It lived up to the hype, with the Wolverines holding off the Buckeyes 13-10. It was Ohio State’s second loss of the season and pushed Buckeyes coach Ryan Day’s losing streak against the Wolverines to four games.

‘For such a great game, you hate to see stuff like that after the game. It’s bad for the sport, it’s bad for college football,’ Michigan running back Kalel Mullings said after the game on the broadcast. ‘But at the end of the day, some people got to learn how to lose.

‘You can’t be fighting and stuff just because you lost the game. We had 60 minutes, we had four quarters to do all that fighting. Now people want to talk and fight. That’s wrong. Classless in my opinion. People got to do better.’

Michigan takes the lead

Mullings rushed for 27 yards, bringing the Wolverines to the Ohio State 17-yard line and securing a first down, putting them in scoring position. Michigan’s offense gained momentum, while Ohio State struggled defensively and committed an illegal substitution. As a result, the Wolverines were awarded another first down at the 5-yard line. However, they were unable to reach the end zone, prompting them to bring out Dominic Zvada for a field goal, extending their lead to 13-10 against Ohio State in the final minute of the game.

Michigan throws another interception

Wolverines quarterback Davis Warren leads the offense by scrambling for 10 yards to secure a first down. He then tosses a shotgun pass to Bell, who attempts to throw a deep ball to Tyler Morris. However, Buckeyes cornerback Denzel Burke is penalized for pass interference, giving the Wolverines another first down, this time inside the 3-yard line.

Unfortunately for Michigan, Warren throws a critical interception, and Buckeyes linebacker Jack Sawyer returns it to the Buckeyes’ 12-yard line. With 7:48 left in the fourth quarter, the game is tied at 10-10.

Michigan’s O’Learly comes up clutch

Wolverines quarterback Davis Warren connects with Peyton O’Learly for an 18-yard pass to the Ohio State 39-yard line, securing a first down in the fourth quarter.

Buckeyes’ Jayden Fielding misses FG

Ohio State was unable to capitalize on the interception that provided them with favorable field position. They attempted to settle for a field goal, but Jayden Fielding missed the 34-yarder. The score is tied 10-10 between Michigan and Ohio State, with 1:58 remaining in the third quarter.

Michigan tosses interception

Wolverines quarterback Davis Warren threw an interception, which was scooped up by Buckeyes’ Caleb Downs, giving Ohio State solid field position. Michigan is tied 10-10 against Ohio State with 4:01 left in the third quarter.

Ohio State’s Will Howard intercepted

Buckeyes’ quarterback Will Howard’s pass was intercepted by Michigan’s Makari Paige, giving the Wolverines ideal field position deep in Michigan territory at the Wolverines’ 16-yard line.

Ohio State’s defense brings the heat

It’s a defensive struggle early in the third quarter, and Michigan is forced to call on Tommy Doman to punt for 41 yards. The rivalry game is tied at 10-10, with 8:24 remaining in the third quarter.

Wolverines’ defense comes out hot 

Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard sparks the offense by connecting with TreVeyon Henderson for 24 yards, reaching inside Michigan’s 41-yard line. Despite this momentum, the Buckeyes are forced to punt. The game is tied 10-10 with 11:04 remaining in the third quarter.

Ohio State 10, Michigan 10

The Ohio State Buckeyes and the Michigan Wolverines are tied heading into halftime for the first time since 2017.

Ohio State finds the end zone

A pass interference call against the Wolverines’ Jyaire Hill put the Buckeyes in a prime scoring position, which quarterback Will Howard capitalized on. Howard connected with Jermiah Smith for a 10-yard touchdown. After a solid kick from Jayden Fielding, the Buckeyes evened the score at 10-10 with just 30 seconds left in the second quarter.

Michigan settles for three

The Wolverines bring out kicker Dominic Zvada, who nails a 54-yard field goal, giving Michigan a 10-3 lead over Ohio State with 2:15 remaining in the second quarter.

Michigan’s defense dominates Will Howard

Ohio State quarterback Will Howard struggled to get the offense moving, which led to the Buckeyes having to punt deep within their own territory. Joe McGuire’s punt traveled 31 yards to the Buckeyes’ 31-yard line. With 4:17 remaining in the second quarter, Michigan leads 7-3.

Ohio State QB Will Howard leaves game but returns

During a 2-yard zone read play, Ohio State quarterback Will Howard was drilled by Michigan defensive back Makari Paige and stayed on the field for several minutes. The run left the Buckeyes with a fourth and one from the Michigan 33. Howard was replaced by Devin Brown.

UPDATE: Howard returned to the game.

FOX Sports sideline reporter Jenny Taft reported on air that Howard was ‘evaluated for a potential head injury’ by Ohio State, but that he came to the sideline telling Buckeyes’ coaches and medical personnel, ‘I am fine. I am good.’ — Mark Giannotto

Scuffle breaks out, topples field judge on ground

In the second quarter, a scuffle broke out on the Michigan sideline after Jyaire Hill wrestled Ohio State star freshman Jeremiah Smith off the field following a 5-yard catch on first-and-10. The scuffle on the field led to one of the field judges being pushed down on the ground.

As noted by Fox’s Joel Klatt, the scuffle was catalyzed by Hill tackling Smith several seconds after the Buckeyes wide receiver had made the catch and the play had come to an ‘end.’ Players from both sides briefly got into prompting officials to throw several flags.

Following a brief discussion on the field, Ohio State’s Quinshon Judkins and a Michigan assistant who was standing on the sidelines were given unsportsmanlike conduct penalties that were offset. ― John Leuzzi

Michigan turns interception into touchdown

Backed up near its own end zone after Michigan failed to convert a 4th and 1, Ohio State quarterback Will Howard was intercepted by Aamir Hall, who returned it to the two-yard line.

Kalel Mullings plunged in from one-yard out two plays later to give Michigan its first lead of the game, 7-3.

Michigan fails on 4th and 1

Led by backup quarterback Alex Orji, who ran for 29 yards on a third and 3, the Wolverines went back to the power running game, but when it came time to convert when it counted most, they failed.

On 4th and 1 from the Ohio State 3, Kalel Mullings’ run up the middle was stuffed by the nation’s top defense, led by All-American safety Caleb Downs. 

Ohio State cashes in with field goal on first possession

The Buckeyes came out throwing, with Will Howard completing his first four passes, as the Wolverines defense allowed Ohio State’s receivers space to maneuver for easy completions. A pass interference penalty on Michigan pushed the Buckeyes into the red zone, but they could not get in the end zone.

Jayden Fielding knocked in a 29-yard field goal to get Ohio State on the board.

Michigan goes nowhere on first drive

The second-ranked Buckeyes, who have won six games in a row since their loss to Oregon, won the toss and deferred, giving the defending national champion Michigan the ball first.

The Wolverines converted their first third down try, but had to punt after a 3rd and 4 attempt from their own 36 failed to pick up enough yards for the first down. Ohio state will start its first drive at their own 31. 

When is Michigan vs. Ohio State game?

The kickoff for Saturday’s game between No. 2 Ohio State and Michigan is 12:00 p.m. ET from Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.

How to watch Michigan vs. Ohio State game

The Week 14 game between No. 2 Ohio State and Michigan will be broadcast on FOX. The game also can be streamed on Fubo.

Catch Indiana vs. Ohio State and more college football with Fubo

Michigan vs. Ohio State odds, line

The Ohio State Buckeyes are the favorites to defeat the Michigan Wolverines in Saturday’s college football matchup, according to the BetMGM college football odds on Nov. 28.

Spread: Ohio State (-19.5) 
Moneyline: Ohio State (-1200); Indiana (+750) 
Over/under: 42.5 

Michigan’s Will Johnson, Colston Loveland out

Michigan cornerback Will Johnson and tight end Colston Loveland will not play in Saturday’s game against Ohio State. Johnson is nursing a turf toe and has not played since Oct. 19 against Illinois. Loveland, who has 56 catches for 582 yards and five touchdowns, has been dealing with a shoulder injury for most of the season.

Michigan vs. Ohio State all-time record 

The Ohio State Buckeyes have played the Michigan Wolverines 120 times since their first matchup in 1897. Michigan leads the all-time series with a 61-52-6 record.

In their most recent encounter in 2023, the Wolverines won 30-24 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

College football picks Week 14

Here are USA TODAY Sports’ expert picks for all of Saturday’s ranked Week 14 games. 

College football Week 14 schedule, Top 25 

Here are the kickoff times and TV info for Top 25 teams in the US LBM Coaches Poll. (All times are Eastern): 

No. 23 Memphis Tigers at No. 18 Tulane Green Wave, ESPN, 7:30 p.m. (Thursday)
Oregon State Beavers at No. 11 Boise State Broncos, FOX, noon (Friday)
Mississippi State Bulldogs at No. 16 Ole Miss Rebels, ABC, 3:30 p.m. (Friday)
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at No. 6 Georgia Bulldogs, ABC, 7:30 p.m. (Friday)
UTSA Roadrunners at No. 22 Army West Point Black Knights, CBS Sports Network, noon
No. 14 South Carolina Gamecocks at No. 12 Clemson Tigers, ESPN, noon
No. 8 Tennessee Volunteers at Vanderbilt Commodores, ABC, noon
No. 25 Illinois Fighting Illini at Northwestern Wildcats, Big Ten Network, noon
Michigan Wolverines at No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes, FOX, noon
Auburn Tigers at No. 13 Alabama Crimson Tide, ABC, 3:30 p.m.
Arkansas Razorbacks at No. 24 Missouri Tigers, SEC Network, 3:30 p.m.
No. 15 Arizona State Sun Devils at Arizona Wildcats, FOX, 3:30p.m.
California Golden Bears @ No. 9 SMU Mustangs, ESPN2, 3:30 p.m.
No. 7 Miami (FL) Hurricanes at Syracuse Orange, ESPN, 3:30 p.m.
Maryland Terrapins at No. 4 Penn State Nittany Lions, Big Ten Network, 3:30 p.m.
No. 5 Notre Dame Fighting Irish at USC Trojans, CBS, 3:30 p.m.
Purdue Boilermakers at No. 10 Indiana Hoosiers, FS1, 7:00 p.m.
No. 3 Texas Longhorns at No. 19 Texas A&M Aggies, ABC, 7:30 p.m.
Kansas State Wildcats at No. 17 Iowa State Cyclones, FOX, 7:30 p.m.
Washington Huskies at No. 1 Oregon Ducks, NBC, 7:30 p.m.
Nevada Wolf Pack at No. 21 UNLV Rebels, CBS Sports Network, 8:00 p.m.
Houston Cougars at No. 20 BYU Cougars, ESPN, 8:15 p.m.

College football Re-Rank 1-134 

Notre Dame moves into the top three and a slew of teams from the SEC and Big 12 drop out of contention in this week’s USA TODAY Sports NCAA Re-Rank 1-134. — Paul Myerberg 

Where is College GameDay for Week 13? 

ESPN’s ‘College GameDay’ will be broadcasting from College Station, Texas for the matchup between Texas and Texas A&M in Week 14.

College Football Fix podcast 

Speaking of Week 14, there are some huge games to watch. Ohio State-Michigan might have lost some luster but it’s still critical for the Buckeyes and Ryan Day. Texas and Texas A&M renew their rivalry with SEC title game implications. Are Georgia, Tennessee and Notre Dame possible upset victims? The chaotic Big 12 race with four teams tied for first also will sort itself out. Who will be the big winners?

Dan Wolken and Paul Myerberg of USA TODAY Sports discuss these topics and more in this week’s version of the College Football Fix.

US LBM Coaches Poll 

The US LBM Coaches Poll for Week 14 is out after some unexpected results last week, and the top looks different from the preseason version. Here is how the top-25 shapes out ahead of Saturday’s action.

College football bowl projections 

The changes to the College Football Playoff in this week’s bowl projections start with the SEC. Mississippi and Alabama both were stunned as big favorites on the road, eliminating them from the conference title game. Now thrown into the at-large pool with three losses, don’t expect the Rebels or Crimson Tide to have a way back into the field. — Erick Smith 

College football Re-Rank 1-134 

Notre Dame moves into the top three and a slew of teams from the SEC and Big 12 drop out of contention in this week’s USA TODAY Sports NCAA Re-Rank 1-134. — Paul Myerberg 

College football overreactions from Week 13

As the college football season winds down, there is really only one thing that we know for sure. No matter how all the various conference races turn out, and no matter what the playoff committee’s final decisions are regarding participants and seeding, not everyone is going to be happy.

Another slew of chaotic results over the weekend produced the usual plethora of snap judgments and quick takes. Once again, our aim here is to attempt to provide some big-picture perspective.

Here are the top five overreactions to a wild Week 13. — Eddie Timanus

How many teams in College Football Playoff 2024? 

In the 2024-25 season, 12 teams will qualify for the College Football Playoff. The top five conference champions will earn automatic bids, with the top four earning a first-round bye. The remaining seven highest-ranked teams will complete the 12-team field.

How does College Football Playoff format work? 

The 12 participating teams in the College Football Playoff bracket will be the five conference champions ranked highest by the CFP selection committee and the next seven highest-ranked teams.

The four highest-ranked conference champions will be seeded one through four and receive a first-round bye. The fifth conference champion will be seeded where it was ranked or at No. 12 if it is outside the top 12 in the CFP rankings. Non-conference champions ranked in the top four will be seeded beginning at No. 5.

‘Because of this,’ the CFP warns on its website, ‘the seeding, 1 through 12, could look different than the final rankings.’

When College Football Playoff rankings come out 

The fifth of six College Football Playoff Top 25 rankings will be released on Tuesday, Dec. 3, after Week 13 games.

How to watch College Football Playoff rankings show 

Date: Tuesday, Dec. 3
Time: 7 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Stream: Fubo

Watch the CFP Rankings Show on ESPN with a Fubo subscription

2024-25 College Football Playoff rankings schedule

Here is the schedule for the College Football Playoff ranking show. All times Eastern:

Ranking 5: Tuesday, Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Selection Day: Sunday, Dec. 8 at noon-4 p.m.

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

This article was updated to add a new video.

The NHL season is coming up on two months, and there have been seven trades, plus extensions signed by Jake Oettinger, Alexis Lafreniere, Linus Ullmark and others.

Other top players also remain eligible for extensions, including Igor Shesterkin, Mikko Rantanen, Mitch Marner, John Tavares and Brock Boeser.

There will be more trades as teams build toward a Stanley Cup run or make moves for their long-term future. Here are key dates to watch: the holiday roster freeze in December, the league’s break for the 4 Nations Face-Off in February and the trade deadline in early March.

Follow along here this season for signings, trades, transactions and other news from the NHL:

Nov. 30: Wild acquire defenseman David Jiricek from Blue Jackets

The Minnesota Wild acquired former first-round pick David Jiricek, 21, from the Columbus Blue Jackets for a package that includes 22-year-old defenseman Daemon Hunt and a package of draft picks including a top-five protected 2025 first-round pick. Jiricek, a 2022 sixth-overall pick who had been sent to American Hockey League, will report to the Wild’s AHL team. The other picks heading to Columbus: 2026 third- and fourth-rounders and a 2027 second-rounder. The Wild get a 2025 fifth-round pick.

Nov. 30: Predators, Avalanche swap goaltenders

The Colorado Avalanche acquired backup goalie Scott Wedgewood from the Nashville Predators for backup goalie Justus Annunen and a sixth-round pick. The Avalanche, who have the league’s third-worst team goals-against average, were expected to make some sort of goaltending move but not necessarily this one. Annunen, 24, has slightly better stats this season, but he’s a restricted free agent at the end of the season. Wedgewood, 32, who was signed in the offseason and played five games for the Predators, has another year left on his contract.

Also: The NHL fined Boston’s Nikita Zadorov and Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin $5,000 each for an exchange in Friday’s game. Zadorov poked Malkin with his stick from the bench, and the Penguins star responded with a slash toward the bench, hitting Mason Lohrei.

Nov. 25: Hurricanes goalie Pyotr Kochetkov in concussion protocol

Carolina Hurricanes goalie Pytor Kochetkov is in concussion protocol after being injured on a fluke play in Saturday’s game, coach Rod Brind’Amour told reporters. Kochetkov, who’s out indefinitely, was reaching out to make a poke check in overtime when he was accidentally knocked over by teammate Sean Walker, who was defending against the Columbus Blue Jackets’ Zach Werenski. Kochetkov replaced by Spencer Martin, who lost in a shootout.

Kochetkov’s injury means the Hurricanes are missing their top two goaltenders. Frederik Andersen had knee surgery and will be out eight to 12 weeks. Martin and Yaniv Perets are the goalie tandem for now as the team faces a tough stretch against the Dallas Stars, New York Rangers and back-to-back games against the Florida Panthers. But the Hurricanes will get back forward Seth Jarvis, who missed seven games with an upper-body injury.

Nov. 25: Penguins acquire Philip Tomasino from Predators

Philip Tomasino (one point in 11 games) is the final year of his contract so the struggling Nashville Predators get something in return, a 2027 fourth-round pick. The equally struggling Pittsburgh Penguins get another person for their bottom six. The former first-round pick’s best season was 32 points as a rookie in 2021-22.

Nov. 24: Blues fire coach Drew Bannister, hire Jim Montgomery

In a surprising move, the St. Louis Blues on Sunday fired Drew Bannister after less than a year as coach, replacing him with former Boston Bruins coach Jim Montgomery.

The announcement from Blues president and general manager Doug Armstrong comes with the team losing 13 of its first 22 games this year. Bannister had taken over for Stanley Cup-winning coach Craig Berube last season and had his interim tag removed at the end of the season.

Montgomery, a former assistant to Berube, has an overall regular-season record of 180-84-33 as a head coach with Boston and Dallas. He was just let go by the Bruins last week after they lost 12 of their first 20 games. – Steve Gardner

Nov. 23: Wild’s Kirill Kaprizov misses game with lower-body injury

Minnesota Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov, who’s tied for the league lead in points, sat out Saturday’s game against the Calgary Flames because of a lower-body injury. Kaprizov went to the ice after a knee-on-knee hit from the Edmonton Oilers’ Drake Caggiula in Thursday’s game but the Wild star finished the game. The Athletic reported he had an MRI on Sunday, which found no serious injury, and he was at practice on Monday. Kaprizov entered Saturday’s games tied with Nathan MacKinnon with 34 points and has played in one less game than the Colorado Avalanche star.

Nov. 22: Golden Knights sign Brett Howden to five-year extension

Forward Brett Howden will average $2.5 million in the five-year contract extension. He plays in the Vegas Golden Knights’ bottom six and has eight goals this season.

After the Golden Knights lost free agents Jonathan Marchessault, Chandler Stephenson and others from their 2023 Stanley Cup title team this summer, they’ve been working to get extensions done early. Defensemen Shea Theodore and Brayden McNabb signed recently. Goalie Adin Hill and Keegan Kolesar also are pending unrestricted free agents from that championship team.

Also: Forward Alex Nylander is joining All-Star older brother William on the Toronto Maple Leafs after signing a one-year, $775,000 NHL contract and getting recalled. He had been on an American Hockey League contract. The Maple Leafs placed forward Matthew Knies on the injured list after he absorbed a big hit from Vegas’ Zach Whitecloud this week. … Seattle Kraken captain Jordan Eberle had surgery on his pelvis and will be out at last three months.

Nov. 21: Hurricanes goalie Frederik Andersen to have knee surgery

This marks the fourth season in a row that Andersen has missed extended time. He was limited to 16 games last season with a blood-clotting issue and missed more than two months of 2022-23 with a lower-body injury. An injury kept him out of the 2022 playoffs.

Pyotr Kochetkov is the Hurricanes’ No. 1 goalie in Andersen’s absence. Andersen, 35, is in the final year of his contract.

Nov. 19: Canucks’ J.T. Miller out indefinitely for personal reasons

‘Right now, our sole focus is making sure that J.T. knows the entire organization is here to support him,’ general manager Patrik Allvin said. ‘Out of respect to J.T., we will have no further comment at this time.’

Miller ranks second on the Canucks and is their top-scoring forward with 16 points in 17 games. He scored 103 points last season.

Nov. 19: Boston Bruins fire coach Jim Montgomery

The Boston Bruins made Jim Montgomery the first coaching casualty of the 2024-25 NHL season, firing him less than two seasons after he was named coach of the year.

Associate coach Joe Sacco, a former Colorado Avalanche head coach, will take over behind the bench as the interim head coach.

The move came after a blowout loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday. Montgomery, who was in the final year of his contract, was let go with the team sitting at 8-9-3 and sporting poor underlying numbers.

BRUINS: More details on coaching change

Nov. 19: Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin out with leg injury

Alex Ovechkin’s chase of Wayne Gretzky’s goal record is temporarily on hold after the Washington Capitals star left Monday night’s game with an injury.

The team announced Tuesday that Ovechkin is week-to-week with an injury to his lower leg after he absorbed a leg-on-leg hit from Utah Hockey Club forward Jack McBain during the third period.

Ovechkin had been on a torrid scoring pace this season. Before Monday’s injury, he had scored twice in the 6-2 win over Utah, giving him five goals in the last two games and a league-leading 15 goals in 18 games.

Also: The Edmonton Oilers claimed forward Kasperi Kapanen off waivers from the St. Louis Blues. He provides speed and depth to a team that hasn’t received much scoring from the wings this season.

Nov. 18: Islanders’ Mike Reilly to have procedure on heart

General manager Lou Lamoriello told reporters that the pre-existing heart condition was discovered during routine testing for a concussion that had sidelined the defenseman since Nov. 1.

‘It’s probably a blessing in disguise of what transpired,’ Lamoriello said. ‘They detected this, something that you’re sometimes born with, but never knew.’

He said Reilly has been cleared from the concussion.

Nov. 18: Sabres send down goalie; Sharks call one up

The Buffalo Sabres sent 22-year-old goalie Devon Levi to the American Hockey League to get him some playing time amid his recent struggles. The team will use Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and recently reacquired James Reimer as their tandem. Levi has given up 17 goals in his last four starts.

Meanwhile, the San Jose Sharks called up highly touted goalie prospect Yaroslav Askarov, 22, after he went 6-3 with a 1.92 goals-against average in the AHL. He was acquired from the Nashville Predators in an offseason trade. Sharks goalie Vitek Vanecek had left Saturday’s game with an injury.

Also: The NHL announced that last month’s Carolina Hurricanes-Tampa Bay Lightning game, whichas was postponed by Hurricane Milton, has been rescheduled for Jan. 7 at 7 p.m. ET. … Philadelphia Flyers goalie Samuel Ersson (lower body) was placed on injured reserve.

Nov. 15: Avalanche’s Valeri Nichushkin returns from suspension

Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin returned Friday night from his six-month suspension. He was suspended during the playoffs last May under Stage 3 of the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. He also was in the program for about two months earlier in the 2023-24 season and missed part of the 2023 playoffs for personal reasons. Nichushkin is a key offensive contributor with 28 goals in 54 games last season. Injured forwards Jonathan Drouin and Miles Wood also returned Friday.

Also: The Vegas Golden Knights signed defenseman Brayden McNabb, the franchise leader in games played, to a three-year contract extension that averages $3.65 million a year.

OILERS: Connor McDavid is fourth fastest to reach 1,000 points

Nov. 13: Sabres claim goalie James Reimer off waivers

The Buffalo Sabres claimed goaltender James Reimer off waivers, bringing him back to where he signed a free agent contract in the summer. Reimer was claimed by the Anaheim Ducks off waivers earlier this season when the Sabres tried to send him to the American Hockey League. The Ducks put him on waivers after the return of injured goalie John Gibson. Reimer, on a one-year, $1 million contract, played two games in Anaheim with a 4.50 goals-against average. No. 1 Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was hurt in Monday’s loss but hasn’t been ruled out for Thursday’s game.

Also: Boston Bruins defenseman Hampus Lindholm will be out ‘weeks’ with a lower-body injury after blocking a shot, coach Jim Montgomery said.

Nov. 12: Capitals reacquire Lars Eller in trade with Penguins

Center Lars Eller, 35, is a familiar face for the Washington Capitals after playing in Washington from 2016-23 and winning a Stanley Cup there in 2018. He kills penalties and is strong in the faceoff circle. The Pittsburgh Penguins’ side of the trade might be more interesting. They get a 2027 third-round pick and a 2025 fifth-rounder, and this also could be an indication that the Penguins are shaking up the roster after a disappointing start. Eller’s trade will allow the team to give more ice time to younger players. He’s a pending unrestricted free agent.

Also: The Winnipeg Jets claimed goalie Kaapo Kahkonen off waivers from the Colorado Avalanche and loaned him to their American Hockey League affiliate. They had lost him on waivers to the Avalanche last month.

Nov. 11: Flames’ Anthony Mantha to have season-ending surgery

Also: The Colorado Avalanche placed goalie Kaapo Kahkonen on waivers. They had claimed him off waivers from the Winnipeg Jets last month.

Nov. 9: Penguins recall veteran goalie Tristan Jarry from minors

The Pittsburgh Penguins recalled two-time All-Star goalie Tristan Jarry from his conditioning stint in the American Hockey League. Jarry was loaned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Oct. 26 after recording a 5.37 goals-against average and .836 save percentage. His AHL numbers were 2.16, .926.

Also: The Philadelphia Flyers made rookie Matvei Michkov a healthy scratch for a second consecutive game.

Nov. 8: Kraken acquire Daniel Sprong from Canucks

The Seattle Kraken landed Daniel Sprong, one of their former players, in exchange for future considerations. The Kraken have struggled to score this season and Sprong had 21 goals for them two seasons ago. The forward has scored double-digit goals five times. He had one goal with Vancouver this season.

Nov. 7: Flyers rookie Matvei Michkov to be healthy scratch

Coach John Tortorella called the move ‘part of the process.’

‘With young guys, they can watch games, too, as far as development,’ he told reporters. ‘It’s trying to help them.’

Michkov, 19, has 10 points in 13 games and a minus-8 rating and was NHL rookie of the month in October. He had just one point in his last five games and his ice time dropped in the last four.

Nov. 4: Sharks’ Macklin Celebrini ready to return from injury

San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft, is ready to return to action after aggravating an injury in the season opener, according to NHL.com.

He took part in practice Monday on the top line with Tyler Toffoli and Mikael Granlund and is looking to play his second game season Tuesday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Celebrini said he reinjured his hip on his first shift of the opener but played the full game and had a goal and assist. He has missed 12 games. The Sharks opened the season 0-7-2 but are 3-1 in their last four games.

Also: St. Louis Blues defenseman Philip Broberg will be out four to six weeks with a lower-body injury. He needed help getting off the ice Saturday after he was checked by the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Mitch Marner. … The Boston Bruins signed forward Tyler Johnson to a one-year, $775,000 contract. He won two Stanley Cups with the Tampa Bay Lightning and spent the last three seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Nov. 2: Islanders’ Mathew Barzal, Adam Pelech go on injured list

New York Islanders No. 1 center Mathew Barzal was placed on long-term injured reserve with an unspecified upper-body injury. He’ll be out four to six weeks. He had 80 points in 80 games last season but had been limited to five points in 10 games this season as the Islanders have struggled to score.

Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech also will be out four to six weeks after being hit in the face by a puck. He went on the injured list.

Oct. 30: Sharks acquire Timothy Liljegren from Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs get defenseman Matt Benning, a 2025 third-round pick and a 2026 sixth-rounder. Liljegren, 25, had been limited to one game in Toronto this season, and the Maple Leafs recently committed to blue-liner Jake McCabe with a five-year extension. But Liljegren should fit in well in San Jose, which is building around younger players. Benning, 30, and Liljegren are signed through 2025-26.

This is the second day with an NHL trade after none previously since the season opened in North America.

Oct. 29: Utah acquires defenseman Olli Maatta from Red Wings

The Utah Hockey Club gives up a third-round pick as it addresses a desperate need for a veteran defenseman. Sean Durzi and John Marino are out long-term after surgery. Utah has been leaking goals during a four-game losing streak, including blowing a 4-1 lead late in the third period against the previously winless San Jose Sharks. Maatta is solid defensively and has nearly 700 games of NHL experience.

Oct. 28: Maple Leafs sign Jake McCabe to five-year extension

The Toronto Maple Leafs signed defenseman Jake McCabe to a five-year extension with an annual average value of $4.51 million. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports there is some deferred money in the deal. McCabe, 31, had been acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks in a February 2023 trade and ranks fourth on the team in average ice time this season. He has three assists in nine games and a team-best plus-6 rating.

Also: The New York Rangers recalled rugged forward Matt Rempe from the American Hockey League after he played two games there. The Rangers play the Washington Capitals on Tuesday in what has become a feisty rivalry.

Oct. 26: Penguins send goalie Tristan Jarry to minors

The Pittsburgh Penguins sent two-time All-Star goaltender Tristan Jarry to their American Hockey League affiliate on a conditioning loan after his early season struggles. He had been sent home from the Penguins’ road trip to work on his game after recording a 5.47 goals-against average and .836 save percentage in three games. He was pulled from his last start on Oct. 16 and gave up six goals in the opener.

Jarry is in the second season of a five-year contract that carries a $5.375 million cap hit. Rookie Joel Blomqvist has had the most starts in the Penguins net this season and Alex Nedeljkovic recently returned from an injury.

Also: The New York Islanders signed rugged forward Matt Martin for the rest of the season. He had been to camp on a tryout agreement after spending 13 of his 15 seasons with the Islanders.

Oct. 25: Rangers’ Alexis Lafreniere gets seven-year extension

The New York Rangers and Alexis Lafreniere have agreed to a seven-year extension as he builds on last season’s breakthrough. The 2020 No. 1 overall pick will average $7.45 million in the deal, according to lohud.com, part of the USA TODAY Network. That’s up from this year’s $2.325 million cap hit. Lafreniere, 23, broke through with 28 goals and 57 points last season and added eight goals and 14 points in the playoffs. He is averaging a point a game this season through seven games and scored his fourth goal of the season on Thursday. He is signed through 2031-32.

Oct. 24: Golden Knights’ Shea Theodore signs for seven years

Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore will average $7.425 million in the extension, which kicks in next season and runs through 2031-32. Getting him signed now is important after the Golden Knights lost Jonathan Marchessault, Chandler Stephenson and others from their 2023 Stanley Cup team to free agency during the summer.

Theodore, 29, is the franchise’s top-scoring defenseman with 296 points and has opened this season with seven points in six games. Vegas’ top three defensemen (also Alex Pietrangelo and Noah Hanifin) are signed through at least 2026-27.

Oct. 23: Utah’s Sean Durzi, John Marino out long-term after surgery

The Utah Hockey Club, who beefed up their defense in the offseason, will be without two key blueliners long-term after they had surgery.

Sean Durzi, who was injured in an Oct. 15 game, will miss four to six months after shoulder surgery. John Marino, who has yet to play this season, is out three to four months after back surgery.

Utah added defensemen Mikhail Sergachev, Marino and Ian Cole in the offseason. Durzi, acquired last season when the team was in Arizona, signed a four-year, $24 million contract during the summer.

In other injury news, St. Louis Blues forward Robert Thomas has a fractured ankle and will be evaluated in six weeks.

Oct. 22: Panthers give coach Paul Maurice contract extension

Maurice, who joined the Panthers in 2022-23, went to the Stanley Cup Final in his first season and won it last year. His 29 playoff wins are a franchise record.

He has 98 regular-season wins with Florida and his 873 career wins rank fourth all time in NHL history.

Also: The Blues signed forward Jake Neighbours to a two-year, $7.5 million contract extension.

Oct. 17: Stars’ Jake Oettinger signs eight-year contract extension

The Dallas Stars signed goalie Jake Oettinger to an eight-year, $66 million contract extension that kicks in next season. The $8.25 million cap hit matches the deals recently signed by the Bruins’ Jeremy Swayman and Senators’ Linus Ullmark.

Oettinger has led the Stars to the Western Conference final the past two seasons.

Oct. 12: Aleksander Barkov, Macklin Celebrini are injured

The NHL season is young, but two prominent players are already out with injuries.

Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov will miss two to three weeks after crashing leg first into the boards while trying to prevent an empty net goal on Thursday. His stick had broken but he couldn’t stop Ottawa’s Tim Stutzle from scoring. The time frame should allow Barkov to participate in the two Global Series games against the Dallas Stars in Tampere, Finland, on Nov. 1-2. Barkov is the first Finnish NHL captain to win the Stanley Cup. He won the Selke Trophy last season for the second time as top defensive forward.

Meanwhile, the San Jose Sharks placed No. 1 overall pick Macklin Celebrini on injured reserve with a lower-body injury. Coach Ryan Warsofsky said Celebrini is week-to-week. He had been dealing with an injury in training camp but played in this week’s season opener, scoring a goal and an assist.

Oct. 11: Avalanche claim goalie Kaapo Kahkonen off waivers

In a busy day for goalie transactions, the Colorado Avalanche claimed Kaapo Kahkonen off waivers from the Winnipeg Jets. Colorado lost 8-4 in the opener, with Alexandar Georgiev giving up five goals and backup Justus Annunen giving up two goals on four shots. The Avalanche are Kahkonen’s fourth team in a year. He split time last season between the San Jose Sharks and New Jersey Devils.

In other moves, the Minnesota Wild called up Jesper Wallstedt, their goalie of future, who will join Game 1 winner Filip Gustavsson and Marc-Andre Fleury. The Nashville Predators sent down Matt Murray, who backed up Scott Wedgewood on Thursday with injured No. 1 goalie Juuse Saros unable to play.

Oct. 10: Hurricanes-Lightning game postponed because of Milton

Saturday’s game between the Carolina Hurricanes and Tampa Bay Lightning has been postponed as the Tampa Bay area recovers from Hurricane Milton. The league said a makeup date would be announced as soon as it can be confirmed.

The Lightning are playing their season opener in Carolina on Friday. Saturday’s game was to be the start of a three-game homestand (also Tuesday and Thursday).

Amalie Arena got through the storm fine, though Tropicana Field, home of MLB’s Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg, Florida, suffered major damage to its roof.

Oct. 10: Blue Jackets captain Boone Jenner has surgery

Jenner had shoulder surgery to repair an injury he suffered during training camp and could miss up to six months.

‘Our hope is he can return before the end of the season,’ said Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Waddell. ‘His loss will be felt by our club, but we have a strong leadership group in place and players will be given an opportunity to take on greater roles on and off the ice.’

Boone, who finished second on the Blue Jackets last season with 22 goals and is the franchise leader in games played, has been the team’s captain since 2021-22.

Oct. 9: Linus Ullmark, Joey Daccord get contract extensions

Ullmark, who won the Vezina Trophy with the Bruins in 2022-03, was traded to the Ottawa Senators this offseason so Boston had the room to re-sign Swayman. Ullmark will get four years, $33 million from the Senators and have the same $8.25 million cap as Swayman.

Meanwhile, Seattle Kraken goaltender Joey Daccord received a five-year, $25 million extension. He filled in for Philipp Grubauer after that goalie’s injury last season and got the NHL’s first shutout in the Winter Classic. Both contracts will take effect next season.

Eight overtimes later, Brent Key couldn’t look away.

After Georgia’s epic 44-42 win over Georgia Tech Friday night, the Yellow Jackets coach was filmed standing near midfield at Sanford Stadium staring at the scoreboard for nearly a minute as ‘Nowhere to Run’ by Martha and the Vendellas played on the loudspeakers and the Governor’s Cup was awarded to his archrival once more. Even when a Georgia staffer approached to shake his hand, Key never turned his eyes away.

It was a scene that encapsulated how close Georgia Tech came to pulling off a massive upset that would have thrown the College Football Playoff race into further flux, and how much rivalry games still matter.

The Yellow Jackets jumped out to a 20-0 lead on Georgia only to watch it evaporate by the end of regulation. The two teams then went back-and-forth in the extra periods until Bulldogs running back Nate Frazier scored in the eighth frame. It was one overtime short of the national record set by Illinois and Penn State in 2021.

Key took some criticism for the team’s play-calling in overtime, particularly the decision to not go for a two-point conversion – and the win – after Georgia Tech scored on the second possession of the first overtime. He told reporters afterwards it was the toughest loss of his career, noting ‘that locker room, I’ve never seen anything like that.’

Georgia Tech (7-5) is nonetheless bowl eligible for the second-straight year under Key and has a chance to finish with its most wins since 2016 with a bowl victory.

‘This emotion will turn into fuel and we’re going to use that fuel,’ Key said late Friday night.

We’ve reached the penultimate weekend of the college football regular season with everything on the line for teams that have spent months working toward.

Whether it is a place in the College Football Playoff or a berth in conference championship games, there is pressure to perform. That pressure can bring some unlikely results.

Some of the candidates for upsets are Ohio State, Arizona State, Texas and Notre Dame. Will those be the surprises that happen or will they happen somewhere else across the country on Saturday?

That’s why the USA TODAY Sports college football staff is here. Scooby Axson, Jordan Mendoza, Paul Myerberg, Erick Smith, Eddie Timanus and Dan Wolken weigh in with their bold predictions for Week 14 of the college football season:

Alabama finds offense, beats Auburn again 

Last season, Alabama needed Jalen Milroe’s touchdown pass to Isaiah Bond on fourth-and-31 with less than a minute left against Auburn to pull off an improbable win and their fourth straight in the series. Speaking of improbable, those are Alabama’s chances at making the playoff after last week’s pathetic showing against Oklahoma, and they found out quickly that Milroe running the ball on quarterback keepers and throwing the ball exclusively to Ryan Williams as an entire offensive scheme isn’t going to cut it.  

Auburn has its own pride they are playing for, as well as bowl eligibility, and are riding high after its four-overtime home victory over Texas A&M last week. The trash talk from the Tigers has been more profound and bold, especially after watching the Sooners dismantle their hated rivals, but in this case, Alabama will do what it always does: find a way to win and keep the Auburn fans’ toilet paper where it belongs (in the bathroom) and have them sitting at home during the postseason. — Scooby Axson

WEEKEND FORECAST: Experts picks for every Top 25 game in Week 14

Colorado somehow advances to Big 12 title game

Pretty much anyone can win the Big 12 heading into the regular season finale, but which two teams will make the conference title game? One of them will be Coach Prime.

Despite the tough loss to Kansas, Colorado still has a chance to make the Big 12 championship game, although it needs some help. All the Buffaloes can do is watch on Saturday after their defeat of Oklahoma State on Friday. They’re in with a two of either Arizona State, Brigham Young and Iowa State losing, or a chaos scenario involving a BYU loss and Texas Tech beating West Virginia. It’s a lot of math, but Saturday works in favor of Colorado to solidify it being one of the teams playing for the conference crown – and a playoff spot – next Saturday in AT&T Stadium. — Jordan Mendoza

Arizona spoils Arizona State’s chance at Big 12 title

Arizona upsets Arizona State to end the year on a high note while likely knocking the Sun Devils out of the mix for the Big 12 title game and a playoff berth. The Wildcats have won two in a row in the series, including a 59-23 blowout a year ago. But this would qualify as a huge upset: While Arizona State has been on a roll to rise up the playoff rankings, the Wildcats have dropped six of seven with the lone win coming against Houston. — Paul Myerberg

Texas A&M trips up Texas to reach SEC title game

You take one of the hottest rivalries in college football and let it go dormant for 13 years because one school decided it didn’t want to part of the same league as the other. Then that other school joins the same the league and their first meeting takes place with berth in the conference championship on the line. Such is the script for Texas A&M hosting Texas after the Aggies ditched the Longhorns and the Big 12 in favor of the SEC. The atmosphere in College Station should be electric. Texas looked vulnerable on the road in its two conference road games. The Aggies use the home crowd to boost themselves to a memorable win that give them bragging rights for at least one year. — Erick Smith

Rough day for Clemson with South Carolina loss and Miami win

It’s going to be a rough Saturday for Clemson fans. The day will get off to a bad start when the Tigers lose to archrival South Carolina.

But then it’s going to get even worse. Regardless of how the Palmetto Showdown turns out, the Tigers could still play for the ACC title should Miami stumble at Syracuse later in the afternoon. But Clemson faithful will be disappointed again, and it will happen in the most excruciating fashion as the Hurricanes pull out a mistake-filled affair in the Dome in the closing minutes when Cam Ward leads a game-winning drive. — Eddie Timanus

Notre Dame lays egg against Southern California

It’s wild that Southern California is just 6-5 despite holding every team they’ve played under 30 points in regulation this season. But it also tells me that they may be due for some karma to come their way – and it’s going to happen this weekend at the expense of Notre Dame. More than a few Notre Dame seasons have hit the skids in Los Angeles, and this is a setup for it to happen again. All the pressure is on the Irish to win this game and secure their place in the College Football Playoff. That’s dangerous especially because there is no conference championship game to backstop Notre Dame. It’s all on this game, and I suspect they’ll lay an egg to put their playoff hopes in jeopardy. — Dan Wolken

For a moment Saturday in ‘The Game,’ it appeared Ohio State might have to beat rival Michigan without its starting quarterback.

Will Howard, who transferred from Kansas State to play for the Buckeyes this season, took a hard hit from Wolverines defensive back Macari Paige at the end of a two-yard scramble with 12:37 remaining in the second quarter of the annual Big Ten rivalry game. Howard had to leave the field for a fourth-and-1 and back-up Devin Brown handed the ball off to convert with a 10-yard dash by running back Quinson Judkins.

Brown’s appearance was short-lived, however, as Howard soon emerged from the injury tent and returned to the game following a Michigan timeout after missing barely three minutes of action. He was shown running along the sidelines encouraging his teammates and the capacity crowd as those inside Ohio Stadium roared.

FOX Sports sideline reporter Jenny Taft reported on air that Howard was ‘evaluated for a potential head injury’ by Ohio State, but that he came to the sideline telling Buckeyes’ coaches and medical personnel, ‘I am fine. I am good.’

Ohio State trailed Michigan, 7-3, at the time of the play that forced Howard from the game. Once he returned, the Buckeyes failed to get any points out of the drive when kicker Jayden Fielding missed a 38-yard field goal.

The Buckeyes have lost three-straight years to Michigan, and the skid lingers over coach Ryan Day’s otherwise successful tenure at Ohio State. The two teams entered halftime tied at 10.

Texas football finds itself in a big spot in Week 14 against Texas A&M as it can bolster its College Football Playoff resume and clinch a spot in its first SEC championship game with a win.

But all eyes are on whether Longhorns starting quarterback Quinn Ewers will play vs. the Aggies or will Arch Manning get snaps in the first meeting between both programs since 2011.

ESPN college football insider Pete Thamel reported on ‘College GameDay’ Saturday morning that Ewers is dealing with a high ankle sprain and is expected to play vs. Texas A&M but won’t be 100% healthy. Ewers was listed as ‘probable’ on Texas’ injury report on Friday.

‘Sources have told me that he is dealing with a high ankle sprain and that he is not going to be 100% tonight,’ Thamel said Saturday.

The winner of Saturday’s rivalry game between Texas and Texas A&M will go to Atlanta to play No. 6 Georgia in the SEC championship game next Saturday.

Here’s what to know of Ewers’ status for Week 14 vs. Texas A&M, plus a revisit to his injury:

Will Quinn Ewers play today? Texas QB’s status vs Texas A&M

Thamel reported on ‘College GameDay’ on Saturday that Ewers is expected to play but he’s ‘not going to be 100%’ against the Aggies.

Thamel continued saying that with Ewers not ‘100%,’ Longhorns backup quarterback Arch Manning could see some playing time.

‘That leaves open the possibility we could see some Arch Manning if Ewers struggles with his mobility,’ Thamel said. ‘Remember A&M has struggled with running quarterbacks (this season) like (Notre Dame’s) Riley Leonard and LaNorris Sellers from South Carolina.’

Manning does have some experience under his belt this season, as he started in relief of Ewers twice this season while Ewers dealt with a strained oblique injury. In six games this season for the Longhorns, Manning has completed 67.8% of his passes while throwing for 939 yards and nine interceptions.

Ewers was listed as ‘probable’ on Friday’s SEC availability report. The final availability report will be released 90 minutes before kickoff at Kyle Field in College Station on Saturday.

Quinn Ewers injury

Ewers is dealing with a high ankle sprain, per Thamel.

The Longhorns quarterback sustained an ankle injury in Texas’ Week 13 win vs. Kentucky. As noted by the Austin American-Statesman’s David Eckert, Ewers’s injury occurred at some point in the second quarter. He limped off the field following a touchdown from Longhorns running back Jaydon Blue but never left the game.

‘On kind of a scramble up the middle, he got – I guess you can call it a hip-drop tackle, as they refer to it in the NFL,’ Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said after last Saturday’s game vs. Kentucky. ‘It’s not illegal in college football. And it just kept kind of tightening up on him. And at that point, I said that I didn’t feel like it was worth having to expose him.’

Hip drops now result in fines at the NFL level.

When meeting with assembled media members on Monday in Austin, Ewers said that his injury ‘wasn’t a big concern,’ per Eckert.

‘Nobody’s 100%,’ Ewers said per the Austin American-Statesman. ‘Especially this late in the season. But that’s part of it. I feel good.’

Quinn Ewers stats

Here’s a breakdown of Ewers’ stats this season:

2024: 189 of 278 (68%) passing for 2,089 yards with 23 touchdowns and six interceptions; one rushing touchdown

Week 13 kicked off on Thanksgiving with a trio of games, starting with a wild finish between the Bears and Lions before the Cowboys beat the Giants and Green Bay beat Miami. Black Friday, a new tradition for the NFL, saw the Kansas City Chiefs hold on against Las Vegas and clinch a playoff berth.

There’s still a full slate of games on Sunday. If you’re stuck on fantasy football lineup choices heading into the day, we’ve got you covered. Here are our start and sit recommendations for every position in your lineup:

Fantasy football start ’em, sit ’em Week 13: QBs

START: C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans (at Jacksonville Jaguars)

Stroud has been inconsistent during the 2024 NFL season, but he gets a great matchup in Week 13 against a Jaguars defense that has allowed the most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks this year. Jacksonville has surrendered 23 passing touchdowns to the position, second-most in the NFL behind only Houston itself, and Stroud threw for 345 yards and two scores in the first matchup against the Jaguars this season.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

Stroud has also generally been better when Nico Collins has been healthy, so as long as his No. 1 target remains available, the Texans starter should be a threat to log multiple touchdowns.

START: Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts (at New England Patriots)

Richardson has been much sharper as a passer in his two starts since he returned to the Colts’ lineup. He has a great-looking matchup in Week 13 against a Patriots defense that has surrendered four passing touchdowns to opposing quarterbacks in back-to-back weeks.

Richardson may not have the same level of consistency as Matthew Stafford and Tua Tagovailoa, but his explosive playmaking ability could allow him to get a couple of long scores against the Patriots. His rushing ability only raises his floor, so that makes him a safe play with a high ceiling in Week 13.

START: Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at Carolina Panthers)

The Panthers are one of five NFL teams to have allowed at least 21 passing touchdowns to opposing quarterbacks during the 2024 season. Mayfield hasn’t yet had a chance to play Carolina this year, but he has logged multiple touchdown passes in seven of his 11 starts in Liam Coen’s offense.

Mayfield is also averaging 20.1 rushing yards per game and has three touchdowns on the ground this season. The Panthers have allowed the 11th-most rushing attempts to quarterbacks this season (55), so this seems like an all-around strong matchup for Mayfield, who could post numbers similar to the ones Patrick Mahomes generated in Week 12 (269 passing yards, 60 rushing yards, three total touchdowns).

START: Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams (at New Orleans Saints)

Since Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua both returned to the Rams’ lineup in Week 8 against the Minnesota Vikings, Stafford has averaged 281.6 passing yards and 2.4 touchdowns per game. He has accounted for multiple touchdowns in four of those five games and figures to challenge a New Orleans secondary that allowed 377 yards and two touchdowns to Jameis Winston in its last game.

SIT: Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers (at Buffalo Bills)

This does not seem like a good spot in which to back Purdy. Sure, the Bills have allowed seven passing touchdowns to quarterbacks over their last three games, but if Purdy plays, he’ll be coming off a shoulder injury that sidelined him last week and potentially playing behind a banged-up 49ers offensive line that badly missed Trent Williams last week.

The Bills have allowed the eighth-fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks this season and will be well-rested coming off their Week 12 bye. As such, it’s probably best to pivot off Purdy in this spot if you have another quality quarterback option.

SIT: Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks (at New York Jets)

Smith has generally played well and passed the eye test during the 2024 NFL season, but it hasn’t translated to tangible fantasy production. He leads the NFL in passing yards with 3,035 but also has thrown a league-leading 12 interceptions compared to just 12 touchdowns.

In Week 13, Smith is facing a Jets team that has allowed just eight passing touchdowns to quarterbacks this season. Given that Smith has thrown more than one touchdown in just two of his starts this year, it’s probably best to leave him on the bench this week.

Fantasy football start ’em, sit ’em Week 13: RBs

START: Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at Carolina Panthers)

Irving was a start last week and rewarded managers with 87 rushing yards and 64 receiving yards, both season-highs. He also scored his fifth touchdown of the season. This week, he faces one of the worst rush defenses in the league in NFC South foe Carolina.

The Panthers are last in the league in rushing yards allowed per game at 160.5, and things have been even worse recently. Over their last three games, Carolina’s allowed 175 total yards per game to opposing running backs but just one touchdown. Irving should at least pile up yards even if he doesn’t find the end zone. If he does, he should be an even better play this week.

START: Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams (at New Orleans Saints)

Williams broke his scoring drought last week against the Eagles on 16 carries for 72 yards. That was his best stat line since Week 8 against the Vikings. Williams could have another solid game this week in a game against the Saints’ defense.

New Orleans has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to running backs this season. They are returning from their bye this week but the Saints have given up 13 touchdowns to running backs this season. Los Angeles could be getting tackle Rob Havenstein back this week, bringing welcome stability to the offensive line. Williams should have a good outing again.

START: Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots (vs. Indianapolis Colts)

Stevenson had a rough day against Miami in Week 12. He had a team-high eight carries but had a season-low 13 yards on those attempts. Luckily, he’s facing the Colts this week. Indianapolis was gashed by the Lions’ running game last week for 178 yards and three touchdowns. Against their previous four opponents, the Colts allowed 131 total yards per game and four total touchdowns, so it isn’t just a Lions thing. Stevenson should have a much better week against the Colts than in Week 12 against the Dolphins.

START: Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans (at Washington Commanders)

Pollard was a sit last week and played like he took it personally. The Titans’ lead back finished the day as just the third running back to surpass 100 yards rushing against the Texans this season. He had 27 touches for 129 total yards and a touchdown. It was his best performance of the season.

He could keep that going this week against the Commanders, a familiar foe from his time in Dallas. Washington’s allowed nearly 175 total yards per game and three total touchdowns to opposing running backs over their last three games. The Titans’ running game isn’t one of the best in the league but if they can make hay against Houston, Washington shouldn’t be too tough of an opponent.

SIT: Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos (vs. Cleveland Browns)

Well, Williams was a start last week and disappointed. The Broncos managed just 63 rushing yards as a team, no thanks to Williams. He had a team-high eight carries for -2 yards (not a typo) along with two catches for six yards. Against an average Raiders run defense, this was disappointing. Rookie Audric Estime was far more effective (seven carries for 44 yards).

This week, Williams and the Broncos host the Browns. Cleveland has allowed just 109 total yards per game to opposing running back groups this season. They’re technically 24th in rushing yards per game allowed but that’s inflated due to multiple games against dual-threat quarterbacks. Cleveland has yet to allow an 100-yard rusher this season. If Williams can’t get it going against Las Vegas, Cleveland’s far from a bounce-back opponent.

SIT: Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns (at Denver Broncos)

Chubb was a sit last week and, like Pollard, proved us wrong. He had just 59 yards on 20 carries but scored two touchdowns for the first time this season. It’ll likely be tough to replicate that against an improving Broncos defense. Denver is sixth in rushing defense this season and has allowed just two rushing touchdowns in their last six games. Derrick Henry is the only running back to eclipse 60 yards against the Broncos in that span. Chubb proved us wrong against the Steelers on a short week at home but the Broncos on ‘Monday Night Football’ on the road could be a tougher task.

SIT: Brian Robinson Jr., Washington Commanders (vs. Tennessee Titans)

Robinson Jr. was injured on the first play from scrimmage against Dallas last week and finished the day with just five carries for 13 yards, his lowest total of the season. Even if he’s good to go despite the ankle injury, Robinson Jr. is facing a tough opponent this week. The Titans have allowed just 75 total yards per game to opposing running back groups over their last four games. They have allowed four touchdowns in that span which helps his case but Robinson Jr. is not looking like a good pick this week.

SIT: Breece Hall or Braelon Allen, New York Jets (vs. Seattle Seahawks)

Breece Hall’s on the injury report this week and missed action on Wednesday. If he’s not able to go or limited, it could be tempting to go with Allen as an injury fill-in. But Seattle’s run defense has turned things around over the last three games. The Seahawks have allowed 102 total yards to opposing running backs per game and zero touchdowns over that span. Things seem to be clicking under Mike Macdonald and that could spell trouble for the Jets’ running game.

Fantasy football start ’em, sit ’em Week 13: WRs

START: Tank Dell, Houston Texans (at Jacksonville Jaguars)

Dell’s role has gone back down in the weeks since Nico Collins’ return from his hamstring injury, but the second-year wideout is still the No. 2 option in the Texans’ passing offense. This week, the Texans take on the Jaguars, featuring a defense that not only ranks 32nd in the NFL in dropback EPA (0.405) and dropback success rate (59.0%) over the last four weeks, but also is 30th in fantasy points allowed to wide receivers in that span.

Collins will continue to eat, but he’s already a weekly must-start. Dell should be slated for a big week as well against Jacksonville.

START: Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers (at Atlanta Falcons)

Another week, another McConkey appearance as a ‘start ’em’ receiver.

The rookie wide receiver is the No. 15 receiver in all of fantasy football this year, but he’s still rostered in under 90% of leagues and starting in even fewer leagues. This week, he gets a matchup with Atlanta’s defense, the unit that has averaged the most fantasy points allowed to wide receivers over the last four weeks, including six touchdowns (tied for second-most).

With Quentin Johnston’s drop issues rearing their ugly head in Week 12, quarterback Justin Herbert may be relying even more heavily on McConkey. He’s an easy ‘start’ for Week 13.

START: George Pickens, Pittsburgh Steelers (at Cincinnati Bengals)

A divisional matchup against a team that has had a shaky track record against wide receivers all season is a favorable scenario. Pickens had a subpar outing in Week 12, but that can largely be attributed to the snow factor in Cleveland. It will be cold, but not snowy, in Cincinnati on Sunday.

Quarterback Russell Wilson and the top Steelers receiver have excelled together in their outings since Week 7. That should continue against the Bengals, a team averaging nearly 34 fantasy points per game to receivers this year.

SIT: Jordan Addison, Minnesota Vikings (vs. Arizona Cardinals)

Addison was the No. 1 wide receiver in all of fantasy football last week against the Bears. This week, he faces a much more difficult defense.

Arizona ranks second in the NFL in EPA allowed (-0.158) and first in success rate (35.8%) over the last four weeks. The Cardinals also rank ninth in average fantasy points allowed to receivers in that span. Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s touchdown last week was the first Jonathan Gannon’s squad had allowed to a wide receiver since Week 6.

The fact that Justin Jefferson also struggled to get going last week probably means he’ll see a heftier target share as well, which does not bode well for Addison.

SIT: Khalil Shakir, Buffalo Bills (vs. San Francisco 49ers)

Shakir had a nice stretch of games ahead of the Bills’ Week 12 bye, but he hasn’t found the end zone since Week 3. The 49ers have allowed one touchdown to a wideout in the last four weeks and the fifth-fewest fantasy points per game to receivers in that span.

On top of those challenges, Shakir’s target share may also be diminished if receiver Keon Coleman and tight end Dalton Kincaid both return from their respective injuries in Week 13. Amari Cooper also got another week to rest up and recover from his wrist injury, and each week that passes is another set of chances for the veteran to get more involved.

Fantasy football start ’em, sit ’em Week 13: TEs

START: Hunter Henry, New England Patriots (vs. Indianapolis Colts)

For the third consecutive week, Hunter Henry is a start candidate. The New England Patriots will meet the Colts at home in Week 13. The veteran tight end has been a solid streaming option this season and a yo-yo start/sit each week. Patriots No. 3 overall pick Drake Maye continues to improve each week, and as a result, fantasy managers have been able to trust Henry to produce.

Henry is New England’s leading receiver and has run the most routes for the team this season. Gus Bradley’s defense is always vulnerable in the middle, shallow areas of the field. Indy has allowed the eighth-most fantasy points per game to tight ends. They have allowed the fourth-most receptions per game to tight ends.

START: Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. Cincinnati Bengals)

The Steelers travel to Cincinnati to play the Bengals in Week 13 on Sunday. Pittsburgh is eager to bounce back after their tough ‘Thursday Night Football’ loss in Week 12 in the snow against the Browns. Since Russell Wilson took over under center, Freiermuth has posted two top 15 weeks and two outside the top 30. This week, he’s in a good spot to finish inside the top 10 against the Bengals, who have allowed the second-most fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends.

Last season in Cincy, the Steelers tight end finished as the top tight end after a career-best nine receptions and a 120-yard performance. The Bengals have allowed a touchdown to tight end in three consecutive games. ‘Muth’ chants will echo throughout Paycor Stadium on Sunday.

SIT: Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills (vs. San Francisco 49ers)

The Bills’ second-year tight end hasn’t delivered the elite production fantasy owners who drafted him were hoping for in 2024. He has finished as a top-ten tight end twice in the first 10 games of the season. Buffalo hosts San Francisco in Week 13, and the matchup isn’t appealing. The Niners have allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points to tight ends. Kincaid is coming off a knee injury and missed the Bills’ Week 10 matchup before the bye, so don’t expect a full workload in his first game back.

Keon Coleman could also return, Khalil Shakir is a steady target option, and the acquisition of Amari Cooper has pushed Kincaid down the totem pole as a receiving option for Josh Allen. He is approaching touchdown dependency. The Niners’ defense has held opposing tight ends in check. With linebacker Fred Warner patrolling the the field, tight ends typically struggle against San Francisco. Last week, Kraft was held to just two receptions for 26 yards, although he did find the end zone. With so many mouths to feed in Buffalo, you can’t count on Kincaid.

Fantasy football start ’em, sit ’em Week 13: Ks

START: Wil Lutz, Denver Broncos (vs. Cleveland Browns)

Sean Payton has the Broncos playing at a high level and seemingly improving each week after their 29-19 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. Denver has scored at least 28 points in each of its last five wins and is capable of putting together offensive outbursts when it isn’t facing top-tier teams like the Baltimore Ravens or Kansas City Chiefs.

The Browns have a good enough defense that they should be able to slow down Bo Nix and Co., so that could create extra opportunities for Lutz, who kicked five field goals against the Raiders. Add in that Denver is playing at home in the high altitude and this looks like a favorable spot to trust Lutz.

START: Zane Gonzalez, Washington Commanders (at Tennessee Titans)

The Commanders placed their top kicker Austin Seibert on IR because of an undisclosed injury after he missed three total kicks (one field goal, two extra points) against the Cowboys. Gonzalez will now take over for Seibert and should be positioned for success in a high-volume offense.

Washington still ranks second in the NFL in field goal attempts per game (2.9) this season, so Gonzalez will have plenty of opportunities. He has made all seven of his kicks this season (three field goals, four extra points) so he can be expected to post solid marks against the Titans in Week 13.

START: Nick Folk, Tennessee Titans (at Washington Commanders)

Folk is fresh off an outing during which he made three field goals from 50-plus yards and has attempted at least two field goals in each of his last four games. His combination of volume and accuracy (94.4% on field goals this season) make him a solid streaming option, especially since Washington is allowing an average of 2.7 field goal attempts over its last three games (tied for fifth-most in the NFL).

SIT: Chad Ryland, Arizona Cardinals (at Minnesota Vikings)

Ryland has been a surprisingly consistent kicking option for the Cardinals, but this spot simply doesn’t suit him well. He missed just his second field goal attempt of the season at the end of Arizona’s 16-6 loss to the Seattle Seahawks last week and is now facing a Vikings defense that allows a league-low 1.5 field goal attempts per game.

SIT: Jake Moody, San Francisco 49ers (at Buffalo Bills)

The 49ers are tied for third in the NFL in field goal attempts per game this season (2.7) but Moody has only been asked to kick once in each of his last two games. He may be similarly limited against a Buffalo squad that is allowing just 1.5 field goal attempts per game this season.

And if Brock Purdy isn’t 100% for the Sunday night game or doesn’t play, that could further limit Moody’s opportunities to kick in what could be cold, windy conditions.

Fantasy football start ’em, sit ’em Week 13: D/STs

START: Minnesota Vikings (vs. Arizona Cardinals)

At this point in the weekend, it’s officially the holiday shopping season. That means that the masses are out for the hot gift of 2024. The Vikings are that trendy team this year, defying expectations and becoming a hot commodity. It wasn’t that long ago that people projected Minnesota to be in the running for a top draft pick. Now they own the top fantasy defense and get a matchup against the streaky Cardinals.

We’ve seen the best of Kyler Murray this season, but Week 12 brought us some of the worst as well. Murray notoriously struggles in November and December, winning just .344 of games in those months. With a blitz heavy defense, we’d expect the Arizona quarterback to use his legs more often, but he hasn’t been looking to do that lately either. Murray’s turnover potential makes starting the Vikings’ defense a no-brainer.

START: Houston Texans (at Jacksonville Jaguars)

The Jaguars are an offense worth targeting, as they march toward the No. 1 pick in the draft once again. It doesn’t matter if it’s Trevor Lawrence or Mac Jones, Jacksonville is a disaster. They’ve scored a combined 13 points over the last two games and that won’t inspire much confidence in their ability to turn it around. Doug Pederson is essentially in a lame duck role as head coach, with a team that appears to have quit.

The Texans are coming off a disappointing loss to the Titans, so expect Houston to try and make a statement on Sunday. With three consecutive double digit fantasy performances, the Texans are primed for another great day at the office.

SIT: Pittsburgh Steelers (at Cincinnati Bengals)

Another week, another division matchup for the Steelers. This time it comes against the Bengals, who are on fire offensively. Cincinnati sits at just 4-7, with a ton of work to do if they want to reach the postseason. Entering Week 12, they became the only team to put up more than 20 points against the Chargers. They put up at least 34 points in the two games before their Sunday night contest in L.A. Now fresh off a bye week, the Bengals will need some magic. While the Steelers remain a solid fantasy defense, don’t tempt the fates against this Cincinnati unit.

SIT: Philadelphia Eagles (at Baltimore Ravens)

Much like their Pennsylvania neighbors, the Eagles also possess a very good fantasy defense. Since their Week 5 bye, Philly has completely turned its season around. However, it’s not like they’ve played the best offenses the league has to offer in that span. The Ravens are hoping to keep pace in the AFC North, eager to pounce if the Steelers slip up. Baltimore is averaging the second-most points per game, behind only the Lions. This will be the Eagles’ biggest test yet. They should be on your bench as we wait to see whether they pass or fail.

SIT: San Francisco 49ers (at Buffalo Bills)

The 49ers are getting by this season on name recognition. At 5-6, they have an uphill battle to make the playoffs and are going to do without some of their big stars on defense. Injuries to players like Nick Bosa are starting to take a toll, with no help coming through that door. A cross-country trip to Buffalo won’t make life any easier. At full strength, the 49ers probably would have been taking a seat this week from a fantasy perspective. Now there’s no argument to even take them off the bench.

It’s a bit more than ironic that the embarrassing mismanagement by the Chicago Bears at the end of the Thanksgiving Day game at Detroit was the final straw that resulted in the firing of coach Matt Eberflus. It was also another reflection of the preparation – or lack thereof – that underscores why some teams like the Bears can’t get out of their own way in contributing to their demise. 

Part of the irony, though, is that the team that benefitted from Chicago’s latest crunch-time disaster, the Detroit Lions (11-1), has gone to great lengths in preparing for situational football. It’s one of the reasons that Detroit’s sharp coordinators – Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn – will be among the hottest candidates on the market for the upcoming hiring cycle. 

Each week, Lions coach Dan Campbell conducts a “situational meeting” with Johnson, his offensive shot-caller; Glenn, the defensive guru; and others on the staff, including special teams coordinator Dave Fipp and assistant head coach Scott Montgomery.  

Someone asked Campbell recently why it was important to have both Johnson and Glenn in the room at the same time for those sessions, which explains much about preparing for end-of-game scenarios that are critical in a league on pace to finish with more games decided by one possession or less than at any point in history. His response also spoke as much about their futures as it did about the Lions’ hopes of continuing their roll to the Super Bowl. 

Campbell knows. Johnson and Glenn could be in the stretch run of their Detroit tenures. 

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And they are preparing for that, too. 

“Those guys are going to both be head coaches, eventually,” Campbell said. “Whether it’s now, whether it’s like, whatever the case may be, it’s good for them to see it. It’s also good for them to see the other side of it, to be able to see it from a defensive perspective in managing a game. You do that and then you figure out what’s right for you. They know what’s right for us, because it’s the way I see it. Eventually, when it becomes their team, they may see it a little differently. 

“There may be a more conservative approach. There may be a more aggressive approach. But you just want to know that you have all the facts … and that you’re able to put those in your own way of seeing it and to make the best decision possible. It’s been good for us.” 

When Campbell served as an assistant (along with Glenn) under Sean Payton with the New Orleans Saints, there were certainly lessons on situational preparation. Every team in the league likely does it to some extent. Yet how that’s emphasized from team to team is in the details, as anyone coached by Bill Belichick or Bill Parcells will attest. Campbell recalled how Payton, now the Broncos coach, did it with the team overall, rather than just with the coaching staff. 

“So we all got it,” Campbell reflected. “He would do that every Saturday morning.” 

The Bears could have used such lessons. 

With Eberflus becoming the first coach fired during the season in the entire history of a franchise that originated in 1920, three teams have already made such moves to get a jump on their coaching searches. The Jets fired Robert Saleh (replaced by interim Jeff Ulbrich) in October; the Saints relieved Dennis Allen (replaced by Darren Rizzi) in early November. 

Eberflus (14-32 in nearly three seasons) was replaced by interim Thomas Brown, who less than three weeks ago was promoted from passing game coordinator to offensive coordinator after Shane Waldron was fired. 

By mid-January, it’s expected that at least seven head-coaching slots will be open. And Johnson, who has been a hot commodity the past two cycles, and Glenn, will be near the top of the list of candidates – including for the Bears, building around quarterback Caleb Williams, drafted No. 1 overall in April. 

Campbell, including Fipp in the equation, said, “All three of these guys are superstars. Hey, when it’s over, it’s over. But we’re going to make the most of it until that time comes.” 

In the meantime, the iron will keep sharpening the iron.     

Amari Cooper living the dream with Bills

“When you’re a kid, we all dream of making it to this league. Never once do you dream about being on a losing team,” Cooper told USA TODAY Sports. “You always dream of being with the winning teams, the playoff teams, teams that go to the Super Bowl. So I would say this feels like I’m living in that dream … I’m just soaking it all in.” 

Cooper, 30, is with his fourth team in 11 NFL seasons. This isn’t the first time he was dealt from a last-place team to a first-place scenario. In 2018, the Cowboys obtained Cooper from the Raiders (who finished 4-12) and won the NFC East. Yet throughout his extended journey he’s experienced just one playoff victory, a Dallas win against Seattle in the 2018 wild-card round. 

Maybe this is setting up for a different playoff experience. The Bills surely have him pegged for a significant role down the stretch, after overhauling a receiver corps that in recent years included the Pro Bowl presence of Stefon Diggs. 

“It’s a numbers game,” Cooper said. “If you’re in the league long enough, hey, the ball might roll your way and you’ll be on a good team and have a chance. That’s all it’s about. And when you have a chance, take full advantage of it.” 

As Kirk Cousins goes… 

It’s fair to wonder which Kirk Cousins will show up on Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, with the Falcons (6-5) needing a win against the L.A. Chargers to snap a two-game losing streak and cling to what once looked like an insurmountable lead atop the NFC South. 

In six victories, Cousins has a TD-to-INT ratio of 14-2, with a 114.1 pass-efficiency rating. 

The five losses? The ratio is 3-to-7, with a 73.5 rating. 

The moral of the stats: Atlanta has shown no ability to win while carrying the quarterback on an off day. Then again, the Falcons wrote a big check in luring Cousins with a massive free-agent deal (four years, $180 million, $100 million guaranteed) with the expectation that he can lead them over the hump as the franchise seeks its first division title and first playoff win since the 2016 campaign. 

Quick slants

∎It’s typically feast or famine when it comes to Terry McLaurin’s production. In six games this season, including his five 100-yard outings and a 98-yard game, the Washington receiver averaged 108.3 yards. In the six other games, he averaged 28.8 yards, including the four contests he’s had with fewer than 23 yards. No, this isn’t so much a barometer of whether the Commanders (7-5) win or lose. They lost twice when their star wideout topped 100 … and won when he tallied 19 and 22 yards against the Giants.   

∎The Chiefs (11-1) became the first NFL team this season to clinch a playoff berth after squeaking out a win against the Raiders on Friday, but another concern was magnified amid the effort. Patrick Mahomes was sacked five times for the second consecutive game, with left tackle Wanya Morris further exposed to the point that he was ultimately benched. On Friday, the Chiefs shifted left guard Joe Thuney to left tackle, with Mike Caliendo inserted in Thuney’s spot. Next up? Recently signed veteran D.J. Humphries, coming off a torn ACL suffered last season with the Cardinals that threatened his career, has been practicing for a week. Stay tuned.