ESPN Deal Puts $345 Million Behind 24-Team Playoff Plan
IRVING, Texas — College football's postseason is one step closer to doubling in size. The College Football Playoff and its longtime television partner have reached an informal, handshake agreement on money for a 24-team bracket, though formal votes and signatures are still needed before anything is official. Under the terms reported Friday, the network would
Spanish Club Zaragoza Contests Thunder Rookie Aday Mara
OKLAHOMA CITY — Days before his NBA debut, Oklahoma City Thunder rookie Aday Mara is caught in a tug-of-war with the Spanish club where his pro career began. Basket Zaragoza issued a statement Friday insisting the 7-foot-3 center still has a valid contract with the club for the 2026-27 season. The club said no request
Brewers Pennant Run Adds Twist to MLB Salary Cap Fight
LOS ANGELES — Milwaukee's four-game demolition of the two-time defending champion Dodgers settled the National League pennant. Whether it settles anything in baseball's looming labor showdown is a far more open question. Owners want a hard salary cap in the next collective bargaining agreement, and the players union has long refused any version of one.
Timberwolves Add LaMelo Ball in Bid to Crash NBA Parity Era
MINNEAPOLIS — The NBA has crowned a different champion in each of the last eight seasons, and the Minnesota Timberwolves enter 2026-27 convinced they are next in line. The streak runs from Toronto in 2019 through the Lakers, Milwaukee, Golden State, Denver, Boston and Oklahoma City to New York, which ended a 53-year wait for
Sean Payton Kiss on Charissa Thompson Sparks Fan Buzz
SEATTLE — A pregame chat between Denver coach Sean Payton and a familiar face from his television days became one of the most talked-about moments of Thursday night, and it had nothing to do with football. As Charissa Thompson, the studio host for the Thursday night streaming broadcast, wrapped up her interview with Payton before
NBA GMs Tab Spurs as Title Pick, Wembanyama for MVP
NEW YORK — The people who build NBA rosters see the 2026-27 season running through San Antonio. In the league's 25th annual survey of general managers, released Thursday, half of the voters picked the Spurs to win the championship. Oklahoma City, the choice of 80% a year ago, drew 43%, and the Knicks and 76ers
Surtain and Hufanga Out for Broncos on TNF
DENVER — The Denver Broncos will face the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday Night Football without two starting defensive backs after listing cornerback Pat Surtain II and safety Talanoa Hufanga as out with ankle injuries. Surtain is sitting a second consecutive week after also missing Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers. The two-time All-Pro and 2024
TSMC Posts Sixth Straight Record Profit as AI Chip Demand
HSINCHU, Taiwan — Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. reported a record profit for the third quarter on Thursday, its sixth record quarter in a row, as worldwide demand for artificial intelligence chips kept its factories running near full tilt. The chipmaker said net income of NT$763.06 billion for the quarter that ended Sept. 30, a jump
School Roof Collapse in Pakistan Kills at Least 35, Mostly
PESHAWAR, Pakistan — The roof of a private school caved in during classes Thursday in this northwestern Pakistani city, leaving at least 35 people dead, most of them young children. Hospital officials said most of the children who died were under 13, and a female teacher was among the victims. A rescue official said an
AI Stock Sell-Off Spreads as Korea Plunges 8% on Inflation
SEOUL, South Korea — A rout in artificial intelligence stocks deepened Thursday, sending South Korea’s main index down more than 8% and forcing a market-wide trading pause as investors weighed hotter U.S. inflation and the heavy borrowing behind the AI buildout. The Kospi closed down 8.1% at a six-month low. A circuit breaker kicked in