AP National Sports

CHICAGO (AP) — The United Center in Chicago is requiring people attending events, including Bulls and Blackhawks games, to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test. The policy takes effect immediately and applies to fans as well as arena and team employees. The United Center will accept printed or digital proof of vaccination

FLORENCE, Italy (AP) — Newly-crowned European champion Italy has been held to a disappointing 1-1 draw against Bulgaria and lost its perfect start to World Cup qualifying but nevertheless matched a long-standing record. Atanas Iliev cancelled out Federico Chiesa’s opener for Italy at the end of the first half. It was the first goal Italy

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The Jacksonville Jaguars placed receiver Tavon Austin on injured reserve Thursday, two days after coach Urban Meyer said he was good to go for the season opener. Austin injured his left quadriceps in practice last Friday and missed the team’s preseason finale at Dallas. Since the 31-year-old journeyman made the 53-man

STOCKHOLM (AP) — Sweden has come from behind to beat Spain 2-1 and leapfrog the visitors for first place of their World Cup qualifying group. Carlos Soler scored five minutes into his debut for Spain to put the visitors in front. But Aleksander Isak leveled seconds later and Viktor Claesson put Sweden ahead for good

By CURT ANDERSON Associated Press ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Investigators say former NFL player Keith McCants was found dead Thursday at his home in Florida in a suspected drug overdose. He was 53. The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office said in an email that deputies were called to a St. Petersburg home around 5:10 a.m.

By The Associated Press No. 16 LSU and UCLA will face each other for the first time at the Rose Bowl on Saturday. LSU is ranked in the AP preseason poll for the 21st consecutive season, but is looking to bounce back from a disappointing 5-5 campaign last year. The Tigers practiced in Houston this

By The Associated Press The USC Trojans will open a critical season for perpetually embattled coach Clay Helton with a tricky visit from the defending Mountain West Conference champions. USC is expected to challenge for the Pac-12 title and could be a potential College Football Playoff contender behind the dynamic quarterback-receiver tandem of Kedon Slovis

By The Associated Press Florida begins life without Heisman Trophy finalist Kyle Trask, All-American tight end Kyle Pitts and dynamic receiver Kadarius Toney. The trio made the Gators hum offensively last season, when they averaged 39.8 points a game. Quarterback Emory Jones, tight end Kemore Gamble and receiver Jacob Copeland have huge cleats to fill

By The Associated Press No. 12 Wisconsin is seeking to win a home opener for the 26th straight season when it hosts No. 19 Penn State. The only Football Bowl Subdivision team with a longer active streak of consecutive victories in home openers is Florida with 31 straight. Penn State is aiming to beat Wisconsin

By The Associated Press The No. 11 Ducks open the season at home Saturday against Fresno State. Oregon welcomes fans back to Autzen Stadium for the first time since 2019 but attendees much wear masks because of state regulations, regardless of vaccination status. The Ducks open the season gunning for a third-straight Pac-12 championship. The

By STEPHEN WHYNO AP Sports Writer ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — Ryan Fitzpatrick says he did not need the public declaration from Ron Rivera that he’s Washington starting quarterback. It was evident to Fitzpatrick, Rivera, Taylor Heinicke, Kyle Allen and anyone watching since the start of training camp when the competition looked more like a coronation.

By The Associated Press No. 8 Cincinnati has realistic hopes of being the first non-Power Five school to break into the College Football Playoff. Nonconference games at No. 9 Notre Dame and No. 17 Indiana should help judge its fitness. First, though, the Bearcats and star quarterback Desmond Ridder have to get by traditional in-state

By MIKE FITZPATRICK AP Baseball Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Acting general manager Zack Scott has been placed on administrative leave by the New York Mets following his arrest on charges of driving while intoxicated. Electronic court records show Scott was released without bail after pleading not guilty earlier in the day to driving while

By LARRY LAGE AP Sports Writer EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan State athletic director Alan Haller says he will unveil a restructuring plan for the department when he is formally introduced next week. One of the ideas he shared was having football and basketball games on the same day as other competitions on campus

By The Associated Press No. 7 Iowa State goes into its opener against Northern Iowa with its highest preseason ranking and riding a wave of momentum after reaching the Big 12 championship game for the first time and winning the Fiesta Bowl. Cyclones running back Breece Hall will be a player to watch. He ran

By The Associated Press The Aggies feel like they have unfinished business this season after being left out of the College Football Playoff last year despite going 9-1 with their only loss coming to Alabama in Week 2. With a loaded defense and top talent returning at running back, Texas A&M aims to topple Alabama

By RONALD BLUM AP Sports Writer SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — In a soccer world increasingly embracing technology to make sure referees’ on-field decisions are correct, CONCACAF appears content to live with blown calls in its most important games. While the Union of European Football Associations started using Video Assistant Referees in all World

By The Associated Press No. 3 Clemson and fifth-ranked Georgia open the season against an opponent each may see at the end. The two top-five programs are both considered strong contenders to make the College Football Playoff, even with a loss in this crucial first game. The Tigers show off a revamped offense with D.J.

By ANDREW DAMPF AP Sports Writer GUIDONIA, Italy (AP) — Just a mention of that unbeatable “Moliwood” team with Francesco Molinari still brings out the emotions in Tommy Fleetwood. The pair were back playing together in the first round of the Italian Open on Thursday after leading Europe to the Ryder Cup title three years

By The Associated Press No. 2 Oklahoma has its highest preseason ranking since 2011 and seeks its first national title since 2000. The Sooners feature preseason All-America quarterback Spencer Rattler, who is expected to be among the front-runners for the Heisman Trophy. The Sooners want to establish their defense as an effective balance to their