AP Sports Headlines for Sunday Morning
No. 1 Georgia rallies to beat No. 4 Ohio State 42-41 in semi
ATLANTA (AP) — Stetson Bennett capped No. 1 Georgia's comeback from a two-touchdown, fourth-quarter deficit with a 10-yard, last-minute scoring pass to Adonai Mitchell in a 42-41 victory over No. 4 Ohio State for a shot at its second straight national title. The comeback in the College Football Playoff Peach Bowl semifinal held just after midnight Sunday when Noah Ruggles' 50-yard field goal attempt for Ohio State with three seconds remaining sailed wide left, setting off a celebration on the Georgia sideline. Georgia (14-0) will play No. 3 TCU, which beat No. 2 Michigan 51-45 in the Fiesta Bowl semifinal, on Jan. 9 for the national championship. C.J. Stroud threw four touchdown passes for Ohio State (11-2), which led 38-24 in the fourth quarter.
No. 3 TCU upsets No. 2 Michigan 51-45 in wild CFP semifinal
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Max Duggan accounted for four touchdowns, TCU returned two interceptions for scores and the third-ranked Horned Frogs withstood a frenetic second-half surge by No. 2 Michigan to win the Fiesta Bowl 51-45 and advance to the College Football Playoff national championship. TCU, the most unlikely team to ever reach the four-team playoff in its nine-year history, has one more game to play in its improbable season and it will come against No. 1 Georgia, a 42-41 semifinal winner over No. 4 Ohio State, on Jan. 9 for the national championship at Sofi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The Horned Frogs will try to win the program's first national championship since 1938.
Defending champ Georgia vs. Cinderella TCU for CFP title
After the best semifinal day in the nine-year history of the College Football Playoff, the title game will match the defending national champion against the closest thing the sport has had in years to a Cinderella team. It will be No. 1 Georgia, looking for its second straight championship, against upstart and No. 3 TCU on Jan. 9 at Sofi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The four-team playoff has been littered with lopsided semifinal games, but these were thrillers. The Bulldogs came from 14 points down to beat No. 4 Ohio State 42-41 in the Peach Bowl. TCU upset No. 2 Michigan 51-45 in the Fiesta Bowl.
Young throws for 5 TDs, Alabama tops K-State in Sugar Bowl
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Bryce Young passed for 321 yards and five touchdowns, and No. 5 Alabama responded to an early two-score deficit with 35 straight points to defeat No. 11 Kansas State 45-20 in the Sugar Bowl. A number of NFL-bound college stars sat out bowl game but the best prospects played for the Crimson Tide and Wildcats and were at the center of a number of memorable plays. Kansas State running back Deuce Vaughn had an 88-yard touchdown run. Alabama's Jordan Battle and Brian Branch both had interceptions. Youngs TD passes went to five different receivers.
Doncic scores 51 points, Mavs beat Spurs for 6th straight
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Luka Doncic scored 51 points and the Dallas Mavericks escaped with a 126-125 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday night for their sixth straight victory. Christian Wood added 25 points in Dallas' fifth straight victory over San Antonio. Keldon Johnson had 30 points for Sam Antonio, Jeremy Sochan added 20 and Jakob Poeltl had 19 points and 15 rebounds. After leading by 17 points, the Mavericks had to scramble in the final minute. Doncic had his third 50-point outing in his past five games, including 60 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists Tuesday night in an overtime victory over New York.
Review: Tagovailoa didn't show concussion signs vs. Packers
NEW YORK (AP) — A review by the NFL and the league's players association has determined Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa didn't need to go into concussion protocol during the team's game against Green Bay because he wasn't showing signs of a head injury at the time. A joint statement released Saturday said Tagovailoa didn't report symptoms of a concussion until a day after his team's Christmas Day loss to the Packers, "at which time the team medical personnel appropriately evaluated and placed Mr. Tagovailoa in the concussion protocol." Tagovailoa has been ruled out for Sunday's game at New England after suffering the concussion against Green Bay.
Falcons WR Batson arrested following altercation with police
ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Cameron Batson faces multiple charges after allegedly getting involved in an altercation with an officer and fleeing the scene. An officer observed a pickup truck speeding and failing to maintain its lane early Saturday morning, according to an Atlanta Police Department statement. The officer observed that the driver appeared to be intoxicated. The statement says Batson resisted arrest efforts by the officer "and violently fought with the officer." Batson returned to his vehicle and crashed a short distance away. The Falcons say they are gathering information and don't have further comment at the moment.
No. 22 Xavier hands No. 2 UConn its 1st loss, 83-73
CINCINNATI (AP) — Zach Freemantle scored 16 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, and Colby Jones also scored 16, helping No. 22 Xavier hand No. 2 UConn its first loss, 83-73. Jack Nunge started the game for Xavier despite an illness but scored 15 points, and Jerome Hunter also had 15. Adama Sanogo led UConn with 18 points. Andre Jackson Jr. scored 14 points and Jordan Hawkins had 11 for the Huskies. Xavier has three losses by a combined 13 points to Indiana, Duke, Gonzaga. UConn was off to its best start since beginning the 1998 season 19-0 and going on to win its first NCAA championship.
Iowa posts 1st Music City Bowl shutout, tops Kentucky 21-0
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Joe Labas threw for 139 yards and a touchdown in his first start and Iowa posted the first shutout in the Music City Bowl's 24-year history by beating Kentucky 21-0. Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz capped his 24th season by matching the late Joe Paterno for the most bowl victories among Big Ten coaches with his 10th. Iowa got a bit of payback for last season's loss to Kentucky in the Citrus Bowl. The Hawkeyes' defense outscored its offense, returning two interceptions for TDs in the second quarter. Kentucky finished the season losing for the third time in four games.
BYU offensive lineman Veikoso dies in construction accident
HONOLULU (AP) — Brigham Young University offensive lineman Sione Veikoso has been killed in a construction accident in his hometown in Hawaii. His family confirmed that the 22-year-old died Friday after a retaining wall he was helping repair during holiday break from school collapsed. The Honolulu Fire Department reported that three others were injured when the rock wall partially fell behind a home in Kailua. Veikoso had completed his first season at BYU, where he transferred after one year at Arizona State, while retaining four years of eligibility.