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The Lineup: Thursday, September 26

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Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images

Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images

One hell of a baboob grab. Send any suggestions to SI.TheLineup@gmail.com. (Bold indicates a national broadcast. All times Eastern.)

Pregame Reads

  • Kareem Abdul-Jabbar explains why we should stop calling women "strong" for Esquire.
  • The NFL's new airport-style bag policy isn't going over so well with fans, so says MMQB's Emily Kaplan.
  • Mike Piellucci of Sports on Earth shares the story of a future USC defensive lineman who rose from a world of violence and tragedy.

Starter

College Football Virginia Tech vs. Georgia Tech, 7:30p.m. (ESPN)

Both these teams have drawn a lot of attention for their uniform choices in the past week. Last weekend, a number of Georgia Tech players wore the letters APU on their wrist tape. The letters stand for All Players United and serve as a silent protest of the NCAA's treatment of amateur athletes. Virginia Tech has chosen a new helmet design that is apparently a protest against taste and decency.

Reserves

NFL

San Francisco 49ers vs. St. Louis Rams, 8:25p.m. (NFL Network)

MLB

Diamondbacks vs. Padres, 6:40p.m.

Blue Jays vs. Orioles, 7:05p.m.

Rays vs. Yankees, 7:05p.m.

Phillies vs. Braves, 7:10p.m.

Brewers vs. Mets, 7:10p.m.

Angels vs. Rangers, 8:05p.m.

Royals vs. White Sox, 8:10p.m.

Indians vs. Twins, 8:10p.m.

Dodgers vs. Giants, 10:15p.m.

WNBA

Indiana Fever vs. Atlanta Dream, 7:00p.m. (ESPN2)

Minnesota Lynx vs. Phoenix Mercury, 9:00p.m. (ESPN2)

While a lot of you were slogging your way through the last quarter of a blowout on Monday Night Football, the Mercury and L.A. Sparks were staging a remarkable basketball game. Each team held the lead in the final ten seconds. The game was decided by this turnaround jumper from star rookie Brittney Griner.

Griner

College Football

Howard vs. North Carolina A&T, 7:30p.m. (ESPNU)

Iowa State vs. Tulsa, 7:30p.m. (Fox Sports 1)

Golf

Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, 8:30a.m. (Golf)

Web.com Tour Championship, 3:00p.m. (Golf)

Soccer

Copa Mexico: Monarcas de Morelia vs. Club Atlas DE Guadalajara, 12:00p.m. (ESPN Deportes)

NCAA Women's: Xavier vs. St. John's, 7:00p.m. (ESPN3)

NCAA Women's VOlleyball

East Tennessee State vs. USC Upstate, 6:00p.m. (ESPN3)

TV

Impact Wresting, 9:00p.m. (Spike)

Deep Bench

Tailgate Fan, 6:30p.m. (CBS Sports)

Host Nick Stevens travels down to Florida to meet up with some tailgaters preparing for the team's game against Tennessee. Along the way, he sees the pork version of a turducken, learns to Air Tebow, and watches a playful disagreement potentially escalate into an off-camera execution.

Birthdays

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Charlotte Bobcats Small Forward, 20

Serena Williams, Tennis Champion, 32

Henrik and Daniel Sedin, Vancouver Canucks Players, 33

Michael Ballack, Former German Soccer Star, 37