Travis Kelce is set to catch passes, but might he also present a ring to his significant other?

Bill Belichick’s signature hoodie is making a comeback. Yet, how long will he remain with the team in Chapel Hill?

Paige Bueckers is ready to make her mark. But will she be doing so in Dallas?

A quick look at 2025 suggests a year filled with surprises, akin to the unpredictable career choices of a former Green Bay Packers quarterback.

Hang in there, as you might be in for some delightful surprises ahead.

With that said, YSL News Sports reporters and editors share their daring predictions for the upcoming year, featuring a mix of the expected (more LeBron discussions) and the unexpected (talk of King Kirk Herbstreit?):

2025 Sports Predictions

(From the YSL News Sports team)

— LeBron James will retire: After celebrating his 40th birthday and realizing his dream of playing alongside his son Bronny in the NBA, the future Hall of Famer will ultimately choose to step away from the game at season’s end.

— Arch Manning will claim the Heisman Trophy: By doing so, he will become the first of the Manning family to win the prestigious award, as Archie, Peyton, and Eli were all finalists during their college years but did not win.

— Paige Bueckers won’t join the Dallas Wings: While Caitlin Clark is widely predicted to be the No. 1 pick in this year’s WNBA draft, Bueckers is the strong favorite for the top pick in 2025. However, Dallas isn’t the most desirable WNBA location, and Bueckers has the clout to decline a trade there. The question remains whether she’ll return to UConn for a sixth year (thanks to COVID and injuries) or force a trade instead.

— The Mets will fail to reach the playoffs despite spending $765 million on Juan Soto: Soto will impress in his first season in Queens, but the Mets won’t replicate their success from 2024, finishing third in the NL East due to inconsistent pitching – marking the beginning of the 15-year contract for the slugger.

— The Detroit Lions will finally reach the Super Bowl: However, they will be defeated by Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, who will make history by becoming the first team in the Super Bowl era to win three times in a row.

— Bill Belichick makes his return to the NFL: After a moderately successful stint in North Carolina, NFL teams will start to take notice, prompting Belichick to return, realizing the college football scene isn’t for him.

— Aaron Rodgers will retire, only to return: Much like Brett Favre, Rodgers will decide to end his career after an unfulfilling tenure with the Jets, but will eventually come back when a team seeks him out, longing for the spotlight once again.

— Michael Vick and Norfolk State will overcome Rutgers: In his inaugural year as head coach, Vick leads the FCS Spartans to an unexpected victory over a Big Ten team, sparking discussions regarding his candidacy for major coaching positions.

— LeBron James retires after being traded back to the Cavaliers:  Where he assists in securing their second NBA championship.

— Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce will announce their engagement: This news will cause a stir among many fans, particularly the Dads and football enthusiasts, who will continue to see glimpses of the pop star during lengthy games.

– Mikaela Shiffrin will achieve her 100th World Cup victory: This impressive milestone is unlikely to ever be matched (this isn’t an exaggeration; she’s currently at 99 wins).

— Bill Belichick’s North Carolina Tar Heels will play in a bowl game hosted at a baseball field: Potentially the Pinstripe Bowl in Yankee Stadium or the Fenway Bowl in Boston – reflecting the usual conclusion to a season for UNC football. Heading to 161st Street.

— The Los Angeles Dodgers will achieve 117 wins: An impressive feat, surpassing the record of the 2001 Seattle Mariners and reflecting the number of that soon-to-return star’s jersey.

— Interest in the Club World Cup will fizzle: Set to take place in the U.S. the year before the 2026 World Cup, FIFA is attempting to promote its newest tournament featuring a staggering $100 million prize. However, it will likely draw in minimal attention, as fans express discontent over more lucrative matches being added to a heavily packed sports calendar lacking a break.

— Coach Prime faces a quarterback dilemma:

Deion Sanders secures a long-term deal with Colorado: As Coach Prime embarks on his first season without his son, quarterback Shedeur, who was selected first overall in the NFL draft, a quarterback dilemma arises. Top recruit Julian Lewis arrives in Boulder looking to make an immediate impact, alongside Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter, who has just one eligibility year left. What’s Coach Prime’s strategy? He decides to utilize both quarterbacks, leading the Buffaloes to a playoff spot.

— No MLS Cup for Messi: Lionel Messi has amassed 46 trophies throughout his career, yet the MLS Cup remains notably absent from his achievements after two seasons in the United States. In 2025, Messi and Inter Miami once again fall short of securing Major League Soccer’s premier title.

— Chiefs fall short of a third consecutive Super Bowl win: Since the era of Vince Lombardi’s Packers, no NFL team has clinched three championships in a row, with only one being won before the Super Bowl’s introduction. Several formidable teams, including the 1994 Dallas Cowboys and the 1974 Miami Dolphins, couldn’t manage this feat. This year, the Chiefs also miss out on the chance for a three-peat.

– South Carolina women clinch another basketball championship: The Gamecocks achieve back-to-back victories, marking the program’s third title in just four years.

— Phil Jackson comes out of retirement: To address the Lakers’ struggles, Phil Jackson reenters the scene. LeBron James reveals his dislike for the triangle offense, prompting a shift to a hexagon-style strategy, leading to unexpected results.

— Wojnarowski makes a splash: The St. Bonaventure men’s basketball team reaches the Final Four for the first time since 1970, thanks to Adrian Wojnarowski’s excellent management in his inaugural year.

— Elena Delle Donne bounces back after a year off: The two-time MVP returns powerfully in Indiana, joining forces with Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston after the Fever orchestrates a notable sign-and-trade deal with the Washington Mystics.

— Herbstreit revolutionizes the CFP format: Fed up with ongoing discussions about team selections for the College Football Playoff, the selection committee appoints ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit to take the reins. He tosses the existing selection criteria and fills the bracket with Ohio State, Colorado, and ten teams from the Southeastern Conference based on schedule strength, rather than wins. All initial games go into overtime. Despite this, the criticism of the selection system persists, leading Herbstreit to blame vocal fans and social media for the issue.

— Liverpool seizes the English Premier League title: Five years after the pandemic interrupted celebrations for their first title in thirty years, Liverpool rises to the top once more in their first season under manager Arne Slot.

— Tyler Reddick triumphs at the Daytona 500: Amid their ongoing antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR, 23XI Racing owners Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin celebrate as their driver, Tyler Reddick, kicks off the 2025 season with a win at NASCAR’s top race, the Daytona 500.

– Ethan Holliday follows in his brother’s footsteps as the No. 1 pick in the MLB draft: After Jackson was taken first overall just three years ago in Baltimore, Ethan is chosen at the top in 2025 by the Nationals. The sons of All-Star Matt Holliday join the Mannings as the only sibling duo selected as first overall picks.