GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Max Duggan accounted for four touchdowns, Texas Christian University returned two interceptions for scores and the third-ranked Horned Frogs withstood a frenetic second-half surge by No. 2 Michigan to win the Fiesta Bowl 51-45 on Saturday night and advance to the College Football Playoff national championship.

ATLANTA (AP) — A 25-0 run removed any suspense from Tony Bennett's pursuit of a Virginia coaching milestone. The No. 13 Cavaliers took the win over Georgia Tech with the spurt, which began in the closing minutes of the first half and carried over after the break to give Virginia a 74-56 victory Saturday.

ATLANTA (AP) — Ja'Heim Hudson scored 18 points as Georgia State beat South Alabama 68-58 on Saturday.

CONWAY, S.C (AP) — Andrei Savrasov, Jalen Finch and Kaden Archie each scored 16 points and the Georgia Southern Eagles defeated the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers 73-64 on Saturday.

KENNESAW, Ga. (AP) — Demond Robinson's 21 points helped Kennesaw State defeat Central Arkansas 82-66 in an Atlantic Sun Conference opener on Saturday.

MACON, Ga. (AP) — Jamal Johnson's 21 points helped Chattanooga defeat Mercer 80-51 on Saturday.

ATLANTA (AP) — LeBron James started this journey 20 years ago, and there are times when he still feels like a kid on the basketball court. Friday was one of those nights. James scored a season-high 47 points on his 38th birthday with many of the sellout crowd at State Farm Arena cheering his every move, and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Atlanta Hawks 130-121.

ATLANTA (AP) — They are titans of the college gridiron, a pair of perennial powerhouses that, amazingly enough, have faced each other only once in their long, storied histories. Three decades ago, Georgia beat Ohio State in a bowl game that meant little more than bragging rights. They’ll be playing for a whole lot more on New Year's Eve in the College Football Playoff semifinal Peach Bowl — a berth in the national title game.

ATLANTA (AP) — Tyree Ihenacho's 15 points helped James Madison defeat Georgia State 63-47 in the Sun Belt Conference opener for both schools on Thursday night. Ihenacho also contributed four steals for the Dukes (10-4). Noah Freidel was 3 of 9 shooting, including 2 for 7 from distance, and went 5 for 7 from the line to add 13 points. Takal Molson shot 5 for 13, including 0 for 4 from beyond the arc to finish with 12 points.

STATESBORO, Ga. (AP) — Jalen Finch scored 14 points as Georgia Southern beat South Alabama 64-50 on Thursday night. Finch had five rebounds and five assists for the Eagles (8-6). Kaden Archie scored 12 points while going 5 of 11 and 2 of 6 from the free throw line, and added six rebounds. Tyren Moore was 4 of 10 shooting (1 for 6 from distance) to finish with nine points.

ATLANTA (AP) — At 36, Colt McCoy is savoring every opportunity to play for the Arizona Cardinals, especially after teammate J.J. Watt's plans to retire were announced this week. At 23, Desmond Ridder is trying to show he deserves to be considered the long-term starter for the Atlanta Falcons. McCoy, who was cleared from concussion protocols this week, and Ridder, the rookie making a late-season audition, are expected to start at quarterback when the Cardinals visit the Falcons on Sunday in a matchup of teams eliminated from playoff contention.

ATLANTA (AP) — Only months after Georgia defensive linemen and Ohio State wide receivers combined to fill five first-round slots in the NFL draft, those positions again boast top talent for the teams preparing to meet in the College Football Playoff Peach Bowl semifinal. Georgia had three defensive linemen, including No. 1 overall pick Travon Walker, selected in the first round of this year's NFL draft. Ohio State had wide receivers Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave chosen with the 10th and 11th picks, respectively.

SAO PAULO (AP) — Pelé, the Brazilian king of soccer who won a record three World Cups and became one of the most commanding sports figures of the last century, died Thursday. He was 82. The standard-bearer of “the beautiful game” had undergone treatment for colon cancer since 2021. He had been hospitalized for the last month with multiple ailments. His agent Joe Fraga confirmed his death.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Jermaine Marshall scored 25 points as Samford beat Mercer 78-69 on Wednesday night. Marshall also had seven rebounds for the Bulldogs (7-7). Logan Dye was 7 of 11 shooting, including 3 for 4 from distance, and went 6 for 6 from the line to add 23 points.

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves acquired left-handed reliever Lucas Luetge from the New York Yankees in exchange for two minor leaguers on Wednesday night. The Yankees acquired right-hander Indigo Diaz and infielder Caleb Durbin. Luetge, 35, posted ERAs under 3.00 while pitching in at least 50 games in each of the last two seasons with New York.

ATLANTA (AP) — Kyrie Irving scored 15 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter, Kevin Durant had 26 points and a season-high 16 rebounds and the Brooklyn Nets won their 10th straight game, 108-107 over the short-handed Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night. The winning streak is the longest in the NBA this season and the Nets’ longest since they took 10 in a row in 2005-06.

ATLANTA (AP) — Hawks guard Trae Young has been scratched from Wednesday’s starting lineup against Brooklyn with a left calf contusion. Atlanta is also without starting center Clint Capela, who has a right calf strain, and starting forward De’Andre Hunter, who has a left ankle sprain.

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Terry Roberts and Kario Oquendo each scored 17 points and Georgia held off Rider for a 78-72 victory on Wednesday night. Mervin James scored six points and Allen Betrand had a 3-pointer during Rider's 17-4 run to pull to 74-72 with 56 seconds to play, but Georgia made its last four free throws to end it. Georgia (10-3) has won six of its last seven games and is 8-0 at home.

A change of scenery worked out just fine for Katie Ledecky. Shifting coasts and coaches after last summer's Tokyo Olympics, the American swimmer turned in another stellar performance at the world championships, set a pair of world records and capped 2022 as The Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year, selected by a panel of 40 sports writers and editors from news outlets across the country. Ledecky, who previously won the award in 2017, edged out American track star Sydney McLaughlin in balloting announced Wednesday.

JACKSONVILLE, Ala. (AP) — Demaree King's 30 points led Jacksonville State over Georgia Southwestern 78-73 on Tuesday night. King added five assists and four steals for the Gamecocks (7-6). Skyelar Potter scored 15 points, going 5 of 14 (3 for 9 from distance). Clarence Jackson finished 3 of 5 from the field to finish with eight points.

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves signed newly acquired catcher Sean Murphy to a $73 million, six-year contract Tuesday, locking up another key player with a long-term deal. The contract …

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Buddy Hield made six 3-pointers on his way to 28 points, and the Indiana Pacers beat the Atlanta Hawks 129-114 on Tuesday night. Hield hit 11 of 16 shots, including 6 of 7 from deep. He leads the NBA with 132 3s this season.

ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia coach Kirby Smart's plan for a deep running back corps was based on more than making it through a 12-game regular season. Smart wanted his backs to be fresh for the College Football Playoff. The No. 1 Bulldogs will take a group of four running backs, led by Kenny McIntosh, into the Peach Bowl semifinal against No. 4 Ohio State on Saturday.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Buffalo built a lead with Cole Snyder’s passing and Alex McNulty’s kicking. The Bulls put the Camellia Bowl away with an unrelenting barrage of fourth-quarter runs by Tajay Ahmed for a 23-21 victory over Georgia Southern on Tuesday.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Georgia Southern and Buffalo are set to meet in a Camellia Bowl matchup of 6-6 teams in Montgomery, Alabama. Both teams won in their previous trips to Montgomery and became bowl eligible with close wins in their regular-season finales that snapped three-game losing streaks.