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AP Sports Digest

Posted 10/13/25

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. …

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AP Sports Digest

Posted

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.

For access to AP Newsroom and other technical issues, including agate, contact AP Customer Support at apcustomersupport@ap.org or 877-836-9477.

The New York sports desk can be reached at 800-845-8450, ext. 1630. Sports photos, ext. 1918; graphics, ext. 7636.

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UPCOMING

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FBC--T25-INDIANA-MOVING UP

DESCRIPTION: Indiana coach Curt Cignetti led the Hoosiers to a historic start in his first season in Bloomington. He’s doing even more in Year 2. After beating a Top 10 on the road for the first time in school history Saturday, No. 3 Indiana now has its highest ranking ever. But Cignetti isn’t celebrating, he’s asking his players to do even more to accomplish their goals. By Michael Marot. UPCOMING: 700 words, with photos by 3 p.m. eT.

UPCOMING: By 10/13/2025 3:00 p.m. EDT, Text

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SOC--WCUP-EUROPEAN QUALIFYING

DESCRIPTION: MADRID -- France can secure a World Cup spot if it wins at Iceland and Ukraine fails to beat Azerbaijan. By Tales Azzoni. UPCOMING: 500 words by 2200 GMT, photos.

UPCOMING: By 10/13/2025 3:26 p.m. EDT, Text

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CAR--NASCAR-IN THE PITS

DESCRIPTION: LAS VEGAS -- Denny Hamlin spent most of the last month facing fierce criticism over his playoff racing -- a crash with a teammate at New Hampshire and moves at Kansas Speedway and Charlotte that changed the participants in the round of eight of NASCAR’s playoffs. Well, he silenced everyone at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where he won his 60th career race and claimed the first of four spots in the championship-deciding finale. By AP Auto Racing Writer Jenna Fryer.

UPCOMING: By 10/13/2025 4:00 p.m. EDT, Text

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FBN--LIONS-ANALYSIS

DESCRIPTION: ALLEN PARK, Mich. — The Detroit Lions have an extra day to prepare for their next game on Monday night against Tampa Bay.

UPCOMING: By 10/13/2025 5:00 p.m. EDT, Text

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CAR--INDYCAR-SCHUMACHER TEST

DESCRIPTION: INDIANAPOLIS -- Mick Schumacher, the son of Formula One champion Michael Schumacher, will be driving an IndyCar during a test session Monday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The younger Schumacher has competed in 43 F1 races. But he will be driving for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing on Monday. By Michael Marot. UPCOMING: 650 words, with photos by 5 p.m. ET.

UPCOMING: By 10/13/2025 5:00 p.m. EDT, Text

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FBC--PENN ST-AFTER FRANKLIN

DESCRIPTION: STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Penn State’s hopes of competing for the national title are gone. Now, interim-coach Terry Smith and the Nittany Lions will have to salvage what they can out of 2025 after the firing of James Franklin and the loss of quarterback Drew Allar to a season-ending injury. By Travis Johnson. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 10/13/2025 6:00 p.m. EDT, Photo, Text

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FBN--49ERS-ANALYSIS

DESCRIPTION: SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The San Francisco 49ers overcame a rash on injuries to star players to get off to a fast start to the 2025 season. The season-ending ankle injury to four-time All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner might be too much as evidenced by how San Francisco’s defense collapsed without its leader in a 30-19 loss to Tampa Bay. By Pro Football Writer Josh Dubow. 700 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 10/13/2025 8:00 p.m. EDT, Text

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BBO--POSTSEASON

FORMATS: Text

    1. WITH: BBO--NLCS

      2. DESCRIPTION: MILWAUKEE -- The Los Angeles Dodgers visit the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 1 of the NL Championship Series. By Steve Megargee. UPCOMING: 500 words, photos. Game starts at 8:08 p.m. EDT.

      3. UPCOMING: By 10/13/2025 8:08 p.m. EDT

    4. WITH: BBO--ALCS

      5. DESCRIPTION: TORONTO -- The Seattle Mariners visit the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 2 of the AL Championship Series. UPCOMING: 500 words, photos. Game starts at 5:08 p.m. EDT.

      6. UPCOMING: By 10/13/2025 8:08 p.m. EDT

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FBN--BILLS-FALCONS

DESCRIPTION: ATLANTA -- Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills, coming off their first loss of the season, will try to regroup when they face the Atlanta Falcons, who are expected to lean on a running game led by Bijan Robinson, on Monday night. By Charles Odum. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos. Game starts at 7:15 p.m.

UPCOMING: By 10/13/2025 11:15 p.m. EDT, Photo, Text

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FBN--BEARS-COMMANDERS

DESCRIPTION: LANDOVER, Md. — Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders host Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears in a rematch from a game a year ago that ended with Daniels’ 52-yard Hail Mary TD pass. By Howard Fendrich. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos. Game starts at 8:15 p.m. EDT.

UPCOMING: By 10/13/2025 11:59 p.m. EDT, Photo, Text

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NEW AND DEVELOPING

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FBN—TITANS-CALLAHAN FIRED

The Tennessee Titans fired coach Brian Callahan on Monday after a 1-5 start to his second season. SENT: 200 words, photo. Updates coming.

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BE WELL-ATHLETE SETBACKS

Failures on sports’ biggest stages provide unique glimpse into how to overcome adversity

SUMMARY: Athletes confront failure as often as success during competition. High-profile mistakes, like Simone Biles’ “twisties” or Bill Buckner’s infamous error, are reminders of this reality. Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Orion Kerkering mishandling a crucial play that led to his team’s elimination from the MLB playoffs brings these mistakes back into the spotlight. Experts say overcoming such failures isn’t easy. Sports psychologists emphasize mental preparation and coping strategies. Techniques like “release, reset, refocus” help athletes move past mistakes. It’s also helpful, they say, that there’s growing acceptance of mental strategies in sports, underscoring their importance in performance.

WORDS: 903 - MOVED: 10/13/2025 1:33 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:2adf7e44c4bd935f185db6edf2de23a0&mediaType=text

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FBC--NEBRASKA-RHULE-PENN ST

Matt Rhule says he loves his job at Nebraska but doesn’t tamp down buzz about Penn State opening

SUMMARY: Matt Rhule professed his love for living and working in Nebraska and trying to return the Cornhuskers to the upper echelon of college football. But he did nothing to shut down speculation he could be up for the Penn State job, which opened with Sunday’s firing of James Franklin. Rhule has deep ties to Penn State. He met his wife there, was a walk-on linebacker for Joe Paterno in the 1990s and is close friends with athletic director Pat Kraft.

WORDS: 409 - MOVED: 10/13/2025 1:32 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:018073b1d0e38953b9ab56ffc107db06&mediaType=text

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SOC--ITALY-ISRAEL

Italy-Israel qualifier expected to attract less people than nearby pro-Palestinian march

SUMMARY: Israel’s World Cup qualifying match against Italy is set to take place amid heightened security despite a recent ceasefire in Gaza. The game will be in Udine, north-east Italy. A pro-Palestinian march is expected to draw around 10,000 people. That could be more than the people in the stadium. Only 9,000 tickets have been sold for the qualifier in the 25,000-seat venue. The match comes four days after the ceasefire in Gaza and one day after the release of hostages and prisoners. Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso expressed happiness over the ceasefire. Israel winger Manor Solomon admitted the players could be affected by the heightened emotions from what is happening back home.

WORDS: 692 - MOVED: 10/13/2025 1:29 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:22cee85385de4bc91611179a1452ca4b&mediaType=text

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BKN--NBA-ALL-STAR CHANGES

The latest idea to save the NBA All-Star Game: US vs. the World. And there’s no shortage of intrigue

SUMMARY: The NBA is planning to revamp the All-Star Game format, pitting U.S. players against international stars in a tournament setting. This change aims to make the event more competitive and engaging. The plan, not yet finalized, suggests a three-team tournament with two American teams and one international team. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver says the goal is to create a fun and exciting experience for fans. Players like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic support the idea, hoping it will add intensity to the game. The league expects to announce the new format by the season’s start on October 21.

WORDS: 994 - MOVED: 10/13/2025 1:28 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:83b6e8f901288ad571a8f5823b908230&mediaType=text

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BBO--PADRES-SHILDT RETIRES

Padres manager Mike Shildt announces retirement after just 2 seasons in charge

SUMMARY: Mike Shildt is retiring after two seasons as the San Diego Padres’ manager. The Padres confirmed the 57-year-old Shildt’s decision Monday. In a letter to the San Diego Union-Tribune, Shildt said he is retiring because “the grind of the baseball season has taken a severe toll on me mentally, physically and emotionally.” Shildt went 183-141 and led San Diego to two postseason appearances during his brief tenure. The Padres won 90 games this season and finished second in the NL West before being eliminated by the Chicago Cubs earlier this month in a tense three-game wild-card playoff series.

WORDS: 550 - MOVED: 10/13/2025 1:13 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:e923d3a374de36170e2dcf2bed6193ce&mediaType=text

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BBO--NLCS-DODGERS-BREWERS ROSTERS

Brewers include Myers rather than Mears on NLCS roster; Dodgers add Casparius to their bullpen

SUMMARY: Milwaukee right-hander Nick Mears was left off the Brewers’ roster for their NL Championship Series matchup with the Los Angeles Dodgers after making 63 relief appearances during the regular season. Milwaukee instead included right-hander Tobias Myers. Myers wasn’t on Milwaukee’s roster for its NL Division Series with the Chicago Cubs. Game 1 of the NLCS is Monday at Milwaukee. The Dodgers also altered their bullpen for this series. They added one more pitcher by including right-hander Ben Casparius and leaving out catcher Dalton Rushing.

WORDS: 352 - MOVED: 10/13/2025 1:08 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:147c4bd31fbc24da4c8b78a40e62cea6&mediaType=text

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BKC--T25-COLLEGE BKB POLL

Boiler up! Purdue tops preseason AP Top 25 for first time, ahead of Houston, reigning champ Florida

SUMMARY: Purdue is No. 1 in the preseason Associated Press men’s college basketball poll for the first time. The Boilermakers earned 35 of 61 first-place votes to top Monday’s AP Top 25 poll to begin the 2025-26 season. That put Matt Painter’s squad ahead of the two teams that played in last year’s NCAA title game. Runner-up Houston was No. 2 while reigning champion Florida was No. 3. UConn was fourth, followed by St. John’s. Duke, Michigan, BYU, Kentucky and Texas Tech rounded out the top 10. The Southeastern Conference, Big Ten and Big 12 each had six ranked teams.

WORDS: 829 - MOVED: 10/13/2025 1:06 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:d0ecf6a1b386ac7868c20fe6b09f78ea&mediaType=text

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FBC--NORTH CAROLINA-BELICHICK

Bill Belichick says he never sought an early departure from the North Carolina job

SUMMARY: Bill Belichick has denied reports that he’s been seeking an exit strategy from his North Carolina coaching role. Belichick says “some of the reports out last week about my looking for a buyout and trying to leave here and all that, it’s just categorically false.” Belichick was making his first public comments since a blowout loss to Clemson. During the second of two off weeks in a three-week span, the subject of Belichick’s future with the Tar Heels was a hot topic, so much so that last Wednesday the university released brief statements from the coach and athletics director reaffirming commitments between Belichick and the school.

WORDS: 505 - MOVED: 10/13/2025 1:05 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:d7d21f5a93789a2b8bc46c14894202f4&mediaType=text

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BKN--RETOOLED GRIZZLIES

Full-court sprints and inhalers: Grizzlies put their trust in Tuomas Iisalo to bring about a new era

SUMMARY: Memphis coach Tuomas Iisalo told the Grizzlies in exit meetings last spring to be ready to play faster when they returned this fall. Now they know just how fast Iisalo wants his Grizzlies moving both on and off the court. Guard Ja Morant says they might need inhalers, which should tell everyone what they need to know. Iisalo took over in late March and had little time to make many changes. The Grizzlies gave him the job after a first-round loss to Oklahoma City. The Grizzlies then spent the summer retooling the roster around Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr.

WORDS: 816 - MOVED: 10/13/2025 11:38 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:7cef7952e1cdf228508065842805659d&mediaType=text

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HKN--CANADIENS-HUTSON

Montreal Canadiens sign 2025 rookie of the year Lane Hutson to 8-year, $70.8M contract extension

SUMMARY: The Montreal Canadiens signed last season’s NHL rookie of the year, defenseman Lane Hutson, to an eight-year, $70.8 million contract extension. The extension kicks in for the 2026-27 season after Hutson’s rookie contract expires and runs through 2033-34. The 21-year-old is from Michigan and was selected in the second round of the 2022 draft out of Boston University. In his first full NHL season, Hutson set a franchise single-season rookie record with 66 points and tied the franchise mark with a team-leading 60 assists.

WORDS: 176 - MOVED: 10/13/2025 11:16 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:e14c50ac745d48b2c4982a1239582259&mediaType=text

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BKW--SOUTH CAROLINA-KITTS

South Carolina star forward Chloe Kitts to miss entire season with torn ACL

SUMMARY: South Carolina senior forward Chloe Kitts has announced she will miss the entire 2025 season after tearing her ACL. She shared the news on social media Monday. The injury occurred at a recent practice. She will have surgery this week. Kitts, a two-year starter and last season’s Southeastern Conference tournament MVP, averaged 10.2 points and 7.7 rebounds per game as a junior. Coach Dawn Staley praised Kitts for her hard work and believes her leadership will continue from the sidelines. It’s uncertain if Kitts will seek a medical redshirt. This is another setback for the team, following Ashlyn Watkins’ similar injury.

WORDS: 333 - MOVED: 10/13/2025 10:17 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:4155866b047dccd81e5828a5829a8bc2&mediaType=text

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FBN--ON FOOTBALL-CHIEFS REBOUND

All the talk about the decline of the Kansas City Chiefs may have been premature

SUMMARY: All the talk about the decline of the Kansas City Chiefs was apparently premature. With Patrick Mahomes doing his magic and a stout defense, the Chiefs can beat anybody. A convincing 30-17 victory over the Detroit Lions in front of a national audience on Sunday night lifted the Chiefs to 3-3. They’ve got a long way to go but they’re a much better team than the one that started 0-2. Critics were wondering if it was the end of Kansas City’s dynasty. But the Chiefs just need to get healthy and work out some kinks.

WORDS: 762 - MOVED: 10/13/2025 9:43 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:c96f4ee39868a04a06acb9c93ced29cf&mediaType=text

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BBO--ALCS-BLUE JAYS-YESAVAGE

Toronto Blue Jays rookie Trey Yesavage says his family has been subject to abuse

SUMMARY: Toronto rookie Trey Yesavage says his family has faced abuse since his impressive postseason debut against the New York Yankees. He spoke out before the AL Championship Series opener against Seattle, expressing sadness his loved ones are being targeted for his on-field performances. Yesavage, who is set to start Game 2 on Monday, declined to answer follow-up questions. Blue Jays manager John Schneider commended him for addressing the issue. Yesavage set a Blue Jays postseason record by striking out 11 Yankees in 5 1/3 hitless innings in the AL Division Series.

WORDS: 479 - MOVED: 10/13/2025 9:03 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:3ae6330c8c230b772ea8decbd12ba10e&mediaType=text

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FBN--LIONS-CHIEFS

Mahomes leads the Chiefs to a 30-17 victory over Lions, and a fistfight erupts at the finish

SUMMARY: Patrick Mahomes threw for 257 yards and three touchdowns and led the Kansas City Chiefs to a 30-17 victory over the ailing Detroit Lions. Sunday night’s game ended with a fistfight among players. Mahomes tried to give Brian Branch a high-five after the final whistle, and the Lions safety walked right by him. Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster took umbrage and had words with Branch, who delivered a punch to set off the brief melee. Marquise Brown had two touchdown receptions and Xavier Worthy had another for the Chiefs, who evened their record at 3-3. The Lions fell to 4-2.

WORDS: 915 - MOVED: 10/13/2025 9:03 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:a1efef80b5189979ac00baf9c9925cf2&mediaType=text

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FBC--T25-AP TOP 25-EXTRA POINTS

AP Top 25 Extra Points: UNLV would be long shot for CFP even if beats Boise St on road and wins out

SUMMARY: UNLV has quietly started 6-0 under new coach Dan Mullen and a win this week at Boise State would put the Rebels in the spotlight. Even if the Rebels finish the regular season undefeated and win the Mountain West title, it probably still won’t be enough to get them into the College Football Playoff as the Group of Five representative. American Conference teams South Florida, Memphis and Tulane are most often mentioned as front-runners. The Rebels have played one of the weakest schedules in the country.

WORDS: 977 - MOVED: 10/13/2025 7:10 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:60bf48a95a982b91188a534eec5adde8&mediaType=text

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MOVING TOMORROW ___

—BKW--T25-Women’s BKB Poll

—NLCS

—Italy-Israel World Cup qualifier

—FBN--AI-Managing Injuries

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