The U.S. Olympic men’s hockey roster is out and it’s mostly a reprise of the 4 Nations Face-Off team, with a few adjustments.

And when someone new is added, someone has to fall out. One of those was New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox.

The former Norris Trophy winner didn’t make the cut after Team USA added Stanley Cup-winning defenseman Seth Jones from the Florida Panthers.

“I thought my play this year was worthy of it and my track record as well, but it’s out of my hands at a certain point,’ Fox told reporters, according to The Athletic.

Here are the winners and losers from the USA’s announcement of its men’s hockey Olympic roster:

WINNERS

Seth Jones

Jones, then 19, had generated a little buzz in the 2014 selection process but didn’t make that team. He didn’t make the 4 Nations Face-Off, either, because he was with the struggling Blackhawks at the time. But a trade to the Panthers changed everything. He won a Stanley Cup in June and that led to the Olympic roster spot.’

‘You saw the impact that he had on the Florida team to win the Stanley Cup,’ USA coach Mike Sullivan said. ‘He’s a big, strong kid that skates extremely well. I think he has the ability to play on both sides of the puck and impact the game on both sides of the puck.’

Clayton Keller and Tage Thompson

Keller was the big snub for the 4 Nations, and he ended up finishing last season with 90 points. Thompson was ready to be an injury replacement at that tournament and wasn’t needed. But both players went to the world championships and helped the USA win a rare gold there. Keller was captain of that team and Thompson scored the winning goal. They made the Olympic team as a result.

‘He’s 6-6 and can skate like the wind,’ Team USA general manager Bill Guerin said of Thompson. ‘He’s got an incredible shot, scoring ability. But he’s got versatility as well. He can play center. He can play wing. He can kill penalties. Obviously, he’s on the power play.’

The Hughes brothers

Quinn Hughes’ injury before the 4 Nations deprived the USA of its best defenseman for that tournament. It also deprived Jack Hughes of a chance to play alongside his brother. Both brothers had suffered injuries this season but are healthy and get to be on the big stage together. Luke Hughes, Jack’s Devils teammate, didn’t make the 2026 team, so an international tournament with three Hughes brothers will have to wait until the 2028 World Cup.

Familiarity on the team

By bringing back most of the players from the 4 Nations, the USA has built-in chemistry. That’s important in a short tournament. The USA lost to Canada in the 4 Nations final but were without Quinn Hughes and Charlie McAvoy and didn’t have injured Matthew Tkachuk for the third period and overtime. Having a full healthy team could make a difference this time.

LOSERS

How healthy is this team?

The USA has had its share of injuries, even a fluke one. All of the first six players named to the U.S. team have been out at some point this season. Tkachuk is still working his way back from offseason hernia surgery. McAvoy missed time with a broken jaw. Jack Eichel returned on Friday. Auston Matthews has been out twice. But he answered questions about his health with a hat trick on Jan. 1. Among the other players named Friday, Jaccob Slavin has been limited to five games by injuries and J.T. Miller is out at the moment. But more than a month remains before the tournament.

Adam Fox

Fox’s exclusion generated a lot of headlines. His Rangers coach, Sullivan, is also the U.S. Olympic coach.

‘Adam and I have had a number of conversations around this and I will keep those conversations between Adam and I,’ Sullivan told reporters, noting that choosing the team was a ‘collaborative effort’ and there were difficult decisions to make.

Fox is an elite defenseman, though he struggled last season (along with the team) and he was on the ice during Connor McDavid’s overtime goal at the 4 Nations. Guerin said any perception that the play affected management’s decision was just perception.

‘If you think we made a decision on one play, then you must not think we’re very smart,’ Guerin said.

Fox just returned from an injury, scoring a goal, and will play in the Winter Classic. But the timing of Friday’s announcement puts some of the focus not him making the Olympic team.

Jason Robertson

The Stars forward got off to a slow start last season and didn’t make the 4 Nations. That’s not the case this season. He leads U.S. players with 48 points and his 24 goals trail only Matt Boldy. But he missed the cut.

Cole Caufield

The Canadiens forward is also off to a strong start and also didn’t make the team. His linemate, Nick Suzuki, made Team Canada’s roster.

Behind 161 total yards and three touchdowns from quarterback Blake Horvath, the No. 25-ranked Midshipmen rolled past Cincinnati 35-13 in the Liberty Bowl on Friday, Jan. 2 at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in Memphis.

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The win capped off an 11-2 season for Navy, tying program record for victories in a season.

Eli Heidenreich had 126 total yards (64 receiving, 62 rushing) and a touchdown in the win, with Alex Tecza, Heidenreich’s teammate and fellow Pittsburgh native, adding a team-high 80 rushing yards and a touchdown. Defensively, the Midshipmen were led by linebacker Coleman Cauley, who had a team-high 10 tackles and returned an interception for a touchdown.

Playing without star quarterback Brendan Sorsby, who is in the transfer portal, Cincinnati managed just 239 yards and 4.1 yards per play. The Bearcats were whistled for nine penalties for 76 yards. After a 7-1 start, Cincinnati rose as high as No. 16 in the US LBM Coaches Poll, but dropped its final five games, four of which were decided by multiple scores. Cincinnati is now 1-12 in games after November under third-year coach Scott Satterfield, who is 15-22 at the school.

USA TODAY Sports provided live updates, scores and highlights of the game. Here are the highlights:

Navy vs Cincinnati score

This section will be updated throughout the game.

Navy vs Cincinnati updates

This section will be updated throughout the game.

FINAL: Navy 35, Cincinnati 13

Navy seals win over Cincinnati with pick six

Whatever hopes Cincinnati had of a comeback win have been extinguished. After getting pinned back at their own 2-yard line, the Bearcats turn the ball over, with Navy’s Coleman Cauley intercepting a Brady Lichtenberg short pass up the middle and returning it five yards for a touchdown.

The Midshipmen lead 35-13 with 2:54 left. Cauley has a team-high 10 tackles for Navy, including seven solo tackles.

Cyrus Allen TD catch gets Cincinnati within two scores

It’s not over at the Liberty Bowl, at least not yet. Cincinnati responds to Navy’s touchdown drive by getting up the field relatively quickly, going 75 yards in 3:08 and eight plays. The Bearcats hit paydirt, too, with Brady Lichtenberg hitting Cyrus Allen for a 4-yard touchdown pass with 6:52 remaining.

Cincinnati fails to get the two-point conversion, making the score 28-13. The touchdown catch was Allen’s 13th of the season, tying a program single-season record.

Alex Tecza TD pushes Navy lead to 21

The rout is officially on.

Navy pushes its lead over 28-7 over Cincinnati with 10 minutes remaining after a 3-yard Alex Tecza touchdown run punctuating a 14-play, 56-yard drive that eats 7:44 off the clock.

End of third quarter: Navy 21, Cincinnati 7

We’ve got only 15 minutes left in Memphis, with Navy leading by 14. The Midshipmen will have a third-and-1 at the Cincinnati 33 when the fourth quarter begins.

Cincinnati stopped on fourth down

Cincinnati gets excellent starting field position after a 22-yard Manny Covey punt return gets the Bearcats to the Navy 48-yard line, but Cincinnati is unable to capitalize. The Bearcats lined up for a fourth-and-1 from the Navy 39, but a false start penalty pushes them back five yards. On fourth-and-6, Samaj Jones finds a wide-open Noah Jennings across the middle. What would have been a big gain, however, is dropped, allowing the Midshipmen to take over at their own 43 with 2:44 left in the third quarter.

Navy fumbles ball back to Cincinnati

Two plays after Cincinnati coughed the ball up, it gets it right back. Blake Horvath fumbles a quarterback keeper up the middle on a first-and-10 from the Bearcats’ 38-yard line. Cincinnati’s Jonathan Thompson pounces on top of it, giving his team possession at its own 34 with nine minutes left in the third quarter.

Cincinnati fumble gives Navy the ball back

Cincinnati gets a 36-yard run from Manny Covey on its first play of its first drive of the second half. Two plays later, though, the Bearcats give the ball away, with an errant pitch on a trick play that Navy falls on top of at the Cincinnati 48-yard line.

Blake Horvath extends Navy lead with second TD pass

Navy gets the second half off to a strong start, doubling its lead with an eight-play, 75-yard drive that ends with a 13-yard touchdown pass from Blake Horvath to Eli Heidenreich, his fellow offensive star for the Midshipmen.

Navy originally mishandled the snap on the extra point, but Cincinnati was offsides. The Midshipmen make their second attempt, increasing their lead to 21-7 with 10:15 left in the third quarter.

Horvath has three total touchdowns (two passing, one rushing) in his final college game.

Halftime: Navy 14, Cincinnati 7

Navy will take a 14-7 lead over Cincinnati into the locker room after Blake Horvath’s touchdown pass late in the second quarter.

The Midshipmen will receive the opening kickoff of the second half and should have good starting field position after a personal foul penalty from Bearcats running back Manny Covey on the final play of the first half for slapping a Navy player in the back of his helmet. That will move the opening kickoff back 15 yards.

Blake Horvath TD puts Navy ahead of Cincinnati

For the second time in the past three possessions, a Navy drive ends in the end zone.

Blake Horvath finishes off a methodical 11-play, 80-yard drive with a 30-yard touchdown pass to Luke Hutchison over the middle to give the Midshipmen a 14-7 lead with 40 seconds left in the half.

The pass came two plays after a successful fourth-and-1 conversion from the Cincinnati 36-yard line.

Marqavious Saboor ejected for targeting

As Navy tries to mount a go-ahead drive before halftime, we’ve got an ejection, with Cincinnati’s Marqavious Saboor booted for targeting after going head-first into Charles Robinson of the Midshipmen while bringing him down at the end of an 11-yard reception.

Cincinnati forces Navy punt

Cincinnati follows up its touchdown drive with a defensive stand, forcing a Navy punt on the ensuing possession. A 45-yard Midshipmen punt is returned 22 yards by Manny Covey to the Cincinnati 31-yard line, where the Bearcats will take over with 7:23 left in the first half.

Samaj Jones TD run ties it up between Cincinnati and Navy

Two teams that struggled to get a first down early in the game now can’t stop scoring.

Cincinnati responds to Navy’s touchdown with a scoring drive of its own, going 75 yards in 17 plays. Freshman quarterback Samaj Jones finishes it off, scrambling up the middle for 6-yard touchdown run, helped by a final push from his offensive line.

Cincinnati’s longest drive of the season was made possible by a pair of fourth-down conversions, including one from the Bearcats’ own 34-yard line.

We’ve got a tie game with 9:47 left in the second quarter.

End of first quarter: Navy 7, Cincinnati 0

Navy will take a 7-0 lead into the second quarter, though Cincinnati’s starting to find its rhythm offensively, with a third-and-4 at the Navy 42-yard line.

Blake Horvath TD run gives Navy lead over Cincinnati

At last, we have not just a first down, but points.

Navy finds its footing on its third drive of the game, going 63 yards in seven plays. It’s finished off by quarterback Blake Horvath, who plows into the end zone for a 2-yard touchdown run to give the Midshipmen a 7-0 lead with 3:19 left in the first quarter.

Cincinnati, Navy trade punts again

Four possessions, four three-and-outs.

Cincinnati and Navy have combined for 10 total yards between their first four drives as we remain scoreless in Memphis.

Cincinnati, Navy go three-and-out

In a downpour, neither Cincinnati nor Navy is able to get much of anything going on its respective first drives. The Bearcats fail to pick up a yard on the opening possession and punt, but the Midshipmen give it back after a three-and-out of their own.

Cincinnati’s got the ball back at its own 32-yard line after a 9-yard punt return.

Liberty Bowl weather

It’s a less-than-idyllic day in Memphis, with rain projected for much of Friday’s Liberty Bowl between Navy and Cincinnati. The temperature for the contest won’t be getting above 49 degrees.

College bowl games today

The Liberty Bowl is the second of four bowl games being played on Friday, Jan. 2, which marks the end of bowl season outside of the remaining College Football Playoff games and all-star exhibitions like the East-West Shrine Bowl and the Senior Bowl.

Here’s a list of today’s bowl games:

Armed Forces Bowl: Texas State vs. Rice
Liberty Bowl: No. 25 Navy vs. Cincinnati, 4:30 p.m. ET
Holiday Bowl: No. 20 Arizona vs. SMU, 8 p.m. ET
Duke’s Mayo Bowl: Wake Forest vs. Mississippi State, 8 p.m. ET

Where is the Liberty Bowl being played?

The Liberty Bowl is being played at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in Memphis, the longtime home of the event.

The game has been held in Memphis every year since 1965. It previously took place in Philadelphia from 1959-63 and Atlantic City, New Jersey in 1964.

What time does Navy vs Cincinnati start?

Date: Friday, Jan. 2
Time: 4:30 p.m. ET, 3:30 p.m. CT
Where: Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium (Memphis, Tennessee)

Navy and Cincinnati are set to kick off at 4:30 p.m. ET (3:30 p.m. local time) on Friday, Jan. 2 in the Liberty Bowl inside Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in Memphis.

What TV channel is Navy vs Cincinnati on today?

TV channel: ESPN
Streaming options: Watch ESPN | Fubo (free trial)

ESPN will broadcast the Liberty Bowl between Navy and Cincinnati on Jan. 2. Mike Monaco and Kirk Morrison will call the game from the booth, with Dawn Davenport on the sidelines.

Streaming options for the game include the ESPN app (with a TV login) and Fubo, which carries ESPN and offers a free trial to new subscribers.

Stream the Liberty Bowl live with Fubo (free trial)

Navy vs Cincinnati predictions in Liberty Bowl

Here’s who experts within the USA TODAY Sports Network picked to win the Liberty Bowl:

Navy 34, Cincinnati 17: These are two teams heading in opposite directions, with the stronger finisher of the group (Navy) entering the matchup with something close to a full arsenal of its best players. Horvath will finish off his senior season with a fitting exclamation mark while a productive Cincinnati offense will struggle to move the ball as effectively without Sorsby. — Craig Meyer, USA TODAY

Navy vs Cincinnati odds, spread for Liberty Bowl

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Friday, Jan. 2

Spread: Navy -7.5
Over/under: 56.5
Moneyline: Navy (-300) | Cincinnati (+240)

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The final non-College Football Playoff bowl game has finally arrived.

No. 20 Arizona (9-3) and SMU (8-4) meet in the 2026 Holiday Bowl inside Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego at 8 p.m. ET on Friday, Jan. 2. It’s the third trip to the Holiday Bowl for the Wildcats, while it’s the Mustangs second trip to the bowl game.

Stream the Holiday Bowl live with Fubo (free trial)

Led by quarterback Noah Fifita, Arizona heads into the Holiday Bowl playing some of its best football: The Wildcats have won each of their last five games after losing back-to-back conference games in the middle of October. On top of Fifita, who has thrown for nearly 3,000 yards and 26 touchdown passes this season, two other Arizona players to watch for are defensive backs Dalton Johnson and Treydan Stukes, who’ve combined for eight interceptions.

SMU heads into the Holiday Bowl looking to bounce back from a Week 14 loss to Cal. The Mustangs’ road loss not only kept them out of the ACC Championship game, but also was the first domino of CFP Selection Sunday chaos that allowed two Group of Five programs make the 12-team field with Duke’s win of the ACC.

USA TODAY Sports is bringing live updates, scores and highlights of the game. Follow along:

Arizona vs SMU live score

This section will be updated.

Arizona vs SMU live updates

This section has been updated with new information

Pregame

SMU arrives for Holiday Bowl

The Mustangs are on site for their Holiday Bowl matchup against Arizona. SMU is looking for its first bowl win since 2012, when it was still a member of Conference USA.

What time does Arizona vs SMU start?

Date: Friday, Jan. 2
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Where: Snapdragon Stadium (San Diego)

Arizona and SMU are set to kick off at 8 p.m. ET on Friday, Jan. 2 in the Holiday Bowl inside Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego.

What TV channel is Arizona vs SMU on today?

TV channel: Fox
Streaming options: Fox Sports Go app | Fubo (free trial)

Fox will broadcast the Holiday Bowl between Arizona and SMU on Jan. 2. Gus Johnson and Joel Klatt will broadcast the game from the booth at Snapdragon Stadium, with Jenny Taft reporting from the sidelines.

Streaming options for the game include the Fox Sports app (with a TV login) and Fubo, which carries Fox and offers a free trial to new subscribers.

Stream the Holiday Bowl live with Fubo (free trial)

Arizona vs SMU predictions in Holiday Bowl

Here’s who experts within the USA TODAY Sports Network picked to win the Holiday Bowl:

Matt Hayes: Arizona
Jordan Mendoza: SMU
Paul Myerberg: Arizona
Erick Smith: Arizona
Eddie Timanus: Arizona
Blake Toppmeyer: SMU

Arizona vs SMU odds, spread for Holiday Bowl

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Thursday, Jan. 1

Spread: Arizona -1.5
Over/under: 51.5
Moneyline: SMU (-105) | Arizona (-115)

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In a violent sport like football, players toil through pain.

While throwing for more than 3,500 yards and leading Tennessee to eight wins during the 2025 college football season, first-year transfer quarterback Joey Aguilar was dealing with something else entirely.

The Volunteers’ senior QB underwent surgery on Friday, Jan. 2 to remove a benign tumor on his arm, according to a report from Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network.

The tumor, according to the report, was pressing up against his biceps tendon and labrum, causing weakness and pain in the arm. It’s expected to take eight weeks for Aguilar to recover from the procedure.

The tumor hadn’t previously been publicly disclosed, with Aguilar playing with it during the 2025 season.

In his first season at Tennessee, Aguilar led all SEC players with 3,565 passing yards, along with 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He also ran for 101 yards and four touchdowns. His passing yards were the third-most by a Vols quarterback in program history.

The 24-year-old Aguilar was part of what was effectively a trade during the spring of 2025. After transferring from Appalachian State, where he played from 2023-24, Aguilar transferred to UCLA, but left the school shortly after Tennessee’s Nico Iamaleava joined the Bruins’ program in one of the more high-profile additions of the transfer portal cycle. Ultimately, he ended up at Tennessee, where he occupied the starting role that Iamaleava vacated.

While Aguilar has the opportunity to enter the 2026 NFL Draft, he could return to college based on the outcome of a lawsuit against the NCAA in federal court that was filed by Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia and others that could give Aguilar an extra season of eligibility. He has spent seven seasons in college, but only three of those were spent at NCAA member institutions. Aguilar’s first four years in college were at junior colleges.

Everyone loves the Pop-Tarts Bowl… literally.

According to ESPN PR, the third edition of the Pop-Tarts Bowl — which ended with BYU devouring Team Sprinkle’s Frosted Cherry and Frosted Cookies & Creme on the field following its win over Georgia Tech — drew in 8.7 million views, making it the most-watched non-College Football Playoff bowl game through Saturday, Dec. 27.

Known for its social media presence, here’s how the Pop-Tarts Bowl account reacted to the news:

The second most-watched non-CFP bowl game of this season was the game that preceded the Pop-Tarts Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 27: the Pinstripe Bowl. In what turned out to be its best viewership on record, 7.6 million viewers tuned in to watch Terry Smith’s Penn State Nittany Lions defeat Dabo Swinney’s Clemson Tigers inside Yankee Stadium in the snow and cold.

Rounding the top five for the most-watched non-CFP bowls are: the Gator Bowl between Missouri and Virginia (6.0 million views), the Rate Bowl between Minnesota and New Mexico (4.4 million) and the LA Bowl between Washington and Boise State (3.8 million).

The seventh-most-watched non-CFP bowl was the Texas Bowl between LSU and Houston, which could be connected to the fact that it was the first public appearance for new LSU coach Lane Kiffin since his introductory news conference. Kiffin, of course, left Ole Miss, which is now a win away from the CFP title game, for LSU and was brought on ESPN during the Tigers’ loss to the Cougars for an interview.

All of ESPN’s non-CFP bowl games are up 13% year-over-year and are averaging 2.7 million views per broadcast, according to ESPN. The numbers released by ESPN on Jan. 2 do not include TCU’s comeback overtime win in the Alamo Bowl over USC and the several non-CFP games on New Year’s Eve, including Arch Manning’s big day in Texas’ win over Michigan in the Citrus Bowl.

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Austin Simmons’ time with Mississippi football appears to be done after two seasons.

According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, the Ole Miss backup quarterback is expected to enter his name into the NCAA Transfer Portal with a no-contact tag.

Simmons is expected to transfer within the SEC and land at Missouri, per Thamel. He’s also expected to stay with the Rebels through their College Football Playoff run, which has extended to the CFP Fiesta Bowl semifinal thanks to a win over No. 3 Georgia in the Sugar Bowl quarterfinal on Thursday, Jan. 1.

The news of Simmons transferring from Ole Miss comes on the first day that the portal is open for college football players during the winter transfer window, which closes on Friday, Jan. 16. The portal will remain open for five days after the College Football Playoff championship game, which is set for Monday, Jan. 19 at 7:30 p.m. ET, for the two teams competing in the game.

After serving as the backup to Jaxson Dart last year, the 6-foot-4 Simmons was named the Rebels’ starting quarterback this season. A Week 2 injury sustained against Kentucky ultimately cost Simmons the starting role, with Trinidad Chambliss taking over.

In his first two starts of the season, Simmons completed 33-of-55 passes for 576 yards and three touchdowns. He also had a 7-yard rushing touchdown against the Wildcats.

Assuming Simmons ends up at Missouri, he will fill an immediate need at quarterback for Eliah Drinkwitz’s program, as the Tigers lost starting quarterback Beau Pribula to the transfer portal after one season. Simmons will be the likely favorite for the starting role with the Tigers against true freshman quarterback Matt Zollers, who re-signed with the program this week.

Simmons will have two years of eligibility remaining.

Ole Miss takes on No. 10 Miami in the CFP Fiesta Bowl semifinal on Thursday, Jan. 8 at 7:30 p.m. ET.

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Fresh off a historic slaughter of Alabama in the Rose Bowl, Indiana will be in Atlanta to play Oregon in the Peach Bowl in a Big Ten rematch. Miami, meanwhile, will play Mississippi in the Fiesta Bowl in a game between two teams many were stunned to see advance.

Miami-Mississippi will be Thursday, Jan. 8, whereas Indiana-Oregon will take place Friday, Jan. 9. The games are for a spot in the national championship, to be played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on Jan. 19. In that sense, the Hurricanes have a chance to play a home game for a national championship.

The Hoosiers were a well-oiled machine in their win over the Crimson Tide, with Fernando Mendoza completing 14-of-16 passes for three touchdowns and the defense completely stymying any attempts by Alabama to move the ball. Oregon’s defense was similarly staunch again Texas Tech, with Dante Moore playing a similarly efficient game, albeit with less scoring.

Miami jumped out to an early lead on New Year’s Eve against Ohio State, and ultimately held on in the face of a comeback attempt by the Buckeyes. Once again, defense was the hallmark of the semifinalists, with Julian Sayin feeling pressure all night. Mississippi and Georgia played in an instant classic in the Sugar Bowl, with the Rebels holding on for a 39-34 win.

Whose season will end and who will advance for a shot at immortality? USA TODAY makes its picks for the CFP semifinals.

CFP semifinals predictions

Odds for all games are courtesy of BetMGM as of Friday, Jan. 2

Fiesta Bowl: No. 6 Ole Miss vs No. 10 Miami

Ole Miss vs Miami odds

Spread: Miami -3
Over/under: 51.5 points
Moneyline: Miami -150 | Ole Miss +130

Ole Miss vs Miami predictions

Ole Miss 31, Miami 24: The Hurricanes’ pass rush put Julian Sayin in a blender in the Cotton Bowl. Trinidad Chambliss’ mobility and whirling dervish style should give the Rebels’ offense a chance the Buckeyes never had. On the other side of the ball, I trust Pete Golding to scheme up a defense that forces Carson Beck to have to win the game. Beck hasn’t thrown for more than 150 yards in either of Miami’s CFP wins, while the Rebels have proven you’ll need to score more than 24 points to beat them – heck you may have to score 40. – Matt Glenesk, USA TODAY

Ole Miss 23, Miami 7: Miami has come out and exceeded all expectations, and that should be recognized. Beating Texas A&M and Ohio State in back to back weeks is huge for a program that backed into the CFP at the last moment. But Pete Golding proved his mettle as a coach going toe-to-toe against an SEC behemoth in Georgia, and he should find a way to make Carson Beck’s life difficult. Combine that with how difficult it is to contain Trinidad Chambliss, despite the utterly elite pass rushers Miami has, and it’s a tough matchup for Miami. To its credit, the past two have been tough as well. But the buck stops in Glendale. – Kevin Skiver, USA TODAY

Miami 27, Ole Miss 23: At some point —and this may just be stubbornly holding on to a weeks-old opinion — the inherent instability and awkwardness of the Rebels’ situation is going to be a factor, though it obviously hasn’t through two games in the playoff. Trinidad Chambliss is mesmerizing, but he hasn’t faced a pass rush quite as ferocious as Miami’s and the Hurricanes’ offense will do just enough to keep their run going all the way to the title game. The prospect of a turnover-filled dud for Carson Beck only makes me so confident in this pick, though. – Craig Meyer, USA TODAY

Peach Bowl: No. 1 Indiana vs No. 5 Oregon

Indiana vs Oregon odds

Spread: Indiana -4
Over/under: 47.5 points
Moneyline: Indiana -185 | Oregon +150

Indiana vs Oregon predictions

Indiana 35, Oregon 21: The Hoosiers’ 30-20 win over the Ducks in Eugene in October started to convert IU doubters into believers. Indiana’s Rose Bowl demolition of Alabama proselytized even the most ardent skeptics (cough, Paul Finebaum). The Hoosiers’ defense sacked Dante Moore six times and picked off the Ducks QB twice in the first meeting. And while Oregon shut out a piddling Texas Tech offense in the Orange Bowl, Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza leads one of the nation’s most balanced attacks. It sounds unbelievable to say, but Indiana football will play for the national championship. – Matt Glenesk, USA TODAY

Indiana 20, Oregon 17: Going with the old Vegas trick of laying three points on the favorite in a coin flip of a game. Oregon is an incredibly good team, and as Curt Cignetti said after the Rose Bowl, it’s tough to beat a good team twice. But it’s tougher to beat a great team once, and Indiana is a great team. Ultimately, Fernando Mendoza vs Dante Moore isn’t the matchup here. It’s in the trenches, where Indiana is among the best in the country, and weapons vs weapons. Stars matter, but Indiana is comprised of under-recruited guys with a chip on their shoulders. With that in mind, Indiana wins a grimy game in a low-scoring affair against Dan Lanning, turning the coach’s ‘no one believes in us’ motivating tactic on its head (of course, the irony of not believing in Oregon here is not lost on me). – Kevin Skiver, USA TODAY

Indiana 24, Oregon 20: The old adage about how it’s hard to beat a team twice in a season has its merits, but it can occasionally belie a deeper truth — sometimes, one team is simply better than another. Whatever fans may think of Indiana football based on the program’s mostly putrid history, the Hoosiers are the best and most complete team in the sport this season, as they showed in a Rose Bowl demolition of Alabama. They’ll stymie a Ducks offense that had difficulties against Texas Tech’s front seven and Fernando Mendoza will continue to dazzle while leading Indiana to a once-unimaginable destination. – Craig Meyer, USA TODAY

Peach Bowl: Indiana vs. Oregon, 7:30 p.m., Jan. 9; TV: ESPN

We’ve seen this before.

The Peach Bowl will mark the second meeting this season between No. 1 seed Indiana and No. 5 Oregon, following the Hoosiers’ 30-20 road win in October.

The Hoosiers wobbled Oregon with their physical play and dominated things up front, pulling down six sacks and eight tackles for loss to the Ducks’ one and four, respectively.

It was more of the same against Ohio State in the Big Ten championship game and Alabama in the Rose Bowl. IU sacked Julian Sayin five times in a 13-10 win and then creamed the Crimson Tide in a 38-3 blowout, giving up 193 yards of offense and just 1.5 yards per carry.

On the heels of the Rose Bowl, there’s no doubt IU is the favorite to win the national title.

Oregon has righted the ship with an eight-game winning streak punctuated by a 51-34 win against No. 12 James Madison and a 23-0 blanking of No. 4 Texas Tech.

What each team has learned in the months since that October matchup, what improvements each has made and what new quirks and tricks each could unveil at Mercedes-Benz Stadium will determine which team advances to the College Football Playoff championship.

The pressure is on Oregon

But the pressure is almost entirely on Oregon to prove it has what it takes to stop the Hoosiers’ march to perfection. At times this season, the Ducks have looked like the best team in the Power Four; in others, they’ve seemed much less powerful than the team that won last year’s Big Ten title.

The Orange Bowl showed that Oregon’s defense should be up to the challenge. Texas Tech entered the playoff averaging 42.5 points and 480.5 yards per game but was held to just 215 yards and 3.5 yards per play. While not as dynamic and not as good up front as IU, the Red Raiders were still a top 10 offense in most major categories.

It’ll take a balanced game to beat the Hoosiers, though. And Oregon’s offense was wobbly in the Orange Bowl, averaging just 1.4 yards per carry (counting sacks) and converting just 4 of 19 third downs. That just won’t cut it against the most complete team in college football.

At least the Ducks are familiar with this type of playoff rematch. Last year, they earned a bye into the quarterfinals as the unbeaten Big Ten champs but were blown out of the water in the rematch against eventual national champion Ohio State. One year later, is there a takeaway from that result that will help Dan Lanning and Oregon be better prepared for IU?

Balanced Indiana will be hard to beat

The Hoosiers will roll into Atlanta with incredible confidence, and rightfully so. Just in its past two games, IU has toppled mighty Ohio State and handed Alabama its most lopsided loss in nearly 30 years.

The offense is outstanding. Fernando Mendoza had more touchdowns (three) than incompletions (two) against the Tide. Kaelon Black had 99 rushing yards, Roman Hemby had 89 yards and the Hoosiers went for 215 yards on the ground overall behind a nearly perfect game from the offensive line.

And to much less acclaim, the defense might be even better. IU now ranks second nationally in yards (252.6) and points (10.3) allowed and have yet to give up more than 367 yards in a game. Being this good on both sides of the ball gives IU a safety net even against an opponent as talented as Oregon — if needed, the defense can carry the offense and vice versa.

Oregon will need to upend the Hoosiers’ run to 16-0 by taking them out of their rhythm and comfort zone. Anything less won’t stop the best team in college football.

Oregon vs Indiana Peach Bowl CFP semifinal time, date

Date: Friday, Jan. 9
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET | 4:30 p.m. PT
Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
TV: ESPN

The United States is coming off its first loss of the 2026 world junior hockey championship.

It can’t afford another loss.

Team USA, attempting its first three-peat at the tournament for the world’s best under-20 players, will face Finland on Friday, Jan. 2, in the quarterfinals. The team that loses goes home and the winner heads to the semifinals on Jan. 4. The medal games are Jan. 5.

The USA beat Finland in the championship game last year to pick up a second consecutive gold medal.

The Americans beat Germany, Switzerland and Slovakia in this tournament before losing to Sweden. They have been without top defenseman Cole Hutson since he was hit by a puck in the second game and left the ice on a stretcher. Max Plante missed the Sweden game with an injury. Hutson is expected to play Friday while Plante remains day-to-day.

USA is providing live coverage of the USA vs. Finland game. Follow along:

End of first: USA 0, Finland 0

USA outshoots Finland 12-8 in that period. Cole Hutson looks good moving the puck. The USA had a couple turnovers, but goalie Nick Kempf keeps it scoreless.

Finland power play

AJ Spellacy is called for tripping. The USA gave up three power-play goals by Sweden in the last game. The USA kills the first part of the penalty but 25 seconds will spill into the second period.

USA chance

AJ Spellacy breaks in with speed, but Petteri Rimpinen makes a save. Still scoreless with five minutes left in the first period.

Big save by Nick Kempf

He stops Heikki Ruohonen in tight after a USA turnover.

USA power play

Mitja Jokinen is called for hooking. Cole Hutson was on the ice at the time of the call, so he’s not on the power play unit to start, but he’s out there now. Finland kills it off.

Game underway

It’s win or go home.

What channel is USA vs. Finland world juniors hockey game 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 is USA vs. Finland world juniors hockey game today?

Date: Friday, Jan. 2

Time: 6 p.m. ET (5 p.m. local time)

The game is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. ET (5 p.m. local time) at the Grand Casino Arena in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the home of the Minnesota Wild.

World juniors USA vs. Finland: How to watch, stream

Time: 6 p.m. ET on Friday, Jan. 2

Location: Grand Casino Arena (Saint Paul, Minnesota)

TV: NHL Network

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

World junior championships quarterfinals today

Jan. 2

Sweden 6 Latvia 3: The Swedes remain perfect at the tournament and will have the top seed in Sunday’s semifinals. Anton Frondell, a Blackhawks No. 3 overall pick, scored twice, including 10 seconds into the game.
Czechia vs. Switzerland, 4:30
USA vs. Finland, 6
Canada vs. Slovakia, 8:30

USA vs Finland history

The U.S. and Finland have met 40 times previously, with Team USA having a 20-19-1 advantage. They split games in last year’s tournament, but the USA won 4-3 in overtime for its second consecutive gold medal.

Cole Hutson injury update

The USA defenseman told NHL Network it has been a ‘pretty tough week, lots of emotions’ as he returns for the first time since his injury in the Switzerland game.

Asked how he would manage expectations on Friday, he said: ‘I think it’s keeping it simple for the first few shifts, make sure I’m not trying anything too crazy. Hopefully then my game will come out soon and somehow I’ll help the team win.’

USA, Finland lineups

Finland goaltender vs USA

Petteri Rimpinen, the top goalie of the 2025 tournament, is expected to start against the USA. Like last year, he has played every minute. The Kings draft pick has a 2.49 goals-against average and a .865 save percentage. Those numbers are down from last year.

USA goaltender vs Finland

The USA will go with Notre Dame’s Nick Kempf in net. He has given up only two goals in the tournament, including one on 17 shots in the third period against Sweden after he replaced starter Brady Knowling. He won the second game against Switzerland. He has a 1.54 goals against average and .934 save percentage. 

Sweden advances to semifinals

Sweden improved to 5-0 after a 6-3 win against Latvia. Blackhawks draft pick Anton Frondell scored 10 seconds into the game and also scored in the third period.

USA players to watch

Will Zellers leads the USA with five goals and seven points. He had the game-winning goal in the first three games. Brodie Ziemer (Sabres) has six points and James Hagens (Bruins) has five.

Finland players to watch

Roope Vesterinen leads Finland with four goals and is tied for the team with five points. Defenseman Lasse Boelius also has five points, including two goals.

Cole Hutson injury update

The USA defenseman will suit up for the first time since he left the second game on a stretcher after being hit in the head by a puck. Injured forward Max Plante remains day-to-day.

Germany wins relegation game

Fifth-place Germany beat beat fifth-place Denmark 8-4 in Friday’s relegation game and will stay in the top level of the world junior championships. Denmark, which had qualified for the tournament this season, moves down one level. It went winless in Minnesota.

The Golden State Warriors start the new year with a home game against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder at 7 p.m. PT (10 p.m. ET) Friday, Jan. 2 at Chase Center in San Francisco.

Both teams look to extend their win streaks and get things rolling for 2026.

Golden State (18-16) enters the game having won back-to-back games to end 2025, defeating the Charlotte Hornets and Brooklyn Nets. Oklahoma City has won three in a row after handling the Philadelphia 76ers, Atlanta Hawks and Portland Trail Blazers.

The last time these teams faced each other was on Dec. 2 when the Thunder got the better of the Warriors in a 124-112 victory. Oklahoma City is led by the reigning NBA MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is averaging 32.1 points per game on 56% field goal shooting and 42% from three.

The Warriors are going to have their work cut out for them as they go into this game without some key players.

Here’s what you need to know ahead of Friday’s matchup between the Warriors and Thunder:

How to watch Thunder vs. Warriors: TV channel, live stream

Start time: 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT)
Location: Chase Center (San Francisco, California)
TV Channel: NBC Sports Bay Area; FanDuel Sports Network Kansas City; FanDuel Sports Network Midwest; FanDuel Sports Network Oklahoma; FanDuel Sports Network Southwest
Live Stream: Prime Video; NBA League Pass

Warriors injury report

The Warriors will be without their veteran leaders, the big three of Stephen Curry (left ankle sprain), Jimmy Butler (illness) and Draymond Green (rest), in their game against the Thunder.

Seth Curry remains out as he deals with irritation in his left sciatic nerve. Warriors center Al Horford has irritation in his right sciatic nerve and is listed as probable

Two-way player LJ Cryer is assigned to the G-League affiliate Santa Cruz Warriors.

On the bright side, Golden State has made Trayce Jackson-Davis despite nursing patellar tendinitis in his right knee.

Warriors keys to victory

Fill some big shoes: Warriors are without their top scorers and playmakers, so someone is going to have to step up and take the challenge of filling the roles of Curry, Butler and Green. Who will it be?
Make every possession count: The Thunder are a team where there’s little room for error, whether you’re missing stars or not. In this case, with the Warriors missing key guys, it’s important to make every possession count, both on offense and defense. Offensively, find quality shots and take care of the basketball. Defensively, players have to be active on the court. Pressure the perimeter, contain the paint and limit second-chance baskets.
Continue heater from deep: The Warriors made a season-high 24 three-point field goals as a team against Charlotte. Despite missing arguably the greatest shooters of all time, the expectation is still there to knock down threes. Golden State will need to be on a heater to keep up with Oklahoma City, who averages 122.1 points per game. The Warriors have scored more than 120 in their last five games going 4-1.
Keep Shai off the free throw line: Have to be sound, smart defensively. Gilgeous-Alexander has a high offensive IQ and knows how to exploit the defense and draw fouls. Warriors defenders have to be mindful of their angles and positioning when guarding the crafty Gilgeous-Alexander.

Warriors vs. Thunder odds

Odds according to BetMGM as of Friday afternoon.

Spread: Thunder by 13.5 (-110)
Over/Under: 226.5 (O/U -110)
Moneyline: Thunder -700

Warriors’ next five games

Jan. 3 vs. Utah Jazz
Jan. 5 at Los Angeles Clippers
Jan. 7 vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Jan. 9 vs. Sacramento Kings
Jan. 11 vs. Atlanta Hawks