Miami beats defending national champ Ohio State 24-14 in the CFP quarterfinal at Cotton Bowl
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Keionte Scott returned an interception 72 yards for a touchdown and No. 10 Miami shocked defending champion Ohio State 24-14 in the first College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Cotton Bowl. The 12-2 Hurricanes never trailed after going into Wednesday night as 9 1/2-point underdogs. They have won two playoff games to get into football’s final four after needing an at-large berth to make the 12-team field. One more win and they will get to play for a national championship in their home stadium. Next up is a CFP semifinal at the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 8. Third-ranked Ohio State finished 12-2, with losses in the Big Ten title game and the Cotton Bowl after an undefeated regular season.
Defending champ Ohio State loses to Miami as teams with first-round byes drop to 0-5 in playoff
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Jeremiah Smith and the Ohio State Buckeyes won’t be the school’s first back-to-back national champions, and the College Football Playoff still doesn’t have a winner from teams with the first-round byes. No. 10 Miami held on for a 24-14 victory in the Cotton Bowl quarterfinal. The No. 3 Buckeyes were bounced a year after they won four CFP games on the way to the title. Ohio State trailed 14-0 at halftime, but was within three at 17-14 after Smith’s 14-yard touchdown catch on fourth-and-2 early in the fourth quarter. He finished with 157 yards on seven catches, but a shiny second half wasn’t enough.
Manning uses arm and legs to lead No. 14 Texas to a 41-27 Citrus Bowl win over No. 18 Michigan
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Arch Manning was just as potent with his legs as with his arms. That combination carried 14th-ranked Texas to a 41-27 victory over No. 18 Michigan in the Citrus Bowl. The game was tight until Manning broke it open with a 60-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter. He finished with 221 yards passing and two scores, and 155 yards rushing and two TDs on the ground. Michigan capped off a month the Wolverines would rather forget. Coach Sherrone Moore was fired for an extramarital affair with a staffer. New coach Kyle Whittingham watched from a coaching box.
Spurs’ Wembanyama leaves game vs. Knicks with apparent leg injury, returns to bench for end of game
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — San Antonio center Victor Wembanyama left Wednesday night’s rematch with the New York Knicks in the fourth quarter after suffering an apparent left leg injury, but returned to the bench in time to see the Spurs win 134-132. Wembanyama took to the court after the game to gleefully lead the newest Spurs tradition that he created — having the crowd clap their hands after each bang of the drum by the 7-foot-4 center, who finished with 31 points and 13 rebounds in 24 minutes. Wembanyama went to the locker room with just under 11 minutes remaining, but returned to the Spurs bench with 1:22 left in the game. He was alone and walking without a limp when he returned. It was a welcome sight for the Spurs after some tense minutes.
Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers believes he’ll have options if he chooses to play again in 2026
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Aaron Rodgers isn’t talking like someone ready to retire. The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, who recently turned 42, hasn’t ruled out returning in 2026. Rodgers says he believes he’ll have options if he wants to play a 22nd season. The four-time MVP has thrown for more than 3,000 yards with 23 touchdowns for Pittsburgh, which hosts Baltimore in the regular-season finale with the AFC North title on the line. Rodgers has been largely healthy this season, save for a broken left wrist that forced him to miss a game. Rodgers says he thinks his decision will be based entirely on his desire to play and not his ability to play.
Patriots defensive lineman Christian Barmore accused of throwing girlfriend to the ground
New England Patriots defensive lineman Christian J. Barmore is accused of assaulting his girlfriend in August. A criminal complaint claims Barmore took the woman’s phone, threw her to the ground and grabbed her by the shirt at his home in Mansfield, Massachusetts. Police say the woman provided a photo showing bruises from the incident. Barmore’s lawyer says he’s confident no criminal conduct occurred. The Patriots say they’re aware of the matter and are cooperating with the league.
Poll era G-O-A-T? Current USA Basketball players say it’s Breanna Stewart, others might disagree
No one will ever top what Breanna Stewart did in college at UConn, winning four national championships and the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Tournament each time. Her success sets her apart as the Greatest Of All Time, at least in the eyes of nearly a dozen players and coaches at a USA Basketball camp this month. When asked who they believe tops their list of college players during the last 50 years of the women’s poll era, Stewart was their choice. As part of its season-long coverage of the 50-year anniversary of the poll, a panel composed of former players, coaches and AP journalists voted on the greatest college players during the poll era. Stewart, Cheryl Miller and Diana Taurasi headlined the list along with Caitlin Clark.
Pro Picks: Panthers, Ravens will win their divisions; 49ers will edge Seahawks for NFC’s No. 1 seed
The NFL’s final weekend of the regular season features a winner-take-all game between the Ravens-Steelers and a battle for the NFC’s No. 1 seed between the Seahawks-49ers. There’s also the Panthers-Buccaneers matchup that will decide the NFC South, though it could take another 21 hours to determine the division champion. Twelve of the 14 playoff spots have been secured and four teams are battling for the final two. Four division champions have been settled and only the Packers have locked up a seed so they have little to play for in their final game.
Nigerian authorities say British boxer Anthony Joshua released from hospital after road crash
ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Nigerian authorities say British boxer Anthony Joshua has been released from hospital. The two-time former heavyweight champion and Olympic gold medalist was involved in a fatal accident near Lagos on Monday which killed two of his close associates and team members. Joshua had been under “observation” while recovering from minor injuries, his promoter said Monday. The Lagos state commissioner for information, Gbenga Omotoso, said in a statement on X that Joshua was discharged late Wednesday afternoon after being deemed clinically fit to recuperate from “home.”
Sweden beats US 6-3 in world junior hockey group finale. Canada tops Finland 7-4
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Lucas Pettersson and Eddie Genborg each scored twice and Sweden beat the United States 6-3 on Wednesday night in the world junior hockey championship to complete group play unbeaten. Casper Juustovaara opened the scoring in the first period on a deflection, and the Swedes led 5-1 in the second period in the Group A finale. Ivar Stenberg scored in the third, and Love Harenstam made 28 saves. In the quarterfinals Friday, Sweden will face Latvia, and the second-place Americans will play Finland, a 7-4 loser to Canada later Wednesday night in the Group B finale in Minneapolis. Canada will play Slovakia, and Czechia will meet Switzerland. Chase Reid, Will Zellers and Teddy Stiga scored for the United States.
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