Time to update that LinkedIn

The GIST: And then there were four. The College Football Playoff (CFP) semis kick off with tomorrow’s 7:30 p.m. ET Fiesta Bowl, featuring No. 6 Ole Miss and bracket-busting No. 10 Miami, followed by the Peach Bowl slated for Friday.

• We’ll preview Friday’s matchup between No. 1 Indiana and No. 5 Oregon in our next newsletter, but for now, here are all the spicy details about tomorrow’s tilt.

💙 Quarterback (QB) Trinidad Chambliss leads high-flying Ole Miss offense: With a program-record 13 wins already in the books, if the Rebels punch a National Championship ticket, it’ll almost certainly be because of Chambliss. The Division II transfer has been electric this postseason, highlighted by his 362-yard performance in Ole Miss’ quarter-final comeback win over No. 3 Georgia.

• Even more remarkable though? The Rebels’ resolve: They’re one win away from their first-ever CFP title game despite former head coach Lane Kiffin leaving for the top job at archrival LSU mere weeks before the CFP began. The drama.

🌴 Miami glow-up hinges on defensive dominance: Consider any doubts surrounding the Hurricanes’ CFP selection soundly dispelled. The U put on a defensive masterclass in their first two playoff games, holding defending champ No. 2 Ohio State and No. 7 Texas A&M to just 17 points combined. QBs hate to see defensive ends Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor coming.

• This historic program is hungry to return to its former glory, and it’s so close head coach Marco Cristobal — who led his alma mater through arguably the most difficult path to the semis — can taste it.

📌 The bottom line: Between the high-stakes and the storylines, this showdown is must-watch television, airing on ESPN in the U.S. and TSN in Canada. Can Miami’s stifling defense disrupt Ole Miss’ dynamic offense? Scroll to the bottom to tell us what you think.

The GIST: It’s officially pro women’s volleyball season. Two leagues — League One Volleyball (LOVB) and Major League Volleyball (MLV) — will begin their second and third seasons, respectively, this week, so we’re serving up a deep dive on the surging sport.

📚 The background: LOVB burst onto the scene with six teams last January, boasting a star-studded roster that included 75% of the most recent Team USA Olympic squad. And while the pro league launched in 2025, LOVB was first founded in 2020 as a network of youth volleyball clubs. From the ground up, baby.

• As for MLV, you might recognize the team names from what was previously the Pro Volleyball Federation (PVF). In August 2025, the PVF merged with MLV, yet another new league poised to enter the already crowded market.

• Both LOVB and MLV will expand by three teams each in 2027. LOVB is adding squads in LA, Minnesota, and San Francisco, and MLV in Washington, D.C., Minnesota, and Northern California. Despite the overlap, there are currently no plans for the two leagues to merge.

👋 Defending champ LOVB Austin opens season with rematch against Nebraska: What do you get when you put reigning league MVP Madisen Skinner (Austin) against the GOAT (and friend of The GIST) Jordan Larson (Nebraska)? Fireworks. It all goes down tonight at 6 p.m. ET.

✌️ MLV begins season with a fiery doubleheader: There are two matches on tomorrow’s opening slate: Columbus Fury vs. Atlanta Vibe at 7 p.m. ET and San Diego Mojo vs. Omaha Supernovas at 8 p.m ET. The late tilt features Team USA libero Morgan Hentz (Omaha), now a three-time MLV Preseason All-League pick. Diggin’ it.

💌 The hoops intel you need, straight to your inbox. It’s Unrivaled coverage that’s, well, unrivaled. Every Friday, we’ll take you inside the highlights, the heat checks, and the history being made. It’s where the stat sheet meets group chat takes.

• This isn’t just basketball analysis — it’s a hoops-fueled adrenaline rush, powered by our pals at Unrivaled. Leveling up your fandom has never been easier.

🏈 The NFL postseason is so on — are you ready to put some skin in the game? Whether you’ve been a Pick’ems Princess all season long or are just tuning into the action on the gridiron, you’re going to love our NFL Playoffs Bracket Challenge.

🤔 Why you should play:

• 📣 Rooting for your favorite team takes on a whole new meaning.

• 🤗 Be a part of The GIST’s one-of-a-kind community and compete against friends.

• 💰 There are some bragging rights (and prizes) on the line.

👏 Trust us, it’s even more fun to watch the postseason when you're in on the action…and when you’re watching with thousands of fellow GISTers. You have until Saturday, January 10th at 4:29 p.m. ET to submit up to three brackets — may the odds be ever in your favor.