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Good morning! Hang on to that lead in the present day.
After Saturday: Red Raiders and Hoosiers surge
We don’t often like to guide Saturday wrapups by obsessing over College Football Playoff discuss, and particularly not in September. But yesterday made it really feel like time for a check-in, since so many groups lingering proper across the cusp of rivalry had main potential to maneuver both up or down.
Moving up: Based on Austin Mock’s updated CFP odds (as of final evening), the six groups who elevated their standing probably the most yesterday:
- No. 17 Texas Tech, from a 33 % probability of constructing the CFP to 50 % after dominating 34-10 at No. 16 Utah
- No. 13 Ole Miss, from 47 % to 58 % after blowing out 3-1 Tulane, 45-10
- No. 4 Miami, from 71 % to 79 % by way of a 26-7 flattening of poor 1-3 Florida, the place Billy Napier’s days are surely numbered
- No. 19 Indiana, from 18 % to 26 % after annihilating No. 9 Illinois 63-10
- No. 21 Michigan, from 23 % to 31 % after profitable 30-27 at 3-1 Nebraska
- No. 11 Oklahoma, from 33 % to 40 % by wrapping up No. 22 Auburn 24-17
3-1 Syracuse isn’t excessive in Austin’s odds list but, regardless of profitable 34-21 at 1-3 (!) Clemson yesterday, however that’s partly a schedule factor. If the Orange stay this robust on the highway in opposition to 2024 CFP groups SMU, Miami and No. 24 Notre Dame, plus No. 18 Georgia Tech, the percentages will adapt.
Also, right here we should always be aware 4-0 Memphis took down 2-2 Arkansas 32-31 and at the moment has a 15 % CFP probability in Austin’s mannequin. Calling the Tigers the brand new favourite for the G5’s CFP spot is affordable, and their video games in opposition to fellow contenders USF, Tulane and Navy are all at dwelling.
Time for a number of fast superlatives!
- Biggest destruction: Illinois-Indiana was billed as a aggressive recreation. The 53-point win was Indiana’s largest ever in opposition to a ranked opponent, plus there’s this, from Sportradar by way of the AP: It’s the largest win ever, interval, for a non-top-10 crew in opposition to a top-10 crew.
- Least courteous homecoming: Auburn QB Jackson Arnold. The Oklahoma switch returned to Norman and got sacked 10 times, matching the best quantity by any protection since 2022.
- Best expenditure of $5 million: Texas Tech, getting five great defensive linemen for one third of Mike Gundy’s buyout amount. These ain’t the pass-happy Red Raiders you bear in mind.
- Most drained state of affairs: Clemson. Dabo Swinney ranted last week about followers and media who don’t admire his tenure. Fine, however don’t lose at dwelling to fall from a preseason No. 4 spot to a 1-3 report. Wow: “The Tigers hadn’t lost a home game by more than 12 points to an unranked team since 2001 against North Carolina. They have not been 1-3 since 2004.”
For extra superlatives, remember to subscribe to our free college football newsletter. Moving on:
News to Know
Big Dumper stands alone
It appears that each dwelling run Cal Raleigh hits lately units some form of report. Last evening’s bomb, Raleigh’s 57th of the 12 months, vaulted the Mariners catcher forward of Ken Griffey Jr. for Seattle’s single-season dwelling run report. We could sound like a damaged report, however it’s value repeating: We’re witnessing an all-time season. The solely unhealthy information for Raleigh? Aaron Judge doesn’t seem eager on shedding this AL MVP race after hitting dwelling run No. 49 final evening.
Tigers in hassle?
The Tigers had been one strike away from a pivotal win yesterday … and then Nacho Alvarez Jr. happened. The Braves rookie — who hit the primary two homers of his profession earlier within the recreation — singled within the tying run to cap off a fairytale afternoon. One batter later, Detroit’s lead was gone for good. Alvarez stated after the sport it was “probably top three days of my life.”
For Detroit, nevertheless, it’s a nightmare in the making. The Tigers — 12.5 video games forward of the Guardians on Aug. 25 — noticed their AL Central lead shrink to only one recreation after Cleveland gained its tenth in a row yesterday. The AL wild card race is heating up, too. Bookmark this link.
More information:
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Caitlin Clark was fined $200 by the WNBA for an Instagram comment she posted earlier this week. This must be the smallest nice ever.
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The Blackhawks settled a lawsuit with a former participant who had sued the group for failing to research sexual assault allegations. More here.
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American Taylor Fritz pulled off a stunning upset over Carlos Alcaraz on the Laver Cup final evening. It’s Alcaraz’s first loss to somebody apart from Jannik Sinner in over 5 months.
Rising Tide
Catching up on an enormous summer time in SailGP, the worldwide crusing competitors based in 2019 by Oracle’s Larry Ellison and Olympic champion Russell Coutts:
- “As the global sailing championship plans to expand from 12 teams to 14 next season, the cost it will take to buy a team outright is expected to exceed $60 million — $55 million more than it would have cost six years ago.” Details here.
- The United States crew now counts New York Giants co-owners Laurie, Jon and Steve Tisch among its backers — and Tommy Hilfiger, Red Bull, Amazon, AG1, T Mobile and APEX amongst its sponsors.
- What’s subsequent? Celebrity investments have included these by Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway and Kylian Mbappe, with bidders continuing to line up.
The Geneva race is underway this weekend, resuming Day 2 very quickly (with Australia in the lead), at 8 a.m. ET on CBSSN. Stay tuned to our protection here.
Watch Guide
A full NFL schedule for the day is here. Some highlights (and some non-football):
NFL: Bengals at Vikings | 1 p.m. ET on CBS
I heard you like backup quarterbacks. It’s Jake Browning in opposition to Carson Wentz, beginning a recreation for 2 groups with playoff aspirations. The Bengals might be fine. I’m much less optimistic in regards to the Vikings, due to the Wentz of all of it.
WNBA: Fever at Aces, Game 1 | 3 p.m. ET on ABC
The Fever managed to upset the Dream within the first spherical regardless of a laundry checklist of accidents that features Caitlin Clark. Taking down A’ja Wilson and the Aces shall be a a lot taller process, however Indiana and its bench mob, led by Clark, have been resilient.
NFL: Chiefs at Giants | 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC
It’s value studying Mike Sando’s dive into the Chiefs’ 0-2 start and what, particularly, is regarding about it. The state of affairs would turn out to be way more panic-worthy with a loss tonight.
Get tickets to video games like these here.
Pulse Picks
Liam Coen’s secret to constructing a tradition inside the Jacksonville Jaguars group: the facility of bodily contact. Elise Devlin dove into the supporting research.
A pleasant reminder to not make any plans for subsequent weekend, maybe the best sports weekend of the year. — Sam Settleman
Several days later, nonetheless desirous about Mike Tyson reveling in having punched Mr. Beast. — Jason Kirk
Former NFL participant and broadcaster Tim Green misplaced his voice to ALS, however an AI platform and a podcast gave it proper again. A truly inspiring story to kick off your Sunday.
Improve your Instagram algo in a snap! Follow some cartoonists. I’ve acquired a handful. Here’s Paul Noth. Guaranteed laughs. — Chris Sprow
Tailgating down right here has jogged my memory that not everybody will get to take pleasure in boudin frequently. If you don’t have it domestically, get some shipped from Best Stop or Kartchner’s. — Chris Branch
NFL kickers are inventing new forms of kicks to regulate to this 12 months’s kickoff guidelines. Keep your eyes peeled for the skyballs, diveballs and knuckleballs in the present day.
A high-quality clothes steamer. I lately spent per week in New York for work and trip, and it strengthened my rule to by no means use a resort iron once more. Buy a good steamer and make area for it in your baggage. You’ll thank your self later — particularly when you’re staying in a tiny Manhattan resort room. — Alex Iniguez
UCLA went from promising darkish horse to absolute catastrophe in three weeks. The Bruins are the right case examine of a team left behind by the new era of college football.
Most-clicked within the e-newsletter yesterday: Tyler Kepner’s fascinating story on the average lifespan of a baseball.
Most-read on the web site yesterday: Dianna Russini’s intel on Tom Brady, tush push demise, and extra. Essential read.
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(Top photograph: Rich Janzaruk / Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK)