Samuel Eto'o of Cameroon becomes the top-scoring player in Africa Cup of Nations history with his 15th goal, his penalty being the opening goal against Sudan. (BBC)
In one of the biggest upsets of the year thus far, the Kansas State Wildcats defeated the previously undefeated #2 Kansas Jayhawks, 84–75 behind 20-point games from three different freshmen, including K-State star Michael Beasley who finished with 25 points (9-for-18 from the field). The win ends a 24-year streak of the Jayhawks winning at the Bramlage Coliseum, the Wildcats' home court. It also leaves Memphis as the lone unbeaten Division I team.
Sporting their first Top 25 ranking since 1969 (AP #25), Baylor defeats (#18) Texas A&M, 116–110 in the longest game in Big 12 history, going five overtimes. The Bears' Curtis Jerrells had 36 points in the win. Five Baylor players fouled out, while three Aggies played over 55 minutes, also a record.
The Patriots become the first NFL team to start a season 18–0–0, including the playoffs. Tom Brady throws three interceptions, keeping the game close. But the ball-control running of Laurence Maroney (who tallies 122 yards and a touchdown) and a tough New England defense ensure the Patriots keep the ball for nearly 22 minutes of the second half. The Chargers get only nine points out of four red-zone possessions on offense.
Giants placekickerLawrence Tynes misses two attempts at a game-winning field goal in the fourth quarter. Green Bay wins the toss in overtime, but Corey Webster intercepts Brett Favre, giving Tynes another shot. His 47-yard kick is good, sending the Giants to their first Super Bowl in seven years. Plaxico Burress records 11 catches for 154 yards. Favre throws two touchdown passes, one a 90-yarder to Donald Driver, but Ryan Grant is held to 29 yards. The Super Bowl will be a rematch of the Giants-Patriots battle from the last week of the regular season.
In Pool 3, the last quarterfinal berth is decided when the Cardiff Blues shut out homestandingBristol 17–0. The Blues, however, fall one converted try short of securing a home quarterfinal, which instead goes to Toulouse. (European Rugby Cup)
Top-ranked North Carolina, off to its best start in over 20 years and an 18-point home favorite, falls from the unbeaten ranks 82–80 to Maryland. (AP via ESPN)
The G-14 group of leading European football clubs announces that it will disband on 15 February, after both FIFA and UEFA agree to compensate clubs for releasing their players to join national squads for Euro 2008, the 2010 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2012. (ESPNsoccernet)
With Philip Rivers and LaDainian Tomlinson injured, backups Billy Volek and Michael Turner lead San Diego on the game-winning touchdown drive. Peyton Manning throws for 402 yards and three touchdowns in the loss. The now-former-defending Super Bowl champion Colts' loss assures the NFL of a new recipient of the Super Bowl's Vince Lombardi Trophy in 2008 (the 2003–2004 New England Patriots remain the last team with back-to-back world championships).
After allowing 96 and 90-yard touchdown drives in the first half, the Giants defense solidifies in the second. R. W. McQuarters intercepts Tony Romo in the end zone to clinch the game. Amani Toomer catches two touchdown passes for New York.
The Seahawks convert two early fumbles by Green Bay tailbackRyan Grant into touchdowns and take a 14–0 lead. But Grant comes back to rush for 201 yards and three touchdowns, while Brett Favre throws for three more scores. The Packers outgain Seattle on the ground, 235 yards to 22.
Cristiano Ronaldo scores a hat-trick, the first of his career, as the Red Devils go level in the league with Arsenal. He scores a free kick in the 49th minute, and also in the 70th and 88th minutes.
Two of the five previously unbeaten teams in Division I men's basketball go down:
First, #13 Vanderbilt comes back from a 16-point deficit to force overtime against Kentuckyin Lexington, but eventually goes down 79–73 in double overtime.
George Washington defeats Saint Louis 46–20. The 20 points registered by the Billikens are the lowest since the introduction of the shot clock to Men's basketball in the 1985–86 season.
The Golden Hurricane, behind an NCAA-record 14th consecutive 300-yard passing game from Paul Smith, blow out the Falcons and amass the biggest winning margin in bowl game history.
The Bucs commit three turnovers while the Giants don't turn the ball over at all, and Eli Manning throws for 185 yards and 2 touchdowns in his first career playoff win.
In what proved to be his last college game, Ray Rice runs for 280 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Scarlet Knights to their second straight bowl win.
Todd Collins throws two touchdown passes in 2:15 to give the Redskins a 14–13 lead. But Matt Hasselbeck responds with a 20-yard scoring strike to D.J. Hackett, then the Seahawks defense returns two Collins interceptions for touchdowns.
Ben Roethlisberger leads the Steelers back from a 28–10 deficit in the fourth quarter, but also throws three interceptions. A 32-yard run by David Garrard on fourth-and-1 leads to Josh Scobee's game-winning 25-yard field goal. A fumble by Roethlisberger in the closing minute delivers the victory for the Jaguars.
Sidney Crosby picks up and assist on a Colby Armstrong goal 21 seconds into the game and ends the game by scoring against Ryan Miller in the final attempt of the overtime shootout. Brian Campbell scores for the Sabres at 1:25 of the 2nd period. An NHL-record crowd of 71,217 turns out despite a steady snow.