college football road trip 2023

Road to CFB

Thank You For Joining Me On The 2023 College Football Road Trip 

• 11/16/23 – Notre Dame Stadium* (South Bend, IN). #9 Notre Dame 44 , Central Michigan 17
• 11/28/23 – Ryan Field (Evanston, IL). #6 Penn State 41 , Northwestern 13
• 10/31/23 – Glass Bowl Stadium* (Toledo, OH). Toledo 31 , Buffalo 13
• 11/1/23 – InfoCision Stadium* (Akron, OH). Akron 31 , Kent State 27
• 11/8/23 – Dix Stadium (Kent, OH). Bowling Green 49 , Kent State 19
• 11/18/23 – Mountain America Stadium* (Tempe, AZ). #6 Oregon 49 , Arizona State 13
• 11/24/23 – InfoCision Stadium (Akron, OH). Ohio 25 , Akron 11

*Indicates a new stadium added to the goal.

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The 2023 Ultimate Texas College Football Road Trip

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The Lone Star State loves to do things big. Sam Houston’s move up to the FBS ranks means that the state of Texas is home to 13 FBS programs – more than any other state. And thus, a pilgrimage awaits. Would it be possible to attend a game at each of the 13 FBS stadiums within the same football season? It turns out that the answer is yes. 

Here is the 2023 Ultimate Texas Tour that includes a trip to each FBS stadium in Texas . You'd watch 21 games over 13 weeks. Eight of the 13 weeks include two games due to the growing presence of midweek matchups. 

WEEK 1 – Colorado at TCU 

Start the year with a trip to Fort Worth to watch national runner-up TCU begin the year against Deion Sanders’ new look Colorado Buffaloes. Sonny Dykes led the Horned Frogs to a 12-0 regular season and a victory over Michigan in the Fiesta Bowl. Sanders, who makes a home in the DFW area, is a former Dallas Cowboy who turned over an FBS roster in an unprecedented manner during his first offseason in Boulder. This might be the most anticipated game in Week 1 across all of college football with Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff expected in town. 

The other option is heading to Houston to watch the Cougars host Jeff Traylor’s Roadrunners. It’ll likely be the better game. Houston won the 2022 matchup in San Antonio in a three-overtime thriller. 

Second choice:  UTSA at Houston

WEEK 2 – Oregon at Texas Tech  

There are big-time out-of-state matchups with Texas heading to Alabama and Texas A&M traveling to Miami, but the name of the game is to stay in Texas. Luckily for us, the Red Raiders host Oregon in a potential top 25 matchup in West Texas. Come out on Friday and hang out with the Gamblin’ Gauchos and then take in a great game and atmosphere at Jones AT&T Stadium. Grab a bite at Dirk’s Chicken or take a quick drive to Rejino Barbecue in Olton. 

Second choice:  Baylor vs. Utah 

WEEK 3 – Army at UTSA (Fri.); Jackson State at Texas State  

The first double dip of the season involves a pair of quality G5 contests. The first is in San Antonio when UTSA takes on Army. The 2022 game between the two teams was a classic. Find Lot C and have a blast. Stay near the Riverwalk after the game and then head to San Marcos the next day to watch Texas State host Jackson State. The weather should still be warm enough to walk around campus and take in the beautiful scenery. The other option is to head to Houston and watch the Cougars play TCU in their first Big 12 contest. Dana Holgorsen and Sonny Dykes are great friends, which should add to the drama. 

Second choice:  TCU at Houston

WEEK 4 – Texas at Baylor 

The press box view in McLane Stadium is arguably the best in Texas, though the Sun Bowl in El Paso would hold an objection. The Longhorns are the early betting favorite to win the Big 12 thanks to a loaded roster and experience on the offensive side. Baylor is an enigma with two losing seasons bookmarking an historic 12-win season that culminated in a Sugar Bowl win and a Big 12 championship. This might be the last time Texas plays in Waco for a long time. The crowd should be outstanding. 

Or go to DFW and watch the Iron Skillet between TCU and SMU. Dykes has won the last three Iron Skillets. 

Second choice:  TCU at SMU 

WEEK 5 – Jacksonville State at Sam Houston (Thursday); Texas A&M vs. Arkansas (Arlington) 

Unique scheduling in Conference USA allows us to head to Huntsville on Thursday to watch the Bearkats’ conference debut against a fellow former FCS power. Head up I-45 towards Arlington on Friday and then hit the always fun contest between former SWC rivals Texas A&M and Arkansas in Jerry World. 

Second choice:  Texas Tech at Houston 

WEEK 6 – Texas vs. Oklahoma (Dallas) 

This was a tough week with the Aggies hosting Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide on the same day, but the State Fair offers a unique backdrop that every college fan should enjoy at least one time. Buy more tickets than you expect to use (you’ll use them) and grab a corny dog, some beer, and dominate a few carnival games before heading into the Cotton Bowl to watch two rivals play in their final Big 12 meeting. Hopefully, Texas A&M vs. Alabama is in primetime so that a double header is possible. 

Second choice:  Texas A&M vs. Alabama 

WEEK 7 – West Virginia at Houston (Thur.); Kansas State at Texas Tech

Another two-game week appears in Week 7 as Holgorsen’s Cougars host his former club in the two schools’ first battle as conference foes. Get to the game early and climb to the top of TDECU Stadium for a beautiful view of Houston. Take a plane from Houston to Lubbock on Friday to watch the reigning Big 12 champion Kansas State battle Big 12 dark horse Texas Tech. An easier drive is up I-45 to Fort Worth to watch the Horned Frogs face BYU. 

Second choice:  TCU vs. BYU 

WEEK 8 – New Mexico State at UTEP (Wednesday); Texas at Houston

A college football trip through the Lone Star State isn’t complete without a visit to the Sun Bowl. El Paso is a unique place in the Texas landscape with tremendous food, people, and a lot less traffic than other big cities. A midweek game provides ample opportunity to explore on Thursday before hopping in a plane on Friday to Space City to watch the Longhorns play on Houston’s campus for the first time in ages. That is the only FBS game taking place in Texas on that weekend. 

Second choice:  N/A 

WEEK 9 – UTEP at Sam Houston (Wednesday); South Carolina at Texas A&M

Another midweek game provides us an opportunity to become true Sickos. El Paso vs. Huntsville is a cultural clash of the ages, which is a perfect illustration of the size and diversity within the Lone Star State. You’ll also be less than an hour from College Station and a trip to Kyle Field, which, for my money, is the best game day experience in the entire state.  

Second choice:  North Texas vs. Memphis 

WEEK 10 – UTSA at North Texas 

One of the more underrated rivalries in Texas takes place in Denton, America in Week 10 when UTSA travels up I-35 to face the Mean Green. The two teams have met 10 times in the regular season with each program winning five times. The last game between the two was for the Conference USA title in 2022. Now, both programs play in the American Athletic Conference. A home win would be a huge feather in the cap for first-time FBS head coach Eric Morris. 

Second choice:  SMU at Rice 

WEEK 11 – North Texas at SMU (Fri.); Texas at TCU  

Another opportunity for two games in two days takes place in Week 11. Start the festivities in Dallas when SMU hosts DFW rival North Texas in their first meeting as conference opponents. You won’t even need to change hotels to make the drive on I-30 to Fort Worth on Saturday to watch the Horned Frogs host the Longhorns for the final time as Big 12 opponents.  

WEEK 12 – USF at UTSA (Fri.); TCU at Baylor 

Start the weekend in San Antonio to watch the Roadrunners face USF on Friday night before driving north on I-35 for an historic matchup between TCU and Baylor on Saturday. The 119th meeting between the two old rivals will surpass Texas vs. Texas A&M as the most-played intrastate game in Texas college football history. 

Second choice:  Texas Tech vs. UCF 

WEEK 13  –  Texas Tech at Texas (Fri.); FAU at Rice  

By now, you’ve probably noticed a trend. Watching Texas play in-state Big 12 opponents for possibly the last time in a long time should create memorable atmospheres. The home game against Texas Tech the day after Thanksgiving shouldn’t be any different as at least one of the programs is in the hunt for a Big 12 championship game appearance. Take 290 or 71 (dealer’s choice) to Houston for a season-capper at Rice. Tom Herman’s FAU might be what stands between the Owls and a bowl bid.  

Second choice:  UTEP vs. Liberty 

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Teams and Tags

ACC Network Unveils Season-Long Travel Plans for ACC Huddle and ACC PM ; Kelsey Riggs Named New Huddle Host

• Wes Durham and Taylor Tannebaum to join ACC Primetime Football
• ACCN’s Football Road Trip to visit all 14 ACC campuses for a third straight year, Aug. 7-24
• Multi-part All Access with Carolina Football series debuts Thursday at 4 p.m. ET
• New ACCN football anthem “Come for It All” debuts

ACC Network unveiled a series of exciting programming announcements and initiatives in anticipation of the 2023 college football season as ACC Football Kickoff officially started Tuesday in Charlotte, N.C. For the first time in the Network’s history, two of ACCN’s signature programs, ACC Huddle and ACC PM , will travel to game sites each week this fall, and Kelsey Riggs will serve as the new host of ACC Huddle . It was also announced that longtime ACC football voice Wes Durham will call ACC Primetime Football games with Taylor Tannebaum serving as the new sideline reporter in addition to her ACC PM co-host role.

The 24/7 national network dedicated to ACC sports also announced: ACC Football Road Trip  is returning for the third straight year with visits to all 14 campuses, Aug. 7-24; the new multi-part series All Access with Carolina Football will take fans inside the Tar Heel program (debuts Thursday, July 27); and ACCN introduced its 2023 football anthem, an evolution of its “Come for It All” brand platform. Details:

ACC Huddle  and ACC PM to Travel All Season; Kelsey Riggs Named New Huddle Host

Two of ACC Network’s signature programs, ACC Huddle and ACC PM , will travel to college football game sites every week of the regular season this fall for the first time in the Network’s history. A year ago, ACC Huddle  and ACC PM , the network’s newest studio show, originated from ACC campuses six times in the regular season in addition to the ACC Football Championship Game.

Kelsey Riggs , the popular host/reporter who has been a part of ACC Network since launch in 2019, will be the new host of ACC Huddle . She will be joined by analysts  Eric Mac Lain ,  EJ Manuel ,  Mark Richt and Eddie Royal.  The show will be live every Saturday from the site of the ACC Primetime Football game from 11 a.m. – noon ET and continuing with wall-to-wall coverage throughout the day featuring halftime reports, a primetime show from 6:30-8 p.m., and a one-hour show at the end of the day recapping all of the ACC football action and featuring live on set interviews with winning players and coaches.  

Entering its sophomore season, ACC PM  will feature co-hosts Mark Packer  and Taylor Tannebaum . The football-focused weekday show will continue to deliver news and commentary from around the ACC, weekdays from 4-7 p.m. on ACCN. Friday editions will join ACC Huddle on the road at ACC campus sites this fall, while Monday through Thursday editions will originate from Packer’s basement studio in Charlotte.

ACC Huddle  and ACC PM will be live from Blacksburg, Va., in Week 1 before ACC Primetime Football ’s season-opening Old Dominion at Virginia Tech matchup on Sept. 2 (8 p.m., ACCN), followed by trips to Tallahassee on Sept. 9 (Southern Miss at Florida State) and Clemson on Sept. 16 (FAU at Clemson).

Wes Durham and Taylor Tannebaum to Join Tim Hasselbeck on ACC Primetime Football

Wes Durham , who has called ACC football games for nearly three decades and has been a prominent voice on ACCN since launch in 2019, will be the new play-by-play voice of ACC Primetime Football games this fall, joining analyst Tim Hasselbeck in the booth. ACC PM ’s Taylor Tannebaum will also be part of the primetime announce team as the new sideline reporter. Their first Saturday night game will be the Hokies’ Lane Stadium opener in Blacksburg against Old Dominion on Sept. 2 at 8 p.m.

Third Annual ACC Football Road Trip to Visit All 14 Campuses, Aug. 7-24

For the third straight year, ACCN will embark on a three-week, 14-school road trip in anticipation of the upcoming season. ACC Football Road Trip  begins at Florida State in Tallahassee on Monday, Aug. 7 and concludes Thursday, Aug. 24 with a visit to the Tar Heels in Chapel Hill. ACCN will air a one-hour primetime show at 7 p.m. from each of the 14 campuses. The Road Trip  will preview each team’s upcoming season and include exclusive interviews with head coaches and student-athletes, while showcasing unique aspects of each football program.

ACCN anchors and analysts scheduled to participate in the ACC Football Road Trip  include Dalen Cuff , Wes Durham , Roddy Jones , Eric Mac Lain , EJ Manuel , Mark Packer , Mark Richt , Kelsey Riggs , Eddie Royal and Taylor Tannebaum . The complete schedule is listed below.

2023 ACC Football Road Trip  Schedule:

*Commentator schedules subject to change

All Access with Carolina Football Debuts Thursday at 4 p.m.

ACC Network’s new multi-part series All Access with Carolina Football will offer a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the North Carolina football program leading into the 2023 season ( Preview ). The first episode (30 min.) will premiere exclusively on ACC Network on Thursday, July 27, at 4 p.m. at the conclusion of ACC Kickoff coverage. Part 2 (one hour) will air at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 24 (following the ACC Football Road Trip special spotlighting the Tar Heels).

Part 1 of All Access introduces new members of the UNC program and shows how players spend their free time, while Hall of Fame head coach Mack Brown evaluates the offseason. Notable scenes include:

• Quarterback Drake Maye, linebacker Cedric Gray and many others mic’d up during the Spring Game
• Access with athletes at the ACC Unity Tour in Washington, D.C.
• Spring Game film room session with coaches
• Exclusive footage from players’ summer abroad studies

All Access with Carolina Football is the latest installment of ACC Network’s signature All Access series, which has provided a unique, up-close look at a number of ACC programs, including Louisville, Miami and NC State football, North Carolina men’s basketball, and the Miami and Notre Dame women’s basketball teams.

ACCN Debuts New “Come For It All” Football Anthem

ACC Network has debuted its 2023 football anthem, an evolution of its “Come for It All” brand platform. The new spots – voiced by ACCN analyst and Florida State legend  EJ Manuel  – lean into the pageantry, traditions, community and how ACC fans and teams deliver the “IT” factor – that special ACC feeling. The storytelling is complemented by the song “Hope” by rapper NF.

The anthem will continue to run through preseason ACCN programming and serve as a brand message throughout the season across multiple platforms. Watch .

Bill Hofheimer

Related media kits.

ACC Network

Related bios.

ESPN and ACC Network Play-by-Play Voice

Kelsey Riggs

Host/Anchor/Reporter

Taylor Tannebaum

ACC Network Host/Reporter

College Football Road Trips

Tuesday, january 2, 2024, sugar bowl (cfp semifinal): washington vs texas (2024).

Year:        2024

Saturday, December 2, 2023

Pac 12 championship game: washington vs. oregon (2023).

Appalachian State (Sun Belt) 2023

Team:    Appalachian State Mountaineers

Tuesday, October 10, 2023

University of north carolina (acc) 2023.

Friday, September 22, 2023

Arkansas (sec) 2023.

Team:    Arkansas Razorbacks

Monday, September 4, 2023

Illinois (big 10) 2023.

Team:    Illinois Fighting Illini

Sunday, November 27, 2022

Minnesota vikings.

Team:    Minnesota Vikings

College Sports | Coach Prime, Rams and Mines, oh my! How to plan…

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College Sports

College sports | coach prime, rams and mines, oh my how to plan perfect colorado college football road trip for 2023, week by week..

If Coach Prime has you thinking that Boulder, and not Athens, Ga., is the epicenter of the college football universe, he might not be wrong.

But the potential narratives around the Front Range run wilder than Ralphie at full tilt. Within 75 miles of downtown Denver, you can watch Deion Sanders in person (for a price), the defending Division II national runners-up and more live mascots per capita than an Animal Planet marathon.

Heck, if you wanted to plan a road trip of just Front Range games between now and Thanksgiving, there’s something for just about everybody each and every week. Want to check out the reigning winner of the Harlon Hill Trophy, the Division II Heisman? Mines quarterback John Matocha is back slinging it in Golden. Dig trophy games? CSU is playing in two of them over back-to-back weekends.

To that end, the Denver Post sports staff has laid out a planner for a drivable 2023 college football tour of Front Range games over the next few months — although with a couple of side notes to get out of the way first.

First, while September is loaded with cool local options, November … isn’t. Secondly, and on the plus side, the NCAA’s Division II playoffs are almost certain to include at least one in-state representative and will get underway the weekend of Nov. 18.

As the song goes, check your local listings. In the meantime, though, let’s hit the road!

Week 1 (Aug. 31-Sept. 2)

CSU vs. Washington State

When: 5 p.m., Sept. 2.

Where: Canvas Stadium, Fort Collins

Lowest get-in price as of Week 1 (VividSeats.com): $36

Why you can’t miss it: Jay Norvell’s Rams have had payback on their minds, and their lips, for the last 10 months. Wazzu blitzed CSU by 31 points last September in Pullman, so we’ll find out just how far the Rammies have come in Norvell’s second season right from the jump.

Week 2 (Sept. 7-9)

CU vs. Nebraska

When: 10 a.m., Sept. 9

Where: Folsom Field, Boulder

Lowest get-in price as of Week 1 (VividSeats.com): $260

Why you can’t miss it: Come on. Do you even need to ask?

Week 3 (Sept. 14-16)

When: 8 p.m., Sept. 16

Lowest get-in price as of Week 1 (VividSeats.com): $128

Why you can’t miss it: See Week 2. First Rocky Mountain Showdown in four years (thanks, COVID). First Rams visit to Boulder in 14 years. While the Buffs are riding a five-game win streak in the series, and the last two Showdowns (’18 and ’19) have gotten fairly ugly, Rams fans are hoping to spring a trap on Big Brother: CSU gets a bye before this one while the Buffs are busy entertaining the Huskers (and Nebraska fans).

Week 4 (Sept. 21-23)

CSU Pueblo vs. Mines

When: 2 p.m., Sept. 23

Where: ThunderBowl, Pueblo

Lowest get-in price as of Week 1 (for an adult, via CSU Pueblo athletics): $9

Why you can’t miss it: The two best teams in the Rocky Mountain Conference — and two of Division II’s elite gridiron programs — also happen to be one of the best local options during a wild weekend, given that CU is at Oregon; CSU is at Middle Tennessee; and UNC is visiting Cody Hawkins’ squad at Idaho State. The Orediggers have won six of the last eight in the series, including four straight, and haven’t lost to CSU Pueblo on the road since 2017.

Week 5 (Sept. 28-30)

When: TBD, Sept. 30

Why you can’t miss it: CU has never beaten USC in football. Deion Sanders has never faced USC as a head coach. Lincoln Riley vs. Coach Prime is going to have the networks salivating, even if the Buffs happen to be 1-4 or 0-5 going into the weekend. And they shouldn’t be.

Week 6 (Oct. 5-7)

Wyoming vs. Fresno State

When: TBD, Oct. 7

Where: Memorial Stadium, Laramie, Wyo.

Lowest get-in price as of Week 1 (VividSeats.com): $20

Why you can’t miss it: The Pokes haven’t beaten the ‘Dogs since 2014. They haven’t scored a touchdown on Fresno since 2017. And they haven’t won a game in this series in Laramie since 1996. Something’s gotta give, right?

Week 7 (Oct. 12-14)

CU vs. Stanford

When: 8 p.m., Oct. 13

Lowest get-in price as of Week 1 (VividSeats.com): $142

Why you can’t miss it: Welcome to Friday the 13th, under the lights, and welcome to what might be the only home Pac-12 game in which the Buffs are actually the favorites going in.

Week 8 (Oct. 19-21)

Western Colorado vs. New Mexico Highlands

When: 1 p.m., Oct. 21

Where: Mountaineer Bowl, Gunnison

Lowest get-in price as of Week 1 (for an adult, via Western Colorado athletics): $10

Why you can’t miss it: Western wideout Victory David is a threat to take it to the house — and get you out of your seat — every time he touches the rock. The Nevada speedster, who also ran track for the Mountaineers as a freshman and sophomore, led the RMAC last fall in kick return average (32.0) and longest return (100 yards).

Week 9 (Oct. 26-28)

CSU vs. Air Force

When: 5 p.m., Oct. 28

Lowest get-in price as of Week 1 (VividSeats.com): $31

Why you can’t miss it: Good news for Rams faithful? Over the last 20 tussles in the rivalry, dating back to 2002, whenever CSU scores at least 28 points, it’s got a 5-1 record in the series. Less good? CSU’s managed to hit that mark just three times since 2010 and has averaged just 18.3 points vs. the Zoomies over its last four meetings.

Week 10 (Nov. 2-4)

CSU at Wyoming

When: 5 p.m., Nov. 3

Lowest get-in price as of Week 1 (VividSeats.com): $27

Why you can’t miss it: Because even if Norvell and Wyo coach Craig Bohl seem to like each other, their respective fan bases absolutely, unequivocally, do not. And never, ever will.

Air Force vs. Army

When : 12:30 p.m., Nov. 4

Where : Empower Field at Mile High

Lowest get-in price as of Week 1 (VividSeats.com) : $40

Why you can’t miss it : Two games in one weekend? Well, when the service academies meet at the Broncos’ stadium — an Empower Field first — with the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy potentially on the line, that’s a can’t miss.

Week 11 (Nov. 9-11)

CU vs. Arizona

When: TBD, Nov. 11

Lowest get-in price as of Week 1 (VividSeats.com): $48

Why you can’t miss it: You like points? You like tempo? This might be the game for you. New Buffs offensive coordinator Sean Lewis ran an average of 75.1 plays per game last fall at Kent State, while Arizona coach Jedd Fisch snapped it 70 times per tilt. First one to 30 points wins.

Week 12 (Nov. 16-18)

CSU vs. Nevada

When: 1 p.m., Nov. 18

Lowest get-in price as of Week 1 (VividSeats.com): $26

Why you can’t miss it: If things break right, CSU could have a chance to lock down bowl eligibility in its home finale. If things don’t, well, at least Rams fans can express their love for Wolf Pack coach Ken Wilson in person, especially if he goes after Norvell during pregame again.

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The ultimate college football road trip: Why a sportswriter quit his job to take it

Rodger Sherman really loved his job.

How couldn’t he? He spent the past seven years as a staff writer at The Ringer writing about college athletics, the NFL and “The Bachelor.” His offerings ranged from entertaining power rankings to enterprise stories about a 5-foot-8 star of March Madness to think pieces asking if the grandiose Deion Sanders experiment would work at Colorado (he predicted it would, for what it’s worth). He had, if you asked any sportswriter — including Sherman — one of the coolest jobs in the industry.

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Why did he quit? How could he? The magnetism of the ultimate college football road trip was something he’d always daydreamed about. He used to map out hypothetical road trips from one college football game to another on Google Maps just for fun.

“I was always planning on it sort of as a fantasy in my head,” he said.

A few months ago, Sherman told his colleagues he was quitting to embark on a four-month road trip across America to watch college football the way it should be digested: in person, with the wafting scent of tailgates and spilled beer and a collective belief that on any given day, something absolutely wild might take place. It’s no longer a fantasy or a daydream — it’s a dream he’s living day-to-day, week-to-week, truck stop-to-truck stop, podcast-to-podcast.

Like most college football enthusiasts each fall, Sherman would get the most comfortable seat in the house on Saturday: the couch. From sunup to sundown and beyond, he’d watch college football in his apartment in New York City and get to determine what storyline or event or play would drive his coverage from that weekend. The couch, he’d always tell himself, was not going anywhere.

Maybe, just maybe … he should?

Last December he told his wife, who is getting her doctorate in nursing, about this thirst to experience an entire season on the road, to ingratiate within a culture he either knows a ton about or absolutely zilch. She told him to go for it. So for the first few weeks of the season, Sherman has been binging hours of podcasts, welcoming long phone calls from friends and family members, alternating between his favorite road snacks like Costco turkey jerky and cashew clusters and putting his right foot to the floor of the trusty Toyota Corolla rental he’s been zipping around highways and byways.

So far, he’s driven through 19 states, logged somewhere around 8,200 miles and watched the home teams go 9-1.

And he’s involved followers to point him in which direction to go each week. Utilizing a 21st century social media tool belt , he asks folks to vote on which games he should attend. He’s been splicing together YouTube clips of each week’s experiences and is routinely posting on Twitter/X, Instagram and TikTok. Fan interaction is one of the reasons Sherman wanted to do this in the first place.

“There is really something to how we can use the internet to show people things they can’t see on TV and give them a full experience of what they can’t see on the TV,” he said.

The Week 4 “Road Rodge” schedule tackled a Thursday-Friday-Saturday slate of games that will take him from Coastal Carolina on Thursday to Purdue on Friday and then to Cincinnati for the Bearcats’ Big 12 opener against Oklahoma .

WEEK 4 ROAD RODGE SCHEDULE Teal Turf Thursday Big Drum Friday Cincinnati’s first Big 12 game vs. Oklahoma Saturday pic.twitter.com/LjHzJqkhG5 — Rodger Sherman (@rodger) September 19, 2023

He’s gone from New York to Salt Lake City in two days to see Utah beat Florida , hit Penn State on the way back east, got to storm the field at Duke when the Blue Devils knocked off Clemson and recently experienced the Backyard Brawl when Pitt traveled to West Virginia. He’s eaten bacon-wrapped alligator in Utah and had a Hattie B’s hot chicken sandwich in Nashville. He found out how easily you can get sunburned at altitude in Salt Lake, too.

The week-to-week slate is difficult to predict because not all games have designated kickoff times and some aren’t set until six days out. Thinking of how he might get from BYU ’s Big 12 home opener against Cincinnati on Sept. 29 to Boulder, Colo., the following morning for USC at Colorado for a 10 a.m. local kick is daunting, and frankly, potentially dangerous.

Sherman’s ultimate road trip also provides a glimpse into the shifting existence of college football as a whole. With conference realignment combining schools that have no regionality in common, this experience also proves how the sport is losing the shine that made it so compelling for so long.

“We are moving away from the era of road tripping to see your school play a conference game,” he said. “This sport is changing. The things that make this sport so road trippy are going away because it is more valuable to watch games on your couch. That’s generating the most money for the sport is if we get all the games delivered to us on TV.”

The three games Sherman said he will not allow his followers to vote him out of: the last Big 12 Bedlam rivalry between Oklahoma and Oklahoma State in Stillwater on Nov. 4, the last in-conference rivalry game between Oregon and Oregon State in Eugene on Nov. 24 and the Apple Cup between Washington and Washington State in Seattle on Nov. 25.

Initially, he planned to spend Thanksgiving in Mississippi at the Egg Bowl, but with news of the Pac-12 crumbling, he chose to come out West.

While the reward is easily seen on Sherman’s smiling face in all of his YouTube and TikTok posts, this is no easy physical feat. The biggest limitation so far, he said, is bladder size. He’s already admitted to pushing himself too hard in Week 1 and needs to prioritize rest in trying to get through the rest of the fall. He’s astonished at how quickly a car can go from clean to chaos.

In the meantime, Sherman joked that he’s waiting for a rental car company to make the most obvious sponsorship deal imaginable, but has yet to hear back. He’s keeping his fingers crossed, though. Road trips might get more hairy as the weather turns in a couple of months, but for now, he’s soaking it all in. He’s met fellow college football stadium enthusiasts who are knocking individual stadiums off their own respective bucket lists. Fans have shouted out Rodger at almost every stop, too.

There have been moments already that have left Sherman with feelings of pure validation. On his drive from Durham, N.C., to Louisville, Ky., earlier this month, he abandoned the highway and took the backroads through the Appalachian mountains. After he couldn’t get through another minute of the podcast he was listening to, he flipped over to a local public radio station. It was playing bluegrass.

“I was on winding turns of mountain roads listening to the music that was made there and being played for and by the people of that place,” he said. “Appalachia immediately jumped to the top of my power rankings. The mountains out west are pretty … but they’re intimidating in a way.”

Sherman will get reacquainted with them soon enough. The season is still young, and the road beckons.

(Photo courtesy of Rodger Sherman)

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Christopher Kamrani is a college football enterprise writer for The Athletic. He previously worked at The Salt Lake Tribune as a sports features writer and also served as the Olympics reporter. Follow Christopher on Twitter @ chriskamrani

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Are Utah or BYU games more fun for fans? I asked a man on an epic college football road trip

Rodger sherman left his job at the ringer to go on a college football fan’s dream journey.

By Kelsey Dallas

Rodger Sherman became famous for his takes on college football without ever leaving his couch. Over the past decade, he watched and wrote about hundreds of games, but only rarely had a chance to actually cheer along with fans or eat at concession stands.

Earlier this year, Sherman decided that he desperately needed to visit the stadiums he’d spent hours watching on TV, even if it meant forgoing a paycheck and being away from his wife and dogs for long stretches. He quit his job at The Ringer and started planning an exciting, exhausting, almost unbelievable college football road trip.

When I got ahold of Sherman on Wednesday, he’d just returned to the road from a short stop for gas. I could hear his GPS chirping as he described his upcoming plans.

Sherman, 33, was on his way to Middle Tennessee State University for a rare Wednesday night game. He was going to watch the school take on Jacksonville State before making his way to four more college football games over the next three days.

By the end of this weekend, Sherman will have been to 20 games in six weeks. He’s tired and even a bit traumatized from all the driving, but he’s still in love with the trip.

“It’s terrifying and exhausting, but it’s also incredible. I’ve always wanted to do something like this,” said Sherman, who attended journalism school at Northwestern University but never had a traditional sports reporting job at a paper.

On our call, I asked Sherman about how he plans each weekend’s journey and what he listens to on the road. I asked him about his experience at Utah at the end of August and at BYU last week. And I asked him to tell me, a sports and religion writer who works from home, why it’s worth it to leave the couch.

Here’s what he said.

Kelsey Dallas: Why did you want to do this?

Rodger Sherman: I’ve been writing about football for about a decade, but it was more like blogging. It didn’t involve a lot of travel.

And the thing about college football is that the environments are very special. The atmospheres are incredible. You can see the mountains by the Utah and BYU stadiums on TV, but you can’t fully appreciate them unless you’re there.

So I decided after seeing all these places on TV that I needed to go and actually see what they were like. I wanted to feel what it was like to be in the crowd, not up in the press box or on my couch.

KD: Is it living up to your expectations?

RS: Absolutely. I’ve gone to 15 games so far, and I still get a rush when I get into a stadium and see 60,000+ people wearing the same color of clothing. It’s a wall of color and noise.

Every place is unique. Every place has its own feel to it. It doesn’t get tiring, because every place has something you’ve never seen before.

KD: How do you pick which games to go to?

RS: A few factors go into it. The most important thing is what games are happening on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. There aren’t a lot of games on those nights, so you choose one and map around it.

Another factor is whether I know somebody with an extra ticket for a game or somebody who lives near a game who will let me sleep on their couch. Convenience and money are pretty heavy factors.

And then there are also just a few games that I’m going to go to no matter how much it costs because I’ve always wanted to see them.

This year, that includes some rivalry games that won’t exist any more after this season because of conference realignment, like Oklahoma-Oklahoma State, Oregon-Oregon State and Washington-Washington State. Seeing those games this year will be a once-in-a-lifetime moment.

KD: Do you try to sit in a certain spot in each stadium?

RS: I’m just looking for the cheapest ticket. I don’t need the seats to be good, since being in the stadium and feeling the atmosphere is as important as being close to the game.

Really high seats are awesome at Utah because you can see the mountains over the rim of the stadium. I was totally fine not being down by the field.

KD: Tell me more about your experience at the Utah-Florida game. What stood out to you?

RS: Like I said, I had the perfect view from up top. That backdrop is something you don’t get on TV or at most other stadiums.

Utah’s stadium definitely feels underrated.

If you look at the way they win games there, their style of play, the altitude, the crowd noise — those things come together and make it one of the most annoying places for a visiting team. You can feel it when you’re there. It really deserves a little bit more credit.

ITS BEAUTIFUL pic.twitter.com/oGzePHvMJS — Rodger Sherman (@rodger) September 1, 2023

KD: How does Utah compare to BYU? You saw BYU last week.

RS: The pregame atmospheres were very different. I was handed several beers in the parking lot at Utah. I was handed zero beers in the parking lot at BYU.

I was impressed with both stadiums. They’re both intimidating places to play. Both have the altitude factor and extremely loud fans.

KD: But what if someone had to choose between going to a Utah game or a BYU game? Which one would you recommend?

RS: I guess I’m trying to be political. Here’s the distinction I’ll make: Utah was a better football experience, but BYU was a better experience experience.

I was really impressed with the show BYU put on, like with Cosmo jumping over fire and the fire dancers. The student section is ridiculous.

But at Utah, I was more locked into the game.

Utah reminds me of some of the other stadiums I’ve seen; BYU is its own world. I am really glad I got to experience it.

Part of the goal of this trip is to go to places that are one-of-a-kind and show me something I’m not going to get anyplace else in the sport. I think BYU fits that description a little bit more than Utah.

KD: I admit I was pressuring you to say something controversial.

RS: BYU and Utah both have great fan bases, and the fan bases don’t like each other. But what’s really interesting about the rivalry is the religious overtones.

It was interesting talking to (Latter-day Saint) people who are Utah fans about how and why they came to care about Utah as opposed to BYU. And then I asked non-(Latter-day Saint) people about what their experience is like with BYU.

I can’t experience those kinds of conversations anywhere else.

I’m really glad Utah and BYU will continue to play each other in the future. It’s much better to actually play each other in a game than to let a random sports writer decide which one is better.

Game #14. They let me on TV. @BYUSportsNation pic.twitter.com/GRsD4mkAa9 — Rodger Sherman (@rodger) September 30, 2023

KD: How do you travel from game to game? Are you always driving?

RS: I’m based in New York, which I’ve found is not a convenient starting point. I flew to my first game of the season (in Week 0) at Vanderbilt in Nashville, and I also flew to BYU because the ticket was free since I was appearing on their pregame show.

When I went to see Utah in Week 1, I drove and it was too much. It took three days to get there from New York, and it was not exactly the most enjoyable drive. There was so much corn and so many mountains.

It scarred me a little. It was a warning. It was like, “Caution. Don’t try this again.”

Now I won’t drive more than eight hours on most days.

KD: Will you be going to bowl games, too?

RS: Yes, I’m planning to go to at least 10 bowls.

RS: It’s always fun when people respond to my plans with horror.

KD: Sorry. It’s just that I can’t imagine being away from home so often. I’m definitely a homebody.

RS: I’m also a homebody. I like staying at home. But if you’re going to force yourself out of the house, you should just max it out.

KD: Let’s wrap up with some rapid-fire questions. What’s the best concession stand snack you’ve had so far?

RS: Most of the time, I eat outside the stadium. But I’d say the pepperoni roll at West Virginia. It’s a hot piece of bread filled with cheese and pepperoni.

The concession stand items at BYU ... there was just so much sugar, man. I do not understand. Do people eat “ Cougar Tails ” by themselves over the course of football games?

When I have too much sugar, I feel physically uncomfortable, and that’s how I felt after eating half of a Cougar Tail.

After 24 hours in Provo this tweet makes so much sense https://t.co/CFmV2igg20 — Rodger Sherman (@rodger) September 29, 2023

KD: What’s the worst state to drive through?

RS: The drive to and from Utah involved a long stretch of Nebraska. It was really, really exhausting.

KD: What’s the best song to listen to during a road trip?

RS: This rental car has satellite radio on it and, for whatever reason, this one station keeps playing “ You Get What You Give ” from the New Radicals. It’s firing me up.

I was also given a recommendation by Ben Chase , who did a college football road trip last season and inspired me to listen to boy bands and ’90s pop music when you’re driving late at night and feeling tired. That has proven to be an extremely useful tip.

KD: What’s your biggest regret so far?

RS: I’ve got two of them. Two big ones.

I drove through Nebraska to make it to the Utah game, and I was in Lincoln, Nebraska, the day before they played that record-setting volleyball game in Memorial Stadium. I should have figured out a way to stay for that game and still make it to Utah.

Then, last Saturday, I went to Colorado-USC and I should have gone to the Air Force game that night. I did Colorado and failed to double up.

KD: What’s been your favorite moment so far?

RS: It was singing “ Country Roads ” with West Virginia fans after West Virginia beat Pitt for the first time in over a decade.

KD: Do you know what’s next for you after college football season ends?

RS: I don’t know what I’m doing after this. I’d like to cover the Olympics next year, but it’s just a vague plan.

Heartland College Sports – An Independent Big 12 Today Blog | College Football News | Big 12 Today

The dream big 12 football road trip for 2023 season.

The college football season is right around the corner and its time to put together the dream Big 12 football road trip for the upcoming fall, as I have been doing for the past several years. There is always a caveat, as I made it so I had to go to each Big 12 stadium at least once. That made it more interesting as I had to plan around every stadium, not just picking the best game each week.

Obviously, with the Big 12 at 14 teams this season, I can’t go to each stadium, since there are only 13 weeks in the season. So I am going to go to every stadium, other than either Oklahoma and Texas. It’s only fair, right? They’re leaving anyway. Find out which one I skip by reading through the article. So here is the Big 12 dream road trip, and the rule is I can’t go to a stadium more than once.

Here we go.

Week 1: TCU vs. Colorado

This feels right for so many reasons. Right out of the gates we get to see the Big 12 team that reached the National Championship game last season, while also getting to see what will be a future Big 12 match up, along with catching Deion Sanders ‘ coaching debut at Colorado. It’s a no-brainer.

Week 2: Baylor vs. Utah

In Week 2, we’ve got another match up that will be a future Big 12 Conference game starting in 2024. Utah brings in a preseason Top 15 team to Waco and it will help us figure out whether or not Dave Aranda and the Bears will be a sneaky Big 12 team to keep an eye on this season.

Week 3: West Virginia vs. Pitt

The Backyard Brawl is back for a second-straight year. Last year’s game in Pittsburgh was a classic rivalry match up. This year it moves to Morgantown in a game that could determine whether or not Neal Brown is still the head coach come Halloween. Can’t wait.

Week 4: Cincinnati vs. Oklahoma

We’ll then stay on the east side of Big 12 country and skip from Morgantown to Cincinnati for the short trip and watch the Bearcats open up Big 12 play against the Oklahoma Sooners. Nippert Stadium should be rocking with their first Big 12 game, plus it being OU.

Week 5: Texas Tech vs. Houston

It’s an old Southwest Conference match up in Lubbock as Dana Holgorsen takes Houston on the road for the first time in Big 12 play against the Red Raiders, who have very high expectations this season. Also, Donovan Smith, who was just named the starter for Houston, will be going to his old stomping grounds in Lubbock, where he started several games in recent seasons.

Week 6: Iowa State vs. TCU

Early October in Ames is one of the most beautiful places and times of year in the entire Big 12. Plus, I admittedly want to get to Ames on this theoretical dream Big 12 road trip before Iowa State’s season unravels, which it may, depending on how the first month goes. The last two years have been blow outs on both sides in this match up, but three of the last five games have been decided by a touchdown or less. So let’s see how this game plays out.

Week 7: Houston vs. West Virginia (Thursday)

After that, it’s a short week to Houston where Dana Holgorsen welcomes in his former squad, the West Virginia Mountaineers on a Thursday night. There are so many storylines here from Dana facing his former team to Neal Brown ‘s job status at this point in the season. This game is going to be a fun one. Plus, it gives me a nice breather in the middle of the season and a weekend to rest!

Week 8: Kansas State vs TCU

It’s time to head north to watch Kansas State and TCU. These two teams played a pair of great games last season. In the regular season, K-State blew a 28-10 lead in Fort Worth and lost 38-28. But then, the Cats got revenge in the Big 12 Championship Game at AT&T Stadium to win the conference title. Now we get their third meeting in two seasons, and I’m not missing that.

Week 9: Kansas vs. Oklahoma

It’s a short road trip in Week 9 to go to Lawrence as Kansas hosts Oklahoma. Remember two years ago, it was KU who almost pulled off the huge upset against Lincoln Riley’s Sooners, before OU came back late to seal the win. This is the last time KU and OU will play for likely many seasons, so let’s see if Lance Leipold has a little late-season magic in him.

Week 10: Oklahoma State vs. Oklahoma

Speaking of OU, I’m following them in Week 10 to watch the last Bedlam for what could be decades. It is one of the great rivalries in college sports and it’s sad to know that it won’t happen again for likely a very long time. But there’s nothing I can do about that other than be at the game and enjoy it. So I won’t go through the season without catching the final Bedlam.

Week 11: UCF vs. Oklahoma State

It’s mid-November, so I’m going to get a break from the Midwest temperatures and head to Central Florida where the Knights take on the Cowboys. Maybe I’ll get in a round of golf too. Who knows, in the unpredictable Big 12, it would not shock me if there’s some type of Big 12 Title Game implications for one of these teams.

Week 12: BYU vs. Oklahoma

It’s a cross-country trip to BYU for the first time as the Cougars take on Oklahoma. It’s a team that will likely play OU this one time and then not again for years, if ever. The BYU home crowd should be incredible, as Big 12 fans got a glimpse of last year when they hosted Baylor. Now, they get OU in late November with the snow-capped mountains in the background? Sign me up.

Week 13: Texas vs. Texas Tech (Friday)

And here we go. The last game of the regular season, and last game of the road trip, will be at Texas for their final Big 12 regular season game. It will likely be a game with Big 12 Title implications for possibly both teams, as Texas and Texas Tech should have hopes of reaching the Championship Game this season. And it’s the last time Texas Tech will get to play UT for possibly years to come. So many storylines for this Black Friday match up and what a way to end the road trip!

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• 2023 Year in Review
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• Game 24 Report – Oregon Ducks
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College Football Road Trip

Visiting all 133 FBS College Football Stadiums

2023 Season Preview – Pittsburgh Panthers

2022 Record – 9-4; 5-3 ACC

Bowl: VS. UCLA in Sun Bowl (W 37-35)

2023 Schedule

• 9/2 – VS Wofford
• 9/9 – VS Cincinnati
• 9/16 – at West Virginia
• 9/23 – VS North Carolina
• 9/30 – at Virginia Tech
• 10/14 – VS Louisville
• 10/21 – at Wake Forest
• 10/28 – at Notre Dame
• 11/4 – VS Florida State
• 11/11 – VS Syracuse (at Yankee Stadium)
• 11/16 – VS Boston College
• 11/25 – at Duke

After winning the ACC Championship in 2021, the question for Pitt is if they couple compete in the ACC again in 2022. The season started off with a classic game against West Virginia in the renewal of the Backyard Brawl. After tying the game up, the Panthers scored on an interception return with under three minutes remaining to pull off a thrilling win 38-31.

Pitt tried to pull off the same feat the next week against Tennessee. After scoring to tie the game and send it to overtime, they couldn’t score in the extra session leading to their first loss of the year. With other non-conference wins against Western Michigan and Rhode Island, Pittsburgh entered ACC play at 3-1.

Conference play got off to a rough start after losing at home to Georgia Tech. In fact, the Panthers would start off 1-3 after losses at Louisville and North Carolina. Luckily, Pitt would turn things around and finish out the regular season winning their last four conference games to finish 5-3 in the ACC. This would not be good enough to return to the championship game, however.

Pitt would finish the season with a trip to the Sun Bowl in El Paso. They played yet another tight game and pulled away victorious against UCLA, 37-35. The Panthers finished the season at 9-4.

2023 Preview

There are a lot of changes happening at Pittsburgh this year starting with the quarterback position. Gone is Kedon Slovis and in is Phil Jurkovec from Boston College. Slovis struggled as a starter so it will be interesting to see if there is any progression with a new playmaker in the mix.

Behind Jurkovec is Rodney Hammond Jr., who was a strong second back in 2022 including winning the Sun Bowl MVP. He should be helped out with three returning starters on the offensive line to help open up those running lanes. Two of the top three receivers are back in Konata Mumpfield and Bub Means as well. This means if the new quarterback can mesh with the returning players the offense could be in good shape for 2023.

The defense is where the biggest question make could be. ACC Defensive Player of the Year Calijah Kancey is gone along with five other defensive starters. This was a defense that finished second in the country in sacks in 2022. The biggest strength could be at the linebacker position where Bangally Kamara and Shayne Simon both return after having 45+ tackles each the previous season.

2023 Prediction

The Panthers have a challenging non-conference schedule. It starts off with a should be easy win against Wofford, but the next two games are against Big 12 newcomer Cincinnati at home, then on the road in the Backyard Brawl at West Virginia. On top of that they also have to travel to Notre Dame at the end of October for one of the Fighting Irish’s pseudo-conference games.

In ACC play, not having Clemson on the schedule is always a plus. The ACC seems to always be a toss-up. The Panthers start off conference play with a home against North Carolina which is always a tough game. If they get the past that game, the next three games are all winnable against Virginia Tech, Louisville, and Wake Forest.

The hardest conference game will likely be against Florida State at home. This is followed by what should be a fun game against Syracuse at Yankee Stadium. Overall, this conference schedule gives Pittsburgh a decent chance to compete for the ACC Championship game.

Prediction – 8-4

• ← 2023 Season Preview – Cincinnati Bearcats
• 2023 Season Preview – West Virginia Mountaineers →

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Football July 25, 2023

ACC Network Unveils Season-Long Travel Plans for ACC Huddle and ACC PM

• Wes Durham and Taylor Tannebaum to join ACC Primetime Football
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• Multi-part All Access with Carolina Football  series debuts Thursday at 4 p.m. ET
• New ACCN football anthem “Come for It All” debuts
• Quarterback Drake Maye, linebacker Cedric Gray and many others mic’d up during the Spring Game 
• Access with athletes at the ACC Unity Tour in Washington, D.C.
• Spring Game film room session with coaches
• Exclusive footage from players’ summer abroad studies

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NBA standings, playoff picture: Current postseason bracket, matchups as Wolves knock Nuggets down to third

Here's your one-stop shop for everything you need to know on the nba playoff races.

The NBA playoffs are almost here. With less than three weeks left in the regular season, the postseason is set to begin April 16 with the Play-In Tournament. The playoffs get started April 20. While we know most of the teams that are going to qualify for the postseason, there is plenty to be decided in the regular season's closing weeks. Seeding, home-court advantage and the chance to avoid the Play-In Tournament are all on the line between now and April 14.

So what's the latest in the NBA's playoff picture? The Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Denver Nuggets and the Dallas Mavericks took down the Sacramento Kings on Friday night for crucial wins in the Western Conference. The defending champion Nuggets are now a half-game behind the Wolves and Oklahoma City Thunder

As a reminder, the NBA's Play-In Tournament will determine the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds in both conferences. Four teams in each conference (the 7-10 seeds) will enter the Play-In Tournament, while the top six seeds will automatically qualify for playoff spots. The seventh- and eighth-placed teams will face each other for the No. 7 seed. The ninth- and 10th-placed teams will face each other in another game, and then the loser of the No. 7/No. 8 game will face the winner of the No. 9/No. 10 game for the No. 8 seed.

For the remainder of the season, this will be your one-stop shop playoff picture. We've got you covered on everything from the current standings to tiebreaker scenarios and magic numbers for both play-in spots and top-six seeds. 

Here's where we stand entering play on Friday, March 29.

Playoff bracket if the season ended today...

West (1) Timberwolves vs. (8) Suns/Kings/Lakers/Warriors (2) Thunder vs. (7) Suns/Kings (3) Nuggets vs. (6) Mavericks (4) Clippers vs. (5) Pelicans

East (1) Celtics vs. (8) Heat/76ers/Bulls/Hawks (2) Bucks vs. (7) Heat/76ers (3) Cavaliers vs. (6) Pacers (4) Knicks vs. (5) Magic

WESTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS

1.  minnesota timberwolves  (51-22).

• Clinched:  Play-In spot
• Magic Number:  Playoff spot (1)
• Tiebreaker vs. Nuggets: Wolves clinched
• Tiebreaker vs. Thunder:  Wolves currently own via division record

2.  Oklahoma City Thunder  (51-22)

• Magic Number:  Playoff spot (1)
• Tiebreaker vs. Nuggets:  OKC has clinched
• Tiebreaker vs. Wolves:  Wolves currently own via division record

3.  Denver Nuggets  (51-23)

• Tiebreaker vs. Thunder:  OKC has clinched
• Tiebreaker vs. Wolves:  Wolves clinched

4.  Los Angeles Clippers  (46-27)

• Magic Number:  Play-In spot (2)
• Tiebreaker vs. Pelicans:  Pelicans have clinched
• Tiebreaker vs. Suns:  Clippers lead 2-0 with two to play

5. New Orleans Pelicans (45-28)

• Magic Number:  Play-In spot (3)
• Tiebreaker vs. Clippers:  Pelicans have clinched
• Tiebreaker vs. Kings:  Pelicans have clinched
• Tiebreaker vs. Suns:  Suns lead 1-0 with two to play

6.  Dallas Mavericks  (44-29)

• Magic Number:  Play-In spot (4)
• Tiebreaker vs. Kings:  Mavs lead via conference record
• Tiebreaker vs. Suns:  Mavs clinched
• Tiebreaker vs. Warriors:  Mavs lead 2-0 with two to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Lakers:  Mavs clinched

PLAY-IN TOURNAMENT

7.  phoenix suns  (43-31).

• Magic Numbers:  Play-In spot (5)
• Tiebreaker vs. Kings:  Tied 2-2 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Dallas:  Mavs clinched
• Tiebreaker vs. Warriors:  Suns clinched
• Tiebreaker vs. Lakers:  Lakers clinched

8.  Sacramento Kings  (42-31)

• Magic Number:  Play-In spot (6)
• Tiebreaker vs. Mavericks: Mavs lead via conference record
• Tiebreaker vs. Suns:  Tied 2-2 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Warriors:  Kings lead via division record
• Tiebreaker vs.  Lakers :  Kings have clinched

9. Los Angeles Lakers (41-33)

• Magic Number:  Play-In spot (7)
• Tiebreaker vs. Warriors:  Warriors lead 2-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Suns:  Lakers clinched
• Tiebreaker vs. Mavs:  Mavs clinched
• Tiebreaker vs. Kings:  Kings clinched
• Tiebreaker vs. Rockets:  Rockets lead via conference record

10. Golden State Warriors (39-34)

• Magic Number:  Play-In spot (9)
• Tiebreaker vs. Kings: Kings lead via division record
• Tiebreaker vs. Mavs: Mavs lead 2-0 with two to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Suns:  Suns clinched
• Tiebreaker vs. Lakers: Warriors lead 2-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Rockets : Warriors clinched

IN THE HUNT

11. houston rockets (38-35).

• Tiebreaker vs. Lakers:  Rockets lead via conference record
• Tiebreaker vs. Warriors : Warriors clinched

EASTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS

1. boston celtics (57-16).

• Clinched:  No. 1 seed
• Magic Number:  Best overall record (5)

2. Milwaukee Bucks (46-27)

• Magic Number:  Playoff spot (3)
• Tiebreaker vs. Knicks:  Bucks clinched
• Tiebreaker vs. Cavs: Bucks lead via division leader

3.  Cleveland Cavaliers  (45-29)

• Magic Number:  Playoff spot (4)
• Tiebreaker vs. Bucks:  Bucks lead via division leader
• Tiebreaker vs. Knicks:  Knicks clinched
• Tiebreaker vs. Magic:  Magic currently own via division leader

4.  New York Knicks  (44-29)

• Clinched:  Play-In spot
• Magic Number:  Playoff spot (5)
• Tiebreaker vs. Bucks: Bucks clinched
• Tiebreaker vs. Cavs:  Knicks clinched
• Tiebreaker vs. Magic:  Magic clinched

5. Orlando Magic (42-31)

• Magic Number:  Playoff spot (7)
• Tiebreaker vs. Cavs:  Magic currently own via division leader
• Tiebreaker vs. Knicks:  Magic clinched
• Tiebreaker vs. Pacers:  Magic clinched

6. Indiana Pacers (41-33)

• Clinched: Play-In spot
• Tiebreaker vs. Heat:  Tied 1-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. 76ers:  Pacers clinched

7.  Miami Heat  (40-33)

• Tiebreaker vs. Pacers:  Tied 1-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. 76ers:  Miami leads 2-1 with one to play

8. Philadelphia 76ers (39-35)

• Clinched: Play-in spot
• Tiebreaker vs. Pacers:  Pacers clinched
• Tiebreaker vs. Heat:  Miami leads 2-1 with one to play

9. Chicago Bulls (35-39)

• Magic Number:  Play-In spot (3)
• Tiebreaker vs. Hawks:  Bulls clinched

10. Atlanta Hawks (34-39)

• Magic Number:  Play-In spot (4)
• Tiebreaker vs. Bulls:  Bulls clinched

Looking for more NBA coverage? John Gonzalez, Bill Reiter, Ashley Nicole Moss and special guests dive deep into the league's biggest storylines daily on  the Beyond the Arc podcast .

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Jasmyn wimbish • 2 min read, share video.

NBA Playoff Picture: Standings, matchups, tiebreakers

How Hartenstein became everything Knicks needed

Green continues to undercut Dubs, Curry

What's going on with the Clippers?

Wembanyama is first rookie since Shaq to put up 40-20

Kings reportedly lose Monk (MCL) for 4-6 weeks

A-Rod vows to fight to complete Wolves sale

Kings' Huerter to have season-ending surgery

Cavs owner says he thinks Mitchell will sign extension