Sugar Bowl postponed following New Year’s attack

NEW ORLEANS >> The College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Sugar Bowl between Georgia and Notre Dame has been postponed after a truck plowed into a New Year’s crowd about a mile away early Wednesday, killing at least 10 people.

The game, originally scheduled for Wednesday night at the 70,000-seat Superdome, has been pushed back 24 hours to Thursday night.

“For now, that’s the plan,” Sugar Bowl CEO Jeff Hundley said.

The Superdome was on lockdown for security sweeps on Wednesday morning, when people with offices in the Superdome — including officials with the Sugar Bowl and Sun Belt Conference — were told not to come into work until further notice.

Georgia and Notre Dame arrived in New Orleans on Sunday and have been staying at downtown hotels just blocks away from where the violence occurred.

Statements from the University of Georgia Athletic Association and from Notre Dame said both schools had accounted for all team personnel and members of official travel parties.

Sirianni to rest Barkley in finale, ending chance at NFL rushing record

PHILADELPHIA >> Saquon Barkley appears set to sit out the Philadelphia Eagles final regular-season game Sunday, denying the running back his chance at breaking Eric Dickerson’s NFL single-season rushing record.

Barkley would finish the season with 2,005 yards rushing, just 101 yards shy of breaking Dickerson’s record of 2,105 yards set with the Los Angeles Rams in 1984.

The Eagles (13-3) clinched the NFC East and the No. 2 seed in the conference, leaving little to play for in Sunday’s home game against the New York Giants.

Eagles coach Nick Sirianni declined Wednesday to announce outright which starters would play and which ones would sit out, saying of Barkley, “he’ll probably be somebody that rests.”

The Eagles decided it was not worth risking injury to perhaps their most valuable player and only the ninth running back in NFL history to top 2,000 yards rushing in a season.

• The Washington Commanders opened Austin Ekeler’s practice window Wednesday, and the running back could return for their season finale at Dallas this weekend when they have something to play for even after wrapping up a playoff spot.

• The Cowboys released running back Ezekiel Elliott on Tuesday, a quiet end to a Dallas career that started with two rushing titles in three seasons but faded quickly from there. The move was the end of Elliott’s second stint with the team that drafted him fourth overall in 2016.

• Jimmy Garoppolo will take his first snaps for the Rams when he starts in place of Matthew Stafford (rest) in playoff-bound Los Angeles’ regular-season finale against Seattle on Sunday.

Former major leaguer Lenny Randle dies at 75

MURRIETA, Calif. >> Lenny Randle, a big league player for 12 seasons who spoke five languages, performed stand-up comedy, was dubbed “The Most Interesting Man in Baseball” and was suspended for punching his Texas Rangers manager, has died. He was 75.

Randle died Sunday at his home in Murrieta, California, one of his sons, Bradley, said Tuesday.

Randle hit .257 with 27 homers, 322 RBIs and 156 stolen bases for the Senators/Rangers (1971-76), New York Mets (1977-78), New York Yankees (1979), Chicago Cubs (1980) and Seattle Mariners (1981-82).

Gauff and Fritz put U.S. in United Cup semifinals

PERTH, Australia >> Coco Gauff and Taylor Fritz powered the U.S. — tournament winner two years ago — into the semifinals of the United Cup mixed teams tennis event.

In the first singles match, Gauff got the ball rolling for her team with a 7-6 (4), 6-2 win over China’s Zhang Shuai. Fritz then made sure of victory for the U.S. by edging Zhang Zhizhen 6-4, 6-4.

The Americans completed a 3-0 sweep when Desirae Krawczyk and Robert Galloway beat Zhang and Sun Fajing 6-3, 6-7 (1), 10-3 in the mixed doubles. The U.S. next meets either Italy or Czechia.

LeBron James’ youngest son Bryce commits to Arizona

TUCSON, Ariz. >> Bryce James, son of NBA star LeBron James, is heading to Arizona.

Bryce James, a four-star prospect, announced his decision Wednesday on Instagram.

He will be the second of LeBron’s sons to play Division I basketball. Bronny James played one season at USC before turning pro.