Alabama vs. Indiana prediction: Beat writers pick Rose Bowl winner

AlabamaandIndianawill meet for the first time in today'sCollege Football Playoffquarterfinal at the Rose Bowl.

Indiana entered the 2025 season as thelosingest team in college football history. Now,Curt Cignetti's Hoosiers (13-0) are ranked No. 1 and in the Rose Bowl for thefirst time since 1968. Awaiting them is perennial power Alabama (11-3) in a prove-it moment.

HowHeisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendozaand Ty Simpson handle the wet conditions could be a huge factor.

Writers fromIndyStar,The Herald-TimesandTuscaloosa News, all part of USA TODAY Co., provided their predictions for Thursday's CFP quarterfinal matchup. The winner advances to the Peach Bowl for a semifinal showdown with either Texas Tech or Oregon.

Best of bowl season: Mascots, trophies, celebrations, Gatorade baths

Alabama vs Indiana prediction

∎Depends on weather: I will stand, as the kids say, on business. If Thursday isn't played in a downpour, I think Alabama will be comfortable living without a lot of what Indiana takes away defensively, and I think the Crimson Tide found something in Norman in the first-round comeback. Provided decent weather,Alabama 27, Indiana 24. If it is pouring down rain,Indiana 28, Alabama 10, because at that point, the game will be defined by who can run the football, and only one of these teams can. So I'm standing mostly on business.— Zach Osterman, IndyStar

∎Indiana 31, Alabama 17:Alabama has plenty of talent and the comeback win over Oklahoma seemed to give it some momentum, but it has plenty of flaws. The Tide don't have a balanced offense (they have the No. 120-ranked run offense in the FBS), struggle to protect quarterback Ty Simpson at times and don't consistently rush the passer, either.

Those three things are of particular concern in the Rose Bowl when going up against Indiana that can score in a hurry if Fernando Mendoza has time in the pocket and has a defense that's dominated one-dimensional opponents.

Indiana will be coming off a lengthy layoff and the weather is a wild card, but none of that kind of 'clutter' as Curt Cignetti likes to say has tripped them up before. The Hoosiers have beaten better teams (Ohio State) that are just as athletic (Oregon) in much tougher environments. This would have been a more challenging moment for last year's team, but this battle-tested group knows its strengths and will come out on top on New Year's Day.— Michael Niziolek, The Herald-Times

∎Alabama 24, Indiana 21:Indiana is, by far, the best team Alabama has faced all season with a top-five scoring offense and a top-two scoring defense nationally. The Crimson Tide's defense has lived up to expectation against top offenses, shutting down Tennessee and Vanderbilt in the regular season, both of which are top-10 scoring offenses nationally. Paired with a surging offense, one that was methodical and consistent against an Oklahoma defense that is one of the best in college football, Alabama could be peaking at the right time, something that could mark trouble for the Hoosiers.— Colin Gay, Tuscaloosa News

∎Alabama 20, Indiana 17:A low-scoring affair. Both defenses are legit, and neither offense is dangerous enough to take the score into the 30s. Field position will play an important role.— Chase Goodbread, Tuscaloosa News

When is Alabama vs Indiana today in Rose Bowl?

• When: 4 p.m., Thursday, Jan .1

• Where: Pasadena, Calif.

What TV channel is Alabama vs Indiana today in Rose Bowl

• TV: ESPN

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Alabama vs Indiana prediction: Writers pick Rose Bowl CFP quarterfinal winner

byCristiano Ronaldo

in

January 01, 2026

Alabama vs. Indiana prediction: Beat writers pick Rose Bowl winner

AlabamaandIndianawill meet for the first time in today'sCollege Football Playoffquarterfinal at the Rose Bowl. ...

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Ole Miss vs. Georgia prediction: Beat writers pick Sugar Bowl winner

TheSugar Bowlis an all-SECmatchup asOle MissandGeorgiameet in aCollege Football Playoffquarterfinal tonight.

The two teams met Oct. 18, a 43-35 Bulldogs win. Gunner Stockton completed 26-of-31 passes for 289 yards and four touchdowns and Georgia (12-1) held Ole Miss to 88 rushing yards.

Ole Miss (12-1) cruised in its CFP first round game against Tulane, another rematch. Pete Golding's debut was nearly perfect. Can he engineer an upset in New Orleans?

Writers fromClarion LedgerandAthens Banner-Herald, both part of USA TODAY Co., provided their predictions for Thursday night's CFP quarterfinal matchup. The winner advances to the Fiesta Bowl for a semifinal showdown with either Ohio State or Miami.

Best of bowl season: Mascots, trophies, celebrations, Gatorade baths

Ole Miss vs Georgia prediction

∎Georgia 34, Ole Miss 21:Kirby Smart's 4-0 record in rematches is not something to dismiss. The matchups are largely the same and the teams that played 10 weeks and 5 days ago have grown. Georgia, in particular, is a much better team defensively. Ole Miss gave the Bulldogs all they could handle until the fourth quarter of the first game in a 43-35 Georgia win.

Georgia seems about as locked in as can be given player movement is about to crank up with the transfer portal opening next month. A good chunk of the Ole Miss coaching staff is pulling double duty for their new jobs at LSU, but will turn attention to this game after Christmas. The Bulldogs were on a heater when they hit the playoff bye. Expect them to pick up where they left off with the defense raising its game considerably since the first matchup.— Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-Herald

∎Georgia 28, Ole Miss 27: The Rebels dominated Tulane in the first round of the CFP, but the Bulldogs represent Ole Miss' first significant test the post-Lane Kiffin era. Georgia is coming off a 28-7 win against Alabama in the SEC championship and is playing well enough late in the season to win.— Sam Hutchens, Clarion Ledger

∎Georgia 28, Ole Miss 23: In the Oct. 18 game, Ole Miss was the better team for three quarters, but gotoutscored 17-0 in the fourth. Georgia's pass defense is the weakest part of its defensive game, giving up 205.3 yards per game. It's one of the few major defensive statistics in which the Bulldogs aren't ranked in the top 15 nationally.

Conversely, Ole Miss is third in the FBS with 312.4 passing yards per game. Chambliss has been the team's breakout star. He threw for 262 yards and a touchdown in the first matchup and rushed for two more scores. Another big game from him could be all it takes for Ole Miss to have a chance.

Beating a team twice in one season is difficult, but Georgia has found ways to win all season. It has gotten only stronger since the first meeting.—Tia Reed, Clarion Ledger

When is Ole Miss vs Georgia today in Sugar Bowl?

• When: 8 p.m., Thursday, Jan .1

• Where: New Orleans

What TV channel is Ole Miss vs Georgia today in Sugar Bowl

• TV: ESPN

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Ole Miss vs Georgia prediction: Writers pick Sugar Bowl CFP quarterfinal

byCristiano Ronaldo

in

January 01, 2026

Ole Miss vs. Georgia prediction: Beat writers pick Sugar Bowl winner

TheSugar Bowlis an all-SECmatchup asOle MissandGeorgiameet in aCollege Football Playoffquarterfinal tonight. The...

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Eagles will reportedly rest Jalen Hurts and other key starters in Week 18 despite chance at No. 2 seed in NFC

The Philadelphia Eagles have a shot at securing the No. 2 seed in the NFC in Week 18, but theteam is reportedly going to prioritize restover putting its best players on the field. The Eagles are expected to rest Jalen Hurts and other key starters when the team takes on the Washington Commanders on Sunday, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

If Hurts is held out of the contest, it's presumed backup Tanner McKee will get the start against the Commanders in Week 18. McKee has appeared in three games this season, throwing just three passes.

While Hurts was the only player specifically mentioned in the report, other key offensive starters like A.J. Brown, Saquon Barkley and DeVonta Smith, among others, could also miss the contest.

Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni previously hinted at the possibility the team could rest its starters in Week 18. When asked about it Monday,Sirianni mentioned the benefits of having a "bye" weekheading into the playoffs. He noted that the two most recent times the team rested its starters in Week 18 — 2022 and 2024 — it reached the Super Bowl.

While that's a solid reason for once again employing the strategy, it could raise some eyebrows among Eagles fans. Philadelphia enters Week 18 with a shot at the No. 2 seed in the NFC. If the Eagles beat the Commanders and the Chicago Bears lose to the Detroit Lions, the Eagles would jump up to the No. 2 seed in the NFC. That would ensure the Eagles host home games throughout the playoffs unless they have to play the No. 1 seed — which hasn't been determined, but will be one of the Seattle Seahawks or San Francisco 49ers. As it stands, the Eagles will enter Week 18 as the No. 3 seed in the NFC.

With the Eagles resting their starters, the Commanders presumably have a better chance of winning the contest. But after a strong 2024, Washington has fallen back to earth following multiple injuries to quarterback Jayden Daniels, who the team shut down with a few weeks left in the regular season. Daniels' backup, Marcus Mariota, is also injured, which could lead to the Commanders once again turning to third-string quarterback Josh Johnson. That could lead to the game being much closer than expected despite the Eagles reportedly writing it off as a "bye" week.

Despite another strong season, the Eagles face plenty of questions entering the playoffs. The team's offense, which ranked seventh in points per game last season, hasn't found its rhythm this year. The Eagles rank 19th in points per game this season, the team's first under new offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo.

While the Eagles could use Week 18 as an opportunity to right the ship — something the Los Angeles Rams will look to do after head coach Sean McVay said theteam needed to improve— Philadelphia will instead hope a week of rest has everyone feeling good ahead of the playoffs.

There's no definitive evidence that supports either approach. The Eagles have shown in recent seasons that rest can work. McVay's Rams have shown, at times, that rest in Week 18 can lead to a team coming out flat in the playoffs.

Despite the fact there's no right answer, that won't stop Eagles fans from ripping Sirianni and the team if it suffers a disappointing loss in the first week of the playoffs after taking it easy in Week 18.

byCristiano Ronaldo

in

December 31, 2025

Eagles will reportedly rest Jalen Hurts and other key starters in Week 18 despite chance at No. 2 seed in NFC

The Philadelphia Eagles have a shot at securing the No. 2 seed in the NFC in Week 18, but theteam is reportedly going to ...

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Christian McCaffrey injury update: 49ers' RB misses practice

Christian McCaffreyis the engine that powers theSan Francisco 49ers' offense.

Could an injury prevent him from playing in the regular season finale? The star running back has managed to avoid those issues all season long, but he popped up on the injury report with a back ailment ahead ofWeek 18.

Early indications are that it's just a stiff back for McCaffrey and the overall concern appears to be minimal. Regardless, his status is now in question for the team's matchup against theSeattle Seahawkson Saturday, Jan. 3.

49ERS PLAYOFF PICTURE:Scenarios, chances for San Francisco to win NFC West

The No. 1 seed in the NFC is on line in San Francisco and all eyes are now on the health of McCaffrey.

Here's the latest on the 49ers running back.

Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.

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Best images of the 2025 NFL season

Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18)makes a catch for a touchdownagainst the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.

Christian McCaffrey injury update

McCaffrey missed practice on Tuesday, Dec. 30 with a stiff back.

The running back has routinely missed the first official practice of the week all season for rest-related reasons. Given his injury history, it appears San Francisco has been doing everything in its power to ensure the star would be fresh for a postseason run.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan didn't seem too concerned about the injury for McCaffrey,telling reporters on Dec. 30that it's only a stiff back. The coach added that it was an ailment that popped up against theTennessee Titanson Dec. 14.

"I know he battled it hard that week, but I haven't heard anything about it since," Shanahan said. "It might have stiffened up in the game, and it was sore from Sunday night, so that's why we've got him on here today."

Shanahan indicated that the team has been holding walkthrough practices since their Week 18 contest against the Seahawks comes on a short week.

Injuries have been a problem for the 49ers throughout the 2025 season, but McCaffrey doesn't appear to be in danger of missing the regular season finale at this time.

That concern will ramp up if he continues to be sidelined though.

More:Seahawks at 49ers: Predictions, picks and odds for NFL Week 18 game

49ers RB depth chart

• Christian McCaffrey

• Brian Robinson Jr.

• Jordan James

• Isaac Guerendo

McCaffrey handles a majority of the workload in the San Francisco backfield with a small dose of Robinson snaps sprinkled in.

James and Guerendo remain on the outside looking in at this point in the season.

Shanahan indicated that James moved ahead of Guerendo on the depth chart, but it would still take an injury for him to get some playing time.

If McCaffrey can't go in Week 18, expect the 49ers to roll with a combination of Robinson and James.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Christian McCaffrey injury update: 49ers RB has stiff back

byCristiano Ronaldo

in

December 31, 2025

Christian McCaffrey injury update: 49ers' RB misses practice

Christian McCaffreyis the engine that powers theSan Francisco 49ers' offense. Could an injury preven...

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Female Chef Accusing Stefon Diggs of Assault Shares Alleged Texts From Patriots Star: 'I Won't Be Paying You S---'

Kathryn Riley/Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• The former chef of the New England Patriots' star receiver Stefon Diggs provided text messages she allegedly exchanged with her former boss to police after accusing him of assault

• The exchange starts with the woman demanding that the recipient, who she says is Diggs, pay out her entire contact for the season despite leaving early

• Diggs allegedly responded that he did not want to pay her and another chef and that he "don't got to do a mf thing"

Stefon Diggsallegedly refused to pay out the full contract of his former female chef, according to text messages she shared with police, which she claims are from the New England Patriots' star receiver.

The texts were included in an incident report created by the Dedham Police Department and obtained by PEOPLE whichdetails Diggs' alleged assault of the chef.

The exchange that the female provided to police began with a text she sent to a recipient she identified as Diggs, which read: "You will [be] paying me out for the season & the money you said you would give me for my business. wasted my f---ing time being here because you got a f---ing circus going on. I'm out of your life."

The person who the female identified as Diggs then responded: "I won't be paying you s---," followed by another text which said, "F--- I look like paying you and paying another xhef [sic]."

That same individual later texted: "I don't got to do a mf thing."

Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty

It is unclear if the texts were sent before or after the alleged incident between the female chef and Diggs that resulted in police filing a felony charge of strangulation and a misdemeanor charge of assault against the footballer.

The texts are not timestamped and there is no timeline for the exchange provided in the police report.

The chef sent the texts to police after she first reported her allegations against Diggs on Dec. 16 — two weeks after the alleged incident.

She alleged to police that things escalated between her and her former employer after she approached him about back pay she claimed to be owed, according to the report. Then, Diggs allegedly walked into her bedroom after the two had "been having an ongoing text exchange over money owed to [her]," the report states.

As the two again started to discuss the matter, Diggs allegedly became "angered," the woman told police, per the report. She alleged that Diggs then "smacked her across the face," and she pushed him away.

Diggs is then accused of attacking the woman, who alleged in her interview with police that he "tried to choke her using the crook of his elbow around her neck."

She told police that she "did have trouble breathing and could've blacked out," and also alleged that "as she tried to pry [Diggs'] arm away, he tightened his grip."

Diggs allegedly released her at some point and "threw her on the bed," the woman claimed, according to the report.

She alleged that Diggs then left the bedroom and said, "Thought so."

Kathryn Riley/Getty

The female told police she did not want to file a police report when she first reported the incident, but had a change of heart on Dec. 23 and asked police to move forward with charging Diggs.

It was after that first meeting and before deciding to pursue charges that the woman provided police with her text messages, which the report noted came from a different phone number than the one provided by the female.

She told police that the texts were sent from her work phone.

A lawyer for Diggs, who is in hisfirst year of a three-year, $69 million contractwith the Patriots and recentlywelcomed a new babywith hisGrammy-winning girlfriend Cardi B, told PEOPLE he "categorically denies the allegations."

David Meier, who is representing Diggs, called the claims made by the employee "unsubstantiated, uncorroborated" before adding that they "were never investigated — because they did not occur."

He also said that the allegations are a "direct result of an employee-employer financial dispute that was not resolved to the employee's satisfaction."

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE's free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

The Patriots reiterated that Diggs "categorically denies the allegations" in a separate statement. "We will continue to gather information and will cooperate fully with the appropriate authorities and the NFL as necessary," the organization added.

The NFL said the league was monitoring the situation.

Diggs is due to appear in Dedham District Court on Jan. 23 to be arraigned in the case.

Read the original article onPeople

byCristiano Ronaldo

in

December 31, 2025

Female Chef Accusing Stefon Diggs of Assault Shares Alleged Texts From Patriots Star: 'I Won't Be Paying You S---'

Kathryn Riley/Getty NEED TO KNOW The former chef of the New England Patriots' star receiver Stefon Diggs provided text messages she a...

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No. 16 USC suffers shocking, walk-off loss to TCU in overtime of Alamo Bowl

For a nine-win team such asUSC, once again on the outside looking in at theCollege Football Playoff, the bowl season can feel a bit like purgatory. One foot in the past season, the other in the future, your team trapped somewhere in-between.

There were glimpses of each Tuesday night for USC in a brutal30-27 overtime defeatto Texas Christian in the Alamo Bowl. There were equal reminders all night both of what could have been this season, had USC ever played at its best for long, and also flashes of why it never managed to be.

In one moment, there was freshmanTanook Hines, sprinting to catch a deep ball in stride, announcing himself as a rising star. In another, a TCU running back was busting his way through tackles on third-and-long, rumbling improbably into the end zone, deflating any such delusions of grandeur.

But after oscillating between those opposing poles, the final minutes against TCU took the Trojans on a tour of all their most glaring concerns from the 2025 season, from the leaky defense to the missed opportunities on offense.

The Trojans saw a two-score lead evaporate in the final minutes of regulation. They got all the way to the five-yard line in overtime, only for the offense to stall and settle for a field goal. They even sacked TCU quarterback Ken Seals on second and 10, pushing the Horned Frogs out of field-goal range and forcing a third and 20.

All signs in that moment pointed toward the Trojans securing their 10th win, a feat they achieved only once over the past eight years. But then, against a three-man USC rush and with eight defenders in coverage, Seals checked down to running backJeremy Paynein the flat.

"We did everything right defensively to put them in that position,"USC coach Lincoln Rileysaid.

Nothing, though, went right for USC after that. Payne broke through a tackle from cornerbackMarcelles Williams. Two defenders, linebackerJadyn Walkerand safetyKennedy Urlacher, collided as they reached Payne next, missing him entirely. Then, he slipped through safetyChristian Pierce's hands and was suddenly sprinting free 35 yards for the win.

"Wasn't a lot of time this year that we missed multiple tackles on a play," Riley said. "It just happened in the worst time possible."

Read more:Meet the Hanson family, the secret to USC's offensive line success

That's how most of the fourth quarter and overtime felt for USC, as TCU racked up 159 yards and 17 points over its final three drives.

Of course, there had been multiple chances before then for USC to put the game away, just like there were multiple chances for USC to make more of its 9-4 finish this season. The Trojans averaged nearly a full yard per play more than TCU. They racked up eight plays of 20 yards or more — a reminder of how explosive they could be.

In the red zone, though, the offense unraveled. QuarterbackJayden Maiava, who was inconsistent most of the night, threw a third-quarter interception in the end zone, just as USC looked primed to push down the gas pedal.

Four other times, the Trojans stalled inside of TCU's 25-yard line and settled for field goals. In the process, kickerRyon Sayeriset the USC record for field goals in a season at 21.

"We just did not execute good enough in the red zone on either side of the ball," Riley said. "If we did that, it's probably a different feeling."

Instead, the Trojans will have to carry this bitter taste into the offseason, with questions already looming about what comes next. Not the least of which being what direction USC will take its defense, after coordinatorD'Anton Lynn departed for Penn Statejust before the game.

Riley wouldn't comment on why Lynn was replaced as playcaller the day of the bowl game. But when asked how he felt about the future of his defense, Riley projected a particularly sunny outlook.

"I feel fantastic," he said. "But those who really study the game and watch how we've played and the way we've been able to improve, the arrow is just pointing straight up."

Of all the questions raised Tuesday, how USC might replace its No. 1 wideout next season was not one of them. Hines had already done his part to earn that role, but declared it to the world anyway in a six-catch, 163-yard performance.

King Miller also continued to solidify his place in a tandem with Waymond Jordan in 2027, as he rushed for 99 yards and a touchdown, coming up just short of the 1,000-yard mark in a season he started as a walk-on.

But the silver linings largely stopped there, even if the circumstances made for an unusually uphill climb with USC's roster. Over a dozen starters or would-be starters sat out. Three of the Trojans' starting offensive linemen didn't dress. Both of their top receivers and top tight end were in street clothes, having declared for the NFL draft. Twenty-five players listed in USC's two-deep Tuesday were either freshmen or redshirt freshmen.

Without Lynn calling plays, which a source described as "a mutual agreement", defensive line coach Eric Henderson stepped into the role.

It went quite smoothly at first. USC held TCU to two straight three-and-outs — and just 11 total yards in two drives — to open the game.

Read more:USC defensive coordinator D'Anton Lynn takes Penn State defensive coordinator job

But on the ensuing possession, Maiava threw into heavy coverage and was intercepted, his first of two on the day. The momentum USC had built up early dissolved almost instantly.

The defense's strong start faded into disarray. And while it came roaring back after halftime, forcing an interception and limiting TCU to just 35 yards in the third quarter, USC's offense couldn't fully capitalize. A one-handed touchdown pass to Jaden Richardson nearly did the trick, giving the Trojans a 21-14 lead that seemed primed to balloon from there.

But it never did. And in the final, stunned moments of its season, Riley was left offering the same assurances that USC will soon be out of purgatory.

"When you've been in those programs and been a part of those teams that have done those things, you feel what it's like," Riley said. "And this place is doing all the things that you need to do to put yourself in position to go bust that door down and do it."

Sign up for more USC news with Times of Troy. In your inbox every Monday morning.

This story originally appeared inLos Angeles Times.

byCristiano Ronaldo

in

December 31, 2025

No. 16 USC suffers shocking, walk-off loss to TCU in overtime of Alamo Bowl

For a nine-win team such asUSC, once again on the outside looking in at theCollege Football Playoff, the bowl season can feel a bit like pu...

Read More