After crushing the Oregon Ducks, 56-22, the Hoosiers will face the Miami Hurricanes for the national title on Jan. 19.

Somewhere between what had been a previously unimaginable football commute from Pasadena, California, to Bloomington, Indiana, the first day of January bled into the second.

A GRIP ON SPORTS • A New Year’s Day of dominating defense, guard-changing and a wild, wacky, “the-stage-is-on-the-field” ending finally is done. Though I’m pretty sure in an alternative dimension somewhere the Upside Down still exists and Georgia is still lateraling the football.

American college football has seen an influx of Australian-born kickers in recent years. This year’s College Football Playoff is chock-full of them.

While local games are on hiatus until next football season, our coverage continues on Memphis' new coach, high school moves and Ole Miss in the CFP.

A GRIP ON SPORTS • A headline caught my eye this morning. Something about college football. Whether it can be saved. And it hit me. The answer depends on how the person asking the question sees history.

As Indiana and Miami prepare to meet in the CFP national championship game, USA TODAY Sports has some early predictions