The more things change, the more they stay the same, as evidenced by the Week 13 ‘Monday Night Football’ matchup between the New York Giants and New England Patriots.

First, in the micro: The Giants moved on from head coach Brian Daboll following a Week 10 loss to the Chicago Bears, but the wins haven’t been coming despite the changing of the guard. Instead, the Giants have maintained their losing ways, blowing another fourth-quarter lead in Week 12 against the Detroit Lions.

That resulted in the ousting of defensive coordinator Shane Bowen, another critical move during Mike Kafka’s interim tenure. They do return quarterback Jaxson Dart from a concussion, so Giants fans can again get another look at their future while the season circles the drain.

Now, in the macro: the Patriots look like the teams of yesteryear. At 10-2 and Drake Maye seemingly the answer under center, it didn’t take Mike Vrabel long to return New England to its winning ways. Now, with their eyes set firmly on their first AFC East crown since 2019.

Will New York pull off a giant upset? Or will the Patriots continue their ascent up the AFC ladder? USA TODAY Sports will provide highlights, analysis and more from the Week 13 ‘Monday Night Football’ matchup below. All times are Eastern.

Watch ‘Monday Night Football’ all season with Fubo (free trial)

What channel is Patriots vs. Giants on Monday Night Football?

TV channel: ESPN | ESPN2 (Manningcast)

The Week 13 ‘Monday Night Football’ matchup will air on ESPN. Joe Buck and Troy Aikman will be on the call, with Lisa Salters providing sideline updates and reports.

The ‘Manningcast,’ hosted by Peyton and Eli Manning, will air on ESPN2.

What time is Giants at Patriots game tonight?

Start time: 8:15 p.m. ET

The Giants and Patriots are set for an 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff. The Giants travel to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, for the matchup.

Patriots vs. Giants live stream

Live stream:Fubo | ESPN Select | ESPN Unlimited | NFL+

Cord-cutters looking to live stream ‘MNF’ in Week 13 have a few options. Fubo carries the ESPN family of networks, as well as CBS, Fox, ABC and the NFL Network, meaning you’ll be able to catch NFL action all season long with the streaming service. Fubo also offers a free trial.

ESPN Select and ESPN Unlimited, the World Wide Leader’s streaming service, will also carry the game.

Watch ‘Monday Night Football’ all season with Fubo (free trial)

Patriots vs. Giants predictions

Here’s how the expert NFL panel at USA TODAY Sports feels the ‘MNF’ game between the Giants and Patriots will tilt:

Jarrett Bell: Patriots, 28-24
Nick Brinkerhoff: Patriots, 31-23
Chris Bumbaca: Patriots, 30-28
Nate Davis: Patriots, 33-24
Tyler Dragon: Patriots, 30-20
Mike Middlehurst-Schwartz: Patriots, 26-21

Patriots vs. Giants odds, moneyline, O/U

National Football League odds courtesy of BetMGM. Odds updated Sunday at 7:28 a.m. ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub.

Spread favorite: Patriots (-7.5)
Moneyline: Patriots (-375), Giants (+300)
Total: 46.5 points

Patriots inactives vs. Giants

QB Tommy DeVito (emergency third QB)
LG Jared Wilson
S/ST Brenden Schooler
OT Marcus Bryant
OLB Bradyn Swinson
TE CJ Dippre
DT Khyiris Tonga

Giants inactives vs. Patriots

QB Russell Wilson (emergency third QB)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux
WR Jalin Hyatt
ILB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles
CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse
OLB Victor Dimukeje
OT James Hudson III

Patriots vs. Giants injury report

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AFC East standings

The Patriots lead the AFC East standings, but the Bills are still in the hunt for the top spot. Here’s how the AFC East standings look entering ‘Monday Night Football’ in Week 13:

New England Patriots (10-2)
Buffalo Bills (8-4)
Miami Dolphins (5-7)
New York Jets (3-9)

NFC East standings

The Giants are in last place in the NFC East standings.

Philadelphia Eagles (8-4)
Dallas Cowboys (6-5-1)
Washington Commanders (3-9)
New York Giants (2-10)

NFL playoff picture: AFC bracket

Denver Broncos (10-2; AFC West leaders)
New England Patriots (10-2; AFC East leaders)
Jacksonville Jaguars (8-4, AFC South leaders)
Baltimore Ravens (6-6; AFC North leaders)
Los Angeles Chargers (8-4, wild card No. 1)
Indianapolis Colts (8-4; wild card No. 2)
Buffalo Bills (8-4, wild card No. 3)

In the hunt: Houston Texans (7-5); Pittsburgh Steelers (6-6); Kansas City Chiefs (6-6); Miami Dolphins (5-7); Cincinnati Bengals (4-8); New York Jets (3-9); Cleveland Browns (3-9)

Eliminated: Las Vegas Raiders (2-10); Tennessee Titans (1-11)

NFL playoff picture: NFC bracket

Here’s how the NFC playoff bracket looks entering ‘Monday Night Football’ in Week 13:

Chicago Bears (9-3; NFC North leaders)
Los Angeles Rams (9-3; NFC West leaders)
Philadelphia Eagles (8-4; NFC East leaders)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5; NFC South leaders)
Seattle Seahawks (9-3, wild card No. 1)
Green Bay Packers (8-3-1, wild card No. 2)
San Francisco 49ers (9-4, wild card No. 3)

In the hunt: Detroit Lions (7-5); Dallas Cowboys (6-5-1); Carolina Panthers (7-6); Atlanta Falcons (4-8); Minnesota Vikings (4-8); Washington Commanders (3-9)

Eliminated: Arizona Cardinals (3-9), New Orleans Saints (2-10), New York Giants (2-10)

Super Bowl odds 2026

All odds listed are provided by BetMGM Sportsbook on Dec. 1. Access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a complete list.

1. Los Angeles Rams: (+475)
2. Seattle Seahawks: (+850)
3. Philadelphia Eagles: (+900)
T-4. Buffalo Bills: (+1000)
T-4. Green Bay Packers: (+1000)
6. Denver Broncos: (+1100)
7. New England Patriots: (+1200)
8. Indianapolis Colts: (+1400)
T-9. Baltimore Ravens: (+1600)
T-9. Kansas City Chiefs: (+1600)
11. Detroit Lions: (+2000)
12. San Francisco 49ers: (+2500)
T-13. Chicago Bears: (+3000)
T-13. Houston Texans: (+3000)
15. Los Angeles Chargers: (+3500)
T-16. Jacksonville Jaguars: (+4000)
T-16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: (+4000)
18. Dallas Cowboys: (+6000)
19. Pittsburgh Steelers: (+15000)
20. Cincinnati Bengals: (+20000)
21. Carolina Panthers: (+25000)
22. Miami Dolphins: (+75000)
T-23. Atlanta Falcons: (+150000)
T-23. Cleveland Browns: (+150000)
T-23. Minnesota Vikings: (+150000)
T-23. New York Jets: (+150000)
T-23. Washington Commanders: (+150000)

The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season is over. Kyle Larson collected his second Cup Series championship with a third-place finish in Phoenix Raceway to hold off Denny Hamlin.

That’s the last of the drama for the year, right? Wrong.

The biggest off-track story in the sport continues on. 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports’ lawsuit against NASCAR’s governing body has yet to reach a resolution.

The legal battle dates back to October 2024 when NASCAR teams signed the new charter agreement for the 2025 Cup Series season. Now, the case is headed to trial.

Here’s a full timeline of how things got here:

Who owns 23XI Racing, and who are the drivers?

Basketball Hall of Famer Michael Jordan and Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin own 23XI Racing along with longtime Jordan advisor, Curtis Polk. The race team fields three cars in the NASCAR Cup Series. Bubba Wallace drives the No. 23 Toyota, Riley Herbst the No. 35 Toyota, and Tyler Reddick the No. 45 Toyota. Wallace and Reddick qualified for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs but were eliminated from championship contention following the Oct. 5 race at Charlotte Motor Speedway that concluded the second round.

Who owns Front Row Motorsports, and who are the drivers?

Tennessee-based businessman Bob Jenkins, who owns a number of restaurant franchises belonging to Yum! Brands, including many KFC and Taco Bell locations, is the owner of Front Row Motorsports. FRM fields three cars in the NASCAR Cup Series: the No. 4 Ford, driven by Noah Gragson; the No. 34 Ford, driven by Todd Gilliland; and the No. 38 Ford, driven by Zane Smith.

NASCAR lawsuit timeline

Oct. 2, 2024

23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports file antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR’s sanctioning body and CEO Jim France. The lawsuit argues that NASCAR presented a take-it-or-leave-it deal to the teams on Sept. 6, 2024, giving them until 6 p.m. to sign or risk not having a charter for the 2025 Cup Series season.

Both teams say in a statement that NASCAR operates without transparency and unfairly benefits from the sport at the expense of fans, drivers, owners and sponsors.

Nov. 4, 2024

The two sides meet in a courtroom to decide whether or not the two teams can race in 2025 without signing the charter.

Front Row Motorsports and 23XI Racing wanted a clause in the new charter agreement that would waive the prohibition on signees bringing antitrust action against NASCAR, so they could race in 2025. NASCAR argued that the charter was no longer available to 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports because they brought a lawsuit.

Nov. 8, 2024

23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports’ injunction request is denied. Judge Frank Whitney ruled that it was too soon for both teams to meet the standards of harm that would justify the request.

Nov. 26, 2024

23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports file a new preliminary injunction request, providing examples of how both teams could lose their drivers and sponsors without being guaranteed a charter for the 2025 season. Both teams were in the process of gaining a third charter from the downsized Stewart-Haas Racing team for the 2025 season. The new request included those acquisitions as a potential harm done without the injunction.

Dec. 2, 2024

NASCAR motions to dismiss the lawsuit. The sanctioning body argued it is not a monopoly in stock car racing and that NASCAR does not want to work with the two teams because of the suit. NASCAR also indicated it would not allow the two teams to acquire a charter from Stewart-Haas Racing without accepting the new charter agreement.

Dec. 12, 2024

Both teams argue NASCAR backtracked on initial approval for acquiring a charter from Stewart-Haas Racing. NASCAR reiterated its original request to dismiss the lawsuit and stated both teams were now seeking more than what was in previous filings. As such, it should be viewed as a new motion.

Dec. 16, 2024

The teams and NASCAR agree on a Jan. 10 deadline for initial disclosures. NASCAR asked for discovery to be completed by Oct. 17; the two teams asked for that to be completed by July 18.

Dec. 18, 2024

Judge Bell grants 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports their preliminary injunction request.

Bell, who took over on the case in early December from Judge Whitney, rules that both teams can race with their original two charters in 2025 as the lawsuit continues. He cites the possibility of losing drivers as a clear reason to grant the request. Bell also found that NASCAR holds monopoly power in stock car racing.

Dec. 23, 2024

Judge Bell rules that both Front Row Motorsports and 23XI Racing be approved for a third charter acquired from Stewart-Haas Racing but in different ways. NASCAR had to approve Front Row Motorsports’ acquisition, but 23XI Racing had to ask the court specifically for the charter purchase to be approved by NASCAR in a separate motion.

Jan. 10, 2025

Judge Bell denies NASCAR’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit, stating, ‘this case is going to be tried this year, and deserves to be tried this year.’

Bell also denied NASCAR’s motion to have both teams post bond in excess of $10 million for each of their cars. NASCAR had argued for that in case it won the lawsuit and was entitled to damages, but Bell reasoned the sanctioning body could ask for damages at a later date.

Feb. 12, 2025

NASCAR files its appellate brief to the injunction that allows 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports to operate as charter teams while suing NASCAR for antitrust violations.

NASCAR argued that the two teams are not likely to succeed on the merits of the case, reiterating that 13 of 15 teams signed the charter agreement, there are other racing options 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports could join and the NASCAR Cup Series can’t be the defined ‘market’ when it comes to antitrust issues.

March 5, 2025

NASCAR files counterclaim, stating 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports violated antitrust laws during negotiations for a new charter agreement. These claims include that the teams colluded to get better terms, and 23XI Racing co-owner Curtis Polk tried to boycott a qualifying event.

Chris Yates, lead attorney for NASCAR in this case, stated that they believe the two teams misused antitrust laws to force a renegotiation.

March 14, 2025

23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports file response to NASCAR’s brief to appellate court on Feb. 12, which opposed the judge allowing the teams to operate charters while suing NASCAR for antitrust violations.

March 26, 2025

23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports motion to dismiss NASCAR’s March 5 counterclaim, arguing there’s no evidence of an attempted boycott and that teams work together in negotiations, just like in other sports.

April 9, 2025

23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports subpoena Formula 1 as well as NFL, NBA and NHL teams to provide evidence on how other sporting bodies and their teams operate.

May 9, 2025

A three-judge panel hears the appeal by NASCAR to an injunction ruling on Dec. 18, 2024 allowing 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports to race as chartered teams in 2025 while this legal battle plays out.

June 5, 2025

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit rules in favor of NASCAR and revokes the Dec. 18 injunction. The judges note in their ruling that there is no precedent for this case and the teams’ antitrust argument ‘is not supported by any case of which we are aware.’

They also reason that there’s no indication that the teams will likely be successful in their lawsuit.

June 17, 2025

In a hearing for a motion to throw out NASCAR’s counterclaim of collusion, the teams’ attorney, Jeffrey Kessler, outlines the teams are looking for:

NASCAR divestment of racetracks it also owns, currently 20 on the Cup Series calendar
NASCAR to no longer prohibit Cup tracks to run similar stock car races
NASCAR to no longer prohibit Next Gen cars to be used in non-NASCAR events
Insure two teams can compete as chartered teams going forward
Financial damages to be tripled

June 18, 2025

In a new filing for NASCAR’s March 5 counterclaim, NASCAR asks for chartered teams in the Cup Series grid to turn over financial documents, calling some of these ‘critical to NASCAR’s defense.’

June 20, 2025

23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports ask for a rehearing following the June 5 appeals court ruling overturning the injunction, which allowed them to compete as chartered teams during the 2025 season.

June 25, 2025

Judge Bell denies 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports’ motion to dismiss NASCAR’s counterclaim, stating that the sport had done enough to continue its counterclaim. But he also narrowed the amount of financial information other chartered teams had to provide NASCAR.

July 9, 2025

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit hears the two teams’ argument for reversing the June 5 decision, which would revoke their charters during the 2025 season, and denies their request.

July 14, 2025

Ahead of the NASCAR Cup Series race at Dover Motor Speedway, the two teams looked for a potential way to remain chartered and decided on filing for a restraining order and new preliminary injunction.

The teams argued NASCAR informed them they’d ‘immediately move to sell or issue Plaintiffs’ charters to other entities,’ which could keep the teams from getting their charters back.

July 17, 2025

23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports are denied a temporary restraining order to keep NASCAR from revoking their chartered status and are forced to compete as open teams for upcoming races at Dover and Indianapolis. The teams each have had three cars with chartered status this season, but that status expired after the U.S. Court of Appeals reversed an earlier injunction. 

July 22, 2025

Judge Bell sets an Aug. 28 hearing on a new motion from 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsport for an injunction to keep them chartered for 2025. Bell writes in his order that NASCAR has represented to the court that the teams will be guaranteed spots in races and that NASCAR will not sell nor transfer the charters in question until a ruling on the injunction.

Aug. 19, 2025

NASCAR files response to the teams’ motion that they return to chartered status for the rest of the 2025 season. NASCAR states in its filing that it must start the process of selling those charters immediately, and 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports should be forced to return the money awarded to them as chartered teams for the first half of the 2025 season.

Aug. 25, 2025

In filings in advance of an Aug. 28 hearing for a new injunction requested by 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports to retain their charters, NASCAR says it plans to issue a charter to an unnamed team for the 2026 season. The teams said in their own filing that if the charters they had earlier this year are sold, they would shut down ‘following the 2025 Cup Series season.’

The teams’ filing also alludes to ‘smoking-gun documents that admit NASCAR viewed competitive entry as a threat’ and ‘internal NASCAR documents with top executives describing how NASCAR used its monopoly power to impose a one-sided’ charter agreement.

Sept. 3, 2025

Judge Bell denies the preliminary injunction request from 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports seeking to remain chartered teams following an Aug. 28 hearing, ruling they would not suffer irreparable harm.

NASCAR tells the court it won’t change any rules that would keep 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports from missing the final nine races of 2025 and it would leave at least six charters available in case it loses at trial.

Oct. 3, 2025

NASCAR files a motion for summary judgment, making a final attempt to get the case dismissed before the scheduled December 2025 trial. In its motion, NASCAR submits statements from several NASCAR team owners and executives supporting the charter system and urging the litigation be resolved in a way that ‘does not put the sport at risk’ and ‘before any real damage is done to the sport.’

23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports attorney Jeffrey Kessler issues a statement saying the teams are willing to have settlement talks and that the owners’ statements support their case.

Oct. 21, 2025

Judge Bell orders the two sides to work on a settlement conference which begins on the 21st. Two days of settlement talks yield little results.

Oct. 23, 2025

In a big win for 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, Judge Bell throws out NASCAR’s countersuit filed back on March 5. Bell says in his decision that the teams “did not engage in an unreasonable restraint of trade.”

That decision opens the door to the trial only covering the initial lawsuit filed by the two teams.

Nov. 4, 2025

The two teams get another major win as Judge Bell ruled that NASCAR is the market definition of ‘premier stock-car racing.’ Previously, NASCAR had stated the two teams could’ve taken their business to other series if they were unsatisfied with the terms of the charter.

In Judge Bell’s decision, he found that NASCAR controls the market and their argument the teams could go elsewhere is moot.

There’s one more match left for John Cena.

It’s less than two weeks until the wrestling legend will call it a career, as his final match will take place at Saturday Night’s Main Event on Dec. 13. While the wrestling world has been preparing to say goodbye to one of the greatest to do it, his final opponent hasn’t been determined − although it’s getting close to finding out.

To decide it, WWE unveiled the ‘The Last Time is Now’ tournament, with 16-stars competing for the opportunity to be the last person to challenge Cena. The tournament has been going on for nearly a month, and a few names are still standings, just a couple of wins away from taking the prestigious honor.

With the semifinals taking place, here’s what to know for the tournament to determine Cena’s last opponent:

Who is John Cena’s final opponent?

John Cena’s final opponent will be determined through a 16-person tournament.

When is John Cena tournament?

The tournament began on the Monday, Nov. 10 edition of Raw and the semifinals will be on Raw on Dec. 1.

Who is in John Cena tournament?

The 16 stars that made up the tournament will consist of wrestlers from Raw, SmackDown and NXT, as well as some ‘who don’t even work here,’ Cena said. 

Damian Priest 
Rusev 
Sheamus 
Shinsuke Nakamura
The Miz
Jey Uso
LA Knight
Zach Ryder
Je’Von Evans 
Gunther
Solo Sikoa
Dolph Ziggler
Finn Balor
Penta
Bronson Reed
Carmelo Hayes

John Cena tournament bracket

Rusev def. Damian Priest
Sheamus def. Shinsuke Nakamura
Jey Uso def. The Miz
LA Knight def. Zach Ryder
Gunther def. Je’Von Evans
Solo Sikoa def. Dolph Ziggler
Penta def. Finn Balor
Carmelo Hayes def. Bronson Reed

Quarterfinals

Jey Uso def. Rusev
LA Knight def. The Miz (Sheamus out due to injury)
Gunther def. Carmelo Hayes
Solo Sikoa def. Penta

Semifinals

Jey Uso vs. LA Knight (Raw, Dec. 1)
Gunther vs. Solo Sikoa (Raw, Dec. 1)

Final

Jey Uso/LA Knight vs. Gunther/Solo Sikoa (TBD)

When is John Cena’s final match?

Cena’s final match will take place at Saturday Night’s Main Event on Dec. 13 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.

College football’s months-long soap opera drew to a long-awaited close yesterday, with Lane Kiffin announcing he would be leaving Mississippi for SEC rival LSU.

Kiffin became the central figure in a busy and occasionally unpredictable 2025 coaching carousel, with Florida and LSU, as well as his now-former employer, all vying for his services.

Ultimately, he chose the Tigers, who fired Brian Kelly eight games into his fourth season at the school.

Kiffin turned the Rebels into a consistent national power, going 32-6 over the past three seasons. This year, Ole Miss is 11-1, setting a program record for regular season wins, and is widely projected to make the 12-team College Football Playoff field.

To pry Kiffin away from a good situation, LSU had to pay up — to say the least.

According to The Daily Advertiser, part of USA TODAY Co., Kiffin has signed a seven-year deal with the Tigers that’s worth $91 million. Here’s what to know of Kiffin’s reported contract details and salary at LSU:

Lane Kiffin LSU contract, salary details

Length: 7 years
Total contract money: $91 million
Average annual value (AAV): $13 million

Kiffin’s average annual earnings of $13 million will make him one of the highest-paid coaches in college football. Only Georgia’s Kirby Smart, at $13.28 million, made more during the 2024 season, according to USA TODAY Sports’ coaches salary database.

It’s a considerable pay bump from the $9 million Kiffin was making at Ole Miss, which tied him with Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz, Tennessee’s Josh Heupel and Kentucky’s Mark Stoops as the 10th-highest-paid coach in college football.

If Kiffin were to win a national title at LSU, his annual compensation would automatically increase to make him the highest-paid coach in the country.

In perhaps the most interesting twist to the deal, LSU has agreed to pay Kiffin’s postseason bonuses, even though he won’t be coaching Ole Miss in the playoff. That means he could make up to $1 million if the Rebels end up winning the national championship.

Lane Kiffin LSU buyout

If Kiffin were to be fired by LSU without cause while he’s under contract, he would be owed 80% of his remaining salary, according to the term sheet obtained by The Advocate.

That buyout would be paid out in monthly installments for the remainder of the deal. Additionally, it doesn’t include any mitigation or offset clause if Kiffin were to get another job after being fired. The buyout terms are particularly notable after Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry decried lengthy coaching contracts with hefty buyouts in a news conference shortly after Kelly was fired, a move that came with a $54 million buyout.

‘Right now, we’ve got a $53 million liability,’ Landry said. ‘We are not doing that again. And you know what? I believe that we’re going to find a great coach. I may even let President (Donald) Trump pick it. He loves winners. I’m not going to be picking the next coach, but I can promise you, we’re going to pick a coach and we’re going to make sure that coach is successful and we’re going to make sure that he’s compensated properly and we’re going to put metrics on it. Because I’m tired of rewarding failure in this country.”

Lane Kiffin record

Kiffin is 117-53 in 14 years as a college head coach, going 7-6 in one year at Tennessee, 28-15 in four years at USC, 27-13 in three years at Florida Atlantic and 55-19 in six years at Ole Miss.

As the NFL regular season winds down, several teams are beginning to turn their attention toward the offseason. The New York Giants are already there.

Yes, the Giants last week became the first NFL team eliminated from playoff contention. But the organization shifted its focus even earlier with the November firing of head coach Brian Daboll, who went 2-8 in 2025 prior to his dismissal.

In announcing the move, team president and CEO John Mara revealed that general manager Joe Schoen would be retained to lead the search for the next head coach. On one hand, the job should have no shortage of suitors, as promising rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart and a few other staples – including wide receiver Malik Nabers, left tackle Andrew Thomas and defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence – constitute a solid foundation on which the next coach can build. But the Giants have typically skewed toward the familiar in past searches, and it remains to be seen whether the organization will go outside the box this time around.

With Mara having stated his impatience with the franchise’s trajectory, the team would surely pay attention if a sitting head coach with a proven track record were to become available in the next five-plus weeks. But failing that, the Giants will be left to sort through an array of candidates from differing backgrounds.

With all that in mind, here’s an early ranking of the potential coaching candidates for New York based on how viable each looks for the vacancy:

10. Mike Kafka, Giants interim coach

Tasked with seeing out the season, Kafka has made a strong initial impression, including implementing an aggressive game plan that helped the Giants storm to a 10-point lead on the road against a Detroit Lions team that eventually proved too formidable in overtime. But close calls didn’t cut it for Daboll, and they won’t get Kafka the full-time job, either. Interim coaches tend to have an exceedingly difficult time convincing owners to hold off on wider searches, and Kafka’s candidacy will hinge on the entire team showing serious progress in a short amount of time.

9. Antonio Pierce, former Las Vegas Raiders head coach

If Big Blue’s brain trust wants to mine organizational connections with head-coaching experience, it stands to reason that Pierce would be of some interest. A Pro Bowl selection in 2006 who helped lead the team to a Super Bowl 42 title the following year, the former Giants linebacker had plenty of success with the organization during his playing days. He also helped pull the Raiders out of a tailspin when he took over for as interim coach in 2023, though his full-time stint leading the team would last just one year. Maybe he’s not immediately at the top of the list, but it wouldn’t be a surprise for Pierce to at least get an interview.

8. Jesse Minter, Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator

Any franchise seeking a rapid turnaround would be wise to look in Jim Harbaugh’s direction. No, they won’t be prying away the Chargers coach, who managed a six-win improvement and wild-card berth in Year 1 at the helm. But Minter’s stout defenses have been integral to Harbaugh’s success, and the 42-year-old figures to become a fixture of the coaching interview circuit in January. His zone-heavy scheme could cause some whiplash for personnel accustomed to a healthy dose of man coverage, and Los Angeles hasn’t been as consistent as it was a year ago, when the defense surrendered the fewest points of any team. But even if he seems like a long shot, he should be intriguing to an organization that clearly hasn’t gotten the desired return on investment from its defensive talent.

7. Vance Joseph, Denver Broncos defensive coordinator

The vision of a fearsome pass rush keying the Giants’ resurgence never fully came to life, even with Brian Burns enjoying a career year. Joseph, who orchestrates the NFL’s most dominant unit in a Broncos defense on pace to shatter the single-season sack record, could be the right man to get the group going. His two-year run at the helm for Denver didn’t inspire much faith, but he was also left to pay the toll for the franchise’s inability to move on from the Peyton Manning era, particularly at quarterback. A second chance should be in store, even if it doesn’t end up materializing with the Giants.

6. Matt Nagy, Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator

Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith or Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury could also occupy this spot, as the Giants understandably would be interested in an offensive mind with head-coaching experience. But are any of the available options all that enticing? Even with Kansas City’s offense merely scraping by, Nagy might be next in line for another shot at a top job given the pedestrian crop of candidates coming from the offensive coordinator ranks. If the Giants go with him or another option with similar credentials, it will speak volumes about how highly the organization is prioritizing Dart’s development relative to all other factors.

5. Steve Spagnuolo, Chiefs defensive coordinator

If the Giants truly want to turn to the familiar in their moment of need, they could give Spagnuolo a look for a third time. New York brass interviewed the defensive coordinator twice – in 2016 and 2018, following his run as interim head coach after Ben McAdoo’s firing – but opted against giving him the top job both times. A reconsideration seems unlikely given where things stand for the franchise and Spagnuolo, who turns 66 later in December. But he should get another interview, and maybe he’ll get a look as someone who can help get the Giants’ house in order in the short term.

4. Jeff Hafley, Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator

Boston College alumnus John Mara sure has an affinity for his alma mater, and Hafley – who was head coach at the school from 2020-23 – could benefit from his tie-in. But the candidacy of the Montvale, New Jersey, native is about far more than mere connections. His aggressive Green Bay defense could provide a blueprint for Big Blue, especially as it pertains to the utilization of promising rookie pass rusher Abdul Carter, who has drawn comparisons to fellow Penn State product Micah Parsons.

3. Mike McCarthy, former Dallas Cowboys head coach

Sitting out a season might pay off for McCarthy, who could be an attractive option in a pool of candidates with few assurances. He’s certainly a familiar figure to Giants leadership after interviewing with the team in 2020 before joining the rival Cowboys. Given his extensive track record as a head coach, play-caller and quarterback developer, he could present a higher floor than some of the less established alternatives. This, too, might be an enticing on-ramp for the 61-year-old, who is accustomed to having to work around existing infrastructure after his time in Dallas.

2. Lou Anarumo, Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator

After being dumped by the Cincinnati Bengals, Anarumo has breathed new life into a previously stagnant Colts defense. In the process, he’s re-established himself as someone who could receive consideration for his first head-coaching gig. There are certainly strong links to the Giants, where Anarumo served as defensive backs coach in 2018. He also overlapped with Schoen during his six-year run as an assistant with the Miami Dolphins, and his son, Louis, is a pro scout for New York. Anarumo interviewed for the Giants’ vacancy in 2022 amid the Bengals’ Super Bowl run, and perhaps now the timing could be right for the partnership to come together.

1. Chris Shula, Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator

The grandson of legendary former coach Don Shula would certainly fit in well with a franchise that’s long on legacy. But Shula has made a name for himself this season, becoming arguably the hottest assistant coach thanks to his work guiding a defense that ranks 31st in overall spending, according to Over The Cap. Plucking the next big name from the Sean McVay coaching tree might be appealing to Mara and Schoen, even though the 39-year-old is greener than some of the other options and lacks head-coaching experience. But his work developing young talent could push him to the top of the list, and the possibility that he could bring along some McVay-minded assistants for his offensive staff could help assuage any concerns about going the defensive route.

Nau’Jour Grainger, better known as rapper Toosii, announced on social media he will suit up to play for the Orange.

Grainger is from Syracuse and played high school football in North Carolina before embarking on his music career. His hit 2023 song, ‘Favorite Song,’ went double platinum and topped at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. He has 4.5 million followers on Instagram and 3.9 million monthly listeners on Spotify.

In the summer, Grainger posted on social media he was pursuing a chance to play college football and pausing his music career.

‘I’m chasing history first multi-platinum recording artist to go back to school and play Division I football,’ he wrote in August. ‘Next year I’m gonna be on somebody’s team mark my words.’

Since then, the 25-year-old has posted videos of him working out, along with taking recruiting visits to Duke, Maryland and Sacramento State. It led to his announcement to play for his hometown university, which he said he decided after receiving a call from Syracuse coach Fran Brown.

‘To be born in Syracuse and move to North Carolina at age 12 and haven’t been back since. When Coach Fran called, I knew it was a sign from God. So with that being said, Cuse I’m coming home,’ he said.

Grainger is listed as a receiver on recruiting site Rivals and is part of the 2026 recruiting class. When asked by USA TODAY Sports for more information, Syracuse said it could not comment on prospective student-athletes due to NCAA rules.

The Orange finished the 2025 season with a 3-9 record and went 1-7 in ACC play, finishing last in the conference. Syracuse currently is ranked No. 26 in the 2026 recruiting class, according to 247Sports. Grainger is not listed on the site.

Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers hope to keep the good times rolling as they welcome the Phoenix Suns to downtown for a Monday night game on Peacock.

The Lakers enter Monday with a nice little seven-game winning streak, which started back on Nov. 14 in a win over the Pelicans. They sit just four games behind the Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder.

Phoenix enters this away game as winners of six of their last 10 games and sits four games behind L.A. in the Pacific Division.

Notable on the injury report, LeBron James (foot) and Deandre Ayton (right knee) are both game-time decisions. Isaiah Livers, Ryan Dunn and Jalen Green are all listed as out for Phoenix.

Here is how to watch this Western Conference showdown on Monday night.

What time is Suns vs. Lakers?

The Los Angeles Lakers will host the Phoenix Suns in a regular season game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. The game is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET.

How to watch Phoenix Suns vs. Los Angeles Lakers

Time: 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT
Location: Crypto.com Arena (Los Angeles)
TV: Spectrum SportsNet (Los Angeles), Arizona’s Family 3TV (Phoenix)
Stream: Peacock

Watch the Lakers take on the Suns with Peacock

A chaotic coaching carousel saw schools miss out on their top choices and pivot to other candidates.
Lane Kiffin left Ole Miss for rival LSU, prompting outrage from Mississippi fans.
Florida, Auburn, and Arkansas all hired new coaches from the American Athletic Conference.

If you’ve never been to the University-Oxford Airport, you’re not missing much. Small place, one building, looks like a bank.

So small, in fact, that you can yell from the fence line outside the airstrip, and if the props or small jet engines aren’t whirling, it’s not that difficult to hear it all.

Especially the four-letter words. 

Welcome, everyone, to coaching searches in the SEC. Where things aren’t just different, they’re downright nasty. 

Because when your school’s football coach leaves for one of your rival schools in the conference — in the middle of the greatest season in Mississippi history, no less — well, that just won’t stand. So you line up six or seven deep behind a chain-link fence, at a tiny airport that serves the Norman Rockwell painting of a bucolic southern town, and yell obscenities just as loud as you can to anyone remotely associated with formerly beloved coach Lane Kiffin. 

His kids, his brother, his ex-wife. And then, of course, for the man at the center of the cratered world where you now suffer. 

Listen closely, and hear one tortured soul scream, “You absolute scum of the earth” when Kiffin exits a black SUV and walks toward a private jet set to whisk him off to the safety of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Until he loses his first game as the LSU coach, that is.

But no, we’re not done yet. This beast is always hungry and never satiated.

Even when eating its own.

Let me introduce the fan bases of Florida, Auburn and Arkansas, three programs who believe in their heart of hearts that they’re truly something. When they’re really not — or haven’t been in years.

Follow along on this strange trip of three schools hiring three different coaches from the American Conference — apparently the new training ground for the SEC — and all three fan bases puking at the very thought of the three men now set to run the show. 

Florida fans desperately wanted Kiffin, especially after the previous four swings at replacing Urban Meyer fell about as flat as Paynes Prairie, the ecological wonder that sits just outside Gainesville city limits. Or right about where the Jon Sumrall hire sits with the rabid Gator Nation.

Auburn, meanwhile, desperately wanted Sumrall, whose coaching career in the Group of Five conferences closely resembles that of Billy Napier’s before Florida blew four years on him. No matter, Auburn offered him the gig, promised to do whatever it took, and was turned down at the last moment — when it was clear Florida had lost out on the Kiffin sweepstakes, and was looking for a backup plan. 

Hey, everybody needs a backup plan, right?

So Auburn — this is just so juicy — hired South Florida coach Alex Golesh, who had arguably the best Group of Five job with the most powerful NIL collective in the G5 (I see you, Fowler Avenue Collective), and didn’t come close to winning the American. He did, however, beat Florida in Gainesville this season. 

Although to be fair, that wasn’t exactly a heavy lift with Napier leading the charge.

Arkansas, meanwhile, had its sights on Golesh, and nearly had a deal before negotiations stalled earlier this Thanksgiving weekend while some i’s needed dotted and t’s needed crossing — and the next thing you know, Auburn needs a coach because it lost out on Sumrall. 

So Golesh pulls back from Arkansas, and says hello to the Loveliest Village on the Plain. Until he loses his first game, that is. 

Back at Florida, the fan base was losing its mind over losing out on Kiffin. Because had athletic director Scott Stricklin fired Napier last season when Napier should’ve been fired, he could’ve had Kiffin without a fight — and for much cheaper than the reported $12 million annually Kiffin was currently fetching this time around.

He who waits, ends up begging glorious heroes of the past to help make it right. Or something like that. 

In a mater of an hour after hiring Sumrall, Florida had public declarations from Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer about Sumrall, and his ability to lead the Gators back from nearly two decades in the college football hinterlands. Even Danny Wonderful himself, Gators legendary quarterback Danny Wuerffel, implored all Gators to get behind Sumrall and support him as he leads the program in the most competitive conference in all of college football.

Then there’s this overwhelming irony: if Napier is fired last season, none of this crazy happens. Florida has Kiffin, Ole Miss has Pete Golding one season earlier than it does now, and LSU probably doesn’t even fire Brian Kelly and pay him the second-largest buyout in the history of the sport.

Auburn gets Sumrall, Golesh does’t beat Florida in Gainesville with Kiffin coaching the Gators, and stays at South Florida to enjoy a new stadium and a growing NIL beast. And Arkansas eventually finds its way to Silverfield.

Easy breezy.

The only school that got its first choice this time around was LSU, which flew into University-Oxford airport as soon as Kiffin called and said it’s time to get, and flew out with its high-stakes booty just as fast as humanly possible — a trail of four letter words in its wake. 

Welcome to the SEC, everyone. Where it’s downright nasty.

Without a ball being snapped. 

Georgia and Oregon have moved into the top four of the latest NCAA Re-Rank.
Virginia and Arizona climbed in the rankings after significant rivalry wins.
Five teams from the Group of Five conferences are ranked within the top 25.

Georgia is up to No. 3 and Oregon to No. 4 after both capped the regular season with rivalry wins. The Bulldogs smothered Georgia Tech and the Ducks did the same to Washington.

The Aggies are down two spots to No. 5 after losing 27-17 to Texas. The Longhorns move up one spot to No. 14 as the highest-ranked three-loss team.

Teams climbing in the rankings include No. 16 Virginia, up three after beating Virginia Tech to clinch a spot in the ACC championship game, and No. 21 Arizona, which is up eight spots after winning the Territorial Cup against Arizona State.

The Wildcats’ rise gives the Big 12 four teams in the top 25. Ahead of Arizona are No. 6 Texas Tech, No. 11 Brigham Young and No. 15 Utah.

No. 20 Michigan dropped four spots after losing to No. 1 Ohio State. The Big Ten has five teams in the top 20 and three of the top four in the Buckeyes, No. 2 Indiana and Oregon.

There are five Group of Five teams in the top 25, led by No. 17 Tulane and No. 18 North Texas. The two are set to meet this weekend in the American championship game to decide which Group of Five conference winner goes to the College Football Playoff.

Joining the Green Wave and Mean Green are No. 22 James Madison, No. 23 Navy and No. 25 UNLV.