FILE – Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) waves after the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game against the San Francisco 49ers Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. Kelce will bring his highly successful music festival called Kelce Jam back to Kansas City. The second annual one-day event held on May 18 will be hosted by the superstar tight end of the Chiefs and headlined by Lil Wayne, 2 Chainz, Diplo and local legend Tech N9ne. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)
Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce and Philadelphia wide receiver DeVonta Smith could both add their names to the Super Bowl record books after Sunday’s 59th edition of the game.
Kelce has 31 Super Bowl receptions, which is currently second to Jerry Rice’s 33. So three receptions, Sunday, and he’s the all-time leader.
While that might seem like a lock, Kelce had just two receptions in the AFC Championship Game win against Buffalo. That was his lowest total in any playoff game in which he’s played.
Kelce, with 350, is fifth on the all-time Super Bowl receiving yards list. Rice is the leader with 589, but Kelce needs just 15 yards to move past Lynn Swann and Rob Gronkowski, who are tied with 364.
As far as overall playoff records go, Kelce is already the leader in receptions with 174. He’s second in yards, with 2,039 to Rice’s 2,245. He’s also second in touchdowns with 20, but needs just two to tie Rice (22) for the all-time lead.
Smith, the Eagles first-round draft pick in 2021, can add his name to a special list of players to have won a Heisman Trophy, a National Title in college and a Super Bowl.
That current list stands at four players: Tony Dorsett (Pitt/Cowboys), Marcus Allen (Southern Cal/Raiders), Charles Woodson (Michigan/Packers) and Reggie Bush (Southern Cal/Saints).
Who’s Still Here?
Kansas City and Philadelphia met in the Super Bowl just two years ago. The teams that take the field Sunday won’t look the same as that one from 2023.
The Chiefs have 32 new players on their roster from the Super Bowl 57 win, while the Eagles have 35 new players from their Super Bowl 57 loss.
Kansas City has almost an entirely new group of wide receivers with rookie Xavier Worthy and veterans Hollywood Brown and DeAndre Hopkins.
Five of Philadelphia’s key defensive players — defensive tackle Jalen Carter, rookie defensive backs Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, linebacker Zach Braun and edge rusher Nolan Smith were not around two years ago.
Rematches
This is the ninth Super Bowl rematch. Of the first eight the team that won the first one is 6-2 in the second one.
That’s bad news for Eagles fans.
The good news for Eagles fans is one of the two teams to lose the first game and win the second one was the Eagles when they beat New England in Super Bowl 52 (they lost 39).
Washington is the other team to win a rematch when it beat Miami in Super Bowl 17 and losing to the undefeated Dolphins in Super Bowl 7.
More Rematches
This is the fifth time there is a rematch between head coaches in a Super Bowl as Andy Reid faces Nick Sirianni. In the first four the winner of the first also won the second.
Reid beat San Francisco’s Kyle Shanahan twice.
New York’s Tom Coughlin beat New England’s Bill Belichick twice.
Dallas’ Jimmy Johnson beat Buffalo’s Marv Levy twice.
Pittsburgh’s Chuck Noll beat Dallas’ Tom Landry twice.
No Picks Allowed
Both quarterbacks KC’s Patrick Mahomes and Philly’s Jalen Hurts have been very protective of the football through the playoffs and at the end of the regular season.
Mahomes has thrown 288 passes without an interception, while Hurts has gone 209 passes without a pick.
Head or Tails?
How important in winning the coin toss? Not very.
The team that wins the toss is 26-32 all-time in Super Bowls, although the Chiefs, who will call the toss as the visitors, are 2-for-2 the past two years.
What is important is scoring first. The team that scores first is 37-21 all-time in the Super Bowl.
3-Peats
Kansas City is trying to become the first team to win three consecutive Super Bowls and the first team to win three consecutive NFL Championships since the 1965-67 Green Bay Packers.
The last team in any of the four major sports to win three straight titles are the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers (1999-02). The last time it happened in Major League Baseball it was the Yankees (1998-00) and the last NHL team was the New York Islanders (1981-83).
The Breeders’ Cup starts today, and Let ’em Run is on site.
Rear View Mirror Segment Introduction
Let ’em Run continues to improve our product, and we are rolling out our “Rear View Mirror” segment in today’s edition for Sports Talk Florida, where we look back on races we broke down and see where we missed a possible pick and why, and also how we landed on a good pick. In life they say “the windshield is bigger than the rear view mirror so you look ahead, instead of back”. We think in handicapping, a good idea occasionally to look back!!
Friday 11/28 — Churchill Downs
Race 10 – The Mrs. Revere Stakes Looking back on our Podcast, John and I both landed on #4 Classic Q as an upset winner over big favorite #1 Lush Lips. The favorite proved her class and just nipped Classic Q. and a fast closing #10 Pretty Picture.
Race 11 – The Clark Stakes The “Rear View Mirror” told us we should have given a long look at the #9 Magnitude, who took it to the field with the highest U.S. Timeform early pace figure. John made a strong case for #5 Chunk of Gold, who had more company up front than expected. My pick #4 Gosger, had many Brisnet angles that made him strong in my book, but never fired. Keep an eye on this runner next out, odds will surely be worth a look.
Saturday 11/29 — Del Mar
Race 5 – The Seabiscuit Handicap In this race, the “Rear View Mirror” told us the only way (in our opinion) the #4 Call Sign Seven could have been used, was if you used a dart board, no offense to those who picked him!! John and I both landed on #3 Almanderes, who ran in 4th place, as the leader ran away from all in the field.
Race 7 – The Jimmy Durante Stakes Some redemption here as John laid out a Trifecta Key for $20 (4/1,5,6,8,9/1,5,6,8,9) and returned $61.50. Hey, a win is a win. I dropped anchor on the #5 La Ville Lumiere, a long shot at 8-1, with a lot of Brisnet angles to work with. She ran a nice race, but only managed a 3rd place finish.
Race 9 – The Hollywood Stakes Using the “Rear View Mirror”, a case could have been made for winner #4 Salamis. Leading rider Umberto Rispoli jumped aboard for trainer Chad Brown. In the last race he was a tough load, and closed, but too late. He ran back to the 2 back race and took the top spot, not an impossible pick with a closer look.
Looking Ahead
Moving forward, Let’emRun is looking to run multiple Podcasts each week in the New Year. Coming up on Friday 12/5/25 Happy Hour at 3PM, we will dive into 2 races being run on Saturday 12/6/25… Race 6 at Laurel Park, The Maryland Juvenile. We will then jump over to Race 7 at Turfway Park, The Boone County. Some interesting races, at some interesting venues.
Upcoming Coverage
On Saturday 12/6/25, we will get back to East Coast racing at Aqueduct, where we will cover Races 7 thru 11, including Race 9 The Remsen Stakes (Kentucky Derby Prep), and Race 10, The Cigar Mile. Two big races each year at the Big A, so be sure to tune in for both shows, and as always Let ’em Run.
Paris Saint-Germain legend Jay-Jay Okocha has rankked Serbian coach Dragoslav Stepanovic as the manager with the most significant impact on his career.
Okocha credited Stepanovic for guiding him during his formative years at Eintracht Frankfurt which shaped him in becom of the most skillful players during his active career.
Okocha joined Frankfurt from Borussia Neunkirchen in December 1991, a move that marked the beginning of his rise in European football.
He spent four years at the club, four defining seasons that helped shape his playing style and future success.
Those early years in the Bundesliga showcased Okocha’s incredible talent, as he quickly built a reputation for his mesmerizing footwork, flair, and creativity.
One of his most iconic moments in Germany remains his unforgettable solo goal against Karlsruher SC, where he famously dribbled past multiple defenders, including goalkeeper Oliver Kahn before slotting the ball into the net.
The goal is still regarded as one of the greatest in German Bundesliga history.
Despite his strong start in Germany, Okocha’s time at Frankfurt came to an unexpected end. In 1995, he fell out of favour under new coach Jupp Heynckes, but he has explained why Stepanovic stood out above all other coaches in his career.
“The coach who influenced me the most was my first manager at Eintracht Frankfurt, Dragoslav Stepanovic,” Okocha told R.org.
“It was short, but he influenced me the most throughout my career. Stepanovic is the type of coach every young player deserves to encounter.”
Okocha credited the Serbian coach for giving him both confidence and freedom, qualities that helped him fully express his unique style of play.
“I did not just feel at home at Frankfurt,” he added. “His guidance pushed me to bring the best out of myself.”
After Frankfurt were relegated to the German second division, Okocha moved to Fenerbahce in 1996.
His transfer to Turkey marked the beginning of another electrifying chapter, where his performances attracted international attention and eventually paved the way for his high-profile move to Paris Saint-Germain in 1998.
college championship weekend The 2025 college football season kicks off with one of the most electrifying Week 1 slates in recent memory. With playoff contenders
Conference Championship weekend is here and it is the most decisive weekend has arrived, as the SEC, ACC, Big Ten, and Big 12 Championships take center stage. Four conference championships titles will be contested, each carrying massive implications for the College Football Playoff.
Alabama and Georgia clash in Atlanta for SEC supremacy, Ohio State battles Indiana in Indianapolis for the Big Ten crown, Duke faces Virginia in Charlotte for the ACC title, and Texas Tech meets BYU in Arlington for the Big 12 championship. With playoff spots hanging in the balance, every snap this weekend will shape the national picture and determine which programs advance to the sport’s ultimate stage.
SEC Title Game
The 2025 SEC Championship Game features the Alabama Crimson Tide (10-2) against the Georgia Bulldogs (11-1) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Kickoff is set for Saturday, December 6 at 4:00 p.m. ET (3:00 p.m. CT).
National Broadcast: ABC, ESPN+ streaming
Local Coverage: WSB-TV Channel 2 Atlanta, regional ESPN Radio affiliates
Alabama enters with momentum after a dramatic Iron Bowl win, while Georgia seeks revenge for its September loss to the Tide. The winner secures the SEC’s automatic bid to the College Football Playoff.
Big Ten Championship: Ohio State vs Indiana
For the first time, both teams enter undefeated (12-0). The Big Ten Championship Game will be played at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Saturday, December 6 at 8:00 p.m. ET.
National Broadcast: FOX, streaming via FOX Sports app
Local Coverage: Big Ten Network pregame, regional FOX affiliates in Ohio and Indiana
Ohio State’s elite defense faces Indiana’s high-powered offense led by QB Fernando Mendoza. The winner likely claims the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff.
ACC Championship: Duke vs Virginia
The ACC Conference Championship Game pits Virginia (10-2) against Duke (7-5) at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. Kickoff is Saturday, December 6 at 8:00 p.m. ET.
National Broadcast: ABC, ESPN Radio
Local Coverage: Virginia Sports Radio Network, regional ABC affiliates in North Carolina and Virginia
Virginia dominated Duke earlier this season, but the Blue Devils, led by QB Darian Mensah, seek redemption. A Cavaliers win likely secures a College Football Playoff berth.
Big 12 Championship: Texas Tech vs BYU
The Big 12 Championship Game features Texas Tech (11-1) against BYU (11-1) at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Kickoff is Saturday, December 6 at 12:00 p.m. ET (11:00 a.m. CT).
National Broadcast: ABC, streaming via ESPN app
Local Coverage: KSL-TV Utah, regional ABC affiliates in Texas
Texas Tech seeks to confirm its playoff spot, while BYU must win to secure the Big 12’s automatic bid. This rematch follows the Red Raiders’ November victory over the Cougars.
Bottom Line
Championship Weekend delivers four marquee matchups across the SEC, Big Ten, ACC, and Big 12. With College Football Playoff bids on the line, fans nationwide can tune in via ABC, FOX, ESPN Radio, and regional affiliates to watch history unfold.
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