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.

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UPCOMING

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FBC--PICK SIX-GROUP OF FIVE

DESCRIPTION: The losses of a Heisman Trophy finalist, the best defensive player on the team and other key pieces would tamp down expectations for a lot of programs even in this era of quick fixes through the transfer portal. Not Boise State. By College Football Writer Eric Olson. 625 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 08/20/2025 6:30 a.m. EDT, Text

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GLF--PGA TOUR-ROLAPP

DESCRIPTION: ATLANTA -- Brian Rolapp gives an overview of the PGA Tour and its direction in his first press conference since becoming the first CEO. By Golf Writer Doug Ferguson. Upcoming: 700 words, photo.

UPCOMING: By 08/20/2025 1:00 p.m. EDT, Text, Photo

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FBC--MOVING ON UP

DESCRIPTION: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Missouri State and Delaware are moving from the Football Championship Subdivision to the Football Bowl Subdivision this season. And they are doing it at perhaps the most tumultuous time in the history of college athletics. The transition is marked by new facilities, increased funding and higher competition levels. Both schools say it’s worth it. By Dave Skretta. UPCOMING: 1,000 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 08/20/2025 2:00 p.m. EDT, Text

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SOC--EVERTON STADIUM

DESCRIPTION: After 113 years at Goodison Park, Everton plays its first official match at 52,769-capacity Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool, England, on Sunday, its Premier League home opener against Brighton. By Ronald Blum: 925 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 08/20/2025 2:00 p.m. EDT, Text

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GLF--TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP-PREVIEW

DESCRIPTION: ATLANTA -- Scottie Scheffler has started the Tour Championship with a two-shot lead each of the last three years. Now it’s a wide-open race among the top 30 on the PGA Tour as he tries to become the first back-to-back FedEx Cup champion. By Golf Writer Doug Ferguson. Upcoming: 750 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 08/20/2025 3:00 p.m. EDT, Text, Photo

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BKL--MERCURY-THOMAS’ ENGINE

DESCRIPTION: PHOENIX — The Phoenix Mercury have been one of the WNBA’s best teams despite losing Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner. Newcomer Alyssa Thomas has been a big reason for it. By John Marshall. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos by 3 p.m. PT.

UPCOMING: By 08/20/2025 7:00 p.m. EDT, Text

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FBN--RAIDERS-OFFENSIVE LINE

DESCRIPTION: HENDERSON, Nev. — The Las Vegas Raiders added shiny offensive pieces in quarterback Geno Smith and running back Ashton Jeanty. But is their offensive line capable of helping those players succeed? By Mark Anderson. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 08/20/2025 8:00 p.m. EDT, Text

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SOC-LEAGUES-CUP-TIGRES-INTER-MIAMI

DESCRIPTION: Inter Miami hosts Tigres in the Leagues Cup quarterfinals, with the winner earning a spot in the semifinals. By Andres Jaime-Mendez. UPCOMING: 300 words, photos. Game starts 8 p.m. EST.

UPCOMING: By 08/20/2025 10:00 p.m. EDT, Text, Photo

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TEN--US OPEN-MIXED DOUBLES

DESCRIPTION: NEW YORK -- The first championship of this year’s U.S. Open will be won in mixed doubles, with the semifinals and final of the tournament being played under the lights. By Brian Mahoney. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 08/20/2025 10:00 p.m. EDT, Text

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NEW AND DEVELOPING

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BBO--YANKEES-RAYS

Yankees tie club record with 9 home runs in 13-3 win over Rays

SUMMARY: Giancarlo Stanton and Cody Bellinger both hit two home runs, Aaron Judge launched his 40th of the season and the New York Yankees matched a franchise record with nine longballs in a 13-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. Judge, Bellinger and Stanton went back-to-back-to-back in the first inning to give the Yankees a 3-0 lead four batters into the game — after the first pitch was delayed nearly two hours by rain. José Caballero connected twice for his first career multihomer game. Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Ben Rice also went deep for the Yankees, who won their fourth straight. New York took full advantage of the cozy dimensions in a road game at its spring training home, where the Rays are playing while Tropicana Field undergoes repairs.

WORDS: 371 - MOVED: 08/20/2025 1:06 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:806ef2332dc94b0b7382aa82ff2d2338&mediaType=text

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BBY--LITTLE-LEAGUE-BAT-FLIP-AUCTION

Bat made famous in New Jersey Little Leaguer’s celebratory flip is put up for auction as benefit

SUMMARY: Marco Rocco, a 12-year-old Little League player from New Jersey, is auctioning the bat he used during a controversial bat flip. His family went to court to lift his suspension after last month’s incident. Ken Goldin, whose son played on Rocco’s team, announced on Instagram that the auction proceeds will benefit Haddonfield Little League. The bat, signed by Rocco, became famous after he was ejected for the flip during a tournament final. Last month, Rocco’s father won a court order allowing him to play in the state tournament despite the suspension.

WORDS: 190 - MOVED: 08/19/2025 8:44 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:576ede5944018bb951b552e3c28da990&mediaType=text

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TEN--US OPEN-MIXED DOUBLES

New US Open mixed doubles tournament begins and 4 teams are already halfway to the $1 million prize

SUMMARY: The new U.S. Open mixed doubles tournament drew plenty of criticism for everything from its format to its field. With mostly singles players, some who rarely play doubles at all, it felt less like a Grand Slam championship than an exhibition — which is what one player referred to it as Tuesday. It’s a fast-pace event, with shorter matches and a smaller field, and the final four is already set. Whoever wins the trophy and a $1 million prize Wednesday night won’t apologize for how they got it.

WORDS: 810 - MOVED: 08/19/2025 7:34 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:3880c250e04f7a61f9aadb928c10a474&mediaType=text

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FBC--AUBURN-NEW TITLES

Auburn claims 4 additional ‘national championships’ on its football resume

SUMMARY: Auburn is claiming four additional football national titles and will call itself a nine-time champion moving forward. The Tigers boasted titles in 1957 and 2010 for decades. They also claimed the 1913, 1983 and 1993 seasons as meeting national championship qualifications. Now, though, athletic director John Cohen is adding titles from 1910, 1914, 1958 and 2004 to the program’s resume. It’s laudable by some and laughable by others. Cohen says “our visible national championship recognitions now align with the well-established standard used by the NCAA’s official record book and our peers across the nation.”

WORDS: 290 - MOVED: 08/19/2025 7:28 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:9f224b03221fdcdb889b8ce5d4939731&mediaType=text

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BBO--RANGERS-DEGROM

All-Star pitcher Jacob deGrom to miss scheduled start for Texas Rangers due to shoulder fatigue

SUMMARY: The Texas Rangers are skipping Jacob deGrom’s scheduled start this week due to shoulder fatigue. The team says it’s just managing his workload, and he isn’t expected to go on the injured list. The five-time All-Star was set to pitch Wednesday night in Kansas City but was examined in Texas by Dr. Keith Meister. The checks came back clean, so deGrom could start as soon as next week. The right-hander has pitched 140 1/3 innings this season, by far his most since 2019. He missed most of 2022 with a shoulder issue and had Tommy John surgery the following year.

WORDS: 186 - MOVED: 08/19/2025 6:39 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:0b552fe07fa4386da134f29dac1e5dc8&mediaType=text

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BKN--PACERS-CARLISLE

Indiana Pacers reward coach Rick Carlisle for NBA Finals run with mulityear contract extension

SUMMARY: The Indiana Pacers rewarded coach Rick Carlisle with a multiyear contract extension Tuesday following the team’s surprising run to the NBA Finals. Team officials made the announcement about one month before the Pacers open training camp. The Pacers provided no additional details about contract terms. Carlisle enters this season needing seven wins to become the 11th coach in league history with 1,000 career wins. His 555 career wins with Dallas are a franchise record and his 338 wins with the Pacers are the most in the franchise’s NBA history. He also served as an assistant on Larry Bird’s coaching staff in 1999-2000 — the only other time Indiana reached the Finals.

WORDS: 540 - MOVED: 08/19/2025 5:50 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:3a5143076bf68f366fa98ae18338637c&mediaType=text

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GYM-USA-GYMNASTICS-ABUSE INQUIRY

Years after abuse reports, ex-coach at renowned US gymnastics academy is arrested by FBI

SUMMARY: A coach at a center in Iowa that has trained Olympic champions is facing allegations that he abused young female gymnasts and secretly photographed others undressing at a prior job in Mississippi. Sean Gardner, who coached at Chow’s Gymnastics and Dance Institute in West Des Moines, has been temporarily barred from all contact with USA Gymnastics since July 2022 due to unspecified allegations of misconduct. He has not been charged criminally while a police investigation continues. But three years after abuse allegations were reported to police and he was removed from USA Gymnastics, the FBI arrested him last week on a federal child pornography charge. He has been ordered detained pending further proceedings in Mississippi.

WORDS: 2154 - MOVED: 08/19/2025 5:23 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:0fd04e5ea487310b0660325a29a2b1c3&mediaType=text

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FBN--PACKERS-NIXON

Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon eager to keep proving skeptics wrong as he adapts to expanded role

SUMMARY: Green Bay’s Keisean Nixon has heard the criticism about how the Packers’ pass defense could struggle without departed two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander. Nixon takes those words in stride. He notes that he’s been doubted ever since arriving in the NFL in 2019 as an undrafted free agent from South Carolina. Alexander’s offseason exit means Nixon enters the season as the Packers’ likely No. 1 cornerback. Nixon is eager for the opportunity to face an opponent’s top receiver each week.

WORDS: 853 - MOVED: 08/19/2025 5:07 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:5b64d1f82b4dfa8571ade909b2a1a1c2&mediaType=text

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FBN--TITANS-SHOVING WARD

Titans’ Simmons says his shove of Ward was simply flared tempers and blown out of proportion

SUMMARY: Three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons defended shoving the Tennessee Titans rookie quarterback Cam Ward at the end of practice Monday. He said Tuesday that outsiders blew up a simple case of tempers flaring at a hot training camp practice. The No. 1 overall draft pick wearing a red jersey was celebrating a touchdown pass when he put a hand on Simmons. The lineman reacted by shoving Ward. Simmons was escorted off the practice field and didn’t talk to reporters until the end of Tuesday’s practice. Simmons said defenders can’t touch a quarterback.

WORDS: 256 - MOVED: 08/19/2025 4:59 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:8647e21d1eedbee618e3022349def095&mediaType=text

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GLF--MASTER MCILROY

Rory McIlroy loves signing Masters flags more than wearing the green jacket

SUMMARY: Rory McIlroy never gets tired of signing a Masters pin flag as the champion, and there’s been a lot of that to do. McIlroy says there were 1,100 yellow flags left in the Masters Shop at the end of the Masters, and he got them all. But wearing the green jacket is a different story. McIlroy says he always imagined wearing it everywhere. But now that he has ownership of it until next April, he says he is reluctant to wear it. He says he looks forward to putting it on the next time he goes to Augusta National.

WORDS: 513 - MOVED: 08/19/2025 4:51 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:b3d4e079b279900174d4ba0c75d73732&mediaType=text

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BOX--CHAVEZ JR DEPORTED

Julio César Chávez Jr. deported to Mexico for alleged cartel ties and drug trafficking

SUMMARY: Boxer Julio César Chávez Jr. has been deported to Mexico following his arrest in the U.S. for overstaying his visa and lying on a green card application. Chávez was handed over by authorities and admitted to a prison in the northern state of Sonora. That’s according to an official who spoke Tuesday to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the matter. Chávez had a warrant for his arrest in Mexico for alleged arms and drug trafficking and ties to the Sinaloa Cartel. He was arrested July 3 days after his high-profile fight with Jake Paul in California.

WORDS: 388 - MOVED: 08/19/2025 4:44 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:7dc1af5a7954f6e1c063d96fc1137734&mediaType=text

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FBN--JETS-RUN FIRST

Fields on Jets’ passing game: ‘We’re fine with 8-yard completions’ and tiring defenses with runs

SUMMARY: The New York Jets’ passing game has been short on long passes this summer. Fans are anxious about whether Justin Fields and the offense can stretch the field this season. Fields says they’re fine with taking short completions and wearing down defenses. Last Saturday, Fields and the starters played just two series in a preseason loss to the Giants. Fields went 1-for-5 passing for 4 yards. The Jets ran the ball 13 times for 55 yards. Fields insists there’s a method to testing teams on the ground. The Jets’ running game is a strength, with Breece Hall, Braelon Allen, and Isaiah Davis leading the way.

WORDS: 972 - MOVED: 08/19/2025 4:23 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:b210132e14dc5767f43b1e0c5c1fe685&mediaType=text

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TEN--US OPEN-ATP TIK TOK

ATP partners with TikTok to capitalize on the rise of behind-the-scenes content

SUMMARY: The newest popular influencer on TikTok’s “For You” page might be the scroller’s favorite tennis player. The ATP sure hopes so. The governing body of men’s professional tennis announced Tuesday it will be partnering with TikTok to further develop tennis content and bolster engagement on the platform. One of its stated goals is player engagement, aimed at helping more ATP players build up followings on the platform and give tennis fans exclusive behind-the-scenes access to the sport. Its other goal is the creation of the “Tennis Creator Network,” an initiative that will help existing non-athlete creators create TikTok content at ATP tour events.

WORDS: 453 - MOVED: 08/19/2025 4:12 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:fb1da3741510c151ceec02ab085d1530&mediaType=text

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BKL--FEVER-CUNNINGHAM OUT

Short-handed Fever suffer another blow as Sophie Cunningham sustains season-ending injury

SUMMARY: The injury-riddled Indiana Fever say guard Sophie Cunningham will miss the rest of this season with a knee injury. She was hurt during Sunday’s victory at Connecticut. Team officials did not provide details about the injury, the third season-ending one Indiana has experienced in August. Guard Sydney Colson tore the ACL in her left knee on Aug. 7 in a game at Phoenix. Guard Aari McDonald broke a bone in her right foot in the same game. Two-time All-Star guard Caitlin Clark still has not played since injuring her right groin in mid-July.

WORDS: 238 - MOVED: 08/19/2025 4:01 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:ac59327be1fb25e5464fd55347850315&mediaType=text

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FBC--T25-TEXAS-MANNING

Texas QB Manning says NFL plans not taking shape yet despite grandpa’s prediction of 2026 in Austin

SUMMARY: There’s so much speculation about Texas quarterback Arch Manning’s future, in the media and even within his own family, that it can be hard for even him to keep up. Manning was asked Tuesday about grandfather Archie Manning’s recent prediction to Texas Monthly that he’ll still be with the Longhorns through the 2026 season. Arch Manning said he doesn’t know where his grandfather got that idea, but he also insisted he’s not making any plans about his pro future right now. Preseason No. 1 Texas opens the season Aug. 30 at No. 3 Ohio State after losing to the Buckeyes in the national playoff semifinals last season.

WORDS: 352 - MOVED: 08/19/2025 3:49 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:7593dd09fbb491cdbdbd1cc7fb8c538f&mediaType=text

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GYM-USA-GYMNASTICS-ABUSE-TAKEAWAYS

Takeaways from AP’s reporting on coach accused of abuse at renowned US gymnastics academy

SUMMARY: A coach at a center in Iowa that has trained Olympic champions is facing allegations that he abused young female gymnasts and secretly photographed others undressing at a prior job in Mississippi. Sean Gardner, who coached at Chow’s Gymnastics and Dance Institute in West Des Moines, has been temporarily barred from all contact with USA Gymnastics since July 2022 due to unspecified allegations of misconduct. He has not been charged criminally while a police investigation continues. But three years after abuse allegations were reported to police and he was removed from USA Gymnastics, the FBI arrested him last week on a federal child pornography charge. He has been ordered detained pending further proceedings in Mississippi.

WORDS: 911 - MOVED: 08/19/2025 2:00 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:1e9a186f4f2dbf8b63a7bbb9d40bcee6&mediaType=text

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