by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 8/20/2026 Make sure to come back everyday for positional rankings and my MOCK DRAFT 1.0 releasing Thursday, August 27 at noon Top-10 Quarterbacks of the 2027 Draft Class Photo Credits to Chad Hamilton/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images 10. John Mateer 6'1" 225 lbs. Oklahoma Pro Comparison: Older Russell Wilson 2025 Overview 2025 was a very up and down year for the former Washington State transfer. At one point early in the season, Mateer's name wa

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 8/19/2026 We are 3 weeks away from the start of the 2026 season and if it's anything like last year, the only thing we know for sure is that making predictions like this are almost useless and more often wrong than not. Just to make my case, let's look at my predictions for the 2025 season that I made the same time last year: MVP - Baker Mayfield Super Bowl MVP - Lamar Jackson Coach of the Year - Todd Bowles Comeback POY - Christian McCaffrey OP

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 8/18/2026 Photo Credits to Al Bello via Getty Images Tier 1: Guarantees 1. Josh Allen 2. Lamar Jackson _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Tier 2: Good but Not Great 3. Joe Burrow 4. Jalen Hurts 5. Justin Herbert 6. Caleb Williams 7. Dak Prescott 8. Bo Nix Tier 3: Bust Year Incoming 9. Jayden Daniels 10. Drake Maye _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Tier 4: League Winners/ Steals 11. Kyler Murray 12. Jared Goff _ _

by Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen Sportz Nation - 8/17/2026 Photo Credits to Derik Hamilton via Associated Press Islam Makhachev vs Carlos Prates Matt Hylen - There's only one man, now that Ian Machado Garry got his shot, that deserves a shot at the title and that's Carlos Prates. Sure, Michael Morales was the backup fighter for the Makhachev/Garry fight, but his resume still needs one more top contender before getting a shot over Prates. Now, do I think Prates is stylistically t

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 8/18/2026 Photo Credits to Zach Dimmit via Sports Illustrated 10. Cam Coleman WR Texas Let's start this list off with a wild card pick straight away! Truth be told I'm not too sure if this pick is indeed a hot take because Cam Coleman is an elite WR athlete who will be joining a Texas team with one of the best QBs in the country in an offensive-friendly system. In two seasons at Auburn, Coleman did well statistically but didn't take the year 2-

by Zak Drapeau and Will Gilhooly Sportz Nation - 8/16/2026 Photo Credits to James Lang via Imagn Images All Odds courtesy of DraftKings on 8/13 Starting tomorrow we can officially say, "College Football is back." The season won't actually start until August 29th when TCU and UNC play in Dublin for the College Football Classic. But the first official, AP Top-25 poll will release tomorrow at Noon. Before the coaches' poll becomes official, Sportz Nation's Zak Drapeau and Will G

by Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen Sportz Nation - 8/14/2026 In our FN Gamrot vs Salkilld Predictions, which you can find here, Zak went 3-3 in picks with 1 method for 4 points. Matt went 4-2 in picks with 1 method for 5 points. Points To Date: Zak: 153 (103-57) Matt: 140 (92-62) *All odds courtesy of Caesar's Sportsbook on 8/11 Graphic Credits to UFC via eventbrite.com _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Islam Makhachev vs Ian Machado Garry Welterweight Championship (Makhac

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 8/13/2026 Photo Credits to Kevin Sabitus via Getty Images Tier 1 Guarantees 1. Bijan Robinson 2. Jahmyr Gibbs _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Tier 2 Still Elite 3. Jonathan Taylor 4. Christian McCaffrey 5. Saquon Barkley 6. De'Von Achane 7. James Cook 8. Derrick Henry _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Tier 3 Breakouts 9. Ashton Jeanty 10. Kenneth Walker 11. Chase Brown 12. Kyren Williams 1

by Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen Sportz Nation - 8/10/2026 Quilan Salkilld vs Diego Lopes Zak Drapeau - Salkilld has been one of the biggest rising stars of the division because of his violence and striking. The test he had against Gamrot was to see if he could keep himself up against a relentless wrestler and instead, he showed us that he may be just as dangerous on the ground and COMPLETELY altered his prospect status to contender... and a strong one at that. At the same time

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 8/11/2026 When I made this list in 2022 which you can find here, I had Shavkat, Du Plessis, Chimaev, Pereira and Topuria, so I can't wait to see where this group of prospects will climb to by 2030. Honorable Mentions: - Ion Baraniewski - Mairon Santos - Ethyn Ewing _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Photo Credits to Jeff Bottari via Zuffa LLC #10 Tommy McMillen Division Lightweight Age 28y, 239d UFC Record 2-0 Finishes 2 McMillen j

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 8/9/2026 Photo Credits to Todd Kirkland via Getty Images 10. Bijan Robinson Falcons Running Back Last Year's Rank: 24 Bijan spent 2 days as the highest-paid RB in NFL history and it was well-deserved. Robinson had just under 2,300 yards of total offense this season along with 11 TDs all while rushing for 5.1 yards per carry. Robinson's true value and reason he cracks the Top-10 list is his dual threat ability. Robinson's 287 carries and 79 catc

by Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen Sportz Nation - 8/8/2026 In our FN Du Medic v Rodriguez Predictions, which you can find here Zak went 4-2 in picks with 3 methods for 7 points. Matt went 5-1 in picks with 2 methods for 7 points. Points To Date: Zak: 149 (100-54) Matt: 135 (88-60) *All odds courtesy of Caesar's Sportsbook on 8/7 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Graphic by UFC via UFC.com 8Mateusz Gamrot vs 12Quillan Salkilld (Salkilld -150) Zak Drapeau - I was talking to fr

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 8/6/2026 Photo Credits to Rick Kimball via ISD Notre Dame Odds to Win ACC: N/A Recruiting Grade: A Transfer Grade: A+ 2026 Schedule: A- Notre Dame is going to be one of the highest teams when the AP Preseason Top-25 poll comes out and likely a Top-25 team due to their finish to the 2025 season and tremendous transfer portal performance. Bringing back QB C.J. Carr who will be in the running for best QB and even the Heisman trophy in 2026 should s

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 8/5/2026 Photo Credits to Sam Greene/ The Enquirer/ USA Today Network via Imagn Images Tier 1 Guarantees 1. Ja'Marr Chase 2. Amon-Ra St. Brown 3. Puka Nacua 4. Jaxon Smith-Njigba Tier 2 Almost Elite 5. Justin Jefferson 6. Ceedee Lamb 7. Rashee Rice 8. Zay Flowers 9. George Pickens 10. Malik Nabers 11. Nico Collins Tier 3 Still Unproven 12. AJ Brown 13. Chris Olave 14. Devonta Smith 15. Tetairoa McMillan 16. Drake

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 8/4/2026 Georgia Odds to Win SEC: +260 Photo Credits to Hyosub Shin via AJC Transfer Grade: B+ Recruiting Grade: A 2026 Schedule: B+ Georgia has firmly established themselves as the favorites in the SEC this year with not only the easiest schedule in the conference but the most returning starters from 2025 as well. Their defense returns 2 All-American level defenders at each level of their defense including top players Ellis Robinson V, Chris Co

by Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen Sportz Nation - 8/2/2026 Photo Credits to Ed Mulholland via Zuffa LLC Uros Medic vs Leon Edwards Matt Hylen - I really liked the call out Uros Medic made after his dominant TKO win over Daniel Rodriguez. With the run he has been on, he deserves a major step up in competition, which I believe Leon Edwards qualifies as. Medic could be a star in the making. He is beloved by not only his country but also the world. He gives fans what they want every

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 8/3/2026 Photo Credits to Daniel Shirey via Getty images The Boston Red Sox have made another huge move before the Trade Deadline and acquire Baltimore Orioles star Catcher Adley Rutschman. The Trade Included: Red Sox Receive: Adley Rutschman, C Orioles Receive: Carlos Narvaez, C Anthony Eyanson, RHP Kyson Witherspoon, RHP Enddy Azocar, OF Harold Rivas, OF The 28-year old Rutschman is on a 1-year deal worth $7.2 Million but is under team-control

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 7/26/2026 Photo Credit to Stephanie Scarbrough via Associated Press 20. Matthew Stafford Rams Quarterback Last Year's Rank: N/A Does Matthew Stafford have one of the best arms in the league? Absolutely. Is he surrounded by one of the best rosters and Head Coaches in the league? Yes. Has he shown to be inconsistent year-by-year? Yes he has. Stafford was rightfully given the MVP award last year and showed that when healthy and put with the right

by Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen Sportz Nation - 7/31/2026 In our FN Du Plessis v Usman Predictions, which you can find here, Zak went 5-1 in picks with 0 methods for 5 points. Matt went 4-2 in picks with 3 methods for 7 points. Points To Date: Zak: 142 (96-52) Matt: 128 (83-59) *All odds courtesy of Caesar's Sportsbook on 7/23 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 14Uros Medic vs 15Daniel Rodriguez (Medic -400) Zak Drapeau - I realize Medic is the heavy favorite here and as of wr

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 7/30/2026 Photo Credits to Mark J. Rebilas via Imagn Images Indiana Odds to Win B1G: +310 Transfer Grade: A+ Recruiting Grade: B- 2026 Schedule: A- Indiana has made a habit of molding their roster around the Transfer Portal and 2026 will be no different with 17 incoming players including their starting Quarterback, Josh Hoover from TCU. The Hoosiers' miracle 2025 Championship season was one you could only dream of as a Hoosiers fan. When looking