Sports

AMHERST, Mass. (AP) — There are only three top-tier football teams in New England, and they don’t play each other much. Boston College coach Jeff Hafley wouldn’t mind seeing that change. For years, BC was the only Division I school east of the Hudson River. UConn moved up from I-AA starting in 2000, and UMass

By JOHN KEKIS AP Sports Writer North Carolina State hits the road to take on Mississippi State of the Southeastern Conference in a Power Five matchup of two teams coming off big wins. The Wolfpack beat South Florida 45-0 behind a staunch run game and the Bulldogs staged a furious rally to beat Louisiana Tech

By BRETT MARTEL AP Sports Writer Jameis Winston says his thoughts are with disaster-stricken fans as the 27-year-old quarterback begins a new chapter of his career with the New Orleans Saints. The Saints are displaced by Hurricane Ida and hosting their season opener in Jacksonville as they begin their first season since 2006 without record-setting

By JOSH DUBOW AP Pro Football Writer The opening season for the Raiders in Las Vegas proved to be a bit of a dud. With no fans allowed at games, the Raiders stumbled to a 2-6 record at home in their first season since moving from Oakland and missed the playoffs for the 17th time

By JOSH DUBOW AP Pro Football Writer SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers defense had a different feel once star edge rusher Nick Bosa returned to practice. Now the Niners can’t wait to see Bosa’s dominance in a game when he returns from a knee injury in the season opener at Detroit

ZURICH (AP) — Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah finished her season with another victory, clocking a meet record 10.65 seconds to win the women’s 100 meters at the Diamond League finals on Thursday.The Jamaican earned her third Diamond League title by pulling away from Dina Asher-Smith of Britain, who was second in 10.83. She was one

By BEN ROSS Associated Press OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Sean Manaea struck out nine in seven dominant innings, and the Oakland Athletics beat the Chicago White Sox 3-1. Manaea allowed one run and five hits in his first win since July 28. The left-hander went 0-3 with an 8.00 ERA in his previous six starts.

By SEAN MURPHY The Associated Press OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma’s Supreme Court has agreed to hear a prosecutor’s request that two members of the state’s Pardon and Parole Board should not be allowed to vote on a high-profile death row inmate’s commutation hearing. Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater wants the high court to

By TIM BOOTH AP Sports Writer SEATTLE (AP) — The NHL’s newest franchise is set to open its $80 million training facility to the public this weekend. The Seattle Kraken Community IcePlex includes three sheets of ice along with the business and hockey operations offices for the franchise. The team expects the building to be

By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers have made outside linebacker T.J. Watt the highest-paid defensive player in the league. A person with knowledge of the agreement tells The Associated Press that Watt has signed a four-year extension worth $112 million. Watt was set to enter the final season of

By TOM CANAVAN AP Sports Writer EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett walked out to the patio of the New York Giants headquarters expecting to talk about the season opener against the Denver Broncos on Sunday. The first question wasn’t about either his offense or the Broncos’ defense. It was a topic

By NICHOLAS K. GERANIOS Associated Press SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Newly released legal documents say Gonzaga basketball coach Mark Few’s breath smelled of alcohol and he had bloodshot eyes on the night he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, though he initially told a police officer he had not been drinking. The

By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — Center DeAndre Jordan has signed with the Los Angeles Lakers, adding another seasoned NBA veteran to their experienced roster. Jordan is a 13-year NBA veteran who spent his first 10 seasons down the Staples Center hallway with the Los Angeles Clippers. He led the league

By KYLE HIGHTOWER AP Sports Writer FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Mac Jones spent most of his college career at Alabama watching from the sideline. He was first behind Jalen Hurts and then Tua Tagovailoa. Jones was the first quarterback selected in the first round during Bill Belichick’s 21-year tenure in New England. He is set

By TOM WITHERS AP Sports Writer BEREA, Ohio (AP) — The Browns upgraded their defense during the offseason. Its first test on Sunday is a tough one — the Kansas City Chiefs. With as many as nine new starters, Cleveland will take on the NFL’s top-rated offense featuring quarterback Patrick Mahomes, All-Pro tight end Travis

By NOAH TRISTER AP Sports Writer BALTIMORE (AP) — The Baltimore Ravens listed running back Gus Edwards and cornerback Marcus Peters as limited in practice Thursday, and ESPN later reported each player had a torn ACL. ESPN cited unidentified sources in its report Thursday. Losing Edwards would be another major blow to Baltimore’s backfield after

By KRISTIE RIEKEN AP Sports Writer HOUSTON (AP) — Though Jacksonville’s Urban Meyer and Houston’s David Culley are both making their debuts as NFL head coaches Sunday when the Jaguars and Texans meet, that’s the only possible way you could think of them as rookies. The two men, who are involved in one of two

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Novak Djokovic is 27-0 in Grand Slam matches in 2021. That means he is one victory from being the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to win all four major tennis championships in one season. Djokovic is a 34-year-old from Serbia who is ranked

By TIM BOOTH AP Sports Writer RENTON, Wash. (AP) — There will be plenty of attention on Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Shane Waldron on Sunday. The season opener at Indianapolis will be the first look at how the Seahawks’ offense has changed with Waldron in control. It’s the first time Waldron will be the primary

By JAKE SEINER AP Baseball Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Yankees starter Jameson Taillon was added to the 10-day injured list with a partial tear of a tendon in his right ankle, and manager Aaron Boone also said reliever Zack Britton had season-ending Tommy John surgery Wednesday. The reeling Yankees are feeling more optimistic about