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Cal football: Bears accept invitation to Independence Bowl

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:52 GMT

BERKELEY — Cal’s three-game win streak has earned the Golden Bears a spot in the Independence Bowl game against Texas Tech of the Big 12 Conference on Dec. 16.The Bears (6-6) and Texas Tech (6-6) will kick off at 6:15 pm (Pacific) at Shreveport, Louisiana. ESPN will televise the game.The game will match Cal running back Jaydn Ott (1,260 rushing yards) and Tech star Tahj Brooks (1,443 yards).Cal will play in a bowl game for the first time since 2019, when it beat Illinois 35-20 in the RedBox Bowl to cap an 8-5 season. The Bears followed that with a 1-3 mark in the COVID-shortened 2020 season, then 5-7 in 2021 and 4-8 a year ago.After losing four straight games to Top-25 teams and falling to 3-6 this fall, the Bears had no wiggle room the final three weeks. On the heels of a 63-19 loss at Oregon, they beat Washington State 42-39 in Berkeley, won the Big Game 27-15 at Stanford and took apart UCLA 33-7 in Pasadena.Cal had never needed three straight regular-season victories ending the s...

49ers-Eagles live blog: Philly extends early lead with field goal

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:52 GMT

The 49ers face the Eagles in Philadelphia Sunday in a rematch of last season’s NFC Championship Game, and a game which will go a long way to determining playoff seeding.Brock Purdy returns to Lincoln Financial Field, where he suffered a torn UCL in his throwing arm on the 49ers’ opening drive of that 31-7 loss last January that left the Niners short of a Super Bowl berth.Here are live updates from the game:2:01, 1Q – Eagles 6, 49ers 0: Another 12-play drive for Philly ends in a field goal. Jake Elliott makes from 39 yards out after Javon Kinlaw’s first sack since 2020 on a Jalen Hurts slip-down forced the Eagles off schedule inside the red zone. Another third-down A.J. Brown catch-and-run kick-started the drive.9:51, 1Q – Eagles 3, 49ers 0: Philadelphia drives 67 yards in 12 plays to set up a 26-yard field goal by Jake Elliott on its opening possession. A.J. Brown took a short pass on third-and-9 for 38 yards to earn the Eagles’ initial first down...

Minshew throws for TD in OT as the Colts win 4th straight, down Titans 31-28

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:52 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Gardner Minshew threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Michael Pittman with 2:31 left in overtime and the Indianapolis Colts beat the Tennessee Titans 31-28 Sunday for their fourth straight victory to keep pace in the playoff race in the AFC.The Colts (7-5) had to score a touchdown after Nick Folk made a 46-yard field goal with 4:19 left in overtime to put Tennessee up. Indianapolis came in holding the seventh and last spot in the AFC. Tennessee (4-8) lost its first true home game this season and has yet to win consecutive games overall. The Titans not only blew a 17-7 lead, but Folk missed his first extra point this season with 5:26 left in regulation that could have put Tennessee up 26-25. Backup quarterback Ryan Tannehill had to fill in with Ryan Stonehouse knocked out of the game early in the fourth quarter with an injured left leg. Special teams helped the Colts score 10 points off Nick Cross’ blocked punt that Grant Stuard returned 18 yards for a TD lat...

This holiday season, one doctor wants you to ‘live a little’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:52 GMT

The holiday season means a lot of eating, and a lot of overindulging. If you’re looking to keep off those extra holiday pounds, one doctor says you can still eat the cookie.“There’s so much in our culture where food is used to celebrate things … So completely abstaining from all these things isn’t always a realistic goal,” said bariatric general surgeon Dr. Katelin Mirkin.Instead of denying yourself, she recommends just being wise.“I think focus on moderation … You can have a cookie, you just don’t need to the whole plate of cookies,” she said.“Live a little … within reason,” she emphasized.Being realistic about body goals — and how you move toward them — is important, Mirkin said.“Instead of focusing on the number of the scale, how can I, optimize this body that I get to live in for the rest of my life?” she said.If you’re tired of restricting yourself, she recommends slowly making changes and adding in exercise.“What I encourage people to do is ...

Mourinho makes right moves in Roma comeback win. He faces disciplinary case for ref accusations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:52 GMT

ROME (AP) — Jose Mourinho’s pre-match accusations aimed at the referee and Sassuolo’s standout winger Domenico Berardi created plenty of controversy — and will likely result in another suspension for the veteran Portuguese coach.There was no questioning Mourinho’s choices off the bench, though, as Roma earned its sixth win in its last eight Serie A matches on Sunday.Substitute Rasmus Kristensen earned a penalty that Paulo Dybala converted and then the Denmark right back scored to give Roma a 2-1 comeback win at 10-man Sassuolo.On Saturday, Mourinho had labeled referee Matteo Marcenaro unstable.“We had him three times as a fourth official and I don’t think he has the emotional stability for games of this level,” Mourinho said, prompting the Italian soccer federation to open a disciplinary case against the coach.And Mourinho wasn’t done.He then said Berardi “exaggerates fouls to draw yellow cards,” adding that “if he was my player I wouldn’t like that at all.”So perhaps it was no coin...

No. 5 N.C. State stays perfect, beats Illinois State 79-61

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:52 GMT

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — There was a sense of history for No. 5 North Carolina State on Sunday and this version of Wolfpack wants to add to it.With a collection of basketball alums looking on to celebrate the program’s 50th season, Aziaha James scored 16 points and River Baldwin had 10 of her 14 points in the first nine minutes as N.C. State kept its undefeated season rolling by beating Illinois State 79-61.Several dozen former N.C. State players and staff members were honored as part of the reunion weekend.“It feels great to play for N.C. State and play for them,” James said.Mimi Collins added 13 points for N.C. State (9-0), which has won nine straight games to begin a season for the fourth time in coach Wes Moore’s 11 seasons. This is N.C. State’s eighth 9-0 start overall.Memories were flowing through historic Reynolds Coliseum.“You owe a lot of that to Kay Yow and her history here,” Moore said of the legendary coach. “It’s nice to have the eras connect and get to know each other.”Car...

No. 20 Iowa and No. 25 Tennessee will meet in the Citrus Bowl on New Year’s Day

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:52 GMT

No. 20 Iowa (10-3, Big Ten) vs No. 25 Tennessee (8-4, SEC), Jan. 1, 1 p.m. ETLOCATION: Orlando, FloridaTOP PLAYERSIowa: LB Jay Higgins, third in the Bowl Subdivision by averaging 11.9 tackles per game, including 14 in the Big Ten title game loss to top-ranked Michigan.Tennessee: QB Joe Milton III, 2,430 yards passing with 16 touchdowns to go with five rushing TDs.NOTABLE Iowa: The Hawkeyes are ranked 130th out of 133 Bowl Subdivision teams in scoring offense at 16.6 points per game and last in total offense at 238.8 yards per game. Iowa failed to score more than 10 points four times and twice lost in shutouts.Tennessee: Three of the Volunteers’ four losses came against teams ranked inside the top 10 of the AP Top 25 released Sunday: fifth-ranked and College Football Playoff-bound Alabama, sixth-ranked Georgia and ninth-ranked Missouri.LAST TIMETennessee 45, Iowa 28 (Jan. 2, 2015 in the Gator Bowl)BOWL HISTORYIowa: This is Iowa’s 36th bowl appearance and third in the Citr...

Sam LaPorta has career day for Lions, Saints QB Derek Carr hurt as Detroit wins 33-28

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:52 GMT

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Sam LaPorta had career highs of nine catches for 140 yards, including an early touchdown and a crucial first-down snag in the final minutes, and the Detroit Lions defeated the reeling New Orleans Saints 33-28 on Sunday to post their best record through 12 games since 1962.The Saints lost quarterback Derek Carr in the fourth quarter to back, shoulder and head injuries. Carr was hurt on a penalized hit by Bruce Irvin, who drove the weight of his body into the quarterback.Jared Goff passed for 213 yards and two TDs for the Lions (9-3), who raced to a three-touchdown lead and then held off a valiant comeback bid by the Saints. New Orleans (5-7) fell one game behind first-place Atlanta in the league’s weakest division, the NFC South.After falling behind 21-0 in the first quarter, the Saints pulled as close as 24-21 late in the third. The Saints also had the ball at midfield with a chance to take the lead in the final three minutes, but turned the ball over on dow...

Texas State to make bowl debut against Rice in First Responder Bowl, first series meeting since 1987

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:52 GMT

Texas State (7-5, 4-4 Sun Belt) vs. Rice (6-6, 4-4 American Athletic), Dec. 23, 5:30 p.m. ETLOCATION: DallasTOP PLAYERSTexas State: RB Ismail Mahdi (1,209 yards rushing, 10 TDs); QB T.J. Finley 3,287 yards passing 24 TDs); LB Brian Holloway, (98 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, two interceptions).Rice: QB J.T. Daniels (2,443 yards passing, 21 TDs, 63% completion rate); RB Dean Connors (707 yards rushing, 6.7 yards per carry, five TDs); S Plae Wyatt (77 tackles).NOTABLETexas State ranks 10th nationally in total offense (470.8 yards per game), including 22nd in passing (280.8). The Bobcats beat Baylor 42-31 in the opener for their first win over a Power Five school.Rice is 38th nationally in passing (264.2 yards per game) and 35th in red zone offense (89%), converting 40 of 45 chances with 26 TDs.LAST TIMERice won 38-28 in 1987 to even the series 2-2.BOWL HISTORYTexas State is making its first bowl appearance despite being eligible in 2013 and ’14 after joining the Sun Belt Conference.Ri...

Ridder, Falcons do just enough to pull out an ugly 13-8 win over struggling Jets

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:52 GMT

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Desmond Ridder threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to MyCole Pruitt and the Atlanta Falcons took over sole possession of first place in the NFC South by slogging their way to an ugly 13-8 victory over the punchless New York Jets on a dreary, rainy Sunday.The Falcons (6-6) have back-to-back wins for the first time since opening the season with victories over Carolina and Green Bay. Atlanta entered tied atop the division with New Orleans, which lost to Detroit.But this game appealed only to fans of sloppy play, punting and penalty flags. The Jets (4-8) got an early safety but couldn’t get anything going — again — on offense in losing their fifth straight game. New York even pulled quarterback Tim Boyle and replaced him with Trevor Siemian in the fourth quarter to try to provide a spark, but it was more of the same misery in what appeared a half-filled, rain-soaked MetLife Stadium.Siemian and the Jets had a chance to win with 1:53 left but again were ineff...