Sports

STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) — No. 24 Mississippi State will be playing in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Illinois on Jan. 2 in Tampa, Florida. That is one of the few solid things around the football program at the moment following the sudden death of coach Mike Leach on Monday night in Jackson, Mississippi, with what the

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons have released running back Damien Williams, the veteran who was slowed by an early season rib injury. The release of Williams came one day after coach Arthur Smith announced rookie quarterback Desmond Ridder will start at New Orleans. Marcus Mariota has been benched. Williams was projected to

By JAMES ROBSON AP Soccer Writer LUSAIL, Qatar (AP) — Luka Modric pulled his shirt up over his face as he trudged over to the sideline. Croatia’s red-and-white-clad fans recognized the sorrowful significance of the moment and rose up to applaud the diminutive midfielder who is probably their nation’s greatest ever player. Argentina’s boisterous supporters

By PETE IACOBELLI AP Sports Writer CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik was looking poised and confident at his team’s practice at the Orange Bowl. The only thing different is that the five-star freshman didn’t have junior DJ Uiagalelei alongside to guide him. Klubnik entered for Uiagalelei at the ACC Championship game two

By TOM WITHERS AP Sports Writer CLEVELAND (AP) — Cleveland Browns linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah will miss the final four games of the season after sustaining a left foot injury late in Sunday’s loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Owusu-Koramoah was placed on injured reserve by the Browns. He’s the fourth linebacker lost for the season because

TARIK EL BARAKAH and BARBARA SURK Associated Press RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Hind Sabouni bristles with pride as she recalls her country’s history-making World Cup run as it eliminated one European soccer powerhouse and former colonial power after another — Belgium, Spain and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal — to become the first African and Arab nation

NEW YORK — Led by Isaiah Wilkins’ 22 points, the Longwood Lancers defeated the Saint Francis Terriers 63-57 on Tuesday. The Lancers improved to 6-5 with the victory and the Terriers fell to 4-6.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina has hired ex-Arkansas and NFL assistant Dowell Loggains as the Gamecocks’ new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. The school’s board of trustees approved a three-year contract that will pay Loggains $1 million a year. Loggains was most recently tight ends coach for the Razorbacks. He spent 16 seasons in

By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer LUSAIL, Qatar (AP) — Lionel Messi is back in the World Cup final with Argentina on his mission to win soccer’s biggest prize for the first time. And, at 35, he could hardly be playing any better. Messi converted a penalty and had a hand in the other two

By ED WHITE Associated Press DETROIT (AP) — A judge has ordered Michigan State University to release donor agreements with two alumni who gave or pledged millions of dollars to the athletic department. Michigan State has acknowledged that some of the money will help pay for a $95 million contract with football coach Mel Tucker.

By DAVID BRANDT AP Sports Writer TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray has a torn ACL and will miss the remainder of the season. Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury confirmed the extent of the injury during his Tuesday news conference. The news is not a surprise after the 25-year-old injured his knee on

By TOM WITHERS AP Sports Writer CLEVELAND (AP) — Cleveland Browns linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah will miss the final four games of the season after sustaining a left foot injury late in Sunday’s loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Owusu-Koramoah was placed on injured reserve by the Browns. He’s the fourth linebacker lost for the season because

MARTIN, Tenn. — Led by Parker Stewart’s 23 points, the UT Martin Skyhawks defeated the Bethel (TN) Wildcats 103-75 on Tuesday. The Skyhawks moved to 6-5 with the victory.

OMAHA, Neb. — Led by Marquel Sutton’s 29 points, the Omaha Mavericks defeated the Midland Warriors 104-72 on Tuesday. The Mavericks moved to 4-8 with the win.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas says starting forward Aaliyah Moore tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee and will miss the remainder of the season. The sophomore was averaging 11 points and nearly five rebounds this season for the Longhorns. She was injured in Sunday’s win over Alabama State and will have surgery.

DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Rockies added right-hander Pierce Johnson to their bullpen as they signed the Denver native to a one-year major league contract. Johnson spent the last three seasons with the San Diego Padres. He appeared in three postseason games last season for the Padres, who made it to the NL Championship Series

By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer PITTSBURGH (AP) — Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett’s status for Pittsburgh’s visit to Carolina is uncertain after entering the concussion protocol for the second time in two months. Pickett was injured late in the first quarter of a loss to Baltimore. Coach Mike Tomlin says Pickett’s availability will depend on