The USA’s quarterfinal ouster means the world junior hockey championship will have a new champion for the first time since 2023.

Sweden gained a chance to win for the first time since 2012 when it defeated Finland in the early semifinal 4-3 in a shootout. Draft-eligible Ivar Stenberg had a goal and assist and Chicago Blackhawks draft pick scored the shootout winner.

The Swedes’ opponent will be Canada or Czechia, who are facing off in the night game in what has become a big rivalry.

The Czechs have ousted Canada in the playoffs the past two years and Canada knocked off Czechia in the 2023 final. Canada won the team’s preliminary round meeting 7-5 but forgot to do a handshake line and Porter Martone patted a Czech player on the behind after he scored an empty net goal.

USA TODAY Sports is providing live updates on Sunday’s world junior championships semifinals. Follow along:

Canada vs. Czechia underway

Goalies are Canada’s Jack Ivankovic vs. Czechia’s Michal Orsulak.

Canada-Czechia lines

Canada vs. Czechia rivalry

Czechia ousted Canada the last two years in the quarterfinals. Canada beat Czechia in the 2023 gold-medal game.

When is Canada vs. Czechia?

The game is scheduled to start at 8:30 p.m. ET.

Next up

Canada and Czechia will play in the second semifinal to determine the other gold-medal game opponent.

Final score: Sweden 4, Finland 3 (SO)

Sweden is heading to the gold medal game for the second time in three years.

Sweden wins in eighth round of shootout

Blackhawks prospect Anton Frondell scores to send Sweden to the gold-medal game. They’ll play the Canada-Czechia winner.

Shootout round five

Jack Berglund scores to extend shootout.

Shootout round four

Victor Eklund and Jasper Kuhta stopped

Shootout round three

Ivar Stenberg and Emil Hemming stopped.

Shootout round two

Anton Frondell stopped. Matias Vanhanen scores. 1-0 Finland

Shootout round one

Sweden’s Viggo Bjorck stopped as is Finland’s Leo Tuuva.

Shootout delay

They’re scraping the ice again.

Team Sweden will shoot first

Five-round shootout, then sudden death rounds if tied.

We’re going to a shootout

Sweden kills the penalty so we’re heading to a shootout.

Finland hits the crossbar

There’s 32 seconds left in the power play.

Finland power play

Viggo Bjorck is called for slashing. Finland won last year’s game on an overtime power play.

Sweden chance

Overtime so far

There’s 4:32 left. Good chances on either side.

Overtime underway

It’s 10 minutes of 3-on-3 sudden death before a shootout, if needed.

End of third: Sweden 3, Finland 3

2 minutes left

Tied 3-3.

Finland ties it up

Joona Saarelainen scores on a rebound of an Arttu Valila shot with 5:59 left to tie the game.

Sweden power play

Sweden on power play because of earlier call on Leu Tuuva. Sweden gets three shots but Finland kills it off. Petteri Rimpinen robs Jack Berglund.

Finland power play

Ivar Stenberg is called for tripping. Finland 0-for-2 so far. Finland gets chances but power play ends when Leo Tuuva is called for slashing.

Third period underway

3-2 Sweden. Winner goes to the gold-medal game. Loser plays for bronze.

End of second: Sweden 3, Finland 2

Two more strange goals in that period. Finland ties it up on a Sweden own goal and Sweden goes ahead after Petteri Rimpinen gets his stick stuck in the mesh after making a save. Shots are 20-15 Finland.

Finland pressure

The Finns hit the crossbar and two Swedish players break their sticks as Finland applies pressure late in the period. But Swedish goalie Love Harenstam dives out to cover the puck.

Sweden retakes lead on bank shot

Petteri Rimpinen is out of position with his stick stuck in the mesh after he make a save on Eddie Genborg. Genborg then banks in the puck off the goalie. Another strange goal in this game. Ivar Stenberg gets an assist for his second point of the game. Sweden 3, Finland 2

Finland ties it up on own goal

It’s an own goal as the puck comes off the glass and Swedish defenseman Alfons Freij puts it in off his goaltender as he tries to clear. Finland’s Jasper Kuhta get credit for the goal. Sweden 2, Finland 2

Sweden takes lead

Draft-eligible Ivar Stenberg scores through a screen on a delayed penalty. Sweden 2, Finland 1

Second period underway

Score is tied 1-1.

End of first: Sweden 1, Finland 1

The start of the game was nearly disastrous for Finland. Goalie Petteri Rimpinen misplayed a puck for a Sweden goal at 36 seconds. Then Sweden went on a power play 16 seconds later. Finland killed that off and settled down. They got a tying goal with 3:34 left in the period. Finland-Sweden games tend to be tight, and that’s the case again. Finland leads in shots, 11-7.

Finland ties it up

Atte Joki takes a pass atop the right faceoff circle, gets into better position and beats a screened Love Harenstam for the tying goal. Sweden 1, Finland 1

Finland power play

Felix Carell is called for delay of game for putting the puck over the glass. Sweden kills it off. Finland gets two shots and lead 8-4 in shots for the game.

Finland power play

Casper Juustovaara is called for slashing. Sweden kills it off.

Sweden power play

Heikki Ruohonen is called for tripping at 52 seconds. Finland gets a big kill, allowing no shots.

Sweden takes early lead

Linus Eriksson flips a shot toward the net and it goes in at 36 seconds as Petteri Rimpinen appears to misplay it. Sweden 1, Finland 0

Lucas Pettersson update

Sweden’s Lucas Pettersson is missing the game because he’s ill.

Sweden vs. Finland game underway

It’s Sweden’s Love Harenstam vs. Finland’s Petteri Rimpinen in net.

What channel is Sweden vs. Finland and Canada vs. Czechia world juniors hockey semifinals today?

TV channel: NHL Network

Livestream: Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers, or Sling TV.

Watch world junior championships on Fubo

What time are Sweden vs. Finland and Canada vs. Czechia world juniors hockey semifinals today?

Date: Sunday, Jan. 4

Time: 4:30 p.m. ET and 8:30 p.m. ET (3:30 and 7:30 local time)

The Sweden-Finland game is scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m. ET and Canada-Czechia will start at 8:30 p.m. ET at the Grand Casino Arena in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the home of the Minnesota Wild.

World juniors hockey semifinals: How to watch, stream

Time: 4:30 p.m. ET and 8:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, Jan. 4

Location: Grand Casino Arena (Saint Paul, Minnesota)

TV: NHL Network

Streaming: Fubo and certain levels of Sling TV carry NHL Network.

World junior championships semifinals today

Jan. 4

All times p.m. ET

Sweden vs. Finland, 4:30

Canada vs. Czechia, 8:30

Sweden has powerful power play

Sweden’s power play is connecting at 45% in the tournament, second only to Canada (47%).

Sweden vs. Finland lineups

Sweden players to watch

Blackhawks No. 3 overall pick Anton Frondell has five goals and seven points. Forward Jack Berglund (Flyers) and defenseman Alfons Freij (Jets) also have seven points. Forward Ivar Stenberg is expected to be a top draft pick in June. He has two goals and five points at the tournament.

Finland players to watch

Forward Heikki Ruohonen (Flyers) has two goals and six points. So does defenseman Lasse Boelius (Ducks). Finnish goalie Petteri Rimpinen (Kings) has played every minute of the tournament.

Sweden vs. Finland rematch

Sweden and Finland played in the 2025 semifinal, and Finland skated off with a 4-3 overtime victory. Benjamin Rautiainen scored the winner from a bad angle on the power play. Konsta Helenius, a Buffalo Sabres first-round pick, had four assists in the game.

Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog needed help getting off the ice after he crashed into the net during Sunday’s game against the Florida Panthers.

Landeskog was reaching for a puck when he lost his balance and slammed into the post early in the second period. The net came off its moorings, but the forward was down on the ice and needed assistance going to the dressing room. He didn’t return to the game.

The Avalanche said Sunday he had an upper-body injury, and coach Jared Bednar told reporters after the game that the captain was going to ‘miss some time,’ according to the Denver Post.

Landeskog had missed about three years with a knee injury before returning in the 2025 playoffs. After a slow start this season, he has 22 points in 41 games.

He has been named to the Swedish Olympic team. That’s four injuries in three days for Olympians, following Florida’s Seth Jones (Team USA) at the Winter Classic on Friday, Jan. 2, and Washington’s Tom Wilson (Team Canada) and Colorado’s Devon Toews (Canada) on Saturday.

MILWAUKEE, WI — Jordan Stolz is taking the long view.

Pre-qualified for the Milano Cortina Olympic team in all of his individual races, Stolz opted not to compete in the 1,500 meters Sunday. He lined up and started the race, fulfilling the requirement to finalize his spot at that distance, and then stopped after he took a few steps.

Stolz made the decision after a subpar performance in the 500 meters. Though he won the race, securing his spot at that distance, his time of 34.76 was well off his usual.

‘I wanted to see how my legs would feel today,’ Stolz said. ‘I tested it out in the 500 and it wasn’t a time that I was really too happy with. So I think it’s best just to take rest.’

Stolz is poised to be one of the biggest stars in Milano Cortina, a gold-medal favorite in four individual events. He swept the sprint events — the 500, 1,000 and 1,500 meters — at the 2023 and 2024 world championships, and won the season titles in all three distances last season.

This season, all Stolz has done is win the 1,000 and 1,500 meters at each of the four World Cups and five of the seven 500-meter races. Oh, he made the podium twice in the mass start, too, an event he just put back in his program after a three-year absence.

But the World Cup schedule took its toll. The four races occurred over a five-week span, and the last was less than four weeks ago. That meant that, after taking a bit of time to recover, Stolz could prioritize either his training or being in peak shape for the Olympic trials.

Wisely, he chose training.

‘The training block that I had before this was one of the best I’ve ever had. And I think that’s why I’m a little tired right now,’ said Stolz, who also picked up a cold earlier in the week.

‘… I think the best (thing) is to just go to the line in the 15, qualify my spot and then take a rest.’

Because it’s the Olympics that matter most, not the Olympic trials.

U.S. Speedskating changed its Olympic qualifying procedures to ensure its best skaters made the team after Erin Jackson almost missed being able to compete in the 500 meters at the Beijing Games.

Jackson, ranked No. 1 in the world in the distance at the time, finished third at the 2022 trials after a stumble at the start. Brittany Bowe, who won the race, relinquished her spot for Jackson, who went on to win gold in the 500 in Beijing.

Now athletes who win medals at the world championships can guarantee their spots ahead of trials by finishing in the top five in the same distance at two World Cups. Anyone who makes the podium at two World Cups is also guaranteed a spot at that distance.

Stolz had met that criteria for the 500, 1,000 and 1,500 meters after the second World Cup. He also guaranteed his spot in the mass start with two podium finishes, including a win at the last World Cup in Hamar, Norway.

That meant all he had to do was show up at trials. He could secure his spots for Milano Cortina without having to disrupt his training.

‘If I didn’t have this option, I would have had to take a little bit more rest,’ Stolz said. ‘That would have cut (my training block) down to only a week, and it just wouldn’t have been optimal. So being able to do this, now I can get the training in, get some races in. It helps a lot.’

It only makes sense.

The 21-year-old is a rare talent, and he has the chance to win more golds in Milano Cortina than any U.S. Winter Olympian since Eric Heiden, who won five at the Lake Placid Games. That is the goal, not performances at the Olympic trials that, ultimately, no one will remember.

‘I think I’m in a really good spot,’ Stolz said.

The Olympic trials are at the Pettit Center, Stolz’s home ice, and the stands are filled with his family and friends. He appreciates the rare opportunity to race in front of them, and a less-mature athlete might have been swayed by that and tried to put on a show.

But Stolz is as savvy as he is good. Being in peak shape in Milano Cortina is what’s important, and anything that takes away from that simply isn’t worth it.

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MILWAUKEE, WI — Nothing was keeping Brittany Bowe from earning another Olympic spot.

Bowe shook off a slight collision with Greta Myers during a crossover in the 1,500 meters, finishing almost two seconds in front of Myers and securing a spot in a second distance at the Milano Cortina Olympics. Bowe had qualified in the 1,000 meters Saturday.

‘I’m really happy with that race,’ Bowe said. I wanted to open up pretty quick and then just lock in and skate a solid race. I’m really happy with the execution and obviously thrilled about getting another starting position at the Olympics.’

Bowe has already said these Olympics, her fourth, will be her last. She will be 38 next month, and is more than satisfied with what she’s done in her career. ‘Blessed’ is a word she often uses. She’s a two-time Olympic bronze medalist, including in the 1,000 meters in 2022. She still holds the world-record holder in the 1,000 meters. She’s a four-time world champion.

Make no mistake, though, Bowe can still contend with the world’s best. She has been in the top five in both the 1,000 and 1,500 meters at the first four World Cups of the season, and Erin Jackson is the only person who gave her any kind of a challenge at the Olympic trials.

Jackson was the surprise winner in the 1,000 meters Saturday.

‘Competition drives me. Winning drives me. Performing better than expectation drives me,’ Bowe said. ‘I just really have a desire to be the best out there.’

And no one is going to get in her way. Literally.

As the skater in the inside lane, Myers was supposed to yield on their crossover. She didn’t, and the two were close enough that they made contact, with Bowe’s hand knocking Myers’ glasses off.

‘It was just tough how our speeds were aligned at the same time. It’s just unfortunate when that happens,’ Bowe said. ‘When I saw it was close, I actually tried to pick up my speed to go around her … even though it should be the inner lane to yield. But it’s my teammate and I wanted her to go. Unfortunately, we had a little collision.’

Bowe kept going as if nothing happened, and even tried to reassure Myers, one of her teammates in the team pursuit event, after the race. Myers was worried she would be disqualified for interference and, sure enough, she was.

Because it’s a selection event, however, Myers was given the opportunity to do a re-skate. She easily finished with the second-fastest time to earn a spot on the Olympic team.

‘I just told her to refocus and get this re-skate in, because there’s no question that she deserves that second starting position of the Olympics,’ Bowe said.

Emery Lehman and Casey Dawson went 1-2 in the men’s 1,500 meters to join Jordan Stolz in earning spots at that distance. Stolz had pre-qualified through his World Cup results, and opted to begin the race to secure his spot and then stop to conserve his energy.

Now that Bowe is officially on her way to her fourth Olympics, she’ll spend the next month training and trying to stay healthy. She’s at peace with her decision to retire, and doesn’t plan to do anything special or different in the leadup to the Milano Cortina Games.

Well, except decide whether to go to the women’s hockey gold-medal game, which is the night before Bowe’s 1,500-meter race.

Bowe’s longtime partner is Hilary Knight, captain of the U.S. women’s team. Knight has also said these Olympics, her fifth, will be her last.

‘I would love to get there, but I don’t know at this point,’ Bowe said. ‘My family will definitely be there. TBD if I will be there, but I really hope to be.

‘(Knight) wants me in the stands. But at the end of the day, we both know we have to do what’s best for each other,’ Bowe added. ‘But it would be great to celebrate her gold medal the night before I have a chance to do one myself.’

Wait! Is Bowe already calling the U.S. women to win gold?

‘Nothing but. Nothing but,’ Bowe said with a laugh.

The U.S. women are the favorites, having walloped archrival Canada 24-7 in the four Rivalry Series games in the fall. It’s the first time in the tournament’s six-year history that either team has swept the event.

‘It’s been a really fun journey the past four years to be able to celebrate each other’s accomplishments. It’s really been fun for me to be a fan, to be able to go to different Team USA events and not be the one stressed out about having to compete,’ Bowe said. ‘It’s just been so much fun to be able to do this together.’

Indiana football fans have at least one more game to appreciate Fernando Mendoza. However, preparation for the post-Mendoza era is already underway.

TCU quarterback Josh Hoover committed to the Hoosiers out of the transfer portal on Sunday, Jan. 4. Hoover is the second major coup for Curt Cignetti and Indiana of the day, as it landed Michigan State wide receiver Nick Marsh earlier on Jan. 4.

Hoover has been entrenched as the Horned Frogs’ starting QB since his redshirt freshman season. He has made 31 straight starts for TCU and has 9,629 career passing yards and 71 passing touchdowns. Both those marks are the best among QBs returning in 2026.

One pitfall with Hoover is turnovers, as he has thrown 33 career interceptions in his career. This season, he completed 272-of-413 passes (65.9%) for 3,472 yards and 13 interceptions.

Hoover will be tasked with replacing Mendoza, the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner. Mendoza has led Indiana to a perfect 14-0 record through the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. He has 3,172 passing yards, 36 touchdowns and six interceptions.

The transfer portal opened on Friday, Jan. 2, and remains open through Jan. 16. 

Josh Hoover transfer portal, recruiting ranking

Hoover was a 3-star recruit in the 2022 recruiting class, per 247Sports’ Composite ratings, coming out of Rockwall-Heath High School in Rockwall, Texas. He was ranked as the No. 709 overall player and 41st-ranked quarterback in the class.

The 6-foot-2 signal-caller was originally committed to Indiana under head coach Tom Allen. He, however, announced his decommitment on Dec. 6, 2021, and then committed to the Horned Frogs 10 minutes later.

Stars: 3
National rating: No. 709 overall
Position ranking: No. 41 QB
State ranking: No. 103 player from Texas

Following his four-year run at TCU, Hoover was the No. 35 overall player and the No. 9 quarterback in the 2025 portal rankings.

Josh Hoover stats

Here’s a look at Hoover’s stats in his four seasons with the Horned Frogs;

2022: 1-of-1 passing (100%) for 2 yards
2023: 185-for-298 passing (62.1%) for 2,206 yards, 15 touchdowns and nine touchdowns
2024: 313-of-471 passing (66.5%) for 3,949 yards, 27 touchdowns and 11 interceptions
2025: 272-of-413 passing (65.9%) for 3,472 yards, 29 touchdowns and 13 interceptions

The USA’s quarterfinal ouster means the world junior hockey championship will have a new champion for the first time since 2023.

Will it be Finland, which eliminated the American team in overtime on Jan. 2? Or Canada, which won in 2023? Or will unbeaten Sweden (2012) or Czechia (2001) end long droughts?

The next step for determining that is the semifinals on Sunday, Jan. 4. Sweden will face rival Finland and Canada and Czechia will face off in what is becoming a big rivalry.

The Czechs have ousted Canada in the playoffs the past two years and Canada knocked off Czechia in the 2023 final. Canada won the team’s preliminary round meeting but forgot to do a handshake line and Porter Martone patted a Czech player on the behind after he scored an empty net goal.

Here’s what to know about Sunday’s world junior championships semifinals, including how to watch:

Finland ties it up

Joona Saarelainein scores on a rebound of an Arttu Valila shot with 5:59 left to tie the game.

Sweden power play

Sweden on power play because of earlier call on Leu Tuuva. Sweden gets three shots but Finland kills it off. Petteri Rimpinen robs Jack Berglund.

Finland power play

Ivar Stenberg is called for tripping. Finland 0-for-2 so far. Finland gets chances but power play ends when Leo Tuuva is called for slashing.

Third period underway

3-2 Sweden. Winner goes to the gold-medal game. Loser plays for bronze.

End of second: Sweden 3, Finland 2

Two more strange goals in that period. Finland ties it up on a Sweden own goal and Sweden goes ahead after Petteri Rimpinen gets his stick stuck in the mesh after making a save. Shots are 20-15 Finland.

Finland pressure

The Finns hit the crossbar and two Swedish players break their sticks as Finland applies pressure late in the period. But Swedish goalie Love Harenstam dives out to cover the puck.

Sweden retakes lead on bank shot

Petteri Rimpinen is out of position with his stick stuck in the mesh after he make a save on Eddie Genborg. Genborg then banks in the puck off the goalie. Another strange goal in this game. Ivar Stenberg gets an assist for his second point of the game. Sweden 3, Finland 2

Finland ties it up on own goal

It’s an own goal as the puck comes off the glass and Swedish defenseman Alfons Freij puts it in off his goaltender as he tries to clear. Finland’s Jasper Kuhta get credit for the goal. Sweden 2, Finland 2

Sweden takes lead

Draft-eligible Ivar Stenberg scores through a screen on a delayed penalty. Sweden 2, Finland 1

Second period underway

Score is tied 1-1.

End of first: Sweden 1, Finland 1

The start of the game was nearly disastrous for Finland. Goalie Petteri Rimpinen misplayed a puck for a Sweden goal at 36 seconds. Then Sweden went on a power play 16 seconds later. Finland killed that off and settled down. They got a tying goal with 3:34 left in the period. Finland-Sweden games tend to be tight, and that’s the case again. Finland leads in shots, 11-7.

Finland ties it up

Atte Joki takes a pass atop the right faceoff circle, gets into better position and beats a screened Love Harenstam for the tying goal. Sweden 1, Finland 1

Finland power play

Felix Carell is called for delay of game for putting the puck over the glass. Sweden kills it off. Finland gets two shots and lead 8-4 in shots for the game.

Finland power play

Casper Juustovaara is called for slashing. Sweden kills it off.

Sweden power play

Heikki Ruohonen is called for tripping at 52 seconds. Finland gets a big kill, allowing no shots.

Sweden takes early lead

Linus Eriksson flips a shot toward the net and it goes in at 36 seconds as Petteri Rimpinen appears to misplay it. Sweden 1, Finland 0

Lucas Pettersson update

Sweden’s Lucas Pettersson is missing the game because he’s ill.

Sweden vs. Finland game underway

It’s Sweden’s Love Harenstam vs. Finland’s Petteri Rimpinen in net.

What channel is Sweden vs. Finland and Canada vs. Czechia world juniors hockey semifinals today?

TV channel: NHL Network

Livestream: Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers, or Sling TV.

Watch world junior championships on Fubo

What time are Sweden vs. Finland and Canada vs. Czechia world juniors hockey semifinals today?

Date: Sunday, Jan. 4

Time: 4:30 p.m. ET and 8:30 p.m. ET (3:30 and 7:30 local time)

The Sweden-Finland game is scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m. ET and Canada-Czechia will start at 8:30 p.m. ET at the Grand Casino Arena in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the home of the Minnesota Wild.

World juniors hockey semifinals: How to watch, stream

Time: 4:30 p.m. ET and 8:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, Jan. 4

Location: Grand Casino Arena (Saint Paul, Minnesota)

TV: NHL Network

Streaming: Fubo and certain levels of Sling TV carry NHL Network.

World junior championships semifinals today

Jan. 4

All times p.m. ET

Sweden vs. Finland, 4:30

Canada vs. Czechia, 8:30

Sweden has powerful power play

Sweden’s power play is connecting at 45% in the tournament, second only to Canada (47%).

Sweden vs. Finland lineups

Sweden players to watch

Blackhawks No. 3 overall pick Anton Frondell has five goals and seven points. Forward Jack Berglund (Flyers) and defenseman Alfons Freij (Jets) also have seven points. Forward Ivar Stenberg is expected to be a top draft pick in June. He has two goals and five points at the tournament.

Finland players to watch

Forward Heikki Ruohonen (Flyers) has two goals and six points. So does defenseman Lasse Boelius (Ducks). Finnish goalie Petteri Rimpinen (Kings) has played every minute of the tournament.

Sweden vs. Finland rematch

Sweden and Finland played in the 2025 semifinal, and Finland skated off with a 4-3 overtime victory. Benjamin Rautiainen scored the winner from a bad angle on the power play. Konsta Helenius, a Buffalo Sabres first-round pick, had four assists in the game.

The Cleveland Browns star edge rusher sacked Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow during the fourth quarter in the team’s 20-18 Week 18 win. The sack was Garrett’s 23rd of the season, which broke the single-season sack record of 22.5 that was previously held by Michael Strahan (22.5 sacks in 2001 with the New York Giants) and T.J. Watt (22.5 sacks in 2021 with the Pittsburgh Steelers).

“It was everything I expected. It was so tough. I knew they were gonna make it difficult,” Garrett said postgame of the sack record. “The feeling couldn’t be better.”

Garrett later told reporters he was eyeing 25 sacks but he’s grateful to be the NFL’s new sack king.

“I’ve been waiting on this my whole life. My whole football career. I knew I had it in me,” Garrett said. “I wanted that 25 (sacks), but they made it real difficult these last two games, especially, really these last three. That’ll be the next journey. Trying to go out there and get 25.”

While 25 sacks might be a goal for Garrett down the road, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said he hopes this year is capped off with an NFL Defensive Player of the Year award.

“That’s history. He’s the sack king. That’s unbelievable. They’ve been playing this game for a long time, and for him to go get that in the circumstances with the degree of difficulty in which he got it this season is unbelievable,” Stefanski said. “He’s the defensive player of the year. You can make him the MVP, if I had a vote. I think the reaction of his teammates is genuine. That’s real. These guys care about each other.”

Cleveland finished the regular season 5-12, fourth in the AFC North and out of the playoffs. The Browns have only earned a playoff berth twice since they drafted Garrett No. 1 overall in the 2017 NFL draft.

Garrett, who was one of the few bright spots for the Browns this season, said he appreciates the journey despite the franchise’s recent struggles.

“You got to be the same person every single day. Come with that same intensity. No matter the result or outcome. You do it for the journey. The suffering in the journey, the failures in the journey. But that’s the price we pay for giving everything we have,” Garrett said. “No one is gonna win the Super Bowl every year. No one is gonna go to the playoffs every year. But that fight to get more and achieve more, wanting more for yourself and your teammates, that’s what’s gonna drive us to success.”

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

‘Black Monday’ is the term for the day after the NFL regular season ends when multiple head coaches are often fired.
The Tennessee Titans and New York Giants have already fired their head coaches ahead of the 2026 offseason.

‘Black Monday,’ metaphorically the worst day on the NFL calendar, isn’t even 24 hours away. On a day when 18 teams are cleaning out their collective lockers going into an offseason they wish was still a few weeks away, several head coaches – along with their assistants and, by extension, families – will also be packing up ahead of a permanent change of address.

Two teams, the Tennessee Titans and New York Giants, decided weeks ago that they were headed in new directions in 2026, pulling the plugs on Brian Callahan and Brian Daboll, respectively, preemptively rather than let them unnecessarily twist in the wind before an inevitable axe fell. Will their dismissals serve as precursors for a larger HC bloodletting?

Before we find out officially, here are a few Black Monday predictions:

Black Monday will be moderate shade of gray

Since the start of the Super Bowl era – the 1966 season – six to seven head coaching openings, on average, materialize each year. As previously mentioned, two teams have already begun their searches. But if one were to set an over/under of, say, 3½ more firings in 2026, I’d be inclined to take the under. Several coaches this season have certainly fallen short of expectations, though quite a few have been victimized by circumstances largely beyond their control – whether they be injuries, weak rosters, poor quarterback play or maybe a combination thereof.

It’s also worth noting that very few organizations wait anymore to render a decision on Black Monday itself. Increasingly, teams like the Giants and Titans cut the cord when it’s clearly the proper course of action. Others will make an announcement in the hours after the regular-season finale rather than make a coach endure a process that need not last an additional day. And, sometimes, a club and/or coach need a cooling-off period before deciding whether a break-up is in order.

The guess here? Most pink slips will be issued by Sunday’s end – or maybe not until week’s end … just don’t expect all that many.

A coach in the playoffs won’t remain with his team in 2026

It’s not all that unusual to see a head man depart his post even after reaching the postseason – especially one who’s gotten into something of a good-but-not-great rut. This isn’t an indictment or suggestion any of the following men are in trouble, per se. But franchises sometimes wind up deciding to take a step back in order to (theoretically) eventually move forward – even if it means parting with a proven winner like Todd Bowles or Matt LaFleur or even John Harbaugh. Just saying – sometimes Black Monday arrives a week late.

Mike McDaniel will stay in Miami

Widely identified as a man on the hot seat in the aftermath of the Dolphins’ disappointing 8-9 finish in 2024, could he somehow survive what’s shaping up as another seven- or eight-win campaign? In a break from their typical pattern under McDaniel, who’s wrapping up his fourth season at the helm, the Fins have nearly gotten back to break even after a 1-6 start – one that included the season-ending loss of dynamic WR Tyreek Hill. It’s also worth noting that McDaniel was retained at midseason when owner Stephen Ross and former GM Chris Grier mutually parted ways.

The Dolphins will obviously find a replacement for Grier (thanks, Troy Aikman). They’re also probably contractually stuck with QB Tua Tagovailoa, who’d had quite a bit of success under McDaniel before being benched late in the season, for at least another year. But even if the next GM decides to take a financial bath by cutting Tagovailoa, a move that would trigger something in the neighborhood of of nine-figure salary-cap pain, the team isn’t likely to find an immediate replacement who’s face-of-the-franchise-caliber. Given those options, it probably makes sense to retain McDaniel – whether he goes back to work with Tua or continues shepherding rookie Quinn Ewers, and kick the HC decision can down the road for a year. While it’s certainly ideal to have a new GM and coach enter the building together, philosophically aligned and such, it’s nearly as common for a new personnel boss to take the lay of the land for a year before deciding whether to stick with a program or fully reset it – recent examples of similar reboots transpiring in Nashville and Chicago.

Mike Tomlin’s future is up to Mike Tomlin

We hear you, Pittsburgh Steelers fans. You’re frustrated. Winning annually is fine, but not winning Super Bowls annually isn’t. There’s no doubt Tomlin and this organization want to do better than one-and-done − if they make it that far − when the playoffs roll around. There’s no doubt Tomlin and this organization want a long-term answer at quarterback. There’s no doubt Tomlin and this organization want to finish constructing that long-awaited Stairway to Seven, stuck on a league-record six Lombardi Trophies − for one franchise anyway − since he, Ben Roethlisberger and Co. won Super Bowl 43 to cap the 2008 season.

But after 19 non-losing seasons and 200 wins (including playoffs), Tomlin − one of three coaches the ever-stable Steelers have employed since 1969 − won’t be pushed out of Pittsburgh. He’ll only jump, and likely to a plum job opening like the Giants’, if that’s what he chooses to do. But don’t hold your collective breath, you ungrateful and spoiled Yinzers.

One of the benefits of the current state of college football for teams: If you can find a coach, you can find a quarterback.

After Drew Mestemaker followed his North Texas coach Eric Morris to Oklahoma State, Rocco Becht is doing the same. The former Iowa State quarterback will join his coach Matt Campbell at Penn State, giving the Nittany Lions their 2026 quarterback.

Becht, who will be a redshirt senior next year, battled an injury for most of the 2025 season and saw his stats suffer for it. He’s hoping a surgery on what was diagnosed as a partially torn labrum will return him to form for another season in college football next year.

The move puts a button on the Drew Allar era for Penn State. Allar is expected to enter the NFL draft after he suffered a season-ending ankle injury in October against Northwestern. Becht and Campbell are hoping to right what was a disastrous 2025 for Penn State, though the season did end with a Pinstripe Bowl win over Clemson.

Redshirt freshman QB Alex Manske also committed to Penn State from Iowa State on Sunday to serve as Becht’s understudy.

Rocco Becht transfer portal ranking

ESPN lists Becht as the 16th-highest ranked player in the transfer portal. Becht’s injury limited him this year, but Penn State will undoubtedly expect a return to form.

Rocco Becht stats

Over the course of his career, Becht has amassed 9,274 yards on 714-of-1,177 passing (60.7% completion rate), with 64 touchdowns and 27 interceptions. He saw lower numbers in 2025, thanks in part to a partially torn labrum that required surgery in December.

2022: 7-of-15 passing, 65 yards, one interception (redshirts season)
2023: 231-of-367 passing, 3,120 yards, 23 touchdowns, eight interceptions
2024: 271-of-456 passing, 3,505 yards, 25 touchdowns, nine interceptions
2025: 205-of-339 passing, 2,584 yards, 16 touchdowns, nine interceptions