AP Sports Digest
The highlights of Monday's AP Sports report. An up-to-the minute listing of all stories planned, including games and events, is available in Coverage Plan on AP Newsroom, https://newsroom.ap.org/coverageplan. You can also find a link to Coverage Plan on the left navigation of the Newsroom home page, https://newsroom.ap.org. Sports content can be found at http://newsroom.ap.org/page/APSports
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AUDIO HEADLINES
Georgia begins quest for 3rd straight championship as No. 1 in AP Top 25. Michigan, Ohio State next: https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/Georgiabeginsquestfor3rdstraightchampionshipasNo1inAPTop25MichiganOhioStatenext/96f82dd9ffca4fc89636420a8f648d2b
McDowell dominates Brickyard 200 for 2nd NASCAR crown jewel victory: https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/McDowelldominatesBrickyard200for2ndNASCARcrownjewelvictory/77b16002ff3c4ad9be28f0ba2214011e
Cedric Mullins robs homer in 9th, hits 2-run shot in 10th. AL-best Orioles beat Mariners 5-3: https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/CedricMullinsrobshomerin9thhits2-runshotin10thAL-bestOriolesbeatMariners5-3/4842ce78a7e54a37b41adb012bcd66d9
Latest sports headlines: https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/Latestsportsheadlines/1d5a2ff77ef143688f0a2ece1a5ff35c
All times EDT
TOP STORIES
FBC--T25-COLLEGE FOOTBALL POLL
Georgia begins its drive for an unprecedented college football championship three-peat as the No. 1 team in The Associated Press preseason Top 25. The Bulldogs received 60 of 63 first-place votes to easily outpoint No. 2 Michigan. The Wolverines received two first-place votes. Michigan's Big Ten rival Ohio State is No. 3, with one first-place vote. Two more Southeastern Conference teams join Georgia in the top five. By College Football Writer Ralph D. Russo. SENT: 930 words, photos. With agate list, team capsules and FBC--T25-College Football Poll-Notable (all sent).
BBA--RAYS-FRANCO
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — All-Star shortstop Wander Franco and the Tampa Bay Rays have “mutually agreed” that the 22-year-old will go on the restricted list while Major League Baseball looks into social media posts involving the player. The club made the announcement Monday in the wake of social media posts that began circulating over the weekend. MLB has launched an investigation, a person familiar with the probe tells the AP. By Fred Goodall. SENT: 400 words, photos. Developing.
BKN--76ERS-UNHAPPY HARDEN
PHILADELPHIA — James Harden appears determined to sever ties with the Philadelphia 76ers after the star guard called team president Daryl Morey a liar at a promotional event in China. Harden’s comments came almost seven weeks after he picked up his $35.6 million option with the 76ers for this season and then promptly said he wanted to be traded. By Dan Gelston. SENT: 540 words, photos.
SOC--WWCUP-LOOKAHEAD
SYDNEY — Spain tries to advance to its first championship game at the Women's World Cup when La Roja faces Sweden, the second-ranked team in the world and a perennial tournament contender. The Swedes are in the semifinals for the fifth time and have been to one championship match. By National Writer Jenna Fryer. SENT: 780 words, photos.
With:
— SOC--WWCUP-SPAIN-SWEDEN PREVIEW — Spain’s turmoil is in the past as La Roja face Sweden in the Women’s World Cup semifinal. By Anne M. Peterson. SENT: 680 words, photos.
— SOC--WWCUP-AUSTRALIA-MATILDAS MANIA — Boomers move game as co-host Australia reaches fever pitch for Matildas at the Women’s World Cup. SENT: 500 words, photos.
NOTABLE
HKN--FLYERS-RUSSIAN GOALIE RULING
The International Ice Hockey Federation has ruled in favor of the Philadelphia Flyers by agreeing that Russian goaltender Ivan Fedotov had a valid NHL contract for the coming season. Fedotov signed with the Flyers in May 2022 and was planning to play last season in North America. Instead, last summer his agent said Fedotov was taken to a remote military base in northern Russia. The Flyers as a result tolled his contract to the 2023-24 season. By Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno. SENT: 500 words, photo.
FBC--PICK SIX-COACH WATCH
Silly season in college football, that time when coaches get fired and hired, seems to never stop. The dismissal of Pat Fitzgerald by Northwestern after an investigation into hazing in the program kicked off this year’s carousel. Last year, there were five coaching changes by Oct. 3. The hot spots to varying degrees entering this season, include West Virginia, Indiana, Syracuse and Boston College. By College Football Writer Ralph D. Russo. SENT: 900 words, photos.
BBO--THIS WEEK IN BASEBALL
Ronald Acuña Jr. is on pace to create an entirely new club for baseball’s top power-and-speed threats. Acuña stole his 55th base Sunday night in Atlanta’s 7-6 loss to the New York Mets. The star outfielder also has 26 home runs. No player has ever reached 30 homers and 60 steals in the same season. By Baseball Writer Noah Trister. SENT: 630 words, photos.
BKO--WORLD CUP-US-LUE
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Tyronn Lue was supposed to play for his country in 1997, before an injury left him flying home from Australia alone and unable to be part of the FIBA 22 & Under World Championship. He’s finally wearing the red, white and blue again, as an assistant coach under Steve Kerr for this year’s U.S. World Cup team. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos by 5 p.m.
CAR--NASCAR--LARSON'S SCHEDULE
INDIANAPOLIS — Kyle Larson always seems to be busy. He didn't return to Indianapolis until the wee hours following a Saturday night race in Iowa. And he still made it to a late morning news conference Sunday before competing in the Brickyard 200. But when he returns to the speedway next May, Larson will be even busier. By Michael Marot. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos by 4 p.m.
BKL--WNBA COMMISSIONER'S CUP
NEW YORK — The New York Liberty and Las Vegas Aces will meet for the first time with a championship on the line when the top two teams in the WNBA play for the Commissioner’s Cup title. Both have loftier aspirations of winning the WNBA championship, but winning the third annual Commissioner’s Cup would be big, too. By Basketball Writer Doug Feinberg. SENT: 820 words, photos.
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Monday’s EDT Time Schedule
BASEBALL
Houston at Miami, 6:40 p.m.
Pittsburgh at N.Y. Mets, 7:10 p.m.
N.Y. Yankees at Atlanta, 7:20 p.m.
Oakland at St. Louis, 7:45 p.m.
LA Angels at Texas, 8:05 p.m.
Seattle at Kansas City, 8:10 p.m.
Arizona at Colorado, 8:40 p.m.
Baltimore at San Diego, 9:40 p.m.
Tampa Bay at San Francisco, 9:45 p.m.
