Monday Afternoon Sports – National Championship Preview, NFL Black Monday Begins, College Basketball Bumps Purdue from No. 1, Husker & Loper Basketball Saturday Recaps, Weekend Sports Recap, Local Sports Schedule

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP FACES CINDERELLA TCU AND GOLIATH GEORGIA:

The college football season arrives at its climax on Monday as the heralded Georgia Bulldogs attempt to defend their title against the Horned Frogs of Texas Christian University.

Georgia heads to the SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, unbeaten so far this season and with history in its sights as the defending champions.

No team has won consecutive national titles since Alabama in 2011 and 2012, and none since the advent of the reformatted College Football Playoffs in 2014.

TCU, meanwhile, entered the season outside the top 25 programs in the country and with a rookie coach in Sonny Dykes – no coach of such inexperience has ever reached a College Football Playoff Championship game, let alone won.

Kickoff is set for 6:30 PM tonight with coverage across the ESPN Networks.

NFL BLACK MONDAY BEGINS, CARDINALS BEGIN CLEANING HOUSE:

The Arizona Cardinals have fired coach Kliff Kingsbury and parted ways with general manager Steve Keim after a dreadful season that saw constant unwanted headlines, a serious knee injury to star quarterback Kyler Murray and lots of losing.

The 43-year-old Kingsbury — who received a contract extension just last year — finishes his tenure with a 28-37-1 record over four seasons, including a 4-13 mark this year. The Cardinals ended the season on a seven-game losing streak, falling to the San Francisco 49ers 38-13 on Sunday.

The 50-year-old Keim also received a contract extension last season. He’s been with the Cardinals since 1999 and served as the team’s general manager since 2013.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL PUTS HOUSTON BACK AT No. 1:

Houston is back at No. 1 in The Associated Press Top 25 men’s college basketball poll for the second time this season, while Kansas State continued its unexpectedly strong start by leaping from unranked to the verge of the top 10.

The Cougars received 34 of 60 first-place votes in Monday’s poll to return to the top after a two-week stay there earlier this season. Kansas was second and had 22 first-place votes, while Purdue fell from No. 1 to No. 3 and got the other four first-place votes after suffering its first loss at Rutgers last week.

Kansas State jumped to No. 11 after an impressive week with two road wins against ranked opponents under first-year coach Jerome Tang.

HUSKER MEN TAKE DOWN MINNESOTA; WOMEN FALL TO RUTGERS ON SATURDAY:

It was a split weekend for Husker Basketball in Big Ten road action on Saturday with the Husker men earning an overtime victory over Minnesota while the Nebraska women went cold shooting 28% and falling to Rutgers.

The Nebraska Men are now 9-7 overall and 2-3 in Big Ten play and continue conference action this week taking on Illinois on Tuesday at home. 

The Husker Women fell to 10-6 overall and 2-3 in conference action as they return to PBA facing Penn State on Wednesday.

LOPER WOMEN BLOCK OUT LIONS’ LATE CHANCE; MEN FALL TO MO-SOUTH:

UNK’s Elisa Backs sealed the Top 30 rated Loper Women’s win with a late block on a Missouri Southern three-pointer to hold off a 54-51 win at the Health & Sports Center on Saturday afternoon. Trinity Law added a three point barrage early, setting up UNK for the upset win over the Top Ten Lions. 

The Loper Women improved to 15-3 overall and 8-2 in conference play with the win. 

The Loper Men could not keep pace with Missouri Southern in the second game of the Saturday slate, falling 75-65. The loss drops UNK to 3-12 and 1-8 in the MIAA. 

Both Loper teams return to action on Saturday traveling to Fort Hays State. 

LOPER WRESTLING FINISHES FOURTH IN NATIONAL DUALS:

The 2nd-ranked Nebraska Kearney wrestling team finished eighth at the 2023 NWCA Multi-Division National Duals Saturday in Louisville, Ky.

The banged-up Lopers (5-3) came into the weekend minus two starters due to season-ending injuries and then saw nationally-ranked Hayden Prince (197 lbs.) medically forfeit in a second-round loss to Mary on Friday afternoon.

UNK hosts the Newman Jets Friday in the H&S Center to begin MIAA action.

GIRLS BASKETBALL SHOWCASE RESULTS:

The 3rd Annual Nebraska Girls Basketball Showcase returned to Kearney High School for a successful string of competitive action. Full results:

SATURDAY GIRLS BASKETBALL SHOWCASE:

GAME 1 – Alma 72-64 Elgin Public/Pope John

GAME 2 – St. Mary’s 52-37 Amherst

GAME 3 – Shelton 36-34 GICC

GAME 4 – Beatrice 43-31 Broken Bow

GAME 5 – Bridgeport 72-50 Malcolm

GAME 6 – Millard South 70-34 Olathe North (KS)

GAME 7 – Pender 40-36 Milford

GAME 8 – Elkhorn North 66-49 Kearney High

STORM DROP HOME CONTEST TO BLACKHAWKS:

The Tri-City Storm dropped a home game to the Waterloo Black Hawks Sunday afternoon at the Viaero Center by a final score of 7-2. Ryan Smith and Daimon Gardner scored the Storm’s goals during the game. 

Tri-City returns to action on Friday, January 13th in a rivalry game against the Lincoln Stars at the Viaero Center. The game is the Storm’s annual Concrete Cares night. Fans are invited to participate in the organization’s Paint the Ice event on Tuesday, January 10th from 6pm to 8pm. 

Puck drop for Friday’s home game is scheduled for 7:05pm CT.

NEBRASKA FOOTBALL – FRIDAY PRESS CONFERENCE COORDINATOR COMMENTS:

SATTERFIELD – FIRST STEPS AT NEBRASKA:

New Nebraska Football Offensive Coordinator Marcus Satterfield addressed the media for the first time Friday afternoon, and spoke about what his first steps in Lincoln looked like on campus…

Satterfield arrived to the Big Red from South Carolina as the Gamecocks had one of the most prolific offenses in the country in the final three weeks of the season.

SATTERFIELD – LIKE MINDSET WITH RHULE; READY TO GO:

Marcus Satterfield joined the Big Red Football team with Matt Rhule in Lincoln as the Huskers’ new offensive coordinator, and spoke about the excitement to get going… 

Satterfield hopes to bring a more pro-style attack to Lincoln, using more huddle formations and an influence from the NFL. 

SATTERFIELD – HUDDLES, FULLBACKS, RUNNING THE FOOTBALL:

Marcus Satterfield, new Nebraska Football offensive coordinator, addressed the media for the first time Friday afternoon and spoke about his transferable goals for the Husker offense from South Carolina…

Nebraska is hoping to be more balanced on offense as well, with a bevy of returning starters including running back Anthony Grant and quarterback Casey Thompson.

WHITE – THANKFUL AND LUCKY TO BE AT NEBRASKA:

Troy White, new Husker defensive coordinator, spoke to the media for the first time on Friday afternoon and wanted to share his thanks to open his comments…

White arrives in Lincoln from Syracuse. 

WHITE – WHY THE 3-3-5 DEFENSE:

Troy White, the Huskers new defensive coordinator from Syracuse, opened his press conference to the media explaining his perspective of the 3-3-5 defense…

Nebraska has yet to use a 3-3-5 base defense in the Big Ten, as the defense is more centered around a pass defense emphasis with more speed and defensive backs. 

WHITE – WHATEVER CONCEPT IT TAKES TO WIN:

Troy White addressed the media for the first time as the Huskers’ new defensive coordinator and said he’ll run any variation of defense it takes…

White arrives from Syracuse running a base 3-3-5 defense with three defensive lineman, three linebackers, and five defensive backs..

NFL REGULAR SEASON WRAPS; POSTSEASON SET FOR WILDCARD:

The NFL’s Week 18 saved its best drama for the final game of the weekend.

The Detroit Lions — eliminated from playoff contention earlier Sunday when the Seahawks beat the Rams — pushed past their disappointment and played the role of a spoiler, rallying to beat Green Bay 20-16 on Sunday night. The win denied quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Packers a spot in the postseason.

The rest of next weekend’s schedule is also set: In the AFC, it’ll be the Miami Dolphins at the Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens at the Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Chargers at Jacksonville Jaguars. In the NFC, the Minnesota Vikings will host the New York Giants and the Tom Brady-led Tampa Bay Bucs host the Dallas Cowboys.

The AFC bracket could still be affected by the cancellation of the Bills-Bengals game after Hamlin’s injury. The Bengals avoided a coin flip for home field after beating the Ravens 27-16, but there still could be a neutral field AFC championship game if the Bills line up against the Chiefs.

MICHIGAN STAR CORUM STAYING FOR SENIOR YEAR:

Michigan All-America running back Blake Corum is staying in school for his senior season and putting his NFL dreams on hold.

Corum announced his decision on Monday, hours before the national championship game, writing that he had “unfinished business.”

He had a season-ending left knee injury against Illinois on Nov. 19 after running for 1,463 yards and 18 touchdowns. Corum had 952 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns as a sophomore in 2021.

NFL WEEKEND SCORES:

SATURDAY:

Kansas City Chiefs 31-13 Las Vegas Raiders

Jacksonville Jaguars 20-16 Tennessee Titans

SUNDAY:

Pittsburgh Steelers 28-14 Cleveland Browns

Cincinnati Bengals 27-16 Baltimore Ravens

Minnesota Vikings 29-13 Chicago Bears

Buffalo Bills 35-23 New England Patriots

Miami Dolphins 11-6 New York Jets

Atlanta Falcons 30-17 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Carolina Panthers 10-7 New Orleans Saints

Houston Texans 32-31 Indianapolis Colts

San Francisco 49ers 38-13 Arizona Cardinals

Seattle Seahawks 19-16 Los Angeles Rams (OT)

Washington Commanders 26-9 Dallas Cowboys

Philadelphia Eagles 22-16 New York Giants

Denver Broncos 31-28 Los Angeles Chargers

Detroit Lions 20-16 Green Bay Packers

Local Results & Schedules:

THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:

MONDAY:

• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • High School Coaches Show (5 PM – 6 PM)
  • Sports Nightly (6 PM – 8 PM)

TUESDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Swimming & Diving: Double Dual v. Lincoln North Star & Lincoln Southwest – 4 PM
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Boys Basketball: v. Lexington – 5:30 PM
  • Girls Basketball: v. Lexington – 7:30 PM
  • Wrestling: @ Central City Dual – 6 PM
• UNK:
  • N/a
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Sports Nightly (6 PM – 7 PM)
  • Nebraska Men’s Basketball v. Illinois (7 PM – 10:45 PM)

WEDNESDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• UNK:
  • N/a
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Sports Nightly (6 PM – 6:45 PM)
  • Nebraska Women’s Basketball v. Penn State (6:45 PM – 10 PM)

THURSDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Girls Basketball: @ Lincoln East – 5:45 PM
    • KGFW Pregame at 5:30 PM
  • Boys Basketball: @ Lincoln East – 7:30 PM
    • KGFW Pregame after KHS GBB
  • Wrestling: v. North Platte Dual @ Kearney High School – 7 PM
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Swimming & Diving: @ North Star Triangular – 4 PM
  • Girls Basketball: v. Broken Bow – 5:30 PM
  • Boys Basketball: v. Broken Bow – 7:30 PM
• UNK:
  • N/a
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Kearney High Girls Basketball @ Lincoln East (5:30 PM – 7:30 PM)
  • Kearney High Boys Basketball @ Lincoln East (7:30 PM – 9:30 PM)

FRIDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Swimming & Diving: @ Lincoln High School (Diving Only) – 4:30 PM
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Swimming & Diving: @ Lincoln High Invite (Diving Only) – 4:30 PM
  • Wrestling: Triangular @ Gibbon (v. Gibbon & Mitchell) – 7 PM
• UNK:
  • M/W T&F: @ Graduate Classic @ Lincoln, NE – 4 PM
  • Wrestling: @ Newman – 7 PM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Nebraska Men’s Basketball @ Purdue (5 PM – 8:45 PM)

SATURDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Wrestling: HAC Championships @ Lincoln Southwest – 9:30 AM
  • Swimming & Diving: @ Lincoln High Invite – 10 AM
  • Boys Basketball: @ Omaha Bryan – 2 PM
    • KGFW Pregame beginning at 1:45 PM
  • Girls Basketball: v. Bellevue West @ Kearney High School – 4:15 PM
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Swimming & Diving: @ Lincoln High Invite – 10 AM
  • Wrestling: @ Gibbon Invite – 10 AM
  • Girls Basketball: @ Hastings St. Cecilia – 1 PM
  • Boys Basketball: @ Hastings St. Cecilia – 3 PM
• UNK:
  • M/W T&F: @ Graduate Classic @ Lincoln, NE – 11:30 AM
  • Swimming: @ OC Invite @ Irvine, CA
  • Women’s Basketball: @ Fort Hays State – 2 PM
  • Men’s Basketball: @ Fort Hays State – 4 PM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Kearney High Boys Basketball @ Omaha Bryan (1:45 PM – 3:45 PM)

SUNDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• UNK:
  • N/a
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • N/a