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Fantasy Football Rankings 2025

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Fantasy Football Rankings 2025

Brown and Irving are the two young up-and-coming running backs. They finished fifth and sixth in fantasy points per game over the second half of 2024. Browns’ 75.7 PFF grade was good but not great, and the team will likely address the backfield at some point this offseason. If they stick with Zack Moss or Khalil Herbert as the primary backup, then an argument can be made for Brown in Tier 1. Irving graded at an elite level with a 90.6 grade but still has Rachaad White as one of the better backups in the league. Irving was finally used in a feature role in Week 18. How coaches talk about these two running backs throughout the offseason could move Irving higher.
This tier is for the top players currently ranked outside of the top 32.
This tier is for running backs whose fates are unknown. Judkins starts the list as a rookie whose fantasy value will depend completely on which team he lands with, and who else is on the roster.

Estimated reading time: 12 minutes

Hampton and Johnson are the two rookies in this tier. Both running backs rank among the top 60 on our big board and the top 50 on consensus big boards. They are generally ranked higher on our big board and consensus than the running backs from last year’s class and better than those not named Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs in the previous class. The Las Vegas Raiders will be looking for a new running back. Starters on the Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers are free agents. There should be more running backs earning starting jobs this year than last. Those players will have more upside than other running backs that we know will be in committees.

Last Updated: 7:00 a.m Monday, January 13

Tier 1: The easy first-round picks

2025 NFL Draft season is here: Try PFF’s best-in-class Mock Draft Simulator and learn about 2025’s top prospects while trading and drafting for your favorite NFL team.
Pacheco started 2024 playing 80% of his team’s offensive snaps, but in his five games back, he played 30-40% of those snaps in most games. Pacheco could move up or down depending on what the Chiefs do with their backup situation.
This tier is for running backs with the potential to be the top overall running backs, but they carry more risk than the Tier 1 running backs.
These running backs are likely to be handcuffs this year. This group features several talented players entering their sophomore seasons. There are also a few rookies who could be high-upside options. 
Warren posted two top-12 finishes in the last seven weeks with Najee Harris on the Steelers roster. Chances are, the Steelers either re-sign Harris or bring in another back, but there is at least a chance Warren will be the lead running back for the Steelers going forward.


Tier 2: Potential top overall running backs

Tracy ended the season as the Giants’ clear starter in a workhorse role, but he didn’t have the grades or fantasy production to trust he would remain in that role. His 58.4 offensive grade was the second-lowest among running backs with at least 400 snaps last season.  A big part of that was his pass-blocking and six dropped passes, but his rushing wasn’t good enough to counteract the negatives on pass plays. He also finished outside the top 16 fantasy running backs in six of his last seven games. He would move up a few spots if the Giants don’t address the running back position, but he could also drop 20-30 spots if New York adds another back.
Bijan Robinson takes the top spot: The Atlanta Falcon was the most consistent running back down the stretch, posting a top-16 fantasy finish in 11 of his last 12 games.
Robinson, Barkley, and Gibbs are the three running backs who averaged at least 20 PPR points per game last season. They are also the three running backs who were picked within the first 20 picks of the last seven NFL drafts. They are among the top-eight running backs by PFF grade this season, and they ran behind offensive lines that have ranked among the top 10 each of the last two seasons.
James Cook and Kenneth Walker III also have young backup running backs, Ray Davis and Zach Charbonnet. The Seahawks’ situation will be particularly interesting as they find a new offensive coordinator. That leaves Joe Mixon and Jonathan Taylor. Mixon ranks third in career rushing attempts among active players, while Jonathan Taylor has missed time in the last three seasons. It seems likely both teams address their backup running back situation this offseason, which could lead to fewer snaps by the current starters.
Dobbins and Swift were starters last season but ranked among the bottom six running backs in terms of offensive PFF grade for those with at least 500 attempts. The Bears will have a new head coach, and Dobbins is a free agent, adding to the uncertainty surrounding both players. Both players are likely to see a decrease in playing time and touches in 2025.


Tier 3: Strong starters with competition

Henry is the biggest outlier of the group. His lack of receiving production will likely make it impossible for him to finish as the overall RB1. He is 31 years old, and if Keaton Mitchell can regain his 2023 form, it would make sense for the Ravens to rest Henry more often in 2025 than in 2024. His talent as a runner in the Ravens offense is enough to keep him in the top 10.
With the conclusion of the 2024 NFL season, these way-too-early 2025 fantasy football rankings are an initial look at how players could be ranked this summer. Player movement in free agency will have a big factor on the rankings, particularly at running back. For now, players expected to be unrestricted free agents are marked as free agents in the team column. These rankings are for redraft PPR leagues.
White, Charbonnet and Spears all posted top-five fantasy finishes at times last year. They should also see significant playing time, particularly on passing downs, giving them some standalone value in deeper leagues along with handcuff value.


Tier 4: The remaining starters

This tier consists of eight veterans and two rookies. The eight veterans ranked among the top 14 running backs last season in fantasy points per game at 15.9 or better. The four running backs drafted earliest during the 2024 draft are backups to four of these running backs, and all four should see more playing time in 2025 than in 2024.
Stevenson and Etienne had disappointing fantasy seasons. Both players were playing under 50% of their team’s offensive snaps by the end of the season. Both running backs will have new head coaches for 2025, which could be an opportunity to become a feature back again, but they could also become a backup.
Barkley benefited from an exceptional amount of long touchdown runs. He had nine touchdown runs of more than 10 yards, which hadn’t been done since 2008. Typically, the league leader is around five-to-six touchdown runs of that length. That included four touchdowns of 60-plus yards, which has only been done twice in the last 19 seasons. If you remove 10-plus-yard touchdown runs from all running backs, he would have finished at RB9 in 2024. While Barkley should have earned more long touchdown runs than other running backs, his numbers from 2024 will likely regress.
McCaffrey and Hall were the top two running backs regarding fantasy points in 2023. This past season wasn’t nearly as good for either back. In three of his last five seasons, McCaffrey has been held to seven games or less. He will be 29 years old by the start of next season, and that will be enough risk to keep McCaffrey in the second tier. Hall’s fantasy value could change in either direction, depending on who the head coach and quarterback are.


Tier 5: The unknowns

Ashton Jeanty leads the second tier: The Boise State running back should be an early-to-mid first-round pick, and running backs with that talent tend to thrive as rookies.
Robinson leads the running backs after a strong finish to the 2024 season. He consistently played at least 70% of the Falcons’ offensive snaps by Week 9. He received a minimum of 20 touches in eight of those nine games, and a 6-38 blowout loss was the exception. While Barkley and Gibbs have benefited from consistent positive game scripts, there is still room for the Falcons offense to improve with Michael Penix Jr. at quarterback.
Jeanty leads the way, even though we don’t know what team he will play for. Jeanty is fourth on our big board, joining Bijan Robinson, Dalvin Cook and Ezekiel Elliott as the only running backs ranked in the top 10 in the past decade and only one in the top five. Jeanty is expected to get picked in the top half of the first round, joining Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, Barkley, Leonard Fournette, Christian McCaffrey and Elliott as the only running backs selected in the first half of the NFL draft in the last decade. Each of these running backs finished in the top 10 in fantasy points during their rookie season or the second half of their rookie season.


Tier 6: The top backups

Two exceptions are Ford and Chubb. The Browns were one of five teams to average under 100 rushing yards per game. They ranked in the bottom 10 in most other rushing metrics as a team. The Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders had no running backs on this list. These three teams are the most likely to invest in a new running back this offseason.
Jones, Harris and Dowdle ranked among the top 25 fantasy running backs and were clear lead running backs on their teams. Their season grades ranged between 73.9 and 77.9, which is generally good enough to be starters in the NFL but also low enough that teams could look to upgrade if given the opportunity.
This tier is for those slated to be starters, but there is significant risk. The Detroit Lions, Tennessee Titans and Washington Commanders used two-man committees last year and will likely do the same next year.
Bigsby, Allgeier and Miller are the other running backs on this list with at least three years of experience. While all three are fine handcuff options, their lack of receiving production in their NFL career limits their ceiling.


Tier 7: The other backups worth drafting

Kamara is the only running back to average at least 15 points per game last season that isn’t ranked among the top 20. He was one of five running backs to average 21-plus touches per game. The Saints will have a new head coach next year. Kendre Miller graded better as a runner last season, albeit on a smaller sample size. Miller averaged more first downs per carry, had nearly twice as good of an avoided tackle rate and averaged more yards after contact per carry. The Saints might not use Kamara in a feature role like they’ve needed to in recent seasons.
For parts of the season, the Dolphins didn’t have Tua Tagovailoa. Achane averaged 22.5 points per game in the 11 games with Tagovailoa and 8.7 without him. The Dolphins had the fifth-worst run block grade for an offensive line this season. Our most recent mock draft suggests help could be on the way.
Achane is the fourth running back in this tier. His 17.6 PPR points per game ranked sixth among running backs last season. The two running backs who finished ahead of him and aren’t in this tier will be at least 30 years old by the start of the 2025 season and will likely face more competition than the 2024 season. Achane has the second-highest rushing grade and highest receiving grade of all running backs over the last two seasons combined among the 27 running backs with at least 1,000 snaps.

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Harris, Stewart & O’Brien Represent Ohio Track & Field at GVSU Holiday Open

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ALLENDALE, Mich. – The Ohio women’s track & field team concluded its first meet of the indoor season, the GVSU Holiday Open, on Friday, Dec. 5.
 
Sophomore Mairin O’Brien (Lewis Center, Ohio) kicked off competition for Ohio in the women’s 3,000 meters. O’Brien placed seventh in Heat 1 of the event, running a time of 10:01.30.
 
Graduate student Kelsi Harris (Liberty Township, Ohio) and sophomore Kaitlyn Stewart (Floyd Knobs, Ind.) competed in the women’s 5,000 meters. Harris placed eighth in the Heat 1 of the event, recording a time of 16:45.66. Stewart took home eighth place in Heat 2 with a time of 17:07.16.
 
The Bobcats will be back in action at the Marshall Alumni Classic on Saturday, Jan. 10.
 
#OUohyeah
 



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Blazers Complete 2025 Season Opener

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BIRMINGHAM – UAB Track and Field opened the 2025 season on Friday as the Blazers competed in the Birmingham Indoor Icebreaker at the Birmingham Crossplex.

Victory George competed in multiple events as the newcomer participated in the 60m and the Long Jump. George placed 12th out of 69 athletes in the 60m Prelims with a time of 7.71 seconds. George narrowly missed the finals by .01 seconds as she placed second in heat 4. The newcomer from Nigeria placed 11th of 55 athletes in the Long Jump where she finished with a mark of 5.52m and placed third in flight 3.

Leticia Quingostas started her senior season strong in the 300m. The senior from Brazil placed ninth overall out of 28 athletes and won heat 4 with a time of 40.51 seconds.

The freshmen middle distance duo consisting of Kelly Hughes and Katelyn Valtos made their college debuts in the 1000m. Hughes (3:05.08) and Valtos (3:06.08) finished sixth and seventh overall respectively. Valtos’ time was tops in heat 2.

The Blazers saw four Pole Vault athletes compete on Friday. Noelle Hambrick was the leader of the quartet placing fifth with a mark of 3.70m. Victoria Freeland, Fiona Eastman, and Trinity Fellows each finished at 3.55m.

The Green and Gold rounded out the day with true freshman Sarah Hopkins competing in the Weight Throw. Hopkins finished her day with a mark of 14.58m on her final successful throw, which ranks third-best in school history for Indoor Weight Throw.

UAB returns to action on January 9, 2026 as it returns to the Birmingham Crossplex for the Blazer Invite. Meet information, schedules, and live results will be posted at a later date.

FOLLOW THE BLAZERS

To keep up with UAB Track & Field, follow @UAB_TF_XC on Instagram and X.



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Aggies Fend Off Vols in Five-Set Epic to Advance in NCAA Tournament

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TEMPE, Arizona – At first, it seemed like Utah State volleyball would waltz into the second round of the NCAA Tournament. 

Then, it seemed like the USU’s dream season might end in heartbreaking fashion.

But in a do-or-die fifth set, the Aggies fought off a furious comeback from seventh-seeded Tennessee to claim a thrilling 3-2 (25-19, 25-15, 20-25, 18-25, 15-11) victory in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. This is the first NCAA Tournament victory for Utah State volleyball since recording wins in back-to-back seasons in 2000 and 2001.

With the win, Utah State will now face No. 2 Arizona State on Friday, Dec. 5, at 6 p.m. (MT). 

Sophomore setter Kaylie Kofe engineered the Aggie offense to a .312 hitting percentage, recording 57 assists. Senior middle blocker Tierney Barlow led USU with 16 kills on a team-best .560 hitting percentage while sophomore opposite side hitter Loryn Helgesen added 14 kills. The duo also tied for the team lead with four blocks apiece with each player also registering a solo block. Sophomore outside hitter Andrea Simovski also had 14 kills and sophomore outside hitter Mara Štiglic stuffed the stat sheet with 12 kills, six digs, three blocks and three assists. Junior libero/defensive specialist Kendel Thompson led the Aggie defense with 16 digs, also leading the team with two service aces.

Head coach Rob Neilson

“What a match. Hats off to that Tennessee team. We gave them all they could handle in those first two sets and then they responded. They’re a great team obviously, well coached and talented, physical. Then you get to a fifth set and it’s a coin flip. I thought we made enough plays and battled and came through adversity. I’m really proud of this group and I’m excited that we get to play some more volleyball together.”

Set One

The Aggies came roaring out of the gates, registering kills on nine of their first 13 attacks en route to taking a 10-5 lead to force a Tennessee timeout. Štiglic posted three kills during the early run, part of a 7-0-10 line for the Croatian in the opening set. Out of the timeout, the Vols responded with a 9-2 stretch to take a lead midway through the frame and force an Aggie timeout. USU stemmed the tide with a kill from redshirt freshman middle blocker Lauren Larkin that preceded a block by Barlow and Helgesen. A Helgesen kill and Thompson ace then made it a 4-0 Aggie run to deliver the advantage back to Utah State. The Vols scored back-to-back points to tie it at 16 before the teams alternated the ensuing six rallies. With the set tied at 19, the Aggies closed the frame on a 6-0 burst. Helgesen ignited the run with a kill before teaming with Larkin on a block to firmly give the Aggies control late in the set. Štiglic then delivered back-to-back kills to clinch the 25-19 win to open the match. Utah State hit .382 in the opening frame while holding Tennessee to .188 to take a 1-0 lead.

Set Two

Utah State again came out strong, using a 14-3 onslaught to grab hold of the second set. Simovski powered the on-fire start with five kills while Thompson added her second ace of the match to help build a double-digit cushion. The Aggies went a perfect 8-of-8 on attacks to begin the frame. Tennessee closed the gap with a 6-1 stretch, forcing a USU timeout. A Helgesen kill halted the Vols’ momentum before Utah State went on to close the set on a 5-1 run featuring a pair of kills from Barlow and a Helgesen ace plus a block by Štiglic and Barlow to help seal the 25-15 win. The Aggies improved on both their offensive and defensive marks from the first set, hitting .444 while holding Tennessee to .171 to go up 2-0 for the match.

Set Three

The Aggies again went up early as Barlow recorded three-straight kills and then a solo block as part of a personal 4-0 run to put USU ahead 7-4. The Vols, however, answered back with an 11-4 stretch to take a late four-point lead in the set. The Aggies battled back within two at 21-19 with Simovski supplying a pair of kills but Tennessee went on a 4-1 run to take the set, 25-20, to extend the match to a fourth set.

Set Four

The Vols maintained momentum to begin the fourth set, opening up a 10-5 lead out of the gates. USU scored three-straight points with Larkin and Helgesen both registering kills to trim the deficit to two points. Tennessee answered again, scoring seven of the next 10 rallies to extend their lead to six points. The Aggies were unable to build a comeback attempt as the Vols secured a 25-18 win to send the match to a winner-takes-all fifth set.

Fifth Set

In a pivotal start to the set, Utah State went up 5-2 courtesy of a pair of Simovski kills and three attacking errors from the Vols. The Aggies led by four points at 12-8 following two kills from Helgesen before Tennessee clawed back within one after three-straight points. USU regained the advantage from the defensive side as Barlow and Helgesen combined for a block to make it 13-11. Barlow then killed back-to-back balls off the slide to secure the 15-11 victory and send the Aggies into the second round.

Quick Notes

  • Utah State also extended their overall winning streak to 22 matches, the third-longest streak in program history, trailing only a 23-game streak spanning the team’s 1978 national title season and 1979, and a program-record 26-game streak in 1978. USU’s streak is now tied for the third-longest active streak in the nation.
  • Utah State hit .312 for the match, their 11th-straight match recording a .250 hitting percentage or better. The Aggies are now hitting .274 on the season, a mark which would break the current program record of .238 set in 2016.
  • Larkin added another eight kills on a .500 hitting percentage plus two blocks and a career-high three digs.
  • Sophomore outside hitter Delaney Lawson and freshman defensive specialist Sadie Warren provided key defensive contributions with eight and six digs, respectively. 
  • Utah State is now 3-6 in the NCAA Tournament all-time, recording their first win since defeating BYU in Salt Lake City in 2001. USU also defeated Missouri the year prior in Provo, Utah. 
  • The Aggies are now 19-13-1 all-time against SEC teams and recorded their first win over the conference since beating Alabama in 2003.
  • Utah State improved to a 29-4 record during Kofe’s career when she records at least 10.0 assists per set.

Up Next
The Aggies continue play in the second round of the NCAA Tournament against second-seeded Arizona State on Friday, Dec. 5, at 6 p.m. (MT). The game will be streamed on ESPN+.

Fans can follow the Aggie volleyball program on Twitter, @USUVolleyball, on Facebook at /USUVolleyball or on Instagram, @usuvolleyball. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program on Twitter, @USUAthletics, Facebook at /USUAthletics and on Instagram, @USUAthletics.

 – USU –



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Women’s Track and Field Look to Continue Success as a Squad this Winter

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WEST HARTFORD, Conn. –  The Hartford Women’s Track and Field team look to build off of a strong season in the spring as the team moves into the indoor portion of the schedule. Last year, the team found success both indoors and outdoors with strong placements in marquee meets such as 2nd in the Conference of New England (CNE) Championships, 12th and tied for 14th in the NCAA DIII Championships, and 17th and 25th in the NEICAAA All-New England Championships.

New Year, Similar Squad

With Head Coach Connor Green returning for his third year and the team only graduating two seniors a year ago, Hartford will be running out a whole host of familiar faces this season. 31 out of the 48 Hawks will be back for Coach Green with eight entering into their senior season. Amongst the group of notable returners is Lauren Duffy (Southington, Conn.) who is coming off of a standout freshman campaign last season. Duffy finished with seven top ten finishes last season with two top three finishes at The Reggie Open. 

“Our team expectations are to just stay consistent, disciplined, and work on the little things a lot. Like being in the weight room, getting consistent miles in, and also hurdle mobility, injury prevention stuff, just to stay healthy throughout the season.” Duffy said.

 

Another key returner for the Hawks is junior Leslie Samuel (Montauk, N.Y.) who is coming off a season in which she was named to the USTFCCCA All-Region Team.

“I am mostly excited to get back into it. I didn’t compete last year, so I am excited to get back to where I am, and make it to nationals hopefully.” Samuel said.

 

A third key returner for the Hawks is Tommie Barker (Canton, Conn.). Barker last season was nominated to the CNE All-Conference Third Team for her/their performance in both hammer throw and shotput.

“I have high expectations for this year, given it’s my senior year. I’m hoping to keep improving and PR consistently at almost every meet. My main goal is to make it to all New Englands this year, and I think it’s very doable! I’m super excited for indoor and even more so for outdoor! Between lifting and practicing consistently for the past few months, I think we’re all at our best going into this season. Practice makes progress, and we’ve had a lot of time to make some amazing progress!” Barker said. 

Season Outlook:

The Hawks will begin their season at the Yale invitational on Dec. 6th. Following that event they will take on the Wesleyan University Invitational on Jan. 24th. They will also compete in the John Thomas Terrier Classic at Boston University on Jan. 31st. The Hawks will close out the indoor track and field season at the NCAA Division III New England Championships in Boston at the New England at the Track of New Balance

For the latest information on Hartford Athletics follow the Hawks on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.

 





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Nebraska volleyball vs. Long Island live updates, stats and highlights

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Updated Dec. 5, 2025, 7:40 p.m. CT

Nebraska volleyball (30-0) begins the road to Kansas City Friday with the No. 1 overall seed in the 2025 NCAA tournament. The Huskers play host for the Regional and take on the Long Island Sharks (20-8) for the opening round.

The match commences after San Diego takes Kansas State at 4:30 p.m. CT. The winner of each match advances to the second, which is set for Saturday at 7 p.m. CT.

Nebraska comes in with its first perfect regular season in 25 years along with its third consecutive Big Ten title. The Huskers also enter the tournament with the top offense and defense in the nation, standing with a .352 hitting percentage and holding opponents to a .125. 





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Commodore Track & Field Schedule Revealed – Vanderbilt University Athletics – Official Athletics Website

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Director of Vanderbilt cross country and track and field Althea Thomas released the program’s 2025–26 schedule, which features four home and 11 away meets.

The Commodores kick off the new season at home with the Commodore Winter Challenge on Saturday at the David Williams II Recreation and Wellness Center. Two more indoor home meets, the Vanderbilt Invitational and Music City Challenge, will be Jan. 16–17 and Feb. 13–14, respectively.

The SEC Indoor Championships will be Feb. 26–28 in College Station, Texas. The top 16 qualifiers in each event will compete at the NCAA Indoor Championships on March 13–14 in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Vandy will travel to several away events during the indoor and outdoor seasons, including several repeat events like Florida Relays, Mt. SAC Relays and others and new additions, such as the Hampton Inn River City Relays and 44 Farms Team Invitational.

The Dores will close out their outdoor regular season in Nashville with the Music City Challenge on May 1–2 at the Vanderbilt Outdoor Track.

Vanderbilt will head south to Auburn, Alabama, for the SEC Outdoor Championships on May 14–16. The NCAA East First Round will be May 27–30 in Lexington, Kentucky, and the NCAA Outdoor Championships will be June 10–13 in Eugene, Oregon.

The program’s full schedule is available at vucommodores.com. Fans can follow Vanderbilt track and field on Facebook, Instagram and X at @VandyXCTrack.

2025-26 Vanderbilt Track & Field Schedule
Dec. 6 Winter Commodore Challenge in Nashville
Jan. 9–10 Rod McCravy Memorial Invitational in Louisville, Ky.
Jan. 16-17 Vanderbilt Invitational in Nashville
Jan. 30–31 Bob Pollock Invitational in Clemson, S.C.
Jan. 31 John Thomas Terrier Classic in Boston
Feb. 13–14 Music City Challenge in Nashville
Feb. 26-28 SEC Indoor Championships in College Station, Texas
March 13–14 NCAA Indoor Championships in Fayetteville, Ark.
March 19–20 Hampton Inn River City Relays in Jacksonville, Fla.
March 26–27 Raleigh Relays in Raleigh, N.C.
April 3–4 Florida Relays in Gainesville, Fla.
April 9–11 44 Farms Team Invitational in College Station, Texas
April 10 Crimson Tide Invitational in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
April 15–18 Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif.
April 16–18 Bryan Clay Invitational in Azusa, Calif.
April 25–26 LSU Alumni Invitational in Baton Rouge, La.
May 1–2 Music City Challenge in Nashville
May 14–16 SEC Outdoor Championships in Auburn, Ala.
May 27–30 NCAA East First Round in Lexington, Ky.
June 10–13 NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Ore.
June 18–21 USATF U20 Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Ore.
July TBD USATF Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Ore.
Aug. 5–9 World Athletics U20 Championships in Eugene, Ore.





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