Best CFP 3rd quarter ever? 😲

Happy New Year! We're back with our regularly scheduled newsletters, but I'm still processing the fact that it's 2023. Here's my highlights from the weekend:

• Bron went off on his birthday 🎂

• TCU came for the upset 🐸

• Georgia stays on top 🐶

• Bryce Young capped his college career 🏈

• Ronaldo is off to Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦

👑 Age is just a number for The King

Not only did Bron celebrate his 38th birthday on Friday, but he also notched a near-triple double as the icing on the cake. Against the Hawks, the vet had 47 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 points to carry the team to a 130-121 road win.

The four-time champ joined MJ as the only other player in NBA history to record at least 45 points, 10 rebounds and five assists at 38. There’s a reason why these guys are always at the top of people’s GOAT list.

Around the league, NBA players weighed in on Twitter while watching the 18-time NBA All-Star absolutely demolish.

KD tweeted: “Masterful 47 I just watched, Lebron James. Masterful…GGz” while Jamal Crawford said: “Bron is from a different planet…”.

To perform at such a high level for as long as he’s been in the league is absolutely ridiculous. Something only LBJ can do.

The question on many people’s minds: is when will Bron retire? Will he end up playing with his son, Bronny?

LeBron recently came out saying he does still want to compete for championships. He went on to set things straight and said that “playing basketball at this level just to be playing basketball is just not in my DNA anymore."

Knowing the King still wants a chip, do you think he will finish out the rest of his career in Purple and Gold?

One thing is undeniable: LeBron James is redefining Father Time.

🐸 The Horned Frogs make history

If you thought just as I did, you predicted Michigan to pull out the dub, but were proven wrong.

On Saturday, during the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, the Wolverines lost 51-45.

Michigan wasn't on their A-game early on. After the team trailed 21-3 in the second quarter and 41-22 in the third quarter, they just couldn't get over the hump.

We know how good of a defense Michigan has—they rank third in rushing defense, but during Saturday's game, they gave up 263 yards on the ground. That’s not like Michigan at all, and it clearly impacted their level of play.

This is the second year in a row Michigan lost in the CFP semifinal, but they are motivated to run it back to chase a winning outcome.

The No. 3 TCU now becomes the first Big 12 team to win a CFP game and is off to the championships to face Georgia.

🏈 Georgia is No. 1 for a reason

In their Peach Bowl matchup, the Bulldogs defeated the Buckeyes 42-41.

Ohio State didn’t make it easy for Georgia at all. Their defense was on 10 and it was looking quiet for Georgia throughout the second half of the game.

Things shifted on Ohio’s side once Marvin Harrison Jr. left the game in the third with a hit. The Buckeyes’ offense wasn’t as productive with him out.

Heading into the fourth, Georgia was down 14 points but completed the largest fourth-quarter comeback in a CFP game to prevail.

Their comeback wouldn't have been possible without Stetson Bennett. The QB threw a 10-yard pass to Adonai Mitchell with 54 seconds left to help secure the victory.

Georgia now has a chance to defend its national championship against TCU this weekend. This will be the two team’s fifth matchup with Georgia sitting at a nice 4-0 in their head-to-head.

Can they remain the big dawgs against the frogs?

💥 Bryce Young finishes with a bang

In the Sugar Bowl matchup against Kansas State, Young passed for 321 yards and five touchdowns to lead his team to the 45-20 dub.

Though Kansas State came out the gates strong with an early 10-0 lead, it was a team effort by the Crimson Tide with many players, beyond just Bryce, contributing their best on the field.

By the second half, Young started to heat up and you could tell Alabama was about to take over. He connected on touchdown passes of 32, 17 and 47 yards in the third quarter alone.

Before you know it, Alabama grew their lead. It was a wrap for both the game and Young’s college career.

As he looks ahead to the draft, Young can be proud of what he’s done at Alabama. He finishes with a 23-4 record, walks aways as a National champ and Heisman Trophy winner, made All SEC honors two times, and became the only Bama QB to throw for 3,000+ yards in two different seasons.

He put on quite a show during his time in Tuscaloosa.

💰 Ronaldo secures the bag

Cristiano Ronaldo is off to join the Saudi Arabian club, Al Nassr. Oh, and he’s boutta make bank!

His new deal is worth $200M a year... the biggest contract ever in the sport.

Some are a bit surprised or disappointed by the move, as he leaves Manchester United following a fallout with management.

You could sense things were rocky back in the summer when rumors swirled that Ronaldo wanted out of United to join a club competing in the Champions League.

Despite what team he plays for, Ronaldo will always be remembered as one of the best players in the world.

Over his career, he won three Premier League titles, the FA Cup, two League Cups, the Champions League, and the first of his five Ballon d’Or crowns before joining Real Madrid back in 2009.

Al Nassr is one of Saudi Arabia’s oldest soccer clubs and has a history of winning. They have nine Saudi Premier League titles under their belt, and Ronaldo now hopes to add to that.

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🔥 New year, new gear

Are you him?! Start the year off right by grabbing a HIM, Himothy, or Himmy Neutron shirt or hoodie to show people who you really are this year. No more excuses.

Check out at playmakerbrand.com for all our latest pieces.

• 😭 The Magic’s mascot took matters into his own hands

• 😳 This guy clearly took things personally

• 😂 It was bound to happen after this guy tried to cut him off

• 🚲 He thought this was pretty anticlimactic

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