In a truly incredible college football championship, Clemson upset Alabama with a last second touchdown pass by Deshaun Watson (who gave a legendary performance).

+ The NYT with an interesting (and disturbing) look at what happens to a brain during a blow to the head. (Publishing stories about football-related head injuries next to championship game results is an increasingly common editorial strategy. My pairing of the stories reflects my own ambivalence about my favorite sport to play and watch.)

+ “Zac Easter knew what was happening to him. He knew why. And he knew that it was only going to get worse. So he decided to write it all down—to let the world know what football had done to him, what he’d done to his body and his brain for the game he loved. And then he shot himself.” From GQ: One High School Football Player’s Secret Struggle with CTE.