As the Georgia Bulldogs prepare for their Sugar Bowl matchup, they will look to continue their favorable luck on New Year’s Day.
For the third time in four seasons, the Georgia Bulldogs have earned a spot in the College Football Playoff and have been presented with an opportunity to compete for a national championship. The Dawgs’ punched their ticket to the playoff with an SEC Championship victory over the Texas Longhorns and will face either Notre Dame or Indiana in the Sugar Bowl on January 1st.
While the Bulldogs have grown familiar with playoff matches over the years, they have also become familiar with playing on New Year’s Day. A date that has brought forth some fantastic Bulldog moments throughout the Kirby Smart era.
The first of these moments came during the 2017 season when the Bulldogs defeated the Oklahoma Sooners in the iconic Rose Bowl game on New Year’s Day. Georgia trailed The Sooners by 17 points at one point in the game but came crawling back to ultimately win in double overtime and earn their first trip to the national championship in more than 30 years.
Georgia’s next New Year’s Day moment came on New Year’s Day of 2021 when the Bulldogs defeated Cincinnati on a last-second field goal to spoil the Bearcats’ undefeated 2020 season. It would also be the last time that the Bulldogs wore their iconic “blackout” jerseys.
The third and arguably most iconic of moments came on New Year’s Eve of the 2022 season. The Bulldogs were facing the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl as a part of the College Football Playoff and were barely holding on to a lead after trailing by two scores for much of the game. As the Buckeyes lined up to kick a go-ahead field goal, the seconds began winding down on the New Year. As the clock struck 12, Ohio State’s field goal attempt hooked wide left, providing Georgia with a win and an opportunity to complete their back-to-back national championship quest.
Georgia will look to recreate their “New Year’s Magic” this season as they face off against either the Indiana Hoosiers or Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the Sugar Bowl. Kickoff is set for 8:45 p.m. and will take place on New Year’s Day of 2025.
This article first appeared on Georgia Bulldogs on SI and was syndicated with permission.
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College Football
Bill Belichick could hire notable NFL offensive coordinator at UNC?
Bill Belichick has begun the process of building his staff at North Carolina, and he reportedly has interest in hiring a notable NFL offensive coordinator for the same role with the Tar Heels. Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reported on Sunday that Las Vegas Raiders offensive coordinator Scott Turner is “one of Belichick’s top choices for offensive coordinator” at UNC.
Turner was promoted to OC of the Raiders last month after Luke Getsy was fired. Turner had been the team’s passing game coordinator prior to that. He also served as the OC of the Washington Commanders under Ron Rivera from 2020-2022, so he has several seasons of experience calling plays. Turner, 42, is the son of former NFL head coach Norv Turner. The elder Turner also joined Antonio Pierce’s staff in Las Vegas midway through this season. Belichick has likely been given the freedom to hire whoever he wants at UNC. He is already bringing one of his former assistants with him as a general manager for the program. Turner would be another big addition to the staff.
Blues looking to trade two-time Stanley Cup winner
NFL
Steelers’ Mike Tomlin makes a confession about poor coaching after Eagles loss
The Pittsburgh Steelers moved to 10-4 in the 2024 season after a disappointing 27-13 road loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. The game started rocky for the Steelers offense, as they failed to capitalize on early turnovers forced by the defense and special teams. When the offense finally gained some momentum, costly mistakes and missed opportunities derailed their efforts. From start to finish, it was a lackluster performance that exposed flaws across the board. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, known for his accountability, did not shy away from criticism.
Speaking to the media after the game, Tomlin made a candid confession, acknowledging that the coaching staff deserved a significant share of the blame for the team’s poor showing. He admitted that preparation and in-game adjustments were not up to the standard required to compete against a strong Eagles team. Tomlin’s remarks reflect a larger issue the Steelers have faced in recent seasons: inconsistency.
Despite their solid record, performances like this raise questions about the team’s ability to execute under pressure. With the playoffs looming, Pittsburgh will need to address these shortcomings, starting with improved game-planning and sharper execution in critical moments. “You can point to one play but more than anything when I look at it through the lens in which I look at it, you know we were not good at it in some fundamental areas tonight,” Tomlin said. ”
We own that, particularly as coaches.” While Tomlin’s sentiment doesn’t explicitly state that the coaching staff failed to prepare or make proper in-game adjustments, it strongly implies it. Tomlin is fully aware of where the blame lies when his team falls short of expectations. Despite entering this game as 5.5-point underdogs, many expected a more competitive showing from Pittsburgh.
The Steelers defense struggled mightily, unable to contain Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts. On the offensive side, Tomlin made some questionable decisions, including opting not to go for it while trailing by two scores late in the game. This conservative approach effectively sealed the Steelers’ fate, as the Eagles, true to form, executed impeccable clock management.
Philadelphia dominated the game by controlling the clock and dictating the pace, leaving Pittsburgh with little room to respond. The Eagles’ ability to sustain long drives and impose their will underscored their superiority in all phases, highlighting the gap between the two teams on this day. Steelers Star Players Have Injuries Adding Up It was never going to be an easy game, but Steeler Nation has every right to feel disappointed by this loss.
That said, it’s just one game — not the end of the world — and the Steelers have officially clinched a spot in the playoffs. Now, the focus shifts to getting their key players healthy, as the offense has struggled in the absence of star wide receiver George Pickens. Adding to the concerns, T.J. Watt suffered an injury late in the game, and fans will anxiously await updates on his status. Watt’s health will be critical as the team prepares for the challenging weeks ahead.
Despite the frustrations of this performance, Steelers fans can take solace in the fact that their playoff ticket is punched, even as the road gets tougher. With a more difficult schedule looming, Pittsburgh must find ways to regroup and improve. The team’s resilience will be tested, but a healthier roster could provide the spark needed to reignite the offense and strengthen its postseason push.
NFL Week 15 winners, losers: Josh Allen dominates; Jonathan Taylor has big blunder
Colby Covington wants LeBron James ‘locked up in same cell as Diddy’
Colby Covington’s return to the UFC spotlight came with his signature blend of trash talk and controversy. Ahead of his welterweight main event against Joaquin Buckley in Tampa, Covington took aim not at his opponent, but at NBA superstar LeBron James.
Covington’s remarks stemmed from a 2022 comment James made during a live stream with Sean “Diddy” Combs, Outkick reports. Referring to Diddy’s infamous parties, James quipped, “Ain’t no party like a Diddy party.” This connection, however, became fuel for Covington’s criticism. At the press conference, Covington wasted no time targeting James. “What does LeBron mean by that? How many Diddy parties has he actually attended?” he questioned. Covington went further, suggesting James left social media to avoid backlash linked to his association with Combs, who is facing legal troubles.
His tirade culminated in a harsh statement: “LeBron, you’re a scumbag, and I hope you get locked up in the same cell as Diddy.” A Heated Return to the Octagon Covington’s verbal jabs at James overshadowed the buildup to his highly anticipated bout against Buckley. While Covington hasn’t fought since his unsuccessful attempt to claim the welterweight title last December, Buckley enters the octagon riding a dominant five-fight winning streak.
The momentum seems to favor Buckley, whose recent victory over Stephen Thompson showcased his ability to finish fights. Despite Covington’s recent struggles, including losses in three of his last five outings, his brash persona keeps him a headline maker. Whether this helps him regain form against a surging Buckley remains uncertain, but his focus on James has certainly stirred attention outside the cage. Covington’s comments also touch on broader cultural debates. Known for his outspoken support of law enforcement, he accused James of hypocrisy and questioned his role as a public figure.
The animosity between Covington and James may not directly impact the fight, but it adds drama to an already intense week in Tampa. As fight night approaches, fans will tune in to see whether Covington can back up his brash words with a victory. His record may suggest a fighter past his prime, but his ability to stoke controversy ensures his relevance in and out of the octagon.
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NHL
Jack Eichel Learns His Fate From the NHL After Dirty Hit on Edmonton’s Mattias Ekholm
Jack Eichel wasn’t even penalized for his hit on Mattias Ekholm on Saturday night, but now after a closer look he’s learned his suspension fate from the league following a play that many believed should have, at the very least been a two-minute minor penalty.
The rivalry between the Vegas Golden Knights and Edmonton Oilers has heated up in recent years, and on Saturday night it was at its most intense during Edmonton’s 6-3 victory. While the Oilers walked away victorious, it wasn’t all good news for the team, as the NHL officials seemingly ignored a blatant call on Jack Eichel, who boarded Mattias Ekholm in very dangerous fashion, the with the veteran defenseman taking some time to get up from the play.
To anyone watching the game, this was a clear penalty, but for some reason, the officials on the ice didn’t call anything, not even a minor penalty despite similar plays in recent times being called for five-minute majors. Just as late as last week, Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes was given a game misconduct for a similar play, with the inconsistency from the NHL officials showing on the ice during this matchup.
Despite that, there were calls from fans for the NHL’s Department of Player Safety to take a look at this play, and now they have officially reached a verdict: Unfortunately, the league have failed to come down hard on the Vegas Golden Knights once more, as Eichel escapes with no suspension, and while it’s hard for fans to see plays like this and call for bias from the league, it’s quite hard to ignore at this point. Thankfully Ekholm was fine after the play, but given how dangerous this is, all fans are calling for is protection for the players and consistency, something we are yet to see from the league in 2024/25.
