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NCAA Football: Ohio St Drops to No. 6

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NEW YORK – (Staff and AP wirev service report) – Ohio State’s loss to Michigan sent the Buckeyes plummeting four spots to No. 6, making room for Oregon to move into the first five of the Associated Press Top 25 poll, released Sunday.

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Georgia held the No. 1 spot for the 24th straight week, gaining 52 of 62 first-place votes. The other 10 votes went to Michigan, who defeated Ohio State 30-24 and rose one place to No. 2.

Washington moved to No. 3, with Florida State also climbing one rung to No. 4.

The top four teams all are 12-0.

Georgia, Michigan, Florida State and Washington all have cemented berths in their respective conference championship games. The Huskies will meet No. 5 Oregon (11-1) in the Pac-12 title game Friday at Las Vegas.

This is the first time the Pac-12, which is set to disband after this season as 10 teams defect to other leagues, had two teams in the top five since the last ranking of the 2016 season.

The College Football Playoff committee ultimately determines the four teams that will compete for the national championship, and its latest rankings will be unveiled on Tuesday.

Following No. 6 Ohio State are two other 11-1 teams — No. 7 Texas and No. 8 Alabama.

No. 9 Missouri and No. 10 Penn State, both 10-2, round out the top 10.

With a loss to Kentucky, Louisville fell out of the top 10 and dropped six places to No. 15. That allowed No. 11 Ole Miss to move up one place, followed by Oklahoma, LSU and Arizona.

Also dropping six spots was No. 21 Oregon State, which lost 31-7 to Oregon.

Out of the Top 25 this week are Kansas State and Tennessee. They were replaced by No. 21 North Carolina State and No. 25 SMU.

–Field Level Media

NFL SNF: Ravens at LA Chargers

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LOS ANGELES – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Baltimore Ravens look to build on being in the top seed position in the AFC when they face the wilting Los Angeles Chargers on tonight at Inglewood, California.

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The Ravens (8-3) have won five of their past six games as they run into a Chargers’ squad that has lost five games by three or fewer points this season.

While Los Angeles (4-6) is two games out of the final wild-card spot, Baltimore is atop the conference but aware there’s more work to be done.

“It’s good,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said of the No. 1 seed. “It’s where you want to be at this point, but it doesn’t mean anything until after the last game. We gotta keep winning.”

Baltimore has played one more game than the other four one-loss teams in the AFC. The Ravens’ bye is next week.

That break should come in handy as quarterback Lamar Jackson is dealing with a left ankle injury sustained in a 34-20 home victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Nov. 16.

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | Nov 26th

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While We’re Young (Ideas) – Giving Thanks in 2023

By TERRY LYONS, Editor-in-Chief

NEW YORK – It’s Thanksgiving Weekend 2023 and we’re here to make some important statements. “We’re back to normal,” and “Thanksgiving of 2019 seems so long ago.” That conjures up ill-fated memories of the horror, death and overall separation felt by most from March of 2020 to this past May 2023, after the Delta and Omicron variants of the virus subsided.

While it seems to be a trend to downplay the virus and knock Dr. Anthony Fauci with many pointing fingers as though Fauci, alone, was responsible for a global pandemic, the opposite is true. Remember now, COVID-19 hospitalized 6,484,329 Americans and killed 1,153,910 poor souls with the numbers posted by the World Health Organization through November 21st. To the informed, there’s an honest realization that Fauci did his best to forecast and curtail an on-going virus that was ignored by his bosses – an administration that – literally – wanted to dismiss cruise ships at sea from docking in the USA just to “keep our numbers down.”

Worldwide, the number of deaths from COVID-19 are daunting as 6,979,786 souls (and counting) are gone due to the virus with severe spikes realized and tracked in January 2020, January 2021 and 2022. With WHO public numbers updated through November 16th, there are 772,011,164 confirmed cases and they’ve been treated with 13,534,602,932 doses of the various anti-COVID vaccines.

You’re sick of COVID, we all know, so why do all these facts and figures head up a sports notes column on Thanksgiving Weekend? Because sports fans need to be more aware and thankful for Science. It is something to truly appreciate, despite the fact it’s outside of the world of sports.

Please be thankful for the researchers who worked so tirelessly – under pressure – on a dangerous public health issue beyond what any of us could fathom. I’m thankful for the doctors/nurses, medical workers, first responders and all who teach them. I’m even thankful for the lawyers who backed their work. That has to date back to 1948-1955 when the polio epidemic and Dr. Jonas E. Salk and his colleagues researched and developed a polio vaccine that treated some 16,000 cases of polio in 1955. By 1994, polio was eliminated in the Americas.

As it relates to the all-important research, I urge all readers of WWYI to be aware of the likes of the JIMMY Fund and Pan Mass Challenge (research work at the Dana Farber Institute) that raised $72 million this year and a total of $972 million since 1980. Those incredible amounts of money are enough to endow every single cent to go towards the research which saves lives on a daily basis and someday might save your life, especially if you’re suffering of the dreaded disease of cancer.

It did mine.

David Glucksman, GM of West End Johnnies, who together with “The Boys” train and ride the Pan Mass Challenge from Sturbridge out in Western Mass. to Provincetown at the tip of Cape Cod (Photo courtesy: Pan Mass Challenge)

MORE THANKS: Yes, there’s poverty, crime, lawlessness, and mass murders by the week (maybe by the day). There’s war – terrible wars in Ukraine/Russia, the Middle East and genocide in Sudan – but you don’t hear much about Congress arguing over funding for the Sudanese wars, do you? But, for one second, stop your crazy life and think.

There’s so much to be thankful for in 2023. Again, I please note science, research and education are the foundation of health – and remember, “the greatest wealth is health” or think of the Arabian proverb, ““He who has health, has hope; and he who has hope, has everything.”

MORE THANKS II: In 2023 and beyond, let’s be thankful for former NY Islander Pat LaFontaine and his Companions in Courage foundation. Executive Director Jim “JJ” Johnson just noted CiC helped their 1,000,000th patient. JJ needs some help from us now and the support from Holy Trinity is and will be at the highest possible point as ‘23 turns to ‘24. … How about a thanks to coach Bob McKillop? Add: Lou Carnesecca and John Kresse. ,,, Here’s a few more: The McIntyre family and their ability to care for a jacket, Val Ackerman and John Paquette of the BIG EAST, the end of the UAW and SAG strike, Boston College – athletics and resident assistants, and the same for Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville.

Thanks, Norah and the CBS News, the entire WBZ-TV news team (David Wade) and the entire sports crew, led by Dan Roche in the Red Sox press room, then Kevin Doyle, PR and press room attendant at Fenway, Jeff Twiss at the Celtics, Brian Olive, too. Travis Basciotta and Annie Kew at the Bruins. Abby Murphy, Justin Long, Devin Benson, Raleigh Clark and Carlos Villoria Benitez at the Sox. And to Zineb Curran on the corporate side. The coolest thing about Zineb – aside the fact she excels at her impossible/never ending job – is that she’s from Casablanca (Morocco). She recently announced Boston Common Golf and reps bud, Mark Lev, amongst the FSG and Sox hierarchy. … Skip Pernham, Joe Fav, Audrey, Sammy, Tony Fay, Kevin Sully Sullivan, and Josef Volman. To Will Ahmed, and Jonathan Jeffrey of Whoop, Joe Malone, Mark Sage, Bobby and Greg Pannell, Billy Ess, Dennis, Chuck, Johnnie D, Pat Hogan, Goldy, Scoot, Barney, Rick H, Harold – Harry O. Mugs and Mary, Godmothers Barbara – who always remembers the important dates, and Barbara and Bryan, too. By the way, Billy’s son, Matthew, made the team at Kellenberg! Forgive me if I overlooked a few.

A high Five for Madison Square Garden and Fenway Park – my favorite room and ball yard. Add, the Beacon Theatre, Bar & Books on Hudson, the old Corner Bistro and Villanova Tommy (Ret.), along with Bruce Hornsby, Billy Joel, Mark Riviera, Southside, Rich Pagano, Will Lee, and Jeff Kazee. Jeff’s the man on December 20th at the new and larger venue, The Cutting Room.

High 5’s for the great Matt Winick, loyal reader Rich Hussey, David Goldberg and Tom Junod (Trinity’s best two writers), Rob DiGisi, Joshua Milne aka Mr. Carolina. Thanks to Matt Doherty, Brian Moran and our Rebound Live zoom cast. … The Cross Sound Ferry, a Padron Anniversary ‘64, Angel Gallinal and Rob Levine. HT friends, one and all: Min, Tony Luisi, St I contingent: Audrey, Dianne, Mary Civ, Clare Krummenacker-Crossley (who has a Sweet J from the perimeter), Debbie and her Mom who ran the bookstore. Robert Bed, Ray, Speels, Tony Pagano, George, Paul LoPresti, Barbara Kobel, Joe Koch, Dougie, Murph, Jim Dige, Ernie L, Bill Macedonia – my HS gym locker-sharing bud, and John Geerlings. Add: Joey T and Kathy L, Atta, John Murray, Mario, Regina C(fellow St J’s) and Carole Ann Catapano (thanks on the house assist, as it was gut-wrenching). Hundreds of others – all still one – Remember “The Black,” Mike Blackie Blackwell, and we’re all Titans forever.

Closer to home, thanks to Joe D, Stephen Riley, Tod Rosensweig and the recently retired DJ all deserve a Boston-based mention. … Best to Bob Ryan – the Commish, Jan Volk and The Tradition. … Johnnie, Dave, Arty, GM Dana and GM Higor along with the entire West End Johnnies (and Fenway Johnnies) operation. Congrats to Dana and his bride on their recent nuptials.

Here’s to John Kosner, who is always there for for our friendship and for sound business advice. Buddy Gumina – Grant Ave Partners, Boston VC Sports crew and especially to Ken Adelson via Pivottv Media.

I’m thankful for my neighbors. If the pandemic did ONE thing, it solidified the relationships for many of those who live on our street. Special thanks to Tucky and Matt and Jen, to Rachel for organizing the best damn block party in the history of the Commonwealth. Crap! Even, the Mayor showed up! … And special thanks to Margo and the late golden retriever Deacon. … Deacon was a great dog – went out, got cancer and was gone in a blink of an eye. He was our dog, Penny (Lane)’s role model. … While we’re at it, let’s thank the good dog, Billie, and his Dad, Kevin and all the other members of our little play group that has Penny – somehow sensing it’s Saturday and/or Sunday and going bonkers all morning until she sees my Yeti travel mug and knows it’s PLAYTIME!

By the way, let’s give thanks and a warm welcome to Max. He’s the new pup on the block and Penny’s little brother. He’s been fully adopted by the Lyons/Martin crew and is calling our home his home, as of this weekend. Which brings us to the finish line for this year’s THANKS … to Clare and the girls and all of our wonderful immediate and extended family (Tom and Mom).

Max, you can call him Mighty Max, or the guy with the Silver Hammer

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: There’s a special trio of new books to recommend as Holiday gifts for your favorite basketball fan. Let’s list them in no particular order and highly recommend you buy/read/gift them all.

David Hollander wrote, “How Basketball Can Save the World.” Hollander stresses the powerful aspects of the sport of basketball and how it teaches very important messages in the simple manner in which the game is played. Let’s focus for a second on teamwork, being in sync with one-another, and a realization of being one small part of a concept much larger than any one of us.

Consider how basketball teaches everyone important messages about gender and equity, inclusion and resilience. As we know, there’s a lot going on to help a basketball team at any level become one. The buzz-phrase is to put “trust in each other” and, as coach Larry Brown always preached, “to play the right way.”

Taking those messages and the basic concept to the world is what Hollander hopes and truly believes can make the sport an international language for peace and understanding. He works and provides guiding principles for reimagining what might be possible to correct the course the world is on today.

The United Nations took one of Professor Hollander’s ideas and declared December 21 – the date that Dr. James Naismith invented and played the first game – as World Basketball Day. Among the ways to celebrate the day are:

  • Hand someone a basketball
  • Join or host an “open run” (scrimmage)
  • Attend a game (Live-any level)
  • Watch a game on TV or a screen somewhere
  • Gift a Nerf-hoop to a college student
  • Simply hold a basketball

Along the same lines, there’s a great new book by friend and colleague Lindsay Sarah Krasnoff entitled, “Basketball Empire: France and the Making of the Global NBA and WNBA.”

Krasnoff, who earned her Ph. D at the City University of New York, is both a student and teacher of sport and basketball as a tool of diplomacy. Her book and her lifelong research delved into the rise of the sport of basketball in France. She taught the concepts of Sport and Diplomacy at NYU’s Preston Robert Tisch Institute of Global Sport (where yours truly has lectured) and later became a Research Associate and Co-Director of Basketball Diplomacy-Africa for (School of Oriental and African Studies) SOAS University of London.

Her research led her to write her first books, “The Making of Les Blues: Sport in France, 1958-2010” and “Views from the Embassy: The Role of the U.S. Diplomatic Community in France (1914). Krasnoff combined efforts with Mr. Boaz Paldi and the United Nations’ Development Programme where Paldi works as the Chief Creative Officer. Together, they tackled tough issues on how sports and public relations can play important roles in the problems humanity faces in times of crisis.

Basketball Empire is a good read for a fan seeking a deep dive into the history of basketball or an academic looking for clear results from extensive research in the field of diplomacy.

Three recently published and “Must Read” Sports Books, all great for a 2023 Holiday gift (photo by Digital Sports Desk

Lastly, a fun read for any New York sports fan or for any fan who appreciates some of the greatest sports stories in history is “The 20 Greatest Moments in New York Sports History (Our Generation of Memories – 1960 to Today) by Todd Ehrlich and Gary Myers.

While the book is a must read for any New Yorker born from 1959 through modern days, it is so well done, it’ll be appreciated by all.

The book begins with a forward by former New York Giants wide receiver, David Tyree, and if you remember, it was Tyree who made one of the most unexpected, difficult and impactful catches in Super Bowl history. (Super Bowl XLII (2008) when Tyree made what is commonly called, the “Helmet Catch.”

It was the last catch of Tyree’s career and it miraculously extended the game-winning drive in the Giants’ 17-14 victory over the previously undefeated New England Patriots. The moment was voted “Play of the Decade” (2000s) by NFL Films and it tips the hand on the type of memories described marvelously by Ehrlich and Myers throughout the book.

“20 Greatest Moments in New York Sports” is a great gift for your 20-to-60 something sports fan and the concept of the book is sure to spread to other cities and even college campuses as Ehrlich expands his research and writing team(s).

Without spoiling the contents of the book, the key aspect of the storytelling is the magnificent way a single moment/memory is backed-up by the steps taken by the team or individual to get to that meoment in sports history.

Additionally, there was not a moment missed – and in an unusual manner – there might not be a valid argument to top the 20 moments chosen by the authors. How rare is that in the age of sports talk radio and arguing over every single day in sports?

You can purchase the books:

  • 20 Moments in NY Sports HERE
  • Basketball Empire HERE
  • How Basketball Can Save the World HERE

TIDBITS: Some early observations from college hoops: After beating No. 1 Kansas in the semifinals of the Maui Invitational this past Tuesday, the Marquette Golden Eagles lost 78-75 to No. 2 Purdue in the title game of the tourney. The Golden Eagles (4-1) were down 15 points before making a late surge and having a chance to tie the game in the game’s final possession. Tyler Kolek led MU with 22 points, seven rebounds and six assists. … UConn’s Tristen Newton recorded his third career triple-double on Friday and No. 5 Connecticut (6-0) routed Manhattan College, 90-60, to win its 23rd consecutive non-conference game. … Each of those 23 non-conference wins, including all six in the last NCAA Tournament, have come by double digits. That gives the Huskies a tie with the 2008-2009 North Carolina Tar Heels for most consecutive victories in non-conference play.

 

NFL: Week 12 Previews

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NEW ORLEANS – With Thanksgiving Day in the rearview, it’s “Winning Time” in the NFL is a team wants to remain relevant in a parity-driven league with plenty of football left to play. Here are the weekend previews for November 26:

NFL Week 12 Capsules

Falcons (4-6) vs. Saints (5-5): Desmond Ridder is back as QB1 for Atlanta, which is desperately trying to pull itself out of a three-game losing streak. Ridder will be up against a New Orleans defense without Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore, who was placed on injured reserve on Saturday due to an ankle injury. The NFC South has been the league’s weakest division, evident by the Saints’ status as the top team, but New Orleans could slip in the standings with a loss on Sunday.

Bengals (5-5) vs. Steelers (6-4): With star quarterback Joe Burrow set to undergo season-ending wrist surgery, Cincinnati is turning to Jake Browning under center. Browning has appeared in just two NFL games (zero starts), but the Bengals have faith in him, and he’ll be facing a Pittsburgh defense allowing the 10th-most passing yards per game in the NFL (239.9). Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (hamstring) has already been ruled out for the game, too. The Steelers’ offense is also in flux, as offensive coordinator Matt Canada was fired on Tuesday.

Texans (6-4) vs. Jaguars (7-3): Houston has already beaten Jacksonville once this season, and another win would give the Texans first place in the AFC South. C.J. Stroud has the Houston offense rolling and has emerged as the clear frontrunner to win Rookie of the Year. He has formed a strong connection with fellow rookie Tank Dell, who has 20 catches for 319 yards and four touchdowns over the last three weeks. Don’t sleep on the Jaguars, though, as they’ve won six of their past seven games since their loss to the Texans on Sept. 24.

Colts (5-5) vs. Buccaneers (4-6): Although it sits two games under .500, Tampa Bay still has a shot to make the playoffs, but its offense has been scuffling. The Buccaneers have scored just 34 points over their past two games and will be looking to break through against a stout defense that held the Panthers to 13 points on Nov. 5 before suffocating the Patriots in a 10-6 victory on Nov. 12. Indianapolis linebacker Zaire Franklin has been a monster, posting the third-most tackles (117) in the league.

Giants (3-8) vs. Patriots (2-8): The days of New York and New England meeting in the Super Bowl are long gone, to say the least. The only team averaging fewer points per game than the Patriots (14.1) happens to be the Giants (13.5). New England coach Bill Belichick hasn’t even named a starting quarterback yet, and he’s essentially picking between the lesser of two evils with Mac Jones (2,031 passing yards, 10 TDs, 10 interceptions) and Bailey Zappe (104 yards, 0 TDs, one interception). For the Giants, Daniel Jones’ torn ACL has opened the door for Tommy DeVito, who could have New York playing inspired football after throwing for three touchdowns in a 31-19 victory over the Commanders last week.

Titans (3-7) vs. Panthers (1-9): Could this be the week Tennessee running back Derrick Henry turns back the clock? Henry has carried the ball 21 times for just 62 yards in the past two weeks combined, but he might be able to find some relief against a Carolina defense surrendering 129.4 rushing yards per game. Carolina’s secondary is also in disarray, as cornerbacks Jaycee Horn (hamstring) and C.J. Henderson (concussion) are doubtful and safety Sam Franklin Jr. (quadriceps) is questionable.

Cardinals (2-9) vs. Rams (4-6): Los Angeles snapped a three-game skid on the heels of its defense last week, as the Rams held the Seahawks to just 87 yards in the second half. Now Los Angeles will try its best to contain Arizona, which has yet to get the desired results from Kyler Murray from his first two games. Murray has thrown for 463 yards, one touchdown and two picks, but he should have some space to operate against a Rams defense that has just five interceptions and 21 sacks this season.

Broncos (5-5) vs. Browns (7-3): Perhaps no team has battled adversity better than Cleveland. The Browns are without starting quarterback Deshaun Watson and star running back Nick Chubb for the season, but Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Jerome Ford are doing just enough to back one of the best defenses in the league. However, Denver has rattled off four straight wins, and Russell Wilson has thrown seven TDs without an interception during that stretch.

Kansas City Chiefs (7-3) at Las Vegas Raiders (5-6): Sunday begins a stretch of three straight home games for the Raiders, who carry a four-game winning streak at Allegiant Stadium since losing to Pittsburgh in their home opener in Week 3. “That Black Hole has to be real,” Raiders interim coach Antonio Pierce said. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs have won five of the six meetings between the division rivals since the Raiders relocated to Las Vegas. They’re vowing to stay positive after being held scoreless in the second half of its 21-17 defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles in a Super Bowl LVII rematch.

Buffalo Bills (6-5) at Philadelphia Eagles (9-1): A.J. Brown and Jalen Hurts had an animated chat on the sidelines after a botched play led to a Chiefs interception in the second quarter last week. In spite of Brown’s one catch for 8 yards, the Eagles still won and stand a league-best 9-1. Like Brown, Stefon Diggs has been kept under wraps this month after topping 100 receiving yards in five of Buffalo’s first six games. The Bills didn’t need a big game from Diggs to smother the New York Jets last week and snap a two-game skid, but he could hold the key to torching an Eagles secondary that ranks 28th with 248.1 passing yards allowed per game.

Baltimore Ravens (8-3) at Los Angeles Chargers (4-6): Lamar Jackson is dealing with a left ankle injury sustained in the Ravens’ last game Nov. 16, but he wasn’t on the injury report this week and insists the ankle will be fine against the Chargers. Jackson won’t have top target Mark Andrews, as the tight end underwent ankle surgery this week. Still, the Ravens have won five of six as they run into a Chargers squad that keeps finding new ways to lose close games. Los Angeles has lost five games by three points or fewer this season, including last week’s 23-20 defeat at Green Bay.

Chicago Bears (3-8) at Minnesota Vikings (6-5): Minnesota’s five-game winning streak may have ended last week in a 21-20 loss at Denver, but the Vikings saved their season with that streak, which began with a 19-13 win at Chicago. The biggest question this week is whether folk-hero quarterback Joshua Dobbs will get to team up with star wideout Justin Jefferson for the first time. Jefferson (hamstring) is listed as questionable; he’s been out from Week 6 on, before Kirk Cousins was lost for the season and Dobbs was acquired. Meanwhile, Justin Fields said the Bears are “better than what we put on tape” in the first meeting with Minnesota, but Chicago must evaluate whether to stick with Fields long-term as the team is about to earn two high draft picks this spring.

–Field Level Media

No. 3 Michigan Beats No. 2 Ohio St

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ANN ARBOR – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Blake Corum rushed for two touchdowns and J.J. McCarthy threw for another to lift No. 3 Michigan to a 30-24 win over second-ranked Ohio State on Saturday in Michigan.

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Corum finished with 88 rushing yards for Michigan (12-0, 9-0 Big Ten), which plays Iowa in the Big Ten championship game in Indianapolis next Saturday.

Corum broke a 17-17 tie late in the third quarter with a 22-yard run for a touchdown, one play after center Zak Zinter was carted off with a leg injury.

James Turner padded the lead to 27-17 on a 38-yard field goal with 11:57 left in the fourth quarter. Marvin Harrison Jr.’s 14-yard TD at the 8:05 mark of the fourth pulled the Buckeyes (11-1, 8-1) to within 27-24.

Top 25 Reviews:

No. 1 Georgia 31, Georgia Tech 23

Kendall Milton rushed for a career-high 156 yards and scored two touchdowns to lead the Bulldogs over the Yellow Jackets in nonconference play in Atlanta.

Carson Beck was 13-of-20 passing for 175 yards, one touchdown and one interception for Georgia (12-0), which extended its nation-best winning streak to 29 games. The victory established a Southeastern Conference record that Georgia previously shared with Alabama, which twice won 28 games in a row (1978-80, 1991-93).

Haynes King rushed for 24 yards and two touchdowns and went 11-of-20 passing for 158 yards for Georgia Tech (6-6). Jamal Haynes had 81 yards on 15 carries, and Eric Singleton Jr. had four catches for 96 yards.

No. 4 Washington 24, Washington State 21

Rome Odunze caught seven passes for 120 yards with two touchdowns, and his 23-yard run on fourth down helped set up Grady Gross’ game-winning field goal as the Huskies edged the rival Cougars in Seattle.

The Huskies (12-0, 9-0 Pac-12) came into the 115th edition of the Apple Cup having already clinched a berth in Friday’s Pac-12 championship game, but they sought to maintain their inside track on reaching the College Football Playoff.

Facing fourth-and-1 at its own 29-yard line with 1:14 left, Washington went for it and appeared to be stuffed when running back Dillon Johnson ran into the line. But Johnson sold a fake as the wide receiver Odunze went end-around for the long gain. Gross later hit from 42 yards out, nearly the same distance as the 43-yarder he missed earlier in the game.

No. 5 Florida State 24, Florida 15

Trey Benson tied a career high with three rushing touchdowns to lead the Seminoles over the Gators in Gainesville, Fla.

Benson went for 95 yards on 19 carries as Florida State (12-0) leaned on its running game and defense after losing starting quarterback Jordan Travis to a season-ending leg injury last week.

Florida (5-7), which also lost its starting quarterback last week when Graham Mertz suffered a collarbone fracture, came up short of clinching bowl eligibility for the first time since going 4-7 in 2017.

No. 8 Alabama 27, Auburn 24

Jalen Milroe hit Isaiah Bond for a 31-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-goal with 32 seconds remaining to give the Crimson Tide a 27-24 win against the host Tigers.

Alabama (11-1, 8-0 SEC) converted a fourth-and-1 from the Auburn 10-yard line on a 3-yard run by Roydell Williams, but then on second down, a snap went past Milroe, who recovered it at the Auburn 26-yard line.

Facing a fourth-and-goal from the Auburn 31 after a penalty, Milroe threw a pass into the back left corner of the end zone to Bond, who snatched it out of the air for an improbable touchdown. Milroe completed 16 of 24 passes for 259 yards with two TDs and no interceptions. Payton Thorne threw for 91 yards, a touchdown and two picks on 5-of-16 passing for the Tigers (6-6, 3-5).

Kentucky 38, No. 10 Louisville 31

Ray Davis raced 37 yards for the winning touchdown with 1:02 remaining to lift the visiting Wildcats over the Cardinals.

Davis also caught two touchdown passes and Barion Brown returned a kickoff for a score as Kentucky (7-5) won the Governor’s Cup for the fifth straight time. Devin Leary threw three touchdown passes and J.J. Weaver recovered two fumbles, forced one and also recorded a sack as Kentucky won for just the second time in its past seven games.

Jack Plummer completed 24 of 33 passes for 242 yards, two touchdowns and one interception for Louisville (10-2), which had a four-game winning streak halted. Jahwar Jordan rushed for 67 yards and two scores and Joey Gatewood and Ahmari Huggins-Bruce had touchdown catches.

No. 14 LSU 42, Texas A&M 30

Jayden Daniels threw three of his four touchdown passes in the fourth quarter and the Tigers beat the Aggies in Baton Rouge, La.

Daniels recorded his fourth 100-yard rushing game, finishing with a game-high 120 yards on 11 carries. However, he was held to 72 passing yards through three quarters before passing for 163 in the fourth quarter for the Tigers (9-3, 6-2 SEC). He finished with 235 yards, his second-lowest total of the season.

Jaylen Henderson passed for 294 yards and two touchdowns for Texas A&M (7-5, 4-4).

No. 15 Arizona 59, Arizona State 23

Noah Fifita passed for a school-record 527 yards and five touchdowns, and Tetairoa McMillan had 266 yards receiving, as the Wildcats unloaded on the rival Sun Devils to retain the Territorial Cup trophy in Tempe, Ariz.

The visiting Wildcats (9-3, 7-2 Pac-12) won their sixth consecutive game as Fifita completed 30 of 41 passes with one interception, also setting a record for most passing yards in the history of the 97-game series. McMillan caught 11 passes, including a 50-yard touchdown, and set a Territorial Cup record for receiving yards.

Arizona State (3-9, 2-7) ended its first season under coach Kenny Dillingham by giving most of the quarterback snaps to true freshman Jaden Rashada, who had been out since the second game of the season due to injury. He was 10 of 22 for 82 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.

No. 18 Notre Dame 56, Stanford 23

Audric Estime rushed for 238 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Fighting Irish to a win against the host Cardinal in the regular-season finale for both teams.

Estime has 18 rushing touchdowns on the season, breaking the single-season school record. Sam Hartman passed for 140 yards and two touchdowns for Notre Dame (9-3), which has won four of its past five games.

Stanford quarterback Ashton Daniels completed 15 of 25 passes for 152 yards and an interception. Justin Lamson rushed for 82 yards and a touchdown for the Cardinal (3-9). The second half belonged to the Fighting Irish, who scored touchdowns on their first three drives.

Iowa State 42, No. 19 Kansas State 35

Abu Sama III rushed for 276 yards and three long touchdowns as the Cyclones defeated the Wildcats, with the points coming despite a heavy snowstorm in Manhattan, Kan.

The Cyclones had five scoring plays of at least 60 yards, including four of at least 70. Three of those long plays were runs of 71, 77 and 60 yards by Sama. Rocco Becht threw for 230 yards and three touchdowns despite throwing just 12 passes for Iowa State (7-5, 6-3 Big 12).

Will Howard was 24-of-48 passing for 288 yards with a touchdown and an interception for Kansas State (8-4, 6-3).

No. 20 Oklahoma State 40, BYU 34 (2OT)

The Cowboys rallied from an 18-point deficit to clinch a spot in the Big 12 championship game with a win over the Cougars in rainy Stillwater, Okla.

Ollie Gordon II rushed for 166 yards and five touchdowns, including scores in the final minute of regulation and in each OT session, to help secure Oklahoma State (9-3, 7-2 Big 12) a championship showdown with No. 7 Texas next Saturday in Arlington, Texas.

BYU (5-7, 2-7) led much of the way — including a 24-6 halftime lead — and then forced overtime with a gritty, last-minute drive for a game-tying field goal as time expired. The Cougars’ first season in the Big 12 ended on a turnover and with five consecutive losses in conference action.

No. 21 Tennessee 48, Vanderbilt 24

Joe Milton III threw for 383 yards and accounted for six touchdowns as the Volunteers blasted the Commodores in their annual rivalry game in Knoxville, Tenn.

The Volunteers (8-4, 4-4 SEC) never trailed and held a 617-306 edge in total offense. Vanderbilt (2-10, 0-8) ended the season on a 10-game losing streak.

Tennessee took a 31-10 halftime lead and held a 347-189 edge in total yards, with Milton accounting for 252 passing yards, three passing touchdowns and a rushing score. On the Volunteers’ first possession of the second half, Milton hit Ramel Keyton for a 46-yard touchdown, Keyton’s second score of the day.

No. 22 North Carolina State 39, North Carolina 20

Brennan Armstrong threw for three touchdowns and the Wolfpack used a dominant first half to go on to defeat the Tar Heels in Raleigh, N.C.

Drake Maye threw for two touchdowns and two interceptions as North Carolina (8-4, 4-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) lost for the fourth time in six weeks. Maye rushed for a career-high 106 yards, but the conference’s leading rusher, Omarion Hampton, was limited to 28 yards on nine carries.

NC State (9-3, 6-2), which won its fifth straight game, scored on its first eight possessions — four field goals, four touchdowns — to build a 39-14 lead.

No. 24 Clemson 16, South Carolina 7

Jonathan Weitz kicked three field goals, and the Tigers relied on their defense to stymie the Gamecocks in the 120th version of the Palmetto Bowl in Columbia, S.C.

Weitz made kicks from 50, 49 and 42 yards, while safety Khalil Barnes returned a fumble for a touchdown as Clemson (8-4) won its fourth straight game and its eighth in the past nine meetings with South Carolina (5-7).

Gamecocks quarterback Spencer Rattler completed 16 of 32 passes for 112 yards with an interception. Xavier Legette had six catches for 68 yards.

No. 25 Liberty 42, UTEP 28

Quinton Cooley ran for three touchdowns as the Flames completed an undefeated regular season by defeating the Miners in El Paso, Texas.

Liberty (12-0, 8-0 Conference USA) will try to stay in line for the Group of Five spot in the CFP’s upper tier when it hosts New Mexico State in Friday night’s conference championship game.

UTEP (3-9, 2-6) lost its third game in a row, managing just 50 yards on the ground.

–Field Level Media

Patriots Waive Reserve QB Grier

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FOXBORO – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Amid instability at the quarterback position, the New England Patriots are waiving Will Grier, ESPN reported Saturday.

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The Patriots signed Grier, 28, to the active squad from the Cincinnati Bengals practice squad in September. He hasn’t seen any game action.

New England coach Bill Belichick has not named a starter for Sunday’s game against the New York Giants. NBC Sports Boston reported Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe split the reps at quarterback during practice this week.

Zappe told reporters that he had not been informed whether he’d be starting.

“I’ve told everybody to be ready to go,” Belichick said Friday. “Hopefully, that’s what they’re all doing. I’m not going to announce starters at every position or whatever. Everybody will be ready to go.”

Jones was benched late in the fourth quarter of a 10-6 loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Nov. 12 and replaced by Zappe. The Patriots had a bye this past week.

In 10 games this season, Jones, 25, has completed 65.4 percent of his passes for 2,031 yards with 10 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He’s been sacked 21 times and lost 127 yards.

Zappe, 24, has completed 10 of 25 pass attempts for 104 yards with an interception.

The Patriots are wallowing in last place in the AFC East with a record of 2-8 and look to be headed for the worst season since Belichick’s first with the Patriots when they finished 5-11 in 2000.

New England ranks 31st in the league with an average of just 14.1 points per game.

–Field Level Media

NBA: Friday Round-Up

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ORLANDO – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – There was a healthy slate of games – including key In-Season Tounament contests across the landscape of the NBA as team returned from a Thursday, Thanksgiving holiday break.

Magic 113, Celtics 96

Orlando turned in a dominant second half and extended its winning streak to six games by beating visiting Boston in an NBA in-season tournament game.

Orlando outscored Boston 65-40 in the final two quarters and improved its record to 3-1 in East Group C. Boston’s tournament record in the group stage fell to 2-1.

Mo Wagner came off the bench to score a game-high 27 points for the Magic, who have won their past four home games. Paolo Banchero added 23 points, seven rebounds and five assists for the Magic. Jayson Tatum scored 26 points for the Celtics, who shot 24.1 percent from 3-point range (7 of 29).

[Read more…] about NBA: Friday Round-Up

Patriots’ Starting QB? A Sunday Gametime Decision

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FOXBORO – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick plans to hold a decision on his starting quarterback until gameday.

“Will let you know on Sunday,” Belichick told reporters Tuesday morning, when pressed about whether he’ll stick with starter Mac Jones or turn to backup Bailey Zappe or No. 3 Will Grier.

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Jones was benched late in the fourth quarter of a 10-6 loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Nov. 12. The Patriots had a bye this past week. Belichick and the Pats will face the NY Giants Sunday at Met Life Stadium in East Rutherford.

Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien said Monday that Jones was still taking first-unit reps in practice but noted that the decision will ultimately be up to Belichick.

“Mac took the first-team reps. Bailey rotated in there. Will Grier rotated in there,” O’Brien said. “For me, I basically get everybody ready to play,” he said when asked if Jones was still the team’s starter. “At the end of the day, Bill (Belichick) will make that decision at some point and we’ll go from there.”

“It will be based on what I think is best for the team,” Belichick said of his QB decision. “…I’ve told all the players the same thing: be ready to go. So hopefully they will be.”

The Patriots are wallowing in last place in the AFC East with a record of 2-8 and look to be headed for the worst season since Belichick’s first with the Patriots when they finished 5-11 in 2000.

New England ranks 31st in the league with an average of just 14.1 points per game.

–Field Level Media

Dolphins Drill Jets in Friday Matinee

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EAST RUTHERFORD – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Jevon Holland scored on a dazzling interception return to conclude the first half and Tyreek Hill had another standout game as the Miami Dolphins notched a 34-13 victory over the New York Jets on Friday in New Jersey.

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Hill had nine receptions for 102 yards and his league-high 10th touchdown catch for Miami (8-3), the leaders of the AFC East. Tua Tagovailoa was 21-of-30 passing for 243 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Jaylen Waddle had eight catches for 114 yards and Raheem Mostert rushed for 94 yards and two scores for the Dolphins.

Tim Boyle made his first start for the Jets and completed 27 of 38 passes and 179 yards and a touchdown throw to Garrett Wilson as New York (4-7) lost its fourth consecutive game. Brandin Echols had an interception return for the Jets, who were outgained 395 yards to 159.

Boyle started due to the Jets demoting Zach Wilson. New York’s Aaron Rodgers continues to insist he will return from his Achilles injury prior to the end of the season.

Before Holland’s game-changing play, Echols intercepted Tagovailoa and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown with 58 seconds left in the first half to bring the Jets within 10-6.

Then D.J. Reed picked off Tagovailoa at the Jets’ 49-yard line with two seconds left. But all that did was set the Jets up for major heartbreak.

Boyle dropped back and made the Hail Mary throw toward the end zone but Holland caught the ball at the 1 and headed upfield. Holland navigated his way past New York offensive linemen and easily eluded Boyle near the 10 to complete the 99-yard return and give the Dolphins a 17-6 halftime advantage.

The play was a huge blow for the Jets, who were on the verge of trailing by just four points despite being outgained 214-47 in the half.

Miami tacked on a 54-yard field goal by Jason Sanders to start the third quarter and increase the lead to 14 points. The Jets ran three plays for 3 yards in the period.

New York had 50 yards entering the final stanza and Miami had an 18-2 edge in first downs.

On the opening play of the fourth quarter, Mostert scored on a 14-yard run to make it 27-6. That wrapped a 15-play, 92-yard drive that lasted 9:03.

New York’s 10th offensive touchdown of the season occurred when Boyle hit Wilson on a 1-yard throw with 4:37 remaining.

Mostert tacked on a 34-yard scoring run with 3:35 left.

Earlier, Sanders kicked a 38-yard field goal late in the first quarter and Tagovailoa tossed a 7-yard touchdown pass to Hill with 8:21 left in the first half.

–Field Level Media

Big East: ‘Nova Beats UNC, 83-81

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NASSAU, THE BAHAMAS – Behind a monster performance by Eric Dixon, Villanova defeated No. 14 North Carolina 83-81 in overtime in the second round of the Battle 4 Atlantis on Thanksgiving Day. Butler, Creighton and Seton Hall lost their Turkey Day battles.

Dixon poured in a career-high 34 points and pulled down 10 rebounds to pace the Wildcats (5-1). Justin Moore added 16 points – all after halftime – and put Villanova ahead to stay 76-74 with a 3-point play with 2:08 left in OT. Dixon has 53 points in the first two games of the tournament.

Butler got off to a slow start against No. 19 Florida Atlantic in the first round of the ESPN Events International, but made it a battle until the end, dropping a 91-86 decision. The Bulldogs (3-2) cut a double-digit deficit to one on a 4-point play by Posh Alexander, which made the score 78-77 with 4:40 remaining. Jahmyl Telfort led five Bulldogs in double figures with 19 points.

The usually efficient Creighton offense struggled against undefeated Colorado State in a 69-48 loss in the title game of the Hall of Fame Classic. The Bluejays (5-1) shot 22.9 percent from the field in the first half and trailed 27-19 at the break. Baylor Scheierman scored a team high 13 points.

Seton Hall slashed a 20-point deficit to three, but could not complete the comeback in a 71-63 loss against No. 23 USC in the Rady’s Children’s Invitational. The Pirates (4-1) were led by Kadary Richmond, who finished with 18 points and six rebounds.

On a six-game Black Friday slate, Villanova plays for its third Battle 4 Atlantis title when it meets Memphis at 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. Butler takes on Penn State at 1:30 p.m. on ESPN+. Seton Hall meets Iowa at 6 p.m. on FOX.

Three BIG EAST teams return to non-tournament play. Xavier hosts Bryant at noon followed by Manhattan at UConn at 2 p.m. FS1 will telecast both games. At 7 p.m., Lehigh plays at Providence on FS2.