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Morning Edition

January 2, 2025

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A deadly attack that killed at least 15 people on Bourbon Street led to the Sugar Bowl being postponed from Wednesday night to Thursday afternoon. Here’s what we know, and the effects of the change.

— Amanda Christovich [[link removed]] and David Rumsey [[link removed]]

Sugar Bowl Postponed to 4:00 p.m. ET Thursday After Deadly Attack

Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

The Sugar Bowl was postponed to Thursday, Jan. 2 at 4 p.m. ET, following a deadly attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans early Wednesday morning.

Sugar Bowl chief executive Jeff Hundley said he consulted with ESPN and the College Football Playoff, and all parties agreed to postpone the event by 24 hours. But on Wednesday evening, the Sugar Bowl announced it would kick off slightly earlier in the day, at 4 p.m. ET Thursday.

The New Year’s Six matchup was originally planned to kick off at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans at 8:45 p.m. ET on Wednesday night. The matchup between Notre Dame and Georgia is serving as one of the quarterfinals in the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff format.

In a press release, Sugar Bowl officials said that law enforcement resources normally available for the event were preoccupied with the fallout of the attack and that the postponement would help “maintain the typical standards of a major event in the Caesars Superdome.”

“We have full faith and confidence in the governor and the mayor and all the federal, state, and local first responders that they’ve applied to this horrific event, Hundley said in a statement Wednesday. Any time we have an event like the Sugar Bowl, public safety is paramount, and all parties involved agree that could only be achieved with a postponement. Now we will move ahead to take care of the details to make the Sugar Bowl the first-class, fun, and safe event that it has been for over 90 years.”

A long list of officials were involved in the decision, including the Sugar Bowl, local, state, and federal authorities, as well as the CFP, the SEC, Georgia, Notre Dame, and the Caesars Superdome. CFP executive director Rich Clarke specifically thanked ESPN for its “flexibility” in changing the game window.

ESPN will air the game on Thursday, as well as its previously scheduled megacast, the network announced. Instead of the previously scheduled game broadcast on Wednesday night, the network would air an edition of SportsCenter.

“The decision to postpone tonight’s Sugar Bowl was made in the best interest of public safety,” SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said in a statement. “Lives were tragically lost last night and we are appreciative that public officials and law enforcement agencies continue to work with great diligence to ensure the safety of the New Orleans community.”

For more information on the attack and the NFL’s statement ahead of February’s Super Bowl in New Orleans, read the full story by Front Office Sports reporter Amanda Christovich here [[link removed]].

Texas Survives CFP Test, But Ewers May Face Ultimate NIL Dilemma [[link removed]]

Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Texas was one play away from being eliminated from the College Football Playoff on Wednesday. But on a 4th and 13, Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers threw a 28-yard touchdown to wide receiver Matthew Golden to send the Peach Bowl into a second overtime.

Ewers then threw another touchdown pass, and two-point conversion, as Texas beat Arizona State 39–31 to advance to the Cotton Bowl and CFP semifinals. Those on-field heroics came just as Ewers’ future was already trending up off the field.

With one year of college eligibility remaining, and questions mounting about his current NFL Draft stock, Ewers is said to have received a $6 million NIL (name, image, and likeness) offer [[link removed]] to enter the transfer portal, according to On3.

While it’s unclear which school or schools are interested in Ewers, a $6 million NIL deal would make the quarterback perhaps the highest-paid player in college football. New Duke quarterback Darian Mensah is reported to have signed a two-year, $8 million NIL deal [[link removed]] after transferring from Tulane.

Ewers will play at least one more game with Texas: A CFP Semifinal matchup next Friday, Jan. 10. The Longhorns are considered likely to start Arch Manning at quarterback next season.

Sun Devils Heating Up

Texas was pushed to the brink by an Arizona State team that entered the Peach Bowl as a double-digit underdog, despite winning the Big 12 and earning one of four first-round CFP byes.

Ahead of Arizona State’s CFP debut, head coach Kenny Dillingham agreed to a five-year contract extension that will take his annual salary from about $4 million to about $7.25 million [[link removed]], according to the Arizona Republic. That will make Dillingham one of the highest-paid coaches in the Big 12.

Several Arizona State assistant coaches already received extensions, and the university committed to increasing support for the football program [[link removed]] through additional scholarships and potential revenue sharing, per ESPN.

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Ryan Day Quiets Calls for Firing, Pockets Bonuses for CFP Wins [[link removed]]

Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day’s future was in question after the Buckeyes were upset last month by Michigan, which won its fourth straight game between the arch-rivals.

But instead of flaming out of the College Football Playoff and potentially losing his job, Day has led his team to consecutive dominant victories—and is cashing in along the way.

Day, who is paid an annual salary of roughly $10 million, has guaranteed a bonus of at least $350,000 by making the CFP semifinals after Ohio State beat Oregon 41-21 in the Rose Bowl on Wednesday. That bonus would increase to $500,000 if the Buckeyes beat Texas in the Cotton Bowl, and to $1 million if Ohio State wins the national championship.

When calls for Day to be fired started to mount, his $37 million buyout became a talking point among Ohio State die-hards. His contract runs through the 2028 college football season.

Day did miss out on a potential bonus of $250,000 for winning the Big Ten championship. He could have also made $50,000 for making the conference title game and losing.

It Pays to Succeed

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian has already sealed at least $750,000 in CFP-related bonuses [[link removed]] by advancing to the semifinals.

Penn State’s James Franklin, who coached his team to a 31–14 win over Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl, had his contract amended [[link removed]] last month to reflect the expanded CFP structure, but the university did not release specific financial details. Previously, Franklin received $400,000 for making the four-team CFP, $500,000 for a semifinal win, or $800,000 for winning the national championship.

One Big Fig Every Game Matters?

Detroit Free Press

22.2 million

The TV audience for ESPN’s final Monday Night Football broadcast of the NFL season—Detroit’s 40–34 victory over San Francisco. The Lions played their starters despite the game having an extremely small chance of factoring into their playoff seeding. Unless Vikings-Lions in Week 18 ends in a tie, the result of Monday night’s game won’t matter.

ESPN said the 22.2 million viewership figure makes Lions-49ers a top-five most-watched MNF game since the network acquired the franchise in 2006.

FOS Explains The Biggest Athlete Paydays of 2024

FOS illustration

2024 featured record-breaking contracts across the sports landscape. They ranged from Juan Soto’s jaw-dropping $765 million deal with the Mets to Jayson Tatum’s $315 million payday—which sets him on track to become the NBA’s first billionaire—and Dak Prescott resetting NFL salary standards.

Our FOS Explains series breaks down the biggest athlete contracts of 2024, how they happened, and what they mean for the future. You can watch the full episode on YouTube here [[link removed]].

SPONSORED BY PRUDENTIAL

Protecting Generations with Marcus Mariota

Marcus Mariota—a former Rose Bowl Game champion and soon-to-be father of two—is teaming up with Prudential to highlight the importance of financial planning. In Protecting Generations [[link removed]], Marcus shares how preparing today can create a strong foundation for Generation Beta and beyond.

For 150 years, Prudential [[link removed]] has helped families secure their future through thoughtful decisions and smart planning. As the proud title sponsor of the Rose Bowl Game for the third consecutive year, Prudential continues to support this cultural tradition while showcasing its commitment to protecting what matters most—your life’s work.

Discover how Marcus is preparing [[link removed]] for his growing family’s future and learn how you can secure yours.*

Conversation Starters How much has Texas earned for the SEC by winning its first two CFP games? Check out how much the new conference gets [[link removed]]. How did the NHL’s Winter Classic at Wrigley Field come together? Derryl Barnes documented the process in our most recent Stadium Status [[link removed]]. Which golfers and tennis players earned the most prize money in 2024? Scottie Scheffler’s total is awe-inspiring [[link removed]]. Editors' Picks Glitzy NHL New Year’s Eve Winter Classic Showcased Connor Bedard’s Star Power [[link removed]]by Meredith Turits [[link removed]]The business of Bedard—on full display—is crucial for the NHL. Saudi PIF’s Influence on Global Sports Is Growing After a Big 2024 [[link removed]]by Asli Pelit [[link removed]]Saudi Arabia left even more fingerprints on global sports. Can Pat McAfee Get An NFL Head Coach Fired? [[link removed]]by Dennis Young [[link removed]]The punter-turned-commentator went nuclear on the Colts regime this week. Question of the Day

What will Quinn Ewers do after this season?

Declare for the NFL Draft [[link removed]] Transfer to another school [[link removed]] Stay at Texas [[link removed]]

Tuesday’s result: 57% of you thought the NBA would end this season with lower TV ratings than the last one.

DISCLAIMER

*Marcus and Kiyomi Mariota are non-customer, paid promoters of Prudential Financial. Learn more about the material terms of their relationship with Prudential at [[link removed]].

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