The announcement of the rosters for the 2025 Pro Bowl Games comes at a fitting time on the NFL calendar: as a pitstop to something more substantive, namely Week 18 and the conclusion of the regular season.

The selections themselves still stand as somewhat of a distinction for an event still trying to establish its relevance with its audience amid its evolving format. And while arguing about Pro Bowl snubs can seem a bit outlandish given that many players will be added later as dropouts materialize, the debates over who deserves the recognition are yet another example of the league managing to spark interest and intrigue around developments that aren’t particularly consequential.

With that said, here are the most notable omissions from Thursday’s announcement, along with an examination of how strong each player’s case is:

Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs

Unlike the other players on this list, Mahomes doesn’t have much of a case for inclusion on the initial list, as the stacked group of AFC quarterbacks features three legitimate MVP candidates in the Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen, Baltimore Ravens’ Lamar Jackson and Cincinnati Bengals’ Joe Burrow, all of whom are largely more statistically accomplished this season than the two-time NFL MVP. Still, only a field this loaded could relegate Mahomes to alternate status after he was selected to the Pro Bowl in his first six years as a starter.

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Mahomes has engineered a career-high five fourth-quarter comebacks and seven game-winning drives this season, routinely proving to be the difference for a team that has gone 11-0 in one-score games. But while he has also completed a personal-best 67.5% of his passes, he’s also averaging an all-time low of 6.8 yards per attempt while navigating the Chiefs’ myriad issues up front and in the receiving corps, though those problems have largely been smoothed out in recent weeks. Here’s betting that a guy who has every reason to want to avoid playing in this game as he aims for a historic three-peat is probably unbothered by the development.

A.J. Brown, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

Brown might have been done in by the three games he missed due to a hamstring injury. Yet he still finished with more receiving yards than Terry McLaurin (1,079 to 1,034) and was far more efficient, with his 3.67 yards per route run only outpaced by the Los Angeles Rams’ Puka Nacua among players with at least 200 routes run. Brown’s dominance is difficult to fully capture based on volume stats given how the Eagles’ run-heavy offense functions, but the overall effect he has is clearly on par with the pass catchers who were included.

Brian Thomas Jr., WR, Jacksonville Jaguars

Making the Pro Bowl as a rookie can be exceedingly difficult without the right blend of output, attention and positional opportunity. Thomas certainly had enough of the first category, as he ranks fifth in the NFL in receiving yards (1,179) despite having Trevor Lawrence for just 11 starts this season. But he might have been lacking in the latter two, as the Jaguars have continued to toil in obscurity amid a 4-12 campaign. Thomas also had six more touchdowns than Jerry Jeudy, who was named a starter despite more than one-fifth of his yardage production coming in one game.

Jonnu Smith, TE, Miami Dolphins

There was little room for discussion about the AFC’s tight ends, given the record-setting rookie campaign of Brock Bowers and Travis Kelce placing first in the fan vote. But Smith should be lauded for putting together a career season as an eighth-year veteran. He beat Kelce in receiving yards (828 to 823) and touchdowns (seven to three) despite having 18 fewer catches and 34 fewer targets. Mark Andrews also merited consideration.

Leonard Williams, Interior DL, Seattle Seahawks

It’s hard to compare interior defensive linemen to one another given how varying schemes and responsibilities can dictate their production – or lack thereof. Still, few of his peers can compare to Williams, who is tied for the most sacks (nine) among players on the inside and is tied for fourth at the position in pass rush win rate, according to ESPN. While it may end up a moot point with the New York Giants’ Dexter Lawrence still recovering from a dislocated elbow, Williams had a strong case to be chosen ahead of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Vita Vea.

Trent McDuffie, CB, Kansas City Chiefs

McDuffie just can’t seem to crack the Pro Bowl formula, as he was overlooked last year as well despite later being named a first-team All-Pro. In 2024, he proved his previous effort was no aberration, as he gave up even fewer yards per reception (10.1 to 10.5) and lower passer rating when targeted (82.9 to 94.4), according to Pro Football Reference. McDuffie also notched the first two interceptions of his career. The cornerback field in the AFC is extremely deep, with the New England Patriots’ Christian Gonzalez and Buffalo Bills’ Christian Benford also not making the cut. Either of them or McDuffie could have gotten in ahead of the Cleveland Browns’ Denzel Ward or Ravens’ Marlon Humphrey without issue.

Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Philadelphia Eagles

It feels strange to keep stumping a team that can claim the third-most Pro Bowlers of any team. Mitchell likely isn’t even Philadelphia’s biggest snub, with Brown and left tackle Jordan Mailata standing out as more notable cases. But the first-round pick out of Toledo has put together a debut worthy of NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year consideration, as he has locked down the likes of Ja’Marr Chase, CeeDee Lamb and Mike Evans, among others, while taking on a leading role in the Eagles’ secondary. While the Carolina Panthers’ Jaycee Horn hasn’t received much help, he still got the nod ahead of Mitchell and others despite posting career worsts with six touchdowns allowed and a 92.7 passer rating when targeted, according to Pro Football Reference.

Kerby Joseph, FS, Detroit Lions

Maybe he was the victim of the Lions’ heavy presence, especially with teammate Brian Branch claiming one of the NFC’s other safety spots. Or maybe it was difficult for a player who has yet to become a household name to receive his due, even in a breakout campaign. Still, it’s hard to square how a player who leads the NFL with nine interceptions could be passed over, especially when he ranked first at his position in the fan vote. Joseph isn’t merely the beneficiary of some good turnover luck, either, as the ballhawk also has 12 passes defensed this season after hauling in four interceptions in each of his first two seasons. If Joseph played in the AFC, he would have had a strong shot to be the choice over Minkah Fitzpatrick.

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Indiana Fever star and 2024 WNBA rookie of the year Caitlin Clark was the guest this week on New Heights, the podcast hosted by Jason and Travis Kelce.

And, of course, the topics ranged from discussing being a Kansas City Chiefs fan to opining about Travis Kelce’s girlfriend, pop superstar Taylor Swift.

Clark cleared up speculation that she, like many others who have become Chiefs fans since the Kelce-Swift partnership, isn’t a bandwagon fan. She also said that Kelce is her favorite player.

‘I had family in Kansas City and I grew up in Des Moines, Iowa, which is only three hours from Kansas City, so that’s just the closest NFL team,’ Clark said. ‘My dad was a big Chiefs fan growing up. People think I’m like a bandwagon Chiefs fan, I’m like, ‘No, I was there before Patrick (Mahomes) and Travis.’ We were ride or dies, so we’ve been big fans.’

Clark said she turned her mother into a ‘Swiftie,’ the term given to die-hard fans of the Grammy winner, after taking her to a concert.

‘My mom was begging me to take her,’ Clark said. ‘She was like, ‘I gotta go, everybody is talking about it.’ I’m like, ‘OK, OK,’

‘Turned my mom into a full Swiftie. Two of my cousins were there. Good time!’

While women’s sports, especially the WNBA, have grown in popularity and viewership, Clark was asked about collegiate sports.

Clark set the NCAA all-time scoring record while at Iowa in March, and she parlayed that into numerous endorsement opportunities and becoming the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft. During the episode, she was asked about the transfer portal.

‘The transfer portal is crazy – especially in football. That’s where I think it’s gotten the craziest,’ Clark said. ‘It’s kind of sad. You lost a little bit of that amateurism of college sports … but also, it’s the world we’re living in.

‘Now we got people on their fourth school in their seventh year. It’s getting egregious.’

The NFL’s 272-game regular-season schedule is down to its final 16 contests.

Week 18 will begin Saturday, when the AFC North title will be decided. The Baltimore Ravens can win it – dicey a proposition as that might prove – by beating the Cleveland Browns in the day’s first game. If not, the Steelers could reclaim the divisional flag by vanquishing the Bengals on Saturday night in Pittsburgh, though surging Cincinnati is still fighting for its own slim playoff chances.

Sunday’s afternoon games will determine the NFC South crown (either the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or Atlanta Falcons), the AFC’s final wild-card entry (either the Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins or, perhaps, Bengals) plus several undetermined seeds.

But the game of the weekend – and perhaps the entire regular season – will take place Sunday evening at Ford Field, where the Minnesota Vikings will visit the Detroit Lions with just a few items hanging in the balance: a 15-win regular season, the NFC North championship, home-field advantage and a first-round bye on the NFC side of the Super Bowl 59 tournament.

Here’s how USA TODAY Sports’ panel of NFL experts see the regular-season finales playing out:

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(Odds provided by BetMGM)

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Georgia football on Thursday became the fourth and final team with a first-round bye to be eliminated from the College Football Playoff after its Sugar Bowl loss to No. 7 Notre Dame.

In the midst of the Bulldogs’ third loss of the season came a rare sideline inference penalty by a member of their roster who was inactive for Thursday’s game: Parker Jones. However, he was part of one of the most impactful plays in the first half of the game.

Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton connected with wide receiver Arian Smith for a 67-yard pass down to the Notre Dame 11-yard line in the second quarter, setting up what was at that time the Bulldogs’ best scoring opportunity in a 0-0 tie. But the Bulldogs were moved back 15 yards, to the Notre Dame 26, after side judge JB Garza ran into Jones as he followed the play down the sideline.

Jones was assessed the penalty because of Article 5 of the ‘Game Administration and Sideline Interference’ in the NCAA rulebook, which states ‘physical interference with an official is a foul charged to the team for unsportsmanlike conduct.’

Said Georgia coach Kirby Smart of the penalty:

‘Very unfortunate,’ Smart said. ‘I think it was a player, from what I’ve been told, in the white, and the white is reserved for the officials. That’s a safety concern. Most of the time, they’ll grant you a warning on that, but it was not — it was a situation where it cost us 15 yards. We still had first-and-10 and didn’t take advantage of it.’

Georgia ended up settling for a field goal, its only score of the first half, to go up 3-0. ESPN broadcasters Sean McDonough and Greg McElroy kept going back to Jones throughout the broadcast — so much so that observers believed ESPN was implying Jones was the reason the Bulldogs were upset by the Irish.

‘The one play that should not be forgotten, will certainly be talked about in the postmortems, is the play at the beginning of the second quarter,’ McDonough said in the fourth quarter.

College football fans on social media took issue with ESPN’s focus on Jones, as the Fighting Irish were largely dominant in the 23-10 victory. The Notre Dame defense recovered two Georgia fumbles, one of which led directly to a Riley Leonard touchdown. Moreover, Jayden Harrison returned the opening second-half kickoff 98 yards for a score.

With that, here’s how social media reacted to ESPN’s focus on Jones in Thursday’s Sugar Bowl broadcast:

Social media reacts to ESPN’s focus on Georgia’s Parker Jones

With the loss, Georgia concludes its season with an 11-3 record. Meanwhile, Notre Dame now advances to the CFP Orange Bowl semifinals against No. 6 Penn State on Thursday, Jan. 9 at Hard Rock Stadium.

Automatic bids to the College Football Playoff in 2024 equated to automatic losses.

Following the conclusion of the quarterfinal round of the initial 12-team playoff, all four of the teams that won their conference and earned a first-round bye are now officially out of contention for the national championship. While the automatic bids were out of the CFP committee’s hands, they likely deserve credit for getting it mostly right with the rest of the field.

No. 1 Oregon (Big Ten) was soundly beaten 41-21 by No. 8 Ohio State, while No. 7 Notre Dame beat No. 2 Georgia (SEC) 23-10, No. 6 Penn State beat No. 3 Boise State (Mountain West) 31-14 and No. 5 Texas beat No. 4 Arizona State (Big 12) 39-31 in an overtime thriller.

No. 12 Clemson also earned an automatic bid to the College Football Playoff for winning the ACC, but the Tigers did not get a first-round bye. They lost 38-24 to Texas in the first-round.

The semifinals features two teams that lost in a conference title game: Penn State and Texas. Notre Dame does not play in a conference, and Ohio State did not advance to the Big Ten title game after losing to rival Michigan in the final week of the regular season.

College Football Playoff quarterfinal results

Here are the final scores for the CFP quarterfinal games. In the first 12-team CFP, all four top seeds lost. Only the Texas-Arizona State matchup was a one-score game, going to overtime.

Peach Bowl: No. 5 Texas 39, No. 4 Arizona State 31 (2 OT)
Rose Bowl: No. 8 Ohio State 41, No. 1 Oregon 21
Fiesta Bowl: No. 6 Penn State 31, No. 3 Boise State 14
Sugar Bowl: No. 7 Notre Dame 23, No. 2 Georgia 10

College Football semifinal matchups

Here’s a look at the CFP semifinals matchups:

Cotton Bowl: No. 5 Texas vs. No. 8 Ohio State | 7:30 p.m., ET, Jan 10
Orange Bowl: No. 6 Penn State vs. No. 7 Notre Dame | 7:30 p.m. ET, Jan. 9

The Baltimore Ravens are still trying to lock down the AFC North title, but they own the distinction of having the most Pro Bowl selections of any NFL team this season.

With the rosters for the 2025 Pro Bowl games revealed Thursday, the Ravens pace the league with nine selections. The Detroit Lions were next with seven, while the Philadelphia Eagles had six.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was the odd man out in a loaded field of AFC passers, with the Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen, Cincinnati Bengals’ Joe Burrow and Ravens’ Lamar Jackson all getting in ahead of him. Mahomes, who has been a Pro Bowl selection in all six years he has been a starter, could still get in as a replacement.

Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, who finished among all players in fan voting, was selected to his 10th career Pro Bowl, placing him in a tie with New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers for the second-most selections of any active player behind San Francisco 49ers left tackle Trent Williams, who has 11. Neither Rodgers nor Williams received a nod this year.

But the Las Vegas Raiders’ Brock Bowers was chosen as the starter ahead of Kelce after his record-setting rookie campaign.

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Among the other rookies who were chosen was Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels and Los Angeles Rams outside linebacker Jared Verse, the front-runners for Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year.

The Pro Bowl Games will be held Feb. 2 in Orlando, with the league again featuring a flag football contest and a ‘Skills Show’ the previous Thursday rather than a full-fledged game.

2025 Pro Bowl rosters

AFC (starters in italics)

Quarterbacks

Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals

Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

Wide receivers

Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals

Nico Collins, Houston Texans

Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens

Jerry Jeudy, Cleveland Browns

Running backs

Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens

Joe Mixon, Houston Texans

Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts

Tight ends

Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders

Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs

Fullback

Patrick Ricard, Baltimore Ravens

Offensive tackles

Dion Dawkins, Buffalo Bills

Rayshawn Slater, Los Angeles Chargers

Laremy Tunsil, Houston Texans

Guards

Quenton Nelson, Indianapolis Colts

Trey Smith, Kansas City Chiefs

Joe Thuney, Kansas City Chiefs

Centers

Creed Humphrey, Kansas City Chiefs

Tyler Linderbaum, Baltimore Ravens

Defensive ends

Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders

Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns

Trey Hendrickson, Cincinnati Bengals

Interior linemen

Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh Steelers

Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs

Nnamdi Madubuike, Baltimore Ravens

Outside linebackers

Nik Bonitto, Denver Broncos

Khalil Mack, Los Angeles Chargers

T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers

Inside/middle linebackers

Zaire Franklin, Indianapolis Colts

Roquan Smith, Baltimore Ravens

Cornerbacks

Marlon Humphrey, Baltimore Ravens

Derek Stingley Jr., Houston Texans

Pat Surtain II, Denver Broncos

Denzel Ward, Cleveland Browns

Free safety

Minkah Fitzpatrick, Pittsburgh Steelers

Strong safeties

Kyle Hamilton, Baltimore Ravens

Derwin James, Los Angeles Chargers

Punter

Logan Cooke, Jacksonville Jaguars

Placekicker

Chris Boswell, Pittsburgh Steelers

Long snapper

Ross Matiscik, Jacksonville Jaguars

Return specialist

Marvin Mims Jr., Denver Broncos

Special teamer

Brenden Schooler, New England Patriots

NFC (starters in italics)

Quarterbacks

Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders

Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings

Jared Goff, Detroit Lions

Wide receivers

Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings

CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys

Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders

Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions

Running backs

Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles

Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions

Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers

Fullback

Kyle Juszczyk, San Francisco 49ers

Tight ends

George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers

Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals

Offensive tackles

Lane Johnson, Philadelphia Eagles

Penei Sewell, Detroit Lions

Tristan Wirfs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Offensive guards

Lane Dickerson, Philadelphia Eagles

Chris Lindstrom, Atlanta Falcons

Tyler Smith, Dallas Cowboys

Centers

Cam Jurgens, Philadelphia Eagles

Frank Ragnow, Detroit Lions

Defensive ends

Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers

Rashan Gary, Green Bay Packers

Micah Parsons, Dallas Cowboys

Interior linemen

Jalen Carter, Philadelphia Eagles

Dexter Lawrence, New York Giants

Vita Vea, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Outside linebacker

Jonathan Greenard, Minnesota Vikings

Andrew Van Ginkel, Minnesota Vikings

Jared Verse, Los Angeles Rams

Inside/middle linebackers

Zack Baun, Philadelphia Eagles

Fred Warner, San Francisco 49ers

Cornerbacks

Jaycee Horn, Carolina Panthers

Jaylon Johnson, Chicago Bears

Byron Murphy, Minnesota Vikings

Devon Witherspoon, Seattle Seahawks

Free safety

Xavier McKinney, Green Bay Packers

Strong safety

Budda Baker, Arizona Cardinals

Brian Branch, Detroit Lions

Punter

Jack Fox, Detroit Lions

Placekicker

Brandon Aubrey, Dallas Cowboys

Long snapper

Andrew DePaola, Minnesota Vikings

Return specialist

KaVontae Turpin, Dallas Cowboys

Special teamer

KhaDarel Hodges, Atlanta Falcons

Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin is back from his fractured left fibula and resuming his pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s NHL career goal record.

Ovechkin, 39, had missed 16 games after absorbing a leg-on-leg collision during a Nov. 18 game against the Utah Hockey Club. He returned on Dec. 28 and has scored goals in three of his first four games back.

Ovechkin entered this season needing 42 goals to break Gretzky’s record of 894 career goals, which has stood since 1999. The Capitals captain has 18 goals this season, with 44 games left.

If he doesn’t reach the record this season, he has one more season left on his contract.

Here’s where Ovechkin stands in his chase of Gretzky’s goal record:

How many goals does Alex Ovechkin have?

Ovechkin has 871 career goals.

How close is Alex Ovechkin to Wayne Gretzky’s goal record?

Ovechkin needs 24 goals to break Gretzky’s record.

How many goals does Alex Ovechkin have this season?

Ovechkin has 18 goals and 10 assists in 22 games. Factoring in the 16 games he missed, that is a 54-goal pace.

What did Alex Ovechkin do in his last game?

He had one goal on four shots in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Minnesota Wild. He fired a snap shot from the point past Marc-Andre Fleury on a power play during the second period. Ovechkin has scored 28 regular-season goals against Fleury, the most he’s scored on any goalie. Fleury did stop Ovechkin’s shootout attempt to seal the win.

When is Alex Ovechkin’s next game?

The Capitals play Saturday, Jan. 4, at home against the New York Rangers. Ovechkin has 44 goals in 74 career games vs. the Rangers.

Alex Ovechkin career goal breakdown

Even strength: 549, third overall

Power play: 317, a record

Short-handed: 5

Empty net: 60, a record

Game winners: 132, second overall

Multi-goal games: 177, second overall

Goalies scored against: 178, tied for record

Hat tricks: 31, sixth overall

Who are the NHL’s top all-time goal scorers?

The top 21 NHL all-time goal scorers all have 600 or more goals. All of the players are in the Hockey Hall of Fame, except Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby and Jaromir Jagr, who are still playing.

1. Wayne Gretzky, 894 goals in 1,487 games

2. Alex Ovechkin, 871 goals in 1,448 games

3. Gordie Howe, 801 goals in 1,767 games

4. Jaromir Jagr, 766 goals in 1,733 games

5. Brett Hull, 741 goals in 1,269 games

6. Marcel Dionne, 731 in 1,348 games

7. Phil Esposito, 717 goals in 1,282 games

8. Mike Gartner, 708 goals in 1,432 games

9. Mark Messier, 694 goals in 1,756 games

10. Steve Yzerman, 692 goals in 1,514 games

11. Mario Lemieux, 690 goals in 915 games

12. Teemu Selanne, 684 goals in 1,451 games

13. Luc Robitaille, 668 goals in 1,431 games

14. Brendan Shanahan, 656 goals in 1,524 games

15. Dave Andreychuk, 640 goals in 1,639 games

16. Jarome Iginla, 625 goals in 1,554 games

17. Joe Sakic, 625 goals in 1,378 games

18. Bobby Hull, 610 goals in 1,063 games

19. Dino Ciccarelli, 608 goals in 1,232 games

20. Sidney Crosby, 602 goals in 1,310 games

21. Jari Kurri, 601 goals in 1,251 games

Defending champion United States rode the Boston College line and a strong first period to a 7-2 quarterfinal rout of Switzerland at the world junior hockey championship.

Captain Ryan Leonard scored twice on Thursday as did James Hagens, the projected No. 1 pick in the 2025 NHL draft. Gabe Perreault, their Boston College teammate, had three assists as the USA reached the semifinals for the third year in a row.

The Americans’ opponent for Saturday’s game won’t be determined until the last two quarterfinals (Finland vs. Slovakia and Czechia vs. Canada) are played. The USA won gold in 2024 and bronze in 2023.

The United States forced Swiss goalie Christian Kirsch out of the net with three goals in less than five minutes during the first period. Boston University’s Brandon Svoboda scored a bad-angle goal, then Hagens and Leonard scored. Leonard intercepted a pass and drove to the net on a power move to put the puck past Kirsch, who was pulled for Elijah Neuenschwander.

After giving up a short-handed goal that made it 3-1, the USA got the three-goal lead back when Notre Dame’s Danny Nelson scored his fourth goal of the tournament.

The USA built on their 4-1 lead with three goals in the second period. Leonard drew a high-sticking penalty after a physical shift, and Denver University defenseman Zeev Buium scored on the power play. Perreault drew the primary assist on that goal, plus goals by Hagens and Leonard (power play).

Leonard was hit in the face by a deflected puck in the third period to go along with the cut from the high stick. He returned and was named U.S. player of the game.

Western Michigan goalie Hampton Slukynsky got the start for the USA and made 17 saves.

Today’s world juniors hockey schedule, scores

All times p.m. ET

Germany 4, Kazakhstan 3 (Kazakhstan is relegated to a lower tier)
No. 1 Sweden 3, No. 4 Latvia 2
No. 1 United States 7, No. 4 Switzerland 2
No. 2 Finland 5, No. 3 Slovakia 3
No. 2 Czechia vs. No. 3 Canada quarterfinal, 7:30, NHLN, TSN

How to watch world juniors hockey playoffs?

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

World juniors hockey scores

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)
Czechia 4, Slovakia 2
Canada 3, Germany 0

Dec. 30

Slovakia 5, Kazakhstan 4 (OT)
Latvia 4, Germany 3 (OT)

Dec. 31

Switzerland 3, Kazakhstan 1 
Finland 3, Latvia 0
Sweden 4, Czechia 2
United States 4, Canada 1

World juniors hockey playoff round

All times Eastern

Jan. 2 (quarterfinals)

Sweden 3, Latvia 2
United States 7, Switzerland 2
Finland 5, Slovakia 3
Czechia vs. Canada, 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

The College Football Playoff quarterfinals conclude on Thursday with the Sugar Bowl between No. 2 Georgia and No. 7 Notre Dame.

The Bulldogs and Irish are set to square off against each other a day later than originally scheduled due to what the FBI is considering a terrorist attack early Wednesday in New Orleans’ French Quarter.

‘Tragic. To have what’s happened in our country where you come and feel safe and a lot of people lost their lives, it’s saddening, it’s scary,’ Smart told Smith. ‘I first want to thank the first responders who’ve done such a tremendous job keeping the city safe since then and doing what they do. These kids want to come play a football game and do what they love to do and they got an opportunity to do that today.’

He added: ‘Things are bigger than football out there. Sometimes we get caught up in our own selves in our own moment and you lose sight of how blessed we are every day to have the opportunity we have to play football and play in a CFP quarterfinal game against historic programs. So a lot of times when you have gratitude, it takes away a lot of anxiety.’

ESPN’s Molly McGrath reported on ‘SportsCenter’ that Georgia and Notre Dame both stayed inside their hotels for the majority of Wednesday in a ‘lockdown’ setting until it was clear for them to head onto team buses for a walk-on at the stadium late Wednesday night.

Smith also asked Smart if the postponed game will have any impact on his team and the way they come out Thursday against the Irish.

‘I think it just changes things. We do a lot of change around our place a lot of times to try to prepare for things like this. We’re a very, very resilient group and I expect them to be resilient today.’

The winner of Thursday’s Sugar Bowl will advance to face No. 6 Penn State in the College Football Playoff semifinals at the Orange Bowl on Jan. 9.