SPORTS HEADLINES

Josh Allen opens the Bills’ new stadium with a 5-TD outing in a 41-31 win over the Lions

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Josh Allen quickly put his stamp on the Buffalo Bills’ new stadium that’s been aptly dubbed “The House that Allen built.” Allen threw three touchdown passes and ran for two scores, and the Bills beat the Detroit Lions 41-31 on Thursday night in the first regular-season game at Highmark Stadium. It was Allen’s fourth career five-TD outing, and followed a four-touchdown outing (two passing, two rushing) in Buffalo’s 36-31 season-opening win at Houston. The $2.1 billion stadium that officially opened last month was built across the street from the Bills former home.

The Dodgers are NL West champions again, and now they’re eyeing a three-peat despite injury concerns

CINCINNATI (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers clinched their fifth consecutive NL West title and 13th in the past 14 seasons with an 8-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds. The Dodgers are in the postseason for the 14th consecutive season, tying the Atlanta Braves’ record from 1991-2005. The two-time defending World Series champions are still chasing the NL’s top seed, currently held by the Milwaukee Brewers. Los Angeles has a four-game lead over the Braves (89-64) for the second seed but trails the Brewers (95-58) by two games.

College sports bill inches ahead in the Senate even as Congress punts other issues

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress has struggled to pass major legislation this year, putting off debates on spending, defense, cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence. But in its final weeks in session as the midterm elections approach, the Senate can agree on one thing — addressing college sports. The Senate voted twice this week to move forward on legislation to overhaul the rules and financing around the nation’s college sports. It’s an effort to put guardrails around skyrocketing spending, prevent constant legal battles and restore order to what the bill’s supporters say is chaos in athletic programs. More than 70 senators are already backing the bill, and final votes could come as soon as next week.

UNC defensive coordinator Steve Belichick resigns, probe into conduct in football program concludes

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — The investigation into conduct within Bill Belichick’s football program at North Carolina is complete and now includes his son’s exit. The school issued a statement Thursday saying that Belichick’s son Steve has resigned as defensive coordinator as the school concludes its probe. That resignation would be effective in late October at the conclusion of a medical leave. The school’s investigation “determined that certain actions demonstrated a disregard for Carolina’s values and standards of conduct.” The lead investigator wouldn’t discuss specific findings but says investigators examined a range of allegations tied to potential drug use, inappropriate relationships and NCAA rule violations.

Texas’ Sarkisian says he could have ‘better’ handled postgame interview that spawned fake videos

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas coach Steve Sarkisian says he should have “better” handled his postgame interview with ESPN reporter Holly Rowe after the win over Ohio State. He acknowledged the testy exchange led to the creation of fake videos and an apology from star quarterback Arch Manning. Manning joked publicly about an AI-generated video that showed Sarkisian slapping Rowe during the interview. Manning apologized the next day for his remarks and to Rowe specifically. Rowe posted on social media that she accepted Manning’s apology.

LSU QB Sam Leavitt upgraded to ‘questionable’ on the SEC injury report for the Mississippi game

LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt has been upgraded to questionable on the Southeastern Conference injury report after being listed as “doubtful” for Saturday’s game at Mississippi earlier in the week. The change increases the probability that Leavitt will be under center when No. 7 LSU visits No. 8 Mississippi on Saturday night in a game that is the focus of the college football world because of Tigers coach Lane Kiffin’s return to the place where he coached the previous six seasons. Leavitt’s initial listing came four days after a 45-14 victory over Louisiana Tech, from which the dual-threat Arizona State transfer ran for three touchdowns and threw for another score without an apparent injury.

Fireworks, 2 anthems and a full house: Bills beat Lions in 1st regular-season game at new stadium

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Josh Allen and the Bills put on a show in a 41-31 win over the Detroit Lions in the first regular-season game at the team’s $2.1 billion Highmark Stadium. There were fireworks. The performance of both U.S. and Canadian national anthems. A packed house. And Allen accounting for five touchdowns — two rushing and three passing. The Bills even rolled out a new grass carpet in having the field resodded after the turf showed wear and tear following two preseason games and two practices.

Angel Reese has 30 points and 10 rebounds to help the Dream rout the Sun 103-59

COLLEGE PARK, Ga. (AP) — Angel Reese scored 30 points on 11-of-14 shooting and had 10 rebounds to help the Atlanta Dream rout the Connecticut Sun 103-59 on Thursday night in the first WNBA game following a nearly three-week break for the FIBA World Cup. A key member of the winning U.S. team in Germany, Reese reached 30 points on a free throw with 5:38 remaining and grabbed her 10th rebound a few seconds later for her WNBA-record 30th double-double of the season. She finished a point shy of her career high. Rhyne Howard set a WNBA season record with 129 3-pointers. She made her only 3-pointer of the game — in nine attempts — with 6:45 left in the fourth to break Sabrina Ionescu’s record set in 2023.

With mentors like Christan McCaffrey and Matthew McConaughey, Bijan Robinson just gets better

Bijan Robinson can do it all on the football field as one of the NFL’s best all-around running backs. The Atlanta Falcons’ All-Pro is impressive on camera, too. Robinson studied acting in college and has looked like a natural in a few television roles, including a Colgate commercial. It helps to have fellow Texas alum Matthew McConaughey give him advice. Robinson is also close to Outer Banks star Jonathan Daviss. Robinson led the NFL with 2,298 scrimmage yards last season in his third year in the NFL. He made his second Pro Bowl and was named first-team AP All-Pro running back and second-team at All-Purpose behind Christian McCaffrey.

CFP issues statement clarifying how committee can respond to Michigan-Western Michigan result

The College Football Playoff says it can’t change the outcome of any games played during the regular season but notes that its selection committee relies on various measures beyond wins and losses. The CFP issued its statement to The Athletic on Thursday. It follows the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Oversight Committee’s announcement that it also doesn’t have the authority to overturn the result of No. 19 Michigan’s controversial 13-12 victory over Western Michigan. The CFP notes that its selection committee “evaluates all teams on a comprehensive body of work over a full season, driven by how teams perform in each game.”

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