Max Kellerman defends his infamous ‘I want Iguodala’ take

Duke University and the University of Arkansas set a new 30-year college basketball viewership record during their Thanksgiving matchup, aided by a lead-in from NFL programming on Fox. The game attracted a significant audience, highlighting the growing popularity of college basketball during the holiday season.

Chris Fowler, a prominent ESPN commentator, asserted that the network does not influence the College Football Playoff (CFP) committee's decisions, emphasizing the integrity of the selection process during an appearance on The Dan Patrick Show. He aimed to dispel any notions of bias or manipulation by ESPN in the playoff selections.

Dan Le Batard expressed confidence that Bill Simmons is dissatisfied with Spotify's recent partnership with Netflix, which may impact Simmons' role and influence within the media landscape. This partnership aligns Spotify with a major player in streaming, potentially reshaping content distribution strategies in sports media.

Pat McAfee revealed that ESPN's 'College GameDay' considered broadcasting from Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship, highlighting the event's significance in college football. This consideration reflects the growing prominence of the Big Ten Conference in the national sports landscape.

ESPN's 'First Take' underwent significant changes, including the permanent removal of Max Kellerman, as Stephen A. Smith took the lead role with a rotating cast of guests. This shift has been a focal point in sports media discussions over the past year.

Rodney Harrison experienced an on-air freeze during the pregame show of NBC's Sunday Night Football, leading to speculation and concern among viewers and fans. This incident occurred while discussing the upcoming matchup between the Denver Broncos and the Washington Commanders, drawing immediate attention on social media platforms.

Laura Woods, the host of ITV Sport, collapsed on-air during a live broadcast of the women's soccer match between England and Ghana. The incident occurred shortly after the broadcast began, but Woods was quickly assisted by co-hosts Ian Wright and Anita Asante, and she later confirmed that she is doing okay.

Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has suggested that head coach Mike Tomlin should consider taking the head coaching position at Penn State, stating it is 'clean house time' for the Steelers. This comment comes amid increasing scrutiny of Tomlin's leadership following a series of disappointing performances by the team.