And Oregon quarterback Dante Moore, the projected second pick? He was 24 for 39 with 285 passing yards, 2 touchdowns and 3 backbreaking turnovers. It’s safe to say the performance didn’t help the redshirt sophomore’s draft stock.
When asked about his draft decision after the game, Moore said he hadn’t made a decision yet.
Moore’s answer:
“I’m going to soak this moment up and, most importantly, give my hugs and thank yous to my teammates. But at the end of the day, I don’t know my decision yet. I’m going to talk to Coach Lanning and talk to my family and everybody, but at the end of the day I don’t want to think about that right now.”
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As of now, Moore still looms as a candidate to go second overall to the New York Jets, but his performance on Friday laid bare some concerns around his game.
After a rough freshman year at UCLA and a redshirt year under Dillon Gabriel last season, Moore had impressed all season with his arm strength, accuracy, athleticism and command of the Oregon offense. However, he was never pressured in the pocket like he was against Indiana, and the results were ugly.
Oregon would surely welcome Moore back for a junior season, and at only 20 years old, he still has plenty of time to get to the NFL. The decision is shaping up to be one of the biggest among all underclassmen in this year’s draft cycle.
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As for Mendoza, you can probably guess where he’s going after a dream season in which he’s led Indiana to a 15-0 record while winning the Heisman Trophy.
The Milwaukee Bucks beat the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday. Naturally, it involved Giannis Antetokounmpo doing something big.
With the game tied going into the final minute, the former MVP notched two stops against LeBron James to key a 105-101 Bucks win. It is the Lakers’ first single-digit loss of the season.
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First, there was a block of the kind of lay-up usually automatic for James.
Then there was a poke that forced a turnover, allowing the Bucks to put the game out of reach.
Antetokounmpo finished with 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks, 2 steals and 4 turnovers.
It was a frustrating game overall for the Lakers, especially for Luka Dončić, who fouled out for the first time this season. He got his sixth foul in that final minute by not giving Kevin Porter Jr. space to land on a 3-pointer. Dončić, naturally, wasn’t happy with the call, and several others.
Dončić also had a highly inefficient night, shooting 8 for 25 for 24 points. He was 4 of 6 from 3-point range, meaning he went a bizarre 4 of 19 on 2-pointers. Ten of those misses came inside the paint. He described it as a “terrible day for me” to reporters after the game.
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The loss lowers the Lakers’ record to 23-13, good for fifth in the Western Conference. They are now 8-8 since Dec. 1. The Bucks, meanwhile, improved to 17-21.
ATLANTA — They came from Bloomington wearing their crimson, and from Indianapolis and Evansville, too. Heck, if anyone from French Lick or Toad Hop or Slabtown attended Indiana, they were probably at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Friday night too, reveling in the program-defining beatdown that was the 2026 Peach Bowl.
The announced attendance at Indiana’s 56-22 victory over Oregon on Friday night was 75,604, and it sure seemed like at least 74,000 of them were cheering for the Hoosiers. Aside from a thin wedge near the tunnel to the Oregon locker room, virtually the entire circumference of the stadium was crimson-clad and joining in deafening “Hoo-hoo-hoo-Hoosiers!” chants all night long.
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“I thought it was just the red seats,” Oregon quarterback Dante Moore sighed after the game, “but it was Indiana fans.”
He wasn’t wrong. Indiana fans covered Atlanta in a crimson tide — the other school that employs that term lost the use of it last week in Pasadena — and the result was glorious to behold. From the airport to the stadium, in Waffle Houses and along Peachtree, Indiana fans swarmed over the city, delirious at the prospect of cheering their team on to a national championship berth.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium has hosted a Super Bowl, national championship games and a Metallica concert, but Friday night might have topped them all decibel-wise. The assembled crowd was already at jet-engine volume to start the game, and then D’Angelo Ponds’ pick-6 on the game’s very first play nearly blew the retractable roof off the joint.
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“The crowd had a fantastic impact,” Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza said. “Shout-out to Hoosier Nation for being here.”
He then recounted the earlier road matchup between these two teams. “We played at Autzen Stadium Week 5. I believe I probably had five or six pre-snap penalties [due to the crowd noise].”
“Seven,” Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti interjected.
“Seven pre-snap penalties,” Mendoza said with a laugh. “That’s huge. Especially, that’s one of the ways that you’re able to lose a game. Not having to go on silent count because of Hoosier Nation being here — and making them go on silent count — is a huge aspect of the game and the offensive operation that’s not talked about enough.” Earlier, Moore had noted that the Ducks had to abandon their verbal signals because of the noise in the stadium.
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“Making the other team go on silent count,” Mendoza said, “I mean, that might as well account for some points.” Heck, everything else did for Indiana.
The night was, for Indiana, a spectacular environment — Bloomington South, Hoosier meets Chattahoochee. And that’s surely due to the fact that up until a few months ago, no one in human history had ever positively connected the words “Indiana football” and “national championship” in the same sentence. Indiana fans will travel for the extent of this year’s playoff, yes, but how many more seasons will they do this?
Indiana fans owned the Capital of College Football Friday night.
(Kevin C. Cox via Getty Images)
Want proof? Remember that little sliver of green and yellow? Oregon hasn’t won a national championship yet, true, but its fans have grown accustomed to postseason appearances. Had the Ducks reached the title game, it’s likely the Oregon faithful would have made up a larger percentage of the audience … but then, that’s really the problem here, isn’t it? Forcing a team’s fans to travel to three, or even four neutral site games in the course of one playoff is an awful lot to ask of a fan base.
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Friday night’s game provided yet another reason why as many playoff games as possible ought to be on campus, not in NFL stadiums. The vibe at MBS was dramatically different from any NFL game — up to and including the Super Bowl — that’s been held there, but it’s standard volume, intensity and juice for a Power Four college football home game. And if you don’t think the pulse of a stadium has an impact on the home viewing experience too, well, you’ve clearly forgotten what it was like to watch empty-stadium games in the COVID era.
Opinions solicited from a range of giddy post-victory Indiana fans were split on whether a semifinal game ought to be at a neutral — or, in this case, “neutral” — site. “I don’t know, it’s fun to travel,” said IU alum Karen Smith of Cincinnati as she waited for Mendoza to walk close by for an ESPN appearance.
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“Bloomington is just special,” countered Sally Berghoff of Chicago, who was attending the game with nearly a dozen fellow family members, all IU alumni. “Memorial Stadium needs a little work, but we would sell it out.”
Money rules all in college football, of course, and money dictates that the games ought to go to the nation’s premier sporting cathedrals. But at the very least, every higher seed deserves one home playoff game, and two would be even better. Give the sponsors their airtime, the conference fat cats their suites, and the alumni their home game, and everyone goes away happier. Well, unless you’re Oregon in this scenario.
The Indiana experience in Atlanta was remarkable in its intensity and exuberance on Friday night. That ought to be the standard at every possible playoff game from here on out.
Outfielder Max Kepler has been suspended 80 games after testing positive for the performance-enhancing drug Epitrenbolone, MLB announced Friday.
The 32-year-old Kepler is currently a free agent after spending last season with the Philadelphia Phillies. He played 127 games in 2025, slashing .216/.300/.391 with 18 home runs and 52 RBI. He’s ranked No. 41 on Yahoo Sports’ list of this winter’s top free agents.
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According to ESPN, Kepler will receive credit against his 80-game pan via games played by the Phillies if he does not sign with an MLB team before Opening Day. However, he is automatically ineligible for the 2026 postseason.
According to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, Epitrenbolone is a metabolite of trenbolone, an anabolic steroid.
Kepler has played 11 MLB seasons, his first 10 with the Minnesota Twins before he signed a one-year, $10 million deal to join the Phillies in December 2024.
The 12-5 Los Angeles Rams travel to Carolina to face the 8-9 Panthers on Saturday in the first of six NFL wild-card games this weekend. This is a rematch from a Week 13 game in which Carolina defeated Los Angeles 31-28 thanks to three touchdown passes from Bryce Young and two interceptions from Matthew Stafford.
The Rams are a historic double-digit road favorite in this game. Will they advance to the divisional round again this year or lose again to the Panthers in Carolina?
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Ben Fawkes gathers quotes from oddsmakers for all the games and our team of NFL handicappers provides their favorite wagers on the game.
What oddsmakers are saying: “This is our No. 1 power-rated team with the Rams. We opened -10, now sitting at -10.5. That was the ultimate NFC South way to get into the playoffs for Carolina. Seeing more Rams action here, and I don’t anticipate that to change. We’re seeing a little bit of money on Panthers money line, with people wanted to take a shot at a longer number. Closer to game-day I think we’ll get some sharp action on Panthers +10.5.” — Joey Feazel, head of NFL trading at Caesars Sportsbook
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Best bets
Matt Jacob: Back on Nov. 30, the Rams took a 9-2 record and a six-game winning streak to Carolina. They departed with a 9-3 record and a one-game losing streak after falling 31-28 as a 10-point road favorite.
Now Los Angeles returns to the scene of one of the season’s biggest upsets, this time for a win-or-go-home playoff game — and this time as a 10.5-point road favorite.
That price may seem a bit steep to some. After all, beginning with the Week 13 loss in Carolina, the Rams split their final six regular-season games (including losing three of four on the road).
Here’s the counterargument: The Panthers didn’t capitalize on the upset of L.A., dropping three of their final four games, finishing 8-9 and needing Atlanta to hold off New Orleans to claim the putrid NFC South due to a tiebreaker.
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Over the final four games, Carolina’s offense put up just 16 points per game; conversely, MVP frontrunner Matthew Stafford and the Rams averaged 35.1 PPG over their final seven contests. In fact, Los Angeles tallied at least 28 points in nine of its final 11 games.
With wide receiver Davante Adams set to return after missing the final three regular-season games with a hamstring injury, the Rams’ explosive offense will be operating at full capacity. Yes, soggy weather is in the forecast for Saturday, but I don’t expect it to impact Los Angeles’ offense at all.
If anything, wet conditions are more likely to pose a problem for Carolina’s plodding offense. Look no further than last week in Tampa Bay, where a first-half downpour made a mess of the field and the Panthers produced just two touchdowns (the first of which was set up by a turnover deep in Buccaneers territory).
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Keep this in mind, too: Of the Rams’ 12 victories, eight were by two touchdowns or more (including four on the road). Meanwhile, Carolina had five double-digit losses (including three at home).
Bet: Rams -10 (-110)
Matt Russell: We caught a +500 anytime touchdown at The Window last week with Tommy Tremble, on the premise that he got a promotion within the construct of the Panthers offense because of the Week 16 injury to tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders. Whether it’s the three games Sanders missed earlier in the season, after he went out against the Seahawks, or last week, Tremble’s snaps shoot up into the 70% range.
In five games without Sanders, Tremble’s approached or surpassed 40 yards in three of them. Even in the rain last week, the veteran was targeted four times in a mostly one-score game. So, even if it’s going to be soggy again, Tremble should get enough looks to get over this number.
Ed Feng: The Rams have been the best team in the NFL this season.
Based on data from the current season, my model rates them 8.6 points better than NFL average. To favor the Rams by 10.5 on the road, you have to make Carolina about 4.4 worse than NFL average. Carolina started the season about that badly, but have performed better than expected in making the playoffs, even with a 8-9 record. The defense has been close to NFL average at 16th in my adjusted passing success rate. The secondary is respectable, and rookie second-round pick Nic Scourton has 8.0 sacks.
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All my metrics outside of the preseason have Carolina about 2 points worse than the NFL average. My primary prediction has the Rams by 5.7 points. I kind of hate it, but I think the right side is Carolina +10.5.
As a player, Matt Ryan spent 14 of his 15 seasons in the NFL as a member of the Atlanta Falcons. Now, he’s going back to the franchise, this time as an executive.
“Throughout his remarkable 14-year career in Atlanta, Matt’s leadership, attention to detail, knowledge of the game and unrelenting drive to win made him the most successful player in our franchise’s history,” Falcons owner Arthur Blank said. “I am confident those same qualities will be a tremendous benefit to our organization as he steps into this new role. From his playing days to his time as an analyst at CBS, Matt has always been a student of the game, and he brings an astute understanding of today’s NFL, as well as unique knowledge of our organization and this market. I have full confidence and trust in Matt as we strive to deliver a championship-caliber team for Atlanta and Falcons fans everywhere.”
The move was expected following the firings of head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot in January. That same day, Blank wrote a letter to the fan base announcing the Falcons would hire a president of football from outside the organization. Blank said the person hired in the role will “set the vision and identity for our team.” Blank added that he would look to move quickly to bring someone into that position.
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Shortly after Blank’s message was sent out, rumors circulated suggesting Ryan was already being viewed as the top candidate for the position. The following day, it was reported Ryan would officially interview for the role.
Given the amount of rumors suggesting Ryan was likely to get the job, the Falcons could face scrutiny from the NFL over the team’s adherence to the Rooney Rule, which requires teams to interview at least two minority candidates before making a hire. The Falcons ultimately did interview minority candidates, one of whom — Bears assistant GM Ian Cunningham — could become Atlanta’s GM under Ryan.
After being selected by the Falcons with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, Ryan spent his first 14 seasons with the team. He threw for 367 touchdowns with the team, making four Pro Bowl appearances and winning the NFL MVP award in 2016. Ryan led the Falcons to the playoffs six times during his tenure as the team’s starter, reaching the Super Bowl in the 2016 season. Despite gaining a 28-3 advantage in the game, the Falcons blew that lead, losing to the New England Patriots.
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Following the 2021 NFL season, the Falcons traded Ryan to the Indianapolis Colts. Ryan spent one year with the Colts, tossing 14 touchdowns against 13 interceptions in 12 starts. Ryan was released by the team in 2023, but did not officially retire until the following year, as the Colts still owed him $12 million in 2023.
He signed a one-day deal with the Falcons in 2024 to announce his retirement and was inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor later that year.
While sitting out in 2023, Ryan joined CBS Sports as a broadcaster. After Ryan became a candidate to be the Falcons’ president, there was confusion over whether Ryan would try to keep his job as a broadcaster in addition to being the Falcons’ president. There is precedent for that type of arrangement. Despite holding a front-office role with the Las Vegas Raiders, Tom Brady continues to broadcast games for Fox.
“I want to thank the incredible team at CBS Sports,” Ryan said in a statement. “I loved my three years there and I am truly grateful for their support in pursuing this opportunity. The CBS Sports Culture is amazing, and I have made teammates and friends for life.”
With Ryan reportedly in the fold, the former quarterback has a lot of work to do this offseason. The Falcons are not only in the market for a new general manager and head coach, but the team is also looking to rebound after going 8-9 last season.
While the team made small strides on defense — thanks to the additions of 2025 first-round draft picks Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. — it regressed on offense, where Michael Penix Jr. turned in a rocky first season as the team’s starter before an injury led to veteran Kirk Cousins getting starts down the stretch.
Solving all the team’s issues this offseason could prove difficult. Following the team’s trade-up to select Pearce in 2025, the Falcons don’t own a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The team is also without a fifth-round draft pick, leaving the Falcons with just five picks in 2026.
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While the Falcons’ lack of draft capital in the short term is a concern, Ryan can somewhat offset that by making the right moves in the front office. As the Chicago Bears and New England Patriots can attest, the right hire can propel a team from worst-to-first in a single season.
After finishing third in the NFC South this season, the Falcons don’t even need to go that far. Whether they can get there depends on the football acumen and intelligence Ryan showed as a player carrying over into his new role as an executive.
“That’s amazing,” Stafford said on the first All-Pro nod of his 17-year career. “I did not see that coming. Played a lot of years. A lot of respect for this game. A lot of respect for the other guys who do what I do. It’s not an easy thing to do. It means a lot.”
Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills was the only other quarterback given a first-place vote.
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Stafford, who turns 38 the day before Super Bowl LX, threw for 4,707 yards, 46 touchdowns and 8 interceptions this season for the 12-5 Rams. He is now the second player to ever be named a first-team All-Pro for the first time in his 17th season or later, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, joining former Minnesota Vikings kicker Gary Anderson, who went 35-for-35 on field-goal attempts and 59-for-59 on extra points in 1998.
Three players — Cleveland Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett, Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua and Seattle Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba — earned all 50 first-place votes.
Nacua, a second-team All-Pro in 2023, recorded a career-high 1,715 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns on 129 receptions this season. Smith-Njigba, a two-time Pro Bowler, led the NFL in receiving yards in 2025 with 1,793 on 119 receptions. He also hauled in a career-high 10 touchdown catches.
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The Carolina Panthers, Las Vegas Raiders, New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Washington Commanders were the only teams without players on the first or second team.
No Dallas Cowboys made the first team, but receiver George Pickens, kick returner KaVontae Turpin, and kicker Brandon Aubrey were voted to the second team.
Cam Little, who hit field goals of 67 and 68 yards this season and went 30-for-34 on attempts, did not make either team. Will Reichard of the Vikings received 15 first-place and earned first-team honors after going 33-for-35 on field-goal attempts.
Quarterback: Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams Running Back: Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Fullback: Kyle Juszczyk, San Francisco Wide Receivers: Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams; Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle; Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati All Purpose: Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco Tight End: Trey McBride, Arizona Left Tackle: Garrett Bolles, Denver Left Guard: Joe Thuney, Chicago Center: Creed Humphrey, Kansas City Right Guard: Quinn Meinerz, Denver Right Tackle: Penei Sewell, Detroit
Defense
Edge Rushers: Myles Garrett, Cleveland; Will Anderson Jr., Houston; Micah Parsons, Green Bay Interior Linemen: Jeffery Simmons, Tennessee; Zach Allen, Denver Linebackers: Jack Campbell, Detroit; Jordyn Brooks, Miami Cornerbacks: Derek Stingley Jr., Houston; Quinyon Mitchell, Philadelphia Slot cornerback: Cooper DeJean, Philadelphia Safeties: Kyle Hamilton, Baltimore; Kevin Byard, Chicago
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Special Teams
Placekicker: Will Reichard, Minnesota Punter: Jordan Stout, Baltimore Kick Returner: Ray Davis, Buffalo Punt Returner: Chimera Dike, Tennessee Special Teamer: Devon Key, Denver Long Snapper: Ross Matiscik, Jacksonville
Here’s a deeper look by the numbers at the Hoosiers after they secured a place in the Jan. 19 national championship game against Miami.
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1
Number of FBS or NFL players who have ever had a game with at least 5 passing TDs, an 85% completion rate and at least 25 rushing yards. That would be Mendoza’s performance against Oregon.
5
Number of games this season Mendoza has had more TDs than incompletions. According to Dave Revsine of Big Ten Network, no other quarterback this century has done that more than twice.
Total number of 4- and 5-star recruits on Indiana’s roster. Oregon had 55. And of those eight Indiana recruits? Not a single one was a 5-star.
9
Total tackles for loss by Indiana’s defense against Oregon. Mendoza, meanwhile, was sacked just once.
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28
Number of points Indiana scored off Oregon turnovers in the semifinal. That’s three more than the total number of points — as in total total — the Hoosiers have allowed in their two CFP games this season.
30
Minutes it takes to drive from Mendoza’s Miami home to Hard Rock Stadium, site of the Jan. 19 national championship game.
Total points Indiana beat Alabama and Oregon by in its two CFP games this season.
100
Combined total of points Indiana has beaten its four top-10 opponents by this season.
473
Indiana’s point differential this season, largest in the CFP era. Clemson’s 467 in 2018 is the second largest.
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3,547
Get-in price in dollars for the Jan. 19 national title game between Indiana and Miami, as of Saturday morning, according to Gametime. That’s nearly $1,000 higher than the average ticket price for last year’s championship with Ohio State and Notre Dame.
The Miami Dolphins have found their new general manager, but that won’t end Troy Aikman’s time advising the franchise as the Dolphins remake their front office.
Aikman told Dallas radio station The Ticket on Friday before Sullivan was officially announced that a member of the Dolphins organization had reached out a few weeks back to gauge his interest in helping Miami find a new GM.
“I dove into it at that time, and I’m here in Miami now, doing some in-person interviews and zeroing in on a couple candidates that we really like, and I’m really excited about the process,” Aikman said. “I think at first, I wanted to make sure that I could provide them what it was that they were hoping I could. And gave it some thought and then as I dove into it, talked with more people, I became more and more confident that I could. So off we went. And it’s been great. So we’ll see where this might go. But I really enjoyed it.”
Wild Card Weekend begins on Saturday afternoon when the Los Angeles Rams visit the Carolina Panthers for the first of six first-round playoff games. The Rams enter the game as a wild card team, while the Panthers won the NFC South, earning them a home field advantage. Though the 12-5 Rams had a better overall record than the 8-9 Panthers, the Panthers defeated the Rams when they last met during Week 13 of the regular season. Will the Rams prove they’re the stronger team, or lose in another shocking upset?
The Rams vs. Panthers game will kick off at 4:30 p.m. ET this Saturday on Fox. Here’s everything you need to know about how to watch the Wild Card Weekend game and get the full weekend schedule for the rest of the league.
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How to watch the Los Angeles Rams vs. Carolina Panthers:
The Rams vs. Panthers game kicks off at 4:30 p.m. ET/1:30 p.m. PT this Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026.
Los Angeles Rams vs. Carolina Panthers game channel:
The game between the Rams and the Panthers will air on FOX.
How to watch the Los Angeles Rams vs. Carolina Panthers game without cable:
You can stream FOX on platforms like DirecTV and Fubo, and the game will also be available on FOX’s streaming platform FOX One. You can also tune in on NFL+ for mobile viewing.
bundle FOX One with ESPN’s newly revamped streaming service for $39.99/month.
Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears: 8:00 p.m. (Prime Video)
Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026
Buffalo Bills vs. Jacksonville Jaguars: 1:00 p.m.(CBS)
San Francisco 49ers vs. Philadelphia Eagles: 4:30 p.m. (FOX)
Los Angeles Chargers vs. New England Patriots: 8:00 p.m. (NBC)
Monday, Jan. 12, 2026
How to watch NFL games in 2026:
Many NFL games are broadcast on local channels, so if you’re looking to catch an in-market game, it may be as simple as turning on your TV (or setting up a digital TV antenna) or finding a live TV streaming service that carries the correct RSN (Regional Sports Network). If you want to watch out-of-market games, a $7 monthly subscription to NFL+ will let you watch every out-of-market-game local and primetime game in the season on your phone — but only a select few regular season games on your TV. You could also spring for the uber-expensive NFL Sunday Ticket package to get every out-of-market Sunday game of the season.
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When it comes to nationally broadcast games, NFL games typically air across ESPN, NBC, CBS, Fox, ABC and NFL Network. Thursday Night Football games stream exclusively on Amazon Prime Video, select football games will stream exclusively on Peacock, games on CBS will stream live on Paramount+, and Monday Night Football games will air on ESPN or ABC and stream on the newly revamped ESPN+ this season. That’s six channels and four streaming platforms to keep up with this season — and that’s not counting your local RSN’s for in-market games and an NFL+ or NFL Sunday Ticket subscription for out-of-market games. Plus, Netflix is once again hosting at least two Christmas Day matches, so add that subscription into the mix. And we can’t forget about Fox One, Fox’s first streaming service, a place where you can also stream games airing on FOX (if you don’t already have access to it).
Confused? You’re not alone. Here’s a breakdown of the platforms we recommend checking out ahead of the 2025 NFL season, so that come game time, tuning into your favorite team’s games will be as easy as simply turning on the TV.
