Sports

By LARRY LAGE – AP Sports Writer EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Jaden Akins scored 11 of his 18 points in the first half, helping No. 18 Michigan State build a double-digit lead to set up an 80-62 win over Western Michigan on Monday. The Spartans (11-2) have won six in a row and nine

By JOHN WAWROW – AP Sports Writer ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — There was plenty of back slapping going around in the immediate aftermath of the Buffalo Bills defense’s dominating performance over Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets. Three takeaways, four sacks — including one for a safety — and chasing Rodgers to the

By ALANIS THAMES – AP Sports Writer MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — There are several unknowns for the Miami Dolphins entering their regular-season finale, beginning with their starting quarterback. Coach Mike McDaniel said the Dolphins are in a “gray area” with Tua Tagovailoa after the quarterback was scratched ahead of Sunday’s win at Cleveland because

By STEVE MEGARGEE – AP Sports Writer Sam Darnold’s ability to pick apart Green Bay’s defense underscored one of the biggest challenges facing the Packers as they head into the playoffs. Injuries to the secondary have left the Packers vulnerable against quality passing attacks. Jaire Alexander, the Packers’ two-time Pro Bowl cornerback, missed a sixth

By AP BOWLING GREEN, Ohio (AP) — Record-setting tight end Harold Fannin Jr. of Bowling Green will pass on his final season of college football and enter the NFL draft. Fannin, who set Football Bowl Subdivision tight end records for receiving yards and receptions, announced his decision on social media Monday. Fannin caught 117 passes

By AP NEW YORK (AP) — The final viewership numbers are in for the NBA’s five games on Christmas Day and they were even better than first thought, the league and ESPN announced Monday. An average of 5.335 million viewers tuned in for the five games that spanned 13 hours on ESPN platforms, according to

By MICHAEL MAROT – AP Sports Writer Indianapolis Colts coach Shane Steichen tried to provide answers after Sunday’s embarrassing playoff-eliminating loss to the New York Giants. His responses only created more questions. After seeing his injured starting quarterback sit out again and the defense turn in yet another baffling performance, Indy’s second-year coach struggled to

By MARK LONG – AP Pro Football Writer JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — A question is hovering over the Jacksonville Jaguars lately: How appealing would the openings be if owner Shad Khan fires coach Doug Pederson and/or general manager Trent Baalke? They might be the best NFL jobs available, especially if Khan cleans house for the

By TOM CANAVAN – AP Sports Writer EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — This isn’t the year for New York Giants fans to be upset about losing control of the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft. There may not be a franchise quarterback waiting to be selected on April 24 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

By ANDREW SELIGMAN – AP Sports Writer LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — The Chicago Bears plan to have Caleb Williams make one more start rather than hold their prized rookie quarterback out of the season finale at Green Bay. Interim coach Thomas Brown shot down the idea of having Williams sit out Sunday’s game at

By JOHN MARSHALL – AP Sports Writer GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Boise State has taken that long-awaited next step, earning a spot in the College Football Playoff for the first time, 17 years after a program-shifting win. Awaiting the No. 8 Broncos in the desert is another team that made a breakthrough. No. 5 Penn

By AP WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Hall of Famer Lydia Ko has been made a Dame in the New Year’s honors list in New Zealand for her services to golf. A damehood is the female equivalent of a knighthood and she’s become Dame Lydia Ko after receiving one of New Zealand’s highest civil honors

By TERESA M. WALKER – AP Pro Football Writer NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans are living through a repeat of their worst season since the franchise left Texas in 1997. Only this is much worse. The 2014 team went 2-14 in Ken Whisenhunt ‘s first season as head coach. If these Titans (3-13)

By PHILIP ROSSMAN-REICH – Associated Press ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — After a shaky 3-3 start, South Carolina had to win out to get here. They did just that. The No. 14 Gamecocks had Alabama on the ropes on their home field in October. Trailing by eight with two minutes to play, quarterback LaNorris Sellers led

By AP BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Barcelona will need to have another financial lever approved by the Spanish league in order to register playmaker Dani Olmo for the rest of the season after a judge ruled against the club on Monday. It was the second consecutive court setback against Barcelona as it tries to register

By AP ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta Hawks forward Larry Nance Jr. will undergo surgery for a broken bone in his right hand. Nance was injured Saturday in a victory over the Miami Heat. The team announced that imaging confirmed a fractured fourth metacarpal bone in his right hand. Surgery has been scheduled for Thursday. A

By CHARLES ODUM – AP Sports Writer ATLANTA (AP) — Quinn Ewers showed off his diplomatic skills on Monday when the Texas quarterback was asked about a verbal challenge from Arizona State counterpart Sam Leavitt leading up to their College Football Playoff quarterfinal matchup. Ewers, after all, has good experience in letting his play on

By DEREK GATOPOULOS – Associated Press ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece announced plans on Monday to enhance parental oversight of mobile devices in 2025 through a government-operated app, that will help get digital age verification and browsing controls. Dimitris Papastergiou, the minister of digital governance, said the Kids Wallet app, due to launch in March,

By The Associated Press No. 8 Boise State (12-1, CFP No. 3 seed) vs. No. 5 Penn State (12-2, CFP No. 6 seed), Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. EST (ESPN) BetMGM College Football Odds: Penn State by 11. Series record: First meeting. What’s at stake? A spot in the College Football Playoff semifinals is on the line

By DAVE SKRETTA – AP Sports Writer KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs coach Andy Reid is planning to give running back Isiah Pacheco most of the week off to rest his sore ribs. Reid hasn’t decided who else will get time off before their regular-season finale in Denver. The Chiefs (15-1) already have clinched

By STEPHEN WHYNO – AP Sports Writer LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Jayden Daniels is running all over opponents and away with the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. His legs are arguably as big a reason the Washington Commanders are heading to the playoffs as his right, throwing arm. “That guy’s an absolute beast,”

By STEVE REED – AP Sports Writer CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Two years ago, the Carolina Panthers had Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold on their roster. They deemed neither player good enough to be their franchise QB. The Panthers cut Mayfield late in the 2022 season and Darnold was allowed to walk in free agency

By AP PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers and their struggling defense could be at full strength for the regular-season finale against Cincinnati. Coach Mike Tomlin said Monday that he is hopeful cornerback Joey Porter Jr. will be available when the Steelers (10-6) host the Bengals (8-8) on Saturday night. Porter missed a 29-10 loss

By AP NEW YORK (AP) — UCLA climbs 7 spots to No. 15 in the AP Top 25; top 13 teams remain unchanged, starting with No. 1 Tennessee.

By AP OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — James Hagens watched Macklin Celebrini closely last season as the player eventually picked No. 1 at the NHL Draft went about his business on the ice in impressive fashion. Hagens was perhaps even more focused on how Celebrini stayed sharp amid all the attention. “Never let anything affect him,”

By KRISTIE RIEKEN – AP Sports Writer HOUSTON (AP) — When Baylor and LSU face off in the Texas Bowl on Tuesday, it will be the first meeting between the teams since the 1985 Liberty Bowl. But they do have some familiarity with one another. Baylor coach Dave Aranda spent 2016-19 on the LSU staff,

By DAN GELSTON – AP Sports Writer PHILADELPHIA (AP) — At some point this week, Eagles coach Nick Sirianni will decide if he’s going for it or punting — will Saquon Barkley get his shot at breaking Eric Dickerson’s NFL season rushing record, or will Philadelphia’s star running back sit out a meaningless finale and

By DOUG FEINBERG – AP Basketball Writer UConn coach Geno Auriemma moved into a tie with Tara VanDerveer for the most appearances with one school in the women’s basketball AP Top 25 as the Huskies remained seventh in the poll Monday. Auriemma has now led UConn to 627 appearances in the poll in his 40

By AP LONDON (AP) — Referees will make in-stadium announcements on the outcome of video reviews in the semifinals of this season’s English League Cup, the organizers said on Monday. It will be the first time such a system is used in English soccer. Arsenal faces Newcastle and Tottenham plays Liverpool next month in the

By AP NEW YORK (AP) — UCLA, South Carolina, Notre Dame top women’s AP Top 25; Auriemma ties VanDerveer for most poll appearances at one school.