Don’t call it a comeback

The GIST: After a weekend slate that included four upsets, it’s no surprise that the playoff picture’s all shaken up. The second College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings of the year were released last night, with some familiar faces holding onto their top spots, while others were left on the outside looking in.

• As a quick reminder, 12 teams will receive bids to this year’s CFP, up from four in previous years. Here’s the latest:

Oregon remains No. 1: Things are just ducky in Eugene, with Oregon sitting pretty at No. 1 after improving to 10-0 over the weekend. The Ducks also lead the Big Ten, and a conference win would earn them an automatic bid and a first-round bye. That said, No. 5 Indiana is also in contention and also undefeated.

No. 12 Georgia pushed out after upset: Ole Miss topped 2022 champions Georgia 28–10 on Saturday, handing the powerhouse Bulldogs their second loss of the season. They’ve now fallen to fourth in the SEC and would be the first team out of the 12-team playoff (with five spots reserved for conference champions). Woof.

No. 3 Texas, No. 6 BYU, and No. 12 Miami also sitting in bye status: If this week’s CPF rankings hold, all three teams would automatically advance to the second round. The Longhorns are projected to win the SEC, BYU held onto first place in the Big 12 with a 22–21 win over Utah, and Miami is expected to win the ACC despite being upset by Georgia Tech this weekend and suffering its first loss of the season. Chaos.

The GIST: In an era of fifth-year seniors, the youngsters are still making their mark on the college basketball landscape just over a week into the new season. Here are four freshmen to watch who are proving that age is just a number.

Sarah Strong, UConn, Forward: The No. 1 recruit in women’s college basketball in 2024, Strong’s already impressed head coach Geno Auriemma, who praised her versatility amid sky-high expectations. She’s living up to her top billing, averaging 15 points, 5.5 rebounds, four steals, and 3.5 assists through two games.

Syla Swords, Michigan, Guard: After posting 27 points and 12 rebounds in a near-upset win over defending champs South Carolina in her debut earlier this month, Swords kept the scoring going with 20 points in a recent rout of Lehigh. How’s that for a hot start?

Cooper Flagg, Duke, Guard: No one had more hype heading into this season than Flagg, the No. 1 men’s recruit and projected No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. He’s been as good as advertised, averaging 19 points and 10 rebounds per game after putting up 26 in last night’s 77–72 loss to No. 19 Kentucky.

Dylan Harper, Rutgers, Guard: New Jersey’s own, Harper chose to stay close by committing to Rutgers. So far, so good for the guard, who’s leading the Scarlet Knights with 22 points per game. There’s no place like home, after all.

The GIST: With a major conference tournament upset behind us, the postseason field is officially set. Eighteen teams will compete in the NCAA Field Hockey Championship, with four battling in today’s play-in games before the first round begins on Friday. Here’s everything you need to know:

How it works: Ten teams earned automatic bids by winning their conference tournaments, while eight others received at-large bids based on their regular-season performance, strength of schedule, and other factors.

• In today’s play-in matchups, Delaware (11-9) takes on Fairfield (12-8) at 2 p.m. ET, followed by Miami Ohio (13-7) playing Vermont (11-8) at 3 p.m. ET. The winners of each match will have the honor of facing powerhouses No. 1 seed UNC and No. 2 Northwestern, respectively. *gulps*

Teams to watch: After winning the last two titles, the UNC Tar Heels are the clear favorites to three-peat. Led by ACC Coach of the Year and former player Erin Matson, the undefeated Tar Heels have lost just three games over the last three seasons. Talk about dominance.

• UNC’s biggest competition? The aforementioned Northwestern Wildcats, who also went undefeated until Michigan pulled off a stunning 1–0 upset in the Big Ten title game over the weekend.

• The Wildcats have plenty of championship experience, winning the title in 2022 and facing UNC in the finals in both 2023 and 2024. A powerhouse rematch seems almost inevitable.

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