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My AP top-25 ballot: Georgia is No. 1, followed by FSU, as Washington State jumps USC

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:22:25 GMT

Ballot submitted to the Associated Press on Saturday night …Let’s cut to the issue that’s sure to elicit significant reaction: Yes, I ranked Washington State above USC. The Cougars are No. 11 on the ballot, one spot above the Trojans.And honestly, it took about a nanosecond to reach that conclusion.Before we compare and contrast, note that their current positions represent significant changes from the ballot submitted a week ago, when USC was No. 7, nine spots ahead of the Cougars.I jumped Penn State, Utah, Oregon and WSU over the Trojans after all four beat ranked teams and USC struggled with Arizona State. (Notre Dame also jumped USC after losing on the final play to Ohio State.)In the two-team ballot showdown, the Cougars (4-0) have been more impressive against a far stronger schedule.In fact, the only reason to rank USC (4-0) ahead of WSU at this point is preseason hype and/or brand bias. Because the resumes aren’t comparable.USC’s opponents (Nevada...

Vallejo police investigate fatal shooting of toddler

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:22:25 GMT

Vallejo Police are investigating a fatal shooting of a toddler Friday at the 400 block of Alhambra Avenue.According to a VPD news release at approximately 11:23 a.m., the department responded to a call for service regarding a gunshot victim who walked into a local trauma center.The same news release states that VPD patrol officers were informed by the medical staff that a male toddler — suffering from at least one gunshot wound — was transported to the hospital with a family member, who stayed at the hospital. It was revealed by that family member that this shooting occurred at a residence on the 400 block of Alhambra Avenue.The toddler succumbed to the injuries he sustained and was pronounced deceased at the hospital.The motive and circumstances surrounding this incident are currently under investigation. The Vallejo Police Department Detective Division took responsibility of this investigation.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Berkeley: Woman stabbed to death, o...

Asteroid sample returns to Earth after a 3.86-billion-mile journey

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:22:25 GMT

The country’s first pristine asteroid sample — protected by a heat shield invented in Silicon Valley — landed in Utah’s Great Salt Lake Desert Sunday morning, where it was greeted by a team of NASA scientists hoping to study its chemical composition.The sample was taken from the asteroid Bennu, where in 2020, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft touched down on the asteroid’s surface to collect rock and dust. It took two years to get there and two years to measure the asteroid — and now, it has returned to Earth with a sample in tow.“Bennu is a leftover fragment from the tumultuous formation of the solar system,” said NASA on X, formerly Twitter, around 8 a.m. “The samples will help scientists better understand the origins of our solar system, and might contain clues to the role asteroids may have played in delivering life-forming compounds to Earth.”After being preserved in space for millennia, NASA said Bennu “is a ti...

Pac-12 rewind: UW and Oregon dominate, WSU meets the moment, Utah and USC survive in telling Week 4 action

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:22:25 GMT

Recapping the best and worst of Week 4 across the Pac-12 …Theme of the week: DramaThe first full week of conference play brought a series of taut affairs, with three of the six matchups (Utah-UCLA, Arizona-Stanford and WSU-OSU) in doubt in the final minutes and a fourth (USC-Arizona State) unsettled midway through the fourth quarter.Theme of the season: Northwest dominanceThe balance of power tilts heavily to the upper left corner of the conference, with the Washington and Oregon schools all ranked and sporting a combined record of 15-1. Neither of the other regional quartets (the Four Corners and California schools) comes close to matching the overall strength of the Pacific Northwest.Game of the week: Washington State 38, Oregon State 35The ‘Pac-2’ showdown more than met expectations with a slew of big plays, momentum changes and stellar individual performances. The schools left behind in the realignment game were intent on showing a Fox primetime (East Coast) au...

QB Joe Burrow’s status unclear as Rams and Bengals meet for first time since Super Bowl 56

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:22:25 GMT

CINCINNATI (AP) — The last thing Joe Burrow saw in Super Bowl 56 was Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald slinging him to the ground.Donald made it look too easy, charging around blockers, wrapping up the Cincinnati quarterback and throwing him down on fourth-and-1 as Burrow tossed an errant desperation pass. Burrow didn’t have enough time to spy receiver Ja’Marr Chase running open down the right sideline. That sealed a 23-20 win for the Rams in the game 19 months ago.The matchup between the Rams and Bengals in Cincinnati on Monday night will be their first rematch in a regular-season game since that Super Bowl. What’s not known is whether a lingering calf injury will keep Burrow from playing — or how it will affect his mobility if he does play.The team listed him as questionable for the game.Burrow insisted he didn’t think too much about the Super Bowl loss when he saw the Rams on the 2023 schedule. He downplayed the revenge angle, saying he’s got nothing more...

Diamondbacks’ Ketel Marte scratched vs. Yankees because of illness

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:22:25 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte was scratched from Sunday’s game against the New York Yankees because of an illness.Marte was in Arizona’s original lineup as the leadoff hitter, then was scratched shortly before the scheduled first pitch. Arizona moved catcher Gabriel Moreno to the leadoff spot and Geraldo Perdomo from shortstop to second.Marte is hitting .279 with 24 homers and 80 RBIs in 144 games this season. Over his last 18 games, Marte is batting .329 (23 for 70) with three homers and 12 RBIs.___AP MLB: https://www.apnews.com/hub/mlbSource

Right-hander Chris Paddack activated by Twins, 16 months after second Tommy John surgery

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:22:25 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Right-hander Chris Paddack was activated by the Minnesota Twins on Sunday, 16 months after he had Tommy John surgery for the second time.An eighth-round pick by Miami in the 2015 amateur draft, Paddack was traded to San Diego the following year and had his first elbow repair with Texas Rangers physician Dr. Keith Meister on Aug. 15, 2016.Paddack returned to the mound on April 30, 2018, with Class A Lake Elsinore and made his big league debut with the Padres the following March 31. He was traded to the Twins in April 2022, made five starts and had his second Tommy John surgery with Meister that May 18. Paddack made three minor league rehab assignments starting Sept. 6, including a three-inning stint on Tuesday for Triple-A St. Paul. He is 21-21 with a 4.20 ERA in 65 starts and one relief appearance over four big league seasons. The AL Central champion Twins are expected to use Paddack out of the bullpen the rest of the season and the playoffs.___AP MLB: https://www...

Hisatsune finishes strongly to win French Open for 1st victory on European Tour

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:22:25 GMT

SAINT-QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES, France (AP) — Japanese golfer Ryo Hisatsune posted a 5-under 66 to win the French Open by two shots from Jeff Winther of Denmark and Jordan Smith of England on Sunday, clinching his first victory on the European tour. “(I decided to play) more aggressive, like ‘Go, go, go,’ said the 21-year-old Hisatsune, who made five birdies on the back nine and jumped up four places in his final round at Le Golf National.Winther’s fine round of 65 moved him up 10 spots. But countryman Rasmus Højgaard, last year’s runner-up, missed out again after having looked in contention. His 68 left him in fourth, three shots behind Hisatsune.Smith shared the overnight lead with Ewen Ferguson of Scotland, with both bidding for their third victories on the European tour. Smith opened the day strongly with two birdies, but three bogeys followed as he carded a 1-over 72. Ferguson had a nightmare start with consecutive double bogeys and his 5-over 76 — which featured t...

Becton moves to left tackle as Jets shuffle offensive line for their game vs. Patriots

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:22:25 GMT

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — The New York Jets shuffled some of the big boys up front on the offensive line for their game against the New England Patriots on Sunday.With starting left tackle Duane Brown placed on injured reserve Saturday with a hip injury, the Jets moved Mekhi Becton from right tackle to the left side. Starting right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker switched to right tackle, and rookie Joe Tippmann made his first NFL start at right guard. Left guard Laken Tomlinson and center Connor McGovern stayed at their usual spots.The 38-year-old Brown was initially ruled out for the game and then placed on IR on Saturday after he missed practice all week. Coach Robert Saleh was optimistic Friday that Brown would play, depending on how Brown’s hip checked out with doctors. With Brown now out at least four games, the Jets slid Becton back over to his natural position — despite both Saleh and offensive line coach Keith Carter seeming to rule out a position switch. “He has been pra...

Man United’s Marcus Rashford unhurt after car crash in his Rolls Royce following Burnley game

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:22:25 GMT

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford escaped unhurt from a car crash in his Rolls Royce after leaving the club’s training ground on Saturday evening. Britain’s PA news agency reported that the crash happened after United had returned to the club’s Carrington training ground following a 1-0 win at Burnley in the Premier League. The players returned to the training ground by team bus to collect their own cars before setting off home.Pictures and footage posted online in the aftermath of the incident showed Rashford’s white Rolls Royce having been damaged in the incident. Rashford wrote on Instagram on Sunday afternoon: “I’m alright guys thanks for the messages.”___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/SoccerSource