Three more college football bowl games are on the Tuesday docket as the new year draws ever nearer.

The day’s slate features a couple of Big Ten squads in action in their respective opponents’ home states. One will be in SEC country, while the other faces Big 12 opposition. But before the power conference representatives take the field, a matchup of so-called mid-major squads gets a brief turn in the spotlight in the matinee.

Here’s a breakdown of the trio of contests slated for the penultimate day of 2025. Yes, we’re obligated to use the word penultimate whenever possible – it’s in our contract.

Independence Bowl: Coastal Carolina vs. Louisiana Tech

Time/TV: 2 p.m. ET, ESPN in Shreveport, La.

Why watch: The Tuesday tripleheader kicks off with yet another clash between representatives of the Sun Belt and Conference USA. The Chanticleers will be led by interim coach Jeremiah Johnson before Ryan Beard fully takes charge after his arrival from Missouri State ahead of next season. Given their passing issues all year, they’ll likely count on RB Ja’Vin Simpkins and more mobile QB Samari Collier to mount drives. If Collier is unable to play due to injury, the job will likely fall to Tad Hudson. The Bulldogs have been only slightly more successful in the passing game, but QB Trey Kukuk directed victories starting Tech’s last two contests.

Why it could disappoint: Some of the Chanticleers are in the portal, but other players might be auditioning for future roles. The Bulldogs should have the edge in crowd support and interest level.

Music City Bowl: No. 23 Tennessee vs. Illinois

Time/TV: 5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN in Nashville, Tenn.

Why watch: The Volunteers fell short of their bid to return to the College Football Playoff but at least get to play their final game in front of a home-state crowd. The Fighting Illini, who also spent time in the US LBM Coaches Poll Top 25 during the season but couldn’t crack the Big Ten’s top tier, should provide a suitable matchup. Tennessee QB Joey Aguilar stepped into a challenging situation and did what he could, but the SEC’s most accomplished defenses were too much to overcome. His primary playmakers should be WR Braylon Staley after Chris Brazzell opted out of the game. QB Luke Altmyer had similar issues as Aguilar at Illinois, though he took better care of the ball despite sketchy ground support. His main deep threat is WR Hank Beatty, who is also a dangerous punt returner.

Why it could disappoint: The Vols’ no-show in their regular-season finale against Vanderbilt raises serious questions about their mindset heading into their bowl game. The Illini were on the short end of a few blowouts themselves, so things could get sideways for them as well.

Alamo Bowl: No. 16 Southern California vs. TCU

Time/TV: 9 p.m. ET, ESPN in San Antonio, Texas.

Why watch: The Trojans were realistically behind the proverbial playoff eight ball after their early setback at Illinois, but for the most part they won the games they were supposed to. TCU also had some nice results but also some curiously uneven performances that had their fans frustrated for large portions of the fall. Unfortunately for the viewers, the most recognizable names will not be participating as USC WRs Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane are prepping for the draft and Horned Frogs QB Josh Hoover is transferring. Trojans QB Jayden Maiava will need to find some new targets, while TCU turns to backup Ken Seals, who has attempted just six passes all season but completed four of them.

Why it could disappoint: The Horned Frogs figure to be at more of a personnel disadvantage. If TCU’s defense can’t get stops early, it might be a long night.

Southern California coach Lincoln Riley blamed Notre Dame for why the historic rivalry between the two teams has paused, adding the Fighting Irish didn’t keep to their word.

USC and Notre Dame announced on Dec. 22 their rivalry would not continue after they couldn’t come to terms on the future of the series that has been played 96 times since 1926. A week after the news, Riley was asked at a press conference on Monday, Dec. 29 ahead of the Alamo Bowl about what led to the halt of the rivalry game, and he pointed to Notre Dame as the reason.

Riley said both sides worked for months to continue the series and recently, USC athletics director Jen Cohen offered a proposal that would extend the game for two more years and Notre Dame rejected it.

‘We took Notre Dame at their word that they would play us anytime, anywhere,’ Riley said.

The Trojans coach added five minutes after the offer was rejected, Notre Dame announced a home-and-home series with Brigham Young that effectively ended any chance of the rivalry continuing. He said ‘that might be the fastest scheduling act in college football history.’

The main blocking point in the future of the game centered on the scheduling. Traditionally, it took place at Notre Dame in mid-October in odd years, and in even years, occurred in Los Angeles in November. The recent deal for the series ended with the 2025 game. The belief was USC wanted the game to be played earlier in the schedule to avoid it being in the middle of conference play. 

‘Had Notre Dame lived up to their word and played us anytime, anywhere, we would be playing in the next two years, and looking ahead after that and hopefully, continuing the series,’ Riley said. ‘They did not follow through on it. Thus, we are not playing them the next couple years.’

Riley has stated several times he has great respect for Notre Dame and the rivalry and wanted to keep it going. Since Riley took over at USC in 2022, Notre Dame has won three of the four meetings, including three consecutive victories. He said he’s hopeful something can be worked out in the future and ‘we at SC would love for the game to continue, and we have no problem following through on our promises in the future.’

After it was announced the rivalry would be paused, both schools said in a joint statement they ‘look forward to meeting again in the future.’

Notre Dame leads the all-time series 51–37–5.

Though Woods has somewhat stepped away from the PGA Tour in recent years — focusing on his businesses as well as Tomorrow’s Golf League (TGL) as they prepare for their second season — Woods’ career still leaves people in awe the more they learn.

Woods’ dominance on the links cannot be understated. So, as the man of the hour hits five decades, let’s take a look back at the 10 best moments of his career.

Keep in mind, this is a subjective list. You are allowed to disagree with it, but if you do, know that you are wrong and you look silly.

Top 10 moments of Tiger Woods’ career

10) ‘Better than Most’ — 2001 Players Championship

Ask any golfer and they can tell you the exact putt that the words ‘Better than Most’ came from. The iconic putt was great in and of itself, but it was made legendary by analyst Gary Koch’s commentary, repeating ‘Better than Most’ over and over with increasing enthusiasm as it got closer and closer to the hole.

9) 2000 U.S. Open

Woods’ dominance is well-documented, but it wasn’t always. The 2000 U.S. Open was one of the first tournaments where fans started to realize just how much damage Woods could do. After leading by just one shot after the first round, Woods then kicked his game to another gear, leading by six after 36, 10 after 54, and 15 when all was said and done.

Woods was the only player in the entire tournament to finish under par. He finished at 12-under.

8) Woods aces the 16th at 1997 Phoenix Open

Often referred to as the ‘loudest hole in golf,’ the 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale is known for producing legendary moments. Of course, Woods had to add himself to that mix. Woods’ ace in 1997 sent the crowd into an absolute frenzy, the kind of eruption that would make Shooter McGavin lose his mind.

7) Just short? — 2005 Masters

This is arguably the shot that Woods is most known for. Any golf fan can close their eyes and see the ball stop at the lip of the cup, flashing that iconic Nike logo, and leaving the crowd disappointed just moments before it takes one final turn into the cup and sending everyone into hysterics. The fact it happened at Augusta just added to the legend.

6) 2022 Masters

Woods did not win this tournament, but Woods’ career isn’t all about the wins, it’s also about the resilience, the ability to get back up when you get knocked down. Woods was involved in a serious car crash just 14 months prior to this tournament. Somehow though, Woods still managed to make the cut, extending his streak of consecutive Masters cuts made to 22, tying him with Fred Couples and Gary Player for the longest such streaks in tournament history.

5) ‘Hello, world’

Fresh off winning the U.S. Amateur for the third time in his young career, the golfing world was waiting in anticipation wondering if Woods would remain an amateur. However, it was clear that there was something in the works. After all, Woods’ dad, Earl, had secured a five-year, $40 million deal with Nike, which in all likelihood, wasn’t a spur of the moment deal.

Woods’ iconic ‘I guess, hello world’ marked the beginning of what would become the most iconic professional career in golf history.

4) The ‘Tiger Slam’

Not many golfers can say they’ve won a career Grand Slam. Tiger Woods won all four tournaments in a year. Though some skeptics will say that it doesn’t count since they didn’t all happen in the same year, those people don’t have friends, so who cares what they have to say.

Woods won all four major tournaments in a row, making him the defending champ at each of the biggest events in golf. That’s like being an undisputed heavyweight champion in boxing, but probably a thousand times less likely.

It’s very likely that we never see another golfer win all four majors in a row. That’s how insane this feat truly was.

3) 2006 Open Championship

Though this wasn’t the first or even the second time Woods would win the Open Championship, Woods’ victory in 2006 was iconic because of what Woods was dealing with at the time. Woods lost his father, Earl, earlier that year. You can see the emotion on Woods’ face after the winning putt as he shares an embrace with his caddie.

2) 1997 Masters

Woods was under a lot of pressure prior to this tournament. He was the young up-and-comer who would bring in a new era of golf. But he’d never won a major, he’d yet to make a major impact on the sport.

Then the 1997 Masters happened. He won by 12 strokes, and set a then-record four-round score of 270 (-18).

Even more iconic was Woods’ resilience in the tournament. Through nine holes, Woods carded a 4-over and was struggling immensely. He then shot four birdies and an eagle on the back nine, finishing the first round at 2-under. That was just a taste of all that was to come.

1) 2019 Masters

By 2019, Woods was well past his prime. He wasn’t the same dominant force that shook the Earth when he walked by. Woods hadn’t won a major in over a decade. Fans had written him off, but Woods wasn’t done.

It was a flash from the past that had fans giddy with enjoyment. He didn’t dominate like fans were accustomed to years prior, but he managed the win anyway. The best part was definitely him embracing his children behind the 18th green, the same place he hugged his parents after his win in 1997. It was really a full circle moment and an exclamation point on one of the greatest careers ever.

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AI-assisted summary
• Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman has informed NFL teams he won’t be seeking a job at the next level.
• Freeman confirmed his decision to remain with the Fighting Irish on social media.
• Freeman received a raise to remain at Notre Dame, according to multiple reports.

As Billy Madison once said, it’s “back to school, back to school” for Marcus Freeman. 

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach informed NFL teams he won’t be seeking job opportunities beyond his current one. Once those reports circulated, the 39-year-old confirmed his stance with a message on social media.

“2026 … run it back,” Freeman wrote. “Go Irish.”

Freeman was by no means a shoo-in for any current or potential NFL head-coaching vacancy. But the 2024 Coach of the Year was drawing interest from teams, per multiple reports. With good reason. He’s a young, successful coach who presents competence and projects confidence. Any organization looking for the traditional “culture-changer” archetype – cough, New York Giants, cough – would have had Freeman’s name on the interview list. 

For those front offices, it’s on to the next. 

Fans of Freeman, 39, say his leadership style will translate to the pros. Any team looking for a “CEO” at head coach rather than an offensive or defensive whiz – although Freeman made his bones as a successful defensive coordinator at Cincinnati and Notre Dame – would have to look at him. His experience, from leading the most visible program in America to playing at Ohio State, is another positive bullet point on Freeman’s resume.

Of all the cycles to fully commit to the NFL interview process, this was close to an ideal one for Freeman, since his current team is sitting at home, on the wrong side of the College Football Playoff selection committee’s policies and debates. The irked Irish – somewhat impolitely – also denied any bowl invitations.   

Perhaps Freeman wanted more options, with two openings currently, the Giants and Tennessee Titans. More jobs will become available. The normal average is seven NFL head coach openings each year, however, and that number might be lower this offseason. The counterpoint to that is the absence of a hot-shot coordinator or two who are sure to receive any of the openings, a distinction Ben Johnson held, for example, before being hired by the Chicago Bears last year. 

Get ready for the annual Marcus Freeman to NFL rumor cycle

The fluidity of roster construction in the college ranks, thanks to the transfer portal and NIL, has decreased the gap in the difference of responsibilities a college coach faces compared to a pro coach. Everybody’s getting paid now. Everybody’s a professional (allegedly). Egos are more pronounced in the NFL, but so is the overall maturity of the locker room, in most cases. 

Freeman boasts a 43-12 record since taking over after Brian Kelly’s departure four years ago and led Notre Dame to the national championship game last year. Every time his name floats into NFL coaching conversations, Freeman can look at Notre Dame’s coffers and do the “money please” dance. ESPN reported that the Irish gave Freeman an “enhanced contract,” on the heels of a raise in December 2024 that paid him $7.4 million annually, according to USA TODAY Sports’ NCAA coaches’ salary database. Per Sports Illustrated, the new deal puts him in the “top tier” of compensation among his peers. 

For Freeman, this can become an annual tradition – the next-generation Pete Carroll. On-field success. Rumors. Raise. Rinse and Repeat. 

Until Freeman actually makes the jump, that’s how it’ll go. And NFL owners will have to simply wonder what he’d look like leading their team. 

At this time last season, we were asked to make some bold predictions for NHL teams in 2025. We went with three, and it’s now a great time to re-examine those bold predictions and see how we fared. Here we go:

2025 Prediction 1: TheToronto Maple Leafs finally win second-round series but get eliminated in Eastern Conference final

The Rationale: “The meat of this prediction is that, at long last, the Maple Leafs will not only win their first-round series, but they’ll win a second-round series for the first time since 2001-02. That will mean they likely eliminate the Tampa Bay Lightning and the defending Stanley Cup-champion Florida Panthers, but we’re not nearly so confident in Toronto’s play in the Eastern Conference final series.”

How’d We Do? Not too shabby. It wasn’t fully correct, but we did have the Leafs winning a playoff round, and we were one game away from being 100 percent accurate on the entire prediction. Toronto was a handful for the Ottawa Senators last season, and they nearly knocked off the back-to-back Cup-champion Panthers. 

Small consolation for Leafs fans, but this is what makes the Buds’ current struggles so strange – Toronto’s core is still talented enough for them to be playoff contenders, and Leafs star Mitch Marner’s absence shouldn’t be the sole cause for the Leafs’ struggles.

It may already be too late for Toronto to avoid missing the playoffs this year, and a catastrophic end like that will ensure major trades happen in Leafs Land next summer.

Anyhow, let’s say we get a passing grade for this prediction. Not an A+ result, but not bad at all.

The Rationale: “The Avalanche’s overall lack of depth — especially in goal and at forward — will mean Colorado doesn’t have the talent base needed to go on a deep post-season run unless they only play their top stars.” 

How’d We Do? In the words of Christoph Waltz’s character in the ‘Inglorious Basterds’ film: That’s a bingo.

Okay, if you want to quibble about it, the Avs didn’t get steamrolled. And yes, we did write as part of that prediction that Mikko Rantanen would stay in Denver. But we’ll take success as it comes, and we did believe Landeskog would be back in action, only for the Avalanche to lose in the first round. We’re calling that a big win.

2025 Prediction 3: The Pittsburgh Penguins will finally start to tear down their roster, trading Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang after the Penguins fail to make the playoffs for the third straight season.

The Rationale: “The Penguins have been an up-and-down team this season, but though they’re fourth in the Metropolitan Division, they’re outside of a wild-card spot and have a handful of teams below them that aren’t far behind. That means there are plenty of potential reasons why the Penguins could fall down the Metropolitan Division standings and wind up missing the playoffs for the third consecutive season.

“If and when the Pens miss the playoffs yet again, there will be pressure to drastically change the lineup. While captain Sidney Crosby isn’t going anywhere, trades for Malkin and Letang could finally become realistic enough to happen.”

How’d We Do? On this one, we are going to claim a bit of success in predicting that Pittsburgh would miss the playoffs for the third straight year. But despite another stellar season from Crosby, Penguins GM Kyle Dubas did not make changes to his aging core.

Sure, there were some fringe changes Dubas made this past summer, but the Pens looked like a sinking ship right out of the gate last year – remember that six-game losing streak, or going 7-12-4 to start the season? Dubas chose to run it back with the same group this season.

Now, you might say that the Penguins validated Dubas’ optimism in them by being a better team in the current season, but once there is some separation in the standings, Pittsburgh is going to have a difficult time staying in the playoff mix. As a matter of fact, they’re currently outside of a playoff spot.

We’re going to give ourselves a C+ on this prediction. It could’ve happened and could still happen, so while we’re certainly not giving ourselves an A or B grade on this one, it still got some things right.

So, out of three predictions, we hit a home run with one, we had an RBI single in another one, and we had a line-drive flyout on the third.

The predictions business is fraught with danger, so getting the framework of the predictions right was the key for us, and we didn’t do badly at all in that regard this past year. But who knows – in our next round of predictions, we could miss on all of them.

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The NFL’s Week 18 schedule is finally here.

The penultimate week of regular-season action clarified which few pieces of the playoff puzzle still have to fall in place. With that coming into focus, the league was able to determine a setup for every team’s finale.

The Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers will meet on Saturday afternoon to determine the likely winner of the NFC South (barring the Atlanta Falcons winning out). Then, the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers will clash Saturday night with the NFC’s No. 1 seed on the line.

The Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers will close out the season on Sunday night to decide the AFC North title.

Here’s a look at the NFL Week 18 schedule with times and dates for all 16 showdowns:

NFL Week 18 schedule

Saturday, Jan. 3

Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 4:30 p.m. ET

Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers, 8 p.m. ET

Sunday, Jan. 4

Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m. ET

Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m. ET

Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans, 1 p.m. ET

Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants, 1 p.m. ET

Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m. ET

New York Jets at Buffalo Bills, 4:25 p.m. ET

Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears, 4:25 p.m. ET

Los Angeles Chargers at Denver Broncos, 4:25 p.m. ET

Kansas City Chiefs at Las Vegas Raiders, 4:25 p.m. ET

Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams, 4:25 p.m. ET

Washington Commanders at Philadelphia Eagles, 4:25 p.m. ET

Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers, 8:20 p.m. ET