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LSU fires coach Brian Kelly in the 4th season of his 10-year, $100 million deal, AP source says

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — LSU has fired coach Brian Kelly during the fourth season of a 10-year contract worth about $100 million. A person familiar with the situation confirmed Kelly’s departure to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity on Sunday night because the firing had not been announced. The move comes on the heels of Saturday night’s 49-25 loss to No. 3 Texas A&M in Tiger Stadium — a second straight loss, and third in four games for LSU. Kelly was hired away from Notre Dame following the 2021 season. He has gone 34-14 with the Tigers but LSU has not qualified for the College Football Playoff during his first three seasons and is virtually eliminated from contention this season.

Big 12 lands season-high 5 teams in the AP Top 25, No. 9 Vandy’s ranking highest since 1937, LSU out

The Big 12 has five teams in the latest Associated Press Top 25 college football poll. That’s the most since September 2024. No. 9 Vanderbilt earned its highest ranking in 88 years. LSU dropped out after its third loss in four games. The top six teams remain unchanged with Ohio State holding the No. 1 spot for a ninth straight week. The Big 12’s ranked teams are co-No. 10 BYU, No. 13 Texas Tech, No. 17 Cincinnati, No. 22 Houston and No. 24 Utah. Vanderbilt is 7-1 for its best start since 1941.

Former Jets center Nick Mangold dies at 41, less than 2 weeks after announcing he had kidney disease

The New York Jets have announced the death of former center Nick Mangold at age 41. Mangold died from complications of kidney disease on Saturday night, less than two weeks after he revealed on social media that he needed a kidney transplant and was seeking a donor. Diagnosed with a genetic defect in 2006, Mangold had been on dialysis. Jets owner Woody Johnson described him as a legendary player and beloved teammate. Mangold, a seven-time Pro Bowl selection, was enshrined in the Jets’ ring of honor in 2022. He is survived by his wife and four children.

Giants rookie running back Cam Skattebo will have surgery after dislocating right ankle vs. Eagles

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — New York Giants rookie running back Cam Skattebo has suffered a dislocated right ankle that could end his season. Skattebo was hurt in the second quarter of the Giants’ 38-20 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. The Giants say Skattebo is set to undergo surgery Sunday night at a hospital in the Philadelphia area. Skattebo took a hard hit over the middle on a pass attempt. He went down and immediately smacked his helmet in pain. Skattebo’s foot appeared to be bent in an unnatural direction as both Giants and Eagles players huddled around him until he could be helped off the field.

Lakers’ Luka Doncic likely out at least one week with a sprained finger and a bruised leg

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Lakers say Luka Doncic is expected to be sidelined for at least one week because of a sprained finger on his left hand and a bruised lower left leg. Doncic had been off to a spectacular start to the season with back-to-back 40-point games for the Lakers, who play at Sacramento on Sunday night. He scored 43 points in the Lakers’ loss to Golden State on opening night, and he racked up 49 points in a victory over Minnesota last Friday night. Doncic scorched the Timberwolves despite spraining a finger on his non-shooting hand in the opening minutes.

Yes, those really are the Steelers out there against the Packers. Even if it doesn’t look like it

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers have donned throwback uniforms for their Sunday night game against the Green Bay Packers. The uniforms honor their inaugural 1933 season. The Steelers swapped their usual black-and-gold uniform for gold jerseys with black vertical stripes and khaki pants. A matte gold helmet replaced their regular black one, but the logo stayed on one side. The team has used various throwback uniforms over the years, including the 1934 “bumblebee” look. The Packers also changed their look, opting for nearly all-white uniforms. The Steelers have had success wearing throwbacks, entering the game 16-5 under coach Mike Tomlin.

Velocity rules in October when adrenaline, pressure, crowds push players to throw their hardest

TORONTO (AP) — Velocity rules in October. There have been a record 255 pitches of 100 mph or faster this postseason, up from 105 last year and the previous high of 169 in 2022. Right-handed relievers averaged 96.2 mph with their four-seam fastballs through the World Series opener, an increase from 95.8 mph last postseason and 93.3 mph when Major League Baseball started tracking in 2008. A study released by MLB last offseason concluded rising velocities and emphasis on maximum effort are likely causing more pitcher injuries. MLB decided last month to prohibit scouting of many high school and college prospects during the offseason to mandate recovery time.

Michael Brennan wins Utah Championship on an invitation and gets 2-year PGA Tour exemption

IVINS, Utah (AP) — Michael Brennan was dominant on the PGA Tour Americas this summer and just as dominant at the Bank of Utah Championship. He shot a 66 on Sunday for a four-shot victory at Black Desert. Brennan was a sponsor exemption who earned a Korn Ferry Tour spot as the leader of PGA Tour Americas. Now he bypasses the Korn Ferry Tour and has a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour with his victory. He also gets in the PGA Championship and the $20 million RBC Heritage. He’s the first sponsor exemption to win since Nick Dunlap at The American Express last year.

Byron outduels Blaney for victory at Martinsville and NASCAR Championship 4 berth

MARTINSVILLE, Va. (AP) — With a Championship 4 spot on the line, William Byron put the bumper to Ryan Blaney to win at Martinsville Speedway in the third-round finale of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. Byron made his winning move with 43 laps remaining, seizing the bottom lane in Turn 1 and moving Blaney up the track by tagging him in the left rear. The Hendrick Motorsports driver led the rest of the way and fended off Blaney on a restart with 11 laps remaining. Starting from the pole position, Byron led a race-high 304 of 500 laps for his third victory this season.

Lando Norris snaps losing streak with victory in Mexico City, takes lead in F1 championship

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Lando Norris has ended a five-race losing streak by winning the Formula 1 race in Mexico City. This victory puts him ahead of McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri in the championship standings. Norris started from the pole and now leads Piastri by one point. This is Norris’s sixth win of the season and his first since August. McLaren has already secured the constructors’ championship and aims to dethrone Max Verstappen as world champion. Verstappen finished third in Mexico and is now 34 points behind the leader. The next race is the Brazilian Grand Prix on November 9th.