KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs hope that wide receiver Kadarius Toney, who practiced last week after a hamstring injury but was unavailable against the Broncos, could get back on the field for the first time in nearly a month when they play at Houston on Sunday. And they could have fellow wide receiver Mecole Hardman back in short order after an abdominal injury landed him on injured reserve. Hardman returned to practice Wednesday, opening a 21-day window to promote him to the active roster or put him on season-ending IR.
UNDATED (AP) — No. 24 Mississippi State is promoting defensive coordinator Zach Arnett to head coach to replace Mike Leach, who died suddenly of a heart condition earlier this week. A person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press that Mississippi State was working to finalize a four-year contract with the 36-year-old Arnett. Leach died Monday night at the age of 61. Arnett has been Leach’s defensive coordinator since he took the head coaching job at Mississippi State in 2020.
AL KHOR, Qatar (AP) — France and Kylian Mbappé are headed back to the World Cup final for a much-anticipated matchup with Lionel Messi after ending Morocco’s historic run at soccer’s biggest tournament. France beat Africa’s first ever semifinalist 2-0 with Mbappé playing a part in goals by Theo Hernandez in the fifth minute and then substitute Randal Kolo Muani in the 79th. France will head into Sunday’s title match against Argentina looking to become the first team to retain the World Cup title since Brazil in 1962. Mbappé has the chance to cement his status as soccer’s new superstar when he comes up against the 35-year-old Messi.
IRVING, Texas (AP) — Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay says he isn’t ready to oust Daniel Snyder as owner of the Washington Commanders and wants to discuss the possibility with other NFL owners. Irsay has said he believes there is merit for Snyder's removal amid several scandals and investigations into workplace misconduct with the Washington franchise. The league has been investigating allegations of sexual misconduct and financial impropriety. Commissioner Roger Goodell says he hasn't given the lead investigator any timeline on completing the investigation. Goodell defended the NFL after a House Committee on Oversight and Reform report that sharply criticized the team and the league's handling of its issues.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — UCLA has cleared a major hurdle toward joining the Big Ten Conference in 2024, getting approval for the move from the University of California Board of Regents. The regents voted 11-5 to affirm the Bruins’ move during a special meeting on the university’s Westwood campus. A simple majority was needed to pass. The regents imposed conditions to mitigate the impact of the move on athletes, including UCLA investing an additional $12 million in nutritional support, mental health services, academic support while traveling and charter flights to reduce travel time. UCLA will also have to pay the University of California at Berkeley between $2 million and $10 million.
UNDATED (AP) — Former Arizona basketball coach Sean Miller escaped sanctions when a report from the Independent Accountability Resolution Process largely accepted the program’s self-imposed penalties stemming from a NCAA rules violations case that dates back to 2017. Arizona’s athletics program was put on three years of probation through 2025. The school announced a one-year postseason ban in December 2020, which took effect for the 2020-21 season. The IARP report said former assistant coach Emanuel Richardson was given a 10-year show cause penalty after he “solicited and accepted $20,000 in cash bribes and paid $40,000 for a fraudulent academic transcript.” Miller emerged largely unscathed from the report. He is now the head coach at Xavier.
WEDNESDAY SCORES
TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Final (16)UCLA 87 (20)Maryland 60
Final (17)Mississippi St. 69 Jackson St. 59
Final (19)Auburn 72 Georgia St. 64
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Final Orlando 135 Atlanta 124
Final Indiana 125 Golden State 119
Final OT Detroit 141 Charlotte 134
Final Sacramento 124 Toronto 123
Final OT New York 128 Chicago 120
Final Portland 128 San Antonio 112
Final Miami 110 Oklahoma City 108
Final Cleveland 105 Dallas 90
Final Denver 141 Washington 128
Final L.A. Clippers 99 Minnesota 88
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Final Ottawa 3 Montreal 2
Final Minnesota 4 Detroit 1
Final SO Vancouver 4 Calgary 3