Put your hands in the air

The GIST: Sorry, Hannah — turns out the Hoosiers are perfect. ICYMI: No. 1 Indiana beat No. 10 Miami 27–21 in Monday’s College Football Playoff (CFP) national championship, capping off an undefeated 16-0 season and a truly stunning program turnaround.

• It’s a storybook ending, one GISTer Ricky saw coming — they correctly predicted every single CFP matchup in our College Football Bracket Challenge. Sending kudos as we tie a bow on an exhilarating college football season.

💪 Indiana quarterback (QB) Fernando Mendoza wows in homecoming: The kid from Miami made the Canes think twice about denying him a walk-on spot four years ago, battling through (literal) blood, sweat, and tears to become just the fourth player to win the Heisman Trophy and CFP title in the same season.

• Mendoza’s fourth-down, fourth-quarter touchdown run will forever be etched in CFP history, the perfect college farewell as the game-changing QB prepares to almost certainly hear his name called first during the NFL Draft this April. How sweet it is.

😐 Hoosiers head coach (HC) Curt Cignetti leads Indiana to CFP glory: The man that inspired a thousand memes, Cignetti inherited a team that went 3-9 before his arrival and transformed them into national champions in just two seasons at the helm. With an eye for transfer portal talent and an unrelenting belief in his squad, Cignetti proved that these Hoosiers can own the gridiron, too.

➡️ What’s next for college football?: As the confetti clears, CFP expansion talks continue ahead of Friday’s deadline. Some of the sport’s big wigs are pushing for a 16-team format (up from 12 this year), but if leaders can’t agree on a revamped format by Friday, the field will remain the same for at least another season. Tick tock.

The GIST: Fire ’fits, helpful hands, and one certified walking bucket? Yep, Unrivaled had it all over the weekend. Here are the headlines emerging from the innovative 3v3 league’s second weekend of action.

🌬️ Breeze BC superstar Paige Bueckers is that girl: Now a cool $50K richer, Bueckers’ perfect free throw percentage isn’t the only part of her game turning heads: The rookie dropped 37 points and missed just five shots in Breeze’s convincing 83–64 Monday win over Mist BC. Young and turnt — and efficient.

🦉 Lunar Owls secure first win of the season: Marina Mabrey and Aaliyah Edwards have been cooking, but finally had reason to say “hootie hoo” with Monday’s 68–57 W over Vinyl BC. Mabrey’s 31 points, which included a game-winning three-pointer, led the charge, while Edwards was the perfect complement with a mind-boggling 18 rebounds.

• This weekend also marked the return of veteran playmaker Skylar Diggins, who missed the Owls’ first three games with a lower body injury. Though her playing time was limited across two games, Diggins contributed 16 total points in just 22 minutes of work. On the way up.

👏 Parity reigns supreme: All eight squads have notched at least one win and one loss after playing five (of their 14) regular-season games. In fact, four teams sport identical 3-2 records, setting the stage for an intriguing battle for playoff positioning in the expanded six-team field.

• For example, the bottom-dwelling Owls and Hive have one win apiece, but now Diggins is back in the mix for the Owls, and the Hive are building chemistry after knocking off the defending champ Rose 78–75 on Friday. The games have only just begun.

🏒 It’s about time you get rewarded for being a dedicated PWHL fan. Enter: Scotia Perks, Scotiabank’s way of giving fans greater access to the game.

• As the official bank of the PWHL, Scotiabank sent 500 girls from youth hockey teams across the GTA — including players, coaches and their families — to see the Battle on Bay Street between the Toronto Sceptres and Vancouver Goldeneyes up-close and personal, all thanks to Scotia Perks.

• And they got the All-Star treatment, too: Scotiabank bought an entire section at Scotiabank Arena for them to catch the game together, plus they gave all Scotia clients access to Scotia Perks on site. Fans enjoyed express lane entry, merch discounts, seat upgrades, access to exclusive contests and even free popcorn. Delish!

🎫 Scotiabank clients can be treated like VIPs throughout the PWHL season thanks to Scotia Perks. Like you need another excuse to love this league.

Step aside, That’s So Raven — RBC Training Ground is doing their best crystal ball impression by identifying athletes with Olympic potential at free qualifying events across the country. And the proof is in the pudding:

⭐ Since 2016, they’ve helped over 20 program alumni reach the Olympic Games.

🏅 RBC Training Ground has collectively brought home 14 Olympic medals for Canada to date.

🇨🇦 Freestyle skier (and program alum) Marion Thénault is aiming to add a second Olympic medal to her résumé next month.

But these aren’t just numbers: They’re real people who began their Olympic journey at a free RBC Training Ground event — just like you could. Sign up and unlock your potential.