Alabama, Michigan, Georgia and Cincinnati Make College Football Playoff

By BY ALAN BLINDER from NYT Sports The semifinal games are scheduled for New Year’s Eve, with the national championship planned for Jan. 10 in Indianapolis.https://nyti.ms/3lBCmuo

Alabama Picks Georgia Apart, Setting Course for Another Playoff

By BY ALAN BLINDER from NYT Sports No. 3 Alabama, the reigning national champion, fell behind early. Then it pounded the country’s best defense to run away with the Southeastern Conference championship.https://nyti.ms/3rxQwR7

The 2021 N.F.L. Playoff Picture, Explained

By BY VICTOR MATHER from NYT Sports Curious about your favorite team’s playoff positioning, or who’s looking like a good bet for a high seed?https://nyti.ms/3EjJCCw

Atlanta Topples Dodgers to Reach First World Series Since 1999

By BY ALAN BLINDER from NYT Sports In third place on Aug. 13, Atlanta rode a surprising group of trade deadline acquisitions to a pennant, outlasting the 106-win Dodgers. Next up: the Houston Astros.https://nyti.ms/3GfSM4s

Dodgers’ Ace Isn’t Injured, but He Won’t Start Game 6

By BY SCOTT MILLER from NYT Sports Max Scherzer, a superstar right-hander, blamed a dead arm for his short start in Game 2 of the N.L.C.S. He said he might be available to pitch if there is a Game 7.https://nyti.ms/3pveoUl

Astros Outlast Red Sox to Reach Third World Series in Five Years

By BY JAMES WAGNER from NYT Sports Stained by a scandal but unfazed on the field, Houston returns to baseball’s biggest stage looking for another ring.https://nyti.ms/3GesGi8

Finding a Path for a Talented but Shaken Franchise

By BY TYLER KEPNER from NYT Sports A cheating scandal and a tainted World Series title had the Houston Astros in disarray. James Click got the franchise right back in the business of trying to win championships.https://nyti.ms/3pv8jYc

How Rare Is a Three-Homer Game in the Postseason?

By BY VICTOR MATHER from NYT Sports Babe Ruth. Reggie Jackson. Chris Taylor? A feat that used to come few and far between is happening more often. But it is still unusual enough to stand out.https://nyti.ms/3B7aMtY

Chris Taylor’s Three-Homer Day Keeps Dodgers Alive

By BY SCOTT MILLER from NYT Sports The N.L.C.S. heads back to Atlanta after Taylor became the 11th batter with three homers in a postseason game.https://nyti.ms/3m4HPdH

Atlanta on the Verge of World Series Thanks to Rosario’s Hot Bat

By BY SCOTT MILLER from NYT Sports A midseason pickup from Cleveland, Eddie Rosario has been nothing short of incredible. He led the way in yet another win.https://nyti.ms/3pszNh7

The Astros Are the Latest Team to Have Boston on the Ropes

By BY DAVID WALDSTEIN from NYT Sports A blowout win in Game 5 sends this series back to Houston, decidedly in the Astros’ favor. The resilient Red Sox may have finally met their match.https://nyti.ms/3GadfaS

Justin Verlander Is Not Walking Through That Door

By BY TYLER KEPNER from NYT Sports In a makeshift strategy their pitching coach compared to the Celtics of yesteryear, Houston is relying on its bullpen to carry the team through the A.L.C.S. On Tuesday, it worked.https://nyti.ms/2Z6J43E

An Umpire Opened the Door and the Astros Walked Right Through

By BY DAVID WALDSTEIN from NYT Sports With two outs in the ninth, Nathan Eovaldi thought he had a strike three. Laz Diaz disagreed and by the time the dust settled, Houston had scored seven runs, tying the series.https://nyti.ms/3jiD1Qp

Bellinger’s Blast Breathes Life Into Dodgers Offense

By BY SCOTT MILLER from NYT Sports A three-run homer from the struggling outfielder tied the game and a double by Mookie Betts put Los Angeles ahead to stay. With that, dreams of an Atlanta sweep faded away.https://nyti.ms/3pgdjQf

Mr. October Traded His Pinstripes for an Astros Cap

By BY TYLER KEPNER from NYT Sports Reggie Jackson, the Hall of Fame slugger and longtime Yankees adviser, has a new role with the Astros, helping reassure the team as postseason pressure mounts.https://nyti.ms/3DZUVir

A Slugger Leading Off? ‘It’s Not Analytics, It’s Not a Hunch.’

By BY TYLER KEPNER from NYT Sports Boston’s Kyle Schwarber doesn’t look like a typical leadoff hitter, but he is giving the Red Sox exactly what they need.https://nyti.ms/3pi9Dxu

‘Groundhog Day’ in Boston as Another Grand Slam Sets the Tone

By BY DAVID WALDSTEIN from NYT Sports The Red Sox have won consecutive blowouts against the Astros, showing some swagger while setting a record for bases-loaded homers in a postseason series.https://nyti.ms/3aQ8p3X

Atlanta Bought in Bulk to Replace the Irreplaceable

By BY TYLER KEPNER from NYT Sports For many teams, losing Ronald Acuña Jr. would have been a crushing blow. To the Braves’ Alex Anthopoulos, it was a puzzle to solve. He seems to have the right pieces.https://nyti.ms/3n2TGZc

Walk It Off, Again: Atlanta Widens Lead Over Dodgers

By BY SCOTT MILLER from NYT Sports Thrilling wins in consecutive games, both decided in their last at-bat, have Atlanta heading to Los Angeles with some breathing room ahead of Game 3.https://nyti.ms/3n3xoX9

Chicago Sky Beat Phoenix Mercury for First W.N.B.A. Championship

By BY ALANIS THAMES from NYT Sports The Sky battled back from a large second-half deficit to beat the Mercury in a thriller.https://nyti.ms/3C334lC