This is the first October edition of The Lineup, an all-new newsletter recapping many of the most important developments in the world of sports.
NBA Update
Knicks Swap Randle and DiVincenzo for KAT, by William Rosen
On Friday, Sept. 27, two back-to-back X posts shook the basketball world, breaking headlines for Timberwolves, Knicks and NBA fans alike.
The Timberwolves traded All-NBA center Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks in return for All-NBA power forward Julius Randle along with shooting guard Donte DiVincenzo, the Knicks’ all-time leader in 3-point-FG in a season (2023-24). Keita Bates-Diop and a future Detriot Pistons first-round draft pick (protected top-13 in 2025, top-11 in 2026, and top-9 in 2027) were also shipped to Minnesota, while the Hornets took on DaQuan Jefferies and Charlie Brown to facilitate the deal. With the trade now official, it marks the end of the respective Knicks and Timberwolves careers of Randle, DiVincenzo and Towns.
For New York, the main reason they pulled the trigger on the deal, according to league sources, was due to the lingering injury to incumbent starting center Mitchell Robinson. Robinson suffered a stress fracture in his left ankle and his timetable to return is still questionable. The Knicks have made moves this offseason to become incredibly sound in the backcourt, but with Isaiah Hartenstein leaving for OKC, the big-man trio of Jerricho Sims, Precious Achiuwa, and two-way rookie Ariel Hukporti left Knicks President Leon Rose needing to make a move. This led to Friday’s deal to bring the best 3-point shooting center in NBA history to the Mecca.
While this was a shock to the five boroughs, the biggest shock came for Towns, a 9-year Timberwolf who made a cryptic post moments before the trade was announced:
In order to make the shock turn into static, the players involved need time to put on their jerseys, get onto the court and let the X posts and TikToks turn into silence.
NFL Update
Jason Myers’ Start to the Season, by Sean Coughlin
Marist football alum and current Seattle Seahawks kicker Jason Myers has cooled off a tad after a hot start to his 10th NFL season. After starting the season five-for-five on field goals and four-for-four on extra point attempts, he totaled six points in a week three 24-3 win over the Dolphins by going one-for-two on field goals. Myers made a 56-yard kick for the first score of the game and later missed a 53-yard kick in the second quarter; he also converted three of three extra points against a Dolphins team missing star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
On Monday night, the Seahawks and Myers faced off against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. He missed his lone field goal attempt, missing a 62 yarder on the last play of the first half. Additionally, he went three-for-three on extra points, tallying three points in a 42-29 loss to the Lions on Monday Night Football.
Myers is now six-for-eight on field goals and 10-for-10 on extra points this season. After not missing a kick the first two weeks, he has missed a long field goal in two straight games. During week five, the 3-1 Seahawks will take to the gridiron at 4:25 p.m., hosting the 1-3 New York Giants at Lumen Field.
Tua Tagovailoa’s Third Career Concussion, Jake Zappala
After suffering a grade-two concussion on Sept. 12, 2024, many questions have surfaced regarding whether or not Tagovailoa can safely continue to play professional football. Towards the end of the second quarter, after successfully completing a fake handoff on a second and seven play, Tagovailoa dropped back and was ripped down by a Bengals rusher. The Dolphins’ QB could be visibly seen hitting his head at around the 50-yard line, inside of the Cincinnati logo.
Unsurprisingly, different voices from the NFL community have voiced concern over Tagovailoa’s well-being. Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez weighed in on the situation, saying on Prime Video’s TNF postgame show, “If I’m him, at this point, I’m seriously considering retiring from football.”
Others affiliated with the NFL, like former quarterback Cam Newton and current Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce, weighed in on the current situation. During a press conference a day after Tagovailoa’s injury, Pierce said, “I’ll be honest, I’d tell him to retire. It’s not worth it.”
The former first-round pick of the 2020 NFL draft has had a career of ups and downs like no other. Tua Tagovailoa, known for his superstar play at Alabama and for orchestrating one of the NFL’s most elite and explosive offensives, has had an undeniably rough history of injuries.
Tagovailoa has had 13 different injuries spanning across eight different body parts. With that being said, none of his injuries have been as significant or as concerning as the head injuries he has endured. Within a span of two years, the Dolphins’ quarterback has been diagnosed with three different concussions, two of which occurred within the same season, only 87 days apart.
Tagovailoa is estimated to return sometime in late October. Until then, the Miami Dolphins are facing pressing issues regarding their quarterback situation and the rest of their battered offense.
One Surprising, One Disappointing NFL Team, by Josh Crysler
Minnesota Vikings: The Minnesota Vikings were largely written off before their season even started. They were competing in the gauntlet that is the NFC North, consisting of two 2023 playoff teams in the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers, as well as the promising young Chicago Bears.
The Vikings moved on from veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins this offseason and drafted J.J. McCarthy out of Michigan. McCarthy generated a ton of excitement within the fanbase this offseason before suffering a season-ending torn meniscus in the team’s first preseason game, upending the team’s plans for the quarterback position.
The team turned to Sam Darnold, who has become somewhat of a journeyman after being cast off from the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers. Last season, Darnold was efficient in limited appearances for the San Francisco 49ers. The Vikings took notice, signing Darnold with the intention of him serving as a veteran presence for McCarthy to lean on in his development process.
McCarthy’s unfortunate injury has served as an opportunity for Darnold to revive his NFL career, and he has taken full advantage. He has thrown for 11 touchdowns and three interceptions through the first four games, pacing him for the best statistical season of his career by far.
Under Darnold’s leadership, the Vikings are off to a shocking 4-0 start, making them the only undefeated team remaining in the NFC. The Vikings’ success isn’t the product of a weak schedule either; three of their four wins have come against teams that made the playoffs in 2023, including a win on the road against the rival Packers.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell deserves a lot of credit; Sam Darnold is playing the best football of his career and the Vikings look like legitimate contenders through four weeks.
Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jaguars’ downfall dates back to last season, when the team missed the playoffs despite an 8-3 start and what seemed like an insurmountable lead in the AFC South. They ended last season on a brutal 1-5 stretch, making them one of the league’s biggest disappointments of the year.
Jacksonville has been in a free-fall ever since, opening the 2024 season the same way they ended last season–losing. Through four weeks, Jacksonville sits at 0-4, making them the only winless team in the NFL.
Making the Jaguars’ futility even more shocking is the sheer talent they have on the roster and the money they are paying for poor results. Trevor Lawrence, the former first overall draft pick out of Clemson, signed a five-year, $275 million deal this offseason. They have surrounded Larence with talented weapons in running back Travis Etienne, tight end Evan Engram, and wide receiver Christian Kirk, but the offense is averaging just a measly 15 points per game, which simply won’t cut it.
There is far too much talent on the roster for the Jaguars to be winless in 2024 and 1-9 in their last ten games. Former Super Bowl-winning head coach Doug Pederson finds himself on the hot seat, and if the Jaguars can’t turn things around, there will be a complete overhaul coming to Jacksonville next season.
WNBA
WNBA Playoff Overview, by Ben Leeds
Now halfway through the WNBA playoffs, another year of a virtually chalky bracket is taking shape. Since 2017, the No. 1 overall seed has won it all in every year but one, when the Chicago Sky completed a Cinderella-esque run in 2021, winning it all as the No. 6 seed.
The New York Liberty, who finished with the best record in the WNBA, have looked strong through their first four postseason games so far. A first-round sweep of the Atlanta Dream set the Liberty up for a rematch of last year’s final against the Las Vegas Aces New York jumped out to a 2-0 lead – just one game away from a second consecutive trip to the finals – but this series is far from over, as New York dropped Friday night’s game. Both games one and two came down to the final few minutes, and with the star power the Aces have, they are not out of this series yet. A’ja Wilson, the league’s MVP, can take over any game, no matter the opponent.
On the other side of the bracket, the Connecticut Sun and Minnesota Lynx split the first two games of their semifinal series before the Lynx took game three last night. If the Lynx continue to defend home court, they’ll advance to their fifth WNBA Finals. The Lynx hold a 4-0 record in the finals and could be the first WNBA franchise to win five titles.
A’ja Wilson’s MVP Season, by Nate Shoemaker
Coming off a championship with the Las Vegas Aces and a finals MVP, A’ja Wilson still had one thing on her mind.
Wilson wanted to win the regular season MVP after losing in a close race last year. She left the voters no doubt this time; she had one of the best years in WNBA history and helped her team earn the No. 4 seed in the playoffs.
The three-time MVP averaged just under 27 points per game and 12 rebounds. She was great on the defensive end of the floor averaging 2.6 steals per game and 1.8 blocks. Wilson has won back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year awards and she is closing in on her third with another great year defensively.
Wilson broke numerous records this year including becoming the first player ever to score 1,000 points in a season, a feat no one had ever come close to previously. She also set a league record for rebounds with 451 and her scoring average of 27.0 points per game is the highest in WNBA history.
Wilson had what some might call the best season in WNBA history and became the fourth player ever to win her third MVP. Her team cruised through the first round of the playoffs but will have a tall task ahead of them playing against the New York Liberty down 2-0.
Facing MVP runner-up Brianna Stewart and one of the best shooters in women’s basketball Sabrina Ionunescu, Wilson will look to bring the Aces their third straight championship. Still, this title may be the most challenging one of all for Wilson and the Aces to attain.
Caitlin Clark Earns Rookie of the Year, by Sierra Fisher
After a culture-shifting and historic collegiate career, Caitlin Clark has continued to make a name for herself in the WNBA. Clark was named the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year, unanimously, all while collecting dozens of more accolades throughout the season.
Not only did Clark have the most points, assists, and double-doubles by a rookie in the history of the WNBA, but she also set a new record for single-season assists, along with the most points by a point guard in the WNBA.
She now holds countless franchise records for the Indiana Fever, making it clear why she received the ROTY award; unfortunately, criticism outweighed excitement for Clark when the news was announced.
Some media outlets projected Angel Reese to be a contender or even the frontrunner, for winning the award, causing conflicting opinions to arise. Reese averaged 13.6 points per game, 13.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.3 steals, but her season ended prematurely due to a wrist injury. However, this does not discount Clark’s notable accomplishments during her debut season, averaging 19.2 points per game, 5.7 rebounds, 8.4 assists, and 1.3 steals a night.
The past two ROTY winners are currently teammates on the Fever, as Aliyah Boston won the award in 2023. They have both been vital members in the team’s success this season and will continue to improve as they gain more experience in the league.
WNBA Expansion to Portland, by Michael De Jesus
The WNBA has announced a new franchise in Portland, Oregon, bringing the league’s total to 15 teams. This expansion follows a record-breaking year in ratings, attendance and publicity, driven by rising stars like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, as well as standout performances from players such as A’Ja Wilson and Sabrina Ionescu. With interest in the league at an all-time high, and supply for teams low, the WNBA is capitalizing on this momentum to grow.
The expansion has accelerated since the league’s last addition in 2008, with the Golden State Valkyries set to debut in 2025 and Toronto being selected as the home for the league’s first international team. Portland previously hosted a WNBA team, the Portland Fire, from 2000-2002, but operations ceased when ownership shifted to the NBA. The new Portland team will mark the league’s return to Oregon after 20 years, with its debut planned for 2026.
“As the WNBA builds on a season of unprecedented growth, bringing a team back to Portland is another step forward,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert.
The team will be owned by the Bethel Family, who are also investors in the Sacramento Kings, a franchise that recently ended a 16-season playoff drought and hope to bring success to Portland who in their first stint lacked success.
Fans anticipate a potential rivalry with the Seattle Storm and hope to lure New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu, a former Oregon standout, who will be a free agent before Portland’s debut season. This expansion is part of the WNBA’s broader plan to reach 16 teams by 2028, with Jacksonville and Houston rumored as the next cities to join the league.
MLB
MLB Playoff Outlook, by Mike Duda
Major League Baseball concluded its 2024 regular season with a delayed game 162 for both the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves, who split a doubleheader to eliminate the Arizona Diamondbacks. This kickstarted the four best-of-three Wildcard Series.
The Mets (89-73) squared off against the Milwaukee Brewers (93-69), a “small-ball”-oriented team that values OBP (fourth), stolen bases (second), and ERA (fifth). New York turned to their red-hot starting rotation and MVP-hopeful Francisco Lindor to win their first playoff series since 2015. After a game-winning ninth-inning home run from Pete Alonso in a winner-take-all game three, the Mets are set to face Zach Wheeler, Bryce Harper and the Philadelphia Phillies (95-67) in the NLDS.
On the other hand, the Braves suffered countless injuries this season, including a recent injury to NL triple-crown-winning pitcher Chris Sale. They took on the San Diego Padres (93-69), who hope to further their 43-19 finish into the franchise’s first World Series ring. San Diego prevailed and now confronts MVP-favorite Shohei Ohtani and the Dodgers (98-64) in Los Angeles.
In the American League, the Houston Astros (88-73) sought to defend home turf after compiling the year’s ninth most runs scored and fourth least runs against. Rather surprisingly, Houston was outclassed by AL triple-crown-winning pitcher Tarik Skubal and the upstart Detroit Tigers (86-76), who are the youngest team in baseball. Detroit now meets José Ramírez, Cy-Young hopeful Emmanuel Clase and the Cleveland Guardians (92-69).
Remaining in the AL, the Baltimore Orioles (91-71) hosted the Kansas City Royals (86-76). A series that figured to feature plenty of offense, highlighted by young superstar shortstops Gunnar Henderson and Bobby Witt, only saw a combined four runs get scored as both pitching staffs dominated. Baltimore’s offense fell flat on its face, and now the Royals are set to match up with Aaron Judge, Juan Soto and the New York Yankees in the Bronx to continue the 2024 postseason.
American League Award Winners, by Jack Cappiello
As the 2024 MLB season ends, the MVP race is heating up. Following another dominant season, New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge is the heavy favorite. Judge led the league with 58 home runs and 144 RBIs, boasting an impressive .322/.458/.701 slash line. Judge’s numbers have made him the frontrunner to win his second MVP in three seasons. His closest competitor is Bobby Witt of the Kansas City Royals, who had a breakout season with 32 home runs, 109 RBIs, and a .332/.398/.588 line, giving him +1000 odds for the award. Judge should be the clear-cut favorite to take home his second MVP in three years.
Meanwhile, the AL Cy Young race is led by Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, who posted a stellar 18-4 record, a 2.39 ERA, and 228 strikeouts, earning him the AL pitching triple crown. With these numbers, Skubal is the clear favorite to win the award. Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase, with a league-best 0.61 ERA and 47 saves, is second but remains a distant contender, as starting pitchers tend to have an edge in Cy Young voting.
The Rookie of the Year race is very tight. Yankees pitcher Luis Gil is favored following a 15-7 season, 3.50 ERA, and 171 strikeouts. Close behind is Orioles outfielder Colton Cowser, who hit 24 home runs with 69 RBIs. He has impressed with his all-around game. While Gil is the favorite, this award could go to either stellar rookie campaign.
The Manager of the Year race features Kansas City’s Matt Quatraro and Cleveland’s Steven Vogt. Quatraro turned the Royals from a 56-win team to an 86-win wild card contender, making him the favorite at -135 odds over Vogt, who led Cleveland to a division title.
National League Award Winners, by Aidan Lavin
The National League was represented by plenty of exciting players and those who ultimately take home hardware will be a clear portrayal of that. New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor certainly deserves some recognition but no one can come close to Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter, Shohei Ohtani’s video game season.
While Lindor posted a .273/.344/.500 slash line with 33 home runs and 29 stolen bases in the midst of leading the Mets to an improbable playoff berth, Ohtani is the clear front-runner for the NL MVP. During his 2024 regular season campaign, Ohtani posted the first-ever 50-homerun 50-stolen base season in baseball history. If history is not enough to convince voters, Ohtani’s absurd NL-leading 1.036 OPS and 190 OPS+ should be.
While the NL has a clear MVP, there will be some debate between starting pitchers Zach Wheeler of the Philadephia Phillies and Chris Sale of the Atlanta Braves for the CY Young award. Both Wheeler and Sale helmed their respective pitching staffs through a competitive NL East division and have similar end-of-year numbers. Sale finished the season with a league-leading 18 wins and 2.38 ERA while Wheeler collected 16 wins with a 2.57 ERA while pitching 23 more innings (200) than Sale (177).
Wheeler and Sale finished the season with nearly identical strikeout and WHIP numbers, Sale besting Wheeler by a single punch-out 225 to 224 and Wheeler’s 0.96 WHIP inching out Sale’s 1.01 WHIP.
The NL Rookie of the Year is undoubtedly the closest race of them all. Pittsburgh Pirates phenom pitcher Paul Skenes and San Diego Padres all-star outfielder Jackson Merrill stand alone atop the conversation for the award. Merrill was arguably the most valuable player on a talented Padres team, being a steady offensive contributor in the middle of a stacked lineup. Merrill slashed .292/.326/.500 and drove in 90 RBI on 24 homers, finishing his rookie campaign with a .826 OPS and 127 OPS+. Skenes, meanwhile, lived up to his number-one overall draft selection, starting 23 games for the Pirates, striking out 170 batters in 133 innings pitched with a 1.96 ERA. Merill’s case is made by being an essential part, and at times carrying the bulk load, of a playoff lineup while Skenes pitched for a noncompetitive second-half team but dominated every five days.
College Football
Four Standout CFB Players, by Finn Doolin
Travis Hunter: The most exciting athlete in college sports, he does not play one position, he plays two! Travis Hunter is incredible offensively, with 56 receptions with 561 yards so far this year.
Defensively, Hunter has only allowed 38 yards and has two interceptions via ESPN. One of those interceptions, he hit the Heisman celebration that almost all sports fans want to see a non-QB win as the last time that occurred was back in 2020 when Devonta Smith earned it after his unbelievable season with Alabama.
Realistically, it would be so impactful to see a WR/CB win it as we have not seen a dual position athlete ever do that; the last time a defensive player won was back in 1995 with Hall of Famer Charles Woodson. Although it is still early before an actual Heisman list, Travis Hunter is paving his path with Colorado and Coach Sanders to focus on winning games and having fun.
Jalen Milroe: This ‘Bama QB has been dominant in the SEC since being scouted by Nick Saban and given entire leadership by new Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer. Milroe is statistically having his most in-form season, with 964 passing yards and 273 rushing yards. Along with Ryan Williams, Jalen Milroe had a very successful performance against Georgia, with a 27/33 completion ratio for 374 yards. Milroe is a dominant, versatile quarterback on the Heisman watch and looks like the lead contender.
Ashton Jeanty: The Boise State running is unstoppable. Stiff arms, trucking, and just breaking through every tackle to lead the Broncos to a 3-1 start and AP top 25 ranking. Jeanty has 845 yards and is on the path to shattering the school rushing yard record in one season, which Jay Ajayi holds at 1,823 yards.
Ryan Williams: A 17-year-old college football player is on this list, Ryan Williams, is one of those players that will be remembered. Arguably one of the best receivers in college football after this past weekend as the Crimson Tide went up against the Georgia Bulldogs in one of the biggest matchups of the year. Williams cooked a storm with six receptions for 177 yards with a touchdown in his first SEC game. Spin moves, world-class jukes, speed, and that expert catching capability Ryan Williams has been out of this world.
Manning Steps Up for Texas Longhorns, by Sean Keag
The no. 2 ranked Texas Longhorns are out for vengeance this season after falling short in the Sugar Bowl to Michael Pennix and the University of Washington less than a year ago. The Longhorns are undefeated and have not had a close game yet, winning by at least three possessions in all five of their contests.
Texas has two star-studded players at the quarterback position Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning. Ewers, the transfer from Ohio State, was named the starter this season and performed extremely well until an injury sidelined him for the last two weeks.
Arch Manning, nephew of Eli and Peyton Manning stepped in and performed well since. Last game against Mississippi State, Manning threw for 325 yards and two touchdowns. Manning has performed well under Head Coach Steve Sarkisian winning back-to-back games in place of Ewers. Last week while ranked number one in the country, the Longhorns won a game, something they have not accomplished since 2008.
The next two games for Texas will be a challenge as they take on No. 19 Oklahoma, Ewers is expected to be ready for Saturday night. The following week is the powerhouse Georgia Bulldogs. Texas has its hands full this season switching from the BIG 12 to the Southeastern Conference. Preseason AP Top 25 Poll Rankings voted Texas as the fourth-ranked team in the country. So far this impressive squad is already exceeding expectations.
Pressure Mounts for Florida Gators, Napier, by Ben Rossi
As week 6 of the college football season approaches, the future for Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier looks bleak. After two seasons at Florida, Billy Napier held a record of 11-14 leaving many fans disappointed. Despite the early struggles in Napier’s tenure, things seemed to be trending upward in Gainesville. Quarterback Graham Mertz decided to return for a final season, Napier made several coaching changes, the team finished with a top-five transfer portal class in the country and signed five-star quarterback recruit DJ Lagway.
When the season kicked off at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium against in-state rival Miami, many Gator fans were hoping for a breakout performance. It was clear early on that Florida was simply outclassed falling to the Hurricanes 41-17. To make matters worse, Miami was in a very similar situation entering the season with a third-year head coach looking to make a statement.
After Graham Mertz suffered a concussion in week 1, DJ Lagway started at quarterback as the team took on Samford. DJ would dominate, finishing the game with 456 passing yards and leading the Gators to a 45-7 victory. Despite an outstanding performance from Lagway, the Gators rolled with Graham Mertz as they began conference play against Texas A&M. The Gators were shut out at halftime and failed to make the game competitive, losing 33-20.
After a win against a struggling Mississippi State team, the Florida Gators currently hold a record of 2-2; however, the Gators are scheduled to play against five more ranked teams, leaving many fans discouraged. It is hard to pinpoint exactly what the future of the Gators will look like, but unless things change quickly in Gainesville, Billy Napier may be looking for a coaching job elsewhere.
The PAC-12 Starts from Scratch, by Stephen Zaglin
The Pac-12, founded in 1915, is one of the most well-known and successful conferences in NCAA history. The Pac-12 has won more NCAA national championships than any other conference. Originally established as the Pacific Coast Conference, the conference grew, reaching twelve teams in 2010 with the editions of Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, and Colorado.
However, as of Aug. 2, 2024, 10 of the 12 teams left the conference. Those teams included USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington, who went to the Big Ten; Colorado, Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah, who are now in the Big 12, and Cal and Stanford, who are together in the ACC. The two remaining in the Pac-12 are Oregon State and Washington State.
On Sept. 12, 2024, it was announced that the conference would add four new teams. Those teams are Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, and San Diego State, all from the Mountain West Conference. On September 23, 2024, Utah State, also from the Mountain West, accepted an offer to join the conference. On July 1, 2026, those teams will officially be joining. The Pac-12 needs one more team to be recognized as an FBS conference.
As for an eighth team, that much is unclear. UNLV and Air Force, both Mountain West schools, were rumored to be considering the move. However, both decided to stay in the conference, which is a major blow to the Pac-12. Teams such as Memphis, Tulane, South Florida, and UTSA also declined offers to join the conference. On Oct. 1, 2024, Gonzaga announced that it would join the Pac-12 in 2026. While they do not have a football team, they have been one of the most successful basketball programs in recent memory and would bring a level of prestige that this new Pac-12 is sorely missing.
Edited by Aidan Lavin, Marley Pope and Luke Sassa
Graphic by Jaylen Rizzo
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