The 2025 NCAA volleyball tournament regional rounds had elite play, high-stakes matches and an historic upset.

Texas A&M is going to the Final Four after shocking the volleyball world by eliminating No. 1 overall seed Nebraska in a five-set thriller. The No. 1 overall seeded Cornhuskers had their formally undefeated season and hopes for a sixth program title squashed.

No. 1 seeds Kentucky and Pittsburgh and No. 3 seeded Wisconsin will join the Aggies in Kansas City for the national semifinals, which will be played at the T-Mobile Center on Thursday, Dec. 18.

Which program will win a national championship? As the teams prepare for their toughest tests yet and continue their push for a national title, here are the winners and losers from the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight rounds.

Winners

Texas A&M’s upset of No. 1 Nebraska

The Aggies had an answer for nearly everything the Cornhuskers unleashed. Texas A&M deployed a tempo offense, service pressure and timely blocks to disrupt the usually surefire Cornhuskers. Even after withstanding a two-set Nebraska rally to even up the match, which included 10 Cornhuskers set points and three Aggies match points in the fourth set, Texas A&M hit the gas in the final set to end Nebraska’s perfect season. The Aggies responded to every push from Harper Murray and Rebekah Allick and held standout Andi Jackson in check. Kyndal Stowers had 25 kills to lead three Texas A&M players with double digits in the category. The Aggies had 30 total blocks and nine aces.

No. 1 seeds sweep in the Sweet 16

All four No. 1s made outlasted their opponents during the Sweet 16. Kentucky easily moved past Cal Poly, Pittsburgh grinded out a win over Minnesota, Texas edged out Indiana and Nebraska cruised past Kansas. The Jayhawks had the roughest day among the ousted teams. They had 22 attack errors, six service errors and finished the match with a .029 team hitting percentage.

Pitt’s excellent pancake kill against Minnesota

No. 4 seed Minnesota gave No. 1 Pittsburgh all it could handle, despite the Panthers walking away with a 3-0 victory. Pittsburgh earned every point during an intense back-and-forth matchup that had a stunning 23 ties. Nothing represented the type of match it was more than a sequence in the second set when Minnesota’s Jordan Taylor sent a ball flying over the net. Several Pitt players couldn’t stop it until Brooke Mosher saved the possession with a perfectly timed pancake that sent the ball back over to the Gophers for a crafty kill.

Texas A&M’s libero dig kill vs. Nebraska

Texas A&M’s gritty win against Nebraska was so incredible it doesn’t feel real. Not only did the Aggies eliminate an undefeated team, but they survived a five-set slugfest with the No. 1 overall seed. The match required some serious stamina and even better effort and attention to detail. Look no further than Tatum Thomas’ impeccable slide to get under the volleyball and push it up and over the net for a rare libero dig kill.

Standout performances in the reginal rounds

Several players had standout performances during the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight rounds. Texas outside hitter Torrey Stafford had a tournament performance for the ages in the Sweet 16, including 19 kills on 28 swings and a blistering .679 hitting percentage. Her hitting percentage was the fourth highest in NCAA tournament history for regional, semifinal or national championship match. She also added eight digs and four blocks. During the Elite Eight, Pitt’s Brooke Mosher gets the nod for her all-around day. Mosher had four kills on .500 hitting, three, seven digs and four blocks.

• Other Sweet 16 top performers
  • Ava Martin, Creighton: 23 kills on .388 hitting
  • Mimi Colyer, Wisconsin: 27 kills on .373 hitting | 10 digs
  • Kiara Reinhardt, Creighton: 15 kills on .737 hitting | 3 blocks
  • Rebekah Allick, Nebraska: Nine kills on 1.000 hitting | 3 blocks
  • Kenna Wollard, Purdue: 23 kills on .457 hitting | 10 digs | 5 blocks
  • Olivia Babcock, Pittsburgh: 19 kills on .366 hitting | 8 digs | 3 blocks
  • Ifenna Cos-Okpalla, Texas A&M: 9 kills on .316 hitting | 5 digs | 12 blocks
• Other Elite Eight top performers
  • Mimi Colyer, Wisconsin: 22 kills on .296 hitting | 5 digs
  • Logan Lednicky, Texas A&M: 24 kills on .250 hitting | 6 blocks
  • Kenna Wollard, Purdue: 15 kills on .344 hitting | 13 digs | 4 blocks
  • Una Vajagic, Wisconsin: 15 kills on .458 hitting | 8 digs | 2 blocks
  • Kyndal Stowers, Texas A&M: 25 kills on .327 hitting | 16 digs | 2 blocks
  • Olivia Babcock, Pittsburgh: 23 kills on .333 hitting | 4 digs | 2 blocks
  • Brooklyn DeLeye, Kentucky: 18 kills on .326 hitting |12 digs | 3 blocks
  • Harper Murray, Nebraska: 25 kills on .255 hitting | 3 aces | 9 digs | 2 blocks

Losers

Nebraska previously undefeated season ends without a title

Since 1981, there have been four programs to finish a season undefeated and win a national championship: Long Beach State (1998), Nebraska (2000), Southern California (2003) and Penn State (2008, 2009). This year’s Nebraska Cornhuskers will not join that list. The Cornhuskers racked up 33 consecutive victories to open their season, tying the second-most wins by a Nebraska team since 1981, before being eliminated Sunday. Texas A&M handed Nebraska its first home loss since 2022 (63 home matches) to advance to the Final Four.

Cal Poly’s Cinderella run ends during the Sweet 16

After upsetting No. 5 BYU and No. 4 USC in back-to-back five-set thrillers, the Mustangs didn’t have enough against No. 1-seed Kentucky. Cal Poly was swept, 3-0. The Mustangs were unable to get their offense and defense on the same page from one set to the next. Standouts Kendall Beshear and Emma Frederick, who had been fantastic all tournament, weren’t enough to overpower Kentucky. (Cal Poly had few solutions for the Wildcats’ depth or Lizzie Carr and Eva Hudson, who had 20 combined kills and nine total blocks.) By the time the third set ended, the Mustangs had finished with a .114 team hitting percentage and 19 errors.

No. 2 seeds eliminated by No. 3 seeds during the Sweet 16

For the first time since 2009, not a single two-seed team advanced to the Elite Eight. They were all eliminated by the three-seeds during the Sweet 16. Arizona State lost to No. 3 Creighton, SMU lost to No. 3 Purdue and Stanford lost to No. 3 Wisconsin ― all by the score of 3-1. Louisville tried to hold off No. 3 Texas A&M, but was defeated, 3-2, in an absolutely wild reverse sweep. The Aggies fought back and grinded through, including unleashing a stunning nine blocks during the fourth set to secure their place in the Elite Eight.

The pain of losing in the Elite Eight

In the Elite Eight, Kentucky fended off a Creighton team that ran out of steam. For the second straight season, the Bluejays were bounced one round shy of the Final Four. A late tournament loss is a painful reality, and Bluejays freshman Abbey Hayes was overcome with emotion post-match. Hayes, who was comforted by a hug from sophomore Saige Damrow, could not hold back the tears as the team walked to the locker room. Later, senior Ava Martin tried to encapsulate why the loss hurt so much.

‘Our big thing is playing with joy, and I really hope other people can see that because we just have so much fun playing out there together,’ Martin said. ‘That’s just what makes it so hard. We just love each other so much, and we love the sport of volleyball. We’re just happy to be out there doing it.’

The Los Angeles Dodgers continue their quest to three-peat as World Series champions.

Closing pitcher Edwin Diaz was the latest addition to the team for the upcoming season, signing a three-year, $69 million deal as a free agent.

Here are the latest rumors involving the Los Angeles Dodgers this week.

Will Tyler Glasnow be traded by Dodgers?

Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow spoke on SiriusXM radio about the rumor of him potentially being traded away from Los Angeles.

‘I’d seen some rumors that I would get traded, so I didn’t know what to believe,’ Glasnow said. ‘I talked to (Dodgers’ president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman) and the front office and they were like, ‘No, you’re not going anywhere.’ So they told me I’m not going to get traded and I trust them.”

Glasnow finished his second season with the Dodgers. He had a 3.19 ERA and a 4-3 record in 18 starts this past season. The veteran pitcher had 106 strikeouts in 90.1 innings, allowing 56 hits, 32 earned runs, 10 home runs and 43 walks.

Dodgers interested in Tarik Skubal?

The Dodgers have been linked to Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal this past week.

 Skubal is one of the better pitchers in the league and could become a free agent after the 2026 season.

The winter meetings concluded on Wednesday and Skubal wasn’t moved.

While a trade is still possible, USA TODAY Sports’ MLB reporter Bob Nightengale predicts that the pitcher will stay in Detroit for the time being, with teams wanting to hold on to their respective assets and see what becomes of Skubal during free agency, where he is projected to receive at least $400 million.

Are the Dodgers done spending?

Nightengale doesn’t think the addition of Diaz will be the last for the Dodgers’ roster this offseason.

According to Nightengale, the Dodgers could still explore their options to find the best fit in the outfield, especially if Los Angeles were to trade Teoscar Hernandez.

Among the potential candidates that could be considered is Kyle Tucker.

The rightfielder spent the first seven seasons of his major-league career with the Houston Astros, but spent the 2025 season with the Chicago Cubs.

At the plate, Tucker had 133 hits for 73 RBI, 91 runs and 22 home runs.

Tucker will turn 29 in January and is interested in a long-term contract with his next team. If the Dodgers want to be in play for Tucker, they will have to be willing to offer more than a short-term deal.

The NBA Cup has helped solidify the balance of power atop the NBA.

And no team made a bigger leap — and a more forceful announcement — than the San Antonio Spurs, who toppled the defending-champion Oklahoma City Thunder, even though Victor Wembanyama was on a strict minutes limit.

The Thunder still sit atop these rankings and are still on pace for a historic season, but San Antonio showed that, when fully healthy, it can compete with the NBA’s best.

In the East, the New York Knicks showed they’re still a few steps ahead of the Magic, though the team they defeated in the first round of the playoffs last season — the Detroit Pistons — is still lurking.

Here are USA TODAY Sports’ NBA power rankings after Week 7 of the 2025-26 regular season:

USA TODAY Sports NBA power rankings

Note: Records and stats through Dec.14. Parentheses show movement from last week’s rankings

NBA Week 8 power rankings: Top 5

1. Oklahoma City Thunder, 24-2 (—)

2. Detroit Pistons, 20-5 (+1)

3. San Antonio Spurs, 18-7 (+6)

4. Denver Nuggets, 18-6 (-2)

5. New York Knicks, 18-7 (+1)

With Victor Wembanyama back, and the team fully healthy, the Spurs announced themselves as legitimate contenders in the West with their NBA Cup Semifinal victory over the Thunder. The Pistons continue to shine on defense, ranking third in the league in rating (111.1). And the Knicks have won nine of their last 10, behind Jalen Brunson’s 34.5 points per game over their last four and OG Anunoby’s defense since he returned from a hamstring injury four games ago.

NBA Week 8 power rankings: Nos. 6-10

6. Houston Rockets, 16-6 (-1)

7. Los Angeles Lakers, 17-7 (-3)

8. Minnesota Timberwolves, 17-9 (—)

9. Boston Celtics, 15-10 (-2)

10. Orlando Magic, 15-11 (+2)

The Rockets are the only team to have played just 22 games, with each other squad having at least 24, but Houston is second in net rating (10.3) and first in rebounds per game (48.9). Anthony Edwards (foot soreness) has missed two consecutive games for the Timberwolves, who won both in his absence. And the Magic are making things work, even with more injury issues this season to Paolo Banchero (who has returned from a left groin strain) and Franz Wagner (high-ankle sprain).

NBA Week 8 power rankings: Nos. 11-15

11. Phoenix Suns, 14-12 (—)

12. Toronto Raptors, 15-11 (-2)

13. Miami Heat, 14-11 (—)

14. Atlanta Hawks, 15-12 (—)

15. Philadelphia 76ers, 15-11 (+2)

The Raptors and Heat have each lost four consecutive games and both teams appear to have a similar issue: after starting the season hot, opposing defenses seem to have figured out Toronto’s guard play with RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley missing time and zone and full-court pressure slowing down Miami’s pace. The Hawks, meanwhile, have gotten massive performances from Jalen Johnson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, but Kristaps Porziņģis will be out at least a pair of weeks with a lingering illness that dates back to last season.

NBA Week 8 power rankings: Nos. 16-20

16. Cleveland Cavaliers, 15-12 (-1)

17. Golden State Warriors, 13-14 (-1)

18. Memphis Grizzlies, 11-14 (—)

19. Dallas Mavericks, 10-16 (—)

20. Chicago Bulls, 10-15 (+3)

This is how bad things are in Cleveland: After the Cavaliers lost at home Sunday, Dec. 14 to the Hornets, Donovan Mitchell admitted postgame, ‘I’d boo us, too.’ The Warriors got Stephen Curry back, but have lost both games since he has returned from a quad contusion. And No. 1 overall rookie Cooper Flagg is starting to play with far more confidence.

NBA Week 8 power rankings: Nos. 21-25

21. Milwaukee Bucks, 11-16 (-1)

22. Portland Trail Blazers, 10-16 (-1)

23. Charlotte Hornets, 8-18 (+1)

24. Utah Jazz, 9-15 (-2)

25. Brooklyn Nets, 7-18 (+2)

The Giannis Antetokounmpo rumors in Milwaukee are heating up and — even though he’s out with a calf strain — a 45-point loss Sunday against the Nets won’t help. The Hornets’ improved shooting pays dividends, as their win Sunday against the Cavaliers showed, just not with enough frequency. And the Jazz have a bright spot with Keyonte George, but the Ainge family needs to figure out the long-term direction of the roster.

NBA Week 8 power rankings: Nos. 26-30

26. Indiana Pacers, 6-20 (—)

27. Los Angeles Clippers, 6-19 (+1)

28. Sacramento Kings, 6-20 (-3)

29. New Orleans Pelicans, 5-22 (+1)

30. Washington Wizards, 4-20 (-1)

Indiana now owns the least efficient offense, which ranks dead last in rating, generating just 108.2 points per 100 possessions. The Clippers have lost three consecutive and a remarkable 17 of their last 20. And the Wizards, as they have most of the season, own the NBA’s worst net rating (13.8).

The Minnesota Wild shook up the Central Division and Western Conference race by making a blockbuster trade for defenseman Quinn Hughes.

The Wild pulled the trigger on the deal on Dec. 12, sending Marco Rossi, Zeev Buium, Liam Ohgren and a first-round pick to the Vancouver Canucks. Hughes, a former Norris Trophy winner who already has been named to the U.S. Olympic team, will join Team USA general manager Bill Guerin in Minnesota.

‘When a player of Quinn’s caliber becomes available and you have an opportunity to get him, there’s a cost to it,’ Guerin told reporters. ‘We were willing to do what it takes.’

Hughes’ arrival gives the Wild a high-scoring defenseman in a division that includes Colorado’s Cale Makar, Dallas’ Miro Heiskanen and Winnipeg’s Josh Morrissey. Hughes scored a goal on Sunday, Dec. 14, in his Wild debut as Minnesota extended its winning streak to four games.

Here are USA TODAY’s latest NHL power rankings (statistics are through Dec. 14; figures in parentheses indicate change from two weeks ago):

NHL power rankings

1. Colorado Avalanche (0)

With 26 goals and 55 points in 32 games, Hart Trophy favorite Nathan MacKinnon is on pace to match his career best of 140 points while topping 60 goals for the first time. He was voted MVP during his 140-point season in 2023-24.

2. Dallas Stars (0)

The Stars have been outscored 9-2 in back-to-back losses since the end of their 11-game point streak.

3. Carolina Hurricanes (+2)

The Hurricanes are going with three goaltenders after the return of injured Pyotr Kochetkov. Frederik Andersen has been the odd man out, not starting since Dec. 4. Brandon Bussi (11-1) has had four of the recent starts.

4. Minnesota Wild (0)

Quinn Hughes said he appreciated all that the Wild gave up to get him. ‘Some teams, they’re in until they hear what they have to give up, but Billy (Guerin) was just full in. I think that was his first offer, so obviously I want to do what I can here and prove him right.’

5. Vegas Golden Knights (+8)

Jack Eichel, who started strong this season before fading a little, is heating up again with nine points during a five-game point streak.

6. New York Islanders (+9)

The Islanders have beaten the Lightning three times during a 6-1 stretch, plus the No. 1 overall Avalanche and the Pacific Division-leading Golden Knights.

7. Washington Capitals (0)

The Capitals lead the NHL with 24 goals scored by defensemen. Jakob Chychrun has a league-best 12 goals.

8. Anaheim Ducks (+2)

Forward Beckett Sennecke, who had a priceless expression after the Ducks went off the boards and took him No. 3 overall in 2024, is the leading rookie scorer with 26 points in 32 games.

9. Tampa Bay Lightning (-6)

Captain Victor Hedman will have elbow surgery, NHL.com reported, but the Swedish defenseman is expected back before the Olympics. This is the second injury this season for Hedman, who has been limited to 18 games.

10. Philadelphia Flyers (-2)

The Flyers have lost three in a row for the first time this season. But they picked up three points with the losses occurring in overtime or a shootout.

11. Pittsburgh Penguins (-2)

Goalie Stuart Skinner hasn’t suited up yet for the Penguins since he arrived in the Dec. 12 Tristan Jarry trade. With Pittsburgh blowing third-period leads in back-to-back games, it could happen soon. His next chance is Tuesday, Dec. 16, against the Oilers, his former team.

12. Los Angeles Kings (-1)

The Kings have gone to overtime in six of their last 11 games, picking up one win. That came in overtime. They’ve also lost three times in overtime and twice in a shootout.

13. Montreal Canadiens (+5)

Goalie call-up Jacob Fowler had a 36-save victory against the Penguins in his NHL debut. He and the team blew a 3-0 lead in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Rangers in his second game. Fowler didn’t dress on Dec. 14 when the Canadiens beat the Oilers.

14. Detroit Red Wings (+11)

Patrick Kane is coming up on two milestones. He has 498 goals and can become the second player born in the United States to reach 500. He’s also eight points from tying Mike Modano as the top-scoring U.S.-born NHL player.

15. Boston Bruins (-3)

Defenseman Charlie McAvoy picked up an assist in his return from a broken jaw. He also lost teeth when hit in the face by a slap shot.

16. New Jersey Devils (-10)

The Devils, still missing Jack Hughes (finger surgery), announced that Timo Meier is taking personal leave to attend to a family matter. The Devils have gone 6-10 without Hughes.

17. Florida Panthers (+4)

Carter Verhaeghe totaled five goals in his first four games after he became a father in early December.

18. Edmonton Oilers (+5)

The Oilers moved on from Skinner, who was hot and cold in leading Edmonton to back-to-back appearances in the Stanley Cup Final. Jarry won his Oilers debut after the Skinner trade, making 25 saves in a 6-3 victory against the Maple Leafs.

19. New York Rangers (+3)

The Rangers rallied from a 3-0 deficit to pick up their third home win of the season (they’re 12-5-1 on the road). J.T. Miller, who’s considered on the bubble for the U.S. Olympic team, scored the tying and overtime goal against the Canadiens.

20. Toronto Maple Leafs (+7)

Auston Matthews has only four multi-point games this season and one since he returned from a lower-body injury.

21. Ottawa Senators (-7)

Captain Brady Tkachuk has one goal in eight games since returning from thumb surgery after Thanksgiving. He also has six assists in that stretch.

22. San Jose Sharks (+4)

The Sharks overcame a 5-1 deficit in the third period on Dec. 13 to defeat the Penguins 6-5 in overtime. It was the sixth time San Jose has scored six goals this season.

23. Utah Mammoth (+1)

Logan Cooley, the team’s leading goal scorer, will miss eight weeks with a lower-body injury. He was initially hurt when a knee-on-knee hit knocked him out of a game. Three games later, he hurt his leg while crashing into the net.

24. Chicago Blackhawks (-8)

Star Connor Bedard sat out a Dec. 13 game after being injured on the final play of his previous game. The Blackhawks hope to have an update on his status on Dec. 15.

25. Winnipeg Jets (-6)

No. 1 goalie Connor Hellebuyck returned on Dec. 13 ahead of schedule after knee surgery. The reigning Hart/Vezina Trophy winner stopped 24 of 25 shots for a victory. The team had gone 2-8-1 in Hellebuyck’s absence.

26. Columbus Blue Jackets (-6)

Captain Boone Jenner had a goal and an assist in his return from missing a month with an injury.

27. Buffalo Sabres (+1)

28. Seattle Kraken (-11)

The Kraken’s penalty kill is last in the league at 67.5%. The worst in NHL history for a full season is 68.2% by the 1979-80 Kings.

29. St. Louis Blues (0)

Goalie Jordan Binnington continues to struggle, getting pulled in two of his last four starts. He ranks second to last in the league in Moneypuck’s goals saved above expected.

30. Calgary Flames (+1)

The Flames remain the NHL’s lowest-scoring team at 2.48 goals per game but they have scored three or more goals in seven of their last 12 games.

31. Nashville Predators (+1)

Steven Stamkos has taken off with eight goals in his last nine games, including a four-goal game on Dec. 11.

32. Vancouver Canucks (-2)

The Hughes trade gives the Vancouver a promising young defenseman in Buium and a young center in Rossi. Buium had a goal and an assist in his Vancouver debut. Rossi, activated from the injured list, and Ohgren had no points in the win against the Devils.

AI-assisted summary
• The Kansas City Chiefs were eliminated from playoff contention after a 16-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
• Quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered a torn ACL in the final moments of the game.
• The loss ends the Chiefs’ streak of seven consecutive AFC Championship Game appearances.
• This season marks the first time the Chiefs have missed the playoffs since Mahomes became the starting quarterback.

So, this is how it ends.

Patrick Mahomes was knocked out of the loss that eliminated the Kansas City Chiefs in the waning moments of the game with a wicked left knee injury.

There was no cape for Superman to put on to save the Chiefs Kingdom this time.

Rats. Oh, you know he tried.

But the knee buckled and bent awkwardly. He lay on the turf in apparent anguish as the medical team administered treatment. Teammates went down to one knee. It was a somber scene at Arrowhead Stadium. Mahomes, who has demonstrated repeatedly that he is as great as it gets, is human after all. The Chiefs needed him to spark a last-minute rally for a game-tying field goal or even a winning touchdown, but there was nothing left.

Oh, you know he was game.

Mahomes scored the only Chiefs touchdown during the 16-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, and for much of the game was his team’s leading rusher. This was part of the problem. Too often, they’ve relied on him to do too much. He won’t win the NFL’s MVP award this season, but he deserves it nonetheless, because without him – and with all due respect to the oft-proficient, Steve Spagnuolo-coordinated defense that allowed just 16 points on Sunday – his team was toast.

He provided heart, soul, energy, hope and logic that with the Chiefs’ season on the line – and the remarkable streak of seven consecutive trips to the AFC championship game in the mix – there was still a chance to make a miracle run.

Until there wasn’t.

Minutes after the game, the ominous tone from Chiefs coach Andy Reid strongly hinted that the star quarterback was done for the year.

“It doesn’t look good,” Reid said during his postgame news conference.

The Chiefs followed on Sunday night with official confirmation that Mahomes suffered a torn ACL. A statement from the team added, “Patrick and the club are exploring surgical options.”    

No Mahomes, no chance on Sunday. Now, what’s next?

First things first: Hail to the Chiefs. This is the first time that Kansas City (6-8) won’t be in AFC playoffs since Mahomes became the starter, and it’s the first time the Chiefs have lost at least eight games in a season since 2012, when they were 2-14 in the season before Andy Reid became coach.

With Mahomes, the Chiefs won three Super Bowls and played in two others. In a parity-laden league leveled out by a salary cap, the Chiefs managed to keep winning, keep competing for crowns, to establish their own dynasty in the aftermath of the New England Patriots run powered by Tom Brady and Bill Belichick.

Now this.

Mahomes gamely limped off the field and to the bench under his own power after suffering his injury. And intentional or not, it was some kind of statement about the determination and pride that any of us who have watched him over the years realize runs so deep through his blood.

Minutes later, though, CBS’ cameras captured his journey to the locker room. Mahomes couldn’t get there on his own. He was helped up the tunnel with medical staffers holding him up on both sides like human crutches.

Sadly, this moment symbolized how this chapter – if not era – ends for the proud franchise that is now so battered.

Sure, Mahomes is the face of the Chiefs. But that was a dose of unintended insult added to injury. The Chiefs didn’t just lose. They lost their main man in the process.

With Mahomes knocked out of the contest, the Chiefs turned to Gardner Minshew, the backup quarterback without so much as a cape.

Minshew came in and promptly moved the chains with a short completion to Travis Kelce. Good idea. Good execution. Then the Chiefs were flagged for delay of game, with the poor execution of just getting the snap off reflected by the lack of urgency that you’d never see from Mahomes in this situation.

The next play, Minshew threw a lazy pass toward Kelce into double – or was it, triple? – coverage that was intercepted by Derwin James.

In other words, no Mahomes, no chance.

A weird January is coming in 2026. The last time the Chiefs weren’t in the AFC Championship Game? Try 2017. Way back on pre-pandemic Earth.

Maybe it is indeed the end of an era for the Chiefs, whose streak of nine consecutive AFC West titles was snapped. It’s certainly more than a mere speed bump.

Suddenly, this season, a team that knew how to win in crunch time – the Chiefs were 12-0 in one-score games last season and set an NFL record by winning 17 consecutive one-score games – couldn’t win the close ones.

On Sunday, the Chiefs fell to 1-7 this season in one-score games.

What next? There are glaring gaps with the running game and the pass rush, and who knows how much longer Kelce will play after mulling retirement last offseason. Yet with Mahomes being Mahomes – and it is apparent that rehab will dominate his offseason – they can still build around the quintessential centerpiece.

Yet nothing is automatic. As spectacular as Mahomes has been over the years, it was never automatic that he’d lead another Super Bowl run, even though it might have seemed that way. That was always packing a superhero cape. Now it’s not automatic that the Chiefs will quickly bounce back as a contender.

For a change, the Chiefs will have a long offseason to deal with their issues.

Contact Jarrett Bell at jbell@usatoday.com or follow on  X: @JarrettBell

Every week for the duration of the 2025 regular season, USA TODAY Sports will provide timely updates to the NFL’s ever-evolving playoff picture − typically starting Sunday afternoon and then moving forward for the remainder of the week (through Monday’s and Thursday’s games or Saturday’s, if applicable. And, when the holidays roll around, we’ll be watching then, too).

What just happened? What does it mean? What are the pertinent factors (and, perhaps, tiebreakers) prominently in play as each conference’s seven-team bracket begins to crystallize? All will be explained and analyzed up to the point when the postseason field is finalized on Sunday, Jan. 4.

Here’s where things stand with Week 15 nearly complete:

NFC playoff picture

x − 1. Los Angeles Rams (11-3), NFC West leaders: They became the first team to clinch a playoff spot, barely evading the Lions on Sunday. LA has the inside track for home-field advantage and a first-round bye, largely because the Rams’ Week 11 defeat of Seattle currently remains pivotal. But the rematch comes Thursday night. Remaining schedule: at Seahawks, at Falcons, vs. Cardinals

2. Chicago Bears (10-4), NFC North leaders: How tightly packed is the NFC? One narrow Week 14 loss dropped the Bears from first place in the conference to seventh. Sunday’s win, in conjunction with Green Bay’s loss, put Da Bears back up to second overall. Remaining schedule: vs. Packers, at 49ers, vs. Lions

3. Philadelphia Eagles (9-5), NFC East leaders: Get-right win vs. Raiders gives them some needed breathing room. Win Saturday at Washington, and the division title remains in Philly another year. Remaining schedule: at Commanders, at Bills, vs. Commanders

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7), NFC South leaders: Hopefully coach Todd Bowles’ charges care (expletive) enough this week. A fifth loss in their past six games dropped them to .500 on Thursday night, but Carolina’s loss Sunday put the Bucs back in first place. The Bucs’ one-game advantage in the common-games tiebreaker is currently the difference with the Panthers. Beat Carolina twice, and the Bucs will still win the NFC South. Remaining schedule: at Panthers, at Dolphins, vs. Panthers

5. Seattle Seahawks (11-3), wild card No. 1: They barely escaped Colts QB Philip Rivers’ return to the NFL after five years but notched a two-point win. All three of the ‘Hawks’ losses are against NFC opponents, including two in the division − defeats that don’t serve them well in tiebreaker scenarios. But splitting their season series with the Rams on Thursday would actually vault Seattle to top of NFC heap. Remaining schedule: vs. Rams, at Panthers, at 49ers

6. San Francisco 49ers (10-4), wild card No. 2: They’re just behind the Rams and Seahawks for the NFC West lead, yet only a half-game out of the seventh seed. Remaining schedule: at Colts, vs. Bears, vs. Seahawks

7. Green Bay Packers (9-4-1), wild card No. 3: DE Micah Parsons got hurt Sunday, and so did the Pack’s positioning − down from the No. 2 seed to seventh due to their loss at Denver. Remaining schedule: at Bears, vs. Ravens, at Vikings

8. Detroit Lions (8-6), in the hunt: Tough loss to the Rams drops them 1½ games behind the projected playoff field. Yet Detroit remains within striking range of a wild-card berth and maybe the NFC North crown. Remaining schedule: vs. Steelers, at Vikings, at Bears

9. Carolina Panthers (7-7), in the hunt: Had they beaten the Saints on Sunday, they simply would have needed one win over Tampa Bay to win the NFC South. But the Panthers came up light in New Orleans. Carolina and the Buccaneers will decide this on the field with two meetings between Weeks 16 and 18. Remaining schedule: vs. Buccaneers, vs. Seahawks, at Buccaneers

10. Dallas Cowboys (6-7-1), in the hunt: Sunday night’s crushing loss to the Vikings all but eliminated them − Dallas needing to win all its games and hoping the Eagles lose all theirs if ‘America’s Team’ is to win NFC East. Remaining schedule: vs. Chargers, at Commanders, at Giants

AFC playoff picture

x − 1. Denver Broncos (12-2), AFC West leaders: Quite a Sunday, the first team in the league to 12 wins and first AFC squad to clinch a playoff berth. New England’s loss also boosts the Broncos’ odds of winding up with the No. 1 seed. Remaining schedule: vs. Jaguars, at Chiefs, vs. Chargers

2. New England Patriots (11-3), AFC East leaders: Their 10-game heater snapped, they failed to clinch the division Sunday and lost valuable ground in their bid for the No.1 seed. But the Pats are still in driver’s seat to win AFC East. Remaining schedule: at Ravens, at Jets, vs. Dolphins

3. Jacksonville Jaguars (10-4), AFC South leaders: Win keeps them ahead of surging Houston. Remaining schedule: at Broncos, vs. Colts, at Titans

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6), AFC North leaders: They jumped up five spots, from out of the field back into the division lead by winning at Baltimore in Week 14. Sweep the Ravens and notch one other win, and Pittsburgh secures the division. Remaining schedule: vs. Dolphins, at Lions, at Browns, vs. Ravens

5. Los Angeles Chargers (10-4), wild card No. 1: They completed a season sweep of the Chiefs on Sunday, officially eliminating the three-time-defending AFC champions from playoff consideration. The Bolts have now won six of seven. A one-win advantage in AFC games (8-2) keeps them ahead of Buffalo. Remaining schedule: at Chiefs, at Cowboys, vs. Texans, at Broncos

6. Buffalo Bills (10-4), wild card No. 1: Still alive to win their sixth straight AFC East crown following Sunday’s win at Foxborough. Remaining schedule: at Browns, vs. Eagles, vs. Jets

7. Houston Texans (9-5), wild card No. 3: They’ve won seven of eight, including six in a row. Remaining schedule: vs. Raiders, at Chargers, vs. Colts

8. Indianapolis Colts (8-6), in the hunt: Now in the hands of 44-year-old Rivers, they face a steep climb back to relevance − their 7-1 start already starting to seem like ancient history. Rivers gave a valiant effort Sunday in his first NFL action in nearly five years but came up just short. And the Colts’ schedule doesn’t let up the rest of the way. Remaining schedule: vs. 49ers, vs. Jaguars, at Texans

9. Baltimore Ravens (7-7), in the hunt: Sunday’s shutout at Cincinnati could be key in race for AFC North. Remaining schedule: vs. Patriots, at Packers, at Steelers

10. Miami Dolphins (6-7), in the hunt: They probably need to win the remainder of their games to even have a shot at postseason qualification. Remaining schedule: at Steelers, vs. Bengals, vs. Buccaneers, at Patriots

NFL playoff-clinching scenarios for Week 16 (incomplete)

New England clinches playoff berth with:

Win

Philadelphia clinches NFC East title with:

1. Win or
2. Dallas loss

NFL teams eliminated from playoff contention in 2025

x – clinched playoff berth

y – clinched division

z – clinched home-field advantage, first-round bye

Green Bay Packers defensive end Micah Parsons appeared to suffer a serious knee injury Sunday afternoon during his team’s game against the Broncos in Denver.

Shortly before the third quarter expired, with the Pack leading 23-21, Parsons was in pursuit of Broncos quarterback Bo Nix on a pass play. But as he changed direction to give further chase, Parsons’ left knee appeared to buckle before he collapsed to the ground and grabbed at the joint.

Parsons was able to leave the field under his own power but immediately headed into the locker room. He did not return to the game.

“It doesn’t look good, I’ll leave it at that,’ Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur said afterward as speculation about a torn ACL grew.

A four-time Pro Bowler acquired from the Dallas Cowboys rights before the season − for two first-round draft picks and defensive lineman Kenny Clark − Parsons has lived up to his billing with 12½ sacks so far in 2025 for the Packers.

But Green Bay succumbed to the Broncos following Parsons’ unfortunate exit and fell into the NFC’s seventh projected playoff spot.

We are entering the holiday break for college hockey and many teams have already gone idle. But if you’re an NCAA fan, there will be games of intrigue right around the corner as the World Junior Championship comes to Minnesota. Many of the best young players in college will be playing for their national teams and it won’t just be Canadians and Americans: Wilson Bjorck of Colorado College will suit up for Sweden, while UMass’ Vaclav Nestrasil will be playing for the Czechs, just to name two.

The most important thing for college teams is that their prized players don’t get hurt at the tournament, but on a more optimistic tip, coaches and fans can hope that these teens can bank serious big-game experience while playing in the vaunted international tourney. In the meantime, let’s see what the NCAA hockey world looks like heading into the break, spotlighting the teams and players you need to know right now.

1. Michigan Wolverines (16-4-0)

While there’s no guarantee that Canada and the U.S. will meet at the world juniors, a medal-round bout would be electric. It would also be conflicting for Wolverines fans, since Will Horcoff (PIT) would be facing Canadian pals Michael Hage (MTL) and Jack Ivankovic (NSH).

2. Michigan State Spartans (12-4-0)

The Spartans will also be well represented at the world juniors, with sublime freshman Porter Martone (PHI) returning for Canada with revenge on his mind for last year’s quarterfinal exit. Meanwhile, Shane Vansaghi (PHI) will be looking to help Team USA make it three golds in a row.

3. North Dakota Fighting Hawks (14-4-0)

With only one loss since Halloween, the Fighting Hawks have really turned it on and look like a legit threat out of the NCHC. North Dakota’s most recent business was a tidy sweep over Omaha and their next series, not until early January, is against winless Mercyhurst.

4. Wisconsin Badgers (12-2-2)

 The Badgers are one to watch because they’re not getting the same headlines as some of their flashier Big Ten rivals – but Wisconsin’s record doesn’t lie. Coach Mike Hastings’ team is 3-1 against Michigan and Michigan State so far and seven Badgers have hit double-digit points already.

5. Denver Pioneers (12-6-1)

Thanks to their championship pedigree and coach David Carle, the Pioneers are going to get the benefit of the doubt this season: They’re not dead until they’re officially out of the Frozen Four. Denver has hit some adversity of late, but a non-conference series against Maine in the new year will be a tasty one.

6. Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs (14-6-0)

Max Plante (DET) reclaimed the outright pole position in the NCAA scoring race over the weekend and now stands at 30 points through 20 games. He’ll be another one to watch for Team USA at the world juniors, where the offense will need players to step up after some big names (Ryan Leonard, Gabe Perreault) aged out of the tourney.

7.  Dartmouth Big Green (11-1-0)

And then there were none. Dartmouth lost to New Hampshire on Sunday, meaning there are no more undefeated teams in D1. It was a great run for the Big Green, whose next challenge comes at the end of the month with another non-conference opponent, Arizona State. Two tilts with the Sun Devils could be revealing.

8. Harvard Crimson (7-3-1)

Two of Harvard’s losses came to Michigan, which doesn’t look so bad now. Otherwise, the Crimson have largely taken care of business. They haven’t played Dartmouth or Quinnipiac yet and both of those match-ups will truly inform who the top dogs are in the ECAC. Mick Thompson leads Harvard in scoring with 15 points in 11 games.

9. Boston College Eagles (10-5-1)

There’s some nice uniformity in Boston right now, as the Eagles’ top threats also happen to be Bruins draft picks. James Hagens, of course, was expected to be a driver, but big Dean Letourneau has exploded as a sophomore, putting up the type of points expected of a first-rounder. And success has followed for the team.

10. Penn State Nittany Lions (11-5-0)

 It’s kinda funny that Penn State makes the list after not playing for a couple weeks, but their NPI is right up there and the record is still pretty solid. Gavin McKenna, the 2026 NHL draft prospect, will get a chance to really cut loose at the world juniors for Team Canada and silence the haters.

Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia has changed his tune in the hours following his post directed toward the Heisman Trophy voters on Saturday night.

Pavia shared a photo on his Instagram story after the Heisman Trophy ceremony with a message that read “(Expletive)-ALL THE VOTERS, BUT…..FAMILY FOR LIFE.”

Pavia had issued an apology on Sunday, stating, “being a part of the Heisman ceremony last night as a finalist was such an honor. As a competitor, just like in everything I do, I wanted to win. ”

Pavia was one of four finalists for college football’s most prestigious individual award. He finished second in the voting behind Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza.

Mendoza finished with 2,362 points and 643 first-place votes while Pavia was second with 1,435 points and 189 first-place votes.

The award has 930 voters, including 870 media members, 59 living Heisman winners and one overall fan vote.

Diego Pavia stats

Pavia completed 242 of 340 pass attempts for 3,192 yards, 27 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 12 games played. He also rushed for 826 yards and nine touchdowns on 152 carries.

When is Diego Pavia’s next game?

Pavia and Vanderbilt will take on the Iowa Hawkeyes in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Dec. 31.

INGLEWOOD, CA — The Detroit Lions offense was sizzling like a hot Motown record during the first half. In the second half, they moonwalked back into the playoff bubble.

“The third quarter was rough on us,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said postgame. “They got a jump on us that we couldn’t overcome.”

The Lions surrendered 24 points in the second half — including 17 unanswered points during the third quarter — in a 41-34 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Dec. 14.

Things were going good for Detroit in the first half. Lions quarterback Jared Goff passed for 221 yards and three touchdowns. Most of Goff’s targets went to wide receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams. The pair combined for 13 catches, 218 yards and three touchdowns in the first half. However, the Lions unraveled after halftime.

The Lions offense had just five total yards and no first downs in a miserable third quarter. While the defense gave up 24 points and 272 yards in the second half.  

Goff and the Lions had previously won their past two games, including the playoffs, against the Rams. Sunday was a game the Lions needed to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.

The Chicago Bears (10-4), Green Bay Packers (9-4-1) are both in front of the Lions (8-6) in the NFC North. The Lions are eighth in the NFC playoff race and were already swept by Green Bay this year. According to Next Gen Stats, Detroit only has a 41% chance to make the postseason. The Lions host the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 16, and have road games versus the Minnesota Vikings and Bears to close the season. The Lions almost certainly have to win out — which is a tall task considering they haven’t won back-to-back games since Weeks 4 and 5.

“It starts with the guys in the locker room,” Lions linebacker Jack Campbell said. “Got the right guys, and it’s just how we respond, how we push forward, how we lean on each other.”

Detroit has won the NFC North for two consecutive seasons, but now there’s very little margin for error as the Lions are on the brink of being eliminated from postseason contention.

“8-6, still in it. Got three games left … like to win all three of them,” Goff said. “We got to win the first one.”

Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.