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--JAGUARS-BRONCOS
DESCRIPTION: Jacksonville Jaguars plays Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. 300 words, more on merit.
UPCOMING: By 12/21/2025 4:05 p.m. EST, Photo, Text
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FBN--STEELERS-LIONS
DESCRIPTION: The Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers meet on Sunday, clinging to postseason hopes. By Larry Lage. 750 words, photos.
UPCOMING: By 12/21/2025 4:25 p.m. EST, Photo, Text
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GLF--PNC CHAMPIONSHIP
DESCRIPTION: ORLANDO, Fla. -- Matt Kuchar and son have a two-shot lead over John Daly and son going into the last day of the PNC Championship. Upcoming; 500 words.
UPCOMING: By 12/21/2025 5:30 p.m. EST, Text
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FBN--PATRIOTS-RAVENS
DESCRIPTION: The Ravens face another key test in their fight for a playoff spot when they host the AFC East-leading Patriots. By Noah Trister. 750 words, photos.
UPCOMING: By 12/21/2025 11:55 p.m. EST, Photo, Text
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NEW AND DEVELOPING
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SOC--AFCON-OPENER
Morocco opens 35th Africa Cup of Nations with spectacular light show
SUMMARY: Excited red-and-green clad fans made their way to the stadium hours before kickoff as Morocco prepared to open the 35th Africa Cup of Nations. The party started the night before with a parade of fans through the capital city, Rabat. The Atlas Lions, as the home team is known, are among the favorites to lift what would be just their second Africa Cup title 50 years after their only success in 1976. The final is Jan. 18 next year. Morocco begins its campaign against island nation Comoros. No host has lost the opening match of the tournament since Burkina Faso in 1998. Morocco has embarked on one of the most aggressive infrastructure buildouts in African sporting history to establish itself as a soccer power.
WORDS: 513 - MOVED: 12/21/2025 1:43 p.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:1f3f052e6c71011e18430d93c4f6639e&mediaType=text
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FBN--RIVERS’ RETURN
Rivers ready for first Lucas Oil Stadium start since clinching playoff berth when Colts, 49ers meet
SUMMARY: The last time Philip Rivers suited up inside Lucas Oil Stadium, he and his Indianapolis Colts teammates celebrating clinching a playoff spot. A lot has changed in those five years. Rivers left the NFL, started coaching high school football in Alabama, became a grandfather and shocked the world by coming out of retirement and nearly leading the Colts to a victory last week in Seattle. He’s playing for an old friend, coach Shane Steichen, he’s with a franchise under new ownership. On Monday night, he’ll also play in front of a near capacity home crowd against San Francisco. That’s something he didn’t do during the COVID-19 pandemic year.
WORDS: 694 - MOVED: 12/21/2025 12:49 p.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:3d524ebad42aea95388f1416e48248d1&mediaType=text
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BBO--WHITE SOX-MURAKAMI
White Sox add Munetaka Murakami with $34 million, 2-year contract
SUMMARY: The Chicago White Sox have added Munetaka Murakami to their lineup, agreeing to a $34 million, two-year contract with the Japanese slugger. The 25-year-old Murakami joins a promising group of young hitters that also includes Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel and Chase Meidroth. The White Sox finished last in the AL Central this year with a 60-102 record, a 19-game improvement from the previous season. Murakami was the Central League’s MVP in 2021 and ’22 with the Yakult Swallows.
WORDS: 485 - MOVED: 12/21/2025 12:40 p.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:b8c8ccd00b97b2d5a6f7eedb11df70d6&mediaType=text
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GLF--MASTERS
Masters fields reaches 86 players with 13 from the world ranking
SUMMARY: The Masters is adding 13 players to the field who will finish the year in the top 50 in the world ranking. That’s one of the criteria to receive an invitation. Ryan Gerard moved into the top 50 with his runner-up finish in the Mauritius Open. Sam Stevens held down the 50th spot to get into his first Masters. That brings the field to 86 players who are expected to compete. The list includes Tiger Woods who has not said if he’s playing. The Masters has the smallest field of the majors and prefers to keep it under 100 players.
WORDS: 584 - MOVED: 12/21/2025 12:32 p.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:69b7625290e898ea56ffbcd0e9a80e93&mediaType=text
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FBN--EAGLES-COMMANDERS
Jalen Hurts and the Eagles win their second NFC East title in a row by beating the Commanders 29-18
SUMMARY: The Philadelphia Eagles have won their second straight NFC East title. Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley led the Eagles to a 29-18 win over the Washington Commanders on Saturday night. The game included a late brawl after Barkley tacked on a 2-point conversion to increase the Eagles’ lead to 19 points. Hurts completed 22 of 30 throws for 185 yards, two touchdowns and no turnovers. Barkley had a 12-yard TD run as part of his 21-carry, 132-yard performance. It wasn’t a terrific performance by the Eagles, who had a fumble on the opening kickoff and a pair of penalties on the tush push.
WORDS: 826 - MOVED: 12/21/2025 11:24 a.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:7ea8f81fff69281158f19917e8021857&mediaType=text
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OLY--SLIDING ROUNDUP
Humphries Armbruster gets 1st World Cup bobsled win since becoming a mom, ends 20-race German streak
SUMMARY: Kaillie Humphries Armbruster has achieved a significant milestone by winning a World Cup two-woman bobsled race in Sigulda, Latvia. This marks her first victory since turning 40 and becoming a mother. She teamed up with Emily Renna to secure the win, breaking Germany’s 20-race winning streak in the event. Humphries Armbruster now has 31 World Cup two-woman wins and 43 career victories, including Olympics and world championships. The U.S. women’s team is gaining momentum as the Milan Cortina Olympics approach, with strong performances from Kaysha Love and Elana Meyers Taylor.
WORDS: 654 - MOVED: 12/21/2025 11:15 a.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:8c01f3c7a8b72d84fa33915aaf613a5a&mediaType=text
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GLF--MAURITIUS OPEN
Ryan Gerard flew across two oceans to play in Mauritius. It paid off with a Masters invitation
SUMMARY: Jayden Schaper of South Africa has won for the second straight week. The big winner in the Mauritius Open might have been the guy he beat in a playoff. Ryan Gerard flew across two oceans from Florida to play the final tournament of the worldwide golf schedule with hopes of cracking the top 50 in the world and getting in the Masters at Augusta National in April. His playoff loss was enough to secure an invitation. Schaper is on a heater. He now has finished second and won two straight times in events co-sanctioned by the European tour.
WORDS: 281 - MOVED: 12/21/2025 8:48 a.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:efd8a4c2cd934454f4f77bb80fb49b81&mediaType=text
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SKI--WCUP-WOMEN’S SUPER-G
Sofia Goggia gets overdue World Cup win in super-G and Lindsey Vonn is third
SUMMARY: Sofia Goggia finally got the win her skiing this season deserved in a World Cup super-G on Sunday and Lindsey Vonn was third for the second straight day at French resort Val d’Isere. The two former Olympic downhill champions were split on a high-class podium by runner-up Alice Robinson who is already a two-time winner this season on the World Cup circuit. Goggia finished 0.15 seconds ahead of Robinson. The 41-year-old Vonn then hit a high speed touching 115 kph (71 mph) but the ideal racing line was elusive and she finished 0.36 behind Goggia.
WORDS: 693 - MOVED: 12/21/2025 8:09 a.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:d096d362d47a21b9fb1f0acfd5572a33&mediaType=text
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FBC--CFP-JAMES MADISON-G5
James Madison puts up valiant fight, but Group of Five teams still have much to prove in CFP
SUMMARY: Perhaps it was James Madison going for it twice on fourth down on its first drive of the game. Or, maybe it was coach Bob Chesney calling for a wide receiver pass on the Dukes’ second series of the evening. Even 12th-ranked James Madison successfully pulling off a fake punt could have adequately explained what the scoreboard failed to convey. It was clear that the fifth-ranked Oregon Ducks were in a different class than their visitors in a 51-34 win in a College Football Playoff first round matchup Saturday at Autzen Stadium. Oregon led 48-13 midway through the third quarter before the Dukes added a trio of late touchdowns to make the final score appear closer than the game really was.
WORDS: 793 - MOVED: 12/21/2025 2:36 a.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:9a95bee63b15ac7c786ba5c78c363f03&mediaType=text
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CRI--THE ASHES-AUSTRALIA’S WIN
How the ‘worst’ Australian team in 15 years just retained the Ashes against England
SUMMARY: It must be a case of the best of the worst. Australia has clinched the Ashes series with two matches to spare against England. Long-time protagonist Stuart Broad lit a fuse before the series by describing the Australian squad as the worst in 15 years and the England lineup as the best in that time. The patched-up Australia squad on Sunday managed to take a 3-0 lead in the five-match series to retain the old urn — the oldest and most storied contest between the nations. Marnus Labuschagne highlighted the team’s resilience by reciting Broad’s pre-series pronouncement after Australia won the third test by 82 runs in Adelaide. The fourth test starts Boxing Day in Melbourne.
WORDS: 708 - MOVED: 12/21/2025 2:28 a.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:5fc115fd42170bd373e923948b33cd9f&mediaType=text
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FBC--CFP-Orange Bowl
No. 5 Oregon beats No. 19 James Madison 51-34 in College Football Playoff opener
SUMMARY: Dante Moore threw four touchdown passes and ran for another score and No. 5 Oregon beat No. 19 James Madison 51-34 on Saturday night in a College Football Playoff opener. The Ducks (12-1) advanced to face Texas Tech in a quarterfinal game at the Orange Bowl on Jan. 1. Oregon won a playoff game for the first time since 2014, when the Ducks beat Florida State in the Rose Bowl semifinal before losing to Ohio State. James Madison (12-2) dropped Group of Five teams to 0-4 in CFP games. No. 17 Tulane fell 41-10 at No. 6 Mississippi as well Saturday. Oregon led 34-6 at the half.
WORDS: 994 - MOVED: 12/21/2025 2:23 a.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:64e2d52aa0381d2fab711bb13efb52a7&mediaType=text
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FBN--PACKERS-LOVE
Jordan Love exits Green Bay loss with a concussion in latest injury for Packers
SUMMARY: Add quarterback Jordan Love to a long list of injured players for the depleted Green Bay Packers. Love exited with a concussion after he was hit hard in the second quarter, and Green Bay blew a late lead in a gut-wrenching 22-16 overtime loss to the Chicago Bears. John FitzPatrick also left with an Achilles injury, leaving the Packers thin at tight end. The head injury for Love comes after defensive end Micah Parsons tore the ACL in his left knee during last weekend’s 34-26 loss at Denver. While running back Josh Jacobs and receiver Christian Watson managed to play after they were listed as questionable, right tackle Zach Tom, safety Evan Williams and tight end Josh Whyle were sidelined by injuries.
WORDS: 532 - MOVED: 12/21/2025 1:45 a.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:424391c8e1b5afacef2864bd4902ea68&mediaType=text
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