TALLADEGA, Ala. – While Thanksgiving week means family gatherings for the holiday, college football regular-season finale games and the beginning of deer hunting season, it also marks the end of an era at Talladega Superspeedway.

The historic venue, which celebrated its 50th anniversary this year, will say goodbye to Chairman Grant Lynch, the patriarch of the 2.66-mile venue for more than 26 years who will retire at week’s end.

The likeable, high-energy Lynch, who joined the Talladega Superspeedway staff in January of 1993, has since been one of the most respected individuals in the state of Alabama and in NASCAR for his countless contributions to so many during his tenure.

During his reign, Lynch has overseen many changes at Talladega, but he saved the best for last with the venue’s $50 million infield transformation project, featuring the fan-friendly Talladega Garage Experience, which debuted last month during the track’s NASCAR playoff doubleheader to rave reviews.

In fact, Lynch calls spearheading the Transformation project his proudest moment over the last quarter century and change.

“I’d say absolutely the proudest moment for me has been watching the team here take on the challenge of the Talladega Infield Experience and building the Talladega Garage Experience,” Lynch noted. “To watch the team, and pretty much Brian Crichton (new Talladega Superspeedway President) leading the way in building a $50 million project … it is by far the largest amount of money we’ve ever had to build a project at Talladega. And to watch the team work together during that really high tension 12 to 13 month period, and build what they did, and get it delivered on time and on budget is one of the true things that I’ve seen.

“And then to see the drivers become involved almost immediately because they knew they were in something unique, that nothing had ever been done like this. And, I think it got them to interact with the fans in a very positive way,” he added. “I think the drivers got into the fact that they were in something very unique, and we have created something where they can interact with the fans, but they can still get back and do what they need to do as well.

“All in all, I think it worked out great for the drivers and it certainly has worked out great for us and our fans.”

In reminiscing on his memories at Talladega, Lynch called to mind one of the most-famous races in NASCAR’s seven-decade history as his personal favorite during his tenure.

“If I was having to pick one race that probably [is] the greatest race that’s ever been held at Talladega, I don’t see how you could leave out Dale [Earnhardt] Sr.’s last victory here (in October of 2000),” Lynch recalled. “He was running back in the low 20s and he was kind of in the pack back there … and it was down to about five laps to go, and he was kind of jammed up. But I think Kenny Wallace got behind him and started pushing him up through the middle and he continued to move up, and within a couple of laps, he was actually leading the race.

“If you ever go back and watch the film (video), you can just hear the crowd start to murmur, and then it gets louder and then it gets louder. And, then finally, he gets to the front and goes into the lead and every single person in the grandstands is standing up and they’re yelling and they’re cheering. And, everybody that I talk to or everybody that gets to see this, [I tell them] you should watch that whole film (video),” Lynch continued. “It was awesome to be part of that and to have Dale win, and that was his last victory because we lost him the next year when he was at Daytona.

“That, to me, is probably one of the most impressive victories I’ve ever seen here and I think the fans really, really enjoyed it.”

One of the traditions that Lynch will take with him when he retires is his trademark long-billed hat, which has its own story to it, as he noted.

“I guess the long-billed hat stems from all the way back when I was a little kid and my daddy started taking me hunting and fishing at a very early age, and he wore a big billed fishing hat,” explained Lynch. “And, so when I’d been here a while, and of course hats are synonymous with NASCAR and everything else, I decided ‘well I want a hat.’ And so I said ‘well I’m just going to build me a big-billed hat.’ And about that time we started saying “This is more than a race… this is Talladega,” and so I decided that’s what I was going to put on my hat, the big billed hat.

“It’s kind of become my trademark, I suppose.”

As he prepares to exit the facility he’s been known for for so long, Lynch had one final message for Talladega’s legions of fans, as well as plans for what he’ll do in retirement.

“Come back!” Lynch implored. “We’ve built a $50 million project in our infield. We built it for the fans. They’re going to be able to do things here in the Talladega Garage Experience that can’t be duplicated right now at any other facility.

“As for me, I’m a huge outdoors man. I’m going to hunt and fish a lot and everything,” Lynch added. “I hope to travel some with (wife) Marsha and the girls and I look forward to that. I’m going to be on some boards going forward in the community and statewide, and I’ll be doing some of that as well.”

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WHEATLAND, Mo. – Mike Striegel has made countless laps around Lucas Oil Speedway over the years.

He’s even won a championship at his hometown track, behind the wheel of a USRA B-Mod.

But for the 2020 season, Striegel will have a new vantage point, directing Big Adventure RV Weekly Racing Series action from the flagstand and replacing long-time flagman Bruce Korte, who retired after the 2019 season.

“It’s kind of a long haul for me … all the way from across (Highway 54) from the track,” Striegel joked. “But man, I’m pretty pumped up about it. It’s been a while since I flagged, but I’m looking forward to it.”

Striegel has extensive experience flagging races, mostly before he began racing about 20 years ago. He started at Monett Speedway and also has stints flagging for the Midwest Late Model Racing Ass’n, MARS DIRTcar Series and the Show-Me Racing Series.

“I started at Monett Speedway under the guidance of Duane Johnson. He was a beast back then, the best I’ve ever been around,” Striegel said. “He taught me as he was getting ready to retire back then.

“I’ve done a lot of flagging that people didn’t know about. I flagged at Flippin, Arkansas for a season. I’ve even filled in eight to 10 races one season at Dallas County Speedway. I really enjoyed it over there.”

Lucas Oil Speedway General Manager Danny Lorton said Striegel was an obvious choice once he learned of the interest.

“Having someone like Mike who knows both sides of racing, from a driver standpoint and an official’s standpoint, is a plus,” Lorton said. “You understand the racers and the business side also, which makes communicating with each a lot easier.”

Striegel plans to cut back his racing schedule, which has included both a USRA Modified and B-Mod in recent years, to one car next year along with car owner John Stewart.

Striegel, 49, ran for USMTS Rookie of the Year honors in 2019, finishing second to Hunter Marriott. He was ninth overall in the national-touring series points, but said the extensive travel took a toll.

“We had a ball and I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” Striegel said. “I’m glad we did it. It was something on my list and I got to do it.”

Striegel said he still plans to run about an 18-race schedule next season, going to other tracks on Fridays or during Lucas Oil Speedway off weeks.

“Lucas Oil Speedway is my favorite place to race. I’m sure I’m gonna miss it,” Striegel said. “It’s gonna take a few races, but I’m gonna have a ball flagging again. I’ve missed it and I’m ready to get back at it for sure.

“Even if I’m not racing, I feel like I’ll be doing something to help the racing community.”

Lorton also announced that Brian Schwartz is the new Jumbo-Tron Operator and Media Specialist in the control tower.

“Brian has a background with computers and software maintenance and experience. He came highly recommended,” Lorton said.

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Paarl Rocks 166 for 7 (Vince 37, Tahir 2-19) beat Nelson Mandela Bay Giants 135 all out (Dunk 45, Viljoen 2-22, Shamsi 2-24, Adams 2-27, Fortuin 2-28) by 31 runs

It took a team performance, in the truest sense of the phrase, for Paarl Rocks to beat Nelson Mandela Bay Giants and go top of the points table in the Mzansi Super League. With the bat, Rocks' highest scorer made only 37. With the ball, each of their bowlers took two wickets. The result was a comfortable 31-run win to silence the home crowd.

Giants had done well with the ball to restrict Rocks to 166 for 7 with four wickets in four consecutive overs at the death to avoid what could've been a bigger total. But barring Ben Dunk, none of their batsmen made use of their starts, and they fell prey to the spin attack of Tabraiz Shamsi and Bjorn Fortuin under the lights to fold for 135 all out.

Spin rocks Rocks early

Asked to bat, Rocks began slowly after Beuran Hendricks delivered two tight overs, but openers Henry Davids and Cameron Delport shellacked Chris Morris and Junior Dala for plenty from the other end. Dala's first over went for 19 as Delport struck a hat-trick of boundaries to end the fourth.

Giants captain Jon-Jon Smuts then brought in Imran Tahir, and he struck within three balls when Delport struck a flat shot to Jason Roy at mid-off. Faf du Plessis, who has had a lukewarm season, then got off the mark by ramping Morris for four over fine leg and followed it up by a six over long on.

Tahir and left-arm spinner Smuts then bowled two tidy overs as Paarl crept to 70 for 1 after nine overs, but a two-wicket over in the tenth over appeared to turn the tide in Giants' favour. Off the first ball of Smuts' second over, Davids holed out to long on and five balls later, a miscommunication between the new man James Vince and du Plessis saw the latter depart for 27.

Rocks finish strong

The run-out may have played a part in Vince taking on the anchor's role thereafter in the second half of the first innings. He found a boundary off the next three overs to take Rocks past three figures in the company of Sibonelo Makhanya. Then four wickets in four overs - including that of Vince for 37 and the hard-hitting Isuru Udana - appeared to swing the innings in Giants' favour but lower-order batsman Ferisco Adams struck 23 in 12 balls at the back end to lift Rocks to a respectable 166 for 7.

Bravery favours Fortuin

Left-arm offspinner Fortuin was handed the new ball in the second innings, and a full drifting delivery saw him send back Jason Roy for a duck. The England opener was bowled trying to press forward.

Smuts and Matthew Breetzke then kept the score ticking with boundaries off Adams' medium pace, but first-change bowler Hardus Viljoen broke the partnership in the fifth over by knocking over the Giants captain. Smuts was timing the ball well, but found Vince at midwicket while trying to flick one.

No. 4 Dunk didn't let the intensity drop, however, by slogging Shamsi for six, but Breetzke couldn't get the same result when he tried the same in the following over. Coming down the wicket to Fortuin, he mistimed a shot to du Plessis at long on, out for 22. Although Dunk then tonked Fortuin for a six in the final over of his spell, he finished with 2 for 28 in four overs. When Fortuin's spell ended, Giants required 9.88 overs in the final nine overs with seven wickets in hand.

Bizarre Dunk dismissal ends Giants' hopes

While left-handed batsman Dunk was in the middle, the home crowd had hope. But from the other end, he saw Heino Kuhn and Marco Marais falling cheaply to Shamsi. With No. 7 Morris, he struck a few boundaries off the pacers, but the run-rate was always rising. Two balls after Morris' dismissal to a yorker from Adams, Dunk was adjudged hit wicket after replays showed that his heel had knocked the bails off. At that stage, Giants needed 49 in 17 balls with only the tail to follow, and the result was only imment. More wickets tumbled, and Rocks won the game comfortably, but victory could've been sweeter had then earned a bonus-point win. For that, they needed to restrict Giants to 132, three less than their final total.

The NCAA on Wednesday denied Memphis' appeal of James Wiseman's suspension, meaning the star freshman won't be able to play until Jan. 12.

Wiseman was suspended 12 games earlier this month for two violations: his mother accepting $11,500 from Penny Hardaway in the summer of 2017, and Wiseman playing in three games this season while ineligible.

Memphis appealed the ruling, but it was upheld by the Division I Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement. Shortly after the NCAA announced its decision, Memphis released a statement:

"This morning, the NCAA's Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement upheld the conditions of reinstatement for men's basketball student-athlete James Wiseman, who will be eligible to return to competition Jan. 12. Although disappointing, we look forward to a promising season."

Wiseman has already sat for three of the 12 games, and he can return against South Florida on Jan. 12.

The NCAA initially declared Wiseman eligible in May, but further investigation found documentation of Hardaway's payment to Wiseman's family in 2017. Memphis said Wiseman had no knowledge of the payment, which was used to cover moving expenses when Wiseman's family moved from Nashville to Memphis.

At the time, Hardaway was the head coach at East High School (Tennessee) and ran the Team Penny grassroots program. Wiseman had played for Team Penny and would enroll at East High School. Hardaway, a Memphis alum, was considered a booster due to a $1 million donation he gave the school in 2008 to build a sports hall of fame. He became the head coach of Memphis in the spring of 2018, replacing Tubby Smith.

Wiseman ultimately committed to Memphis over Kentucky in November 2018, headlining the Tigers' No. 1-ranked recruiting class.

Wiseman had played in three games before Memphis declared him ineligible and applied for reinstatement, averaging 19.7 points, 10.7 rebounds and 3.0 blocks. He's one of the favorites to be the No. 1 pick in June's NBA draft.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Baltimore Ravens safety Earl Thomas offered a confident take when asked if Sunday's game against the San Francisco 49ers will be a Super Bowl preview.

"You think the 49ers are going to the Super Bowl?" Thomas said Wednesday. "It could be. Let's see. ... When the Super Bowl comes, whoever we play, they're going to be in trouble."

This marks the first time Thomas has made such a Super Bowl prediction, but it comes in a timely fashion.

The Ravens (9-2) have overtaken the New England Patriots (10-1) as favorites to win the Super Bowl, according to ESPN's Football Power Index. Baltimore now has a projected 26.2% chance of winning the Super Bowl, which moved the Ravens ahead of the Patriots (25.7%).

Ravens wide receiver Willie Snead IV was asked about Lamar Jackson's prediction, immediately after he was drafted, of winning a Super Bowl for Baltimore.

"He brought that vision since he got drafted," Snead said. "If the guys around him ain't got that vision, it's like we got the wrong guys in he huddle. I feel like everybody in the huddle has that same vision -- all 11 guys see the Super Bowl in our near future, and it starts with Lamar."

The Ravens have won seven straight games, the longest current winning streak in the NFL. The 49ers (10-1) are tied with the Patriots for the best record in the league.

Jackson and Jimmy Garoppolo have the best combined record (33-6, .846) by opposing starting quarterbacks since the merger, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. It's also the first matchup in NFL history featuring teams coming off wins of at least 28 points against winning teams, per Elias.

"These guys are the best team in football," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said of the 49ers after Monday night's win. "They're playing at the highest level right now. I don't know. Nobody's crowned, like I said. They're the best team in football right now. February's when they make that decision still."

Rivalry Week divides families and states. It brings out the best -- and worst -- of college football.

It's why in 1968, with Ohio State leading Michigan 48-14 late in the game, Buckeyes coach Woody Hayes elected to go for two points instead of kicking a PAT. When reporters asked Hayes why he went for two, he famously quipped, "Because they wouldn't let me go for three."

Rivalry Week can decide coaches' fates, teams' postseason hopes and can define an entire season. It's about bragging rights for 365 days.

Let's all give thanks for the 2019 edition of the Hater's Guide to Rivalry Week, sorted in handy chronological order:

THURSDAY

Egg Bowl

Ole Miss at Mississippi State
Thursday, 7:30 ET, ESPN/ESPN App

Year it began: 1901
Overall record: Ole Miss leads 62-45-6
Past five years: Ole Miss leads 3-2 (the Rebels vacated their 31-17 win in 2014 because of NCAA sanctions)

Mississippi State's biggest villain: Ole Miss coach Johnny Vaught guided the Rebels to a 19-2-4 record in the Egg Bowl from 1947 to 1970 and again to a win as interim coach in 1973. His second loss to the Bulldogs was a 19-14 defeat during Archie Manning's senior season in 1970.

Ole Miss biggest villain: Bulldogs linebacker Leo Lewis became public enemy No. 1 in Oxford after he alleged that he was given money and other improper benefits from the Rebels during his recruitment. The allegations were part of a six-year investigation that led to the Rebels being placed on NCAA probation for four years and missing bowl games in consecutive seasons. Lewis, now a senior, will try to improve to 3-1 against Ole Miss.

Story that best explains the rivalry: Rebels fans rushed the field after Ole Miss snapped a 13-game losing streak to Mississippi State in 1926. But Bulldogs fans stood their ground and were determined to protect the goal posts, so an ugly brawl ensued. The poor sportsmanship led the student bodies to create the Egg Bowl trophy. But the rivalry took another turn in 2017 when a lifelong Mississippi State fan, Steve Robertson, who has covered the Bulldogs since 2001, brought down Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze by poring over his phone records, leading to an investigation that exposed calls Ole Miss officials called "troubling" and causing Freeze's resignation. "It's the two runt puppies in the SEC West fighting for the hind teat," Robertson said. "When you finally get locked on that hind teat, you do whatever you have to do to stay there, even if the other guy has to starve."

Hater's guide to watching this year: It hasn't been a banner season for either team, but the Bulldogs can still qualify for a bowl game with their sixth victory. A second-half fight, which led to four ejections, marred the Bulldogs' 35-3 victory last season. SEC commissioner Greg Sankey met with the then-athletic directors this summer to try to clean up matters. MSU coach Joe Moorhead, who is 13-11 in his second season, might need this one more than Ole Miss' Matt Luke, who seems assured of coming back for a fourth season in 2020.

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FRIDAY

Commonwealth Cup

Virginia Tech at Virginia
Friday, noon ET, ABC/ESPN App

Year it began: 1895
Overall record: Virginia Tech leads 58-37-5
Past five years: Virginia Tech leads 5-0

Virginia Tech's biggest villain: Virginia hasn't won back-to-back games in the series since Aaron Brooks was its quarterback in 1997-98. After guiding the Cavaliers to a 14-point victory over Tech in 1997, Brooks engineered a stirring comeback in a 36-32 decision the next season. His 47-yard touchdown pass to Ahmad Hawkins with 2:01 left was the go-ahead score. He threw for 735 yards with seven touchdowns in two games against the Hokies.

Virginia's biggest villain: The Cavaliers might still be paying former Hokies coach Frank Beamer rent four years after his retirement because he certainly owned them. After going 1-5 against UVA in the first six meetings, Beamer's teams won 19 of the next 23, including the last 12 before his retirement. The Hokies scored 17 points in the fourth quarter to send Beamer out a winner in his final game against Virginia, 23-20 in Charlottesville on Nov. 28, 2015.

Story that best explains the rivalry: Hunter Carpenter enrolled at Virginia Tech in 1898 and played football under an alias because his father didn't approve of him playing. Carpenter despised the Cavaliers, especially after his Tech teams lost five straight games in the series by a combined score of 88-5. In 1904, Carpenter transferred to North Carolina to get another shot at UVA, but the Cavs beat the Tar Heels 12-11. The next year, Carpenter returned to Tech for an eighth season of college football. The Cavaliers made him sign an affidavit that he wasn't being paid to play in the game. The Hokies finally beat Virginia 11-0, but Carpenter wasn't around for the finish because he was ejected for throwing the ball at a Cavs player.

Hater's guide to watching this year: The Hokies have won an unprecedented 15 consecutive games in the series. The Cavaliers' last win was a 35-21 decision in 2003. Last season, in the 100th meeting in the series, the Hokies tied the score at 31 with 1:51 left and won 34-31 in OT. The winner of Friday's game claims a Coastal Division title, a spot in the ACC championship game and potentially an invitation to the Capital One Orange Bowl.

Apple Cup

Washington State at Washington
Friday, 4 p.m. ET, Fox

Year it began: 1900
Overall record: Washington leads 73-32-6
Past five years: Washington leads 5-0

Washington's biggest villain: Ryan Leaf said there was a joke on campus during his time at Wazzu: "What's the difference between God and Ryan Leaf? God doesn't think he's Ryan Leaf." The current ESPN analyst was brash and arrogant and he could back it up. And in 1997 in Seattle, Leaf threw for 358 yards and two touchdowns in a 41-35 victory over the favored Huskies and was carried off the Husky Stadium field as the Cougs celebrated their first Rose Bowl berth in 67 years.

Washington State's biggest villain: Hall of Fame coach Don James, the Dawgfather, led Washington from 1975 to 1992 and was 13-5 in the Apple Cup. He also didn't mind needling his rival. "I've always felt that being a Cougar prepares you well for life," James said. "You learn not to expect too much."

Story that best explains the rivalry: In 2002, Washington State was 9-1 overall, ranked No. 3 and could clinch a Rose Bowl berth and a shot at a BCS appearance with a home-field win over a 6-5 Washington team. Wazzu QB Jason Gesser, who shared Pac-10 Player of the Year honors with USC's Carson Palmer, went down with an injury in the fourth quarter and Washington rallied from a 20-10 deficit to tie the score and force overtime. In the third OT, Washington State backup Matt Kegel threw a short pass that was batted down by Washington's Kai Ellis, who fell on the ball. After an officials' huddle, they ruled it was a backward pass and a fumble, with a Washington recovery, and the game was over, just like that. A near-riot ensued as shocked fans pelted the field with bottles, souvenirs and anything that wasn't bolted down.

Hater's guide to watching this year: Huskies coach Chris Petersen is 5-0 against Mike Leach, outscoring him 189-69 in those games, an average outcome of 38-14. Last year, the Huskies won their second Pac-12 North Division title in three years with a 28-15 upset of the No. 7 Cougars in the snow, then defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake added a little fuel to the rivalry. "They do the same thing year in and year out," Lake said. "It makes it really easy to game plan. ... Hopefully [Leach] remains here a long time. That would be awesome." Leach didn't seem to be as familiar with the Huskies assistant, saying the defense was the same as it had been under longtime Petersen assistant Pete Kwiatkowski, who is still at UW as Lake's co-coordinator. "I don't really even know who [Lake] is," Leach later told Seattle radio station KJR. "I guess he's chirping so somebody will notice him or something. Maybe you know him, I don't know him."

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SATURDAY

The Game

Ohio State at Michigan
Saturday, noon ET, Fox

Year it began: 1897
Overall record: Michigan leads 58-50-6
Past five years: Ohio State leads 5-0

Michigan's biggest villain: The Wolverines loathed longtime Ohio State coach Woody Hayes, but Jim Tressel did far more damage against them. Tressel had a 9-1 record against Michigan during his tenure as coach from 2001 to 2010 (a 37-7 victory in 2010 was vacated because of NCAA violations), and his team's 42-39 win in 2006 secured the Buckeyes a spot in the BCS National Championship Game.

Ohio State's biggest villain: OSU fans will probably never forgive current ESPN analyst Desmond Howard for striking a Heisman pose in the end zone after a 93-yard punt return for a touchdown in the Wolverines' 31-3 rout in 1991. It was the longest punt return in Michigan history -- and the Buckeyes' worst loss to the Wolverines since 1946. Howard's teams went 3-0 against OSU from 1989 to '91.

Story that best explains the rivalry: The legend goes that Hayes refused to call Michigan by its name and referred to it as "that school [or state] up north." In fact, during a recruiting trip to Detroit in February 1972, Hayes refused to purchase gas in Michigan, instead choosing to return to Ohio on fumes. "We're not getting any gas in this [expletive] state," Hayes told an assistant. "The tax money we'd be paying them on the gas would be going to them, and I'm not supporting them in any way possible."

Hater's guide to watching this year: The Buckeyes won the Big Ten East and clinched a spot in the conference title game, but the Wolverines can still try to damage their CFP hopes. After some early struggles on offense, Michigan has won seven of its past eight games. Jim Harbaugh is the first Michigan coach to start 0-4 against the Buckeyes. The Wolverines allowed 38 points in the second half of a 62-39 loss last year. OSU has won seven straight and 14 of the past 15 games (including the vacated 2010 win) in the series.

Palmetto Bowl

Clemson at South Carolina
Saturday, noon ET, ESPN/ESPN App

Year it began: 1896
Overall record: Clemson leads 70-42-4
Past five years: Clemson leads 5-0

South Carolina's biggest villain: Clemson freshman quarterback Deshaun Watson guided the Tigers to a 35-17 victory in 2014, throwing for two touchdowns and running for two more -- while playing with a torn ACL in his left knee. The loss snapped USC's five-game winning streak, and Watson went 3-0 in the series before turning pro.

Clemson's biggest villain: In 1992, USC freshman quarterback Steve Taneyhill, with his long mullet hanging out of his helmet, hit fake home runs after big plays and then autographed the Tiger paw at midfield at Death Valley following the Gamecocks' 24-13 victory. Two years later, he returned to Clemson and directed a 33-7 rout, which secured a winning season and bowl appearance.

Story that best explains the rivalry: The teams traded blows for nearly 10 minutes in the fourth quarter of Clemson's 33-7 victory at Death Valley in 2004. No one was hurt before law enforcement and coaches broke up the ugly melee. Administrators at both schools self-imposed bowl bans as a result of the fight. It was Lou Holtz's final game as USC's coach.

Hater's guide to watching this year: The Gamecocks haven't put up much resistance in the last three meetings, with Clemson winning each by 21 points or more. The Gamecocks are headed to their second losing season in four years. Adding salt to their wounds, the Gamecocks are convinced that Clemson's coaching staff turned them in for violations that led to USC being placed on probation last month. The Tigers can win their 27th consecutive game and remain among the CFP favorites.

Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate

Georgia at Georgia Tech
Saturday, noon ET, ABC/ESPN App

Year it began: 1893
Overall record: Georgia leads 67-41-5
Past five years: Georgia leads 3-2

Georgia Tech's biggest villain: Former Bulldogs coach Mark Richt probably deserves a statue somewhere near Georgia Tech's Bobby Dodd Stadium. Richt's teams went 13-2 against the Yellow Jackets and never lost in Atlanta. Richt's last game as UGA's coach was a 13-7 victory at Tech on Nov. 28, 2015; he was fired the next day.

Georgia's biggest villain: A seven-man SEC officiating crew was suspended two days after they blew a call near the end of Georgia Tech's 51-48 overtime victory in 1999. With the score tied at 48 with 15 seconds left in regulation, the officials ruled that Georgia's Jasper Sanks fumbled at the 1-yard line. TV replays showed the ball popped out after Sanks hit the ground, but it was before the era of instant replay. Tech kicked a field goal in overtime -- after an attempt was blocked on third down -- to win the game.

Story that best explains the rivalry: Georgia and Georgia Tech were charter members of the SEC, but the Yellow Jackets left the league in 1964 because of coach Bobby Dodd's concerns about scholarship limits and player mistreatment. Tech tried to re-enter the league in 1975 with Bear Bryant's help, but the Bulldogs led the charge to block membership.

Hater's guide to watching this year: Just like last year, the Bulldogs might be two victories from reaching the CFP if they defeat Georgia Tech and then LSU in the SEC championship game on Dec. 7. The Yellow Jackets have limped to a 3-8 record in coach Geoff Collins' first season. Georgia has won 15 of the previous 18 games in the series.

Governor's Cup

Louisville at Kentucky
Saturday, noon ET, SEC Network/ESPN App

Year it began: 1912
Overall record: Kentucky leads 16-15
Past five years: Louisville leads 3-2

Kentucky's biggest villain: Former Louisville coach Bobby Petrino loved beating the Wildcats more than anyone else. His teams went 4-0 during his first tenure from 2003 to '06 and then 3-1 after he returned in 2014. During his first game against Kentucky as Louisville's coach in 2003, the Cardinals scored their final touchdown with 13 seconds left in a 40-24 rout.

Louisville's biggest villain: Record-setting UK quarterback Tim Couch threw for 398 yards with four touchdowns in a 38-24 victory over the Cardinals in 1997, and then had 498 yards with seven touchdowns in a 68-34 win in the first game at Papa John's Stadium the next year. The pass-happy Wildcats piled up 801 yards in the second one.

Story that best explains the rivalry: UK fans have long professed their superiority over the Cardinals in the Commonwealth. The Wildcats won the first six games by a combined score of 210-0 from 1912 to 1924 -- and then the rivalry wasn't played again for 70 years. The Cardinals had to wait until a 13-10 victory in 1995 to claim their first win in the intrastate series.

Hater's guide to watching this year: The Cardinals have been better than advertised in Scott Satterfield's first season and have already won seven games. Kentucky has been dogged by injuries but can also get to seven wins with a second straight decision over the Cardinals.

Iron Bowl

Alabama at Auburn
Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS

Year it began: 1893
Overall record: Alabama leads 46-36-1
Past five years: Alabama leads 4-1

Auburn's biggest villain: With 57 seconds left in the 1985 Iron Bowl, Alabama trailed 23-22 and was backed up at its 12-yard line. But Tide quarterback Mike Shula connected on three passes and threw a key block on a reverse to move to Auburn's 35-yard line. With the Iron Bowl hanging in the balance, Alabama's Van Tiffin made a dramatic 52-yard field goal as time expired for a 25-23 win.

Alabama's biggest villain: Quarterback Cam Newton played with the Tigers for only one season, and many Alabama fans will go to their graves swearing he shouldn't have been eligible for that long. Newton's father was accused of shopping his son out of junior college, and Auburn declared Newton ineligible for a few hours. Of course, he was reinstated in time to lead Auburn from a 24-point deficit in a 28-27 victory over the Tide in the 2010 Iron Bowl, which became known as the "Camback."

Story that best explains the rivalry: Following Auburn's 2010 national championship, Alabama fan Harvey Updyke poisoned the iconic trees at Toomer's Corner, where Tigers fans traditionally gather to celebrate victories. Updyke later pleaded guilty to criminal damage of an agricultural facility and was sentenced to six months in jail and five years of supervised probation. "I just have too much Bama in me," Updyke said.

Hater's guide to watching this year: The Crimson Tide lost to LSU 46-41 on Nov. 9, which cost them an SEC West title and potentially a spot in the CFP. Then the Tide lost star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who suffered a dislocated hip in a 38-7 win at Mississippi State two weeks ago. The Tigers are 8-3 after losing to three teams currently in the top 10 of the CFP rankings, and coach Gus Malzahn could really use a victory over Alabama. Since playing for a BCS national title in 2013, the Tigers are only 4-14 against their three biggest rivals -- Alabama, Georgia and LSU.

Paul Bunyan's Axe

Wisconsin at Minnesota
Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN App

Year it began: 1890
Overall record: Tied 60-60-8
Past five years: Wisconsin leads 4-1

Wisconsin's biggest villain: Until last year, the Badgers hadn't lost to the Gophers in 15 years. In 2003, Minnesota, with tailbacks Marion Barber III and Laurence Maroney, took a 24-6 lead in the second quarter. But then Wisconsin tied the score at 34 with 7:15 to play. Minnesota got the ball back last and drove down the field for a potential winning field goal. Rhys Lloyd's 35-yard attempt was true, and he sprinted toward Wisconsin's sideline for Paul Bunyan's Axe before the ball even went through the uprights in a 37-34 win.

Minnesota's biggest villain: Former Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema's teams went 7-0 against the Gophers from 2006 to 2012. In the 2010 game, with the Badgers up 41-16 with 6:39 left, Bielema had his team go for two after a touchdown. Bielema said that's what his card told him to do, but then-Gophers coach Tim Brewster thought he was trying to run up the score. The coaches had a heated exchange at midfield afterward. "He'll have to live with it because it was wrong," Brewster said.

Story that best explains the rivalry: The longest rivalry in college football has been a one-sided affair recently, with the Badgers winning 21 of 24 meetings since 1995. Before one of the meetings, Bielema had two strength coaches dress like Minnesota players and steal Paul Bunyan's Axe during a Wisconsin practice. "Everybody is looking around like, 'What the hell just happened?'" Bielema said at the time. "They had never seen the trophy lost before, most of them. I wanted them to feel what that was going to be like."

Hater's guide to watching this year: The winner of Saturday's game in Minneapolis wins the Big Ten West, clinches a spot in the Big Ten championship game and still has an opportunity to go to the Rose Bowl Game Presented by Northwestern Mutual. The Badgers are still licking their wounds from last season's ugly 37-15 loss at home last season.

Civil War

Oregon State at Oregon
Saturday, 4 p.m. ET, PAC-12 Network

Year it began: 1894
Overall record: Oregon leads 65-47-10
Past five years: Oregon leads 4-1

Oregon's biggest villain: In 2000, No. 5 Oregon and No. 8 Oregon State met for the first time in the rivalry's history when they were both ranked in the top 10, with a Pac-10 title and Rose Bowl berth on the line. Oregon's BCS dreams came to a halt, however, when backup safety Jake Cookus (now an Oregon State assistant coach) intercepted Ducks quarterback Joey Harrington three times as the Beavers won 23-13.

Oregon State's biggest villain: Rich Brooks played defensive back at Oregon State, then was an assistant coach for the Beavers during three different stints between 1963 and 1973. Hired as Oregon's coach in 1977, he went 14-3-1 against the Beavers.

Story that best explains the rivalry: In 1957, after Oregon State students stole a giant O off a hillside on the Oregon campus, four Oregon athletes "kidnapped" the Oregon State homecoming court. Posing as photographers from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, they convinced the homecoming queen and two members of her court to accompany them for a photo shoot. Instead, they took the women to one of their parents' house for lunch and alerted newspapers and radio stations. The athletes agreed to have state police meet them at the Corvallis city limits, where the students were returned after 12 hours. In 1960, the Beavers' homecoming queen was again held, with Oregon fans delivering a ransom note to the Oregon State student body president demanding he ride a scooter across Oregon's campus "begging" for her release. She was released a half-hour later.

Hater's guide to watching this year: With their first win at Autzen Stadium since a 38-31 decision in two overtimes in 2007, the Beavers can get to 6-6 and become bowl eligible. The Beavers have made steady progress under coach Jonathan Smith, who was a walk-on at OSU and became a four-year starter at quarterback from 1998 to 2001, going 2-2 against the Ducks, including that huge win in 2000. The Ducks were knocked out of the CFP race by their stunning loss at Arizona State last week.

No name yet (but it needs one*)

Texas A&M at LSU
Saturday, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN App

Year it began: 1899
Overall record: LSU leads 33-21-3
Past five years: LSU leads 4-1

* Bonus name/trophy suggestion: "There's so much petroleum, right? On both ends," former LSU coach Les Miles said in 2014. "Maybe some kind of big petroleum something."

Texas A&M's biggest villain: Harvey Williams, a USA Today All-American running back recruit from Hempstead, Texas, was a lock to sign with the Aggies in 1986. But he told Sports Illustrated that while he was walking down the hallway to announce his intentions, he became so irritated by a group of students singing the Aggie War Hymn that he changed his mind and instead decided to sign with LSU. He went 3-0 against A&M, was the Tigers' leading rusher in two of the wins and was a first-round pick in the 1991 NFL draft.

LSU's biggest villain: Aggies coach R.C. Slocum was born in Louisiana and went to college there at McNeese State. LSU had a 17-3-1 record against the Aggies between 1945 to 1973, then was 3-0 after the series resumed in 1986. But when Slocum became the Aggies' coach in 1989, he went 7-1 against LSU before the Tigers canceled the series, opting out of the final two games of the contract.

Story that best explains the rivalry: Following last season's 74-72 7-overtime classic won by the Aggies, a fracas broke out on the field when Cole Fisher, the nephew of Aggies coach Jimbo Fisher, shoved LSU assistant Steve Kragthorpe, who has Parkinson's disease and a pacemaker. LSU safety John Battle was seen on video punching the younger Fisher, who was also trading blows with LSU director of player development Kevin Faulk. "It was a mess that shouldn't have happened," LSU coach Ed Orgeron said.

Hater's guide to watching this year: Due to geographic proximity, shared recruiting turf, and a long history before ever sharing a conference, this has become the best annual rivalry created by realignment. But last year turned up the heat. "It's gonna be on," LSU's Ed Orgeron said this week. "I'll never forget that game last year. We're gonna be ready." At stake for the Tigers? A chance to head to the SEC title game with a 12-0 record and College Football Playoff aspirations. The Aggies, who have already lost to Clemson and Alabama, are the first team in the history of the AP poll to play the No. 1 team in the country three times in the same season, and can play spoiler and prove they can be an SEC West contender next season.

Sunshine Showdown

Florida State at Florida
Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network/ESPN App

Year it began: 1958
Overall record: Florida leads 35-26-2
Past five years: Florida State leads 4-1

Florida's biggest villain: Florida State was 2-16-1 all time against Florida when Bobby Bowden was hired. He turned around the Seminoles' fortunes and produced some of their greatest teams, going 17-18-1 against seven different Gators coaches.

Florida State's biggest villain: Undoubtedly it's Steve Spurrier, who loved talkin' about the Noles. After an unregistered agent was busted buying more than $6,000 worth of shoes for players, Spurrier issued his legendary statement: "You know what FSU stands for, don't you? Free Shoes University."

Story that best explains the rivalry: In 1996, No. 2 Florida State beat No. 1 Florida 24-21 in Tallahassee as the Noles sacked Gators quarterback Danny Wuerffel six times, hit him behind the line 21 times, and were called for two roughing the passer penalties. After Florida beat Alabama for the SEC title, the teams were matched again in the Sugar Bowl, and Spurrier continued to say the Seminoles were dirty for their shots on Wuerffel. "I've never seen Steve get this personal," Bowden said. "I like him, dadgummit, and I like his family." This time, Wuerffel threw for 306 yards and three TDs and No. 3 Florida blew out No. 1 FSU 52-20 to win the Gators' first national title.

Hater's guide to watching this year: The Gators ended a five-game losing streak to FSU with a 41-14 rout last season, which ended the Seminoles' NCAA-record 36-year bowl streak. The Gators are 9-2, with their only losses coming against LSU and Georgia, and are in prime position for a New Year's Six bowl game. The Seminoles are 6-5 but have played better under interim coach Odell Haggins, who might be auditioning for the head-coaching job.

Bedlam Series

Oklahoma at Oklahoma State
Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, Fox

Year it began: 1904
Overall record: Oklahoma leads 88-18-7
Past five years: Oklahoma leads 4-1

Oklahoma's biggest villain: In 2001, Oklahoma was 10-1 and ranked No. 3 in the BCS standings entering Bedlam. OSU was 3-7, 1-6 in the Big 12. But OSU coach Les Miles was able to rally his team, and Rashaun Woods leaped over future Thorpe Award winner Derrick Strait for the winning touchdown in the corner of the end zone with 1:36 left in a 16-13 upset. The next season, Woods caught 12 passes for 226 yards with three scores in a 38-28 upset of the Sooners.

Oklahoma State's biggest villain: Barry Switzer's teams went 15-1 against the Pokes, with the only loss being a 31-24 setback in 1976. In 1983 and '84, OU handed OSU two of its most heartbreaking defeats in the series. In 1983, OSU blew a 20-3 lead in the fourth quarter, with the Sooners recovering an onside kick (when Switzer really wanted to kick it deep), which led to Tim Lashar's 46-yard field goal in a 21-20 win. The next season, both teams were ranked in the top three of the polls and the winner was headed to the Orange Bowl and a potential national championship. The Cowboys led 14-7 early in the third quarter, but OU's Spencer Tillman scored twice in a 24-14 win.

Story that best explains the rivalry: Entering the 1992 game in Stillwater, the Sooners hadn't lost to the Cowboys since 1976. OSU, a two-touchdown underdog, kicked a 26-yard field goal with 1:19 left for a 15-12 lead. But OU's Scott Blanton kicked a tying field goal on the final play and the game ended in a 15-15 tie. "After the game, I didn't really know how to feel," said Oklahoma State receiver Rafael Denson. "It felt like we were playing for nothing."

Hater's guide to watching this year: The Sooners are still in contention to reach the CFP, but probably need help to get one of the four spots. They can still win their fifth Big 12 championship. The Pokes have dropped four straight in the series, including a thrilling 48-47 loss last season. OU stopped a two-point conversion pass after OSU's Taylor Cornelius threw a 24-yard touchdown to Tylan Wallace with 1:03 left.

Territorial Cup

Arizona State at Arizona
Saturday, 10 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN App

Year it began: 1899
Overall record: Arizona leads 49-42-1
Past five years: Arizona State leads 3-2

Arizona State's biggest villain: In 1986, the Sun Devils went 10-1-1, beat Michigan in the Rose Bowl and finished No. 4 in the AP poll. But that one loss came to Arizona, and it was sealed late in the third quarter when Chuck Cecil intercepted a pass in the end zone and returned it 100 yards to give Arizona a 31-10 lead in what became a 34-17 win.

Arizona's biggest villain: Sun Devils linebacker Vontaze Burfict, naturally. He had 16 personal fouls in his last 26 college games, and he once took a swing at an Arizona player during a 2009 scuffle. Three of his seven tackles in the Sun Devils' 30-29 Territorial Cup win in 2010 came with the game on the line in overtime.

Story that best explains the rivalry: The NCAA certified the Territorial Cup as the oldest rivalry trophy in college football. A photo exists of it in 1899 in Tempe, but the Cup was not seen again until 1983, when it was found in a Tempe church basement and returned to ASU. It wasn't awarded to Arizona until 2001 when the teams decided to let the winner display it each year, and a replica was made for on-field celebrations.

Hater's guide to watching this year: Kind of like last season, there is nothing but pride on the line. The Sun Devils are 6-5 and bowl eligible after upsetting Oregon 31-28 last week, which ended a four-game losing streak. The Wildcats have dropped six straight games under Kevin Sumlin and they can only hope to win a state championship.

There's no way -- just no way -- Clemson loses to rival South Carolina on Saturday, right?

Ask Georgia how improbable that is.

Georgia lost at home to South Carolina on Oct. 12 -- a good time for a bad loss if there actually is one. Stumbling during the final week of the regular season? It's like throwing away a winning lottery ticket -- you can't get it back.

All it takes is one upset to change the College Football Playoff picture, which means there's still time for hated rivals from coast to coast to play the role of spoiler -- or for contenders to make a statement that they're worthy of a top-four finish.

"I feel like rest of the country is always kind of sleeping on us," Utah safety Julian Blackmon told ESPN's Adam Rittenberg. "They're like, 'They're playing in the Pac-12. They're not that [good].' But I feel like if they came out to the field, it'd be a whole different situation."

Utah -- and the Pac-12 -- still have a shot, in spite of Oregon's loss. The problem for Utah is Alabama. And Georgia. And Oklahoma. And Minnesota.

Which Week 14 games matter the most? Here's a ranking that breaks it down, starting with the most impactful game:

1. Alabama at Auburn

Why it tops the list: Because if Alabama is in, that means another Power 5 conference champion is out, and this game is Alabama's final shot at impressing the committee. It's also the first time the committee will evaluate quarterback Mac Jones against a ranked opponent.

If Alabama wins: The Crimson Tide have to hope the selection committee deems them "unequivocally" one of the four best teams in the country AND that LSU beats Georgia in the SEC championship game to open the fourth spot. The Tide will need to win a clean, convincing game, limiting turnovers and penalties in order to prove they're a semifinalist without injured starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. If there is any doubt, and the committee thinks Alabama is "comparable" to the other contenders, the group is then required to use the tiebreakers listed in the protocol. Those include conference championships, head-to-head competition, strength of schedule and any common opponents. The eye test on Saturday is important, because it would be Alabama's only victory against a CFP top-25 team this season, and Auburn would likely drop several spots after suffering its fourth loss.

If Auburn wins: The Tide would fall out of the playoff conversation with a second loss and no conference title.

FPI says: Alabama has a 65.7% chance to win.

Allstate Playoff Predictor says: With a win, Alabama's chances of making the playoff would increase to 71%, but with a loss they drop to 2.1%.

2. Wisconsin at Minnesota

Why it's No. 2: Because it will determine whom Ohio State will face in the Big Ten championship, and an upset would create an extremely difficult and possibly controversial decision for the committee.

If Wisconsin wins: The Badgers will clinch the West and get their second shot at Ohio State in the Big Ten title game, a chance to avenge their 38-7 regular-season loss to the Buckeyes on Oct. 26. If Wisconsin won the Big Ten, would the committee take a two-loss conference champion that lost at unranked Illinois in what was one of the biggest upsets of the season? (Oregon would like a word.) Or would it take Ohio State instead, an extremely difficult decision to explain on the heels of the conference championship but also justifiable in that they would have split and Wisconsin had the Illinois loss? It's a headache for the committee, and also an example of why Ohio State couldn't afford to lose to Michigan.

If Minnesota wins: The Golden Gophers will face Ohio State in the Big Ten title game, and the conference keeps its chances of having two teams finish in the top four. If Minnesota wins the Big Ten title, it would have one of the most impressive résumés in the country, with victories against Penn State, Wisconsin and Ohio State. As long as Ohio State doesn't lose to Michigan on Saturday, the committee could still consider both Minnesota and Ohio State.

FPI says: Minnesota has a 39.2% chance to beat Wisconsin.

Allstate Playoff Predictor says: If Minnesota wins Saturday, its chances of reaching the playoff are 3.9%.

3. Ohio State at Michigan

Why it's No. 3: See No. 2.

If Ohio State wins: The Buckeyes will finish the regular season undefeated and have margin for error heading into the Big Ten title game. Regardless of who wins the West -- Wisconsin or Minnesota -- Ohio State would still be able to make a case for a top-four finish if it suffers a close loss in the championship game.

If Michigan wins: Ohio State can certainly still finish in the top four -- as long as it's the Big Ten champ.

FPI says: Ohio State has a 73.9% chance to win in Ann Arbor.

Allstate Playoff Predictor says: If Ohio State beats Michigan, it will have a 98.4% chance to finish in the top four, the best in the country. If the Buckeyes lose, that will drop to 83.6%.

4. Texas A&M at LSU

Why it's No. 4: Because LSU has home-field advantage against an unranked team, whereas Ohio State has to go on the road against a ranked opponent.

If Texas A&M wins: It's a similar situation to Ohio State in that LSU can afford to lose and finish in the top four, but now the pressure would be on to beat Georgia and win the SEC.

If LSU wins: The Tigers should hold on to that No. 2 spot, unless Ohio State loses to Michigan.

FPI says: LSU has an 83.5% chance to beat the Aggies.

Allstate Playoff Predictor says: With the win, LSU has a 91.4% chance to make the playoff. With a loss, that drops to 61%.

5. Colorado at Utah

Why it's No. 5: Because it can eliminate the entire Pac-12 from the playoff, but it's still unlikely Colorado wins.

If Colorado wins: Four-loss USC will win the Pac-12 South, meaning the league is guaranteed a champion with multiple losses and will be out of the playoff.

If Utah wins: The Utes will clinch the South Division, earning a spot in the conference title game against two-loss Oregon. Utah will then need a convincing victory against the Ducks AND it will need LSU to beat Georgia in the SEC title game and knock the Dawgs out of the fourth spot. Then Utah has to hope it wins a debate against Alabama, the Big 12 champ and any other one-loss contenders aiming for the fourth spot.

FPI says: Utah has a 95.1% chance to win.

Allstate Playoff Predictor says: Utah's chances of reaching the playoff would increase to 10% with a win Saturday.

6. Oklahoma at Oklahoma State

Why it's No. 6: Because the Big 12 is already in the worst playoff shape of the Power 5 conferences, but an upset in Stillwater is far more likely than what Clemson and Georgia are facing.

If Oklahoma wins: The one-loss Sooners would add a third victory against a ranked CFP opponent to their résumé and head into the Big 12 championship game against No. 9 Baylor clinging to playoff hopes. OU was helped significantly Tuesday night when Baylor moved into the top 10 for the first time this season. To further boost its case, though, Oklahoma needs to play a complete game -- something it has struggled to do over the past few weeks, winning the past three games by a combined eight points. The defense has allowed an average of 36 points over the past four games.

If Oklahoma State wins: The Big 12 is likely eliminated from the playoff because it would have either a two-loss champion in OU or a one-loss champion that has trailed the other contenders by a significant margin all season.

FPI says: OU has a 74.4% chance to win in Stillwater.

Allstate Playoff Predictor says: With a victory, OU will have a 16% chance to reach the playoff, but with a loss, that drops to less than 1%.

7. Clemson at South Carolina

Why it's No. 7: Because there's no good reason Clemson should lose to a 4-7 team other than it's on the road against an in-state rival.

If Clemson wins: The undefeated Tigers should be comfortable in the No. 3 spot, with the potential to move up in the event of upsets in the SEC or Big Ten conference title games.

If South Carolina wins: Clemson would have one top-25 win (against No. 24 Virginia Tech in the ACC championship) and one awful loss, likely eliminating the defending national champs from the top four and opening the door for everyone else. Yes, the committee would consider a one-loss ACC champion, but Clemson would still have arguably the worst résumé of the Power 5 champs. Tigers fans would be quick to remind everyone Georgia lost to South Carolina too, but ... Georgia also has three ranked wins, against Notre Dame, Florida and Auburn.

FPI says: Clemson has a 92.4% chance to win at South Carolina.

Allstate Playoff Predictor says: With a victory, Clemson has a 92.8% chance to make the playoff, but with a loss, it drops to 16.3%.

8. Georgia at Georgia Tech

Why it's No. 8: Because the 3-8 Yellow Jackets are even worse than South Carolina, and there's no excuse for Georgia to lose this game if it's even close to being a top-four team.

If Georgia wins: The Bulldogs should stay at the No. 4 spot, with a chance to knock off LSU in the SEC title game.

If Georgia Tech wins: All hell will break loose in Athens.

FPI says: Georgia has a 97.9% chance to win.

Allstate Playoff Predictor says: With a win, Georgia has a 50.7% chance to make the playoff. With a loss, that drops to 19.9%.

9. Cincinnati at Memphis

Why it's last on the list: Because it doesn't affect the playoff, but it will help determine the race for a New Year's Six bowl bid ... and it should be a terrific game.

The scenario: Memphis clinches the American Athletic Conference West with a victory Friday OR a loss by Navy on Saturday at Houston. Navy can also win the division with a win AND a Memphis loss.

FPI says: Memphis has an 80% chance to win the division.

MILWAUKEE -- After a Wednesday morning shootaround with the Atlanta Hawks, Jabari Parker took some time to soak in the atmosphere of the newly constructed Fiserv Forum before sharing his honest thoughts.

After spending his first four seasons in the league with the Milwaukee Bucks, the former No. 2 overall pick now returns as Atlanta's third leading scorer with 16.9 points per game -- his most since 2016-17.

"It's real special, man, how they were able to build this building," Parker told ESPN. "I haven't played here but just seeing like the growth of the city, I really like the way that it's developing.

"It's just so sad that I'm not able to share it with them and that they moved on, but that's fine, that's business, but I do have like a little homesickness from being here. I just miss being here."

Parker faces a player option for 2020-21 with the Hawks after signing a two-year, $13 million contract on July 11. He wouldn't rule out a future return to the first NBA organization that he called home, either. That's only if the opportunity presented itself.

"Never. I would never rule out a possible return here," Parker told ESPN. "I would never do that. It's just so sad how it ended and I wish I could've stayed."

While he says he's happy in Atlanta, Parker feels his joy for the game is "almost there," again.

"It's growing continually but in order to get that 100 percent joy and passion it comes with winning," Parker said. "I just want to be a winner."

During the 2018-19 season, he initially signed as a free agent with his hometown Chicago Bulls before an abrupt end, stemming from a fallout with head coach Jim Boylen. On Feb. 6, he was traded to Washington before ultimately inking his current deal in Atlanta. After some heavy soul searching, Parker returned to Chicago all summer to work out solely at DePaul University while waiting for the call where he "gained a sense of self."

Offense has never been an issue for the 15.2-point career scorer. However, his defense has raised some concerns. He ranks 242nd out of 256 forwards with a defensive efficiency of 116.2, according to NBA Advanced Stats.

"He's been a great scoring punch for us offensively which is who he is and what he does," Hawks coach Lloyd Pierce said. "Defensively, he uses his voice. The biggest challenge for him is the level of engagement that he can offer, being able to do that consistent and often but he knows that. "He's still a young guy in terms of age."

BOSTON -- As Boston Celtics star Kemba Walker lay on the ground Friday night in Denver, he felt the same emotion his teammates and everyone else watching did: fear.

"It was a scary moment for myself," Walker said after Boston's shootaround Wednesday morning, before the Celtics faced the Brooklyn Nets at TD Garden. "When I was in the moment, it was pretty tough to be in, obviously. I know it was scary for everybody.

"It was tough, but thank God I'm OK."

Walker will return to the court against the Nets on Wednesday night -- barring a setback between shootaround and the game -- for the first time since he ran headfirst into teammate Semi Ojeleye's midsection in the second quarter of Friday's loss in Denver. Walker remained on the ground for several minutes before eventually being taken off on a stretcher and transported to a local hospital for evaluation.

Walker has since cleared every test without issue, and every scan on his head, neck and back has come back clean. While everything turned out to be fine, he said the initial numbness he felt in his hands is what scared him the most.

"It went away pretty fast," he said. "I think that's what got me the most nervous when I was on the ground. But, yeah, it went away. They just wanted to make sure I was good, I was safe. So they kept me from moving and put me on a stretcher, obviously.

"But yeah, like I said, thank God I'm OK and it wasn't as bad as it looked."

It was bad enough, though, that Walker wound up sitting out Monday's game against the Sacramento Kings, snapping his personal consecutive-games-played streak at 158.

"I'm not gonna lie, I was really pissed about that," Walker said. "I wanted to play. I wanted to keep the streak alive. I can't lie, I was pissed. But I guess it was gonna happen at some point."

Walker admitted that it made sense for him to take the extra couple of days to make sure he was all right before returning to the lineup.

He also said the Celtics gave him the choice as to whether he should play against the Kings.

"They left it up to me," Walker said. "They left it up to me. I knew they wanted me to sit out a little bit, so I just said I was gonna sit out."

The Celtics are also expected to get center Daniel Theis back on the court Wednesday after he missed the game against the Kings with an illness.

One player who won't be returning to the court Wednesday night is Kyrie Irving. The former Celtics star was ruled out from playing on Brooklyn's entire three-game road trip, against the Knicks and both of his former teams, the Cavaliers and Celtics.

Whenever Irving does make his return to Boston, he will be met with an ugly reception. But Celtics coach Brad Stevens said he holds no ill will toward Irving after the two years they spent working together before the point guard left as a free agent.

"I don't really think about it," Stevens said of the potential reception Irving will receive. "We've talked about it a lot. I've said it before, I enjoyed Kyrie. Kyrie had a great two years from a playing standpoint here. And since June I've really tried to focus on this year's team after I studied last year's team. I really haven't thought about it.

"He's a great player. We've talked many times about [how] last year's team didn't achieve what we wanted to. There were a lot of factors in that. But the factor that doesn't get mentioned is how good the competition was. The East was way better last year [than the year before], and we weren't as good as we wanted to be. So it doesn't take away from what he did here those two years. I wish him the best, I wish him good health, but I haven't thought twice about tonight, or being more meaningful, or reactions, or any of that stuff."