MOORESVILLE, N.C. – Team Penske announced Friday that back-to-back Virgin Australia Supercars champion Scott McLaughlin will participate in an IndyCar Rookie Evaluation test at Sebring Int’l Raceway on Jan. 13.

McLaughlin is once again set to defend his Supercars title for DJRTP in 2020 in the No. 17 Shell V-Power Ford Mustang.  He will build on his already successful racing career by driving a full-sized open-wheel car for the first time.

“I am always open to new challenges and I’m thankful to Team Penske for providing this opportunity to test an Indy car,” said McLaughlin, who established a new Supercars single-season record with 18 victories this past season. “We had an amazing year in 2019 and I’m looking forward to defending our Supercars championship next season. I’m also excited to grow as a driver and being with Team Penske creates cool opportunities to try something new.

“Although I have spent a few hours in a simulator earlier this year, it’s going to be a blast to see what one really feels like at a place like Sebring.”

McLaughlin joined DJR Team Penske in 2017 as one of the brightest stars in Supercars.

Since joining DJR Team Penske, McLaughlin has produced 35 victories and 44 pole positions over the last three seasons. That record has propelled DJRTP to team championships in 2017 and 2019, the driver’s title each of the last two seasons and the legendary Bathurst 1000 race in October, alongside co-driver Alex Premat.

“Scott has been incredibly successful for DJR Team Penske over the last three seasons and he has become a true champion of our sport,” said team owner Roger Penske. “He certainly embraces new challenges and we think this is a great opportunity to utilize the IndyCar Series rookie testing program so Scott can experience what it is like to get behind the wheel of one of our Indy cars.”

Team Penske enjoyed another successful IndyCar Series season in 2019.

The team earned its record 18th Indianapolis 500 victory, as Simon Pagenaud captured the checkered flag in May, while Josef Newgarden won his second series title in three years and the team’s 16th overall Indy car championship.

TULSA, Okla. – Gearing up for the 2020 season, the American Bank of Oklahoma ASCS Sooner Region presented by Smiley’s Racing Products has released a 17-race schedule.

A slight decrease from years past, meeting with team owners and drivers is part of what led to the 2020 lineup.

“We’re still going to travel a little bit with a couple of races in Kansas and Missouri, but we wanted to make it more cost-effective for our teams,” said ASCS Sooner Region Director Terry Mattox. “Traveling is a huge burden for any team, especially someone trying to run locally so we did cut down on some of the shows and tried to keep everything a little more contained.”

Also heading up scheduling for the Oil Capital Racing Series, while not ASCS affiliated, Mattox noted that be the better part of half his ASCS teams’ race with OCRS.

Because of that, the two schedules don’t conflict with each other.

“We all have the same tracks to choose from, and booking on top of each other just kills the show for the fans,” noted Mattox. “There were several times in 2019 where both tours could have easily had 25 or more cars, but because you had guys already committed to one series or the other, we both ended up with 15. For 2020, we worked with Kerry Gorby to get it to where the fans get a better show, and the teams can run two championships.”

For the 2020 season, the American Bank of Oklahoma ASCS Sooner Region presented by Smiley’s Racing Products will kick things off on April 4 at Caney Valley Speedway.

On track for two nights on April 17-18, the Friday affair will be at Creek County Speedway, with Lawton Speedway on Saturday.

Five shows in May dot the lineup, beginning at Humboldt Speedway on May 1 before the Impact Signs, Awnings, and Wraps Open Wheel Showdown on May 2 at Lucas Oil Speedway with the Racinboys.com ASCS Warrior Region presented by Impact Signs, Awnings, and Wraps.

May 16 sees action at Heartland Motorsports Park before the tour head to Red Dirt Raceway on May 29 and gets back at Creek County Speedway on May 30.

After one TBA event in June, racing picks up again on July 10 at Creek County Speedway and July 11 at 81 Speedway in Park City, Kan.

Paired with the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by the MAVTV Motorsports Network on Aug. 1 at Lawton Speedway, the series will venture into Missouri on Aug. 22 for a showdown at Monett Motor Speedway with the Racinboys.com ASCS Warrior Region presented by Impact Signs, Awnings, and Wraps.

The season’s second trip to Heartland Motorsports Park takes place on Aug. 29.

Off in September, the season’s final three events begin at Caney Valley Speedway on Oct. 10, with the season finale on Oct. 30-31 during the Creek County Speedway Fall Fling.

2020 ASCS Sooner Region Schedule

April 4 – Caney Valley Speedway – Caney, Kan.
April 17 – Creek County Speedway – Sapulpa, Okla.
April 18 – Lawton Speedway – Lawton, Okla.
May 1 – Humboldt Speedway – Humboldt, Kan.
May 2 – Lucas Oil Speedway – Wheatland, Mo.
May 16 – Heartland Motorsports Park – Topeka, Kan.
May 29 – Red Dirt Raceway – Meeker, Okla.
May 30 – Creek County Speedway – Sapulpa, Okla.
June 20 – TBA – TBA
July 10 – Creek County Speedway – Sapulpa, Okla.
July 11 – 81 Speedway – Park City, Kan.
Aug. 1 – Lawton Speedway – Lawton, Okla.
Aug. 22 – Monett Motor Speedway – Monett, Mo.
Aug. 29 – Heartland Motorsports Park – Topeka, Kan.
Oct. 10 – Caney Valley Speedway – Caney, Kan.
Oct. 30 – Creek County Speedway – Sapulpa, Okla.
Oct. 31 – Creek County Speedway – Sapulpa, Okla.

RB Leipzig have a "good feeling" after meeting with FC Salzburg striker Erling Haaland on Wednesday, coach Julian Nagelsmann has said.

Haaland, 19, is wanted by Manchester United, Borussia Dortmund and a host of other big clubs after scoring eight goals in Salzburg's first five Champions League games of the season.

On Wednesday, Haaland, who has been ruled out for Salzburg's last match of the year at the weekend, visited German Bundesliga clubs Leipzig and Dortmund to hold talks. Dortmund were tight-lipped about the nature of the meeting, but Nagelsmann told a news conference he is confident Haaland can become the latest player to move from Salzburg to Leipzig.

"I have a good feeling, but you can't say much after talks like that," he said. "It's one sided because as a coach you talk a lot and player and agent listen a lot."

Haaland is represented by Mino Raiola, who attended the meeting.

"I don't know how they rated it," Nagelsmann added. "I tried to talk about my idea of football in good English."

Leipzig CEO Oliver Mintzlaff added that "we don't have to hide behind clubs like Borussia Dortmund."

Haaland reportedly has a €20 million release clause in his contract.

On Thursday, Salzburg sporting director Christoph Freund called Haaland's meteoric rise this term "an unbelievable story."

Sir Alex Ferguson, the former Manchester United manager, has dismissed the appeal of a proposed global Super League comprising the world's biggest football clubs by saying he "struggles to see why an English team" would contemplate leaving the Premier League to take part.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is reportedly leading attempts to create two world leagues, each with 20 teams, in a move to set up a lucrative competition to rival FIFA's planned expansion of the Club World Cup from an annual seven-team tournament to a 24-team showpiece held every four years from 2021.

Any clubs choosing to take part would be forced to leave their domestic leagues, and the Champions League, and UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has already branded the proposals a "selfish and egotistical scheme."

And Ferguson, who won two Champions Leagues as United manager, as well as the Club World Cup in 2008, has added his voice to those rejecting the Super League idea by claiming that the Premier League is too lucrative and successful for any major club to consider leaving behind.

"I've read the report suggesting a World Super League for the elite clubs in Europe which would provide greater finances for the clubs," Ferguson said.

"Without question it is money-orientated, but surely this would not be attractive to our clubs in the Premier League, which at the moment is the best domestic league in world football and is well-supported financially by Sky, BT and now Amazon.

"I struggle to see why an English team would need to leave.

"Furthermore, the attraction of playing in the Champions League is huge for players, coaches and fans alike, as it remains the ultimate test in club football.

"A lot of clubs with great history could be lost if their partners in Premier League upped sticks.

"I strongly believe this is a realistic appraisal of the value of domestic football."

Liverpool are attempting to become only the second English club, after United, to win the Club World Cup when they travel to Qatar as European champions next week.

An enlarged tournament of 24 teams is then due to be staged in China in June 2021.

The New York Giants waived cornerback Janoris Jenkins on Friday, two days after he made an inappropriate remark to a fan on Twitter.

On Wednesday, Jenkins called a critical fan a "retard" when taking exception to questioning about why the stats Jenkins was using to showcase his effectiveness weren't contributing to victories.

Jenkins said Thursday that the usage of the word was "slang" that is "just part of my culture."

Giants coach Pat Shurmur met with Jenkins on Wednesday and said in a statement Friday that Jenkins' refusal to admit what we did was wrong led to his dismissal.

"This was an organizational decision," Shurmur said. "From ownership to management to our football operations, we felt it was in the best interests of the franchise and the player. Obviously, what happened this week, and the refusal to acknowledge the inappropriate and offensive language, was the determining factor."

Jenkins appeared to react to the news in a tweet Friday morning.

Best news ever.. Thank you

— JackRabbit2.0 (@JjenkzLockdown) December 13, 2019

Jenkins, 31, had one year and $11.25 million remaining on his contract. He has 54 tackles this season and is tied for fourth in the NFL with four interceptions.

He was officially listed as being waived/injured, as he had been recovering from an ankle injury suffered Monday night against the Philadelphia Eagles.

There are people in this world -- poor, misguided souls -- who believe there are too many bowl games. They think having a 6-6 MAC team and a 7-5 Conference USA afterthought duke it out in a city that can't possibly have a stadium where football is played is somehow a bad thing. They think that, as we continue the sad, steady march toward a time of year when there will be no more college football that, of all things, we should have less of it now. They think that, in the land of 106-ounce fountain sodas and a Cheesecake Factory menu that reads like War and Peace, we shouldn't all enjoy more of a good thing.

Repeat after me: There is no such thing as too much college football. That being said, we've got 40 games to watch, so get your popcorn ready and let's draw up a road map from the least entertaining (note: We're not saying "worst," because they're all good) to the most entertaining.

Bowl tickets can be found here. All times Eastern.

40. Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl

Wyoming vs. Georgia State
Dec. 31, 4:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network
Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Arizona

In Week 1, Wyoming beat Missouri and Georgia State topped Tennessee, so the winner of this game will be officially named the third-best team in the SEC East.

39. Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

Ohio vs. Nevada
Jan. 3, 3:30 p.m., ESPN/ESPN App
Albertsons Stadium, Boise, Idaho

A 6-6 Ohio vs. a 7-5 Nevada -- two programs with virtually nothing in common -- is essentially the poster child for the idea that there are too many bowl games. But did you know Nevada has a win over a Big Ten team? Or that Ohio has scored 118 points in its last two games? There's good in every bowl game. You just have to know where to look.

38. Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl

Utah State vs. Kent State
Dec. 20, 7:30 p.m., ESPN2/ESPN App
Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas

Kent State won its last three games to get bowl eligible for the first time since 2012. The Golden Flashes are 0-2 in bowl games all time, so this could be history here. How often do you have a legitimate chance to witness history? Your parents remember the moon landing. You'll remember this.

37. FBC Mortgage Cure Bowl

Liberty vs. Georgia Southern
Dec. 21, 2:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network
Exploria Stadium, Orlando, Florida

It's fitting that a Liberty season that began with Hugh Freeze coaching from a hospital bed in the press box is ending with a date in the Cure Bowl. We're glad Freeze is doing better these days, but if he wanted to coach this one while riding a Shetland pony or slung over the hood of a 1981 Trans Am to spark the entertainment value a bit, that'd be OK by us.

36. Walk-On's Independence Bowl

Louisiana Tech vs. Miami
Dec. 26, 4 p.m., ESPN/ESPN App
Independence Stadium, Shreveport, Louisiana

The thing about the day after Christmas is that it's always so depressing. People are returning all the junk they didn't want. You feel bloated from all the overeating. There's discarded wrapping paper and batteries everywhere. The magic of the holiday season is over. And that's how it has felt to watch Miami all season, so this should fit right into your schedule.

35. New Mexico Bowl

Central Michigan vs. San Diego State
Dec. 21, 2 p.m., ESPN/ESPN App
Dreamstyle Stadium, Albuquerque, New Mexico

The Aztecs won nine games despite never scoring more than 31 and topping 20 just five times. Central Michigan had the largest improvement in wins in the country in 2019, courtesy of head coach Jim McElwain. But most importantly, at some point during this game, someone on social media will post a photo of a guy who kind of looks like McElwain posing naked with a shark.

34. SERVPRO First Responder Bowl

Western Kentucky vs. Western Michigan
Dec. 30, 12:30 p.m., ESPN/ESPN App
Gerald J. Ford Stadium, Dallas

If you've ever wondered which state has the better western half -- Michigan or Kentucky -- well, have we got the game for you. The winner will be given full territorial rights over Middle Tennessee.

33. Quick Lane Bowl

Pittsburgh vs. Eastern Michigan
Dec. 26, 8 p.m., ESPN/ESPN App
Ford Field, Detroit

Eastern Michigan led the MAC, allowing pressure on just 22.6% of drop backs. Pitt has one of the most prolific defensive lines in the country. It may not be pretty, but this figures to be a solid battle in the trenches and, OK, maybe there's not much to get excited about here but Nietzsche said that life is suffering and it is incumbent upon us to find meaning in that suffering, so here's your chance.

32. Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl

Southern Mississippi vs. Tulane
Jan. 4, 11:30 a.m., ESPN/ESPN App
Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, Texas

Tulane lost five of its last six games. Southern Miss was 1-4 against FBS opponents with a winning record. But this is the Armed Forces Bowl, and you owe it to the troops to watch this game anyway.

31. LendingTree Bowl

Louisiana vs. Miami (Ohio)
Jan. 6, 7:30 p.m., ESPN/ESPN App
Ladd-Peebles Stadium, Mobile, Alabama

Nine days after the semifinals are played, four days after the last Power 5 team plays in a bowl, and two days after you've officially given up on your New Year's resolutions, we get the LendingTree Bowl. Good things truly are worth waiting for. Also, Louisiana's offense is really good, so you should definitely watch and probably join their booster club.

30. Celebration Bowl

Alcorn State vs. North Carolina A&T
Dec. 21, Noon, ABC/ESPN App
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta

In the five-year history of the Celebration Bowl, this marks the third time North Carolina A&T and Alcorn State have faced off. The Aggies have won the previous two, and the MEAC holds a 3-1 advantage overall. All of that info is really secondary to this: The bands will be amazing.

29. Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl

Buffalo vs. Charlotte
Dec. 20, 2 p.m., ESPN/ESPN App
Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium, Nassau

Charlotte's newest post-win hot spot is called Club Lit. The 49ers' 34-year-old head coach Will Healy has gone all out in creating a locker room that has everything: a DJ, strobe lights, that thing where the coach rips off his shirt and crowd surfs then wears scuba gear to promote bowl games in the Bahamas. No, it's not a Stefan sketch from "Saturday Night Live." This really happens.

28. SoFi Hawai'i Bowl

Hawai'i vs. BYU
Dec. 24, 8 p.m., ESPN/ESPN App
Aloha Stadium, Honolulu

No Power 5 schools here, but BYU and Hawaii were a combined 4-2 vs. the big boys this year (with wins over Arizona, Oregon State, Tennessee and USC). Besides, what else are you going to do at 8 p.m. on Christmas Eve? Assemble toys and spend time with family? Don't be silly.

27. TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl

Boston College vs. Cincinnati
Jan. 2, 3 p.m., ESPN/ESPN App
Legion Field, Birmingham, Alabama

Last year, Boston College was up 7-0 when its bowl game was canceled due to bad weather, so technically the Eagles owe you at least 12 overtime periods in this one as a make-up for all you missed last season.

26. TaxSlayer Gator Bowl

Indiana vs. Tennessee
Jan. 2, 7 p.m., ESPN/ESPN App
TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville, Florida

Indiana has a chance to get to nine wins for the first time since 1967. Think about that. The last time the Hoosiers won nine, there'd never been a man on the moon, an 11-year-old Larry Bird was shooting hoops in his driveway, and Jon Gruden had only been rumored for a Tennessee coaching vacancy once.

25. Camellia Bowl

Florida International vs. Arkansas State
Dec. 21, 5:30 p.m., ESPN/ESPN App
Cramton Bowl, Montgomery, Alabama

Arkansas State receiver Omar Bayless ranks second nationally in yards (1,473) and touchdowns (16) and is an absolute monster in the passing game. On the other hand, the Red Wolves ranked 127th in total defense. In other words, this is bound to be your annual Group of Five bowl game that ends with two teams scoring in the 50s and all of social media going crazy over two teams most people barely noticed the rest of the year.

24. Redbox Bowl

California vs. Illinois
Dec. 30, 4 p.m., Fox
Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California

Evan Weaver is the best defensive player west of the Mississippi, and Lovie Smith's beard is the best facial hair that doesn't belong to Tom Selleck. If those aren't good enough reasons to watch this game, there's something wrong with you.

23. R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl

Appalachian State vs. UAB
Dec. 21, 9 p.m., ESPN/ESPN App
Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans

App State fans desperately wanted to play in the nearby Belk Bowl, but selection rules made it impossible. We hope those disappointed Mountaineers fans can find something to entertain themselves in New Orleans, a city noted for offering very little to out-of-town tourists.

22. Belk Bowl

Virginia Tech vs. Kentucky
Dec. 31, Noon, ESPN/ESPN App
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

This is the last year of Belk's sponsorship of this bowl game, meaning all bets are off for the Belk Bowl Twitter account during the game. Will it reveal the horrifying truth about why App State was snubbed from this game or will unseen forces use a pretty fun matchup between the Hokies and Wildcats to distract us from the awful conspiracy hiding right under our noses? To be continued ...

21. Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl

Florida State vs. Arizona State
Dec. 31, 2 p.m., CBS
Sun Bowl Stadium, El Paso, Texas

Ranking the catch phrases for this game: 1.) Tony the Tiger's, "They're great!" 2.) Herm Edwards' "You play to win the game." 3.) Odell Haggins' "I'll be back to coach Florida State in the 2022 Birmingham Bowl." We kid. Best of luck to Mike Norvell at Florida State, where we're sure he'll do well if he can find a few offensive linemen hidden in Willie Taggart's couch cushions.

20. Military Bowl Presented by Northrop Grumman

North Carolina vs. Temple
Dec. 27, Noon, ESPN/ESPN App
Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Annapolis, Maryland

There are two QBs this season who completed 60% of their throws, tossed at least 35 touchdowns and 3,300 yards, and threw less than 10 picks. The first will soon have a Heisman trophy on his bookshelf -- Joe Burrow. The other is UNC freshman Sam Howell. If you've not seen Howell play yet this year, you've been missing out.

19. New Era Pinstripe Bowl

Michigan State vs. Wake Forest
Dec. 27, 3:20 p.m., ESPN/ESPN App
Yankee Stadium, New York

Wake Forest has won three straight bowl games, all by eight points or fewer, including the last two by a total of six, so this one is virtually guaranteed to come down to the wire. Add in the halftime home run derby at Yankee Stadium, and this is can't-miss TV. OK, we were lying about the home run derby. Something for the Pinstripe Bowl folks to think about moving forward, though.

18. Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl

UCF vs. Marshall
Dec. 23, 2:30 p.m., ESPN/ESPN App
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida

As an FCS member, Marshall won two national championships. And, of course, UCF is the 2017 national champs. Put two former national champs in a bowl game together, and you've got yourself some college football excitement.

17. Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl

Mississippi State vs. Louisville
Dec. 30, 4 p.m., ESPN/ESPN App
Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee

Like defense? This is not the game for you. But if you want to see Kylin Hill run against the nation's 115th-ranked rush defense or Tutu Atwell go against a Mississippi State unit that ranked dead last in FBS in allowing explosive plays, well, hold on to your seat, because this one is going to be fun. Bettors note: Take the over.

16. Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl

SMU vs. Florida Atlantic
Dec. 21, 3:30 p.m., ABC/ESPN App
FAU Stadium, Boca Raton, Florida

This game will include 43 references to Lane Kiffin and 31 mentions of SMU's "death penalty" history, plus a whole heck of a lot of points. SMU finished the season sixth in total offense, while FAU was 16th -- the only bowl matchup between top-20 offenses outside the playoff.

15. Capital One Orange Bowl

Florida vs. Virginia
Dec. 30, 8 p.m., ESPN/ESPN App
Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida

Did you know this marks just the fourth time since the FBS/FCS split -- and the first since 1984 -- that the same team will play Florida State, Miami and Florida all in the same season? This one counts as the rubber match for Virginia, which toppled the Seminoles and, inexplicably, lost to the Canes.

14. Cheez-It Bowl

Air Force vs. Washington State
Dec. 27, 10:15 p.m., ESPN/ESPN AppN
Chase Field, Phoenix

Air Force vs. Air Raid in a bowl named after a snack food. This is appointment viewing. Every year, one game keeps us glued to our seats and ends with more than 100 points on the scoreboard. This is your odds-on favorite to be that game in 2019.

13. Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl

Oklahoma State vs. Texas A&M
Dec. 27, 6:45 p.m., ESPN/ESPN App
NRG Stadium, Houston

It's an old-school Big 12 showdown from back when the Big 12 actually had 12 teams. A&M and the Cowboys haven't faced off since 2011 when the Aggies left for the SEC, but Oklahoma State is riding a four-game win streak in the series. As for present-day drama, Chuba Hubbard needs just 64 rushing yards to top 2,000 for the year (he's had 100 in every FBS game this season) while Jimbo Fisher needs one more win to average less than $1M salary per victory in 2019.

12. AutoZone Liberty Bowl

Navy vs. Kansas State
Dec. 31, 3:45 p.m., ESPN/ESPN App
Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Memphis, Tennessee

The four teams in the 2019 playoff are a combined 51-1. That lone loss came to Kansas State. So, when we're putting together our transitive property national championship formula at the end of the year, just remember that all roads go through K-State, so this bowl game has some huge (albeit ridiculous) championship implications.

11. San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl

USC vs. Iowa
Dec. 27, 8 p.m., Fox Sports 1
SDCCU Stadium, San Diego

Fun fact: Every Iowa game this season has ended in a 16-13 score (Note: We did not confirm that fact but it feels right) so this game is virtually guaranteed to be a nail-biter. Add in the chance to see one of the country's best young QBs (USC's Kedon Slovis) throw against one of the most under-appreciated corners in Iowa's Michael Ojemudia, and this should be one of the best non-New Year's Six bowls of the year.

10. Camping World Bowl

Notre Dame vs. Iowa State
Dec. 28, Noon, ABC/ESPN App
Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida

There are 12 quarterbacks in the country who have racked up 3,300 total yards and 35 touchdowns this year. Three bowl games will feature head-to-head matchups between them: The two playoff games and this one, where Ian Book (3,303 yards, 37 TDs) takes on Brock Purdy (3,329 yards, 36 TDs).

9. Valero Alamo Bowl

Utah vs. Texas
Dec. 31, 7:30 p.m., ESPN/ESPN App
Alamodome, San Antonio

Utah had its playoff hopes crushed in the Pac-12 championship game, while Texas had its playoff dreams end some time in 2012. But unlike Utah, which rarely gets much preseason hype, a Texas win here can officially gas up the Longhorns' bandwagon for 2020. Texas is back, baby! You heard it here first.

8. Allstate Sugar Bowl

Georgia vs. Baylor
Jan. 1, 8:45 p.m., ESPN/ESPN App
Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans

Both teams entered the final Saturday of the season with a shot at the playoff, which tells you all you need to know about the quality of this game. But remember, if Georgia doesn't win, it was because the game wasn't really important.

7. Outback Bowl

Minnesota vs. Auburn
Jan. 1, 1 p.m., ESPN/ESPN App
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida

P.J. Fleck's mantra is "row the boat." Minnesota is playing at Raymond James Stadium. Raymond James Stadium has a giant pirate ship adjacent to the field. That can't be a coincidence. If this game doesn't end with Fleck swinging on a rope from the ship's mast like Sloth in "Goonies," we're going to be disappointed.

6. Mitsubishi Motors Las Vegas Bowl

Boise State vs. Washington
Dec. 21, 7:30 p.m., ABC/ESPN App
Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas

Chris Petersen is coaching his last game at Washington against the team where his coaching career exploded into the mainstream. That's arguably the best storyline of bowl season outside of the playoff, even if it's a matchup the often reclusive Peterson certainly wouldn't have preferred. And while Washington has underperformed throughout the year, this remains one of the true powerhouse matchups of the postseason, and a chance to (hopefully) get a look at stellar freshman QB Hank Bachmeier at Boise State, who missed the latter half of the season with injury, and get (perhaps) a last look at Washington QB Jacob Eason, who could become a first-round NFL draft pick in April.

5. Vrbo Citrus Bowl

Michigan vs. Alabama
Jan. 1, 1 p.m., ABC/ESPN App
Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida

The over/under on players likely to sit out this one might be double digits, but it's still two of college football's blue bloods, still Nick Saban vs. Jim Harbaugh, and still a chance to ruminate on the fact that one second being put back on the clock in the Iron Bowl might be the reason Alabama is missing the playoff for the first time.

4. Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic

Penn State vs. Memphis
Dec. 28, Noon, ESPN/ESPN App
AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas

Memphis' Kenneth Gainwell was thrust into action early in the year when star tailback Patrick Taylor went down with an injury. Now Gainwell is just 43 scrimmage yards away from 2,000 on the year. In the past 15 seasons, Wisconsin's Jonathan Taylor is the only other freshman to do that. Meanwhile, Penn State led the nation in yards-per-rush allowed. And if that's not an impressive enough matchup for you, stick around for the myriad discussions of the American's place as the sixth Power 5 conference that are bound to come with a competitive performance by the Tigers.

3. Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual

Oregon vs. Wisconsin
Jan. 1, 5 p.m., ESPN/ESPN App
Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California

There's no bowl outside the playoff better than the Rose Bowl. Who's playing? Doesn't matter. It's the Rose Bowl. From parade to postgame, every bit of the Rose Bowl is worth watching. That it just so happens to feature two teams that battled down to the wire for playoff bids certainly helps though. And if this is our last chance to see Jonathan Taylor run the ball as a college player, well, we'd be wise to savor every moment.

2. College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl

No. 1 LSU vs. No. 4 Oklahoma
Dec. 28, 4 p.m., ESPN/ESPN App
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta

For the first time ever, Alabama is not in the playoff, but former Alabama QB Jalen Hurts is, and he's tasked with taking down the Tide's biggest SEC West adversary in LSU, so yeah, there's still at least a hint of Crimson in this year's march to a national title. Beyond that though, this game is all new-school. Joe Burrow's LSU offense is something to behold, and while Oklahoma is happy to talk up a rejuvenated defense, it might take the '85 Bears to stop these Tigers' attack. LSU, too, is hyping its D after closing out the season strong, but those numbers also came against a trio of less-than-spectacular offenses. Add all that up -- two elite offensive units, two shaky defenses in a playoff game -- and it sure looks like a recipe for some fireworks.

1. College Football Playoff Semifinal at the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl

No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 3 Clemson
Dec. 28, 8 p.m., ESPN/ESPN App
State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

In the past decade, only the 2013 Florida State team that won the national championship had a higher average margin of victory than this year's Ohio State team entering the postseason. This year's Clemson comes in a close third on that list. This, in other words, is the ultimate unstoppable force vs. immovable object type of game, and the marquee matchups are all over the field. How will five-star tackle and Ohio native Jackson Carman slow down Chase Young? How will All-American corner Jeff Okudah match up against Tee Higgins? Can Isaiah Simmons corral J.K. Dobbins? Which QB -- both from suburban Atlanta, the top two recruits in the 2018 class -- will emerge victorious? This game has as much built-in excitement as any we've had in the playoff era thus far. Just sit back and enjoy.

Almost nobody behind "Uncut Gems," the Adam Sandler/Kevin Garnett drama steeped in NBA lore that opens Friday in New York and Los Angeles (and nationwide on Christmas), wanted the movie to have anything to do with Garnett and the Boston Celtics -- unless it somehow involved the Celtics' humiliation.

Josh and Benny Safdie, the writer-director brothers, are diehard fans of the New York Knicks -- which naturally means they hate the Celtics. "I hated Boston," Josh Safdie told ESPN this week. "I hated KG."

Sandler was born in Brooklyn, but his family moved to Manchester, New Hampshire -- prime Celtics country -- when he was 5. Sandler had a chance to leave the Knicks behind and jump onto the Boston bandwagon years before Larry Bird, Robert Parish, and Kevin McHale formed the Big Three.

"I could have become a Celtic fan," Sandler told a small group of reporters in New York last week. "But I rooted against Larry Bird very hard. I wanted Julius [Erving to win]. I wanted the Sixers. I don't know what was with me. I made a mistake."

The NBA's lottery system has corrupted Sandler's New York fandom, he told the group. "I'm almost madder when [the Knicks] win," he said.

When the Safdies began writing "Uncut Gems" a decade ago, they did so with Amar'e Stoudemire in mind for the role of the NBA star who improbably comes into the orbit of the stressed-out, stretched-thin, gambling-addicted Diamond District jeweler played by Sandler. Sandler's character, Howard Ratner, acquires a black opal mined from Ethiopia. Garnett visits Sandler's shop in New York during the Celtics' playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers in 2012 and becomes fascinated with the opal, believing it has mystical powers that help him play better. With that knowledge, Sandler's character begins betting on the series.

The film includes snippets of real footage from that series. The league did not license the footage, sources say; the Safdies will claim fair use if necessary.

The Safdies are Jewish, and the intersection of basketball and New York City Jewish culture runs through the movie. Stoudemire has traveled to Israel many times to trace his Jewish roots and develop his faith, first in 2010. He later played in Israel and discussed plans to convert to Judaism, and this year he was granted Israeli citizenship. He also played five seasons for the Knicks. The Safdies thought he was a natural fit.

Their agents pressured them to aim higher -- perhaps as high as Kobe Bryant. They spent two weeks reorienting the script around Bryant's 61-point game at Madison Square Garden in February 2009. Then they learned Bryant wished to direct films, not act in them.

"I was like, 'F---! I just spent all this time rewriting!'" Josh Safdie said. "In the end, it's fine. I didn't want to make a Laker movie. I definitely didn't want to make a Celtic movie, either."

(Bryant told ESPN he had never heard this story before. He was never attached in any formal way, and never saw a script. The Safdies never met or spoke to Bryant.)

They moved on to Joel Embiid, but working around the schedule of an active player proved impossible. The studio gave them a list of retired players. They met with a few, including Chris Bosh, Josh Safdie said. Garnett's name was on the list, too. They cringed.

They agreed to meet with Garnett anyway. Garnett's representatives told them they would have an hour. The meeting lasted three hours. Garnett regaled them with stories. He was different in person than he was on television and in media interviews.

"I would always watch KG postgame because he was so entertaining," Josh Safdie told ESPN. "But I realized after meeting him that I didn't know his real voice. I had to learn that voice. He's eloquent. He's a great storyteller. I wrote for that voice. And he worked really hard."

Garnett plays himself, and the role is huge. It is not a cameo. He is perhaps the second-most important presence, behind only Sandler. He is (in this amateur critic's opinion) quite good -- charismatic, funny, intimidating when the part calls for it.

"Acting is preparation, just like anything else," Garnett told the group in New York. "I didn't want to fail them. They took a risk on me. When I showed up to set, I was ready. It took me back to, 'OK, it's Rasheed Wallace tonight. It's Tim Duncan tonight' -- watching film. I took those same things coming in here."

"He took his lines very seriously," Josh Safdie told ESPN. "He added a lot of flair, too. He improvised a bit, but he stuck mostly to the script."

At a private screening this week for the Celtics, Wyc Grousbeck, the Celtics governor, told the Safdies that Garnett -- superstitious and ritualistic -- was the right choice. "There is some supernatural power inside KG, and the idea it would come from a gem is perfect and believable," Grousbeck told ESPN.

The movie is littered with NBA references. Here are the stories behind some of them.

• There are, as you might expect, several references to the Knicks and to the misery of being a Knicks fan. The events of the movie come only months after Linsanity. One character laments Jeremy Lin will leave in free agency because "Dolan ruins" everything, a reference to Knicks owner James Dolan. The actor improvised that line, Josh Safdie said.

"Linsanity was the greatest gift ever given to this city," Josh Safdie told the New York roundtable with a heavy sigh.

"It was a hellfire run, dog," Garnett agreed.

• As has been reported elsewhere, Garnett told the group he was not surprised Kyrie Irving left the Celtics. "You gotta have some major cojones to be [in Boston]," Garnett said. Garnett was surprised Irving and Kevin Durant chose the Brooklyn Nets.

"I thought they should have [gone to] the Knicks." Garnett told the group. "I'm not a Knicks fan by far, But to come into this city and dominate, man, the first superstar to hit New York and be vibing is going to be bigger than life. Remember I said that."

I then asked Garnett if (in theory) he would have signed with New York alone, or made his signing contingent on the Knicks pairing him with another star. "You gotta come with pieces, man," Garnett said. "I didn't think they put superstars around [Carmelo Anthony]. They have the pocketbook to bring players here, but for some reason, they haven't put it together."

Why? "I wish I knew so I could go up there and say, 'I got a plan!'" Garnett told the group. "Pretty much anybody's looking at [former Knicks president] Phil Jackson like, 'S---, I coulda did what he did!'"

• There are two championship rings featured in the movie: a 1973 Knicks ring (worn by Ratner) and Garnett's 2008 ring. Both are replicas, Josh Safdie told ESPN. Garnett told the roundtable he does not wear his ring. He lives by this rule: "You can only wear one if you got two."

• When Sandler's character first meets Garnett, he peppers Garnett with random NBA questions. One of them: Who would win in a fight between Ben Wallace and Tony Allen? Garnett's answer: "TA, all day!"

Sandler improvised the Allen-or-Wallace question during rehearsal, and the Safdies liked it so much they put it into the script, Josh Safdie said. Allen learned recently he was name-dropped in the movie, but he did not know the context until ESPN contacted him this week.

"It's really cool," Allen, Garnett's teammate for three seasons in Boston, told ESPN. "I'm hyped. You just made me smile. Yo, I'm in a movie!"

As for the theoretical fight, "You know I don't want no smoke with Ben Wallace," Allen said. "He scared me, trust and believe that. That's just KG repping his boy."

• The Safdies organized a private screening for the Memphis Grizzlies. To their delight, Ja Morant later sent them an autographed jersey with a message, "To Josh and Benny, much love," Josh Safdie said. "You know how cool that jersey is gonna be in 10 years?" Safdie added. Allen sent them an autographed ball.

• During one dinner scene, several characters have an argument about whether Chris Paul is overrated. (Josh Ostrovsky, otherwise known as The Fat Jew -- an internet celebrity and NBA superfan -- is an extra in that scene, Josh Safdie said.)

One character defends Paul, listing the All-Star and All-NBA honors Paul had accrued by 2012. The Safdies chose Paul as the subject of the debate because they were writing the script during Paul's trade from the New Orleans Hornets to the Los Angeles Clippers.

"It stems from all the hype around Lob City," Josh Safdie said.

In the original script, the argument extends longer, with one character pointing to Paul's achievements in the Olympics, Josh Safdie said. "They don't count," another character scoffs. They trimmed that in the final cut.

Paul declined comment through an Oklahoma City Thunder representative, saying he had not yet seen the movie.

• One person was not surprised by Garnett's acting skill: Doc Rivers, the current Clippers coach and former Celtics coach who recorded a voiceover for the film. Rivers built an out-of-timeout play around Garnett's acting ability, Garnett and Josh Safdie told the roundtable. He instructed Garnett to come out of the huddle acting "really cocky" so the other team would expect the ball to go to him. (The play was designed for Paul Pierce.)

Rivers was Method-serious about Garnett's performance. "Do you know how many times we did this? Garnett recalled. "I messed it up so many times in practice. I done that 100 times because I didn't do it the way he wanted." Garnett would break from the huddle clapping, only for Rivers to tell him, "Clap more!" Garnett said.

• Rivers in the movie is heard giving a pep talk at halftime of Game 7 of the Sixers-Celtics series as the camera zooms on Garnett, sitting at his locker and rolling the titular gem in his hand. "We're like roaches!" Rivers yells. "You can't kill us!"

In real life, Rivers used the "roaches" line last season after his Clippers rallied from 31 points down to beat the Golden State Warriors and even their first-round series 1-1. Rivers told ESPN the Safdies asked him to recycle the speech for the movie.

• Rivers recorded his voiceover during the Clippers' Kawhi Leonard recruitment, the Safdies told the roundtable. He hinted to the Safdies that a second player might be involved, but he did not tell them who it was. "We didn't realize it was Paul George," Josh Safdie said. "That's crazy!"

• Boy, were the 2012 Eastern Conference playoffs weird. Chicago was the top seed, and expected to trounce Philly in the first round. Then Derrick Rose tore his ACL late in Game 1. The Sixers won in six, setting up the second-round series against Boston.

It was a seven-game bloodbath. Philly did not crack 100 points once. Boston managed to twice. Boston won the decisive Game 7, 85-75. Pierce fouled out with 4:16 remaining and Boston up by only three. Rajon Rondo drained a foot-on-the-line 2 and a 3-pointer -- just his second of the series -- in the last three minutes to give Boston a 10-point cushion.

The aging Celtics then somehow won Games 3, 4 and 5 over the Heat in the conference finals to take a 3-2 series lead. LeBron James responded with perhaps the greatest and most consequential game of his career in Game 6 in Boston -- a 45-point, 19-of-26 masterpiece. Miami grinded out Game 7, with LeBron driving around and through Brandon Bass. (I swear this is a thing that happened.)

• Before Game 7 of Philly-Boston in the movie, Ratner (Sandler's character) implores Garnett to "step on Elton Brand's f---ing neck." (Brand was a member of that Sixers team.) Brand attended a screening in New York. "I cringed," Brand, now the GM of the Sixers, told ESPN. "I care about my neck."

"I was rooting for myself the entire movie," Brand said. "They were showing KG hitting all those midrange jumpers in my face, and I just kept hoping in the movie they would let us win. I was there. I know what happened. That's when you know a movie is good -- when it transports you."

• Brand is still salty about those Rondo jumpers. "When Paul fouled out, I was thinking, 'This is our game,'" Brand said. The Heat had eliminated Philly, 4-1, in the first round the season before. The Sixers wanted another shot. Brand still wonders if ownership would have kept that Sixers team together had they advanced to the conference finals. In August 2012, the Sixers acquired Andrew Bynum as part of the four-team Dwight Howard trade. They also waived Brand that summer using the amnesty provision.

"I get it," Brand said. "I wasn't in management then. You gotta go for championships. The second round isn't enough."

• Upon first meeting Garnett, Ratner asks him if Rivers would be angry to know Garnett was in New York perusing diamonds the morning of a playoff game in Philadelphia. We asked Rivers. "On a game day, I don't know," Rivers told ESPN. "I am actually a big proponent of guys getting out of their hotel rooms. During the Finals, I flew in Ray Allen's golf clubs and had him go golf. But not on a game day."

• Speaking of Ray Allen: Garnett told reporters he did not reach out to Allen for acting advice. (Allen famously starred alongside Denzel Washington in Spike Lee's "He Got Game.") "I haven't really talked to Ray at all," Garnett said.

• Before ESPN contacted him last week, Spencer Hawes, Philly's starting center in 2012, had no idea he plays (by chance) a pivotal role in the movie. Ratner bets on (among many other things) Garnett winning opening tips against ... Hawes. The movie features footage of said tips.

"I was never good at those," Hawes said. "Not much of a leaper." Brad Miller, who played with Hawes in Sacramento, tried to teach Hawes to win tips by subtly nudging one forearm into his opponent as the referee threw the ball up. "I couldn't master the timing," Hawes said.

"I was already planning on seeing the movie, but now I have to," Hawes said. "The only movie I've ever been in is the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles sequel, and I don't even know if I made the final cut." (Several members of the 2014-15 Clippers, including Hawes, filmed a basketball scene for that movie, but Hawes is not listed in the IMDB credits.)

• For the record, play-by-play data lists Hawes as going 3-4 on opening tips against Garnett in that 2012 series.

• Rivers' favorite memory of that series was his game-day ritual of walking from morning shootaround in Philadelphia back to the team's hotel with the late Flip Saunders, who worked with the Celtics as a special adviser during those playoffs after the Washington Wizards fired him as coach. One problem: The walk to their Philadelphia hotel was about 5 miles, giving Philly fans plenty of chances to spot Rivers and Saunders.

"Fans started blowing their horns, saying really rude s---," Rivers recalled, laughing. When the Sixers won Game 4 to tie the series at 2-2, it guaranteed a Game 6 in Philly -- and another walk. "Flip was distraught," Rivers said. "I thought it was because of the loss. It was because of the walk. He didn't want to walk again. He was like, 'We needed to win this game, I can't do this walk again.' It is a very fond memory of Flip for me."

• In his first scene, Garnett wears a black leather Starter jacket featuring the logos -- also rendered in black -- of all 30 NBA teams. It is awesome. In planning wardrobe, the Safdies came across a photo of a young, Minnesota-era Garnett wearing a similar jacket. They had their costume designer, Miyako Bellizzi, look for Starter jackets before settling on the black version, Josh Safdie said.

In 2013, the Safdies directed "Lenny Cooke," a documentary about Cooke -- a high school basketball phenom who never panned out. Cooke wore a color version of the same jacket.

ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk and Nick Friedell contributed reporting to this story.

As we hit mid-December, we pulled together our panel of NHL experts to discuss some of the hot topics of the 2019-20 campaign.

• Which teams take the West wild-card berths?

• Who is the top rookie to build around?

• Where will the Lightning finish?

• How did the Flyers find their mojo?

• Which team deserves draft prize Alexis Lafreniere?

Let's dive in, starting with our picks for the final two playoff spots out West.

1. Who will be the Western Conference wild cards?

Greg Wyshinski, senior NHL writer: Give me the Dallas Stars and Vancouver Canucks. I can see either the Jets or Predators in the third spot in the Central, assuming they can turn on the afterburners at some point, leaving the Stars in the wild card. And the Canucks were my surprise playoff qualifier in preseason predictions. As long as their core players remain healthy, I'm sticking with them to shock the world as a playoff team. Or at least shock the Pacific Division.

Emily Kaplan, national NHL reporter: I'm confident the Golden Knights will go on a decent run following the All-Star break, bumping the Calgary Flames down to the wild-card spot. For the second wild card, I'll take the Dallas Stars. (I also see Nashville making a decent run, bumping Winnipeg out of their Central playoff spot, and the postseason picture altogether).

Chris Peters, hockey prospects analyst: I too feel like Nashville is going to figure things out soon enough and go on a bit of a run here to sneak into the top three in the Central, and I wouldn't be stunned to see the Winnipeg Jets slip into a wild-card spot. Meanwhile, I'm not totally sold on the Calgary Flames yet despite this current run, and I could see them slipping out of the top three in the Pacific but not out of the wild card.

Dimitri Filipovic, hockey analytics writer: It's such a jumbled mess out West right now that we may as well put a bunch of team names in a hat and pick them out at random. I'll go with the Edmonton Oilers and Nashville Predators just because I think they do enough things well offensively to make the playoffs but have enough remaining question marks that I don't feel confident picking them to be in the top three of their respective divisions.

2. Which NHL rookie would you choose to build around?

Wyshynski: Quinn Hughes, D, Canucks. Growing up a Devils fan, there's no way I can't select a player that many pundits have likened to Scott Niedermayer, who was a foundational piece of four championship teams en route to the Hall of Fame. That's not to say Hughes will end up being that good, but the skill set on both ends of the ice is that impressive.

Kaplan: Cale Makar, D, Avalanche. A true No. 1 defenseman, especially an offensively gifted one, is something that's rare to acquire in free agency. If he can be this productive as a 21-year-old rookie, I can only imagine what the rest of his career has in store.

Peters: Jack Hughes, C, Devils. His rookie season has not gone particularly well, but there are few players I've seen who can make the plays he does. Having watched him closely over the past three seasons, this is only the beginning, and as he gets more comfortable, a bit stronger and perhaps some better talent around him, his game will take off.

Filipovic: Quinn Hughes, D, Canucks. Makar is a fine pick too, but Hughes has been just as effective in his rookie season, despite doing it in more subtle ways. He has had more impact at 5-on-5 (the Canucks control 56.1% of the shots, 58.7% of the high-danger chances and 60% of the expected goals with him on the ice), and he has completely transformed his team's power play. Plus he's a full year younger, which shouldn't be understated at this stage of his development.

3. The Tampa Bay Lightning have turned it around (a bit) and are on pace for 96 points. Where do they finish the season?

Wyshynski: The Lightning entered Thursday night with the eighth-best points percentage in the East despite, you know, not yet looking like the Lightning. It took 98 points to get a wild-card spot last season, so I'll say they get the last one, knock off the Bruins and clear the path for that Maple Leafs Stanley Cup run I predicted before the season. (For the record, that pick was also contingent on Mike Babcock getting fired. To quote Sheev Palpatine, "Everything is proceeding as I have foreseen.")

Kaplan: I think they finish a few points above their current pace, which would put them on the bubble for a wild-card spot. I just haven't seen consistent cohesiveness in this group to believe they're going to be as dominant as they can be.

Peters: We've been saying for weeks that one of these days the dam is going to break and this team is going to be the world-beater we know they can be. I'm less certain about that right now, but I still can see this team cracking 100 points after a late-season run and finishing second in the Atlantic behind the Bruins. I don't think the Sabres or Canadiens have the goods to stick once Tampa opens the floodgates.

Filipovic: 104 points and the No. 2 seed in the Atlantic. They're not catching the Bruins, but everything beyond that is fair game for a team that's as talented as the Lightning are. Despite the underwhelming results, they have the second-best power play in the league, and at 5-on-5, they're third in high-danger chance share and fifth in expected goal share. Their biggest issue has been the goaltending, which has dipped from third last year all the way down to 22nd in save percentage. I'm betting on Andrei Vasilevskiy turning it around eventually, considering he's just 25 years old and is coming off of a Vezina Trophy-winning season. If they're still giving us these mixed results at the 50-game mark, I'll gladly reevaluate my stance, but for now I view them as a sleeping giant that's just biding its time and playing the long game.

4. The Philadelphia Flyers took flight in November and are in the playoff mix after a disappointing 2018-19. What's the secret to their success?

Wyshynski: Two words: Alain Vigneault. The Flyers went from 21st in shot attempts percentage last season to seventh this season, and from 21st in expected goals-for to 12th. There's no question that better goaltending makes a coach look better, and Carter Hart and the Flyers have gone from 28th in the league in team save percentage (.896) to 13th (.907). But this is what Vigneault does when he arrives with a new team: He's 148-89-18 with 13 ties in his first year with the Canadiens, Canucks, Rangers and now Flyers.

Kaplan: No doubt it's their improved defense from a year ago. Getting more reliable goaltending has helped, but so too have the additions of Matt Niskanen to the top pairing and defensive-forward Kevin Hayes. Hayes has specifically helped on the penalty kill, which was improved from 23rd in the league last season to fourth right now.

Peters: A balanced offensive attack that doesn't overly rely on one line is a big factor for me. The Flyers have three lines that can score, and the ice time is much more evenly distributed among the lines, which makes matchups tougher for the other team with no one player or line to key in on.

Filipovic: The biggest difference between this Flyers team and past versions is that they finally have some stability in net. After infamously using seven goalies before settling on Hart last season, it looks like their search for a No. 1 is over. While his overall numbers aren't great, he has been much better of late, which neatly coincides with the Flyers' surge up the standings. In the 13 games he has played since Nov. 1, he has a .925 save percentage and plus-4.7 goals saved above average.

5. It's never too early to start thinking about the 2020 draft. Which team deserves Alexis Lafreniere the most?

Wyshynski: The Ottawa Senators. And just to see the reaction on Twitter for them winning the lottery with the Sharks' first-round pick they acquired in the Erik Karlsson trade.

Kaplan: The Red Wings sure could use top-end talent to accelerate the rebuild. But do you know what team I'd like to see land Lafreniere? The Minnesota Wild. Bill Guerin has been patient inheriting a roster constructed by two previous GMs. They have talent to win, but they're a bit old and a bit slow. Unfortunately (or fortunately), I think the Wild's turnaround is for real, so they're probably out of the running.

Peters: I don't know that any team deserves rewards for being so terrible, but the Detroit Red Wings need Lafreniere or Quinton Byfield -- or basically anyone -- right now. It's imperative that Detroit lands one of the top two picks to help its cause. Either of those players would be significant pieces for the future, and both will be NHL-ready next year and are producing at an alarming rate this season.

Filipovic: It's the Detroit Red Wings. They've been outscored 131-72 this season. They've held a lead in just 15.3% of their time on the ice. They hadn't won a game in a month until Thursday's win. There have been five coaching changes since they last won, and Jeff Blashill somehow hasn't been one of them. It's kind of impressive how categorically bad they've been, and how committed they seem to seeing it through.

World Cup winning midfielder Julie Ertz has been voted U.S. Soccer's Female Athlete of the Year for 2019.

Ertz, 27, claimed the honor for the second time in her career, earning 42% of the vote to beat out fellow nominees Rose Lavelle, Carli Lloyd, Alex Morgan, Alyssa Naeher, and FIFA World Player of the Year Megan Rapinoe.

While Ertz is the 10th player in the award's history to win multiple times, she is the first to do so while also having won the U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year, which she claimed in 2012 after leading the U.S. U-20 team to the World Cup title that year.

She has also won two World Cup titles at senior level, the latest of which came last summer in France where her displays in a holding midfield role saw her contribute to both attack and defense. Her efforts on the defensive side of the ball helped the U.S. concede just three goals over the course of the tournament. She was often relied on to help the U.S. transition from defense to attack, and she scored in the 3-0 group stage defeat of Chile. Overall, she logged 474 minutes in six appearances during the World Cup.

"It's been a whirlwind of a year and one that I'm extremely grateful for," Ertz said. "My team lifted me up in so many ways and our experiences on and off the field in 2019 just encapsulate the love I have for the national team and for wearing this crest and what it represents."

In 2019, Ertz started a team-high 22 games for the U.S., and her 1,755 minutes played were third-most on the team. She finished the year with 95 career caps, and she was recently named to the FIFA FIFPRO World XI.

"Julie was such a critical part of our success this summer," said former U.S. Women's National Team head coach Jill Ellis. "It's wonderful that she's being recognized in this way. She's always a consummate professional regardless of the environment. Whether it's in training, national team games or in the NWSL, she always brings a level of professionalism, effort and talent."

Ertz excelled at club level as well, playing in both defense and midfield to lead the Chicago Red Stars to their first NWSL title game. She was named to the NWSL Best XI as a midfielder.

"All of my teammates just had such an amazing year and we all know it takes an entire team to win a World Cup or have a successful club season," Ertz added. "We are all a sum of the people around us, so I want to especially thank [my husband] Zach and my family, all my coaches for the national team and the Red Stars, and all my teammates for their never-ending support. It's emotional to be recognized in this way and it's a cherry on top of a beautiful 2019. It's incredible."

The U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year has been awarded since 1985, when midfielder Sharon Remer earned the inaugural honor. Abby Wambach won it six times, the most of any player.

Votes are collected from respective National Team coaches, National Team players who earned a cap in 2019, members of the U.S. Soccer Board of Directors, U.S. Soccer Athletes' Council, NWSL head coaches, select media members and former players and administrators. In addition, select college coaches vote for the award.