Oct 19, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (97) stands in the face off circle against the Dallas Stars in the third period at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images It’s the shortest month of the year, but February packs a punch when it comes to the sports calendar.
With the Philadelphia Eagles crowned Super Bowl LIX champions on Sunday night, football season is officially behind us. Yet there are a few tentpole sporting events on the immediate horizon we have to look forward to, along with some college hoops fun before Selection Sunday arrives.
4 Nations Face-Off
Did you know that Connor McDavid has not competed in an international event since the 2018 IIHF World Championship? He’s also never been Team Canada teammates with Sidney Crosby.
The league’s most talented young star was shut out of two straight Olympics due to the NHL’s unwillingness to participate. “We can’t go six, seven, eight years without playing best-on-best,” McDavid said after the NHL cited COVID-19 concerns for pulling out of the 2022 Beijing Games.
Enter the 4 Nations Face-Off, a new tournament I’m intrigued to watch. The U.S., Canada, Sweden and Finland have put together rosters packed with NHL talent and will play a round robin in Montreal and Boston Feb. 12-17 before the championship game Feb. 20. Consider it a teaser for the 2026 Winter Games, when NHL players are set to return (knock on wood).
NBA All-Star Weekend
Feb 5, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) reacts after getting the basket and the foul against the Chicago Bulls during the third quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images Speaking of new formats, the All-Star Game will actually be a three-game tourney as the NBA continues to tweak and tinker with the event in search of better ratings.
Three All-Star teams have been drafted for the mini-tournament that also features a squad of Rising Stars. I guess it’s worth a shot. Kenny Smith was roundly mocked for the team he drafted, allowing Teams Shaq and Chuck to snap up the biggest names in the sport while he settled for a bunch of supporting pieces around Anthony Edwards and Jalen Brunson.
The dunk contest lineup is pretty weak, while the 3-point contest has much more bankable names—but if I’m following the NBA discourse correctly, no one will watch because the entire league has become a 3-point contest at this point.
Daytona 500
Nov 10, 2024; Avondale, Arizona, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Joey Logano (22) celebrates after winning the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series championship and the NASCAR Cup Series Championship race at Phoenix Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images I admit I’m not a NASCAR guy, but there’s plenty of reason to catch some of the Daytona 500 this Sunday, starting with the fact that it’s a Crown Jewel race and the first opportunity to see the sport’s star drivers in months.
Might Kyle Busch end his uncharacteristically long winless drought and win Daytona for the first time? Could Denny Hamlin grab his fourth? And after receiving a preliminary injunction in its antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR, is Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing ready to focus on, well, racing?
Top-five college hoops: Auburn at Alabama
Jan 29, 2025; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide guard Chris Youngblood (8) reacts after defeating the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Humphrey Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Wesley Hale-Imagn Images The Iron Bowl on the hardwood? Please and thank you. This Saturday at 4 p.m. ET—before you skip the dunk contest in favor of literally any other evening plans—make sure you catch this game.
Florida just handed then-No. 1 Auburn its first loss in SEC play, 90-81 at Auburn. Who’s going to assume the No. 1 spot in Monday’s new AP poll? Probably Alabama, because No. 2 Duke also took a loss over the weekend while the No. 3 Tide improved to 20-3 with their sixth straight win.
These teams have the No. 1 and 8 scoring offenses in the country. Alabama loves to run the floor with the fastest tempo in the sport, defense be damned. A former five-star transferred from one school to the other. Bad blood? You better believe it.
