“THE SCOREBOARD” INDIANA BOYS USA BASKETBALL POLLS CLASS 4A 1. FISHERS (13) 7-0 139 2. CROWN POINT (1) 5-0 127 3. LAWRENCE NORTH 6-0 101 4. PLAINFIELD 7-0 87 5. PIKE 6-1 78 6. MOUNT VERNON (FORTVILLE) 10-2 73 7. CARMEL 6-0 72 8. SOUTH BEND RILEY 6-0 36 9. GOSHEN 7-0 19 10. NORTHRIDGE 7-1 10 11. PORTAGE 9-0 7 12. SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH 6-3 5 13. BLOOMINGTON NORTH 5-1 4 CHESTERTON 6-1 4 15. HOMESTEAD 7-2 3 NEW ALBANY 3-2 3 17. PENN 6-2 2 18. EVANSVILLE NORTH 6-0 1 CLASS 3A 1. INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL (8) 7-1 130 2. SILVER CREEK (4) 8-1 124 3. INDIANAPOLIS RONCALLI (2) 6-0 113 4. COLUMBIA CITY 7-1 91 5. NORTHVIEW 7-3 69 6. SHELBYVILLE 8-1 55 7. BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL 4-2 35 8. PRINCETON 7-2 34 GUERIN CATHOLIC 4-2 34 10. BATESVILLE 6-0 23 INDIANAPOLIS ATTUCKS 5-2 23 12. FAIRFIELD 5-0 13 13. GIBSON SOUTHERN 6-2 11 14. BOONVILLE 9-1 7 15. NEW PALESTINE 4-2 3 16. FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK 5-3 1 HERITAGE HILLS 8-3 1 CLASS 2A 1. OAK HILL (6) 8-0 129 2. PARKE HERITAGE (8) 9-1 125 3. CENTERVILLE 6-0 107 4. PARK TUDOR 4-1 88 5. WESTVIEW 7-1 87 6. PAOLI 6-0 61 7. LINTON 7-2 45 8. BLACKFORD 6-0 32 9. GARY 21ST CENTURY 5-4 25 10. SOUTH RIPLEY 5-2 20 11. TRITON CENTRAL 6-1 17 12. SHENANDOAH 7-1 8 FOREST PARK 5-2 8 14. HERITAGE CHRISTIAN 4-1 6 SOUTHWESTERN (HANOVER) 5-3 6 16. LAPEL 4-1 3 UNIVERSITY 5-2 3 CLASS 1A 1. BARR-REEVE (8) 7-0 133 2. KOUTS (5) 6-0 131 3. HAUSER (1) 6-2 102 4. TRITON 6-1 81 5. BLOOMFIELD 7-2 69 6. WEST CENTRAL 7-0 59 7. ORLEANS 5-1 47 8. ROSSVILLE 7-1 45 9. LOOGOOTEE 8-2 39 10. LIBERTY CHRISTIAN 4-3 17 11. SOUTHWOOD 8-1 15 12. CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 6-2 10 13. NORTH DAVIESS 8-3 8 14. WASHINGTON TWP. 4-2 7 15. CLAY CITY 4-3 4 16. ELKHART CHRISTIAN 3-1 1 =========== INDIANA BOYS “SAGARIN” BASKETBALL RATINGS 4A MT. VERNON PLAINFIELD FISHERS CARMEL CROWN POINT NOBLESVILLE LAWRENCE NORTH PIKE PENN NEW ALBANY 3A SILVER CREEK CATHEDRAL GIBSON SOUTHERN COLUMBIA CITY SHELBYVILLE BREBEUF RONCALLI PRINCETON CRISPUS ATTUCKS FAIRFIELD 2A TRITON CENTRAL OAK HILL PARKE HERITAGE GARY 21ST CENTURY WESTVIEW LAPEL CENTERVILLE SCECINA UNIVERSITY PAOLI 1A BARR-REEVE HAUSER KOUTS NORTH DAVIESS ORLEANS NORTHEAST DUBOIS TRITON LOOGOOTEE WEST CENTRAL WOOD MEMORIAL ========== INDIANA BOYS BASKETBALL TUESDAY’S SCOREBOARD ANGOLA 68 MISSISSINEWA 56 BLUFFTON 49 CENTRAL NOBLE 37 CROWN POINT 75 INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL 72 EASTERN GREENE 66 NORTH KNOX 33 FRANKLIN CENTRAL 71 GREENFIELD-CENTRAL 35 FREMONT 57 OAK FARM MONTESSORI 45 GREENWOOD 55 TRITON CENTRAL 44 HAGERSTOWN 80 DALEVILLE 35 JASPER 59 EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL 33 KNIGHTSTOWN 76 CAMBRIDGE CITY LINCOLN 52 MONROE CENTRAL 68 MADISON-GRANT 40 NEW ALBANY 78 SEYMOUR 33 NORWELL 53 FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA 49 RANDOLPH SOUTHERN 60 WINCHESTER 41 SPEEDWAY 54 DANVILLE 40 TRI 40 MORRISTOWN 35 WARSAW 56 PROVIDENCE 45 WESTVIEW 61 LEO 51 WOOD MEMORIAL 58 WHITE RIVER VALLEY 35 BETHESDA CHRISTIAN TOURNAMENT INDIANA MATH & SCIENCE 52 NORTHSIDE HOMESCHOOL 50 ASHVILLE (ALA.) 74 INDIANAPOLIS METROPOLITAN 69 FAITH CHRISTIAN 64 IRVINGTON PREP 55 UNIVERSITY 80 BETHESDA CHRISTIAN 39 CLAY CITY TOURNAMENT OWEN VALLEY 56 NORTH CENTRAL (FARMERSBURG) 46 CLAY CITY 51 NORTH VERMILLION 40 SCOTTSBURG 51 NORTH PUTNAM 31 DELPHI TOURNAMENT FRANKFORT 33 NORTH NEWTON 29 DELPHI 49 PIONEER 32 PIONEER 41 NORTH NEWTON 39 DELPHI 73 FRANKFORT 54 WINAMAC 42 NORTH MONTGOMERY 30 ROSSVILLE 60 TAYLOR 59 DELTA TOURNAMENT BELLMONT 56 WESTERN 54 CONNERSVILLE 75 SEEGER 45 INDIANAPOLIS SCECINA 57 JENNINGS COUNTY 45 FORT WAYNE SOUTH 50 DELTA 47 EDINBURGH TOURNAMENT COLUMBUS HOMESCHOOL 55 EDINBURGH 34 NORTHEASTERN 81 BROWN COUNTY 66 TRINITY LUTHERAN 66 BORDEN 52 INDIANAPOLIS RIVERSIDE 50 ALEXANDRIA 49 HUNTINGTON NORTH CLASSIC COLUMBIA CITY 60 MISHAWAKA MARIAN 38 FORT WAYNE DWENGER 63 INDIANAPOLIS TINDLEY 57 SOUTH BEND ADAMS 59 HUNTINGTON NORTH 52 JEFFERSON COUNTY INVITATIONAL SOUTHWESTERN (HANOVER) 93 RIVER CITY HOMESCHOOL 44 BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL 59 CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 36 PAOLI 73 MADISON 49 KOKOMO TOURNAMENT NORTHRIDGE 76 KOKOMO 61 SOUTH BEND RILEY 67 LAWRENCE NORTH 52 CHARLESTOWN 62 MERRILLVILLE 55 OT NEW HAVEN 58 INDIANAPOLIS CHATARD 48 LAWRENCE NORTH 53 KOKOMO 42 NORTHRIDGE 43 SOUTH BEND RILEY 38 LAPORTE TOURNAMENT MICHIGAN CITY 73 MARQUETTE CATHOLIC 58 LAPORTE 78 EAST CHICAGO CENTRAL 52 GARY LIGHTHOUSE 53 MUNSTER 52 FRANKLIN 62 LOWELL 39 MARQUETTE CATHOLIC 69 EAST CHICAGO CENTRAL 56 LAPORTE 45 MICHIGAN CITY 42 LOGANSPORT TOURNAMENT LOGANSPORT 67 CARROLL (FLORA) 43 TRI-COUNTY 64 CRAWFORDSVILLE 59 CRAWFORDSVILLE 77 CARROLL (FLORA) 31 TRI-COUNTY 66 LOGANSPORT 58 MIAMI COUNTY INVITATIONAL MACONAQUAH 55 NORTH MIAMI 50 PERU 66 CASTON 36 MITCHELL TOURNAMENT EASTERN (PEKIN) 45 ROCK CREEK ACADEMY 35 WEST WASHINGTON 55 MITCHELL 32 NORTH HARRISON 54 LOOGOOTEE 44 NORTH CENTRAL CLASSIC PIKE 86 PARK TUDOR 72 CARMEL 58 LAKE CENTRAL 45 JEFFERSONVILLE 59 NORTH CENTRAL (INDIANAPOLIS) 57 RICH SOUTH (ILL.) TOURNAMENT RICH TWP. (ILL.) 41 GARY WEST 38 RICHMOND TOURNAMENT INDIANAPOLIS HOMESCHOOL 63 PHALEN ACADEMY 56 PURDUE ENGLEWOOD 54 RICHMOND 53 KIPP INDY LEGACY 62 NORTH DECATUR 50 BUCKEYE (OHIO) 61 BEECH GROVE 56 INDIANAPOLIS WASHINGTON 66 FORT WAYNE NORTH 46 FORT WAYNE SNIDER 41 NORTHWOOD 29 SHELBYVILLE 76 GREENSBURG 50 BEN DAVIS 79 VALPARAISO 39 RICHMOND 67 PHALEN ACADEMY 62 PURDUE ENGLEWOOD 67 INDIANAPOLIS HOMESCHOOL 64 NORTH DECATUR 62 BEECH GROVE 60 KIPP INDY LEGACY 65 BUCKEYE (OHIO) 63 FORT WAYNE NORTH 60 NORTHWOOD 55 FORT WAYNE SNIDER 75 INDIANAPOLIS WASHINGTON 57 VALPARAISO 65 GREENSBURG 55 BEN DAVIS 62 SHELBYVILLE 56 SWITZERLAND COUNTY TOURNAMENT EAST CENTRAL 70 SWITZERLAND COUNTY 19 FORT WAYNE LUERS 87 HENRYVILLE 49 HAUSER 71 FRANKLIN COUNTY 42 TRI-WEST 61 MOUNT VERNON (POSEY) 42 WABASH VALLEY TOURNAMENT GREENCASTLE 59 LINTON 50 BLOOMFIELD 62 SULLIVAN 46 NORTHVIEW 59 MARTINSVILLE 42 TERRE HAUTE NORTH 56 PARKE HERITAGE 50 OT =========== BOYS WEDNESDAY’S SCHEDULE NO GAMES SCHEDULED =========== INDIANA GIRLS BASKETBALL “SAGARIN” RATINGS 4A WARSAW PIKE HOMESTEAD HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN EVANSVILLE REITZ BROWNSBURG VALPARAISO CENTER GROVE FLOYD CENTRAL LAWRENCE CENTRAL 3A SILVER CREEK BELLMONT GREENSBURG WASHINGTON CATHEDRAL RONCALLI JENNINGS COUNTY CHARLESTOWN EVANSVILLE CENTRAL COLUMBIA CITY 2A WHITKO SOUTH KNOX EVANSVILLE MATER DEI NORTH KNOX TRITON CENTRAL BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL BREMEN PROVIDENCE RENSSELAER CENTRAL AUSTIN 1A MARQUETTE CATHOLIC BORDEN EVANSVILLE CHRISTIAN TRINITY LUTHERAN ORLEANS ELKHART CHRISTIAN FREMONT SPRINGS VALLEY KOUTS OLDENBURG ACADEMY =========== INDIANA GIRLS BASKETBALL TUESDAY’S SCORES BLOOMINGTON SOUTH 53 WARREN CENTRAL 36 BOONE GROVE 51 LAKE STATION 45 EVANSVILLE MATER DEI 59 TELL CITY 32 EVANSVILLE NORTH 61 EVANSVILLE HARRISON 37 FOREST PARK 53 CRAWFORD COUNTY 49 GRIFFITH 67 RIVER FOREST 53 HUNTINGTON NORTH 64 MISSISSINEWA 38 INDIANAPOLIS TINDLEY 72 INDIANAPOLIS SCECINA 31 JAC-CEN-DEL 52 NORTH DECATUR 50 JAY COUNTY 66 YORKTOWN 59 LAFAYETTE JEFF 51 RENSSELAER CENTRAL 44 NEW CASTLE 58 LEBANON 40 NORTH DAVIESS 40 TECUMSEH 34 OLDENBURG ACADEMY 49 WALDRON 13 OWEN VALLEY 69 BROWN COUNTY 36 PERRY MERIDIAN 45 PARK TUDOR 43 ROCK CREEK ACADEMY 54 WASHINGTON CATHOLIC 24 SULLIVAN 44 TERRE HAUTE NORTH 32 TIPPECANOE VALLEY 51 FORT WAYNE WAYNE 29 VINCENNES RIVET 54 SHOALS 15 WARSAW 76 FAIRFIELD 58 WASHINGTON 69 NORTH POSEY 32 AUSTIN TOURNAMENT SPRINGS VALLEY 52 SWITZERLAND COUNTY 25 BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE 47 TRINITY LUTHERAN 26 AUSTIN 63 WEST WASHINGTON 31 PAOLI 41 LANESVILLE 32 JASPER 52 JEFFERSONVILLE 38 SHAWE MEMORIAL 57 SOUTH DEARBORN 14 TRINITY LUTHERAN 55 SWITZERLAND COUNTY 25 BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE 57 SPRINGS VALLEY 52 LANESVILLE 44 SOUTH DEARBORN 17 SHAWE MEMORIAL 52 PAOLI 36 JEFFERSONVILLE 72 WEST WASHINGTON 21 JASPER 46 AUSTIN 41 BREBEUF JESUIT CLASSIC BREBEUF JESUIT 51 INDIAN CREEK 37 CORYDON CENTRAL 54 HARRISON (WEST LAFAYETTE) 43 INDIAN CREEK 46 HARRISON (WEST LAFAYETTE) 41 BREBEUF JESUIT 47 CORYDON CENTRAL 43 CARL SANDBURG (ILL.) TOURNAMENT LAKE CENTRAL 49 LARKIN (ILL.) 44 CENTER GROVE TOURNAMENT CENTER GROVE 46 BROWNSBURG 43 SILVER CREEK 70 NORTH KNOX 53 BROWNSBURG 92 NORTH KNOX 52 CENTER GROVE 47 SILVER CREEK 38 MIAMI COUNTY INVITATIONAL NORTH MIAMI 32 CASTON 30 MACONAQUAH 49 PERU 36 NORTH CENTRAL CLASSIC VALPARAISO 52 AVON 40 INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL 60 NORTH CENTRAL (INDIANAPOLIS) 58 HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN 50 DECATUR CENTRAL 44 NORTHEASTERN TOURNAMENT DELTA 46 NORTHEASTERN 42 BORDEN 59 HERITAGE CHRISTIAN 49 SOUTH KNOX 64 LAPEL 48 FLOYD CENTRAL 47 CONNERSVILLE 32 NORTHRIDGE TOURNAMENT WESTFIELD 53 NORTHRIDGE 48 GREENSBURG 65 MARQUETTE CATHOLIC 56 HOMESTEAD 65 FRANKLIN CENTRAL 51 PENN 59 RUSHVILLE 16 MARQUETTE CATHOLIC 73 RUSHVILLE 41 NORTHRIDGE 64 FRANKLIN CENTRAL 57 PENN 41 WESTFIELD 34 HOMESTEAD 84 GREENSBURG 44 SCOTTSBURG TOURNAMENT BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL 52 SEYMOUR 45 MADISON 66 SCOTTSBURG 34 SEYMOUR 63 SCOTTSBURG 44 MADISON 49 BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL 37 EAST CENTRAL 59 BATESVILLE 23 COLUMBUS NORTH 54 EASTERN (PEKIN) 42 SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH TOURNAMENT SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH 73 LAKELAND 27 PORTAGE 57 GOSHEN 23 LAKELAND 48 GOSHEN 33 SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH 90 PORTAGE 39 TWIN LAKES TOURNAMENT MCCUTCHEON 68 MUNSTER 37 MOUNT VERNON (FORTVILLE) 67 TWIN LAKES 29 CROWN POINT 61 INDIANAPOLIS CHATARD 53 =========== WEDNESDAY’S SCHEDULE ALL TIMES EASTERN FREMONT AT FORT WAYNE LUERS 1:00 PM =========== INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING https://indianamat.com =========== MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL TOP 25: #12 NORTH CAROLINA 79 FLORIDA STATE 66 #19 TENNESSEE 105 SOUTH CAROLINA STATE 54 #16 LOUISVILLE 90 CALIFORNIA 70 #13 NEBRASKA 86 NEW HAMPSHIRE 55 #7 GONZAGA 99 SAN DIEGO 93 ELSEWHERE: OHIO 80 CENTRAL MICHIGAN 64 PRINCETON 75 VERMONT 69 OT WYOMING 68 AIR FORCE 56 NORTHWESTERN 80 HOWARD 60 SOUTH CAROLINA 96 ALBANY 67 TOLEDO 84 WESTERN MICHIGAN 79 WISCONSIN 80 MILWAUKEE 60 MIAMI OHIO 93 BOWLING GREEN 83 MIAMI FLORIDA 76 PITTSBURGH 69 SETON HALL 79 MARQUETTE 73 TEMPLE 76 CHARLOTTE 73 DUQUESNE 89 DAVIDSON 83 2OT EASTERN MICHIGAN 80 MASSACHUSETTS 74 NOTRE DAME 47 STANFORD 40 CREIGHTON 89 BUTLER 85 ST. MARY’S 72 PEPPERDINE 45 UTAH STATE 72 FRESNO STATE 63 NEVADA 75 COLORADO STATE 62 SANTA CLARA 92 PORTLAND 85 OREGON STATE 70 SAN FRANCISCO 62 LOYOLA MARYMOUNT 80 PACIFIC 71 SEATTLE 69 WASHINGTON STATE 55 SAN DIEGO STATE 81 SAN JOSE STATE 68 BOISE STATE 62 NEW MEXICO 53 =========== WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL TOP 25: NO GAMES SCHEDULED ELSEWHERE: NO GAMES SCHEDULED =========== COLLEGE FOOTBALL TUESDAY, DEC. 30 LOUISIANA TECH 23 COASTAL CAROLINA 14 ILLINOIS 30 TENNESSEE 28 TCU 30 USC 27 OT WEDNESDAY, DEC. 31 12 P.M. | NO. 14 VANDERBILT VS. NO. 23 IOWA | RELIAQUEST BOWL (TAMPA, FLA.) | ESPN 2 P.M. | DUKE VS. ARIZONA STATE | SUN BOWL (EL PASO, TEXAS) | CBS 3 P.M. | NO. 13 TEXAS VS. NO. 18 MICHIGAN | CITRUS BOWL (ORLANDO, FLA.) | ABC 3:30 P.M. | NO. 15 UTAH VS. NEBRASKA | LAS VEGAS BOWL (LAS VEGAS, NEV.) | ESPN 7:30 P.M. | NO. 2 OHIO STATE VS. NO. 10 MIAMI (FLA.) | COTTON BOWL (CFP QUARTERFINAL) (ARLINGTON, TEXAS) | ESPN THURSDAY, JAN. 1 12 P.M. | NO. 4 TEXAS TECH VS. NO. 5 OREGON | ORANGE BOWL (CFP QUARTERFINAL) (MIAMI, FLA.) | ESPN 4 P.M. | NO. 1 INDIANA VS. NO. 9 ALABAMA | ROSE BOWL (CFP QUARTERFINAL) (PASADENA, CA.) | ESPN 8 P.M. | NO. 3 GEORGIA VS. NO. 6 OLE MISS | SUGAR BOWL (CFP QUARTERFINAL) (NEW ORLEANS, LA.) | ESPN FRIDAY, JAN. 2 1 P.M. | RICE VS. TEXAS STATE | ARMED FORCES BOWL (FORT WORTH, TEXAS) | ESPN 4:30 P.M. | NAVY VS. CINCINNATI | LIBERTY BOWL (MEMPHIS, TENN.) | ESPN 8 P.M. | WAKE FOREST VS. MISSISSIPPI STATE | DUKE’S MAYO BOWL (CHARLOTTE, N.C.) | ESPN 8 P.M. | SMU VS. ARIZONA | HOLIDAY BOWL (SAN DIEGO) | FOX THURSDAY, JAN. 8 7:30 P.M. | FIESTA BOWL (CFP SEMIFINAL) (GLENDALE, ARIZ.) | ESPN FRIDAY, JAN. 9 7:30 P.M. | PEACH BOWL (CFP SEMIFINAL) (ATLANTA, GA.) | ESPN MONDAY, JAN. 19 7:30 P.M. | COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME (MIAMI, FLA.) | ESPN =========== WEEK 18 SCHEDULE SATURDAY, JAN. 3 CAROLINA PANTHERS AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS, 4:30 P.M. ET SEATTLE SEAHAWKS AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS, 8 P.M. ET SUNDAY, JAN. 4 GREEN BAY PACKERS AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS, 1 P.M. ET CLEVELAND BROWNS AT CINCINNATI BENGALS, 1 P.M. ET INDIANAPOLIS COLTS AT HOUSTON TEXANS, 1 P.M. ET NEW ORLEANS SAINTS AT ATLANTA FALCONS, 1 P.M. ET DALLAS COWBOYS AT NEW YORK GIANTS, 1 P.M. ET TENNESSEE TITANS AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS, 1 P.M. ET NEW YORK JETS AT BUFFALO BILLS, 4:25 P.M. ET DETROIT LIONS AT CHICAGO BEARS, 4:25 P.M. ET LOS ANGELES CHARGERS AT DENVER BRONCOS, 4:25 P.M. ET KANSAS CITY CHIEFS AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS, 4:25 P.M. ET ARIZONA CARDINALS AT LOS ANGELES RAMS, 4:25 P.M. ET MIAMI DOLPHINS AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS, 4:25 P.M. ET WASHINGTON COMMANDERS AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES, 4:25 P.M. ET BALTIMORE RAVENS AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS, 8:20 P.M. ET ============ NBA PHILADELPHIA 139 MEMPHIS 136 OT BOSTON 129 UTAH 119 DETROIT 128 LA LAKERS 106 LA CLIPPERS 131 SACRAMENTO 90 ============ NHL MONTRÉAL 3 FLORIDA 2 OT TORONTO 4 NEW JERSEY 0 PITTSBURGH 5 CAROLINA 1 NY ISLANDERS 3 CHICAGO 2 PHILADELPHIA 6 VANCOUVER 3 ============ TOP NATIONAL HEADLINES/PRESS RELEASES NFL NEWS WEEK 18 NFL PREVIEW Two playoff spots, four division titles and the top seed in both conferences will be decided in Week 18. Denver (13-3, AFC West champion), New England (13-3, AFC East champion), Jacksonville (12-4), Buffalo (11-5), Houston (11-5) and the Los Angeles Chargers (11-5) – have secured AFC playoff berths with the winner of Baltimore (8-8) at Pittsburgh (9-7) in #Game272 on Sunday Night Football (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC) deciding the final AFC playoff team. Seattle (13-3), San Francisco (12-4), Chicago (11-5, NFC North champion), the Los Angeles Rams (11-5), Philadelphia (11-5, NFC East champion) and Green Bay (9-6-1) have qualified for the postseason in the NFC while the winner of the NFC South and final NFC playoff team will be Carolina (8-8) or Tampa Bay (7-9), who meet in Tampa on Saturday afternoon (4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC). The Bears and Patriots won their division this season after finishing last in their divisions in 2024. In 20 of the past 23 seasons (2003-25), at least one team finished in first place in its division the season after finishing in last or tied for last place. The 49ers and Panthers can also accomplish this feat on Saturday in Week 18. Three divisions – AFC East (New England), AFC West (Denver) and NFC North (Chicago) – have a new winner this season while four other divisions – AFC North (Pittsburgh), AFC South (Jacksonville), NFC South (Carolina) and NFC West (Seattle) – each have a team in first place entering Week 18 that did not win its division last season. There have been at least two new division winners for 23 consecutive seasons (2003-25) and since 2002, there have been seven new division winners in a season only once (2011). Five teams – Chicago, Jacksonville, New England, San Francisco and Seattle – have qualified for the playoffs after missing the postseason last year. Since 1990 – a streak of 36 consecutive seasons (1990-2025) – at least four teams every season have qualified for the playoffs after failing to make the postseason the year before. Carolina can join this group on Saturday with a win. The AFC entering Week 18: AFC North #Game272: The Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) will host the Baltimore Ravens (8-8) in #Game272, the final game of the 2025 regular season, on Sunday Night Football (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC) to determine the AFC North division champion. In Week 14, the Steelers defeated the Ravens, 27-22, as quarterback Aaron Rodgers passed for 284 yards and had two touchdowns (one passing, one rushing) in the victory. Pittsburgh can win the division for the first time since 2020 while Baltimore seeks its third consecutive AFC North title. The Ravens can become the third team since 1970 to begin 1-5 and win their division in the same season, joining Washington in 2020 and Cincinnati in 1970. AFC South: The Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4) lead the Houston Texans (11-5) by one game entering the final week of the season. Jacksonville hosts Tennessee (3-13) on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, FOX) and with a win, can secure the fifth division title in franchise history (1998-99, 2017 and 2022) and reach 13 wins in a season for the second time ever (14 wins in 1999). Houston hosts Indianapolis (8-8) in Week 18 (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS) and are the fifth team since 1990 to begin 0-3 and qualify for the postseason, joining the 2018 Houston Texans, 1998 Buffalo Bills, 1995 Detroit Lions and 1992 San Diego Chargers. With a Houston win and a Jacksonville loss in Week 18, the Texans win 12 games in a season for the second time in franchise history (2012) and secure their third consecutive division title. AFC No. 1 seed: The Denver Broncos (13-3), New England Patriots (13-3) and Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4) each can secure the top seed, lone first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs in Week 18. Denver would be the No. 1 seed in the AFC with a win against the Los Angeles Chargers (11-5) on Sunday afternoon (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS). The Broncos, which won the AFC West for the first time since 2015, can win 14 games in a season for the second time in franchise history (1998). Denver won Super Bowl 50 following the 2015 season at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, the host of Super Bowl LX, the last time they were the No. 1 seed in the AFC. On Sunday, New England can earn the top seed with a win against Miami (7-9) (4:25 p.m. ET, FOX) and a Denver loss while Jacksonville would be the top seed with a win against Tennessee (3-13) (1 p.m. ET, FOX) and losses by both Denver and New England. The NFC entering Week 18: NFC West and the No. 1 seed: The Seattle Seahawks (13-3) visit the San Francisco 49ers (12-4) on Saturday night (8 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC) with the winner securing the NFC West division title along with the top seed, lone first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. The 49ers defeated the Seahawks, 17-13, in Week 1 as quarterback Brock Purdy connected with tight end Jake Tonges for the game-winning touchdown with 1:44 remaining. With a win, the Seahawks can set a single season franchise record with 14 wins and win the division for the first time since 2020. Seattle can be the No. 1 seed for the first time since 2014, when they won Super Bowl XLVIII. Since head coach Mike Macdonald was hired in 2024, Seattle leads the NFL with 14 road victories, the second-most road wins by a head coach in his first two seasons all time (George Seifert, 16 road wins from 1989-90). The 49ers can win the NFC West for the third time in the past four seasons and win 13 games in a season for the third time under head coach Kyle Shanahan (2019 and 2022). San Francisco can become the top seed for the third time in the past seven seasons (2019 and 2023), previously advancing to the Super Bowl on both occasions. Since 1975, the 49ers have been the No. 1 seed 10 times, the most among all teams. NFC South: The Carolina Panthers (8-8) will visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9) on Saturday (4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC) and one of those two teams will claim the NFC South division title and the No. 4 seed in the NFC playoffs. In Week 16, the Panthers defeated the Buccaneers, 23-20, as quarterback Bryce Young had two touchdown passes and a 102.5 rating in the win. Carolina can clinch its first NFC South division title since 2015 with a win OR an Atlanta victory over New Orleans in Week 18. Tampa Bay needs a win in Week 18 along with an Atlanta loss to win the division for the fifth consecutive season. The Panthers can become the 10th team in the past 20 seasons (2006-25) to secure a division title after beginning a season 1-3. Among the milestones players can reach in Week 18: Cleveland’s Myles Garrett leads the NFL with 22 sacks and can surpass Michael Strahan (22.5 sacks in 2001 with the New York Giants) and T.J. Watt (22.5 in 2021 with Pittsburgh) for the most sacks in a season since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic. Baltimore’s Derrick Henry ranks fourth in NFL history with 122 career rushing touchdowns and can tie Pro Football Hall of Famer Marcus Allen (123 rushing touchdowns) for the third-most rushing touchdowns in NFL history, trailing only Pro Football Hall of Famers Emmitt Smith (164) and LaDainian Tomlinson (145). Atlanta’s Bijan Robinson leads the NFL with 2,255 scrimmage yards and can become the third player all-time with 2,400 scrimmage yards in a season, joining Chris Johnson (2,509 scrimmage yards in 2009 with Tennessee) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk (2,429 in 1999 with the St. Louis Rams). Seattle’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba has 1,709 receiving yards in 2025 and can become the seventh player all-time with at least 1,800 receiving yards in a single season. WEEK 18 PLAYOFF SCENARIOS AFC CLINCHED: Denver Broncos (13-3) – AFC West New England Patriots (13-3) – AFC East Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4) – playoff berth Buffalo Bills (11-5) – playoff berth Houston Texans (11-5) – playoff berth Los Angeles Chargers (11-5) – playoff berth Denver Broncos (13-3) vs. Los Angeles Chargers (11-5); Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS Denver clinches the AFC’s No. 1 seed, lone first-round bye and home-field advantage with: DEN win OR DEN tie + NE loss or tie OR NE loss + JAX loss or tie New England Patriots (13-3) vs. Miami (7-9); Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX New England clinches the AFC’s No. 1 seed, lone first-round bye and home-field advantage with: NE win + DEN loss or tie OR NE tie + DEN loss Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4) vs. Tennessee (3-13); Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX Jacksonville clinches AFC South division title and the AFC’s No. 1 seed, lone first-round bye and home-field advantage with: JAX win + DEN loss + NE loss Jacksonville clinches AFC South division title with: JAX win or tie OR HOU loss or tie Houston Texans (11-5) vs. Indianapolis (8-8); Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS Houston clinches AFC South division title with: HOU win + JAX loss Baltimore Ravens (8-8) at Pittsburgh (9-7); Sunday night, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC Baltimore clinches AFC North division title with: BAL win Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) vs. Baltimore (8-8); Sunday night, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC Pittsburgh clinches AFC North division title with: PIT win or tie NFC CLINCHED: Seattle Seahawks (13-3) – playoff berth San Francisco 49ers (12-4) – playoff berth Chicago Bears (11-5) – NFC North Los Angeles Rams (11-5) – playoff berth Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) – NFC East Green Bay Packers (9-6-1) – playoff berth San Francisco 49ers (12-4) vs. Seattle (13-3); Saturday night, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC San Francisco clinches NFC West division title and the NFC’s No. 1 seed, lone first-round bye and home-field advantage with: SF win Seattle Seahawks (13-3) at San Francisco (12-4); Saturday night, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC Seattle clinches NFC West division title and the NFC’s No. 1 seed, lone first-round bye and home-field advantage with: SEA win or tie Carolina Panthers (8-8) at Tampa Bay (7-9); Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC Carolina clinches NFC South division title with: CAR win or tie OR ATL win Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9) vs. Carolina (8-8); Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC Tampa Bay clinches NFC South division title with: TB win + ATL loss or tie PATRIOTS STAR RECEIVER STEFON DIGGS FACES STRANGULATION CHARGES, DENIES ALLEGATIONS BOSTON (AP) — New England Patriots star wide receiver Stefon Diggs is facing strangulation and other criminal charges in connection with an episode that happened earlier this month, police said. News of the charges emerged after a court hearing Tuesday in Dedham, Massachusetts. It is unclear what led to the charges, which include felony strangulation or suffocation and misdemeanor assault and battery. Diggs’ lawyer, David Meier, said in an emailed statement that Diggs “categorically denies these allegations.” Meier said the allegations never occurred, describing them as unsubstantiated and uncorroborated. “The timing and motivation for making the allegations is crystal clear: they are the direct result of an employee-employer financial dispute that was not resolved to the employee’s satisfaction,” Meier wrote. In a statement, the Patriots said they were also standing by Diggs: “We support Stefon,” the team said. Diggs, 32, established himself as one of the NFL’s best wide receivers during a run with Minnesota and Buffalo from 2018 to 2023, when he had six consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons and was selected to the Pro Bowl four times. After a lackluster stint in Houston last year, Diggs ended up in New England, signing a three-year, $69 million deal in free agency that guaranteed him $26 million. Diggs has proven a reliable target for second-year quarterback Drake Maye and is a big reason why the team has once again clinched the AFC East title as the team heads toward the playoffs. Off the field, though, his tenure with the Patriots got off to a rocky start when a video surfaced on social media in May showing Diggs passing what appeared to be a bag of pink crystals to women on a boat. It wasn’t clear what the substance was, and an NFL spokesperson said the league would not comment. Patriots coach Mike Vrabel said the team would handle that matter internally. STEELERS COULD HAVE T.J. WATT BACK FOR ‘AFC NORTH CHAMPIONSHIP’ SHOWDOWN AGAINST RAVENS PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers could have outside linebacker T.J. Watt back for their “win or go home” showdown with Baltimore for the AFC North title on Sunday night. Coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday he’s “more optimistic” than he has been that the perennial Pro Bowl edge rusher will be available after sitting out each of the past three games while recovering from surgery to repair a partially collapsed lung sustained following a dry needling treatment. Tomlin added he’d like to see Watt practice fully at some point this week. Watt was a limited participant last week before being held out of Sunday’s 13-6 loss to Cleveland, a setback that cost the Steelers (9-7) a chance to wrap up the division with a week to go. Now, Pittsburgh either needs to win or tie the Ravens (8-8) on Sunday night to win the AFC North for the first time since 2020. Tomlin doesn’t think Watt’s extended downtime will have a significant impact on the 31-year-old Watt’s stamina, should he be cleared to play. “I doubt that TJ is ever out of football shape or conditioning over the course of a 12-month calendar,” Tomlin said. “I just know how he lives his life and how he prepares and how thoughtful he is in terms of what he puts in his body and how we trains.” While Watt’s familiar No. 90 could return, massive tight end Darnell Washington is out indefinitely after having surgery on Monday for a broken arm suffered in the first half against the Browns. Tomlin did not rule out Washington’s potential availability should Pittsburgh advance to the playoffs, though the Steelers would likely need to make a deep run to have any chance of seeing the uniquely talented 6-foot-7, 300-plus-pound Washington in the huddle. Wide receiver Calvin Austin III (hamstring), veteran left guard Isaac Seumalo (triceps), cornerback Brandon Echols (groin) and cornerback James Pierre (calf) — all of whom sat out last week — could return against the Ravens. The Steelers will need as many healthy bodies available as possible, particularly on offense, to avoid a stunning late collapse. Pittsburgh sputtered in Cleveland without suspended wide receiver DK Metcalf, who will also sit out this week as punishment for making contact with a fan in Detroit earlier this month. Pittsburgh managed just 160 net yards passing against the Browns, a big chunk of it coming on a last-second drive that ended with Aaron Rodgers throwing incomplete in the end zone to wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling on three consecutive plays. Rodgers had perhaps his best game of the season in Pittsburgh’s road win at Baltimore on Dec. 7, thanks in large part to a seven-catch, 148-yard performance from Metcalf. Downfield shots were nowhere to be found on a blustery day in Cleveland, where Rodgers’ longest completion was a 29-yarder to tight end Pat Freiermuth. While Tomlin allowed both teams will add a “wrinkle” or two in the rematch, the reality is scheme is unlikely to play a significant role in a series that has produced its fair share of memorable high-stakes meetings through the years. The stakes should keep the Steelers from having a hangover after letting the lowly Browns jump to an early 10-point lead before holding on. Asked if it was frustrating to lose to a team that came in with just three wins on the season with so much on the line, Tomlin shrugged. “Man, there’s a lot of things that you could get frustrated about in our business,” he said. “I’ve learned to kind of always move forward. My windshield is much bigger than my rearview.” Maybe, but there’s a chance the game could also be the 264th and final regular-season game of quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ Hall of Fame-caliber career. The 42-year-old four-time MVP said over the summer that his 21st season could be his last, though he also said last week he feels as if he’s aging backward and has been relatively healthy save for a broken left wrist that forced him to sit out a loss to Chicago in late November. Rodgers said on Sunday that he expects Pittsburgh to recover and beat the Ravens. That inherent confidence is one of the reasons the Steelers spent months courting him in free agency last spring. “That’s one of the things that made him really attractive to us, that ‘can do’ attitude and the experience and resume that goes with it,” Tomlin said. “I don’t think it’s work for him. I think it is as natural as breathing. And so if he’s breathing, I expect to see that from him as we lean in on this game.” 49ERS RB CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY, LT TRENT WILLIAMS MISS PRACTICE The San Francisco 49ers practiced Tuesday without two key pieces of their offense, running back Christian McCaffrey and left tackle Trent Williams. They were not mere veterans’ rest days. McCaffrey appeared on the injury list with a new back issue, and Williams was listed with the right hamstring injury sustained Sunday night in San Francisco’s 42-38 win over the Chicago Bears. The NFC West title and No. 1 playoff seed in the conference are on the line when the 49ers host the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday, and it’s up in the air whether either former All-Pro player will miss the game. Niners coach Kyle Shanahan called McCaffrey’s ailment “back stiffness,” and the running back insisted to reporters Tuesday it was not serious. As for Williams, he left the Bears game after hurting his hamstring on the first play of the night. “Not sure how long (he’ll be out),” Shanahan said. “He’s got a shot for this week.” McCaffrey has battled injuries throughout his career but has started all 16 games for San Francisco thus far this season. He has compiled a career-high 303 carries for 1,179 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns while adding 96 receptions for 890 yards and seven scores. The 49ers listed tight end George Kittle (ankle) as a limited participant in Tuesday’s practice. Kittle sat out the Bears game, and his return for Week 18 is no guarantee. “I wouldn’t assume that” Kittle will play, Shanahan said. “We’re barely moving today. We have a short week, so we won’t be doing much all week.” Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee/ankle) and defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos (knee) were the other notable 49ers who were limited on Tuesday. Defensive lineman Keion White (groin) and fullback Kyle Juszczyk (hip) sat out. The Seahawks held a walkthrough on Tuesday and listed starting left tackle Charles Cross (hamstring) and his backup Josh Jones (ankle/knee) as DNPs on their estimated report. Wide receiver/return specialist Rashid Shaheed (concussion) and safety Coby Bryant (knee) were limited. BUCS DENOTE QB BAKER MAYFIELD LIMITED ON ESTIMATED PRACTICE REPORT During his three years in Tampa Bay, quarterback Baker Mayfield has yet to miss a starting assignment. It’s unlikely he’s going to miss Saturday’s regular-season finale. There have been many injury obstacles for the veteran to overcome, especially in 2025, and another set are at work as the Buccaneers face a must-win situation this weekend. Mayfield was designated as a limited participant on Tuesday’s estimated injury report, listing right shoulder and knee injuries. Tampa Bay conducted a walk-through practice in preparation for Saturday’s home contest vs. NFC South-leading Carolina. Mayfield has steered clear of the injury report in recent weeks after landing on the list earlier in the season with a left shoulder injury. In the first nine games this season, Mayfield threw 16 touchdowns and only two interceptions as the Bucs took control of the division with a 6-3 mark. But as Tampa Bay has backslid over the past two months, Mayfield has struggled, tossing eight picks and nine touchdowns. His completion percentage is down to 62.8%, the lowest in three seasons in Tampa. For the season, he has thrown for 3,490 yards, 25 TD passes and 10 interceptions. Tampa Bay must defeat Carolina and have New Orleans defeat Atlanta to win the NFC South with an 8-9 record. COWBOYS RELEASE VETERAN CB TREVON DIGGS The Dallas Cowboys released two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Trevon Diggs on Tuesday. The 27-year-old veteran will be subject to the waiver process and if unclaimed, will become a free agent. Diggs confirmed the news to NFL Network, telling a reporter that “he will miss his time in Dallas, he assures me he is healthy and motivated as he looks to join another team looking for another piece to add this postseason.” Diggs, a second-round pick by Dallas in the 2020 NFL Draft, signed a five-year, $97 million extension in July 2023. Any team claiming him would be on the hook for Diggs’ base salary of $472,000 for Week 18, plus $58,823 if he is active for this week’s game, per ESPN. Since signing the extension ahead of the 2023 season, Diggs has played in just 21 of a possible 50 games, dealing with multiple injuries. He sustained a torn ACL in practice two games into the 2023 campaign and missed the rest of the season. He was activated from the physically unable to perform list in August after missing the final six games of the 2024 season with a left knee injury. Diggs then landed on injured reserve on Oct. 25, reportedly to help strengthen a right knee problem, though he also reportedly suffered a concussion in an “accident at his home” at some point after a Week 6 loss to the Carolina Panthers. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer and owner Jerry Jones did not share details of the incident or described how Diggs was injured. He returned to action for the Cowboys’ past two games, notching a combined seven tackles in a loss to the Los Angeles Chargers and a win over the Washington Commanders. Diggs has 25 tackles in eight games (six starts) this season for the Cowboys (7-8-1), whose season ends on the road on Sunday against the New York Giants. In 66 career games (63 starts), Diggs has 20 interceptions, 63 passes defensed and 240 tackles. He was named first-team All-Pro in 2021, when he led the league with 11 interceptions and returned two of them for touchdowns. He made the Pro Bowl in 2021 and 2022. ========== COLLEGE FOOTBALL RESTED OR RUSTY? TOP FOUR PLAYOFF SEEDS EAGER TO SHOW THEY ARE READY AS CFP QUARTERFINALS ARRIVE No. 1 Indiana spent several December weeks reveling in the luster of the best season in school history. They sung the school’s fight song in the confetti celebration following their first Big Ten championship since 1967 and first outright title since 1945. They were featured on “60 Minutes.” They signed their offensive and defensive coordinators to contract extensions. They even flew to New Yorck City and took photos of quarterback Fernando Mendoza and his brand new Heisman Trophy in Times Square. And now that they know their Rose Bowl opponent after Alabama rallied for a 34-24 victory at Oklahoma, Indiana has spent the past 10 days prepping to prove they’re worthy of holding both the No. 1 ranking and the top seed in the College Football Playoff. “We understand that just like the Big Ten Championship game, just like any other big games we played this season, this page is now folded, although I will be in the (Heisman) fraternity for the rest of my life,” Mendoza said after returning to campus with the Heisman. “Our focus right now is winning the College Football Playoff. That’s what would make this trophy so much sweeter.” Last year was the first for the expanded 12-team playoff, and the top four seeds with first-round byes — Oregon, Georgia, Bosie State and Arizona State — all lost in the quarterfinals. This year’s top seeds — Indiana, Ohio State, Georgia and Texas Tech — want to prove last year was a fluke. Georgia (12-1) face conference foe Ole Miss (12-1) in a New Year’s Day rematch at the Sugar Bowl; the Bulldogs dealt the Rebels their only loss. The defending champion Buckeyes (12-1) have spent the past couple weeks getting healthy and making one key change. Coach Ryan Day will be calling the plays when Ohio State faces Miami (11-2) in the Cotton Bowl on Wednesday night. “There’s not a game that’s gone by where I’m not involved or listening to every call and making sure it’s what we’ve agreed upon going in (to the game),” Day said, explaining why he’s taking over the playcalling from new South Florida coach Brian Hartline. “So, it’s similar to the way it was before.” The other quarterfinal matchup pits Texas Tech (12-1), the Big 12 champion, against Oregon (11-1). The Hoosiers (13-0) never lost their focus in 2025, thanks partly to second-year coach Curt Cignetti but mostly because the Hoosiers’ returning contingent — players such as linebacker Aiden Fisher, defensive end Mikail Kamara and receivers Elijah Sarratt and Omar Cooper Jr. — wouldn’t allow it. Neither did the newcomers such as Mendoza and starting center Pat Coogan, who immediately embraced Indiana’s mission to avenge the two losses that tainted Cignetti’s otherwise flawless first season: At eventual national champion Ohio State and at eventual national runner-up Notre Dame. Outsiders entered this season wondering whether the remarkable turnaround of the losingest football program in Football Bowl Subdivision history was merely a one-hit wonder. Yet with each passing week, the Hoosiers answered the challenge, turning some doubters into believers. “For us, it’s not really three weeks of being off, it’s more so about getting better at what you do right now,” Fisher said. “And when the time comes to scout another opponent, you’ll be an even better player and in a better situation to do that. I think that’s a big thing.” Now comes the toughest test so far: A game at the Rose Bowl against the Crimson Tide, which has won six national championships since 2009. Cignetti is a former Alabama assistant while Crimson Tide coach Kalen DeBoer is a former Indiana assistant. “We understand we’ve got a great football team with Indiana,” DeBoer said. “Coach Cignetti, just what he’s done is amazing here these last two years, just building the program as quickly as he’s done to the level it’s at. Really looking forward to us diving back into our process here, getting back to work.” So far, Indiana has met every challenge with late scores to win at Iowa, at Oregon and at Penn State before upsetting the then top-ranked Buckeyes on Dec. 6. Cignetti has relied on those lessons to help his team through his long layoff. “Until we knew the opponent, we treated it like two bye weeks. Now we have almost two weeks to prepare for the opponent,” he said last week. “Would I prefer to play earlier? Yeah, I probably would, to be quite honest with you. But that’s not the case. We’re excited about playing. We’re off to a good start, and it will be a tremendous challenge.” The Hoosiers don’t expect anything less from themselves. They intend to be rested and ready — not rusty. “I believe we’ve earned these bye weeks,” Mendoza said. “I think it’s a great honor to have a bye week, and we still have great momentum going into the playoff. I think it’s a great opportunity to rest our bodies and stay sharp on our fundamentals.” ALABAMA DEFENDERS HUBBARD, LAWSON AND JEFFERSON ARE TRAVELING REDEMPTION ROAD TO THE ROSE BOWL TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Alabama’s defense is filled with comeback and redemption stories. There’s safety Bray Hubbard, a junior who struggled in a season-opening loss at Florida State and rallied to become a third-team All-America selection. There’s linebacker Deontae Lawson, a senior who tore a ligament in his right knee in November 2024 and worked his way back in time for the opener. He leads the Crimson Tide with 85 tackles. There’s fellow linebacker Justin Jefferson, another senior who initially thought he was out of college eligibility before being granted an additional year as a former junior college transfer. He ranks second on the team in tackles (82) and tackles for loss (6 1/2). The trio leads the way for a unit that seems determined to make amends for a disappointing season last year. They’ll no doubt be ones to watch when the 13th-ranked Crimson Tide (10-3) take on No. 1 Indiana (13-0) and Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal matchup at the Rose Bowl on Thursday. Alabama is the No. 9 seed in the CFP. “You think back on where we have gone and you think about a year ago,” Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack said. “Not being able to answer the bell and not punch back. Now, I think all our kids do is they fight, they punch and they just keep punching.” It starts with Hubbard, Lawson and Jefferson — three guys who seem to play with a chip on their shoulder. Hubbard was widely vilified for his effort against the Seminoles, including one particular play in which he appeared to be jogging, and he didn’t bother trying to defend himself. Instead, he vowed to let it fuel him the rest of the season. Since that 31-17 loss in Tallahassee, Alabama has have been mostly buttoned up on that side of the ball, holding 11 of its last 12 opponents to 24 points or fewer. “I know he was super disappointed,” coach Kalen DeBoer said about Hubbard. “Many guys were, with Week 1, with just the production. I would never really question how important it is to him. It means so much to play at a high level but even more to do it with his teammates. “He takes it upon himself to make sure that, yes, the unit that’s on the field, the 1s, the 2s, that they’re playing at a high level and held to the standard.” Lawson and Jefferson could be in the NFL right now. But they were among six defensive starters who put off the draft and opted to stay in school. Among the reasons: they wanted another shot at a national championship after last year’s team stumbled at Oklahoma and got left out of the playoff. That game was in the front of their minds when Alabama got a rematch in Norman in the opening round of the CFP. Defense was the main reason the Tide turned a 17-0 deficit into a 34-24 victory. The unit intercepted a pass for a touchdown to gain momentum and allowed just seven points in the second half. “We’ve faced about every offense that you can think of,” Hubbard said. “We’ve kind of seen it all and just keep growing. That’s kind of what you got to do.” Alabama ranks 13th nationally in total yards allowed (288.9 a game) and points allowed (17.9 a game). Alabama already has wins against several notable QBs, some of them even one-time front-runners in the Heisman race. The list includes Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia, South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers, LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier and Oklahoma’s John Mateer. Might Mendoza be next? He has the Hoosiers humming and averaging 472.8 yards and 41.9 points. Behind Hubbard, Lawson and Jefferson, Alabama is confident it can pull an upset and keep its redemption season rolling. OHIO STATE’S CALEB DOWNS IS QUITE THE CFP VETERAN HEADING INTO THE QUARTERFINALS AGAINST MIAMI ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Caleb Downs had to be reminded that he was getting ready for his sixth College Football Playoff game, which probably won’t be rare a decade from now but is unique in just the second year of the expanded 12-team format. The Ohio State safety smiled at the thought and figured it couldn’t hurt to have played in the CFP as a freshman at Alabama, losing 27-20 to Michigan in overtime before transferring to the Wolverines’ biggest rival and winning four postseason games and a national championship with the Buckeyes a year ago. “That could be a positive, just knowing that I’ve been in this situation so many times,” said Downs, a two-time Associated Press All-American. “At the end of the day, it’s not about me. It’s about everybody else feeling confident during the game. Really just trying to push that to all my teammates.” He’s talking younger teammates such as freshman Devin Sanchez, a backup cornerback who has tried to imagine the nerves and emotions in the hours before kickoff Wednesday night in a Cotton Bowl quarterfinal against No. 10 Miami. The Hurricanes (11-2, CFP No. 10 seed) are first-time CFP qualifiers, but got a start on those nerves with the 10-3 first-round victory at Texas A&M on Dec. 20. The third-ranked Buckeyes (12-1, CFP No. 2) got a first-round bye despite losing to top-ranked Indiana in the Big Ten championship game. “Lean on them a lot, more than you think,” Sanchez said. “They’re guys that have been here a lot of times, a couple of guys have been to the Cotton Bowl for the third straight year in a row. So this is not a new place for them. As a new guy, there’s nothing I can do but lean on them. The speed will be a little different. The intensity will be up a little bit more. Just lean on those guys, and when my number’s called just be able to go out there and make sure that they trust me to be out there.” Downs remembers the nerves from his CFP debut with the Crimson Tide. He was in the Rose Bowl, a spectacle he had seen on TV as a kid. “That was probably the biggest game I had played at the time,” said Downs, one of the top players in the 2024 portal as the first freshman to lead the storied Alabama program in tackles. “Knowing that, it was a little bit of nerves.” The Buckeyes were in the Cotton Bowl for last season’s semifinals, beating Texas 28-14 after comfortable wins over Tennessee at home and No. 1 Oregon in a Rose Bowl quarterfinal. Downs found a way to leave the Rose Bowl with a better feeling. Now he’ll be back on the field where he intercepted Texas’ Quinn Ewers almost a year ago, in what will be his 44th game in just three seasons. “I think just in general with Caleb, just the amount of experience he has playing football is probably the most important thing,” first-year defensive coordinator Matt Patricia said. “His professionalism and how he prepares is probably the best example that I can point to for all the players.” Downs, a projected first-round pick should he decide to enter the NFL draft in April, isn’t the only experienced defensive back. Davison Igbinosun and Jermaine Matthews Jr., the starting cornerbacks in front of Sanchez, have been around awhile. Igbinosun was on the 2023 Ohio State team that also played in the Cotton Bowl, a 14-3 loss to Missouri after missing out on the last four-team playoff. A year later, Downs was with him, believing the experience of being in the playoff didn’t matter as much as losing in the playoff. “It definitely added a little bit of fuel to the fire because I lost my freshman year,” Downs said. “It made me want to come back and play better. I think that was a lot of what everybody else on the team felt because they didn’t have the success they wanted to earlier in their career. I think that was a hungry team. And we’ve got to be the same way this year.” NO. 3 GEORGIA AND NO. 6 MISSISSIPPI BRACE FOR REMATCH IN THE SUGAR BOWL CFP QUARTERFINAL No. 3 Georgia (12-1, CFP No. 3 seed) vs. No. 6 Mississippi (12-1, CFP No. 6 seed), Thursday, 8 p.m. EST (ESPN) BetMGM Sportsbook College Football Odds: Georgia by 6 1/2. Series record: Georgia leads 33-13-1. What’s at stake? The winner moves on to a CFP semifinal at the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 8. Georgia comes in on the heels of an SEC championship and one year after a loss to Notre Dame in a quarterfinal at the same bowl game. Now they’ll try to beat Ole Miss a second time in one season. These two teams met in Athens on Oct. 18, with the Bulldogs winning 43-35. The was the Rebels’ only loss. They earned a rematch by routing Tulane 41-10 in the opening round of the College Football Playoff on Dec. 20, about three weeks after their coach for most of this season, Lane Kiffin, left for LSU and was replaced by former defensive coordinator Pete Golding. Key matchup Georgia tight end Lawson Luckie was a major matchup problem for the Ole Miss defense in the last meeting. He caught three TD passes from Bulldogs QB Gunner Stockton. Rebels linebackers and safeties will try to have a better plan this time for covering Luckie, who was a key safety valve for Stockton, particularly in the red zone. All three of Luckie’s touchdowns came on snaps inside the Ole Miss 15-yard line. Players to watch Mississippi: QB Trinidad Chambliss has provided one of the most compelling story lines in all of college football this season. The transfer from Division II Ferris State began the season as a backup and performed so well as an early season injury replacement that he kept the starting job for the rest of the season. Along the way, the dual-threat QB has passed for 3,298 yards and 19 TDs to go with 506 yards and eight TDs rushing. Georgia: Stockton also is a threat as both a passer and a runner, and improved throughout his first full year as the Bulldogs’ starter. He’s completed 70.7% of his passes this season for 2,691 yards and 23 TDs while also rushing for 442 yards and eight TDs. Facts & figures The 50th meeting on the field between these SEC foes will be their first in the postseason. It’ll also be the eighth time they’ve played when both were ranked, with the Bulldogs having won five of the previous seven such matchups. … Georgia and Mississippi have never previously played twice in the same season. … Ole Miss’ CFP opener was Golding’s only game as a college football head coach. … Mississippi is in its 11th Sugar Bowl, having gone 6-4 in its previous 10. The Rebels’ last trip to the Sugar Bowl came after the 2021 season and they lost to Baylor 21-7. … Ole Miss led the SEC this season in total offense with 498 yards per game and passing offense with 312.4 yards per game. … Georgia is making its 13th appearance in the Sugar Bowl, having gone 5-7 in its previous 12. … The Bulldogs are in their fifth CFP, all under coach Kirby Smart. They are 5-2 in CFP games, including national titles in 2021 and 2022. … The Bulldogs won their 16th SEC championship with a 28-7 victory over Alabama on Dec. 6. Georgia has now won two straight SEC titles for the first time since winning three in a row from 1980-82. … Georgia has gone 65-6 since 2021, the best record of any Football Bowl Subdivision team during the past half decade. … Last year’s Sugar Bowl was delayed by a day because of the killing of 14 people on Bourbon Street by an attacker who drove a truck into a crowd and then died in a shootout with police in the early morning hours of New Year’s Day. ORANGE BOWL SHOWDOWN: TEXAS TECH AND OREGON ARE MIRROR IMAGES, SET TO FACE OFF IN CFP QUARTERFINALS MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — The formula for getting to this season’s Orange Bowl apparently went like this: Score a ton of points, allow very few points, have a big play on basically every possession, excel on third downs offensively, be stingy on third downs defensively. That was Texas Tech’s path. That was also Oregon’s path. Numbers-wise, Texas Tech and Oregon have basically been mirroring images of one another this season. They’re both 12-1, neither has lost since mid-October, both have top-10 scoring offenses, both have top-10 scoring defenses … the similarities go on and on and on. The Red Raiders ( No. 4 AP, No. 4 CFP) and Ducks (No. 5 AP, No. 5 CFP) will square off in the Orange Bowl on New Year’s Day in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, with the winner headed to the national semifinals at the Peach Bowl next week against either Indiana or Alabama. “Everybody knows the stakes,” Oregon coach Dan Lanning said. “These are moments that you’re excited to get to go be a part of.” There are no shortage of numbers that have one team looking a lot like the other. Points per game, it’s Texas Tech 42.5 and Oregon 39.2. Points allowed per game, it’s Texas Tech 10.9 and Oregon 16.3. Yards per game, it’s Texas Tech 480 and Oregon 469. Yards allowed per game, it’s Texas Tech 254 and Oregon 271. Yards allowed per play, it’s Texas Tech 3.96 and Oregon 4.36. “How lucky are we? And that’s not a question, but man, a statement of gratitude,” Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire said. “You know, if you had told my 13-year-old self that I’m getting ready to coach on January 1st in the Orange Bowl at 11 a.m. Central time, man, I would have probably never believed it. So, I’m just so fortunate and grateful that we get to do this and man, we’re excited.” It could be argued that this is already the best season in Texas Tech history, with a school record for wins and a strong likelihood that the Red Raiders will finish the year 10th or better in the final AP Top 25 for the first time. Clearly, they are aiming for much more. “It’s more of an internal thing for us to push through and try to be the best that we can no matter what the outside voices say,” star Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez said. “If they say that we’re the best, we’ll try to play the best. If they say we’re the worst, we’ll try to play the best.” Oregon quarterback Dante Moore said after the Ducks’ win over James Madison in Round 1 of the CFP that this has been the longest season of his life — now 14 games and counting, with the potential of two more after this one. And he’s not complaining. “I feel like with this team, we were very young at the beginning of the year, but we’ve had a lot of experience,” Moore said. “We’ve been pushing each other every day.” Playing early Texas Tech will be playing for the sixth time this season in a game starting at noon Eastern, or 11 a.m. Central. The Red Raiders are 5-0 in those games this season. “I started saying we’re the best 11 o’clock team in the country,” McGuire said. It’s the second noon Eastern — or 9 a.m. Pacific — game for Oregon. The Ducks beat Northwestern 34-14 on Sept. 13 in the other early kick they had this season. And obviously, both teams have been in South Florida for a few days — plenty of time to acclimate to time changes. Among the best The game features some of college football’s active career leaders in a few different statistical categories at the FBS level. Oregon’s Dillon Thieneman leads all active players in solo tackles per game over a career (4.78), while Texas Tech’s 1-2 defensive punch of Rodriguez and David Bailey are also on the active leader lists. Rodriguez is second in forced fumbles among active FBS players (13), while Bailey is third in forced fumbles (10) and third in sacks (28). Something will give? A good rule for the Orange Bowl: 35 points is typically enough. And these two teams make scoring 35 points look easy at times. Teams that score 35 or more points in the Orange Bowl are 24-1 all-time. The exception was Jan. 3, 2014, when Clemson beat Ohio State 40-35. The average score of an Orange Bowl to this point: 28-14. The series This could have been the third consecutive season where Oregon and Texas Tech met on the field. They played in 2023 and were scheduled to again last season — but altered those plans so Oregon could continue its annual rivalry game with Oregon State. The 2024 game was moved to the 2033 season. Explosive plays Another numerical similarity: Big plays. Oregon has 91 plays for 20 or more yards this season, the most in the country. The No. 2 team on that list? Texas Tech, with 90 such plays. OREGON, TEXAS TECH SET TO MAKE ORANGE BOWL DEBUTS, WITH BERTH IN CFP SEMIFINALS AT STAKE No. 5 Oregon (12-1, CFP No. 5 seed) vs. No. 4 Texas Tech (12-1, CFP No. 4 seed), Thursday, 12 p.m. EST (ESPN) BetMGM Sportsbook College Football Odds: Oregon by 2 1/2. Series record: Oregon leads 3-0. What’s at stake? A berth in the College Football Playoff semifinals against either Indiana or Alabama awaits the winner of this game, which happens to be a matchup of two teams making their Orange Bowl debuts. The winner of the Oregon-Texas Tech game moves on to the Peach Bowl on Jan. 9; the other CFP semifinal — pitting the Ole Miss-Georgia winner against the Ohio State-Miami winner — is the day before at the Fiesta Bowl. Key matchup Impossible to say there is just one (or two, or three), but the obvious one would pit Oregon QB Dante Moore against the Texas Tech defensive front led by All-American LB Jacob Rodriguez. If Moore has time, he’s lethal. He’s 13-0 in college in games where he averages more than 7 yards per passing attempt. Players to watch Oregon: RB Jordon Davison. The freshman hurt his right foot in the CFP first-round win over James Madison, but leads the Ducks with 13 TD runs on only 98 carries this season — and the indications are that he’ll be ready to play in the Orange Bowl. Texas Tech: LB David Bailey. He’s part of the 1-2 punch of All-Americans alongside Rodriguez, and his 12.5 sacks so far this season are the clear proof that even the best blocking schemes have been no match for him in 2025. Facts & figures Texas Tech has outscored opponents by 262 points in first halves this season, the biggest margin in the country. Oregon is No. 2 on that list, outscoring opponents by 222 points in the first two quarters. … Both teams had their one loss in mid-October — Texas Tech on Oct. 18 against Arizona State, Oregon on Oct. 11 against Indiana. … The teams met in 2023, a wild back-and-forth affair where Oregon prevailed 38-30. Oregon still has 13 of its players who appeared in that game, and Texas Tech still has eight. … Oregon is coming to Miami for the third time to play a third different opponent. The Ducks lost to Florida in 1929 and to the Hurricanes in 1958. … Texas Tech offensive coordinator Mack Leftwich and Oregon assistant offensive line coach/run game coordinator Cutter Leftwich are brothers. They’ve never previously faced off as coaches; they did once when Cutter, the younger brother, was playing at McNeese State and Mack was a graduate assistant at Incarnate Word. …. Oregon coach Dan Lanning is 47-7 in his career, now just ahead of Chip Kelly (46-7) for the best winning percentage as coach of the Ducks. JEREMY PAYNE’S OT JAUNT LIFTS TCU PAST NO. 16 USC IN ALAMO BOWL Jeremy Payne broke two tackles on his way to the game-winning touchdown and TCU shocked Southern California 30-27 in overtime to win the Alamo Bowl in dramatic fashion Tuesday in San Antonio. TCU faced third-and-20 and needed at least a field goal to match USC and force a second overtime. Ken Seals threw a checkdown to the running back Payne, who made multiple Trojans miss while remaining inbounds along the left sideline and then sprinting to the end zone. “We’re trying to figure out if (we’re) about to kick a field goal,” TCU coach Sonny Dykes said in the postgame TV interview. “He makes about four guys miss. You got to give our guys credit. So proud of this group, they hung in there. It didn’t look great. Jeremy made plays, Ken made plays. Defense kept us in the game.” The unlikely play capped a comeback from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit for TCU (9-4). Payne finished with 73 rushing yards and one touchdown along with six receptions for 50 yards and the winning score. Seals, who got the start after quarterback Josh Hoover opted out in anticipation of entering the transfer portal, finished 29-for-40 for 258 yards, the one TD and one interception. “He’s going to be a Fort Worth legend,” Dykes said of Seals, a former starter at Vanderbilt who backed up Hoover for two years. “Never buy a drink in Fort Worth the rest of his life. He’s a great college football story. Just persevered, hung in there, and then he got his time. He got his time, he got his chance, he made the most of it and he was ready.” Jayden Maiava completed 18 of 30 passes for 280 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions for USC (9-4). King Miller rushed for 99 yards and a touchdown but was stuffed twice from the 2-yard line during overtime, leading the Trojans to settle for Ryon Sayeri’s fourth field goal of the night. Tanook Hines caught six passes for 163 yards. Jaden Richardson made a highlight-reel play to put the Trojans ahead in the final minute of the third quarter. A backup wide receiver with 11 receptions in two seasons for USC, he leapt and leaned back with his right arm outstretched to pluck Maiava’s 21-yard pass out of the air. Richardson tapped one foot in bounds on his way down for his first FBS touchdown. The two-point conversion, a pass to Taniela Tupou, was successful to give the Trojans a 21-14 lead. Sayeri converted from 41 yards out for a 10-point cushion with 9:37 to play. The Horned Frogs answered with a 75-yard drive culminating in Payne’s 5-yard touchdown run with 4:24 left. TCU forced a USC three-and-out and used the remaining 2:44 to set up Kyle Lemmermann’s 27-yard field goal to force overtime. Freshman running back Jon Denman rumbled in from the 5-yard line to put TCU up 7-3 early in the second quarter. The drive was arranged by Jamel Johnson’s fifth interception of the season. USC answered quickly. Miller had a 24-yard rush across midfield before ending the drive with a 2-yard score. TCU wideout Major Everhart converted a fourth-and-2 in the red zone, nearly scoring a touchdown on an 11-yard jet sweep, and Seals cashed in on a 1-yard keeper on the next play to make it 14-10 with 4:58 left in the half. Sayeri cut the margin to 14-13 with his 28-yarder just before halftime. Christian Pierce intercepted Seals during the first minute of the second half and USC drove to the TCU 7, but Maiava underthrew a pass to the end zone that Channing Canada picked off. ILLINOIS FIGHTS PAST TENNESSEE TO CAPTURE MUSIC CITY BOWL David Olano kicked a game-winning 29-yard field goal as time expired and Luke Altmyer passed and ran for one touchdown apiece as Illinois edged Tennessee 30-28 on Tuesday in the Music City Bowl in Nashville, Tenn. Illinois finished 9-4 as the program secured nine victories in consecutive seasons for the first time. Bret Bielema also became the first Fighting Illini coach to earn a bowl victory in successive campaigns. A senior and third-year starter, Altmyer shined in his Illinois swan song. He went 20-for-33 passing for 196 yards and a touchdown while rushing 10 times for 54 yards and a TD. Aidan Laughery gained 77 yards on 13 carries for Illinois, which outgained Tennessee 417-278. Jordan Anderson’s 13-yard run on fourth-and-1 from the Tennessee 31 helped set up the winning kick for Olano, who also connected from 30 and 28 yards. Tennessee (8-5) drew within 24-21 on DeSean Bishop’s 12-yard rushing touchdown with 11:40 remaining. Tennessee limited the Fighting Illini to Olano’s 28-yard field goal with 5:14 to go, then stormed ahead as Joakim Dodson returned the ensuing kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown and a 28-27 Volunteers lead. Joey Aguilar was 14-for-18 for 121 yards for Tennessee, while Bishop rushed 19 times for 93 yards and two touchdowns. The Fighting Illini were in control for much of the game and twice led by 10 points, including when linebacker Leon Lowery Jr. recovered the ball in the end zone after Joe Barna’s strip sack of Aguilar early in the third quarter. Illinois led 10-7 at halftime as Bielema twice bypassed field goal attempts in favor of going for it on fourth down. Illinois was unable to convert in both instances, turning the ball over on downs from the Tennessee 33 and 29. Tennessee capitalized on the first such turnover, driving 67 yards in 11 plays and punctuating the possession with Aguilar’s 7-yard scoring run with 6:16 remaining in the first quarter. Illinois answered with a touchdown on the ensuing drive, with Altmyer connecting with Justin Bowick for an 18-yard TD with 36 seconds left in the first. Olano kicked a 30-yard field goal with 21 seconds left in the second quarter after Volunteers counterpart Max Gilbert was wide right from 39 yards about three minutes earlier. Tennessee has lost 23 straight games when trailing by 10 points or more in the fourth quarter. LOUISIANA TECH RALLIES PAST COASTAL CAROLINA TO WIN INDEPENDENCE BOWL Trey Kukuk threw for 114 yards and a touchdown and helped Louisiana Tech score two touchdowns in a four-minute span in the fourth quarter for a 23-14 comeback victory against Coastal Carolina in the Independence Bowl on Tuesday in Shreveport, La. Kukuk, who threw an interception, also rushed for a game-high 121 yards on 19 carries as the Bulldogs (8-5) finished the season with a three-game winning streak for their first winning season since 2019. Tad Hudson threw for 311 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions on 25-for-49 passing for Coastal Carolina (6-7). The Chanticleers played under interim coach Jeremiah Johnson, who filled in after the firing of Tim Beck. Johnson was Louisiana Tech’s defensive coordinator a year earlier when the program played in the Independence Bowl. For the Bulldogs’ first touchdown, Kukuk hooked up with Marlion Jackson for a 52-yard touchdown play on the first snap following Jordan McRae’s interception of Hudson. Following a Coastal Carolina punt, it took just three plays for the Bulldogs to cover 49 yards. Kukuk had a 29-yard run, and Andrew Burnette’s 1-yard run with 8:09 remaining gave Louisiana Tech its first lead of the day. After the Chanticleers gave the ball back with less than two minutes to play following four consecutive incomplete passes, Kaegan Kent kicked a clinching 35-yard field goal with 56 seconds left. Coastal Carolina’s best scoring chance in the second half came in the third quarter, but Kian Afrookhteh’s 22-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Kenyatta McNeese. Coastal Carolina led 14-3 at halftime, holding the Bulldogs to 102 yards of total offense. The Chanticleers scored late in the first quarter on Hudson’s 20-yard pass to Dominic Knicely. Louisiana Tech scored on Kent’s 42-yard field goal to conclude an 11-play drive. The Chanticleers responded by going 75 yards in six plays, with Hudson’s 16-yard TD pass to Robby Washington coming with 1:16 to play in the half. The Bulldogs made it 14-6 on John Hoyet Chance’s 51-yard field after their first possession of the second half. Chance, a punter, was playing in his hometown. The teams will be future Sun Belt Conference rivals when Louisiana Tech makes the move from Conference USA. ========== NBA NEWS NBA ROUNDUP: SIXERS EDGE GRIZZLIES WITH LATE 3-POINTER IN OT Rookie VJ Edgecombe knocked down a 3-pointer with 2.2 seconds remaining in overtime, lifting the Philadelphia 76ers to a 139-136 victory over the host Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday. Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid led the 76ers with 34 points apiece and Edgecombe finished with 25, including 13 in the fourth quarter. Embiid added 10 rebounds and eight assists while Maxey dished out 12 assists as the 76ers snapped a three-game losing streak. Ja Morant led the Grizzlies with 40 points — 18 in the fourth quarter and six in OT — and rookie Cedric Coward added career highs of 28 points and 16 rebounds. Morant made 16 of 22 shots while Coward hit 10 of 16. Coward’s 3-point try to tie the game at the overtime buzzer fell short. The Grizzlies scored the final seven points of the fourth quarter — a four-point play from Jaren Jackson Jr. and two baskets by Morant — to send the game to overtime. Clippers 131, Kings 90 Kawhi Leonard scored 26 of his game-high 33 points in a runaway first half and Los Angeles went on to a fifth straight victory, routing Sacramento in Inglewood, Calif. James Harden chipped in with 21 points for the Clippers, who led 73-40 at halftime en route to their biggest margin of victory this season. Playing just 33 minutes, Leonard also found time for five rebounds, five assists and three steals for the Clippers. In losing for the eighth time in the past 10 games, the Kings never got closer than 28 in the second half. Rookie Nique Clifford had a season-high 18 points for the Kings, whose 90 points were a season low. Celtics 129, Jazz 119 Derrick White produced 27 points, seven blocks, seven rebounds and six assists to lead Boston to a victory over Utah in Salt Lake City. White became the first NBA player 6-foot-5 or shorter to finish with at least 25 points, six rebounds, six assists and six blocks in a game. Jaylen Brown tallied 23 points, 10 assists and six rebounds for the Celtics. Brown’s streak of nine consecutive 30-point games, which tied the franchise record set by Larry Brown, ended. Boston’s Anfernee Simons chipped in 20 points while Payton Pritchard added 18 points and six assists. Keyonte George had 37 points and seven assists to lead the Jazz, whose two-game winning streak was snapped. Jusuf Nurkic tallied 26 points, on 10-of-11 shooting, plus eight rebounds and eight assists. Lauri Markkanen amassed 22 points and nine rebounds. Pistons 128, Lakers 106 Cade Cunningham scored 27 points and dished out 11 assists as visiting Detroit earned a victory over Los Angeles to spoil LeBron James’ 41st birthday. Marcus Sasser put up 19 points, Isaiah Stewart scored 15 points and Jalen Duren added 14 points and eight rebounds as the Pistons avoided what would have been a season-worst three-game losing streak. Detroit shot a season-best 63.2% from the floor while ending their Western Conference road trip with a 3-2 record. Luka Doncic registered 30 points and 11 assists for the Lakers, though he committed eight turnovers. James added 17 points while becoming just the 12th player in NBA history to take the floor at age 41 or older. James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, played in his 1,577th career game, second to Robert Parish’s 1,611. =========== NHL NEWS NHL ROUNDUP: HABS COME BACK FOR OT WIN OVER PANTHERS Nick Suzuki scored two goals, including the game-winner 3:24 into overtime, as the Montreal Canadiens rallied to defeat the Florida Panthers 3-2 on Tuesday in Sunrise, Fla. Montreal trailed 2-0 with less than five minutes left in regulation, but Cole Caufield scored with 4:27 left. Suzuki scored with 1:22 remaining after the Canadiens pulled goalie Sam Montembeault for an extra attacker. Montembeault made 28 saves to earn the win against his former team. It was his first game since Dec. 9, after a stint in the AHL, and his first win since Nov. 28. Florida got goals from Brad Marchand and Sam Reinhart. Backup goalie Daniil Tarasov made 26 saves. Maple Leafs 4, Devils 0 Joseph Woll stopped 33 shots to earn his first shutout of the season and the third of his career as Toronto defeated visiting New Jersey. Bobby McMann and Nicolas Roy each had a goal and an assist for the short-handed Maple Leafs, who have won three of four. Calle Jarnkrok and Matthew Knies also scored while Nicholas Robertson added two assists. Jacob Markstrom made 26 saves for the Devils, who have lost four in a row. Penguins 5, Hurricanes 1 Anthony Mantha scored twice for the first time this season while leading Pittsburgh to a rout of visiting Carolina. Justin Brazeau, coming off a hat trick against Chicago on Sunday, and Tommy Novak both added a goal and an assist for the Penguins, who won their second straight game. Sidney Crosby also scored, Bryan Rust and Erik Karlsson assisted on a pair apiece, and Stuart Skinner stopped 27 shots. Mark Jankowski scored for the Hurricanes, who saw their two-game winning streak end. Frederik Andersen gave up five goals on 28 shots. Islanders 3, Blackhawks 2 (SO) Bo Horvat scored the lone shootout goal to accompany a goal in regulation, boosting visiting New York to a win over Chicago. Calum Ritchie added a goal for the Islanders, who won for the third time in four games. David Rittich stopped 17 shots through regulation and overtime for the victory. Teuvo Teravainen and Nick Lardis tallied the Blackhawks’ goals, both on assists from Oliver Moore after New York jumped ahead 2-0. Spencer Knight made 19 saves as Chicago fell to 1-7-1 in its past nine games. Flyers 6, Canucks 3 Carl Grundstrom stretched his goal-scoring streak to four games as Philadelphia recorded its league-leading 14th come-from-behind win, beating host Vancouver. Noah Cates, Travis Konecny and Bobby Brink each had a goal and an assist for the Flyers, who have won three of their past four games. Owen Tippett and Christian Dvorak also scored, Matvei Michkov and Trevor Zegras added two assists apiece, and Dan Vladar stopped 32 shots. Drew O’Connor and David Kampf each had a goal and an assist and Tom Willander also scored for the Canucks, who took their third loss in four games. Thatcher Demko registered 27 saves. =========== TOP INDIANA HEADLINES/PRESS RELEASES COLTS FOOTBALL COLTS SIGN CB WYETT EKELER TO PRACTICE SQUAD, RELEASE T ZACH THOMAS FROM PRACTICE SQUAD Indianapolis – The Indianapolis Colts today signed cornerback Wyett Ekeler to the practice squad and released tackle Zach Thomas from the practice squad. Ekeler, 5-11, 210 pounds, played in 49 career games at Wyoming (2020-24) and compiled 197 tackles (127 solo), 7.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, 19 passes defensed, four interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He earned Honorable Mention All-Mountain West recognition in 2023. Thomas, 6-5, 308 pounds, was signed to the team’s practice squad on December 16, 2025. He has played in 17 career games in his time with the Houston Texans (2024-25), New England Patriots (2024), Los Angeles Rams (2022-24) and Chicago Bears (2022). Thomas was originally selected by the Bears in the sixth round (186th overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft out of San Diego State. COLTS GREATS ADAM VINATIERI, REGGIE WAYNE AMONG 15 FINALISTS FOR PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2026 Adam Vinatieri and Reggie Wayne on Tuesday took the next step toward taking the place in Canton both earned during their historic playing careers, with the Pro Football Hall of Fame announcing both Colts greats among 15 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026. This is Vinatieri’s second year as a Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist in as many years of eligibility; despite being widely regarded as the greatest kicker in NFL history, he was not selected as a first-ballot Hall of Famer a year ago. Wayne, who is one of nine players in NFL history with at least 1,000 catches, 14,000 yards and 80 touchdowns, has not been selected in his previous six years of eligibility; he reached the finalist round in all six of those years. Vinatieri and Wayne previously were among 26 semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026. That list was reduced to 25 semifinalists in mid-December, when quarterback Philip Rivers ended his five-year retirement to step in behind center for the Colts. Longtime Colts defensive end Robert Mathis – the NFL’s all-time leader in strip-sacks – was not named a finalist for this year’s class; Mathis has been a semifinalist in each of his five years of eligibility but has not advanced to the finalist round. Running back Frank Gore, who played for the Colts from 2015-2017, was also among the 15 Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026 Modern Era finalists announced Tuesday: T Willie Anderson (1996-2008) QB Drew Brees (2001-2020) G Jahri Evans (2006-2017) WR Larry Fitzgerald (2004-2020) RB Frank Gore (2005-2020) WR Torry Holt (1998-2009) LB Luke Kuechly (2012-2019) QB Eli Manning (2004-2019) OLB/DE Terrell Suggs (2003-2019) K Adam Vinatieri (1996-2019) WR Reggie Wayne (2001-2014) TE Jason Witten (2003-2017, 2019-2020) S Darren Woodson (1992-2003) G/T Marshal Yanda (2007-2019) Both Holt and Wayne have now reached the finalist round of consideration seven times, tied for the most among those 15 finalists. Holt is in his 12th year of eligibility, and he along with Anderson, Kuechly and Vinatieri automatically were named finalists for 2026 because they made the cut to the final seven last year. For more on the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s selection process and how Vinatieri and Wayne stack up as candidates this year, check out today’s episode of The Colts Show Podcast with longtime Colts scribe Mike Chappell, who serves as a selector on the Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee. COLTS RELEASE UNOFFICIAL DEPTH CHART FOR WEEK 18 GAME VS. HOUSTON TEXANS OFFENSE WR: Michael Pittman Jr., Ashton Dulin LT: Bernhard Raimann, Luke Tenuta LG: Quenton Nelson C: Tanor Bortolini, Danny Pinter RG: Matt Goncalves, Dalton Tucker RT: Jalen Travis TE: Tyler Warren, Mo Alie-Cox, Will Mallory WR: Josh Downs WR: Alec Pierce, Laquon Treadwell QB: Philip Rivers, Riley Leonard RB: Jonathan Taylor, Tyler Goodson OR Ameer Abdullah, DJ Giddens Rivers was 17-of-30 for 147 yards, one touchdown and one interception on Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Warren had five receptions on five targets for 43 yards against the Jaguars. Taylor and Alie-Cox each recorded a touchdown on Sunday. DEFENSE DE: Kwity Paye, Tyquan Lewis, JT Tuimoloau DT: Neville Gallimore, Adetomiwa Adebawore, Chris Wormley NT: Grover Stewart, Eric Johnson II DE: Laiatu Latu, Samson Ebukam WLB: Germaine Pratt, Segun Olubi, Buddy Johnson, Jaylon Carlies MLB: Zaire Franklin, Austin Ajiake CB: Jaylon Jones, Johnathan Edwards FS: Camryn Bynum, Rodney Thomas II SS: Nick Cross, Reuben Lowrey III, George Odum N: Kenny Moore II CB: Sauce Gardner, Mekhi Blackmon, Cameron Mitchell Pratt had an interception, two passes defensed and seven tackles against the Jaguars. Moore recorded 10 tackles and a team-high two tackles for a loss on Sunday. Latu and Adebawore each had one sack against the Jaguars. SPECIALISTS P: Rigoberto Sanchez PK: Blake Grupe H: Rigoberto Sanchez LS: Luke Rhodes KR: Ameer Abdullah, Ashton Dulin PR: Anthony Gould, Josh Downs Dulin had two kick returns of over 50 yards in the Colts’ game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. ========= INDIANA PACERS GAME PREVIEW: PACERS VS MAGIC The Pacers (6-27) will look to close out 2025 on a high note when they host the Orlando Magic (18-15) at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Wednesday afternoon for a New Year’s Eve matinee. Indiana is looking to snap a nine-game skid and coming off an 0-2 road trip that wrapped up with a 126-119 loss on Monday night in Houston. While a late rally by Indiana’s reserves made the final margin close, the Rockets had a commanding lead in the second half, up by as many as 28 points before both teams emptied their benches. Houston outscored the Pacers 36-23 in the second quarter to take an 18-point lead into halftime, then won the third quarter 39-30 to essentially put the game away. “The problem that we’ve got to tackle is inconsistency,” Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said after the loss. “We didn’t get a horrible start to the game, but the middle part of the game, we were very poor. The fourth quarter is the only quarter we won in the game. As good as it felt to fight back, you’re not going to win games having to fight back every night.” Despite their recent slump, the Pacers have a chance to close out 2025 on a high note, as Carlisle needs just one more win to become the 11th head coach in NBA history to amass 1,000 career victories. The Magic have been up and down for the last few weeks, going 5-7 over their last 12 games, but still enter Wednesday tied for fifth place in the East. They are coming off a 107-106 loss on Monday night in Toronto where they blew a 21-point lead and fell in the final minute, spoiling a triple-double from All-Star forward Paolo Banchero, who had 23 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists. 24-year-old forward Franz Wagner leads Orlando in scoring at 22.7 points per game, but has not played since Dec. 7 due to a sprained ankle. Banchero is averaging 19.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 4.7 assists. Desmond Bane — who the Magic acquired from Memphis in a major trade over the summer — is averaging 19.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists. The Magic will not only be the Pacers final home game of 2025, they will also be their first road game of 2026. After Wednesday, Indiana will host San Antonio on Friday before traveling to Orlando for a rematch with the Magic on Sunday afternoon. Projected Starters Pacers: G – Andrew Nembhard, G – Bennedict Mathurin, F – Johnny Furphy, F – Pascal Siakam, C – Jay Huff Magic: G – Tyus Jones, G – Anthony Black, F – Desmond Bane, F – Paolo Banchero, C – Wendell Carter Jr. Injury Report Pacers: T.J. McConnell – probable (sore right hamstring), Ben Sheppard – questionable (left calf strain), Tyrese Haliburton – out (right Achilles tendon tear), Isaiah Jackson – out (concussion), Obi Toppin – out (right foot stress fracture) Magic: Desmond Bane – questionable (back spasms), Jonathan Isaac – questionable (sore left knee), Jalen Suggs – questionable (left hip contusion), Franz Wagner – out (left high ankle sprain), Moritz Wagner – out (left knee injury recovery) Last Meeting April 11, 2025: The Pacers fell to the Orlando Magic, 129-115, in their final home game of the regular season. Both teams elected to rest their starters with their postseason destinies largely fulfilled. Bennedict Mathurin led Indiana with 20 points and eight rebounds on the night, going 5-for-17 from the field but 9-for-13 from the free throw line. Second-year wing Jarace Walker tallied 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting (2-of-3 from 3-point range) and eight boards. Johnny Furphy finished with a then career-high 17 points, six rebounds, and three assists in a career-high 32 minutes. Quenton Jackson scored 13 points off the bench, fellow reserve Tony Bradley had 10 points and nine rebounds, and RayJ Dennis scored a career-best 10 points. Former Pacer Trevelin Queen had a career-high 25 points for the Magic off the bench, going 9-for-10 from the field and 5-for-5 from 3-point range. Fellow reserve Anthony Black added 21 points, six rebounds, and seven assists. Noteworthy This will be the 13th time in the last 16 years that the Pacers have hosted a game on New Year’s Eve. Indiana is 8-4 on New Year’s Eve over that stretch. The Magic have won the season series with Indiana the last two and three of the last four seasons. This is Orlando’s only visit to Gainbridge Fieldhouse this season. The Pacers will play in Orlando on Jan. 4 and March 23. Magic center Goga Bitadze was drafted by the Pacers with the 18th pick in the 2019 NBA Draft and spent nearly four full seasons with Indiana. Broadcast Information (Where to Watch and Listen to Pacers Games >>) TV: FanDuel Sports Network – Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host) Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan – Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (sideline reporter/host) ========== INDIANA FOOTBALL NO. 1 INDIANA RETURNS TO THE ROSE BOWL FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 1968 TO TAKE ON CFP STALWART ALABAMA No. 11 Alabama (11-3, CFP No. 9 seed) vs. No. 1 Indiana (13-0, CFP No. 1 seed), Thursday, 4 p.m. EST (ESPN) BetMGM Sportsbook College Football Odds: Indiana by 7. Series record: First meeting. What’s at stake? Undefeated Big Ten champion Indiana is playing in the Rose Bowl for the first time since Jan. 1, 1968, and finds itself three wins away from cementing the unlikeliest rise in recent college football history with a national title. The Hoosiers are in the CFP for the season straight season, having lost 27-17 at Notre Dame in the first round last year. Alabama is making its ninth CFP appearance but first under coach Kalen DeBoer. The Crimson Tide rallied from a 17-point deficit to win at Oklahoma on Dec. 19 to reach “The Granddaddy of Them All” for the ninth time, not including a BCS championship game victory in Pasadena, California, following the 2009 season. The winner advances to the CFP semifinals to play the Orange Bowl winner, No. 4 seed Texas Tech or No. 5 seed Oregon, in the Peach Bowl. Key matchup Alabama running back Jam Miller vs. Indiana linebackers Aiden Fisher and Rolijah Hardy. The Crimson Tide managed to advance despite running for 28 yards against the Sooners, with Miller managing just 11 yards on seven carries in his return from a leg injury sustained in the Iron Bowl. Miller has a team-high 504 yards rushing with three touchdowns while missing time because of various ailments, but indicated he is the healthiest he has been all season long. If Miller cannot establish some semblance of a ground game against Hardy (86 tackles, 13 tackles for loss) and Fisher (77 tackles, seven tackles for loss), Indiana’s outstanding defense will be able to unleash its devastating pass rush. Players to watch Alabama: QB Ty Simpson leads the SEC with 3,500 yards passing and 28 touchdowns in his first season as the Crimson Tide’s starter. He was 18 of 29 for 232 yards and two touchdowns against Oklahoma but took four sacks, Simpson’s seventh game where he was sacked at least three times. Indiana: QB Fernando Mendoza won the Heisman Trophy after throwing for 2,980 yards and a school single-season record 33 touchdowns. The potential No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL draft, Mendoza spent three seasons at California before transferring to Indiana. Facts & figures Alabama’s last appearance in the Rose Bowl was in 2024, a 27-20 overtime loss to eventual national champion Michigan in what would be head coach Nick Saban’s final game. … Indiana RB Roman Hemby is one of two FBS active players with 3,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving in his career. … The Crimson Tide is 2-0 against Heisman Trophy winners in bowl games, knocking off Miami QB Gino Torretta in the 1992 Sugar Bowl and Oklahoma QB Kyler Murray in the 2018 Orange Bowl. … The Hoosiers lead the country in third down conversion rate at 55.8%. … Alabama has a record 11 wins all-time against AP No. 1 ranked teams. … Indiana DE Stephen Daley will not play after sustaining a serious leg injury celebrating the Big Ten championship game win over Ohio State. Daley ranks second in the FBS in tackles for loss (19). ========== INDIANA WRESTLING INDIANA FINISHES IN FIFTH PLACE AND LANDS FIVE PLACERS AT MIDLANDS EVANSTON, Ill. ––– Indiana Wrestling wrapped up competition at the 61st annual Ken Kraft Midlands Championships on Tuesday. The Hoosiers finished in sixth place with 70.5 points. Indiana had five individuals place. Bryce Lowery (157) led the Hoosiers by taking second place. Gabe Sollars took third place in the197 Bracket. Derek Gilcher (174) secured fourth place, Henry Porter (141) earned sixth place and Roman Rogotzke (184) placed seventh. KEY MOMENTS • No. 8 Bryce Lowery competed strongly throughout Midlands, coming up just short in the final match. Lowery was defeated by Dylan Evans (Pittsburgh) by decision, 4-2. • No. 1 Gabe Sollars defeated Brockton Borelli (Stanford) in the 3rd Place Match by major decision, 9-1. • No. 4 Derek Gilcher fell to Sergio Desiante (Virginia Tech) by decision, 5-4, in the Third PLace Match. • No. 2 Henry Porter was defeated by Billy Dekraker (NU) due to injury in the Fifth Place Match. • No. 4 Roman Rogotzke took the win in the Seventh Place Match by injury. NOTABLES • Lowery’s second place finish is his best finish of the season. • Sollars was on the podium at Midlands for the second time in his career. • Indiana had five individuals place on the podium in back-to-back years at Midlands (6 athletes last year). Ken Kraft Midlands Championships Results Ayden Bollinger – 125 lbs. • R32: Ayden Bollinger (IU) advanced on bye. • R16: Blake West (NIU) def. Ayden Bollinger (IU): Dec. 9-3 • Cons. R2: Ayden Blooinger (IU) def. Drew Hansen (MSU): Dec. 10-6 • Cons. R3: Drew Davis (SIUE) def. Ayden Bollinger (IU): MD, 11-1 Jackson Blum – 133 lbs. • R32: Matty Lopes (Unattached) def. Jackson Blum (IU): Dec. 10-5 • Cons. R1: Jackson Blum (IU) advanced on bye. • Cons. R2: Andrew Austin (Central Michigan) def. Jackson Blum (IU): Dec. 9-4 Logan Frazier – 133 lbs. • R32: Logan Frazier (IU) advanced on bye. • R16: Dylan Shawver (Rutgers) def. Logan Frazier (IU): Dec. 8-3 • Cons. R2: Teddy Flores (Michigan) def. Logan Frazier (IU): Dec. 13-6 Blaine Frazier – 133 lbs. • R32: Sean Spidle (NU) def. Blaine Fraier (IU): Dec. 8-3 • Cons. R1: Blaine Frazeir advanced on bye. • Cons. R2: Porter Matecki (SIUE) def. Blaine Frazier (IU): 8-2 Lucas Peters – 141 lbs. • R32: Sidney Tildsley (Harvard) def. Lucas Peters (IU): Fall (4:06) • Cons. R1: Lucas Peters (IU) advanced on bye. • Cons. R2: Lucas Peters (IU) def. Danny Martinez (SIUE): Inj. • Cons. R3: Brogan Fielding (Unattached OSU) def. Lucas Peters (IU): Dec. 12-9 Henry Porter – 141 lbs. • R32: Henry Porter (IU) advanced on bye. • R16: Henry Porter (IU) def. Dj Gillett (Oregon State): Dec. 7-2 • Quarterfinal: Henry Porter (IU) def. Aiden Simmons (Cal Poly): Fall (6:54) • Semifinal: Elijah Cortez (Spartan Combat RTC) def. Henry Porter (IU): Inj. • Cons. Semi: Drew Gorman (Virginia Tech) def. Henry Porter (IU): Inj. • 5th: Billy Dekraker (NU) def. Henry Porter (IU): Inj. Henry Porter took 6th place in the 141 Bracket Joey Buttler – 149 lbs. • R32: Joey Buttler (IU) def. Charlie Fifield (Illinois): Fall (1:47) • R16: Joey Buttler (IU) def. Colin Kacena (Central Michigan): Dec. 5-4 • Quarterfinal: Sergio Lemley (Michigan) def. Joey Buttler (IU): Dec. 5-1 • Cons. R4: Andre Gonzales (Cal Poly) def. Joey Buttler (IU): Dec. 11-5 Hunter Sturgill – 149 lbs. • R32: Ben Lunn (SIUE) def. Hunter Sturgill (IU): MD, 12-0 • Cons. R1: Antonio Alvarado (Illinois) def. Hunter Sturgill (IU): Dec. 5-1 Aidan Torres – 149 lbs. • R32: Jackson Young (Maryland) def. Aidan Torres (IU): Dec. 7-3 • Cons. R1: Aidan Torres (IU) def. Danny Nini (Illinois): Inj. • Cons. R2: Aidan Torres (IU) def. Ben Lunn (SIUE): Dec. 8-6 • Cons. R3: Sam Cartella (NU) def. Aidan Torres (IU): TF, 17-0 Bryce Lowery – 157 lbs. • R32: Bryce Lowery (IU) advanced on bye. • R16: Bryce Lowery (IU) def. Keller Rock (Oregon State): MD, 11-2 • Quarterfinal: Bryce Lowery (IU) def. Anthony Berg (Cal Poly): MD, 15-2 • Semifinal: Bryce Lowery (IU) def. Kal Miller (Maryland): Dec. 5-1 • Final: Dylan Evans (Pittsburgh) def. Bryce Lowery (IU): Dec. 4-2 Bryce Lowery took 2nd place in the 157 Bracket Ryan Garvick – 157 lbs. • R32: Ryan Garvick (IU) advanced on bye. • R16: Conner Harer (Rutgers) def. Ryan Garvick (IU): Dec. 8-1 • Cons. R2: Ryan Garvick (IU) def. Wyatt Hepner (Harvard): Dec. 6-0 • Cons. R3: Ryan Bennett (Illinois) def. Ryan Garvick (IU): Dec. 4-1 Chris Crawford – 165 lbs. • R32: Chris Crawford (IU) def. Logan Swaw (Illinois): Dec. 12-5 • R16: Jacob Bostelman (NU) def. Chris Crawford (IU): Dec. 5-2 • Cons. R2: Chris Crawford def. Ej Parco (Stanford): Dec. 8-5 • Cons. R3: Chris Crawford (IU) def. Justin Gates (Michigan): Dec. 7-1 • Cons. R4: Jared Keslar (Pittsburgh) def. Chris Crawford (IU): Dec. 4-2 Chase Leech – 165 lbs. • R32: e’Than Birden (Ohio State) def. Chase Leech (IU): TF, 20-2 • Cons. R1: Chase Leech advanced on bye. • Cons. R2: Josh Knudten (Michigan) def. Chase Leech (IU): Fall (1:45) Orlando Cruz – 174 lbs. • R32: Orlando Cruz (IU) def. Ben Smith (Harvard): Dec. 6-3 • R16: Myles Takats (Bucknell) def. Orlando Cruz (IU): TF, 17-2 • Cons. R2: Orlando Cruz (IU) def. Nick Marienfeld (Central Michigan): Dec. 4-1 • Cons. R3: Bode Marlow (Pittsburgh) def. Orlando Cruz (IU): MD, 13-3 Derek Gilcher – 174 lbs. • R32: Derek Gilcher (IU) def. Andre Rocker (NU): TF, 16-1 • R16: Derek Gilcher (IU) def. Caleb Neal (SIUE): Dec. 7-2 • Quarterfinal: Derek Gilcher (IU) def. Richie Grungo (Lehigh): MD, 14-2 • Semifinal: Daschle Lamer (Oregon State) def. Derek Gilcher (IU): Dec. 11-4 • Cons. Semi: Derek Gilcher (IU) def. Eddie Enright (NU): MD, 14-5 • 3rd: Sergio Desiante (Virginia Tech) def. Derek Gilcher (IU): Dec. 5-4 Derek Gilcher took 4th place in the 174 Bracket Magnus Kuokkanen – 174 lbs. • R32: Magnus Kuokkanen advanced on bye. • R16: Jordan Chapman (Rutgers) def. Magnus Kuokkanen (IU): Fall, (2:59) • Cons. R2: Magnus Kuokkanen (IU) def. Graham Gambrall (Oregon State): MD, 11-3 • Cons. R3: Cash Stewart (Cal Poly) def. Magnus Kuokkanen (IU): Dec. 4-1 Roman Rogotzke – 184 lbs. • R32: Chase Kranitz (Pittsburgh) def. Roman Rogotzke (IU): TF, 18-2 • Cons. R1: Roman Rogotzke (IU) def. Joey Braunagel (Illinois): Fall (1:29) • Cons. R2: Roman Rogotzke (IU) def. Adrien Cramer (Central Michigan): Dec. 2-1 • Cons. R3: Roman Rogotzke (IU) def. Mikey Bartush (Bucknell): Dec. 8-2 • Cons. R4: Roman Rogotzke (IU) def. Cody Brenner (Central Michigan): Dec. 5-1 • Cons. R5: Abraham Wojicikiewicz (Stanford) def. Roman Rogotzke (IU): Dec. 8-7 • 7th: Roman Rogotzke (IU) def. Robert Kucharczk (Harvard): Inj. Roman Rogotzke took 7th in the 184 Bracket Gabe Sollars – 197 lbs. • R32: Gabe Sollars (IU) advanced on bye. • R16: Gabe Sollars (IU) def. Cole Jackson (Cal Poly): TF (3:57) • Quarterfinal: Gabe Sollars (IU) def. Brockton Borelli (Stanford): MD, 14-2 • Semifinal: Seth Shumate (Ohio State) def. Gabe Sollars (IU): Dec. 13-3 • Cons. Semi: Gabe Sollars (IU) def. Luke Cochran: Dec. 4-0 • 3rd: Gabe Sollars (IU) def. Brockton Borelli (Stanford): MD, 9-1 Gabe Sollars took 3rd place in the 197 Bracket Matt Kowalski – 197 lbs. • R32: Matt Kowalski (IU) advanced on bye. • R16: Remy Cotton (Rutgers) def. Matt Kowalski (IU): MD, 15-2 • Cons. R2: Matt Kowalski (IU) def. Dylan Greenstein (Harvard): MD, 11-0 • Cons. R3: Luke Duthie (Stanford) def. Matt Kowalski (IU): MD, 14-6 Caleb Marzolino – 285 lbs. • R32: Parker Ferrell (Virginia Tech) def. Caleb Marzolino (IU): MD, 10-2 • Cons. R1: Caleb Marzolino advanced on bye. • Cons. R2: Simon Lato (Central Michigan) def. Caleb Marzolino (IU): Dec. 7-1 TEAM SCORES 1. Pittsburgh (92.5 points) 2. Rutgers (88 points) 3. Virginia Tech (83.5 points) 4. Cal Poly (82 points) 5. Indiana (72.5 points) UP NEXT • Indiana’s next appearance will be the resumption of Big Ten duals as the Hoosiers are set to travel to Ohio State on Jan. 11. =========== NOTRE DAME MEN’S BASKETBALL IRISH DEFENSE LEADS TO 47-40 ACC OPENING WIN OVER STANFORD PALO ALTO, Calif. – The Notre Dame men’s basketball team (10-4, 1-0) opened up ACC play with a 47-40 win over the Stanford Cardinal (11-3, 0-1 ) as their suffocating defensive performance secured their tenth win of the season. Maples Pavilion has been a tough venue to earn a road win, for Stanford was 24-5 at home since the start of the 2024-25 season, with just one ACC home loss before tonight. The Irish held the Cardinal to their lowest scoring output of the season at 40 points, with their previous low being 69 against Seattle. It also marked their third-lowest scoring output since 1996. Stanford finished the night shooting 23 percent from the floor (13-56) and 13 percent from three (4-30). Furthermore, the Irish defense held Stanford’s best scorer in check tonight. Ebuka Okorie, who averaged 22.8 points heading into tonight, was held to a season low seven points. Struggling to shoot from the perimeter, the Irish shot 32 percent from the floor (18-56) and 19 percent from three (3-16) with 30 of their 47 points scored in the paint. Notre Dame dominated the glass 48-36 with 16 offensive rebounds leading to 12 second-chance points. Freshman guard Jalen Haralson led the offensive charge with 13 points, his 12th straight game in double figures. He was followed by graduate Carson Towt, who finished with 8 points and recorded his eighth game with double-digit rebounds this season (10). Sophomore Garrett Sundra also tallied 8 points, with two big-time late second half threes for the Irish as he was 2-3 from behind the arc. Freshman Brady Koehler finished with 7 points and 2 rebounds on 3-5 shooting in just 8 minutes of play. Senior Kebba Njie also poured in 9 rebounds and 4 points for the Irish. HOW IT HAPPENED Carson Towt would put the Irish on the board, scoring their first four points of the night before the Irish went on a 2:40 scoring drought to put the Cardinal up 10-4. The Stanford run was broken up by a Kebba Njie dunk to make it a 6-10 ballgame heading into the first media timeout. The Njie dunk would spark a 10-0 run across six minutes of play with buckets coming from Haralson, Towt, and Njie to give Notre Dame a 14-10 advantage. Defensively, the Irish held the Cardinal scoreless for over seven and a half minutes. Scoring at 16:08, Stanford finally scored again at the 8:19 mark to make it 14-12. A jumper from Sundra and a free throw from Haralason extended the Irish lead to five at 17-12 at 7:13. Three Cole Certa free throws and a finish at the rim from Haralson would close out the half as the Irish led 22-17 at halftime. Haralson led all scorers with seven points. While this is Notre Dame’s lowest offensive output in the first half this season (25 vs. Houston), they also held Stanford to their lowest scoring half of the season (31 vs. Minnesota). Despite Stanford starting the night 4-4 from the floor, they finished the half shooting 3-22. Both teams shot 27 percent from the floor in the first half and while the Irish are averaging 9.1 threes per game, they were 0-7 from deep compared to Stanford’s 2-15 from three. With both teams struggling to shoot from behind the perimeter in the half, 16 of Notre Dame’s 22 points came from the paint. A Towt dunk would open up the half with a Cardinal trey following shortly after to keep it a two-possession game at 24-20. Five straight points from Haralson, which included an and-one finish at the rim, would allow the Irish to start to separate themselves with their largest lead of the night so far at 29-20. Brady Koehler knocked down the first Irish three of the night to make it a 10-0 run from Notre Dame as the Cardinal were stuck in a 7.5-minute period without a made field goal. Stanford knocked down two free throws to cut the deficit to 12 at 34-22, but the Irish responded immediately with two more back-to-back buckets from Koehler as the freshman scored seven straight points for the Irish to make it 38-22. Stanford responded with a 5-0 run, all thanks to Ebuka Okorie, which cut it to 11 and forced a Notre Dame timeout. The Stanford scoring frenzy continued, turning into a 13-1 run to cut it to four at 39-35 with 5:52 remaining. Desperately needing a bucket, Sundra hit a huge three to extend the Irish lead and stop the Stanford run. While the Cardinal answered with a three of their own, it was back-to-back clutch threes from Sundra that made it a seven-point ballgame again at 4:15. Costly Irish turnovers allowed the Cardinal to hang around as a pair of Stanford free throws brought them within five at 45-40 with 2:43 remaining. A two-possession game in the closing minutes turned into a three-possession game in the final 20 seconds as Stanford was in a must-foul situation. Sending Certa to the line, he knocked down both to remain a perfect 5-5 on the night and 27-27 on the season from the charity stripe. The Irish closed it out for their tenth win of the season as they defeated the Cardinal 47-40 in their ACC opener. UP NEXT The Irish will immediately bus to Berkeley and spend their New Years there before clashing with Cal on January 2. That contest will tip at 11 p.m. ET on ESPN2. =========== BUTLER MEN’S BASKETBALL FRANTIC BUTLER RALLY FALLS SHORT IN 89-85 LOSS AT CREIGHTON Creighton converted seven free throws over the final 27 seconds, holding off a late Butler rally that saw Evan Haywood hit a trio of three-pointers over the final 21 seconds as the host Bluejays captured an 89-85 win Tuesday night in Omaha. Creighton has now won four straight games and improves to 9-5 overall and 3-0 in early BIG EAST play. Butler falls to 10-4 (1-2 BIG EAST). HOW IT HAPPENED: Creighton made five of their first seven attempts from the field in taking a 12-2 lead less than four minutes into the game. A 10-0 Butler run was able to trim Creighton’s lead to just a single point (29-28) with 5:36 remaining in the first half. Creighton then scored 15 of the final 22 points of the first half. The Bluejays were 8-for-18 from three-point range over the first 20 minutes to take a 44-35 halftime lead. A Michael Ajayi three-point play with 11:51 remaining in the game would cut the Creighton lead to 59-56. Ajayi would then pick up two fouls over the next 40 seconds and went to the bench with four fouls. Ajayi re-entered the game but quickly fouled out with 4:42 remaining. Creighton’s lead would grow again to 11 at 82-71 with 3:14 to play before four Butler three-pointers made it interesting down the stretch. TIP-INS: Jasen Green led Creighton with a career-high 23 points. The Bluejays made 14 of 15 free throw attempts – all in the second half. Austin Swartz (22 points) and Isaac Traudt (16 points) combined for nine three-pointers. Creighton shot 49 percent from the field and went 13-for-32 from three-point range. Butler shot 41 percent from the field. The Bulldogs went 8-for-26 from behind the arc but four of those came in the final 2:17 as Butler started only 4-for-20. Ajayi had his 11th double-double of the season with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Yohan Traore led five Bulldogs in double figures with a season-high 20 points. Jamie Kaiser Jr. matched his career-high with 16 points on 6-for-9 shooting. Azavier Robinson had career-highs in both assists (eight) and steals (four). Kaiser, who missed the Bulldogs’ last game Dec. 22 against NJIT with an ankle injury sustained in the Northwestern game Dec. 20, returned to the starting lineup Tuesday. UP NEXT: Butler opens 2026 play with a pair of BIG EAST tips at Hinkle Fieldhouse against Villanova Saturday (Jan. 3) and St. John’s Jan. 6. =========== IU INDY MEN’S BASKETBALL JAGUARS TO OPEN 2026 AT NORTHERN KENTUCKY HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The IU Indianapolis men’s basketball team will ring in the new year with a Horizon League road test at Northern Kentucky (10-5, 2-2 HL) on New Years Day at 2:00 p.m. on ESPN+. The Jags come in seeking to snap a modest two-game skid and in search of a first Horizon League victory this season. The Jaguars are coming off a 99-86 road loss at Cleveland State on Monday, despite a 27-point effort from junior Kyler D’Augustino. Senior Finley Woodward chipped in with a season-high 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting to accompany seven assists. Fifth-year senior Matt Compas came off the bench with 17 points and seven assists and Jaxon Edwards had 13 points and seven boards. The Jaguars shot 46 percent overall, but were just 7-of-36 (19.4 percent) from three-point range. Cleveland State shot 54 percent for the game and outscored the Jaguars 30-15 at the foul line. The Jaguars are averaging more than 88 points per game for the season and rank among the nation’s best in assists (21.3 apg), steals (10.5 spg) and turnover margin (+5.2/game). Because of the team’s frenetic pace, the Jags rank tops in the country in field goal attempts (72.7 per game) and sixth nationally in three-point attempts (34.3 per game). ACCOLADES Junior Kyler D’Augustino is the reigning Horizon League Men’s Basketball Player of the Week, as awarded by the league office on Monday, Dec. 29. D’Augustino earned the weekly award after his 24-point, five rebound effort in a 91-78 road loss at Grand Canyon on Dec. 22. QUOTABLE “Winning basketball games is hard and winning on the road is incredibly hard. We had some guys step up and play really well tonight and some others who didn’t. There were times when we didn’t make plays when we had to have them. We had some chances to really get some momentum and we missed shots or missed assignments and it wasn’t good enough,” Howlett said following the loss at Cleveland State. SCOUTING NORTHERN KENTUCKY Northern Kentucky is 10-5 overall and 2-2 in Horizon League play to start the season. The Norse are 7-2 at home this season and are coming off a 79-77 road win at Robert Morris on Monday. NKU comes in scoring 83.9 points per game and shooting 47.7 percent from the floor this season. Here is a look at NKU’s probable starters. G- Dan Gherezgher (6-4, Sr.) – 16.5 ppg, 41 3’s G- Ethan Elliott (6-3, Fr.) – 4.8 ppg, 4.3 apg G- Tae Dozier (6-5, Grad.) – 7.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg F- LJ Wells (6-8, Sr.) – 12.9 ppg, 8.0 rpg F- Kael Robinson (6-7, Grad.) – 16.3 ppg, 39 3’s INSIDE THE SERIES IU Indy is 4-16 all-time against NKU and 2-9 in 11 meetings in Highland Heights. NKU has won the last seven meetings between the two programs. UP NEXT The Jaguars will return home to host Wright State on Sunday, Jan. 4 at 2:00 p.m. inside the Jungle. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and can be heard on 1430 Indy’s Sports Ticket. ========== BALL STATE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL WOMEN’S BASKETBALL CONTINUES #MACTION WITH NYE MIDAFTERNOON CONTEST AT AKRON Return of the MAC: – Wednesday’s game against Akron will mark the 52nd time in program history the two schools have met with the Cardinals leading the all-time series, 32-19. Ball State has won 14 of the last 17 meetings against the Zips. Brady Sallee owns a 14-8 mark against Akron. Ball State last defeated Akron at home on Jan. 18, 2025 by a score of 80-57. – The Cardinals opened Mid-American Conference action with a 78-74 victory over Eastern Michigan on Dec. 20 2025 in Worthen Arena marking it the fourth-straight season Ball State has won its league opener. – Ball State has won five-straight MAC regular season games dating back to last year. The Cardinals haven’t lost a regular season league contest since Feb. 22, 2025 which was in Muncie against Kent State. Road Warriors: Under head coach Brady Sallee the Cardinals have played well on the road for the last 14 years under his watch. The Cardinals are 115-77 (.597) from 2012 until present on the road. Ball State’s best season playing away from home was in 2020-21 when the Cardinals posted an 11-2 mark. Ball State is 5-3 this season on the road including neutral site games with defeats at Arkansas State, IU Indy, Memphis, Pitt and Alabama A&M. Where We Rank in the MAC: Ball State remains at the top of the charts in combined team rebounds (46.9), defensive rebounds (32.1) and assists (18.54). The Cardinals sit in second on offense (75.5), opponent field goal percentage (.361) and stand in third in scoring margin (11.3). Bree Salenbien ranks fourth in the MAC in scoring (15.4 ppg) and rebounding (8.6 rpg) while Tessa Towers is fifth in rebounding (8.5 rpg). Last Game Highlights: The Ball State women’s basketball team earned a gritty 78-74 victory Dec. 20 in Worthen Arena over Eastern Michigan in the Cardinals’ Mid-American Conference opener. For the game, Grace Kingery led Ball State with 21 points after shooting 5-of-6 (.833) from behind the arc while Tessa Towers chipped in 20 points. Karsyn Norman dished out eight assists and Aniss Tagayi recorded seven rebounds. As a team, rebounding was a huge factor in today’s outcome with the Cardinals leading that category over the Eagles, 39-20. International Success: The Cardinals have had plenty of international success under 14th year head coach Brady Sallee. We all remember Nathalie Fontaine the 6-2 guard from Stockholm, Sweden became Ball State’s all-time leading scorer with 2,166 points. The 2016 MAC Player of the Year and AP honorable mention averaged 21.0 points per game and 10.2 rebounds while making over 50 percent of her shots. After Fontaine was Carmen Grande a native from Madrid, Spain who held onto the all-time assists record with 697 until Ally Becki surpassed her last season with 721 and we also cannot forget Thelma Dis Agustsdottir from Keflavik, Iceland who holds the all-time 3-point record with 325 treys. Agustsdottir also competed at the Celsius 3-point championship at the NCAA Tournament. Scouting Akron: – Ryan Gensler in his third campaign as Akron’s head women’s basketball coach for the 2024-25 campaign after being named the 11th coach in the program’s 50-year history on March 29, 2023. – The Zips are led by Ni’Rah Clark who is averaging 12.0 points per game and 5.9 rebounds followed by her teammate Monique Mitchell as she scores 10.5 points per contest. Akron opened the season with seven-straight losses before defeating Heidelberg on Dec. 3 by a score of 117-34. – The Zips have the toughest schedule in the Mid-American Conference and are rated 59th in the NCAA in the category. – Akron has connected on five or more three pointers in 122 of its last 163 contests overall. The Zips hit on a season-high 13 triples in an 117-34 victory versus Heidelberg (Dec. 3). ========== PURDUE FT. WAYNE MEN’S BASKETBALL KIDS FREE ON NEW YEAR’S DAY VS. GREEN BAY FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Kids K-12 are free on Thursday (Jan. 1) when the Purdue Fort Wayne men’s basketball team hosts Green Bay at 2 p.m. at the Memorial Coliseum.Game Day InformationWho: Purdue Fort Wayne (8-7, 2-2 Horizon League) vs. Green Bay (6-8, 1-2 Horizon League)When: Thursday, January 1 | 2 PM ET Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Memorial ColiseumLive Stats: LinkWatch: ESPN+Listen: 1380 AMTickets: LinkGame Notes: Purdue Fort Wayne | Green Bay Know Your Foe A much improved from last season Green Bay team comes to the Summit City on Thursday. The Phoenix own Division I non-league wins over UMass, Iona and UC Santa Barbara. They won at IU Indy in league play, but have losses to Wright State and Robert Morris. C.J. O’Hara is averaging 12.7 points per game. Series History Purdue Fort Wayne leads 9-2, winning the last nine games. Green Bay’s only two wins came in the 2020-21 regular season when games were played in empty gyms. Even that year, though, the ‘Dons topped Green Bay 89-84 in double overtime in the league’s postseason. That game is best remembered for Jalon Pipkins’ game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer of the first overtime session. ‘Dons & Ends // In December, Corey Hadnot II was named to the Lou Henson Award Watch List. The award recognizes the best player in NCAA Mid-Major Division I basketball. The award is given out at the end of the season. // The Mastodons have eight games this season with single-digit turnovers, including just two vs. Detroit- Mercy on Dec. 14. // Corey Hadnot II is one of only five juniors or seniors in NCAA Division I men’s basketball currently averaging 20 or more points who entered the season never having averaged 10 points in a season. (Cameron Carr, Baylor | Chandler Cuthrell, Elon | MJ Collins, Utah State | Dennis Parker Jr, Radford) // The win over Notre Dame put the ‘Dons on a four-game win streak. The ‘Dons have now had a winning streak of at least four games in every season since 2009-10 except for one (2017-18). That is 16-of-17 seasons. // The top two scoring games in the league this season belong to Corey Hadnot II. He had 33 at Oakland (Dec. 3) and 32 at Western Michigan (Nov. 12). Mikale Stevenson’s 29 against Chicago State (Nov. 25) is the fifth best scoring performance in the league this season. // Through four league games, Corey Hadnot II is averaging 21.8 points per game in league play, second best in the league. // Jon Coffman picked up his 200th career victory on Nov. 15 against Boyce. He is the program’s leader in victories. // DeAndre Craig Jr. has scored double-digits 15-of-16 games this season. He has four games of exactly 18 points this year. The only game under 10 points was a seven-point outing vs. Chicago State (Nov. 25). He tied a career high with 22 points vs. Oakland. // Darius Duffy has 73 rebounds on the season, 40 have been on the offensive glass. // Redshirt freshman Ebrahim Kaba has shown early results from beyond the arc, hitting 16-of-43 (38.1 percent) from three. // DeAndre Craig Jr. has demonstrated an ability to fill up the box score. Not only does he have 10+ points in all but one game this season, he has three games with six or more rebounds, three games with five or more assists and two games with three steals; all while turning the ball over only 16 times in 397 minutes. // How good has Corey Hadnot II been this year? – Corey Hadnot II is 3rd in the nation with 116 field goals. He has 306 points this season, 2nd in the nation. He is 1st in the league at 20.4 points per game. Hadnot is also 9th in the nation in steals with 36. – Hadnot is averaging 20.4 points per game, should he finish at that average, it would rank tie for 5th in Mastodon history for a single season. – He has the most field goals made (tied, 12 at Oakland) and most field goals attempted (22 at WMU) by a Horizon League player this season. – He has the third most steals in a game by a Horizon League player this season (6 at Ohio State). – Through 15 games, Hadnot is on track to score 628 points in the regular season this year. This would rank 7th all time for points scored by a player in a single season in Mastodon history. – Through 15 games, he is on track to have 73 steals in the regular season this year. This would rank 6th all time for steals by a player in a single season in Mastodon history. – At 20.4 points per game, Hadnot’s scoring is up this year as is his shooting percentage. He is shooting 55.0 percent from the floor. He shot 44.6 percent last year. – His field goal percentage has improved each season. (Freshman: 40.9 -> Sophomore: 44.6 -> Junior: 55.0) // In the nation, the ‘Dons are: – 19th in steals per game (10.1) – 9th in turnover margin (5.4) – 44th in fast break points per game (16.07) – 36th in turnovers forced per game (15.5) – 40th in fewest turnovers per game (10.1) // Weekly alumni spotlight: – 22 former Mastodons have played professionally in the last 14 years. Jalon Pipkins (2021-22) is playing for Gargzdu in Lithuanian. He had 14 points and four assists in a loss to Juventus on Dec. 27. // John Konchar to enter Mastodon Hall of Fame – Former Mastodon John Konchar (2014-19) will be inducted into the Mastodon Hall of Fame on Jan. 31. Konchar, the seven-year NBA veteran with the Memphis Grizzlies, finished his collegiate career as the first student-athlete in NCAA Division I men’s basketball history to record 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, 500 assists and 200 steals. // Drafting notes from the Mastodons’ game at Milwaukee – Deangelo Elisee tied a career high with four blocks. – Maximus Nelson tied a career high with three steals. // Here come the notes on the win at Notre Dame – Only four players scored in the contest (Corey Hadnot II, Maximus Nelson, Mikale Stevenson and DeAndre Craig Jr.). It is the first game in the Division I era of the program with only four players scoring in a contest. The previous low was five, which has occurred multiple times. – It was the Mastodons’ first win over an ACC opponent. – It was Purdue Fort Wayne’s fourth win against a major conference foe. The Mastodons beat Indiana in 2016 and 2017 and DePaul in 2023. All four wins have come under head coach Jon Coffman. – Corey Hadnot II scored 29 points, his sixth game of 25 or more points this season. ========== VALPO MEN’S BASKETBALL MEN’S BASKETBALL TO TIP 2026 IN CARBONDALE Valparaiso (6-7, 0-2 MVC) at Southern Illinois (6-8, 0-3 MVC) Game No. 14 – Thursday, Jan. 1, 2 p.m. CT Banterra Center (8,839) – Carbondale, Ill. Next Up in Valpo Basketball: After returning home late Monday following a game in Cedar Falls and flying out again on Wednesday to head to Carbondale, the Valparaiso University men’s basketball team will continue a busy week of Missouri Valley Conference action by visiting Southern Illinois for a holiday showdown on Thursday afternoon. Last Time Out: Valpo took good care of the basketball, dominated the rebounding battle and played solid defense, but UNI prevailed 58-48 on Monday in Cedar Falls, a night where Valpo did everything right except shoot. The Beacons were just 3-of-23 from beyond the 3-point arc. Owen Dease scored all of his game-high 18 points after halftime. Glancing Ahead: The Beacons will play their first home game since Dec. 21 on Sunday, Jan. 4 as UIC comes to town for a 2 p.m. tip. It’s Faith & Family Day at the Athletics-Recreation Center. The Flames enter a home game on Thursday night against Murray State with a 5-8 overall record and 0-2 conference mark after starting league play with losses to Belmont and UNI in mid-December. Following the Beacons: Streaming – ESPN+ – Larry Larson (play-by-play) and Doug Novsek (analyst) Radio – WVUR 95.1 FM Valparaiso, TuneIn Radio App, ValpoAthletics.com – Todd Ickow (play-by-play) and Brandon Vickrey (analyst) X updates – @ValpoBasketball Links for video, audio and live stats will be available at ValpoAthletics.com. Head Coach Roger Powell Jr.: Roger Powell Jr. (28-51) is in his third season as the head coach of the Valpo men’s basketball program. After helping guide Gonzaga to a 121-13 record during his four seasons as an assistant coach, Powell returned to Valpo, where he was part of head coach Bryce Drew’s staff from 2011-2016 and led the team to 124 wins in five seasons, including a program-record 30 victories and a National Invitation Tournament (NIT) title game appearance in 2015-16. He was part of head coach Mark Few’s Gonzaga staff as the Bulldogs reached the 2021 national championship game after winning their first 31 games of the season. During Powell’s first season on staff in 2019-20, Gonzaga was 31-2 at the time the NCAA college basketball season was halted due to COVID-19. The Bulldogs reached the Sweet Sixteen in each of his final three seasons on staff, including two Elite Eight appearances and the aforementioned trip to the 2021 national title game. Prior to his arrival at Gonzaga, Powell served as the associate head coach at Vanderbilt University under Bryce Drew from 2016-2019. During his stint as an assistant at Valpo, he was part of four Horizon League regular-season championships in a five-year period while also leading the 2012-13 and 2014-15 squads to Horizon League tournament titles and NCAA Tournament appearances. A product of Joliet West High School and a native of Joliet, Ill., Powell capped a prolific collegiate playing career at Illinois with a national title game appearance in 2005 before going on to a successful professional playing career. In the second season of the Powell Era in 2024-2025, Valpo over doubled its overall win total from the previous season and doubled its conference win output before earning a Missouri Valley Conference Tournament semifinal berth. The Beacons finished with 15 wins, the team’s highest total since 2019-20. Series Notes: Valpo is 8-11 all-time against Southern Illinois after snapping a seven-game head-to-head losing streak with an 83-79 win in Carbondale on Feb. 22 of last season. The Beacons are 6-9 against the Salukis since joining the Missouri Valley Conference. Scouting the Salukis Ranked 129 in the KenPom (sixth of 11 MVC) and 120 in the NET (sixth of 11 MVC). On a four-game skid including a trio of league losses – vs. Illinois State (75-68), at Bradley (73-69) and at Murray State (84-81). Under the direction of second-year head coach Scott Nagy. Led in scoring by Quel’ron House at 14.7 points per game. Ringing in the New Year This marks the second straight season that Valpo has played a New Year’s Day game on the road. Last year’s 73-72 win at Missouri State was the program’s first victory on New Year’s Day since 1945, a 56-53 win over Hamline in Buffalo, N.Y. Between 1945 and 2023, Valpo played on New Year’s Day just once – a 76-59 loss at Butler in 2011. This represents the third time in four years that the Beacons have a game on the first day of the calendar year (2023 vs. Indiana State L 68-50; 2025 at Missouri State W 73-72, 2026 at Southern Illinois). ============ VALPO WOMEN’S BASKETBALL WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TO RING IN NEW YEAR AT INDIANA STATE Valparaiso (0-13, 0-2 MVC) Game #14 – January 1, 2026 – 1 p.m. CT at Indiana State (4-8, 0-2 MVC) Hulman Center (9,000) – Terre Haute, Ind. Next Up in Valpo Basketball: Having spent just one night on the road over the last month, the Valpo women’s basketball team hits the pavement for the first time in MVC play this week with visits to its fellow Indiana institutions, beginning on New Year’s Day at Indiana State. Previously: The Beacons closed out the 2025 calendar year Monday afternoon at the ARC, returning to the heart of Missouri Valley Conference play with an 86-52 loss to visiting UNI. Kayla Preston and Kayla Sullivan both matched season highs in the scoring department in the loss. Following Valpo Basketball: Video: ESPN+ Links for live coverage: Available via ValpoAthletics.com Head Coach Courtney Boyd (0-13 at Valpo, 1st season; 190-81 [.701] overall, 9th season): Courtney Boyd was named the ninth head coach of the Valparaiso University women’s basketball program on April 4, 2025. A national championship-winning head coach and player, an NAIA National Coach of the Year, and a two-time conference Coach of the Year, Boyd has won 20 or more games in seven of her first eight seasons as a head coach. She spent the last two seasons at the helm of the Quincy University program after six seasons as head coach at Clarke University, leading the latter program to the NAIA national title in 2022-23. Series Notes: Indiana State leads the all-time series with Valpo by a 12-9 count, but there has been a distinct lack of home court advantage in the series, as Valpo owns a 5-4 advantage in Terre Haute and the Sycamores are 7-2 at the ARC. Last season, it was the Beacons with the series sweep, as Valpo won 73-54 in Terre Haute and 73-68 at the ARC. @ValpoWBB… …versus UNI – It was a quick start for the Beacons, as Allia von Schlegell hit a 3-pointer and Fiona Connolly drove for a layup on Valpo’s first two possessions to give it an early 5-0 lead. – UNI responded with a 14-2 run over the next three-plus minutes to pull in front. – Mikayla Huffine stemmed the tide with a triple, and when Kennedy Sproule knocked down a 3-pointer with 1:43 remaining in the quarter, the Beacons were within 21-17. – The Panthers hit two triples of their own late in the period to lead 27-17 after 10 minutes. – A 3-pointer from Mor Shabtai was part of a four-point spurt to start the second quarter for Valpo, bringing it within 27-21. – The margin was still single digits after a free throw by Kayla Sullivan made it 31-22 with 7:37 to play in the first half, before a 13-3 run over the next four-plus minutes from the Panthers pushed their lead to 19. – UNI was up 47-30 at intermission. – Connolly scored on the opening possession of the second half to make it a 15-point game, but that proved to be as close as Valpo got in the second half. The Panthers held a 70-46 advantage at the end of the third quarter and scored the first eight points of the fourth quarter to pull away. – After missing Valpo’s nonconference finale due to injury, Connolly returned to action and paced the Beacons with 10 points — her ninth double-digit scoring output this season. – Two other Beacons came off the bench to match their season best in the scoring department. Kayla Preston hit 3-of-5 from the floor for seven points, while Sullivan scored six points and also set a season high with six rebounds. – Kamryn Winch approached a double-double off the bench as well, posting eight points and a team-high nine rebounds. – Valpo shot 32.2% from the floor and was 5-of-21 from 3-point range while committing 21 turnovers. The Panthers hit 15-of-31 from deep — the most 3-pointers by a Valpo opponent since Oakland hit 16 Dec. 31, 2016. – The Beacons did limit the Panthers to 38.5% shooting (15-of-39) inside the 3-point line. …versus Central Michigan – It was a struggle from the start for the Beacons, as their lone points of the opening quarter came on a coast-to-coast layup from Allia von Schlegell 3:30 into the game. CMU led 16-2 at the end of the first period. The Chippewas extended their advantage throughout the second quarter, until a late 7-0 run for Valpo made it 44-19 game at halftime. von Schlegell knocked down a triple around layups from Kayla Sullivan and Kamryn Winch for the late spurt. – CMU led 65-29 at the end of the third quarter. – Valpo played without the services of Fiona Connolly due to injury, and then lost Autumn Dibb to injury early in the second half. – von Schlegell paced the Beacons with 14 points, including three 3-pointers. It is her sixth double-figure scoring effort of the season. – Winch was Valpo’s second-leading scorer, hitting 3-of-5 off the bench for seven points while also grabbing six rebounds. – Mor Shabtai matched her career best and led the Beacons with nine rebounds, while also tallying three assists against just one turnover. – Bella Swedlund knocked down the first field goal of her collegiate career. – Valpo shot 25% from the floor and was just 4-for-31 from 3-point range, while CMU hit at a 51.5% clip from the field and was 6-of-17 from deep. …looking ahead – The Beacons conclude the Indiana road swing Saturday afternoon at Evansville. – Valpo returns home to the ARC next Thursday, Jan. 8 as it hosts Bradley. …away from home – Thursday’s game is the first of 10 road games in MVC play for the Beacons, who played six true road games as well in the nonconference slate. – Valpo is currently 0-6 in true road games. – Last season’s squad posted a 3-11 mark in true road games. ….and @ValleyHoops – Valpo is in its ninth season as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference. – Valpo was picked outside the top-four of the MVC preseason poll, as the Valley released only the top four selections. – The Valley finished last season ranked seventh in the NET, matching the conference’s highest NET/RPI ranking in Valpo’s time as an MVC member (2020-21). …looking back at last year – Valpo finished last season with a 13-19 overall record and went 9-11 in MVC play to finish in eighth place. – Among the Beacons’ 13 victories were a thrilling rally from a 20-point deficit for a home win over Drake which entered the game ranked 69th in NET, the program’s highest-ranked win since a win over #54 UNI in 2021-22. – Leah Earnest was tabbed a First Team All-MVC honoree as she concluded a decorated career that saw her finish first in program history in career rebounds and third in career scoring. – The 2024-25 Beacons hit 245 3-pointers, third-most in a single season in program history, and tallied 314 steals, seventh on the program’s single-season chart and the most since 2001-02. @IndStWBB – Indiana State comes into Thursday’s game with a 4-8 record on the season and sits at 0-2 in MVC play. – The Sycamores lost their MVC opener at home to Drake, 97-77, and most recently fell at Illinois State, 105-64. – Tierney Kelley leads an ISU offense which averages 72.1 points/game with 16.4 points/game, while six other players average at least 6.8 points/game. Hoosier State Crown – Valpo looks to defend the unofficial Hoosier State crown among the Valley’s three Indiana-based schools this season. – The Beacons posted a perfect 4-0 record against Indiana State and Evansville last year, sweeping the road trip and the homestand versus the Sycamores and the Purple Aces. – Since Valpo joined the MVC, it has posted the best record against its in-state foes three times (2019-20, 4-0; 2021-22, 3-1; 2024-25, 4-0). Indiana State has done so three times (2017-18, 4-0; 2018-19, 3-1; 2023-24, 4-0) and Evansville once (2022-23, 3-1), while all three teams went .500 against the other two in 2020-21. – The road has been mighty kind for Valpo against ISU and Evansville since joining the Valley, as it holds a 10-4 record at the Hulman Center and Meeks Family Fieldhouse. New Year’s Day – Valpo takes to the hardwood on January 1 for just the third time in program history on Thursday afternoon. – The Beacons’ last New Year’s Day game came on Jan. 1, 2023 at Murray State – a 67(haha, 6-7)-48 win for the Racers. – Valpo’s only other New Year’s Day game was Jan. 1, 2016 at Wright State, an 80-63 win for the hosts. Fiona Leads the Way – Senior Fiona Connolly returned from missing one game due to injury to lead the Beacons in scoring last time out versus UNI with 10 points. – Connolly has been a consistent offensive presence for Valpo this season, scoring in double figures in nine of her 12 appearances and being held under eight points just once. – Connolly is averaging a team-best 12.2 points/game this season, over triple her scoring average of 3.5 points/game last year. – She has also nearly doubled her production on the boards, averaging 4.1 rebounds/game this season after posting 2.2 boards/game last year. All For Allia – While she was limited to seven points Monday against UNI, freshman Allia von Schlegell has enjoyed a strong start to her collegiate career. – von Schlegell set and then matched her career high in back-to-back games with 18 points against SIUE and at Western Michigan, leading all players in scoring in both games. – von Schlegell scored in double figures six times in nonconference action, among the best in program history in terms of double-digit scoring outputs by a freshman in nonconference games since Valpo joined the North Star Conference for the 1987-88 season: Dani Franklin, 2014-15, 11 Meredith Hamlet, 2015-16, 8 Tabitha Gerardot, 2010-11, 8 Sarrah Stricklett, 1996-97, at least 7 (2 boxes unavailable) Debbie Bolen, 1989-90, at least 7 (1 box unavailable) Jeanette Gray, 1999-2000, 7 Allia von Schlegell, 2025-26, 6 Stephanie Greer, 1987-88, 6 Amy Cole, 1987-88, 6 Linda Batz, 1987-88, 6 Ali Saunders, 2022-23, 5 Jamie Gutowski, 2002-03, 5 – Notably, the six players ahead of von Schlegell on that list all went on to earn All-Freshman/Newcomer Team honors and closed their time at Valpo among the top-12 in program history in career scoring. Shifting Starters – With Fiona Connolly missing the CMU game due to injury, Valpo used its sixth different starting lineup of the season, as Kylie Waytashek was reinserted into the starting five. – Connolly returned to the starting lineup against UNI, as the Beacons reverted to their small lineup – Mor Shabtai, Mikayla Huffine, Allia von Schlegell, Autumn Dibb and Connolly; Dibb being the tallest at 5-10. – Eight different players have been a part of at least one starting five this year, with two of them – Shabtai and Huffine – starting every game. All-Tournament Honoree – Fiona Connolly represented Valpo on the All-Tournament Team at the CSU Invitational, as she averaged 14.7 points and 6.3 rebounds per game over the Beacons’ trio of games in Cleveland. – Connolly opened with her career-high 21 points and also tied for game-high honors with eight rebounds against Radford. – She tied for game-high honors with 14 points versus Cleveland State, and closed the tournament with nine points and seven boards against St. Bonaventure. The Tall and the Short – This year’s Valpo roster features recent extremes on both ends of the height spectrum. – Mor Shabtai and Mikayla Huffine both are listed at 5-4, making them the shortest Valpo players since 5-3 Rashida Ray (2007-11). – On the flip side, Kamryn Winch and Milana Nenadic both check in at 6-3, making them the tallest Valpo players since 6-5 Nicole Johanson (2018-19). International Flavor – Valpo has a trio of international players on its 2025-26 roster: sophomore Mor Shabtai (Israel) and transfers Milana Nenadic (Ontario, Canada) and Kennedy Sproule (Manitoba, Canada). – Prior to Shabtai’s arrival last year, the Valpo program hadn’t had an international player since Sharon Karungi (Uganda) roamed the paint from 2013-15. Sister Act – For the third straight season, the Beacons have a pair of sisters on their roster, as freshman Nuala Connolly joins senior sister Fiona on this year’s squad. – The last two years featured identical twins Nevaeh and Saniya Jackson. – Before that, the last set of sisters to suit up together in the Brown and Gold were the trio of Hamlet sisters: Annemarie (2013-16) overlapped with both older sister Elizabeth (2013-14) and younger sister Meredith (2015-19). =========== MARIAN WOMEN’S BASKETBALL LANDSLIDE VICTORY OVER OHIO CHRISTIAN SENDS MARIAN INTO 2026 14-0 INDIANAPOLIS – From the opening tip, the Marian women’s basketball team asserted their dominance as they closed out 2025 with a runaway 116-34 victory over Ohio Christian University. The largest win of the season sends the Knights into the New Year with a perfect 14-0 record. The wire-to-wire win started from the opening tip, as Marian scored on its opening possession with an Abbey McNally three-point play, igniting a quick 10-2 run. McNally, along with Kennedy Coleman and Taylor Double, contributed to the early run, as the full-court press helped Marian grab a double-digit lead in the first five minutes of play. As the bench began to rotate in, Marian maintained their aggressive play, with Kiley McNally and Eva Fisher leading a surge from the reserves. The Knights ended the one-sided quarter on an 11-0 run in the final 75 seconds, getting a buzzer-beating shot from Zoe Wheeler to capture a 36-6 lead. Marian matched its scoring totals in the second period with another 36-point effort, as the offense continued to score at will with fastbreak layups coming off Ohio Christian turnovers. The Trailblazers committed 15 turnovers in the second quarter alone, with the Knights swiping 11 steals to set up 15 made field goals inside the three-point arc. Taylor Double made the contest a 50-point game with her transition score at the 5:41 mark, giving her team a 50-plus point margin for the remainder of the game. Violet Shuluga and Olivia Faust scored down the stretch entering half, as Marian took a commanding 72-18 lead at the intermission. Marian backed off the press in the second half, but remained physical on defense, holding Ohio Christian to 16 points in the half while scoring 44 of their own. The starters played five strong minutes before heading to the bench, with each of the five scoring to take the lead over 70 points. Kiley McNally would take Marian to the century mark with 2:13 to play in the third quarter as she scored on the fastbreak, and Violet Shuluga would cap the final points in the quarter as Marian led 106-23. Kenna Kirby would lead Marian in scoring in the fourth quarter with four of her six points, as the Knights’ reserves bled the clock and finished off the team’s 116-34 victory. As a team, the Knights scored a season-high 90 points in the paint, the most under head coach Suntana Anderson in a single game. Marian scored 64 points off of the 43 forced Ohio Christian turnovers, with 46 of those 64 coming on the fast break. The largest lead of the day for the Knights was 85 points. 12 of Marian’s 13 active players scored in the win, led by Abbey McNally’s season-high 25 points and seven rebounds. Kennedy Coleman logged a career day with 15 points, while Kiley McNally led the bench with 16 points and six rebounds. Kenna Kirby had five of the team’s 30 steals in addition to six points and six rebounds, while Madisyn Bailey scored nine points to pair with her six assists. The Knights will be back in action as they open up 2026 on the road against Taylor in a ranked matchup on January 3rd at 1 PM in Upland, Indiana. =========== SMALL INDIANA COLLEGE SPORTS WEB SITES UINDY ATHLETICS: https://athletics.uindy.edu/ MARIAN ATHLETICS: https://muknights.com/ INDIANA WESLEYAN ATHLETICS: https://iwuwildcats.com/ EARLHAM ATHLETICS: https://goearlham.com/ WABASH ATHLETICS: https://sports.wabash.edu/ FRANKLIN ATHLETICS: https://franklingrizzlies.com/ ROSE-HULMAN ATHLETICS: https://athletics.rose-hulman.edu/ ANDERSON ATHLETICS: https://athletics.anderson.edu/landing/index TRINE ATHLETICS: https://trinethunder.com/landing/index BETHEL ATHLETICS: https://bupilots.com/ DEPAUW ATHLETICS: https://depauwtigers.com/ HANOVER ATHLETICS: https://athletics.hanover.edu/ MANCHESTER ATHLETICS: https://muspartans.com/ HUNTINGTON ATHLETICS: https://www.huathletics.com/ OAKLAND CITY ATHLETICS: https://gomightyoaks.com/index.aspx ST. FRANCIS ATHLETICS: https://www.saintfranciscougars.com/landing/index IU KOKOMO ATHLETICS: https://iukcougars.com/ IU EAST ATHLETICS: https://www.iueredwolves.com/ IU SOUTH BEND ATHLETICS: https://iusbtitans.com/ PURDUE NORTHWEST ATHLETICS: https://pnwathletics.com/ INDIANA TECH ATHLETICS: https://indianatechwarriors.com/index.aspx GRACE COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://gclancers.com/ ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ATHLETICS: https://smwcathletics.com/ GOSHEN COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://goleafs.net/ HOLY CROSS ATHLETICS: https://www.hcsaints.com/index.php TAYLOR ATHLETICS: https://www.taylortrojans.com/ VINCENNES ATHLETICS: https://govutrailblazers.com/landing/index =========== TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY ON DECEMBER 31 IN … 1918 – KID GLEASON REPLACES PANTS ROWLAND AS CHICAGO WHITE SOX MANAGER. 1920 – ROY PARK MAKES FIRST-BALL DUCK IN ONLY TEST CRICKET INNING, VERSUS ENGLAND AT MELBOURNE CRICKET GROUND. 1927 – BILL PONSFORD SCORES 336 IN CRICKET AGAINST SOUTH AFRICA, GIVING HIM 1146 FOR MONTH. 1945 – DONALD BRADMAN SCORES 112, HIS FIRST POST-WAR CENTURY, SOUTH AFRICA VERSUS AUSTRALIA SERVICES. 1957 – AMATEUR ATHLETIC UNION AWARDS BOBBY MORROW THE JAMES SULLIVAN MEMORIAL TROPHY. 1958 – 47TH DAVIS CUP: USA BEATS AUSTRALIA IN BRISBANE (3-2). 1958 – WILLIE SHOEMAKER BECOMES FIRST JOCKEY TO WIN NATIONAL RIDING CHAMPIONSHIP FOUR TIMES. 1961 – GREEN BAY PACKERS SHUTOUT NEW YORK GIANTS 37-0 IN NFL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME. 1962 – AMERICAN BASKETBALL LEAGUE ANNOUNCES SUSPENSION OF OPERATION. 1962 – OHIO ENDS SUIT AGAINST CINCINNATI REDS WHEN THEY AGREE TO STAY IN CINCINNATI FOR TEN YEARS. 1963 – CHICAGO BEARS WIN NFL CHAMPIONSHIP. 1964 – DONALD CAMPBELL OF THE UNITED KINGDOM SETS WORLD WATER SPEED RECORD (276.33 MPH). 1966 – TEST CRICKET DEBUT OF BISHEN SINGH BEDI, INDIA VERSUS WEST INDIES CALCUTTA, 2-92. 1967 – FIRST NBA GAME AT GREAT WESTERN FORUM, LOS ANGELES LAKERS BEAT HOUSTON ROCKETS 147-118. 1967 – OAKLAND RAIDERS BEAT HOUSTON OILERS 40-7 IN AFL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME. 1967 – COLDEST NFL GAME, -13 DEGREES F, DUBBED THE ICE BOWL. GREEN BAY PACKERS BEAT DALLAS COWBOYS 21-17 IN NFL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME. 1972 – 39TH SUGAR BOWL: OKLAHOMA BEATS PENN STATE 14-0. 1972 – MIAMI DOLPHINS BEAT PITTSBURGH STEELERS 21-7 IN AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME. 1972 – WASHINGTON REDSKINS BEAT DALLAS COWBOYS 26-3 IN NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME. 1973 – 40TH SUGAR BOWL: NOTRE DAME 24 BEATS ALABAMA 23. 1973 – 61ST AUSTRALIAN MEN’S TENNIS: JOHN NEWCOMBE BEATS O PARUN (6-3, 6-7, 7-5, 6-1). 1973 – JOHAN CRUYFF CHOSEN EUROPEAN SOCCER PLAYER OF YEAR. 1974 – 41ST SUGAR BOWL: NEBRASKA 13 BEATS FLORIDA 10. 1974 – FREE AGENT PITCHER CATFISH HUNTER SIGNS RECORD US$3.75 MILLION FIVE-YEAR NEW YORK YANKEES CONTRACT. 1975 – 42ND SUGAR BOWL: ALABAMA 13 BEATS PENNSYLVANIA STATE 6. 1980 – NEW YORK ISLANDERS’ GREATEST SHUTOUT MARGIN (9-0) VERSUS CHICAGO BLACK HAWKS. 1984 – TEST CRICKET DEBUT OF MOHAMMAD AZHARUDDIN, VERSUS ENGLAND AT CALCUTTA, INDIA. 1988 – NHL PLAYER MARIO LEMIEUX SCORES A GOAL IN EACH OF THE FIVE DIFFERENT WAYS POSSIBLE IN ONE GAME (EVEN-STRENGTH, POWER-PLAY, SHORTHANDED, PENALTY SHOT, AND EMPTY-NET) 1989 – FOG BOWL: HEAVY FOG ROLLS IN ON CHICAGO BEARS 20-12 VICTORY OVER PHILADELPHIA EAGLES. 1989 – JOCKEY KENT DESORMEAUX SETS RECORD WITH 598 WINS IN A YEAR. 1991 – DANIEL R MCCARTHY ELECTED NEW YORK YANKEES MANAGING GENERAL PARTNER. 1991 – J DONALD CRUMP RESIGNS AS CANADIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE COMMISSIONER. 1995 – 62ND SUGAR BOWL: VIRGINIA TECH BEATS TEXAS. 1995 – MATTHEW ELLIOTT SCORES SEPARATE CRICKET CENTURY SAME DAY FOR VICTORIA. 1997 – MARV LEVY RETIRES AS COACH OF BUFFALO BILLS. 1997 – ORLANDO HERNANDEZ, HALF-BROTHER OF PITCHER LIVAN, DEFECTS FROM CUBA. 2007 – IN BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, USA, THE BALTIMORE RAVENS FIRE LONG-TIME HEAD COACH BRIAN BILLICK, AFTER FINISHING A DISAPPOINTING 5-WIN, 11-LOSS SEASON. BILLICK SPENT NINE SEASONS IN BALTIMORE AND WAS THE RAVENS’ MOST SUCCESSFUL COACH WITH AN 85-67 RECORD. 2008 – MOSCOW DYNAMO DEFEATS CANADA IN HOCKEY TO WIN THE SPENGLER CUP IN DAVOS, SWITZERLAND. 2021 – AT LITTLE CAESARS ARENA IN DETROIT, MICHIGAN, USA, NHL REGULAR SEASON GAME: WASHINGTON CAPITALS BEATS DETROIT RED WINGS BY SCORE 3-1. CAPITALS’ FORWARD ALEXANDER OVECHKIN SCORES HIS 275TH POWER PLAY GOAL, BREAKING THE RECORD HELD BY DAVE ANDREYCHUK. 2021 – AT AMALIE ARENA IN TAMPA, FLORIDA, USA, NHL REGULAR SEASON GAME: NEW YORK RANGERS BEATS TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING BY SCORE 4-3. 2021 – AT T-MOBILE ARENA IN LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, USA, NHL REGULAR SEASON GAME: VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS BEATS ANAHEIM DUCKS BY SCORE 3-1. 2021 – AT PRUDENTIAL CENTER IN NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, USA, NHL REGULAR SEASON GAME: NEW JERSEY DEVILS BEATS EDMONTON OILERS BY SCORE 6-5. BIRTHS OF SPORTS FIGURES ON DECEMBER 31 1870 – BIRTH OF THOMAS CONNOLLY; US MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL’S MAJOR LEAGUE UMPIRE FOR 50 YEARS. 1893 – BIRTH OF J M BLANKENBERG; CRICKET PLAYER (60 WICKETS IN 18 TESTS FOR SOUTH AFRICA). 1904 – BIRTH OF CHUCK GARDINER IN UNITED KINGDOM; NHL GOALIE (VEZINA WINNER). 1906 – BIRTH OF ERNA BOGEN IN HUNGARY; FOILS (OLYMPICS-BRONZE-1932). 1921 – BIRTH OF ROCKY GRAZIANO IN NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, USA; BOXER (MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION), ACTOR (MIAMI UNDERCOVER). 1924 – BIRTH OF VICTORIA DRAVES; AMERICAN PLATFORM/SPRINGBOARD DIVER (OLYMPICS-GOLD-1948). 1928 – BIRTH OF HUGH MCELHENNY; NFL HALFBACK (SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS, MINNESOTA VIKINGS, NEW YORK GIANTS, DETROIT LIONS). 1929 – BIRTH OF PETER MAY; CRICKET PLAYER (DASHING ENGLISH BATSMAN OF 1950S). 1935 – BIRTH OF PETER ALLAN; CRICKET PLAYER (ONE TEST AUSTRALIA VERSUS ENGLAND 1965, 2-58 AND 0-25). 1938 – BIRTH OF ATJE KEULEN-DEELSTRA IN HOLLAND; SPEED SKATER (WORLD CHAMPION). 1939 – BIRTH OF AFAQ HUSSAIN; CRICKET PLAYER (PAKISTANI OFF-SPINNER IN TWO TESTS 1961-64). 1939 – BIRTH OF WILLYE WHITE; AMERICAN LONG JUMPER (OLYMPICS-SILVER-1956, APPEARED IN FIVE OLYMPICS). 1941 – BIRTH OF MILKHA SINGH; CRICKET PLAYER (BROTHER OF KRIPAL SINGH, INDIA BATSMAN IN FOUR TESTS). 1950 – BIRTH OF INGE HELTEN IN THE GERMAN FEDERAL REPUBLIC; SPRINTER (OLYMPICS-BRONZE-1976). 1950 – BIRTH OF ROBERT BRYAN GILDER IN CORVALLIS, OREGON, USA; PGA GOLFER (1980 CANADIAN OPEN). 1951 – BIRTH OF MICHAEL ALLEN BANTOM IN PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, USA; BASKETBALL PLAYER (OLYMPICS-SILVER-1972). 1957 – BIRTH OF DAVID ALLEN OGRIN IN WAUKEGAN, ILLINOIS, USA; PGA GOLFER (1994 BYRON NELSON-SECOND). 1958 – BIRTH OF GEOFF MARSH; CRICKET PLAYER (AUSTRALIA OPENING BATSMAN 1985-92). 1961 – BIRTH OF RICK AGUILERA IN SAN GABRIEL, CALIFORNIA, USA; PITCHER (MINNESOTA TWINS). 1962 – BIRTH OF TYRONE CORBIN; NBA FORWARD (MIAMI HEAT, ATLANTA HAWKS). 1963 – BIRTH OF ED SIMMONS; NFL TACKLE (WASHINGTON REDSKINS). 1964 – BIRTH OF DENIS HICKEY; CRICKET PLAYER (FAST BOWLER FOR VICTORIA, SOUTH AFRICA AND GLAMORGAN). 1964 – BIRTH OF KLARI MACASKILL IN BUDAPEST, HUNGARY; KAYAKER (OLYMPICS-5TH-1992, 1996). 1964 – BIRTH OF LIZ MASAKAYAN IN QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES; WPVA VOLLEYBALL (BEST OF BEACH-THIRD-1994). 1964 – BIRTH OF WINSTON BENJAMIN; CRICKET PLAYER (WEST INDIES RIGHTY QUICK 1987-95). 1965 – BIRTH OF MICHELLE DOBEK IN HOLYOKE, MASSACHUSETTS, USA; GOLFER (1995 GHP HEARTLAND CLASSIC-45TH). 1967 – BIRTH OF BRAD DALUISO; NFL PLACE KICKER (NEW YORK GIANTS). 1970 – BIRTH OF BRYON RUSSELL; NBA FORWARD (UTAH JAZZ). 1970 – BIRTH OF DAN HOWE IN KINGSTON, ONTARIO, CANADA; CANOEIST (OLYMPICS-1996). 1970 – BIRTH OF DUNSTAN ANDERSON; NFL DEFENSIVE END (MIAMI DOLPHINS, NEW ORLEANS SAINTS, RHEIN FIRE). 1970 – BIRTH OF EDWIN HUIZINGA; DUTCH SOCCER PLAYER (SC HEERENVEEN, EMMEN). 1970 – BIRTH OF MICHEL BRUNET IN GATINEAU, QUÉBEC, CANADA; ICE DANCER (1996 CANADIANS-SECOND). 1971 – BIRTH OF BRENT BARRY; NBA GUARD (SEATTLE SONICS, LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS). 1971 – BIRTH OF ERIN WARREN IN WINCHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, USA; LUGER (OLYMPICS-1994). 1971 – BIRTH OF HEATH SHULER; NFL QUARTERBACK (WASHINGTON REDSKINS, NEW ORLEANS SAINTS). 1972 – BIRTH OF CHRIS PARKER; RUNNING BACK (JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS). 1972 – BIRTH OF COLE FORD; NFL KICKER (OAKLAND RAIDERS). 1972 – BIRTH OF KELVIN KINNEY; DEFENSIVE END (WASHINGTON REDSKINS). 1973 – BIRTH OF CURTIS MYDEN IN CALGARY, ALBERTA, CANADA; 200 METRE/400 METRE SWIMMER (OLYMPICS-2 BRONZE-1996). 1973 – BIRTH OF GEORGE JONES; RUNNING BACK (PITTSBURGH STEELERS). 1973 – BIRTH OF HIROYUKI MIURA; HOCKEY DEFENSEMAN (TEAM JAPAN 1998). 1975 – BIRTH OF COLE FORD; KICKER (OAKLAND RAIDERS). DEATHS OF SPORTS FIGURES ON DECEMBER 31 1896 – LELAND HONE, CRICKET PLAYER (SCORED 7 AND 6 IN ONLY ENGLAND TEST 1879), DIES. 1967 – ARTHUR MAILEY, CRICKET PLAYER (10-66 AND AUSTRALIA VERSUS GLOUCESTERSHIRE 1921), DIES. 1972 – PITTSBURGH PIRATES’ OUTFIELDER ROBERTO CLEMENTE IS KILLED AT AGE 38 WHEN A CARGO PLANE CRASHES DURING A RELIEF EFFORT TO BRING SUPPLIES TO THE VICTIMS OF THE NICARAGUAN EARTHQUAKE. 1980 – ARTHUR WELLARD, CRICKET PLAYER (TWO TESTS FOR ENGLAND, LEGENDARY 6-HITTER), DIES. 1983 – BILL HUNT, CRICKET PLAYER (TEST FOR AUSTRALIA, OUT 0, TOOK 0-25 AND 0-14), DIES. 1985 – ALEXANDER MATHESON, CRICKET PLAYER (TWO WICKETS/2 TESTS FOR NEW ZEALAND 1930-31), DIES. 1990 – GEORGE ALLEN, US FOOTBALL COACH (LOS ANGELES RAMS, WASHINGTON REDSKINS), DIES. 1994 – WOODROW “WOODY” STRODE, AMERICAN RUGBY PLAYER/BLACK COWBOY ACTOR (POSSE, COTTON CLUB, VIGILANTE, OIL), DIES. ON JANUARY 1 IN … 1840 – FIRST RECORDED BOWLING MATCH IN US, KNICKERBOCKER ALLEYS, NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK. 1886 – FIRST TOURNAMENT OF ROSES, PASADENA, CALIFORNIA, USA. 1897 – FIRST FOOTBALL GAME BETWEEN BLACK COLLEGES – ATLANTA UNIVERSITY 10, TUSKEGEE 0. 1902 – FIRST ROSE BOWL COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAME (PASADENA, CALIFORNIA). UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN BEATS STANFORD 49 TO 0. 1908 – JACK HOBBS MAKES HIS TEST DEBUT AT THE MELBOURNE CRICKET GROUND (83 AND 28). 1909 – ROBERT FOWLER RUNS WORLD RECORD MARATHON (2:52:45.4). 1910 – SIMPSON-HAYWARD (ENGLAND) TAKES 6-43 ON DEBUT WITH UNDERARM LOBS. 1912 – FIRST RUNNING OF SAN FRANCISCO’S FAMED “BAY TO BREAKERS” RACE (7.63 MILES/12.3 KM). 1916 – FIRST FOOTBALL GAME IN ROSE BOWL (WASHINGTON STATE VERSUS BROWN UNIVERSITY). 1923 – THE VERY FIRST RADIO BROADCAST OF THE ROSE BOWL IS BEAMED IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA OVER KHJ RADIO. 1927 – FIRST US COAST-TO-COAST NETWORK RADIO BROADCAST OF FOOTBALL’S ROSE BOWL IS MADE. GRAHAM MCNAMEE PROVIDES THE PLAY-BY-PLAY ON NBC RADIO. 1929 – ROY RIEGELS RUNS 60 YARDS THE WRONG WAY WITH ROSE BOWL FUMBLE RECOVERY. 1935 – FIRST SUGAR BOWL AND FIRST ORANGE BOWL. 1942 – ROSE BOWL PLAYED IN NORTH CAROLINA DUE TO JAPANESE THREAT-OREGON 20, DUKE 16. 1944 – US ARMY DEFEATS NAVY 10-7 IN FOOTBALL “ARAB BOWL”, ORAN, NORTH AFRICA. 1948 – DONALD BRADMAN SCORES 132 IN THE FIRST INNINGS OF THE THIRD TEST VERSUS INDIA. 1954 – ROSE AND COTTON BOWL ARE FIRST TELEVISED SPORT COLORCASTS. 1959 – ROHAN KANHAI COMPLETES 256 VERSUS INDIA AT CALCUTTA. 1961 – BRIGGS STADIUM IS RENAMED TIGERS STADIUM. 1967 – CRU BECOMES THE CAFA AND TURNS OVER THE GREY CUP TROPHY TO THE CANADIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE. 1967 – DAY’S PLAY IN THE CALCUTTA TEST VERSUS WEST INDIES CANCELLED BY RIOTS. 1967 – GREEN BAY PACKERS BEAT DALLAS COWBOYS 34-27 IN NFL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME. 1967 – KANSAS CITY CHIEFS BEAT BUFFALO BILLS 31-7 IN AFL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME. 1969 – JACK KENT COOKE, OWNER OF NHL’S LOS ANGELES KINGS, FINES EACH PLAYER $100 FOR “NOT” ARGUING WITH THE REFEREE. 1970 – CHARLES “CHUB” FEENEY REPLACES WARREN GILES AS PRESIDENT OF AMERICAN BASEBALL’S NATIONAL LEAGUE. GILES HELD THE POSITION FOR 18 YEARS, AND FEENEY WILL HOLD IT FOR THE NEXT 16. 1973 – 47TH AUSTRALIAN WOMEN’S TENNIS: MARGARET COURT BEATS GOOLAGONG (6-4, 7-5). 1974 – LEE MACPHAIL TAKES OVER AS AMERICAN LEAGUE PRESIDENT, SUCCEEDING JOE CRONIN. 1977 – TONY DORSETT RUNS FOR RECORD 202 YARDS IN THE SUGAR BOWL. 1980 – 54TH AUSTRALIAN WOMENS TENNIS: BARBARA JORDAN BEATS S WALSH (6-3, 6-3). 1980 – ALABAMA BEATS ARKANSAS IN SUGAR BOWL FOR COLLEGE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP. 1981 – GEORGIA BEATS NOTRE DAME IN SUGAR BOWL FOR COLLEGE FOOTBALL TITLE. 1982 – CLEMSON WINS THE ORANGE BOWL FOR COLLEGE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP. 1983 – PGA INAUGURATES ALL-EXEMPT TOUR. 1983 – PENNSYLVANIA STATE BEATS GEORGIA IN SUGAR BOWL FOR COLLEGE FOOTBALL TITLE. 1986 – IOWA’S ALL-AMERICAN RUNNING BACK, RONNIE HARMON, FUMBLES THE BALL FOUR TIMES IN HIS LAST GAME-THE ROSE BOWL. 1986 – OKLAHOMA WINS ORANGE BOWL FOR COLLEGE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP. 1988 – MIAMI BEATS OKLAHOMA FOR COLLEGE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP. 1990 – MITSUKO NISHIWAKI BEATS NAKANO TO BECOME JAPAN WOMEN WRESTLING CHAMP. 1990 – SPORTS NEWS NETWORK BEGINS OPERATION ON CABLE TV. 1991 – THE COLORADO BUFFALOES CLAIM US COLLEGE FOOTBALL’S NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP WITH A 10-9 WIN OVER NOTRE DAME IN THE 1991 ORANGE BOWL. 1992 – THE ESPN RADIO NETWORK DEBUTS. 1993 – BLOCKBUSTER BOWL 3: STANFORD BEATS PENNSYLVANIA STATE, 24-3. 1994 – ALEKSANDR POPOV SWIMS WORLD RECORD 100M FREE STYLE (47.83). 1994 – CARQUEST BOWL 4: BOSTON COLLEGE BEATS VIRGINIA, 32-13. 1994 – FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY BEATS THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA IN THE ORANGE BOWL FOR THE US NATIONAL FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP. 1995 – RAMAN LAMBA AND RAVI SEHGAL SCORE 464 FOR FIRST WICKET FOR DELHI. 2008 – AT THE RALPH WILSON STADIUM IN BUFFALO, NEW YORK, THE FIRST REGULAR-SEASON OUTDOOR NHL HOCKEY GAME IN THE US IS HELD. 71217 FANS WATCH THE 2008 WINTER CLASSIC, IN WHICH THE BUFFALO SABRES PLAY THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS, RUNNING INTO OVERTIME, AND ENDING WITH A SHOOT-OUT WITH THE PENGUINS WINNING. 2010 – AT LEAST 96 PEOPLE ARE KILLED AND 100 INJURED BY A SUICIDE BOMB ATTACK AT A VOLLEYBALL COURT NEAR LAKKI MARWAT, CLOSE TO NORTH AND SOUTH WAZIRISTAN IN THE NORTH-WEST OF PAKISTAN. 2022 – AT CRYPTO.COM ARENA IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA, NHL REGULAR SEASON GAME: LOS ANGELES KINGS BEATS PHILADELPHIA FLYERS BY SCORE 6-3. 2022 – AT CLIMATE PLEDGE ARENA IN SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, USA, NHL REGULAR SEASON GAME: VANCOUVER CANUCKS BEATS SEATTLE KRAKEN BY SCORE 5-2. 2022 – AT XCEL ENERGY CENTER IN SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA, USA, NHL REGULAR SEASON GAME: SAINT LOUIS BLUES BEATS MINNESOTA WILD BY SCORE 6-4. 2022 – AT SCOTIABANK ARENA IN TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, NHL REGULAR SEASON GAME: TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS BEATS OTTAWA SENATORS BY SCORE 6-0. 2022 – AT BRIDGESTONE ARENA IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, USA, NHL REGULAR SEASON GAME: NASHVILLE PREDATORS BEATS CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS BY SCORE 6-1. 2022 – AT UBS ARENA IN ELMONT, NEW YORK, USA, NHL REGULAR SEASON GAME: NEW YORK ISLANDERS BEATS EDMONTON OILERS BY SCORE 3-2. 2022 – AT NATIONWIDE ARENA IN COLUMBUS, OHIO, USA, NHL REGULAR SEASON GAME: CAROLINA HURRICANES BEATS COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS BY SCORE 7-4. 2022 – AT FLA LIVE ARENA IN SUNRISE, FLORIDA, USA, NHL REGULAR SEASON GAME: FLORIDA PANTHERS BEATS MONTREAL CANADIENS BY SCORE 5-2. 2022 – AT TD GARDEN IN BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, USA, NHL REGULAR SEASON GAME: BOSTON BRUINS BEATS BUFFALO SABRES BY SCORE 4-3. BIRTHS OF SPORTS FIGURES ON JANUARY 1 1861 – BIRTH OF ISAAC MURPHY; THOROUGHBRED JOCKEY, 628 WINS ON 1,412 MOUNTS (44.5 PERCENT). 1863 – BIRTH OF PIERRE DE COUBERTIN IN FRANCE; BARON, REVIVER OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES. 1875 – BIRTH OF N F DRUCE; CRICKET PLAYER (5 TESTS FOR ENGLAND VERSUS AUSTRALIA 1897-98). 1898 – BIRTH OF GEORGE VAN DERTON; BELGIAN RACER (WON 500 RACES). 1902 – BIRTH OF BUSTER NUPEN; CRICKET PLAYER (ONE-EYED SOUTH AFRICAN QUICK, GREAT ON MATTING). 1906 – BIRTH OF FRANK STACK IN CANADA; SPEED SKATER (OLYMPICS-BRONZE-1932). 1908 – BIRTH OF KINUE HITOMA IN JAPAN; 800M RUNNER (OLYMPICS-SILVER-1928). 1909 – BIRTH OF D D HINDLEKAR; CRICKET PLAYER (INDIAN BATSMAN AND WICKET-KEEPER 1936-46). 1911 – BIRTH OF HAMMERIN’ HANK GREENBERG; HALL-OF-FAME FIRST BASEMAN (DETROIT TIGERS). 1918 – BIRTH OF WILLY DEN OUDEN; DUTCH SWIMMER, (WORLD RECORD 100M, 1:04.06). 1921 – BIRTH OF ALAIN MIMOUN O’KACHA; ALGERIAN/FRENCH WORLD CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPION (OLYMPICS-GOLD-1956). 1925 – BIRTH OF GEORGE CONNER; NFL TACKLE, LINEBACKER (CHICAGO BEARS). 1928 – BIRTH OF KHAN MOHAMMAD; CRICKET PLAYER (PAKISTAN FAST-MED BOWLER, 54 WICKETS IN 13 TESTS). 1936 – BIRTH OF WILLYE B WHITE; AMERICAN LONG JUMPER (OLYMPICS-SILVER-1956). 1940 – BIRTH OF JACK KIEFER IN COLUMBIA, PENNSYLVANIA, USA; PGA GOLFER (1994 RALPHS SENIOR CLASSIC). 1943 – BIRTH OF JERILYN BRITZ IN MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, USA; LPGA GOLFER (1979 US WOMEN’S OPEN). 1944 – BIRTH OF CHARLIE DAVIS; CRICKET PLAYER (WEST INDIES BATSMAN IN 15 TESTS 1968-73). 1945 – BIRTH OF JACQUES ICKX IN BELGIUM; LE MANS AUTO RACE (SIX-TIME WINNER). 1946 – BIRTH OF MANFRED STENGL IN AUSTRIA; TWO MAN LUGIST (OLYMPICS-GOLD-1960). 1955 – BIRTH OF MICHAEL JAMES SULLIVAN IN GARY, INDIANA, USA; PGA GOLFER (1980 SOUTHERN OPEN). 1961 – BIRTH OF IRV EATMAN; NFL TACKLE (HOUSTON OILERS). 1963 – BIRTH OF GLENN TRIMBLE; CRICKET PLAYER (SON OF SAM TWO ODI’S FOR AUSTRALIA 1986). 1963 – BIRTH OF LANCE SMITH; NFL GUARD (NEW YORK GIANTS). 1965 – BIRTH OF ANDREW O VALMON IN BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, USA; 400M RUNNER. 1965 – BIRTH OF HARRY GALBREATH; NFL GUARD (GREEN BAY PACKERS). 1965 – BIRTH OF MARK DEWEY; US BASEBALL PLAYER (PITTSBURGH PIRATES). 1966 – BIRTH OF MIKA NIEMINEN IN TAMPERE, FINLAND; HOCKEY FORWARD (TEAM FINLAND, OLYMPICS-BRONZE-1998). 1967 – BIRTH OF ANDY HECK; NFL TACKLE (SEATTLE SEAHAWKS, CHICAGO BEARS). 1967 – BIRTH OF DERRICK THOMAS; NFL LINEBACKER (KANSAS CITY CHIEFS). 1968 – BIRTH OF JOHN DE VISSER; SOCCER PLAYER (SC HEERENVEEN). 1968 – BIRTH OF SANDY BEASLEY IN RICHMOND, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA; SOFTBALL OUTFIELDER (OLYMPICS-1996). 1969 – BIRTH OF REEMT PYKA IN BREMERHAVEN, GERMANY; HOCKEY FORWARD (TEAM GERMANY). 1970 – BIRTH OF BRIAN MORTON IN WOLLONGONG, AUSTRALIA; CANOEIST (OLYMPICS-1996). 1970 – BIRTH OF TOM SIER; SOCCER PLAYER (SC HEERENVEEN). 1970 – BIRTH OF VADIM GLOVATSKIY; HOCKEY DEFENSEMAN (TEAM KAZAKHSTAN OLYMPICS-1998). 1971 – BIRTH OF BENO BRYANT; WLAF RUNNING BACK (AMSTERDAM ADMIRALS). 1971 – BIRTH OF BOBBY HOLIK IN JIHLAVA, CZECHOSLAVAKIA; NHL LEFT WING (NEW JERSEY DEVILS, TEAM CZECH REPUBLIC). 1971 – BIRTH OF BRIDGET PETTIS; WNBA GUARD (PHOENIX MERCURY). 1971 – BIRTH OF KEVIN LEE; NFL WIDE RECEIVER (NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS). 1971 – BIRTH OF KEVIN MITCHELL; NFL LINEBACKER (SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS). 1972 – BIRTH OF BARRON MILES; NFL DEFENSIVE BACK (PITTSBURGH STEELERS)/WLAF CORNER (FRANKFURT). 1972 – BIRTH OF IVAN DROPPA; HOCKEY DEFENSEMAN (TEAM SLOVAKIA 1998). 1973 – BIRTH OF CLYDE WIJNHARD; SOCCER PLAYER (AJAX, RKC). 1973 – BIRTH OF FANG LI IN HUNAN, CHINA; TENNIS STAR (1991 FUTURES-BILBAO-ESP). 1973 – BIRTH OF JUSTIN ARMOUR; NFL WIDE RECEIVER (BUFFALO BILLS). 1973 – BIRTH OF MERCURY HAYES; WIDE RECEIVER (ATLANTA FALCONS). 1974 – BIRTH OF JOHNIE CHURCH; NFL DEFENSIVE END (SEATTLE SEAHAWKS). 1975 – BIRTH OF BECKY KELLAR; ICE HOCKEY DEFENSEMAN (CANADA, OLYMPICS-1998). 1975 – BIRTH OF CHRIS ANSTEY; NBA CENTER (DALLAS MAVERICKS). 1985 – BIRTH OF DEIVSON ROGERIO DA SILVA; BRAZILIAN FOOTBALL PLAYER WHO PLAYS FOR BESIKTAS J.K. DEATHS OF SPORTS FIGURES ON JANUARY 1 1944 – C T B TURNER, CRICKET PLAYER (17 TESTS 1886-95, 101 WICKET ALL TIME GREAT), DIES. 1949 – MALCOLM CAMPBELL, ENGLISH CYCLIST (WORLD SPEED-RECORD), DIES AT AGE 63. 1964 – ALF HALL, CRICKET PLAYER (SOUTH AFRICAN LEFTY QUICK TOOK 40 WICKETS IN 7 TESTS), DIES. 1967 – MAURICE LEYLAND, CRICKET PLAYER (41 TESTS FOR ENGLAND, 2764 RUNS), DIES. 1980 – FRANK CLIFFORD WYKOFF, SPRINTER (OLYMPICS-GOLD-1928, 1932, 1936), DIES AT AGE 70. 1990 – JOE HARDSTAFF JUNIOR, CRICKET PLAYER (23 TESTS FOR ENGLAND, 1636 RUNS), DIES. 1998 – DEATH OF HELEN WILLS MOODY, AMERICAN TENNIS PLAYER (31 GRAND SLAMS), AT AGE 92 (BORN 1905). 2020 – DEATH OF DAVID STERN, AMERICAN BUSINESSMAN AND NBA COMMISSIONER (BORN 1942). =========== TV SPORTS WEDNESDAY, 12/31/25 NBA REGULAR SEASONTIME ETTVGOLDEN STATE WARRIORS VS CHARLOTTE HORNETS1:00PMNBATVNBCS-BAYFANDUEL SPORTS CHAMINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES VS ATLANTA HAWKS3:00PMFANDUEL SPORTS NORTHFANDUEL SPORTS ATLORLANDO MAGIC VS INDIANA PACERS3:00PMFANDUEL SPORTS FLFANDUEL SPORTS INDPHOENIX SUNS VS CLEVELAND CAVALIERS3:30PMFANDUEL SPORTS OHIOAFSNNEW ORLEANS PELICANS VS CHICAGO BULLS7:00PMGCSNCHSNNEW YORK KNICKS VS SAN ANTONIO SPURS7:00PMFANDUEL SPORTS SWMSGDENVER NUGGETS VS TORONTO RAPTORS7:00PMALT2SNWASHINGTON WIZARDS VS MILWAUKEE BUCKS8:00PMFANDUEL SPORTS MILMNMTPORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS VS OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER8:00PMNBATVFANDUEL SPORTS OKCRIP CITYNHL REGULAR SEASONTIME ETTVNEW YORK RANGERS VS WASHINGTON CAPITALS12:30PMMSGMNMTNASHVILLE PREDATORS VS VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS3:00PMFANDUEL SPORTS NSHSCRIPPSTAMPA BAY LIGHTNING VS ANAHEIM DUCKS4:00PMFANDUEL SPORTS SUNVICTORY+MINNESOTA WILD VS SAN JOSE SHARKS4:00PMFANDUEL SPORTS NORTHNBCS-CAWINNIPEG JETS VS DETROIT RED WINGS6:30PMFANDUEL SPORTS DETSNNEW JERSEY DEVILS VS COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS7:00PMMSGSNFANDUEL SPORTS OHIOBUFFALO SABRES VS DALLAS STARS8:00PMMSG-BUFVICTORY+ST. LOUIS BLUES VS COLORADO AVALANCHE9:00PMFANDUEL SPORTS MWALTBOSTON BRUINS VS EDMONTON OILERS9:30PMNESNSNPHILADELPHIA FLYERS VS CALGARY FLAMES9:30PMNBCS-PHISNCOLLEGE FOOTBALLTIME ETTVRELIAQUEST BOWL: 23 IOWA VS. 14 VANDERBILT12:00PMESPNTONY THE TIGER SUN BOWL: ARIZONA STATE VS. DUKE2:00PMCBSPARAMOUNT+CHEEZ-IT CITRUS BOWL: 18 MICHIGAN VS. 13 TEXAS3:00PMABCSRS DISTRIBUTION LAS VEGAS BOWL: NEBRASKA VS. 15 UTAH3:30PMESPNGOODYEAR COTTON BOWL: MIAMI/TEXAS A&M VS. 2 OHIO STATE7:30PMESPNMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALLTIME ETTVWAKE FOREST AT NC STATE12:00 PMESPN2TULANE AT EAST CAROLINA12:00PMESPNULOYOLA CHICAGO AT RHODE ISLAND12:00PMWLNE-DT5JOHNSON & WALES (RI) AT BROWN12:00PMESPN+LAMAR AT EAST TEXAS A&M12:00PMESPN+ARMY WEST POINT AT LEHIGH12:00PMESPN+MERCER AT FURMAN12:00PMESPN+LOYOLA MARYLAND AT AMERICAN1:00PMESPN+BOSTON UNIVERSITY AT NAVY1:00PMESPN+SOUTH ALABAMA AT LOUISIANA1:00PMESPN+UTSA AT FLORIDA ATLANTIC1:00PMESPN+CLEMSON AT SYRACUSE2:00PMESPN2RICE AT TULSA2:00PMESPNUVIRGINIA AT VIRGINIA TECH2:00PMACCNSTONY BROOK AT WILLIAM & MARY2:00PMCBSSNST. BONAVENTURE AT VCU2:00PMMASNCAMPBELL AT MONMOUTH2:00PMNBCS-PHIFORDHAM AT DAYTON2:00PMESPN+GEORGE MASON AT LA SALLE2:00PMESPN+CHARLESTON SOUTHERN AT GARDNER-WEBB2:00PMESPN+APP STATE AT OLD DOMINION2:00PMESPN+HIGH POINT AT UNC ASHEVILLE2:00PMESPN+PENN STATE-ABINGTON AT COLUMBIA2:00PMESPN+NJIT AT PENN2:00PMESPN+BUCKNELL AT HOLY CROSS2:00PMESPN+TEXAS STATE AT TROY2:00PMESPN+CHARLESTON AT ELON2:00PMFLOCOLLEGETOWSON AT HAMPTON2:30PMMNMT 2WINTHROP AT LONGWOOD3:00PMESPN+NORTHEASTERN AT NORTH CAROLINA A&T3:00PMFLOCOLLEGECOLGATE AT LAFAYETTE3:00PMLAFAYETTE SPORTSNORTH TEXAS AT MEMPHIS4:00PMESPN2WICHITA STATE AT UAB4:00PMESPNUGEORGIA TECH AT DUKE4:00PMACCNGEORGE WASHINGTON AT RICHMOND4:00PMMNMTSAINT JOSEPH’S AT SAINT LOUIS4:00PMFANDUEL SPORTS MWGEORGIA STATE AT MARSHALL4:00PMESPN+KANSAS CITY AT DENVER4:00PMSUMMITSTEPHEN F. AUSTIN AT NORTHWESTERN STATE4:30PMESPN+NEW ORLEANS AT A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI4:30PMESPN+SOUTH DAKOTA AT NORTH DAKOTA STATE5:00PMWDAY-DT3UCONN AT XAVIER5:00PMPEACOCKNICHOLLS AT UTRGV5:30PMESPN+DEPAUL AT VILLANOVA6:00PMFS1RADFORD AT USC UPSTATE7:00PMESPN+DREXEL AT UNCW7:00PMFLOCOLLEGEST. JOHN’S AT GEORGETOWN8:00PMFS1SOCCERTIME ETTVSAUDI ARABIA PRO LEAGUE: NEOM VS AL ITTIHAD10:25AMFS2SAUDI ARABIA PRO LEAGUE: AL KHOLOOD VS AL HILAL12:30PMFS2 THURSDAY, 1/1/26 NBA REGULAR SEASONTIME ETTVHOUSTON ROCKETS VS BROOKLYN NETS6:00PMSCHNYESMIAMI HEAT VS DETROIT PISTONS7:00PMFANDUEL SPORTS SUNFANDUEL SPORTS DETPHILADELPHIA 76ERS VS DALLAS MAVERICKS8:30PMNBCS-PHIKFAABOSTON CELTICS VS SACRAMENTO KINGS10:00PMNBCS-BOSNBCS-CAUTAH JAZZ VS LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS10:30PMKJZZFANDUEL SPORTS SOCALNHL REGULAR SEASONTIME ETTVWASHINGTON CAPITALS VS OTTAWA SENATORS1:00PMMNMTSNUTAH MAMMOTH VS NEW YORK ISLANDERS3:00PMUTAH16MSGSNWINNIPEG JETS VS TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS7:00PMNHLNSNTSNDETROIT RED WINGS VS PITTSBURGH PENGUINS7:00PMFANDUEL SPORTS DETATTSN-PITMONTREAL CANADIENS VS CAROLINA HURRICANES7:00PMFANDUEL SPORTS SOUTHTSNTAMPA BAY LIGHTNING VS LOS ANGELES KINGS7:00PMFANDUEL SPORTS SUNDANDUEL SPORTS WESTDALLAS STARS VS CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS8:30PMVICTORY+CHSNNASHVILLE PREDATORS VS SEATTLE KRAKEN10:00PMKONGFANDUEL SPORTS NSHWASHINGTON CAPITALS VS OTTAWA SENATORS1:00PMMNMTSNMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALLTIME ETTVELMS AT DARTMOUTH1:00PMESPN+SAMFORD AT VMI1:00PMESPN+GEORGIA SOUTHERN AT COASTAL CAROLINA1:00PMESPN+OAKLAND AT YOUNGSTOWN STATE1:00PMESPN+ORAL ROBERTS AT NORTH DAKOTA2:00PMMIDCO SPORTS 2FGCU AT CENTRAL ARKANSAS2:00PMESPN+MILWAUKEE AT WRIGHT STATE2:00PMESPN+IU INDIANAPOLIS AT NORTHERN KENTUCKY2:00PMESPN+GREEN BAY AT PURDUE FORT WAYNE2:00PMESPN+JACKSONVILLE AT LIPSCOMB2:00PMESPN+EVANSVILLE AT ILLINOIS STATE3:00PMESPN+VALPARAISO AT SOUTHERN ILLINOIS3:00PMESPN+STETSON AT NORTH ALABAMA3:00PMESPN+CHATTANOOGA AT UNCG4:00PMESPN+PORTLAND STATE AT WEBER STATE4:00PMESPN+WESTERN ILLINOIS AT UT MARTIN4:30PMESPN+SOUTHERN INDIANA AT SIUE4:30PMESPN+MOREHEAD STATE AT LINDENWOOD4:30PMESPN+CSUN AT UC DAVIS5:00PMESPN+SOUTHERN MISS AT ULM5:00PMESPN+UC IRVINE AT CSU BAKERSFIELD5:00PMESPN+OMAHA AT SOUTH DAKOTA STATE5:15PMMIDCO SPORTSNORTHERN ARIZONA AT MONTANA6:00PMESPN+TENNESSEE TECH AT LITTLE ROCK6:00PMESPN+BRADLEY AT BELMONT7:00PMMVC TVBELLARMINE AT WEST GEORGIA7:00PMESPN+EASTERN KENTUCKY AT QUEENS7:00PMESPN+HAWAI’I AT UC RIVERSIDE8:00PMSPECTRUMUTAH VALLEY AT TARLETON8:00PMESPN+NORTH FLORIDA AT AUSTIN PEAY8:00PMESPN+CALIFORNIA BAPTIST AT UTA8:00PMESPN+UTAH TECH AT ABILENE CHRISTIAN8:00PMESPN+INDIANA STATE AT UNI8:00PMESPN+EASTERN ILLINOIS AT SOUTHEAST MISSOURI8:30PMGRAY MEDIAMURRAY STATE AT UIC9:00PMMVC TVNORTHERN COLORADO AT MONTANA STATE9:00PMESPN+SACRAMENTO STATE AT IDAHO STATE9:00PMESPN+UC SANTA BARBARA AT CAL STATE FULLERTON10:00PMESPN+UC SAN DIEGO AT CAL POLY10:00PMESPN+SOCCERTIME ETTVEPL: LIVERPOOL VS LEEDS UNITED12:30PMUSAPEACOCKEPL: CRYSTAL PALACE VS FULHAM12:30PMNBCSNPEACOCKEPL: SUNDERLAND VS MANCHESTER CITY3:00PMUSAPEACOCKEPL: BRENTFORD VS TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR3:00PMNBCSNPEACOCK About The Author troyderengowski61@gmail.com See author's posts Post navigation NO. 1 INDIANA RETURNS TO THE ROSE BOWL FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 1968 TO TAKE ON CFP STALWART ALABAMA THE INDIANA SRN “SCOREBOARD” DECEMBER 31
