The NFL’s regular season concluded Sunday, starting the league down parallel paths over the coming weeks – the playoffs, and the coaching changes. The playoffs won’t start until Saturday, but the coaching carousel began turning swiftly.

First, the playoffs. The Baltimore Ravens clinched the final AFC wild-card berth by beating the Cleveland Browns and will play their divisional archrivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday at Heinz Field. The Steelers won the AFC North by beating the Cincinnati Bengals, who are also a wild card and play the Indianapolis Colts on the road on Sunday. First-round byes went to the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos.

In the NFC, the Carolina Panthers won the NFC South by defeating the Atlanta Falcons and will host the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday. The Detroit Lions play the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas on Sunday. First round byes go to the Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers.

Now, the coaches. The San Francisco 49ers and Jim Harbaugh “mutually agreed” to part. Harbaugh is reportedly the next coach at his alma mater, the University of Michigan.

Fired as dawn broke: Marc Trestman (Chicago Bears, along with general manager Phil Emery), Rex Ryan (New York Jets, and general manager John Idzik), and Mike Smith (Atlanta Falcons).

Also awaiting the ax: Tony Sparano (Oakland Raiders).

And that’s why the day after season’s end is called Black Monday.

HOCKEY

In an odd move, the New Jersey Devils fired coach Peter DeBoer and will replace him with Adam Oates and Scott Stevens as co-coaches, with general manager Lou Lamoriello stepping in behind the bench as well. Will there be any room for the players?

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Penn State, banned from bowl games for two years after its sex-abuse scandal with former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky, won the Pinstripe Bowl 31-30 in overtime over Boston College. BC missed an extra point in OT. … Miami last won a bowl game in 2006 and the wait goes on after a 24-21 loss to South Carolina in the Independence Bowl.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Stony Brook went on the road and handed No. 13 Washington its first defeat, 61-57. … No. 1 Kentucky continued mowing down opponents, winning 58-50 on the road at No. 4 Louisville.
 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman .