NCAAFB – College Football – Bowl Season
Yesterday
College Football Playoffs – Quarterfinals
(7) Notre Dame 23, (2) Georgia 10 Allstate Sugar Bowl, Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, LA
ND 23, UGA 10 – Freeman and Notre Dame handle ‘tough moments’ and oust Georgia from CFP with 23-10 win
Riley Leonard passed for a touchdown, Jayden Harrison returned a kickoff 98 yards for a score, and Notre Dame’s defense made it hold up in a 23-10 victory over No. 2 Georgia in the Sugar Bowl that sends the third-ranked Fighting Irish into the semifinals of the College Football Playoff. In a game that was delayed by a day because of a deadly terror attack in the host city, Notre Dame made enough big plays and got some help from a clever move by coach Marcus Freeman. He sent out the punt team deep in his own territory before running all 11 players off the field, and an offside penalty gave the Irish a critical first down. By the time the Bulldogs got the ball back, just 1:49 remained, and Notre Dame was on its way to a 12th straight victory and a date with No. 5 Penn State (13-2, CFP No. 6 seed) in a semifinal at the Orange Bowl in Miami next Thursday. Georgia played without starting quarterback Carson Beck, who injured his elbow in the Southeastern Conference championship game.
NCAAFB – Georgia’s Smart defends aggressive but ill-fated play calls in CFP loss
Georgia coach Kirby Smart says he doesn’t regret aggressive offensive play calls that backfired during the Bulldogs’ College Football Playoff quarterfinal loss to Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl. A decision to have inexperienced quarterback Gunner Stockton drop back to pass in the final minute of the first half went badly when he was sacked by Notre Dame’s RJ Oben and fumbled. Notre Dame recovered and scored a touchdown one play later. Smart’s bid for his third national title with the Bulldogs fell short as he was frequently outmaneuvered by Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman.
NCAAFB – Big 12 commissioner calls for ‘national standards’ for calling targeting
Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark is calling for more consistency on what constitutes a targeting penalty after no call was made on Texas safety Michael Taaffe’s high hit on Arizona State receiver Melquan Stovall late in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Peach Bowl. Taaffe struck Stovall with a helmet-to-helmet hit as Stovall caught a pass near midfield with 1:15 left in regulation Wednesday. No flag was thrown, but referee Larry Smith of the Big Ten halted play to check the replay for possible targeting. As Stovall was being helped off the field, Smith announced there was no penalty.
NCAAFB – Sugar Bowl played with enhanced security about 36 hours after terror attack
Snipers were positioned on rooftops outside the Superdome in New Orleans as fans filed in for the Sugar Bowl between Georgia and Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish won the College Football Playoff semifinal 23-10. The game was originally scheduled for Wednesday night but was postponed until Thursday afternoon because of a terror attack on New Orleans’ Bourbon Street that killed 14 revelers early on New Year’s Day. Flags were at half-staff at the stadium, and a moment of silence was held before the singing of the national anthem. Fans said they felt safe amid the enhanced security.
NCAAMBB – Men’s College Basketball
Tonight
(18) Michigan State at Ohio State, 8:00 p.m. Cosy Classic Hits 103.7 7:00
Saturday
North Carolina at Notre Dame, 12:00 p.m. Sports Radio 96.1 WSBT 11:30
Toledo at Western Michigan, 12:00 p.m.
Northern Illinois at Eastern Michigan, 2:00 p.m.
Ohio at Central Michigan, 7:00 p.m.
Michigan at USC, 8:00 p.m. News/Talk/Sports 94.9 WSJM 7:30
NCAAWBB – Women’s College Basketball
Saturday
Central Michigan at Ball State, 1:00 p.m.
Miami (OH) at Western Michigan, 2:00 p.m.
Eastern Michigan at Bowling Green, 7:00 p.m.
Sunday
(3) Notre Dame at (17) North Carolina, 1:00 p.m. Sports Radio 96.1 WSBT 12:45
NHL – National Hockey League
Last Night
Detroit Red Wings 5, Columbus Blue Jackets 4
Red Wings 5, Blue Jackets 4 – Jonatan Berggren scores with 36 seconds remaining, Red Wings top Blue Jackets 5-4
Jonatan Berggren scored with 36 seconds left in the third period and the Detroit Red Wings extended their winning streak to three games with a 5-4 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Alex DeBrincat scored and had two assists, Dylan Larkin and Patrick Kane each had a goal and an assist, and Erik Gustafsson added a goal for Detroit. Cam Talbot made 21 saves. James van Riemsdyk had two goals and an assist, Zach Werenski added a goal and two assists, and Sean Monahan also scored for Columbus, which was 4-1-1 in its previous six games. Elvis Merzlikins made 21 saves.
Tonight
Montreal at Chicago, 8:00 p.m.
Saturday
Detroit at Winnipeg, 7:00 p.m.
Sunday
NY Rangers at Chicago, 3:00 p.m.
NBA – National Basketball Association
Last Night
Indiana Pacers 128, Miami Heat 115
Pacers 128, Heat 115 – Haliburton scores 33 and hands out 15 assists, leading Pacers to 128-115 win over Heat
Tyrese Haliburton scored 33 points and handed out 15 assists, Myles Turner added 21 points and the Indiana Pacers rolled past the Miami Heat 128-115. Pascal Siakam had 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Pacers, who shot 53% and led by as many as 28. Kel’el Ware led the Heat with 25 points. Bam Adebayo scored 20, Tyler Herro added 17 and Terry Rozier had 16 for Miami. Jimmy Butler scored nine points, and didn’t play in the fourth quarter for a second consecutive night.
Tonight
Charlotte at Detroit, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday
Minnesota at Detroit, 7:00 p.m.
Phoenix at Indiana, 7:00 p.m.
New York at Chicago, 8:00 p.m.
NBA – Pistons guard Jaden Ivey has surgery on leg he broke in collision vs. Magic
Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey had surgery on his left leg, a day after breaking his fibula in a collision during a win over the Orlando Magic. The Pistons said Thursday that Ivey will be reevaluated in four weeks. Ivey shared a social media post that said he promises to come back even better. Detroit drafted Ivey with the No. 5 overall pick in 2022 and the former Purdue star was having a breakout year. Ivey averaged 17.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and four assists in 30 games this season.
NFL – National Football League – Week 18
Sunday
Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers, 1:00 p.m.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts, 1:00 p.m.
Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions, 8:20 p.m.
NFL – Lions and Vikings wrap up NFL’s regular season by playing for top seed in NFC
The Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings will wrap up the NFL’s regular season with an unprecedented matchup and much at stake Sunday night. Detroit and Minnesota will become the first teams to meet in the regular season with at least 13 wins and a combined 28 victories. The winner earns the NFC North title, home-field advantage until the Super Bowl and a coveted bye in the playoffs. The loser will start the postseason on the road next week as the league’s first 14-win wild-card team.
NFL – Pro Bowl rosters include 9 Ravens, 7 Lions, 6 Vikings and Eagles and no Mahomes
Nine Baltimore Ravens, including two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry, were selected for the Pro Bowl Games. The Detroit Lions are next with seven players and the Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles each have six players on the NFC roster. Patrick Mahomes wasn’t selected to the AFC roster for the first time since becoming Kansas City’s starting quarterback in his second season. Mahomes, a three-time Super Bowl MVP and six-time Pro Bowl pick, wasn’t among five Chiefs chosen. Travis Kelce made it for the 10th time. Detroit’s Jared Goff is the NFC’s starting quarterback and Minnesota’s Sam Darnold also made the team. The AFC’s starting quarterback is Buffalo’s Josh Allen. Jackson and Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow are the backups.
Golf – Tom Hoge leads at Kapalua in PGA Tour opener
Tom Hoge has a new baby and no expectations. The North Dakota player had the right vibe for Maui in the opening round of The Sentry. He just took whatever golf gave him. That was 10 birdies in the wind at Kapalua for a 64. Hoge leads the PGA Tour opener by one shot over Hideki Matsuyama and Will Zalatoris. Matsuyama had a birdie-eagle-birdie stretch on the back nine to get back in the game. Zalatoris came to Kapalua weighing some 20 pounds more than he did in August. He hopes a stronger physique will be good for his back.
AHL – American Hockey League
Last Night
Grand Rapids Griffins 1, Cleveland Monsters 0 – Shootout
Chicago Wolves 3, Iowa Wild 2
ECHL – ECHL Hockey League
Tonight
Kalamazoo Wings at Indy Fuel, 7:00 p.m.
Toledo Walleye at Fort Wayne Komets, 7:35 p.m.
NBAGL – NBA G-League
Tonight
Long Island Nets at Grand Rapids Gold, 7:00 p.m.
Texas Legends at Windy City Bulls, 7:00 p.m.
Chicago Wolves 3, Iowa Wild 2
MCCAA – Michigan Community College Athletic Association
Saturday
Women’s Basketball
Lake Michigan College at Joliet Junior College, 2:00 p.m.
Men’s Basketball
Lake Michigan College at Joliet Junior College, 4:00 p.m.
MHSAA – Michigan High School Athletic Association
Yesterday
Boys Basketball
Battle Creek St. Philip 65, Howardsville Christian 58
Girls Basketball
Brandywine 60, Centreville 24
Sturgis 56, Mendon 20
Today
Boys Basketball
Coloma at St. Joseph, 7:00 p.m. News/Talk/Sports 94.9 WSJM
Niles at Lakeshore, 7:15 p.m.
Eau Claire at Buchanan, 7:00 p.m.
Bangor at Covert, 6:00 p.m.
Haslett at Mattawan, 7:00 p.m.
Battle Creek Lakeview at Parma Western, 7:00 p.m.
White Pigeon at Constantine, 7:00 p.m.
Girls Basketball
Lakeshore at Niles, 6:30 p.m.
Mattawan at Marshall, 7:00 p.m.
Brandywine at Sturgis, 6:30 p.m.
Battle Creek Lakeview at Parma Western, 5:30 p.m.
Battle Creek Calhoun Christian vs. New Buffalo, 2:15 p.m. at Bangor Holiday Shootout
Berrien Springs vs. Parchment, 4:00 p.m. at Bangor Holiday Shootout
South Haven vs. Gobles, 5:45 p.m. at Bangor Holiday Shootout
Coloma vs. Bangor, 7:30 p.m. at Bangor Holiday Shootout