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Good morning and happy Friday! As we head into one of the biggest sports weekends of the year, Carter Byrne brings you the morning edition. The 2026 Winter Olympics kick off today, Super Bowl 60 is just days away, and we’re seeing the immediate fallout from the NBA trade deadline alongside marquee college basketball matchups. But first: NFL Honors. Last night the league revealed its MVP and announced five future Hall of Famers.
Also: watch for our Super Bowl special edition newsletter hitting inboxes Sunday morning with everything you need to know about the big game.
5 things to know today
1) Matthew Stafford is the 2025 NFL MVP. The Rams quarterback, who was a front-runner most of the season, took home the award in what many saw as a two-person race against Patriots rookie Drake Maye. The league also revealed the other NFL Honors winners: Jackson Smith-Njiba claimed Offensive Player of the Year; Myles Garrett was named Defensive Player of the Year (along with Tetairoa McMillan and Carson Schwesinger listed among defensive honorees); Mike Vrabel won Coach of the Year; Christian McCaffrey earned Player of the Year; and Joe Thuney was recognized as Protector of the Year.
2) Five to be enshrined in Canton this summer. After a week of debate about the final ballot, the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2026 class is set: Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, Roger Craig, Adam Vinatieri and Luke Cookley will be inducted.
3) The NBA trade deadline closed with Giannis Antetokounmpo still a Buck. The biggest name on many trade boards stayed in Milwaukee when the deadline passed. While he’ll finish the 2026 season with the Bucks, talks about his long-term future will likely resurface this summer when extension discussions become possible.
4) Tariq Skubal wins a landmark arbitration case. The two-time Cy Young winner prevailed in arbitration and is reportedly set to earn $32 million next season instead of the $19 million the Tigers had offered. That figure would be the highest salary awarded during the arbitration era, and the $13 million gap between player and team proposals is reportedly the largest ever in arbitration history.
5) Nick Emanwori says he’s “okay” for the Super Bowl. The Seahawks appear to have dodged a significant injury setback. Emanwori — the rookie safety who was limited in practice after a lower-ankle sprain — said he’s fine and Seattle’s medical staff plans to get him on the field. Coach Mike McDonald said he “fully expects” the first-year defender to play.
Don’t miss: NBA trade-deadline winners and losers
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With a flurry of moves, the Clippers came out feeling like winners after the trade deadline, according to James Herbert. They flipped veteran pieces and added several role players while also clearing salary to retool their roster. Herbert called the front office’s approach a full reset focused on the future and praised two of their deadline deals as among the best made.
The Clippers weren’t the only winners. The Pacers boosted their frontcourt by adding Ivica Zubac, and other teams made meaningful upgrades. Sam Quinn’s take on the deadline movers and shakers lists the winners as the Clippers, Pacers, Celtics and Timberwolves, while the Wizards, Kings and Heat landed on the losing side.
The 2026 Winter Olympics begin today
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After a four-year wait, the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Games officially get under way as delegations gather at Milan’s San Siro Olympic Stadium for the opening ceremony. The festivities — including the torch lighting, national parades and an artistic program featuring performers like Mariah Carey, Laura Pausini and Andrea Bocelli — kick off today. (Here’s where to watch the ceremony.)
Some competitions already started: Team USA’s mixed doubles curling squad is in round-robin play, and the U.S. women’s hockey team opened the prelims with a 5-1 win over the Czech Republic.
Stay with us through the Games and bookmark our medals page for live results and updates. Below are some last-minute Olympics stories and other headlines to catch you up.
The best (and not the best) of the rest
– UCLA guard Amari Bailey, who played in 10 NBA games, has asked the NCAA to reinstate a year of college eligibility.
– Emmitt Smith says the Browns should name Shedua Sanders their starting quarterback — like, immediately.
– SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey filed an affidavit urging a judge to uphold NCAA rules in the Charles of Bedia eligibility case.
– Several NBA players could be headed for buyouts as teams sort rosters post-deadline.
– The Rams and 49ers are set to play in Australia next season, and the Cowboys will help launch the NFL’s debut in Rio de Janeiro.
– Team USA’s roster for the World Baseball Classic is finalized.
– Court documents suggest Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase appeared in 48 games — far more than initially reported — in an effort to benefit bettors.
– The Big 12 launched an investigation into “inappropriate chants” during Oklahoma’s upset of No. 16 BYU.
– Infielder Isaiah Kiner-Falefa reportedly agreed to a one-year, $6 million deal with the Red Sox; outfielder Miguel Andújar reportedly signed for one year, $4 million.
– Chris Gotterup leads the WM Phoenix Open by two after a first-round 62; Scotty Scheffler posted his first over-par round (+2) in eight months.
– New projections show the Big East possibly sending just three teams to the NCAA Tournament.
– A former teammate of Tom Brady criticized his “bullish” neutrality regarding the Super Bowl.
– Joe Flacco hopes the NFL will make rule changes to reduce defenders’ burdens by tightening passer protection penalties.
– Houston coach Kelvin Sampson called his Cougars “poor” and lamented the program’s NIL spending shortfall.
– The top five in this week’s Women’s College Basketball Power Rankings held steady, but nearly every other team shifted.
– Cristiano Ronaldo says he feels “betrayed” by his move to the Saudi Pro League and has threatened to leave the country.
– Ilia Topuria teased a return to the UFC after taking time off for personal reasons.
– Miami tops early 2026 ACC college football power rankings.
– The SEC generated a record $1.03 billion in revenue last year and paid out $72.4 million per school.
– Mac Jones says he’s “absolutely motivated” to land his next opportunity in 2026 amid industry buzz.
– The LA Bowl will not return for the 2026 college football bowl season after five years.
– Shakur Stevenson slammed the WBC, calling them “fraudsters” after being stripped of his lightweight title.
– Trinity Rodman’s re-signing with Washington Spirit headlines major NWSL offseason moves.
TV highlights this weekend
Friday
– Figure skating team event — Rhythm dance: 3:55 a.m. on USA Network
– Mixed doubles curling: USA vs. Canada: 4:05 a.m. on Peacock
– Figure skating team — Women’s short program: 7:35 a.m. on USA Network
– Mixed doubles curling: USA vs. Czech Republic: 8:35 a.m. on Peacock
– 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony: 2 p.m. on NBC
– Leeds United vs. Nottingham Forest: 3 p.m. on USA Network
– WM Phoenix Open — Second round: from 3:30 p.m. on Golf Channel
– Loyola Chicago at Davidson (MBB): 6 p.m. on CBS Sports Network
– Knicks at Pistons: 7:30 p.m. on Prime Video
– No. 3 Yukon at No. 22 St. John’s (M): 8 p.m. on Fox
– Clippers at Kings: 10 p.m. on Prime Video
Saturday
– Tottenham vs. Manchester United: 7:30 a.m. on USA Network
– Mixed doubles curling: USA vs. Great Britain: 8:35 a.m. on Peacock
– Sunderland vs. Arsenal: 10 a.m. on Peacock
– Women’s Hockey: USA vs. Finland: 10:40 a.m. on USA Network
– No. 9 Nebraska at Rutgers (M): noon on Big Ten Network
– No. 1 UConn vs. Butler (W): noon on FS1
– Napoli vs. Genoa: noon on CBS Sports Golazo Network/Paramount+
– Oregon State vs. No. 12 Purdue (M): 1 p.m. on CBS/Paramount+
– Mixed doubles curling: USA vs. South Korea: 1:05 p.m. on Peacock
– Men’s Snowboard Big Air: 1:30 p.m. on USA Network
– Baylor vs. No. 7 Iowa State (M): 2 p.m. on ESPN
– Torino vs. Fiorentina: 2:45 p.m. on CBS Sports Golazo Network/Paramount+
– WM Phoenix Open — Third round: 3 p.m. on CBS/Paramount+
– Thunder vs. Rockets: 3:30 p.m. on ABC
– Oklahoma State vs. No. 1 Arizona State (M): 4 p.m. on ESPN
– Figure skating team event — Free dance: 4 p.m. on NBC
– Spurs vs. Mavericks: from 6 p.m. on Prime Video
– Gonzaga vs. No. 6 Oregon State (M): 6 p.m. on ESPN+
– Duke vs. No. 14 North Carolina (M): 6:30 p.m. on ESPN
– Illinois State vs. No. 10 Michigan State (M): 8 p.m. on Fox
– Lakers vs. Warriors: 8:30 p.m. on ABC
– No. 8 Houston at No. 16 BYU (M): 10:30 p.m. on ESPN
Sunday
– Women’s Alpine Skiing — Downhill: 5:30 a.m. on USA Network
– Parma vs. Bologna: 6:30 a.m. on CBS Sports Golazo Network/Paramount+
– Mixed doubles curling: USA vs. Estonia: 8:35 a.m. on USA Network
– Udinese vs. Lecce: 9 a.m. on CBS Sports Golazo Network/Paramount+
– Manchester City vs. Liverpool: 11:30 a.m. on Peacock
– No. 6 Louisville at Syracuse (W): noon on ACC Network Extra
– Knicks vs. Celtics: 12:30 p.m. on ABC
– No. 2 Michigan vs. Ohio State (M): 1 p.m. on CBS/Paramount+
– Mixed doubles curling: USA vs. Sweden: 1:05 p.m. on Peacock
– No. 5 LSU at Auburn (W): 2 p.m. on SEC Network
– Figure skating team — Women’s free skating: 2:45 p.m. on USA Network
– Lazio vs. Juventus: 2:45 p.m. on CBS Sports Golazo Network/Paramount+
– Clippers at Timberwolves: 3 p.m. on ESPN
– No. 9 Oregon at Ohio State (W): 3 p.m. on Big Ten Plus
– No. 19 Tennessee vs. No. 3 South Carolina (W): 3 p.m. on ABC
– No. 2 UCLA vs. No. 8 Michigan (W): 3 p.m. on Fox
– WM Phoenix Open — Final round: 3 p.m. on CBS/Paramount+
– Figure skating team — Men’s free skating: 3:55 p.m. on USA Network
– No. 6 Louisville at Syracuse (W) — evening window: 6 p.m. on ACC Network
– Super Bowl 60: Patriots vs. Seahawks: 6:30 p.m. on NBC
Fan Take (two sentences)
Matthew Stafford’s MVP and the new Hall of Fame class reshape storylines heading into the offseason, giving NFL fans fresh debates about legacy, roster-building and who will define the next era. Those award decisions and honors also matter because they influence coaching moves, front-office priorities and how teams market stars — all of which shape the future of the league.
