Sports News

Alabama begins the week as a rare home underdog to Georgia in Saturday's SEC showdown in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide on Monday were consensus 2-point underdogs to the Bulldogs at sportsbooks, but the line has been shifting toward Alabama. The Crimson Tide have been favored in 90 consecutive home games, dating back to 2007 against LSU, and haven't been underdogs in any regular season game since 2015 against Georgia. Barring notable line movement, both streaks will end against the Bulldogs. The earliest point spread on the game from over the summer had Georgia favored by 4.5, as oddsmakers tried to assess any drop off for Alabama with the departure of coach Nick Saban. But oddsmakers say the Crimson Tide have been the more impressive team this season. In July, Chris Andrews, a veteran Las Vegas oddsmaker with the South Point, opened Georgia as a 4.5-point favorite over Alabama in his early lines on big college football games. His perception of the two teams have shifted over the...

Erling Haaland will not face punishment for throwing the ball at Gabriel Magalhães in the aftermath of Manchester City's stoppage-time equaliser against Arsenal, a source told ESPN. Cameras caught Haaland throwing the ball against the back of the Arsenal defender's head after John Stones had scored to make it 2-2 at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. The incident was missed by on-field referee Michael Oliver, but it was spotted by video assistant referee John Brooks, who decided it did not constitute violent conduct. A source told ESPN that the FA are happy that the incident was dealt with at the time and Haaland will not face retrospective action. Haaland, who scored to put City 1-0 up earlier in the game, was involved in a heated exchange with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and striker Gabriel Jesus after the final whistle. City players were incensed at what they viewed as time-wasting by Arsenal as they tried to play out the second...

Fenerbahce coach Jose Mourinho was called "the crying one" by Galatasaray following his team's 3-1 home loss in the Istanbul derby on Saturday. It marked Fenerbahce's first Super Lig defeat of the season and left Mourinho's side trailing league leaders Galatasaray by five points. Mourinho, who famously described himself as a "Special One" during his first spell at Chelsea, left the stadium on Saturday without attending the postgame news conference. Galatasaray posted on their official X account a Photoshopped image of a book titled "The Crying One," with an image of Mourinho looking sad on the cover with the caption: "On sale in stores around Kadıköy." With Fenerbahce down 3-1 after 63 minutes, Galatasaray posted "Seems like we're cooking a special one tonight." The club also posted a photograph of Mourinho behind Galatasaray coach Okan Buruk during the game with the caption "the winner one." Mourinho, who took over at...

LAS VEGAS -- On the day she was announced as unanimous WNBA MVP, Las Vegas Aces star  A'ja Wilson had a first half to forget: just four points on 1-of-8 shooting. But of course, there was a second half for her to flourish in, and there also was a big lift off the bench from guard Tiffany Hayes. The Aces benefitted from both Sunday to beat the  Seattle Storm  78-67 in Game 1 of their best-of-three first-round playoff series. "The basketball gods have a funny way of showing me that sometimes you've just got to get out of the mud," Wilson, now a three-time MVP, said of shaking off the poor start to finish with 21 points, 8 rebounds and 5 blocks. "I love doing that, because it keeps my mind going. My teammates continue to never let me doubt myself. And I sometimes do ... and they always pick me up. "In the second half, the game kind of settled down for me and I really started to dissect the defense. That was kind of when I got rocking and...

SEATTLE --  Miami Dolphins quarterback Skylar Thompson left midway through the third quarter of Sunday's 24-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks after suffering what coach Mike McDaniel called a painful rib injury. Making his first start of the season in place of the injured Tua Tagovailoa, Thompson took a hard hit on Miami's second drive of the third quarter and remained down for several minutes while medical trainers attended to him. He was ultimately able to leave the field and return to the Dolphins' locker room under his own power. Third-string quarterback Tim Boyle entered the game for Thompson. Boyle was signed to the Dolphins' practice squad prior to Week 1 and was elevated this past week after Tagovailoa was placed on injured reserve. McDaniel said Thompson suffered a rib injury and wanted to play through it; ultimately, the Dolphins will not know the full extent of Thompson's injury until Monday. "I haven't talked to Skylar as...

INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- As he addressed his team Saturday night, San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan issued a stern warning about the type of opponent the Los Angeles Rams would be on Sunday. Although the winless Rams were coming off an embarrassing loss to the Arizona Cardinals and were as depleted by injuries as any team in the league, Shanahan expected Los Angeles to play with plenty of urgency and desperation. "You've got to take their hope away," Shanahan said. "You give [Rams quarterback  Matthew] Stafford too much hope [and] you put a ball in his hands at the end, it's not a situation you want to be in." Alas, that was precisely the situation the Niners were in late Sunday afternoon. Despite jumping out to a 14-point lead, San Francisco was unable to build on its early momentum because of special teams miscues, defensive breakdowns and offensive errors on the way to a stunning 27-24 loss. The Niners dropped their second consecutive...

The Cincinnati Reds fired manager David Bell on Sunday with five games to go in a disappointing season that began with the Reds as playoff contenders and will end with them missing the postseason for the 10th consecutive full season. Bell, 52, received a three-year contract extension in July 2023 after the surprising Reds surged into contention following a 100-loss season in 2022. With an exciting young core that included shortstop Elly De La Cruz and a cadre of talented arms, the Reds were expected to be in play for a National League Central title. Instead, they faltered, with injury and underperformance leading to a 76-81 record and fourth-place standing. "David provided the kind of steadiness that we needed in our clubhouse over the last few seasons," Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall said in a statement. "We felt a change was needed to move the Major League team forward. We have not achieved the success we expected, and we need to begin focusing...

LAS VEGAS --  Carolina Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton looked relaxed and comfortable as he paused from Sunday's pregame warmups to pose for a picture with his wife and friends on the sideline at Allegiant Stadium. It was that demeanor first-year coach Dave Canales was looking for earlier in the week when he benched Bryce Young in favor of the 36-year-old veteran, who delivered with three first-half touchdown passes in a 36-22 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. It was that demeanor Canales believed a squad stinging from an 0-2 start by a combined 60 points needed to jump-start an offense and team he thought was closer to finding an identity than the losses made things appear. "That was one of things coming into this, I got a chance to just be me and be out there like how I normally am,'' Dalton said after completing 26 of 37 passes for 319 yards and three touchdowns. "I'm normally pretty calm, I'm normally relaxed. "Guys...

MINNEAPOLIS -- Diana Taurasi's potential retirement has been a theme throughout the 2024 WNBA season. And with her  Phoenix Mercury suffering a 102-95 loss in Game 1 of their first-round matchup against the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday at Target Center, the possibility could become the headline entering Game 2 on Wednesday. If anyone understands Taurasi's impact, it's Napheesa Collier, who -- like Taurasi -- won a national title during a stellar career at  UConn. The respect between the two is clear, but this is basketball, and Collier sees Taurasi and the Mercury only as an obstacle standing in her team's path to a championship. "It seems like it's her retirement tour," Collier said. "I don't know. She's been pretty quiet about it. She's, obviously, a UConn great, a league GOAT, so I feel lucky to have been able to play with her on Team USA and against her. Hopefully, we can end her career on Wednesday." Perhaps this is the end for...

LAS VEGAS -- Antonio Pierce angrily rocked back and forth for more than five minutes at the postgame podium, the Las Vegas Raiders coach searching for answers in the wake of his team's stunning 36-22 loss to the Carolina Panthers. Pierce was sure of one thing: His team did not show up for its home opener -- and he went in on some unnamed players. "As the game went on," Pierce said, "I think there was definitely some individuals that made business decisions. And we'll make business decisions going forward, as well. "We got our ass whupped ... I would have booed us too." Given what was on the table -- a festive home opener after last week's emotional comeback win at the Baltimore Ravens, the heretofore winless Panthers having benched their former No. 1 draft pick Bryce Young in favor of 14th-year veteran quarterback Andy Dalton and the Raiders' offense having seemingly caught up with the team's opportunistic defense -- this loss, to...

Dayton Raiola, a quarterback in the 2026 class and the younger brother of Nebraska freshman phenom Dylan Raiola, announced his commitment to Matt Rhule and the Cornhuskers on Sunday night. Raiola, a 5-foot-11, 215-pound junior, is Nebraska's first pledge in the 2026 cycle and is not currently in ESPN's high school prospect rankings for the class. The younger Raiola replaced Dylan as the starting quarterback at Georgia's Buford High School after he left for college and has led the Wolves to a 4-1 start this fall. With his commitment, Raiola becomes the latest member of the family to land at Nebraska. The Raiolas' father, Dominic, was a two-time All-Big 12 selection with the Huskers from 1997 to 2000 before spending 14 seasons in the NFL with the Detroit Lions. Donovan Raiola, Dominic's brother, has spent the past three seasons as Nebraska's offensive line coach following four years coaching with the Chicago Bears, and Raiola's older sister, Taylor, is a graduate...

UNCASVILLE, Conn. -- On May 14, the Connecticut Sun hosted No. 1 draft pick Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever in their 2024 season opener, comfortably winning by 21 and enjoying a triple-double from star Alyssa Thomas. Over four months later, Sunday's Game 1 of their first-round playoff series featured similar beats: Connecticut used a big fourth quarter and another Thomas triple-double to take Game 1 93-69 in what was Clark's WNBA playoff debut and the Fever franchise's first postseason game since 2016. The result marked the largest playoff loss in Fever history. The Sun showed why they boast the top defensive rating in the league, holding Clark -- who earlier in the day came in fourth in MVP voting -- to 11 points on 4-for-17 shooting (2-for-13 on 3-pointers). Backcourt mate Kelsey Mitchell led the Fever in scoring with 21 points but also struggled from the arc (2-for-10). Clark, who generated more offense than any other player...

UNCASVILLE, Conn. -- On May 14, the Connecticut Sun hosted No. 1 draft pick Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever in their 2024 season opener, comfortably winning by 21 and enjoying a triple-double from star Alyssa Thomas. Over four months later, Sunday's Game 1 of their first-round playoff series featured similar beats: Connecticut used a big fourth quarter and another Thomas triple-double to take Game 1, 93-69, in what was Clark's WNBA playoff debut and the Fever franchise's first postseason game since 2016. The result marked the largest playoff loss in Fever history. The Sun showed why they boast the top defensive rating in the league, holding Clark -- who earlier in the day came in fourth in MVP voting -- to 11 points on 4 for 17 shooting (2 for 13 on 3-pointers). Backcourt mate Kelsey Mitchell led the Fever in scoring with 21 points, but also struggled from the arc (2 for 10). Clark, who generated more offense than any other player in...

SEATTLE --  Miami Dolphins quarterback Skylar Thompson was ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's 24-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks after suffering a chest injury in the second half. Making his first start of the season in place of the injured Tua Tagovailoa, Thompson took a hard hit on Miami's second drive of the third quarter and remained down for several minutes while medical trainers attended to him. He was ultimately able to leave the field and return to the Dolphins' locker room under his own power. Third-string quarterback Tim Boyle entered the game for Thompson. Boyle was signed to the Dolphins' practice squad prior to Week 1 and was elevated this past week after Tagovailoa was placed on injured reserve. Miami signed quarterback Tyler Huntley off the Baltimore Ravens' practice squad last week but he was not active for Sunday's game. Huntley was listed as the team's emergency quarterback. Before leaving, Thompson...

SAN DIEGO -- The Chicago White Sox had a 2-1 lead going into the bottom of the eighth inning on Sunday, and then history struck. That tenuous lead disappeared in the span of four San Diego Padres batters, and the White Sox went on to their 120th loss, tying the post-1900 record set by the 1962 expansion New York Mets. The dichotomy couldn't have been greater. The White Sox headed to a somber clubhouse and quietly packed for their flight home. The Padres, who are closing in on a postseason berth, gathered in front of their dugout to applaud the sellout crowd of 45,197 that roared through the bottom of the eighth and then the top of the ninth of the 4-2 win in their regular-season home finale on the brilliant first day of autumn. Some fans even chanted "Beat L.A.!" in anticipation of a huge series starting Tuesday night at the Los Angeles Dodgers. "I guess when you lose 120 it's easier to brush it off but it [stinks] to go through it, but that's...

NEW ORLEANS --  Philadelphia Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson called the hit that injured receiver DeVonta Smith in Sunday's game against the  New Orleans Saints a "cheap shot" and accused his former team of "playing dirty." Smith left early in the fourth quarter with a concussion after a big collision with Saints defensive tackle Khristian Boyd. Smith's momentum was going backward after he was corralled by Saints defenders following a short completion, and he was blindsided by a high hit from Boyd. There was no flag on the play. "Man, that's the dirtiest s--- I ever saw in football, bro," Gardner-Johnson said following the Eagles' narrow 15-12 win. "Y'all obviously saw forward progression was stopped. For them to take a cheap shot on one of our key players, it goes to show what type of team that is. They're front-runners." This was Gardner-Johnson's first time playing against the Saints since they traded him to the Eagles in...

SEATTLE --  Miami Dolphins quarterback Skylar Thompson was ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's game against the Seattle Seahawks after suffering a chest injury in the second half. Making his first start of the season in place of the injured Tua Tagovailoa, Thompson took a hard hit on Miami's second drive of the third quarter and remained down for several minutes while medical trainers attended to him. He was ultimately able to leave the field and return to the Dolphins' locker room under his own power. Third-string quarterback Tim Boyle entered the game for Thompson; he was signed to the Dolphins' practice squad prior to Week 1 and was elevated after Tagovailoa was placed on injured reserve this week. Miami signed quarterback Tyler Huntley off the Baltimore Ravens' practice squad last week but he was not active for Sunday's game; Huntley was listed as the team's emergency quarterback. Before leaving the game, Thompson completed...

NEW ORLEANS --  Philadelphia Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson called the hit that injured receiver DeVonta Smith in Sunday's game against the  New Orleans Saints a "cheap shot" and accused his former team of "playing dirty." Smith left early in the fourth quarter with a concussion after a big collision with Saints defensive tackle Khristian Boyd. Smith's momentum was going backward after being corralled by Saints defenders following a short completion, and was blindsided by a high hit from Boyd. There was no flag on the play. "Man, that's the dirtiest s--- I ever saw in football, bro," Gardner-Johnson said following the Eagles' narrow 15-12 win. "Y'all obviously saw forward progression was stopped. For them to take a cheap shot on one of our key players, it goes to show what type of team that is. They're front-runners." This was Gardner-Johnson's first time playing against the Saints since they traded him to the Eagles in August...

NEW YORK -- It was a historic Sunday afternoon at Barclays Center for rookie Leonie Fiebich and veteran Courtney Vandersloot. Fiebich had a career-high 21 points, pacing the Liberty in their 83-69 win over the Atlanta Dream in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series. Vandersloot, meanwhile, passed Sue Bird to become the WNBA's all-time playoff assist leader. Vandersloot broke Bird's record with just under five minutes left in the fourth quarter. After a steal, she lobbed the ball ahead to a streaking Breanna Stewart, who finished at the rim. It was the 365th playoff assist for Vandersloot. Bird was sitting courtside. "It's tough to chase Sue," Vandersloot said. "She's a winner, that's why she has a lot of playoff assists. For her to be in the building, that's pretty special." "The way that [Vandersloot] can continue to set people up in many different ways, I've been a [beneficiary] of that," said Stewart, who also played six...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee Titans coach Brian Callahan said with no hesitation that Will Levis will remain the quarterback despite having two turnovers in the Titans' 30-14 loss to the Green Bay Packers. "Oh yeah," Callahan said when asked about Levis as his starter. "We've also got to play better around him. I'm not going to overreact to an interception. Those things happen, guys throw picks, we just can't give it to their team. It's a killer. But we've not played a complete game in any phase at any point yet." One of Levis' two turnovers was an interception that got returned 35 yards for a touchdown by Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander. Levis now has a league-high eight turnovers through three games, the most by a quarterback in his team's first three games over the past three years, and the Titans are 0-3. "I'm still confident," Levis said. "Something needs to click with this team and we're just waiting for it. We really thought that...

Matteo Gabbia headed home the winner in the closing minutes as AC Milan secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Internazionale in Serie A on Sunday. Defender Gabbia evaded his marker and found the top corner with a perfectly timed header from a free kick into the box in the 89th minute. The victory lifted some of the pressure on coach Paulo Fonseca following a disappointing start to the campaign, as Milan earned their first win in the Derby della Madonnina following six consecutive defeats to Inter. Milan had won just once in five games in all competitions to spark talk of a crisis, but Sunday's victory moved them to eight points in Serie A from five games, level with Inter. "I am so happy for us, for the fans," Gabbia told DAZN. "It was a pretty difficult moment where things weren't going well, but I am sure this game will give us a real energy boost. "It is our duty to give our all. There are negative moments in life and in careers, we must make sure...

A knee injury will rule out Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen for months after he was carried off on a stretcher during Sunday's 5-1 LaLiga win at Villarreal, a source confirmed to ESPN. Barça coach Hansi Flick confirmed the injury appears to be "huge and serious," but added he could not offer any timeframe until he undergoes further tests. Radio station RAC1 reported Ter Stegen, who was taken to a hospital close to Villarreal's Estadio de la Cerámica, could be out for as long as eight months, which would rule him out for the rest of the season. "It doesn't look good for Marc," Flick told Spanish television after the game. "We have to wait to know the full diagnosis of the injury, but it's true it does appear to be really serious." Ter Stegen, 32, collapsed to the ground after claiming a corner at the end of the first half and it was immediately clear that he would not be able to continue. Iñaki Peña replaced him. The injury to the...

NEW ORLEANS -- Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith and right tackle Lane Johnson both suffered concussions in Sunday's 15-12 win over the  Saints. Smith left early in the fourth after a big collision with defensive tackle Khristian Boyd. His momentum was going backward after being corralled by Saints defenders following a short completion, and then he was blindsided by Boyd. Smith remained on the ground for several minutes, with teammates gathered around him and coach Nick Sirianni placing a hand on his knee before Smith eventually got up and walked off under his own power. Johnson exited in the first half after being evaluated in the medical tent. He was replaced by Fred Johnson. Right guard Mekhi Becton (finger) and receiver/returner Britain Covey (shoulder) also exited the game.

PITTSBURGH -- Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert aggravated his high right ankle sprain in Sunday's 20-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers and left the stadium in a walking boot. Herbert was sacked by outside linebacker Elandon Roberts and got up with a significant limp. Herbert handed the ball off to running back J.K. Dobbins on the next play but then limped off to the sideline and had his ankle looked at by trainers. "Yeah, my responsibility as a quarterback is to give everything that I can to this team and my teammates, and I felt like I did that," Herbert said. "I pushed myself and I couldn't go anymore, and I had a tough time walking on it, moving on it, pushing off of it and I knew that  Taylor [Heinicke] gave us a better shot to win." Herbert suffered a high ankle sprain last Sunday in the Chargers' win over the Panthers and practiced only once ahead of the Steelers game. He said his ankle had been...

PITTSBURGH -- Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert left Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third quarter after aggravating a right high ankle sprain he'd been nursing this week. Herbert was sacked by outside linebacker Elandon Roberts and got up with a significant limp. Herbert handed the ball off to running back J.K. Dobbins on the next play but then limped off to the sideline and had his ankle looked at by trainers. Quarterback Taylor Heinicke, who the Chargers traded for just over three weeks ago, replaced Herbert. It was an injury-laden day for the Chargers stars. Outside linebacker Joey Bosa left the game in the first quarter with a hip injury after playing only two snaps. He played just 14 snaps in last week's win over the  Carolina Panthers with a back injury. Left tackle Rashawn Slater, meanwhile, suffered a pectoral injury and spent most of the second half on the...

John Stones described Arsenal as "clever or dirty" after scoring an equaliser eight minutes into stoppage to snatch a 2-2 draw for Manchester City in Sunday's Premier League top-of-the-table clash at the Etihad. Stones' goal extended City's unbeaten home record to 48 games, a run stretching back to a defeat against Brentford in November 2022, but it came after Arsenal had defended deep for the entire second half following the 45th-minute dismissal of Leandro Trossard for a second yellow card, issued for kicking the ball away. Despite the fourth official signalling seven minutes of stoppage time at the end of the 90 minutes, referee Michael Oliver eventually played an additional nine minutes due to Arsenal players either taking too long with set pieces or players going to ground because of injury or cramping. Stones, a second-half substitute, said Arsenal's approach to the game made it difficult for City to find their rhythm. "It...

John Stones scored deep in injury time as Manchester City salvaged a 2-2 draw with 10-man Arsenal on Sunday to remain top of the Premier League table after a rip-roaring battle against their bitter title rivals. The draw in what was more of a slugfest than a chess match left Pep Guardiola's men with 13 points after five matches, while Mikel Arteta's Arsenal, who played the entire second half with 10 men following Leandro Trossard's red card, are fourth with 11. Arsenal looked poised for their first win at the Etihad Stadium since 2015 before substitute Stones prodded in from close range in the 98th minute -- with their 28th shot of the second half. It was the joint highest ever shots by a side on record (from 2003-04) in a single half in the Premier League. "I think over the years, we've learned as a team to stick together, no matter who's playing, and to always be ready," Stones said. "I know the manager emphasises that. I'm sure you've heard...

Billy Horschel won the BMW PGA Championship after beating Rory McIlroy and Thriston Lawrence in a thrilling three-man playoff at Wentworth on Sunday to take home the winner's check of $1.53 million. The trio finished at 20 under overall, and in the first playoff at the event in 11 years, Lawrence fell first when he bogeyed the 18th after finding the water, leaving Horschel and McIlroy to fight it out for the title. McIlroy was looking to win for a second time after lifting the trophy in 2014 and birdied the 18th once again, but Horschel kept his nerve and sank a stunning eagle putt to become the first American to win the event twice. "I am thrilled, excited for the way I played," said Horschel, who also won the event in 2021. "At the same time, I am a little disappointed. Rory is a really good friend of mine, he is a generational talent, and he has been so close this year. "I feel for him, but I am also excited. ... There was a lot of luck on my side to get this...

By Lori Ewing MANCHESTER, England, Sept 22 (Reuters) - John Stones scored deep in injury time as Manchester City salvaged a 2-2 draw with 10-man Arsenal on Sunday to remain top of the Premier League table after a rip-roaring battle against their bitter title rivals. The draw in what was more of a slugfest than a chess match left Pep Guardiola's men with 13 points after five matches, while Mikel Arteta's Arsenal are fourth with 11. Erling Haaland put City ahead in the ninth minute when Savinho threaded a beautiful through ball that the big Norwegian sprinted onto then slotted past David Raya. Ricardo Calafiori cancelled out Haaland's goal with his first for Arsenal, a screamer from about 20 metres out in the 22nd minute. Arsenal had caught City unprepared with a free kick in the lead-up, leaving Guardiola furiously karate kicking his chair. Gabriel put the visitors ahead in first-half injury time when he darted in to leap high and head home Bukayo...

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Eugene "Mercury" Morris, who starred for the unbeaten 1972 Miami Dolphins as part of a star-studded backfield and helped the team win two Super Bowl titles, has died, the team said Sunday. Morris, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, was 77. In a statement, his family said his "talent and passion left an indelible mark on the sport." "Beyond the field, Mercury was a devoted father, a loving brother, a loyal friend, and a pillar in the community," his family wrote. "His presence extended far beyond football, as he touched the lives of many throughout his time in Miami." Morris was the starting halfback and one of three go-to runners that Dolphins coach Don Shula used in Miami's back-to-back title seasons of 1972 and 1973, alongside Pro Football Hall of Famer Larry Csonka and Jim Kiick. Morris led the Dolphins in rushing touchdowns in both of those seasons, finishing with an NFL-best 12 in 1972 and then 10 more in 1973. "It's a very sad day for me and...

Erling Haaland equalled Cristiano Ronaldo's record as the fastest man to score 100 goals for a European club, reaching his centenary for  Manchester City in Sunday's  Premier League match against  Arsenal. The Norway international's strike in the ninth minute at the Etihad Stadium, accelerating between  Gabriel Magalhães and William Saliba before firing low past David Raya, put him at 100 goals in 105 appearances for City.  In 2011, Ronaldo scored his 100th goal for Real Madrid, also in his 105th match. In 2024,  Kevin De Bruyne became the 18th Manchester City player to reach 100 goals, achieving the accolade in his 372nd appearance for the club.  Haaland had already broken the record for most goals through four games of the Premier League season with nine, including two hat tricks. That prolific start meant he went into Wednesday's Champions League game at home to Inter Milan on 99 goals from 103 games and...

PITTSBURGH -- Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is active for Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers despite sustaining a high right ankle sprain last week. Herbert went through warmups Sunday, throwing to receivers and jogging without a limp before the Chargers made the decision to make their franchise quarterback active. The Chargers will have three quarterbacks active on Sunday; Easton Stick and Taylor Heinicke will back up Herbert. Los Angeles, however, will be without wide receiver  Joshua Palmer, who is inactive with elbow and calf injuries. Herbert suffered the ankle injury that had put his status for Sunday's game in question in the third quarter of the Chargers' Week 2 win over the Carolina Panthers.  This is the second injury Herbert has dealt with this season. During training camp, he spent two weeks in a walking boot while dealing with a plantar fascia injury to his right foot. Herbert said...

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Michigan kept pounding the ball and pounding the ball. And when it mattered most, No. 11 USC couldn't stop it. Powered by running back Kalel Mullings, who scored the winning touchdown in the final seconds, the defending national champion Wolverines rumbled to a 27-24 victory in their Big Ten opener Saturday. "That's a representation of who we are," Mullings said of Michigan's run-heavy game plan. "Just grit and grinding up ... grinding meat that whole time." The Wolverines rushed for 290 yards, including 79 on the final drive. Mullings got all eight carries and broke through a pair of tackles for a 63-yard run that put Michigan in the red zone. He finished off the drive with a 1-yard scoring plunge on fourth-and-goal with 37 seconds remaining. "A will to not give in," Michigan coach Sherrone Moore said of his senior back. "A will to want it more than them, to want it more than the man who's trying to tackle him." The No. 18...

LAS VEGAS -- Aces center  A'ja Wilson became the second player in WNBA history to win the league's MVP as a unanimous choice Sunday, collecting all 67 first-place votes for 670 points from a media panel. The only other unanimous MVP was Houston guard Cynthia Cooper in the WNBA's inaugural season in 1997. Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (467 points) finished second in the voting on 66 of the 67 ballots. New York's Breanna Stewart (295 points) received the other second-place vote and finished third overall. Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark (130 points) finished fourth, while Connecticut's Alyssa Thomas (83) rounded out the top five. Players were awarded 10 points for a first-place vote, seven for second, five for third, three for fourth and one for fifth. Wilson previously won the MVP in 2020 and 2022. She was third last year in one of the closest MVP races in league history, finishing behind winner Stewart...

AUSTIN, Texas -- Arch Manning threw for 258 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in his first career start at Texas, leading a 51-3 win over UL Monroe in place of injured starter Quinn Ewers to push the No. 1 Longhorns to 4-0. After throwing an interception on his first possession, Manning settled in, and Texas scored touchdowns on six of his 10 drives for a 44-3 lead when he left the game early in the fourth quarter. The redshirt freshman competed 15 of 29 pass attempts. Manning said there were several throws he would like back, starting with his first interception, a second-down throw under pressure that ULM defensive back Carl Fauntroy snagged three minutes into the game. Asked how he would grade his performance, Manning said, "Probably a C-plus, but a win's a win." "To think he was going to come out and play a perfect game, I don't think anybody in here thought that," Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said. "I thought he...

When Colorado lined up for the final play of regulation Saturday night against Baylor, the plan called for Travis Hunter, the Buffaloes' do-it-all star, to serve as ... a decoy? Colorado needed a Hail Mary touchdown to tie the score and figured Hunter, who had six receptions for 126 yards, would attract the most attention. Hunter would run toward the middle of the end zone, ideally creating a more favorable matchup for LaJohntay Wester, a 5-foot-11, 167-pound wideout. "We put Travis backside, he's going to get all the attention, and then LaJohntay's just going to be there, outside, one-on-one," Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders said. "They're not going to think we're going to throw him the ball because he's a shorter guy, probably in that situation. So then I roll left, everybody went in the middle of the end zone and I just trusted God. I threw it up to God, and God answered the prayer, for sure." Sanders' heave from the Baylor 49-yard...

NORMAN, Okla. -- The emotion in his voice and on his face said it all for Tennessee coach Josh Heupel late Saturday night in his much anticipated return to his alma mater. Heupel, who 10 years earlier was stung by his firing as Oklahoma's offensive coordinator, said repeatedly that the No. 6 Volunteers' 25-15 win over the No. 15 Sooners was "never about me" in a game that saw Tennessee build a 22-3 lead going into the fourth quarter and dominate defensively the whole way. When it was over -- with family members, players, former Oklahoma teammates and coaches embracing him before he exited the field -- the normally stoic Heupel was clearly moved as Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava presented him with the game ball on the field. "This game was never about me coming back here, not for this football team," Heupel said in his postgame news conference. "I say all that, but they also understood that this one was a little bit different for me personally...

When Colorado lined up for the final play of regulation Saturday night against Baylor, the plan called for Travis Hunter, the Buffaloes' do-it-all star, to serve as ... a decoy? Colorado needed a Hail Mary touchdown to tie the score, and figured Hunter, who had six receptions for 126 yards, would attract the most attention. Hunter would run toward the middle of the end zone, ideally creating a more favorable matchup for LaJohntay Wester, a 5-foot-11, 167-pound wideout. "We put Travis backside, he's going to get all the attention, and then LaJohntay's just going to be there, outside, one-on-one," Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders said. "They're not going to think we're going to throw him the ball because he's a shorter guy, probably in that situation. So then I roll left, everybody went in the middle of the end zone and I just trusted God. I threw it up to God and God answered the prayer, for sure." Sanders' heave from the Baylor 49-yard...

AUSTIN, Texas -- Arch Manning threw for 258 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in his first career start at Texas, leading a 51-3 win over UL Monroe in place of injured starter Quinn Ewers to push the No. 1 Longhorns to 4-0. After throwing an interception on his first possession, Manning settled in, and Texas scored touchdowns on six of his 10 drives for a 44-3 lead when he left the game early in the fourth quarter. The redshirt freshman competed 15 of his 29 pass attempts. Manning said there were several throws he'd like back, starting with his first interception, a second-down throw under pressure that ULM defensive back Carl Fauntroy snagged three minutes into the game. When asked how he'd grade his performance, Manning said, "Probably a C-plus, but a win's a win." "To think he was going to come out and play a perfect game, I don't think anybody in here thought that," Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said. "I thought he was going...

The Chicago White Sox tied the American League record with their 119th loss Saturday night, when Xander Bogaerts and Elias Diaz each hit a two-run homer to help the San Diego Padres to a  6-2 win and move closer to a playoff spot. The White Sox (36-119) matched the AL mark set by the 2003 Detroit Tigers, who finished 43-119. One more defeat for Chicago over its final seven games would equal the post-1900 record of 120 losses by the 1962 expansion New York Mets, and two more would set a record. The 1899 Cleveland Spiders hold the overall major league record for losses after going 20-134. Chris Flexen (2-15) remained winless in his past 23 starts for a White Sox club that lost its 20th straight road series. According to ESPN Research, Chicago, which is 9-48 since the All-Star break, is on pace for 124 losses. "They've been playing some good baseball these last couple of days," Bogaerts said of Chicago. "Obviously, we want to...

SAN DIEGO -- The Chicago White Sox tied the American League record with their 119th loss on Saturday night, when Xander Bogaerts and Elias Diaz each hit a two-run homer to help the San Diego Padres win 6-2 and move closer to a playoff spot. The White Sox (36-119) matched the AL mark set by the 2003 Detroit Tigers, who finished 43-119. One more defeat for Chicago over its final seven games would equal the post-1900 record of 120 losses by the 1962 expansion New York Mets, and two more would set the new record. The 1899 Cleveland Spiders hold the overall major league record for losses at 20-134. Chris Flexen (2-15) remained winless in his last 23 starts for a White Sox club that lost their 20th straight road series. According to ESPN Stats & Information research, Chicago, which is now 9-48 since the All-Star break, is on pace for 124 losses. David Peralta also homered for San Diego (89-66), which maintained a two-game lead over...

AUSTIN, Texas --  Arch Manning threw for 258 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in his first career start at Texas, leading a 51-3 win over UL Monroe in relief of injured starter Quinn Ewers to push the No. 1 Longhorns to 4-0. After throwing an interception on his first possession, Manning settled in, and Texas scored touchdowns on six of his 10 drives for a 44-3 lead when he left the game early in the fourth quarter. The redshirt freshman completed 15 of his 29 pass attempts. In the Longhorns' first game as the No. 1-ranked team in the AP Top 25 since 2008, Manning received plenty of help. Running back Jaydon Blue rushed for 124 yards and scored four total touchdowns, and Texas' defense held General Booty and the Warhawks (2-1) to 111 total yards on 2.2 yards per play. Ewers exited Texas' 56-7 win over UTSA last week after suffering an oblique strain. His status is considered day-to-day, and he could potentially return...

STILLWATER, Okla. -- With veteran quarterback Cam Rising sidelined for a second straight week, No. 12 Utah turned to backup quarterback Isaac Wilson at Boone Pickens Stadium on Saturday then leaned on the true freshman passer to land a statement victory in the program's inaugural Big 12 game. In his second career start, Wilson went 17-of-29 for 207 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions, delivering a series of key moments and lifting the Utes in a 22-19 win over No. 14 Oklahoma State to become the first true freshman quarterback starter to beat an AP Top 25 opponent in program history. "I like that he just kept hanging in there and never got down on himself," said Utah coach Kyle Whittingham. "Threw a couple of picks. Didn't flinch. You saw his ability to run. He ripped off that 40- or 50-yard run. That was huge at that point in time. Dipped his shoulder and made another tough run down in the red zone that got us a first down. He's just...

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Michigan kept pounding the ball and pounding the ball. And when it mattered most, No. 11 USC couldn't stop it. Powered by running back Kalel Mullings, who scored the winning touchdown in the final seconds, the defending national champion Wolverines rumbled to a 27-24 victory in their Big Ten opener Saturday. "That's a representation of who we are," Mullings said of Michigan's run-heavy game plan. "Just grit and grinding up ... grinding meat that whole time." The Wolverines rushed for 290 yards, including 79 on the final drive. Mullings got all eight carries and broke through a pair of tackles for a 63-yard run that put Michigan in the red zone. He finished off the drive with a 1-yard scoring plunge on fourth-and-goal with 37 seconds remaining. "A will to not give in," Michigan coach Sherrone Moore said of his senior back. "A will to want it more than them. To want it more than the man who's trying to tackle him." The No. 18 Wolverines...

Several teams have expressed an interest in trading for quarterback  Bryce Young, despite the fact coach Dave Canales said the Carolina Panthers do not intend to trade the former No. 1 overall pick, league sources told ESPN. The Panthers have been contacted by certain teams, according to league sources, while other teams have mulled a Young trade within their own organizations. Although the Panthers have said they don't plan to trade Young at this time, sources around the league believe it is only a matter of time before Carolina completes a deal involving the second-year quarterback -- with the most likely time coming at some point in the offseason. For now, the Panthers still would like Young to back up their new starter  Andy Dalton and believe there is a chance they could turn to Young again later this season, depending on how the upcoming weeks play out, according to sources. Young, who was benched Monday in favor of Dalton, has struggled and...

Several teams have expressed an interest in trading for Bryce Young, despite the fact that coach Dave Canales said the Carolina Panthers do not intend to trade the former No. 1 overall pick, league sources told ESPN. The Panthers have been contacted by certain teams, according to league sources, while other teams have mulled a Young trade within their own organizations. Although the Panthers have said that they don't plan to trade Young at this time, sources around the league believe it is only a matter of time before Carolina actually does complete a deal involving the second-year quarterback -- with the most likely time coming at some point in the offseason. For now, the Panthers still would like Young to back up their new starting quarterback Andy Dalton and believe there is a chance that they could turn to Young again later this season, depending on how the upcoming weeks play out, according to sources. Young, who was benched Monday in favor...

Mack Brown told ESPN on Saturday that he is not resigning after an emotional locker room scene with his players following North Carolina's embarrassing 70-50 loss to James Madison, which is in its third season as an FBS school. Brown, a College Football Hall of Famer, said he told the players that it was his fault and that he would step away if he couldn't get things fixed. The 70 points were the most ever given up by the Tar Heels, who fell to 3-1. "I'm not resigning. I'll be back at work Monday," Brown told ESPN. Brown, 73, is in his sixth season at North Carolina. He told ESPN he was aware of some reports and that messages in emotional locker rooms can be misconstrued but was adamant that he is not stepping down. He has led North Carolina to winning records in four of his five seasons. The Tar Heels won eight games last season and nine the season before when they finished first in the ACC's Coastal Division. Brown was at Texas for 16 seasons...

UNCASVILLE, Conn. -- The Indiana Fever enter the WNBA playoffs with a lot of firsts on tap. Sunday's first-round opener against the Connecticut Sun will mark the franchise's first postseason appearance since 2016, as well as the first playoff game for each member of Indiana's starting five, including star rookie Caitlin Clark. But the No. 6-seed Fever are channeling the levity and youth that have helped them emerge as one of the best teams in the WNBA after the Olympic break in hopes it will help them pull off the upset of the No. 3 Sun. "You can't get too tight; that's not going to let you play good basketball," Clark said Saturday. "I think that's what's brought us a lot of success here in the second half of the season, is the fun and energy that we play with and a light mood. So I think it's good that you see everybody with that. But at the same time, I feel like everybody's approaching this as this is the playoffs. This is very important to every single...

USC wide receiver Makai Lemon exited Saturday's 27-24 loss to Michigan with an apparent injury after he was hit hard during a punt return in the first half. Lemon did not return to the game, and according to the CBS broadcast, he was taken away in an ambulance. USC did not provide an official update on Lemon's status before the end of the game.  The sophomore wideout spent an extended amount of time lying down on the field after the injury while surrounded by several members of USC's training and coaching staff before walking off under his own power. He entered the injury tent and then was taken into the locker room. Tight end Lake McRee and safety  Akili Arnold also exited the game in the second half with apparent left leg and arm injuries, respectively. The broadcast showed McRee visibly emotional on the bench before he walked into the tunnel to the locker room. USC head coach Lincoln Riley did not provide any updates regarding the injured...

LONDON -- Daniel Dubois left Anthony Joshua's career in disarray after knocking out his English rival with a right to the jaw in Round 5 in a first defense of his IBF world heavyweight title Saturday. Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs) endured a nightmare as Dubois (22-2, 21 KOs) floored him four times in Rounds 1, 3 and 4 before the savage finish after 59 seconds of Round 5. Despite being the champion, Dubois pulled off an upset to inflict a fourth professional defeat on Joshua who was denied becoming a three-time world heavyweight champion in front of 96,000 fans at Wembley Stadium, the biggest postwar crowd for a boxing event in the United Kingdom. Much was made of Joshua's knockout form, and he entered the fight on the back of a vicious stoppage of Francis Ngannou in March. But it was Dubois' power and aggression that emphatically determined Saturday's outcome as he swatted Joshua around the ring with ease. Dubois' victory sets up the possibility of him fighting for the...