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BSN OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: LESLEIGH AMOS — ASTRONAUT WAR EAGLES: RUNNERS UP, OFFENSIVE STAT LEADERS: SPONSORED BY Orange Pest Control
* THE OVERALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR WILL BE RELEASED TONIGHT AT 8:00 PM
There are six-rotation players… and then there are players like Lesleigh Amos. Because “six-rotation” doesn’t fully explain what Amos meant to Astronaut volleyball in 2025.
It doesn’t capture how she could tilt a set with one swing, flip momentum with one serve, or steady the entire floor when a rally turned chaotic.
And it certainly doesn’t explain how a program jumps 14 wins in a single season without a player who can do everything her coach asks of her, everything her team needs from her and do it at the level and consistency Amos brought every single night.
That’s why Lesleigh Amos is the BSN Offensive Player of the Year for 2025.
Astronaut finished 20–8, and those wins didn’t come against soft competition. The War Eagles played 28 matches against a schedule that posted an impressive .536 strength of schedule, facing opponents capable of loading the block, attacking seams, and forcing points to be earned.
That context matters because Amos didn’t feast in blowouts. She produced against teams that could play, in matches where every kill was contested and every run had to be built with precision.
And she still dominated.
Amos led the War Eagles in attacking with 304 kills across 82 sets (third in the county), averaging 3.7 kills per set while maintaining a strong .259 hitting percentage on 792 attempts.
Those are not opportunistic numbers, that’s the stat line of a player taking the toughest swings in the biggest moments, often against a set defense designed specifically to stop her.
But what truly separated Amos from the field was her ability to run the offense, not just finish it.
She also led Astronaut with 375 assists (4.6 per set), functioning as a secondary playmaker who turned broken plays into points and chaos into control.
Out-of-system balls didn’t stall the War Eagles, they flowed through Amos. When rallies extended or first contact broke down, she became the stabilizer, keeping the offense alive and unpredictable.
Then there was the service line, a weapon in its own right.
Amos finished first on the team with 58 aces, posting a 15.6 percent ace rate while still serving over 90 percent on the season.
That balance is rare. She didn’t gamble, she applied pressure. Every trip behind the line forced passers to adjust, coaches to burn timeouts, and opponents to play on edge.
And because her impact wasn’t one-dimensional, Amos backed it up everywhere else on the floor.
She finished third on the team in digs with 258, proving her offense never came at the expense of effort or awareness.
She tracked tips, covered hitters, and kept rallies alive long enough for Astronaut to strike again. She also added 22 blocks, ranking fourth on the team, not because she camped at the net, but because her timing and instincts made her a factor whenever she was there.
That’s the difference between a great hitter and an Offensive Player of the Year.
A great hitter scores points.
An Offensive Player of the Year changes how matches are played.
Astronaut’s rise in 2025 wasn’t accidental. Programs don’t jump 14 wins because of luck. They rise because belief becomes real, standards elevate, and someone steps into the spotlight and delivers — night after night, against real competition.
That someone was Lesleigh Amos. She was the swing that stopped runs. The serve that broke sets open. The steady touch that turned pressure into points.
In a county filled with offensive weapons, Amos wasn’t just one of the best.
She was the one every opponent had to plan around.
BSN OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: LESLEIGH AMOS — ASTRONAUT WAR EAGLES.
OTHER PLAYERS CONSIDERED
Peyton Riordan — Merritt Island
Just a sophomore, Peyton Riordan was a key standout for a Merritt Island team that finished as the state runner-up. Riordan led the Mustangs in kills with 277 and aces with 55 while also adding 216 digs.
Already one of the most impactful attackers in the county, Riordan will most certainly be back in the conversation for this award — and others — over the next two seasons as she helps lead one of Brevard’s premier volleyball programs.
Kylee Thompson — Merritt Island
One of just three seniors on the Mustangs roster, Kylee Thompson was a difference maker in every sense of the word. Thompson finished second on the team in kills with 239, added 35 blocks and 92 digs, and consistently delivered in the biggest moments.
Whether it was a timely kill, a momentum-swinging block, or a clutch dig, Thompson’s plays always seemed to come when Merritt Island needed them most.
Harper Lanza — Satellite
Calling Harper Lanza’s season a breakout almost undersells what the freshman accomplished. Lanza finished fourth on Satellite with 108 kills, second with 43 aces, led the Scorpions with 37 blocks, and paced the team in assists with 348.
She also added 173 digs, third-most on the team, as Satellite finished 16–10. A true six-rotation threat already, Lanza’s ceiling is as high as anyone in the county.
Audrey Herbert — Holy Trinity
Holy Trinity senior Audrey Herbert led the Tigers and finished second in the county with 357 kills. She also added 27 aces and was a constant offensive presence for a Tigers team that once again made a deep postseason run.
Julie Watt — Holy Trinity
Julie Watt led Brevard County with 726 assists and also paced Holy Trinity with 58 aces. She finished third on the team with 180 digs and was instrumental in guiding the Tigers to their fourth consecutive district championship.
Watt’s ability to control tempo and create opportunities made her one of the most valuable setters in the area.
Cambrya Walters — Brevard Heat
If there were a futures market on a future Offensive Player of the Year, Cambrya Walters would be the clear favorite. As an eighth grader, Walters led the Heat with 270 kills and 62 aces while finishing third on the team with 288 digs.
Her combination of power, versatility, and poise at such a young age makes her one of the most exciting long-term prospects in the county.
Anna Ely & Debbie Walley — Edgewood
Anna Ely and Debbie Walley were one of the most entertaining duos to watch this season. Ely led the Red Wolves with 204 kills, and more often than not, that kill was set up by Walley, who finished with 504 assists.
From the service line, the pair combined for 95 aces, helping Edgewood to an 18–5 record and a conference runner-up finish.
Anna Livengood — Brevard Heat
Anna Livengood wrapped up her junior season second in Brevard County with 680 assists while also finishing second on the Heat with 55 aces.
Her steady leadership and consistency were central to the Heat’s offensive rhythm all season long.
MAXPREPS TOP 5 IN KILLS — BREVARD COUNTY
Isabella Taylor, Space Coast — 362
Audrey Herbert, Holy Trinity — 357
Lesleigh Amos, Astronaut — 304
Peyton Riordan, Merritt Island — 277
Cambrya Walters, Brevard Heat — 270
TOP 5 ASSISTS — BREVARD COUNTY
Julie Watt, Holy Trinity — 726
Anna Livengood, Brevard Heat — 680
Addison Sedaros, Calvary Chapel — 638
Gwenyth Cotham — 632
Eva Vuichard, Heritage — 556
TOP 5 ACES
1. Madison Gutke Rockledge 72 aces
2. Layla Crespo-Delgado Heritage 67 aces
3. Eva Vuichard Heritage 66 Aces
4. Amber Gunter Heritage 66 aces
5. Abigail Cieslak Calvary Chapel 64 Aces
6. Cambrya Walters 62 Aces
In a season defined by depth, development, and a county loaded with offensive firepower, standing out was never going to be easy.
Each of these athletes delivered moments that swung matches, lifted programs, and raised the level of volleyball across Brevard County. But when the full body of work was weighed, production, consistency, impact, and performance against quality competition — one player rose above the rest.
Surrounded by talent and pushed by elite peers every night, Lesleigh Amos didn’t just lead the conversation, she defined it, earning her place at the top in a year that showcased just how bright the future of Brevard County volleyball truly is.
PREVIOUS WINNERS
2021 Macy Reynolds Merritt Island
2022 Mallory Merz Viera
2023 Bella Schwantz Merritt Island
2024 Haley Beigh Viera
2025 Lesleigh Amos Astronaut
BSN COLLEGE FOOTBALL: NO. 13 TEXAS, NO. 18 MICHIGAN TO MEET IN 2025 CHEEZ-IT CITRUS BOWL, 3:00 PM NEW YEARS EVE:
No. 13 Texas and No. 18 Michigan will square off in the 2025 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, Florida Citrus Sports announced Sunday.
The 80th edition of Orlando’s New Year’s Classic kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Dec. 31, at Camping World Stadium and will air live on ABC.
The milestone matchup will be just the third all-time meeting between the Longhorns (9-3, 6-2 SEC) and Wolverines (9-3, 7-2 Big Ten). Texas won both previous contests, including a 2024 regular-season victory in Ann Arbor and an unforgettable 38-37 win in the 2005 Rose Bowl. This year’s bowl game will also mark Texas’ first postseason trip to Orlando.
Michigan, meanwhile, will be making a record-setting seventh appearance in the Citrus Bowl, and its first since 2020. The Wolverines are 4-2 in six previous contests, with triumphs over Florida (2016 and 2008), Auburn (2001) and Arkansas (1999), and would tie Tennessee (5-1) for the all-time lead in Citrus Bowl wins with a victory over the Longhorns.
On offense, the Wolverines feature one of college football’s most potent ground attacks, with 213.2 rushing yards per game on the season, good for 16th among FBS teams. The unit is led by Jordan Marshall (932 yards and 10 touchdowns), who averaged 126.2 rushing yards per game over his final five games after stepping into a featured role following an injury to Justice Haynes (857 yards and 10 touchdowns).
The sophomore Marshall’s 6.21 yards per carry also ranked fourth in the Big Ten and 17th in the country.
Under center, quarterback Bryce Underwood led an offense that ended the regular season with 59 total plays (36 passing, 23 rushing) of 20-plus yards.
The consensus No. 1 quarterback in the 2025 recruiting class, Underwood finished his debut season with 2,229 passing yards and nine touchdowns through the air.
His 12.5 yards per completion ranked fourth in the Big Ten, and his top two targets, Andrew Marsh (641 yards) and Donaven McCulley (534 yards) each averaged 15.3 yards per catch. Underwood also had 323 rushing yards and scored five rushing scores this season.
On the SEC sideline, Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning, the No. 1 prospect in the 2023 recruiting class, finished the regular season with 2,942 passing yards and ranked 4th in the SEC with 24 passing touchdowns. Manning also led the Longhorns with eight rushing scores this season and was responsible for 198 total points, 10th among all FBS players.
Manning’s top target, Ryan Wingo, led the team in catches (50), receiving yards (770) and receiving touchdowns (seven). Redshirt freshman Parker Livingstone also added six touchdown receptions, and his 18.9 yards per catch ranked second in the SEC and 12th nationally.
On special teams, Ryan Niblett is one of the country’s most electric return men. Niblett led the SEC and finished second in the entire FBS with 23.6 yards per punt return, with two punt return touchdowns on the season. His 646 kick return yards also led the SEC and ranked fifth among FBS returners.
Defensively, the Longhorns held opponents to just 98.1 rushing yards per game, 10th among FBS programs, and ranked 23rd nationally in scoring defense at 19.8 points allowed per game. Jelani McDonald led the team in both tackles (73) and interceptions (three), while Colin Simmons paced the team in tackles for a loss (13.5), including a team-high 11 sacks.
Like Texas, Michigan also boasts one of the nation’s sturdiest defensive fronts.
The Wolverines allowed just 18.7 points per game this season, good for 16th nationally, while their total defense (312.3 yards per game, 22nd) and rushing defense (101.7 yards, 13th) also ranked in the Top 25 among FBS schools. They’re led by edge rusher Derrick Moore, who finished third in the Big Ten and 12th in the country with 10 sacks this season.
One of college football’s longest-running bowl events, the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl debuted on Jan. 1, 1947 as the Tangerine Bowl, with Catawba defeating Maryville 31-6 in the inaugural game.
Over the eight decades since, the event has grown into one of the sport’s most respected legacy postseason contests, strengthened by more than 30 years of partnership with the SEC and Big Ten.
This year’s game will also mark the long-awaited return of beloved mascot Prince Cheddward, who returns to the sidelines after years of fan demand.
Additionally, fans at the game will have access to a free postgame concert from multi-platinum country music artist Jordan Davis, who will help Orlando ring in 2026 with a full set presented by Geico after the final whistle.
Cheez-It Citrus Bowl tickets are available now. visit
CheezItCitrusBowl.com to buy or to learn more about group, premium and other ticket offers, or to purchase Corona Sunbrew Field Pass upgrades for the postgame concert.
THIS POST IS SPONSORED BY Natwick Insurance, Inc.
Cheez-It Citrus Bowl
Florida Citrus Sports
BSN DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: NATALIE RUBERTE — HOLY TRINITY: AWARD SPONSORED BY Krissy Knows, THE REAL ESTATE EXPERT:
In the sports of volleyball, the libero always stands out — a different jersey, a different responsibility, a different standard.
But in 2025, Natalie Ruberte didn’t just stand out because of the color of the jersey she wore. She stood out because nothing hit the floor when she was around it.
The senior libero for the Holy Trinity Tigers has been named the BSN 2025 Defensive Player of the Year, emerging from what was arguably the deepest and most demanding defensive field in the award’s five-year history.
In a year loaded with elite back-row talent across Brevard County, Ruberte separated herself not with flash but with relentless, mistake-free excellence.
She edged out Reece Loggins of the Merritt Island Mustangs and Emily Livengood of the Brevard Heat, two defenders who would win this award in most seasons. This year, though, belonged to Ruberte.
Holy Trinity finished 17–9 and captured its fourth straight district championship, leaning heavily on a senior leader who anchored every rally from the opening whistle to the final postseason point. Ruberte led the Tigers with 366 digs, and the most staggering part wasn’t the volume — it was the precision.
She committed just 19 digging errors all season.
That’s a 94.8 percent success rate across nearly 400 defensive chances — a number that places her firmly in elite territory, even by state-level standards. At the high-school level, where chaos often rules defensive play, Ruberte brought order. Reads were early. Platforms were quiet. Balls stayed playable.
And she did it against the toughest 26 match schedule in the county.
Holy Trinity faced 26 opponents who combined for a 445–261 record, a strength of schedule north of .630.
The Tigers played 11 teams with 20 or more wins, including a state champion in Orangewood Christian, state runners-up in Merritt Island and First Baptist Academy, and a Final Four squad in the Osceola Kowboys.
Against that level of firepower, Ruberte didn’t fade — she rose.
In matches versus teams with 20 or more wins, she averaged 14 digs per match, repeatedly flipping momentum with one more save, one more sprawl, one more impossible get that kept rallies alive.
Her match log reads like a defensive masterclass — 23 digs against Satellite, 31 against Merritt Island, 29 in a five-set postseason battle with Canterbury.
The bigger the moment, the steadier the performance as she averaged 14 digs per match against the teams with 20 or more wins.
Serve receive? Just as sharp.
Ruberte posted a 93.3 percent serve-receive success rate, a number that reflects trust, composure, and complete command of the back row. While this is a defensive award, it’s impossible to ignore her impact from the service line as well — 46 aces, third on the team, turning defense into offense without ever forcing the issue.
This wasn’t just a great statistical season.
This was the season of a libero who dictated matches without needing the spotlight.
A senior who understood that defense isn’t about highlights, it’s about refusal. Refusal to let the ball drop. Refusal to let runs build. Refusal to let pressure win.
That’s why, in a year overflowing with elite defenders, Natalie Ruberte is the standard.
RUNNERS-UP
Reece Loggins (Jr.), Merritt Island
Loggins authored a phenomenal second half of the season, finishing with 319 digs and elevating her play when the stakes were highest. From the district championship match on, she averaged nearly 15 digs per match, posting 22 digs in the state semifinals and 11 in the state championship. A relentless competitor whose ceiling continues to rise.
Emily Livengood (Sr.), Brevard Heat
Livengood closes her high-school career with an incredible 2,323 digs. In 2025, she was second in the state and first in the county with 704 digs, leading the Heat to a 22–6 record and a return to the regional final. One of the most productive defenders Brevard County has ever seen.
TOP 5 COUNTY LEADERS IN DIGS (2025 — MaxPreps)
Emily Livengood, Brevard Heat — 704
Haley Cowling, Space Coast — 547
Arianna Jackson, Rockledge — 476
Kinsey Hurd, Melbourne — 425
Elise Turche, Titusville — 412
TOP 5 BLOCKERS BREVARD COUNTY
Shamora Scott Bayside-82
Janay McLin Bayside-76
Lydia Scott Merritt Island-72
Louissa Felix Melbourne-57
Sela Horgan West Shore-56
PREVIOUS BSN DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
2021 — Hannah Bradford, Viera
2022 — Maya Collins, Holy Trinity
2023 — Amelia Talbott, Viera
2024 — Jasmine Calton, Bayside
2025 — Natalie Ruberte, Holy Trinity
Five years. Five winners. And in 2025, the back row belonged to Natalie Ruberte — a libero who turned consistency into dominance and defense into a defining weapon.
Holy Trinity Athletics
🏐 BSN VOLLEYBALL HEAD COACH OF THE YEAR: ANGIE PATRICK, MERRITT ISLAND MUSTANGS: PRESENTED BY Martinez Construction Services
Some seasons define a program. Others define a legacy. For Merritt Island and Angie Patrick, 2025 managed to do both.
On September 30, against one of the premier programs in the state, Patrick collected career win No. 500 in fitting fashion, a straight-sets victory over longtime nemesis Bishop Moore.
It was more than a milestone. It was a snapshot of everything Merritt Island volleyball has become under her watch for 23-years, composed under pressure, ruthless in execution, and unwavering in its standard.
That match symbolized a season built on balance and belief.
The Mustangs’ roster was a true blend , three seniors, seven juniors, three sophomores, and one freshman and over the course of the fall, you could literally watch the pieces lock together.
By season’s end, it wasn’t just another good Merritt Island team. It was yet another force.
The numbers tell the story — and then some.
Merritt Island went 16-0 against Brevard County, dropping just three sets in those matches. They captured their 25th Cape Coast Conference championship, secured a 21st straight district title, and punched their ticket to the FHSAA State Tournament for the 33rd time in program history — the 21st consecutive appearance under Patrick.
The Mustangs won 23 matches in a row and advanced all the way to the state championship finale, finishing state runner-up for the fourth time and claiming their seventh regional title under Patrick in the process.
And they didn’t do it with a soft path.
Merritt Island played 32 matches against teams that combined to go 517-334, producing a formidable .607 strength of schedule.
Their only three losses came against elite competition: the No. 3 team in New Mexico, a Winter Haven squad that reached the 7A regional final, and the No. 5 ranked team in Florida in North Broward Prep in the state championship match, and they took them to five sets.
Across the season, the Mustangs won 84 percent of the 96 sets they played, a staggering level of consistency at the highest level of Florida volleyball.
And the scary part? They’re not done, far from it.
Merritt Island returns four of its top five hitters, its top two servers, three of its top four blockers, and three of its top four defenders in digs. Reloading, once again.
At the end of the day, Angie Patrick’s legacy has never been about numbers on a stat sheet or trophies on a shelf, even though there are plenty of both.
It’s about the standard she has set, and the people she has shaped.
Year after year, player after player, Merritt Island volleyball reflects her fingerprints: toughness without ego, confidence without entitlement, and an understanding that greatness is earned long before the lights come on.
Her teams don’t panic. They don’t flinch. They compete the right way, together.
Five hundred wins didn’t happen by accident. They happened because Angie Patrick shows up every season with the same passion, the same expectations, and the same belief in the process, whether the roster is young or experienced, favored or challenged. And in doing so, she’s built something rare: a program where excellence is not a moment, but a habit.
For the Mustangs who have worn the jersey, for the community that fills the gym, and for the standard of volleyball across Brevard County, Angie Patrick isn’t just a coach of the year.
She and her teams have drafted the blueprint. Patrick closes the year with 508 career victories and earns her FOURTH BSN Volleyball Coach of the Year honor, adding yet another chapter to a career that continues to define excellence on the Space Coast.
Congratulations Coach Patrick on a well deserved honor.
🏐 RUNNER-UP: DIEGO PEREZ ASTRONAUT WAR EAGLES
If 2025 was about sustaining greatness at Merritt Island, it was about transformation at Astronaut.
After finishing with just six wins a season ago, Diego Perez brought back a young core that had taken its lumps at the varsity level and turned those lessons into momentum. The result was one of the most impressive year-to-year jumps in Brevard County volleyball.
The War Eagles added 14 wins, surged into the FHSAA State Tournament, and consistently flipped close matches that had slipped away the year before. Astronaut’s roster was still young, just three seniors but the growth was undeniable.
Seven returning contributors matured together, learned how to close sets, and learned how to win.
Astronaut was tested along the way, playing a schedule against teams that combined for a 418-361 record, good for a .536 strength of schedule. Against that competition, the War Eagles won 65 percent of their sets, finishing 53-29 across 82 sets played.
Even more promising is what lies ahead. Astronaut returns its top two leaders in kills, top nine servers, top four blockers, and top four defenders in digs — a foundation that suggests 2025 may only be the beginning.
For guiding one of the county’s most impressive turnarounds and re-establishing Astronaut as a postseason program, Diego Perez earns BSN Volleyball Coach of the Year Runner-Up honors.
📜 PREVIOUS BSN VOLLEYBALL COACH OF THE YEAR WINNERS
2025: Angie Patrick (Merritt Island)
2024: Darrah Bowen (Brevard Heat)
2023: Sarah Wayne (Viera) | Angie Patrick (Merritt Island)
2022: Sarah Wayne (Viera)
2021: Angie Patrick (Merritt Island)
2020: Angie Patrick (Merritt Island)
BSN COLLEGE FOOTBALL: THE 12-TEAM PLAYOFF FIELD DROPS WITH SHOCKWAVES, CONTROVERSY AND CHAOS
The College Football Playoff bracket dropped on Sunday, and the 12-team field will have college football fans debating the selections all week.
The chaos comes from the final four selections. A year after both programs were left looking into the postseason from the wrong side of the glass, Alabama and Miami finally got the break they needed and are in this year’s tournament.
The Crimson Tide and Hurricanes survived the final cutdown on Sunday, edging out Notre Dame for the last at-large berth.
Alabama is the second three-loss team to reach the 12-team field, but the Crimson Tide are the first to do so as an at-large selection. Three-loss Clemson reached the CFP last year, but the Tigers earned an automatic bid as ACC champions.
At the top of the field sits a story nobody saw coming a decade ago.
Indiana, undefeated Big Ten champions at 13–0, is crowned the No. 1 seed. The Hoosiers defeated Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game, winning the conference outright for the first time in 80 years (1945).
They’re joined by the No. 2 Buckeyes, No. 3 Georgia, and No. 4 Texas Tech as the four teams receiving first-round byes, each securing its place as one of the highest-ranked conference champions.
After No. 5 Oregon, No. 6 Ole Miss, No. 7 Texas A&M and No. 8 Oklahoma, the true disruption showed its ugly head.
For the first time in playoff history, two Group of Five champions punched their ticket into the bracket in the same year. Tulane, winners of the American at 11–2, and James Madison, 12–1 Sun Belt champions, earned automatic bids as top-25 conference winners.
JMU, only a few seasons removed from transitioning to the FBS, landed the No. 12 seed and a first-round matchup at Oregon. Tulane enters at No. 11 and draws Ole Miss in a rematch of a September blowout by the Rebels.
The most heated moment of the day came at the bubble line.
After weeks of being ranked ahead of Miami — including this past Tuesday when the committee released its final poll before the conference championships — Notre Dame fell out of the field entirely.
The Irish were No. 10 in Tuesday’s CFP rankings with Alabama No. 9. BYU was No. 11 and Miami No. 12.
Then came the conference championship games, and despite its 28–7 loss to Georgia in the SEC Title Game and a 10–3 record, the Crimson Tide stayed at No. 9, Miami moved to No. 10, and Notre Dame became the first team out, with BYU the second team out at No. 12.
Miami did not play on conference championship weekend. Neither did Notre Dame. Both beat Boise State — the lone opponent on either schedule that lifted a trophy Saturday. Yet the Irish saw their résumé strengthened and still fell backward.
The Irish reached the National Championship Game last year as a No. 7 seed, falling to No. 8 Ohio State.
According to CFP committee chair Hunter Yurachek, the committee had previously refused to compare the Hurricanes and Irish head-to-head because BYU separated them in the rankings. Once BYU fell, the committee finally put the two rivals side by side.
And when they did, Miami’s Week 1 win over Notre Dame — long ignored in previous rankings — became the deciding factor.
Meanwhile, Duke’s win over Virginia helped James Madison leap into the highest-ranked-champions group, pushing out others behind them and earning the Sun Belt its first-ever playoff berth.
The result is a bracket with everything: upsets waiting to happen, rematches, new blood, blue bloods, and fanbases ready to riot or rejoice.
HOW THE COMMITTEE VOTES
The College Football Playoff committee evaluates teams by comparing strength of schedule, head-to-head results, performances against common opponents, and any factors that may have affected a team’s season or could influence postseason readiness.
After reviewing each résumé, the committee ranks 25 teams. The five highest-ranked conference champions automatically qualify for the playoff, and the next seven highest-ranked teams fill the remaining spots.
If fewer than five champions are in the top 25, the committee continues ranking the remaining champions until five are included, placing any champion outside the top 12 at the bottom of the 12-team field.
The ranking process unfolds in four rounds. First, the committee selects the top four teams, which earn first-round byes. Next, it ranks teams five through eight, securing home games for those programs. Then it orders teams nine through twelve, designating the four visiting teams in the opening round while accommodating any conference champion that must be moved into the field.
The system is supposedly designed to balance merit, championships, and competitive fairness — even if it leaves plenty of room for debate. And it most certainly does.
In today’s vote, the committee elected to choose a second Group of Five team in James Madison University instead of an at-large such as Notre Dame.
THE PLAYOFF BRACKET
First-Round Byes (Top 4 Seeds)
No. 1 Indiana (13–0)
No. 2 Ohio State (12–1)
No. 3 Georgia (12–1)
No. 4 Texas Tech (12–1)
First-Round Games
No. 12 James Madison (12–1) at No. 5 Oregon (11–1)
No. 11 Tulane (11–2) at No. 6 Ole Miss (11–1)
No. 10 Miami (10–2) at No. 7 Texas A&M (11–1)
No. 9 Alabama (10–3) at No. 8 Oklahoma (10–2)
First-round games take place Dec. 19–20 on campus sites.
Quarterfinals follow on Dec. 31–Jan. 1, semifinals on Jan. 8–9, and the national champion will be crowned Jan. 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
BSN SAYS
It’s important to remember that the CFP committee never promises to select the 12 best teams in college football — which, in our opinion, is ridiculous.
The system is built around ranking the top 25, taking the five highest-ranked conference champions, and then filling the remaining spots with the next seven highest-ranked teams.
If it were truly the 12 best teams according to the CFP rankings, Notre Dame would have been No. 11 and BYU No. 12. Tulane was ranked No. 20 and JMU No. 24.
In the AP Poll, Notre Dame was No. 9, Miami No. 20, Alabama No. 11, and BYU No. 12.
So while Tulane and James Madison are absolutely legitimate top-25 programs, their inclusion doesn’t automatically mean they are among the 12 strongest teams in the country — it simply means they met the criteria the format requires.
The playoff is designed to honor conference champions and reward résumés within that structure, not create a pure “best 12 teams” tournament, and that distinction matters every year a controversial bracket drops.
Until the format changes, teams like Notre Dame — and last year, Miami — will continue to miss the CFP.
Miami absolutely belonged in the bracket this year, but so did Notre Dame.
Where the logic becomes flawed is simple: if a September loss to Florida was enough to keep say a team like Texas out of an at-large bid, how does a loss to 5 win Florida State and 21-point loss to Georgia on Saturday not push a 10–3 Alabama team outside the top 12?
In this case, the committee clearly rewarded Alabama for reaching the SEC Championship Game and beating Georgia at home during the regular season, while Texas fell to the Dawgs 35–10 on November 10.
The Longhorns’ other two losses were at Ohio State by seven and at Florida by eight. The standard can’t shift depending on the color of the jersey or what the network prefers.
And let’s be honest about the Group of Five: if Tulane or JMU lined up against Notre Dame, Texas, BYU, or even Vanderbilt ten times, they’re losing eight or nine times.
One G5 team feels like a meaningful inclusion. Two feels like the committee was making a statement instead of building the strongest field available.
The calls for a 16-team playoff won’t fix anything. If we’re already arguing about No. 12 versus No. 13, we’ll argue just as loudly about No. 16 versus No. 17. College sports is built on debate — we fight about No. 69 and No. 70 every March.
Here’s the kicker: Florida’s new head coach Jon Sumrall may one day look back and laugh that he took Tulane to the College Football Playoff before he ever took Florida there.
No system is going to satisfy everyone. But whatever this year’s process was — the last-minute shuffling, the selective emphasis on head-to-head, the constantly changing evaluation criteria — this ain’t it.y
BSN COLLEGE FOOTBALL: DEFENSE DELIVERS: MIAMI MAKES PLAYOFF HISTORY AT KYLE FIELD
The Miami Hurricanes didn’t win their first-ever College Football Playoff game with tempo, timing, or offensive fireworks.
They won it the hard way.
With violence at the point of attack. With discipline snap after snap. And with a defense that refused to bend when the margin for error disappeared.
On an extremely windy day in College Station, Texas, inside one of college football’s loudest venues, Miami’s defense authored a performance for the ages, lifting the Hurricanes to a 10–3 victory over the Texas A&M Aggies in the College Football Playoff First Round at Kyle Field.
The first half ended scoreless — the first 0–0 halftime in CFP history — as swirling winds knocked down kicks, drives stalled, and both teams searched for traction.
By the end of the third quarter, Miami held a slim 3–0 edge, and the afternoon had turned into a pure test of nerve.
The unit with nerves of steel was the Canes defense.
This group didn’t just survive the moment — it defined Miami football in 2025.
Seven sacks. Nine tackles for loss. Three takeaways. And a game-sealing interception in the end zone with 24 seconds left.
The Aggies never found rhythm. Never found balance. Never found space. Miami held Texas A&M to just 326 total yards, including a suffocating 89 yards on the ground, and limited the Aggies to three points across three red-zone trips.
When the game tightened, the Hurricanes tightened more.
Freshman defensive back Bryce Fitzgerald put the final stamp on it, stepping in front of a third-and-goal pass in the end zone to end the game — his second interception of the night — igniting a sideline eruption months in the making.
That moment was the exclamation point on a night dominated by Miami’s front seven. Rueben Bain Jr. was everywhere — five tackles, four for loss, three sacks, and a blocked field goal — setting the tone early and never letting it fade.
Akheem Mesidor collapsed pockets. The linebackers flowed clean. The secondary stayed disciplined.
It was the kind of performance Miami fans have been waiting to see again — and it was no accident.
A year ago, the Hurricanes were kept out of the playoff because of defensive breakdowns late in the season. Head coach Mario Cristobal responded by reshaping the unit, changing coordinators, rebuilding the secondary, and emphasizing patience, leverage, and pressure without panic.
Saturday was the payoff.
Then came the moment that could have broken a freshman.
Midway through the fourth quarter, Miami wide receiver Malachi Toney caught a pass near midfield — and immediately lost the football. Texas A&M recovered, and Toney walked to the sideline visibly shaken. Teammates surrounded him, encouraged him, and refused to let the mistake define the night.
Once again, the defense answered.
Bain wrecked the Aggies’ next possession, recording sacks on two of three plays to force a punt. The door reopened. The opportunity returned.
This time, the Hurricanes took it.
On the first play of the ensuing drive, running back Mark Fletcher Jr. ripped off a career-long 56-yard run, flipping field position and draining belief from a crowd of more than 104,000. Miami leaned into the run, trusted the moment, and trusted its freshman again.
With less than two minutes remaining, quarterback Carson Beck pitched the ball to Toney on an 11-yard design. Toney turned the corner, lunged across the pylon, and transformed frustration into redemption.
Touchdown Miami.
It was the only touchdown of the game — and the one that decided it.
Texas A&M had one last push, marching inside the Miami five-yard line in the final seconds. But when it mattered most, Fitzgerald delivered again, intercepting Marcel Reed in the end zone and ending the Aggies’ season on the spot.
Miami finished with seven sacks — tied for the program’s most in six seasons — and forced Texas A&M into one-dimensional football. Once that happened, the Hurricanes teed off.
“We just couldn’t keep them off us,” Aggies head coach Mike Elko admitted afterward. “Once we became one-dimensional, they were able to tee off.”
They did exactly that.
Fletcher finished with a career-high 172 rushing yards on 17 carries, including 75 on the game-winning drive. Toney delivered the defining play. Fitzgerald became an instant postseason legend.
And now, Miami moves on.
The Hurricanes will face the Ohio State Buckeyes on Dec. 31 in the Cotton Bowl quarterfinals, chasing the program’s first national championship since 2001.
It wasn’t flashy. It wasn’t pretty.
But it was playoff football — Miami style.
Defense first. Belief always. And history made in College Station.
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BSN COLLEGE FOOTBALL NO. 22 GEORGIA TECH VS. NO. 12 BYU IN THE POP-TARTS BOWL — DECEMBER 27, 3:30 PM IN ORLANDO
One of college football’s most unique postseason games returns to Orlando, and it nearly featured both of the first two teams left out of the College Football Playoff.
Instead, by the end of Sunday afternoon, Florida Citrus Sports secured one of them, setting up a matchup between No. 22 Georgia Tech and No. 12 BYU in the Pop-Tarts Bowl on December 27 at 3:30 p.m. inside Camping World Stadium.
A bowl game with a long history of name changes, personality, and now a life-size edible mascot, the Pop-Tarts Bowl has steadily grown into one of the marquee non–New Year’s Six destinations.
Born in Miami in 1990 as the Blockbuster Bowl, the event exploded out of the gate with over 74,000 fans watching Penn State battle Florida State.
Since moving to Orlando in 2001, the game has thrived under several title sponsors including the Russell Athletic Bowl but in 2023 Pop-Tarts entered the scene with a multi-year deal, elevating the bowl into a social-media phenomenon and a must-watch December showcase.
This year’s matchup brings together two programs that both flirted with the College Football Playoff but fell just short — and arrive in Orlando with something to prove.
BYU: SECOND TEAM OUT OF CFP
No. 12 BYU enters the Pop-Tarts Bowl with an 11–2 record, and the sting of being the second team out of the 12-team College Football Playoff still fresh.
Eight Power Four teams finished with at least 11 wins this season. BYU was the only one not selected for the CFP — the second straight year the Cougars posted double-digit wins and still missed the postseason field.
BYU had only two losses all year, both to No. 4 Texas Tech — once in Lubbock, and again in the Big 12 Championship Game in Arlington.
Ahead of the season, the CFP committee introduced new criteria stating that teams wouldn’t be penalized heavily for losing to high-quality opponents.
BYU took that to heart: no bad losses, and multiple notable victories over ranked programs including Utah and Arizona.
But BYU isn’t just a resume story — their on-field firepower is real.
The Cougars are driven by the explosive combination of quarterback Bear Bachmeier and running back LJ Martin. Bachmeier completed 64.6% of his passes for 2,593 yards and 14 touchdowns with only four interceptions, while also rushing for 529 yards and 11 scores. His most efficient outing came against UCF, where he went 21-of-25 for 289 yards.
Martin, a powerful and reliable junior, carried 217 times for 1,229 yards (5.7 per carry) and 11 touchdowns while adding 224 receiving yards. His season highlight came in a 26–14 win at Cincinnati, where he exploded for 222 yards and two scores on 32 carries.
Reports circulated that BYU would face Notre Dame if the Fighting Irish missed the CFP.
But when Notre Dame was left out, the Irish chose not to play in a bowl game declining the invite to play in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. This forced the PTB committee to pivot — ultimately delivering a ranked showdown with No.22 Georgia Tech instead.
Despite the CFP disappointment, BYU arrives in Orlando chasing history. A win would secure the program’s first 12-win season since 2001.
This appearance marks BYU’s 42nd bowl game all-time, and under head coach Kalani Sitake, the Cougars are 5–2 in postseason games — including last year’s Alamo Bowl rout of Colorado.
GEORGIA TECH: FROM 8–0 TO ORLANDO WITH SOMETHING TO PROVE
Georgia Tech began the season as one of the most surprising stories in college football, racing out to an 8–0 start and climbing as high as No. 7 in the AP Top 25.
Then November happened. The Yellow Jackets stumbled down the stretch, dropping three of their final four to finish 9–3 — still their best regular season since 2014.
The Jackets are powered by dual-threat quarterback Haynes King, who passed for 2,697 yards and led the team with 922 rushing yards. Georgia Tech’s offense, built on tempo and versatility, presents a dangerous challenge for BYU’s disciplined and physical defensive front.
This bowl appearance marks Georgia Tech’s 48th all-time, the 14th-most in college football history.
Their .553 postseason winning percentage (26–21) ranks 12th among FBS programs. It is also the Jackets’ third appearance in the game now known as the Pop-Tarts Bowl, and their third postseason game inside Camping World Stadium — including the famous 1991 Citrus Bowl win that clinched the 1990 national championship.
Both Georgia Tech and BYU enter the matchup having recently secured their coaching futures. Brent Key signed an extension locking him into his alma mater through 2030, while Sitake landed a long-term extension after drawing serious attention from Penn State.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN ORLANDO
Big 12 teams have won the last two Pop-Tarts Bowls — Kansas State in 2023 and Iowa State in 2024 — and BYU aims to continue that streak.
This matchup has everything a bowl game should bring:
A motivated BYU team seeking validation. A Georgia Tech squad looking to finish what it started. Two dynamic offenses. Two passionate fanbases. And a bowl environment that has become must-see every December.
The Pop-Tarts Bowl may have a playful name, but it consistently delivers serious football — and this year’s showdown is no exception.
December 27. Orlando. 3:30 p.m. Two teams with something to prove. One stage to do it.
Pop-Tarts Bowl
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Post sponsored by Krissy Knows
BSN FOOTBALL: PALM BAY LEGEND RETURNS — JOE COHEN NAMED NEW PIRATES DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR
Palm Bay football just reached back into its proudest era and pulled out one of the faces that helped define it.
Head Coach Kevin Mays has officially named Joe Cohen the new defensive coordinator of the Palm Bay Pirates — and if you grew up on Space Coast football, you already know how big this is.
Cohen isn’t just a hire. He’s a homecoming. He’s a restoration of the standard.
A beloved Palm Bay alumnus, Cohen was a force long before he ever wore a Florida Gators uniform or lined up in an NFL huddle.
He starred for the Pirates during the program’s golden age, playing on both the 2000 and 2002 FHSAA State Championship teams, carving out a legacy as one of the most dominant two-way athletes Brevard County has ever produced.
He graduated in the Class of 2003, a top national recruit whose rare strength, athleticism, and versatility made him one of the most sought-after players in the country. Cohen chose the University of Florida, where he became a defensive anchor and helped the Gators capture the 2006 BCS National Championship.
From there, the dream continued.
The San Francisco 49ers selected Cohen in the fourth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He went on to play for the 49ers, Dolphins, Raiders, and Lions — even recording a sack on Brett Favre in 2009 — before finishing his pro career in the CFL with the Toronto Argonauts.
But the story has come full circle.
Cohen, who has coached for several programs in Brevard County and coached under Mays at Viera, returns to his alma mater bringing NFL experience, SEC pedigree, and a deep, personal understanding of what Palm Bay football is supposed to be.
He lived it. He helped build it. And now he’s here to rebuild it with the next generation.
Coach Mays couldn’t be more fired up.
“We are very excited to get Joe to come home. Our players will thrive from the experience that he has. Joe is an awesome person and coach.”
For a school built on tradition, toughness, and championship DNA, adding Cohen is more than a personnel move, it’s a message. Palm Bay is leaning back into its identity. Back into the grit, speed, physicality, and swagger that once shook the state.
There’s a different energy when one of your own comes back.
Palm Bay doesn’t just welcome Joe Cohen home, they rise a little taller knowing he’s on their sideline again.
The Pirates just leveled up. And everybody in 3A knows it.
THIS POST SPONSORED BY Natwick Insurance, Inc.
PBHS Pirate Football
🎄 HOLIDAY MEN & WOMEN ALUMNI GAMES – THE LEGENDS RETURN 🎄 Monday, December 29 • Kelly Park West, Merritt Island $20 • All Proceeds Support Space Coast Youth Lacrosse
The holidays are for coming home and this December, Brevard’s lacrosse family is doing exactly that.
Whether you repped Merritt Island, Viera, Edgewood, West Shore, Cocoa Beach, MCC, Heritage, or anywhere in between… this night is for YOU.
This is the Inaugural Holiday Lacrosse Alumni Games for Brevard County men and women— a chance for former players to reunite, compete, laugh, talk trash, relive the glory days, and most importantly: lift up the next generation.
Every dollar raised goes directly toward launching the new Space Coast Youth Lacrosse League, including buying sticks, pads, and essential gear for brand-new players stepping onto the field for the first time.
📍 Location: Kelly Park West
2455 N Banana River Dr, Merritt Island, FL 32952
📅 Date: Monday, December 29, 2025
👥 Women’s Alumni Game: 6:00 PM
👥 Men’s Alumni Game: 7:30 PM
💲 Cost: $20 per player
LINK TO SIGN UP THEN CLICK ON BOOK NOW 👇👇👇👇👇
🎁 Equipment Drive: Bring your old sticks, gloves, and gear (in good condition) to donate and help grow the game.
This isn’t about what jersey you used to wear — it’s about the sport we all love and the community we built along the way. Let’s make the first annual event one that becomes a tradition for years to come.
Limited spots available. Book now. Show up. Give back. Play hard.
🥍 Brevard Lacrosse: Past Meets Future on Dec. 29. Be part of it.
Tier One Lax Space Coast Lacrosse Association
BSN CROSS COUNTRY: HOLY TRINITY’S EVAN SPREITZER OBLITERATES THE 1A FIELD — RUNS AWAY WITH STATE TITLE IN A MASTERCLASS OF DOMINANCE
By Brevard Sports Network
TALLAHASSEE — There are state champions and then there are runners who own the course, the moment, and the history books.
Holy Trinity senior Evan Spreitzer didn’t just win the FHSAA Class 1A boys cross country state championship on Saturday at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee
he took the race, ripped the suspense out of it, and delivered a title run rarely seen at the state championships.
15:16.0 — flat. A statement. A coronation. A master class in distance running. His time was the second best of the day in any classification.
And honestly? What Spreitzer did was exactly what the two-time defending district and regional champion came to do.
A MAN ON A MISSION
Last season, Spreitzer left this same course with a silver medal and a time of 15:38.9, finishing state runner-up as a junior.
This season, he returned not just as a favorite but as a certified Florida distance running force.
Back in October, on this very layout, he blasted a 14:58.9 at the FSU Invitational/Pre-State, becoming just the third athlete in Florida high school history to break 15 minutes on the state course.
So when the gun fired on Saturday?
There was no hesitation. No waiting. No pack strategy. No drama.
Spreitzer took the lead almost immediately — and never gave it back.
The fog that covered the early races had fully lifted for the boys 1A championship. The course was clear. The view to the front was clear. And Evan made sure the only thing anyone saw was his back.
By the two-mile mark, the gap was ridiculous, the chase pack wasn’t even in the same frame.
As Spreitzer paced into the small valley and up the hill, the NFHS Network showed a lead that couldn’t find the other 234 runners in the race.
Coaches, spectators, and athletes alike were looking down the course at empty grass behind him. The race for second wasn’t even close to the race for first.
Evan Spreitzer crossed the line over 30 seconds ahead of the next competitor, destroying the field with a level of control rarely seen at a state meet.
A CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS
This championship wasn’t a surprise, it was the completion of a run of dominance stretching through seasons, sports, and state meets.
This is now four FHSAA state championships since May that Spreitzer has celebrated.
Back in May at the outdoor state championships he won the 1A individual 3200m state title and was a part of the Tigers 4x800 state championship winning team.
The next state medal came when the Tigers hoisted the team state championship trophy.
And on Saturday, he captured his fourth gold in six months winning the 1A cross country state meet.
Four titles. Two sports. Three events. Six months and one undeniable legacy.
AND THE TEAM SHOWED UP TOO
Spreitzer wasn’t alone on the podium.
Holy Trinity teammate Luke Thomas delivered with an eighth place finish and earning a state medal. Their combined effort helped push the Tigers to a 3rd-place finish as a team, cementing Holy Trinity as one of Florida’s premier distance programs.
BSN SAYS
What Evan Spreitzer did on Saturday wasn’t luck, talent alone, or a good day at the office.
It was work. It was experience.
It was championship DNA.
Evan Spreitzer didn’t just win a state championship. He took it.
He owned it. He defined it.
And he just put the exclamation point on one of the greatest distance running years in Florida high school history.
This post sponsored by Krissy Knows
BSN CROSS COUNTRY: SELAH VIGNIER MAKES HISTORY — WEST SHORE’S FIRST-EVER INDIVIDUAL STATE CHAMPION
APALACHEE REGIONAL PARK — The fog rolled in thick over Tallahassee on Saturday morning, the kind that hangs low, eats sound, and turns a state championship course into something out of a movie, all silhouettes, breath, and nerves.
And through that fog, one silhouette broke free.
West Shore sophomore Selah Vignier didn’t just run the FHSAA 2A Girls State Championship.
She owned it.
The opening mile saw a tight pack of five moving together, all matching stride for stride, waiting for someone brave enough — strong enough — to make the first real move.
Selah made it.
When the course bent and the field hit rhythm, she surged. Not a reckless sprint — a champion’s separation. She broke from the pack, controlled the pace, and never gave the lead back.
By the time she climbed the final hill toward the finish chute, the fog swallowed everyone behind her. Second place wasn’t just beaten — she was out of sight.
Selah Vignier crossed the line in 18:14.7, a time, a performance, and a statement that rewrites school history.
West Shore’s first-ever individual state champion. In any sport. Ever.
And she did it with the poise of an athlete who understood the moment and rose above it.
But the Wildcats didn’t just bring home one medal — they brought home two.
Amelia Gutierrez delivered a massive run of her own, finishing 14th and earning a state medal, further solidifying West Shore’s rise in the FHSAA distance world.
And the team? Another milestone.
West Shore finished 7th in the state, completing a historic morning for the black and silver in Tallahassee.
A state champion. A state medalist.
A top-10 team finish. A page in school history rewritten forever.
BSN SAYS:
Championships aren’t given. They’re taken. Selah took hers with controlled fire, fearless separation, and a final-hill finish that left no doubt.
Congratulations to the Cross Country Wildcats — and to state champion Selah Vignier, the name that now sits at the top of every record the school has ever kept.
This post sponsored by ROBERTSON’S PAVERS
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