FOOTBALL

Alabama rolled to an 18th national title in a decisive win over #3 ranked Ohio State in the 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship. Thanks to the stellar play of quarterback Mac Jones, running back Najee Harris, and Heisman Trophy winner Devonata Smith, the Crimson Tide put up 621 yards of total offense and scored 52 points, the most ever scored by Alabama in a national title game. With the win, Alabama coach Nick Saban becomes the only coach to win 7 national championships (six with Alabama and one with LSU). Alabama 52, Ohio State 24

In the NFL, the Philadelphia Eagles parted ways with head coach Doug Pederson just three years after he coached them to a Super Bowl title.

New England Patriots coach, Bill Belichick refused to accept President Trump’s planned award of the Presidential Medal of Freedom after he stated,  “the tragic events of last week”.

GOLF

The PGA of America announced they are cutting ties with President Trump and will relocate the 2022 PGA Championship from the Trump National Golf Club in New Jersey to a new location.

FOOTBALL

The Cleveland Browns pulled out an amazing win over the heavily favored Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night of Wild Card Weekend. Quarterback Baker Mayfield looked solid throwing for 263 yards and three touchdowns, while Kareem Hunt added two more touchdowns for Cleveland. And the Browns’ defense did their part by forcing five turnovers. After an 11-0 start to the season, the Steelers lost four of their last five games, and then to add insult to injury, lost to the Browns who haven’t won a playoff game since 1994. The Brown will now face last year’s Super Bowl Champs, the Kansas City Chiefs, in the Divisional Round. Browns 48, Steelers 37

In other Divisional round matchups:

The Buffalo Bills vs. the Baltimore Ravens

The Green Bay Packers vs. the LA Rams

The New Orleans Saints vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Nickelodeon broadcast a kid-centric, really fun (and a bit goofy) showing of the New Orleans Saints-Chicago Bears wild-card game over the weekend. The broadcast featured Nickelodeon personalities including appearances from SpongeBob SquarePants and lots of their trademark slime.

Tune in tonight at 8:00 pm ET for the College Football Playoff National Championship between #1 ranked Alabama and #3 ranked Ohio State.

BASKETBALL

Philadelphia 76ers guard Seth Curry found out he tested positive for coronavirus during the beginning of the Sixers matchup against the Brooklyn Nets. With contact tracing protocols in place, the entire team will quarantine in New York. The Sixers game against the Denver Nuggets on Saturday in Philly could be rescheduled.

FOOTBALL

Fifty-seven-year-old Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh is close to signing a five-year deal with a base salary of $4 million and incentives up to $8 million.

BASEBALL

The New York Mets made a splash yesterday with a blockbuster trade. The Mets got all-star shortstop Francisco Lindor and pitcher Carlos Carrasco from the Cleveland Indians for Andres Gimenez, Amed Rosario, and some prospects.

FOOTBALL

Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith won the prestigious Heisman Trophy. With the win, he is the first receiver to be named the best college football player in 29 years. The award has traditionally gone to quarterbacks and running backs and hasn’t gone to a receiver since Desmond Howard won in 1991. Smith is also just the 4th receiver to ever win the award.

The College Football Playoff National Championship between #1 ranked Alabama and #3 ranked Ohio State could be postponed. A number of Ohio State players have either tested positive for COVID-19 or have contact traced and could be required to miss the game scheduled for January 11th.

HOCKEY

The United States won the gold medal over Team Canada in the World Junior Championship. The win marks Team USA’s fifth World Juniors gold.

FOOTBALL

There were two more NFL head coaches fired yesterday. The Los Angeles Chargers fired Anthony Lynn and the Jacksonville Jaguars got rid of Doug Marrone.

The Heisman Trophy ceremony will be held virtually tonight at 7:30 pm ET. The finalists are: Devonta Smith (WR, Alabama), Trevor Lawrence (QB, Clemson), Mac Jones (QB, Alabama), and Kyle Trask (QB, Florida). Smith is considered the odds on favorite to win.

Detroit Lions kicker Matt Prater won free beer for the people in Detroit. Bud Light created a competition between Denver Broncos kicker Brandon McManus and Prater to see who could kick the longest field goal during the season, with Bud Light promising free beer to the winning city. Prater kicked a 59-yard field goal back in Week 9 against the Washington Football Team, while McManus’s longest kick was a 58-yarder against the New Orleans Saints.

BASKETBALL

The 2020 NCAA tournament was one of the first sporting events to shut down due to the pandemic. As of now, March Madness is set to return for 2021. The tournament is scheduled to begin in late March and last for a condensed two-week period with all 68 teams playing in six venues in the Indianapolis area. If all goes well, the National Championship will be held on April 5th.

FOOTBALL

Alabama and Ohio State have advanced to the College Football Playoff National Championship. The Crimson Tide easily cruised past Notre Dame 31-14 in the Rose Bowl, while the Buckeyes destroyed Clemson 49-28 in the Sugar Bowl. For Alabama, Heisman Trophy favorite DeVonta Smith ran for 130 yards and scored three touchdowns, and Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields was on a tear passing for six touchdowns and 385 yards.

The NFL regular season is over, and for the first time ever, 14 teams will be heading to the playoffs. Two teams are even ending long postseason droughts. The Cleveland Browns are heading to the playoffs for the first time since 2002, and thanks in part to Tom Brady, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are heading to their first postseason since 2007. Here is the Wild Card Weekend Lineup:

Wild Card Weekend

Saturday, January 9

Colts at Bills, 1:05 p.m. ET (CBS)
Rams at Seahawks, 4:40 p.m. ET (Fox)
Buccaneers at Washington, 8:15 p.m. ET (NBC)

Sunday, January 10
Ravens at Titans, 1:05 p.m. ET (ABC)
Bears at Saints, 4:40 p.m. ET (CBS/Nickelodeon/Amazon Prime)
Browns at Steelers, 8:15 p.m. ET (NBC)

In other NFL news, the New York Jets fired head coach Adam Gase.

BASKETBALL

The Golden State Warriors’ Steph Curry had a slow start to the season but made a big statement last night with a career-high 62 points in a win over the Portland Trail Blazers.