AP Sports Headlines for Saturday
No. 4 USC falls to Utah in Pac-12, all but ending CFP hope
LAS VEGAS (AP) — No. 12 Utah pounded a limping, bloodied Caleb Williams and roared past fourth-ranked Southern California 47-24 to not only win the Pac-12 Championship, but all but end USC's College Football Playoff hopes. The loss by the Trojans could open the way for Ohio State to find a way in the CFP. USC is fourth in the CFP rankings, the Buckeyes are one step behind. Utah is heading to the Rose Bowl, but the Utes already were going there regardless of this outcome. They are responsible for USC's only losses, having edged the Trojans 43-42 on Oct. 15 in Salt Lake City.
Texas Rangers sign ace Jacob deGrom to $185M, 5-year deal
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Free-agent ace Jacob deGrom and the Texas Rangers have agreed to a $185 million, five-year contract. The two-time Cy Young Award winner leaves the New York Mets after nine seasons — the past two shortened substantially by injuries. After making his first start last season in early August, deGrom went 5-4 with a 3.08 ERA. He helped the Mets reach the playoffs, then opted out of his contract to become a free agent for the first time. Texas announced the signing Friday night after the 34-year-old deGrom passed his physical. A person with direct knowledge of the deal disclosed the financial terms to The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the club did not announce those details.
US coach Berhalter to draw on Dutch lessons at World Cup
DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Gregg Berhalter went to the Netherlands 28 years ago to turn pro and will apply some of the early lessons he learned when he coaches the United States against the Dutch on Saturday for a berth in the World Cup's quarterfinals. The U.S. was knocked out in the round of 16 in extra-time losses to Ghana in 2010 and Belgium in 2014 then failed to qualify for the 2018 tournament. The Americans have not reached the quarterfinals since 2002. The Netherlands is a three-time World Cup runner-up and finished third in 2014.
If NFL had its way, Deshaun Watson's return would be on hold
If the NFL had its way, Deshaun Watson wouldn't be playing this week or anytime this year. The league wanted to suspend Watson for at least one season over sexual misconduct allegations but settled for 11 games after an independent arbiter initially gave him a six-game ban. Watson, who has been accused by more than two dozen women of sexual harassment and assault during massage therapy sessions, makes his debut for the Cleveland Browns on Sunday facing his former team in Houston. There won't be any hype videos promoting his return. Nobody outside the Browns organization is welcoming him back with open arms.
Messi, Mbappé and co: The AP's World Cup team of group stage
DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Writers covering the World Cup for The Associated Press have chosen their standout players at the tournament so far to form a best team of the group stage. Argentina captain Lionel Messi and France star Kylian Mbappé are two of the more high-profile players selected after combining to score five goals in the group stage. There are also a slew of surprise names who have helped to cause some of the many big upsets in Qatar including Australia defender Harry Souttar and Morocco right back Achraf Hakimi. The performances of Netherlands forward Cody Gakpo and Croatia center back Josko Gvardiol have probably earned them big-money moves in the near future.
Davis scores 44, LeBron passes Magic as Lakers beat Bucks
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Anthony Davis scored a season-high 44 points, LeBron James passed Magic Johnson on the NBA's career assists list and the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 133-129 in a thriller. Davis and James helped give Lakers coach Darvin Ham a triumphant return to Milwaukee. Ham worked on Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer's staff from 2018-22. The Lakers withstood a 40-point performance from Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo. James made a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 3:22 left and had 28 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds.
Column: College coaching color barrier firmly entrenched
Associated Press Sports Columnist Paul Newberry says Hugh Freeze is returning to the Southeastern Conference with enough baggage to fill a jumbo jet. He also writes that Freeze had one big edge when the Tigers came looking for a new head football coach: He's white. Newberry contends that an all-too-familiar pattern remains firmly intact at the highest level of college football: Black coaches need not apply. Chances are, they're not even going to get a call back.
CFP deja vu: TCU in third, Ohio State lurking and lobbying
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — TCU is third in the College Football Playoff rankings going into its last game before final four teams are set. Just like in 2014, Ohio State is fifth. The Horned Frogs missed out on the inaugural four-team playoff eight years ago even after a seven-TD win. Ohio State got in and won the national title. Their rankings are the same now, but the scenarios are different. The undefeated Frogs play in the Big 12 championship game Saturday. The Buckeyes missed the Big Ten title game, and can only tout what they had done before losing to Michigan last week.
Tyreek Hill, Dolphins success shows value of elite WRs
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Miami has the NFL's No. 2 passing offense and sixth-best scoring offense thanks largely to the nearly unstoppable connection between Hill and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Tyreek Hill leads the league in yards receiving with 1,233 and trails only Buffalo's Stefon Diggs in receptions with 87. Hill's success and role inelevating Miami's offense shows the value of having an elite receiver in today's NFL. The Dolphins play San Francisco on Sunday.
No. 23 USTA tops North Texas 48-27 in C-USA title game
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Frank Harris threw for 341 yards and four touchdowns and ran for 49 yards and another score, lifting No. 23 UTSA to its second-straight Conference USA championship with a 48-27 victory over North Texas on Friday night at the Alamodome. After falling behind 10-7, the Roadrunners reeled off 17 unanswered points, including 10 in the final 1:12 of the first half to take a 24-10 lead at the break and never trailed again. Harris had scoring passes of 32, 14, and 39 yards to senior Zakhari Franklin, and his fourth — a 16-yard toss to junior tight end Oscar Cardenas — sealed the victory with 4:07 left. Junior quarterback Austin Aune, who engineered a scoring drive that got North Texas within 34-27 early in fourth quarter, threw for 194 yards and score, but was picked off twice.
College Basketball Scores
Friday, Dec. 2
EAST
Alfred 66, St. John Fisher 64
Baruch 107, Hunter 96
Boston U. 68, Merrimack 54
Brockport 58, Oswego St. 47
Brown 72, Bryant 60
Bryant And Stratton Bobcats 84, Mass. College 82
Cazenovia 80, Northern Vermont-Johnson 75
Cortland 70, Fredonia St. 64
D'Youville 68, Queens (NY) 61
East Stroudsburg 89, Clarion 44
Geneseo 68, Buffalo St. 58
Hartwick 80, Keuka 61
Houghton 95, Mount Aloysius 77
Indiana (Pa.) 97, Mansfield 61
Iona 78, Niagara 56
Kutztown 78, Gannon 74, OT
Lehman 71, Brooklyn College 52
Lock Haven 74, Seton Hill 55
Manhattanville 64, Marywood 61
Maryland 71, Illinois 66
Mercyhurst 81, West Chester 66
Millersville 67, Edinboro 56
Molloy 72, Daemen 69
Nazareth 85, Elmira 65
New Paltz 79, Potsdam 74
Oneonta 83, Plattsburgh 73
Penn St.-Abington 64, SUNY-Morrisville 58
Pitt.-Johnstown 77, Bloomsburg 59
Pratt 77, Sarah Lawrence 71
RPI 59, Hobart 58
Rochester 95, Bard 73
SUNY-IT 77, SUNY-Canton 64
Shippensburg 77, California (Pa.) 73
Siena 74, Canisius 70
Skidmore 76, Clarkson 70
Slippery Rock 79, Shepherd 74
St. Lawrence 74, Union (NY) 69
Towson 74, LIU 64
UMass 71, Harvard 68
Utica 85, Sage 66
Vassar 75, Ithaca 73
York College (NY) 81, Medgar Evers 58
SOUTH
Ala.-Huntsville 74, Lee 62
Auburn 93, Colgate 66
Auburn-Montgomery 74, Delta St. 66
Bob Jones 86, Berea 74
Centenary 69, Trinity (FL) 65
Charlotte 71, Appalachian St. 62
Clemson 77, Wake Forest 57
Columbus St. 58, Carson-Newman 56
East Carolina 79, Campbell 69
Georgia 68, Florida A&M 46
Georgia Tech 81, Northeastern 63
James Madison 97, E. Kentucky 80
Kennesaw St. 66, Mercer 63
LSU 63, Texas-Arlington 59
Liberty 79, Md.-Eastern Shore 59
Louisiana Tech 74, Southern U. 59
Montevallo 80, Mississippi College 72
NC Wesleyan 79, Mid-Atlantic Christian 52
Pittsburgh 68, NC State 60
Rhodes 86, Covenant 52
South Florida 79, Charleston Southern 59
Union (Tenn.) 77, Christian Brothers 62
Virginia St. 70, St. Augustines 59
West Alabama 66, Shorter 49
MIDWEST
Colo.-Colo. Springs 74, S.D. Mines 71
Kent St. 83, S. Dakota St. 68
North Central 82, Finlandia 65
Washington (Mo.) 87, Eureka 70
SOUTHWEST
Austin 71, Southwestern (Texas) 53
St. Thomas (Texas) 60, Schreiner 34
Texas Lutheran 73, Dallas 66
Texas-Tyler 76, Midwestern St. 56
FAR WEST
Adams St. 73, W. Colorado 71
Baylor 64, Gonzaga 63
Black Hills St. 75, Regis 65
Chadron St. 83, CSU-Pueblo 71
Colorado Mines 74, Colorado Mesa 62
Idaho 84, N. Illinois 47
La Verne 69, SAGU American Indian College 65
Lewis & Clark 105, Willamette 85
Linfield 85, George Fox 74
N.M. Highlands 73, Colorado Christian 62
Puget Sound 82, Whitworth 75
San Diego St. 95, Occidental 57
UC San Diego 81, Bethesda 76
Westminster (Utah) 93, Metropolitan St. 65
Whitman 79, Pacific Lutheran 67
___
NCAA Football Scores
EAST
Buffalo 23, Akron 22
SOUTHWEST
UTSA 48, North Texas 27
FAR WEST
Utah 47, Southern Cal 24
NCAA Women's Div I Volleyball Tournament Glance
All Times EST
First Round
Thursday, December 1
Texas 3, Fairleigh Dickinson 0
Georgia 3, Towson 1
Georgia Tech 3, Wright St. 0
Marquette 3, Ball St. 0
San Diego 3, Northern Colo. 1
Washington St. 3, UNLV 0
Western Ky. 3, Bowling Green 0
Kentucky 3, Loyola Chicago 0
Nebraska 3, Delaware St. 0
Kansas 3, Miami (Fla.) 0
Baylor 3, SFA 0
Rice 3, Colorado 1
Friday, December 2
Ohio St. 3, Tennessee St. 0
Southern California 3, High Point 0
UNI 3, Florida St. 0
Minnesota 3, Southeastern La. 0
Auburn 3, Creighton 2
Houston 3, South Dakota 2
LSU 3, Hawaii 1
Stanford 3, Pepperdine 1
Wisconsin 3, Quinnipiac 0
TCU 3, Washington 1
UCF 3, Yale 0
Penn St. 3, UMBC 0
Florida 3, Florida A&M 0
Iowa St. 3, FGCU 2
BYU 3, James Madison 0
Pittsburgh 3, Colgate 0
Arkansas 3, Utah St. 0
Oregon 3, LMU (Calif.) 0
Purdue 3, Tennessee 2
Louisville 3, Samford 0
Second Round
Friday, December 2
Texas 3, Georgia 0
Marquette 3, Georgia Tech 0
San Diego 3, Washington St. 1
Kentucky 3, Western Ky. 0
Nebraska 3, Kansas 1
Baylor 3, Rice 2
Saturday, December 3
Ohio St. vs. Southern California , 6 p.m.
UNI vs. Minnesota , 8 p.m.
Auburn vs. Houston , 7:30 p.m.
LSU vs. Stanford , 9 p.m.
Wisconsin vs. TCU , 7 p.m.
UCF vs. Penn St. , 6:30 p.m.
Florida vs. Iowa St. , 7 p.m.
BYU vs. Pittsburgh , 7 p.m.
Arkansas vs. Oregon , 10 p.m.
Purdue vs. Louisville , 6 p.m.
Third Round
Texas vs. Marquette , TBA
Ohio St.-Southern California-winner vs. UNI-Minnesota-winner, TBA
San Diego vs. Kentucky , TBA
Auburn-Houston-winner vs. LSU-Stanford-winner, TBA
Wisconsin-TCU-winner vs. UCF-Penn St.-winner, TBA
Florida-Iowa St.-winner vs. BYU-Pittsburgh-winner, TBA
Nebraska vs. Arkansas-Oregon-winner, TBA
Baylor vs. Purdue-Louisville-winner, TBA
Quarterfinals
Third Round winners, TBD
Semifinals
Quarterfinal winners, TBD
Championship
Saturday, December 17
Semifinal winners, TBD