Michigan out-Harbaughs itself in win over USC. Plus, Week 3 NFL watch information

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Good morning! A lot to recollect from the twenty first night time of September. Onward:

Slugfests: Working the ball is so again

Even because the NFL�bends itself to caveman-football fanatic Jim Harbaugh’s will, his earlier employer is discovering new ranges of knuckle-draggery.

Yesterday, No. 18 Michigan welcomed No. 11 USC to the Large Ten (nonetheless feels messed as much as kind) by passing 12 occasions for 32 yards — and successful 27-24 anyway. Oh, it will get even burlier: Since hiring Harbaugh in 2015, Michigan is now 6-0 when throwing for fewer than 100 yards.�

Towards USC, new coach Sherrone Moore’s Wolverines managed the trenches to the grotesque tune of 290 speeding yards whereas nearly fully bottling up the Trojans’ floor recreation, aside from one lengthy breakout. Now the 3-1 defending champs have a good shot on the 12-team playoff.

For USC, the day was each encouraging and stuffed with what-ifs. Can’t depend out the Trojans but, both.

Elsewhere:

LAJOHNTAY WESTER. TIE GAME. #GoBuffs pic.twitter.com/bJshvRrols

— Colorado Buffaloes (@CUBuffs) September 22, 2024

That 43-yard heave from Shedeur Sanders despatched it to time beyond regulation, the place two-way star Travis Hunter sealed the win over Baylor by forcing a goal-line fumble. Heisman finalist? In any case that fuss, Colorado is 3-1.

For rather more CFB, put together your inbox to obtain Till Saturday.

NFL Watch Information: Simply don’t go 0-3 in the present day

Mark Hoffman / USA As we speak Community by way of Imagn Photographs

Pocket book Dump: What Dianna’s listening to

So that you’ve obtained your NFL viewing schedule down. Now? Recent intel from our Dianna Russini from her weekly Saturday notes column:

Some gamesmanship from Inexperienced Bay: After lacking final week’s recreation with a sprained MCL, quarterback Jordan Love was at follow — albeit restricted — all week and listed as questionable in the present day. Per Dianna, although, the staff made its resolution Friday however doesn’t need the Titans to know the ultimate name.
It’s so over for Bryce Younger:�In Carolina, Dianna experiences the benching of the 2023 No. 1 choose isn’t an experiment — it’s a full-fledged “Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston”-type of break up. Additionally, within the days since, the Panthers have began getting commerce inquiries.
Is it the yr of the kicker?�Making lengthy area objectives is so on this season. A standard concept as to why is that climate circumstances and enjoying surfaces have been best, Dianna says. However for some across the league, the reply is deeper than that.

Learn the total column for updates on Justin Fields, Derek Carr, the Vikings’ QB growth program and the 0-2 Colts’ recreation plan. And for those who’re not already subscribed, enroll right here for the Scoop Metropolis publication and get every day nuggets like these.

Information to Know

Verstappen pulls a Marshawn
On Friday, Max Verstappen was advised he should full neighborhood service for Method One’s governing physique as punishment for swearing — he referred to as his automotive “a bit f–ed” — throughout his pre-Singapore Grand Prix information convention. So yesterday, he intentionally gave transient solutions in his post-qualifying presser, saying he feared getting fined, then advised journalists he would discuss to them exterior of the formal setting. And he did — it was fairly the scene.�

Extra information

Watch and Hear

📺 WNBA: Fever at Solar
3 p.m. ET on ABC
Caitlin Clark’s first playoff recreation comes on a nationwide broadcast. General, Indiana is perhaps probably the most fascinating staff heading into the postseason. It is a must-watch.

📺 MLB: Phillies at Mets
7:15 p.m. ET on ESPN
We’re into the final two weeks of the MLB season and the Mets, authors of an unimaginable comeback season, nonetheless must clinch a playoff berth.

Stream video games like these�right here and get tickets�right here.

🎧 “The Athletic FC” previewed in the present day’s showdown between Man Metropolis and Arsenal (11:30 a.m. ET), the highest two groups within the Premier League the final two seasons.

Pulse Picks

Three days later, we’re nonetheless agape at Shohei Ohtani’s efficiency Thursday night time. Fabian Ardaya expounded on it with a question: Was this one of the best baseball recreation ever performed?

In his all the time wonderful Sliders column, Tyler Kepner makes the argument that baseball�ought to reframe the High quality Begin statistic.

Aaron Portzline has an vital, heart-wrenching story about how, within the wake of Johnny Gaudreau’s sudden demise, two groups handled the lack of beloved teammates.

Males’s golf continues to be a divided sport. Brody Miller wonders if it might probably nonetheless even work at this level.

Meg Linehan has an insightful assessment of Netflix’s new Hope Solo documentary.

Most-clicked within the publication Friday: Our story on the Aaron Rodgers-Robert Saleh shove/hug.

Most-read on the web site yesterday: Fabian’s story on Ohtani’s 50/50 recreation.

(High picture: Aaron J. Thornton / Getty Photographs)