The Sportsletter - Midweek Mix: Select, Splash & Skate

BY JEFF YODER

NOV. 13, 2024 | SUBSCRIBE | WEB VIEW

Good Morning 👋

Happy midweek mix, sports fans. We’re pushing our typical Wednesday NFL Power Rankings to tomorrow due to last night’s big moments. The latest CFP Rankings dropped. College hoops heated up with the Champions Classic. The Splash Bros reunion game was must-see TV. And one of Canada’s NHL squads just secured hockey history.

A busy night, but an even busier weekend awaits…

Letter Rip!

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

CFP Rankings (2 of 6)

Image via CollegeFootballPlayoff.com

Indiana & Texas Rise Into New Top-5 as Georgia & Miami Tumble — Ole Miss Soars Into 12-Team Bracket

The latest CFP Rankings (2 of 6) dropped last night, and we’ve got an SEC log-jam at the bottom of the 12-team bracket. Losses for Georgia and Miami opened the door for Indiana and Texas to rise, but two long-shot horses are on the outside looking in. Boise State and SMU. The Broncos and Mustangs are No. 13 and 14 with a trio of two-loss SEC teams at 10-11-12 — Alabama (10), Ole Miss (11) and Georgia (12). Deion Sanders’ Colorado boys are still lurking at No. 17. The selection committee is going to have some tough questions to answer when the dust settles.

CFP Rankings (2 of 6)

1. Oregon (10-0)

2. Ohio State (8-1)

3. Texas (8-1)

4. Penn State (8-1)

5. Indiana (10-0)

6. BYU (9-0)

7. Tennessee (8-1)

8. Notre Dame (8-1)

9. Miami (9-1)

10. Alabama (7-2)

11. Ole Miss (8-2)

12. Georgia (7-2)

Next CFP Rankings (Tues. Nov. 19)

NBA

NBA Cup: The Splash Reunion 🌊

Photo: Ezra Shaw / Getty Images

Warriors Escape Mavericks (120-117) as Steph Curry (Five 3s) & Klay Thompson (Six 3s) Go Head-to-Head

The NBA schedule-makers knew what they doing when made Klay vs. Steph the main event on Day 1 of NBA Cup group play. The second ever NBA Cup (formerly the In-Season Tournament) began Tuesday night across the league, and those ridiculously bright court designs were the center of attention on the internet. The other center of attention? The first-ever head-to-head meeting of the Splash Brothers. Klay Thompson made his return to the Chase Center after 13 seasons and four titles with the Warriors from 2011-2024. He and Steph Curry took turns lighting it up. Steph (37 points) hit five 3s while Klay (21 points) knocked down six 3s, and everybody had fun. Give me seven games of Warriors-Mavs in the playoffs, please.

Watch: Warriors Beat Mavs (120-117) in Splash Brothers Reunion

🏀 Other NBA Cup Highlights

Hawks def. Celtics (117-116)

Jalen Johnson (18-13-10) Sparks Upset

Knicks def. 76ers (111-99)

Joel Embiid (13 Points) Struggles in Return

Pistons def. Heat (123-121, OT)

Erik Spoelstra Calls T/O With None Left in Final Seconds

Full NBA Scoreboard

NHL

The Jets (On Ice) Make History ✈️

Photo: Jared Silber / Getty Images

Winnipeg Jets Become Fastest Team in NHL History to 15 Wins (15-1) With Road Victory Over Rangers (6-3)

Only two pro sports franchises use the ‘Jets’ nickname. One of those fan bases is quite miserable these days. The other? They just made history, in New York City, of all places. The Winnipeg Jets went into Madison Square Garden and doubled-up the Rangers on Tuesday night (6-3) thanks to two goals apiece from Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor, and that’s one for the record books. The Jets (15-1-0) are the fastest team in NHL history to win 15 games. They’re on a seven-game win streak after opening the season with an eight-game starter pack, and I’m not sure how many hockey fans saw this coming, either. They’re not just winning. These are blowouts. Nine of their wins came by three goals or more, and three of those nine were shutouts.

Twin Engines (Connor & Connor)

We’ll keep the stats light, but Kyle Connor (offense) leads the team in points (11G, 11A) while goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (defense) leads all NHL net-protectors in goals against average (1.92 GAA), save percentage (.934%) and shutouts (3). Something is working in Winnipeg.

Watch: Winnipeg Jets Make NHL History With Epic 15-1-0 Start

🏒 Other NHL Highlights

Bruins def. Blues (3-2)

Boston Scores 3 Unanswered in 3rd Period

Oilers def. Islanders (4-3, OT)

Leon Draisaitl Nets OT Winner

Devils def. Panthers (4-1)

Snaps Florida’s 7-Game Win Streak

Full NHL Scoreboard

HIGHLIGHTS 🎥

🏀 NCAA Basketball (Champions Classic)

#1 Kansas def. Michigan State (77-69)

Hunter Dickinson Dominates (28 pts, 12 rebs)

#19 Kentucky def. #6 Duke (77-72)

Cooper Flagg (26 pts) Commits 2 TOs in Final Minutes

STORYLINES

🏒 Roenick Finally Enters Hall of Fame

After a lengthy career, waiting out his eligibility period, then 12 years of sitting by the phone, Jeremy Roenick finally received his call for induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame. (ESPN)

🏈 Bears Have to Save Caleb Williams

Offensive coordinator Shane Waldron is now gone. Chicago has been a quarterback nightmare for decades, but the Bears have a singular goal this season — save Caleb Williams. (Yahoo! Sports)

🥊 The Tyson-Paul Fight Preview

Betting guide, fight times and expert predictions. A boxing spectacle is coming to Netflix on Friday. Will 58-year-old ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson put 27-year-old YouTuber Jake Paul in his place? (CBS Sports)

PICKS

NFL Pick 'Em (Week 11)

Play The Sportsletter's NFL Pick 'Em

Picks Take Approximately 60 Seconds

This week’s NFL Power Rankings were pushed to tomorrow’s edition. We’ll have the all-32 look before Commanders-Eagles on Thursday Night Football.

NEWS 📰

🏈 Cowboys QB Dak Prescott Confirmed to Have Season-Ending Hamstring Surgery (SI)

⚾️ Tropicana Field Won’t Be Repaired for Tampa Bay Rays Until 2026 (CBS Sports)

🏈 Bears Fire Offensive Coordinator Shane Waldron Amid Offenses’ Woes (B/R)

⚽️ FC Cincinnati’s Marco Angulo Dies From Car Crash Injuries Suffered Last Month (Yahoo! Sports)

🏈 49ers & DB Deommodore Lenoir Reach 5-Year, $92 Million Extension (ESPN)

🏈 Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes & Travis Kelce Both Had Houses Burglarized in October (B/R)