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

——————————

BKW--T25-WOMENS POLL

DESCRIPTION: The Associated Press releases its latest AP Top 25 women’s basketball poll.

UPCOMING: By 01/26/2026 12:00 p.m. EST, Text, Photo, DigitalPlans

___

BKC--T25-MENS POLL

DESCRIPTION: The Associated Press releases its latest AP Top 25 men’s basketball poll.

UPCOMING: By 01/26/2026 1:00 p.m. EST, Text, Photo, DigitalPlans

___

——————————

NEW AND DEVELOPING

——————————

TEN--AUSTRALIAN OPEN

Pegula knocks 2025 champion Madison Keys out of Australian Open, faces Anisimova in quarterfinals

SUMMARY: Defending champion Madison Keys has been knocked out of the Australian Open by Jessica Pegula in an all-American fourth-round match. The sixth-seeded Pegula will next face another American after fourth-seeded Amanda Anisimova made it to the Australian Open quarterfinals for the first time. Pegula beat her good friend and podcast co-host 6-3, 6-4. Keys was defending a major title for the first time after making her Grand Slam breakthrough here last year. Anisimova, runner-up at the last two majors in Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, advanced 7-6 (4), 6-4 over Wang Xinyu as the temperature started to rise at Melbourne Park.

WORDS: 735 - MOVED: 01/26/2026 1:10 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:23c6b4b46ef66ec5a438b31ace9b1a04&mediaType=text

___

TEN--AUSTRALIAN OPEN-KEYS

Madison Keys beaten by podcast partner Jessica Pegula one minute, and cheering for her the next

SUMMARY: One minute, it was Jessica Pegula eliminating Madison Keys, the defending champion at the Australian Open, from the tournament. The next minute on Monday it was Keys promising to cheer on sixth-seeded Pegula, who will face another American, fourth-seeded Amanda Anisimova, in the quarterfinals. The Grand Slam Keys won a year ago was her first, which brings some peace even in defeat. At least she has one as she turns 31 next month. Pegula, on the other hand, has yet to win one.

WORDS: 484 - MOVED: 01/26/2026 12:57 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:6363e1890fca7aadc4d7a5e37178ea25&mediaType=text

___

FBN--RAMS-SEAHAWKS

Sam Darnold and Seahawks advance to Super Bowl with thrilling 31-27 win over Rams in NFC title game

SUMMARY: Sam Darnold threw for three touchdowns, the Seahawks’ “Dark Side” defense came up with a critical fourth-down stop, and Seattle advanced to the Super Bowl, beating the Los Angeles Rams 31-27 in an electrifying NFC championship game. Led by second-year coach Mike Macdonald and Darnold, the Seahawks reached the fourth Super Bowl in franchise history and first in 11 years. Seattle lost that most recent appearance to New England, and the Patriots will again be the Seahawks’ opponent in two weeks at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Matthew Stafford threw for 374 yards and three touchdowns for the Rams, but the Seahawks broke up his pass to the end zone on fourth-and-4 late in the fourth quarter.

WORDS: 1054 - MOVED: 01/26/2026 12:41 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:4e15f973019b914ef6b414170017be4a&mediaType=text

___

BKN--WARRIORS-TIMBERWOLVES-MINNEAPOLIS REAX

T-wolves and Warriors return to play in ‘bizarre, sad’ game with grieving Minneapolis on their minds

SUMMARY: The Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors have returned to the court after their game was postponed following the fatal shooting of a man in Minneapolis by federal immigration officers. Timberwolves coach Chris Finch was clearly and deeply moved by the situation as he expressed on behalf of the organization his heartbreak for the community’s collective fear and pain from the ongoing crackdown. The Timberwolves held a moment of silence for Alex Pretti prior to the national anthem. Warriors coach Steve Kerr also shared his sadness and said he felt a “pall that’s been cast over the city.”

WORDS: 1115 - MOVED: 01/26/2026 12:30 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:51df827235f293d9c9628043241e54b8&mediaType=text

___

FBN--SUPER BOWL-LOOKAHEAD

Super Bowl 60 is set and it’s a rematch from 11 years ago: Patriots vs. Seahawks

SUMMARY: Drake Maye vs. Sam Darnold. Two stingy defenses. A second-year head coach vs. a veteran coach in his second act. Super Bowl 60 is set and it’s a rematch: The New England Patriots vs. the Seattle Seahawks. The Patriots will seek their NFL-record seventh Super Bowl victory when they face the Seahawks on Feb. 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. Led by Maye, coach Mike Vrabel and a stifling defense, the Patriots are back in the Super Bowl for the first time since Tom Brady and Bill Belichick won their sixth ring together seven years ago.

WORDS: 843 - MOVED: 01/25/2026 10:30 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:de6f9a16d1ea33265f5bf1fd05d0a313&mediaType=text

___

FBN--PATRIOTS-BRONCOS

Patriots punch ticket to 12th Super Bowl with gritty 10-7 win over Broncos in snowy Denver

SUMMARY: Drake Maye scored New England’s only touchdown on a 6-yard keeper, propelling the Patriots to their 12th Super Bowl with a 10-7 win over the Denver Broncos. Christian Gonzalez intercepted Jarrett Stidham at the New England 36 with 2:11 remaining and the Patriots iced their first playoff win in Denver when Maye ran for 7 yards on third-and-5 from his 41. The Patriots will face the Seattle Seahawls in the Super Bowl. In Mike Vrabel’s first season as coach, New England became the third team in the Super Bowl era to win a conference championship with 10 points or less. The Broncos finished one step shy of fulfilling Sean Payton’s preseason prediction of a trip to Super Bowl 60.

WORDS: 1168 - MOVED: 01/25/2026 10:13 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:2e0b3acddeda40325447cbbb577b45fb&mediaType=text

___

FBN--BRONCOS-PAYTON

Sean Payton has second thoughts about passing up easy field goal in Broncos’ AFC title game loss

SUMMARY: Sean Payton says he’ll have second thoughts about his decision to pass up an easy field goal, as well as the play he called instead. The Denver Broncos and their fans now have the entire offseason to argue over which part of that critical fourth-and-1 play was worse. Payton decided not to kick a chip-shot field goal for a 10-0 lead in good weather in the first half of Sunday’s AFC championship game against the New England Patriots. As a result, the Broncos ended up needing to make a kick once the blowing snow and wind rolled in after halftime. The decision played an integral role in Denver’s 10-7 loss.

WORDS: 891 - MOVED: 01/25/2026 8:43 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:24dd652d816ad2cc1194a4b8eb2c311a&mediaType=text

___

GLF--AMERICAN EXPRESS

Scottie Scheffler starts a new season looking like nothing has changed. He wins his PGA Tour opener

SUMMARY: Scottie Scheffler starts the new season looking every bit the player who dominated the PGA Tour a year ago. He closed with a 66 at The American Express to blow past 18-year-old Blades Brown and everyone else. Scheffler now has 20 wins on the PGA Tour to give him lifetime membership. He joins Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus as the only players to have 20 wins and four majors before turning 30. Scheffler now has nine wins by at least four shots. Brown fell apart with a double bogey on the fifth hole. He shot 74 and tied for 18th.

WORDS: 1067 - MOVED: 01/25/2026 8:42 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:5a66997c8bebd4a3b80893d458f14049&mediaType=text

___

CAR--INDY 500-WIENER RACE

Oscar Mayer’s Wienermobile race is coming back to the Indy 500

SUMMARY: The Wienermobiles are coming back for a bite at the Brickyard in May, giving them another chance to relish the spotlight of racing’s biggest weekend. Oscar Mayer has announced its full fleet of six Wienermobiles will compete for the second straight year on Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s historic 2.5-mile oval. The Wienie 500 is scheduled for May 22 during the track’s annual Carburation Day festivities. Last year’s race was such a hit, organizers decided to give fans another chance to savor the flavor of a light-hearted competition just two days before IndyCar’s marquis race — the Indianapolis 500. Each Wienermobile will again feature toppings of regional favorites with Slaw Dog trying to show it’s beefy enough to defend last year’s title.

WORDS: 351 - MOVED: 01/25/2026 7:01 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:aaf5de7fdd08d8fc4e4d9be09f350de5&mediaType=text

___

BKW---T25-VANDERBILT-SOUTH CAROLINA

Latson, Johnson lead No. 2 Gamecocks to 103-74 win, ending ’Dores perfect start

SUMMARY: Ta’Niya Latson scored 21 points, Tessa Johnson added 20 and No. 2 South Carolina ended No. 5 Vanderbilt’s unbeaten start with a 103-74 victory on Sunday. The Commodores had won a school record 20 straight games to start the season, but had no answer for South Carolina, which has won 19 straight over Vanderbilt.Madina Okot had 17 points and Joyce Edwards had 16. The Commodores came in as one of only two undefeated teams left in the country along with No. 1 UConn. But South Carolina opened a 21-point lead in the first half and Vanderbilt could not rally. Mikayla Blakes had 23 to lead Vanderbilt.

WORDS: 384 - MOVED: 01/25/2026 5:08 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:f79333225e119fc515582cdbe3a01af3&mediaType=text

___

CAR--IMSA-ROLEX 24 AT DAYTONA

Roger Penske’s team wins third consecutive Rolex 24 at Daytona in thrilling finish

SUMMARY: Roger Penske’s team won the Rolex 24 at Daytona, marking a three-peat in the prestigious endurance race. The Penske squad becomes the third team in the event’s 64-year history to achieve the feat. The Porsche Penske Motorsports team joins Chip Ganassi Racing and Wayne Taylor Racing in this accomplishment. Brazilian driver Felipe Nasr, the only constant in the lineup, helped secure the win. Nasr held off Action Express Racing’s Cadillac in the final hour. The race had a record-long caution because of foggy conditions, lasting more than six hours. The event featured 60 cars and 228 drivers from 32 countries.

WORDS: 844 - MOVED: 01/25/2026 3:27 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:ad9e6d13438350028345d1cc76daba6d&mediaType=text

___

SOC--ENGLISH ROUNDUP

Cunha’s winner for Man United against Arsenal blows Premier League race wide open

SUMMARY: Manchester United’s Matheus Cunha blew the Premier League title race wide open with a stunning winner as his team beat Arsenal 3-2. The Brazil international curled an 87th-minute long-range shot past goalkeeper David Raya to decide a thrilling game at the Emirates Stadium that leaves Arsenal just four points clear of Manchester City and Aston Villa at the top of the standings. Villa kept up its unlikely title challenge with a 2-0 win against Newcastle. Emiliano Buendia and Ollie Watkins scored in each half at St. James’ Park to move third-place Villa level on points with Manchester City in second.

WORDS: 1084 - MOVED: 01/25/2026 3:22 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:94409c818456881055b0a70a9749e422&mediaType=text

___

___