Bryce Underwood announced his decision suddenly on Thursday, after a steady stream of rumors and reports built up over the past few months, ever since it became obvious Michigan football was still pursuing the nation’s No. 1 recruit from right down the road.

Or rather, Adam Schefter did in the middle of a ‘Sportscenter’ segment.

The ESPN NFL insider and Michigan alum broke the news that Underwood, a quarterback who previously committed to LSU, had informed Michigan officials he would instead be joining the Wolverines. Underwood soon followed with a video posted to his Instagram account confirming his commitment to Michigan, a massive recruiting flip for the Wolverines and coach Sherrone Moore in the aftermath of the program’s national championship run last season.

Underwood’s path to Ann Arbor, Michigan, despite becoming a star at nearby Belleville High School, featured all sorts of intriguing plot twists, particularly in recent weeks as Michigan’s efforts ramped up. Here’s more background on Underwood and how he wound up choosing Michigan football over LSU:

Bryce Underwood recruiting journey

Underwood burst onto the national recruiting scene when he threw for more than 3,000 yards and 39 touchdowns as a freshman at Belleville High School in Belleville Michigan.

The 6-foot-3 quarterback has drawn comparisons to Vince Young and Cam Newton and is considered the No. 1 prospect in the 2025 class by multiple national recruiting websites.

Underwood committed to LSU last January, four days before Michigan won the national championship game over Washington and in the aftermath of Jayden Daniels winning the Heisman Trophy playing for Tigers coach Brian Kelly. It wasn’t until this fall that reports surfaced indicating Moore, Michigan’s first-year coach, had decided to renew the program’s recruiting efforts with Underwood.

Earlier this month, Michigan fans began showing up to Underwood’s playoff games with Belleville High School to encourage him to stay close to home with the Wolverines. But Underwood, in the wake of a CBS Sports report less than two weeks ago that Michigan had offered $10.5 million, posted a picture of himself on Instagram wearing a LSU jersey indicating he was likely to turn down Michigan.

Bryce Underwood, Larry Ellison and Michigan NIL

Michigan’s push to flip Underwood from LSU coincided with an NIL push by the school’s major donors. The Champions Circle NIL collective specifically mentioned the role played by Oracle founder Larry Ellison in a statement celebrating Underwood’s decision.

‘We are very excited to keep Bryce home in Michigan as he continues to build his legacy,’ chairman Nate Forbes said. ‘I want to personally thank Jolin and Larry Ellison who were instrumental in making this happen by providing Champions Circle with invaluable guidance and financial resources.’

The terms of Underwood’s NIL agreement with Michigan collective were not announced. The Baton Rouge Advocate previously reported that LSU offered Underwood $1.5 million annually, a figure that would have made him the highest-paid player on the team.

What Bryce Underwood flip means for Brian Kelly, LSU

Bryce Underwood’s decision to flip to Michigan comes at an inopportune moment for coach Brian Kelly, who is starting to feel pressure now that his third season in Baton Rouge has veered off course. LSU (6-4) is coming off a 27-16 loss to Florida in which Kelly was shown on camera screaming at Tigers receiver Chris Hilton on the sideline, the low point of a three-game skid that ended any shot at making the College Football Playoff.

LSU dropped to No. 6 in 247 Sports class of 2025 recruiting rankings following Underwood’s announcement on Thursday, and recruiting experts believe LSU could be in danger of losing more players since Underwood isn’t in the fold anymore and the program seems on shakier ground in the midst of a rocky fall. So Kelly, in addition to closing the 2024 season strong on the field, must now also hold together his recruiting class to keep college football’s hot seat at bay.

Are Bryce Underwood and Connor Stalions connected?

Oddly enough, yes.

The former Michigan football staffer who became infamous during the 2023 season for his role in Michigan’s sign stealing scandal recently began working with Underwood’s Belleville High School football team. It’s unclear if Stalions was involved in Underwood’s decision to change his commitment from LSU to Michigan. Belleville co-head coach Calvin Norman told the Detroit Free Press last month that Stalions is helping with the offense and ‘observing Bryce (Underwood).’

Can Bryce Underwood fix Michigan’s QB problem?

Michigan football’s backslide from winning the national championship last season to clawing to just get bowl eligible in 2024 is due to a variety of reasons, but the team’s quarterback situation is perhaps the most prominent. The Wolverines have the worst passing offense in the country among Power Four Conference teams entering their game against Northwestern Saturday.

Michigan hasn’t found a consistent replacement for J.J. McCarthy, cycling through three different starters. Underwood is likely to be given the reins early in his career, as his high-profile recruitment this fall seemed influenced by how dire Michigan’s passing woes have been at times this season.

Bryce Underwood age

Bryce Underwood is 17 years old and won’t turn 18 until August 19, 2025. He is considered young for his recruiting class.

The NHL season is more than a month old, and there have been four 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, 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. 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.

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.

The Pittsburgh Steelers left Thursday night’s matchup against the Cleveland Browns with a 24-19 loss at Huntington Bank Field, but one of the team’s key players was unmoved by his opponent’s performance.

Wide receiver George Pickens chalked up the result to the accumulating snow, denying Pittsburgh’s AFC North rival any credit.

‘The conditions played a huge, huge part in today’s game,’ Pickens told reporters after the game when asked what the Steelers should take away from the game. ‘I don’t really think the Cleveland Browns are a good team at all. I think the conditions kinda saved them today.”

The Steelers (8-3) outgained the Browns 368-304 and also won the takeaway battle 3-1. Cleveland also converted just one of 10 third-down attempts, though the team was successful on all four of its fourth-down tries.

Still, the Browns (3-8) held the lead in the second half until Calvin Austin III’s 23-yard connection with Russell Wilson put the Steelers ahead 19-18 with 6:15 remaining. But a shanked 15-yard punt by Corliss Waitman gave Cleveland a prime opportunity to recapture the lead, and running back Nick Chubb powered into the end zone from 2 yards out with 57 seconds left to put the Browns back on top.

All things Steelers: Latest Pittsburgh Steelers news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

The Steelers drove 29 yards on the final drive, but Wilson’s heave to the end zone fell incomplete. Pickens, who had four catches for 48 yards on seven targets, appeared to get into a clash with Browns cornerback Greg Newsome II after the play.

In assessing the two teams after the game, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin struck a different tone from the one Pickens chose.

‘I thought (the Browns) brought it tonight. … They made more plays over the course of 60 minutes than we did,’ Tomlin said in a postgame news conference.

The Steelers and Browns will meet again on Dec. 8 in Pittsburgh.

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns typically play each other tough. Thursday night was no different as a wintry mix fell from the Cleveland sky.

Playing in freezing temperatures, the Browns stunned the Steelers 24-19 to snap Pittsburgh’s five-game winning streak.

Myles Garrett and the Browns controlled most of the game versus their AFC North rival. Garrett was a game wrecker, and the Browns defense contained Russell Wilson and Pittsburgh’s offense.

Thursday’s contest at Huntington Bank Field was a prototypical AFC North battle – full of physical play and good defense.

USA TODAY Sports selects the winners and losers from the Week 12 AFC North battle:

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Winners

Myles Garrett

Garrett was the best player on the field in the first half. He had three sacks, one forced fumble and four pressures.

Garrett recorded a sack on Pittsburgh’s first offensive possession that led to a miss field goal by Steelers kicker Chris Boswell. The Browns’ star defensive end then had a strip sack in the second quarter and closed out the first half with another sack.

Garrett faced multiple double teams in the second half as the Steelers correctly adjusted their game plan.

The Browns’ defensive end did have to check into the blue tent in the fourth quarter but returned to the game.

Garrett tallied five tackles and three sacks in the win.

Jameis Winston

Winston was locked in. His pregame interview is proof.

The Browns’ QB had a couple errant throws, but made perhaps the two biggest plays in the game.

Early in the fourth quarter on fourth down, Winston put his body on the line. He scrambled around, ran 2 yards and leaped to cross the plane for a touchdown. The battery to his communications device even popped out of his helmet during the TD scramble, per the Amazon broadcast. Winston’s touchdown, plus a successful two-point conversion, gave the Browns an 18-6 lead with 12:16 remaining.

Later in the fourth quarter, the Browns’ quarterback completed a 15-yard pass to Jerry Jeudy that set up the game-winning score.

Winston went 18-of-27 passing for 219 yards. He tossed one interception and lost a fumble. It was an up-and-down performance by the journeyman QB, but he competed.

Nick Chubb

Thursday was Chubb’s first game against the Steelers since the brutal knee injury he sustained in the teams’ 2023 Week 2 game.

Chubb ran hard and got tough yards against a stingy Pittsburgh run defense. The Browns’ running back poetically scored the game-winning touchdown with under a minute left in the fourth quarter.

Chubb rushed 20 times for 59 yards and had two rushing TDs. 

Jerry Jeudy

Jeudy’s turned himself into Cleveland’s top wide receiver. His huge 15-yard catch on third down set up Nick Chubb’s game-winning, 2-yard touchdown.

Jeudy finished with a game-high six catches for 85 yards. He seemed to be always open in the snow.

Grounds crew

The Browns’ grounds crew deserves credit for maintaining the field and making the snowy surface at least playable.

Losers

Punters

Browns punter Corey Bojorquez’s first punt went a grand total of 12 yards.

Steelers punter Corliss Waitman shanked a 15-yard punt late in the fourth quarter that gave Cleveland life.

Bojorquez had three punts for an average of 30.7 yards.

Waitman just had the one costly 15-yard blunder.

Browns’ third-down efficiency

The Browns went 1-for-10 on third down.

Winston tossed a costly interception on third down with under five minutes remaining in the contest.

Russell Wilson

Wilson suffered his first loss as the Steelers’ starting QB despite producing his fourth straight game with a passer rating above 90 (116.7). The veteran quarterback is now 4-1 as Pittsburgh’s starter. He’s played well enough to keep his job.

John and Jim Harbaugh are competitors by nature. The two wrestled each other as kids. So on the gridiron, it’s not lost on Los Angeles Chargers players that Jim is 0-2 in his NFL career coaching against his older brother.

Jim has another opportunity to get in the victory column against John on Monday night when the Chargers host the Baltimore Ravens in a matchup that’s dubbed the “Harbaugh Bowl.”

“We know how important this is for him. I imagine if I were to play one of my brothers, it’d be a really cool opportunity,” Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert said. “I can only imagine, you know, how big this is to him and his family. I think it’s another very important game for us. You know, we’ve got a really good opponent coming here on Monday. But… Coach Harbaugh, it’s a special moment for him.”

The “Harbaugh Bowl” will also feature some interesting subplots. It will be a reunion of sorts for several members of the Chargers organization. L.A. general manager Joe Hortiz served 26 seasons in Baltimore’s front office and five Chargers coaches spent time on the Ravens staff during their coaching careers.

Jim even played for the Ravens in 1998.

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“Coach Jim Harbaugh, he’s a magical guy. He’s different, he’s unique,” Dobbins said. “I love him and it’s great to play for both of the guys, both John and Jim.”

Jim admitted initially the Super Bowl 47 loss was difficult, but the sting of the defeat wore off over time, especially because his brother was triumphant.

“It was tough. But after some time and reflection went by, it’s my brother, my best friend, really proud of him (and) really happy for his success,” Jim said. “I mean, it was earned. We played really good, but yeah, sometime after that was my perspective.”

Monday’s third edition of the “Harbaugh Bowl” will be special for the family for a multitude of reasons. It’s the brothers’ third-ever matchup, it takes place during the Thanksgiving holiday week and it just so happens to fall on their parents’, Jack and Jackie’s, Nov. 25 wedding anniversary.

Jack and Jackie won’t be in attendance on Monday night. They will be in Bradenton, Florida with their daughter. However, they will certainly be watching.

Just like Super Bowl 47, Monday night’s game or outcome won’t impact John and Jim’s relationship. The two brothers talk or text weekly. Jim describes John as his best friend.

“Nobody could have a better brother. I may be biased in that way, but I really love my brother, best friends, proud of him,” Jim said of John. “He puts God first, he’s a great example setter, he’s a great son, he’s a great husband, he’s a great father and great brother. And he’s great at what he does. One of the most, if not the most competitive people that I know. I learned so much from and admire him.

“His competitiveness (and) his toughness. It’s always in his teams where he just makes it, pulls it out of you. Iron sharpens iron, as the Bible would say. That’s resonates.”

The Harbaughs like to use the phrase: “Who’s got it better than us?”

We’ll find out on Monday night which brother has a better kickoff to Thanksgiving week.

‘I like prime time, I always thought that, you know. It’s like – tonight’s gonna be a good night as The Black Eyed Peas kind of feel,” Jim, referencing the musical group’s hit song, said about Monday’s game. “Got my friends with me, and we’re going to go out and let’s make it a great night.”

I got a feeling the “Harbaugh Bowl” Part III will be a special night for the entire Harbaugh family.