This week saw a history-making World Series win ring in the November sports calendar and cap off a busy October in the sports world. With baseball entering the postseason, the NFL and NCAA football in full stride and the NHL and NBA getting underway, it’s a great time to be alive and a sports fan. Let’s take a look at why October is the best month for sports.

MLB

Starting back in April, the MLB’s 162-game season finally comes to an end, and the excitement of the postseason gets underway. This year, the World Series faced a legendary matchup between the Cleveland Indians and the Chicago Cubs. Both teams were desperate to escape long-term World Series droughts. The last time the Cubs won dates back to 1908, but 108 years later they beat the Indians in extra innings to win the World Series. Chicago held a 6-4 lead late in the game, but Cleveland’s Rajai Davis hit a two-run home run in the eighth. Sports fans compared the historic game seven to the epic NBA Finals last June as we all witnessed an incredible comeback from the Cubs, after going down early in the series 3-1.

NBA

In the NBA, the regular season began on Oct. 25, and the league’s 82-game season ends in June. Last year, the Cavaliers and Warriors met for the second straight time in the Finals, and LeBron James led his team to a miraculous game seven victory, in what some consider the best basketball series ever witnessed. The two incredible teams are predicted to face each other again. However, other superstar-loaded teams have other plans. Blockbuster free agent signings in the offseason landed superstars all over the country, so other teams to watch include the Spurs, Thunder, Knicks, Celtics, Bulls and Raptors.

NFL

The NFL is in full swing, as teams faced off against their week four through eight opponents. This year, reigning super bowl champion Peyton Manning has been acting his way to an Emmy in TV commercials, as the legend retired after he led the Denver Broncos to a Lombardi trophy. In other news around the league, Colin Kaepernick has initiated a conversation about racial tension by taking a knee during the playing of the national anthem. Commissioner Roger Goodell continues to be scrutinized by both fans and players for his decisions regarding suspensions. And despite a four game suspension for Deflategate, Tom Brady’s New England Patriots are a league-best 7-1, with the Raiders, Cowboys and Vikings starting strong as well.

NHL

The 2016-2017 season started on Oct. 12, with as many as 11 games played thus far. Last year’s Stanley Cup winner Pittsburgh Penguins are again strong contenders in the Metropolitan division, as are the Montreal Canadiens, Edmonton Oilers and Minnesota Wild in the Atlantic, Pacific and Central divisions, respectively. The Penguins, Canadiens and Boston Bruins are looking to do some damage in the East, but don’t count out the New York Rangers and Washington Capitals. In the West, the Chicago Blackhawks are looking for another Stanley Cup, but the L.A. Kings, San Jose Sharks and Anaheim Ducks are other teams to watch. With many Western Conference teams in the midst of a rebuild, it will be interesting to see who has matured as a team come spring time.

NCAA

Sports fan find themselves in the middle of the college football world, in which hundreds of the nation’s top collegiate athletics face off on the football field. This year, powerhouse Alabama remains undefeated as they look to once again earn the title as National Champions. However, Heisman-hopeful Lamar Jackson is looking to lead his Louisville Cardinals to an ACC Championship. Michigan and Clemson also remain undefeated, and with the new college football layout, the final four teams will battle it out in exciting fashion for the national championship.

Email Brendan Duggan at [email protected].