DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — NASCAR docked Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin 75 points and 10 playoff points, eliminating any shot he had at winning the regular-season title and making his path toward a championship more difficult. … Continue Reading
Seahawks trade former starting CB Michael Jackson to Panthers for rookie LB Michael Barrett
RENTON, Wash. (AP) — The Seattle Seahawks traded one-time starting cornerback Michael Jackson to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for rookie linebacker Michael Barrett. Jackson, 27, was a key contributor for Seattle for the past two seasons. He started all 17 games at cornerback during the 2022 season and last season started four games and played in all 17. He had 17 passes defensed and one interception over the past two seasons combined.… Continue Reading
Panthers coach Dave Canales says Bryce Young, starters to play in preseason finale at Buffalo
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Bryce Young and the majority of the Carolina Panthers’ starters will see their first preseason action on Saturday against the Buffalo Bills in the team’s final game before the start of the regular season. Panthers coach Dave Canales had been on the fence about playing his starters. Backup quarterback Andy Dalton also is expected to play for the Panthers. … Continue Reading
Bobby Hurley and Arizona State headed to Duke’s Cameron Indoor Stadium for exhibition game
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Bobby Hurley is returning to Duke’s Cameron Indoor Stadium for a charity exhibition game with his Arizona State basketball team. The Sun Devils and Blue Devils will play the game on Oct. 27 with benefits going to the Duke Children’s Hospital. Hurley won two national championships and was a first-team All-American under former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski from 1989-93. Hurley is still the NCAA’s all-time assists leader with 1,076. Hurley has spent the past nine seasons coaching at Arizona State.… Continue Reading
Panthers QB Bryce Young says he’s ‘comfortable’ in new offense even if he doesn’t play in preseason
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Bryce Young isn’t concerned if he doesn’t take a snap in the preseason. The No. 1 overall pick in 2023 is coming off a tough rookie season. He went 2-14 as a starter and ranked near the bottom of the league in most statistical categories. And he enters Year 2 having had to learn a different offense under new coach Dave Canales. Despite all that, Canales held Young out of Carolina’s first two preseason games. Young says he’s comfortable enough in the offense and will be ready for the regular season even if he doesn’t play in Saturday’s final exhibition game at the Buffalo Bills.… Continue Reading
Maui Invitational returns to the island a year after wildfires
LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — Two-time defending national champion UConn will highlight the Maui Invitational, which is returning to the Lahaina Civic Center a year after fatal wildfires forced a move to Honolulu. The tournament will be played from Nov. 25-27. The Huskies will take on Memphis on the opening day, followed by Colorado-Michigan State, Auburn-Iowa State and Dayton-North Carolina. Tournament chairman Dave Odom called it one of the strongest fields in the event’s history. UConn is making its fifth Maui appearance.… Continue Reading
The Tar Heels faded in past 2 years with QB Drake Maye. Now they must fix that issue without him
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina faces two significant hurdles in the sixth season of Mack Brown’s second coaching stint in Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels must move forward with a new quarterback with Drake Maye now in the NFL. They also must solve the problems that led to two straight late-season fades. Brown hired a new defensive coordinator in former Georgia Tech and Temple head coach Geoff Collins. UNC also returns star running back and Associated Press second-team All-American Omarion Hampton. The Tar Heels open the season Aug. 29 at Minnesota. They’re picked to finish eighth in the expanded 17-team Atlantic Coast Conference.… Continue Reading
Duke rose quickly under Mike Elko. Now Manny Diaz is aiming to keep that upward trajectory
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Duke is opening its first season under Manny Diaz. Diaz took over in December after Mike Elko departed for Texas A&M. Elko led the Blue Devils to bowl games in each of his two seasons. That came after Duke had stumbled badly late in David Cutcliffe’s successful run. Diaz was formerly Miami’s head coach and previously was Penn State’s defensive coordinator. The Blue Devils have lost 15 offensive and defensive starters but added numerous graduate transfers. Duke opens at home against Elon on Aug. 30. The Blue Devils are picked to finish 11th in the expanded 17-team Atlantic Coast Conference.… Continue Reading
No. 24 NC State keeps posting 8- and 9-win years. Coach Dave Doeren is chasing a breakthrough moment
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — No. 24 North Carolina State opens its 12th season under Dave Doeren with a team picked to finish fourth in the expanded Atlantic Coast Conference. Doeren’s teams have won eight or nine games for four straight seasons. This year’s team lost roughly half its offensive and defensive starters. But the Wolfpack returned top offensive threat KC Concepcion at receiver. There’s also a strong transfer class that includes a new starting quarterback in Grayson McCall from Coastal Carolina. N.C. State opens the season Aug. 29 against Western Carolina. Doeren’s team is picked to finish fourth in the 17-team ACC.… Continue Reading
NASCAR returning to Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem for 1st time since 1971
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — Bowman Gray Stadium will host a NASCAR race for the first time in more than a half-century, opening next season with an exhibition race on a site with a rich history in auto racing. NASCAR says Winston-Salem, North Carolina, will be the home of The Clash on Feb. 2, bringing the sport back to the short track for the first time since 1971. The Clash is moving from the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum after a three-year stay, following a run in Florida that dated to its inception in 1979 as the kickoff for the Daytona 500.… Continue Reading