December 17, 2021 3:51 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Peach Bowl will go on without two of its biggest stars. Michigan State running back Kenneth Walker and Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett have both announced they are skipping the bowl game to focus on the NFL draft. Walker was part of a vital turnaround for the Spartans, who won 10 games after Walker transferred from Wake Forest. Pickett helped Pitt put together its best regular season in 40 years. Pickett won the ACC Player of the Year award and finished third in Heisman Trophy balloting.
December 17, 2021 3:53 am
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – Madi Kubik had 13 kills, three aces and two blocks, Lauren Stivrins had nine kills and six blocks – the last of which came on match points – and Nebraska rallied to beat No. 3 seed Pittsburgh 16-25, 25-17, 25-20, 25-22 in the semifinals of the NCAA volleyball tournament. No. 10 seed Nebraska (26-7) – 40th consecutive NCAA tournament appearance, second nationally to Penn State (41) – plays Wisconsin in Saturday’s championship game. The fourth-seeded Badgers won both regular-season matchups between the teams, losing just one set. Leketor Member-Meneh led the Panthers with 13 kills but had seven errors and hit just .150. Serena Gray added 11 kills. Nebraska, which advanced to its 10th title game, is 13-0 all-time against Pitt – 4-0 in the NCAA tournament.
December 16, 2021 3:48 am
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) – Urban Meyer’s tumultuous NFL tenure has ended after just 13 games – and two victories – when the Jacksonville Jaguars fired him early Thursday because of an accumulation of missteps. Owner Shad Khan made the move hours after ex-Jaguars player Josh Lambo told a Florida newspaper Meyer kicked him during practice in August. It was the latest embarrassment for the three-time national championship-winning college coach who failed miserably to make the transition to the NFL.
December 16, 2021 3:51 am
UNDATED (AP) – With the number of coronavirus cases and game postponements climbing, the NHL is reintroducing enhanced COVID-19 protocols that include daily testing and restrictions in a bid to limit a growing outbreak among players and staff. The enhanced protocols will be put into effect immediately and last through at least Jan. 7 according to a person with direct knowledge of discussions between the NHL and NHL Players’ Association. Hours earlier Ontario health officials unveiled rules that will reduce capacity at the home arenas of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators and the NBA’s Toronto Raptors to 50% starting Saturday. In all, more than 140 NHL players have been on the protocol list this season – including more than two dozen in the last two days.
December 16, 2021 3:46 am
UNDATED (AP) – The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association are in the process of enhancing their health and safety protocols in response to rising coronavirus numbers around the league. That’s according to a person familiar with the negotiations. The person told The Associated Press that among the biggest changes would be a plan to return to daily testing for players and coaches, at least in the short term.
December 15, 2021 3:53 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Evan Rodrigues scored his ninth goal of the season and added two assists to lead the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 5-2 victory over reeling Montreal. Rodrigues’ nine goals match a career-high he set during the 2018-19 season. He needed 74 games to get to nine goals that season and has done it in 28 games this season. Mike Matheson, Brian Boyle, Brian Dumoulin and Kasperi Kapanen also scored for Pittsburgh. The Penguins have won five straight. Jesse Ylonen and Jonathan Drouin scored for Montreal. The Canadiens have lost seven in a row.
December 15, 2021 3:54 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is hopeful linebacker T.J. Watt and cornerback Joe Haden will be available when Tennessee visits Heinz Field. Watt left a 36-28 loss to Minnesota in the first half with a groin injury. Haden hasn’t played since spraining his foot in a tie against Detroit in November. Tomlin also thinks defensive linemen Isaiah Buggs and Carlos Davis will be available after missing significant time.
December 15, 2021 3:56 am
UNDATED (AP) – For the second straight season, the Browns are dealing with a major COVID-19 outbreak during their playoff push. Cleveland’s postseason hopes were rocked when the team placed eight players on the reserve/COVID-19 list. The eight include top wide receiver Jarvis Landry, tight end Austin Hooper and starting offensive linemen Wyatt Teller and Jedrick Wills Jr. Those players will all likely miss Saturday’s crucial game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
December 14, 2021 3:45 am
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) – The NFC West is a little tighter after the second-place Rams earned a 30-23 victory at Arizona. Matthew Stafford threw for 287 yards and three touchdowns, hitting Cooper Kupp 13 times for 123 yards and a score. Kupp has had eight 100-yard receiving games this season. Van Jefferson caught a 52-yard scoring strike early in the third quarter to put the Rams ahead to stay. Odell Beckham Jr. also had a TD catch. Kyler Murray’s two interceptions led to Los Angeles touchdowns as the Cardinals failed to clinch their first playoff berth since 2015. The Rams are within one game of the Cardinals for the division lead.
December 14, 2021 3:43 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Devin Bush says he’s still the same player he was before a knee injury cut short his 2020 season. Bush has struggled at times this fall for the Steelers, but says he’s made tremendous strides in his third NFL season. Bush had one of his more productive games in a loss to Minnesota, finishing with eight tackles and two passes defensed. The Steelers fell to 6-6-1 with the loss, but remain in the mix in the wide-open AFC North. Pittsburgh hosts AFC South-leading Tennessee next week.
