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--ON FOOTBALL-TUESDAY TAKEAWAYS

DESCRIPTION: Matthew Stafford is having one of the best statistical seasons in NFL history. By Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 11/25/2025 3:00 p.m. EST, Text

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FBC--T25-TEXAS A&M-NEW HEIGHTS

DESCRIPTION: COLLEGE STATION, Texas — No. 3 Texas A&M is on the verge of reaching heights the Aggies often tease but usually squander. They are undefeated. They could reach the Southeastern Conference title game and the College Football Playoff for the first time. Quarterback Marcel Reed is a Heisman contender and the school has rewarded coach Mike Elko with a blockbuster contract extension. Aggies faithful are hopeful that their program has finally taken a great leap forward. By Kristie Rieken. By Kristie Rieken. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 11/25/2025 5:00 p.m. EST, Text

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FBC--T25-NORTH TEXAS-QB AND COACH

DESCRIPTION: DENTON, Texas — Redshirt freshman quarterback Drew Mestemaker is the nation’s leading passer as No. 22 North Texas gets ready for its home finale with the chance to clinch the school’s first 11-win season, a spot in a conference championship game and then maybe the 12-team College Football Playoff. It’s hard not to wonder if Friday will be his last home game in Denton. Same for coach Eric Morris. By Stephen Hawkins. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 11/25/2025 5:00 p.m. EST, Photo, Text

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FBC--BIG TEN-FINAL STRETCH

DESCRIPTION: Ohio State and Indiana are closing in on a rare accomplishment. Only once before has the Big Ten title game featured two teams that were undefeated in conference play. By Noah Trister. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 11/25/2025 5:00 p.m. EST, Text

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US--THANKSGIVING SPORTS-HOW TO WATCH

DESCRIPTION: A how to watch guide for the biggest sporting events over the long Thanksgiving Day weekend.

UPCOMING: By 11/25/2025 5:00 p.m. EST, Text

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OLY--WINTER PARALYMPICS-PARSONS

DESCRIPTION: MILAN — International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons talks to The Associated Press, with 100 days to go until the Milan Cortina Paralympics. By Daniella Matar. UPCOMING: 500 words.

UPCOMING: By 11/25/2025 7:00 p.m. EST, Text

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FBC--CFP PLAYOFF RANKINGS

DESCRIPTION: The College Football Playoff rankings come out after a weekend filled with nonconference games in which nobody in the top 10 lost. By Eddie Pells. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos. Developing from rankings release starting at 7 p.m. EST.

UPCOMING: By 11/25/2025 8:00 p.m. EST, Text

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BKC--T25-HOUSTON-TENNESSEE

DESCRIPTION: LAS VEGAS — No. 3 Houston plays No. 17 Tennessee in the Players Era. By Mark Anderson. UPCOMING: 300 words, photos. Game starts at 6 p.m. EST.

UPCOMING: By 11/25/2025 8:30 p.m. EST, Text, Photo

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BKC--T25-MICHIGAN-AUBURN

DESCRIPTION: LAS VEGAS — No. 7 Michigan plays No. 21 Auburn in the Players Era. By W.G. Ramirez. UPCOMING: 300 words, photos. Game starts at 8:30 p.m. EST.

UPCOMING: By 11/25/2025 11:00 p.m. EST, Text, Photo

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BKN--CLIPPERS-LAKERS

DESCRIPTION: LOS ANGELES — LeBron James and the Lakers host James Harden and the Clippers in the crosstown rivals’ first meeting of the season. By Greg Beacham. UPCOMING: 300 words, photos. Game starts at 11 p.m. EST.

UPCOMING: By 11/25/2025 11:55 p.m. EST, Text, Photo

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NEW AND DEVELOPING

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BBO--RED SOX-CARDINALS TRADE

Red Sox acquire right-hander Sonny Gray from the Cardinals

SUMMARY: The Boston Red Sox have acquired right-hander Sonny Gray from the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals will receive righty Richard Fitts and prospect Brandon Clarke. Gray went 14-8 with a 4.28 ERA for the Cardinals last season. In a 13-year career with five teams, he is 125-102 with a 3.58 ERA and three All-Star appearances. Fitts turns 26 next month. Gray gives the Red Sox a dependable option behind ace Garrett Crochet to take some of the pressure off the rest of the rotation.

WORDS: 384 - MOVED: 11/25/2025 1:33 p.m. EST. Will be updated from 6:30 p.m. EST Red Sox availability.

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:b81e4a2613746f1fb3cecf6ecc757c3a&mediaType=text

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TEN--CARLOS ALCARAZ-EXHIBITIONS

Carlos Alcaraz’s season is done but the tennis star’s year isn’t

SUMMARY: Carlos Alcaraz recently wrapped up his 2025 official schedule with the ATP’s year-end No. 1 ranking, tour-highs of 71 match wins and eight trophies and a pair of Grand Slam titles that lifted his career total to six. Yes, his season is done — but his year isn’t. That’s because the 22-year-old Alcaraz, who skipped representing Spain in last week’s Davis Cup Final 8 because of pain in his right hamstring, is signed up for a pair of upcoming exhibition events that include singles matches against two-time U.S. Open semifinalist Frances Tiafoe in Newark and against João Fonseca in Miami.

WORDS: 649 - MOVED: 11/25/2025 12:20 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:2a8a832006e8b1e32fd09461a6fd3ba4&mediaType=text

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SOC--WCUP-RONALDO BAN

Cristiano Ronaldo set to avoid ban at World Cup after FIFA red-card verdict offers probation

SUMMARY: Cristiano Ronaldo will likely avoid missing any Portugal games at the World Cup despite his red card in a qualifying game last week for elbowing an Ireland opponent. FIFA has published a disciplinary verdict that imposed a three-game ban yet with two of those games deferred for a one-year probation period. Ronaldo served a mandatory one-game ban when Portugal won its final qualifying game to seal its place at the World Cup in north America. The superstar was expected to be banned for at least one more game and start his record sixth World Cup on the sidelines.

WORDS: 406 - MOVED: 11/25/2025 12:05 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:3d9e7b4eeeff0d4f93f21813869c5ed7&mediaType=text

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SOC--BIZARRE RED CARDS

Bizarre red cards: Gueye joins list including Zidane, Simunic and Hazard after slapping own teammate

SUMMARY: Idrissa Gueye’s sending-off for Everton for slapping his teammate in the face during the Premier League match at Manchester United joins the list of soccer’s most bizarre red cards. Others include Zinedine Zidane ’s headbutt on Marco Materazzi during the 2006 World Cup final and Croatia center back Josip Simunic receiving three yellow cards in a game in the same tournament. Eden Hazard was red-carded at Chelsea for kicking a ball boy and Kieran Gibbs of Arsenal was sent off in a case of mistaken identity after teammate Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain committed an offense. There was also a brawl between then-Newcastle teammates Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer during a Premier League game in 2005.

WORDS: 703 - MOVED: 11/25/2025 10:56 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:9488ad9abdebd97c97342966f9b988be&mediaType=text

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GLF--ON THE FRINGE-PGA TOUR

PGA Tour has fewer cards and smaller fields. But the big changes are still to come

SUMMARY: This was the year the PGA Tour eliminated 25 full cards and smaller fields. But it didn’t feel like doomsday at Sea Island in the final event of the season. That’s because those who missed out on the top 100 should still get ample tournaments to play. Still to come are the big changes. Harris English was sharing speculation on a season starting after the Super Bowl down the road. Tour CEO Brian Rolapp is open to anything. He says he has asked media partners to share their views and he’s told them to start with a blank piece of paper.

WORDS: 1040 - MOVED: 11/25/2025 10:33 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:bf345a0c82ae4011640b4b6104db9e08&mediaType=text

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OLY--MILAN CORTINA-FLAME-CEREMONY

Praying for the sun: What to know about the flame-lighting ceremony for the Winter Olympics

SUMMARY: The Olympic flame for the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Games will be lit at Ancient Olympia, continuing a tradition that uses the sun’s rays to symbolize continuity with the original Greek competitions. Weather remains the key challenge, prompting organizers to keep a backup flame ready. After a weeklong tour of Greece, the torch will begin a 63-day, 12,000-kilometer relay across Italy, passing major cities and heritage sites with 10,000 torchbearers before the Feb. 6 opening at Milan’s San Siro. A separate Paralympic flame will launch on Feb. 24 from Stoke Mandeville, England and culminating at Verona Arena on March 6.

WORDS: 701 - MOVED: 11/25/2025 9:25 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:d4b9bc7905169cc139c277fa81f2d438&mediaType=text

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SOC--CHAMPIONS LEAGUE-ROUNDUP

Guardiola reaches Champions League 100-game mark with Man City while Barcelona returns to Chelsea

SUMMARY: Pep Guardiola has never coached a European competition game below the Champions League level and on Tuesday leads Manchester City in it for the 100th time. City hosts Bayer Leverkusen looking for a 14th straight win against German teams at home. Guardiola has now doubled his tally of 50 Champions League games coaching Barcelona where he won two titles in four seasons. Also Tuesday, Barcelona returns to Chelsea where it famously advanced to the final in 2009 in Guardiola’s debut season. Galatasaray without injured Champions League top scorer Victor Osimhen hosts Union Saint-Gilloise in the other early game.

WORDS: 273 - MOVED: 11/25/2025 9:15 a.m. EST. Will be updated.

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:ed5e8c8c1ae7b2a0f72e9872185075ff&mediaType=text

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FBN--HALL OF FAME-SEMIFINALISTS

Drew Brees, Philip Rivers, Larry Fitzgerald lead Pro Football Hall of Fame modern era semifinalists

SUMMARY: Quarterbacks Drew Brees and Philip Rivers, along with Larry Fitzgerald, Jason Witten and Frank Gore have reached the semifinal stage for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility. They are among 26 modern era candidates for the class of 2026. The selection committee will next reduce the list to 15 finalists before the Super Bowl in February. Returning finalists include Eli Manning and Steve Smith Sr. The committee will also consider three seniors, one coach, and one contributor. Between four and eight new members will be elected. Brees and Fitzgerald are the top new candidates this year.

WORDS: 899 - MOVED: 11/25/2025 9:01 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:6f9db52221be17537ed45ee4b39626d0&mediaType=text

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FBN--BEHIND THE CALL

Chiefs overcame bad calls on Travis Kelce and Jawaan Taylor to salvage their season

SUMMARY: Referee Alex Moore’s crew made a mistake by penalizing Kansas City Chiefs right tackle Jawaan Taylor for a facemask violation, erasing a game-tying touchdown by Travis Kelce in Week 12. CBS analyst Tony Romo also erred by suggesting Andy Reid could have challenged the call. The NFL expanded facemask calls for replay assist this season, but it wasn’t used here, so the errant call went uncorrected. The Chiefs overcame both the bad call and an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit in winning in overtime to salvage their season.

WORDS: 831 - MOVED: 11/25/2025 6:01 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:b29495ffbd9ebc29a2d29c5e3e2d20f3&mediaType=text

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BKN--AROUND THE NBA

How No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg is handling a tough start to rookie season with the Mavericks

SUMMARY: Cooper Flagg has been adjusting to more losses with the Dallas Mavericks than he faced in his previous four years of basketball. The Mavericks are struggling in the Western Conference, currently at 5-14. Flagg, the No. 1 draft pick, is averaging 15.9 points per game, second-best among rookies. Despite the challenges, he remains optimistic, focusing on growth and learning from close games. Miami’s Bam Adebayo praised Flagg’s fearlessness in crucial moments. Flagg’s shooting has improved, and he’s consistently reaching double figures in scoring. Mavericks coach Jason Kidd believes these experiences will benefit Flagg and the team.

WORDS: 691 - MOVED: 11/25/2025 5:59 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:1ceaf648468336f30cda5574392f1080&mediaType=text

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MOVING TOMORROW

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OLY--MILAN CORTINA GREECE OLYMPIC FLAME

The Olympic flame for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games to be lit in Olympia, Greece. The flame then travels through Greece for a nine-day period before being handed over and journey through Italy.

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FBC--T25-COLLEGE FOOTBALL PICKS

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FBC--PRO PICKS-WEEK 13