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--RAVENS-PACKERS
DESCRIPTION: GREEN BAY, Wis. - The Green Bay Packers won’t have starting quarterback Jordan Love and the Baltimore Ravens likely won’t have two-time MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson for their Saturday night matchup. The Ravens must win to keep their faint playoff hopes alive. By Steve Megargee. 700 words, with photos.
UPCOMING: By 12/27/2025 11:30 p.m. EST, Photo, Text
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FBC--PENN STATE-CLEMSON
DESCRIPTION: Penn State plays Clemson at Yankee Stadium in the Pinstripe Bowl. 450 words, more on merit.
UPCOMING: By 12/27/2025 12:00 p.m. EST, Text
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FBC--CFP-TEXAS TECH-MORTON
DESCRIPTION: Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton is the hometown kid who helped lead the Red Raiders to their first Big 12 championship and spot in the College Football Playoff. He’s relishing the ride alongside coach Joey McGuire, another with strong ties to Texas high school football. By Schuyler Dixon. 800 words, photos.
UPCOMING: By 12/27/2025 3:00 p.m. EST, Photo, Text
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FBC--GEORGIA TECH-BYU
DESCRIPTION: Georgia Tech plays BYU at Camping World Stadium in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. 450 words, more on merit.
UPCOMING: By 12/27/2025 3:30 p.m. EST, Text
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FBC--MIAMI (OH)-FRESNO STATE
DESCRIPTION: Miami (OH) plays Fresno State in the Arizona Bowl. 150 words, more on merit.
UPCOMING: By 12/27/2025 4:30 p.m. EST, Text
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FBC--NEW MEXICO BOWL
DESCRIPTION: No. 23 North Texas faces San Diego State on Saturday in the New Mexico Bowl. 450 words, more on merit.
UPCOMING: By 12/27/2025 5:45 p.m. EST, Text
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FBC--GATOR BOWL
DESCRIPTION: JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- No. 20 Virginia plays 25th-ranked Missouri in the Gator Bowl. By Mark Long.
UPCOMING: By 12/27/2025 11:00 p.m. EST, Photo, Text
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SOC--AFCON-ROUNDUP
DESCRIPTION: Nigeria plays well-supported Tunisia in the Africa Cup of Nations with the winner likely to top Group C, where Uganda and Tanzania are looking for their first wins. Senegal and Congo clash in Group D, where Benin and Botswana hope for their first points.
UPCOMING: By 12/27/2025 5:00 p.m. EST, Photo, Text
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NEW AND DEVELOPING
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SAI--SYDNEY-HOBART
Supermaxis Comanche and LawConnect continue close duel on Day 2 of the Sydney to Hobart race
SUMMARY: Supermaxis Master Lock Comanche and defending champion LawConnect have continued their close duel on the second day of the 80th running of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race. Just over 27 hours into the race that began Friday in Sydney harbor and ends on the island state of Tasmania, Comanche had a four nautical mile lead Saturday over LawConnect. LawConnect was forced to contend with a broken mainsheet and halyard overnight but managed to fix both issues and remain in pursuit of Comanche, which is skippered by Matt Allen and James Mayo.
WORDS: 467 - MOVED: 12/27/2025 12:18 a.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:9036d19d2d38159c326d43bb6904aa1c&mediaType=text
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FBC--T25-MICHIGAN-WHITTINGHAM
Kyle Whittingham hired as Michigan football coach, replacing the fired and disgraced Sherrone Moore
SUMMARY: Michigan has hired Kyle Whittingham as its football coach, giving the former Utah coach a five-year contract to replace the fired and disgraced Sherrone Moore. The 66-year-old Whittingham announced two weeks ago that he would step down after 21 seasons as Utah’s coach. Morgan Scalley was promoted from defensive coordinator to replace Whittingham, who has won a school-record 177 games. Scalley will now take over the Utes immediately and coach them in the Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 31. Michigan fired Moore after the school said it discovered his inappropriate relationship with a staffer. Moore was subsequently charged with three crimes for confronting a woman he’d been having an affair with.
WORDS: 572 - MOVED: 12/26/2025 11:11 p.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:13864c10cbb28dfa67c62c15fc4072eb&mediaType=text
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FBC--RATE BOWL
Smith’s diving TD catch in overtime sends Minnesota to 20-17 win over New Mexico in Rate Bowl
SUMMARY: Jalen Smith scored his second touchdown a diving 12-yard catch in the first overtime and Minnesota extended its postseason winning streak to nine straight games with a 20-17 win over New Mexico in Rate Bowl. Minnesota went up 14-6 when Darius Taylor scored on a 5-yard touchdown run, but Damon Bankston returned the ensuing kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. New Mexico’s 2-point conversion on a trick play tied the game at 14-all. After a New Mexico field goal, Smith’s spectacular catch was upheld by a review. The Gophers’ bowl winning streak matches Southern California and Utah for second-longest all-time, behind Florida State’s 11 in a row from 1985-95.
WORDS: 677 - MOVED: 12/26/2025 9:53 p.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:360f7bd3fc2085d6e8070a7ea0374371&mediaType=text
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BKN--LAKERS-REAVES OUT
Lakers’ Austin Reaves could miss at least a month with a strained left calf
SUMMARY: Austin Reaves could miss at least a month with a strained left calf, a damaging blow for the struggling Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers said Friday that Reaves had been diagnosed with a grade 2 left gastrocnemius strain. He will be evaluated again in approximately four weeks. Reaves didn’t play in the second half of the Lakers’ 119-96 loss to Houston on Thursday. He had 12 points before leaving what became Los Angeles’ third straight defeat. That was Reaves’ second game back after he had missed three in a row, also with a strained left calf. He is second on the Lakers with 26.6 points per game.
WORDS: 124 - MOVED: 12/26/2025 9:09 p.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:890018a6ada21c5821dad632db22c5cc&mediaType=text
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FBC--PAVIA-NCAA
Lawyer in Diego Pavia’s eligibility lawsuit against NCAA cites NBA draft pick’s return to college
SUMMARY: A lawyer for Heisman Trophy runner-up Diego Pavia and 26 other football players has cited the NCAA’s decision to allow an NBA draft pick to return to college basketball as a reason that a federal judge should let his clients play in 2026 and 2027. On Wednesday, Baylor announced that 7-foot center James Nnaji had joined the Bears after four seasons playing professionally in Europe and being drafted by the NBA in 2023. Pavia plans to enter the NFL draft but is continuing the lawsuit challenging an NCAA rule that counts seasons spent at junior colleges against eligibility for Division I football. Other players including Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar have joined the case.
WORDS: 567 - MOVED: 12/26/2025 8:56 p.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:ea0a9fb5788f62bfd4c2194f8cdf56cb&mediaType=text
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HKO--ECHL PLAYER STRIKE
ECHL postpones 13 games after players go on strike
SUMMARY: The ECHL postponed 13 games Friday after players went on strike. Members of the Professional Hockey Players’ Association voted last week to authorize its negotiating committee to call for a strike. The league and union have been unable to reach an agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement. The sides have been engaged in talks since January. PHPA executive director Brian Ramsay accused the ECHL of unfair practices that had been reported to the National Labor Relations Board. The league in a statement said PHPA leaders deprived players of the opportunity to vote on what it called its last, best and final offer.
WORDS: 371 - MOVED: 12/26/2025 6:30 p.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:5a02cfd98ef186c96f7f2878a2a9dad3&mediaType=text
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FBN--RAIDERS-CROSBY
With top draft pick in play, Raiders bench banged-up Maxx Crosby for game vs. Giants
SUMMARY: The Las Vegas Raiders have decided to bench defensive end Maxx Crosby for Sunday’s home game against the New York Giants in a matchup of teams with the NFL’s worst records. The loser has the inside track to the top overall draft pick, and the Raiders will be resting other key players this week. Crosby has a knee injury that has led to him missing numerous practices this season, but he has started every game. Crosby left the team facility after the club informed him of the decision. Coach Pete Carroll says he expected Crosby’s negative reaction to the move.
WORDS: 479 - MOVED: 12/26/2025 6:05 p.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:114d9fa1def14a2866552e931e4d3b7e&mediaType=text
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FBN--PACKERS-LOVE
Packers QB Jordan Love will miss Saturday’s game against Ravens
SUMMARY: Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love won’t play Saturday night against the Baltimore Ravens a week after leaving a game with a concussion. The Packers announced Friday that Love won’t play. Love had been listed as questionable Thursday on an injury report that referenced his concussion as well as an issue with his left shoulder. Love’s situation means both starting quarterbacks may miss the game. The Ravens have listed two-time MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson as doubtful because of a back injury that knocked him out of a 28-24 loss to the New England Patriots last week.
WORDS: 397 - MOVED: 12/26/2025 4:51 p.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:854b44d0b65046010483b127781f3a3f&mediaType=text
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BKN--JOKIC’S BIG NIGHT
Nikola Jokic breaks Steph Curry’s record with 18 points in OT and Nuggets set mark with 27 OT points
SUMMARY: Nikola Jokic set an NBA record with 18 points in overtime. His performance led the Denver Nuggets to a 142-138 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Christmas night. Jokic’s output also helped the Nuggets set a league record with 27 points in a single extra period. Nuggets coach David Adelman called Jokic the “best player in the world” and highlights his “crazy stat line” of 56 points, 16 rebounds and 15 assists. Jokic made 15 of 21 shots from the floor and 22 of 23 free throws. Teammate Jamal Murray says, “Sounds about right.”
WORDS: 713 - MOVED: 12/26/2025 2:16 p.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:069fb6057204a9d9344b8a6822e2130c&mediaType=text
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