Alex Whittingham, who worked as a coach for the Kansas City Chiefs, has joined the University of Michigan's football coaching staff. He will work as the linebackers coach under new head coach Kyle Whittingham, his father. Alex contributed to three Super Bowl wins while with the Chiefs.
Key Facts
Alex Whittingham is now the linebackers coach for the University of Michigan.
His father, Kyle Whittingham, is the new head coach at Michigan.
Alex previously worked for the Kansas City Chiefs from 2018 to 2025.
He began with the Chiefs as a defensive assistant and later became the defensive line coach.
The Chiefs allowed the 10th-fewest rushing yards per game during his time as the defensive line coach.
Alex was part of the Chiefs' coaching staff for three Super Bowl victories (2020, 2022, and 2023).
He worked under defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo at the Chiefs.
Alex coached several top defensive players while with the Chiefs.
Burnley manager Scott Parker commented on his team's lack of confidence after a loss at Brighton, their ninth defeat in 11 Premier League matches. The loss leaves Burnley in 19th place and six points away from safety. Parker and player Hjalmar Ekdal admitted the team performed poorly and needs to improve to avoid relegation.
Key Facts
Burnley lost to Brighton, marking their ninth defeat in 11 games.
Burnley is currently 19th in the Premier League table.
Burnley has only gained two points out of the last 33 possible points.
The team has not won a match since October 26.
Burnley was missing their captain, Josh Cullen, due to a season-ending injury.
Parker criticized his team's performance as poor and lacking belief.
Sweden international Hjalmar Ekdal also stated that the team was not showing their true potential and felt embarrassed about the performance.
The Seattle Seahawks will play against the San Francisco 49ers in an important NFL game on Saturday, January 3, 2025, at Levi's Stadium. Both teams have six-game winning streaks and aim to secure a top playoff position in the NFC West. The game will be broadcasted on ABC and ESPN, with a live stream available via Fubo.
Key Facts
Date and time: Saturday, January 3, 2025, at 8:00 PM ET.
The game will be shown on TV channels ABC and ESPN.
You can live stream the game on Fubo, which offers a free trial.
Both the Seahawks and 49ers have won their last six games.
The match is crucial for securing control of the NFC West division and a top playoff seed.
The 49ers' key players include Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey, despite some injury concerns.
The Seahawks' notable players are Rashid Shaheed and Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
The game's outcome could impact playoff positions for both teams.
Purdue's basketball team will face Wisconsin at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin. The game is set for Saturday, January 3, 2026, at 8:00 PM ET, and will be broadcast on FOX with a live stream available on Fubo.
Key Facts
Purdue Boilermakers have a record of 12 wins and 1 loss.
Wisconsin Badgers have a record of 9 wins and 4 losses.
Purdue has a four-game winning streak and a 2-0 record in Big Ten Conference play.
Purdue last defeated Kent State 101-60, with Jack Benter scoring 20 points.
Wisconsin recently won against Milwaukee 80-60, maintaining an 8-0 home record.
The Boilermakers lead the all-time series against Wisconsin 114-76.
Fletcher Loyer and Trey Kaufman-Renn each average 14 points per game for Purdue.
Nick Boyd from Wisconsin averages 19.2 points per game.
The Penn State Nittany Lions football team lost a five-star recruit, Andrew Olesh, who entered the NCAA transfer portal. Andrew Olesh was a highly ranked tight end recruit who did not play last season, and Penn State has already found a replacement from Iowa State.
Key Facts
The NCAA transfer portal is an online system where college athletes can declare their intent to transfer to another school.
Andrew Olesh is a five-star recruit and was the top-ranked tight end in his class for 2025.
Olesh did not play any games for Penn State in the 2025-26 season.
On January 3, Olesh confirmed he's entering the portal, meaning he is looking to change schools.
Penn State's new head coach, Matt Campbell, aims to improve the team for the 2026 season.
Penn State quickly found a replacement for Olesh with Ben Brahmer, formerly from Iowa State.
Matt Campbell was hired as Penn State's head coach on December 5.
Matt Campbell is recognized for his strong leadership and commitment to athlete development.
The Chicago Bulls will play against the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday at the United Center. Both teams will face each other after playing games the previous night, with the Bulls recently winning against the Orlando Magic and the Hornets losing to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Key Facts
The Chicago Bulls' current record is 17 wins and 17 losses.
The Charlotte Hornets have lost their last three games and have an 11-23 record.
The game is scheduled for Saturday, January 3, 2026, at 8:00 PM ET.
The TV channels broadcasting the game are FanDuel Sports Network Southeast-Charlotte, FanDuel Sports Network Extra (South), and Chicago Sports Network Plus.
Matas Buzelis scored 21 points and had seven assists for the Bulls in their recent win against the Orlando Magic.
The Bulls miss key players Coby White and Josh Giddey due to injuries.
The Hornets lost their last game to the Milwaukee Bucks 122-121, with Kon Knueppel scoring 26 points for Charlotte.
Nikola Vučević and Matas Buzelis are leading scorers for the Bulls, while Miles Bridges and LaMelo Ball are top performers for the Hornets.
The NFL penalized two Los Angeles Rams players after a game against the Atlanta Falcons. Defensive end Desjuan Johnson received a fine for roughing the Falcons' quarterback, Kirk Cousins, while Jared Verse was fined for taunting.
Key Facts
During the Rams vs. Falcons game, Desjuan Johnson was fined $5,830 for roughing the passer.
Johnson's hit involved landing with his body weight on Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins.
Jared Verse, Johnson's teammate, was also fined $11,593 for taunting during the same game.
Falcons running back Bijan Robinson had a standout performance with 195 rushing yards and 34 receiving yards, scoring two touchdowns.
Kirk Cousins completed 13 of 20 passes for 126 yards and one touchdown during the game.
The fines were issued as part of the NFL's policy to ensure player safety and sportsmanship.
The game took place during a prime-time slot, highlighting its significance.
Senegal won against Sudan 3-1 in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) last-16 match, with two goals from Pape Gueye and a decisive goal by Ibrahim Mbaye. The match took place in Tangier, and Senegal will face either Mali or Tunisia next. Sudan's early goal was scored by Aamir Abdallah.
Key Facts
Senegal defeated Sudan 3-1 in the AFCON last-16 match.
Pape Gueye scored two goals for Senegal.
Ibrahim Mbaye scored the final goal for Senegal shortly after coming on as a substitute.
Aamir Abdallah scored Sudan's only goal early in the match.
The match took place in Tangier.
Senegal will play either Mali or Tunisia in the quarterfinals.
Sudan has been dealing with civil war since April 2023.
Senegal led 2-1 at half-time and made six changes to their lineup for this match.
Maxx Crosby, a player for the Las Vegas Raiders, is frustrated with the team's decision to shut him down for the season due to a knee injury. He is uncertain about who made this decision and it has led to speculation about his future with the team. Crosby has been performing well on the field and could be a valuable trade asset if the Raiders decide to move him.
Key Facts
Maxx Crosby has issues with the Las Vegas Raiders, primarily regarding the decision to end his season early.
The team shut him down for the final two games due to a knee injury, though Crosby felt he was able to play.
Crosby is uncertain about who made the decision to end his season.
There is speculation that his early shutdown could be linked to the team's strategy for draft picks.
Crosby is under contract with the Raiders until 2029, but his future with the team is uncertain.
He had 73 tackles and 10 sacks this season and was selected for the Pro Bowl, marking his fifth consecutive selection.
There is growing trade speculation about Crosby, and the Raiders could potentially get several first-round picks for him.
The Raiders' coaching situation is unstable, adding to the uncertainty for the team and Crosby's future.
The Philadelphia 76ers will play against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night. The Knicks are trying to break a two-game losing streak, while the 76ers are aiming for their third straight win on their road trip.
Key Facts
The game is between the Philadelphia 76ers and the New York Knicks.
It will take place on Saturday, January 3, 2026, at 7:30 PM Eastern Time.
The game can be watched on TV channels MSG and NBA TV, or live-streamed on Fubo.
The Knicks recently lost a game to the Atlanta Hawks with a score of 111-99.
Jalen Brunson is a key player for the Knicks, scoring an average of 29.2 points per game.
Tyrese Maxey is a standout player for the 76ers, with an average of 30.9 points per game.
The 76ers beat the Knicks in their last visit to Madison Square Garden with a 116-107 win.
Regional restrictions may apply for live streaming through Fubo.
DraftKings offers a special promotion for new customers during NFL Week 18. If you place a $5 bet on any team and win, you receive $200 in bonus bets. This promotion applies to any NFL game, including the Seahawks vs. 49ers matchup.
Key Facts
New DraftKings customers can get a $200 bonus by placing a $5 winning bet.
The $200 bonus is given as eight $25 bonus bets, valid for seven days.
No specific promo code is needed to access this offer.
The offer applies to any NFL game in Week 18, not just Seahawks vs. 49ers.
The Seattle Seahawks are slight favorites against the San Francisco 49ers.
The Seahawks have a good record in road games this season.
The 49ers have dominated the Seahawks in recent matchups.
Activation of the offer requires creating an account and making a $5 deposit.
Drew Mestemaker, a top quarterback from North Texas, has decided to transfer to Oklahoma State to reunite with former coach Eric Morris. Mestemaker had a successful season, leading the nation in passing yards and touchdowns. This move follows Morris's recent appointment as head coach at Oklahoma State.
Key Facts
Drew Mestemaker was the top quarterback in the transfer portal.
He led the nation with 4,379 passing yards and 34 touchdowns last season.
Mestemaker committed to Oklahoma State, where his former coach, Eric Morris, recently became head coach.
Eric Morris and Mestemaker previously led North Texas to a 12-2 record.
Mestemaker's move to Oklahoma State involves a reported two-year deal worth $7 million.
With Mestemaker's commitment, Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt is now the top available QB in the transfer portal.
The Atlanta Hawks and Toronto Raptors are set to play a basketball game at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on January 3, 2026. The game is part of a two-game series between these teams.
Key Facts
The Raptors have a record of 20 wins and 15 losses, while the Hawks have 17 wins and 19 losses.
The game will be played on Saturday, January 3, 2026, at 7:30 PM ET.
It will be broadcast on FanDuel Sports Network Southeast and available for live streaming on Fubo.
Atlanta Hawks recently won 111-99 against the New York Knicks.
Jalen Johnson had a triple-double in the Hawks' last game with 18 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds.
Trae Young, an important player for the Hawks, is currently out with a bruised quad.
Toronto Raptors lost their last game against the Denver Nuggets after a last-minute 3-pointer was overturned.
Brandon Ingram, Scottie Barnes, and Immanuel Quickley are key players for the Raptors, with Barnes achieving a triple-double in their last match.
The article discusses a special bet365 bonus offer for sports betting available for the NFL Week 18 game between the Seahawks and 49ers. Users can choose a $150 bonus by placing a $5 bet or use a $1,000 first bet safety net. The game is important as it helps determine playoff positions.
Key Facts
A bet365 promo code offers $150 or a $1,000 bet safety net for NFL Week 18.
Users unlock the $150 bonus by betting $5 on any market.
The Seahawks vs. 49ers game is significant for NFC playoff seeding.
The $1,000 safety net allows users to reclaim their stake in bonuses if they lose.
Additional promotions include boosts for betting on NFL, NBA, and NHL games.
Users must register with personal details and a secure payment method to claim offers.
Bonuses must be used within seven days of activation.
South Africa's football coach, Hugo Broos, plans to compete vigorously against Cameroon in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) despite previously leading them to victory in 2017. Broos has highlighted challenges with the tournament's setup and aims to advance in the competition with South Africa. The winner of the match will potentially face Morocco in the quarterfinals.
Key Facts
South Africa's team, led by coach Hugo Broos, will play against Cameroon in the AFCON last 16.
Hugo Broos was the coach of Cameroon when they won AFCON in 2017.
Broos emphasized his commitment to winning against Cameroon despite his past connection to the team.
Cameroon had a successful group stage, earning seven points out of nine.
Cameroon recently changed coaches, appointing David Pagou after Marc Brys was removed.
The match winner will play against Morocco in the quarterfinals if Morocco defeats Tanzania.
Broos expressed frustration with being required to train far from their hotel in Rabat.
South Africa aims to match or surpass their previous AFCON performance, where they reached the semifinals.
The Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Islanders are set to play a hockey game at UBS Arena in New York. The Maple Leafs recently won a close game against the Winnipeg Jets, while the Islanders lost to the Utah Mammoth. The game can be watched live on certain sports channels or streamed online.
Key Facts
The game is scheduled for January 3, 2026, at 7:00 PM ET.
The TV channels broadcasting the game include MSG Sportsnet and NHL Network.
The live stream is available through Fubo, which offers a free trial.
Auston Matthews scored a hat trick in the Maple Leafs' recent victory over the Winnipeg Jets.
Bo Horvat, leading in goals and points for the Islanders, left the last game with an injury.
John Tavares and William Nylander are also key players for the Maple Leafs.
Ilya Sorokin, a goalie for the Islanders, is on injured reserve, with David Rittich stepping in.
Regional restrictions may apply to the live stream availability.
Celtic's manager Wilfried Nancy faced his sixth loss in eight games, with his team failing to secure a win against Rangers. Despite a promising first half, Celtic couldn't maintain the lead, allowing Rangers to win 3-1. Nancy attributed some struggles to lacking pre-season preparation and limited player options.
Key Facts
Wilfried Nancy has managed Celtic for eight games and lost six.
Celtic initially led against Rangers but lost with a final score of 3-1.
The team couldn't capitalize on chances to score more goals when they led.
Celtic's defensive formation left large gaps, weakening their performance.
Player Julian Araujo was played in unfamiliar positions during his debut, which affected the team's tactics.
Nancy discussed the difficulties in implementing his system due to no pre-season and limited transfers.
Youssef Chermiti scored twice for Rangers in a crucial nine-minute period.
The Kansas City Chiefs will play their last game of the season against the Las Vegas Raiders without any playoff prospects. Chiefs starting left guard Kingsley Suamataia received an $8,108 fine from the NFL for unnecessary roughness during a game against the Denver Broncos. The money from the fine will support athlete welfare initiatives.
Key Facts
The Kansas City Chiefs are not in the playoffs this season.
The team will play their final game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Chiefs player Kingsley Suamataia was fined for unnecessary roughness in a recent game.
The fine amount is $8,108.
Fines contribute to the Professional Athletes Foundation and the NFL Foundation.
Suamataia's action was not severe enough for a suspension, so he will play in the next game.
Suamataia can appeal the fine, with appeals decided by former NFL players.
The NFL imposes fines to maintain player safety and game fairness.
Real Madrid soccer player Kylian Mbappe will miss a match against Real Betis due to a knee injury. He is hoping to be back in time for a match against Atletico Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup next week. His team has been struggling recently, with some other players, like Vinicius Jr., also facing challenges.
Key Facts
Kylian Mbappe is injured with a sprained left knee and will not play against Real Betis.
Mbappe wants to return for the Spanish Super Cup semifinal against Atletico Madrid.
He has equaled Cristiano Ronaldo's record of 59 goals in a calendar year for Real Madrid.
Real Madrid has had a drop in performance, with earlier leadership in the league slipping.
The team drew three games in a row and lost to Celta Vigo at home in December.
Vinicius Jr. has not scored any goals since October and has only five goals this season.
Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso expressed confidence in the team and hopes for Mbappe’s quick return.
The rivalry between Leeds United and Manchester United is intense and has historical roots. Fans of both teams feel strongly about the matches, with Leeds fans especially eager for a victory as they haven't beaten Manchester United at home since 2002. This game is important for fans, managers, and players alike, highlighting the strong emotions and history tied to these encounters.
Key Facts
Leeds United hasn't won against Manchester United at Elland Road since 2002.
Sir Alex Ferguson described Leeds-Manchester United matches as particularly tense.
Lifelong Leeds fans like Gary Edwards express their rivalry by avoiding the color red, which is associated with Manchester United.
The rivalry might date back to historical events like the War of the Roses or the industrial revolution.
Players have often switched between the clubs, increasing the tension between the teams.
The match atmosphere is described as intense and unfriendly, with significant police presence and road closures on game day.
Neither current manager has previously participated in a Leeds-Manchester United match.
