The College Football Playoff has arrived.

After several weeks of speculations and predictions, the 12-team CFP bracket will be finalized at noon ET during the final College Football Playoff rankings unveiling.

The Week 14 CFP rankings stirred up quite the post-ranking conversation with the at-large teams in the 12-team field, and Sunday’s rankings will surely follow suit.

Will Alabama remain part of the field with three losses? Will Arizona State be among the top four conference champions who have a first-round bye? Will SMU be rewarded for its undefeated conference play despite losing to Clemson in the ACC championship game?

Speaking of those at-large teams, the expanded field from four to 12 teams is one of several new additions to the CFP.

Here’s what you need to know on how many teams will be in the CFP this season and more:

How many teams are in College Football Playoff?

For the first time in the College Football Playoff era, the CFP will be more than just four teams, expanding to 12 total.

The previous model, in use from 2014 through 2023, allowed for only four teams to make the playoff. Its predecessor, the BCS, allowed for a two-team, single-game playoff that decided the national championship.

Which teams make 12-team CFP?

The 12 teams that make up the College Football Playoff are the five highest-ranked conference champions and seven at-large bids. The four highest-ranked conference champions will be seeded 1-4 and receive a first-round bye. Meanwhile, the fifth-highest-ranked conference champion will also gain entry, but must play a first-round game.

Entering Sunday’s CFP rankings, the likely four automatic qualifiers that will receive a first-round bye include Oregon, Georgia, Boise State and Arizona State. After winning its eighth ACC championship in the last 10 years, Clemson likely secured itself as the fifth-highest-ranked conference champion, and will likely be slotted at the No. 12 seed.

When do final CFP rankings come out?

The sixth and final set of CFP rankings will be released at noon ET on Sunday, Dec. 8.

How to watch CFP rankings show today?

Date: Sunday, Dec. 8
Time: Noon ET
TV channel: ESPN
Streaming options: ESPN app | ESPN+ | Fubo

The final College Football Playoff rankings will be broadcast nationally on ESPN. Streaming options for the CFP rankings include the ESPN app (by logging in with your TV provider credentials), ESPN+, ESPN’s subscription streaming service, and Fubo, which carries the ESPN family of networks.

Georgia often didn’t resemble what we’d expect the nation’s No. 2 seed to look like, but that seed almost certainly becomes the Bulldogs’ prize.
Georgia needed every ounce of preserverance to beat Texas.
Longhorns dominated first half but had only three-point lead to show for it. Hello, danger zone.

ATLANTA – Hard to believe we saw the playoff’s second-best team Saturday inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium, but that No. 2 seed almost certainly becomes Georgia’s prize for upsetting No. 2 Texas 22-19 in overtime of a messy rock fight otherwise known as the SEC championship game.

The Bulldogs won with their backup quarterback spurring the rally.

They survived an interception and four fumbles and prevailed despite being outgained by 112 yards.

They needed a fake punt to pull off the escape. The Bulldogs needed every one of their six sacks of quarterback Quinn Ewers. They needed Texas to commit 10 penalties, miss two field goals and drop too many passes for one hand to count.

Survive and advance, Bulldogs.

“This team never, ever says never,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said afterward.

This team does that, at least.

Only once since the calendar turned to November have the Bulldogs (11-2) looked especially dominant – against Tennessee – but they now own three wins against playoff-bound teams.

By that metric alone, Georgia earned this No. 2 seed.

“No matter what people say about us, we just keep going,’ Georgia wide receiver Arian Smith said. ‘I’m proud of us.”

Georgia needed every bit of the white-knuckle grip it showed previously in narrow wins against Kentucky and Georgia Tech.

Credit Georgia’s perseverance for rallying behind its defense and ground game after quarterback Carson Beck exited with an injury on the final play before halftime. Credit backup Gunner Stockton for his 8-yard run in overtime that set up Georgia for the winning score.

Also, discredit the Longhorns for refusing to grasp a victory that felt about three inches in front of their face for most of the game, and that proved one inch too far.

To the victors goes the valuable bye into the quarterfinal. That’s important time for Georgia to rest up and figure out what to do at quarterback after Beck spent the second half with an ice pack on his elbow.

And how about Texas’ prize?

The Longhorns (11-2), a darling of the committee the past several weeks, still could be seeded high enough to host a first-round game despite losing to Georgia twice and beating no playoff teams.

At halftime, Texas had a 260-54 yard edge in total offense but just a three-point lead, thanks to a litany of blunders.

Hello, danger zone.

You just knew Texas would regret not putting Georgia away when it had the opportunity.

Give the Bulldogs an escape hatch, and they’ll find it and wriggle through.

It took Beck re-entering the game to complete the escape.

Stockton’s helmet flew off after he absorbed a punishing hit on the game’s penultimate play. By rule, that meant Stockton had to sit out the next snap because Georgia did not have a timeout available.

Rather than turn to his third-string quarterback, Smart reinserted Beck.

Texas had to know what was coming. Everyone in the building could appreciate that Beck would hand it off.

He did, and Trevor Etienne ran it through the heart of Texas’ vaunted defense to knot up a top-two playoff seed.

Is Georgia really a top-two team?

I have my doubts about a team that offers a roller-coaster ride nearly every week, but that’s for the playoff to determine.

Georgia made fewer mistakes than its opponent, and, for this day, anyway, that became enough.

On to the playoff, with a bye and an enviable seed in tow.

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer. Subscribe to read all of his columns.

Georgia’s Carson Beck returned to the field for the game-winning play of the SEC championship despite injury his arm.
Carson Beck’s injury will require further evaluation before Georgia’s playoff game.
Gunner Stockton engineered Georgia rally, but Carson Beck executed handoff on final play vs. Texas.

ATLANTA – Trevor Etienne called it a “perfect handoff,” and maybe Georgia’s running back spoke a tad facetiously, because, in one sense, it was just a handoff.

In another sense, it showed that quarterback Carson Beck is “a warrior,” as Georgia defensive back Dan Jackson put it.

Georgia called on an injured Beck to execute the handoff for the No. 5 Bulldogs’ game-winning run in overtime of a 22-19 victory over No. 2 Texas in the SEC championship game.

Carson Beck will receive MRI after injury

Georgia coach Kirby Smart didn’t detail the severity of Beck’s injury – Georgia’s quarterback will receive an MRI – but he confirmed that injury prevented Beck from throwing a pass.

“They looked at it, and it looked OK, but (he) didn’t have grip strength and couldn’t throw,” Smart said.

Georgia players learned about midway through the halftime break that Stockton would be taking the reins of the offense.

Stockton led Georgia on a touchdown drive on the opening possession of the third quarter.

“That speaks volumes about him,’ Etienne said. ‘He’s not QB1, and he could be down, but instead, he takes advantage of the opportunities that he gets. I’m glad he was able to come out and help us get the win.”

Why Carson Beck rejoined game for Georgia’s winning play

By every appearance, Beck’s day seemed done after the injury – or so it did, until Stockton’s helmet came dislodged on the penultimate play of overtime.

By rule, because Stockton’s helmet came off, he had to sit out the next snap.

Cue the third-string quarterback?

Nope. Time for the injured starting quarterback to snap on his helmet.

And it didn’t matter that everyone in the building knew Beck would hand off the ball, with his arm in no condition to throw a pass. Georgia didn’t need him to pass. Beck turned and handed to Etienne, who ran 4 yards through the teeth of Texas’ defense and into the end zone.

Game over.

 “Best handoff of my life,” Etienne said with a smile.

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer. Subscribe to read all of his columns.

Georgia football head coach Kirby Smart had complete faith in backup quarterback Gunner Stockton.

‘This kid is a winner. This kid’s special,’ Smart said after Stockton rallied the Bulldogs to a 22-19 overtime win over the Texas Longhorns in the SEC Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday.

The Bulldogs were trailing the Longhorns 6-3 when Georgia quarterback Carson Beck was knocked out of the game on the final play of the first half. Beck took a hit from Longhorns defensive edge Trey Moore and suffered a hand injury. Stockton started the third quarter and led the Bulldogs to a 10-play, 75-yard drive capped by Trevor Etienne’s 10-yard touchdown run. It set the tone for Georgia in the second half.

Smart praised Stockton, a redshirt sophomore, for the comeback: “I didn’t say one word to him. (Quarterback) coach (Michael) Bobo did and all the coaches did and he believed.’

Stockton, who completed 12-of-16 passes for 71 yards and one interception, credited his teammates as the inspiration for his performance.

“It goes back to the love I have for everybody in the locker room. All the seniors. Wanted to go out the right way,’ he said. ‘This is pretty awesome. It’s special with the guys I get to do it with.” 

Etienne said he’s ‘proud’ of Stockton: ‘He works so hard, day in and day out. He never complains… It goes to show how much work he puts in.’

Saturday’s win marks Georgia’s second SEC championship in three seasons. With the conference win, Georgia clinched a spot in the 12-team college playoff bracket.

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The Washington Wizards avoided a franchise-record 17th consecutive loss, beating the Denver Nuggets 122-113 Saturday for their first win since Oct. 30.

Among Washington’s three victories this season, that is the most impressive as the team had to overcome Nikola Jokic’s 56-point, 16-rebound, eight-assist performance.

Jordan Poole scored 39 points for the Wizards, and the NBA record of 28 consecutive losses isn’t in jeopardy.

There are two important pieces to the Wizards’ season that go beyond their 3-18 record.

One, the long road on a rebuild is painful and yet necessary for a franchise that hasn’t won a first-round series since 2016-17.

Two, navigating this rebuild while developing their young players and without cementing a loser’s mentality is tricky.

Can the Wizards be the current Houston Rockets, whose rebuild through the draft and smart free-agent signings looks good right now, or will they be the “Trust the Process” Philadelphia 76ers?

Wizards owner Ted Leonsis made the decision to go this route, tabbing president Michael Winger and general manager Will Dawkins before the start of the 2023-24 season to find sustainable success. Before that, the Wizards were a borderline playoff team and a second-round team at best over the past decade, a majority of that with Bradley Beal and John Wall leading the way.

Since winning 49 games in 2016-17, the Wizards have won more than 40 games just once and had seasons with 32, 25, 34, 35 and 35 victories before ownership decided on a dedicated rebuild.

Last season, the Wizards won just 15 games. They will be in the same neighborhood this season, and they will try to capitalize in the draft. Winger and Dawkins have both spent time in Oklahoma City working with Sam Presti, who has mastered the art of drafting and using assets to build a contender.

Presti’s method revolves around getting as many first-round picks as possible, especially lottery picks/top-10 picks, and hitting on at least a couple of those picks. He did it with Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden in the late 2000s and with Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace, Aaron and Wiggins via the draft and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander through a trade using assets he accumulated in this current iteration of the Thunder.

While not easy to replicate, it is a path to an extended run of success where deep playoff runs are possible for six, seven, eight seasons and perhaps longer.

In the past two drafts, the Wizards have acquired Bilal Coulibaly (No. 7 in 2023 draft), Alex Sarr (No. 2 in 2024), Bub Carrington (No. 14 in 2024) and Kyshawn George (No. 24 in 2024). On opening night, the Wizards started three players 20 years old or younger.

They will add to that youth in the 2025 draft with a lottery pick that should be top-five in a talented class. And with tradeable assets on the roster, the Wizards could add at least one more first-round pick in 2025. They also have the 38th pick, and a savvy front office can find a contributor early in the second round.

But progress will be slow, and losing can be devastating. How do the Wizards develop players without collateral damage to the young players’ mentality?

“When you’re in our position, organizationally and in this part of the season, the stuff we’re going through really tests you mentally, physically and emotionally and you have to keep reminding yourself that the really good players and great ones in this league and even in life don’t run away from hard times. You run to them,” Wizards guard Corey Kispert told reporters after a recent loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. “Hard times like this that we’re in is what develops strong character. It helps you move forward.’

Kispert acknowledged the losing is taxing but said, “There’s still a lot of positivity within the room, and there’s still a lot of encouragement and positive attitudes within the room, as well. So, while things are tough, they’re not toxic and not unbearable.”

The coaching and player development staffs plus active involvement from the front office can help players keep their focus on a larger goal. It’s happening with the Rockets. They won 17 games in 2020-21, 20 in 2021-22, 22 in 2022-23 and then 41 last season. They are 15-8 and tied for second place in the Western Conference this season, led by a young core of Jabari Smith Jr., Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, Tari Eason and Amen Thompson – all 23 and younger.

The Orlando Magic are right there, too, in a promising rebuild. They have drafted Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs, Anthony Black, Jonathan Isaac and Tristan da Silva. They made the playoffs last season with 47 victories and are in third place in the East this season.

Even the Detroit Pistons, whose rebuild has been fraught with coaching and front-office makeovers and losing seasons, are starting to show promise with Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Jalen Duren and Ron Holland II.

A successful rebuild is possible but not easy including for a fanbase. Progress is not measured in victories early in the process.

The larger story is how the Wizards navigate this season and next season and if progress is part of that story.

The San Francisco Giants swung big and missed on Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani, making runs at but failing to reel in the biggest free agent the past two winters.

This time, they tried a different tactic, sitting out the Juan Soto sweepstakes – yet still doled out the biggest contract in franchise history.

The Giants and shortstop Willy Adames have agreed to a seven-year, $182 million contract, according to a person with direct knowledge of the agreement. The person spoke to USA TODAY Sports on condition of anonymity because the deal has not yet been finalized.

Adames, 29, slugged 32 home runs last year for the Milwaukee Brewers, his second 30-homer season in the past three. The starting shortstop for the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2020 World Series, he was traded to Milwaukee a year later and has emerged as one of the most reliable sources of middle infield power in the game.

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That does come with some cost. Adames is strikeout-prone – he whiffed 173 times last season – and his strikeout rate has never dipped below 25%. His production can be volatile from year-to-year, as his adjusted OPS has ranged from 121 to 110 to 94 to 118 between 2021 and 2024.

But he’ll add a significant dimension to the largely punchless Giants, who have hovered in the 80-win range ever since winning a franchise-high 107 games in 2021.

Three years of mediocrity resulted in the firing of baseball operations chief Farhan Zaidi, who was replaced by future Hall of Famer Buster Posey. Posey was the previous recipient of the Giants’ biggest contract ever, a $167 million extension that took him to the end of his playing career in 2022.

Now, it is Adames who holds that distinction. Whether he can maintain his prodigious power numbers as he ages is open to question. But there’s no denying the immediate punch he gives them up the middle, and alleviating the pressure on young slugging infielder Tyler Fitzgerald, who socked 15 home runs last seaosn and presumably would move to second base.

Things looked bleak for Georgia football when backup quarterback Gunner Stockton entered for the second half as the Bulldogs faced a 6-3 deficit against Texas on Saturday.

But Stockton, who was in for Carson Beck after the latter suffered an injury on the final play of the first half, led a 10-play, 75-yard touchdown drive on his first possession to give Georgia a 10-6 lead in the SEC championship game against Texas on Saturday, setting the tone for the Bulldogs’ second half.

Stockton finished the day 12 of 16 passing for 71 yards with an interception, leading Georgia’s two touchdown drives of the game.

Celebrate Georgia’s SEC title with exclusive merchandise!

Beck’s story wasn’t over Saturday after getting injured, however: He returned to hand the ball off to running back Trevor Etienne, who scored Georgia’s game-winning, 4-yard rushing touchdown in overtime, which was forced after Texas tied the game on a field goal with 18 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

Georgia stymied Texas’ rushing attack, as the Longhorns gained 31 yards on the ground Saturday. The Longhorns relied on quarterback Quinn Ewers and the passing game, as Ewers completed 27 of 46 passes for 358 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions.

Texas was able to move the ball on Saturday, but it was Georgia’s ability to keep the Longhorns out of the end zone that was the difference in the SEC championship game.

Both teams will undoubtedly be in the College Football Playoff, with Georgia all but locking up a spot as one of the teams with a first-round bye in the CFP as one of the four highest-ranked conference champions this season. The Bulldogs, however, might be without Beck, meaning Stockton is going to need to build on his performance Saturday if Georgia wants to compete for the national championship.

Follow below for the recap and highlights of Georgia’s SEC championship win over Texas:

Texas vs Georgia score updates

This section will be updated when the game kicks off.

Georgia wins it

Etienne takes a handoff from 4 yards out for a touchdown, giving Georgia a 22-19 win in overtime in a crazy SEC championship game.

Beck came back in for the final play, handing it off to Etienne after Stockton took a big hit from Andrew Mukuba on the previous play. Georgia beats Texas for the second time this season, capping off an impressive performance when it needed it most.

Texas makes field goal

Texas takes a 19-16 lead on the field goal, as Georgia keeps the Longhorns out of the end zone.

Georgia wins it with a touchdown or keeps the overtimes going with a field goal.

Georgia wins OT toss, elects to defend

Georgia wins the coin toss, electing to defend first. Texas takes field to start overtime.

Bert Auburn makes game-tying field goal

Texas ties the game at 16 on the 36-yard field goal by Bert Auburn, who is 3 of 5 on attempts tonight.

This one is headed to overtime, barring chaos, with 16 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

Georgia called for pass interference

Daylen Everette is called for pass interference on Texas’ Ryan Wingo, placing Texas on Georgia’s 19-yard line with 35 seconds remaining.

Texas wins it with a touchdown.

Texas picks up big fourth-and-2

Texas faces a pivotal fourth-and-2 with 1:19 left, which it converts as Ewers finds Moore Jr. for the first down.

Longhorns now at Georgia’s 29-yard line with 54 seconds remaining and two timeouts.

Huge mistake by Stockton

Stockton makes a huge mistake, as he tosses an interception to Jahdae Barron with 2:30 left in the fourth quarter on third-and-13.

Texas gets another chance trailing 16-13 and has plenty of time, with two timeouts and the looming 2-minute warning.

Daylen Everette with 2nd interception

Everette intercepts Ewers in a perfect spot, giving Georgia the ball with 3:31 left in the fourth quarter on Texas’ 29-yard line.

Ewers was sacked by Mykel Williams on the previous play, putting Texas in a third-and-18 before Everette’s interception.

Georgia takes 16-13 lead on field goal

Bulldogs drive 72 yards on 16 plays, knocking off 9:22 of game time, but they can’t find the end zone and settle for a field goal.

Woodring’s 21-yard field goal gives Georgia a 16-13 lead with 4:32 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Georgia fakes punt for first down

Gutsy call by Kirby Smart, but it works, as Georgia dials up a fake punt on fourth down to move the chains.

Direct snap went to backup center Drew Bobo, who tosses the ball to Arian Smith for a 9-yard gain.

Texas ties it at 13

Huge play for Texas, as Ewers makes a nice throw to DeAndre Moore Jr., who catches it and makes a defender miss for a 41-yard touchdown.

Moore Jr. had a huge jump on his opposing cornerback on the run-pass option dialed up by Sarkisian.

Georgia takes 13-6 lead

Bulldogs make it to red zone but are forced to kick a 24-yard field goal, which Peyton Woodring makes. Georgia takes a 13-6 lead with 16 seconds before the fourth quarter.

Georgia starts drive with huge play

Bulldogs getting the running game going, as Etienne takes the handoff for a 48-yard gain to Texas’ 19-yard line.

Stockton has given Georgia a spark sine he entered for Beck.

Bert Auburn misses another FG

Texas can’t get in the end zone, attempting another field goal. Auburn misses the 51-yard attempt, which is his second miss of the day.

Georgia still leads 10-6 with 4:56 to go in the third quarter.

Silas Bolden with nice return

Texas forces a punt from Georgia’s 12-yard line after Colin Simmons sacks Stockton for a 16-yard loss. Bolden then returned the punt for 26 yards, turning on the jets on the play.

Longhorns take over with great field position on Georgia’s 39-yard line.

Texas goes three-and-out

All the momentum has swung in Georgia’s favor, as the Bulldogs force a three-and-out on Texas’ first drive of the second half.

The Bulldogs look to extend their lead with Stockton now.

Georgia takes lead with Etienne TD

Georgia scores the first touchdown of the game, as Stockton leads a nice drive that gives the Bulldogs a spark.

The 10-play, 75-yard drive in 4:33 of game time ended in a 10-yard touchdown run by Etienne to give Georgia a 10-6 lead.

Stockton was 3 of 4 for 36 yards on the drive, along with two carries for 12 yards.

Lawson Luckie makes fantastic grab

Tight end Lawson Luckie makes a huge catch on second-and-6, hauling in a 14-yard catch he needed to jump for before narrowly coming down with the toe-tap catch in bounds.

That play got the crowd going in Atlanta.

Gunner Stockton in at QB for Georgia

Gunner Stockton is in at quarterback for Georgia, as Kirby Smart told ESPN that Beck will miss the rest of the game with his hand injury.

Brutal blow for Georgia.

Carson Beck injury update

It’s unclear what Beck’s injury is and how it’ll affect his status in the second half today, but Georgia is definitely hoping it isn’t major, especially with the College Football Playoff looming.

Here’s more on Beck’s injury:

Sarkisian upset in halftime interview

Texas coach Steve Sarkisian is visibly upset in his halftime interview with ESPN’s Sam Ponder after Sarkisian was asked about the Longhorns’ multiple holding penalties in the first half.

‘Well, hopefully they call them for a holding one of these times, too,’ Sarkisian said.

Sarkisian then walked off the interview and to the locker room.

Beck intercepted on final play of first half

Beck throws an interception to Texas’ Anthony Hill on the final play of the half, which Hill tries to lateral to other defenders to try and score before halftime. The ball was then thrown backward and regained by Georgia, which didn’t matter as time expired.

Beck was injured on the play, getting up and heading off to the locker room after the ball was forced in the air by Texas’ Trey Moore.

It was a wild play to end the half, with two turnovers and multiple laterals.

Georgia goes three-and-out

Georgia continues to struggle offensively, going three-and-out after Texas’ missed field goal.

Texas takes over on its own 19-yard line following the punt.

Texas misses field goal

Ewers nearly throws an interception on third-and-5, forcing Texas to attempt another field goal. However, Auburn misses this time from 42 yards out, keeping the score at 6-3 with 4:31 remaining before halftime.

Georgia nearly kept Texas from tacking on another field goal as it dropped the interception, although it didn’t matter as Texas missed the field goal anyway.

Texas is missing out on scoring opportunities today, especially as it’s outgaining Georgia with 234 yards to Georgia’s 53.

Georgia gets on the board

Georgia drives 49 yards in eight plays, capping off its drive with a 44-yard field goal by Peyton Woodring.

The Bulldogs get three points back and reduce their deficit to 6-3 with 6:32 left in the first half.

Texas settles for field goal

After back-to-back negative plays, Texas gets pushed back to third-and-26, which it can’t convert.

The Longhorns then settle for a 42-yard field goal, Bert Auburn’s second make of the day. Texas leads 6-0 with 10:22 in the second quarter and has dominated time of possession with 15:18 of game time compared to Georgia’s 4:20.

Texas also holds a yards gained advantage, with 193 to Georgia’s nine.

Golden with another explosive play

Ewers make another great throw on third-and-14, as Golden beats Daniel Harris again in a 1-on-1 situation for a 32-yard gain.

Golden already has four receptions for 107 yards after the first quarter, while Ewers is 7 of 10 for 149 yards with an interception.

Georgia punts

Bulldogs have yet to get it going offensively in the first quarter, punting on their second possession.

Texas takes over at its own 20-yard line after the touchback.

Texas with back-to-back TD chances, can’t convert

Ewers had Gunnar Helm wide open for a touchdown, but Helm drops the pass before Bond was called for offensive pass interference anyway.

Ewers then throws a nice pass to Golden, who beat two Georgia defenders, but Golden couldn’t haul it in.

Texas settles for a field goal, taking a 3-0 lead with 5:17 to go in the first quarter.

Ewers hits Golden for 50-yard gain

Ewers drops back and heaves a pass on third-and-13 to Golden, who brings it down over Malaki Starks for a 50-yard gain.

Texas vertical passing game with some success early.

Georgia goes three-and-out

Georgia can’t capitalize off the turnover, as it goes three-and-out after Beck’s quarterback sneak on third-and-1 is stuffed.

Georgia took the field on fourth-and-1 but took a delay of game after trying to lure Texas offsides.

Isaiah Bond leads to Ewers interception

Ewers throws to Isaiah Bond on third-and-9, but Bond drops the pass and gives up on the play, resulting in Daylen Everette intercepting the ball as in deflected off Bond.

Just a brutal mistake for Bond to kill Texas’ momentum.

Fast start for Texas

Ewers and Texas with a quick start, as the Longhorns have yet to run the ball but are finding success through the air. Ewers is 3 of 4 passing for 47 yards, with a 22-yard pass to DeAndre Moore Jr. on third down and two passes for 25 yards to Matthew Golden.

Texas receives first

Longhorns to start with possession. We’re underway from Atlanta for the SEC championship game.

Kelvin Banks injury update

Texas star offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. is not suited up for the SEC championship game, as he was listed as a game-time decision on the SEC availability report. Banks Jr. gave it a go pregame, but it appears he’s unable to play today.

Huge loss for the Longhorns, as Banks Jr. is a projected first-round pick in the upcoming NFL draft.

Quinn Ewers, Carson Beck getting loose

Texas and Georgia’s quarterbacks are on the field pregame with just a few minutes until kickoff.

Both teams needing big performances from their signal callers.

Texas vs Georgia time today

Time: 4 p.m. ET
Date: Saturday, Dec. 7
Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)

Watch Texas-Georgia live with Fubo

What channel is Texas vs Georgia on today?

TV channel: ABC
Streaming: ESPN app, Fubo

Texas-Georgia will air live on ABC, with streaming options available on the ESPN app or Fubo.

Texas vs Georgia series history

Series record: Texas leads 4-2
Texas’ last win: 2019 (28-21)
Georgia’s last win: 2024 (30-15)

Texas vs Georgia predictions

Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-Herald: Texas 27, Georgia 24

Georgia’s defense set the tone in the first game between these teams, but has been prone to giving up explosive plays down the stretch this season. This game could go either way, but there’s more confidence right now in Texas, which hasn’t lost since its last game with the Bulldogs.

USA TODAY staff: Four of six picked Texas over Georgia

Texas vs Georgia betting odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Friday, Dec. 6

Spread: Texas (-3)
Over/under: 50.5
Moneyline: Texas -150 | Georgia +125

Texas vs Georgia injury updates

Injury updates courtesy of the SEC’s availability report. This section will be updated pregame.

Texas: DB Derek Williams Jr. (out), RB CJ Baxter (out), RB Christian Clark (out), RB Velton Gardner (out), OL Kelvin Banks Jr. (questionable)
Georgia: DL Joseph Jonah-Ajonye (out), RB Trevor Etienne (questionable), RB Branson Robinson (questionable), RB Chauncey Bowens (questionable), DL Christen Miller (questionable)

Texas football 2024 schedule

Saturday, Aug. 31: vs. Colorado State (W, 52-0)
Saturday, Sept. 7: at No. 10 Michigan (W, 31-12)
Saturday, Sept. 14: vs. UTSA (W, 56-7)
Saturday, Sept. 21: vs. Louisiana-Monroe (W, 51-3)
Saturday, Sept. 28: vs. Mississippi State* (W, 35-13)
Saturday, Oct. 5: BYE
Saturday, Oct. 12: vs. Oklahoma (W, 34-3)
Saturday, Oct. 19: vs. No. 4 Georgia (L, 30-15)
Saturday, Oct. 26: at Vanderbilt* (W, 27-24)
Saturday, Nov. 2: BYE
Saturday, Nov. 9: vs. Florida* (W, 49-17)
Saturday, Nov. 16: at Arkansas* (W, 20-10)
Saturday, Nov. 23: vs. Kentucky (W, 31-14)
Saturday, Nov. 30: at No. 20 Texas A&M (W, 17-7)
Record: 11-1, 7-1 SEC

*Denotes SEC game

Georgia football 2024 schedule

Saturday, Aug. 31: vs. No. 14 Clemson (W, 34-3)
Saturday, Sept. 7: vs. Tennessee Tech (W, 48-3)
Saturday, Sept. 14: at Kentucky* (W, 13-12)
Saturday, Sept. 21: BYE
Saturday, Sept. 28: at No. 4 Alabama* (L, 41-34)
Saturday, Oct. 5: vs. Auburn* (W, 31-13)
Saturday, Oct. 12: vs. Mississippi State* (W, 41-31)
Saturday, Oct. 19: at No. 1 Texas* (W, 30-15)
Saturday, Oct. 26: BYE
Saturday, Nov. 2: vs. Florida (Jacksonville)* (W, 34-20)
Saturday, Nov. 9: at No. 16 Ole Miss* (L, 28-10)
Saturday, Nov. 16: vs. No. 7 Tennessee* (L, 31-17)
Saturday, Nov. 23: vs. UMass (W, 59-21)
Saturday, Nov. 30: vs. Georgia Tech (W, 44-21 8OT)
Record: 10-2, 6-2 SEC

*Denotes SEC game

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The Los Angeles Galaxy are Major League Soccer champions once again.

Joseph Paintsil and Dejan Joveljic scored early goals, and the Galaxy outlasted the New York Red Bulls 2-1 in the MLS Cup final in front of an announced crowd of 26,812 people at Dignity Sports Health Complex in Carson, California on Saturday.

The Galaxy were already the winningest club in league history. But their sixth MLS title comes 10 years to the day of their last championship.

The Galaxy scored their goals in the first 14 minutes of the match.

Paintsil scored in the ninth minute to take a 1-0 lead, following a through ball from Gastón Brugman, who was named MLS Cup MVP for the assist. Joveljic scored in the 14th minute to make it 2-0, scoring his sixth goal this postseason.

The Galaxy goal scorers raised the No. 10 jersey of Riqui Puig, the former FC Barcelona standout whose game-winning assist after tearing his ACL in the Western Conference final helped Los Angeles contend for the title.

“I’m really happy for the fans, for Riqui, for the club and for us,” Brugman said.

The Red Bulls, although shocked by the early deficit, rebounded quickly with Sean Nealis scoring inside the box after a corner kick in the 28th minute to make it 2-1.

Both clubs, however, were unable to score again despite a frantic finish in the second half.

In the final minute of stoppage time, the Red Bulls were penalized for an offside. But Galaxy players and team members prematurely stormed the field upon hearing the whistle.

One minute later, the Galaxy’s celebration began.

Check out these highlights from today’s MLS Cup final from USA TODAY Sports:

Sean Nealis goal: LA Galaxy 2, New York Red Bulls 1

The New York Red Bulls are back in it. Sean Nealis converted in the box after a corner kick in the 28th minute, and it’s 2-1.

Dejan Joveljic goal: LA Galaxy 2, New York Red Bulls 0

Two goals in four minutes for the Galaxy with Dejan Joveljic finding the back of the net in the 13th minute. The Galaxy have a 2-0 lead in the MLS Cup final.

Joseph Paintsil goal: LA Galaxy 1, New York Red Bulls 0 

What a run by Galaxy standout Joseph Paintsil, right behind substitute Noah Eile, to score in the ninth minute of the MLS Cup. Paintsil raised the jersey of teammate Riqui Puig, who is not playing due to a torn ACL, to dedicate the goal. 

How to watch LA Galaxy vs. New York Red Bulls in MLS Cup final

The game will be available to live stream for free via MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. The game will be also available on TV on FOX and FOX Deportes in the U.S., and on TSN and RDS in Canada.

Andres Reyes out with illness for New York Red Bulls

Andres Reyes, who scored the game-winner in the Eastern Conference finals for the Red Bulls, was scratched from the starting lineup due to an illness. It’s unclear if he will play at all. Noah Eile replaced him in the lineup. 

LA Galaxy, New York Red Bulls starting lineups

LA Galaxy vs. New York Red Bulls betting odds

According to BetMGM, here are the odds after regulation: LA Galaxy (-130), New York Red Bulls (+280), tie (+310). The over/under is set at 2.5 goals.

Galaxy hopes to win sixth MLS Cup final

Ten years after the club’s last title, the Galaxy hopes to win the MLS Cup final again.

The team will be playing without star playmaker Riqui Puig, who suffered a torn ACL during the Western Conference final – before he delivered the game-winning assist to Dejan Jovelić last week.

Still, Los Angeles is loaded behind Gabriel Pec, Jovelić and Joseph Paintsil. The Galaxy has scored 16 goals in four postseason games, needing one more to tie to MLS record for goals by a club in the playoffs.

“We have been waiting for 10 years to have this opportunity,” center back Maya Yoshida said.

Red Bulls vying for first MLS Cup title

The Red Bulls have assumed the underdog role, and a “why not us?” mentality as the lowest playoff seed (No. 7) to reach the MLS Cup final.

The Red Bulls beat the Crew, New York City FC and Orlando City to reach the final, avoiding Inter Miami and FC Cincinnati – the last two Supporters’ Shield winners – in the playoffs.

Red Bulls goalkeeper Carlos Coronel has been instrumental, accounting for 19 saves and the club’s three clean sheets this postseason.

“We’re the lowest seed to make the final, and everybody keeps doubting us, and we’ve won three on the road now in the playoffs. It’s not an easy thing to do. We are on the road again now. Why can’t we?” Red Bulls defender John Tolkin said.

LA Galaxy vs. New York Red Bulls history: 1996 MLS opening weekend

The LA Galaxy and New York Red Bulls (then the New York/New Jersey MetroStars) faced each other in the inaugural game for both teams during the first full weekend of Major League Soccer play on April 13, 1996.

In the historic clash in front of 69,255 fans at the historic Rose Bowl, U.S. national team icon Cobi Jones scored a goal in the Galaxy’s 2-1 win. 

The Galaxy would go on to reach MLS Cup, where they were defeated in an epic game by D.C. United in extra time at rainy Foxboro Stadium.

Is Lionel Messi playing in MLS Cup 2024?

No.

The recently crowned MLS MVP Lionel Messi and Inter Miami were knocked out in the first round of the MLS playoffs by Atlanta United. It was one of the most stunning playoff upsets in MLS history.

Which teams have won the most MLS Cups?

Los Angeles Galaxy: 5
D.C. United: 4
Columbus Crew: 3
Houston Dynamo: 2
Seattle Sounders FC: 2
Sporting Kansas City: 2
San Jose Earthquakes: 2

MLS CUP: Ranking every Major League Soccer championship game

MLS Cup winners (1996-2023)

2023: Columbus Crew over Los Angeles FC (Lower.com Field), 2-1
2022: Los Angeles FC over Philadelphia Union (Banc of California Stadium), 3-3 (LAFC won penalty shootout, 3-0)
2021: New York City FC over Portland Timbers (Providence Park), 1-1 (NYCFC won penalty shootout, 4-2)
2020: Columbus Crew over Seattle Sounders FC (Mapfre Stadium), 3-0
2019: Seattle Sounders FC over Toronto FC (CenturyLink Field), 3-1
2018: Atlanta United over Portland Timbers (Mercedes-Benz Stadium), 2-0
2017: Toronto FC over Seattle Sounders FC (BMO Field), 2-0
2016: Seattle Sounders FC over Toronto FC (BMO Field), 0-0 (Sounders won penalty shootout, 5-4)
2015: Portland Timbers over Columbus Crew (Mapfre Stadium), 2-1
2014: Los Angeles Galaxy over New England Revolution (StubHub Center), 2-1 (extra time)
2013: Sporting Kansas City over Real Salt Lake (Sporting Park), 1-1 (SKC won penalty shootout, 7-6)
2012: Los Angeles Galaxy over Houston Dynamo (Home Depot Center), 3-1
2011: Los Angeles Galaxy over Houston Dynamo (Home Depot Center), 1-0
2010: Colorado Rapids over FC Dallas (BMO Field), 2-1 (extra time)
2009: Real Salt Lake over Los Angeles Galaxy (Qwest Field), 1-1 (RSL won penalty shootout, 5-4)
2008: Columbus Crew over New York Red Bulls (Home Depot Center), 3-1
2007: Houston Dynamo over New England Revolution (RFK Stadium), 2-1
2006: Houston Dynamo over New England Revolution (Pizza Hut Park), 1-1 (Dynamo won penalty shootout, 4-3)
2005: Los Angeles Galaxy over New England Revolution (Pizza Hut Park), 1-0 (extra time)
2004: D.C. United over Kansas City Wizards (Home Depot Center), 3-2
2003: San Jose Earthquakes over Chicago Fire (Home Depot Center), 4-2
2002: Los Angeles Galaxy over New England Revolution (Gillette Stadium), 1-0 (extra time)
2001: San Jose Earthquakes over Los Angeles Galaxy (Crew Stadium), 2-1 (extra time)
2000: Kansas City Wizards over Chicago Fire (RFK Stadium), 1-0
1999: D.C. United over Los Angeles Galaxy (Foxboro Stadium), 2-0
1998: Chicago Fire over D.C. United (Rose Bowl), 2-0
1997: D.C. United over Colorado Rapids (RFK Stadium), 2-1
1996: D.C. United over Los Angeles Galaxy (Foxboro Stadium), 3-2 (extra time)

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