2+ hour ago (459+ words) By JOSH DUBOW AP Pro Football Writer SANTA CLARA " Christian McCaffrey gained 142 yards from scrimmage and scored a touchdown in his first game against Carolina since he was traded away three years ago, leading the San Francisco 49ers to a 20-9 victory over the Panthers on Monday night. McCaffrey's big night helped the 49ers (8-4) overcome three interceptions in the first half by Brock Purdy to remain in playoff position headed into the stretch run of the season. Bryce Young and the Panthers (6-6) struggled to take advantage of their opportunities a week after he threw for a'franchise-record 448 yards'in a win at Atlanta. Young threw for just 169 yards with one touchdown and one interception as Carolina missed a chance to move into sole possession of first place in the NFC South. The 49ers went conservative in the second half after Purdy's rough start to the game,…...

5+ hour, 21+ min ago (487+ words) Rice split two defenders at the top of the key to get into the paint for a runner while being fouled with 14.8 seconds left in the game. He made the basket and free throw to give USC the lead at 68-65. After the teams traded free throws, Boise State inbounded it with 4.2 seconds left and quickly got down the court for Javan Buchanan's good look from 3-point range that bounced off the front of the rim at the buzzer. Chad Baker-Mazara had 11 points and a game-high eight rebounds for USC (5-0), which next faces Seton Hall in a semifinal on Tuesday at 2 p.m. PT. The Pirates upset No. 23 North Carolina State, 85-74, earlier Monday. Rice made four of USC's 11 3-pointers. Buchanan had 18 points to lead Boise State (4-2), which trailed for 25-plus minutes, with its last lead at 59-58 with 2:57 left. Pearson Carmichael added 14 points and…...

7+ hour ago (459+ words) By JOSH DUBOW AP Pro Football Writer SANTA CLARA " Christian McCaffrey gained 142 yards from scrimmage and scored a touchdown in his first game against Carolina since he was traded away three years ago, leading the San Francisco 49ers to a 20-9 victory over the Panthers on Monday night. McCaffrey's big night helped the 49ers (8-4) overcome three interceptions in the first half by Brock Purdy to remain in playoff position headed into the stretch run of the season. Bryce Young and the Panthers (6-6) struggled to take advantage of their opportunities a week after he threw for a'franchise-record 448 yards'in a win at Atlanta. Young threw for just 169 yards with one touchdown and one interception as Carolina missed a chance to move into sole possession of first place in the NFC South. The 49ers went conservative in the second half after Purdy's rough start to the game,…...

8+ hour, 55+ min ago (578+ words) Free agency didn't go the way that Nate Landman had hoped. Shoulder surgery following his third season with the Falcons had hampered his market, and he was left with a one-year, $1.1 million offer, not the kind of long-term security that free agents crave. But his representation told him that this offer from the Rams was a good opportunity for the former undrafted free agent to bet on himself again amd to play for a head coach in Sean McVay, who develops his players. When he signed with the Rams, Landman had no expectation for what his role would be. He didn't want to shake things up on a team with an established culture. "I wanted to help grow that and just be myself," Landman said. No one could have predicted the way Landman's role would evolve. He was voted a…...

8+ hour, 55+ min ago (578+ words) Free agency didn't go the way that Nate Landman had hoped. Shoulder surgery following his third season with the Falcons had hampered his market, and he was left with a one-year, $1.1 million offer, not the kind of long-term security that free agents crave. But his representation told him that this offer from the Rams was a good opportunity for the former undrafted free agent to bet on himself again amd to play for a head coach in Sean McVay, who develops his players. When he signed with the Rams, Landman had no expectation for what his role would be. He didn't want to shake things up on a team with an established culture. "I wanted to help grow that and just be myself," Landman said. No one could have predicted the way Landman's role would evolve. He was voted a…...

10+ hour, 21+ min ago (487+ words) Rice split two defenders at the top of the key to get into the paint for a runner while being fouled with 14.8 seconds left in the game. He made the basket and free throw to give USC the lead at 68-65. After the teams traded free throws, Boise State inbounded it with 4.2 seconds left and quickly got down the court for Javan Buchanan's good look from 3-point range that bounced off the front of the rim at the buzzer. Chad Baker-Mazara had 11 points and a game-high eight rebounds for USC (5-0), which next faces Seton Hall in a semifinal on Tuesday at 2 p.m. PT. The Pirates upset No. 23 North Carolina State, 85-74, earlier Monday. Rice made four of USC's 11 3-pointers. Buchanan had 18 points to lead Boise State (4-2), which trailed for 25-plus minutes, with its last lead at 59-58 with 2:57 left. Pearson Carmichael added 14 points and…...

11+ hour, 47+ min ago (298+ words) UCLA women's soccer coach Margueritte Aozasa is departing Westwood to explore other opportunities, the university announced Monday morning. Aozasa, the former Stanford assistant who led the Bruins over the last four years and won the 2022 national championship, held a 67-13-9 overall record. UCLA announced a national search for the next coach of the Bruins would begin immediately, and would be heralded by executive senior associate athletic director Erin Adkins. Aozasa led UCLA to the national championship victory in 2022 " her first season as coach " and tied a school record for 22 victories, claiming Pac-12 Coach of the Year honors in 2022 and 2023. In 2024, UCLA won the Big Ten Championship with Aozasa at the helm, but lost in the second round of the NCAA tournament. Three days ago, the Bruins suffered the same result, falling to BYU on penalty kicks and departing the NCAA tournament…...

14+ hour, 7+ min ago (169+ words) Three South Bay high school football teams will be playing for a championship this week. Friday, Palos Verdes (10-3), who the CIF-Southern Section Division 5 championship last year, will host Pacifica Oxnard (13-0) in the Division 3 final at 7 p.m.. The Sea Kings will vying to become the first South Bay team to win consecutive championship since Serra accomplished the feat in 2009-10. Saturday, Redondo Union (9-4) will be making its first final appearance since 1994 when it host Rio Hondo Prep (13-0) in the CIF-SS Division 5 championship game at 7 p.m. The Sea Hawks have won seven consecutive games. Top-seeded Carson (9-3) will face Crenshaw (10-1) Saturday in the L.A. City Section Open Division championship game at L.A. Southwest College at 6 p.m. The Colts are looking for their first city title since 2003. Winners of this week's championship game will advance to next week's CIF Regional Bowl Games....

16+ hour, 47+ min ago (298+ words) UCLA women's soccer coach Margueritte Aozasa is departing Westwood to explore other opportunities, the university announced Monday morning. Aozasa, the former Stanford assistant who led the Bruins over the last four years and won the 2022 national championship, held a 67-13-9 overall record. UCLA announced a national search for the next coach of the Bruins would begin immediately, and would be heralded by executive senior associate athletic director Erin Adkins. Aozasa led UCLA to the national championship victory in 2022 " her first season as coach " and tied a school record for 22 victories, claiming Pac-12 Coach of the Year honors in 2022 and 2023. In 2024, UCLA won the Big Ten Championship with Aozasa at the helm, but lost in the second round of the NCAA tournament. Three days ago, the Bruins suffered the same result, falling to BYU on penalty kicks and departing the NCAA tournament…...

18+ hour, 7+ min ago (567+ words) LAS VEGAS " Las Vegas Raiders offensive coordinator Chip Kelly was fired Sunday night after yet another rough offensive performance. Kelly's dismissal came less than four hours after the Raiders were beaten 24-10 by Cleveland. Las Vegas allowed the Browns to sack Geno Smith 10 times and fell to 2-9. "I spoke with Chip Kelly earlier this evening and informed him of his release as offensive coordinator of the Raiders," coach Pete Carroll said in a statement. "I would like to thank Chip for his service and wish him all the best in the future." Carroll did not immediately name a new coordinator. This is the second time he has fired a coordinator this month. Special teams coordinator Tom McMahon was let go on Nov. 7, and Derius Swinton II took over on an interim basis. Kelly was the biggest-name assistant hired by Carroll, who's…...