Sports

By STEVE MEGARGEE AP Sports Writer No. 11 Michigan State is off to its fastest start since its 2015 playoff season thanks in part to the addition of 20 transfers. Football Bowl Subdivision rushing leader Kenneth Walker arrived from Wake Forest and has helped the Spartans take a giant step forward after going 2-5 last

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Retired Belmont men’s basketball coach Rick Byrd will receive the John R. Wooden Legends of Coaching award. His selection was announced by Craig Impelman, Wooden’s grandson-in-law, at the Los Angeles Athletic Club. Byrd will receive the award in April. He coached Belmont in Nashville from 1986 to 2019. He retired with

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Vegas goaltender Robin Lehner says he is encouraged about the possibility of change in the NHL after speaking with the league and players’ union. Lehner on social media last weekend accused teams of improperly medicating players without a doctor’s consent. On Tuesday he called that a cry for help. The longtime

By MAURICIO SAVARESE AP Sports Writer SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil and Argentina will be hoping to avoid any more interruptions when World Cup qualifying resumes Thursday across South America. The game between the two rivals in Sao Paulo last month was suspended shortly after kickoff after a Brazilian health official entered the pitch to

By JOHN BOHNENKAMP Associated Press IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa leads the nation in interceptions and Penn State features one of the most dynamic passing combinations in Sean Clifford and Jahan Dotson. How the third-ranked Hawkeyes fare in their showdown with No. 4 Penn State at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday could hinge on whether

By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington says he is seeing signs of improvement at the major-league level. The Pirates finished in last place in the NL Central for a third straight season while the organization focused on restocking talent at the minor league level. Cherington says

By DAVID BAUDER AP Media Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Tom Brady wins in the television ratings, too. The Tampa Bay quarterback’s return to his old haunts in New England led NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” to its best ratings in years. The Nielsen company said the game was watched by 26.7 million people on NBC,

By RONALD BLUM AP Sports Writer AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Antonee Robinson gave himself the nickname Jedi as a kid, and he followed the goal that sparked the United States’ comeback against Honduras with a backflip that would have fit into a “Star Wars” duel. A 24-year-old defender for Fulham in England, Robinson could solve

By JOHN MARSHALL AP Sports Writer The kneejerk reaction to Oregon’s loss to Stanford was that the Pac-12′s College Football Playoff hopes were gone. But that’s not quite the case. The conference still has a shot to get a team into the playoff for the first time since 2017, though the road definitely got a

By CIARÁN FAHEY AP Sports Writer BERLIN (AP) — Germany has unveiled the logo for soccer’s 2024 European Championship with a light show in the stadium that will hold the final. Some guests and media were invited to Berlin’s Olympiastadion for the UEFA launch. But no fans were present on a damp evening in the

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons have placed cornerback Isaiah Oliver and punter Cameron Nizialek on injured reserve. Atlanta promoted punter Dustin Colquitt and defensive lineman Mike Pennel from the practice squad to the 53-man roster. Colquitt is expected to take over punting duties when the Falcons play the New York Jets in

By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin’s confidence in quarterback Ben Roethlisberger remains strong despite a 1-3 start. Tomlin says the 39-year-old Roethlisberger is “absolutely” the right quarterback for the Steelers. Roethlisberger has struggled with accuracy at times this season and has thrown as many interceptions as touchdowns.

By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin’s confidence in quarterback Ben Roethlisberger remains strong despite a 1-3 start. Tomlin says the 39-year-old Roethlisberger is “absolutely” the right quarterback for the Steelers. Roethlisberger has struggled with accuracy at times this season and has thrown as many interceptions as touchdowns.

HOUSTON (AP) — Left-hander Framber Valdez will start for the Houston Astros in Game 2 of the AL Division Series against the Chicago White Sox. Manager Dusty Baker announced the decision Tuesday but did not reveal his rotation past Game 2. He previously said Lance McCullers Jr. will start in the series opener Thursday. Valdez

By SIMMI BUTTAR AP Pro Football Writer NEW YORK (AP) — The Arizona Cardinals, the only unbeaten team remaining in the NFL, have climbed all the way to the top of the latest AP Pro32 poll. The Cardinals moved up four spots after routing the NFC West rival Los Angeles Rams 37-20. The Buffalo Bills

By RONALD B:LUM AP Baseball Writer Two missing Los Angeles Dodgers pitchers earn nearly as much as the entire Tampa Bay Rays’ major league roster heading into the playoffs. The defending champion Dodgers enter the postseason with more than three times the payroll of the Rays, the team they beat in last year’s World Series.

By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer The LPGA major with the most tradition is leaving the California desert. The LPGA says Chevron has agreed to a six-year deal as title sponsor of the event currently known as the ANA Inspiration. Chevron takes over starting in 2023 and plans to move the tournament near company headquarters

WASHINGTON (AP) — Shortstop Alcides Escobar has agreed to a one-year, $1 million contract to stay with the Washington Nationals. The team announced the deal Tuesday. Escobar will turn 35 in December. He batted .288 with 21 doubles, two triples, four homers and 28 RBIs in 75 games with the Nationals after signing with the

By PAT GRAHAM AP Sports Writer DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Rockies have agreed to deals with right-hander Antonio Senzatela and first-baseman C.J. Cron. Senzatela’s $50.5 million, five-year contract includes a club option for 2027. Cron will return on a $14.5 million, two-year deal. Senzatela is coming off a season in which he made 28

By DAVE CAMPBELL AP Sports Writer ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The MLS All-Star Game will have another first-time host next season in Minnesota. Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber announced the award of the summer showcase at a ceremony at Allianz Field. The 19,600-seat soccer specific home of Minnesota United opened in 2019. Minnesota