Yankees, Brewers clinch playoff spots; two new QBs take over the top spot in the NFL and CFB power rankings

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⚾ Good morning everyone, but especially…

THE NEW YORK YANKEES AND THE MILWAUKEE BREWERS

It’s not often that you celebrate two wins on a day when you only play one match, but the Yankees And Brewers are only too happy to be the rare exceptions. New York clinched a play-off spot and Milwaukee achieved the NL Centralbecoming the first two teams to be officially postseason-bound.

The Yankees qualified with a 2-1, 10-inning victory over the Sailors. Anthony Rizzo drove in both runs for the Bronx Bombers, including the game-winning double in the 10th inning. Aaron Judge And Juan Soto have achieved historical figures, Gerrit Kool remains an excellent starter and rookie in the top league Austin Wells And Luis Gil have been crucial contributors.

Milwaukee then qualified as the Cubs lost a day match to the Athletics. The Brew Crew kept the good vibes going with a 2-1 walk-off win over the Phillies. Jake Bauers got the winning goal.

It really is an impressive year after a shaky offseason and also many problems during the season, especially Christian Jelich‘s season-ending injury. Newcomers Jackson Chourio And Joey Ortiz have stepped up alongside the faithful Willy Adames And William Contreras offensively, and an excellent bullpen has held down the fort.

Both clubs are well versed in playoff baseball, but neither has had much success recently. The Yankees are making their seventh trip in nine seasons but haven’t won a World Series since 2009, which equates to an eternity for the sport’s most decorated franchise. Milwaukee is making its sixth trip in seven seasons, but hasn’t won a playoff series since 2018.

👍 Honorable mentions

👎 Not so honorable mentions

🏈 New Leaders in NFL, College Football QB Power Rankings

Who doesn’t like a changing of the guard at the top? We have new top dogs in Cody Benjamin NFL QB Power Rankings And Tom Fornellis College Football QB Power Rankings.

Among the pros, Josh Allen made the jump to No. 1. He ranks in the top five in passer rating, expected points added per dropback, yards per attempt and completion percentage. Oh yeah, and he does it all with a remade receiving corps. Here are the top five:

1. Josh Allen (previous: 2)
2. CJ Stroud (4)
3. Patrick Mahoms (1)
4. Lamar Jackson (3)
5. Brock Purdy (5)

Derek Carr is only 14th in Cody’s rankings; I guess you could argue that he should be the first.

As for the ranks of the university, a Texas signal caller is still number 1, it’s just another Longhorn. It was last week Quinn Ewersbut with him pain, Bow Manning takes the throne. Here are the top five there:

1. Arch Manning (formerly: unranked)
2. Jaleen Milroe (4)
3. Cam department (3)
4. Nico Iamaleava (5)
   
5. Jaxson Dart (6)

You’ll notice four SEC quarterbacks, and that’s exclusive Georgia‘S Carson Beckwho dropped from second to eighth place after a low-scoring win Kentucky but still ranks among the best in the country. Brad Crawford wrote about the explosion of quarterback talent in the SEC.

• Crawford: “Only three times since the SEC’s initial expansion to twelve teams in 1992 has the league produced three quarterbacks in a single season with 30 or more touchdown passes… This fall, there’s a chance the league produces five signal callers who exceed the number. There is star power like never before within the conference and that is no exaggeration.”

Finally, Miller Mos may have only received an honorable mention in Tom’s rankings, but that can change a lot when USC gets started Michigan this weekend Cameron Salerno writes.

• Salerno: “Overcoming the hurdle against Michigan would symbolize a new era at USC. The Trojans are 2-15 in their last 17 games against ranked opponents on the road, losing by an average of 10.5 points. Riley is 4- 7 against top-25 teams with the Trojans have won 22 straight conference games and are 13-0 in Ann Arbor against Big Ten opponents since 2021… Something will have to give on Saturday, and if the latest streak is broken,. it could be the latest streak. perfect time to jump on the ‘Moss for Heisman’ bandwagon.”

🏀 Top storylines on the final night of the WNBA regular season, and Portland gets a team!

The WNBA regular season ends tonight and there is plenty at stake across the league. Here’s a look at the standings and playoff scenarios:

1. Liberty (32-7, No. 1 seed)
2. Lynx (30-9, No. 2 seed)
3. Sun (27-12, No. 3 seed with win over Sky OF Aces loss)
4. Aces (26-13, can earn No. 3 seed with win over Wings and Sun loss)
5. Storm (24-15, seeded No. 5 seed)
6. Fever (20-19, No. 6 seed taken)
7. Mercury (19-20, seeded No. 7 seed)
   
8. Dream (14-25, seed #8 with win over Liberty OR loss vs. loss to Liberty and Mystics and loss to Sky OR loss vs. win to Liberty and Mystics and loss to Sky)
9. Mystics (13-26, can earn No. 8 seed with win over Fever and Dream loss and Sky win)
10. Sky (13-26, can earn No. 8 seed with win over Sun and Dream loss and Mystics loss)

Do you have it? Good. (The wings and Sparks are otherwise eliminated.)

More teams will soon join in the fun. The WNBA announced Wednesday that Portland will be the league’s 15th team and will begin play in 2026. The league also adds the Valkyries of the Golden State in 2025 and a yet-to-be-named Toronto team in 2026.

The Portland franchise will be owned by Lisa Bhathal Merage And Alex Bhathal; the Bhathal family also owns the NWSLs Portland thorns and invests in the Sacramento Kings. Portland’s WNBA team plays at the Moda Center, where the Trailblazers play — and mark a return to the WNBA for the Rose City, which won the Firework from 2000-2002.

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert she said earlier expects the league to grow to 16 teams by 2028and the addition in Portland marks the next step toward that goal.

⚽ UEFA Champions League: Manchester City, Inter play to goalless draw, full score

After Tuesday’s beaucoup goals, things calmed down a bit in Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League action, making the balls that did find the back of the net all the more important.

In the header, Manchester city And Inter Milan played a draw, 0-0, despite several chances. James Benge says the Citizens have problems on both sides of the field.

• Benge: “The balance is completely lost. With the ball, City had to deploy so many bodies so high on the pitch that at times it looked like a line of six. Erling Haaland. That inevitably led to openings for Inter off the ball, enough of that Pep GuardiolaThe men were fortunate to finish this evening with a clean sheet. … Even in a reasonably favorable schedule to start the league season, the counter-attack vulnerabilities have become clear to those who have been closely watching City.”

PSG did get on the score sheet, albeit barely. Defeating the French giants Girona1-0, after a terrible late blunder by Girona goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga. It may not have been the prettiest victory, but… PSG is still a major threatwrites Jonathan Johnson.

Elsewhere…

📺What we’re watching on Thursday

⚽ We’re watching the UEFA Champions League on Paramount+ and CBS Sports Network. Here’s how.
🏀 Fever in Mystics7pm on Prime Video
🏀 Dream at Freedom7 p.m. on NBA TV
⚽ Phillies at Mets or Diamondbacks at Brewers7:15pm on Fox
🏈 South Alabama in the Appalachian State7:30 PM on ESPN
🏈 Patriots at Jets8:15 PM on Prime Video