Sports Archives - Page 20 of 25

ACC schools have a new path to more revenue: just win… in the postseason

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Atlantic Coast Conference schools have a new path to more revenue tied to their own postseason success. This is the first season with success-driven distribution plan for the expanded league. It is based on allowing schools to keep more of the money generated by their own wins, primarily in football. A big year could net up to $25 million on top of annual media-rights revenues. That comes as the ACC faces an ongoing financial gap behind the Big Ten and Southeastern conferences. North Carolina athletics director Bubba Cunningham said the model follows “a natural pattern” amid changes in college athletics.… Continue Reading

NASCAR Playoffs: Don’t look for surprises in the postseason as power programs dominate field

DARLINGTON, S.C. (AP) — NASCAR’s regular season had a surprising conclusion. Don’t count on the same thing in the playoffs, where the power programs in the Cup Series dominate the postseason field. Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing and Team Penske have a combined 11 drivers in the 16-team field. Those three blue bloods have won the past 10 Cup Series crowns. The playoffs start Sunday in Atlanta. Chase Briscoe was a surprise winner at Darlington Raceway, where he used a late, three-wide pass to move in front. He held off Kyle Busch at the end for the win.… Continue Reading

Tar Heels turn to Conner Harrell at QB after Max Johnson’s season-ending injury

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina is moving forward with Conner Harrell as its starting quarterback after Max Johnson suffered a season-ending injury in the opener at Minnesota. Johnson had beaten out Harrell to be the Game 1 starter but suffered a leg injury in the third quarter against the Gophers and had to be carted off. He had surgery for a broken right leg in Minneapolis and Brown said Johnson was having another procedure there Monday. Harrell will get his second career start on Saturday at home against Charlotte.… Continue Reading

Panthers’ Miles Sanders pushing for more playing time after losing starting job last season

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Miles Sanders arrived at the Carolina Panthers training camp this summer with a newfound motivation, eager to prove he can still be a No. 1 running back after losing his starting job last season. And while Sanders remains behind Chuba Hubbard on the depth chart heading into the season opener Sunday at New Orleans, it’s clear that he’s gained ground and is pushing for a bigger share of the workload. Coach Dave Canales said Sanders has looked “fantastic” this summer and sees a scenario where Hubbard and Sanders will split carries.… Continue Reading

Martin Truex Jr. makes NASCAR playoffs after crashing out early at Darlington

DARLINGTON, S.C. (AP) — Martin Truex Jr. has made the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs in his final full-time season. NASCAR announced Sunday night that the 2017 Cup Series champion had clinched a spot among the top 16 drivers who will compete for a title beginning next week at Atlanta. Other competitors like Kyle Busch, Chris Buescher and Bubba Wallace were not as fortunate and missed the postseason. Truex’s chances looked dicey after he wrecked on the third lap at Darlington. But through stages, Truex’s postseason spot was secure.… Continue Reading

Scottie Scheffler caps off record season with FedEx Cup title and $25 million bonus

ATLANTA (AP) — Scottie Scheffler has polished off the best year in golf in nearly two decades with the biggest prize. He had a few nervous moments at the Tour Championship until running off three straight birdies around the turn at East Lake and pulling away from Collin Morikawa. That made Scheffler the FedEx Cup champion with its $25 million bonus. Scheffler won seven times on the PGA Tour and an Olympic gold medal. The eight victories are the most since Tiger Woods won eight times in 2006. The FedEx Cup bonus pushed his season earnings to just over $62.2 million.… Continue Reading

Carolina Hurricanes forward Jesper Fast expected to miss season after neck surgery

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Carolina Hurricanes forward Jesper Fast is expected to miss the season after neck surgery this month. The team announced Fast’s prognosis Thursday after he had surgery Aug. 6. The 32-year-old Fast suffered a neck injury in the regular-season finale in April and missed the Hurricanes’ sixth straight playoff run. Fast didn’t specify the nature of the injury in end-of-season interviews in May. At the time, he was wearing a neck brace.… Continue Reading

Bubba Wallace confident he and team can have success at Darlington to make NASCAR playoffs

DARLINGTON, S.C. (AP) — Bubba Wallace believes he can have success at Darlington this weekend and make the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs for a second straight season. Wallace currently sits one spot out of NASCAR’s postseason on the playoff grid. He’s 21 points behind Chris Buescher and says his best way in is to win the Southern 500 on Sunday night. Wallace had the last spot going into the final regular-season race a year ago and made it through to compete for a championship. Wallace has run strongly at Darlington with four top 10s in his last four races there.… Continue Reading

North Carolina ekes out 19-17 win on Minnesota’s missed FG as time expires; Heels QB Johnson injured

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Noah Burnette made four field goals and hit the go-ahead 45-yarder with 1:44 left to lift North Carolina past Minnesota 19-17. Three of Burnette’s kicks came after quarterback Max Johnson was carted off with a leg injury. Dragan Kesich missed his chance to win it for the Gophers as time expired when his 47-yard try went wide right. Preseason All-American Omarion Hampton rushed 30 times for 129 yards and Jahvaree Ritzie had three sacks for the Tar Heels. Minnesota’s Max Brosmer had an uneven debut with 13-for-21 passing for 166 yards and one lost fumble.… Continue Reading

Concepcion, Waters help No. 24 NC State push past FCS foe Western Carolina 38-21 to open season

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Concepcion slithered free from contact and broke loose to the right for a 35-yard catch-and-run touchdown to help No. 24 N.C. State finally push ahead for good and beat Western Carolina 38-21 in Thursday’s opener. That was Concepcion’s third touchdown of the night. He was the highlight in a tough win for the Wolfpack against a Championship Subdivision team ranked 19th in the FCS coaches poll. Jordan Waters had two fourth-quarter TDs as N.C. State erased a 21-17 deficit entering the fourth. Cole Gonzales had two TD throws for the Catamounts, who are 0-63 against Bowl Subdivision foes.… Continue Reading