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Sports Wednesday, December 31, 2025 | | |
| | | | | Good morning, Chicago. In the Blackhawks' final game of 2025, the New York Islanders snatched a 3-2 shootout victory — the Hawks' seventh loss in nine overtime or shootout games this season. Coach Jeff Blashill credited the fight his team presented after a poor first period and said the Hawks (14-18-7) will continue to push, despite the odds being against them. Stay connected with us all day: Sign up for our newsletters to get the latest news in your inbox. And you can follow us on social media: X, Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Threads. Not a Tribune subscriber? Here's our latest offer.. | | | | Illinois made program history in its second straight bowl win. For the first time, the Illini (9-4) won nine or more games in back-to-back seasons. | | | | | As Northwestern wraps up a second season of playing football at a small lakefront field shared with the lacrosse and soccer teams, workers are busy building out a new $862 million football stadium in Evanston. | | | | | Caleb Williams needs 270 passing yards Sunday to become the first Chicago Bears QB to reach 4,000. Can he do it? Brad Biggs answers your Bears questions weekly. | | | | | Despite preaching depth, the Chicago Bulls are still desperately dependent on Josh Giddey and Coby White. Both will miss Wednesday’s game. | | | | | The Chicago Blackhawks head into 2026 with a loss in their rearview and another injured center after falling to the New York Islanders in a shootout, 3-2. | | | | | Last year the top four seeds with first-round byes all lost in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. This year’s top seeds want to prove that was a fluke. | | | |