Alabama rallies from 17-point deficit to beat Oklahoma 34-24 in College Football Playoff
NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Ty Simpson passed for 232 yards and two touchdowns as No. 9 seed Alabama rallied to beat No. 8 Oklahoma 34-24 in the College Football Playoff first round. Alabama overcame a 17-point deficit. Freshman Lotzeir Brooks scored twice, marking his first touchdowns of the season. This is Alabama's first playoff appearance under coach Kalen DeBoer. Oklahoma's John Mateer threw for 307 yards and two touchdowns but had a costly interception. Alabama advanced to face No. 1 seed Indiana in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1.
Anthony Joshua knocks out Jake Paul in 6th round to win heavyweight fight
MIAMI (AP) — Anthony Joshua knocked out Jake Paul in the sixth round of their heavyweight fight on Friday night. The two-time heavyweight champion displayed why he is one of the sport’s elite punchers when he dropped the fading Paul twice in the fifth round. Sensing the YouTuber was finished, Joshua rocked him with a right uppercut early in the sixth. The native of England then floored Paul with a combination to the head. Although Paul (12-2) reached his feet again, Joshua (29-4, 26 KOs) finally crushed Paul’s upset dream when he dropped him a fourth time with a right to the head. Referee Christopher Young counted Paul out at 1:31 of the round in front of a capacity crowd of 19,600 at the Kaseya Center.
Kansas City Chiefs close to leaving Arrowhead Stadium for new home in Kansas
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs are close to moving from Arrowhead Stadium in Missouri to a new stadium in Kansas. The Legislative Coordinating Council plans to meet Monday in Topeka, Kansas, to consider funding up to 70% of the project. The Chiefs and Kansas City Royals have played in Missouri for over 50 years, but their leases expire in January 2031. Voters in Jackson County rejected a sales tax extension last year to finance renovations. Kansas offers a potential new location at The Legends, a commercial area with existing infrastructure. Missouri risks losing another team after the Rams moved to Los Angeles.
Timberwolves hand the Thunder their 3rd loss, 112-107, after Edwards takes over down the stretch
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Anthony Edwards returned from a three-game injury absence with 26 points and 12 rebounds, hitting the go-ahead 3-pointer with 38.5 seconds left to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves past the Oklahoma City Thunder 112-107. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 35 points and seven assists for the Thunder, who have lost two of three after starting 24-1 on the heels of their NBA championship last season. Edwards has been managing soreness in his foot. He grabbed a defensive rebound to set up two free throws by Julius Randle and stole the ball from Gilgeous-Alexander on the ensuing possession to seal the victory.
Trevor Lawrence finally looks like a generational quarterback and has the Jaguars surging
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Trevor Lawrence finally looks like the generational quarterback the Jacksonville Jaguars have been waiting on since drafting him as the top pick in 2021. His mistakes are down, his numbers are up and he's using his legs like never before. He is coming off the best performance of his five-year NFL career against the New York Jets. He threw for 330 yards and five touchdowns. He also ran for a score. He was named AFC offensive player of the week and has a shot at the league’s conference player of the month if he continues to ascend when the surprising Jaguars play at stingy Denver on Sunday.
Los Angeles Angels settle lawsuit with family of pitcher Tyler Skaggs over fatal overdose
SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Angels have settled a lawsuit over the drug overdose death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs. The decision to settle was reached Friday after a two-month civil trial in Southern California. Authorities say Skaggs died in 2019 after snorting a fentanyl-laced pill provided by the team’s communications director, Eric Kay. Skaggs’ relatives filed a lawsuit alleging the MLB team knew or should have known Kay was a drug addict and dealing painkillers to players. The team said officials didn’t know Skaggs was taking drugs and would have sought him help if they did. The Skaggs family says the confidential settlement closes a painful process.
NTSB unclear who was at controls in jet crash that killed ex-NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and 6 others
STATESVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Federal investigators are trying to determine why a business jet carrying retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and six others crashed shortly after takeoff in North Carolina. The Cessna C550 hit light poles and trees before erupting into flames on Thursday, killing everyone on board. The plane had departed Statesville Regional Airport but crashed less than 10 minutes later while attempting to return. Investigators have recovered the cockpit voice recorder but have not identified the lead pilot. The plane's speed and altitude fluctuated significantly, suggesting the crew experienced an issue. The Statesville airport remains closed during the investigation.
Los Angeles Dodgers to pay record $169 million luxury tax after winning 2nd straight World Series
NEW YORK (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers will pay a record $169.4 million luxury tax after winning their second straight World Series title, raising their two-year total to $272.4 million. The New York Mets have the second-highest tax bill among the nine teams that pay at $91.6 million despite missing the 12-team playoffs, raising their tax owed to $320.3 million in the last four years under high-spending owner Steve Cohen. The Dodgers will pay tax for the fifth consecutive season. Their total broke the previous high of $103 million they had set last year.
NASCAR's Brad Keselowski breaks leg in skiing accident, expected to recover for Daytona 500
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski has broken his leg in a skiing accident. The team announced Friday that Keselowski underwent surgery and doctors expect a quick recovery. He should be back for the season-opening Daytona 500 in February. Keselowski, who turns 42 just before the race, is entering his 17th full season at the top Cup Series level. He became co-owner of RFK Racing in 2022. The organization is reeling from Thursday's fatal plane crash that killed longtime Roush driver Greg Biffle and six others. Keselowski won the 2012 Cup Series championship and has 36 career victories.
Knicks celebrate their NBA Cup title, even though they aren't commemorating it with a banner
NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Knicks celebrated their NBA Cup championship Friday night, even though they aren’t commemorating it with a banner at Madison Square Garden. As players lined the court before the playing of the national anthem ahead of their game against Philadelphia, highlights from the Knicks’ victories during their march to the championship played on the overhead scoreboard. After the final one, from their victory over San Antonio in the final on Tuesday, the public address announcer asked fans to join in congratulating the team for its achievement. Fans responded with a standing ovation.
