Atlanta Braves clinch 8th playoff berth in 9 years with victory over Astros

HOUSTON (AP) — The Atlanta Braves held a subdued celebration when they clinched a playoff berth Friday night after missing out last season.

The first-place Braves beat the Houston Astros 6-2 to punch their ticket to the postseason for the eighth time in nine years. They secured at least a National League wild card and reduced their magic number to three for winning the NL East.

Afterward there was no wild celebration, but rather a simple toast with bubbly before they began looking ahead.

“We've got our eyes on bigger and better things,” outfielder Michael Harris II said. “We’re trying to win the East. So got to go out there and do what we know we can do and hopefully we can celebrate big for that.”

First-year manager Walt Weiss echoed the sentiment shared by Harris.

“Everything you get in this league is earned,” Weiss said. “I’ve said it a few times this year, but great group, what they’ve overcome this year, and hopefully some bigger celebrations ahead.”

Harris, Ronald Acuña Jr. and Matt Olson each hit a two-run homer to help the Braves bounce back after dropping two of three games to the Chicago Cubs this week.

Atlanta is trying to hold off the Philadelphia Phillies for the NL East title and could wrap up the division crown as soon as Sunday. Atlanta’s win Friday night coupled with Philadelphia’s 6-3 loss to the Mets gave the Braves a five-game lead over the Phillies with eight to play.

Weiss was asked about helping the team back to the playoffs in his first season as manager after spending eight seasons as Brian Snitker’s bench coach.

“I always say it’s always about the players,” Weiss said. “They’re the ones out there performing. We've got a good staff. When you accomplish things, it’s an organizational effort. ... It takes everybody and we've got a really good group.”

If the Braves take the division, it will be their seventh NL East championship in nine years.

Atlanta's return to the playoffs comes after a disappointing 2025 season in which the team went 76-86 and finished fourth in the division, snapping a streak of seven straight playoff appearances that included six consecutive NL East titles from 2018-23. That run was highlighted by beating the Astros to win the 2021 World Series.

Friday’s victory gave the Braves 90 wins, marking the fifth time in the last eight full seasons that they’ve reached the mark. The only teams with more 90-win seasons in that stretch are the Dodgers with eight and the Brewers and Yankees with six apiece.

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Atlanta Braves' Austin Riley breaks a bat as he lines out during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Atlanta Braves' Michael Harris II celebrates as he runs the bases after hitting a home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Atlanta Braves' Ronald Acuña Jr., right, celebrates with designated hitter Drake Baldwin after hitting a home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Atlanta Braves' Ronald Acuña Jr. tosses his bat after hitting a home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Atlanta Braves' Ronald Acuña Jr. celebrates after hitting a home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — J'Koby Williams and Cameron Dickey ran for second-half touchdowns and defending Big 12 champion No. 13 Texas Tech held on for a 28-26 victory Friday night when Houston quarterback Conner Weigman came up just short of a 2-point conversion in the final minute.

Weigman's third TD pass, a 10-yarder to Patrick Overmyer with 49 seconds left, gave the Cougars (2-1, 0-1) a chance to tie in the conference opener for both teams. On the try for 2, Weigman took off to the left and lunged forward with the ball extended, though his knee came down before the ball broke the plane of the end zone.

The audience viewing on Fox Sports was able to watch and listen to the Big 12 replay officials at the conference headquarters reviewing and discussing that play before ruling that Weigman was short. That was one of several replays on which viewers got an inside look.

Will Hammond was 17-of-27 passing for 257 yards and a touchdown for the Red Raiders (3-0, 1-0), who were down 10-0 with just one offensive snap only 9 1/2 minutes into their first Friday home game since 1941.

Weigman finished 27 of 38 for 282 yards.

After only two carries for 5 yards before halftime, Williams had consecutive runs of 19, 5 and 29 yards — the last a burst through the left side and pretty much untouched to the end zone to make it 21-17 only 2 1/2 minutes into the second half. Dickey had a 1-yard scoring run with 7:36 left.

Houston led 17-14 just before halftime after Koby Young made an over-the-shoulder catch and pinned the ball against his shoulder pads while falling over the pylon for a 46-yard touchdown.

Hammond, Tech's primary quarterback, had a 28-yard pass to Kenny Johnson to convert third-and-12 before they also hooked up for a 35-yard touchdown a minute into the second quarter. Johnson finished with four catches for 113 yards.

Jonathan Dimas kicked a 31-yard field goal for the Cougars on the game’s opening drive, and they immediately got the ball back on Will James’ nifty pick along the sideline when Tommy Castellanos, who started instead of Hammond, was trying to throw away the ball while under pressure.

That led to Amare Thomas’ 11-yard TD reception when he twisted and extended the ball lunging forward toward the end zone while being knocked down for a 10-0 lead. He was initially marked short, but it became a score after a replay review.

Castellanos, the former Florida State and Boston College QB, didn’t join the Red Raiders until a week before the season opener. After that first play, he didn't take another snap until his 3-yard TD run with 3:39 left.

Houston: The Cougars were 6-0 in road games last season on way to a 10-win season. ... Houston had 104 yards rushing by halftime, and finished with 176 against a Texas Tech defense whose seven-game streak not allowing 100 in a game was the longest in FBS.

Texas Tech: The Red Raiders won their 10th consecutive home game, though they gave up more than 17 points for the first time in that stretch. It is their longest home winning streak since 12 in a row from 2007-09.

Both teams play their final nonconference game at home Sept. 26. Houston hosts Georgia Southern, and Texas Tech takes on Sam Houston.

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Houston quarterback Conner Weigman (1) leaps out of bounds after running the ball against Texas Tech during the first half of an NCAA college football game Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Justin Rex)