Oregon was the unanimous choice for No. 1 in The Associated Press college football poll on Sunday, strengthening its bid for the top spot in the College Football Playoff selection committee’s first rankings of the season.
The Ducks are No. 1 in the AP Top 25 for the third straight week, and unanimous for the first time, following its 21-point road win against Michigan.
Georgia, which received one No. 1 vote last week, remained No. 2 after overcoming Carson Beck’s three interceptions and pulling away late to beat Florida.
Ohio State earned a one-spot promotion to No. 3 with its win at Penn State, the Buckeyes’ eighth in a row in the series. No. 4 Miami, which beat Duke, and No. 5 Texas, which was idle, each moved up a spot. Penn State, which had been in the top five in the previous four polls, slipped to No. 6.
The CFP’s expansion to 12 teams this season means losses by top teams to other top teams aren’t a certain disqualifier in the race for the national championship. The CFP’s first rankings of the season will be released Tuesday and updated weekly until the bracket is announced Dec. 8.
NBA
Warriors outlast Rockets >> Buddy Hield scored 27 points and the Golden State Warriors squandered a huge lead before outlasting the Houston Rockets 127-121 in overtime Saturday night.
It’s Golden State’s 14th straight-regular season win over the Rockets and the eighth in a row in Houston.
NHL
Canucks beat Sharks >> Pius Suter scored his second goal of the game with 25.7 seconds left, and the Vancouver Canucks beat the San Jose Sharks 3-2 on Saturday night.
Mikael Granlund had the tying goal for the Sharks with 1:17 to go, and Nico Sturm also scored for the Sharks. Mackenzie Blackwood had 25 saves.
Golf
Korda clinches LPGA player of the year award >> Nelly Korda clinched her first award for LPGA player of the year when it became mathematically impossible for anyone to catch her in the points-based competition.
Korda had to skip two tournaments during the Asia swing because of a minor neck injury that limited her practice. Ayaka Furue of Japan would have had to win the rest of the LPGA events to catch Korda. Furue tied for 10th in the Toto Japan Classic.
Korda won six times this year, including a major championship. She won five straight tournaments earlier in the season to tie the LPGA record.
Takeda wins Toto Japan Classic >> Rio Takeda of Japan won the Toto Japan Classic in a six-hole playoff against Marina Alex to capture her first LPGA Tour title.
Takeda closed with a 5-under 67 while Alex had a 66 to match her 15-under 201. The tournament was reduced to 54 holes because Saturday’s third round was washed out by rain.
Running
Nageeye, Chepkirui win New York City Marathon >> Abdi Nageeye and Sheila Chepkirui used strong kicks in the final mile to pull away from their nearest competitors and both win the New York City Marathon for the first time Sunday.
Nageeye, who became the first runner from the Netherlands to win the men’s race, was step-for-step with 2022 champion Evans Chebet before using a burst of speed heading into Central Park for the final time to come away with the win in 2 hours, 7 minutes, 39 seconds. Chebet finished 6 seconds behind.
Chepkirui was running New York for the first time and pulled away from defending champion Hellen Obiri in the women’s race in the last stretch.
Chepkirui, who started to run marathons in 2022, won in 2:24.35. Obiri finished nearly 15 seconds behind.
MLB
Royals sign LHP Wacha to 3-year, $51M deal >> The Royals are bringing back right-hander Michael Wacha on a three-year, $51 million contract that includes a club option for the 2028 season, a person familiar with the terms told The Associated Press.
The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the club did not release financial terms, said Wacha will make $18 million each of the next two seasons and $14 million in 2027, though he could earn up to $4 million in performance bonuses that season. The club option pushes the potential value to $72 million over four years.
The 33-year-old Wacha went 13-8 with a 3.35 ERA this past season.
Soccer
Man U makes its worst league start in almost 40 years >> A tumultuous week for Manchester United ended with a 1-1 draw against Chelsea and the unwanted statistic that the club has made its worst league start for almost 40 years.
Moises Caicedo’s stunning long-range volley secured a 1-1 draw for Chelsea and left United on 12 points which Opta, the Premier League’s stats supplier, said was its lowest after 10 games since the 1986-87 season.
That was the year Alex Ferguson was hired and went on to lead the club to a period of unprecedented success, winning 13 Premier League titles and two Champions Leagues.
Tennis
Gauff beats Pegula at WTA Finals >> Coco Gauff enjoyed a successful start by beating Jessica Pegula 6-3, 6-2 in an American matchup at the WTA Finals.
Second-seeded Iga Swiatek rallied to beat Barbora Krejcikova 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 in her first match in two months.
Gauff converted five of her eight break-point opportunities to win her opening match at the year-ending tournament for the top eight ranked players.
Gauff will face Swiatek on Tuesday with the winner taking control of the Orange Group. Pegula will next face Wimbledon champion Krejcikova.