1) Northern Illinois Stuns Notre Dame with Historic Win

The University Northern Illinois Huskies football team pulled off a remarkable upset on Saturday, Sept. 8 defeating the No. 5 University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish in a 16-14 contest on the road. It marked their first-ever victory over a top-five AP team and became the first Mid-American Conference team to do so. 

The Huskies secured this historic win after the Fighting Irish missed a 62-yard field goal in the game’s closing moments. Northern Illinois broke an AP-ranking drought since 2013, by moving to No. 25 in the AP poll, and made a memorable mark in school history. Fans will celebrate this thrilling triumph for years to come.

2) Sinner and Sabalenka Dominate at the US Open

The 2024 Grand Slam concluded with Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka securing victories at both the Australian Open and U.S. Open. They began their triumphs in Australia, reaffirming their dominance on hard courts.

Sabalenka clinched her third major title, defeating Jessica Pegula with a score of 7-5, 7-5. Sinner claimed his second major title by overcoming Taylor Fritz 6-3, 6-4, 7-5. This marked the first time since 1988 that the same pair of players won both hard-court grand slam titles in a single year. Both Sinner and Sabalenka kept the U.S. Open titles out of American hands, proving their top form on the world stage.

3) Angel Reese’s Rookie Season Cut Short

Angel Reese’s promising rookie campaign with the Chicago Sky ended abruptly due to a wrist injury sustained during a game against the Los Angeles Sparks. The seventh pick of the 2024 draft, who led Louisiana State University to a national championship, had an impressive debut with 26 double-doubles and a record-setting streak of 15 consecutive double-doubles. 

Her impressive averages of 13.6 points, 13.1 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game earned her an All-Star selection. She and her collegiate rival Caitlin Clark were the first rookie pair to make the All-Star team since 2014. Additionally, Reese became the fourth rookie All-Star in the history of the Chicago Sky and the first since 2013.

4) Patriots Upset Bengals in Jerod Mayo’s Coaching Debut

The New England Patriots upset the Cincinnati Bengals 16-10 on Sunday, Sept. 8 at Paycor Stadium, marking a notable win for new coach, Jerod Mayo. The Bengals, heavy favorites with a 7.5-point spread, were expected to dominate with quarterback Joe Burrow leading the charge. However, the Patriots managed to secure the victory despite having only won four games last season. This season opener turned into a significant upset, showcasing Mayo’s coaching impact.

5) Cristiano Ronaldo Makes History with 900th Career Goal

Cristiano Ronaldo etched his name in international soccer history by becoming the first player to reach 900 career goals during the UEFA Nations League group stage. The 39-year-old Portuguese legend scored his milestone goal with a close-range finish in a match against Croatia in Lisbon. He didn’t stop there—Ronaldo followed up this achievement with an 88th-minute game-winner in the next match, leading Portugal to a victory over Scotland. This incredible feat further solidified Ronaldo’s status as one of the greatest international soccer players of all time.