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Pitt athletic director Heather Lyke was fired Monday, the school announced, citing a need to help the school navigate "a new era in college athletics." "Upon her arrival at Pitt in 2017, Heather guided our program through a unique period in college athletics and we thank her for her leadership during that time," chancellor Joan Gabel said in a statement. "However, as we enter a new era in college athletics, one that seems to change by the day, we need a new vision and a new leader of our athletics department." Lyke and Gabel, formally inaugurated as Pitt's chancellor in April, did not see eye to eye on a variety of issues, including NIL, sources told ESPN. Executive associate athletic director Jennifer Tuscano will serve as interim athletic director until a permanent AD is hired. During her Pitt tenure, Lyke helped raise the profile of the entire athletics department: The football team won the ACC championship in 2021; the women's volleyball team advanced to its first three final...

CLEVELAND -- Dak Prescott was in his room at the downtown Cleveland Marriott at Key Tower when the Dallas Cowboys quarterback got the call that he was going to become the highest-paid player in NFL history. He was with Ezekiel Elliott, his teammate and closest friend, and his physical therapist, Luke Miller, getting his body ready for the season opener against the Cleveland Browns as his agent, Todd France, FaceTimed him with the news: a four-year extension worth $240 million with $231 million guaranteed. "A little emotional call," Prescott said. From there were calls to his girlfriend, Sarah Jane Ramos, and a hello to his baby daughter, M.J. More calls went to his marketing team, financial advisers and his father. He sent out a number of text messages as well. Not more than an hour later, he was on the team bus to Huntington Bank Field and later led the Cowboys to a 33-17 win against the Cleveland Browns. "It works for everyone and understanding...

Forward Alex Morgan played a symbolic 13 minutes and had a penalty kick saved on Sunday for San Diego Wave FC in her final match as a professional -- a 4-1 loss to the North Carolina Courage. Morgan, a two-time World Cup winner and Olympic gold medalist, announced Thursday that the Wave's NWSL home game at Snapdragon Stadium against the Courage would be the last of her nearly 14-year career at the international and professional level. On Sunday, the 35-year-old was denied a dream exit by North Carolina Courage goalkeeper Casey Murphy, one of Morgan's teammates with the United States national team in recent years. Morgan stepped up to the spot after the Wave earned a penalty in the 10th minute, but her left-footed effort was saved by Murphy. San Diego scored an equalizer three minutes later, and Morgan began leaving the field with just over 13 minutes on the clock, a nod to the No. 13 that she famously wore for club and country over...

Italy's Sinner defeated American Taylor Fritz to win the title.

NEW YORK -- World No. 1 Jannik Sinner arrived in New York more than two weeks ago facing a slew of questions and scrutiny over the news that he had been exonerated and avoided suspension after twice testing positive for a banned substance in March.  His expectations for the US Open were "low," he said at the start. But he leaves as a champion, having left little doubt about his status as the best hard-court player in 2024. Sinner, a 23-year-old from Italy, won the US Open on Sunday behind a dominant 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 effort against American Taylor Fritz in front of a lively, celebrity-filled Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd that was largely against him. There were "U-S-A" chants and "Let's go, Taylor" cheers throughout, but Sinner was unfazed. He didn't drop a single point on his first serve over the final two sets of the match. "He was too good," the No. 12-seeded Fritz said during the on-court trophy presentation. He later called Sinner "the best player in...

CHICAGO -- With the game ball secured in his left arm, rookie quarterback Caleb Williams threw up his signature Bear claw with his right hand in response to the ovation he received from fans upon exiting the tunnel at Soldier Field. In Chicago's 24-17 win over the Tennessee Titans, Williams became the first quarterback drafted with the No. 1 pick to win his first career start since David Carr in 2002. His performance, however, left the quarterback frustrated. Williams completed 14 of 29 passes for 93 yards, did not throw a touchdown or an interception, fumbled once and was sacked twice. The rookie quarterback was off target on 31% of his throws and averaged 3.2 yards per pass attempt. "We want to be the most efficient team out there, myself included," Williams said. "Didn't perform the way that I wanted to. I missed a few passes that I normally don't miss, all these other things. "Obviously, it's great to get this first win. We're all excited. Went to the...

LOS ANGELES -- Shohei Ohtani hit his 46th home run of the season to tie his career high, and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Cleveland Guardians 4-0 on Sunday in record-tying heat. With the first-pitch temperature of 103 degrees matching the hottest in Dodger Stadium history, Ohtani hit a 450-foot solo shot down the right-field line off  Tanner Bibee in the fifth inning that was reviewed to see if it was fair. "We were just curious why it was taking so long to look at the replay," Dodgers teammate Max Muncy said. "Maybe the guys in New York were admiring it just as much as we were." Ohtani has 22 home runs of at least 450 feet for his career, all coming since 2021. That's five more than any other player over that span.  Ohtani also hit 46 home runs in 2021 for the Los Angeles Angels in his unanimous American League MVP season. The Japanese star has 46 stolen bases in a bid to become the first major league player with a 50-50...

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Buffalo Bills quarterback  Josh Allen's second rushing touchdown Sunday was a leaping effort into the end zone over  Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker that put the team up by two scores in the fourth quarter, but the landing appeared to leave Allen with a left hand injury. After leaping over Baker, Allen put his hands around the football to brace for impact as defensive lineman Justin Jones tried to push the quarterback from falling into the end zone. As a result, Allen landed with his left (non-throwing) hand around the ball and underneath him. "The first rushing touchdown, I kind of lowered the shoulder, knowing that was a corner," Allen said. "Second time, I knew it was Budda, and Budda's a good player and he'll lay the boom on you, so I decided to go up and over, but probably can't make a living doing that, but here we are." The Bills went on to recover from a 17-3 deficit with less than three minutes remaining...

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- It didn't take long for New York Giants fans to reach their boiling point -- two plays into the season opener, to be exact. That is when the booing began. It went on sporadically for four quarters during a 28-6 drubbing at MetLife Stadium to Sam Darnold and the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday afternoon. The Giants were booed off the field at halftime and later when quarterback Daniel Jones threw a pair of interceptions, including one that was returned 10 yards for a touchdown. Eventually, all that could be heard in the final moments of the blowout was the Vikings fans' "Skol" chant reverberating throughout the stadium. It's only Week 1 in New York. The booing didn't sit well with everyone. "I don't respect it, honestly," Giants defensive captain  Dexter Lawrence said. "I get it. They want to see their team win. It's a rough patch. It just is what it is." The problem is that the Giants' struggles appear to be...

CINCINNATI -- New England Patriots coach Jerod Mayo was presented a game ball by owner Robert Kraft after Sunday's 16-10 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals to acknowledge his first career win. Kraft delivered the ball to Mayo in the locker room, which led to a rousing cheer from players. "It was special. I'm just appreciative of the opportunity," Mayo said, adding that he presented a game ball to executive director of player personnel Eliot Wolf for his first win in the role. "My message to the players was without them, I'm nothing. I made sure they knew that. All the praise goes to those guys." The 38-year-old Mayo, who succeeded Bill Belichick after 24 years, joins Ron Meyer (1982), Raymond Berry (1984), Dick MacPherson (1991) and Pete Carroll (1997) as the only Patriots coaches to earn a win in their first regular-season game. "He was ecstatic, elated, overjoyed. He should be. It's his first one," quarterback Jacoby Brissett said of Mayo. "He...

INDIANAPOLIS -- The new members of the Houston Texans' offense dazzled in their debut as running back Joe Mixon and wide receiver Stefon Diggs combined for three touchdowns in Sunday's 29-27 win over the Indianapolis Colts. Mixon had his third-highest career rushing output in a single game as he finished with 159 yards with a touchdown. Diggs had six catches for just 33 yards but finished with two touchdowns, one of which came on a crucial fourth-and-goal play from the Colts' 2-yard line with 4:45 remaining in the fourth quarter. Texans coach DeMeco Ryans called Diggs and Mixon's offensive performance "everything" for Houston as the duo scored all of the team's touchdowns in Week 1. "Those guys can step up and make plays no matter what the situation is," Ryans said postgame. "When you can count on those guys to make plays, it's huge for our team, not just the offense, but what they did for our entire team."   Mixon ran well against every...

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The Minnesota Vikings had just completed their longest drive in 16 years on Sunday afternoon at MetLife Stadium -- one punctuated by a pair of laser throws from quarterback Sam Darnold to receiver Justin Jefferson -- when coach Kevin O'Connell stole a knowing glance at Jefferson. "I saw Justin's face after that drive," O'Connell said, "and I think he felt pretty darn good about who is throwing him the football." In his Vikings debut, Darnold produced one of the best games of his career by connecting on his first 12 throws and finishing with 19 completions in 24 attempts for 208 yards and two touchdowns. Were it not for a third-quarter interception caused by a hit as he threw, his passer rating would have been a career-high 130.6. External uncertainty about Darnold's aptitude as a full-time starter is largely why the Vikings are a consensus pick to finish last in the NFC North. But at least on this day, Darnold utilized the...

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Multiple Dolphins players were detained by Miami-Dade Police Department officers before Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, including All-Pro wide receiver Tyreek Hill. Hill said he was pulled over for allegedly speeding while driving to Hard Rock Stadium, roughly three hours before the game kicked off. He was ultimately placed in handcuffs after a "verbal altercation" occurred, sources told ESPN's Jeff Darlington. Hill was cited for reckless driving, sources told Darlington. He was released after several minutes, but the incident was filmed by nearby fans and quickly went viral on social media. Hill said he didn't know why the situation escalated the way it did. "Right now, I'm still trying to put it all together ... I still don't know what happened," he said after the game. "But I do want to use this platform to say, 'What if I wasn't Tyreek Hill?' Worst-case scenario, you know? ... Everybody has bad apples in every...

The debut of quarterback Kirk Cousins with the new-look Atlanta Falcons did not go the way they had hoped. The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Falcons 18-10 on Sunday in Atlanta's Week 1 home opener and made what some expected to be a high-powered offense look pretty pedestrian. Cousins was 16-of-26 for 155 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. The last interception killed a fourth-quarter drive in a one-score game. Cousins had just 19 yards passing in the second half, the lowest total of his 13-year career. "I was disappointed," Cousins said. "Certainly disappointed. You always go out there with an expectation that you're going to play at a high level, and we didn't play up to our standard today." The team's defense allowed just 18 points, but its offense looked out of sorts throughout. A bad-snap fumble hit tight end  Ross Dwelley while he was in motion. Penalties killed promising drives. It looks like there will be an adjustment...

NEW YORK -- Jannik Sinner started slowly at the US Open, dropping the first set he played after being exonerated in a doping case no one knew about until shortly before play began at Flushing Meadows. If that episode initially hung over him during the tournament, he was able to put it aside while on court. The No. 1-ranked Sinner beat Taylor Fritz 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 with his typical relentless baseline game to win the men's singles championship at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Sunday, less than three weeks after word emerged of his two positive drug tests. "This title, for me, means so much," said Sinner, a 23-year-old from Italy, "because the last period of my career was really not easy." He won the second Grand Slam trophy of his nascent career -- the other was at the Australian Open in January -- and prevented No. 12 Fritz from ending a major title drought for American men that has lasted 21 years. Sinner is the fourth different man to win both the Australian Open and US...

The Dallas Cowboys and Dak Prescott have agreed on a four-year, $240 million contract extension that will make the star quarterback the highest-paid player in NFL history and keep him in a Cowboys uniform through the 2028 season, owner and general manager Jerry Jones said Sunday. The deal includes $231 million guaranteed, which is the most in league history. Deshaun Watson's fully guaranteed deal with the Cleveland Browns was worth $230 million. "I know that these numbers are beyond anything that I could have ever imagined," Jones said of the guaranteed money in Prescott's deal. The $60 million average annual value of Prescott's contract is the highest in NFL history, easily surpassing recent deals worth $55 million in average annual value signed by Cincinnati's Joe Burrow, Green Bay's Jordan Love and Jacksonville's Trevor Lawrence. Prescott also received a record $80 million signing bonus, passing...

Baseball Hall of Fame member Wade Boggs has prostate cancer. The former third baseman made the announcement Saturday night on social media and sounded optimistic, saying he will be ready to take part in the ritual cancer patients have of ringing a bell when they have concluded their treatment. "With the strength and support of my family and my faith in God I'm going to ring that damn bell," Boggs wrote, adding a photo of a prostate cancer patient guide. Boggs, 66, played 18 MLB seasons with the Boston Red Sox (1982-92), New York Yankees (1993-97) and the then- Tampa Bay Devil Rays (1998-99). A five-time batting champion and 12-time All-Star, Boggs was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2005 on the first ballot, garnering votes on 91.9% of ballots. The Hall of Fame sent good wishes, posting to social media, "We're with you every step of the way, Wade!" In his career, Boggs hit .328 and joined the 3,000-hit club, finishing with 3,010 to go with 1,513...

NEW YORK -- Las Vegas Aces star A'ja Wilson was ruled out of Sunday's 75-71 loss to the  New York Liberty after injuring her right ankle Friday in the closing minute of her team's win over the Connecticut Sun. Las Vegas coach Becky Hammon described the injury as a tweak and said there are no long-term concerns after Wilson underwent imaging but that they are taking things slow with her and will see how she feels going into the Aces' next game Wednesday against the Indiana Fever. "There's never a good time for this, but she does get a couple days to get that ankle right and get a little bit of rest," Hammon said, referring to the team's approach with Wilson as "very precautionary." Wilson was seen entering Barclays Center on Sunday afternoon in a walking boot. The Aces started  Megan Gustafson and Alysha Clark alongside their usual backcourt of Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum and Jackie...

Lincoln Riley and USC landed another key defensive piece in the 2025 class Sunday afternoon with a commitment from four-star linebacker Ty Jackson, ESPN's No. 1 inside linebacker in the cycle. Jackson, ranked 44th in the 2025 ESPN 300, made his commitment following a visit to the Trojans over the weekend, during which he saw USC's defense blank Utah State in a 48-0 victory Saturday night. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound defender is now the Trojans' highest-rated defensive pledge and the program's eighth ESPN 300 commit in the 2025 class. He recently told ESPN that he planned to take his commitment deep into the fall, perhaps as late as the start of the early signing period on Dec. 4. Instead, ESPN's fourth-highest-rated remaining uncommitted defender in the 2025 class gave his pledge just two weeks into the regular season, swayed by the brand of defense emerging with the Trojans under first-year coordinator D'Anton Lynn. Jackson, a star defender...

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. --  Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill was detained by police Sunday outside Hard Rock Stadium for a driving violation but was released from custody before Miami's game against the  Jacksonville Jaguars. Hill is playing in the game and scored a touchdown on an 80-yard pass play from Tua Tagovailoa in the third quarter. Hill appeared to reenact his detainment to celebrate his touchdown. Fellow wide receiver Jaylen Waddle walked behind as Hill held his arms behind his back like he was in handcuffs. Hill finished the Dolphins' 20-17 victory with 130 yards receiving on seven receptions. Before the game, Hill was seen on video posted to social media face down on the ground as officers placed his hands behind his back and put him in handcuffs. Sources told ESPN's Jeff Darlington that Hill was stopped for speeding and then got into a verbal altercation with police and was subsequently placed in handcuffs. Hill...

Baseball Hall of Fame member Wade Boggs has prostate cancer. The former third baseman made the announcement Saturday night on social media and sounded optimistic, saying he will be ready to take part in the ritual cancer patients have of ringing a bell when they have concluded their treatment. "With the strength and support of my family and my faith in God I'm going to ring that damn bell," Boggs wrote, adding a photo of a prostate cancer patient guide. Boggs, 66, played 18 MLB seasons with the Boston Red Sox (1982-92), New York Yankees (1993-97) and the then- Tampa Bay Devil Rays (1998-99). A five-time batting champion and 12-time All-Star, Boggs was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2005 on the first ballot, garnering votes on 91.9% of ballots. The Hall of Fame sent good wishes, posting to social media, "We're with you every step of the way, Wade!" In his career, Boggs hit .328 and joined the 3,000-hit club, finishing with 3,010 to go with 1,513...

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. --  Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill was detained by police Sunday outside Hard Rock Stadium for a driving violation but was released from custody before Miami's game against the  Jacksonville Jaguars and is playing. Hill was seen on video posted to social media face down on the ground as officers placed his hands behind his back and put him in handcuffs. Sources told ESPN's Jeff Darlington that Hill was stopped for speeding and then got into a verbal altercation with police and was subsequently placed in handcuffs. Hill was cited for reckless driving, sources told Darlington. The traffic incident happened about one block away from the stadium, the team said. Several teammates saw the incident and stopped to offer support, according to the team.  The Miami-Dade Police Department released a statement from Director Stephanie V. Daniels, who requested an "immediate review" of the incident. "We are aware of the recent detainment...

ATLANTA -- Justin Fields started at quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers in Sunday's season opener against the Atlanta Falcons, while  Russell Wilson is sidelined with a calf injury. Wilson, who was limited in Thursday and Friday practices after aggravating the injury first sustained in training camp, is the Steelers' emergency quarterback -- meaning he can play only if there are injuries to Fields and Kyle Allen, who is serving as the backup Sunday. Wilson took the field just before 10:30 a.m. ET Sunday and went through a series of throws for about 15 minutes with a pair of Steelers equipment staffers. Wilson appeared to move slowly through the warmup as he took several small dropbacks before firing off a pass. He warmed up in each end zone, finishing with fades to the corner. He returned to the field just after 11 a.m. ET and chatted briefly with general manager Omar Khan. Wilson then resumed throwing, this time to quarterbacks coach...

The Dallas Cowboys and Dak Prescott have agreed on a four-year, $240 million contract extension that will make the star quarterback the highest-paid player in NFL history and keep him in a Cowboys uniform through the 2028 season, sources told ESPN. The deal includes $231 million guaranteed, a source told ESPN, which is the most in league history. Deshaun Watson's fully guaranteed deal with the Cleveland Browns was worth $230 million. "I know that these numbers are beyond anything that I could have ever imagined," Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said of the guaranteed money in Prescott's deal. The $60 million average annual value of Prescott's contract is the highest in NFL history, easily surpassing recent deals worth $55 million in average annual value signed by Cincinnati's Joe Burrow, Green Bay's Jordan Love and Jacksonville's Trevor Lawrence. Prescott also received a record $80...

Kendrick Lamar will pop out on the NFL's biggest stage next year: The Grammy winner will headline the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show in New Orleans. The NFL, Apple Music and Roc Nation announced Sunday that Lamar would lead the halftime festivities from the Caesars Superdome on Feb. 9. The rap megastar said he was looking forward to bringing hip-hop to the NFL's championship game, where he performed as a guest artist with Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg in 2022. "Rap music is still the most impactful genre to date," Lamar said in a statement. "And I'll be there to remind the world why. They got the right one." Lamar has experienced massive success since his debut album "good kid, m.A.A.d city" in 2012. Since then, he has accumulated 17 Grammy wins and became the first non-classical, non-jazz musician to win a Pulitzer Prize for his 2017 album "DAMN." The rapper's latest album, "Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers," was released in 2022. He was featured on the song "Like That" with Future...

ATLANTA -- Justin Fields will start at quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers in Sunday's season opener against the Atlanta Falcons, while  Russell Wilson will be sidelined with a calf injury. Wilson, who was limited in Thursday and Friday practices after aggravating the injury first sustained in training camp, will be the Steelers' emergency quarterback -- meaning he can only play if there are injuries to Fields and Kyle Allen, who will serve as the backup Sunday. Wilson took the field just before 10:30 a.m. ET Sunday and went through a series of throws for about 15 minutes with a pair of Steelers equipment staffers. Wilson appeared to move slowly through the warmup as he took several small dropbacks before firing off a pass. He warmed up in each end zone, finishing with fades to the corner. Wilson then returned to the field just after 11 a.m. ET and chatted briefly with general manager Omar Khan. Wilson then resumed throwing, this time to...

CINCINNATI -- Count Ja'Marr Chase in for Sunday. The Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver is active for the season opener against the New England Patriots. He had been listed as questionable after a contract hold-in during training camp and an illness that he suffered Saturday morning. Chase had previously said that the decision to play would be up to him and be made at some point before kickoff. He also stated that he would be willing to play without a contract extension. And a new deal does not appear to be coming. Sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter that Chase and the Bengals failed to agree on new terms for the three-time Pro Bowler prior to the team's Week 1 game. He still has two years remaining on his rookie deal. Chase participated in Sunday's warmups with the team. He spent the bulk of the morning beside assistant Troy Walters as he got ready. Chase was also the first receiver to catch passes from quarterback Joe Burrow during warmups. It...

ATLANTA -- Justin Fields will start at quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers as Russell Wilson will be sidelined for the opener against the Atlanta Falcons with a calf injury. Wilson, who was limited in Thursday and Friday practices after aggravating his training camp calf injury, will be the Steelers' emergency quarterback -- meaning he can only play if there's injuries to Fields and Kyle Allen, who will serve as the backup Sunday. Wilson took the field just before 10:30 a.m. ET Sunday and went through a series of throws for about 15 minutes with a pair of Steelers equipment staffers. Wilson appeared to move slowly through the warmup as he took several small dropbacks before firing off a pass. He warmed up in each end zone, finishing with fades to the corner. Wilson then returned to the field just after 11 a.m. ET and chatted briefly with general manager Omar Khan. Wilson then resumed throwing, this time to quarterbacks coach Tom Arth....

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. --  Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill was detained by police Sunday outside Hard Rock Stadium for a driving violation but has been released from custody, the team announced. Hill was seen on video posted to social media face down as officers placed his hands behind his back and put him in handcuffs. The traffic incident happened about one block away from the stadium, the team said. Several teammates saw the incident and stopped to offer support, according to the team.  Hill is available to play in the Dolphins' season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the team said. Sources told ESPN's Jeff Darlington that Hill was stopped for speeding and then got into a verbal altercation with police and was subsequently placed in handcuffs. Hill was cited for reckless driving, sources told Darlington.  In an interview with ESPN, Hill's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, called it "a heartbreaking situation" that was "completely unnecessary." He...

Yankees left-hander Nestor Cortes admitted he was "upset" over being used as a reliever against the Cubs, saying he was surprised by the demotion from New York's starting rotation but that he would accept the new role if it ends up being permanent. Cortes, a 2022 All-Star who has worked exclusively as a starter since midway through the 2021 season, pitched 4⅓ no-hit relief innings Saturday afternoon at Wrigley Field, combining with starter Clarke Schmidt for a four-hit shutout in the Yankees' 2-0 victory. The outspoken Cortes did not mince words after the game, calling himself the "workhorse" of New York's rotation and citing the Yankees' decision to name him as their Opening Day starter when ace Gerrit Cole was sidelined with an elbow injury to start the season. "Obviously I was upset," Cortes said. "I felt like I've been, amongst all the starters, the workhorse here. Once Cole went down, they picked me to be the Opening Day starter -- not...

With a new season underway, the NFL is warning specific players and teams that it will not hold back on suspensions. The NFL recently sent a memo to more than 20 players and the teams that they play for, emphasizing the importance of safety and sportsmanship and warning them that they would face suspensions if there are any violations, league sources told ESPN. The league believes this is an additional attempt to try to make the game safer, according to sources. The players who received notice have been penalized and scrutinized in the past. The NFL declined to provide a list of which players were notified, but all the players have been suspended during the past two seasons for on-field infractions that the league will not tolerate this season. Among the players suspended the past two seasons for on-field infractions are Buffalo Bills practice squad safety Kareem Jackson, Pittsburgh Steelers safety Damontae Kazee, Los Angeles Chargers...

EUGENE, Oregon -- Oregon's record may still be perfect after two weeks of the college football season, but it doesn't take a magnifying glass to see that the team that began the year ranked third in the country has shown several blemishes. Struggling to beat an unranked opponent for the second week in a row, the Ducks were able to find a way to win again Saturday, outlasting a tough Boise State team 37-34 thanks to Atticus Sappington's last-second, game-winning field goal. The result left coach Dan Lanning with mixed emotions. "We sure like sweating around here," Lanning said. "I have a sense of relief because of the result, but there are certainly a lot of things to fix." Sappington's 25-yard field goal sent the Autzen Stadium crowd into a frenzy as the clock hit zero. But the elation was not so far removed from the boos that showered down on the Ducks' offense with during the second half as it called three straight runs -- the last on...

Despite building his own veritable media empire that even includes opening an "Instaface" account, Bill Belichick still is a coach at heart. Those who know Belichick best say that despite his burgeoning media résumé, the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach still would like to return to coaching in 2025, but only in the right situations with good jobs. Belichick is expected to be choosy if and when he returns to the sideline, according to sources. Belichick had multiple opportunities to join various staffs this past offseason as a defensive coordinator or some type of decorated assistant role. Not only did the San Francisco 49ers consider Belichick for their vacant defensive coordinator job, as head coach Kyle Shanahan said this summer, but so did the Los Angeles Rams, according to league sources. The Rams had a defensive coordinator vacancy after Raheem Morris left to become the Atlanta Falcons' head coach, and one of the names on Los...

LINCOLN, Neb. -- After his team's first loss of the season and second-lowest scoring output of his tenure, Colorado coach Deion Sanders was left wondering how to get his offense back on track. The Buffaloes were shut out in the first half, struggled to protect quarterback Shedeur Sanders and finished with 16 rushing yards in their 28-10 road loss to Nebraska on Saturday night. Colorado (1-1) fell behind quickly against a foe it beat 36-14 last season and trailed 14-0 when Sanders threw an interception from his own end zone that Nebraska cornerback Tommi Hill returned for a 7-yard touchdown, a turnover he called a "rookie mistake." Colorado ran 11 plays in the first quarter for a net gain of minus-2 yards. "The way we started is just not indicative of who we are," Deion Sanders said, "and we just never got it together." Facing frequent pressure, Shedeur Sanders threw for 244 yards and one score on 23-of-38 passing. He was sacked five times,...

Angel Reese's sensational rookie campaign for the Chicago Sky has ended because of a season-ending wrist injury suffered Friday against the  Los Angeles Sparks. "What a year," Reese posted on social media Saturday. "I never would have imagined the last bucket of my rookie season would be a 3 but maybe that was God saying give them a taste of what they will be seeing more of in Year 2 lol. "I'm filled with emotions right now that I have a season ending injury, but also filled with so much gratitude for what is next. Although this is God's timing and not mine, I am finally able to give myself a physical and mental break. 'God gives his hardest battles to his strongest soldiers.'" Reese, the No. 7 pick in the 2024 draft and star national champion out of LSU, made a statement in her first season in the WNBA. She had 26 double-doubles, second most in a season in WNBA history, and earlier this summer set a WNBA record with 15 consecutive double-doubles. Reese's...

NEW YORK -- Moments after winning her third Grand Slam singles title, and first at the US Open, Aryna Sabalenka fell to the ground with her hands covering her face. She had just defeated American Jessica Pegula 7-5, 7-5 in front of a partisan and star-studded crowd Saturday under the roof of Arthur Ashe Stadium.  It was a markedly different scene from a year ago, when Sabalenka squandered a one-set lead over Coco Gauff, another American, in the US Open final and walked away with the runner-up trophy. And even the two years before that, when she lost in the semifinal round in 2021 and 2022.  The No. 2-seeded Sabalenka, from Belarus, couldn't help but acknowledge her past when addressing the crowd during the trophy ceremony. "Oh, my God. I'm speechless right now," said Sabalenka, 26. "So many times, I thought I was so close to get a US Open title. It's been a dream of mine. Finally, I got this beautiful trophy. It means a lot." Playing in her 100th career...

OXFORD, Miss. -- Jaxson Dart completed his first 24 passes to set SEC and school records, finishing 25-of-27 for 377 yards in No. 6 Mississippi's 52-3 victory over Middle Tennessee on Saturday. The streak ended when Dart and Tre Harris couldn't connect on a crossing pattern with 9:56 remaining. Dart broke the SEC record of 23 straight completions to start a game set by Tennessee's Tee Martin against South Carolina in 1998. The previous Ole Miss record of 19 straight completions was set by Matt Corral against Vanderbilt in 2020. Spanning two games, Dart also authored 30 consecutive completions, which, according to ESPN Stats & Information research, is the longest streak in SEC history. Dart was hit hard from the blind side in the second quarter, but responded with throws of 18 and 25 yards before a 3-yard touchdown run. He threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Antwane Wells Jr. in the fourth quarter. "I'm proud of Jaxson's leadership,"...

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- After four practices this week, the San Francisco 49ers will welcome left tackle Trent Williams and receiver Brandon Aiyuk back for Monday night's regular-season opener against the New York Jets. The lingering question for Williams and Aiyuk, both of whom resolved their contract issues in time to begin practicing with the Niners on Tuesday, is just how many snaps they'll be able to play after missing almost all of training camp and the preseason. The answer, it seems, might be different for each player. According to coach Kyle Shanahan on Saturday, Williams is likely to take on something closer to his full, normal workload, while Aiyuk is set for a bit of a reduction in the number of snaps he normally plays. Because Williams plays offensive tackle, it's less likely the Niners will want to sub him out in any sort of rotation with backup Jaylon Moore unless absolutely necessary. Shanahan said Williams returned in good...

United States men's national team interim coach Mikey Varas said his players lacked the right mentality in a historic 2-1 loss to  Canada Saturday at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas. It was Canada's second victory over the USMNT on U.S. soil and first in 67 years. "The mentality is on the players. They know it," he told reporters. "We speak the truth to each other. I love those guys. But they know that mentality to fight, to run and to sacrifice, I can't do that for them. That's on them." Varas said he had no answers to why the proper mentality was lacking. "I'm not a psychologist, so I don't know," he said. "I felt that the trainings were intense. They were aggressive. But when the game comes, you gotta get going. And the players are the ones that bring that. Coaches can only get you so far from a mentality perspective." Coming off defeats to Panama and Uruguay at the Copa América, the U.S. has lost three straight games for...

CINCINNATI -- The Bengals tentatively are planning to have at least one of their top receivers for Sunday's opener. The team is proceeding with its game plan anticipating wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase will play against the New England Patriots, a source told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Cincinnati can adjust accordingly should Chase not end up playing, per the source. On Friday, Chase said his availability will be a game-time decision amid a contract dispute that resulted in a hold-in through all of training camp. He took part in the team's final three practices of the week. However, another issue popped up Saturday when he was added to the injury report with an illness. His availability, which is officially listed as questionable, did not change with his illness designation Saturday. The three-time Pro Bowler said that he is willing to play without a contract extension when asked on Friday, his first public comments since the end of last season. He also added that...

NEW YORK -- Moments after winning her third Grand Slam singles title, and first at the US Open, Aryna Sabalenka fell to the ground with her hands covering her face. She had just defeated American Jessica Pegula 7-5, 7-5 in front of a partisan and star-studded crowd Saturday under the roof of Arthur Ashe Stadium.  It was a markedly different scene from a year ago, when Sabalenka squandered a one-set lead over Coco Gauff, another American, in the US Open final and walked away with the runner-up trophy. And even the two years before that, when she lost in the semifinal round in 2021 and 2022.  The No. 2-seeded Sabalenka, a 26-year-old from Belarus, couldn't help but acknowledge her past when addressing the crowd during the trophy ceremony. "Oh, my God. I'm speechless right now," Sabalenka said. "So many times, I thought I was so close to get a US Open title. It's been a dream of mine. Finally, I got this beautiful trophy. It means a lot." Playing in her...

Utah quarterback Cam Rising left late in the second quarter of the Utes' 23-12 win against Baylor on Saturday with a hand injury and did not return. The injury occurred after Rising was shoved into a bank of watercoolers on the Baylor sideline, which did not result in a roughing the passer penalty. Rising was later seen in street clothes on the sideline with the ring and middle fingers on his right throwing hand taped. Speaking after the win, Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said he was unable to provide anything conclusive about Rising's availability for next week's game against Utah State but did not sound overly concerned. "Just been told it's not real serious," Whittingham said. "You know what I know now. It wasn't real serious and can't tell you the exact description of what happened, but he may be back this week. We'll see." Before exiting, Rising completed 8 of 14 passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns as Utah built a 23-0 lead. He was replaced by true...

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Kanon Woodill hit a 35-yard field goal with 31 seconds to play, Cade Haberman blocked a 62-yard try as time expired and  Northern Illinois stunned No. 5  Notre Dame 16-14 on Saturday. Haberman blocked the 62-yard attempt by Notre Dame's Mitch Jeter, allowing the jubilant Huskies to claim their first nonconference victory against a ranked opponent since a 19-16 upset of No. 21 Alabama in 2003. It was also the Huskies' first victory over a top-10 opponent and the first by a Mid-American Conference team against an AP top-five team; the MAC was previously 0-51 against such opponents. Northern Illinois head coach Thomas Hammock was emotional after the dramatic victory. "We didn't need luck," Hammock said. "That was our theme. I didn't think we needed luck. We just need to play our best. It wasn't the cleanest for us, but we played hard for four quarters and stayed together. They worked together, they believed, and they made...

Utah quarterback Cam Rising left late in the second quarter of the Utes' 23-12 win against Baylor on Saturday with a hand injury and did not return. Rising, a seventh-year senior, missed all of last year with a major knee injury suffered in the Rose Bowl the previous season. The injury occurred after Rising was shoved into a bank of watercoolers on the Baylor sideline, which did not result in a roughing the passer penalty. Rising was later seen in street clothes on the sideline with the ring and middle fingers on his right throwing hand taped. Before exiting, Rising completed 8 of 14 passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns as Utah built a 23-0 lead. He was replaced by true freshman Isaac Wilson, the younger brother of NFL quarterback Zach Wilson, who completed 4 of 9 passes for 40 yards. Rising's return from injury this year is a significant reason Utah entered the season as one of the favorites to win the Big 12 in its first year in the conference....

CINCINNATI -- The Bengals tentatively are planning to have at least one of their top receivers for Sunday's opener. The team is proceeding with its game plan anticipating wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase will play against the New England Patriots, a source told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Cincinnati can adjust accordingly should Chase not end up playing, per the source. On Friday, Chase said his availability will be a game-time decision amid a contract dispute that resulted in a hold-in through all of training camp. He took part in the team's final three practices of the week. However, another issue popped up Saturday when he was added to the injury report with an illness. His availability, which is officially listed as questionable, did not change with his illness designation Saturday. The three-time Pro Bowler said that he is willing to play without a contract extension when asked on Friday, his first public comments since the end of last season. He also added that...

The victory marked Sabalenka's first US Open win and third Grand Slam title.

The United States men's national team suffered its first home loss to Canada in 67 years, as it continued its struggles from this summer's Copa América in Saturday's friendly in Kansas City, Kansas. In its first game since exiting the Copa América at the group stage and the subsequent removal of Gregg Berhalter as head coach, the U.S. was well beaten by its neighbors to the north. The 2-1 win was Canada's second victory over the USMNT on U.S. soil in 27 games, and first since 1957 in St. Louis. While Mauricio Pochettino is expected to imminently be announced as Berhalter's high-profile replacement, the U.S. was under the interim charge of former assistant Mikey Varas. Canada, meanwhile, continued to display its upward trajectory under another former U.S. assistant coach, and onetime candidate for U.S. head coach, Jesse Marsch. Canada, which reached the semifinals of its first Copa in July, was particularly dominant in the first half. Jacob Shaffelburg...

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Nobody at Michigan expected the Wolverines to start 2024 looking like the unstoppable, undefeated national champions of last year -- not when that 2023 team lost an FBS-leading 13 of those players to the NFL, along with its coach. But the jarring difference that has unfolded in a matter of months was on full display Saturday when No. 3 Texas dismantled the Wolverines in every which way on their home turf, breezing out of town with a 31-12 win while snapping Michigan's streak of 23 straight wins in the Big House. The loss also broke Michigan's Big Ten record of winning 29 straight regular-season games. Following the loss, first-year coach Sherrone Moore said he didn't think about growing pains with this team, rather he focused on what the Wolverines could do to get better. "We knew we're a new team," he said. "We never tried to rest on our laurels after we won the national championship last year. So for us, it was what are we going to do...

Utah quarterback Cam Rising left late in the second quarter of the Utes' game against Baylor on Saturday with a hand injury and was not expected to return. Rising, a seventh-year senior, missed all of last year with a major knee injury suffered in the Rose Bowl the previous season. The injury occurred after Rising was shoved into a bank of watercoolers on the Baylor sideline, which did not result in a roughing the passer penalty. Rising was later seen in street clothes on the sideline with the ring and middle fingers on his right throwing hand taped. Before exiting, Rising completed 8 of 14 passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns as Utah built a 23-0 lead. He was replaced by true freshman Isaac Wilson, the younger brother of NFL quarterback Zach Wilson, who completed 7 of 11 passes for 74 yards off the bench in Week 1 against Southern Utah. Rising's return from injury this year is a significant reason Utah entered the season as one of the favorites...

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Top-10 opponents keep bringing out the best in Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers. On Saturday, Ewers delivered another gem on the road, throwing for 246 yards and three touchdowns, as the Longhorns cruised past No. 10 Michigan in The Big House, 31-12. Ewers is now the only FBS quarterback in the country since the start of last season to throw three touchdowns without an interception against multiple AP top-10 opponents, according to ESPN Stats & Info; Ewers led Texas to a victory at Alabama last season, as well. "There's something about Quinn in his demeanor. He's a very calm guy. He's really collected. He never rides the emotional rollercoaster," Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said. "When you've got a quarterback that everybody can believe in, that just fuels confidence and belief that, 'Hey, let's go do our part, because the guy that's holding the ball every play, he's on point.'" Ewers came out on point again against the defending national champs, as the...