January 3, 2021 8:03 am
Steelers cornerback Joe Haden has been flagged for a COVID-19 situation and won’t play Sunday against the Browns in Cleveland. Per ESPN’s Dan Graziano, Haden tested positive for COVID-19, meaning he is mandated to isolate for the next 10 days, even if he tests negative. That means Haden will not be available to play in the opening round of the playoffs for the Steelers next weekend. If Haden’s exposure had been a close contact, he would be required to be out at least five days — as long as he continues to test negative. Steelers tight end Eric Ebron and linebacker Cassius Marsh have both been added to the Reserve/COVID-19 list ahead of Sunday’s game against the Browns. Wide receiver Deon Cain and offense tackle Anthony Coyle have also been elevated to the active roster. With Haden out, the Steelers likely will turn to Cameron Sutton and Justin Layne to man his spot against the Browns and next weekend against a yet-to-be-determined opponent.
January 3, 2021 3:48 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph are in no mood to rehash their ugly on-field brawl. Rudolph and Garrett will meet for the first time since their fight in November 2019 when the Browns host the Steelers in the regular-season finale. Both players say there is too much at stake for their past to play a factor. The Browns can clinch their first playoff berth in 18 years with a victory. Rudolph will make his first start in more than a year hoping to prove he can still be a starter in the NFL.
January 3, 2021 7:53 am
WASHINGTON — — Toby Okani came off the bench to score 14 points to lead Duquesne to a 75-63 win over George Washington on Saturday. Marcus Weathers had 14 points for Duquesne (2-1, 1-0 Atlantic 10 Conference). Amari Kelly added 13 points. Michael Hughes had 12 points, five assists and three blocks. James Bishop had 21 points for the Colonials (2-7, 1-1). Jamison Battle added 17 points. Matt Moyer had 14 points and 11 rebounds.
January 3, 2021 7:52 am
NORMAN, Okla. — Umoja Gibson made eight 3-pointers and scored a season-high 29 points, and Oklahoma recovered after blowing an 18-point halftime lead to beat No. 9 West Virginia 75-71 on Saturday. The Sooners (6-1, 2-1 Big 12) have won three straight and four of five against the Mountaineers (8-3, 1-2), including a season sweep in 2019-20. The Sooners also have won four of their last seven games against ranked opponents. Taz Sherman and Jalen Bridges had 19 points each for West Virginia, and Miles McBride had 15. The Mountaineers’ previous losses this season came to No. 1 Gonzaga and No. 3 Kansas. The loss kept coach Bob Huggins from recording his 300th win as West Virginia’s coach. With the score tied at 60, Austin Reaves knocked down a long 2-point jumper and then a 3-pointer – his only one of the game, in nine attempts – with 3:40 left, giving Oklahoma the lead for good.
January 2, 2021 3:51 am
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) – Alabama is rolling into another College Football Playoff championship game. DeVonta Smith caught three of fellow Heisman Trophy finalist Mac Jones’ four touchdown passes, Najee Harris ran for 125 yards with a high-hurdling highlight and top-ranked Alabama beat No. 4 Notre Dame 31-14 on Friday in the relocated Rose Bowl game to reach its fifth CFP title game. Alabama will play in its fifth CFP title game in six seasons on Jan. 11 in suburban Miami against No. 3 Ohio State. Notre Dame has lost seven consecutive New Year’s Six games since 2000.
January 2, 2021 3:50 am
NEW ORLEANS (AP) – Justin Fields threw six touchdown passes to outshine Trevor Lawrence, and No. 3 Ohio State avenged last season’s painful College Football Playoff loss to Clemson with a 49-28 victory in the Sugar Bowl semifinal. The 7-0 Buckeyes head to the CFP championship game for the first time since the inaugural playoff to face No. 1 Alabama on Jan. 11 at Hard Rock Stadium in South Florida. Ohio State beat the Crimson Tide in the semifinals on the way to the 2014 national championship and will now have to go through mighty ‘Bama again. Lawrence is the presumptive No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, but Fields outplayed him on this night, setting a Sugar Bowl record for TD passes.
January 2, 2021 3:52 am
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) – Peyton Ramsey threw three touchdown passes and ran for a score, and No. 15 Northwestern’s defense made it stand up in a 35-19 victory over Auburn in the Citrus Bowl. Ramsey totaled 291 yards passing and 50 yards rushing for Northwestern, which won its fourth straight bowl game. Ramaud Chiaokhiao-Brown, John Raine and Riley Lees had touchdown catches for the Wildcats, who bounced back from an ugly loss to Ohio State in the Big Ten championship game. Bo Nix threw for 292 yards for Auburn but was often frustrated by Northwestern’s defense, which came in allowing 15.5 points per game, ranked fifth in the nation.
January 2, 2021 3:49 am
MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. (AP) – AJ Bramah had 20 points and 14 rebounds as Robert Morris narrowly beat Milwaukee 67-64. Grant Coleman and DeAndre Gholston each scored 16 points for the Panthers.
January 1, 2021 3:41 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Pittsburgh Steelers have selected outside linebacker T.J. Watt as the team’s Most Valuable Player for a second straight year. Watt is the first player to win the award in consecutive seasons since outside linebacker James Harrison in 2007 and 2008. Watt’s 15 sacks lead the NFL and are one short of the franchise record set by Harrison. Watt’s play has also thrust him into the NFL Defensive Player of the Year conversation. Watt says he’s more proud of being the team MVP because it is voted on by people who see him go to work every day.
January 1, 2021 3:42 am
CLEVELAND (AP) – The Browns can cap their turnaround season with a win over the Steelers. That’s never been a given. Cleveland will clinch its first playoff berth since 2002 and end the NFL’s longest current postseason drought with a win over its dreaded rival on Sunday. The Steelers will sit quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and several other prominent starters to rest up for their first playoff game. Roethlisberger has owned Cleveland throughout his career but his absence won’t curb his teammates’ motivation to keep the Browns out of the playoffs. The Browns have spent much of the week leading up to the matchup dealing with COVID-19 issues. They’ll be without at least four regulars.
