NCAAFB – Heisman finalists announced

Alabama quarterback Bryce Young and Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson are among the four finalists for the Heisman Trophy, which will be presented on Saturday. Young and Hutchinson just led their teams to conference titles and berths in the CFP semifinals. Young broke the SEC championship game record with 421 yards passing in a victory against Georgia’s vaunted defense on Saturday. The sophomore has thrown for 4,322 yards, 43 touchdowns and just four interceptions this season.  Hutchinson has 14 sacks and helped the Wolverines end an eight-game losing streak to rival Ohio State. Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett and Ohio State signal-caller C.J. Stroud are the other finalists. Pickett passed for 4,319 yards with 42 touchdowns this year to eclipse school marks. Stroud has completed 71% of his passes for 3,862 yards, 38 touchdowns and five interceptions in his first year as a starter.

NCAAFB – Freeman aims for national title as he takes over No. 5 Irish

Saying he was “ready for this challenge,” 35-year-old Marcus Freeman was formally introduced Monday afternoon as Notre Dame’s 30th head football coach. “I’m ready to lead this program to the greatest heights,” said Freeman, never a head coach but an assistant at five schools, including the last 11 months as Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator under former coach Brian Kelly. Those heights include Notre Dame's 12th national championship and first since 1988. The No. 5 Irish won't get a chance this year but will take their 11-1 record to the Jan. 1 Fiesta Bowl to play No. 9 Oklahoma State (11-2).

NBA – National Basketball Association

Last Night

Oklahoma City Thunder 114, Detroit Pistons 103

Indiana Pacers 116, Washington Wizards 110

Chicago Bulls 109, Denver Nuggets 97

Thursday 114, Pistons 102 – Thunder rally, beat sliding Pistons to end 8-game skid

Shea Gilgeous-Alexander had 30 points and 13 assists, Luguentz Dort scored 28 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder rallied past the Detroit Pistons 114-103 in a battle of teams that entered with eight-game losing streaks. Detroit led by 16 in the third quarter and 12 early in the fourth, but the Pistons were outscored 25-8 in the final five minutes of their ninth straight loss. Gilgeous-Alexander’s layup with 3:46 left gave Oklahoma City its first lead of the game, and after Cade Cunningham’s miss, Mike Muscala made it 101-97 with a 3-pointer.

Pacers 116, Wizards 110 – Pacers pull away early, hold off Wizards for 116-110 win

Domantas Sabonis finished with 30 points and 10 rebounds and Caris LeVert added 19 points to help the Indiana Pacers snap a four-game losing streak with a 116-110 victory over Washington. Indiana had lost four straight regular-season games to the Wizards. The Pacers also lost to Washington in last season's play-in round. Three-time All-Star guard Bradley Beal scored 34 points to lead the Wizards. Washington has lost three straight and four of five. The Wizards never got closer than eight points until the final minute of the game.

Bulls 109, Nuggets 97 – LaVine nets 32, Bulls overcome DeRozan's absence, top Denver

Zach LaVine scored 32 points and the Chicago Bulls beat the Denver Nuggets 109-97. The Bulls took a big hit a few hours before tipoff when leading scorer DeMar DeRozan entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols. Even without the four-time All-Star, they dominated down the stretch and tied Brooklyn for the Eastern Conference lead. Lonzo Ball and Nikola Vucevic each had 20 points and 10 rebounds, and all five starters scored in double figures for Chicago. The Nuggets lost for the eighth time in 10 games despite a triple-double by Nikola Jokic. The reigning MVP finished with 17 points, 12 rebounds and a season-high 15 assists. Will Barton and Monte Morris each scored 19. Aaron Gordon added 18 points.