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This article is the written form of the CBS Sports HQ AM newsletter, your daily source for all things sports. You can sign up to get it delivered to your email every weekday morning.
Happy Tuesday! Brent Brookhouse is sharing his first Tuesday newsletter this year, and it’s a bit surreal to realize 2026 is officially here. As I anxiously hope my beloved Bills finally break through the NFL playoffs and bring home a Super Bowl win, I’m staying calm today by diving into a full slate of sports—from international soccer in the morning to college basketball and NHL and NBA games later.
Here’s your essential Tuesday sports update:
🏈 5 Key Topics Today:
NFL Playoffs Are Approaching: The NFL playoffs start this weekend and it’s an unusually wide-open race. We’ve ranked the most intriguing matchups and noted that the Seahawks are emerging as Super Bowl favorites, especially after the 49ers suffered a linebacker injury.
Looking Ahead to the NFL Draft: For teams missing the playoffs, all eyes turn to the 2026 NFL Draft. Mike Renner’s latest mock draft predicts the Raiders will pick Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza first overall.
College Basketball Rankings Update: Arizona State and Michigan State hold onto the top two spots, while North Carolina and Kansas have slipped in the AP poll. In the coaches’ poll, Florida State dropped out of the top 25, but Nebraska made a big climb to No. 11.
College Football Playoff Predictions: The CFP is narrowing to four teams. Miami faces Ole Miss Thursday, and Oregon plays Indiana Friday. With many surprises early on, CBS Sports football experts shared fresh predictions, also looking at how Ole Miss overcame Lane Kiffin drama to contend.
Bryce Underwood Returns to Michigan: Amid coaching drama at Michigan State, there was uncertainty about quarterback Bryce Underwood’s future. He has now confirmed via social media he’s staying with the Wolverines.
🎠 NFL Coaching Carousel Chaos:
Four NFL head coaches were fired within 24 hours of the season’s end: Kevin Stefanski (Browns), Raheem Morris (Falcons), Pete Carroll (Raiders), and Jonathan Gannon (Cardinals). Six teams are currently searching for new coaches, with Jared Dubin ranking these openings from least to most desirable as Falcons, Giants, Titans, Raiders, Browns, and Cardinals.
🔄 NBA Trade Deadline Approaching:
With less than a month until the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline, teams are poised to make major roster moves before playoff pushes. The final group of 2025 free agents hits the market in nine days. Sam Quinn highlights 10 big players, including Giannis Antetokounmpo, who might be on the move despite emotional ties to Milwaukee. Knicks owner James Dolan recently commented on rumors involving Giannis heading to New York. Trae Young is also rumored to potentially move to Washington, which could benefit both the Hawks and Wizards.
👊 UFC’s New Era on Paramount+:
The UFC’s streaming move to Paramount+ began on January 1, ending pay-per-view events. To introduce newcomers to the sport, here’s a playlist of 10 must-watch UFC fights spanning 20 years of thrilling battles. One highlight is the groundbreaking Forrest Griffin vs. Stephan Bonnar fight that helped save the UFC and boost its popularity.
👍👎 Other Sports Highlights:
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📺 What to Watch Today:
- Soccer matches on Paramount+ including Como vs. Pisa and AS Roma vs. Lecce
- Nottingham Forest vs. West Ham on USA Network
- College basketball games featuring Penn State vs. Michigan and Duke vs. Louisville
- NHL’s Panthers at Maple Leafs on TNT
- NBA games like Timberwolves vs. Heat and Kings vs. Mavericks on NBC
Fan Take: For basketball fans, the upcoming NBA trade deadline is crucial as it can reshape team dynamics and playoff prospects. Moves involving stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo or Trae Young could shift the balance of power, making this an exciting time with potential long-term impacts on the league’s competitive landscape.
