U.S./World Sports category, Page 78
No. 1 Georgia hopes to stay on top vs. No. 8 Alabama in SEC championship game
ATLANTA — When Kirby Smart returned to his alma mater as head coach, Alabama was the top dog. Now, the roles are reversed. The No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs are the two-time defending national champions and haven’t lost a game in nearly two years. Everyone is chasing them. Alabama included. “To...
Strong final kick for Pac-12 as Oregon, Washington meet for potential playoff spot
LAS VEGAS — For a conference just about on its last legs, the Pac-12 is having a heck of a final kick. No. 3 Washington (12-0) and No. 5 Oregon (11-1), two of the four conference teams ranked in the AP Top 25, meet Friday for an almost certain spot...
No. 16 Iowa embraces underdog role vs. No. 2 Michigan in Big Ten title game
INDIANAPOLIS — Iowa defensive end Joe Evans spent six years defying the odds. After one season as a walk-on linebacker, he switched positions, earned a scholarship in 2020, shared the team lead for sacks in 2021 and 2022, returned this year as a team captain and wound up earning third-team...
Florida State focuses on ACC title game vs. Louisville, not playoffs
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Florida State wasn’t dominant against its archrival, but the No. 4 Seminoles were effective enough to remain unbeaten — and to pop back into the College Football Playoff’s top four. The No. 4 Seminoles are tabling those playoff talks for now with No. 15 Louisville on the...
Indiana Hoosiers agree to deal with Curt Cignetti as new football coach
Pittsburgh native Curt Cignetti learned the coaching profession from his College Football Hall of Fame father. Now, like his father, he’s about to get his chance on the big stage. The Indiana Hoosiers hired Curt Cignetti as their new coach, school officials announced Thursday. Shortly after the announcement, James Madison...
Bubba Wallace hit by depression following best friend Ryan Blaney’s NASCAR championship
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — It was 3:42 a.m. in North Carolina as Bubba Wallace’s best friend celebrated winning his first NASCAR championship across the country in Arizona. Wallace could have stuck around and partied with Ryan Blaney, but he instead flew directly home to sit alone in the dark. Wallace was...
Sanders wins Sportsperson of Year award from Sports Illustrated for starting turnaround at Colorado
DENVER — Deion Sanders reinvigorated a fanbase and put a downtrodden football program back on the map in his first season at Colorado. For that, the Buffaloes coach was named Sportsperson of the Year by Sports Illustrated. It was a roller-coaster inaugural season as Sanders took over a 1-11 Colorado...
Sands casino family say they’ll buy majority of Mavericks from Mark Cuban
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has entered into an agreement to sell a majority stake in the NBA franchise to the family that runs the Las Vegas Sands casino company, it was announced Wednesday. The deal could be completed in the coming weeks. The agreement would be in the valuation...
‘Next on the Tee’: Paul Alexander discusses latest class of Western Pa. Golf Hall of Fame
On this episode of “Next on the Tee,” host Chris Mascaro is joined by top instructor Tom Patri, Pittsburgh sports talk radio host Paul Alexander, Wisconsin golf hall-of-famer Gary D’Amoto, and U.S. Kids Top 50 master professional Chris Knobloch. Patri offers golf conspiracy theories about Jon Rahm leaving for LIV,...
Luke Donald stays on as Europe’s Ryder Cup captain for 2025 after overwhelming backing of players
Rory McIlroy and his teammates wanted it. The European tour wanted it. And, after some reflection, Luke Donald wanted it, too. Emboldened by seemingly unanimous backing, Donald accepted an offer to stay on as Europe’s Ryder Cup captain for its defense of the 17-inch golden trophy in 2025 at Bethpage...
Mark Cuban working on $3.5B sale of Mavericks to Sands casino family, source says
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is working on a deal to sell a majority stake in the NBA franchise to the family that runs the Las Vegas Sands casino company, a person with knowledge of the talks said Tuesday night. The agreement would be in the valuation range of $3.5...
Loaded field of CFP contenders for last 4-team playoff fuels championship weekend drama
The four-team College Football Playoff is going out with the most crowded field of contenders and the most consequential championship weekend in the 10-year history of the system. Eight teams have at least a glimmer of hope to make the field. Yes, that means you, too, Ohio State. The penultimate...
Texas A&M working to hire Duke coach Mike Elko to replace Jimbo Fisher
Texas A&M is working on a deal to hire Duke coach Mike Elko, replacing Jimbo Fisher with his former defensive coordinator for four years in College Station, a person with knowledge of the discussions told The Associated Press on Sunday. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity...
FBS newcomers James Madison and Jacksonville State along with 5-7 Minnesota get last 3 bowl slots
MINNEAPOLIS — Football Bowl Subdivision newcomers James Madison and Jacksonville State along with five-win Minnesota are bound for bowls because of a shortage of eligible teams. Those three teams round out the 82 available spots because only 79 teams achieved the six wins necessary for bowl eligibility. James Madison (11-1)...
AP Top 25: No. 3 Washington, No. 5 Oregon move up, give Pac-12 2 in top 5 for 1st time since 2016
No. 3 Washington, No. 4 Florida State and No. 5 Oregon all moved up a spot in The Associated Press college football poll Sunday, giving the Pac-12 two top-five teams for the first time since the final ranking of the 2016 season. Georgia remained No. 1 as the two-time defending...
Houston fires football coach Dana Holgorsen after 5 seasons
HOUSTON — The Houston Cougars fired football coach Dana Holgorsen on Sunday, a day after finishing his third losing season in five years, according to a person familiar with the move. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the firing hadn’t been announced. The Cougars...
No. 3 Michigan beats No. 2 Ohio State 30-24 for 3rd straight win in rivalryVideo
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — With more than two years of excellence being questioned and their coach banned from the Big House, J.J. McCarthy, Blake Corum and No. 2 Michigan stared down Ohio State again and earned a victory that will go down as one of the biggest in the history...
U.S. teenager Ziegler wins NHK Trophy with near-flawless free skate
OSAKA, Japan — Ava Marie Ziegler performed a near-flawless free skate Saturday to win the NHK Trophy and lead a U.S. 1-2 finish on the podium. Fifth after the short program, Ziegler landed all of her jumps cleanly to score a personal-best 138.46 points in the free skate for her...
Greatest of The Games: 5 of the most memorable meetings between Ohio State and Michigan
If it is Michigan-Ohio State, it is most likely a huge game. No rivalry has produced more games matching Associated Press ranked teams (No. 49 on Saturday), top-10 matchups (26) and top-five games (13). The Game is filled with lore and legends and thrilling performances. Even before the second-ranked Buckeyes...
Florida will turn to Tim Tebow for motivational help before facing rival and No. 5 Florida State
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida will turn to one of its greatest players for help before facing rival and fifth-ranked Florida State on Saturday. The Gators, the National Football Foundation and the College Hall of Fame will jointly honor 2007 Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow in the Swamp at the end...
Sign-stealing accusations ramp up bitterness in Michigan-Ohio State rivalry
The Michigan-Ohio State rivalry has always been a bubbling cauldron of antagonism, bitterness and dislike — maybe even hate. The Game’s iconic and enduring moments include but certainly are not limited to Ohio State pulling down Michigan’s beloved “Go Blue” banner in 1973, a shoving match between David Boston and...
LIV Golf to play in Las Vegas during Super Bowl week
LIV Golf released a 2024 schedule on Wednesday that includes a trip to Las Vegas the same weekend as the Super Bowl and three U.S. events held the same week as the PGA Tour’s signature $20 million stops. The Saudi-funded league announced 12 sites on its 14-tournament schedule, leaving out...
NBA, NHL and MLB unveil a 30-second ad promoting responsible sports bettingVideo
NEW YORK — The NBA, NHL and Major League Baseball have joined forces to produce a 30-second ad promoting responsible sports betting. The “Never Know What’s Next” commercial unveiled Tuesday is a coordination of the three leagues, sportsbook operators DraftKings, Fanatics, FanDuel, PENN Entertainment and the National Council on Problem...
Washington jumps Florida State to move into College Football Playoff
Washington moved ahead of Florida State and into College Football Playoff position, coming in fourth in the rankings on Tuesday night. The selection committee’s top three remained the same with Georgia first followed by Big Ten rivals Ohio State and Michigan. The Buckeyes and Wolverines face off Saturday in Ann...
Michigan, Ohio State reach The Game undefeated after turmoil, close calls
COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Michigan celebrated the 1,000th victory in program history with the understanding that No. 1,001 could be considerably sweeter. If — and only if — it occurs next weekend against Ohio State. “I think guys were just ecstatic to get that 1,000th win, but they all knew...
