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No. 19 Virginia gets a rare shot at program history on Saturday night in Jacksonville. The Cavaliers are 10-3 and one win away from the first 11-win season in school history, but the mood is still complicated after losing the ACC title game to Duke and missing the CFP. This is still a meaningful finish, though. Virginia has not been in a bowl since 2019, and they have not beaten an SEC opponent in a bowl since the 2018 shutout of South Carolina. Missouri is 8-4 and in its fifth straight bowl under Eli Drinkwitz, but the roster looks thinner than what the Tigers showed in November. They’re down to a true freshman quarterback with Beau Pribula heading to the

Two teams searching for traction meet in Atlanta as Miami and Atlanta open their season series. Both clubs have struggled over the past two weeks, combining for only four wins in their last 20 games. This matchup presents a chance to reset after difficult stretches marked by late-game breakdowns and inconsistent execution. Miami enters after a 112-91 loss to Toronto, its lowest scoring output of the season. Injuries have thinned the rotation, forcing Norman Powell and Bam Adebayo into heavier offensive roles. Erik Spoelstra stressed the need for defensive commitment after the blowout, pointing to effort and cohesion as the path forward. Atlanta continues to score but cannot close. The Hawks blew a double-digit fourth-quarter lead Tuesday against Chicago, extending

LSU and No. 21 Houston land in the Texas Bowl from two completely different places. LSU is 7-5, mid-transition, and trying to patch together a bowl lineup after opt-outs and a coaching change. Houston is 9-3, settled in with Willie Fritz in year two, and gets the rare bowl setup where the “neutral site” is basically home. Kickoff is Saturday, December 27 at 9:15 PM ET from NRG Stadium in Houston, with ESPN carrying it. For LSU, it’s one more game to steady the program and get young pieces real reps before the offseason chaos. For Houston, it’s a chance to turn a solid season into a 10-win statement in their own city, and they’re treating it like a real

Christmas Day brings star power to Los Angeles as the Lakers host the Houston Rockets in a matchup featuring two teams searching for consistency. Both remain in the top half of the Western Conference, but neither enters in peak form. The Lakers have dropped three of their last five, while Houston has lost four of five during a difficult road stretch. Los Angeles is expected to get Luka Doncic back after he missed Tuesday’s loss in Phoenix. His return matters after the Lakers surrendered nearly 59 percent shooting and struggled with physicality in the paint. LeBron James remains the focal point on the holiday, already holding the NBA record for Christmas games played and points scored. Houston arrives frustrated but