• CFP Semifinals Deliver Rose Bowl Thriller, Lackluster Sugar Bowl 
• Ted Thompson To Vacate Packers GM Role, Move To Advisory Position
• Rick Smith Stepping Aside As Texans GM, Taking Leave Of Absence
• Rangers Win Exciting NHL Winter Classic On Cold Day In N.Y.

Georgia defeated Oklahoma 54-48 in the Rose Bowl yesterday in an "overtime thriller that was exactly what a College Football Playoff semifinal is supposed to be." It was "one of the greatest Granddaddies of Them All" (ESPN.com, 1/1). The first CFP semifinal of the day "delivered a raucous, dizzying and tense game, a four-hour manic sprint that matched the historic setting" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 1/1). In 104 years, "even the Rose Bowl had never seen anything like it" (N.Y. POST, 1/2).

In the second semifinal, Alabama topped Clemson in a "relatively mundane, hammer-meets-nail kind of 24-6 victory" in the Allstate Sugar Bowl (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 1/2). There "weren't a whole lot of fireworks" in the game at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, as the Sugar Bowl was "upstaged" by the Rose Bowl (L.A. TIMES, 1/2).

Georgia fans shortly after the team's Rose Bowl win "broke StubHub buying up tickets" to the CFP title game at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Resale prices are "already absolutely out of control, and they're only going to go up." As of last night, prices were "starting at $2,500 to get in the building." Georgia has not played for a national title since '83 (CBSSPORTS.com, 1/2). Both Alabama and Georgia fans "won't have to travel far." Tuscaloosa is about 200 miles from Atlanta, and Athens is "just 72 miles away" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 1/2). 

Ted Thompson has “reached an agreement” with Packers President & CEO Mark Murphy to “relinquish his position” as GM, according to sources. A source said that it was “Murphy’s decision to start the transition from the 64-year-old Thompson to new front-office leadership.” Thompson, whose contract expires after this season, “will move to an advisory position within the personnel department.” The Packers “will conduct a full search for a new general manager” (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 1/2).

Texans GM Rick Smith has “stepped aside” after 12 seasons with the team. Smith yesterday said that he “will retain his title” of Exec VP and “plans to return in a year.” Smith after Sunday’s loss to the Colts said that he “would take an ‘extended leave of absence’ to help take care of his wife, Tiffany, who's suffering from breast cancer and has been undergoing treatment in Arizona for three months.” Smith, who was three years left on his contract, “will be paid during his absence.” Team Owner Bob McNair and his son, Vice Chair & COO Cal McNair, are “expected to hire a new general manager.” Interviews “could begin this week” (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 1/2).

The Rangers beat the Sabres 3-2 yesterday in the Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic at Citi Field, and the game was a "huge hit," demonstrating the annual outdoor showcase is "still a big deal" in its 10th year. A crowd of 41,821 attended the game, which was "something of a classic" (NEWSDAY, 1/2). It was "technically a home game for the Sabres," but "most of the crowd was in Rangers blue, and they rose and roared when the puck went past" Sabres G Robin Lehner in OT (N.Y. TIMES, 1/2).

The local temperature at the start of the contest was 20.5 degrees, compared to an average of 37 for the "previous nine Winter Classics." This was the "second-coldest, ahead of only the 13-degree day" for the '14 game in Ann Arbor, Mich. (BUFFALO NEWS, 1/2). The front page of USA Today features an image of Rangers fans at the game bundled up for a cold day in Queens (THE DAILY).

Team USA on Friday in the World Junior Championship "got its storybook ending" as it "roared back against Canada for a 4-3 shootout win" at New Era Field. The event was "everything the outdoor game was supposed to be -- 44,000 fans in the stands with cold, snowy conditions." The game "started with a very fine snow but the intensity picked up during the course of the game," with "frequent shovel breaks necessary to attempt to keep the surface in playing condition." By the third period that was a "nearly impossible task with piles of snow building everywhere on the ice" (BUFFALO NEWS, 12/30).

An item before the Henderson (Nev.) City Council today will “start the process of selling 55 acres of land near the executive airport to the Raiders to build” their Southern Nevada HQ (LAS VEGAS SUN, 12/30). If council members today approve the resolution to offer the land, the body "would have to vote again Feb. 6 to give the offer final approval." The land has an appraised value of $12M (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 12/30).

WFAN-AM today launches its new show in Mike Francesa's former afternoon time slot. Host Chris Carlin, working alongside Bart Scott and Maggie Gray for the 2:00-6:00pm ET show, will be in the "spotlight like never before." Carlin: "You think about ... ‘Do you want to be the guy who follows Mike?’ That’s a big question. ‘Are you going to be set up to succeed with the people I’m working with?’ And I had known Bart had been doing (radio) for a while and I knew Maggie and knew how sharp she is so I thought that would be fine. Ultimately, I knew following Mike would be daunting but if this phone call never comes again, ‘Am I going to be able to live with myself?’" (NJ.com, 1/2).

Meanwhile, CBS Sports Network this week adds a simulcast of "The Jim Rome Show" radio program to its weekday lineup. The net's Monday-Friday live studio programming slate now features "Boomer & Gio" (6:00-10:00am), "The Jim Rome Show" (12:00-3:00pm), "Tiki and Tierney" (3:00-6:00pm) and "Time to Schein" (6:00-7:00pm) (THE DAILY).

South Korea this morning "offered high-level talks with rival North Korea to find ways to cooperate" on the Pyeongchang Games, one day after North Korea President Kim Jong Un said that he was "willing to send a delegation to the Olympics." The two sides could "meet Jan. 9 at the shared border village of Panmunjom to discuss Olympic cooperation and how to improve overall ties" (AP, 1/2).

The Friends of SDSU group has "gathered more than 100,000 signatures to support San Diego State’s proposed redevelopment of Qualcomm Stadium." The signatures are "expected to be delivered to the county Registrar of Voters shortly after the new year" (SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.com, 12/29).

NBC has "made some adjustments" to its February schedule by adding three NHL Sunday afternoon telecasts during its coverage of the Pyeongchang Games (TIMESUNION.com, 1/1).

"I hate f------ losing" -- Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross, after his team's loss to the Bills on Sunday to finish the season 6-10 (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 1/1).

"I wish we were going. It still kills me that we're not" -- Rangers D Kevin Shattenkirk, who represented the U.S. in the Sochi Games, on the NHL choosing not to participate in this year's Olympics (ESPN.com, 12/31).

"I understand that teams might not want to have me on their team because I kneel, but we’ll see what happens. Colin [Kaepernick] is not in the league, so I’m not naive enough to think that it wouldn’t happen. I’m aware of it" -- 49ers S Eric Reid, on entering free agency after consistently kneeling during the national anthem this season (S.F. CHRONICLE, 1/1).

"It’s going to be a logistical challenge for the NFL because not only has there been no NFL team playing in their own Super Bowl in their own stadium ... but no NFL team has hosted an NFC Championship Game or divisional round playoff game. The closer you get, the harder it is going to be logistically" -- Vikings Exec VP/Public Affairs & Stadium Development Lester Bagley, on the Vikings having the NFC's No. 2 seed ahead of the Super Bowl at U.S. Bank Stadium (STARTRIBUNE.com, 12/31).

The COLUMBUS DISPATCH writes under the header, "Path To New Soccer Stadium Remains Unclear." Since late November, there "has not been public discussion regarding possible stadium sites" for the Crew, as Mayor Andrew Ginther’s office and the Columbus Partnership have been "firm in their stance they will not enter a 'bidding war' with another city."

The AP goes with, "Could The NBA's G League Be A Viable Alternative To College Basketball?" There is "no mistaking the distance between playing in the big time and being relegated to waiting in the wings." But the G League "makes it far easier for unproven talents" to get "extended fine-tuning."

Also: 

• Bob Ryan's annual state of Boston's sports teams.
• AAC Commissioner Mike Aresco on value of bowl wins.
• Could Nashville land a CFP game down the line?
• NFL protests during national anthem "sidelined by ambiguity."
• Minnesota's Super Bowl LII preparations "take shape this week."
• How the Golden Knights "became a miracle in the desert."
• Dancers "bring new edge to Nets and Knicks games."
• Blackhawks advisor Scotty Bowman "enjoying life in Florida sunshine."

Just remember as you enjoy these eight hours of college football bliss, the "braintrust" that runs the sport claimed for years this would ruin everything.

— Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) January 1, 2018

Georgia coach Kirby Smart's $1.35 million in bonuses so far is more than at least 9 FBS schools paid their head coach and 9 assistants -- combined -- this season.

— Steve Berkowitz (@ByBerkowitz) January 2, 2018

Update: 1600 donors, $37,000! #BillsMafia we can’t thank you enough! This money is going to make a huge impact for seriously ill and physically challenged kids and their families! Keep it coming!!

— Andy Dalton (@andydalton14) January 2, 2018

Texans have interest in Bills exec Brian Gaine (who used to work in Houston) and Pats exec Nick Caserio for their GM position

— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) January 2, 2018

Sponsoring college bowls definitely works because I’ve wanted to eat Chick-fil-A for the last 75 minutes.

— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) January 1, 2018

Speedo USA President John Graham rings the opening bell at the NYSE, joined by Team Speedo USA athletes Cullen Jones, Elizabeth Beisel, Conor Dwyer and Becca Meyers to kick off NYSE's "Fit Week."

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Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Places in 1950s News.”

“Pravda reported that Khrushchev, on his way to lunch, announced his decision to give this region to Ukraine.”

“What is Crimea?”