NASCAR listened to its fan base's complaints and has returned to a championship system that rewards consistency and point accumulation, rather than race wins. The new format gets rid of the playoff format that saw drivers eliminated after every three races and a winner-take-all championship race between four drivers. The spot has opted to return to the “Chase for the Championship” format it used between 2004 and 2013. The sixteen drivers who accumulate the most points during the first 26 races of the season will contend for the championship over the season’s final 10 races, with the driver scoring the most points during those 10 races being crowned champion.

Here are the 16 drivers I’m predicting to make the new Chase for the Championship:

1. Denny Hamlin
At 45, Denny Hamlin is the oldest driver in NASCAR’s premier series. This championship format will be his best, and possibly final, chance to win a championship that has eluded him his entire career. He’s the greatest driver in the sport’s history to have never won a title. He narrowly missed last year in the old winner-take-all format due to a late caution. This could be his year.

2. Christopher Bell
Christopher Bell should be a major threat under this Chase for the Champion format. He would’ve been second last year and only seven points behind the champion under this system. In fact, in three of the last four years, he would’ve finished in the top-3.

3. Kyle Larson
Kyle Larson excels at any championship format. He won in 2025 under the playoff system; he would’ve still won it under the current system, and he would’ve even won it under the old Winston Cup season-long points system. He’ll be a threat for sure.

4. Ryan Blaney
Ryan Blaney is a measure of consistency, so much in fact that under this current championship format, he would’ve finished exactly the same (fourth in the standings) in the last four years consecutively. Might as well predict him there to begin the season.

5. William Byron
William Byron wins a decent amount of races but always seems to start off hot in the season and then fade. He’ll need to stop that fade if he wants to succeed under this format. He would’ve been the regular-season points leader last year and found a way to fall all the way to fifth in the final 10 races.

6. Chase Elliott
Chase Elliott feels like a driver who’s great at accumulating points throughout the full season, especially as his win totals have dropped drastically in the last few years. But he would only have finished seventh in this format last year and hasn’t done better than third in it since 2020.

7. Joey Logano
Joey Logano was the greatest NASCAR driver of the playoff, winner-take-all playoff. He and his No. 22 Penske Racing team knew how to work the system better than anyone else, just making it through each round, winning races when it mattered most, and showing up at Phoenix Raceway (where the championship ended most years under that format) and coming out on top. Logano and the team will have to get more consistent for this format. Logano would’ve placed eighth last year.

8. Tyler Reddick
Tyler Reddick would’ve finished eighth in the last two seasons under this format, which is a good place to predict him at the start of the season. He’s going to have to find his winning ways again to be more of a threat, especially with first place now offering 50 points.

9. Chase Briscoe
Chase Briscoe is coming off his best season yet in the Cup Series, unsurprisingly, as 2025 was his first year with the powerhouse Joe Gibbs Racing team. Briscoe had his first multi-win season in 2025 and nearly doubled his previous high in top-10s. Briscoe would’ve finished third in the standings last season under this format, so I’m potentially underrating him at ninth place.

10. Chris Buescher
Chris Buescher could be the driver who benefits the most from the loss of the “win-and-you’re-in” playoff format. Buescher, who missed the playoffs the last two seasons, would’ve finished in the top-12 the last two seasons under this format. He would’ve been 12th last season and 11th the previous season. He probably does need to contend for more wins, though, to have a championship shot.

11. Bubba Wallace
Bubba Wallace and his No. 23 23XI Toyota team have to figure out ways to cut down on the number of did-not-finish results in 2026 if they want to make the Chase for the Championship. Wallace’s nine DNFs last season were second to only Cody Ware’s 11 in the Cup Series. He would’ve finished 11th in points last year under this format. Imagine how much higher that could’ve been had he had half as many DNFs.

12. Ross Chastain
Ross Chastain needs to figure out a way to win more races to truly have a championship shot. He’s only won one race in each of the last two seasons. Under this format, he would’ve placed 10th in the standings last season, and only 14th the season before that.

13. Alex Bowman
Alex Bowman is another driver who probably doesn’t win enough races to truly contend for a championship. He’s only won two races in the last four seasons, but with his good Hendrick Motorsports equipment, he should accumulate enough points to at least make the Chase portion of the season. He would’ve finished 14th in points last season under this format.

14. Brad Keselowski
Brad Keselowski would not have qualified for the Chase for the Championship last season under this format. But he does strike me as the kind of driver who would be good at accumulating points over a season-long format. He doesn’t win much anymore, only once in the last four seasons, but I’ll give him one of the final spots in the Chase.

15. Kyle Busch
Some NASCAR fans think Kyle Busch is washed. I’m not one of them. I just don’t think Richard Childress Racing is good enough to do much with. Busch hasn’t won a race in the last two seasons, which must be miserable for a competitor of his status. Maybe I’m being nostalgic, because he would not have made the Chase in either of the last two seasons, but I’ll put him in the top-16 this season. 

16. Ty Gibbs
​Ty Gibbs was the last driver into the NASCAR playoffs last season – making it in on points. He would not have made it had they been under the current season. He’s frankly been the biggest disappointment in NASCAR since he entered the Cup Series, having been such a success in the Xfinity (now O’Reilly Auto Parts) Series and driving in the sport’s best equipment for Joe Gibbs Racing. It’s time for Gibbs to show he belongs. He may not lose his ride because of Grandpop owning it, but if he had any other last name, he would be done.

​It has never been easier to watch the Olympics than in today’s modern world.

That’s a fact.

There was a time when you only got to see whatever Olympic events NBC (and ABC before it) deemed important enough to show in primetime, almost always time- and tape-delayed due to differing time zones around the globe.

Today, you can watch any and every Olympic event, either live or replay, on Peacock. And, for those who don’t want to pay the $10.99/month subscription fee, you may still have access to multiple events – both live and tape-delayed across the NBC family of networks, which include USA Network and CNBC.

But in some ways, it has never been more of a bitch to watch the Olympics than it today’s modern world. Yes, I have access to every event via Peacock and what I’ve DVR’d via YouTube TV. But I also have a full-time job and need a normal amount of sleep, so I have a small window of time to fit as many Olympic events in as possible.

People have always had full-time jobs and a need for sleep throughout the history of televised Olympic events. So, what’s the big deal?

The Internet. And, more so, social media.

It’s the job of journalists to relay news, which includes the results of sporting events. And journalists have always done this, but it used to be done through newspapers and the nightly news, which were either out the next day or could be easily avoided.

I can easily avoid news and sports websites like ESPN. No problem! But I still find myself constantly spoiled by the results of Olympic events, and the reason is social media sites like Facebook and Threads.

Of all of the things that can be spoiled, the worst are sporting events, because the whole point of watching a sporting event is to find out who won, or, in the case of the Olympics, who placed in the medals.

Yes, we choose what to follow on social media. And, back when that was the only way you saw anything on social media, you could easily unfollow or mute pages or profiles that might spoil you. But now the algorithm is key to social media. Social media no longer gives you what you have asked to see; it gives you what it believes you want to see. And, if you are a sports fan, or have an interest in the Olympics – based on prior usage or posts – it’ll show you sports and Olympic content. Thus, there is literally no way to use social media – or at least from what I know about it – without being spoiled during the Olympic Games. The only way to completely avoid being spoiled would be to go on a social media fast for the duration of the Games, which might honestly do us all a bit of good (social media is a societal cancer, after all), but how many of us are capable of breaking the habit of scrolling or opening our apps during moments of boredom throughout the day. I don’t want to be spoiled but still find myself struggling to avoid using social media.

I fully realize this is the biggest “first-world problem,” but it’s proven to be a major issue for my enjoyment of the Olympics over the past few Winter and Summer games. I wonder how many others experience this.     

Super Bowl LX on Sunday, February 8 will see the AFC champion New England Patriots play the NFC Champion Seattle Seahawks at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.
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The big game will be a rematch of Super Bowl XLIX from 2015, which the Patriots one on game-saving interception by defensive back Malcolm Butler on a goal-line stand, which many thought should’ve been a run play instead of a pass. That game was ranked as eight greatest NFL game ever (and third highest Super Bowl) on NFL.com’s list of the 100 Greatest Games.

The Seahawks are 16-3 this season (including the playoffs) and the Patriots are 17-3, so on paper it might be an evenly matched Super Bowl. Let’s figure out which team has the advantages where…

Quarterback: Sam Darnold (Seahawks) vs. Drake Maye (Patriots)
Darnold: 4,048 yards (5th), 25 TD (9th), 14 INT (34th), 55.7 (19th)
Maye: 4,394 (4th), 31 (3rd), 8 (17th), 77.1 (1st)

Drake Maye is one of the NFL’s five MVP finalists, so you know he had a great season. He was fourth in the league in passing yards with nearly 4,400, he was third in the league with 31 touchdown passes and first in the league with a quarterback ratings of 77.1. The only knocks against Maye are that he’s young, he’s only in his second season, and it’s his first playoffs, let along Super Bowl appearance, and his play in the postseason hasn’t been what it was in the regular season. Maye has fumbled the ball six times in three postseason games and thrown two interceptions (he only had eight all regular season). Those knocks could prove huge in the Super Bowl.

Sam Darnold wasn’t as good as Maye in the regular season. He threw for fewer yards (though not many), threw six fewer touchdown passes, threw six more interceptions and his QBR was quite a bit worse, at only 19th best in the league. At 28, Darnold is more of a veteran, having been in the league for eight seasons, albeit only the last two at an above-average level. He’s been better than Maye this postseason, having zero turnovers and four touchdown passes in one fewer game (as the Seahawks had a Wild Card round bye). 

It’s hard to pick which team has the edge here, as Maye might well be named league MVP (probably not) by the team this game is played. But I don’t like what I’ve seen from Maye this postseason and turnovers can be killer in the Super Bowl, especially with the Seahawks averaging 36 points per game this postseason. I have to trust what my eyes have seen lately, not the complete season’s body of work. I’m giving the edge to the Seahawks here.

Advantage: Seahawks

Running Back: Kenneth Walker III (Seahawks) vs. TreVeyon Henderson & Rhamondre Stevenson (Patriots)

Walker III: 1,027 yards (16th), 5 rush touchdowns
Henderson: 911 yards (21st), 9 rush touchdowns
Stevenson: 603 yards, 7 rush touchdowns

Both the Seahawks and Patriots used tandem running corps this season, but the Seahawks lost half of their combo when Zach Charbonnet went down with a season-ending knee injury in the divisional round of the playoffs against the San Francisco 49ers. Charbonnet led the team during the regular season with 12 touchdowns. Walker has stepped up in a massive way without Charbonnet, with 116 rushing yards on 19 carries and three touchdowns against the 49ers and then 111 yards on 23 touches and a touchdown in the NFC  title game against the Los Angeles Rams. Henderson, a rookie, was the Pats' leading rusher during the regular season, but Stevenson has had the bulk of the carries in the postseason. Stevenson has 194 rushing yards on 51 carries during the Patriots' three playoff games, compared to just 57 yards on 24 carries for Henderson. The Pats have had a great defense this postseason, but Walker has looked mighty good over his two games.

Advantage: Seahawks

Wide Receivers & Tight End: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp, Rashid Shaheed and A.J. Barner (Seahawks) vs. Stefon Diggs, Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins, DeMario Douglas, Hunter Henry & Austin Hooper (Patriots)

Smith-Njigba:1,793 yards (1st), 10 touchdowns (6th), 119 receptions (4th)
Kupp: 593 yards, 2 touchdowns, 47 receptions
Diggs: 1,013 yards (16th), 4 touchdowns, 85 receptions (12th)
Boutte: 551 yards, 6 touchdowns, 33 receptions

The Patriots have more receivers capable of doing big things in the Super Bowl, with four receivers with at least 400 receiving yards during the regular season, compared to just two for the Seahawks. The Pats also had two tight ends combine for 81 catches, more than 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns in Henry and Hooper. It’s pretty much just Smith-Njigba, Kupp and Barner for Sam Darnold in the passing game. However, Smith-Njigba was arguably the best receiver in the game this season, and Kupp has extensive playoff experience and was the Rams' No. 1 receiving option when they won Super Bowl LVI four years ago, a game in which Kupp was the MVP. It might be one of those situations where more options for Drake Maye prove to be big in the Super Bowl, but I’ve got to go with the best receiver and a proven playoff receiver in Smith-Njigba and Kupp.

Advantage: Seahawks

Defense:
The Patriots and Seahawks were the two best defenses in the league this season, with the lowest points allowed per game to opponents. The Seahawks allowed 17.1 ppg to opponents, and the Pats allowed 17.3, so the teams were basically even in that regard. The Seahawks allowed the fewest yards per play to opponents this season at 4.6 per play. The Pats allowed 5.2 yards per play – again fairly even. The Patriots' defense during the postseason has been the best of the two. The Pats defense is the only reason they’ve made it this far, with how poorly the offense has played at times. The Patriots have allowed 209.7 yards per game through their first three playoff games. The Seahawks have allowed 357.5 over their two games. The Patriots have 12 sacks this postseason, whereas the Seahawks have 3 in one fewer game. What the Seahawks have excelled at defensively in the postseason is in turnovers, where they have a postseason-leading 4-plus differential, despite one fewer game than the Pats and other playoff teams. Both teams are very close when it comes to advantage on defense, so I’m going to go with the more impressive D over the postseason, and that has been New England’s.

Advantage: Patriots

Kickers: Jason Meyers (Seahawks) vs. Andy Borregales (Patriots)
We’ve seen in the past Super Bowls come down to a kicker making a field goal as time expires – the Patriots are no strangers to winning Super Bowls in that fashion. But can you trust a rookie kicker in such a situation? That might be where the Patriots find themselves with rookie kicker Andy Borregales, who missed two field goals during the AFC championship game against the Denver Broncos, though the weather was atrocious in the second half of that game. Borregales was 27-for-32 (84.5%) on field goals during the regular season and is 4-for-6 in the postseason. Seahawks kicker Jason Meyers, a veteran who has been with the team since 2019 and in the league since 2015, was 41-for-48 (85.4%) on field goals this season. Meyers’ 171 total points were the most in the league this season and are the most in league history for a player without a touchdown. I’ve got to go with the vet here.

Advantage: Seahawks

Coaching: Mike Macdonald (Seahawks) vs. Mike Vrabel (Patriots)
Both of these coaches are making their Super Bowl debuts as NFL head coaches, but Mike Vrabel had plenty of playing time in four Super Bowls with the Patriots, winning three of them. I wouldn’t expect any big game jitters from Vrabel, who was just honored as NFL Coach of the Year on Thursday (February 5). It’s amazing what Vrabel has done in his first year as coach of the Patriots, leading them to a 14-3 record and the Super Bowl after the team had gone 4-13 in each of the previous two seasons. At 38, Mike Macdonald is one of the youngest coaches in the NFL. It’s his second year as Seahawks head coach, and he’s done a remarkable job leading the Seahawks to a 24-10 combined record (26-10 if you include the postseason) during that tenure. I have to give Vrabel the edge here simply because he knows how Super Bowls go, and he has more overall coaching experience, which might come in handy in a tight game.

Advantage: Patriots

Prediction: Seattle Seahawks win Super Bowl LX

Why: This could be a truly close game, and the winner could come down to which team makes the bigger plays in key moments. I have the Seahawks with the offensive advantage, the Patriots with the defensive advantage (albeit just slightly) and the coaching advantage. But the Patriots' turnovers throughout the postseason, and the difference in Drake Maye’s play in the postseason compared to the regular season (he lost the MVP by one vote to Rams QB Matthew Stafford), have me concerned the Patriots might not be ready to regain the throne.  

Lindsey Vonn (Alpine Skier)
Lindsey Vonn qualified for her fifth and final Winter Olympics after returning from multiple retirements that spanned nearly five years and a successful partial knee replacement in 2024. The 41-year-old alpine skier, who won the gold medal in the Downhill event at the 2010 Vancouver Games and two bronze medals (2010 in Super-G and 2018 in Downhill), is targeting the Downhill and Super-G events in Italy. The Downhill event is scheduled for Sunday, February 8 and the Super-G event is scheduled for Thursday, February 12. It’s possible Vonn could also compete in the team combined event, which means she might compete with the next athlete on this list. If she does, that event will be on Tuesday, February 10.

*Lindsey Vonn injured herself in a pre-Olympic training session. Among her injuries is a ruptured ACL in her left knee. She is still going to attempt her Olympic events.  

Mikaela Shiffrin (Alpine Skier)
Mikaela Shiffrin has had a hit-and-miss relationship with the Winter Olympics. Her highlights include becoming the youngest gold medalist in the Slalom event at 18 years old during the 2014 Sochi Games. She also took gold in the Giant Slalom at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games. One of the biggest stories of the 2022 Beijing Games was her failure to finish in both the Slalom and Giant Slalom events. The 30-year-old looks to rebound at Cortina d’Ampezzo in the Slalom (Wednesday, February 18) and Giant Slalom (Sunday, February 15) and could potentially team up with Lindsey Vonn in the team combined event.  

Chloe Kim (Snowboarder)
There was perhaps no bigger American Winter Olympics star at the 2022 Beijing Games than snowboarder Chloe Kim, who won a gold medal in the snowboarding halfpipe event to defend the gold she won at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games. The 25-year-old comes to Italy looking to make it a three-peat in the event, though she is recovering from a shoulder dislocation in early January. The women’s halfpipe event will be on Thursday, February 12.

Ilia Malinin (Figure Skater)
American figure skater Ilia Malinin, known as the “Quad God” for being the only person to have ever landed a fully rotated quadruple axel in competition (once thought impossible), is the favorite to win the gold medal in men’s figure skating. Malinin, who has won the last four U.S. National Championships, will compete in his first Winter Olympics in Italy. Malinin is looking to make it two Winter Games in a row for an American to win the gold, following Nathan Chen’s victory in Beijing. It would be the first time Americans have won gold in back-to-back games since Scott Hamilton (1984 Sarajevo) and Brian Boitano (1988 Calgary).  

Amber Glenn & Alysa Liu (Figure Skater)
The Americans have two women's figure skaters with a chance of winning gold in Italy: Amber Glenn and Alysa Liu. Glenn is the first skater to win three consecutive U.S. national titles in more than 20 years, at will become the first openly queer figure skater in U.S. team history. At 26, Glenn is also the oldest American figure skater to qualify for the Olympics in nearly 100 years. Alysa Liu was the 2025 World Champion and has finished second in the last two U.S. Championships to Glenn. The 20-year-old makes her Olympic debut in Italy, and the competition between Glenn and Liu should be one of the most fun intra-American duels of the Games.

Erin Jackson (Speedskater)
Speedskater Erin Jackson made Team USA history at the 2022 Beijing Games when she became the first African American woman to win a gold medal in an individual Winter Olympic event when she won the 500-meter speedskating event. Jackson looks to defend her title in Italy on Sunday, February 15. She will also compete in the 1000-meter event on Monday, February 9.

Kaillie Humphries (Bobsledder)
Kaillie Humphries, one of the greatest women’s bobsledders in Winter Olympics history, returns for her fifth Winter Games. The 41-year-old has won three gold medals, two in the two-woman race at the 2010 Vancouver Games and 2014 Sochi Games, while representing her home country of Canada, and the first-ever monobob event at the 2022 Beijing Games, representing Team USA. Humphries aims to defend her monobob gold at Cortina d’Ampezzo (Monday, February 16) and will join Jasmine Jones in the two-woman event (Saturday, February 21).

Jessie Diggins (Cross-Country Skier)
The 2026 Winter Games will be the fourth for American Cross-Country Skier Jessie Diggins, who won a gold medal at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games in the team sprint event, a silver medal at the 2022 Beijing Games in the 30 km mass start event and a bronze medal in Beijing in the sprint. Diggins, who has announced this will be her final Olympics, is expected to compete in all six women’s cross-country skiing events in Italy and is a potential medal contender in the 10 km freestyle (Thursday, February 12) and skiathlon (Saturday, February 7).

Connor Hellebuyck & Auston Matthews (Hockey)
The United States men’s hockey team may not be the favorites to take gold at the 2026 Games, but it does feature a talented squad filled with National Hockey League (NHL) stars, including the league’s most recent M.V.P. in Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck and Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews, who was the league’s M.V.P. in 2022. Hellebuyck and Matthews look to lead Team USA to its first ice hockey gold medal since the 1980 Miracle on Ice squad. Team USA hasn’t medaled since winning silver at the 2010 Vancouver Games. The men’s Olympic ice hockey tournament begins on Wednesday, February 11, and the gold medal game will take place on Sunday, February 22.

Hilary Knight (Hockey)
The U.S. women’s hockey team has had more success than its male counterparts since the women’s game was added to the Winter Olympics in 1998. Team USA has taken gold twice, most recently at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, and has medaled in all seven games. Hilary Knight was on that 2018 gold-medal-winning team and, at age 36, returns to the Olympics for her fifth time, her first as captain. Knight has 12 goals in 22 career Olympic games and is looking to add a second gold medal to go along with her three silver medals. The women’s Olympic ice hockey tournament begins Thursday, February 5, and the gold medal game will take place on Thursday, February 19.

Julian Spivey: You know the divisional round game between the Denver Broncos and Buffalo Bills was mostly a great game - but the ending left a sour taste in my mouth for a couple of reasons 1) it felt like the officials involved themselves too much with pass interference calls and 2) it feels like a hollow win for the Broncos because even though they’re going to the AFC Championship game, they lose their QB Bo Nix to a broken bone in his ankle and it feels like their Super Bowl hopes go out the window. How did you come away feeling about that game?

Eric Fulton: You hate to see a really good game, especially in the playoffs, when it is decided by the officials, and for the Buffalo Bills and their fans, they have seen way too much heartbreak in the postseason, and now you can add today's game to that list. On the Denver side, you have to feel awful for Bo Nix. What looked like a harmless play probably cost them a trip to the Super Bowl, depending on who their opponent in the AFC Championship will be, but you also feel heartbroken for Nix.

JS: So, the second divisional game on Saturday between the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers was so unwatchable that I gave up on it before the first quarter was over. The Seahawks trounced San Francisco 41-6. Was San Fran just too injured to compete, or was Seattle just this good either way?

EF: I could say that both of these things are true. The 49ers had a great season despite all the injuries. But I feel right now, as we get closer to the Super Bowl, the Seattle Seahawks are the best team remaining in these playoffs.

JS: The New England Patriots are heading to the AFC championship game against the Denver Broncos after defeating the Houston Texans 28-16 in an ugly, turnover-filled game. Texans quarterback CJ Stroud threw four interceptions and was sacked three times. Have you ever seen a worse playoff performance?

EF: CJ Stroud's performance was not great at all. I thought he would develop into a great quarterback when he was drafted first overall. But the one thing I keep thinking about is when you look at the development at a place like Ohio State, they have had great players come through that program. However, they have never developed a great quarterback. Most of them have been busts. I am not saying Stroud will finish his career as a bust, but he knows, and we all know he has to be much better than that performance against the Patriots.

JS: The divisional round began with an OT thriller with the Broncos defeating the Bills and ended with an OT thriller with the Los Angeles Rams defeating the Chicago Bears, after Bears quarterback Caleb Williams made a miraculous play to get the Bears to OT. Did Rams/Bears wind up being the game of the weekend?

EF: To me, this was the best game of the weekend because these two teams are very good. It lived up to expectations. The Bears are for real and should be able to get better under Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams. The Rams are scary good, and they will give Seattle everything they can handle next week.

JS: At least we should have one good championship game with the inner-division rivals Seahawks and Rams, because with Bo Nix's injury, the AFC title game feels like it could be a cake walk for the Patriots.

EF: I would not say it will be a cake walk for the Patriots against the Broncos. Drake Maye has to play much better than he did against the Texans. I know he was not the worst quarterback the whole weekend. But going to Denver and that tough environment will not be easy for Maye.

JS: Which player was your MVP for the Divisional Round?

EF: MVP for the Divisional round for me is Kenneth Walker III. He had 22 touches for 145 total yards and three touchdowns. He wasn't used much during the regular season, but he was huge in the Seahawks' blowout win.

JS: The AFC Championship Game on Sunday, January 25, has the New England Patriots traveling to Denver to take on the Broncos. That game will air on CBS and Paramount+ at 2 p.m. (CST). How do you see this one playing out, Eric?

EF: I don't know if we have seen a possible disappointment matchup in a conference title game than this one. The only reason I would say that is that Bo Nix will not be available to play this game. This should be a low-scoring game for sure, as both defenses are very good. If the Broncos can pull off this win with a backup quarterback who really hasn't had a major moment, it would be one of the biggest upsets in NFL history. But I am taking the Patriots to win and go to the Super Bowl.

JS: Yeah, this could've been a really fun matchup if it hadn't been for the ankle injury to Nix. As it is, it's a game I don't have much interest in. I think it's just too much to ask of Jarrett Stidham to come in and send the team to the Super Bowl. Pats for the win.

The NFC Championship game will feature the Los Angeles Rams traveling to Seattle to face the Seahawks. That game will be on Fox at 5:30 p.m. (CST. These teams played each other twice this season as NFC West rivals, and they split the series 1-1 in two games that were about as close as games can be. The Rams won 21-19 in mid-November, and the Seahawks won in overtime 38-37 in mid-December. How do you see the third matchup playing out?

EF: I believe that this game will probably be better than the Super Bowl, as these two teams are very good. I like both teams, but there is something about Seattle that plays really well, especially at home. This is the hardest game of all of the playoff matchups to pick. I am going with the home team and the home field advantage they have in Seattle.

JS: This is such a hard game for me to predict because of how even the two games between these teams were during the season. Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay have been here before, though, whereas Sam Darnold and Mike Macdonald have not. That might mean something. I'll take the Rams to make things interesting.

Tonight, the Indiana Hoosiers and Miami Hurricanes will battle it out to see who will become the National Champion of the 2025 college football season. Both programs are very different when it comes to college football power. Miami was once the king of college football in the 1980s and early ‘90s. They had one of the best college football teams of all time in 2001. But in the past 20-plus years, Miami has not been anywhere close to becoming the championship contender it once was. Now, the Hurricanes have the opportunity to return to the top of the college football world. 
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On the other side, Indiana is looking to finish perhaps the greatest season in the history of college football. The Hoosiers are looking to finish a perfect 16-0. The last time any football team finished 16-0 was Yale in 1894.  Historically, Indiana has not been a good college football program. In fact, for many years in the ‘90s and 2000s, they were among the worst programs in the country. Now with NIL (Name, Image and Likeness), Indiana is proving that any team can win a national championship. 

Both teams will be led by veteran college quarterbacks. For Miami, Carson Beck has played on the National Championship stage before. Prior to his arrival in Miami, he was a part of two national championship teams with the Georgia Bulldogs. With his big-game experience, Beck will help his teammates play well. Indiana counters with the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza. Mendoza began his college career at the University of California, Berkeley. Unlike Beck, Mendoza did not play for championships at Cal, but he did have the opportunity to be part of a winning program at Indiana. If the Hoosiers win this game, Mendoza will complete the greatest season by a quarterback in college football history, and he would do it at an unlikely place, Indiana. 

In my opinion, the biggest key to the game will be defense. Miami played great defense in the first two playoff rounds, but against Ole Miss, it had opportunities to ice the game early and did not capitalize. Ole Miss came back and nearly won the game until Beck’s game-winning touchdown in the final seconds put the Hurricanes on top for good. Meanwhile, Indiana has been dominating in their two playoff games. Neither of the Hoosiers' games was really close, but this could be a low-scoring affair for both teams. This should be exciting as both defenses have the potential to make big plays. 

Another key is who can coach a better game. For Mario Cristobal, he won national championships as a player at Miami and now as a coach would be the ultimate dream for him. Curt Cignetti, on the other hand, is looking at history. The fast meteoric rise of Cignetti has been outstanding. He won many games at James Madison University in Virginia. Now, he has quickly become one of college football’s most fascinating and winning head coaches. Both of these coaches will be aggressive and will like to help their teams make big plays. The key is who will have a better game plan and who will make a difference. To me, this coaching matchup is going to be amazing. 

I think Indiana will win this game because of the better quarterback and better defense. But I think with the national championship game being in Miami’s home stadium, that will give the Hurricanes a shot at playing well in front of their crowd. It should be an exciting game to end a wonderful college football season. 

Julian Spivey: It was a wild NFL Wild Card weekend, at least for the first four games. Which game do you think was the best?

Eric Fulton: The first four games, you could make a case for all of them, but I will go with the Bears beating the Packers in that 4th quarter comeback. It was just epic by Chicago. The Packers did nothing in the second half, and it ultimately led to their elimination.

JS: Rams/Panthers was certainly the most surprising game of the weekend for me, as I thought the Rams would blow the Panthers out of the water, and it ended up going down to the wire. But I have to agree that the Packers/Bears game was the most exciting of the weekend, with the Bears staging an epic comeback led by quarterback Caleb Williams in his first playoff game, scoring 25 points in the fourth quarter to do it. But one thing I'm still pondering is whether that really was an epic comeback or more so a Packers choke, or can both things be true?

EF: I would say both can be true. We know Micah Parsons did not play for Green Bay, but I thought the Packer defense could make plays in the second half against a quarterback making his first playoff start. But give the Bears credit for holding on and coming back in the second half.

JS: Which player do you think was the M.V.P. of the Wild Card round?

EF: Josh Allen. The way he led his team to victory. He was injured a couple of times, but it is no wonder he is so valuable to the Buffalo Bills team.

JS: Josh Allen is certainly the reason the Bills won the game, and it was a tough-as-nails performance for him. I'm going to go with Caleb Williams leading the Bears back in the second half, mostly the fourth quarter, after the team did nothing in the first half. Williams ended up with a weekend high 361 passing yards in his playoff debut with two touchdown passes. He did throw two interceptions, though, which he'll need to cut down on next weekend.

The last thing I really want to talk about from the Wild Card week is something we briefly brought up in our preview before the weekend. Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert. Can we officially stop with the "elite QB" stuff when it comes to that guy?

EF: He still has some work to do in order to become elite. What didn't help him was not having a healthy offensive line for much of the season. Also, I feel as though he needs more receivers and a good running game. He has the coach in Jim Harbaugh, but now Herbert has to improve his game.

JS: Alright, that leads us to the second round of the NFL Playoffs, the Divisional Round. The first game will be on Saturday, January 17 at 3:30 p.m. (CST) on CBS, featuring the Buffalo Bills, hot off their exciting upset of the Jacksonville Jaguars, heading to Mile High Stadium to take on the No. 1 seed Denver Broncos. Does the Broncos' storybook season end here?

EF: This is a tough game for Denver. Yes, they are at home, but they have lost playoff games as the number one seed. The Bills beat them last year in the Wild Card Round. Has Denver learned a lot from the game a year ago? We shall see. I will say the Broncos will win, but I will not be surprised if the Bills do.

JS: I haven't had the luxury of seeing the Broncos play much this season, so even though they're the number one seed, I don't know a whole lot about the team. I also know the playoffs this season feel wide open, like any team remaining has a real shot at the Super Bowl. I might be placing too much on the back of Josh Allen here, but I'm going to go out on a limb and predict the Bills will upset the Broncos.

What would it take for that to happen?

EF: Josh Allen needs to continue to play well, but it would be nice to see James Cook have a really nice game.

JS: The Bills have relied on the run game for their success this season. The Broncos, however, have had one of the best run defenses all season, allowing around 91 rushing yards per game.

The second playoff game on Saturday is an intra-division rivalry between the San Francisco 49ers and the NFC No. 1 seed, the Seattle Seahawks. The 49ers knocked off the reigning champion Philadelphia Eagles, despite more devastating injuries. They have now lost their great tight end George Kittle to a torn ACL. The two teams split the season matchup. Are all these injuries for San Fran finally going to catch up with them against Seattle?

EF: I was extremely impressed with San Francisco on Sunday. To go to Philadelphia, set the tone early, and then come back to win it without a few key players is outstanding. Plus, what's good for the 49ers is that they just faced the Seahawks two weeks ago. So, they will tweak some things. I think the game will be closer than the week 18 matchup. But I am going with the Seahawks to win this one.

JS: The sad thing is, this season feels like it's going to end for the 49ers with the team and definitely the fan base saying, "What if we were healthy?"

EF: If they were a completely healthy team, they would be the team to beat in the NFC, in my opinion. But the fact that they are in the second round of the playoffs is remarkable.

JS: I'm still scratching my head at what happened with Sam Darnold to turn him around from a draft bust with the New York Jets and then the Carolina Panthers to a guy who has thrown for more than 4,000 yards each of the past two seasons.

EF: Getting out of the New York Jets organization was the best thing to happen to Sam Darnold. For him, he needed to go to a great organization and thrive, and Seattle is a great place to do that.

JS: I'm going to take the Seahawks here, too. I feel like the 49ers' injuries have to catch up to them at some point. I like the connection between Darnold and his receivers, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp, and I just mostly don't see both No. 1 seeds going down together on Saturday, and I've already predicted against one of them.

The first Sunday game has the Houston Texans going to the northeast to play the New England Patriots. That game will be on ESPN/ABC at 2 p.m. (CST). How do you see this one playing out?

EF: This will be a defensive game. Both teams have excellent defenses. It is ironic that these two teams won the non-competitive games of Wild Card weekend. I think it will come down to who plays better at quarterback. Drake Maye is playing the position better than C.J. Stroud. The divisional round is the kryptonite of the Texans. I am going with New England to win this game.

JS: This is the divisional round game I find myself the least interested in. Not really wanting a stellar defensive game at this point in the season, but maybe that's just me. I think the Pats holding the Chargers offense down is slightly more impressive than the Texans dominating the Steelers offense led by cantankerous father time Aaron Rodgers, so I'll agree with your Patriots selection for this week.

The final game of the divisional round sees the Los Angeles Rams, who were a bit lucky to escape the losing-record Carolina Panthers last weekend, traveling to Chicago to face the Bears. It's one of those things where maybe the Rams have shaken off all the dust from almost being embarrassed and will take control, or do you think Caleb Williams' heroic performances in the second half of the Bears/Packers game was all he needed to get rolling?

This game will be on NBC & Peacock on Sunday, January 18 @ 5:30 p.m. (CST).

EF: This game is hard to pick because I really like both teams, and I do believe the winner of this game could win the Super Bowl if everything goes well. Of course, the winner will also have to play a great opponent in the NFC championship game. The weather will play a role as it will be cold. Man, I do like the Rams as a team, but I feel like the Bears are playing like a team of destiny. So, I will go with the home team, but I don't feel confident in the pick only because the Rams are good.

JS: It’s the game I’m most looking forward to watching this weekend for sure. It is hard to pick. Both teams look bad at times in the Wild Card round and also seemed to be able to score at will at times. One of my biggest concerns will always be a young QB in their first postseason, as the Bears have with Caleb Williams. On the other sideline, the Rams have the most veteran QB in the postseason and a Super Bowl winner in Matthew Stafford. I think the veteran presence at QB is leaning me toward predicting a W for L.A.

Julian Spivey: The NFL Playoffs kick off this weekend with the Wild Card round. The Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks get the week off as the number-one seeds in their respective conferences.

The first game of Wild Card weekend sees the Los Angeles Rams (12-5) travel across the country to play the NFC South champion Carolina Panthers (8-9), which won the division despite a losing record. This game will be on Saturday, January 10, at 3:30 pm (CST) on Fox. Despite being the home team, do the Panthers have any chance at all?

Eric Fulton: It’s good to see new teams like the Panthers make the playoffs. Quarterback Bryce Young will make his playoff debut, and I am interested to see what he will do. But he will have to beat a Rams team that believed they should have been the one seed. I just think Los Angeles is the better team in this matchup with Matthew Stafford at quarterback. Will receiver Davante Adams return from his injury? That will be the biggest story leading up to this game. I think Carolina will keep it close for a bit, but the Rams will pull away late.

JS: I’m still flabbergasted at how the Tampa Bay Buccaneers managed to blow a 6-2 start to the season. The Rams should take this one rather easily, I would think. The Panthers should not be a playoff team.
The second game on Saturday sees one of the greatest rivalries in the NFL - if not the greatest - with the Green Bay Packers (9-7) heading south to take on the NFC North champion Chicago Bears (11-6). This has game-of-the-week potential. It airs on Amazon Prime Video, which I know is unfortunate for some of my older relatives who are Bears fans, at 7 p.m. (CST). How do you see it playing out?

EF: It’s always exciting when two rivals meet, especially in the playoffs when both teams' seasons are on the line. The Packers and Bears split the two games, with each team winning at home. The last time they met, Chicago came back from a 16-point deficit to win in overtime. Bears coach Ben Johnson is one of the top candidates for NFL Coach of the Year, and I am intrigued by what he has in store for the Packer defense. Bears quarterback Caleb Williams is playing his first playoff game. Will he lead the Bears to their first playoff win since 2011? Green Bay does like being the underdog. They were the seven-seed two years ago. They blew out the Dallas Cowboys. And almost beat the San Francisco 49ers to make the NFC championship game. Not having the injured Micah Parsons on defense for the Packers is huge, but I do expect Green Bay to play hard in this emotional rivalry game. Just based on experience, I am taking the Packers to win.

JS: I have a bad feeling about this one for the Bears. I caught the end of that comeback win against the Packers and felt like it took both Packers quarterback Jordan Love being concussed and a miracle onside kick to win it. I also worry about Williams’ first playoff game. I’m going to agree with you on the Packers winning this game.

The first Sunday game sees the Buffalo Bills (12-5) heading down south to Jacksonville to take on the AFC South champion Jaguars (13-4). This game will air on CBS at Noon (CST).  Does this feel like the Bills' last chance of this current team to do something in the postseason?

EF: Yes, it does. If the Bills do not win this game on Sunday, I would fully expect major changes to happen within the organization. Buffalo does not have a wide receiver you can trust, and their defense has not been great all year. Jacksonville is clearly the better team, and I believe they will win this game.

JS: I didn’t see the Jags' 13-4 season coming. Honestly, I didn’t see a Jags game all season. That may play a big role in why I think the Bills are going to pull this game out. I can’t say it’s more than just a hunch. But quarterback Josh Allen must show up big in this game for Buffalo. He has to show the skill that has him as the reigning MVP.

The second Sunday game sees the San Francisco 49ers (12-5) traveling across the country to take on the NFC East Champion and reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles (11-6). This game will be on Fox at 3:30 pm (CST). This is the game of the Wild Card weekend to me … and I kinda hate it. I think both teams are good enough to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, and one of them will be eliminated immediately. Which team will that be, Eric?

EF: This is the hardest game out of all of them to pick because both teams are capable of making a run toward the Super Bowl. The 49ers are dealing with a ton of injuries in key positions. No Fred Warner or Nick Bosa on defense. Receiver Ricky Pearsall is a game-time decision. And some of their biggest stars who’ll probably play aren’t completely healthy, like offensive tackle Trent Williams, who they missed dearly in week 18, and tight end George Kittle missed the Chicago game in Week 17. But the issue with the Eagles all season has been their inconsistent offensive play. Plus, it was a surprise move for their starters not to play in Week 18 because had they won with the Bears' loss, they would have had the two seed in the NFC. This will be a low-scoring defensive game. I am going with the Eagles because they have a slightly healthier team on both sides of the ball. But if Philly loses this game, Nick Sirianni is in big trouble.

JS: It's wild to think Sirianni could be in danger of losing his job less than a year after a dominant Super Bowl victory. I'm leaning toward Philly in this matchup, too, probably mostly because of running back Saquon Barkley and the 49ers being without key defenders in Bosa and Warner.

The third and final Sunday game sees the Los Angeles Chargers (11-6) go across the country to face the AFC East champion New England Patriots (14-3), one of the season's pleasant surprises. This game is on NBC and Peacock at 7 p.m. (CST). Chargers QB Justin Herbert has a bad track record when it comes to the postseason, plus a warm-weather team going to play in a colder climate often doesn't turn out well. Is this one going to be easy for the Pats?

EF: No, I don't think it will be easy for the Patriots. You do have quarterback Drake Maye making his first playoff start. I think the Chargers are pretty good at playing the underdog role. One flaw L.A. has is that they are banged up on the offensive line, with their two stars, Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt, unavailable. Does Herbert need a playoff win at some point to solidify himself as one of the top QBs in the NFL? Yes, but I believe in the Patriots and what they are doing in the post-Bill Belichick/Tom Brady era. I am going with New England to win.

JS: This may be the moment Herbert steps up and leads the Chargers to a playoff win, but I've got to roll with the team that has been better all season, and that's the Patriots. Maye may end up having first-playoff-game jitters that hurt the Pats, but I'm still taking them.

There is a Monday Night Football game in the Wild Card round of the NFL Playoffs, and in my opinion, that's the least interesting game of the week. It sees the Houston Texans (12-5) travel to Pittsburgh to take on the NFC North champion Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7). This game will air on ESPN and ABC at 7:15 p.m. Am I wrong in viewing this as the worst game of the Wild Card round?

EF: I don't think it will be the worst wild-card game. If you like high-scoring football, this game won't be it, but I think it will be a good game. The game features two pretty good defenses, though Houston's defense has been among the top all season. They are going to pressure Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers all night long, and I will say the Texans will win the game late based on their great defense.

JS: Pittsburgh will get its offensive weapon back in receiver DK Metcalf, who was suspended for the final two games of the regular season for an in-game altercation with a fan, but Pittsburgh just doesn't seem like a postseason team to me. They took advantage of a weak division and backed their way in. I don't really have faith that Houston will go far in the playoffs, but I'll give them this win.

EF: Houston does have a defense to get to a Super Bowl, but their offense is still a huge question mark.

Indiana. Oregon. Ole Miss. Miami. These are the final four teams left in the 2025 College Football Playoff. One of these programs will win a game-changing national championship. Only one team (Indiana) won its conference championship game (Big Ten), but even though the other three teams did not win their conference championships, they are all capable of winning the national championship. We have two exciting semifinal games coming up, but let’s quickly recap the quarterfinals.
​
In the quarterfinal round, I was 2-2. I did not pick Ole Miss or Miami to win. But both the Hurricanes and Rebels really showed everyone how good they can be. I do wish that the college football playoff could be reseeded after every round. Because it will be heartbreaking to see one of these teams, either Miami or Ole Miss fall one game short of the national title game. I think both earned major credit for reaching this point in the season, but it will be a major heartbreak for one of them by the end of Thursday night. 
 
Vrbo Fiesta Bowl (Glendale, Ariz.) – No. 10 Miami Hurricanes vs. No. 6 Ole Miss Rebels (Thursday, January 8th at 6:30 (CST) on ESPN)
 
Both Miami and Ole Miss have looked the most impressive of the teams that have played two games. Also, both teams have done things differently. For the Hurricanes, it has been the defense that has carried them to victories over Texas A&M and Ohio State, two teams with really good offenses. Miami is led defensively by Reuben Bane, Jr., who is expected to be drafted in the first round in April’s NFL Draft. For Ole Miss, they had a historic comeback in the Sugar Bowl against Georgia. Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, Jr. continues to be the story on offense for the Rebels as they look to continue to fire on all cylinders offensively. For Ole Miss to win this game, they will need to have long drives to keep Miami’s defense on the field. Miami quarterback Carson Beck has some familiarity with the Rebels, having faced them as Georgia’s starting quarterback back in 2024. Ole Miss won the game, but Beck played well. I think Miami has the better defense. If Ole Miss gets to 30 points, they will win, but I don’t think it will happen. I have Miami going to the national championship game.
 
Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl (Atlanta) – No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 1. Indiana (Friday, January 9th at 6:30 (CST) on ESPN)

The Ducks and Hoosiers looked very good in their quarterfinal games last week. Indiana dominated a good Alabama team in the Rose Bowl, while Oregon shut out Texas Tech in the Orange Bowl. Indiana defeated Oregon in Eugene 30-20 in their last matchup on October 11th. That was the Ducks' only loss of the season up to this point. I am sure the Ducks and Duck fans have been chomping at the bit for this one. Both Fernando Mendoza and Dante Moore are likely going to be the first two quarterbacks drafted in April’s NFL Draft. This will be an opportunity for both to impress NFL teams with their play. (Currently, the Las Vegas Raiders and New York Jets hold the first two picks in this year’s draft, and both teams really need a quarterback.) This will be a hard-nosed, Big Ten fight. By the way, the winner will guarantee that the Big Ten will be represented in the national championship game for the third year in a row. This game could be the best of all the games during the CFB Playoff, including the upcoming national championship game. I feel whoever wins this game should be the favorite to win it all. It is a tough choice, but I am going with Indiana. But I will not be surprised if Oregon wins this game. 

​As we say goodbye to the Christmas season and enter the New Year, the college football playoff enters the second round with eight teams remaining with a chance to win the national championship.

First-round recap: I went 2-2 on my predictions. I am not surprised that Ole Miss and Oregon both dominated at home. The biggest surprise of the first round was Alabama coming back from a 17-point deficit to outlast Oklahoma in Norman. Meanwhile, Miami defeated Texas A&M in a very low-scoring affair in College Station. Now we will see the top four seeds in their first playoff games. Which teams will have some rust, and which teams will continue their hot starts?

Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic - Arlington, Texas
10. Miami Hurricanes vs. 2. Ohio State Buckeyes
December 31st - 7:30 PM (CST) on ESPN

The quarterfinals kick off with Miami making a return trip to the state of Texas after its victory over Texas A&M in the first round of the playoffs. This time, the Hurricanes will travel to Arlington to take on the defending national champion Buckeyes. Ohio State will play its first game since its loss to Indiana in the Big Ten Championship Game. For Miami to win this game, they will need quarterback Carson Beck to play much better than he did in round one. This game could be decided by which defense allows the fewest plays. I like Ohio State's offensive personnel more than Miami's, led by quarterback Julian Sayin and receiver Jeremiah Smith. The Buckeyes are the better team going in, but I won't be surprised if Miami wins because of its defense. Ultimately, I think the Buckeyes will win because they are the better team with more depth on both sides of the ball.

Capital One Orange Bowl - Miami Gardens, Fla.
5. Oregon Ducks vs. 4. Texas Tech Red Raiders
January 1st - 11 AM (CST) on ESPN

The first game of the New Year's Day trio is the Orange Bowl between the Ducks and the Red Raiders. Of all the teams remaining in the quarterfinals, you can say that Texas Tech is the biggest surprise to reach this part of the season. Texas Tech was clearly the best team in the not-so-good Big 12 Conference, but they will get a huge test from an Oregon team that looked good against James Madison in the first round of the playoffs. The key for Texas Tech is to play incredible defense against Oregon's Dante Moore. The Red Raiders are led defensively by linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, who was the best defensive player in college football in 2025. While I do think Texas Tech is a good team, I do not believe they have enough offense to challenge Oregon. The Ducks are going to win pretty easily, by at least 10 points.

Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential - Pasadena, Calif.
9. Alabama Crimson Tide vs. 1 Indiana Hoosiers
January 1st - 3:00 PM (CST) on ESPN

2025 Heisman Trophy Winner Fernando Mendoza is three wins away from accomplishing a dream season, winning the Heisman, and leading his team to a national championship. But first, he and the rest of the Hoosiers will have to take on an Alabama team that overcame a 17-point deficit to defeat Oklahoma in the first round. For the Crimson Tide to win, quarterback Ty Simpson must outplay Mendoza in the quarterback battle. Simpson must also connect well with his receivers, such as Ryan Williams. While Alabama brings in a ton of momentum into the Rose Bowl, Indiana is not afraid of any challenge. They have proven all year long why they are the number one team in the country, and I think they will continue to do so on New Year's Day.

Allstate Sugar Bowl - New Orleans
6. Ole Miss Rebels vs. 3. Georgia Bulldogs
January 1st - 7:00 (CST) on ESPN

The final quarterfinal matchup in the College Football Playoff features two SEC teams that are familiar with one another. Each team has won the last two matchups at home. Georgia won the previous matchup 43-35 on October 18th. On that day, Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss threw for 263 yards, and Georgia quarterback Gunnar Stockton threw for 289 yards. I expect both quarterbacks to play really well. The biggest question for both teams is which defense will step up in key situations. If we see a high-scoring affair like last time, I think it will benefit Ole Miss, even though Lane Kiffin is no longer the head coach. However, I think Georgia has the better defense and scheme in this matchup that will help them advance to the semifinals.