Lane Kiffin picks LSU to spotlight faculty soccer teaching carousel chaos

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Comfortable December, sports activities followers! Carter Bahns right here to flip the calendar to the ultimate month of 2025. What a 12 months it has been within the sports activities universe, and there are 31 extra days so as to add memorable moments to the historical past books. This weekend alone introduced just a few unforgettable developments, just like the teaching carousel saga surrounding Lane Kiffin, some rivalry week drama in faculty soccer and a slew of NFL upsets.

Let’s kick off this holly jolly month with every part you’ll want to know from Thanksgiving weekend.

🎠 5 issues to know Monday

1. Lane Kiffin is one among seven coaches on the transfer after a busy weekend on the carousel. Okay all people … Exhale … The Kiffin Watch is lastly over. The now-former Ole Miss coach is formally off to LSU, ending a saga during which he sought to stay with the Rebels at some stage in their Faculty Soccer Playoff run. Kiffin’s transfer was one among seven on the teaching carousel over the weekend, counting Ole Miss’ choice to elevate Pete Golding to move coach within the wake of his exit. Elsewhere, Florida signed Jon Sumrall away from Tulane, Auburn tabbed USF’s Alex Golesh as its subsequent chief and Arkansas employed Ryan Silverfield from Memphis. One other emptiness additionally popped up when Michigan State fired Jonathan Smith simply two years right into a disappointing tenure, however there will not be a protracted alternative seek for the Spartans as they already zeroed in on Pat Fitzgerald. Kentucky can be more likely to be on the hunt because it’s anticipated to fireside Mark Stoops.
2. Rivalry week threw a few wrenches within the Faculty Soccer Playoff race. There was no drama for Ohio State as Ryan Day (lastly) snapped a four-game dropping streak within the collection with Michigan. However in different Week 14 motion, some outcomes had important impacts on the postseason image. Alabama, for one, narrowly prevented Iron Bowl catastrophe and in flip clinched a spot within the SEC Championship Recreation. If the AP Prime 25 is any indication of how the CFP choice committee will react to the rivalry video games, subsequent weekend’s convention championships will seemingly decide which groups survive the bubble.
3. An upset-heavy week within the NFL continued on Sunday. On the heels of the shocking Thanksgiving and Black Friday outcomes, the NFL noticed much more upsets over the weekend. None had been greater than the Panthers’ 31-28 shocker over the Rams, which not solely saved Carolina within the playoff hunt but in addition launched the Bears into the No. 1 seed within the NFC. The Texans’ 20-16 win over the Colts and the Jets’ walk-off win in opposition to the Falcons additionally raised eyebrows.
4. The MLS Cup last matchup is ready, and Lionel Messi will probably be there. It’s Inter Miami CF in opposition to Vancouver Whitecaps FC for league glory. Messi scored or assisted on each Inter Miami purpose this postseason till Tadeo Allende notched the primary purpose of his hat trick within the 5-1 semifinal win over New York Metropolis FC. The Argentine duo guided the membership to its first MLS Cup last, the place the Western Convention champion Whitecaps await on the heels of their 3-1 win over San Diego FC.
5. Feast Week is full, setting the stage for main faculty basketball rankings motion. The most important week of the season to date featured a bevy of high 25 matchups, most of which got here on the Gamers Period Competition in Las Vegas. Michigan flat-out dominated the marquee Feast Week occasion because it defeated San Diego State, Auburn and Gonzaga by no fewer than 30 factors apiece. The Wolverines are projected risers on this week’s AP Prime 25 in consequence. Ranked wins also needs to spark upward motion for Duke, UConn, Michigan State, and it may lead TCU and Kansas into the highest 25.

😵‍💫 Don’t miss this: How Lane Kiffin saved faculty soccer ready and upended the SEC teaching carousel

The choice in Oxford, Mississippi, gripped faculty soccer all weekend and saved everybody ready longer than anticipated. Lane Kiffin was the goal of teaching searches throughout the SEC for a lot of the season and was set to determine Saturday between Ole Miss and his different suitors. However the clock struck midnight with out an announcement, and it was not till Sunday that LSU formally named Kiffin its new coach.

What was with the holdup? Kiffin made it clear to Ole Miss that he needed to stay with the crew for its CFP run, however the college’s brass wasn’t having it. That begs the query: Why ought to they? Kiffin, with one foot out the door, needed to have his cake and eat it, too. And judging by Rebels followers’ bitter reactions to his departure, it will have been nothing however awkward for him to maintain teaching whereas actively attempting to construct a rival program. It could not have been honest to LSU, both, to deal with something however developing a employees and hitting the recruiting path onerous.

After which there’s the fallout of all of it at Ole Miss. The Rebels are left with a employees in flux — albeit with a everlasting head coach in Pete Golding — and can job that crew with conserving the ship afloat in preparation for the CFP. Chris Hummer writes how the entire state of affairs is a “slap within the face” to the Rebels.

🏆 Convention championship recreation lookaheads, CFP stakes

Convention championship video games are set throughout faculty soccer. The headliner? It is a pair of unbeatens within the Huge Ten as Ohio State and Indiana battle for a thirteenth win and the No. 1 seed within the CFP that comes with it. The opposite leagues have CFP implications aplenty of their title video games, too. Let’s type by means of them.

• Huge Ten (Ohio State vs. Indiana): The primary matchup between 12-0 groups in Huge Ten Championship Recreation historical past will decide which squad will get the highest seed within the CFP. However the loser will probably be in good condition too, seemingly nonetheless receiving a first-round bye. See why Tom Fornelli thinks Ohio State will win.
• SEC (Alabama vs. Georgia): The Bulldogs merely can’t appear to shake the Crimson Tide in convention title video games. Kalen DeBoer’s squad must win to get into the playoff, so Kirby Sensible can play spoiler if he will get this monkey off his again. This is Will Backus on why Alabama has the sting.
• Huge 12 (Texas Tech vs. BYU): The regular-season matchup was a one-sided affair within the Purple Raiders’ favor. A repeat of that end result will make the Huge 12 a one-bid league within the CFP. A BYU victory may lock each groups into the bracket. Shehan Jeyarajah foresees a Texas Tech triumph.
• ACC (Virginia vs. Duke): The ACC’s nightmare state of affairs stays alive as it’s not unattainable for five-loss Duke to overlook the playoff even with a convention title. Virginia could be a digital lock to get an automated bid with a win, although. Chip Patterson defined why Duke will come away with the crown.

Playoff hopefuls watching the convention championship video games from residence now not have management of their very own destinies. That’s no drawback for some squads, however these on the bubble will probably be tuned in anxiously to the title bouts and ensuing CFP choice present.

🏈 Bryce Younger leads Panthers to high upset in Sunday’s Week 13 motion

The Texans are the crew to beat within the AFC South, the Panthers are the largest shock crew of 2025 and J.J. McCarthy‘s job because the Vikings‘ beginning quarterback is secure. These are three of Tyler Sullivan’s main takeaways from Sunday’s NFL motion. This is a rundown of all the opposite key developments from this vacation weekend slate:

• Winners: Bryce Younger willed the Panthers to an upset win with a string of clutch fourth-down conversions and three touchdowns, proving the upside that made him a former No. 1 general decide and making him one of many greatest winners of the week. DeMeco Ryans and Mike Macdonald flexed their defensive teaching prowess with a masterclass in opposition to the Colts and a shutout of the Vikings, respectively. The 49ers took benefit of the chance to climb the NFC West ladder with a decisive win over the Browns.
• Losers: The Steelers acquired a “D” grade for totaling simply 166 yards in a putrid offensive effort in opposition to the Payments. Shane Steichen is amongst this week’s losers after the Colts dropped their third recreation in 4 outings, and Raheem Morris‘ inventory is down after the Falcons blew a result in lose to the Jets.
• Milestones: Josh Allen scored his 76th profession dashing landing, good for probably the most in NFL historical past by a quarterback. Cam Newton beforehand held the file. The Vikings reached a not-so-positive landmark after they snapped a 294-game scoring streak with a 26-0 shutout loss to the Seahawks.
• Accidents: Sauce Gardner sustained a calf damage on the primary drive of the Colts‘ loss to the Texans and didn’t return as he sported a boot on the sideline. Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert broke a bone in his non-throwing hand and may have surgical procedure on Monday, however he performed by means of the damage and will try and play subsequent week. Aaron Rodgers briefly exited the Steelers’ loss to the Payments after a strip sack left him bloodied.
• Clinchers: The Cardinals, Saints, Titans and Raiders had been eradicated from playoff competition.

👍👎 One of the best (and not-so-best) of the remaining

• The WNBA and its gamers’ union prolonged the present CBA by 40 days in an try and keep away from the league’s first labor stoppage.
• It seems the Orioles have their nearer for 2026 with the reported signing of Ryan Helsley on a two-year, $28 million contract.
• The neck damage Broderick Jones sustained final week is reportedly anticipated to maintain the Steelers‘ beginning left sort out out for the rest of the season.
• The reunion is off. Frank Ragnow deliberate to come back out of retirement to rejoin the Lions, however the Professional Bowl heart failed his bodily and won’t give Detroit a pre-playoffs increase in any case.
• A thriller, masked man aided Bron Breakker to a win at WWE Survivor Sequence: Struggle Video games. A title additionally modified palms on the occasion as Liv Morgan helped Dominik Mysterio defeat John Cena to regain the Intercontinental Championship. Cena’s last match will probably be Dec. 13 in opposition to the winner of a multi-week match.
• The U.S. girls’s nationwide crew will shut out 2025 on Monday with a pleasant in opposition to Italy. The People defeated Italy, 3-0, on Friday. This is what you’ll want to know forward of the rematch.
• Extra defensive assistance is on the way in which for the surging Cowboys, who designated cornerback Trevon Diggs to return from injured reserve.
• The Browns will keep on with Shedeur Sanders as their beginning quarterback for Week 14, organising a rookie-versus-rookie conflict with Cam Ward and the Titans.
• The Curry brothers are reunited once more. Seth Curry will reportedly signal with the Warriors to a one-year deal for the remainder of the season, setting him as much as play alongside Stephen Curry.
• Tom Aspinall nonetheless awaits medical clearance after Ciryl Gane eyepoked him at UFC 321 in October.
• Cooper Flagg turned the youngest participant in NBA historical past to file at the very least 35 factors, surpassing LeBron James by 5 days.
• Giannis Antetokounmpo stated he needs to interrupt LeBron James’ NBA scoring file earlier than he retires. The mathematics signifies it’s doable, albeit extremely difficult.

📺 What we’re watching Monday

🏒 Penguins at Flyers, 7 p.m. on NHL Community
⚽ Ladies’s worldwide pleasant: United States vs. Italy, 7 p.m. on TBS
🏀 Bulls at Magic, 7:30 p.m. on Peacock
🏈 Giants at Patriots, 8:15 p.m. on ESPN
🏀 Suns at Lakers, 10 p.m. on Peacock