Boise State jumps to No. 4 seed in School Soccer Playoff Rating; Celtics ship Cavaliers first loss

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🏈 Good morning to all, however particularly to …

NO. 12 BOISE STATE BRONCOS AND THE NO. 1 OREGON DUCKS

The third College Football Playoff Rankings and bracket of the season have arrived, and there isn’t any change within the prime 5 of the rankings. Here’s the top 14:

1. Oregon (11-0) | Projected No. 1 seed
2. Ohio State (9-1) | Projected No. 5 seed
3. Texas (9-1) | Projected No. 2 seed
4. Penn State (9-1) | Projected No. 6 seed
5. Indiana (10-0) | Projected No. 7 seed
6. Notre Dame (9-1) | Projected No. 8 seed
7. Alabama (8-2) | Projected No. 9 seed
8. Miami (FL) (9-1) | Projected No. 3 seed
9. Ole Miss (8-2) | Projected No. 10 seed
10. Georgia (8-2) | Projected No. 11 seed
11. Tennessee (8-2)
12. Boise State (9-1) | Projected No. 4 seed
13. SMU (9-1)
14. BYU (9-1) | Projected No. 12 seed

Keep in mind, rankings don’t equal seed. The 4 highest-ranked convention champions (out of the ACC, Large 12, Large Ten, SEC and the Group of 5 conferences) get the 4 prime seeds and the accompanying first-round bye. As such, that is what the bracket would look like:

This is the primary spherical:

• BYES: No. 1 Oregon, No. 2 Texas, No. 3 Miami, No. 4 Boise State
• No. 12 BYU at No. 5 Ohio State
• No. 11 Georgia at No. 6 Penn State
• No. 10 Ole Miss at No. 7 Indiana
• No. 9 Alabama at No. 8 Notre Dame

The large headliner right here is Boise State — the projected Mountain West winner and top-ranked Group of 5 workforce — surpassing BYU, which leads a wild Large 12 race however fell eight spots within the rankings after losing to Kansas. The Cougars are nonetheless amongst Will Backus’ underrated teams on this reveal.

After all, No. 16 Colorado, No. 21 Arizona State and No. 22 Iowa State may all have a say within the Large 12 title race. However for now, Boise State has to be encouraged, Shehan Jeyarajah writes.

• Jeyarajah: “Heading into the season, the belief was that the 4 energy convention champions would get byes and the highest-ranked Group of 5 champion would accept the 12-seed. Three weeks into the rankings, Boise State has already bucked the pattern. … Boise State nonetheless must win the Mountain West to make it occur, however the Broncos are in nice form. And even when the Large 12 manages to gather itself, Boise State could have a minimum of an opportunity towards the ACC if Miami loses wherever.”

Within the Large Ten, we know one workforce that may battle for league supremacy. The convention lastly unraveled its personal convoluted tiebreakers and decided Oregon will indeed play in the title game. Listed here are the paths for one in all these three — No. 2 Ohio State, No. 4 Penn State and No. 5 Indiana — to be the Geese’ opponent.

👍 Honorable mentions

🏀 And never such a superb morning for …

THE PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

Crew conferences this early within the season are by no means good, particularly once they contain calling out your celebrity. However the 76ers want one thing — something — to get going, so possibly Tyrese Maxey, 24, is the one to steer the cost, even whereas not on the court docket.

The younger guard, out with a hamstring damage, reportedly called out Joel Embiid, 30, in a workforce assembly Monday after a loss to the Warmth, saying Embiid’s consistent tardiness has negatively impacted everyone involved.

• Embiid reportedly took the feedback nicely but in addition stated he is “confused” by the workforce’s on-court method.
• Different gamers need coach Nick Nurse to teach tougher and lead practices with extra objective.
• The 76ers are 2-11 this season, tied with the Wizards for the league’s worst report. Its ballyhooed “Large Three” of Embiid, Maxey and Paul George haven’t but performed collectively.

Solely three groups this millennium have made the postseason after profitable two or fewer of their first 13 video games. And this was purported to be a 76ers workforce that may problem for a title, not simply make the playoffs.

Although it has been ugly to this point, Sam Quinn says it is not quite time to panic … yet.

• Quinn: “Embiid, George and Maxey are all incomes max salaries. There’s not one other participant on the roster throughout the 190 highest-paid gamers within the NBA. … Philadelphia’s path to profitable all the time revolved round having three wholesome stars as a result of there was by no means going to be an excessive amount of behind them. You could possibly argue that their stars have not been adequate once they’ve been on the ground, however that is been comparatively predictable in context. … These are points which are more likely to right because the season progresses.”

👎 Not so honorable mentions

🏀 Celtics drop Cavaliers to 15-1

It took practically a month, however the Cavaliers have lastly misplaced. After profitable their first 15 video games — tied for the second-longest streak to open a season in NBA historical past — Cleveland lost in Boston, 120-117. The competition gave the impression to be heading into laugher territory because the Celtics opened up a 21-point lead earlier than the Cavs mounted their comeback.

• Jayson Tatum scored 33 factors and had 12 rebounds and 7 assists, persevering with his sterling begin, and Al Horford added a season-high 20 factors.
• All 5 Celtics starters scored in double figures, and Payton Pritchard had 13 factors off the bench, excellent timing after Jack Maloney’s characteristic on how Pritchard has emerged as a Sixth Man of the Year favorite.
• Boston went 22 of 41 (54%) from 3 and has made 287 3-pointers throughout its personal spectacular 12-3 begin. That is probably the most 3-pointers in any 15-game span in NBA historical past.

Sam Quinn broke down Cleveland’s remarkable start, and Brad Botkin says there are plenty of positives to take away, even in a loss.

And because it was a Tuesday, which means it was an NBA Cup evening within the affiliation. This is a take a look at the standings for the league’s in-season tournament. Reminder: Group play continues on Fridays and Tuesdays via Dec. 3.

🏈 New No. 1 in NFL Energy Rankings; Jets fireplace GM Joe Douglas

Down went the Chiefs and Ravens — beforehand No. 1 and No. 4 in Pete Prisco’s Power Rankings — which means there’s lastly a change on the prime within the newest edition. This is the highest 5:

1. Lions (earlier: 2)
2. Payments (3)
3. Chiefs (1)
4. Steelers (5)
5. Eagles (6)

Josh Allen, Sean McDermott and Brandon Beane have finished magnificent work for 9-2 Buffalo after an offseason full of roster churn, Pete notes.

The three-8 Jets have finished the precise reverse, and on Tuesday, one other head rolled: GM Joe Douglas was fired, weeks after coach Robert Saleh suffered the identical destiny. This transfer was a very long time coming given Douglas’ 20-36 report in New York, however, as with every part relating to this workforce, there were many complicating factors, Jared Dubin writes.

The largest problem, clearly, was quarterback. And final season, simply when Douglas thought he acquired that discovered, Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles moments into the opener. The comeback has been underwhelming. As soon as probably the most feared late-game quarterback on the planet, Rodgers has been woeful in clutch situations this 12 months, I famous in “Five things we liked and didn’t like in Week 11.” Crew proprietor Woody Johnson even suggested benching Rodgers earlier this season.

So now we glance to the longer term. However Cody Benjamin says it might just look like the present.

🎾 Rafael Nadal retires, receives outpouring of tributes

Hero, legend, icon, champion … retiree. Rafael Nadal‘s tennis career is over after Spain misplaced within the Davis Cup quarterfinals. The 22-time Grand Slam winner and two-time Olympic gold medalist stated he “achieved greater than what [he] ever dreamed,” and many legends paid tribute.

• Roger Federer penned a heartfelt note to his longtime rival.
• Novak Djokovic — the third member of the “Large Three,” and the one one nonetheless enjoying — praised Nadal’s “tenacity” and “preventing spirit.”
• Serena Williams admitted she acquired choked up seeing Nadal retire.
• Carlos Alcaraz known as Nadal his “idol.”

There’ll by no means be one other Rafa, from his dominance on clay (a report 14 French Open titles) to his doggedness to his emotion, which he wore on his sleeve for the world to see. What a profession.

📺 What we’re watching Wednesday

🏀 Unmatched roster reveal, 11 a.m. on YouTube
🏀 No. 1 South Carolina at Clemson (W), 5 p.m. on ESPN2
🏈 Ohio at Toledo, 7 p.m. on ESPN2
🏀 Bulls at Bucks, 7:30 p.m. on ESPN
🏒 Hurricanes at Flyers, 7:30 p.m. on TNT
🏀 No. 25 Illinois at No. 8 Alabama (M), 9 p.m. on SEC Community
🏀 Knicks at Suns, 10 p.m. on ESPN
🏒 Predators at Kraken, 10 p.m. on truTV/TNT