Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh is focused on the Rose Bowl while rumors swirl about his potential return to the NFL sidelines.

Harbaugh dodged questions gauging his interest in becoming an NFL head coach again while speaking to reporters at Disneyland in advance of the Rose Bowl.  

“Just a very one-track mind about this game. Right now, just have fun with the family and the team and the players. We’re at the happiest place on earth. We’re gonna enjoy ourselves and get back to business. See if we can dominate the day. Got some good meeting tonight and wake up tomorrow and practice. See if we can dominate that day,” Harbaugh said to reporters. “This is like straight out of the Jackie Harbaugh playbook. One day at a time. One play at a time. That’s how we’re approaching each day.”

Harbaugh’s Michigan Wolverines are set to take on the Alabama Crimson Tide in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Rose Bowl on Monday.

The 60-year-old head coach has been at the helm at Michigan since 2015.  

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OPINION: Jim Harbaugh has led Michigan to arguably the program’s biggest heights

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Harbaugh’s flirted with a potential return to the NFL in recent years. He was the head coach for the San Francisco 49ers for four seasons (2011-2014). He registered a 44-19-1 record and led the franchise to an appearance in Super Bowl 47.

Many expect Harbaugh to be an NFL head coaching candidate during this year’s hiring cycle. There are currently three NFL head coaching vacancies (Carolina Panthers, Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers), and more jobs are anticipated to be available.

Harbaugh made USA TODAY Sports’ list of five coaching candidate the Chargers should consider. Harbaugh has Southern California ties in addition to his NFL coaching experience. Harbaugh was a quarterback for the then-San Diego Chargers from 1999-2000 and he was the head coach at University of San Diego from 2004-2006.

Nevertheless, Harbaugh is taking it “one day at a time’ amid speculation about his coaching future.

Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.

Often-injured Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski is looking at another potential long absence after being helped off the ice in the second period Wednesday night.

He had broken up a play by New Jersey Devils forward Ondrej Palat and was trying to move the puck up ice when their legs tangled awkwardly. Palat appeared to catch the defenseman in the leg with his skate, and Werenski also appeared to twist his left ankle as he went down.

He tried to crawl to the bench before teammate Erik Gudbranson and a trainer helped him get to the dressing room.

Werenski wasn’t able to put pressure on his leg and was later declared out of the game with a lower-body injury.

Coach Pascal Vincent told reporters Thursday afternoon that Werenski was still meeting with team doctors.

‘It’s not going to be day-to-day,’ he said. ‘Most likely, I’m sure it’s going to be week-to-week. How many weeks, I don’t know.’

Werenski was limited to 13 games last season after suffering a shoulder injury that required surgery. He missed 35 games between the 2020-21 and 2021-22 season.

He also was hurt in this season’s opener on a knee-on-knee hit, but was able to return after missing two games.

Werenski entered Wednesday’s game as the Blue Jackets’ leader in ice time, assists and points.

One of college football’s wackiest traditions capped off West Virginia’s 30-10 win over North Carolina at the Duke’s Mayo Bowl in Charlotte.

Instead of getting a Gatorade bath to celebrate his team’s victory, Mountaineers head coach Neal Brown was showered with … mayonnaise.

It’s become a postgame staple ever since Duke’s took over sponsorship of the game – formerly known as the Continental Tire Bowl, Meineke Car Care Bowl and Belk Bowl – three years ago.

Traylon Ray scored on a 75-yard pass play from quarterback Garrett Greene and Beanie Bishop returned a punt 78 yards for a touchdown as West Virginia surged past North Carolina for the Mayo Bowl victory.

And Brown was happy to accept his fate after his team improved to 9-4 on the season.

Last year, Taulia Tagovailoa threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Octavian Smith, Chad Ryland kicked three field goals as Maryland outlasted North Carolina State, 16-12, to earn Terps head coach Mike Locksley the mayonnaise shower.

Fifteen modern-era finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024 were announced Wednesday. 

The selection committee will meet Jan. 16-17 in Atlanta to whittle down the names and choose the Hall’s next class, which will be announced Feb. 8 during the ‘NFL Honors’ ceremony. Up to five modern-era players can be elected, and each must receive a minimum positive vote of 80%.

Enshrinement is set for Aug. 1-4 in Canton, Ohio, in conjunction with the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, which marks the first preseason game of the year.

The finalists are: 

Eric Allen

Finished career with 54 interceptions, four of them returned for touchdowns in the 1993 season with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he spent half of his 14 years in the league. Also played for the New Orleans Saints and then-Oakland Raiders. Named All-Pro in 1989 and selected to six Pro Bowls.

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Jared Allen

Twice led the league in sacks (2007, 2011) and came one-half sack away from tying the single-season record of 22½ in ‘11 with the Minnesota Vikings. Started career with the Kansas City Chiefs and made first of four All-Pro lists in 2007 before enjoying his prime in Minnesota. Twelfth on all-time sack list with 136. 

Willie Anderson

Played all but one of his 13 seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals as an offensive tackle, earning three consecutive All-Pro bids from 2004-06.

Jahri Evans

Spent 11 of his 12 seasons as a right guard with the New Orleans Saints, four times being named All-Pro (2009-2012). Won Super Bowl with Saints and was named to the Hall of Fame’s All-2010s team. 

Dwight Freeney

Member of Super Bowl-winning Indianapolis Colts team and finished career 18th on all-time sacks list (125½). Played for the Colts from 2002-2012 and retired after 2017 campaign. Three-time All-Pro who was named to the Hall of Fame’s All-2010s team. 

Antonio Gates

Ended 16-year career – all with the Chargers, from San Diego to the team’s move to Los Angeles – with most touchdowns for a tight end in NFL history (116). Three-time All-Pro and made eight straight Pro Bowls from 2004-11.  

Rodney Harrison

Two-time Super Bowl champ during the first iteration of the New England Patriots dynasty after starting career with Chargers. Hard-hitting safety made receivers think twice about crossing middle of the field, had 34 career interceptions and made two All-Pro teams.

Devin Hester

One of the greatest returners the game has ever seen – nobody has returned more punts for touchdowns (14). Also took five kickoffs to the house, none more memorable than his touchdown on the opening kickoff of Super Bowl 41 for the Chicago Bears.

Torry Holt

Rookie receiver for “The Greatest Show on Turf” St. Louis Rams who went on to have six straight 1,300-yard seasons, twice leading league (2000, 2003) and was All-Pro in 2003. Finished with 74 touchdowns and played all but one of 11 years with Rams.

Andre Johnson

Four 100-catch seasons. Seven 1,000-yard campaigns. Led the league in receiving yards in 2008 and 2009, his two All-Pro years. Had 70 touchdowns, all without above-average quarterback play his entire career. 

Julius Peppers

Named to both the All-2000s and All-2010s teams with three All-Pro nods. His 159½ career sacks is fourth all time. Began career with Carolina Panthers, where he won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2002. Also had stints with the Bears and Green Bay Packers.

Fred Taylor

Lone running back on the list who played 11 of 13 seasons with Jacksonville Jaguars. From 1998-2007, he rushed for at least 1,100 yards in seasons in which he played 13 games or more. Had league’s highest average rushing yards per game in 2000 (107.6) and finished with 66 rushing touchdowns. 

Reggie Wayne

One of Peyton Manning’s favorite weapons in Indianapolis, he also was part of the Colts’ Super Bowl win. Led the league in receiving in 2007 with 1,510 and averaged 1,240 yards per season between 2004-2012. Played all 14 seasons with the Colts. 

Patrick Willis

A dominant middle linebacker who retired after eight seasons with the San Francisco 49ers but has the accomplishments of somebody who played for twice that duration: 2007 Rookie of the Year, five-time All-Pro, led league in tackles twice in first three seasons. Walked away at age 30 following foot injuries that held him to six games in 2014. 

Darren Woodson

Safety who won three Super Bowls as part of the Dallas Cowboys’ dynasty of the 1990s. Had three All-Pro campaigns (1994-96) and had 23 interceptions, 12 forced fumbles and 11 fumble recoveries.

Miller Moss, playing in place of Caleb Williams, had a Holiday Bowl to remember.

The quarterback threw for 372 yards and six touchdowns, earning game offensive MVP honors for leading USC (8-5) to a 42-28 win over Louisville (10-4) at Petco Park in San Diego on Wednesday night.

Moss’ six touchdown passes came one short of a major college bowl game record. LSU’s Joe Burrow threw for seven touchdowns in LSU’s 63-28 win over Oklahoma in a 2019 College Football Playoff semifinal in the Peach Bowl (in fact, all seven of Burrow’s touchdown throws came in the first half; Justin Jefferson caught four of those scores). Burrow’s seven touchdowns tied a bowl game mark originally set by Central Michigan’s Cooper Rush, who threw for seven touchdowns against Western Kentucky in the 2014 Bahamas Bowl.

Moss connected with receivers Tahj Washington and Ja’Kobi Lane for two touchdowns apiece. Duce Robinson and Kyron Hudson each had a touchdown reception.

Miller Moss Holiday Bowl highlights

Moss’ six touchdown passes broke the Holiday Bowl record of four touchdown passes held by four players, including Jim McMahon in BYU’s miracle 46-45 comeback win against SMU in 1980.

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Who is Miller Moss?

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Moss has played at USC for three seasons, but the redshirt sophomore finally made his first start at the 2023 Holiday Bowl.

Moss appeared in three other games this season, completing 23 of 32 passes for 309 yards and one touchdown. He appeared in five games during the 2022 season and two games in 2021. In all, he had thrown for 542 yards and three touchdowns entering his first start at the Holiday Bowl.

Moss played high school football at Bishop Alemany High School in Mission Hills, California. He was a four-star recruit, according to 247Sports. Jaylin Smith, the defensive MVP of the 2023 Holiday Bowl, also played at Bishop Alemany.

Why didn’t Caleb Williams play in the Holiday Bowl?

Just over two weeks after USC’s regular-season ended with a 38-20 loss to crosstown rival UCLA, head coach Lincoln Riley announced that the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner would not play in the Holiday Bowl.

Williams did not release a statement as to the reason why he was sitting out the bowl game, nor has he yet to declare his intentions to enter the 2024 NFL draft. The deadline for college players to make their 2024 draft decision is Jan. 15. Williams and North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye are projected to go 1-2 in USA TODAY Sports’ latest mock draft. The Chicago Bears — via a pre-2023 draft trade with the Carolina Panthers — currently hold the No. 1 pick.

Earlier this year, Williams’ father, Carl Williams, indicated that returning to school was an option if the teams at the top of the draft weren’t a fit for his son’s talents. The Bears are the only NFL team that has never had a quarterback throw for at least 4,000 yards in a season.

Let Russ cook … just not in this kitchen?

The Denver Broncos are sitting quarterback Russell Wilson for the final two weeks of the NFL’s 2023 regular season – this despite the fact the team is still mathematically alive for a wild card and even the AFC West title, though those are remote possibilities.

Regardless, the news invites some fascinating scenarios.

There certainly appears to be a financial component to Denver’s decision. Wilson is already owed a fully guaranteed $39 million in 2024, and the $37 million he’d make in 2025 locks in shortly after free agency commences in March. The Broncos are in for a pound of flesh here, but perhaps they don’t want to be in for two. If Wilson doesn’t play in the Rockies again, Denver can not only avoid an injury guarantee potentially activating, it can also preserve the possibility of trading a healthy player – the dead-cap charge for cutting him in 2024 would be $85 million but would drop to $68 million if a buyer stepped forward to acquire Wilson in a deal.

Yet while we’ve seen enormous quarterback contracts moved before despite massive financial implications – think Jared Goff, Carson Wentz or Matt Ryan – it seems unlikely teams will be clamoring for a 35-year-old who’s appeared more advanced than his age much of the past two seasons and largely without the mobility component that made Wilson so effective during his decade with the Seattle Seahawks.

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But let’s entertain what seems like a strong possibility that Wilson, a nine-time Pro Bowler, winds up in another uniform next year given Broncos coach Sean Payton has seemingly opened that door less than a year into his own tenure. Where might Wilson most likely land in 2024?

Here are eight possibilities:

Atlanta Falcons

It remains to be seen if HC Arthur Smith is the long-term guy in the ATL. But if he is, he’ll surely need to do better than Desmond Ridder and/or Taylor Heinicke if what should be a talented offense is going to take flight. And while, say, a local guy like Chicago Bears (for now) QB Justin Fields might be the ideal answer, you can’t always get what you want. But Wilson, in the near term anyway, might be what they need to optimize talents like WR Drake London, TE Kyle Pitts and RB Bijan Robinson in an eminently winnable division.

Las Vegas Raiders

Rookie Aidan O’Connell is currently the starter – uninspiring as he’s been at times – and Jimmy Garoppolo is technically under contract through the 2025 season. But who knows what this franchise’s depth chart and – more importantly – org chart will look like a month from now. A rebuild hardly seems like an optimal situation for Wilson … though it would be one that allowed him to see the Broncos twice a year while perhaps building a better bridge than Garoppolo managed.

Miami Dolphins

Let’s start with the admission that this is probably a bit far-fetched. But, at the moment, Fins QB Tua Tagovailoa is only under contract through next season – and with the parameters of the fifth-year option on his rookie deal. Meanwhile, his notable 2020 draft peers – Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert and Jalen Hurts – all signed megadeals prior to the 2023 season. Meanwhile, Tagovailoa waits … and maybe decides he doesn’t want to play for a relatively modest $23.2 million in 2024 if the Dolphins don’t pony up the extension he’s looking for. Just saying, given an ascending defense and an offense loaded with weaponry, Wilson seems like the kind of player who could be a perfect fallback … if Tagovailoa is out of the picture, even temporarily, and Wilson was willing to play for something close to the veteran minimum.

Minnesota Vikings

Like Wilson, Kirk Cousins is 35. Wilson might soon be a free agent, but Cousins is definitely scheduled to hit the open market in 2024. Given how well he was playing before tearing his Achilles in October, maybe the Vikings re-sign Cousins. Or, maybe they’ll be looking for an alternative who might not demand as much financially yet can be counted on to put the ball into WR Justin Jefferson’s area code.

New England Patriots

Mac Jones, a first-rounder in 2021, doesn’t seem to be the answer. Bailey Zappe? Also unlikely. And HC Bill Belichick’s job status is a major unknown at the moment … even while it appears he’s busily trying to pilot the Pats out of a top-five pick in what projects to be a strong quarterback draft. All of which is to say … who knows? But this certainly looks like the tenuous kind of environment that could eventually at least afford Wilson the starting opportunity he’d doubtless seek if he winds up on the unemployment line.

Pittsburgh Steelers

In 24 starts since being drafted in the first round last year, Kenny Pickett (13 TD passes, 13 interceptions, 78.8 passer rating) has been the definition of average – at best. But this team seems to have a win-now (and certainly veteran-laden) defense, yet will have the opportunity to reimagine an underachieving offense in 2024, one that will require a new coordinator … and maybe an experienced quarterback like Wilson, who’s proven – if nothing else – this season that he can still be an effective game manager (26 TD passes, 98.0 passer rating) if not his vintage Pro Bowl self.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Could Wilson find himself doing what Baker Mayfield did in 2023 – seeking a locale to compete for a starting gig and then making the most of it? Who knows if Mayfield will become part of the Bucs’ long-term plans with his one-year deal set to soon expire – possibly after leading this organization to a third straight NFC South flag. But if he isn’t? Definitely worth noting that OC Dave Canales was on Seattle’s staff for the entirety of Wilson’s tenure in the Pacific Northwest, including stints as the quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator.

Washington Commanders

Another franchise likely facing regime change and with uncertainty at quarterback, sophomore Sam Howell benched along with Wilson on Wednesday. On the one hand, Washington has been playing musical quarterbacks for years and shown what folly that “philosophy” can be. On the other, the Commanders may not have much of a choice in 2024 if Howell falls out of favor and a younger, better option isn’t forthcoming or ready to play. Wilson has been far from perfect, but he has distributed the ball efficiently in 2023 and generally minimized mistakes – attributes that would seemingly play well with the Commanders’ sterling play makers regardless of who’s calling the shots.

***

Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis on X, formerly Twitter @ByNateDavis.

LIENZ, Austria (AP) — Mikaela Shiffrin held on to a big first-run lead to win a women’s World Cup giant slalom amid tough course conditions Thursday for the American’s record-extending 92nd career victory.

Shiffrin lost most of her advantage as she skied a rather conservative final run, posting only the 17th fastest time. But it was enough to beat Federica Brignone by 0.38 seconds, a result that sent the Italian to the top of the discipline standings.

Sara Hector, the Olympic GS champion from Sweden, dropped from second after the opening run to third, trailing Shiffrin by 0.45.

‘The second run was great skiing with a little bit more space,’ said Shiffrin, who lost 1.25 seconds on Brignone in that final run.

‘Federica, a few more gates and she would have probably taken it. So, that’s the next thing to learn for the coming races: you have to push in the second run.’

It was Shiffrin’s 22nd career win in GS, but first this season. The American is third in the discipline standings, 80 points behind leader Brignone and 45 behind Lara Gut-Behrami. The Swiss skier finished sixth Thursday.

‘I was like, now I want to win it but I also really don’t want to mess it up, that would be so disappointing. So, it was a little back and forth in my thoughts,’ Shiffrin said about trying to maintain her first-run lead. ‘Every (GS) race, I feel more comfortable and I think I have a really good focus with my skiing that can be simple. I can hopefully repeat it more and more races, so I’m super happy with the progress.’

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Shiffrin positioned herself for the victory with a dominant first run, earning her an advantage of 0.63 seconds over Hector and 1.63 over Brignone.

‘When I came through the finish, I didn’t expect it would be this much ahead, so I’m really happy with that. I’m happy with the skiing, I felt very strong, but I think, maybe, it’s one of those runs, it doesn’t happen that often,’ Shiffrin said after the first run.

The American found the right balance between control and attack on the Schlossberg course, where a variation of grippy snow and icy spots caused problems for many racers.

‘I know from the experience that you have to be really aggressive on this hill, but it’s quite challenging with the darkness and quite a lot of terrain,’ said Shiffrin, who also won the GS in the Austrian Dolomites in 2019.

Four years ago, Shiffrin also won a slalom on the same hill the following day. A slalom is scheduled for Friday.

The first run was delayed for 12 minutes after one of the forerunners, who test the course before the first racer starts, crashed and needed medical attention for an apparent right arm injury.

The first starter, former World Cup GS champion Marta Bassino, also slid off the course and into the safety netting, causing another delay. The Italian seemed unhurt.