1
Rough ocean waves, casually
CHOP
5
Shade of blond or gray
ASH
8
Top-notch
AONE
9
Sports org. that puts on the College Football Playoff
NCAA
10
Hardships
WOES
11
Baby deer
FAWN
12
Short satirical sketch
SKIT
13
Clickable text in an email
LINK
14
Opposites of compulsive cleaners
SLOBS
16
“The Simpsons” bus driver with a palindromic name
OTTO
19
2026 Super Bowl champs … or a hint to this puzzle’s circled letters (and their shape!)
SEAHAWKS
23
Tree-cutting expert
ARBORIST
24
What you need to go from E to F
GAS
25
Rejections
NOS
1
Crows’ cries
CAWS
2
“Hand-y” accessories for a pirate costume, perhaps
HOOKS
3
Buck ___, co-founder of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
ONEIL
4
Green sauce
PESTO
5
Berry touted as a superfood
ACAI
6
Having been cut, as logs
SAWN
7
Walter’s D.E.A. agent brother-in-law on “Breaking Bad”
HANK
9
Gridiron standout
NFLSTAR
15
___ chic (free-spirited fashion style)
BOHO
17
Mattress size smaller than a full
TWIN
18
“And your point is …?”
OKSO
19
Droop
SAG
20
Reagan ___ (1981-89)
ERA
21
Target of bird-dog exercises
ABS
22
Rd. crossers
STS