And then there were four

The GIST: If you like an underdog, you’re gonna love this: No. 13 Marshall and unranked Vermont will play tonight for a National Title after both programs upset their way to the ‘ship. Marshall has one previous title, earned against Indiana in 2020, while Vermont is hoping to take home the trophy for the very first time.

How they got here: Marshall’s 1–0 win over Ohio State in the semifinals was probably the biggest upset of the tournament…so far. Senior forward Tarik Pannholzer scored the team’s only goal just seven minutes into the contest, and the Thundering Herd held off the Buckeyes’ relentless attack for the dub. Junior goalkeeper Aleksa Janjic recorded his eighth shutout of the season, stopping five Ohio State shots. Really saving the day.

• Not to be outdone, Vermont had a dramatic upset of its own when the Catamounts bested Denver on penalty kicks (PKs). Vermont senior forward Yaniv Bazini tied the game at 1–1 in the 84th minute, forcing overtime. Three extra periods later, Vermont outscored Denver 4-3 on PKs, with freshman goalie Niklas Herceg making the game-winning stop.

The Championship – Today at 8 p.m. ET – ESPN2: Though no one expected Marshall to reach the title game, the Thundering Herd are no strangers to NCAA Tournament play, having made the field the past six seasons. Meanwhile, Vermont’s been building up to something big, appearing in the last four tournaments and making a quarter-finals run in 2022. Time to make history.

• These teams are both known for their defense, as Vermont only allowed two goals in the tournament, and Marshall shut out Ohio State, who scored 51 goals this season.

The GIST: Women’s college basketball jump-started conference play with two thrilling top-25 matchups, while the men’s side saw chaos in the non-conference slate this weekend. Is it too early to start the March Madness countdown?

🟢 No. 17 Michigan State women top 🟡 No. 21 Iowa: The 10-0 Spartans are off to their best start in school history, most recently beating Iowa 68–66 in a come-from-behind victory. Fifth-year senior Julia Ayrault’s 19 points, and Iowa’s 23 turnovers, helped the sparkling Spartans stay perfect.

🐝 No. 25 Georgia Tech women upset 👣 No. 14 North Carolina: Speaking of perfection, Georgia Tech is 11-0 after upsetting UNC 76–82 behind a 23-point effort from junior Tonie Morgan. UNC never gave up, outscoring Georgia Tech 31-16 (!!!) in the fourth quarter, but nothing could bring down that Yellow Jacket buzz.

🐺 No. 18 UConn men get a much-needed win over 🐶 No. 8 Gonzaga: UConn recorded their biggest win of the season, defeating Gonzaga 77–71 to hand the Zags their third loss of the season. Huskies freshman Liam McNeeley is proving to be the latest UConn star, finishing with 26 points and 8 rebounds. Yessir.

🥇 No. 1 Tennessee survives test from unranked 🟠 Illinois: Tennessee senior guard Jordan Gainey saved his team from disaster with a career-high 23 points and a buzzer-beating layup to stave off Illinois. The Vols are on a roll, winning their first 10 games for the first time in 25 years.

The GIST: For the very first time, a whopping 12 teams are competing in the College Football Playoff (CFP), which means there’s never been a better time to choose a winner and make a free bracket (March Madness–style) with The GIST.

What’s at stake: In addition to clinching the ultimate bragging rights as The GIST’s top college football fan, the top three brackets will win Ticketmaster gift cards: $300 for first, $200 for second, and $100 for third. Perfect for buying tickets to a sporting event or concert.

How to play: Sign up for free and we’ll remind you to lock in your picks before the CFP officially begins. It’s that easy!

With the holidays right around the corner, you deserve a festive year-end treat. How about a quick getaway to beautiful Charleston, South Carolina?

Enjoy the ultimate cocktail experience including the following:

• 🏨 A three-night stay at the deluxe Dewberry Charleston

• 🍸 A history-inspired cocktail class

• 💳 A $500 AMEX gift card for travel…and so much more

Charleston’s calling — enter to win today.