College Football Playoffs—B
The 2025–26 College Football Playoff brackets are set, and this year’s expanded 12-team format delivers one of the most unpredictable tournaments yet. Indiana is seeded first after winning the Big Ten Championship Game, followed by Ohio State, Georgia, and Texas Tech, each securing byes in the playoffs. The first round features exciting clashes: Oklahoma in eighth versus Alabama in ninth and Oregon in fifth versus James Madison in 12th.
Cross Country — A
Team USA finalized its roster for the 2026 World Cross Country Championships after the national championships completed on Dec. 6. The women’s squad blends star power and stability: Weini Kelati returns as the veteran favorite, joined by consistent contenders Katie Izzo and Karissa Schweizer. On the men’s side, the team features both renowned names and emerging stars. Parker Wolfe and Rocky Hansen headline the new running generation, while Wesley Kiptoo and Ahmed Muhumed bring continued cross-country strength. Rounding out the roster are NCAA standouts Nico Young and Graham Blanks, who will hopefully help realize Team USA’s podium hopes in January.
World Cup Poster — C
FIFA released its first World Cup promotional poster on Nov. 19, featuring top players from all 42 qualified teams for the 2026 World Cup. Surprisingly, FIFA chose Bruno Fernandes to represent Portugal instead of Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal’s all-time top scorer and one of soccer’s greatest. The omission of the soccer legend drew immediate backlash. Hours later, FIFA deleted the original without explanation, replacing it with a new poster featuring Ronaldo. Even if FIFA had a reason, the lack of an explanation and scramble to re-post shows the already-controversial organization’s unprofessional standards. C for the sloppiness and needless controversy.
