Sports
Heisman straw poll: Ashton Jeanty has one more chance to change minds as Travis Hunter sits
Colorado receiver/cornerback/flawed Heisman poser/presumed Heisman winner Travis Hunter has achieved perfection in The Athletic’s Heisman Trophy straw poll.
Of the 27 writers and editors who voted this week, all 27 voted Hunter first, giving him the maximum possible 81 points. Two first-place votes for Ashton Jeanty and one for Cam Ward in the previous poll switched this week to Hunter, who wrapped up his Colorado season with three touchdown catches, an interception and two pass break-ups in a 52-0 rout of Oklahoma State.
Hunter “clinched the Heisman,” coach Deion Sanders said afterward, and while that may not be officially true, Hunter couldn’t have gone out with a stronger closing statement — other than the fact that his Heisman pose still needs work to better emulate the trophy itself. In all seriousness, it would have helped him with naysayers focused on team success for the Buffaloes to get the help necessary to make the Big 12 title game. They didn’t.
And the fact that Jeanty gets to play Friday for No. 11 Boise State (11-1) against No. 22 UNLV (10-2) in the Mountain West title game for a national Fox audience at least gives him the final word. It will have to be the running back performance equivalent of “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.” Like, how about 341 yards to reach 2,629 on the season and break Barry Sanders’ single-season NCAA rushing record? Would that do it?
Maybe? Jeanty lost ground in the straw poll this week after going for 226 yards and a touchdown in a win over Oregon State so … the bar is high. The pathway to change hearts and minds is narrow. The nation’s leading rusher got 25 second-place votes and two third-place votes for a total of 50 points.
The Athletic follows the same voting protocol as that of the Heisman: three points for a first-place vote, two points for a second-place vote, one point for a third-place vote.
| Player | Team | Pos | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Travis Hunter |
WR/DB |
27 |
0 |
0 |
81 |
|
|
Ashton Jeanty |
RB |
0 |
25 |
2 |
52 |
|
|
Tyler Warren |
TE |
0 |
0 |
8 |
8 |
|
|
Dillon Gabriel |
QB |
0 |
1 |
5 |
7 |
|
|
Cam Ward |
QB |
0 |
0 |
6 |
6 |
|
|
Cam Skattebo |
RB |
0 |
0 |
5 |
5 |
|
|
Kaleb Johnson |
RB |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
|
|
LaNorris Sellers |
QB |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
At the least, Jeanty knows he’s going to New York and should be a lock to come in second by a safe margin. There’s no obvious third place this year, which will make the voting and the number of candidates invited to New York interesting.
Miami quarterback Cam Ward fell from 15 points to six in the poll after Saturday’s loss at Syracuse, dropping him to fifth place behind Penn State tight end Tyler Warren (eight points) and Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel (seven points).
That also means no ACC title game platform for Ward while Warren and Gabriel will face each other for the Big Ten championship in Indianapolis, thanks to Ohio State’s shocking loss to Michigan to let the Nittany Lions sneak in the back door.
The poll’s rising No. 6 vote-getter, Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo (five points), also gets an opportunity to make his case when the surprising Sun Devils take on Iowa State for the Big 12 title.
Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson (two points) is the third running back among the eight vote-getters. That’s the same as the number of quarterbacks — and there’s a new quarterback, South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers, picking up a third-place vote.
Sellers will not make it to New York this year. But that’s a hint of things to come in 2025 when he should be high on the list of preseason hopefuls for the award.
(Photo of Ashton Jeanty: Brian Losness / Imagn Images)
Sports
Lions star Amon-Ra St Brown explains why he isn’t fan of playing on Christmas: ‘Don’t even like it’
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While football fans may enjoy some NFL football on Christmas Day, not all players share the same thoughts.
Detroit Lions star receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown revealed on his “St. Brown Podcast” with his older brother, Equanimeous, that he isn’t a fan of having to work on the holidays.
The Lions, who play yearly on Thanksgiving Day, will play at U.S. Bank Stadium against the Minnesota Vikings on Christmas.
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) warms up ahead of the Washington Commanders game at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md., Nov. 9, 2025. (Junfu Han/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
“The two biggest holidays I feel like in the United States, we played on both of them.” Amon-Ra told his brother.
“And I don’t even have kids yet. If I had kids, I’d be even more pissed. Like, you can’t be spending it with your family, get to see your kids open gifts. I feel like that’s something that a lot of parents love to see and can’t wait for.
“I don’t even like it, and I’m not even a f—ing father yet.”
EX-NFL COACH RIPS REFS FOR LIONS PENALTY THAT TOOK LATE AMON-RA ST BROWN TD OFF BOARD
Playing for the Lions means Thanksgiving Day will always involve football, and Amon-Ra signed a four-year, $120 million extension last year. So, he understands Thanksgiving means work first before the feast.
But, as he said, both major holidays can be tough, especially for those fathers who want to be around their children and families.
It’s an added nuisance for Amon-Ra that the Lions also have to travel for the game.
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown celebrates after scoring during the first half against the Washington Commanders Nov. 9, 2025, in Landover, Md. (Stephanie Scarbrough/AP Photo)
“Us traveling, it’s like, damn,” he told his brother.
Amon-Ra is also dealing with a knee injury following the team’s tough loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday. He was officially listed as questionable for the game, though he’s expected to play barring any pregame setback.
The Lions find themselves in a must-win situation in Week 17 if they want to make the playoffs. While Detroit needs to win their final two games, they also need the Green Bay Packers, their NFC North rivals, to lose their final two games to reach the playoffs.
The situation would’ve been different if the Lions hadn’t had Amon-Ra’s touchdown with 22 seconds left at Ford Field Sunday called back for offensive pass interference.
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A few plays later, Amon-Ra was called for offensive pass interference on the final play of the game, when he was able to pitch it back to quarterback Jared Goff, who flew into the end zone for what Lions fans hoped was the game-winning score. Instead, the flag negated the touchdown and the game ended.
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Sports
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford not concerned about Pro Bowl selections
Matthew Stafford was voted to the Pro Bowl this season, but the Rams veteran quarterback stopped concerning himself about the recognition more than a decade ago.
In 2011, the then third-year pro passed for more than 5,000 yards and 41 touchdowns for the Detroit Lions.
Stafford thought he had a chance to make the NFC roster, but Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees and Cam Newton got more votes.
“Wasn’t even close,” Stafford said, chuckling, on Wednesday. “So at that point, I kind of reserved myself to just go play, have fun and whatever happens, happens.
“But it is cool to be a part of it.”
Stafford, who also was voted to the Pro Bowl in 2014 and 2023, is a leading contender for perhaps the NFL’s most prestigious award — most valuable player.
Stafford, 37, has passed for a league-leading 4,179 yards and 40 touchdowns, with five interceptions, while leading a Rams team that is 11-4 and currently seeded No. 6 in the NFC going into Monday night’s game against the Atlanta Falcons (6-9) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The Rams are averaging 30.5 points and 396.7 yards per game, both tops in the NFL. They rank second in passing (270.5 yards per game) and fifth in rushing (126.3 yards per game).
In last Thursday’s 38-37 overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks, Stafford passed for 457 yards and three touchdowns. Yet he was outdueled by fellow Pro Bowl pick Sam Darnold, who led a touchdown drive in overtime and capped it with a game-winning two-point conversion pass.
Stafford is preparing to face a Falcons defense that ranks 14th overall, but eighth against the pass, giving up 195.1 yards per game.
Asked if he was surprised that Stafford has only been voted to the Pro Bowl three times, Rams coach Sean McVay said yes, adding that there were “a lot of layers to the Pro Bowl stuff.”
“You talk to the real football people. … I think he’s seen as a guy that’s one of the best ever to do it,” McVay said. “I think that’s been very well acknowledged this year but I think it’s probably overdue.”
Stafford has “elevated” everybody around him since the Rams traded for him in 2021, McVay said.
“The best part about Matthew is, he’s got this great humility,” McVay said, adding, “What he cares about are the respect of his teammates, his coaches and the people he’s playing against. And I think when you talk to those who know, hes got great respect and admiration for the way that he competes, the way he goes about it and what type of player he is.”
Etc.
Receiver Davante Adams (hamstring) and offensive lineman Kevin Dotson (ankle) are making “good progress,” but McVay did not provide a definitive update on their status for the game against the Falcons. … The Rams opened the 21-day window for cornerback Roger McCreary (hip) to return from injured reserve. McVay said “most likely” that the Rams will open the 21-day window for safety Quentin Lake (elbow) next week to return from injured reserve. Lake is expected to be ready for the playoffs, or possibly for the final game against the Arizona Cardinals. … The Rams are off Thursday. They are expected to practice Friday at SoFi Stadium, and Saturday at their Woodland Hills facility.
Sports
Steelers’ Mike Tomlin laments ‘volatile rhetoric’ across sports after DK Metcalf fan altercation
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Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin expressed his support for wide receiver DK Metcalf before the star player’s two-game suspension for throwing a punch at a fan was upheld.
Tomlin didn’t elaborate on his reaction to seeing the clip, which showed Metcalf near the barrier between the Steelers’ sideline and the stands. The CBS broadcast caught the interaction, which showed Metcalf pull on the fan’s shirt and take a swing.
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin looks on from the sideline during the first half at M&T Bank Stadium on Dec. 7, 2025. (Mitch Stringer/Imagn Images)
The longtime head coach acknowledged Tuesday the increasingly “volatile rhetoric” in sports.
“Not only (in) our business, (but) college, youth sport parents,” he said. “I think it’s just a component of sport that’s developed and developed in a big way in recent years, and it’s unfortunate.”
It’s unclear what the fan, who was identified as Ryan Kennedy, said to Metcalf that sparked the altercation. Kennedy was accused of making a racist comment and saying a derogatory remark about the player’s mother. However, Kennedy vehemently denied the accusations in a statement through a law firm. The statement said no hateful language was used.
Another report said that when Metcalf was playing for the Seattle Seahawks, he reported the fan to team personnel when he was in Detroit previously.
SEVERAL NFL TEAMS HAVE PLAYOFF-CLINCHING SCENARIOS IN WEEK 17
Pittsburgh Steelers’ DK Metcalf wipes his face on the bench during the second half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rey Del Rio)
Tomlin didn’t speculate when asked if there were more teams could do to protect players in that situation.
“Me speaking on it and speaking on it in detail and particularly expressing my opinion regarding things doesn’t help the circumstance in any way,” he said.
The NFL upheld Metcalf’s suspension on Tuesday night.
The league said Metcalf violated league policy, which states players may not enter the stands or otherwise confront fans at any time on game day and … if a player makes unnecessary physical contact with a fan in any way that constitutes unsportsmanlike conduct or presents crowd-control issues and/or risk of injury, he will be held accountable.”
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He will miss the team’s final two games of the season and leave a boatload of money on the table.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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