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AP Sports Digest

Posted 9/19/26

Here are the AP’s top sports stories that have moved or are planned to move today. All times U.S. Eastern. For up-to-the minute information on AP’s coverage, visit AP Newsroom’s Coverage Plan. …

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AP Sports Digest

Posted

Here are the AP’s top sports stories that have moved or are planned to move today. All times U.S. Eastern. For up-to-the minute information on AP’s coverage, visit AP Newsroom’s Coverage Plan. Sports content can be found at http://newsroom.ap.org/page/APSports.

For access to AP Newsroom and other technical issues, including agate, contact AP Customer Support at apcustomersupport@ap.org or 877-836-9477.

The New York sports desk can be reached at 800-845-8450, ext. 1630. Sports photos, ext. 1918.

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UPCOMING

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FBC--T25-SMU-LOUISVILLE

DESCRIPTION: No. 16 SMU visits No. 23 Louisville in an early and big ACC showdown. By Steve Bittenbender. Game starts at 3:30 p.m. EDT.

UPCOMING: By 09/19/2026 6:30 p.m. EDT, Photo, Text

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SOC--EUROPEAN ROUNDUP

DESCRIPTION: Spanish league leader Barcelona goes to Sevilla and Inter Milan takes on Roma in Italy’s table-topping clash. High-flyer Rennes goes to Lyon in France and Dortmund takes on Stuttgart in Germany. Premier League leader Arsenal is also in action. By Jerome Pugmire.

UPCOMING: By 09/19/2026 6:30 p.m. EDT, Photo, Text

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CAR--NASCAR-BRISTOL

DESCRIPTION: The Chase visits its first short track with 500 laps at Bristol Motor Speedway. Ty Gibbs scored his first Cup Series victory on April 12 at the 0.533-mile oval, and his No. 54 Toyota will carry a poignant tribute to the late Kyle Busch in Saturday night’s race. By Nate Ryan. Race starts at 7:30 p.m. EDT.

UPCOMING: By 09/19/2026 10:30 p.m. EDT, Photo, Text

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FBC--T25-LSU-MISSISSIPPI

DESCRIPTION: No. 7 LSU plays No. 8 Mississippi in Tigers coach Lane Kiffin’s highly anticipated return to Ole Miss’ Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, where he roamed the home sideline just one season ago. By Brett Martel. Game starts at 7:30 p.m. EDT.

UPCOMING: By 09/19/2026 11:00 p.m. EDT, LiveVideo, DigitalPlans, Photo, Text, Video

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NEW AND DEVELOPING

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HKN--AVALANCHE-NEW-LOOK BURNS

Avs 41-year-old defenseman Brent Burns trimmed the beard, not the ambition, as he enters 23rd season

SUMMARY: Colorado Avalanche defenseman Brent Burns is gearing up for his 23rd NHL season with a fresh look after trimming his bushy beard. The 41-year-old remains the vibrant character known as “Burnsy,” still chasing his first Stanley Cup title. He has played 1,007 consecutive regular-season games and is 57 games away from tying Phil Kessel’s all-time ironman streak. Burns signed another one-year deal with the Avalanche and is focused on the present, enjoying the grind and camaraderie of the game. He had 12 goals and 23 assists last season as he averaged nearly 19 minutes of ice time per game.

WORDS: 834 - MOVED: 09/19/2026 1:28 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:840af2b71739c883a1e35399953e7b81&mediaType=text

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SOC--ENGLISH ROUNDUP

Arsenal loses for first time in Premier League title defense and more pain for Tottenham

SUMMARY: Arsenal slumped to a first loss of its Premier League title defense and it was a heavy one at Brighton. The champions’ 3-0 defeat at Amex Stadium came somewhat out of nowhere after four straight wins. Conceding the third goal from a corner — typically an area of strength for Arsenal — summed up an unusually sloppy performance from Mikel Arteta’s team. Pascal Gross and Charalampos Kostoulas scored in the first half with shots from outside the penalty area, before Chema Andres completed the win with a header at the back post from Gross’ corner. Big-spending Tottenham is still without a win this season after losing 3-2 against Aston Villa. Newcastle and Everton also won.

WORDS: 623 - MOVED: 09/19/2026 1:09 p.m. EDT. Will be updated.

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:1b673cbe5457bd42e08bc3e8ace1e268&mediaType=text

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FBC--T25-MISSISSIPPI-KIFFIN’S RETURN

Mockery emanates from Ole Miss’ Grove on the day of Lane Kiffin’s return to campus with LSU

SUMMARY: Ole Miss’ Grove is teeming with football fans — many in a mocking mood — as LSU coach Lane Kiffin returns to Mississippi for the first time since leaving last fall for their border-state rival. Fans had all day to express their feelings before Saturday night’s game between the No. 7 Tigers and eighth-ranked Rebels. Kiffin was booed heartily when he appeared on a large video screen for a TV interview. Members of the crowd held up signs making fun of the coach they hailed as a hero just one year ago when the Rebels beat LSU. Law enforcement officials in Mississippi have pledged the largest security presence ever for a football game in the state.

WORDS: 748 - MOVED: 09/19/2026 12:50 p.m. EDT. Will be updated.

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:df25946d1bf7268861dc4e2c9dd27184&mediaType=text

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GLF--BMW PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

McIlroy produces big finish with eagle at No. 18 to move into contention at BMW PGA Championship

SUMMARY: Rory McIlroy hit a 4-iron from 230 yards to inside 2 feet and holed the eagle putt to finish off a 3-under 69 and move into contention to win the BMW PGA Championship for the second time. The No. 2-ranked McIlroy’s birdie-eagle finish on the closing par 5s left him on 11-under par after the third round. That’s two strokes off the lead held by Manuel Elvira and Filippo Cello on a crowded leaderboard. There are 15 players within three shots of the lead but McIlroy’s name stands out. McIlroy says “I feel like I’ve given myself a real opportunity tomorrow.” McIlroy won the European tour’s flagship event in 2014.

WORDS: 333 - MOVED: 09/19/2026 12:49 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:ef454890065e2d20a047e012161c7ced&mediaType=text

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TEN--DAVIS CUP

Zverev gives Germany 1-0 lead over Croatia and Shelton looks to rebound for US in Davis Cup

SUMMARY: Alexander Zverev gives Germany a 1-0 lead over Croatia in the last qualifying round for the Davis Cup Final 8 by beating Matej Dodig 6-4, 7-6 (3). It was Zverev’s first match since winning the U.S. Open last weekend. That came after the 29-year-old Zverev won his first Grand Slam title at the French Open in June. The second-ranked Zverev had 15 aces and dominated on the indoor hardcourt in Halle, Germany, with Dodig having no break-point chances. American pair Christian Harrison and Austin Krajicek made it 2-1 against the Czech Republic after winning in doubles. Shelton will have a chance to seal the series in Prague if he can beat Jakub Mensik a day after he lost to Jiri Lehecka and allowed the Czechs level the score at 1-1.

WORDS: 343 - MOVED: 09/19/2026 12:14 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:3517828610d6b8bfbbfbd31a58ecbcbc&mediaType=text

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FBC--T25-COLLEGE FOOTBALL TODAY

A top-10 showdown with edge: Lane Kiffin gets a taste of what’s to come before LSU-Ole Miss game

SUMMARY: Lane Kiffin was wildly booed long before he arrived at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium for the LSU-Ole Miss game. Kiffin appeared remotely on ESPN’s “College GameDay,” and Mississippi fans still angry about how he left Oxford for Baton Rouge late last season greeted him with a chorus of expletive-laced chants. It was a clear sign of what Kiffin and the Tigers should expect when they play at Ole Miss later Saturday. Kiffin says: “I really appreciate you guys gaslighting them with this.” It was the latest in a growing buildup for the first top-10 matchup between No. 7 LSU and eight-ranked Ole Miss since 1962.

WORDS: 973 - MOVED: 09/19/2026 11:25 a.m. EDT. Will be updated throughout the day.

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:655b552735fe5586d17d9b12937a5873&mediaType=text

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SOC--OBIT-MAZZOLA

Sandro Mazzola, Italy and Inter Milan soccer star, dies at age 83

SUMMARY: Sandro Mazzola, the former Inter Milan captain who was one of Italy’s most acclaimed players, has died at 83. Inter Milan announced his death on Saturday. No cause of death was given. Mazzola spent his entire 17-year career with Inter, scoring 158 goals in 565 matches. He helped the team win four Serie A titles and two European Cups. He also won the European Championship with Italy in 1968. Inter Milan expressed its profound sorrow in a statement, calling Mazzola one of the greatest footballers in history. Inter said “the star with the moustache shone on the pitch, and still does today.”

WORDS: 740 - MOVED: 09/19/2026 7:23 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:a970cefd9e08b6c34dba24a8d80730f1&mediaType=text

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AS-ASIAN GAMES-OPENING CEREMONY

The Asian Games are open with more athletes than the Summer Olympics and some unfamiliar sports

SUMMARY: The opening ceremony of the Asian Games has marked the official start of the 16-day event. But Saturday’s official opening was not really the beginning. Facing a packed schedule, competition in basketball started on September 10. The semifinals in men’s basketball were on Friday. Soccer has been going on for almost as long. The Summer Olympics typically start a few days early, but this multi-sport event pushes the envelope. The Asian Games feature at least 11,000 athletes. The 2024 Summer Olympics had 10,700. The last Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, in 2023 had about 12,000 athletes and this could match it.

WORDS: 745 - MOVED: 09/19/2026 7:08 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:a6273d8dbcd8cb86f8b9873acfc240b9&mediaType=text

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MOVING TOMORROW

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FBN—WEEK 1

Coverage of 14 NFL games.

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