August slipped away into a moment in time
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
It’s the Friday before a long weekend!
Heads up: we’ll be off on Monday living for the hope of it all, but not before sending out a Labor Day Sunday Scroll over the weekend.
- First things first, though — today’s news, which includes some massive second round US Open losses: No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz was stunned by the Netherlands’ Botic van de Zandschulp in straight sets and fan favorite Naomi Osaka lost to Czechia’s Karolína Muchová. *gasps*
— Gymnastics GOAT Simone Biles, sharing the love after watching Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark break the WNBA rookie three-point record in her team’s 84–80 Wednesday win over the Connecticut Sun. Women supporting women — you love to see it.
NCAA football
🎓🏈 It’s showtime
The GIST: Sound the alarm — college football returns in full this weekend, but things have changed quite a bit since Michigan strutted away with the signs ’ship last January. With three top-25 matchups highlighting opening week, here’s what you need to know before kickoff.
There’s a new playoff format: The College Football Playoff (CFP) has expanded from four to 12 (!!!) teams, who’ll compete in a new bracket-style tournament that adds eight more playoff games, not to mention more postseason excitement, viewership, and advertising money. Make it rain.
- Most importantly, the expanded format will help put an end to wild playoff snubs, like the one that kept undefeated FSU from competing for the title last season.
- There’ll always be bubble teams, but this change brings more programs — namely one- or even two-loss teams — into the hunt, amping up the end-of-season drama.
No. 1 Georgia is the team to beat: The Bulldogs lost just one game in the past two seasons and are projected to be similarly dominant this year (despite some major roster moves). But No. 2 Ohio State could give them a run for their money, especially after some big transfer portal pickups.
- Rounding out the top four are two teams looking to make a splash in their new conferences: No. 3 Oregon (Big Ten) and No. 4 Texas (SEC), both of whom will be powered by star quarterbacks (QB): Dillon Gabriel for the Ducks and Quinn Ewers for the Longhorns. Touchdowns, loading.
Fantasy football
🏈 Sweet sweet fantasy baby
The GIST: We’re less than one week out from the NFL season kicking off (six days, but who’s counting?), meaning fantasy football drafts are in full swing as folks select and manage imaginary rosters for the season ahead.
- Whether you’re new to fantasy football or a seasoned vet, our deep dive and today’s section are here to help you choose your squad. The only hard part will be coming up with a creative team name.
✅ Select running backs (RB) and wide receivers (WR) in the early rounds: RBs and WRs are drafted early and often, and for good reason — they accumulate the most points compared to other positions. This year, San Francisco 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey (aka Mr. Universe) is the consensus No. 1 overall pick after he averaged a league-best 24.5 points per game last season.
💡 You’ve selected your top dogs, what’s next? Use the “best available” list on your draft homepage to help fill out the rest of your roster. Try not to pick players with the same bye weeks…it’s all fun and games until all of your RBs are resting on the same Sunday.
💪 Top players to add to your draft day wishlist: Aside from the aforementioned CMC, RBs Breece Hall (NY Jets), Bijan Robinson (Atlanta Falcons), and Jonathan Taylor (Indianapolis Colts) are topping draft boards while CeeDee Lamb (Dallas Cowboys), Amon-Ra St. Brown (Detroit Lions), and Justin Jefferson (Minnesota Vikings) are holding it down for the WRs. May the draft order odds be ever in your favor.
- Notably missing from the top player picks? QBs. Though they’re the most important player on actual NFL rosters, don’t waste an early fantasy football pick on a signal-caller — most QBs will get the job done.
⭐ Most importantly, don’t forget to update your lineup weekly: Injuries, matchups, and bye weeks all impact which players you should start (the ones that can contribute points to your team’s total) and which ones will be riding the pine. P.S. you can also trade, drop, and add players to your lineup all season long. Happy managing!
Together With Heineken Silver
🎫 A Grand Slam prize
Already making epic summer plans for 2025? Our pals at Heineken are here to help by giving one winner two tickets to a US Open finals match at New York’s iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium next year.
- Enter the contest today for a shot at some of the best seats in the house — plus exclusive BTS access — all courtesy of Heineken. And if you’re really lucky, you could instantly win a Heineken US Open hat. What do you have to lose?
🏉 Team USA wheelchair rugby beat Canada 51–48 in historic fashion yesterday, with Sarah Adam scoring the first Paralympic goal for a U.S. female wheelchair rugby player. What, like it’s hard? Adam and Co.’s campaign continues with today’s round robin play vs. Japan.
🏊 The red, white, and blue splish splashed their way straight to the podium, with a trio of swimming silvers: Ellie Marks in the 50m freestyle S6 (and in American record time), Christie Raleigh Crossley in the 50m freestyle S10 (not to mention a world record in the heats), and Grace Nuhfer in the 100m butterfly S13.
❤️ Zakia Khudadadi, take a bow. She won bronze in the women’s K44 -47kg taekwondo division yesterday, the first-ever medal for the Paralympic Refugee team. Not, not crying.
🏀 USA men’s wheelchair basketball’s three-peat campaign is off to a strong start. The red, white, and blue beat Spain 66–56 yesterday, powered by a triple-double from Steve Serio.
🏐 Team USA women’s sitting volleyball’s Paralympic journey is officially underway, beginning with today’s 6 a.m. ET matchup vs. China. Serving, literally.
💪 The 2016 gold medalist U.S. women’s wheelchair basketball team tips off their tourney today at 10 a.m. ET vs. Germany, boasting three hoopers from the squad that won it all in Rio.
👟 Para track & field also kicks off today, highlighted by the women’s 200m T37 race featuring Jaleen Robert and Taylor Swanson. On your mark, get set, let’s go.
Question of the Day
With the long weekend looming and plenty of sports on the docket, we want to know: which event will you be watching most closely?
🏅 Paralympics - As you read, there’s non-stop Paralympics action and you can keep up with all of it on Peacock in the U.S. and CBC in Canada. The medal chasing continues.
🎾 US Open - No. 3 Coco Gauff continues her title defense with a spicy third round matchup vs. No. 27 Elina Svitolina today at 12 p.m. ET, and No. 2 Novak Djokovic will hope to do the same in his 7 p.m. ET third round tilt with No. 28 Alexei Popyrin. So much tennis, so little time.
🏀 WNBA - Forever rivals Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese clash one final time this regular season when Clark’s Indiana Fever visit Reese’s Chicago Sky tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET.
⛳ Golf - On the men’s side, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is aiming to hoist his first PGA TOUR Championship trophy when the tourney ends on Sunday. As for the women, expect shuffling in the FM Championship leaderboard with the second round teeing off today.
🏎️ F1 - See which F1 driver will conquer the Temple of Speed, aka the Autodromo Nazionale Monza, during this Sunday’s 9 a.m. ET Italian Grand Prix. Ciao.
⚽ NWSL - Buckle up for the 6 p.m. ET Sunday showdown between reigning champs, NJ/NY Gotham FC and the league-leading Orlando Pride, who’ve yet to lose this season.
Together With USTA
The secret to living a long life? Picking up a tennis racket. Tennis players live 9.7 years longer than sedentary individuals, one of the many reasons why this year’s US Open is all about celebrating the power of the sport.
- From increasing self-esteem to building community, playing tennis is one of the smartest moves you can make to boost your health.
- Feeling motivated? Then catch the sport’s brightest stars at the US Open this week.
Here’s what has GIST HQ buzzing:
🕜 How to keep August from slipping away
Immortalize it with Topps’ new Chrome Tennis collectible cards. The last Grand Slam of the season is shaping up to be legendary, and thanks to Topps, you can have your very own piece of it forever. Take this moment now, capture it, remember it.*
🏐 Where to catch the game
At SET The Bar, a new women’s sports bar in Omaha, Nebraska. Cheer for your faves with a crowd that’s just as passionate about leveling the playing field as you are.
📖 Where to meet
In your inbox for The GIST Book Club’s discussion of August’s book of the month, Western Lane by Chetna Maroo. Subscribe to The GIST Book Club’s newsletters to keep the convo going.
*P.S. This is a sponsored post. Smashing.Today’s email was brought to you by Lauren Tuiskula, Alessandra Puccio, Marga Sison, Lisa Minutillo, and Briana Ekanem. Editing by Laura Pastore, Janine Kiefer, Emma Leishman, Rachel Fuenzalida, and Lindsay Jost. Fact-checking by Marga Sison. Ops by Briana Ekanem and Marga Sison. Ads by Katie Kehoe Foster and Alessandra Puccio. Managing edits by Lauren Tuiskula. Head of content Ellen Hyslop.