Good morning and happy Friday! Carter Burns wraps up January as we head into an exciting weekend packed with diverse sports action. Highlights include the Australian Open finals, a numbered UFC event streaming on Paramount+, and a major college basketball matchup showcasing teams with the top two NBA draft hopefuls. As February begins, it’s a great time to look ahead.
Here are five key stories you should know today:
Ian Cunningham named Falcons GM: After four years as the Bears’ assistant general manager and interviews with the Jaguars and Commanders, Cunningham earns his first GM role with Atlanta. He will collaborate with President of Football Matt Ryan and Coach Kevin Stefanski to revamp the Falcons’ management and coaching staff. Cunningham’s achievements in Chicago included hiring Ben Johnson and drafting Caleb Williams.
Josh Allen’s foot surgery: Bills quarterback Josh Allen had surgery to repair a broken fifth metatarsal. Remarkably, he played through the injury in the final four games of the season. Recovery is expected to take 8-10 weeks, with Allen aiming to return fully ready for voluntary offseason workouts this spring. He was seen on crutches and in boots at Thursday’s media session.
Aaron Gordon’s hamstring setback: The Nuggets’ Aaron Gordon has re-injured the same hamstring that sidelined him for over a month earlier this season. He will be re-examined in 4 to 6 weeks. Seven players from Denver appeared on the extensive injury list ahead of their Thursday game.
UEFA Champions League knockout lineup set: Eight teams secured direct passage to the Round of 16, while teams placed 9th to 24th in the league must win two playoff matches to advance. Sixteen matchups were determined in this morning’s draw, with games scheduled between February 17th and 25th. We categorized the favorites for your viewing.
Volkanovski vs. Lopez UFC rematch on Saturday: UFC 325 kicks off Saturday on Paramount+, with the main card starting at 9 p.m. ET. Featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski defends his title against Diego Lopez in a highly anticipated rematch of their previous encounter. Our expert picks and predictions cover all main card bouts.
Don’t Miss: Top 25 Stories from the 2025 NFL Season
Following the memorable Super Bowl 60 showdown between the Seahawks and Patriots, it’s time to review the standout narratives of the year. From Micah Parsons’ blockbuster moves to Sam Darnold emerging as one of the last remaining playoff quarterbacks, these stories shaped the campaign. Here are five highlights:
- Pete Carroll’s full season as Raiders coach
- Aaron Glenn’s challenging debut as Jets head coach
- Midseason firing of Giants coach Brian Daboll
- Cardinals’ collapse after Week 5 loss to Titans
- Josh Allen’s stunning comeback leading the Bills past Ravens in wild-card opener
NBA Power Rankings: Timberwolves Slide, Help Incoming
The Timberwolves have dropped seven spots after a five-game losing streak but are still in the running to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo in the trade deadline scramble. Their recent 123-111 win over the Thunder slightly paused the slump. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers surged six places thanks to seven wins in eight games, boosted by Donovan Mitchell’s aggressive play during Darius Garland’s absence.
Brad Botkin’s top five NBA power rankings this week are:
- Thunder (last week 1)
- Spurs (3)
- Pistons (6)
- Nuggets (2)
- Rockets (5)
MLB Free Agency Heats Up; Lead Power Rankings
With the addition of star Kyle Tucker, the solidify their position as baseball’s top team, boasting a loaded lineup and pitching rotation primed to chase a consecutive World Series title. The Braves made the biggest leap, climbing five spots since the end of 2025, while the Phillies slipped five places following Tucker’s move. The Brewers stand out as strong challengers to Los Angeles, thanks to promising young talents like Jackson Choli and reliable arms like Freddy Peralta.
Matt Snyder’s top five MLB power rankings are:
- (previously 1)
- Brewers (2)
- Blue Jays (3)
- Cubs (6)
- Yankees (4)
Weekend Sports Highlights
Friday: Genoa vs. Lazio (2:45 p.m. CBS Sports Golazo/Paramount+), Farmers Insurance Open Round 2 (3 p.m. Golf Channel), Vanderbilt vs. Ole Miss (3 p.m. SEC Network+), Raptors at Magic (7:30 p.m. ESPN), Warriors vs. Pistons (10 p.m. ESPN), and more.
Saturday: Australian Open Women’s Final: Sabalenka vs. Rybakina (3:30 a.m. ESPN), Arsenal vs. Leeds United (10 a.m. US networks), UFC 325 main card featuring Volkanovski vs. Lopez 2 (9 p.m. Paramount+), Senior Bowl at 2:30 p.m. NFL Network, plus hockey, golf, and several key basketball matchups.
Sunday: Australian Open Men’s Final: Djokovic vs. Alcaraz (3:30 a.m. ESPN), Manchester City vs. Tottenham (11:30 a.m. NBC Sports), multiple high-profile college basketball games, NHL Stadium Series Bruins vs. Lightning (6:30 p.m. ESPN), NASCAR Cookout Crash (8 p.m. Fox), Nuggets vs. Thunder (9:30 p.m. NBC), and NHL Ducks vs. Golden Knights (9:30 p.m. ESPN).
Fan Take: The ’ continued dominance, fueled by strategic free-agent acquisitions like Kyle Tucker, is a thrilling development for baseball fans eager for competitive postseason drama. Their chase for back-to-back titles highlights the evolving landscape of MLB, where star power and deep rosters drive the excitement and redefine team legacies.
