AP National Sports

By The Associated Press No. 2 Alabama hosts 21st-ranked Arkansas trying to secure a spot in the conference championship game. The Crimson Tide have won the past 14 meetings, but face a Razorbacks team that has won three straight games. The game features Arkansas’s running game that ranks sixth nationally against Alabama’s third-rated run defense.

By IAN HARISON Associated Press TORONTO (AP) — Two months with the Toronto Blue Jays was enough to make José Berríos change his mind about waiting one more year to reach free agency. Berríos finalized a $131 million, seven-year deal to stay with the Blue Jays. In doing so, the 27-year-old right-hander passed up the

By The Associated Press No. 1 Georgia will be looking to protect its undefeated record and top ranking in the College Football Playoff when it faces Charleston Southern. The Bulldogs are expected to use the game to give extensive playing time to backups. While looking to avoid a monumental upset, Georgia’s other main goal is

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden says the United States is considering a diplomatic boycott of next year’s Winter Olympics in Beijing over China’s human rights abuses. Such a boycott would keep American dignitaries, but not U.S. athletes, from the games. Biden made the comment to reporters Thursday as he hosted Canadian Prime Minister Justin

By TOM WITHERS AP Sports Writer BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield returned to practice after missing one day to rest an assortment of injuries. Mayfield is dealing with shoulder, foot and knee issues. However, he’s expected to play Sunday when the Browns host the winless Detroit Lions. Mayfield was kept off the

By DAVE CAMPBELL AP Pro Football Writer MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings are used to the stress of defending against Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The three-time NFL MVP has 24 touchdown passes and just three interceptions in 13 games against Minnesota under coach Mike Zimmer. The Packers’ defense will pose a tough test

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports Writer KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The most dynamic offense in the NFL will be on display inside Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday. It won’t belong to the Kansas City Chiefs. Oh, the two-time defending AFC champs are still capable of scoring points — just ask the Raiders after their 41-14

By The Associated Press No. 23 San Diego State looks to keep the inside track for the West Division championship and a spot in the Mountain West championship game when it visits UNLV. The Aztecs are 5-1 atop the West, ahead of Fresno State at 5-2, with two games remaining. After playing the Rebels, SDSU

By The Associated Press Bundesliga leader Bayern Munich heads to local rival Augsburg looking to extend its four-point lead at the top of the table. Defender Niklas Süle remains in isolation after testing positive for the coronavirus shortly after joining up with the German national team last week and forward Kingsley Coman is out with

By ANDREW SELIGMAN AP Sports Writer LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Justin Fields studied Lamar Jackson last season as he prepared to jump from Ohio State to the NFL. He gets an in-person lesson this week. Jackson and the AFC North-leading Baltimore Ravens look to shake off a tough loss when they visit Fields and

By The Associated Press Houston can win its 10th straight game and secure the Cougars’ first 10-win season since 2015. Houston is also looking to go 8-0 in conference play for the second time in school history and first time since 2011. Memphis is seeking to become bowl eligible for an eighth straight season. 

By ARNIE STAPLETON AP Pro Football Writer ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Changes are coming to the Denver Broncos. Just not anytime soon. Someone else will be signing the paychecks next year. Someone new almost certainly will be under center in 2022. And in all likelihood somebody else will be calling the shots from the sideline,

By JEROME PUGMIRE AP Auto Racing Writer Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton says Formula One is “duty bound” to raise awareness of human rights issues as the series closes its season in the Middle East. F1 concludes with races in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi. It has also raced since 2004 in Bahrain. Ahead

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — Olympic officials have met with Taliban-appointed sports leaders from Afghanistan. The IOC says the talks led to a commitment that Afghanistan’s athletes and teams will continue to compete internationally. The outcome could mean Afghan athletes will compete at the Beijing Olympics in February. Hundreds of athletes and sports officials have left

By The Associated Press The Tennessee Titans have the NFL’s longest active winning streak at six games and host the skidding Houston Texans who’ve lost eight straight. The Titans have won three straight and five of the last seven in the series against the team that replaced the former Oilers in Houston. Tennessee hired Mike

By BRANDON GDULA numberFire Tua Tagovailoa fits as a traditional streamer against a New York Jets defense that ranks 32nd in Adjusted Defensive Passing Net Expected Points (NEP) per play allowed. Tua, in three games against defenses ranked outside the top 20 in adjusted pass defense, has averaged 21.1 fantasy points per game by way

By The Associated Press The Lions are desperate for their first win. The Browns can’t afford a loss to stay in the playoff hunt. Both teams head into Sunday’s matchup in Cleveland with banged-up starting quarterbacks. Detroit’s Jared Goff is dealing with an oblique injury and is doubtful while Browns QB Baker Mayfield is starting

By The Associated Press The Jaguars haven’t been very good against anybody in recent years. But NFC teams have really had Jacksonville’s number. The Jags have lost 13 consecutive games against the other conference and have dropped 43 of their last 50 against the NFC. Their last win against the conference came in the 2018

By The Associated Press The Pittsburgh Steelers and Los Angeles Chargers will try to respond after poor showings last week when they meet on Sunday night. Playing without quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers could only manage a 16-16 tie against the lowly Detroit Lions. The Chargers’ offense struggled to generate big plays in a 27-20

GLASGOW, Scotland (AP) — Scottish champion Rangers has hired former Netherlands international Giovanni van Bronckhorst as manager as a replacement for Steve Gerrard. Gerrard left Rangers to join Aston Villa in the Premier League last week. The 46-year-old Van Bronckhorst played for Rangers from 1998-2001 and becomes the club’s 17th permanent manager. He has previously