MONDAY · SEPTEMBER 28, 2026 · SPORTS, IN SMALL SIPS

The NHL's equipment rule says pads must be worn under the uniform, and nobody has been penalized for a tucked-in jersey since Evgeni Malkin in 2013. Then on Thursday, in a preseason game, the Philadelphia Flyers' Trevor Zegras went to the penalty box for his shirt.

Zegras said it's “how I usually play.” So on Saturday, every Flyer warmed up tucked in, and Zegras posted photos from his younger days playing that way, plus a picture from football's other famous tuck, Tom Brady's Tuck Rule Game.

Miracle at Medinah, part two... arrived at golf's Presidents Cup, where the United States trailed entering Sunday and won 17-13, the event's biggest final-day comeback. When a fan yelled “Go Scottie!” during his opponent's backswing, Scottie Scheffler told the crowd, “There's no place for that,” then conceded a 32-foot putt.

Live by the clock... die by the clock, as Michigan learned. Three weeks ago, the Wolverines beat Western Michigan when officials put a second back on the clock. On Saturday, Iowa scored on the final play to beat them 20-19.

Plan B beat the champs... as Washington's backup quarterback, Marcus Mariota, threw three touchdowns against Seattle, the defending champions. The win snapped Seattle's 12-game streak, which ran through last season's Super Bowl.

Perfectly balanced at 81-81... the Houston Astros clinched the American League West on the season’s final day. No MLB team had ever won a division without a winning record.

The rest of the division... finished below .500. The weakest champ before them was San Diego in 2005. Those Padres went 82-80.

Under the playoff fine print... a division title brings home field, whatever the record. So on Tuesday, Houston hosts the Chicago White Sox, who had a better record.

Manager Joe Espada called it... “a roller coaster of a season.” Division titles exist to reward the best team in the neighborhood. This year, that team lost as often as it won.

— Landen Hull

As time expired... Baltimore's Tyler Loop hit a 56-yard field goal to beat Dallas 34-31 at the Maracanã, Rio's famous soccer stadium, moments after Lamar Jackson completed a long pass and called timeout with a second left.

Loop had been here before... in January, when he missed a kick on the last play in Pittsburgh and the Steelers won the division. This time the ball split the posts in front of 72,792 people.

The home team, technically... was Dallas. The Cowboys are 1-2.

Hugged: Max Scherzer won his 225th game in what may be his last start, and left to a standing ovation and hugs from Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider.

Survived: The Philadelphia Phillies led Arizona by 6½ games on Sept. 1 and needed the final day to grab the last NL wild card.

Stunned: The New York Liberty opened their WNBA playoff series by beating the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx, 91-75.

Emergency contact... Chicago is expected to start 38-year-old Case Keenum tonight with Caleb Williams out. He hasn’t played a regular-season snap since 2023. The unbeaten Eagles are in town.

All times ET.

Bottoms up. See you Wednesday.