Worthwhile Sports

Vuelta a España: a hilly stage — the kind of day a breakaway survives and the sprinters get dropped. Usually decided in the final half hour, so the last 20 minutes is enough.

Vuelta a España: a medium-mountain stage — hard enough for a breakaway to stay away, but rarely decisive for the overall. Good background racing — the finish is usually the interesting part.

Vuelta a España: a mountain stage, which is where a three-week race is actually won and lost — the overall contenders have nowhere to hide. One of the handful of days that actually decides the overall, so worth the afternoon.

Vuelta a España: a flat stage, meaning a controlled day and a bunch sprint in the final kilometre. Worth joining for the last 15 minutes rather than the full four hours.

Bretagne Classic is a WorldTour one-day race, so the full top tier of the sport is on the start line. A single afternoon with a winner at the end of it — no standings to follow.

Vuelta a España: a mountain stage, which is where a three-week race is actually won and lost — the overall contenders have nowhere to hide. One of the handful of days that actually decides the overall, so worth the afternoon.

Vuelta a España: a hilly stage — the kind of day a breakaway survives and the sprinters get dropped. Usually decided in the final half hour, so the last 20 minutes is enough.

Vuelta a España: a flat stage, meaning a controlled day and a bunch sprint in the final kilometre. Worth joining for the last 15 minutes rather than the full four hours.

Vuelta a España: a mountain stage, which is where a three-week race is actually won and lost — the overall contenders have nowhere to hide. One of the handful of days that actually decides the overall, so worth the afternoon.

Vuelta a España: a medium-mountain stage — hard enough for a breakaway to stay away, but rarely decisive for the overall. Good background racing — the finish is usually the interesting part.

Vuelta a España: a mountain stage, which is where a three-week race is actually won and lost — the overall contenders have nowhere to hide. One of the handful of days that actually decides the overall, so worth the afternoon.

Qualifying sets the grid, and at circuits where overtaking is hard it effectively sets the result. An hour, and it tells you whether Sunday is worth clearing.

Not a marquee matchup on paper — neither side is ranked into it. It's in because Penn State are playing, and you wanted all of their games rather than only the big ones. On FS1.

Vuelta a España: a medium-mountain stage — hard enough for a breakaway to stay away, but rarely decisive for the overall. Good background racing — the finish is usually the interesting part.

The Grand Prix itself — points, podium and the championship all settled over about ninety minutes. The one session of the weekend that always matters.

A rivalry with enough history that form and records reliably stop mattering once it kicks off. rivalry's biggest game of the year — the one you'd regret missing. On NBC.

A top-ten meeting, #9 against #24, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. Two top-ten teams, which is exactly the bar you set. On ABC.

Vuelta a España: a flat stage, meaning a controlled day and a bunch sprint in the final kilometre. Worth joining for the last 15 minutes rather than the full four hours.

Vuelta a España: a flat stage, meaning a controlled day and a bunch sprint in the final kilometre. Worth joining for the last 15 minutes rather than the full four hours.

Vuelta a España: an individual time trial — no teammates and no tactics, just each rider alone against the clock. Riders go off at intervals, so you can drop in for the last hour and see the contenders back to back.

Vuelta a España: a hilly stage — the kind of day a breakaway survives and the sprinters get dropped. Usually decided in the final half hour, so the last 20 minutes is enough.

Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec is a WorldTour one-day race, so the full top tier of the sport is on the start line. A single afternoon with a winner at the end of it — no standings to follow.

Vuelta a España: a mountain stage, which is where a three-week race is actually won and lost — the overall contenders have nowhere to hide. One of the handful of days that actually decides the overall, so worth the afternoon.

Qualifying sets the grid, and at circuits where overtaking is hard it effectively sets the result. An hour, and it tells you whether Sunday is worth clearing.

A top-ten meeting, #10 against #16, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. Two top-ten teams, which is exactly the bar you set. On FOX.

Not a marquee matchup on paper — neither side is ranked into it. It's in because Penn State are playing, and you wanted all of their games rather than only the big ones. On ESPN2.

A top-ten meeting, #1 against #5, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. Two top-ten teams, which is exactly the bar you set. On ABC.

A rivalry with enough history that form and records reliably stop mattering once it kicks off. rivalry's biggest game of the year — the one you'd regret missing. On NBC.

The Grand Prix itself — points, podium and the championship all settled over about ninety minutes. The one session of the weekend that always matters.

Vuelta a España: a flat stage, meaning a controlled day and a bunch sprint in the final kilometre. Worth joining for the last 15 minutes rather than the full four hours.

Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal is a WorldTour one-day race, so the full top tier of the sport is on the start line. A single afternoon with a winner at the end of it — no standings to follow.

A top-ten meeting, #12 against #23, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. Two top-ten teams, which is exactly the bar you set. On FOX.

Not a marquee matchup on paper — neither side is ranked into it. It's in because Penn State are playing, and you wanted all of their games rather than only the big ones. On BTN.

A top-ten meeting, #19 against #24, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. Two top-ten teams, which is exactly the bar you set.

A top-ten meeting, #9 against #11, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. Two top-ten teams, which is exactly the bar you set. On ABC.

Qualifying sets the grid, and at circuits where overtaking is hard it effectively sets the result. An hour, and it tells you whether Sunday is worth clearing.

A top-ten meeting, #3 against #10, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. Two top-ten teams, which is exactly the bar you set.

A top-ten meeting, #2 against #14, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. Two top-ten teams, which is exactly the bar you set.

A top-ten meeting, #16 against #22, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. Two top-ten teams, which is exactly the bar you set.

A top-ten meeting, #8 against #11, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. Two top-ten teams, which is exactly the bar you set.

Not a marquee matchup on paper — neither side is ranked into it. It's in because Penn State are playing, and you wanted all of their games rather than only the big ones.

The Grand Prix itself — points, podium and the championship all settled over about ninety minutes. The one session of the weekend that always matters.

A top-ten meeting, #5 against #20, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. Two top-ten teams, which is exactly the bar you set.

Not a marquee matchup on paper — neither side is ranked into it. It's in because Penn State are playing, and you wanted all of their games rather than only the big ones. On FOX.

A top-ten meeting, #1 against #22, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. Two top-ten teams, which is exactly the bar you set.

A top-ten meeting, #14 against #17, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. Two top-ten teams, which is exactly the bar you set.

Qualifying sets the grid, and at circuits where overtaking is hard it effectively sets the result. An hour, and it tells you whether Sunday is worth clearing.

The Grand Prix itself — points, podium and the championship all settled over about ninety minutes. The one session of the weekend that always matters.

A short qualifying session that sets the grid for the sprint. Skippable unless you're following the weekend closely.

A top-ten meeting, #17 against #22, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. Two top-ten teams, which is exactly the bar you set.

A top-ten meeting, #14 against #18, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. It's in because Penn State are playing, and you wanted all of their games rather than only the big ones.

A top-ten meeting, #3 against #13, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. Two top-ten teams, which is exactly the bar you set.

A top-ten meeting, #8 against #25, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. Two top-ten teams, which is exactly the bar you set.

Il Lombardia is one of cycling's five Monuments — a one-day race, usually six hours long, that the sport treats as a career-defining win. The result is almost always settled in the last hour, so joining late costs you very little.

A sprint race: a third of the distance, championship points, and no mandatory pit stop. Half an hour of racing with nothing held back.

Qualifying sets the grid, and at circuits where overtaking is hard it effectively sets the result. An hour, and it tells you whether Sunday is worth clearing.

A top-ten meeting, #5 against #10, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. rivalry's biggest game of the year — the one you'd regret missing.

A rivalry with enough history that form and records reliably stop mattering once it kicks off. rivalry's biggest game of the year — the one you'd regret missing. On NBC.

The Grand Prix itself — points, podium and the championship all settled over about ninety minutes. The one session of the weekend that always matters.

Tour of Guangxi is a WorldTour stage race, which is where the Grand Tour contenders test their form against each other before it counts. Worth a look on the mountain days if you want to know who's flying before the next Grand Tour.

A top-ten meeting, #1 against #6, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. Two top-ten teams, which is exactly the bar you set.

A top-ten meeting, #13 against #20, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. rivalry's biggest game of the year — the one you'd regret missing.

A top-ten meeting, #16 against #18, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. Penn State's biggest game of the year — the one you'd regret missing.

A top-ten meeting, #9 against #25, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. Two top-ten teams, which is exactly the bar you set.

A top-ten meeting, #4 against #14, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. Two top-ten teams, which is exactly the bar you set.

A rivalry with enough history that form and records reliably stop mattering once it kicks off. rivalry's biggest game of the year — the one you'd regret missing.

A rivalry with enough history that form and records reliably stop mattering once it kicks off. rivalry's biggest game of the year — the one you'd regret missing.

A rivalry with enough history that form and records reliably stop mattering once it kicks off. rivalry's biggest game of the year — the one you'd regret missing.

A top-ten meeting, #5 against #9, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. Two top-ten teams, which is exactly the bar you set.

A top-ten meeting, #21 against #23, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. Two top-ten teams, which is exactly the bar you set.

A top-ten meeting, #6 against #16, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. Two top-ten teams, which is exactly the bar you set.

A top-ten meeting, #8 against #13, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. Two top-ten teams, which is exactly the bar you set.

Qualifying sets the grid, and at circuits where overtaking is hard it effectively sets the result. An hour, and it tells you whether Sunday is worth clearing.

A round of the Superprestige, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

The Grand Prix itself — points, podium and the championship all settled over about ninety minutes. The one session of the weekend that always matters.

A top-ten meeting, #1 against #14, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. Two top-ten teams, which is exactly the bar you set.

A rivalry with enough history that form and records reliably stop mattering once it kicks off. rivalry's biggest game of the year — the one you'd regret missing.

Not a marquee matchup on paper — neither side is ranked into it. It's in because Penn State are playing, and you wanted all of their games rather than only the big ones.

A rivalry with enough history that form and records reliably stop mattering once it kicks off. rivalry's biggest game of the year — the one you'd regret missing. On ABC.

Qualifying sets the grid, and at circuits where overtaking is hard it effectively sets the result. An hour, and it tells you whether Sunday is worth clearing.

A round of the X2O Badkamers Trofee, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

The Grand Prix itself — points, podium and the championship all settled over about ninety minutes. The one session of the weekend that always matters.

A round of the Superprestige, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

A top-ten meeting, #1 against #2, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. Two top-ten teams, which is exactly the bar you set.

A top-ten meeting, #3 against #9, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. Two top-ten teams, which is exactly the bar you set.

A top-ten meeting, #11 against #13, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. rivalry's biggest game of the year — the one you'd regret missing.

A top-ten meeting, #14 against #21, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. rivalry's biggest game of the year — the one you'd regret missing.

A top-ten meeting, #17 against #18, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. It's in because Penn State are playing, and you wanted all of their games rather than only the big ones.

A top-ten meeting, #5 against #25, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. Two top-ten teams, which is exactly the bar you set.

A rivalry with enough history that form and records reliably stop mattering once it kicks off. rivalry's biggest game of the year — the one you'd regret missing.

Qualifying sets the grid, and at circuits where overtaking is hard it effectively sets the result. An hour, and it tells you whether Sunday is worth clearing.

A top-ten meeting, #4 against #7, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. Two top-ten teams, which is exactly the bar you set. On NBC.

The Grand Prix itself — points, podium and the championship all settled over about ninety minutes. The one session of the weekend that always matters.

A round of the Superprestige, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

A top-ten meeting, #9 against #10, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. Two top-ten teams, which is exactly the bar you set.

A top-ten meeting, #6 against #14, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. Two top-ten teams, which is exactly the bar you set.

A top-ten meeting, #2 against #16, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. Two top-ten teams, which is exactly the bar you set.

A top-ten meeting, #8 against #20, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. Two top-ten teams, which is exactly the bar you set.

A top-ten meeting, #3 against #25, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. Two top-ten teams, which is exactly the bar you set.

A top-ten meeting, #5 against #11, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. Two top-ten teams, which is exactly the bar you set.

Not a marquee matchup on paper — neither side is ranked into it. It's in because Penn State are playing, and you wanted all of their games rather than only the big ones.

A round of the Superprestige, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

A round of the X2O Badkamers Trofee, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

Qualifying sets the grid, and at circuits where overtaking is hard it effectively sets the result. An hour, and it tells you whether Sunday is worth clearing.

A top-ten meeting, #8 against #10, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. Two top-ten teams, which is exactly the bar you set.

A top-ten meeting, #11 against #20, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. Two top-ten teams, which is exactly the bar you set.

A top-ten meeting, #6 against #17, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. Two top-ten teams, which is exactly the bar you set.

A rivalry with enough history that form and records reliably stop mattering once it kicks off. rivalry's biggest game of the year — the one you'd regret missing.

Not a marquee matchup on paper — neither side is ranked into it. It's in because Penn State are playing, and you wanted all of their games rather than only the big ones.

A top-ten meeting, #4 against #19, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. Two top-ten teams, which is exactly the bar you set. On NBC.

The Grand Prix itself — points, podium and the championship all settled over about ninety minutes. The one session of the weekend that always matters.

A round of the X2O Badkamers Trofee, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

A round of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

A rivalry with enough history that form and records reliably stop mattering once it kicks off. rivalry's biggest game of the year — the one you'd regret missing. On ABC.

A rivalry with enough history that form and records reliably stop mattering once it kicks off. rivalry's biggest game of the year — the one you'd regret missing. On ABC.

A top-ten meeting, #5 against #8, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. rivalry's biggest game of the year — the one you'd regret missing. On ABC.

A top-ten meeting, #10 against #25, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. Two top-ten teams, which is exactly the bar you set.

A rivalry with enough history that form and records reliably stop mattering once it kicks off. rivalry's biggest game of the year — the one you'd regret missing.

A top-ten meeting, #2 against #17, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. rivalry's biggest game of the year — the one you'd regret missing.

A rivalry with enough history that form and records reliably stop mattering once it kicks off. rivalry's biggest game of the year — the one you'd regret missing.

A rivalry with enough history that form and records reliably stop mattering once it kicks off. rivalry's biggest game of the year — the one you'd regret missing.

A rivalry with enough history that form and records reliably stop mattering once it kicks off. rivalry's biggest game of the year — the one you'd regret missing.

Not a marquee matchup on paper — neither side is ranked into it. It's in because Penn State are playing, and you wanted all of their games rather than only the big ones.

A top-ten meeting, #1 against #16, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. rivalry's biggest game of the year — the one you'd regret missing. On FOX.

Qualifying sets the grid, and at circuits where overtaking is hard it effectively sets the result. An hour, and it tells you whether Sunday is worth clearing.

A round of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

The Grand Prix itself — points, podium and the championship all settled over about ninety minutes. The one session of the weekend that always matters.

A conference championship, with a playoff place usually riding on the result. The part of the season you said you actually care about.

A conference championship, with a playoff place usually riding on the result. The part of the season you said you actually care about. On ESPN.

A conference championship, with a playoff place usually riding on the result. The part of the season you said you actually care about. On ABC.

A conference championship, with a playoff place usually riding on the result. The part of the season you said you actually care about. On CBS.

A conference championship, with a playoff place usually riding on the result. The part of the season you said you actually care about. On FOX.

Qualifying sets the grid, and at circuits where overtaking is hard it effectively sets the result. An hour, and it tells you whether Sunday is worth clearing.

A conference championship, with a playoff place usually riding on the result. The part of the season you said you actually care about. On ABC.

A conference championship, with a playoff place usually riding on the result. The part of the season you said you actually care about. On ESPN.

A conference championship, with a playoff place usually riding on the result. The part of the season you said you actually care about. On ABC.

A conference championship, with a playoff place usually riding on the result. The part of the season you said you actually care about. On ABC.

A conference championship, with a playoff place usually riding on the result. The part of the season you said you actually care about. On FOX.

The Grand Prix itself — points, podium and the championship all settled over about ninety minutes. The one session of the weekend that always matters.

A round of the Superprestige, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

A rivalry with enough history that form and records reliably stop mattering once it kicks off. rivalry's biggest game of the year — the one you'd regret missing. On CBS.

A round of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

A College Football Playoff game — win and you play on, lose and the season is over. The part of the season you said you actually care about. On ESPN.

A round of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

A College Football Playoff game — win and you play on, lose and the season is over. The part of the season you said you actually care about. On ABC, ESPN.

A College Football Playoff game — win and you play on, lose and the season is over. The part of the season you said you actually care about. On TNT, truTV.

A College Football Playoff game — win and you play on, lose and the season is over. The part of the season you said you actually care about. On TNT, truTV.

A round of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

A round of the X2O Badkamers Trofee, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

A round of the X2O Badkamers Trofee, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

A round of the Superprestige, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

A round of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

A round of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

A round of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

A round of the Superprestige, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

A College Football Playoff game — win and you play on, lose and the season is over. The part of the season you said you actually care about. On TNT, truTV.

A College Football Playoff game — win and you play on, lose and the season is over. The part of the season you said you actually care about.

A College Football Playoff game — win and you play on, lose and the season is over. The part of the season you said you actually care about.

A College Football Playoff game — win and you play on, lose and the season is over. The part of the season you said you actually care about.

A round of the X2O Badkamers Trofee, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

A round of the Superprestige, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

A round of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

A College Football Playoff game — win and you play on, lose and the season is over. The part of the season you said you actually care about. On TNT, truTV.

A College Football Playoff game — win and you play on, lose and the season is over. The part of the season you said you actually care about. On ABC, ESPN.

A wild card playoff game — single elimination, and the round where the upsets happen. The start of the only part of the NFL season you follow.

A wild card playoff game — single elimination, and the round where the upsets happen. The start of the only part of the NFL season you follow.

A wild card playoff game — single elimination, and the round where the upsets happen. The start of the only part of the NFL season you follow.

A wild card playoff game — single elimination, and the round where the upsets happen. The start of the only part of the NFL season you follow.

A wild card playoff game — single elimination, and the round where the upsets happen. The start of the only part of the NFL season you follow.

A round of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

A wild card playoff game — single elimination, and the round where the upsets happen. The start of the only part of the NFL season you follow.

A divisional playoff game, historically the best weekend of the NFL season: rested top seeds against teams already playing well. Four games across two days, all single-elimination.

A divisional playoff game, historically the best weekend of the NFL season: rested top seeds against teams already playing well. Four games across two days, all single-elimination.

A round of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

A divisional playoff game, historically the best weekend of the NFL season: rested top seeds against teams already playing well. Four games across two days, all single-elimination.

A divisional playoff game, historically the best weekend of the NFL season: rested top seeds against teams already playing well. Four games across two days, all single-elimination.

A round of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

A College Football Playoff game — win and you play on, lose and the season is over. The part of the season you said you actually care about. On ABC.

A conference championship — the winner goes to the Super Bowl. Two games all day, both of them consequential.

A conference championship — the winner goes to the Super Bowl. Two games all day, both of them consequential.

The cyclocross World Championships — one race, one day, and the rainbow jersey for the year. The single most-watched day of the cyclocross season.

A round of the X2O Badkamers Trofee, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

A round of the X2O Badkamers Trofee, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

The Super Bowl. One game, and then no football until September. On ESPN, ABC.