Just one day before the 2025 MLB Draft gets underway, MLB Pipeline released its final Mock Draft with some major movement.

The Draft serves as a special event that cements the lifetime dream of hundreds of amateur baseball players. LSU left-hander pitcher Kade Anderson and Stillwater High School infielder Ethan Holliday seem to be the players still in contention for the No. 1 overall pick, while Tennessee left-hander Liam Doyle and Corona High School right-hander Seth Hernandez could come off the board right after.

MLB Pipeline’s picks, 1-43, are below:

1. Washington Nationals: LHP Kade Anderson, LSU

LSU sophomore left-handed pitcher Kade Anderson has skyrocketed to the projected No. 1 pick in the MLB Draft. Anderson led all college pitchers this season in strikeouts (180) and pitched to a 3.18 ERA in 119 innings. He held Coastal Carolina to just three hits and no runs with 10 strikeouts in the opening game of the College World Series Final, posting the first CWS shutout since 2018.

“With a quick arm and athletic delivery, Anderson provides plenty of strikes,” MLB.com writes. “There’s still projection remaining in his slender 6-foot-2 frame, and his uptick in stuff this spring could make him a frontline starter. He also comes with a high floor as a lefty with four effective offerings and pitchability.

Tennessee left-handed pitcher Liam Doyle ranked second in the country in strikeouts (164) behind Anderson, pitching to a 3.20 ERA in 95 2/3 innings this season. He struggled a bit down the final stretch, however, posting a 6.86 ERA over his final five starts (21 innings). Doyle, however, remains positioned to be the highest drafted pitcher in Tennessee program history. This comes after transferring from Ole Miss prior to the season.

“While he throws his fastball nearly two-thirds of the time, Doyle has four effective pitches after switching to using an upper-80s splitter as his changeup,” MLB.com writes. “Despite his dominance this spring, there are concerns about his ability to succeed as a starter at the next level because he has an unorthodox delivery and constantly throws with maximum intent. He does provide consistent strikes and has held his stuff deep into games and throughout this season.

Right-handed pitcher Seth Hernandez out of Corona High School (CA) would mark Cincinnati’s third straight selection of an arm in the Top 10 picks. Hernandez is the top high school pitching prospect of the 2025 class and has reached 100 mph on his fastball. He’s verbally committed to Vanderbilt. But it looks like he probably won’t reach campus and will choose to go pro.

“In addition to his pure stuff, Hernandez does a solid job finding the zone, especially considering his age and power stuff,” MLB.com writes. “Committed to Vanderbilt, he gets very high marks for his work ethic, showing the ability to make adjustments and corrections to put himself in position to be one of the first pitchers taken in the 2025 Draft. 

Holliday, who is the son of seven-time MLB All-Star Matt Holliday and brother of Jackson Holliday (First Overall Pick in the 2022 MLB Draft), was projected as the No. 1 pick for most of the past year. But he has slipped a bit recently. Holliday was recently named Gatorade’s Oklahoma Player of the Year at Stillwater High School and looks to become the fourth No. 1 pick out of high school in the past 10 MLB Drafts. He’s verbally committed to Oklahoma State, but it looks like he probably won’t reach campus.

“Holliday moves well for his size and has average speed, though he’ll probably lose a step as he continues to mature physically,” MLB.com writes. “He has nice actions and solid arm strength at shortstop, but he won’t cover enough ground to stay there on a long-term basis. The Oklahoma State recruit projects better as a slugging third baseman and could be a quality defender on the hot corner.”

5. St. Louis Cardinals: SS Eli Willits, Oklahoma commit

Fort-Cobb Broxton (OK) High product Eli Willits is one of three talented high school shortstops projected in the Top 10 of this year’s draft. He is listed at No. 5 on MiLB.com’s Prospect Rankings ahead of Carlson and is a proficient switch-hitter. His father, Reggie Willits, is a former MLB veteran who is now an associate head coach at Oklahoma. His brother, Jaxon, started 50 games for the Sooners at shortstop this season. He’s also verbally committed to Oklahoma, but it looks like he probably won’t reach campus.

“Willits has the nonstop motor and instincts to get the most out of his physical tools,” MLB.com writes. “He plays quicker than his plus speed and earns solid grades for his arm strength and defensive play at shortstop, and scouts won’t be shocked if those both become pluses once he’s fully developed. There’s no reason he shouldn’t stay at shortstop but he’d also profile well in center field.”

Oregon State shortstop Aiva Arquette was originally selected in the 18th round of the 2022 MLB Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks, but bet on himself and returned to college. The decision paid off mightily, as the 2025 First Team All-American is projected as the No. 3 pick in the 2025 Draft. Starting for a Beaver program that made the College World Series for the first time since 2018, Arquette hit for a .354 average with 17 doubles, 19 home runs, 66 RBI, a .654 SLG% and a .461 OBP%. He would become Oregon State‘s third top-three pick in the last seven Drafts.

“While Arquette is an average runner and played second base at Washington, he showed on the Cape that he should have the chops to play shortstop long-term, with easy actions, soft hands and more than enough arm with carry at every angle across the diamond,” MLB.com writes. “College bats with pop at a premium position are always a hot commodity, so Arquette should get plenty of attention in the first round.”

Shortstop JoJo Parker is the third projected high school shortstop to be selected in the top-10. He’s the twin brother of Perfect Game All-American Jacob Parker and his tabbed as MiLB’s No. 9 ranked prospect. He’s verbally committed to Mississippi State. But it looks like he probably won’t reach campus and will choose to go pro.

“While Parker will get the chance to play shortstop at the next level and his solid arm strength, his actions and quickness are just average,” MLB.com writes. “That likely will dictate a move to second or third base in the future, though he should provide enough offense to profile at either position. The twins are committed to playing together at Mississippi State if they don’t turn pro.”

Florida State left-handed pitcher Jamie Arnold is the third projected college lefty to go in the top-eight picks in this Mock Draft. He capped off back-to-back stellar campaigns for the Seminoles by pitching to a 2.98 ERA with 119 strikeouts in 84 2/3 innings this season. In 13 2/3 innings of work in this year’s NCAA Tournament, Arnold led FSU to two wins (Mississippi State and Oregon State) by pitching to a 2.63 ERA with 22 strikeouts.

“Arnold has shown the ability to fill up the strike zone and limit damage while maintaining his stuff deep into outings,” MLB.com writes. “With the funky arm slot, his stuff has drawn some comparisons to Chris Sale’s, a reason why his name will be mentioned in conversations at the top of the first round.”

Auburn‘s Ike Irish was one of the best catchers in college baseball in 2024, but transitioned to the outfield in 2025. He excelled there as well, making just two errors in 55 games. Offensively, he hit for a .364 average with 13 doubles, 19 home runs and 58 RBI for a 40-win Tiger team. Over the span of three seasons, Irish hit for a .350 average with 48 doubles, 39 home runs and 167 RBI. He was named to the All-SEC First Team in both 2024 and 2025.

“Irish entered 2025 contending for the title of best catching prospect in college baseball but spent most of the spring in right field after fracturing his right scapula when hit by a pitch in March,” MLB.com writes. “There’s a growing sentiment that he’d be better off maximizing his offense by sticking in the outfield, and he moves and throws well enough to get the job done in right. Behind the plate, he shows the hands to become an average receiver and framer, though a long release undermines his plus arm strength a bit.”

10. Chicago White Sox: SS Billy Carlson, Tennessee commit

Billy Carlson is a stud defensive shortstop out of Corona High School in California. He is one of two prospects out of Corona High (RHP Seth Hernandez) projected as First-Round picks. He was once a two-way player (with a fastball in the mid-90s), but he has focused on the infield as he embarks on his professional baseball journey. He is currently verbally committed to Tennessee. But it looks like he probably won’t reach campus and go pro instead.

“At one point, Carlson was thought to be a legitimate two-way player, with a fastball in the mid-90s and feel for spinning a breaking ball,” MLB.com writes. “But it will be his five-tool potential at a premium position that will get the Tennessee recruit selected in the top half of the first round, though his age at Draft time (19) might rule out some teams.”

Picks 11-30 of the draft

11. Athletics: 2B Gavin Kilen, Tennessee
12. Texas Rangers: SS Daniel Pierce, Georgia commit
13. San Francisco Giants: RHP Kyson Witherspoon, Oklahoma
14. Tampa Bay Rays: SS Steele Hall, Tennessee commit
15. Boston Red Sox: SS Marek Houston, Wake Forest
16. Minnesota Twins: RHP Tyler Bremner, UC Santa Barbara
17. Chicago Cubs: OF Brendan Summerhill, Arizona
18. Arizona Diamondbacks: C Caden Bodine, Coastal Carolina
19. Baltimore Orioles: 3B Gavin Fien, Texas commit
20. Milwaukee Brewers: RHP Gage Wood, Arkansas
21. Houston Astros: OF Jace LaViolette, Texas A&M
22. Atlanta Braves: SS Wehiwa Aloy, Arkansas
23. Kansas City Royals: LHP Kruz Schoolcraft, Tennessee commit
24. Detroit Tigers: OF Slater de Brun, Vanderbilt commit
25. San Diego Padres: SS/2B Kayson Cunningham, Texas commit
26. Philadelphia Phillies: C Luke Stevenson, North Carolina
27. Cleveland Guardians: 3B Josh Hammond, Wake Forest commit

28. Kansas City Royals: SS Dax Kilby, Clemson commit

Compensatory Round of draft

29. Arizona Diamondbacks: 1B/3B Andrew Fischer, Tennessee
30. Baltimore Orioles: 3B Xavier Neyens, Oregon State commit
31. Baltimore Orioles: 2B/OF Sean Gamble, Vanderbilt commit
32. Milwaukee Brewers: OF Ethan Conrad, Wake Forest
33. Boston Red Sox: OF Cam Cannarella, Clemson
34. Detroit Tigers: OF Jaden Fauske, LSU commit
35. Seattle Mariners: OF Devin Taylor, Indiana
36. Minnesota Twins: SS Alex Lodise, Florida State
37. Baltimore Orioles: RHP Patrick Forbes, Louisville
38. New York Mets: LHP Jack Bauer, Mississippi State commit
39. New York Yankees: RHP Riley Quick, Alabama
40. Los Angeles Dodgers: 3B/OF Quentin Young, LSU commit
41. Los Angeles Dodgers: RHP Marcus Phillips, Tennessee
42. Tampa Bay Rays: SS Tate Southisene, USC commit
43. Miami Marlins: OF Mason Neville, Oregon

The Sporting News ranked Big Ten football schedules for this upcoming college football season from hardest to easiest, all the way from Wisconsin (hardest) to Illinois (easiest).

This list casts great news for College Football Playoff hopeful teams such as the Fighting Illini, Oregon and Michigan, but casts a daunting shadow on struggling programs such as Wisconsin, Rutgers and Purdue.

Last year, Oregon had the 12th hardest schedule according to The Sporting News and finished the regular season with an unblemished 9-0 conference record. The Ducks then went on to win the Big Ten Championship Game in their first year in the conference.

Toughest Opponents: at Alabama, vs Illinois, vs Michigan, vs Ohio State, at Oregon

Bad news for a Wisconsin program which has failed to reach the eight-win mark in three consecutive seasons for the first time since 1990-92. Anything less than eight wins seems like it would put head coach Luke Fickell on the hot seat. With the hardest schedule in the Big Ten according to The Sporting News, it really could be another rough campaign for the jumpin’ Badgers.

Toughest Opponents: at Illinois, at Ohio State, vs Oregon, vs Penn State

Coming off back-to-back seven win campaigns, Rutgers will face three teams that made the College Football Playoff last season. A win over any of these four teams this season would likely give the Scarlet Knights and head coach Greg Schiano their first top-25 victory since 2009 (USF).

Toughest Opponents: at Illinois, vs Michigan, at Notre Dame, at Oregon

USC‘s 2025 conference schedule is a bit of a gauntlet, as it will travel (to what will likely be top-15 teams) Illinois, Notre Dame and Oregon this season. Paul Finebaum tabbed Lincoln Riley as the head coach with the most pressure this season and anything less than being in the College Football Playoff conversation could be disastrous for the QB guru.

Toughest Opponents: at Illinois, at Michigan, vs Penn State, vs Texas

The reigning National Champions have the fourth most challenging schedule this season according to The Sporting News. The Buckeyes kick off the 2025 season on August 30 at home against Texas in a monster non-conference matchup and will face off against Illinois, Michigan and Penn State in conference play. Ohio State will look to break its four-season losing streak to the Wolverines this year, but a win in Ann Arbor is no easy task (unless you’re Appalachian State).

Toughest Opponents: vs Illinois, vs Michigan, at Notre Dame, at Ohio State

In what is set to be another disastrous season for a lowly Purdue program (ranked dead last among all power-four programs in Phil Steele’s 2025 College Football preview), the Boilermakers travel to both Notre Dame and Ohio State along with hosting Illinois and Michigan in West Lafayette. Purdue hasn’t gone winless in conference play in back-to-back seasons since 1919-20.

Toughest Opponents: vs Illinois, at Michigan, vs Ohio State, at Oregon

Washington seems to a program still looking to find itself in the second year of the Jedd Fisch era. The Huskies will travel to both Michigan and Oregon, but will host Illinois and Ohio State at Husky Stadium. It’ll look to get back to its program peak in 2023, when it went five-for-five in conference games against top-25 opponents.

Toughest Opponents: at Illinois, vs Michigan, vs Oregon, at Penn State

Northwestern has the seventh toughest schedule in the Big Ten this season according to The Sporting News. The Wildcats will host Illinois and Penn State at newly built Martin Stadium, looking to surprise the college football world once again like they did in 2023 when they went 8-4.

Toughest Opponents: vs Illinois, at Oregon, at Penn State

A season removed from making the College Football Playoff after not winning one singular regular season top-25 matchup, Indiana travels to both Oregon and Penn State and will host Illinois in Bloomington. Year two of the Curt Cignetti era is set up to show the college football world that the Hoosiers are here to stay, or it could show that they were a one-year wonder.

Toughest Opponents: at Ohio State, at Oregon

Freshly extended P.J. Fleck will lead his Minnesota Gophers into the conference’s ninth hardest schedule, headlined by road games at both Ohio State and Oregon. During Fleck’s tenure at Minnesota, he is 0-3 against Ohio State and has yet to face the Ducks.

Toughest Opponents: at Ohio State, vs Penn State

In what could be a make or break year for head coach DeShaun Foster and newly acquired quarterback Nico Iamaleava, the Bruins will travel to Ohio State and host a home game against Penn State this season. The road game against the Buckeyes will serve as a chance at redemption for Nico, who passed for just 104 yards in Tennessee‘s 42-17 loss to Ohio State in the 2024 College Football Playoff.

Teams 11-18

11. Penn State Nittany Lions
12. Iowa Hawkeyes
13. Nebraska Cornhuskers
T-14. Michigan Wolverines
T-14. Maryland Terrapins
T-14. Oregon Ducks
17. Michigan State Spartans
18. Illinois Fighting Illini

Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormak has been in the job since July of 2022. Since then, the Big 12 has been represented in every College Football Playoff. In Yormaks inagural year, it was TCU who shocked the world and made it to the National Championship before crashing out to Georgia in what was a dominant 65-7 Bulldog win.

The year after, Texas was heartbroken thanks to a 37-31 loss to eventual runner-ups Washington in the semifinal stage.

But, last year things were a little different. the 2024/25 season saw the expansion to the 12-team playoff bracket and big-hitters Texas and Oklahoma jumped ship to the SEC, as the Big 12 welcomed four new teams. The likes of Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah were each introduced.

Just one team from the Big 12 made the CFP, being Arizona State.

It would be harsh to say last season was a disappointment from the Big 12 standpoint. After all, having to deal with the massive blows of losing Texas and Oklahoma was patched with the Sun Devils compiling a six-game win streak that pushed Kenny Dillingham’s team to the playoff.

Yet Yormak expects for this season to be different.

According to Shehan Jeyarajah of CBS Sports, Yormak was quoted at the Big 12 Media Days saying, “No league offers the competitive balance that we do. … I fully expect the Big 12 to earn multiple College Football Playoff bids this year and to show once again that we can compete.”

When looking at the current layout of the Big 12, this is an ambitious claim. According to college football analyst Phil Steele, 11 teams were ranked inside the top 50, including the Jayhawks.

Those teams include Arizona State (15), Baylor (18), Utah, Texas Tech (25), TCU (26), Iowa State (28), Kansas State (30), Brigham Young University (42), Cincinnati (42), and Houston (46), before Kansas reached the 49th spot.

As of today, star BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff withdrew from the program after likely being faced with a seven-game suspension, after breaking the BYU honor code, taking away a possible dark horse for some college football playoff drama. Combine that with the massive overhaul of Texas Tech, which has seen the Red Raiders reel in 21 of the nation’s elite transfers and the world has yet to see thme fully mesh.

Dillingham’s Arizona State is, of course, going to top the Big 12 schools after their remarkable 11-3 season last Fall.

For the Jayhawks, opinions are mixed, quarterback Jalon Daniels appears to still have a little bit of a question mark over his head from fans regarding his ability when fully fit after spells of injury holding him back. That, along with the recent promotions of assistants to full-time coordinator positions, has its ups and downs. But, a strong transfer class ranked 7th in the Big 12 according to 247Sports does pose hope.

More Kansas Football News

Too much time has passed since the Wolverines and Fighting Irish have butted heads in one of the sport’s most iconic rivalries. The next scheduled meeting is not until 2033 in Ann Arbor and a year later in South Bend. In my opinion these two titans should be playing every year, excluding the college football playoff.

If and when they matchup it will be the first time that two African American coaches lead the way for both programs. Marcus Freeman and Sherrone Moore are riding high off of last season’s proverbial humps that they both mutually overcame. However in eight years from now one or both might be gone, with how things are humming inside their respective buildings.

2028 is the soonest that both have an opening on their schedules. Credit to Notre Dame which is not shying away from playing teams like Texas, Alabama and Florida during that stretch. So its argument of not wanting to play Michigan in the same time frame is somewhat valid.

If Notre Dame ever decided to join a conference the Big Ten makes more sense than the ACC and are a much better fit then the four Pac-12 members who debuted in 2024. Unfortunately since the Irish stayed independent this long, then they’ll never join a conference, unless the money is too rich to turn down.

A prime-time game between the two would do astronomical numbers wherever they play, like in 2011. The most likely scenario, though, is that they’ll square off in the playoffs before 2033. You would think that with the money alone, both universities would find a way to reach an agreement that satisfies all parties involved.

A Michigan/Notre Dame regular season clash makes college football better. The only thing that would top it would be a national championship encounter.