In an era of bowl opt outs, Minnesota still finds plenty of reasons to embrace the postseason experience, even when the chase for a national championship ended long ago. The Gophers are pretty good at it, too, heading into Friday’s Rate Bowl against New Mexico on an eight-game bowl winning streak. That’s the Football Bowl Subdivision's longest active streak, the longest ever by a Big Ten Conference team and the fourth-longest in college football history. New Mexico will arrive in the desert trying to cap a resurgent season. Coach Jason Eck has led the Lobos to their first bowl game since 2016 in his first year after closing the season on a six-game winning streak.

Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions have gifted the division rival Green Bay Packers a spot in the playoffs. With six turnovers in a 23-10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday, Detroit was eliminated from postseason contention. That clinched at least a wild-card berth for Green Bay. The Lions took the past two NFC North titles. They fell to 8-8 with their third straight loss. The Lions had only eight turnovers over their first 15 games for the fewest in the league. Goff nearly matched the season total he entered with by throwing two interceptions and losing three fumbles.

Jordan Addison took a jet sweep handoff 65 yards for the game-sealing touchdown with 3:43 left after the Minnesota Vikings forced six turnovers and eliminated the Detroit Lions from contention for the playoffs with a 23-10 victory. Harrison Smith had one of the two interceptions and one of the five sacks of Jared Goff as the Vikings won their fourth straight game. Goff was charged with three lost fumbles, once on a sack and twice on errant snaps by backup center Kingsley Eguakun. The Lions lost their third straight to clinch a wild-card spot for the Green Bay Packers.

Another powerful storm system that could cause more flooding and mudslides is rolling across Southern California. Officials issued evacuation warnings in mountain towns and warned of possible high-surf conditions along the coast. Forecasters say the region could experience its wettest Christmas in years, increasing the risk of debris flows in areas scorched by wildfires in January. Heavy rain and gusty winds were blamed for at least two deaths on Christmas Eve. On Wednesday, a falling tree killed a San Diego man. Farther north, a Sacramento sheriff’s deputy died in what appeared to be a weather-related crash.

The family of Palestinian director and actor Mohammad Bakri says he has died at 72. Bakri was known for exploring Palestinian identity through works in Arabic and Hebrew. His 2003 documentary “Jenin, Jenin” focused on an Israeli military operation and was banned in Israel. He also acted in the 2025 film “All That’s Left of You,” alongside his sons. Born in northern Israel, Bakri held Israeli citizenship and studied at Tel Aviv University. He faced backlash for his work, including legal battles over “Jenin, Jenin.” His family said he died Wednesday from heart and lung issues.

The Kremlin is in talks with French authorities about French scholar Laurent Vinatier, who is serving a three-year sentence in Russia and reportedly faces new espionage charges. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia has made an offer to France regarding Vinatier, arrested last year for collecting military information. Peskov refused to provide details. The French Foreign Ministry had no comment. Vinatier was arrested in June 2024, accused of failing to register as a “foreign agent.” His sentence has been criticized as “extremely severe.” Detentions on similar charges have increased in Russia since the Ukraine invasion.

Mariela Gómez and thousands of Venezuelan immigrants have faced a challenging Christmas after Donald Trump returned to the White House in January. Gómez, her partner, and two sons returned to Venezuela in October after being deported from the U.S. They spent the holiday in northern Venezuela for the first time in eight years. Gómez struggled with unemployment and poverty, managing only a modest dinner. Her journey back was perilous, involving a dangerous trek by boat. Over 14,000 migrants have returned to South America since Trump limited migration. Gómez hopes for a better future, praying for health and a job.

Lamar Jackson is listed as doubtful for Baltimore’s game against the Green Bay Packers on Saturday night as he continues to deal with a back injury that knocked him out of the game against the New England Patriots last weekend. The two-time MVP quarterback hasn’t practiced this week after getting hurt in the second quarter of Baltimore’s 28-24 loss. Green Bay has its own quarterback issues after Jordan Love left the Packers’ 22-16 overtime loss at Chicago last weekend because of a concussion. Love and Green Bay backup quarterback Malik Willis are both listed as questionable for Saturday’s game.

A Powerball ticket purchased at a gas station outside Little Rock, Arkansas, won a $1.817 billion jackpot just before Christmas. The winning numbers were announced on Christmas Eve, ending the lottery game’s three-month stretch without a top-prize winner. The winning numbers were 04, 25, 31, 52 and 59, with the Powerball number being 19. Final ticket sales pushed the jackpot higher than previously expected. Organizers say it is the second-largest pot in U.S. history and the largest Powerball prize of 2025. The jackpot has a lump sum cash payment option of $834.9 million.

From Bethlehem to Beijing, people around the world are celebrating the Christmas season. A polar bear mascot boards an elevator during holiday revelry. Swimmers plunge into frigid waters off Northern Ireland for a charity event. Singers fill a stadium in…

Pope Leo XIV, during his first Christmas Day message, has urged the faithful to shed indifference toward those who are suffering. The first U.S. pontiff highlighted the suffering in Gaza, Yemen, and that of migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea and the American continent. Addressing 26,000 people from St. Peter's Square, he called for peace, justice, and stability in troubled regions like Lebanon, Ukraine, and Syria. The pope emphasized that everyone can contribute to peace through humility and responsibility. He received especially warm cheers when he made his greetings in his native English and Spanish, the language of his adopted country of Peru, where he served as a missionary and then as archbishop.