Less than a week from now, the women’s college basketball regular season will come to a conclusion and conference tournament brackets will be finalized.

It’s the first, of many reminders, that March Madness is just around the corner.

But until then, teams around the country will clash against each other in the final games of the regular season in hopes of either keeping their current projected seeding line alive or making up some late season ground.

Two top-15 matchups between teams from the latest USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll are taking place this weekend. But there are also highly anticipated matchups taking place around the country over the next three days — some of which may be well-known by avid women’s basketball fans that have been following the season since November — making for an action-packed weekend of hoops.

Here’s our Starting Five for the weekend’s best games in women’s college basketball:

No. 1 Notre Dame at No. 12 NC State

Time/TV: Sunday, noon ET, ESPN (Fubo)

The Sunday headliner is also the biggest game of the entire weekend between No. 1 Notre Dame and No. 12 NC State — two top 15 teams that are legitimate Final Four contenders. At the start of the week, this game was gearing up to be a pivotal game for first place in the ACC but with NC State’s loss to No. 10 North Carolina earlier this week those implications have lessened a bit. Led by National Player of the Year candidate Hannah Hidalgo, the Irish have been one of the hottest teams in the entire country since the start of December, highlighted by their 19-game win streak and undefeated 15-0 mark in ACC play. If NC State wants to play spoiler to Notre Dame’s dreams of ending the ACC regular season undefeated and move closer in the league standings, it will need to do so by limiting the amount of fast break points by the Irish. The Wolfpack will also need to find a way to give the ball to Aziaha James, who Notre Dame will surely try to double team and limit her production to a minimum.

No. 17 West Virginia at No. 9 TCU

Time/TV: Sunday, noon ET, ESPN2 (Fubo)

There will also be conference tournament seeding implications in play in the Big 12 on Sunday, as No. 17 West Virginia travels to No. 9 TCU. Things have turned the corner for the Mountaineers in the last month, as they’ve won five of their last six since getting upset by unranked Arizona on Jan. 25 — a stretch that has West Virginia just three games back of TCU in the Big 12 standings. TCU is in the midst of one of its best seasons in the last handful of years, thanks to the trio of Sedona Prince, Hailey Van Lith and Madison Conner. The Horned Frogs are coming off a 82-66 rout of Arizona State on Wednesday, where Conner scored all her 22 points in the second half. Expect a close one here.

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No. 3 UCLA at Iowa

Time/TV: Sunday, 2 p.m. ET, Peacock

Lauren Betts and No. 3 UCLA travel to Carver-Hawkeye Arena for the first time as a member of the Big Ten to take on Iowa. The Bruins have bounced back from their loss last week to USC with back-to-back top 25 wins over Michigan State and Illinois, while the Hawkeyes look to get back in the win column after an early week loss to No. 8 Ohio State. Expect UCLA to feed the ball a lot to Betts, one of the leading candidates for National Player of the Year, and Kiki Rice, their top two scorers. The ball for Iowa will go through Lucy Olsen, who is sixth in the Big Ten in scoring at 17.8 points per game. But for the Hawkeyes to come out with their second top-five win in the Jan Jensen era, they might need a big game out of Hannah Stuelke. If not, the Bruins could be walking out with a celebratory Carver Ice Cream cone. All that will be decided though on Peacock at 2 p.m. ET on Sunday.

Illinois at No. 4 USC

Time/TV: Sunday, 4 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1 (Fubo)

We stick in the Big Ten for this clash between Illinois and No. 4 USC, who are two of the conference’s 11 projected to hear their names called on Selection Sunday per ESPN’s Charlie Creme. The Illini are in need of a big win for their NCAA Tournament resume after falling short of grabbing one Thursday against UCLA. While the Trojans are riding a five-game win streak and have lost just once since the start of the month, and that came at the hands of Iowa on Caitlin Clark Day at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. JuJu Watkins has been on a tear of late for USC, as one of the sports’ biggest stars is averaging 23.5 points per game in the last month. The Trojans will need to have keep the Illini off the free throw line and take care of the ball, if they want to keep their 12-game home win streak alive. Illinois ranks in the top 15 in the country in both turnovers and free throw’s made per game.

No. 7 LSU at No. 14 Kentucky

Time/TV: Sunday, 4 p.m. ET, ESPN (Fubo)

Rounding out the Starting Five is a trip to the Southeastern Conference for a top-15 matchup that could determine who gets the three or four seed in next month’s conference tournament. One game currently separates No. 7 LSU and No. 14 Kentucky. This game will be likely decided by who can play a more sound game on defense, get stops down the stretch and limit extended runs. One thing to watch for with LSU is how they defend Kentucky’s 3-point shooting, as the Wildcats trio of Georgia Amoore, Amelia Hassett and Dazia Lawrence are averaging a combined near seven 3-pointers per game this season. Kentucky is averaging 8.6 3-pointers per game as a whole. One thing to watch out for with Kentucky is can they hold LSU’s high efficient offense to under to under 40% from the field. If they can, they will — and they have all but seven times this season against opponents — the Wildcats can come out with a big win at home.

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With most of the country in the grips of a major cold snap it probably doesn’t feel like March is near at hand. But trust us, the Madness will be here before we know it.

Before we get to our recommendations for the top five games to watch in men’s college basketball this weekend, we’d like to point out that there are several games outside the so-called power conferences on the calendar that are worthy of attention. We’ll give you a quick sampling of those at the conclusion of this preview.

Without further ado then, here’s this week’s Starting Five, which will hopefully keep us entertained from Friday night through Sunday afternoon.

No. 13 Michigan State at No. 12 Michigan

Time/TV: Friday, 8 p.m. ET, Fox

The Big Ten now spans from coast to coast, but it is these two long-time league mainstays from the Great Lake State that have risen to the top of the standings. This is the first of two meetings for these rivals, with the rematch in East Lancing slated for the final day of the regular season. For now, the Spartans will look to hand the Wolverines their first loss in Ann Arbor this season. Depth remains Michigan State’s biggest strength, though big performances of late from Jase Richardson and Tre Holloman have certainly helped. While Michigan relies on interior points from Vlad Goldin and Danny Wolf, it is Tre Donaldson’s strong play at the point that unlocks the offense’s full potential.

BRACKETOLOGY: Fight for No. 1 seeds heat up this weekend

No. 6 Tennessee at No. 7 Texas A&M

Time/TV: Saturday, noon ET, ESPN

Given the math, it’s no surprise that a top-10 showdown in the SEC is pretty much a weekly occurrence. For the next one we head to College Station, where the Aggies are happy to be back home after running into a hot-shooting Mississippi State squad on the road Wednesday. The Volunteers have been off since rallying past Vanderbilt last Saturday but have dropped three of their last four away from Knoxville. A&M has plenty of scoring options, but several of them, like Wade Taylor IV and Zhuric Phelps, can be streaky. Vols’ standout point guard Zakai Zeigler is capable of getting his own shots, but UT is better when his teammates are making theirs.

No. 8 Iowa State at No. 5 Houston

Time/TV: Saturday, 2 p.m. ET, ESPN

We next head to the Big 12, where the Cougars are two games up in the standings and have a chance to take another step toward a possible No. 1 NCAA seed. The Cyclones came back to earth a bit after a hot start but have won four in a row against the league’s lower tier. Iowa State added more fire power to its lineup this season, but the overall rhythm is much better when Curtis Jones is connecting. Houston’s pressure defense will make that difficult, and J’Wan Roberts and Joseph Tugler can often give the Cougars second-chance scoring opportunities when the team struggles to make shots.

No. 21 Kentucky at No. 4 Alabama

Time/TV: Saturday, 6 p.m. ET, ESPN

The prime-time headliner in the SEC features the Crimson Tide, returning home from a rough outing at Missouri, hoping to defend their status as a projected No. 1 seed. Kentucky will have other ideas, of course, but the Wildcats have been hot and cold themselves in the month of February due in part to several injuries. It’s fair to expect a high-scoring contest given that both teams will push the pace and are prone to frequent defensive lapses. Alabama has become more dependent on three-point shooting than even coach Nate Oats might like, so there might be a concerted effort to get Grant Nelson involved at the rim. the Wildcats usually looks to Otega Oweh to stop the opponent’s scoring run.

Connecticut at No. 9 St. John’s

Time/TV: Sunday, noon ET, Fox

The Red Storm looks to complete a home-and-home sweep of UConn and solidify its lead on the Big East. The Huskies’ bid for a third consecutive NCAA title will be a longshot, but a high-end victory here on the road might at least help them improve their seed position. Turnovers proved to be UConn’s undoing against St. John’s two weeks ago in Storrs, a common issue for Red Storm opponents but a priority for Hassan Diarra and the Huskies’ ball handlers nonetheless. St. John’s has been getting better shot selection of late from Kadary Richmond, a huge help for leading scorer RJ Luis Jr. finding open looks himself.

Starting Five Extra – Mid-major games of note

George Mason at Virginia Commonwealth

Time/TV: Saturday, 4 p.m. ET, CBSSN

Bubble watchers will want to keep an eye on this huge showdown for the lead in the Atlantic 10. The Rams have stronger at-large metrics, but the Patriots enter on an 11-game winning streak.

No. 24 Saint Mary’s at Gonzaga

Time/TV: Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN

Neither team is in bubble trouble, but it’s nevertheless a result both would like to have. The Gaels go for a sweep of their long-time West Coast Conference nemesis, but Gonzaga has rattled off five double-digit wins in a row since its first encounter with Saint Mary’s in Moraga, California.

San Diego State at Utah State

Time/TV: Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, CBSSN

Like the WCC game above, both participants in this key Mountain West clash are in decent shape for the postseason, but the winner here will sleep a lot easier in the coming weeks before Selection Sunday.

Drake at Northern Iowa

Time/TV: Sunday, 4 p.m. ET, ESPN2

The Missouri Valley is likely a one-bid league this year, but its champion could again be a bracket buster. The Bulldogs hold the conference lead, but the host Panthers have a chance to grab a share of first place if they can take down their Hawkeye State rivals.

‘Sunday Night Baseball’ on ESPN will soon come to an end.

The MLB and ESPN ‘mutually agreed’ to part ways and end their national television deal after the 2025 season, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred announced in a memo obtained by The Athletic.

The MLB has had a long-standing relationship with ESPN, dating back to 1989 when they signed their first rights agreement. The two parties signed a seven-year extension in 2021 to keep baseball on the network through 2028. Under the agreement, ESPN had the exclusive rights to 30 regular-season games and the entire MLB Wild Card Series, in addition to the Home Run Derby and the Opening Night telecast. However, ESPN and MLB both had the option to terminate the final three years of the deal on or before March 1, 2025.

Manfred said the league ultimately decided to opt out of the TV deal because of ‘ESPN’s aggressive effort to reduce rights fees.’

“Over the past several months, ESPN has approached us with a desire to reduce the amount they pay for MLB content over the remainder of the term. Publicly and privately ESPN has pointed to lower rights fees paid by Apple and Roku in their deals with MLB,’ Manfred wrote in a memo to team owners Thursday. ‘Given the strength of our product we do not believe a reduction in fees is warranted.’

Follow every MLB game: Latest MLB scores, stats, schedules and standings.

Manfred added that the league has ‘not been pleased with the minimal coverage that MLB has received on ESPN’s platforms over the past several years outside of the actual live game coverage.’

“We have had a long and mutually beneficial partnership with ESPN that dates back to its first MLB game in 1990,’ MLB said in a statement. ‘Unfortunately in recent years, we have seen ESPN scale back their baseball coverage and investment in a way that is not consistent with the sport’s appeal or performance on their platform. Given that MLB provides strong viewership, valuable demographics, and the exclusive right to cover unique events like the Home Run Derby, ESPN’s demand to reduce rights fees is simply unacceptable. As a result, we have mutually agreed to terminate our agreement.’

ESPN confirmed they opted-out of the deal on Thursday in a statement shared on social media, pointing to ‘fiscal responsibility.’ Although ESPN’s current deal with the MLB ends after the 2025 season, the network expressed interest in a possible reunion.

‘We are grateful for our long-standing relationship with major league baseball and proud of how ESPN’s coverage super-serves fans,’ the statement said. ‘In making this decision, we applied the same discipline and fiscal responsibility that has built ESPN’s industry leading live events portfolio as we continue to grow our audience across linear, digital and social platforms. As we have been throughout the process, we were main open to exploring new ways to serve MLB fans across our platforms beyond 2025.’

Manfred said the league is in talks with ‘several interested parties’ about the MLB rights up for grabs.

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Big Ten, SEC will seize control of College Football Playoff format in 2026. They’re brainstorming ways to reimagine the bracket size and bid allocation process.
What’s the perfect number of teams in a College Football Playoff? Fans disagree on the number, but the more controversial element might be how the bids are assigned.
Schools got off easy when NIL deals paid the players, but revenue-sharing will be a different kettle of fish that will affect an athletic department’s financial ledger.

Up, up, up, the College Football Playoff size will go. Where it stops, only the SEC and Big Ten know.

Those two conferences will have the final say in the playoff’s size and configuration, starting with the 2026 season.

Of course, that doesn’t keep the rest of us from having opinions.

In a perfect world, would the playoff stay at 12 or increase to 16 or even 24 teams?

Let’s answer some fan mail on the subject:

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What about College Football Playoff of 24 teams?

Bud writes: I think expanding the CFP to 24 teams and 23 games is the way to go. The 24 teams would be selected from Top 25 polls, so only the No. 25 team would be left out. 

My response: Naysayers of the 12-team playoff worried it would dilute the regular season. That didn’t happen. This past season packed a punch, complete with influential upsets like Vanderbilt toppling Alabama. The regular season mattered greatly.

However, I suspect a tipping point exists where the playoff would get so big it would diminish the regular season. In your 24-team playoff model, Alabama losing to Vanderbilt in October becomes an inconsequential footnote rather than a result that upends the Tide’s playoff hopes. If the playoff grew to 24 teams, focus would shift toward mediocre teams clawing for one of the final spots. Not sure I like that.

Also, I question the average fan’s bandwidth to engage with a five-round playoff at the end of a 13-game season, especially when the playoff competes with the NFL postseason.

The coaches and administrators who receive a bonus check for playoff qualification might like your 24-team bracket, though.

Big Ten, SEC showing signs of paranoia

Steve writes: Just read your article about the Big Ten and SEC (considering) stacking the playoffs. You nailed it about the paranoia. Classic, textbook case. Both commissioners need to be test studies.

My response: Indeed, paranoia’s influence can be found within this idea of reserving four playoff bids apiece for the Big Ten and SEC before the season starts.

Power and paranoia tend to go hand in hand. As of yet, though, neither the SEC’s Greg Sankey nor the Big Ten’s Tony Petitti have made it illegal for anyone to stand above them and look down on the top of their head, as Caligula once did.

If these are the two best conferences – they are, by the way – they shouldn’t have much trouble earning the most bids without rigging the system. Why are they so afraid?

MONEY MATTERS: Playoff expansion all about revenue for survival

STACKING DECK: SEC, Big Ten trying to rig playoff spots is pathetic

Get rid of first-round byes in College Football Playoff

David writes: The first-round byes worked out well, didn’t they? Do away with them and expand to 16 teams. Let the Power 4 conference champions qualify with no guaranteed seeding. Let the committee rank the teams and draw up a 16-team playoff with the top eight seeds hosting in the first round. I hope I live long enough to see such a plan enacted!

My response: How long do you plan on living? I wish you good health, in which case, you might get your desire of seeing a 16-team playoff, but I’m becoming skeptical that the bracket will be selected by a playoff committee.

Three-loss teams don’t have any complaints

Ed writes: Somebody should take a moment to explain to the two biggest conferences this year’s 12-team playoff was a huge success. The only aspect that may need a fix is the length of the playoff. The number of teams was good. It required a special type of season to gain entry, and the games, even when not overly close, were entertaining. The inclusion of a diverse grouping of teams was enjoyable. The only teams who complained were three-loss teams who failed to get the job done when the marbles were on the line.

My response: Amen. We endured a four-team playoff for a decade. Then, we were gloriously gifted this 12-team bracket, forged through collaboration and compromise. Too bad we can’t have this 12-team format for 10 years. It might be remembered as the greatest postseason format in the sport’s history.

Does NIL drive playoff expansion?

Randy writes: I thought you were a big supporter of NIL? NIL is what ‘everyone’ wanted, and it has brought the game to this, so there’s no point in blaming the two biggest conferences for protecting themselves in order to make money to pay these players. 

My response: NIL is sort of like an unpopular president in that it gets blamed for everything, even things that have little to do with it. I’m not following the logic that fans, boosters and companies funding players’ NIL deals hurt athletic departments financially such that the Big Ten and SEC need to increase the size of the playoff – and rig bid allocation – to offset NIL.

Schools did not fund NIL. The bill got passed to third parties. NIL became a beautiful system for the schools. Imagine if McDonald’s customers not only bought the burgers but also agreed to directly pay the fry cook’s salary, and McDonald’s didn’t pay the employees a dime.

That’s what NIL was: The consumer directly paid the labor.

NIL is a different kettle of fish from revenue-sharing, which is coming around the college sports bend. Revenue-sharing with athletes will take a bite out of the piles of cash that athletes help generate for athletic departments. So, yes, I think it’s fair to say revenue-sharing influences CFP expansion talks.

But, don’t conflate revenue-sharing with NIL. Pinning postseason evolution on NIL – a payment vehicle schools didn’t fund – is like blaming the boogeyman for your insomnia.

NIL and transfer portal to blame for college football problems?

Phil writes: IMHO, this (playoff revision) situation is totally caused by NIL and the ability to move players through the transfer portal. Schools want the best players, and the ones who can pay get the best players. The teams with the most money and access to huge TV contracts come from the Big Ten and SEC. So, is it any wonder why they’re clamoring for a bigger advantage after spending the money they do? 

My response: Should the MLB reserve playoff spots for the Mets, Dodgers, Phillies and Yankees, because they spent the most money on their rosters?

Again, I’m not following the logic of NIL or transfer freedom causing playoff expansion or bid reallocation. However, money makes college football go ‘round, and there’s truth in the saying that he who controls the gold makes the rules.

Biopic narrator needed

Guy writes: I enjoy your writing every day. You are fair and balanced to dish it out to whomever you wish.

My response: Can I hire you to narrate the trailer for my biopic? I hope you’ve got a set of pipes like Don LaFontaine.

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer. Subscribe to read all of his columns.

It’s all coming together now, this ever-evolving process of paradigm change that college football has been pulled into. Like it or not.

Want to blame someone for the mess of the last four years? Blame Texas and Oklahoma. 

Without two of the biggest programs in college football deciding in the summer of 2021 to light the fuse in search of financial stability, none of this happens. 

Not the SEC adding the Longhorns and Sooners and becoming the villain of college sports. Not the Big Ten becoming Big America, not the ACC becoming the All Coasts Conference. 

Not the death of the Pac-12 (as we knew it), not an expanding College Football Playoff postseason minimizing the bowl system. Not the unending thirst for more money — from universities and players.

So it should come as no surprise that the final piece to this unique moment in college sports, the last step that four years ago was a pipe dream, has finally arrived. 

The SEC finally looks like it’s moving to nine conference games.

In one significant offseason, and just weeks after the completion of the first 12-team CFP, college football is moving toward more radical change. Only this time, it looks like the last move. 

“There’s a lot of interest in (a nine-game conference schedule),” SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said Wednesday in New Orleans, where conference commissioners and athletic directors met to continue shaping the new college landscape. 

MONEY MATTERS: Playoff expansion all about revenue for survival

STACKING DECK: SEC, Big Ten trying to rig playoff spots is pathetic

The fact that there’s “a lot” of interest from SEC coaches and athletic directors to move to nine games shows the financial straits even the heaviest of hitters in college sports face with the looming advent of what will be an effective ‘pay-for-play’ system with schools playing players for the use of their name, image and likeness. 

It wasn’t long ago that former Alabama coach Nick Saban was the only coach in the SEC who wanted a nine-game conference schedule. There was a time, as recently as the SEC spring meetings of 2022, when Saban said the league not only needed nine conference games — but it should mandate at least one non-conference game against another power conference opponent.

Fast forward to Wednesday in New Orleans, and now everyone seems to be on board. Presidents and athletic directors see the final piece to the puzzle, and how it completes the final coat of paint on the completely rebuilt and reimagined college football.

The SEC moving to nine games allows for alignment between the two super conferences of college football. The Big Ten has been playing nine conference games since 2016, and the discrepancy between the two conferences has been a postseason qualification argument since.

The potential change by the SEC opens the opportunity for the two conferences to build a non-conference scheduling agreement. Those games, and the nine conference games, is the driving factor to add CFP play-in games during championship weekend and expand the postseason format to as many as 16 teams. 

Playing nine conference games and adding a non-conference scheduling agreement allows the Big Ten and SEC to demand more access from the new College Football Playoff contract, which begins in 2026. Translation: automatic qualification, and as may as four spots per conference.

In that scenario, the Big 12 and ACC will receive two automatic qualifying spots each, an Notre Dame will still have access as an independent — if chosen by the selection committee. That leaves one at-large spot in a 14-team format, or three in a 16-team format.  

Expanding championship weekend to a College Football Playoff play-in weekend will increase the number of games affecting access from five (four power conference championship games, highest-ranked Group of Five champion) to 13.

That’s eight more impactful games for media rights partners, and a corresponding increase in revenue.  

In one potential scenario, the SEC and Big Ten would each have four play-in games among the top eight teams in their respective conference standings, with the winners advancing to the CFP. The ACC and Big 12 would play two games from the top four teams in their respective conferences.

That potential plan would’ve looked like this in 2024:

SEC: (1) Texas vs. (2) Georgia in the championship game, (8) Ole Miss at (3) Tennessee, (7) Texas A&M at (4) Alabama, and South Carolina (6) at LSU (5).

Big Ten: (1) Oregon vs. (2) Penn State in the championship game, (8) Minnesota at (3) Indiana, Michigan (7) at Ohio State (4), and Iowa (6) at Illinois (5). 

The ACC and Big 12, with only four teams playing, could opt for naming a conference champion in the regular season, and using a 1 vs. 4, 2 vs. 3 format in the play-in games. 

A 14-team CFP would leave, at most, two available at-large bids if Notre Dame doesn’t qualify. A 16-team field leaves as many as four, leaving a clear path for the loser of the Big Ten and SEC championship games to still qualify for the CFP. 

All of this change from one monumental move four years ago. 

Blame Texas and Oklahoma. Or give thanks. 

Because the SEC finally will get to a nine-game conference schedule. 

Matt Hayes is the senior national college football writer for USA TODAY Sports Network. Follow him on X at @MattHayesCFB.

Canada is champion of the 4 Nations Face-Off, continuing its run of international success, and it can thank the NHL’s top player.

Jordan Binnington made several strong saves in overtime to keep the game tied before three-time MVP McDavid connected. The St. Louis Blues goalie finished with 31 saves to come up big again in Boston’s TD Garden. He won Game 7 of the 2019 Stanley Cup Final at the arena.

Nathan MacKinnon and Sam Bennett scored for Canada while Jake Sanderson and Brady Tkachuk scored for the USA in regulation. Tkachuk’s brother, Matthew, couldn’t finish the game because of an injury.

The USA last won a best-on-best tournament involving NHL players when it beat Canada in the 1996 World Cup of Hockey. Canada has now won six of the last seven tournaments since then.

It won the 2002 and 2010 Olympics (beating the USA in the gold medal games both times) and the 2014 Olympics (beating the Americans in the semifinals). It also won the 2004 and 2016 World Cup of Hockey.

Highlights from Canada’s win against the USA in the final of the 4 Nations Face-Off:

USA vs. Canada highlights

Nathan MacKinnon named tournament MVP

USA-Canada scores: Connor McDavid wins it in overtime

Connor McDavid is left alone in the slot and scores after a pass from Mitch Marner. That was Marner’s second assist of the game. Cale Makar, who missed the first USA-Canada game, picked up the secondary assist.

Jordan Binnington strong early

He robs Brady Tkachuk with a glove save and then Auston Matthews off the next faceoff.

Overtime begins

The Auston Matthews and Connor McDavid lines begin the overtime.

4 Nations Face-Off overtime rule

The final’s overtime rule is just like the NHL playoffs. The teams will play 20-minute periods of 5-on-5 hockey until someone scores.

End of third period: USA 2, Canada 2

The USA and Canada had a tightly played period with the USA leading in shots 8-5. Canada had a flurry at the end. The last time the USA and Canada went to overtime tied 2-2 in a best-on-best championship game was the 2010 Olympics. Canada’s Sidney Crosby won that game.

Heading to overtime

Connor Hellebuyck makes a glove save on Cale Makar with six seconds left. We’re going to overtime.

Two minutes left in regulation

Still tied. No Matthew Tkachuk yet.

Jaccob Slavin block

USA defenseman Jaccob Slavin makes another sharp defensive play with a block of a Seth Jarvis shot.

Matthew Tkachuk update

ESPN’s Emily Kaplan said USA assistant coach John Hynes told her that Matthew Tkachuk was battling through an injury but the player told the coaching staff, ‘I can push through this.’ He’s expected to play a limited role in the third period.

Jake Guentzel stopped

Jake Guentzel chases down a loose puck after a Canada line change, but Jordan Binnington stops him.

Third period underway

USA’s Matthew Tkachuk is sitting on the bench.

End of second period: USA 2, Canada 2

Canada had the territorial edge again early in the period, but this time the USA scores the first goal of the period, by Jake Sanderson. Sam Bennett ties it up. Shots are even at 19 through two periods and the USA leads in hits 23-15.

Matthew Tkachuk hurting?

ESPN notes that he hadn’t been on the ice for seven minutes. He takes one shift of several seconds and returns to the bench.

USA-Canada score: Sam Bennett ties it for Canada

Mitch Marner finds Sam Bennett down low and he wrists a shot past Connor Hellebuyck. That’s Bennett’s sixth shot of the game and first goal of the tournament. USA 2, Canada 2

Canada goes on power play

Vincent Trocheck is called for tripping. The USA kills it off and gets a couple short-handed chances.

USA-Canada score: Jake Sanderson puts USA ahead

Jake Sanderson, who’s in the tournament because of the Quinn Hughes injury and in the lineup because of the Charlie McAvoy injury, puts the USA ahead at 7:31 after jumping on a loose puck. Zach Werenski gets an assist for his sixth point of the tournament. USA 2, Canada 1

Things get feisty

USA’s Jake Guentzel and Canada’s Thomas Harley shove each other after an offsides call.

Five minutes into second period

Canada dominating early on shot attempts. USA still doesn’t have a shot on net. Canada has three.

Second period underway

Score is 1-1.

End of first period: USA 1, Canada 1

Canada scored first, as it has every game of the tournament, as Nathan MacKinnon picked up his fourth goal. Canada kept jamming the front of the net and was dangerous early. But the USA tied the game on a Brady Tkachuk goal after coach Mike Sullivan had swapped Auston Matthews to that line in place of Jack Eichel. Canada has a 11-10 edge in shots. Tkachuk hit Canada defenseman Thomas Harley hard near the end of the period. The USA has outhit Canada 15-7.

USA-Canada score: Brady Tkachuk ties game

Auston Matthews is moved to the Tkachuk line. He brings the puck out front and finds Brady Tkachuk, who slams home a shot. It’s his third goal of the tournament. Tkachuk is showing no sign of the injury that knocked him out of the last game. USA 1, Canada 1

Dylan Larkin stopped

USA forward Dylan Larkin, who scored the winning goal in the first USA-Canada game, is stopped by Jordan Binnington on a breakaway.

Connor Hellebuyck saves

Seth Jarvis has a chance on a rebound, but Connor Hellebuyck makes a pad save.

Charlie McAvoy in the building

ESPN showed video of injured defenseman Charlie McAvoy in the USA dressing room announcing the starting lineup to his teammates. McAvoy has a shoulder injury and developed an infection. His arm was in a sling.

USA-Canada score: Nathan MacKinnon gets goal

Nathan MacKinnon beats Connor Hellebuyck through a screen after skating the puck to the point. He gets his tournament-leading fourth goal at 4:48. Thomas Harley, a late add to the game, gets the primary assist and Sam Reinhart has the second. Canada 1, USA 0

First stoppage of play

Good back-and-forth. Shots are 3-2 Canada. Brady Tkachuk throws a big hit.

4 Nations Face-Off puck drop

No fights as in the last USA-Canada game.

National anthems

Once again, the announcer asked for respect for the national anthems. There was a tiny bit of booing at the start of the Canadian anthem but cheers at the end. Wild cheering for the U.S. anthem. The U.S. anthem was booed when the games were played in Montreal.

4 Nations Face-Off starting lineups

Canada: Forwards Connor McDavid, Brayden Point, Mark Stone; defensemen Cale Makar, Devon Toews; goalie Jordan Binnington

USA: Forwards Jack Eichel, Matthew Tkachuk, Brady Tkachuk; defensemen Jaccob Slavin, Brock Faber; goalie Connor Hellebuyck

Mike Eruzione is honorary USA captain

The Miracle on Ice hero is wearing a jersey honoring the late Johnny Gaudreau. He leads the crowd in ‘USA, USA’ chants. Wayne Gretzky is the honorary Canadian captain.

What time is the hockey game tonight?

The USA and Canada will play at 8 p.m. ET at Boston’s TD Garden.

How to watch USA vs Canada tonight

The USA-Canada game will be aired on ESPN.

How to stream USA vs Canada tonight

 Sling, Fubo and ESPN+ carry ESPN games.

USA vs Canada at 4 Nations Face-Off

Date: Thursday, Feb. 20

Time: 8 p.m. ET

TV: ESPN

Streaming: Sling, Fubo and ESPN+

Site: TD Garden, Boston

Team USA lineup

Team Canada lineup

4 Nations Face-Off lineups

Players are taking the ice for warmups. Early sign is that USA forward Kyle Connor, injured defenseman Charlie McAvoy and goalie Jeremy Swayman are the scratches. Chris Kreider, who scored against Sweden, will play his second game of the tournament.

Forward Travis Konecny, defenseman Josh Morrissey and goalie Sam Montembeault are the Canada scratches. Morrissey is ill, Hockey Canada said, so emergency replacement Thomas Harley will play his second game of the tournament.

Josh Morrissey out of lineup

Hockey Canada said the defenseman is ill and Thomas Harley is drawing in for the game.

USA, Canada leading scorers

Defenseman Zach Werenski leads the USA with five points, all assists. Canada forward Sidney Crosby also has five points (one goal, four assists). The USA’s Jake Guentzel and Canada’s Nathan MacKinnon are tied for the tournament lead with three goals. Guentzel scored two of them in Saturday’s win against Canada.

Mike Eruzione narrates ESPN broadcast opening

Keith Tkachuk, Matthew and Brady’s dad, won 1996 World Cup

Keith Tkachuk, the father of USA forwards Matthew and Brady Tkachuk, scored five goals for the victorious United States in the 1996 World Cup of Hockey. The USA lost to Canada in the opener of the best-of-three final in Philadelphia but then picked up two wins in Montreal for the title. The older Tkachuk scored in the first win.

USA vs Canada championship game history

What’s different from last USA-Canada game

Canada will have defenseman Cale Makar back after he missed Saturday’s game because of illness. He has averaged 26 minutes a game in the tournament, though he is still looking for his first point. The USA, meanwhile, will be missing injured defenseman Charlie McAvoy, who played well against Connor McDavid in that game.

4 Nations Face-Off final predictions

Mike Brehm – USA 4, Canada 3 (OT): Canada’s top players will have a better game, especially with Cale Makar playing this time, but the USA will benefit from the return of its stars who missed Monday’s game. Give the USA the edge because Hellebuyck has outplayed Binnington in the tournament.

Jace Evans – Canada 3, USA 1: Being a USA hockey fan in the 21st century is a disappointing endeavor. And one man has been most responsible for that: Sidney Crosby. I expect Canada’s captain to rise to the occasion yet again and help power his team to another hockey championship. Two other reasons to pick Canada here? Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon – the two best forwards in the world.

Canada has won last three best-on-best tournaments

Charlie McAvoy to attend game?

Injured USA defenseman Charlie McAvoy could be in attendance at Thursday’s game, NHL.com reported. He has been ruled out of playing because of a shoulder injury and an infection in his shoulder. The Boston Bruins defenseman posted the following photo on social media.

USA, Canada injury updates

The United States is missing defenseman Charlie McAvoy, who suffered a significant shoulder injury. Auston Matthews and Matthew Tkachuk, who missed Monday’s game, and Brady Tkachuk, who was hurt Monday, are expected to play.

Canada is missing defenseman Shea Theodore. Both teams reportedly also are dealing with illnesses.

Expected goaltending matchup

USA’s Connor Hellebuyck (2-0, 1.00 goals-against average, .957 save percentage) vs. Canada’s Jordan Binnington (2-1, 2.60, .892).

Canada’s Jordan Binnington had big win at Boston arena

Canada goalie Jordan Binnington will be playing in the visiting crease at Boston’s TD Garden. In 2019, the St. Louis Blues goalie stopped 32 of 33 shots to beat the Boston Bruins in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. That gave the Blues the franchise’s first championship.

President Trump wishes Team USA luck

President Trump called the U.S. hockey team on Thursday morning, wishing them luck against Canada in the championship game. USA general manager Bill Guerin told Fox News that he had hoped the president would attend the game, but Trump said he is addressing U.S. governors on Thursday evening.

4 Nations Face-Off schedule, results, TV

(Times p.m. ET)

Wednesday, Feb. 12:  Canada 4, Sweden 3 (OT)
Thursday, Feb. 13: USA 6, Finland 1
Saturday, Feb. 15: Finland 4, Sweden 3 (OT)
Saturday, Feb. 15: USA 3, Canada 1
Monday, Feb. 17: Canada 5, Finland 3
Monday, Feb. 17: Sweden 2, USA 1
Thursday, Feb. 20: USA vs. Canada, championship game at Boston, 8, ESPN

4 Nations Face-Off rosters

Players listed alphabetically.

Team USA

No., position, player, NHL team

12 F Matt Boldy, Minnesota Wild
81 F Kyle Connor, Winnipeg Jets
9 F Jack Eichel, Vegas Golden Knights
59 F Jake Guentzel, Tampa Bay Lightning
86 F Jack Hughes, New Jersey Devils
20 F Chris Kreider, New York Rangers
21 F Dylan Larkin, Detroit Red Wings
34 F Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs
10 F J.T. Miller, New York Rangers
29 F Brock Nelson, New York Islanders
7 F Brady Tkachuk, Ottawa Senators
19 F Matthew Tkachuk, Florida Panthers
16 F Vincent Trocheck, New York Rangers
14 D Brock Faber, Minnesota Wild
23 D Adam Fox, New York Rangers
25 D Charlie McAvoy, Boston Bruins (injured, out of tournament)
15 D Noah Hanifin, Vegas Golden Knights
85 D Jake Sanderson, Ottawa Senators
74 D Jaccob Slavin, Carolina Hurricanes
8 D Zach Werenski, Columbus Blue Jackets
37 G Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets
30 G Jake Oettinger, Dallas Stars
1 G Jeremy Swayman, Boston Bruins

Note: Buffalo Sabres forward Tage Thompson and New Jersey Devils defenseman Brett Pesce are being brought in as possible emergency replacements. Here are the rules on whether they can play.

Team Canada

9 F Sam Bennett, Florida Panthers
71 F Anthony Cirelli, Tampa Bay Lightning
87 F Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
38 F Brandon Hagel, Tampa Bay Lightning
24 F Seth Jarvis, Carolina Hurricanes
11 F Travis Konecny, Philadelphia Flyers
29 F Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche
63 F Brad Marchand, Boston Bruins
16 F Mitch Marner, Toronto Maple Leafs
97 F Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
21 F Brayden Point, Tampa Bay Lightning
13 F Sam Reinhart, Florida Panthers
61 F Mark Stone, Vegas Golden Knights
89 Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings
48 D Thomas Harley, Dallas Stars (emergency replacement)
8 D Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche
44 D Josh Morrissey, Winnipeg Jets
55 D Colton Parayko, St. Louis Blues
6 D Travis Sanheim, Philadelphia Flyers
27 D Shea Theodore, Vegas Golden Knights (injured, out of tournament)
5 D Devon Toews, Colorado Avalanche
50 G Jordan Binnington, St. Louis Blues
33 G Adin Hill, Vegas Golden Knights
35 G Sam Montembeault, Montreal Canadiens

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HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. – Former NFL punter Chris Kluwe wore a T-shirt, shorts and flip flops when he showed up to talk about his arrest Tuesday night during the Huntington Beach City Council meeting.

He used the occasion to call MAGA ‘a Nazi movement’ in a video that went viral.

“I have faith in human nature, but I also have faith in the fact that I am a large person who is not afraid to commit violence,’’ the 6-foot-4 Kluwe told USA TODAY Sports when asked if he feels at physical risk after his comments got so much attention. “I don’t want it to come to that point. But if people think that peaceful protest is the only thing that I do, they will very sadly be learning otherwise.’’

Kluwe, 43, made those remarks outside the Central Library after he said he was approached by a man on a bike who was muttering in his direction before saying, “You’re canceled.’’

But two women who approached Kluwe on Thursday thanked him for his remarks at the city council meeting that preceded his arrest.

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A video from the council meeting shows the former Minnesota Vikings punter beginning his protest by reading a prepared statement that called MAGA ‘explicitly a Nazi movement.’ Kluwe continued by saying he would engage in ‘peaceful civil disobedience,’ whereupon he left his spot at the lectern and approached the city council members’ bench.

Police quickly detained the former NFL player using handcuffs and carried him out of the room.

“I am prepared to go to jail again but I do think it’s that serious,’’ Kluwe said Thursday. “And I’m unwilling to ask someone to do something that I’m unwilling to do myself.’’

Explaining why he protested, Kluwe pointed out he is white, male and heterosexual. ‘Privlege and power,’ he said.

“It’s important (those) who have privilege and power like I do to be out there on the front lines helping support those who are being oppressed,’’ he continued. “Because we cannot expect the people being oppressed to do all the work. It’s on all of our shoulders to do that work. And I hope other people are brave enough and willing enough to do this.’’

Is it important for athletes to use their platform to speak out about what Kluwe calls fascism?

“I think the more important question to ask is why aren’t owners speaking out?’’ he said of those who own NFL teams. “Why aren’t people with real power, people who sign the checks, why aren’t they saying anything?’’

He also said he understands that everybody who wears a MAGA hat or supports Trump is not a Nazi. But he said they should be aware of the rise of Hitler and quoted ‘First They Came for,’ written by a German pastor after World War II.

After reciting lines from Martin Niemṏller, Kluwe added, “If I want somebody to speak out for me, I have to be willing to speak out for them. …I want to be in a world where everybody is free to be who they are.’’

‘Thank you so much’

Since his arrest, Kluwe said, the response has been overwhelmingly positive. But that his wife is “kind of exhaustively approving. I told her I might get arrested. She said, ‘Yeah, sure.’ ’’

Sure enough, he ended up in jail.

“Four and a half stars out of five,’’ he said of the experience. “I could’ve used some cushions on the metal bench.’’

Wearing attire that blends in in a city known for its surfing, Kluwe nonetheless was approached by Maria Subia, 32, who said she works as a nanny.

“You’re the football player?’’ she asked.

Just like that, their conversation was underway. Subia told Kluwe she is bisexual and biracial, suggesting she is a member of groups facing discrimination.

“Everything you said is exactly right on,’’ Subia said. “Thank you so much.’’

Another woman walking into the library with a young child saw Kluwe and said, “Thanks for speaking out.’’

“Oh, thank you!’’ Kluwe replied. “I appreciate that.’’

Though his NFL career ended in 2012, he said he coaches punters on the freshman football team at nearby Edison High School and generally keeps a low profile.

That’s ended for now.

“Right now what’s happening is we have somebody that’s trying to be king and I’m fundamentally against that,’’ Kluwe said, referring to Trump. “And I think that’s something the City Council is OK with, so I’m fundamentally against them as well.’’

Earlier this month a city commission approved the installation of a plaque at the Central Library that has the slogan, ‘Magical, Alluring, Galvanizing, Adventurous’ arranged in the style of an acrostic poem, ‘MAGA’, according to local reports.

Of his own protest and arrest, Kluwe added, “This is something that I feel our Democratic officials should be doing and they’re not doing it. So if they’re not doing it, somebody’s got to step up. And if I’m in a position where I can step up, I’ve got to do it.’’

Ketel Marte overpowers the rest of the field in the National League, coming off a career highs in home runs (36) and RBI (95). If you need speed, Brice Turang was third in the majors last season with 50 steals.

Injuries took their toll on the position a year ago, but three top talents should be ready for opening day. Ozzie Albies’ numbers were down because of a broken wrist and toe. The Reds’ Matt McLain missed all of last season recovering from shoulder surgery. The Cubs’ Nico Hoerner may need a little extra time coming off elbow surgery in October.

Already the most valuable American League second baseman, Jose Altuve is in line to add outfield eligibility to his portfolio. Marcus Semien isn’t running as much as he once did, but he’ll still fill up the other counting categories as one of the most durable players in the majors.

Several second sackers have new homes in the AL, so be sure to give Andres Gimenez, Gleyber Torres and Jonathan India time to adjust. Brandon Lowe should see an uptick in his power numbers taking aim at the Yankee-ish short porch at Tampa’s Steinbrenner Field.

2025 fantasy baseball second base rankings

Eligibility based on a minimum of 20 games played at the position in 2024. Other eligible positions also noted.

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