College Football Headlines, NFL Playoff Races, and What’s Next
- Isaiah Carpenter
- Jan 4
- 4 min read
By Isaiah Carpenter, HatTrick Sports
As the calendar turns and the seasons start to overlap, it feels like everything is happening at once. College football is down to its biggest games, the NFL playoff picture is set, and baseball continues to reshape itself with major international signings. Here’s a breakdown of the biggest storylines from across the sports world this week and why they matter heading into the new year.
CFP Semifinals and a New Look Indiana
The College Football Playoff semifinals look nothing like many expected earlier in the season. Miami has been one of the most surprising teams in the country. After wins over Texas Tech and Ohio State, they have built real momentum and now head to Arizona to face Ole Miss. Miami being favored by 3 shows just how much their perception has changed.
Indiana’s matchup against Oregon tells a different story. Indiana has not been overlooked this season, but in years past they were one of the worst programs in college football. This turnaround has been real and earned. They have stayed consistent all season, and that growth puts them in a position to compete on the biggest stage. I like Indiana in this matchup.
Georgia vs Ole Miss and a Wild Finish
The ending of the Georgia Ole Miss game was pure chaos. The final seconds dragged on with confusion over whether the game was actually over, as the field filled and cleared multiple times. When it finally ended, Ole Miss walked away with a 39–34 win in one of the most bizarre finishes of the season.
CFP Schedule and My Pick
The Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl will be played on January 9 at 7:30 PM ET with Indiana facing Oregon. The VRBO Fiesta Bowl follows on January 8 at 7:30 PM ET featuring Miami and Ole Miss. Indiana feels like the team that has handled pressure the best all season, and that’s why I have them winning it all.
Blue Jays Sign Kazuma Okamoto
The Toronto Blue Jays made a major move by signing Japanese third baseman Kazuma Okamoto to a 4-year, $60M deal. The contract includes a $5M signing bonus, a $7M salary in 2026, and $16M per year over the final 3 seasons. Toronto will also pay a $10.875M posting fee to Yomiuri.
Okamoto, 29, has hit 248 home runs in NPB since 2015. While injuries affected his power recently, his batting average climbed to .280 and .327 in back-to-back seasons, and his strikeout rate dropped from 16% to 11%. His consistency made him a strong alternative to higher-priced MLB free agents.
Astros Add Japanese Ace Tatsuya Imai
Houston continued its trend of targeting international pitching by signing Tatsuya Imai to a 3-year deal worth $54M guaranteed, with a max value of $63M. The contract includes opt-outs after the 2026 and 2027 seasons.
Imai posted a 10–5 record with a 1.92 ERA and 178 strikeouts over 163⅔ innings in 2025. His fastball ranges from 93–97 mph and touches 99, while his slider and splitter give hitters multiple looks. The Astros also avoid draft compensation, making this a smart long-term move.
Most Field Goals Made in a Single Season
Kickers quietly put together a historic year. Ka’imi Fairbairn tied the NFL record with 44 field goals in 2025, matching David Akers in 2011. Jason Myers followed with 41 for Seattle, Chris Boswell made 41 in 2024, Brandon Aubrey hit 40 in 2024, and Daniel Carlson reached 40 in 2021. In close games, those points matter.
NFL Playoff Picture and Seattle on Top
The playoff picture is officially set, and the Seahawks made a statement by beating the 49ers 13–3 on Saturday night. With that win, Seattle secured the NFC West title and the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Home-field advantage throughout the playoffs could be a difference-maker for this team.
Week 18 NFL Pick’ems
My Week 18 picks are Colts over Texans, Bengals over Browns, Saints over Falcons, Packers over Vikings, Titans over Jaguars, Cowboys over Giants, Rams over Cardinals, Chiefs over Raiders, Eagles over Commanders, Patriots over Dolphins, Lions over Bears, Broncos over Chargers, Bills over Jets, and Ravens over Steelers.
Mike Evans and the End of a Streak
Mike Evans finishing 2025 without 1,000 receiving yards felt strange. Injuries played a major role, as he missed 9 games with a broken collarbone. He finished with 368 yards, snapping a streak that lasted from 2015 to 2024. The consistency over that stretch still speaks for itself, even in a down year.
Stay Connected with HatTrick Sports
For more blogs, podcasts, and sports content, visit the HatTrick Sports website at: https://www.shophattricksports.com
You can listen to the 131st episode of The HatTrick Sports Podcast on YouTube here https://youtu.be/c9U24HqmaQQ?si=2yOC0dZnn_-ZyQPb
New episodes drop weekly, covering the biggest stories across the NFL, MLB, college football, and more.
As the postseason approaches, every result carries more weight. Teams are fighting for legacies, seasons are being defined, and momentum is everything. This is the stretch where storylines turn into history.
Comments