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Bet on Clemson to make a return to the College Football Playoff, CBS Sports’ Tom Fornelli says.

“It’s not the most exciting bet to make, but it’s a solid one. Clemson is the favorite in the ACC for a reason. It’s been the most successful program in the league for over a decade and still managed to win the ACC last season despite it being a ‘down’ year in Death Valley,” Fornelli said. “In 2025, the Tigers have one of the most experienced rosters in the country, including senior quarterback Cade Klubnik and an assortment of monsters on the defensive line. History suggests that combination works quite well for Clemson.

“Yes, there are games against LSU and South Carolina on the schedule, and they won’t be easy. However, since they’re not conference games, we are getting some insurance if Clemson drops one or even both because it won’t affect their standing in the ACC. Speaking of the ACC, if Clemson plays Miami this season, it won’t be until the ACC Championship Game. They get both Florida State and Duke at home, and Louisville should prove to be their toughest road game, though Georgia Tech would like a word about that.”

Clemson returned to the CFP tier last year after winning the ACC Championship over SMU and earning one of the top-5 ranked conference champion spots in the new 12-team format.

This year’s format will feature the top-5-ranked conference champions again guaranteed to be in the field, but instead of the Top 4 being in the Top 4 seeds, all will be seeded as they are slotted in the final Playoff committee rankings.

Counting the four-team CFP from 2014-23, Clemson has made seven Playoff appearances since 2015. With the ACC champ virtually guaranteed a CFP spot, Dabo Swinney‘s Tigers have captured the league crown nine times since 2011.

Longer shots Texas A&M, Washington and BYU also made the value bets, while Tennessee was one picked to miss the CFP.

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NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) — Southern Connecticut State University has named Corrinne Tarver as its gymnastics head coach, effective immediately. Tarver is the seventh head coach in program history.

“It is with great joy and excitement that I welcome Corrinne Tarver as our next gymnastics head coach,” director of athletics Terrance Jones said. “Corrinne has extensive experience in coaching and athletic administration, and I hope her success as a student-athlete serves as inspiration to our student-athletes.”

Tarver comes to Southern Connecticut from Fisk University, where she was the first head coach in program history. The program, the first of its kind at a historically Black college, featured five All-Americans and the USA Gymnastics National All-Around Champion under Tarver’s leadership. She also served as Fisk’s athletic director.

A former standout gymnast at the University of Georgia, Tarver was the first African American woman to win the NCAA all-around national championship in 1989. She was a nine-time All-American and helped Georgia win two NCAA national championships.

Tarver graduated from Georgia with a degree in social work and later earned a juris doctor from New York Law School. She worked in athletic administration at the NCAA Division I Northeast Conference and held positions at Stockton University and Syracuse University. Tarver also coached at Star Bound Gymnastics Academy and the University of Pennsylvania.
 

 

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State Athletics announced today that head hockey coach Adam Nightingale has signed a multi-year contract extension, reaffirming the department’s commitment to sustained excellence of the Spartan hockey program.
 
“I’m appreciative of the support the Board of Trustees and President Kevin Guskiewicz have demonstrated with today’s announcement of a new contract for Adam Nightingale, helping to ensure he leads the Spartan hockey program for many years to come,” said J Batt, Michigan State Vice President and Director of Athletics. “Under Coach Nightingale’s guidance, Michigan State has returned to its position as one of the elite programs in college hockey, creating incredible excitement both within the hockey community and throughout all of our loyal supporters. Coming off back-to-back Big Ten Championships, there’s a buzz that even greater things are on the horizon. Personally, I can’t wait to experience the excitement of the sold-out crowds at Munn Ice Arena this winter, in what could be a truly special season.”
 
Entering his fourth season at the helm in 2025-26, Nightingale has guided Michigan State hockey to back-to-back Big Ten regular season and conference tournament titles and a 69-35-9 overall record. His .650 career winning percentage ranks second in program history behind legendary head coach Ron Mason’s .687. MSU’s conference titles in 2023-24 and 2024-25 marked the third time in program history that the Spartans won conference championships in consecutive seasons (1984-85/1985-86 and 1988-89/1989-90 in the CCHA). The Spartans became the first school to win back-to-back Big Ten regular season and tournament titles in the same seasons.
 
Last season Michigan State finished 26-7-4, making their second consecutive and 29th overall NCAA Tournament appearance, which ranks seventh all-time among NCAA Division I institutions. Michigan State received a No. 1 seed for the second consecutive season and was the No. 2 seeded team in the tournament overall.
 
“My family and I are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to represent Michigan State University,” said Nightingale. “To coach at an institution like this and be part of the East Lansing community is a privilege and an awesome responsibility. The support our program receives, from President Kevin Guskiewicz, the Board of Trustees, Director of Athletics J Batt and the entire Spartan family, will never be taken for granted, and we make sure our players and staff understand that on a daily basis. We look forward to continuing to make our university, alumni and community proud.”
 
Player development has been a cornerstone of Nightingale’s tenure as the program returns to the “Commitment to Excellence” that was preached by Mason. In three seasons, Nightingale has produced 11 All-Big Ten selections, four All-Americans, a Big Ten Player of the Year, a Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, a Big Ten Goaltender of the Year and a Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner. Isaac Howard became the third Spartan all-time to win the Hobey and the fourth to win USA Hockey’s Jim Johannson College Player of the Year award.
 
In three seasons under Nightingale, Michigan State has put together one of the most remarkable turnarounds in college hockey history, and the Spartan faithful have noticed. For the first time since the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons MSU has posted consecutive total home attendance numbers exceeding 100,000. Michigan State’s combined home attendance of 111,434 in 2024-25 was the highest by the program since 2007-08 and ranked seventh nationally. MSU’s average home attendance of 6,555 last season, which included 17 sellouts, ranked sixth nationally and was the highest average attendance since 2001-02 (which included attendance figures from the Cold War game at Spartan Stadium). Under Nightingale, the Spartans have sold out 42 of their last 43 contests at Munn, including 31 straight.
 
In addition to stellar home attendance, Michigan State played in two of the top four highest attended games of the entire collegiate hockey season when it took on Wisconsin at Wrigley Field (24,788) and Michigan at Little Caesars Arena (19,515) where the Spartans won a second consecutive Duel in the D trophy.
 
Success has also come for the Spartans off the ice where this past season student-athletes posted a cumulative 3.425 team GPA, the highest in program history.
 
The 2024 Big Ten Coach of the Year, Nightingale recently served as an assistant coach for Team USA at the 2025 IIHF World Championships where the United States brought home gold for the first time in 92 years.
 
Prior to his return to East Lansing, Nightingale was head coach of the United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP) for two seasons (2020-22) and was an assistant coach for the Detroit Red Wings (2019-20). Nightingale got his start in the NHL as a video coach for the Buffalo Sabres (2016-17) and Red Wings (2017-19). Before joining the professional ranks, Nightingale served as head coach of the Shattuck-St. Mary’s 14U Team in Faribault, Minnesota, for two seasons (2014-16), leading the team to a national championship in 2016.
 
Nightingale’s collegiate playing career concluded with his two seasons at Michigan State (2003-05) where in 67 games he totaled 37 points (18g-19a) and served as alternate captain. The Spartans took home a Great Lakes Invitational title and qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 2004. Nightingale first returned to MSU as director of hockey operations (2010-14) where he oversaw all team video and travel.
 
 

By: Dan Richeal

HANOVER, N.H.—Dartmouth field hockey head coach Mark Egner announced the incoming student-athletes for the upcoming 2025 season. The class features three international players and three players from the United States.

“I’m very excited about the potential impact of this class on our team. With them coming from a wide variety of hockey experiences they will bring a lot of championship experience to the table” Egner added. “Their blend of playing style should mesh quite well with what we already have, and I really look forward to seeing them on campus as soon as we get started this fall!”

Maria Ariza Solans | Castelldefels, Spain | Charterhouse School, U.K. | Castelldefels H.C.

Ariza Solans comes to Hanover from Spain after playing for Castelldefels Hockey Club at the U16, U18, and Senior levels. On the field she earned multiple honors including the Charterhouse Sports Scholarship, Charterhouse Full Sport Special Colours, Charterhouse Full Sport Colours, and House Sport Colours. She was selected as a member of the ARC Catalana Hockey Development Program.  Off the field she earned the Charterhouse Leadership Award while founding and leading the STEM Society, she also led the Pupil Action Committee Against Discrimination. She competed in cricket and soccer as well as field hockey.

 

Gemma Franco | Chicago, Ill. | Francis W. Parker | Windy City Field Hockey

Franco joins the Big Green after having a dominant high school career as she was named the ISL Offensive Player of the Year in 2024. She was also named First Team All-State in 2023 and 2024 while being an All-Conference and All-League player in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. In both 2022 and 2023 she was named a Max Field Hockey Top 100 Player in the United States. She also earned invites to the Nexus Championship in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 and the AAU Junior Olympics in 2022. In the classroom, Franco was a member of the All-Academic Team in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. She volunteered with Nourishing Hope and Students Against Sensible Drug Policy, while also coaching at 312 Field Hockey.

Ava Russo | Roseland, N.J. | West Essex Regional High School | NJ Grit

Russo was a four-year varsity player at West Essex Regional High School and won a state championship each of the four seasons. She also won the Essex County Tournament Championship four times. Prior to coming to Hanover, she participated in the U16 and U18 Nexus Championships and the AAU Junior Olympics. The defender was also named a Max Field Hockey Class of 2025 Top 100 Players. The National Honor Society member coaches young field hockey players while participating in the Italian Club and running in multiple color runs to raise awareness for autism.

Georgia Thornton | Belfast, Northern Ireland | Strathearn School | Ards Ladies 1XI

Thornton comes across the pond to Dartmouth after being a four-year starter and senior captain for Strathearn School. In 2023, she was the lone underclassman on the team and made it to the Senior School Girls Hockey Cup Final for the first time in over 30 years. The midfielder also played indoor hockey and was captain and MVP in 2024-25. She won a pair of U18 Ulster Indoor Club Championships in 2023 and 2024. In the 2023 tournament, she was the top goal scorer of the tournament. Thornton played club field hockey in the top Irish Hockey EY1 League with Ards Ladies 1Xl. While also playing field hockey, Thornton played volleyball, netball, and competed in track & field.

Lilly Venezia | North Caldwell, N.J. | Oak Knoll School | NJ Grit

In high school, Venezia played varsity for four seasons while serving as a captain her senior season. In both 2023 and 2024 she was named Third Team All-State while also being named to the NFHCA High School Senior Impact Team. In high school she received multiple honors including First Team All-Conference in 2023 and 2024 and Max Field Hockey All NJ Region in 2024. She helped lead her team to four Union County Field Hockey Championships. Away from field hockey, she competed in track & field and golf. She also volunteered with youth field hockey programs and was a member of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Student Visionaries of the Year Campaign.

Madeline Windsor | Hobart, Australia | The Friends’ School  | North West Graduates H.C.

Our final newcomer comes to Dartmouth after serving as a captain for multiple teams including the U18 State Team in 2024. While serving as captain of her U18 team she was also named Team MVP. For her club team she earned the E&S Carmichael Award for Most Promising Underage Female in 2022. In the classroom, she won multiple honors including the Academic Excellence honor from 2019-24. In 2022, she was the Community Representative in School while working with junior field hockey teams.

Dartmouth returns 18 student-athletes from a year ago including leading scorer Riley Dumigan and All-Ivy honorees Olivia Galiotos and Lucia Campano. The Big Green will announce its 2025 schedule in the coming weeks.

 

EAST LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan State University Board of Trustees approved the contract for Vice President and Director of Athletics J Batt during Friday’s meeting in Traverse City. Batt’s first day will be Tuesday, June 17.

“I’m humbled by the trust the Board of Trustees and President Kevin Guskiewicz have displayed in selecting me to guide Spartan athletics in this new era of college sports. An awesome opportunity lies ahead of Michigan State, and our alignment at every level will be a key element in our success. I can’t wait to get to East Lansing next week and get to work.”

Batt’s selection was announced on June 2. He comes to East Lansing from Georgia Tech, where he led the department since 2022. Prior to that, he worked at the University of Alabama from 2017-22, serving as executive deputy director of athletics, chief operating officer and chief revenue officer. A former student-athlete on the men’s soccer team at North Carolina, his professional career also includes stops at East Carolina University, the University of Maryland, James Madison University, William & Mary and his alma mater.

Batt’s introductory press conference was held June 4 inside the Greg and Dawn Williams Football Lobby at the Tom Izzo Football Building.