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.

——————————

UPCOMING

——————————

GLF--AMERICAN EXPRESS

DESCRIPTION: LA QUINTA, Calif. -- Scottie Scheffler starts a new season at The American Express, a chance to see where his game is after playing only one tournament in the last four months. By Golf Writer Doug Ferguson. Upcoming: 700 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 01/21/2026 3:00 p.m. EST, Text, Photo

___

FBN--PRO PICKS-CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS

DESCRIPTION: The Broncos are home underdogs against the Patriots and the Seahawks are home favorites against the Rams. By Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi.

UPCOMING: By 01/21/2026 5:00 p.m. EST, Text

___

FBN--NFL PLAYOFFS-BETTING

DESCRIPTION: The New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks are favored to meet each other in the Super Bowl. By Mark Anderson. 600 words, file photos.

UPCOMING: By 01/21/2026 6:00 p.m. EST, Text

___

BBO--METS-BICHETTE

DESCRIPTION: Bo Bichette gets formally introduced by the active New York Mets at Citi Field, one day after the free agent finalized a $126 million, three-year contract. With the Mets, the two-time All-Star will shift from shortstop to third base, a position he’s never played in the big leagues. By Baseball Writer Mike Fitzpatrick. 600 words, with photos.

UPCOMING: By 01/21/2026 7:00 p.m. EST, Text

___

BKC--CINCINNATI-ARIZONA

DESCRIPTION: No. 1 Arizona tries to stay among three unbeaten teams in the country when it hosts CIncinnati on Wednesday night. The Wildcats were the unanimous No. 1 team in this week’s AP poll for the first time in school history. By David Brandt. 300 words, photos from 7 p.m. MST tipoff.

UPCOMING: By 01/21/2026 9:00 p.m. EST, Text

___

——————————

NEW AND DEVELOPING

——————————

BKC--T25-THE SPIRIT OF SAINT LOUIS

The spirit of Saint Louis: how a lack of ego is fueling the 24th-ranked Billikens

SUMMARY: No. 24 Saint Louis is using a selfless approach to one of the best starts in program history. The Billikens improved to 18-1 with a victory over Duquesne that kept them tied for the top spot in the Atlantic 10. Saint Louis is the only team in the country with six players averaging at least 10 points per game. Senior center Robbie Avila says the Billikens are winning because they have prioritized team success over individual accolades. Avila is taking fewer shots and playing fewer minutes than he did a year ago, a sacrifice he says he’s happy to make if it helps the Billikens reach the NCAA tournament.

WORDS: 1310 - MOVED: 01/21/2026 11:29 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:ae258e7559bb07ec16194a7f4dcd33ca&mediaType=text

___

SOC--MAN CITY-REFUNDING FANS

Man City players to refund fans who traveled to Norway for shocking Champions League loss

SUMMARY: Manchester City’s players will refund ticket costs for fans who traveled to Norway for the team’s shocking 3-1 loss to tiny Bodø/Glimt in the Champions League. City striker Erling Haaland apologized immediately after Tuesday’s game for City’s performance, saying it was “embarrassing.” Haaland is in a captains’ group also containing Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias and Rodri, and they say in a joint statement that the players will reimburse the 374 supporters who made the long journey to Bodø, which is located north of the Arctic Circle. The statement says “Covering the cost of these tickets for the fans who traveled to Bodo is the least we can do.”

WORDS: 197 - MOVED: 01/21/2026 11:21 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:873139a4ff1a968fe6faf9c12d4e97b6&mediaType=text

___

OLY--IOC PRESIDENT-TRUMP

IOC president says no contact yet with Trump’s White House, will meet Vance at Winter Olympics

SUMMARY: Olympic leader Kirsty Coventry is yet to have formal contact with U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration but says she looks forward to meeting Vice President JD Vance in Milan next month. He’s due at the February 6 opening ceremony for the Winter Games. The International Olympic Committee’s first female president was elected 10 months ago. Her first meeting with Trump is much anticipated in the sports world before the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Games. The IOC and LA organizers face diplomatic challenges in the next 2 ½ years. Many of the 200 competing nations face visa bans or travel restrictions.

WORDS: 735 - MOVED: 01/21/2026 11:12 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:add55fd504d13c89fd0d76c4d27139e9&mediaType=text

___

FBN--BILLS-FUTURE

Bills owner feels team hit ‘proverbial wall’ after latest playoff loss

SUMMARY: Buffalo Bills owner Terry Pegula felt his team hit what he called “the proverbial wall” in leading to his decision to abruptly fire coach Sean McDermott this week. Speaking at a season-ending news conference, Pegula said he made up his mind immediately following a 33-30 overtime loss to Denver in a divisional playoff on Saturday. He based his decision in part on seeing how distraught many Bills players, including quarterback Josh Allen, appeared in the locker room in the aftermath of the loss. Pegula spoke Wednesday alongside general manager Brandon Beane, who is tasked with the team’s first coaching search since McDermott took over in 2017.

WORDS: 523 - MOVED: 01/21/2026 10:52 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:f6689706d1df660b5881a3bca4027f60&mediaType=text

___

TEN--AUSTRALIAN OPEN

Record crowds witness Sabalenka, Alcaraz, Gauff and Zverev advance at Australian Open

SUMMARY: No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and No. 3 Coco Gauff have advanced to the third round of the Australian Open. Top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz and third-seeded Alexander Zverev also advanced in the men’s draw. Sabalenka had a 6-3, 6-1 win over Bai Zhouxuan and Gauff beat left-hander Olga Danilovic 6-2, 6-2 in day matches Wednesday. Alcaraz defeated Yannick Hanfmann 7-6 (4), 6-3, 6-2 in the afternoon and Zverev won at night to cap another day with a record crowd at Melbourne Park. Sabalenka won the Australian Open in 2023 and 2024 and was the runner-up a year ago against Madison Keys. Alcaraz is here trying to add the Australian title to his collection and complete a career Grand Slam.

WORDS: 855 - MOVED: 01/21/2026 8:37 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:7e937d73054ccf646af042df9e4b0beb&mediaType=text

___

GLF--MCILROY-LIV

Rory McIlroy says LIV and PGA Tour ‘too far apart’ to strike a deal

SUMMARY: Rory McIlroy believes the PGA Tour and LIV Golf have grown “too far apart” to form an alliance and bring a splintered sport back together. McIlroy says “I just don’t see a world where it can happen at this point.” McIlroy was speaking ahead of the Dubai Desert Classic on the European tour. Brooks Koepka’s return to the PGA Tour from LIV has brought into sharper focus the fading hopes of any form of deal being struck by top officials on the two circuits.

WORDS: 605 - MOVED: 01/21/2026 7:01 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:95a8907af9e653e4e4015b3e6376984f&mediaType=text

___

FBC--TRANSFER PORTAL-QUARTERBACKS

200 FBS quarterbacks went into portal, and the best ones came out with promises of big paychecks

SUMMARY: About 200 Football Bowl Subdivision quarterbacks had entered the transfer portal by last week’s deadline. That doesn’t mean it was a buyer’s market. The top programs in the power conferences were paying a premium for players at the most important position on the field. Experienced starters commanded financial packages worth $3 million to $4 million or more. Among the 68 quarterbacks who were starters in 2025 at power conference schools and Notre Dame, 24 are out of eligibility, 16 entered the portal and 28 indicated they would return to their teams.

WORDS: 815 - MOVED: 01/21/2026 6:00 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:7fc162a41c7a6c6f6cfaa5598e8be5d2&mediaType=text

___

FBN--INSIDE THE NUMBERS

NFL teams opt for change over patience in offseason with record-tying 10 coaching changes

WORDS: 1085 - MOVED: 01/21/2026 6:00 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:b2196da56f775e751dd5b76d8f8186cb&mediaType=text

___

BBO--HALL OF FAME-NEXT YEAR

Buster Posey takes center stage among the newcomers for next year’s Hall of Fame ballot

SUMMARY: Buster Posey is expected to be the top newcomer on baseball’s 2027 Hall of Fame ballot. There are no first-ballot inductees this year after the results were announced Tuesday night. Holdover candidates Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones were the only ones voted in. Beltrán and Jones were the top returning vote-getters from 2025, so it wasn’t a shock when they received the necessary 75% approval from members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Next year, Posey has a chance to make the Hall on his first try. The star catcher the San Francisco Giants to three World Series titles.

WORDS: 628 - MOVED: 01/21/2026 6:00 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:5373e9d38cbccf1af11ab90728c6c81f&mediaType=text

___

OLY--FIG-MALININ

Ilia Malinin: The 20-year-old American figure skater redefining the sport

WORDS: 919 - MOVED: 01/21/2026 5:45 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:3ec1ea89a1933642268bca921df3ed65&mediaType=text

___

TEN--AUSTRALIAN OPEN-ALCARAZ AND FEDERER

Alcaraz and Federer get into the swing of things at the Australian Open

SUMMARY: Carlos Alcaraz says he has been spending some time with tennis great Roger Federer at the Australian Open, sharing a round of golf. Alcaraz says Federer’s golf swing is as stylish as his tennis. The 22-year-old Alcaraz is in Australia aiming to complete a career Grand Slam. He won his second-round match against Yannick Hanfmann on Wednesday. Alcaraz is looking to legends like Federer for inspiration as he tries to get an edge in his rivalry with two-time Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner. In the third round he’ll meet Corentin Moutet, who advanced when Michael Zheng retired due to injury.

WORDS: 636 - MOVED: 01/21/2026 5:02 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:ce05d0a16b90caf8d96a9b6ab0350d3e&mediaType=text

___

SOC--CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ROUNDUP

Liverpool and Barcelona risk missing automatic qualification to the Champions League round of 16

SUMMARY: Liverpool and Barcelona are leaving it late to secure automatic qualification to the Champions League round of 16. With just two rounds remaining, the defending champions of England and Spain currently sit outside of the top eight spots that will advance automatically. Teams placed from nine to 24 enter a two-legged playoff to go through to the round of 16. Liverpool topped the league phase last year, but then faced the daunting task of eventual winner Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16. Arne Slot’s team is going a different way about it this time around and may have to navigate a playoff to advance.

WORDS: 314 - MOVED: 01/21/2026 2:44 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:647fc91d739f6aa9fc39576485a5ede1&mediaType=text

——————————

MOVING TOMORROW

——————————

FBN--NFL AWARDS-FINALISTS

The AP NFL awards finalists are announced. By Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi.

___

OLY--WINTER OLYMPICS-DIVERSITY-EDWARDS

The full-circle moment for Laila Edwards came in November when the 21-year-old enjoyed a celebrated homecoming among family and friends in her hometown of Cleveland. In February, the first Black women to suit up for Team USA's women's hockey team is set to make her debut on the Olympic stage.

___

TEN--AUSTRALIAN OPEN

Third-round action at the Australian Open, the first tennis major of the year.

___