmidt and Jazz Chisholm Jr. aren’t going anywhere, and McMahon is just getting there. That leaves the low-hanging fruit. Anthony Volpe has been at the center of controversy all this season. His 13 errors, many of which had come at make-or-break moments, amount to the second-highest total in the game. In addition, his bat has not been able to compensate, hitting .214/.286/.407 with 14 home runs. There was always a lot to like about Volpe. He won a Gold Glove in his rookie year, his power has always been promising and his speed is nothing to scoff at. Unfortunately, his glove has become a liability and his speed has also produced very few results. Volpe has swiped just 10 bags in 17 attempts. His power is the one thing that still has some upside, but it hasn’t been enough to justify a spot in the lineup. Both Castro and Rosario have been far more productive at the plate this season than Volpe. Kirschner doesn’t clarify how serious the Yankees are in their pursuit of another infielder, but that most likely isn’t available information. Having just turned 24, Volpe could still become the type of player that was expected from him as a top prospect. However, his recent performance has weighed heavily on his team’s efforts and it may be buying him a ticket out of the Bronx — or at least a spot on the bench.
Yankees have finally found their third baseman in Ryan McMahon
After years of speculation and nothing materializing, the New York Yankees have at last acquired third baseman Ryan McMahon from the Colorado Rockies, per the New York Post's Jon Heyman. Pitching prospects Griffin Herring and Josh Grosz are headed to the Mile High City in return. They were the number eight and 21st-ranked prospects in the Yankees' farm system, per MLB.com. Given the Yankees' struggles at the third-base position over the last few years, bringing in a guy who was an All-Star in 2024 and will be much more reliable is a win. Former MLB player and current analyst Cameron Maybin certainly believes that, as he was pushing the McMahon-to-New York narrative over the last week and feels it could be a great fit for both sides. "The third baseman they need plays in Colorado...I'm telling you! Defensively more than adequate and Taylor made for the ballpark offensively," Maybin wrote on social media. Maybin went on to mention how McMahon will feel reinvigorated joining a World Series contender like the Yankees after the last six-and-a-half years of being at the bottom in Colorado. The 30-year-old is not having his best season, slugging 16 home runs and 35 RBI with a .217 average through 100 games with the Rockies, per MLB.com stats. However, he's consistently been a 20-plus home run hitter who drives in runs at a strong rate and has a large sample size of doing so. Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio Suarez (.252 average, 36 HRs, 86 RBI) has seemed to be No. 1 target for most teams, and for good reason, but given the Yankees' current situation and weaknesses, McMahon made more sense. Not only does he play a better third base, which New York desperately needs, but he has another two years of control after 2025, whereas Suarez would have been a rental. The acquisition cost was nothing crazy, and adding a lefty bat with some power to potentially take advantage of the short porch at Yankee Stadium is always a bonus. Some may not be satisfied until they see McMahon positively impacting the New York Yankees, but rest assured, this is a very solid pickup.
Trade rejection speaks volumes about Red Sox's Jarren Duran intentions
The Boston Red Sox appear to have no interest in trading outfielder Jarren Duran, at least not in the near future. Trade rumors have swirled around Duran for most of the season, especially after designated hitter Rafael Devers was traded to the Giants. However, Sean McAdam from MassLive reported that the Red Sox may wait until the offseason before moving on from the former All-Star. The decision to wait on Duran is not due to a lack of offers. McAdam also reported that the Padres made a significant offer for Duran involving pitcher Dylan Cease, catching prospect Ethan Salas and another unnamed prospect. That offer was quickly rejected. The Padres have long coveted Duran. McAdam had previously reported that the Padres have been "relentless" in their pursuit of the Red Sox outfielder. The reported trade offer including Salas, the Padres second-best prospect and the 21st-best prospect in baseball per MLB.com, illustrates how serious they are about acquiring Duran. Likewise, the Red Sox's refusal to entertain such an offer, even as a starting point for negotiations, speaks volumes about their interest in moving Duran. The Padres' offer would help solve several problems for the Red Sox in both the present and future. Moving Duran would help clear up the logjam in the outfield, while Cease and Salas would respectively improve the back of their rotation and provide a possible cornerstone behind the plate going forward. Duran is a valuable trade chip as he is under team control through 2028. He has also taken a step back in production from his stellar showing in 2024, posting a respectable .254/.321/.428 batting line in 459 plate appearances entering Friday, with nine homers and 25 doubles while stealing 16 bases. That production would be an upgrade for several teams looking to improve their outfield going forward. The question is whether or not the Red Sox will be realistic in their asking price for Duran. Considering how quickly the Padres' offer was reportedly rejected, that may not be the case.
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