By AARON BEARD AP Sports Writer CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — New Virginia Tech coach James Franklin knows the Hokies' proud history going back to the Frank Beamer era. Annual bowl bids. A trip to the national championship game. Special teams play so reliably good that it spawned the name ...

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer MIAMI (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo was watching Lionel Messi play in the World Cup semifinals this week, and a realization struck him. Messi, to him, is greatness. And Antetokounmpo wants to follow Messi's path. Antetokounmpo got his ...

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault's only previous experience with USA Basketball was a couple of stints as a video coordinator for younger-division teams more than a decade ago. And Detroit coach J.B. Bickerstaff has never been part of the national ...

NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball is set to have its earliest opening day next year except for international games, starting on March 24 — if there is an opening day. MLB said Thursday its 2027 season will start with a single game to be televised that night by Netflix. The teams have ...

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired one-time top prospect Robert Hassell III from the Washington Nationals on Thursday for cash or a player to be named later. The 24-year-old outfielder has hit .215 with two homers and 21 RBIs for Triple-A Rochester this year. Hassell made his ...

By JOE REEDY AP Sports Writer Pitcher Chase Burns has agreed to a $105 million, seven-year contract with the Cincinnati Reds that covers 2027-33, two people familiar with the deal told the Associated Press on Thursday. The people spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal ...