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UPCOMING

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FBC--WEST VIRGINIA-RODRIGUEZ

DESCRIPTION: West Virginia’s Rich Rodriguez will coach against Pittsburgh in the Backyard Brawl on Saturday for the first time since his final season during his first stint in 2007, when the Panthers denied the Mountaineers the chance to advance to the national championship game. By John Raby. UPCOMING: 700 words, photo.

UPCOMING: By 09/09/2025 5:00 p.m. EDT, Text, Photo

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SOC--WCUP-EUROPEAN QUALIFYING ROUNDUP

DESCRIPTION: England takes on Serbia in World Cup qualifying after a stuttering win over Andorra prompted more criticism of coach Thomas Tuchel’s approach. France hosts Iceland and Portugal visits Hungary.

UPCOMING: By 09/09/2025 5:00 p.m. EDT, Text, Photo

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BKO--EUROBASKET-ROUNDUP

DESCRIPTION: RIGA, Latvia — Alperen Sengun’s triple-double helps unbeaten Turkey to a 91-77 win over Poland and a place in the EuroBasket semifinals against either Lithuania or Greece. SENT: 350 words, photos. Will be updated.

SENT: By 09/09/2025 6:00 p.m. EDT, Text, Photo

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FBC--BIG TEN-SCHEDULING

DESCRIPTION: The Big Ten’s lackluster schedule this week exemplifies a major problem facing the conference. Not enough teams are testing themselves outside of league play. Six Big Ten schools are facing Championship Subdivision programs this week. One-third of the league’s 18 members aren’t playing any nonconference games against Power Four schools or Notre Dame this season. By Steve Megargee. UPCOMING: 950 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 09/09/2025 6:00 p.m. EDT, Text, Photo

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FBN--TUESDAY TAKEAWAYS-WEEK 1

DESCRIPTION: Aaron Rodgers showed he can still sling it with a take-that performance. Maybe the NFL’s oldest quarterback just needed a fresh start. By Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi.

UPCOMING: By 09/09/2025 6:30 p.m. EDT, Text

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BOX--CRAWFORD

DESCRIPTION: LAS VEGAS — Terence Crawford is moving up two weight classes to challenge Canelo Alvarez for the unified super middleweight championship on Saturday night. By W.G. Ramirez. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 09/09/2025 8:00 p.m. EDT, Text

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SOC--JAPAN-US

DESCRIPTION: COLUMBUS, Ohio — The United States, coming off a 2-0 loss to South Korea, takes a seven-game winless streaks against top 25 teams into a friendly against Japan. UPCOMING: 300 words, photos. Game starts at 7:30 p.m.

UPCOMING: By 09/09/2025 10:00 p.m. EDT, Text

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NEW AND DEVELOPING

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FBC--T25-SUNSHINE STATE HOPE

There’s hope in Florida, with the state’s 7 FBS teams off to a combined 11-3 start

SUMMARY: Florida’s college football teams are off to a strong start this season. Miami, Florida State and South Florida are all in the AP Top 25, with each team starting 2-0. UCF is also 2-0, and the state’s seven FBS teams have a combined record of 11-3. This ties the best start in the 21-year era of Florida having this many FBS schools. Florida State already has matched its win total from last season. The state schools have four wins against AP-ranked opponents, a significant improvement from last year. Coaches and players are optimistic what it all might mean.

WORDS: 681 - MOVED: 09/09/2025 1:41 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:dadca4c0459b2e656daab85060328cb0&mediaType=text

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FBN--STEELERS-PEPPERS

Steelers sign Jabrill Peppers to bolster secondary after DeShon Elliott’s injury

SUMMARY: The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed veteran safety Jabrill Peppers as DeShon Elliott recovers from a knee injury. Coach Mike Tomlin announced the move on Tuesday. Peppers, recently cut by New England, brings versatility and special teams skills. The Steelers, who beat the New York Jets in their opener, host Seattle on Sunday. Tomlin hasn’t ruled out Peppers playing soon. Elliott’s absence leaves a gap in communication for the revamped secondary. Despite giving up 394 yards to the Jets, the Steelers’ defense made key stops to secure the win. Tomlin emphasized resilience, saying, “You win some battles, you lose some battles.”

WORDS: 805 - MOVED: 09/09/2025 1:30 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:b33b99ab3b7ef3e14f9e2b3a2c8a229e&mediaType=text

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CB--DOMINICAN REPUBLIC-WANDER FRANCO

Tampa Bay Rays’ Wander Franco has been detained and admitted into a clinic for mental health issues

SUMMARY: Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco has been detained by police and admitted to a mental health clinic in the Dominican Republic. Authorities said on Tuesday his family requested the move, and it is not linked to any legal issues. Earlier this year, Franco was found guilty of sexually abusing a minor and received a two-year suspended sentence. Last weekend, he reported $16,000 stolen from a resort, but his attorney later claimed the money was found. Franco disagreed, insisting it had been stolen. His future in Major League Baseball remains uncertain, although he says he is still training.

WORDS: 347 - MOVED: 09/09/2025 12:23 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:fe689bbc79387717a87563ffe1731663&mediaType=text

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FBN--BEHIND THE CALL

Titans coach Brian Callahan didn’t challenge call on a catch and his explanation doesn’t help

SUMMARY: Titans coach Brian Callahan said Monday he did know the NFL catch rule and misspoke after Tennessee’s 20-12 loss to Denver when asked why he didn’t challenge a call. Callahan said he should have challenged when rookie Elic Ayomanor appeared to catch a 21-yard pass but was ruled out of bounds. Callahan initially believed an elbow down wasn’t enough for a catch, but the NFL rulebook states otherwise. He now accepts the mistake was his.

WORDS: 863 - MOVED: 09/09/2025 12:19 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:4c3e12e9eb0ae541c17e769bb201e746&mediaType=text

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HKN--PENGUINS-CROSBY

Sidney Crosby understands why trade talk surrounds him as the Penguins keep losing

SUMMARY: Sidney Crosby says he understands why trade rumors swirl around him, with the Pittsburgh Penguins having missed the playoffs each of the past three seasons. Going into another with little hope of contending, the now 38-year-old Stanley Cup champion has heard all the buzz about going to Colorado or Montreal and realizes it comes with losing hockey. Speaking to reporters at the NHL player media tour in Las Vegas, Crosby struck a balanced tone about the buzz, his current circumstances as part of a rebuilding organization and the desire of other teams and fan bases wanting him.

WORDS: 537 - MOVED: 09/09/2025 12:03 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:58a7cebbff244447f8fafb83c03ae911&mediaType=text

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BKL--AROUND THE WNBA

New York Liberty are set to enter playoffs healthy and confident despite No. 5 seed

SUMMARY: The New York Liberty are finally healthy heading into the playoffs and the defending champions have confidence they can win another title. The road won’t be easy as the team is a No. 5 seed and will most likely have to start the postseason on the road in Phoenix. Since the WNBA changed its playoff format in 2016 to the top eight teams regardless of conference making the postseason, no five seed has ever won a championship. The only team not in the top two to do it was Chicago in 2021, which was a six seed.

WORDS: 518 - MOVED: 09/09/2025 11:46 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:56d1775e1bc35380f0fb03327e3f66d4&mediaType=text

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GLF--RYDER CUP-EUROPE

For McIlroy and the Europeans, the Ryder Cup buildup starts now

SUMMARY: The Ryder Cup buildup is already starting for Team Europe. Eleven of Luke Donald’s 12-man team will be competing at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth this week in the event and they’ll meet for a dinner on Tuesday. The European tour has put the players in the same groups for Thursday and Friday and they will then fly to New York on Sunday evening after the final round so the full team can practice at Bethpage on Monday and Tuesday. Then McIlroy says Team Europe will have “a bit of fun” together the rest of the week. McIlroy says “I think it will be easy when we all get together. It’s like nothing’s ever really changed.”

WORDS: 483 - MOVED: 09/09/2025 11:27 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:eca3b8793447be9cd4ab0e523fdf0544&mediaType=text

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FBN--COLLEGE COACH CONVERTS

Why some football coaches are ditching college jobs for the NFL

SUMMARY: Recent changes in college football are prompting some long-time college coaches to more eagerly pursue NFL opportunities. One of them is Saints first-year defensive backs coach Terry Joseph, who says he loved working in college football for most of the past 19 years. He says he left the Texas Longhorns because of how recruiting had changed since recent rule changes liberalizing player movement and payments. Joseph and other long-time college coaches say those changes have largely ended the days when lifelong relationships could be built out of years of mentoring and developing players. They say college coaches now constantly must monitor whether players they’d successfully recruited previously are looking to leave for better financial or playing-time opportunities.

WORDS: 1340 - MOVED: 09/09/2025 11:23 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:1d919968316a0eb9f7b27f2fe880a622&mediaType=text

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BKN--CHINA-LEBRON DIPLOMACY

LeBron James writes op-ed for Chinese state media as NBA aims to rebuild in China

SUMMARY: LeBron James has used basketball diplomacy to connect fans in the U.S. and China. The NBA star wrote an op-ed in Chinese state media, emphasizing basketball as a “bridge.” This follows his first visit to China since 2019. The op-ed appeared in Monday’s People’s Daily newspaper. The Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post newspaper noted that it’s rare for China’s state media to carry the bylines of foreign sports stars. James was in China ahead of NBA pre-season games in Macao next month. These games mark an effort to rebuild the NBA’s brand in China.

WORDS: 510 - MOVED: 09/09/2025 10:21 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:d9aed9e903e43932a35d306788aa2654&mediaType=text

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GLF--ON THE FRINGE-CUPS

Tale of two cups: Ryder Cup has Seve and Europe, and Walker Cup has only American dominance

SUMMARY: Europe has been part of the Ryder Cup as long as Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm have been alive. And that’s all because of a decision in 1978 that was largely about including Seve Ballesteros. That’s what the Walker Cup is lacking and the Americans are dominating. They won at Cypress Point for their fifth in a row with a team better on paper and on grass. The Americans won’t have it that easy at the Ryder Cup. But the pro game is different and there’s no need for the Walker Cup to mess with history and include Europe.

WORDS: 944 - MOVED: 09/09/2025 9:59 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:addcf39d2c0de6cc600b08f183339ac7&mediaType=text

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CAR--NHRA-PRUETT RETURNS

After a family break, Leah Pruett’s NHRA comeback is set for 2026 following birth of her son

SUMMARY: Leah Pruett is set to return to NHRA competition next season after taking time off to start a family with NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart. Pruett stepped aside before the 2024 season, and their son, Dominic, was born in November of that year. During her hiatus, she remained involved with Tony Stewart Racing, assisting with marketing and technical projects. Pruett, a 12-time NHRA Top Fuel winner, expressed gratitude for the support she received during her break. Stewart, who filled in for her, praised her contributions to the team. Pruett will team up with Funny Car driver Matt Hagan.

WORDS: 614 - MOVED: 09/09/2025 9:28 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:5952a95e13097fdf1fbf29b6719902c7&mediaType=text

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MOVING TOMORROW

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ATH--WORLDS-RETURN TO TOKYO

TOKYO -- Japan’s National Stadium was absent of fans four years ago during the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Olympics. There was zero atmosphere for the globe’s greatest track and field athletes. That will change with the track and field world championships opening in the same Tokyo stadium on Saturday.

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FBC--T25-COLLEGE FOOTBALL PICKS. By College Football Writer Eric Olson.

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FBN--PRO PICKS-WEEK 2. By Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi.