AP Sports Digest

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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FBC--CFP RANKINGS-ANALYSIS

DESCRIPTION: The College Football Playoff selection committee came into its meeting armed with a dozen set of metrics to help it to tease out the tiny differences that will ultimately decide which teams play for a title, who sits home and who plays who along the road to that championship. Still, the committee made clear the ‘eye test’ will play a meaningful role in picking the bracket. By Eddie Pells. UPCOMING: 850 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 11/05/2025 6:00 a.m. EST, Text

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FBN--ON FOOTBALL-TRADE DEADLINE

DESCRIPTION: The Colts went all-in. The Eagles were aggressive. The Jets looked to the future. By Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi. UPCOMING: 610 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 11/05/2025 6:00 a.m. EST, Text

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FBN--INSIDE THE NUMBERS

DESCRIPTION: The NFL season is halfway through, and some interesting trends have emerged. Scoring is up, partly due to new special teams rules and more aggressive fourth-down plays. Offenses are getting bigger, using extra linemen and tight ends more than ever. By Pro Football Writer Josh Dubow. UPCOMING: 950 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 11/05/2025 6:00 a.m. EST, Text

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FBN--NFL GERMANY

DESCRIPTION: It seems like the NFL can’t get enough of Germany. Berlin will be the third German city to host a regular-season game when the Indianapolis Colts and Atlanta Falcons square off Sunday at Olympiastadion. A fourth location could soon be announced for next year’s game. By Ken Maguire. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 11/05/2025 6:00 a.m. EST, Photo, Text

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FBN--GROWING FOOTBALL FANDOM

DESCRIPTION: Cincinnati Bengals fan Mike Schroeder’s young daughter had no interest in football during the NFL team’s run to the Super Bowl in early 2022. Before the next playoffs, he and fellow father Michael Gold came up with a storybook and hands-on game to teach the concepts and rules of football, and she quickly learned and was hooked. They launched “Future Fans” not long after in the hopes of growing fandom at the youth level. As the league hopes to grow among young fans and internationally, the two dads hope to be part of those efforts. By Stephen Whyno. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 11/05/2025 6:00 a.m. EST, Text

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FBC--T25-COLLEGE FOOTBALL PICKS

DESCRIPTION: AP College Football Writer Eric Olson makes his picks for Week 11 games involving Top 25 teams. By College Football Writer Eric Olson. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 11/05/2025 1:00 p.m. EST, Photo, Text

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FBN--COLTS-GARDNER

DESCRIPTION: INDIANAPOLIS — One day after being traded from the New York Jets, the Indianapolis Colts are welcoming two-time All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner to town. Gardner is expected to help fortify a secondary that has been decimated by injuries and has been Indy’s biggest weakness this season. By Michael Marot. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 11/05/2025 3:00 p.m. EST, Text

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FBN--JETS-FUTURE

DESCRIPTION: FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — The New York Jets stunned the NFL on Tuesday by trading two of their biggest stars in Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams. While general manager Darren Mougey insisted it’s not a roster “teardown” and the team is still focused on winning games this season, the moves make it clear that the Jets are in another massive rebuild -- especially with five first-round picks in the next two drafts. By Pro Football Writer Dennis Waszak Jr. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 11/05/2025 5:00 p.m. EST, Text

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BKN--TIMBERWOLVES-KNICKS

DESCRIPTION: NEW YORK — The Minnesota Timberwolves hope to have Anthony Edwards back from a hamstring injury when they visit the New York Knicks. UPCOMING: 300 words, photos. Game scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. EST.

UPCOMING: By 11/05/2025 9:45 p.m. EST, Photo, Text

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BKN--SPURS-LAKERS

DESCRIPTION: LOS ANGELES — Victor Wembanyama faces Luka Doncic when the San Antonio Spurs visit the Los Angeles Lakers. By Greg Beacham. UPCOMING: 300 words, photos. Game scheduled to start at 10 p.m. EST.

UPCOMING: By 11/05/2025 11:59 p.m. EST, Photo, Text

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NEW AND DEVELOPING

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BKN--THUNDER-CLIPPERS

Thunder surge past Clippers 126-107 to extend season-opening winning streak to 8

SUMMARY: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 30 points and 12 assists and the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder extended their season-opening winning streak to eight games with a 126-107 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night. Isaiah Joe added 22 points to help the Thunder overcame an early surge by the Clippers to set a franchise record for consecutive victories to start a season. Gilgeous-Alexander, who played for the Clippers in his rookie season before he was traded to the Thunder, was 9 of 14 from the floor and 4 of 5 from 3-point range. James Harden scored 25 points and John Collins added 17 for the Clippers. They were without Kawhi Leonard (ankle) and Bradley Beal (knee) on the second night of a home back-to-back.

WORDS: 285 - MOVED: 11/05/2025 1:41 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:e2f7959723293ade062e7319b848f64d&mediaType=text

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FBC--CFP RANKINGS

Ohio State gets top billing in opening College Football Playoff rankings; Indiana, Texas A&M next

SUMMARY: Ohio State received top billing in the first College Football Playoff rankings of the season, followed by Indiana, Texas A&M and Alabama. The top three head into the final four weeks of the regular season undefeated. Another team with no losses, BYU of the Big 12, was ranked seventh. At No. 5 was Georgia, followed by Mississippi. All of the top six came from either the Big Ten or Southeastern Conference — a dose of business as usual despite a season that has been anything but predictable.

WORDS: 915 - MOVED: 11/05/2025 1:30 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:eedbd317f08b15c6d3cc7c9f8d40a29a&mediaType=text

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BKC--T25-TEXAS-DUKE

Evans, Boozer help No. 6 Duke overcome slow start and defeat Texas 75-60 in season opener

SUMMARY: Isaiah Evans scored 23 points, Cameron Boozer used a big second half to finish with 15 points and 13 rebounds and No. 6 Duke overcame a sluggish start to beat Texas 75-60 at the Dick Vitale Invitational on Tuesday night. The Blue Devils got 10 points from Patrick Ngongba and used a stifling defense to limit Texas to 32% shooting while forcing 16 turnovers. Dailyn Swain had 16 points, while Jordan Pope and Matas Vokietaitis each had 15 points to lead Texas in coach Sean Miller’s debut.

WORDS: 401 - MOVED: 11/04/2025 11:30 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:6cff61b68c22f345f6d0bcfd92523ed3&mediaType=text

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FBN--COWBOYS TRADES

Cowboys make major move for beleaguered defense in trade for Jets’ Quinnen Williams

SUMMARY: The Dallas Cowboys have traded for star defensive tackle Quinnen Williams of the Jets in a major move to try to improve one of the NFL’s worst defenses. The deal for Williams on trade deadline day came after the lower-profile addition of linebacker Logan Wilson from Cincinnati. The Cowboys are giving a 2027 first-round draft pick, a 2026 second-rounder and underperforming defensive tackle Mazi Smith to the Jets. The Cowboys gained first-round picks in the next two drafts in another blockbuster. That was the trade that sent star pass rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers a week before the season.

WORDS: 855 - MOVED: 11/04/2025 9:13 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:81dcca382d374cc90421cfcd7b9dda6e&mediaType=text

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BKW--T25-LOUISVILLE-UCONN

No. 1 UConn handles No. 20 Louisville 79-66 in opening game moved due to government shutdown

SUMMARY: Sarah Strong had 21 points and nine rebounds, and top-ranked UConn opened its title defense with a 79-66 win over No. 20 Louisville. This was the first time the Armed Forces Classic featured women’s basketball teams, and the game was supposed to be played at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, but it was moved to the Naval Academy because of the government shutdown. Azzi Fudd scored 20 points for UConn, which has not lost a season opener since 1995. Laura Ziegler had 16 points and 18 rebounds for Louisville.

WORDS: 310 - MOVED: 11/04/2025 7:49 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:e221810b6ac542890353190ffd6938e0&mediaType=text

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SOC--CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ROUNDUP

Champions League: Bayern and Liverpool earn statement wins as Van de Ven scores 90-meter solo goal

SUMMARY: Bayern Munich has handed Paris Saint-Germain a first loss in its Champions League title defense while Liverpool beat Real Madrid 1-0 in another blockbuster matchup. Luis Diaz scored twice for Bayern before getting a red card in first-half stoppage time for a reckless lunge on Achraf Hakimi that forced the PSG defender off injured. PSG had already seen Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé come off with an injury and reduced the deficit through Joao Neves but Bayern held on a 2-1 win. The German champions joined Arsenal on a maximum 12 points. Arsenal won 3-0 at Slavia Prague. At Anfield, Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois produced save after save to defy Liverpool but was finally beaten by Alexis Mac Allister.

WORDS: 856 - MOVED: 11/04/2025 6:27 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:9f1e36ab64e086211611009e8eec9a98&mediaType=text

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BBO--FREE AGENTS

Alex Bregman, Lucas Giolito, Pete Alonso, Edwin Díaz and Cody Bellinger become free agents

SUMMARY: Boston third baseman Alex Bregman and right-hander Lucas Giolito, New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso and closer Edwin Díaz and New York Yankees outfielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger were among the players who turned down player options or exercised opt outs and became free agents. San Diego pitcher Robert Suarez also turned down his option and went free on the third day of the five-day free agent window. A total of 153 players have become free agents following the end of the World Series and several dozen more potentially can go free through Thursday, depending on whether team, player and mutual options are exercised.

WORDS: 1071 - MOVED: 11/04/2025 5:49 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:162279f9213ff8edea4e022ed84ebb7e&mediaType=text

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FBN--NFL TRADE DEADLINE

Jets trade All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner, star defensive tackle Quinnen Williams

SUMMARY: Sauce Gardner went from last place to first and teammate Quinnen Williams also is on the move in separate blockbuster trades. The stunning deals by the New York Jets highlighted a flurry of activity ahead of the NFL’s trade deadline on Tuesday. Gardner, a two-time All-Pro cornerback, was sent to the Indianapolis Colts for two first-round draft picks and wide receiver Adonai Mitchell. The Jets will receive the Colts’ first-round selection in 2026 and in 2027. Williams heads to the Dallas Cowboys for a second-round pick in 2026, a first-round pick in 2027 and defensive tackle Mazi Smith.

WORDS: 960 - MOVED: 11/04/2025 5:39 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:f888eb6f2e74aad7cfc27f914681e99f&mediaType=text

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BBO--ORIOLES-ALBERNAZ

Albernaz takes over as Orioles manager with an eye on a 2026 rebound in Baltimore

SUMMARY: Craig Albernaz held his first news conference since being hired by the Baltimore Orioles. Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt was actually on hand to support him Tuesday at Camden Yards. Albernaz spent the past two seasons with Vogt and the Guardians, working as bench coach and then associate manager. Now they’ll be in opposing dugouts. Cleveland won the AL Central each of Albernaz’s two seasons there, rallying from a 15 1/2-game deficit this year. That’s the level Baltimore is hoping to return to. The Orioles made the playoffs in 2023 and 2024 before falling to 75 wins and the AL East cellar this season.

WORDS: 637 - MOVED: 11/04/2025 4:07 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:58ef813b8928b158ecfd71e4dcbb29b0&mediaType=text

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TEN--GREECE-DJOKOVIC

A win, a new home and tears: Novak Djokovic marks Greece’s tennis comeback with victory

SUMMARY: Novak Djokovic defeated Alejandro Tabilo 7-6 (3), 6-1 at the ATP 250 Hellenic Championship in Athens, securing a spot in the quarterfinals at the first ATP tournament in Greece since 1994. After a tight first set decided in a tiebreak, Djokovic dominated the second, breaking Tabilo twice. Playing in front of a supportive home crowd after relocating to Athens with his family, Djokovic said it “felt like home” and thanked fans for their energy. The match ended with an emotional tribute to late coach and mentor Nikola Pilic, leaving Djokovic in tears.

WORDS: 306 - MOVED: 11/04/2025 3:47 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:f4b6efd3d191a96364d0421216cecc62&mediaType=text

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SOC--CHAMPIONS LEAGUE-YOUNGEST PLAYER

He’s only 15! Arsenal’s Max Dowman becomes youngest-ever player in the Champions League

SUMMARY: Arsenal winger Max Dowman has become the youngest player in Champions League history when, at age 15 years and 308 days, he entered as a second-half substitute against Slavia Prague. Dowman is the first 15-year-old to play in Europe’s top club competition. The previous youngest was Youssoufa Moukoko, a striker who played for Borussia Dortmund just 18 days after his 16th birthday back in 2020. Dowman’s latest exploit came weeks after he became the second-youngest player to feature in the Premier League after making his debut against Leeds also as a second-half substitute in August. Dowman is still a school kid.

WORDS: 424 - MOVED: 11/04/2025 2:58 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:9ee78da532df4f27d75a77d9af5c286b&mediaType=text

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GLF--LIV GOLF

LIV Golf to expand to 72 holes in a bid for world ranking points

SUMMARY: LIV Golf is expanding to 72 holes for the first time. The name of the Saudi-funded league is built around it promoting 54 holes. But the tournaments will be four rounds starting in 2026. It’s a decision that could boost its chances of getting recognized by the Official World Golf Ranking. The events will still have a shotgun start. LIV is expanding in other ways. It’s taking two players from the Asian Tour’s International Series ranking and two from a qualifying event. The PGA Tour says players will be penalized for playing the Promotions event because it’s in North America.

WORDS: 886 - MOVED: 11/04/2025 2:11 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:a931c7eb3e1af45ed0a6e999a0b93947&mediaType=text