The United States’ run at the 2026 world junior hockey championship is over.

Finland pulled off a 4-3 overtime victory on Friday, Jan. 2, after a wild third period in which the Finns rallied for a 3-2 lead only to see the USA tie the game.

The overtime didn’t last long as defenseman Arttu Valila scored his first goal and point of the tournament at 2:11 to send the host USA home empty-handed with a quarterfinal loss.

The USA had brought back eight players from the 2025 team that beat Finland 4-3 in overtime for a second consecutive gold medal. That group included defenseman Cole Hutson, who returned on Friday from a scary injury that he suffered in the tournament’s second game.

Hutson showed his importance by recording a goal and an assist in the second period, and the USA led 2-1 after two periods.

But Finland struck with two goals in 55 seconds in the third period (Leo Tuuva had a goal and assist) to take a 3-2 lead. The USA tied the game on a Ryker Lee goal with 1:33 left, forcing overtime.

The USA couldn’t match last year’s overtime result as Finland ended the Americans’ three-peat bid and advanced to the semifinals against rival Sweden.

“They played a great game tonight and came up just short,’ USA coach Bob Motzko said. ‘Give Finland credit. It’s an empty feeling right now, but our guys gave it all they had.”

USA TODAY provided live coverage of the USA vs. Finland game. Here are the highlights:

USA vs. Finland highlights

World juniors hockey semifinals set

With Canada’s 7-1 win against Slovakia, the world junior championships are set. No. 1 Sweden will face rival Finland in Sunday’s early game at 4:30 p.m. ET. Canada will face Czechia at 8:30 p.m. The medal games will be on Monday.

What’s next at the world junior championships?

The semifinals are on Sunday, Jan. 4. Sweden, Czechia and Finland have advanced, and Canada has a big lead on Slovakia in the quarterfinals. The semifinals are re-seeded so No. 1 Sweden would face the lowest remaining seed.

USA’s best players

James Hagens, Will Zellers and Brodie Ziemer are named the USA’s best players of the tournament.

Final score: Finland 4, USA 3 (OT)

The USA’s three-peat bid at the world junior championships is over. Arttu Valila scores at 2:11 for a 4-3 win. That’s the same score by which the USA had beaten Finland in last year’s gold medal game. Finland advances to the semifinals.

Overtime underway

USA chants start as 3-on-3 overtime begins.

End of third: USA 3, Finland 3

Ryker Lee ties it up

Will Zellers makes a nice rush down the ice. James Hagens picks up the puck behind the net and feeds Ryker Lee for the goal with 1:33 left. USA 3, Finland 3

Big save by Nick Kempf

He stops a 2-on-1 break with less than three minutes left.

Finland takes the lead

That’s two goals in 55 seconds for Finland. Leo Tuuva sets up Joona Saarelainen. Finland 3, USA 2

Finland ties it up

Aron Kiviharju makes a nice backdoor pass to Leo Tuuva with 7:17 left in the third period. USA 2, Finland 2

Brendan McMorrow injury

The USA’s McMorrow blocked a shot with his hand and he’s not on the bench.

Czechia-Switzerland final score

The Czechs win 6-2 to advance to the semifinals. They rallied from 1-0 and 2-1 deficits. Their opponent is to be determined.

Finland power play

Will Zellers is called for goaltender interference. Finland is 0-for-1 on the power play in this game. USA kills it off.

Third period underway

USA leads 2-1. Eight of the last 10 games between these teams have been one-goal games.

End of second: USA 2, Finland 1

Cole Hutson showed why the USA missed him while he was out 2½ games after his injury scare. He picked up a goal and assist in that period. The smooth-skating defenseman joined the rush to open the scoring and he skated down to low in the faceoff circle to set up Cole Eiserman’s go-ahead goal.

USA power play

Kasper Pikkarainen is called for boarding Logan Hensler. It’s reviewed and ruled only a two-minutes penalty. The USA is 1-for-2 so far in the game. Finland kills it off.

Cole Eiserman gives USA lead

Cole Hutson carries the puck to the bottom of the faceoff circle on a power play and feeds Cole Eiserman in front. That’s two points by Hutson in this game, giving him the U.S. record for most career points by a defenseman at the tournament. USA 2, Finland 1

USA power play

Finland called for too many men on the ice.

Finland ties it up

Heikki Ruohonen scores from the faceoff circle after a pass from Max Westergard. USA 1, Finland 1

Cole Hutson scores for USA

He rushes up the ice, takes a pass from Kamil Bednarik and rips a shot past Petteri Rimpinen. It’s his 14th point in world juniors history, tying him with Erik Johnson for the USA record for a defenseman. USA 1, Finland 0

Second period underway

Scoreless. USA is short-handed for 25 seconds. Now it’s even strength.

End of first: USA 0, Finland 0

USA outshoots Finland 12-8 in that period. Cole Hutson looks good moving the puck. The USA had a couple turnovers, but goalie Nick Kempf keeps it scoreless.

Finland power play

AJ Spellacy is called for tripping. The USA gave up three power-play goals by Sweden in the last game. The USA kills the first part of the penalty but 25 seconds will spill into the second period.

USA chance

AJ Spellacy breaks in with speed, but Petteri Rimpinen makes a save. Still scoreless with five minutes left in the first period.

Big save by Nick Kempf

He stops Heikki Ruohonen in tight after a USA turnover.

USA power play

Mitja Jokinen is called for hooking. Cole Hutson was on the ice at the time of the call, so he’s not on the power play unit to start, but he’s out there now. Finland kills it off.

Game underway

It’s win or go home.

What channel is USA vs. Finland world juniors hockey game today?

TV channel: NHL Network

Livestream: Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers, or Sling TV.

Watch world junior championships on Fubo

What time is USA vs. Finland world juniors hockey game today?

Date: Friday, Jan. 2

Time: 6 p.m. ET (5 p.m. local time)

The game is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. ET (5 p.m. local time) at the Grand Casino Arena in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the home of the Minnesota Wild.

World juniors USA vs. Finland: How to watch, stream

Time: 6 p.m. ET on Friday, Jan. 2

Location: Grand Casino Arena (Saint Paul, Minnesota)

TV: NHL Network

Streaming: Fubo and certain levels of Sling TV carry NHL Network.

World junior championships quarterfinals today

Jan. 2

• Sweden 6 Latvia 3: The Swedes remain perfect at the tournament and will have the top seed in Sunday’s semifinals. Anton Frondell, a Blackhawks No. 3 overall pick, scored twice, including 10 seconds into the game.
• Czechia 6. Switzerland 2: Jiri Klima and Petr Sikora each had a goal and two assists.
• Finland 4, USA 3 (OT): Arttu Vilala scored at 2:11 of overtime to oust the two-time defending champion United States. The USA’s Ryker Lee had tied the game with 1:33 left in regulation. Cole Hutson returned from his injury vs. Switzerland and had a goal and an assist.
• Canada 7, Slovakia 1: Canada got goals from seven different scores to oust Slovakia.

USA vs Finland history

The U.S. and Finland have met 40 times previously, with Team USA having a 20-19-1 advantage. They split games in last year’s tournament, but the USA won 4-3 in overtime for its second consecutive gold medal.

Cole Hutson injury update

The USA defenseman told NHL Network it has been a ‘pretty tough week, lots of emotions’ as he returns for the first time since his injury in the Switzerland game.

Asked how he would manage expectations on Friday, he said: ‘I think it’s keeping it simple for the first few shifts, make sure I’m not trying anything too crazy. Hopefully then my game will come out soon and somehow I’ll help the team win.’

USA, Finland lineups

Finland goaltender vs USA

Petteri Rimpinen, the top goalie of the 2025 tournament, is expected to start against the USA. Like last year, he has played every minute. The Kings draft pick has a 2.49 goals-against average and a .865 save percentage. Those numbers are down from last year.

USA goaltender vs Finland

The USA will go with Notre Dame’s Nick Kempf in net. He has given up only two goals in the tournament, including one on 17 shots in the third period against Sweden after he replaced starter Brady Knowling. He won the second game against Switzerland. He has a 1.54 goals against average and .934 save percentage. 

Sweden advances to semifinals

Sweden improved to 5-0 after a 6-3 win against Latvia. Blackhawks draft pick Anton Frondell scored 10 seconds into the game and also scored in the third period.

USA players to watch

Will Zellers leads the USA with five goals and seven points. He had the game-winning goal in the first three games. Brodie Ziemer (Sabres) has six points and James Hagens (Bruins) has five.

Finland players to watch

Roope Vesterinen leads Finland with four goals and is tied for the team with five points. Defenseman Lasse Boelius also has five points, including two goals.

Cole Hutson injury update

The USA defenseman will suit up for the first time since he left the second game on a stretcher after being hit in the head by a puck. Injured forward Max Plante remains day-to-day.

Germany wins relegation game

Fifth-place Germany beat beat fifth-place Denmark 8-4 in Friday’s relegation game and will stay in the top level of the world junior championships. Denmark, which had qualified for the tournament this season, moves down one level. It went winless in Minnesota.

U.S. Olympians and potential Olympians have been dealing with injuries all season long and it continued on the day that the full team was announced.

Florida Panthers defenseman Seth Jones took a puck up high on a shot from the New York Rangers’ Alexis Lafreniere in the first period on Friday, Jan. 2 and left the Winter Classic with an upper-body injury. He went to a medical tent, took the long walk to the dressing room and didn’t return to the game.

‘You saw the impact that he had on the Florida team to win the Stanley Cup,’ USA coach Mike Sullivan said. ‘He’s a big, strong kid that skates extremely well. I think he has the ability to play on both sides of the puck and impact the game on both sides of the puck.’

Seth Jones injury report

Panthers coach Paul Maurice gave an update on Jones after the game.

‘It doesn’t look terrible right now. He just has to get looked at tomorrow,’ he said.

Jones’ injury is the latest that the U.S. Olympic team has dealt with this season. All six of the first players named had missed time. Florida’s Matthew Tkachuk has yet to return from offseason hernia surgery, and Ottawa’s Brady Tkachuk (thumb surgery) and Boston’s Charlie McAvoy (broken jaw) are playing again. Vegas’ Jack Eichel returned Friday after missing seven games with a lower-body injury.

Carolina defenseman Jaccob Slavin, named Friday, is out with a second injury and has been limited to five games. New Jersey’s Jack Hughes has returned after finger surgery for an injury suffered at a team dinner.

The drought is finally over for SMU football.

In what turned out to be an ugly second-half performance from their offense, the Mustangs fought off a second-half comeback from No. 20 Arizona to win the Holiday Bowl by a score of 24-19 on Friday, Jan. 2 inside Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego.

It’s the first bowl for the Mustangs since the 2012 Hawaii Bowl.

Stream the Holiday Bowl live with Fubo (free trial)

After putting up 328 total yards of offense and 24 points in the first half — with 14 of them courtesy of running back T.J. Harden — the Wildcats defense made some second half adjustments and held SMU scoreless, allowing only 64 yards after halftime. 

Following a first half in which it committed five penalties for 50 yards, Arizona was able to get back into the game thanks to back-to-back interceptions from Jennings to begin the third quarter. The Wildcats could only cut the deficit to five points following Noah Fifita’s 15-yard touchdown pass to Cameron Barmore with 33 seconds remaining in the game.

Jennings completed 21-of-32 passes for 278 yards and three interceptions, while Fifita completed 28-of-43 passes for 265 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Both teams finish the season with a 9-4 overall record. 

USA TODAY Sports provided live updates from the game. Follow along for a recap:

Arizona vs SMU live score

This section will be updated.

Arizona vs SMU live updates

This section has been updated with new information

Final score: SMU 24, Arizona 19

SMU recovers onside kick, wins Holiday Bowl

SMU recovers the onside kick attempt from Arizona, and Kevin Jennings takes the knee to give the Mustangs the 24-19 win in the Holiday Bowl. A valiant second-half comeback from the Wildcats comes up short in San Diego.

Arizona scores TD

The Wildcats aren’t going away yet. Noah Fifita tosses one up to Cameron Barmore in the back of the end zone on third-and-10 for the 15-yard touchdown pass to cut the deficit to 24-19. It’s the 29th touchdown pass of the season from Fifita.

Arizona will now look to recover the onside kick with 33 seconds remaining in the game.

SMU punts

SMU is forced to send out the punt unit as Kevin Jennings is two yards short of the first down. If Jennings had dived instead of slid forward on the field, he would have picked up the first down and the Mustangs could have let the clock run down.

Arizona will now look to drive down the field for a touchdown at its own 25-yard line with 2:43 left on the clock. The Wildcats have no timeouts remaining.

SMU intercepts Noah Fifita

SMU’s Alexander Kilgore comes up with a huge interception for the Mustangs defense, and that should be enough for SMU to put this game away … barring another turnover. It’s the first true mistake by Noah Fifita on the night.

The Mustangs are just over three minutes away from their first bowl win in over a decade.

Arizona intercepts Kevin Jennings

Just when it looks like SMU fixed its struggles on offense, Kevin Jennings throws his third interception of the second half. It looks like Jennings didn’t see Arizona’s Riley Wilson in his progressions, and because of that the Wildcats have a chance to cut this deficit further.

Arizona cuts deficit with TD pass

SMU nearly brings down Noah Fifita, but the Arizona quarterback dodges the tackle and throws a 10-yard touchdown pass to Tre Spivey on fourth-and-2 instead. The Wildcats are unsuccessful on the 2-point conversion.

The Mustangs now lead 24-12 with 8:40 remaining in the fourth quarter.

SMU punts

SMU’s second-half offensive struggles continue as the Mustangs go three-and-out for the third consecutive drive. Arizona’s offense heads back onto the field after 57 seconds of game time on the bench with a shot to bring the score closer.

End of third quarter: SMU 24, Arizona 6

Arizona turns ball over on downs

SMU’s defense bails Kevin Jennings out by forcing another turnover on downs on the final play of the third quarter. Given its field goal kicking troubles this season, Arizona elected to go for it on fourth-and-6 at the SMU 10-yard line, but Noah Fifita missed his target in the end zone.

The Mustangs take over at their own 10-yard line with a 24-6 lead going into the fourth quarter.

Arizona intercepts Kevin Jennings

The tables are beginning to turn in the second half, as Arizona picks up its second interception of the night off of Kevin Jennings after a brief game of hot potato as players from both teams fight for the ball in the air.

It’s back-to-back drives with a poor decision by Jennings. The Wildcats now start with short field position at SMU’s 44-yard line.

Noah Fifita throws 28-yard TD pass

Arizona is finally on the board thanks to a 28-yard touchdown pass from Noah Fifita to Javin Whatley near the back of the end zone. The Wildcats then try for the 2-point conversion, but it is unsuccessful.

It’s the first drive where the Wildcats were able to drive down the field without being called for a penalty …progress! The drive was 15 plays for 96 yards and took 7:31 off the game clock.

Arizona intercepts Kevin Jennings

Kevin Jennings’ first mistake of the game comes in the third quarter with an underthrown pass on the run intended for Jordan Hudson. The third-and-4 pass from Jennings is intercepted at the 4-yard line by Michael Dansby.

Arizona turns it over on downs

SMU’s defensive Terry Webb stuffs Arizona running back Quincy Craig on fourth-and-1 to force the second turnover on downs of the night for the Wildcats’ defense.

Self-inflicted penalties continue to hurt Arizona’s offense from getting into a rhythm. This time, it was a false start penalty on third-and-1 that held the Wildcats back from extending their drive.

End of first half: SMU 24, Arizona 0

The first half comes to a close on an 11-yard carry from Arizona running back Ismail Mahdi on first-and-10. SMU heads into the locker room with a commanding 24-0 lead after a full-out dominating first 30 minutes of action in the Holiday Bowl.

Kevin Jennings completed 18-of-23 passes for 248 yards, while Noah Fifita completed 7-of-13 passes for 43 yards.

The Wildcats were unable to find a rhythm offensively in the first half, as they were held to just 132 total yards of offense. A reason behind that struggle can be pointed to the Wildcats’ self-inflicted wounds: four penalties for 45 yards.

SMU extends lead with field goal

SMU extends its lead to 24-0 just before halftime with a 24-yard field goal from Sam Keltner. It’s the first time that SMU has gotten into the red zone and not scored a touchdown on the night.

The Mustangs have created a total of 328 yards of offense compared to Arizona’s 111.

Arizona turns ball over on downs

Down three possessions and on SMU’s side of the field for the first time, Arizona elects to go for it on fourth-and-2. It, however, doesn’t work out for the Wildcats as Tyren Polley Jr. breaks up Noah Fifita’s pass attempt for a turnover on downs.

SMU gets the ball back at its own 35-yard line with 5:23 remaining until halftime.

SMU extends lead with TD

Stone Eby takes the inside handoff from Kevin Jennings, and it results in the 1-yard rushing touchdown to extend SMU’s lead to 21-0 over Arizona. It’s all Mustangs in this one, as SMU has now scored a touchdown on three of its first four drives.

The scoring drive was 16 plays for 94 yards and took 6:47 off the game clock. Something to monitor for SMU is T.J. Harden, who was brought to the sidelines after going down weirdly on a 2-yard carry to set up Eby’s score.

End of first quarter: SMU 14, Arizona 0

SMU continues to feed T.J. Harden and he picks up 13 yards for a new set of downs on the final play of the first quarter. The Mustangs head into the second quarter on their own 40-yard line with a 14-0 lead over Arizona.

The Wildcats struggled to find an offensive rhythm in the opening frame, as SMU’s defense held Arizona to just 71 total yards of offense, with all but four of those coming on the ground. Quarterback Noah Fifita was 3-of-7 passing for four yards.

Kevin Jennings has been excellent for SMU, as he went 9-of-12 passing for 187 yards in the first quarter.

T.J. Harden scores second TD of game

T.J. Harden bounces off the left side and pushes through defenders into the end zone to extend SMU’s lead in the Holiday Bowl to 14-0. It’s the second touchdown of the night for Harden.

Kevin Jennings added to his hot start with a pair of nice throws on SMU’s eight-play drive: a 31-yard pass up the left sideline to Jalen Cooper and a 21-yard pass to Yamir Knight on the RPO. He’s 8-of-10 passing for 165 yards to begin the night.

The drive itself was eight plays for 87 yards and took 3:12 off the game clock.

Yamir Knight makes ridiculous catch for SMU

Kevin Jennings airs one up on third-and-11, and Yamir Knight comes up with an impressive catch that ends with him making a spin in the air over an Arizona defender. The Mustangs end up punting the ball back to the Wildcats a few plays later.

Arizona punts

SMU cornerback Marcellus Barnes Jr. breaks up Noah Fifita’s throw on third down, and Arizona sends out the punt unit. The Wildcats were unable to recover from an ineligible man downfield penalty.

T.J. Harden scores SMU touchdown

T.J. Harden punches it in from the 1-yard line to give SMU the opening drive touchdown score. The big play of the drive came on the second play of the drive when Kevin Jennings was able to connect with Matthew Hibner for an 80-yard catch, the longest catch in Holiday Bowl history.

What a start for the Mustangs, who drove down the field for 83 yards in three plays and 56 seconds to take the early lead.

Arizona wins toss, SMU starts with ball

Arizona wins the coin toss and defers the opening kickoff to the second half. That means Kevin Jennings and the SMU offense will start with the ball first. We’re just about ready for kickoff in San Diego!

Pregame

Arizona takes field for Holiday Bowl

With kickoff just 30 minutes away in San Diego, Arizona takes the field for warmups at the Holiday Bowl. The Wildcats are looking for their first win in the Holiday Bowl since the 1998 season when they beat Nebraska 23-20.

SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings warming up for Holiday Bowl

SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings has taken the field to get ready for his start in the Holiday Bowl against Arizona. Jennings enters Friday’s bowl game with 3,363 passing yards and 26 touchdown passes on the season.

SMU arrives for Holiday Bowl

The Mustangs are on site for their Holiday Bowl matchup against Arizona. SMU is looking for its first bowl win since 2012, when it was still a member of Conference USA.

What time does Arizona vs SMU start?

• Date: Friday, Jan. 2
• Time: 8 p.m. ET
• Where: Snapdragon Stadium (San Diego)

Arizona and SMU are set to kick off at 8 p.m. ET on Friday, Jan. 2 in the Holiday Bowl inside Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego.

What TV channel is Arizona vs SMU on today?

• TV channel: Fox
• Streaming options: Fox Sports Go app | Fubo (free trial)

Fox will broadcast the Holiday Bowl between Arizona and SMU on Jan. 2. Gus Johnson and Joel Klatt will broadcast the game from the booth at Snapdragon Stadium, with Jenny Taft reporting from the sidelines.

Streaming options for the game include the Fox Sports app (with a TV login) and Fubo, which carries Fox and offers a free trial to new subscribers.

Stream the Holiday Bowl live with Fubo (free trial)

Arizona vs SMU predictions in Holiday Bowl

Here’s who experts within the USA TODAY Sports Network picked to win the Holiday Bowl:

• Matt Hayes: Arizona
• Jordan Mendoza: SMU
• Paul Myerberg: Arizona
• Erick Smith: Arizona
• Eddie Timanus: Arizona
• Blake Toppmeyer: SMU

Arizona vs SMU odds, spread for Holiday Bowl

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Thursday, Jan. 1

• Spread: Arizona -1.5
• Over/under: 51.5
• Moneyline: SMU (-105) | Arizona (-115)

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The New York Rangers remain kings of the road and champions of the outdoor game.

Playing in the first outdoor game to be held in the Sunshine State, the Rangers routed the two-time defending champion Florida Panthers 5-1 at the Winter Classic in loanDepot Park to improve to 6-0 in outdoor games and set records in the process.

Mika Zibanejad, named to Team Sweden in the morning, recorded the first hat trick in Winter Classic history. He also had the first five-point outdoor game, breaking the record of four set by Jordan Kyrou in the 2022 Winter Classic.

Artemi Panarin scored the Rangers’ other two goals as New York improved to 15-8-2 on the road. They’re 5-10-3 at home.

The Panthers lost defenseman Seth Jones to injury about 12 hours after the announcement that he made the U.S. Olympic team. He was hit up high by a puck.

‘It doesn’t look terrible right now,’ coach Paul Maurice said. ‘He just has to get looked at tomorrow.’

The Rangers and Panthers are tied with 45 points, one point out of a playoff spot.

Maurice was upbeat about the experience, despite the big loss.

‘This was an incredible event,’ he said. ‘I can’t believe how many people worked on this, and they got it all right. This is the losing coach (talking). Incredible memories. … I thought it was spectacular. I imagine the Rangers really loved it.’

USA TODAY Sports provided live updates from the Winter Classic. Here are game highlights:

Rangers vs. Panthers Winter Classic highlights

Final score: Rangers 5, Panthers 1

The Rangers defeat the two-time defending champions behind three goals from Mika Zibanejad and two from Artemi Panarin. It’s the Rangers’ 15th road win this season.

Mika Zibanejad hat trick

He scores a short-handed empty netter for the first hat trick in Winter Classic history. It’s his fifth point of the game, an outdoor record. Rangers 5, Panthers 1

Panthers goal waved off

Sam Reinhart is ruled to have kicked the puck into the net. No goal.

Panthers power play

Carson Soucy is called for interference. Sergei Bobrovsky comes off the ice for an extra skater with 3:22 left.

Rangers add to lead

Artemi Panarin scores on the power play for his second goal of the game. Mika Zibanejad picks up his fourth point of the game. That ties a Winter Classic record by the Blues’ Jordan Kyrou. Rangers 4, Panthers 1

Panthers power play

Matthew Robertson is called for delay of game. Officials said he intentionally knocked the net off its moorings. New York kills it off, allowing no shots.

Panthers get one goal back

Sam Reinhart scores. Aaron Ekblad makes a great keep-in and picks up a secondary assist. Rangers 3, Panthers 1

Panthers power play

New York’s Jonny Brodzinski is called for tripping. Aaron Ekblad is taking Seth Jones’ spot on the power play point.

Third period underway

3-0 Rangers. Alexis Lafreniere (three assists) is back after being shaken up late in the second period.

End of second: Rangers 3, Panthers 0

Mika Zibanejad added to the Rangers’ lead early in the period with his second goal of the game. Alexis Lafreniere has three assists, tying the record for most assists in an outdoor game

Seth Jones injury update

The Florida defenseman won’t return to the game because of an upper body injury, the Panthers announced. He was hit up high by a puck.

Rangers goal waved off

The Rangers knock the puck into the net with a high stick and the goal is waved off. Still 3-0 Rangers.

Rangers add to lead

Mika Zibanejad scores 58 seconds into the second period for his second goal of the game. Alexis Lafreniere picks up his third assist of the game. Rangers 3, Panthers 0

Second period underway

2-0 Rangers.

Rangers-Panthers first period highlights

The Rangers lead the Panthers 2-0 after a pair of goals late in the opening period.

Rangers jump ahead with 2-0 lead

The Rangers scored another quick goal with 3:47 left in the first period to take a 2-0 lead. Artemi Panarin was credited with the goal after a deflection. It’s Panarin’s 15th goal of the season.

Mika Zibanejad gives Rangers early lead

After 15:09 in the first period, Mika Zibanejad provided New York with the first lead of the game on a power play.

Vincent Trocheck called for delay of game

Rangers center Vincent Trocheck was sent to the penalty box for two minutes after being called for delaying the game. Trocheck hit the puck over the glass.

Panthers center Jack Studnicka was called for a similar penalty later in the period.

Panthers’ Seth Jones leaves game with injury

Panthers defenseman Seth Jones left the game with an apparent upper-body injury.

Jones appeared to be in distress after taking a puck to the left shoulder/collarbone area.

He was seen briefly on the TNT broadcast entering a medical tent on the sideline. It was said on the broadcast that Jones was headed toward the dressing room. He’s likely to be evaluated further.

Rangers, Panthers attempt early shots

The Rangers managed to produce two shots on goal compared to the Panthers’ one shot on goal through the first three minutes of the opening period. The game remains scoreless.

Panthers goaltender Sergi Bobrovsky was credited with two early saves.

What channel is Panthers vs Rangers Winter Classic today?

TV channel: TNT, truTV

Livestream: Sling TV and HBO Max

Watch Winter Classic on Sling TV

What time is Panthers vs Rangers Winter Classic today?

Date: Friday, Jan. 2

Time: 8 p.m. ET

The game is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. ET at loanDepot Park in Miami, Florida.

Winter Classic Panthers vs Rangers: How to watch, stream

Time: 8 p.m. ET on Friday, Jan. 2

Location: loanDepot Park (Miami, Florida)

TV: TNT, truTV

Streaming: Sling TV and HBO Max

Winter Classic weather forecast

The weather forecast at 8 p.m. ET in Miami calls for mostly clear skies and 64 degrees. The temperature will drop to 61 during the game.

Florida Panthers lineup

New York Rangers lineup

How is the ice?

Rangers coach Mike Sullivan said he was ‘pleasantly surprised’ by the quality of ice at loanDepot Park, especially given the perception of playing outdoors in Florida. ‘I thought it was pretty good conditions, given the circumstances,’ he said on Jan. 1.

Outdoor games in Florida

This will be the first outdoor game of two in Florida this season. The Lightning will host the Bruins on Feb. 1 in Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium.

U.S. Olympic roster announced

Two Rangers players made the U.S. Olympic men’s hockey team: J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck. Panthers defenseman Seth Jones also made the team, but Rangers defenseman Adam Fox did not. Fox had played for the USA at the 4 Nations Face-Off, as did Miller and Trocheck. Rangers coach Mike Sullivan is coach of the U.S. team.

Panthers arrive in style

Rangers, Panthers record in outdoor games

The Rangers are 5-0 in outdoor games. The Panthers are making their outdoor debut. Former Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist, part of the TNT studio crew for the game, went 4-0 in outdoor games with the Rangers.

Rangers arrive in Miami Vice attire

One of the subplots of an outdoor game is which coordinated outfits the teams will wear when entering the stadium. In the past, the Flyers dressed like Rocky, the Golden Knights dressed like Elvis and the Blue Jackets and Red Wings paid tribute to the late Johnny Gaudreau.

The Rangers adopted a Miami Vice look on Friday when they arrived at loanDepot Park.

Panthers, Rangers out on ice

SAN FRANCISCO — The Golden State Warriors were without multiple rotational pieces, including their big three of Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green, against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night.

Their void was felt.

The Warriors fell to the Thunder, 131-94, as they shot 36% on Friday night at the Chase Center.

Golden State was led by Moses Moody, Al Horford and rookie guard Will Richard; they each had 13 points on the night.

“I feel like for us, we got to make it a lot easier on ourselves by creating easy shots to get each other going,” Richard told USA TODAY Sports. “Maybe getting backdoor cuts, making the right play and getting somebody open. I feel like that’s how you can get yourself out of (a slump).”

Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 30 points and seven assists. He shot 50% from the field in the Oklahoma City victory. Aaron Wiggins, Branden Carlson and Chet Holgrem each had 15.

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said that, despite not having their stars, the performance was disappointing.

“We weren’t well organized, we didn’t compete well together, disappointing,” Kerr said to reporters after the loss. “Obviously playing them, the best team in the league, but I thought we could have been a lot better.”

The Thunder jumped out to a 34-23 first quarter lead behind 12 points from Gilgeous-Alexander.

The Warriors, without their stars, would need contributions from everyone, and they got just that in the first. Nearly everyone scored in the opening quarter.

The Thunder’s biggest lead in the first half was 13, most of it built in the first quarter, but in the second quarter, the Warriors began to settle in.

Golden State went on a 13-6 run in the first five minutes of the second quarter to cut the lead to two. And then Oklahoma City followed with 19 unanswered points, most of them without Gilgeous-Alexander on the floor. When he was subbed in, it was more of the same.

The Thunder led the Warriors 64-45 at the end of the first half. They built their 19-point lead after going on a 26-9 run in seven minutes to end the second quarter.

“I don’t know that, that was the stretch, I mean the whole game was lopsided,” Kerr told USA TODAY Sports. ‘They won every quarter by 9, 10, 11 points. They’re a great team and they got rolling. I didn’t feel we were very well connected tonight and never found any rhythm.”

Both teams traded baskets in the opening minutes of the second half before the Thunder began to pull away. Oklahoma City’s largest lead extended to 33. The Thunder led 95-66 after three quarters.

The onslaught continued through the rest of the game, although the Warriors managed to put up more of a fight in the fourth quarter.

Thunder vs. Warriors highlights

Recap: Warriors keys

• Fill some big shoes: Warriors are without their top scorers and playmakers, so someone is going to have to step up and take the challenge of filling the roles of Curry, Butler and Green. Who will it be? Six players scored in double figures for Golden State, in a loss.
• Make every possession count: The Thunder are a team where there’s little room for error, whether you’re missing stars or not. In this case, with the Warriors missing key guys, it’s important to make every possession count, both on offense and defense. Offensively, find quality shots and take care of the basketball. Defensively, players have to be active on the court. Pressure the perimeter, contain the paint and limit second-chance baskets. The Warriors missed tons of good looks against the Thunder.
• Continue heater from deep: The Warriors made a season-high 24 3-point field goals as a team against Charlotte. Despite missing arguably the greatest shooter of all time, the expectation is still there to knock down 3s. Golden State will need to be on a heater to keep up with Oklahoma City, which averages 122.1 points per game. The Warriors have scored more than 120 in their last five games, going 4-1. Golden State shot 29.5% from 3 and didn’t score over 120 points.
• Keep SGA off the free throw line: Have to be sound, smart defensively. Gilgeous-Alexander has a high offensive IQ and knows how to exploit the defense and draw fouls. Warriors defenders have to be mindful of their angles and positioning when guarding the crafty Gilgeous-Alexander. Gilgeous-Alexander ended the game with 30 points and made all seven free throw attempts.

Warriors’ next five games

• Jan. 3 vs. Utah Jazz
• Jan. 5 at Los Angeles Clippers
• Jan. 7 vs. Milwaukee Bucks
• Jan. 9 vs. Sacramento Kings
• Jan. 11 vs. Atlanta Hawks

AI-assisted summary
• The college football transfer portal is set to create a major shift in quarterback lineups for the upcoming season.
• Several top programs, including Miami, LSU, and Florida, are expected to pursue new quarterbacks through the portal.
• Many potential transfers involve quarterbacks reuniting with former coaches at new schools.

The opening of the college football transfer portal will trigger a game of musical chairs at quarterback guaranteed to impact next year’s race for the national championship.

As evidence, just look at this year’s College Football Playoff, where over half the teams in the field started a transfer under center – Indiana, Ohio State, Oregon, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Miami and Tulane.

One team that could influence how things unfold is Oregon, which is waiting on Dante Moore’s NFL draft decision. If he leaves, the Ducks will be near the top of the list for every high-profile transfer, potentially shaping plans for other contenders searching for a new starter.

As the portal heats up, let’s connect 10 Power Four programs with the best possible transfer fit:

Miami

Should Moore return, Miami’s recent success with Cam Ward and Carson Beck will make Coral Gables the most desirable destination for this year’s transfer class. One strong match is former Arizona State starter Sam Leavitt, who burst onto the national scene in 2024 but struggled through an injury-marred redshirt sophomore year. After a pair of one-year rentals, Mario Cristobal and the Hurricanes could be enticed by the chance to secure someone who could be a multiple-season solution.

Texas Tech

Texas Tech is waiting on Cincinnati transfer Brendan Sorsby, a native Texan who has starting experience, Big 12 experience and a dual-threat skill set that fits nicely in the Red Raiders’ scheme with Behren Morton moving on. Sorsby, however, could choose to forego his final season for the NFL if he receives a strong draft grade.

Indiana

Look for Curt Cignetti’s search for Fernando Mendoza’s replacement to land on TCU transfer Josh Hoover, who blossomed over two-plus years as the starter in Sonny Dykes’ scheme. While he’ll need to trim his turnovers, the rising senior has the makeup to help maintain the Hoosiers’ evolution into a Power Four powerhouse. As a high school recruit, Hoover was verbally committed to Indiana before flipping to the Horned Frogs.

Penn State

Drew Allar has exhausted his eligibility and replacement Ethan Grunkemeyer has an uncertain future. This one isn’t complicated: New coach Matt Campbell should be reunited with rising senior Rocco Becht, who started 39 games for Campbell at Iowa State and would ease his transition to the Big Ten.

LSU

Portal options might be tripping over themselves to get to the front of the line to play for Lane Kiffin at LSU. One is DJ Lagway, who oozes talent but never put things together in his two years at Florida. But Kiffin and the Tigers are likely waiting on a possible eligibility waiver for current Ole Miss starter Trinidad Chambliss, who has petitioned the NCAA for a sixth year. If he’s successful, Baton Rouge would be the obvious fit.

Florida

With Lagway gone and new coach Jon Sumrall in, the Gators could be in the market for multiple transfers to add to what is currently a thin quarterback room. One immediate connection is with Georgia Tech transfer Aaron Philo, who impressed in eight appearances over the past two years under new Florida coordinator Buster Faulkner. In his one start in 2025, Philo completed 21 of 28 passes for 373 yards against Gardner-Webb.

Auburn

Like Penn State, Auburn likely won’t look far for its new quarterback. As a first-year starter in 2025 under new coach Alex Golesh at South Florida, Byrum Brown threw for 3,158 yards, ran for 1,008 yards, had 42 combined touchdowns and might’ve been the nation’s most unheralded player. Landing Brown would really help speed up Golesh’s rebuilding project.

Clemson

Clemson could ignore the portal and roll with rising junior Christopher Vizzina, who threw for 406 yards in an uneven 2025 season as the primary backup, or redshirt freshman Chris Denson. But the Tigers really have to increase their options in what might be a make-or-break year. They should be in the mix for Sorsby, Lagway and others. One transfer who could bring some valuable athleticism to the competition is former Old Dominion starter Colton Joseph, who joined Brown as the only quarterbacks to throw for at least 2,000 yards and run for another 1,000 this season.

Tennessee

The idea of handing the keys to redshirt freshman George MacIntyre or incoming freshman Faizon Brandon should demand the addition of at least one experienced passer. Should the Volunteers be looking for a one-year rental before handing the keys to MacIntyre or Brandon in 2027, one option who checks the boxes is James Madison transfer Alonza Barnett III, a rising senior with the legs to bring an interesting new dimension to Josh Heupel’s offense.

Nebraska

The Cornhuskers will be looking for an offensive reboot built around a more athletic option. Rising sophomore TJ Lateef replaced an injured Dylan Raiola in early November and helped land the team in the Las Vegas Bowl, though he played poorly after an impressive debut against UCLA. One player who matches what Matt Rhule is looking for is Notre Dame transfer Kenny Minchey, a rising junior who pushed for the starting role this past summer and has looked very good in his limited opportunities.