November 21, 2025 4:24 am
The Pittsburgh Steelers and Chicago Bears meet in a matchup of division leaders. Pittsburgh has won two of three to keep its tenuous grip on the AFC North lead over Baltimore. But it’s not clear who will be at quarterback for the Steelers. Aaron Rodgers is dealing with a broken left wrist, putting the chances of the four-time MVP facing a team he has dominated throughout his career in jeopardy. Mason Rudolph will start if Rodgers can’t go. The NFC North-leading Bears have won seven of eight, though they haven’t made it easy on themselves. Chicago has five wins this season after trailing in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter, including the past three games.
November 21, 2025 4:29 am
HOUSTON (AP) — Houston’s dominant defense sacked Josh Allen eight times and Calen Bullock forced three turnovers, with his second interception sealing the Texans’ 23-19 win over the Buffalo Bills. After Allen took consecutive sacks on the Bills’ final possession, they faced fourth-and-27 but gained 44 yards on a short pass from Allen to Josh Palmer, who tossed a lateral to Khalil Shakir. But on another fourth down, Bullock picked off Allen’s pass at the Houston 9 with 24 seconds left. Davis Mills threw for 153 yards with two first-half TD passes to help the Texans (6-5) to their third straight victory with C.J. Stroud sidelined by a concussion. Houston moved above .500 for the first time this season. Buffalo is 7-4.
November 21, 2025 4:26 am
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Riley Kugel and Themus Fulks scored 18 points each, Jamichael Stillwell had 12 points and 11 rebounds and UCF defeated Pittsburgh 77-67 on Thursday night for its fourth straight win. Kugel was 8 of 14 from the floor and Fulks 7 of 12, making all three of his 3-pointers. Fulks’ fellow Milwaukee transfer, Stillwell, posted his second double-double this season. He had 16 last season. Cameron Corhen had 17 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Panthers. Damarco Minor, with four 3-pointers, and Barry Dunning Jr. added 14 points each.
November 20, 2025 4:21 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Aaron Rodgers is optimistic about playing against the Bears on Sunday despite a broken wrist. The 41-year-old quarterback, known for his rivalry with Chicago, is hoping to face the Bears one last time. Rodgers posted an 11-1 record at Soldier Field during his highly successful run with the Green Bay Packers earlier in his career. Rodgers broke his wrist late in the first half of Pittsburgh’s victory over Cincinnati last week. He will attempt to practice wearing a brace to protect his wrist. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin says how Rodgers functions with the brace will play a role in deciding if he can go. Mason Rudolph will get the nod if Rodgers is unavailable.
November 20, 2025 4:28 am
NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball says it will comply with a Senate committee’s request for documents on gambling investigations. Senators Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell sent a letter to Commissioner Rob Manfred asking for information by Dec. 5. This follows indictments of Cleveland pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, who are accused of taking bribes to rig pitches. They have pleaded not guilty. Manfred says MLB’s internal investigation has no timetable. MLB is also aiding players who have received threats related to gambling. Manfred avoided discussing management’s positions in collective bargaining for a new labor contract.
November 20, 2025 4:25 am
James Franklin got his first taste of Virginia Tech’s “Enter Sandman” tradition as he walked into Cassell Coliseum for his introductory press conference. It’s something the 53-year-old Franklin is eager to experience as the Hokies’ football coach. Virginia Tech is the first Power Four program to hire its next football coach this cycle, officially bringing Franklin aboard this week about a month after he was fired from Penn State. Alignment was a constant theme that Franklin, athletic director Whit Babcock and President Tim Sands returned to.
November 19, 2025 4:33 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh quarterback Aaron Rodgers and his fractured left wrist could still play when the Steelers visit Chicago. Coach Mike Tomlin says the team will evaluate Rodgers’ availability later in the week and that the key to Rodgers’ potential return will be whether he can play safely with a brace protecting the wrist. Mason Rudolph, who filled in capably in the second half of the Steelers’ win over Cincinnati, would start for AFC North-leading Pittsburgh when it faces the NFC North-leading Bears if Rodgers cannot. The 41-year-old Rodgers, the oldest active player in the league, clutched the wrist when he was hit following a heave to the end zone.
November 19, 2025 4:27 am
Ja’Marr Chase’s one-game suspension for spitting on Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Jalen Ramsey has been upheld by a hearing officer, which rules him out of Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots. The suspension, without pay, was upheld Tuesday by hearing officer Jordy Nelson, jointly appointed by the NFL and the NFLPA. The Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver spat on Ramsey during a confrontation in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game. Ramsey grabbed Chase by the face mask and punched him, which resulted in Ramsey’s ejection.
November 19, 2025 4:35 am
Georgia nabbed the fourth and final projected first-round bye in the College Football Playoff rankings, while undefeated Ohio State, Indiana and Texas A&M held onto the top three positions. The Bulldogs rose one spot thanks to Alabama’s loss to Oklahoma over the weekend — a result that dropped the Crimson Tide six spots to No. 10 and lifted Oklahoma three notches to eighth. The top four teams in the rankings released Dec. 7 will receive first-round byes in this season’s playoff, which starts Dec. 19 and concludes with the title game a month later.
November 18, 2025 4:16 am
BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) — James Franklin has been hired as Virginia Tech’s football coach, a little more than a month after he was fired during his 12th season at Penn State. The Hokies announced the move Monday evening, becoming the first Power 4 program to fill a coaching vacancy this season. Franklin was set to be formally introduced at a news conference Wednesday morning. He was fired by the Nittany Lions on Oct. 12, a day after they lost at home to Northwestern to fall to 3-3. The 53-year-old Franklin went 104-45 at Penn State. He led the Nittany Lions to a College Football Playoff first-round victory last season.
