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Have no fear, everyone. The College Football Playoff selection committee is on it. 

They’re built for this. 

Really, they are. This is exactly why the leaders of the sport moved to a selection committee instead of polls and/or computer rankings. Because a committee of a dozen or so humans can see the delicate differences between teams, and then make qualified, competent decisions ― no matter the chaos.

Hayes: Indiana blew it against Ohio State. That’s exactly why I’m buying Curt Cignetti

Toppmeyer: Arch Manning is a Texas problem, and Steve Sarkisian is last to see it

Like Miami, currently using Wake Forest as its resume bell cow, avoiding a colossally bad loss to Florida Statewith help from ACC officiating.

Or Ohio State, whose strange win at Indiana left Hoosiers coach Curt Cignetti in a blender. But let’s not forget the Buckeyes lost at Texas in September — the same Longhorns who have since lost to three-loss Oklahoma and two-loss Florida. 

Or BYU, which beat Notre Dame with help from Big 12 officiating. But what exactly are the Irish — other than a team pumped full of preseason hype? Notre Dame’s best win to date is North Carolina. 

Or Tennessee, which lost at home to Texas last month, and had no wins of significance until it beat the brakes off Alabama.

And speaking of Alabama, the Tide now has two losses but likely has one more mulligan — because as we all know from CFP track record, three losses does not an Alabama afterthought make.

Then there’s Georgia, which lost at home to Auburn, which lost at home to Florida, which lost at home to South Carolina, which routinely loses SEC games at home. Until the Gamecocks beat Tennessee this week in Columbia, S.C. — because of course they will.

What does it all mean? We’ve got you covered with the USA TODAY Sports Playoff Predictor, sorting out the madness after the greatest weekend of upsets in a long, long time.

College Football Playoff rankings predictions

1. Miami: I’m starting to think the ACC may actually be holding a grudge against Florida State for the whole failed we’re leaving thing. Miami was simply the benefactor. Next: Pittsburgh.  
2. Georgia: If the Dawgs allow certain teams in the back half of the schedule to hang around too long, they’ll absorb a couple of more losses. Next: Bye. 
3. Ohio State: QB Julian Sayin is out indefinitely. Can Buckeyes coach Ryan Day figure out a way to get freshman Luke Fahey ready for a tough schedule? Next: Bye.  
4. Indiana: So many mistakes against Ohio State, so much missed opportunity. And I’d still take Indiana vs. anyone on a neutral field. Next: at Michigan. 
5. Ole Miss: Hard to believe this is the same team that got clobbered by Florida in late September. Or maybe they are, and will be exposed over the next three weeks of heavy lifting in the SEC. Next: at Texas. 
6. Tennessee: We’ve gone from coach Josh Heupel chose the wrong quarterback to start the season, to the Vols getting back to the CFP — in about three weeks time. Next: at South Carolina.
7. BYU: Love the story. Love Bear and Kalani and tough guy linebacker Cade Uluave. But this isn’t the best team in college football. Next: at UCF.
8. Notre Dame: Big 12 officials did a number on the Irish. Just like they did the BYU defensive backs dirty on multiple key plays. It all evens out. Next: Bye. 
9. UCLA: Much like BYU, I love the story. We need more of these in college football. But let’s see how Big Ten defenses scheme new QB Ty Dieffenbach — now that there’s FBS tape on him. 
10. Kentucky: Wilted in early big moment against Alabama, or we’d be staring at the greatest story of the season. Which can still happen. Next: Vanderbilt.    
11. Iowa: They’re going to lose again, even with the new — I can’t believe I’m writing this — efficient offense. I just can’t see where in the regular season. Next: at Minnesota.
12. Boise State: App State will take out unbeaten JMU on Thursday, and clear a large obstacle for Boise State to get another shot at winning a CFP game. Next: at Washington State.

First round byes

• Miami
• Georgia
• Ohio State
• Indiana

First round

• Boise State (12) at Ole Miss (5)
• Iowa (11) at Tennessee (6)
• Kentucky (10) at BYU (7)
• UCLA (9) at Notre Dame (8)

Quarterfinals

• Miami (1) vs. Boise State-Ole Miss winner
• Georgia (2) vs. Kentucky-BYU winner
• Ohio State (3) vs. Iowa-Tennessee winner
• Indiana vs. UCLA-Notre Dame winner

Matt Hayes is the senior national college football writer for USA TODAY Sports Network. Follow him on X at @MattHayesCFB. Listen to him daily, from 12-2 p.m., on 1010XL-Jacksonville.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Playoff Predictor: Upsets turn CFP rankings into beautiful havoc

WEST LAFAYETTE — You can call Purdue basketball’s 87-55 exhibition victory over Ball State on Sunday a soft opening.

Rehearsals for the regular season continue, and roles remain up for grabs on a remade roster. The vibe around the 11 Boilermakers who shared relatively equal minutes, though, remains one of anticipation for what lies ahead.

You may need to give this new cast some time to come together. Those players – some character actors vying to become stars, some understudies stepping into the spotlight for the first time – like where this is headed.

They cannot offer the assurance which comes with returning Final Four starters, roles chiseled in stone and championship expectations set as an afterthought. What was on display Sunday, though, was a new and different energy – one with unrealized upside.

“I feel that’s what makes this team good and makes this team different, is the balance we have between all our guards and our bigs,” redshirt freshman guard Antione West Jr. said. “Everybody brings something. There’s no weak points or anything we lack in our guards, so it just brings a sense of balance. I think that’s our identity.”

While the departure of four starters removed a considerable amount of scoring, rebounding and winning experience, that does not necessarily mean it left a void.

One could just as easily look at what they left behind as fertile ground in which something new can grow. This team looks, talks and plays differently than it did a year ago. Those uncomfortable with change may need to white-knuckle it for the first few weeks.

Or, look at it as a team crafting its identity in real time. Which scorers come into their own? Whose voice carries the loudest? Who redefines themselves thanks to a role either expanded or granted for the first time?

Purdue basketball has a glut of talent, a 'good problem' for Matt Painter

One person has some anxiety over how this will come together. Matt Painter gets paid to make decisions, but that doesn’t make the hard decisions easier. In a given year, he might need to tell a player or two they deserve to play more but the minutes simply are not available.

His rundown of the standouts from this summer’s competitive drills paints the picture.

In rebounding – maybe the single most crucial element in this team’s ceiling – Raleigh Burgess has the best numbers. On a team which must take care of the ball to underwrite its offensive efficiency, Jack Benter has a 14-to-1 assist-turnover ratio. After last season’s four leading scorers departed, freshman Luke Ertel put up the most points.

What do those three players have in common? They were all part of the line change at the under-16 timeout of the first half, coming off the bench.

Painter said again Sunday he believes he has nine players who deserve to play. This would not be the first players in the history of sport to extoll the virtues of a balanced roster until they are the ones on the short end of a minutes share. For now, though, the enthusiasm for what this mix might organically yield still seems genuine.

“We just mesh well,” West said. “The chemistry, you can just feel it being out there. Nobody’s selfish, and we just keep the ball moving. We all understand our strengths and we can all get it going at any time and we just trust that.”

First look: 3 things that stood out from Purdue basketball's exhibition win vs Ball State

Purdue basketball will push the tempo more on offense and defense

If the intrigue of limitless possibilities does not excite you enough, perhaps the playing style will.

With Benter and Caden Pierce sharing the 4 spot Sunday, Purdue almost always utilized a collective skill set which can credibly be called a four-guard lineup. Even while putting up 40 3-point attempts, it ran the floor and pushed the action. On one sequence, Pierce blocked a shot at one end and raced to the other to be in position for an eventual and-one layup.

Painter used several different lineup combinations throughout the game. All of them can push the tempo. They did so while committing only six turnovers in the first 37 minutes.

“I love the way we’re playing, getting a lot of open looks,” Gicarri Harris said. “I think we’re doing a good job in the half court as well, having good ball movement, cutting hard, and screening for guards and bigs.

“We’ve still got stuff to work on, but I believe we’re at a good spot right now.”

On Pierce: How this prized transfer is making mark on Purdue basketball team still growing

There's a shift in the defensive intensity, too, applying pressure earlier rather than waiting for the ball to reach the 25-foot mark. Dribble containment remains a work in progress. The only downside of Daniel Jacobsen blocking six shots is he needed to block six shots in under 18 minutes. In general, though, Painter plans to lean into utilizing better on-ball defenders up and down the court.

Harris scored 16 points, making 4 of 7 from 3-point range in the process. The confidence he showed on offense in Canada carried over to the start of the season. 

What’s the biggest difference the coach sees in his third-year player’s approach? A year ago, after he and C.J. Cox battled for the only unclaimed starting guard spot preseason, he settled into a reserve role for the second straight season?

Going into this season? The possibilities for Harris, and for the roster as a whole, are wide open.

“He’s just excited about playing,” Painter said.

Things are only getting started, but there's a lot of that going around.

Nathan Baird and Sam King have the best Purdue sports coverage, and sign up for IndyStar's Boilermakers newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Yes, Purdue basketball looks different. It's a 'good problem' for Matt Painter

WEST LAFAYETTE — You can call Purdue basketball’s 87-55 exhibition victory over Ball State on Sunday a soft opening.

Rehearsals for the regular season continue, and roles remain up for grabs on a remade roster. The vibe around the 11 Boilermakers who shared relatively equal minutes, though, remains one of anticipation for what lies ahead.

You may need to give this new cast some time to come together. Those players – some character actors vying to become stars, some understudies stepping into the spotlight for the first time – like where this is headed.

They cannot offer the assurance which comes with returning Final Four starters, roles chiseled in stone and championship expectations set as an afterthought. What was on display Sunday, though, was a new and different energy – one with unrealized upside.

“I feel that’s what makes this team good and makes this team different, is the balance we have between all our guards and our bigs,” redshirt freshman guard Antione West Jr. said. “Everybody brings something. There’s no weak points or anything we lack in our guards, so it just brings a sense of balance. I think that’s our identity.”

While the departure of four starters removed a considerable amount of scoring, rebounding and winning experience, that does not necessarily mean it left a void.

One could just as easily look at what they left behind as fertile ground in which something new can grow. This team looks, talks and plays differently than it did a year ago. Those uncomfortable with change may need to white-knuckle it for the first few weeks.

Or, look at it as a team crafting its identity in real time. Which scorers come into their own? Whose voice carries the loudest? Who redefines themselves thanks to a role either expanded or granted for the first time?

Purdue basketball has a glut of talent, a 'good problem' for Matt Painter

One person has some anxiety over how this will come together. Matt Painter gets paid to make decisions, but that doesn’t make the hard decisions easier. In a given year, he might need to tell a player or two they deserve to play more but the minutes simply are not available.

His rundown of the standouts from this summer’s competitive drills paints the picture.

In rebounding – maybe the single most crucial element in this team’s ceiling – Raleigh Burgess has the best numbers. On a team which must take care of the ball to underwrite its offensive efficiency, Jack Benter has a 14-to-1 assist-turnover ratio. After last season’s four leading scorers departed, freshman Luke Ertel put up the most points.

What do those three players have in common? They were all part of the line change at the under-16 timeout of the first half, coming off the bench.

Painter said again Sunday he believes he has nine players who deserve to play. This would not be the first players in the history of sport to extoll the virtues of a balanced roster until they are the ones on the short end of a minutes share. For now, though, the enthusiasm for what this mix might organically yield still seems genuine.

“We just mesh well,” West said. “The chemistry, you can just feel it being out there. Nobody’s selfish, and we just keep the ball moving. We all understand our strengths and we can all get it going at any time and we just trust that.”

First look: 3 things that stood out from Purdue basketball's exhibition win vs Ball State

Purdue basketball will push the tempo more on offense and defense

If the intrigue of limitless possibilities does not excite you enough, perhaps the playing style will.

With Benter and Caden Pierce sharing the 4 spot Sunday, Purdue almost always utilized a collective skill set which can credibly be called a four-guard lineup. Even while putting up 40 3-point attempts, it ran the floor and pushed the action. On one sequence, Pierce blocked a shot at one end and raced to the other to be in position for an eventual and-one layup.

Painter used several different lineup combinations throughout the game. All of them can push the tempo. They did so while committing only six turnovers in the first 37 minutes.

“I love the way we’re playing, getting a lot of open looks,” Gicarri Harris said. “I think we’re doing a good job in the half court as well, having good ball movement, cutting hard, and screening for guards and bigs.

“We’ve still got stuff to work on, but I believe we’re at a good spot right now.”

On Pierce: How this prized transfer is making mark on Purdue basketball team still growing

There's a shift in the defensive intensity, too, applying pressure earlier rather than waiting for the ball to reach the 25-foot mark. Dribble containment remains a work in progress. The only downside of Daniel Jacobsen blocking six shots is he needed to block six shots in under 18 minutes. In general, though, Painter plans to lean into utilizing better on-ball defenders up and down the court.

Harris scored 16 points, making 4 of 7 from 3-point range in the process. The confidence he showed on offense in Canada carried over to the start of the season. 

What’s the biggest difference the coach sees in his third-year player’s approach? A year ago, after he and C.J. Cox battled for the only unclaimed starting guard spot preseason, he settled into a reserve role for the second straight season?

Going into this season? The possibilities for Harris, and for the roster as a whole, are wide open.

“He’s just excited about playing,” Painter said.

Things are only getting started, but there's a lot of that going around.

Nathan Baird and Sam King have the best Purdue sports coverage, and sign up for IndyStar's Boilermakers newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Yes, Purdue basketball looks different. It's a 'good problem' for Matt Painter

1. Alberta voters weigh future in Canada  NPR
2. Alberta votes on leaving Canada; separatist movement likely to outlast expected defeat  The Detroit News
3. As Alberta Holds a Referendum on Separatism, Premier Danielle Smith Has Alienated Both Sides  The New York Times
4. Alberta holds referendum on potential breakaway from Canada  Yahoo
5. Alberta’s Secession Vote Opens Up a Bitter Divide in Canada  WSJ

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2. Uncle Scam Wants You … to cough up your cash and personal data, FBI warns ahead of midterms  The Register
3. US tells election officials to be on guard against AI-powered tricks ahead of midterms  Reuters
4. FBI issues urgent warning about 4 election scams targeting Americans  AL.com
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2. Elon Musk says he will give a SpaceX share to ‘every kid in America’ | CNN Business  CNN
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4. Elon Musk Is Giving Away $10 Billion in SpaceX Stock—To Your Kids.  Barron's
5. Elon Musk says he plans to give a SpaceX share to every child in the U.S.  CBS News

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2. Australian lawmaker Helen Haines in critical condition after vehicle attack  Reuters
3. Australian MP seriously hurt in suspected car attack  DW.com
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3. Israeli police arrest 10 in connection with West Bank assaults  The Washington Post
4. Israeli Settlers Attack Palestinians and European Officials in West Bank  The New York Times
5. Photographer attacked by settlers in the West Bank feels insulted by Netanyahu  AP News

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Bills’ CJ Gardner-Johnson comes clean on disrespectful move that got him ejected appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Buffalo Bills head coach Joe Brady was clearly unhappy with CJ Gardner-Johnson’s spitting controversy during the team’s Week 6 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. The Bills safety also addressed his disrespectful actions after the game, admitting that his behavior had crossed a line.

Gardner-Johnson’s ejection following the incident made him realize the consequences of his unsportsmanlike conduct, and he did not hesitate to accept responsibility for his actions.

“I gotta be a better vet,” Gardner-Johnson said. “I let my emotions get above me, and I hurt my team. “They brought me here to play in big games like this. So, I gotta do better. Just control my emotions. Nothing crazy.”

Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)

The incident occurred late in the second quarter after Gardner-Johnson and Raiders tight end Brock Bowers exchanged words between plays. Instant replays appeared to show Gardner-Johnson spitting in Bowers’ direction while other Las Vegas players were nearby.

A game official quickly intervened, threw a flag and announced Gardner-Johnson’s ejection. The decision came while Buffalo held a 13-10 lead, forcing the Bills to continue without their safety for the remainder of the game.

Gardner-Johnson also explained to reporters that the disagreement between him and Bowers had initially been nothing more than an ordinary exchange of trash talk during a competitive game.

“We were just arguing and talking,” Gardner-Johnson said. “It was nothing negative. He ain’t do nothing to me. It was just in the heat of the game arguing and talking s—. That gesture isn’t warranted.”

Despite losing Gardner-Johnson before halftime, Buffalo managed to secure a 33-30 victory over Las Vegas. The win improved the Bills’ record to 5-1, while the Raiders dropped to 3-3.

However, Gardner-Johnson’s ejection may not be the end of the matter, as the NFL could review the incident and consider additional disciplinary action. The league could impose a fine or potentially issue a suspension, yet the final decision will depend on its review of the incident.

Related: Josh Allen keeps Bills on their toes with expectations after bye week

Related: Bills’ Joe Brady breaks silence on CJ Gardner-Johnson’s spitting controversy

Matty Jaissle's Black And White Army Banner Newcastle United

I’m embarrassed to be a Newcastle United fan, not because of the supporters who rightly booed the first half against Aston Villa, but because we are becoming the worst team in the league.

There are players in this Newcastle United team who we have bought for good money, exciting players, but they are starting to look very very average.

We did well at the start of the season but the more time Matthias Jaissle has had with the players the worse we have become.

The first half against Aston Villa was as bad tactically as I’ve seen for many a year. No shots on target and lucky to be only 1-0 down against a team who played midweek and play next midweek too.

We lack any kind of defensive midfield cover. The gap between defence and midfield is like the Grand Canyon. Nico is slower than slow in slow land.

Lewis Miley is playing right-back despite having Amar Dedic on the bench. If Dedic isn’t fit then go 3-5-2. Do something.

If we aren’t quick enough then swap Nico/Shelvey for Sean Steur. Do something.

I am seriously worried how this is going.

There isn’t time for Matthias Jaissle to learn about the EPL.

He is absolutely miles out of his depth at the moment.

The second half was an improvement because we were losing and the players upped the effort, not because he changed anything.

Newcastle United need to look at a replacement for Matthias Jaissle and quickly before it’s too late.

There isn’t the money to buy a fix like the ‘Premier League Big Six‘ so it’s got to be tactics and this bloke just hasn’t got it.

Hammered at Leeds, nervy win against Hull, hammered at Coventry and schooled at home by Aston Villa. That needed to be six or seven points, not three, and the manner of those defeats was alarming. Seriously alarming.

Source

Villarreal chief ’emotional’ about Anfield visit ahead of ‘very stressful’ week

Villarreal president Fernando Roig has said that it’ll be an ’emotional’ experience to see his team playing against Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday night.

The LaLiga club will visit Merseyside for their next Champions League fixture tomorrow, having won and lost one game each in the tournament so far this season and been held to a 0-0 draw at home by struggling Elche at the weekend.

It’ll be their third time coming to Anfield, having been beaten on their two previous visits, losing 4-o in the second leg of their Europa League semi-final in 2016 and 2-0 at the same stage in the Champions League six years later.

Villarreal president on ’emotional’ Anfield experience

Roig – who’d also been Villarreal president for both of those ties – has said that it’ll be an ’emotional’ experience to watch his team playing away to Liverpool once more, although he admitted that it could also be ‘very stressful’ for him.

In an interview with The Guardian, the 79-year-old said: “It’s emotional to play Liverpool. This will be the fifth time we have faced them, the third at Anfield. The other two were European semi-finals.

“I’ll watch the morning training session, travel with the team. We’ll go and eat; everywhere we go we get treated very well and we treat them well back.

“The next day I’ll watch the under-19s [in the UEFA Youth League] in the morning, that I do like, and then the [Champions League] game, which I don’t. Then we’ll fly back here very, very late. It’s very stressful.”

(Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

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Villarreal go to Anfield after a poor start to their season

Roig’s comments about Villarreal playing at Anfield encapsulate the aura in which Liverpool’s home ground is held across Europe, even for someone who’s already witnessed his team playing there twice previously in far higher-stakes matches than the one tomorrow night.

The Spanish side are no strangers to Champions League football – this is their sixth season in the competition and they’ve reached two previous semi-finals – although their poor start to this campaign (they’re 12th in LaLiga) suggests that the Reds will be favourites to win on Tuesday.

Although the concession of seven goals in as many days is an obvious concern, Andoni Iraola’s side go into the match with four wins from their last five in all competitions and seem to be adapting to the head coach’s tactical blueprint.

Tomorrow’s game is a fourth in 10 days for Liverpool, but if they can pick up a third victory in a row, it’ll ensure that they carry positive momentum into a short break before a tough assignment at home to high-flying Brighton next Sunday.

Before then, there awaits a tricky clash against Villarreal, but it’s one in which the Reds should prevail if they turn in the commanding level of performance that they showed for most of the win over LASK in Austria.

Barcelona could call up promising academy defender for PSG clash as UEFA rules rule out another option – report

Hansi Flick could turn to Barcelona’s reserve team for defensive reinforcements ahead of their Champions League clash against PSG.

With Andreas Christensen already sidelined through injury, the German manager suffered another blow when both Eric Garcia and Jules Kounde picked up problems against Real Betis.

According to journalist Sergi Capdevila, young centre-back Alex Campos is emerging as the leading candidate to make the trip to Paris.

Barcelona currently have only five first-team defenders available, forcing Flick to consider alternatives from Barça Atletic.

Alex Campos emerges as leading candidate

Campos has impressed with his performances at the start of the season, putting himself in a strong position to earn an opportunity with the senior squad.

The young defender’s form has not gone unnoticed, and he could receive his maiden first-team call-up for one of the biggest matches of the season.

However, another promising reserve-team defender, Hafiz Gariba, is unavailable for selection against PSG.

Hafiz Gariba is unavailable for Barcelona against PSG due to UEFA registration rules. (Photo courtesy: X/FCBMasia)

The youngster is ineligible for the Champions League until at least January due to UEFA’s registration regulations.

Under UEFA rules, young players can feature on List B only if they meet specific age and club-registration requirements, including a qualifying period with the club.

Players who do not meet those conditions must instead be registered on List A, which cannot normally be changed during the Champions League league phase.

Gariba could therefore be unable to join the first team for Champions League matches until January at the earliest.

Flick faces another test of Barcelona’s squad depth

Barcelona have repeatedly turned to the reserves when injuries and availability problems have affected the senior squad.

With only five defenders available, Flick has limited room to rotate or respond to unexpected setbacks against PSG.

Campos could provide valuable cover, even if his immediate involvement is restricted to a place on the bench.

Xavi Espart may have to change flanks and start at right-back against PSG. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

However, Barcelona must also be careful not to place too much responsibility on a youngster during such a demanding European fixture.

For Campos, simply travelling with the senior squad would represent an encouraging step in his development.

While he could provide defensive cover, Flick’s immediate challenge is to make a back line of Xavi Espart, Pau Cubarsi, Gerard Martin and Joao Cancelo work.

Gariba’s absence is unfortunate, but Flick could turn to the academy defender for cover against Real Madrid this weekend.

It remains to be seen how Flick sets up his defence and whether Campos makes the trip to Paris.

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