Long live all the magic we made

The GIST: ICYMI: The four teams competing in this weekend’s NWSL Playoffs semis are the four previous league champs dating back to 2021. With postseason experience everywhere you look and the No. 1 seed already stunningly eliminated, the only thing to expect is the unexpected.

🔥 No. 2 seed Washington Spirit host No. 3 Portland Thorns at Rowdy Audi tomorrow at 12 p.m. ET: Portland is peaking at just the right time, anchored by their strong midfield, which includes all-time greats Sam Coffey and Jessie Fleming.

• However, it’s not easy to lead an offensive attack in one of the NWSL’s loudest arenas — much less score on a keeper like the Spirit’s Aubrey Kingsbury. Which side will prevail? Tune into CBS in the U.S. or TSN5 in Canada to find out.

💪 Underestimated No. 4 Orlando Pride takes on underdog No. 8 Gotham FC Sunday at 3 p.m. ET: Legendary Pride forward Marta has ears everywhere — and she heard folks counting the defending champs out after a wishy-washy regular season. But can an Orlando team finding its stride counter Gotham’s momentum after forward Jaedyn Shaw and the Bats pulled off the greatest upset in league history? ABC in the U.S. or TSN5 in Canada will have your answer.

☝️ One more thing: Yesterday, MLS voted to shift its schedule and align itself with the international soccer calendar beginning in 2027. Most pro men’s and women’s leagues worldwide play on a summer-to-spring schedule, while MLS and the NWSL are on a spring-to-winter schedule.

• Notably, the NWSL’s landmark 2024 CBA eliminated limitations on season start and end dates, which means a shift could also be on the table for the top women’s league in North America. Watch this space.

The GIST: Hear that? Sounds like postseason panic setting in as college football careens into Week 12 of the 15-week regular season. With four top-25 matchups on tomorrow’s docket, the College Football Playoff (CFP) selection committee is watching closely — here are the teams with the most to gain (and the most to lose).

🤘🐶 No. 10 Texas seeks miraculous bounceback against No. 5 Georgia: The Longhorns have been on a rollercoaster ride with quarterback (QB) Arch Manning (yes, of Manning Family fame) going from Heisman Trophy favorite to flop and back again. But they’ve gritted out four straight wins, and a victory on Georgia’s home field would make them instant CFP shoe-ins once again.

• But it won’t come easy: Led by QB Gunner Stockton, Georgia’s offense is absolutely humming. The last time these teams met, in last year’s SEC championship game, it went to overtime…in other words, clear your cal for 7:30 p.m. ET.

❤️🐘 No. 11 Oklahoma needs a signature win at No. 4 Alabama at 3:30 p.m. ET: Oklahoma’s 7-2 record is nothing to sniff at, unless you’re fighting for your life (and a ticket to the conference championship) in the cutthroat SEC. An upset over the Crimson Tide and star QB Ty Simpson might just balance out the Sooners’ previous losses.

👀 No. 6 Ole Miss head coach (HC) Lane Kiffin at center of spicy B plot: The 9-1 Rebels are rolling as they host a hollowed-out Florida squad tomorrow at 7 p.m. ET…and rumor has it, Kiffin is Florida’s No. 1 target in their HC hunt after showing Billy Napier the door three weeks ago.

• There are also “Kiffin to the NFL” rumors swirling, so while the on-field action should be pretty lopsided, all eyes will be on the sidelines. Drama, drama.

✅ Some surprises are the absolute best, like tuning in to find out which SC will reign supreme in tomorrow’s 9 p.m. ET women’s college basketball showdown.

❌ Others are straight-up day ruiners, like learning your health insurance wasn’t designed to cover everything. Oof.

• Thankfully, there’s Aflac. They pay cash to help you bounce back from expenses health insurance doesn’t cover. No airballs here.

🎓🏑 Field hockey: NCAA tournament first round — Starting today at 12 p.m. ET — ESPN+

• The last seven championships have been won by either UNC, led by overachieving 25-year-old HC Erin Matson, or Northwestern. Which two teams come into this tourney nearly tied for a league-best win percentage? You guessed it.

🎓⚽ Women’s soccer: NCAA tournament first round — Starting today at 3 p.m. ET — NCAA.com

• The bracket is set, the road to the College Cup paved. If you can only catch one match, make it No. 3 Tennessee vs. North Carolina today at 6 p.m. ET: UNC is the legacy program and the defending national champ, but they’re notably unseeded heading into this tourney.

🎓🏀 Men’s basketball: No. 7 BYU Cougars vs. No. 3 UConn Huskies — Tomorrow at 7 p.m. ET — Fox

• After eviscerating three underdogs to start the season, UConn meets their first challenge in the also-undefeated Cougs and guard AJ Dybantsa. A member of this year’s much-hyped freshman class, he’s already in the conversation for No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

🎓🏀 Women’s basketball: No. 2 South Carolina Gamecocks vs. No. 8 Southern California Trojans — Tomorrow at 9 p.m. ET — Fox

• No JuJu, no problem — the Trojans rocketed back into the top 10 thanks to a huge win over then–No. 9 NC State, even without their injured superstar. But powerhouse South Carolina will be the true test: They’ve beaten their first three opponents by an average of 45 points. Let the battle for the real USC begin.