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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FBC--T25-LSU-KIFFIN

DESCRIPTION: This is the week in which Lane Kiffin will be confronted directly by his recent past. Kiffin’s No. 7 LSU squad is preparing to visit No. 8 Mississippi, a program Kiffin spent the past half decade building into College Football Playoff contender before his unceremonious departure to take over a rival team in neighboring Louisiana. By Brett Martel. 600 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 09/14/2026 4:00 p.m. EDT, Text

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SOC EUROPEAN ROUNDUP

DESCRIPTION: Covering the top soccer action around Europe and will be updated with late games.

UPCOMING: By 09/14/2026 5:00 p.m. EDT, Photo, Text

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FBN--BRONCOS-CHIEFS

DESCRIPTION: The reigning AFC West champion Denver Broncos play the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in a marquee Monday Night Football showdown. By Dave Skretta. 800 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 09/14/2026 11:30 p.m. EDT, Photo, Text

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NEW AND DEVELOPING

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HKN--AVALANCHE-SAKIC

Joe Sakic plans to indefinitely stay in GM role for Avs with no search scheduled, AP source says

SUMMARY: Joe Sakic will remain in the role of general manager for the Colorado Avalanche indefinitely with no search scheduled, a person with knowledge of the situation tells The Associated Press. Already the president of hockey operations, Sakic added the title of GM in June when the Nashville Predators hired away Chris MacFarland to lead their front office. The person spoke of Sakic’s dual responsibilities on condition of anonymity because the team hasn’t announced the decision. Sakic was the architect behind assembling the Avalanche squad that captured the 2022 Stanley Cup title. He turned the responsibilities over to MacFarland soon after the celebratory parade that summer.

WORDS: 400 - MOVED: 09/14/2026 1:40 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:910053838195c0d3a6044377755239bc&mediaType=text

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FBN--RAMS-GARRETT

Sean McVay says Rams’ season opener made it clear Myles Garrett needed knee surgery

SUMMARY: After spending time during training camp trying to manage Myles Garrett’s knee injury, it was the Los Angeles Rams’ dismal season-opening loss to the San Francisco 49ers that made it evident to everyone that the star defensive end needed surgery. Garrett did not record a tackle or sack while playing 61.5% of the defensive snaps in the Rams’ 27-7 defeat in Melbourne, Australia. Coach Sean McVay said Monday that conversations with Garrett immediately after the game last Thursday made it clear a different approach would be needed. McVay did not have an updated timeline for Garrett’s recovery beyond the four-game minimum that comes with being placed on injured reserve, pending the results of the procedure.

WORDS: 436 - MOVED: 09/14/2026 1:21 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:d02089b8ea0f8a3aa3db0da19e8b7ac6&mediaType=text

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FBN--ON FOOTBALL-OFFENSES

NFL offenses provide one of the highest-scoring opening weeks in history

WORDS: 946 - MOVED: 09/14/2026 12:51 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:36d8624ba91df907e63cfe230171eff9&mediaType=text

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US--ELECTION 2016-TRANSGENDER POLITICS

Some Democrats are recalibrating their approach to transgender issues as they seek a path to power

SUMMARY: An increasing number of Democratic leaders have begun to push back against their party’s unflinching support for the transgender community this midterm season. The shift comes after years of Republican-backed attacks against Democrats on the issue of transgender athletes. That issue affects a relatively small group of people but it has emerged as one of the GOP’s most potent political weapons. It’s a delicate and dangerous issue for Democrats, who have already triggered a backlash from their party’s progressive base in some states. But for others, there is a sense that the party must evolve on an issue that the overwhelming majority of voters agree with President Donald Trump on.

WORDS: 1737 - MOVED: 09/14/2026 10:29 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:9a35dc54a9869b57a49e916260f46d40&mediaType=text

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CAR--NASCAR-LARSON’S WIN

Kyle Larson surges to second in NASCAR postseason Chase heading to Bristol track he’s dominated

SUMMARY: Even as his winless drought stretched on for more than a year and Hendrick Motorsports’ Chevrolets lagged behind his competitors’ Toyotas, Kyle Larson never lost faith in his abilities or his team. After a timely win in NASCAR’s Chase, Larson is only nine points behind postseason leader Denny Hamlin and within striking distance of a second straight Cup Series title. Larson vaulted from seventh in the Chase standings to second with his win Sunday in the Enjoy Illinois 300, snapping a string of 51 races without a victory. It was the longest such stretch for Larson since he joined the Hendrick garage in 2021.

WORDS: 807 - MOVED: 09/14/2026 9:54 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:c2865d9d00faf5706d0dc6c56ae77460&mediaType=text

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HKN--GERMANY-INTERNATIONAL GAMES

Germany’s hockey league is upset at the NHL’s plan to play games there

SUMMARY: The NHL is hosting its first regular season games in Germany in 15 years, but the German league isn’t happy. German Ice Hockey League managing director Gernot Tripcke has voiced frustration, saying the NHL scheduled its games without discussing the dates with his league and its teams. The NHL announced in March it was playing two regular season games in Duesseldorf in December, the first in Germany since a one-off 2011 contest. Germany forward Tim Stützle and the Ottawa Senators will play the Chicago Blackhawks on Dec. 18 and 20. More games are scheduled for next year in Munich and Cologne.

WORDS: 317 - MOVED: 09/14/2026 9:29 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:a6af8d32f0fb82406b77ad8c9de97966&mediaType=text

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CAR--F1-CAUTIOUS ANTONELLI

Kimi Antonelli tries to stay grounded despite another win and big lead in F1 championship race

SUMMARY: By now, even Kimi Antonelli’s closest rival is conceding that the race for the Formula 1 title is pretty much over. Antonelli won his eighth race of the season at Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix, extending his championship lead to 81 points with nine races remaining. The 20-year-old Italian, the youngest ever to lead the F1 championship, doesn’t want to get too far ahead of himself, though. “It’s great, but we’ve just got to keep pushing, keep delivering the results and, you know, just trying to do the best job I can whenever I go on track,” he says.

WORDS: 719 - MOVED: 09/14/2026 6:37 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:4f010d35f5305fbc01479844a5b9b8cf&mediaType=text

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FBC--T25-COLLEGE FOOTBALL POLL-ANALYSIS

Big Ten blues? Week 2 stunners as Ohio State and Oregon collapse give the SEC a boost

WORDS: 956 - MOVED: 09/14/2026 6:10 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:0a5a08732c712ece4b127de45aa1fa10&mediaType=text

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TEN--US OPEN-ZVEREV ON TOP

Zverev was the best in the majors this year, but won’t call himself the best player in tennis

SUMMARY: Alexander Zverev won two Grand Slam titles and reached another final this year. He was the best player in the biggest events. He’s not ready to call himself the best player in tennis, though. Ben Shelton seemed willing to at least consider it after Zverev beat him 6-3, 7-6 (2), 5-7, 6-2 on Sunday in the U.S. Open final to add that trophy to the French Open title he won in June. Zverev says he might be the best player right now, with Jannik Sinner sidelined and Carlos Alcaraz just back from injury. But he said probably not when both are healthy.

WORDS: 837 - MOVED: 09/14/2026 6:00 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:090ed4f91505bcad1144d33e9de1b743&mediaType=text

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BBO--THIS WEEK IN BASEBALL

Resetting the AL and NL postseason races with 2 weeks left in the regular season

SUMMARY: Clinching season has begun. The Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers became the first teams to wrap up spots in the postseason. The New York Yankees and Boston are almost certain to join Tampa Bay in the playoffs out of the AL East. The Brewers, Atlanta and the Los Angeles Dodgers all have substantial leads in their divisions in the National League. What’s still up for grabs? The AL Central, the AL West, the last wild card in the American League and all three wild cards in the NL.

WORDS: 734 - MOVED: 09/14/2026 6:00 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:fa91edfc84557d8591dd7a5b22ea4e6b&mediaType=text

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BKL--WCUP-US-CONTINUED SUCCESS

US women show some vulnerability ahead of LA Games capturing 5th straight World Cup basketball title

SUMMARY: The names may change, but the results are the same for the U.S. women’s basketball team — another FIBA World Cup title. The Americans’ fifth championship in a row, that came in a 97-79 victory over France on Sunday, wasn’t as easy as the previous four. They showed some vulnerability throughout the tournament. A three-point win over Italy in group play gave other teams hope. A tight game against Spain in the semifinals also raised some eyebrows. France held a 14-point first-half lead in the title game — the biggest deficit the Americans had faced since their last loss in a major competition when Russia beat them in the semifinals of the 2006 World Cup.

WORDS: 776 - MOVED: 09/14/2026 6:00 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:7e9e2c6915b231bbea0ddcec4fd9c4d1&mediaType=text

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TEN--US OPEN-RANKINGS

Djokovic’s drop in rankings marks 1st time since 2002 no member of the Big 3 in top 10

SUMMARY: George W. Bush was president. The Euro currency had just gone into circulation. Tom Brady was coming off the first of his seven Super Bowl titles. And Ronaldo had just led Brazil to the World Cup trophy. It’s been nearly a quarter century since no member of the Big Three of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic appeared in the top 10 of the men’s tennis rankings. With Djokovic dropping from No. 5 to No. 12 when the latest rankings were released on Monday it’s the first time since October 2002 that neither him, Federer nor Nadal appear in the top 10. The 39-year-old Djokovic was beaten in the first round of the U.S. Open.

WORDS: 867 - MOVED: 09/14/2026 4:52 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:9b7e826453d6f44adef18eb106ffc913&mediaType=text

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GLF--SOLHEIM CUP-PREMATURE PARTY

A case of beer and a social media post that helped turn the tide at the Solheim Cup

WORDS: 856 - MOVED: 09/14/2026 4:31 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:b66b219ba2562c68b167edc2ba75b340&mediaType=text

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ATH--ULTIMATE CHAMPIONSHIPS-WRAPUP

For long jumper Sawyers, Ultimate payday gives her a chance to train ... and a new sewing machine

SUMMARY: The athlete who perhaps best summed up the meaning of track’s new experiment, the Ultimate Championship, isn’t an ultimate champion herself. British long jumper Jazmin Sawyers took second in her event, so she did not get a medal or a trophy or the first prize of $150,000. She did get $75,000, though, which in track and field, can make a huge difference. She says it means she’ll have the funds to train full time in an attempt to make her third Olympics, two years from now.

WORDS: 1189 - MOVED: 09/14/2026 3:52 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:9baf3a332e6a74afa3aba7bb5f64e22c&mediaType=text

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MOVING TOMORROW

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FBN--GRASS VS ARTIFICIAL SURFACES

There’s little debate when it comes to NFL players’ preference of playing on grass versus artificial surfaces. The NFL Players Association cites 92% of its members of favoring grass. The NFL doesn’t have a preference and is instead working with the NFLPA to establish standards to achieve as much consistency as possible with all 30 playing surfaces. By John Wawrow.

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BBO--DODGERS-REDS

Los Angeles plays Cincinnati at Great American Ball Park.

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