SPORTS HEADLINES

No. 9 Texas A&M loses at home to Kentucky, meaning SEC will have 2 top-10 teams tumble

The powerhouse Southeastern Conference will have at least two top-10 teams lose in Week 3. No. 10 Alabama made sure it wasn’t three by rallying to beat pesky Florida State 50-36 in Tuscaloosa. Kentucky stunned No. 9 Texas A&M on the road, winning 31-21 behind three transfers: quarterback Kenny Minchey, running back CJ Baxter and safety Jordan Castell. Minchey, a Notre Dame transfer, completed 14 of 18 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns. He connected on his final 11 throws. Baxter, a former Texas standout, ran for 87 yards and two scores. Castell, a three-year starter at Florida, finished with a team-high 13 tackles and an interception.

Music City Miscue gives Vanderbilt a win over NC State no one saw coming

Call this one the Music City Miscue. N.C. State quarterback CJ Bailey fumbled in the end zone while trying to take an intentional safety in the final seconds and essentially handed Vanderbilt a 35-31 victory no one saw coming in Nashville. It was as improbable a finish as the Music City Miracle, the famous last-second kickoff return in January 2000 that gave the NFL’s Tennessee Titans a 22–16 playoff win over the Buffalo Bills. It also was reminiscent of Miami’s debacle against Georgia Tech in October 2023, when the Hurricanes opted against taking a knee and fumbled away a victory.

Mike Elko after Kentucky loss: ‘No positives’ as No. 9 Texas A&M fades after halftime

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — Texas A&M coach Mike Elko was blunt in his assessment of the Aggies after their 31-21 loss to Kentucky. Elko says there are “no positives” to take from Saturday’s game. The ninth-ranked Aggies gave up 21 straight points after halftime to turn a tie game into a 28-7 deficit that proved too big to overcome as they dropped their Southeastern Conference opener. The announced crowd at Kyle Field was 105,186. But as the last few minutes of the fourth quarter ticked away, large swaths of the upper deck were empty as many fans left early rather than watch the Wildcats celebrate on their field.

Florida State-Alabama is delayed again by lightning in Tuscaloosa

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Lightning halted No. 10 Alabama’s game against Florida State with 2:36 remaining in the second quarter and the Seminoles leading 21-13. Officials cleared the field for the second weather delay of the day. Kickoff, originally scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Central Time, had been pushed back nearly two hours by thunderstorms in the area. Alabama had just cut into Florida State’s lead with Keelon Russell’s 21-yard touchdown pass to Cedarian Morgan. The score capped a 12-play, 75-yard drive that took 7:06. The Seminoles were set to receive the ensuing kickoff when play stopped.

Puka Nacua questionable, Aaron Donald set to play for Rams on Monday night against Giants

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua is questionable to play Monday night against the New York Giants because of a groin injury. Nacua didn’t practice Saturday, sidelined for the second straight day with an injury coach Sean McVay said isn’t related to a core muscle injury the fourth-year standout sustained during a joint practice with the Dallas Cowboys in August. McVay did confirm that three-time AP Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald is set to play after the lineman ended his retirement last month.

McIlroy produces big finish with eagle at No. 18 to move into contention at BMW PGA Championship

VIRGINIA WATER, England (AP) — Rory McIlroy hit a 4-iron from 230 yards to inside 2 feet and holed the eagle putt to finish off a 3-under 69 and move into contention to win the BMW PGA Championship for the second time. The No. 2-ranked McIlroy’s birdie-eagle finish on the closing par 5s left him on 11-under par after the third round. That’s two strokes off the lead held by Manuel Elvira and Filippo Cello on a crowded leaderboard. There are 15 players within three shots of the lead but McIlroy’s name stands out. McIlroy says “I feel like I’ve given myself a real opportunity tomorrow.” McIlroy won the European tour’s flagship event in 2014.

Arsenal loses for first time in Premier League title defense as Tottenham’s struggles continue

Arsenal slumped to a first loss of its Premier League title defense and it was a heavy one at Brighton. The champions’ 3-0 defeat at Amex Stadium came somewhat out of nowhere after four straight wins. Conceding the third goal from a corner — typically an area of strength for Arsenal — summed up an unusually sloppy performance from Mikel Arteta’s team. Pascal Gross and Charalampos Kostoulas scored in the first half with shots from outside the penalty area, before Chema Andres completed the win with a header at the back post from Gross’ corner. Big-spending Tottenham is still without a win this season after losing 3-2 against Aston Villa. Newcastle, Everton and Coventry also won.

Shelton loses again in Davis Cup as Czechs defeat US to reach Final 8. Zverev wins for Germany

The Czech Republic beat the United States to reach the Davis Cup Final 8 after U.S. Open finalist Ben Shelton and Learner Tien both lost their singles matches. Jakub Mensik beat Shelton 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 to level the best-of-five series at 2-2 before Jiri Lehecka sent a roaring Prague crowd into raptures by beating Tien 6-3, 7-5 in the deciding singles. Elsewhere Alexander Zverev gave Germany the lead over Croatia by beating Matej Dodig 6-4, 7-6 (3), before Dino Prizmic leveled the series with a 6-4, 6-3 win against Daniel Altmaier.

Atlanta Braves clinch 8th playoff berth in 9 years with victory over Astros

HOUSTON (AP) — The Atlanta Braves are back in the playoffs after missing out last season. The first-place Braves beat the Houston Astros 6-2 to punch their ticket to the postseason for the eighth time in nine years. They clinched at least a National League wild card and reduced their magic number to three for winning the NL East. Michael Harris II, Ronald Acuña Jr. and Matt Olson each hit a two-run homer for the Braves. Atlanta is trying to hold off the Philadelphia Phillies for the NL East title and could wrap up the division crown as soon as Sunday. Atlanta’s win Friday night coupled with Philadelphia’s 6-3 loss to the Mets gave the Braves a five-game lead over the Phillies with eight to play.

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