We are set for a battle of the underdogs in Phoenix Saturday night as both Ole Miss and Miami upset their quarter-final opponents. Miami was able to take down Ohio State as a 9.5-point underdog. Ole Miss beat Georgia as a 5.5-point underdog. Both are considered unlikely to be here, yet the least likely matchup is the one we are gearing up for. While Miami was the less likely of the two, they answered a lot of questions about their identity going forward…

SPORTS TALK GEORGIA

SPORTS TALK FLORIDA

Why Miami will win a National Title

PHYSICALITY. Plain and simple. Miami had an argument for the best lines of scrimmage in the country entering the year. But those in-season losses to Louisville and SMU made us forget who they were. All of their wounds were self-inflicted. Penalties, ill-timed turnovers, and lots of turnovers at times all played a factor in Miami’s losses.

But they have found their identity once again in the College Football Playoffs. Their penalties are down, and they have won the turnover battle in both of their CFP matchups. Which has allowed them to flex the talent that they have on this roster.

The lines of scrimmage have gotten a lot of shine thus far. But do not let that overshadow their defensive backs and skill position players, who have won them football games with explosive plays. When I think about that Texas A&M game, I think of Malachi Toney’s touchdown and Bryce Fitzgerald’s 2 interceptions. When I think of the Ohio State game, I think of Keionte Scott’s pick-6.

They are an extremely well-rounded team whose play style has mirrored that of Saban’s early teams at Alabama. Miami has not been asking Carson Beck to do a whole lot, mainly because they haven’t needed him to. They have won games on the ground and through their defense. However, this Ole Miss team might be the offense that could derail that play style…

How Ole Miss can ruin Miami’s homecoming

Ole Miss is going to have to start by sustaining drives. This is not going to be an easy task against this Miami front 4. Ruben Bain and the boys are going to create interior pressure at a much higher rate than Georgia could. That will, in turn, allow Miami to have more effective containment of Trinidad Chambliss. Back to sustaining drives, though, Ole Miss’s longest scoring drive was in the first quarter against Georgia when they took 4:27 off the clock and kicked a field goal.

Ole Miss also needs to create turnovers and hope that Miami commits a higher number of penalties than they have in the first two games of the playoffs. This doesn’t exactly bode well for Ole Miss, seeing as how they are T-80th in the country in turnover margin and T-75th in penalties per game.

So what does go in Ole Miss’s favor? Trinidad Chambliss is miles ahead of Julian Sayin at this point in their careers. As a whole, Ole Miss’s offense is a better, more complete unit than Ohio State’s offense was this year. But all totaled they key factor in this game for Ole Miss is Kewan Lacy. He has been one of the best running backs in college football this year and will have to be on Thursday night if the Rebels are going to win. The best way to slow down a great pass rush is with a good running game. This will also lead to balance on offense and longer drives overall for the Rebels.

Ole Miss’s defense needs to have a bend but don’t break mentality. It is what won them the Sugar Bowl. Twice, Georgia was in the red zone against the Rebels and came away with three. Meanwhile, Ole Miss’s offense was perfect on its red zone possessions against Georgia. A perfect 4/4. Those trends will need to continue for the Rebels if the dream season is to live on.

Final Thoughts+ Prediction/Betting lines

As much as I would love for Ole Miss to win a National Title and really stick it to Lane Kiffin and the ginormous yapper he has on him. I do not see how they will be able to hang with the physicality of Miami for 60 minutes. I think the people of South Florida will be feeling like it’s 2001 all over again and right some wrong that occurred the last time they played in the Fiesta Bowl.

Prediction: Miami

Line: Miami -3, Over/Under is 52.5

Main Street Sports stands on the edge of a shutdown that could reshape how fans watch local games across the country. Everything now hinges on a bid from London‑based DAZN, which is trying to acquire Main Street and its sixteen FanDuel‑branded regional sports networks.

A Crisis Spreading Across the Country

The crisis touches every region where the networks still operate. FanDuel RSNs carry teams across the Midwest, the South, the Mountain West, the Great Lakes, and the West Coast. Pressure grows each day as missed payments ripple through the leagues and force executives to confront the future of local sports broadcasting.

DAZN Sees a Major Opening in the U.S. Market

DAZN views the turmoil as a rare opportunity to enter the U.S. market in a major way. The streamer wants to acquire all sixteen networks and build direct relationships with MLB, the NBA, and the NHL. The move would expand DAZN far beyond combat sports and place it alongside Netflix, Apple, Amazon Prime, and YouTube as a major player in live sports.

Missed Payments Trigger Alarm Across Leagues

The trouble began when Main Street failed to make a December payment to the St. Louis Cardinals. The situation escalated on January 6, when thirteen NBA teams did not receive their scheduled rights payments. Those missed payments triggered alarm inside league offices, where executives now warn that the next few weeks will determine the fate of sixteen networks and twenty eight teams.

Shutdown Looms if No Deal Is Reached

The deadline falls between late January and early February. If DAZN and Main Street cannot reach a deal, Main Street plans to shut down after the 2026 NBA and NHL seasons. That collapse would return local rights to many teams for the first time in decades and accelerate a shift that has been building for years.

Leagues Preparing Backup Plans

If the DAZN deal collapses, the leagues have backup plans. The NBA and NHL expect to launch their own streaming services in the 2026 and 2027 seasons. Major League Baseball already controls broadcasts for the Diamondbacks, Padres, and Rockies, and expects to add the Washington Nationals, who broke away from MASN. MLB has told its remaining FanDuel teams that it can take over their broadcasts by spring training.

Experts Say Leagues May Welcome the Shift

Sports media branding expert Jeff Dennis believes the leagues may not fear that outcome.

“Every major U.S. league is working toward a more complete direct to consumer model,” Dennis said. “If teams regain their local rights, leagues like MLB, the NBA, and the NHL could finally bundle local games into their own streaming packages, something they’ve never been able to do under the regional sports network system.”

The Warning Signs Were Always There

The warning signs were visible long before Main Street Sports took control of the former Diamond Sports networks. Diamond’s bankruptcy exposed a system collapsing under the weight of cord cutting, shrinking subscriber revenue, and long term rights deals that no longer matched the economics of modern television.

When Main Street stepped in, it inherited the same broken model, the same debt pressure, and the same unsustainable contracts. In hindsight, the deal may have been doomed from the start. Main Street never had the financial cushion or structural advantages needed to fix a business that had already fallen apart, and the missed payments to the Cardinals and thirteen NBA teams only confirmed what many insiders feared: the RSN model was running out of road.

A Forty‑Year Model Nears Its End

Former Warner Communications executive Frank Carney sees the moment as the end of a long era.

“The regional sports network model we built in the nineteen eighties generated hundreds of millions of dollars and helped fuel ESPN’s national rise through the cable bundle,” Carney said. “But in 2026 that bundle no longer delivers the revenue it once did. Rights deals built on those old economics are now impossible to sustain, and that is why so many regional networks are fighting to survive.”

Some RSNs Remain Strong

Not every RSN is in danger. Team‑owned networks remain stable and insulated from the collapse.

“The team‑owned RSNs aren’t in danger. They stay strong because the teams control the product,” said sports media consultant Bill Jensen.

A Decision That Will Shape the Future

The regions at risk stretch across the country. Midwest fans could lose long standing outlets in Detroit, Milwaukee, Cleveland, Ohio, and Minneapolis. Southern markets like Miami, Atlanta, and Tampa Bay face the same uncertainty. Western markets in Los Angeles and San Antonio also hang in the balance.

These networks carry teams that anchor local identity and regional pride, and their disappearance would leave major gaps in the media landscape.

The next few weeks will determine whether DAZN rescues the networks or whether the leagues reclaim local rights. Either outcome will change how millions of fans watch their hometown teams. The regional sports model that dominated for forty years now stands at its final hour, and the industry is preparing for a future that will look very different from its past.

Eight countries made their way into the quarter-final stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after thrilling results in the round of 16 that ended on Tuesday.

Host nation Morocco remain strong contenders as they continue their quest for continental glory on home soil. They are joined by defending champions Cote d’Ivoire, alongside African heavyweights Cameroon, Nigeria, Algeria, Egypt, Mali and Senegal.

With just eight teams left standing, attention now turns to form, momentum, and overall performance heading into the quarter-final clashes.

Sports Talk has analysed the remaining contenders, ranking the qualified teams based on their performances in the last round by highlighting the strongest sides as well as those who may need to improve to lift the coveted AFCON trophy.

Djigui Diarra stands tall for Mali

Mali progressed into the last-eight of the tournament, thanks to Djigui Diarra’s heroics as he saved two penalties in their shoot-out victory against Tunisia.

Diarra commanding presence was the difference for 10-man Mali after Tom Saintfiet’s side held Tunisia 1-1 draw after 120 minutes of play. He made three crucial saves during and clutch saves in the shoot-out as they set-up a clash with Senegal.

Diallo’s exceptional once again for Cote d’Ivoire

For the third time at the AFCON 2025, the Manchester United star took home the Man of the Match award after spearheading Cote d’Ivoire’s 3-0 thrashing of Burkina Faso.

Diallo opened the scoring for the Elephants in the 20th minute and he laid the assist for Yan Diomande to double the lead, a few minutes later.

The 23-year-old has contributed three goals and an assist in four appearances for Emerse Fae’s team who are aiming to retain the African title.

Algeria’s tactical masterclass standout

Vladimir Petkovic’s tactical genius made the difference for Algeria in their hard-fought 1-0 victory against the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In a keenly contested encounter, the Bosnian coach introduced super-substitute Adil Boulbina to add more intensity into the match which paid off with his last-minute stunning strike.

Petkovic’s timely decisions to replace fatigued players like Riyad Mahrez and Ismael Bennacer can’t be overlooked as it provided the Desert Foxes with alternative options to break the resolute DR Congo side.

Egypt struggle to impress against Benin

The record winners of the Africa Cup of Nations struggled to beat Benin in the round of 16, as they needed extra time to secure a 3-1 win and advance into the quarter-final.

It was not the best of performances for Hossam Hassan’s team but late goals from Yasser Ibrahim and Mohamed Salah were enough to secure their passage.

The Pharaohs failed to convert their early chances against Benin and would need to be more clinical in front of goal when they face a disciplined Cote d’Ivoire team on Saturday.

Morocco disappoint in narrow Tanzania win

Morocco narrowly survived a national shock against Tanzania as Brahim Diaz’s 64th-minute goal separated the two teams in Rabat.

Walid Regragui’s team dominated proceedings from kick-off but found it difficult to break the Taifa Stars with clear cut chances.

Monday’s result was further proof that the Atlas Lions are struggling to meet Moroccans’ expectations and they would need to put more efforts in their style of play when they face Cameroon on Friday.