AP National Sports

By The Associated Press Indianapolis already has one of the NFL’s best offensive lines, two 1,000-yard rushers and a young, confident defense. If Carson Wentz stays healthy and productive, the Colts could become a serious contender in the AFC. Yes, general manager Chris Ballard bet big on Wentz following the worst season of his five-year

By ANNA LIZ NICHOLS Associated Press/ Report for America LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan State has named deputy athletic director and Spartan football alumnus Alan Haller its new athletic director. Haller has been deputy athletic director since 2019 and with the athletic department since 2010. The former campus police lieutenant played for coach George Perles

By AARON BEARD AP Sports Writer Atlantic Coast Conference coaches are counting on high program COVID-19 vaccination rates to minimize risks of illnesses or lineup-depleting contact tracing for the upcoming  college football season. That has meant teams working through the offseason’s final weeks toward an 85% threshold of vaccinated players, coaches and staffers. Teams that

By The Associated Press The Panthers have one of the most dynamic players in the league in running back Christian McCaffrey and a pair of returning 1,000-yard receivers in D.J. Moore and Robby Anderson along with super-talented rookie Terrace Marshall Jr. One of the biggest questions will be if the offensive line can protect new

By DAVE CAMPBELL AP Pro Football Writer EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings are bracing for a season-long absence for on-the-rise tight end Irv Smith Jr., after knee surgery for a torn meniscus. Smith had the procedure done by team physician Dr. Christopher Larson. He was injured last week. Smith was in line for

By The Associated Press Coming off a dismal season, the Atlanta Falcons head into a rebuilding year with a new coach, a new general manager and no Julio Jones. The Falcons traded the greatest receiver in franchise history, the most prominent in a series of moves that were needed just to make the salary cap

By PETE IACOBELLI AP Sports Writer Coastal Carolina has a preseason national ranking and a football program on the rise. The 22nd-ranked Chanticleers hope for another successful season when they open against The Citadel on Thursday night. Coastal was one of the biggest surprises of the 2020 COVID-19 impacted season when it went 11-1 and

By JOHN ZENOR AP Sports Writer Southeastern Conference officials are trying to get back to normal on football game days, with stadiums filled with fans and grills being fired up outside, even in a portion of the country where the states have among the lowest COVID-19 vaccination rates. The SEC will fully reopen for business

By The Associated Press The New Orleans Saints’ first season without Drew Brees in 15 years will pose more challenges than adjusting to a new quarterback. It starts with being displaced from New Orleans by Hurricane Ida and playing their home opener in Jacksonville. Jameis Winston is the new starting QB. Coach Sean Payton says

By The Associated Press The Niners blamed injuries for their fall from NFC champs in 2019 to out of the playoffs in 2020. They head into this season in relatively good health and expect to contend once again in the NFC. The 49ers traded three first-round draft picks for Trey Lance because they believed they

By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer PITTSBURGH (AP) — The defending AFC North champion Pittsburgh Steelers have their work cut out if they want to return to the playoffs. While quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is returning for an 18th season, he will be playing in front of an entirely retooled offensive line. The Steelers spent much

By RONALD BLUM AP Sports Writer SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — U.S. star Christian Pulisic and goalkeeper Zack Steffen will miss the Americans’ opening World Cup qualifier at El Salvador on Thursday night. Pulisic, the top American player, is regaining fitness after after testing positive for COVID-19. He has said he is fully vaccinated.

By TOM CANAVAN AP Sports Writer PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) — Rutgers opens its season playing host to Temple on Thursday night in a game that will have no restrictions on fans. The game is a sellout at 52,454, the first home sellout since 2016 against Michigan. Schiano says having the fans back will be fun,

By RALPH D. RUSSO AP College Football Writer The college football season begins — mostly back to normal — with a huge Labor Day weekend of games. On the latest AP Top 25 College Football Podcast, Kirk Herbstreit from ESPN joins the AP’s Ralph Russo to talk about his new book “Out of the Pocket.”

By TERESA M. WALKER AP Pro Football Writer NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans have made clear that five straight winning seasons, three playoff berths and one AFC South title simply aren’t enough. Not this season. Reaching the Super Bowl for the first time in 22 seasons is squarely in the Titans’ sights. Coach

By The Associated Press The Arizona Cardinals have added a handful of veterans in an effort to make the playoffs for the first time since 2015. The Cardinals picked up defensive end J.J. Watt, receiver A.J. Green and center Rodney Hudson in hopes to push ahead in the NFC West, which has been one of

By STEPHEN HAWKINS and BRETT MARTEL AP Sports Writer The New Orleans Saints will play their season opener in Jacksonville after being displaced by Hurricane Ida. Instead of playing in the Superdome for the Sept. 12 opener against the Green Bay Packers, the Saints will host the game at the home of the Jaguars. The

By The Associated Press The Los Angeles Rams want to play in the first Super Bowl at their own SoFi Stadium in February. Anything less will be a disappointment, even though most of this core will be together for the near future. Coach Sean McVay is betting heavily on himself by trading a good, limited

By The Associated Press The Seattle Seahawks expect to be contenders again in the loaded NFC West. Their starters could rival any other team in the league, led by quarterback Russell Wilson, budding star wide receiver DK Metcalf and safety Jamal Adams. But depth could be a concern as Seattle appears thin at some positions

By The Associated Press The Denver Broncos are confident they can finally end their five-year playoff drought that features four consecutive losing seasons for the first time since the 1970 merger. Teddy Bridgewater edged Drew Lock in a quarterback camp clash and will become the team’s 11th starter since Hall of Famer Peyton Manning retired