Well, we’ve arrived at that time of the year when events of 2025 are remembered, and the promise of 2026 is looked forward to with resolutions in hand. Rather than reminisce about memorable happenings of the past year and wax eloquent about the upcoming twelve months, let’s just discuss the college and professional football scene, along with a dash of high school basketball and a pinch of New Year’s toasts.
As promised in last week’s award-winning column, here are my fearless predictions for the quarterfinal games in the College Football Playoffs—
—Wednesday night features a New Year’s Eve Cotton Bowl from Dallas between THE and Miami, (FL). Miami’s had a resurgence over the last half of the season and shut down a good Texas A&M squad in a first-round playoff game, but barring some misfortune or fluke plays, THE is too strong overall. I like the Buckeyes by a 27-13 count.
—The first game on New Year’s Day features Texas Tech and Oregon in the Orange Bowl at Miami. Tech has had a tremendous season and plays tough defense, but Oregon is loaded offensively. Look for the Ducks to prevail 34-20.
—The “Granddaddy of Them All”, the Rose Bowl in Pasadena sees the number-one seeded Hoosiers of Indiana continuing their two-year Cinderella story against perennial power Alabama. This is going to be a close call, but I like IU by a touchdown, 27-20.
—The final game on Thursday comes from N’Orleans as the Sugar Bowl matches Georgia and Ole Miss. Without the traitorous Lane Kiffin (he who left to coach LSU) on the sideline, Ole Miss will struggle against the premier program of the Bulldogs, leading me to call it Georgia 34-10.
Keep in mind that these prognostications and five dollars “might” buy you a cup of coffee and a doughnut somewhere!
Here’s a trivia question for you—not counting the CFP games, name the last two of the thirty-six other bowl games scheduled, both of which will be played this Friday. Keep in mind that the national semifinals will be played on January 8th and 9th.
The Bengals rolled over the featherless Cardinals Sunday, displaying the kind of football that all Cincinnati fans had hoped for the entire season, something which, unfortunately, has become an annual December happening. The Browns knocked off the Steelers in a defensive struggle, forcing Pittsburgh into a “must-win” encounter with the Ravens next weekend for the AFC North title and a playoff spot. And, of course, the Bengals and meet in the season finale down on the Ohio River with nothing more than bragging rights and draft positions at stake.
High school basketball rolls on with many games on tap this week, including some holiday tournaments for both boys and girls. How important is coaching, you may ask, at the high school level? In addition to motivation in dealing with teenagers and all of the angst that can bring, plus the teaching of the basic fundamentals of the game, coaches are relied on to game plan the X’s and O’s that will give their teams the best chances for victory. Case in point, Tri Village’s win over D-I Fairmont Saturday night. The D-VI Patriots demolished a good Firebirds team 55-19, much to the delight of the hometown fans. The 2-3 zone played by T-V was one of the best I’ve seen in many years of watching high school roundball, completely shutting down Fairmont’s inside game and still pressuring their outside shooters. Hats off to Coach Josh Sagester and his staff!!
Speaking of basketball, it was 134 years ago this month that a little-known professor at Springfield College in Massachusetts created a game to keep his physical education classes from being bored during the winter months. Dr. James Naismith tacked a peach basket up at each end of a small gymnasium, brought out a soccer ball, and compiled thirteen rules for a sport he called “basketball”.
Amazingly the peach baskets were approximately 10’ off the floor, due to the height of the balcony surrounding the gym! A janitor was employed to climb a ladder and retrieve the ball from the basket after each made goal, which eventually led to putting a hole in the bottom of the basket, allowing a mop handle to poke the ball out. Finally, someone decided to cut off the bottom of the baskets, a particularly genius move! It wasn’t until 1906 that metal hoops, nets, and backboards became prevalent. And even more amazing, the thirteen original rules still form the basis of basketball as we know it today!
The final two non-CFP bowl games will be the Duke’s Mayo Bowl (famous for the winning coach being doused by a barrel of mayonnaise!) from Charlotte between Mississippi State and Wake Forest, and the Holiday Bowl in San Diego, matching Arizona and SMU. Not sure those games will be high on anyone’s “must see” list!
And finally, this astute observation—“Youth is when you’re allowed to stay up late on New Year’s Eve. Middle age is when you’re forced to.” And, with just enough Irish blood coursing through my body, this thought as we enter 2026:
“May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind always be at your back, may the sun shine warm upon your face; the rains fall soft upon your fields, and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.” Here’s wishing you a prosperous and Happy New Year!!
Foo
