The fantasy football playoffs – and NFL injuries – continue, with only the fittest surviving.

Fantasy managers who’ve moved within one victory of playing for a league title may have suffered some collateral damage along the way this past week with injuries to the likes of David Montgomery, Patrick Mahomes and Nick Chubb.

But if you lost one of those key performers (and you can still make roster moves), then the waiver wire may be a place to find some solace. And maybe even an emergency Week 16 starter.

Though it may be a long shot any player you consider picking up this week should be someone you could conceivably put into your lineup and be a solid contributor.

Fantasy football players to add for Week 16

Due to the wide variance in types of leagues and individual team needs, the players listed here are in the order of preference for a flex start, along with their availability rates in Fantrax leagues, which may or not match rates on other platforms.

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RB Jerome Ford, Cleveland Browns (35%)

Ford garnered waiver wire consideration a couple weeks ago when he began taking on a larger share of the workload, primarily on passing downs. But with starter Nick Chubb suffering a broken foot on Sunday, Ford now returns to a starting role, one he held earlier in the season while Chubb was recovering from knee surgery. In Week 15, Ford had his best game since the season opener with 104 total yards and a touchdown. As he did earlier, he could share snaps with D’Onta Foreman and Pierre Strong, but Ford is actually a better fantasy starter than Chubb has been.

RB Kendre Miller, New Orleans Saints (49%)

Miller’s value this week depends on the status of Alvin Kamara and a groin injury that forced him out of Sunday’s game against Washington. If Kamara can’t go or is limited, Miller becomes a viable option. The only problem is, the Saints play on Monday night at Green Bay so there’s no fallback option if Kamara’s status is in doubt. Miller hasn’t had much of an opportunity to show what he can do with a full workload, but he did score a rushing TD in Week 14.

TE Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars (87%)

The Jaguars lost a major part of their offense when TE Evan Engram suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. But it turns out, Engram’s absence didn’t change their game plan very much at all. Taking over as the starter, Strange led all tight ends with 12 targets in Week 15, catching 11 of them for 73 yards – and trailing only Miami’s Jonnu Smith in PPR points for the week.

RB Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans (23%)

Spears had his best day as a pro on Sunday, catching six passes for 87 yards and a touchdown – and also contributing a short-yardage TD on the ground. Starter Tony Pollard left the game briefly with an ankle injury, but Spears’ success came largely with backup QB Mason Rudolph in the game. The Titans haven’t said whether Rudolph or Will Levis will start this week at Indianapolis, but the Colts defense has allowed the fifth-most total yards and third-most rushing yards in the league this season.

WR Tim Patrick, Detroit Lions (79%)

After his two-touchdown breakout in Week 14, Patrick hauled in another touchdown pass Sunday as part of the Lions’ offensive explosion. Montgomery’s injury could encourage the Lions to throw the ball just as much this week at Chicago, which would open the door for Patrick to continue his recent run of success.

QB Cooper Rush, Dallas Cowboys (67%)

For teams in danger of losing Mahomes, the options are few if you don’t already have one on your bench. Rush may be the best of the available quarterbacks, coming off a 214-yard, three-TD performance against the Panthers. This week, he gets another poor defense in the Buccaneers, who have yielded the third-most passing yards in the league and are the second-most fantasy-friendly opponent for quarterbacks on the season.

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Kirk Cousins broke his touchdown drought, but his performance didn’t instill any confidence going forward with the Atlanta Falcons (7-7) pass offense.

The Falcons were able to hold on to defeat a listless Las Vegas Raiders club, 15-9, on Monday night and end their four-game losing streak. Yet, the victory came with yet another lethargic performance from Atlanta’s passing game.  

Cousin was inaccurate at times and late on multiple throws. The veteran quarterback went 11-of-17 passing for a season-low 112 yards, to go along with one touchdown and one interception. The Falcons had 84 passing yards in the first half and only 28 passing yards in the second half. Luckily for the Falcons, running back Bijan Robinson and the team’s offensive line controlled most of the contest on the ground. Robinson gained 125 of the team’s 168 rushing yards.  

Atlanta’s rushing attack combined with the Raiders’ ineptitude masked Atlanta’s deficiencies in the pass game.

“He’s got to play better. Obviously, you have to go back and look at everything. He wants to play better. He’s got to play better. We got to find a way to get him to play better,” Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said postgame of Cousins. “We’ll get to work (Tuesday) and that’s part of our process. You go and you look at the tape and review it with the people that it needs to be reviewed with. We’ll get all the coordinators in the room. We’ll talk with everybody. We got to play better at the quarterback position.”

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Cousins did toss his first touchdown pass since Week 9. The 36-year-old quarterback had zero touchdowns and eight interceptions in the previous four games. Yet, Cousins’ 112 passing yards was his lowest total since Week 11 of last season when he was the starting quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings.

“I think I do need to play better. I don’t think that’s a mystery. I think the last few weeks I would say I need to play better. Raheem says it, but it’s stating the obvious,” Cousins said to reporters. “Every week you kind of go through your process and you plan to go out there and play the very best you can.”

Through 14 games, Cousins hasn’t lived up to the four-year, $180 million contract the Falcons signed him to over the offseason. Cousins’ 16 interceptions are an NFL-high and he currently has his lowest passer rating in a season in which he’s started at least eight games. His play has justifiably sparked questions whether the Falcons should start rookie Michael Penix Jr.

Perhaps now Cousins is looking over his shoulder at Penix, who the Falcons drafted No. 8 overall less than 50 days after signing the veteran QB in free agency.  

The Falcons are one game in the loss column behind the NFC South-leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6) and two games away from the Washington Commanders for the seventh and final wild-card spot in the NFC.  

Penix is the quarterback of the future in Atlanta. But it might be time for Penix to be the quarterback of the present and have Cousins be a very expensive backup.

The Chicago Bears failed to convert on fourth down during their first drive of the night, and things went downhill from there.

They gave up scores on three of the Minnesota Vikings’ four first-half possessions, and Minnesota took a 13-0 lead into halftime of “Monday Night Football.” They never looked back.

The Vikings’ 30-12 win – which included touchdowns from Justin Jefferson, Aaron Jones and Cam Akers – pushed them to 12-2. Their 12 wins are enough to enter a tie for the NFC North lead following the Detroit Lions’ second loss of the season one day earlier.

For Chicago, it was a 10th loss on the year and its eighth in a row after a 4-2 start.

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Here’s the full story of how the earlier game in the Week 15 ‘Monday Night Football’ doubleheader played out:

Vikings vs. Bears highlights

Vikings 30, Bears 12: Will Reichard’s third field goal puts the Vikings ahead by three scores

Will Reichard remained perfect with a 46-yard field goal that all but sealed the game for Minnesota.

The Bears took over possession with just more than one minute to play, and backup quarterback Tyson Bagent entered for Caleb Williams.

Vikings TE Josh Oliver recovers onside kick

Facing a two-score deficit with just over five minutes left and no timeouts, the Bears had to try an onside kick after their touchdown. Josh Oliver quashed Chicago’s first step toward a comeback when he recovered the kick in front of the Bears’ 40-yard line.

Minnesota will try to run down the clock with the ball at the Chicago 42 and about five minutes to go.

Vikings 27, Bears 12: Caleb Williams finds Keenan Allen for Bears’ first touchdown

Chicago was able to capitalize on the blocked punt and converted on fourth down for the first time all night. Caleb Williams avoided pressure in the pocket before firing over the middle to Keenan Allen to give the Bears their first six-pointer of the game.

Thanks to a penalty on the Vikings ahead of the PAT, Chicago attempted a two-point conversion from the 1-yard line. Williams’ pass attempt was batted away from receiver DJ Moore, and the attempt failed.

It’s 27-12 Vikings with 5:19 to play.

Bears’ Dominique Robinson blocks Ryan Wright’s punt

With time winding down on the Bears, they needed a big play to give them some momentum. Dominique Robinson did just that when he tore through the middle of Minnesota’s punt formation and blocked Ryan Wright’s kick.

Chicago takes over on the Vikings’ 27-yard line with just over six minutes to go.

Vikings 27, Bears 6: Cam Akers punches in another Vikings touchdown

Two plays after Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson was flagged for a 30-yard pass interference penalty in the end zone, Cam Akers drove his legs through a few defenders for a 1-yard score. Akers’ touchdown made it two straight Minnesota drives to end on a 1-yard rushing touchdown.

The Vikings pushed their lead to 21 points and lead, 27-6, with just over 10 minutes left.

Vikings 20, Bears 6: Cairo Santos nails second field goal of the night

The Bears are back within two scores of Minnesota after Cairo Santos’ 39-yard field goal. Chicago’s kicker is 2-for-2 so far tonight on two sub-40-yard attempts.

It’s 20-6 Vikings with 13 minutes to play.

Vikings 20, Bears 3: Aaron Jones pushes Vikings’ lead to three scores

Aaron Jones’ 1-yard rush capped off Minnesota’s 70-yard scoring drive, which included 38 rushing yards from the lead back.

The Vikings lead, 20-3, after kicker Will Reichard’s PAT. The Bears will take over with 1:38 left in the third quarter.

Vikings 13, Bears 3: Cairo Santos finally gets the Bears on the board

After several failed attempts at the end zone from inside the red zone, Chicago eventually settles for a 29-yard field goal.

Cairo Santos’ successful kick makes it 13-3 Vikings with seven minutes left in the third quarter.

D’Andre Swift touchdown overturned on illegal substitution penalty

Doug Kramer Jr., wearing jersey number 68, entered the game and failed to report as an eligible receiver before lining up at fullback. As a result, D’Andre Swift’s 1-yard run that would have given the Bears their first score was overturned.

Chicago also picked up a holding call a couple of plays later, so it faces second-and-goal from the Minnesota 11 at the halfway point of the third quarter.

Vikings 13, Bears 0: Vikings settle for field goal after 58-yard drive

Kicker Will Reichard hit his second field goal of the night, this one from 31 yards away, to extend the Vikings’ lead near the end of the first half.

It’s 13-0 Minnesota with four seconds left in the second quarter. The Bears, meanwhile, have been outscored 53-0 during the first half of their previous three games.

Vikings force Bears’ second turnover on downs

Chicago interim head coach Thomas Brown has been bold in his decision-making on Monday night, but it has yet to pay off. For the second time in the Bears’ four drives, they turn the ball over on downs.

The Bears are 0-for-5 on third down conversions and 0-for-2 on fourth down so far.

Minnesota takes over on its own 29 with 2:35 left in the first half.

Bears punter Tory Taylor draws penalty to extend drive

Chicago was forced to punt deep inside its own territory after what would have been a three-and-out. However, Vikings special teamer Trent Sherfield ran into Tory Taylor after the punt and was flagged on the play.

As a result, the Bears continue their drive with just over seven minutes left in the first half.

Sam Darnold picked off on fourth down

The Vikings faced a fourth-and-3 at the Bears’ 23-yard line and opted to go for it rather than tack three more points onto the scoreboard.

Sam Darnold was flushed out of the pocket and heaved a desperation pass into the general direction of multiple receivers, and was intercepted by Tyrique Stevenson.

The play ended a 17-play, 78-yard drive for the Vikings.

End of first quarter: Vikings 10, Bears 0

The Vikings scored on each of their first quarter possessions.

The Bears, meanwhile, had drives end on a turnover on downs, fumble and punt during the first quarter.

So far, it’s all Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Justin Jefferson sends message to Randy Moss after TD

Lots of love shared from one legendary Minnesota Vikings wide receiver to another.

The NFL community has showed an outpouring of support for Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss since he revealed his cancer diagnosis on Friday. Against the Chicago Bears on ‘Monday Night Football,’ Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson became the latest to vocalize his support.

Vikings 10, Bears 0: Justin Jefferson extends Vikings’ lead

Justin Jefferson was the benefactor of an excellent play-action fake by quarterback Sam Darnold and running back Aaron Jones. He was wide open in the back of the end zone after the play fake, and Darnold found him for the easy, pitch-and-catch touchdown.

After kicker Will Reichard’s PAT, it’s 10-0 Vikings after the first 10 minutes of the game.

Vikings RT Brian O’Neill headed to the medical tent

Brian O’Neill — a 2021 Pro Bowl selection — appeared to get hit in the back of the legs on a Vikings first-down play near the six-minute mark of the first quarter. He remained on the field for a moment and was attended to by trainers before walking off of the field under his own power.

David Quessenberry has entered for O’Neill.

Jonathan Greenard forces fumble, Blake Cashman recovers

The Bears drove all the way down inside the Minnesota 30-yard line before losing the ball on a strip sack of quarterback Caleb Williams.

The Vikings take over possession at the halfway point of the first quarter, still leading, 3-0.

Vikings 3, Bears 0: Will Reichard gives Minnesota the early lead

The Vikings were able to stop the Bears’ fourth-down attempt inside Chicago’s 40-yard line. The Vikings weren’t able to completely capitalize on the good starting field position, gaining just five yards before their drive stalled, but Will Reichard was good on a 52-yard field goal attempt.

It’s 3-0 Vikings after just under three minutes of action.

Vikings wearing ‘Winter Warrior’ uniforms for MNF

The Vikings are debuting their ‘Winter Warrior’ uniforms during ‘Monday Night Football’ against the Bears.

The Vikings have worn ‘Winter Whiteout’ uniforms before, a look that features white jerseys and pants but the standard purple helmet. For Monday night’s game, the Vikings will debut a white helmet to go along with the white jerseys and pants.

Vikings vs. Bears start time

Start time: 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. CT)

The Vikings vs. Bears ‘Monday Night Football’ matchup will kick off at 8 p.m. ET. It’s the first of two ‘MNF’ games in Week 15, leading to the earlier-than-usual start time for the matchup.

Vikings vs. Bears TV channel

TV channel: ABC

The Vikings vs. Bears ‘MNF’ matchup will air on ABC. Joe Buck (play-by-play) will be alongside longtime broadcast partner Troy Aikman (color commentary).

Vikings vs. Bears predictions, pick

Here’s how the USA TODAY Sports team feels the Vikings-Bears game will go:

Lorenzo Reyes: Vikings 28, Bears 13
Tyler Dragon: Vikings 28, Bears 20
Richard Morin: Vikings 30, Bears 20
Jordan Mendoza: Vikings 30, Bears 20

Vikings vs. Bears live stream 

Live stream: Fubo | ESPN+ 

ESPN+, the proprietary streaming service of ESPN, will also carry the game. 

Stream the’Monday Night Football’game on Fubo

Vikings inactives vs. Bears

CB Stephon Gilmore
QB Brett Rypien
DL Levi Drake Rodriguez
C Dan Feeney
OT Walter Rouse

Bears inactives vs. Vikings

RB Roschon Johnson
LB Noah Sewell
OL Ryan Bates
DB Ameer Speed
OL Braxton Jones
DL Gervon Dexter Sr.

NFC North standings 

Here are the standings in the NFC North heading into ‘Monday Night Football’:

Detroit Lions (12-2) 
Minnesota Vikings (11-2) 
Green Bay Packers (10-4) 
Chicago Bears (4-9) 

NFC playoff picture

x – Detroit Lions (12-2), NFC North leaders
x – Philadelphia Eagles (12-2), NFC East leaders
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6), NFC South leaders
Los Angeles Rams (8-6), NFC West leaders
x – Minnesota Vikings (11-2), wild card No. 1
Green Bay Packers (10-4), wild card No. 2
Washington Commanders (9-5), wild card No. 3

In the hunt:

Seattle Seahawks (8-6)
Arizona Cardinals (7-7)
Atlanta Falcons (6-7)
San Francisco 49ers (6-8)
Dallas Cowboys (6-8)

x – clinched playoff berth

When do the NFL playoffs start? 

The NFL playoffs kick off on Jan. 11 with the league’s Super Wild Card Weekend, before concluding Feb. 9 with Super Bowl 59 in New Orleans. 

Why did the Bears fire Matt Eberflus? 

Matt Eberflus’ shortcomings have been abundantly clear in his three seasons as the Bears’ head coach. However, they can be best summed up in just one 30-second sequence at the end of a brutal Thanksgiving Day loss to the Lions. 

Armed with one timeout, Eberflus stood and watched his rookie quarterback, Caleb Williams, have difficulties navigating the final seconds that could’ve resulted in the game-tying field goal attempt. Instead, the quarterback heaved up a prayer for Rome Odunze that fell short as time expired. 

Players expressed plenty of frustration after the game, suggesting that this situation was nearing its bitter end. 

‘I feel like we did enough as players to win the game,’ Keenan Allen said. 

In many ways, that perfectly encapsulates the Eberflus era. Close, but no cigar. 

Sam Darnold contract details 

Sam Darnold is in the final four weeks of a one-year, $10 million deal he signed last offseason after one year with the San Francisco 49ers. Below are the full details of the contract, per Spotrac.com: 

Term: 1 year 
Total value: $10 million 
Average annual value (AAV): $10 million 
Guaranteed money: $8.75 million 

Sam Darnold contract projection 

Term: 3 years 
Total value: $110 million 
Average annual value (AAV): $36.7 million 
Guaranteed money: $55 million 

Perhaps Sam Darnold’s value will exceed this if he has many suitors, like the Vikings, Tennessee Titans, New York Giants and Las Vegas Raiders, among others. However, he could also see his overall value take a hit if teams picking atop the 2025 NFL draft decide to eschew free agent quarterbacks and go after players like Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward. 

Sam Darnold stats 

Here are Sam Darnold’s stats through 13 games in 2024, including where his marks stack up among the rest of the NFL’s quarterbacks: 

Completion rate: 264 of 386 (68.4%) - Seventh in the NFL 
Passing yards: 3,299 - Sixth 
Yards per attempt: 8.5 - Fourth 
Passing touchdowns: 28 - Tied for third 
Interceptions: 10 - Tied for sixth most 
Passer rating: 108.1 - Tied for third 

Vikings vs. Bears odds, moneyline, over/under

The Vikings are favorites to defeat the Bears, according to the BetMGM NFL odds. Not interested in this game? Check out expert picks and best bets for every NFL game this week. 

Spread: Vikings (-7) 
Moneyline: Vikings (-350); Bears (+280) 
Over/under: 43.5

Where is Vikings vs. Bears? 

The Bears travel to U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to take on their NFC North rivals. U.S. Bank Stadium has been the Vikings’ home since 2016.

U.S. Bank Stadium was the host of Super Bowl 52, which the Philadelphia Eagles won against the New England Patriots.

Bears vs. Vikings weather update

U.S. Bank Stadium is an indoor facility, so the weather forecast in Minneapolis will not impact the game. Outside of the stadium, game time temperatures are in the low-30s, according to AccuWeather.

Which NFL team has the most Super Bowl wins? 

The New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers are tied for the most Super Bowl wins with six. 

The Bears and Vikings have combined for just one Super Bowl victory.

The Vikings have made four Super Bowl appearances, but have yet to win a Lombardi Trophy. Minnesota’s last Super Bowl appearance came in Super Bowl XI during the 1976 season.

The Bears have made two Super Bowl appearances, winning Super Bowl XX during the 1985 season. Chicago’s last Super Bowl appearance came in Super Bowl XLI during the 2006 season. The Bears, however, own nine total NFL championships, which is second all-time to the Green Bay Packers (13).

NFL franchises with most Super Bowl wins:

New England Patriots — 6
Pittsburgh Steelers — 6
Dallas Cowboys — 5
San Francisco 49ers — 5
Green Bay Packers — 4
Kansas City Chiefs — 4
New York Giants — 4

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Lots of love shared from one legendary Minnesota Vikings wide receiver to another.

The NFL community has showed an outpouring of support for Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss since he revealed his cancer diagnosis on Friday. Against the Chicago Bears on ‘Monday Night Football,’ Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson became the latest to vocalize his support.

After scoring a touchdown against the Chicago Bears in the first quarter, Jefferson initially did his signature Griddy dance celebration. Once he finished the dance, he found ESPN’s camera, made a heart with his hands and shouted ‘We love you, Randy!’

It’s the latest moment connecting two of the greatest receivers in Vikings history.

Moss and Jefferson have shared several moments throughout the years, including one in which the Hall of Famer told the young star that he made the Pro Bowl in 2022. And four weeks ago, Jefferson surpassed Moss’ franchise mark for most receiving yards by a player over his first five seasons.

All things Vikings: Latest Minnesota Vikings news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

That being the case, it was no surprise that Jefferson made sure to shout out Moss in Minnesota’s first game since the former Viking announced his cancer diagnosis.

Prior to kickoff, Vikings players, as well as Moss’ former teammates Jake Reed and Cris Carter, honored the Pro Football Hall of Famer.

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As the entire football world keeps their eyes on the health of Patrick Mahomes, a big question remains: should he play or sit?

Kansas City Chiefs fans held their breath when they saw their franchise quarterback limp off the filed in the fourth quarter of the win over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday after taking an awkward tackle. People feared the worst, but it wasn’t a season-ending injury after it was reported to be a ‘mild high-ankle sprain.’

The two-time Super Bowl MVP will carry a ‘week-to-week’ injury designation, meaning he could miss out on the Week 16 matchup against the Houston Texans. There has been plenty of chatter of what Mahomes should do this week, especially since Kansas City is in the middle of a stretch that includes three games in 11 days, which the quarterback had said before ‘is not a good feeling.’

Heading into Week 16, the Chiefs are the No. 1 seed in the AFC and have a two game lead over the Buffalo Bills. While it could afford missing Mahomes for a game, Kansas City could also secure the top seed as quick as possible so Mahomes could get extra rest in the final weeks of the regular season.

As Kansas City mulls over what to do, people in the NFL world have already chimed in on what the decision should be.

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

ESPN’s Marcus Spears and Ryan Clark: Mahomes should sit rest of regular season

ESPN analyst and former NFL players Marcus Spears and Ryan Clark both agreed that Mahomes should not only miss this week, but possibly sit out the rest of the regular season.

‘You need to be smart about the way you protect him going down the stretch. We know that the postseason is ahead. Obviously, the Buffalo Bills are nipping at their heels, but it’s more important to me to have a healthy Patrick Mahomes than it is to force our way into home field advantage,’ Clark said.

Spears also said ‘home field advantage don’t mean nothing if he ain’t healthy.’

‘I get it, you might want these home games. If he can’t go or is going to be hampered, sit him down until the playoffs,’ he said.

Matt Ryan: ‘Don’t find any upside’ to playing Mahomes next two weeks

Fellow MVP and former quarterback Matt Ryan said the most important thing is to have Mahomes healthy for the playoffs. He noted Mahomes has dealt with ankle injuries before, but it still isn’t easy to play with in the playoffs.

With Kansas City playing Houston on Saturday and then playing Pittsburgh four days later on Christmas, Ryan said maybe the Chiefs could get Mahomes back in Week 18 so he could ‘get a little rhythm heading into the playoffs.’ But for now, the team can afford to rest him.

‘I’d have no problems about getting him some rest and making sure that he’s healthy, because in my opinion, you got to have him as fresh as possible if you want to make a run towards their third Super Bowl,’ Ryan said. ‘I would be cautious with it though, I really would. I just don’t find any upside to him playing the next two weeks.’

Kyle Brandt: Chiefs should keep Mahomes off the field

‘I’m not even talking about for this week. I’m not talking about Christmas. I also would give them the final week of the regular season and just let it be,’ he said.

If it means the Chiefs don’t get the No. 1 seed and home field advantage, Brandt added Mahomes has proven he can win on the road in the playoffs and can do it again this season. But if he’s hobbled in the postseason, the team’s chances of success aren’t high given the offense hasn’t been explosive this season.

‘The idea of Mahomes at 70%, not this year guys, not with this offense. Not with this offense that never scores much and the AFC is really good. Past years, maybe. I don’t think this Chiefs team can do anything else with other than 100% Mahomes’ Brandt said.

James Jones: Sit out Mahomes Week 16, then see progress on Christmas

Because of the quick turnaround in Week 16 and 17, former NFL receiver James Jones said the decision should be for Mahomes to miss the game against Houston and then reassess the contest vs. Pittsburgh.

‘We’ll see you on Christmas, and we’ll see how you feel, and we’ll get you ready for the game after Christmas,’ Jones said. ‘I want him to be healthy when the playoffs come. They got to be smart with Patrick.’

It’s all right, college football fans. You can admit it. We get you. Most of you are just waiting for the weekend, when the truly meaningful postseason games in the Football Bowl Subdivision will take place. But hey, non-playoff football is still better than no football, right?

The bowl season continues Tuesday night with a single game on the lineup in the Lone Star State. Here’s a quick look at the participating teams, one of which had a mostly enjoyable fall in 2024 while the other is now turning an eye toward the future with a nod to its past.

Frisco Bowl – No. 23 Memphis vs. West Virginia

Time/TV: 9 p.m. ET, ESPN

Why watch: The first ranked team to take the field in the bowl season seeks a second win against power conference competition. The Tigers overcame an early setback against Navy to win six of their last seven, while the Mountaineers will be in the midst of a change in leadership following an uneven Big 12 campaign. Offensive coordinator Chad Scott will coach WVU in the bowl game following Neal Brown’s dismissal. There will at least be a veteran hand at the controls in QB Garrett Greene, though he’ll want to forget his most recent outing quickly in which an interception and lost fumble helped Texas Tech on its way to a 52-15 romp. Another high-octane offense awaits. Memphis puts up over 35 points a game, led by the accomplished triumvirate of QB Seth Henigan, RB Mario Anderson Jr. and WR Roc Taylor.

Why it could disappoint: This has all the makings of a mismatch. There’s some optimism in Morgantown with the pending return of Rich Rodriguez, but fielding a competitive team here with all the portal departures will be difficult.

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Bill Belichick has never coached in college football. North Carolina has never won in college football. In this case, nothing has to give.

But we’ll all be watching. How the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach fares with the Tar Heels will be one of the dominant subplots of the 2025 season, drawing in believers, skeptics, curious bystanders and train-crash enthusiasts to witness whether a coaching style that had grown stale and unwanted in the NFL will be rejuvenated in the transition to the college game.

There is no precedent for this type of move in coaching history — Don Shula didn’t take the Mississippi State job in retirement, Jimmy Johnson didn’t leave the Fox studio for Purdue and Bill Walsh … well, OK, Walsh did take the Stanford job in 1992, four years after handing over the keys to the San Francisco 49ers’ dynasty.

But this was Walsh’s second go-round as the Cardinal’s head coach, following a two-year stint from 1977-78, and Walsh began his coaching career with six seasons as a college assistant. To date, Belichick’s closest brush with college coaching came when he’d attend practice with his father, Steve, a longtime assistant coach and scout at Vanderbilt, UNC and Navy.

Maybe Belichick rediscovers the knack that made him the near-consensus GOAT of NFL head coaches; maybe there’s a reason the league has clearly moved on. An assessment of next season’s new hires is dominated by his arrival in Chapel Hill. Will Belichick find the success that eluded him in the final stages of his NFL career?

Beginning with the cycle’s most logical hires, USA TODAY Sports traveled through next season’s new coaches to evaluate each arrival by immediate fit and the chance for long-term success. As of now, four positions remain unfilled: Jacksonville State, New Mexico, Ohio and Sam Houston State.

1. Rich Rodriguez, West Virginia

Rodriguez returns to his home state 17 years after his abrupt departure for Michigan. Time has healed those wounds. While his three-year run with the Wolverines was a disaster and his largely successful run at Arizona ended in turmoil, Rodriguez proved over three seasons at Jacksonville State that he is uniquely equipped to bring West Virginia back to national prominence.

2. Bronco Mendenhall, Utah State

Mendenhall only spent one season at New Mexico, but nearly leading the Lobos to bowl eligibility in the program’s first five-win season since 2016 showed that there are few more consistently successful coaches in the Bowl Subdivision. There is almost no doubt Mendenhall will win at Utah State, and likely right from the start.

3. Matt Entz, Fresno State

A two-time national champion at North Dakota State, Entz spent last season as an assistant coach at Southern California. Like former Fresno State coach Kalen DeBoer, he brings along an established blueprint and an enviable track record of lower-level success. His predecessor at NDSU, Kansas State coach Chris Klieman, has shown how the program’s ethos can translate seamlessly to the FBS.

4. Barry Odom, Purdue

Purdue will have to be patient as Odom does a bottom-up rebuild of what has in the two seasons since Jeff Brohm’s departure been the worst program in the Power Four. On paper, though, Odom’s experience at Missouri and historic success at UNLV makes him a home-run hire for the Boilermakers. What may ultimately determine his tenure is the direction he takes on offense.

5. Charles Huff, Southern Mississippi

As with Odom and Purdue, the Golden Eagles will need to give Huff time to bring this proud program back to respectability. But Southern Mississippi will be the beneficiary of Huff’s frayed relationship with the Marshall administration. He went 32-20 over four years with the Thundering Herd, capped by this year’s Sun Belt championship.

6. Scott Frost, Central Florida

The other homecoming hire of this cycle finds Frost back in Orlando two years after his disappointing run at Nebraska ended three games into his fifth season. What Frost learned from that experience and ensuing time off the sidelines will determine whether he can recapture the magic from his previous stint with the Knights. Frost remains a gifted offensive mind who will be hungry to rebuild his reputation.

7. Dan Mullen, UNLV

Instead of scrapping over a second-tier Power Four opening, Mullen opted to step into a very strong situation as Odom’s successor at UNLV. The administration has made significant investments in the program and will give Mullen the support he needs to maintain the Rebels’ place near the top of the Mountain West.

8. Bill Belichick, North Carolina

Whether this works depends on how we define what would constitute a successful tenure. If success is measured in bowl bids, there’s no reason to think Belichick can’t continue in Mack Brown’s footsteps and win six or more games beginning in 2025. If the expectations are the College Football Playoff, the odds are low that a 72-year-old coach with no college experience can buck a century of UNC tradition and lead the Tar Heels to the pinnacle of the ACC.

9. Willie Simmons, Florida International

This is a great hire for a program that is desperate for sustainable success. Most recently the running backs coach at Duke, Simmons went 66-24 as the head coach at Prairie View A&M and Florida A&M. He has a proven offensive system and is very dialed into the fertile recruiting bed surrounding the Panthers’ campus.

10. K.C. Keeler, Temple

Keeler resembles Indiana coach Curt Cignetti in one impossible-to-ignore respect: he wins. The former Sam Houston State coach has just four losing seasons in his 31 years as a college head coach, including a pair of Championship Subdivision national titles. Pennsylvania-born and the former head at Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey, a stone’s throw from Philadelphia, Keeler is also deeply familiar with the region.

11. Tim Albin, Charlotte

Albin was ready for a step up the coaching ladder after leading Ohio to a combined 30 wins and a MAC championship in the past three seasons. He’ll take over a program ranked near the bottom of the American Athletic but has the chops to get Charlotte into a bowl game in 2025.

12. Blake Harrell, East Carolina

Starting the season at ECU as defensive coordinator, Harrell earned this promotion after leading the Pirates to four wins in five games and the Military Bowl as the interim coach. He will need to capitalize on this hot start and build some momentum as he continues to learn on the job.

13. Zach Kittley, Florida Atlantic

Kittley’s fast rise up the FBS coaching ranks includes assistant stops at Western Kentucky and Texas Tech. At each step up the ladder, Kittley’s offenses have ranked among the nation’s best. While he’s 33 and has no experience as a head coach, his scheme will help give FAU an identity.

14. Scott Abell, Rice

Abell is a nice fit for Rice given his small-school experience, most recently as the winningest coach in Davidson’s history. That he’s successfully applied his shotgun-based, triple-option offense at similarly academics-focused schools bodes well for his ability to adapt to the uniqueness of winning at Rice.

15. Dowell Loggains, Appalachian State

Loggains was an NFL offensive coordinator at four different stops before spending the past two years at the same position at South Carolina. The Gamecocks’ physical running game could be a nice fit with the Mountaineers, who needed a change in voice and direction after trailing off the past few seasons.

16. Joe Harasymiak, Massachusetts

Harasymiak had a strong three-year run at the head coach at Maine from 2016-18 before leaving to become an assistant at Minnesota and then Rutgers. His defenses at Rutgers weren’t very good, though the Scarlet Knights have reached the postseason the past two years. Knowing the New England landscape is a major bonus.

17. Tony Gibson, Marshall

The Rich Rodriguez disciple was born in West Virginia, played defensive back at Glenville State and spent roughly half of his career as an assistant coach with the Mountaineers. While a first-time head coach, Gibson’s experience and connections to the state make him an interesting fit with the defending Sun Belt champions. Making the right hire at offensive coordinator could make or break his tenure.

18. Matt Drinkall, Central Michigan

Drinkall developed one of the most explosive offenses across all levels of college football as the head coach at Kansas Wesleyan of the NAIA from 2014-18. Since then, he’s risen the ranks under Jeff Monken at Army, spending the past two seasons in charge of the Black Knights’ offensive line. This hire is a relative gamble for CMU that could pay off if Drinkall’s scheme can fit into place.

19. Jerry Mack, Kennesaw State

Mack earned a reputation as an elite recruiter while the running backs coach at Tennessee from 2021-23. But the most important stop during his well-traveled career was four years as the head coach at North Carolina Central from 2014-17, which saw the Eagles go 31-15 overall and 26-6 in MEAC play. As with Simmons at FIU, this HBCU experience is a major advantage for coaches embracing rebuilding projects at lower-tier FBS programs.

20. Mike Uremovich, Ball State

This is a smart hire for Ball State given how Uremovich has turned around two struggling programs on the NAIA and FCS level, most recently posting three winning seasons in a row at Butler. He also has four years of experience as an assistant coach at Northern Illinois. Ball State is an exceedingly difficult place to win, though, and Uremovich will have to prove he can manufacture another turnaround in the MAC.

21. Tre Lamb, Tulsa

Lamb is a perplexing hire given his lack of any FBS experience, general lack of experience overall — the 35-year-old former Tennessee Tech quarterback has only been in coaching for about a decade — and the huge step up the ladder that comes with the leap from being the head coach at East Tennessee State to the American Athletic.

If the NFL season ended this week, Josh Allen would win his first NFL MVP and the Buffalo Bills would finally be Super Bowl champions.

Those are two prevailing feelings after Week 15, which saw the Bills outlast the Detroit Lions — the best team in the NFC — in a 48-42 clash of NFL heavyweights Sunday.

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