Sports this 'n' that

 The College Football Playoff is set for New Year's Eve.

Top ranked Georgia will host #4 Ohio State in the Peach Bowl in Atlanta, while #2 Michigan will play #3 Texas Christian in the Fiesta Bowl, the first half of the doubleheader airing on ESPN. The winners then play for the National title on January 10 at So-Fi Stadium, home of the NFL's Rams & Chargers, in Inglewood, California.

For the committee, the worst case scenario might be a rematch of Michigan & Ohio State. The Wolverines won at Columbus on November 26, beating their arch-rivals for the 2nd straight year.

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When Baker Mayfield left Cleveland, traded to the Carolina Panthers, his endorsement deal with Progressive Insurance ended. His career might be next.

The Panthers parted with Mayfield after an injury riddled three months which saw him lose his starting job twice, first to PJ Walker, the former XFL prodigy who is currently out with an injury, then to ex-Jet Sam Darnold, who split time at QB with Walker last year. There are a few teams that would take a flier on Mayfield, but those teams are all unlikely to make the playoffs. Stay tuned.

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Just days after 2-time Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom packed his bags for Arlington and the Texas Rangers, the Mets have reached a deal with another Cy Young winner.

Justin Verlander leaves the World Champion Houston Astros for the Mets, with a contract that will be 2 years and $86 million, with a vesting option for a 3rd year. This would reunite Verlander with Max Scherzer, as the two were teammates previously in Detroit.

Of course, what will really get the tabloids' attention is if Verlander's wife, model Kate Upton, shows up for some of her husband's starts, if not all, at Citi Field, plus some road games.

Your move, Houston.

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Deion Sanders is taking his "Coach Prime" act to Mile High Country.

Sanders announced over the weekend that he was leaving Jackson State for Colorado. Just watch. ESPN's College GameDay will make a point of going to the University of Colorado next season, and, as they did when they went to Jackson State, bring along national nuisance Stephen A. Smith. Maybe Sanders can do us all a favor, and hire Smith as his press flack (Sports Information Director). That way, ESPN's less embarrassed.

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Yes, the US was eliminated from the World Cup after losing to the Netherlands, 3-1, on Saturday, but there's no national crisis.

That might be because soccer is still not considered one of the top pro sports in this country. Most folks would rather be watching football, basketball, baseball, hockey, golf, & tennis, in that order, before watching soccer, despite the success of Major League Soccer. I think even NASCAR ranks ahead of soccer, depending on who you talk to.