49ers rout Rams 27-7 in NFL's first Australia game behind Brock Purdy's 3 TD passes
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Mike Evans, Demarcus Robinson and Deebo Samuel caught touchdown passes from Brock Purdy, and the San Francisco 49ers routed the Los Angeles Rams 27-7 in the first NFL regular-season game in Australia. Purdy passed for 205 yards against the Rams’ ineffective defense at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in front of 100,021 fans. That's the seventh-largest regular season crowd in NFL history. The San Francisco defense frustrated NFL MVP Matthew Stafford into a 15-for-25 performance for just 155 yards. Kyren Williams scored the NFL’s first Australian touchdown on a 5-yard rush to begin the second quarter. but the Rams’ offense struggled from there.
Elena Rybakina beats Coco Gauff and will play Aryna Sabalenka for the US Open women's title
NEW YORK (AP) — Aryna Sabalenka moved a win away from her third straight U.S. Open title, beating Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2. Sabalenka blasted her way out of what was a dead-even match for most of the first set, pouncing on Pegula’s second serves and turning the second set into perhaps her most impressive stretch of tennis in the tournament. The No. 1 seed will face No. 2 Elena Rybakina, a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 winner over No. 4 Coco Gauff, on Saturday, needing a victory to become the first player to win three in a row in Flushing Meadows since Serena Williams from 2012-14.
Seahawks QB Sam Darnold has a muscle injury. His status for Seattle's next game is uncertain
SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said quarterback Sam Darnold’s hip injury appears to be muscle-related and his status for next week’s game at Arizona is as yet undetermined. Darnold was injured on Seattle’s first series of Wednesday night’s game against the New England Patriots. Darnold was sacked by New England’s Dre’Mont Jones and shortly thereafter limped off the field. He did not return.
Packers running back Josh Jacobs pleads no contest to 2 misdemeanor charges, including battery
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs pleaded no contest Thursday to misdemeanor charges of battery and criminal damage to property stemming from a May altercation with his girlfriend during which she said he threw her to the ground. Jacobs must pay a $1,000 fine plus court costs for the battery charge. Under an agreement with prosecutors, the criminal damage charge can be dismissed in a year if he fulfills terms that include staying out of trouble, avoiding the victim in this case, submitting to supervision, completing counseling and paying restitution to the victim.
Former hockey players at University of Michigan sue, say they were sexually abused decades ago
DETROIT (AP) — More than a dozen former hockey players are suing the University of Michigan. They say their coach and other staff were aware of sexual hazing that included the forced shaving of their genitals and other abuses by teammates decades ago. The plaintiffs are 16 men who played at Michigan between 1984 and 2001. The lawsuit apparently grew out of conversations among several former teammates in 2024. The university says the allegations are “disturbing,” but denies responsibility. The lawsuit says Red Berenson was aware of the abuse and did not intervene. He was the coach from 1984 to 2017. Berenson says no one complained to him.
Volpe hits grand slam in return to majors as Yankees sweep Rockies 10-3 to pull closer in AL East
NEW YORK (AP) — Anthony Volpe hit a grand slam and drove in a career-high five runs during his rousing return to the majors as the New York Yankees beat the Colorado Rockies 10-3 to tighten the AL East race. Luis García Jr. launched an early two-run homer and rookie Spencer Jones had three hits for the Yankees, including a two-run single. New York completed a three-game sweep to move within three games of Tampa Bay atop the division and 4 1/2 ahead of idle Boston for the first American League wild card with 16 to play. Max Fried struck out seven in his third start since coming off the injured list but needed 80 pitches to get through 3 1/3 innings.
No. 7 Miami gains school-record 856 yards, rolls past Florida A&M 77-7
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — No. 7 Miami set a school record for yards and tied the mark for points in a game, with quarterbacks Darian Mensah and Luke Nickel each throwing three touchdown passes in a 77-7 win over lower-division Florida A&M on Thursday night. The Hurricanes finished with 856 yards, breaking the mark of 750 against Ball State in 2024. Miami had 77 points in a game twice previously, both against Savannah State. And the game was so one-sided that the teams agreed to shave five minutes off the fourth quarter, setting the clock for 10 minutes instead of the standard 15. By then, it was 77-0.
Falcons QB Tua Tagovailoa leaves practice with an oblique injury
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa left practice Thursday with an oblique injury. Tagovailoa bent over in obvious discomfort after throwing a pass during a portion of practice open to media and grabbed his right side. He dropped to the ground for a few seconds before getting up and trying to shake off the injury. It’s unclear if he returned to practice. The Falcons listed him as a limited participant. Tagovailoa’s first game with the Falcons is at Pittsburgh on Sunday. It’s the same spot where he made the last start of his rocky final season with Miami.
US women storm past Hungary 108-56 to reach FIBA World Cup semifinals
BERLIN (AP) — Napheesa Collier has scored 19 points and the U.S. has routed Hungary 108-56 to advance to the semifinals of the women’s FIBA World Cup in Germany. The U.S. will play Spain on Saturday in the medal round. The other semifinal will have France facing host Germany. The Americans have now won 34 consecutive games in the tournament dating to a loss to Russia in the 2006 World Cup semifinals. The U.S. has made every medal round of the event since 1983 when the format changed to have medal rounds.
Across the US, 'Friday night lights' provide a sense of community — and, for some, a way out
ALIQUIPPA, Pa. (AP) — Like many high schools across the country, Aliquippa football games are a cherished tradition, connecting the community's past and present. The Western Pennsylvania town comes together on Friday nights during the fall to support the home team. This tradition is part of a broader American experience where high school sports foster community spirit and personal growth. Despite changes over the years, the essence of teamwork and connection remains strong. For many, sports offer a path to college and new opportunities, while also preserving a sense of belonging and pride in their roots.
