Every prediction sounds smart in the moment. The real test is what happens next. Contrary to Popular Opinion: The Year in Review revisits the boldest takes of the year across the NFL, MLB, and college sports—separating what held up, what fell apart, and what deserves a second look. No victory laps. No rewriting history. Just honest evaluation of where the opinions landed when the games were actually played.

Expansion teams have become one of the most polarizing trends in modern sports. Whether it’s giving a new city a fresh identity or pumping extra revenue into a league, every new franchise raises the same question: Does expansion actually strengthen the sport, or simply spread the talent too thin? From the Utah Mammoth to the Golden Knights and Seattle Kraken, the answer looks less straightforward than ever.