By BARRY WILNER AP Pro Football Writer Bill O’Brien went first. Dan Quinn was next. There will be others. The firing line for NFL head coaches is heavily populated. O’Brien, who also was Texans general manager, lasted four games, all defeats. Quinn got one more week in Atlanta — and ...

EAST LANSING (AP) — Tailgating and alcohol are banned on football Saturdays at Michigan State University, campus police said Wednesday. Parking lots will also be closed, all in an effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Certain rules are typically suspended for home football games, ...

By NOAH TRISTER AP Sports Writer Mel Tucker got a late start at Michigan State. Mark Dantonio’s retirement didn’t come until February, and Tucker was hired as the new coach shortly after that. Then Tucker had about a month of normalcy before the coronavirus pandemic made his transition ...

By LARRY LAGE AP Sports Writer ANN ARBOR — Michigan has been good, not great, under coach Jim Harbaugh. Harbaugh’s sixth season in charge of college football’s winningest program is expected to follow its recent form. The Wolverines are No. 19 in The Associated Press college poll, way ...

By LARRY LAGE AP Hockey Writer DETROIT — Bobby Ryan was looking for a fresh start and a place to revive his career after it was stunted in part by alcohol issues. Ryan was sold on that happening with the Detroit Red Wings. A long conversation with general manager Steve Yzerman sealed the ...

By NOAH TRISTER AP Sports Writer DETROIT — Defense was supposed to be Matt Patricia’s calling card when he was hired by the Detroit Lions. That makes the embattled coach’s predicament all the more puzzling. Four games into his third season with the Lions, Patricia’s team is showing ...

(AP) — The Big Ten says its hockey season will have a 24-game conference schedule and will begin as soon as Nov. 13. Each Big Ten team also will have an additional four games against Arizona State. The Big Ten tournament will have a one-weekend, single-elimination format and will take place ...

By STEVE MEGARGEE AP Sports Writer GREEN BAY, Wis. — Aaron Rodgers and his Green Bay Packers teammates won’t get a chance to celebrate their fast start by leaving town during their week off. The Packers (4-0) and Detroit Lions (1-3) don’t play this week and therefore are the first NFL ...

By JOHN WAWROW AP Hockey Writer The New York Rangers selected Canadian forward Alexis Lafreniere with the No. 1 pick in the NHL draft on Tuesday night. Lafreniere was the NHL Central Scouting Bureau’s top-ranked North American skater. He becomes the first Canadian to go No. 1 since Connor ...

By LARRY LAGE AP Sports Writer DETROIT — The Detroit Lions have a lot of time to work on desperately needed improvements until playing again in nearly two weeks at Jacksonville. The Lions are among the NFL teams with an early bye, idling them this week in the Motor City to practice and get ...