Indiana’s new quarterback, Josh Hoover, is a preseason Heisman favorite after transferring from TCU.
Lane Kiffin has overhauled LSU’s roster with a top transfer class, positioning the Tigers as playoff contenders.
Miami quarterback Darian Mensah and Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp are other high-profile additions expected to elevate their teams.

The right new coach and the right new quarterback can instantly change a program’s outlook — and yes, we’re talking about Indiana.

In his first year, Curt Cignetti lifted Indiana from the basement of the Big Ten to the College Football Playoff. In his second, the addition of Fernando Mendoza took the Hoosiers from that at-large playoff bid to a Big Ten and national championship.

As we begin to look ahead to the 2026 season, newcomers in key spots — at head coach, coordinator, quarterback, defensive line and the secondary — will have a similar impact on the Power Four and the playoff.

The list of college football’s most impactful newcomers has to start with Mendoza’s replacement for the recently crowned national champions:

Indiana QB Josh Hoover

Hoover shouldn’t be expected to match Mendoza’s Heisman Trophy, though the TCU transfer will be one of the preseason favorites. A senior with almost three years of starting experience, Hoover brings a slightly different skill set to the table and could allow for some subtle and other not-so-subtle changes to the Hoosiers’ prolific scheme. Another big addition for this offense is former Michigan State wide receiver Nick Marsh. But Indiana will have important continuity in other ways, including in the return of both coordinators in Mike Shanahan (offense) and Bryant Haines (defense).

LSU coach Lane Kiffin

Kiffin has already overhauled the roster with a stunning transfer class and will have the Tigers in the playoff mix in his debut. At quarterback, he signed former Arizona State starter Sam Leavitt. He renovated the receiver room with multiple proven starters, including Winston Watkins from Mississippi. He signed the top offensive lineman in the portal in Colorado’s Jordan Seaton. The defense brought in standouts such as former Boise State safety Ty Benefield and edge rusher Princewill Umanmielen from the Rebels. Kiffin has LSU ready to hit the ground running.

Miami QB Darian Mensah

The most recent poster child for the wild-west NIL and portal era, Mensah recommitted to Duke after the end of the regular season before entering the portal at the eleventh hour and joining the Hurricanes. While controversial, this move reflects Mensah’s growing reputation as one of the top players in the Power Four. Joining several key holdovers and other high-profile newcomers such as former Missouri edge rusher Damon Wilson II, the junior will have the supporting cast to propel Miami to its first national title since 2001.

Penn State coach Matt Campbell

Whether Campbell has compiled the roster needed to compete for the Big Ten crown remains to be seen; that may depend on how quickly his former players from Iowa State acclimate to the new conference. But even if expectations are somewhat low coming off a seven-win season, Penn State has the coaching, inherent talent level and most of all the schedule to be a playoff threat. The Nittany Lions miss Indiana, Ohio State and Oregon, though they do travel to Washington and Michigan.

Texas Tech defensive lineman Mateen Ibirogba

Brendan Sorsby is an upgrade under center. Kansas State transfer linebacker Austin Romaine could have a Jacob Rodriguez-like impact on the second level. Former Auburn receiver Malcolm Simmons could pop in this system. But the Red Raiders’ biggest addition of the offseason might be Ibirogba, an all-conference interior lineman for Wake Forsest who will be the building block for a remade defensive front. Should he carry over his production from the ACC, Ibirogba will open things up for new edge rushers Adam Trick and Trey White.

Clemson offensive coodinator Chad Morris

This might be a make-or-break season for Dabo Swinney and Clemson after another highly disappointing freefall down the ACC standings. To help boost the offense, Swinney hired former coordinator Morris, who previously held the position from 2010-14 and helped set the foundation for two national championships. Morris hasn’t been a coordinator since 2020 and inherits a flawed quarterback room that didn’t add any competition from the portal. But his track record with the Tigers provides a glimmer of hope heading into 2026.

Oregon defensive back Koi Perich

There are changes afoot at Oregon, including in-house promotions for new offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer and defensive coordinator Chris Hampton. There was also an exodus into the portal along the defensive line and an important loss in standout safety Dillon Thieneman. While there will be a learning curve, the Ducks made a significant move in signing Perich, who spent his first two years at Minnesota as one of the most unheralded defenders in the Power Four. Like Thieneman in his transition from Purdue, look for Perich to quickly become a leader of this defense and contend for conference and All-America accolades.

Ohio State offensive coordinator Arthur Smith

For the second time in three years, Ryan Day has tapped a former NFL head coach as his offensive coordinator. Like Chip Kelly before him, Smith will be expected to put together a foolproof system that will lead Ohio State to the national championship. Smith has earned praise for his work with quarterbacks, a good sign for Julian Sayin’s development, and has the schematic know-how to take advantage of the Buckeyes’ insane talent level.

Notre Dame defensive back DJ McKinney

A two-year starter at Colorado, McKinney is a tall, rangy and experienced Power Four producer who should flourish with the Fighting Irish. After starting his career at Oklahoma State, playing a huge role as a redshirt freshman in 2023 and helping the Cowboys reach the Big 12 title game, McKinney was overshadowed by Travis Hunter during his first year in Boulder and flew under the radar during the Buffaloes’ disappointing 2025 season. For the Irish, he’ll bolster an already impressive secondary headlined by junior star Leonard Moore and returning starters Christian Gray and Dallas Golden.

Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp

Muschamp will take over the Longhorns’ defense for the second time — he previously ran the show from 2008-10 and was for a time Mack Brown’s head coach in waiting — after five years in various roles under Kirby Smart at Georgia. While he last coordinated a defense for Auburn in 2015, Muschamp’s track record is nearly perfect: At every stop, he’s put together units that combined technique with aggressiveness, making him the type of hire that can lift Texas over the hump and deep into the playoff.

The matchup is set for the 2026 Australian Open women’s final.

Elena Rybakina eliminated American Jessica Pegula in straight sets Thursday, Jan. 29, in Melbourne to claim one spot. She’ll face two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka for the title in the season’s first Grand Slam event.

Rybakina cruised in the opening set 6-3, and seemed on her way to an easy victory. But Pegula fought off a match point to break Rybakina and push the second set to a tiebreaker. However, Pegula couldn’t convert a couple of set point opportunities and Rybakina was able to close out the match, winning the tiebreaker 9-7.

Earlier in the evening, top-seeded Sabalenka defeated Elina Svitolina in a semifinal overshadowed by geopolitical tension. Sabalenka, from Belarus, scored a 6-2, 6-3 win over Svitolina, from Ukraine. Svitolina has been vocal about the strain of playing players from Belarus and Russia, and said she hoped to bring her nation ‘light’ at the Australian Open after a tough winter.

Now more than ever, it’s a near inevitability that Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks are nearing the end of their relationship.

It may come before the Feb. 5 trading deadline, or it may come in the offseason, but Antetokounmpo has reportedly indicated that he’s ready to move on from the Bucks. Milwaukee, understandably, has started to listen to offers and may consider shipping the two-time Most Valuable Player before the deadline.

Yet, even if a deal cannot be reached by then, the Bucks could still move Antetokounmpo over the offseason, when suitors would have more financial flexibility and draft capital available to package in an offer.

With that said, which teams can actually present compelling cases to land the versatile star?

Here are potential landing spots for Giannis Antetokounmpo:

Miami Heat

This is going to depend on what the Bucks are actually prioritizing in a return, but no team may have a better case than the Heat. Miami has more depth than star power and has some younger players with promise who could be part of a Bucks rebuild.

The centerpiece would be 2024-25 All-Star guard Tyler Herro (26 years old), who has had injury concerns, but who has been a steady scoring threat when on the floor. Second-year center Kel’el Ware (21) is another intriguing player who has excellent rebounding ability; Ware ranks sixth in the NBA in rebounds this season (420), despite at least 200 minutes fewer than the players ahead of him. Ware has had motor concerns, but he’s an excellent lob threat and can stretch the floor with shooting range.

Miami can also offer one of Jaime Jaquez Jr. (24) or Nikola Jović (22) and some first-round draft picks. And, if Miami can move Andrew Wiggins in a trade to the Golden State Warriors, the Heat could potentially recoup another pick to package in an Antetokounmpo deal.

New York Knicks

This has reportedly been Antetokounmpo’s preferred landing spot, given its market size, ability to compete for championships and proximity to international airports that can get him to his native Greece with relative ease.

And while the Knicks do have some interesting assets that could entice the Bucks, it’s going to depend on Milwaukee’s preference. For one, the easy assumption is that forward-center Karl-Anthony Towns would be a seamless swap, but Milwaukee just signed center Myles Turner to a four-year, $107 million contract that keeps him with the Bucks through the 2027-28 season, with a player option for the following year.

Turner and Towns have similar skill sets, and Towns feels like a redundancy in Milwaukee. The Bucks are probably more intrigued by wings OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges, with whom New York might be less willing to part. The Knicks would almost certainly require the addition of a third or fourth team to facilitate the deal.

The Bucks reportedly prefer younger talent and draft capital, neither of which the Knicks necessarily have, at least right now. Towns is 30, Bridges 29, Anunoby 28. Backup point guard Miles McBride is 25, but he would need to be a secondary piece in any deal. For this to work, the Knicks would need to get creative in finding ways to sweeten their package.

Atlanta Hawks

This looks like another interesting spot because the Hawks do have a balance of both young talent and draft capital. For one, the Hawks already own a massively valuable draft pick, an unprotected 2026 first rounder that’s the most favorable between the Pelicans and the Bucks. New Orleans currently has the NBA’s third-worst winning percentage and the Bucks are 18-27. There’s the high likelihood that this pick will be a high lottery selection.

The Hawks may not want to part with that selection, but Atlanta nonetheless has plenty of draft capital and swaps it can offer.

The Bucks, though, may want to get talented forward Jalen Johnson in return. The Hawks have built their team around Johnson and may not make him available. That would complicate things, as Zaccharie Risacher, rookie Asa Newell and Luke Kennard likely won’t be enough to sway Milwaukee.

Toronto Raptors

This is a team that has been a massive surprise and one that may be a sneaky contender in the East. Point guard Immanuel Quickley has shined recently, winning Eastern Conference Player of the Week Monday, Jan. 26. Guard RJ Barrett will also likely be available.

That won’t be enough. The Bucks will likely not consider any deal with Toronto unless it includes 2024 All-Star Scottie Barnes, who’s 24. Brandon Ingram is a solid player who would otherwise be a decent asset, but he’s 28 and not as versatile as Barnes.

But Toronto has viewed Barnes as the key franchise cornerstone, and ideally would love to pair him with Antetokounmpo. The Raptors will likely need to get creative to involve teams to strengthen their offer – assuming Barnes is untouchable.

Orlando Magic

Headed into the start of last season, Paolo Banchero was widely seen as one of the more promising, young players in the NBA. Given his recent struggles, that has changed somewhat, though he still holds significant promise.

Banchero is 23 and was an All-Star two seasons ago, but his scoring has dipped considerably (21.6 points per game, down from 25.9 last season). The Magic have lost 14 of their last 24 games, and the franchise might feel that Franz Wagner, 24, is the player they want to build around.

The issue is that the Magic don’t have much in the way of draft capital and younger players that could tempt Milwaukee. Put another way: the Bucks would have to really like Banchero for this to work.

The field

Could the Phoenix Suns be a player in a package led by Jalen Green, a dynamic but inconsistent athlete who has played just four games this year? Could the Golden State Warriors somehow leverage Jonathan Kuminga, Jimmy Butler (who recently tore his anterior cruciate ligament) and picks into a deal? Could the Dallas Mavericks send veterans like Anthony Davis and Klay Thompson to Milwaukee? What about a young team like the Washington Wizards, who have more young players than veterans?

What about teams that are already contenders like the Houston Rockets or San Antonio Spurs? Could they tear up their current (and successful) builds for a push to compete?

There’s always the possibility of the infamous mystery team that could be lurking. The reality is, of the 29 teams in the NBA aside from the Bucks, all but one or two of them are probably discussing if there’s a viable path to get him.

So now we’re supposed to be sideways about Charles Bediako, the professional basketball player turned Alabama student-athlete by a Tide fan clothed in a circuit court judge robe.

The horror of it all. 

Maybe it’s time to look at it another way: If you’re going to fight with the unreasonable and unpredictable, you better get in the mud with them. 

And by them, I mean the NCAA. 

Before we get deep into this latest dissertation on the dysfunctional, make-it-up-as-you-go organization, let’s not forget the most decisive and destructive legal case against the NCAA was also won with the help of judge shopping.

In 2023, after the NCAA gave players one free transfer as part of their we-know-we’re-screwed legal strategy, a group of West Virginia players decided they wanted more — and shopped their case to the Northern District of West Virginia.

That case was heard by U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey, who just so happened to receive his Juris Doctor from WVU. Who just so happened to have been born in Wheeling, W.V., and had a private practice in Wheeling from 1978-2007 before being nominated to the district court. 

He struck down the NCAA’s year in residence transfer rule, and paved the way for the annual free player movement we have today. The most devastating ruling against the NCAA in the history of college sports.

Every player procurement functionality problem facing the NCAA today can be traced to free player movement. 

Now let’s move forward, beyond Bediako and the West Virginia ruling and into the sport that rules the roost. The sport so affected and impacted by NIL and free player movement, no one — players, coaches, agents/representatives, the NCAA — knows which rules apply to which circumstances and players. 

The NCAA has two answers in football eligibility cases beyond the five-year clock: no, and make it up on the fly.

It is here where we introduce Ole Miss star quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, whose attorneys — I know this is going to shock you — have scheduled a hearing next month in the Calhoun (Miss.) County Courthouse. The judge overseeing the case is Robert Whitwell, a Senatobia, Miss., native, an Ole Miss Law graduate and a former quarterback at Northwest Mississippi Community College. 

You can see where this is headed. 

But why wouldn’t attorneys for Chambliss and Bediako and any other player searching for eligibility, judge shop? Why would they leave it up to the fanciful whims of the NCAA, which not so long ago allowed North Carolina — in the middle of a decade of academic scandal — to successfully use the argument that fake classes allowing athletes to stay eligible were also available to regular students. Therefore, the classes weren’t actually fake. 

I swear I’m not making that up. 

Or the same NCAA that once placed Boise State on probation because potential recruits were sleeping on the couches and floors of current players while participating in legal summer workouts. 

I’m not making that up, either.

Chambliss and Ole Miss tried the correct course of action, pulling together a detailed appeal for Chambliss during the 2025 season in an effort to get ahead of any potential snags for 2026. The NCAA said Ole Miss didn’t provide sufficient evidence to prove a medical condition prevented Chambliss from playing in 2022, and denied the appeal. 

So Chambliss’ attorney — noted NCAA pain-in-the-neck Tom Mars — filed a lawsuit providing proof from Ferris State’s Director for Sports Medicine, its head football coach, and from a licensed otolaryngologist. Chambliss, the group said, had complications from mononucleosis, COVID-19, chronic tonsillitis and other respiratory illnesses in 2022 that prevented him from participating.

It wasn’t long ago the NCAA decided to give an extra season of eligibility to all student-athletes impacted by COVID-19 during the pandemic season of 2020. But in this case, with this specific player, the request was denied. 

Which makes about as much sense as fake classes really weren’t fake if all students had access. 

Are you really surprised players and their representatives are judge shopping to get level playing fields against a rudderless organization comprised of 300-plus presidents and chancellors making random decisions through committees, subcommittees and appeal committees?

An organization that says no until it’s forced to say yes by a court system it has no control over. An organization that lost control of Power conference football, so it dreamed up something called the College Sports Commission — a do-nothing body that can’t get the 65 Power teams to agree to not cheat. 

To say nothing of the CSC getting control of rampant academic abuse. I ask you, when was the last time a player was academically ineligible? 

Or are we all supposed to believe that credit hours from each institution ― wildly different and unique in course instruction ― are accepted by every other institution? 

If they transfer for athletes, they should be transfer-eligible for all students. Right, North Carolina? 

And yet here we are, obsessed with judge shopping for a former G League player. 

While it would be a stretch to call Super Bowl 60 a rematch between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots − 11 years on from their epic first meeting on Super Sunday − their upcoming meeting in Santa Clara, California on Feb. 8 is certainly going to dredge up memories, excellent ones in the Atlantic Northeast … not so much in the Pacific Northwest.

But if this year’s Super Bowl comes remotely close to replicating ‘Hawks-Pats I in the drama department, NFL fans will surely count themselves lucky.

While Super Bowl 60 will be assessed and slotted in due time, here are my rankings of the first 59 Super Bowls − and it won’t take long to find Super Bowl 49 (cardinal number, season noted in parentheses):

1. LI (51, 2016) New England Patriots 34, Atlanta Falcons 28 (OT)

This game lacked nothing. Patriots QB Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichick cemented their legacies, each becoming the first at his respective post to earn five Super Bowl titles (at that time). But securing immortal greatness required an all-time performance. Brady threw for a then-Super Bowl record 466 yards, leading his team to 31 unanswered points and earning MVP honors a record-breaking fourth time as New England forged the greatest comeback ever on Super Sunday – Atlanta led 28-3 in the third quarter – while taking the game into overtime for the first time. WR Julian Edelman made a miraculous catch – one that benefited New England for a change in the Super Bowl. RB James White was the unsung hero, catching a record 14 passes while also scoring the game-tying and game-winning TDs on his way to a game record 20 points. Oh, and the Falcons, with league MVP Matt Ryan and Co., sure were impressive on both sides of the ball for nearly three quarters before their epic collapse.

2. XLII (42, 2007) New York Giants 17, Patriots 14

Arguably the biggest upset in Super Bowl history, the Giants derailed New England’s march to the never-achieved 19-0 campaign with an unrelenting pass rush, WR David Tyree’s miraculous helmet catch and QB Eli Manning’s MVP performance.

3. XLIX (49, 2014) Patriots 28, Seattle Seahawks 24

It will forever be remembered for QB Russell Wilson’s goal-line interception with the game hanging in the balance – when the Seahawks could have given the ball to bruising RB Marshawn “Beast Mode” Lynch, who had 133 total yards. The loss likely denied Seattle’s shot at a dynasty while burnishing the ‘Patriot Way.’ Brady won a record-tying third MVP award as he and Belichick collected their fourth title together after a decade-long dry spell.

4. XXIII (23, 1988) San Francisco 49ers 20, Cincinnati Bengals 16

Probably the first legitimate Super Bowl classic. In what was perhaps QB Joe Montana’s defining performance – ironically the only time he didn’t win game MVP honors – he led an 11-play, 92-yard drive that culminated with a game-winning TD pass to WR John Taylor with 34 seconds to go. WR Jerry Rice’s Super Bowl-record 215 receiving yards earned him the MVP award. It was also Hall of Famer Bill Walsh’s final game as an NFL head coach.

5. XLIII (43, 2008) Pittsburgh Steelers 27, Arizona Cardinals 23

It had a little bit of everything – Pittsburgh LB James Harrison’s 100-yard INT return to end the first half, a furious fourth-quarterback comeback led by WR Larry Fitzgerald and decided underdog Arizona, and QB Ben Roethlisberger’s laser shot into triple coverage to the back corner of the end zone to toe-tapping MVP Santonio Holmes for the win. The Steelers snagged their sixth Lombardi Trophy, a mark since tied by the Patriots … and surpassed by Brady.

6. XXXIV (34, 1999) St. Louis Rams 23, Tennessee Titans 16

The ‘Greatest Show On Turf’ scored its third-fewest points of the season, but MVP Kurt Warner’s then-record 414 passing yards and LB Mike Jones’ tackle of Tennessee WR Kevin Dyson just shy of the goal line on the final play proved sufficient.

7. LII (52, 2017) Philadelphia Eagles 41, Patriots 33

Maybe a nearly six-decade wait between championships and a first Super Bowl crown was almost worth it for The City of Brotherly Love? MVP Nick Foles (373 yards and 3 TDs through the air) led the charge, his 1-yard TD grab before halftime on the now-legendary ‘Philly Special’ serving as the indelible sequence. But Eagles DE Brandon Graham basically assured the result by serving up the game’s lone defensive highlight with a strip sack of Brady with 2:09 to go. TB12 fired off a game-record 505 yards through the air before succumbing on a day when the clubs combined for an NFL-record 1,151 yards of total offense.

8. XXV (25, 1990) Giants 20, Buffalo Bills 19

New York played keep-away from Buffalo’s explosive K-Gun offense, holding the ball for nearly 41 minutes, and got nice efforts from MVP Ottis Anderson (102 yards, TD) and backup QB Jeff Hostetler. But the Giants only survived thanks to kicker Scott Norwood’s wayward 47-yard field-goal try in the final seconds.

9. XXXVI (36, 2001) Patriots 20, St. Louis Rams 17

Despite one of Super Sunday’s biggest stunners, few realized this game also represented the beginning of a dynasty, coronation of a genius (Belichick) and birth of an icon as Brady won his first MVP. And there’s no forgetting kicker Adam Vinatieri’s game-winning, upright-splitting 48-yard FG at the gun.

10. LVIII (58, 2023) Kansas City Chiefs 25, 49ers 22 (OT)

The first Super Bowl set in Las Vegas would rank higher … if the primary highlight from kickoff to the start of the fourth quarter (when K.C. led 13-10) – an often ugly and sloppy stretch of football – hadn’t been Usher’s halftime show. But a frantic final period of regulation and the second Super Sunday overtime, and first without the sudden death framework, ultimately led to a satisfying experience. QB Patrick Mahomes’ game-winning TD pass in OT made Kansas City back-to-back champs, stamped the Chiefs as a dynasty … and called Niners coach Kyle Shanahan’s overtime strategy into question.

11. XLVI (46, 2011) Giants 21, Patriots 17

For the second time in five seasons, New York broke New England’s heart as Eli Manning completed another improbable throw – this time to WR Mario Manningham – before the Giants scored a late go-ahead TD and weathered the Patriots’ final drive.

12. XLV (45, 2010) Green Bay Packers 31, Steelers 25

QB Aaron Rodgers completed the Pack’s four-game run as playoff road warriors with a 304-yard, three-TD effort that earned him the MVP award and a place next to Bart Starr and Brett Favre as a Packers legend while denying Pittsburgh’s “Stairway to Seven.”

13. XIII (13, 1978) Steelers 35, Dallas Cowboys 31

In the original Super Bowl shootout, Pittsburgh became the first team to win the game three times by outlasting a Dallas comeback bid in another memorable matchup full of big plays (mostly the Steelers’) and missed opportunities (TE Jackie Smith’s drop) that would ultimately doom ‘America’s Team.’

14. XXXII (32, 1997) Denver Broncos 31, Packers 24

Denver’s John Elway, in a helicopter quarterback role, finally got his first ring (on his fourth attempt), though MVP Terrell Davis was the day’s star (157 rushing yards, 3 TDs). The AFC also ended a 14-year losing streak to the NFC.

15. LVI (56, 2021) Los Angeles Rams 23, Bengals 20

In their first season with veteran QB Matthew Stafford at the controls, the Rams became the second consecutive team to win the Super Bowl on their home field. It was also the Rams’ first Lombardi Trophy while representing L.A., the city enjoying its first NFL championship in 38 years. MVP Cooper Kupp capped what was probably the greatest single season ever for a wide receiver, hauling in the game-winning TD pass from Stafford with 85 seconds to go, while the Aaron Donald-led defense dogged Bengals QB Joe Burrow with seven sacks – and needed all that pressure to prevent a last-minute Cincy comeback. Rams coach Sean McVay, 36, became the youngest to win on Super Sunday.

16. XXXVIII (38, 2003) Patriots 32, Carolina Panthers 29

One of the stranger games in Super Bowl history – the teams combined for 61 points despite scoreless first and third quarters – may be better remembered more for Janet Jackson’s infamous halftime show than a pivotal late-game drive led by Brady and capped with more heroics from Vinatieri.

17. X (10, 1975) Steelers 21, Cowboys 17

MVP Lynn Swann only made four catches, but they were laden with drama over the course of 161 yards and a decisive touchdown in a game that would help establish Pittsburgh as the team of the 1970s.

18. XLVII (47, 2012) Baltimore Ravens 34, 49ers 31

A second-half Superdome power outage sparked the Niners, who nearly completed a comeback after finding themselves in a 28-6 hole in the third quarter. MVP Joe Flacco finished one of the best postseason runs by a quarterback, Ravens LB Ray Lewis earned a second ring in his final ride and WR/KR Jacoby Jones compiled a single-game record 290 all-purpose yards … just enough to fend off QB Colin Kaepernick and San Francisco.

19. XLIV (44, 2009) New Orleans Saints 31, Indianapolis Colts 17

The Saints ended decades of futility courtesy of MVP Drew Brees’ pinpoint passing, coach Sean Payton’s surprise onside kick to start the second half and CB Tracy Porter’s game-sealing pick six of Indy QB Peyton Manning.

20. XIV (14, 1979) Steelers 31, Los Angeles Rams 19

Despite winning just nine regular-season games, the Rams gave the Steelers all they could handle before Pittsburgh pulled away in the fourth quarter on its way to becoming the only team to win four Super Bowls in six years. QB Terry Bradshaw was named MVP for the second year in a row.

21. III (3, 1968) New York Jets 16, Baltimore Colts 7

It wasn’t a scintillating game, but it was probably the most important one in NFL history. MVP Joe Namath made good on his pregame guarantee as New York struck a blow for AFL equality a year before the merger took effect by stunning the NFL’s heavily favored Colts. It remains the Jets’ only title.

22. LIV (54, 2019) Chiefs 31, 49ers 20

K.C. ended its 50-year championship drought in style. MVP Mahomes rescued the Chiefs from their third consecutive double-digit deficit of that postseason, starting the fourth-quarter comeback with a third-and-15 completion to WR Tyreek Hill on a spectacular 44-yard throw. RB Damien Williams’ pair of TDs late in the final period provided the coup de grâce.

23. LVII (57, 2022) Chiefs 38, Eagles 35

What a preamble. A fun and frenetic event for 55 minutes of game action, Mahomes and Philly QB Jalen Hurts – he probably should’ve gotten the MVP award after accounting for 374 yards of offense and four TDs – trading haymakers for most of the night. But the holding penalty called on Eagles CB James Bradberry during K.C.’s final drive rendered the ending anticlimactic, Mahomes bleeding out the clock before Harrison Butker’s game-winning, chip-shot FG. Felt like what should have been an all-time classic wound up with a cheapened conclusion.

24. XXXI (31, 1996) Packers 35, Patriots 21

Thirty years after winning the first Super Bowl, the Pack returned to win their third as Gulf Coast native Favre passed for two TDs and rushed for another in front of a New Orleans crowd. However return man Desmond Howard was named MVP.

25. XXXIX (39, 2004) Patriots 24, Eagles 21

New England withstood a late Philly charge – or did the Pats benefit from a lack of conditioning on the part of Eagles QB Donovan McNabb? – to become the second team to win three Super Bowls in four years.

26. XVII (17, 1982) Washington 27, Miami Dolphins 17

MVP John Riggins’ 43-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter gave Washington a 20-17 lead it wouldn’t relinquish and coach Joe Gibbs the first of his three titles. Riggins finished with a then-record 166 yards, giving him a record 610 in four playoff games during a strike-bloated postseason.

27. XXX (30, 1995) Cowboys 27, Steelers 17

Dallas endured, thanks to some gift interceptions from Pittsburgh QB Neil O’Donnell, and became the first team to win three Super Bowls in a four-year span. The Cowboys also joined the 49ers as five-time Super Sunday winners.

28. XVI (16, 1981) 49ers 26, Bengals 21

San Francisco launched its dynasty and Montana won the first of his three Super Bowl MVP awards. The Niners hung on thanks in part to a key goal-line stand to thwart Cincinnati, which scored three second-half touchdowns after trailing 20-0 at halftime.

29. XLI (41, 2006) Indianapolis Colts 29, Chicago Bears 17

MVP Peyton Manning earned his only ring with Indy, while Tony Dungy became the first Black coach to win on Super Sunday amid a rainy night in South Florida.

30. VII (7, 1972) Dolphins 14, Washington 7

Miami’s ‘No Name Defense’ didn’t allow a point – Washington scored on kicker Garo Yepremian’s unforgettable special teams blunder – as the Dolphins, deemed underdogs by some, completed what’s still the only undefeated season (17-0) of the Super Bowl era.

31. XXII (22, 1987) Washington 42, Broncos 10

QB Doug Williams struck a social blow as the first Black quarterback to win the Super Bowl after orchestrating a breathtaking, 35-point second quarter that saw him throw four TD passes on his way to MVP honors. Timmy Smith rushed for 204 yards, a record that still stands, behind “The Hogs,” Washington’s famed offensive line.

32. I (1, 1966) Packers 35, Chiefs 10

Green Bay, with help from hung-over backup WR Max McGee (138 receiving yards, 2 TDs), did the expected in the first AFL-NFL World Championship Game – that’s what the Super Bowl was called at the time – which didn’t even sell out the L.A. Coliseum. However not everyone remembers that Vince Lombardi’s troops only led by four points at halftime.

33. XXI (21, 1986) Giants 39, Broncos 20

MVP Phil Simms had one of the greatest Super Sundays, completing 22 of 25 passes for 268 yards and three TDs, as the Giants rode 30 second-half points to their first Super Bowl triumph.

34. V (5, 1970) Baltimore Colts 16, Cowboys 13

It was the first Super Bowl with any sense of drama as rookie Jim O’Brien, who had an extra point blocked earlier in the game, drilled the decisive 32-yard FG with 5 seconds left. But a sloppy game was marred by 11 turnovers and a rib injury to Colts QB Johnny Unitas.

35. LIII (53, 2018) Patriots 13, Los Angeles Rams 3

This one lacked the offensive fireworks that had been a hallmark of the season. But even if there were nearly as many punts (14) as total points in a game where New England matched Pittsburgh with its sixth Lombardi – while putting a dent in McVay’s genius label – this matchup wasn’t lacking for drama. It was only the second Super Bowl to enter the fourth quarter with the score tied (3-3) though, ultimately, the Rams would match Miami’s 47-year-old mark for fewest points scored on Super Sunday.

36. XXVIII (28, 1993) Cowboys 30, Bills 13

Buffalo gave Dallas a better fight, leading 13-6 at the half, in a rematch but ultimately couldn’t contain league MVP (and Super Bowl MVP) Emmitt Smith (132 rushing yards, 2 TDs). It was the Bills’ fourth consecutive Super Bowl loss, a dual accomplishment and curse.

37. XL (40, 2005) Steelers 21, Seahawks 10

Pittsburgh joined the club of five-time Lombardi Trophy winners as RB Jerome Bettis ended his career in style in Detroit (his hometown) and Roethlisberger, 23, became the youngest quarterback to win the game despite forgettable numbers and amid controversial officiating that hurt Seattle.

38. 50 (2015) Broncos 24, Panthers 10

Super Bowl MVP Von Miller (2½ sacks, 2 forced fumbles) terrorized league MVP Cam Newton from the start, triggering a golden defensive effort on Super Sunday’s golden anniversary and allowing Peyton Manning to shift into game-management mode as he captured his long-awaited second crown in what turned out to be his final NFL appearance.

39. XIX (19, 1984) 49ers 38, Dolphins 16

A highly anticipated matchup between Montana and Dan Marino fizzled after one quarter. MVP Montana (331 yards, 3 TDs) completely outclassed fellow western Pennsylvania native Marino (in his lone Super Bowl), as the Niners became the first team to win 18 games in a season.

40. XI (11, 1976) Oakland Raiders 32, Minnesota Vikings 14

At the sun-splashed Rose Bowl, the Raiders won their first title – and only one under coach John Madden – by physically dominating the Purple People Eaters. The Vikings failed to win the Super Bowl in their fourth and most recent attempt.

41. IX (9, 1974) Steelers 16, Vikings 6

After 42 barren seasons, a young Steel Curtain gave Pittsburgh its first NFL title thanks to suffocating defense and MVP Franco Harris’ 158 rushing yards, a Super Bowl record at the time.

42. XX (20, 1985) Bears 46, Patriots 10

The upstart Patriots actually led 3-0 before the vaunted ’85 Bears defense shuffled its way to a blowout that didn’t include the touchdown Hall of Famer Walter Payton had long desired.

43. XXXIII (33, 1998) Broncos 34, Falcons 19

Elway’s final game minted him as an all-time great, Denver repeating thanks to an MVP effort (336 passing yards, TD pass, TD run) from its 38-year-old gunslinger.

44. XXVII (27, 1992) Cowboys 52, Bills 17

Dallas’ Triplets – MVP QB Troy Aikman (4 TD passes), RB Smith (108 rush yards, TD) and WR Michael Irvin (114 receiving yards, 2 TDs) – were too much for the Bills (9 turnovers) in the final Super Bowl played at the iconic Rose Bowl. However Buffalo WR Don Beebe’s goal-line strip of DT Leon Lett, who was returning a recovered fumble, prevented Dallas from setting a Super Sunday scoring record.

45. XV (15, 1980) Oakland Raiders 27, Eagles 10

With the New Orleans Superdome wrapped in a yellow ribbon welcoming home American hostages from Iran, the Raiders were less than hospitable to Philly as they became the first wild-card team to go all the way.

46. IV (4, 1969) Chiefs 23, Vikings 7

In a dominant performance, the Chiefs ensured the AFL-NFL rivalry would forever be knotted 2-2 just months before the leagues officially merged. QB Len Dawson won MVP honors after being erroneously linked to a gambling scandal before the game.

47. II (2, 1967) Packers 33, Oakland Raiders 14

The aging Pack won their fifth and final championship of the 1960s in Lombardi’s last game coaching the franchise.

48. XVIII (18, 1983) Los Angeles Raiders 38, Washington 9

Washington entered the game viewed as one of the most formidable teams of all time. The Raiders put that notion to rest with MVP Marcus Allen (then-record 191 rushing yards) providing the exclamation point with his epic 74-yard TD run.

49. XXIX (29, 1994) 49ers 49, San Diego Chargers 26

No one gave the Bolts a chance, and the Niners proved that outlook correct. MVP Steve Young emerged from Montana’s shadow to pass for a game-record six TDs as San Francisco became the first team to win five Super Bowls.

50. LV (55, 2020) Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31, Chiefs 9

The ballyhooed battle between Brady and Mahomes – ‘The GOAT vs. The Kid’ – never materialized, the showdown every bit as dissatisfying as Montana vs. Marino years before. TB12 was stellar (3 TD passes) on the way to bolstering his legacy with a seventh ring and fifth Super Bowl MVP trophy. Fleeing on a bad foot behind a tattered O-line, Mahomes had the worst game of his career as the Bucs, largely propelled by their relentless defense, became the first team to hoist the Lombardi on its home field.

51. XXXVII (37, 2002) Buccaneers 48, Oakland Raiders 21

It’s remembered as the Jon Gruden Bowl after the coach was traded from the Raiders to Tampa Bay before the season. But an elite defense that returned three Rich Gannon INTs for TDs highlighted the Bucs’ first title.

52. LIX (59, 2024) Eagles 40, Chiefs 22

Give a touch of credit to Kansas City, amid its thwarted three-peat bid, for making the final score quasi-respectable considering Philly led 34-0 late in the third quarter. Not a memorable game but a dominant performance for MVP Jalen Hurts and Co. that stamped the ’24 Eagles as one of the best teams of the past quarter century.

53. XXIV (24, 1989) 49ers 55, Broncos 10

Montana saved his best Super Sunday for last, winning his third MVP with 297 passing yards and five touchdowns as the Niners repeated while setting Super Bowl records for points scored and margin of victory.

54. XXVI (26, 1991) Washington 37, Bills 24

The game wasn’t as close as the score indicates. Washington won its third and final championship under Gibbs, who had a different quarterback each time, including MVP Mark Rypien on this day.

55. XII (12, 1977) Cowboys 27, Broncos 10

In the first Super Bowl staged indoors (the Superdome opened in 1975), Dallas crushed its former quarterback, Craig Morton, and error-prone Denver (eight turnovers). It’s the only Super Bowl with co-MVPs (D-linemen Harvey Martin and Randy White).

56. VIII (8, 1973) Dolphins 24, Vikings 7

MVP Larry Csonka rushed for a then-record 145 yards (QB Bob Griese only threw seven passes) as Miami repeated with a team some consider stronger than the 1972 17-0 group.

57. XXXV (35, 2000) Ravens 34, Giants 7

One of the most dominant defenses in history pitched a shutout (the Giants’ points came via kickoff return). Controversy swirled around Lewis all week, but he finished it with MVP honors.

58. VI (6, 1971) Cowboys 24, Dolphins 3

Coach Tom Landry’s team finally shed a reputation for choking in big games by holding Miami to a FG (tied for fewest points with the 2018 Rams) on a 39-degree day at New Orleans’ Tulane Stadium.

59. XLVIII (48, 2013) Seahawks 43, Broncos 8

The chasm between pregame expectations and final outcome was likely the widest in Super Bowl history. Seattle’s Legion of Boom defense stifled a Peyton Manning-led offense that scored a league-record 606 points.

It’s one thing to make the NHL without being drafted. It’s another entirely to thrive, even dominate, as an individual who never heard his name called at an NHL draft. 

A few impressive up-and-comers are slightly too young and haven’t proven enough to make the top five best active undrafted players, such as the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Bobby McMann, but it’s hard to argue about those who made the cut. 

While only two of the selected players have had the honor of hoisting the Stanley Cup, each has significantly impacted proceedings since proving to their initial suitors they deserved a chance to show why they belong in the NHL. And the top player on the list was held out of his team’s lineup on Wednesday for roster management purposes, suggesting he could be traded soon.

Top 5 active undrafted NHL players

5. Minnesota Wild right wing Mats Zuccarello

Not only does Mats Zuccarello have one of the best last names in hockey, but he’s also been a consistent offensive producer in his 16 years in the NHL. The Minnesota Wild right winger scores at a 0.77 points-per-game clip and enjoyed his best season in 2021-22, where he notched 79 points (24 goals, 55 assists) in 70 games. 

He’s played for three teams: the New York Rangers, the Dallas Stars and the Wild. And while his chances are waning, the 38-year-old still hopes to win his first Stanley Cup. 

4. Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Chris Tanev

Chris Tanev is one of the most effective defensive defensemen in the league. He blocks shots more often than Connor McDavid scores points and is one of the most underrated and unheralded individuals.

He has a thankless job but is highly regarded by current and former teammates for his dogged on-ice determination and off-ice leadership. 

Tanev has suited up for four teams across his 16-year career, including the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, Stars and Toronto Maple Leafs. 

3. Nashville Predators right wing Jonathan Marchessault

While his tenure in Nashville hasn’t gone as intended, Jonathan Marchessault was the most influential driving force in propelling the Vegas Golden Knights to Stanley Cup glory in 2023. 

The 35-year-old won the Conn Smythe Trophy, thanks to a hallmark final against the Florida Panthers in which he amassed eight points in five games, which included four goals in the opening three contests. 

He finished the 2022-23 playoffs with 25 points (13 goals, 12 assists) in 22 games. 

2. Tampa Bay Lightning center Yanni Gourde

Known for his defensive qualities, Yanni Gourde became a household name when he played an influential role in the Tampa Bay Lightning’s back-to-back Stanley Cup runs. 

He raises his level in the post-season, a character trait that’s worth its weight in gold, or should I say Stanley silver. The 34-year-old has seven game-winning goals in six trips to the playoffs. 

Gourde ranks fourth in scoring among undrafted players who have played this season, with 365 points (139 goals, 226 assists) in 653 games.

1. New York Rangers left wing Artemi Panarin

Artemi Panarin is the only active undrafted player who averages more than a point per game. The 34-year-old has 927 points (321 goals, 606 assists) in 804 games. 

That’s 207 points more than Zuccarello, the second-highest scoring active undrafted player. Panarin won the Calder Trophy in 2015-16 when he played for the Chicago Blackhawks. 

His future in the Big Apple is uncertain, considering he was a healthy scratch in the Rangers’ game against the New York Islanders on Wednesday and is a pending free agent the team doesn’t want to re-sign. One thing is clear, however: no other active undrafted player bakes quite as well as the ‘Breadman.’

James missed the first 14 games of the 2025-26 season due to a sciatica issue. Upon his return, he has proven he could still make a difference for a contender in the Western Conference.

The four-time MVP has continued to show a commitment to his body and well-being, deciding to give up alcohol during his injury recovery.

James felt it was a necessary step to “keep up with the young guys.” The superstar player has often expressed his passion for alcoholic beverages as a businessman and consumer.

The idea behind giving up alcohol was to slim down and help take pressure off his back and joints, according to ESPN.

He’s averaged 22.4 points,  6.7 assists and six rebounds per game in 28 games played this season. He’s also averaged 33.4 minutes per game this season for the Lakers and logged 60,000 career regular-season minutes in Cleveland on Wednesday. He is the first player in NBA history to reach that mark.

Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis was arrested and booked Wednesday, Jan. 28 on charges of attempted kidnapping, false imprisonment and battery, according to records with the Miami-Dade County, Florida Clerk of Court and Corrections and Rehabilation Department.

Davis, 31, was being held at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, according to the records. The action against boxer stems from a woman saying Davis attacked her while she was working at Tootsie’s Cabaret strip club Oct. 27 in Miami Gardens. Richard Wolfe, an attorney representing the woman, said she pressed charges against Davis with the Miami Gardens Police Department.

The woman also filed a civil lawsuit in which she said Davis committed battery, aggravated battery, false imprisonment, kidnapping and intentional infliction of emotional distress against her. 

Emmanuel Jeanty, an executive officer with the Miami Gardens Police Department, during a press conference Jan. 14 called the matter ‘a domestic violence incident.’ He said Davis was wanted on charges of battery, false imprisonment and attempted kidnapping and that the police department was working with the United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force ‘to locate and apprehend’ the boxer.

False imprisonment and attempted kidnapping are felonies and battery is a misdemeanor.

In November, according to one of Davis’ representatives, the boxer had left Florida for Maryland with his legal status and the future of his boxing career unclear. Davis was born and raised in Baltimore but in recent years moved to Florida.

The legal issues led on Nov. 3 to the cancellation of Davis’ fight against Jake Paul, which was scheduled for Nov. 14 in Miami.

Wolfe, who shared with USA TODAY Sports surveillance video of the alleged attack, said he was aware of Davis being in custody and that the boxer was arrested at his home in the Miami area. The records with the Miami-Dade County Corrections and Rehabilation did not indicate where Davis was arrested.

Wolfe said police on Wednesday called his client and told her of the update regarding Davis. The woman then called Wolfe and another attorney representing her.

The Miami Gardens Police Department said it had no information to provide Wednesday night and that its public information officer would not return until Thursday.

But during the Jan. 14 press conference, Jeanty provided additional information:

The woman, who was working at Tootsie’s Cabaret as a VIP cocktail waitress when she said Davis attacked her, said she had known Davis since 2022. The woman also said she and Davis were in an intimate relationship for five months and it ended about a month before the alleged attack at the strip club.

This story has been updated with new information.

Per NBA insider Chris Hayes, Tatum is considering whether he should sit out the remainder of the 2025-26 season, but a final decision has not been made. In a story ESPN published early Wednesday morning, Tatum confirmed that he hasn’t made a decision about his return and said he ‘wants to get it right the first time, so it’s just a lot to think about.’

The NBA champion tore his right Achilles tendon during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks on May 12, 2025.

The six-time All-Star was expected to try to return this season for Boston, especially with the Celtics surprising, currently sitting third in the Eastern Conference. Haynes indicated that Tatum was prepping for a return and was potentially close to getting back on the court, but the situation has changed.

Tatum, per ESPN, is ‘progressing well in his rehabilitation and is feeling stronger every week, but he’s waiting to make a decision because of the severity of the injury.’

Tatum signed a contract extension with the Celtics on July 6, 2024.

He’s averaged 23.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game over 585 career games played.

This story has been updated with new information.