South Carolina's head football coach, Shane Beamer, expressed disappointment that his assistant coach, Sterling Lucas, was hired by LSU without any prior heads-up. Beamer mentioned an "unspoken rule" in college football where head coaches usually inform each other before hiring an assistant, which did not happen in this case.
Key Facts
Shane Beamer is the head coach for the South Carolina Gamecocks football team.
Sterling Lucas, Beamer's assistant coach, recently accepted a job with LSU.
Beamer mentioned an "unspoken rule" where coaches usually notify each other about hiring plans, but this did not happen.
Lucas was part of South Carolina's staff since 2022 and held the position of Defensive Run Game Coordinator.
LSU's coaching changes followed the firing of Brian Kelly and the hiring of Lane Kiffin.
Lane Kiffin previously coached Ole Miss and participated in the College Football Playoff discussions with that team.
The hiring of Lucas was part of Kiffin's efforts to build a new coaching staff at LSU.
The Oregon Ducks recently advanced to the College Football Playoff semifinals after defeating Texas Tech. Shortly after, Daylen Austin, a four-star cornerback from Oregon, decided to enter the transfer portal, along with several other players from the team.
Key Facts
Oregon Ducks advanced to the College Football Playoff semifinals by beating Texas Tech 23-0.
Daylen Austin, a four-star cornerback from Oregon, entered the transfer portal.
Austin played in all 14 games last year and three games this season.
He did not play in the College Football Playoff games against James Madison and Texas Tech.
Austin is one of 11 Oregon players, including five defensive backs, to enter the transfer portal.
Other players such as wide receivers Kyler Kasper and Justius Lowe, and quarterback Austin Novosad, also left the team.
Austin is ranked as the No. 10 player in California and the No. 12 cornerback nationally for the class of 2023 by 247Sports.
Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed confirmed he will return for the 2026 season after a notable year. Reed sent a message to fans saying, "I'm back," securing his role in the team and maintaining stability amid roster changes.
Key Facts
Texas A&M ended the 2025 season with an 11–2 record and played in the College Football Playoff.
The Aggies lost the quarterfinal match against Miami with a score of 10–3.
Marcel Reed, a sophomore, stood out with 3,169 passing yards and 493 rushing yards during the season.
Reed chose not to transfer or enter the NFL Draft and will stay for the 2026 season.
Reed was a four-star recruit, joining Texas A&M over more than 20 other offers.
He is one of the most marketable athletes in college sports, with an estimated NIL value of $2.1 million.
Nine other Texas A&M players are entering the transfer portal, possibly affecting the team's roster.
The transfer portal is open from January 2 to January 16, giving coaches a chance to rebuild the team.
Eric Lauer, a pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays, had a strong season in 2025 after joining the team on a minor league contract. Despite his good performance, the Blue Jays might not offer him a contract extension after next season due to recent pitching additions and his upcoming free agency.
Key Facts
Eric Lauer, a 30-year-old pitcher, plays for the Toronto Blue Jays.
Lauer missed the entire 2024 season but joined the Blue Jays on a minor league deal.
In the 2025 season, he appeared in 28 games for Toronto and started 15.
He had a 3.18 ERA and struck out 102 batters during the season.
Lauer is arbitration-eligible for one more season before becoming a free agent.
The Blue Jays might not extend his contract due to new pitchers joining the team.
Lauer may prefer a team where he can be a starting pitcher instead of a reliever.
Six Alabama football players entered the transfer portal after the team's defeat in the College Football Playoff. The transfer portal allows college players to leave their current team and join another one. Alabama must now find new players as they prepare for future games.
Key Facts
Six players from Alabama's football team have entered the transfer portal.
These players include Noah Carter, Olaus Alinen, Jalen Hale, Joseph Ionata, Richard Young, and Jaylen Mbakwe.
The transfer portal gives players the opportunity to move to other teams where they might find more playtime.
Alabama lost to Indiana in the College Football Playoff, prompting changes in their lineup.
The transfer portal for college football players will close on January 16, 2026.
The system allows teams to have fewer backup players, as more transfer to other schools seeking better opportunities.
Alabama's strength has traditionally been its depth, but the transfer portal era challenges this advantage.
The Michigan State Spartans will play the Nebraska Cornhuskers in a college basketball game on Friday. Michigan State has a strong team led by star guard Jeremy Fears Jr., while Nebraska is undefeated this season. The game will take place at Pinnacle Bank Arena and can be watched live on Peacock.
Key Facts
The game is scheduled for Friday, January 2, 2025, at 9:00 PM ET.
Michigan State Spartans hold a 12-1 record and rank No. 9 in the nation.
The Nebraska Cornhuskers are ranked No. 13 and have a perfect 13-0 record this season.
Jeremy Fears Jr. is a key player for Michigan State, recently scoring 21 points with 11 assists in a win.
Nebraska is strong at home with a 9-0 record and excels in defense and rebounding.
The game is a key matchup in the Big Ten conference.
The game can be streamed live on Peacock, a streaming service offering various sports events.
Michigan's football team had some challenges in the 2025 season and is now bringing in a new head coach, Kyle Whittingham. They are actively recruiting players from the transfer portal, including standout wide receiver Wyatt Young. Young had a strong 2025 season, making him a top target for several colleges.
Key Facts
Michigan's football team finished the 2025 season with a 9–3 record.
The team went to the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl but lost to Texas.
Sherrone Moore, Michigan's head coach, was fired due to alleged misconduct.
Kyle Whittingham, formerly of Utah, is hired as Michigan's head coach starting in 2026.
Michigan is looking to add new players from the transfer portal.
Wyatt Young, a successful wide receiver from North Texas, is a top recruitment target.
Young recorded 1,264 receiving yards and earned First-Team All-American Athletic Conference honors in 2025.
Austria's skier Katharina Liensberger will miss the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics due to a serious knee injury from a training accident. She needs surgery for a fracture, torn meniscus, and ligament injury. This injury ends her current skiing season.
Key Facts
Katharina Liensberger is an Austrian skier who won a silver medal in the 2022 Olympics.
She suffered a knee injury while training and will have surgery.
Her injuries include a fractured tibial plateau, torn meniscus, and medial collateral ligament injury.
Liensberger's skiing season is over, and she will not compete in the upcoming Winter Olympics.
She was a slalom world champion in 2021.
Liensberger had a successful history including a team gold and slalom silver in Beijing.
Concerns have been raised about the safety of high-speed skiing following several recent accidents among top skiers.
Rory McIlroy talked about the abusive crowd behavior he faced during the Ryder Cup in New York, where Europe won against the United States. McIlroy mentioned that U.S. captain Keegan Bradley could have spoken against the crowd's actions but did not do so at the event.
Key Facts
Rory McIlroy faced constant heckling during the Ryder Cup in New York.
Europe's team won the Ryder Cup by defeating the U.S. 15-13.
McIlroy's wife and daughter experienced abusive behavior from the crowd.
McIlroy said Keegan Bradley, the U.S. captain, did not address the crowd's behavior.
The event took place at Bethpage Black, a golf course in New York.
McIlroy compared the hostile atmosphere to past Ryder Cups in 1999 and 2016.
McIlroy noted that the crowd's behavior was worse than any he had previously encountered at the Ryder Cup.
Canada will play Slovakia in the quarterfinals of the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship. The game takes place on Friday, January 2, 2026, at 8:30 PM ET at 3M Arena at Mariucci in Minneapolis. The match will be available on NHL Network and for live streaming on Fubo.
Key Facts
Canada finished first in Group B with a record of 3-1-0-0.
Slovakia took fourth place in Group A with a record of 1-0-0-3.
Canada won its final group game against Finland, 7-4.
Slovakia lost to Switzerland 3-2 after a comeback attempt.
Canada and Slovakia each have top-scoring players tied with eight points: Michael Hage, Gavin McKenna, Zayne Parekh for Canada, and Tomáš Chrenko for Slovakia.
The game will be shown on NHL Network and available to stream live on Fubo.
Fubo offers a free trial for those who want to watch the live stream.
Regional restrictions may apply for streaming services.
The Chicago Bulls play against the Orlando Magic on Friday night at the United Center. Both teams have secured recent victories and this game marks their last meeting in the regular season. The game can be watched on FanDuel Sports Network and streamed on Fubo.
Key Facts
The game is scheduled for Friday, January 2, 2026, at 8:00 PM ET.
It will be broadcast on the FanDuel Sports Network Florida and Chicago Sports Network.
The Bulls recently won against the New Orleans Pelicans with a score of 134-118.
Isaac Okoro scored a season-high 24 points for the Bulls in their last game.
The Orlando Magic won their recent game against the Indiana Pacers with a 112-110 score.
Paolo Banchero, a Magic player, scored 29 points in their latest win.
This season, the Bulls and the Magic have each won one game against each other.
Fubo offers the option to live stream the game with a free trial.
Karl-Anthony Towns, a key player for the New York Knicks, will not play in their game against the Atlanta Hawks due to an illness. Towns has only missed two games this season, but his absence did not stop the Knicks from winning those matches.
Key Facts
Karl-Anthony Towns was listed as questionable to play due to an illness.
The Knicks officially ruled him out for the game against the Atlanta Hawks.
Towns has missed only two games this season, on December 7 and in mid-December.
Even without Towns, the Knicks won both previous games he missed.
In recent games, Towns averaged 20.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 2.0 assists.
The Knicks are currently second in the Eastern Conference with a 23-10 record.
They have won seven of their last ten games and trail the top seed, Detroit Pistons, by 1.5 games.
Friday's game against the Hawks will start at 7:30 PM ET.
Wake Forest will play against Mississippi State in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl on January 2, 2025. The game will air on ESPN and ESPN Deportes at 8 PM EDT and is available for streaming on Fubo.
Key Facts
The Duke’s Mayo Bowl takes place on January 2, 2025.
Wake Forest and Mississippi State are the competing teams.
The game will be broadcasted on ESPN and ESPN Deportes.
The event starts at 8:00 PM EDT.
Mississippi State's season record is 5-7.
Wake Forest's season record is 8-4.
Some key Wake Forest players, who are transferring, will not play.
Mississippi State has no starters leaving through the transfer portal.
Arizona and SMU will compete in the Trust & Will Holiday Bowl on January 2, 2025. This will be their first matchup in over 40 years, with both teams having one win each against the other in their history.
Key Facts
The game between Arizona and SMU is scheduled for January 2, 2025, at 8:00 PM EDT.
It will air on FOX and can be live-streamed on Fubo.
This will be the first meeting between Arizona and SMU in more than 40 years.
Arizona finished the 2025 season with a 9-3 record under coach Brent Brennan.
SMU ended the season with an 8-4 record in the ACC.
Key Arizona players, including Treydan Stukes and Genesis Smith, are unavailable for the game.
The Holiday Bowl offers an opportunity for both teams to make a statement ahead of the 2026 season.
Cam Coleman, a top-ranked wide receiver from Auburn University, is entering the college football transfer portal. He is considering several universities, including Alabama, USC, and Texas. The transfer portal window will close on January 16, 2026.
Key Facts
Cam Coleman is considered one of the best young wide receivers in college football.
Coleman is leaving Auburn University and is in the transfer portal.
The transfer portal allows college athletes to change schools.
Coleman has 15 days to choose a new school before the portal closes on January 16, 2026.
Alabama, USC, Texas, Texas A&M, and Texas Tech are some of the top schools interested in Coleman.
Alabama offers a chance for Coleman to stay in his home state of Alabama.
Texas aims to pair Coleman with quarterback Arch Manning.
The transfer portal is part of a new era in college sports influenced by Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals.
The New York Rangers will play against the Florida Panthers in the NHL Winter Classic on Friday night, January 2, 2025, at LoanDepot Park in Miami. This outdoor event marks a first for Florida, with both teams looking to improve their standings. The game will be broadcasted on TNT and available for live streaming on Sling.
Key Facts
The game between the New York Rangers and the Florida Panthers is part of the NHL Winter Classic on January 2, 2025.
The match will take place at LoanDepot Park in Miami, which is hosting this outdoor event for the first time.
The Rangers aim to end a three-game losing streak while maintaining their solid performance in outdoor games.
Key players like Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck are leading the Rangers' offensive efforts.
The Florida Panthers have been more consistent recently, with players like Brad Marchand and Sam Reinhart contributing to their balanced scoring.
The game is set to air at 8:00 PM ET on the television channel TNT.
Fans can also watch the game live through the streaming service Sling.
Both teams are competing for points and pride, making it an anticipated event in the NHL season.
Bill Belichick, the head coach of the University of North Carolina football team, is focusing on strengthening the team for 2026 by looking for a new quarterback through the college football transfer portal. Wisconsin quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. is visiting North Carolina as a potential candidate, following a knee injury that ended his season.
Key Facts
Bill Belichick is the head coach of the University of North Carolina football team.
His first season in Chapel Hill did not go well, with the team finishing with a 4-8 record.
Belichick is searching for a new quarterback using the transfer portal.
The transfer portal is somewhat like NFL free agency, allowing college athletes to change schools.
Wisconsin's Billy Edwards Jr. is a potential candidate and is visiting North Carolina.
Edwards Jr. got injured early in the season at Wisconsin, ending his play for the year.
The transfer portal for 2026 opens officially and will be active for two weeks, closing on January 16, 2026.
Chris Sutton, a football expert, is making predictions for the Premier League games, competing against AI and various guests. This week, singer-songwriter Andrew Cushin, a Newcastle fan, joins him. Cushin has had a musical career influenced by his time playing as a youth goalkeeper.
Key Facts
Chris Sutton makes predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season.
He competes against AI and various guests, including Andrew Cushin this week.
The AI has been leading the prediction contest.
Andrew Cushin released an album called "Love Is For Everyone" that reached the top 40.
Cushin previously played as a goalkeeper in Newcastle's youth team.
He was inspired by Newcastle player Shay Given to become a goalkeeper.
Cushin decided to focus on music after working with musician Noel Gallagher.
The Miami Hurricanes, led by head coach Mario Cristobal, are nearing a national championship appearance after defeating the Ohio State Buckeyes. Legendary coach Jimmy Johnson, who once coached the Hurricanes, congratulated Cristobal on this achievement with a supportive message.
Key Facts
Miami Hurricanes beat Ohio State Buckeyes 24-14 on New Year's Eve.
This victory marks their second win in the postseason under coach Mario Cristobal.
Legendary coach Jimmy Johnson praised Cristobal's efforts after the game.
Johnson coached the Hurricanes from 1984 to 1988, winning a national championship in 1987.
Johnson also coached the Dallas Cowboys, winning two Super Bowl titles.
Cristobal became the Hurricanes' head coach in December 2021.
Under Cristobal, the Hurricanes have improved their performance compared to previous seasons.
The Cleveland Cavaliers will face the Denver Nuggets in an NBA game. The Nuggets will play without their key player Nikola Jokić due to a knee injury. The game is scheduled for Friday, January 2, 2026, at 7:30 PM ET and will be available on various streaming platforms.
Key Facts
The Cavaliers are considered one of the top teams in the NBA.
Key players for the Cavaliers include Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen.
Nikola Jokić, a key player for the Nuggets, is out with a knee injury.
The game will be broadcast on FanDuel Sports Network Ohio 1 and Altitude Sports.
Fans can live stream the game on Fubo and Prime Video, with free trial options.
The Nuggets face challenges with other injured starters and will rely on role players.
The game is seen as a test of depth for the Nuggets.
