BY JEFF YODER

DEC. 9, 2022 | SUBSCRIBE | REFER | WEB VIEW

Happy Friday 👋

You’ve made it to the weekend where the Heisman Trophy and World Cup quarterfinals await. But Thursday's biggest news featured Brittney Griner's release from Russia (I can't wait to see the reunion photos). There’s only one week left before we hang it up for the holidays. Be sure to submit your picks for our end of year awards (below) and watch this epic buzzer-beater in the Big Ten. 👇

Highlight of the Night: Ohio State’s Tanner Holden Hits Buzzer-Beating 3 to Stun Rutgers

Letter Rip!

THE SPORTSLETTER'S 2022 YEAR-END AWARDS

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MEDIA

BG Comes Home!

Photo: Christian Peterson / Getty Images

WNBA Star Brittney Griner Released From Russian Prison After 10 Months

Coming home! After the bizarre scandal that landed WNBA star Brittney Griner in a Russian prison last February, she’s finally free. Griner was sentenced to nine years after being arrested for the possession of cannabis oil at a Moscow airport. Months of legal battles with the Russian court system went awry until Thursday morning. The Biden Administration finally made a deal with Russia for a prisoner swap that included arms deal Viktor Bout, and Griner is finally coming home.

President Biden tweeted the good news Thursday morning: “Moments ago I spoke to Brittney Griner. She is safe. She is on a plane. She is on her way home.” The tweet included pictures with Biden and Griner’s wife, Cherelle, inside the Oval Office. "This is a day we've worked toward for a long time," Biden said. "We never stopped pushing for her release. It took painstaking and intense negotiations, and I want to thank all the hardworking public servants across my administration who worked tirelessly to secure her release.”

The 2022 WNBA season was marred by the absence of Griner as teams across the league pasted BG42 logos on jerseys, courts and banners to keep the pressure on the government.

A sigh of relief. She’s coming home. And there’s no doubt the reunion moments and photos in the days to come will bring tears to many. Welcome back, BG!

Additional Storylines

ABC News: Brittney Griner Release: How the White House Says It Happened

CNBC: WNBA Star Brittney Griner Freed From Russia in Prisoner Swap for Arms Dealer

SI: Brittney Griner’s Life is Forever Changed, But Now She Gets To Live It

NFL

The Mayfield Moment 👀

Photo: Ronald Martinez / Getty Images

After Wild 48 Hours, Baker Mayfield Rallies Rams for 4th-Quarter Comeback Over Raiders (17-16)

It was Tuesday when the Rams signed QB Baker Mayfield off waivers to fill the void left by injured QB Matthew Stafford. A mere 48 hours later, Mayfield rallied his team from 13 points down in the 4th quarter against the Raiders to claim his first win in Los Angeles (17-16). The Raiders controlled the game for three quarters, leading 16-3 with 12 minutes to play, but Mayfield enginered back-to-back touchdown drives. He capped the night by dropping a 23-yard dime to WR Van Jefferson with 10 seconds left. It was a heartbreaking loss for the Raiders (5-8), but an unbelievable week for Mayfield who went from jobless to primetime hero. The Rams (4-9) just ended a six-game losing streak. Take a bow, Baker.

Baker Mayfield’s Stats: 22/35, 240 yards, 1 TD

Watch: Mayfield Rallies Rams Past Raiders on TNF (17-16)

Additional Storylines

SI: NFL World Reacts to Baker Mayfield’s Stunning Game-Winning Drive

LA Times: Baker Mayfield Becomes an Instant Hero in Shocking Rams Comeback Win

THE SPORTSLETTER'S NFL PICK 'EM

Make Week 14 Picks

Picks Must Be Made By Sunday Morning

CFB

CFB Award Winners

Photo: Media News Group / Pasadena Star / Getty Images

USC QB Caleb Williams Leads 2022 College Football Awards

The Heisman Trophy winner won’t be announced until Saturday night, but the rest of the college football awards were handed out on Thursday. USC quarterback Caleb Williams won the big one — Player of the Year — and he’s expected to capture the Heisman tomorrow. Alabama linebacker Will Anderson Jr. took home the Defensive Player of the Year honors, and TCU head coach Garrett Riley earned the Coach of the Year nod after the Horned Frogs went 12-1 to reach the College Football Playoff. Here are all the award winners from Thursday night.

Top Awards

Player of the Year: QB Caleb Williams (USC)

Defensive Player of the Year: LB Will Anderson Jr. (Alabama)

Coach of the Year: Garrett Riley (TCU)

Other Awards

Best Quarterback: QB Max Duggan (TCU)

Best Running Back Award: RB Bijan Robinson (Texas)

Best Wide Receiver: WR Jalin Hyatt (Tennessee)

Best Tight End: TE Brock Bowers (Georgia)

Best Center: C Olusegun Oluwatimi (Michigan)

Best Linebacker: LB Jack Campbell (Iowa)

Best Defensive Back: DB Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson (TCU)

Best Kicker: K Christopher Dunn (NC State)

Additional Storylines

Yahoo! Sports: Caleb Williams & Will Anderson Jr. Lead This Season’s Wave of Honors

CBS Sports: USC QB Caleb Williams Wins Maxwell & Walter Camp Awards for Player of the Year

🎥 OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

🏀 NBA: Jamal Murray Calls Game!

The NBA’s hottest ticket was Nuggets-Blazers on Thursday, and they didn’t disappoint. Damian Lillard (40 points, 12 assists) and Nikola Jokic (33-10-9) put on a show, but it was Jamal Murray’s 3-point game-winner with 0.9 seconds left that iced it for the Nuggets (121-120).

🏒 NHL: Jets Streak to Top of Central

Pierre Luc-Dubois tallied two goals and an assist to lead the Jets to their third straight win on Thursday over the Blues (5-2). Winnipeg (35 points) is now on top of the Central Division after winning seven of their last nine outings.

THE STORYLINES

⚽️ World Cup Quarterfinals Entrance Survey

Only eight teams remain. We take stock of the tournament so far and predict how the World Cup will end. (The Ringer)

⚾️ MLB Winter Meeting Takeaways

In the lead-up to the MLB winter meetings in San Diego, the buzz was that it could be a wild week of rumors, news and moves -- and the meetings delivered all of that and then some. (ESPN)

🏈 The Case for Each Heisman Finalist

A quarterback-only Heisman Trophy ceremony will still have something for everyone. Here is the primary case for why each should win come Saturday in New York. (USA Today)

📰 THE HEADLINES

Mets Sign OF Brandon Nimmo to 8-Year, $162 Million Deal (Yahoo! Sports)
House Report Cites Commanders Owner Dan Snyder’s Role in ‘Toxic’ Culture (NPR)
Falcons Bench QB Marcus Mariota for Rookie Desmond Ridder (ESPN)
Cowboys Did Not Offer WR Odell Beckham Jr. Deal After Visit (SI)
Virginia Football Players Granted Extra Year of Eligibility After Shooting (NBC Sports)
Former Colts QB Andrew Luck Opens Up About Retirement Regrets (CBS Sports)

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🗓️ WEEKEND SCHEDULE

The Must-Watch List

The last weekend before bowl season is bringing the Heisman Trophy Ceremony to the forefront on Saturday night. The World Cup quarterfinals kick off this morning, and we’ve got another full weekend of NFL, NBA, NHL and college hoops. The holidays are on the horizon!

Heisman Trophy Ceremony

Saturday (8:00 pm)

World Cup Quarterfinals

Croatia vs. Brazil (Fri. 10:00 am)

Netherlands vs. Argentina (Fri. 2:00 pm)

Morocco vs. Portugal (Sat. 10:00 am)

England vs. France (Sat. 2:00 pm)

NFL Week 14 (Sunday)

Jets at Bills (1:00 pm)

Vikings at Lions (1:00 pm)

Eagles at Giants (1:00 pm)
Buccaneers at 49ers (4:25 pm)

Dolphins at Chargers (8:20 pm)

Full Week 14 Schedule

NBA

Lakers at 76ers (Fri. 7:30 pm)

Bucks at Mavericks (Fri. 10:00 pm)
Celtics at Warriors (Sat. 8:30 pm)

Full NBA Schedule

NHL

Rangers at Avalanche (Fri. 9:00 pm)

Panthers at Lightning (Sat. 4:30 pm)

Bruins at Golden Knights (Sun. 8:00 pm)

Full NHL Schedule

NCAA Basketball

M: #8 Alabama vs. #1 Houston (Sat. 3:00 pm)

M: #10 Arizona vs. #14 Indiana (Sat. 7:30 pm)

M: #13 Maryland vs. #7 Tennessee (Sun. 4:30 pm)

W: #6 UConn vs. #20 Maryland (Sun. 3:00 pm)

*All Times ET

Writer & Editor: Jeff Yoder

Product Manager: Matthew Cahill

Lead Designer: Joe Stella

Technical Lead: Kevin Lonergan

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