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.

Motor sports

Blaney races way into NASCAR championship finale >> Ryan Blaney earned a chance to defend his NASCAR championship with a victory at Martinsville Speedway that pushed the Team Penske driver into the winner-take-all season finale.

Blaney passed Chase Elliott with 15 laps to go to win at the Virginia track for a second consecutive year and take a spot in the championship race next week at Phoenix Raceway. Blaney will race Penske teammate Joey Logano, Tyler Reddick of 23XI Racing and was awaiting a decision by NASCAR to see if Christopher Bell of Joe Gibbs Racing of William Byron of Hendrick Motorsports took the final spot.

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.

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.

Both made birdie on the first playoff, and both made pars on the next four holes until Takeda birdied the par-5 18th and the American could only manage a par.

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.

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.