Carter, the 39th president of the United States, died Sunday in Plains, Georgia. He was 100.

While governor of Georgia in the 1970s, Carter attended races at Atlanta Motor Speedway and hosted racers at the governor’s mansion. In the previous decade, he had worked speedway events as a ticket vendor.

Upon running for president in 1976, he pledged to bring NASCAR to the White House for dinner if elected.

But when the dinner bell eventually rang, in the summer of 1978, Carter was at the Camp David presidential retreat, where he was working on a breakthrough peace accord with Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat.

In the president’s absence, First Lady Rosalynn Carter hosted the NASCAR contingent, which included many drivers, including Hall of Famers Cale Yarborough, David Pearson and Benny Parsons, as well as NASCAR leaders Bill France Jr. and Sr.

The night was capped off with a Willie Nelson concert. And no, this wasn’t Willie’s high-rollin’ White House visit – it wasn’t until two years later that Nelson famously joined Carter’s son Chip atop the White House roof and smoked weed. Carter and his son confirmed the widely shared rumor in ‘Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President,’ a documentary released in 2020.

After serving a single term in the White House, Carter, the onetime peanut farmer and Navy submariner, became among the most durable figures in modern American politics. 

Evicted from the White House at age 56, he would hold the status of former president longer than anyone in American history, and in 2019 he surpassed the late George H. W. Bush as the nation’s oldest living ex-president. 

He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, 22 years after he had left the White House.

In the final weeks of the NFL regular season, chaos reigns supreme.

There are playoff spots on the line. Clinching scenarios in bulk. Potential eliminations among many other pressing topics.

Don’t forget one other thing that can sometimes get lost in the shuffle though. The NFL draft might be months away, but we’re just about ready to set the order for those festivities on the final weekend in April.

With their fans eyeing the top pick, the Giants delivered their fans a belated lump of coal following their first home win of the season. New York has dropped out of the No. 1 spot, giving the Patriots the inside track heading into Week 18.

Wins from the Raiders and Jaguars only added to the chaos in the early window. Adjust those mock drafts accordingly. We’re in for a wild ride to the finish.

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

The Week 17 schedule set the table for a shake-up at the top of the order and that’s exactly what happened. Here’s where we stand heading into Week 18.

2025 NFL draft order

Here’s how the draft order shakes out after Sunday’s early window in Week 17, according to Tankathon.com:

New England Patriots: 3-13 record; .465 strength of schedule
Tennessee Titans: 3-13; .509 SOS
New York Giants: 3-13; .551 SOS
Cleveland Browns: 3-12; .537 SOS
Jacksonville Jaguars: 4-12; .472 SOS
New York Jets: 4-12; .496 SOS
Carolina Panthers: 4-12; .498 SOS
Las Vegas Raiders: 4-12; .546 SOS
Chicago Bears: 4-12; .553 SOS
New Orleans Saints: 5-11; .513 SOS
San Francisco 49ers: 6-9; .563 SOS
Indianapolis Colts: 7-9; .455 SOS
Dallas Cowboys: 7-9; .519 SOS
Arizona Cardinals: 7-9; .536 SOS
Miami Dolphins: 7-8; .420 SOS
Cincinnati Bengals: 8-8; .480 SOS
Atlanta Falcons: 8-7; .515 SOS
Seattle Seahawks: 9-7; .506 SOS
Houston Texans: 9-7; .481 SOS
Denver Broncos: 9-7; .504 SOS
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 9-7; .506 SOS
Los Angeles Chargers: 10-6; .470 SOS
Los Angeles Rams: 10-6; .504 SOS
Washington Commanders: 10-5; .437 SOS
Pittsburgh Steelers: 10-6; .500 SOS
Baltimore Ravens: 11-5; .535 SOS
Green Bay Packers: 11-4; .526 SOS
Philadelphia Eagles: 13-3; .461 SOS
Buffalo Bills: 13-3; .455 SOS
Minnesota Vikings: 13-2; .474 SOS
Detroit Lions: 13-2; .524 SOS
Kansas City Chiefs: 15-1; .491 SOS

2025 NFL draft: Who are the top prospects?

Below is a look at the consensus top 40 prospects in the 2025 NFL draft as of mid-December, per USA TODAY Sports’ Ayrton Ostly:

Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
Will Campbell, OL, LSU
Jalon Walker, LB/EDGE, Georgia
Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M
Cam Ward, QB, Miami
Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee
Kelvin Banks Jr., OL, Texas
Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame
Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss
Tyleik Williams, DT, Ohio State
Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina
Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama
Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina
Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
Tre Harris, WR, Ole Miss
Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
Aireontae Ersery, OL, Minnesota
Isaiah Bond, WR, Texas
Elic Ayomanor, WR, Stanford
Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
Landon Jackson, EDGE, Arkansas
Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa
JT Tuimoloau, EDGE, Ohio State
Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky
Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
Wyatt Milum, OL, West Virginia
Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
Jonah Savaiinaea, OL, Arizona
Derrick Harmon, DL, Oregon

The Las Vegas Raiders tight end on Sunday broke Mike Ditka’s record for single-season receiving yards by a rookie tight end (1,076), which the Pro Football Hall of Famer set in 1961 with the Chicago Bears. Bowers eclipsed the mark with a 13-yard catch late in the second quarter of a 25-10 win against the New Orleans Saints.

He finished the day with seven catches for 77 yards.

In the third quarter, Bowers also surpassed the single-season rookie receptions record set by Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (105) last year.

Bowers, the No. 13 overall pick of the 2024 NFL draft out of Georgia, already set the single-season record for receptions by a rookie tight end earlier in December. He entered the day with 101 catches for 1,067 yards and four touchdowns.

All things Raiders: Latest Las Vegas Raiders news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

The two-time Mackey Award winner has been one of the lone bright spots this season for the Raiders, who traded away star wide receiver Davante Adams and endured a 10-game losing streak.

This story has been updated with new information.

At least one side of the NFL playoff picture will remain unresolved heading into Week 18, with several teams all vying for the AFC field’s last opening. The NFC, however, could have all its entrants set once Week 17 is wrapped up.

Two of the last berths in the conference hinge on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers losing to the Carolina Panthers, as the result would clinch at least a wild-card spot for the Washington Commanders. That outcome would also open the window for the Atlanta Falcons to seal the NFC South with a win over the Commanders on ‘Sunday Night Football.’ Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Rams could take home the NFC West title and avoid a winner-take-all bout against the Seattle Seahawks for the division crown in Week 18, but only if several results go their way to confer a strength-of-victory tiebreaker. And while the top seed in the conference is still up for grabs, the Detroit Lions could claim it with both a win Monday night over the San Francisco 49ers and a Minnesota Vikings loss Sunday to the Green Bay Packers.

Here are all the clinching scenarios still on the table for Week 17 entering Sunday:

Detroit Lions

Clinch NFC North and NFC’s No. 1 seed (first-round bye and home-field advantage) with:

Win + Vikings loss

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

Atlanta Falcons

Clinch NFC South with:

Win + Buccaneers loss

Philadelphia Eagles

Clinch NFC East with:

Win or tie
Commanders loss or tie

Los Angeles Rams

Clinch NFC West with:

Strength-of-victory tiebreaker over Seahawks with 2½ or more wins from the following teams: Bills, Browns, Vikings, 49ers and Commanders. A tie equates to a half-win in this formula.

Washington Commanders

Clinch playoff berth with:

Win or tie
Buccaneers loss or tie

NFL teams that have already clinched playoff berths

Buffalo Bills: AFC East
Houston Texans: AFC South
Kansas City Chiefs: No. 1 seed and home-field advantage, AFC West
Baltimore Ravens: Playoff berth
Los Angeles Chargers: Playoff berth
Pittsburgh Steelers: Playoff berth
Detroit Lions: Playoff berth
Green Bay Packers: Playoff berth
Minnesota Vikings: Playoff berth
Philadelphia Eagles: Playoff berth

This story has been updated with new information.

While most of the top transfer portal players have committed or signed to their next college football programs, there are still numerous blue-chip players available.

The transfer portal closed on Saturday, which means players can no longer enter. However, players already in the transfer portal can decide when to sign with their next program whenever, although most will want to be on campus for the start of the spring semester.

There’s also another transfer portal window in the spring, which allows players to enter from April 16-25.

Most of the top-ranked transfer portal prospects like Washington State quarterback John Mateer, Georgia Tec receiver Eric Singleton Jr. and Florida State edge rusher Patrick Payton have already committed to their next stop, heading to Oklahoma, Auburn and LSU, respectively.

Here are the best remaining players in the transfer portal after the portal closed on Saturday:

Best remaining in transfer portal

Here are the top 10 uncommitted players currently in the transfer portal:

1. WR Zachariah Branch, USC (4-star)

Branch, a sophomore in 2024, caught 47 passes for 503 yards with a touchdown. The former 5-star recruit had 31 receptions for 320 yards with two touchdowns in 2023, also returning a punt and a kickoff for a touchdown.

Branch is one of the best specialists in college football, and one of the most explosive receivers available.

2. DB Tacario Davis, Arizona (4-star)

Davis, who has two seasons of eligibility remaining, is the No. 14-ranked transfer portal prospect, according to 247Sports’ rankings. He finished the 2024 season with 43 total tackles and six pass deflections.

The second team All-Big 12 selection in 2024 has started 23 games in his career.

3. WR KC Conception, NC State (4-star)

Note: Concepcion committed to Texas A&M on Sunday

Conception was one of the first players to hit the transfer portal, announcing his intentions to enter on Dec. 1.

Conception caught 53 passes for 460 yards with six touchdowns in NC State’s struggling offense in 2024 after finishing with 71 receptions for 839 yards with 10 touchdowns as a freshman.

The 2023 ACC Freshman of the Year has garnered interest from a number of high-profile programs, even taking visits to Alabama, Texas A&M, Colorado and Miami. On3 reported Concepcion will visit North Carolina on Jan. 1 after the current recruiting dead period ends.

4. OT Fa’alili Fa’amoe, Washington State (4-star)

Fa’amoe entered the transfer portal on Dec. 16 and instantly became one of the most sought-after players available. Good offensive linemen don’t grow on trees in the transfer portal.

Fa’amoe, who transitioned from defensive line to offensive line ahead of the 2022 season, transformed his body to start 26 games over three seasons at Washington State. He missed three games due to injury in 2024 before resuming his starting role later in the season.

5. DL David Gusta, Washington State (4-star)

Not the first and not the last Washington State player to appear on the list, Gusta entered the transfer portal on Dec. 19 following former Cougars coach Jake Dickert leaving for the Wake Forest job.

Gusta, a 6-foot-3, 302-pound interior defensive lineman, brings loads of experience to his next program as a full-time starter the past two seasons at Washington State.

Gusta is the No. 24 overall player and No. 3 defensive lineman in the portal, according to 247Sports’ rankings. He finished the 2024 season with 21 total tackles and a sack and has one season of eligibility remaining.

Here’s a list of the remaining top 10 uncommitted prospects in the transfer portal:

6.Edge rusher Mi’Quise Grace, South Dakota: 4-star, No. 62 overall
7. Edge rusher Marvin Jones Jr., Florida State: 4-star, No. 73 overall
8. DL Travis Shaw, North Carolina: 3-star, No. 116 overall
9. CB Ethan O’Connor, Washington State: 3-star, No. 119 overall
10.Edge rusher Jayson Jenkins, Tennessee: 3-star, No. 120 overall

Transfer portal rankings 2025

Rankings courtesy of 247Sports

Here are the top 10 ranked transfer portal players after the 2024 season, regardless of being committed or not:

Washington State QB John Mateer, committed to Oklahoma
Florida State edge rusher Patrick Payton, committed to LSU
Georgia Tech WR Eric Singleton Jr., committed to Auburn
USC WR Zachariah Branch, uncommitted
USC TE Duce Robinson, committed to Florida State
Florida State QB Luke Kromenhoek, committed to Mississippi State
Nebraska edge rusher Princewill Umanmielen, committed to Ole Miss
Illinois State OL Hunter Zambrano, committed to Texas Tech
Arkansas OL Patrick Kutas, committed to Ole Miss
Kentucky WR Dane Key, committed to Nebraska

Finland handed the defending champion United States its first loss at the 2025 world junior hockey championship as Tuomas Uronen scored in overtime for a 4-3 win on Sunday afternoon.

Finnish goalie Petteri Rimpinen had made several big saves early in overtime but when U.S. defender Cole Hutson lost his balance, Uronen led a 3-on-2 break down the ice. He kept the puck and wristed a shot that went in off the glove of Trey Augustine (40 saves).

The USA (2-0-1-0) still leads Group A with seven points with Canada also able to reach seven points if it beats Germany in regulation Sunday night. Canada and the USA play on New Year’s Eve.

The Americans, who were unbeaten during last year’s gold-medal run, have brought back 10 players and coach David Carle this year. The tournament features the world’s best under-20 players, including drafted and draft-eligible NHL prospects.

Here’s what to know about the Dec. 26-Jan. 5 world junior championships:

How to watch the world junior championships

The games will be aired on NHL Network in the United States and on TSN in Canada.

Team USA world junior championships results, schedule

Dec. 26: United States 10, Germany 4. James Hagens had two goals and two assists and Cole Hutson had five assists. Hagens opened the scoring in the first period and put the USA back ahead by two goals after Germany had pulled to within 3-2 in the second period. The USA outshot Germany 56-22.

Dec. 28: United States 5, Latvia 1. Danny Nelson scored two goals, including 1:58 into the first period. The USA got goals from Ryan Leonard, Zeev Buium and Nelson in the second period to pull away. James Hagens continued his strong start to the tournament with two assists and Max Plante scored the fifth U.S. goal. Latvia’s Daniels Serkins drew cheers after blocking three Cole Eiserman shots on a U.S. power play.

Dec. 29: Finland 4, United States 3 (OT). The USA, playing on back-to-back days, fell behind for the first time in the tournament when Finland scored short-handed in the first period. Though Carey Terrance and Cole Hutson put the Americans ahead 2-1, Finland led 3-2 heading into the third period. Brodie Ziemer tied the game at 3:26 but the USA wasn’t able to beat Petteri Rimpinen (30 saves) again and Vegas Golden Knights draft pick Tuomas Uronen won it at 1:46 of overtime.

Dec. 31: United States vs. Canada, 8, NHLN, TSN

World junior championships Team USA roster

The 25-player U.S. team (14 forwards, eight defenseman and three goaltenders) features six NHL first-round picks, eight second-round picks and eight others drafted in other rounds. Twenty-two of the players are on college hockey teams.

Goaltenders

Number, player, team

*-played on last year’s team

1 Trey Augustine, Michigan State*
30 Hampton Slukynsky, Western Michigan
31 Sam Hillebrandt, Barrie Colts*

Defensemen

Number, player, team

3 Logan Hensler, Wisconsin
4 Colin Ralph, St. Cloud State
5 Drew Fortescue, Boston College*
6 Adam Kleber, Minnesota Duluth
14 Aram Minnetian, Boston College*
16 Paul Fischer, Notre Dame
24 Cole Hutson, Boston University
28 Zeev Buium, University of Denver*

Forwards

Number, player, team

2 Teddy Stiga, Boston College
8 Brandon Svoboda, Boston University
9 Ryan Leonard, Boston College*
10 Carey Terrance, Erie Otters*
11 Oliver Moore, University of Minnesota*
12 James Hagens, Boston College
17 Danny Nelson, Notre Dame*
19 Trevor Connelly, Providence College
20 Joey Willis, Saginaw Spirit
22 Max Plante, Minnesota Duluth
23 Austin Burnevik, St. Cloud State
34 Gabe Perreault, Boston College*
74 Brodie Ziemer, University of Minnesota
91 Cole Eiserman, Boston University

2025 draft eligible players to watch

Team USA’s James Hagens was listed among Central Scouting’s early season top prospects to watch and could go No. 1 overall in the 2025 NHL draft. He has 20 points in 16 Boston College games and is playing at this tournament with college linemates Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault.

Other A-rated skaters at this tournament include USA defenseman Logan Hensler, Canada forward Porter Martone and Canada defenseman Matthew Schaefer. Schaefer will miss the rest of the tournament after crashing into the net during his team’s loss to Latvia.

Forward Victor Eklund, brother of the San Jose Sharks’ William Eklund, is playing for Sweden.

World junior championships schedule, scores

The USA is in Group A with Canada, Finland, Germany and Latvia. Group B features Czechia, Kazakhstan, Slovakia, Sweden and Switzerland.

All times p.m. ET

Dec. 26

Sweden 5, Slovakia 2
United States 10, Germany 4
Czechia 5, Switzerland 1
Canada 4, Finland 0

Dec. 27

Slovakia 2, Switzerland 1
Finland 3, Germany 1
Sweden 8, Kazakhstan 1
Latvia 3, Canada 2 (SO)

Dec. 28

Czechia 14, Kazakhstan 2
United States 5, Latvia 1

Dec. 29

Sweden 7, Switzerland 5
Finland 4, United States 3 (OT)
Slovakia vs. Czechia, 5 ET, NHLN, TSN
Germany vs. Canada, 7:30, NHLN, TSN

Dec. 30

Kazakhstan vs. Slovakia, 1 ET, NHLN, TSN
Latvia vs. Germany, 3:30, NHLN, TSN

Dec. 31

Switzerland vs. Kazakhstan, noon, NHLN, TSN
Latvia vs. Finland, 2:30, TSN4. NHLN will air at 3:30 on Jan. 1
Czechia vs. Sweden, 5, NHLN, TSN
United States vs. Canada, 8, NHLN, TSN

Jan. 2

Quarterfinal 1, noon, NHLN, TSN
Quarterfinal 2, 2:30, NHLN, TSN3, TSN4, TSN5
Quarterfinal 3, 5, NHLN, TSN
Quarterfinal 4, 7:30, NHLN, TSN

Jan. 4

Semifinal 1 3:30 p.m. ET; NHLN, TSN
Semifinal 2 7:30 p.m. ET; NHLN, TSN

Jan. 5

Third-place game, 3:30, NHLN, TSN
Championship game, 7:30, NHLN, TSN

This story has been updated to add new information.

Jake Paul and Conor McGregor are two of the biggest names in combat sports today, so it’s only logical for fight fans to wonder what it would take to get them into the ring together.

That possibility has already been floated by an ESPN boxing reporter, who last week cited unnamed sources suggesting a Paul-McGregor bout could take place next summer in India.

After his much-publicized victory over Mike Tyson last month, Paul called out McGregor on social media, proposing they meet in an MMA bout.

Meanwhile, McGregor has said he is delaying his return to the Octagon until after he takes part in an exhibition boxing match against Paul’s brother Logan Paul.

When does Jake Paul fight Conor McGregor?

There is no set agreement or a date set yet for a potential fight between Jake Paul and Conor McGregor.

ESPN reporter Salvador Rodriguez, citing unnamed sources, posted Dec. 23 on X that a bout is ‘on the table’ for July, August or September 2025 in India.

What has Jake Paul said about fighting Conor McGregor?

Even before the ESPN report surfaced, Paul responded to apparent overtures from McGregor’s camp about a bout.

In a Dec. 17 post on X, Paul said McGregor and his team ‘have been desperately trying to get MVP (Bellator star Michael ‘Venom’ Page) to negotiate a fight between us.’

But Paul said the only way he’d be willing to discuss the possibility would be if Dana White and the UFC are part of the negotiations.

Jake Paul’s last fight

Paul, 27, won a unanimous decision last month over 58-year-old Mike Tyson in Arlington, Texas.

The win improved Paul’s career boxing record to 11-1.

Conor McGregor’s last fight

McGregor, 36, has not had a UFC bout since suffering a broken leg in a loss to Dustin Poirier in 2021. He has won only one MMA fight in eight years and has an 0-1 record as a boxer, losing to Floyd Mayweather by TKO in 2017.

The ending of Saturday’s Military Bowl between NC State and East Carolina erupted into a fight in the game’s final minute.

With the Pirates looking to kneel out a 26-21 win over the Wolfpack, ECU freshman receiver Yannick Smith grabbed a towel off of NC State nickelback Tamarcus Cooley. The NC State defensive back went after Smith, trying to get the towel back, eventually pushing the receiver over, prompting ECU tight end Casey Kelly to push Cooley off of Smith.

Players and staff from both teams showed up, appearing to attempt to diffuse the situation. However, a fight quickly broke out, with several players appearing to throw punches.

Both teams were called for unsportsmanlike conduct, and each saw players get ejected: three players for ECU and five players for NC State. The fight also led to umpire Rod Tucker (per Football Zebras) receiving a gash under his left eye, which required medical attention on the field.

It remained second down, and ECU eventually finished the game with a 26-21 win. The Pirates and Wolfpack open their respective 2025 college football seasons against each other on Saturday, Aug. 30, in Raleigh.