It took until Game 162 to finalize the field, but we’ve made it through the marathon and arrived at the real prize that is MLB’s postseason. While 18 teams started their offseasons on Sunday, the dozen qualified clubs shifted into a new gear with another month of high-stakes baseball in front of them.
To some degree, the start of the postseason represents a reset. But each team’s case as a World Series contender is mostly rooted in their performance in the regular season, both over the entirety of the past six months and more recently as October approached.

Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) reacts after scoring a three-point basket in the third quarter of Round 1 Game 1 of the 2026 WNBA Playoffs against the Indiana Fever on Sunday, September 27, 2026, at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
LAS VEGAS – When it comes to A’ja Wilson, her long-time teammate Chelsea Gray says it best.
“It’s a blessing being able to see this every single day. I say this all the time, but you can’t wait until a person retires to appreciate greatness. You have to appreciate it while it’s happening.

May 6, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Mikal Bridges (25) drives past Philadelphia 76ers center Andre Drummond (1) during game five of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
The Philadelphia 76ers spent the summer chasing star power, signing LeBron James and trading for Jaylen Brown, yet they left a massive hole in their defense untouched. The team still struggles to secure defensive rebounds, a weakness that has plagued the franchise for years despite the flashy roster moves.

As I mentioned on Friday, my family and I are getting situated in our new place. We’re mostly set. My wife is happy with the furniture. We even added a guest suite in the basement. In short, the Allens have checked most of the “move-in” boxes. But each has come with a project. 
Build this. Assemble that. Put those engineering skills to work. To be clear, I’ve got the instructions and tools to make it happen. It’s just those first few moments that get me. I’m staring at all the components and the manual, taking in the full picture.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. celebrates his touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals in the first quarter during an NFL game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (San Francisco Chronicle/Hearst N/San Francisco Chronicle via Gett)

Deebo Samuel’s first quarter touchdown, on a perfectly executed hook-and-ladder with Mike Evans, proved pivotal to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, as it made up the difference in their 36-30 win over Arizona.

Dolphins running back De’Von Achane suffered a knee injury against the Chiefs and was ruled out.

South Carolina star edge rusher Dylan Stewart has been suspended indefinitely after he threw a punch at an Alabama player during Saturday’s loss.

Oregon quarterback Dante Moore sustained a concussion after being hit while sliding during the second quarter of Saturday’s 41-27 win over USC, head coach Dan Lanning announced Sunday.

Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield suffered a dislocated right thumb in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 23-16 loss to the Vikings, coach Todd Bowles said.

The Americans won for the 11th straight time Sunday with the most lopsided singles session in Presidents Cup history.

👑​ Messi stunner! Argentine star close to another record
The years go by and go by, but there is always one constant: Lionel Messi scoring stunning goals.

In the match between Columbus and Miami, Messi is giving his team the equalizer with a free-kick goal.

The goalkeeper was expecting a cross, but Messi had a completely different plan.

With this goal, Messi is now just two goals away from becoming the top free-kick scorer in history. INCREDIBLE! 🙌
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

The Baltimore Ravens flirted with another fourth-quarter disaster before Lamar Jackson and Tyler Loop turned their trip to Brazil into a victory. Loop kicked a 56-yard field goal as time expired, lifting Baltimore to a 34-31 win over the Dallas Cowboys at Maracanã Stadium. The kick rescued the Ravens after an 11-point lead disappeared during another troubling fourth-quarter stretch.
Baltimore led 24-13 after Jackson found Chris Moore for a 4-yard touchdown.

The Diamondbacks and Philadelphia Phillies finally settled the final National League wild-card position.
With their victory on Sunday, Sept. 27, the Phillies clinched a playoff spot.
So what about the full Major League Baseball playoff schedule?
When do the baseball playoffs start?
The MLB playoffs begin with the wild-card round on Tuesday, Sept. 29. The better seed in each matchup hosts every wild-card game in their respective series.
All four wild-card round games begin on Tuesday.

What is the 2026 MLB playoff schedule?
The 2026 postseason starts with the wild-card round.

How Baker Mayfield injury impacts Buccaneers offense, QB depth chart originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Buccaneers entered Week 3 with a chance to get right, hosting a Vikings team that beat expectations in its first two games and might be due for regression.
Instead, still-winless Tampa Bay is facing a quarterback crisis.
Needing to stack wins just to have a chance to compete for a playoff berth, the Buccaneers saw QB Baker Mayfield go down with a dislocated thumb late in Sunday’s loss.

Every 9-darter in World Darts Grand Prix history originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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A 9-darter is tough enough to hit in a regular match, but in the World Grand Prix, it’s an even more impressive feat to achieve.
In fact, it’s only happened a few times before, because of the additional challenge of the double-in, double-out format.
Every 9-darter in World Darts Grand Prix history
Let’s take a look at all of the 9-darters in the event’s history.

Pete Prisco, Damien Harris, J.J.

Herm Edwards joins Brian Custer and Phil Murphy

Relive the best action from Sunday Singles in t

Pete Prisco, Damien Harris, and Ran Carthon rec

The Dallas Cowboys vs. the Baltimore Ravens always felt like the game of the week in Week 3 of the 2026 NFL season. The two teams traded shots back and forth all afternoon in an international showdown in Rio de Janeiro, and the Brazilian fans were treated to an instant classic fourth quarter with a wild ending.
The Ravens beat the Cowboys, 34-31, on a game-winning field goal by Tyler Loop as time expired.

Aslynn Lewis, right, with her mother Amy Busevac, at the last game of Mike Krukow’s commentary career with the Giants. (Sam Whiting/SF Chronicle)

At the first San Francisco Giants game she attended, at age 7, Ashlynn Lewis was settling into a bite of purple cotton candy when the TV camera caught her and the image was put on the air with TV color man Mike Krukow providing commentary. “MMM. Cotton candy.

Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

Chargers news: This Justin Herbert stat shows how terrible he, LA have been this season appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Justin Herbert’s struggles to start the 2026 NFL season have never been more apparent following the Los Angeles Chargers’ 24-16 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday afternoon.
Herbert has been playing in the NFL since 2020, going through his seventh season with the Chargers. He typically performs strong as one of the best quarterbacks in the league, but he has seen his challenges.

Sep 27, 2026; Santa Clara, California, USA; Arizona Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love (4) reacts after rushing for a touchdown San Francisco 49ers in the second half at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images
The Arizona Cardinals cannot seem to shake their NFC West troubles. A week after a dismal performance against the Seattle Seahawks, Arizona’s furious second-half comeback attempt fell just short against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara.
Sunday’s game carried the early signs of a looming blowout.

Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images

Wisconsin football news: Badgers star drops mic with ‘top-dog’ bar after beating Penn State appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
As the unranked Wisconsin football team took down the No. 13 Penn State Nittany Lions, there is no doubt that excitement is buzzing around the Badgers. With the Wisconsin football team leading past Penn State on Saturday, Badgers star Jacob Harris made a dominant declaration about the state of the program that is sure to catch the attention of the entire nation.

Oregon announced Sunday night that quarterback Dante Moore suffered a concussion in Saturday’s win against USC but had not sustained any other injuries.
Moore was injured when he was hit by USC linebacker Desman Stephens II while sliding. After Stephens hit him, the back of Moore’s head viciously bounced off the turf. Moore was carted off the field on a backboard, transported to a waiting ambulance and taken to Los Angeles General Medical Center.

U.S.

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Baker Mayfield appears to have suffered a significant thumb injury against the Minnesota Vikings.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback was fighting for his life in the pocket on a 4th-and-13 play with under two minutes remaining, with the Buccaneers trailing the Minnesota Vikings by a score of 20-16. Mayfield, after scrambling in the pocket for what seemed like an eternity, made a throw downfield while being hit both in his upper body, and with a defender around his ankles.
You can see the play here:

Baker Mayfield injured on this play. Screaming in pain#MINvsTB pic.twitter.

Russell Henley ties Nick Taylor in the 29th mat

Jackson Koivun reflects on his Presidents Cup d

Jacob Bridgeman made the par putt of his life i

Jim Bowden joins CBS Sports HQ to give his 2026

The Los Angeles Rams and Denver Broncos are back in primetime for Week 3, closing out a full day of action on “Sunday Night Football.”
Sean McVay and the Rams bounced back after a slow start in Australia in Week 1, nabbing a decisive 28-6 win over the New York Giants with a stunning offensive performance from reigning MVP Matthew Stafford and All-Pro wideout Davante Adams. Without Puka Nacua (hip) in the lineup, Stafford threw for 327 yards, 4 touchdowns and 1 interception, with Adams reeling in 195 of those yards and two of those scores.

Scottie Scheffler concedes putt for birdie afte

Use code ‘GEEKS’ for a discount at

LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 09: Estevao of Chelsea reacts during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Chelsea and Leeds United at Stamford Bridge on September 09, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Barcelona were heavily linked with Estevao Willian before the Brazilian made the move to Premier League side Chelsea from Palmeiras.
Yet it seems the Catalans are still thinking about the Brazilian as he struggles to impress new boss Xabi Alonso at Stamford Bridge.

MIAMI, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 27: Mauricio Dubon #14 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates with teammates in the dugout after hitting a home run during the third inning against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park on September 27, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Leonardo Fernandez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The regular season is over and it ended in quiet fashion for the Atlanta Braves. All of their big fireworks and celebrations took place last Sunday when they picked up a sweep in Houston in order to clinch the NL East title.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans is helped off the field in the second quarter during an NFL game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (Santiago Mejia/S.F. Chronicle)

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans was carted to the locker room late in the second quarter Sunday after he grabbed his right side after he was targeted with an incomplete pass against the Cardinals.
Evans, 33, wasn’t contacted on the play. Three plays earlier, the six-time Pro Bowl selection did take a big hit from safety Budda Baker on a 9-yard reception.

The IHSAA boys sectional pairings were revealed Sunday, Sept. 27.
The Southwestern Indiana area will compete in sectionals 5 through 12. The latest Indiana High School Tennis Coaches Association rankings feature three of those teams: Jasper at 9, Barr-Reeve at 14 and Gibson Southern at 28.
More: Second Jasper Invitational of IHSAA boys tennis again a success
All eight sectional brackets are provided below with analysis.

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Bryant McFadden, Terron Armstead and Ben DiNucc

WNBA Countdown’s Malika Andrews, Monica McNut

Watch highlights from A’ja Wilson as she ties

Scott Van Pelt and Stanford Steve give their Te

TORONTO (AP) — Max Scherzer struck out seven over seven-plus innings for his 225th career win, Brandon Valenzuela and Charles McAdoo homered and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-1 in Sunday’s season finale.
A two-time World Series champion and three-time Cy Young Award winner, Scherzer (4-9) boosted his career strikeout total to 3,557. That’s the ninth-highest mark in big league history — three behind former teammate Justin Verlander, who made the final start of his decorated career Saturday.

UPDATE: The 49ers ruled out Mike Evans for the rest of Sunday’s game due to a rib injury. The announcement came early in the third quarter. Head coach Kyle Shanahan will likely speak to the injury after the game.

The San Francisco 49ers suffer more weird injuries than just about any team in the NFL. The Niners look fantastic during a 2-0 start to begin the 2026 season, but they just can’t get over the injury bug. New addition Mike Evans went down during the team’s Week 3 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, and it’s another injury that seems pretty confusing on first blush.

Credit: Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com

Jets news: Garrett Wilson concussion injury update a silver lining after loss appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The New York Jets gave it their all in Week 3 of the 2026 NFL season. New York lost a close game against Detroit 31-24 in a game that featured multiple injuries for the away team. Fortunately, one important Jets player avoided a significant injury in the waning moments of the fourth quarter.

A blowout loss to Ohio State has led to a September defensive coordinator change at Illinois.
The Illini announced Sunday afternoon that defensive coordinator Bobby Hauck was no longer with the team. In a statement, coach Bret Bielema said that he and Hauck met Sunday morning “and mutually agreed that a change in leadership was in the best interests of our defense.”
Hauck, a former head coach at UNLV, was hired in the offseason to lead the Illinois defense after spending the past eight seasons in charge at Montana.

Barcelona are monitoring Estevao, Erling Haaland attracts interests amid Man City uncertainty and Joao Felix could return to Europe.
Brazil winger Estevao Willian is becoming frustrated at his lack of game time at Chelsea, and Barcelona are keeping tabs on the 19-year-old’s situation. (Sport – in Spanish)
Al-Nassr and Portugal forward Joao Felix is interested in a return to European football but the 26-year-old does not name a prospective club.