Edin Dzeko is a familiar face for Italy's defenders in World Cup playoff at Bosnia

ROME (AP) – If Italy is going to qualify for its first World Cup in 12 years, the Azzurri’s defenders are going to have to contain a striker they respect and know well.

Jay Norvell will replace Omar Young as Hawkeyes' running backs coach

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Jay Norvell will move from senior offensive analyst to running backs coach at Iowa after Omar Young left the Hawkeyes for a similar position with the Las Vegas Raiders last month, coach Kirk Ferentz announced Monday.

Penn State two-time NCAA champion Mitchell Mesenbrink wins Hodge Trophy as nation's top wrestler

NEWTON, Iowa (AP) – Two-time NCAA champion Mitchell Mesenbrink of Penn State has been named winner of the Dan Hodge Trophy as the nation’s top men’s college wrestler.

Falcons GM Ian Cunningham says 'work to be done' in NFL minority hiring

PHOENIX (AP) – First-year Atlanta Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham said he’ll continue to push for more diversity in the NFL’s leadership positions, even after Florida’s attorney general wrote that the league’s minority hiring guidelines violate Florida state law.

Deniz Undav makes World Cup case for Germany with goal in Ghana friendly

STUTTGART, Germany (AP) – Deniz Undav turned up the pressure on Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann to select him for the World Cup after he scored the 2-1 winner against Ghana on Monday to back up strong club form.

Through MLB's first weekend, Salvador Perez and the Royals are ABS winners

Salvador Perez and the Kansas City Royals have been baseball’s best at utilizing their robot challenges through the first weekend of the Automated Ball-Strike System.

College Baseball Notebook: Walk-off wins are becoming routine for Vanderbilt

It might be an understatement to say the Vanderbilt baseball team has a flair for the dramatic.

Royals use rare long ball to defeat the Twins 3-1

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – The Kansas City Royals used home runs by Kyle Isbel and Isaac Collins, two hitters not known for their power, to defeat the Minnesota Twins 3-1 on an unseasonably warm day in front of a sellout crowd of 39,320 in Kansas City’s home opener. The temperature at first pitch was 85 degrees.

NC State reaches deal with Tennessee assistant Justin Gainey

N.C. State has an agreement with Tennessee assistant coach and former Wolfpack player Justin Gainey to lead its men’s basketball program, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Monday.