The Sportsletter - The Bandwagon Fan Guide 🏈

BY JEFF YODER & AARON YORKE

AUG. 31, 2023 |  SUBSCRIBE  |  WEB VIEW

Good Morning 👋

We got a taste of college football last weekend, but CFB Week 1 is about to commence. Eleven games take the spotlight tonight, and our social media specialist Aaron Yorke took a break from Twitter/X to help anyone ready to hop on a bandwagon. 

Plus, our end of August MLB Power Rankings are hot off the press. More upsets took over the U.S. Open. And Nebraska’s volleyball team set a world record you have to see to believe.

Letter Rip!

  CFB   

The Bandwagon Fan Guide 🏈

Photo: Icon Sportswire / Getty Images

Don’t Have A College Football Allegiance? It's Never Too Late. Meet the 2023 CFB Bandwagon Fan Guide (By Aaron Yorke)

The start of college football season is always an exciting time of year. Hope springs eternal, even if your team has no chance to win the national championship (which is true for at least 80 percent of college football fans). Suddenly, your Saturdays are filled with several must-see sporting events that you have to plan family outings around. Even if there’s a game on that you have no rooting interest in, the passion of the fans and the magical atmosphere draw you into the drama. There’s nothing like college football.

Sadly, there are some fans among us who haven’t been properly introduced to the thrill that is the college game. The NFL has almost universal appeal, so why not college football? There are even more touchdowns, and you can celebrate those touchdowns with even more fervor because the next day is not Monday! It’s probably because some people think you have to attend a college in order to root for that college’s football team. Nonsense! Choosing a college football team to root for should be just as easy as choosing a pro team. That’s why this bandwagon guide is here. Just choose which region of the United States you live in to get started.

Northeast: #7 Penn State

This region of the country has the most potential for bandwagon jumping because there are so many pro sports fans and so few big college football programs. Enter the Nittany Lions, who have come close to the College Football Playoff, but never qualified. Many fans think that this is finally the year with the team coming off a Rose Bowl victory and introducing a blue-chip starting quarterback in Drew Allar. Ohio State and Michigan are still tough obstacles, but Penn State’s returning experience on the defense and in the running game could finally get this team over the hump.

Midwest: #19 Wisconsin

Yes, the aforementioned Buckeyes and Wolverines also reside in the Midwest, so why Wisconsin? First of all, like Penn State, the Badgers have also not made the Playoff before. Second, it is really fun to Jump Around at the start of every fourth quarter. Plus, by not rooting for Michigan and Ohio State, you can jump on a bandwagon without making it super obvious that you are doing so. It is a stealth move, even if the smashmouth Badgers are anything but stealth. Sure, they have not always been the most entertaining team, but they embody Midwestern grit with their commitment to physical play, and new head coach Luke Fickell could take them to the next level after leading Cincinnati to the Playoff two years ago.

West Coast: #6 USC

What? Another Big Ten team? It’s hard to have diversity with conferences when two of them try to take over the world. USC is indeed joining the Big Ten in 2024, and the culture shock should be amusing enough to make up for how ridiculous the matchmaking is. Anyway, the Trojans appear to be a safe bet for bandwagon jumping because of how quickly Lincoln Riley has returned them to their former glory. It wasn’t a national championship, but last year’s Cotton Bowl appearance was a far better result than USC’s last few seasons under former head coach Clay Helton. With Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams returning to school, the Trojans are expected to conquer the Pac-12 before heading where the grass is greener.

South: #5 LSU, #8 Florida State & #11 Texas

Everyone in the South is supposed to have a college football team already. The sport just means a little something extra in that part of the country. In case you’re a transplant or an NFL diehard, though, there are plenty of programs to choose from. LSU has the cool colors, the cool uniform, Joe Cool himself, Joe Burrow, as an alumnus, and a shot to return to the SEC Championship Game for a second year in a row under second-year head coach Brian Kelly. Just like Riley with USC, Kelly turned around the LSU program faster than expected, and the Tigers are right back in the national title hunt.

When Texas defeated Georgia in the Sugar Bowl following the 2018 season, everyone thought the Longhorns were “back,” but instead it was Georgia who became a national title winner while Texas hasn’t won double-digit games since. Five years later, the hype is starting to build again with Quinn Ewers back under center and Arch Manning waiting for his time to shine. The 2023 season is a major opportunity for Texas because winning the Big 12 figures to be a lot easier than winning the SEC in future years. Good thing for that Playoff expansion, right?

It had been rough sledding for Florida State fans since Jimbo Fisher left for Texas A&M, but now is the perfect time to jump on the bandwagon with Mike Norvell leading the team to a 10-win season in 2022 that included wins over LSU, Oklahoma, Miami, and Florida. This season there is serious Playoff hype for the Seminoles, and there’s a great chance they fulfill it if they finally get past Clemson. Is this the year? Jump on the bandwagon before it’s too late!

Everywhere: #13 Notre Dame

The good thing about college football nowadays is that most of the big games are widely available on national television. It’s not like the NFL where a local game could cause you to miss a clash of the titans. However, even in the old days, Notre Dame was always on television, and the program’s media deal with NBC is a major reason why it has remained independent for so long. No matter where you live in the country, there are Notre Dame fans there, and it’s easy to follow the team since they are always in the national spotlight. After years of success under Kelly, including a 2012 BCS appearance as well as Playoff appearances in 2018 and 2020, Marcus Freeman is in charge. Last year got off to a disappointing start with a stunning loss to Marshall, but the Irish finished the campaign with a Gator Bowl win over South Carolina, and they scored a paradigm-shifting transfer in Sam Hartman from Wake Forest. If last Saturday’s dominating win over Navy was any indication, Irish fans are about to be very obnoxious again.

Don’t get me wrong, there are other options beyond the teams listed above. But unless you want to hop aboard the Georgia and Alabama SEC dynasties, or simply comply with the Ohio State and Michigan over-saturation in the Big Ten — and look like a true bandwagoner — these teams will deliver excitement on Saturdays in a season where anything can happen. Having a community in sports makes games all the more special. The 2023 CFB season is about to launch. Enjoy the ride!

Read More

Sporting News: College Football Rankings From 1 to 133

CBS Sports: CFB QB Power Ranings: Williams, Hartman & More

ESPN+: The 10 Most Important Games That Will Impact the CFP, And 5 That Will Surprise You

  MLB   

End of August Power Rankings 📊

Photo: Tim Nwachukwu / Getty Images

Top-6 Untouched, But NL Risers (Phillies, Brewers & Cubs) Shake-Up the Top-10

The final day of August brings us to another edition of the MLB Power Rankings, and the last month of baseball is primed for drama. Four 80-win teams are cruising towards October with seed placement as their only concern — Braves, Dodgers, Orioles and Rays — but then, chaos. Roughly 18 teams are still mathematically in the mix for the other eight playoff spots, and it’s likely that at least one deserving AL team will be left out. For now, that’s Toronto (73-61), but the AL West's three-team saga could get dicey for a team like the Rangers (75-58). September is magic number season. Teams on the outside looking in — D-Backs, Reds, Guardians and Red Sox — will need a Swept-ember of sweeps to reach October. Puns: 4/10. Fall baseball: 10/10. One more month!

MLB Power Rankings

1. *Braves (87-45) | —

2. *Dodgers (83-49) | —

3. *Orioles (83-50) | —

4. *Rays (82-52) | —

5. *Mariners (76-57) | —

6. *Astros (77-58) | —

7. *Phillies (74-59) | ↑1

8. *Brewers (74-59) | ↑2

9. *Rangers (75-58) | ↓2

10. *Cubs (71-62) | ↑3

Teams 11-20

11. Blue Jays (73-61) | ↓1

12. *Giants (69-64) | ↓1

13. *Twins (69-65) | ↓1

14. Diamondbacks (69-65) | ↑1

15. Reds (69-66) | ↑1

16. Red Sox (69-65) | ↓2

17. Guardians (64-70) | ↑3

18. Marlins (66-67) | ↓1

19. Yankees (65-68) | ↑4

20. Nationals (62-72) | ↑2

Teams 21-30

21. Angels (64-70) | ↓3

22. Padres (62-72) | ↓3

23. Mets (61-73) | ↓2

24. Pirates (61-73) | ↑1

25. Tigers (59-74) | ↓1

26. Cardinals (58-76) | —

27. White Sox (53-81) | —

28. Rockies (49-84) | —

29. Royals (41-94) | —

30. Athletics (39-95) | —

*Would Make Playoffs if Regular Season Ended Today 

Home Run Race

1. Shohei Ohtani (LAA): 44 HRs

2. Matt Olson (ATL): 43 HRs

3. Pete Alonso (NYM): 39 HRs

4. Kyle Schwarber (PHI): 37 HRs

5. Mookie Betts (LAD): 36 HRs

Read More

The Athletic: MLB Power Rankings: Rangers’ AL West Reign is Over

SI: MLB Power Rankings Week 22: Phillies Make Huge Leap

  VOLLEYBALL   

Record Rally: Nebraska Makes History 👀

Photo: C. Morgan Engel / Getty Images

Nebraska Volleyball Claims World Record for Largest Attendance at Women’s Sporting Event (92,003)

College athletes across the country are being welcomed back this week, but no university had a back-to-school celebration like Nebraska. The Cornhuskers love their volleyball, and they showed it on Wednesday with 92,003 fans in attendance. Nebraska opened the gates to Memorial Stadium in an attempt to break the world record for attendance at a women’s sporting event, and they got it. The sights and sounds were absolutely epic.

The previous record (91,648) was set during a women’s Champions League match between Barcelona and Real Madrid in 2022. The previous American record was 90,185 in 1999 when the U.S. and China met at the Rose Bowl for the Women’s World Cup. Brandi Chastain famously ripped off her jersey after scoring the winning penalty.

Lincoln, Nebraska, far less densely populated than Barcelona or Los Angeles, came out in droves. They busted through the stadium’s total capacity ceiling of 85,000 due to standing room tickets and field seating. Volleyball is fast-paced excitement, but this? This was downright awesome.

Nebraska’s Love for Volleyball

It’s not everyday you get photos and imagery of an outdoor volleyball match in a college football stadium, let alone a packed house. The Cornhuskers powered through 83-degree temps to beat in-state opponent, Omaha. The match featured a flyover and a performance by country music artist, Scotty McCreery. Prior to Wednesday night, the Nebraska volleyball program had sold out 306 consecutive home matches dating back to 2013. The state produces more collegiate volleyball players per capita than any other state, besides Hawaii.

Lincoln — the home of the world record for women’s sports attendance? Who would’ve thought?!

📸 Nebraska's World Record Volleyball Game in Photos

Read More

SI: Epic Scenes Emerge From Nebraska’s Volleyball Match in Football Stadium

NCAA: How Nebraska Volleyball Broke the World Record for Women’s Sports Attendance

  HIGHLIGHTS   🎥 

🎾 U.S. Open (Top Players)

W: #1 Iga Swaitek Defeats Daria Saville (6-3, 6-4)

W: #6 Coco Gauff Cruises Past Mirra Andreeva (6-3, 6-2)

M: #2 Novak Djokovic Advances in Straight Sets

🚨 U.S. Open (Major Upsets)

W: Caroline Wozniacki Upsets #11 Petra Kvitova (7-5, 7-6)

M: Zhizhen Zhang Stuns #5 Casper Ruud in 5-Setter

M: Dominic Stricker Shocks #7 Stefanos Tsitsipas in 5-Set Rally

⚾️ MLB
Braves Set New Franchise Single-Season HR Record (250 HRs)

Cubs Win 2nd Straight ‘Critical’ Game With Brewers (3-2)

Bryce Harper Hits 300th Career HR as Phillies Break NL HR History

DJ Stewart’s 2-HR Game, Late-Game Heroics Lift Mets Over Rangers (6-5, 10 Innings)

🏀 FIBA World Cup

Team USA Dominates Jordan by 48 (110-62)

Anthony Edwards Scores Game-High 22 Points

  STORYLINES  

⚽️ Premier League Power Rankings: Week 3

Three weeks into the 2023-24 season, and the Premier League is already separating itself into clearly defined tiers up and down the table. (NBC Sports)

🏈 Inside Deion Sanders’ Roster Remake

Deion Sanders brought the biggest roster overhaul in college football history to Colorado this offseason, and he’ll enter Week 1 with 86 new players. (ESPN)

🏀 Ben Simmons' Comeback Season

The former No. 1 overall pick has played just 42 games with the Nets since being traded two years ago. If 2023-24 isn't a comeback season, it might be his last. (Sporting News)

  NEWS   📰 

• Packers Reportedly Made Attempt to Acquire Colts RB Jonathan Taylor (CBS Sports)
• USC Says Bronny James ‘Doing Extremely Well’ in Heart Recovery (USA Today)
• Gregg Berhalter Leaves Gio Reyna Off USMNT Roster for September Friendlies (ESPN)
• Former U.S. Open Champ Gary Woodland Announces Surgery to Remove Brain Lesion (Yahoo! Sports)

• NBA Referee Eric Lewis Retires Amid Probe Into Social Media Activity (SI)

• Lionel Messi Held Without Goal or Assist for 1st Time in Inter Miami Draw (B/R)

  SCHEDULE   🗓️ 

The Must-Watch List

🏈 College Football (Week 1)

Florida at #14 Utah (8:00 pm ET)

Nebraska at Minnesota (8:00 pm ET)

🎾 U.S. Open (Round 2)

M: #6 J. Sinner vs. L. Sonego (11:00 am ET)

M: #8 A. Rublev vs. G. Monfils (2:15 pm ET)

M: #1 C. Alcaraz vs. L. Harris (7:00 pm ET))

M: #3 D. Medvedev vs. C. O’Connell (8:15 pm ET)

W: #9 M. Vondrousova vs. M. Trevisan (1:00 pm ET)

W: #2 A. Sabalenka vs. J. Burrage (1:00 pm ET)
W: #5 O. Jabeur vs. L. Noskova (5:00 pm ET)

W: #3 J. Pegula vs. P. Tig (9:00 pm ET)

⚾️ MLB
Giants at Padres (9:40 pm ET)

Braves at Dodgers (10:10 pm ET)

🏀 WNBA

Mystics at Aces (10:00 pm ET)

Download The Sportsletter's Must-Watch Calendar

  PARTNER  

Military Media

Looking to go beyond sports? Our friends at Military Media cover finance and the military from a service member’s perspective. Military Media empowers service members, spouses, family members, and veterans to manage their money more effectively, with content created for the military community and written by the military community. The next few newsletters will be on the topic of how the military is struggling to recruit service members.

Military Media is lead and written by Adrian Bonenberger, a journalist and essayist with extensive experience covering national security, international relations (Eastern Europe), the military and veterans affairs.

  THE TEAM  

Writer & Editor: Jeff Yoder

Product Manager: Matthew Cahill

Lead Designer: Joe Stella

Assistant Writer: Marissa Kasch

Social Media: Aaron Yorke

Please consider supporting The Sportsletter, an independently operated and bootstrapped publication, and you'll receive our exclusive Sunday edition. Many thanks to everyone who already supports us!

Did Someone Forward You This Email? Subscribe Here
Feedback? Contact Our Editor: Jeff@TheSportsletter.com
Not Loving The Letter? Unsubscribe

Copyright © 2023 The Sportsletter
717 Market Street, San Francisco, CA, 94103