Yankees and Brewers secure playoff spots; two new QBs take top spot in NFL and CFB power rankings

This is an article version of the CBS Sports HQ AM newsletter, the ultimate guide to daily sports. You can sign up here to receive it in your inbox every weekday morning.

⚾ Good morning to everyone, but especially to …

THE NEW YORK YANKEES AND THE MILWAUKEE BREWERS

It is not often that you can celebrate two victories on a day when you only play one game, but the Yankees And Breweries are more than happy to be the rare exception. New York secured a playoff spot and Milwaukee secured the NL Centralmaking them the first two teams to officially reach the postseason.

The Yankees won with a 2-1 victory in 10 innings against the Sailors. Anthony Rizzo scored both runs for the Bronx Bombers, including the game-winning double in the 10th inning. Aaron Richter And Juan Soto have presented historic figures, Gerrit Cole remains an excellent top starter and rookie Austin Wells And Luis Gil have made crucial contributions.

Milwaukee decided the victory when the Boys lost a day game against the athleticsThe Brew Crew secured a 2-1 walk-off victory over the Phillies. Jake Bauer's scored the winning goal.

It is a truly impressive year after a shaky off-season and also many problems during the season – especially Christian Yelich's injury meant the end of the season. New signings Jackson Chourio And Joey Ortiz have risen alongside the faithful Willy Adams And William Contreras offensively, and an excellent bullpen held the fort.

Both clubs are well-versed in playoff baseball, but neither has had much success recently. The Yankees are making their seventh World Series appearance in nine seasons, but haven't won a World Series since 2009, an eternity for the sport's winningest franchise. Milwaukee is making its sixth World Series appearance in seven seasons, but hasn't won a playoff series since 2018.

👍 Honorable Mentions

👎 Not so honorable mentions

🏈 New leaders in the NFL and college football QB power rankings

Who doesn't love a change of guard at the top? We have new top guys in Cody Benjamin's NFL QB Power Rankings And Tom Fornellis College Football QB Power Rankings.

With the professionals, Josh Allen has jumped to No. 1. He is in the top 5 in passer rating, expected points per dropback, yards per attempt and completion percentage. Oh yeah, and he does all of this with a newly assembled receiver team. Here are the top 5:

1. Josh Allen (previously: 2)
2. CJ Stroud (4)
3. Patrick Mahomes (1)
4. Lamar Jackson (3)
5. Brock Purdy (5)

Derek Carr is only 14th in Cody's rankings; I think one could argue he should be first.

If we turn to the college rankings, Texas Signalman is still number 1, it's just a different Longhorn. Last week was Quinn Ewersbut injured with him, Arch Manning ascends the throne. Here are the top 5 there:

1. Arch Manning (previously: not ranked)
2. Jalen Milroe (4)
3. Cam Ward (3)
4. Nico Iamaleava (5)
   
5. Jaxson Darts (6)

You will notice four SEC quarterbacks, and that does not include Georgia'S Carson Beckwho, after a low-scoring victory over Kentucky but still one of the best in the country. Brad Crawford wrote on the Explosion of quarterback talent in the SEC.

• Crawford: “Only three times since the SEC first expanded to 12 teams in 1992 has the league produced three quarterbacks with 30 or more touchdown passes in a single season… This fall, there is a chance that the league five Signals that outperform the numbers. There is star power like never before in the conference and that is no exaggeration.”

Finally, Müller Moos may have only received an honorable mention in Tom’s rankings, but that could change a lot if USC takes over Michigan this weekend, writes Cameron Salerno.

• Salerno: “Overcoming the hump against Michigan would symbolize a new era at USC. The Trojans are 2-15 in their last 17 games against ranked opponents on the road, losing by an average of 10.5 points. Riley is 4-7 with the Trojans against top-25 teams. Michigan has won 22 straight conference games and is 13-0 against Big Ten opponents in Ann Arbor since 2021. … Something will have to happen on Saturday, and if the latest streak is broken, this could be the perfect moment to jump on the 'Moss for Heisman' bandwagon.”

🏀 Top stories on the final night of the WNBA regular season, plus Portland gets a team!

The WNBA regular season ends tonight and there is a lot at stake across the league. Here's a look at the standings and playoff scenarios:

1. Liberty (32-7, secured 1st place)
2. Lynx (30-9, secured second place)
3. Sun (27-12, secure 3rd place with victory over Sky OR loss of the Aces)
4. Aces (26-13, can secure 3rd place with a win over the Wings and a loss to the Sun)
5. Storm (24-15, secured 5th place)
6. Fever (20-19, secured 6th place)
7. Mercury (19-20, secured 7th place)
   
8. Dream (14-25, Clinch No. 8 with victory over Liberty OR loss to Liberty and loss to the Mystics and loss to Sky OR loss to Liberty and victory to the Mystics and loss to Sky)
9. Mystics (13-26, can secure 8th place with a win over Fever and a loss from Dream and a win from Sky)
10. Sky (13-26, can secure 8th place with a win over Sun and a loss to Dream and Mystics Loss)

Got it? Good. (The wings and Spark are eliminated.)

Soon, even more teams will be joining the game. The WNBA announced Wednesday that Portland will be the league's 15th team and will begin play in 2026. The league is also adding the Golden State Valkyries in 2025 and a yet-to-be-named Toronto team in 2026.

Owner of the Portland franchise will be Lisa Bhathal Merage And Alex Bhathal; The Bhathal family also owns the NWSLs Portland Thorns and is an investor in the Sacramento KingsPortland's WNBA team will play at the Moda Center – where the Trail Blazers play — and mark the return of the Rose City to the WNBA, which Fire from 2000-2002.

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Englebert previously she said expects the league to grow to 16 teams by 2028and the expansion to Portland marks the next step toward that goal.

⚽ UEFA Champions League: Manchester City and Inter play goalless draw, all results

After the many goals on Tuesday, things got a little quieter in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday. The balls that actually ended up in the net were all the more important.

In the headliner Manchester City And Inter Milan draw, 0-0, despite several chances. James Benge says the Citizens have problems at both ends of the pitch.

• Benge: “The balance is completely out of whack. With the ball, City had to play so many players so high up the pitch that at times it looked like a back six. Erling HaalandThis inevitably led to attacks for Inter without the ball, enough that Pep Guardiola's men were indeed fortunate to end the evening without conceding a goal. … Even with a fairly favourable fixture list to start the league season, their vulnerabilities on the counterattack were obvious to those watching City closely.”

PSG made it onto the scoresheet, but only just. The French giants beat The old town of Girona1-0, after a terrible mistake by the Girona goalkeeper in the last minute Paulo Gazzaniga. It may not have been the most beautiful victory, but PSG remains a major threatwrites Jonathan Johnson.

Elsewhere …

📺 What we see on Thursday

⚽ We watch the UEFA Champions League on Paramount+ and CBS Sports Network. Here's how:
🏀 Fever at Mystics7pm on Prime Video
🏀 Dreams in freedom7pm on NBA TV
⚽ Phillies at Mets or Diamondbacks at Brewers7:15 p.m. on Fox
🏈 Southern Alabama on the Appalachian State7:30 p.m. on ESPN
🏈 Patriots at Jets8:15 p.m. on Prime Video