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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FBN--ON FOOTBALL-MAHOMES & PARSONS
DESCRIPTION: First, Patrick Mahomes went down. Then, it was Micah Parsons. The NFL lost two of its all-time greatest players to serious knee injuries in a span of a few hours on Sunday, ruining a day filled with exciting comebacks and fascinating stories. Forty-four-year-old Philip Rivers played his first game in 1,800 days and nearly led the 14-point underdog Indianapolis Colts to a stunning upset against Seattle before Jason Myers kicked a 56-yard field goal with 29 seconds left to lift the Seahawks to an 18-16 victory. Reigning NFL MVP Josh Allen led the Buffalo Bills from a 21-0 deficit to a 35-31 victory at New England. By Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi. UPCOMING: 775 words, photos.
UPCOMING: By 12/15/2025 6:00 a.m. EST, Text
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US-NCAA-REDSHIRT-LAWSUIT
DESCRIPTION: NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Attorneys for a handful of Division I football players are scheduled to be in a federal courtroom Monday morning seeking a preliminary injunction ensuring they can play the 2026 season while fighting the NCAA’s Four Seasons and Redshirt rules. By Teresa M. Walker. UPCOMING: 500 words. Hearing scheduled to start at 10:30 a.m. EST.
UPCOMING: By 12/15/2025 11:30 a.m. EST, Text, Photo
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FBC--AP ALL-AMERICA TEAM
DESCRIPTION: The Associated Press announces its college football All-America team.
UPCOMING: By 12/15/2025 12:00 p.m. EST, Text, DigitalPlans, Photo
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BKW--T25-WOMENS POLL
DESCRIPTION: The Associated Press releases its latest AP Top 25 women’s basketball poll.
UPCOMING: By 12/15/2025 12:00 p.m. EST, Text, DigitalPlans, Photo
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BKC--T25-MENS POLL
DESCRIPTION: The Associated Press releases its latest AP Top 25 men’s basketball poll.
UPCOMING: By 12/15/2025 1:00 p.m. EST, Text, DigitalPlans, Photo
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GLF--PGA TOUR-AWARDS
DESCRIPTION: Scottie Scheffler is the favorite to win the PGA Tour player of the award for the fourth time. By Golf Writer Doug Ferguson. Upcoming: 700 words, photos.
UPCOMING: By 12/15/2025 2:00 p.m. EST, Text, Photo
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HKN--BLACKHAWKS-BEDARD
DESCRIPTION: CHICAGO — Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill is expected to provide an update on Connor Bedard after practice. Bedard got hurt in the final seconds of a loss at St. Louis on Friday night. By Jay Cohen. UPCOMING: 500 words, file photos.
UPCOMING: By 12/15/2025 4:00 p.m. EST, Text
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FBC-CFP-TEXAS A&M-HOWELL’S RISE
DESCRIPTION: COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Cashius Howell heard the same thing repeatedly from power conference schools during his high school recruitment. “They just didn’t feel like I was worth it to waste a roster spot on,” Howell recalled recently. Five years later the defensive end has proven those schools wrong, becoming one of the nation’s top defenders and a projected first-round draft pick. On Saturday he’ll lead No. 4 Texas A&M against No. 10 Miami when the Aggies make their College Football Playoff debut. By Kristie Rieken. UPCOMING: 800 words. Photos.
UPCOMING: By 12/15/2025 4:00 p.m. EST, Text
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FBN--PACKERS-ANALYSIS
DESCRIPTION: Falling out of the NFC North lead is the least of the Green Bay Packers’ concerns after a painful 34-26 loss to the Denver Broncos in which they likely lost star pass rusher Micah Parsons for the rest of the season and watched multiple other key players also get injured six days before a crucial trip to Chicago. By Steve Megargee. UPCOMING: 700 words, with photos, expected by 6 p.m.
UPCOMING: By 12/15/2025 7:00 p.m. EST, Text, Photo
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FBN--49ERS-ANALYSIS
DESCRIPTION: SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The San Francisco 49ers got through the soft spot of their schedule unscathed. Now they head into a tricky three-game finish to the regular season knowing they need only one more win to clinch a playoff spot. By Pro Football Writer Josh Dubow. 700 words, photos.
UPCOMING: By 12/15/2025 7:00 p.m. EST, Text
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FBN--DOLPHINS-STEELERS
DESCRIPTION: PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6) will be without star outside linebacker T.J. Watt when they host the Miami Dolphins (6-7). Watt suffered a partially collapsed lung last week during a dry-needling treatment. By Will Graves. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos. Game starts at 8:15 p.m. EDT.
UPCOMING: By 12/15/2025 11:15 p.m. EST, Text, Photo
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NEW AND DEVELOPING
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FBN--VIKINGS-COWBOYS
Dak Prescott and Cowboys watch playoff hopes all but vanish in 34-26 loss to Vikings
SUMMARY: J.J. McCarthy threw for two touchdowns and ran for a score, C.J. Ham had the go-ahead TD on his first carry of the season and the Minnesota Vikings severely damaged Dallas’ playoff hopes with a 34-26 victory over the Cowboys. The Vikings won a second consecutive game after they were eliminated from the postseason race before the kickoff. The Cowboys have to win their three remaining games and hope defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia goes 0-3 in order for Dallas to overtake the Eagles in the NFC East. Both of McCarthy’s TD tosses were to Jalen Nailor.
WORDS: 849 - MOVED: 12/15/2025 12:45 a.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:5a0550b6ab0d20892c5a240db3f48716&mediaType=text
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BKN--LAKERS-SUNS
LeBron James hits 2 late free throws, Lakers beat Suns 116-114 after blowing 20-point lead
SUMMARY: LeBron James made two free throws with 3.9 seconds left, Luka Doncic added 29 points and the Los Angeles Lakers recovered from blowing a 20-point lead in the fourth quarter to top the Phoenix Suns 116-114 on Sunday night. Phoenix trailed 99-79 with 7:48 left, but took a 114-113 lead with 12.2 seconds left on Dillon Brooks’ 3-pointer over James. James was fouled on a 3-point attempt by Devin Booker with 3.9 seconds left. The 40-year-old — who finished with 26 points — missed the first free throw but made the final two to give the Lakers a 115-114 lead.
WORDS: 357 - MOVED: 12/14/2025 11:06 p.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:d45411a5db8385bbfbfa9df48bb3495d&mediaType=text
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FBN--COLTS-RIVERS
Philip Rivers emotional after nearly leading Colts to win in return: ‘There is doubt, and it’s real’
SUMMARY: Philip Rivers nearly led the Indianapolis Colts to victory at age 44. Rivers ended a nearly five-year retirement to start Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks and played efficient football for the desperate Colts, who turned to the future Hall of Famer after Daniel Jones was lost for the season with a torn Achilles tendon. He threw a touchdown pass in the first half, played mostly mistake-free and moved the Colts into position for Blake Grupe’s 60-yard field goal with 47 seconds left. But Jason Myers responded with a 56-yarder that gave the Seahawks an 18-16 victory.
WORDS: 775 - MOVED: 12/14/2025 10:37 p.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:f6007c0b94cbb22064df9c028666501d&mediaType=text
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FBC--OBIT-WIGGIN
Paul Wiggin, College Football Hall of Famer and former coach, dies at 91
SUMMARY: Paul Wiggin, the former Stanford and Cleveland Browns star who was on the losing end of “The Play” coaching star quarterback John Elway and the Cardinal, died Friday. He was 91. Wiggin’s death was announced by the Browns, the Minnesota Vikings and the National Football Foundation. He was the fourth-oldest living NFF Hall of Famer. Wiggin was on the Stanford sideline in 1982 for “The Play” when California scored the winning touchdown in a 25-20 victory in the “Big Game” after Stanford’s band prematurely took the field. Wiggin played for Stanford from 1954-56. He was a two-time All-America selection as a defensive tackle and was selected the school’s Defensive Player of the Century. He spent his entire 11-year NFL career with the Browns,
WORDS: 392 - MOVED: 12/14/2025 10:19 p.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:eaa7bfab3a2581480ead2ccfb9f1f995&mediaType=text
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FBN--PACKERS-PARSONS HURT
Packers star pass rusher Micah Parsons feared to have torn ACL, AP source says
SUMMARY: Micah Parsons is believed to have suffered a torn ACL in his left knee. That’s according to a person with knowledge of the All-Pro pass rusher’s injury who spoke to The Associated Press on Sunday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the severity of the injury hasn’t been confirmed by test. Parsons tells the AP in a text that he’s “sickened.” Parsons’ injury is a devastating blow to the Green Bay Packers, who lost 34-26 to Denver on Sunday. The Packers fell to second place behind the Chicago Bears in the NFC North.
WORDS: 667 - MOVED: 12/14/2025 10:11 p.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:f70156c3404382e0ccca2cc44298b739&mediaType=text
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FBN--LIONS-RAMS
Matthew Stafford rallies Rams to 41-34 victory over Lions, clinching another playoff berth
SUMMARY: Matthew Stafford passed for 368 yards and hit Colby Parkinson for two touchdowns, and the NFC-leading Los Angeles Rams clinched a playoff berth with a furious second-half rally for a 41-34 victory over the Detroit Lions. Kyren Williams rushed for two scores and Blake Corum added another TD for the Rams, who came back from a double-digit deficit shortly before halftime with 20 consecutive points before securing their eighth victory in nine games. Amon-Ra St. Brown scorched his hometown team for 163 yards and two touchdowns on 13 receptions for the Lions. Detroit has alternated wins and losses since Week 5.
WORDS: 846 - MOVED: 12/14/2025 10:09 p.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:6a4fa84d43c3977074883d6985692521&mediaType=text
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BKN--BROWN UNIVERSITY SHOOTING-KERR
Warriors coach Kerr laments shooting at Brown, calls again for common-sense gun control laws
SUMMARY: Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr lamented that he was again speaking about gun violence before a game in Portland seven years after he addressed the horrific mass shooting in Parkland, Florida. Kerr spoke on Sunday night before Golden State’s game at the Trail Blazers, a day after two people were killed and nine others were wounded in a shooting at Brown University. Kerr has been an outspoken advocate for gun control laws and once again called for common-sense measures to help stem gun violence.
WORDS: 346 - MOVED: 12/14/2025 9:55 p.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:36461cd76dc8c48dc5b04eb9692aa0ba&mediaType=text
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FBN--CHIEFS-MAHOMES
Patrick Mahomes suffers a torn ACL and Chiefs say he’s considering surgical options
SUMMARY: Patrick Mahomes has torn the ACL in his left knee. The star quarterback was hurt while he tried to keep the Kansas City Chiefs’ postseason hopes alive in the waning seconds of a 16-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. The team says Mahomes is considering surgical options. It’s the most significant injury of a superlative nine-year career for Mahomes. The two-time MVP has led the Chiefs to three Super Bowl titles and reached the AFC championship game in each of his seven previous seasons as Kansas City’s starter. This year, the Chiefs won’t even make the playoffs, and Mahomes won’t be back on the field until sometime in 2026.
WORDS: 904 - MOVED: 12/14/2025 9:31 p.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:d7a234e19734abaa95832724ea4c6062&mediaType=text
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HKN-HURRICANES-SLAVIN
Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin returns to lineup after missing 29 games
SUMMARY: The Carolina Hurricanes have been able to reach first place in the Metropolitan Division without star defenseman Jaccob Slavin for most of the season. They got Slavin back in the lineup for Sunday’s 3-2 shootout win over the Philadelphia Flyers after a 29-game absence with what the team called a “lower-body injury.” He started the game and played 14:31. The 11th-year defenseman played in the first two games of the season but hadn’t played since Oct. 11. Slavin has been a cornerstone of the Hurricanes’ defense during the current streak of seven straight playoff appearances under coach Rod Brind’Amour. He was a standout performer for Team USA in the 4 Nations Face-Off last year and is expected to have a key role for the Americans in the Winter Olympics in February.
WORDS: 375 - MOVED: 12/14/2025 8:45 p.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:f66ab183334ae799c8f4aad64abc2402&mediaType=text
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FBN--CHARGERS-CHIEFS
Mahomes tears ACL as Chargers eliminate Chiefs from playoff contention with 16-13 victory
SUMMARY: The Los Angeles Chargers eliminate the Kansas City Chiefs from playoff contention with a 16-13 victory on Sunday, with Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes tearing the ACL in his left knee. Derwin James intercepts Gardner Minshew’s pass in the closing seconds to secure the 16-13 win. Justin Herbert, playing with a broken hand, throws for 210 yards and a touchdown. The Chargers complete a regular-season sweep of Kansas City. Patrick Mahomes was injured after being tackled by Da’Shawn Hand. Minshew steps in but throws a crucial interception in the fourth quarter. The Chargers, now 10-4, edge closer to a playoff berth, while the Chiefs’ playoff hopes ended with the loss.
WORDS: 967 - MOVED: 12/14/2025 8:42 p.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:9a72cf0a6cfc548809fb72d678af054c&mediaType=text
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FBN--CARDINALS-TEXANS
C.J. Stroud leads Texans to 6th straight win, 40-20 over Cardinals
SUMMARY: C.J. Stroud threw for 260 yards and three touchdowns and the Houston Texans jumped out to a big early lead and cruised to a 40-20 victory over the slumping Arizona Cardinals. The Texans (9-5) have won six straight games for the first time since a nine-game winning streak in 2018 to improve their playoff hopes. It’s the sixth straight loss for the Cardinals (3-11), whose last win came on Nov. 3 against the Cowboys. Houston got going immediately with its fastest score of the season when Stroud connected with Nico Collins on a 57-yard touchdown on the second play of the game. Collins took the short throw, escaped two diving defenders at around the 40 and ran untouched into the end zone for the score.
WORDS: 984 - MOVED: 12/14/2025 5:43 p.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:60f39c233c00c056d5c9d3640f924da8&mediaType=text
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FBN--BILLS-PATRIOTS
Bills rally from 21-point deficit to beat Patriots 35-31, stay alive in AFC East race
SUMMARY: The Buffalo Bills have kept themselves in the race for the AFC East title. Josh Allen threw three touchdown passes, and James Cook ran for two TDs and caught another as Buffalo rallied from a 21-0 deficit to beat the New England Patriots 35-31 on Sunday. The Bills prevented the Patriots from clinching the division. Buffalo avoided being swept by a division opponent for the first time since 2019. The Bills also overcame a double-digit deficit for the third time this year. The Patriots lost their first division game of the season and their 10-game win streak ended.
WORDS: 904 - MOVED: 12/14/2025 5:41 p.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:3c3ec884f450f8f87d8c0460e5328416&mediaType=text
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FBN--RAIDERS-EAGLES
Jalen Hurts rebounds with 3 TD passes as Eagles snap losing streak in 31-0 rout of Raiders
SUMMARY: Jalen Hurts bounced back from his worst NFL game by throwing three touchdown passes and Saquon Barkley added a 2-yard touchdown run as the Philadelphia Eagles snapped a three-game losing streak with a 31-0 win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. The Eagles are 9-5 and finally showed signs of life under offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo. Hurts threw a 27-yard touchdown to A.J. Brown early in the fourth quarter. The Raiders are 2-12 and lost their eighth straight game. Kenny Pickett struggled in his first start at quarterback for the injured Geno Smith.
WORDS: 980 - MOVED: 12/14/2025 5:20 p.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:d0761cf1d1a19d409e9461aa0d3a43e0&mediaType=text
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GLF--GRANT THORNTON
Novak teams with Coughlin to win Grant Thornton and pick up another team title
SUMMARY: Andrew Novak has won another team title, this time with Lauren Coughlin. They’ve won the Grant Thornton Invitational with a record score of 188. The format Sunday was modified fourballs and they closed with a 63 to win by three shots. It was tight down the stretch until Novak made three straight birdies from about the 10-foot range. And then Novak made a 6-foot birdie on the 17th for a two-shot lead. Coughlin finished it off with a birdie. The teams of Jennifer Kupcho and Chris Gotterup, Nelly Korda and Denny McCarthy and Michael Brennan and Charley Hull finished second.
WORDS: 382 - MOVED: 12/14/2025 4:20 p.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:8d512b15aaa52df4e18bddb2b108b6ea&mediaType=text
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BKN--NBA CUP-MONEY
For players like Knicks guard Tyler Kolek, the NBA Cup may be quite the payday
SUMMARY: The New York Knicks are set to face the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Cup final on Tuesday night in Las Vegas. The game won’t affect standings or official stats, but a trophy, bragging rights and prize money are on the line. By reaching the final, each player on both teams has secured $212,373. The winning team will earn an additional $308,560 per player. Knicks backup guard Tyler Kolek, who makes $2.2 million this season, sees this as a significant opportunity. Kolek’s performance in the semifinals was crucial, and he hopes to use his bonus for a special gift for his dad.
WORDS: 593 - MOVED: 12/14/2025 2:21 p.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:d97ca8c0cd6e88ae14ba9e8897bd4c5f&mediaType=text
