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Pac-12 as we’ve known it says farewell with return to playoff, 8 total teams going bowling

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:24:21 GMT

For its final act, the Pac-12 as we’ve known it is returning to the College Football Playoff for the first time in seven years, has another school participating in a New Year’s Six bowl and will send a total of eight teams to bowls.Most of those eight — the most since the Pac-12 landed nine teams in bowls in 2017 — will be representing the conference for the last time after it got picked apart this summer during the latest round of realignment.No. 2 Washington is the highlight, becoming the first Pac-12 team to be selected for the playoff since the Huskies last made the semifinals in 2016. Washington will be the No. 2 seed and faced third-seeded Texas in the Sugar Bowl. But even the Huskies’ return comes with a tinge of disappointment after they were sent to New Orleans rather than the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.“I think for the program and the fans, and just because of our geographical location, I think certainly the Rose Bowl would have been something that...

Cotton Bowl pits SEC’s Missouri against Big Ten power Ohio State in teams’ 1st meeting since 1998

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:24:21 GMT

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Missouri is headed to its first New Year’s Six bowl in 10 seasons, where it will face No. 7 Ohio State — in its 11th in a row — at the Cotton Bowl on Dec. 29. The ninth-ranked Tigers (10-2, SEC) have 10 wins for the first time since the 2014 season, when they won the Citrus Bowl, a year after their last Cotton Bowl. This was their first winning record in five seasons, including 6-7 in each of the last two years after bowl losses. “It’s been some tough sledding here for my first three seasons and for our senior class to get this opportunity to win 10 games, to get a New Year’s Six bowl game,” Tigers coach Eli Drinkwitz said ESPN’s bowl selection show. “It just reminds them that it’s worth it: the hard work, the dedication, the long hours, the hard practices.”Coach Ryan Day’s Buckeyes (11-1, Big Ten) were undefeated until their 30-24 loss to Michigan in Ohio State’s regular-season finale Nov. 25. The Wolverines went on to win the Big Ten...

49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw, Eagles security chief ejected in NFC title game rematch

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:24:21 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw was ejected from Sunday’s against Philadelphia for putting his hand in the face of the Eagles’ chief security officer.Dom DiSandro, a constant presence on the Eagles’ sideline and whenever players are out in public, pulled Greenlaw off Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith after a reception. Greenlaw popped up and reached over two officials to touch DiSandro’s face with a closed fist.Greenlaw was ejected. DiSandro also was told to leave and walked to the locker room to a roaring ovation from Eagles fans.The game was a rematch of last season’s NFC championship game, won by the Eagles.___AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflSource

SWAC champ Florida A&M carries 10-game win streak into Celebration Bowl contest with Howard

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:24:21 GMT

Howard (6-5, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) vs. Florida A&M (11-1, Southwestern Athletic Conference), Dec. 16, noon ET LOCATION: AtlantaTOP PLAYERSHoward: QB Quinton Williams, 2,158 yards passing, 16 touchdowns, four interceptions. Florida A&M: LB Isaiah Major, 100 tackles, two sacks. NOTABLEHoward: The Bison won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title with a 14-7 win over Morgan State two weeks ago. Florida A&M: The Rattlers enter the bowl with a 10-game win streak after defeating Prairie View A&M 35-14 for its first-ever Southwestern Athletic Conference title. LAST TIMEThis is the seventh meeting between the schools with the series tied at 3-all. The Rattlers won the last meeting in 2019 39-7 when both schools were conference rivals in the MEAC. BOWL HISTORYIt’s the first time these teams have reached the Celebration Bowl, an annual matchup between the MEAC and SWAC. ___Get alerts on the latest AP Top 25 poll throughout the season. Sign up here. AP colleg...

Colorado Avalanche D Cale Makar won’t play against Los Angeles Kings on Sunday

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:24:21 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar will not play against the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday night.Makar missed the final 2:57 of the third period and overtime in a 4-3 shootout loss at the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday because of a lower body injury.Makar leads the NHL with 27 assists, and his 34 points is tied with Vancouver’s Quinn Hughes for most by a defenseman.Avalanche coach Jared Bednar did not know if Makar would miss more than one game.“That’s all I know for now,” Bednar said.With Makar unavailable, rookie defenseman Sam Malinski will come into the lineup for his second career game.___AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHLSource

Kamala Harris announces new $3 billion US pledge to global climate action at Dubai summit

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:24:21 GMT

Washington, DC (CNN) — Vice President Kamala Harris announced new funding for climate action on Saturday at the COP28 summit in Dubai, where she touted American leadership on the climate crisis, including its recent investments in clean energy and efforts to make vulnerable communities more resilient to worsening climate disasters.Harris said the US would pledge another $3 billion to the Green Climate Fund – the main finance vehicle to help developing nations adapt to the climate crisis and cut fossil fuel pollution. The US has previously delivered $2 billion to the fund.The announcement comes after the US was criticized by some climate experts and advocacy groups earlier this week for contributing what they said was an “embarrassing” amount of money – $17.5 million – to a newly created damage fund to help developing countries cope with climate disasters.“The United States has turned ambition into action,” Harris said Saturday, touting billions of of dollars in new investments as pa...

Mexican woman killed in shark attack on Pacific coast near the port of Manzanillo

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:24:21 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — A Mexican woman died after she was severely bitten in the leg by a shark in the Pacific Ocean off the beach town of Melaque, authorities said Sunday.Rafael Araiza, the head of the local civil defense office, said the attack occurred Saturday a short distance from the beach in Melaque, just west of the seaport of Manzanillo.The town is in the western state of Jalisco, and is located next to the better-known beach town of Barra de Navidad.Ariaza said the woman, 26, was swimming with her five-year-old daughter toward a floating play platform about 75 feet (25 meters) from the shore.The victim was trying to boost her child aboard the floating platform when the shark bit her. The daughter was not harmed.Ariaza said that despite a quick response by rescuers, the woman died of blood loss from the massive bite wound on her leg near the hip. She was a resident of a nearby town.Authorities closed the beaches in Melaque and Barra de Navidad to swimming as a precaution.Shark ...

Burlington restaurant raffling off gingerbread castle for good cause

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:24:21 GMT

A restaurant in Burlington is offering up a once-in-a-lifetime confectionary creation to raise money for Project Bread, which helps feed the hungry in our community.The Bancroft Restaurant is auctioning off the gingerbread showpiece, which organizers say took about 150 hours to make.Bancroft customers can get a raffle ticket for $5 and the proceeds benefit Project Bread.For more information, visit: https://www.the-bancroft.com/blog/

Patriots defender opens up about offensive woes, losing streak: ‘It’s f-ing frustrating’

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:24:21 GMT

FOXBORO — After Sunday’s shutout loss to the Chargers, the Patriots became the first NFL team in 85 years to lose three straight games while allowing 10 or fewer points in each outing.The Pats have reached historic levels of offensive futility, despite a recent change at quarterback. Backup Bailey Zappe went 13-of-25 for 141 yards Sunday in place of Mac Jones, while the offense went scoreless. Naturally, frustration has simmered in the locker room.Patriots defensive tackle Davon Godchaux gave voice to that frustration in a long post-game interview with the Herald.“It’s frustrating. It’s frustrating. I’m not gonna sit up here and say, ‘You know, I still believe.’ It’s f—ing frustrating. Anybody can tell you that,” Godchaux said. “You know, I thought Zappe made some good throws today. I thought there was a couple balls we could’ve caught as receivers, and those guys would tell you the same thing, too. They can take acco...

Boston College to face No. 24 SMU in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:24:21 GMT

The Boston College Eagles will go bowling in a baseball park down the road from campus.BC accepted an invitation to engage future ACC opponent and No. 24 ranked Southern Methodist in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl on Dec. 28 at Fenway Park.BC finished at 6-6 and 3-5 in the ACC while the AAC champion Mustangs went 11-2 and 8-0 in the conference. SMU, California and Stanford will compete in the ACC next season.“We are excited to be staying close to home for our students and fans to get one more chance to see us play,” said BC coach Jeff Hafley. “Boston is a great sports town, one that we are proud to be a part of every day and now get to be a part of the tradition of postseason football in New England.”Hafley has been bowl eligible in three of his four seasons but this will be the first postseason game he will manage. BC was bowl eligible in the 2020 pandemic season but voted as a team not to participate.The Eagles were slated to play East Carolina in the Military Bowl in Annapolis, Md., afte...