Sunday is built around championship-positioning and elimination games. The final round of the Valspar Championship closes the biggest golf event on today’s calendar. NASCAR’s Cup Series heads to Darlington for the Goodyear 400, a race that matters early in the season because it tests teams on one of the sport’s most demanding tracks. The men’s NCAA tournament then takes over the day with eight second-round games that will finalize another half of the Sweet 16 field, while the women’s bracket moves into its second round. The NHL schedule includes multiple games with direct playoff consequences, and the NBA slate features games tied to the play-in and seeding races.
Valspar Championship Final Round
The first event to circle is the Valspar Championship from Innisbrook Resort’s Copperhead Course in Palm Harbor, Florida. Coverage runs from 1 to 3 p.m. Eastern on Golf Channel and the NBC Sports App, then from 3 to 6 p.m. Eastern on NBC and Peacock, with PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ running throughout the day. Sungjae Im takes a two-shot lead into the final round, with Brandt Snedeker and David Lipsky closest behind and Matt Fitzpatrick and Brooks Koepka still in range.
The leaderboard is still close enough for the closing stretch at Copperhead to decide the tournament. Im is trying to finish off a win after taking control on Saturday, while a veteran group behind him still has time to change the board before the Snake Pit closes the week.
Here’s What They’re Not Telling You About Your Retirement
NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington
NASCAR’s top event is the Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina. The race starts at 3 p.m. Eastern and can be watched on FS1, HBO Max and FOX One, with MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio also carrying coverage. Darlington’s 1.366-mile oval hosts 293 laps and 400.2 miles, and Tyler Reddick starts from the pole.
This race matters because Darlington remains one of the strongest measuring-stick tracks on the schedule, and this year’s rules setup adds another layer. The race preview points to increased horsepower, reduced aerodynamic downforce and tire management as major variables, which means Sunday should say something meaningful about which teams can handle a difficult long-run track early in the Cup season.
Men’s NCAA Tournament Second Round
The men’s tournament is the day’s largest block of must-watch action. Every Sunday winner moves into the Sweet 16. The schedule begins with Purdue vs. Miami at 12:10 p.m. Eastern on CBS and Iowa State vs. Kentucky at 2:45 p.m. Eastern on CBS. The evening slate continues with Kansas vs. St. John’s at 5:15 p.m. Eastern on CBS, Virginia vs. Tennessee at 6:10 p.m. Eastern on TNT, Florida vs. Iowa at 7:10 p.m. Eastern on TBS, Arizona vs. Utah State at 7:50 p.m. Eastern on truTV, UConn vs. UCLA at 8:45 p.m. Eastern on TNT and Alabama vs. Texas Tech at 9:45 p.m. Eastern on TBS.
Florida and Arizona are trying to protect No. 1 seeds, UConn is playing to keep its place on the championship line, and matchups such as Kansas-St. John’s and Alabama-Texas Tech put seeded teams head-to-head for direct control of a Sweet 16 berth. After Saturday produced more bracket movement, Sunday decides the rest of the region paths on that side of the draw.
This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year
Women’s NCAA Tournament Second Round
The women’s tournament also carries a full second-round schedule Sunday. The day starts with North Carolina vs. Maryland at noon Eastern on ESPN, followed by Michigan vs. NC State at 1 p.m., Minnesota vs. Ole Miss at 2 p.m., LSU vs. Texas Tech at 3 p.m. on ABC, Duke vs. Baylor at 4 p.m., Texas vs. Oregon at 6 p.m., Michigan State vs. Oklahoma at 8 p.m. and TCU vs. Washington at 10 p.m., with the rest on ESPN.
Texas, LSU, Duke and Michigan are all trying to keep protected seeds alive, while several 4-5 and 3-6 matchups put nearly even teams into direct elimination spots. Sunday is one of the most important sorting days of the women’s bracket because it trims the field before regional play.
NHL Playoff Race
The NHL’s sharpest game for playoff implications is Blue Jackets at Islanders at 7 p.m. Eastern. The Islanders go into the game chasing Columbus for one of the final Eastern playoff positions, with Columbus currently sitting in third place in the Metropolitan Division at 85 points and New York on 83 points, one point behind the second wild-card spot. That makes it one of the day’s clearest four-point swing games.
Earlier in the day, Avalanche at Capitals starts at 12:30 p.m. Eastern on MNMT, NHL Network, ALT, SN1 and TVAS, while Hurricanes at Penguins begins at 3 p.m. Eastern on FDSNSO, SN-PIT, SN1 and TVAS. Colorado enters at 45-13-10 after becoming the first team to 100 points, so its game matters at the top of the Western race. Carolina-Pittsburgh matters in the Metropolitan because the Hurricanes lead the division at 94 points and the Penguins are still in the postseason mix at 86.
NBA Seeding and Play In Position
The NBA’s most meaningful Sunday game is Trail Blazers at Nuggets at 5 p.m. Eastern from Ball Arena on NBA TV. Denver is currently lined up as the West’s No. 5 team, while Portland sits in the play-in picture at No. 9. That gives the game weight on both sides of the bracket line.
Timberwolves at Celtics follows at 8 p.m. Eastern from TD Garden on NBC and Peacock. Boston is in the East’s No. 2 spot, while Minnesota is currently slotted sixth in the West, making the game relevant for playoff seeding in both conferences. Raptors at Suns at 9 p.m. Eastern in Phoenix also matters because Toronto is sitting fifth in the East and Phoenix is in the West’s No. 7 position, trying to stay out of deeper play-in trouble.
The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of LifeZette. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.
![Donald Trump Slams Chicago Leaders After Train Attack Leaves Woman Critically Burned [WATCH]](https://www.right2024.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Trump-Torches-Powell-at-Investment-Forum-Presses-Scott-Bessent-to-350x250.jpg)
