ABC News – Breaking News, Latest News, Headlines & Videos (2023)

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- A serious scene drew silence among the fans at Gillette Stadium as Detroit Lions safety Saivion Smith was carted off the field in an ambulance during the opening quarter against the New England Patriots.A member of his family was let inside the ambulance from the stands after Lions teammates circled around him.Smith was to be evaluated for a neck injury at the hospital.Smith, out of Alabama, was a surprise starter for the Lions on Sunday after being elevated from the practice squad Saturday.

2 hours ago

The New York Giants weren't supposed to have a chance, especially down 14 points in the first half to the Green Bay Packers. Don't tell quarterback Daniel Jones & Co., despite having every excuse possible for a poor result.Jones led the injury-riddled Giants to a 27-22 come-from-behind upset win over the Packers on Sunday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. Running back Saquon Barkley ran in the game-winning touchdown out of the Wildcat formation from 2 yards out midway through the fourth quarter, helping New York (4-1) match its win total from 2021.Playing with an injured left ankle, Jones went 21-of-27 for 217 yards. He added 10 rushes for 37 yards to produce perhaps the signature win of his career with all eyes on this early morning game.It was all the more impressive because Jones wasn't 100%. He injured the ankle in last week's victory over the Chicago Bears and didn't have his usual explosion while on the move. Jones...

2 hours ago

The New York Giants weren't supposed to have a chance, especially down 14 points in the first half to the Green Bay Packers. Don't tell quarterback Daniel Jones and Co. despite having every excuse possible for a poor result.Jones led the injury-riddled Giants to a 27-22 come-from-behind upset win over the Packers on Sunday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. New York (4-1) has now matched its win total from last year after running back Saquon Barkley ran in the game-winning touchdown out of the Wildcat formation from 2 yards out midway through the fourth quarter.Playing with an injured ankle, Jones went 21 of 27 passing for 217 yards. He added 10 rushes for 37 yards to produce perhaps the signature win of his career with all eyes on this early morning game.It was all the more impressive because Jones wasn't 100%. He injured his ankle in last week's victory over the Chicago Bears and didn't have the explosion you're used to seeing from...

2 hours ago

Kenyan Ruth Chepngetich defended her Chicago Marathon title in a dominant display Sunday, breaking the tape in 2 hours, 14 minutes, 18 seconds, as her compatriot Benson Kipruto cruised to victory in the men's race in 2:04:24.Chepngetich built up an early lead and had established an astonishing 3:42 advantage over the chasing pack by the halfway point.Charging to the line with no one else in sight, the 2019 world champion was in a race against the clock as she tried to break the world record but came up 14 seconds short of Brigid Kosgei's mark, set on the same flat course three years ago."I wanted to break the world record ... but I'm happy," Chepngetich said. "Next year I'm ready to come back again."Emily Sisson finished second in an American marathon record of 2:18:29, and Kenyan Vivian Jerono Kiplagat third.On the men's side, Kipruto joined a large leading pack from the start and grabbed the outright lead with an 11-second margin over last year's champion Seifu Tura...

3 hours ago

Max Verstappen capped a sublime Formula One season with a similar performance at the Japanese Grand Prix to clinch his second straight championship.Verstappen's win gave him a place in the record books as he secured one of F1's most dominant championship wins.Only Michael Schumacher (2001 and 2004) and Sebastian Vettel (2011) have won a championship with four races still left to run.Verstappen led the Suzuka race from start to finish but did not realize he had won the championship after taking the checkered flag."Yeah, it's really a crazy feeling of course, because I didn't expect when I crossed the line," Verstappen said after the race."You could see it slowly happening. It's incredible that we did win it here."The confusion stemmed from how many points would be awarded in a race that did not complete full distance.F1's rules state that limited points are awarded when a race is red-flagged and cannot continue. Although the Suzuka race was red-flagged, it continued...

October 09

When Jackson Statecoach Deion Sanders and Alabama Statecoach Eddie Robinson Jr. met at midfield after Saturday's game, the exchange ended with Robinson pushing away the Pro Football Hall of Famer.Turns out, they were just getting started.Robinson took Sanders' hand following Alabama State's 26-12 homecoming loss to Jackson State, but wanted no part of an embrace with Sanders, instead shoving him with his left hand as he walked away. A surprised Sanders raised his hands in disbelief before walking away alongside his security detail.Robinson later explained that Sanders had made disrespectful comments in the week leading up to the game. Robinson also alleged that Sanders walked through Alabama State's offensive warm-ups in one of the end zones, rather than taking a more direct route to Jackson State's sideline. He added that Jackson State should have taken a knee in the final minute of the game rather than trying to score more points with its...

October 09

When Jackson Statefootball coach Deion Sanders and Alabama Statecoach Eddie Robinson Jr. met at midfield after Saturday's game, the exchange ended with Robinson pushing away the Pro Football Hall of Famer.Turns out, they were just getting started.Robinson took Sanders' hand following Alabama State's 26-12 homecoming loss to Jackson State, but wanted no part of an embrace with Sanders, instead shoving him with his left hand as he walked away. A surprised Sanders raised his hands in disbelief before walking away alongside his security detail.Robinson later explained that Sanders had made disrespectful comments in the week leading up to the game. Robinson also alleged that Sanders walked through Alabama State's offensive warm-ups in one of the end zones, rather than taking a more direct route to Jackson State's sideline. He added that Jackson State should have taken a knee in the final minute of the game rather than trying to score more points...

October 09

NEW YORK -- Mets ace Jacob deGrom couldn't help but ponder his future on Saturday night. With free agency looming and the San Diego Padres taking Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series, deGrom said he went into his start in Game 2 knowing that if he didn't pitch well, it could be the last time he pitched at Citi Field as a Met."That went into my mind, but the hope was that we would win a baseball game and continue to keep playing," deGrom said.He came through, going six innings and allowing five hits and two runs on two walks with eight strikeouts in a 7-3 Mets victory. The win guaranteed that deGrom would have at least one more day to put on a Mets uniform, on Sunday night when the Padres and Mets will play Game 3.DeGrom set the tone early, starting off the game throwing 12 pitches over 99 mph and seven over 100 mph. He retired the top of Padres' lineup in order, striking out slugger Juan Soto and Manny Machado swinging....

October 09

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Despite being without its Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback and turning the ball over four times, No. 1 Alabamahung on to beat Texas A&M 24-20 on Saturday night.Bryce Young, the Crimson Tide's star quarterback, did not play as he continues to recover from an injury to his throwing shoulder.Sophomore Jalen Milroe struggled as his replacement, throwing three touchdowns while also turning the ball over three times (one interception and two fumbles).Alabama coach Nick Saban pointed to his team's 111 passing yards and said, "So something in the passing game needs to get better.""I'm not putting it all on him," he said of Milroe. "I'm just saying we need to do a better job in protection. We need to do a better job route running. And we need to do a better job of being able to make good decisions in the pocket so we don't have negative plays."Alabama running back Jase McClellan lost a fumble, Will Reichard...

October 09

ST. LOUIS -- Bryce Harper arrived at Busch Stadium early Saturday afternoon with a message for all of his Philadelphia Phillies teammates.He wanted them to know that this -- the St. Louis Cardinals' magical season, the historic careers of Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina and, more specifically, the first-round wild-card series -- would end later that night. The Phillies, he told them, would not allow for a decisive Game 3."We're not losing," he continued to say as he went around the clubhouse.Then he delivered.Harper homered off a first-pitch Miles Mikolas curveball to lead off the second inning, silencing a sold-out crowd and providing all the run support a dominant Aaron Nola would need. The Phillies, who fired their manager 51 games into the season and finished third in their division, defeated the Cardinals 2-0 and advanced to a National League Division Series showdown against the Atlanta Braves."It's...

October 09

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Alabamastar quarterback Bryce Youngdid not start the Saturday night game against Texas A&Mas he continues to deal with shoulder soreness in his throwing arm.Young dressed out and was one of three team captains for Alabama's 24-20 victory, but did not attempt any passes during pregame warm-ups. Shortly before kickoff, Young was announced in the stadium as the starter.Instead, Jalen Milroe, who had two touchdowns in relief of Young during last weekend's win at Arkansas, took the start. Milroe completed 12 of 19 passes for 111 yards and three touchdowns and finished with 81 yards on the ground off 17 carries. But he was also responsible for three turnovers, including two fumbles, as the Crimson Tide had to hold off the Aggies.Young, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner and a possible first-round pick in next year's NFL draft, was injured during the first half at Arkansas when he scrambled, was tackled and...

October 08

T.J. Watt recently underwent arthroscopic knee surgery that is expected to delay his return to the Pittsburgh Steelers, sources told ESPN.Watt, who already was recovering from a torn pectoral muscle, had the knee surgery to clean up a preseason injury that lingered into the regular season, according to sources. The star pass-rusher initially was expected to miss six weeks because of the pectoral injury suffered in Pittsburgh's season opener, setting up a potential return Oct. 30 against the Eagles.But the knee surgery likely will push back Watt's return by at least another week or two, according to sources, meaning the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year now might not be back until after the Steelers' bye in Week 9. Pittsburgh hosts the Saints in Week 10 before a Week 11 road game against the Colts on Monday Night Football.The Steelers will not rush Watt back and will be diligent in monitoring how both his knee and pectoral muscle respond....

October 08

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Alabamastar quarterback Bryce Youngdid not start Saturday night's game against Texas A&Mas he continues to deal with shoulder soreness in his throwing arm.Young dressed out and was one of three team captains for the game but did not attempt any passes during pregame warm-ups. Shortly before kickoff, Young was announced in the stadium as the starter.Instead, Jalen Milroe, who scored two touchdowns in relief of Young during last weekend's win at Arkansas, got the start.Young, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner and a possible first-round pick in next year's NFL draft, was injured during the first half at Arkansas when he scrambled, was tackled and landed on his throwing shoulder.Saban told ESPN on Thursday that there was no structural damage done to Young's shoulder. Saban said the injury is not expected to keep Young out long term.Young took reps at practice this week but was limited throwing the...

October 08

TORONTO -- Fueled by an improbable comeback, the Seattle Mariners are in the American League Division Series with a 10-9 win on Saturday to complete a sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays in their AL Wild Card Series.The Mariners were down 8-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning before scoring four runs in the sixth, four in the eighth and one in the top of the ninth to get the victory. It was the biggest road comeback win in playoff history and baseball's largest rally to clinch a postseason series.Making the franchise's first playoff appearance since 2001, Seattle trailed 9-6 in the top of the eighth inning. With two out and the bases loaded, J.P. Crawford hit a blooper to center against All-Star closer Jordan Romano. Center fielder George Springer and shortstop Bo Bichette went hard after the ball, but it landed as the two collided. All three runners scored on the double, tying the score at 9."I was praying to the baseball gods...

October 08

DALLAS -- Quinn Ewers finally got a chance to play in his first Red River Showdown, and he made the most of it, leading Texasto a historic 49-0 win over Oklahomaon Saturday.After getting the starting nod late this week following recovery from a clavicle injury suffered in Week 2 against Alabama, Ewers threw for a career-high 289 yards, completing 21 of 31 passes for four touchdowns and one interception.The redshirt freshman from Southlake Carroll, who played high school football about 30 miles from the Cotton Bowl, said it was a dream to play in this game."I know all these guys were pretty excited, but growing up a fan, I always wanted to play in this one," Ewers said. "So it's pretty special."Ewers' demeanor in the raucous environment of the rivalry game in the middle of the State Fair of Texas impressed his teammates."His poise in any situation is unmatched," said Jordan Whittington, who caught five passes for 97 yards....

October 08

Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson played Thursday night against the Colts, and three quarters of the previous game against the Raiders, while battling a partially torn lat near his right shoulder, according to sources.Wilson suffered the injury in the beginning of the second quarter of the loss to Las Vegas during a game in which he threw two touchdowns and ran for another.Doctors diagnosed the injury in the days leading up to the Colts game. Wilson did not practice until Wednesday, one day before Denver hosted Indianapolis. He was listed on the injury report as questionable with a shoulder strain.Wilson is not expected to need surgery on the shoulder, per sources. He is expected to be ready to play in the Broncos' next game a week from Monday night in Los Angeles against the Chargers, even though he is not expected to be 100%. Doctors believe the injury could linger for multiple weeks, sources said.Wilson played through the injury...

October 08

The NFL and NFL Players Association released a joint statement Saturday finalizing their review of the application of the league's concussion protocol following Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa's apparent head injury Sept. 25, implementing an amendment to said protocol.The statement concluded that although the step-by-step process of the concussion protocol was followed, "the outcome in this case was not what was intended when the Protocol was drafted."Tagovailoa appeared to sustain a head injury during the Dolphins' game against the Buffalo Bills on Sept. 25 when he hit his head on the ground and then stumbled while attempting to return to the huddle. The stumble was considered a display of gross motor instability, which is one of the protocol's "no-go" symptoms that requires a player be removed from a game without the possibility to return.He was immediately taken to the locker room for a concussion evaluation but informed both the team's...

October 08

Michiganrunning backs coach Mike Hart is in stable condition at a local hospital after suffering a "medical emergency" on the sideline in the first quarter of the Wolverines' game against Indiana, according to a statement released by the team.Hart suffered a seizure, according to the Fox broadcast, and wound up on the ground after Indiana made an extra point to tie the score at 7 with 4:57 left in the quarter. Michigan's players cleared the bench and spread out across the field, many dropping to one knee.Several Michigan coaches, including head coach Jim Harbaugh, stood nearby as trainers worked on Hart.Hart was put on a stretcher and carted off the field, but he was moving his head and extremities as Hoosiers coaches came out on the field to check on the former Indiana running backs coach.Hart left Memorial Stadium for further evaluation at a hospital."Mike [Hart] had a medical emergency during the game and he's in a stable condition," Harbaugh said in a...

October 08

CLEVELAND -- Cleveland's baseball franchise is back in the division series for the first time since 2018 after its two-game sweep of the Tampa Bay Rays in one of the American League wild-card affairs.The Guardians ended a marathon Game 2 with a walk-off solo home run by Oscar Gonzalez in the 15th inning on Saturday for the 1-0 victory. The Guardians took Game 1, 2-1, on Friday.It'll be their fourth division series appearance since 2016 -- though that's the last year they advanced to the American League Championship Series.Cleveland will face the New York Yankees beginning on Tuesday in New York. It'll be a contrast in styles as the Yankees led MLB in home runs while the Guardians ranked 29th in that category.Meanwhile, the Guardians struck out the least in baseball and will take on a Yankees staff that ranked second in strikeouts in the American League. Adding intrigue to the series, the Yankees defeated the Cleveland franchise in the division...

October 08

SAN FRANCISCO -- Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green offered a public apology and announced he will step away from the team indefinitely after an altercation on Wednesday between him and Jordan Poole."I'm going to continue to stay away, as I've been away, and continue to do work on myself, but also just give guys space," Green said in a news conference Saturday. "I do want to give my team some space, I want to give Jordan some space, and then also take a few days and continue to work on myself ... take some time to let everything breathe."Green initially apologized to Poole and the team on Thursday before practice, then immediately left the facilities and went home.In addition to a teamwide apology, Green said he has apologized to Poole individually and has also offered apologies to Poole's family. But Green doesn't know how his apologies have landed with Poole."Jordan's feelings are the most important, and to be honest I'm not sure how he...

October 08

LAWRENCE, Kan. -- Kansasquarterback Jalon Daniels left the No. 19 Jayhawks' game against No. 17 TCUafter he suffered a shoulder injury with 48 seconds left in the first half.Kansas coach Lance Leipold said after the game, a 38-31 loss, that Daniels is still being evaluated.Facing a third-and-6 on TCU's 17-yard line, Daniels scrambled to his right, where he was sacked by Jamoi Hodge for a 5-yard loss. Daniels was slow to get up after appearing to fall on his right shoulder.He was initially taken to the injury tent, then left for the locker room before the end of the first half. Before his injury, Daniels had completed 5 of 10 passes for 89 yards, and Kansas trailed TCU 10-3 at halftime.Redshirt senior Jason Bean started the second half for Kansas in place of Daniels. Daniels did not return, but was seen on the sideline with his right arm tucked under a hooded shirt.Coming into Saturday's game, Daniels had completed just over...

October 08

Darryl Sutter has signed a multiyear extension to remain head coach of the Calgary Flames, the team announced Saturday.Sutter won his first career Jack Adams Award last year in his 20th season as a coach. In his second stint as coach of the Flames, Sutter led the team to a Pacific Division championship with the sixth-most points in the league.Calgary lost to Alberta rival Edmontonin the second round of the playoffs.Despite the team's success last season, the 2022-23 Flames will look vastly different. Top scorer Johnny Gaudreau signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets in free agency. Calgary then sent forward Matthew Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers in a trade that brought back forward Jonathan Huberdeau and defenseman MacKenzie Weegar.The Flames extended both new additions this offseason. Huberdeau agreed to an eight-year, $84 million contract extension in August, while the team announced an eight-year, $50...

October 08

Michiganrunning backs coach Mike Hart suffered a seizure on the sideline in the first quarter of the Wolverines' game against Indiana, according to the Fox television broadcast.Hart wound up on the ground after Indiana made an extra point to tie the score at 7 with 4:57 left in the quarter. Michigan's players cleared the bench and spread out across the field, many dropping to one knee.Several Michigan coaches, including head coach Jim Harbaugh, stood nearby as trainers worked on Hart.Hart was put on a stretcher and carted off the field, but he was moving his head and extremities as Hoosiers coaches came out on the field to check on the former Indiana running backs coach.Hart left Memorial Stadium for further evaluation at a hospital.Fox reported that Hart reached out to the team at halftime to tell them he was doing well and to give an update on his status.Hart worked under Hoosiers head coach Tom Allen from 2017 to 2020. He then joined Michigan, where he played...

October 08

ASHBURN, Va. -- Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson has been placed on the 53-man roster and will play vs. the Tennessee Titanson Sunday, six weeks after being shot twice in his right leg.Robinson, who had been placed on the non-football injury list, was cleared to practice Wednesday. There had been optimism all week about Robinson's chances of playing, especially after his right knee responded well after practicing each day.It's uncertain how much he'll play and Washington does have other effective running backs in Antonio Gibson and J.D. McKissic. Gibson has been the Commanders' primary back for the past two seasons and has rushed for 173 yards this year, while averaging only 3.3 yards per carry. McKissic is their third-down back.Washington likes Robinson as a primary between-the-tackles runner and could pair him in packages with either Gibson or McKissic, both of whom are pass-catching threats."You've got a good group...

October 08

Oklahoma quarterback Dillon Gabriel was out for Saturday's 49-0 blowout loss to rival Texas as he remains in concussion protocol, it was announced.Gabriel was seen warming up in full uniform, pads and helmet in pregame drills, but he was in shorts and no pads at kickoff.Davis Bevillemade his first start with the Sooners, going 6 of 12 for 38 yards and an interception at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. In all, five players attempted a pass for the Sooners on Saturday.Gabriel was knocked out of last week's loss to TCU in the second quarter when he was hit in the head while sliding by linebacker Jamoi Hodge, who was ejected for targeting.Gabriel will be evaluated daily moving forward, the school said.

October 08

Tennesseewill be without star receiver Cedric Tillman against LSUon Saturday.Tillman is still recovering from a high ankle sprain and the subsequent tightrope surgery that was performed Sept. 20. He's been doing some limited physical activity with the team, according to sources, and ramping up his activity with the hope of returning next week when No. 1 Alabamavisits Knoxville.This will mark the second consecutive game Tillman has missed, as the surgery occurred the week of Tennessee's home game with Floridaon Sept. 24. Tennessee had a bye last week.Tillman is a 6-foot-3, 215-pound redshirt senior who is considered the Vols' best wide receiver and best deep threat on the outside.He has 17 catches for 246 yards and a touchdown this season, including a dominating road performance at Pittsburgh in which he caught nine balls for 162 yards and the game-winning 28-yard touchdown.His 12 receiving touchdowns in 2021 was the second most in...

October 08

Ohio Statewill once again be without star wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba for Saturday's game at Michigan State, while leading rusher Miyan Williams also will sit out.Smith-Njigba, a third-team AP All-America team selection in 2021, injured his hamstring in the season opener against Notre Dame and has appeared in only one other game. He has only four receptions on the season, as Ohio State is being extra cautious about his return."We're hoping to get him back this week," coach Ryan Day said Tuesday. "But again, it's just so hard to tell. He can come in today and say, 'Well, I had a little bit of a setback,' or he's really doing good, he's trending to play on Saturday."Williams, the team's backup running back, started last week in place of TreVeyon Henderson and tied an Ohio State single-game record with five rushing touchdowns and 190 yards in a win over Rutgers. Williams leads the Buckeyes in carries (64), rushing yards (497) and rushing...

October 08

Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs has suffered a left knee capsule sprain and bone bruise, the team announced.There's relief that Suggs avoided a more serious injury, sources told ESPN. His timeline on a return will depend on response to treatment, the team said.Suggs was helped off the court and into the locker room after a collision with Dallas' Dorian Finney-Smith in a preseason loss on Friday night before undergoing evaluation.The fifth overall pick in the 2021 draft had his rookie season interrupted by a fractured right thumb. He averaged 11.8 points and 4.4 assists in 48 games.Orlando already is without point guard Markelle Fultz, who is out indefinitely because of a fractured left big toe suffered before training camp.ESPN's Tim MacMahon contributed to this report.

October 08

Tennesseewill be without star receiver Cedric Tillman against LSUon Saturday, as sources told ESPN he did not travel to Baton Rouge for the game.Tillman is still recovering from a high ankle sprain and the subsequent tightrope surgery that was performed Sept. 20. He's been doing some limited physical activity with the team, according to sources, and ramping up his activity with the hope of returning next week when No. 1 Alabamavisits Knoxville.This will mark the second consecutive game Tillman has missed, as the surgery occurred the week of Tennessee's home game with Floridaon Sept. 24. Tennessee had a bye last week.Tillman is a 6-foot-3, 215-pound redshirt senior who is considered the Vols' best wide receiver and best deep threat on the outside.He has 17 catches for 246 yards and a touchdown this season, including a dominating road performance at Pittsburgh in which he caught nine balls for 162 yards and the game-winning 28-yard...

October 08

Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs has suffered a left knee capsule sprain and bone bruise, but there's relief he avoided a more serious injury, sources told ESPN on Saturday.Suggs' timeline on a return will depend on response to treatment, sources said.Suggs was helped off the court and into the locker room after a collision with Dallas' Dorian Finney-Smith in a preseason loss on Friday night before undergoing evaluation.The fifth overall pick in the 2021 draft had his rookie season interrupted by a fractured right thumb. He averaged 11.8 points and 4.4 assists in 48 games.Orlando already is without point guard Markelle Fultz, who is out indefinitely because of a fractured left big toe suffered before training camp.ESPN's Tim MacMahon contributed to this report.

October 08

NEW YORK -- The dreams of Mets fans were supposed to come true on Friday night. When Max Scherzer signed a three-year, $130 million contract with New York, the wild-card series opener was the type of game Mets fans imagined the future Hall of Famer would dominate, an important moment setting the tone for a team ahead of a playoff run.Instead, those fantasies were shattered as Scherzer unraveled in his start against the San Diego Padres, allowing seven earned runs on seven hits -- including giving up a career-high four home runs -- while striking out just four batters in 4⅔ innings in a 7-1loss by New York.Hours after Scherzer left the Citi Field mound, the moments of struggle played on a loop in his head."This is going to be a late night for me," Scherzer said.The damage started in the first inning when Padres designated hitter Josh Bell slugged a 419-foot opposite-field home run that scored Jurickson Profar. Outfielder ...

October 08

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Clayton Tune threw a pair of touchdown passes inside the final two minutes as Houston scored 26 fourth-quarter points to stun Memphis 33-32 on Friday night.Tune tossed a 13-yard touchdown pass to KeSean Carter that capped a 12-play, 75-yard drive to pull Houston to 32-26 with 1 minute, 17 seconds to play. Houston took possession following the ensuing onside kick. Tune and Carter connected six plays later for the game-winner on a 2-yard touchdown with 18 seconds to play.Entering Friday, FBS teams were 0-129 this season when trailing by 19 or more points in the fourth quarter, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.Houston (3-3, 1-1 American Athletic Conference) has won two straight against Memphis (4-2, 2-1) since ending a five-game losing streak to the Tigers in a 31-13 home win last season.Tune finished 36-of-57 passing for 366 yards with three touchdowns. Sam Brown had nine receptions for 116 yards, and Nathaniel...

October 08

Paul Westphal couldn't contain his excitement as he headed back into the Kings' locker room after the game. "They should've gone up by 40," the veteran coach exclaimed.The sense of joy in his voice was palpable.Just down the hall, the misery coming from the Bulls locker room was just as present. Joakim Noah sat in front of his locker and leaned back in his chair with his eyes closed. He couldn't believe that his team had just blown a 35-point lead.In truth, nobody in the United Center could. Derrick Rose when asked if something like this has ever happened in his career: "Never. But I guess there's a first time for everything. Just nonchalant attitude, I guess. But we'll be fine." Tyreke Evans on the game as a whole: "Wow, that's all I can say. Wow. That was crazy. I've never been a part of a team that came back like that." Vinny Del Negro when told people were saying they've never seen something like that: "I haven't either....

October 07

ST. LOUIS -- Jean Segura'scareer spanned 11 seasons and 1,328 games before he finally reached the postseason, the longest active streak in the major leagues. On the morning of his first playoff game, the Philadelphia Phillies' second baseman barely slept. He awoke at 7 a.m. "with adrenaline in my body." Friday wore on, and that edge never left."I was mentally focused on every play, every pitch," Segura said. "I came prepared today to play a game, and to be able to be here -- I just thank God that everything was on my side."With the Phillies down a run, the bases loaded, one out in the top of the ninth and the St. Louis Cardinals scrambling to replace their wounded closer, Segura snuck a grounder past a slightly drawn-in infield, plating two runs and propelling the Phillies to an improbable 6-3 win in the opening game of their best-of-three wild-card series, putting them on the cusp of advancing into the National League Division Series.The...

October 07

The NFL Players Association has agreed to changes to the concussion protocol and is urging the NFL to do the same before Sunday's games kick off.The announcement comes in the wake of a review over how Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa's concussion evaluation was handled in Week 3."Our union has agreed to change the concussion protocols to protect players from returning to play in the case of any similar incident to what we saw on September 25," the NFLPA Board and Executive Committee said in a statement Friday. "We would like these changes to go into effect before this weekend's games to immediately protect the players and hope the NFL accepts the changes before then as well." The NFL responded later Friday, saying changes are "likely" but did not commit to a timeline for when they would be implemented."As we have discussed with the NFLPA, we agree that changes to the joint NFL-NFLPA protocols are necessary to further enhance player safety,"...

October 07

Villanova star freshman Cam Whitmore, a projected top-10 NBA draft pick, will undergo surgery next week on his right thumb after injuring it in practice on Wednesday, the school announced Friday.Whitmore will be reevaluated in early November."We're disappointed for Cam," Villanova first-year coach Kyle Neptune said. "Throughout the preseason he's worked hard to learn our concepts and what it takes to be effective in the Big East. This is a temporary setback, though, and we know Cam will approach his rehab with a great attitude."Whitmore, a 6-foot-7 small forward from Archbishop Spalding (Maryland), was ranked No. 21 in the ESPN 100 for the 2022 class. He earned McDonald's All-American honors. Whitmore also excelled for the USA Basketball U18 team at the FIBA U18 Americas this past summer, averaging 18.7 points and 6.3 rebounds while shooting better than 70% from inside the arc and 45.5% from 3-point range. The USA won the gold medal.He has raised his NBA stock as much as any...

October 07

The NFL Players Association has agreed to changes to the concussion protocol and is urging the NFL to do the same before Sunday's games kick off.The announcement comes in the wake of a review over how Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa's concussion evaluation was handled in Week 3."Our union has agreed to change the concussion protocols to protect players from returning to play in the case of any similar incident to what we saw on September 25," the NFLPA Board and Executive Committee said in a statement Friday. "We would like these changes to go into effect before this weekend's games to immediately protect the players and hope the NFL accepts the changes before then as well." Tagovailoa hit the back of his head on the ground and stumbled while trying to return to the huddle after a play in the Dolphins' game against the Buffalo Bills on Sept. 25. He was immediately taken to the locker room with a head injury, the team announced at the...

October 07

CLEVELAND -- When the Cleveland Guardians needed a response, after Tampa Bay took a 1-0 lead in Game 1 of their AL Wild Card Series on Friday, it came as no surprise that All-Star third baseman Jose Ramirez would be the guy to come through. He's done it all year."He's inevitable," winning pitcher Shane Bieber said after the Guardians' 2-1 win. "To do it right away, that was huge. I know for me personally, any pitcher, will tell you that."Ramirez hit an 88 mph changeup for a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth not long after Jose Siri had given the Rays the lead in the top of the inning. Response accomplished."Yeah, that [responding] came through my mind, but we have a really good team, so I knew we were capable to come back," Ramirez said through the team interpreter. "When it came off the bat I felt it was a homer, but with this weather you never know, and when I saw the center fielder trying to get to the wall, I was kind of concerned...

October 07

The Golden State Warriors are taking "every legal course of action" to discover how video of Draymond Green punching Jordan Poole during a scuffle at practice Wednesday was made public, sources told ESPN.Green apologized to the team and to Poole on Thursday, before Warriors coach Steve Kerr, general manager Bob Myers and teammate Stephen Curry addressed the media regarding the incident. TMZ on Friday morning published video of the incident, which took place during a practice closed to the media.In the video, Green steps up to Poole, who reacts by shoving the Warriors veteran. Green then punches Poole, knocking him down, before several people at the practice intervene to break it up. There was no video showing what led up to the incident.Sources told ESPN that the Warriors have been "aggressively investigating" both the incident and the release of the video.The Warriors are still in the process of disciplining Green, but Myers...

October 07

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- An ugly loss Thursday night to the Indianapolis Colts turned even uglier Friday morning for the Denver Broncos as coach Nathaniel Hackett said left tackle Garett Bolles (leg/ankle) and cornerback Ronald Darby (knee) will miss the remainder of the season.In the span of four days -- Sunday's loss to the Las Vegas Raiders and Thursday's loss to the Colts -- the Broncos have seen running back Javonte Williams, Bolles and Darby each suffer season-ending injuries.Bolles suffered a fractured lower right leg with just over three minutes remaining in regulation of the 12-9 overtime loss to the Colts. The Broncos were not optimistic about the sixth-year tackle's short-term prognosis when he was examined by the medical staff.He was taken for additional tests Friday morning, and the need for surgery to repair the fracture was confirmed. Bolles has been one of the team's more durable players, having started from...

October 07

MIAMI -- Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa remains in the concussion protocol and will not travel with the Miami Dolphinsfor this weekend's game against the New York Jets, while coach Mike McDaniel also would not give a definitive status on wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who was added to the injury report this week.McDaniel said Tagovailoa is "diligently going through the process" after suffering a concussion during the Dolphins' loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 29."There's several outside specialists that we're also utilizing," McDaniel said. "We'll just take it from there, but happy that he's, you know, you get to see him every day. It's nice when I walk down the hallway and I hear, 'What up, beast?' which is, for whatever reason, he calls me beast all the time. I don't think I give off the beast vibe, but we'll just take it day by day from there."McDaniel said Tagovailoa will not be placed on injured reserve this weekend, leaving open...

October 07

LONDON -- Maybe a trip across the pond will be what Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers need to get the potency back in their passing game.While Sunday's game against the New York Giants in London is long on running backs with the NFL's leading rusher in Saquon Barkley on one side and the Packers' combination of Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon on the other, Rodgers is still the star attraction -- even if his numbers have been off his usual pace through the first four games.Rodgers drew the biggest crowd of reporters during the Packers media session Friday at The Grove Hotel and when he was asked if he'd like coach Matt LaFleur to turn him loose and let him air it out, Rodgers didn't hesitate."Hell yeah, of course," Rodgers said. "Matt's kind of in a grumpy mood right now. When he gets a little bit of rest and will be in a better mood, we'll talk about airing it out a little bit more."Rodgers was referring to the fact that LaFleur...

October 07

The New York Giants will have their starting quarterback available Sunday against the Green Bay Packers. Daniel Jones (ankle) wasn't even given an official designation on the week's final injury report, meaning he's good to go and likely to start.Backup Tyrod Taylor was ruled out after suffering a concussion in Sunday's 20-12 win over the Chicago Bears. Jones and Davis Webb, who will be elevated from the practice squad, will be the Giants' active quarterbacks against the Packers in London. New York doesn't have any other quarterbacks on its roster.Jones suffered a sprained ankle when he was sacked in the third quarter against the Bears. He's been a limited participant in practice this week. But he told ESPN after Thursday's practice that he was "feeling better, getting better every day."The Giants (3-1) held a light workout Friday morning after making the trip overseas to England. They will play at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on...

October 07

The New York Giants will have their starting quarterback available Sunday against the Green Bay Packers. Daniel Jones (ankle) wasn't even given an official designation on the week's final injury report, meaning he's good to go and likely to start.Backup Tyrod Taylor was ruled out after suffering a concussion in Sunday's 20-12 win over the Chicago Bears. Jones and Davis Webb, who will be elevated from the practice squad, will be the Giants' active quarterbacks against the Packers. New York doesn't have any other quarterbacks on its roster.Jones suffered a sprained ankle when he was sacked in the third quarter against the Bears. He's been a limited participant in practice this week. But he told ESPN after Thursday's practice that he was "feeling better, getting better every day."The Giants (3-1) held a light workout Friday morning after making the trip overseas to England. They will play at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday.In...

October 07

LAFAYETTE, La. -- David Booker scored 26 points, including knocking down a big 3-pointer with 40 seconds left, to lead Tulane to a 73-70 win over Louisiana on Monday night. Booker, who finished 6 of 7 from long range, grabbed a pass that appeared to be headed out of bounds and nailed a 3 to put the Green Wave (4-7) up 70-66 in the final minute. Tyren Johnson hit one free throw to pull the Ragin' Cajuns within three with 30 seconds left, but it wasn't enough. Tulane sank three foul shots in the final 25 minutes to seal it. Randell Daigle put up a 3-pointer at the buzzer for Louisiana (4-6), but it rimmed out. Kevin Sims added 15 points for Tulane. Booker also had three steals and a block. Johnson scored 23 points to lead Louisiana, eclipsing 500 points for his career. Chris Gradnigo added a season-high 21 points. Tulane hit 10 3s versus just five for Louisiana.

October 07

DENVER -- Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson was still preaching the gospel of opportunity and belief Thursday night, but in the wake of an ugly 12-9 overtime loss to the Indianapolis Colts in which he threw two interceptions, Wilson did not mince words on his play."It's very simple -- at the end of the day I've got to be better, I've got to play better," Wilson said. "The defense played their butts off tonight, we had some key good drives. ... At the end of the day throwing two interceptions can't happen. Can't happen. I let the team down tonight."Wilson threw his second interception with just over two minutes to play in regulation when the Broncos had a chance to put the game away. And his errant throw on fourth-and-inches from the Colts' 6-yard line in overtime, when he didn't see an open KJ Hamler and tried to squeeze the ball in to Courtland Sutton instead, was the last play of the game.The Broncos, Wilson and coach...

October 07

WHEN ALABAMA'S NICK Saban and Texas A&M's Jimbo Fisher traded barbs this year over payments to college football players through name, image and likeness deals, Saban called for transparency, and Fisher said his team was an open book."I have nothing to hide. I have nothing to hide. And our program has nothing to hide," Fisher said at a May 19 news conference. "Be interesting if everyone could say that."Saban, who had accused Texas A&M of having "bought every player" during recruiting, advocated for transparency on May 31: "I'm all for players making as much as they can make," he said. "I also think we've got to have some uniform transparent way to do that."ESPN sought to take the coaches and other universities up on the notion that NIL information should be more transparent, asking a sampling of 23 universities -- 20 from Power 5 conferences -- to release their NIL-related documents or data. Across the board, schools provided few to no records. In the case of Saban's Alabama,...

October 07

DENVER -- Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson was still preaching the gospel of opportunity and belief Thursday night, but in the wake of an ugly 12-9 overtime loss to the Indianapolis Colts in which he threw two interceptions, Wilson did not mince words on his play."It's very simple -- at the end of the day I've got to be better, I've got to play better," Wilson said. "The defense played their butts off tonight, we had some key good drives. ... At the end of the day throwing two interceptions can't happen. Can't happen. I let the team down tonight."Wilson threw his second interception with just over two minutes to play in regulation when the Broncos had a chance to put the game away. And his errant throw on fourth-and-inches from the Colts' 6-yard line in overtime, when he didn't see an open KJ Hamler and tried to squeeze the ball in to Courtland Sutton instead, was the last play of the game.The Broncos, Wilson and coach...

October 07

St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols said he almost called it quits this summer before going on a tear that helped him become just the fourth player in major league history to reach 700 career home runs.Pujols told MLB.com in a story published Thursday night that he contemplated an early retirement in June after another rough start to the season. The future Hall of Famer was slashing .198/.294/.336 and had hit just four homers with 17 to go to hit 700."No, I did, I swear I did," Pujols said of weighing retirement. "There were some times when I [asked] myself that, many times."But after tweaking how he was holding the bat in early July, something clicked. Pujols went on to slash .314/.377/.681, becoming one of the best hitters in baseball to close the season while mashing 20 homers in just over three months."When you have good people around you and they are encouraging you and you realize that God has opened so many doors for you, man, it puts things back...

October 06

HENDERSON, Nev. -- On Thursday, Victor Wembanyama's teammates pulled him aside and showed him a video of LeBron James calling the projected No. 1 pick in next summer's NBA draft "a generational talent" and "an alien."Wembanyama, the 7-foot-4 talent from France who has wowed spectators and NBA execs alike in his first trip to America this week, said he still has more work to do before he deserves such high praise."It's obviously an honor to see such great people talk like this about me, but it really doesn't change anything," he said after leading his Metropolitans 92 squad to a 112-106 win over G League Ignite at Dollar Loan Center. "I was like, 'Oh that's cool.' But no more. I have to try to stay focused. The thing is ... I didn't do anything yet."With Scoot Henderson, the projected No. 2 pick in next summer's draft and leader of G League Ignite, sidelined with a knee injury early in the game, Wembanyama was the main event Thursday. He finished with 36 points, 11...

October 06