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Good morning! Ja Morant dunks are so back, apparently. Phew!
Bracket Day: 12 teams, and we still get controversy
Remember a year ago at this time, when the College Football Playoff committee made the bewildering decision to snub 13-0 Florida State from the four-team bracket, instead selecting an Alabama team that’d lost a game at home by 10 points?
Throughout the entire four-team era, it felt like Alabama was incapable of missing the field, right? Almost always, incorporating the Tide was right or at least the most tolerable option. But last year, it was weird at best.
Well, thank goodness we don’t have that kind of problem anymore, here in the age of the 12-team playo—
Ah. Nevermind.
Just after noon ET today, the CFP committee will reveal the rankings that will establish the first 12-team bracket. And, you’re not gonna believe this, but the main contention is whether annual bracket zombie Alabama should do it yet again.
After yesterday’s conference title games, the first 10 seeds feel pretty much set. From Austin Mock’s updated projections, complete with bracket:
- Big Ten champ Oregon (13-0): beat Penn State yesterday 45-37
- SEC champ Georgia (11-2): beat Texas 22-19 in OT, albeit amid an injury to QB Carson Beck
- Mountain West champ Boise State (12-1):Â beat UNLV 21-7
- Big 12 champ Arizona State (11-2):Â beat Iowa State 45-19
- Texas (11-2): lost
- Penn State (11-2): lost
- Notre Dame (11-1)
- Ohio State (10-2)
- Tennessee (10-2)
- Indiana (11-1)
As for the final two spots, ACC champion Clemson (10-3) is guaranteed an autobid. And then it all comes down to either SMU (11-2) or … Alabama (9-3).
The Tide, who were No. 11 in the penultimate rankings, sat at home yesterday while No. 8 SMU lost to Clemson on a 56-yard field goal at the final whistle. The cases:
- This season, SMU only lost to the ACC champ and to two-loss BYU by a field goal each. As Scott Dochterman has showed, the committee doesn’t usually punish a team harshly for losing a 13th game in competitive fashion.
- But it’s Bama. And Bama beat SEC-champ Georgia, plus No. 14 South Carolina and No. 19 Missouri. The Tide played the far harder schedule, and SMU’s best win was … 9-3 Duke?
Still, c’mon. Alabama lost to two 6-6 teams, one of them by 21 points. Honestly, if the committee rejects the Mustangs, who had already been in line for a spot, teams should just start skipping conference title games.
“That’s a Playoff football team,” said Dabo Swinney on the field after Clemson’s win. “SMU, they better be in the dang playoffs.”
Fortunately, Austin projects SMU to make it in, and as the No. 11 seed, in fact. Now let’s see if the committee does the simple thing this time.
For much more CFB ahead of the bracket reveal, subscribe to our free CFB newsletter. Onward:
NFL Watch Guide: Stakes, 2 ways
Did you know some teams have waited 13 weeks to have their bye this weekend, with just a few weeks left until the regular season finishes? Wild to me. Those playing continue to jockey for position, whether that’s in the playoff race or for the No. 1 pick. Both are interesting.
All times ET:
1 p.m.Â
Falcons (6-6) at Vikings (10-2) — What a strange homecoming for Kirk Cousins, who left in free agency last season and has found inconsistency in Atlanta, which has struggled yet still remains in contention for a division title. Minnesota, meanwhile, has proved to be a QB haven. Cousins needs this win more than anyone. TV: Fox
4 p.m.Â
Seahawks (7-5) at Cardinals (6-6) — A momentous game in the tense NFC West gives Seattle the opportunity to take a two-game lead over its division rival. Arizona scored just six points in these teams’ previous matchup. Expect this one to be close. TV: CBS
8:20 p.m.
Chargers (8-4) at Chiefs (11-1) — Jim Harbaugh’s crew could really use a win here in the AFC wild-card race, while I continue to wonder when Kansas City’s luck will run out. Maybe it never will. Star rookie Ladd McConkey is ailing for the Chargers, too, which helps that luck. TV: NBC
Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Imagn Images
News to Know
Galaxy win MLS Cup
The LA Galaxy won their sixth MLS Cup final, and first since 2014, beating the New York Red Bulls 2-1 last night on home soil. The Galaxy were without injured superstar Riqui Puig, but managed a 2-0 lead (goals by Joseph Paintsil and Dejan Joveljic) within the first 13 minutes; the Red Bulls got their lone goal, from Sean Nealis, in the 28th minute. Elsewhere in MLS news: Lionel Messi was announced as the 2024 league MVP on Friday.
Valkyries taking shape
The Golden State Valkyries took players from 11 of the 12 other teams in Friday’s WNBA expansion draft (all but Seattle). Golden State’s roster so far is headlined by former Aces guard Kate Martin, Connecticut Sun guard Veronica Burton and New York Liberty forward Kayla Thornton. The Valkyries appeared to prioritize players on inexpensive contracts, meaning they could make a splash in free agency — but the team still needs to figure out a direction for its roster, as Sabreena Merchant writes.
More news
What We’re Watching: Football-inspired holiday films (with a dash of Taylor Swift)
A warm welcome back to Hannah Vanbiber. Take it away:
Did you know that the most-watched show on cable last Saturday was not ESPN’s college football rivalry game — but rather a Kansas City Chiefs-themed Hallmark movie? Did you also know it was one of two new Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce-inspired Christmas rom-coms?
- Hallmark’s “follows Chiefs superfan Alana, whose family and their magic hat are in the running for Fan of the Year. In a *stunning* twist, the Chiefs’ director of fan engagement is both handsome and single. You do the Christmas math!
- Lifetime’s “Christmas in the Spotlight” is what happens when you prompt ChatGPT to write a Christmas movie about Swift and Kelce, but for legal reasons, say it can’t use real names or places, but should cram in as many Taylor song titles as possible.
Folks, hold on to your eggnogs, because we’re diving into the Christmas magic … or mess?
- Which has better football? “Holiday Touchdown,” which at least exists in a world where real football is played. “Christmas in the Spotlight” neither knows nor cares what football is. Doing a jigsaw puzzle was a more competitive sport in this film than American football. The Kelce character (played by Laith Wallschleger, who looks just like Gronk) is a wide receiver built like a TANK who has won several league MVPs … yet somehow cannot afford his own home??
- Which has more cameos? “Holiday Touchdown.” Appearances include Donna Kelce, head coach Andy Reid, current and former Chiefs players, the mayor of Kansas City and even Jenna Bush Hager.
- Which one wins? I’ll give it to “Holiday Touchdown.” It’s more of a family affair with a fun supporting cast, as much a cheesy-charming love letter to sports families as it is a Chiefs propaganda machine. The Taylor-Travis one is sexier, though — even, inexplicably, the puzzle scene.
Verdict:Â Hallmark/Lifetime movies are like fruitcake: an acquired taste I have not spent any time refining. It took me days to get my eyeballs unstuck from rolling into the back of my head, BUT: Everyone ended up happy. Not the worst way to spend a Saturday night?
Pulse Picks
How does a powerhouse like Florida State go from 13-0 to 2-10? Matt Baker and Bruce Feldman have the definitive story of an incredible collapse.
Something to keep in mind before today’s final CFP rankings reveal: Stewart Mandel pointed out Friday that the committee has not been rewarding strength of schedule. Hm.
John Hollinger premiered his first All-Disappointment Team before the NBA turns the calendar year. A certain GOAT makes an appearance.
The NFL’s “Simpsons” broadcast debuts tomorrow. Andrew Marchand gave us an idea of what to expect, with input from the showrunner.
An unopened case of hockey cards containing dozens of Wayne Gretzky rookies has sold again after the original buyer failed to pay — albeit for $1.2 million less than before. Now, legal action could follow.
🎧 On a special episode of “The Athletic Football Show,” Robert Mays and guest Brad Spielberger discuss the evolution of QB contracts and how close we are to seeing the $60 million annual threshold broken.
Most-clicked in the newsletter Friday: Colton Pouncy’s breakdown of Lions coach Dan Campbell’s gutsy decisions in Thursday’s win over the Packers.
Most-read on the website yesterday: The live look at the Georgia-Texas SEC Championship Game. Relive the action here.
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(Top photo: David Jensen / Getty Images)
