Sports Brief: September 22

Most ranked college football games this weekend since 2017

This Saturday, Sept. 23, there will be seven matchups of teams ranked in the AP Coaches Poll Top 25. According to the Associated Press football poll, there have only been six weekends with seven games between teams in the rankings since the rankings debuted in 1936. 

First, #3 Florida State Seminoles will versus #23 Clemson Tigers, where the Seminoles have a chance to remain undefeated. Then #19 Colorado will play #13 Oregon in a highly anticipated matchup of two elite offenses. 

Next, #25 UCLA Bruins will travel to Utah to play the #10 team in the country, the Utah Utes. 

A favorite to upset among fans is #15 Ole Miss Rebels, who will travel to Denny-Bryant stadium to play the formidable #13 Alabama Crimson Tide. 

#15 Oregon State will travel to take on #24 Washington State. Both teams are exceeding expectations this season, especially Washington State, who was picked to finish seventh in the Pac-12. 

#22 Iowa State is taking a trip to Pennsylvania to play #7 Penn State. A loss for Penn State could doom their chances at a playoff berth, as they still have #2 Michigan and #4 Ohio State to play. 

To round out the top 25 matchups is a pair of top 10 matchups with #4 Ohio State taking on #9 Notre Dame. Both teams are trying to make a statement win to obtain a top four spot and a shot at the national championship. 

Cleveland Browns Nick Chubb’s Season-Ending Injury

The Cleveland Browns suffered on Monday Night Football when their star running back, Nick Chubb, took a hit to the leg that ended his season abruptly. 

Playing against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Chubb took a low hit while running the ball from Steelers safety Mikah Fitzpatrick. 

“It’s very unfortunate. It’s a tough, tough injury,” Fitzpatrick said, via ESPN. “Unfortunately, that’s part of the game that we play. I know there’s people that (thought I) had ill will behind the tackle. It’s not the case whatsoever. I’m a guy that’s a competitor who’s going to go out there and play the game. I’m chippy. I’m edgy, of course, but I’m not a dirty player. I’m not going to sit here and defend my character. I know the type of player I am. Chubb knows the type of player I am. I’ve played against him a bunch in the past. Five years, two times a year. I love competing against him. He brings the best out of me, and I bring the best out of him”. 

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski talked about how much of a blow it is to the team, but he has no doubt that Chubb will recover and come back better than ever for next season. 

Star Colorado Cornerback Out for Next Few Games

On Sept. 16, Colorado Buffaloes cornerback Travis Hunter lacerated his liver during the team’s game against Colorado State.

Coach Deion Sanders brought Hunter with him when he was hired. Ranked the #1 player out of highschool according to Rivals.com and 247sports, he played a great first year at the HBCU Jackson State before he followed Coach Prime to Colorado. With nine tackles, two pass deflections, and one interception, Travis was looking like a premiere cornerback with a good amount of offensive reps at wide receiver as well. 

Hunter should be able to recover and be back with his team in four to five weeks. 

Teams Seeking First World Series

With the regular baseball season coming to a close, several teams sit on the verge of a playoff berth which could propel their teams to win the first World Series in their program’s history.

The Milwaukee Brewers are currently sitting atop of the NL Central with an 86-66 record. The last time the Brewers advanced to the World Series was in 1982, where they lost in 7 games to their future divisional rivals, The Cardinals. They have only won two playoff series since. 

The Seattle Mariners are 84-68 and second in the AL West. The 116-win 2001 season is considered by many Mariners fans as the one that got away. However, fans are excited to be back at another change to take home the trophy atop of the MLB. 

The Texas Rangers are currently 82-68 and third in the AL West. In 2011, their last World Series appearance, they were one out away before having a triple hit on them that won the Cardinals the game. They are tied for the third wildcard spot, but hold the tiebreaker over the Mariners.

With a great 92-59 record and sitting second in the AL East, the Tampa Bay Rays have already clinched their playoff berth. They came closest to the World Series title in 2020, but have yet to win a playoff series since.