Magic lose in Chicago | Sentinel’s 2025 All-Area Football Team dominated by strong QBs | UF, UCF start conference hoops action

Xaivian Lee could be Gators’ X-factor as SEC play opens, national title defense resumes • UCF basketball opens Big 12 play by hosting No. 17 Kansas

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Sentinel Sports Final Saturday, January 3, 2026

Stay informed — sign up for these newsletters Knights Weekly WEEKLY The latest on UCF football, recruiting, basketball and more. Sign up Magic lose in Chicago | Sentinel's 2025 All-Area Football Team dominated by strong QBs | UF, UCF start conference hoops action Beede's Breakdown: Magic end trip with loss at Bulls Although Paolo Banchero scored 30-plus points for the second time this season, the Magic came up short in the fourth quarter Friday night at Chicago. Read more → Xaivian Lee could be Gators' X-factor as SEC play opens, national title defense resumes Florida shooting guard Xaivian Lee overcame early struggles after transferring from Princeton to position himself for an impactful SEC season. Read more → UCF basketball opens Big 12 play by hosting No. 17 Kansas The Knights are off to one of their best starts in program history, riding a 10-game winning streak. Read more → Ayden Pouncey, Marceles Carey, Jesse Barker Jr. are football players of the year Ayden Pouncey of Winter Park is the Iron Man, Marceles Carey of DeLand is the Offensive Player of the Year and Jesse Barker Jr. of South Lake is the Defensive Player of the Year for 2025. Read more → Sentinel's 2025 All-Area Football Team dominated by strong QBs Quarterbacks Noah Grubbs of Lake Mary and Blake McCullough of Bishop Moore first-team nod on the Sentinel's 2025 All-Area Football team. Read more → High school sports scores and top performers from Friday, Jan. 2 In the Sun Bash Tourney in St. Petersburg, Oak Ridge and The First Academy won games. In girls wrestling, Winter Springs won its own invite while Freedom was second at the Lady Braves Invite. Read more → Magic seek more poise as technicals rack up: 'Something that we've got to work on' Paolo Banchero, Desmond Bane and coach Jamahl Mosley want to see more poise from the Magic as the team racks up technical fouls this season. Orlando faces the Pacers again on Sunday at Kia Center. "That's definitely something that we need to work on and we'll continue to get better at as the season goes on," Bane said. Read more → Rangers beat Panthers 5-1 in first outdoor hockey game in Miami. Mika Zibanejad has hat trick Sam Reinhart scored for Florida, which was playing outdoors for the first time and lost for the fourth time in its last six contests overall. Read more → Buccaneers are focused on playing the Panthers, knowing they'll need help to win the NFC South "We just have to win the game on Saturday and then we'll see," coach Todd Bowles said Tuesday. "We've made this bed (and) we understand that. We can't do anything on Sunday unless we win Saturday." Read more → Dave Hyde: Can Troy Aikman save the Dolphins? Steve Ross can only hope ESPN announcer and Hall of Fame quarterback will help Dolphins in search for GM. Read more → Sam Darnold rebuilt his career with 49ers, looks to take next step for Seahawks Sam Darnold's season fizzled in Week 18 and the playoffs with Minnesota a year ago. He hopes things will be different against his former team, the 49ers. Read more → Old school vs. new school: Case for Patriots QB Drake Maye as NFL MVP Patriots QB Drake Maye has one more game to state his case for MVP against Matthew Stafford. The debate currently comes down to counting numbers vs. advanced stats. Read more → NFL playoff picture: Final week of regular season arrives with No. 1 seeds still undecided in AFC and NFC The NFL's regular season has reached its final weekend with plenty undecided in terms of the playoff picture. Here's what to watch in Week 18. Read more →

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