The Philadelphia 76ers will play against the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday. They recently won against the Memphis Grizzlies, with standout performances by Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. The game will be available on TV and streaming platforms.
Key Facts
The game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Dallas Mavericks is on Thursday, January 1, 2026.
The Philadelphia 76ers beat the Memphis Grizzlies 139-136 recently, thanks to a decisive 3-pointer.
Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey each scored 34 points for the 76ers in their last game.
Dallas Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg scored 15 points, eight assists, and three steals in a recent game.
The 76ers won against the Mavericks 121-114 on December 20, 2025.
The game will be shown on NBA TV and KFAA (Dallas) and can be streamed on Fubo.
Viewers should be aware of regional restrictions for the live stream.
The Las Vegas Raiders, likely to finish last in the NFL and receive the first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, are expected to draft quarterback Fernando Mendoza from Indiana. The team is struggling, both with internal conflicts and a lack of a strong quarterback, aiming to improve by selecting Mendoza, who is praised for his skills and leadership.
Key Facts
The Las Vegas Raiders are the worst team in the NFL this season.
Head coach Pete Carroll might not remain with the Raiders for long.
The team is having issues with their key player, Maxx Crosby, who is considering trades.
Quarterback Geno Smith has not met the team's expectations.
As of now, the Raiders are close to securing the first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Fernando Mendoza, an Indiana quarterback, is predicted to be their first draft pick.
Mendoza is noted for his strong skills and leadership qualities.
The Raiders have not had a top draft pick in nearly two decades.
The Ole Miss Rebels will face the Georgia Bulldogs in the Sugar Bowl, part of the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, happening on January 1, 2026, in New Orleans. Georgia, with a strong defense, and Ole Miss, known for its high-scoring offense, will compete for a spot in the Fiesta Bowl semifinal against Miami.
Key Facts
The game takes place on January 1, 2026, at 8:00 PM ET at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.
The match is part of the College Football Playoff quarterfinals.
Georgia Bulldogs have a record of 12-1, and Ole Miss Rebels have a record of 11-1.
The game can be watched on ESPN channels and streamed live on Fubo.
Georgia previously defeated Ole Miss 43–35 in a game in Athens in October.
The Sugar Bowl features two teams from the Southeastern Conference (SEC).
Ole Miss is aiming to counter Georgia’s defense with fast-paced and high-scoring plays.
Alabama's football team suffered its worst bowl game loss ever, losing 38-3 to Indiana in the College Football Playoff. The game highlighted Indiana's effective use of the transfer portal, contrasting Alabama's traditional recruitment methods.
Key Facts
Alabama lost 38-3 to Indiana in the College Football Playoff.
This was Alabama's worst postseason loss in its history.
Head coach Kalen DeBoer watched his team suffer a significant defeat.
Indiana used the transfer portal effectively to build their team.
Alabama's traditional recruitment strategies were less effective in this game.
The loss came just before the transfer portal opened for players.
The Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins are facing off in a hockey game on January 1, 2026. The game will be broadcast on the FanDuel Sports Network and live-streamed on Fubo. The Red Wings recently won a game against the Winnipeg Jets, while the Penguins defeated the Carolina Hurricanes.
Key Facts
The Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins will play on January 1, 2026, at 7:00 PM ET.
The game will take place at PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh.
It will be shown on the FanDuel Sports Network and available for live stream on Fubo.
The Red Wings have a record of 24 wins, 14 losses, and 3 ties this season.
The Penguins recently won against the Carolina Hurricanes with a score of 5-1.
Dylan Larkin is the top goal-scorer for Detroit with 21 goals.
Sidney Crosby is the leading goal-scorer for Pittsburgh, also with 21 goals.
The Detroit Pistons will play against the Miami Heat on January 1, 2026, at Little Caesars Arena. Both teams recently won their last games, with key players delivering strong performances. The Pistons won their previous meeting with the Heat in November.
Key Facts
The Pistons have a record of 25 wins and 8 losses, leading the Eastern Conference.
The Heat have a record of 18 wins and 15 losses and have won their last three games.
The game will take place on Thursday, January 1, 2026, at 7:00 PM ET.
The game will be shown on FanDuel Sports Network, and it can be live-streamed on Fubo.
Cade Cunningham of the Pistons scored 27 points and had 11 assists in their last game against the Lakers.
Norman Powell led the Heat with 25 points in their win over the Denver Nuggets.
The Pistons won their first game against the Heat this season, with a score of 138-135.
The Tampa Bay Lightning are continuing their California trip with a game against the Los Angeles Kings. The Lightning are on a five-game winning streak, while the Kings have struggled recently, losing seven of their last nine games. Fans can watch the game on Thursday, January 1, 2026, at 7:00 PM ET on FanDuel Sports Network or via live stream on Fubo.
Key Facts
Tampa Bay Lightning have a record of 23-13-3, totaling 49 points.
Los Angeles Kings hold a record of 16-13-9, accumulating 41 points.
The game will take place at the crypto.com Arena.
Darren Raddysh scored in overtime for the Lightning's recent win against Anaheim Ducks.
Lightning players Kucherov, Guentzel, and Hagel each have 18 goals this season.
Andrei Vasilevskiy is the Lightning's goalie with a record of 15-7-2.
Adrian Kempe leads the Kings with 32 points this season.
Fans can watch the game on FanDuel Sports Network or stream it on Fubo with a free trial available.
The Toronto Maple Leafs will play the Winnipeg Jets at Scotiabank Arena on Thursday night. The Maple Leafs have recently been successful, winning three of their last four games. The Jets have struggled, losing their last seven games.
Key Facts
Toronto Maple Leafs host the Winnipeg Jets at Scotiabank Arena.
The game will take place on Thursday, January 1, 2026, at 7:00 PM ET.
TV coverage is provided by the NHL Network, and it can be streamed on Fubo.
The Jets lost to the Detroit Red Wings 2-1 the night before.
The Maple Leafs recently defeated the New Jersey Devils 4-0.
John Tavares and Auston Matthews lead the Maple Leafs in goals with 15 each.
Winnipeg is currently in last place in the Central Division.
Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor have been strong performers for the Jets with 18 goals and 45 points each.
College football coaches Nick Saban and Lane Kiffin agree there needs to be a change in the football schedule. They are concerned about the overlap between the College Football Playoff and the NCAA transfer portal, which they say creates confusion and problems for teams.
Key Facts
Nick Saban is a well-known college football coach and "College GameDay" analyst.
Saban wants changes to the college football schedule to avoid overlap between playoffs and the transfer portal.
The transfer portal allows college players to change schools, and it opens on a set date.
Lane Kiffin, another well-known coach, agrees with Saban's idea for changing the schedule.
The current timing can cause confusion as coaches and players manage multiple commitments.
Saban has not pursued a leadership role in college football management despite suggestions.
Changes in college sports now allow athletes to transfer between teams more easily, starting this week. This period is a critical time for college football teams, which traditionally play important bowl games around New Year’s Day. Experts are discussing how these changes affect athletes and college sports.
Key Facts
College football bowl games are traditionally played around New Year’s Day.
A new transfer window for college athletes opens this week, letting them change teams.
This transfer process is seen as a major shift in college sports.
There are concerns that this is creating a "wild west" atmosphere, meaning unpredictable changes and competition.
Sports analysts, including Stewart Mandel, are discussing these changes and their impacts.
The focus is on how these new rules affect the athletes and college sports overall.
Gabon's government suspended the national soccer team and banned player Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after the team's poor performance at the Africa Cup of Nations. The sports minister announced these actions following their loss to Ivory Coast and sacked the team's coach, Thierry Mouyouma.
Key Facts
Gabon's national soccer team got suspended by the government.
Striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and player Bruno Ecuele Manga were banned.
Coach Thierry Mouyouma was sacked after the team's exit from the Africa Cup of Nations.
Gabon lost 3-2 to Ivory Coast and had earlier losses to Cameroon and Mozambique.
The team finished last in their group in Morocco.
Aubameyang returned to Marseille for treatment on a thigh injury and didn't play the final match.
Government intervention in national teams has reduced since FIFA increased rules against it.
DraftKings is offering a special promotion for new users during the New Year's Day College Football Playoff games. By placing a $5 bet and picking a winner, users can receive $200 in bonus credits. These credits can be used to make further bets on a wide range of sports.
Key Facts
DraftKings offers a promotion for the College Football Playoff games.
New users can get $200 in bonuses after a $5 bet if they win.
The promo is available for various sports, not just football.
Players in Missouri have a chance for a $300 bonus.
The games to bet on include the Rose Bowl and the Sugar Bowl.
The Rose Bowl features Indiana vs. Alabama, and the Sugar Bowl has Georgia vs. Ole Miss.
New users can sign up without a promo code through specific links.
Newsweek might earn a commission if users sign up through their links.
The article discusses a special bonus offer from Bet365 for sports betting on college football games, including the Sugar Bowl game between Georgia and Ole Miss. By using the bonus code WEEK365, new users can start betting with a $5 wager and earn a $150 bonus, with additional offers available in certain states.
Key Facts
Bet365 offers a bonus code WEEK365 for new users placing a $5 bet to receive a $150 bonus, regardless of the outcome.
In some states like Missouri, a $10 bet unlocks a $365 bonus.
A $1,000 safety net option is available in certain states, offering a refund in bonuses if the initial bet loses.
The sportsbook provides special boosted bets for the Sugar Bowl game between Georgia and Ole Miss.
Bet365 promotions differ based on user location.
Users need to deposit at least $10 to activate these bonuses.
The Sugar Bowl game is a college football playoff featuring Georgia and Ole Miss.
Victor Wembanyama from the San Antonio Spurs injured his knee during a game, but an MRI showed no serious damage. He is not traveling for the next game but might play soon.
Key Facts
Victor Wembanyama is a key player for the San Antonio Spurs.
He hurt his knee during a game against the New York Knicks.
An MRI showed no ligament damage in his knee.
He will miss the team’s next game against Indianapolis.
He is questionable for the game against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Wembanyama averages 24.3 points and 11.7 rebounds per game this season.
He missed part of last season due to a blood clot in his shoulder.
Liam Rosenior, currently managing Strasbourg, is a top candidate for the head coach job at Chelsea, after Enzo Maresca left. Rosenior's current team is owned by the same investment group as Chelsea, and he has strong support within the club. Other potential candidates for the role include Porto's Francesco Farioli and Marseille's Roberto de Zerbi.
Key Facts
Liam Rosenior is the leading candidate to become Chelsea's new head coach.
Enzo Maresca left the Chelsea job due to tensions within the club.
Rosenior manages Strasbourg, a team owned by the same group that owns Chelsea.
Chelsea is looking at other candidates, including Porto's Francesco Farioli.
Strasbourg's team, under Rosenior, has done well in European competitions.
Allowing Rosenior to leave Strasbourg might upset their fans.
Chelsea had previously interviewed several candidates for the coach position, including Roberto de Zerbi and Kieran McKenna.
Cheltenham Racecourse set a new attendance record with over 44,000 people attending its New Year's Day event in 2026. The event attracted more visitors than any previous New Year's Day event and even beat previous records from the Cheltenham Festival.
Key Facts
Cheltenham Racecourse had a record attendance of 44,151 on New Year's Day 2026.
This is the first time the event has sold out.
The previous record for New Year's Day was 38,374 set in 2023.
Attendance was higher than the 41,949 people at the Cheltenham Festival's Wednesday event in 2025.
The standout race was the Relkeel Hurdle, won by Kabral Du Mathan.
Cheltenham's chief executive noted the growth of the event and the diversity of the crowd, including over 5,000 children attending.
The University of Kentucky's starting quarterback, Cutter Boley, announced he is entering the transfer portal, which is a system where college athletes can switch schools. This came shortly after Kentucky hired Will Stein as their new head coach, and the transfer portal will open on January 2, 2026.
Key Facts
Cutter Boley, Kentucky's starting quarterback, plans to transfer schools.
The transfer portal is a system for college athletes to change schools.
Kentucky has recently hired Will Stein as their new head coach.
Boley is known for his strong performance as a freshman with over 2,100 passing yards and 15 touchdowns.
The portal officially opens on January 2, 2026, initiating a busy period for college transfers.
Kentucky must find a potential new quarterback for the 2026 season.
Austin Novosad, who may join Stein at Kentucky, is also entering the transfer portal.
Penn State quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal after starting seven games in the 2025 season and leading the team to four consecutive wins. He completed 69.1% of his passes, throwing for 1,339 yards and eight touchdowns. The new head coach, Matt Campbell, will need to decide on a new quarterback for the 2026 season.
Key Facts
Ethan Grunkemeyer is a quarterback at Penn State entering the NCAA transfer portal.
He is a redshirt freshman with three seasons left to play.
Grunkemeyer started seven games in the 2025 season.
He led Penn State to four straight wins to close out the season.
Grunkemeyer completed 69.1% of his passes during the season.
New head coach Matt Campbell will lead Penn State for the 2026 season.
Penn State has signed four-star quarterback Peyton Falzone.
Backup quarterback Bekkem Kritza will also enter the transfer portal.
Gabon's government has suspended its national soccer team and removed coach Thierry Mouyouma and star player Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang following their three losses at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025. Gabon's acting Sports Minister announced the decision after the team finished last in their group and was eliminated from the tournament.
Key Facts
Gabon's national soccer team was suspended by the government after losing all their matches at AFCON 2025.
The coach, Thierry Mouyouma, was fired, and star player Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was removed from the team.
Acting Sports Minister Simplice-Desire Mamboula announced the decision after Gabon finished last in its group.
Gabon lost its final match against Ivory Coast, 3-2, in Marrakesh.
Neither Aubameyang nor Bruno Ecuele Manga played in the final match; Aubameyang was injured.
Aubameyang suggests the team's issues are deeper than individual players.
Disbanding national teams has been common in Africa after poor performances, but FIFA discourages such actions.
Michigan's new head football coach, Kyle Whittingham, announced significant hires for his coaching staff, bringing in key offensive and defensive coordinators from Big 12 teams. Jason Beck from Utah will serve as the offensive coordinator, while Jay Hill from BYU will be the defensive coordinator. The new hires are part of Whittingham's initial setup for the Michigan football program.
Key Facts
Kyle Whittingham is the new head football coach at Michigan.
He announced almost complete coaching staff during the Citrus Bowl.
Jason Beck from Utah will join Michigan as the offensive coordinator.
Under Beck, Utah was highly ranked in various offensive categories.
Jay Hill from BYU will become Michigan's defensive coordinator.
Hill's BYU team was strong in scoring and total defense rankings.
Other former Utah staff members are also joining Michigan's coaching team.
