Thursday's Report: Scores, Mercer, Georgia College/FVSU; UGA/Mississippi, Falcons, Hawks, Braves, Tech; College football playoffs/bowls/news, NFL, college basketball, NBA, hockey, golf
📰S📰C📰O📰R📰E📰B📰O📰A📰R📰D
High Schools
(Teams: Please post first and last names, and names are preferred over social media handles (they know who they are, most people don’t) and post team names, not mascots)
🏀🏀🏀Boys Basketball🏀🏀🏀
Dodge County 52, Jasper County 49
Xavier McCoy dropped 4 3-pointer en route to 14 points to lead Dodge County. Kyler Johnson had 10 points, 16 rebounds, and 4 blocks.
Mary Pesons 39, Cairo 38
Mitchell County 70, Central 46
Putnam County 67, Sumter 60
J’Mari Green led the way again with 21 points, just ahead of 19 from Tamaud Woodson. Jeremy Banks chipped in 14 and Jaylen Nelson 10.
🏫🏫🏫College🏫🏫🏫
(Colleges: Please post links to stories with social media posts, and team names instead of logos in graphics)
🏀🏀🏀Basketball🏀🏀🏀
M-Furman 74, Mercer 72
W-Georgia College 65, Fort Valley State 60
W-Middle Georgia State 72, Agnes Scott 36
Pro
🏒🏒🏒SPHL🏒🏒🏒
Pensacola 2, Macon 1
🏀🏀🏀NBA🏀🏀🏀
📰C📰O📰V📰E📰R📰A📰G📰E📰
Around/About Central Georgia
Wilkins scores 20, hits winner to lift Furman over Mercer in Southern Conference opener
WBKB-Georgia College fends off Fort Valley State
MBKB-Bobcats finish year with tight win
Around/About Georgia
The best stats from Robinson's record-breaking night
A Falcons iron man: Jake Matthews chases dad's historic streak
Johnson scores 34 points as Hawks roll past Timberwolves to end 7-game losing streak
What would the plan look like if the Hawks were to move off Trae Young?
Can Atlanta’s Harris find consistency -- and superstar form - in '26?
State college basketball
Boozer’s double-double helps No. 6 Duke hold off Georgia Tech in ACC opener
Speer’s 26 lead Marshall over Georgia State
Sugar Bowl: Mississippi vs. Georgia
No. 3 Georgia is eager to make better Sugar Bowl memories while No. 6 Ole Miss eyes payback
Bobo doesn't need national title to feel fulfilled
Will Kiffin show up at Sugar Bowl?
Mississippi vs. Georgia prediction, odds, pick for CFP quarterfinal at the Sugar Bowl
Georgia vs. Ole Miss: players to watch, key to the Sugar Bowl
Three biggest things Georgia must do to beat Mississippi in CFP Sugar Bowl
Golding looking at Georgia when it comes to rebuilding Mississippi
Dawgs vs. Rebels: players to watch, key to the Sugar Bowl
A Worthy Read
Origin stories behind the trophies heighten college football rivalry games on the smaller stage
College Football Playoffs
Thursday
Orange Bowl: No. 4 Texas Tech vs. Oregon — Noon ET, ESPN
Rose Bowl: No. 1 Indiana vs. Alabama — 4 p.m. ET, ESPN
Sugar Bowl: No. 3 Georgia vs. Ole Miss — 8 p.m. ET, ESPN
College Football/Playoffs
College Football Playoff picks: Buckeyes, Red Raiders, Hoosiers, Bulldogs are expected to advance
Miami beats defending national champ Ohio State in the CFP quarterfinal at Cotton Bowl
Hyde: Hurricanes show they’re not done in beating Ohio State
Defending champ Ohio State loses to Miami as teams with first-round byes drop to 0-5 in playoff
Orange Bowl showdown: Texas Tech and Oregon are mirror images, set to face off in CFP quarterfinals
Oregon, Texas Tech set to make Orange Bowl debuts, with berth in CFP semifinals at stake
Can Alabama QB Simpson continue 'let it rip' mentality vs Indiana?
Role reversals: Alabama returns to the Rose Bowl as a CFP underdog to face powerhouse Indiana
Alabama defenders Hubbard, Lawson and Jefferson are traveling redemption road to the Rose Bowl
Alabama, the 'SEC juggernaut,' is trying to embrace underdog status
What exactly is the point of a playoff, anyway?
College Football/Postseason/Bowls
Iowa holds off Vanderbilt’s comeback bid for 34-27 victory in the ReliaQuest Bowl
Mensah throws for 4 TDs and leads Duke to a 42-39 win over Arizona State in the Sun Bowl
Dampier leads No. 15 Utah past Nebraska in Las Vegas Bowl
Manning uses arm and legs to lead No. 14 Texas to a 41-27 Citrus Bowl win over No. 18 Michigan
Everything Bielema said after Illinois beat Tennessee in the Music City Bowl
College Football/Coaching carousel
Jax State OL coach Trickett to reunite with Rodriguez at WVU
College Football/Coaching carousel, the next few days
Whittingham confident his style will be a familiar fit as Michigan’s football coach
Whittingham not a Michigan Man. That's exactly what program needs to fix this mess
College Football/SEC/ACC
Why did Swinney fire Conn after 10 seasons on Clemson staff?
Who will Swinney hire to replace fired Garrett Riley? 7 Clemson OC candidates
College Football
While some college coaches have adapted to new era, others are still stuck in the past
Sumrall calls for the CFP to continue allowing access to at least one G5 team
NFL/NFC
'This is it': After Sunday's loss, Panthers still have one last chance at Tampa Bay
Buccaneers are focused on playing the Panthers, knowing they’ll need help to win the NFC South
Eagles’ risky move: Set to rest key starters against Washington in bid for No. 2 seed
Vikes’ McCarthy returns to practice, with progress on hand injury giving him chance to play vs. Pack
NFL/AFC
Patriots defensive lineman Christian Barmore accused of throwing girlfriend to the ground
Allen could use a break, and he’s expected to get one in Buffalo’s season finale against Jets
Is Ravens' John Harbaugh coaching for job against Steelers' Mike Tomlin?
Pittsburgh could have Watt back for ‘AFC North championship’ showdown against Ravens
The erratic Steelers blew a chance to clinch the AFC North in Cleveland. Week 18 could go either way
NFL/USFL/UFL/Football
Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald lead Pro Football Hall of Fame modern era finalists
Picks: Panthers, Ravens will win their divisions; 49ers will edge Seahawks for NFC’s No. 1 seed
College Basketball/SEC/ACC/South
Longwood secures 82-70 victory against Winthrop
Godfrey scores 14, Welling plays key role in final seconds and Clemson edges Syracuse
Machowski scores 27 to lead Wofford over Western Carolina 79-74 in Southern Conference opener
Brumbaugh scores 19 as Tulane beats East Carolina 79-70 in AAC opener for both teams
Parker Jr. scores 24 points, Radford wins 76-69 against South Carolina Upstate
Sumler scores 29, Charleston Southern downs Gardner-Webb 89-79 in Big South Conference open
Dowd’s 22 lead Troy past Texas State
Marcus’ 20 lead Appalachian State over Old Dominion
College Basketball/Women
Women’s basketball conference plays begins to heat up with start of new year
Fudd, Sarah Strong lead No. 1 UConn to 30th straight win, 90-53 over Providence
Betts surpasses 1,500 career points and No. 4 UCLA beats Penn State
Miles’ 10th career triple-double leads No. 8 TCU to a 72-48 rout of BYU
College Basketball/Men
Painter’s masterpiece and master class against the NCAA
No. 4 UConn beats Xavier 90-67 behind Mullins and Karaban
Virginia Tech pulls away from No. 21 Virginia in triple overtime
NBA/Basketball
Edwards leaves bench late in loss for 2nd early exit from a Timberwolves game in 1 week
Suns guard Jalen Green fined $25,000 by NBA for using profanity during teammate’s interview
Gilgeous-Alexander scores 30 points as Thunder top Trail Blazers
Spurs survive injury scare to Wembanyama, rally to beat Knicks in NBA Cup final rematch
Hockey
MacKinnon scores 400th goal and Nichushkin nets hat trick as Avalanche rout Blues
Golf
If 2026 is great, we will thank these 2025 leadership changes
Golf is a family affair for Steve Stricker’s family and that includes wife Nicki
Scoreboards
Women’s college basketball scores/games
Men’s college basketball scores/games