🏀 Top 2's Trumped!

Happy Wednesday! Another glorious season of college football is in the books, but college basketball is just getting started. And so is the madness. Tuesday was a historic night on the campus hardwood as the Nebraska Cornhuskers played Spoilermakers and knocked off the top team in the land, while the Iowa State Cyclones put the second-ranked team in a blender, tarnishing the last remaining perfect season in men’s hoops. One tier above, the Knicks continue to climb on the back of their newest acquisition, while in the NHL, a slew of teams are scorching hot. But first, we have some massive Headlines to cover, highlighted by a stunning firing in the NFL. Let’s go!

WTF Stat: In nine seasons from 2009 to 2017, the Tennessee Titans finished above .500 three times, made the playoffs once, and won zero division titles. In six seasons under HC Mike Vrabel (2018-2023), the Titans finished above .500 four times, made the playoffs three times, and won two division titles - Vrabel was named the Coach of the Year in 2021.

🏈 Titans fired HC Mike Vrabel yesterday following back-to-back losing seasons, ending his six-year tenure with the team - Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk said the organization considered trading Vrabel but didn't want to wait out such a scenario

🏈 Steelers DE TJ Watt has been ruled out for Sunday’s wild-card matchup against the Bills after suffering a Grade 2 MCL sprain in last Saturday’s win over the Ravens - Watt leads the NFL with 19.0 sacks this season

🏀 Heat and HC Erik Spoelstra agreed to an 8-year, $120M extension, making him the highest-paid coach in the NBA in terms of total value - in 16 seasons with Miami, Spoelstra has the led the Heat to six NBA Finals and two championships (2012 and 2013)

🏀 Pacers PG Tyrese Haliburton will miss at least two weeks after suffering a Grade 1 hamstring strain during Monday’s win over the Celtics - Haliburton leads the NBA with 12.5 assists per game and is leading the Eastern Conference guards in All-Star voting

A Golf Newsletter We Love

Yes, it’s January, and snow is starting to fall in the Northeast, but that’s why they have simulators — and Golf Insider Newsletter. Whether you’re working on your tempo in the office or making your way south for some winter rounds, if you’re a golfer, Golf Insider Newsletter is a must-read!

Men’s College Basketball - Top Games

• Nebraska 88, #1 Purdue 72: The Vault was rocking in Lincoln with the top-ranked Boilermakers in town, and the Nebraska faithful got their money's worth as the Huskers took a 41-30 lead into the half and refused to waver in the final 20 minutes thanks to an electric performance from Keisei Tominaga (19 PTS, 5-9 3PT, 4 AST), who was raining threes at will to hand Zach Edey (15 PTS, 7 REB) and Purdue their second loss of the season - Nebraska (13-3) hadn’t beaten the AP No. 1 ranked since 1982… court storming warranted!

• Iowa State 57, #2 Houston 53: Unbeaten no longer! Tamin Lipsey (14 PTS, 4 REB) and the Cyclones knocked off the nation’s final undefeated team as freshman Milan Momcilovic (11 PTS) sunk a game-winning baseline jumper with 30.2 seconds remaining to edge out Emanuel Sharp (20 PTS, 5-10 3PT, 5 REB) and the Cougars in Ames - Iowa State (12-3) and Houston (14-1) are among 11 teams with three or fewer losses in a loaded Big 12

• #14 Baylor 81, #18 BYU 72: In another Big 12 battle, Jalen Bridges (25 PTS, 5 REB) dropped 17 in the second half to help the Bears overcome a nine-point deficit and top Trevin Knell (15 PTS, 5 REB) and BYU in Baylor’s newly opened Foster Pavilion - Baylor (13-2) and BYU (12-3) are among six Big 12 teams ranked in the top 25

• #6 Kentucky 90, Missouri 77: Kentucky hasn’t lost an SEC home opener since 2013, and that streak stayed alive last night as freshman Rob Dillingham (23 PTS, 6-7 FG) dazzled while Tre Mitchell (20 PTS, 14 REB) dominated the glass to lead the Wildcats to a near wire-to-wire win over Noah Carter (20 PTS) and a struggling Missouri squad

• #11 Duke 75, Pittsburgh 53: Kyle Filipowski (26, 11-12 FG, 10 REB) put on a shooting clinic, and the Blue Devils absolutely pumped Pitt, who trailed by 25 at the half

See the full men’s scoreboard here and the current rankings here.

NBA - Top Games

• New York Knicks 112, Portland Trail Blazers 84: The Knicks are now 5-0 since trading for OG Anunoby, who scored a team-high 23 points to lead his new team to an easy win against Jerami Grant (21 PTS) and the Blazers in the Big Apple - New York has the fourth-best record in the East at 22-15

• Los Angeles Lakers 132, Toronto Raptors 131: Scottie Barnes (26 PTS, 6 AST) and three other Toronto starters scored 20-plus points, but the Raptors had no answers for Anthony Davis (41 PTS, 11 REB, 6 AST), who went a perfect six-for-six from the line in the final minute to seal a win for LeBron James (22 PTS, 5 REB, 12 AST) and the Lakers - Pascal Siakam (25 PTS, 4 REB) hit a three at the buzzer to cut the final score to one

• Sacramento Kings 131, Detroit Pistons 110: In a back-and-forth affair, Bojan Bogdanovic (26 PTS, 5 REB) and the Pistons scored 47 points in the 1st quarter to take a 20-point lead, but Domantas Sabonis (37 PTS, 10 REB, 13 AST) posted an eye-popping triple-double to bring the Kings back, and Sacramento pulled away to drop Detroit to a league-worst 3-34 record - Keegan Murray (32 PTS, 5 REB) and De’Aaron Fox (26 PTS, 4 AST) also had big nights for Sac-Town

• Minnesota Timberwolves 113, Orlando Magic 92: Karl-Anthony Towns (28 PTS, 6 REB, 5 AST) dropped 23 in the first half, and the T-Wolves never trailed to take care of Jalen Suggs (20 PTS, 5 REB) and the Magic in Orlando, boosting their Eastern Conference-best record to 26-10 - Minnesota will take on the Celtics tonight in a matchup between the top-two teams in the East

See the full NBA scoreboard here and the current standings here.

NHL - Top Games

• Florida Panthers 5, St. Louis Blues 2: According to our sources, the Cats are officially back. Matthew Tkachuk (3 G, 1 A) netted a natural hat trick in the 3rd period, and Florida won their eighth game in a row to get within two points of the Bruins in the Atlantic Division - Boston (24-8-8) lost to Arizona in overtime last night, 4-3

• Edmonton Oilers 2, Chicago Blackhawks 1: The Oilers are riding another heater and extended their winning streak to eight games as Connor McDavid (1 G) tucked in the game-winning goal late in the 2nd period to dispatch Jason Dickinson (1 G) and the Blackhawks, who will be without rookie Connor Bedard for extended time after the No. 1 overall pick broke his jaw on Friday in New Jersey - it’s Edmonton’s second eight-game winning streak this season

• Winnipeg Jets 5, Columbus Blue Jackets 0: The Jets are also soaring as Connor Hellebuyck (29 SV) was perfect, and Cole Perfetti (2 G, 1 A) buried a pair to give Winnipeg a franchise-tying seventh consecutive win with a shutout victory over the Blue Jackets

• Tampa Bay Lightning 3, Los Angeles Kings 2 (OT): Matt Roy’s (1 G) 2nd-period goal put the Kings up 2-0, but Brandon Hagel (1 G, 1 A) tied the game late in the 3rd period, and Nick Perbix (1 G, 1 A) netted the OT-winner for the Bolts, handing Los Angeles their sixth straight L - the Kings (20-10-7) are third in the Pacific with 47 points

See the full NHL scoreboard here and the current standings here.

English Carabao Cup - Semifinals, 1st Leg

• Middlesbrough 1, Chelsea 0: The Carabao Cup semifinals started off with a bang, as Hayden Hackney (37’) scored the game’s lone goal to give second-tier Middlesbrough a stunning victory over Chelsea in the opening leg - the second and final leg of the semifinals (decided by aggregate score) will take place Tuesday, Jan. 23

See the full international soccer scoreboard here.

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Before last night, when was the last time the two top teams in the AP men’s college basketball poll each lost to unranked opponents on the same day?

A. 2016

B. 2005

C. 1998

D. 1981

On January 10, 1982, 49ers WR Dwight Clark made "The Catch" to beat the Cowboys 28-27 in the NFC Championship Game. On third-and-3 with 58 seconds left in the 4th quarter, QB Joe Montana rolled out to avoid the 6-foot-9 Ed "Too Tall" Jones and threw a high pass off his back foot toward the corner of the end zone that seemed to be heading out of bounds. However, Clark seemingly came out of nowhere and made a leaping, fingertip grab past two Cowboy defenders to tie the game, sending Candlestick Park into a frenzy. The ensuing extra point gave San Francisco the lead, capping a legendary 14-play, 83-yard, game-winning drive orchestrated by Montana. The Niners would go on to beat the Bengals 26-21 in the Super Bowl, marking their first of three titles in the 1980s. In addition to being one of the most iconic plays in NFL history, "The Catch" also symbolizes the end of the Cowboys' NFC dominance in the ‘70s and the beginning of the 49ers' prominence with Montana under center - fun fact: another future quarterback was in the stands that day — four-year-old Tom Brady.

NBA

• Minnesota Timberwolves @ Boston Celtics 7:00pm ET, Local

• New Orleans Pelicans @ Golden State Warriors 8:30pm ET, ABC

• Denver Nuggets @ Utah Jazz 10:00pm ET, ESPN

• Full Schedule

NHL

• Montreal Canadiens @ Philadelphia Flyers 7:00pm ET, NHLPP / ESPN+

• Minnesota Wild @ Dallas Stars 7:30pm ET, TNT

• Vegas Golden Knights @ Colorado Avalanche 10:00pm ET, TNT

College Basketball

• NCAAM: #21 Clemson @ Virginia Tech 7:00pm ET, ESPN2

• NCAAM: #7 North Carolina @ NC State 8:00pm ET, ESPN

• NCAAM: #9 Oklahoma @ TCU 9:00pm ET, ESPN2

• NCAAM: Full Schedule

• NCAAW: Baylor @ Kansas 7:30pm ET, Big 12 / ESPN+

• NCAAW: #3 Iowa @ Purdue 8:00pm ET, Peacock

• NCAAW: Full Schedule

English Carabao Cup - Semifinals, 1st Leg

• Fulham @ Liverpool 3:00pm ET, ESPN+

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Trivia Time Answer

A. 2016. Tuesday night was the first time since Feb. 6, 2016, that the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams in the AP poll lost to unranked opponents on the same night. On that day in 2016, No. 1 Oklahoma was upset by Kansas State, while No. 2 North Carolina fell to Notre Dame - including last night, it has only happened three times in the last 40 years!

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The Kraken have also won seven games in a row, and Maple Leafs F Auston Matthews scored a ridiculous goal in a 7-1 win over the Sharks. Have a good one, and thanks for reading!