Week 17 of the NFL regular season features high-stakes matchups involving teams jockeying for playoff position. Saturday’s double-header alone features three teams in playoff position already (Houston, Green Bay and the Los Angeles Chargers) and one trying to win its division (Baltimore).

There’s another important matchup this week with implications on the other end of team success. The 2-13 New York Giants and 2-13 Las Vegas Raiders face off in a game that could determine who holds the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

And one of the best players from those teams won’t be suiting up.

Raiders star edge rusher Maxx Crosby will not be playing for Las Vegas due to a nagging knee injury, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Crosby was upset about that decision and left the team building after learning he wouldn’t be playing against the Giants, per FOX’s Jay Glazer.

Crosby was asked earlier about the No. 1 pick in the draft being in play for this week’s game and was honest.

‘I don’t give a (expletive) about the pick, I don’t play for that,’ Crosby said. ‘That’s not my job. My job is to be the best defensive end in the world, and that’s what I focus on every day. And being a great leader and being an influence and being that guy on a consistent basis for my team.

‘That’s their job, the front office, the coaches, they do that, but that’s got nothing to do with me. I’ve learned my lesson in the past, you can’t control everything and that’s not my job description. My job is to be the best in the world at what I do.’

The Raiders and Giants are the lone two-win teams left in the NFL. Whichever team loses has a one-game lead over the rest of the league for the top pick which may all but clinch it ahead of Week 18.

Despite their record, the Raiders’ defense hasn’t been the weak part of the team. Instead, it’s the last-ranked offense in both points and yards. Securing the top pick would guarantee Las Vegas has its choice from the top quarterbacks in the 2026 draft class.

Maxx Crosby stats

Crosby’s had a solid season in 2025 after missing games for the first time in 2024. He notched his first career interception in Week 4 against the Chicago Bearsin addition to his usual production as a pass rusher.

Tackles: 73
Tackles for loss: 28
Sacks: 10
Quarterback hits: 20
Passes defensed: 6
Interceptions: 1
Forced fumbles: 2

2026 NFL Draft order

Here’s a look at the latest draft order for the first round with strength of schedule information via Tankathon:

New York Giants: 2-13 record; .531 strength of schedule
Las Vegas Raiders: 2-13; .543 SOS
Cleveland Browns: 3-12, .492 SOS
New York Jets: 3-12, .539 SOS
Tennessee Titans: 3-12, .573 SOS
Arizona Cardinals: 3-12; .576 SOS
Washington Commanders: 4-12; .504 SOS
New Orleans Saints: 5-10; .498 SOS
Cincinnati Bengals: 5-10; .516 SOS
Kansas City Chiefs: 6-10; .513 SOS
Miami Dolphins: 6-9; .490 SOS
Atlanta Falcons (pick belongs to Los Angeles Rams): 6-9; .502 SOS
Baltimore Ravens: 7-8; .504 SOS
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 7-8, .529 SOS
Dallas Cowboys: 7-8-1; .438 SOS
Detroit Lions: 8-8; .496 SOS
Minnesota Vikings: 8-8; .515 SOS
Indianapolis Colts (pick belongs to Jets): 8-7; .537 SOS
Carolina Panthers: 8-7, .518 SOS
Pittsburgh Steelers: 9-6; .504 SOS
Green Bay Packers (pick belongs to Cowboys): 9-5-1; .476 SOS
Philadelphia Eagles: 10-5; .473 SOS
Houston Texans: 10-5; .537 SOS
Buffalo Bills: 11-4, .463 SOS
Los Angeles Chargers: 11-4; .457 SOS
San Francisco 49ers: 11-4, .494 SOS
Jacksonville Jaguars (pick belongs to Browns): 11-4; .494 SOS
Los Angeles Rams: 11-4, .529 SOS
Chicago Bears: 11-4; .445 SOS
New England Patriots: 12-3; .380 SOS
Seattle Seahawks: 12-3; .502 SOS
Denver Broncos: 13-3; .429 SOS

The Baseball Hall of Fame ballot feels like it finally has a chance to breathe in 2026.

In my six years of voting, I’ve struggled with there being almost too many worthy candidates vying for my 10 available slots. I haven’t always filled every one, but the sheer volume of very good players has made some of those decisions agonizing. Certainly, Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens running out of eligibility four years ago released some of that pressure. And the election of Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner last year was a major step forward.

Will that change anything for me?

I don’t think so. But I find my approach to voting has evolved somewhat over the past few years.

With a little time and perspective, I’ve come to the realization that my individual vote only makes a discernable difference when it comes to candidates who are close to being elected or candidates who are in danger of falling off the ballot. So here’s how I filled out mine for the Class of 2026.

The no-doubters

This may be the year for Carlos Beltran and Andruw Jones. If so, I’m fully on board.

In my mind, those two are certain Hall of Famers for all they accomplished during their lengthy careers. For “small Hall” voters, there’s a strong case to include both among the best center fielders in baseball history – Beltran, mostly for his offense and Jones, mostly for his defense.

Yes, Beltran was a central figure in the Houston Astros’ 2017 sign-stealing scandal. He definitely helped push the envelope a little too far. But that isn’t enough to negate everything he accomplished on the field over a career that lasted two full decades.

And yes, Jones’ skills declined rapidly after he turned 30. But in his prime, he was as good a defensive center fielder as the game has ever seen. And he was a consistent power hitter, finishing with the exact same .486 slugging percentage Beltran had.

I also have no doubts about withholding my vote for Alex Rodriguez and Manny Ramirez. As I’ve stated before, I draw the line on PED users at the point where MLB decided to implement its current testing policy. Once the crackdown began in 2004 and penalties were established for getting caught, those players are no longer eligible for me. It’s an offense that’s multiple times more damaging to the game than sign-stealing.

The borderline candidates

I fully realize the other players on my ballot may never get in to Cooperstown. I’ll even concede they may fall below what’s currently considered a Hall of Fame level.

But if our standards are so high that players of this generation are denied entry, we run the risk of making the Hall an obsolete museum with little relevance to the modern-day baseball fan. There is already a far greater percentage of enshrinees from the 1920s and 30s than there are from the 1970s and 80s.

I want to see the best players from every era honored. And I’m a little concerned that if the current trend continues, that won’t always be the case.

So yes to Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley, the keystone combo from the Keystone State. They won a World Series together in 2008 with the Philadelphia Phillies. Rollins won four Gold Gloves; Utley won four Silver Sluggers.

And yes to a quartet of starting pitchers who make it almost impossible to determine who’s the best of the group.

Felix Hernandez was one of my favorite players to watch. His genuine love for the game and for competing made it so easy root for him. The AL Cy Young award winner in 2010, King Felix was incredibly consistent, posting 10 consecutive seasons with 30+ starts. And he was the unquestioned ace of the Mariners, starting 11 times on opening day.

The biggest drawback to Hernandez’s candidacy is his relatively low career totals: 169 wins, 2,524 strikeouts, and perhaps most glaringly, zero playoff appearances. And, like Andruw Jones, his production fell off dramatically after age 30.

For a second consecutive year, I’m also including Andy Pettitte and Mark Buehrle.

Both won over 200 games during their lengthy careers and were key members of World Series-winning teams. Their overall numbers are incredibly close, with Pettitte’s lengthy postseason resume (a record 44 playoff starts) and five championship rings balanced out by Burhrle’s edge in All-Star appearances and his Gold Glove defense.

The case for Hamels

Finally, I’m checking the box for Cole Hamels in his first year on the ballot.

My argument last year for including the other three starting pitchers was that there was no clear way to tell them apart. They all had their particular advantages compared to the others, but no one stood out. The best example was that they all finished their careers with the exact same adjusted ERA (ERA+) of 117.

Comparing Hamels to that group only made things more difficult.

The lanky lefty with a mid-90s fastball, an above-average curve and a devastating changeup spent 15 seasons in the majors, 10 with the Philadelphia Phillies. His 163 career wins are far below the 200-plus Pettitte and Buehrle earned, but only six behind Hernandez. But in terms of ERA+, Hamels’ 123 is the best of the bunch.

While Pettitte has a stellar postseason history, Hamels’ dominant performance in the 2008 playoffs blows the others away. That year, he went 4-0 with a 1.80 ERA in five starts, leading the Phillies to their first championship in 28 years. He was also named MVP of both the NL Championship Series and the World Series.

A four-time All-Star, Hamels finished his career with 59.0 Wins Above Replacement (WAR), the same as Buehrle and just behind Pettitte’s 60.2. (Hernandez is at 49.8.) He was an effective pitcher into his mid-30s and he finished with 2,560 strikeouts. He was also more consistent than one might expect, with nine seasons of 4-plus WAR over a 10-year span from 2007-2016. A true workhorse.

I’ll concede Hamels doesn’t “feel” like a Hall of Famer. He wasn’t even the best pitcher on his team for most of his career. But the way starting pitchers are being used these days, it’s pretty obvious the historic standards we’ve used for decades are becoming increasingly more unrealistic as each year passes. As a result, starters could soon become an endangered species in Cooperstown.

Let’s give Hamels’ candidacy (along with those of Pettitte, Buehrle and Hernandez) time to marinate. In time, those pitchers’ numbers may be seen in a much more favorable light. I’m more than happy to extend the discussion a little longer.

Saturday is the busiest day of the college football bowl season. Eight games are on the calendar, starting in the morning in the eastern time zone and continuing well into the wee hours.

The College Football Playoff quarterfinal bowls are still a few days away, but today’s slate at least features a US LBM Coaches Poll Top 25 showdown. There will also be a giant toaster at that one, but we’ll leave the analysis of flavor choice to other pundits.

The lineup also includes a couple contests set at baseball parks, one of which features a matchup of playoff participants from last year hoping to end a disappointing year on a positive note. Let’s dive in, shall we?

Military Bowl: East Carolina vs. Pittsburgh

Time/TV: 11 a.m. ET, ESPN in in Annapolis, Md.

Why watch: The busy day begins at Navy Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, a familiar venue for the Pirates who’ve played here over the course of their membership in the American. They dropped their season opener against N.C. State but get another crack at an ACC opponent after concluding the campaign with wins in five of their last six games. East Carolina took some hits in the transfer portal, notably QB Katin Houser and RB London Montgomery, and also saw both coordinators depart. Pitt was in the ACC mix until the final November stretch, but a win against Georgia Tech was sandwiched between decisive losses to Notre Dame and Miami. QB Mason Heintschel looks to wrap up a breakout freshman season on a high note, with help from WRs Kenny Johnson and Raphael Williams.

Why it could disappoint: Pitt has been on both ends of one-sided contests this year, so it would seem to depend upon which version of the Panthers shows up. The Pirates will be motivated enough with an opportunity to beat a so-called power conference team.

Pinstripe Bowl: Clemson vs. Penn State

Time/TV: noon ET, ABC.

Why watch: These were playoff participants a year ago and ranked in the top 10 in the preseason, but the 2025 campaign did not go according to script for either of these proud programs. The Nittany Lions were at least able to win their last three games to salvage bowl eligibility, while the Tigers come in with a four-game winning streak. Clemson QB Cade Klubnik will play, though a number of other draft-bound Tigers will sit out. The Nittany Lions have their share of optouts as well, but QB Ethan Grunkemeyer should at least have RB Kaytron Allen with him in the backfield.

Why it could disappoint: Given all the new faces in both lineups it’s hard to know what to expect. A low score seems likely so fourth-quarter drama is possible, but the energy might not be there.

Fenway Bowl: Army vs. Connecticut

Time/TV: 2:15 p.m. ET, ESPN in Boston.

Why watch: This regional matchup could prove to be a compelling contest, though the Black Knights came up a point short in their rivalry game with Navy when they last took the field. UConn won this same bowl a year ago, but coach Jim Mora Jr. is now off to Colorado State and several key players responsible for this breakthrough campaign will not be available. The Huskies’ offense will likely be in the hands of QB Nick Evers, who attempted just 15 passes this season, but standout WR Skylar Bell is expected to play. Optouts aren’t an issue at Army, which will count on QB Cale Hellums and SB Noah Short to lead the punishing ground attack that typifies the program.

Why it could disappoint: It shouldn’t. UConn’s three losses were all in overtime, and Army’s methodical style makes a big lead either way unlikely.

Pop-Tarts Bowl: No. 13 Brigham Young vs. No. 22 Georgia Tech

Time/TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC in Orlando, Fla.

Why watch: The game of the day – and arguably one of the best of the non-playoff matchups of the entire bowl season – features a couple of squads still seemingly fighting for respect. BYU beat every opponent on its schedule not named Texas Tech, while the Yellow Jackets were in the ACC hunt until their final league contest. It is anticipated that both teams will have full participation, meaning Georgia Tech QB Haynes King and BYU QB Bear Bachmeier could put on a show. King is most dangerous when he pulls the ball down, while Bachmeier prefers to let L.J. Martin get the bulk of the rushing yards. Names to know on the defensive side include Yellow Jackets LB Kyle Efford and Cougars DB Tanner Wall.

Why it could disappoint: It’s possible the BYU defense will be the strongest unit, though the Yellow Jackets were able to hang with Georgia when we saw them last.

Arizona Bowl: Fresno State vs. Miami (Ohio)

Time/TV: 4:30 p.m. ET, The CW in Tucson, Ariz.

Why watch: If an appearance from Snoop Dogg doesn’t move the needle for you, a competitive MAC vs. Mountain West matchup should at least be worth a look. The RedHawks came up short against Western Michigan in the conference championship game but put together a solid season nonetheless. QB Thomas Gotkowski would like to have a better showing heading into the offseason. A two-game offensive outage in October kept the Bulldogs out of the MWC title chase. They’ll hope to produce more points and finish with nine wins for the fourth time in five seasons.

Why it could disappoint: This game probably won’t have a lot in the way of fireworks. The point differential for both teams is within a touchdown, so hopefully it will remain competitive throughout.

New Mexico Bowl: North Texas vs. San Diego State

Time/TV: 5:45 p.m. ET, ESPN in Albuquerque.

Why watch: If you want a contrast in styles for your bowl matchup, this one is for you. The Mean Green, runners-up in the American, are all about airing it out. The Aztecs rely on their stout defense to control games to compensate for a somewhat punchless attack. North Texas architect Eric Morris is off to Oklahoma State, but QB Drew Mestemaker will take the field one more time for the Mean Green before likely entering the transfer portal. He’ll try and make use of WRs Wyatt Young and Cameron Dorner while avoiding Aztecs edge rushers Ryan Henderson and Trey White. SDSU will count on workhorse RB Lucky Sutton to move the chains. He’ll become well acquainted with Mean Green LBs Ethan Wesloski and Trey Fields.

Why it could disappoint: The Mean Green were held in check by Tulane when we last saw them, so the aerial show might not materialize if the Aztecs are able to control the tempo and force turnovers. Conversely, if North Texas finds a rhythm and grabs the lead, San Diego State will be hard pressed to stage a comeback.

Gator Bowl: No. 21 Virginia vs. Missouri

Time/TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC in Jacksonville, Fla.

Why watch: The Cavaliers must shake off the disappointment of coming a win away from a playoff appearance to conclude what was otherwise a highly successful season. The Tigers similarly had some disappointing results and now hope to demonstrate staying power for future SEC campaigns. Freshman Matt Zollers will be back at QB for Mizzou with Beau Pribula again headed to the transfer portal. UVa QB Chandler Morris should have his entire arsenal available, though a productive outing from RB J’Mari Taylor could be the biggest need.

Why it could disappoint: The ACC has not fared well against the SEC of late, but from a physical standpoint this one looks to be more even. Should that prove not to be the case, at least there will be viewing alternatives.

Texas Bowl: No. 24 Houston vs. LSU

Time/TV: 9:15 p.m. ET, ESPN in Houston.

Why watch: The long day concludes with a clash of teams that would in all honesty prefer to be elsewhere. This fall was a breakthrough of sorts for the Cougars as they exceeded projections in the Big 12 with nine wins, though there were also a couple of puzzling losses in November. LSU’s offensive woes that led to a coaching change were of course well documented, but they’ll try to produce something to build on for next year here. The LSU defense was not the problem, but CB Mansoor Delane is in draft preparation, which might mean a somewhat less rough night for Houston QB Connor Weigman. LSU QB Michael Van Buren might not be around once Lane Kiffin assumes the reins next year, but a strong showing here would improve his options.

Why it could disappoint: LSU games have been tough to watch all season, but the Tigers aren’t likely to give up many points regardless. A multi-score lead either way might mean it’s time for bed.

The NBA is best when there are rivalries, the kind when players seemingly hate the thought of even being around the other team.

Think Bulls-Pistons, Lakers-Celtics or Heat-Knicks.

The Oklahoma City Thunder, the team that had dominated the first two months of the season with a 23-1 record, have found their foil in the San Antonio Spurs.

Over the past 13 days, the Spurs — relative upstarts who are probably ahead of schedule on a path to legitimate title contention — have defeated the Thunder three times. The losses have come on a neutral floor (in the NBA Cup semifinal in Las Vegas), on the road in San Antonio and at home in Oklahoma City.

And, best thing for hoops fans, is that there’s this apparent disdain simmering underneath it all.

Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama has been the primary catalyst behind this. Weeks away from turning 22, Wembanyama’s personality has fully blossomed since the start of this season. In press availabilities, Wembanyama has been direct and honest, if not entirely unfiltered. Not surprisingly, the Thunder have not been off-topic.

When a reporter recently asked Wembanyama in French about whether there was any rivalry between him and Oklahoma City big man Chet Holmgren, Wembanyama didn’t mince words.

“No, I don’t think about that,” Wembanyama said, according to the reporter’s translation. “At least from a basketball standpoint, there’s no comparison (between us).”

Now, there may have been something lost in translation and perhaps Wembanyama was trying to convey a difference in playing style, but his body language during the exchange and the literal translation hint toward a deeper resentment.

Wembanyama actually used a phrase common in France: “y’a pas photo,” which is short for “il n’y a pas photo,” whose literal translation is “there is no photo.” An allusion to horse racing, the idiom refers to photo finishes and essentially declares: it’s not even close.

Then, during their Christmas Day game Thursday, Dec. 25, the apparent pettiness spilled over on the court.

After Holmgren worked his way into the paint, he pump-faked Wembanyama multiple times to get him in the air. It worked. Once Holmgren saw Wembanyama out of position, he attempted a shot and tried to draw a foul.

Wembanyama, though, made sure to wrap up forcefully.

That wasn’t all. Holmgren missed both free throws, but after each miss, on-court microphones caught Wembanyama demonstratively shouting “hell yeah.”

This was not at all dissimilar from what Wembanyama did Dec. 13 when Holmgren missed a free throw during the Cup semis.

It’s next-level trolling — the kind that makes NBA rivalries sizzle.

Things between Wembanyama and Holmgren feel personal. The two have often been compared because of their size and ability to shoot and handle the ball, but they have also been competing since their teenage years on the FIBA circuit.

In a recent interview with ESPN, Holmgren was asked if he and Wembanyama had ever really spoken.

“Not a full sentence, I don’t think,” Holmgren said, before adding that people shouldn’t take that the wrong way. “We’ve just never really crossed paths.”

But it’s not only apparent contempt that is fueling this rivalry, it’s also a compelling contrast in basketball.

Wembanyama is the premier defensive force in the NBA; his size and presence make it so that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams — both of whom thrive inside the paint — are forced to alter their shots. San Antonio’s trio of speedy guards — De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and rookie Dylan Harper — push pace and compromise Oklahoma City’s stellar transition defense.

Put another way: the Spurs are the one team that present unique challenges to Oklahoma City’s dominance.

“You don’t lose three times in a row to the same team in a short span without them being better than you,” Gilgeous-Alexander said Thursday.

The Thunder know they have been put on notice, and they know that — as defending champions — they have targets on their backs. Oklahoma City is well-coached and deeply talented. They know their brand of basketball. Expect the Thunder to adjust before their next meeting against the Spurs, Jan. 13 in Oklahoma City.

But you better believe San Antonio isn’t accepting complacency, either.

“I’ve learned a lot,” Wembanyama said Thursday. “This is like a playoff series. We’ve played them three times … so we learned a lot on the tactical side, but I don’t want to say too much about it. I want to keep something for us.

“But we definitely got some intelligence, of course, after playing them so much.”

The obvious implication here being that these two will meet in the playoffs.

NBA fans can only hope.

Naoya Inoue dominated Alan Picasso, winning their 12-round bout by unanimous decision at Mohammed Abdo Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and defending his undisputed world super bantamweight title.

The judges scored it 119-109, 120-108 and 117-111 for “The Monster,’ as the Japanese superstar is known. He improved to 32-0, solidified his status as one of the world’s top pound-for-pound boxers and set up a likely super fight with fellow countryman Junto Nakatani.

Before Inoue beat Picasso, Nakatani improved to 32-0 by beating Sebastian Hernandez in Nakatani’s debut at the super bantamweight division. And so the collision course between the 32-year-old Inoue and 27-year-old Nakatani likely will result in a clash between two of Japan’s premier boxers.

About the only thing Inoue failed to deliver was the knockout. It was the second straight fight in which his opponent took him the distance. Picasso, a 25-year-old from Mexico, suffered his first loss and fell to 32-1-1.

Inoue said his performance ‘was not good enough. I should’ve done better.” But when asked about a possible fight with Nakatani, Inoue said, ‘Both of us had a very good win tonight…”

A ‘very good win” was an apt description for Inoue, who did not drop Picasso but smothered him with punches and evades some of Picasso’s biggest shots.

Naoya Inoue vs Alan Picasso highlights

Naoya Inoue vs. Alan Picasso, for the undisputed super bantamweight world titles

Round 1: Alan Picasso, clearly the taller fighter and throws a left jab. Nothing to fear for Naoya Inoue, responds with his own jab. Picasso active early and fires a couple of shots to Inoue’s body. Inoue now firing away and Picasso answers, showing no fear of The Monster. Inoue looks crisp. Inoue 10, Picasso 9.
Round 2: Inoue erupts as the round begins with a series of combinations. Picasso unloads a couple of shots and Inoue pushes back. He’s blocking most of those shots and pounds Picasso with a hard right. Inoue showing more confidence. Picasso lands a right and Inoue answers with the right, again and again. Inoue lands a hard uppercut, and back comes Picasso. Inoue 20, Picasso 18.
Round 3: Inoue throwing with force and getting through Picasso’s high guard. Not enough guarding for Picasso. But Picasso throws some hard right, evidence he’s still got some confidence. That Inoue will seek to kill. For every punch Picasso throws, he’s taking two or three. Or four. Inoue 30, Picasso 27.
Round 4: Inoue making good use of his jab, then unfurls a right and follows up with a combination. Picasso showing down and Inoue rocks Picasso’s head back. Picasso digs into Inoue’s body with a hard left and he looks alive again while landing some good shots. But Inoue largely dominates the round. Inoue 40, Picasso 36.
Round 5: Picasso looks game. But Inoue looks quick, aggressive and powerful. Oh, nice left from Picasso. Then he pays the price: a flurry from Inoue. Picasso takes his swings again and connects with big right. Inoue finishes strong. Inoue 50, Picasso 45.
Round 6: Inoue applying serious pressure. Picasso fights back with jabs to the body, then lands a double jab. They exchange lively body shots. Inoue digs a left into Picasso’s body. Ouch. Again, Inoue close strong. Inoue 60, Picasso 54.
Round 7: Picasso doesn’t look scared. Or self-assured. Inoue digging in with his jab. Inoue throwing big shots, but hasn’t wobbled Picasso. Yet. But the handspeed is impressive, to say the least. Picasso lands a couple of formidable shots, but not nearly enough to win the round. Inoue 70, Picasso 63.
Round 8: Inoue coming of a unanimous decision. Can Picasso force Inoue to go the distance again? He’s withstanding some big shots. No tension here. Inoue dominating, but we’re still waiting on his signature KO punch. Still waiting. Inoue 80, PIcasso 72.
Round 9: Picasso not cowering. Throws a few nice shots and Inoue pushes back. Textbook boxing from Inoue, who’s displaying elite offense and defense. Inoue 90, Picasso 81.
Round 10: Inoue comes out swinging. Three rounds to end the fight by stoppage. Anything less would constitute a moral victory for Picasso. He’s withstanding the punishment and lands a left to the body, for good measure. But Inoue still in control. Inoue 100, Picasso 90.
Round 11: Picasso emerges with welts on his faces. Courtesy of Inoue’s fists. Picasso shows life again with a couple of body shots. He just can’t maintain anything — with Inoue’s fists flying in his face. Gutsy effort from Picasso. He’s just overrmatched. Inoue 110, Picasso 99.
Round 12: Inoue not coasting to victory. He comes out aggressive. Picasso throws a couple of wicked lefts. Whiffs. Now Picasso connects, but Inoue takes one on the chin and fires back. Picasso aquittign himself well as they men slug it out. Inoue 120, Picasso 108.

Japanese super fight looks likely

Now everything is in place for a megafight between Naoya Inoue and Junto Natakani.

Inoue failed to offer explicit confirmation, saying the premier Japanese fighters would decide next year what to do. But he also added, ‘For the Japanese fans, you can expect something very good.’’

Naoya Inoue reigns supreme

Inoue on Saturday defended his undisputed world super bantamweight title for the fourth time in 2025. That included a fourth-round knockout of Ye Joon Kim in January; an eighth-round TKO of Ramon Cardenas in May; a victory over Murodjon Akhmadaliev by unanimous decision in September; capped by his victory over Picasso four days before the calendar year ends.

“I’m very happy that I could win four matches this year, but actually I’m really tired so I have to rest for a while,’’ Inoue said.

Naoya Inoue vs. Jesse ‘Bam” Rodriguez?

Naoya Inoue indicated he’s open to a fight with Jesse ‘Bam” Rodriguez, the unified super flyweight champion and a consensus Top 5 pound-for-pound fighter. That is, if Rodriguez can move up to the 122-pound super bantamweight division, where Inoue fights, from the 115-pound super flyweight division.

Through a translator, Inoue said he’d ‘love” for Rodriguez to challenge him if Rodriguez can move up in weight.

Naoya Inoue vs Alan Picasso: Time, PPV, streaming for fight

Naoya Inoue will face Alan Picasso on Saturday, Dec. 27, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Date: Saturday, Dec. 27
Time: 5 a.m. ET
Inoue vs Picasso main event ringwalks: 7:57 a.m. ET (estimate)
Stream: DAZN PPV

Watch Inoue vs Picasso on DAZN PPV

Junto Nakatani def. Sebastian Hernandez by unanimous decision

For Junto Nakatani, the path to a potential mega fight against Naoya Inoue was a brutal one.

Nakatani endured a slugfest with Sebastian Hernandez that ended with his right eye swollen shut during the 12-round fight. But the judges were in agreement.

They scored the fight 115-113,115-113, 118-110 in favor of Nakatani, who prevailed in his debut at super bantamweight.

Nakatani had relinquished his IBC and WBC world bantamweight titles before moving to super bantamweight weight division with the clear hope of fighting Inoue. He took a big step toward securing that chance while handing Hernandez his first loss as a pro.

Nakatani, a 27-year-old from Japan, improved to 32-0. Hernandez, a 25-year-old from Mexico, improved to 20-1.

Round 1: Junto Nakatani delivers a solid right uppercut and Sebastian Hernandez plodding as Nakatani lands a few more shots. Hernandez may have just landed his first punch. Weak jabs. Nakatani swings away and shows nice footwork as he connects. Nakatani 10, Hernandez 9.
Round 2: Nakatani opens with two nice left uppercuts to Hernandez’s body. Hernandez stalking and Nakatani looks more than comfortable fighting off his back foot. Starting to use his jab and it sets up a double uppercut. Connects with a big left and Hernandez felt that. Nakatani so nimble as he fires away. Nakatani 20, Hernandez 18.
Round 3: Nakatani, so slick as he sets up the uppecuts. Appears to be in total control until Hernandez wraps him up. But they’re separated and Hernandez gets more active. Hernandez chases after Nakatani and showing more skill as they fight in close quarters. But Nakatani regains control with a series of shots to the body and head. Nakatani 30, Hernandez 27.
Round 4: Hernandez willing to put himself in harm’s way and lands more than a few punches, including a nice left to th head. Nakatani counters as Hernandez stands his ground. Nakatani answers with combinations and more textbook boxing as he escapes a few shots. Hernandez coming on strong. Nakatani 39, Hernandez 37.
Round 5: Nakatani comes out strong with his signature, clean shots. Hernandez still marching forward — right into a flurry of punches. Big uppercut from Nakatani and his punches appear to be landing with more authority than Hernandez’s shots. But Hernandez fires back with a flurry of punches. Nakatani 49, Hernandez 46.
Round 6: Nakatani unloads two left uppercuts. Hernandez still coming forward and he lands some good shots with both hands. But suddenly he’s under attack as Nakatani lands a couple of uppercuts. What looked like a mismatch suddenly looks like a real fight. And Hernandez stuns Nakatani with a right as the round ends. Nakatani 58, Hernandez 56.
Round 7: Hernandez comes out firing. Nakatani answers as the action heats up again. Nakatani trying to maintain some distance, which gives him space to throw the uppercuts. And Hernandez trying to shorten the distance between the two men. Hernandez enjoying a nice stretch of connecting with short shots. Slugfest, but Nakatani connecting with cleaner shots. Nakatani 68, Hernandez 65.
Round 8: It’s more of the same, Hernandez charging forward, Nakatani responding with uppercuts and…would love to see the scorecards now. Nakatani strugling to fight off Hernandez, who keeps swininging away. Neither man backing away. Hernandez absorbing shots but dishing out more than he’s taking. Nakatani 77, Hernandez 75.
Round 9: Nakatani, for all of his talent, kept back up Hernandez. If it’s a test of power, man, not sure Nakatani has enough. Even if he holds off Hernandez, can he possibly beat The Monster. Yeah, getting ahead of ourselves here as the slugging continues. Hernandez lands a hard right as the slugfest borders on a brawl. Hernandez finishes with force. Nakatani 86, Hernandez 85.
Round 10: All gas, no brakes. Incredible turnaround by Hernandez, who is the beast disrupting Nakatani’s beauty. Nonstop slugging here. Nakatani 95, Hernandez 95.
Round 11: Nakatina’s right eye looks in need of a huge bag of ice. Looks like Hernandez’s left-hand shots are landing hard. Just slugging it out, with a modicum of defense at best. Nakatani lands a three-punch combination and Hernandez just keeps firing. Nakatani’s face just took a pounding as the punches fly. Hernandez 105, Nakatani 104.
Round 12: Not sure Nakatani can see a thing out of his swollen right eye. Hernandez smothering Nakatani, who’s throwing punches but taking too many. In fact, Nakatani apperas to be running out of room to work. He’s been backpedaling for a long time now. Too long? Hernandez 115, Nakatani 113.

Reito Tsutsumi def. Leobardo Quintana by TKO

Tsutsumi, with blood gushing from his nose in Round 2, reversed the momentum in emphatic way. He stopped Quintana by TKO in the fourth round of their super featherweight bout.

A 23-year-old top prospect from Japan, Tsutsumi improved to 4-0. It was his third knockout, this one courtesy of a right hook that sent Quintana tumbling to the canvas.

Quintana, a 23-year-old from Mexico, fell to 12-2. He landed a barrage of punches but fatigued early as Tsutsumi pounced.

Round 1: Leobardo Quintana fires first with a left hook. Reito Tsutsumi fires a left and Quintana ducks as the punch flies overhead. Both showing quickness as they trade shots. But Quitana scores with a series of left hooks and taking control. Whoa! A Tsutsumi staggered Quitana with a big left hook. Tsutsumi 10, Quintana 9.
Round 2: Quitana charges out and lands a body shot and follows with a left, as if to show he’s fine despite that hard shot from Tsutsumi in Round 1. Quintana working hard and Tsutsumi’s body the chosen target, and left uppercuts follow. Tsutsumi fights back and lands a hard left, but Quintana in control as Tsutsumi’s nose begins to bleed. Tsutsumi 19, Quintana 19.
Round 3: Quintana letting his fists fly, and now the blood’s flowing from Tsutsumi’s nose. Quintana connects with a left uppercut and he’s dominating from the inside. Nice exchange of uppercuts, but the blood from Tsutsumi’s nose has gone from streaming to pouring. Quintana fell to the canvas. No knockdown, but maybe fatrigue as Tsutsumi came on strong late. Tsutsumi 29, Quintana 28.
Round 4: Quintana drops to his knees a la Jake Paul, an apparently sign of fatigue. Tsutsumi asserting himself and showing power and precision. Down goes Quintana! It’s over! The referee has halted the fight 1:14 into Round 4. It’s Tsutsumi by TKO.

Eridson Garcia def. Taiga Imanaga by split decision

Garcia, trailing midway through the fight, roared back thanks in part to an eighth-round knockdown. He continued to surge through the 10th and final round with powerful lefts against the previously undefeated Imanaga in their lightweight bout.

The judges scored it 96-93, 94-95, 95-94 for Garcia, And 31-year-old Dominican who improved to 23-1.

Imanaga, the 26-year-old from Japan, fell to 9-1.

Round 1: Taiga Imanaga showing aggression early and landing jabs. Eridson Garcia strikes back but without much authority. Imanaga connects with a jab to the body and Garcia felt that. Imanaga’s jab is a serious weapon. Imanaga 10, Garcia 9.
Round 2: Imanaga stalking. Garcia lands a couple of nice body shots and may have grazed Imanaga with a hard overhand left. Imanaga shows no hesistance as he stalks again. Garcia finishes the round strong, but not strong enough: Imanaga 20, Garcia 18.
Round 3: Garcia showing a willingness to close the gap against his taller opponent. But it’s by darting in and backing out. Imanaga continues to connect with his foreful jab. Garcia digs a hard right into Imanaga’s body. Nice round from Garcia. Imanaga 29, Garcia 28.
Round 4: Garcia opens the round with a sizzling punch, and Imanaga responds. Imanaga wielding that crisp jab in tandem with the left and followed by a couple of right hooks. Imanaga revvving up with a variety of punches and exudes poise. Imanaga 39, Garcia 37.
Round 5: Imanaga eats a straight right from Garcia but keeps coming forward. It’s going take more than that to deter him. They exchange body shots, and Imanaga lands a few more. Imanaga 49, Garcia 46.
Round 6: The jab continues to serve Imanaga well. So quick and precise. Then lands a right and a left to the body, showing impressive versatility as he continues to stalk. Garcia looking worn down as Imanaga fires away. Imanaga 59, Garcia 55.
Round 7: Imanaga attacks Garcia’s body with that all-purpose jab. Connects with a combination and Garcia throws a left that grazes Imanaga. Imanaga looks in command. Just like that, Garcia lands a stiff left and moves forward. Now it’s Garcia finally asserting himself. Lands a hard left as the bell rings, and has he turned the tide. Imanaga 68, Garcia 65.
Round 8: Garcia flexing, and lands a big right! Down goes Imanaga! Holy smokes. Imanaga back on his feet, and Garcia swinging for the fences. Garcia unloading and chasing after Imanaga, who’s bleeding from the nose. Imanaga in serious danger as Garcia whales away. Imanaga hanging on. Imanaga ducks about four big shots and survives the round. Imanaga 76, Garcia 75.
Round 9: They’ve got Imanaga cleaned up, but he still looks spent. Garcia comes out the aggressor. Imanaga throwing punches but looking vulnerable. But now he’s coming to life and Garcia grins. They’re mixing it up now. Garcia finishes the round with a flourish. Imanaga 85, Garcia 85.
Round 10: Imanaga showign life again and connects with a hard body shot. He’s stalking Garcia and a impressive exchange ensues. Garcia loading up with the overhand lefts. Garcia strikes again with the left and and he’s still displaying power as the fight comes to a close and draws blood from Imanaga again. Garcia 95, Imanaga 94.

What time is Naoya Inoue vs Alan Picasso fight card?

Inoue vs Picasso starts at 5 a.m. ET with the main card estimated to begin at 7:57 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 27.

When is the Naoya Inoue vs Alan Picasso main event ring walk?

The main card between Inoue and Picasso has an estimated start time of 7:57 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 27.

Inoue vs Picasso price: How much to watch fight

The fight available on DAZN will cost $39.99.

DAZN boxing start time delay

DAZN programming reflects that the Inoue vs. Picasso card will start at 5 a.m. ET rather than the originally scheduled time of 4 a.m. ET. The change in time followed the cancellation of IBF super-flyweight world title fight between Willibaldo Garcia and Kenshiro Teraji. According to The Ring, Garcia fell ill and was admitted to the hospital after the ceremonial weigh-ins. Mike Coppinger of The Ring later reported on the DAZN livestream that Garcia got ill while trying to make a weight cut.

The delay does not appear to have impacted the scheduled time for the Inoue vs. Picasso ring walks.

DAZN did not immediately respond to request for comment.

The Monster gets wrapped

Those aren’t bricks inside Naoya Inoue’s gloves. Just vicious fists expertly wrapped. Take a look as he gets ready for his bout against Alan Picasso.

Naoya Inoue stats

Naoya Inoue is 31-0 with 27 KOs. He has won by knockout in 11 of his past 12 fights.

How much does Naoya Inoue weigh

Naoya Inoue weighed in at 121.1 pounds, under the maximum weight limit of 122 pounds for super bantamweights.

Alan Picasso boxer

Alan Picasso and David Picasso, Naoya Inoue’s opponent, are the same boxer. His full name is Alan David Picasso Romero and he is alternately referred to as Alan Picasso (see DAZN) or David Picasso (see BoxRec).

Naoya Inoue net worth

Naoya Inoue’s estimated net worth is between $7 million and $10 million, according to various reports.

Naoya Inoue among pound-for-pound best

With Terence Crawford retired, Oleksandr Usyk likely will be moving atop the consenus pound-for-pound rankings. And Naoya Inoue figures to moving up right behind at No. 2.

The Monster boxer

Naoya Inoue earned the nickname ‘The Monster’ thanks to his punching power. You can watch some of his most brutal KOs here.

Naoya Inoue vs Alan Picasso fight card, odds:

Naoya Inoue (-5000) vs Alan Picasso (+1000) – Undisputed super bantamweight titles
Junto Nakatani vs. Sebastian Hernandez – super bantamweight bout
Reito Tsutsumi vs. Leobardo Quintana – super featherweight bout
Taiga Imanaga vs. Eridson Garcia – lightweight bout
Kenshiro Teraji vs. Willibaldo Garcia (canceled, due to Garcia illness.)

Editor’s Note: This story has been updated with Michigan’s official announcement of Kyle Whittingham’s hiring.

Kyle Whittingham will not wait until after Utah football’s Las Vegas Bowl appearance to begin the next chapter of his coaching career at Michigan.

According to multiple reports, Whittingham is expected to join the Wolverines in Orlando, Florida, on Saturday, Dec. 27 for their preparations to play against Texas in the Citrus Bowl. Michigan formally announced the hiring of Whittingham late Friday, Dec. 26.

Whittingham has agreed to a five-year deal with the Wolverines, according to Tony Garcia of the Detroit Free Press — part of the USA TODAY Network — to be the successor to Sherrone Moore in Ann Arbor. It is just the second stop for Whittingham in his career as a head coach, as he spent 22 seasons at the helm of the Utes program.

‘Kyle Whittingham is a well-respected and highly successful head coach who is widely recognized as a leader of exceptional character and principled leadership,’ Michigan athletic director Warden Manuel said in a statement. ‘Throughout our search, he consistently demonstrated the qualities we value at Michigan: vision, resilience, and the ability to build and sustain championship-caliber teams.

‘Kyle brings not only a proven track record of success, but also a commitment to creating a program rooted in toughness, physicality, discipline and respect — where student-athletes and coaches represent the university with distinction both on and off the field. We are excited to welcome Kyle to the University of Michigan family as he takes the helm of our football program.’

The Las Vegas Bowl was originally expected to be Whittingham’s final game at Utah, as he announced on Friday, Dec. 12 that he was stepping down. He later clarified his decision to reporters on Thursday, Dec. 18 that he wasn’t retiring and was instead ‘in the transfer portal.’

Whittingham is just the second Michigan head coach who did not have a previous tie with the program since Bo Schembechler retired in 1990. He brings a 177-88 overall record as a head coach to the Wolverines.

At Michigan, Whittingham will now be tasked with leading the program after numerous offseason scandals over the past several seasons, including the firing and subsequent arrest of Moore. The Wolverines announced on Wednesday, Dec. 10 that Moore was fired with cause after a university investigation found ‘credible evidence’ of him having been engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member.

More pressing to Michigan at the moment will be Whittingham’s ability to retain the talent on the Wolverines’ current roster, most notably freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood. Players have five days following the hiring of a football coach to enter their names into the NCAA transfer portal.

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The college football regular season has come to an end, which means most 2026 NFL Draft hopefuls have started opting out of their respective bowl games and preparing for the draft.

Underclassmen must declare for the draft by Jan. 5 if they intend to forego their remaining eligibility. Underclassmen participating in the College Football Playoff have until Jan. 23 to declare.

Here’s a running list of underclassmen to announce their intentions to forgo their remaining eligibility to enter the 2026 NFL Draft:

2026 NFL Draft entry tracker: Which underclassmen are entering?

Arizona State

RB Raleek Brown
WR Jordyn Tyson
CB Keith Abney II

Auburn

EDGE Keldric Faulk

Boise State

OT Kage Casey

Clemson

DT Peter Woods
EDGE T.J. Parker
CB Avieon Terrell
WR Antonio Williams

Duke

OL Brian Parker II

Florida

DT Caleb Banks, Florida

LSU

WR Aaron Anderson II

Michigan State

P Ryan Eckley

Nebraska

RB Emmett Johnson

Notre Dame

RB Jeremiyah Love
RB Jadarian Price
OL Aamil Wagner

Penn State

OL Olaivavega Ioane

Pittsburgh

LB Kyle Louis

South Carolina

CB Brandon Cisse
S Jalon Kilgore

Tennessee

WR Chris Brazzell II
CB Jermod McCoy
LB Arion Carter
CB Colton Hood

Texas

LB Anthony Hill Jr.
CB Malik Muhammed

USC

WR Makai Lemon
WR Ja’Kobi Lane
S Kamari Ramsey

Utah

OT Caleb Lomu

Washington

WR Denzel Boston
RB Jonah Coleman

When is 2026 NFL Draft deadline for underclassmen?

Underclassmen must declare for the 2026 NFL Draft by Jan. 5 if they intend to forego their remaining eligibility. Underclassmen participating in the College Football Playoff have until Jan. 23 to declare for the NFL draft.

Players are eligible to enter the NFL draft after being removed from high school for at least three years and using up their remaining college eligibility. The NFL allows for underclassmen to declare early, pending league approval, however.

Underclassmen were recently allowed by the NFL to compete in college all-star games, which were typically reserved for players eligible for the NFL draft without special draft eligibility.

When is 2026 NFL Draft?

The first round of the 2026 NFL Draft is set for April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh. Rounds 2 and 3 will be held on April 24, before Rounds 4-7 take place on April 25.

If NFL fans were left wanting by the Christmas triple-header, don’t worry. There are two games on Saturday, both featuring playoff contenders.

The slate starts with the Houston Texans heading on the road to take on the Los Angeles Chargers. Houston’s aiming to lock up the final wild-card berth in the AFC with a win, while the Chargers are trying to keep ahead of the Buffalo Bills in the wild-card seeding.

Once the action wraps up from Los Angeles, another crucial game for playoff seeding kicks off in Green Bay. The Packers host the Baltimore Ravens in a must-win to keep their chances of winning the NFC North alive.

But, they’ll have to do it without their starting quarterback.

In Week 16 against Chicago, Love took a helmet-to-helmet hit from Bears defensive lineman Austin Booker during the second quarter and was later ruled out of the game. Love entered the NFL’s concussion protocol after the game.

Here’s the latest on who will start in his place and the Packers’ playoff picture entering Week 17:

Who is Jordan Love’s backup?

Willis was also on the injury report this week due to a right shoulder injury and illness. He did not practice on Wednesday and was limited during the team’s final practice on Thursday. Practice squad quarterback Clayton Tune is expected to be elevated to Willis’ backup for Saturday’s game against Baltimore.

NFC North standings

Here’s how things look entering Week 17:

Chicago Bears: 11-4 (2-3 NFC North)
Green Bay Packers: 9-5-1 (4-1)
Minnesota Vikings: 8-8 (3-2)
Detroit Lions: 8-8 (1-4)

Both the Vikings and Lions are eliminated from playoff and division contention. It’s down to the Bears and the Packers for the NFC North crown; whichever team doesn’t get it will likely be the No. 7 seed in the NFC playoffs.

Packers’ chances, odds to win NFC North

Green Bay has already secured a playoff spot regardless of what happens over the final two weeks of the regular season. Win out, lose out or split, it doesn’t matter. They’ll be in the postseason.

As things stand, the Bears are the heavy favorites to win the NFC North over the Packers because Green Bay does not control its own destiny. The Packers need to win out against the Ravens and Vikings in addition to the Bears losing out against the 49ers and Lions in order to win the title.

BetMGM’s latest NFL odds put the Packers at +650 to win the division compared to -1000 for the Bears. The Athletic’s playoff simulator gives the Bears an 86% chance to win the NFC North title compared to 14% for Green Bay.

NFC playoff picture

Here’s how things stand in the NFC after Christmas:

*=clinched playoff berth

Seattle Seahawks (12-3, NFC West leader)*
Chicago Bears (11-4, NFC North leader)*
Philadelphia Eagles (10-5, NFC East winner)*
Carolina Panthers (8-7, NFC South leader)
San Francisco 49ers (11-4, No. 1 wild-card seed)*
Los Angeles Rams (11-4, No. 2 wild-card seed)*
Green Bay Packers (9-5-1, No. 3 wild-card seed)*

In the hunt: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8)

Eliminated: Minnesota Vikings (8-8), Detroit Lions (8-8), Dallas Cowboys (7-8), Atlanta Falcons (6-9), New Orleans Saints (5-10), Washington Commanders (4-12), Arizona Cardinals (3-12), New York Giants (2-13)