It’s become an annual early college basketball tradition to ask: Why is Michigan State − team that hasn’t won a national championship since 2000 − in the Champion’s Classic?

So far in this campaign, Tom Izzo and company have justified the Spartans being in the blue blood showcase with them looking like a team capable of cutting down the nets at the Final Four in Indianapolis. At 8-0, Michigan State is off to its best start since 2015-16 and boasts one of the best resumes of any team in the country.

The Spartans were clutch late in a win against Arkansas in the first week of the season before convincingly beat Kentucky and North Carolina on neutral courts by double-digits. Now it welcomes No. 4 Duke on Saturday with a chance to assert itself as another title contender under Izzo.

The carryover from last season’s Elite Eight team is thanks to a mix of veterans shining. Jeremy Fears Jr. is playing like one of the best guard in the country, leading the nation with 9.4 assists per game. Big man Jaxon Kohler averages 9.9 rebounds a game for a team with a +13 average rebound margin, fifth-best in the country. Both also shoot 42% from 3-point range.

What’s scary about it is Izzo doesn’t even feel like his team is great.

‘It’s been an incredible month of basketball for us, as far as not any travel, teams we’ve played and how it’s gone,’ he said after beating Iowa on Tuesday, Dec. 2. ‘We need a little practice to get better, and I got to do a better job with those guys. That’s all me.’

If this team hasn’t peaked yet, the rest of the country won’t want to see what its best is.

Michigan State taking down Duke could put the team on its way to deservingly being labeled ‘champion’ in next season’s Champions Classic. The matchup headlines the weekend of college hoops that features six ranked showdowns. Here are storylines to watch:

Kentucky faces must-win game

A must-win game in early December? That’s almost where Kentucky finds itself after an uninspiring start.

The Wildcats haven’t looked good against any quality opponent. Louisville and Michigan State blitzed them, and at home against North Carolina, looked very sloppy and let the Tar Heels steal a win. Now at 5-3, the pressure is on Mark Pope to restore some belief. It doesn’t get any easier when the Wildcats now welcome a Gonzaga team that had been dominant and wants to get the bad taste of the Michigan blowout out of its mouth. The trio of Tyon Grant-Foster, Braden Huff and Graham Ike are very experienced and can run you out of the gym. The Bulldogs average 90 points a game.

Kentucky can’t have another offensive lapse. It can hope Michigan exposed the weakness of the Bulldogs, but Mark Few knows how to fix problems with the Bulldogs. The Wildcats can’t afford another marquee loss when it still has Indiana and St. John’s left to play this month, or there will be questions if they can survive the SEC.

No. 1 Purdue gets another big showdown

The preseason No. 1 team in the country has looked just the part. Purdue looked insanely powerful recently, including victories at Alabama and a neutral-site rout of Texas Tech. Now the Boilermakers get their toughest challenge so far with undefeated Iowa State coming to town.

The No. 9 Cyclones will provide a big challenge for Purdue given how fantastic they are at shooting the ball. Their 55% field-goal percentage is best the country and the 43.3% 3-point percentage is third. The Cyclones have scored at least 78 points in every game, and it’s more impressive considering star Tamin Lipsey has been injured. Joshua Jefferson, Milan Momcilovic and Killyan Toure have steadied the team in his absence.

If Lipsey is able to play, it will be all hands on deck for Purdue. But the Boilermakers are battle tested, and another win over a highly-rated team will further prove Matt Painter’s team is still the team to beat.

Ranked teams coming off losses look for wins

It’s not a must-win, but it’s pretty close to one for Louisville, Indiana, Illinois and Tennessee, with all teams coming off some tough defeats.

Louisville’s stellar offense was off against Arkansas and it led to its first loss of the season. Now the Cardinals head to Indianapolis to play Indiana, which suffered its first loss in a stunner to Minnesota in the Big Ten opener. Illinois losing against Connecticut in New York on Black Friday wasn’t a major stain, but it never looked close to the Huskies. The Fighting Illini will meet with a Tennessee team coming off a bad performance against Syracuse. That game will take place in Nashville, Tennessee.

Two games featuring teams coming off rough weeks, and they all need to get back on track. A loss and more questions will arise.

Arizona continues hot start

When talking about most impressive teams so far, Arizona needs to be on this list. The Wildcats are one of the most exciting squads to watch, and they get another chance for a ranked win with Auburn coming to Tucson.

Arizona handled every test thrown at them, beating Florida in the season opener, posting a win over UCLA in Los Angeles and making an emphatic statement on the road at Connecticut. Freshman forward Koa Peat has turned into a star and leads the team in scoring. That and the veteran presence of Jaden Bradley and Motiejus Krivas − with Anthony Dell’Orso and Tobe Awaka coming off the bench − is so much firepower to try and stop.

The Tigers have looked solid with Steven Pearl in charge, but it’s going to be a tall task for Auburn to go into a hostile McKale Center and get a win against a lethal Arizona team.

Other games to watch

Dayton vs. Virginia (in Charlotte): Saturday, Dec. 6, noon ET
Baylor at Memphis: Saturday, Dec. 6, 4:30 p.m. ET
Mississippi at St. John’s: Saturday, Dec. 6, 8 p.m. ET
Missouri vs. Kansas (in Kansas City): Sunday, Dec. 7, 1 p.m. ET
Texas Tech vs. LSU (in Forth Worth, Texas): Sunday, Dec. 7, 3 p.m. ET
Georgetown at North Carolina: Sunday, Dec. 7, 5 p.m. ET
Creighton at Nebraska: Sunday, Dec. 7, 5 p.m. ET

The Kansas City Chiefs face a crucial game against the Houston Texans to keep their postseason hopes alive.
Rookie quarterbacks Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders will face each other for the first time when the Titans play the Browns.
The Chicago Bears seek a statement win at Lambeau Field when they face the rival Green Bay Packers.

The Tennessee Titans, New York Giants, New Orleans Saints, Las Vegas Raiders and Arizona Cardinals are eliminated from playoff contention, but every other team is still mathematically alive as Week 14 gets underway.

This is the time of year when teams make their playoff pushes with just five weeks remaining on the regular-season calendar. A total of 20 NFL teams are at least .500 entering Week 14. Four divisions have three teams with a .500-or-better winning percentage entering Week 14. It’s just the fifth time since 2002 that has occurred, via NFL Research.

King Henry could be difference in battle for first in AFC North

Derrick Henry rushed for 186 yards and two touchdowns the last time the Ravens played the Steelers, in the 2024 AFC wild card round. Henry has four games above 100 rushing yards this season. Pittsburgh ranks 24th in run stop win rate, per ESPN. Lamar Jackson has completed less than 60% of his passes in four consecutive games, and Jackson’s overall health might be affecting his performance. The Ravens should try to establish the run with Henry against a vulnerable Pittsburgh defense.

Indianapolis Colts in danger in final five games

Remember when Jonathan Taylor was a leading candidate for MVP? The Colts have since lost three of their past four games and are now tied with Jacksonville atop the AFC South. Indianapolis’ final five games are all against teams with winning records, including two meetings with the Jaguars. The Colts lead the NFL in scoring offense (29.8 points per game), but they haven’t scored more than 23 points in two straight losses.

Are the Chicago Bears for real?

Last week was a signature win for Ben Johnson and the Bears. Chicago’s current position atop the NFC is the biggest surprise in the NFL right now. The Bears lead the league in takeaways (26) and interceptions (17). Veteran safety Kevin Byard has an NFL-high six picks. However, aside from an inconsequential Week 18 game last season, the Bears haven’t defeated the Packers since the 2018 season. A victory Sunday at Lambeau Field would send a loud statement across the NFL that the Bears are for real.

Must-win game for Kansas City Chiefs?

The (6-6) Chiefs enter Week 14 10th in the AFC and firmly on the playoff bubble. Kansas City currently has a 34% chance to make the postseason. A loss would drop their playoff probability to 11%, per Next Gen Stats. Patrick Mahomes is still the best quarterback in the NFL, but he’s going to have to play like it against a Houston defense that leads the NFL in yards allowed (265.7) and gives up the fewest points per game (16.5). Will Anderson Jr., Danielle Hunter and the Texans defense rank 10th in pass rush win rate, per ESPN. Kansas City will be without tackle Josh Simmons (wrist), who is on injured reserve.

Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders go head-to-head for first time

The Titans vs. Browns is an intriguing game between two sub.-500 football teams because of the rookie quarterbacks set to start. I still believe Sanders should’ve been the second quarterback selected in the 2025 NFL draft, but there were several factors that caused Sanders to have a precipitous fall to the fifth round. The Browns, led by NFL sack leader Myles Garrett, are the better football team. However, Sanders will make a strong case to be Cleveland’s quarterback of the future if he outperforms Ward.

Cincinnati Bengals’ playoff hopes still alive

The Bengals currently have a 3% chance to make the playoffs, according to Next Gen Stats. I can see Joe Burrow and the Bengals going on a serious run if they upset the Bills in Buffalo on Sunday. Remember Cincinnati was 4-8 at this point last year and won its final five games. The Bills and Ravens, who the Bengals already defeated in Week 13, are the toughest remaining opponents on Cincy’s schedule. Don’t count out the Bengals just yet.

Final five games important for struggling Minnesota Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy

McCarthy is on track to start Sunday after being cleared of concussion protocol. McCarthy hasn’t played well this season. His 57.9 passer rating is the worst among quarterbacks with at least six starts. The final five games could serve as an audition for McCarthy for 2026 and beyond.  

Justin Herbert’s availability, effectiveness

The Chargers and Herbert have expressed confidence in his availability ever since he suffered a fracture in his left hand. The plan is for Herbert to play Monday night against the Philadelphia Eagles, but he likely won’t take snaps under center. What could help Herbert and the Chargers offense is the return of rookie RB Omarion Hampton. The Bears gashed Philadelphia for 281 rushing yards last week. Hampton’s possible return along with Kimani Vidal gives Los Angeles a nice one-two punch in the backfield against a soft Philly run defense. Furthermore, the Eagles’ struggling pass offense faces a Chargers defense that ranks second against the pass. The Eagles are rightfully favored, but Monday night’s interconference matchup has some interesting subplots in between the white lines.

Denver Broncos can push win streak to double digits

The Broncos have won nine straight games. Eight of Denver’s wins have come within one score, including against the Las Vegas Raiders, who they face Sunday.

Surging New England Patriots on Week 14 bye

The Patriots have won 10 consecutive games, the longest active win streak in the NFL. Quarterback Drake Maye is an MVP candidate, and Mike Vrabel is on the short list of coach of the year candidates. The AFC’s top seed gets a much-deserved bye in Week 14.

Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.

One of the great LeBron James record streaks has come to an end — and he passed up the chance to extend it.

For the first time in nearly 19 years, James failed to score double digits in a regular season game, snapping a streak of 1,297 consecutive games with at least 10 points.

James scored 8 points in a 123-120 victory over the Toronto Raptors Thursday, Dec. 4. With the game tied at 120 and seconds left to play, James had the ball in his hands and drove through the middle of the paint. Rather than putting up a shot, however, James fired a pass to the left corner, where a wide open Rui Hachimura rattled home the game-winning 3-pointer.

“LeBron is acutely aware of how many points he has at that point,” Lakers coach JJ Redick told reporters after the game. “And like he has done so many times in his career — and I remember him getting ridiculed early on, when he would make the right play and his teammate would shoot the game winner — he did it like he has done so many times.

“I knew it was good as soon as it left Rui’s hands.”

When asked what his reaction was to the streak ending, James shrugged it off.

“None,” James said, plainly. “We won.”

Seconds after the game ended, an ebullient James threw his hands up in the air before joining the rest of his teammates to celebrate the game-winning shot.

“The basketball gods — if you do it the right way — they tend to reward you,” Redick said.

The last time James scored fewer than 10 points in a game was Jan. 5, 2007. Since then, starting with his 19 points against the New Jersey Nets on Jan. 6 of that year, he embarked on his streak that touched five different presidential administrations.

Apple released its first generation iPhone in June 2007, meaning that James’ streak was older than the ubiquitous device. At the time the streak began, the No. 1 song atop the Billboard Hot 100 was “Irreplaceable” by Beyoncé. His son and current teammate, Bronny James, was two-and-a-half years old.

Michael Jordan is second on the list at 866 straight games with at least 10 points.

The new current longest active streak is 267 games by Kevin Durant. It’s another one of James’ records that won’t be broken for a long time.

James finished the game shooting 4-of-17 from the floor and failed to hit any of his five 3-point tries. He also dished out 11 assists and grabbed 6 rebounds as the Lakers improved to 16-5, which ranks second in the Western Conference.

Los Angeles was playing without Luka Dončić, who is away from the team because of a personal matter.

“Just playing the game the right way,” James said. “That’s just been my M.O. That’s how I was taught the game. I’ve done that my whole career. There was not even one second guess in that.”

LeBron James stats vs. Raptors

Points: 8
FG: 4-for-17 (0-for-5 from 3)
Free Throws: 0-for-0
Rebounds: 6
Assists: 11
Steals: 0
Blocks: 0
Turnovers: 0
Fouls: 1
Minutes: 36

Lakers vs. Raptors highlights

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

North Texas quarterback Drew Mestemaker went from a zero-star high school backup to the nation’s leading passer.
Mestemaker was given a walk-on spot by coach Eric Morris despite never starting a varsity high school game.
The redshirt freshman has thrown for 3,835 yards and 29 touchdowns in his first year as a starter.

After the 2023 high school season, the zero-star recruit — per 247Sports’ Composite — started training with Jeff Christensen, a quarterbacks specialist known for working with Patrick Mahomes. Christensen, who knew North Texas coach Eric Morris, reached out to the Mean Green coach on Mestemaker’s behalf.

“Hey, you need to watch this kid throw,” Morris recalled Christensen telling him.

Morris replied: “I got a walk-on spot, just send me his tape and I’ll get him evaluated.”

There was just one problem.

“He started laughing and said, ‘That’s the thing. He didn’t play last year,’” Morris told USA TODAY Sports. “And I’m like, ‘Come on. You want me to take a kid that couldn’t even play in high school?’”

Morris eventually offered Mestemaker a roster spot, despite him never starting a varsity game at quarterback. Morris, who has built a reputation as a quarterback guru after mentoring Mahomes, Baker Mayfield and Cam Ward, among others, trusted what he saw in Mestemaker’s size and raw ability.

It ended up being one of his best decisions as the Mean Green’s coach.

Fast forward to 2025, and the 6-4 redshirt freshman leads the country with 3,835 passing yards while throwing 29 touchdowns to four interceptions. The first-year starter will compete for a College Football Playoff bid when the 20th-ranked Mean Green (No. 24 CFP) play No. 21 Tulane (No. 20 CFP)  in the American championship game on Friday, Dec. 5, at Yulman Stadium in New Orleans.

Mestemaker is also set to be one of the most sought-after quarterbacks in the transfer portal, should he decide to leave North Texas for a bigger school. Morris, who’s finishing the season with UNT, has already accepted the head coach position at Oklahoma State. Morris’ previous starting quarterbacks at North Texas transferred to Power Four programs, a common trajectory for players from non-power school in this era of college sports.

The quarterback is tabling that discussion for now, and is focused on leading North Texas to one of its best seasons in program history. After all, he battled his way from high school backup to “camp arm” — as Morris called him — to one of the best quarterbacks in the sport. 

All he needed was a chance.

“I was just happy to have the opportunity to prove myself finally,” Mestemaker told USA TODAY Sports. “I kind of felt like it was a fresh start to wipe the slate clean and prove that I belong here and this is someplace I belong. I think just taking it one day at a time and kind of having that extra chip on your shoulder of, ‘I’m gonna prove why I belong here and prove the kind of player I am really helped me.”

‘It wasn’t the end of his story’

Prior to college, Mestemaker’s last start at quarterback came for his 9th grade junior varsity team.

He rotated in as a sophomore on junior varsity and was the backup to Brayden Buchanan — who now plays baseball at Baylor — as a junior, when Vandegrift reached the 6A-II state championship game. Mestemaker was set to start as a senior in 2023 until 3-star quarterback Deuce Adams, now at Louisville, transferred in from nearby Canyon High School in New Braunfels, Texas.

The two competed through spring practices and fall camp. Adams won the job.

“We just happened to have two really good quarterbacks and sometimes people have a hard time understanding that,” Vandegrift coach Drew Sanders told USA TODAY Sports. “But they probably don’t live in the state of Texas.”

Rather than transferring to create tape for college programs to evaluate, Mestemaker didn’t sulk, opting to stay at Vandegrift and help his team in other ways.

He played safety and punter as a senior, earning all-district honors at both positions. He also earned the football team’s “Second to None” award, the program’s highest honor and named after Matthew Vandegrift, the school’s namesake. Vandegrift, who was in the Marine Corps, died in Iraq in 2008. 

“He could have easily transferred, easily gone somewhere else,” Sanders said. “But he decided to stay with his team and the community and the coaches he had grown up with. And I think that says a lot about his character.”

Mestemaker drew little college interest as a recruit. A Division III program offered him as an athlete, and he was set to attend Laney College in California, a junior college program, before landing walk-on offers from Sam Houston and North Texas.

“I really didn’t know what or how I was going to be able to end up at a college that wanted me to play quarterback,” Mestemaker said.

Eventually, a tryout invitation came from North Texas, and Mestemaker impressed at the Mean Green’s facilities. Morris said Mestemaker’s technique was “almost flawless.”

Mestemaker wasn’t a typical walk-on, though, which Morris and North Texas soon realized when he moved to Denton, Texas.

“It was a disappointing part of his story but it wasn’t the end of his story,” Sanders said. “And he continued to work.”

‘I felt like I was a last-ditch effort’

Mestemaker started his freshman season buried on North Texas’ depth chart, repping with the fifth- and sixth-string players in practice.

It didn’t take long for the walk-on to move up the ladder. He was the only North Texas quarterback to take snaps in 2024 behind starter Chandler Morris, who’s now at Virginia and also aiming at a CFP berth.

Morris entered the transfer portal prior to North Texas’ First Responder Bowl vs. Texas State, opening the door for Mestemaker to start his first game at quarterback since his freshman year of high school.

“He had practiced so well but kind of by the same token, we’d never seen it in live action with the lights on in a stadium with 30,000 screaming fans,” Morris said of Mestemaker’s opportunity.

Mestemaker quickly put those doubts to bed, passing for 393 yards with two touchdowns while rushing for 55 yards and another score. He threw two interceptions and lost a fumble in the 30-28 defeat, but made his case to be the starter going forward.

It was his first extended action at quarterback in over four years, after all.

“I had the pressure off me because they didn’t really expect much of me,” Mestemaker said. ‘I felt like I was a last-ditch effort. They kind of just threw me in there because I had been the backup the whole year.”

A few weeks later, North Texas added Reese Poffenbarger, a transfer from Miami who backed up No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward in 2024. Poffenbarger, who passed for more than 6,000 yards and 60 touchdowns in two seasons at Albany, was expected to compete with Mestemaker for the starting role.

Mestemaker once again found himself in a similar situation to his senior year of high school. This time, he couldn’t give up his chance.

“Once I got that taste of being out there on the field, I knew I couldn’t give it up,” Mestemaker said. “And so, this offseason I really did everything I could to be in a great mental state and win the team over, and win the battle eventually.”

Mestemaker has rewritten the record book in his first season as the starter, even breaking an American Conference record for passing yards in a game (608) in a 54-20 win over Charlotte on Oct. 24. It was the most passing yards in an FBS game since 2020, and was the most by a freshman in the past 30 years, according to North Texas.

It’s no surprise to see one of Morris’ disciples put up huge numbers: Morris worked with Case Keenum as a low-level offensive assistant at Houston. He also coached NFL quarterbacks in Mayfield and Mahomes as the offensive coordinator at Texas Tech from 2013-17. He found Ward as a 0-star recruit as the head coach at Incarnate Word from 2018-21. In his lone season as the offensive coordinator at Washington State, Morris recruited now-Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer, who was previously committed to FCS Central Arkansas.

Mestemaker might not become the caliber of player Keenum, Ward, Mayfield or Mahomes are, but Morris says his latest protege shares a similar trait with the high-level passers:

“I think they all have the unique ability to process information really fast,” said Morris, who played receiver at Texas Tech from 2004-08 under Mike Leach. “And I think when you’re able to do that in this system, I think you really get rewarded for it.”

The pairing of Morris and Mestemaker has led North Texas to new heights. The Mean Green broke into the AP Top 25 for the first time since 1959 this season, breaking the longest streak of any program in FBS.

The Mean Green are also peaking at the right time, with six consecutive wins after their 63-36 home loss to South Florida on Oct. 10. And Mestemaker has been a huge reason why, with only one turnover in those six games since throwing three interceptions against the Bulls in October.

‘Keeping the main thing the main thing’

Eric Morris’ past two starting quarterbacks — Chandler Morris and Chandler Rogers — transferred to Virginia and California, respectively, after big seasons. When Eric Morris left Incarnate Word for Washington State in 2022, he brought Ward to Pullman before Ward left the next season for Miami. Mateer, who replaced Ward the next season at Washington State, left for Oklahoma after his first season as the starter.

Mestemaker told USA TODAY Sports he isn’t thinking about his next move yet. Still, he’ll have plenty of options that’ll be hard to pass up, including reuniting with Morris at Oklahoma State.

“I love coach Morris and everything he has done for us and for me, specifically,” Mestemaker told reporters after North Texas’ 52-25 win over Temple to close the regular season. “But it’s something I honestly haven’t even thought about. I think if you’re in the season thinking about what you’re going to do after the season, you’re just missing out on what we play the game for, honestly.”

Morris, who spoke to USA TODAY Sports prior to taking the Oklahoma State job, has watched prior North Texas quarterbacks leave for Power Four opportunities the past two seasons. He said his and Mestemaker’s relationship is one that goes beyond whatever comes next for the young quarterback.

“You just build great relationships with kids and you do things for the right reasons,” Morris said. “And once decision time comes for different decisions, you handle it with maturity and being able to talk about it. I think this one’s a little bit different just because we were the ones that gave him the opportunity and I think that’s something he’ll forever be grateful for. 

“I mean, shoot, he didn’t get an opportunity to throw a pass for his high school football team. I mean, that’s a crazy statement when you think about it. Those things I think naturally will take care of themselves when you treat people the right way.”

For now, Mestemaker is focused on finishing what he started after going from relative unknown to one of the sport’s best in a matter of months.

“Just keeping the main thing the main thing,” Mestemaker said. “Especially at this point in the season whenever we have a chance to do some big things here. You just gotta take it one day at a time and do everything you can to win each game.’

Lionel Messi, the eight-time Ballon d’Or award winner and 2022 World Cup champion, has won 46 trophies for club and country.
Inter Miami and the Vancouver Whitecaps are playing in MLS Cup for the first time.
Both Inter Miami (Javier Mascherano) and the Vancouver Whitecaps (Jesper Sørensen) feature coaches in their first seasons with their respective teams.

Inter Miami will take on the Vancouver Whitecaps in a fascinating MLS Cup matchup, which will take place at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Saturday, Dec. 6 (2:30 p.m. ET on Apple TV and FOX).

With the soccer G.O.A.T. Lionel Messi, as well as his former FC Barcelona buddies, involved on one side, and German legend Thomas Müller on the other, there’s plenty to dive into on the pitch. Yet, there is plenty of intrigue off the pitch, as well as big-picture opportunities for MLS moving forward and players looking toward next summer’s World Cup.

Here we present 30 storylines for the 30th MLS Cup:

1. Both Inter Miami (Javier Mascherano) and the Vancouver Whitecaps (Jesper Sørensen) feature coaches in their first seasons with their respective teams. Mascherano is in his first coaching gig with a top-flight club. Mascherano also has history with Lionel Messi. The two played together for eight seasons at FC Barcelona. Mascherano and Messi also were teammates for Argentina, including on the squad that reached the 2014 World Cup final. Sørensen was a familiar name if you happen to follow the Danish Superliga, where he briefly coached Brøndby IF before getting fired a month before being named Vancouver’s coach in January 2025. Things have worked out better for Sørensen in MLS.

2. Both teams are playing in MLS Cup for the first time, as Inter Miami and the Vancouver Whitecaps are the 20th and 21st different clubs to appear in MLS Cup.

3. Both clubs still have hardware in the trophy case. The Whitecaps have won four consecutive Canadian Championships. Inter Miami won the 2023 Leagues Cup shortly after Messi’s arrival, and then won the 2024 MLS Supporters’ Shield.

3a. With an MLS Cup win, what will be Inter Miami’s place among the best championship dynasties in MLS history? Would Messi’s club already belong among the league’s all-time best teams?

3b. With a win, will the Vancouver Whitecaps’ triumph over Messi and the legend-laden Herons of Inter Miami be considered one of the biggest upsets in MLS Cup history? Inter Miami (-135 per BetMGM) are betting favorites over Vancouver (+290). Inter Miami have been the MLS Cup favorite of USA TODAY Network experts throughout this year’s playoffs.

4. Vancouver could win its first major sports championship. The NHL’s Canucks are 0-3 in their Stanley Cup Final appearances. The NBA’s Grizzlies never made the playoffs in their six seasons in Vancouver before locating to Memphis, where the franchise hasn’t made it to the Finals. In the CFL — a major sport in Canada, but not so much in the U.S. — the BC Lions have made 10 appearances in the Grey Cup, winning it six times, most recently in 2011.

5. Vancouver does have a team-of-destiny feel after winning an epic playoff encounter with Los Angeles FC in the Western Conference semifinals. The Whitecaps overcame a stoppage-time golazo from LAFC star Son Heung-Min, and then LAFC’s extra time assault on goal, to prevail in a penalty shootout. The Whitecaps then went on to rout San Diego FC, 3-1, in the Western Conference final.

6. Inter Miami’s Tadeo Allende enters MLS Cup in a goal-scoring groove. Allende’s eight goals so far have tied Carlos Ruiz for most in a single postseason. In 2002, Ruiz’s goal-scoring run helped the LA Galaxy lift the first of their record six MLS Cups.

7. Which famous faces will be in attendance at Chase Stadium for MLS Cup? Notable celebrities and sports figures have shown up to watch Messi play. This is the biggest game Messi will play in since he joined Inter Miami, so it should be a star-studded affair in South Florida.

8. One famous face who will certainly be at Chase Stadium for MLS Cup will be David Beckham, co-owner of Inter Miami. Part of the original contract to get Becks to join the Los Angeles Galaxy and play in Major League Soccer was a unique option to purchase an expansion team for $25 million after he retired. That team turned out to be Miami. Becks now can win an MLS Cup as both an owner and player. Beckham and the Galaxy won MLS Cup in 2011 and 2012. Inter Miami turned out to be a good investment for Beckham; the club is valued at $1.19 billion, per Sportico.

9. Three players on the 2025 MLS Best XI will be playing in MLS Cup: Messi, and the Vancouver Whitecaps’ Sebastian Berhalter and Tristan Blackmon.

10. Messi — the eight-time Ballon d’Or award winner and 2022 World Cup champion with Argentina — has won 46 trophies for club and country. MLS Cup would make it an astonishing 47.

11. With six goals and seven assists in Inter Miami’s five playoff games, Lionel Messi set an MLS playoff record for goal contributions.

12. Behind the record-setting offensive production of Lionel Messi and Tadeo Allende, Inter Miami have outscored opponents by a 17-4 margin during the playoffs.

13. Thomas Müller, the Germany and Bayern Munich legend, joined Vancouver in the summer and has produced 12 goal contributions (nine goals, three assists) in 13 games across all competitions.

14. Müller and Messi met in the 2014 World Cup final. It was Müller’s Germany which prevailed in extra time, 1-0. Messi missed a free kick in the final minute of extra time. Messi’s wait for World Cup glory lasted eight more years until Argentina hoisted the trophy in Qatar.

15. But, wait, there’s more: The Messi-Müller ties go deeper than that famous 2014 World Cup final encounter in Brazil. The two have squared off against each other a total of 10 times for club or country. In the 2020 UEFA Champions League quarterfinals, Müller’s Bayern Munich absolutely boot-stomped Messi’s Barcelona, 8-2. Ten years prior, Müller’s Germany routed Messi and Argentina in the quarterfinals of the 2010 World Cup, 4-0. Messi finally can exact some revenge on his German rival in MLS Cup. Though, it’s been a while since Messi got the best of Müller in club play, with his last win coming in Barcelona’s 3-0 victory over Bayern Munich in Leg 1 of the UEFA Champions League semifinals in 2015.

16. Rodrigo De Paul is another sign of Inter Miami’s all-in philosophy during its brief window of trophy-collecting opportunity with Messi wearing Herons pink. De Paul joined Inter Miami on loan from Atlético Madrid during the summer transfer window (there is an option to sign a permanent deal through 2029).

17. Lionel Messi and De Paul were teammates on Argentina’s World Cup-winning team in 2022.

18. MLS Cup will be the final game for legendary footballers Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets. Both players announced plans to retire following the 2025 MLS season. Both players won Euro 2012 with Spain. Busquets won a World Cup in 2010. Both won multiple La Liga titles while teammates with Messi at Barcelona. Together, Alba and Busquets won 19 trophies as teammates. MLS Cup would be a nice capper to two highly decorated careers.

19. There’s a good chance that Luis Suarez won’t be in Inter Miami’s starting 11 for MLS Cup. Since earning a one-game suspension during the best-of-three playoff against Nashville SC, Suarez has been a substitute for Mascherano’s squad. Instead, Tadeo Allende and Mateo Silvetti have started up top alongside Messi. It has proved to be a potent arrangement. In the three games since Suarez’s ban, Inter Miami has outscored opponents 13-1.

20. Fans might not get maximum Suarez in MLS Cup, but the longtime pest of the pitch has earned a role as an MLS villain. It’s been quite a 2025 for Suarez. Aside from an off-ball kick at Nashville SC’s Andy Najar that earned him a playoff suspension, the controversial star striker was suspended for six games for an ugly incident in Seattle following the Leagues Cup final.

21. Vancouver’s captain-turned-supersub Ryan Gauld could be an X-factor in MLS Cup. Gauld — who’d scored double-digit goals in the previous two seasons — suffered a knee injury early in the 2025 season. Such a personnel loss would have incapacitated lesser clubs. Instead, the Whitecaps flourished with their playmaking attacking midfielder and designated player sidelined. Gauld returned in October to a new role as a late-game spark, a role he figures to have in MLS Cup as well.

22. Godspeed to the Whitecaps fans making the journey from British Columbia to South Florida. Vancouver against Miami represents the furthest away trip in Major League Soccer. At 2,801 miles, Miami and Vancouver are the furthest apart clubs in the league.

23. Just like the World Series, MLS Cup is a USA vs. Canada showdown. Will this championship matchup also go in America’s favor? MLS can only hope that its championship game brings excitement like the 2025 World Series, a seven-game all-timer won by the Los Angeles Dodgers over the Toronto Blue Jays.

24. This will be the second-to-last MLS Cup played in December. With the league shifting its calendar starting in 2027, the 2026 season will be the last in what had been the league’s familiar spring-to-fall setup. In the 2026 season, the MLS Cup Playoffs will kick off on Nov. 18.

25. MLS Cup 2025 figures to be the final moment of glory for Chase Stadium. Inter Miami’s temporary erector-set stadium in Fort Lauderdale will be replaced as the club’s main grounds when Miami Freedom Park hosts its first game on April 4, 2026. Inter Miami will play five road games to open the 2026 season before playing their first game at Miami Freedom Park against Austin FC.

26. What about the future of the Whitecaps in Vancouver? MLS commissioner Don Garber recently called the Whitecaps’ current arrangement at Vancouver’s BC Place ‘a suboptimal stadium situation.’ There’s real concern that the Whitecaps could relocate without a more optimal stadium deal. Further complicating matters is that the club has an ownership situation that is in flux.

27. Helping fuel the Whitecaps’ sensational 2025 campaign has been Sebastian Berhalter, the son of former USMNT player and coach Gregg Berhalter. His play both for club and country has bolstered the midfielder’s chances of being on the USMNT’s roster for the 2026 World Cup. Sebastian Berhalter’s on-field energy appears to have endeared himself to U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino.

28. Which MLS Cup participants might be competing at next summer’s World Cup? Berhalter’s Vancouver teammates Ali Ahmed and Jayden Nelson could be part of Canada’s World Cup squad. Vancouver midfielder Andrés Cubas could be part of Paraguay’s team as it plays in the World Cup for the first time since 2010. Messi and De Paul might be with reigning World Cup champion Argentina. Messi has yet to confirm his intentions to play in the 2026 World Cup.

29. The last time the Vancouver Whitecaps and Inter Miami met in a high-stakes match, it was the Whitecaps who emerged overwhelmingly victorious. In late April, Vancouver defeated Miami 5-1 on aggregate in the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinals. The two-legged tie included a 3-1 win for the Whitecaps in South Florida. The Whitecaps were defeated by Cruz Azul of Liga MX in the Champions Cup final.

30. Can MLS build momentum off Messi competing in its signature event? With Messi and Miami hosting MLS Cup, and the 2026 World Cup and 2027 MLS calendar shift upcoming, this is a seminal moment for the league to expand its fanbase in a crowded and ever-growing sporting landscape.

USA TODAY Sports’ 48-page special edition commemorates 30 years of Major League Soccer, from its best players to key milestones and championship dynasties to what exciting steps are next with the World Cup ahead. Order your copy today!

Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb left the game with a concussion after making six catches for 121 yards.
Despite Dak Prescott throwing for 376 yards, the Cowboys’ offense committed two turnovers that led to Lions touchdowns.

So much for running the table.

The Dallas Cowboys went to the Motor City and not only saw their hopes for a mad dash to the playoffs likely go up in smoke on Thursday night, they saw the epitome of their season on full display at Ford Field.

Sure, they had a chance against a team nearly as desperate as they were. There was a lot of resilience. Dallas (6-6-1) fought back to make it a three-point game early in the fourth quarter – even without CeeDee Lamb, knocked out of the contest with a concussion to abruptly end his six-catch, 121-yard impact.

There was a lot of Brandon Aubrey, too. Typically. The Cowboys’ MVP special teamer kicked five field goals and became the first player in NFL history to nail three treys of at least 55 yards in a game. Just brilliant. Where would this team be without him?

In the end, though, it turned out to be a big tease. It was so Dallas. The Cowboys were riding a three-game winning streak, including triumphs over the Super Bowl 59 participants, that put them above .500 for the first time all season. Then poof.

What happened?

Too much Amon-Ra St. Brown. Too much Jahmyr Gibbs. Too much heat on Dak Prescott, who gamely threw for 376 yards but was sacked five times and threw two picks.

And on a night when the Cowboys needed George Pickens to step up with Lamb sidelined, the “other” No. 1 receiver went MIA.

St. Brown, on the other hand, was TBD all week (at least publicly) because of an ankle injury. Never mind practice. The gritty Detroit receiver showed up and balled out with a six-catch, 92-yard measure on the stat sheet that was punctuated by his receptions in the clutch and a ton of inspiration.

If any player represents the soul of the Lions (8-5), it has to be St. Brown, who entered the NFL as a fourth-round pick in 2021 and now has two first-team All-Pro selections on his resume. This time, he bounced back from the ankle injury that knocked him out of the Thanksgiving Day loss against Green Bay – just like his team.

The Lions just won an NFL-record-tying 15th consecutive game following a loss.

Now that’s some identity. They can take a hit and rebound.

The Cowboys, meanwhile, just had a game that reflected so much about this roller-coaster season. For all of the reasons for hope under first-year coach Brian Schottenheimer, the big issue that left them stumbling at 3-5-1 a month ago – suspect defense – turned up again when there was little room for error.

No question, the improved-yet-not-complete unit was put in some terrible positions. Prescott’s first pass after halftime was intercepted as it bounced off Pickens, setting up a quick Lions touchdown. Before that, tight end Jake Ferguson had the ball punched out for a fumble that gave Detroit a short field for a touchdown drive.

On a night the Cowboys needed complementary football to protect the defense (1 sack, 0 takeaways), they blew that equation. Then, by the end, the defense was worn down by the physical Lions, unable to get the key stop that might have, could have…

Well, never mind.

Rather than run it, the Cowboys were likely pushed off the playoff table.  

Contact Jarrett Bell at jbell@usatoday.com or follow on X: @JarrettBell

Victor Wembanyama remains unavailable for the San Antonio Spurs. The Frenchman is dealing with a left calf strain, a situation that’s already kept him sidelined for multiple weeks.

He hasn’t played for the Spurs since a 109-108 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Nov. 14.

The Spurs entered Friday with a 15-6 record, managing to win seven of their nine games since Wembanyama’s absence started.

Wembanyama has averaged 26.2 points, 12.9 rebounds and 4 assists in 12 games played this season, career highs in all three statistical categories.

When is Victor Wembanyama expected to return?

The Spurs have not provided a timetable for a possible return since he was diagnosed with a calf strain in November.

Luke Kornet is expected to serve as the Spurs’ primary center until Wembanyama’s return.

North Texas quarterback Drew Mestemaker went from a zero-star high school backup to the nation’s leading passer.
Mestemaker was given a walk-on spot by coach Eric Morris despite never starting a varsity high school game.
The redshirt freshman has thrown for 3,835 yards and 29 touchdowns in his first year as a starter.

After the 2023 high school season, the zero-star recruit — per 247Sports’ Composite — started training with Jeff Christensen, a quarterbacks specialist known for working with Patrick Mahomes. Christensen, who knew North Texas coach Eric Morris, reached out to the Mean Green coach on Mestemaker’s behalf.

“Hey, you need to watch this kid throw,” Morris recalled Christensen telling him.

Morris replied: “I got a walk-on spot, just send me his tape and I’ll get him evaluated.”

There was just one problem.

“He started laughing and said, ‘That’s the thing. He didn’t play last year,’” Morris told USA TODAY Sports. “And I’m like, ‘Come on. You want me to take a kid that couldn’t even play in high school?’”

Morris eventually offered Mestemaker a roster spot, despite him never starting a varsity game at quarterback. Morris, who has built a reputation as a quarterback guru after mentoring Mahomes, Baker Mayfield and Cam Ward, among others, trusted what he saw in Mestemaker’s size and raw ability.

It ended up being one of his best decisions as the Mean Green’s coach.

Fast forward to 2025, and the 6-4 redshirt freshman leads the country with 3,835 passing yards while throwing 29 touchdowns to four interceptions. The first-year starter will compete for a College Football Playoff bid when the 20th-ranked Mean Green (No. 24 CFP) play No. 21 Tulane (No. 20 CFP)  in the American championship game on Friday, Dec. 5, at Yulman Stadium in New Orleans.

Mestemaker is also set to be one of the most sought-after quarterbacks in the transfer portal, should he decide to leave North Texas for a bigger school. Morris, who’s finishing the season with UNT, has already accepted the head coach position at Oklahoma State. Morris’ previous starting quarterbacks at North Texas transferred to Power Four programs, a common trajectory for players from non-power school in this era of college sports.

The quarterback is tabling that discussion for now, and is focused on leading North Texas to one of its best seasons in program history. After all, he battled his way from high school backup to “camp arm” — as Morris called him — to one of the best quarterbacks in the sport. 

All he needed was a chance.

“I was just happy to have the opportunity to prove myself finally,” Mestemaker told USA TODAY Sports. “I kind of felt like it was a fresh start to wipe the slate clean and prove that I belong here and this is someplace I belong. I think just taking it one day at a time and kind of having that extra chip on your shoulder of, ‘I’m gonna prove why I belong here and prove the kind of player I am really helped me.”

‘It wasn’t the end of his story’

Prior to college, Mestemaker’s last start at quarterback came for his 9th grade junior varsity team.

He rotated in as a sophomore on junior varsity and was the backup to Brayden Buchanan — who now plays baseball at Baylor — as a junior, when Vandegrift reached the 6A-II state championship game. Mestemaker was set to start as a senior in 2023 until 3-star quarterback Deuce Adams, now at Louisville, transferred in from nearby Canyon High School in New Braunfels, Texas.

The two competed through spring practices and fall camp. Adams won the job.

“We just happened to have two really good quarterbacks and sometimes people have a hard time understanding that,” Vandegrift coach Drew Sanders told USA TODAY Sports. “But they probably don’t live in the state of Texas.”

Rather than transferring to create tape for college programs to evaluate, Mestemaker didn’t sulk, opting to stay at Vandegrift and help his team in other ways.

He played safety and punter as a senior, earning all-district honors at both positions. He also earned the football team’s “Second to None” award, the program’s highest honor and named after Matthew Vandegrift, the school’s namesake. Vandegrift, who was in the Marine Corps, died in Iraq in 2008. 

“He could have easily transferred, easily gone somewhere else,” Sanders said. “But he decided to stay with his team and the community and the coaches he had grown up with. And I think that says a lot about his character.”

Mestemaker drew little college interest as a recruit. A Division III program offered him as an athlete, and he was set to attend Laney College in California, a junior college program, before landing walk-on offers from Sam Houston and North Texas.

“I really didn’t know what or how I was going to be able to end up at a college that wanted me to play quarterback,” Mestemaker said.

Eventually, a tryout invitation came from North Texas, and Mestemaker impressed at the Mean Green’s facilities. Morris said Mestemaker’s technique was “almost flawless.”

Mestemaker wasn’t a typical walk-on, though, which Morris and North Texas soon realized when he moved to Denton, Texas.

“It was a disappointing part of his story but it wasn’t the end of his story,” Sanders said. “And he continued to work.”

‘I felt like I was a last-ditch effort’

Mestemaker started his freshman season buried on North Texas’ depth chart, repping with the fifth- and sixth-string players in practice.

It didn’t take long for the walk-on to move up the ladder. He was the only North Texas quarterback to take snaps in 2024 behind starter Chandler Morris, who’s now at Virginia and also aiming at a CFP berth.

Morris entered the transfer portal prior to North Texas’ First Responder Bowl vs. Texas State, opening the door for Mestemaker to start his first game at quarterback since his freshman year of high school.

“He had practiced so well but kind of by the same token, we’d never seen it in live action with the lights on in a stadium with 30,000 screaming fans,” Morris said of Mestemaker’s opportunity.

Mestemaker quickly put those doubts to bed, passing for 393 yards with two touchdowns while rushing for 55 yards and another score. He threw two interceptions and lost a fumble in the 30-28 defeat, but made his case to be the starter going forward.

It was his first extended action at quarterback in over four years, after all.

“I had the pressure off me because they didn’t really expect much of me,” Mestemaker said. ‘I felt like I was a last-ditch effort. They kind of just threw me in there because I had been the backup the whole year.”

A few weeks later, North Texas added Reese Poffenbarger, a transfer from Miami who backed up No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward in 2024. Poffenbarger, who passed for more than 6,000 yards and 60 touchdowns in two seasons at Albany, was expected to compete with Mestemaker for the starting role.

Mestemaker once again found himself in a similar situation to his senior year of high school. This time, he couldn’t give up his chance.

“Once I got that taste of being out there on the field, I knew I couldn’t give it up,” Mestemaker said. “And so, this offseason I really did everything I could to be in a great mental state and win the team over, and win the battle eventually.”

Mestemaker has rewritten the record book in his first season as the starter, even breaking an American Conference record for passing yards in a game (608) in a 54-20 win over Charlotte on Oct. 24. It was the most passing yards in an FBS game since 2020, and was the most by a freshman in the past 30 years, according to North Texas.

It’s no surprise to see one of Morris’ disciples put up huge numbers: Morris worked with Case Keenum as a low-level offensive assistant at Houston. He also coached NFL quarterbacks in Mayfield and Mahomes as the offensive coordinator at Texas Tech from 2013-17. He found Ward as a 0-star recruit as the head coach at Incarnate Word from 2018-21. In his lone season as the offensive coordinator at Washington State, Morris recruited now-Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer, who was previously committed to FCS Central Arkansas.

Mestemaker might not become the caliber of player Keenum, Ward, Mayfield or Mahomes are, but Morris says his latest protege shares a similar trait with the high-level passers:

“I think they all have the unique ability to process information really fast,” said Morris, who played receiver at Texas Tech from 2004-08 under Mike Leach. “And I think when you’re able to do that in this system, I think you really get rewarded for it.”

The pairing of Morris and Mestemaker has led North Texas to new heights. The Mean Green broke into the AP Top 25 for the first time since 1959 this season, breaking the longest streak of any program in FBS.

The Mean Green are also peaking at the right time, with six consecutive wins after their 63-36 home loss to South Florida on Oct. 10. And Mestemaker has been a huge reason why, with only one turnover in those six games since throwing three interceptions against the Bulls in October.

‘Keeping the main thing the main thing’

Eric Morris’ past two starting quarterbacks — Chandler Morris and Chandler Rogers — transferred to Virginia and California, respectively, after big seasons. When Eric Morris left Incarnate Word for Washington State in 2022, he brought Ward to Pullman before Ward left the next season for Miami. Mateer, who replaced Ward the next season at Washington State, left for Oklahoma after his first season as the starter.

Mestemaker told USA TODAY Sports he isn’t thinking about his next move yet. Still, he’ll have plenty of options that’ll be hard to pass up, including reuniting with Morris at Oklahoma State.

“I love coach Morris and everything he has done for us and for me, specifically,” Mestemaker told reporters after North Texas’ 52-25 win over Temple to close the regular season. “But it’s something I honestly haven’t even thought about. I think if you’re in the season thinking about what you’re going to do after the season, you’re just missing out on what we play the game for, honestly.”

Morris, who spoke to USA TODAY Sports prior to taking the Oklahoma State job, has watched prior North Texas quarterbacks leave for Power Four opportunities the past two seasons. He said his and Mestemaker’s relationship is one that goes beyond whatever comes next for the young quarterback.

“You just build great relationships with kids and you do things for the right reasons,” Morris said. “And once decision time comes for different decisions, you handle it with maturity and being able to talk about it. I think this one’s a little bit different just because we were the ones that gave him the opportunity and I think that’s something he’ll forever be grateful for. 

“I mean, shoot, he didn’t get an opportunity to throw a pass for his high school football team. I mean, that’s a crazy statement when you think about it. Those things I think naturally will take care of themselves when you treat people the right way.”

For now, Mestemaker is focused on finishing what he started after going from relative unknown to one of the sport’s best in a matter of months.

“Just keeping the main thing the main thing,” Mestemaker said. “Especially at this point in the season whenever we have a chance to do some big things here. You just gotta take it one day at a time and do everything you can to win each game.’

Follow the World Cup draw with live updates and find out who the USMNT and soccer’s best will be facing during the 2026 tournament.

For many soccer fans, the World Cup is the pinnacle of the sport. It offers spirited competition, nationalism, and an authentic sporting environment with fans from across the globe journeying to the host county to watch their team play on the largest stage.

That experience is furthered by the presence of country mascots. It has become tradition for the host country to deliver a tournament-wide mascot ever since World Cup Willie, a humanoid lion, became the face of the 1966 tournament in England.

Sixty years later, though, that tradition is taking its next step. With three countries hosting games for the upcoming tournament, just one mascot won’t cut it. Here’s a look at every country introducing a costumed representative for the 2026 World Cup in North America.

Who are the 2026 World Cup mascots?

With the United States, Canada and Mexico all hosting games for the 2026 World Cup, three mascots will take the field.

Maple the Moose (Canada)

According to FIFA’s website, Maple is an artist and goalkeeper with a ‘heart full of strength and leadership.’ He also routinely journeys ‘across all of Canada’s provinces and territories while connecting with people and embracing the country’s rich culture.’

Zayu the Jaguar (Mexico)

Zayu reigns from the jungles to the south of Mexico. He plays striker on the soccer field and displays fantastic agility to defeat defenders. Zayu also ’embraces Mexican culture through, dance, food and tradition, uniting people across borders with passion and pride.’

Clutch the Bald Eagle (United States)

Clutch, a midfielder, is a leader, according to his FIFA bio. He ‘leads with action – rallying teammates, lifting spirits and turning every challenge into an opportunity to rise higher.’ Clutch’s most notable characteristics are his ‘unquenchable thirst for adventure,’ ‘boundless curiosity,’ and ‘fearlessness.’

Which cities are hosting the 2026 World Cup?

Canada

Vancouver
Toronto

Mexico

Monterrey
Guadalajara
Mexico City

United States

Los Angeles
San Francisco
Seattle
Dallas
Houston
Kansas City
Atlanta
Miami
Boston
New York
Philadelphia

When does the the 2026 World Cup take place?

The 2026 World Cup will start on June 11, 2026. The tournament moves to the knockout stages on June 28, with the final set for July 19.

We’re supposed to believe the committee was genuinely moved by Alabama’s performance in the Iron Bowl? Yeah, right.
CFP rankings adjustment gives Alabama breathing room if it loses SEC Championship game.
Weekly College Football Playoff dog and pony show is just programming until selection day.

As I watched College Football Playoff selection committee chairman Hunter Yurachek answer Rece Davis’ questions during ESPN’s latest round of its weekly dog and pony show, I considered the surrealism of it all.

I’m watching one grown man lie to another.

Court reporters must think the same thing.

Anyway, it beats digging ditches for a living.

Wouldn’t it be better for all of us, though, if a CFP selection committee chairman ever just told the truth in these interviews? Instead, we suffer through stories like how Alabama’s narrow win against a lousy Auburn team in the Iron Bowl helped it climb in the rankings — huh? — or that one particular play call inspired the committee to buoy the Tide.

Yeah, right.

With that in mind, I’ve reimagined how the interview could have gone, if all parties told the truth.

Davis: Alabama moved ahead of Notre Dame. Why?

Yurachek: Well, Rece, the committee looked at our rankings from the last couple of weeks, and we realized, ‘By gawd, we’ve got a problem.’ You see, if we kept Alabama at No. 10, we could have a wee issue of having to boot the SEC’s runner-up, if BYU won the Big 12 championship and Georgia beats Alabama.

Davis: Right. The rest of us noticed that weeks ago.

Yurachek: Well, cut us some slack. Our last chairman quit a few weeks ago, remember? Doing the best we can while some of us juggle full-time jobs. I just hired a football coach. Did you notice?

Davis: I did notice. How are the fans taking to the hire there in Hogville?

Yurachek: Erm, don’t you have another playoff question you want to ask?

Davis: Sure. So, you’re not going to want to have a team lose in the SEC championship game and get bumped out, if BYU wins the Big 12. Did that come up in the room?

Yurachek: You bet your heinie it did. If we boot the SEC’s runner-up, we’ll never hear the end of it from Greg Sankey. He’d threaten to break off and stage his own playoff or start talking about “Sesame Street” again, and nobody wants another round of that.

Davis: So, you’re saying that Alabama moving up in the rankings had nothing to do with the Tide’s performance against Auburn, or Kalen DeBoer’s gutsy fourth-down play call?

Yurachek: Are you serious? Alabama looked miserable for most of that second half. No, the rankings adjustment didn’t have to do with the Iron Bowl. We just realized we had a potential problem, if we kept Alabama at No. 10. Tell ya the truth, though, we’d love it if Alabama lost the SEC championship game and BYU lost, too. Then, do you know what we’ve cooked up?

Davis: Pretty sure I do, but I’m going to pretend I don’t, to create a little suspense.

Yurachek: Sure. Right. Suspense. Let’s do a little of that. *Dramatic pause.*

Davis: *Waiting.*

Yurachek: Was that suspenseful enough?

Davis: I guess.

Yurachek: Great. So, if Alabama loses and BYU loses, what we’ll do is flip Notre Dame back to No. 9, and Alabama back to No. 10. That way, we can avoid Oklahoma-Alabama and Texas A&M-Notre Dame rematches in the playoff. We’ll cook up Oklahoma-Notre Dame and Texas A&M-Alabama instead.

Davis: Right. I can see that.

Yurachek: So, Alabama being No. 9 is just a placeholder, so we can keep the Tide in the bracket if they lose to Georgia and BYU wins the Big 12.

Davis: Wouldn’t this be easier if we skipped this weekly charade and waited until the end of the season to reveal the rankings?

Yurachek: Of course. But, the suspense, right? Plus, ESPN needs to give you something to do on Tuesdays.

Davis: Good point. Job security for me. OK, let’s get to head-to-head. You’re honoring head-to-head by ranking Oklahoma ahead of Alabama.But, you’ve still got Notre Dame ahead of Miami. Neither of those teams play this weekend. Can they still move in the rankings, or are they set?

Yurachek: Rece, we can do whatever we darn well please. Nothing’s set. Are you kidding me? We could put the king of England in a first-round game against Lane Kiffin if we wanted.

Davis: I don’t think you can actually do that.

Yurachek: Well, maybe not. Lane would probably quit before the game. But, point is, nothing’s set. Remember, this is all just programming and #content until Selection Sunday.

Davis: Yes, and job security for me.

Yurachek: Bingo, buddy.

Davis: So, we’re not set with Miami definitively being behind Notre Dame, no matter what?

Yurachek: Rece, how many times are you going to ask me about Miami-Notre Dame?

Davis: I’ll take that as Miami still having a chance.

Yurachek: Everyone’s still got a chance until we say they don’t on selection day. Except Vanderbilt. They’re out.

Davis: Why?

Yurachek: Do you really have to ask?

Davis: No, but getting back to Miami.

Yurachek: This again? Ask me about something else.

Davis: OK, so this coaching hire you made . . .

Yurachek: Uh, never mind that. Didn’t you have something you wanted to ask me about Miami?

Davis: Yeah, so, nothing’s set until it’s set?

Yurachek: I think you’re getting the idea, Rece.

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s senior national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.