FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — The start time for Monday’s spring training game between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox has been moved because of expected heavy rainfall, foreshadowing what the Tampa Bay Rays might have to deal with this year as they play a season outdoors.
The Red Sox announced on Sunday that Monday’s game at JetBlue Park will be moved from 1:05 p.m. to 4:05 p.m. EST because of significant rainfall expected earlier in the day in the Fort Myers area.
The game between the Atlanta Braves and Baltimore Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota on Monday also was moved from 1:05 p.m. to 4:05 p.m. due to the weather forecast.
The Rays are preparing for a regular season with home games at Tampa’s Steinbrenner Field, the spring training base of the Yankees. Hurricane Milton ripped the roof off St. Petersburg’s Tropicana Field on Oct. 9, leaving the Rays’ usual home stadium unusable for at least 2025.
Steinbrenner Field, which has about 11,000 seats, is exposed to weather, unlike the Trop. Florida summers are known for thunderstorms in the afternoon and early evening.
college championship weekend The 2025 college football season kicks off with one of the most electrifying Week 1 slates in recent memory. With playoff contenders
Conference Championship weekend is here and it is the most decisive weekend has arrived, as the SEC, ACC, Big Ten, and Big 12 Championships take center stage. Four conference championships titles will be contested, each carrying massive implications for the College Football Playoff.
Alabama and Georgia clash in Atlanta for SEC supremacy, Ohio State battles Indiana in Indianapolis for the Big Ten crown, Duke faces Virginia in Charlotte for the ACC title, and Texas Tech meets BYU in Arlington for the Big 12 championship. With playoff spots hanging in the balance, every snap this weekend will shape the national picture and determine which programs advance to the sport’s ultimate stage.
SEC Title Game
The 2025 SEC Championship Game features the Alabama Crimson Tide (10-2) against the Georgia Bulldogs (11-1) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Kickoff is set for Saturday, December 6 at 4:00 p.m. ET (3:00 p.m. CT).
National Broadcast: ABC, ESPN+ streaming
Local Coverage: WSB-TV Channel 2 Atlanta, regional ESPN Radio affiliates
Alabama enters with momentum after a dramatic Iron Bowl win, while Georgia seeks revenge for its September loss to the Tide. The winner secures the SEC’s automatic bid to the College Football Playoff.
Big Ten Championship: Ohio State vs Indiana
For the first time, both teams enter undefeated (12-0). The Big Ten Championship Game will be played at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Saturday, December 6 at 8:00 p.m. ET.
National Broadcast: FOX, streaming via FOX Sports app
Local Coverage: Big Ten Network pregame, regional FOX affiliates in Ohio and Indiana
Ohio State’s elite defense faces Indiana’s high-powered offense led by QB Fernando Mendoza. The winner likely claims the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff.
ACC Championship: Duke vs Virginia
The ACC Conference Championship Game pits Virginia (10-2) against Duke (7-5) at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. Kickoff is Saturday, December 6 at 8:00 p.m. ET.
National Broadcast: ABC, ESPN Radio
Local Coverage: Virginia Sports Radio Network, regional ABC affiliates in North Carolina and Virginia
Virginia dominated Duke earlier this season, but the Blue Devils, led by QB Darian Mensah, seek redemption. A Cavaliers win likely secures a College Football Playoff berth.
Big 12 Championship: Texas Tech vs BYU
The Big 12 Championship Game features Texas Tech (11-1) against BYU (11-1) at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Kickoff is Saturday, December 6 at 12:00 p.m. ET (11:00 a.m. CT).
National Broadcast: ABC, streaming via ESPN app
Local Coverage: KSL-TV Utah, regional ABC affiliates in Texas
Texas Tech seeks to confirm its playoff spot, while BYU must win to secure the Big 12’s automatic bid. This rematch follows the Red Raiders’ November victory over the Cougars.
Bottom Line
Championship Weekend delivers four marquee matchups across the SEC, Big Ten, ACC, and Big 12. With College Football Playoff bids on the line, fans nationwide can tune in via ABC, FOX, ESPN Radio, and regional affiliates to watch history unfold.
Indian Olympic Association wants the 2036 Summer Olympics.
The IOC has a problem with tensions between India and Pakistan.
India wants to host the 2036 Summer Olympics and Paralympics events but there is a significant problem. India and Pakistan hostilities resurfaced following a deadly militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir in late April. India blamed Pakistan for supporting the militants while Pakistan said don’t blame us. India’s government is planning to send a high-level delegation to the International Olympic Committee headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland beginning on June 30th. India wants to continue talks with IOC officials in an effort to host the 2036 Games. GEO News has reported Pakistan is planning to challenge India’s bid to host the Olympics by formally objecting to the IOC, claiming that India has politicized international sporting events. The Indian Olympic Association has officially submitted a Letter of Intent to the IOC. India plans to spend around $7.5 billion on the Games if the country lands the event. India has never bid for the Olympics event. They have the largest population of any country in the world with an estimated 1.4 billion people. It is a market that the IOC probably wants to enter.
The IOC probably will not award the 2036 Games for a few years. India is just one of a number of countries that could bid for the 2036 Games. The IOC no longer wants areas to bid against one another for its crown jewel events, the Summer and Winter Olympics, with the thought that the losing bidders would be upset. The truth is many areas don’t want to put up billions in whatever currency for a money losing event. The IOC has watched bids evaporate in the United States, Europe and in Japan. There are a number of countries that might be bidding for the 2036 Summer Games and that group includes Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Germany, South Korea, Hungary and Qatar. The race for the 2036 Games has begun.
Olympique Lyon defender Moussa Niakhate is setting his sights firmly on securing a place in Senegal’s final squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled to kick off in Morocco on December 18.
Senegal have yet to unveil their provisional 55-man squad, but the 29-year-old remains optimistic about earning a call-up from head coach Pape Thiaw, who succeeded Alliou Cisse earlier this year.
Speaking about his ambitions during the AFCON trophy tour in Paris, Niakhate emphasised both his personal motivation and his pride in representing Senegal on Africa’s biggest football stage.
Niakhate told Sports Talk Florida: “My personal goal is to be in Morocco, especially because the official list has not been released yet.
“God willing, I will be healthy enough to attend and compete for the people of Senegal.”
Senegal’s Group D Challenge at AFCON 2025
Senegal have been drawn in Group D, where they will open their AFCON 2025 campaign against Botswana on December 23.
They will then face the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) before closing their group stage fixtures against Benin on Dececmber 30.
In anticipation of the battle ahead of the Teranga Lions, Niakhate insists the team must remain grounded.
“We all want it, and the Senegalese people want the AFCON title,” he said.
“The success in 2022 was exceptional, so we want to relive that feeling. But before anything, we have to take it one game at a time.” T
Senegal’s maiden AFCON triumph in Cameroon marked a historic moment for the country, with the team producing a remarkable campaign, going unbeaten in both the qualifiers and the main tournament.
Their victory sparked celebrations across the country and inspired a new generation of Senegalese footballers but they suffered a setback in the AFCON 2023.
After an unbeaten start to the tournament, they were eliminated in the round of 16 by host country and eventual champions Ivory Coast on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
With 2026 World Cup qualification already secured, Senegal now aim to cap off an impressive year with another deep run at this year’s continental fiesta in Morocco.
Niakhate’s form at Lyon
The 29-year-old defender joined Lyon from Nottingham Forest in 2024 and has become a leader in Paulo Fonseca’s squad with his crucial defensive performances.
Niakhate has been consistent in form, starting each of Lyon’s combined 19 matches in the French Ligue 1 and the UEFA Europa League so far this season.
In addition to his solid defensive displays, the centre-back has a contribution of a goal and two assists to his name in all competitions.