Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Georgia moves back to No. 1
Georgia took back the No. 1 spot in The Associated Press college football poll from Alabama on Sunday after being bumped out last week by the Crimson Tide, who slid to No. 3
The Bulldogs received 32 first-place votes and 1,535 points in the Top 25 to easily reclaim No. 1. They were just two points behind Alabama at No. 2 last week.
Georgia thumped Auburn 42-10 on Saturday. The Tide, whose Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Bryce Young was sidelined by injury, escaped an upset bid at home by Texas A&M.
Ohio State moved up a spot to No. 2, receiving 20 first-place votes and 1,507 points.
No. 3 is a season-low for Alabama, which was preseason No. 1 but fell to No. 2 after Week 2. The Tide received 11 first-place votes.
There were two notable season debuts in the Top 25: No. 24 Illinois is ranked for the first time since 2011 and James Madison is in the AP Top 25 for the first time in program history. The Dukes are playing their first season as a member of the Sun Belt Conference in Division I college football’s highest level.
Clemson overtook Michigan and moved up to No. 4 and the Wolverines fell one spot to No. 5.
Tennessee moved up to No. 6, which is the best ranking for the Volunteers since No. 5 early in the 2005 season.
Southern California fell one spot to No. 7, and Oklahoma State, Mississippi and
Penn State held their places to round out the top 10.
NFL
STEELERS CONFIRM WATT HAD KNEE SURGERY >> T.J. Watt, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ top pass-rushing threat, had arthroscopic knee surgery, which is expected to further delay his return while being sidelined by a pectoral injury, the team confirmed on Sunday.
The team provided no further details except to confirm the report first published by ESPN on Saturday.
Baseball
YANKEES’ CHAPMAN RULED OUT FOR ALDS >> Yankees reliever Aroldis Chapman has been ruled out for the American League Division Series after he skipped a mandatory workout, leading to a fine and likely ending the All-Star’s seven-year tenure with New York.
The 34-year-old flamethrower probably would not have been on the 26-man roster for the best-of-five series against Cleveland that starts Tuesday night due to erratic performances and inconsistent mechanics.
Chapman, who has not gotten a save since May 17, had been scheduled to pitch batting practice Friday at Yankee Stadium but the team said he instead was in Miami. After speaking with Chapman, manager Aaron Boone told general manager Brian Cashman he instructed the pitcher to stay away from the club.
“I think he questioned whether he was going to be on the roster or not,” Boone said.
Chapman’s agent, Scott
Shapiro, said he and his client had no comment. While the Yankees did not rule out Chapman for later rounds, they left the impression his return is unlikely.
In other news, Matt Carpenter likely will be on the roster as a pinch hitter/designated hitter after recovering from a broken left foot sustained Aug. 8. Outfielder Andrew Benintendi remains a longshot following surgery to repair a broken bone in his right wrist. Reliever Clay Holmes will be on the roster but might not be available for the opener as he returns from a Sept. 29 cortisone injection to treat inflammation in his right rotator cuff.
Infielder DJ LeMaheiu’s status had not been determined.
Motor sports
VERSTAPPEN WINS’ TITLE >> Max Verstappen is a two-time Formula One world champion, both titles awarded under bizarre and unprecedented circumstances long after he crossed the finish line.
The Red Bull driver won the rain-shortened Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday at Suzuka, Japan, and didn’t learn he was champion until F1’s governing body penalized Charles Leclerc after the race.
“The championship obviously did not come the way this time around,” Verstappen initially said after climbing from his car following his 12th victory of the season.
The Dutchman even apologized to the crowd on the track’s public address system.
Seconds later, Verstappen was told he was a twotime world champion and crew members and friends suffocated him with hugs.
Verstappen’s first title was won in last year’s season finale at Abu Dhabi, where seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton dominated the race until a late caution. It was then that race control set in motion an unprecedented sequence of events when since-fired race director Michael Masi allowed for a late restart.
Verstappen passed Hamilton to win the race and his first championship, but Mercedes disputed the way the race ended and the teams argued with the FIA for hours before Verstappen was finally named champion and able to celebrate.
Tennis
DJOKOVIC WINS 90TH TITLE >> Novak Djokovic needed only 75 minutes to win his 90th tour title, overcoming third-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 6-4 in the final of the Astana Open on Sunday at Astana, Kazakhstan.
Golf
LOPEZ-CHACARRA WINS LIV EVENT >> Former top amateur Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra shot a final-round 69 and won the LIV Golf Invitational-Bangkok by three strokes over Patrick Reed on Sunday at Bangkok, Thailand.
Lopez-Chacarra had a three-round total of 19-under 197.
Reed shot a closing 67 while Paul Casey (65), Richard Bland (68) and Sihwan Kim (68) were tied for third, four shots behind.