Big Ten dunks on SEC in college football coaching carousel. That's the cold truth

TheBig Ten is thrivingso far this postseason. (OK, so maybe Southern Cal's tackling isn't thriving, but the rest of theB1Gis doing just fine.)

With a couple of exceptions, theSEC is wilting.

And what of the coaching carousel? Did the Big Ten club theSECthere, too? You could make that case.

LSU scored the big fish by securingLane Kiffin. Mostly, though, SEC schools hired promising but largely unproven up-and-comers, while Big Ten schools like Michigan and Penn State landed veteran winners with solid resumes.

On this edition of "SEC Football Unfiltered," a podcast from the USA TODAY Network, hostsBlake ToppmeyerandJohn Adamsevalute which conference did it better in this hiring cycle.

Subscribe to SEC Football UnfilterediTunes|Google Play|Spotify

They also debate which conference has the better complete roster of coaches. And they discuss which SEC schools would have been well-served by hiringKyle Whittingham, who wound up at Michigan.

Coaching hires in the SEC

• LSU: Lane Kiffin (Mississippi)

• Auburn: Alex Golesh (South Florida)

• Florida: Jon Sumrall (Tulane)

• Arkansas: Ryan Silverfield (Memphis)

• Kentucky: Will Stein (Oregon offensive coordinator)

• Ole Miss: Pete Golding (promoted from defensive coordinator)

Overview:LSU made the splashiest hire of this coaching cycle, plundering Kiffin from a conference rival and luring him away from a playoff team. Elsewhere, three SEC schools hired coaches from the American Conference, while two schools went the coordinator route.

TOPPMEYER:How can Ole Miss get revenge on Lane Kiffin? By proving him wrong

ADAMS:Tennessee football goes out with a whimper against Illinois

Coaching hires in the Big Ten

• Michigan: Kyle Whittingham (Utah)

• Penn State: Matt Campbell (Iowa State)

• Michigan State: Pat Fitzgerald (formerly at Northwestern)

• UCLA: Bob Chesney (James Madison)

Overview:This marks a sharp pivot from the SEC's strategy of raiding the American. UCLA went the Group of Five route with Chesney, but the other three Big Ten schools making hires turned to veterans. Whittingham is the winningest coach in Utah history. Campbell is the winningest coach in Iowa State history. Fitzgerald is the winningest coach in Northwestern history.

Which conference hired better?

Advantage goes to the Big Ten. Bravo to LSU for securing Kiffin, but the rest of the SEC hired less proven coaches than Whittingham, Campbell or Fitzgerald. That doesn't mean someone like Sumrall or Golesh won't succeed, but any of the SEC's hires not named Kiffin seems riskier than someone who's as accomplished as Campbell.

Which conference has better roster of coaches?

Toppmeyer:The Big Ten has the better full roster of coaches. At the top, the SEC is just as good. I'd put an SEC five-pack of Kirby Smart, Kalen DeBoer, Kiffin, Steve Sarkisian and Josh Heupel up against the Big Ten's Ryan Day, Curt Cignetti, Dan Lanning, Whittingham and Campbell.

In the middle of the conferences and in the lower-third, I give the nod to the Big Ten. Consider, Bret Bielema (Illinois) probably ranks somewhere in the No. 8 range of the Big Ten's pecking order of coaches. Bielema beat South Carolina and Tennessee in bowl games in the past two seasons. He's won 19 games with the Illini the past two years. That's no small feat, and he's just one example of the Big Ten's solid collection of down-ballot coaches.

A few years from now, we might say the SEC's coaches are as good or better than the Big Ten's, but we can't say that now. Too many unproven figures.

Adams:Toppmeyer is right. The Big Ten enjoys the edge.

The SEC remains strong at the top, but it can't match the Big Ten's quality in the middle or lower ranks. The Big Ten upgraded its roster of coaches in this hiring cycle. The SEC took ambitious shots on younger candidates. That might work, so we reserve the right to re-evaluate this in a couple of years. For now, I'd take the Big Ten's coaching roster.

Later in the episode

∎ The hosts unpack theCollege Football Playoffquarterfinal matchups, includingwhat's at stake for Kalen DeBoerin Alabama-Indiana and whetherMississippi plays with house moneyin a rematch with Georgia.

Where to listen to SEC Football Unfiltered

• Apple

• Spotify

• iHeart

• Google

Blake Toppmeyeris the USA TODAY Network's national college football columnist.John Adamsis the senior sports columnist for the Knoxville News Sentinel.Subscribe to theSEC Football Unfilteredpodcast, and check out theSEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Big Ten beats SEC in college football coaching carousel

byAlex Forten

in

December 31, 2025

Big Ten dunks on SEC in college football coaching carousel. That's the cold truth

TheBig Ten is thrivingso far this postseason. (OK, so maybe Southern Cal's tackling isn't thriving, but the rest ...

Read More

The NFC South, the NFL's weirdest division, will end the year on a perfectly ridiculous note

The battle for the NFC South will come down to a game between the division's top two teams on Saturday …but the title itself might not be decided until Sunday.

The Panthers (8-8) face the Buccaneers (7-9) on Saturday night in Tampa. If the Panthers win, end of story, Carolina takes the division. (More on that in a moment.) If the Bucs win, though, the two teams would be tied at 8-9 … and they'd have to wait until the outcome of Sunday's Falcons-Saints game. If the Falcons win, you'd have three teams tied at 8-9 … and thePantherswould win by a series of tiebreakers.

For any other division in football, this would be a ridiculous, borderline unbelievable turn of events. For the NFC South, it's called "a season."

The NFC South is the point on the NFL map where the border with the college football universe is the thinnest, and consequently a whole lot of SEC crazy tends to seep into the water supply. The four teams that make up the NFC South — Atlanta, Carolina, Tampa Bay and New Orleans — are the most ramshackle collection of weirdos in the NFL.

You don't want to play any NFC South team at any point in the year, because you never quite know how it's going to go (see:Monday night's Rams-Falcons game). These four teams shoot themselves in the foot with numbing regularity, but they might just be standing on your foot when they fire.

Five of the NFL's eight divisions have sent all four members to the Super Bowl. (Sorry, AFC South and AFC/NFC Norths.) No division has sent all four teams to the big game more recently than the NFC South (New Orleans 2009, Carolina 2015, Atlanta 2016, Tampa Bay 2020). And yet, almost every time an NFC South team manages to reach the big game, it faceplants for a few seasons afterward, like a pageant winner ascending the podium and then immediately falling off the back as soon as she receives her crown.

In other words, you must take the NFC South seriously, even though it is a profoundly unserious division.

Consider how this season alone has gone:

• The Falcons' backup quarterback is on a $180 million contract. They have one of the game's three best running backs, a vicious pass defense, a young and hungry receiving corps, and yet have lost nine games already this season. They've beaten both the Rams and Bills in prime time … and lost to both the Dolphins and Jets. They might well finish with a record equal to the division winner … and they were eliminated from the playoff picture weeks ago.

• The Panthers are the odds-on favorite to win the division — a 78 percent chance, per The Athletic — and yet nobody's quite sure if their quarterback will be around much longer. Bryce Young has engineered six game-winning drives this season, second in the league only to Bo Nix's seven, but the fact that the Panthers have won only eight games total is a sign that this is a team that needs game-winning drives a little too often. And again, Carolina being a division winner with a below-.500 record is very much on the table.

• The Bucs are the four-time defending division champs, and after starting the season 5-1, appeared headed to an easy fifth. But they've lost seven of their past eight, including four in a row. They've won exactly one game since before Halloween — and that was a three-point victory over the woeful Arizona Cardinals. Everybody on the entire team is injured, including two separate players since you started reading this sentence.

• The Saints somehow built an entire 2025 team and forgot they might need an NFL-caliber starting quarterback. They immediately proceeded to go 1-8 to start the season. But they've swept the season series against the likely division winner, and they're on a four-game winning streak. Of course.

This is the division victimized by 28-3 andthe Minneapolis Miracle, the division where Cam Newton capped an MVP season with an LVP Super Bowl, where a creamsicle-clad team lost its first26games. Sub-.500 teams have won the divisiontwicein the past 11 seasons. So are you at all surprised that the 2025 season might end in a three-way 8-9 tie?

The chaos of the NFC South is glorious to behold, yes. But it might be time to institute some changes. Idea: After this season, relegate the entire division to the SEC and promote some replacements. Bringing Georgia, Alabama, Ole Miss and Texas into the NFL couldn't be any weirder than what we're dealing with now.

byAlex Forten

in

December 31, 2025

The NFC South, the NFL's weirdest division, will end the year on a perfectly ridiculous note

The battle for the NFC South will come down to a game between the division's top two teams on Saturday …but the title...

Read More

Bowl game schedule today: Breaking down the five college football bowls on Dec. 31

The final day of 2025 offers another full schedule ofcollege football bowl games, culminating in the first of the fourCollege Football Playoffquarterfinal contests.

But before Ohio State and Miami renew acquaintances for the first time in nearly a quarter century, there are several other compelling matchups on the undercard. The traditional year-endSECvs.Big Tentwin bill in the Sunshine State is on the docket, and the ACC champion and a couple of contenders from the Big 12 also take the field.

Here's everything you need to know if you want to end the calendar year with a day of gridiron action before that other ball drops at midnight.

ReliaQuest Bowl: No. 12 Vanderbilt vs. Iowa (8-4)

Time/TV:noon ET, ESPN in Tampa, Fla.

Why watch:The New Year's Eve fun kicks off with this attractive matchup of teams that were, at least for parts of the season, in the playoff conversation. TheCommodoresadmittedly were significantly closer to the at-large pool, but the Hawkeyes gave eventual Big Ten champion and No.-1 seed Indiana as much of a battle as anyone. Vanderbilt QB and Heisman runner-up Diego Pavia will play, but one of his top weapons, TE Eli Stowers, will not as he prepares for the NFL draft. TheIowadefense is always fundamentally sound, and LB Karson Sharar will lead the effort to keep Pavia bottled up. Hawkeyes' QB Mark Gronowski isn't quite the explosive two-way threat Pavia is, but he does have 15 rushing TDs to go along with his eight scoring throws. His primary pursuer will be Commodores' DE Miles Capers.

Why it could disappoint:It shouldn't, but it will also not be a track meet. These are similarly constructed teams that don't often beat themselves, and the game-changing play could be delivered by the special teams.

Sun Bowl: Arizona State vs. Duke

Time/TV:2 p.m. ET, CBS in El Paso, Texas.

Why watch:It's a devilish matchup in west Texas as improbable ACC champDuketakes on an ASU squad responsible for Texas Tech's lone regular-season loss. Unfortunately from a competitive standpoint, theSun Devilswill be without most key contributors due to injury or intent to transfer. The good news is veteran QB Jeff Sims saw considerable playing time during the season when Sam Leavitt was sidelined. He'll rely on RB Kanye Udoh for ground support with Raleek Brown also among the optouts. The Blue Devils are in better personnel shape, with QB Darian Mensah not only expected to play but also slated to return next season. Top RB Nate Sheppard and WR Cooper Barkate should also be available.

Why it could disappoint:It probably will to be honest. The Sun Devils will be able to put a viable team on the field, but Duke's more experienced lineup could take charge in short order. Duke, 34-17.

Citrus Bowl: No. 14 Texas vs. No. 17 Michigan

Time/TV:3 p.m. ET, ABC in Orlando, Fla.

Why watch: This is certainly a high-profile matchup in terms of name recognition. There's also most assuredly a curiosity factor with the Wolverines in a messy coaching transition and theLonghornshoping to lay a foundation for next season. Several key defenders for both teams won't be available, including Texas DBMichael Taaffe and Michigan DL Jayshaun Barham. Longhorns QB Arch Manning and Wolverines QB Bryce Underwood will be around, though the latter's plans for when Kyle Whittingham and his new coaching staff arrive in Ann Arbor remain to be seen.

Why it could disappoint:It's hard to know what to expect in this one, as both teams have numerous players out with injuries even beyond the optouts and transfers. There aren't likely to be many offensive fireworks regardless.

Las Vegas Bowl: No. 15 Utah vs. Nebraska

Time/TV:3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN.

Why watch:The final non-playoff contest of the day pits theUtes, whose only two losses came against the Big 12 finalists, and the Cornhuskers, whose promising season was derailed by injuries and second-half meltdowns. The game will mark the head coaching debut for Morgan Scalley, Utah's long-time defensive coordinator who will succeed Kyle Whittingham perhaps one contest sooner than expected. Utes' QB Devon Dampier and RB Wayshawn Parker are expected to play, and they should be able to control the clock by keeping the ball on the ground. Nebraska was already without QB Dylan Raiola for the final month of the campaign, and leading RB Emmett Johnson is opting out of this one. QB T.J. Lateef will be around, though he had limited success in November losses to Penn State and Iowa.

Why it could disappoint:Even if Nebraska had its opening-day lineup, there would be major mismatch potential. This will probably be over quickly.

Cotton Bowl: No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 10 Miami (Fla.)

Time/TV:7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN in Arlington, Texas.

Why watch:The first of the four quarterfinal bowls features the defending CFP championBuckeyes, again officially the Big Ten runners-up but this time receiving a first-round bye due to new seeding policies, against the Hurricanes, the last team in from the at-large pool according to the rankings but justifying their inclusion with a first-round victory at Texas A&M. Miami QB Carson Beck could use another strong outing from RB Mark Fletcher and his run blockers, who will be up against the stingy Buckeyes' ground defense that surrenders just 84.5 yards a game. Beck has a constant big-play threat in WR Malachi Toney, but the deep waters in the middle of the field where S Caleb Downs and LB Sonny Styles patrol can be quite treacherous. Ohio State QB Julian Sayin might need to stretch the field more as well. He certainly has the weapons with WRs Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate, but the issue will be having enough time to find them with Hurricanes' DEs Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor coming at him from the edges.

Why it could disappoint:There weren't many points scored the last time both teams took the field, though that hardly meant their respective contests lacked drama. A barrage of mistakes might lead to a one-sided affair. For what it's worth, Ohio State has not had a game like that this year, while Miami has.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:College football bowl games today schedule includes five matchups

byAlex Forten

in

December 31, 2025

Bowl game schedule today: Breaking down the five college football bowls on Dec. 31

The final day of 2025 offers another full schedule ofcollege football bowl games, culminating in the first of the fourCol...

Read More

Incoming New Year’s storm renews flood and debris flow threats in California

Another series of atmospheric river-enhanced storms will soak California as the new year begins, bringing a flood threat and evacuation warnings back to the state just days aftera destructive Christmas-week storm.

The midweek storm lacks the extreme ingredients of last week's flooding, but it arrives in a state already pushed to its limits. With soil having little room to absorb additional water, rainfall rates rather than totals will determine where problems emerge.

Southern California, including Los Angeles, is the area of most concern, but the rest of the state will see more rain that could slow down travel.

"Since the ground is so saturated from the super soaking Christmas storm, almost all rainfall will become runoff. This will allow flooding to occur with less rain amounts and rates than is typical," the National Weather Service in Los Angeles said.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom prepositioned crews and equipment ahead of the rain to respond to flooding and debris flows in Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

Evacuation warnings have been issued for the second time in a week in parts of Los Angeles County recently burned by wildfires. The storms present a heightened threat of debris flows and flash flooding in these areas, which are the most incapable of absorbing heavy rain.

The voluntary warnings begin at 11 a.m. PT and are meant to give residents time to prepare with heaviest rain moving in Wednesday night.

Those warnings include the greater Wrightwood area, which wasdevastatedby debris flows and flash flooding on Christmas Eve. Residents had to frantically flee their homes as a torrent of debris rushed through town and encased homes and cars in feet of mud.

No evacuations have been ordered for Wrightwood proper in San Bernardino County, but they are in effect just to its west across the county line in Los Angeles County.

The storm is expected to reach Southern California New Year's Eve, then spread north through much of the state into New Year's Day. Much of Southern California is in a Level 2 of 4 flooding rain threat Wednesday and Thursday, the Weather Prediction Center said.

Coastal and valley areas such as downtown Los Angeles could see 1 to 3 inches of rain, with 2 to 5 inches possible in foothills and mountains.

Light rain will begin in Southern California Wednesday, but the most worrisome downpours arrive around the stroke of midnight and will last through noon on New Year's Day. Rainfall should ease through the afternoon hours.

The timing is bad news for the 137th Tournament of Roses Parade Thursday morning in Pasadena. This is expected to be the first wet Rose Parade since 2006, according to the National Weather Service.

Rain arriving Wednesday night will affect parade-goers camping along the route, with downpours continuing into Thursday morning.

This system is only the first of three in a conga line that could affect the waterlogged state through early next week.

Conditions change late Friday into Saturday as colder air drops snow below major pass levels, including Interstate 80 through Donner Pass.

Over a foot of snow is likely at Sierra Nevada ski resorts, though exact totals remain uncertain and could make mountain travel hazardous.

An avalanche last Friday killed a ski patroller and left another patroller injured at the Mammoth Mountain Ski Area in the eastern Sierra,according to the resort. It happened after feet of snow buried the mountain range last week.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

byAlex Forten

in

December 31, 2025

Incoming New Year’s storm renews flood and debris flow threats in California

Another series of atmospheric river-enhanced storms will soak California as the new year begins, bringing a flood threat ...

Read More

Happy New Year! Watch live as locations around the world ring in 2026

Happy New Year!

Many countries around the world will switch their calendars to 2026, before most folks in the U.S. have even gotten out of bed.

But for those who are feeling a bit festive and looking to celebrate the new year a little earlier than America's celebrations kick off, USA TODAY has you covered.

See the evolution of New Year's Eve glasses

More news:Snow will drop with the ball for some on New Year's Eve. See where.

New Year's Eve celebrations around the world

Our live stream above will kick off as Australia rings in 2026 at 8 am ET, followed by these locations, which are more than several hours ahead of the U.S. and will ring in the new year before America:

• Sydney, Australia

• Seoul, South Korea

• Beijing, China

• Hong Kong

• Taipei, Taiwan

• Bangkok, Thailand

• Doha, Qatar

• Nairobi, Kenya

• Edinburgh, Scotland

• Berlin, Germany

• Tokyo, Japan

Julia is a Trending reporter for USA TODAY and covers scientific studies and trending news. Connect with her onLinkedIn,X,Instagram, andTikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Watch New Year's Eve celebrations around the world live

byAlex Forten

in

December 31, 2025

Happy New Year! Watch live as locations around the world ring in 2026

Happy New Year! Many countries around the world will switch their calendars to 2026, before most folks i...

Read More

Iran cracks down, detaining protesters after several days of unrest

Tehran— Iran's prosecutor general said Wednesday that economic protests that have gripped the country were legitimate, but he warned that any attempt to create insecurity would be met with a "decisive response," as the Islamic Republic's rulers tried to clamp down on a fourth day of unrest."Peaceful livelihood protests are part of social and understandable realities," Mohammad Movahedi-Azad told state media after protests started by shopkeepers in the capital city Tehran, which were joined by students and others in several cities across the country."Any attempt to turn economic protests into a tool of insecurity, destruction of public property, or implementation of externally designed scenarios will inevitably be met with a legal, proportionate and decisive response," warned Movahedi-Azad.His comments came days after the Mossad intelligence agency ofIran's arch-foe Israel posted on social media that it was "with you on the ground," in a message to Iranian protesters. Posting on its Persian-language X account, the spy agency encouraged Iranians to "go out into the streets together."

In a post shared via its own Farsi language account on X, the U.S. State Department said Wednesday that it was "deeply concerned by reports and videos that peaceful protesters in Iran are facing intimidation, violence, and arrests."

"Demanding basic rights is not a crime. The Islamic Republic must respect the rights of the Iranian people and end the repression," the U.S. government said in the post.

"First the bazaars. Then the students. Now the whole country. Iranians are united. Different lives, one demand: respect our voices and our rights," the State Department said in a subsequent post.The protests come amid mounting tension between the U.S. and Iran after PresidentTrump said he had heard, after a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, that Iran could be attempting to rebuild its nuclear program following the unprecedented U.S. strikes on its enrichment facilities in June. Mr. Trump warned that if Iran did try to rebuild, "we'll knock them down. We'll knock the hell out of them. But hopefully that's not happening."

On Tuesday,Iran's president saidTehran would respond "to any cruel aggression" with unspecified "harsh and discouraging" measures.The protests, driven by dissatisfaction at Iran's economic stagnation and galloping hyperinflation, began Sunday in Tehran's largest mobile phone market, where shopkeepers shuttered their businesses. They gained momentum through Tuesday, with students at 10 universities in the capital and in other cities, including Iran's most prestigious institutions, joining in.Nevertheless, the protests remain limited in number and concentrated in central Tehran, with shops elsewhere in the sprawling metropolis of 10 million people unaffected. And the government appeared to be cracking down on the unrest, both on the streets with a heavy security presence, and by declaring a last-minute holiday to prompt the closure of schools and businesses.Iran's economy has been in the doldrums for years, withheavy U.S. and international sanctionsover Tehran's nuclear program weighing heavily on it. The currency, the rial, has also plunged in recent months, losing more than a third of its value against the U.S. dollar since last year.

Videos posted on social media have shown crowds chanting anti-government slogans as they marched through the streets, while others show security forces using tear gas and purportedly live ammunition. CBS News has not been able to independently verify the video clips posted online, some of which show heavily armed security forces appearing to detain multiple people, including students, and others in which apparent gunfire can be heard.

The Guild Council of the University of Tehran said six students were detained but later released. There were unconfirmed reports that at least one student was severely injured during a confrontation with security services in Tehran.

A last-minute holiday

The streets of Tehran were calm early Wednesday, a change from the usual chaotic and choking traffic, after authorities announced a national holiday with just a day's notice. Many schools, banks and public institutions were closed, with officials saying the directive was due to the cold weather and the need to save energy.

The capital's prestigious Beheshti and Allameh Tabataba'i universities announced that classes would be held online throughout next week for the same reason, the state-run IRNA news agency reported.The authorities did not link the bank holiday to the protests. Tehran is experiencing daytime temperatures near the freezing mark, which is not unusual for this time of year.Weekends in Iran begin on Thursdays, while this Saturday marks a long-standing national holiday.Iran is no stranger to nationwide protests, but the latest demonstrations have not come close to the last major outbreak in 2022, which was triggered by thedeath in police custody of Mahsa Amini, a young Iranian woman.Her death in custody after being arrested for allegedly violating the nation's strict dress code for women sparked a wave of anger across the country. Several hundred people were killed, including dozens of members of the security forces, who waged a dramatic crackdown in response, arresting hundreds of people.There were also widespread protests in 2019, sparked by a sharp increase in the price of petrol.

DHS conducting "massive investigation" after viral video alleges fraud at Minnesota day care centers

Sneak peek: Coached to Kill

Fitness trends expert predicts what will dominate in 2026

byAlex Forten

in

December 31, 2025

Iran cracks down, detaining protesters after several days of unrest

Tehran— Iran's prosecutor general said Wednesday that economic protests that have gripped the country were legitimate...

Read More

Eagles will reportedly rest Jalen Hurts and other key starters in Week 18 despite chance at No. 2 seed in NFC

The Philadelphia Eagles have a shot at securing the No. 2 seed in the NFC in Week 18, but theteam is reportedly going to prioritize restover putting its best players on the field. The Eagles are expected to rest Jalen Hurts and other key starters when the team takes on the Washington Commanders on Sunday, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

If Hurts is held out of the contest, its presumed backup Tanner McKee will get the start against the Commanders in Week 18. McKee has appeared in three games this season, throwing just three passes.

While Hurts was the only player specifically mentioned in the report, other key offensive starters like A.J. Brown, Saquon Barkley and DeVonta Smith, among others, could also miss the contest.

Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni previously hinted at the possibility the team could rest its starters in Week 18. When asked about it Monday,Sirianni mentioned the benefits of having a "bye" weekheading into the playoffs. He noted that the two most recent times the team rested its starters in Week 18 — 2022 and 2024 — it reached the Super Bowl.

While that's a solid reason for once again employing the strategy, it could raise some eyebrows among Eagles fans. Philadelphia enters Week 18 with a shot at the No. 2 seed in the NFC. If the Eagles beat the Commanders and the Chicago Bears lose to the Detroit Lions, the Eagles would jump up to the No. 2 seed in the NFC. That would ensure the Eagles host home games throughout the playoffs unless they have to play the No. 1 seed — which hasn't been determined, but will be one of the Seattle Seahawks or San Francisco 49ers. As it stands, the Eagles will enter Week 18 as the No. 3 seed in the NFC.

With the Eagles resting their starters, the Commanders presumably have a better chance of winning the contest. But after a strong 2024, Washington has fallen back to earth following multiple injuries to quarterback Jayden Daniels, who the team shut down with a few weeks left in the regular season. Daniels' backup, Marcus Mariota, is also injured, which could lead to the Commanders once again turning to third-string quarterback Josh Johnson. That could lead to the game being much closer than expected despite the Eagles reportedly writing it off as a "bye" week.

Despite another strong season, the Eagles face plenty of questions entering the playoffs. The team's offense, which ranked seventh in points per game last season, hasn't found its rhythm this year. The Eagles rank 19th in points per game this season, the team's first under new offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo.

While the Eagles could use Week 18 as an opportunity to right the ship — something the Los Angeles Rams will look to do after head coach Sean McVay said theteam needed to improve— Philadelphia will instead hope a week of rest has everyone feeling good ahead of the playoffs.

There's no definitive evidence that supports either approach. The Eagles have shown in recent seasons that rest can work. McVay's Rams have shown, at times, that rest in Week 18 can lead to a team coming out flat in the playoffs.

Despite the fact that there's no right answer, that won't stop Eagles fans from ripping Sirianni and the team if it suffers a disappointing loss in the first week of the playoffs after taking it easy in Week 18.

byAlex Forten

in

December 31, 2025

Eagles will reportedly rest Jalen Hurts and other key starters in Week 18 despite chance at No. 2 seed in NFC

The Philadelphia Eagles have a shot at securing the No. 2 seed in the NFC in Week 18, but theteam is reportedly going to ...

Read More