AP National Sports

By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer LUSAIL, Qatar (AP) — Portugal became the third team to reach the round of 16 at the World Cup by beating Uruguay 2-0. Bruno Fernandes curled in a cross from the left that barely went over the head of Cristiano Ronaldo and bounced into the far corner of the

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP) — Middle Tennessee will play San Diego State in the Hawaii Bowl on Dec. 24 on the campus of the University of Hawaii after the bowl game was canceled in 2020 and 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Blue Raiders (7-5) announced Monday they have accepted an invitation to play in

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — The Atlantic Coast and Southeastern conferences are set to begin an annual inter-conference men’s and women’s basketball battle next season. The leagues and ESPN announced Monday the creation of the ACC/SEC Challenge for both sports for the 2023-24 season. That marks an end to the ACC/Big Ten Challenge established by ESPN

LONDON (AP) — For Chelsea to reach a fourth consecutive FA Cup final, it will have to go through Manchester City in the third round. Chelsea will head to Manchester when the big guns enter the competition over the weekend of Jan. 6-9. The Blues have made it to Wembley in each of the last

LUSAIL, Qatar (AP) — A protestor ran onto the field carrying a rainbow flag and wearing a blue Superman T-shirt that said “SAVE UKRAINE” on the front and “RESPECT FOR IRANIAN WOMAN” on the back during a World Cup match between Portugal and Uruguay. Security officials chased the protestor down and the flag was dropped

By PAT GRAHAM AP Sports Writer BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Deion Sanders said Monday that a report stating Colorado has offered him its head coaching job is true and he has also received interest from other schools. The Jackson State coach didn’t say whether he’s considering any of the opportunities, including trying to turn around

By CHARLES ODUM AP Sports Writer ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Georgia’s recent frustrations in the Southeastern Conference championship game are providing extra motivation for the Bulldogs to remain focused this week. Saturday’s matchup against No. 11 LSU in Atlanta will be No. 1 Georgia’s fifth SEC championship game in the last six seasons under coach

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Neymar has stayed at team hotel for physiotherapy treatment on his right ankle while Brazil defeated Switzerland 1-0 to advance to the round of 16 at the World Cup. The Brazil forward was the only player who did not go to Stadium 974 for the team’s second match in Qatar. Danilo

By TALES AZZONI AP Sports Writer DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Struggling and unconvincing without Neymar on the field, Brazil still played well enough to secure a spot in the next round of the World Cup. The five-time champions overcame the absence of their injured star to beat Switzerland 1-0 with a late goal Monday and

By JOSH DUBOW AP Sports Writer STANFORD, Calif. (AP) — David Shaw helped build Stanford into a physical powerhouse that was one of the top college football programs in the nation last decade. Shaw now believes a new coach will be best positioned to return the Cardinal to that level, leading to his decision to

By MARK ANDERSON AP Sports Writer LAS VEGAS (AP) — UNLV athletic director Erick Harper announced the firing of football coach Marcus Arroyo. Arroyo went 7-23 over three seasons. He had two years left on his $7.7 million contract. Harper says Arroyo would be paid $2.3 million over the remainder of that term. Kenwick Thompson

By TALES AZZONI AP Sports Writer DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Brazil struggled without Neymar at the World Cup on Monday. Still, the five-time champions played well enough to secure a spot in the next stage. Brazil overcame the absence of its injured star to beat Switzerland 1-0 and make it to the round of 16

By DOUG FEINBERG AP Basketball Writer South Carolina remains the unanimous No. 1 choice in The Associated Press women’s basketball poll. The Gamecocks suffered a scare when reigning Player of the Year Aliyah Boston left Sunday’s game with a foot injury. Stanford, UConn, Ohio State and Indiana round out the top five. No. 9 Virginia

By TALES AZZONI AP Sports Writer DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Brazil overcame the absence of Neymar to beat Switzerland 1-0 and advance to the round of the 16 of the World Cup. Casemiro scored in the 83rd minute with a shot from inside the area to put Brazil in the last 16 with a match

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. (AP) — Hall of Famers Chipper Jones, Greg Maddux, Jack Morris and Ryne Sandberg are among 16 members of the contemporary baseball era committee that will consider the Cooperstown fate of a ballot that includes Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Rafael Palmeiro. Hall of Famers Lee Smith, Frank Thomas and Alan Trammell also

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Harry Kane will be available to start for England in the team’s final World Cup group game against Wales. The striker took a hit on his ankle in England’s opening game against Iran and looked off the pace in the 0-0 draw with the United States on Friday. England coach Gareth

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — The lights at Stadium 974 briefly dimmed dramatically just before halftime during a World Cup match between Brazil and Switzerland. Brazil was about to take a corner when the lights at the temporary stadium dimmed enough that the play stopped. The full lights came back on within seconds and play quickly

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Basketball Writer Houston is the No. 1 team in the AP men’s college basketball poll. It is the first top ranking for the Cougars since Clyde Drexler and Akeem Olajuwon  had Houston there in the final poll of the 1982-83 season. They received 45 of 63 first-place votes from a national

WOLFSBURG, Germany (AP) — Former Germany forward Max Kruse has agreed to a release from Wolfsburg after not playing for nearly three months because of an injury and a dispute with coach Niko Kovac. The 34-year-old Kruse played Wolfsburg’s first five Bundesliga games of the season but was dropped by in September by Kovac. The