AP National Sports

By MICHAEL MAROT AP Sports Writer Tight end Payne Durham took the traditional path to Purdue. The former high school lacrosse star played one season of prep football in Georgia and convinced Jeff Brohm to make a scholarship offer. Durham quickly accepted. Aidan O’Connell and Devin Mockobee faced a more daunting journey — arriving on

NEW YORK (AP) — A federal appeals court has reinstated the appeal of a former University of Connecticut women’s soccer player who lost her scholarship after giving the middle finger to a television camera as the Huskies celebrated winning a 2014 conference championship. Three judges on the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New

By ROB MAADDI AP Pro Football Writer Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills head to New England looking for their first division win of the season. Week 13 is loaded with several playoff-type matchups, starting with the Bills (8-3) visiting the Patriots (6-5) on Thursday night. Five other games on Sunday also feature winning teams

By MICHAEL MAROT AP Sports Writer BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — Coach Teri Moren spent nine seasons patiently constructing her program at Indiana. She worked hard to convince prep stars and transfers to take a shot on the Hoosiers. She placed a premium on developing bonds and skills and carefully pieced it all together. Now, Indiana

By EDDIE PELLS AP National Writer Russia and Kenya received encouraging news from track and field’s ruling body, though any possible reprieve for Russia was tempered by World Athletics’ intent to keep the country out of international meets until the war in Ukraine is over. Kenya is dealing with a protracted doping crisis that has

By STEPHEN WADE AP Sports Writer AL WAKRAH, Qatar (AP) — Australia has advanced to the round of 16 at the World Cup, beating favored Denmark 1-0 on Mathew Leckie’s 60th-minute goal. It is Australia’s first time in the knockout stage since 2006. That was the only other time they advanced out of the group

MILAN (AP) — Italian cyclist Davide Rebellin has died after being struck by a truck while training. He was 51. Rebellin was riding near the town of Montebello Vicentino in northern Italy when he was hit by a truck near a motorway junction. The vehicle did not stop although Italian media reported that the driver

By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer Mike Weir is the next Presidents Cup captain for the International team. The Canadian star will lead his team in the 2024 matches at Royal Montreal. Weir is only the fourth International captain to lead his team in his native country. Weir played five times in the Presidents Cup

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Brazil forward Neymar is undergoing ankle treatment in a swimming pool to try to recover in time to play again at the World Cup. Neymar continued his physiotherapy in a pool at the team’s hotel along with injured left back Alex Sandro. They were jogging and doing other exercises in the

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — The Tempe City Council has unanimously approved a proposal for a new Arizona Coyotes arena and entertainment district, clearing the way for a public vote on the project next year. The council approved the proposal 7-0 after a lengthy meeting that included NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. The $2.1 billion project would

AL RAYYAN, Qatar (AP) — A man ran onto the field with what appeared to be a Palestinian flag midway through the second half of the World Cup match between Tunisia and France. The man ran across the field at Education City. He did some acrobatic jumps before security sprinted onto the field. He was

By AARON BEARD AP Sports Writer CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Drake Maye has put up big numbers all season for No. 24 North Carolina. Now he has a chance to lead the Tar Heels to something more: an Atlantic Coast Conference championship. The second-year passer leads the high-scoring Tar Heels into Saturday’s ACC title

By JOSH DUBOW AP Pro Football Writer Two years after no team in the NFC East won more than seven games, all four have pulled off the trick with six weeks to go in the NFL’s regular season. Washington beat Atlanta on Sunday to join Philadelphia, Dallas and the Giants with winning records. That gives

By JOHN RABY AP Sports Writer Two people with knowledge of the decision say West Virginia is hiring North Texas athletic director Wren Baker to be its new AD. The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because details of a contract were still being finalized, but an official announcement from the

By MAURICIO SAVARESE AP Sports Writer SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazilian soccer great Pelé was hospitalized in Sao Paulo to regulate the medication in his fight against a colon tumor, his daughter said on Wednesday. Kely Nascimento added that there was “no emergency” concerning her 82-year-old father’s health. Hospital Albert Einstein in Sao Paulo later

TORONTO (AP) — The Toronto Blue Jays have hired Don Mattingly to serve as bench coach under manager John Schneider. Mattingly previously spent seven seasons as manager of the Miami Marlins and five years as manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was named National League manager of the year in 2020 with Miami. The

By ANDREW DAMPF AP Sports Writer DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Belgium coach Roberto Martinez says the legacy of the team’s “Golden Generation” is already firmly established whether or not Belgium wins its decisive World Cup match against Croatia on Thursday. Belgium finished third at the 2018 World Cup and reached the quarterfinals at the last

By TALES AZZONI AP Sports Writer DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Brazil brought a lot of attacking power to the World Cup but it’s been the defense impressing the most for the five-time champion in Qatar. Brazil is yet to allow an attempt on target after two group games. Goalkeeper Alisson has been mostly a spectator

LONDON (AP) — The International Tennis Integrity Agency says former top-10 professional tennis player Fernando Verdasco has accepted a voluntary provisional doping suspension of two months after testing positive for an ADHD medication. Verdasco said he was taking methylphenidate as medication prescribed by his doctor to treat ADHD but forgot to renew his therapeutic use

By ANDREW DAMPF AP Sports Writer DOHA , Qatar (AP) — When Belgium’s “Golden Generation” meets Croatia’s accomplished veterans in a decisive World Cup match on Thursday, there won’t be much room on the field for younger players. Croatia, which reached the final four years ago, and Belgium, which finished third in 2018, each rely