Sports

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

RREYKJAVIK, Iceland (AP) — Iceland’s national soccer team played Romania in the first match since the team was rocked by a series of sex abuse scandals that saw the country’s entire soccer association board resign after it was accused of covering assault allegations. Outside the Laugardalsvöllur stadium in the capital Reykjavík, protesters held banners expressing

By NICHOLAS K. GERANIOS Associated Press SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — A former player for Washington State University contends in a lawsuit that his civil rights were violated when he was kicked off the football team after complaining about potential exposure to COVID-19 and for joining an association of Black students. Kassidy Woods of Addison, Texas,

By The Associated Press Defending national champion Alabama and No. 14 Miami open their seasons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The Hurricanes are led by quarterback D’Eriq King. Sophomore quarterback Bryce Young makes his first career start for preseason No. 1 Alabama. Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban has won all 14 season openers at Alabama.

BY ANDREW DAMPF AP Sports Writer GUIDONIA, Italy (AP) — The Ryder Cup occupied a big portion of Henrik Stenson’s thoughts after grabbing a share of the lead in the first round of the Italian Open. And it wasn’t just about his late push to qualify for Europe’s team at this month’s event at Whistling

By TOM WITHERS AP Sports Writer CLEVELAND (AP) — The Browns are AFC North bottom dwellers no more. After ending two long postseason droughts in 2020, Cleveland is going for its first division title since 1989 this season. The Browns have never won the North, finishing last 13 times in the 19 years since the

By TERRY TOWERY Associated Press CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — New Illinois coach Bret Bielema took the first step last week toward restoring relevance to a tired football program by beating favored Nebraska in an early Big Ten conference matchup. But questions linger in Champaign. What does that win mean in the grand scheme of things?

By TOM WITHERS AP Sports Writer BEREA, Ohio (AP) — The Browns’ defense is getting healthy just in time for a matchup against Patrick Mahomes and those high-scoring Chiefs. Cornerback Greedy Williams, safety Grant Delpit and linebacker Sione Takitaki all returned from injuries and practiced on Thursday before coach Kevin Stefanski sent the Browns off

By JOHN WAWROW AP Sports Writer ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Bills won’t renew their lease with the state and county without a partially publicly funded agreement in place for a proposed new $1.4 billion stadium, team executive Ron Raccuia tells Buffalo’s WBEN-Radio. Raccuia says the topic of relocation has not been raised

By HANK KURZ Jr. AP Sports Writer North Carolina will have to come out of the gate quickly. The 10th-ranked Tar Heels open the season at Virginia Tech in a matchup with more than the usual amount of meaning because they are ACC Coastal Division rivals, and contenders. The league is also part of other

JACKSONVILLE, Ala. (AP) — Former Alabama player and assistant coach Jim Fuller, who worked as both athletic director and head coach for Jacksonville State, has died after suffering from complications due to COVID-19. He was 76. Fuller died Wednesday night at his home in Texas, Jacksonville State athletic director Greg Seitz said. He confirmed that