January 6, 2026 4:25 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin isn’t dwelling on “what-ifs” after his team edged Baltimore to win the AFC North title for the first time in five years. While Tomlin is aware Pittsburgh’s margin of error is razor thin, he’s not going to apologize after the Steelers reached the playoffs when Baltimore’s Tyler Loop missed a 44-yard field-goal attempt on the final play. The Steelers face the streaking Houston Texans in the first round. Oddsmakers have made Houston an early favorite. Pittsburgh quarterback Aaron Rodgers is optimistic, saying the thrilling victory over Ravens should give the Steelers an added confidence boost.
January 6, 2026 4:26 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf is back at work following a two-game suspension for initiating contact with a fan. Metcalf says he’s relieved the Steelers were able to win the AFC North during his absence, freeing him up to return for a first-round playoff matchup with Houston. The Steelers clinched their first division title in five years with a thrilling 26-24 win over Baltimore on Sunday night. Metcalf watched from afar as the game had four fourth-quarter lead changes. He said it was like riding a roller coaster and is eager to help the Steelers try to win a playoff game for the first time since 2016.
January 6, 2026 4:22 am
Rocco Becht has announced he will follow coach Matt Campbell from Iowa State to Penn State, giving the Nittany Lions a veteran quarterback to replace Ethan Grunkemeyer. Becht stated his decision in a social media post late Sunday. Multiple media outlets report Grunkemeyer will reunite with James Franklin at Virginia Tech. Grunkemeyer started seven games after Drew Allar was injured. Those transfers follow Drew Mestemaker’s weekend decision to join Eric Morris at Oklahoma State.
January 5, 2026 4:32 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Aaron Rodgers threw a go-ahead touchdown pass to Calvin Austin III with 55 seconds left, and the Steelers beat the Ravens 26-24 on Sunday night when Baltimore’s Tyler Loop missed a 44-yard field goal as time expired, giving Pittsburgh the AFC North title. Pittsburgh will host Houston in the opening round of the playoffs on Monday, Jan. 12, following an electric fourth quarter that saw four lead changes, including three in the final four minutes. Lamar Jackson connected with Isaiah Likely for a 28-yard gain that put the Ravens within Loop’s range. But the rookie’s kick never had a chance.
January 5, 2026 4:37 am
ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons have fired coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot. The team announced the moves hours after completing its its second straight 8-9 finish under Morris and eighth consecutive losing season. Morris said after Sunday’s win over the New Orleans Saints that he expected to return for a third season. Instead, his 16-18 record was not enough for him to keep his job after the year began with optimism that the Falcons would reach the playoffs for the first time since 2017. Owner Arthur Blank said in a statement that he has “great personal affinity” for Morris and Fontenot but he believes a change is needed.
January 5, 2026 4:36 am
The Las Vegas Raiders will pick first in this year’s NFL draft. The New York Giants defeated the Dallas Cowboys 34-17 on Sunday, ensuring the Raiders would have the worst record. The Raiders were 2-14 entering their Sunday home game against the Kansas City Chiefs. If the Giants had lost to Dallas, Las Vegas would have needed a loss to the Chiefs to secure the top pick. This is only the second time the Raiders have had the top pick. In 2007, they selected quarterback JaMarcus Russell, who became one of the franchise’s top draft busts.
January 5, 2026 4:33 am
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Sidney Crosby set up Ricard Rakell’s tying goal with 13.7 seconds left in regulation, then scored at 2:22 of overtime to give the Pittsburgh Penguins a 5-4 comeback victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday. The Penguins overcame a three-goal deficit to win their fifth straight game overall and third in a row in the road. Ville Koivunen, Noel Acciari and Tommy Novak also scored, and Ben Kindel had two assists. Arturs Silovs made 25 saves. After being outshot 12–9 in the first period, Pittsburgh outshot Columbus 34–13 over the final two periods and overtime. Kirill Marchenko and Zach Werenski each had a goal and an assist for Columbus, and Dmitri Voronkov and Mason Marchment also scored.
January 4, 2026 11:49 am
Canon-McMillan won five of its six championship bouts and rolled to the team title at the 2026 TriCADA Wrestling Tournament. The Big Macs cruised past the rest of the 21-team field, scoring 288.5 points. Trinity (219.5) finished second, followed by McGuffey (186.5), Jeff-Morgan (143.5) and Bentworth (133.0). Ringgold, Burgettstown, Beth-Center, West Greene and Avella round out the top 10.
Championship Finals
107 Lee Dreshman (Canon-McMillan) tech. fall Parker Jennings (Trinity), 17-2 4:45
114 Jackson Hoy (Trinity) fall Alex Medlen (Beth-Center), 3:00
121 Tucker Main (McGuffey) dec. Gavin Bricker (Trinity), 9-2
127 Giono Gardner (Canon-McMillan) dec. Landon Ault (Trinity), 7-2
133 Jon Emma (Canon-McMillan) dec. Evan Tolliver (Ringgold), 9-3
139 Lucas Barr (McGuffey) dec. Drake McClure (Bentworth), 7-2
145 Collier Hartman (Canon-McMillan) tech. fall Emmett Wolfe (McGuffey), 21-4 5:11
152 Jonah Erdely (Frazier) maj. dec. Logan Noyes (Burgettstown), 9-0
160 Owen Ivcic (Bentworth) dec. Cristian Lowther (Ringgold), 4-2
172 Alek Palko (Jefferson-Morgan) pinned Aaron Supler (McGuffey), 3:01
189 Bryce Collins (Canon-McMillan) dec. Teagan Barr (Trinity), 5-1
215 Noah Layhue (Beth-Center) dec. Brayden Collins (Canon-McMillan), 2-1
285 Colin Whyte (West Greene) fall Landon Heath (Jefferson-Morgan), 2:53
Third Place
107 Austin Grandel (Jefferson-Morgan) fall Carter Baker (Burgettstown), 3:50
114 Parker Kolarcik (Canon-McMillan) dec. Greyson Morris (Albert Gallatin), 4-3
121 Brock McClure (Bentworth) fall Floyd Huff (Waynesburg Central), 3:17
127 Clayton Ealy (McGuffey) dec. Shane Cronin (Beth-Center), 5-3
133 Dominick Canali (Trinity) fall Mason Wright (Beth-Center), 4:25
139 Peter Leventis (South Fayette) forfeit Leif Syrko (Ringgold)
145 Devin Junko (Trinity) dec. Brock Dennison (South Fayette), 8-5 SV
152 Victor Bonus (McGuffey) dec. Aidan Finnigan (Canon-McMillan), 3-2
160 Mason Calgaro (Canon-McMillan) fall Chas Rush (Avella), 2:20
172 Caden Smith (Ringgold) dec. John Hunter (Canon-McMillan), 4-2
189 Malachi Peak (Beth-Center) dec. Aiden Williams (Trinity), 4-2
215 Ian Holub (Trinity) dec. Adam Baloga (Burgettstown), 7-1
285 Dakota Carmona (Canon-McMillan) dec. Joseph Wilson (Washington), 4-1 SV
Fifth Place
107 Gabe Green (Peters Township) default Gavin Morris (Albert Gallatin)
114 Caleb Dulaney (Jefferson-Morgan) fall Dustin Mace (Avella), 0:41
121 Jacob Guzek (South Park) fall Jorden Moore (Avella), 0:24
127 Gage Samol (Avella) dec. Andrew Barkey (Ringgold), 16-13 SV
133 Noah Collins (West Greene) tech. fall Daniel Smith (Burgettstown), 17-2 4:08
139 Jacob Wright (Trinity) fall Carter Katus (Burgettstown), 2:28
145 Bryce Crowson (Bentworth) fall Colton Stocker (Peters Township), 2:36
152 Caleb Patton (Washington) dec. Angelo Mele (Chartiers-Houston), 4-3
160 Garrett Newman (McGuffey) default Geno Orlandi (Jefferson-Morgan)
172 Levi Yeater (West Greene) tech. fall over Paxton Thomas (Bentworth), 15-0 4:54
189 Landen Pusateri (Peters Township) fall Shannon Archie (Burgettstown), 3:24
215 Tyler Clayton (Chartiers-Houston) fall Marion Jones (Laurel Highlands), 1:44
285 Owen Rush (Canon-McMillan) fall Colin Rockwell (Albert Gallatin), 3:58
January 4, 2026 5:38 am
DETROIT (AP) — Bryan Rust and Yegor Chinakhov scored first-period goals and the Pittsburgh Penguins topped the Detroit Red Wings for the second time in three days, 4-1. Rickard Rakell and Connor Dewar added empty-net goals to clinch Pittsburgh’s fourth consecutive victory. Kris Letang’s overtime goal gave the Penguins a 4-3 win over Detroit in Pittsburgh on Thursday. Sidney Crosby extended his point streak to six games with two assists Saturday. Crosby, who scored two goals on Thursday, has four goals and six assists during that stretch and 53 points in 40 career games against the Red Wings.
January 4, 2026 5:44 am
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The winner of the NFC South will be crowned at home watching on television. Baker Mayfield threw a touchdown pass to Cade Otton, Chase McLaughlin kicked three field goals and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers avoided elimination with a sloppy 16-14 victory over the Carolina Panthers on a rain-soaked Saturday. The Buccaneers need New Orleans to beat or tie Atlanta on Sunday to clinch a fifth straight NFC South title. If the Falcons win, the Panthers will secure their first division championship since coach Ron Rivera and quarterback Cam Newton led them to a 15-1 record and a Super Bowl appearance 10 years ago.
