It’s the most wonderful time of the year.

And not just because of the holidays. Between the final few weeks of a thrilling NFL season and the College Football Playoff, there’s no shortage of gridiron action to take in. That’s why on today’s episode of The GIST of It, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz are tossing the perfect spiral: a College Football Playoff special, breaking down the 12-team field and this weekend’s spiciest showdowns. Hut, hut, here we go.

’Twas a dark NFL Sunday.

Two major injuries rattled the league in Week 15. First, superstar Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL in the final two minutes of his team’s loss to the LA Chargers. But that wasn’t all: hours later, Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Micah Parsons went down with a non-contact knee injury that was later confirmed to be an ACL tear. Today’s episode of The GIST of It takes a look at how these devastating injuries will impact the NFL.

Is it hot in here?

Or is it just “Heated Rivalry,” the steamy gay romance hockey drama sweeping North America? On Tuesday, the NHL showed a trailer of the popular show at the Montreal Canadiens Pride Night, a viral moment that has everyone talking. On today’s episode of The GIST of It, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz contextualize the moment in the grand scheme of hockey culture, which is notoriously homophobic, and discuss if this is a true ground-breaking moment for the league.