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See every country’s Olympic men’s hockey roster for 2026 Winter Games

January 9, 2026

NHL players are returning to the Olympics for the first time since the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.

Countries’ hockey federations had until Dec. 31 to submit their final rosters for the February tournament in Milan, Italy.

Canada announced its roster that day, and the United States, Sweden and Finland made their announcements on Jan. 2. Other countries made announcements afterward.

Finland is the defending champion after winning in 2022 in Beijing. Canada won the last two Olympics involving NHL players in 2010 or 2014.

Here are the Olympic rosters that have been announced so far:

United States

First six named

F Jack Eichel, Vegas Golden Knights
F Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs
F Brady Tkachuk, Ottawa Senators
F Matthew Tkachuk, Florida Panthers
D Quinn Hughes, Minnesota Wild
D Charlie McAvoy, Boston Bruins

Rest of the team

F Matt Boldy, Minnesota Wild
F Kyle Connor, Winnipeg Jets
F Jake Guentzel, Tampa Bay Lightning
F Jack Hughes, New Jersey Devils
F Clayton Keller, Utah Mammoth
F Dylan Larkin, Detroit Red Wings
F J.T. Miller, New York Rangers
F Brock Nelson, Colorado Avalanche
F Tage Thompson, Buffalo Sabres
F Vincent Trocheck, New York Rangers
D Brock Faber, Minnesota Wild
D Noah Hanifin, Vegas Golden Knights
D Seth Jones, Florida Panthers
D Jake Sanderson, Ottawa Senators
D Jaccob Slavin, Carolina Hurricanes
D Zach Werenski, Columbus Blue Jackets
G Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets
G Jake Oettinger, Dallas Stars
G Jeremy Swayman, Boston Bruins

Analysis: If this roster looks familiar, it’s because it’s the USA’s 4 Nations Face-Off one with a few changes. Tage Thompson, Clayton Keller and Seth Jones are the newcomers. There’s plenty of offense (even with Jason Robertson and Cole Caufield not named), and the defense is solid. Quinn Hughes, who was injured and couldn’t play in the 4 Nations, will be a difference-maker. The goaltending should be among the best in the tournament.

Canada

First six named

F Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
F Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
F Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche
F Brayden Point, Tampa Bay Lightning
F Sam Reinhart, Florida Panthers
D Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche

Rest of the team

F Macklin Celebrini, San Jose Sharks
F Anthony Cirelli, Tampa Bay Lightning
F Brandon Hagel, Tampa Bay Lightning
F Bo Horvat, New York Islanders
F Brad Marchand, Florida Panthers
F Mitch Marner, Vegas Golden Knights
F Mark Stone, Vegas Golden Knights
F Nick Suzuki, Montreal Canadiens
F Tom Wilson, Washington Capitals
D Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings
D Thomas Harley, Dallas Stars
D Josh Morrissey, Winnipeg Jets
D Colton Parayko, St. Louis Blues
D Travis Sanheim, Philadelphia Flyers
D Shea Theodore, Vegas Golden Knights
D Devon Toews, Colorado Avalanche
G Jordan Binnington, St. Louis Blues
G Darcy Kuemper, Los Angeles Kings
G Logan Thompson, Washington Capitals

Analysis: Most of the 4 Nations players return, including the entire defense corps. Second-year standout Macklin Celebrini was named, but Connor Bedard didn’t make the cut. Rugged Tom Wilson and goalie Logan Thompson are among the other newcomers. Jordan Binnington, the 4 Nations-winning goalie who’s struggling this season, could be the No. 1 goalie to start, but Logan Thompson is a solid option if Binnington falters.

Finland

First six named

F Sebastian Aho, Carolina Hurricanes
F Aleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers (injured, won’t play)
F Mikko Rantanen, Dallas Stars
D Miro Heiskanen, Dallas Stars
D Esa Lindell, Dallas Stars
G Juuse Saros, Nashville Predators

Rest of the team

F Joel Armia, Los Angeles Kings
F Mikael Granlund, Anaheim Ducks
F Erik Haula, Nashville Predators
F Roope Hintz, Dallas Stars
F Kaapo Kakko, Seattle Kraken
F Oliver Kapanen, Montreal Canadiens
F Joel Kiviranta, Colorado Avalanche
F Artturi Lehkonen, Colorado Avalanche
F Anton Lundell, Florida Panthers
F Eetu Luostarinen, Florida Panthers
F Teuvo Teravainen, Chicago Blackhawks
F Eeli Toivanen, Seattle Kraken
D Henri Jokiharju, Boston Bruins
D Mikko Lehtonen, Zurich
D Olli Maatta, Utah Mammoth
D Nikolas Matinpalo, Ottawa Senators
D Niko Mikkola, Florida Panthers
D Rasmus Ristolainen, Philadelphia Flyers
G Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Buffalo Sabres
G Kevin Lankinen, Vancouver Canucks

Analysis: Aleksander Barkov’s injury will hurt Finland, but there are plenty of other players. Mikko Rantanen is a big-game player, and Miro Heiskanen is available after missing the 4 Nations. There are a lot of Stars and Panthers players on the roster, which is a good thing considering those teams’ recent playoff runs.

Sweden

First six named

F Gabriel Landeskog, Colorado Avalanche
F Adrian Kempe, Los Angeles Kings
F Lucas Raymond, Detroit Red Wings
F William Nylander, Toronto Maple Leafs
D Rasmus Dahlin, Buffalo Sabres
D Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning

Rest of the team

F Jepser Bratt, New Jersey Devils
F Leo Carlsson, Anaheim Ducks
F Joel Eriksson Ek, Minnesota Wild
F Filip Forsberg, Nashville Predators
F Pontus Holmberg, Tampa Bay Lightning
F Elias Lindholm, Boston Bruins
F Elias Pettersson, Vancouver Canucks
F Rickard Rakell, Pittsburgh Penguins
F Alexander Wennberg, San Jose Sharks
F Mika Zibanejad, New York Rangers
D Rasmus Andersson, Calgary Flames
D Philip Broberg, St. Louis Blues
D Jonas Brodin, Minnesota Wild
D Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Toronto Maple Leafs
D Gustav Forsling, Florida Panthers
D Erik Karlsson, Pittsburgh Penguins
G Filip Gustavsson, Minnesota Wild
G Jacob Markstrom, New Jersey Devils
G Jesper Wallstedt, Minnesota Wild

Analysis: Plenty of offense, good defense and the impressive Wild goalie tandem are heading to Italy. Joel Eriksson Ek is a shutdown forward, and Gustav Forsling is a shutdown defenseman. Gabriel Landeskog and Victor Hedman are out with injuries.

Czechia

First six named

F Martin Necas, Colorado Avalanche
F Ondrej Palat, New Jersey Devils
F David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins
F Pavel Zacha, Boston Bruins
D Radko Gudas, Anaheim Ducks
G Lukas Dostal, Anaheim Ducks

Rest of the team

F Roman Cervenka, Pardubice
F Radek Faksa, Dallas Stars
F Jakub Flek, Brno
F Tomas Hertl, Vegas Golden Knights
F David Kampf, Vancouver Canucks
F Ondrej Kase, Litvinov
F Dominik Kubalik, Zug
F Lukas Sedlak, Pardubice
F Matej Stransky, Davos
F David Tomasek, Farjestad
D Filip Hronek, Vancouver Canucks
D Michal Kempny, Brynas
D Tomas Kundratek, Trinec
D Jan Rutta, Geneve
D Radim Simek, Liberec
D David Spacek, Iowa (American Hockey League)
D Jiri Tichacek, Karpat
G Karel Vejmelka, Utah Mammoth
G Dan Vladar, Philadelphia Flyers

Analysis: David Pastrnak and Martin Necas are among the league’s top scorers. Dan Vladar is the best of the three goalies, though Lukas Dostal could get the call first. Roman Cervenka will be playing in his fifth Olympics.

Switzerland

First six named

F Kevin Fiala, Los Angeles Kings
F Nico Hischier, New Jersey Devils
F Timo Meier, New Jersey Devils
F Nino Niederreiter, Winnipeg Jets
D Roman Josi, Nashville Predators
D Jonas Siegenthaler, New Jersey Devils

Rest of the team

F Sven Andrighetto, Zurich
F Christoph Bertschy, Fribourg
F Ken Jager, Lausanne
F Simon Knak, Davos
F Philipp Kurashev, San Jose Sharks
F Denis Malgin, Zurich
F Damien Riat, Lausanne
F Sandro Schmid, Fribourg
F Pius Suter, St. Louis Blues
F Calvin Thurkauf, Lugano
D Tim Berni, Geneve
D Michael Fora, Davos
D Andrea Glauser, Fribourg
D Dean Kukan, Zurich
D Christian Marti, Zurich
D J.J. Moser, Tampa Bay Lightning
G Reto Berra, Fribourg
G Leonardo Genoni, Zug
G Akira Schmid, Vegas Golden Knights

Analysis: The first six are a good start, led by two-way center Nico Hischier and Devils teammate Timo Meier. J.J. Moser, named in the second wave, played well enough to earn an eight-year extension.

Slovakia

First six named

F Juraj Slafkovsky, Montreal Canadiens
F Martin Pospisil, Calgary Flames
F Tomas Tatar, Zug
D Erik Cernak, Tampa Bay Lightning
D Martin Fehervary, Washington Capitals
D Simon Nemec, New Jersey Devils

Rest of the team

F Peter Cehlarik, Leksands
F Dalibor Dvorsky, St. Louis Blues
F Marek Hrivik, Vitkovice
F Libor Hudacek, Trinec
F Milos Kelemen, Pardubice
F Adam Liska, Cherepovets
F Oliver Okuliar, Skelleftea
F Pavol Regenda, San Jose Sharks
F Adam Ruzicka, Moscow
F Matus Sukel, Litvinov
F Samuel Takac, Bratislava
D Peter Ceresnak, Pardubice
D Martin Gernat, Yaroslavl
D Michal Ivan, Liberec
D Patrik Koch, Trinec
D Martin Marincin, Trinec
G Adam Gajan, Minnesota Duluth
G Samuel Hlavaj, Iowa (AHL)
G Stanislav Skorvanek, Mountfield

Analysis: Juraj Slafkovsky, the No. 1 overall of the 2022 NHL Draft, was MVP of the non-NHL 2022 Olympics as Slovakia won bronze. Simon Nemec also played on that team, was selected second overall. Tomas Tatar is a former NHL 20-goal scorer.

Germany

First six named

F Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers
F Lukas Reichel, Vancouver Canucks
F Nico Sturm, Minnesota Wild
F Tim Stutzle, Ottawa Senators
D Moritz Seider, Detroit Red Wings
G Philipp Grubauer, Seattle Kraken

Rest of the team

F Alexander Ehl, Mannheim
F Dominik Kahun, Lausanne
F Marc Michaelis, Mannheim
F JJ Peterka, Utah Mammoth
F Tobias Rieder, Munich
F Josh Samanski, Bakersfield (AHL)
F Justin Schutz, Munich
F Wojciech Stachowiak, Syracuse (AHL)
F Frederik Tiffels, Berlin
F Parker Tuomie, Cologne
D Leon Gawanke, Mannheim
D Korbinian Geibel, Berlin
D Lukas Kälble, Mannheim
D Jonas Muller, Berlin
D Moritz Muller, Cologne
D Fabio Wagner, Ingolstadt
D Kai Wissman, Berlin
G Maximilian Franzreb, Mannheim
G Mathias Niederberger, Munich

Analysis: Any team with Leon Draisaitl is dangerous, and Tim Stutzle and Moritz Seider are having impressive seasons. Nico Sturm is a two-way player who’s strong on faceoffs.

Latvia

First six named

F Rodrigo Abols, Philadelphia Flyers
F Teddy Blueger, Vancouver Canucks
F Zemgus Girgensons, Tampa Bay Lightning
D Uvis Balinskis, Florida Panthers
G Elvis Merzlikins, Columbus Blue Jackets
G Arturs Silovs, Pittsburgh Penguins

Rest of the team

F Oskars Batna, Lahti
F Rudolfs Balcers, Zurich
F Roberts Bukarts, Vorarlberg
F Kaspars Daugavins, Kassel
F Martins Dzierkals, Sparta Praha
F Haralds Egle, Karlovy Vary
F Renars Krastenbergs, Olomouc
F Dans Locmelis, Providence (AHL)
F Eriks Mateiko, Hershey (AHL)
F Eduards Tralmaks, Grand Rapids (AHL)
F Sandis Vilmanis, Charlotte (AHL)
D Oskars Cibulskis, Herning
D Ralfs Freibergs, Vitkovice
D Janis Jaks, Karlovy Vary
D Roberts Mamcics, Karlovy Vary
D Kristaps Rubins, Plzen
D Alberts Smits, Mikkeli
F Kristaps Zile, Liberec
G Kristers Gudlevskis, Bremerhaven

Analysis: Not many NHL players, but there are two NHL goalies in Arturs Silovs and Elvis Merzlikins. Defenseman Alberts Smits is eligible for the 2026 draft and played at the world junior championships.

Denmark

First six named

F Oliver Bjorkstrand, Tampa Bay Lightning
F Nikolaj Ehlers, Carolina Hurricanes
F Lars Eller, Ottawa Senators
F Jonas Rondjberg, Henderson (AHL)
D Jesper Jensen Aabo, Klagenfurt
G Frederik Andersen, Carolina Hurricanes

Rest of the team

F Mikkel Aagaard, Skelleftea
F Joachim Blichfeld, Tappara
F Mathias Bau Hansen, Herning
F Nicklas Jensen. Rapperswil-Jonar
F Nick Olesen, Budejovice
F Morten Poulsen, Herning
F Patrick Russell, Cologne
F Frederik Storm, Cologne
F Alexander True, Jyvaskyla
F Christian Wejse, Fischtown
D Nicholas B. Jensen, Fischtown
D Anders Koch, Graz
D Matias Lassen, Iserlohn
D Markus Lauridsen, Pustertal
D Oliver Lauridsen, Turkku
D Phillip Bruggisser, Fischtown
G Frederik Dichow, Jonkoping
G Mads Sogaard, Ottawa Senators

Analysis: Denmark upset Canada at the 2025 world championships, and many of those players are here, including the speedy Nikolaj Ehlers. Frederik Dichow was the goalie in that game. Hurricanes goalie Frederik Andersen has joined the team.

France

First six named

F Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, Ajoie
F Jordann Perret, Mountfield
F Alexandre Texier, Montreal Canadiens
D Yohann Auvitu, Vitkovice
D Jules Boscq, Hameenlinna
D Hugo Gallet, Kuopio

Rest of the team

F Justin Addamo, Mikkeli
F Charles Bertrand, Vaasa
F Louis Boudon, Mikkeli
F Kévin Bozon, Ajoie
F Stéphane Da Costa, Yekaterinburg
F Aurélien Dair, Grenoble
F Floran Douay, Lausanne
F Dylan Fabre, Pori
F Anthony Rech, Rouen
F Nicolas Ritz, Angers
F Sacha Treille, Grenoble
D Enzo Cantagallo, Marseille
D Florian Chakiachvili, Rouen
D Pierre Crinon, Grenoble
D Enzo Guebey, Davos
D Thomas Thiry, Ajoie
G Julian Junca, Trencin
G Antoine Keller, Ajoie
G Martin Neckar, Langnau

Analysis: Alexandre Texier is the lone NHL player, though Pierre-Edouard Bellemare is a former NHL player. Texier had back-to-back three-point games in early January.

Italy

First six named

F Diego Kostner, Ambri-Piotta
F Daniel Mantenuto, Bolzano
F Tommy Purdeller, Pustertal
D Luca Zanatta, Pustertal
D Thomas Larkin, Schwenningen
G Damian Clara, Brynas

Rest of the team has not been named.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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‘Tip of the iceberg’: Senate Republicans press Gov Walz over Minnesota fraud scandal

January 9, 2026

The entire Senate GOP demanded that Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz provide a paper trail on the state’s role in the Minnesota fraud scandal, cranking up the scrutiny in Washington, D.C. in the process.

In a letter led by Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., Republicans reiterated that Congress controls the flow of taxpayer dollars that are alleged to be used in the unfurling scandal, where federal prosecutors estimate that up to $9 billion was stolen through a network of fraudulent fronts posing as daycare centers, food programs and health clinics.

‘The state’s apparent negligent management of federal funds raises significant concerns about the adequacy of the state’s oversight, verification, and compliance systems for safeguarding taxpayer dollars intended to support vulnerable children and working families,’ they wrote. ‘Unfortunately, these latest reports appear to reflect only the tip of the iceberg.’

They support the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) move earlier this week to freeze funding to several childcare grant programs in the state, including the Child Care and Development Fund, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and Social Services Block Grant programs.

Cassidy, who chairs the Senate’s Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, called on Walz to provide receipts on several issues and warned that failure to do so could lead to even more streams of federal money flowing to Minnesota drying up.

In the letter, backed by Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., lawmakers demanded that Walz clarify how the state was complying with federally directed audits and what verification requirements the state has ‘adopted or plans to implement in the near term to support proof of legitimate use of federal child care payments.’

They also called for a detailed outline of several issues, like how often the state conducted on-site monitoring, inspections or investigative visits to childcare facilities that received federal dollars, and specifically wanted examples of any information uncovered on fake children, false attendance records, over-billing, ineligible enrollments and shell or fake business structures.

Lawmakers also demanded to know how many investigations the state has conducted into the matter since 2018, any oversight actions the state has taken, and why the Walz administration has, so far, not complied with a slate of recommendations from a DHS Office of Inspector General report that included action to recover overpayments, strengthen attendance monitoring at childcare facilities and implement real-time electronic attendance reporting.

Cassidy and Senate Republicans gave Walz until Jan. 22 to comply with their slate of requests.

‘The Constitution grants Congress the power of the purse,’ they wrote. ‘And the United States Senate is exercising its duty to ensure proper stewardship of federal taxpayer dollars for child care programs, and we take this responsibility very seriously.’

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

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GOP senator blocks Trump DHS nominees until Noem testifies before Senate

January 9, 2026

A Senate Republican intends to block President Donald Trump’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS) nominees until Secretary Kristi Noem appears on Capitol Hill.

Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., told reporters that he was putting holds on future nominees for the agency because Noem had not yet committed to appearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

‘My chairman has made two requests in this Congress to have the Homeland Security Secretary [Kristi Noem] come before the committee, and they have yet to confirm that they’re coming,’ Tillis said. ‘That is unacceptable, and so I am putting a hold on anything related to Homeland Security measures until we get an agreement and a scheduled time to come for committee at the least.’

But he made clear that the blockade was not in response to the death of Renee Nicole Goode, whose fatal shooting by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent on Wednesday sparked protests.

‘The only thing that moves through Homeland Security where I will consider an exception would be having anything to do with the disaster response,’ he said.

His holds come after Grassley sent two separate invites for Noem to appear before the committee, one in June and the other in September.

It also comes on the heels of Senate Republicans touting their blistering pace to confirm several hundred of Trump’s picks.

Still, the move to block Trump’s DHS picks is another instance of Tillis pushing back against the administration. Tillis announced last year that he would not support Trump’s crowning legislative achievement of his second term, the ‘big, beautiful bill,’ over issues with cuts to Medicaid.

He also announced that he would not seek re-election shortly after and has since on occasion broken ranks with Republicans to push back on the president’s agenda.

Most recently, he pushed back on recent rumblings from the White House and administration officials that military force was not off the table to advance Trump’s desire to control Greenland.

‘I’m sick of stupid,’ Tillis said on the Senate floor earlier this week. ‘I want good advice for this president, because I want this president to have a good legacy. And this nonsense on what’s going on with Greenland is a distraction from the good work he’s doing, and the amateurs who said it was a good idea should lose their jobs.’

Still, Tillis voted against a related resolution on Thursday to curtail Trump’s future usage of the military in Venezuela, which ultimately advanced with the aid of five Senate Republicans.

DHS did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

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Inside the sea war to contain ‘dark fleet’ vessels — and what the US seizure signals to Russia

January 9, 2026

The U.S. seizure of the tanker formerly known as Bella I marks a rare escalation in sanctions enforcement against Russia’s so-called ‘dark fleet,’ but experts say the move is unlikely to trigger a broader confrontation with Moscow, at least in the near term.

Analysts largely agree that the interdiction — one of the most direct U.S. actions against a vessel Russia claims was operating under its flag — comes at a moment when the Kremlin has limited appetite for escalation outside Europe and is focused primarily on its war against neighboring Ukraine.

‘This is unique,’ said Brent Sadler, senior research fellow at the Washington conservative Heritage Foundation think tank.

The U.S. rarely boards foreign-flagged vessels on the high seas unless the ship’s nationality is in doubt, which he said was the case here due to rapid reflagging and a pattern of sanctions violations.

Peter Rough, a senior fellow and director of the Center on Europe and Eurasia at the Hudson Institute think tank, said that the seizure of the tanker reinforces the message that the U.S. is aiming to ‘call the shots in its own backyard.’ Meanwhile, he said that Russia is bogged down fighting its war against Ukraine, meaning it will be challenging for it to engage in a significant way in Latin America.

Likewise, Russia is also attempting to curry favor with the Trump administration for a favorable outcome in a peace deal ending the conflict with Ukraine, he said.

‘The Donroe Doctrine,’ as President Donald Trump has called it, fashions the 1823 Monroe Doctrine warning against European expansion into Latin America after himself.

The empty vessel was seized in international waters during an operation overseen by U.S. European Command. The Wall Street Journal reported that Russia dispatched a submarine to escort the tanker after the U.S. attempted to seize it off Venezuela, heightening the risk of a naval standoff between two nuclear-armed states.

Russia has operated a so-called ‘shadow fleet’ of oil tankers for years to evade sanctions imposed after its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Wednesday’s seizure marks one of the most direct U.S. enforcement actions to date against a vessel tied to that network.

‘There’s really not a whole lot of cards the Russians have to play at this point,’ Sadler said, anticipating a muted response.

Rough also noted that similar actions like the one on Wednesday have not triggered major escalation previously. In October, French authorities boarded and detained a Russia-linked tanker suspected of being part of the shadow fleet off the coast of France without sparking a new crisis.

In that instance, the tanker was not a Russian-flagged vessel.

‘The upshot is that in light of the administration’s determination to dictate terms on Venezuela-related issues like this and Putin’s desire to work with Trump on what matters most to the Kremlin — Ukraine — I’m inclined to say that Moscow’s response will consist mostly of protesting this action and lodging political and legal complaints,’ Rough said in an email to Fox News Digital. ‘I don’t think it will lead to a full-blown political crisis in U.S.-Russian relations.’

John Hardie, deputy director of the Russia program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, also predicted the seizure of the Bella I tanker wouldn’t dramatically impact relations between Washington and Moscow.

‘I suspect Moscow reacted the way it did because it worries about a precedent that could lead to U.S. interdiction of tankers moving Russian oil,’ Hardie said. ‘That said, I don’t think the Bella incident alone will have significant impact on relations between the Trump administration and Moscow or the peace talks.’

Russia has accused U.S. naval forces of illegally boarding the vessel — which had been reflagged as the Merinera under temporary Russian authorization Dec. 24 — arguing the action violated international maritime law. U.S. officials have not publicly detailed the legal justification for the seizure.

While Moscow’s response has so far been limited to diplomatic and legal objections, the incident has drawn attention because of how unusual the operation was.

Mark Cancian, a senior adviser with the Center for Strategic & International Studies’ defense and security department, said that there are hundreds of sanctioned oil ships in the sea — with at least 100 of them belonging to Russia. If the U.S. started targeting more tankers, that would have a ‘huge’ impact on countries like Russia and Iran, he said.

‘The one tanker will be an annoyance to Russia, and they’ll complain,’ Cancian told Fox News Digital Wednesday. ‘I think the bigger issue is whether we or other countries, start going after other tankers with sanctioned oil.’

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Demond Williams will not transfer, staying at UW: ‘Fully committed’

January 9, 2026

Demond Williams is staying put at Washington.

The Huskies’ quarterback, who announced earlier in the week of his intention to enter the transfer portal days after re-signing with Washington, announced on Thursday, Jan. 8 that he will be staying in Seattle and will play for Jedd Fisch’s program in 2026.

‘After thoughtful reflection with my family, I am excited to announce that I will continue my football journey at the University of Washington,’ Williams wrote in a statement on Instagram. ‘… I am fully committed and focused on contributing to what we are building. … I am excited to reunite with my teammates and to lead the University of Washington to success in the 2026 season and beyond.’

The first-year full-time starter was one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the Big Ten in 2025, passing for 3,065 yards with 25 touchdowns to eight interceptions while rushing for 611 yards and six scores. His 3,065 passing yards ranked sixth best among Big Ten quarterbacks, while his 25 touchdown passes were the fourth most in the conference.

Williams’ decision to change course comes several hours after his agent, Doug Hendrickson of Wasserman Football, announced on social media that he cut ties with the quarterback and will no longer represent him.

Washington’s Fisch released a statement, per ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg, in which Fisch said they would ‘work together to begin the process of repairing relationships and regaining the trust of the Husky community.’

It comes after a tumultuous past 48 hours for Williams and the Huskies, as Washington was reportedly ready to pursue legal avenues to enforce Williams’ newly signed deal with the Huskies. As previously noted by USA TODAY, Williams announced his intention to enter his name into the transfer portal four days after agreeing to a new deal with Washington on Friday, Jan. 2 to return to the school for the 2026 season.

In a statement shared by the university, Fisch mentioned that he had ‘very honest’ and ‘heartfelt’ conversations with Williams over the last few days and supports him. Washington athletic director Patrick Chun also released a statement.

‘I appreciate Demond’s statement. I support him, and we will work together to begin the process of repairing relationships and regaining the trust of the Husky community,’ Fisch said.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

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Why rematch history in CFP favors Oregon vs. Indiana in Peach Bowl

January 9, 2026

The College Football Playoff national semifinal at the Peach Bowl marks a rematch of No. 1 seed Indiana’s 30-20 win against No. 5 Oregon in October, the first of several results this year that have left the Hoosiers knocking on the door of a historic and unbeaten season.

With two more wins, Indiana would become the first 16-0 national champion since Yale in 1894. But in order to make history, the Hoosiers will need to reverse some recent history.

Since the 1996 season, there have been seven regular-season rematches in the College Football Playoff and in national championship games played under the two previous postseason formats, the Bowl Championship Series and the Bowl Alliance. Four of these pairings have occurred since the playoff expanded last season.

Surprisingly, all but one of these games have seen the loser from the regular season rebound to win the rematch. This could be a coincidence. At a minimum, though, this trend shows the difficulties in defeating an elite opponent twice in under a four-month span.

The Hoosiers look to buck that recent history. Here’s a look back at these rematches and what they might suggest about the Peach Bowl:

Ole Miss vs. Georgia, 2025

Results: Georgia 43-35, Ole Miss 39-34.

Ole Miss led Georgia in the second half when the two met in October but coughed up a lead for its one and only loss on the year. The two SEC rivals met again in the Sugar Bowl earlier this month, with the Rebels pulling out the win on a late field goal. Unlike during the regular season, Ole Miss landed a big game from Trinidad Chambliss and did much better running the ball, indicating how teams can strategize by looking back and evaluating the previous matchup.

Ole Miss vs. Tulane, 2025

Results: Ole Miss 45-10, Ole Miss 41-10.

Here’s the one outlier. The Rebels stampeded over Tulane at home in September and then did the same in the opening round. The one difference: Lane Kiffin was the head coach for the first game and Pete Golding for the second. In this case, a significant edge in talent was the biggest factor in helping Ole Miss defy recent history.

Oklahoma vs. Alabama, 2025

Results: Oklahoma 23-21, Alabama 34-24.

Again, an SEC rematch that reversed the regular-season result. Oklahoma’s win in November sparked its run to the playoff. That seemed to carry over to the opening round, when the Sooners stormed out to a 17-0 lead. But the Tide crawled back to tie for the biggest comeback in playoff history.

Oregon vs. Ohio State, 2024

Results: Oregon 32-31, Ohio State 41-21.

Oregon narrowly pulled out the win in Autzen Stadium and then went on to post a perfect regular season, earning the top seed in the debut of the expanded playoff. But in the Rose Bowl the Ducks ran into a buzzsaw in the Buckeyes, who stormed out to a 34-0 late in the second quarter and won going away. A year later, Oregon hopes to follow Ohio State’s blueprint and score the upset against the unbeaten Big Ten champs.

Alabama vs. Georgia, 2021

Results: Alabama 42-24, Georgia 33-18.

The Tide knocked off then-unbeaten Georgia in the SEC championship game behind 421 yards and three touchdowns from quarterback Bryce Young. That landed Alabama in the four-team playoff as the No. 1 seed, while Georgia slotted in at No. 3. The pair met in the championship game after beating Cincinnati and Michigan, respectively, and the Bulldogs would hold Young to 6.5 yards per throw and make two picks to take the first of back-to-back titles.

LSU vs. Alabama, 2011

Results: LSU 9-6, Alabama 21-0

The Tigers’ overtime win during the regular season was about as ugly as the score suggests with five field goals being the only scores. The rematch in the title game about two months later wasn’t any better. Alabama’s defense barely allowed LSU to cross midfield in this second meeting to win the second of Nick Saban’s six titles in Tuscaloosa.

Florida State vs. Florida, 1996

Results: Florida State 24-21, Florida 52-20.

No other rematch has come within such a short time frame. FSU topped Florida on Nov. 30 to end the regular season and drew the immediate rematch in the Sugar Bowl, which was designated as the championship game in the Bowl Alliance format, because then-No. 2 Arizona State was obligated to face No. 4 Ohio State in the Rose Bowl. This time, Steve Spurrier’s Gators bombarded the Seminoles to capture the first national title in program history with the Sun Devils falling to the Buckeyes.

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Sports

Indiana or Oregon? Our expert picks for the Peach Bowl semifinal

January 9, 2026

The Big Ten is guaranteed one team in the College Football Playoff championship game with No. 1 Indiana and No. 5 Oregon facing off in the semifinals at the Peach Bowl.

The Hoosiers and Ducks are familiar foes with the sides meeting in October, and Indiana emerging with an important road win that helped catapult the Hoosiers to their first Rose Bowl appearance since the 1967 season.

Oregon will be looking for some payback and has some history on its side. In the six repeat meetings among Power Four teams that have occurred in the Bowl Alliance, the Bowl Championship Series and College Football Playoff, all six have been one by the team that lost the regular-season game.

Will the Ducks make it seven or will Indiana continue its run toward a national title that would have seemed crazy two years ago? Our experts weigh in with their picks.

Indiana vs. Oregon predictions for Peach Bowl

Matt Hayes

Nothing has changed since that October game in Eugene. While the Ducks played well defensively in a quarterfinal win over Texas Tech, Indiana’s offense is light years from what the Red Raiders showed last week. Oregon couldn’t stop the Hoosiers in October, and won’t again. Indiana 37, Oregon 17.

Jordan Mendoza

Can Indiana beat Oregon twice? Both teams are coming off dominant showings in the quarterfinal, and the Hoosiers are going to have their hands full trying to stop a defense that has greatly improved. However, Indiana has that clutch gene that has showed up all season, and it won’t go away in the semifinal. Fernando Mendoza tosses the ball around effectively and Oregon will have several chances to respond, but can’t get past Indiana and the No. 1 team in the playoff makes the national championship game. Indiana 29, Oregon 27.

Paul Myerberg

It will take a mammoth effort to take down Indiana. But Oregon can get it done on defense, as shown in the Orange Bowl. The Ducks should learn from this year’s 30-20 loss to Indiana and bring new ideas to the table on offense. But it’s going to take something inventive to take down the Hoosiers. Indiana 37, Oregon 23.

Erick Smith

If Indiana believed in history then it never would be two games from a national championship. So the fact that no team in national title contention in the last 30 years has beaten a team twice in the same season shouldn’t be a concern. That said, Oregon still presents a significant challenge and probably the toughest game remaining. Look for the familiarity of that regular-season game to help the Ducks and Dante Moore improve their play and eke out a dramatic victory. Oregon 23, Indiana 21.

Eddie Timanus

A pick-six made the score of the first meeting between the Hoosiers and Ducks look closer than the game actually was. Indiana mostly dominated the action. Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza will not repeat the miscues of the first encounter, and Indiana will move on to the title game. Indiana 35, Oregon 17.

Blake Toppmeyer

The last Indiana-Oregon matchup in Eugene was competitive, but I didn’t retain much doubt as to who the better team was when it finished. Indiana looked superior.

Why should a rematch at a neutral site, three time zones away from Oregon, go any differently? It shouldn’t.

Dominant though Oregon was against Texas Tech, Indiana looked even better against Alabama. Time and again, the Hoosiers prove they have the nation’s most complete team.

Oregon’s defense is good. Indiana’s is better. The Ducks’ quarterback is good. Indiana’s is better. We can play this game at a number of positions. Oregon is good. Maybe, even really good. Indiana is just better. Indiana 31, Oregon 21.

When is the Peach Bowl: Indiana vs Oregon time, date

The Peach Bowl is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., Friday, Jan. 9.

Where is the Peach Bowl?

The Peach Bowl is at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.

Peach Bowl odds: Indiana vs Oregon

Odds per BetMGM.

Spread: Indiana (-3.5)
Over/under: 46.5
Moneyline: Indiana (-180)

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Sports

Olympic snubs proving they belonged on U.S. men’s hockey roster

January 9, 2026

It was a week ago when Team USA announced the 24 players who will represent the country at the 2026 Olympics in Milan next month. And to suggest there were more than a few questionable decisions would be an understatement.

Seven of the country’s top-13 scorers were left off the roster. The top scorer among forwards and the top scorer among defencemen were both not chosen. Neither was a Norris Trophy winner, as well as a two-time Olympian who is ranked second all-time among U.S. scorers.

We’ll have to wait and see if GM Bill Guerin made the right call. But already, those who snubbed are already making it clear that they believe they should have been selected.

Here are five of the bigger omissions, with a look at how they have performed in the seven days since the roster was announced:

Jason Robertson, Dallas Stars

The biggest snub, Robertson was ranked first among Americans scorers with 48 points in 41 games and was second with 25 goals when the U.S. team was announced. While Guerin refused to specifically indicate why a talented offensive player like Robertson was not chosen, he told reporters: “We’re putting together a team, not just a group of individuals.” Since then, Robertson has continued to produce at a world-class level, scoring a goal and four points in three games for a Stars team that has gone 1-1-1 in the past week.

Lane Hutson, Montreal Canadiens

Last year’s Calder Trophy finalist was not even invited to the U.S. selection camp in September — which prompted his Manitoba-born father to suggest at the time that Hutson might switch allegiances and play for Canada instead — so it was not exactly surprising that Hutson went unpicked. Still, it was a curious omission. No American defenseman has produced more than Hutson, who is ranked third among all NHL defensemen with 43 points in 43 games. In the past week, the Canadiens blueliner has scored two goals and three points in three games, with a plus-4 rating.

Cole Caufield, Montreal Canadiens

You have to figure that if Caufield were a little taller, then the 5-foot-8 winger would have made the team. Despite his lack of size, there’s no denying that he can fill the net. Caufield is tied for fifth among American goal-scorers with 21 goals in 43 games this season. In the past three years, only six Americans have scored more. Curiously enough, two of them (Robertson and Alex DeBrincat) were also left off the team. Led by Caufield, who had a goal and assist in a 4-1 win against Calgary on Wednesday, the Canadiens have gone 2-1-0 in the past week

Adam Fox, New York Rangers

It was five years ago that Fox was named the NHL’s best defenseman. But despite his pedigree and the fact that his coach with the Rangers is also the head coach of Team USA, Fox was left off the team in favor of Florida’s Seth Jones. Some of suggested that the decision was based on Fox’s struggles at the 4 Nations Face-off, where he was on the ice for Canada’s overtime winner. But Guerin denied the link, saying “If you think we made a decision on one play, then you must not think we’re very smart.” Fox, who suffered a lower-body injury in Monday’s game against Utah, was placed on the injured reserve so he might not have been available anyway

Patrick Kane, Detroit Red Wings

Arguably the greatest American player of all time, Kane — like Canada’s Sidney Crosby and Drew Doughty— would have been the only player on the U.S. team that played at the 2010 and 2014 Olympics. It’s another way of saying that the 37-year-old is old. Still, with six goals and 24 points in 29 games, it’s clear that Kane still has some more to give. Since being left off the team, Kane has gone two games without a point. But for a team lacking in experience, his leadership might have been invaluable.

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Politics

President Trump says there won’t be a ‘second Wave of Attacks’ against Venezuela due to their ‘cooperation’

January 9, 2026

President Donald Trump announced in an early Friday morning Truth Social post that he has ‘cancelled the previously expected second Wave of Attacks’ against Venezuela in light of the ‘cooperation’ between the foreign nation and the U.S.

‘Venezuela is releasing large numbers of political prisoners as a sign of ‘Seeking Peace.’ This is a very important and smart gesture. The U.S.A. and Venezuela are working well together, especially as it pertains to rebuilding, in a much bigger, better, and more modern form, their oil and gas infrastructure. Because of this cooperation, I have cancelled the previously expected second Wave of Attacks, which looks like it will not be needed, however, all ships will stay in place for safety and security purposes,’ Trump said in the post.

He noted that he will meet with ‘BIG OIL’ figures at the White House on Friday.

‘At least 100 Billion Dollars will be invested by BIG OIL, all of whom I will be meeting with today at The White House. Thank you for your attention to this matter!’ he declared in the post.

The president’s comments come after he unilaterally ordered an attack against Venezuela last week in which U.S. forces successfully captured Nicolás Maduro.

Trump noted in a Wednesay Truth Social post, ‘I have just been informed that Venezuela is going to be purchasing ONLY American Made Products, with the money they receive from our new Oil Deal. These purchases will include, among other things, American Agricultural Products, and American Made Medicines, Medical Devices, and Equipment to improve Venezuela’s Electric Grid and Energy Facilities.’

‘In other words, Venezuela is committing to doing business with the United States of America as their principal partner – A wise choice, and a very good thing for the people of Venezuela, and the United States. Thank you for your attention to this matter!’ he added.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

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Sports

Miami beats Ole Miss with last-minute TD, will play for national title

January 9, 2026

But Beck and the Hurricanes decided they weren’t done, and the sixth-year senior delivered. Beck capped off a 15-play, 75-yard drive ending in a 3-yard touchdown run with 18 seconds left after making huge throws to set up the scramble.

The Georgia transfer completed 23-of-37 passes for 268 yards with two touchdowns to an interception, also rushing for a score. Beck never started in a CFP game at Georgia but is now leading the Hurricanes into the national championship game.

Now, Miami gets to return home, with the Jan. 19 national title game being held at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. It has been a storybook run for the Hurricanes, who have gone from CFP bubble team to the national championship, where it’ll face the winner of Indiana and Oregon.

Here are the highlights from Miami’s 31-27 win over Ole Miss in the Fiesta Bowl.

Fiesta Bowl: Ole Miss vs Miami score

Fiesta Bowl: Ole Miss vs Miami highlights

This section will be updated.

Miami heading to national championship

Chambliss’ throw for the end zone is too long, and Miami comes back to win 31-27. The Hurricanes make a statement and are heading to the national championship game despite barely reaching the CFP.

Ole Miss not done yet

Chambliss hits on gains of 23 and 17 yards to put Ole Miss on Miami’s 35-yard line with five seconds left. The Rebels going to have a shot at the end zone here.

Miami goes on top

Carson Beck takes it himself for a 3-yard touchdown scramble to give Miami a 31-27 lead with 18 seconds left. What a drive for Beck, who leads the Hurricanes on a 15-play, 75-yard scoring drive where he made numerous big throws.

The sixth-year senior quarterback has delivered tonight.

Ole Miss takes lead

Ole Miss and Miami keep trading punches, and the Rebels deliver the latest jab. Trinidad Chambliss finds Dae’Quan Wright for a 24-yard touchdown, then hits Caleb Odom for the 2-point conversion.

The Rebels lead 27-24 with 3:13 left in the fourth quarter after the huge drive by Chambliss.

Miami responds

Carson Beck fires a quick pass to Malachi Toney, who does the rest as he runs 36 yards for the touchdown to give Miami a 24-19 lead with 5:04 remaining in the fourth quarter. It’s a huge response for the Hurricanes, who need only four plays and 1:56 of game clock on the scoring drive.

Ole Miss has to go find the end zone now.

Ole Miss takes lead

Miami holds Ole Miss out of the end zone, although the Rebels take a 19-17 lead on a 21-yard field goal by Lucas Carneiro. Ole Miss caps off its 13-play, 86-yard drive inside Miami’s 5-yard line without a touchdown.

Xavier Lucas disqualified for targeting

Xavier Lucas is called for targeting on Cayden Lee on a third-and-9 catch for a first down. The play results in a 15-yard penalty and Lucas being disqualified for the remainder of the game and likely the first half of the national championship game, should Miami win.

Kewan Lacy re-enters

Kewan Lacy takes his first carry of the second half. He’s now wearing a sleeve on his right leg as he battles a hamstring injury.

Ole Miss forces punt after back-to-back sacks

Ole Miss gets to Carson Beck on second and third down sacks by Suntarine Perkins and Will Echoles, respectively. The Rebels are up to four sacks on the night and have a chance to take the lead with 12:19 left in the fourth quarter.

This one is shaping up to have a fun finish.

Ole Miss makes field goal

Lucas Carneiro hits the upright again, however this time it doinks in for a 54-yard field goal make. Ole Miss trails 17-16 with 22 seconds left in the third quarter.

Carneiro is 3-of-4 on field goal attempts tonight.

Ole Miss intercepts Carson Beck

Ole Miss gets a huge turnover, as Carson Beck’s pass is tipped into the air at the line of scrimmage and intercepted by Kapena Gushiken in the red zone.

The Rebels take over at their own 24-yard line after the huge play, which keeps Miami from potentially taking a two-score lead late in the third quarter. Ole Miss still trails 17-13.

Ole Miss misses field goal

Multiple Miami defenders bobble a would-be interception on third-and-10, but it doesn’t matter as Lucas Carneiro misses a 51-yard field goal off the left upright. The miss is Carneiro’s first of his eight field goal attempts in the College Football Playoff.

Miami misses field goal

Carter Davis misses a 51-yard field goal to end the opening drive of the second half. Miami was set behind the chains on an intentional grounding penalty from Carson Beck, which came after Ole Miss dialed up some pressure.

Kewan Lacy injury update

Ole Miss star running back Kewan Lacy is dealing with a hamstring injury, and coach Pete Golding told ESPN’s Holly Rowe at halftime that the team would go over his issue in the locker room. Losing Lacy, who led the SEC in rushing touchdowns this season, would be a huge blow for the Rebels.

Lacy appeared to suffer the injury on his touchdown run in the second quarter and hasn’t appeared since.

Lucas Carneiro hits deep field goal

Wow, Lucas Carneiro sinks a 58-yard field goal to reduce Ole Miss deficit to 17-13 with 11 seconds before halftime. That kick would’ve been good from much deeper than 58 yards, as it had plenty of distance.

Ole Miss punts

Ole Miss hasn’t found much success offensively outside of Kewan Lacy’s long touchdown run. The Rebels have gained 43 yards on 17 plays outside of the 73-yard touchdown early in the second quarter.

Trinidad Chambliss is 6-of-8 passing for 42 yards.

Miami scores again

Keelan Marion is wide open downfield, and Carson Beck hits him easily for a 52-yard touchdown. Looks like a busted coverage by Ole Miss.

Beck is off to a fabulous start, as he has completed 14-of-18 passes for 156 yards with a touchdown. His yardage is already more than he had against Texas A&M and Ohio State in Miami’s other CFP wins.

Ole Miss ties it

Lucas Carneiro, the hero of Ole Miss’ win over Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, hits from 42 yards out to even the score at 10-10 with 4:38 left before halftime.

Miami might have been bailed out there, as it avoids being flagged for a late hit on Chambliss on third-and-7 from the 24-yard line.

Miami responds with long scoring drive

Miami responds with a huge drive ending in a 4-yard touchdown run by CharMar Brown to regain the lead. The Hurricanes take a whopping 7:41 of game clock after the 15-play, 75-yard drive.

Miami’s blueprint of long, grinding drives in the CFP continues to work.

Ole Miss strikes

All it takes is one play for this Ole Miss offense. Kewan Lacy houses a handoff after outrunning Miami for a 73-yard touchdown. The Rebels lead 7-3 after the first play of the second quarter, gaining its first first down of the game in the process.

Miami punts

A holding penalty and a false start on third-and-9 result in Miami punting on its second possession. Ole Miss takes over on its own 20-yard line and can likely run a play before the first quarter ends.

Miami forces another three-and-out

This Miami defensive just keeps getting pressure, as it has all postseason. The Hurricanes force another three-and-out and are living in the backfield so far, making things quite uncomfortable for Chambliss.

Miami takes 3-0 lead

Miami caps off a 13-play, 44-yard drive with a 38-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead in the first quarter. The Hurricanes’ drive burns 6:59 of clock as Beck attempts four passes.

Ole Miss goes three-and-out

Miami picks up right where it left off defensively, forcing Ole Miss to a three-and-out. The Hurricanes take over with good field position on their own 45-yard line.

Ole Miss starts on offense

The first of two CFP semifinal games is underway. Ole Miss starts with possession in the Fiesta Bowl, and here comes Trinidad Chambliss.

Nick Saban assistants in CFP

All four remaining head coaches in the CFP are former assistants under Nick Saban at Alabama, including Ole Miss’ Pete Golding and Miami’s Mario Cristobal. ESPN’s ‘College GameDay’ asked each coach what they learned from Saban:

Will Trinidad Chambliss play next season?

Chambliss is currently awaiting a decision from the NCAA for a retroactive redshirt for the 2022 season, which would allow him to play the 2026 season.

The fifth-year senior spent four seasons at Ferris State, although he redshirted as a true freshman in 2021 before sitting out in 2022 as he battled health issues. He has already agreed to return to Ole Miss for next season, should he receive the eligibility waiver.

Mark Fletcher stats

Miami running back Mark Fletcher has been the Hurricanes’ best offensive player in the CFP so far. Here’s a look at how he performed in Miami’s two CFP wins, along with his season stats.

vs. Ohio State: 19 carries for 90 yards with two receptions for 25 yards and a touchdown
at Texas A&M: 17 carries for 172 yards
2025-26 stats: 177 carries for 943 yards with 10 touchdowns; 16 receptions for 132 yards with two touchdowns

Where is Miami vs Ole Miss game today?

Location: State Farm Stadium (Glendale, Arizona)

Miami and Ole Miss will face in the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, where the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals play their home games.

What TV channel is Miami vs Ole Miss on today?

TV: ESPN
Streaming: ESPN app | Fubo (free trial)

The CFP Fiesta Bowl semifinal between Miami and Ole Miss will air nationally on ESPN, with Chris Fowler (play-by-play) and Kirk Herbstreit (analyst) calling the game and Holly Rowe serving as the sideline reporter.

Streaming options for the game include the ESPN app (with a cable login) and Fubo, the latter of which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.

Miami vs Ole Miss time today

Date: Thursday, Jan. 8
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: State Farm Stadium (Glendale, Arizona)

Miami and Ole Miss are scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET from State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

Miami vs Ole Miss predictions, picks, odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Sunday, Jan. 4

Spread: Miami (-3.5)
Over/under: 51.5
Moneyline: Miami (-180) | Ole Miss (+150)

Prediction: Ole Miss 27, Miami 20

The magical run for Ole Miss continues, while the clock strikes midnight for Cristobal and Miami’s run. While the Hurricanes’ defense has carried them, Chambliss presents a different challenge and continues to make heroic plays to help the Rebels advance to the championship game. — Ehsan Kassim, USA TODAY.

Here’s who experts within the USA TODAY Sports Network picked to win the Fiesta Bowl:

Ole Miss 31, Miami 24: The Hurricanes’ pass rush put Julian Sayin in a blender in the Cotton Bowl. Trinidad Chambliss’ mobility and whirling dervish style should give the Rebels’ offense a chance the Buckeyes never had. On the other side of the ball, I trust Pete Golding to scheme up a defense that forces Carson Beck to win the game. Beck hasn’t thrown for more than 150 yards in either of Miami’s CFP wins, while the Rebels have proven you’ll need to score more than 24 points to beat them – heck, you may have to score 40. — Matt Glenesk, USA TODAY
Ole Miss 23, Miami 7: Miami has come out and exceeded all expectations, and that should be recognized. Beating Texas A&M and Ohio State in back-to-back weeks is huge for a program that backed into the CFP at the last moment. But Pete Golding proved his mettle as a coach going toe-to-toe against an SEC behemoth in Georgia, and he should find a way to make Carson Beck’s life difficult. Combine that with how difficult it is to contain Trinidad Chambliss, despite the utterly elite pass rushers Miami has, and it’s a tough matchup for Miami. To its credit, the past two have been tough as well. But the buck stops in Glendale. — Kevin Skiver, USA TODAY
Miami 27, Ole Miss 23: At some point —and this may just be stubbornly holding on to a week-old opinion — the inherent instability and awkwardness of the Rebels’ situation is going to be a factor, though it obviously hasn’t through two games in the playoff. Trinidad Chambliss is mesmerizing, but he hasn’t faced a pass rush quite as ferocious as Miami’s, and the Hurricanes’ offense will do just enough to keep their run going all the way to the title game. The prospect of a turnover-filled dud for Carson Beck only makes me so confident in this pick, though. — Craig Meyer, USA TODAY

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