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Notre Dame gets late pick and field goal to make title game with 27-24 win over Penn State
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) -- A diving interception off an ill-advised pass set up Notre Dame's trip to play for the program's 12th national title after a thrill-a-minute 27-24 victory over Penn State on Thursday night in the semifinal at the Orange Bowl. Fighting Irish defensive back Christian Gray snared Drew Allar's pass across the middle at the Nittany Lions 42 with 33 seconds left, then the Irish moved 19 yards to set up Mitch Jeter's 41-yard winner with 7 seconds left. Notre Dame (14-1), seeded seventh in this, the first 12-team college playoff, will have a chance to bring its first title since 1988 back under the Golden Dome with a game Jan. 20 against the winner of Friday night's Texas-Ohio State semifinal.
Notre Dame QB Riley Leonard gets injury scare, returns to rally Irish into CFP championship game
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) -- Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard briefly went out of the game, then returned to find the end zone in the College Football Playoff semifinal against Penn State on Thursday night at the Orange Bowl. Leonard missed much of Notre Dame's final drive of the first half while being evaluated for a concussion, Irish coach Marcus Freeman told ESPN. Leonard was "asymptomatic," ESPN quoted Leonard as saying, and he started the second half. He led an eight-play, 75-yard drive and capped it with a 3-yard touchdown run that pulled Notre Dame into a 10-10 tie. Leonard went into the medical tent with about two minutes left in the half after a play where he was hit by Penn State's Zane Durant and Dvon J-Thomas.
Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner discuss their doping cases ahead of the Australian Open
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) -- Iga Swiatek, a self-described "control freak," is taking new precautions -- including holding on to extra samples of medicine she takes, in case they need to be tested at some point -- after a doping case she describes as probably the worst time in her life. Jannik Sinner, another player who spent time at No. 1 and tested positive in 2024, said Friday he hasn't been told when the World Anti-Doping Agency's appeal of his exoneration will be heard in court. He is the defending champion at the Australian Open, where play begins Sunday (Saturday EST).
Imagine if Messi coached Ronaldo: Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray team up at the Australian Open
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) -- Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray have known each other for a quarter of a century. They played from the age of 12, meeting 36 times as professionals, including 10 Grand Slam matches. Yet they've never been able to talk shop and freely trade all sorts of thoughts -- about tennis and otherwise -- until now. That's because Djokovic got the bright idea to hire the recently retired Murray as his coach, at least through the Australian Open that begins Sunday (Saturday EST). It's an unusual pairing that caught their sport by surprise in November, after Djokovic called up Murray to check on the possibility of teaming up.
On her own, Caroline Dubois eyes boxing stardom beyond family feud and sibling rivalry
LONDON (AP) -- Caroline Dubois and her brother Daniel are taking sibling rivalries to new levels. The London boxers achieved a rare feat in 2024 when they became just the second sister-brother duo to hold titles at the same time. Daniel knocked out Anthony Joshua in front of 96,000 fans at Wembley Stadium in his first IBF heavyweight title defense. Now it's Caroline's turn. The undefeated Olympian makes the first defense of her WBC lightweight title when she faces Canadian Jessica Camara in Sheffield on Saturday -- her 24th birthday.
Penn State QB Drew Allar's late interception helps seal Notre Dame's win in Orange Bowl
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) -- Drew Allar's critical interception sealed Penn State's loss to Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff semifinals at the Orange Bowl. Allar entered with just seven interceptions this season but he threw an off-target pass over the middle toward receiver Omari Evans with 33 seconds remaining. It ended up in the hands of Notre Dame cornerback Christian Gray. The Irish, not needing many yards to get in kicker Mitch Jeter's range, moved inside the 25. Jeter's 41-yarder sealed a 27-24 win for Notre Dame that sent the Irish to the national title game.
NFL moves Vikings-Rams playoff game to Arizona after days of devastating wildfires in Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The NFL has moved the Rams' wild-card playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings to Arizona after days of devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area. The playoff game will be played Monday night at State Farm Stadium, the home of the Arizona Cardinals, in suburban Glendale, Arizona. The league announced the decision Thursday, a few hours after yet another fire broke out in an area several miles from the Rams' training complex in the Woodland Hills neighborhood. Los Angeles has been besieged by multiple wildfires all week following two days of extraordinary wind across the vast metropolitan area.
Los Angeles Rams' playoff game moved to Arizona as wildfires disrupt sports in Southern California
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The NFL moved the Los Angeles Rams' playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings out of Southern California on Thursday, the biggest of several changes to the sports calendar after days of devastating wildfires in the area. The wild-card game will be played Monday night at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The home of the Arizona Cardinals is nearly 400 miles east of the Rams' home, SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. Elsewhere, the NBA postponed the Los Angeles Lakers' home game against the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday. A Los Angeles Kings home game was postponed a day earlier.
Ohio State and Texas enter CFP semifinal at Cotton Bowl seeking a chance to end title droughts
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- Ohio State and Texas are both seeking a chance to end national title droughts. The powerhouse programs meet in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Cotton Bowl. The winner advances to the national title game to play Notre Dame on January 20. Ohio State is the only team to appear in four of the last six CFPs, but its last national title was 10 years ago. That was the first season of the four-team College Football Playoff, when the Buckeyes won the title at AT&T Stadium. That is where they play the in-state Longhorns on Friday night. Texas' last national title was 19 years ago.
Las Vegas Raiders fire general manager Tom Telesco after just one year
HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) -- The Las Vegas Raiders have fired general manager Tom Telesco. They made the move on Thursday, just a year after he was hired. It's part of a housecleaning following a 4-13 season that also included the dismissal of coach Antonio Pierce on Tuesday. The Raiders will become just the second franchise in the Super Bowl era to enter a season three years in a row with a new GM and coach. Coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler were in charge to open the 2023 season. The Cleveland Browns in 2012-14 are the other club to hold such a distinction.